FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD HE HAD ACCIDENTLY FALLEN ON A KNIFE. HIS WIFE, ALICIA JOHNSON IS CHARGED WITH HIS MURDER. BACK TO OUR TOP STORY THE MERCY CENTER WILL OPEN IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AT AN ABANDONED PLANT ON 15TH STREET JUST OFF WRHTSBORO ROAD, NEAR JOSEY HIGH SCHOOL. THATS WHERE NEWS 12S BRYAN BAKER IS.HE JOINS US WHERE CREWS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE GRAND OPENING. OPENING.SOME VERY AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR WHAT WILL BE THE MERCY CENTER. A 10 YEAR PLAN. IT STARTS HERE WITH A THRIFT SHOP WHERE THE HOMELESS AND LOWINCOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE VOUCHERS TO GET CLOTHING, FURNITURE, AND MORE. THE SIGNS OF THE PAST STILL ON THE BUILDING. BUT MERCY MINISTRY LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. FUTURE. THE CLEANING CREWS HAVE BEEN BUSY TRANSFORMING THE PLANT. ITS N A WAREHOUSE CLUTTERED WITH DONATIONS THAT COME IN DAILY. CLOTHES, TOYS, FURNITURE, EVEN WHEELCHAIRS. AND MORE DONATIONS MEANS MORE SPACE NEEDED. NEED.6:57:1827 Whether it be medical, dental, clothing, housing, you name it, we want to give the community something back. back.GEORGE MILLER IS VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME DOING ELECTRICAL WORK. HE ALSO PLANS TO BEGIN A DRUG AND ALCOHOL RECOVERY PROGRAM HERE. HERE.6:59:1526 Why do it? Because the community needs it. Look at all the people youve got on the sides of the roads that are pushing carts around, they dont have anything else. else.MICHELLE RAMSEY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THRIFT SHOP OPENING. SHE NEEDS CLOTHES AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR HER FIVE KIDS. KIDS.7:03:1318 Iould go everyday if I can, you know me, Im a shopaholic, if I see something good, Im going to shop. shop. MONEY FROM THE THRIFT SHOP WOULD FUND THE OTHER PROGRAMS THE MINISTRY HOPES TO BRING OVER THE NEXT DECADE. PROGRAMS SOME PEOPLE CANT WAIT TO SEE. SEE.7:22:20 Thats a good thing were going to have in the neighborhood. neighborhood.HAROLD FULLER HAS LIVED ON 15TH STREET HERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. HE HOPES THE MINISTRY BRINGS A CHANGE. CHANGE.7:20:21 When they open that up, it will be a church thing, it will be more respectful and quieter out here in the neighborhood, 7:20:2734 instead of all the young guys standing on the corner, they have something to do, go or to the church or something like that so they can help themselves. BESIDES THE THRIFT STORE A RECYCLING CENTER AND FOOD PANTRY IS COMING. BUT OVER THE NEXT DECADE MEDICAL CLINIC, DAYCARE, REC, CENTER, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL CENTER, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR KIDS LIVING NEARBY NEARBYA NEWS CONFERENCE DURING THE GRAND OPENING IN TWO WEEKS WILL ANNOUNCE MORE SPECIFICS INCLUDING THE JOBS COMING TO THE AREA. OF COURSE NEWS 12 WILL BRING THAT TO YOU. YOU.HOW IS THE MINISTRY PLANNING ON BRINGING THOSE PROGRAMS? PROGRAMS?A BOARD MEMBER TELLS ME THEYRE RECRUITING NON PROFITS TO TAKE UP SPACE IN THE BUILDING. THEY WONT HAVE TO PAY RENT JUST UTILITY BILLS. LIVE ON 15TH STREET, BB, NEWS 12. CASTLEBERRYS CLOSED AT THE END OF 2008 THE MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS THE MEAT OF 2008 CLOSED AT THE END CASTLEBERRYS CLOSED AT THE END OF 2008 THE MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS BUSINESS WAS HURT AFTER A BOTULISM SCARE.AN OUTSIDE COMPANY BOUGHT THE BRAND BUT NOT THE AUGUSTA PLANT.

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AIRDATE: 07-21-2010
TRANSCRIPT: first responders were originally told he had accidently fallen on a knife. his wife, alicia johnson is charged with his murder. back to our top story the mercy center will open in just a few weeks at an abandoned plant on 15th street just off wrhtsboro road, near josey high school. thats where news 12s bryan baker is.he joins us where crews are getting ready for the grand opening. opening.some very ambitious plans for what will be the mercy center. a 10 year plan. it starts here with a thrift shop where the homeless and lowincome people will have vouchers to get clothing, furniture, and more. the signs of the past still on the building. but mercy ministry looking to the future. future. the cleaning crews have been busy transforming the plant. its n a warehouse cluttered with donations that come in daily. clothes, toys, furniture, even wheelchairs. and more donations means more space needed. need.6:57:1827 whether it be medical, dental, clothing, housing, you name it, we want to give the community something back. back.george miller is volunteering his time doing electrical work. he also plans to begin a drug and alcohol recovery program here. here.6:59:1526 why do it? because the community needs it. look at all the people youve got on the sides of the roads that are pushing carts around, they dont have anything else. else.michelle ramsey looking forward to the thrift shop opening. she needs clothes and school supplies for her five kids. kids.7:03:1318 iould go everyday if i can, you know me, im a shopaholic, if i see something good, im going to shop. shop. money from the thrift shop would fund the other programs the ministry hopes to bring over the next decade. programs some people cant wait to see. see.7:22:20 thats a good thing were going to have in the neighborhood. neighborhood.harold fuller has lived on 15th street here for more than 20 years. he hopes the ministry brings a change. change.7:20:21 when they open that up, it will be a church thing, it will be more respectful and quieter out here in the neighborhood, 7:20:2734 instead of all the young guys standing on the corner, they have something to do, go or to the church or something like that so they can help themselves. besides the thrift store a recycling center and food pantry is coming. but over the next decade medical clinic, daycare, rec, center, employment training, educational center, after school program for kids living nearby nearbya news conference during the grand opening in two weeks will announce more specifics including the jobs coming to the area. of course news 12 will bring that to you. you.how is the ministry planning on bringing those programs? programs?a board member tells me theyre recruiting non profits to take up space in the building. they wont have to pay rent just utility bills. live on 15th street, bb, news 12. castleberrys closed at the end of 2008 the meat processing plants the meat of 2008 closed at the end castleberrys closed at the end of 2008 the meat processing plants business was hurt after a botulism scare.an outside company bought the brand but not the augusta plant.