Lori Daniels, Macon: Shy would be like Wow I don't think she knew she touched people the way she did.
THAT WAS SHAR-BORA DANIELS' STEP-MOTHER... AT A MEMORIAL FOR THE 18-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS KILLED WHEN A STRAY BULLET CAME THROUGH A WALL AND HIT HER.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I'M FRANK MALLOY.
LEAH JOHNSON HAS THE NIGHT OFF.
SHABORRA DANIELS DIED IN JUNE ..WHEN A BULLET FIRED FROM OUTSIDE HER FATHER'S HOUSE...WENT THROUGH A WALL...HITTING HER IN THE HEAD.
TODAY - ABOUT 50 PEOPLE GATHERED AT CITY HALL WHERE SHARBORA'S FAMILY RECEIVED A PLAQUE FROM FRANK DIXON OF MACON PEACEKEEPERS.
AUSTIN LEWIS WAS THERE.
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nats of prayer...
THE SHAR'BORA DANIELS DEDICATION STARTED WITH A PRAYER FOR THE TEEN'S FAMILY.
Lori Daniels, Macon:It's a great feeling when you see the community reaech out to your family like this it don't normally happen but when it does it helps us heal.
Lotisha Ponder, Macon: I loved it, I loved it because it let you know whoever that did this know that we loved her you know we want to find out who did this because it;s really hard to sleep not knowing who did it
ABOUT 50 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS...GATHERED AS COMMUNITY LEADERS SPOKE ABOUT THE TRAGIC DEATH OF SHAR'BORA DANIELS.
Mayor Reichert: We wanted to come and express condolences to the family but also try to reassure the family that the death of this fine young woman is noticed by the community, she will be missed and hopefully she will inspire changes of the way we do things to prevent other senseless acts like this.
FRANK DIXON OF THE MACON PEACEKEEPERS WHO...ORGANIZED THE DEDICATION...AND PRESENTED THE PLAQUE.
Lori Daniels, Macon: I thought about shy at that instant I was wondering does she see this what's going on for her does she know that we're not going to let this go until her killer is caught and like her daddy said she would probably saying, Daddy all this for me.
SOME FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY LOVED THE DEDICATION...BUT THE PAIN OF LOSING SHAR'BORA STILL LINGERS.
Lotisha Ponder, Macon: It was sad for her, you know to just have your 18th birthday, you know not long to graduate and then go right back to the school you know for her funeral.
AUSTIN LEWIS 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
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FRANK DIXON SAYS THEY WILL PRESENTA PROPOSAL TO TEH BIBB COUNTYS CHOOL BOARD FOR A MEMORIAL AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL..
DIXON ALSO SAYS DAVID BOOKER OF THE N-DOUBLE A-C-P IS SETTING UP AN ONGOING VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE FUND IN HONOR OF SHAR'BORA.
AT THE DEDICATION TO ONE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED...WE ASKED MAYOR REICHERT ABOUT A MEMORIAL THAT CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING FOR ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE DEATH ROCKED THE COMMUNITY MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. .
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE PUT ON HOLD THE REQUEST FOR A MEMORIAL BENCH FOR LAUREN GIDDINGS AT WASHINGTON PARK.
REICHERT TOLD US THAT HE SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF DEDICATING THE BENCH.
Mayor Robert Reichert: I am in favor of that I think a park bench is a wonderful way to serve as a useful and practical memorial so that it serves mulitple purposes of who the victim was but number two it serves it's purpose as a park bench that people can sit rest and reflect so it serves multiple multiple purposes so I have no problem with it
GIDDINGS IS THE MERCER LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE MURDERED IN JUNE 2011.
CLASSMATE STEPHEN MCDANIEL IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER BUT HAS NOT YET GONE TO TRIAL.
TRAFFIC SNARLED ON I-16 FOR HOURS TONIGHT... AFTER A DEADLY ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN OVERTURNED TRACTOR TRAILER.
THAT CRASH KILLED 58-YEAR OLD WILLIE FLANTROY... FROM DECATUR, GEORGIA.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO BIBB COUNTY CORONER LEON JONES.
EASTBOUND TRAFFIC GROUND TO A HALT WHEN FLANTROY'S LOG TRUCK FLIPPED... AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE.
JONES SAID FLANTROY WAS HEADED WEST AROUND FIVE'O'CLOCK... WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AROUND MILE MARKER THREE... CROSSED THE MEDIAN, AND FLIPPED ONTO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
DRIVERS WERE STALLED WITH NOWHERE TO GO FOR HOURS... WHILE CREWS WORKED TO CLEAN UP THE WRECK.
THE LANES FINALLY CLEARED AROUND EIGHT O'CLOCK.
WARNER ROBINS POLICE OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO A SHOOTING IN THE
900 BLOCK OF CRESTWOOD TERRACE JUST AFTER 8'O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
THAT'S IN AN AREA RIGHT OFF HIGHWAY 247.
SPOKESWOMAN TABITHA PUGH SAID A VICTIM IS BEING TREATED AT THE MEDICAL CENTER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA.
NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
ONLY THREE OF THE 12 REGIONS IN GEORGIA PASSED THE TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.. OR T-SPLOST ON TUESDAY.
LAURENS COUNTY IS PART OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE HEART OF GEORGIA REGION.. WHICH APPROVED THE ONE CENT SALES TAX.
BRITTINY BARBER TAKES US THERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECTS THE REVENUE FROM T-SPLOST WOULD FUND.
ONLY THREE OF THE 12 REGIONS IN GEORGIA PASSED THE TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.. OR T-SPLOST ON TUESDAY.
LAURENS COUNTY IS PART OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE HEART OF GEORGIA REGION.. WHICH APPROVED THE ONE CENT SALES TAX.
BRITTINY BARBER TAKES US THERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECTS THE REVENUE FROM T-SPLOST WOULD FUND.
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gail with dogs
FOR 12 YEARS.. GAIL ROGERS HAS CALLED SPRINGHAVEN ROAD IN LAURENS COUNTY HOME.
Gail: "Like right here."
SHE POINTS OUT POT HOLES... AND PATCHWORK ALONG THE ROAD.
Gail: "alot of people use it as a cut through form 441 to 257."
AND THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC HAS ONLY INCREASED SINCE WEST LAURENS HIGH SCHOOL OPENED A FEW YEARS AGO.
NATS: See they don;t slow down.
BUT SPRINGHAVEN AND SEVERAL OTHER ROADS IN LAURENS COUNTY WILL NOW GET A FACELIFT.. AFTER THE T-SPLOST WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN THAT REGION.
Gail: "I didn't want it to go through but if they're really going to use it for the right reasons then that's a positive definitely."
THE ONE PERCENT SALES TAX WILL RAISE MONEY FOR DOZENS OF PROJECTS FROM BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS.. TO ROAD PAVING AND RESURFACING.
CG THE BIGGEST PROJECTS ON TAP.. ACCORDING TO COUNTY COMMISSIONER BUDDY ADAMS.. WILL BE A BRIDGE OVER THE OCONEE RIVER AT BLACKSHEAR'S FERRY... AND WIDENING OF HILLCREST PARKWAY.
NATS OF CARS.
ADAMS HOPES THOSE PROJECTS WILL BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT....
THE T-SPLOST WILL ALSO HELP FUND.. DOZENS OF PROJECTS IN BLECKLEY.. AND DODGE COUNTIES.
NATS.
AND FOR ROGERS.. THE UPGRADES ON HER STREET ARE A WELCOMED SIGN.
Gail: "I think it's for the safety of the students and teachers and everybody else traveling on it, I think it's a real good thing."
THAT ONE PERCENT SALES TAX TO FUND THE PROJECTS... STARTS JANUARY FIRST OF NEXT YEAR.
BRITTINY BARBER 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
THE SPLOST APPEARED ON BALLOTS ALL OVER THE STATE TUESDAY.. BUT AS BRITTINY EXPLAINED... HAD TO BE APPROVED IN REGIONAL BLOCKS.
IN ADDITION TO THE HEART OF GEORGIA REGION.. THE TWO OTHER REGIONS THAT APPROVED THE T-SPLOST CONTAIN CENTRAL GEORGIA COUNTIES.
THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER REGION COVERS HANCOCK AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES..
PROJECTS FOR HANCOCK COUNTY INCLUDE:
IMPROVEMENTS ON GETTIS STREET.. AND ALONG HIGHWAY 22 WEST.. AS WELL AS S-R 15.. THE SPARTA BYPASS.
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY..
THE SANDERSVILLE BYPASS.. STATE ROUTE 15 WILL BE UPGRADED.. AND DEEPSTEP ROAD WILL BE RESURFACED.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS FOR THE REGION ARE IN RICHMOND COUNTY.. WHICH IS AUGUSTA.. AND COLUMBIA COUNTY.. WHERE I-20 CROSSES INTO SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE RIVER VALLEY REGION ALSO APPROVED THE T-SPLOST.. AND INCLUDES CRISP.. DOOLY.. MACON AND TAYLOR COUNTIES..
PROJECTS IN CRISP COUNTY INCLUDE
THE WIDENING OF U-S 280 FROM THE COUNTY LINE TO THE S-R 300 CONNECTOR.. AND A BRIDGE ON THE HIGHWAY OVER LAKE BLACKSHEAR.
IN DOOLY COUNTY..
U-S 41 WILL GET PASSING LANES AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
STATE ROUTE 224 IN MACON COUNTY WILL ALSO GET PASSING LANES..
THE BRIDGE OVER WHITEWATER CREEK ON STATE ROUTE 128 WILL BE REPLACED.. AND EAST RAILROAD STREET WILL BE WIDENED.
IN TAYLOR COUNTY..
THE BICKLEY ROAD BRIDGE OVER PATSILIGIA CREEK WILL BE REPLACED.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS IN THIS REGION ARE IN MUSCOGEE COUNTY.. WHICH IS COLUMBUS.
DOUG CALLAWAY.. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGIA TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE SAYS.. PROJECTS WILL BE UNDER LOCAL CONTROL.
TO SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF THE T-SPLOST PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA.. GO TO OUR WEBSITE..
ACCORDING TO SPAN-G-A ... SUICIDE WAS THE STATE'S TENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN 2009 AMONG PEOPLE AGES TEN TO TWENTY-FOUR.
AND THE DEATH RATE FROM SUICIDE IS HIGHER IN GEORGIA THAN THE RATE OF HOMICIDE.
JENNIFER MOULLIET SHOWS YOU ONE DUO FROM ARIZONA WHO ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT BY SPREADING AWARENESS... ONE MILE AT A TIME.
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ZACHARY CHIPPS AND THOMAS BROWN MET EACH OTHER AT WORK... AND SOON REALIZED THEY HAD A PAINFULL LOSS IN COMMON.
Thomas Brown: "We both loss brothers to suicide."
IT'S WHY THEY SAY THEY'RE TRAVELING SEVEN THOUSAND MILES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THEIR BIKES... TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND HELP PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE.
Thomas Brown:"You're not alone, there are other people out there that have experienced the same trauma and through community you can get through it."
THEIR JOURNEY STARTED IN SAN FRANCISCO... AND TWENTY-ONE STATES LATER... IT TOOK THEM TO MACON.
NATS
MARLA FARRIS WORKS WITH AT-RISK YOUTH IN MACON AND AGREES SUICIDE IS AN EPIDEMIC... AND SAYS WE NEED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IT SO WE CAN PREVENT IT.
MARLA FARRIS "Suicide doesn't just affect the person that dies it affects the whole family I would dare say that you couldn't go to one of these events and not be effected and not feel healed in some way."
BROWN AND CHIPP WANT TO SPREAD THEIR SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE AROUND THE COUNTRY... AND IN MACON.
Thomas Brown:"It's a tough journey and you just have to have faith in the process, and you will discover your own process, it's different for everybody, there's no timeline and no two journies are the same."
FARRIS SAYS SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE THIS ONE HELP THE HEALING PROCESS.
MARLA FARRIS "It's a kind of comfort that you can't find anywhere else to know that someone has been there and knows how you feel."
Zachary Chipp:"You really identify with people not because you understand their experience because a guy that lost his wife is different than me who lost his older brother but what we have in common are a lot of the same questions afterwards a lot of the same kinds of pain and confusion and how am I supposed to feel and what am I supposed to do?"
CHIPP SAYS HE'LL KEEP HIS JOURNEY FOREVER ON HIS ARM...
JENNIFER MOULLIET 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BROWN AND CHIPP'S JOURNEY VISIT W-W-W DOT RISE PHOENIX DOT ORG.
AND FOR INFORMATION ON SUICIDE SURVIVOR GROUPS VISIT OUR WEBSITE 13 WMAZ DOT COM AND LOOK FOR THIS WEB STORY.