WCBI NEWS AT TEN - 07-10-20

Catch the news at ten on WCBI.

The numbers continue to rise..

Thank you for joining us tonight..

I'm tara wheeler// one thousand - 31 new covid-19 cases are being reported in mississippi.

The mississippi state department of health is also reporting 11 new fatalities.

The state's death toll is now one thousand two hundred 15.

981 people are in hospitals across the state with either a confirmed or suspected covid-19 case.

205 icu beds are filled with patients.

In our area... these are the counties with the highest number of new cases today... grenada county, which is under a state mandated mask order, saw 34.

Lafayette county had 27 and oktibbeha 21.

Mississippi is recording its highest one day total of hospitalizations// that follows along with the warnings we heard from the medical community yesterday that things are getting worse.

Courtney ann jackson has the latest on what's behind some of the numbers// hospital capacity numbers for mississippi aren't easy to find.

At least not with complete data.

The cdc has some numbers that show mississippi is utilizing about 60% of its capacity.

But a closer look reveals only about 40 percent of hospitals are reporting numbers to that.

But the mississippi hospital association notes that bed counts don't tell the whole story.

"it doesn't matter how many beds you have.

Beds are great if you're a hotel.

You want beds.

In a hospital you want to be able to staff those beds."

Even before covid- 19 there were warnings of both doctor and nurse shortages in the state.

"so, what the concern is is really being able to adequately staff those beds with the type of care providers that those patients will need.

And for a covid patient, what our hospitals across the country are seeing is those covid patients tend to stay in the hospital longer than your average lengtht of stay for other patients."

And what i also learned is that a number of the licensed hospital beds also doesn't give the full picture.

For example mississippi baptist medical center in jackson.

They have 638 licensed beds but only 491 active beds---that's the physical bed capacity with their current layout.

336 of those beds are occupied they have 76 critical care beds, 32 of which are neonatal icu beds 53 icu beds are occupied, including 14 of the neonatal icu beds ummc doctors were among those sounding the alarm thursday.

We checked in to learn they're numbers.

On the jackson campus, they have 400 adult beds.

They are all full.

Of 80 icu beds-all are full.

Ummc says it has also had to place some adults in the children's hospital because there was no room in the adult hospital.

Long term care facilities are monitored carefully for covid spread.

A nursing home in aberdeen has numerous documented and now some employees say they are also testing positive for the virus.

Several staff members at care center in aberdeen tell us they believe the virus is spreading because employees are still having to come into work despite showing symptoms and being exposed to the virus.

According to the state department of health, since july 2, 32 staff members at care center of aberdeen have tested positive for covid 19.

Eighteen residents have tested positive for it, and there have been two deaths due to the coronavirus at the facility.

Workers are now blaming the spread of the covid-19 cases on what they say is the center's poor leadership..

" since i've went back i've had at least three, and most were on my hall.

Mostly everybody was on the 100 side, they tested positive for that stuff, so yeah, i had it and some more aids had it, so we had to have passed it on to them because some of those people don't even go out nowhere, so where are they going to get it from?"

I don't think they are thinking about our lives at all.

We've had a lot of employees that have tested positive, shown symptoms, and been in the hospital, and had a bad time pulling it through.

We got residence dying, it's bad, it's real bad."

We reached out to care center of aberdeen.

They tell us they are following all cdc guidelines and that they have measures in place to keep everyone safe.

They declined to give an on-camera comment daycares are open and trying to keep students safe under cdc guidelines.

However, trying to keep germs 'out' doesn't always mean they can't get 'in'.

Our stephanie poole has more on what one center is doing to keep kids safe// over 100 kids are enrolled in columbus christian school.

After briefly shutting down due to the pandemic, the school re- opened checking kid's temperatures and making employees wear masks.

" it's what we do to make sure everyone can be as safe as possible and still live your life."

Director sylvia collins says everything was going fine, until a student contracted the virus.

" on july 4th, we had the first case.

We followed the state protocol which simply is you call the health department or contact person and then from there we contacted immediately every parent in the room."

Mandatory quarantine quickly followed.

"we closed the room for 14 days."

Collins says to stop all possible traces of the virus , every child from that classroom along with their siblings were sent home.

" the health department received word that the health department was not to come also and we did not any of the siblings to come into the building.

And of course any teacher that has had contact with that classroom."

Nearly 17 kids were tested...all results coming back negative.

To 'keep' students and teachers at low-risk, weekly deep cleanings are a must.

" while they were here we had the whole building done, and as of right now we have not had any more cases.

None of our teachers tested positive."

Collins says the school is complying within regulations of the cdc with covid screening, parents are dropping off their kids at the front door, and visitors must wear a mask, along with other safety measures.

"i'm reminding everybody whether you're in health care, or school, or a business that transparency is the only way to do the contact tracing and the only way to get it eradicated is to be open and honest."

Collins says all covid prevention guidelines will remain in place until further notice.

If you think it might help to have a drink to cope with all the stress of the world lately, apparently you aren't alone.

The increased demand for alcohol in mississippi over the past 4 months prompted the alcohol beverage control board to put the brakes on their ordering system.

But in a letter to retailers and restaurant owners today, abc says their order system is back online.

Order limits are still in place.

And deliveries may take up to a week or more until the abc works out a way to eliminate the backlog.

The abc is the one clearinghouse in mississippi for liquor.

Businesses must place their orders through abc and then wait for delivery, instead of buying direct from suppliers.

First look stinger summary: our weekend will be warm and humid but some storms are possible.

A complex could move in from the northwest by early saturday afternoon and a few more storms may develop saturday night and sunday.

Some storms could pack some gusty winds and heavy rain.

Rain chances lower next week as temperatures warm into the mid 90s.

Heat indices will be over 100?

Just about every day going forward on highs in the low to mid 90s with heat indices in the 100s.

Just days after been sworn into office, newly elected leaders in aberdeen are already making big decisions... board members voted to removed its city clerk and board attorney... jackie benson has served as the city clerk for nearly three decades.... robert faulks has served as the board's attorney for the past four years.

Tamanda griffin will now serve as the city clerk... and walter zinn will take over as the board attorney.

City leaders also voted to give mayor maurice howard his full salary back.

You may remember ... previous board members cut howard's salary down to roughly 19 thousand dollars.

Howard is now being paid 51 thousand dollars.

The columbus police department is looking for more officers to serve and protect.

Now, they are going online to find them.

Cpd is hosting a career day tomorrow.

Applicants can go to the police department in person or join in virtually.

In person, tours will be given of the department and will include a trip to the firing range.

The department wanted to add a virtual component to the job fair to reach as many prospects as possible// take new at 10 stinger three people are injured in a two- car crash in eastern lowndes county.

The accident happened on highway 50, about 2:30 this afternoon.

State troopers say a car driven by 76-year-old ida cash was attempting to make a left turn and collided with a car driven by 31-year- old felicia cork.

Cork and a passenger were taken to a columbus hospital.

Cash was airlifted to a tupelo hospital.

The highway was shutdown while crews worked to clear the scene.

Mhp continues to investigate the accident.

Stinger summary: our weekend will be warm and humid but some storms are possible.

A complex could move in from the northwest by early saturday afternoon and a few more storms may develop saturday night and sunday.

Some storms could pack some gusty winds and heavy rain.

Rain chances lower next week as temperatures warm into the mid 90s.

Heat indices will be over 100?

Just about every day going forward and at times they may be over 105?.

Friday night: mostly clear, quiet, and muggy.

Lows in the low 70s with calm wind.

Saturday: sunny to start with the chance of showers and storms from late morning into the afternoon.

A few could be on the gusty side, especially if a storm complex can hold together and move into our region from the northwest.

Plan on highs in the low to mid 90s with heat indices in the 100s.

Saturday night: partly cloudy with the chance of a few storms. lows in the 70s.

Sunday: variably cloudy with a 40- 50% chance of scattered storms. highs in the low 90s.

A few locally gusty storms are possible again.

Next week: temperatures warm into the mid 90s by midweek.

Heat indices will be well into the 100s at times.

A few spotty storms are possible, especially by the middle to end of the work week.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger summary: our weekend will be warm and humid but some storms instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger things are on the upswing in a local downtown..

We take a look when we come back..

Amory's downtown district is seeing a lot of activity as business owners expand and renovate properties.

Wcbi's allie martin has more on the activity and what it can mean for the area.

Downtown amory is experiencing a commercial revitalization , all business owners involved are from the area, and they want to see great things happen for the town.

Erin reeves and her husband matt opened "the coffee pot" in downtown amory in 2017.

One year ago, the husband and wife team opened "amped nutrition" across the street.

Nats both business have flourished and when a bigger space came available in the downtown area, the decision was made to put the coffee pot and amped nutrition under one roof.

For erin and her husband, seeing the upswing in commercial development in the downtown district is encouraging.

"we have seen so ....... that is what is happening at "the gemstone."

The restaurant and bar had its official grand opening this week and serves a changing menu of speciality items, along with live music.

Co owner chad houston says response has been overwhelming.

Houston says it's all about having something different, that can attract more people to the area.

"sot a a few blocks away, orein holley is renovating the historic park hotel.

It will feature apartments, office space and two restaurants , also, first american national bank is expanding its space on the ground floor.

Holley says business owners are caught up in the momentum and are eager to see each other succeed.

"we're all working together, all friends, ... wrap the coffee pot and amped nutrition should be in their new space...... in amory... allie martin wcbi news the park hotel could have its main restaurant open later this year.

The apartments should be ready some time next year.

Stinger the high school football continues... stop number nineteen checks in with east union, next in sports spx open take spx full stop number nineteen on the high school football tour checks in with east union the urchins are under new leadership with first year head coach todd lott, looking to sustain success from the 2019 season áááintro bb the east union urchins look to continue their dominance after winning the region last season, but will have to do so with a new head coach following kevin walton's departure.

Now enter todd lott.

Lott was the athletic director at new albany the last 2 years and an assistant football coach prior to taking this job.

Despite the turnover, lott feels the team is buying into what they're selling.

"i can't imagine how hard this is going to be for senior football season," head coach todd lott said.

"your coach leaves and a new head coach comes in, so we've built a great relationship, and i'm really proud of them and what they've put in."

One thing that's been evident since lott's arrival is the team's work ethic.

"really intelligent group of kids," lott said.

"we don't have to spend a lot of time teaching a lot of different stuff.

Normally, the first time they get it.

I couldn't be more pleased with them.

Blessed to be here with a great group of kids."

Lott's coaching style has played a major role in the transition.

"he's a teacher," senior athlete micah fulgham said.

"he's good at teaching.

Saying things so you can grasp the concept.

He's patient."

Coming off a 9-3 season, lott and his staff believe a solid foundation is set and are working to build on that!

"i feel like our job now is to take it to that next step and that next step is to keep moving the program up and moving the bar up so to speak," lott said.

"we're just going to try to go out each week and compete as hard as we can compete.

We're going to make sure we're preparing each week for that friday night and see where it takes us at the end of the season."

The urchins have a solid core in place to do so including senior running back colton plunk who rushed for over 1,500 yards last season and 20 touchdowns.

"we have good receivers and a really good running back stepping up and quarterback so i feel we have the talent to get some wins," senior running back colton plunk said.

"we got a great group of skill guys that we'll get the ball in their hands in space," lott said.

"we have a 225 pound running back that we'll make sure will touch the ball as well.

Offensively, it is what it is.

We're gonna do what we do to make sure we'll be successful."

Combine that skill and hard work and the urchins can have a successful season.

"to this point, they've had all those intangible things," lott said.

"they love each other.

They work hard everyday.

You can't ask for more than that as a coach."

East union's first game is a road match up against new albany august 21st.

Reporting on the hsft chris bolton wcbi sports áááout bbááá over in starkville, former mississippi state bulldog jeffery simmons hosting his first football camp this afternoon originally the camp was supposed to be in noxubee county, however was moved due to covid-19 the camp was free and kids of all ages were invited to come out and learn the game from the mississippi star "that's my thing.

I want to give back so the kids can see that they have some type of i wouldn't say hero, but someone to look up to in the community.

A lot of people say he's a hero in our community.

That gives me chills to see there was a technical glitch with tonight's lottery drawing feed, but never fear we have your winning mega- millions numbers tonight.

Check your tickets - the numbers are 10 - 15 - 20 - 49 - and 53 your megaball number is 22 and the megaplier is 5 times..

And here's hoping your luck is as hot as this weekend's weather... right trevor?

Good luck last look stinger thanks for watching wcbi news at 10 we hope you have a great weekend...