Historical marker unveiled at Parchman with help of Freedom Rider figure

JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – A historical marker now sits across from the front entrance of the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman on the side of U.S. 49, memorializing the state’s recognition of the civil rights activists known as Freedom Riders jailed at its oldest prison in 1961. One of the persons held with the Freedom Riders attended the unveiling…

Poll shows majority of Mississippians favor Medicaid

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Apparently, 80% of Mississippians are in favor of Medicaid. That is according to a recent poll released by Mississippi Today and Siena College. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann has gone on record saying he supports the expansion of Medicaid and that Mississippi has the funds to cover its end of the price tag. Currently, moms are only afforded…

MSE in Lowndes County teaches local high school seniors about budgeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Extension in Lowndes County worked hands-on with students at Columbus High School today. The extension wanted to help offer real-world problems to the students such as trying to budget money and pay bills. Nearly 200 Seniors at Columbus High are next to tackle the real world and members of the extension office felt…

Oktibbeha County aggravated assault trial ends in a mistrial

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oktibbeha County assault trial ends with a hung jury resulting in a mistrial. Charron Calvert is accused of stabbing a co-worker in June 2021. The Columbus man was indicted for aggravated assault by an Oktibbeha County Grand Jury. Starkville police said the incident occurred at Weavexx on Highway 12. Investigators said the victim was…

Columbus leaders will discuss Waggoner contract plan at special meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Waggoner Engineering’s fate with the city of Columbus will once again be back on the table. A special meeting has been called for the morning of January 31 at city hall to discuss the firm’s contract, once again. The council voted to cut ties with Waggoner and Mayor Keith Gaskin vetoed that action. Gaskin has defended…

Woman arrested in Clay County for hitting someone with baseball bat

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It started as an altercation. And ended with one person being hit by a baseball bat. 39-year-old Shamika Williams is charged with domestic violence aggravated assault. It happened in the White Station Community of Clay County. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said the victim was treated and released at the North Mississippi Medical Center ER….

Small businesses come together to recruit workforce employees

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A few years ago a group of Golden Triangle-based businesses came together to tackle the challenge of finding skilled workers close to home. The result was the FORGE Foundation. FORGE members recently went to the World Concrete Expo in Las Vegas to share what they’ve learned about recruiting workers with others. While working in construction is…

Terberg Taylor Americas Group breaks ground in Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – More industry is rolling into the Golden Triangle so that means more jobs need to be filled in the near future. Terberg Taylor Americas will be the first of its kind here in the Golden Triangle and our Winston Reed was there as the automotive group broke ground today. The Automotive industry plants its flag…

New chief settles into position at Saltillo Police Department

Chief Rusty Haynes spent 30 years with Tupelo Police and worked closely with Saltillo's former chief of police

SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – There is a new police chief in one of the fastest-growing cities in the region and he is no stranger to the area. It has been a smooth transition since Chief Rusty Haynes came on board several weeks ago. Haynes took over after former Chief Daniel McKinney retired. Both men worked together for years at the…

Major road in Macon will be closed for crosstie repairs

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s a big road closing to tell you about in Noxubee County. Highway 14 West at Highway 145 in Macon will be closed tomorrow from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Noxubee County EMA Director Corey Brown said Kansas City Southern Railroad is replacing a crosstie, near the old brick plant, on Highway 14. This means…

One teen is found, another one is still missing in Winston County

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Silver Alert issued for Winston County resident William Harrell last night has been canceled. He was found safe Tuesday morning. The sheriff’s department along with several other agencies searched an area near his home. Harrell was found after he took shelter in a deer stand for the night. Another search for a missing person…

Oktibbeha County assault trial underway for June 2021 stabbing

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An assault trial is underway in Oktibbeha County. Charron Calvert is accused of stabbing a co-worker in June 2021. The Columbus man was indicted for aggravated assault by an Oktibbeha County Grand Jury. Starkville police said the incident occurred at Weavexx on Highway 12. The incident occurred at the Highway 12 location after 10 p.m….

Teachers in Lee County learn how to incorporate arts into teaching tools

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Teachers from across Tupelo and Lee County spent their day learning how to teach a variety of subjects using art. The Mississippi Arts Commission held a seminar called “Reboot” at the Link Centre. The goal is to show teachers how to integrate the arts as teaching tools. Teachers took part in workshops, which included hands-on…

City of Bruce announces Mayor Rudy Pope has died

BRUCE, Miss. (WCBI) – The mayor of Bruce has passed away. The city posted a message on its Facebook page today announcing Rudy Pope’s death. He passed away this morning. Pope had been mayor of the small Calhoun County town since 2013. Funeral services have not been announced. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Categories: Local News

New Commander of CAFB visits Rotary Club in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The New Commander met with the Rotary Club today in Columbus. Colonel Justin Grieve started his assignment as Commander of the Columbus Air Force Base in July. Grieve was born in Texas and has been all over the U.S. through the United States Air Force. Grieve said while he is not from here, he and his…

Columbus city employee accused of embezzling from city-owned gas pump

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus public works employee is accused of filling up his gas tank at the city’s expense. 22-year-old Deountray Roby is charged with embezzlement. Columbus police officers made the arrest after seeing Roby allegedly filling up at a city-owned gas pump on Monday night. The city owns and maintains its own gas pump for official city…

Columbus mayor defends opposition to canceling Waggoner contract

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin is defending his veto of the City Council’s decision to cancel its contract with Waggoner Engineering. Citing their expertise in dealing with flooding and watershed issues and their success in helping others in the state, Gaskin still believes Waggoner is the right firm for the job. Gaskin said Waggoner has already done…

Board agrees to allow solar company to improve Lowndes County road

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A solar company wants to improve a Lowndes County road. Today, the board of supervisors agreed to let the company improve Gilmer Wilburn Road, in southern Lowndes County. Trucks will bring large solar panels down the roadway and the company said the road must meet specifications. So, it asked to make improvements before the panels…

Three people in Oktibbeha County indicted for aggravated assault

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Three people in Oktibbeha County are accused of beating a man with a bat. April Kellum, Stacy Jones, and Tommie Wren have all been indicted for aggravated assault. The alleged incident happened July 17 of last year at a home on Sturgis West Point Road. Prosecutors said the victim was hit in the head with…

Nicholas Holliday officially takes seat on Aberdeen Board of Aldermen

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – After three years of legal wrangling, Nicholas Holliday officially took his seat on the Aberdeen Board of Aldermen. In 2020, Holliday garnered 37 more votes than Robert Devaull to win the Ward One seat on the Board. Devaull challenged the results in court, claiming improper campaigning by Holliday’s supporters and other voting irregularities. Holliday took his…