WCBI NEWS AT SIX - 12/3/2020

WCBI NEWS AT SIX - 12/3/2020

An exclusive look inside the lives of local healthcare workers fighting against the pandemic.

The story ahead only at wcbi.

Protect your packages.

Police have some advice to make sure your presents make it under a tree and instead on the hands of athief.

Show open good evening.

We'll get to those stories in a moment.

But first... macon police are investigating a shooting at an apartment complex wednesday night.

Investigator douglas triplett says no one was injured, but two cars were damaged during the shooting.

It happened at the mayfair apartments around 8:30.

Triplett says they are looking for someone connected to the shooting, but did not release a name.

If you have any information on the incident, call the macon police department at the number on your screen.

The man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in aberdeen saturday night is in police custody in minnesota.

Aberdeen police chief henry randle say 20-year-old amari johnson was picked up in minneapolis.

He is being brought back to aberdeen where he faces a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of 35-year-old sergio james.

The shooting happened saturday night around 10 o'clock at the corner of chaffie and gillespie street.

The car johnson left in was found in prairie monday.

The investigation into the shooting continues.

Oxford police have arrested a woman in connection with an infant's death at a daycare center.

23-year-old amy rogers was arrested wednesday.

She's charged with culpable negligence manslaughter.

The investigation began on november 17th at mother goose daycare where an 8-week- old infant died.

The daycare's license has since been suspended by the mississippi state department of health.

Bond for rogers is set a 50-thousand dollars.

Police did not release any other details surrounding the investigation.

Stinger wcbi continuing coverage stinger the number of new coronavirus cases in mississippi is above 2,000 for the second straight day.

The state department of health is reporting 2,168 new cases today and 28 deaths.

In our area, lowndes county has the most new cases with 83.

Lee county is reporting 73.

Union county has 49 new cases and oktibbeha has 47.

There are 1,040 covid-19 patients there are 1,040 covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals across the state.

264 are in icu and 138 on ventilators.

Top there's a need to give blood in the community.

Wcbi partnered with vitalant today to collect blood donations.

The blood service set up their mobile unit at the columbus ymca.

Vitalant health care workers is encouraging healthy people to take the time to give blood.

The coronavirus pandemic makes it challenging to meet the needs of patients in the hospital who are facing cancer treatments, trauma and other illnesses.

All donors were required to wear a mask.

First look stinger first look summary: areas of rain will continue tonight and into friday morning.

Some spotty showers could linger into friday afternoon.

The weekend is going to feature a mix of sun & clouds along with highs in the 50s and lows in the low 50s.

Breezy wnw winds 10-15 mph.

Intro 'tis the season to be on the lookout for thieves eyeing those packages on your front porch.

Our stephanie poole has a few tips to keep your belongings safe.

She joins us in the studio with more.

Aundrea, due to covid-19 the amount of online shopping has nearly doubled from previous years.

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With high a demand of orders, several boxes will soon appear on the front steps of homes.

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Making sure you receive your package, is one concern officers are weary of.

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Imagine spending hundreds of dollars shopping online.

Your packages are sent to your front door.

However, when you get home, your delivery isn't there... it's been stolen.

Lt.

Andy long with amory police department says reports of theft and fraud grow rapidly during the holiday season.

" those that were barely struggling with a job, they're out and maybe went back to their ways.

It's going to go up because whatever you see in the more populated areas is going to trickle down into the more rural neighborhoods.

You're going to see a rise in it."

Long says cameras and alarm systems have helped homeowners keep their belongings safe.

" last year we were able to catch them thanks to the technology of doorbell ringers.

People have such advanced stuff that people are purchasing for their home security, that's help a-lot on that."

However, not all residents are lucky... in clay county,sheriff eddie scott says thieves are using multiple addresses to steal boxes.

" you have criminals using identity theft, fraud or some type and having packages sent to these houses and then coming to pick them up."

Scott is concerned the amount of deliveries will result in more porch pirates.

" people are not getting out going to stores which i understand that.

It just opens up another avenue for criminals to start stealing right there off the front steps."

That's why officers are encouraging folks to start a neighborhood watch program to report any suspicious activity.

Hiding boxes or communicating with a delivery provider could also lower the chances of the boxes being stolen.

" whether it's the fraud or whether it's the theft of a package, it depends on the dollar amount.

So you have misdemeanor up to the felony.

Suprisingly with prices going up on some goods, you can easily find yourself looking at a felony charge off one small package."

Departments will step up patrol watch during the holiday season.

Off top local legislators are getting an upclose look at an outreach programs at the mississippi school for mathematics and science.

This the program offers a variety of educational opportunities for students in 1st- 10th grade.

It benefits almost 6 thousand students across the state every year.

Event organizers say today's meeting helps them showcase the impact on students at msms. executive director dr. germain mcconnell says this year has been especially challenging for faculty, staff, and students.

"this is the first, they are the first class to start the year all virtual to go through anything such as this, you know, covid is not only having an impact on us of course, but everywhere.

For juniors coming into msms, this is a different environment, a more rigorous learning environment, so we've been very concerned about students and how they will make that transition, but they've done a pretty good job overall."

Dr. mcconnell says outreach programs like summer camps and stem carnivals help keep young people engaged in academic growth.

Stinger realtor in amory form a task force to help the city address blighted properties and attract new residential construction.

We'll have that story coming up on wcbi news.

Intro exhausted.

Burned out and overwhelmed.

That's how more than 70 percent of healthcare workers describe the on-going pandemic to the community based advocacy group - mental health america.

Today...wcbi news reporter stephen pimpo got an exclusive look inside baptist memorial hospital - golden triangle to hear how their staff is forging ahead.

"it is a high-stress situation but that's kind of the reason i chose the path that i did.

I wanted to come in to critical care to be in those situations."

The icu at baptist memorial hospital - golden triangle was full again thursday, with 8 of their 18 critical care beds occupied by covid- 19 patients.

But for head critical care nurse kyle spencer and his staff...that's nothing new.

"usually we stay pretty full, if not at capacity, right there at it, all winter long if you will.

And it's been that way, i've been here for 10 years and it's been that way ever since i started..

But as the state of mississippi saw its second day in a row of more than 2,000 new cases of the coronavirus...the extra strain is undeniable.

Su: in a yale school of public health study...nearly a quarter of healthcare workers they surveyed said they've developed probable post- traumatic stress disorder since the start of the pandemic.

Spencer says he and his staff on high alert throughout the day.

"when they get back to us, generally, they're as sick as they're going to be so it's constantly listening for monitors, because any given thing the mississippi department of health continues to report full icus across the state.

Intro realtors in amory are sharing their expertise and advice with city leaders on ways to clean up run down properties and also attract new residential development.

Wcbi's allie martin has details.

Pkg stacy forbus and penny leech like to promote amory to potential clients.

But the realtors say finding residential listings at a certain price point is a big challenge.

"we're having challenges right now with middle range, priced homes, in the 125 to 200 thousand price range and we're trying to improve that."

Forbus, leech and other realtors have formed a task force that will partner with the city to address the need for more residential housing.

The task force will also look at building codes for rental properties.

While a majority of landlords abide by the codes, some properties are in disrepair and negatively impact surrounding homes.

Properties that are up to code have a positive impact on everyone.

The task force also wants to offer free educational seminars for landlords and tenants.

"the tenants have better properties to live in, the landlords can ask for more rent, there's government assistance that allow low income residents to live in nicer homes, there's an education gap there, not only that, as property owners, houses around you, when they improve, your property improves."

Standup bridge the task force is in its early stages but eventually the city, with the help of realtors, could partners with developers, who are interested in buying property, for rehabilitation or new construction.

"they are already on track with several investors in developing property that may be vacant at this time , so we're seeing, in the next several months, the possibility of several new housing developments taking place in areas of town we have not had developed before or we see development possibilities take place in areas of town where blight has taken over and those houses may be removed."

Mayor blalock and realtors know that an adequate housing supply will attract more homeowners, business and industry.

"people are going to shop in town more, they will spend their money here, children will go to school here, it's an advantage, a win win for everybody."

Realtors will also make recommendations on updates to the building codes for rental properties.

In amory , allie martin, wcbi news a popular christmas movie comes to life on the stage of tupelo's lyric theatre.

'elf the musical" opened earlier this week.

The production is staged by the tupelo community theatre and features all of your favorite characters from the movie.

Cast and crew say while the musical has the same plot as the movie, there are some surprises in the stage version.

"the show is a lot of fun,the actors are unbelievable, especially buddy the elf, this is his first production at tct, it's been fun, always fun working with someone new and he's done a phenomenal job, and every night it's fun to watch him" "the challenge to this, there's so much more depth to the musical, i think it gives you so much more of buddy's story and more emotional side of things you don't necessarily get from the film, of course the film you're laughing the entire time, and you're laughing this show as well, but you get a lot more character development and a lot more depth with buddy" "elf the musical" "elf the musical" runs tonight, friday and saturday evening at 7 30 and sunday at 2.

Tickets are tough to come by, stinger weather open summary: areas of rain will continue tonight and into friday morning.

Some spotty summary: areas of rain will continue tonight and into friday morning.

Some spotty showers could linger into friday afternoon.

The weekend is going to feature a mix of sun & clouds along with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

Most of next week is looking sunny and quiet at this time.

Thursday night: cloudy skies with areas of rain.

Milder lows in the 40s.

Winds se to nw 5-10 mph.

Friday: a 30% chance of showers, especially during the morning.

Some spotty rain could linger into the afternoon.

Highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.

Breezy wnw winds 10-15 mph.

Friday night: turning partly cloudy.

Lows in the mid to low 30s.

Saturday: mostly sunny and pleasant.

Highs in the mid 50s.

Saturday night: mostly clear.

Lows in the low 30s.

Sunday: clouds & sun.

Highs in the mid 50s.

Sunday night: variably cloudy.

Lows in the 30s.

Monday: clouds & sun.

Breezy.

Highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.

Tuesday & wednesday: bright sunshine.

Highs in the 50s.

Lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger the oxford chargers looking to repeat as state champs... next in sports head coach chris cutcliffe on spx open ???take monitor gfx???

High school football championship weekend is upon us... there are plenty of exciting matchups... you can watch all of those games on my mississippi... and don't forget to tune into wcbi at 5...6... and 10 for in depth coverage of all six games ???take gfx???

Here are the slate of games... 3a final at 11 am to kick things off... magee and noxubee county... following that is the 1a final between biggersville and lumberton.... to wrap up the night... a rematch of the 6a championship one year ago when oxford and oak grove square off... oxford and oak grove square off... chargers looking to repeat... saturday starts off the the 4a title game between poplarville and louisville..

A rematch of 2018's battle... md jennings' bunch at calhoun city follows them at 3 and the weekend is wrapped up at 7 when west point takes on west jones... the oxford chargers are continuing to roll and have a shot to repeat as 6a state champs this weekend... they'll be taking on oak grove again... last year when they played the warriors they were down 21-3 at the half only to outscore oak grove 28 nothing in the second half en route to a state title... both teams are undefeated this season at 12-0... the chargers are coming off a thrilling 31-27 win over clinton to advance... and although oxford prevailed last year against oak grove... head coach chris cutcliffe says this isn?t the same warriors team they'll be seeing this year... 00-05 cutcliffe says: they're more explosive right now offensively then they were a year ago.

They do a great job of producing explosive plays.

They do a great job on both sides of the ball making game changing plays and have done that a lot more this year then they did a year ago... mississippi state guard iverson molinar is set to return to the court friday against north texas... he's been sidelined with covid-19...molinar was asymptomatic... head coach ben howland is excited to have the guard back... he'll play somewhere between 25 and 30 minutes against u- n-t..

Last year he only played 15 minutes per game averaging just under six... but howland is expecting him to be a main contributor this year and said he's made a massive jump from last year to this one... 00-05 howland says: he can score at all three levels.

He's great attacking the basket, on the pullups, off the dribble and jumping back.

He has a 45 inch vertical and there's no question he'll be a top three scorer when the dust clears at the end of the year another day... another dominant performance for nikki mccray penson and the mississippi state women's basketball program... the bulldogs took down new orleans 106-51 at the hump.... four players were in double figures as jessika carter led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds... a tougher test ahead this saturday at 6 for state as they'll be taking on south florida... u-s-f just played number four baylor incredibly tough falling 67-62..

Mccray penson isn't taking the bulls lightly... and wants to see more improvement from her team on the hardwood... 00-05 mccray penson: we're gonna have to be disciplined defensively.

They?ll clog up the paint and obviously we're going to have to score and hit shots.

Our post players will have to score.

Another size advantage against a well- coached team so we'll have to score and have to get to the free throw line.

Transition is another area we'll have to be solid in.

Another great team.

A battle with baylor that came down to the wire so i know they will be hungry down to the wire so i know they will be hungry