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Featured, Local News

After the guilty verdict: Lowndes co. families remember loss of loved ones

With a guilty verdict, the family can take an extra step towards gaining closure.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- A Clay County jury has found Clark Allen Jr. guilty of murder. Family members may have exited the courtroom with justice, but their hearts remain broken from the loss of their loved ones. Allen was accused of killing 31-year-old Demario Snell, 22-year-old Mauricio Nance, and 24-year-old Tyshun Fields in Artesia in January 2019. After three years and…

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Local News

A half day man hunt ends with an alleged killer behind bars

Bender allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend and unborn child
Joey Barnes,

ACKERMAN, Miss. (WCBI)-14 and a half hours later Dante Bender was taken into custody. Bender made his way from Newton County to Ackerman early this morning where he was caught and arrested. Bender allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend and unborn child along with Meridian police officer, Kennis Croom. His phone was pinged in Ackerman after an almost 15 hour…

Dante Bender
Crime, Local News

Meridian Police Department hold press conference after arrest

Joey Barnes,

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WCBI) – After a night on the run, a suspected cop killer is in jail in Meridian. 31-year-old Dante Marquez Bender is accused of shooting Meridian police officer Kennis Croom. Croom and other Meridian Police officers were called to a domestic violence incident around 5 PM Thursday afternoon. When they got to the scene, they found a victim…

Pop Up Shop
Local News

MSU iCreate camp to host pop up shop Saturday in Starkville

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – While most parents pay for summer camps, these campers are earning instead. Mississippi State University’s iCreate camp for young entrepreneurs gears up for business Saturday during their pop-up shop in Starkville. This week-long camp taught leadership and teamwork to help them build, market, and sell their products. Campers say that they have created products for all…

Rifle Pic
Crime, Local News

Columbus PD arrest six juveniles and one adult in recent weapon theft

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police continue to arrest people suspected of stealing an officer’s weapons. Chief Fred Shelton says six juveniles and one adult have been arrested in the investigation. 18-year-old Javarion Davis is charged with felony taking of a motor vehicle and auto burglary. He remains in jail, and more arrests are expected. Officers have recovered four guns,…

Demetrias Prince
Local News

Noxubee County deputies arrest Dollar General armed robbery suspect

Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Noxubee County deputies make an arrest in a Dollar General armed robbery. Demetrias Prince is charged with armed robbery. Bond has not been set for the Shuqualak man. He remains in the Noxubee County jail. The hold-up happened this past Monday at Dollar General in Shuqualak. Deputies say the clerk was held at gunpoint by…

Shykel Spruell
Crime, Local News

Starkville man accused of a child sex crime has been arrested

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville man is accused of trying to lure an 11-year-old girl in a child sex crime arrest. 23-year-old Shykel Spruell is charged with enticement of a child to produce visual depiction. Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton says Spruell was allegedly sending messages to the child on the internet. The victim’s mother saw the messages and…

Allie
Featured, Local News

Young Elvis fans showcase their talents during youth contest

Aspirng Elvis Tribute Artists rock it out for the judges
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A festival honoring the king of rock and roll attracts fans and tribute artists of all ages. One by one,  contestants in the Youth Day competition took the stage at the Elvis Presley Event Center. And although they were competing against each other, much like the adult ETAs, backstage, they are friends, jamming together to songs…

Murder Trial Thumbnail
Crime, Local News, News Team

Triple murder suspect found guilty

Joey Barnes,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A Clay County jury has found Clark Allen Jr. guilty of capital murder. Allen was accused of killing Demario Snell, Mauricio Nance, and Tyshun Fields in Artesia in January 2018. The verdict follows a busy day in court that saw Allen take the stand in his own defense. Both cases presented closing arguments, and the jury…

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Featured, Local News

Tupelo Elvis Festival welcomes visitors from around the world

This is the first time in three years that the popular festival has international guests
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Fans of the King of rock and roll are in Tupelo for a festival honoring that town’s most famous son. The Tupelo Elvis Festival is back and bigger than ever. Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan put on a pair of Elvis sunglasses when he gave a key to the city to last year’s Tupelo Ultimate Elvis Tribute…

Mayor Conf
Local News

Golden Triangle mayors meet for 2022 Mayor’s Summit

Joey Barnes,

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Golden Triangle mayors have more things in common. Mayors from towns in the Golden Triangle are coming together to find new solutions to some old problems they’re all facing. During a Mayor’s Conference at the Communiversity Thursday, these town leaders acknowledged that they’re losing population and struggling to fight crime. “I think of the…

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Local News

Columbus gets ready to celebrate 25 years of Juneteenth

It's a celebration of freedom; for the second year Juneteenth is being recognized as a national holiday
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s a celebration of freedom; for the second year, Juneteenth is being recognized as a national holiday. Organizers of festivities in Columbus have been celebrating Juneteenth long before it became an official holiday. Lowndes County supervisor Leroy Brooks has helped organize the Juneteenth celebration in Columbus all 25 years. He said it started small, but got bigger…

Lawsuit
Local News

Lowndes County has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit

MorrisAdmin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against former board president Harry Sanders. A long-time employee of Lowndes County filed the suit against the Supervisor and in turn, the county. Cynthia Thompson, the county’s administrative secretary, filed the federal suit against Sanders more than a year ago. All parties agreed to the settlement terms…

School Money
Local News

Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District updating and improving

Joey Barnes,

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – Kids are out for summer vacation, and educators are preparing and repairing for the new school year. Open ceilings, unfinished floors, and materials out in the open. The Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District is updating and improving. “The money that was set aside for construction is just monumental for us because we have not been able to…

Terrance Moore
Crime, Local News

Vernon man will spend 15 years in prison for elder abuse

Joey Barnes,

VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) – A Vernon man will spend 15 years in prison for elder abuse. 30-year-old Terrance Moore was found guilty of assaulting a 70-year-old woman. Prosecutors say Moore parked in front of the woman’s house for about half an hour in July 2020 but he did not know her. He became angry after the victim walked outside to…

Javarion Davis
Crime, Local News

Search for stolen guns and other items continues in Columbus

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The search for stolen guns from the Columbus Police Department, as another arrest, is made. 18-year-old Javarion Davis is charged with felony taking of a motor vehicle and auto burglary. He remains in the Lowndes County jail. Five juveniles have now been arrested in the investigation. Their names cannot be released because of their age. More…

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Crime, Featured, Local News

Louisville hopes city-wide emergency curfew can help police get more illegal guns off the street

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday night, Louisville issued a city-wide emergency curfew, effective immediately, as high rates of gun violence continue in the small town. Mayor Will Hill says the Board of Aldermen has been discussing the possibility of a curfew for several months. “Guns, fully loaded 30-round magazines,” says Cpt. Mike Perkins, lead investigator for the Louisville Police Department….

Allie Story
Featured, Local News

Future police officers learn about crime scene processing

Cadets are taught importance of securing and preserving crime scenes
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Future police officers are learning how to secure and process a crime scene.  It is one of the many topics cadets at the North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center are studying during their twelve week training. For this class, Officer Rachel Carver, a training officer with the Oxford Police Department, has set up a mock crime…

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Local News

Being a volunteer firefighter comes with an unexpected cost

Gas prices are hitting new records worldwide
Joey Barnes,

OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI)- People say something about it everyday now and it seems to only be getting worse. Gas prices are hitting new records worldwide. Those prices are impacting people differently; especially local volunteers. People that give their time like volunteer firefighters are also having to endure those prices to help those in their community; like Kenny Hall. Hall was…

Oxford Police Make A Quick Arrest In A Morning Shooting
Crime, Local News

Oxford police make a quick arrest in a morning shooting

Joey Barnes,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Oxford police make a quick arrest in a morning shooting. 69-year-old Michael Burt is charged with aggravated assault. OPD says the victim was shot in the leg in the 300 block of Dede Drive at about 10:44 AM. Investigators questioned two people but arrested Burt. Police did recover a weapon at a nearby home. Burt’s bond…

Mayor Presser
Local News

Columbus city employees will be seeing extra cash this summer

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It may not be an actual raise, but Columbus city employees will be seeing some extra cash this Summer. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Columbus City Council approved spending about $720,000 of ARPA money to provide incentive pay for city employees. The idea has been brought up a number of times since an accounting error during…

crime
Crime, Local News

Four arrest made after Columbus police car was broken into

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An update on the burglary of a Columbus police officer’s cruiser. Four arrests have been made, so far, and some items have been recovered. Police Chief Fred Shelton says one adult and three juveniles are charged in the case. No names or specific charges are being released at this time. Shelton tells WCBI that two vests,…