STRAIGHT AHEAD ON EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX.
LORI DANIELS, MACON: REST ASSURE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THIS GO IF WE HAVE TO CALL THE SHERIFF'S EVERYDAY YOU KNOW CALL 13WMAZ EVERYDAY THIS WILL NEVER BE LET GO, NOT ON THE FAMILY'S END
THE FAMILY OF A TEENAGER... SHOT BY A STRAY BULLET THAT FLEW THREW THE WALL ... ASKS FOR ANSWERS .
WE'LL HAVE RESPONSE FROM BIBB COUNTY'S SHERIFF.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW FOLKS SPENT THE FINAL DAY AT JOSHUA CUP BEFORE IT CLOSES ITS DOORS FOR GOOD.
BEN GIVES WEATHER TEASE
STAY WITH US.... EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX IS NEXT.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M LEAH JOHNSON..
AND I'M LORRA LYNCH JONES
FRANK MALLOY HAS THE EVENING OFF.
BEFORE WE GET TO OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT... SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS HAVE BEEN POPPING UP IN AND AROUND OUR VIEWING AREA FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST BEN JONES FOR THE LATEST LOOK AT YOUR WEATHER.
BEN?
CHRISTI BASS, GRAY: (58:00) "I WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR OF THE STORE WHEN IT CAME DOWN, AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST, BECAUSE I COULDN'T TELL WHERE IT CAME FROM. WHEN I LOOKED OVER, I KNEW WHAT IT WAS THEN."
BASS SAYS THE STORM WAS STRONG... BUT ONLY LASTED ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES.
SHE SAYS THE STORE'S OWNER IS WORKING WITH THE BUILDING'S OWNER TO GET THE OVERHANG REPLACED.
THANKS BEN.. WE'LL TALK WITH YOU AGAIN IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
MACON POLICE SAY THEY'RE INVESTIGATING WHETHER A MACON WOMAN CAUSED THE DEATH OF HER 11-YEAR-OLD GRAND DAUGHTER.
THEY SAY 48 YEAR OLD CYNTHIA MCCLESKY-BALDWIN BROUGHT THE GIRL TO AN URGENT-CARE CLINIC ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE THURSDAY...BUT SHE WAS DEAD WHEN THEY ARRIVED.
POLICE SAY THE GRANDDAUGHTER SHOWED SIGNS OF TRAUMA AND NEGLECT.
MCCLESKY-BALDWIN IS IN THE BIBB COUNTY JAIL...CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE CHILD CRUELTY. NO BOND HAS BEEN SET.
SO FAR....POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
TWO HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL WORKERS HAVE BEEN FIRED AFTER ACCUSATIONS OF INMATE ABUSE.
AN ATTORNEY AFFIRMED SHERIFF CULLEN TALTON'S DECISION.. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION SAID THEY USED A PRESSURE WASHER ON AN INMATE.
BRITTINY BARBER HAS MORE ON TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS.
LT. SHANNON PERRY AND CORPORAL RYAN BURLESON APPEALED THE ORIGINAL FIRING.
THE LAWYER WHO HEARD THE APPEAL SAYS BURLESON AND PERRY VIOLATED THEIR OATH OF OFFICE... BECAUSE IT REQUIRES DEPUTIES TO TREAT PRISONERS HUMANELY.
PERRY'S LAWYER.. GEORGE WILLIAMS CALLS THE FIRING... POLITICAL.
HE SAYS THE APPEAL DECISION EXPLAINS THAT.
WILLIAMS: "THE SHERRIFF IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER AND HE MUST ANSWER TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY. IT GIVES YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT THE RULING IS MADE MORE TO GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO TELL THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN TO WEIGH WHETHER THESE PEOPLE AHVE DONE ANYTHING WRONG THE MERITED ANY REAL DISIPLINARY ACTION.
HE SAID HE IS "EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT TOTALLY SURPRISED" BY THE DECISION.
WILLIAMS SAYS PERRY WORKED AT THE JAIL FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND BROUGHT A LOT OF CHARACTER WITNESSES TO THE APPEAL HEARING LAST WEEK.
HE SAYS PERRY WITNESSED THE INCIDENT .. AND DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.
BURLESON'S LAWYER STAN MARTIN... ARGUES THE PRESSURE WASHER WASN'T REALLY A PRESSURE WASHER.... AS WE KNOW IT.
IT'S NOT A PRESSURE WASHER LIKE YOU USE TO CLEAN CONCRETE. IT' SNOT REAL HIGH PRESSURE. IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE HOSE IT'S JUST AN ELECTRIC ONE IT'S NOT RUN BY A GAS ENGINE SO IT REALLY HAD NO MORE PRESSURE THAN A TYPICAL GARDEN HOSE.
I SPOKE TO SHERIFF TALTON THIS AFTERNOON... WHO SAID IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF THE PRESSURE WASHER WAS BROKEN OR NOT... INSTEAD HE FOCUSED ON THE FACT THEY THEY DECIDED TO USE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
THE INMATE HOWEVER... WAS NOT HURT IN THE INCIDENT.
BOTH LAWYERS SAY THEY PLAN TO APPEAL THE DECISION.
A THIRD DEPUTY .. SERGEANT MICHELLE BECKHAM STILL HASN'T HAD HER APPEAL HEARING.
BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SAY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A CAR THAT MAY BE CONNECTED TO THE JUNE SHOOTING OF SHAR'BORA DANIELS.
DANIELS WAS KILLED WHEN A BULLET FIRED FROM OUTSIDE HER FATHER'S HOME ON BROOKHAVEN ROAD WENT THROUGH THE WALL AND STRUCK HER IN THE HEAD.
SHERIFF JERRY MODENA SAYS INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING FOR A WHITE OR BEIGE NISSAN ALTIMA OR A SIMILAR CAR...THAT WAS SEEN SPEEDING AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AFTER THE SHOT.
SHERIFF JERRY MODENA, BIBB COUNTY:WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR HELP TO PUT THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT WALKING AWAY FROM THIS THAT WE HAVE NOT FORGOT ABOUT, THAT WE HAVE FOUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS THAT ARE WORKING ON IT EVERY DAY THAT ARE FOLLOWING EVERY LEAD AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT UNTIL THE PERSON THAT DID THIS PARTICULAR CRIME COMES FORWARD TO US.
WE CAUGHT UP WITH SHAR'BORA'S STEPMOTHER...LORI.
SHE SAYS SHE WANTS TO HEAR MORE UPDATES ON THE INVESTIGATION.
LORI DANIELS, MACON: "I JUST WISH THAT THEY WOULD LET US IN ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE FINDING OUT YOU KNOW THEY SAY THEY CAN'T RELEASE CERTAIN THINGS UNTIL THEY HAVE THIS AND THIS AND THIS BUT WE'RE HERE FAMILY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL US ANYTHING LIKE I SAID THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL US ABOUT THE CAR THAT THEY TOLD YOU SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO KNOW AND THEY SHOULD CALL US ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS JUST TOUCH BASE AND ONE OF THEM THAT CAME HERE THAT DAY I HAD THAT INTERVIEW WITH YOU SAID THEY WOULD AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT SINCE."
WE CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT LORI DANIEL'S CONCERNS.
CHIEF DEPUTY DAVID DAVIS SAYS " WE'RE CERTAINLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE FAMILY IN THEIR DESIRE TO HAVE INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
HE ADDED... THAT IN AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS...INFORMATION CAN CHANGE QUICKLY... AND HE SAID SOMETIMES HE WAITS UNTIL DETAILS ARE CONFIRMED.. BEFORE PASSING THEM ALONG TO THE FAMILY.
MODENA SAYS THEY HAVE FOUR TOP INVESTIGATORS WORKING THE CASE EVERY DAY.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN CALL CAPTAIN MIKE SMALLWOOD OR INVESTIGATOR WILLIE PURCELL AT 478-621-6801.
AGAIN THAT'S 621-6801
MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE IN BIBB COUNTY CAME OUT TO CAST THEIR VOTE... ON THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING .
ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR... ELAINE CARR SAYS.... THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER DAY DURING THE THREE WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
SHE SAID THE CROWD FORCED THEM TO EXTEND LINES OUTSIDE THE BOARD OF ELECTION'S BUILDING TODAY.
THE WAIT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES... FOR PEOPLE WHO WENT AROUND LUNCH TIME
A FEW VOTERS SAID THE WAIT WAS WORTH THEIR TIME.
LISA HARVILLE, BIBB COUNTY: (18:05) "I THINK THEY WANT TO GET THEIR VOICE HEARD. THEY WANT IT TO BE COUNTED AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET IN."
ANDY WILSON, BIBB COUNTY: (18:37) "NOT BAD. 45 MINTUES TO DO THE WHOLE THING, NOT BAD AT ALL WHEN YOU CONSIDER SOME COUNTRIES TAKE A WHOLE DAY OR TWO, AND THEIR VOTE GETS THROWN AWAY. IT'S PRETTY COOL."
CARR ESTIMATED ABOUT 68-HUNDRED PEOPLE CAST A BALLOT DURING EARLY VOTING.
ALTHOUGH EARLY VOTING IS OVER... POLLS WILL BE OPEN TUESDAY FROM 7 A-M UNTIL 7 P-M.
TODAY WAS ALSO THE FINAL DAY OF BUSINESS... FOR A MACON COFFEE SPOT THAT'S BEEN SERVING UP ITS TRADEMARK BREWS FOR TWELVE YEARS.
AS WE REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK... JOSHUA CUP'S OWNERS MADE THE DECISION TO POUR THEIR LAST DROP... AND SERVE THEIR LAST BITE... AFTER A PLAN TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP FELL THROUGH.
KATELYN HECK IS AT THE WASHINGTON AVENUE LOCATION.. WHERE CUSTOMERS CROWDED AROUND TABLES AND LINED UP AT THE COUNTER TODAY FOR A FINAL VISIT.
KATELYN HECK... FROM WASHINGTON AVENUE... THANKS.
IT HAPPENS ONLY ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS... BUT WHEN IT DOES ... THE WORLD WATCHES.
COURTNEY LYLE HAS A QUICK LOOK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2012 OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES.
THE LONDON OLYMPICS ARE OFFICIAL UNDERWAY AS THE OPENING CEREMONY STARTED AT FOUR THIS AFTERNOON.
THE SHOW BEGAN WITH A FILM ABOUT THE RIVER THAMES AND A BALLOON RELEASE.
THE BALLOONS CARRIED THE FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS UP INTO THE AIR.
THE CEREMONY IS A THREE-HOUR JOURNEY THROUGH BRITISH CULTURE AND HISTORY.
AS ALWAYS THE ATHLETES PARADED INFRONT OF THE SPECTATORS AND MANY CELEBRITIES... INCLUDING QUEEN ELIZABETH AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA.
MUCH MORE SPORTS COVERAGE TO FOLLOW... SO LORRA... LEAH.. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
THANKS, COURTNEY.
MACON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT MORE MINORITY AND WOMEN TO GET INVOLVED WITH CITY PROJECTS.
KATELYN HECK EXPLAINS WHAT YOU NEED TO GENERATE MORE BUSINESS... FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
(NATS)
AFTER 14 YEARS OF CONTRACTING EXPERIENCE (NATS) ADRIAN HARMON KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO PLACE A COMPETITIVE BID.
(SOT:PROJECTS COME FEW AND FAR BETWEEN BUT WHEN THEY COME, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED)
AS A LOCAL MINORITY BUSINESS...HE WON THE SPOT AS THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE MACON-BIBB FIRE STATION ON NEW FORSYTH ROAD... ITS AN ADDITION TO A LONG LIST OF HIS CITY AND COUNTY PROJECTS.
(SOT:WHEN YOU GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UTILIZE EVERY REFERENCE THAT YOU CAN, GIVE A GOOD FAIR COMPETITIVE NUMBER WHEN YOU INITIALLY PRICE THE JOB, A LOW PRICE NUMBER DOESNT ALWAYS WIN THE BID, YOU DO GOOD WORK AND THEN OTHER PROJECTS THAT COME ABOUT THEN YOU HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO BE AT THOSE)
(STAND-UP: TO PLACE A BID FOR A PROJECT WITH THE CITY... YOU'LL NEED TO LOG ON TO WWW.CITYOFMACON.NET... GO TO THE BUSINESS TAB... THEN UNDER "VIEW AVAILABLE BIDS" YOU'LL FIND A LIST OF PROJECTS TO CHOOSE FROM. READ THROUGH AND FILL OUT THE FORM... AND TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE DOCUMENT... YOU'LL FIND A CHECKLIST OF BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS. HARMON SAYS LOOKING OVER THIS LIST IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS)
BUT HARMON ALSO SAYS THERE ARE A FEW OTHER TIPS HE'S LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.
(SOT:A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT CONTRACTORS HAVE IN GETTING WORK AND DOUNG BUSINESS WITH THE CITY IS BEING ABLE TO CARRY THEMSELVES FOR 30 TO 45 DAYS, A LOT OF CITY AND COUNTY GOBERNMENTS SOMETIME HAVE ISSUES WITH SLOW PAYS DUE TO NO FAULT OF THE CONTRACT BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE SITUATIONS)
(NATS)
HARMON'S HAD YEARS TO HONE HIS EXPERTISE IN HOW TO LAND A BID, AND SUCCESSSFULLY EXECUTE PROJECTS. BUT FOR THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS JUST STARTING OUT... THE CITY IS CONSIDERING AN ADDED RESOURCE.
ON THE TABLE.. A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR DEAL WITH ALEX HABERSHAM... OWNER OF MACON BLACK PAGES.
IF COUNCIL PASSES THE POSITION... HABERSHAM WILL FOCUS ON HELPING BUSINESSES MARKET THEMSELVES AND PREPARE THEM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS.
(SOT:THE PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESS THATS BEING DONE WITH SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESSES CAN BE MEASURABLY INCREASED)
(NATS)
HARMON THINKS HAVING HABERSHAM ACT AS A LIASON WOULD HELP... BUT ALSO SAYS GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY IN THE LOOP.
KATELYN HECK
13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ALREADY APPROVED A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR DEAL WITH HABERSHAM.
THAT CONTRACT HAS TO PASS THE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE BEFORE GOING BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL AUGUST 7TH.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY FOR CITY PROJECTS... LOOK FOR THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE... AT 13WMAZ DOT COM.