WCBI News at Six - 06/11/2020

WCBI News at Six - 06/11/2020

Good evening everyone - policing in america is a big topic today... some believe there's a divide between law enforcement and some of the people they are sworn to protect... our bobby martinez talks with a sheriff about his job - racism and more... bobby joins us live in the studio// joey, winston county sheriff jason pugh touched on topics such as the current state of law enforcement and its future.

Also, how america as a whole can unite together to create a positive change..

"at what point are we all going to get together, we are all going to decide where we want to go with this and move forward."

They say the past is etched in stone..

And for some... the past is what they may continue to hold on to... on another front... racial injustice has been brought into the spotlight... winston county sheriff jason pugh is hoping for a positive change... "at what point are we going to continue fight about things that have happened that weren't right.

We have to move forward.

If we don't we are going to continue to stay locked in the past.

I would love to say that that is going to be easy to do.

Quite obviously we haven't done a very good job of it so far.

We are still having arguments that we were having 20 years ago, we are not making a lot of progress."

When it comes to race... pugh says it is important everyone takes a moment to see things from the other person's perspective... "i quite honestly realize through talking to some of my dear friends.

That i don't always see things the way another person sees it.

Especially a person of another race.

You know i don't have the same background a lot of times, i don't have the same history and i don't see things the way they say things.

But what i have to do is realize that i'm not seeing things the way they are seeing things and be willing to try and understand how they see things."

And with tensions taking place in america..

Pugh shares a message for those looking to join law enforcement..

"i would say to people looking to get into this business, look into getting into this business to make the changes that you think are what needs to be made.

Don't look at the problems we have now look at what you can do with it if you get here."

Sheriff pugh also says anyone in winston county who may have questions or concerns..

His door is always open to sit and down talk..

Take developing story stinger if the state flag of mississippi changes this year, it will be because right now in jackson, a group of senators is asking to suspend the rules.

The deadlines passed to consider new bills.

But if senators vote to suspend those rules, then senate bill 2445 can work its way through the legislature..

This bill would change the design of the state flag.

Two thirds of the members of both the house and the senate have to agree to suspend the rules.

If that happens, then the resolution goes to committee.

If those members agree, the resolution would then be brought to the senate floor where a two thirds vote in each chamber would be needed.

The actual flag bill would then go to committee and could move onto the floor of the senate for a vote.

If it passes, it goes to the house and then onto the governor who could sign it into law or veto it.

Centred up a booneville man will spend the rest of his life for prison kidnapping and killing his wife.

25-year-old mike brian rutledge pled guilty this week to the 20-17 capital murder of his wife laura ann rutledge.

Rutledge admitted to tying up her hands, then beat and stabbed her.

He later hid her body in the woods near north college street in booneville.

Detectives also found a 10-inch knife which rutledge admitted was the murder weapon.

A judge sentenced rutledge to life without the possibility of parole or release.

Wipe to gfx a kosciusko woman is killed in a columbus accident.

The one-vehicle crash happened on military road, near black creek road, about 9 o'clock last night.

Investigators say the suv left the road and hit a tree.

Lowndes county coroner greg merchant says 31- year-old shonteka hazley was cut out of the vehicle and later died at baptist golden triangle.

The male driver was airlifted to another hospital.

Columbus police continue to investigate the accident.

Wipe to gfx a teen reported missing in monroe county has been found in lafayette county.

Sheriff kevin crook says 16- year-old holly whipple was located early this morning.

The report investigators got was that whipple was okay when she was found.

Child protective services is being notified.

First look stinger summary: a series of high pressure systems will keep our region mainly sunny and dry through the weekend and for most if not all of next week.

Thursday night: clear, quiet, and comfy.

Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Winds n 0-6 mph.

Friday: sunny and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Winds ne 10-20 mph.

School will be back in session in about two months.... but before the bell rings.... many school districts are busy adjusting their teaching methods and coming up with new plans to keep everyone safe... in light of covid-19..

Our quentin smith visits the lamar county school district to find out how they're preparing... he joins us live in the studio with to explain joey.... the school district is offering students two options... traditional classes.... or online classes... which ever method they feel fits them best.

As the new school year approaches... district leaders say this is the most difficult year they've ever had to prepare for... nat "i'm not sure exactly what our fall is going to look like, i know it's going to be challenging."

When students in lamar county, alabama return to class in august, they'll have the option to either return to campus.....or do virtual learning.

"when we come back in the fall we will be aggressive in what we need to do as far as teaching."

For students in the traditional setting.... superintendent vance herron says the class sizes will be about the same as in the past.

To help ensure safety, classrooms and busses will be cleaned daily and the district is also adding more hand sanitizing stations throughout the buildings.

"we are not going to require, but if students want to wear a mask, by all means they can do so."

But for those not comfortable returning to school, they don't have to thanks to a new virtual option.

However, each student must be responsible for having internet access and the devices needed for online learning.

"what will happen is the teacher will load assignments on that virtual site and then student will go in and work those assignments and then send it back to the teacher for them to grade their work."

Herron says they're sending out surveys to see which option students want.

"we will always encourage the traditional route because you got that in person instruction taking place."

To help with this transition..educat ors are also relying on the parents to teach their child safe and healthy habits.... "if your child is running a fever and you are coming back to traditional setting, don't send him to school.

Really work on teaching them proper adequate, and washing hands, and coughing into their elbows, and sneezing covered, and not to drink after anybody."

For those interested in doing classes online, parents are asked to call and notify the principal at their child's school.

Herron will meet with the state department of education later this month, where he's expected to receive more information on how to move forward with their plan... vo off top a head start is finding a way to help students, even while they're out of the classroom.

Mcintosh head start center in houston handed out masks and hand sanitizer to its students and their family this morning.

Parents did not have to get out of their cars to receive the goody bags.

Educators believe this is also a way to reach out to the kids while they are not able to see them everyday.

"during this time of covid-19 that we keep awareness at the forefront with our parents, to just reach them to make sure things are going well with them during this time...during covid- 19."

The head start is operated by "mississippi action for progress" wipe to vo free drive through testing for covid 19 brought more than a hundred people to the family resource center in tupelo.

Frc teamed up with access family health services to offer the tests..

Crowds started early and by two pm, over one hundred people had been tested.

Those who have covid-19 symptoms need to quarantine until they get their results.

"they do if they are posing symptoms they do need to quarantine, tests are normally back in one to seven days and our nurses will call and give them their results."

People were asked to pre register for the tests but that wasn't necessary to get the test.

Wipe to vo the coronavirus has officially put the breaks on the amory railroad festival this year.

The festival's committee voted today to cancel the event.

In march, organizers postponed it due to covid-19 concerns.

The annual three- day event honors the importance of railroad in amory.

The event normally brings in about 50-thousand people to the city.

Organizers hope to soon announce the date's for next year's festival.

Stinger if your stars and stripes have seen their last twilight's last gleaming, we have information on how you can give them a proper farewell..

Wx open summary: a series of high pressure systems will keep our region mainly sunny and dry through the weekend and for most if not all of next week.

Thursday night: clear, quiet, and comfy.

Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Winds n 0-6 mph.

Friday: sunny and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Winds ne 10-20 mph.

Friday night: clear and quiet.

Lows around 60.

Saturday: a few clouds but mainly sunny.

Highs in the upper 80s.

Saturday night: clear and quiet.

Lows near 60.

Sunday-thursday: abundant sunshine.

Highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Lows in the 60s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: a series of high pressure systems will keep our region mainly sunny and dry through the weekend and for most if not all of next week.

Thursday night: clear, quiet, and comfy.

Lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Winds n 0-6 mph.

Friday: sunny and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Winds ne 10-20 mph.

Friday night: clear and quiet.

Lows around 60.

Saturday: a few clouds but mainly sunny.

Highs in the upper 80s.

Saturday night: clear and quiet.

Lows near 60.

Sunday-thursday: abundant sunshine.

Highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Lows in the 60s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger the m-l-b called up a pair of bulldogs in the first round...more on the diamond dawg pair headed to the majors, next in sports night one of the m- l-b draft proved to be a good one for mississippi state the diamond dawgs saw two of their own come off the board in the first round...second baseman justin foscue and shortstop jordan westburg foscue picked up by the texas rangers as the 14th overall and westburg selected by the boston orioles as the 30th overall westburg and foscue had their seasons cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak, however, both wishing to have played more for state, however, the majors are simply the next best move "i'd be lying if i said it wasn't a disappointment but at the same time, this is just the next step.

I know both me and foscue were super excited to hear our names called last night, and after exchanging words and i'm sure i'm going to get a call from him later today.

It's a shame we couldn't see that season play out.

See what would have happened, i'm sure it would have been something special but at the same time, this has been our dream since we were little kids.

It's been awesome to experience this and i can't wait for the next step."

"man, i miss it.

That's for sure.

I kind of treated this as a second off season you could say.

A lot of people are saying that.

I miss playing baseball.

I really hoped that we would have gone to omaha three straights years and made history so that's definitely dissapointing but i'm excited to start this next chapter of my baseball career."

Another draft pick up...state signee austin hendrick won't be making his way to dudy noble field in 2021 the outfielder out of high school went as the 12th overall pick to the cincinnati reds in round one on wednesday the latest in the draft for m-s-u...j- t- ginn selected as the 52nd overall to the new york mets...in 2019, ginn was drafted by the l-a- dodgers..

However, still available to go through the rest of the draft...rounds two and three going on this evening a couple more out of high school...infielder blaze jordan and pitcher jackson fristoe big news for division i baseball the ncaa division i committee for legislative relief is providing division i ball with relief for the 2020- 2021 school year now, division i teams won't have to worry about a 35-man roster cap..there's no longer a limitation the annual counter has increased from 27 to 32 and the 35 percent scholarship minimum will be eliminated nascar is getting ready to bring back fans however, nascar has also made the decision to begin race days without the confederate flag i talked with nascar driver tommy joe martins about the recent change...he says this is change has been a long time coming "the thing i realized is regardless of how you feel about it, when somebody notices that flag it generally gives them a certain feeling and it's not always a good one.

Regardless of what it means to you, it means something else to somebody else and first impressions matter here.

I think nascar realized--you know if we have a bunch of confederate flags flying around on the infield, to somebody that doesn't know the difference, what's their first instinct going to be when they see all of those?

Mayve then we already lost them.

They're just trying to make it a place where everyone feels comfortable."

If you're looking to get watch some baseball this weekend...the tupelo 49ers get back into the swing of things starting tonight, continuing throughout the weekend another tournament this weekend for the 49ers up at tupelo high school here's the schedule..the tournament kicks off tonight, thursday with a double header and runs through sunday evening highlights from tonights games between tupelo and pontotoc coming up tonight on wcbi sports at ten a tupelo resident is celebrating a wedding anniversary with a mobile message.

Every month cecelia palmer decorates her car, to highlight a holiday, or a special event.

This month marks cecelia and her husband, tupelo city councilman, buddy palmer's 57th wedding anniversary..

To mark the occasion, cecelia decorated her car with magnets of cupids and a heart with the inscription "just married 57 years."

She says she enjoys bringing smiles to people's faces..

"i really enjoy it, i have said before, i , in an odd way i consider it a ministry, if i ride down the street and somebody wave at me , thumbs up, i like your car, whatever, if i can bring a smile to somebody's face that's really my intention."

"sometimes that doesn't happen to me, as a tupelo city councilman, sometimes i go down the road and i get a thumbs down, or doing this, not really, i enjoy being a councilman."

The palmers say keys to a happy and long marriage include putting god first, having a sense of humor and laughing often.

Last look stinger last look