MLILY Mattresses in Macon, GA

It's state championship week for boys and girls basketball here in Georgia.

The Georgia High School Association basketball championships kick off Wednesday, and we're set up for multiple days of action across all nine classifications. Whether you reside in Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus or Savannah, all eyes will be on Macon this week.

Here's everything you need to know before hitting the road to Macon.

When are the GHSA basketball state championships?

The GHSA basketball state championships take place March 5-8, with multiple games each day.

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Where are the GHSA basketball state championships?

The GHSA state basketball championships for all classifications will be held at the Macon Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr., Macon, Ga., 31217. Parking is available at the venue.

How to buy tickets to the GHSA basketball state championships

Tickets are available for purchase on GoFan. General admission tickets for each game are $20. Instructions for how to purchase tickets can be found here.

There is a clear bag policy at the arena and no posters or signs are allowed.

How to watch the GHSA basketball state championships

All games will be televised on Georgia Public Broadcasting as well as streamed on the GPB Sports website and NFHS Network.

GHSA basketball state championship schedule

Wednesday, March 5

Private girls: No. 3 Holy Innocents’ vs. No. 1 Hebron Christian, 1 p.m.

Private boys: No. 3 Holy Innocents’ vs. No. 1 North Cobb Christian, 3 p.m.

3A girls: No. 7 Baldwin vs. No. 4 Cherokee Bluff, 5 p.m.

3A boys: No. 3 Cedar Grove vs. No. 1 Sandy Creek, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 6

2A girls: No. 3 Hardaway vs. No. 1 Murray County, 1 p.m.

2A boys: No. 6 Union County vs. No. 4 Butler, 3 p.m.

Co-ed 4-point contest

4A girls: Jackson, Atlanta vs. Creekside, 5:30 p.m.

4A boys: North Oconee vs. Pace Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 7

A D-II girls: Washington-Wilkes vs. Wilcox County, 1 p.m.

A D-II boys: McIntosh County Academy vs. Savannah, 3 p.m.

Girls 3-point contest

5A girls: River Ridge vs. Hughes, 5:30 p.m.

5A boys: Tri-Cities vs. Woodward Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 8

A D-I girls: No. 2 Banks County vs. No. 1 Fannin County, 11 a.m.

A D-I boys: No. 15 BEST Academy vs. No. 1 Southwest, 1 p.m.

AAASP: Clayton Eagles vs. Houston Sharks, 3 p.m.

Slam dunk contest

6A girls: Newton vs. Grayson, 5:30 p.m.

6A boys: Newton vs. Wheeler, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday marks the 100th birthday of Delta Air Lines' founding in Macon in 1925.

MACON, Ga. — Delta Air Lines is celebrating a milestone on Sunday: 100 years of flight.

The airline's journey, however, didn't start in its long-time headquarters in Atlanta. Instead, Delta's history began right in Macon 100 years ago but under a different name, airline archivist Marie Force said.

"So we're founded as the world's first aerial crop dusting company. It's a very unique beginning for an airline," Force said. "Delta was incorporated as Huff Daland Dusters on March 2, 1925."

The company was headquartered in downtown Macon, but their flight operations were centered at Camp Wheeler, an old WWII field in east Macon. The field has since become the Downtown Macon airport.

The airline set their sights on Macon thanks to the agricultural output in the region, Force said. Across the southeast, Huff Daland Dusters would crop dust agricultural lands.

"They were headquartered in Macon because of the agricultural work that was around Macon. You had cotton fields, you had pecan orchards, peach orchards — dusting the peaches is actually the first business that they did," Force said.

Credit: Courtesy of Delta Flight Museum

At the time, they were 18 planes strong with 30 employees, Force said. While that sounds small, Force said, it was one of the largest privately held aircraft fleets during its founding.

She said that Camp Wheeler was also important, because it was — at the time — the best airport in the entire state.

"And Macon was also ideal because the airfield that was there," Force said. "They had looked at Atlanta, they had looked at Athens, but at the time Macon had the best airfield in Georgia."

Force said that Huff Daland Dusters' decision to open in Macon also spurred the Atlanta City Council to purchase the land that would become Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Despite being the first home of Delta Air Lines, Macon would not remain as the company's headquarters for long. After one growing season, Force said the company made the decision to leave Macon as much of their business was centered at the Mississippi Delta.

They moved to Monroe, Louisiana, before eventually returning to Georgia and setting up shop in Atlanta. The airline began passenger flights to four cities in 1929.

Force said that the airline has grown much from their "humble" beginnings in Macon. The fleet of 18 at the beginning burgeoned into a fleet of nearly 1,300 aircraft serving over 275 destinations. Force said the company serves 200 million customers a year.

However, it all stems back to their incorporation 100 years ago as a small crop dusting operation right in Macon.

"Macon was the beginning of that," Force said. "It's really amazing when you think about how far Delta has come in those 100 years and that Macon was the start of that."

The Delta Flight Museum, where Force works, is currently closed for renovation, but Force said they're looking forward to celebrating the company's centennial when they reopen in April.

The Georgia Forestry Commission sadi they responded to 137 wildfires that burned across 2,390 acres on Saturday and that conditions are still poor on Sunday.

MACON, Ga. — Sheriff's Offices and Fire Departments across Central Georgia battled fires that grew out of control on Saturday due to extreme winds and other poor conditions.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning to nearly all counties in Central Georgia on Saturday. They warned of heavy winds and dangerous conditions that could start a fire. This warning started at 11 a.m. and lasted until 8 p.m.

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) noted that the relative humidity was around 20-25% and that winds were around 15-20 miles per hour, while the wind gusts can reach 25 miles per hour.

With the grass and vegetation dry and dead from the winter, fire can quickly catch and spread in these conditions. As such, the GFC refused to issue burn permits until conditions improve.

Christina Bramlett with the Monroe County Emergency Services and Fire Department is asking and encouraging everyone to not burn with the humidity so low, all the dry vegetation and the sudden wind gusts.

She said that, if you have to start a controlled burn, to have a water source nearby and do it with a large break around the fire. Bramlett said that, if the fire does get out of control, to call 911 so the GFC and local fire departments can quickly come and help prevent it from getting out of control.

The GFC noted that they had fought 86 wildfires that burned 1,552 acres on Friday, including fighting fires in places like Twiggs County. They said they responded to 137 wildfires that burned across 2,390 acres on Saturday.

Alongside Twiggs County, several fires across Central Georgia have been reported. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that deputies and fire units responded to a fire within the 5000 block of Highway 24 East. They recommended using caution in this area.

Baldwin County Fire Rescue said to avoid Gordon Highway and Old Stage Drive due to fire units from multiple stations and GFC fighting a five-acre fire involving a big tire pile. They also said to avoid Nealy's Way as several stations and Jones County firefighters are dealing with a bushfire.

There were also various fires reported out in Macon-Bibb County, Houston County and Monroe County. The GFC's wildfire map shows that many are contained, but many others, including some in Twiggs County, are active.. There have also been fires reported across the state, closing roads in places like Covington Highway in DeKalb, according to our sister station 11Alive.

While the GFC said that conditions are better on Sunday than they were on Saturday, they still said that the weather could allow fires to easily spread and to be extremely cautious when starting fires outdoors.

The Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge announced that they'll continue their prescribed burn in Jones and Jasper County on Sunday. They said to be aware of any smoke near Starr and Juliete Road.

Alongside the prescribed burn, a few fires have broken out. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said a lane is closed on Highway 87 near East Redding Road due to a fire.

Bramlett said a family started a fire, which quickly got out of control. She said that the family lost their garage and six cars, but there were no injuries.

13WMAZ will update this story with further information about any fires that pop up in Central Georgia on Sunday.

A collection of photos of the various fires breaking out across Central Georgia

(photo: William Bazzone)

Macon, Ga. (WGXA) — Even though the Allman Brothers band broke up and re-formed twice, Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts was one of the consistent members always in the front and center.

"A Tribute to Dickey Betts" saw the Macon City Auditorium packed to the brim, with sounds of Southern rock rang loudly - and proudly - inside the famed venue.

"The music is jaw-dropping," Allman Brothers superfan Mike Sylvester told WGXA on his way to the show. "It's very emotional. You'll have tears coming out of your eyes if you listen to the words and feel the music."

Sylvester said he was close with Betts' son, Duane - who would be sharing the stage among friends and former bandmates like Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, and John Lee "Jaimoe" Johnson - now the last surviving member of the group.

On Friday night, fans from across the United States became "Ramblin' Men" themselves, coming to Middle Georgia honor the late guitarist at the memorial.

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Just ask Ed Reines, in town from San Francisco to see this show with his brother, Danny.

"I've seen so many great times with Dickey Betts and the Allman Brothers shows," Reines said. "I felt like I had to be here just to honor and express my respect for him.

Tickets to see the long-awaited show peaked at almost a thousand dollars this afternoon on Ticketmaster.

It's a price that Danny Kerr from Keene, NH was willing to pay.

He joked that he got "lucky," paying "less than" 1,000.

"A lot of us baby boomers, we're at the age where it's like you don't get to see these concerts very often," Kerr said. "So I figured, what the heck."

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Some fans like Reed Mallard from "Hot'lanta" was a little luckier in his mecca to the mid-state.

He got his tickets at face value - and he was ready to hear all the classics - worth their weight in gold.

According to the Macon Centreplex website, tickets were originally $69-179, including a $1 artist charity donation per ticket.

"I hope they open the show with a fantastic jam of "[Elizabeth Reed]" and then continue through all the volumes of Dickey Betts' great songs," Mallard said.

The Allman Brothers Band's website announced Tuesday that Berklee College of Music in Boston is creating a Dickey Betts Memorial Scholarship to "provide financial assistance to students demonstrating exceptional musical ability and financial need."

Portions of the ticket sales will go into the scholarships, per Berklee's press release.

The Bibb County Board of Education’s recent decision not to extend Alexander II Magnet school leaders’ contracts into the 2025-26 academic year has left some parents and students upset.

School stakeholders said they plan to rally together to demand answers and urge the board to reconsider its decision at next month’s upcoming board meeting, as well as organize peaceful protests.

The board decided last week not to approve contract renewals for Alexander II Principal Angel Woodard and Assistant Principal Meredith Byrd. The board voted 6-2 against the renewals. Both school leaders are still in their positions until this academic year ends.

Parents were notified of the non-renewal decision earlier this week through letters sent home in students’ bookbags and district messages via the Remind app, according to school community members.

Parent Deondra Patterson said she was shocked when she heard the news, fearing it could potentially disrupt the school’s progress and the well-being of both students and staff.

“Honestly, I was deeply disappointed about their decision, because both (the principals) are very strong leaders who truly care about the students and staff,” Patterson said. “I believe that since they’ve been in their positions, they have made a positive impact on the school, and I’m just not understanding the reason for the decision.”

Last month, Alexander II Magnet received a state designation, recognized as one of the top 5% of Title I schools in Georgia based on standardized assessments in 2022-2023.

Patterson said the timing of the announcement was unusual, occurring just ahead of important events such as the Georgia Milestones testing and school ceremonies. She said her daughter did not take the news well after explaining it to her.

“With any child, when you’re talking about changing leadership, it can be a lot,” Patterson said. “Everyone is just in shock.”

Parent Nidia Svare, whose daughter also expressed sadness about the non-renewal, said the board should have included parents’ input in its decision-making. She also said the news is causing a “massive disruption” in the school, prompting students to want to leave.

“They are like family up there at the school. The teachers and the principals get along amazingly,” Svare said. “It’s kind of an unusual situation to have both your leadership leave at the same time.”

When asked to confirm the decision and why it was made, Bibb County Schools directed The Telegraph to its YouTube platform, where video of the vote is available.

Both Patterson and Svare expressed frustration about the district’s lack of explanation for the non-renewal, complicating their abilities to explain the situation to their children.

In search of answers, Alexander II parents and other community members are currently planning to attend the board’s upcoming meeting on March 20, according to several posts shared on social media.

“I would just like to see more transparency from the district about why the decision was made and what’s next for the school,” said Patterson, who also plans to attend the meeting.

Svare, who serves as chairperson for the Teacher Appreciation Committee on the Alexander II Parent Teacher Association, said she has witnessed the principals genuinely care for the children.

“I’m hoping that the board of education listens to us parents and understands that this may not affect the board, but it affects us as parents, our children and their futures,” Svare said.

Woodard was appointed principal of Alexander II Magnet in 2023, and Byrd was appointed assistant principal in 2021.

ML

The Telegraph