Eyewitness News at 11, 8-30-12

Good evening, everyone.

I'm Frank Malloy.

And I'm Leah Johnson.

Our top story--- you just saw the conclusion of the Republican National Convention-- as Mitt Romney delivered his acceptance speech as the official 2012 presidential candidate.

Danielle Nottingham was at the convention hall in Tampa.

Thanks Ben. We'll talk to you again a little later in this newscast.

One year ago... Macon city leaders responded to a string of teen crimes as a call to action.

Last year... August 24th...

Someone shot two Westside high school students on the way to their bus stop on Virginia Drive.

One teen was shot in the chest.. another in the leg. Both survived.

Just three days later on Saturday, August 27th... 3 teens were shot after a party at Alexander Ballroom on Eisenhower Parkway.

A sixteen-year-old died from a gunshot wound to the head.

While those high-profile cases prompted public attention....and ultimately, the development of an anti-crime plan...there were actually fewer homicides in 2011...than there have been in eight

Let's take a look at the numbers from the Macon Police Department....

14 homicides so far this year... That's compared to 13 last year. That was the lowest number since 19-94.

In 2010....there were twenty-two homicides within the city limits.

Now as for other major crimes...homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and burglary, known as part one crimes, are down 14 percent.

When you break that number down.. Larcenies dropped 13 percent..

and there have been 310 fewer burglaries this year than last.

Robberies.. However... are slightly up one percent.

So after a year of tracking youth crime...and launching outreach efforts designed to intervene in youth violence where it starts... we talked to Mayor Robert Reichert today about where we stand now.

Reichert says the Macon Police Department plays a large role in executing the anti-crime efforts, but believes the entire community should take a stand against youth violence.

That's why the city partnered with the Bibb County school district this year to influence kids to stay in school... And out of trouble.

<I would say three-fourths of the effort is not reactive, but proactive; it's working with the education system to keep kids from dropping out, keep hope alive as Jessie Jackson suggested that we do 25 years ago. Once kids lose hope, they quit trying, their grades go down, they either drop out, or get thrown out, or expelled. Once their out of school it's a one way street downhill.>

Reichert says work is also a key part of keeping teens busy doing something constructive...and Macon Bibb Workforce Development leaders say...the city's reached out to them as well.

Another component involved a panel...of clergy members and community leaders.

Al Tillman was a member of that panel...which had its last meeting in December.

And while the panel dissolved...he says the work continues.

Part of that work involves inviting people associated with gangs to not only attend community events, but to help plan them.

He says this allows them to take ownership of their neighborhood and the city.

<"i'm not trying to sit here and paint a picture and say that folks are not out here in gangs, folks are not out here committing crimes, that's true, but not everybody. And some of these guys we can take, and we can rehabilitate them, and we can let them be a part of what we're doing to help further change this. And I think this is what the mayor's committee was all about and I think it's working.">

For much more on our look back at the anti-crime plan...look for all our coverage...at 13wmaz-dot-com.

Another component involved a panel...of clergy members and community leaders.

Al Tillman was a member of that panel...which had its last meeting in December.

And while the panel dissolved...he says the work continues.

Part of that work involves inviting people associated with gangs to not only attend community events, but to help plan them.

He says this allows them to take ownership of their neighborhood and the city.

<"i'm not trying to sit here and paint a picture and say that folks are not out here in gangs, folks are not out here committing crimes, that's true, but not everybody. And some of these guys we can take, and we can rehabilitate them, and we can let them be a part of what we're doing to help further change this. And I think this is what the mayor's committee was all about and I think it's working.">

For much more on our look back at the anti-crime plan...look for all our coverage...at 13wmaz-dot-com.

For about three years...another group has been working to transform Macon from a different angle.

The College Hill Alliance has focused on redevelopment of the area around Mercer.

But now its future hangs in the balance.

Candace Adorka reports the organization is asking a foundation for more money to last another three years.

2006 was when Alex Morrison and a group of his Mercer University classmates had the idea to revitalize the swath of land between Mercer University and downtown Macon.

<this concept that could help add jobs, improve homes and create this sense of place in this area that could extend the footprint of both Mercer and Downtown.>

The College Hill Alliance...a non profit organization... was born in 2009 with 2 million Dollars from the Knight Foundation.

<we've been focusing on creating affordable housing as well as well paying jobs and lifestyle enhancements like free events.>

Morrison says the alliance has made giant strides in improving College Hill's streets...parks and homes...and the neighborhood's quality of life.

<it's been what our wildest dreams of that first phase were. It's been everything we had hoped it would be, and it's been accelerated.>

The alliance has had a hand in The Lofts at Mercer Village... The Bealls Hill Neighborhood... The bear trail... And other improvements.

Communications Director Nadia Osman says it all adds up to about 25 million dollars in neighborhood improvements... But their role is temporary.

<the idea of the College Hill Alliance is that we will close our doors and at the end of it, we would have empowered citizens and local organizations to take over this area and to really do great things.>

For example, the InTown Neighborhood Association and Magnolia Street Residents have taken over Movie Nights in the Park and The annual Soap Box Derby.

But Josh Rogers....a former staffer who was there at the start....says it's not time to cut the purse strings.

<now it's time for the knight Foundation to really slam the gas pedals to the floor and lets see what we can do. We've shown that we're a good steward of the funds, we're a great investment and can produce great results.>

<letting the Alliance disappear and say it's been a job well done, which it has been, would be a mistake>

So next month, the Knight Foundation will consider whether to give the Alliance 2.3 million dollars through 2015.

<there's always more work to be done, more work to be kick started and that next phase of what we see as the end of the college hill corridor, the philosophical end is job creation and I think that that's what the alliance is primed and ready to do.>

Candace Adorka 13 wmaz eyewitness news.

The Knight Foundation was created more than 60 years ago by the owners of the Knight-Ridder Newspaper company.

The foundation has chapters in 26 communities where the company owned newspapers, including Macon.

And it was his love for this town...that pulled Macon's virtuoso violinist home to central georgia by the heartstrings.

The Grand Opera house was packed with classical music lovers...who came to see the Grammy nominated Robert McDuffie direct in the city he loves.

<we are so grateful to the whole Mercer orbit for making this a successful venture.>

Tonight...he led Mercer faculty artists and the McDuffie Center String Ensemble...in pieces like Serenade in C Major...and the Aaron Copland composition, Hoe Down.

McDuffie's traveled the world...received a Grammy nod...and currently lives in New York... But in an interview with 13WMAZ earlier this week, he told us he'll always consider Macon home.

Stay with us.

Welcome to Scene 13...your place to be for Labor Day Weekend...

In Macon, the holiday is dedicated to soul man Arthur "bo" Ponder...a contemporary of the late, great Otis Redding...

Ponder has been involved in the music biz for more than 40 years.

Most recently..he headlined this year's Cherry Blossom Festival as the lead singer of "Old Soul".

Friends of Bo Ponder kicked off the celebration yesterday..

It continues tomorrow night at Grant's Lounge with Big Mike and Just Friends.

The Big Mike Band takes the stage at 7 followed by Just Friends at 10..

Sunday it wraps up with Music down at the River Walk in honor of Bo Ponder.

There are also plenty of tunes at the Hummingbird in downtown Macon..

The Scott Little Band will take the stage tomorrow night at 10.

And on Saturday night..The Wall performs...starting at 10

Admission for both shows is 5 dollars..

This is also the last weekend for "Boeing Boeing" at the Macon Little Theatre.

The comedy is about a architect in Paris...juggling three fiances...all flight attendants..

Tickets are 18 dollars for adults, 15 for seniors and 10 dollars for students..

For reasons you probably don't have to guess at... the show's not recommended for children under 12..so send that babysitter a text and plan a grown-up's night out.

For reservations..call the Macon Little Theatre box office at 478-477-3342...again that number is 478-477-3342.

You can get a little art in this weekend..at the Gallery at the Macon Arts Alliance..

"Size Matters" features large-scale works by local artists..

The exhibit is open from 11 a.m. Until 5 p.m. Tomorrow and from 11 to 3 Saturday.,

At the Museum of Arts and Sciences..Native American Points and Prints is the main attraction.

The exhibit ends Sunday.

Admission is 10 dollars for adults, 8 dollars for seniors...7 for students and free for children 2 and under.

If you're walking down the streets of Atlanta this weekend...you may see a Pokemon character...Superman...or even Batman.

That's because Dragon Con is going on...and about 55-thousand comic book characters and superheroes are taking over the city.

Austin Lewis talked to some Central Georgians ...Soon to be headed north.

Candice Johnson is talking about her costume as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek...

she says with her Dragon Con tickets in hand...she's ready to return to Atlanta as Afro Ninja.

<Candice Johnson, Macon: Cause you don't get to do that everyday I mean if you dress up in a costume Monday through Friday kind of job it would be kind of weird it's kinda like you can do things you want to do for these four days. >

But just last year...Candice didn't know what to expect so she didn't dress up...and she quickly found out that super heroes...anime ...and other fantasy characters were the norm...

So her rather conservative get-up was slightly out of place.

< it was kinda like man if I would have known I would have worn

something. >

<nats of emilie johnson: This is the tail of the costume >

This won't be a problem for first-time Dragon-Con goer Emilie Johnson...the tail is part of her becoming Lugia from Pokemon.

<Emilie Johnson, Bonaire: Cause when I was a little girl I was a big nerd about it and Lugia was my favorite one when I figured out about this convention stuff dressing up as characters I automatically picked I was like I want to be him I can finally be him. >

as her costume comes together for the weekend...she says she can't wait to show off what she came up with.

<Emilie Johnson, Bonaire When you dress in a costume and stuff you can walk around and people will watch you and stare at you and wonder what you're doing but it's gonna be exciting I am really ready to do this I am so happy to go.>

As for Candice...she hopes her costume is good enough...that it will make those who were like her last year...stop and want to take a photo with her.

<Candice Johnson, Macon: I would feel really happy cause that's all I did last year I took pictures with everybody. So it would be nice to actually to be in some of the pictures. >

Austin Lewis 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.

Now Dragon Con is not just about who has the most outrageous costumes.

There will be exhibitions for attendees...and special guests including Macon native Carrie Preston of "True Blood"...Lou Ferrigno from "the Incredible Hulk"..and rocker Alice Cooper.

Check it out... Hannah Duckworth is today's 13WMAZ Facebook Fan of the Day.

Congratulations to you Hannah.

E-mail us at 13WMAZ to claim your coffee mug.

If you want to be fan of the day... Just visit facebook dot com slash 13WMAZ... Become a fan and join the conversations.