Mold Remediation in Macon-bibb County, GA

Macon-Bibb County’s annual Christmas Parade will take place Downtown on Sunday, December 15, 2024, beginning at 4:00 p.m., and this year’s theme is “Macon Christmas Jolly.” The route will begin at the Historic Macon Terminal Station, travel down Cherry Street, turn on First Street, and then turn on Mulberry Street to finish at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

“This is a great opportunity for churches, dance schools, marching bands, nonprofits, schools, and more to participate in one of our greatest holiday traditions,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “Please join us in the parade or seated along the route cheering on Santa Claus and our amazing community partners.”

Registration is open now for groups and organizations to march in the Macon Christmas Jolly Parade. To participate, fill out an online application by clicking here: https://www.maconbibb.us/maconchristmasparade/.

All potential participants should attend one of two virtual meetings, either on November 7 at 5:30 p.m. or November 18 at 5:30 p.m. Registration for those two meetings are below.

November 7 * 5:30 p.m.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduCsqTosEt2Sv7hpmYGiJhNIsDpOXugN

November 18 * 5:30 p.m.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuf-CurDsoHtwAE-lT_ePfXYZlEGDZ7Z41

All costs and rules to participate are in the registration form. There are also a limited number of professional floats available to rent, and the organization will need to provide their own tow vehicle. To request one of these, select “Professional Float” in the registration.

For questions about participating in the Macon Christmas Jolly Parade on December 15, email mbcchristmasparade@maconbibb.us or call 478-751-7190.

According to VisitMacon, Bibb County hotels and motels have collected more than $6.1 million in taxes in the 12 months. That’s a 3% increase from the previous year

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MACON, Ga. — When people come to Macon, locals often give them a big welcome.

From their southern hospitality, to large events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival or the Macon Christmas Extravaganza, it seems like there’s always bringing more and more new faces to Macon.

And for many Bibb County businesses, new faces means more money spent right here in the heart of Georgia.

Joe Collier is the CEO of Mainsail Lodging and Development - the owners of Hotel Forty Five. He says the boutique hotel has brought in more than 25,000 visitors in the last 12 months.

"We always sell out and we always have a lot going on because a lot of people will come in, come stay a night in the hotel, have a really nice dinner and then go to the concert in the auditorium," Collier said.

According to VisitMacon, Bibb County hotels and motels have collected more than $6.1 million in taxes in the 12 months. That’s almost a 3% increase from the previous year.

VisitMacon president Gary Wheat says visitor spending saves households almost $600 in property taxes each year.

"If you took away all the visitor spending and the taxes that are generated from tourism in Macon Bibb County, we would have to find $7,000 per household in Macon-Bibb County to make up for those expenditures,” Wheat said.

Wheat says he’s excited about the path ahead for Macon. He says Macon was named one of the best places to travel by the ‘Travel + Leisure’ magazine, and they’re only going to improve from here.

"We're gonna have our National Park here in Macon-Bibb County, the first in Georgia and the newest in the United States,” he said. “We're excited to see additional things go into the Rhythm and Rally event space, as well as pickleball tournaments. We got some big ones lined up for January to kick the year off."

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MACON, Ga. — With just days remaining until a planned implosion set for New Year's Day, Macon-Bibb County officials say Target Contractors LLC is staying true to its name.

The South Carolina-based contracting company is "on target" for their 9 a.m. implosion time set for Jan. 1, 2025.

The block surrounding the structure is now branded with their logo, but they haven't yet fully taken over the construction area.

On Monday, crews from a separate contracting company were still at work cleaning out the structure, filling and removing dumpsters with loads of interior debris.

According to demo contracts, the building was set to be turned over to the Target team by the close of business last Friday Dec. 6.

A revised amendment from Nov. 15 says Target Contractors reduced their price proposal for demolition services in exchange for the building to be turned over in a gutted condition by the close of business on Friday.

As of now, contractors' crews are still working to get the building "blast-ready."

Target Contractors' initial proposal says there's a test blast scheduled for Dec. 26.

In the days after, the team should set explosives and start the new year with a bang.

Once the hotel comes down, their team agreed to clear debris, backfill the land's foundation, and top it off with some topsoil and final grading for what comes next at 108 First Street.

They have 180 days to complete the work and clean up the site after they get their “notice to proceed.”

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The operation was conducted with assistance from both the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol.

MACON, Ga. — 13 people were arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in an undercover investigation that targeted sex traffickers in Macon-Bibb County, according to a release from the GBI.

Per the release, six of those 13 were arrested in relation to their role in sex trafficking operations, and the others were potential buyers.

The GBI says Macon residents Darren Gillis, Anthony Bowens, Suhntain Griffin, Bobby Harden Jr. and Thomesha Armstrong were all arrested for their roles in the organization, including pimping, lying on federal forms, possession of controlled substances and more.

They say Georgia Emmons, from Americus, was charged with pimping, lying on federal forms and two outstanding warrants.

The goal of the operation was to identify and arrest human traffickers by drawing out commercial sex buyers, according to the release. The GBI says the operation was conducted with assistance from both the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol.

The release says Macon residents Johntaz Bryant, Torri Walton, Cecilio Gabriel Lopez Hernandez and Loc Tan Nyugen were arrested while attempting to purchase sex. Clinton Harris, of Columbus, Jose Cruiz, of Blackshear and Mark Gunter, of Rincon, were all arrested on similar charges.

They say 11 commercial sex workers were located and offered medical services as a result of the investigation.

The GBI is still investigating sex trafficking in the Central Georgia area. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI’s HEAT Unit at 404-270-8433 or the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500.

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The new plan proposes 19 strategies to improve public spaces in Macon with neighbors and tourists in mind.

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MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb County released the third version of its Macon Action Plan on Friday.

It was crafted by county leaders, foundations and community members who want to see Macon thrive. The new plan proposes 19 strategies to improve public spaces in Macon with neighbors and tourists in mind.

Joseph Porter works at the Tubman Museum on Cherry Street. He says the area needs more parking, not parks.

"As these people are coming into our area if we don't have the adequate spaces for them to leave the vehicle and come to different businesses how can we expect downtown to grow," Porter said.

Downtown officials say nearly 3,000 people in Macon gave their input on the town's future. They've come up with 19 aspirational strategies to improve Macon-Bibb.

Now, they're proposing a plan to make Cherry Street between Fifth Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard a place for people to enjoy.

"I don't know the necessity of it," Porter said. "We have a lot of parks in the area, including dog parks."

His executive director, Harold Young, says the plan would connect the Sports Hall of Fame and the Tubman Museum, creating a family-friendly area.

"We can do music events down here, we can bring more businesses down here during the lunch hours," Young said. "We want to come and sit in the green area and have lunch."

Executive director of the Urban Development Authority Alex Morrison says they'd create one big park in between Fifth Street and MLK Boulevard. It would include a picnic pavilion, shaded seating, a stage and outdoor game space.

He says it will be a place for tourists, too.

"Making it more part of our downtown culture to have that be a front door for our residents, as well as for tourists, but also making it a very predictable and comfortable place for tourists to come as a home base," Morrison said.

Cost estimates for the Cherry Street Plaza are between $10 and $20 million. All 19 projects could have a price tag of up to $268 million.

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