Two major companies investing in STP lumber mill in Ackerman

ACKERMAN, Miss. (WCBI) – An international partnership brings a major investment and expansion to Choctaw County. Southeastern Timber Products of Ackerman and Tolko Industries of British Columbia, Canada is investing $150 million into an expansion of the STP lumber mill in Ackerman. The investment will give the mill the potential to more than double its current milled lumber output. STP…

Veterans, family, and friends remember the life of Bradford Freeman

CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds line the streets of Caledonia to honor the last of the Screaming Eagles who lived in quiet humbleness. Bradford Freeman lived and worked unassumingly until the Band of Brothers book was released. Friday, he was buried with all the glory a hero deserves. American flags waved in a slight breeze along Main Street Caledonia. Folks…

Clay County residents say thank you to local law enforcement with a meal

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Clay County residents say a hearty ‘thank you’ to area law enforcement with a ‘hearty’ meal. Gary and Maurice Duncan served up a lunch of ribs and sausages with all the fixin’s to officers and deputies with the West Point Police Department and Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Members of both departments were grateful for…

Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton job may be in jeopardy

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton could be on his way out of the door. Multiple sources are confirming to WCBI that Mayor Keith Gaskin asked for Shelton’s resignation. Shelton reportedly declined Gaskin’s request at their meeting Friday. Now, a special called meeting will be held Monday morning to discuss Shelton’s tenure. City Spokesman Joe Dillon would…

Oktibbeha County Humane Society joins hundreds of animal shelters in nationwide pet adoption push

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, the Oktibbeha County Humane Society is joining more than 250 animal shelters in what organizers are calling the largest funded pet adoption event in the country. Staff at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society say their kennels are almost always full. “That is two animals in a kennel, then right now, about six of their runs…

Old Prairie School building to get new life as transitional housing

Partnership between the RCDC and Stand Firm Ministry will help former inmates

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – A former Monroe County school will soon be used as a transition home for men who want to change their lives and their future. Charles Hodges may be retiring as a transport officer at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, but he says that job has prepared him for the next chapter in his life. “Day…

Mobile homes on the rise in Lowndes County

Alternate places to call home

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The current housing market is hot. Existing homes are selling quickly and prices are at an all-time high. Apartments are raising rent. And that has some prospective home buyers looking for alternatives. Greg Gates of Mills Mobile Homes says that’s good for his business.. “Just because conventional houses cost so much to build now, you can…

Lee County Interchange named in honor of Sheriff Harold Ray Presley

Sheriff Presley was killed in the line of duty twenty one years ago

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A lasting memorial is dedicated to a beloved sheriff who was killed in the line of duty twenty-one years ago today. The “Sheriff Harold Ray Presley Memorial Interchange” was unveiled this morning during a ceremony at Tombigbee Electric Power Association. The markers will be placed at the exit from I 22 onto Auburn Road in Lee County….

Search efforts continue for 77 year old Alcorn County man

Hopes among search teams ignited when Davis' dog is found safe

ALCORN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Seventy-seven year old Wade Davis was last seen on June 22nd, walking his dog, Buddy, near his Rienzi home.   Early Wednesday, Buddy was found and returned to family members.  Buddy is doing well and the discovery of Davis’ dog has given family, and search crews renewed hope. “We got new information, that’s why we’re…

New radios connect Webster County Sheriff’s Department to first responders across Mississippi

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday, the Webster County Sheriff’s Department announced that it has equipped all of its cars with new mobile radios that are connected to a statewide network. This makes 16 radios for the Webster County Sheriff’s Department that are connected to the Mississippi Wireless Information Network. “It allows counties to be on the system, municipalities, medical people,…

MHP wrote almost 8,000 tickets over holiday weekend

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – One person died on state highways in Mississippi over the July 4th holiday weekend. The fatal accident happened in Wilkinson County, in southwest Mississippi, on July 2nd. A 16-year-old died after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into an embankment. The Mississippi Highway Patrol wrote nearly eight thousand tickets and made 168 DUI arrests. Troop…

City of Columbus and Columbus Light and Water address issues

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus and Columbus Light and Water team up to address infrastructure issues in the city. The Columbus City Council voted to give Columbus Light and Water just over $1 million to help move three planned projects forward. Light and Water had come to the Council asking for money from the city’s share of…

Four people are arrested in a Lowndes County drug bust

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Four people are arrested in a Lowndes County drug bust. Lowndes County Narcotics Agents seized methamphetamine and guns inside three mobile homes on South Pickensville Road late Wednesday morning. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says agents have been working undercover for several weeks before making the bust. Rebecca Bumgardner and Christopher Stokes are both charged with two…

South Mississippi woman accused of hitting someone with her car

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A south Mississippi woman is accused of trying to hurt someone with her car in Noxubee County. Now, 25-year-old Tanyra Brown is charged with aggravated assault and two counts of malicious mischief. Noxubee County Sheriff Tommy Roby tells WCBI the incident that happened this past Sunday morning on Cedar Creek Road. Roby, he says Brown…

City of Louisville is extending its curfew

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Louisville is extending its curfew and studying its success. The overnight curfew was originally instated for 2 weeks in June, with an option to renew it for 2 weeks at a time. The idea behind it was to deter crime in the late night and early morning hours. At last night’s aldermen meeting,…

Manufacturer investing nearly $10 million to bring new jobs to Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday, the Mississippi Development Authority announced the details of a new manufacturing operation coming to Starkville. Columbia Industries is investing $9.549 million dollars to relocate from Hillsboro, Oregon to Starkville, Mississippi to create 62 new jobs they hope to fill by 2023. “Columbia Industries contacted us in a sense because they really wanted to locate in…

MSDH reporting a large increase in COVID-19 numbers

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi State Department of Health reports a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Numbers released today show 3,240 new cases were reported between July first and July fourth. That’s an average of more than 800 new cases a day. These numbers do not include people that may have tested at home and did…

Mississippi Judge denied abortion clinic request to block “trigger” law

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – In two days most abortions in Mississippi will be banned. Tuesday afternoon, Judge Debbra K. Halford denied a request by Mississippi’s only abortion clinic to block Mississippi’s “trigger” law from going into effect. Jackson Women’s Health Organization filed suit last week seeking an injunction based on a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court Ruling which says the state…