WCBI New at Six - 08/03/2020

WCBI New at Six - 08/03/2020

"i'm willing to put up five thousand dollars for any information that would bring my son home."

Have you seen this man?

Missing in monroe county just ahead.

Wcbi news at 6 starts now.

Show open one of mississippi's top health administrators calls on the governor to postpone school.

Dr. louann woodward is the vice chancellor of the university of mississippi medical center.

She is urging governor tate reeves to issue a statewide mask mandate - and push the school start back.

It's been a challenge for educators - finding a the right balance and working to keep teachers and students safe.

For the starkville/oktibbe ha school district, this means increasing virtual learning options.

And while this way of teaching might bring some challenges, the district is working with teachers to help them execute their game plan.

Our wcbi's bobby martinez has more on this story... it'll be a school year like no other..

Virtual learning becoming a major focus for school districts across the state.

And here in starkville, the school district has rolled out its virtual plans for the upcoming school year.

"it's hard to describe what it will look like first..

We definitely want our parents to be our partners.."

Dr. leann long, director of instructional technology and distance learning for the starville/oktibbeh a school district.

Says a lot of planning went into making sure teachers are equipped with resources for virtual teaching... "our intention is to provide them support not only at the beginning but weekly throughout school.

Every week they will learn something new or add on to what they've learned so we'll scaffold their learning just as a they scaffold learning for our students in the classroom."

The school district's plans changed after a higher than expected number of parents requested virtual learning.

Long says teachers will be providing several types of teaching to students..

" there will be a combination of synchronous learning which will be live learning or learning with the teacher on the computer at a certain time.

And then there will also be some asynchronous learning where students will complete assignments or do activities like reading or whatever that may be at another time."

Educators know some students will adapt to virtual learning faster than others..

Just as in our classroom that we differentiate learning, we would do the same in virtual learning.

That each student will complete material as fast or as slow as they need to depending on their learning or their needs.

And we are definitely going to help our teachers be able to maintain that environment in a virtual classroom just as they did in their traditional classroom starkville schools plan to begin class starkville schools plan to begin class monday, august 24th.

The number of covid-19 related hospitalizations has decreased.

Here are the latest numbers from the mississippi state department of health.

Health officials report 572 new cases today, along with 8 deaths.

There are one thousand 172 people in the hospital.

That number was almost 13 hundred last week.

302 patients remain in icu.

Msdh says 42 thousand 391 people are presumed recovered from the virus.

This means there are about 17 thousand presumed active cases in the state.

Although those numbers are much, much better - this is a sobering statistic.

Out of all of the states, mississippi has the highest rate of positive covid-19 tests in the country.

In the past two weeks, data confirms the number of people in mississippi testing positive is almost at 22 percent.

In his most recent executive order, governor tate reeves issued a mask mandate to 8 additional counties; one of them being lowndes county.

The mask order begins today.

Our stephanie poole explains how local law enforcement and stores will monitor it.

She joins us live with more.

Joey, there's nearly 70- thousand people here in lowndes county.éé county leaders say it's going to take everyone to help flatten the curve of covid cases.éé and businesses must make sure they're in compliance with mississippi state department of health.

éé " whenever customers come in, i make sure to check to see if they got a mask on."

John kemp is the assistant manager for sunflower food store in columbus.

As dozens of customers enter to shop, he makes sure no one goes unmasked.

" if they don't i ask them to go put a mask on or we have some for sale up front.

Just make sure they everyone is complying by state and federal rules and stuff."

Kemp says they must sanitize all areas every two hours and keep six feet distance between customers.

" most people just don't feel really comfortable right now with people getting really close and coming into a store without a mask on.

If they don't want to put on one, i'll just ask them to leave the store and if they decide threat they don't want to leave the store then i'll just pull my phone out and call somebody like the police to come and handle it."

However, lowndes county sheriff eddie hawkins says this will be a difficult task for his department.

" that puts a big strain on my put and my deputies to enforce this.

We have five deputies working on a shift at a time,answering calls back to back.

So we're going to answering these calls and doing what we can when we see a violation."

Hawkins says under the mandate statue 33-15-43, those who don't mask up will be fined.

"that penalty can be up to 500- hundred dollars in fines and up to 6 months in jail if you're convicted of these ordinances."

That's why he's hoping citizens will abide by the rules to help protect those in the community.

" it's going to left up to the sheriff's department to go out and actively enforce these that are set in place by the governor.

We're asking everyone to use common sense.

Put on a mask, wear it when you're out in public and around other people to stop the spread of this virus and maybe we can get a handle on things."

The order limits social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.éé lowndes county will be under the mask mandate until further notice.éé for now, reporting live in columbus, stephanie poole,wcbi news.

éé here's an update to a story we continue to follow for you.

It seems like there are a lot of ideas for mississippi's new state flag.

There are more than two thousand entries.

The commission to redesign the mississippi state flag released the submissions today.

Each commissioner will choose 25 flags by friday.

Then members will rank their top ten choices.

The list will then be whittled to five flags on august 14th.

Once those banners are selected, the five flags will be placed on the mississippi department of archives and history website for public comment.

The final choice will be made on september second and then voters will give it an up or down vote in november.

We tell you how to view more of the submissions on our website... wcbi dot com gfx off top voters in lowndes county who normally use the trinity precinct will move to columbus christian center on mccrary road for this election cycle.

Lowndes county supervisors made that decision today.

Moving the precinct will give voters more distancing options because of the covid19 virus.

And poll workers can expect an increase in pay.

House bill 824 bumps funds for the workers to $50 for the time at the polls.

And supervisors also announced a special election on september 22nd to replace gary chism.

Chism represents house district 37 including lowndes, clay and a small portion of oktibbeha couties.

He served the district for 20 years.

David chism, vicky rose, and lynn wright have qualified to run.

First look stinger first look summary: the rest of the work week is looking to be fairly quiet, warm, and dry.

Some more relatively cool nights are on tap before humidity levels ramp back up by the weekend.

Monday night: isolated early evening rain/storms then partly cloudy and quiet.

Some low clouds could redevelop by sunrise.

Lows in the mid to upper 60s.

Winds nw 0-5 mph.

Tuesday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

While there is a 20% chance of a pop-up shower or storm most spots will remain dry.

Winds nw 5-10 mph.

Five thousand dollars.... that's the reward one monroe county family is offering for information on the whereabouts of their loved one.

Michael brown first went missing july 9th.... now family members are pleading for the public's help.

Our quentin smith speaks with family members and investigators.... and joins us live in the studio.

Quentin what's the latest on this case... joey..... the sheriff's department is still actively searching e area brown was last seen.... along with interviewing his friends trying to find out what happened.

Investigators say it's not like brown to be missing this long and not contact his family... the 51 one year old has been missing for 25 days.... his parents say they're not giving up until they find him.

Nat it's a prayer for peace and strength... on his bended knee.... william brown is praying for the return of is son michael brown.... "somebody knows where he's at, there's no doubt about it.

Somebody knows."

He was last seen on july 9th in the cason--- bigbee area .... which is between amory and nettleton.

As the days continue to pass ....this father is now offering a five thousand dollar reward for his son.

" if anyone can lead me to michael brown, i would be willing to pay but i'm immediately without any hesitation to see my son brought home whether he's alive or deceased" at this time..

The sheriff's department doesn't suspect foul play.... " the wrong thing may have been done, but there can be a right thing done to bring him home.

Step up, do the right thing, bring my son home to me.

If it was your son and i knew where he was at, no matter what it cost me, i would bring him home to you because i know the hurt, i know the feeling, bring him home to me.

I love him very much."

However... sheriff crook?

Says they are running into a few challenges.

Investigators are having a hard time tracking brown because he left home without his cellphone.

They're also having a hard time getting people to come forward with credible evidence in the case "the most challenging part is that nobody has come forward with good evidence of where he's at, then we would not be having this meeting today and the family wouldn't be having to put up this money, they wouldn't be having to go through what they are going through, if somebody would just out of the goodness of your heart speak up."

He was often seen volunteering at his family's food pantry in monroe county... now the family is pleading for someone to come forward with information.

" the wrong thing may have been done, but there can be a right thing done to bring him home.

Step up, do the right thing, bring my son home to me.

If it was your son and i knew where he was at, no matter what it cost me, i would golden triangle crimestoppers is also offering up to one thousand dollars for information that leads to brown's whereabouts.

If anyone knows where brown might be, you're asked to contact crimestoppers or the sheriff's department....and remember....you can report anonymously// stinger a new house build is underway.

This time, honoring a starkville native whose determination serves as an example to all the volunteers on this project.

That story ahead on wcbi news at 6.

Centered the newest maroon edition habitat for humanity house in starkville will be built in honor of an army veteran who survived a near-fatal motorcycle accident.

Matt savage was involved in the wreck in 2018 in alabama while on his way to starkville to visit family.

And after months of rehab, savage is walking again.

This morning msu and habitat for humanity broke ground on their 12th maroon edition home in savage's honor.

And he was there to celebrate with the family that will call it home.

"i feel honored and privileged to have this house dedicated or given into my name.

This family i know is very deserving of it."

"what he has been through to be out here and just to be up and just going.

So i'm very thankful for him."

Santata turnipseed says she also thankful for the community stepping in to help build her new home for her family.... ashley furniture is investing 22 million dollars and creating 130 new jobs in north mississippi.

The company is expanding its operations in verona and saltillo.

There will be a 13 million dollar building addition in verona and 30 new jobs.

In saltillo, the facility there will see a nine million dollar upgrade and 100 new jobs.

Ashley plans to fill the new jobs by spring 2021.

Stinger 2-shot weather open summary: the rest of the work week is looking to be fairly quiet, warm, and dry.

Some more relatively cool nights are on tap before humidity levels ramp back up by the weekend.

Monday night: isolated early evening rain/storms then partly cloudy and quiet.

Some low clouds could redevelop by sunrise.

Lows in the mid to upper 60s.

Winds nw 0-5 mph.

Tuesday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

While there is a 20% chance of a pop-up shower or storm most spots will remain dry.

Winds nw 5-10 mph.

Tuesday night: mainly clear and comfy.

Lows in the 60s.

Wednesday-friday: mostly sunny, warm, and dry.

Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s wednesday and thursday with mid 90s possible by friday.

Lows in the 60s.

Saturday & sunday: partly cloudy, warm, and humid.

Highs in the mid 90s with lows in the 70s.

Heat indices will be over 100.

A few isolated storms are possible sunday afternoon.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger the high school football tour summary: the rest of the work week is looking to be fairly quiet, warm, and dry.

Some more relatively cool nights are on tap before humidity levels ramp back up by the weekend.

Monday night: isolated early evening rain/storms then partly cloudy and quiet.

Some low clouds could redevelop by sunrise.

Lows in the mid to upper 60s.

Winds nw 0-5 mph.

Tuesday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

While there is a 20% chance of a pop-up shower or storm most spots will stinger the high school football tour continues with stop number 43, the eupora eagles.

More on the eagles after "we ain't like we were last year.

We're better this year.

Badder.

And we'll come out strong."

2019 was a year of ups and downs for the eupora eagles.

The team was able to win a post season game, but ultimately finished the season with a 4-8 record.

Heading into the 2020 season, eupora is taking those lessons learned last year into now.

Lesson number one being perseverance.

"when bad things happen, it's human nature.

You want to put your head down.

We just have to find a way this year to overcome those things."

"we struggled a lot.

Had a lot of people talk bad about us, but it's going to be different this year."

"not listening to outside talking.

We need to listen to ourselves and boost ourselves up instead of listening to other people."

A point of emphasis that the team has echoed is carrying the right attitude into the season.

"there's things there.

If you keep fighting when bad things happen, good things can happen to you.

That's what i told these kids that are back."

"mainly, just attitude.

Change your attitude.

Can't nobody beat us."

"we all just have a better positive attitude.

We're more uplifting of each other.

We work more as a family this year."

"a lot of young guys are just coming to workouts.

That means a lot to us seniors.

Seeing a lot of the younger guys be here and be up with their attitude."

With those younger players coming to workouts, head coach stephen edwards feels confident about what they add to the roster this season.

"we got more depth this year.

One kid doesn't workout.

Well we have another to put it.

Last year, i felt we were lacking in depth."

Added depth and an improved mentality will be key in the eagles quest to compete for the division crown.

A region that's high school football tour.

Chris last look last look last look