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(11/03/11 1:04am)
Construction seems to be everywhere in the Mercer-Macon community. For the past year, construction in North Macon on I-75 has left people wondering what the final project will look like. It began in August of 2010 and is scheduled to conclude in May of 2013. The project contracted to cost about $55 million according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The construction that can be seen now is actually just the start of a much larger project aimed to renovate the entire I-75 to I-16 interchange. The current work aims to transform the section from the Pierce Avenue exit to the Arkwright Road exit, about three and a half miles, from four lanes to six.
As soon as this project is complete, the work on the interchange will start. The interchange project will transform the traffic artery from two bridges to seven.
There was considerable opposition to the expansion as planned, as it will require the moving or destruction of numerous historic homes in Macon, including the childhood home of musician Little Richard Penniman.
The plans that are being implemented were first shown to the public in 2007.
The I-75 and I-16 expansion is designed in part to provide better access to the historic parts of downtown and central Macon.
(10/30/11 5:25am)
In April, the Macon City Council first passed the proposed smoking ban that would have outlawed smoking in bars, nightclubs, restaurants and other public places. Mayor Robert Reichert vetoed that version.
Supporters have since revised the ordinance, trying to gain the Mayor’s support, but the revised version failed to pass Macon City Council's Public Safety Committee. Supporters of the proposal tried to get it put before a full council vote Tuesday, which could have overruled the committee’s decision with eight votes. However, it was not placed on the agenda.
Still, just the possibility that the ban could be voted on again drew even more criticism from the owners of local establishments that would be affected by the ban.
Supporters and opponents of the ban generally have two different ideological view points about smoking. Supporters see it as a public health issue while opponents see it a business and economic issue.
For now though, the ban has been mostly defeated. It is unclear where supporters are planning to go next, but any further attempts to get the law passed would most likely require supporting council members to consult with the city attorney. As soon as the supporters bring up the proposal again, the opposition will be there to contest it.
(10/19/11 10:52pm)
Recently, a Mercer student’s vehicle was stolen and recovered by Macon Police.
However, the way the recovery was conducted has become a matter of considerable controversy over the past weeks.
Lynah Stone was taken to the site where her vehicle was recovered, and faced the suspects. Despite being accompanied by police officers, she said “I didn’t feel comfortable, you should never feel unsafe around a police officer...he made me feel like the suspect.” This conduct has motivated her mother to file a formal complaint with the Macon Police Department.
While the police upheld their duties, it is the methodology that is in question.
The Macon Police Department has made no formal press release or statement on the complaint on its repercussions.
Stone said that the complaint was filed “not out of vengeance” but that she does “not want any one to be put in that situation.”
The Mercer Police were the ones initially alerted to the situation, however, because the car could not be found on campus, they let Macon Police take over the search.
Larry Brumley, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, stated to the Macon Telegraph that this was the first time a car had been stolen from a student in years.
Perhaps this inexperience contributed somewhat to the questionable handling of the situation. However, the novelty of this event is certainly something students can take comfort in.
Stone continually praised the Mercer Police, saying that one Mercer officer stood by her side and talked to her about the way the Macon officer in question had treated her.
Stone indicated that she did not expect any official apology and mostly wanted the situation to quiet down.
However, she said she does want the officer “to know that he chose wrong” although she is not looking for serious repercussions for him.
The overall reaction to this situation has been so fairly widespread because it is a violation of what is widely acknowledged as the “Mercer Bubble,” a term that has become popular as a way of denoting the sharp contrast between the atmosphere of Mercer and the atmosphere of the community immediately surrounding the University.
Students regularly express a desire to escape the “bubble” for a period of time, however, this is usually done in volunteering or shopping trips.
The idea of the “bubble” also denoted a certain insulation and tranquility, and to see that violated has caused considerable upset, even though the official safety level of the campus has not changed.
This has led to discussion of further safety protocols.
The general consensus is that Mercer Police do a great job of policing the campus, but the University’s proximity to questionable neighborhoods has led to some, including Stone, to suggest closing off an entrance or two.
However, Brumley said to the Telegraph, “We can’t become a fortress, but we do work diligently at making sure we have adequate patrols.”
However, even with the current level of security, when asked if she felt safe parking on or near campus now, Stone said “I do, we have great Mercer Police force here.”
(10/06/11 12:14am)
The FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report for 2010 showed that crime increased in both the city of Macon and Bibb County last year. These reports are easily accessible and often a starting point for any person or event coming to Macon when crime and safety are concerns. The report shows 708 violent crimes reported in the city for 2010, four more than the previous year, and 231 for the county, an increase of 56. According to the Macon Telegraph, Bibb County Chief Deputy, David Davis, stated that there was a software glitch in the reporting of the country figures that combined simple assaults, misdemeanors not reported in the FBI report, and aggravated assaults, which are felonies and are supposed to be reported in the Uniform Crime Reports.With this report coming out alongside reports on the recent wave of violence in Macon and on Mercer’s campus, it may seem difficult to accept that there has been less crime than reported; however, these statistics, like all others, must be evaluated for what they are. The number of aggravated assaults in Bibb County in 2010 should be 66, according to Davis, but that number was combined with simple assaults, which led to the FBI’s number of 170. Not counting the 104 simple assaults, Bibb County actually saw a decrease in violent crime from last year, down to 127 in 2010 from 132 reported by the county in 2009. The FBI reported 175 violent crimes in Bibb County; however, that has been attributed to the same software glitch.Some other data points were not consistent; for example, the county reported 12 cases of arson, but the FBI report shows zero. As of now, it is unclear as to why this inconsistency exists. Variations in other crimes, such as property crimes, were much smaller than those found in violent crime. According to the city, burglaries and auto thefts saw the largest increase from 2009 to 2010.There were discrepancies in the city’s figures as well; for example, Macon reported 24 rapes in 2010 and the FBI reports 34; furthermore, there were smaller discrepancies in the number of aggravated assaults for the city. Macon’s reports show a decline in violent crimes from 734 in 2009 to 689 in 2010.Research returned no other cities or counties reporting such discrepancies in the FBI statistics. Many news agencies had reported on what the FBI reports contained for their locality, but none were disputing the figures. The FBI relies on statistics from local enforcement agencies to compile the Uniform Crime Reports.Multiple attempts were made to contact Chief Deputy Davis; however, when he returned the calls, he declined to make any further comment on this issue.The FBI has given local agencies until December 31st to amend their data. Currently, there has been no indication by the city or the county that they will or will not submit revised reports.
(10/05/11 11:44pm)
The Mercer Theatre Department held the last performance of the hit musical: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change on September 25th, 2011. This show is the second-longest running Off-Broadway musical and is now the longest running show in Mercer Theatre history. The story is told through short, mostly disparate vignettes, but the performance has a quick pace and a subject matter everyone can relate to.This show was ideal for Mercer Theatre because it used a small cast and crew, the music could be played on a keyboard, and by the taste of Director Scott Mann who said that this was “A musical I have always enjoyed.”