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Friday, March 29, 2024

WCBI New at Six - 08/12/2020

Credit: WCBI
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WCBI New at Six - 08/12/2020
WCBI New at Six - 08/12/2020
WCBI New at Six - 08/12/2020

For some colleges in our area, classes start back as soon as monday.

And getting campus ready for students is a little more challenging this year.

Our cash matlock spoke with staff members at the mississippi university for women today... he joins us live in the studio with more on their efforts towards a safe return.

Deep cleaning an entire college campus overnight isn't easy, but its the task many universities will be faced with this school year.

It's takes hundreds of faculty members, thousands of pounds of sanitizer, and about a million dollars to pull it off.

A typical day for jason trufant starts at 5 a.m.

His official title is director of athletics for the the w.

Lately, he's known as the covid response coordinator-- a title he takes pride in.

"our first priority is your health and safety.

That hasn't changed from what it used to be prior to covid, that's always been the focus."

One of trufant's many duties include ordering cleaning supplies for each building on campus.

"supplies are ordered daily.

So, we'll wake up one day and we'll get to campus and we'll say well we're going to need more of this.

For example, on monday we added 150 spray bottles and 50 gallons of additional cleaner."

And it's not just your regular ole cleaner..

The w uses special electromagnetic cleaning solution.

That's a fancy way of saying the mist covers a wider range, and doesn't have to be wiped down.

"you'll have chairs that are six feet apart.

Our instructors are ten feet from the student.

You'll see traffic flow patterns that have been installed over the last three weeks, hand sanitizer stations that have been installed, pilons of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, all the things that the campus is getting prepared for, for classes to start on monday."

And trufant doesn't do all this alone.

" we have a incident response team, we have a covid response team.

We have our entire abm cleaning staff involved in this."

Trufant says the pandemic may end..

But some of the w's new guidelines... are here to stay.

" we know that down the road, things are going to change as they change by the minute and we're prepared to deal with those changes and adjust."

Roll vo in monitor trufant says there's no way to put on a number on just how much the school will spend on covid-19 response, but so far, they've received about a million dollars from the state.

Mississippi's covid- 19 numbers are back above 1- thousand today.// the mississippi state department of health reports 1-thousand-and-81 new coronavirus cases and 45 deaths// 17 deaths reported are from death certificates from july 26th to august 6th// theres not new long term care facility outbreaks reported today...that number still staying at 179// so far, 69- thousand-374 mississippians have tested positive for the virus// learning looks different this year.

Face to face.

Hybrid.

Online.

Most schools have choices.

But sports must be played face to face.

That's why athletic directors are hoping for the best on the field - and planning for all possibilities.

Wcbi's bobby martinez joins us live in the studio with more.

Teams are practicing.

Fields are being prepped.

It is almost time for football.

And athletic directors are working toward the best outcome possible - even if means a shorter season.

"things are changing... we learn more and more about the virus each day.."

Starkville misissippi.... "we understand how big of a role sports plays here."

A city that loves high school sports..

But this year, ticket sales are up in the air, and booster clubs may watch from the sidelines as coaches and players navigate a season of health hurdles.

Greg owen, who took over as the yellow jackets athletic director in june..

Says they are preparing for fall sports to take place... sot -greg owen - athletic director - starkville hs "each day you know we started in june and each day we were preparing.

So we just take it day by day.

Right now we have a plan to ensure safety for our kids as they work out all of our student athletes.

So we're focusing on winning each moment each day."

That means focusing on the present.

And the student.

Even if sports shuts down.

Sot -greg owen - athletic director - starkville hs ""the first thing a lot of people think about is the monetary deal.

But that is not the most important thing.

The most important thing for us is to be able to provide an avenue for our student athletes to display their talents but most importantly to do it in a safe way."

Owen remains positive because he knows how much sports means not only to the student athletes..but also the community..

Sot -greg owen - athletic director - starkville hs "sports has always been a unifier.

And you know there's no better time than a time now for us to come together as all, as everybody in our community and there's no better way than sports it's a great unifier."

Owen also credits the mississippi high school activities association for helping them create a safe plan for students athletes this year.

Off top the show will not go on for another popular fall festival in north mississippi// organizers of macon's dancing rabbit festival have decided to cancel the 2020 event.

Committee members came to the decision after consulting with city leaders, the noxubee county board of supervisors, and the county's emergency management director.

In a press release the committee said -quote- "the health risks of a pandemic far outweigh the enjoyment of a one day event."

Organizers plan to host the festival next year.

First look stinger first look summary: an upper level disturbance will keep elevated rain and storm chances going through the end of the work week.

Any storm may produce heavy rain, lightning, and gusty breezes.

Humidity sticks around through the weekend but drier air may return by the middle of next week along with some slightly below average temperatures.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a continuing chance of showers and storms. lows in the mid to low 70s.

Light wind.

Thursday-friday: highs in the mid to upper 80s along with a 50-60% chance of scattered showers and storms. lows in the 70s.

The family of a columbus man missing almost a month is pleading for information.

39-year-old james ryan taylor was last seen july 14th.

His mother says he left home after having dinner.

Police say he was driving a silver ford fiesta.

Taylor was wearing a white t- shirt and jeans.

He is around 175 pounds and has brown hair and blues eyes.

The car he was driving has the tag number: l-t-e 7723.

If you have any information that can help police find him, call crimestoppers.

A teenager wanted for serious crimes in pennsylvania is arrested in lowndes county.

U.s. marshals and lowndes county deputies arrested 17-year-old mason galbraith tuesday afternoon.

Galbraith was wanted in erie, pennsylvania for two counts of attempted murder and six counts of aggravated assault.

Law enforcement got a tip that galbraith might be in the area.

He was arrested after being spotted at a business in columbus.

Lee county investigators say a child caretaker they were searching for after a toddler tested positive for methamphetamine, has been arrested// 47-year-old paul leathers and 35- year-old cassie neely reportedly took care of the child// neely was arrested on the 4th but it took investigators time to find leathers// this investigation started after deputies got a tip that a 3-year-old had test positive for amphetamines and meth.

Investigators say all the children were taken from the plantersville home.

Investigators say both neely and leathers have a lengthy criminal past.

Developing stinger inspections on the old tombigbee pedestrian bridge in columbus are set to begin tomorrow// the walkway was damaged back in february of this year after a fully loaded barge carrying limestone struck two of the bridge's support structures.

The east support pier took on the most damage-- it was moved 7 inches from it's original placement.

In a press conference earlier today, city engineer kevin stafford says it will be months before the bridge is fixed.

"the first steps are to find out underwater what we see, what was caused, there, of course we'll do the above water inspection as well.

We'll come up with a scope of what all damage was done, how to repair it, put a cost to it, and then we can go back to all the parties that are involved right now and figure out the best way, plan of action for it to get funded, and of course get it repaired so we can open it back up."

Stafford says it will be anywhere from 30 to 60 days before a final report can be put together and a contractor selected.

The bridge was converted to pedestrian-only walkway in 2013.

Wcbi update stinger the newly created biden-harris ticket goes public for the first time.

Joe biden announced california senator kamala harris would be his vice presidential pick tuesday.

The two appeared together for the first time as a presidential ticket in wilmington, delaware this afternoon.

Senator harris becomes the first african-american woman to ever be on a presidential ballot.

During his remarks, biden called the up- coming election "life-changing."

The biden campaign raised more than 10-million dollars within a few hours of the announcement.

Stinger the first furniture market in the country is underway since covid19 hit.

We'll take you there on wcbi news.

Centered the economic shutdown earlier this year over covid 19 has had a big impact on the furniture industry.

The demand for product is strong because stores were closed and some factories were also shut down.

As wcbi's allie martin reports, that is likely to mean a busy few days for participants at the bi-annual tupelo furniture market.

.

The summer market may not officially start until thursday, but vendors are set up and buyers are placing orders, it's the first furniture market in the nation since covid 19 began.

"business is good, people are shopping and looking for product, with the stimulus money, business has been good since we opened up."

Jimmy dover owns "dover's mattress closeout center".

All three of his stores in alabama were shut down for five weeks.

But now he says it's been a challenge to keep inventory in his stores.

There are about 200 vendors registered for this show.

Tupelo furniture market ceo vm cleveland says exhibitors and buyers are ready for in- person markets to start back up.

"they're hungry for good, retail has been good, furniture business has been good, they're hungry, they will be writing business, it should be a good order writing market."

There are a few changes in the wake of covid 19, masks are required, hand sanitizing stations are available, and there are no big public events, such as the buyer's award ceremony.

Even with the new rules, vendors say they're glad to be back at the tupelo market.

"we're very excited to be able to interact with a lot of our clientele that we haven't seen in a really long time, so face to face interactions at a time like this are phenomenal."

Product ordered here at the 2020 summer market will be in stores around the country over the next few weeks and months, to help meet growing demand from the consumer.

In tupelo, allie martin, wcbi news the summer market runs through the weekend.

The las vegas market takes place at the end of this month.

The market in high point north carolina is set for october.

The summer market runs through the weekend.

The las vegas market takes place at the end of this month.

The market in high point north carolina is set for october.

Stinger 2-shot weather open summary: an upper level disturbance will keep elevated rain and storm chances going through the end of the work week.

Any storm may produce heavy rain, lightning, and gusty breezes.

Humidity sticks around through the weekend but drier air may return by the middle of next week along with some slightly below average temperatures.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a continuing chance of showers and storms. lows in the mid to low 70s.

Light wind.

Thursday-friday: highs in the mid to upper 80s along with a 50-60% chance of scattered showers and storms. lows in the 70s.

Weekend: partly cloudy with a 30- 40% chance of a few more showers and storms. highs climb back into the low 90s.

Next week: a cold front is expected to move through early in the work week and that will usher in warm and less humid air by tuesday or wednesday.

Lows may dip back into the 60s by wednesday morning.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: an upper level disturbance will keep elevated rain and storm chances going through the end of the work week.

Any storm may produce heavy rain, lightning, and gusty breezes.

Humidity sticks around through the weekend but drier air may return by the middle of next week along with some slightly below average temperatures.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy with a continuing chance of showers and storms. lows in the mid to low 70s.

Light wind.

Thursday-friday: highs in the mid to upper 80s along with a 50-60% chance of scattered showers and storms. lows in the 70s.

Stinger the high school football continues on in 4a...catch the preview with the new albany bulldogs, next in sports spx spx open the high school football tour continues in 4a our next stop checks in with a stacked new albany team the bulldogs our stop 52 on the high school football tour áááintro bbááá the new albany bulldogs have been on the rise since head coach cody stubbefield's arrival in 2018.

New albany had its first pair of back- to-back winning seasons in six years after finishing 8-4 in 2019.

As far as the bulldogs are concerned, that's only the beginning of how successful the team plans to be.

"in a program, you take steps," stubblefield said.

"previously, getting to the playoffs was a big deal.

Then we wanted to win a game and make it to the second round.

Now that evolution is gone it's the next step where they want to make a run for a state championship and be as successful as possible."

"our number one goal is to not lose a game, honestly," senior t/de adam conlee said.

"that's just my personal goal and i hope everyone else's on the team.

We're going to hope every single game we go in ready to play and hopefully make a run for the state championship."

"this is a team we haven't had in about ten years since 2011," senior ath mason simmons said.

"i feel like we can go as far as state championship, but we have to make it as best as we can."

With those high expectations comes the talent to match.

Although the bulldogs must replace former starting quarterback charlie lott, new albany returns a lot of junior and senior players.

Amongst them is running back cj hill, who in his sophomore season rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

The bulldogs also add former myrtle running back isaac "ai" nugent.

In 2019, nugent picked up over 1,900 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground.

Nugent plans to be even better this season.

"i'm going to go 110- percent," nugent said.

"i'm not going to lie, myrtle i was 95, but 120 here."

"we're going to have about seven or eight seniors on both sides of the ball.

With those seniors are a couple of juniors and sophomores sprinkled in that we believe can contribute, and play, and help us be successful.

I think this year, they're all passionate about working hard and trying to get to the next step.

I'm excited to see what they're going to be able to do and what comes out of it," stubblefield said.

"i feel like my teammates trust me.

When somebody trusts in you, you feel like you can go harder at it because when they're trusting you and you do something good everybody goes 110-percent," williams said.

While a run for the 4a state title might be on all the bulldog's minds, stubblefield says taking the season week-by-week and game-by-game will be most important.

"the goal for this season is to be as successful as possible.

We're going to take it game-by-game and every time we're going to roll in and make sure we've studied and prepared for that opponent.

We want to make sure we're 1-0 after that first game and won every week after that.

We're going to go into every game thinking we have an opportunity and a way to win it," stubblefield said.

All-in-all, new albany is just excited for the opportunity to get back out on the field.

"looking forward to playing.

A lot of anticipation with this class and the guys behind them.

The expectation is a little bit higher than it has been in the past.

We want to live up to that.

We want this guys to get to play, to get to live up to that expectation and battle it out all year.

Football's a grind.

We know they're going to show up day in and day out and get better," stubblefield said.

New albany gets the season started at pontotoc on september 4th.

With the bulldogs on the hsft, courtney robb wcbi sports.

áááoutro bbááá many businesses have been affected during this time, but some have actually seen an increase in business// you've probably seen colorful signs around town in people yards or outside businesses// sign businesses are busy making celebration signs for drive thru celebrations and hospitals and social distancing signs for restaurants// owners of a couple of north mississippi sign shops say they're thankful for their customers// "a lot of businesses have been slow with last look stinger last look last look last look last look last look

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