WCBI NEWS AT 6 11/19/2020

WCBI NEWS AT 6 11/19/2020

Good evening everyone... a man is in critical condition tonight at a jackson hospital after being shot in lowndes county.

Wcbi's stephen pimpo was at the scene earlier today and joins us from the lowndes county sheriff's office... where the search for gunman continues.

Thanks joey... sheriff eddie hawkins told me every available member of the department responded to the scene of this afternoon's shooting... -i got there at around 12:45 to find a helicopter in the front yard and law enforcement surrounding the home.

Pkg this was the scene thursday afternoon as a gunshot victim was flown to university of mississippi medical center in critical condition after a shooting at this columbus home.

"we had a call come in to 911 about a subject being shot and our deputies responded to the scene and found one victim that had been shot and he has been air-lifted to jackson."

When wcbi arrived...the front of the house had police tape around it and deputies and members of the lowndes county narcotics division were speaking with several different people in the front yard.

"we just had everyone that was available respond to the scene when we got the call so they showed up to help secure the scene and help work the crime scene here."

Lowndes county sheriff eddie hawkins says no one else was hurt but did say that there were multiple people inside the two- story house when deputies responded to the scene.

"there were other people here at the residence at the time and we're trying to figure out who all was here and what their involvement was."

"we're trying to determine if they were witnesses to the crime itself or they arrived after the shooting."

Tag investigators did search the backyard of the home where the shooting happened and also neighboring yards.

Deputies have not released any information about a possible suspect in this on-going investigation.

Live in columbus...stephen pimpo...wcbi news.

Top some noxubee county voters go back to the polls next week.

Ira lee mccloud and la-velle patterson-rice are facing each other in a runoff election.

They are trying to fill the district three supervisor seat in noxubee county.

The post was held by sherman patterson, who died in may after a battle with covid- 19.

The runoff will be november 24th.

Polls open at 7 am and close at 7 pm.

An oxford daycare cannot provide care to infants after the death of an eight-week-old.

The mississippi state department of health served an emergency suspension of license to mother goose of oxford, inc.

The order says quote... "the facility has been determined to constitute a substantial hazard to the health and safety of infants "... end quote.

Oxford police are investigating the infant's death and will issue a report to the state department of health.

The daycare was licensed in 1999 and has not had a monetary penalty in that time period.

It also passed its most recent inspection.

First look stinger first look summary: sunny, dry, and mild air will stick around going into the weekend.

A weak front may spark some rain/showers sunday afternoon and evening.

A more significant front is expected tuesday night into wednesday.

Heavier rain and some storms are much more likely with that system.

We'll keep watching for the threat of a few strong/severe storms too.

Thursday night: clear and quiet.

Lows in the low 40s.

Winds se 2-5 mph.

Friday: sunny to mostly sunny.

Mild highs ranging from the upper 60s to low 70s.

Winds s 5-10 mph.

Toyota has named a new president at its blue springs plant.

David fernandes will become president of toyota motor manufacturing, mississippi in january.

He currently serves as senior vp at the toyota plant in south africa.

In blue springs, fernandes will be responsible for all manufacturing and administration functions.

He began began his career with toyota in 1998 at the company's west virginia plant.

Fernandes will take over at the mississippi plant on january 4th.

Thomas hudson is named president of jackson state university.

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning made the decision today.

Hudson was acting president at jsu.

The board says hudson's leadership during the covid-19 pandemic and improving the university's financial position are two big accomplishments.

He has been at jsu since 2012.

Intro an area community college is offering a 'back to normal" or traditional schedule of in person classes for next spring.

Wcbi's allie martin has more from northeast mississippi community college.

Nemcc has offered a variety of learning formats this semester, including face to face, online , hybrid and zoom, but after hearing from students the decision has been made to offer more, in person classroom instruction.

"over eighty percent of our students indicated they really needed a face to face class situation."

Nemcc students callie stanley and arleigh johnson agree.

Both have been taking online classes and say there are some challenges.

"each student learns different and it's hard for students who have trouble with online classes."

"college algebra, i had that this semester and it was kind of difficult, was my first time ever having a math class online" nemcc president doctor ricky ford says strict safety protocols will be in place, as the college offers more in person classes next semester.

Social distancing guidelines will be in place inside classrooms, masks will be required for students and instructors, rooms will be disinfected after each class.

Contact tracing will take place whenever there is a positive case.

Those extra safety measures require funds that aren't in the budget.

Doctor ford says the federal cares act will provide some relief.

"all of the masks, disinfectants that deal with covid prevention and spread of disease is money provided by cares act and government provided for us, it helped us out."

Doctor ford says in person classroom instruction works best for students and instructors.

"we cannot shut down our institutions of higher learning, we must learn to navigate through this entire process and get some type of normalcy into our everyday life and our students life."

Standup wrap doctor ford hopes nemcc will be an example to other schools and show that face to face classroom instruction is possible, with the proper safety protocols.

In booneville, allie martin, wcbi news virtual, hybrid and zoom options will be available for students who aren't quite ready for in person instruction at nemcc.

The number of people in mississippi hospitals continues to climb, as covid-19 cases soar.

State health officials are reporting one thousand 395 new cases today and 19 deaths.

Six of those deaths occurred in the wcbi viewing area.

948 people are hospitalized in the state with confirmed or suspected coronavirus symptoms. 207 of those patients are in i.c.u.

In our viewing area..

Lee county continues to have the highest number of new cases.

Today the county has 43.

Oktibbeha has 25, lafayette has 22, and winston has 19.

Lowndes, monroe, pontotoc, and union counties all have 17 new cases today.

Gfx off top it'll be a "silent night" for some counties in our area this holiday season as multiple christmas parades are canceled due to covid-19.

Folks in choctaw county announcing they will be canceling their christmas parade and opting for a silent online auction instead.

The choctaw county chamber of commerce says the cancellation is an effort to promote covid-19 precautions.

The silent auction will from december 3rd until midnight on december 6th on the event's facebook page.

All proceeds will go to the nursing home auxillary.

Folks in winston county also choosing to be "home for the holidays"-- literally that's their theme this year.

The louisville/ winston county chamber of commerce also canceling their christmas parade siting covid-19 concerns as well.

The event was planned for december 7th.

Off top thanksgiving is just 7 days away.

Families are deciding whether to prepare their own spreads or opting to order meals at a local restaurant.

Turkey, casserole, and stuffing are a few must have's on the thanksgiving menu.

Local caterers say due to coronavirus, there's a steady flow of calls already coming in.

With a high demand this year, businesses are preparing curbside pick-up and filling orders quickly.

Off top " we've had a ton of orders come in really at the last moment kind of.

We've really been earlier on but now they're coming in right now.

I think for the past two days people have really been undecided about what they'll do for thanksgiving."

" i'm thankful to still be open, there are a-lot of businesses that are closed down and i'm lucky i'm still here."

Both business will continue to fill orders up until thanksgiving day.

Stinger coming up next see how some families are turning towards socially distant gatherings for the holidays.

Stay with us.

Thanksgiving will look a lot different this year at the dinner table because of covid19.

And with cases continuing to increase here in the state, some families are relying on technology to see their loved ones this holiday.

Wcbi's bobby martinez talked with one family who will spend this thanksgiving together - from a distance..

Covid19.... "we see how real it is.."

Bringing families much closer..

Sot - everlyn johnson - starkville "we've learned to pay more attention and treasure simple things.... we've had a lot more time for ourselves... we appreciate each other because we know a lot of families have had big losses in the middle of this.."

And with thanksgiving just around the corner and cases of covid 19 on the rise... families are faced with a tough decision about gathering this thanksgiving..

Sot - sanford johnson - clarksdale "we've had family members who gotten the coronavirus and had to deal with it.

Fortunately we haven't had a family member pass away, but we have had family members who got really sick, like spent a lot of time in the hospital.

Knowing how bad things are..

That was a consideration."

As for terrence johnson, who lives in milton massachusetts... sot - terrence johnson - milton, massachusetts "it's tough all around.

We've had that conversation with our kids earlier about how we weren't going to be able to make the trip.

And you know of course they are sad because all they talk about as soon as fall starts is when are we going to mississippi when are we going to get to see grandma and papa when are we going to get to see our cousins."

And keeping these gatherings to a minimum is encouraged by the mississippi department of health who took to social media thursday with the safest ways to celebrate the holiday..

But to grandpa wc johnson..

Not seeing his grandkids this thanksgiving is weighing heavy on him..

So reminiscing on the good ole times is helping him get through..

Sot - wc johnson - starkville "they would love to have papa put them up in the pantry out there in the front yard.

They like to climb in a tree.

The oldest little granddaughter will go way up high and the next grandson will come a little bit higher and the two smaller ones will stay down low but they ask me to lift them up."

Johnson says the family is hoping things get back to normal soon, and he hopes by next thanksgiving, the whole family gather in the same place.

Stinger weather open summary: sunny, dry, and mild air will stick around going into the weekend.

A weak front may spark some rain/showers sunday afternoon and evening.

A more significant front is expected tuesday night into wednesday.

Heavier rain and some storms are much more likely with that system.

We'll keep watching for the threat of a few strong/severe storms too.

Thursday night: clear and quiet.

Lows in the low 40s.

Winds se 2-5 mph.

Friday: sunny to mostly sunny.

Mild highs ranging from the upper 60s to low 70s.

Winds s 5-10 mph.

Friday night: mainly clear.

Lows in the 40s.

Conditions look great for high school football with evening temperatures mainly in the 50s.

Saturday: partly cloudy.

Mild highs in the low 70s.

Sunday: increasing clouds with a 20- 30% chance of afternoon and evening showers.

Highs in the low 70s.

Monday: sun & clouds.

Seasonable highs in the 60s.

Tuesday: partly cloudy.

Highs around 70.

Some rain and thunder is possible late in the day.

Wednesday: areas of rain and storms. the chance of rain is 60%.

Highs in the 60s.

Thanksgiving day: partly cloudy.

Highs in the 60s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: sunny, dry, and mild air will stick around going into the weekend.

A weak front may spark some rain/showers sunday afternoon and evening.

A more significant front is expected tuesday night into wednesday.

Heavier rain and some storms are much more likely with that system.

We'll keep watching for the threat of a few strong/severe storms too.

Thursday night: clear and quiet.

Lows in the low 40s.

Winds se 2-5 mph.

Friday: sunny to mostly sunny.

Mild highs ranging from the upper 60s to low 70s.

Winds s 5-10 mph.

Friday night: mainly clear.

Lows in the 40s.

Conditions look great for high school football with evening temperatures mainly in the 50s.

Saturday: partly cloudy.

Mild highs in the low 70s.

Sunday: increasing clouds with a 20- 30% chance of afternoon and evening showers.

Highs in the low 70s.

Monday: sun & clouds.

Seasonable highs stinger robert woodard's nba dreams came true last night... next in sports we'll hear from the newest sacramento king... spx open ááátake columbus native and former mississippi state bulldog robert woodard had a good night... he was selected by the sacramento kings with the 40th pick in the nba draft..

We caught up with him after he was picked and he's ready to contribute right away as that three-and-d guy ááátake pkgááá 00-05 reggie perry is another mississippi state hooper to hear his name on reggie perry is another mississippi state hooper to hear his name on draft night... perry was picked 57th overall by the star powered brooklyn nets..

He'll be joining kevin durant and kyrie irving perry put 18 points... and 10 rebounds per game for the bulldogs this season.... he also shot 32 percent from beyond the arc... impressive three point percentage for someone 6'10 and 250 lbs... congrats to reggie high school football playoffs are in full swing and this week's game of the week is a must-see matchup... amory at winona... a little north half final action for you the panthers have won six straight and are coming off a double digit comeback win against choctaw county last week... they took down the chargers 27- 26... on the other side... winona has won four games in a row... coming off a shootout 52-49 victory of senatobia..

Deriaun townsend led the way with 208 yards and two touchdowns... this one could very well come down to the wire 00-05 14-19 townsend says: i expect us to play how we know we can play i believe things will go in the right direction.

Jones says: our senior class has been together since our seventh or eight grade year i've always known we've had a lot of talent.

I've had a good receiving corps with me and we're a l;ot to stop.

It's paying off now so we need to continue to take our chances with me and we're a l;ot to stop.

It's paying off now so we need to continue to take our chances when we return...chief meteorologist keith gibson will have a last look at your forecast.

You are watching wcbi news at there were banners and box floats galore at a special thanksgiving parade in starkville today.

Preschoolers and teachers at empowerment station academy hosted the event for parents and the public.

Organizers at the school say the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted so much of the children's normal routine and they wanted them to have some fun while staying safe.

They also say making the floats and banners was a great way for the children and parents to bond at home through creativity.

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