WCBI NEWS AT TEN - May 7\, 2019

Police issue an missing endangered alert for a lamar county woman.

Thank you for joining us tonight..

35-year-old brandy pennington was last seen saturday according to friends.

She has blonde hair and has a tattoo across her chest.

Police issued the missing alert just after 7-30 this evening.

If you know where brandy is, call your local police.

It has been nearly two months since an alabama man first went missing... 48 year old roger taylor of lamar county hasn't been seen since march... our quentin smith speaks with taylor's family... quentin... have family members or law enforcement gotten any clues on his whereabouts or what night have happened?

Scott, the family says there hasn't been any breaks in the case to track down where taylor might be.... two days after taylor was reported missing, his car was found in monroe county... but there still has been no sign of taylor... however, family members do believe someone knows something.

Tonight..

They're pleading for them to come forward..

Nat as taylor flips through a scrapbook filled with pictures of she and her father, a sense of emptiness starts to set in as she still wonders about his disappearance.

" it's been bad not knowing.

Not knowing where he's at, if he's ok, if he's dead or alive, or whatever could've happened to one.

It's been horrible."

It's been 58 days since roger taylor was last seen... 58 days of pure anguish and uneasiness for his family.

" i feel like somebody has seen him, or has talk to him, or knows where he's at., and i feel they need to come forward.

If they don't feel comfortable going to the police they're more than welcome to come to me.

The 48 year was last seen on march 10th.

His daughter says ...taylor and his wife got into an argument on the night he went missing.

Their youngest daughter drove his wife to her house in monroe county... taylor then left his home in lamar county, alabama and drove after them.... " it's my understanding, my father had went to go pick kitty back up, his wife back up and he got lost."

Once he made it across state lines...he sent a text to his daughter saying he was lost.... only to never be heard from again.

His car was found on blair cemetery road a few days later...which is not far from his youngest daughter's home.

" there was a few foot prints around the vehicle and that's it, it looks like they vanished.

They are assumed to be my fathers but there's no way to verify it."

Investigators searched he area where the car was found for more than a week, but still couldn't locate taylor's whereabouts... now his oldest daughter says there's only one thing that'll bring her closure... " to be able to wrap my arms around my daddy's neck again and tell him i love him or to be able to lay my daddy to rest and have somewhere to visit him, even one would bring me great closure and great comfort because this not knowing is horrible.

Taylor has a physical issue, and family members believe that could've played a major factor in this incident.

First look stinger first look tuesday night: mainly clear and calm.

Lows around 60 with light wind.

Wednesday: another warm and summer-like day is on the way.

Look for highs in the mid to upper 80s with winds from the sse between 5 and 15 mph.

While most of the day will be dry there is a chance that a batch of storms and rain may move in from the west late in the afternoon and evening.

And calm.

Lows around 60 with light wind.

Wednesday: another warm and summer-like day is on the way.

Look for highs in the mid to the columbus police department promotes three officers at tonight's city council meeting.

One sergeant was promoted to lieutenant and two corporals were promoted to sergeant.

Our cash matlock attended the ceremony and joins us live in the studio with more on the story.

Three officers decided to take on more responsibility and a higher ranking without an increase in salary.

One particular officer says it's not about the money but rather the community she protects and serves.

Amanda burrell has dreamed of becoming a police officer ever since she was a little girl.

"i remember 'in the heat of the night.'

That was my favorite show.

I did not know until i started watching that show that women could be police officers.

I knew from the time i was five years old that this is what my calling was."

Now, she has almost 19 years of experience under her belt... and a promotion from corporal... to sergeant.

"there will be a lot more responsibility.

They'll be responsible for the whole shift and activities that go on while they're there.

They'll be making executive decisions in my absence."

Typically, with more responsibility comes more pay, however, the current budget simply doesn't allow for any pay increases for cpd officers.

But sgt.

Burrell doesn't seem to mind.

"the pay thing... that's ok... i want to help people.

I want to make a difference.

I want to be that positive influence on that little girl that wants to be just like me."

"that to me is outstanding, that they want to take this responsibility because again, it's going to be more responsibility.

It's a lot more responsibility than they had, but they are stepping up to the plate.

The other thing that's going to be a benefit is that they're gaining executive experience in this new position."

Columbus police chief fred shelton says promoting from within the department will have a positive impact.

"the community is getting three of their own.

Three people that have worked their way up through the ranks that have a working knowledge of this community.

That's good.

We didn't have to go outside and get some people that didn't know anything about this community, but these are home grown supervisors that are part of this community."

As for sgt.

Burrell... she's got her eyes on the next step in her career.

"this is only the start for me.

Hopefully, before i retire i can make lieutenant."

Sgt.

Burrell says she only knows of one other woman in columbus who has achieved the rank of lieutenant.

Take new at 10 stinger a company that makes custom electronic systems for the government and private sector is investing a half a million dollars in its tupelo operations..

Hyperion technology group is moving from its 12 thousand square foot space to a 48 thousand square foot facility in a former beverage distribution center.

The city of tupelo is buying the building and leasing it to hyperion.

Hyperion plans to add 25 new employees with the expansion.

And they hope to be in the new facility in early summer.

Mississippi needs more doctors.

Without them---it restricts access to care for many in the magnolia state.

As courtney ann jackson explains---the need is even greater in rural communities.

If you live in a metro area---yu may have never thought about what happens when a doctor moves or even retires.

It's a different story in rural mississippi.

"there are so many counties that don't have a physician.

And also there's a lot of counties that have physicians that have been practicing for 30 plus years.

You don't have anyone that's going to come in and take their place, that means there's going to be a shortage of healthcare to service that area."

That's what the mississippi rural physicians scholarship program tries to combat.

"so, if i get the scholarship for two years, i owe the state of mississippi two years of my service."

But fourth year med student griffin metcalf doesn't want to stop there.

"i do know that my desire, my wife and i want to go somewhere that we can stay long term and not just a few years and then leave.

We want to be able to invest in the community and lay down roots."

More than 30 doctors who have completed the program are now practicing in small communities statewide.

By 2020---that will nearly double.

"i've become more aware of the financial, socioeconomic, the obstacles that are in place that are more than just medicine.

They're more than just learning the science behind treating patients.

There are social factors that have to be worked with and managed, as well."

Metcalf doesn't know where he'll plant those roots after his residency but he is encouraged by the chance to help a community in need.

"instead of having the attitude that these areas can't be helped, to be proactive about it.

And i think that that's one of the benefits of this program."

Courtney ann jackson, wcbi news stinger wednesday: another warm and summer-like day is on the way.

Look for highs in the mid to upper 80s with winds from the sse between 5 and 15 mph.

While most of the day will be dry there is a chance that a batch of storms and rain may move in from the west late in the afternoon and evening.

For this we're keeping a 30% chance of rain going.

Wednesday night: a shower or storms is possible but most spots are likely going to remain on the dry side.

Mild lows in the mid to upper 60s are likely.

Thursday: there is a 90% chance of showers and storms. the latest data suggest a batch of strong to severe storms with damaging wind, hail, lightning, and heavy rain could affect the area anytime between late morning and late afternoon.

The setup for tornadoes isn't that good but you can never rule one out.

We'll try to fine tune things a bit better on wednesday.

Friday-sunday: more waves of showers and storms are likely around the region.

Over time several inches of rain may fall and some additional strong/severe storms can't be totally ruled out.

Temperatures should fall back into the 70s for the weekend due to the increased cloud cover and chance of rain.

Monday-tuesday: a drier air mass settles back in and that should provide much needed sun and pleasant temperatures in the 70s to around 80?.

Follow @wcbiweather on facebook, twitter, and wednesday: another warm and summer-like day is on the way.

Look for highs in the mid to upper 80s with winds from the sse between 5 and 15 mph.

While most of the day will be dry there is a chance that a batch of storms and rain may move in from the west late in the afternoon and evening.

For this we're keeping a 30% chance of rain going.

Wednesday night: a shower or storms is possible but most spots are likely going to remain on the dry side.

Mild lows in the mid to upper 60s are likely.

Thursday: there is a 90% chance of showers and storms. the latest data suggest a batch of strong to severe storms with damaging wind, hail, lightning, and heavy rain could affect the area anytime between late morning and late afternoon.

The setup for tornadoes isn't that good but you can never rule one out.

We'll try to fine tune things a bit better on wednesday.

Friday-sunday: more waves of showers and storms are likely around the region.

Over time several inches of rain may fall some drivers in eastern lowndes county may need to leave a little early in the morning.

Pleasant hill road will be closed from 8 am until noon.

There will be no thru traffic from highway 50 east to tabernacle road on pleasant hill.

Video they make a lasting impact everyday.

Teachers touch lives.

In recognition of national teacher appreciation day we spotlight an educator who's been in the classroom for 40 years.

Stephanie poole has her story.

Vera myles has taught math for 39-years.

" i love teaching i like to work with kids i like to see them succeed.

" this is her last year.

Mrs. myles is retiring at the end of the school year.

She says a lot has changed in 40 years.

" they are different they are changing i mean they more technology, they're more exposed to much more as apposed to when i first started and now so we have to stay up to par so it is a process.

" but,one thing that hasn't changed she says, is the amount of money teachers are paid.

" it's too late for me as far at getting a pay raise...i'm going home..i think teachers deserve as much as they can get because first of all we teach everybody.

" " we're teaching the doctors the lawyers and tell them how they are to do their job and then we reward them with big salaries then the people that teach them we barely pay them.

" this session mississippi lawmakers approved a 15- hundred dollar pay raise.

But, mrs. myles says they could do a lot better.

"we thanks you for the 1,500 but they deserve much more."

As her four-decade teaching career winds downs she already planning her retirement.

"right now all i wanna do is get me somewhere and rest."

Her students say there's no doubt about mrs. myle's passion for teaching.

The veteran teachers says she just wants the mississippi legislature to show that same passion when it come to paying educators.

" we teach their most valuable commodities, their children.

And without us, i mean ,their kids are to going to be educated.

We actually send them into all the various areas and everybody else can pay their people and it looks like they would care enough to pay us.

" centred up mrs. myles tells us her grandson will start high school next year and play basketball.

She plans to follow the team.

So students she'll be around.

Stinger only one spot left in the softball state championships...it 'd come down to smithville or pine grove highlights from seminoles field next in sports... spx open the diamond dawgs and the rebels meet again on the diamond this weekend... a lot on the line for both squads....both tied for second in the sec west...for mississippi state....it's also about keep the bragging rights including the bulldogs' 8-1 governor's cup win back on april 23rd....msu has won 9 out its last 10 against ole miss.... jake mangum and dustin skelton says having the governor's cup before the weekend series helps with the scouting report "i like how we got to their bullpen, you know, they brought some of their bullpen in and we saw some good arms, and we were able to hit them pretty well.

I think that's a bg step for it.

We've seen their hitters for a game, so we haveee an idea of how they'll line up.

It's the first time in my four years the governor's cup came before the weekend series, so we'll see how it is."

"first pitch strikes.

Get the leadoff guy out, and really just work from there.

As many times as we can get the leadoff guy out, that'll really help."

The bulldogs have a midweek matchup with memphis tomorrow...we'll hear more from ole miss on the matchup tomorrow as well a historic day for mississippi state and ole miss softball... the sec releasing the all-conference awards, and a new program mark set for both teams mississippi state with three first- team all-sec selections.....a program record... kat moore, mia davidson, and fa leilua to the first team, anna kate segars named to the all- freshman sec squad four ole miss rebels named to the all-sec team....a program record for the rebels..

Headlined by kylan becker to the first team for the second time in here career molly jacobsen to the second team, tate whitley to the all-freshman team, and kaylee horton becomes the first ole miss rebel to be named to the all- defensive team the sec tournament begins wednesday in college station game two between the vols and the pats....heritage looking to lock up the series garrett lewis says not today.....strikes out two out of three in the sixth..protecting a 4-1 starkville academy lead vols try to add some more...griffin little with a base knock to center field....griffin would be left on the bags heritage down to 3 outs....down 4-1....reid huskinson tries to get the rally started....base hit for reid.....but that'd be all for the bottom of the seventh... volunteers would force a decisive game three with the 4- 1 win the decisive game three...the rivals take it the distance....patrio ts and volunteers looking to punch their ticket to a title game vols draw first blood....cooper mcneil tags one to deep left center, drops at the wall....2-rbi double for mcneil....howell archer pumped up crossing the plate...2-0 starkville academy but back comes heritage....davis fitch with a laser beam, somehow corralled at short....out at first, but the sac groundout brings home kj smith....2-1 sa lead until reid huskinson at the plate....liner to third....throw to first is off.....huskinson turns it into a double.....and the man is living his best life.....that brings cole ketchum home.....ties the ball game game 2 between pine grove and smithville.

Smithville advances to the 1a finals with a win.

Bottom 2nd, scoreless game.

1 out.

Lizzie meeks.

Maddie mason hits one down the 3rd baseline for a single.

Next batter harley hatley hits one opposite field to right.

Pine grove throws one by the 3rd baseman barely missing our photographer and the noles score a run off the error.

Next inning, one on 2 outs.

Annie brooke morgan hits one to deep left center that's just out the grasp of the center fielder.

Noles score another run.

Morgan gets a double.

And the lady noles go onto to pitch a shutout and advance to the 1a state finals to take on vardaman!!

The final in this one smithville 4 pine grove 0.

The calhoun city wildcats one win away from a state championship appearance wildcats dominate on the road at lake....11- 1 game two at calhoun city at 5pm wednesday