COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus is looking at its next steps in revitalizing its premier park. At a work session, the mayor and City Council heard an update from the consulting group they’ve contracted with to negotiate a $3 million bond issue for park improvements. One hurdle the consultants would like to see cleared is the completion…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI0 – Columbus city leaders have been taking to the streets to best decide how to fix them. The city has about $7 million set aside for street repairs. The city’s engineer has been driving the city and surveying problem areas. He will be meeting one-on-one with City Council members to work out a list of priorities. Special…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Tax Collector candidates share their message with voters. The three women spoke to the Exchange Club of Columbus. Maci Griffin Jones, Diane Whaley Stephens, and Kalee Huddleston Talley are all on the Republican ticket. There is no Democratic challenger. This will be the first election for the Tax Collector position in Lowndes County. The…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The driver of a pickup truck remains in the hospital at this hour after his truck was hit head-on Wednesday night. This is what remains of a police chase that ended in downtown Columbus at the intersection of Main and 5th Street. The Mississippi Highway Patrol attempted to pull over a truck, reportedly driven by 22-year-old…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A group of inmates at a regional jail achieved a milestone when they recently earned theology degrees. When Jeremy Ray came to the Chickasaw Regional Correctional Facility, he said he was looking for opportunities to go deeper in his faith. “I got saved in 2012, after being in prison for two years, when I transferred…
REFORM, Ala. (WCBI) – For most college athletes, the journey begins by excelling on their high school team and moving up to the next level, but a golfing commit at Mississippi University for Women had to find a different route. The Pickens County native couldn’t play on his high school Golf team, not because he wasn’t good enough, but because…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Yokohama Tire Manufacturing believes the best experiences are paid and hands-on. Over 300 high school students applied for the West Point plant’s ITIRE summer program but only 35 applicants made it in, representing 13 high schools.. ITIRE stands for Increasing Talented Innovators through Real Experiences. The program was designed to show students the career fields…
NESHOBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Neshoba County Fair is known for serving up some spicy politics along with the fair food favorites. The Lieutenant Governor’s Race was on the menu. Current Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann and State Senator Chris McDaniel went head-to-head in Founders Square. With primary elections less than two weeks away, the Republican Candidates were not holding…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oktibbeha County teenager is dead and two people were arrested after a shooting Wednesday morning. The gunfire happened in the 100 block of Finley Drive at about 10 a.m. Coroner Michael Hunt said 17-year-old Tristian Calmes was taken to OCH Regional Medical Center and later died. Oktibbeha County Sheriff Steve Gladney says the gunfire…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – A federal judge blocked a new Mississippi law that targeted absentee voting. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate said the legislation violated the Voting Rights Act and the state could not enforce the law during this year’s primaries and general election. The legislation set a list of people who could collect and send back a ballot that was…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The best time to look at school safety is before students return to campus. That’s the approach the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is taking. Deputies are doing walkthroughs at every school campus in the county to conduct threat assessments. The deputies have been through specialized training to identify weak points in building security. The sheriff…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Police Department’s newest camera is serving a dual purpose. It’s located on Pickensville Road, in what’s known as the “S” curve. City Spokesman Joe Dillon said the camera is set up to help officers with investigations and to help identify people dumping trash on the property across the street. The city has been battling…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus will soon repair an aging bridge. The bridge on Waterworks Road was selected for the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund. The Mississippi Transportation Commission made the announcement Wednesday morning. $4 million will be used to make the improvements. No word on when work could begin was released. Official list of approved projects: 40 Projects…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Hibbett Sports in Starkville offered free haircuts and the opportunity for parents to get last-minute shopping in before the first day of school. Six professional barbers volunteered their time to make sure that some young gentlemen went back to school in style. “Haircuts are kind of expensive nowadays so to be able to give a free…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Allegro MedSpa held a Barbie-themed pampering day. They could come get Barbie-themed manicures, pedicures, and facials, all while Barbie music played in the background. They also provided Barbie-themed food and drinks. Allegro Marketing Director Elizabeth Casano spoke on the importance of self-care at all ages. “This was all our techs’ idea. They decided that they wanted…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a new man in charge of the Columbus Municipal School District. Dr. Stanley K. Ellis will bring 22 years of educational experience as the next superintendent. The school board started with ten applicants. They hired their new leader in May and now he says he’s ready to get to work. Dr. Stanley K. Ellis has…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Excited graduates walked across the stage at East Mississippi’s Golden Triangle campus for a pinning ceremony. 19 students completed the 12-month Practical Nursing program. The program prepares students to practice under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, Physician, or Licensed Dentist. Zabasjia Price always knew that health care was her passion. “Well I always wanted to…
LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lee County Circuit Clerk Camille Dulaney and her staff have been working hard, making sure everything is set for primary elections on August 8. “This is basically two elections in one, you have Republican and Democrat ballots, and you will be asked when you go vote which ballot you want,” Dulaney said. This is the…
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – One Monroe County leader is expressing frustration over the delay in getting storm shelters despite applying for grants. Hosea Bogan, the 5th district supervisor and board of supervisors president, shared his concerns. “It has been very difficult for us to get these shelters in here. As far as I am aware, no shelters from these…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The new school year kicked off in Starkville. All of the Yellow Jackets will be streaming into class in a matter of hours. Starkville is one of the first districts in the area to return to school. Law enforcement is asking drivers to be patient, leave a little earlier, and watch for buses and students. Columbus,…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) An Oktibbeha County jury found a man guilty of attempted murder in a shooting almost two years ago. Jerome Davis was found guilty of shooting Calvin Young on Roundhouse Road in Oktibbeha County in July of 2021. Davis was originally charged with aggravated assault in the case, but last year an Oktibbeha County Grand Jury returned…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – A north Mississippi prisoner is on the run. Shortly before noon on Monday, Kirtis Elkins escaped from the custody of a probation and parole officer while he was being taken from Benton County to Desoto County. MDOC said Elkins told the officer he had to go to the bathroom but they were driving through a wooded area…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A social media post led to the arrest of a teenager and the recovery of a stolen weapon. Monday, the staff at the Columbus YMCA was told of a social media post of a teenage boy showing off a firearm with the comment “At The Y”. Employees called 911. Columbus police were on the scene quickly…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – “We have caught people affiliated with churches who were preying on young children. We have caught park rangers preying on children. We have caught regular Joe Schmos who were preying on children. There’s nothing to tell us where we can walk out in public and tell that’s a child predator right there,” said Lt. Tony…