Featured, Local News

Columbus municipal school district launches pastors on patrol

The program is designed to prevent violence and increase student retention.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS,Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus city and school leaders are working to bridge the gap in the community. The program is designed to prevent violence and increase student retention. That’s right, it’s all apart of their new initiative, Pastors on Patrol. Council members with the Columbus Municipal School District says this is one way to connect with families. ” Any identifying needs…

Laumndry Ladies
Featured, Local News

Laundry love ladies help community members one load at a time

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE,Miss. (WCBI)- Loving people, one load at a time. That’s the mission of a group in Starkville. It’s called Laundry Love Ladies. The group’s organizers say it’s become a safe place to learn, grow, and find a little help along the way. A load of laundry…bible study…and a group of women sharing their journey. ” You have to do it,…

Webster Story Pic
Featured, Local News

Doctor and Webster Co. Sheriff’s Department provide trauma kits, crisis response training for local schools

Joey Barnes,

MABEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Dr. Craig Moffett of the Maben Medical Clinic and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department delivered trauma medical kits to East Webster High School and East Webster Elementary School on February 21. The kits included a tourniquet, compression bandages, medical gloves and gauze and are intended to help keep someone from bleeding to death. “This small, inexpensive…

Bruce Fiber
Featured, Local News

Calhoun company gets grant to connect customers with high speed internet

Grant is part of an effort by the U.S. government to close the digital divide
Allie Martin,

CALHOUN COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – As general manager of Bruce Telephone Company, Jay Vanlandingham knows the importance of making the latest technology available to customers.  Last spring, BTC was given the go ahead to offer high speed internet service.  But building the infrastructure for broadband service can be costly. A government grant will help offset much of that cost. “It’s…

Jaxson
Crime, Local News

Lafayette Co. man accused of recording people using the restroom

Eric Lampkin,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lafayette County man is accused of dumb use of his smartphone. Oxford Police were called to a business on University Avenue for a report of a man attempting to use his phone to record people in a restroom. An investigation led officers to Jaxon Parker. Parker is charged with Secretly Photographing for Lewd Purposes. His…

Capture
Local News

Two Lowndes Co. deputies honored as they retire from sheriff’s dept.

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two Lowndes County deputies are honored, as they retire from the sheriff’s department. Lieutenants Kevin Forrester and Ryan Rickert are leaving the agency. Today’s reception was to honor their years serving and protecting. Both men served in various roles from investigations to narcotics. Categories: Local News

Veterans
Local News

Veterans on MSU campus attend networking fair

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Veterans on the Mississippi State Campus and from around the area get a chance to make connections they need to put their military experience to work. The MSU Career Center and the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans teamed up to host the Veterans Networking Fair. The event brings in industry professionals and hiring managers,…

Pubworks Pic2
Featured, Local News

Columbus Public Works in desperate need of replacing outdated vehicles and equipment

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday night’s Columbus City Council meeting wrapped up with a presentation from Public Works Director Casey Bush about his department’s dire need for new equipment. “The fact that the public works department is underfunded, understaffed, and has equipment that is outdated and needs repairs is not a surprise,” says Mayor Keith Gaskin. Bush went before the…

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Featured, Local News

‘Empty Bowls’ draws big crowd after two year hiatus

Fundraiser raises money for Salvation Army's feeding program
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A popular fundraiser for the Tupelo Salvation Army is back in person and is more popular than ever. Donna Wise and a group of ladies from Okolona Baptist Church spent their lunch hour at the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. “I love the fellowship, coming to see what’s available, donating to a worthy cause, I’ve known several people…

Clw
Local News

Columbus Light and Water read to Stokes Beard Elementary

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus Light and Water put down the bills and picked up a book to read to the students over at Stokes Beard Elementary on Wednesday. A team member from the utility company dressed up one of Doctor Suess’ most iconic characters, Cat in the Hat during the reading. CLW says this was an opportunity to encourage…
Local News, State News

Ole Miss latest Mississippi school to drop mask mandate

Eric Lampkin,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – The University of Mississippi is the latest Mississippi school to drop its mask mandate. Face coverings are now optional in almost all indoor spaces, including classrooms, labs, libraries, residence halls, conference rooms, and dining facilities. Masks will only be required on University transportation and in health care settings. Administrators made the decision after reviewing falling numbers…

Social Media Post Brandon Presely
Local News, State News

Commissioner Presley took to social media for next step with TVA

Joey Barnes,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The back and forth between Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley and the Tennessee Valley Authority continues. So, Presley took to social media to let the utility know his next step. The controversy surrounds whether TVA will allow cooperatives and local utilities to provide electricity to medical marijuana facilities. TVA has said there would be no interruption in…

Dr Labat
Featured, Local News

Columbus School District launches community meeting series to listen to public’s education concerns

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday night, the Columbus Municipal School District launched its new Ward Tour, where education and city leaders will hold a series of community meetings throughout the month of March. “There weren’t any questions that I felt there were out of the box of things that we weren’t addressing,” says school district superintendent Dr. Cherie Labat. “It…

Cadet
Featured, Local News

Future police officers get a unique look at youth court

Judge Staci Bevill invited cadets to sit in on proceedings, meet personnel
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Cadets in Class B-69 of the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center spent their day in front of Judge Staci Bevill and got a rare look at youth court. Youth court proceedings are closed to the public, but each cadet signed a confidentiality agreement, which allowed them to observe cases on the docket. This is the…

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Local News

Gas prices are on a steady rise in our area

Gas is over three dollars a gallon in all of the surrounding cities and expected to go even higher
Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Drivers have probably seen it, and felt it. The price of gas is steadily going up. Gas is over three dollars a gallon in all of the surrounding cities and expected to go even higher. Rising gas prices are nothing new, but even the experts weren’t expecting to see them go up this quickly. “Two or three…

Pic For 100 Women
Local News

100 Women Who Care in Starkville awards grants

Aundrea Self,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) –  More than 200 women in Starkville are putting their money where their mouth is. The group is called 100 Women Who Care – Starkville, but dozens more have joined the mission to help community organizations carry out their special projects. Tuesday morning the group awarded more than $21,000 dollars in grants to local organizations. The members…

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Local News

Mississippi State University students react to optional mask wearing

The announcement was based on the school's COVID-19 task force recommendation
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi State University announced Friday, February 25, 2022 that the university will now make masks optional for folks on campus. The announcement was based on the school’s COVID-19 task force recommendation. The Mississippi State campus was filled with students earlier, some were still erring on the side of the caution; while others were welcoming the opportunity to…

Rhonda Pic For Web
Local News

Law officer made history and continues to make an impact

Aundrea Self,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Rhonda Sanders has devoted almost three decades to law enforcement. Sanders says she did not know she was making history as the first Black female officer for the Columbus Police Department when she was hired 27 years ago. She says two city council members and the mayor at the time were the driving forces behind…

Okt Fire
Local News

Oktibbeha County home goes up in flames on Kincaid Road

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oktibbeha County home goes up in flames Monday morning. The fire happened about 7 A.M. on Kincaid Road after neighbors saw smoke. East Oktibbeha Volunteer Firefighters found the house engulfed in flames when they arrived. Oktibbeha County Fire Coordinator Patrick Warren says no one was at home at the time of the blaze and…

Tate Reeves
Local News

Gov. Reeves takes on Chairman position for Tenn Tom Waterway Development Auth.

Eric Lampkin,

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves will be taking on a new role this year. The Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority has elected Governor Reeves to serve as Chairman for 2022. The Development Authority promotes the development of the waterway and its economic and trade potential. It helps attract business development along the waterway. The Authority is made…

Eupora Thumbnail
Local News, News Team

Eupora PD’s fundraiser campaign leads to long term safety investments

Joey Barnes,

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI)- Eupora Police Department’s donation campaign paid off in a big way that will help officers protect themselves and the people they serve. Police Chief Lawrence Caradine began the fundraising campaign to raise about $7,000 in order to purchase new bullet-proof vests for the department. Local businesses and individual citizens in Eupora made charitable donations, providing over $15,000…