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Local News

Monroe County schools will have a new face in the superintendent seat

O'Brian started off his career in education as a 7th grade math teacher, then he was an assistant principal for six years
Joey Barnes,

SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-  Taking on a new position can be difficult for some; while others see it as a challenge. Principal Chad O’Brian is making the move from the principal’s office at Smithville High School’ to the superintendent’s office for the Monroe County School District. On July 1, 2022, O’Brian will take over as superintendent for Monroe County Schools. O’Brian…

Roman Grassaree
Crime, Local News

Macon man in the Clay County Jail accused of marijuana possession

Eric Lampkin,

CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Macon man is in the Clay County Jail accused of marijuana possession. On Monday, Clay County Deputies manning a safety checkpoint stopped Roman Grassaree. During a search, they reportedly found marijuana, including what was described as a large bag of THC edibles. Grassaree is charged with Felony Possession of Marijuana. He is in the…

Smithville
Local News

Remembering the tornadoes that impacted North Mississippi 11 years ago

MorrisAdmin,

NORTH MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Smithville was one of the worst hit towns in the region during the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. The EF-5 twister killed 16 people in the Monroe County town. Other areas were also hit, including Webster County. East Webster High School was destroyed early that morning. There was also a fatality in that county and others….

Hump Thumbnail
Local News

$50 million Hump renovation project begins

Joey Barnes,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Be on the lookout Bulldog fans, the Humphrey Coliseum will soon be getting a new look. The $50 million renovation project which started right after the 2021-22 season includes cosmetically improving the exterior, four new entrances, a walkway between the Hump and Dudy Noble Field, expansion of the indoor space, a 5,600-foot club area, and alterations…

Outreach

700 people arrested in month long federal, state, and local crime crackdown

Joey Barnes,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – 700 people are arrested in a month long federal, state, and local crime crackdown. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oxford released this video and the results of “Operation MPACT” Wednesday. Law enforcement from Lowndes, Lee, Grenada, and Panola Counties participated in the arrests. More than $134,000 worth of drugs and over $50,000 in cash were seized…

Mhp
Local News

Troop G of Mississippi Highway Patrol receiving new headquarters

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Troop G of the Mississippi Highway Patrol is one step closer to having a new home. The State Legislature has appropriated another $4 million for a new substation in Starkville. The funding is the last roadblock to getting the headquarters built. Lawmakers had set aside $4.5 million in an earlier session. The total price tag is…

Crime
Crime, Local News

One person is dead after shooting in Pontotoc County

Joey Barnes,

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – One person is dead after an early morning shooting in Pontotoc County. Sheriff Leo Mask says the shooting happened in the Algoma community but declined to give a specific address. Mask tells WCBI deputies are interviewing multiple people to try and figure out what sparked the shooting. The name of the victim has not been…

Robot Dog 2
Featured, Local News

TVA’s robot dog gives Golden Triangle students a look at the future of robotics and engineering

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Tuesday morning, the Tennessee Valley Authority put on a demonstration featuring one of its new Boston Dynamics robot dogs for students at East Mississippi Community College. EMCC joined Heritage Academy and Caledonia as the latest school to get a visit from “Spot.” Spot is one of the six state-of-the-art robot dogs TVA bought in 2021. TVA…

Ministry
Featured, Local News

Rising food and fuel prices impact a local ministry

Transformation Ranch looks at ways to cut costs as inflation climbs
Allie Martin,

LEE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – Rising fuel and food prices are hitting everyone hard, and that includes nonprofits. Every day, 30 men who live at the Transformation Ranch are driven to their jobs and picked up in the afternoon. The sharp spike in fuel prices is making the daily commutes much more expensive. “There are six different locations our guys…

Tommie Flowers
Crime, Local News

Man arrested in Columbus shooting charged with capital murder

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A man arrested in connection to a Columbus homicide has his charges upgraded to capital murder. We first told you 27-year-old Tommy Flowers was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. Now he’s also charged with second-degree murder or felony murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and directing a youth to commit a felony. Columbus Police…

Dollar General Robbery
Crime, Local News

Lowndes County deputies make two arrest in Dollar General robberies

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies make two more arrests in the recent Dollar General armed robberies. 20-year-old Dorium Davis is charged with accessory to armed robbery. 18-year-old Brandon Baker is charged with one count of armed robbery and two counts of kidnapping. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says bond has not been set for Davis. Baker’s bond is set…

Ammo Guy
Local News

Apex Ammunition co-founder spoke to Columbus Rotary

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Lowndes County ammunition maker talks about supply and demand. Apex Ammunition co-founder Jared Lewis spoke to the Columbus Rotary Club Tuesday. The company launched in 2017 after a hunting trip. As the world tried to figure out a new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis believes many turned to the outdoors. That is one…

Sean Harrison
Local News

Sean Harrison named Heritage Academy Head of School

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Heritage Academy’s new Head of School is a familiar face. Sean Harrison has accepted the position.  Harrison has served at Heritage for six years as Principal, Head Football Coach, and Athletic Director.  He led the Patriots to two Football State Championships and won the AAA All Sports award for the first time in school history.  He…

Wp Cleanup
Local News

West Point Growth Alliance organizing city wide clean up

Eric Lampkin,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s time for a little Spring cleaning in West Point. The West Point Growth Alliance is coordinating a city-wide clean-up this weekend. And they are recruiting volunteers. Teams will fan out across the city to pick up litter and beautify the town. And the Alliance is even providing a list of streets that may need…

Crime
Crime, Local News

Report of stolen truck leads to 3 arrest in Oktibbeha County

Eric Lampkin,

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A report of a stolen truck in Webster County leads to 3 arrests in Oktibbeha County. On April 19th, a resident in the Cadaretta community reported that a truck had been stolen from their property. The truck wasn’t missing for long. On the 21st, deputies spotted it at a home in Oktibbeha County. 3 suspects…

Cmsd
Local News

CMSD offering counseling for sudden loss of their peers

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Harvey Johnson Junior was a student at Columbus High School. Now the school district is providing counseling for students and faculty coping with the sudden loss of their peers. School faculty encourages students to be more willing to reach out to mentors and adults going forward. “It’s difficult for students and young people but sometimes the…

Fire Ants Pic
Featured, Local News

The best ways to fight fire ants in Mississippi

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – As the temperature goes up, so does fire ant activity. Richard Linley, owner of Northeast Exterminating in Starkville, says the insects build up their population during the spring. “Very painful and dangerous for children and small animals getting in a fire ant nest,” he says. “They just cover you and you know that they bite over…

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Local News

A golf tournament helps raise money for recovering addicts

A second chance is what many people need in life
Joey Barnes,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- A second chance is what many people need in life. The Dream Center Golden Triangle does it best to offer that to folks throughout the area. On Monday, April 25, 2022, the organization hosted a golf tournament that would help benefit men in recovery. Mossy Oak Golf Club was filled with people taking their best shots…

Truman Scholar Thumbnail
Featured, Local News, News Team, Regional

A Noxubee County native is now a Truman Scholar

Joey Barnes,

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI)- Each year roughly 60 college juniors across the country are awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for pursuing a career in public service. Most Truman Scholars you meet have a remarkable story… One of those people is Jilkiah Bryant. Bryant’s journey to pursue a career in public service started when she was just a little girl. She…

Rowdy
Local News

Rowdy Foundation golf tournament raising money for Autism resources

MorrisAdmin,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) –  The Rowdy Foundation teed off Monday morning for their second annual event to raise awareness for Autism resources in North Mississippi. The scramble was held at Old Waverly and raised over $38,000. All proceeds from the tournament will go toward autism education in north Mississippi. “We wanted to give back to the folks who gave so…

Kevin Parr
Crime, Local News

An inmate has escaped from the Tishomingo County Jail

Eric Lampkin,

TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find an escaped inmate from the Tishomingo County Jail. Kevin James Parr was being held in Tishomingo County on felony charges out of Prentiss County. Investigators believe Parr got through a hole in the shower area, crawled through an air duct, and went…