WCBI New at Six - 09/16/2020

WCBI New at Six - 09/16/2020

The economy is still stinging from spring and summer shutdowns.

In north mississippi, many factories and businesses cancelled shifts or closed for weeks on end because of the pandemic.

For many counties, that means unemployment rates are up and job opportunities are down.

But in monroe county, aberdeen mayor maurice howard and the board of alderman signed a contract this week to relocate a steel plant to aberdeen our savannah gaido sat down with mayor howard and has more on the future job opportunities standup: in the state of mississippi, many people have lost their jobs because of covid 19, but here in aberdeen, they are trying to change that."

The board of alderman and aberdeen mayor starting that change -- signing off on a deal for a new steel plant to move to aberdeen "we've been working on this deal for 3 years, the company is called envirobuilders, and they are now located in georgia.

They will be moving their facility from georgia to aberdeen."

This plant will be bringing in 150 new jobs -- which mayor maurice howard says is crucial to build back the town's economy after a global pandemic.

"and so to get jobs in a time like this it is very valuable and its astonishing that we were actually able to get the deal done in this time being with a lot of businesses are on freeze right now."

"that is also going to affect our commerce here, affect our local restaurants and local stores because if i'm working here im eating here, im spending tax dollars here in aberdeen and keeping that money here, and that is very important for us."

And people who live in aberdeen say they are ready for the jobs and the chain reaction to follow.

"you have a variety and the more you bring in, the more the city will be able to grow and it will take a lot of pressure off a lot of people with taxes and stuff."

"it would make an impact on the tax base, and more money to work on the streets and highways and things."

Mayor howard is excited to bring residents an opportunity to work in their own backyard.

"my prayer and my hope is that we will grow that company to be even larger than what is expected because aberdeen needs the jobs."

Reporting in aberdeen, savannah gaido wcbi news.

Mayor howard says construction to renovate the holley performance building will begin in six months and production is scheduled to start in eighteen months.

Monitor intro roll vo in monitor it was an afternoon of giving in eupora.

A healthcare company provided free hot meals for a community in choctaw county today.

Wcbi's bobby martinez was at this food give away and has more on the people behind this event... he joins us live in the studio with more..

Bobby what more can you tell us?

Aundrea, this food giveaway was put together by molina healthcare, who says they have been hosting what they call ''food truck days" across the state to help those struggling with hunger.

For patients, molina healthcare is a good neighbor.

"it's definitely been a challenging year..but you know every little bit helps.."

Delivering 175 free hot meals to people in a drive thru fashion.

"three peel porks?"

"you guys have a great day" the food truck featured wednesday was bean creek smokery from enid mississippi..

Which turned out to be a major hit for folks..

Sot - michelle jones, community engagement manager - molina healthcare.

"our turnout today has been tremendous started at 12 and we had a line starting at 11."

Michelle jones, community engagement manager for molina healthcare..

Says wednesday's give away had a deeper message than just free food for the people.

Sot - michelle jones, community engagement manager - molina healthcare.

"we need to continue to work together.

It's very important that you know, during these tough times, it's very important for us to be working together.

You know community- based and continuing to do so as we continue during these tough times."

Robert herd, special program director for mississippi regional housing authority in columbus..

Says teamwork during these tough times can make an impact to so many in need.

Robert herd - special program director for miss.

Regional housing authority - columbus district 4 "it's very important this partnership with healthcare is great it helps the people that normally might not have this type of opportunity to get a free food.

I know there's been giveaways but actually free hot food which is a great benefit for them."

Herd says for some - this might be the only meal they'll eat for the day..

Which makes this give away even more meaningful... robert herd - special program director for miss.

Regional housing authority - columbus district 4 "it makes me feel real good.

Sometimes you have to do something for the public and people less fortunate.

I'm very glad we could help in this endeavor."

And for those doing their best to get through these tough times..

Robert herd - special program director for miss.

Regional housing authority - columbus district 4 "keep holding on i know it seems desperate but times will get in addition to free hot meals..

Kids were given free molina bags containing activity books and crayons... a nettleton man has died following a collision on highway 45 south.

It happened just after 8:30 tuesday night.

Monroe county coroner alan gurley says 45 year old mark rakestraw was riding a harley motorcyle when he collided with a pickup atruck.

Gurley says rackstraw died at the scene of the accident, just south of nettleton, near buchanan road.

The mississippi highway patrol are investigating.

Hurricane sally shifted east and avoided a direct hit on mississippi, but state leaders say we may not be out of the woods just yet.

Sally made landfall near the alabama/ florida line causing significant damage in those areas.

Here in mississippi, we suffered more than 10 thousand power outtages across the state and saw flooding in jackson county.

Right now, there are 7 different storm systems in the atlantic ocean, and both governor reeves and mema director greg michel say they're concerned about a few of them.

"the fact is that we were very fortunate, but we also know that there are significantly additional storms. one of which is out in the gulf near the bay of campeche, it's in vest90l, that we want to monitor very, very closely over the next 24 to 48 hours."

"but that storm down in the bay of campeche, we had thought that it was going to fizzle out and not do a whole lot, but it has regained strength, the current track does have it moving in northerly direction, although it does not currently pose a direct threat, i am concerned about it."

It."

Director michel says we're just a little over half way through hurricane season.

First look stinger first look wednesday night: showers end during the evening with partly to mostly cloudy skies overnight.

Lows in the upper 60s.

Northerly winds 10-15 mph.

Thursday: turning partly cloudy.

An isolated shower or two can't be ruled out.

Warmer highs in the mid 80s.

Northerly winds 10-20 mph.

Thursday night: scattered clouds and quiet.

Cooler lows in the mid to low 60s.

Friday: a mix of sun and clouds.

Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Northerly breezes continue around 10-20 mph.

It'll be a bit cool for high school football with 70s and 60s developing.

Stinger-stinger bit cool for high school football with 70s and 60s developing.

Stinger-stinger wcbi continuing coverage stinger the number of new covid-19 cases in mississippi is above 700 today.

The state department of health reports 711 new coronavirus cases today, along with 22 deaths.

Fatalities were reported in lee, oktibbeha, and itawamba counties.

670 people remain hospitalized.

177 are being treated in i.c.u.

And 101are a ventilator.

More than 91- thousand people have tested positive for coronavirus and more than 27- hundred have died.

Monitor intro roll vo in monitor with parts of the region having to deal with hurricane sally in addition to the ongoing pandemic...it's fitting that september is national emergency preparedness month.

Wcbi's stephen pimpo was in oktibbeha county and joins us now with what their emergency management team is doing to make sure their community is prepared for whatever comes their way.

Aundrea, more than 1700 people have been diagnosed with covid19 in oktibbeha county.

Worse - 49 people have died.

Given the uncertainty of the virus's future, county officials say that face masks should now be a staple of any emergency preparedness kit.

"we're all frustrated with everything that's going on but personal preparedness is everybody's responsibility, so i just think everybody needs to do their part."

The oktibbeha county emergency management team was doing their part wednesday afternoon, handing out free masks to members of the community as part of the ongoing fight against covid-19.

"everybody that wants a mask probably has one, but these being individually packaged, they're a good way to store them in your kit in case that disaster or emergency occurs."

County workers handed out two packs of five washable cloth masks per car.

This included care instructions.

Su: the emergency agency has given away about 38,000 masks since june and had about 7,000 more they wanted to distribute today.

Emergency management director kristen campanella, also wants to remind residents that just having a mask dosn't do you any good if you aren't using it correctly.

"i think the biggest hang up for me is that i do see some that are wearing masks but are not wearing them properly.

So if you're not wearing them to cover your nose, face and your mouth, you're not being effective with the mask."

Chelsea carr is one of the several community members grateful for the free masks, especially since the mississippi department of health reports her age group of 18-29 year-olds has the highest concentration of positive coronavirus cases in oktibbeha county.

"i am young so, everybody's having parties with the covid so i try not to go out too much."

The e-m-a also gave out information on how best to stay prepared in the even of a disaster, such as guidelines on what to put in a family emergency kit.

And campanella wants to remind everyone to have some type of face covering for their kit.

Stinger coming up next, a heart warming tale of dog who found a new home and more love.// roll vo in monitor a northeast mississippi man was ready to answer the call of his country to deploy for one year with the u s marines.

But there was one problem, he didn't have anyone to take care of his dog.

Wcbi's allie martin tells us how the marine found a foster mom and made a tough decision when his tour of duty was complete.

Matt embler was preparing to leave for his deployment with the marines, and needed to find a foster for his dog, ranger.

Matt, who is single, took to facebook with his request.

"found leslie on social media, she reached out and we connected and she offered to take care of him for the year, it was incredible for me,it felt right."

It also felt right for ranger, who quickly made friends with leslie's choclate lab, "manning."

Nats throughout his deployment, matt was able to get photos of ranger, and keep up with his progress through social media and various apps.

"i told matt when he agreed to let me foster him, that i would treat ranger like i was my own, matt was gracious and said, can i give you some money, i said, no, you've got a job, protecting our country, freedoms, you go worry about that, let me worry about the dog."

""knowing that ranger was being taken care of while i was gone, it was a huge stress relief."

When matt came home earlier this year, he got a job that required him to work long hours, and that meant ranger would be home alone, after being used to hanging out with "manning" and other furry friends in the neighborhood.

So the young marine made a tough decision.

"seeing how happy he was here with leslie, it posed the question, is it best for him for leslie, and for me to take him back, or for him to stay here, i prayed about it, it felt right for him to come and be with leslie."

Nats matt is no stranger to ranger, he lives in the same neighborhood and visits often.

For matt and leslie, this dog's tale is all about the importance of fostering , making selfless decisions and supporting those who serve.

"i don't think people realize the support back home, what a difference that makes, and knowing he was taken care of, it gave me a sense of peace i couldn't have gotten otherwise."

In tupelo, allie ranger, he lives in the same neighborhood and visits often.

For matt and leslie, this dog's tale is all about the importance of fostering , making selfless decisions and supporting those who serve.

"i don't think people realize the support back home, what a difference that makes, and knowing he was taken care of, it gave me a sense of peace i couldn't have gotten otherwise."

In tupelo, allie martin, wcbi news matt encourages people to consider becoming foster parents for pets.

Matt is also known to many as a former dance instructor at the "dance studio of tupelo."

Stinger summary: breezy conditions will continue into thursday along with a slight chance of showers.

Much drier and more pleasant weather returns friday and it will continue through the weekend and into early next week as high pressure takes control.

Tropics: another tropical system could form over the next few days in the southwestern gulf of mexico.

Recent data suggest that whatever comes of it will likely stay away from our region but it certainly bears watching.

Wednesday night: showers end during the evening with partly to mostly cloudy skies overnight.

Lows in the upper 60s.

Northerly winds 10-15 mph.

Thursday: turning partly cloudy.

An isolated shower or two can't be ruled out.

Warmer highs in the mid 80s.

Northerly winds 10-20 mph.

Thursday night: scattered clouds and quiet.

Cooler lows in the mid to low 60s.

Friday: a mix of sun and clouds.

Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Northerly breezes continue around 10-20 mph.

It'll be a bit cool for high school football with 70s and 60s developing.

Friday night: a few clouds and cooler.

Lows in the upper 50s.

Saturday- wednesday: a big area of high pressure centered to our north should keep dry, less humid air flowing our way.

Unsettled weather looks to stay closer to the gulf coast and into the gulf of mexico.

Highs should range from the upper 70s to mid 80s with overnight lows in the 50s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger college hoops is officially on the 2020 calendar...more information on the reported start date, next in sports spx spx open week two of endzone was filled with plenty of highlights and outstanding performances but one player stood tall above the rest!

Choctaw county's ques mcneal showed up and showed out last friday in our game of the week having in his words "the best game of his life."

In the chargers matchup against east webster, mcneal hauled in 4 interceptions on defense returning 2 of them for touchdowns and added 3 td receptions on offense for good measure as well.

He credits his coaches and teammates for putting him in position to have a big night!

"man.

I was seeing everything.

They kept on throwing the ball and i was reacting on each play.

Coach come to my side and i was just making plays for the defense.

On offense, tylan gave me good balls.

O-line was blocking good.

I was just catching them.

I was on fire.

All the glory to god.

It's a good feeling though.

Just going to stay humble and do the same thing next week.

Just keep on rolling."

Mcneal and the chargers play against kosciusko.

Some good news from the hardwood the n-c-a-a has set a start date for college basketball the new start date for the 2020-2021 season will be november 25th according to cbs sports college basketball insider jon rothstein practice is reportedly set to begin six weeks prior to that start date on october 14th and the regular season is expected to be cut by four games no scrimmages and exhibitions will be allowed all season and recruiting will be postponed until january 1st with mississippi state's season opener 10 days out, the bulldogs have yet to officially name a starting quarterback however, graduate transfer k.j costello leads the race for the starting job msu head coach mike leach saying this past weekend that if the season had started costellio would be the starter costello has spent the last three months adjusting to leach's air raid offense and gave his thoughts on it...take a listen costello: "after being here three months i kind of feel like his whole idea is to train intuition through repetition.

Just over and over and over again.

Understand how certain things play out regardless of coverage.

It's more of a feel thing.

I'd say a big theme of this offense is take what the defense gives you right now.

Not progress through your reads.

If they're giving it to you take it now.

That's one of the big differences i've realized."

Over in oxford, ole miss continues it's preparations for the rebels homes opener iopener in just ten days ole miss gets the season going inside vaught- hemingway stadium on september 26th against florida the match-up will be the first look at head coach lane kiffin's ole miss team ole miss wide receiver braylon sanders saying the team is ready to get out there and play "we will be ready come september 26th.

The coaches have been doing a great job of getting us prepared.

We've been going out there and preparing as well and having the right mindset towards it so i can't wait until the 26th to show everybody what we're capable of.

Probably be some more finishing touches i think going in.

We're just ready, keep practicing every day and just be ready."

Last look stinger last look last look last look last look