Macon Community News

Deal Law Firm has posted the names of the recipients of their $50 Kroger gift card donations on the Deal Law Firm Facebook page and instructions for receiving the gift cards from Lauren Deal.

Friends, I am what you might call a first-generation small business owner. COVID-19 is the most emotionally, financially, and physically devastating situation ...many of us have had to deal with. My business has been slow, but I've been able to keep things going. SO many other business owners can't say the same, and their families and employees are hurting. I am giving away five $50 gift cards to Kroger. To nominate your family or another family in need, come over to my law firm page, Deal Law Firm, LLC, and send me a message. I hope that if your family is like mine, if you're hanging in there with less money but you're going to make it, please try to nominate someone who is really struggling hard. You don't have to "like" my page to participate, but I will post the names and instructions for receiving the gift cards here. The rules are fairly simple: You have to live in Middle Georgia and be able to come to downtown Macon to pick up your gift card if you win. You can't be a family member of Deal Law Firm or someone who works for us as a subcontractor. You may only submit your name once. PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME -- sometimes people use nicknames in their Facebook profile but I won't be using that to identify you. I will not respond to each post, so you will receive an automatic response. All names must be entered by noon on Friday, April 24, 2020. I will compile all the names and select 5 -- I'm not fancy so I'll probably use a big bowl to draw from. The names will be posted on Saturday at noon. Cards will be available for pickup beginning on Monday, April 27, and we will do so in a manner which does not require face-to-face interaction. (We have a lovely porch and front lawn where we can socially distance ourselves!) God bless you all.

Today, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that, pursuant to the authority vested in him by O.C.G.A. 21-2-50.1, he is postponing the Statewide Gen...eral Primary/Presidential Preference Primary Election until June 9, 2020. Yesterday, Governor Brian Kemp extended the current public health state of emergency until May 13, 2020. Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston concurred in the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency. Due to the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency through a time period that includes almost every day of in-person voting for an election on May 19, and after careful consideration, I am now comfortable exercising the authority vested in me by Georgia law to postpone the primary election until June 9, said Secretary Raffensperger. This decision allows our office and county election officials to continue to put in place contingency plans to ensure that voting can be safe and secure when in-person voting begins and prioritizes the health and safety of voters, county election officials, and poll workers. Throughout this crisis, the Secretary of State’s office has been in close contact with county election officials across the state. Over the past week, the reports of mounting difficulties from county election officials, particularly in Southwest Georgia, grew to a point where county election officials could not overcome the challenges brought on by COVID-19 in time for in-person voting to begin on April 27. Additionally, current modeling by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia will peak around April 24, only days before in-person voting was scheduled to begin. While challenges will certainly remain on June 9, these additional three weeks will give the Secretary of State’s office and counties time to shore up contingency plans, find and train additional poll workers, and procure supplies and equipment necessary to clean equipment and protect poll workers. Emergency authority is something that should be exercised carefully, and moving an election should only take place in the rarest of circumstances. While Secretary Raffensperger previously expressed concern that he did not have the authority to move the primary election again, the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency to a time that includes almost every day of in-person voting for a May 19 election is sufficient to allow the Secretary to exercise the emergency authority given to him by O.C.G.A. 21-2-50.1 and move the primary election to June 9. I certainly realize that every difficulty will not be completely solved by the time in-person voting begins for the June 9 election, but elections must happen even in less than ideal circumstances, said Raffensperger. Just like our brave healthcare workers and first responders, our county election officials and poll workers are undertaking work critical to our democracy, and they will continue to do this critical work with all the challenges that the current crisis has brought forth. This postponement allows us to provide additional protection and safety resources to county election officials, poll workers, and voters without affecting the November election. The voter registration deadline for the June 9, 2020 election will be May 11, 2020. Early voting will begin on May 18, 2020. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-501, moving the primary election to June 9, 2020 will move the primary runoff to August 11, 2020.Pushing back the primary to June 9 gives Georgia election officials additional time to put in place contingency plans to allow for safe and secure voting, but pushing back the primary election any further could potentially have negative consequences on preparation for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Given existing deadlines to prepare and send ballots for the November election, particularly for military voters, moving forward on June 9 is the best way to ensure a successful election year in Georgia. Absentee ballot applications for the upcoming primary election will continue to be accepted and processed by counties even if the application said May 19. Once county election officials properly verify the signature on the application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for the primary election now to be held on June 9.

This is an extension to the declared emergency, which had a 30 day expiration, not an extension to the stay at home order.

Who is considered an essential worker? Are you essential? What do you do and why do you think it is essential?

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE: Road Closure The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Georgia Department of Transportation that the eastbound lanes of Hartley... Bridge Road that cross over I-75 will be closed for approximately two weeks to two months while the bridge is repaired. All traffic eastbound is being detoured to I-75 south to use the Sardis Church Road as an alternate route to cross over I-75. Everyone is asked to plan for the extra time it will take for the detour and avoid the area if possible, during the repairs to the bridge. The westbound lanes will remain open during the repairs to the bridge per Georgia Department of Transportation. Original Release March 27, 2020 Road Closure Traffic Accident with Injuries at the Hartley Bridge Road on-Ramp to I-75 Northbound The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a traffic accident with injuries that occurred on the ramp to I-75 northbound from the eastbound lanes of Hartley Bridge Road. The incident happened at 3:09 p.m. A tractor trailer hauling a large piece of equipment was getting onto I-75 northbound from Hartley Bridge, when a part of the equipment struck the bridge as it was going under Hartley Bridge Road damaging the bridge. There was a Nissan Altima behind the tractor trailer, and it was damaged by debris that fell from the bridge. The driver of the Nissan, a 55-year-old female, from Hampton Ga., was taken to the Coliseum Medical Centers for complaints of injuries and she is listed in stable condition. The driver of the tractor trailer, 54-year-old Anthony Johnson, of Danville, was not injured. The Georgia Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division was called out along with the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Motor Carrier Compliance Division Officer issued citations to the driver of the tractor trailer. The Georgia Department of Transportation closed all the eastbound lanes on Hartley Bridge Road along with the on-ramp from the eastbound lanes to I-75. The bridge will be closed to all eastbound traffic until the Georgia Department of Transportation can determine that it is safe for traffic. All traffic eastbound is being detoured to I-75 south to use the Sardis Church Road as an alternate route to cross over I-75. Anyone with information in reference to this accident is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500.

This may mean nothing and may be just a statistical glitch, but this appears to be good news. The smart thermometers by Kinsa report on the number of fevers in excess or below the normal in nearly every county in the United States. Anyway, after a nationwide spike (earlier in places that are hotspots and later elsewhere) the number of anomalous fevers was trending way above the average. Shortly after the national emergency was declared, that trend reversed and the number of ...fevers has plummeted daily. Even New York is only slightly above the expected range while most of the rest of the country is well below what is the normal range. Are these related? No one can be for certain, but perhaps it is a data point that shows social distancing and improved hygiene are working. The chart does not only include fevers caused by COVID-19, but also flus, colds and other infectious respiratory diseases. The overlap in time with even appropriate delay seems like a good sign, even if it is not proof.

We are suckers for a repeat, but we liked the quality, friendly service and value at Fried Green Tomatoes Macon Ga so we went back for more. This time it was for two plates of well seasoned dark meat fried chicken and sides (two each) of a jumbo helping of mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, cabbage and green bean casserole. Including drink, we were out about $6.50 a plate but left a $7 tip to make it an even $20 to thank our servers for serving us during this emergency through th...eir drive-thru. Please remember your food service workers with a little extra generosity if you can. We don't envy their position, and they provide an essential service to the community. Even then, it was still a great value. Think of them if you can't fix something for lunch or dinner and need a safe, fast and inexpensive alternative. Call ahead for more efficient service and check their Facebook page for their rotating menu options.

We hope everyone is staying healthy as we use reasonable precautions to keep COVID-19 at bay. Remember your local businesses and please keep buying at a reasonable level. Every supermarket chain says that supply chains are not interrupted, but panic bulk buying is messing up their ability to keep shelves stocked due to deliveries to individual stores. Stores dedicate every square foot they can to product displays and long gone are the days of storing large amounts "in the bac...k." Today we went to Fried Green Tomatoes in Macon and ordered lunch by phone and picked up through the window. It's a great deal for a meat and two with drink for under $7. Remember that many restaurants are offering window and curbside pickup and this limited contact has been determined to be safe by the CDC. So help your local businesses and remember them when you need a break from cooking at home. Stay positive, stay safe, and stay healthy.

Some advice from the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.

Mayoral candidate and current county commission member Larry Schlesinger says that a number of commission members are encouraging the mayor to "lock down" the city of coronavirus concerns. What do you think? Is this the right step or going to far? Be sure to let your commission representative and the mayor know your thoughts before they make a decision.

As the President announced a national emergency, it means our local businesses need as much support as possible. We got a sinus relieving order of level 3 heat wings from Francar's Buffalo Wings to combat pollen season. Just what the doctor ordered. To breath again.

Ricky's Tacos on Cherry Street for lunch. It's been a while, but with burritos this big, you stay full for a long time. This one was the pork (al pastor). It's a lunch and dinner sized portion. You can eat part of it for lunch and have enough left over for dinner. They also have tacos for a smaller appetite, or cut it in half and share with a friend.