172-year-old church in Wren is demolished in storms

WREN, Miss (WCBI)-Community members in Wren picked up the pieces of a staple in their community. Tranquil United Methodist Church was built in 1847. Over the church’s lifetime, it has suffered many tragedies but has continued to stand the test of time. WCBI talked with members about the importance of this landmark and how they plan to pick up the…

National first responder shortage puts demand on the local responders

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -The first few days after a storm are critical as families and the community regroup and gather what’s left of their precious memories. The importance of first responders amplifies following natural disasters. Columbus Fire Chief says the national first responder shortage is putting a higher demand on the local responders. “Firefighters do more than fight fires,” Chief Duane…

Amory residents band together after devastating tornado

Help comes from across the region and state

AMORY, MISS. (WCBI)  –  The people of Amory have come together following the catastrophic tornado that ripped through the Monroe County community Friday night.    A war zone. That best describes a vast swath of Amory following a tornado that swept across the state. Trees were down everywhere, and that meant the familiar sounds of chainsaws. Amory Mayor Corey  Glenn says about 40%…

Service members impacted by Friday night’s storms

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI)- Service members were impacted by Friday night’s ruthless storms. Some of the heaviest damage occurred along the Highway 25 corridor heading north out of town. Amory High school and the adjacent National Guard armory had extensive roof damage. The armory houses the 1st Squadron 98th Cav of the Mississippi National Guard. Commander Lt. Colonel Lee Greco says…

Piggly Wiggly owner in Amory expects a comeback

AMORY, Miss. (WCBI)- The people of Amory continue to recover from Friday night’s devastating tornado that wreaked havoc on 40% of the community. Even those who didn’t get damaged will have to deal with the fact that they won’t have their neighborhood Piggly Wiggly to shop at. As you can see it suffered extensive damage and owner Joe McGonagill says,…

Corinth Theatre Arts kicks off 55th season with ‘Steel Magnolias’

CTA is the longest running consecutive community theatre group in Mississippi

CORINTH, Miss. (WCBI) – A well-known story of six women who are described as “delicate as magnolias, but tough as steel” is brought to the stage in Corinth. To kick off its 55th season, Corinth Theatre Arts is bringing “Steel Magnolias” to the stage. “Our season this year is ‘back by popular demand’,” said CTA Executive Director Joshua Steen. That…

Local emergency agencies are gearing up for severe weather

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Our WCBI weather team predicts severe weather moving through the area tonight. And local emergency agencies are gearing up for the unexpected. Columbus Fire and Rescue has duties that go beyond the title. Those include being the first responders during and after disasters. Sunshine and blue skies. It may be the calm before the storm. That’s…

10 people arrested after undercover human trafficking operation

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A joint operation involving the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Bureaus of Investigation and Narcotics, Homeland Security, Child Protective Services, and the Center for Violence Protection nets 10 arrests. The suspects, including two women from Memphis and one from Gordo, were arrested Thursday night in Columbus. They are believed to be involved in a…

United Way of Lowndes, Noxubee expands service area

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee is going to need a bigger letterhead. That’s just one takeaway from the organization’s community meeting Friday. The United Way’s Executive Director recapped 2022’s accomplishments and laid out plans going forward into 2023. One big change is an expansion in the group’s service area. It now includes Choctaw, Oktibbeha, Webster,…

Habitat for Humanity dedicates homes to two families in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Two families now have homes to call their own, after a lot of sweat, equity, and help from volunteers. Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity held dedication ceremonies for two homes, side-by-side, on Nelle Street in Tupelo. The homes are built on land donated by the city for the Habitat homes. Both families have worked hard on…

Former Baptist paramedic convicted of tampering with opiods

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A former paramedic in Oxford is convicted of tampering with opioids while on the job. 35-year-old Richard Bowen was sentenced in federal court to three years probation and ordered to pay more than $30,000 in restitution. The former Baptist Ambulance employee tampered with vials of morphine and fentanyl in October 2021 and other times while he…

Noxubee County Grand Jury indicts murder suspect

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A murder suspect has been indicted by a Noxubee County Grand Jury. According to the Noxubee County Sheriff’s Office, in 2021, Ramsey Langford got into an argument with Montrell Burrage. The argument sparked in Burrage’s home before spilling out onto Highway 21, west of Shuqalak, where Burrage was shot. Burrage later died at a Jackson…

Local nonprofit to host golf tournament to help children in crisis

SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – Golfers have an opportunity to help an emergency shelter for children in our area. Faith Haven is holding its second annual golf tournament on April 7. It takes place at the Natchez Trace Golf Club in Saltillo. The nonprofit takes in children who are facing crisis situations, while CPS works to re-establish the children’s home as…

City of Fulton to get new city hall at no cost to taxpayers

Money comes from the Covid relief federal funds and appropriated by state lawmakers

FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Fulton is getting a new city hall, but taxpayers won’t have to foot the nearly $1 million bill. Fulton outgrew its current city hall years ago, but money was an issue when it came to remodeling or rebuilding, until now. “These funds are coming from the appropriations bill, House in 2022,” said Mayor Emily Quinn. The…

City leaders hold meeting to discuss road improvements in Columbus

A smoother ride is what everyone wants in their town

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A smoother ride is what everyone wants in their town. City leaders in Columbus hope citizens can help them identify potholes and other problem areas. People are in the trotter convention center listening to city leaders and also voicing their concerns about roads in the city. Columbus City engineer Kevin Stafford knows people throughout the friendly…

Qualifying for Ward 5 Alderman special election begins in Aberdeen

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Candidates for alderman in Aberdeen’s Ward 5 have three weeks to make their intentions known. That means another special election in the city. Alderman John Allen resigned from the position last month because of health concerns. The board approved a special election to fill the seat. In order to run, candidates must have lived in Ward…

Aberdeen School District hosts job fair looking to fill variety of positions

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – The Aberdeen School District wanted to expand its staff. A job fair is happening at the Central Office on West Commerce Street Thursday afternoon. The school district is hiring for 26 positions across the board. These vacancies range from the workers in the central office to athletics and operations. ASD Superintendent Andrea Pastchal-Smith said that the…

Louisville company among finalists for statewide award

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI/WJTV) – A Taylor Machine Works invention was a finalist for a statewide award. The Taylor Z-H-360-L Heavy Lift Truck received recognition on the floors of the House and Senate before the awards ceremony of the 2023 Mississippi Makers’ Challenge. House Speaker Phillip Gunn joined business leaders during the ceremony to give credit to all of the contestants. The…