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Local News

Volunteers are asking the community to help retrieve stolen bikes

Volunteers with the Community Benefit Committee are outraged after someone stole dozens of brand new bikes
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Volunteers with the Community Benefit Committee are outraged after someone stole dozens of brand new bikes that were supposed to be gifts for children this Christmas. So far three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the burglary. Lt. Rhonda Sanders with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s department is one of the founding members of Community Benefit Committee;…

Wp Guns Pic2
Crime, Featured, Local News

West Point Police warn parents teen shootings are on the rise

Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – The West Point Police Department put out a public service announcement Monday on the increasing number of shootings involving teens and young adults. “We’ve had an uptick of shootings in the community, dealing mainly with juveniles,” says Assistant Police Chief Kennedy Meaders. West Point PD says it recovered an AR-15, a semiautomatic 9 mm and…
Local News

MUW baseball team fundraising for field

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi University for Women Owl’s Baseball Team wants a field of its own. MUW Athletic Director Jennifer Claybrook made the pitch Tuesday. to business and community leaders in Columbus. Fundraising for a baseball stadium on The W’s campus was announced in early 2020, but COVID hit before the ball could get rolling. The original proposal…

Cmsd
Local News

CMSD working with local organizations to better the community

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Municipal School District is working with faith-based organizations to give areas in their community some much-needed care. CMSD is kicking off an adopt a block program and it wants local churches to join the movement. The program is designed to allow the school system and religious institutes to research problems and find solutions in…

Kayla Tindall
Local News

Former Eupora High School teacher to spend next six years in prison

Joey Barnes,

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Eupora High School teacher will spend the next six years in prison. Kayla Tindall pleaded guilty to statutory rape in Webster County Circuit Court. She was arrested in February 2020, shortly after being fired by the school district. The allegations against Tindall involved at least one student. Once released from prison, Tindall must register…

Toyota
Local News, State News

New Toyota dealership coming to Philadelphia, Mississippi

Ansley Perkins,

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (WCBI) – Locals in Philadelphia have probably noticed the beginning of new construction off-highway sixteen recently. That location will be the home of the new Toyota dealership. It isn’t just a new business but a $7 million investment in Philadelphia and East Central Mississippi. Dr. Azhar Pasha led the groundbreaking Friday of his brand new Toyota dealership that…

Demarcqueis Clark
Crime, Local News

Man wanted in East Columbus found in Noxubee County jail

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man wanted in connection with a shooting in East Columbus in December has been found in the Noxubee County Jail. Columbus Police made the trip down to Macon to pick up Demarcqueis Clark. He is charged with Shooting Into a Business and 2 counts of Domestic Violence/Aggravated Assault. Clark is one of the suspects in…

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Local News

Two juveniles were arrested in connection to a Sunday afternoon shooting

A shooting in Ackerman turned deadly Sunday afternoon
Joey Barnes,

ACKERMAN, Miss. (WCBI)- A shooting in Ackerman turned deadly Sunday afternoon. Two juveniles were arrested in connection with the shooting and it leaves people in the community at a loss for words. That Sunday afternoon shooting left 18-year-old Derius Kennedy dead. 14-year-old Detravion Ball and 16-year-old-Cordarius Brown were arrested Sunday shortly after the shooting, and charged with 1st degree murder. …

Truck Crash
Local News

Truck driver escapes injury in a Lowndes County crash

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A truck driver escapes injury in a Lowndes County crash. The accident happened on Highway 45 South at the Highway 82 exit ramp. State troopers say the big rig was hauling scrap cars that had been smashed. The load on the truck possibly shifted as the driver was turning onto Highway 45. No one was…

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Local News, News Team

Mississippi State University honors Vietnam veterans

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi State University spent the day honoring Vietnam war veterans. The university held a ceremony at the Center for America’s Veterans on campus. Patriot Guard Riders participated in the event and laid a wreath at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The event was an opportunity to celebrate veterans who may not have received the proper recognition when…

Stolen Bikes
Crime, Local News

26 bicycles taken from Community Benefit Committee storage facility

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The “Grinch” or several “Grinches” came early to Columbus this year. 26 bicycles were taken from a storage facility that’s operated by the “Community Benefit Committee.” Rhonda Sanders with CBC tells WCBI that an alarm alerted Columbus police to the Sunday night break-in. She says three juveniles were arrested. However, not all of the bikes have…

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Local News

Wings Over Columbus has largest turnout in at least a decade

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – “Wings Over Columbus” soars to new heights this past weekend. The Columbus Air Force Base estimates 60,000 people soaked up the action in the skies. That’s the largest turnout in at least a decade. Saturday saw the most people on base, with an estimated 40,000 people attending. There were about 20,000 on Sunday. 29 schools participated…

Clay County March Tornado
Local News

Help coming for families in Clay County affected by EF-1 tornado

Eric Lampkin,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Help is coming for Clay County families affected by last week’s EF-1 tornado. Clay County was one of 16 Mississippi counties impacted by a tornado outbreak last Tuesday. The county also reported at least one injury. The Clay County Emergency Management Agency is now taking applications for help with the unmet needs of those who…

Tornado Generic
Featured, Local News

Clay county EMA accepting applications for tornado assistance

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- Clay County emergency services will start accepting unmet needs applications on March 28th for anyone needing assistance following the EF-1 tornado. Agricultural damage assessment will begin March 28th. If you live in Clay County and have tornado damage or have been affected, to file that application, please contact the West Point Clay County EMA office or fill…

Operation Ukraine
Featured, Local News

MSMS students hold fundraiser for Ukraine relief efforts

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS,Miss.(WCBI)- The Russian Club of the Mississippi School for Math and Science hosted a fundraiser for Ukraine Relief on the MUW campus. The benefit featured silent auctions for international items, including Ukrainian handicrafts and souvenirs, a guitar, Ukrainian beaded jewelry and other goodies up for grabs. Proceeds will go to Operation Ukraine, a Columbus charity that has sent aid to…

Shooting 2
Featured, Local News

18-year-old killed in Ackerman shooting

Joey Barnes,

ACKERMAN,Miss. (WCBI)- A shooting investigation is underway in Ackerman. Police Chief Tim Cook tells WCBI an 18-year-old male was shot around 2:30p.m on Sunday at the Milwood Apartment Complex. He later died at the hospital. Cook says there was an argument between the victim and another man before gun fire rang out. Right now, a person of interest is in…

Plane
Featured, Local News

Columbus Air Force diversity and inclusion task force speak to students

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS,Miss. (WCBI)- Wings Over Columbus Airshow and Stem Expo wrapped up Sunday afternoon. Nearly 30,000 people in our area and neighboring counties visited the Columbus Air Force Base. March 26 to 27, community members got the opportunity to learn about military personnel and their duties on base. The Columbus Air Force Diversity and Inclusion Task force was one of many…

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Featured, Local News

Wings over Columbus brought thousands to Columbus air force base

People headed to the Columbus Air Force Base bright and early to secure a spot and participate in the stem expo
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The U-S Air Force Thunderbirds filled the skies in Columbus. People headed to the Columbus Air Force Base bright and early to secure a spot and participate in the stem expo. “It’s nice to see what your country is up to and to check out what they’re doing when they’re away and just to see how far…

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Featured, Local News

Mississippi educators to receive thousands in pay raise

Mississippi educators received big news this week.
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE,Miss. (WCBI)- Lawmakers passed the largest teacher pay raise in state history this week. Dozens of educators will get at least $5,000 on their salary. Several educators have left Mississippi for increased salaries in neighboring states like Georgia, Arkansas, or Texas. When it comes to retention and combating brain drain, they’re hopeful the bill will keep more teachers in the…

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Local News

A local police department got its accreditation

The West Point Police Department is officially an accredited law enforcement agency
Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- The West Point Police Department is officially an accredited law enforcement agency. The designation became official in January. It’s a process that’s been years in the making; accreditation is a major accomplishment for police departments. It not only helps the department but gives the community a sense of peace. It’s been a four-year process, but worth…

Crt Local Pic
Featured, Local News

Unpacking critical race theory and how new bill impacts the Mississippi education system

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill March 14th requiring educators not to teach students that one race is superior to another, otherwise known as the anti-critical race theory bill. Mississippi is one of at least 35 states that have either passed or discussed legislation on how schools can talk about issues of race. “My grandfather…