Fred Shel
Featured, Local News

Columbus Police are investigating early morning shooting that left one person dead

A suspect is not in custody at this time, but Columbus Police have identified a person of interest.
Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An early morning shooting has left one person dead in Columbus. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant identified the person as 16-year-old Harvey Montreal Johnson Jr. A suspect is not in custody at this time, but Columbus Police have identified a person of interest. Shell casings and a wrecked vehicle–that’s the scene officers saw after shots were…

M 17
Featured, Local News

Miss M 17 Pageant raises money for future police officers

Allie Martin,

AMORY, MISS. (WCBI) – A beauty pageant that raises money to send a future law enforcement officer to the police academy has wrapped up. All of the money raised will send someone to police academy through the Deputy Dylan Pickle Memorial Scholarship.  Deputy Pickle was killed when he was struck by a car while manning a safety checkpoint in Monroe…

Img 4014
Local News

Bedz 4 Kidz builds 20 beds for families in the golden triangle

The idea to create the non profit organization started just two years ago
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-  Dream Center Golden Triangle started Beds 4 Kids to help families with unmet needs. The idea to create the non profit organization started just two years ago. Members with “Adopt A Block.” saw several children without a place to lay their heads a night. Shortly after seeing the need grow throughout the GTR, the entities partnered to…

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Local News

Hundreds march in Starkville’s third annual pride parade

The celebration started at Fire Station park; hundreds marched through downtown Starkville
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Starkville held it’s third pride parade Saturday afternoon. The celebration started at Fire Station park; hundreds marched through downtown Starkville. The first pride parade in Starkville kicked off in 2018. Festivities were cancelled for two years due to the pandemic. Folks across the Magnolia state made their way to support members of the LGBTQ-IA community. ” It…

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Local News

West Point police are looking for whoever vandalized two of the city’s monuments

Recently, two monuments in West Point have been covered in spray paint by vandals
Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- West Point police are looking for a person or people that spray painted letters on a couple of the city’s monuments. One big problem police are facing though is there’s no way to detect who did it because there aren’t any cameras in the downtown area. Recently, two monuments in West Point have been covered in…

Nox Sheriff
Local News

Law enforcement is now using social media as a job resource

Ansley Perkins,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) -Social Media is one of the biggest tools to stay in contact with friends. It’s also a quick way to find information. Law enforcement is noticing this trend and many have now joined the online community. “Now social media plays a big part in law enforcement this day and time,” said Triplett. in Mississippi, thousands of…

Wings
Aundrea's Extras

Mid-Morning with Aundrea: Super Crispy Fried Chicken Wings

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Kristian Wiggins shows us how to make super crispy fried chicken wings. Super Crispy Fried Chicken Wings That Stay Crispy (2 Wing Sauces) INGREDIENTS US Metric 4-5 Lbs of Chicken Wings, drumettes and flats separated Fry oil 2 Cups of AP Flour 2 Cups Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Cornstarch or Tapioca starch 1 Tablespoon Baking powder 1/2 cup vodka 1…

Pontotoc Wall
Featured, Local News

Pontotoc gets grant to restore historic wall painting that residents see as local landmark

Joey Barnes,

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – The Pontotoc County Chamber of Commerce has received a grant of over $3K that will go towards restoring the mural the community considers a local landmark. “It’s always been here and it’s been a symbol of Pontotoc for people through the years,” says long-time Pontotoc resident Toby Winston. The brick building at the corner of South…

Car Chase
Crime, Local News

Car chase through Columbus due to possible domestic situation

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An incident that stretched across two counties ends on a busy north Columbus street. Here is viewer video right after the traffic stop on Military Road this afternoon. Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton says his officers were told to be on the lookout for two vehicles chasing each other. There were also reports of a gun…

Paid Parking
Local News

Starkville paid parking on pause due to ordinance

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The brakes have been put on paid parking in Starkville after an ordinance has been found. Mayor Lynn Spruill says the city is suspending the enforcement of paid parking for a couple of weeks. This gives city leaders time to host public meetings and then amend and clarify the overlooked ordinance. That city rule states on…

Superintendent
Local News

Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education is retiring

Joey Barnes,

  MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education is retiring. Dr. Carey Wright will end her 50-year career in public education on June 30th. She was appointed to her role by the Mississippi State Board of Education in 2013. Under Wright’s leadership, Mississippi’s Quality Counts grade went from 50th in the nation to 35th with a C minus. Graduation…

Band
Local News

Ole Miss band receiving a new practice facility

Joey Barnes,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – The tune is changing to get the Ole Miss band a new practice field. Thursday the IHL considered a $3.5 million request from the school. Plans were started in November 2017 to get the Pride of the South marching band a new place to practice. However, that was put on hold. There have been complaints for…

Road
Local News

New path connecting MSU and Starkville has increased in price

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A multi-use path connecting Mississippi State and Starkville is rolling along, with a price tag increase. The university requested from the Institutions of Higher Learning to use $250,000 of its funds to cover increased costs. While the project is listed as in the design phase, the budget increases are mainly due to construction costs and architectural…

Wp Wanted
Crime, Local News

West Point police need help finding man accused of stealing

Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – West Point police need help finding a man accused of stealing more than five thousand dollars worth of items at Love’s Truck Stop. These are images captured from surveillance videos of the man. Investigators believe he hit the store two different times, once on April second and the other on April 12th. He was seen…

Police
Featured, Local News

Civic group presents First Responder awards

Top officers named for police, fire and sheriff's department
Allie Martin,

AMORY, MISS. (WCBI) – First responders put their lives on the line every day and a civic group in one city is recognizing top cops, deputies, and firefighters. Smokin Bros was probably the safest place in Monroe County as police, sheriff’s deputies, and firefighters packed into the restaurant, for a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Amory. “We’re so…

Trooper
Local News

Mississippi Highway Patrol announced its trooper of the year

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Highway Patrol announced its trooper of the year. Greenwood Springs native Trooper Matt Minga received this year’s honors. Minga was born in Zamora but grew up in Greenwood Springs. He attended the Smithville school district from 1st grade all the way to his high school graduation. Minga joined the Splunge fire Department in 2004…

Filet Big
Aundrea's Extras

Mid-Morning with Aundrea: MUW Filet Recipe

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Zyanne Turner is a culinary student at MUW. Ingredients: 1 tbsp kosher salt 1 tbsp fresh cracked black pepper 2 tbsp oil 1 tbsp of butter (optional) 1 filet Make sure your steak is room temperature which will allow for even cooking throughout. Get a pan and warm it up on the stove on medium to…

Insurance Storms
Featured, Local News

How Mississippi insurance companies can adapt to the rise in severe weather

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The National Weather Service has confirmed that 15 tornadoes touched down in Mississippi on April 13, leaving plenty of damage in their wake. As the state continues to weather through a stormy spring, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says to expect insurance rates to go up to about six percent. “We understand the pressure with rates,”…

Pickle Grad
Featured, Local News

First recipient of Dylan Pickle Memorial Scholarship graduates police academy

Funds are provided through Miss M 17 Pageant
Allie Martin,

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – The memory and the legacy of a Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty while manning a safety checkpoint lives on through a scholarship program that sends cadets through the police academy. Every time Deputy Kasi Gwin gets into her patrol unit she is filling a lifelong dream. Deputy Gwin is with…

Cherie
Local News

CMSD Superintendent voices concerns on medical marijuana

Ansley Perkins,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The deadline for cities or counties to opt out of the Medical marijuana law is less than two weeks away. In order to opt-out, community leaders must actually vote no. A “no” vote would keep medical marijuana out of the town or the county. This week Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin asked the city’s top educator for…

Crime
Crime, Local News

Man is dead after accident in southern Lowndes County

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man is dead after an accident Wednesday morning in southern Lowndes County. The crash happened on Tarlton Road at about 5 AM. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant says 25-year-old Frederick Carter of Columbus was flown to a Tupelo hospital. He died shortly after arriving. Merchant tells WCBI this was a one car crash. The…

Col Shooting
Crime, Local News

Columbus police searching for gunman after drive-by shooting

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)  – Columbus police are searching for a gunman after a drive-by shooting. The gunfire happened just before one Wednesday afternoon in the area of Ash and Railroad Streets. Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton says someone in a maroon car fired several shots at a group of people. No one was injured in the shooting but a house…