Baptist Memorial Hospital asks people not go to the emergency room for COVID testing

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- If you are looking to get tested for COVID-19, do not go to the emergency room. That’s the message Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle released on Wednesday. With a record number of patients diagnosed with COVID, wait times for patients are increasing. That’s including patients with emergency needs. If you are experiencing non-life-threatening COVID symptoms, Baptist…

‘Friend of God’ Ministries helps women find freedom from addictions

Ministry was started by a law officer who saw the need for a program for women

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – A Monroe County ministry is making a lasting difference in the lives of women looking to break the cycle of addiction. Every Tuesday, Smithville Baptist Church hosts a Bible study for “Friend of God’ Ministries. The Amory-based group was started four years ago by a local law enforcement officer who saw the need for a long-term,…

Why the U.S. Department of Transportation is investing millions in the Port of Aberdeen

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – On December 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Aberdeen is receiving $4 million as part of its initiative to improve American ports. The Port Rail Spur Connector Project will provide direct access between the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the Kansas City Southern Railroad. “The work that we do down here on this dock will…

Oktibbeha County has a new board of supervisors president

A leader has to have a good supporting cast

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors has a new face at the head of the table. On Monday, January 4, 2021;  Bricklee Miller was elected the new board president after serving as vice president the last term. “In 2015 the citizens of Oktibbeha County trusted me enough to elect me as the first female to the board…

Winston County man dead after mobile home fire

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man is dead after an early morning fire in Winston County. Winston County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Keith Alexander says the fire happened on Davie Road about midnight. 62-year-old Jimmy Goss died inside his mobile home. Alexander believes a kerosene heater is to blame for the fire. The state fire marshal is assisting in…

Longtime Columbus automotive repair shop closing doors

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A longtime driver in the Columbus automotive repair scene is putting it in park. After 51 years in the same location, Holman Transmission closed its doors for good on Friday, December 31st. Today, customers and friends dropped by to reminisce with the Holmans and congratulate them on their retirement. Since, setting up shop on Gardner Boulevard…

An influx of money could help smooth the roads in Mississippi

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An influx of money could help smooth the roads in Mississippi. The state is in line to receive a billion dollars for road and bridge projects over the next 5 years from the infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress. That’s going to take some cooperation from the state legislature. Lawmakers will have to have to put…

MUW pushed back spring semester due to COVID-19 concerns

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – MUW has now pushed back its start date for the spring semester. Students and instructors at the Mississippi University for Women will now begin classes on January 18th. Classes were set to begin on January 6th. Provost Scott Tollison says they evaluated the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and decided that it was best to delay…

West Point Attorney qualified for 16th Circuit Court Dist. Place 3 seat

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The race to replace Judge Lee Coleman has its first entry. West Point Attorney Michelle Easterling qualified for the 16th Circuit Court District Place 3 seat today. Judge Lee Coleman has announced he is not seeking re-election. Easterling has been practicing law since 1998. She has served as Clay County Prosecutor and West Point Municipal Court Prosecutor….

Chancery Court Judge Drungole-Ellis gets early start on re-election bid

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Chancery Court Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis gets an early start on her re-election bid. Judge Drungole-Ellis filed her qualifying papers with the Secretary of State’s office on Monday morning. She has served as a Chancery Court Judge for the 14th Judicial District since 2018. Drungole – Ellis presides over cases in Place 3, which covers all of Noxubee…

Mayor wants Columbus’s next chief operating officer to have background in government, accounting and budgeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, a hiring committee for the city of Columbus held a special meeting to discuss candidates for open city positions. Topping the list: a new chief operating officer. Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin has high expectations for the city’s next COO. “Making short-term and long-term plans financially for the city,” he says. “And it really requires, I…

COVID-19 testing numbers have risen after the holiday season

The holiday season is over for now,but 2021 left some lasting effects

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The holiday season is over for now, but 2021 left some lasting effects. COVID numbers have risen again to start the new year and medical officials have seen a boost in business. Over at Allegro Plaza in Columbus, they are relating it to numbers they saw in March of 2020; however, the staff was prepared for the…

New Tupelo Police Chief brings federal experience to the job

Chief John Quaka is sworn as Tupelo's top cop days after retiring from the F.B.I.

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A veteran FBI Agent is now at the helm of the Tupelo Police Department. Just days after retiring from the FBI, John Quaka was sworn in as Tupelo’s new Chief of Police. But Chief Quaka had already been at work, meeting with leaders at TPD. “I asked all supervisors to meet with me for about thirty…

Holiday weekend brings in over 17,000 new COVID-19 cases

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – There is a staggering number of new cases of Covid 19 reported over the holiday weekend. The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 17,525 new positive cases diagnosed between Thursday and Sunday afternoon. There have been 5 Covid related deaths in that same time period. Lowndes and Lee Counties are among communities with the highest number…

Winter back in force this week

SUMMARY: What a wild weekend of weather! From 80s and tornadoes to snow in just 24 hours. Quite the event for us here in MS! The upcoming week is also very busy weather-wise. We start out very cold with snow melting, before a brief warmup through Thursday into the 50s. Thursday we will see rain showers, and potentially some more…