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Friday, 29 March 2024

WCBI New at Six - 07/31/2020

Credit: WCBI
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WCBI New at Six - 07/31/2020
WCBI New at Six - 07/31/2020
WCBI New at Six - 07/31/2020

First look late friday pm/ early evening: strong to severe storms with gusty winds, torrential rainfall, and lightning will remain a threat.

Temperatures will cool into the 80s and 70s in the wake of the storms. friday night: partly to mostly cloudy with a few few lingering showers or t-storms possible.

Lows bottom out in the 70s.

Winds sw 5-10 mph.

Saturday: variably cloudy with a 40% chance of a few showers or storms. highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Breezy wsw winds 5-15 mph.

Monitor a stormy start to the school year with a teacher shortage... in booneville, a handful of teachers are in self isolation after testing positive or being exposed to covid- 19.

Our quentin smith speaks with district leaders and joins us live in the studio with more... joey...the district hoped to find substitute teachers to help fill in the gap.... but they're having trouble finding those as well..

Administrators initially planned to offer a hybrid option... but with no one to teach the students... school lessons will go virtual.

Teachers in front of their classroom... this is how the booneville school district is accustomed to having class... however....when school starts in august things will be a little different.

" it takes x number of teachers, certified teachers to have school each and every day and once that threshold is broken, then adjustments have to be made."

One adjustment the school district is making is going virtual the first month of class... after labor day, a hybrid option will be offered.

Superintendent dr. todd english says that's because roughly 10 percent of the district's teachers are out due to the coronavirus.

" it became problematic last week when we decided that around 10% of our teachers were in the quarantine or isolation protocol, and then we decided to make the decision last week so we can give parents enough time to make childcare arrangements."

English says they initially tried to find substitute teachers to solve them issue... but then ran into another problem.

" we just like most other school districts are having a difficult time finding substitute teachers because of the coronavirus.

It's not really a financial thing with the districts on the substitute teachers, as much as it is health related concerns."

English believes the lack of subs will be a problem that remains during this pandemic.

He admits it'll put a strain on the districts.

But, he's committed to keeping everyone safe even if it means reverting back to the virtual route.

"we're not going to have a teacher in the classroom at all costs, we're not going to have a teacher in the classroom, we're not going to have an assistant in the classroom if he puts others at risk.

We don't want to do that to the teachers or the assistance, nor the students, nor the parents, so we will make adjustments."

Booneville students can go to the school to get a meal and also use wi-fi.

The starkville oktibbeha consolidated school district delays the start of the new school year// the decision comes after dozens of parents request to switch to virtual learning// the new start date is now august 24th// superintendent doctor eddie peasant says the district has gotten more than a thousand requests from parents since july 21st// that's 20-percent of the student population that's wanting to move to virtual learning due to covid-19// to prepare, teachers will start training over the next two weeks// monitor even with a delay in class, this has been an exciting day in starkville// a final walk- through happened today at the starkville partnership middle school.

Our stephanie poole got a tour of the state-of-the art building.

She joins us in the studio with more.

Joey, educators and administrators are eager to start the new school year.

During the tour, we take an inside look at all the options sixth and seventh graders will have to learn... hallways may be empty now, but some will be buzzing in a few short weeks at the starkville partnership middle school.

" this is a high- tech,most modern school i think in the whole state in mississippi.

It's right here in starkville serving the needs of our students in this community."

Mississippi state university president, dr.mark keenum says this is the stepping stone for both university students and young scholars.

" i'm so proud that our students will have the opportunity to study here in this facility.

This serves the needs for our students or teachers that are preparing to be elementary school teachers and secondary school teachers.

We have classrooms here for our students that will training to be teachers of the future."

Eddie peasant is starkville- oktibbeha consolidated school district superintendent.

He says with the threat of covid-19, the board has decided two ways children can learn.

" at this time, we'll have the option of traditional which means students will come here and go to class as normal.

Students to choose to learn virtual will learn at home on their devices."

Peasant believes the new environment, multiple resources, and fine arts will guide students towards success.

Teachers, like ashley allen, developed an strategy she utilize technology in the classroom.

" i want them to do hands-on activities in the classroom whether it's going to be individual science lab experiment which they'll still enjoy that.

They'll still learn so we're going to have to tweak so things but definitely the main thing will be learning and focus on that."

And hopefully, achievement will soar across the board.

" we look forward to all the options they can make available to their students.

At this age, they get the opportunity to explore career opportunities that they normally wouldn't have close access to."

The project took about six years to complete// the school board will release final details closer to the start date.

Just one week back in the classroom and already one person has tested positive for covid 19 at corinth high school.

In a letter today, the corinth school district notified parents, but the letter does not identify the person as a teacher or student.

Everyone who has been in close contact with that person has been notified.

Students who were in contact with the infected person must quarantine for 14 days.

Those in quarantine can not attend school or any school activities.

Quarantined students must complete their work virtually to be counted as present.

Mississippi reports another record day for covid-19 deaths.

The mississippi state department of health says 52 people died from the virus.

Lowndes county had four those deaths and oktibbeha had three.

There are one thousand 168 new cases of covid-19 in the state, while more than 12 hundred remain in the hospital.

There are currently 201 long-term care facility outbreaks in mississippi.

Locally, lee county has the most new cases with 47.

Union had 36... pontotoc and monroe had 26 each and lowndes county had 19.

Beginning monday... masks will be required in lowndes county..

That's because governor tate reeves issues an executive order making it mandatory.

You must wear a mask while at public gatherings or while shopping.// the order limits social gatherings to no more than 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors... the city of columbus is issuing information sheets to businesses to explain the executive order... if an employee has been exposed to covid-19... or showing symptoms... they'll be sent home and must be tested... businesses must sanitize all high touch areas once every two hours..

And maintain six feet of separation between customers.... "the hope is always been that people would do it without being required by the governor to do it, but perhaps just as important for those people that don't recognize the value of the health benefit is there is a $500 fine or six months in jail penalty associated with violating the governors orders."

The order continues until august 17th..

A starkville man is found guilty of 5 felony counts of exploiting a child.

Charles jordan, a former police officer, was accused of sending inappropriate photographs and videos to a juvenile.

Jordan met the juvenile in 2016 while responding to a runaway report..

It was months later that jordan apparently contacted the victim to check on her.

That's when prosecutors say he sent indecent pictures over an extended period of time.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for august 18th.

The family of a missing monroe county man need help finding him - and they are offering a reward.

Mike brown was last seen july 9th.

There is now a 5 thousand dollar reward for any information that will help investigators locate him.

The 51-year-old man is from the cason community, near bigbee, in northern monroe county.

If you have any information on where brown might be, call the monroe county sheriff's department.

Stinger one group of young people is learning that some of the best mission work can be done at home.

We'll show you how next on wcbi news at 6.

Most summer youth group camps are cancelled this year.

But wcbi's allie martin shows us how a tupelo church decides to host its own gathering and make a difference in their own backyard.

When the youth pastor at calvary baptist church heard summer camps had been cancelled, he and his staff got together and planned their own.

All this week, students have been taking part in bible study, worship and local missions projects, it's all part of "serve tupelo" all this week nats students in the calvary baptist youth group have enjoyed the camp experience nats without leaving their county.

"corona virus has caused us to have to do things at home, we've kept our group relatively small."

Todd summerford is the youth pastor at calvary baptist.

He patterned the week long camp after the popular "mfuge" camps held every year across the nation.

Calvary's camp is called "serve tupelo" and has provided opportunities for local mission work.

"i have told students every year i've taken to mission fuge, i've told them the things you are doing at mission fuge are the things you can go home and do, this year we've had the opportunity to do that, so they bought in, worked hard, followed all of safety precautions, with masks, but to see them passionately serve others that they didn't even know has been extreme encouragement for me."

Students are glad they have the chance to attend a summer camp, bond with each other , study god's word, and serve others.

"we get to do what the bible says, which is go and be the hands and feet of christ, we hear about it all the time, especially in the bible belt , we hear do god's word, but we never really see it in action" "being here it kind of lights the fire where we already are and since we are staying here and live here we can keep that fire buring."

The week may be wrapping up but unlike other camps, students don't have to travel hundreds of miles to get home, they are already on their home turf and they will continue serving tupelo and their surrounding communities.

Allie martin, wcbi news summerford , staff members and interns worked for several months on the "serve tupelo" camp.

Stinger 2-shot weather open late friday pm/ early evening: strong to severe storms with gusty winds, torrential rainfall, and lightning will remain a threat.

Temperatures will cool into the 80s and 70s in the wake of the storms. friday night: partly to mostly cloudy with a few lingering showers or t-storms possible.

Lows bottom out in the 70s.

Winds sw 5-10 mph.

Saturday: variably cloudy with a 40% chance of a few showers or storms. highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Breezy wsw winds 5-15 mph.

Saturday night: partly cloudy and quiet.

Cooler lows in the upper 60s.

Sunday: partly cloudy.

Just a 20% chance of a spotty shower or storm.

Warm highs in the upper 80s.

Next week: the best chance of scattered storms appears to be monday with mainly isolated activity possible the rest of the week.

Highs remain in the upper 80s to lower 90s but overnight lows cool into the mid to upper 60s.

Tropics: hurricane isaias will continue to pass along the east coast of florida up through the carolinas and into the mid atlantic region.

It poses no threat to us and there is nothing lurking behind it at this time that would pose a threat for the northern gulf coast.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app isaias will continue to pass along the east coast of florida up through the carolinas and into the mid atlantic region.

It poses no threat to us and there is nothing lurking behind it at this time that would pose a threat for the northern gulf coast.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, instagram, and the wcbi news app stinger the high school football tour hits stop number 40 to check on the columbus christian rams spx pkg academy week continues on the high school football tour with columbus christian head coach jason williams and the rams look to continue the positive momentum from last season into 2020.

The rams are stop number 40 on the high school football tour.

Nat pop 3 sec the columbus christian rams are hitting it hard in workouts as they gear up for their 2020 campaign.

After going 9-3 last season and making a run to the semifinals in the post season, the rams enter this season with the same attitude last year's team had.

To improve each and every day.

"we want to get better everyday at what we do.

Every drill.

Every play we run, we want to execute better.

That's what we try to do."

"we come out here.

I love playing football.

Love getting up and seeing everybody.

Hoping everyone is doing okay.

We always okay each other.

We have a good coach.

Both of them love us and teach us new plays and care about us."

But the only way to get better is by giving it all you got.

Another principle the rams carry with them into the season.

"they got after it.

They worked hard.

This year's team is made up of a lot of the same players.

Except for those who graduated.

We've had 3 good practices.

We're trying to play with an intensity.

Practice with intensity.

Everything we do is just really work hard."

"we're a tough team even though we're pretty small.

It's made us really strong.

I know we're going to play every down 110%.

The best we can."

The rams graduated five seniors who were all key but feel confident in the younger players ability fill the void and take on larger roles.

"we lost some good players last year.

We had a good year.

We also had the opportunity to play several 9th graders.

They contributed, so we'll be relying on those guys.

We got a lot of kids who have seen some playing time.

We're just out here working hard and trying to make them better."

"they left a pretty big divot but we got some up and rising people i know.

We can help them get better.

Watch them as they progress into pretty good players and help us have a winning season."

It's going to take more than just the the seniors or freshmen playing well for this team to be successful.

"we got 14.

I'm expecting all 14 to contribute.

8 man football is a fast paced game.

We're going to prepare one through 14 to help us.

That's what we're looking at."

"we're brothers.

We love each other.

I believe we're going to make it to the playoffs no matter what."

With the rams on the high school football tour.

Chris bolton wcbi sports.

Here's a look at the upcoming stops for any stops that you may have missed along the way you can always check out our website, wcbi.com our website, wcbi.com wcbi.com wcbi.com

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