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…

Lowndes County man re-sentenced in deadly armed robbery case

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County man was re-sentenced in a deadly armed robbery case. Cortez Williams originally pleaded guilty to depraved heart murder in 2019. That plea and his sentence of 20 years were overturned. Monday, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was ordered to serve more than 11 years in prison. Williams was also given credit…

Mississippi State abuzz with activity for World Bee Day

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a buzz in the air on Mississippi State’s campus. World Bee Day was this past weekend but the college celebrated the pollinators on Monday by hosting an informative event. Guests were able to interact with STEM activities and learn about beekeeping, and the importance of supporting honey and native bees. “They are not only pollinating…

Oxford police search for suspects involved in shooting

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Oxford Police are looking for any suspects involved in a shooting that injured three people. Officers arrived at Holly Hills apartment around 1:30 Saturday morning. Someone on the 911 call stated they heard multiple gunshots in the parking lot. The three individuals shot all suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made at this time. If…

Annual 5K in Tupelo honors memory of fallen law officers

Hundreds turn out for 'Blessed are the Peacemakers' 5K

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of people laced up their running shoes and took part in a 5K supporting those who put their lives on the line daily to protect and serve. Before this 5K begins, a procession of blue lights honors the memory of those who paid the ultimate price protecting and serving. “We have three officers represented in…

Campus of former Wood Junior College is under new ownership

It's been nearly 140 years since two ministers started a seminary in the small Webster County community of Clarkson

MATHISTON, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s been nearly 140 years since two ministers started a seminary in the small Webster County community of Clarkson. A few years later, the school was moved to Mathiston, where students could travel easily by train. Most people remember it as Wood Junior College, a thriving school in the ’70s and ’80s. The property has been…

Webster County couple killed in weekend car crash

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An elderly Webster County couple was killed in a weekend car crash. The Mississippi Highway Patrol said the accident happened on Highway 9, north of Walthall, late Friday afternoon. 79-year-old Robert Pittman’s vehicle was going south when it went off the road and hit a tree. Mr. Pittman and his wife, 76-year-old Mary Pittman, of…

Early morning fire in Columbus claims lives of woman, pets

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The investigation into a deadly early morning fire in Columbus continues. Firefighters were called to a camper park on Lincoln Road at about 5:30 a.m. The camper was engulfed in flames when the firemen arrived. Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes said a woman and her two pets died in the blaze. The state fire…

Community helps popular music duo who lost home in fire

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The community is coming together to help a popular husband and wife music act who lost everything in a fire. Keith and Margie Brown regularly play at festivals, events, and fundraisers in the area. Their home in Columbus caught fire Wednesday night. The house was a total loss, and the couple was left with very few of…

Montgomery Co. deputies search for suspects allegedly using fake money

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department hopes you can help identify some people accused of passing bogus bucks. In a Facebook post, the agency said the people in these pictures are using counterfeit $100 bills to pay for items. The cash appears to be legitimate using a counterfeit-detecting marker. However, the ink will smear as soon…

Tupelo man charged in fatal stabbing of woman on Wednesday

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tupelo man was charged with killing a woman in the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday. Tupelo police investigators believe Ricky Shumpert stabbed the victim, 43-year-old Tyronza Heavens, to death. Officers responded to reports of the stabbing on North Church Street. That’s where they found Heavens with multiple wounds. She was taken to the North…