Georgia wasn't in the direct path of Sandy.. but we are seeing
higher winds .. and cooler temperatures as a result.
Ben is standing by in the weather center with how this massive storm is affecting central Georgia..
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Volunteers from central Georgia are headed to the northeast to help with storm recovery..
The American Red Cross of Central Georgia sent one emergency response vehicle to Atlanta today.
They met with other volunteers... Before traveling to Virginia and West Virginia.
This truck is expected to arrive in Ashburn, Virginia... where volunteers will wait for further instructions...about where help is needed most.
< The efforts of the Red Cross currently is focused on mass care. (that's) mass sheltering, and mass feeding, delivering clean up kits, hygiene supplies.>
Georgia's Red Cross is expected to send an additional 200 volunteers...after the roads are safe to travel.
The volunteers all commit to at least two weeks' deployment.
The storm is also affecting travel in and out of Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport...
Several flights were cancelled today...because of Sandy.
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New tonight at 11...
A fire at a downtown Macon hotel..sent residents into the streets..
The fire started around 8-30 at the Riverview Hotel on Broadway..
Firefighters say it started in a room on the fourth floor...of the hotel...
One man helped fight the flames until firefighters arrived on the scene..after seeing a burning bedspread in the parking lot.
Fire investigators say the fire damaged two rooms..
The cause remains under investigation.
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Flames got pretty close to one main road in Kathleen Monday.... creating hazardous driving conditions and forcing a nearby school to release students early.
Fire crews from several surrounding fire departments worked to contain a brush fire at Old Perry Road and East Bob White Road Monday afternoon.
Windy conditions added fuel to the blaze.
It created a smoky haze over roads and at nearby Veterans High School where students were sent home a few minutes earlier that usual.
Fire fighters say a 50-acre pecan orchard next to the school caught fire.
Longtime Kathleen resident Wayne Martin watched as crews fought the blaze across the street from his home.
He says he's familiar with the area where the brush fire broke out.
There's about 1250 acres back there between here and Moody Road and the worst part about it is that there's a huge swamp out there in the middle that's dried up because of the way the weather's been.
I was out there last week and all the grass is dry. It's waist high and it's just dry like hay.
Four fire trucks loaded with fire fighters from Houston County, Warner Robins, and Perry helped contain the brush fire.
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A year and 3 months after 35-year-old Afred Smith was shot and killed, Macon police say they now know who is responsible.
They're looking for 19-year-old Akoybeyan Howard in connection with the murder.
Police say a second suspect, Martin Kendall, is already behind bars on unrelated charges.
In August last year, 13 WMAZ spoke to Smith's heartbroken family who pleaded for more information on the shooting. Macon police say though it took several months, Smith's shooting, like other murders was always high priority.
<we try to solve them fast. If we can't, we're always following up on leads. This one took us 15 month investigation, but we were finally able to bring this homicide to a close for Mr. Alfred Smith's family.">
Police Chief Mike Burns announced the warrants at a press conference called by city council's public safety committee. Council members commended Burns and the rest of the police force, and other law enforcement agencies for their diligence in solving murders.
So far this year, there have been 19 reported murders. Police say they've solved 16 of them, which gives them a, 84% clearance rate.
Council members say they want to praise the police department's success, especially after the recent arrests in the deaths of 87-year-old Christine Patton Cook and 58-year-old Gail Spencer.
<there jus comes a time when you need to pay homage to people for doing a good job and we just felt this was the right time.>
<they are our unsung heroes and are extremely worthy of our praise each and every day.>
Burns says they aim for 100 percent clearance rate, and they need the public's help to do it.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Akoybean Howard, or any other information on area crimes, you are asked to call macon police.
You can also contact Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME. That number again is 1-877-68-CRIME.
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There's a murder trial...and it's up to the students at Southwest High School to determine guilt..or innocence.
About 20 students participated in a two-hour long mock trial today.
Students from the school's Law and Community Response class battled it out in court.
They took on the roles of attorney...bailiff...and witness. School administers joined in as jurors.
11th grader Teshana Robinson says it's a great way to prep for the future.
<after high school, I would like to go off to college and major in some form of law whether it's the police department or any law form >
Mock trial competitions will start in February at the Bibb County Courthouse.
Instead of a murder trial like this one...students will present a civil case.
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The Rookery has been a fixture in downtown Macon for years...
Now the popular eatery is growing...by opening a new restaurant upstairs called Dovetail...
The concept involves the use of local ingredients in menu items..
Owners say while other cities have similar concepts, Macon is unique..because it's so close to farms and ranches.
<the idea is to have somewhat of a farm to table concept, utilizing local proteins and produce wherever possible,but ultimately simply bringing some of the highest quality foods to this area and letting our chefs get at it and show their skills and create unique items that Macon hopefully has not had a taste of. >
Dovetail is already taking reservations, and will open its doors to the public on Wednesday.