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Featured, Local News

‘Friend of God’ Ministries helps women find freedom from addictions

Ministry was started by a law officer who saw the need for a program for women
Allie Martin,

MONROE COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – A Monroe County ministry is making a lasting difference in the lives of women looking to break the cycle of addiction. Every Tuesday, Smithville Baptist Church hosts a Bible study for “Friend of God’ Ministries. The Amory-based group was started four years ago by a local law enforcement officer who saw the need for a long-term,…

Port Pic3
Featured, Local News

Why the U.S. Department of Transportation is investing millions in the Port of Aberdeen

Joey Barnes,

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – On December 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Aberdeen is receiving $4 million as part of its initiative to improve American ports. The Port Rail Spur Connector Project will provide direct access between the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the Kansas City Southern Railroad. “The work that we do down here on this dock will…

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Local News

Oktibbeha County has a new board of supervisors president

A leader has to have a good supporting cast
Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors has a new face at the head of the table. On Monday, January 4, 2021;  Bricklee Miller was elected the new board president after serving as vice president the last term. “In 2015 the citizens of Oktibbeha County trusted me enough to elect me as the first female to the board…

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Local News

Winston County man dead after mobile home fire

MorrisAdmin,

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man is dead after an early morning fire in Winston County. Winston County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Keith Alexander says the fire happened on Davie Road about midnight. 62-year-old Jimmy Goss died inside his mobile home. Alexander believes a kerosene heater is to blame for the fire. The state fire marshal is assisting in…

Holeman
Local News

Longtime Columbus automotive repair shop closing doors

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A longtime driver in the Columbus automotive repair scene is putting it in park. After 51 years in the same location, Holman Transmission closed its doors for good on Friday, December 31st. Today, customers and friends dropped by to reminisce with the Holmans and congratulate them on their retirement. Since, setting up shop on Gardner Boulevard…

Mdot
Local News

An influx of money could help smooth the roads in Mississippi

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An influx of money could help smooth the roads in Mississippi. The state is in line to receive a billion dollars for road and bridge projects over the next 5 years from the infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress. That’s going to take some cooperation from the state legislature. Lawmakers will have to have to put…

Muw
Local News

MUW pushed back spring semester due to COVID-19 concerns

MorrisAdmin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – MUW has now pushed back its start date for the spring semester. Students and instructors at the Mississippi University for Women will now begin classes on January 18th. Classes were set to begin on January 6th. Provost Scott Tollison says they evaluated the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and decided that it was best to delay…

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Local News

West Point Attorney qualified for 16th Circuit Court Dist. Place 3 seat

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The race to replace Judge Lee Coleman has its first entry. West Point Attorney Michelle Easterling qualified for the 16th Circuit Court District Place 3 seat today. Judge Lee Coleman has announced he is not seeking re-election. Easterling has been practicing law since 1998. She has served as Clay County Prosecutor and West Point Municipal Court Prosecutor….

Wcbi Default
Local News

Chancery Court Judge Drungole-Ellis gets early start on re-election bid

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Chancery Court Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis gets an early start on her re-election bid. Judge Drungole-Ellis filed her qualifying papers with the Secretary of State’s office on Monday morning. She has served as a Chancery Court Judge for the 14th Judicial District since 2018. Drungole – Ellis presides over cases in Place 3, which covers all of Noxubee…

Columbus Coo Pic
Featured, Local News

Mayor wants Columbus’s next chief operating officer to have background in government, accounting and budgeting

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, a hiring committee for the city of Columbus held a special meeting to discuss candidates for open city positions. Topping the list: a new chief operating officer. Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin has high expectations for the city’s next COO. “Making short-term and long-term plans financially for the city,” he says. “And it really requires, I…

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Local News

COVID-19 testing numbers have risen after the holiday season

The holiday season is over for now,but 2021 left some lasting effects
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The holiday season is over for now, but 2021 left some lasting effects. COVID numbers have risen again to start the new year and medical officials have seen a boost in business. Over at Allegro Plaza in Columbus, they are relating it to numbers they saw in March of 2020; however, the staff was prepared for the…

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Featured, Local News

New Tupelo Police Chief brings federal experience to the job

Chief John Quaka is sworn as Tupelo's top cop days after retiring from the F.B.I.
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A veteran FBI Agent is now at the helm of the Tupelo Police Department. Just days after retiring from the FBI, John Quaka was sworn in as Tupelo’s new Chief of Police. But Chief Quaka had already been at work, meeting with leaders at TPD. “I asked all supervisors to meet with me for about thirty…

Covid
Coronavirus Information, Local News, State News

Holiday weekend brings in over 17,000 new COVID-19 cases

MorrisAdmin,

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – There is a staggering number of new cases of Covid 19 reported over the holiday weekend. The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 17,525 new positive cases diagnosed between Thursday and Sunday afternoon. There have been 5 Covid related deaths in that same time period. Lowndes and Lee Counties are among communities with the highest number…

Headyyyys
Featured, Local News, Weather

Winter back in force this week

MorrisAdmin,

SUMMARY: What a wild weekend of weather! From 80s and tornadoes to snow in just 24 hours. Quite the event for us here in MS! The upcoming week is also very busy weather-wise. We start out very cold with snow melting, before a brief warmup through Thursday into the 50s. Thursday we will see rain showers, and potentially some more…

Andrew Emerick 2
Featured, Local News

Escaped Choctaw co. inmate has been captured in Arkansas

28-year-old Andrew Emerick was captured along with Angela Brooke Tatum without incident. 
Joey Barnes,

CHOCTAW COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- An escaped inmate, who’s been on the run since December 28th, was taken into custody in West Memphis,Arkansas by the Mississippi Department of Corrections Special Response Team and the U.S Marshals Task Force. 28-year-old Andrew Emerick was captured along with Angela Brooke Tatum without incident. Tatum is being charged with Aiding escape in the incident. Both Emerick…

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Featured, Local News

New Year’s eve stabbing in Pickens co. leaves 1 dead, 3 injured

Reform Police officers were called to the 700 block of 3rd Street Northeast.  
Joey Barnes,

PICKENS COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- The stabbing death of a Pickens County man on New Year’s Eve remains under investigation. Reform Police officers were called to the 700 block of 3rd Street Northeast around 9 p.m. on December 31st. Officers said 41-year-old Antonio Plott, of Carrollton, was fatally stabbed during an argument at a family gathering. Three other victims were taken to…

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Local News

Columbus organizations team up to help folks keep warm

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-The Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition and Columbus Community outreach are making sure folks have a warm place to sleep. As temperatures drop, the organizations plan to partner with the Red Roof Inn to rent hotel rooms to the homeless population. “We don’t want any of our citizens to freeze or you know be without their needs right now…

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Local News

People are committing to their New Year’s Resolutions early

People everywhere make New Year's Resolutions each year and do their best to stick to them
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-  People everywhere make New Year’s Resolutions each year and do their best to stick to them. 2022 is finally here and people are kicking off those New Year’s Resolutions. One common practice each year is developing fitness goals and a gym routine. “I plan to stay in the gym, continue working out, save up some money, travel…

Time
Featured, Local News

Columbus city leaders bury a time capsule, will open in 2072

Artifacts and cherished memories will be locked away for the next five decades.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- As Columbus wraps up its bicentennial year, city leaders leave a reminder for their successors to open when the Friendly City marks its 250th anniversary. Pictures, lottery tickets, cellphones, and coupons… Artifacts and cherished memories to be locked away for the next five decades. On Friday, Columbus leaders packed the steel container with memorabilia from families around…

Wcbi Default
Local News

Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine now available over the counter

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – After more than a decade, you will no longer need a prescription to buy decongestants that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. A law passed in this year’s legislative session will take effect tomorrow. It will allow products containing pseudoephedrine to once again be sold without prescription. In an effort to cut down on methamphetamine production, the legislature passed…

Tornado
Local News, State News

Tornado that went through Winfield, Ala. confirmed EF-1

MorrisAdmin,

WINFIELD, Ala. (WCBI) – The storm that moved through downtown Winfield, Alabama Wednesday night has been confirmed as an EF-1 tornado. There is significant damage to structures in the downtown area, including roof damage to a theater. Street lights were knocked down. Store windows were blown out and streets were covered in debris. No injuries were reported. Around 100 people…