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Featured, Local News

Columbus art walk brings in local vendors to showcase crafts

Sidewalks were lined with paintings, homemade gifts, and singers performed for the crowds.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-If you were in Downtown Columbus you most likely saw dozens of craft and music vendors for Art Walk. The Columbus Arts Council and Columbus Main Street partnered to host the event featuring local artists in the community. Sidewalks were lined with paintings, homemade gifts, and singers performed for the crowds. Both groups said this is one way…

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Featured, Local News

United way of Lowndes and Noxubee counties work to provide assistance

Their mission extends beyond putting hot meals on tables. They're helping with household necessities.
Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Social service organizations are still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee counties is working hard to assist families by stocking shelves and partnering with area agencies. “2020 was a complete shutdown. Everything was taken completely off,” said Executive Director Renee Sanders. From canceled events to limited resources–assisting families…

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Columbus police department to host faith and blue weekend

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS,Miss. (WCBI)- The Columbus Police Department is taking a faith-based approach to connecting with the community. The department is hosting “Faith and Blue Weekend.” The nation-wide event features with activities in communities to build connections between officers and and the people they serve and protect. The weekend kicks off tonight with a vigil where members of the department and the…
Featured, Local News

Air Force releases report on fatal February crash

The mishap happened the evening of February 19th during a routine training mission.
Aundrea Self,

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Air Force has released details on the cause of the crash that killed two Columbus Air Force Base pilots this past February. Instructor pilot Scot Ames , Jr, 24 and Renshi Uesaki, 25, a student pilot from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force were killed when their T-38 Talon went down right outside…

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Featured, Local News

Mississippi University for Women holds mental health awareness event to connect students with healthcare professionals

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mississippi University for Women held a special event Thursday to help educate students and staff about the help that is available to them on campus and throughout Columbus. “We all miss our normal and we have no idea what normal will be again,” says Dr. Deb Wells, the…

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Featured, Local News

A West Point High School student faces attempted murder charges

Hill reportedly walked up to the car and quickly stabbed the victim with a hunting knife.
Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- Police say a West Point High School student faces attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing another teenager. 16-year-old Austin Hill was arrested and as an adult. The victim in the incident is not a student of West Point High School. But the two did know each other. A leading question to the investigation is, why did…

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Featured, Local News, Top Story

Books, photos, letters found inside 1972 time capsule opened in celebration of Columbus bicentennial

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – With a few swings of a hammer, the time capsule that had lain buried underneath Columbus for nearly 50 years was opened in celebration of the Friendly City’s 200-year anniversary on Wednesday. “We were planning on opening it 49 years later and now it’s 49 years later,” says Earl Martin, the former Sears manager who came…

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Featured, Local News

Students, parents and teachers take part in “National Walk To School Day’

The event promotes physical fitness for all ages
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo High School cheerleaders helped get parents, students and teachers pumped up for “National Walk To School Day.” Joyner Elementary was the only school in Tupelo that was able to take part in the event, because the school is located in the historic Joyner neighborhood, with easy walking access to the school. The event is sponsored…

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Local News

Lowndes Co. Sheriff’s Dept. hosting a drive-thru vaccine clinic

A drive-thru vaccination clinic will be held at the agency's office on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Saturday.
Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – This weekend the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department will step up to protect in a new way. A drive-thru vaccination clinic will be held at the agency’s office on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Saturday. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available for those that are eligible. You can also get a booster shot if…

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Local News

An Oktibbeha County house caught on fire

Firefighters saw that roof of the house was collapsing
Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss.(WCBI)- The home was on Lisa Lane, right outside of Starkville city limits. No one was in the house or injured. The cause of the fire as of Wednesday, October 6, 2021, was unknown. Firefighters saw that roof of the house was collapsing and had to go from an offensive approach to a defensive. Even with a limited…

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Featured, Local News

Chickasaw County’s interim coroner views his job as a ministry

Larry Harris had served as deputy coroner the past six years
Allie Martin,

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – The interim coroner for Chickasaw County says he wants to do more to make the area safer for all ages. As interim coroner for Chickasaw County, Larry Harris can be on the road,  in the office or at community events, like a “Stop the Violence” rally this past Sunday in Okolona. “We try to prevent deaths,” Harris…

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Featured, Local News

49 years after their picture went into Columbus time capsule, 5 sisters will be there to see it opened

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) In 1972, the Egger family put a picture of their five daughters inside the time capsule that was buried in front of Columbus’s Leigh Mall. “We hoped we’d live to be there the day it was unearthed,” says Nancy Hollis, the second youngest of the five children. That’s what Hollis says she and her four sisters were…

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Featured, Local News

Children discover skeletal remains in Itawamba County

Police say the remains are likely a 25 year old man reported missing nearly two years ago
Allie Martin,

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two boys make a gruesome discovery in Itawamba County, finding human remains. Investigators it could be a man that has been missing since last year. The skeletal remains were found in the Tilden Community, off Highway 25 South.  Itawamba County Sheriff Chris Dickinson says a skull, clothes, bones and other evidence was collected. “There is one…

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Local News

Food shortages are altering the way cafeterias serve lunch

Schools across the country are feeling the effects of shortages
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- From household supplies to food to manufacturing parts; businesses are dealing with shortages all across the country, and it’s trickled down into school cafeterias. Schools across the country are feeling the effects of shortages.  Columbus Municipal School District leaders knew those problems would happen at some point, so they had a plan in place. “We’re still serving…

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Local News

New changes are flying into the Columbus Air Force

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – New changes are flying into the Columbus Air Force bade as the agency is facing a 10-year pilot shortage. In December, the base will roll in new technology for students during their training. Despite the history of pilot shortages and the pandemic, CAFB had the highest number of graduates this year since 1985. “COVID affected us…

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Local News

More deer in Mississippi have become sick this year

Occurrences of an ailment known as, blue tongue, are higher in 2021
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Occurrences of an ailment known as, blue tongue, are higher in 2021; over previous years. When people think of sick animals they typically don’t want to eat them, but if a deer has what is known as hemorrhagic disease or blue tongue then the consumer doesn’t have to worry. “One big difference is that chronic wasting disease…

Drug
Featured, Local News

Heroin epidemic reaches small cities in Mississippi and Alabama

"What the rest of the nation has been seeing with an opioid crisis, we are now seeing," Lieutenant Kevin Forrester said.
Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES / PICKENS COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – According to local law enforcement, heroin is finding a place alongside opioids and other drugs along the Mississippi Alabama state line. “What the rest of the nation has been seeing with an opioid crisis, we are now seeing,” Lieutenant Kevin Forrester said. The opioid epidemic has been an issue across the United States…

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Featured, Local News

Aberdeen’s historic Acker Park undergoing improvements

Acker Park will be the site of a popular music festival
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A historic park in one Monroe County town is getting much needed improvements. For decades, Acker Park was center stage in Aberdeen with its swimming pool and other attractions. But after the pool closed the park was neglected until Aberdeen resident Dwight Stevens, who lives across the street, began having the park mowed regularly. He has also helped with…

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Local News

Community Counseling and leaders in Noxubee Co. bring awareness surrounding Domestic Violence

Community Counseling Services teams up with leaders in Noxubee County to break the silence surrounding Domestic Violence.
Eric Lampkin,

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – They were sending a message of courage and hope on Monday in Macon. Community Counseling Services teams up with leaders in Noxubee County to break the silence surrounding Domestic Violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. People in Macon kicked things off with a balloon release. Dorothy Sanders, the victim advocate coordinator for Lowndes County, says…

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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….