Good evening and Thanks for joining us for Eyewitness News at Six.
I'm Jennifer Moulliet.
Today was the first day of the Eastman Gun Show at the Macon Centreplex.
And hundreds of Central Georgians came looking to get a good deal on firearms, ammunition and holsters.
Those who attended the show told Austin Lewis they faced a long wait just to get in.
Gary Fowler, Milledgeville: "Just before December they have a gun show overhere and we just walked right in."
But now at Eastman's gun show at the Macon Centreplex the parking lots are a lot fuller and the lines inside are longer.
Alexander, Perry: "I got here at about 8:30 and when I got inside I had to stop right inside the door, I would say around 300 people wrapped around the inside of the lobby going to the exhibition hall."
"I would say the wait just to get inside would probably be just an hour an hour and 15 minutes."
Alexander of Perry says he got a rifle but he says the best deal was on what goes inside a firearm.
Alexander, Perry: "Well I paid about 300 dollars for 500 rounds and uh this is a very popular round and yes it's a very good price right now."
Will Ballard, Warner Robins: "I waited in line for two hours just to buy ammo and that was just handgun ammo 223 ammo for the Ar's they are just about out."
According to their website, at Eastman Gun shows you could find deals on handguns, rifles and ammunition..
Attendees say while the deals were good, prices for these items have gone up.
Will Ballard, Warner Robins: "Under the current circumstances I think I got a good deal on it, it's probably 50 to 75 percent more than it was two months ago."
And some attendees say it's potential changes in Washington that's affecting demand.
Will Ballard, Warner Robins: "The weapons bill ban that they're trying to, Feinstein is trying to pass. I guess the fear of our government you know people stocking up on ammo weapons before the ban takes affect if it does."
Austin Lewis 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
The show starts up again tomorrow at 10.
If you can't make it this weekend, there will be another show in Savannah on February 2nd and 3rd.
And in Washington... Thousands of demonstrators, including residents from Newtown, Connecticut marched from the National Mall to the Washington Monument to promote gun safety legislation.
The Washington DC rally is co-sponsored by One Million Moms for Gun Control a group that is organizing about a dozen similar rallies across the country.
People came from all over the country to participate, holding signs that said "ban assault weapons now" and "vets for gun control."
If you were traveling along I-75 this morning and noticed something hovering along the Hartley Bridge area... you saw this.
A helicopter carrying HVAC equipment to the roof of the new Tractor Supply distribution center.
Cliffard Whitby of the Macon-Bibb Industrial Authority says this is a new milestone for the center where construction began last June.
The center is close to 700 thousand square feet.
Whitby says in this case making use of an air crane is the norm.
Cliffard Whitby,Chairman, Macon-Bibb Industrial Authority: "One of the preferred ways to install this equipment is via helicopter so this is something that the community can see and recognize that this is a milestone for this project."
The Tractor Supply Company plans to open the new distribution center by September creating over 300 jobs for the site.
Student council members at Warner Robins High School spent the day raising money for charity and helping others save a few bucks at their annual formal dress drive.
The sale featured hundreds of gently used formal and bridal dresses.
Prices ranged from 10 to 50 dollars and shoppers showed up hours before the doors opened hoping to find a good deal.
Organizers say the event is just in time for students who are getting ready for prom season.
Ashley McKinney, Warner Robins High School: "Prom is really expensive, with the hair, the makeup and shoes, it's really awesome to give money and then give people the opportunity to go to prom."
Barbara Hilliard, Warner Robins High School: "The popularity and the knowledge of it has grown in the community. Every year, I talk to people, we have people that come from Dublin and Eastman and even beyond the middle Georgia area."
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Houston County Foster Children's fund and a charity for teenagers and children that the students' choose.
The Cat and the Hat came to life today at the Milledgeville mall where the city hosted its first Literacy Fair.
The Milledgeville-Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and the Partners for Progress kicked off the four hour event with free books, games and performances from local schools.
Carol Goings Workforce Development Committee - "The purpose of this literacy fair is to inform this community."
My Kim Luu & Julianne Blizzard, creekside - "Books, bookmarks, puppets, and stories."
Renee Fontenot, Rotary Club - "Illiteracy is a problem that plagues us in the United States and here in Baldwin County."
Carol - "There are over 30 booths."
Renee - "This is a dictionary we give every third grader in baldwin county."
Kim & Julianne - "My favorite book is Dr. Suess books. Me, too."
This was a free event to showcase different literacy options within the community.
One central Georgia dad spent a couple of years building the perfect playing field for his kids.
Today, his youngest son was able to celebrate his 9th birthday on their own Seminoles Football Field.
James West of Gray says the field is 50 yards long and 25 yards wide.
He says after spending two years of clearing trees and putting up goal posts he decided to take the project all the way.
Using 15 gallons of paint and other materials to finish it a couple of months before Evan's birthday.
James West, Macon: "We brought in a lot of hydro seed. We sprayed down the grass and in a couple of months is was ready to mow and we put a sprinkler system in."
Evan West, Macon: "When I got home I was surprised because it was after Christmas Day and I just saw this field and I was like (gasp)."
Evan says he loves his parents alma mater... Florida State.
When he grows up he wants to play ball there.
The "stomach bug" is spreading again in the U-S.
If someone you know is suffering from severe upset stomach... diarrhea and fatigue... it could be a case of "noro-virus".
Lisa Sylvester explains why this illness is a bit tougher than your standard flu.
THE NOROVIRUS -- YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF IT BEFORE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MAJOR OUTBREAKS ON CRUISE SHIPS IN RECENT YEARS.
THE NOROVIRUS --IN LAYMAN'S TERMS - IS A STOMACH BUG.
WE ARE AT THE HEIGHT OF A NEW SEASON WITH A NEW STRAIN.
THE NOROVIRUS IS SPREAD THROUGH FOOD OR DRINK THAT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED.
YOU CAN ALSO GET IT IF YOU TOUCH A CONTAMINATED SURFACE OR OBJECT AND THEN PUT YOUR HAND TO YOUR MOUTH.
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE ABDOMINAL CRAMPS, VOMITING, NAUSEA, DIARRHEA, AND FATIGUE.
IT HITS YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN.
IT'S EXPLOSIVE.
"It's very contagious. There are multiple epidemics of it. Other than cleaning the areas, there's not a whole lot people can do about it."
(standup): "THE NOROVIRUS IS SO CONTAGIOUS BECAUSE IT'S SO HARDY. YOUR TYPICAL HAND SANITIZER... THAT ALONE IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. YOUR TYPICAL DISINFECTING WIPE TO WIPE DOWN SURFACES... NORMALLY THAT WOULD BE FINE, FOR INSTANCE WITH THE FLU VIRUS. NOT THE CASE WITH THE NOROVIRUS. WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS TO WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY WITH SOAP AND WATER. AND WHEN YOU WIPE DOWN SURFACES, MAKE SURE YOU USE A BLEACH BASED SOLUTION."
MOST PEOPLE INFECTED RECOVER AFTER A FEW DAYS.
IN RARE CASES, IT CAN BE FATAL.
PARTICULARLY FOR THE THE VERY OLD AND VERY YOUNG AND THOSE WITH WEAKER IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C, THERE ARE MORE THAN 20 MILLION CASES OF THE NOROVIRUS EACH YEAR, RESULTING IN ABOUT 800 DEATHS IN THE US.
"It's so infectious and requires such a low concentration of virus, it's rapidly spread through a population. That's why you see outbreaks on cruise ships, in dormitories, in places where people are in close contact with one another."
TOP 5 WAYS OF PROTECTING YOURSELF ACCORDING TO THE CDC.
-WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN
-WASH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
-COOK SHELLFISH THOROUGHLY
-CLEAN SURFACES AND WASH SOILED LAUNDRY
-AND WHEN YOU'RE SICK DON'T PREPARE FOOD, OR CARE FOR OTHERS
With the flu... you can get a flu shot.
But there isn't a vaccination right now for the norovirus and no way to treat it.
So the best bet is prevention.
Carnival season is officially here! That's right break out your purple, green and gold because The Mardi Gras season kicked off this weekend.
Take a look at the first two big parades for the 20-13 season.
This is the krewe from Cleopatra and The Krewe from Oshun.
This is actually the first year cleopatra made it's way through uptown. It usually runs on the other side of the river but moved from the westbank because of the superbowl.