COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Spelling Bee champ will soon compete in the Scripps National Bee in Washington. But you can see Vihaan Mahajan capture the title Saturday on WCBI. Our cameras were rolling during the statewide spelling bee on March 4 on the MUW campus. More than 40 spellers competed until it was down to one. You can…
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…
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 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…
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….
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus police officer terminated for reportedly using a mobile app to clock in and out for work while outside the city limits is appealing the decision. The appeal hearing has been going on all afternoon at City Hall. Former officer Aaron Andrews is accused of clocking in and out remotely on seven occasions. The app,…
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…
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…
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…
WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – A shooting threat came to West Point High School on Thursday. Officers said the threat came in Thursday morning saying that someone planned to have a shooting at the north campus of the high school. The district posted on social media saying they would have an increased officer presence. School resource officer Tara Sloan said…
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
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…
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, 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…
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,…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville police are investigating an armed robbery at a Dollar General store. It happened Wednesday night at the Dollar General on Ruth Road. That’s in the Clayton Village area. According to reports, the armed suspect came into the store around 8 p.m. wearing a mask and demanded money. He left the store with the cash drawer….
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, 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…
CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An escaped convict was recently accused not only of breaking into a home but also of killing a motorist who tried to help him after a crash. Both of these crimes happened in relatively rural settings. There are still three inmates on the move. And they may be avoiding more high-profile areas, like cities and…
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, 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…
VERONA, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Verona drivers will have a detour on their commute. A bridge on Palmetto Road, about 0.35 of a mile from Raymond Avenue, is now closed for an emergency repair. Lee County Road Manager Tim Allred said a head wall was washing out and required immediate closing. It will take about four weeks to make the…
OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A shots-fired call landed an Oxford man in jail facing serious charges. Saturday, Oxford Police responded to a report of gunshots in the area of Herman Drive in the city. As the investigation unfolded, officers arrested 53-year-old Vandy Leo Shaw of Oxford. Shaw was charged with Aggravated Assault. His bond has been set at $10,000. For…