Pontotoc County teenager in jail, charged with murder

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Pontotoc County teenager is dead and another teen is in jail. 17-year-old Dalton Wages is charged with murder. Sheriff Leo Mask says 17-year-old Matthew Westmoreland was shot to death on Morris Lane. Mask tells WCBI there was a party with alcohol involved at the home. Deputies learned there was a fight and then gunfire….

Sandfield Cemetery upkeep raises questions at City Council meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Questions over the maintenance of a Columbus cemetery unearth further questions about its ownership. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Columbus resident and attorney Nicole Clinkscales approached the Council about the upkeep of Sandfield and Union Cemeteries. Union is privately owned, and the City cannot perform maintenance there, but Sandfield has long been under the city’s…

Sheriff’s office hosting community meeting

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s office hopes community members will speak up about illegal activity in their neighborhoods. The department is hosting a community meeting in response to the recent increase in gun violence and drug activity in the county. The  meeting will be held Thursday at 6:00 pm at the life center at Charity Full Gospel…

Starkville Public Library hosts Banned Book Storytime

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Public library celebrates the “freedom to read” for National Banned Books Week. The national effort represents an effort to respond to challenges libraries face and the attempt to ban books from libraries, schools, and bookstores. It also encourages the freedom to support ideas without fear of censorship. Today, the public library hosted a Banned…

Starkville may turn garbage collection over to private contractor

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Trash day in Starkville may be turned over to a private contractor. The Board of Alderman agreed to ask for bids for waste pick-up in the city. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board voted for rfps. That stands for request for proposals. State law requires cities to take bids from businesses before reaching a contractual agreement…

Boil water notice for Big Creek Water Association

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A water leak is prompting a Boil Water Notice for customers of the Big Creek Water Association in Calhoun County. All customers on County Roads 309 and 311 and those on County Road 308 between the intersection of 309 and 311 need to boil their water for at least one minute before use. Categories: Local…

New pallet block manufacturing facility creates jobs in Winona

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – ArbaBlox plans to build a new pallet blocks manufacturing facility in Winona creating 41 new jobs. The Mississippi Development Authority made the announcement this morning. ArbaBlox will invest more than $51 million in the plant. The company plans to use sawmill residuals from Biewer Lumber to make its composite wood pallet blocks. This will be the…

West Point police search for missing man

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – West Point police continue to search for a missing man. 32-year-old Cortez Pratt was last seen on North Jackson Street this past Sunday. Pratt was wearing blue shorts and a t-shirt, along with flip-flops. He is about five foot, 11 inches, and weighs 220 pounds. West Point Police Chief Avery Cook says Pratt now has…

Montgomery County Sheriff warns of gravel and asphalt scammers

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss (WCBI)- Crews are breathing some new life into old scams across the area. The Carroll and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices are warning residents about gravel and asphalt scammers. According to the sheriff’s office, the alleged scammers are preying mainly on elderly residents by offering work for a small fee and then demanding more money using threatening tactics,…

Juniors and Seniors at Calhoun County Schools prepare for the future with career and college fair

More than 35 businesses, government agencies and colleges took part in the annual event

PITTSBORO, MISS. (WCBI) – Juniors and seniors in Calhoun County schools had a chance to visit with area business professionals and college recruiters. It was part of an annual career and college fair. Albany Industries was busy at the career fair, recruiting for its soon to be opened plant in Calhoun County. “This is next generation, of not just Albany,…

Student sent to jail for threatening school shooting

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A social media post threatening a school shooting at a Rankin County High School lands a girl in jail. This is according to our news partner WLBT. A spokesperson for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office says a Northwest Rankin High School student under the age of 18 made a threat toward her school on Instagram….

MSU hosts panel featuring women in leadership

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University is showcasing the talents of women in leadership roles on campus and in the community. The university’s office of Human Resources Management hosted a panel discussion today featuring female leaders at MSU and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. They each shared experiences in their respective roles and offered advice about navigating the academic, political,…

GOP Attorney Generals oppose credit card companies tracking gun sales

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi’s attorney general is joining a league of other A-G’s in opposition to a recent decision by credit card companies to track gun and ammunition sales. This is according to our statewide news partner WLOX. In early September, the Internation Standards Organization approved a New merchant Copy Code to track guns and ammunition sales. This is according…

Students in custody after Columbus High School fighting spree

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Nearly a dozen students were reportedly involved in a brawl at Columbus High this morning. Parents say the school briefly went on lockdown during the melee. City leaders were told nine students were taken into custody. Columbus firefighters were on the scene because pepper spray was used to break up the fights. Interim School Superintendent, Dr….

Attempted murder trial begins for woman in Noxubee County

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An attempted murder trial begins in Noxubee County. Jeraldine Campbell is also charged with armed robbery. Campbell is accused of shooting Bobby Hibbler in July 2020 at a home on Grissom Road. Hibbler was shot in the head during the ordeal. Prosecutors called him and an investigator to the stand today. Campbell’s trial is expected…

Man pleads guilty to shooting former sheriff’s son

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – The man accused of shooting a former sheriff’s son will spend the next five years in prison. David Hampton pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon. He will also be on probation for five years once out of jail. In December 2018, Hampton shot Roman Grassaree in the chest. The…

White House releases information on student loan forgiveness eligibility

MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA (WCBI) – Since the Biden Administration’s announcement about student loan forgiveness, supporters and critics alike have been asking how many people are going to feel the effects of the relief. Today, the White House released state-by-state estimated numbers, and the totals may surprise you. In Mississippi and Alabama, just over 1.7 million people may be eligible for some level…

Starkville parks look forward to major financial upgrade

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some of Starkville’s parks could be in for a multi-million dollar upgrade. At tonight’s meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen is expected to take up a resolution that would authorize up to $15 million to go towards improvement projects at various city parks. Improvements would allow for updates and expanded services, and city leaders hope they…

State Auditor’s Office investigates misuse of public funds

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The State Auditor’s Office has a number of duties, but it’s best known for one – investigating the misuse of public funds. And State Auditor Shad White has had his hands full in that department in the past year. White was in Starkville today speaking to business and community leaders. Even though White’s office has over…

MSU discusses importance of Constitution Day

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Everybody recognizes July 4th as a milestone in American History, but many may not know the significance of September 17th. On that day in 1789, the U.S. Constitution was signed giving the nation a framework for governing the newly formed nation. Constitution Day may not come with celebrations and sales, but historians and those who study…

Columbus fire and rescue are preventing financial fires

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Some first responders are looking for ways to respond to steady pay and inflation. Last week the city council and Mayor approved raises for Columbus Fire and Rescue. As of October 1, entry-level firefighters’ wages will be raised from $10.39 an hour to $12.50. The pay scale has had many firefighters relying on side jobs to…

Fund set up to benefit family of store clerk killed in robbery

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Support is pouring in for the family of a store clerk killed in an armed robbery in Tupelo earlier this month. Parmvir Singh, 33, was shot and killed September 13th at the Chevron Station on Cliff Gookin Boulevard. The Tupelo Sikh Center has launched a GoFundMe account to help support Singh’s family in India. Organizers of the…

Staff discover chemical leak in Jackson water treatment plant

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Jackson’s beleaguered water treatment plant hits another roadblock but avoids catastrophe. A chlorine leak was discovered this morning after an alarm sounded at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says the staff found three leaking valves and secured the area. No evacuations were necessary. Safeguards at the building to keep chlorine…