School bus safety top priority for Tupelo officials

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo Police and school district leaders want to make sure your students arrive at school and get home safely. And they’re cracking down on drivers who fail to stop during routes. Police have issued at least 12 citations in the last six weeks for drivers passing school buses while safety arms are out. Officers and school…

State Board of Edu. named SOCSD one of newest Districts of Innovation

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Oktibbeha County Consolidated School District joins some exclusive company next school year. The State Board of Education has named SOCSD one of the newest Districts of Innovation. Districts and schools of innovation are intended to expand learning choices, create more rigorous standards, increase student achievement, reduce gaps in achievement among students, and increase…

Room to Room Furniture named Retailer of the Year

The Tupelo store gets a coveted national honor

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) -Staff at Room to Room Furniture knew they had been nominated by their peers for Retailer of the Year, but when word came that the store beat out furniture stores across the nation, it took everyone by surprise. “It was a shock, I think we were not necessarily expecting that,” said Amber Beane, who is the assistant…

District attorney’s program helps keep at-risk Pickens County students in the classroom and out of the courtroom

CARROLLTON, Ala. (WCBI) – An Alabama district attorney is working across communities to make sure that at-risk students stay in the classrooms and out of his courtrooms. District Attorney Andy Hamlin of the 24th Judicial Circuit says he is willing to try anything to keep as many children out of the criminal justice system as possible. “Anytime I see a…

Oktibbeha County deputies make an arrest after a shooting

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County deputies make an arrest after a shooting. Terry Stuart is in custody and charges are pending. Investigators tell WCBI that deputies were called to Sanders Road about a domestic incident about 7:30 Wednesday night. No one was at the home but blood was found in a bedroom. Lowndes County deputies later found the…

Monroe County landlord feels the squeeze from record high gas prices

Buzzy Cullum says gas prices, inflation impacts everyone

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – With rental properties throughout Monroe County, Buzzy Cullum says the double whammy of rising fuel prices and skyrocketing inflation is making it tough for his tenants. “Right now it’s putting a burden on them when they have to buy extra fuel, normally fifty dollars a week, now it’s 75-80 dollars a week but their base…

Feeling Peachy

Blue Bell Ice Cream Representatives sharing new flavor ice cream.

Two Blue Bell Ice Cream representatives are sharing a new flavor ice cream and a few recipies. Categories: Local News

Mississippi State students redesign car for maximum fuel efficiency amid gas crisis

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – While rising gas prices have drivers searching for new ways to save on fuel, a team of students at Mississippi State spent the last four years designing a safer, more fuel-efficient car. “It’s a mild hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid,” says MSU associate professor Dr. Randy Follett. “All of the charging of the battery pack occurs…

Columbus police department added a new K-9 to its team

It doesn't come as a surprise to many people that labor shortages are hitting all sectors

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It doesn’t come as a surprise to many people that labor shortages are hitting all sectors. Retail, restaurants, and even first responders are looking for people to fill positions. Columbus police chief Fred Shelton had been trying to add depth to the CPD team for quite some time, and he recently added a new piece to the…

Lowndes County Supervisors accept bid from Enterprise Rentals

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies will soon be getting some new wheels, and they could save the county some money down the road. Lowndes County Supervisors accepted a bid from Enterprise Rentals to provide vehicle fleet services for the Sheriff’s Department. After pricing new vehicles and examining maintenance costs for his fleet, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins began exploring…

Lowndes County approves its first ARPA-related expenditure

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County approves its first ARPA-related expenditure. The Horne Group of Jackson will get $300,000 for its consulting services. The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors approved the fee today at its meeting. Supervisors contracted with the Horne Group to identify and prioritize projects that qualify for American Rescue Plan Act funding. The 300 thousand dollar…

Contact Helpline Comprehensive Training Class

COLUMBUS, Miss. (Press Release) –  CONTACT HELPLINE will offer comprehensive crisis training classes, featuring skilled professionals as guest presenters on 3 consecutive Saturdays, March 26, April 2, and April 9, 2022. Topics covered in the classes will include Active Listening Skills, Substance Abuse, Death & Grief, Rape, & Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Suicide Prevention & Crisis Intervention, Mental Illness &…

Two local veterans honored for service with quilts

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A pair of area veterans receive a colorful “thank you” for their service. William Buchanan and Melissa Saraiva were honored today at the Columbus Lowndes Public Library. The veterans were each given a quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Buchanan served in the Pacific in World War Two and in Korea. Saraiva served in the…

Clay County deputies investigate deadly weekend shooting

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Clay County deputies continue to investigate a deadly shooting that happened over the weekend. The homicide investigation started on Blake Road, close to the Pine Grove Road intersection. Sheriff Eddie Scott says deputies were called after 41-year-old Mikel Craven was found lying in a ditch. The Cedar Bluff man was taken to the hospital and…

A Columbus resident had a bullet go through her patio window

Columbus investigators are still back and forth, working the scene of a weekend shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus investigators are still back and forth, working the scene of a weekend shooting. The shooting happened Sunday afternoon at Cypress Park Apartments. Police Chief Fred Shelton said no witnesses came forward; however a resident who wasn’t there at the time came home to see that her patio door window had been shattered by a bullet. A…

Spring Break Expo introduces students to an inspiring man

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- A Columbus organization is using spring break as a chance to offer fun activities for students while introducing them to leaders in their community. ‘One Columbus Community Group’ is hosting the Spring Break Expo this week. Youth in the area are able to participate in workshops, dance classes, drama classes, kickball games, talent show, and more. Students…

Starkville residents last chance to comment on sign ordinance

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville residents will have one more chance to comment on a sign ordinance that’s been 11 years in the making. The 3rd Public Hearing for the sign ordinance is on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The rule requiring all pole-mounted signs to be removed and replaced by monument-type signs…