Hello everyone.
Thank you for joining us.
I'm Frank Malloy.
And I'm Leah Johnson.
This is Eyewitness News at Six.
With the election coming up, you've probably heard a lot of political ads hitting the airwaves.
And now, even local shops are getting in on the action. Tom George spoke with a local pawn shop owner who is using the election to encourage people to buy guns.
"It was just like someone turned on a faucet and I mean it was wide open... I want two of this, 2,000 rounds of that."
At Howard's Pawn shop in Macon...the owner says it's all about of "faith, family, and firearms."
You may have heard owner Howard Reed's voice on the radio in an ad encouraging people to "stock up" on guns before the November election.
"There was fear in hearts and guts of people nationwide or else what happened before, wouldn't have occurred."
"Howard says back in 2008, the rush to buy guns was so intense that that the shelf that's fully stocked now was half gone in just two months."
Reed says his ad aims to get people to do the same in 2012.
"We were merely reminding people of the way our industry was affected before, and our ad is entirely to encourage people to come get products while we have them."
Bryan Williams...a Mercer political science professor....says it's a common tactic of pawn shops to play to people's fears of President Obama and Democrats taking away gun rights.
"Any rhetoric that's going to instigate fear is going to be money in the bank for somebody who sells the antidote to fear which is a handgun."
He says there's no evidence that the president has any plans to do that but that doesn't stop the ads from raising eyebrows.
"My opinion on that is they got too many guns, they think it's too easy to get a hold to it."
"Ooooh go ahead, get 'em, let's get in on!>"
"I don't see this election making those rights disappear."
And for now at least, it seems the ads won't disappear either.
In Macon, Tom George, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
In just a few minutes... We're going to talk to political scientist Clif Wilkinson about other issues facing the campaign... Including what President Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney need to say tomorrow night to sway those undecided voters.
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At this hour, we have a shooting to tell you about on Lamont Avenue in West Macon.
Few details are available so far...but Macon Police dispatch has confirmed at least one person was struck by gunfire.
13WMAZ is on the way to that location...we'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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We now know the name of a Bibb County Sheriff's Captain... who followed a Judge as he drove himself home...after failing a breathalyzer test.
Sheriff Jerry Modena says Judge Howard Simms registered a point-zero-eight-three on a handheld breathalyzer on September 22nd.
That passes the state standard for driving under the influence.
Modena confirmed with 13WMAZ that Captain Alden Washington is one of two deputies who allowed the judge to get behind the wheel and drive about five miles.
In a news release... Modena said Captain Washington used poor judgment by deciding to follow Judge Simms and letting him drive himself.
The sheriff says a second officer... a deputy.. Did not follow procedures by failing to give the judge a roadside sobriety test.
According to Modena.... he'll question the two officers at a hearing... and decide on any discipline later.
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We first brought you a story about the living conditions at Macon Garden Apartments last week.
Your tax dollars help pay the rent at the complex.
Judy Le tells us some tenants say they are still waiting for HUD to show up and help them.
The best way to open Kristi Yaughn's door...is from the outside.
Her door lock is broken and requires an extra pair of hands...or feet to open.
These problems are prevalent at Macon Garden Apartments...a HUD section 8 subsidized housing complex for low-income tenants. Yaughn says management started to inspect apartments after our report.
"Usually the rent lady and the maintenance man, so I mean, they see what's going on, they don't care. It's not like any higher people than them that's coming down here and inspecting these apartments."
Many of the apartments I visited were infested with cockroaches...had gaping holes in ceilings...and swampy breezeways.
"When it rains, the walkway between apartments start to flood...like this...making it hard for some tenants to walk. Some of the tenants say there hasn't been much change since I've been here."
HUD last inspected Macon Garden in May 2011. The complex was given a failing score of 35 out of 100.
"I went two summers with no air. Fans. Buy my own air conditioning units for the windows."
"My cabinets are dry rotted. I can't even use the ones underneath the sink at all."
HUD spokesman Joseph Phillips says the low score required a follow-up inspection...that never happened. An expedited inspection was requested...but has not been scheduled yet.
"(So you're skeptical, you're laughing.) Cause it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen."
Judy Le, 13WMAZ, Eyewitness News.
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The Leadership Macon group has mapped out ten locations around downtown for what they call homeless meters.
They're not actually meters....they're locations where people can donate money to groups that help the city's homeless.
The locations include the corner of Cherry and Second Streets... And in front of city hall.
Mechel McKinley says they chose spots with a lot of pedestrian traffic.
They laid out ten sites but plan to install only nine meters.
Sponsors can buy a donation station for 25-hundred dollars a year or 6-thousand dollars for three years.
McKinley says they will start installing the meters on October 30th.
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With Christmas just 83 days away... many of you have already have started your holiday shopping.
This year several stores have launched layaway programs... Some earlier than in years past and others with new incentives.
Brittiny Barber breaks down your options.. When it come to stuffing those stockings.
Many retailers work to boost their sales and expand their payment plans this time of year.
Walmart for instance.. Says they've started their layaway a month earlier this year than last.
Beginning Sept 14 at their stores across the nation.. You could place items on layaway for a five dollar fee.
You must put down ten dollars or 10 percent.. Which ever is greater.
You have until December 14 to pay it off.. And when you do... your five dollar fee will be returned to you on a giftcard.
A Walmart spokeswoman said last year was the first time since 2006... they opened the program during the holidays.
She said they brought it back this year.. Because customers overwhelmingly asked them too.
Kmart also allows you to place items on layaway and pay them off over time.
A company news releases said they've cut their service fee both on-line and in stores...
That's from Sept 7th through November 17th.
Kmart does have layaway available all year long.
And if it's gifts for the kids you're looking for...
Toys R Us also waived it's service fee this holiday season.. As long you put your purchases on layaway by Oct 31st.
20 percent must be paid up front..
And the rest paid off by December 16th.
Toys R Us also offers year-round layaway.
An interesting note from Walmart.. The spokeswoman said when they announced on Facebook they were bringing back layaway this year..... They got 71-thousand likes within an hour of the posting.
Other stores offering layaway include Sears, Marshalls, T-J Maxx.. And some Best Buy Stores.
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President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney continue to prepare for their first debate at the University of Denver tomorrow night.
Some key issues expected to be debated are jobs and the economy, the national debt and the war on terrorism.
Political scientist Clif Wilkinson joins Randall Savage to discuss the debate.
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For just a hundred dollars... you could win a 350-thousand dollar Dream Home.
The 2nd St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Central Georgia is back on track.
The plans hit a snag last spring... Because of lean on the original property.
Builder.. Jeff (La-Chef-ski) Liszewski... Has since donated a different lot he owned in the Savannah Square development.
That's in Houston County off Lake Joy Road.. Near highway 96.
Construction on the 4 bedroom, 4-bath, plus a bonus room home... Is well under way.
Money raised through ticket sales for a chance to win the house... Will support St. Jude and their fight to end childhood cancer.
Tickets for a chance to win the Dream Home go on sale after the first of the year.
We'll let you know about specific sale dates and the grand prize giveaway righT here on 13WMAZ.