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Williams Pleads Not Guilty in Cell Phone Case

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011, 4:52pm

Warner Robins city council member John Williams pleaded not guilty Wednesday to lying to police about a stolen cell phone.

Williams made a brief appearance this morning in Houston County Superior Court before Judge Ed Lukemire.

He denied the charge against him, but declined to discuss the case further.

"He wants to move forward and put this behind him and continue serving the people of Warner Robins," attorney Charles Cox said.

"We want to be able to do that as quickly as possible."

Last June, Williams accused a homeless woman of stealing his cell phone at a Waffle House, but the phone was later found in bushes outside the restaurant, a police report says.

He was arrested on charges that include tampering with evidence, false statements and false report of a crime.

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Congressman Scott Opens Warner Robins Office

Submitted by Jacqueline Harnevious, 13WMAZ Community Web Producer
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011, 10:59am

Congressman Austin Scott and the District Office staff will celebrate the Warner Robins office grand opening Friday, April 8.

The Office Address is scheduled to take place at 230 Margie Dr.

The event begins at 4 p.m. and is scheduled to last through 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 478-971-1776.

Light refreshments will be served.

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Rep. Talton Now Delinquent on Taxes

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 2:41pm

State Rep. Willie Talton is still running behind on paying his property taxes, according to Houston County Tax Commissioner Mark Kushinka.

In February, Talton told 13WMAZ late payments from tenants made him tardy on some of his property taxes.

At the time, he owed about $1,566 from 2009 and about $15,465 for 2010.

Kushinka says Talton had until Monday to pay or face a 10 percent penalty fee.

He says Talton has paid the 2009 taxes, but has made no headway on the ones from 2010.  He said that means Talton's now delinquent on last year's bills.

According to Kushinka, there are 34 unpaid parcels.

Kushinka didn't immediately have an exact figure for what Talton owes, but he says it's more than $15,000.

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WR Recognizes Long-time City Employees

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Monday, March 21st, 2011, 11:30pm

Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen and council members formally thanked the city employees who have dedicated many years of service to the city.

At the beginning of Monday night's council meeting, nearly eighty city employees filed into council chambers to receive an award and congratulations from city leaders.

Mayor Chuck Shaheen says city leaders held the award ceremony to give employees a well-deserved pat on the back.

Those recognized came from all departments, including police and public works employees, and ranged in tenure from five years all the way to forty.

Robert Rumph is a janitor with the Recreation Department and was the sole employee recognized in the forty-year tier.

"Feels pretty good, feels wonderful," he said, after receiving his award.

Rumph says he's worked with the city for 44 years.

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WR RDA Board to Undergo Restructuring

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Monday, March 21st, 2011, 10:59pm

The Warner Robins agency in charge of development projects in the city is about to undergo a change of cast.

Monday night, after a tie-breaking vote from the mayor, council decided to change the make-up of the Redevelopment Agency.

Shaheen sided with councilmen Tom Simms, Jr., Daron Lee, and John Williams.

They all say removing mayor and council from the RDA board and replacing them with seven members from the community will allow city projects to progress quicker.

The new structure will take out the "politics" and make room to bring in development expertise, they say.

"You have to use your resources, and we have an excellent pool of people out there," Simms said.

Councilmen Bob Wilbanks, Paul Shealy, and Mike Daley voted against the change.

Wilbanks says his main concern is with the make-up of the new board, which he thinks raises ethical questions.

"You do not put the fox in charge of the hen house," Wilbanks said.

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Police Arrest 3 in Warner Robins Murder

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Monday, March 21st, 2011, 4:39pm

The husband of Warner Robins woman Joni Clements was arrested today and charged with her murder, more than a month after her body was found in her home.

James E. Clements Jr., 55, was arrested and charged with felony murder and burglary. That's according to a news release from police spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh.

She said two other men are also charged with felony murder in the case.

According to Pugh, arrest warrants were signed Friday for Richard Sybert, 29, on felony murder and burglary charges. Pugh said Sybert is the suspected gunman. He was arrested Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. on unrelated charges.

Pugh says Sybert's father, Robert Grant Sybert, 53, was also arrested Saturday at his Warner Robins home.

Pugh said James Clements and Robert Sybert are being held at the Houston County Jail without bond. Richard Sybert is being held without bond at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department and faces extradition to Georgia.

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Warner Robins Shooting Victim Dies

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff
Monday, March 21st, 2011, 9:18am

The Warner Robins Police Department says a man shot multiple times Sunday has died.

Police Spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh says 19-year-old Dajohn Milton of Warner Robins was pronounced dead at 11:40 Sunday night.

An autopsy is scheduled for this morning.

Police say officers responded to a call of shots fired at the 200 block of Tabor Drive around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

When they arrived on the scene, they found a man in the street who appeared to have been shot several times.

Anyone with information can contact police at (478) 929-1163.

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