"They were way up in the air over the rear of the building. And It seemed as though the flames were able to work themselves to the front of the building. I don't know how high they got, but they were certainly way up in the air."
THOSE REMARKS FROM AN EYEWITNESS TO THE FIRE... THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE DOWNTOWN FORSYTH RESTAURANT.. GRITS CAFE.
GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
I'M FRANK MALLOY..
AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON..THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT FIRE COMING UP... IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
THREE HOMICIDE CASES IN THREE DIFFERENT CENTRAL GEORGIA COUNTIES IN THE APST 72 HOURS.
POLICE SAY A PROBATION OFFICER....SHOT AND KILLED HIS GIRLFRIEND IN WARNER ROBINS THIS WEEKEND.
A POLICE NEWS RELEASE SAYS OFFICERS FOUND 27-YEAR-OLD JESSICA WOLFE AROUND 2-30 SUNDAY MORNING IN A HOUSE ON THE 100 BLOCK OF LEDFORD WAY.
AN AUTOPSY SAYS SHE DIED OF A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER BODY.
D-A GEORGE HARTWIG SAYS WOLFE WORKED AS AN ASSISTANT IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT OF HIS OFFICE.
POLICE ARRESTED 28--YEAR OLD RUSSELL HOLT...WHO LIVES AT THAT HOUSE....AND CHARGED HIM WITH FELONY MURDER. POLICE SPOKESWOMAN TABITHA PUGH SAID HOLT IS A STATE PROBATION OFFICER.
HE IS NOW IN THE HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL.
HARTWIG SAYS THE COWETA COUNTY D-A WILL PROSECUTE THE CASE...TO AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
INVESTIGATORS CHARGED A JONES COUNTY WOMAN WITH KILLING A MISSING HENRY COUNTY BUSINESSMAN.
ACCORDING TO AN ARREST WARRANT... PAMELA MOSS IS SUSPECTED OF MURDERING DOUG COKER LAST WEEK.
HE WAS SEEN IN BIBB COUNTY LAST TUESDAY. INVESTIGATORS FOUND A BODY UNDER THE BACK PORCH OF A JONES COUNTY HOME LAST NIGHT AND SHERIFF BUTCH REECE SAYS THEY'RE 99 PERCENT SURE THE BODY IS COKER'S.
REECE SAYS INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL SEARCHING BY FOOT AND AIR TODAY FOR COKER'S CAR.
HE SAYS MOSS... A GRANT WRITER... HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED TUESDAY WITH COKER... WHO APPARENTLY ASKED HER TO HELP HIM START A NON-PROFIT.
Reece:"We're still looking for the victims vehicle. Iyt has not been found. We're 99 point 9 percent sure of who the victim is but at this point as of right now we have not had a positive identifiacation.
REECE WOULD NOT DESCRIBE HOW COKER MAY HAVE DIED.
BUT HE SAYS RIGHT NOW... MOSS IS NOT IN CUSTODY...
AND IN MONTEZUMA...A MAN IS DEAD.. AND POLICE SAY.. THEY HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY.
ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM POLICE CHIEF ERIC FINCH.. OFFICERS FOUND THE BODY OF 56 YEAR OLD JOHN THOMAS HUBBARD IN HIS HOME IN ALLEN'S TRAILER PARK.
AFTER TALKING WITH NEIGHBORS.. OFFICERS ARRESTED 26 YEAR OLD MORTEZ JAVAR MCKENZIE.
CHIEF FINCH SAYS.. MCKENZIE HAS HAD SEVERAL RUN-INS WITH POLICE.. RANGING FROM THEFT BY TAKING.. TO AN ARMED ROBBERY..
FINCH SAYS.. THEY ARE HOLDING MCKENZIE ON A PROBATION VIOLATION.. BUT EXPECT MORE CHARGES AGAINST HIM THIS WEEK.
MACON POLICE TASED A SUSPECT WHO ALLEGEDLY FOUGHT FIVE OFFICERS WHILE RESISTING ARREST.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A POLICE INCIDENT REPORT.
THEY SAY OFFICERS ARRESTED DMARCUS DANDY AFTER A LARGE GANG FIGHT AT CENTRAL CITY PARK AROUND 9 P-M SATURDAY.
THE REPORT SAYS AN OFFICER TRIED TO ARREST A SECOND MAN WHO REFUSED TO LEAVE THE PARK... AND DANDY INTERFERED WITH THE ARREST.
POLICE SAY DANDY THEN FOUGHT WITH THE OFFICERS TRYING TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY.... UNTIL ONE OF THEM TASED HIM.
DANDY'S IN THE BIBB COUNTY JAIL CHARGED WITH LOITERING AND OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER.
IN AN UNRELATED CASE... MACON POLICE SAY THEY ARRESTED A MACON 15-YEAR-OLD LAST NIGHT AFTER A LARGE FIGHT AMONG GROUPS OF TEENS AT THE PARK.
THEY SAID THE GROUPS FOUGHT AROUND 6 P-M SUNDAY ON THE MIDWAY AT THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL.
THE UNIDENTIFIED TEENAGER IS CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES IN EITHER CASE.
MORE THAN 400 WARNER ROBINS CITY EMPLOYEES COULD GET A RAISE IN APRIL.
COUNCIL VOTED FIVE TO ONE IN FAVOR OF STARTING A NEW PAY SCALE NEXT MONTH... BUT CITY LAW REQUIRES A SECOND VOTE FOR IT TO TAKE AFFECT.
LORRA LYNCH JONES EXPLAINS WHY ONE COUNCILMAN AND THE MAYOR WANT TO DELAY THE PAY RAISE UNTIL JULY.
nats- shealy calling for motion
COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL SHEALY LED THE CHARGE FOR A NEW CITY PAY SCALE... SAYING IT WILL COST JUST SHORT OF 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
nats-
IT WOULD KICK-IN TO MOST WORKERS PAY CHECKS APRIL SECOND.
nats-
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER DARON LEE SAYS IT SHOULD START NO SOONER THAN JULY FIRST... THE START OF THE 2013 BUDGET YEAR.
Daron Lee: (20:20) "We didn't budget for it in 2012. It's not a common thing to amend your budget to address pay increases on non-emergency items."
CAROLYN ROBINS DISAGREED.
nats- (10:21) "I think it's very unfair for us not to implement this now."
SHE SAYS THE CITY STARTED TALKING ABOUT RAISES RECOMMENDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA'S CARL VINSON INSTITUTE ON GOVERNMENT A YEAR AGO... AND WORKERS SHOULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
Carolyn Robbins: (22:35) "They need that money. They need that money now. They need that money for gas, groceries."
Chuck Shaheen: (12:36) "We agree we have the best employees in the state. We agree they work hard for the citizens of Warner Robins."
BUT MAYOR CHUCK SHAHEEN SIDED WITH LEE ON THE TIMING... SPARKING A FEW HEATED EXCHANGES.
nats- Shaheen/Daley
Chuck Shaheen: (25:25) "25:25) "I'm for this, but I think it would be better if we do it in the 2013 budget and we plan for it."
THE DEBATE RESULTED IN THE FIVE TO ONE VOTE THAT PUSHES A FINAL DECISION INTO APRIL.
Daron Lee: (20:50) "I'm going to try to talk to the fellow councilman and see if they can see the other side."
STD
LEE SAYS A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO FUND THE PAY SCALE... WILL TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM AN ACCOUNT THAT'S PAYING FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN HIS DISTRICT.
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID IT WOULDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING IS APRIL SECOND.
THAT COATING OF YELLOW AROUND CENTRAL GEORGIA HAS GOTTEN THICKER...
POLLEN FROM TREES IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL RIGHT NOW... ACCORDING TO MACON ALLERGIST DAVID PLAXICO.
THE OVERALL POLLEN COUNT DID REACH HIGH LEVELS THIS PAST WEEK... BUT POLLEN FROM TREES SPECIFICALLY... ARE VERY HIGH.
THAT MEANS ALMOST ANYONE WHO IS AT ALL SENSITIVE TO TREE POLLEN WILL HAVE SYMPTOMS.... AND EXTREMELY SENSITIVE PEOPLE COULD HAVE SEVERE SYMPTOMS.
IT COULD STILL GET WORSE.
PLAXICO SAYS TREE POLLEN WILL HIT ITS PEAK IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND AFTER THAT... GRASS AND WEEDS WILL START POLLINATING.
LAWANDA CARSWELL SAYS THE POLLEN IS A NUISSANCE WHEN IT COATS HER CAR... BUT IT'S ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD FOR HER SON.
"My son suffers allergies si I can tell a lot, he started in february the last of february getting sick, it's gotten a lot worse, to me it has."
PLAXICO RECOMMENDS STAYING INSIDE AND KEEPING WINDOWS CLOSED IF YOU'RE SESITIVE TO POLLEN.
A MASSIVE FIRE DESTROYED A FORSYTH LANDMARK THIS EVENING.
ONLOOKER SAID THE FIRE THAT ENGULFED GRITS CAFE IN FLAMES STARTED IN THE BACK OF THE RESTAURANT THOUGH FIRE OFFICIALS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY CONFIRM THAT..
AMY AUBERT SPOKE TO PEOPLE AT THE SCENE AS THEY WATCHED THE WELL-KNOWN RESTAURANT GO UP IN FLAMES.
Nats, fire
CREWS SPENT HOURS FIGHTING THE FLAMES THAT ENGULFED A FORSYTH STAPLE MONDAY NIGHT.
Nats
HUNDREDS CROWDED THE COURTHOUSE LAWN... JUST ACROSS THE STREET... AS THEY WATCHED GRITS CAFE TRANFORM INTO A CLOUD OF SMOKE.
AMONG THEM... NIPPER BUNN.
Nipper Bunn, Forsyth: "It's a real loss for the downtown area. Many times people would eat a nice meal before they would come to our plays or other activities at the theatre."
HE VOLUNTEERS NEXT DOOR TO THE RESTAURANT AT THE ROSE THEATRE. HE SAYS FLAMES AND WORD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.
Nipper Bunn: "It seemed as though the flames were able to work themselves to the front of the building. I don't know how high they got, but they were certainly way up in the air."
CREWS SAY THEY CONTAINED THE BLAZE TO THE CAFE... AND KEPT IT FROM SPREADING TO OTHER HISTORIC WEST JOHNSON STREET BUILDINGS. BUT THE POPULAR SOUTHERN EATERY... THEY SAY... IS A COMPLETE LOSS.
WHAT'S LEFT... RENEE BOYKIN SAYS... A SNAPSHOT... THAT WILL FOREVER ETCH THE MEMORY OF MANY FAMILY OUTINGS... AT THE RESTAURANT.
Renee Boykin, Forsyth: "A great restaurant gone, just gone. It's kinda sad. But it's great that the whole community is out here showing their support I guess you could say."
HUNDREDS OF ONLOOKERS WATCHED... AS FIRE CREWS FROM FIVE AREAS STEPPED UP AND HOSED DOWN WHAT REMAINED OF THE CAFE.
SOT: We knew we needed additional help. Got fire crews from Butts County, Macon-Bibb County and Lamar County as well.
IT'S TIME LIKE THIS... FORSYTH MAYOR JOHN HOWARD SAYS... THE FORSYTH COMMUNITY... COMES TOGETHER.
Mayor Howard, Forsyth: "I dont want to see any business destroyed. I want to see them all thrive and survive and I want to rbing some more in here on top of that. When we lose one it's kinda like we gotta start all over."
THE PICTURES TELL A STORY... OF A COMMUNITY REACHING OUT... AS A DOWNTOWN HOT SPOT... LEFT BEHIND ONLY SMOKEY MEMORIES... OF GRITS CAFE.
AMY AUBERT 13 WMAZ EYEWTIENSS NEWS. >>
ACCORDING TO THE CAFE'S WEB SITE... THE STORE IS NOT OPEN ON MONDAYS...
THE STORE OPENED IN 1999 IN A 125 YEAR OLD BUILDING.
SO FAR... WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF INJURIES.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES TO THIS STORY ON OUR WEB SITE AT 13WMAZ DOT COM...
THE ARMY COULD CHARGE THE U.S. SOLDIER ACCUSED OF KILLING 16 AFGHAN CIVILIANS WITH THE CRIME THIS WEEK.
MOVING TRUCKS BEGAN CARRYING AWAY THE CONTENTS OF STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT BALES' WASHINGTON HOME. BALES' WIFE AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN LEFT THE HOUSE FOR A MILITARY BASE LAST WEEK.
BALES' NEW HOME IS AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, WHERE HEIS BEING HELD IN DETENTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATHS OF AFGHAN CIVILIANS. HE MET WITH HIS ATTORNEY FOR THE FIRST TIME MONDAY. JOHN HENRY BROWNE SAYS BALES WAS DRINKING, BUT WAS NOT DRUNK THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING, BUT HE DID NOT TELL HIM WHAT HAPPENED.
SOT - Browne
"He has no memory, he has early memory or later memory but no memory in between."
WE ARE ALSO LEARNING MORE ABOUT BALES PREVIOUS LEGAL TROUBLES...
- HE WAS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A GIRLFRIEND IN 2002 AND HAD TO TAKE AN ANGER MANAGEMENT COURSE
- HE WAS CITED FOR A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT IN 2009,
- AND WHILE WORKING AS A FINANCIAL ADVISOR BEFORE HE ENLISTED, WAS ACCUSED OF FRAUD. HE WAS REQUIRED TO REPAY MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS. BUT NEVER DID.
STANDUP BRIDGE:
THE SHOOTING FURTHER STRAINED ALREADY TENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT. ON MONDAY, THE WHITE HOUSE TOOK ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DENOUNCE THE ATTACK.
SOT - Carney Pipe 2 White house briefing
"the killing of these innocent Afghan civilians was a tragic and terrible event, and it did not represent what our military stands for."
BALES' WIFE SAYS THE SHOOTING DOESN'T REPRESENT THE HUSBAND SHE KNOWS... {GFX} IN A STATEMENT, KARILYN BALES SAYS, "WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER OF THE MAN I KNOW AND ADMIRE..." "THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS, AS IS MY HUSBAND, WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH."
EVEN IF BALES IS CHARGED THIS WEEK - A TRIAL MAY NOT START FOR MANY MONTHS.