Img 8519
Featured, Local News

Church members counting their blessings after lightning strike sparks fire

Church would have been full, but services cancelled due to threat of severe weather
Allie Martin,

AMORY, MISS. (WCBI) – A lightning strike during Wednesday night’s storms is being blamed for a fire at a Monroe County Church. The fire caused some damage to the church building, but the pastor and congregation are counting their blessings and preparing for Easter Sunday. Lightning struck Amory’s First Assembly of God around 7 20 Wednesday evening. “One of the…

Golden Deeds
Local News

Columbus Exchange Club recognized winner of Golden Deeds Awards

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Exchange Club recognizes this year’s winner of the Book of Golden Deeds Award. Doctor Josie Shumake is the 49th recipient of the award that showcases a person’s ability to selflessly serve his or her community. Doctor Shumake is a Lee High School graduate, a Mississippi State University, and a PHD graduate from the University…

4 County Poles
Local News

4-County fixed 20 poles broken between Lowndes and Noxubee Counties

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) ) – Work started early this morning to repair a number of broken poles in the 4-County Electric Power Association territory. The utility believes about 20 poles were broken in Lowndes and Noxubee Counties, from Artesia to Brooksville. There were also some broken poles in the Mashulaville area. It took most of the day to make…

Safety Day
Local News

Chickasaw County students meet first responders and community members

Joey Barnes,

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – First responders play a vital role in our community. Thursday, students in Chickasaw County meet those people with life-saving missions. The annual Chickasaw Safety Day was held at the Chickasaw Agri-Center Thursday. 250 Fifth graders talked to law enforcement, firefighters, and others about their jobs. 11 different speakers gave lessons on various topics, including electric…

Al Damage
Local News

Alabama experienced damage during Wednesday’s storm

Joey Barnes,

GREENE COUNTY, Ala.  (WCBI) – Just to the south of Aliceville in Greene County, Alabama storms damage several homes. Trees and powerlines came down in Eutaw. People took shelter in their homes as the high winds went overhead. Five or six homes and cars were damaged in the storm. Categories: Local News

Mema
Local News, State News

MEMA has released preliminary report from Wednesday’s storms

MorrisAdmin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency releases some very preliminary numbers from Wednesday night’s storms. So far, 12 counties in the state are reporting damage. Three injuries were reported in Tippah County. These are very preliminary numbers and they will grow over the coming days. MEMA encourages people with home damage to use the agency’s self-report tool. The…

Pup Trees
Featured, Local News

Storms bring down trees across Winston County, blocking roads, crashing onto homes

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday night’s storms caused extensive damage throughout Winston County, with first responders working through the night to cut a path through all the trees that were blocking roads or on top of houses. “We could see there was a lot of damage,” says Louisville resident Renee Jones. “And I never dreamed about us coming home and…

Winston Plywood Thumbnail
Local News, News Team

Winston Plywood hosts a community food drive

Joey Barnes,

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Winston Plywood stepped away from the factory and into the community for a food drive Wednesday. The rotary club and Vowels grocery partnered with Winston Plywood to supply food to people in need. Winston Plywood is no stranger to giving back to its community. At the beginning of the pandemic, the company created a “giving box” where…

Img 8439
Featured, Local News

Itawamba Community College gets top honors in the state

WalletHub names ICC best two year school in the state, four years in a row
Allie Martin,

FULTON, MISS. (WCBI) – A Northeast Mississippi-based community college has been named the best in the state, for the fourth year in a row. “We are blessed with a great set of faculty that really pride themselves on quality instruction in the classroom,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. Dr. Allen says being named the top community college in Mississippi…

Swear
Local News

Brooksville welcomes first police chief in 8 years

MorrisAdmin,

BROOKSVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – After 8 years without a police chief, the town of Brooksville has filled the post. Virginia Rich has had high-profile positions in a few area departments. Now, she’ll be leading one of her own. I went to Brooksville today to talk with Chief Virginia Rich and she says that moving to a small town will be…

Tupelo Award
Local News

Local business leader honored with Red Raspberry Humanitarian Award

Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A longtime business and civic leader and his wife are recognized for their efforts in promoting and supporting a nonprofit that provides a variety of services to thousands every year, free of charge. Ted and Lynn Moll were named recipients of this year’s “Red Raspberry Humanitarian Award.” That honor was given at the eighth annual awards…

Msu Reasearch
Local News

MSU host first Research Week showcasing student, faculty, and staff work

Eric Lampkin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University is showing off the work being done by its students, faculty, and staff. The university is hosting its first Research Week. All this week, exhibits from MSU research centers, institutes, support units, and academic departments are on display on the first floor of the Old Main Academic Center. Select research centers are also…

Emcc Thumbnail
Local News, News Team

EMCC offering summer tuition assistance of $500

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Some students at EMCC can earn up to $500 in tuition assistance this summer. Students living in Mississippi and enrolled in at least six credit hours this summer will be eligible for the assistance, including the Maymester. An additional $100 discount will be offered for the June term and another $100 for Sooba Residence Hall expenses…

Umpire Concern2
Featured, Local News

How violent parents are driving away youth umpires across Mississippi

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – An incident Saturday night is getting national attention after an angry parent was arrested for punching an umpire at a Mississippi 12-year-old softball game. According to WLBT, umpire Kristi Moore was left with a black eye and bruises after 32-year-old Kiara Thomas allegedly punched her in the face. Moore says Thomas was removed from the game…

Img 8358
Featured, Local News

Tupelo’s new fire chief talks about goals going forward

Chief Kelly Elliott is no stranger to the area
Allie Martin,

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Tupelo’s new fire chief is settling into his new role and visiting with firefighters, city leaders, and senior staff. Tupelo Fire Chief Kelly Elliott spent part of his Tuesday morning, talking with firefighters and checking the trucks at Station One. Chief Elliott has been on the job one week, but he worked at the Tupelo Fire…

M Xgr Begins Vo 010322 1mpg00 00 03 19still001
Local News

State lawmakers are excited about new bills passed in Mississippi

The 2022 legislative session wrapped last week with two major accomplishments
Joey Barnes,

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI)- The 2022 legislative session wrapped last week with two major accomplishments: the passage of the largest pay raise for teachers in Mississippi history and legalizing medical marijuana. Mississippi held its legislative session from January through April 2022, and while the spotlight was often on high profile legislation, like medical marijuana and teacher pay, there were also…

Mcrea
Local News

State Treasurer David McRae spoke to Rotary about unclaimed property

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – What would you do with a few extra bucks? That was one of the topics of conversation when State Treasurer David McRae made a stop in Columbus Tuesday. Among the many responsibilities of the Treasurer’s office is handling unclaimed money and property in the state. According to McRae, the average Mississippian has $2,100 in unclaimed property….

911
Local News

April is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week

Eric Lampkin,

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The phone line is a lifeline between the community and law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs. And this week is set aside to honor those who make those connections. The second week of April is set aside as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. It’s a time to highlight the work of 911 operators and dispatchers –…

Joey Mays
Crime, Local News

Noxubee County man accused of breaking into a church

Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Noxubee County man is accused of breaking into a church. A grand jury recently returned the indictment against Joey Mays. He’s also facing burglary of a dwelling, grand larceny, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon charge. Mays was arrested earlier this year in Kemper County, where he’s charged with several crimes….