'A Taste of Macon,' at the Capitol

Macon-ites celebrate "A Taste of Macon" and greet lawmakers at the Capitol. The group announced Macon's 26th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, March 28th through April 6th, 2008, and presented lawmakers with cuttings from a cherry blossom tree.

(Photo courtesy: Senate Press Office)

Pictured, Top row l-r: Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon), Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland), Sen. Robert Brown (D-Macon), Macon Mayor Robert Reichert
Second row: Shirley Buafo, Charles Bishop, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
First row: Lowell Register, Janice Register, Carolyn Crayton, Wright Tilley

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.

FEMA cuts Macon funds

Residents in and around Macon are still cleaning up from a series of deadly tornadoes that ripped through the area in May. Now the federal government says there will be less money for that cleanup.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is deducting 130-thousand dollars from the amount it will pay the city. Officials at FEMA say Macon still owes them money from the Flood of 1994.
That flood came as a result of Tropical Storm Alberto and was the worst disaster in Macon's history. The city was without water for more than two weeks. FEMA says Macon did not properly document some expenses during the flood.
The cleanup for the so-called, Mothers Day Tornado's, that killed three, could cost Macon as much as 3-million dollars. FEMA will pay about 80-percent of those expenses, minus the 130-thousand dollars.

Macon receiving federal housing money

Federal dollars will help Macon tear down blighted homes and get foreclosed properties off the market.
In 2008 Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. Four-billion dollars of the money was doled out to states hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.
Cities like Augusta, Atlanta, Columbus and Savannah qualified to receive part of those funds, but Macon did not, according to the Director of Neighborhood Stabilization for the City of Macon, Jesse Gerwig-Moore.

"The state received in total from HUD about 155-million. About half of that amount, around 74-million or so, went directly to the entitlement communities who already received community development block grant funds and that's where Macon fell below the 2-million dollar threshold."

The city remained undeterred and applied for a 4-million dollar grant from HUD. They were approved this week. The city will use the money to tear down blighted homes and provide down payment assistance to those who purchase foreclosed properties.

Macon gets second airline

A second airline is planning to start up flights from Macon to Atlanta on the 1st of November. Wings Air bills itself as a way to avoid traffic, parking, and security issues at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The airline started flying from Athens to Atlanta this week. The flights from Macon to Atlanta start up in November. A one-way ticket is 79-dollars.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines is pulling out of Macon's Middle Georgia Regional Airport, saying that even with federal subsidies they are losing money. Hawaii based Pacific Wings recently contracted with the City of Macon to provide service and receive that subsidy. That service has yet to begin.
Both airlines plan to fly to Atlanta in propeller planes that hold nine passengers.

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame ceremony returns to Macon

After a one year absence, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is headed back to Macon.
Officials with the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority voted to return the ceremony to Macon. This year the event was held in Atlanta and raised 86-thousand dollars.
However, people in Macon were determined to get the ceremony back to the museum's home town and held a radio telethon. Local sports talk show host, Bill Shanks says that event raised 40-thousand dollars in pledges including a gift from major league pitcher, Kevin Brown, who is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
"He was extremely impressed with how he was treated the year he was inducted, which was 2007, and just how special the event was here in Macon, and he pledged 10-thousand dollars which was a huge surprise and obviously very, very, welcome."
This year Georgia lawmakers voted to cut the museum's budget by 150-thousand dollars and said the facility must become self sufficient within the next five years.

Tornadoes confirmed: state of emergency declared

At least five tornadoes hit west central, north central, and central Georgia early Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes may have also touched down in Johnson, Treutlen, Fulton and Troup counties, according to reports.

Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Jefferson, Johnson and Laurens counties Sunday evening.

"Last night's storms left trees downed, houses damaged and roads blocked across western and central Georgia," Perdue said.

"Needed state resources are being made available to assist in the cleanup efforts, and we will continue to actively work with local officials to support them"

The step enables the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to initiate emergency operations.

Damaged houses on Lake Tobesofkee. (Woody Marshall, The Macon Telegraph)

"As with all disasters, GEMA will coordinate the deployment of public safety agencies, utility companies and the volunteer community to meet the needs of our citizens," GEMA Director Charley English said.

An EF2 tornado packing winds of 111 to 135 mph hit Macon between 5:45 and 6 a.m. Sunday morning, local officials said.

Laurens Co. resident Tracey Clements, was killed in his mobile home by the storm, Laurens County coroner Richard Stanley said, according to Macon.com.

Clements' wife and children sustained varying degrees of injuries when the winds flipped over their double-wide trailer, Stanley said.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert said Perdue is expected to visit the area on Monday to assess the damage.

A tornado touched down at Macon State College's campus, causing significant damage, and uprooting or breaking about half the trees on campus, according to the National Weather Service.

The college will be closed on Monday.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the twister and storm damage.

Macon may get rid of gas chamber for animals

The City of Macon is one step closer to getting rid of the gas chamber it uses to euthanize stray dogs and cats.
Just under 4-thousand animals are put down each year in Macon. The city is one of the last in the state to still use carbon monoxide. In 1990 the state banned this method of euthanasia, but Macon's shelter was grandfathered in. Now public officials are introducing a resolution to convert to the lethal injection process.
Nancy White is on the Macon City Council. She visited the animal shelter and calls it under funded and archaic.

"There were 17 of all different sized dogs, and then they just get this crane and lift it up and lower it into the cinder block chamber and they seal it off, and they turn on the carbon monoxide."

Opponents of the resolution worry about funding. Animal control will have to hire two new employees and spend 50-thousand additional dollars each year for the chemicals. However, the measure is expected to pass.

Atlanta Mayor declines Macon water offer

Atlanta officials say they have no immediate plans to take up Macon on its offer to sell water to Atlanta’s airport. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin had told Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis ‘thanks but no thanks,’ after Ellis suggested Macon could truck in water with the help of volunteer drivers, if needed. Atlanta says buying water from Macon could be considered as an option at some point, but that the city isn’t there yet.

Macon to D.C. airline

Macon has hired an aviation company to fly between Middle Georgia and Washington D.C. The Macon Telegraph reports that last night the Macon City Council voted to hire an Atlanta-based company to operate “Southern Skyways” airline. One-way fares between Dulles International Airport and Macon’s Middle Georgia Regional Airport will range from $110 to $179 dollars. Once flights get underway, city officials and employees will be able to fly for free.

Macon makes homeless sweep

Macon police are cracking down on the homeless. During sweeps yesterday, people living in tents and under bridges were directed to city shelters. The sweeps followed complaints from residents troubled by the tents along the Ocmulgee river walk and people under bridges near downtown. Officials from the Macon Rescue Mission outreach center were on hand to provide information about substance-abuse treatment and 24-hour residency. Other efforts to aid homeless in Macon include shelter space planned a women's shelter planned for the estimated 1,000 female homeless in the city.

(Associated Press)

Voters decide mayors for Macon, Savannah

Local elections were held across the state Tuesday. Results included in Macon, where attorney Robert Reichert won the race for mayor in a landslide. He garnered 96-percent of the vote. Reichert 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 and the people, the climate...everything else we need. Macon is fixing to catch fire and grow".

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

In Savannah, Otis Johnson was re-elected as mayor. He faced his predecessor, former mayor Floyd Adams, and four other candidates. Johnson handily won re-election with 70-percent of the vote.

Elizabeth Edwards in Macon

As the race for the presidency heats up. One candidates wife spent Tuesday visiting Macon.

Elizabeth Edwards was in Macon raising money for her husband's campaign. Despite being in third place in some polls, several prominent Georgia Democrats have stepped forward to support candidate John Edwards.

Former Governor Roy Barnes, State Senate leader Robert Brown, as well as Democratic House leader Dubose Porter, are all endorsing him in his bid to become President.

Elizabeth Edwards says there are several reason's her husband is well supported in Georgia.

"He may not get the national press that more celebrity candidates get, but what he has instead are characteristics that people in these regions understand. Honesty, strength, clarity, conscience, values.....and he has real policies that address the issues they're facing."

John Edwards last visited Macon in April. His wife says he'll spend today in South Carolina.

Pink slips for some Macon-Bibb firefighters?

Macon's mayor Robert Reichert says Macon-Bibb firefighters who fail a test of basic firefighting skills may be fired. Reichert says if failing firefighters put the fire department's state certification at risk, there would be "no choice but to terminate those firefighters." Last month, the agency that regulates Georgia firefighters gave Macon-Bibb firefighters six months to train before being retested after a December 2007 test result showed that only 59 percent of 123 firefighters passed the skills test.

Halls of Fame Funding

Macon leaders cannot agree on a way to help fund the Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame, and that's bad news for the future of the two Macon museums.
The Halls of Fame are state agencies, but over the last two years there's been a growing desire at the State Capitol to have the City of Macon contribute something financially. Any change would have to be approved by Macon's local legislative delegation.
The city came up with a plan and voted to raise the hotel-motel tax by a penny and split the proceeds between the two halls. But, that proposal was rejected by some democratic lawmakers who want the money split four ways. City councilman Erick Erickson says the city is in a tough spot.

"They're being held hostage by the Governor and General Assembly who are demanding local funds unlike any other state financed project and they're also being held hostage to David Lucas and Robert Brown wanting this amphitheatre/football stadium. No one else wanted it. No one else asked for it. We had a unanimous county and city saying we just wanted a two-way split and yet for some reason we can't get it."

Erickson says the members of the local delegation need to come together so the museums do not close.

Macon police officer charged with sexual assault

A Macon police officer may lose his job over an alleged sexual assault of a person in custody. 35-year-old William Enders made his appeal to the police chief yesterday. Enders has been charged with sexual assault for a December 26th incident, and is out on 25-thousand dollar bond. The alleged assault was learned when someone who had spoken to the victim contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI contacted Macon’s police department, which opened its own investigation. The decision on Enders’ employment as an officer with Macon might be made by today.

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.

Atlantic Southeast on bubble for Macon airport

The only commercial airline flying out of Macon wants three million dollars a year from the federal government. But the government is balking at the request.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says Atlantic Southeast Airlines wants triple the money it usually pays airlines for traveling to smaller cities. The department would prefer new bids from carriers.

Congressman Jim Marshall represents central Georgia's 8th district. He says even if Atlantic Southeast stops flying to Middle Georgia Regional Airport, eventually a long-term commercial replacement will be found.

"Who knows what we'll ultimately get here in Macon. I expect we will have a commercial provider and that commercial provider will cost taxpayers a lot less than the three million dollars that's proposed by ASA".

Atlantic Southeast Airlines says it needs the federal subsidy because it's losing money on the Atlanta route. Macon's airport has never received this particular federal handout.

Macon May Impose Idling Ban

The Macon City Council is considering limiting the amount of time city-owned vehicles can idle. The proposed law would fine violators 500-dollars if they leave their engines running for more than 15 minutes. Proponents of the measure say it will help the City of Macon have cleaner air. Macon is being considered for non-attainment status because its air does not meet new, stricter guidelines for ozone set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Some exemptions to the proposed law include emergency, maintenance, and construction vehicles that need to keep engines running to perform their jobs.

Macon gets second airline

Over the weekend a second airline began flying from Macon to Atlanta.
Wings Air follows Georgia Skies that began flying out of Macon in September. Wings Air also flies from Athens to Atlanta. The airline uses nine-passenger planes to make the thirty minute flight.
Wings Air just reached an agreement with American Airlines to handle its ground operations at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The airline flies into Atlanta using the "T" gates.
Right now Wings Air only accepts carry on baggage. The two airlines replace Atlantic Southeast Airlines that pulled out of Macon citing a lack of passengers.