COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus is looking to expand its court system. It would be called an Environmental Court. The cases would include things such as dilapidated housing, code enforcement, fire code, and animal control issues. City officials took a trip to Hattiesburg on Thursday to learn more about how the proposed court would look. The goal…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Students heading back to school in Tupelo will notice construction projects across the district. One of the biggest capital improvement projects is the expansion of the cafeteria at Rankin Elementary. Once work began, it was discovered that the plumbing also needed to be replaced. In fact, new plumbing is going in at most of the campuses….
NORTH MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – If the Natchez Trace will be part of your road trip in the coming weeks, expect a detour. Beginning August 16, the Parkway will be closed for paving from Milepost 239 to 251. The closure will expand to Milepost 256 on August 21. The Northbound detour will take you off the Trace at Highway 32. The…
STURGIS, Miss. (WCBI) – The town of Sturgis honored a native public servant with a highway dedication ceremony. The late Granvel Louis Jones was a police chief for the Sturgis Police Department for three decades. He was also one of the founding members of the Volunteer Fire Department and was involved in charity work and community outreach. With Senate Bill…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – 17 law enforcement officers were fitted for a potentially life-saving gift. The officers were fitted for custom body armor by a representative with Mid South Uniform out of Jackson, Mississippi. The vests were purchased with proceeds from the recent “Blessed are the Peacemakers 5K”. That event was organized by “Wives of Warriors”, a group made up…
EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – Eupora is coming out of the woodwork, quite literally. The city is chipping away at old traditions and is carving a path for new economic growth and artistic expression. The chainsaws may be loud but the artwork is well worth the noise. Eupora’s first Chainsaw Festival is making waves in the surrounding areas. Janet Cook, a…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It has been four months since a tornado caused serious damage to the Tupelo Cooper Tire Plant and the owners are thanking employees with a special treat. The iconic Goodyear Blimp is in Tupelo. When pilot Jay Perdue learned he was bringing the Goodyear Blimp to Tupelo as a way to thank employees at the Cooper…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Changes are coming to nearly every conference in college football. Next season, the SEC will be growing to include Texas and Oklahoma. Some of the biggest conferences are making significant changes over the next couple of years. The Southeastern Conference will be welcoming Texas and Oklahoma at the end of the 2023-2024 season. S.E.C replay official…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – With a hard-fought primary battle in the rearview mirror, District 15 State Senator Bart Williams is now looking forward to the next legislative session. Lawmakers will have a lot on their plates when they return to Jackson in January. Williams would like to see continued improvement in the state’s education system and improvements in infrastructure. He also…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Call before you dig. That’s the message from “Mississippi 811”, a non-profit organization providing underground utility notification service. Friday, August 11 is “811 Day” in Mississippi. It’s a reminder to call 811 before digging to avoid hitting buried utility cables. Things, like installing a mailbox or fence, or planting a tree or shrub, all require a free…
WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld a Winston County shooting conviction. Brothers Joe and Justin White appealed their convictions of drive-by shooting and shooting into a dwelling. They were tried and convicted together. Both men argued there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction and the verdicts were contrary to the evidence. The court disagreed….
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A school district’s goal is to prepare its students for the future, whether that’s college or the workforce. The Monroe County School District is partnering with William Carey University for those inspired to transition from student to teacher. Students who complete the new teacher Academy program are eligible to receive full tuition and a scholarship…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The new leader of the Tupelo Community Theater said she has been preparing for this role for years. For Lisa Martin, taking on the role of executive director of the Tupelo Community Theater is a homecoming of sorts. “We volunteer at the theater, have so for 20 years. My husband and I both have. We actually met…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Paper versus touchscreen was the question when it came to voting procedures. Oktibbeha Circuit Clerk Tony Rook had the answer. “We found that most individuals want paper. They want to be able to put their hands on paper. The paper ballot we use is very similar to a scantron so everybody’s familiar with it. Everybody’s…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Classes at Mississippi State University start next week and many students will be jumping into a whole new time in their lives. For many of the students, it may be their first time leaving the nest. Even with returning students, many things easily be forgotten. Some simple tasks and reminders can put everyone at peace of…
PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Incumbent Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask easily won the Republican Primary. Mask received 5,476 votes, Chad Mills garnered 1,318 and Jay Allen received 1,057 during Tuesday’s election. After the unofficial results were announced, Mask said he would continue to focus on fighting crime, especially the illegal drug trade. He said he is grateful for the…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The State Appeals Court upheld the conviction of a man who tried to kill another man in Starkville in 2019. Jessie Carpenter was sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting Antonio Hart in December 2019. According to court documents, the two men had an argument in the Summer of that year. On December 15,…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A disagreement over a downtown Columbus property is heating up. The old Gilmer Inn hotel property at Main and Third streets is owned by 8692 Holding LLC. Scott Ferguson is the registered agent for that company. He also operates Financial Concepts in Columbus. He bought the property with the intent to develop the space. Furguson has…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Noxubee County man serving life plus 20 years will remain in prison. The Mississippi Court of Appeals has affirmed the Murder and Attempted Murder convictions of Marcus Gardner. In August of 2017, Gardner was arrested for the shooting death of his girlfriend Chelsea Pace at the home the couple shared in the Cockrell Quarters…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Some political experts believed familiar faces and the lack of polarizing races kept voter turnout low for Tuesday’s Primary Election. According to Dr. Brian Anderson, a political science professor at MUW, incumbents running for office in a Republican-dominated state, didn’t inspire a great turnout. Anderson said there were over 30,000 fewer votes cast for governor in…
AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – People who live in Amory and Monroe County can have their say on the community’s tornado recovery. The city is hosting two community meetings for folks to ask questions and express concerns about the March twister. Amory is applying for a Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant. These events will help develop an action plan for…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – It’s primary election day. Election officials said turnout is typically low for primary elections, and that could be because the primary process can be a confusing one. It’s decision day for party primaries in state and county-wide races. The primary election narrows the field to just one candidate in each party. What that means for votes is…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The business of attracting business in the Golden Triangle has been good, and the Golden Triangle Development LINK planning an expansion. The LINK’s new offices will be at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, putting them closer to the industries they’ve been working with over the years. Site selection is a big part of Golden Triangle Development…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – This week marks the beginning of a celebration honoring the life and legacy of Elvis Presley. One of the highlights of Elvis Week in Memphis is the Ultimate Tribute Artist competition, where a grand champion will be crowned. The singer’s birthplace has a strong track record in the contest, and this year’s Tupelo ETA has been…