Hello everyone. Thank you for joining us.
I'm Frank Malloy.
And I'm Leah Johnson.
This is Eyewitness News at Six.
We begin with new developments in the murder of a Macon woman..
Investigators continued their search today of the home of 58-year Gail Spencer who was found murdered.
Police spent several hours at the Stinsonville Road house looking for additional evidence. Investigator Fred Carmichael told 13WMAZ they had already obtained most of their evidence before, but today decided to make another sweep.
Police yesterday also searched Echeconnee Creek for a handgun and cellphone that may also be connected to the case.
Four people have been charged with felony murder.
Keith Anthony Dozier, who waived his right to a commitment hearing yesterday before Judge Cedric Leslie ...
Fellow defendants... Tracy Jones and Michael Brett Kelly, who also waived that right.
And Courtney Kelly, who said she did not understand the murder charge she now faces... And will have a commitment hearing on October 24.
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A prison inmate serving a life sentence stabbed a Telfair prison corrections officer to death Thursday night.
That's according to the state Department of Corrections.
They say the victim is 46-year-old Larry Stell....who worked for the agency since 2001.
Todd Lowery, special agent in charge of the GBI's Eastman office, says the inmate used some kind of homemade knife to stab Stell.
He would not identify the inmate, whom he said has been moved to another prison. He also said the inmate has not been charged.
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A Warner Robins woman was bitten by a fox Thursday .... and she's not the only one.
Austin Lewis talked to the woman about how a normal afternoon... suddenly turned scary.
Patricia Douglas was sitting on her porch with Samantha Driskell...a child that she babysits, when they noticed something peeping at them through her fence.
<Patricia Douglas, Warner Robins:He was a gray fox and he was about as big he was as big as a man's upper part arm that's how big he was. >
<Samantha Driskell, Warner Robins: Well I thought he looked all cuddly and I didn't see the blood or anything on him from far away >
When the two of them started to make their way back inside...that's when the fox that looked similar to this one... appeared again...Douglas says this time it was closer...and had its eyes on Samantha.
<Patricia Douglas, Warner Robins:Well he had an awful sound it was kinda like he was growling and he had blood and saliva coming out of his mouth and he was just running, he was not running he was walking like something was wrong with him and that's why I told her to run to the house because he didn't look right. >
And as the girl ran inside the house, The fox that was like this one bit Douglas on the finger, leg...and upper thigh.
She said she started to bleed on the concrete...but she was able to put the fox in a chokehold.
<Patricia Douglas, Warner Robins:I was thinking about him having rabies and when I thought about that then it really made me try to get my hands around his neck that's the only way I can stop him from biting me because I had kicked him away and he just kept coming back.>
With a neighbor's help...they put the fox under this blue bin...but Douglas says...the fox chewed through it and escaped.
<Samantha Driskell, Warner Robins: I was so scared that he was going to come after me or he was going to really hurt Miss Patty I love her. >
But for Douglas she's glad that the fox went after her...instead of Samantha...but even now...Douglas says she's a little scared to be outside.
Austin Lewis 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
Douglas says she got shots for rabies at the Houston Medical Center
Just two hours after Douglas was bitten... and about 500 yards away... another woman beat a fox to death with a piece of wood as it was biting her child.
Police say they believe the same fox was involved in both cases... and is being tested for rabies.
The two incidents happened on Ridgestone Drive... and Tranquill Pointe. That neighborhood is between Houston Lake and Feigin Mill Roads.
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Three people in Houston County have confirmed cases of West Nile Virus... That's according to the North Central Health District.
Brittiny Barber has more on those cases... And how you can protect yourself.
District Health officials say these cases date back to August.
They say it usually takes several tests to confirm the virus.. Which is carried by mosquitoes.
The victims were a 10 year old boy.. a 65 year-old man and a 70 year-old woman.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Jones says all three were hospitalized.
They all lived in north Houston County according to district director Dr. David Harvey.. But that's not necessarily where they were bitten.
<Dr. David Harvey: "the three cases are totally unrelated, both geographically, demographically other than their homes are in the same county, but they all travel and you can get mosquito bitten and it's two weeks later before you get sick and if you're on the road, then you don't know were when that mosquito bit you ">
Even though the weather is cooler, you will still want to remember the Five "D"s of West Nile Prevention.
Dusk, Dawn, Dress, DEET, and Drain.
Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn - don't go outside... or if you must, protect yourself.
Remember to Dress-- that means wear loose fitting--- long sleeve shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
DEET repellents are most effective against mosquitoes - use it on any exposed skin.
And finally, Drain - empty any outside containers holding standing water because it is an excellent breeding ground.
If you have been bitten, watch for these symptoms and seek medical attention if needed.
They include a headache... fever... neck discomfort...or muscle and joint aches... and swollen lymph nodes...
Also watch for a rash that is usually seen 3 to 15 days after being bitten by a West Nile mosquito.
Those most at risk are the elderly.... people with weak immune systems and those with underlying conditions.
Most people with west Nile fight off the virus and never show any symptoms.
About 1 in 150 people bitten by an infected mosquito will develop encephalitis.... an inflammation of the brain, or even meningitis.
Brittiny Barber 13wmaz Eyewitness News
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If you're traveling near the Ocmulgee River tomorrow... You may see groups of people working.
It's a statewide effort called the "Rivers Alive" campaign... and volunteers are hoping to make a difference.
< This is pollution that comes from people throwing things on the ground and letting it wash into streams. >
Non-point pollution... Mark Wyzalek with the Macon Water Authority says it's something we often see... But rarely try to stop.
Bodies of water like the Ocmulgee River suffer the consequences.
But on Saturday... local volunteers will pick up bottles... cans... and other trash during the Ocmulgee Alive event.
< This is an effort to help educate the public about our water quality in the area and what they can do in their everyday actions to help keep our waters clean.>
< I think it's a wonderful idea. My friend and I use the riverwalk to jog and we really enjoy it. When it's clean... It's a whole lot better. >
Areas along the Ocmulgee that need the most attention are right at the new Heritage Trail section... Behind Riverside Cemetary.
This area is hit hardest by what's thrown out along Riverside Drive... And washed upon the banks.
< It gets hung up right there. So, it will always be a lot of trash at this particular point.>
Bud Queen is a volunteer from the environmental division in Monroe County. He's been a partner in fall cleanups for years.
He says this area will be a focus for the Macon Water Authority.
They're talking about doing "adopt a stream" to monitor its quality... After the trail is completed.
< It's going to be necessary. It is the bottleneck point for the trash coming in. >
Saturday's cleanup is expecting record numbers for participants.
The MWA is hoping to educate them on keeping pollution down... and away from Macon's streams.
< It's a shame that people throw items in there. They should enjoy it like we do. >
If you want to take part in the Ocmulgee River cleanup... be at Rotary Park at 8-30 tomorrow morning. That's at Riverside Drive and First Street in downtown Macon.
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It's wear pink day in Macon-- part of the month-long effort to raise awareness and funding for the fight against breast cancer.
Adults have been front and center in that fight, but today, some students at Central High wanted to show they're in it too.
Candace Adorka found out it all started when the disease hit too close to home.
<central High school home of the Macon Miracle Mrs. Hogan speaking>
Sheila Hogan is a fixture in the Central High school front office-- so when she disappeared last fall, the students wanted to know why.
<i took off that whole semester to do my chemotherapy>
<I think it was shock, a lot of people were shocked and just they were caught off guard like really? So is that why she's been missing?>
Hogan's breast cancer diagnosis was an eye opener for some students.
<it made me just alert that breast cancer is real and it is happening.>
but others, like 16-year-old Kyri Orr, already had family ties to the disease.
<we were talking about it, my auntie had breast cancer, and so when my mom went to get her mammogram done I went with her.>
For the first time this october, central high joined the pink ribbon culture.
<they made an announcement on the school intercom, I heard get your t-shirts and it was 10 dollars. >
The goal is to raise a thousand dollars for the Komen foundation, an idea that started with a parent volunteer, and was supposed to involve just the teachers.
<some of the students saw them, and they decided they wanted the t-shirts.>
Aside from the t-shirts, there were glimpses of pink all around the school... even in the classroom.
Health and P.E teacher Sheila Toombs talked through the topic with her students,
<why not? They get information about everything else, but why not cancer, why not breast cancer?>
Becasue, Toombs says, even though breast cancer is rare in people under 40, there's a good chance students will have to deal with it at some point.
<it can really hit at home sometimes see how do you react to that and knowing you have to be loving and caring to those people and support also>
Hogan says that's exactly what hey Central high family gave her.
<I have a card here that says we are your biggest supporter, your charger family>
Candace Adorka 13 wmaz eyewitness news.
Now, if you want to get involved, there are more breast cancer events in the Macon area. For more events, look for this story on our website, 13 WMAZ dot com.
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The Georgia National Fair wraps up on Sunday..
If your weekend plans take you some where else to grab dinner with the family..
You may want to check on how some diner's faired when the health inspector stopped in.
Here's Brittiny Barber with this week's Restaurant Ratings.
We're back in Houston County this week.. And first we'll take a look at our lowest scores.
The Fish Cafe' at 29-22 WATSON in CENTERVILLE scored an 88... A "b". On their last inspection they received a 93 or an "a."
According to the report... Food was not kept at the proper cold-holding temperature.
Nu-Way Weiners on WATSON BLVD has an 85.. A "b". At the time of their last inspection they scored an 86.. Also a "B".
The report found food properly labeled and utensils... equipment and linens were not properly stored.
And NEIGHBORS GRILL at1-98 South HOUSTON LAKE RD was given an 82.. which is a "b". Their last inspection gave the a 100 score.
Adequate handwashing facilities were not supplied and accessible.. According to the report.
That's a known risk factor for foodborne illnesses.
Now for a look at the top scores of the week.
American Deli at 13-65 SAM NUNN BLVD in PERRY brought in a 96.. That's an "a". The last time the health inspector stopped in the got a 100.
Tokyo Express on WATSON BLVD in CENTERVILLE received a 97... An "a". On their last inspection they got a 100.
And Chick-fil-a Galleria Mall has a 97.. Which is an "a". On their previous inspection they brought in a 96.. Also an "a".
Join us again tonight as we average our nominees last five scores... And that's when we'll tell you the winner of this week's Golden Spatula.
For all your Restaurant Ratings.. Visit us online at 13wmaz-dot com.
Click on the features tab and you can search by county.