<Eyewitness News at 11 open>
Good evening.
Thanks for joining us.
And I'm Leah Johnson.
You'll see Frank Malloy a little later on Football Friday Night.
Our top story tonight.... A Macon surgery center says it has almost contacted all the patients who could have been put at risk of fungal meningitis from an injected steroid.
Federal and state health authorities say the drugs were contaminated with fungal meningitis, a potentially-deadly disease.
The Forsyth Street Ambulatory Surgery Center is the only facility in Georgia that received a shipment of the steroid from the New England Compounding Center where the contamination originated.
Doctor Chuck Richardson, president of the Surgery Center says all the medicine has since been returned.
His staff identified 186 patients potentially at risk.
According to the doctor... 6 patients complained about mild symptoms, but their meningitis tests came back clean.
<We've called all the patients dating back to July to be sure they havent had any symptoms similar to the ones described in the media, none of them have and we don't expect them to but we continue to follow that on a daily basis and our staff is making phone calls constantly all day long to emake sure patient safety is ensured and we'll continue to give good quality medical care.>
Meningitis is the swelling of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. It's typically caused by a virus or bacteria. Health officials say fungal meningitis is extremely rare.
An 18-year-old Macon man is in the Bibb County jail tonight in connection with a drive-by shooting that happened earlier this week.
Jeremi Hill is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Investigators say 18-year-old Corey Jackson was shot Tuesday afternoon in the 1100 block of Lamont Street.
The shots came from the back seat of the car..
According to the police report.. Jackson was shot in the back as he tried to get away from the gunfire..
Police say Jackson was taken to the hospital... in stable condition.
Hill remains at the Bibb County jail..
Police say they expect to make more arrests..
Anyone with information on this shooting should call Crimestoppers at 1-877-68- crime...again that number is 1-877-68-crime...
An 18 year old Bibb County student was arrested for bringing a gun onto school property today According to A news release from the Bibb County school district.
Administrators responded to a report of a weapon on campus at Rutland High School around 10 o'clock.
The release says they found a small caliber handgun inside a locked car in the school parking lot this morning.
Campus police approached an 18-year-old female student who then gave them permission to search the car.
The student was arrested and charged with felony possession of a weapon on school grounds.
Bibb County Sheriff's Deputies say large commercial box top trailers were stolen and being sold for scrap metal.
According to a news release, investigators say they discovered twenty-one stolen commercial trailers on the property of KT Recycling on Jeffersonville Road in east Macon.
They arrested 34 year old Bradley Blackshear and charged him with twenty-one counts of felony theft by receiving on October 4th.
A Preliminary investigation revealed that Blackshear sold all of the trailers to KT Recycling over the course of several months in 2012.
The release says Blackshear is the owner of Q&B Trucking of Macon.
This was his third arrest in Bibb County and additional arrests are possible.
People who've been out of work for a while.. may be able to get more unemployment benefits soon..
The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that it'll send out notices outlining how to file for benefits to those eligible for additional Emergency Unemployment Compensation..
The E-U-C program was established in 2008..
compensation is available to people who have used up all levels of emergency compensation and who no longer qualify for regular unemployment benefits.
Georgia's emergency unemployment insurance program goes into effect beginning Sunday.
The state's unemployment rate averaged just above nine percent for June, July and August.
Unemployment moved front and center in the presidential campaign today.. after the Labor Department reported the jobless rate had fallen below eight percent..
That's the first time since January 2009 when President Obama officially took office.
Emily Schmidt has more.
<THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REPORTED FRIDAY WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED... DOWN 3 TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT TO SINK BELOW THE 8 PERCENT MARK. GOOD NEWS? DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.
If the numbers are accurate, that is always a positive thing. I don't know how you can spin it negatively, but I am sure some one will . 10:27:14
HE'S RIGHT: ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR, ONE NUMBER HAS MANY INTERPRETATIONS. PRESIDENT OBAMA TOLD A FAIRFAX VIRGINIA CROWD THIS:
This morning, we found out the unemployment rate is the lowest since I took office. (cheers)
HE SAID THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO HELP MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, AND SAID THAT'S WHY HE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.
Today's news is not a reason to try to talk down the economy to score a few political points.
MITT ROMNEY TOLD SUPPORTERS IN ABINGDON VIRGINIA, THE COUNTRY HASN'T COME FAR ENOUGH
We can do better. We don't have to stay on this path.
BUSINESSES ADDED 114-THOUSAND JOBS IN SEPTEMBER--SLOWER THAN GROWTH EARLIER IN THE SUMMER. ROMNEY POINTED OUT--THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOESN'T REFLECT PEOPLE WHO STOPPED LOOKING FOR WORK.
If the same share of people were participating in the workforce today as the day President Obama got elected, unemployment would be around 11 percent.
8-POINT-8 MILLION PEOPLE LOST JOBS DURING THE RECESSION---JUST UNDER HALF OF THOSE JOBS HAVE BEEN ADDED BACK. THAT MEANS MILLIONS OF JOBS STILL TO GO, AND A TASK THAT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN THE 32 DAYS REMAINING UNTIL THE ELECTION.
IN WASHINGTON, I'M EMILY SCHMIDT.
Early voting is already underway in several key swing states.... including Virginia... Florida and Ohio.
The Voter registration deadline in Georgia is this Tuesday, October 9th.
If you're in the market for some home appliances.. Then you're in luck this weekend.
It's the State of Georgia's tax free holiday on energy efficient products.
Now through Sunday you can get a break on sales tax.
Some of the products that qualify include Air conditioners... Dishwashers.. refrigerators.. And Dehumidifiers.
They must come with an Energy Star or Watersense label... And cost $1,500 or less.
Home Depot is one of many stores in Central Georgia where you can purchase those products.
Appliance specialist Dawn Musgrove says going green can help you save a few bucks.
<It's going to cut down on the energy use and of course your washing machines are going to cut down on the hot water usage.It saves about 90 percent of you energy is to produce hot water so it cut out all of that now and they're all washing and rinsing in cold water >
For a complete list of qualifying items and for more information.. Find this story on our website 13WMAZ-DOT-Com.
People planning to use the Warner Robins branch of the Houston County Library System... Listen up.
The NOLA Brantley Library on Watson Boulevard will close October 22nd For the next nine months to a year.
No worries.
You'll still have access to books.. Computers and other resources during the library's 2-point-one million dollar renovation and expansion.
The library will temporarily relocate across the street to an old bank building.
The temporary location will open October 29th.
Library Director Karen Odom says the selection won't be the same... but the inconvenience will be worth it.. When NOLA Brantley looks like this.. When it reopens next year.
<We're moving an extremely small amount of the population of materials, computers, fiction, reference, things like that to our temporary facility. We will still be able to get anything anybody wants in. They need to reserve the items to come from different branches.>
Odom says the renovations are being paid for with money from the 2006 Houston County SPLOST collection.
She says more than 14-thousand people visit the library each year.
The Go Fish Education Center in Perry.. Now has a new program For the youngest generation.
It's called... Camp Little Minnow.
Lindsey Clark enjoyed some time on the bank with her kids... And others at the Go Fish Education Center.
< Thought it would be a fun thing to take the kids to and get out of the house and they really seem to enjoy it.>
Usually you don't see many tots here... But Fridays will be different now.
< To get younger children interactive in the natural aspect of fishing and animals and just give them something fun to see and do.>
Nancy McEver is excited about the program. She says it includes craft time... A short movie... And tour of the center.
< Their attention span is kind of short so we keep things moving here.>
The first day of the program introduced the tots to turtles and fishes... But every week will focus on a different aspect of wildlife.
< It depends on the age group of the child, older kids, three year olds may be more interested in snakes than turtles but we always bring out something to get them started.>
Clark says the age range is just right for her 2 year old... And 8 month old.
< I think that at that age, they're just really able to engage more when they're able to touch things and see things.>
< It was very hands on and my kids really tend to enjoy that.>
Besides learning to fish...eight little ones explored the center today... and even spent some face to face time with an alligator.
< I thought it was very educational and I think the kids really enjoyed it even at their young age.>
Clark encourages more parents to bring their tots next week... To the adventure.
If you're interested in placing your toddler in Camp Little Minnow... You can stop by the Go Fish Center.
The program is every Friday... From 10 until noon.
Problems with the manager on duty and not keeping food at the right temperature.. are just a few of the issues that came up when the health inspector stopped in to Central Georgia diners this week.
Brittiny barber joins us now with this week's Restaurant Ratings
MAMA JACK'S at 2295 JEFFERSONVILLE RD got an 87... A "B"... The last time they were inspected they received a 71... or a "C".
CARRABBA'S on RIVERPLACE Drive scored an 86... Also a "B"... On their last inspection they got a 91.. Which is an "A".
And LOS COMALES at 67-17 HAWKINSVILLE Road brought in an 84.. A "B"... That's after they got a 100 on their last inspection.
Now for a look at the top scores of the week.
SALEEM'S FISH SUPREME.. On PIO NONO AVE raked in a 100.. On their last inspection they had the same score.
HOOTER'S at 1-12 RIVERSIDE PKWY brought in a 97.. The last time the health inspector was there they got a 100.
And GOLDEN CORRAL on PRESIDENTIAL PKWY has a 100... They score a 99 on their last inspection.
We've averaged our nominees last five score... And this week's Golden Spatula goes to...
SALEEM'S FISH SUPREME.. that has a five score average of a perfect 100.
Congratulations to everyone at Saleem's. You can tune in next week to find out more Restaurant Ratings.
Brittiny Barber 13wmaz eyewitness news
For all your Restaurant Ratings.. You can go to our website 13wmaz-dot-com
The weather today was perfect for turning Macon into the Mediterranean at the Central Georgia Greek Festival at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.
Hundreds gathered for some live music, fun, and of course ... Greek food ...
The festival started at 11 this morning and the fun continues through Sunday ...
You can stop by to sample a few Greek favorites like baklava, spanakopita, and of course gyros....
The church is at 859 First Street in Macon...
James Bond fans are celebrating half a century of success on the silver screen. The first Bond film premiered in London fifty years ago today. CBS' Monica Villamizar reports from the British capital.
(NO EXCERPTING - NO INTERNET)
(sky news - for cbs affiliates and o&o use only, no access united kingdom)
He may have turned 50 but his character never ages..
(MANDATORY COURTESY: BOND 50 BLUE-RAY COLLECTION/MGM STUDIOS INC.) (:05-:10)
NAT SOT - (CONNERY) BOND - JAMES BOND.
The world first saw the British spy - played by Sean Connery - in 1962.
(sky news - for cbs affiliates and o&o use only, no access united kingdom.)
NATS....CAMERA SNAPS (old bond girls at car for anniversary)
3 of the bond girls reunited for the occasion.
(SOT - Britt ekland/FORMER BOND GIRL) (:15-:20)
Being a bond girl, and i am a bond girl despite my age, its like being a member of a very exclusive club
(MANDATORY COURTESY: BOND 50 BLUE-RAY COLLECTION/MGM STUDIOS INC.) (:21-:33)
The bond 'women' say the film's themes were sometimes silly.
Britt Ekland caused an enemy's bunker to self-destruct -- while wearing a bikini.
NATS...CASINO SCENE...
50 years ago -- Eunice Gayson played poker with 007.
(sot- Eunice Gayson/former bond girl) (:34-:38) *fast font*
Its every man's dream isn't it : james bond...
(MANDATORY COURTESY: BOND 50 BLUE-RAY COLLECTION/MGM STUDIOS INC.) (:39-:47)
Pierce Brosnan - the fifth actor to play Bond confesses -- he was nervous about the role
(rtv video - for cbs stations and contracted reuters clients only)
(SOT - PIERCE BROSNAN/ACTOR) (:48-:52)
ALL EYES ARE ON YOU AND I HAVE TO SAY...James bond - james bond ---james bond--- '
(STANDUP BRIDGE) (MONICA VILLAMIZAR/LONDON) (:53-1:00)
double 007 's worK TOOK HIM around the globe... but HE always returned to here to London. and the headquarters of the secret intelligence service - known as mi6.
(rtv video - for cbs stations and contracted reuters clients only)
The author of the spy series, Ian Fleming, was a secret agent himself.
His writings and famous items featured in james bond films are being auctioned at Christies in London
The crown jewel: this aston martin... used in a car chase in Quantum of solace..
(sky news - for cbs affiliates and o&o use only, no access united kingdom)
NATS UP......SHOOTING (filming in istanbul of skyfall - from sky news)
The franchise is set to release its 23rd film - Skyfall
Daniel Craig : James Bond number 6 - still has -- a license to kill.
Movie theaters are offering up a little something for everyone this weekend...
From suspense to music..to animation..
Liam Neeson is back...as retired CIA operative Bryan Mills...in "taken 2"...
This time around Mills and his wife are the ones kidnapped by a man avenging his son's death..
Mills killed the man while rescuing his own daughter years earlier...
"taken 2" is rated pg-13.
College has never sounded so good in the musical "Pitch Perfect".
An all-girls singing group in need of a remix... finds their secret weapon in a fellow student.
If they can find the right harmony... They'll be singing their way to the top in no time.
"Pitch Perfect" is rated pg-13.
If your looking to get in the Halloween spirit, check out "frankenweenie" from the creative mind of Tim Burton.
A young boy brings his dog Sparky back to life but Sparky... isn't quite the same.
"frankenweenie" is rated pg.
Thank you for joining us... First Mornin' comes your way at 5 a.m.
The news is always on at 13WMAZ dot com.
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Have a safe night everyone.