5/8
Man, Friday got here fast and boy, have we been running the last two days.
This morning we arrived at Lenox Road shortly after someone busted through the front door of Pearl Vision, right across from the mall. Shards of glass were everywhere, the door busted; the thieves knew exactly what they wanted.
Designer sunglasses, frames, you name it; they pulled it out, all the cheap stuff they left behind. The manager told me they even carried a $1,000 frame in this store. Whoever it was snatched that as well. This isn't the first time they'd hit the store, but they don't have video cameras and by the time anyone realized the store was broken into the crew had already hit two other metro Atlanta stores.
Then there was Thursday with us running up and down the road covering the manhole bandits. Real quick side step here.
While we were covering that story two other things happen as Atlanta police arrested the three men with the manhole covers.
First a construction worker realized that someone had stolen thousands of dollars of tools from inside a security fence. Then as police started to attend to him things got even stranger when a man and a women started fighting right there on the street near us! Police ended up having to send both to Grady!
So you had three things going on in the middle of one area as police also try to contact the sewer department to get the manhole covers back into place.
Somehow three guys were able to steal what took a whole crew to put back--the construction manager short on tools looked over and said to us, "Man they worked that hard to steal; they could have worked for me and earned a honest dollar!"
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5/7
THERE ARE STORIES THAT JUST JUMP OUT AT YOU! MAKE YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS. THE ONE BELOW MADE THE HAIRS ON MY NECK STAND UP! ACCORDING TO THE DEKALB COUNTY SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, ALLEN MCDOWELL USED THE POPULAR FREE INTERNET SITE CRAIGSLIST TO LURE, ASSAULT, RAPE AND STEAL FROM WOMEN. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED MCDOWELL, WHO BY THE WAY IS JUST 18! HE'S ALSO ACCUSED OF RAPING TWO WOMEN EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW HE WAS HIV-POSITIVE!!! ONCE IN CONTACT WITH THE WOMEN HE WOULD GET THEM BACK TO A VACANT APARTMENT OFF KENSINGTON ROAD, IN DEKALB COUNTY, WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND ROBBED AT LEAST ONE OF THE VICTIMS. ALLEN JAMAR MCDOWELL IS IN JAIL FACING 11 SERIOUS CHARGES INCLUDING RAPE, RECKLESS CONDUCT, KIDNAPPING AND IMPERSONATING AN OFFICER! WHAT HAS TO BE WORSE IS FOR THE WOMEN THIS TEEN MAY HAVE HURT IS WHAT THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY NOW MAY BE. AS IF THE RAPE WASN'T ENOUGH, HOPEFULLY THERE'S NOT A LONG LIST OF VICTIMS OUT THERE.
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4/29
Nothing's worse than not knowing; at least for me. Maybe that's a reporter trait.
By 6:30 this morning I was baffled that we were never informed about what chemical created a Hazmat situation on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.
So all morning the road is shut down and no one, no one, can tell us why!
We have great relationships with the folks who work the front lines and usually communication is open; we just couldn't get that question answered.
It only makes it standout even more once people start calling and I understand! If I lived nearby I would want to know too.
Hey it happens sometimes, but as soon as we find out we will pass it along to you, yes we are still working.
As reporters, trust me, you can ask most of us and we will tell you it's the information that seems to be right out in front of you that drives you crazy.
On another note; what about those Hawks??
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4-21
Monday started on Sunday--by 11:45 p.m. Sunday night my Blackberry was already going off with possible stories that we would chase, and cover. By 12:15 a few were still going on, but by 12:45 a fatal accident in DeKalb County became the priority. As we arrived we could see 3 fire trucks with their red and white lights on in a grid-like shape forming a perimeter around a two truck accident.
With so many accidents in the metro we can’t cover them all, but fatal accidents during these hours may affect the morning commute. This accident was clearly powerful; a semi with a huge load vs. a small truck. Firefighters used the jaws of life--but that couldn't help the passenger inside.
For more than an hour we wait as police investigate and fire crews help the Medical Examiner remove the body. Later we learn from DeKalb police the driver of the truck was under the influence when he slammed into a parked semi shearing the top portion off the truck, killing the passenger.
That driver had a license from another country and police tell us he will be facing multiple charges.
By 2:30 we were moved to Buford in Gwinnett, to cover the story of a missing kayaker who fire-rescue and police first responders spent a few hours trying to save after he went missing for a Sunday; later he would tell everyone he got caught in the current and couldn't make it back up river.
Five live shots later now it's 7:14 a.m. and we, just like everyone else, have to get in the traffic, fighting rush hour back to Atlanta!
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3-20
So we heard about this fight posted on YouTube.
In the video you can see Mill Creek High students fighting.
Quickly looking at the video it looked like a large pit. You see teachers in the middle trying to calm the situation down.
All of sudden a match was lit "emotions"= gasoline and the hallways of this large school just turned inside out. The video last all of 2 minutes but this moment has lasted on.
So the fight becomes greater because of it's exposure; kids with cell phones. Extra security has been added to the school but really what will happen next?
Taking a look at the video in its raw form you can see how this could have been a lot worse, with a potential for serious injuries. Over the last few years we seen how small school issues can turn into tragedies and that's why the school's taking a hard stance.
Hopefully someone will talk with these young men and maybe make them realize how a "fight" may have altered their lives. Charges are pending, school suspension are already here, and zero tolerance will be the justice that the school system administer from what I've learned.
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2-27
Haven't blogged in awhile, but after covering the storms Tuesday; well, no better time then now.
In Northwest Atlanta a tree that had to reach 20 feet in the air came crashing down right around 6:45 slicing the back of house in two. Below was a couple in bed both of them were trapped by the weight of the roof and the tree! They survived and firefighters helped to save them from the house but it was just an unbelievable sight.
If you watched you may have seen me in the back portion of the house standing near where the rescuers worked. It's always surreal to me how manmade items can be destroyed in a blink of an eye.
The woman inside the house was actually pregnant we are told the baby is OK and so is Kendra Brown. The mother did suffer a broken hip.
We stayed at the house for several hours as people from all over came to look at the house. Every time we cover a storm there is a glimmer of hope that reaches right out. This one is so easy to see as I spoke with the family everything that use to be of top concern moved to the back everything now centered around and on how the family would come together and make it together through this.
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1-8
In covering the story about Meredith Emerson, you get a real feeling for how she was loved.
Monday I spoke with her boyfriend before Gary Hilton led investigators to the 24 year-old's body. He told me about how they liked to write and how she wrote the first line to this and then he wrote the rest.
whisper not into my ear
for once freed, it can never return
quiescence becomes a billowing thunder
to be forever taken as solemn vow
whisper not into my ear
for my heart knows from whence the whisper comes
and trembles neath my steely walls
absorbing each echo as the first
whisper not into my ear
though savvy, it cannot conceive
of gravity brought forth in a hushed tone
exquisite words in a muted offering
whisper not into my ear
for with your whisper, resistance flees
the will to yield then lights the pathway
that gently guides my hand to thine
A hard time for the Emerson family and friends. People from across the area have expressed pure disbelief over what happened to her.
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12-19
So overnight we followed a story about a group of robbers following unsuspecting folks home.
Now every holiday period we follow similar stories about people breaking into cars, stealing presents and running scams.
Here's something else to think about--watch what you put on your curb "next to the trash can."
Did you buy a new TV, golf clubs, or a Playstation?
It always amazes me driving through all the neighborhoods an seeing the long line of boxes at the curb. Those boxes tip all of us off that there's something new at your house. It's a pain but cut the boxes down or drive them to a dumpster. Another step I know, but better then being a target.
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12-17
Boy does it get cold overnight. You can feel the mercury dropping as each hour passes by.
Now here's our challenge; find people who have to brave the cold weather and tell their story.
Sometimes it happens in a casual way we are driving along and bam we see someone who looks to have an interesting story.
Other times we are more calculated "yeah right" --we will rely on luck driving around and stopping when we see a large group of people.
This works many times because almost everyone has an opinion on weather. It's something that unites us we all have to pull through the drought, the warm weather, and now the cold!
Have a great Monday; I'm headed inside to thaw out a little.
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12-13
What a daring rescue; Atlanta fire had to use their imagination, skill and nerve to save a man overnight.
The man's car hit a parking garage support wire area seven stories high in the sky.
The car was suspended in mid air; trapped between floors. the man was not responding so firefighters had to save him. You can see this story on the front page of our website.
In talking with the firefighters who pulled this off they talked about the training that goes into these high rescue acts; years and years of training.
With a solid plan these men, many of whom just left another fire scene in Buckhead, lowered themselves down and into position to save the victim.
The crowd watched and clapped at the end---appropriate because many times crowds cheer in the arena for athletes and rarely do people get a chance to salute those who do truly heroic acts.
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Dec. 6
I don't know if you noticed.
Besides reporting, sometimes certain events happen over and over that eventually you see a pattern.
Here's one that's becoming disturbing to us.
We are witnessing crimes committed by teens, not just kid stuff-- Murders, Robberies, Armed Robberies, Home Invasions and Drug sales.
Not to say all this wasn't going on all along--- but as you watch the news and you hear us mentioning the ages of some of these suspects they just seem to always be younger than the drinking age.
How is the justice system handling this---I asked this question to a few police officers they say they are frustrated with the response. They contend that a lot of kids are falling through the cracks and by the time an alarm goes off it's to late for the kids.
My friends who are Teachers feel handcuffed by what they perceive as a lack of caring by parents and the general public. Classes are growing larger, homework is laughed about and behavior issues seem to take up most of the class time.
From inside my live truck at night we are seeing and talking to two times the number of homeless kids this year compared to last.
We here all the stories about why the kids are out on the street --even the ones with homes seem to stray toward the streets when they should be home. Don't think it's your problem well with all the violence in our area being committed by this group it seems like it's now all of our problems.
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November 16, 2007
So this work week is over and it seems like this has been a bad one for homes and business in terms of avoiding cars...
We've stood in front of the Clayton's home in Gwinnett -- they had tons of water and mud force their house off the foundation. That happened when a T-line burst and sent rushing water down hill into the home crushing the walls. The family told me how they scrambled around trying to save stuff but in the end the water all of sudden just turned the house inside out. Gwinnett Water authority says they really don't have a cause for the burst pipe and the family will have to move somewhere else for maybe up to six months.
Thursday we were back in Gwinnett, this time standing in front of a bakery that had been destroyed, after a semi-truck driver tried to avoid hitting a car. That move sent the truck into the bakery. No one was hurt but the store is now closed for major repairs.
That brings us to this morning -- a Honda Accord slammed into a house in Cobb County the men behind the wheel may have been drinking and now the homeowner will learn later this morning just how bad the structural damage is to her house.
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November 9, 2007
Sometimes we just run...yep, we just drive around and around chasing stories. That happened this morning as we went to 7 different stories from Southwest Atlanta to Cherokee County then to DeKalb and then back through Cobb County.
All the stories made the newscast -- we sent some of the video back to the station as another call came in...
Just run, run, run - -but hey, that's what we do more often than not, but it's Friday. One of the stories that we did cover was a space heater fire. It's that time of year again the temps are going down, just a simple reminder keep those space heaters away from drapes, sheets, pets or anything else that's fabric.
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11-8
Norcross Building Supply, a 60-year-old business is now gone.
A fire took down the large cedar lumber yard in a matter of hours.
The pictures here on the site are amazing.
SLIDESHOW: Huge Lumberyard FireThe smoke here even 5, 6, hours later was unbelievable--the smoke is choking---it just poured overnight into the sky.
You can smell the smoke and see the embers from miles away.
Right now I'm inside a car and the pungent order is almost--lets see--like pine tar.
Breathing is a bit hard.
Also overnight firefighters have been working hard to control hot spots that continued to burn.
Luckily no one was hurt--and the fire is under control.
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October 22, 2007
Overnight, a family received a horrible call -- their family member, a manger at a local Game Stop, was found dead inside a store in Marietta. Matthew Cherry was just 21—
Twenty-one-years-old and a manager of a local store that, for the most part, sells Video Games, DVD's and Video Game players. The stores are usually on the edge of Wal-Mart parking lots and in malls.
When we first arrived on scene at 3:00 a.m. we saw crime scene tape blocking a large section of the parking lot. Inside the store with fingerprint dusters and special flash lights, the CSI team was working to find more evidence. There is apparently plenty of video of the man moving around the store and as police would later detail the man with a gun had a plan!
As the store closed the robber waited till the store was empty and then put his plan in action, taping the hands and mouths of the employees. The armed man may not even know but the act of taping the young mans mouth and hands may have prevented him from breathing.
The armed robber also taped another employee and his father before police arrived -- they are both okay!
Right now police in our area continue to look for a 2004 Red Honda Civic with the Georgia tag 2010 ASW - police hope they can find the car and the man linked to this case.
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October 16, 2007
Hello everyone!!!
Detectives once again are working against the clock -- a murder during the overnight hours has them asking questions to neighbors and a witness. A women walking the street was shot at least once in the neck and she died with no ID on her just off of Browns Mill Road.
Police may search...they may find some evidence, but right now with such a slim amount of clues what do police have to go on??
Detectives really will need the neighborhoods' help in turning this case. Some people heard the shots, some of them offered assistance, but maybe someone else out there knows a little more.
Far more often now, people with knowledge are keeping quiet -- that silence is hurting investigations all around town and making it harder for families to have closure in open cases!
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October 10, 2007
So everyday is "Opening Day" in Atlanta -- well that's the slogan the city uses to attract people from out of town. City officials and tourism leaders must have experienced a little bit of a belly ache this morning when three tourists were held up at gun point. The robbers even taunted the tourists from Utah by saying this is our city and "we run things."
This all happened in the heart of midtown -- Peachtree and Peachtree Circle -- around 2 a.m. at a Shell gas station that was closed. The three folks didn't know that and quickly received a rude awakening as they stared at guns. One of the victims tried to call 9-1-1 and that's when one of the robbers opened fire blowing out the glass window of the white Jetta they were riding in.
Just by luck, a state trooper on routine patrol rode by and was flagged down by the three and less than a half hour later all the robbers were in custody after a short foot chase.
The victims are all in great spirits but a bit shaken understandably -- they were so very happy with the treatment they received from the Atlanta Police Department.
By the way, the three robbers are now being looked at for other hold-ups around town.
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10/8
So thanks to a few of you for asking about the Blog through email.
This last two weeks have been slower than usual overnight; not a lot to describe to you in the extra tidbits category.
With that in mind I thought I share some photo's from the last event I participated in. We at "WSB-TV" participate in plenty of events throughout the community, the last two that I helped out with I had fun with.
These photos are from Tilson Elementary School "Boys to Men" event. Fathers and sons and men from around the community came together for a luncheon where we talked about growing up.
In the crowd were firefighters, police officers, TV folks and of course teachers and fathers. The whole idea of the program put on by Charles Barnes, a teacher, was to focus on all the positive things a community can do together to raise boys. A great event that joined the school, community and parents together.
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September 21, 2007
What a long violent week -- there is a undercurrent that is pushing it's self to the top! One night after another the metro area had several deadly nights this week.
Another drive by---- this am and this whole situation can be summed up with what police are facing. The stop "snitching" mantra on the streets is really hurting the investigation efforts of detectives.
If people don't provide info it's hard to solve cases!!!!!! Period
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September 20, 2007
I've stepped away from the blogging for a little bit because honestly the last few mornings have been brutal. My story this morning could have taken place in Baghdad not in Atlanta. When police finished counting the shell casings the number reached over 68 and that's the bullets that didn't lodge themselves in the surrounding buildings or the young man who was killed.
This was a violent action--that's after a night we had another hit-like shooting of a man at a strip club in Atlanta.
Those acts of violence strong in nature--- but what really tears at me -- the little boy in Dekalb county shot to death while he slept in his grandparents house.
All these shootings have been targeted done without fear---it seems no one is scared of authority, prosecution, or a higher judgment.
We know violence is a part of life!!!! But when will we reach a tipping point??? Who will step forward to put man like this off our streets??
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September 13, 2007
What would make four men climb a construction crane in the middle of the morning?
Well police more than likely don't care -- especially with the history of crane crazy's we've had here. APD does however care about getting the men down quickly! All four men climbed the crane of a unfinished condo building that sits on 12th and Juniper the crane is about 18 stories high.
This morning several 9-1-1 calls came in and police scrambled their helicopter into the air the spotlight shined on the men -- and within minutes police had all four men in custody. The climbing four smiled at us as our tape rolled and you can see the pictures on our front page. When we talked with an eyewitness he said it looked like the men were walking around talking on top of the crane? Curious!
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September 11, 2007
Six years ago I was one like many others who made frantic calls to New York worried about friends who lived and worked in the city.
It's amazing how the world has changed in six years. Nothing is the same and today we will all reflect on the amazing loss that our country faced.
Years later many of the first responders to that tragedy are suffering in silence due to health aliments from the toxic dangers associated with digging in that mess. Days after I talked with two special firefighters who responded from Savannah to the World Trade Center and even one of them has had to retire due to multiple health issues.
To all those who have suffered or served our country, Thank You!
The story below caught my eye as it ran on our newscast and words don't even need to be said, but honestly are we for real?
“3 minors are accused of major vandalism. And they could be about to learn a harsh lesson from the legal system. Investigators say three juveniles are responsible for a mess inside a Carrollton head start.
The facility is coated from top to bottom with gallons of paint, chemicals, even human waste.
Tonight, children-- ages 10, 12, and 14-- are charged with breaking in to the school and committing the crimes.
The building is also a community center that distributes government subsidy food. Vandals even ruined that!
Police say the vandals wrote their own names on walls and when they found one suspect he was covered with paint.”
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8-31
Okay two in one; on the last day of the work week.
The last two days have been amazing and entertaining.
The van into the convenience store was fun to cover not because of what was done but how the owner and his employees reacted. They didn't blink. They went right to work and got that store back open just hours after the van crashed into the store.
This morning another story that made us laugh all morning long.
First two men show up with guns to rob a Hispanic family in Clayton County, but boy the family turns the tables and beats down one of the robbers who was holding a shotgun.
In fact his finger almost got ripped off as he tried to hold onto the gun.
To wrap it up, the family won -- one robber in the hospital the other still running.
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8-29
August 29, 2007
I can't imagine how many times I written on this Blog about how different working overnights is. Usually these words are just off the cuff about others and what's happening behind the scenes.
I took a few days to think about this; Friday I stood on the street, Memorial Drive in DeKalb at the scene of an accident where a man had been hit by three cars; he was in critical condition. Now from all accounts the man tried to beat traffic across the road before getting hit by the first car.
So if you can imagine, here we are doing live shots watching investigators doing their job before they eventually cleared the scene. Just at that moment a young man dressed in all black with a hat cocked to the side, dark sneakers and cross look on his face tries to dart across the street the same way the guy did who just got hit. We watch in amazement waiting for something to happen. When he gets across the street he hurls "What the hell are ya'll looking at?” in our direction.
We just keep looking; really unsure who he's aiming his comments at. He continues getting angrier; really starting to act like he wants to become physical. I decide to counter his anger with my own “hey man just keep moving.”” He stares, I stare; not knowing what's next.
So finally he throws out a few more words before moving on. Done. Right?
Nope. He's back three minutes later and now we are wondering what's next.
The young man, no more than 28, extends his hand and says "Sorry. I've just got out of jail after 12 years in lock -up!"
He tells me in prison when someone stares at you "he pauses"--you are forced to act.
He went on to say that a friend had told him about the accident and he realized that we may have been worried about his safety. He then offered up that he was trying to change his life and that prison had really changed the way he is.
"So much has happened in the last 12 years,” he says.
He then hugged me. We talked and he moved on.
Obviously it had a great effect on me because it's something that's been on my mind for a few days. His goal, he told me, was to never go back to jail. Honestly I pray that he finds his way so he can be more like the guy that walked back over humble and ready for change.
Good Luck Brother!!!
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August 21, 2007
What a rough, rough, morning -- a tremendous amount of grief, sorrow and pain could be felt on Sandstone lane, just outside Union City near Fairburn but in South Fulton County.
Sometime after 10 last night police investigators say 32-year-old Chad Payne took a gun and inside a beautiful home he shared with his wife and shot his 7-year-old step son and then shot his 2-year-old daughter Chasmin Payne.
When police arrived, they rushed young 7-year-old Keevin to the hospital where he would later die. The 2-year-old girl, Chasmin, and the little boy were shot in the head. Then Chad Payne killed himself.
As the family arrived, the lone survivor, a heart broken mother, could be seen struggling with the details and as the crowd grew so did the grief.
Neighbors remain in shock -- one man cried out when I told him what happened this morning, this is something that is hard to understand, hard to take, especially hard to report!
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8-14
This week has already started off fast for everyone this week, so if you’re stopping here, thanks.
The first days back to school are always very busy not only because of all the kids but they have traditionally been big news days.
So much can happen overnight and through the day. The biggest story of the day focused on a 14-year-old girl who was raped at the Constitution apartment complex in Southeast Atlanta.
Police say they are searching for the man who committed this assault and so far the leads appear slim.
There is a chance that just maybe someone out there saw something and will call police with a helpful tip.
With so many kids standing at bus stops we all have to be a little more careful driving and also watching the youngsters, who could potentially fall victim to predators like this.
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August 6, 2007
Monday. This has been a tough stretch for law enforcement. Over the last few days it has been murder after murder -- all over the metro area.
As the temperatures rise it seems like the death toll has also started to rise.
This morning's murders centered in Gwinnett, happening within hours of each other. The first murder was during a robbery -- a man was walking home with a woman, police say he wanted to get to know better, when a man followed them demanding cash.
The woman gave up her purse, she then ran, the man screamed to the robber he didn't have any money. The robber took his gun pointed and fired hitting the man once in the chest killing him.
The second shooting happen off Jimmy Carter in Gwinnett as well... a 16 year-old boy and his 14 year-old brother were working in a parking lot when from a wood line the boy was shot once in the side as they worked.
The 16 year-old would be rushed to the hospital but at 2:30am the teen was pronounced dead.
We talked with some teens later who told us they believe that the boys might have been in a gang, and that this whole fight started last week.
Hopefully by this afternoon police will know more-
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July 24, 2007
Just wanted to jump in this week with a quick note... I had my first taste of the Vick case--this morning. There will be a press conference today at 4pm and of course you can get all the details about the press conference right here at WSBTV.com.
Here's the looming issue about this case --you can feel this situation splitting people down some real hard lines, and now Vick has been banned from training camp. Meanwhile Vick has hired Billy Martin as his attorney!
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July 20, 2007
Okay a few of you have suggested through emails that you would love to see me report a happier story.. Well from time to time I do get a chance to do things not on TV that are much happier subjects. This week Jaquitta and I spoke with a group of kids at Camp New Look---that's a summer camp sponsored by recording super star Usher!
The kids seen in these pictures are bright, articulate and they just were a joy to be around. For just over and hour we talked about TV news and what happens from day to day in the media.
The kids here from around the country all had bright ideas and very big dreams for their futures---!! I say to all of them thanks and good luck.
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July 18, 2007
After our story aired about the fire that took the lives of two young children I took this picture...
It tells everything and nothing at all. Look in the corner there's a window close to the front a neighbor tells us this is the one they broke out to help save a life.
They wanted to help save the children inside but couldn't! Two cousins, a boy -- 5 or 6 -- and a girl, 10, could be heard whimpering for help inside. The women next door tells us the sounds crushed her -- the heat and smoke just so very intense they couldn't get inside.
Right now it appears that a lighter in the hands of one of the kids may have started this fire. Now a family is hurting. They also tell me that they are so very close many of them arrived here on Baker Road only to say they had just left last night before the fire. Now all they feel is pain and a misunderstanding for what's happen here!
Never easy to see families lose young ones, it a tearing feeling when you see three generations cry about children who won't get a chance to live!
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July 16
I've worked mornings since arriving here at WSB-TV.
Atlanta's become my favorite city to work in so far; the people, the stories. Metro Atlanta has a real flavor, unlike a lot of cities.
One fact of life that I'm very aware of -- just like any big city you have violence, most of it makes you just scratch you head and ask why?
For me a lot times we see it day after day up-close and personal but usually after it happens.
So this morning as we delivered our live part of our broadcast, I never expected to see what happen right in front of our camera.
A Man being beaten --as it happened live.
911 dispatch could see it at the same time; officers zoomed in while I was on the phone with dispatchers.
Meanwhile we gave a description of a older model Ford Bronco that raced from the parking lot.
Later I talked with the victim who said he was okay, just shook up. He claimed the people were his friends. A witness told me he couldn't believe it either.
Let me stress the victim is okay and refused medical treatment.
The person who put some of the hardest hits to the victims head happens to be a women--she kicked him in the face over and over.
Again police have the people in custody and the man is okay.
The only reason we stood here in the first place is the lighting in this parking lot.
A large light is out and it's very dark down the center aisle.
A woman told us she had her purse snatched and was run over by a car in that same dark area and just wanted Wal-Mart to do more.
This is a strange wild morning. But maybe someone else will be safer now because of what happened out here.
Be safe out there.
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July 13
We headed out around 2 a.m. this morning on our way to a shooting at the Sun Valley apartments.
Strange details on this one.
Now I know that Atlanta is one of the music capitals of the world so home recording studios are not uncommon.
Those who work in the industry will tell you that they keep their studios secluded sometimes, so that nothing weird or dangerous happens.
Apparently one man led three others upstairs to the studio--they pulled guns and opened fire.
Right now no details about what they wanted or demanded.
Other people, including a 2 year-old were inside the house, but luckily they weren't hurt.
Now DeKalb County detectives are in the most important time -- the first 48 hours.
They need to find out who these men are and get a good description, to move this case forward.
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July 10, 2007
Overnight the flow of NEWS kept us moving--- we stood in Dekalb County off Jenay Court were police found the body of a young man shot dead. A witness tells us they saw a man in a truck opening fire on the victim over and over again, at least 10 shots... The witness dialed police but the target had dropped to the ground and by the time emergency crews arrived, there was nothing they could do. The details to this story are a bit strange, one house in the neighborhood was broken into, one man was shot and left for dead, and that's all police shared by 3:00am.
As we covered that story we got the call from the newsroom, a police officer had been hurt driving his patrol car.
Now this story----- to use a word that I can't on TV was "crazy" --- A Clayton County police officer is driving along a road and hits a large stone--the rock weighed more than a hundred pounds.!!!
The force of the impact sends the car into the air slamming down on it's top hurting the officer. We talked with and eyewitness who said the crash ended with a hard thud.... Luckily the officer is okay and if you want to look at the rock, swing to the front page of our website.
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July 9, 2007
Well this week started off with a police investigation into a hit and run!
Short and simple when it comes to accidents, murders and other crimes -- there's something that can't be overlooked! The word is simple -- EYEWITNESS -- this word is so large trust me.
"We have more eyes and ears then any police force in town!"
There are many people who would never say anything, but what you pass along could save a life or solve a crime. That may sound small but it could help provide peace to a family or a love one looking for peace!
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July 4, 2007
Back from vacation -- and this week already started off very quickly. Truly the video of the day on our front page -- a car off the side of the building and apparently the guy was trying to drift according to witness.
Now if you don't know what drifting is check out video of it on
YouTube just plug in "drifting" into their search engine and sit back and watch for yourself. Drifting is really popular especially after a movie appearance.
Long story short when the guy went off the parking garage he bounced off the trash can below and then onto the ground. Amazingly he walked away and is now at Grady hospital. Police are charging him with DUI and reckless driving.
Really the video is crazy -- a six story plunge and the guy walks away and apparently tells a cop " I want a lawyer." One of the wooden planks from a fence even pierced his ride -- right through the passenger seat. The man in his twenties had just dropped off his girlfriend.
Already just in the last 20 minutes I've received an email saying this guy could not have drifted in this car and that this car is not suited for drifting and I've already seen on drifting websites people laughing at this guy for what he tried to do.
So here is one other note!!! The drivers back tires according to police were both bald and apparently this was not his first attempt at making this car work it's way around this apartment complex.
There truly is a drifting community out there they feel very strongly about what they consider and art and hate be attached to this driver. But I believe the quote is imitation is the best form of flattery-- a movie like 2 Fast 2 Furious is always going to draw people to try things maybe they aren't trained to do!! By the way we will have more on this story through out the day as we follow the investigation to find out what exactly happened
Happy Fourth and to all of our Soldiers a special Thank You to you and your Families!!!
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June 26, 2007
Blog on hold while I take a short break! Be back soon!
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June 20
Covering a story with the details we had this morning makes you take a deep long breath.
A truck hits a puddle after a rainy night and veers off the road, into trees and the top of the truck is crushed. Inside the truck a women and her 8 year-old son needed help.
Neighbors heard a loud boom, and they started running to the truck crushed along the tree line.
Jackie Sanders was the first one there--he jumped in the window and got a hold of the hands of both mother and child.
He told me "she wanted to find her son."
The little boy was screaming for his mother--eventually the worst would happen; the woman slipped away as she held Jackie's hand. The little boy begged for his mother to wake up.
Nothing could be tougher than watching and experiencing what this little boy just went through. The way Jackie tells the story it makes you just want to leap right in and help.
You can watch the story on our front page. Jackie tells me firefighters had to cut the women and her child out the truck, but it was just too late for her.
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June 15
Two days, two violent nights and plenty of tears from the people who are directly affected.
Thursday we covered a violent overnight robbery attempt where a man walking on Monroe street near Amsterdam on his cell phone was jumped. The victim tells police that two men approached and they demanded his money--it's not clear what happened next but we do know the robbers opened fire hitting the victim multiple times in the stomach.
The angels at Grady somehow saved the man's life. His condition went from critical to stable in under 24hrs. For the neighborhood near Piedmont Park this wasn't easy news; I talked with a homeowner who washed the man's blood from his driveway. All he could do was shake his head; his wife said he would no longer be allowed to run early in the morning.
Less than a full 24 hrs later we were back out; first we covered a tow truck going front end first into a home. A man in a car said he heard gun shots -- he took off crashing his truck and the car into a church fence then into a house.
Before we could leave we got one more call about a 23-year old man getting killed at the Vine City Terrace apartments. A masked gunman walked up, said something to two men on a stoop and then opened fire with an assault rifle.
One of the men tried to run away only to be shot in the back. He died and police are trying to find leads.
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June 12
The last 48 hrs have slammed us on the overnight shift; we covered three murders and one shooting. The stories have had us all over the metro.
We are now sitting in the city of Milton --waiting for police to clear an apartment complex; they expanded the crime scene so we had to move just outside the gates.
Here at the Preserve of Deerfield, we've learned the murder victim called for help, and more than likely died on the line or shortly after his call for help.
Police say it was hard to track the man's location because he used a cell phone--police had to walk around the complex looking for the victim. They did track what apartment the man was calling from and when they did, they found the victim dead inside.
Right now police have had a report of a man running from the scene but that's all they are sharing so far; the GBI is on scene helping to gather the evidence from inside the dead man's apartment. This complex is so large most of the folks who live here don't have a clue about what's going on.
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June 4
There are few things worst then covering a murder involving kids.
Hearing the details of this weekend’s shooting in Henry County has to provide a chill to the bones---the details of that evening left at least 8 people stabbed or shot--and two young ladies dead.
Something else that sticks out that is just as chilling.--- a point in the our story that brings you pause.
The young man in our story who was shot explains how the fight went on with people who had come later to the party. He says "people went to their cars and grabbed weapons."
Read that again. You end up with multiple teenagers running to their cars and looking for a weapon to defend or to do harm to each other. Bullets start to fly as hundreds are now running for their lives hoping to find a safe place.
Two young girls unfortunately are caught in this mess and they die from their wounds-- the idea that multiple teens are driving or carrying weapons, has to roll a river of emotion down your side.
Tom Jones is covering this story and will update it at noon --these parents tried to reward their kids only to have their last high school party trashed, broken and destroyed.
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May 29
Firefighter Felix Roberts died Monday morning while trying to save a man inside a burning home. The 41-year-old Roberts is the first firefighter killed in the 29-year history of the Fulton County Fire Department. The man Roberts tried to save, 57-year-old John Callahan, also died in the Johns Creek blaze. Two other firefighters were injured.
Monday was a excruciating day for firefighters and for several families. Firefighter Felix Roberts, died just a few hours before going home, his mother was in town to see her son but it's a trip he never made.
I spoke with a Fulton County firefighter who just was emotionally drained by having three of his brothers hurt in this fire.
Just last week we talked about the memorial service for these civil servants -- a preacher at that service spoke about how when we write we give away parts of our personality. He spoke about the curves in our writing and how leaning letters show in essence the strength of the men and women who serve us on a day to day basis.
Well the entire family of firefighters has to now lean on each other again so that they can make it through this tough, tough moment.
Just think about this, many of the people who are directly affected by this returned to work today to face another fire maybe even save another house, and maybe even another life!
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5-25
I haven't blogged all week--the last two weeks have flown by so quickly. We've worked tremendously hard covering a few major stories---but I want to take this time to point out the pictures here.
So far I only have these photo's but it was my honor to MC the Fulton County, Atlanta Firefighters memorial held at City Hall.
Let me just say the work that Firefighters in our area perform is a fantastic sometimes thankless job---.
I can't even count all the major fires that I've covered-- they always can be dangerous, life threatening and, life changing.
Many times families don't have insurance and they feel the pain of losing everything with no way of regaining everything. But just think of the toll fighting fires takes on the men and women of the FD; their bodies many times are exhausted and they physically push themselves to the limit in order to save lives, possessions and property.
Despite their most professional efforts these men and women sometimes fall in the line of duty only showing how dangerous their jobs can be. Lives depend on the service --people count on the seconds and minutes it takes the red engines to arrive--they may leave covered in smoke and soot but their efforts make every difference in the lives of the people they are there to help.
What made the memorial service especially heartfelt was the sight of the women of the fallen men who died fighting fires here in our city--- they remain strong but more importantly their husbands should not be forgotten and they should be honored------- for they knowingly risked their lives to save the lives of others and truly that's the definition of a hero!
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May 14
17 year-old Kyle Moore was a big guy--a football star who played big on the field and had a big loving family.
I haven't written anything here since I spoke with his mom the morning off his tragic murder.
Honestly, I can admit anger coursed through me thinking about how the killer got away with $5 and a cell phone.
I waited to see how many others would stand up and call for action and justice; would the community unite?
Moore's mother, Lynn Carter, stood strong; stronger than most and spoke about not wishing this moment on anybody, especially another parent. Your heart had to sink when you watched the family as I did.
Standing on her front porch surrounded by loved ones you could only imagine the pain that this family was going through. Now there is a break in the case and police have arrested someone.
Edward Wallace has been charged with the murder of Kyle Moore--on his mug shot a tear drop tattoo is on his face--usually and indication or a sign used to signify a person has killed someone.
Now I stress suspect because everyone deserves their day in court--- you just hope for something more--maybe a turn, a break, a drop off in the random street violence, but now I'm just wishing.
This a.m. -- We also covered an armed robbery at Atlantic Station -- at the Fox Sports Grill.
Turning the corner around near the front of the sports bar around 1 a.m. we saw 5 police cars and we had just beaten the detectives there.
On a side note, I eat at the Fox all the time, so this is not only a very familiar place for me but many of the people who work there are folks I've grown accustom to seeing.
So quickly I saw people I knew -- and what became clear, people were scared; they had that washed out worried face.
We found out from employees and the crowd, that after the doors were locked somehow two men made it inside the employee entrance and into the inside.
The money was being counted and the men said they wanted all the money -- taking the cash and making a run for it, luckily no one was hurt.
The belief by many there seemed to be that this had to be someone who know how things are handled. For one, this happened after closing and the robbers waited for the 2 deputies who work security to leave before they hit the place. We are told there is video so Atlanta Police hopefully have leads.
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May 2, 2007
Okay so if you watched this morning's story" if you didn't you still can-- on our front page" your may have heard me say we heard gun shots near our live shot. Well what I didn't say was this--
My photographer heard 12 rapid fire gun shots high caliber. Soon after we saw a young man run then stumble face first into a grassy area. He got up but was with the man who was shot.
The young man looked just like one of the three young men who had just had stood in front of us talking about blackberry's and Monica's Hair!
According to Edwin "my photographer" who saw them walk over at first he had a bad feeling at first, but honestly five minutes later all they wanted to do was hang out with the news guys for a second. When they left we of course had no idea that one of them could potentially be shot.
We have learned from police that a man was shot in the face suffering a critical wound he's now in the care of Grady hospital.
So Yesterday I talked about how short life can be. Honestly I don't even have to say it, crazy, wild west morning. While all this was going on I looked at my partner and we knew we had to go, we had to get away from the scene where all this stuff was going on, we are lucky, lucky that this isn't another conversation.
Short and simple -- we have a problem with violence in our neighborhoods, and really the young men we met should more than likely have been in bed getting ready for school, not out on the street with us at 3:30 in the morning!
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May 1, 2007
Watching a family walk away from a crash scene knowing that one of their loved one's has lost their lives is not easy. You can see so much in their faces -- pain, anger and wonder. I stand there somewhere off to the side and eventually walk over to a man close to my height he looks to be in his sixties gray hair slender but distinguished. He looks like a grandfather, or a great uncle-- we have an uneasy exchange one with just eyes no words and then I stick out my hand and introduce myself, not with my confident voice -- but with one that barely breaks the silent night. We become as comfortable as we can be and then start talking.
For the last hour we've all watched fire fighters cut and cut at a late model green Lexus. They have just removed the man's nephew from the car and the medical examiner is getting ready to take the body to the morgue. Talking, he and I share feelings of what may have happened and I tell him what police have told us. Sometimes we have a little more information than the family based on what we've heard or by what a contact may have told us. I learn a little about him and his now dead nephew and at some point I politely ask him did he want to go on camera -- which to be honest this is the hardest part of our jobs. Honestly so many families have thanked me for the opportunity that I now ask instead of making my own assumptions, he says he would like to learn some more, and declines for now.
We stand side by side on dark road surrounded by red and blue lights talking about -- what we think happen and how we feel that a deer must have run out in front of the car -- sending it into a power pole. Sending one to Grady, two to Atlanta Medical and one his nephew to the after life.
Not easy standing here just a few minutes ago my thoughts were on so many other things and quickly they now have all been centered just like this families to the one thought about how short, and precious life can be!
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April 30, 2007
We started out this morning staring down a dark alley in the bluffs in Atlanta. Somewhere between two homes a man running had been shot in the chest. That man whose name has not been released yet, would eventually make it to the corner of James P. Brawly and Kennedy. That's where EMS workers tried to save his life, but by the time the victim, made it to Grady Hospital, doctors had trouble saving the man's life -- he died sometime after 1am.
For the next few hours police searched for clues and talked with the people who stood nearby and they knocked on doors. Detectives have their work cut out for them unless someone who was near the shooting tells them something soon.
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4-23
There are fires and then there are fires.
Two o'clock this morning Gwinnett firefighters were fighting a big one.
The fire was swallowing 20 units of the Cooper Mill Apartments and sending thick smoke in every direction.
We stood here for over two hours as the fire just seemed to keep burning despite all the water pouring down from large ladder trucks on scene. As this happened we met the Jackson family; fire victims for the second time now in less than a year. This family of four lived in a unit in the front of the complex when in September they lost everything because of fire.
Now once again a fire is taking everything they have.
Mark Jackson-looked me in the eyes and said “To be honest I have the most important stuff -my family; two daughters and two sons and a wife.”
Jackson says his faith will keep him strong.
What's troubling here?
Neighbors tell us "no alarm nothing from the building," it was a neighbor who came running over to help get folks out.
The apartments don't appear to have fire walls that could have helped prevented the spread of flames. The fire department says the building older; more than likely didn't require fire walls like new construction permits require.
They are checking on claims from residents about the electrical systems being inadequate.
After sitting here now more than three hours the thick smoke makes your lungs feel like they are on heavy and grinding--hopefully the wind will blow some of this smoke, which can be seen from 85, away.
The Red Cross is now here providing some assistance to people now homeless.
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4/9
This morning’s story is more than a bit interesting to me; poker is so popular that at least three days a week you are faced with poker on TV.
At first I wondered why would anyone want to watch poker on the tube, but over the last few years I continue to hear about serious poker addictions.
With all that said when we get assigned to the story in Roswell this Morning (if you haven't seen it
click here) I knew what we would be dealing with.
Never did I expect for the games that police busted down to value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
$10,000 just to sit at the table, so right now 27 or so locals are facing charges for gambling.
I asked Sgt. B.C Brackett, what makes this different from a bunch of guys just enjoying themselves; he says "the money and the traffic" change everything.
Sure enough an hour later in one of the cars police found guns and some drugs; they are happy with the bust and right now, there are plenty of poker players looking for a new table to bluff on.
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April 4, 2007
Hitting the streets, logging the miles behind the wheel and working the "owl eyes" to find down trees or power lines!
Honestly our weather team gives us a great idea where storms may hit but for us to really zero in -- for those great ground shots we rely a lot on you!
Your calls to the station or emails and pictures really help to let us, and for that matter your neighbors of metro Atlanta, to experience what happens.
That's how we end up, loaded in a truck, spending the night entering locations in our GPS looking to find crews working to open roads etc., etc.
Overnight we found a very hard working crew from the City of Atlanta. I'm not one for handing out compliments but the guys -- "and one lady" -- who we worked really put some effort into cleaning up the trees knocked down.
Standing back you can feel the weight of the trees as they are dragged by a mini crane -- you know just an inch in another direction and it would be a whole different story!
Enough credit doesn't get spread to the crews that clean up -- who yes are doing their jobs -- but you and I both know the difference between a mobile, motivated, hard working crew and one that will barely move.
Three locations all in the dark -- all cleaned up -- more than likely before you headed to work!
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March 29
We were standing outside this am and we looked up and all we could see is a yellow cloud.
Now this is amazing seeing that it was pitch-black outside.
Photographer Edwin Jones took the camera pointed it in the air and you would have thought it was snowing outside, pollen covered the screen with a yellow haze.
Pollen Falls Like SnowIf you look closely you can see it--chunks in different sizes and following with every wind change.
Automatically our headsets started chirping; the newsroom could see what we had been talking about all morning. Ten minutes later Karen Minton broke in with the pollen count -- it was over 5000; and our video went on air.
If you saw it you may have the same reaction we did.
I've never had issues with pollen but people we've talked with including me can feel their eyes itching.
On the way back to the station more of the same -- cars are yellow, our dash in the truck is yellow, even my shoes have a yellow tint.
I feel sorry for the allergy sufferers.
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March 27
So I've covered more than a few armed robberies at Waffle Houses across metro Atlanta, but last night took the cake.
Just watch the story
here.---okay the idea that two women with guns come charging in and demanding cash well, well I guess anything possible these days.
Covering this story took another turn when we met two guys who were inside during the robbery. Their spirits remained high because the women hadn't hurt them. As of right now the women are long gone but something's for sure; no one will ever forget this night here.
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March 26
You can't think when you head to the mall, to eat or shop that you'd hear gun shots.
Monday night a white Acura pulls up outside Barnacles sports bar at Stonecrest Mall and someone walks up dressed in black and shoots the man who was driving the car.
Sports Bar Shooting Leaves One WoundedDeKalb Police say the shooting started after a argument.
The white Acura started to drift backwards; luckily it didn't hit anybody--the man who was shot is in critical condition at Grady Hospital.
We found out early this morning that the man was in surgery as of 4:50.
Police are hoping that witnesses will help lead them to the shooter.
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March 21
This a.m. a bit strange to stand in a neighborhood and see the bomb squad blowing up a device they found at a Doraville home off Pine Street.
Luckily the GBI disposed off the homemade device without anything happening.
We were the only news crew to be there for the big boom that shook the house.
I want to point in a different direction, last Saturday I participated in a event helping to MC a St. Baldricks event (just for clarity people raise money and then shave their heads.) What a great experience; really a great effort.
While standing there I asked a young cancer survivor's family to share part of their story and they have.
Look below and hopefully you feel some of what I did. Thanks.
Hi Ryan, Thanks for giving me an opportunity to share our story with you.
Mitch (our youngest) was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at the age of four. He made it through 10 months of aggressive chemotherapy and an amputation only 3 days after his 5th birthday. Mitch is now nine years old and has one of the most inspiring, out-going personalities that I know.
Both Devin and Mitch wanted to do something for friends who are still battling and those friends who have passed from this wicked disease.
Please feel free to view Mitch's caringbridge site at
www.caringbridge.org/mitchman for the complete history of Mitch's mission or link on the St. Baldrick's site and look up his story there.
Again, thank you Ryan for your compassion and desire to spread the news about St. Baldrick's and helping us find that cure! Blessings to you, Robin
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March 20, 2007
The last few days have been a blur -- worked a double Monday covering a wild shooting in Fairburn! Police, and neighbors say that 4 men, including teens, showed up to a home with guns and opened fire on a home on Fellowship Road. One neighbor said he could see the AK-47 and the shotgun. There were so many gun shell casings that it took police almost 8hrs to count all the rounds. We discovered the shooting was over a argument in the Union City Wal-Mart parking lot. Police now have suspects that they have warrants out for. During the shooting two teens were hit -- one in the leg and one in the shoulder. Both will survive their injuries.
Tuesday night we drove all over the metro chasing stories. First to DeKalb where a store clerk was shot in a robbery attempt. We are told he will survive. Less than a hour later we headed down Donald Lee Hollowell-- this story is a bit complicated.
A man showed up to the Bowen homes, he got into a fight with another man stabbing him in the hands, neighbors of that man jumped in and chased him off! In an effort to get away the man jumped on a moving cement truck he rode for about a block before falling and getting crushed by the tires of the truck. He died right there at the scene, the man who was cut we are told will be okay.
On a side note--and I will mention this often, it's getting warmer and with the hot weather will come more overnight stuff watch!
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3/15
It may be hard for Atlanta Police to fully find out what happen off Memorial Drive this morning.
A driver of a Chrysler 300 says he was being carjacked when he hit the gas, pushing his car into another; sending that car into a tailspin, before that car hit a third car.
Three people needed medical attention, and one man is now in serious condition at Grady Hospital.
The debate will be what happened to the carjacker. Those nearby said a man did run down the street away from the car and so far he hasn't been caught.
A real shame for the victims of the crash who had no idea what was about to happen.
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March 12, 2007
What a day to start the week off with -- we started with our overnight story in Sandy Springs. A 12-year-old boy found the body of an infant in a gym bag. Now police there are looking for the mother of that baby.
We then headed to Loganville where a fire destroyed almost a block of homes leaving some heavy hearts behind.
The community is a retirement community -- people there know everyone who lives around them so they are taking this fire personally. Around 12:00 pm they heard the news from us that the fire was due to arson.
The people there couldn't believe that someone could start this fire that took their homes. Now State Arson Investigators are telling us the fire was set intentionally after someone broke into a nearby business. The residents tell us they hope someone is caught soon!
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Thursday March 8, 2007
I wonder what findings the NTSB will find from today's field test of the bus ride up the ramp at Northside Drive.
There are cameras inside the bus, a normal bus driver and conditions similar to last Friday as they rode the same route that the players from Bluffton did.
Speed, sight, distance are all things they are looking at, and it will be interesting to find out their findings. The group made four passes in the bus 2 in the dark and 2 in the daylight each time taking a different turn off the exit.
The NTSB's findings can take up to a year to come out and I'm sure more people want to know more about what happen on that fateful bus ride. We have learned through a source that for now the test bus will not make anymore test runs.
On the fence the memorial at the site is still there and has grown since the first time I saw it, showing that the crash has really touched more than a few folks.
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3/7
This is part of the press release that Gwinnett Police put out after a shooting this morning.
"The Gwinnett County Police Department was dispatched to investigate reports of a domestic disturbance located out in the parking lot of the Publix Shopping Center, which is at Old Peachtree Road and North Brown Road, which is in the Lawrenceville area of Gwinnett County. Officers were advised of a female complainant who stated that her “ex” was after her and had threatened to kill himself. The male had threatened the female complainant earlier this date and was now back. She also stated that the male was possibly armed with a gun."
According to police the man pointed his gun at a officer and was shot by a swat officer -- the man then died at the hospital. Now this happened at a time when police could clear the lot quickly "11:30". Police did shut down a local McDonalds as they tried to talk the man down. We are told the woman who made the call for help is okay.
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2/20
With this morning story my thoughts could not leave the teens who found two bodies in Gwinnet County. Brother and sister running to an interview at a McDonalds when they decided to cut through the woods. They told us, that seeing the remains gave them a chill.
Now the tough work begins we've all seen CSI but in real life it takes a lot longer than the 60 min like on TV.
The police didn't even let us get close to the scene so I can't really describe what the wooded area looked like -- I'm sure there will be more info later about this story, as we left investigators were gathering again!
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2/16
What a rough morning, nothing worse and more emotionally taxing than covering a child's death.
We stood off Washington Road, and watched as East Point police made countless trips to an upstairs apartment.
Inside that apartment the scene must have been horrific; from what we are told a 16 year-old boy visiting a friend took a step that will change several lives forever.
The 16 year-old pulled a gun out to show it off in a back bedroom-- with his hand on the trigger the gun went off and it struck a little girl in the head.
When the little girl left the apartment complex she was in critical condition, less than an hour later the three year old was pronounced dead.
You could see the heavy hearts in the parking lot as word spread that the little girl had passed on. The teen will be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
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02/09
So we worked this morning on a fire at the Sam Nunn Federal building -- that was really a "small" event.
We reached our top story in Gwinnett County, shortly after 2am relieving our other crew that watched the scene until we arrived.
What I try to do once on scene is to get the best idea of what police are focusing on -- we could see from across the street that it seemed that all the attention focused mostly toward the porch and just inside the door of the house. I called the hospital in a effort to get updated information and try and speak with the detectives on scene. The Detectives are always the best for saying something without having to say it the first 24 hrs, are just so very important.
What's inside this house that kept police there for so long? We won't know tell police release their findings later on in the day "hopefully". The man shot -- we are told is in critical condition close to death.
Have a great weekend and see you Monday!
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2/08
This morning kept us busy-- 4 non-related shootings keeping detectives working into the am.
By 6:40 am none of the shooting victims had died; 2 men were critical--all rushed to Atlanta Medical.
In the story that I covered closely two men fought over a women--from what police told us the ex-boyfriend and the new boyfriend had been exchanging nasty txt and voice messages.
The ex-boyfriend told the new boyfriend that he was going to slap him and that's what he did according to a witness.
The new boyfriend according to police then pulled a gun that he fired hitting the ex in the side or the back at least twice.
The ex-boyfriend is now in critical condition with a bullet lodged somewhere near his kidney.
We also learned that the shooter ran to his grandmother's house--somehow the women then brought him back to the scene turning him over to Atlanta Police.
Wild night--- see you in the morning.
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2/5/07
Helpless -- I hate that feeling. You know the one where you're sitting and waiting for something to get done that you have absolutely no control over! We covered a story this am that left neighbors in one Sandy Springs neighborhood without water for the weekend.
Not only did they not have water, but they had no idea when they would be getting it back.
Here's the funny part -- we did our hits from 5 to 7 and before I got done, a worker comes barreling in upset. Yeah, upset with me! I can only assume that someone had been watching and heard the pleas of the people and had awoken the man to finish the project! He was not very happy barking and carrying on -- oh well.
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1-30
Our story overnight followed a recent pop of fires that firefighters have been handling.
In DeKalb they faced three fires in the last 24 hours and in Atlanta they faced a few as well.
Once it gets cold for several nights in a row it always seems that we end up covering a lot more fires.
Kitchen fires, chimney fires, space heater fires; the list could go on and on.
The real idea here is and should be safety; not everyone has the latest and greatest heating sources.
So just make sure everything you have is at least in proper working order.
It's never easy standing in front of a house where the family has lost everything and you know the long process ahead---new ID's, social security cards, credit cards.
And always the big thing; pictures and family heirlooms that can't be replaced.
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1/29
What a morning -- cold, windy, and oh yeah, one more time! "Cold, very cold." The first hour standing in the 20 degree temps -- well, wasn't too bad -- but as we stood outside for hours you could feel the cold getting into you.
We, of course, covered the water main break on Roswell Road. All night they had to look for small points where to tighten off valves to stop the water. That took all night, so the real work to replace the line didn't happen until 6:00 a.m.
We are told six hours should be the time to get the water back flowing but if anything is clear -- nothing comes when it supposed to when dealing with the elements and fixing pipes. At the bottom of the road, away from the main break, big chunks of ice gathered. It's a mess and 21 thousand people are having to deal without water.
Hopefully Tuesday morning will be a little warmer and a little less damp!
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1/26
The end of the week is here.
What a story this a.m.; nice way to end the week.
Early this morning a woman was in her house when it caught fire; fire crews believe it was a chimney.
The woman was sleeping when her dogs started barking up a storm.
Their barks did the job she woke up and made it out the home.
Firefighters knocked the fire down but because of "quick, strong, barking" the south Fulton woman made it out the house unharmed.
The bad news -- the inside of the home is wiped out.
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1/25
The last two mornings we have followed very interesting stories.
First we covered the story about Pete Williams a man who spent 21 years behind bars for a rape he never committed; according to a DNA test , the Georgia Innocence Project and Mr. Williams.
So by now you heard about this story and I have received several emails from people asking me about the victim.
The questions have centered around the fact that we haven't talked about the victim and how she feels about this--- some have asked to see her.
Here's the situation; we do not identify rape or sexual assault victims---unless they come forward to us,
This is very important so people aren’t fearful about coming forward.
Trying to protect the victim in any case becomes important---especially with certain crimes.
With that said something that stood out to me--about Mr. Williams is a lack of anger--he hasn't said anything about taking action against the courts or people who sent him away--he just wanted to enjoy his family.
Now this am we covered a mall shoot-out in DeKalb county--- at the Gallery of South DeKalb Mall.
Honestly with this shooting happening in the middle of the day, 4 p.m., it’s amazing that no one else besides an off duty police officer got wounded in this shooting.
We are told the officer will be okay he was shot in the leg and is in stable condition--we now have the mug shots of both suspects who were arrested.
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1/18
We hit the road right at midnight-- we wound our way through the northeast side of the coverage area.
Heading toward Barrow County to get our day started. Here's the thing -- driving at night and looking for ice can be pretty tough.
Overnight we just had a constant rain drizzle for the most part so we ended up getting pretty wet. A bit of the icy stuff came later once it got cold.
What we try and do really is guess ahead the storm--first we talk to the weather department and they give us an area to drive in. Then we push off in that direction; we want to be there before anything gets going.
Today things didn't get too bad on the roads but we stood by ready to roll-- all over town just in case.
Just the other day it was 70. I don't mind the cold, but the cold and the rain I could do without. At least no one got hurt this morning.
Have a great weekend.
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1/12
So we started this morning covering Ralph the whale shark, one of only four in the United States.
They are all at the Georgia Aquarium. Online there are plenty of resources about the largest fish in the water they are just massive.
Here's one: http://www.whaleshark.org/"
Like nearly 4 million others, I've been to the Aquarium. Standing there in front of the large windows and watching the fish swim by was almost as interesting as watching the people watching the fish. There is so much to see and learn from one place.
I took this photo myself, and having the massive fish above you makes you feel like the fish in the bowl. The tank larger than a football field now with Ralph dead the water was tested immediately and is said to be okay and so are the other fish.. The three other whale sharks are also said to be okay.
Now on the front page we have plenty of info about what's being said today about the unexpected death of Ralph the shark.
Have a great weekend-- and quickly one other note.
This is unity weekend and there will be plenty going on in the city to mark the lives of the Kings.
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