Pontotoc Police Department arrest liquor store robbery suspect

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – A good description and surveillance video help Pontotoc Police make a quick arrest. Around 7:20 tonight Police were called to a robbery at Express Liquor and Wine at 237 Highway 15 North. These images were taken from surveillance video at the store. Those pictures helped Pontotoc Police capture the suspect. He was arrested around 9 PM….

How high prices, inflation are effecting this season’s holiday giving

COLUMBUS Miss. (WCBI) – The economy has more people making cuts to their personal budgets this year. With the holiday season rolling around, charitable organizations are left wondering if that belt-tightening is going to affect the donations they depend on. With prices up, many organizations and charities wonder if giving will be going down. Although this is an expensive time…

City officials interview last candidate up for Columbus police chief position

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus city officials interviewed the last of the remaining candidates for the chief of police position today. Wayne Hudson is the Chief Deputy Sheriff for the Douglas County Sheriff’s office in Nebraska. He received a Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice degree from Wayne State College and a Master’s in Public Administration Degree from the University of…

Alabama man pleads guilty to two child pornography charges

LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – A Lamar County, Alabama man pleaded guilty to two child pornography charges. 20-year-old Mason Logan Martinez of Kennedy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and one count of dissemination of child porn. Martinez was arrested in May 2021 after investigators found he created and shared obscene videos of underage girls. District Attorney Andy Hamlin…

Lowndes County officially approves of multi-billion dollar aluminum project

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County is officially on board for a multi-billion dollar aluminum mill project. Supervisors passed a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with Steel Dynamics and its affiliate Aluminum Dynamics to bring a $2 billion aluminum mill to Lowndes County. In a Special Session last week, state lawmakers approved an $81 million upfront investment…

LCBS honors 4A volleyball state champions, Caledonia Cavaliers

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors had some special guests in attendance at the meeting on November 7. The 4A State Champion Caledonia Cavaliers Volleyball team was on hand as Supervisors presented their coach, Samantha Brooks, with a resolution honoring the team for its championship run. The Cavaliers knocked off the Pass Christian Pirates last…

City, county work together to buy new equipment for Columbus Crime Lab

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – New equipment coming for the Columbus Crime Lab represents renewed cooperation between Lowndes County and the city. To get drug samples tested faster and narcotics cases to court sooner, in October, Supervisors approved the purchase of a new gas mass spectrometer for the Columbus Crime Lab, pending an agreement with the city about the equipment’s use…

Columbus police arrest suspect during credit union burglary

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An accused Columbus burglar was stopped in his tracks by an alarm and a police K9. 46-year-old Willie Coley is charged with burglary of a commercial building. Officers responding to an alarm at Columbus Municipal Credit Union found a broken window when they arrived. They also heard someone inside. That’s when they called for backup, the…

Man wanted for beating in Columbus charged with aggravated assault

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man wanted in connection with a brutal beating in Columbus was brought back from Las Vegas to face his day in court. 19-year-old Daniel Calvin is charged with aggravated assault with intent to produce death. A Lowndes County Grand Jury recently indicted him. Columbus police said the incident happened on December 27, 2021, on Brynes…

Tupelo merchants take part in Christmas Open House

The event highlights the importance of shopping local

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The Christmas shopping season is upon us, and merchants in downtown Tupelo got in the spirit with a holiday open house. The rain may have moved Santa from Fairpark to the covered sidewalk outside of the Main Attraction, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of kids when they first saw the jolly man in the red…

Mistletoe Marketplace brings local businesses under one roof

Christmas market features variety of businesses

MOOREVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Local businesses will be under one roof this weekend at a special Christmas marketplace in Mooreville. “The Mistletoe Marketplace” takes place Friday, November 11, and Saturday, November 12 at Venue 828. Owner Keri McMillian opened Venue 828 almost one year ago and said all the vendor spaces are already full for the Christmas shopping event. McMillian…