TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo post office is renamed for a Vietnam war hero. “It’s almost overwhelming the honor and support I’ve received from all of you,” said Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris. With his wife of nearly 62 years looking on, Retired US Air Force Colonel Carlyle “Smitty” Harris told friends and family he was in awe at the honor…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Churches across our area are busy packing shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts for children around the world. At Tupelo’s West Jackson Street Baptist Church, a “packing party” was held Wednesday night. Shoe boxes full of Christmas gifts were packed and prepared to be shipped out. It’s part of a ministry known as “Operation Christmas Child.” The…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo hairstylist is coming to the aid of a co-worker who was recently hospitalized after a sudden illness and has no medical insurance. Although Paula Morrow is a longtime client at Holly Hills Salon, this is the first time she has seen Melanie Payne Ware for hair coloring. Morrow is a regular client of Tina…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann says action needs to be taken now to free up the backlog of autopsies at the state crime lab. The lieutenant governor said he talked this week with Commissioner of Public Safety Sean Tindell, offering to get more private practices to be able to do autopsies. Hosemann says the backlog means criminal…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The longtime executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation is retiring. Dick Guyton announced that he will retire on January 8th, which would have been Elvis’ 87th birthday. Guyton has served as executive director of the Memorial Foundation and the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum since 2002. Guyton is 82 and says it’s time to…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann says he believes lawmakers will deal with medical marijuana during the regular legislative session. Hosemann says lawmakers have completed most of the work on a medical marijuana bill. The lieutenant governor says the bill will allow medical marijuana and not the recreational use of the drug. “I think it’s one of…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s Secretary of State says it’s important for people to vote in their local elections, even though there are no state or national races on the ballots. Michael Watson was in Tupelo at the Bissell precinct this morning, to observe voting at the West Tupelo polling place. The secretary of state visited with election workers and…
FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at an area school are learning that hard work and good behavior pays. For the month of October, students at Itawamba Attendance Center were given a challenge. “We did perfect attendance, plus you couldn’t have any office, discipline referrals. So you had to be pretty good, well behaved and you had to be here every…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Voters in Chickasaw County will cast ballots on Tuesday in the race for coroner. The special election was called when longtime coroner Michael Fowler resigned. Interim County Coroner Larry Harris, Funeral Director Whitney Lancaster, and former coroner Andy Harmon are all vying for the job. Harris served as deputy coroner and was named interim coroner…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It was an opportunity to thank local school administrators for their hard work during a luncheon organized by the Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo. The JA’s: “School Aid” committee organized the lunch for administrators, nurses and counselors in Tupelo and Lee county schools. During the lunch, administrators heard about the many services JA offers for students, such as…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Celebrities from across the region are lacing up their dance shoes and making last minute preparations for an event that helps teach youngsters about ballroom dancing and the king of rock and roll. WCBI’s Allie Martin is part of this year’s “Dancing with the King’ and gives us a sneak peek of his routine, and tells…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The first guests are checking in this Wednesday at ‘Home 2 Suites” by Hilton. Christy Cook is director of sales and says there has been a lot of interest in the city’s newest hotel, before opening day. “I have had a ton of response, everyone, obviously wants to come see it,” Cook said. The 89 room…
CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of elementary students in Calhoun County schools are considering their career paths. The students were part of a unique career fair. It was an opportunity for Calhoun County third and fourth graders to meet with professionals from a variety of careers. “We have Weyerhauser, Mississippi State University with bioproducts, TVA, Natchez Trace, Baptist, Northwest is here…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It is National First Responder’s Week and a Tupelo gym is showing its appreciation to those who keep us safe. Premiere Fitness and Horseshoe Farms provided lunch for police, fire and sheriff’s departments, EMTs, and other first responders, as part of an event called “Feed the Red, Feed the Blue.” This is the second year the two…
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Businesses are gearing up for the Christmas shopping season, even as they deal with nationwide supply chain issues. The shelves are fully stocked at “Ashley’s Boutique and Gifts”. Owner Ashley Patterson says if recent trends are any indication, this Christmas shopping season will be big. “We had a wonderful Christmas last year, I think it was…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Future police officers are learning how to respond to an active shooter call. For two days, cadets in Class B 68 of the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center have been put through various active shooter scenarios. Their firearms use training ammunition, known as sim rounds. Non lethal rounds that provide realistic training. The Department of Homeland…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The North Mississippi Medical Center has been named Grand Marshal of the largest Christmas parade in the region. The ‘Reed’s Christmas Parade’ will take place December 1st in downtown Tupelo. NMMC was named Grand Marshal because of the heroic work healthcare workers and staff have done over the past year and a half. Jack Reed…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – For families with loved ones who have a terminal illness, choosing end-of-life care can be a daunting task. One Northeast Mississippi ministry is trying to ease that burden. “This is a busy highway, Number 6, and we all drive by here, a lot of times and see the yellow house and we have no idea what it’s…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo child is not letting a physical limitation stop him from proclaiming an important message. For nine-year-old Caleb Rodgers, a typical day may include physical therapy, doing homeschool work, or one of his favorite activities, sitting with his Dad, singing hymns. Caleb has cerebral palsy, and though he may be nonverbal, Caleb is able to communicate…
HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – A new school year for one school district in our region means an added layer of protection for students and teachers. When Howard Parker was hired as the school resource officer, one of the first items on his to-do list was to make sure the campuses were secure. “Simple things like doors leading to the outside, not…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The new leader of the Chickasaw Development Foundation says the county is poised to grow its existing businesses and industries, and attract new ones. Patsy Gregory has been on the job for about a month now as executive director of the Chickasaw Development Foundation. When she’s not in her office, she may be at a meeting,…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Bridging the gap between the community, churches, and police, that’s the goal of a nationwide initiative that has come to the All America City. Community members, police, and pastors met Monday evening at Tupelo’s West Jackson Street Baptist Church, as part of a “Faith And Blue’ outreach. “Faith and Blue’ is a nationwide effort to connect…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Plans are moving along for a project that will help tell the story of the Chickasaw Nation. For a wreath-laying ceremony at the Piominko statue at Fairkpark, there was Choctaw social dancing and hymns. The ceremony provided a look into the traditions and customs of the Chickasaw Nation. Their history and story will be highlighted at the…
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A group of parents in Monroe County is upset with the school board over what parents say is the board’s reluctance to hear from the public on various issues. The district’s superintendent says there are procedures in place that people must follow to keep things orderly. It was at a meeting of the Monroe County School Board…