Volunteer search team finds elderly dementia patient safe in Calhoun Co.

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An elderly dementia patient in Calhoun County is back home safe thanks to help from a volunteer search team. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call after midnight Thursday. An 83-year-old man with early onset dementia had wandered into the woods just north of Pittsboro. The department called on the Calhoun County search…

Booneville woman faces felony charges after passing several bad checks

PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A batch of bad checks lands a Booneville woman in the Prentiss County Jail. 37-year-old Carissa Moore was charged with five counts of Felony Bad Checks. Prentiss County Sheriff’s investigators said Moore passed several bad checks at the Marietta Grocery Store. Her bond has been set at $10,000. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us…

Safety checkpoint in Saltillo leads to 2 drug arrests

SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – A safety checkpoint in Saltillo netted two drug arrests. Wednesday, Saltillo police were conducting a safety checkpoint in the city when they stopped a car driven by Gary Barnett. While speaking with Barnett and his passenger, they reportedly gave the officers consent to search. Officers searched the two people and the vehicle. They reported finding drugs…

Lowndes Co. ends County Government Month with picnic at courthouse

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Workers and their families got out of the office Friday to showcase their work to the public. The county capped off its observance of County Government Month with a picnic on the lawn of the Lowndes County Courthouse. Employees from the various county offices set up booths to educate area residents on all…

Civil Service Commission upholds termination of CPD officer

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Civil Service Commission has voted to uphold the termination of a Columbus Police officer. Former officer Aaron Andrews appealed his termination during a hearing Thursday. The commission voted three to zero to uphold his firing. Andrews was terminated for using a mobile app to clock in and out for work while outside the city limits….

Former Georgia Head Coach says FCA makes positive impact in schools

Mark Richt encouraged FCA leaders to continue standing for their faith on their mission fields

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – He coached the Georgia Bulldogs for 15 years and was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. But Mark Richt said his greatest victory came one day when he was a coach at Florida State University under the legendary coach, Bobby Bowden. “In 1986, Coach Bowden led me to Christ,” Richt said. Richt and…

Recruitment efforts in full swing for West Point Police Department

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – There is a critical need for people who provide critical services. Firefighters, police officers, and even 911 dispatchers are stretched thin. Chief Avery Cook of the West Point Police Department said that it’s been a challenge to recruit and retain officers. Currently, over half of his department is made up of new faces, and he…

MDOT closes section of Highway 373 in Lowndes, Monroe Counties

LOWNDES/MONROE COUNTIES, Miss. (WCBI) – A section of Highway 373 that runs through Lowndes and Monroe Counties is being closed. Effective Thursday afternoon, The Mississippi Department of Transportation is closing Highway 373 from Barton Ferry Road in Lowndes County to Self Road in Monroe County. This is a section of 373 that runs North of Columbus Air Force Base. Deficiencies…

Double Springs Water Association boil water notice has been lifted

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Good news tonight for some water customers in Oktibbeha County. The boil water notice issued by the Double Springs Water Association last week has been lifted. Customers of Double Springs Water Association no longer need to boil their water before use. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Categories: Local News

Law enforcement captures escaped Hinds County inmate

SPRING VALLEY, Texas (WCBI) – One of the inmates who escaped from the Raymond Detention Center in Hinds County over the weekend has been captured in Texas. The U.S. Marshals Service, Harris County, Texas Sheriff’s Office, and Spring Valley Police Department caught up with Jerry Raynes in Spring Valley, Texas. Raynes was accused of using a stolen public works truck…

Waiver allows select Mississippians to buy hot foods with SNAP

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Food and Nutrition Service has approved a waiver allowing residents in select Mississippi counties to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits to buy hot foods. The waiver came after extended power outages and property damage from the March Tornadoes. SNAP recipients in Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington,…

Lowndes County deputies find 2 modified handguns during arrest

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Wednesday arrest in Lowndes County is shining a spotlight on a new challenge facing law enforcement officers: illegally modified handguns. DA’QUAVIOUS KEISHAWN ROBERTSON Wednesday afternoon deputies with the Lowndes County STING Unit spotted three men sitting in a car at the Airbase Texaco on Highway 45, just north of Columbus. When deputies approached, they…

Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce held annual education awards

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County students were honored for their achievements in the classroom. The Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce held its annual education awards program Thursday morning. Students from each school with the highest GPA in high school were recognized. Corporate scholarships were also given to students. One outstanding senior was also recognized by the schools. Lisa Veazey,…

THS a cappella choir holds benefit concert for Amory schools

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Area high schools are often known for their rivalries, but students at one school are doing what they can to help a district that was impacted by a recent tornado. Tupelo High School Director of Choirs Dr. Suzy Williams is making sure everything is pitch perfect as students in the a cappella group “High Tide” do…

Lamar County man dies after house fire Tuesday afternoon

LAMAR COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lamar County man is dead after a house fire. The blaze happened about 2:30 Tuesday afternoon on Harper Circle in Vernon. 39-year-old Isaiah Smith was found inside the house. Jason Clifton with the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s office says the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No other injuries were reported. Smith was…

Columbus-Lowndes County Airport celebrates 70th anniversary

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Lowndes County Airport is celebrating a milestone: its 70th anniversary. The three-day celebration includes a traveling exhibit that is open to the public. The Columbus Lowndes County airport is kicking off its celebration with a travel back in time. The Rise Above Traveling Exhibit has landed at the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport. The exhibit showcases…

Columbus police investigate afternoon parking lot brawl

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police are investigating an assault behind a restaurant and law office. Investigators said the brawl happened Monday afternoon at about 12:30. It happened in the parking lot behind Mitchell, McNutt, and Sams’s, and Zachary’s. We are told the victim worked at the restaurant. The victim told police he believed it was retaliation for a fight…