Nurse Pic
Featured, Local News

Pontotoc furniture company opens health clinic to provide employees and their families with affordable medical care

Joey Barnes,

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – Southern Furniture Industries has opened a new health and wellness clinic in Pontotoc to provide quality healthcare for employees and their families, without the high cost. “I get to practice medicine the way medicine needs to be practiced,” says Jessica Maffett, the nurse practitioner at the clinic. “Without having to worry about the money, the insurance.”…

Homicide
Crime, Local News

Columbus police have released new information on recent homicide

Joey Barnes,

  COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police have released new information about a homicide from earlier this week. These are still images from a surveillance camera that police released today. Police Chief Fred Shelton says this is the person they want to talk to about the shooting death of 23-year-old Shad Reese. The shooting happened early Monday morning in the…

Guyton Retires 110421
Featured, Local News

Dick Guyton to retire as executive director of Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation

Guyton says it's time to let someone else oversee the foundation, birthplace and museum
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The longtime executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation is retiring. Dick Guyton announced that he will retire on January 8th, which would have been Elvis’ 87th birthday. Guyton has served as executive director of the Memorial Foundation and the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum since 2002. Guyton is 82 and says it’s time to…

Hosemann Speaks 110421
Featured, Local News

Lt. Gov. Hosemann says lawmakers will have a medical marijuana bill in regular session

The lieutenant governor said the bill is complete
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann says he believes lawmakers will deal with medical marijuana during the regular legislative session. Hosemann says lawmakers have completed most of the work on a medical marijuana bill. The lieutenant governor says the bill will allow medical marijuana and not the recreational use of the drug. “I think it’s one of…

Bridge
Local News

Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge will stay closed for foreseeable future

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A popular Columbus landmark will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Repairs to the Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge aren’t likely to begin anytime soon, and when they do they’re going to be expensive. The “Old River Bridge” as it’s sometimes known was severely damaged in February 2020 when it was struck by a runaway barge filled with…

Kenya Curry
Crime, Local News

Tip leads to a pursuit that ended in a drug bust in Pickens County

Joey Barnes,

PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – A tip leads to a Pickens County pursuit that ends in a drug bust. Kenya Curry is facing several charges, including the attempt to elude, reckless endangerment, and possession of marijuana. Sheriff Todd Hall says the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force alerted law enforcement about drugs being brought into the county. An Aliceville officer and…

Women Manufacture
Local News

30 percent of workers in the manufacturing sector are women

Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – According to the latest census, 30 percent of workers in the manufacturing sector are women. Some local workforce development leaders think that number should be higher. And they’re saying now is a good time for them to get a foot in the door. There’s a nationwide shortage of qualified workers – manufacturers are hiring –…

Okt Wanted
Crime, Local News

Oktibbeha County deputies are searching for two supects after alleged robbery

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County deputies are searching for two men after an alleged robbery ends in a shooting. 18-year-old Ian Bradford and 21-year-old Marquez Williams are both wanted for aggravated assault and armed robbery. Investigators say the shooting happened on October 28th on County Lake Road. This information was released today. The victim had non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies…

Stallion Street Festival
Special Guests

Stallion Street Festival

Eric Crosswhite,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Edna Cole from the South Lamar Chamber of Commerce gives details on the Stallion Street Festival in Millport, Alabama. Categories: Special Guests Tags: family fun, festival, shopping

Child Abuse Tish
Crime, Local News

Tishomingo County couple facing child abuse charges

Joey Barnes,

TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tishomingo County couple is facing child abuse charges. Bond for 30-year-old Charles Ewing is 50,000 dollars. 27-year-old Kayla Owens has a 20,000 dollar bond. Tishomingo County deputies say the child abuse allegedly involves a five-year-old. No other information about the case has been released. Other charges are possible against the couple. Categories: Crime, Local…

Winston Medical Center
Featured, Local News

Winston Medical Center CEO fears even more healthcare workers could quit over Medicare & Medicaid vaccine rule

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – November 1st was the deadline for staff at Baptist Memorial Healthcare and University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, smaller hospitals like Winston Medical Center are still bracing for a decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “I do anticipate we will have some people that will leave…

Hunt
Crime, Local News

One person still missing after burglary of Hunt Middle School

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The old Hunt Middle School in Columbus has seen its share of bad luck recently. It was damaged in a tornado two years ago and it’s also been hit by accused thieves. Now, David Ashmore is charged with burglary. Janet Price and Latasha Terry are both charged with accessory after the fact of burglary. Columbus Police…

Lexi Robinson
Featured, Local News

Starkville child recovering from rare condition associated with COVID-19

Aundrea Self,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A 5th grade student in Starkville is recovering from a rare, but serious condition associated with COVID-19. Lexi Robinson, 10, was diagnosed with coronavirus in August. She was cleared to return to school after her quarantine, but weeks later more severe symptoms struck. After two trips to the emergency room, a doctor suspected Lexi had developed…

Wcbi Lg
Local News

Runoff will happen for Board of Trustees seat for Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A runoff is in the works for a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees. Cassandra Palmer garnered the most votes. She has 45 percent of the vote. Ronnie Tucker finished second with 23 percent of the vote. Those two candidates will meet for a November 23rd runoff. This school board seat is one of…

Mayor
Local News

Columbus City Council discusses a new purpose for Propst Park

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) –  The Columbus City Council has discussed a new purpose for Propst Park. During Tuesday’s meeting, the Council voted to commission the Neel-Schaffer engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study to upgrade a master plan for the park. City leaders have been discussing several plans for modernizing Propst Park, using money from the city’s share of the…

Flex Factor Thumbnail

Flex Factor and EMCC educates students on a career path to advance manufacturing and technology

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- East Mississippi Community College and Flex Factor are connecting students to career pathways that could lead them into the manufacturing sector. During a multi-week program focused on entrepreneurship and technology, 9th-grade students at Armstrong Junior High School were asked to develop a business concept and deliver a shark take style presentation about solving real work problems using…

Michael Jones
Crime, Local News

Man charged with murder in 2020 trial beginning

Joey Barnes,

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A murder trial begins today in Winston County. Michael Jones is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Malik Hudson. Hudson was shot in April 2020 at Ivy Apartments and later died at a Jackson hospital. Jones, who is from Gulfport, later turned himself into Louisville police. The trial is expected…

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Featured, Local News

Secretary of State touts importance of local elections

Secretary of State Michael Watson tours voting precincts on election day
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s Secretary of State says it’s important for people to vote in their local elections, even though there are no state or national races on the ballots. Michael Watson was in Tupelo at the Bissell precinct this morning, to observe voting at the West Tupelo polling place. The secretary of state visited with election workers and…

Iah Arcade 11221
Featured, Local News

Students at IAC rewarded for perfect attendance, positive behavior

Students who meet goals get a trip to the "I Zone"
Allie Martin,

FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Students at an area school are learning that hard work and good behavior pays. For the month of October, students at Itawamba Attendance Center were given a challenge. “We did perfect attendance, plus you couldn’t have any office, discipline referrals.  So you had to be pretty good, well behaved and you had to be here every…