Columbus Police officers will be out in full force on New Years Eve

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – As you ring in the new year, you’ll also see more Columbus police officers. The agency will have extra officers working tonight and conducting safety checkpoints. Police Chief Fred Shelton is also reminding people that fireworks are illegal to shoot inside the city limits. It is also against the law to shoot a gun up in…

Escapee from Choctaw County still on the run

CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man that escaped from a Choctaw County work center remains on the run. 28-year-old Andrew Emerick was last seen Wednesday morning. He is five foot – ten inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. Emerick has red hair and brown eyes. The escapee was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black hooded zip jacket,…

Lowndes County deputies searching for driver of SUV

L OWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are asking for help finding the driver of an SUV. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says this vehicle is involved in catalytic converters and thefts in the county. Surveillance video captured the Dodge Durango in the area of Highways 373 and 50 back on December 13th. The 2003 Durango is grey and possibly…

Spring Street Cigars lounge and brewery opens in Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) –  A local business will ring in the new year by opening up its doors in Starkville. Spring Street Cigars is opening its fifth Mississippi store in downtown Starkville on Friday. The two-story shop will feature a premium selection of cigars as well as multiple lounge areas. The location also has a craft brewery. Co-owners John Higgins…

Golden Triangle representatives expect intense legislative session for Mississippi in 2022

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Between medical marijuana, redistricting, and a big pot of federal money to spend, the 2022 Mississippi legislative session could be one of the most intense in recent memory. “I think it’s going to be a very eventful session,” says District 41 Representative Kabir Karriem. “There’s a lot to unpack.” When the session opens on January 4th,…

Calhoun co. sheriff’s department adds military vehicle to fleet

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A veteran military vehicle is helping the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department get to people in hard-to-reach places. They got a chance to put it to the test when high water trapped residents during Wednesday’s flooding. All it takes is a few inches of rain. County Road 231 in Calhoun County was underwater in about an hour…

Lowndes Co. Board of Supervisors votes for new surveillance cameras

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The price tag for a camera system for the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is going to be a little higher than expected. At their December 15th meeting, Lowndes County Supervisors voted to approve the purchase of 4 portable surveillance cameras. After further communication with the supplier, it turns out that the deal was for a…

Lowndes County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting in Caledonia

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting in Caledonia. The shooting happened about 8:20 this morning on Cedar Street. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says deputies arrived to find a 55-year-old woman dead. An unidentified 45-year-old man was detained by deputies at the duplex. Hawkins tells WCBI the investigation is in the very early stages and…

Columbus mayor held a “State of the City” address

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The city of Columbus has never had a “State of the City” address until now. Mayor Keith Gaskin recorded the speech in his office today. It will be posted on the Columbus Mayor Facebook page on Friday. Gaskin wants to let voters know how the city is faring. He says people in town deserve to hear…

Lowndes County realtors warned against dangerous man

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County realtors are being told to be extra cautious. The Greater Golden Triangle Realtors group posted the message on Facebook. It warns that an unidentified man is threatening to have his wife set up an appointment to view a property. The suspect also says he will show up to rape the realtor, along with…

Tupelo holding New Years Eve celebration

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo will be kicking off the new year with a large celebration downtown. This is the second New Year celebration held in Tupelo since 2019. Live music will begin at 8:15 p.m. and go until midnight. There are multiple stages to choose from for your entertainment. The Kids Fest portion of the event has been canceled…

NMHS bracing for unpredictable future as Omicron cases surge while staffing shortage gets worse

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced their updated COVID-19 guidelines, North Mississippi Health Services announced that they are limiting their emergency departments to patients with severe medical issues or who need hospitalization. NMHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeremy Blanchard says this is now the second time during the pandemic that they…

More law enforcement agencies turning to private crime labs, Oktibbeha Co. Sheriff’s Dept. says it’s a ‘stopgap’

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – As the backlog of cases at the Mississippi State Crime Lab continues, more law enforcement agencies are turning to private crime labs, especially for their most pressing investigations. “There’s dozens of cases that are down there that are waiting on some type of result, whether it be from a DUI investigation or homicide,” says Operations Captain Brett…

Two Noxubee County churches were broken into last week

Churches are usually considered safe place, but over the weekend that safety was shattered

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Churches are usually considered safe place, but over the weekend that safety was shattered. Two local churches in Noxubee County were burglarized. Now deputies are searching for answers and pastors are searching for peace. “It does but this is but this is the first time we actually had people breaking in churches so this is a…

Columbus Police searching for McDonald’s shooting suspect

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Gunshots ring out at a busy east Columbus shopping center. Customers run for cover, as bullets pierce several vehicles. Now, police are searching for the gunmen. The shooting happened behind McDonald’s on Highway 182. Columbus police say a man was grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured. In fact, he had several warrants for his…

Columbus City Council members held press conference for crime prevention

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Recent violent crimes, including a fatal shooting in the Columbus Heights neighborhood just last week, have area elected officials calling for action and help from the community. Columbus City Council members Ethel Taylor Stewart and Pierre Beard joined Lowndes County Supervisor Leroy Brooks and representatives from the Columbus Police Department and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office for…

Man indicted on child sex crimes accused of stabbing his brother

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man already indicted on nearly two dozen child sex crime charges is accused of stabbing his brother. 27-year-old Melvin Cardwell is now charged with aggravated assault. Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan says the incident happened early Christmas Eve morning on County Road 431. Pollan tells WCBI there was an argument between Cardwell and his…

Fire investigators believe they know cause of Jamestown Apartment fire

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An update to a story we first brought you last week, fire investigators believe they know where an apartment fire started. The blaze happened at the Jamestown Apartment complex in east Columbus. A mother and her two children were able to escape where the fire started. Firefighters say the flames started in the kitchen area of…