OGLETHORPE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon State Prison inmate is dead after a fight with his roommate.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Taurean Hardy died on Sunday, December 10, after an altercation with his roomate Joshua Marchman.

Hardy was serving a 15-year sentence for Armed Robbery out of Glynn County with a maximum release date of March 2029. Marchman was serving Life Without Parole for Murder out of Cobb County.

GDC says Hardy’s body was turned over to the county coroner, and will be taken to the GBI crime lab to determine the official cause of death.

The death is being investigated by the GDC’s Office of Professional Standards. They say additional details are not available, as the investigation is ongoing.

If you thought FSU getting left out of the college football playoffs was crazy, hear what 41NBC’s Bill Shanks says about the transfer portal.

EAST DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Jesse Hicks, who was relieved of his duties at Baldwin High School last month, is the new head football coach at East Laurens High School.

East Laurens made the announcement in a social media post on Thursday night, citing Hicks’ 27 years of coaching experience and “proven track record of success, commitment, and excellence.”

“We are honored to welcome Coach Hicks to our team and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will undoubtedly have on our football program,” the post said.

When reached by phone Thursday night, Hicks said he’s blessed and thankful for the opportunity.

“I think they’ve got one of the best (Class) 1A setups in the state of Georgia,” he said, referring to recent facility upgrades.

Hicks says he’s looking to spread hope and bring a culture change to a program that’s recorded just 11 winning records in its 62-year history.

“I think they have the talent,” Hicks added. “I think they have some good kids. The east side is something that needs to be rebirthed, needs to be reborn, needs some life blood pumped back into it, and I think I’m just the man to do it.”

According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, Hicks spent the last seven seasons as Baldwin’s head coach after previously coaching there from 2002-2009. In his most recent stint, his Baldwin teams made the playoffs every year, including a quarterfinals appearance in 2018.

Over 15 seasons, he led Baldwin to the playoffs 14 times. In addition to the 2018 quarterfinals appearance, his 2005 Baldwin team made the semifinals and his 2008 Baldwin team made the quarterfinals.

His overall record at Baldwin was 110-60 (70-24 in first stint, 40-36 in second stint).

Between his two stops in Milledgeville, he was head coach at Dougherty in 2010-2011 before leading Bibb County’s Central High School from 2012-2016. His combined record at those two schools was 23-48.

He replaces Bin Turner at East Laurens, who went 15-46 in six seasons.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Chief Curtis Adams was sworn in as the new Campus Police Chief of the Bibb County School District on Thursday.

Adams brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to Macon, having worked in various capacities, including stints as a sheriff’s deputy in Florida and as an instructor with the City of Atlanta Police Department.

“When a child is willing, you can actually make an impact on them,” he said. “So restorative practice, making sure that they have mental health first aid, making sure that they have CIT, which is Crisis Intervention Team, and they have one specifically for youth so that we can understand the signs and symptoms of children with mental illnesses.”

Most recently, he served as a major in the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department.

The Bibb County School District is striving to make sure parents feel comfortable sending their kids off to school and students feel safe while they are there.

Safety in schools has been a big issue across Middle Georgia, and the district believes Adams’ expertise will help them meet their goal.

Adams has a master’s degree in criminal justice from St. Leo University as well as a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University. He says he is committed to ensuring the safety of every student and faculty member in the district and is looking forward to working with the community to achieve this goal.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Starting next year, it will be easier for lawyers who plan on moving to Georgia to resume their practice if they are the spouse of an active duty service member stationed in the state.

The Supreme Court of Georgia recently revised its rules so military spouses who are already licensed to practice law in other states do not have to retake the Bar Exam.

Lawyers will still have to pass Character and Fitness check and abide by Georgia ethics and rules.

According to Bar Exam Specialist at the Mercer University School of Law, Harold Heck, it can take more than four months to retake the Bar.

“It kind of eases that burden and makes it easier for that lawyer to be able to come and pick up and have a career with a lot less downtime,” Heck said.

The new rules go into effect January 1.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – New street signs went up Thursday along Jeffersonville Road in Macon in honor of state Senator David E. Lucas, Sr.

A portion of the road was named David. E. Lucas, Sr. Way to commemorate his service representing Middle Georgia in the state Senate.

The signs were installed on what Senator Lucas called the “forgotten road,” and in what he said was an underserved part of Macon.

He says development in the area has been in the works for 30 years and he hopes to see it completed.

“It’s been a long time coming, but finally,” Senator Lucas said. “I talked about the other part. The money ran out again, but they need to go ahead and finish it, because it was supposed to go all the way through to Highway 80 and Emery Highway.”

Senator Lucas explained that improving the roadway would promote transportation in the area and benefit residents in the community.

The new street signs can be found on Jeffersonville Road at the Emery Highway and Highway 80 intersections.

UPDATE: The school board voted Thursday to approve the purchase of the system.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School District is looking to purchase a concealed weapon detection system called Opengate for local schools.

According to a memo to the school board from Elaine Wilson-Beverly, Executive Director of Procurement for the school district, and David Gowan, Director of Risk Management, “the plan is to purchase 82 machines for each district location”. The project’s estimated cost is $1,342,764.40. Gowan told school board members during the committee meeting that system would be used at every school at the beginning of the school day during students’ arrival.

The quote for the school district prepared by Communications Technologies, Inc. says that the Opengate system will require laptops to be passed around the system. Opengate is described as being different structurally from traditional walk-through metal detectors. Based on the descriptions, they essentially function the same. According to the description, they’re able to detect “mass casualty shooting weapons and IED”. They’re designed to be used in all places open to students and visitors in school buildings and at event entrances. 

Communications Technologies, Inc. said this about Opengate in its executive summary:  We feel our solution is the best weapons screening solution available on the market today and provides an incredible value to the district. Our approach to security at any district is to recommend a layered and multi tiered approach to safety. Our solution alone is not enough to secure a district from all threats. We feel the price point of our units allows your district the opportunity to utilize all of the funds you have for security to purchase and develop this layered approach leaving funds available for upgrades to access control, video surveillance, emergency notification systems and enhancements to community communication and social media outreach.

Bibb County School Board members are expected to consider the purchase during Thursday’s school board meetings.

The system would be paid for by the security and safety grant that the district has received from Georgia School Safety Grant, provided by Department of Education and General Funds, according to school district documents.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two Athens residents pleaded guilty to charges involving the distribution of fentanyl, and an Atlanta man was sentenced to prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced on Thursday.

41-year-old James Hill of Athens admitted to a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. He now faces a minimum of 10 years and up to a life sentence in prison, along with a $10,000,000 fine.

29-year-old Jasmine Jackson, also from Athens, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute the same substances, with a maximum 20-year sentence and a $1,000,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2024.

Court documents said Hill mixed fentanyl into heroin for sale at multiple locations in Athens. Law enforcement uncovered drugs, cash and a small laboratory in his apartment.

Atlanta man sentenced in case with Milledgeville connection

39-year-old Brandon Ector of Atlanta, known as “Big,” received a 150-month prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ector, who is not eligible for parole, was sentenced on the same day as the guilty pleas.

“Thanks to the law enforcement agencies involved, nearly four kilograms of fentanyl were prevented from reaching the Athens and Milledgeville communities,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Ector was a key member of a drug trafficking organization led by co-defendant Damon Hayes, known as “D-5.” The organization, which operated partly in Milledgeville, was involved in distributing methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs. Law enforcement agencies, including the DEA Macon Resident Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), used information from confidential informants to target the network, and a raid in Atlanta led to the seizure of large amounts of fentanyl and other drugs.

Agents say they recovered 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl in the apartment, as well as one kilogram of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, approximately 50 grams of cocaine base, approximately seven pounds of marijuana, a Glock 19 9mm pistol and a Ruger model 57 handgun.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Cherry Blossom Festival announced Thursday its third major headliner for the festival’s Nightly Concert Series in March 2024.

Grammy-award winning rapper Lupe Fiasco will perform as the festival celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, according to a news release. He’ll take the stage on Friday, March 22 at Carolyn Crayton Park.

“Chicago-born, Grammy Award-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco gained national attention with his 2006 album Food & Liquor, which helped cement a new wave of Chicago rappers in the national conversation,” the release said.

The Nightly Concert Series features local, regional and national artists performing each night of the 10-day festival, which runs March 15-24. Gate entry is $10 every day, and the concerts are included with your admission. Children 10 and under are free.

The festival wants to remind visitors a clear bag policy is in effect, and guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

Country music group Parmalee and Season 22 winner of NBC’s The Voice Bryce Leatherwood will also take the stage during the festival.

For programming and more information, visit https://cherryblossom.com.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A 7th grade social studies teacher at Warner Robins Middle School was arrested last week for terroristic threats and cruelty to children in the 3rd degree.

An incident report from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened on December 7, when another teacher overheard 51-year-old Benjamin Reese yelling at a group of three students after one of them told him the Isreali flag hanging in his room offended her.

Witnesses said Reese shouted expletives and threatened to cut off the student’s head.

We reached out to the Houston County School District to see how it’s responding and if Reese had any complaints or threatening behavior in the past.

In response to our inquiry, the district said in part:

“All employees of the Houston County School district are required to follow the code of ethics for educators. If there is a violation, or accusation of a violation, we investigate and respond appropriately. We are not able to discuss specific personnel matters. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our number one priority.”

Cold but not as cold across the area this morning as most of the area was in the low to mid 40s. We also had a few clouds in the area this morning. That will change as we head through the morning and the afternoon hours as skies will clear even more. We will be mostly sunny today with highs in the upper 50s. Winds will be out of the ENE at 8 to 10 mph with gust up to 15-20 mph. Overnight we will be clear and cold with overnight lows in the low 30s. Patchy frost is also possible across the area as temperatures will be below freezing in some areas. Friday we will be sunny and in the low 60s. As we head into the weekend we will be rainy from late Saturday through Sunday. This is all because of an area of low pressure will form in the Gulf of Mexico. As it draws closer to middle it will bring rain and windy conditions. Gust late Saturday through Sunday could be as high as 40 mph a the area of low pressure traverse middle Georgia. After it’s all said and done we could see rain totals of 1-3 inches across the area. We will remain dry next week through Christmas.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, is urging the public to avoid driving under the influence this holiday season.

As part of the state’s annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, running from December 13, 2023, through January 1, 2024, the office says it’s intensifying efforts to prevent DUIs. State troopers, sheriff’s deputies and police officers will step up enforcement during this period and will take any driver they find to be over the legal Blood-Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of .08 in Georgia to jail.

“No warnings. No call a friend to drive you home. No exceptions,” a sheriff’s office news release said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 4,500 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States in the month of December from 2017 to 2021, and 1,013 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the U.S. in December of 2021.

In Georgia, one out of four people killed in traffic crashes in December from 2017 to 2021 involved a driver whose BAC was higher than the state’s legal limit, and 70 percent of the fatal alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the state in December during this five-year period involved one driver with a BAC that was more than twice the legal limit.

Law enforcement has the following tips to help stop drunk driving and avoid a DUI, which could cost upwards of $10,000:

1. Chose a non-drinking person to be the designated driver before going out.
2. Do not let someone you know get behind the wheel if they have been drinking.
3. Let friends know they can contact you for a sober ride when needed.
4. Those hosting a party where alcohol is served should make sure guests leave with a sober driver.
5. Always wear your seat belt because it is the best defense against impaired drivers.

TCSO announces $61,418 in traffic enforcement grants

The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office says it’s been awarded two grants totaling more than $60,000.

The first is a $21,843 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). This funding acknowledges the office’s role as the coordinating agency of GOHS’s Middle Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network, which focuses on enforcing safety belt, speed and impaired driving laws.

“This is our way of supporting the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office through its continued leadership via Coordinator Captain Lee Smith and the Middle Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network,” GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said. “We want to make sure they can continue their region-wide efforts to protect Georgia motorists from drunk and otherwise dangerous drivers.”

The Middle Georgia Traffic Enforcement Network includes law enforcement agencies in Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Crisp, Dooly, Houston, Macon, Peach, Pulaski, Turner, Twiggs and Wilcox counties.

The grant will support ongoing initiatives to slow down speeders, promote seat belt usage and remove impaired drivers from roadways.

Sheriff Darren Mitchum says his office is committed to reducing traffic-related crashes, injuries and fatalities in the area.

The sheriff’s office also received a High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) grant of $39,575 from GOHS. The grant, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is part of an effort to address a rise in traffic deaths in the United State over the past two years.

“High Visibility Enforcement combines highly visible and proactive law enforcement to target a specific traffic safety issue designed to change unlawful and dangerous driving behaviors that contribute to most of the fatal and serious-injury traffic crashes on our road,” a news release said.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Six students from Bibb County middle schools have each been awarded a $10,000 Reach Foundation Scholarship.

The scholarship is designed to support students through high school and college and further assist them as they transition into the workforce.

Among the esteemed recipients is Lamario Scott, an 8th grader from Appling Middle School.

“”He is actually taking two high school courses now because we identified him early,” Appling Middle School Principal Sally Moody said.

Lamario says he wants to become a game developer, a dream supported by his strong family backing.

“Spend time with them, that’s what I do every single day,” Lamario’s father Darius Patrick said. Darius is no stranger to the scholarship: his daughter was a recipient last year.

In addition to Lamario Scott, the scholarship recipients include Savada Jones from Ballard-Hudson Middle, Khilee Mann from Howard Middle, Jabrea Williams from Miller Middle, Annabelle Ellison from Rutland Middle and Christian Perez from Weaver Middle. These students have maintained a minimum 2.5 GPA, a clean discipline record and good attendance, all prerequisites for the scholarship.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Goodwill and The Salvation Army have joined forces to launch a program in Macon aimed at providing essential education and practical training for job seekers.

The initiative, a first in the nation, is designed to empower Middle Georgians with the skills required for in-demand careers.

“Our goal is to in that 90-day period really look with intensive career coaching, get people in industry credential training programs and then get them to an employer where they can get into a middle skill job and make a sustainable living wage,” Senior Vice President of Career Development for Goodwill, Leah Pontoni, said.

The program will offer a range of courses such as EKG technician, medical administrative assistant, forklift operator and logistics technician, all tailored to meet urgent workforce needs in various high-demand sectors.

To be eligible for this program, candidates from The Salvation Army must possess at least a high school diploma. This ensures the participants are well-prepared to engage in the intensive eight-week training courses.

The program is set to start next month.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Otis Redding Foundation is being recognized for its contributions to the arts with the Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities.

The award is presented to organizations that support the growth of Georgia’s creative industries through community involvement, innovative programs and financial commitment.

The Director of the Otis Redding Center for the Arts, Kimberly Kelsey Epps, says the foundation supports the arts in Middle Georgia through music workshops, private lessons and youth camps.

“There are so many amazing, amazing entities and people in the state of Georgia who worked so hard to build up the arts community within the state,” Epps said. “We were so touched that we were chosen this year.”

Epps says receiving the award can help promote the Otis Redding Foundation and its future projects and also highlights the need for supporting arts in the community.

The Otis Redding Foundation was one of 10 organizations in the state to receive the award this year. You can find the full list of recipients by clicking here.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Your furry friend can get pictures with Santa during the Warner Robins Animal Control shelter donation drive this Saturday, December 16, and it’s for a good cause.

You can get pet pictures taken with a $5 donation and have your pet micro-chipped for $10. For $1, you can also enter a raffle for a custom pet portrait by artist Jennifer Williams.

All proceeds collected during the donation drive will go toward the shelter.

Animal Control Officer Jessica McAbee says the money raised helps to buy things like pet food, toys and cleaning supplies.

“Every year we like to do pictures with Santa, and we always ask for donations,” McAbee said. “Come in and take pictures and get donations, just to be able to do a little extra special things for the animals and stuff that we normally wouldn’t be able to do.”

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, located on Stalnaker Avenue in Warner Robins.

You can donate to the shelter any time of year through cash donations, and you can also drop off pet or cleaning supplies in person. To contact the shelter, call (478) 929-7290 or message Warner Robins Animal Control on Facebook.

Items the shelter is accepting:

• Dry adult and puppy food
• Wet puppy food
• Laundry soap
• Vinegar
• Peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Towels
• Wash clothes
• Large metal dog food bowls
• Large dual/deep plastic cat feeder bowls
• News paper
• Puppy pads
• Small plastic litter pans
• Fabuloso (purple)
• Leashes
• Self adhesive bandages
• Toys

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Get ready to put on your most outrageous and eye-catching ugly sweater for a fun night in downtown Macon.

Hotel Forty Five invites the public to its “Reckon Around the Christmas Tree: Ugly Sweater Party” at Reckon Coffee & Wine Bar inside Hotel Forty Five.

The hotel says it’ll be a night filled with holiday cheer, unique drink specials and live entertainment from Soul Candy.

It’s happening this Friday, December 15 from 8 to 11 p.m.

Prizes await those who come dressed in the most cringe-worthy holiday sweaters.

Hotel Forty Five is located at 401 Cotton Avenue in downtown Macon.

For more details, visit the hotel’s events page here.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office jailer has been arrested and is accused of sexually assaulting an inmate at the Baldwin County Detention Center.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a news release the jailer is 25-year-old Emmanuelle Robinson of Macon. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI’s assistance investigating this case in September, and Robinson turned himself in on December 6.

Robinson has been charged with sexual contact by a person with supervisory disciplinary authority. The GBI will continue the investigation.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A new Dunkin’ Donuts is having it’s grand opening today, and they’re giving people a reason to celebrate.

the new location at 1400 Bass Road, starting at 9:00 Wednesday morning, will be giving away free coffee for a year to the first 100 guests in line.

If you can’t be there at 9 a.m. don’t fret, this new Dunkin will be offering guests a free medium hot or iced coffee all day Wednesday the 13th.