WCBI NEWS AT SIX - 07/08/2020

WCBI NEWS AT SIX - 07/08/2020

Thank you for joining us// the columbus city council meets this afternoon to fine tune its mask ordinance..

In a virtual meeting, the mayor and councilman made a few changes regarding who must wear masks and where.

The council passed the measure requiring face coverings at tuesday's meeting in response to an uptick in covid-19 cases.

Some of the changes include - customers ádiningá in restaurants and bars are not required to wear a mask -- but those waiting in a common area should.

And you won't be required to wear a mask in a gym if you're working out - but if you're not, you'll need one.

"the city already had in place regulations to require businesses that serve customers to ensure that they maintain social distance and that their employees wear masks, this new change requires public going in a retail business or customers to serve to wear a mask."

Employers are not required to enforce regulations on customers, but if they see a violation they should notify law enforcement.

Wipe to vo the mississippi department of public safety is strongly urging customers to wear masks when visiting drivers license offices.

Beginning monday, july 13th, masks will become mandatory at all driver license offices.

Public safety commissioner sean tindell says it's all in an effort to limit transmission of the virus.

Customers can take advantage of the online services by visiting www.dps.ms.gov and the driver service bureau link to limit exposure.

Wipe to vo governor tate reeves says expect to see more restrictions in the near future// 674 new covid-19 cases were reported by the mississippi state department of health along with 30 deaths today// the governor and state health officer doctor thomas dobbs strongly encourage mississippians to mask up if they're out in public and can't social distance// governor reeves says the state's health care system is being stretched and that mississippians need to take the virus more seriously// reeves says one way to help combat the spread could be issuing mask mandates on a county by county basis.

What i'm asking my fellow mississippians to think about today, is if i don't adhere to the guidelines, and i contract the virus, well maybe it won't be that bad on me, that maybe true, but if you spread it to two or three people who take up two or three icu beds and then your daughter or your granddaughter is in an automobile accident or four wheeler accident, then you're putting those individuals at risk as well."

The governor didn't specify when stricter guidelines could come but added that nothing was off the table// local school district leaders know there are many questions and a lot of anxiety among parents about the new school year.

Superintendents from three north mississippi school districts joined our aundrea self on zoom to talk about their plans, your choices as families, and what they are doing to make sure students and staff can return to school safely.

It's important to us that our employees stay safe and they're confident as they come to work.

And so we always prioritize students.

I'm sure dr. harvey and dr. peasant can agree with me on that measure, but it's imperative that we make sure our employees feel confident that they will not- that we will reduce the exposure to disease while they're at work and that they feel confident coming to work teaching children.

Joining dr. cherie labat from the columbus school district will be starkville oktibbeha superintendent dr. eddie peasant and brian harvey from the oxford school district.

You can hear the full conversation thursday at 9am here on wcbi.

The washington post reports more than 80 confederate monuments have come down over the last five years.

A third of those have been removed since george floyd was killed in police custody on may 25th.

Just this week, the lowndes county board of supervisors approved moving the county's monument from the courthouse lawn.

Now, noxubee county is following suit.

Cash matlock joins us live in the studio with more on the story.

Joey, the rhetoric surrounding confederate statues can be divisive, but those i spoke with today say they hope árelocatingá the statue will bring people together.

"we discussed the monument last month.

We had our attorney to check out the legalities of it.

So, we found out everything we legal for us to go ahead and vote to relocate it."

District 5 supervisor bruce brooks says board members voted unanimously to relocate the confederate monument that currently sits outside the noxubee county courthouse.

The statue was erected in 1901 by the united daughters of the confederacy.

"i believe this is going to help us unite our community and definitely unite noxubee county."

The monument will be moved to odd fellows cemetery where both confederate and union soldiers are buried.

"we feel like it will be better represented where the soldiers are actually buried."

County leaders say the move could cost around 10 thousand dollars, but they don't plan to use any public money// "we're going to definitely work with the historical society, also some local individuals who are flexible to actually encourage and help raise the money to move... we're going to do all of this without using any public funds."

Those we spoke with today say this is a step in the right direction.

"i don't think anyone should be able to, or should have to, look to their left or their right to see some type of segregation, some type of oppression... everybody should be welcome to their county courthouse to handle their business since they are tax payers of this county."

"changing the flag and moving these monuments, i think, is really going to help the economic growth in mississippi."

Supervisors say the statue will be moved some time in the next 3 to 6 months.

First look stinger first look summary: storm chances remain in the forecast for the rest of the work week and coming weekend.

Several strong storm complex could roll into the region from the northwest friday, saturday, and sunday so we'll have to keep watching for that possibility.

Heat indices may be in the 100-105+ range throughout the weekend outside of any storms that pop on up.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with the chance of a few lingering showers.

Lows in the low 70s with calm wind.

Thursday: partly cloudy with a 40- 50% chance of showers and storms. highs in the upper 80s to around 90.

A plantersville man is charged with three counts of sexual battery against a minor.

Fifty nine year old martin randy morgan was arrested after investigators with the lee county sheriff's department and child protective services employees investigated the allegations, sheriff jim johnson says morgan was the caregiver for the children.

They are now in protective custody.

"it's a very serious matter, we take these matters very seriously when we investigate them and make sure we have the recommendation of counselors, doctors and cps when children involved, da's office, everything, and we don't just jump to some conclusion because there has been some allegation.

" "my client is randy morgan, he maintains his innocence in this matter, he's been arraigned on three counts of sexual battery, mr morgan was married to a lady who has passed away , one of her children has made these allegations, he maintains he is absolutely innocent and these are false allegations."

Judge marilyn reed set bond for morgan at 300 thousand dollars.

Morgan turned himself into officers this afternoon.

His attorney has requested a preliminary hearing on the charges.

A west point man is facing charges after the lowndes county narcotics task force conducted a drug buy last week.

Agents arrested 27-year-old charterious moore last wednesday after finding drugs and cash exchanged in alleged drug deals.

Moore is charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.

During the bust, agents found more than 900 units of ecstasy, one pound of ice, three pounds of marijuana, and more than 33- thousand dollars in cash.

Where there's drugs there's gonna be money.

And a lot of times guns and violence follow.

So we're trying real hard to get the drugs off the street and we're encouraging anyone that has information about any drug activity here in lowndes county, call the lowndes county sheriff's department or the golden triangle crime stoppers.

We have a job to do amid the coronavirus and other things the community is facing.

We still have a job to do.

And that's taking these narcotics off the streets of lowndes county.

The investigation into the case continues.

Agents expect to make more arrests.

The monroe county sheriff's department has a new tool that will help deputies go the áextra mileá to keep their neighbors safe..

When zack wilbanks was in the national guard, he drove big trucks and vehicles, so when the monroe county sheriff's department got a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, known as an mrap, he was the first one in the driver's seat.

The mrap can transport deputies and swat team members safely to situations such as a hostage standoff, it can be used to provide cover for officers if they need to rescue someone or render medical aid, it was used recently to safely rescue a hostage in another county.

It can also drive through up to six feet of water during floods.

"we've got a bad history in monroe county with old rivers rising, flood waters and it helps a lot in that, we reduced the armor to make it a search and rescue vehicle and that's our primary focus."

The vehicle was made for the us marines.

It only had 83 miles on it when it came to monroe county, in fact, some of the seats are still in plastic wrap.

It is not a tank and there are no weapons on the vehicle.

Standup bridge top speed on the mrap is around 55 miles an hour, but realistically, they won't need to go that fast using this vehicle.

"it looks intimidating, and that's a psychological thing, a lot of people misunderstand when you talk about swat, it's not about taking people's lives, it's about saving them, with overwhelming power, artillery, teamwork, as a psychological aspect, we want the bad guy to want to give up."

The mrap cost 10 thousand dollars, and was paid for through private donations and grants.

The sheriff knows some people have concerns about law officers using military equipment and resources.

He says the mrap can help keep the public and officers safe.

"we need this for them, their kids, their grandparents, situation they may end up in, i would hope and think when they saw us coming in it they would be more glad than sad."

The mrap will also be taken to local schools when they are back in session so students can see the sheriff department's newest resource.

In monroe county, allie martin, wcbi news stinger a starkville teenager raises a high flying tribute to some area veterans.

We have his a new flag pole at starkville manor nursing home may help a boy scout áriseá through the ranks.

Parker bazzill has been a part of the boy scouts since he was in first grade.

Now he's working toward the organization's highest rank - eagle scout..

Bazzill needed a community service project to reach that goal.

The flag pole does more than fulfill that requirement - it also honors some special residents..

.

"when my grandma was staying here, there were lots of veterans so, i figured that they might like a flagpole like this..."

"i hope they realize that we're in the best country in the world and that boy scouts of america supports that."

Bazzill belongs to troop 27 in starkville..

,wipe to vo the mississippi museum of art has reopened and with a big exhibition.

Mma opened to the general public today.

"van gogh, monet, degas and their times" also opened.

The special exhibition will feature 74 masterworks.

It will continue until january 10, 2021.

The jackson museum is requiring advance timed-ticketing, social distancing, and masks.

Stinger wx open summary: unsettled weather will remain in place through tuesday night with scattered rain and storm chances.

A cold front will sweep out the rain and humidity by mid morning wednesday leaving us with sunny and warm weather for the rest of the week and upcoming weekend.

Monday night: areas of showers will continue but gradually diminish in size and scope.

The threat of an isolated tornado should gradually end during the evening hours but we'll just have to monitor radar trends.

Look for a mild night with lows in the mid 70s.

Breezy se winds between 10 and 25 mph.

Tuesday: mostly cloudy with showers lingering first thing in the day.

A mix of sun and clouds is expected to develop as time goes on but that could lead to a few more showers or storms. highs are going to push 90?

With higher heat indices at times.

Winds ssw 10-20 mph.

Tuesday night: a cold front may spark a line of showers and storms after midnight.

While we can't rule out a few isolated strong storms most spots will not experience anything too rough.

Lows will be in the low to mid 70s.

Wednesday: any rain chance should move east by mid morning allowing sunnier and less humid conditions to build in on the heels of westerly winds.

Highs top out in the mid 80s.

Wednesday night: clear and refreshing.

Lows in the low 60s.

Thursday-monday: mostly sunny to partly cloudy, warm, and dry.

Highs in the upper 80s to around 90 with overnight lows mainly in the low to mid 60s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger the high school football tour continues on... we preview the water valley blue devils, open next up on the tour, we take a look at the blue devils in water valley.

Head coach brad embry looks to retool rather than rebuild as the devils have key players at key positions to replace this season.

Water valley is stop seventeen on the high school football tour.

áááintro bb it's back to the basics for the blue devils in water valley.

Last season's senior heavy team posted an 8 and 4 record and another post season appearance.

Now the blue devils only return 6 seniors but have high hopes for the young guys.

"the good thing is when you have young guys is they're athletic.

They're hungry.

They're excited.

It's fun."

"i'm trying to help as best as i can because last year was my first year starting so i know how hard it was for me so the best i can help the young guys is the best that i can do and help as good as i can."

Water valley has its work cut out moving forward.

With the core of the 2018 state championship team graduated, this year's squad looks to step in and make its own name.

"you want to say you just reload, and that's what we're planning to do.

The guys look at it as their time to do their part."

"they do a great job.

We always come in and work hard everyday.

We always do things right.

That's one of the main things we focus on doing it right."

That work ethic will be put to the test as the blue devils have to replace dual threat quarterback jacob truss.

Heading into the season, head coach brad embry is confident that a leader will step up among the group.

"they got to be a leader.

You can lead in different ways.

Everyone is not a verbal leader.

They've got to learn that as well.

They got to come in and learn the fundamentals.

Learn the schemes and learn to lead.

That's a lot on a young man, but i'm confident in the guys we have even though they're young.

They're athletic they have the tools to play quarterback.

It's part of it.

It's what you want to do.

Every year you have to build your team from the ground up and we're definitely coming from the ground up this year."

The team isn't using that inexperience as an excuse as players continue to put in extra work to be ready for the season.

"you'll come in at any time day and night and there's a group of them running stadiums doing whatever.

So there's a work ethic and that's not us.

That's the kids and the foundation that's been set of work and i'm proud of that."

"everyone's been working hard even when we're not here.

We comeback almost everyday.

Guys are at the field running and working out.

We've worked hard this year.

I think we should be strong."

Reporting in water valley on the high school football tour.

Chris bolton, wcbi sports.

Here's a look at the upcoming stops for any stops that you may have missed along the way you can always check out our website, wcbi.com