OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The East Oktibbeha Volunteer Fire Department is retiring its 19-year-old fire truck for a new one. The new fire truck was paid for by county funds to upgrade Oktibbeha’s fire services. Patrick Warren is the Fire Coordinator of Oktibbeha County, and he said the custom firefighting cab will be greatly appreciated. “For this truck is…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – An Okolona teenager is making a name for himself in the sport of powerlifting. When trainer Nick Romano met Jayden Lowe to talk about powerlifting, he was upfront with the teenager. “He told me his goals and we said, ‘ok, this is what you have to do, Friday nights, Saturday nights, late nights, no partying, no…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A New Hope Elementary School student was struck by a car. A Lowndes County Schools spokesperson said the incident happened just after the school day ended. The eight-year-old student was leaving campus when the collision happened. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the child was crossing New Hope Road when he was struck. The victim was flown…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Chickasaw County couple was arrested for allegedly stealing money from an elderly man. Robert and Martha Henson were arrested and charged with false pretense and exploitation of a vulnerable adult. That vulnerable adult is 77-year-old Charles Farned. The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office reported that Robert Henson, who is a long-time friend of Farned, invited…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are investigating a shooting in the New Hope area. Deputies were called to Shane Circle, just off Hughes Road, last night for a shots-fired call. The victims inside the home were asleep when they heard the gunfire. A vehicle and the home were damaged by bullets. No one was injured. Deputies did…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council is set to take up a $3 million bond issue for the city’s parks at Tuesday night’s meeting. The Council adopted an Intent Resolution in June to either issue bonds or enter into a loan agreement to fund park improvements. The resolution was published, as required by state law, and there was…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – National Night Out returns to Starkville for its 40th celebration, giving law enforcement and the community a chance to build on its relationship. Similar to previous years, people, particularly children, are able to connect with officers in a friendly and peaceful environment. Games, school supplies, and other games will be available at tonight’s event at the…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Noxubee County man pleaded guilty to two crimes in Oktibbeha County. Darrell Brandon Jr. pleaded guilty to armed robbery and felony taking of a motor vehicle. Prosecutors claim Brandon was armed with a gun when he stole a safe from the victim in July 2020. Brandon was also accused of taking a pick-up truck…
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville teenager will spend three decades in prison for a deadly shooting. Tyrese Macon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court. He will also be on probation for five years after he gets out of from behind bars. Macon was accused of killing 17-year-old Clifton Files in April 2021. At the…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – 26-year-old Ryan Koehn was tragically killed in a car wreck after a vehicle plowed into his pickup truck. 22-year-old Tristan Atkinson led the Mississippi Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase through downtown Columbus when Atkinson hit Koehn’s vehicle at the Main and 5th Street intersection. Koehn was airlifted to Regional One Hospital in Memphis for his…
ALABAMA (WCBI) – Carlee Russell has been in media headlines since her alleged abduction. Now, she’s on the other side of the law. False reporting causes havoc among police, local communities, and in this case the country. “Hoover detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of Carlee Russell,” said Chickasaw County Sheriff James Myers. Charges have been filed in a case…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Veteran newsman and former WCBI News Director Gene Edwards has passed away. Edwards came to WCBI from KSTP in Minneapolis in 1988. From 1988 to 1990 he wore two hats here at WCBI, serving as both Lead Anchor for the Evening Newscasts and News Director. A former co-worker described him as an “old-school” TV newsman who…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Charges were upgraded this afternoon involving the deadly crash in downtown Columbus. Tristan Atkinson was charged with murder. He’s already facing a felony fleeing, DUI, and reckless driving, along with other traffic violations. Atkinson’s bond was set at $500,000. He remains in the Lowndes County jail. The murder charge came after Ryan Koehn died. Last week,…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Four people were injured after a shooting at or near Baptist Golden Triangle. Police Chief Joseph Daughtry told WCBI there was an altercation on the back side of the hospital. Investigators believed people in two vehicles were shooting at each other. They also think the gunshot victims came from those cars. Daughtry said four people have…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Plumes of black smoke billowed over Lowndes County Monday afternoon. The flames towered above piles of scrap at Appliances Plus on Highway 182. District 5 and 2 volunteer firefighters, along with Columbus Fire and Rescue battled the blaze. The owner told WCBI he believed a newer appliance may have sparked the fire because of how…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – When students return to Heritage Academy in August, they’ll be seeing a new face in the halls. The private school in Columbus has reached an agreement with Lowndes County to hire a deputy to work as a School Resource Officer. Heritage will have one officer covering both the Elementary and High schools. A veteran deputy will…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Auditor’s office has recovered nearly $2 million of taxpayer money. State Auditor Shad White said his office has demanded and recovered more public money in the past five years than at any other time in history. The office published its annual Exceptions Report. It shows the demands issued by the auditor’s office and the…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) -Everything seems to be going according to plan as the Mississippi State Board of Education announced its timeline for the state superintendent search process. The application period launches on August 14. In the month of September, a public survey will be released on desired qualities and priorities for the state’s next education leader. The application deadline ends on…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors got an update on the progress of the county’s ARPA-funded projects. Supervisors looked at how much of the money has been committed, and how much is left. The county received just under $11.4 million in federal funds. When they first got notified of the amount, Supervisors came together, discussed, and prioritized how…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – With elections coming up, the circuit court is offering people the ability to vote absentee. Absentee voting began 45 days before the elections on August 8. According to Lowndes County Circuit Court Teresa Barksdale, they have had 250 people vote absentee. Voters have the ability to vote absentee in the circuit clerk’s office if they…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Scammers are targeting people who get SNAP benefits and the Mississippi Department of Human Services is sending out a warning. According to MDHS, there have been multiple reports of scammers getting access to SNAP EBT card numbers and PINs through skimming. Card skimmers copy card information when a card is swiped or scanned for payment. This could…
SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – Despite the sweltering heat folks descended on the Saltillo City Park to participate in the annual Kids N’ Cops. They were able to sit in Fire Engines or Police Cars. They lined up to take advantage of a free school supplies giveaway. Deundra Poole is the Public Relations Director for the Saltillo Police Department and organizer…
AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – It has been about 5 months since tornados moved through Mississippi, and the recovery continues. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency held a Resource Fair on July 29 in Amory, offering additional support. At the Fair, Atmos Energy donated the CREATE foundation for relief efforts. The CREATE Foundation has been a force in these efforts for the past 50…
MONROE COUNTY, Miss (WCBI) – Back school preparation is happening throughout Mississippi. As Monroe County students gear up, local business is helping students with essential school items. Aberdeen’s Freshly’s Market, and Urgent Care, under the umbrella of Holliday’s Helping Hands organization, give away over two hundred backpacks and supplies, along with snacks for kids to enjoy. “Kids are our future…