The pandemic and social justice dominated national headlines again, but other stories occurred across the country and in central Georgia.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC / WMGT) – 2021 started similar to how 2020 ended, with much of the nation remaining focused on the pandemic.
After vaccine approval and a slower-than-expected rollout, the state opened four mass drive-through locations in January. One of them was in Macon.
In the meantime, the new mayor of Macon-Bibb, Lester Miller, has given the go-ahead. The Brookdale Elementary School building opened as a homeless shelter.
“Now we have over 100 people available around the clock,” Miller said at the time. “They are fed three times a day and have a warm place to stay.”
It was one of several initiatives Miller spearheaded in 2021, including statewide clean-up days, rot removal, and Prevention of violence according to Macon.
In March tragedy on I-16: Dublin High School Headmaster Dr. Jaroy Stuckey, was killed in an accident on I-16 in Bullock County, along with his wife and toddler. The school later named its basketball court in honor of the late headmaster.
In April, 30-year-old deputy Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Christopher Knight died in hospital MPs say he was stabbed to death by an inmate. Albert Booze, 22, who was charged in Knight’s death, was transferred to the Monroe County Jail and was later charged with assaulting MPs there. The Macon District Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to have Booze’s bail waived and to keep him behind bars.
In June, Sandersville schoolteacher Tina Prince disappeared after being last seen by her family in a Mexican restaurant. Her body was found in rural Washington County a week later.
“Aaron Matthew Adams, 31, from Sandersville, is on remand,” Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran said at a news conference. “He is being charged with a crime in one case that disguised a death and two cases of misrepresentation.”
A month later, in the middle of the summer travel season, I-16 in Treutlen County was locked after a truck with its raised bed hit an overpass and moved it six feet. Traffic was diverted in both directions.
“Soperton and Adrian are not used to seeing the traffic I-16 generates,” said Kyle Collins, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Transportation. “Hopefully it wasn’t too much of a headache because we know how important it is. Everyone drives this road, whether on vacation or port traffic. We have to open it. “
The next day all motorways were open again.
Also in July, three people were shot and two people were killed after shots are fired outside of The Thirsty Turtle. The club eventually handed over its liquor license.
Back in Macon District leaders announced plans in September for a new amphitheater on the new Macon Mall property. The $ 100 million investment will include restaurants and retail space.
“I can’t wait to break the ground,” said Macon-Bibb Lester Miller. “I can hardly wait until the first concert here.”
In October, a month when multiple shootings took place in Macon, an Alamo police officer was ambushed and killed on his first night at work. Officer Dylan Harrison left a wife and young child. Damien Ferguson was charged with his death.
A month later, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filed a nearly $ 800,000 lien against the city at Warner Robins. Mayor Randy Toms said the problem is not with tax arrears but with the way taxes are reported. Challenger LaRhonda Patrick defeated Toms in a runoff election for mayor at the end of November.
In December, Dr. Baldwin County Schools director Noris Price was named Georgia Superintendent of the Year. Other Milledgeville leaders addressed a recent surge in violence.
“We, as elected officials, are very aware,” Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham Copelan said at a press conference held with local law enforcement agencies. “Are we discouraged? Yes we are. If we could change it overnight, we would. “
Copelan’s comments came less than two weeks after Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller unveiled his Macon Violence Prevention Action Plan to tackle violence in Macon-Bibb after another record year of homicides.
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