Eyewitness News at 11, November 2, 2012

7:22 PM, Nov 2, 2012   |    comments
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"I want to come out and vote today because I want to try and put Obama back in that seat again because we need him. "
"Romney, definitely Romney."
"Obama, Obama"
Regardless of candidate, most voters said early voting fit better with their schedule, and said it also avoids confusion when it comes to where you need to vote.
"If you wait to the last minute, you have to find out what poll you would vote to  .. And I know this poll, it accepts anyone."
"If you break it down day by day, we're doing like 1,400 plus a day ."
Around 11 a.m.  the lines stretched out the door, and all the way around the corner.
Here in Jones County, it's a different story, at the Jones County Government Center there's almost no line at all, most people have been able to get in and out in just a few minutes."
"I was expecting a longer line than we have now."
"Generally when we come up here to vote, it's not that long of a wait."
"We've had lines throughout the day, but we have some new technology that allows us to process people much quicker."
"And the last stop of the day, here in Twiggs County, they say turnout they say turnout has been slow and steady here at the courthouse, people have been able to go in and out, in just a few minutes as well."
"I figured there wouldn't be too many this time of day"
"I was expecting it to be a little busier today, but I'm glad that it was not. >
Twiggs is close to 2008 early turnout, but not there yet.
"We sort of have a little bet going on in the office if we're gonna pass it or not, so will see who wins."
And in a blue county in a red state, of a purple country, it's anyone's game.
"Twiggs is gonna agree me with this time, I promise."
Tom George, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
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   David Cooke.. a Democrat seeking to unseat Republican Greg Winters as D.A. for the Macon Judicial Circuit says..... Winters dismissed all eight rape cases he's handled as prosecutor.
    So we looked at those eight cases brought up in Cooke's political ad.
   Randall Savage explains the findings.
 " The records in the district attorney's office show Winters did dismiss those charges... for what appear to be legitimate reasons. 
    They include insufficient evidence...witnesses giving different statements...and in one case....a video that didn't support the alleged victims accusation.
     In another rape case...the alleged victim and her mother asked for the case to be dismissed.
     And one statutory rape case was dismissed in superior court...because it was already handled in state court.
     We also saw nine of the 27 murder cases Winters handled.
     He dismissed three of those nine murder charges....two after law enforcement officials notified him they'd charged the wrong person... And another when the case was ruled self-defense."
              In a recent news release.... Cooke listed about 100 questionable cases.
       We got to review only about 17 of those cases.
       The D-A's office says the rest won't be available until sometime next week.
       Meanwhile, Winters says the cases we've reviewed show he's handled his cases properly.   
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 We spoke with  Winters about why those cases were dismissed..
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<Greg Winters, District Attorney: When you're told by law enforcement either one they arrested the wrong person or two the rape didn't happen. You know the number one job of a prosecutor is to seek justice, and for me to continue on with the prosecution when one you either have the wrong person or two what the person is charged with didn't happen, I think it obviously would be improper.>


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 We also spoke with David Cooke.He says Winters cherry picked a few cases to disclose to the media while still keeping child molestation cases under wraps.
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< David Cooke, Democratic Challenger: I find it very interesting that as it stands now the open records request that a child advocate, a person who has devoted their lives to protecting children is still being stone walled and can't see them until possibly the night before the election if that.>
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     Cooke and Winters meet in Tuesday's general election. The winner will be the district attorney for the Macon Judicial Circuit for the next four years. The circuit covers Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties.
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The state says a Macon private school is running an unlicensed day care... and must shut down within a week.
This week... parents with kids at Progressive Christian Academy's day care got a letter from the school telling them their preschool program ends next Friday.
Parents have one week to make new arrangements.
A letter from the state's Bright from the Start agency says they'll take the school to court if the preschool doesn't close voluntarily.
The state's decision does NOT affect the academy's private elementary and middle school.
Parents have complained that Progressive is run by a Florida couple who allegedly have a criminal record.
The school is owned by a company in Florida... A spokesman says there's a state hearing on the matter next Tuesday that would clear up some questions.
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 Thousands of people crowded the Macon Centreplex for the opening day of Christmas Made In The South Arts and Crafts Festival.
     This is marks the 20th Annual for the event and people lined the aisles to find  the perfect gift for this year's holiday season.
     Many Central Georgians headed to the Macon Centreplex for this year's 20th Annual Christmas Made In The South Arts and Craft festival.
     More than 300 vendors were in attendance selling hand crafted pottery, jewelry, clothing, purses, photography and delicious gourmet foods and treats along with Santa Claus.
"Definitely worth the drive and I took the day off to come down to spend time with my sister and my mom.  It is always an annual event us to come down to Christmas made in the south."
"We do seven christmas shows and one spring show and Macon GA right now is by far the strongest far as attendance and exhibits."
     Christmas Made In The South is open until 8 tonight.
     Tomorrow from 10am- 6pm and Sunday from 11am - 5pm.
     Admission is six dollars.
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  Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will perform in Macon in February next year.
    That's according to the website ticketmaster dot com.
   Seinfeld is scheduled to appear at the Macon City Auditorium Friday night, February first at 7:00 p.m.
   You can purchase tickets on the ticketmaster dot com website.
    prices start at $45.00 and top out at $87.65 
   Tickets go on sale Friday, November 9th at 10:00 a.m.
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   Tonight's web poll question asks..
    Would you pay 47 to 87 dollars to see Jerry Seinfeld in Macon?
   So far  95 percent of you say No..
    5 percent say yes..
   To vote now... Visit 13WMAZ.com.
   Look for the question on the right side of the homepage