GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US..
I'M LEAH JOHNSON.
FRANK MALLOY HAS THE NIGHT OFF.
PROTESTS IN RESPONSE TO WEDNESDAY'S CHICK-FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY OCCURRED NATIONWIDE TODAY.
ONE GROUP -- IDENTIFYING ITSELF AS A LESBIAN-GAY-BISEXUAL AND TRANSEXUAL RIGHTS GROUP... HELD ONE RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL GEORGIA.
THE GROUP IS CALLED MACON OUT... AND THE INITIATIVE SPREAD THROUGH FACEBOOK.
THE PROTEST TOOK PLACE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHICK-FIL-A ON ZEBULON ROAD.
DEMONSTRATORS HELD UP SIGNS DISPLAYING OPPOSITION TO HATE... AND LOVE FOR THEIR HOMOSEXUAL FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY SAY THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROTEST IS TO FIGHT PEACEFULLY FOR EQUALITY.
SABRINA SABINE (SAY-BINE) SAYS SHE'S DISAPPOINTED IN THE REACTION FROM WEDNESDAY'S PROTEST AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE.
Sabrina Sabine, Perry: "Ever since Wednesday... there's been alot of hate spewed on both sides... and that's really not doing anyone any good. We're just out here. We just want to be heard."
ABOUT A DOZEN PROTESTORS SHOWED UP FOR A DEMONSTRATION THAT LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR.
THE SEARCH FOR FOUR MEN... WHOM POLICE BELIEVE MAY BE CONNECTED TO A FATAL SHOOTING CONTINUES TONIGHT.
POLICE SAY 38-YEAR-OLD KEITH MOSES WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AT HIS CRESTWOOD TERRACE HOME LAST NIGHT...
HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE DIED EARLY THIS MORNING.
ACCORDING TO POLICE.... WITNESSES SAW FOUR PEOPLE LEAVING THE HOUSE IN A WHITE FOUR DOOR CAR.
NEIGHBORS SAY THE SHOOTING LEFT THEM SHAKEN... AND QUESTIONING THEIR OWN SAFETY.
M.C. Wells, Warner Robins: We told all the kids, we ran them in the back room and we made them lay down because it really was scary you know and we just got over here about about three weeks ago and we think we're moving our kids in a safe environment but it really scary over here and you know we're gonna try to get up outta here. We're not going to stay here long.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING... YOU CAN CONTACT THE WARNER ROBINS POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 478-929-6911. AGAIN THAT'S 478-929-6911.
WHEN THE SCHOOL BELL RINGS FOR TWIGGS COUNTY STUDENTS MONDAY... THEY'LL ONLY BE SPENDING HALF A DAY IN THE CLASSROOM.
A NEWS RELEASE FOR THE DISTRICT SAYS STUDENTS WILL GET OUT AT 11-30 MONDAY DUE TO AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM.
SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THEY HOPE TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM AT THE COMBINED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL MONDAY AFTERNOON.
BUT ALL TWIGGS COUNTY STUDENTS WILL BE RELEASED EARLY... NOT JUST THOSE AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPLEX.
THEY SAY EVERYTHING SHOULD BE BACK TO NORMAL BY TUESDAY.
AND AS YOU GET READY FOR THAT SCHOOL BELL TO RING... AN EVENT OFFERS SOME FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO LESSEN THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL.
BACKPACK BLESSINGS IS AN INTIATIVE THAT COMES FROM PROJECT GIVING.
THIS SUNDAY.. AUGUST FIFTH ... AT CENTRAL CITY PARK... THE GROUP WILL BE MAKING THE MOST OF DONATIONS... AND PROVIDING A THOUSAND KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS WITH BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
ALSO OFFERED.. HEALTH PHYSICALS... EYE EXAMS... AND HAIR CUTS.
THE PROJECT GIVING EVENT HAPPENS SUNDAY FROM TWO TO SEVEN... OR AS LONG AS ENOUGH SUPPLIES ARE ON-HAND.
GEORGIA'S LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPS WERE ON THE DIAMOND TODAY.. INSTEAD OF IN THE CLASSROOM.
SOUTHEASTERN TOURNAMENT PLAY STARTED TONIGHT FOR THE BOYS.
COURTNEY LYLE WAS IN WARNER ROBINS FOR THE CRACK OF THE FIRST BAT.
LEAH... THE WARNER ROBINS WEST SQUAD STARTED POOL PLAY TONIGHT AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA AND IT WAS A TOUGH ONE FOR THE WRALL BOYS.
GOING INTO THE GAME WARNER ROBINS HAD OUTSCORED THEIR OPPONENTS 158 TO 7.... BUT GEORGIA COULD ONLY GET TWO RUNS TO COME HOME AND EXPLOSIVE HITTING FROM CAROLINA KEPT THEM ON TOP.
NORTH CAROLINA BUSTED OUT A STELLAR PERFORMANCE TO GRAB THE 10 TO 2 WIN.
GEORGIA IS NOT OUT OF IT YET.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE BOYS OF WARNER ROBINS AND WHEN THEY PLAY NEXT COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW.
LEAH?
THANKS COURTNEY.
AND REMEMBER...WE'LL BE KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP ON TWITTER ALL WEEKEND... AND YOU CAN SHARE YOUR COMMENTS TOO.
JUST USE THE HASHTAG -- #WRALL.
DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR MIRIAM PARIS LANDED TWO ENDORSEMENTS AS SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO A RUN OFF WITH HER OPPONENT DAVID LUCAS.
MACON MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT ANNOUNCED HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR PARIS AT HER PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY....
IRVING MARTINEZ.. WHO MAY HAVE FORCED THE RUN OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE ALSO SAID HE'S BACKING HIS FORMER OPPONENT.
PARIS SAID SHE'S APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF HER SUPPORTERS.
"I'm very grateful for the incredible support that we have gotten and continue to get throughout this election. There's a run off coming up on August 21st and we are certainly expecting and hoping for everyone to turn out and support this campaign."
A CROWD OF SUPPORTERS GATHERED AT PARIS' CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN MACON FRIDAY.
AMONG THE CROWD.. MACON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS LAUREN BENEDICT.. LARRY SCHLESINGER.. AND FORMER BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S CANDIDATE BILL LUCAS..... WHO'S ALSO PARIS' BROTHER.
PARIS FACES FELLOW DEMOCRAT DAVID LUCAS IN THE AUGUST 21ST RUN-OFF BECAUSE NEITHER ONE GOT THE MAJORITY VOTE.
MARTINEZ RECEIVED 5 PERCENT OF THE VOTE.
BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S CANDIDATE DAVID DAVIS.... A DEMOCRAT IS LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER WHEN HE'LL FACE OFF AGAINST HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT SHAWN FRITZ.
CHIEF DEPUTY DAVIS JOINS ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT HIS WIN IN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY AND HIS GOALS MOVING FORWARD.
1. WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT BECOMING SHERIFF?
2. WE INVITED YOUR OPPONENT... REPUBLICAN SHAWN FRITZ TO JOIN US TONIGHT BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE A BETTER FIT FOR THE POSITION OF SHERIFF?
3. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST GOAL AS SHERIFF IF YOU WIN IN NOVEMBER?
4. TALK ABOUT CONSOLIDATION AND HOW THAT WILL PLAY A ROLE IN THE WAY YOU CAMPAIGN.
5. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR BIBB COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT? WHAT WILL YOU DO THAT'S NOT BEING DONE ALREADY?
CHIEF DEPUTY DAVID DAVIS WILL FACE OFF AGAINST SHAWN FRITZ FOR BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF IN NOVEMBER.
HE FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY UNTIL HIS LIFE ENDED IN KOREA SIXTY-TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT THIS WEEK ... SERGEANT THOMAS BARKSDALE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY FINALLY RETURNED HOME.
TONIGHT... TOM GEORGE TAKES US TO A MEMORIAL SERVICE SIX DECADES IN THE MAKING.
NAT POPS.
IT WAS A FINAL FAREWELL, 62 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
< WE NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN .... >
SGT. THOMAS BARKSDALE WAS ONLY 21 WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN THE KOREAN WAR ... AND TODAY, HE FINALLY CAME HOME.
SOT - NATHANIEL VEAL / COUSIN
< I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO SAY TO SUGAR BOY, WELCOME HOME. YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING THATS BEEN DONE ON YOUR BEHALF. >
MISSING IN ACTION AND PRESUMED DEAD SINCE 1950, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO MACON AND HE WAS HONORED WITH A FULL MILITARY FUNERAL ... ( NATPOP ) AND A PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR
SOT - MAYOR ROBERT REICHERT / (D) MACON
< I DECLARE AUGUST 3, 2012 THOMAS JEFFERSON BARKSDALE DAY IN THE CITY OF MACON >
WHILE HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS CALLED HIM SERGEANT.. AT HOME, HE WAS SUGARBOY... A NICKNAME HE GOT FROM HIS DAD... WHO LIKED TO BRAG ON ALL TEN OF HIS CHILDREN.
SOT - LOUISE BUTTS / COUSIN
<HE THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL PRETTY, SWEET, AND THAT SUGAR BOY HAD A BIGGER DOSE OF IT THAN ALL OF THEM >
THE BABY OF THE FAMILY, HE GREW UP WANTING TO FOLLOW IN HIS OLDER BROTHERS' FOOTSTEPS
< ENAMORED BY SOME OF THE STORIES THAT HIS VETERAN BROTHERS BROUGHT BACK FROM THE WAR TO END ALL WARS, WORLD WAR II. >
SO WHEN HE TURNED EIGHTEEN, SUGAR BOY JOINED THE ARMY, AND FOUND HIMSELF SENT TO KOREA ... BUT NEVER CAME BACK
SOT - DAVID "HOUND" BLANTON / PATRIOIT GUARD RIDERS
< THERE WERE SO MANY CHINESE COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WE HAD DEFENDING THAT POSITION THAT THEY WERE SIMPLY OVERRAN. THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AMMUNITION TO KILL EM' ALL. >
LEFT IN A FOXHOLE IN NORTH KOREA, HIS BONES WERE RECENTLY DISCOVERED AND SENT TO HAWAII, WHERE DNA FROM HIS NIECE CONFIRMED HIS IDENTITY.
SOT - REV. HENRY FICKLIN / MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH
< IT WAS NOT THE TYPE OF DISCOVERY THAT THE KO-REANS WERE LOOKING FOR. IT WAS NOT GOLD TO THEM, BUT IT WAS GOLD TO US >
A LAST STOP, IN "SUGAR BOY"S JOURNEY HOME.
IN MACON, TOM GEORGE, 13WMAZ EYEWITNESS NEWS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAYS ALMOST 8 THOUSAND SOLDIERS FROM THE KOREAN WAR ARE STILL MISSING.
BARKSDALE WAS BURIED TODAY IN MILLEDGEVILLE.