MSMS hosts convocation to kick off the 2022-2023 school year

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The state’s brightest juniors and seniors are starting off the new year. Mississippi’s School for Mathematics and Sciences opened its convocation this morning at the Nissan Auditorium on the W campus. There are 233 students enrolled at MSMS this year. The school offers millions of dollars in scholarships each year to MSMS graduates. 121 graduates from…

4 County Electric Power Association honored for keeping energy cost low

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- 4 County Electric Power Association is recognized for making energy costs more affordable. Tennessee Valley Authority honored the Columbus-based company with the North Star Award. This award is for organizations that help lower energy cost for underserved communities in their service area. 4 County also received accolades for tech initiatives and sales. The electric power cooperative serves…

Oxford woman has been accused of fraud

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oxford woman has been accused of fraud. 27-year-old Hannah Russell is charged with felon in possession of a weapon and credit card fraud. Oxford police say someone came to the police station to report financial fraud last week. No other details about the investigation were released. Russell was given a 25 thousand dollar bond. However,…

Clark Family celebrates 55 years of Gospel music

The gospel group was formed by Pastor Denvil Clark and his wife Verdie

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – It was an afternoon of singing and celebrating a local gospel music family in Aberdeen. The Clark Family’s 55th Anniversary Celebration filled up the Aberdeen Community Center on High Street. Gospel groups from the region and even as far away as Memphis turned out for the event. There was also food available, and of course performances…

Columbus police investigate nightly shooting, one man injured

A suspect is not in custody at this time.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus Police are investigating a Saturday shooting that left one man hurt. Police Chief Fred Shelton tells WCBI gunfire rang out at 1900 block 2nd Avenue North. When officers got there, one man had a gunshot wound in his arm. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital and later released. A suspect is not in custody at…

Starkville community members working to help food insecurity concerns

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Food insecurity continues to be a growing concern for several families here in Mississippi. In Starkville, you may have noticed pantries filled with canned goods and nonperishable foods. One local group, Starkville Strong has connected community members who are donating items to food banks. The shelves are filled to the brim. In the Golden Triangle, you may…

The Golden Gates Quartet of Starkville celebrates 51 of years singing

  LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss (WCBI) – After more than half a century of singing as a group, the Golden Gates Quartet of Starkville is still blowing out the tunes of gospel. Members of the community and family surprised The Golden Gates Quartet of Starkville, a gospel group that started 53 years ago. The late former manager and founding member Eddie…

Hundreds attend 24th-annual Artesia day festival

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Hundreds of people across North Mississippi are heading to Artesia to celebrate the 24th annual Artesia Day. The traditional festival features a wide-variety of activities for families and community members. BBQ is on the grill and music fills the air at the 24th annual Artesia Day. The 3-day long festival is lined up with performers, vendors,…

A Tupelo man is charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- A Tupelo man is charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute. Tupelo officers conducted a misdemeanor traffic stop on a 2008 GMC Yukon on McCullough Boulevard at Coley Road. 48-year-old Terry Allen Montgomery ran from his vehicle but was quickly apprehended and arrested. Approximately 28 grams of alleged cocaine was seized. A search…

Artesia Day 2022 is here and people are thrilled

The Artesia Day Festival kicked off Thursday night and continues throughout the weekend

ARTESIA, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s one of the oldest small town festivals in the area. The Artesia Day Festival kicked off Thursday night and continues throughout the weekend. People are excited to be back in the small town for the festivities they’ve grown to love more and more over the years. Artesia Day started off relatively small; in the early days,…

Miss Mississippi Volunteer 2023 uses platform to encourage others

Hannah Perrigin is from Columbus and has platform is "Defined By Me," encouraging people to overcome obstacles

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A 24-year-old woman from Columbus is proof that adversity can be overcome and conquered, with faith and hard work. When Hannah Perrigin went into the interview portion for the Miss Mississippi Volunteer Pageant, she walked into the room with a Bible verse on her shoe. “Psalm 46;5, and it says, “If God is within Her she…

New troopers will soon be patrolling Mississippi highways

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – 29 new troopers will soon be patrolling Mississippi highways. Cadet Class 66 graduated Friday and to the oath to keep the state safe. This is a unique class, because each cadet had law enforcement experience before going to trooper school. That is a first for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The 12 weeks of training…

Two men arrested for child sex crimes in unrelated cases

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Lowndes County resident has been arrested on a child pornography charge. 52-year-old Robert Thomas Taylor is charged with exploitation of a child. Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says tips got a tip from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force this past December. Detectives say Taylor was previously in…

Luxapalila Park will be closed beginning Monday

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus park is being closed to the public. Luxapalila Park will be closed beginning Monday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway made the announcement on social media Friday. It is the policy of the Corps of Engineers to close leased recreation areas turned back to the Corps. The city of Columbus returned the…

Curtis Lathan found guilty of second degree murder

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Curtis Lathan will spend the next 40 years in prison. Friday a Lowndes County jury found the 20-year-old Lathan guilty of second degree murder in the 2019 shooting death of 16-year-old Arykah White. White was shot to death outside of a birthday party at the Propst Park Community Center in July of 2019. The case…

Calhoun County deputies have made a child sex crime arrest

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Calhoun County deputies have made a child sex crime arrest. 39-year-old Dustin Thacker is charged with six counts of touching a child for lustful purposes and one count of sexual battery. Sheriff Greg Pollan says the investigation started last week. He believes there are multiple victims that are all under the age of 15. Deputies…

Aberdeen city leaders look at possible solution to parking problem

Some homeowners say drivers of big rigs park in private lots, causing damage to property

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – Some Aberdeen homeowners are upset over damage to their property, they say is caused by truck drivers parking their big rigs on private property. DeRhonda Jones lives next door to the old Fred’s in Aberdeen.  Although the store has been shuttered for years, she says the parking lot is used by truck drivers, who live in…

Ms center for reentry helps former incarcerated people adjust to society

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Adjusting to life outside of prison can be a big challenge for people who’ve been incarcerated. State leaders are discussing way to help them transition back into society. A conference in Starkville  focused finding to help people after they served their time. Some of the most common questions a formerly incarcerated person may have are—how do I…

Pleas from murder victims family did not change prison sentence

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Pleas from a murder victim’s family does not change a woman’s prison sentence. Alexis Sanders was ordered to serve 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder. The Canton woman’s attorney asked the court to reconsider the prison sentence after the victim’s family asked for a shorter amount of time to be…