WCBI News at Six - Tuesday, October 8th, 2019

WCBI News at Six - Tuesday, October 8th, 2019

Good evening everyone... it's been more than six months since flood waters and an ef-3 tornado brought devastation to columbus and lowndes county.

Fema is now helping storm victims. there is a disaster recovery center at the east columbus gym.

If your home was damaged, this is where you would apply for individual assistance.

Specialists are there to guide residents through the process.

Fema says people that have already made repairs should still register for help and to bring your receipts when you apply.

"of course some people have insurance and we do not duplicate insurance benefits.

However, if you were under insured or uninsured we can certainly give you some money to get you started on their recovery and making those."

"when you get your letter if you are an individual or homeowner, when you get your letter from fema they will probably be ready for you to sb a.

One of the things that we encourage is that you follow the letter or call sba, because once they refer you to the small business administration, or sba, you need to complete the application.

It's very critical that you complete it because it keeps the doors open for other needed assistance for you.

If you fail to complete the application or complete the process then you cut off your assistance."

The center will be open monday through saturday, until october 23.

For more information visit our website wcbi dot com wipe to vo the february tornado in columbus showed the need for first responders to have storm shelters.

The city has been approved for eleven shelters.

Chickasaw county has 33 similar shelters in four cities.

Columbus officials visited some of those this morning to see the structures and learn about the payment process.

Currently, plans call for storm shelters at the city's five fire stations.

"for years we have looked at the approach of one facility, questioned where to put it, we then heard this approach chickasaw county has, and thought it was an interesting take, spread them throughout the city, that way more people can get to them, secondly, those people who protect us, first responders, need to be protected as well, if they can't get out in the field how can they do their job."

Fema picks up up to 75 percent of the cost.

The city will pay the remaining 25 percent..

A candidate for lt.

Governor makes the rounds in columbus today.

Delbert hosemann shared his position on topics with the lowndes county republican women and the columbus rotary club..

Education and health care were were high on the list.

Hosemann says affordable healthcare is something he'll advocate for..

"we don't need a single payer system.

I believe that people who are covered need to be working, in the community somewhere or in a job program somewhere.

I don't want any additional costs for mississippians.

I think that's very important that we have a zero dollar additional cost of any extra coverage."

Hosemann also talked about the need to improve mississippi's roads and has a plan ready for lawmakers.

Some of those same topics are also playing into the governor's race this year, and you'll hear where the candidates stand right here on wcbi..

Wcbi will host north mississippi's only live gubernatorial debate// attorney general jim hood and lt.

Governor tate reeves will be here in our studios for a round table discussion hosted by aundrea self.

We're talking about the issues facing your family... we'll also be taking some of your issue based questions on social media.

That debate is next monday beginning at 7 p- m// on the columbus pilgrimage's 80th anniversary homeowners will have control of tours.

The columbus- lowndes convention and visitors bureau board, which hosted the tours, voted today to make the decision.

Homeowners recently formed the preservation society of columbus, then asked for control of the home tours and funding.

Now the cvb will stick organizing other events associated with the pilgrimage, such as "catfish in the alley" and "tales from the crypt."

"we are only turning over the tour of homes to the home owners.

Say for instance, how they want to structure the tours, what homes are on what day... they will print the tickets, they will sell the tickets.

We will have nothing to do with that beyond what we have already spent on publicity for it, which is around $55,000."

The cvb says it will continue events around the tours but is otherwise out of the pilgrimage business.

It will assist the preservation society when possible.

Take new at 6 stinger leave mic hot centred up a woman is in the hospital tonight after columbus firefighters say she was hit by a car.

The accident happened around 4:30 this afternoon, near the intersection of 18th street and 7th avenue north.

The extent of the victim's injuries are unknown.

But there was extensive damage to the car..

Columbus police are investigating the crash// take developing story stinger keep mics hot a sunday morning brawl lands a batesville man in jail.

24 year old, johnny james, faces an aggravated assault charge.

Oxford officers were called to a fight between a group of men, on north lamar boulevard.

Policemen found a man with multiple stab wounds to his leg and chest, but the suspect ran away.

James was arrested a short time later.

His bond is set at 25 thousand.

Wipe to gfx oktibbeha county deputies want to know who damaged a road that is being repaired.

These are the pictures district 4 supervisor bricklee miller posted on facebook of poor house road, where a driver went around the barricades.

Miller says the road had been compacted and leveled for soil cementing tomorrow.

Deputies tell drivers not go around road closed barricades.

Call the sheriff's department with any information.

First look stinger first look summary: quiet weather will hold for the middle of the week before the next fall cold front arrives.

Rain and storms are likely again friday before we turn cooler for the saturday and sunday.

The first overnight 40s of the season are slated to return this weekend.

Tuesday night: mainly clear and quiet.

Lows in the 50s with light wind.

Some patchy fog is possible again.

Wednesday: turning partly cloudy.

Temperatures are expected to warm back up into the 80s as light southeasterly flow returns.

Wednesday night: partly cloudy.

Lows in the low 60s.

Thursday: a mix of sun and clouds with just a slight chance for a spotty shower or storm during the day.

The chance of rain is just 10-20%.

Above normal highs in the mid to upper 80s can be expected.

This flu season is already making an impact, there's even been some flu related deaths being reported... and kids out of class sick.

School nurses in lowndes county were seeing flue cases back in august.

Our cash matlock talks to some ?winston?

County medical experts today.

He now joins us live in the studio... aundrea, besides a few cases here and there..

Nurses at the winston medical center say this season has been relatively slow... however, the cdc is urging health care providers everywhere to prepare for the worst.

Tibby koon is the director of nursing at winston medical center.

She typically doesn't start seeing flu patients until late october.

"we haven't seen that many cases yet, but we hear that it is going to be early this year, so we encourage everyone to get out and get their flu shot early."

Koon says the hospital receives regular updates from the center for disease control in atlanta.

This year, the cdc is predicting a very busy flu season.

"stay away from the flu.

Stay away from the hospital unless you're sick... drink plenty of liquids, of course.

Take the flu shot, and just take care of yourself health-wise."

Adam byrd specializes in dermatology, but he works at winston medical center several days out of the month... often treating flu patients.

He says there's a big push for the flu shot this year.

"just trying to get everybody vaccinated as much a possible... vaccination campaigns like they have here today... i think you can pay twenty-five dollars and get vaccinated."

He says there are some misconceptions about the vaccine.

"the vaccination doesn't prevent all cases of the flu, but if it is a well-matched strain, it can reduce your risk by forty to sixty percent, i think....you can still get the flu if you get vaccinated, but i think if you do get the flu it might be less severe, and you might have a lot less risk of getting hospitalized with it."

Whether this year's flu is widespread or not... experts say it's smart to take precautions.

"i advise people to come to the emergency room or go see their family physician and get tested because we have tests for that and we can determine whether they actually do have the flu and get the medication started early.

That helps."

"worst case scenario, if the vaccine is not a very good one that year, i don't think there's much risk at all from getting vaccinated."

Doctors say it typically takes two weeks to build up your immunity after getting a flu shot.

Stinger after years of service, some area veterans are finding out what services are available for them..

We take a closer look when we come back... welcome back..

There are about 200 thousand veterans in mississippi... and many of them don't know about the services available to them..

Our stephanie poole joins us in the studio with more on what the mississippi va is doing to help who serve our country.

Today, the mississippi veterans affairs hosted their 2nd- annual summit and resource fair.

While it may be confusing for veterans to know what all is available for them, they don't have to go through it alone.

Sometimes, when you've done things ?one?

Way for a long time, adjusting to something different can be a challenge..

Jack davis has served in the u.s army for 22 years... when he got out he found there were a few obstacles he didn't know how to overcome.

That's what brought him to the mississippi veterans affairs resource fair..

" they're just so many things that you don't see in a day to day basis.

To get established in the community especially for retirees was a little difficult because had i know some things i probably would've went a different path after i retired."

Davis says he comes to find out what services are available in the community, and to socialize with others just like him.

" those are the members who need to be here, it directly affects them and us."

Willie petty is the commander of the west point american legion post, he says many of his members face a number of regular challenges..

" the biggest we have down there in west point is that we don't get, we are trying to get some transportation where our vets can get transferred to the different medical facilities."

Mississippi va field officer sharon dollarhide says one vendor even works with veterans who are challenged with homelessness.

" there are different resources that can help them find temporary housing and also the step up for that is to find the barriers that is causing them to become homeless in the first place.

Then to overcome those barriers and find a permanent solution to their housing situation."

Dollarhide says the goal of the resource fair is to assist as many people in the golden triangle.

" we're trying to make them aware of what is available for them, to be able to seek help if they need help " nearly 70 vendors were there to help in a variety of fields from insurance policies and hospice care to counseling and jobs.

Stinger week before the next fall cold front arrives.

Rain and storms are likely again friday before we turn cooler for the saturday and sunday.

The first overnight 40s of the season are slated to return this weekend.

Tuesday night: mainly clear and quiet.

Lows in the 50s with light wind.

Some patchy fog is possible again.

Wednesday: turning partly cloudy.

Temperatures are expected to warm back up into the 80s as light southeasterly flow returns.

Wednesday night: partly cloudy.

Lows in the low 60s.

Thursday: a mix of sun and clouds with just a slight chance for a spotty shower or storm during the day.

The chance of rain is just 10-20%.

Above normal highs in the mid to upper 80s can be expected.

Friday: a powerful fall front is going to push across the region and the speed at which it moves will determine how warm we get.

We're going to forecast highs in the mid to upper 80s for now and see how it goes.

There is the potential for some strong to possibly severe storms with gusty winds as the front passes so it will be something to watch.

It's too early to tell if high school football will be affected but it is possible.

Saturday: much cooler 60s may be the best we can do in the wake of the cold front.

Some lingering shows may exist during the morning hours.

There will definitely be a fall chill in the air for a change.

Lows saturday night may drop to around 40 and that means some of those cooler spots may dip into the upper 30s.

Sunday-tuesday: recent model data suggest that more in the way of unsettled weather may be on the way in the form of rain and scattered storms. we certainly need the rain so anything is welcome.

Highs look to stay in the 70s.

Cold front arrives.

Rain and storms are likely again friday before we turn cooler for the saturday and sunday.

The first overnight 40s of the season are slated to return this weekend.

Tuesday night: mainly clear and quiet.

Lows in the 50s with light wind.

Some patchy fog is possible again.

Wednesday: turning partly cloudy.

Temperatures are expected to warm back up into the 80s as light southeasterly flow returns.

Wednesday night: partly cloudy.

Lows in the low 60s.

Thursday: a mix of sun and clouds with just a slight chance for a spotty shower or storm during the day.

The chance of rain is just 10-20%.

Above normal highs in the mid to upper 80s can be expected.

Friday: a powerful fall front is going to push across the region and the speed at which it moves will determine how warm we get.

We're going to forecast highs in the mid to upper 80s for now and see how it goes.

There is the potential for some strong to possibly severe storms with gusty winds as the front passes so it will be something to watch.

It's too early to tell if high school football will be affected but it is possible.

Saturday: much cooler 60s may be the best we can do in the wake of the cold front.

Some lingering shows may exist stinger alabama prepares for its first ranked matchup on the year....traveling to the twelth man in texas a & m more from coach saban, next in sports... spx open alabama returns from the bye week to its first ranked road test of the 2019 season the crimson tide head to college station to take on texas a&m... a year ago...the tide handled a&m in tuscaloosa....but gave up yards to quarterback kellen mond on the ground....98 yards and a touchdown... coming off it's win over ole miss where the tide 109 rushing yards to john rhys plumlee...head coach nick saban says qb contain has been an emphasis in preparation "it's player awareness.

We certainly try to do those things on a daily basis, try to emphasis those things on a daily basis.

It still comes down to that same word we talked about earlier.

Players have to be disciplined in doing their jobs.

If you're a contain rusher, you have to contain the quarterback.

You can't be coming underneath.

You have to keep the proper leverage on the guy.

Give the opportunity to push the pocket in the middle.

That's something that we've definitely focused on and need to improve on."

Football is a game that is won up front.....the battle in the trenches can make or break a friday night....that's why we give it up for the big fellas that make their teams tick time for our lineman of the week for week 8 "tonight's lineman of the week is brought to you by the city of okolona's electric department."

Tonight's lineman of the week is james miller.

James has 12 years of service with the okolona electric department wcbi's lineman of the week out of okolona is kaaria hykes...offensive and defensive lineman for the okolona chieftains... hykes contributing in a big way to both units....contribut ing 9 tackles and one sack of a 4- sack shutout performance from the defense, and helping to pave the way for 259 rushing yards in the win against hamilton the cheiftains are back home in week 8..taking on division foe vardaman ... or two and three oxford number seven in terms of local teams and six stockholders number three number 36 a friend of 35 and five in class v a and not change in the big boys success out one or three loose.

It will be just five and three is a big issue one was to all three counting down number five after their win houston water valley out of the top five toppers to receive not peter.

Some of the number two tigers at number three was while she is heritage economy continues top in the eyeswe neer help in choosing this week's game of the week...go over to our facebook and twitter accounts at wcbi endzone to let your voice be heard the choices....moorev ille at caledonia, north pontotoc at new albany, choctaw county at houston, and smithville at west lowndes 3 of the four choices are sites we've yet to be live for on friday night!

The polls end at 4 pm tomorrow.....find out the winner in our 6 oclock show wednesday when we return...chief meteorologist keith gibson will have a last look at your forecast.

You are watching wcbi news the next three days our next chance or have you raining so staunchly sometime friday night hopefully we can get those games in ending alternative one is built doctrinaire to be chilling just