WCBI NEWS at 6 07-06-20

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Show open taking q live off the top a divided lowndes county board of supervisors agrees on a ábigá move.

Thank you for joining us..

With one voice, supervisors voted to move the confederate monument from in front of the courthouse.

You may recall....district 5 supervisor leroy brooks made a motion last month to have the statue removed... that motion failed in a 3-2 vote..... after that vote then board president harry sanders was recorded making racist remarks to a newspaper reporter.

Today sanders was one of the three supervisors to change his vote on the matter.....making the monument's move from the courthouse lawn a unanimous vote..

For more than 100 years this confederate monument has been standing tall outside the lowndes county courthouse... that's about to change.

The board of supervisors have unanimously agreed to relocate it to friendship cemetery.

"the winds of changes are blowing in mississippi."

" one small step for man makes it an even giant step for mankind, i'm happy it's gone.

"we look forward to the monument being in a more suitable place."

District 2 representative trip hairston was the first to address relocating the monument during monday's meeting....... a decision he's now in favor of.

However, that wasn't the case last month when the issue was first brought up.

" i voted as you all know, i voted against moving the monument.

Since that time i've heard from a lot of my constituents in district 2, a vast majority of them said they think it is appropriate that we move the monument to a more suitable location in friendship cemetery."

Monday's vote is just the first step in the process.

The county has to get clearance from the state department of archives and history to have the statue relocated.....then they city must deed the county a piece of property at friendship cemetery for the statue, and lastly the county has to get bids to have the monument moved.

Columbus city leaders have already agreed to help the county with the relocation... .

"it's the city's land, and thank you to whoever you are, the generous donor, for donating their land at friendship cemetery, but from the city's perspective we're going to split the bill with the county as well as help them get it moved down to friendship cemetery."

" i wouldn't be surprised if it takes as long as 60 to 90 days, hopefully not that long but you certainly want to give yourself time."

District 5 supervisor leroy brooks has been pleading to have the monument removed for weeks now.

While he's happy with the board's decision, he says the monument isn't the only thing that needs to go.

"the issue at hand is that harry sanders needs to resign for the good of this community."

During tomorrow's columbus city council meeting, the board will discuss deeding the county land and helping with relocation costs.

Once today's meeting ended, a crowd gathered outside the courthouse again calling for the resignation of harry sanders.

Sanders only spoke once during the meeting, that was to second a motion that was made by a fellow board member.

Sanders declined to give any comments after today's meeting.

Reporting live in lowndes county.

Quentin smith.

Wcbi news calls continue to rise over caledonia school's mascot name, the confederates.

The lowndes county school district board tabled the issue last month, saying it wants more information on the matter// however, concerned parents,school alumni, and citizens are taking action to help move things along.

Our stephanie poole joins us in the studio with more.

Anger and disgust.

Those are just a few emotions some are expressing over the school's mascot name.

éé now, they're working to have the controversial title removed.

éé " unify caledonia"..that's the name of one facebook group leading the charge to change caledonia's mascot.

Member, amie morgan crawford- chism says dozens of people have signed a petition in favor of removing the confederate name.

" i think it's going to help unify all students who attend there, not just certain students who can associate with that mascot.

I think it's a devise technique that was put into play and it hate that it's still in play now because i feel like a-lot of the students feel that it's insensitive to others and it's not really along a racial divide."

Chism wanted to enroll one of her sons into the school,but it's been put on halt due to the controversial title.

" we have looked at buying in the caledonian community but because of the mascot we chose not to move from our current location.

We didn't want to be in caledonian school district until a little bit more diversity was available."

Butt sots " it's just time.

It's time for it to change."

Debra george attended caledonia high school in the 70's.

She says 'even then', she knew of the hurtful message it sent to some of her classmates.

" as an alumni of this school, i want them to have an emblem that we can all be proud of.

I'm not ashamed of growing up here but if i were a person of color i would be.

I want all kids to feel like they belong."

Mariana davis experienced the same reality... " i went to school with the rebel mascot and being the only minority with my sister, we didn't feel comfortable going to that school.

A- lot of people are timid to go to that school and i do hope they make some changes."

All members say they're going to continue to fight, hoping to achieve an inclusive school symbol.

" all students who are there should all be represented as a whole."

I spoke with the lowndes county school district superintendent, sam allison today by phone, he says the board will continue to discuss a name and mascot change in july or august.

Take vo off top it's ágame oná for southern lowndes county residents// the new gym and playground are open in crawford.

Lowndes county leaders had a ribbon cutting ceremony today for the new facility.

Those who helped make the project a reality hope people from all over take advantage of the new digs// "hopefully the facility will benefit kids from here to noxubee county line, oktibbeha county line and of course lowndes county.

The areas are all condensed and close in distance so for those areas that lack a facility, this facility is a reward for all of them."

"we think the community is going to be happy with it.

We think they'll be really proud to have this facility here.

We know we're excited because the kids are going to have something else to do here, something to be proud of."

The project cost 375-thousand dollars.

350 of that was from a bond bill.

The county paid the extra 25 grand to add a new pavilion and playground.

Wipe to vo there's some good news for the starkville fire department and the city's homeowners..

The state ratings bureau has awarded the department a class three rating..

The bureau calculates rates by the fire department itself, the community water supply, and emergency communications// this new rating puts starkville fire in the top five percent of all rated departments statewide, and that could mean a drop in insurance rates for property owners// "you'll get a chance to see it on your insurance, we're not sure the rates, everbody's a little bit different on the insurance rate.

The biggest people that'll see the decreases is our businesses and restaurants.

We're just excited about this day."

The department was previously rated at a four// wipe to vo the mississippi department of environmental quality is taking another step to get more information about the oktibbeha county lake dam.

Mdeq sent a letter to the board of supervisors today.

The letter says the agency will file a freedom of information act request for documents, such as soil borings and field notes from assessments and investigations among other things.

Mdeq did receive the hydraulics and hydrology evaluation, as part of its request.

The agency also says it did its own inspection and did not notice any worsening issues.

Mdeq has found some funding sources to help with the costs of repairs.

First look stinger a stationary boundary stalled across the southeast means daily chances for rain and storms will continue for the next several days.

If you don't find yourself under a shower, temperatures will be hot and humid with some occasional peeks of sunshine.

Monday night: we'll the latest weather updates on facebook, twitter, and instagram.

Police are tracking down numerous leads, in the search for a suspect in a baldwyn murder case..

Allie martin has more on the crime and how police , and numerous agencies are working non stop to find the suspect.

It was early friday morning when police in baldwyn got a 9 1 1 call from a lady at adams auto sales on fourth street.

She said her friend was shot to death in front of her eyes, and since then a massive manhunt has been on for the suspect garry scotty mcdonald.

Nats "i had my hand under her neck right there, i said baby, she gurgled i dind't know she was hit."

Chris adams describes the moment friday morning, when he found 26 year old coner kyle noel in the hallway of an apartment he owns.

Adams says he heard kyle arguing with her ex boyfriend, 48 year old garry scotty mcdonald.

Adams heard a gunshot, and found kyle who had been fatally wounded.

A bullet hole still visible in the wall.

An eyewitness to the murder called police.

"sot" investigator shane young says information gathered from the eyewitness, and cell phones left at the scene by the victim and suspect pointed to a domestic quarrel.

"we believe coner kyle had intended to separate..... police found footage from a security camera at a business across the street showing mcdonald leaving the scene, walking to the parking lot, going back inside the building, then coming back out with something in his hand, police believe it is the 40 caliber handgun police allege he used to shoot ms kyle.

The security camera footage shows mcdonald getting into a 2004 gold or sandstone colored chevy cavalier and heading north on fourth street.

Investigator young says officers have been working around the clock following up on leads.

Sot the u s marshal's service, lee county and prentiss county sheriff's departments, baldwyn police, mhp and other agencies are looking for mcdonald, who has multiple felony convictions on his record.

Investigator young says anyone helping the fugitive will also face jail time.

Sot in baldwyn, allie martin, wcbi news mcdonald is believed to be driving a gold 2004 chevy cavalier with itawamba county license plate i-t-b 6-3--1-6 call 9-1-1 if you know where he is tonight.

More news after mcdonald is believed to be driving a gold 2004 chevy cavalier with itawamba county license plate i-t-b 6-3--1-6 call 9-1-1 if you know where he is tonight.

More news after the break...stay with us.

Stinger you will need a mask or face covering if you have to do business in oktibbeha county.

The board of supervisors approved an order this morning that requires face coverings inside all county buildings and businesses outside the starkville city limits.

The measure passed unanimously and will go into effect tuesday morning.

It will remain in effect until further notice.

Starkville aldermen are expected to discuss and vote on a mask mandate at their meeting tuesday night.

It would apply to businesses áinsideá the city limits.

Several lawmakers announce over the weekend they tested positive for covid-19, including house speaker phillip gunn.

Gunn took to facebook to make the announcement, saying he came into contact with someone who tested positive.

He then went to get tested himself.

"now, i feel very fortunate that i don't have very many symptoms and i feel fine and i feel like i cam one of the fortunate ones.

But i wanted to come before and let you know that i am in close communications with dr. dobbs.

I am following his directions."

Covid-19 testing is being done at the state capitol today.

No local lawmakers have said if they've tested positive for the virus.

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 stinger calhoun city has their eyes on the prize this year...the high school football tour checks in with the wildcats, next in sports spx open the high school football tour continues it's stops in 2a with calhoun city former assistant m.d.

Jennings is the new man in charge of the wildcats following former head coach chad white's departure jennings looks to add some more gold to city's trophy case calhoun city is stop number 15 on the high school football tour áááintro bb it might be the first year as head coach for m.d.

Jennings, however, that doesn't mean the expectation changes for calhoun city.

"here in calhoun city one of our main goals is alwaysalways to win the region and then try to make a deep run in the playoffs," jennings said.

"the main goal for everyone every year is to win a state championship so try to bring another one home."

The last time the wildcats saw a state championship was back in 2016.

Just last season, calhoun city wasn't too far off finishing with a 9-4 overall record and securing a spot in the third round of the playoffs.

Jennings looks to build off of former head coach chad white's success by stressing the importance of hard work to his players.

"one thing i tell the kids is don't take hard work for granted.

If you're willing to work hard and put a little bit extra into it then the hard work will pay off in the end.

I always tell people the little things make a big difference," jennings said.

Luckily for jennings, this season's roster doesn't need much of a push to put in the necessary work.

"this group is a dedicated group of young guys.

They're willing to do anything the coaches ask of them.

If they continue to stay on that path right there it should be a pretty special season for them," jennings said.

'every day we come out here and work on plays and the line so we're getting it down pack," senior ol/dl jace armstrong said.

"you just got to dedicate yourself and dedicate everybody else," senior quarterback jackson lee said.

"to inspire you have to set an example by being here every day and work and work and grind."

The wildcats current focus is putting in most of that hard work up- front.

"i'm very excited about the o-line and the d-line.

If you can win the battles in the trenches, you know, everything else will take care of itself."

"we just have to learn what to do first.

Then we have to put in the work ethic and learn how to do it.

If they expect the run we can just switch it up," armstrong said.

"we have most of the seniors on the line, d-end and offense," lee said.

Calhoun city will begin the road to the state championship against ashland on august 21st.

"being able to bring that championship home it means a lot.

The thing about calhoun city is we've been fortunate over the years to be able to win state championships.

That's something we take pride in around here," jennings said.

Reporting in calhoun city on the high school football tour, courtney robb wcbi sports.

áááoutro bbááá áááoutro bbááá for any stops that you may have missed along the way you can always check out our website, wcbi.com