FIRST AT ELEVEN... SOME PEOPLE IN WARNER ROBINS WANT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO CITY RECREATION.
ABOUT FORTY PEOPLE CAME TO A PUBLIC WORK SHOP TO GIVE THEIR OPINIONS ON HOW TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE TO PLAY.
LORRA LYNCH JONES TELLS YOU SOME OF THEIR IDEAS... AND WHAT CITY LEADERS PLAN TO DO WITH THEM.
<<nats- (19:00) "There are children playing in the road because there's no place to play."
(20:50) "Get us a place where we can take our children and families where it can be safe."
SAFE PARKS RANKED AS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR A GROUP GATHERED AT THE WARNER ROBINS SENIOR CENTER...
FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY SOME NEW FACILTIES.
(14:58) "Walking trails, more security, more lights."
(16:40) "Water parks will be beneficial for the community."
CITY RECREATION DIRECTOR JAMES DODSON AND A REPRESENTIVE FROM THE MIDDLE GEORGIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION LISTENED TO THE WISH LIST... WITH PLANS TO MAP THEM INTO A TEN YEAR RECREATION BLUEPRINT.
James Dodson: (22:00) "The realization is that our city has grown tremendously in the past 20 years and unfortunately the recreation facilities and programs have not grown with the citizens.
nats-
14 YEAR-JEFF SHARP AND HIS FRIENDS SAY THEY CAME HOPING FOR A CHANGE.
Jeff Sharp: (8:10) "Around our neighborhood, it's very boring and theres nothing to do."
SHARP SUGGESTED SOME NEW GYMS... AND LIKED KOLBY CHAMBLEE'S PUSH FOR A SKATE PARK.
Kolby Chamblee: (11:50) "Just somewhere I can go before work or after school, skate board. Skate boarding isn't just my hobby. It's my way of exercise"
HE CAME WITH ABOUT A DOZEN OF HIS FRIENDS... AND SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THE SKATER'S PLIGHT.
Jason Patrick: (16:10) "I see tons of kids play basketball. I see tons of kids play soccer. I see kids get kicked out of everywhere they try to go skate."
DODSON SAID EVERY IDEA WILL BE CONSIDERED AS THEY BUILD A CITY RECREATION PLAN.
nats-
DODSON SAID THE CITY SPORTS COMPLEX... WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OFF WELLBORN ROAD... IS A "DORMANT ISSUE."
WORK STOPPED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ON THAT PROJECT.. WHEN CITY LEADERS BEGAN TALKING ABOUT USING THE PROPERTY FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
DODSON SAID HE COULDN'T COMMENT ON WHETHER THE CITY PLANS TO RE-START WORK ON THE SITE... OR MOVE THE PROJECT TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
THE CITY OF MACON COULD BE ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING AN AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.
MACON MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT SAYS A-A-R-P REACHED OUT TO THE CITY... AND PLANS TO DISCUSS STEPS TO MAKE THE CITY MORE AGE DESIRABLE.
REICHERT SAYS CHANGES MIGHT INCLUDE... MAKING STREETS MORE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY... ATTRACTIVE OUTDOOR SPOTS... AND MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ALL AGE GROUPS.
REICHERT SAYS THE DESIGNATION WILL REFLECT THE CITY'S WORK ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT... AND MAKING IT A WALKABLE CITY.
Mayor Reichert: "Nobody likes to feel intimidated by the speeds in an interstate type setting. If you have friendlier streets, calmer streets, complete streets, I think that'll benefit all of us, of all ages."
MEMBERS FROM A-A-R-P PLAN TO DISCUSS THE IDEAS AT A COUNCIL WORKSESSION TOMORROW NIGHT.
MACON MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT MET FOLKS TONIGHT... FOR HIS MONTHLY MAYOR'S NIGHT IN.
REICHERT SAYS IT GIVES THE COMMUNITY A SET TIME... TO REACH OUT TO HIM... AND TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS.
HE SAYS USUALLY... ABOUT 10 PEOPLE STEP INTO HIS OFFICE... AND TALK TO HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY.
REICHERT SAYS MOST OFTEN... PEOPLE LET HIM KNOW ABOUT TRASH IN CERTAIN AREAS... OVERGROWN LOTS... AND SECURITY CONCERNS.
HE SAYS HE TAKES THE TOPICS TO DIRECTLY TO THE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT HEADS... AND SOMETIMES... IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
Mayor Robert Reichert: "It kind of gives me an insight into what's going on in the community and I hear first hand complaints, concerns, comments from people."
RECICHERT SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO BE ACCESIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
MACON CITY COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE VOTED TO CREATE A CONTRACT THAT WILL COST THE CITY 34 HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH... FOR VETERINARY SERVICES.
COUNCILMAN VIRGIL WATKINS SAYS THE CONTRACT WOULD APPOINT DR. CHRIS GRICE TO PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES FOR MACON ANIMAL CONTROL.
WATKINS SAYS THE CITY'S FORMER VETERINARIAN HAD TO STEP DOWN BECAUSE OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
HE SAYS THE COST OF GRICE'S SERVICES IS THE SAME AMOUNT THE CITY PAID THE PREVIOUS VETERINARIAN.
THE CONTRACT WILL BE VOTED ON BY FULL COUNCIL IN A MEETING ON MARCH 20TH.
A COUPLE OF BILLS BEFORE GEORGIA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADDRESS HOT BUTTON ISSUES..
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED AT THE CAPITOL TODAY PROTESTING TWO BILLS THEY SAY ARE UNFAIR TO WOMEN..
LAST WEEK.. THE STATE SENATE PASSED MEASURES BANNING ABORTION COVERAGE UNDER STATE EMPLOYEES' HEALTH CARE PLANS.. AND..
ANOTHER EXEMPTING RELIGIOUS HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM COVERING BIRTH CONTROL.
BOTH BILLS NOW GO THE STATE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION..
GEORGIA REPRESENTATIVES PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD PUT GUNS IN THE HANDS OF SOME CHILDREN..
THE MEASURE WOULD ALLOW THE STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSIONER TO GRANT SPECIAL HUNTING PERMITS TO ANYONE UNDER 21 WHO IS TERMINALLY ILL.
THE BILL IS NAMED AFTER TAYLOR GRAMLING.. A YOUNG WOMAN WHO DIED OF LEUKEMIA AT THE AGE OF 18.
HER DYING WISH WAS FULFILLED WHEN SHE KILLED A DEER AT A PLANTATION OWNED BY JEFF FOXWORTHY.
THE SOARING PRICE OF GAS ISN'T ONLY AFFECTING YOUR POCKETBOOK.
THE GEORGIA STATE PATROL IS ALSO FEELING THE STRAIN... AND THEY'RE ASKING THE CITY OF PERRY FOR HELP FILLING UP.
POST FIFTEEN COMMANDER... MIKE MAYNARD WROTE A LETTER TO PERRY CITY COUNCIL ASKING FOR A FUEL DONATION.
HE SAYS DUE TO THE ECONOMY....THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS GIVING EACH TROOPER ONLY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH FOR GAS.
SINCE HIS POST IS WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND PATROLS IN PERRY... HE'S ASKING COUNCIL TO DONATE TWO TANKS OF FUEL PER TROOPER EACH MONTH.
AT CURRENT GAS PRICES... THAT'S AROUND TWENTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR .
MAYOR JIMMY FAIRCLOTH SAYS EVERYONE'S BUDGET IS TIGHT... BUT HE THINKS THE STATE PATROL'S LACK OF FUNDS SHOULD STAY A STATE ISSUE.
Mayor Jimmy Faircloth, Perry: "It does concern me deeply that if a state agency such as this is having that much trouble meeting their monthly obligations just to put gas in their patrol cars, something's wrong."
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY... OTHER CITIES ARE DONATING FUEL TO THE STATE PATROL.
WE'VE ASKED FOR A LIST OF THOSE CITIES... AND ARE STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.
A YOUNG CONDUCTOR FROM SAINT LOUIS HAS A NEW HOME ON THE MACON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STAGE.
TODAY... THE ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCED 29-YEAR-OLD WARD STARE WILL BE MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR OF THE MACON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
HE WILL ALSO CONDUCT THE MERCER UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA.
THE JULLIARD GRADUATE STARTED HIS CAREER AT 18 AS THE LEAD TROMBONIST IN THE LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO.
HE'S CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR OF THE SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY.
JOHN DICKSON... DEAN OF THE TOWNSEND SCHOOL OF MUSIC... SAYS STARE IS A BIG SCORE FOR MACON.
"Ward has an ability to engage with a new public. To create young people interest through his own inspiration and passion and he has ways of intgrating within the business and artistic sense of the community to explain to them and to even inspire them toward supporting the symphony and recognising the importance of a symphony orchestra in Macon."
SHERYL TOWERS... C-E-O OF THE ORCHESTRA... SAYS STARE HAS ALREADY HAD CREATIVE INPUT IN THE UPCOMING ORCHESTRAL SEASON.
SHE SAYS HE STARTS STARTS OFFICIALLY IN JULY AND WILL PUT ON HIS FIRST SHOW IN SEPTEMBER
WELCOME BACK...
TOMORROW... THE SOUTHERN STATES OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA WILL HOLD THEIR RESPECTIVE PRIMARIES...
AND WITH DELEGATES IN HAWAII AND AMERICAN SAMOA UP FOR GRABS AS WELL... THE OUTCOME OF TOMORROW'S VOTE... COULD PROVE TO BE A TURNING POINT.
HERE'S HOW THE CANDIDATES STAND GOING INTO TOMORROW'S VOTE...
THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES... ARE MITT ROMNEY... RICK SANTORUM AND NEWT GINGRICH... ALL OF WHICH COULD HAVE A CAMPAIGN CHANGING DAY TOMORROW.
RIGHT NOW ROMNEY LEADS THE PACK BY A WIDE MARGIN WITH 454 DELEGATES...
SANTORUM HOLDS SECOND WITH 217
AND FORMER SPEAKER GINGRICH TRIALS WITH 107.
NOW TEXAS CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL CONTINUES TO SAY HE'LL REMAIN IN THE RACE... BUT HE HAS YET TO WIN A STATE AND SO FAR HAS ONLY CLAIMED 47 DELEGATES.
NOW TOMORROW THERE ARE 119 DELEGATES UP FOR GRABS... THAT MEANS IF EITHER SANTORUM OR GINGRICH MAKE A SWEEP... THEY COULD CLOSE THE GAP ROMNEY CREATED FOR HIMSELF LAST WEEK ON SUPER TUESDAY.
A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS ON THE SOUTH... WHERE 90 DELEGATES WILL BE AWARDED... LEAH JOHNSON HAS MORE ON THE RACE FOR THE SOUTHERN VOTE
NEWT GINGRICH HAS ALREADY SHOWN HIS POPULATIRY IN THE SOUTH... WITH WINS IN BOTH SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORIGA.
BUT MITT ROMNEY HAS CAMPAIGNED HARD IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA... TRYING TO CONVINCE SOUTHERN VOTERS HE'S THEIR GUY.
HE EVEN LANDED THE ENDORSEMENT OF BLUE COLLAR COMEDIAN JEFF FOXWORTHY
BIGAD SHABAN HAS MORE ON THE SCRAMBLE FOR THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE.
NATS - it is great to be here in Alabama, thank you!"
RICK SANTORUM MADE A LAST-MINUTE PITCH TO SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS MONDAY NIGHT AT
A CANDIDATE FORUM IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.
(SOT - Rick Santorum - Pipe 5)
"this is the most important election of your lifetime... And I don't care how
old you are."
SANTORUM IS LOOKING TO ADD TO HIS DELEGATE COUNT IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARIES IN
ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI - BOTH VERY CONSERVATIVE STATES.
A CBS NEWS-NEW YORK TIMES POLL SHOWS SANTORUM WITH A FOUR-POINT LEAD OVER MITT
ROMNEY AMONG REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS...
(GFX)
BUT DESPITE THEIR PREFERENCE, ALMOST 3 IN 4 SAY ROMNEY WILL WIN THE NOMINATION.
ROMNEY CELEBRATED HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY WITH FAMILY AFTER A SINGLE MORNING
CAMPAIGN STOP IN MOBILE....
(SOT - Mitt Romney - FTP)
"I just want to say thanks to you for this birthday present.. I'm hoping to
unwrap it tomorrow, by the way..." (laughter)
HE'S TELLING SOUTHERN VOTERS IT'S BECAUSE HE'S FROM OUTSIDE WASHINGTON THAT
THEY SHOULD VOTE HIM IN.
(SOT - FLIPPED Romney - Second Romney Sot 1:02)
"The other guys they've been in Washington 20, 30 years a piece, maybe 40
years a piece. If you want change you'll have to see some new faces go to
Washington."
FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH WON HIS SECOND VICTORY IN GEORGIA LAST
TUESDAY... HE'S APPEALING TO EVANGELICALS FOR A MUCH-NEEDED THIRD.
(SOT - Newt 19:36:49)
"The Obama administration apologizes to radical Islamist religoius fanatics
while attacking the Catholic Church and right-to-life groups... on the very
first day i will repeal every anti-religious act of this administration"
DESPITE HIS THIRD-PLACE IN THE DELEGATE COUNT, GINGRICH SAYS HE'S STAYING IN
THE RACE. BIGAD SHABAN, CBS NEWS, LOS ANGELES.
ALTHOUGH ROMNEY TURNED 65 TODAY.....HE SAYS HE WILL NOT ENROLL IN MEDICARE--- CHOOSING TO KEEP HIS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE'LL MORE ON TOMORROW'S PRIMARIES... THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON 13WMAZ... AND 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
THIS IS THE 30TH YEAR OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL AND THE BLOSSOMS ARE POPPING OUT RIGHT ON TIME.
THE TREES WILL TYPICALLY HAVE A PINK BLUSH GLOW BEFORE THEY BLOOM WHITE BLOSSOMS.
AS THEY AGE... THE PETALS WILL TURN BRIGHT PINK.
CHERRY BLOSSOM BOARD MEMBER WILLIAM FICKLING THE THIRD SAYS HE'S COUNTING ON THE COLORS TO BRIGHTEN THIS WEEKEND.
This weekend is when they're really going to peak out. They are blooming out a little bit irregularly this year. I think they'll be some blooms that come out later in the week, but i think the first weekend of the festical is going to be the prettiest.
HE SAYS ON AVERAGE... CHERRY BLOSSOMS BLOOM ON MARCH 23RD.