Tupelo Juneteenth Celebration postponed for possible bad weather

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The Juneteenth Celebration for Tupelo has been postponed because of expected bad weather. Organizers said the parade will take place Saturday at 1, starting at the CC Agustus Center. But all other activities have been rescheduled for July 1. Vendors are still welcome to apply for a spot at the event, which will include music, food,…

Winona-Montgomery school district appoints new superintendent

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District’s Board of Trustees appointed a new superintendent. Dr. Howard Savage, Jr., will serve as the district’s next Superintendent of Education. The board voted him in during its meeting on June 14. Savage will fill the position following the retirement of Dr. Teresa Jackson on June 30. He served two years…

Man arrested, accused of threatening Calhoun County sheriff, prosecutor

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Derma man was accused of threatening to kill the Calhoun County sheriff and county prosecutor. 40-year-old Gary Howell was charged with two counts of making terroristic threats. Sheriff Greg Pollan said Howell sent several threatening text messages to someone he thought was the sheriff. County Prosecutor Tina Scott was also allegedly named in the…

Hush Aerospace to have skilled workers from Lee County CTE Center

The unmanned vehicle manufacturer is building a plant next to the CTE Center at The Hive

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – An aerospace company that makes unmanned aircraft is expected to not only have a big economic boost on the region but also to have a pool of skilled future employees. Noah Bass is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Instructor at the Lee County Career Technical Education Center. He is using some of the summer break to prep…

Columbus city leaders look to pass ‘red cup law’ for downtown

Officials believe the red cup district law would promote innovation and foot traffic in the downtown area.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus city leaders want to attract more business downtown, and they believe a new option for enjoying adult beverages could help. The city council is exploring the establishment of a leisure district downtown through a red cup law which. It would allow people to carry alcoholic beverages from one business to the other. Officials believe the…

Local farmers lose crops because of hail, strong winds

The unusual trend of strong storms this month continues to cause damage in our area

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The unusual trend of strong storms this month continues to cause damage in our area. These June storms have caused damage to homes, some greenhouses, and now crops. “It’s just farming, last year we had one of the best cotton crops we’ve ever had and we started raining when the bowls started opening and rotted…

Lunch and learn helps connect older adults to resources

OKTIBEHHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s never too late to learn, and that was on full display at the 2023 Triad Luncheon at the Oktibbeha County Safe Room. Local community members gathered to learn about health and wellness resources for older adults. Through the Triad Grant, the state of Mississippi was able to implement more programs geared towards senior citizens…

Columbus City Council discusses ‘Old River Bridge’ repairs

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council met Thursday morning and one of the big topics of discussion was repairs to the Columbus Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge. The “Old River Bridge”, as it’s sometimes known, was severely damaged in February 2020 when it was struck by a runaway barge filled with limestone. Mayor Keith Gaskin said repairs are supposed to…

Columbus police credit help from public in identifying suspected shoplifters

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A little publicity helped the Columbus Police Department make an arrest in a felony shoplifting case. CPD credited help from the public with identifying two women suspected of stealing from Ulta Beauty in Columbus. The department released pictures captured from security cameras to WCBI and other media outlets, as well as social media. As a result,…

District 1 seat candidates for LCBS make case to voters at forum

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Candidates for the District One seat on the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors got a chance to make their case to voters. The Exchange Club of Columbus invited all District One candidates to speak at a forum at the club’s weekly meeting at Lion Hills. Only two of the three Republican candidates, Matt Furnari and…

Sounds of Summer outdoor concert postponed to June 22

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Sounds of Summer has been postponed until next week. The free, outdoor concert series at the newly renamed Roger Short Soccer Complex in downtown Columbus was scheduled for June 15. With rain in the forecast and with already wet soccer fields, the decision was made to move the event to June 22. The time for next…

Golden Triangle LINK to bring another megasite to Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Golden Triangle Development LINK is bringing another Tennessee Valley Authority Certified Megasite to Lowndes County. This area is the only one to have multiple megasites. Plans are underway now and the economic development team is ready to get rolling. While it may be bare now, this field will be growing new economic development opportunities…

Man arrested after Lee County deputies find explosive device

Investigation was part of an ongoing welfare check for the man's mother

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – What began as an investigation involving a vulnerable adult turned into some tense moments after a homemade explosive device was discovered at a Tupelo area convenience store. Tilar Thompson was going to stop by the Texaco T-Mart on his way home Tuesday night, but those plans changed. “My store closes at 11, I was here at…

National Flag Day remains relevant over 100 years later

On this day, 245 years ago, Congress approved the design of the American Flag. The flag today looks a lot like the one the first Americans flew.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – On this day, 245 years ago, Congress approved the design of the American Flag. The flag today looks a lot like the one the first Americans flew. June 14, 1777, was the day the Second Continental Congress passed a flag resolution: 13 stripes alternating red and white and that “the union be 13 stars, white in…

New information released in Tuesday shooting incident in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – We have new information on a shooting incident in Columbus that we first reported on Tuesday. Columbus police received a call about an undercover investigator who was in a fight in the area of Seventh Avenue North and Moss Street. The undercover initially witnessed people in two separate vehicles firing shots at each other. The gunfire…

CMSD to host groundbreaking ceremony for restoration of historic school

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A historic school in Columbus will be restored through a major renovation project. The Columbus Municipal School District is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at the old Hunt High School on 20th Street North Friday at 10:30 a.m. The campus was destroyed in a tornado in February of 2019 and ruled a total loss. The district will…

Columbus police search for suspects accused of shoplifting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s not looking pretty for a couple of suspects accused of shoplifting in Columbus. On June 9, Ulta Beauty on 18th Avenue had two separate felony shoplifting incidents, according to Columbus police. Both suspects are seen on the store’s security cameras. If you know or have any information about the individuals pictured, please call Lowndes County…