TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – As they arrived at the Performing Arts Center at Tupelo High School, each contestant was “sashed” by the newly crowned Miss Volunteer America Hannah Perrigin. This time last year, Perrigin won Miss Mississippi Volunteer. “For this week, I want to encourage all the girls, the teens and misses to make friends. They will get exactly what…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued fewer tickets but reported more fatalities this July 4 Holiday compared to last year. The 2023 Independence Day Holiday Travel Enforcement Period only ran two days this year, from 6 a.m. Monday until Midnight Tuesday. During that time, State Troopers wrote over 4,400 tickets and made 49 arrests for impaired driving. They…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – On Friday, May 5, Tupelo Police Department officers responded to a report of inappropriate sexual contact with a juvenile. After further investigation, Javarus Shackelford, 26, of Tupelo, was taken into custody and charged with three counts of Sexual Battery by a Person in a Position of Authority. On July 2, Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Allen ordered…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville girl scout is helping a member of her community. Paige Shelton chose to help clean up a portion of Charles “Lala” Evans land for her community project for her Civil Award. Most know “Lala” Evans in Starkville as the town’s first Black mail carrier. However, he’s also known for this area in his yard…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Jump right in. Dozens of families spent the holiday at the pool at Moncrief Park in Starkville. The Parks and Rec department held a free swim as part of its 4th of July celebration. Moncrief is one of only a few public swimming pools in the area. It was closed at the beginning of the summer…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Dozens of people rallied together to show their support for a car accident victim that remains in critical condition. 23-year-old Summer Ethridge was airlifted to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo Friday morning after a car wreck at a dangerous intersection in West Point. Friends and family gathered at the Tupelo hospital and her hometown…
CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Law enforcement has been working hard during the extended holiday weekend. With lots of travelers hitting the road to visit friends and family, several people gearing up for tonight’s celebrations. Staff Sergeant Derrick Beckom with the Mississippi Highway Patrol said there are lots of considerations to keep in mind to keep you safe this 4th…
WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – This year’s 4th of July has become a 4 Day Holiday weekend for many. That means more time for rest, relaxation, and refreshment. Justin Wilkerson is the general manager of a local liquor store. He said business has been booming business this Independence Day. “This past weekend was very busy and we are expecting today…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Fireworks stands in north Mississippi have been busy in the lead-up to the Fourth of July. But burn-related injuries also skyrocket around this time of year. We all love watching fireworks in the night sky on holidays but they come with some significant risks. Tina’s Fireworks has been helping people around Okolona light up the…
CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An accident in Clay County over the weekend has left one woman in critical condition, and it has law enforcement looking at ways to make an intersection safer. Highway 50 East stretches from West Point to Columbus and intersects with Barton Ferry and Herman Shirley Roads. Once again, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office found itself…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – If you plan on cooking for a big crowd for the Fourth of July, you may already know that the grocery stores are packed. It’s almost the Fourth of July and folks are stopping by their local grocery stores getting what they need for the holiday. Employees at stores like Food Giant and Sunflower have seen…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – 23-year-old Summer Ethridge was airlifted to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo after a car wreck at a Clay County intersection Friday morning. Ethridge has been sedated for the last three days because of multiple brain bleeds and doctors are getting ready to begin the waking-up process. Friends and family are asking the community to…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Asphalt is crumbling, and a crack is running across two lanes of a Mississippi highway. This is Highway 82 West in Starkville, just before the exit for Highway 389. This buckling was caused by excessive heat conditions. That’s according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Asphalt can heat up to 140 to 150 degrees on a…
MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Bond was set at $50,000 for a Noxubee County woman. Macon police arrested Laquanda Clark late last week and charged her with aggravated assault. The charge stemmed from an incident in the Baptist Hill area on June 24. Clark was accused of cutting another woman in the face with an unknown object in that incident. For…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The first day of school is just weeks away and for many, that means it’s time to catch up on vaccinations. The state of Mississippi requires certain vaccinations for children first entering school and another round for those moving up to seventh grade. The State Department of Health is making those vaccinations easier to get…
CARROLL COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – If you might be involved in illegal activity, it’s usually not a good idea to wave guns at people. That’s something two men in Carroll County learned the hard way this weekend. Sunday, Carroll County deputies responded to a report of two men driving around North Carrollton holding a rifle out of the car window…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Supervisors in Lowndes County found themselves in a familiar situation, being asked to fund a budget shortfall for the county school district. The Lowndes County School District has claimed a $1.1 million shortfall in its budget. The two groups have been at odds over how certain industrial properties should be taxed. School leaders said properties…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors paved the way for improvements at three of the county’s community centers. Supervisors accepted a bid from Falcon Contracting to pave the parking lots at Concord, Crawford, and New Hope Community Centers. Currently, all three have gravel lots which have become popular for the “wrong” reasons. People have been showing off their…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – If you are shooting fireworks this holiday weekend, the State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages firework safety this Independence Day whether at home or a firework show. State Fire Marshal and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says to use common sense when dealing with fireworks, and never point them at someone. Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks need…
COLUMBUS, Miss (WCBI) – The Columbus High School Class of 1993 kicked off its 30-year reunion by helping out its hometown. The alumni gathered at Sim Scott Park to clean up the neighborhood. The Class of ’93 was the first to graduate from Columbus High School after the district consolidated Lee and Caldwell High Schools. Stephanie Jones and Kessa Thompson…
TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A Columbus woman now has a national stage to share her platform and promote a pageant that is more that just a beauty competition. Hannah Perrigin was crowned Miss Volunteer America last weekend during the national pageant in Jackson, Tennessee. Perrigin grew up in Columbus, raised by a single mom and was taught to pursue her…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Those traveling this Fourth of July Weekend may need to fill up their car with gas. The average for the state of Mississippi is $2.97, which is the lowest state average in the country. In Lowndes County, the average is 2.95 per gallon, and in Clay County, it is $2.87. This time last year, the average in…
NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss (WCBI) – The Noxubee community beat the heat at the Jeffery Simmons Fun Day and Fire Works event. The Professional football player for the Tennesse Titans put it on as a way to give back to his hometown. Simmons was even presented a key to the city as a thank-you for his dedication and service to Macon….
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Police Department is investigating a fatal one-vehicle collision on July 1st around 7:24 p.m. An SUV occupied by four individuals left the road at the intersection of Highway 12 and Bluefield Road. A 71-year-old passenger was declared dead on the scene. The driver was flown to Tupelo for further treatment. A male and female…