the roof is gone, the attic is completely gone throughout the house and if its not damaged by fire, the smoke has taken over so its pretty much just start from scratch after living in this house for 21 years.
A WARNER ROBINS WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER ARE SORTING THROUGH THE ASHES OF THEIR HOME... BUT THEY SAY WITHOUT THE HELP OF A STRANGER... THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.... I'M LEAH JOHNSON..
AND I'M LORRA LYNCH JONES
FRANK MALLOY HAS THE NIGHT OFF...
OUR TOP STORY AT SIX... A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER DUG THROUGH THE RUBBLE OF THEIR WARNER ROBINS HOME TODAY... AFTER ESCAPING THE BURNING BUILDING EARLY THIS MORNING.
THEY TOLD KATELYN HECK ABOUT THE STRANGER WHO STRETCHED OUT A HELPING HAND IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
<<
(NATS)
IT STARTED AS JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY NIGHT FOR KYNETTE CHEATHAM AND HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER DEJA.
(SOT:god woke me up at midnight to change my position, i just rolled over and smelled smoke, got up and looked at my window and saw fire.)
SHE SAYS FLAMES SPREAD ... TAKING OVER ALMOST EVERY ROOM.
28-YEAR OLD JARRAD PIERCE SAW THE BLAZING HOME AS HE DROVE BY... AND STOPPED
(SOT: i ran right here to the door and i couldnt get in, the door was hot and smoke was coming out.)
THE STRANGER GREETED CHEATHAM AND HER DAUGHTER AS THEY ESCAPED.
(SOT:he pulled his car in the yard and asked what do we need what do we need, he called 911)
HE THEN CIRCLED THE HOME... TRYING TO FIND THEIR TWO PET CHIHUAHUA'S.
(SOT: I was coming around here and the flames were tall and everything.)
FIREMEN RESCUED ONE OF THE DOGS..APOLLO. A SECOND ONE DIED.
(SOT: at least we still have one to love and cherish.)
BUT MOST OF THE HOUSE BURNED TO RUBBLE.
(SOT:its gone, if its not burnt down, the smoke has ruined everything)
NOW... CHEATHAM AND HER DAUGHTER ARE NOW CLINGING ON TO WHAT THEY HAVE LEFT... EACH OTHER.
(SOT:we have our life and its a big pill to swallow and were going to lean on him and the awesome support of family an dfriends, and just to get back to the life we knew as normal.)
CHEATHAM SAYS SHE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS... BUT SHE WILL NEVER FORGET A STRANGER'S KINDNESS.
(SOT:i praise god for people like him who are willing to others no matter what the situation)
PIERCE SAYS HE PLANS TO COLLECT FOOD... CLOTHES... AND MONEY FOR THE FAMILY... TO HELP THEM PUT THEIR LIFE BACK TOGETHER.
KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
>> INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIRE CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE... AND A CIGARETTE OUTSIDE THE HOME MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE.
ANOTHER WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER ALSO LIVE IN THE HOUSE.
NEITHER WERE HOME DURING THE FIRE.
SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND HAS CHAMPIONED MORE COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN BIBB COUNTY SCHOOLS.
TODAY... HE GATHERED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CELEBRATE A WELCOME CENTER THAT'S SUPPOSED TO FOSTER THAT INVOLVEMENT.
AS CANDACE ADORKA REPORTS... SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY ITS NOT JUST A CENTER FOR NEW FAMILIES MOVING HERE... BUT A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR ALL PARENTS TO BE PART OF THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.
<<
WITH A QUICK SNIP...
***nats****
THE BIBB SCHOOLS WELCOME CENTER IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
Dallemand: "This is the beginning, the beginning, of the incredible and wonderful success stories that our students that our students, parents, and community members will enjoy."
THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES... STUDENT REGISTRATION... COMPUTER ACCESS... PARENT ADVOCATES... AND MORE.
***nats***
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE VOLUNTEER MACON AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TECH.
"we look forward to helping parents enhance their education from GEDs associate degrees and beyond.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE SOCIAL WORKER AT THE CENTER.
"We are child centered, but the fact that we can work with the total family and help them go through the school process laong with their other activities... we all have to be one if we're gonna make it."
THE DISTRICT HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH FIRST CHOICE PRIMARY CARE TO HELP STAFF A MOBILE CLINIC.
Dallemand: "One place where they go and have their needs met. One place where they can give one phone call and not be bounced back and forth from one department to another. "
SHEKETHA WILLIAMS SAYS... AS A PARENT OF AN 8TH GRADER... SHE'S A FAN OF THAT EASY ACCESS.
2:47 "Before, you had to make a call and you had to wait for someone else to call you back and it may or may not have been taken care of or swept under the rug but now the parents are more involved."
THE WELCOME CENTER IS OPEN FOR TOURS THROUGH APRIL 20TH.
CANDACE ADORKA 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
>> THE WELCOME CENTER IS AT THE CORNER OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND INGLESIDE AVENUE IN MACON.
IT'S OPEN EVERY WEEKDAY FROM 7 AM TO 7 P-M.... AND THE FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAYS OF THE MONTH.
HOUSTON COUNTY STUDENTS COULD PAY A QUARTER MORE FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S IF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES A RECOMMENDED PRICE INCREASE AT TOMORROW'S BOARD MEETING.
nats- lunch line
SCHOOL NUTRITION COORDINATOR SHANA WOOD SAYS THEY NEED TO RAISE PRICES TO MEET A FEDERAL MANDATE.
WOOD SAYS A 2010 LAW.. CALLED THE CHILD NUTRITION AUTHORIZATION ACT... REQUIRES ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO GRADUALLY RAISE LUNCH PRICES.
THE GOVERNMENT WANTS SCHOOL LUNCHES TO COST TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY-ONE CENTS EACH.
Shana Wood, School Nutrition Coordinator: (20:45) "We are concerned about how it will impact families. We encourage all families to apply for free and reduced meal applications at the beginning of each school year to see if they qualify for free and reduced meals. If they do, it will significantly help their family."
THE DISTRICT MAILS APPLICATIONS FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES ARE TO ALL HOUSTON PARENTS IN JUNE AND JULY.
WOOD SAYS THE LAST PRICE INCREASE FOR HOUSTON WAS IN THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE FEDERAL MANDATE ALREADY SPARKED A JUMP IN PRICES FOR SOME OTHER SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL GEORGIA.
IN JONES COUNTY... BOTH BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PRICES JUMPED 25 CENTS BACK IN AUGUST.
NOW... ELEMENTARY KIDS ARE PAYING A DOLLAR-FIFTY... AND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CHARGED A DOLLAR-75.
THE SCHOOL SAYS PARENTS HAVE NOT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE INCREASE.
STUDENTS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY... WERE ALSO HIT THIS SCHOOL YEAR... WITH A 10 CENT LUNCH INCREASE.
LUNCH FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS NOW COSTS A DOLLAR- 25... AND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE UP TO A DOLLAR-FIFTY.
THE SCHOOL SAYS SO FAR... THEY HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO INCREASE PRICES AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
HANCOCK COUNTY IS A FEDERAL PROVISION TWO SCHOOL... WHICH MEANS AT LEAST 75 PERCENT OF STUDENTS ARE LOW INCOME... SO ALL STUDENTS EAT LUNCH AT NO COST.
BECAUSE OF THAT... HANCOCK WON'T BE FACING A PRICE INCREASE.
BALDWIN COUNTY SCHOOLS... SAY THEY DON'T PLAN ON BUMPING PRICES EITHER....and bibb
A PERRY POLICE OFFICER FIRED FOUR SHOTS AT A STOLEN CAR SUSPECT... AND WOUNDED HIM.
THEN THE SUSPECT DROVE ALL THE WAY TO METRO ATLANTA ON INTERSTATE 75... BEFORE BEING ARRESTED.
ALL THAT IS ACCORDING TO A PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE.
THEY SAY IT HAPPENED AROUND 9-20 SATURDAY ON HIGHWAY 41 SOUTH.... THE MARSHALLVILLE HIGHWAY...WHERE FOUR OFFICERS TRIED TO STOP A REPORTED STOLEN CAR.
THE RELEASE SAYS THE DRIVER TRIED TO RUN THEM DOWN.
THAT'S WHEN OFFICER JEFF KEENOM FIRED THE SHOTS... AND STRUCK 23-YEAR-OLD BRIAN LUCAS.... THE DRIVER.
THE RELEASE SAYS LUCAS THEN LED OFFICERS ON A CHASE THROUGH SEVERAL COUNTIES BEFORE BEING ARRESTED.
PERRY POLICE SAY LUCAS IS IN THE CLAYTON COUNTY JAIL... FACING SEVERAL CHARGES... AND THEY'VE ASKED THE G-B-I TO INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTING.
THANKS TO VOTES FROM THE COMMUNITY.. TWO PROGRAMS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL HAVE MORE MONEY TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES..
THE CENTER FOR PALLIATIVE CARE AT THE MEDICAL CENTER.. AND THE CANCER WELLFIT PROGRAM AT THE WELLNESS CENTER WERE EACH AWARDED A 10-THOUSAND DOLLAR LIVESTRONG 2012 COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT.
THE PALLIATIVE CARE CENTER IS ONE OF ONLY 20 IN THE COUNTRY TO WIN A GRANT.
THE GRANT MONEY WILL BE USED TO HELP THE CENTER ACHIEVE ADVANCED CERTIFICATION... A FIRST OF ITS KIND IN GEORGIA.
THE PALLIATIVE CARE CENTER CREATES A PARTNERSHIP TO HELP THE PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILY DEAL WITH THE PAIN.. SYMPTOMS.. AND STRESS OF SERIOUS ILLNESS.
THE CANCER WELLFIT PROGRAM IS A 12 WEEK ONCOLOGY RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT USES A HOLISTIC APPROACH..
PATIENTS USE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION TO HELP DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF DIAGNOSIS.. TREATMENT OR RECOVERY
WELLFIT WILL USE ITS GRANT TO EXPAND ITS ART SERVICES BEYOND PAINTING.. TO SCULPTING AND CARVING.
THE MACON HISTORIC FOUNDATION WANTS TO HELP PRESERVE A CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS SUMMER....THEY PLAN TO NOMINATE THE INGLESIDE NEIGHBORHOOD....FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
JUDY LE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.
(nat)
LUSH GREENERY AND HOMES STANDING THE TEST OF TIME...MIGHT SOON BE REWARDED FOR THEIR LONGEVITY..
SOT TENLEY: 40 it was built in 1937.
THE HISTORIC MACON FOUNDATION PLANS TO NOMINATE THE INGLESIDE NEIGHBORHOOD AS THE CITY'S 13TH HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SOT BALLARD: 114 i think it's been overdue. i think we're just as cool as a lot of the other places in town who already have this status 120
THIS AFFECTS HOMES AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF VINEVILLE AVENUE...FOREST HILL ROAD...OVERLOOK ROAD AND PIERCE AVENUE.
STANDUP: almost every building that is at least 50 years old will be included int he nomation. property owners will be able to install plaques that describe their historic status
MARK BALLARD...AN INGLESIDE RESIDENT OF 30 YEARS...LIVES IN A HOUSE BUILT IN 1920.
NAT BALLARD: 05 we're in the sunroom that used to be an open air porch when we first bought the house, 19 years ago. so everywhere you see these white bricks like the columns on the corner were already here but they were the color of the outside of the house. it took like eight coats of paint to cover these bricks 20
HE WAS CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THE RENOVATIONS BLENDED IN WITH THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
SOT BALLARD: 543 even if things were new, we'd try to make it look old 546
FROM INDOOR CHANGES TO OUTDOOR TOUCHES...
NAT BENNETT: we added a bird bath a long time ago
THE INGLESIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A PRESERVATION OF TIME.
JUDY LE...13WMAZ...EYEWITNESS NEWS.
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO DECIDE ON WHETHER TO ADD INGLESIDE TO THE HISTORIC REGISTER.
STUDENTS FROM L. H. WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED A MOTIVATIONAL TREAT AS THEY PREPARE FOR THIS WEEKS' C-R-C-T TESTS.
IT'S A STORY THAT COMES... STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.
DARRYL JACKSON, A MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL ENCOURAGED STUDENTS TO STRIVE TO BE THE BEST.
JACKSON SAYS HE ENJOYS TALKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR ASPIRATIONS SO THEY WON'T GO DOWN THE WRONG PATH IN LIFE.
Darryl Jackson, Motivational Speaker: "We want these kids to know that they can be anything that they want to be...doctors, lawyers, teachers, and things like that. So, we want to motivate them because they are the future. They will be our future leaders. So, we're just here to inspire them, and hopefully they'll grow into fine young men and women.
THE SCHOOL SAID THE PEP RALLY WAS A TOOL TO REINFORCE YEAR ROUND LEARNING AND TO PROMOTE THE SCHOOL'S MISSION TO STRENGHTEN CHARACTER AND MAKE STUDENTS COLLEGE READY.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS C-R-C-T TESTING FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BEGINS TOMORROW AND RUNS THROUGH APRIL 18TH.
PROM SEASON IS HERE... AND WE WANT TO SEE YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE BIG NIGHT.
AND IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THE DANCE ITSELF.
IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OF YOUR DRESS.. TUX.. AND DINNER.. SEND THOSE TOO.
TO UPLOAD YOUR PICTURES.. VISIT OUR WEBSITE.. 13WMAZ DOT COM.. AND LOOK FOR THE LINK IN THE DON'T MISS BOX ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE.
CLICK THERE AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO ADD YOUR PICTURES.
YOU CAN ALSO SCROLL THROUGH SOME OF THE PICTURES WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.
ALL THAT AND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.. 13WMAZ DOT COM.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.... WE'LL BE BACK TONIGHT AT 11.
BUT REMEMBER...THE NEWS IS ALWAYS ON AT 13WMAZ.COM !
THE EVENING NEWS IS UP NEXT.
HAVE A SAFE NIGHT EVERYONE.