ELLINGTON: I'M JUST GLAD THERE'S SOMEONE WHO WOULD WANT TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE. I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THE PAIN THAT THE GIDDINGS FAMILY HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH...
MACON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TOM ELLINGTON SUPPORTING A PROPOSED MEMORIAL HERE... IN WASHINGTON PARK...FOR MURDERED MERCER LAW GRADUATE LAUREN GIDDINGS.
BUT NOT ALL OF HIS COLLEAGUES ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M FRANK MALLOY..
AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON..
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR EYEWITNESS NEWS AT ELEVEN.
SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS STILL HOLD THEIR GROUND AGAINST ALLOWING THE MEMORIAL BENCH FOR GIDDINGS IN WASHINGTON PARK. .
KATELYN HECK EXPLAINS WHY OTHERS... ALONG WITH GIDDINGS FAMILY AND FRIENDS... PLAN TO PUT UP A FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A FITTING TRIBUTE.
AFTER HEARING RESPONSES FROM LAUREN GIDDINGS FAMILY... CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT JAMES TIMSLEY STILL OPPOSES THE IDEA OF PUTTING UP A MEMORIAL BENCH FOR THE SLAIN MERCER LAW GRAD.
(SOT KATHY MANN:I WOULD THINK THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT TO TURN AWAY A DONATION FOR A PARK BENCH OR A TREE OR AN ARBOR OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPROVE A PARK SITE."
(SOT:I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE FITTING TO HAVE THAT BENCH NEAR HER RESIDENCE BECAUSE THE SCHOOL OF LAW IS SIMPLY RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE SHE LIVED)
FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY CHOSE WASHINGTON PARK BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF GIDDINGS FAVORITE SPOTS IN MACON.
(SOT: THATS THE FAMILY OPINION AND THEYRE ENTITLED TO THAT BUT I DONT DOUBT THAT SHE DIDNT LOVE WASHINGTON PARK I DONT DOUBT THAT SHE DIDNT LOVE MERCER UNIVERSITY)
TIMLEY SAYS IF THE CITY ALLOWS THE MEMORIAL BENCH FOR GIDDINGS... THEY WILL HAVE TO GIVE EVERYONE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
(SOT:HOW MANY BENCHES DO WE PUT IN THERE? ITS A CITY PARK. AND THEN WHEN THAT ONE FILLS UP WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE? OR DO WE PUT THEM IN ALL PARKS? AND THEN DOES IT BECOME A GRAVESITE OR DOES IT BECOME MORE OF A MEMORIAL FOR GRAVES, DO YOU SEPARATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GRAVEYARD AND A CITY PARK?)
BUT TOM ELLINGTON AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS PLAN TO HELP THE GIDDINGS FAMILY FIGHT FOR A SPOT IN THE PARK.
(SOT: IM VERY SENSITIVE TO THE PAIN THAT THE GIDDINGS FAMILY HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH AND I HOPE THAT WE DONT DO ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT PAIN. I THINK THE BENCH WILL BE A NICE AND APPROPRIATE MEMORIAL FOR HER
HE SAYS AS LONG AS IT DOESNT USE TAXPAYER MONEY.... HE WOULD SUPPORT ANYONE WHO WANTED TO ADD A MEMORIAL FOR A LOST LOVED ONE.
KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
THE PUBLIC PROPERTIES COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE BENCH PROPOSAL DURING THEIR NEXT MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
AT TONIGHTS MEETING...CITY COUNCIL DECIDED IT WILL NOT PAY THEIR BILL FROM THE MIDDLE GEORGIA REGIONAL COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION WROTE THE CITY A LETTER EXPLAINING THE 37-THOUSAND DOLLAR CHARGE.
THEY SAY IT STEMS FROM EXTRA WORK HOURS NEEDED TO EXECUTE THE SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY BETWEEN MACON AND BIBB COUNTY.
MACON ALREADY SHELLS OUT 77-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR IN DUES FOR THE COMMISSION... AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS DONT THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO PAY ANY MORE THAN THAT.
HUTTO: WE DID ASK FOR AN ITEMIZED BILL, YOU KNOW, ON SUCH DAY WE MET FOR 45 MINUTES, ON SUCH DAY WE CAME UP WITH A NARRATIVE FOR YOU OR SOMETHING, BUT THAT NEVER CAME TO US. THEY FINALLY AFTER THE FACT SENT US A PAGE AND A HALF LETTER THAT SAID 'WELL WE SORT OF ESTIMATE THAT WE SPENT THIS NUMBER OF HOURS' UNFORTUNATELY THATS JUST NOT SUFFICIENT.
LUCAS:I FELT THAT WE WERE BEING DOUBLE BILLED BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY PAYING THE MEMBERSHIP DUES. I APPLAUD THE REGIONAL COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY DO EXCELLENT WORK BUT I DONT SEE WHY THE CITY SHOULD PAY TWICE FOR THE SAME SERVICES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE REGIONAL COMMISSION... BUT MANY OF THEM STILL DON'T PLAN TO PAY THE BILL.
A MAJOR INSTITUTION AT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE HAS A NEW NAME AND A NEW LEADER AT THE HELM.
A CEREMONY AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION MARKED AN HISTORIC CHANGE FOR THE BASE.
NATS- CEREMONY
AIR FORCE LEADERS DEACTIVATED THE 402ND MAINTENANCE WING THAT EMPLOYS NEARLY 9-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
ITS NAME CHANGED FROM THE WARNER ROBINS AIR LOGISTICS CENTER TO THE AIR LOGISTICS COMPLEX.... AS PART OF AN AIR FORCE-WIDE RESTRUCTURING PLAN TO CUT COSTS.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CEDRIC GEORGE TOOK THE REIGNS AS THE COMPLEX'S FIRST COMMANDER.
HE DESCRIBED HIS PHILOSOPHY COMING INTO THE POSITION.
BRIG. GEN. CEDRIC GEORGE: (10:50) "HERE'S HOW MAMA TAUGHT ME AND DADDY TAUGHT ME. YOU DO WELL IN THE JOB YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, LET EVERYTHING ELSE SORT OUT. I HAVE NO ASPIRATIONS FOR FUTURE, OTHER JOBS. IT IS TO GET THIS JOB DONE WELL. WHEN THE RECORD IS, WHEN EVERYTHING IS DONE, ACTUALLY I OPERATE ON THIS PRINCIPLE. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, I WANT MORE DONE THAN SAID."
GENERAL GEORGE WILL SHARE COMMAND AT ROBINS WITH COLONEL MITCH (BUTE-EH-COUGH-ER) BUTIKOFER.
GEORGE WILL LEAD MAINTENANCE... AND BUTIKOFER WILL LEAD THE 78TH AIR BASE WING.
ONE OF OUR AREA'S STATE SENATORS IS HOPING TO KEEP *HIS* CURRENT POST... AND TODAY, HE LANDED A RE-ELECTION ENDORSEMENT FROM GEORGIA'S HIGHEST RANKING ELECTED OFFICIAL.
GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL FORMALLY THREW HIS SUPPORT BEHIND STATE SENATOR CECIL STATON.. HOLDER OF THE DISTRICT EIGHTEEN SEAT.. DURING A LUNCHEON AT MERCER UNIVERSITY.
SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.. INCLUDING SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM TOMMY WILLIAMS ATTENDED THE FUNCTION.
STATON.. A MACON REPUBLICAN AND THE SENATE'S MAJORITY WHIP.. TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPORT HE'S SEEING.
CECIL STATON, STATE SENATOR: I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR, PRESIDENT PRO-TEM TOMMY WILLIAMS, SEN. SCHAFFER, SEN. RONNIE CHANCE, THE FLOOR LEADER, THEY WOULD BE DOWN TODAY TO JOIN IN THIS EVENT TWO WEEKS BEFORE PRIMARY TO LEND THEIR NAMES AND THEIR SUPPORT TO MY CAMPAIGN.
CECIL STATON, STATE SENATOR: I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR, PRESIDENT PRO-TEM TOMMY WILLIAMS, SEN. SCHAFFER, SEN. RONNIE CHANCE, THE FLOOR LEADER, THEY WOULD BE DOWN TODAY TO JOIN IN THIS EVENT TWO WEEKS BEFORE PRIMARY TO LEND THEIR NAMES AND THEIR SUPPORT TO MY CAMPAIGN.
STATON MEETS DOCTOR SPENCER PRICE IN THE JULY 31ST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.. THERE ISN'T A DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE.. SO THE WINNER GETS THE SEAT.
STATON MEETS DOCTOR SPENCER PRICE IN THE JULY 31ST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.. THERE ISN'T A DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE.. SO THE WINNER GETS THE SEAT.
MEANWHILE IN A NEWS RELEASE.. FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HERMAN CAIN THREW HIS SUPPORT BEHIND PRICE.. CALLING HIM "A TRUE PATRIOT AND A REAL AMERICAN HERO".
TOMORROW... LOVED ONES WILL GATHER TO REMEMBER AN EATONTON SOLDIER WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY....
A PROCESSIONAL IS PLANNED FOR SPECIALIST ERICA ALECKSEN, STARTING AT THE GREENSBORO AIRPORT JUST BEFORE NOON.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICE IS SET FOR 6:30 P.M., AT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EATONTON.
ALECKSEN AND FIVE OTHER SOLDIERS WERE KILLED LAST WEEK WHEN A ROADSIDE BOMB STRUCK A TANK IN THE WARDAK PROVINCE OF AFGHANISTAN.
MACON SAID GOODBYE TO ITS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN... FEMALE DJ TODAY.
PALMIRA... "HONEY BEE"... BRASWELL PASSED AWAY LAST WEDNESDAY.
FAMILY... FRIENDS... AND STAPLES OF 50S ERA MACON RADIO... FILLED GREATER ALLEN CHAPEL
A-M-E CHURCH TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND LEGACY.
NATS: SINGING
A CEREMONY FIT FOR A LEGEND BEGAN WITH MUSIC FROM A CHOIR AND FOND MEMORIES FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
SOT: YOUR LOSS IS DEEP AND YOUR SORROW IS GREAT AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE SHARE WITH YOU...
MACON'S GREATER ALLEN CHAPEL AME CHURCH DREW IN A FULL HOUSE OF THE LEGEND'S ADMIRERS.
NATS: AND GOD TOOK HER....
THOSE WHO KNEW PALMIRA HONEYBEE BRASWELL BEST COMMENDED HER EFFORTS AS AN EDUCATOR... AND HER LOVE FOR HELPING CHILDREN.
OTHERS... WERE INSPIRED BY HER CAREER IN RADIO AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN AND MINORITIES HAD A TOUGH TIME BREAKING INTO THE BUSINESS.
SOT: SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OPENING DOORS FOR BLACKS IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE NOW HAVE OF COURSE MORE BLACK DJS, WEATHER PEOPLE, CAMERA CREWS, STATION MANAGERS AND WE EVEN HAVE OWNERS AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE PALMIRA WAS THERE TO OPEN THE DOORS AND KEEP IT AJAR FOR YOU TO COME IN.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE... NIKKI RANDALL TALKED ABOUT HOW BRASWELL HELPED SHAPE AND SUPPORT HER CAREER.
SHE WOULD ALWAYS DROP ME A NOTE AND SAY, YOU GO GIRL AND SHE ALWAYS DID THAT WHENEVER I SAW HER. SHE WOULD CALL ME AND ENCOURAGE ME. WHEN I RAN THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS NOT ONE EVENT THAT I HAD THAT PALMIRA BRASWELL WASN'T THERE.
A SUPPORTER... MENTOR.. TEACHER AND FRIEND...WHO MANY HERE SAY THEY WILL DEEPLY MISS.
SHE WAS VERY RESPECTFUL, VERY SMART AND I REALLY ADMIRED HER. I REALLY ADMIRED HER.
NATS: SINGING OVER PICTURE...
BRASWELL WAS EIGHTY FOUR YEARS OLD.
STAY WITH US.
AT THE BIBB COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING THIS MORNING...THE ROOM WAS DIVIDED OVER POLICY CHANGES AT THE COUNTY'S ANIMAL SHELTER...
AND AS TENSIONS ESCALETED, IT HAD ONE LESS PERSON IN IT.
JUDY LE TELLS THAT STORY.
WENDY - THE ONLY FOCUS IS THE ANIMAL
THE DISCUSSION OVER ANIMAL WELFARE AT THE BIBB COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MEETING TUESDAY MORNING SPARKED CONCERNS OVER THE SHELTER'S ANIMAL CAPACITY AND POLICY'S ON EUTHANASIA.
WENDY HILLIARD DEPT OF AGRICULTURE - IF WE HAVE A FACILITY THAT WILL HOUSE... THERE ARE 80 KENNELS. IT'S NOT A CONTINUAL TAKE IN.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOE ALLEN STORMED OUT AS TALK OF THE NECESSITY OF EUTHANASIA ERUPTED.
HE WOULDN'T SAY WHY...BUT HE HAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLICLY DISAGREED WITH THE SHELTER'S POLICY....SAYING THEY NEED TO SAVE MORE ANIMALS. THAT'S HARD TO DO WHEN THE SHELTER HAS REACHED ITS 80-ANIMAL CAP.
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LAST WEEK AND MONDAY YESTERDAY... THERE WERE CALLS THAT TOTALED 269 DOGS AND 85 CATS THAT WE DID NOT RESPOND TO BECAUSE WE'RE FULL."
ATTENDENTS WERE DIVIDED OVER THIS ISSUE.
EDWINA BARNES, CHAIR AND FOUNDER FOR HUMANE SERVICES IN MACON AND GEORGIA: THEY CAN CERTAINLY BE LOW KILL AND THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO A LOT OF THINGS TO IMPROVE THEIR NUMBERS BUT AS FAR AS BEING NO KILL THEY CANNOT DO IT.
PATTI JONES, GA CARES - I MEAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS PHILOSOPHY THAT WAS POPULAR 20ADN 30 YEARS AGO. AND THATS NOT APPROPRIATE NOW.
COMMISSIONER EDWARDS, BIBB COUNTY: THE REALITY IS WE HAVE A SHELTER WITH LIMITED CAPACITY THAT'S REALLY EVEN MORE LIMITED THAN I THOUGHT AT FIRST.
SINCE BIBB COUNTY TOOK OVER THE SHELTER JULY FIRST...THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW POLICY CHANGES...
PATTI JONES - WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER A FORMULA WHERE YOU DECREASE THE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS ALLOWED INTO THE SHELTER AND INCREASING THE ADOPTION FEE AT THE SAME TIME. THAT WOULD RESULT IN FEWER ADOPTIONS.
THE FEE INCREASED TO 80 DOLLARS...UP FIVE DOLLARS...AND REQUIRES A 50-DOLLAR REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.
ANOTHER BIG CHANGE IS THE OPEN-DOOR POLICY.
IT ALLOWS ANYONE TO DROP OFF AN ANIMAL AT THE SHELTER.
IT'S THE SAME REASON FORMER SHELTER HEAD...VAN VANDEWALKER...RESIGNED JUST ONE DAY EARLIER.
JUDY LE...13WMAZ...EYEWITNESS NEWS
THE COMMISSIONERS PUSHED FORWARD PLANS FOR A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER.
THEY STARTED A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE LOCATIONS. COMMISSIONER LONZY EDWARDS WILL SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.