WCBI New at Six - 05/13/2020

WCBI New at Six - 05/13/2020

Good evening and thanks for joining us..

School's out, but sports is on the agenda at tonight's pickens county school board meeting.

Gordo high school is requesting money from the emergency fund to make repairs to its football field..

Bobby martinez was in pickens county today where he spoke to some residents and school board members... about the request and how the district should move forward..

Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars..

That is the estimated cost to fix the repairs here at the gordo high school football stadium.

And according to frankie spencer, a school board member on the pickens county school district.

He believes that money should be used to address urgent repairs in the school district.

"all of sudden another 650 thousand dollars was found and they going to take 350 thousand dollars to repair a football field..."

To spencer...its not that he is against fixing the field..

Money should be used to address wcbi also reached out gordo high school principal mark capps regarding the request... but have yet to hear back.

Take developing story stinger mississippi state university has plans to resume in- person classes this fall// the university's covid-19 task force is releasing guidelines to help transition back to campus// those guidelines include changing the academic calendar to minimize disruptions// cleaning and disinfecting will also be increased in buildings// face coverings will continue to be used// covid-19 testing and contact tracing will also be used if needed// the university also plans to try mixtures of hybrid, online and face to face instruction// the task force is considering alternative best practices for campus life, athletics, and public outreach// as of right now, classes will begin at m-s-u on august 18th// governor tate reeves announces today that evictions can resume june 1st// the governor put in place a two month eviction suspension for those financially impacted by the covid-19 pandemic// governor reeves says he's announcing it today to give those who rent time to start getting things in order to begin making payments// while the coronavirus threat is still ongoing, businesses are beginning to reopen// state officials also say the number of patients in the icu or on ventilators is staying stable// 45-percent of the deaths the state health department says have happened in long health department says have happened in long term care settings and that's why the state will continue to focus a lot of efforts there// we're going to continue an aggressive testing approach in long term settings to make sure we can identify those employees that may be infected, get them excluded so there's no additional transmission.

Identify those residents so we can take the appropriate effective control."

State health leaders also said that only 17- percent of covid- 19 patients have been hospitalized in the state of mississippi// take new at 6 stinger wipe to vo an employee at a columbus retirement community has died after being diagnosed with covid-19.

Lowndes county coroner greg merchant confirmed the person's death but did not identify them or what position they held at the arrington assisted living community.

Several people living at the facility have tested positive for the coronavirus.

At least three people connected to the arrington have died after testing positive for covid-19.

State health officials say long- term care facilities are at high risk of an outbreak and spreading of the virus.

Merchant says the employee died yesterday.

The arrington has not returned our calls for comment.

Wipe to vo mississippi marks another milestone in the covid-19 pandemic// the number of confirmed cases has now topped the 10 thousand mark// 182 new cases are being reported today// 28 of those are in long-term care facilities// the department of health also reports 8 more deaths// one of those is in lowndes county and one is in oktibbeha county// there have been 456 coronavirus deaths statewide// there are some improvements// the number of hospitalized patients has dropped to 437// the health department estimates about 62- hundred mississpians have recovered from the virus// "thankful."

That's how starkville high school seniors say they felt this morning before walking across the stage to receive their diplomas.

The ceremony was as close to traditional as possible-- given the circumstances.

The school allows 20 seniors to walk every hour.

Family members are only allowed into the auditorium when their graduate is on stage.

We spoke to a few graduates as they waited in line... they say it's been an emotional senior year.

"a little nervous, happy, excited... i'm just happy it's happening."

"it was kind of confusing, a little bit of pressure, wanting to have something, but everybody knew we wouldn't be able to have a traditional ceremony, but i was glad they did something for us."

Walks and speeches have been recorded.

The graduation ceremony will premiere in its entirety on may 22nd at 6pm on the school district's facebook page.

Wipe to vo in columbus, folks rally to another group of áseniorsá.

Family members and friends loaded up in their cars and drove by vineyard court nursing home - honking horns, waving, and cheering.

The columbus fire department, a motorcycle club -- even home health and other agencies that help take care of the patients participated.

Organizers hoped the event would help lift the patients' spirits.

Their families will be coming to the parade.they've been asked to decorate their cars with signs; to bring noisemakers - anything to make noise and bring attention to them.

We're doing this for our residents because of the quarantine that we've been under and they need to get out and get a little bit of fresh air and sunshine.

And they need to see their families.

Vineyard court along with other nursing homes across the state has been on lockdown since march.

First look stinger first look summary: warm and humid conditions will carry on through the upcoming weekend.

Daily shower and storms chances are here but some days will feature better odds than others.

No big weather maker is expected in our neck of the woods anytime soon.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy, quiet, and mild.

Lows in the low 60s.

Light se winds.

Thursday: partly cloudy, warm, and more humid.

Just a 20% chance of a few stray afternoon showers and storms. highs in the low to mid 80s.

Winds s 5-15 mph.

An oktibbeha an oktibbeha county man is indicted in a shooting and as a habitual offender.

Devierre outlaw is facing an aggravated assault charge.

The shooting happened on gleason drive late last year.

There was a manhunt for outlaw.

He was eventually arrested in tennessee.

Prosecutors allege the outlaw shot the victim in the chest.

That person was eventually treated and released from the hospital.

Outlaw has been convicted of two drug charges.

We know more about a weekend shooting in clay county that left three people injured and a man facing charges// sheriff eddie scott tells wcbi investigators believe the incident was domestic in nature// 48-year-old gene sparks is charged with aggravated assault after the saturday afternoon incident.

He has since bonded out of jail// sparks is accused of shooting three people during the incident that started at his home on happy hollow road// scott says four people came to sparks' home to reportedly talk to his stepdaughter.

When a fight broke out, sparks allegedly got his gun and began shooting.

Three people were hit, including sparks' stepdaughter.

One of the victims is in a jackson hospital in critical condition// the shooting remains under investigation// wipe to gfx a pontotoc man is facing charges in tupelo in connection to a child pornography investigation.

Tupelo police began looking into the case on may 5th after being contacted with information.

That led to the arrest of 34-year- old jason clair tuesday.

He's charged with possession of child pornography.

Clair's bond was set at 30-thousand dollars.

This case will be presented to the lee county grand jury.

Stinger never underestimate the power of small things in large numbers..

When we come back we look at a pest that could be bringing down your biggest investment.

A wet winter and spring are creating better conditions for an unseen enemy that can destroy your if it's not caught in time// allie martin talks with an expert who tells us how to spot signs and stop the pests in their tracks// warmer temperatures and wet weather means things get busier for gene welsh and the local terminix office.

"perfect conditions will be a 70 degree day such as it is now, you get a rain shower and get some of that mugginess that comes after the rain and that's when the termites like to swarm.

" welsh is branch manager for the tupelo terminix office and wants homeowners to know how they can prevent termites, which form colonies underground, and find food sources in wood and sheetrock.

Welsh encourages homeowners to avoid stacking firewood in grassy areas against a house, and anytime water collects near a home's foundation is an invitation for termites.

There are certain things homeowners can look for to spot possible termite infestation.

"if they have a wooden floor, look for dark spaces or bubbling in the floor, also wavy sheetrock or any kind of soft spots in sheetrock, we look for swarmers naturally, mud tubes, look like straws, termites travel in those, and any objects in house that would be eaten by termites as well, anything with cellulose.

" standup bridge to defend a home against termites, terminix has a bait defense system, these stations are placed in the ground every fifteen feet.

Termites eat the poison and take it back to their colony.

It kills the other termites and protects your home.

"termites are not going away, they are still in the yard , still around property, but now we have a means to control them."

If termite damage is found, it can be treated, but the homeowner will have to pay for repairs, and those repairs are not covered by homeowners insurance.

Welsh encourages homeowners to get a termite inspection to help protect the biggest single investment for most people.

In tupelo, allie martin, wcbi news it's estimated that termites cause about five billion dollars in damage every year in the united states// stinger 2-shot wx open summary: warm and humid conditions will carry on through the upcoming weekend.

Daily shower and storms chances are here but some days will feature better odds than others.

No big weather maker is expected in our neck of the woods anytime soon.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy, quiet, and mild.

Lows in the low 60s.

Light se winds.

Thursday: partly cloudy, warm, and more humid.

Just a 20% chance of a few stray afternoon showers and storms. highs in the low to mid 80s.

Winds s 5-15 mph.

Thursday night: stars & clouds.

Lows in the 60s.

Friday: a 30% chance of scattered showers and storms. otherwise variably cloudy.

Highs in the mid 80s.

Saturday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the upper 80s.

A small 20% chance of a shower or storm.

Sunday: the chance of showers and storms climbs to about 40%.

Highs stay in the mid to upper 80s.

Monday: scattered showers and storms remain possible.

Highs in the 80s.

Tuesday- wednesday: mostly sunny and warm.

Highs in the low 80s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: warm and humid conditions will carry on through the upcoming weekend.

Daily shower and storms chances are here but some days will feature better odds than others.

No big weather maker is expected in our neck of the woods anytime soon.

Wednesday night: variably cloudy, quiet, and mild.

Lows in the low 60s.

Light se winds.

Thursday: partly cloudy, warm, and more humid.

Just a 20% chance of a few stray afternoon showers and storms. highs in the low to mid 80s.

Winds s 5-15 mph.

Thursday night: stars & clouds.

Lows in the 60s.

Friday: a 30% chance of scattered showers and storms. otherwise variably cloudy.

Highs in the mid 80s.

Saturday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the upper 80s.

A small 20% chance of a take natvo off top hold :04 for nats a sense of normalcy.

That's what park goers were seeking yesterday at the lowndes county soccer complex.

For the first time in months, an in- person, outdoor zumba class took place.

Participants say there is enough room at the park to maintain a safe distance from each other.

"we've had several "zoom" zumbas at home, which was fun, and we enjoyed it, and it got us through the tough time of not having zumba, but we're all ready to get back in the gym again and enjoy our group."

"we're going to make sure that we distance ourselves in between each other and the main thing about being out here at the park is we have the space to do that.

You know, we want to maintain safety and all of that stuff."

The outdoor zumba class will meet again at the lowndes county soccer complex next tuesday evening at 6 o'clock.

Stinger the father of sec baseball is returning to starkville.... the latest on what's next for ron polk, next in sports... spx open history is repeating itself at missisippi state m-s-u athletics announcing that former head baseball coach ron polk will return as an special assistant to athletic director john cohen polk's assistant coaching position focuses on coaching relationships polk is best known for his two successful stints as the dawgs skipper for a combined 28 seasons becoming the winningest coach in the southeastern conference during that time, polk led m-s-u to eight college world series appearances and five sec tournament championships if you know titans defensive end jeffery simmons or recognize this video, then you probably already know the former missisippi state standout loves to give back this is a video from december when simmons surprised his former high school team, noxubee county, with gifts during the holiday season now, amid the coronavirus outbreak, simmons gave back to medical workers by providing taco tuesday lunch this week the st thomas emergency medical services team provides emergency medical transportation to services in the middle tennessee area juco begins to make some moves back towards normalcy the n-j-c-aa announced that the current in- person recruiting ban will be lifted on friday may 15th the lift will officially go into effect at 11:59 p-m individual regions are allowed to implement rules and restrictions based on state and local rules in terms of recruitment, enforcing rules will left up to the individual college over on the hardwood, coaching moves continue in the off-season the latest being smithville naming former saltillo assistant dj burress as the seminoles new boys basketball head coach burress spent the last four years serving as an assistant for the tigers this is buress' first ever head coaching position take vo off it was a special treat for residents at diversicare tupelo this afternoon.

Two staff members from sanctuary hospice made the rounds, singing elvis songs to residents, from outside of their windows.

The special musical engagement is held to help celebrate "national nursing home week" and to brighten the day for residents, who have been in a lockdown because of covid 19.

Sanctuary hospice staff members are visiting long term care facilities throughout the region with 'elvis and priscilla' as special guests.

"we've had facilities tell us they've seen people get up and move that hadn't moved in weeks and they always, never forget elvis, he would have been close to their age now too, so they will remember him and joy it brings to elders, to see smile on their face."

"we've been in complete lockdown, only essential personnel are allowed in facility so this is huge, they can't see their family members, friends, so them coming around and singing at the windows it gives them something to look forward to."

Sanctuary hospice staff members are visiting long term care facilities throughout the region with 'elvis and priscilla' as special guests.

Last look stinger last look last look last look last look last look