🌱 Macon Man's Body Found In River + Macon Teen Arrested For Murder

Hello, neighbors! It's Thursday in Macon and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and humid. High: 85 Low: 64.
• Friday: Nice with periods of sun. High: 84 Low: 64.

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Here are the top three stories today in Macon:

1. At around 2:00 p.m. on May 30, the body of 20-year-old Raymund Ellison Jr. of Macon was recovered in the Ocmulgee River. On Sunday, May 28, witnesses last saw Ellison floating in an innertube on the river, but no one saw him go under the water. Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Shane Edwards implored the public to wear life vests when in the water. (wgxa.tv)
2. Bibb County deputies arrested 17-year-old Raheem Seree Smith in connection to the fatal drive-by shooting of 15-year-old Ozias Gore of Macon on Apr. 8 on the 5900 block of Bloomfield Road. The shooting is still under investigation, but Smith has been charged with murder. (13 WMAZ)
3. A Macon man is concerned about teenagers illegally riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes on Lake Valley Road. According to Michael Ventimiglia, who lives in the Glenwood Forest neighborhood, the teens are frequently riding these four-wheelers and dirt bikes, which are illegal to ride on the road, without helmets and speeding five to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit. Ventimiglia worries that "somebody's going to get killed." Ventimiglia contacted the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, but the officer told him that there is nothing they can do unless an officer catches the teens in the act. (https://www.13wmaz.com/article...)

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Today and tomorrow in Macon:

Thursday, Jun. 1

• Anti-Violence Rally At Carolyn Crayton Park (1:00 PM)
• Darrell Scott: Early Show At Capricorn Sound Studios (6:30 PM)

Friday, Jun. 2

• First Friday Art Opening: Point of View At The 567 Center for Renewal (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Macon's Bloomfield neighborhood will be without a pool again over the hot summer months while repairs continue. To make up for it, Bibb County will begin busing children 17-year-old and under to a working county pool. Beginning next Monday at 10:00 a.m., the bus will leave from the Bloomfield-Gilead building to the county pool with up to 40 children. The kids will be able to swim from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then the bus will bring them back to Bloomfield. (13 WMAZ)
• The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help looking for 69-year-old Dianne Bowen, who was last heard from on Apr. 28. According to deputies, Bowen is believed to be a possible danger to herself. Call the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME if you see Bowen. She is described as a white woman, about five feet and six inches tall, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes. (WGXA)
• Did you miss the Bibb County School District graduations? You can now view the Class of 2023 Spring Graduation Ceremonies online! Click here to watch ceremonies from the Bibb County high schools. (Bibb County School District via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox soon with your next update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!