Violence
Featured, Local News

‘Stop the Violence’ group hopes to teach kids to better respond to issues

The 'Stop the Violence' chapter hosted different community members in the Okolona City Hall Auditorium.
Joey Barnes,

OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) -Keeping the community united. A group in Okolona is working to help folks in the area. “We’re just bringing awareness to communities, but it has to start somewhere,” Marsha Gates, a member of ‘Stop the Violence’, said. Violence in the community—Okolona Assistant Police Chief Sherry Hardin said it’s been a growing issue over the last few months….

Mndy
Featured, Local News, Weather

Drier and nicer weather later this week

Isaac Williams,

SUMMARY: A cold front will clear the area Sunday night, but linger nearby with remaining moisture through Wednesday. Scattered showers and storms in the forecast for Monday afternoon, with rain chances ramping up again for Tuesday. Rain chances back off quite a bit for Wednesday, and go away entirely for Thursday and the rest of the week. Highs will be…

An
Local News

The Dancing Rabbit Festival in Macon brought families and friends out

The festival is normally held in downtown Macon, but organizers decided to move it
Joey Barnes,

MACON, Miss. (WCBI)- The Dancing Rabbit Festival in Macon kicked off Saturday, October 2, 2021.  Like many events, the festival wasn’t able to go on in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the town was ready to get things back up and running. “It’s just awesome to come back out here. It’s been a while since people could come and…

Rny
Featured, Local News, Weather

Rain chances stay high for the next few days

Isaac Williams,

SUMMARY: A cold front and associated area of low pressure will be taking their sweet time moving through the southeast, so we have to deal with a few more days of cloudy and rainy weather. Rain chances look highest on Sunday, with less coverage of rain for Monday. Rain chances increase again for Tuesday, before tapering off for Wednesday and…

Llkngahd
Featured, Local News, Weather

Rain returns Saturday afternoon

Isaac Williams,

SUMMARY: Rain chances return to the forecast in the form of scattered showers and storms on Saturday afternoon. As a front approaches the area on Sunday, rain chances become much more widespread. Rain chances drop for Monday, with only scattered showers sticking around through Wednesday. Highs will be in the mid 80s Saturday, low 80s Sunday to Tuesday, and in…

Meth
Featured, Local News

Methamphetamines: The personal cost of addiction

As more meth related arrests are made in Lowndes County, law enforcement and rehab therapists want to warn people of the dangers of the addictive drug.
Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Over the last month, law enforcement officers in the area have seen an increase in arrests connected to meth.  Lowndes County Narcotics officers have confiscated more than 30 grams of meth this week. “There is nothing natural about methamphetamines. It will take you places that you wouldn’t normally go,” Lieutenant Kevin Forrester said. Kevin Forrester…

Llkngahd
Featured, Local News, Weather

Drier Saturday, wet Sunday

Isaac Williams,

SUMMARY: Rain chances return to the forecast in the form of scattered showers and storms on Saturday afternoon. As a front approaches the area on Sunday, rain chances become much more widespread. Rain chances drop for Monday, with only scattered showers sticking around through Wednesday. Highs will be in the mid 80s Saturday, low 80s Sunday to Tuesday, and in…

7th Ave Thumbnail
Local News, News Team

Columbus celebrates the 7th Avenue Heritage Festival for the 39th year

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The city of Columbus celebrated its 39th annual 7th Avenue Heritage Festival. Historically, 7th Avenue was considered the cornerstone for African American businesses in Columbus.  It was also the birthplace of the Queen City Hotel, which housed artists like B.B. King, Duke Ellington, and more when they traveled through the area. Thursday, the festival recognizes one of…

Fire Pic
Featured, Local News

How Louisville’s Taylor Machine Works is weathering global supply shortage

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Stores and businesses across Mississippi and the United States are once again dealing with a shortage of products on their shelves and in their warehouses thanks to the pandemic. The root cause is the disruption of supply chains all over the globe. “They’re telling us they expect this to last through next year, through 2022,” says…

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Featured, Featured Weather, Local News, Weather

Drier weather Friday and Saturday

Isaac Williams,

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WCBI) – SUMMARY: We received widespread showers the first half today, but rain has ended this evening across the region. We will remain dry tomorrow and Saturday before rain returns Sunday afternoon. TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy and muggy overnight. Low temperatures will reach the middle 60s. Chance of rain: 10%. FRIDAY: Overcast early with patchy AM fog then becoming…

Shooting 1
Crime, Local News

Columbus police continue to search for a gunman after Wednesday night shooting

A juvenile was hit by the gunfire. Police Chief Fred Shelton says that girl was treated and released from the hospital.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police continue to search for a gunman after Wednesday night shooting. A juvenile was hit by the gunfire. Police Chief Fred Shelton says that girl was treated and released from the hospital. He declined to give her age. When officers arrived at the shooting on 18th Street North, they found out the victim was driven…

K9
Local News

Newest K-9 sworn into Starkville Police Department

He was joined by MSU's mascot bully, along with K9 officers from the MSU police department and Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office.
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville went to the dogs today! Not the football team but an actual K9 ready to serve. Mayor Lynn Spruill swore in the Starkville police department’s newest officer, Kojack. He was joined by MSU’s mascot bully, along with K9 officers from the MSU police department and Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office. Pups from across town were invited…

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Local News

School districts in Mississippi will not receive a letter grade this year for state test results

The Mississippi Department of Education is making the scores in each district public.
Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – School districts in Mississippi will not receive a letter grade this year for state test results. It’s unclear how or if this will impact schools still under the state’s control, such as the Noxubee County School District. The Mississippi Department of Education is making the scores in each district public. Noxubee Schools have been under…

Delois
Local News

Noxubee County teacher wins WCBI Back to School Essay Contest

Three teachers received an A plus for our essay contest and today they received their prize.
Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Three teachers received an A plus for our essay contest and today they received their prize. A 500 dollar check to decorate their classroom. We paid a visit to Delois Mickens, a teacher at Noxubee County High school. Mickens appreciated the voters who supported her and talked about what she plans to do with the…

Lowndes
Local News

MSMS teacher wins WCBI Back to School Essay Contest

Julie Heintz of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is one of the winners in the WCBI Back to School Essay Contest.
Eric Lampkin,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Julie Heintz of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is one of the winners in the WCBI Back to School Essay Contest. Today, she received a check for 500 dollars from Monroe County Farm Bureau. Teachers were challenged to write an essay about how they would spend the money in their classrooms. Heintz’s plans…

Shooting
Local News

Shooting in Columbus sends child to hospital

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A shooting on Columbus’ Northside sends a child to the hospital. Columbus Police and Emergency crews were called to a reported shooting on 18th Street, near Sim Scott Park around 7:30 Wednesday Night. When they got to the scene, they were told the victim, a child had been taken to the hospital in a personal vehicle….

Cathrine St Apt Complex Pic
Featured, Local News, Top Story

More than half of Starkville apartment tenants face homelessness after mass evictions

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday was the day that many tenants of the Catherine Street apartment complex in Starkville have been dreading. For more than a month, residents, many with lower incomes, children and in some cases, disabilities, have faced mass eviction after new owner Ferretti Property Services chose not to renew their leases. “They knew the day was coming,”…
Local News

Local store officials are still seeing empty shelves for various reasons

Empty shelves in a grocery store are bad news for customers and for managers
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-Some grocery stores in the Golden Triangle still haven’t been getting their products in; at the same rate as before the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not just the pandemic; severe weather and labor shortages have all played a part in not getting items on store shelves. Empty shelves in a grocery store are bad news for customers and for…

Sale Preview 092921
Local News

Largest consignment sale to start three day run in Tupelo

Organizers of the largest consignment sale in Northeast Mississippi are expecting big crowds for the three-day event.
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Organizers of the largest consignment sale in Northeast Mississippi are expecting big crowds for the three-day event. The “New 2 U’ Kids Sale is taking place in Building Five of the Tupelo Furniture Market.  Consigners have brought more than one hundred thousand items to sell at the three-day event. Thousands are expected each day at the…

Crossroad
Local News

Itawamba Crossroads Ranch will soon open housing for residents

J. R. Hawkins is excited to show off his future home at Itawamba Crossroads Ranch.
Allie Martin,

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – J. R. Hawkins is excited to show off his future home at Itawamba Crossroads Ranch. Hawkins will move into one of five duplexes that were recently built on the property.  The idea for the assisted living spaces for high functioning special needs adults has been a dream of Renea Bennett, ever since her son, Marcus, suffered…

Parking
Local News

Downtown Starkville visitors may soon have to pay to park

At its most recent meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to consider proposals for paid parking in certain spots in the District and the Midtown area.
Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – If you’re driving to Starkville and plan on going to the Cotton District, you soon may have to pay to stay. At its most recent meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to consider proposals for paid parking in certain spots in the District and the Midtown area. So far, only one proposal has been submitted….

Capsule
Local News

Leigh Mall to open a time capsule from grand opening event

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Leigh Mall in Columbus is preparing for a grand opening nearly 50 years in the making. No, it’s not a new store. It’s a glimpse at the past. Just over 49 years ago, in August of 1972, Sears opened its doors as the first store in Leigh Mall. At the Grand Opening ceremony, store managers invited…