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Tanner Sanders "I always sat next to her on the bus."
Emily White, 13years old, Mossy creek : "She was really funny, an amazing singer."
FRIENDS REMEMBERED 12-YEAR OLD INDIA COLLINS... AS BEING FULL OF LIFE.
BUT YELLOW TAPE AROUND HER HOME... SHOWS PROOF OF THE LOSS OF THEIR FRIEND.
Tanner: "I was really really sad and anybody that text me I just put my phone away. I didn't want to text anybody I didn't want to talk to anybody I just sat in my room."
mug INDIA'S 17-YEAR OLD SISTER.. CARMEN KANEISHA COLLINS... IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER.
Emily "I'm shocked, her sister was really close to her. I just can't believe it."
THE FAMILY'S MAILBOX.. HAS ALMOST TURNED IN TO A MEMORIAL.. AS PEOPLE DROPPED OFF BALLOONS AND FLOWERS.
KENNETH ANDERSON SAYS HE AND HIS WIFE SPOKE TO THE GIRLS PARENTS... AND SAYS THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO PROCESS WHAT HAPPENED.
Kenneth :"The dad is still in denial. I mean he's in a state of shock., like a blank stare on his face. No response. The wife is just distraught."
OTHER PARENTS IN THIS KATHLEEN SUBDIVISION SAY THE SITUATION HERE... IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND.
Maria Huelsman: "I just can't imagine losing either one of my kids and I just can not imagine the grief that that mother is going though at this point and time and certainly with the circumstances surrounding it.. it just wrenches your heart out."
FOR NOW... THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE.. TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT LED TO THE GIRL'S DEATH.
BRITTINY BARBER 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DETAILS.. UNTIL THEY HAVE THE RESULTS OF AN AUTOPSY THAT WAS CONDUCTED TODAY.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN CALL THE HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 478-542-2080.
THAT NUMEBR AGIAN 542-2080
SUMMER'S WARM TEMPERATURES MEAN MORE ACTIVITIES ON THE AREA'S LAKES, PONDS, AND RIVERS.
SUMMER'S WARM TEMPERATURES MEAN MORE ACTIVITIES ON THE AREA'S LAKES, PONDS, AND RIVERS.
THAT CAN TRANSLATE TO AN INCREASE IN BOATING ACCIDENTS..
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED OUT AT LAKE TOBOSOFKEE ON JULY 4TH..
THREE CHILDREN WERE TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN THE WATER..
JUDY LE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT YESTERDAY'S ACCIDENT...AND WAYS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE WHILE BOATING..
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A BOATING ACCIDENT DISRUPTED THE JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AT LAKE TOBOSOFKEE IN MACON.
sot doug furney, dir. lake tobo - the speed boat crossed into the path of the pontoon boat, struck the rope. when it struck the rope it pulled the raft with the kids on board, it wrapped around, and the kids hit the side of the speed boat
THE CHILDREN SUFFERED CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE HEAD. IT'S A MINOR ACCIDENT THAT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED.
sot doug - the operator with the 12 people on the plontoon boat...thats a distraction. and the other people they were having some boat trouble from what i understand
standup - the accident happened on this boat. that's because both drivers weren't paying attention to their surroundings. according to the us coast guard boating safety division, the number one reason for accidents is operator inattention.
ACCORDING TO THE U-S-C-G...MOST BOATING ACCIDENTS HAPPEN IN JUNE AND JULY.
sot bobby daniels, forsyth - lake brakeshire south ga we were out riding in the boat and the boat turned into another pontoon boat
sot doug - we had a really bad accident a few years ago, the worst we ever had out ehre where two boats. one was goin gon the right side the other was going too fast for the conditions. the two collided and we had two people killed.
TO LOWER THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS...DRIVERS SHOULD OBSERVE RULES OF THE WATER WHEN THEY TAKE THE WHEEL...
sot doug - it's just like a highway.you come up on the right, you go back down on the other side.
SINCE THERE ARE NO TRAFFIC LANES IN THE WATER...ALWAYS BE AWARE.
JUDY LE...13WMAZ...EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DETAILS.. UNTIL THEY HAVE THE RESULTS OF AN AUTOPSY THAT WAS CONDUCTED TODAY.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN CALL THE HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT 478-542-2080.
THAT NUMEBR AGIAN 542-2080
IT'S CAMPAIGN SEASON.... AND EACH WEEK THIS MONTH.. LEADING UP TO THE JULY 31ST VOTE..
WE WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LAW CONSOLIDATING THE CITY OF MACON AND BIBB COUNTY.. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS.
TONIGHT - WE LOOK AT HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE CONSOLIDATED.
THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES FOR BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF -
CHIEF DEPUTY DAVID DAVIS.. RETIRED CAPTAIN ALBERT HALL.. AND FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER BILL LUCAS ARE DEMOCRATS.
THERE IS ALSO A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE - MACON'S FORMER PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SHAWN FRITZ
THE BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF.. VOTED ON BY ALL CITIZENS OF MACON AND BIBB COUNTY.. WILL BE THE NEW ENTITY'S LAW ENFORCMENT LEADER.
BOTH THE MACON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAVE THEIR OWN COMMAND STRUCTURE.. MADE UP OF MAJORS.. CAPTAINS.. LIEUTENANTS AND SERGEANTS..
WE WONDERED.. IF CONSOLIDATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN PROVIDING SERVICES.. WON'T PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS?
SECTION 31.. PARAGRAPH C ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE:
"IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT AS MANY EMPLOYEES OF BIBB COUNTY, THE CITYOF MACON, AND PAYNE CITY AS FEASIBLE SHALL CONTINUE IN
THE SAME OR A SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL POSITION WITH AT LEAST THE SAME SALARY AND BENEFIT LEVEL, WHERE POSSIBLE WITHIN BUDGET
CONSTRAINTS, AFTER THE CONSOLIDATION IS COMPLETE.
BUT SECTION 30 STATES THAT THE COMMISSION.. NOT THE SHERIFF.. IS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO USE ALL PROPERTY AND PERSONNEL OF BOTH THE POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF MACON-BIBB CITIZENS.
THE COMMISSION MAY ALSO REORGANIZE, COMBINE, CONSOLIDATE, OR DISCONTINUE ANY DEPARTMENT OF AGENCY OF THE RESTRUCTURED GOVERNMENT..
AND MAY ESTABLISH.. ABOLISH OR ALTER ALL NON-ELECTED OFFICES AND POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AS NECESSARY... ALL BY ORDINANCE.. MEANING IT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE INTEGRATION PROCESS OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS BE "SEAMLESS AND COOPERATIVE."
WHAT IS NOT IN THE LAW.. IS EXACTLY HOW THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED.
LET US LINK YOU TO ALL 41 PAGES OF THE CONSOLIDATION LEGISLATION.. ON OUR WEBSITE.. 13 WMAZ DOT COM.
A VOTE OF ANOTHER KIND IS EXPECTED TONIGHT.
THE BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S 20-13 BUDGET IS ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA FOR A MEETING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
AT ISSUE...
AN EIGHT-POINT-TWO MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
PART OF THAT... THREE-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS... IS THE SAME DEFICIT THEY HAD LAST YEAR.
ANOTHER FOUR-POINT-TWO MILLION IS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL BOARD IS TAKING IN LESS MONEY... OFF STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
13-W-M-A-Z'S CANDACE ADORKA IS AT THAT MEETING.
WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP ON ANY DECISIONS THE BOARD MAKES ... ON THE AIR AND ON 13-W-M-A-Z-DOT-COM.
IN JUST ABOUT THREE WEEKS.... SOME OF THE BEST YOUNG BALL PLAYERS FROM AROUND THE SOUTHEAST WILL POUR INTO WARNER ROBINS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT.
<<nats- (file) cheering
TO KEEP FANS ENTHUSED..
nats- bat
AND BALL PLAYERS SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
quick nats- jen
SOUTHEASTERN LITTLE LEAGUE DIRECTOR JEN COLVIN SAYS SHE NEEDS A CROWD OF VOLUNTEERS.
Jen Colvin: (24:33) "Concessions are always going to be the big one."
LAST YEAR.... 220 PEOPLE SIGNED-UP... (file shot) KEEPING THE GROUNDS... SELLING MERCHANDISE... PARKING CARS AND MUCH MORE.
nats- (championship game)
BUT COLVIN SAYS FOR SOME GAMES... LIKE THE BOYS FINAL THAT ATTRACTED 12-THOUSAND FANS LAST YEAR... THEY NEED EXTRA HANDS.
Jen Colvin: (24:55) "Everybody wants to watch the game, and that's when we have the biggest crowds, resulting in the longest lines."
nats- jimmy on phone
JIMMY AUTRY LENDS HIS TIME EVERY YEAR... STARTING WITH FUNDRAISING FOR A COOKOUT TO WELCOME THE TEAMS TO WARNER ROBINS.
Jimmy Autry: (19:40) "You can call it hard work, but its also the best fun you will ever have."
AUTRY AND EVERY VOLUNTEER... NEED TO FILL OUT AN ON-LINE FORM.
Jimmy Autry: (15"00) "Everyone has to do a new volunteer application every single year, because we do a background check on everybody."
nats- (file) cheering
THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN PAST YEARS... BUT COLVIN SAYS FANS CAN EXPECT A MINOR CHANGE.
Jen Colvin: (27:15) "If you bring a pop-up tent in, take it down the same day. That was the biggest concern we had last year."
AUTRY NOTED THAT THE BEST PART OF BEING A LITTLE LEAGUE FAN...
Jimmy Autry: (17:50) "How can I get tickets? How much does it cost? It's little league. It's free."
AND THEY PLAN TO KEEP PRICES THAT WAY...
nats- playing ball
AS LONG AS KIDS WANT TO PLAY BALL.
cheers-
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IT RUNS JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 10TH.
ORGANIZERS ARE MAKING THE PITCH FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THROWING OUT A FEW MINOR CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT.
GEORGE WASHINGTON GOT A LATE FOURTH OF JULY PRESENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GUY FROM MACON... RATHER THAN THE FOUNDING FATHER.
THEY DO SHARE A NAME IN COMMON THOUGH.
TODAY ... HE SCRATCHED OFF A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR LOTTERY PRIZE.
IT GETS BETTER... HE CHOPPED HIS WAY TO THE WINNINGS ON THE RED HOT CHERRIES TICKET.
NO, THIS IS NO LIE, THE GEORGIA LOTTERY IS BEING AS HONEST AS OUR FIRST PRESIDENT WAS WHEN ASKED IF IT WAS HE WHO CHOPPED DOWN THE FABLED CHERRY TREE.
SO TODAY IN OUR WEB POLL... WE ASKED IF YOU BUDGET MONEY TO TRY YOUR LUCK.
SO FAR... EIGHT PERCENT OF YOU SAY YES...
BUT NINETY-TWO PERCENT SAY NO.
AND AS WE GO TO BREAK, HERE ARE TODAY'S LUCKY LOTTO NUMBERS.
STICK AROUND. WE'RE BACK AFTER THIS.
JOIN ME TONIGHT FOR EYEWITNESS NEWS AT ELEVEN... WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING... WHERE MEMBERS ARE DISCUSSING THE 20-13 BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
AND... GARY BECHTEL WILL BE JOINING US IN STUDIO... NOT AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER... BUT AS CANDIDATE... FOR BIBB COUNTY COMMISSION.
WE'LL ASK HIM ABOUT HIS VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND... WE TURN TO ENTERTAINMENT... AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE WEEKEND'S SPOTLIGHT EVENTS... IN TONIGHT'S SCENE 13.
THAT'S ALL AHEAD.... ON EYEWITNESS NEWS AT ELEVEN.