Police say guns among teenagers continue to plague communities

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Guns among teenagers are continuing to plague communities across the country. On Tuesday, detectives from the Columbus Police Department recovered what they said is an AR-15 from a juvenile. Both a judge and police chief Joseph Daughtry agree that parents and adults in the community need to step in as mentors for the city’s youth before…

Death investigation of Houston teenager continues

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – There are new details about the death of Denasia McGregory. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said there are more clues about the man detained in the investigation and how McGregory may have been killed. “This is another shooting victim. In this case, right here we are dealing with a 16-year-old whose life was just starting…

Columbia Industries has ribbon cutting for newly renovated facility

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbia Industries and the Golden Triangle Development LINK hosted a ribbon cutting for Columbia Industries’ state-of-art facility. The family-owned company specializes in heavy steel customization and fabrication. The newly renovated facility will allow manufacturing equipment used in aerospace, shipyard, oil & gas, power generation, and waste & recycling industries. Over 60 jobs created with an average…

Montgomery County law enforcement search for accused car thieves

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Law enforcement in Montgomery County is looking for two accused car thieves. COURTESY: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. This is an example of the type of car and not a photo of the actual car that was stolen. The sheriff’s department said a 2003 Toyota Camry, similar to the one in the picture, was taken from…

Deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is May 25

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – There is an important deadline looming for people who suffered damage from the March tornadoes in Carroll, Montgomery, Monroe, Panola, and Sharkey Counties. Thursday, May 25, is the last day to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Homeowners and renters in those areas who have uninsured or underinsured storm-related losses may be able…

Man shares invention he uses to make traffic stops run smoother

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Over 20 million law enforcement traffic stops happen yearly; some are successful, and some end tragically. One Texas native shared an invention he hoped will help traffic stops run smoother. “The biggest hole I have ever seen was the barrel of a police gun,” said Brian Wilturn, founder of The Pocket USA. Wilturner said his first encounter…

Coping on the job: How first responders manage mental health

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – For emergency responders, stressful situations are often part of the job. But that stress can build up over time causing long-term issues. Diagnoses of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, are becoming more common among front-line emergency workers like police, EMTs, and firefighters. The emotional weight first responders carry is unimaginable. WCBI spoke with the crew from…

Lowndes County Port Authority celebrates 35 years

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI ) – The Lowndes County Port Authority celebrated a 35-year milestone of sailing the economic waves of the Golden Triangle. Fittingly, The department hosted a crawfish boil and remembered the achievements it has made throughout the years. Fred Long is the Vice President of Logistics Services. He says the port has significantly increased the amount of cargo…

Tupelo police arrest man accused of child sex crimes

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo police arrested a man accused of a child sex crime. Brian Grice was served a Lee County Capias Warrant for two counts of Sexual Battery of a Child under 14. The charges stem from an alleged 2022 incident. Grice’s bond is set at $75,000. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Categories: Crime,…

Joint agency operation lands 14 arrests in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Law enforcement officers arrested over a dozen people right before the weekend in an effort to get illegal guns off the street. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint operation with the West Point Police Department, the state’s violent crime task force, Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Department…

Plans move forward to repair stretch of road by Columbus Chick-fil-A

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Drivers in Columbus will soon have a smoother ride to lunch. If your dinner plans in Columbus include Chick-fil-A, you probably know the pain of trying to get there. For years, the pot-hole-plagued street that runs beside the popular eatery has been an obstacle course for people trying to get their chicken tender fix without wrecking…

NMHS confirms 4 facilities resigning from Mississippi Hospital Association

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Another group of medical care facilities left the Mississippi Hospital Association. North Mississippi Health Services confirmed that four of its facilities submitted a letter of resignation from MHA. North Mississippi Medical Center Tupelo, Pontotoc, Eupora, and Iuka are the four facilities walking away from the organization. This is not all of the hospitals in NMHS’s network. A…

West Lowndes 3rd graders achieve 100% pass rate on reading test

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – West Lowndes third graders are reading with flying colors. The group of students had a 100% pass rate on the third-grade reading test after the first retest. This is the school’s first time reaching this high achievement average. The teachers said their students have worked hard all year and their test scores are here to…

Volunteer Mississippi awards Columbus woman for her service to others

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Volunteer Mississippi recognized a Columbus woman for her years of service to others. Rosie Lee Harris has been in the news recognized for her 100 years of life and giving to the community. She was awarded the Marsha Meeks Kelly Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteer Service. Mayor Keith Gaskin nominated Harris for the award, along…

Teen charged with shooting into automobile in Oktibbeha County

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County deputies made an arrest in an apartment complex shooting. 19-year-old Ralpheal Henry of Greenville was charged with shooting into an automobile. The gunfire happened at The Hangout apartments on Mary Lee Lane back on May 10. One person had non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators believed there was a party at the complex and then an…

Columbus Police Department VIPER unit strikes crime

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus has a new police unit on the scene and it’s called VIPER. It specializes in fighting crime throughout the city. Chief Joseph Daughtry formed the VIPER unit shortly after his agency left the Lowndes County Narcotics Task Force. It may be a new unit but it has a clear mission. Last week, WCBI rode with…

Tishomingo County man dies in early morning motorcycle crash

TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An early morning crash claims the life of a Tishomingo County man. Tishomingo County Coroner Mack Wilemon told WCBI that around 7:40 Monday morning, Timothy Aldridge was riding his motorcycle west on Tishomingo County Road 226 about two miles west of Iuka, when a car pulled out of County Road 227 to cross 226. The…

Mississippi State hosts swim camp for those with special needs

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University is helping a group of campers make a real splash this Summer. The Mississippi State Department of Kinesiology is teaming up with the non-profit group, iCanShine, to teach swimming and water safety to people with special needs. Director Dr. Gregg Twietmeyer said the school has hosted the iCanBike camp since 2016 and wanted…

Macon Police Department gets new crime watching cameras

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Macon Police are getting a new pair of watchmen for a busy part of the town, and these two never sleep. Noxubee County District 2 Supervisor Landis Mickens and the Noxubee County Library Society are each donating crime watch cameras to the Macon Police Department. The two new eyes in the sky will be installed in…

Man attempts to run over person leaving gym in Amory

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – What started out as a question nearly led to a man getting run over. 54-year-old Byron White of Humble, Texas was charged with attempted aggravated assault. Amory police said the victim was leaving a gym when White approached him and asked who was inside. The victim told him to talk to someone else and left to…