Cheer Leading
Featured, Local News

Nearly 500 gymnasts enter in Tupelo cheerleading competition

The Bancorp South Arena is the sight of two competitions.
Joey Barnes,

TUPELO,Miss. (WCBI)- The Tupelo hotel and restaurant had a boost in revenue. The Bancorp South Arena is the sight of two competitions. Victory Athletics hosted a cheer leading competition featuring participants from all over Mississippi as well as Alabama, Tennessee and even Louisiana. Nearly 500 gymnasts are involved in a meet. The owner says with parents and other spectators there…

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Featured, Local News

Investigation underway after car crashes inside Jalisco mexican grill

Debris and broken glass covers the floor after a vehicle drove into the restaurant.
Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS,Miss. (WCBI) – Clean-up is underway at Jalisco Mexican Grill after a car crashes into the building. Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton says the driver allegedly lost control of their vehicle and drove into the restaurant just before 10 p.m. on Saturday night. “That’s just something we don’t think of really,” said Jennifer Morales. It’s like waking up from a…

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Featured, Local News

Fulton theatre named in honor of local couple

Victoria and Robert Blake devote countless hours to the arts and students
Allie Martin,

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – A historic auditorium in Itawamba County has been renamed in honor of a couple who have devoted countless hours to the arts and young people. Earlier this month, Vicky Blake was busy helping the IAHS Indian Players with final dress rehearsals for their production of “High School Musical 2.” The musical was held in the…

Car Crash
Featured, Local News

An Aberdeen woman is dead following a two-car collision

Joey Barnes,

ABERDEEN, Miss, (WCBI)- An Aberdeen woman is dead following a two-car collision. Aberdeen Police say 58-year-old Denise Miller was driving a 2019 KIA Forte. Miller was heading west on Old Highway 8 when she collided with a 2006 Nissan Armada that was traveling north on US-45. The accident happened around 1 p.m. on Friday. Miller died at the scene due…

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Featured, Local News

A Columbus man shares his journey to recovery after EF-3 tornado

It's a day many people in Columbus won't forget; the moment an EF-3 tornado made landfall in the friendly city
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s a day many people in Columbus won’t forget; the moment an EF-3 tornado made landfall in the friendly city, destruction left residents without a home. The Community Recovery of Lowndes County has assisted dozens of homeowners with repairs over the years. Repairs have been completed in areas like Shady Street, Waterworks Road, and Tuscaloosa Road, but…

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Featured, Local News

Starkville police department responds to controversial photo

All it takes is one push of a button for a photo to be shared dozens of times online.
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE,Miss. (WCBI)- Starkville Police spent much of the day trying to clean up after a social media post. A group photograph, posted across social platforms by the department, showed a uniformed officer making a gesture that some people view as a signal of white supremacy. And she finds city officials are urging folks to think before they post. ” Certain…

Chris
Local News

The Magnolia Independent Film Festival celebrates 25 years.

Ansley Perkins,

GOLDEN TRIANGLE (WCBI) – Mississippi’s premiere film festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Magnolia Film Festival includes works in several different genres. “This is the first and longest film festival in the state of Mississippi and this is just a huge thing for us to be celebrating our 25th,” said Misun. 25 years of lights and cameras in action….

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Local News

Mississippi Community College Board oversees future business leaders

It was awards day for Phi Beta Lambda students on Friday
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- There is an old saying; “the youth are the hope of our future”. The Mississippi Community College Board knows that and is doing its part to start those young people down a successful path. It was awards day for Phi Beta Lambda students on Friday; that was the pay-off for three days of hard work and intense competition….

Donta Kirby
Local News

Kirby found guilty on all counts

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Arkansas man is found guilty in a Lowndes County murder trial. The jury returned the verdict Friday afternoon. Donta Kirby was found guilty of first-degree murder and two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon charge. He was arrested in July 2020 after running from a state trooper in Webster County….

Field Day
Local News

JA host “Challenge of Champions” at Caledonia Elementary

Eric Lampkin,

CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at Caledonia Elementary School get a break from the classroom today to take on some athletic challenges. The Junior Auxiliary of Columbus brings its “Challenge of Champions” to the Caledonia Campus. The event pairs special education students with mainstream teammates to tackle a series of fun activities including relay races, bean bag tosses, and hula…

crime
Crime, Local News

Lowndes Co. deputies investigating accidental shooting involving children

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are investigating an accidental shooting involving two children. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says the shooting happened on Charlie Smith Road Road last night. Investigators believe an eight-year-old shot a ten-year-old child, accidentally, with a .22 caliber rifle. Deputies were called by the hospital after the wounded child arrived by a private vehicle. He…

Okt Bhm
Local News

West Elementary School staff and students are honoring local leaders

Aundrea Self,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Students and staff at West Elementary School in Oktibbeha County are honoring local leaders. The school hosted its Black History Month program Friday morning. Students sang, recited poetry, and performed skits to help tell the story of African American accomplishments. They also honored local leaders who have made an impact in the community. Our Aundrea…

Wax Museum
Local News

Eiland Middle School celebrates BHM with living wax museum

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Eiland Middle School celebrates Black History Month with a living wax museum presentation. Students created potrayed wax figures of African Americans who made an important impact in our country. Portrayals included Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Kobe Bryant, and Kamala Harris and many others. Those in attendance were given a guided by students…

Dare Grads
Local News

Overstreet Elementary students graduated DARE program

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Fifth graders at Overstreet Elementary School graduated from the DARE program today. A ceremony was held to recognize students for avoiding peer pressure while living drug-free and productive lives. The Starkville Police Department partners with the school for a series of classroom sessions led by police officers. Police Chief Mark Ballard and Mayor Lynn Spruill were…

Msu Masks Thumbnail
Local News

Masks now optional on Mississippi State’s campus

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Masks will now be optional on most of the Mississippi State campus. The university made the announcement Friday afternoon based on the school’s COVID-19 task force recommendation. The new policy will go into effect on Monday. There are two exceptions to the rule. You must still wear a mask inside the Longest Student Health Center and…

Evan Foster
Crime, Local News

Tupelo police make an arrest in a drive-by shooting

Joey Barnes,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo police make an arrest in a drive-by shooting. 35-year-old Evan Foster was arrested by Southaven police on Wednesday. Tupelo police say the shooting happened on Kenmer Lane on Tuesday afternoon. Bullet holes could be seen in the victim’s minivan and a home. No one was injured in the gunfire. Investigators believe a domestic situation led…

Money Scam Pic2
Crime, Featured, Local News

Louisville Police find over $10K in fake cash, forged money orders in February

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Louisville Police say they have recovered more than $10,000 worth of fake bills and money orders during February. “The merchants have been made aware of it and are now very tentative of $100 bills and other money that might be fake,” says LPD Captain of Investigations Mike Perkins. Perkins says they found over $7,000 in counterfeit…

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Featured, Local News

Lowndes co. recovery group repairs 85 homes damaged in 2019 tornado

Families were left with little or nothing and those memories seemed to fade away.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)- When a deadly EF-3 tornado touched down in Columbus three years ago, it left a trail of destruction. It also left several families without a place to call home. Out of that rubble rose a group dedicated to helping neighbors. Community Recovery of Lowndes County has been working tirelessly to restore impacted homes, businesses, and properties. ” You’re…