🌱 Macon Student Attacked 4 Times By Classmates + New Craft Distillery

Good morning, Macon! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out everything you need to know about what's happening around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Sunshine; humid in the p.m.. High: 87 Low: 66.
• Sunday: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 93 Low: 67.

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Here are the top three stories today in Macon:

1. A senior at Rutland High School and his family are speaking out after the student was reportedly attacked four times on and off the school campus in Macon. Bernadino, the father of 19-year-old Christopher Calvac, said school administrators have done nothing about the violence, even after police reports and hospital reports were filed. Bernadino said, "I am frustrated because today it happened to my son but tomorrow it can happen to anyone. The principal has to do something because this cannot keep happening or what if they had killed my son?" The Bibb County Sheriff's Office said two out of the three juveniles have been charged and warrants have been taken out for all of the suspects who are not juveniles. (wgxa.tv)
2. Longleaf Distillery, the first craft distillery in Macon's history, has recently opened on 2nd Street in downtown Macon. Owner Will Morrison aims to revive old spirit recipes and fill a niche market in Macon while helping the local ecosystem. Longleaf will plant one tree for every bottle that is purchased, with a goal of planting 85,000 trees. (41 NBC News)
3. On Wednesday, May 10, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement Officer Rebecca Galeazzo and crew captured an 11-foot alligator named Frank in Macon. The alligator was seen on the bridge on Jennifer Drive and in local yards. Frank was relocated and released back into a natural environment, unharmed. (13WMAZ.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Macon:

Saturday, May 13

• Pottery Kids' Craft At Ocmulgee Mounds National Park (2:00 PM)
• Crank To Coffee At Bike Tech Macon (8:00 AM)
• Mother's Day Ladies Night Live At 1212 Studios (7:00 PM)

Sunday, May 14

• Macon Film Guild Presents: "Living" At The Douglass Theatre (2:00 PM; 5:00 PM; 7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• On May 12, Law Enforcement Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty were honored in a ceremony at Public Safety Park in Downtown Macon. The Bibb County Law Enforcement Foundation's annual Peace Officers Memorial Day program kicked off National Police Week, which is May 15 through May 21. (wgxa.tv)
• On Tuesday, May 9, a ransomware group named "Akira" claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against Mercer University in Macon. Sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers belonging to Mercer community members, were compromised due to the attack. According to Akira, the university refused to pay the "relatively affordable" ransom to get the information back. (The Cluster)
• Doggie Dogs, a new business in Macon, has become popular for its $1 hot dogs. Owner and CEO Antonio Walker said, "My goal and my passion is to serve delicious food at a reasonable price, and have customers that are happy." The restaurant is located at 880 Pio Nono Avenue, Suite 800. (13WMAZ)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right! See you soon for another 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!