NMHS Connected Care Carts help COVID patients video chat with loved ones while isolated in the hospital

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday, North Mississippi Health Services unveiled 10 Connected Care carts designed to allow COVID-19 patients the opportunity to video chat with loved ones while undergoing treatment. They deployed five more of the video carts Thursday at North Mississippi Medical Center Tupelo. “As a physician, I have just felt this deep hurt over patients who have died…

Columbus soccer tournament brings big crowd

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Businesses in Columbus could see a big kick in sales this weekend. The Bank first: Friendly City Shoot-Out soccer tournament takes the field at the Soccer Complex and Hotels and Restaurants are getting their teams ready to handle the crowds. This may be an empty soccer field right now but just in a few days, there…

A Columbus man nearly loses identity from scam phone call

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- You’ve probably gotten a phishing call from a scammer at some point this week. Scammers will try their best to get your personal information and possibly steal your identity. It almost happened to a Columbus businessman. Oftentimes, folks are tricked into revealing sensitive information, giving scammers a way in. Columbus PD is working to trace more of…

Amory Railroad Festival is back on track for 2022

Merchants ready for RR Fest crowds

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – One of the longest-running and most popular festivals in North Mississippi is back on track this Spring. Like many Main Street merchants, Lydia Pearson is looking forward to the return of Amory’s Railroad Festival. “I’m excited to have a booth out in front of my store so I can have all those local and out of…

Super Bowl gives retired Columbus soldier national platform to raise awareness for veterans’ mental health

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Retired U.S. Army Sgt. and Columbus native Melvin Gatewood is headed to the Super Bowl. It’s a gift from All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and part of the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative. Sgt. Gatewood runs the nonprofit, Operation Continue Service, an organization that seeks to connect with veterans who may be experiencing mental health issues…

Teacher with Polio gets recognized in hometown library

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A longtime teacher in Louisville is being honored this month as an inspiration to the community. “Just like this COVID is raging now that’s the way that polio is raging. Every day you turn the radio on they were saying so many people in this county and so many people in this town had polio,” said Edwards….

‘Empty Bowls’ fundraiser helps Tupelo Salvation Army feed people throughout the year

Feeding program is more than just serving meals

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It’s one of the biggest fundraisers for Tupelo’s Salvation Army and it helps feed needy people throughout the year. The ‘Empty Bowls” fundraiser is set for next month, and it helps fund the ministry’s feeding program, which has seen some big changes. ‘We’re on track to serve over forty thousand meals this year, which is a huge…

Remembering Lowndes County District 3 Fire Chief Wayne Doyle

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Colleagues of Wayne Doyle are sharing their thoughts of the longtime Lowndes County volunteer firefighter. Lowndes County Fire Coordinator Neal Austin describes Doyle as a progressive leader with a great vision for the department. Austin says it’s going to be hard to replace Doyle who had 40 years of experience and was a respected leader as District…

Volunteers and Non-Profits team up to train for natural disasters

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – If you’ve lived in Mississippi very long, you know that natural disasters can strike in any season. And when they do, volunteers are essential to everything from clean-up to registering people for emergency aid to rebuilding. Today, the United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee Counties and the Golden Triangle Regional Hub for Volunteers and Non-Profits teamed…

Longtime volunteer Lowndes County Fire Chief passes away

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Area first responders gathered Tuesday night to give a proper send-off to one of their own. A procession of Lowndes County Fire trucks escorted the body of Lowndes County District 3 Fire Chief Wayne Doyle back home this evening after he passed away at a Tupelo hospital at the age of 62 earlier in the day….

Two area Boy Scout Councils plan to merge into one

Since the 1920's, two area councils have been guiding the activities of most of the troops in Northeast Mississippi

COLUMBUS, Miss (WCBI)- There have been Boy Scout troops in North Mississippi since the beginning of the scouting program in America. George Maynard organized the first troop in Tupelo in 1911. Since the 1920’s, two area councils have been guiding the activities of most of the troops in Northeast Mississippi. Spring 2022; that all could change. Officials are in the…

Dylan Pickle’s Mother helps promote fundraiser for ‘Running 4 Heroes’

The fundraiser will raise money to buy flags for families of fallen first responders

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – The mother of a Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy, killed in the line of duty is doing her own part to remember officers across the country. Debi Pearson first met Running 4 Heroes founder Zechariah Cartledge last fall, when Zechariah came to Mississippi, to do a memorial run for all of the fallen police and firefighters from…

Mississippi court officials are looking to help first time drug offenders

The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to bring challenges and changes to society, but in the case of Mississippi's courts

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to bring challenges and changes to society, but in the case of Mississippi’s courts; it’s also producing a few opportunities as well. “Anytime we send jury notices out we send a covid notice out. That’s information that we gather to help us decide whether or not individuals are allowed to enter the building,”…

Columbus Chick-fil-A finding new ways to adjust to pandemic’s worker shortage

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, the Chick-fil-A in Columbus held a hiring event to fill their various openings for both part-time and full-time employees. “One thing I would say that COVID has really brought has been a resilience to our team,” says store owner-operator Brittany Cofield. “The ability to dig deep when you don’t quite have enough employees. Productivity has…

McDonald’s worker is making history as newly promoted VP

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus woman is blazing a trail and making history with McDonald’s. Cleopatra Pearson was recently promoted to Vice President of Operations for O’Ferrall Management Group, a company that owns 26 McDonald’s restaurants in three states. Pearson is the first African American female to hold the position within the group. When she started at McDonald’s as…

Oktibbeha County firefighters get much needed upgrade

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County Firefighters get a much needed upgrade, and it could help county residents with their insurance premiums. The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors hands over the keys for 2 new pumper trucks to the Sturgis and Bell Schoolhouse Volunteer Fire Departments. It’s part of the county’s efforts to both provide better fire protection and…

FASTnet expands their broadband service to hearing impaired customers in Starkville

STARKVILLE , Miss. (WCBI)- 4 County Electric Power Association’s FASTnet branch, begins broadband installation to underserved customers outside of its CARES Act pilot project areas. The first customers to receive this service is Lori and Kelly Reed of Starkville. Lori and Kelly are hearing impaired, so FASTnet believes reliable broadband internet will improve their communication and quality of life. Lori…

Nettleton fire department looks for more people to add to team 

NETTLETON,Miss. (WCBI)- The Nettleton Fire Department is looking for more people to add to their team. The department is hosting a recruitment fair on February 7th. Candidates must be 18 years or older to attend and bring a valid driver’s license without restrictions. And here are just a few of the open positions the department is looking to fill :…

A Starkville church hosts msu singers during Sunday worship service

The group will be in concert at First Baptist Church on February 15th.

STARKVILLE,Miss.(WCBI)- A Starkville church is kicking off Black History Month services with a celebration of songs. Second Baptist Church hosted the Mississippi State University Singers during its worship service Sunday morning. The choir, comprised of about 53 members, performs full length concerts both on and off campus. The MSU Singers has also performed at state and regional conferences and the…