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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

Jf
Local News

WCBI and SDR partnered together to host job fair

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – WCBI partnered with Steel Dust Recycling to host a job fair in Columbus. The fair started at 10:00 and lasted until 1 o’clock this afternoon. “I feel like these are the type of places and opportunities that you go to put your name out there and get yourself in the system everybody gets a chance equally…

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lifestyle, Local News, News Team, Regional

“Move To Learn” visits Earl Nash Elementary to improve academics

Joey Barnes,

MACON, Miss. (WCBI)- Organizations in Mississippi continue working to keep students on the move in order to improve their academics. A decade ago, ‘The Bower Foundation’ partnered with the Mississippi Department of Education to launch the Move To Learn campaign across the state. Initially, a campaign highlighting schools’ ability to incorporate physical activities into its day, “Move To Learn” now…

Donta Kirby
Crime, Local News

Lowndes County murder trial could go to the jury tomorrow

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County murder trial could go to the jury tomorrow. Donta Kirby is facing a first degree murder charge. Testimony started yesterday in Lowndes County Circuit Court. Kirby is accused of shooting and killing Lorenze Halthon Jr. Halthon’s body was found on Burns Road in July 2020. Kirby was later stopped by a state…

crime
Crime, Local News

Former Booneville police officer will spend a year in federal prison

Joey Barnes,

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Booneville police officer will spend more than a year in federal prison. 34-year-old Dustin Rambo pleaded guilty to four counts of depriving individuals of rights while acting under the color of the law as a law enforcement officer. He also pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to a federal agent. The…

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Local News

Emergency management agencies encourage safety during severe weather

Severe weather can strike at anytime and anywhere
Joey Barnes,

CLAY AND WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Severe weather can strike at anytime and anywhere. A message that local emergency management officials continue to stress is to be weather aware. Getting the word out to their communities is sometimes their biggest struggle. Whether it’s ice, flooding, or tornados; severe weather is a danger, no matter what season it is. When it…

Sykes Murder Image
Crime, Featured, Local News

Vernon man found guilty of murdering ex-wife who disappeared in 2015

Joey Barnes,

VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) – Tuesday, a jury in Lamar County Circuit Court found Brandon Sykes guilty on three counts of capital murder in connection with the death of his ex-wife. While investigators still haven’t found her body, the district attorney believed there was enough evidence to take the case to trial. Sykes was found guilty of capital murder committed during…

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Featured, Local News

Macon drugstore reopens days after building collapse so residents get their medication

Joey Barnes,

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, City Drugstore in Macon was open again, just days after the building collapsed on employees Thursday. “Because of our patients,” says owner and pharmacist Bill Bell. “We had to be back up and running as soon as possible.” The back of the building was unaffected by the partial collapse, they are operating out of their…

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Local News

Death rates in Lowndes County have risen over the years

Just two months into the year, Lowndes County has seen an unusually high number of deaths
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Just two months into the year, Lowndes County has seen an unusually high number of deaths. The coroner’s office has worked 168 deaths so far. Greg Merchant has seen a lot of death in his time as coroner in Lowndes County, but the numbers he’s seen so early in the year are staggering. The death rate is…