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Featured, Local News

Professionals “ignite” their leadership skills during conference

The Ignite Conference featured a former Navy Seal and an Olympic Gold Medalist
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – An Olympic gold medalist, a former Navy Seal commander, and a best selling author shared the stage during a leadership conference in Tupelo. It didn’t take long before former Navy Seal Commander Rorke Denver had some audience participation in his presentation. Denver was one of three speakers at this year’s “IGNITE” conference, organized by   Tupelo’s Community…

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Featured, Local News

Rural hospitals face pandemic woes as Covid-19 cases surge

Joey Barnes,

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s still unknown of the long-term effects of the Omicron surge towards healthcare are. But the short-term prognosis is bleak. COVID-19 cases are once again slamming rural medical facilities, leaving many with stretched resources for treating severely ill patients. People are becoming infected at staggering rates. And the availability of critical care is narrowing. Health professionals…

Fire
Local News

United Way asks donors to give clothes in good condition

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An apartment complex in Columbus caught on fire last week across from Lee park. Members of the United Way are welcoming the community to donate clothes to the fire victims. Members ask that anyone who plans on donating to please make sure the clothes are washed and also be sure that the clothes are the appropriate…

Virtual Learning
Local News

School decides to learn remotely after rise in COVID numbers

Ansley Perkins,

LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) -Lamar county schools have decided to switch to at home learning starting from last Thursday until Tuesday the 18th. They decided that this was the safest plan after there was a surge of COVID-19 numbers in the area last Monday and Tuesday. Teachers prepared their students with pencil and paper packets with previous learning material that…

Loft Reno
Local News

Renovation project breathing new life into Downtown Columbus

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A project that’s breathing new life into an old hotel in Downtown Columbus is about 75% complete. The years-long renovation kicked into high gear last year and will be a mixed-use space featuring 9 retail spaces on the ground floor and 18 apartments on the upper level. With most of the structural work done, Chris Chain,…

Bw Otk
Local News

Oktibbeha Co. Humane Society honoring legendary Betty White

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Oktibbeha County Humane Society is giving you the chance to be a pet owner while honoring the legendary Betty White. The “Betty White Challenge” is viral across the internet and the U-S and now Oktibehha County Humane Society is joining in. OCHS is hosting a Betty White Challenge adoption event now through Saturday. All…

Jr Edwards
Crime, Local News

Columbus bank robbery suspect remains in jail

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus bank robbery suspect remains in jail. Police Chief Fred Shelton says J.R. Edwards was out on bond when he was arrested earlier this week. This means Edwards will stay at the Lowndes County Adult Detection Center. The attached video is from Monday morning just after the hold-up at Trustmark Bank. Shelton says Edwards was…

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Featured, Local News

Mardi Gras coming to Aberdeen in February

Four day celebration features family-friendly fun
Allie Martin,

ABERDEEN, MISS. (WCBI) – Preparations are underway for a huge celebration in one Monroe County city. As soon as Christmas was over, Neil Palmer started decorating for Mardi Gras. “Mardi Gras is just a fun holiday, let the good times roll,” Palmer said. Palmer is one of the organizers for this year’s Mardi Gras Celebrations in Aberdeen. “This is a fun…

Msu Mlk
Local News

MSU to make changes to their MLK celebrations

Ansley Perkins,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University will once again host its annual MLK day celebration virtually. The event will be held in the gallery of the Mill Conference Center this year. The guest speaker of the day will be Angela Turner Ford. Other speakers include MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. The MSU Black Voices…

Mlk Wp Parade
Local News

West Point to hold MLK march through town with program at the end

Ansley Perkins,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Organizers of the West Point Martin Luther King Day celebration still plan to host an event this year – just in a different way. The event usually features a march through town that ends with a program. Event coordinator Anna Jones says, because of COVID restrictions, this year they will have a motorcade. They will…

Lowndes Fire
Local News

Investigators trying to determine cause of Lowndes County house fire

Aundrea Self,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Investigators are trying to determine what caused a house fire in Lowndes County overnight. Family members called 911 when they discovered the fire in their home on Honnoll Mill Road. Lowndes County Fire Coordinator Neil Austin says crews from the District 1 fire department responded around 3 o’clock this morning. When they got there, the…

Robber Sketch Vaiden
Crime, Local News

U.S. Postal Inspection Service released artist sketch of Vaiden robbery suspect

Aundrea Self,

VAIDEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Investigators with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service release an artist’s sketch of the suspect in the Vaiden Post Office Robbery. The PIS is offering a reward of up to 50 thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who committed that robbery. The Vaiden Post Office was robbed Saturday morning around…

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Featured, Local News

University of Mississippi Medical Center: Overwhelming Omicron surge creates unprecedented staff shortages

Joey Barnes,

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The University of Mississippi Medical Center says the COVID-19 Omicron surge is redefining what “unprecedented” means when it comes to staff shortages. Tuesday, UMMC released their latest hospitalization numbers, saying they currently have 125 COVID patients as of 8 p.m. In December, they say they only had 18 COVID patients. Before the pandemic, UMMC says they…

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Featured, Local News

Calhoun County company brings high speed internet to more rural areas of Pontotoc County

Bruce Telephone's "We Connect" is making high speed fiber available to more than six hundred homes
Allie Martin,

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – High-speed internet is now available to people in the more rural areas of Pontotoc County. Scott Foster had high-speed internet installed at “Seafood Junction” in Algoma about a week ago, and says it is already making a big difference. “We’ve started offering online orders, to-go ordering, people can go online, pay for meal online, show…

Frank Mainka Mug
Crime, Featured, Local News

Man arrested for allegedly threatening to ambush and rape female real estate agents in multiple Mississippi counties

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday that a man wanted for allegedly threatening to ambush and rape female real estate agents in several counties across Mississippi, is in their custody. Convicted sex offender Frank Mainka of Scott County has a long history of cyberstalking dating back to 2007. But it was during the first week…

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Local News

Columbus Municipal Schools are keeping safety protocols in place

Many schools are back or heading back in session after winter break
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Many schools are back or heading back in session after winter break. Some districts have been flexible with their COVID-19 precautions, while others haven’t changed theirs since the initial guidelines. Dr. Cherie Labat, superintendent at Columbus Municipal School District,  said that her school district from top to bottom are keeping COVID-19 safety measures in place to try…

Fred Stewart
Local News

Longtime Columbus City Councilman, Fred Stewart, has died

Eric Lampkin,

  COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A longtime Columbus City Councilman has died. Fred Stewart passed away early Tuesday morning. Stewart represented the people of Ward 4 on the City Council. He was elected for 5 terms, and only narrowly lost the 6th bid to then political newcomer Marty Turner in 2013. Stewart was known as a calm and steady presence…

Truck Overturned
Local News

Truck overturned in Oktibbeha County on Tuesday morning

Aundrea Self,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A big rig ended up on its side after the driver ran off the road in Oktibbeha County this morning. The accident happened around 8:30 on Highway 12 – four miles west of Starkville. The highway was blocked for a couple of hours as crews cleaned up from the accident. The driver of the truck was…