WCBI NEWS AT 6 - 06/17/2020

WCBI NEWS AT 6 - 06/17/2020

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Voices in lowndes county are calling for change after racially charged remarks from board of supervisors president harry sanders go public..

Some of those voices are coming from the business community - others from right here in the courthouse..

"i feel like black lives are extremely important and apparently the supervisors don't agree."

Courthouse protestors calling for immediate action from county supervisors in response to comments made by board president harry sanders.

District 2 supervisor trip hairston... released this statement early wednesday morning.

"i support immediate action to remove harry sanders as president of the lowndes county board of supervisors."

"we cannot reach our goals while being lead by a president with those views."

These goals could include future economic development in lowndes county.

"with corporations looking to relocate here or even locate here with various businesses, those type comments matter, and people take those to heart.

I am concerned about the economic impact of those statements."

Chief executive officer of the golden triangle development link joe max higgins had this to say in regards to sanders' comments.

"we are deeply saddened and disappointed that supervisor harry sanders, a partner who has contributed to the growth of our region, made statements in meetings and in subsequent news interviews which cast a disturbing and negative shadow on our community..."

It was a vote on removing the confederate statue in front of the lowndes county courthouse that prompted sanders' comments to a local newspaper.

Supervisors voted 3-2 to keep the monument where it is.

Now, that could change.

Hairston voted monday to leave the monument in place... he has since changed his mind.

"i couldn't move forward with keeping the monument where it was when there is so much controversy regarding those comments."

"with the cooperation of the mayor, when he offered to pay for half of the move and to accept it in friendship cemetery, that was a big thing."

Protestors at today's rally say it's important for other leaders, especially white community leaders, to take a stand.

"it's important for white people to speak up, and we have privilege, and it's time for us to use our voice to support our black brothers and sisters who need us.

There has never been a more important time to use your voice."

The backlash is spreading throughout the community - i'm joined by bobby martinez who has been hearing from county residents after a day of demonstrations and calls for change..

One group is calling for harry sanders to do more than step aside as president of the board of supervisors..

This morning the lowndes county chapter of the naacp held a press conference at the courthouse..

Calling for sanders to resign from office..

The group's president, lavonne harris says sanders comments were not only hurtful.

But also brought back dark memories of slavery... and says she is going to do all she can to see sanders step down.

"we done been down that history.

You don't know where slavery is about.

You have never been whooped, beaten had to get up been raped you know, beat, go to bed hungry he's not used to that.

And harry is living a good life but he don't understand he's living a good life off of slaves."

Harris also says sanders comments are hurting columbus.... the group that gathered this morning all say they care about lowndes county and its future.

It was a diverse group - in agreement on one thing that board president harry sanders needs to resign.

A call for action... "harry sanders must go..

Harry sanders must go."

Was the focus of wednesday's gathering..

These people say the only option for sanders now is for him to step down from his elected position.

" he needs to resign.."

April clayton says sanders comments do not represent the city of columbus.

Sot - april clayton - columbus "the fact that he does not represent columbus in any way shape or form.

What he said about the african- american community was ignorant and inappropriate."

Many people believe sanders comments are tone deaf and could not come at a worse time.

And to zab clayton... enough is enough... "i just think it is important that as a white person i show that harry sanders does not speak for all of us.

We need to show support for black and brown people in our city and our country and tell them that they are not alone in this fight.

And that we can use our privilege as white people to amplify their voices.."

Wiggins also wants people nationwide to know sanders comments don't reflect the state of mississippi..

Sot - zab wiggins - columbus "mississippi is not as backwards as everyone wants to think.

You know there are plenty of young people who disagree with harry sanders' grossly telling of history because that is not historically accurate."

Cataurus shields says he is happy the crowd is diverse.

Sot - cataurus shields - columbus "i believe that it is great that we had a whole multitude of races not just black white but all people to come together.

And that's what we have to do as a community come together to lift not just black people but the whole community up.

We are brotherhood and we are family you have to lift each other up."

Area economic development leaders say now is the time to change the state flag and they want the legislature and governor to take action.

The golden triangle development link executive committee issued a resolution to lawmakers yesterday.

In part, it says "our state flag does not assist our organization and our communities to attract and grow business and industry."

The resolution also says "the confederate battle emblem on our state flag serves as a visual representation of our state's divisive history."

To read the full resolution, go to our website... wcbi dot com.

The chance for a bill to come out of the state senate for changing the flag appears unlikely.

Mississippi today is reporting that lt.

Governor delbert hosemann assigned the resolution to suspend the rules for lawmakers to consider changing the state flag to the senate constitution committee.

The online publication says the chairman of the committee, republican chris johnson of hattiesburg, does not plan to call up the resolution for consideration.

This would effectively kill the legislation.

He favors voters deciding on whether to change the flag.

There has been no update on the progress of a similar resolution in the state house of representatives.

Wipe to gfx some of aberdeen's elected leaders will remain the same after last night's runoff.

Incumbent police chief henry randle defeated tony tillman by more than two hundred votes.

Randle has been chief for more than ten years.

Aberdeen is one of the few towns in the state to elect its police chief.

In the ward 1 runoff, nicholas holliday defeated robert devaull by 37 votes.

Randle and holliday do not have an opponent in the general election, which will be held july 7th.

First look stinger first look summary: our weather is going to be pretty quiet through sunday.

Better chances of scattered showers and storms will return next monday & tuesday.

Wednesday night: mostly clear and quiet.

Lows in the low to mid 60s.

Calm wind.

Thursday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Just a slight chance of a stray shower.

Winds nw 5-10 mph.

Take developing story stinger centred up family and eupora police are asking for your help to find a runaway teen.

15-year-old vicsheria wofford was last seen tuesday evening.

Police chief greg hunter says wofford left her home after an argument with family members.

If you know where she is tonight, call eupora police.

Centred up a memorial is planned later this week for a shannon high school student who collapsed and died during football practice.

Sixteen year old ja kobe kyshon cooper died tuesday after he collapsed at shannon high school.

Counselors were at the school throughout the day, to talk with any students.

The school will have a candelight vigil and balloon release at 7 thirty thursday evening at the high school.

Cooper's body was sent to the state crime lab in pearl for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Stinger-sot take continuing coverage stinger governor tate reeves reminds mississippians to continue to be on guard after 489 new covid-19 cases are reported today// those new cases bring the state's total to 20- thousand 600// 23 deaths are being reported as well// 16 of the deaths are from death certificate investigations// two of those investigation deaths are in lee county.

While one death was also reported in lowndes, monroe, oktibbeha, and tishomingo counties each.

Statewide, there have 938 been deaths// the health department estimates over 15- thousand people in the state have recovered from the virus// stinger aberdeen main street is looking for investors to breathe new life into the old parkway hotel.

It could be a big economic boost to the area.

We'll have that story coming up on wcbi news aberdeen leaders are looking for investors to restore the glory and grandeur of a hotel in the downtown business district.

Allie martin has more.

The process of restoring, renovating and remodeling an old hotel can now get underway.

Earlier this week, aberdeen main street signed the papers, closing the deal and purchasing the old parkway hotel.

Nats celebration the purchase of the tombigbee inn, known by many as the old parkway hotel, capped months of fundraising efforts by aberdeen main street and was cause for celebration.

"it's priceless for main street."

Aberdeen main street director ann tackett spearheaded the fundraising campaign to purchase the historic building, with a price tag of 150 thousand dollars.

Now, the old hotel, built in the 1920s, can become a centerpiece for a revitalized downtown, with the help of the right investor.

Preliminary plans call for a restaurant on the ground floor, along with boutique style hotel rooms and apartments on the second and third floors.

"people will have the opportunity to live downtown, to walk to movie, shops, to have dining areas, all of this comes as a lot of hard work."

Area business owners are excited about the impact, and believe the timing is perfect.

Shelly bowen owns "the blue owl" , a houseware and gift shop a few blocks away from the hotel.

"as it brings new people in from downtown, they will spread the word, because aberdeen is a beautiful town, we have lots to offer, i think it will help the community altogether."

The l shaped addition built in the 1950s will not stay, it will be torn down to make room for parking, landscaping and possibly, a swimming pool.

In aberdeen, allie martin, wcbi news take vo in monitor columbus developer chris chain has developed a renovation plan for the project.

Demolition of the addition could start as early as august..

Stinger wx open summary: our weather is going to be pretty quiet through sunday.

Better chances of scattered showers and storms will return next monday & tuesday.

Wednesday night: mostly clear and quiet.

Lows in the low to mid 60s.

Calm wind.

Thursday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Just a slight chance of a stray shower.

Winds nw 5-10 mph.

Thursday night: mostly clear.

Lows in the mid 60s.

Friday: mostly sunny and warmer.

Highs in the lower 90s.

Friday night: clear and mild.

Lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday: mostly sunny and warm.

Highs in the low to mid 90s.

Summer officially begins at 4:44 p.m.

Cdt.

Saturday night: mostly clear.

Lows around 70.

Sunday: partly cloudy, warm, and more humid.

Highs in the low to mid 90s.

A 20% chance of a few storms during the heating of the day.

Early next week: scattered summer storms are more likely monday & tuesday with the chance of rain 40- 60%.

Highs will range from the upper 80s to lower 90s with muggy lows in the low 70s.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app summary: our weather is going to be pretty quiet through sunday.

Better chances of scattered showers and storms will return next monday & tuesday.

Wednesday night: mostly clear and quiet.

Lows in the low to mid 60s.

Calm wind.

Thursday: partly cloudy and warm.

Highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Just a slight chance of a stray shower.

Winds nw 5-10 mph.

Thursday night: mostly clear.

Lows in the mid 60s.

Friday: mostly sunny and warmer.

Highs in the lower 90s.

Friday night: clear and mild.

Lows in the upper 60s.

Saturday: mostly sunny and warm.

Highs in the low to mid 90s.

Summer officially begins at 4:44 p.m.

Cdt.

Saturday night: mostly clear.

Lows around 70.

Sunday: partly cloudy, warm, and more humid.

Highs in the low to mid 90s.

A 20% chance of a few storms during the heating of the day.

Early next week: scattered summer storms are more likely monday & tuesday with the chance of rain 40- 60%.

Highs will range from the upper 80s to lower 90s with muggy to be staying in washington state have agreed to a home and home series and 20to be staying in washington state have agreed to a home and home series and 2030 and 2031 mike leach coached at washington state before taking his position at mississippi state government davis gomez had taken manager transfer portal recently but now if they will be transferring out rising junior blake kinchen has entered the transfer portal al.com is the first report henson joins bryce gard as players that are transferring away caledonia high school football players will be playing with each other at the next level at southwest community college mountain with soccer secures its first signing haley mcgill she is if timing is everything, then take a moment thursday to watch part two of better together - a mid morning conversation.

Aundrea self talks with attorney and west point pastor orlando richmond, nadia colom, the former executive director of the golden triangle boys and girls club, tupelo's leah davis, a recent graduate from the university of mississippi and jason roberson, a student at morehouse college.

This group talks about the real meaning behind those terms we hear so often.

Systemic racism.

Black lives matter and what it means to be an ally - a valuable conversation, especially right now.

Sot orlando richmond: people want to know what systemic racism is.

It's also called institutional racism and that helps to understand it.

It means that as a part and parcel of our institutions, racism has been embedded.

Aundrea self: you will hear a lot of people say, "i'm not racist," but it is not enough not to be racist.

So leah, i want to ask you, what does it mean to be anti- racist versus i'm not racist?

Leah davis: i think when you say, "i'm not racist," you are avoiding the responsibility that you have in the conversation.

And every white person and people who want to call themselves allies, they have a duty to uphold humanity and to use their privilege in order to protect black lives.

Nadia colom: for me, i think that subject of privilege gets a lot of pushback because a lot of people feel like it's just, "i don't understand how i had to pull myself up by my bootstraps just like you."

But i think what i'm seeing today is the privilege to choose to stay in your comfort zone.

This is a very uncomfortable topic, very difficult for us to navigate whether it's in our homes, in our churches or in our community groups.

But some people do benefit from the privilege of staying silent on it, and i think it is very difficult to be a trusted ally if you aren't at least allowing the space for a different perspective to be heard.

Starkville native and morehouse sophomore jason roberson is the fourth member of the panel.

Roberson will be a first time voter in november.

He shares his perspective tomorrow on mid morning at 9:00 a.m.

Last look stinger last look