EMCC’s Golden Triangle Campus offers new line worker utility program

The goal is to provide local training for jobs with local openings.

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – East Mississippi Community College’s Golden Triangle Campus is powering up a new program. Thanks in part to a grant from AccelerateMS, the campus has started the Utility Lineworker Program. The goal is to provide local training for jobs with local openings. Noah Hatcher has seen up close what it’s like to be a lineman. He’s…

Okolona School District takes measures to combat extreme heat

OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) – “School safety is a priority here,” said Dr. Marcus Gladney, Okolona Middle School Principal. Principals and athletic directors are experts in knowing how to manage both a school and sporting activities during extreme heat. Gladney serves both roles for the Okolona Municipal Separate School District. Gladney said his middle school is taking the necessary precautions to…

Flood waters continue to rise in the Luxapallila Creek in Millport

A West Alabama town is looking to unclog a creek that has already caused some significant damage

MILLPORT, Ala. (WCBI) – A West Alabama town is looking to unclog a creek that has already caused some significant damage. Where it flows through Lamar County, Luxapallila Creek is filled with years of debris. City leaders in Millport said the rising water stretches nearly 10 miles to the Mississippi state Line. Further upstream in Lamar County, town and county…

HSFT Stop #58: Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI)  — Oxford high school has cemented itself as a team to be reckoned with year in and year out, but 2022 was uncharacteristic, missing out on the playoffs entirely. Now, the challenge is putting last year behind them and moving forward. “I think anybody would tell you that’s not up to our standard,” head coach Chris Cutcliffe…

MSU police, area agencies aim to encourage students to drive sober

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – With students back on campus, Mississippi State University police are driving home a message about safety. The MSU department teamed up with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, and Starkville Police to educate students on the dangers of drinking and driving. Using special goggles to simulate the effects of being drunk, students tried to…

Monroe County deputies make arrest in motor vehicle investigation

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office office made an arrest in a motor vehicle investigation that includes Facebook Marketplace scams. Theodis Reese Junior allegedly was involved in a scam where he used a fake profile for Facebook Marketplace to set up transactions to purchase dirtbikes. The transaction would essentially reveal itself to be bogus when Reese…

Columbus police make quick arrest in overnight shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police made a quick arrest in an overnight shooting. Officers were called to 709 17th Street North on Monday night for the gunfire. A spokesman said there was a gathering of people when an argument broke out, which led to the shooting. The victim was shot one time and later flown out of the area…

Oxford police arrest man on child sex crime charge

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Oxford police made a child sex crime arrest. 21-year-old Antavious Dukes was charged with molesting-touching a child for lustful purposes. In a press release, OPD said officers were called about an alleged incident on August 17. After the investigation, Dukes was arrested. No other details were released. Bond for Dukes was set at $35,000. For 24/7…

Starkville Fire Officials issue burn ban for city limits

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The extreme heat and absence of rain in the immediate forecast have prompted Starkville Fire Officials to take action. Until further notice, the City of Starkville is under a burn ban. That means no outside burning within the city limits. The Starkville Fire Department also advises extra caution when disposing of cigarettes and charcoal. For 24/7…

Weekend burglaries in Starkville leaves 9 juveniles behind bars

Almost 30 cars were burglarized over the weekend mostly at one apartment complex

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Weekends are usually seen as a relaxing and peaceful time to unwind; however, that wasn’t the case for some Starkville residents and law enforcement. Almost 30 cars were burglarized over the weekend mostly at one apartment complex. “Starkville has experienced 27 auto burglaries four stolen weapons on the street and as a result, we’ve made nine…

New piloting program looks to explain high power bills

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Temperatures are climbing and many people will be running the AC full blast, but staying cool may come at a higher price. 4-County Electric Power Association is looking to be proactive with its members by piloting a new program to help explain differences in their bills. Summer temperatures are on the rise and for many…

Columbus Fire Chief says recent house fires were not accidental

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The old saying goes: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” And there’s been a lot of both around the Friendly City in the past few days. The fires are still under investigation, and it’s believed that at least some of them may have been intentionally set. Three fires in three days, two of those fires ignited in…

Golden Triangle man indicted on child sex crime charges

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Golden Triangle man was indicted on child sex crimes. Ceforrest Hendrix was charged with child exploitation and human trafficking. He was arrested in March 2023 as part of a sting operation by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. Prosecutors said he believed he was on his way to meet a child for sex. Nine others…

Lowndes County grand jury returns indictment in deadly shooting case

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County grand jury returned an indictment in a deadly shooting. Jonathan Slaughter is facing a manslaughter charge. No trial date has been set for the case. Amarcus McMillian was shot in May 2022 at a Waterworks Road apartment. Slaughter turned himself in to the police after the shooting. A woman was also injured…

Community supports recovering child with Kaptain’s Katfish at Zachary’s

Hundreds participated in a fundraiser at Zachary's restaurant to raise money for Kaptain Edge's family.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – When the owner of Zachary’s found out about eight-year-old Kaptain Edge’s accident they knew they had to help. Kaptain Edge was hit by a car as he was leaving school on August 1. “This is second nature to us. This is something we have done for the community for quite a while and so once we…

Area emergency response agencies conduct tabletop exercise

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Emergency Management, area first responders, and other agencies laid their plans on the table. The agencies conducted a tabletop exercise to evaluate their plans, procedures, resources, and actions for responding to a tornado hitting the area. Each group shared its action plan, so that all agencies would be familiar with each other’s procedures,…

Water line break prompts boil water notice issue for Shuqualak

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A heads up for some Noxubee County residents. If you get your water from the Town of Shuqualak, you need to take some extra precautions for a few days. A water line break on North Constantine Street has prompted a boil water notice. The leak has been fixed, but Shuqualak water customers need to boil…

Oktibbeha County woman arrested for allegedly cutting her partner

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oktibbeha County woman was accused of cutting her partner. Ariel Coleman was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence. Investigators said the incident happened last night in the Sunset Subdivision. Deputies believed there was an argument before the victim was cut. They did require stitches and were released from the hospital. Bond has not…

Lowndes County investigators continue looking into fatal accident

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The investigation into a deadly Lowndes County accident continues. Investigators believed the crash happened early Sunday morning on Sand Road. An off-duty Lowndes County deputy spotted the wreckage at about 6 a.m. 25-year-old Matthew Tyler Hall died at the scene. Coroner Greg Merchant said Hall’s car left the road and hit a tree. Hall was…

Fire heavily damages hotel on Main Street in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus hotel was heavily damaged by fire Monday morning. The blaze happened at the Economy Inn in the 2200 block of Main Street. Firefighters arrived to find a room engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported. We are told the two people that rented the room were not inside when the fire started. Fire Chief…