GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
I'M FRANK MALLOY..
AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON..THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.. A MACON MAN FACES MURDER CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF HIS 3-MONTH-OLD BABY.
A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE MACON POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS PARAMEDICS ANSWERED A CALL TO A HOME ON EDNA PLACE ON SATURDAY.
WHEN THEY GOT THERE... THEY FOUND THE BABY UNRESPONSIVE.
MEDICAL EXAMINERS SAY THE BABY'S FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTED ABUSE... BUT POLICE AREN'T SAYING EXACTLY HOW THE CHILD DIED.
TODAY, POLICE CHARGED RICHARD ALLEN HICKS THE THIRD WITH FELONY MURDER AND FELONY CRUELTY.
HE WAS TAKEN TO THE BIBB COUNTY L-E-C... WHERE HE'S CURRENTLY BEING HELD.
WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ON THIS STORY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
FRIENDS OF LAUREN GIDDINGS WANT TO PUT UP A MEMORIAL FOR THE MERCER LAW GRAD AT A MACON PARK... BUT NOT EVERYONE'S IN FAVOR.
THE PROPOSAL DOMINATED PART OF THE CONVERSATION AMONG MACON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THEIR MEETING TONIGHT.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKED TO NAME A BENCH IN WASHINGTON PARK IN HONOR OF LAUREN GIDDINGS.
BUT COUNCIL PRESIDENT JAMES TIMLEY SPOKE UP IN TONIGHTS MEETING AND SAID... ALLOWING THAT WOULD OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES FOR THE CITY.
"MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE GIDDINGS FAMILY, BUT MY THING IS WHEN WE START NAMING BENCHES,I DONT CARE WHO PAYS FOR IT, IN OUR CITY PARKS, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE CITY, HOW FAR DO WE GO BACK? AND WHAT LEVEL OF TRAGEDY DOES IT REQUIRE?"
BUT OTHERS FIRED BACK ARGUING THAT THE CITY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BENCH.
GIDDINGS FRIENDS PLAN TO HOLD A MEMORIAL CELEBRATION AT WASHINGTON PARK ON AUGUST 25TH... AND COUNCIL MEMBER LAUREN BENEDICT SAYS SHE SEES NO HARM IN AT LEAST CONSIDERING THEIR REQUEST FOR A BENCH.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T PUT A MEMORIAL BENCH OR A PLAQUE UP UNFORTUNATELY FOR EVERY TRGEDY THAT OCCURS IN THIS CITY OR ANY OTHER, BUT THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS AN ORGANIZED GROUP THAT HAS COME TO US AND ASKED US TO PLACE A MEMORIAL BENCH FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY SERIOUS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOUR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE AGREED WITH BENEDICT.
THE REQUEST WILL GO BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL TOMORROW NIGHT... BEFORE HEADING TO THE PUBLIC PROPERTIES COMMITTEE.
FRANK? LEAH?
THANK YOU KATELYN.
ALSO AT TONIGHTS COMMITEE MEETING... SOME MEMBERS OBJECTED TO A 37-THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL FROM THE MIDDLE GEORGIA REGIONAL COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION SAYS THE CHARGE IS FOR EXTRA WORK HOURS NEEDED TO TRANSFER FIVE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY.
ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY... MACON AND BIBB COUNTY AGREED TO SPLIT ANY FEES RACKED UP DURING THE SWITCH.
BUT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THE CITY ALREADY PAYS MORE THAN 70-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE COMMISSION EACH YEAR FOR SERVICES... AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PICK UP THE EXTRA COST.
A MAJORITY OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AGREED TO SHELL OUT THE MONEY... BUT SOME MEMBERS STILL BELIEVE THE CITY IS BEING CHARGED MORE FOR SERVICES THEY ALREADY PAY FOR.
"HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN SEE THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS IN MAKING ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT OR COMMITMENT TO PAY THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONWHICH IS PAID BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS ALREADY. WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO ACCUMULATE A RESERVE OR A BUDGET RESERVE I DONT KNOW, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF MACON."
THE FULL COUNCIL WILL TAKE A VOTE TOMORROW NIGHT ON THAT AS WELL.
MORE CHANGES WILL BE ON THE WAY IF THE MACON-BIBB CONSOLIDATION PASSES IN THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.
AND NOT JUST FOR COUNCIL.
PAYNE CITY... A TOWN WITHIN A TOWN... WOULD NO MORE BE UNDER A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE LIVE ON THE 26 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED BETWEEN VINEVILLE... ROFF... AND BROOKDALE AVENUES.
IT'S SURROUNDED BY THE CITY OF MACON.
(NAT - NICE PEOPEL OVER HERE... ELDERLY PEOPLE KNOW IT AS PAYNE CITY. THEY DON'T WANT MACON TO TAKE OVER PAYNE CITY).
THE BILL SAYS SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY MACON WOULD CONTINUE.... BUT WILL COME FROM THE NEW CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT.
PAYNE CITY MAYOR...GRACE MCCRIMMONS SAYS SHE'S GOING TO VOTE NO ON ELECTION DAY ...BECAUSE SHE WANTS THE TOWN TO REMAIN A SMALL COMMUNITY.
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
ONE YOUNG RESIDENT WE SPOKE WITH SAYS... PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE KNOWS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE.
MORE CHANGES WILL BE ON THE WAY IF THE MACON-BIBB CONSOLIDATION PASSES IN THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.
AND NOT JUST FOR COUNCIL.
PAYNE CITY... A TOWN WITHIN A TOWN... WOULD NO MORE BE UNDER A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE LIVE ON THE 26 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED BETWEEN VINEVILLE... ROFF... AND BROOKDALE AVENUES.
IT'S SURROUNDED BY THE CITY OF MACON.
(NAT - NICE PEOPEL OVER HERE... ELDERLY PEOPLE KNOW IT AS PAYNE CITY. THEY DON'T WANT MACON TO TAKE OVER PAYNE CITY).
THE BILL SAYS SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY MACON WOULD CONTINUE.... BUT WILL COME FROM THE NEW CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT.
PAYNE CITY MAYOR...GRACE MCCRIMMONS SAYS SHE'S GOING TO VOTE NO ON ELECTION DAY ...BECAUSE SHE WANTS THE TOWN TO REMAIN A SMALL COMMUNITY.
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
ONE YOUNG RESIDENT WE SPOKE WITH SAYS... PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE KNOWS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE.
ZENTWANE HEWITT - MY FRIEND TRUE AND TAY TAY STAY THERE..AND MY GRANDMA STAYS UP THE STREET TOO
PAYNE CITY WAS FOUNDED AS A MILL TOWN IN 1899.
FORMER MACON ANIMAL SHELTER CHIEF... VAN VANDEWALKER (VAN-DEE-WALKER) SAYS... HE BELIEVES IN A LOW-KILL SHELTER....AND HE COULDN'T DO THE JOB BIBB COUNTY LEADERS WERE ASKING HIM TO DO IN GOOD CONSCIENCE.
HE CITES CHANGES MADE WHEN THE COUNTY TOOK OVER THE SHELTER JULY FIRST.
ONE OF THEM... INCLUDED A CHANGE IN HIS ROLE...WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT HIM DIRECTLY IN CHARGE OF CHOOSING WHICH ANIMALS WOULD BE EUTHANIZED.
SOT - I TRIED MY BEST TO GET EACH ANIMAL OUT THERE.I THINK THAT'S WHAT A SHELTER SHOUDL DO. IT'S JUST THAT THEY INSTITUTED AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WHERE NO ANIMALS ARE TURNED AWAY. THERE ARE ANIMALS OUT THERE THAT NEED HELP. BUT I DON'T THINK AN OWNER SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO JUST BRING HIS DOG DOWN AND DROP IT OFF TO BE EUTHANIZED OR TAKEN A CHANCE ON IT BEIGN ADOPTED.
BACK IN MAY...VANDEWALKER WAS THE MACON ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER IN CHARGE OF GETTING ALL 90 ANIMALS ADOPTED BECAUSE THE SHELTER WAS OVERRUN WITH A MICE AND COCKROACH INFESTATION.
HIS TEAM HAD TWO WEEKS...AND BY THE LAST DAY...ALL ANIMALS WERE SAVED.
SINCE JULY...BIBB COUNTY HAS TAKEN OVER THE SHELTER AND EVEN HIRED A NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT...DEBORAH BIGGS...TO OVERSEE DAILY BUSINESS.
VANDEWALKER SAYS THE CHANGES THAT FOLLOWED LED TO HIS RESIGNATION.
"I KIND OF DECIDED ON IT FRIDAY REALLY WHEN THEY GAVE ME A NEW JOB ADN THAT WAS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER SLASH SHELTER POPULATION COORDINATOR. PART OF THAT JOB I DO DISAGREE WITH IS SELECTING DOGS FOR EUTHANASIA. WHEN YOU'RE KILLING EVERY WEEK ADN YOU'RE THE ONE DECIDING WHICH CAT OR DOG DIES. THAT REALLY WEIGHS ON YOU A GREAT DEAL.
VANDEWALKER SAYS HE HAS TO FACE HIMSELF EVERYDAY...AND TOLD US... HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE REASON CERTAIN ANIMALS WOULD BE EUTHANIZED.
HE DIDN'T SHARE WHAT HIS FUTURE PLANS MIGHT BE.
THE CITY OF WARNER ROBINS IS TACKLING A PROJECT MAYOR CHUCK SHAHEEN SAYS, WILL BE THE BIGGEST CITY EFFORT IN TWENTY YEARS.
COUNCIL AGREED TONIGHT TO PAY FOR RUNNING A SEWER LINE TO PROPERTY ALONG HIGHWAY 41.
THE AREA STARTS NEAR THE PUBLIX AT THE CORNER OF THE 247 CONNECTOR.. AND HIGHWAY 41.
THE LINE WILL RUN A FEW MILES SOUTH TO THE RUSSELL PARKWAY EXTENSION....
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN ROBBINS SAYS PRIVATE DEVELOPERS PLAN TO BUILD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX... SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY AND SHOPPING CENTER ON WHAT'S NOW UNDEVELOPED LAND.
CAROLYN ROBBINS, COUNCIL MEMBER: "WERE VERY EXCITED, BECAUSE ONCE WE GET THE SEWER OUT THERE, WEVE GOT DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS THAT ARE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN EXPANDING. ANY KIND OF NEW GROWTH WE CAN GET GOING IN THE CITY IS PROGRESS FOR US."
THE CITY WILL PAY ABOUT 332-THOUSAND DOLLARS UP-FRONT FOR THE EXPANSION... BUT ROBBINS SAYS THE DEVELOPERS PLAN TO PAY BACK ABOUT 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THAT COST.
CONSTRUCTION ON THE SEWER LINE SHOULD TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS
. GROUND HASN'T BEEN BROKEN ON THE SEWER EXPANSION YET... BUT WARNER ROBINS CITY HALL BECAME A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OVER THE WEEKEND.
MAYOR CHUCK SHAHEEN SAYS THE CITY'S IN THE PROCESS OF 75-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF RENOVATIONS.
CREWS RIPPED OUT THE COUNTER WHERE PEOPLE PAY BILLS AND DO MOST OF THEIR CITY BUSINESS.
THE OFFICES IN THAT AREA.. HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CITY HALL.
SHAHEEN SAYS THE WORK WILL MAKE THE AREA MORE SECURE FOR EMPLOYEES THAT DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC... AND PROVIDE FASTER SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS.
CHUCK SHAHEEN, MAYOR OF WARNER ROBINS: "I JUST DON'T LIKE LINES. WHEN I COME OUT HERE AND I SEE THREE OR FOUR LINES, I'LL GO GET MR. MATTOX AND GET MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE. THIS WAY PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SIT, WHEN THEY GET READY, THEIR NUMBER WILL BE CALLED AND THEY CAN COME AND SIT IN FRONT OF AN EMPLOYEE TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON THEIR WATER, SEWER OR NATURAL GAS. IT'S GOING TO BE SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT AND A LITTLE BIT PRIVATE, TOO."
SHAHEEN SAYS THE WORK WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO COMPLETE.
U-S-A BOXING HAS ADDED SOME MUSCLE TO ITS TEAM.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WOMEN BOXERS WILL COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS IN LONDON.
DREW LEVINSON WATCHED RINGSIDE AT THE OLYMPIC TRAINING FACILITY IN COLORADO SPRINGS.
<<
(--SUGGESTED LEDE--)
TRT 1:27
(--PKG--)
(--NATSOUND TRAINING, TWO WOMEN HITTING PUNCHING BAG--) BOXING
THESE WOMEN AREN'T PULLING ANY PUNCHES - THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THE GOLD
(--NATSOUND WIDE OF BOXERS TRAINING--)
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOMEN WILL BE BOXING IN THE OLYMPICS.
(:08-:15) (--SOT: QUEEN UNDERWOOD/USA BOXING--)
"TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST TO MAKE HISTORY, GO AND REPRESENT IN LONDON FOR THESE OLYMPIC GAMES JUST MEANS THE WORLD TO ME."
(--DISSOLVE INTO QUEEN BOXING--) BOXING
28-YEAR OLD QUEEN UNDERWOOD IS A 132 POUND LIGHTWEIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPION.
THE SEATTLE NATIVE IS ONE OF THREE AMERICAN WOMEN HEADED TO THE GAMES.
(--CLARESSA BOXING--)BOXING
17-YEAR-OLD CLARESSA SHIELDS IS ALSO GOING.
AT 165-POUNDS, THIS MIDDLEWEIGHT FROM FLINT, MICHIGAN IS THE BABY OF THE TEAM.
(--SOT: CLARESSA SHIELDS/USA BOXING--)
"I FEEL LIKE I AM EVERYBODY'S LITTLE SISTER YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ."
(:38-:45) (--STANDUP: DREW LEVINSON REPORTING--)
" WOMEN HAVE BEEN BOXING FOR YEARS, BUT IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF PERSUADING AND POLITICKING TO FINALLY CONVINCE THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE IT AN OLYMPIC SPORT " .
FOR THESE BOXERS, IT'S ABOUT TIME. ( ....THEY'VE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE RING).
(:54-:59) (---SOT: CLARESSA SHIELDS/USA BOXING--)
I'M DOING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY AND EVEN MORE. WHEN THE SUMMER COMES I TRAIN TWICE, THREE TIMES A DAY"
YOU'VE GOT TO BE DISCIPLINED?"
YOU GOT TO BE, OR ELSE THIS IS NOT THE SPORT FOR YOU"
(--NATSOUND COACH TRAINING BOXERS--) YELLING
THE WOMEN TRAIN WITH THE MEN AND ARE TREATED THE SAME.
(--NATSOUND BOXING AND COVER THE QUESTION WITH B-ROLL--) BOXING
(--SOT; QUEEN UNDERWOOD/USA BOXING--)
"THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO SEE A WOMAN BOXER AND SAY WHY? SO WHY?
"WHEN THEY SEE US WOMEN BOXERS THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WOW INSTEAD OF WHY.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S IDEAS ABOUT WOMEN BOXING. WE'RE JUST GOING TO OPEN UP A LOT OF PEOPLE'S EYES"
AND THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR BEST SHOT AT OLYMPIC GOLD.
>>
22-YEAR OLD MARLEN ESPARZA IS THE THIRD WOMAN ON THE USA BOXING TEAM.
SHE'S A 112 POUND FLYWEIGHT FROM HOUSTON.
ONE OF CENTRAL GEORGIA'S OWN SPORTS HUBS IN COMBINING THE LOVE OF ATHLETICS... WHICH THE SOUNDS OF A LOCAL ARTIST.
THE GEORGIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME IS TEAMING UP WITH MACON'S OWN JAZZ GUITARIST... JOEY STUCKEY TO RELEASE HIS NEW ALBUM... AND SERVE A WORTHY CAUSE.
STUCKEY AND BEN SAPP... MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME... ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR CONNECTION.
THE CONCERT WILL HAPPEN INSIDE THE HALL OF FAME THEATER... WHERE CREWS WILL SET UP A STAGE ON THE THEATER FLOOR.
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE CONCERT WILL GO TO THE GEORGIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME AND THE JAZZ ASSOCIATION OF MACON.
THE JAZZ ASSOCIATION WILL FUND A ONE-THOUSAND DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP... FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS... WITH THEIR PROCEEDS.
PRISCILLA ESSER, JAZZ ASSOCIATION OF MACON: "IT CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY DEEM NECESSARY. EQUIPMENT... HOUSING... AND IT'S GIVEN TO A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR... OR A FIRST YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT AND THIS WILL BE OUR 9TH YEAR IN AWARDING THAT. SO... WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN."
THE CONCERT IS SCEDULED FOR FRIDAY... JULY 20TH AT 7:30 P.M.
TICKETS ARE 15 DOLLARS EACH... OR 25 DOLLARS PER COUPLE.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE IN THE LOCKER ROOM GIFT STORE AT THE GEORGIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME..
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