OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT...
THE PASTOR OF SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WARNER ROBINS... SAYS SOMEONE VALDALIZED HIS CHURCH TODAY...
FATHER FRED NIJEM SAYS SOMETIME BETWEEN THREE TWENTY AND FOUR FIFTEEN... SOMEONE WENT INTO THE CHURCH AND EMPTIED AT LEAST TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS INSIDE.
HERE IS SOME IPHONE VIDEO SENT BY CHURCH MEMBER TOM DEALL... AND OUR 13WMAZ'S AUSTIN LEWIS.
DEAL SAYS THE ENTIRE FLOOR... THE PEWS AND PARTS OF THE ALTAR ARE COVERED WITH POWDER FROM THE EXTIGUISHERS.
NIJEM SAYS THERE WASN'T A BREAK IN... BECAUSE THEY KEEP THE CHURCH OPEN UNTIL VERY LATE AT NIGHT.
RIGHT NOW THE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE CLEANING UP THE MESS.
HE SAYS HE HOPES THOSE RESPONSIBLE REALIZE WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
Did they have any idea of what they were doing, first of all, a place or worship, a place of peace and sanctuary. Do they have any idea of what kind of building they were damaging. And did they have any idea of the thousands and thosands of dollars it's going to take to restore and clean this church?
THE CHURCH LOCATED ON DAVID DRIVE HAD PLANS TO CELEBRATE THEIR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY THIS COMING SUNDAY.
NIJEM SAYS THEY PLAN TO KEEP TO THAT CELEBRATION.
SOME MACON PARENTS PLAN TO TAKE TO THE STREETS WEDNESDAY TO GET ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MACON MIRACLE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE GROUP WILL MEET AT THE GEORGIA MUSIC HALL OF FAME AT 4 P.M. TOMORROW AND MARCH TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUILDING ON MULBERRY STREET.
ANGEL HOPPER, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS, SAYS THE GOAL IS TO GET BOARD MEMBERS TO CONSIDER MORE DETAILS INSTEAD OF RUSHING INTO A VOTE.
"We feel like they're gonna push the vote and we're not ready. It's not that we are agaist change, it's just that its not fair for tax payers that have children and teachers to not have any answers before hand of how we're gonna implement this."
HOPPER SAYS THEY HOPE A DISTRICT OFFICIAL OR BOARD MEMBER WILL MEET WITH THEM TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF DETAILS IN THE PLAN.... OR DISCUSS OTHER QUESTIONS... LIKE THE PLAN TO TEACH MANDARIN CHINESE TO ALL STUDENTS.
THURSDAY EVENING... BIBB COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON DALLEMAND'S STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT WILL BE HELD AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AT 6 P.M.
IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD... YOU NEED TO ARRIVE EARLY AND FILL OUT A FORM.
BOARD PRESIDENT TOMMY BARNES SAID THEY HAVEN'T SCHEDULED A VOTE FOR THIS THURSDAY... BUT HE SAYS.... THEY'RE CONSIDERING ANOTHER MEETING NEXT WEEK...WHEN THEY MAY TAKE A VOTE.
THERE' STILL NO DECISION ON HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK PEACH COUNTY STUDENTS WILL GO TO SCHOOL NEXT FALL..
PEACH COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT JOE ANN DENNINGS PRESENTED A PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR.
UNDER THE PROPOSED CALENDAR...THE SCHOOL YEAR WOULD START ON AUGUST 13TH AND WOULD END ON MAY 24TH.
DENNINGS SAYS THERE WOULD BE COST INCREASES IN WATER... SEWAGE AND TRANSPORTATION.
THEY ESTIMATED A THREE PERCENT DECREASE IN FUNDS RECEIVED IN LINE WITH WHAT IT HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
SHE SAYS SHE WANTS THE BOARD TO HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE FIVE DAY SCHOOL WEEK SCHEDULE WOULD COST.
Superintendent Joe Ann Dennings, Peach County:02:33 We're trying to make a decision, if it costs us this much on this many days, considering every factor that we can. We want to make sure that we're able to put a budget together that we can fund and have the money to come in to pay the bills.
PEACH COUNTY SCHOOLS WENT TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK IN 2009 TO SAVE THE DISTRICT MONEY WITHOUT CUTTING TEACHER JOBS.
THE NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IS TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH
IN 2009.. MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND FATAL CRASHES INVOLVED LARGE TRUCKS AND BUSES... THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.
A RECENT FEDERAL LAW HOPES TO CURB... BY KEEPING DRIVERS ATTENTION ON THE ROADS.
AS OF JANUARY FIRST.. COMMERICAL DRIVERS.. INCLUDING TRUCKERS AND BUS DRIVERS.. WERE BANNED FROM USING HAND-HELD CELL PHONE DEVICES WHILE DRIVING.
RESEARCH SHOWS COMMERICAL DRIVERS REACHING FOR A CELL PHONE ARE THREE TIMES TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH.
SEVERAL DRIVERS WE SPOKE WITH SAY.. THEY'VE ALREADY TRANSITIONED INTO USING A BLUETOOTH OR HANDS-FREE DEVICE... BEFORE THE LAW TOOK AFFECT...
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THE CHANGE
38:41 Most of the dirvers I talked to don't like it
38:46 Lack of communication. Find it necessary, making it harder to communicate
DRIVERS COULD FACE UP TO A 27-HUNDRED DOLLAR FINE IS CAUGHT USING A CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE...
YOU CAN ALSO JOIN IN AND PLEDGE TO PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN WHILE DRIVING...
JUST VISIT 13WMAZ DOT COM... AND LOOK FOR THE BANNER ACROSS THE TOP OF THE HOMEPAGE.
YOU'LL FIND THE LINK TO SIGN THE PLEDGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE.
AFTER YOU SIGNWE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO SHARE YOUR STORIES DURING OUR GREAT HANG UP DAY ON THE LAST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.
JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO THE-GREAT-HANG-UP AT 13WMAZ DOT COM TO LET US KNOW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
A HOME TO HELP WOMEN RECOVER FROM ADDICTIONS NOW OFFERS A NEW SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE ABBA HOUSE IN PERRY OFFICIALLY OPENED THIS MONTH WITH A THRIFT STORE RUN BY THE WOMEN WHO LIVE THERE.
nats- sorting clothes (4 seconds)
CHERYL SEIDELL AND FAITH FARRER SPEND PART OF THEIR DAY WORKING IN THE ABBA HOUSE THRIFT STORE SORTING CLOTHES AND PRICING ITEMS.
BOTH ARE RECOVERING FROM ADDICTIONS... AND SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY FOCUSING ON THEIR RECOVERY.
CO-FOUNDER CHRIS SHARPT SAYS THEY LEARN LIFE SKILLS HERE... SO AFTER FIFTEEN MONTHS OF TREATMENT... THEY CAN RETURN TO THE REAL WORLD.
Chris Sharp, Abba House: "We equipt them as leaders. They come in and they are followers and by the time they leave they are leaders. They learn to be housemoms, they learn to be heads of departments in the store. They learn to manage the store, we just grow them up"
THE ABBA HOUSE IS LOCATED ON THE GROUNDS OF GRACE VILLAGE... OFF HIGHWAY 41 IN PERRY.
THE THRIFT STORE IS OPEN DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS... MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
FOR INFORMATION ON DONATING OR SHOPPING... LOOK FOR THE LINK INSIDE THIS STORY ON 13-WMAZ-DOT-COM.
PEOPLE IN MACON CAN NOW ENJOY A MEAL AND SHOW WHILE GETTING IN ON THE ACT.
AN INTERACTIVE DINNER THEATER CALLED SHADOWS WAS UNVEILED TODAY
THE NEW THEATER ON SECOND STREET IN DOWNTOWN MACON OPENS FRIDAY.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JACQUELINE AKINS...SAYS DINERS WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE MURDER MYSTERY AND ENJOY A THREE-COURSE MEAL.
SHE SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT AFFORDIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
"A lot of the patrons were saying they were traveling to Atlanta or Jacksonville to go to a dinner theater. So it makes no sense for Macon to be such a theatrical talent and not having that type of venue here."
THE DINNER THEATER IS OPEN EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M. IT COSTS 35 DOLLARS A PERSON.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOOK FOR THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, 13WMAZ.COM.
SMARTPHONES ARE ALREADY LOADED WITH TECHNOLOGY.
(vo-HANDOUT VIDEO FROM SAMSUNG-COURTESY BURNED IN)
A peek into the future reveals a cell phone you can see through.
Samsung is trying to make one that is paper thin.
(NAT - HANDOUT VIDEO FROM NOKIA - COURTESY BURNED IN)
Nokia is developing a device that lets you text on one side and check your calendar on the other.
This futuristic technology is on its way.
(SOT-Kent German/CNET)
"JUST INTERACTING WITH THE TOUCHSCREEN SEEMS TO BE A REAL TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING MOVING FORWARD."
(HANDOUT VIDEO FROM SAMSUNG)
Flexible phones could be the next big thing.
(HANDOUT VIDEO FROM NOKIA)
This prototype from Nokia responds to every twist and bend .
(NATS MUSIC)
And the company believes future phones could eventually look something like this.
(MUSIC)
(BRIDGE: Alexis Christoforous/CBS NEWS/New York)
In the "near" future smartphones will get thinner and faster -- you'll even be able to wear one on your wrist.
(VO)
This spring Sony is releasing the Xperia ... which can be controlled with this bluetooth enabled watch
(two shot)
"IT'S REALLY A REMOTE SCREEN FOR MY PHONE, SO IF I HAVE MY PHONE IN A BAG OR MY POCKET, I STILL HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S MY TEXT
MESSAGES, TWITTER UPDATES, I CAN EVEN CONTROL THE MUSIC PLAYER IF I WANT TO." :12
Tired of watching movies on your phone's small screen.... many can now be plugged right into the television.
(ALEXIS NATSOT)
"WHATEVER IS LOADED IN HERE YOU CAN WATCH ON YOUR TV WHEN YOU WANT TO.
The next generation of cell phones may even replace your wallet.
Use it to pay for a cup of coffee and even track your expenses.
(SOT- Kent German/CNET)
"I THINK WE CERTAINLY ARE HEADED TO A PLACE WHERE YOUR PHONE IS EVERYTHING ."
Your entire life in the palm of your hand.
FOR MORE TECH NEWS... VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT 13WMAZ DOT COM.
CLICK ON FEATURES IN THE MENU BAR... THEN SCROLL DOWN TO FIND THE LINK FOR THE GEEK 13 PAGE.
TODAY MARKED THE SEVENTH ANNUAL PANCAKE DAY.
I-HOP RESTAURANTS GAVE FREE SHORT STACKS OF PANCAKES... IN RETURN THEY ASKED DINERS TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK.
JUST A FEW HOURS AGO 13WMAZ'S WEEKEND MORNIN' CREW LENT A HAND TO THE FOLKS AT THE IHOP ON TOM HILL SR. BLVD.
I am learning butter. Apparently, you have to put the butter in the pancake so it doesn't fall of on the floor. Cuz, that would be bad.
SUZANNE LAWLER AND JOHN BOYER STOPPED BY THE PANCAKE RESTAURANT TO HELP PASS OUT THE FLAP JACKS... BACON AND OTHER ITEMS.
AND DURING SOME DOWN TIME.... THEY SAT DOWN WITH SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS...
THIS MORNING BRITTINY BARBER WENT TO THE IHOP ON EISENHOWER PARKWAY... TO GIVE YOU ALL THE DELICIOUS DETAILS OF THE DEAL.
HUNGRY FOLKS FILED INTO THE I-HOP ON EISENHOWER PARKWAY IN MACON... BRIGHT AND EARLY...
Phylise Davis, Macon: "I have friends in Seattle, Florida and we're all at the same time we're going to different ihops all around and putting it on our facebooks."
MANY CAME WITH EMPTY STOMACHS... BUT FULL HEARTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK..
Tolbert: I have three kids of my own and if anything was to happen to them I know that theres a place that specializes in that age group.
WILLIE TOLBERT SAYS HE'S SEEN FIRST HAND... THE WORK OF THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA ...
tolbert: My niece, some time back, she was there. She came down with a type of cancer and the children's hospital was there when we needed them.
Brittiny Barber: "To celebrate national pancake day, just come in to your local ihop, order a short stack of pancakes, but then when it's time to pay bring your donation and drop it in.
Kathy development officer for the children's hospital: "It's so important that we are able to raise money to purchase new technology lifesaving medical equipment that we're able to use for the children."
LAST YEAR.. CENTRAL GEORGIA I-HOPS RAISED MORE THAN $5-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Mollie Davis, Mercer Student: "IHOP knows what they do well and they do pancakes really well and so people will support that and them doing a good cause."
NATIONWIDE THEY'RE SHOOTING TO COLLECT $2.7 MILLION THIS YEAR... AND RALLYING EVERYONE TO JOIN IN...
Charlese Jackson: "If I was sick or something i'd want someone to come out and support me."
SO WHETHER YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY.. BLUEBERRY OR MAPLE SURUP... THERE'S A TOPPING HERE FOR YOU... AND A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY..
BRITTINY BARBER 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
NATIONWIDE I-HOP HOPED TO RAISE ABOUT 2-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH THE FUNDRAISER.