Tupelo Salvation Army Officers Heading To New Assignment

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The area’s only homeless shelter will soon have new leaders.  Majors Ray and Whitney Morton have received a new assignment and will be leaving their post at the Tupelo Salvation Army in a few days. When Majors Ray and Whitney Morton came to the Tupelo Salvation Army in 2019, the corps and community center was undergoing…

More financial opportunities are coming to Winona

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- More financial opportunities are coming to Winona. After losing two large companies in one year, Wal-Mart and Fred’s, city leaders are working to bring more businesses to the city. To stay alive, cities and small towns rely on sales tax. Roads, businesses, and restaurants are a few. Winona is now reporting higher numbers on its sales…

Columbus Air Force Colonel addresses pilot shortage

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Air Force Colonel Seth Graham paid a visit to the Columbus Exchange club Thursday. Colonel Graham is the Commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing for the Columbus Air Force Base. During his visit, the Colonel discussed a variety of topics including recruitment and training. Currently, the Air Force is facing a pilot shortage. “The Air Force…

All eyes on the Gulf of Mexico

SUMMARY: A tropical system is expected to affect the Twin States going into the weekend.  For us in the WCBI-TV coverage area, we envision some rain, some breezes, but not much other than that.  The heaviest rain and isolated tornado threat SHOULD remain to our southeast, assuming the center of circulation goes up along the I-20/59 corridor as currently anticipated….

ANIMAL HEALTH – Entropion Surgery

Dr. Karen Emerson of the Emerson Animal Hospital in West Point describes the symptoms and treatment for entropion, a painful condition in which your pet’s eyelid is turned inward. Categories: ANIMAL HEALTH, Local News Tags: ANIMAL, emerson, entropion, health

Dry Thursday and Friday, tropical threat for the weekend

SUMMARY: A dry Thursday and Friday in store, albeit with increasing humidity on Friday. Rain chances quickly return for Saturday as we watch the developing tropical system in the gulf. There is still a good amount of uncertainty in the track of the system, as it still hasn’t formed. Until it forms and has a well defined center of circulation,…

Mayor-elect Keith Gaskin says education, unity & a more transparent government can lead Columbus to ‘bright future’

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday marked the beginning of a new chapter for the city of Columbus as Keith Gaskin became the city’s mayor-elect. Gaskin defeated incumbent Mayor Robert Smith by a margin of just 24 votes, ushering in the first administration change the city has seen since 2006. “I don’t believe that our city is nearly as divided as…

Boys And Girls Club Members Make ‘Squash Books’ At Art Camp

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It will be anything but a boring summer for students at one camp. Debbie Long is teaching youngsters at Tupelo’s Northside Boys and Girls Club, how to properly fold paper for something called a “squash book.” “It’s a fun little book that folds up really neat into a little square,” Long said. Students will then use…

Gov. Reeves Will Call Special Session If Lawmakers Reach Consensus

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves says he would call a special session of the legislature to look at the medical marijuana issue if lawmakers can reach a consensus on the issue. Last month, the state Supreme Court struck down Mississippi’s medical marijuana program. Governor Reeves says while he was against the medical marijuana initiative, he wants to honor…

Columbus Juneteenth celebration is almost underway

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Juneteenth is a holiday that’s oftentimes overlooked, but all that is changing. The U.S. Senate unanimously voted to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and approval from the House of Representatives would make it one step closer to law. On June 19, 1865 union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to free more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans….

‘Financial Concept’ relocates to Old Gilmer lot in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Since 1988, Financial Concepts, a financial planning company, has resided in Columbus on second avenue north. Due to growth, the company will operate at a new location to better serve its clients. Financial Concepts’ new home will stay in Columbus at the Old Gilmer lot. The property’s new name will be “The Magnolia at Riverhill.” It will…

A curfew in Starkville is now in affect for those under the age of 18

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- A curfew in Starkville is now in effect for people under the age of 18. The curfew will run form 12 A.M. to 5 A.M. everyday for at least one year. The Starkville Board of Alderman voted unanimously to enact the the mandate. Starkville Police Chief Mark Ballard believes guns stolen in car burglaries, by juveniles, have…

First sensory garden in Mississippi opens in Choctaw County

CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The only sensory garden in Mississippi made its grand opening on Tuesday. The ribbon was cut in from the Choctaw County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The project that was two years in the making features a landscape and walking area to stimulate all five senses. The rehab center’s leaders say the open air can be…

Sunny Wed & Thurs, all eyes on the tropics

SUMMARY: Dry air for Wednesday and Thursday should make for a more comfortable feel in the air, highs in the upper 80s to around 90. Lows will be quite comfortable as well. By Friday, the humidity will be making a comeback as our eyes will be focused on the tropical threat in the gulf. The National Hurricane Center now has…

Breaking down the week-long process to determine a winner in the race for mayor of Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Since the polls closed on June 8, the citizens of Columbus waited a full week to find out the results of the 2021 mayoral election. After the city Election Commission received the final 16 absentee ballots (12 accepted, four rejected) and verified six affidavits that had been on hold, Keith Gaskin held on to his lead…

Noxubee Co. School District conservator leaving June 30th

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Noxubee County School District will soon need another conservator. Rodriguez Broadnax’s last day on the job will be June 30th. He will be the next superintendent of education at the Clintondale School District, just outside of Detroit, Michigan. Broadnax was given control of the failing school district by the state board of education. He’s…

COVID-19 relief money is still available for local food pantries

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- The pandemic domino effect created a shortfall in family budgets. Over the past year, churches and small non-profit groups have tried to make up the difference, but it costs money. There is an extension of funding available for food pantries throughout Northeast Mississippi through the CREATE Foundation. Money left over from the original CARES Grant allows the…

New Itawamba County Jail Could Open By End Of The Year

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – A new jail in Itawamba County could be housing inmates by the end of the year. Construction on the 10.8 million dollar jail is moving along.  The 23,000 square foot facility will have 140 beds, a kitchen, an infirmary with its own air supply, and a ventilation system to reduce the spread of germs. Sheriff…

Gov. Reeves Tours Local Manufacturers As State Ends Supplemental Federal Unemployment Benefit

SALTILLO, MISS. (WCBI) – Governor Tate Reeves tours two factories in Northeast Mississippi, only days after the state opted out of the additional federal unemployment benefits. This tour of the Ashley Furniture bedding manufacturing plant in Saltillo was an opportunity for Governor Reeves to see the latest in robotics and other technology at work. It was also a chance for…

JTS Mortgage Minute – 6/15/2021

Tyler Farnham talks about why it’s an excellent time to think about buying a new house and why it’s important to choose local when looking for a mortgage company. Categories: JTS Mortgage Minute, Local News Tags: experts, financial, jts, minute, mortgage