Priscilla
Featured, Local News

Tupelo is well represented in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis”

Stars and those who knew Elvis talk about the movie, and the entertainer's influence during Graceland screening
Allie Martin,

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WCBI) – The long-awaited movie about the life of Tupelo’s own Elvis Presley opens nationwide Friday.  The movie, by director Baz Luhrmann, has received critical acclaim from reviewers, and those closest to Elvis. As much as he enjoyed playing Colonel Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann’s “ELVIS’ Tom Hanks says he looked forward to seeing Austin Butler make a…

columbus police department
Local News

Columbus Police Department to receive new vehicles

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Police Department will be getting some new wheels, and the move could save money down the road. At this week’s meeting, the City Council voted to enter into a lease agreement with Enterprise to replace the Police Department’s aging cruisers. The city had figured the cost of buying some new vehicles into this year’s…

Mark Smith
Local News, State News

Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board has a new director

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board has a new director. Mark Smith was appointed to the post Thursday. Smith has been serving as the agency’s interim director since May when he replaced Stacey Pickering. Pickering served as director from 2018 until his sudden resignation in May. Smith has 40 years of combined Military experience serving in both the…

Cac Thumnnail
Local News, News Team

Columbus Arts Council introduces the arts to children

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- In an economy struggling with unemployment and inflation amongst other things, it makes it difficult to raise money for the arts. Donations are key to keeping the Columbus Arts Council afloat, let alone thriving. COVID-19 was also a major wrench being thrown into the Art Council’s plans. The non-profit like many other facets of the arts was…

Grenada Growth Pic
Featured, Local News

Grenada County gets $5.3 million grant for industrial park road to continue manufacturing growth

Joey Barnes,

GRENADA, Miss. (WCBI) – The Greater Grenada Partnership announced June 14th that the county is getting a $5.3 million grant that will go towards creating a four-lane road into its industrial park. It’s the latest in a series of major investments into the county’s growing manufacturing sector. “This total access road that’s going to be built for the citizens in…

Billy B
Featured, Local News

Aberdeen native Billy B is having a living estate sale

Chance for the public to own some eclectic items from the make up artist to the stars
Allie Martin,

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – An Aberdeen native, known as the make-up to the stars, is downsizing, and now you could buy from his personal collection. John Beard has organized a lot of estate sales, but none quite like this one. “This is by far, the biggest estate sale we’ve ever done. There are thousands of items for sale,” Beard said….

Columbus's Plans To Spend Its Share Of American Rescue Plan Act Money
Local News

Columbus’s plans to spend its share of American Rescue Plan Act money

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus’s plans to spend its share of American Rescue Plan Act money continue to take shape. At a press conference Wednesday morning, Mayor Keith Gaskin discussed how the ARPA Funds have been earmarked so far. Originally, $1.3 million was set aside for incentive pay for city workers. Only about 700,000 of that will…

Genesee And Wyoming Railroad Hosted A Job Fair
Local News

Columbus and Greenville Railroad hosted a job fair

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Several area residents came out today to explore a new career track. Columbus and Greenville Railroad hosted a job fair in an effort to attract some new talent. The 100-year-old line is looking for locomotive conductors. To some, it may sound like an old-fashioned job, but modern conductors are responsible for the many operation and safety…

Lowndes County Supervisors Will Be Getting A Raise
Local News

Lowndes County Supervisors will be getting a raise

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County Supervisors will be getting a raise, just not immediately. Senate Bill 27-19 passed during this year’s legislative session and increased the maximum amount County Supervisors across the State can be paid. Boards only have to vote to approve the raise and spread it on the minutes of the meeting. Lowndes County Supervisors approved…

Duane Hughes
Local News

Chief Duane Hughes is the new chief for Columbus Fire and Rescue

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The search for a new chief for Columbus Fire and Rescue is complete. Interim Chief Duane Hughes can now drop the “Interim” from that title. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Columbus City Council voted to promote Hughes to Chief on a full-time basis. Hughes replaces Chief Martin Andrews, who retired in March after 30 years in…

Operations Center1
Featured, Local News

Starkville Utilities debuts new Operations Center to expand water, electric and other services to customers

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday afternoon, Starkville Utilities held an official opening ceremony to debut its new state-of-the-art Operations Center. They invested nearly $2 million to unite their water, electric and other services in one place. “Having everybody in one location, utilizing shared facilities, shared resources, will help us and make us more efficient and make us more responsive to…

01650mts00 00 05 24still001
Local News

Drone competition is underway in Starkville and its going to be essential for law enforcement

Teams from across the nation competed in the third stage of the First Responders U.A.S Triple Challenge in Starkiville
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Teams from across the nation competed in the third stage of the First Responders U.A.S Triple Challenge in Starkiville on Tuesday June 21, 2022. The competition was hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology; it featured the advances in drone technology. Competitors put their best bot forward to try and capture…

Img 3089
Featured, Local News

NEMCC Career Development Academy provides inspiration and motivation

The camp helps young people explore possible career choices, and also teaches valuable life skills
Allie Martin,

BOONEVILLE, MISS. (WCBI) – As one group of campers was building bridges out of balsa wood for an engineering project, another was playing a fast-paced, musical game. This is the fifth year NEMCC has hosted the Career Development Academy Camp.   It runs three days a week. And every day is a full day. “We usually start out with breakfast…

June Is Designated Men's Health Month
Local News

June is designated Men’s Health Month

Written by Victoria Bailey
MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The month of June is all about the guys. Men’s Health Month rolls around each year to remind gentlemen to stay in the know about personal wellness. “We don’t like to go to the doctor at all, We men do, we don’t like to think that we need to have anything fixed,” said Hank Norwood, Pharmacist….
Local News

Rising gas prices slowing down road work progress

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Rising gas prices are not only slowing down drivers, but they’re also slowing down the folks paving the roads. An increase in fuel and material prices is forcing Lowndes County Supervisors to adjust the budget for this year’s road paving program. Supervisors had allotted 2 million dollars to resurface 17 miles of roads across the…

Leigh
Local News

Columbus community comes together to talk about Leigh Mall changes

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Changes are in the works for Leigh Mall in Columbus. The president of the company that owns the mall was in Columbus today, briefing city officials and others in the community on revitalization efforts at the Mall. If you travel down Highway 45 in Columbus on a regular basis, you may soon be seeing some changes…

Monroe Scams Pic
Crime, Featured, Local News

Monroe County Sheriff Department makes four arrests in major multi-state scamming operation

Joey Barnes,

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Friday, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department announced four arrests resulting from a six-month investigation into a major scamming operation that spans multiple states. Christopher “Big Money Bunny” Bradley is charged with nine counts of felony false pretense, Janiqua Edmond and Shaquayne Ware are both charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, and Antoine Griffin Jr. is…

Unity Park Home To Two New Name Plaques Highlighting Local Trailblazers
Local News

Unity Park home to two new name plaques highlighting local trailblazers

MorrisAdmin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Unity Park is now home to new name plaques highlighting local trailblazers of the Civil Rights era. In a Juneteenth celebration, Mrs. Monica Banks and Mr. Clarence Taylor were added to the Unity Wall. Banks was the first black Chancery Clerk for Oktibbeha County and served the community for more than 20 years. Taylor fought for…

Muw Juneteenth
Local News

MUW invited area residents to help celebrate Juneteenth

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi University for Women invited area residents to help celebrate Juneteenth. The W hosted a program at Fant Memorial Library to observe the holiday. Library staff have set up an exhibit in the main lobby, and Dean of Library Services, Amanda Powers, is spearheading an effort to collect oral histories of people’s Juneteenth memories. Juneteenth was…

Lynn Wright
Local News

Funeral services begin Monday evening for State Rep. Lynn Wright

Joey Barnes,

PICKENS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Funeral services begin Monday evening for state Representative Lynn Wright. Visitation is from five until eight at Skelton Funeral Home in Reform. The funeral service will be Tuesday at 2 PM at Mount Zion Baptist Church in the New Hope community of Lowndes County. There will be visitation one hour before the service and immediately…