State EPD Says Four Mid-sized Cities May Face Ozone Pollution Status

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has made its official recommendation on which cities in Georgia need to clean up their air. This year, in addition to metro Atlanta, four mid-sized cities were recommended to be non-attainment areas. That means they'll have to work harder to curb ground level ozone pollution.

The cities: Augusta, Athens, Macon and Columbus.

The EPD's recommendations are not final. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ultimately have the final say.

In the meantime, the cities will study how to clean up their air. One big contributor to ozone pollution is automobile traffic. Cities will look at how to reduce those emissions.

Non-attainment would also put tighter controls on industry.

The cities are likely failing now because they're having to meet tougher federal air quality standards. The EPA will make its final decision on the cities' non-attainment status by March 2010. The state would then have three years to come up with a plan to deal with the ozone.

Ozone is a component of smog, which causes respiratory illnesses.

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Macon Mayor calls for good behavior

Macon Mayor, Robert Reichert, is calling on his city's residents to be patient and cordial on this Election Day. The mayor went on to say that no matter which political party is successful , there will be people who are "jubilant and excited" as well as those who will be "disappointed and fearful." Recently Macon law enforcement officials met to come up with a plan of action for this Election Day, but hope they will not have any significant problems.

Hundreds laid off in Middle Georgia

Two Middle Georgia companies are laying off hundreds of workers this week. The Rheem Air Conditioning plant in Milledgeville is cutting around 400 positions. The company blames the slowdown in the economy. However, local labor officials believe the layoff's have something to do with Rheem's new, 400-thousand square foot plant set to open in Mexico in November.
Meanwhile in Macon, the city's largest employers is cutting its entire workforce by 4-percent. The Medical Center of Central Georgia told more than 200 employees from Vice-presidents to clerical workers that they no longer have jobs. The hospital says shrinking revenues, fewer patients, and government cuts have forced them to slash 33-million dollars from their budget. The Medical Center is one of just four level one trauma centers in the state.

Otis Redding exhibit extended

The Otis Redding exhibit, "I've Got Dreams to Remember" will remain on view at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame until the spring. Otis' wife Zelma Redding says the show, scheduled to close this month, has been extremely popular. The exhibit explores Redding's work as a singer, producer, and songwriter. It features over 175 artifacts from Zelma Redding's private memorabilia collection.
Officials with the museum credit the exhibit with increased attendance and sales. In January the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries named the show, "Museum Exhibition of the Year."

Courtesy Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Macon bomb threat defendant loses appeal

The federal appeals court in Atlanta has upheld the conviction of a man sentenced to 30 years in prison after telephoning a series of bomb threats in Macon five years ago. Eddie Milton Garey Jr. claimed his right to effective counsel was violated when he was forced to represent himself during his 2004 trial. He had rejected his court-appointed attorney. Today the 11th Circuit court disagreed with a lower court decision that the judge had erred in letting Garey act as his own lawyer.

Macon police nab suspected metal thieves

Macon police say they've arrested three people suspected of stealing aluminum.

Last weekend, the trio allegedly stole two dozen 2,000 pound molds worth $15,000. Police say information from a previous, similar theft helped them nab the suspects before the metal was melted down.

Officials say thieves often steal from construction sites, where the metal is easily accessible, according to a report appearing on Macon.com.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of events in and around Macon.

Macon tornado clean up continues

Scenes of the tornado cleanup in Macon: a wood chipper grinds through debris, as a backhoe digs through hills of fallen trees nearby. (Josephine Bennet)

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert is urging residents to be patient. Nearly two months after an F-2 tornado crisscrossed its way through the city the cleanup continues.

Original predictions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency underestimated the amount of debris left by the storm. Reichert says 250 truckloads a day are being brought to a large dump site located near a paper mill operated by Graphic Packaging. The paper mill is recycling some of the debris. FEMA regulations say all trucks must be weighed and counted.

"We've got thousands of dump truck loads to gather up and bring here. Thousands of them. Each load has to be monitored to be sure that it is filled and appropriately packed because FEMA regulations require that the loads be monitored."

The mayor says it will be up to 60 days before they are finished. He says some of the wood waste is being turned into mulch. That mulch will eventually be available free of charge to residents.

Original estimates put the cost of debris removal at 1.2 million dollars. That figure is expected to rise.

State's first Work Ready plant

Today Governor Sonny Perdue awarded the state's first Certified Work Ready Plant. That means the 350 employees at Covidien in Macon passed assessments in math, reading, locating information and work habits. The goal of the program is to foster valuable employment skills and give workers tools for promotion and career development.

GPB power outages Tuesday in Macon and Waycross

Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) Radio and Television stations in Macon and Waycross will experience power outages in the next week as GPB installs new FM HD-Radio and DTV/HD antenna systems.

Beginning, Tuesday, February 5, tower crews will shut down WMUM TV Channel 29 and WMUM 89.7 FM as a safety precaution while new wiring is being installed.

Listeners and viewers of Waycross GPB Television station WXGA/Channel 8 and GPB Radio station WXVS 90.1 FM should also be aware of power outages that will occur while engineers complete tower and antenna work at this site in the next few days.

“We apologize for the inconvenience this causes our loyal listeners and viewers in Middle and South Georgia,” says GPB Executive Director Nancy Hall. “GPB is doing everything possible to minimize technical disruptions. GPB engineers and contractors are at the Macon and Waycross tower sites to perform significant upgrades that will help us better serve our audiences with enhanced technology and programming as we transition to digital broadcasting.”

For more information and construction updates, viewers and listeners can call GPB’s Member and Audience Services Department at 1.800.222.4788.

Georgia Public Broadcasting is Television, Radio and Education: your PBS station serving all of Georgia; your source for great music and NPR news; and Georgia's source for top-quality multimedia educational products and services.

Tire plant to open in Macon

A Korean tire maker is set to open its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Macon. Kumho Tire will create 450 jobs. Kumho says it will break ground in May on a 1.3 million square foot facility on 127 acres. Production will begin October 2009.

Barack Obama in Macon

After a decisive win in South Carolina, Democratic Presidential candidate and Illinois Senator, Barack Obama brought his campaign to Macon.

"Can I get an Amen on that?"

Sounding more like a preacher than a politician Obama addressed parishioners at Harvest Cathedral. The non-denominational church is one of the few in Macon that actually has a diverse congregation.

He quoted scripture and shared his own story of baptism and conversion at Trinity Church of Christ in Chicago. He also praised Harvest's diverse congregation, calling it a testimony of what is possible.

"Twenty years ago this wasn't possible. Ten years ago this might not have been possible. But we are a witness to what is possible because God makes all things possible."

Obama wasn't the only Democratic presidential candidate to visit Middle Georgia. Senator John Edwards spent Sunday afternoon campaigning in Dublin.

Georgia heroes receive honor

Two Georgia men have been honored with Carnegie metals for heroism. 48-year-old DeWayne D. Rodgers of Cumming helped save a man, his two sons and two daughters from a house fire in Cumming in August 2006. 52-year-old Steve Linder of Macon was also honored for rescuing a woman from a burning car December 2006. Industrialist Andrew Carnegie started funding the $5,000 awards in 1904 after being inspired by rescue stories from a mine disaster that killed 181 people.

Army investigates airport hazards

The Middle Georgia Regional Airport near Macon could still be home to leftover munitions or pollution. The airport’s Cochran Field used to be home to a flight training school in the 1940’s. The Army says it’s investigating for hazards. Officials are asking the public for information on the site because records from the era are not complete.

Macon elects a new mayor

Macon has elected a new mayor, and he won by a landslide.

On December 11th attorney Robert Reichert will be sworn in as the new mayor of Macon. His election mirrored his performance in the primary where he won every precinct. On Tuesday he garnered over 96 percent of the vote.

Reichert campaigned hard. His message of unity resonated with voters. He says he looks forward to seeing the city progress.

"We've got all of the component pieces. We've got all the natural resources, the location, the people, the climate, everything else we need. Macon is fixing to catch fire and grow."

Reichert will succeed Mayor Jack Ellis who was the city's first black mayor. Reichert is white, but had major support from the black community.

Macon's Water Advantage

Macon has found a silver lining to Georgia's drought. Local economic development officials traveled to a Chicago trade show recently and brought the Macon Water Authority along with them. They told business leaders from around the country that all of Georgia is not running out of water.

Despite the fact that Macon is under level two drought restrictions, their reservoir is full. In fact it's got 6.5 billion gallons. The city built the new reservoir and water treatment facility after a massive flood in 1994.

Officials with the Macon Economic Development Commission say their new water marketing strategy appears to be paying off. Just two days after the show, one food service company sent a representative to check out Macon. That company could employ up to 200 people.

Macon's mayor may run for Congress

Macon Mayor, Jack Ellis, leaves office in December and now he's eying a seat in Congress.

Ellis has formed a committee so he can start raising money. He also plans to travel around the district to gauge support and talk with potential voters. He says the 8th District needs a "real" democrat.

He made those comments after Congressman Jim Marshall voted against expanding SCHIP, a government program that provides insurance to the working poor.

Ellis recently stirred controversy when he sent a letter of support to Venezuelan dictator, Hugo Chavez. Earlier in the year he converted to Islam and announced plans to change his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis.

If Ellis does run. it will be Marshall's first challenge by a fellow democrat since taking office. Republican Rick Goddard will be running as well.