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Featured, Local News

Tupelo Police officer honored at Crime Stoppers Awards Luncheon

Lt. Katarsha White has been active in community oriented policing for years
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s one of the most effective crime-fighting tools and today, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi recognized those who help bring criminals to justice. Every week, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi highlights a case police are trying to solve. Anyone with information is asked to call a tip line, and if the information leads to an arrest…

Sanitation
Local News

Local sorority chapter shows appreciation for sanitation workers

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s one of those jobs that often gets overlooked, except when it’s not done. An area sorority took time today to change that. The Pi Iota Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta treated the Sanitation and Environmental Services workers in Starkville to lunch Wednesday to show their appreciation for the job they do every day. The…

Charlie Watkins Hearse
Local News

Columbus police lead funeral procession for former Chief Charlie Watkins

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Funeral services for former Columbus Police Chief Charlie Watkins were held today. The procession went through downtown Columbus this afternoon on the way to Friendship Cemetery. Watkins served as police chief for 19 years and 26 total with the department. He was credited with hiring more officers, getting more vehicles, and improving equipment. Watkins leaves his…

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Featured, Local News

Oktibbeha County murder trial jury reaches not guilty verdict

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville man is found not guilty of murder in Oktibbeha County. Johnny Harris was indicted in 2020. He was accused of killing Elbert Vaughn. The incident happened on Montgomery Street in June 2020 and Vaughn died about two months later. Jurors returned the not guilty verdict after a short deliberation. For 24/7 news and…

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Local News

Clay County Sheriff’s Office asks for help locating missing man

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Clay County man was reported missing and your help is needed to locate him. Cedell Starks was last seen on January 12 in the Mantee and Woodland area. If you know where he may be or have seen him, contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at (662) 494-2896. For 24/7 news and updates, follow…

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Crime, Local News

Clay County man charged with attempted murder for stabbing girlfriend

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Clay County man is accused of stabbing his longtime girlfriend. 36-year-old Amonty Young was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and taking a motor vehicle. Sheriff Eddie Scott said deputies were called to a home in the Tibbee community this past Sunday evening. The victim was stabbed several times and remains hospitalized in Columbus. Scott…

Crime
Crime, Local News

Starkville police investigate shooting at apartment complex

Mary Carroll Sullivan,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville police are investigating a shooting at the Sand Hill Arms Apartment complex. One suspect is in custody. Police are not releasing additional information. Sand Hill Arms is located on Sand Road, just south of Louisville Street. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. For 24/7 news and updates, follow us…

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Local News

Louisville police identify body found as Montevious Goss

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Louisville police said the body found earlier this week is that of a teenager who had been reported missing. 16-year-old Montevious Goss was found by railroad workers near South Church Street and Railroad Avenue, in a wooded area. He had been reported missing on January 11. Goss was last seen waiting to go to school at…

Gsdp Gives Awards For Outstanding People, Groups Of Starkville Community
Local News

GSDP gives awards for outstanding people, groups of Starkville community

Mary Carroll Sullivan,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Congratulations to all of the people who work to make Starkville a great community. The Greater Starkville Development Partnership gave out awards to people and groups who have put in the extra effort. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity took home the Starkville Main Street Association Partner of the Year. And former Mississippi State football great and current…

City Veto Pkg
Featured, Local News

Waggoner Engineering gets partially fired from city contract

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus City Council partially fired its ARPA engineering firm and overrode Mayor Keith Gaskin’s veto. A lack of communication seemed to create confusion. Those were all questions asked by city leaders today. Now, Waggoner Engineering is completing some work but will not be able to help the city with its ARPA projects. Columbus Mayor Keith…

Calhoun Economic
Featured, Local News

Calhoun County tackles economic development with team sport mentality

The county recently celebrated the expansion of Albany Industries into a 55,000-square-foot former lift chair plant
Allie Martin,

CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WCBI) – A business expansion in Calhoun County is another example of a public-private partnership that is producing jobs for local residents. Albany Industries opened its Calhoun City plant in early January, and business has been brisk. The stationary furniture maker already had plants in New Albany and Pontotoc but needed more manufacturing and storage space. “We…

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State News

Bill designed to compensate volunteer firefighters is on House floor

Joey Barnes,

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Over half of Mississippi’s firefighters respond to calls and risk their lives voluntarily. Now, there is legislation on the House floor designed to compensate volunteer firemen and women to stay with their respective departments. House Bill 521 authorizes the Mississippi Insurance Department to a “Length of Service Award Program” or LOSAP. The program will provide financial…

Bpbm West Point
Local News

West Point museum kicks off Black History Month with art exhibit

Kealy Shields,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – West Point’s Black Prairie Blues Museum is kicking off Black History Month with an art exhibit Wednesday. The event will display local artist and teacher Sabrina Campbell’s work. Campbell has over 20 portraits displaying people throughout Black History. Director Deborah Mansfield said it’s a great event to learn and meet the artist. “I learn so…

Lowndes County (LCBS)
Local News

Portion of Hwy 45 in Lowndes County will honor WWII veteran

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A stretch of highway in Lowndes County will honor the memory of one of World War II’s “Band of Brothers”. Today, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to support naming a stretch of Highway 45 in northern Lowndes County in memory of Bradford Freeman. Freeman, who died last July was the last…

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Crime, Local News

Columbus City Council fires employees accused of stealing city gas

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The three Columbus employees accused of pilfering gasoline from the city were fired. Michael Williams, Deountray Roby, Kendrick Walker, and Demarcus Smith were all arrested in the investigation. Roby and Walker are charged with felony embezzlement. Smith faces a misdemeanor embezzlement charge. Williams is facing an accessory after the fact charge. Columbus police officers made the…

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Featured, Local News

Monroe County graduation rates outpace state average

Kealy Shields,

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The class of 2022 had a record-high graduation rate in Mississippi. According to the Mississippi Department of Education, 88.9% of students received their diplomas. In Monroe County, graduation rates outpaced the state average. With a collective 90.5% graduation rate, county schools Hamilton, Hatley, and Smithville had 168 students graduate in 2022. Locally, Monroe County had…

Police Actions Pkg
Featured, Local News

Columbus Police Chief talks about ways to guide his officers, family

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – People in Law Enforcement are now commenting on the Tyre Nichols incident in Memphis Tennessee. Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry said that tragedy has started a conversation about how his officers should interact with the public. The death of Tyre Nichols after a violent encounter with Memphis Police is a topic of conversation everywhere, including area…

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State News

Former Miss. Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller will not run for Gov.

Joey Barnes,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – It appears a former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice will not make a run for governor. Multiple media outlets, including the Daily Journal, are reporting Bill Waller will not qualify for the election. Waller made a strong run at Governor Tate Reeves in the 2019 Republican primary for the Governor’s mansion. Reeves ended up winning that tight…

Lowndes County
Local News

Lowndes County residents, leaders attend Coffee with the Sheriff

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County residents and community leaders got a chance to sit down and talk with the Sheriff over a morning cup of coffee. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins hosted a Coffee with the Sheriff event to get community input about issues and problem areas in the county. Hawkins also used the opportunity to collect more food items…

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State News

State Senator Chris McDaniel announces plans to run for Lt. Governor

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – State Senator Chris McDaniel is eyeing a job in the Executive Branch. McDaniel has qualified to run for Lieutenant Governor in this year’s state elections. He will face off against the incumbent, Delbert Hosemann, in the Republican primary. McDaniel has served four terms in the State Senate. He has also run, unsuccessfully, for the U.S. Senate twice,…