Local Headlines

Son and father in police custody after Vicksburg shooting

By China Lee | April 4, 2020 at 11:11 PM CDT – Updated April 5 at 8:41 PM

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – A Vicksburg man is still recovering after being shot multiple times.

The 20-year-old arrived at a Vicksburg hospital with wounds to his arm and chest Saturday afternoon. He was later airlifted to Jackson to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment.

Sheridan Bell and his father, Kevin Neal, were wanted for their alleged involvement in the incident.

The whereabouts of the son and father were unknown on Saturday, but they turned themselves into Vicksburg Police custody on Sunday morning.

According to the Vicksburg Police Department, Bell was being sought after for his alleged role in the shooting.

Neal had a warrant for Hindering Prosecution as a result of his involvement after the incident.

This investigation is still ongoing.

Retail giants limiting amount of shoppers in stores

By Summer Tadlock | April 4, 2020 at 10:34 PM CDT – Updated April 6 at 5:48 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The nation’s biggest retail chains are taking precautions to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Target and Walmart now strongly encouraging customers to social distance by limiting the amount of customers inside stores.

Across Walmart and Target parking lots nationwide you’ll find customers with gloves, masks, and a lot of toilet paper.

“I feel like there are folks that are maybe panicking,” said shopper Johan Frey.

These retail giants still want customers to hit the stores, just fewer of them at a time.

Starting Saturday, no more than 5 customers for each 1,000 square feet can be inside the store that’s about 20 percent of a store’s capacity.

So what do shoppers think about this?

“I would rather there not be that many people in there then to have too many. I have a health issue to where if I got this, it could be devastating,” said shopper Alan Black.

”I feel grateful that they are making the extra effort to do that.”

When the store is slammed with customers, Walmart is working on a “1-out-1-in” basis and reminding customers to keep their distance at six feet apart.

The store is also only allowing traffic to flow through one entrance.

“I think they are taking the precautions seriously, it’s necessary. It is not a convenient thing but if that’s what it takes.”

Target Is taking similar safety measures, even providing employees with face masks and gloves before each shift.

While some shoppers feel more at ease cruising the aisles, others don’t see the real benefits.

“I don’t think it will really make much of a difference. Unless they sanitize everything once people leave, what’s the point?” asked Joe Cade.

Some shoppers might not agree on the restrictions big retail chains are taking.. but they do agree that we are all in this fight… together.

“We can not live in utter fear. Just take precautions and have a positive attitude.”

Care packages given to seniors in Edwards affected by shelter-in-place order

Seniors encouraged to limit public interaction during pandemic

Edwards seniors receive care packages

By Reggi Marion | April 4, 2020 at 6:32 PM CDT – Updated April 4 at 6:38 PM

EDWARDS, Miss. (WLBT) – Two trucks and a trailer were loaded with goods for 85 seniors and their families in Edwards.

“It’s what makes America, America. People reaching out to one another. You see someone in an hour of need you don’t just sit on the sidelines. You try to do something about it,” said State Senator John Horhn.

Senator Horhn and other local leaders purchased two weeks of food and other products thanks to anonymous donors.

Seniors are considered of higher risk for COVID-19, according to health experts, and the pandemic adds to the barriers they already face everyday.

Horhn said, “They are especially vulnerable because they have limited incomes, a lack of access to transportation, and they are in a food desert.”

Panic shopping is another concern with many store shelves empty. Seniors are not able to find what they need.

Some stores carving out special hours for their most vulnerable customers to shop.

“The fewer people they can be around when they are going about their daily chores and activities the better off it is for them and for everybody else,” said Horhn.

Senator Horhn stated he does not want seniors to have to worry about leaving their homes for the next month. In a couple of weeks, he plans to deliver more care packages for seniors again.

1,455 cases of coronavirus identified by Miss. Dept. of Health; 35 deaths

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated April 4 at 10:19 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 1,455.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 97 new cases and 6 new deaths on Saturday morning. So far, 35 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The amount of people tested at MSDH Public Health Laboratory is 5,685 as of Friday evening.

There’s an outbreak reported in 30 long-term care facilities in the state. This includes these counties: Adams, Amite, Bolivar, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Forrest, Hancock (2), Harrison, Hinds (2), Jackson, Lauderdale (3), Leflore, Lincoln, Madison (2), Marion, Monroe, Newton, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Prentiss, Smith, Tunica, Union, Warren, and Wilkinson.

MSDH stated they will no longer be reporting the total number of people tested for the coronavirus. The number now only includes people tested at MPHL.

MSDH stated, “Since many COVID-19 tests are now being done by private providers, we’re no longer reporting the number tested only in the MSDH Public Health Laboratory. State laboratory numbers alone do not provide an accurate picture of testing statewide.”

The number of cases per county are:

Adams – 16
Alcorn – 6
Amite – 6; 1 death
Attala – 14
Benton – 5
Bolivar – 34; 1 death
Calhoun – 4
Carroll – 5
Chickasaw – 15; 2 deaths
Choctaw – 8
Claibourne – 1
Clarke – 5
Clay – 7
Coahoma – 27; 1 death
Copiah – 12
Covington – 4
DeSoto – 118; 1 death
Forrest – 34
Franklin – 4
George – 4
Grenada – 4
Hancock – 30; 1 death
Harrison – 70; 3 deaths
Hinds – 140
Holmes – 17; 1 death
Humphreys – 4; 1 death
Itawamba – 3
Jackson – 79; 1 death
Jasper – 3
Jefferson – 2
Jones – 9
Kemper -4
Lafayette – 21; 1 death
Lamar – 13
Lauderdale – 61; 1 death
Lawrence – 4
Leake – 8
Lee – 28; 1 death
Leflore – 22; 1 death
Lincoln – 14
Lowndes – 13
Madison – 67
Marion – 6
Marshall – 20; 1 death
Monroe – 12; 1 death
Montgomery – 10; 1 death
Neshoba – 6
Newton – 6
Noxubee – 5
Oktibbeha – 24
Panola – 10; 1 death
Pearl River – 43; 1 death
Perry – 13; 1 death
Pike – 23
Pontotoc – 12; 1 death
Prentiss – 9
Quitman – 5
Rankin – 66; 1 death
Scott – 17
Sharkey – 2
Simpson – 5
Smith – 6
Sunflower – 18; 1 death
Tallahatchie – 2
Tate – 14
Tippah – 31; 3 deaths
Tishomingo – 1
Tunica – 15; 1 death
Union – 6
Walthall – 12
Warren – 3
Washington – 31
Wayne – 2
Webster – 11; 1 death
Wilkinson – 25; 3 deaths
Winston – 11
Yalobusha – 9
Yazoo – 19; 1 death

Thirty-one percent of those who tested positive have been hospitalized, as of March 31.

A fifth death was reported in Tunica County on March 25. It was a female around 75-80 who died in a long-term care facility.

Mississippi Department of Health has a hotline open 24 hours, 7 days a week for any coronavirus-related questions: 877-978-6453.

The list of facilities that will be testing starting on Monday, March 23rd, is as follows:

Forrest General Hospital – Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg Clinic – Hattiesburg

Gulfport Memorial Hospital – Gulfport

St. Dominic Hospital – Jackson

Itawamba/Med Plus Urgent Care – Fulton

Lee/Med Plus Urgent Care – Tupelo

Memorial Drinkwater Internal Medicine Walk-In Clinic – Bay St. Louis

Memorial Long Beach Walk-In Clinic – Long Beach

Memorial Physician Walk-In Clinics – Walmart – Biloxi

Memorial Primary Care Cedar Lake – Biloxi

Memorial Stone County Medical Center – Wiggins

Memorial Surgery Center of Ocean Springs – Ocean Springs

Neshoba General Hospital – Philadelphia

North Mississippi Medical Center – Tupelo

Singing River Health System Clinics – Ocean Springs

Singing River Health System Clinics – Pascagoula

Singing River Health System Clinics – Hurley

Singing River Health System Clinics – Vancleave

Singing River Health System Clinics – Woolmarket

Few Showers; Warm

By Michael Haynes | April 4, 2020 at 7:36 AM CDT – Updated April 4 at 7:36 AM

Starting out in the 50s this along with a few hit and miss showers in Southwest Mississippi. Spotty showers continue at times throughout the day, mainly west of I-55; but even there, certainly not a washout and rain will remain light. Otherwise, more clouds than sun with highs in the upper 70s. Showers increase in coverage tonight followed by improving weather during the day Sunday as temperatures once again reach the upper 70s to near 80 degrees. Longer term, the pattern remains unsettled featuring multiple rounds of rain and storms throughout the week. An active pattern in April is an important remainder that you need to remain weather aware. While it’s too early to pinpoint the details, there is a possibility for strong to severe storms as we progress throughout the week. We’ll keep you posted!

First Alert Forecast; Few Showers; Warm

So, why are liquor stores considered essential businesses?

By Roslyn Anderson | April 3, 2020 at 7:42 PM CDT – Updated April 3 at 8:25 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Governor Tate Reeves listed a number of businesses as essential to remain open during the Shelter-in-Place order.

So, why are liquor stores still operating and considered essential businesses?

Some continue operating because they can impact the health of citizens if they close.

Addiction specialists say without them, those who are dependent upon alcohol, if suddenly cut off, could suffer seizures and even death.

“Alcohol’s the most serious that you can be detoxed off of. It causes the most complications and is the most life threatening of anything we detox our patients off of,” said Harbor House Chemical Dependency Services Executive Director Trost Friedler.

The facility administrator understands why liquor stores may remain open during times of crisis.

According to medical experts, alcohol withdrawal can cause severe affects from sleeplessness and vomiting to hallucinations, seizures and even loss of consciousness.

“Amy Winehouse would be a perfect example,” said Friedler.

Singer Amy Winehouse reportedly died from a fatal seizure while detoxing in 2011.

If someone is dependent, suddenly going without alcohol could cause DT’s or Delirium Tremens.

“The conditions that are developed from DT’s are so serious and they’re not gonna go away, and it’s gonna require a medical intervention to put the person in a safe environment,” added Friedler.

Emergency rooms or medical clinics could become inundated with the alcohol dependent if liquor stores were not open.

Addiction services professionals say those severely alcohol dependent can not do it at home and require medical treatment.

State funded chemical dependency treatment centers remain open during the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Executive Order.

Glamping company creates space for healthcare workers to sleep outdoors

By Chelsey Sellars | April 3, 2020 at 8:25 PM CDT – Updated April 3 at 8:25 PM

MADISON, Miss. (WLBT) – Like most business owners in this pandemic, Emily Henning had to temporarily stop running her tent rental company, Upcountry Camp.

“We had to postpone all of the parties that we had scheduled for the end of March and April. And we’re just working with our clients to reschedule those,” said Henning.

Until one of her clients called for a different kind of tent set-up.

“[My client’s] husband is a neurosurgeon and she just realized it wasn’t safe for him to come back into the house anymore,” said Henning.

Using the client’s personal tent, Henning glammed-up the space for free.

“We added a metal bed frame, a memory foam mattress, quilts, bedding, pillows. I have a lantern and a fan to kind of make him feel a little more comfortable,” said Henning.

Pictures of the gesture have been shared on social media through #GlampingGivesBack.

Henning also got a call to make a set-up for a paramedic, who is also choosing to sleep in his home garage to keep his family safe.

I think it just shows all of us that we need to do our part and stay home so those people can get back into their homes,” said Henning.

For the first time in its history, the Ross Barnett Reservoir is closed

By David Kenney | April 3, 2020 at 5:26 PM CDT – Updated April 3 at 9:17 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Across the state, lakes and parks are being forced to close to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Ross Barnett Reservoir is one of the popular recreation spots which will be mostly off limits for the coming weeks.

Hundreds of people use this lake for recreation every day, but managers say the threat of the virus is forcing them to shut it completely down. Something they say has never been done in its history.

The shut down started at 5 p.m. Friday.

They are banning power boats, personal watercraft, sailing paddle boats paddle boats and canoes on the water.

They will also close down all 34 of their boat ramps, landings and parks.

Many people heard this order was coming and were on the water early Friday, taking advantage of the last day of fishing and boating on the lake.

John Sigman, P.R.V.W.S.D. General Manager said, “We will block the ramps, will block the parking lots off to limit access to them. We will patrol it with our police force. They will be coming by to tell people, ‘You can’t be here fishing today, sorry, but you can’t do it.’ We plan to get further guidance from the Governor next week. He said he would look into it.”

The closures also bans any fishing from banks including the area below the spillway.

There were large numbers of people fishing there Friday. Some say, as fishermen, they practice social distancing so they don’t interfere with each other.

People who are leasing property at the Reservoir can still fish from their own banks, but all other fishing is being outlawed until April 20th.

Walking trails outside the parks here will remain open but people are being asked not to gather in groups there.

Mississippi College employee tests positive for coronavirus

By Jacob Gallant | April 3, 2020 at 5:02 PM CDT – Updated April 3 at 5:02 PM

CLINTON, Miss. (WLBT) – An adjunct faculty member at Mississippi College tested positive for coronavirus.

That person is now under the care of doctors.

School officials notified anyone who may have come in contact with that faculty member, but said that person has not been on campus since March 5, before Spring Break.

School officials do not believe any students were exposed, and said its unlikely any other faculty were exposed.

“We have taken every precaution to protect MC students and the MC community since the beginning of this crisis, but we knew it was likely that COVID-19 would reach us, just as it has reached the rest of the world,” said MC President Blake Thompson. “In the spirit of transparency, we wanted to inform the MC community about this case as soon as possible. We pray for a full recovery for our adjunct professor and for the health and safety of the family involved.”

Gov. says focus is not overwhelming health system

By Jacob Gallant | April 3, 2020 at 1:32 PM CDT – Updated April 3 at 4:52 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves held a press briefing Friday to discuss the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Reeves’ shelter-in-place order goes into effect at 5 p.m. Friday. This means only essential businesses will be allowed to open, and all Mississippians are urged to stay at home unless necessary.

Reeves said the shelter-in-place will be enforced and must be taken seriously. He said he understands how unfortunate the situation is, but lives are at stake.

“Think of it like the speed limit,” he said. He says law enforcement will break up large gatherings, but people who obey the rules have nothing to worry about.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs showed off an example of a ventilator that he said will be used that is portable and battery operated. He said while the portable ventilators are not ideal, they will be helpful in getting people the care they need.

“The main thing in slowing the spread of this virus is making sure our health system is not overwhelmed,” Reeves said.

He’s hoping getting vital supplied to those in need will prevent more deaths from happening.

“There have been far too many deaths in Mississippi,” Reeves said.

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