TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – An initiative that promotes literacy selected two books for its community-wide reading program. “Tupelo Reads” has selected two books by Jamie Ford. Those books are “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” and “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy”. Lisa Reed is chairman of Tupelo Reads and said both novels look at the Chinese American…
GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – A Grenada man convicted of killing two people will remain in prison. This summer the Mississippi Parole Board voted to grant Frederick Bell parole. On Wednesday, they reversed that ruling. The family of one of the victims, Bert Bell, petitioned the board and thousands of Mississippians to help their fight in keeping Frederick Bell in Parchman….
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus civic group stepped up to honor one of the people who helps keep the city safe. The Columbus Exchange Club recognized Joshua Connors as Columbus’s Firefighter of the Year at a ceremony during the club’s weekly meeting. Connors is a Columbus native and second-generation firefighter. He joined Columbus Fire and Rescue in 2019 and…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a drug take-back day this weekend. You can take your unused and unwanted medication to the sheriff’s department on Saturday. It will be open from noon until 4 p.m. The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors the event with agencies across the country twice a year. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A hit-and-run crash ended with a car in a ditch. The accident happened on Highway 45 in front of Champions Towing at about 10:30 this morning. Police believe a vehicle hit the car before it crashed into the deep ditch and drove away. The driver did have an injury to his leg. No description of the…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A girl is hit with a baseball bat and then gunfire rings out. Now, Columbus police are trying to find the shooter. The girl was hit in the head during an argument at Sim Scott Park on Wednesday evening. She was taken to the hospital to be treated. Investigators say a short time later someone shot…
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department has settled a lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed during a drug raid in 2015. The family of Ricky Keeton had sued the county, over the death of Keeton, who was shot after he pointed a gun at officers who were serving a no-knock warrant. “There’s been…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Some local middle schoolers are launching into their future with the help of a new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math program Columbus Middle School sixth graders are the first in Mississippi to pilot the STEAM course “We build it Better” aviation program. As technology in the classroom advances, school administrators are fighting to keep the…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- October 26 is recognized as the National Day of the Deployed. Victory Christian Academy is holding a ceremony for students who have family members who are current or former military. For two students, they’re going to get the surprise of a lifetime as their mother comes home after being deployed for six months. Quashayla Outlaw looked on…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The dive team that found the submerged car have a unique mission. They help families search for missing loved ones and sometimes bring closure to those families. Before Jacob Grubbs puts on his diving suit and goes in the water, his mission starts with a conversation. “Talking with the families, it is extremely difficult but…
PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – Pickens County voters head to the polls on November 8. County leaders want them to get behind an amendment on the ballot. Amendment 649 was created in 1997 to allow tax money to go towards fire equipment for Volunteer Fire Departments in Pickens County. Now, many including Circuit Clerk Keith “Booty” Cox feel that the…
WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Of the many areas of daily life that were affected by the COVID Pandemic, there is one that may be surprising: the pet population. During the pandemic, tens of thousands of pets were adopted. Since then, there’s been a double whammy. People have gone back to the office and spent less time at home, and…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A car was found submerged in a well-known Lowndes County lake while deputies were investigating another crime. The Dodge Intrepid was pulled from Officers Lake, next to Profitt’s Porch, just before noon today. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the license plate from the car tells investigators the vehicle was reported stolen in 2010 from a local…
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – What started as a drug arrest in Tupelo has led to a break in a burglary investigation. When TPD officers stopped a car this past Saturday, they arrested 22-year-old Christopher Stubbs for felony possession of narcotics. Evidence found during that investigation tied Stubbs to an October 18th car burglary. He was then charged with burglary of…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A tip to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department lead them to a car submerged in a local lake. The car was pulled out of Officers Lake near Proffitt’s Porch. Lowndes County investigators said they were told about the car in the water and a dive team later found the car. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins…
MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A head-on crash claims the life of an Aberdeen woman. Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley says 71-year-old Dorothy Jones died after crashing into an oncoming car on Highway 25. The accident happened after 10:30 Tuesday night. She was taken to NMMC in Tupelo and died just before 2:30 this morning. MHP is investigating the crash…
MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Children five and older can now get the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shot. The Mississippi State Department of Health announced today that families can now make appointments for their kids to get the booster. The vaccines are available at all county health departments. The state’s epidemiologist, Doctor Paul Byers said as we get into the winter months,…
CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s never too early to start thinking about possible career choices. That’s the message for third and fourth graders in Calhoun County. WCBI participated in this unique career fair in Pittsboro. At this career fair, third and fourth-graders could dress up as a veterinarian, or a TV host. They also had a chance to save…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- While most people associate severe weather with the Spring, here in North Mississippi we know any season can be severe weather season. One thing you should always keep in mind is how to stay informed when severe weather hits. And in this case, more is better. For many people, emergency sirens are the first alert that…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man reported missing in Columbus has been found and is safe. After seeing reports about Justin Brooks being reported missing, a Columbus resident recognized Brooks walking down the street. That person called the police. They have taken Brooks to the hospital to be checked out, but he appeared to be unharmed. The Columbus Police Department…
WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Flu season is making an early appearance in Mississippi, and that’s especially true here in the Northern part of the state. In fact, North Mississippi is ranked number two on Walgreens’ national Flu Index Map. The flu has been spreading, and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. That has area…
EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – A work of art has been made an eyesore after a vandalism incident in Eupora. Police got a report about paint being thrown on a mural in the Art Park next to Tower Loan on Main Street. Eupora Police believe the incident happened somewhere between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. If you have any information about…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The three finalists to be recommended as the next Columbus police chief will be brought to town for an interview. Mayor Keith Gaskin says the candidates will be brought in one at a time to interview with the city council. No dates have been set for when those interviews will take place. Seven people were initially…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – What could get hundreds of elementary school students up and on a bus first thing in the morning? Would you believe, Math? Students from across the state gathered at the Trotter Convention Center for the return of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science’s Math Superstars. MSMS students guided the young Math whizzes as they competed…