Featured, Local News, Top Story

North Mississippi Health Services pleads for more vaccinations as spread of Delta variant, healthcare worker shortage causes ‘dire situations’ at hospitals

Joey Barnes,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Monday, leadership for North Mississippi Health Services held a press conference at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo to give the public an update about the impact that the COVID-19 Delta Variant is having across the state. “Right now what’s happening with COVID is, we so don’t want it to happen again but it’s here, it’s…
Local News

Bruce Police Chief Tony Sockwell Dies in a vehicle crash

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CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Bruce Police Chief William Sockwell, better known as Tony, died in a vehicle crash early this morning. Monday, the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the fatal crash around 8:30 A.M. on highway 331 in Calhoun County. Sockwell was traveling northbound when his Chevrolet Silverado crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the…
Local News

COVID-19 testing is making an unwanted comeback

Joey Barnes,

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- COVID-19 cases across the state of Mississippi have risen again. The rise in the Delta variant is driving a rise in testing; that had slowed down after the vaccine became more readily available. Winston County Medical Center CEO Paul Black has encouraged people to get tested if they have symptoms even if they have been vaccinated….
Featured, Local News, Weather

Rainy Monday then very nice workweek shaping up

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SUMMARY: Expect showers and storms for your Monday. A really nice workweek is shaping up for us with less humid conditions & highs only in the 80s. Summer heat will return by the weekend. MONDAY: Expect a wet morning & afternoon commute for our Monday. It will be another cloudy & rainy day ahead for your Monday. Rain chances will…
Local News

Local bookstore has a unique and personal touch to keep its doors open

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – One of the few types of small businesses left are local bookshops. However, one local bookstore has kept its customers turning the pages. “It’s not rocket science. We’ve had Indi Bookshops since the beginning of time,” Lara Hammond said. Lara Hammond is the owner of the only independent bookstore in Starkville. She said it’s a love…
Crime, Featured, Local News, Top Story

Deadly workplace shooting in Amory leads to high-speed chase that ends in Columbus, murder suspect found hiding in the bushes

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A deadly shooting in Amory Saturday morning led to a high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies that finally ended after police found the suspect hiding in the bushes of a Columbus neighborhood. “I was in the kitchen…and I could see the police from the light and they came in like lightning and I was like…
Featured, Local News

Saltillo man faces an aggravated assault charge

Joey Barnes,

SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI)- A Saltillo man faces charges for domestic violence and aggravated assault. 31-year-old Jacob Dixon is arrested for shooting at a family member on 161 Third Avenue on July 31st. Police tell us Dixon fired one round from a shotgun, leaving the victim with minor injuries from shotgun pellets. Dixon will have his initial court appearance on August…
Local News

Backpack giveaway helps students in need ready for classes

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VERNON, AL (WCBI) – Most schools will be back in session next week and several local organizations are helping families check items off the shopping list. “It’s just amazing to see these young kids faces when they get to leave,” Ethan Wilkins said. Ethan Wilkins will be a senior at Lamar County High school. He’s one of the many students…
Featured, Local News, Weather

Relief is on the Way!

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TONIGHT: Fairly clear skies, no chance of rain, very muggy conditions with a low of 75 TOMORROW:The last (hopefully) day of excessive heat! A high of 95 feeling up to 110. No chance of rain (yet) to cool us down. TOMORROW NIGHT: A low of 72 with a scattered storm passing through. A cold front will be approaching the area…
Featured, Local News, Weather

Relief from the heat on the way

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SUMMARY: We’ve been suffering through the hottest week of the summer so far. Luckily, the extreme heat is not going to stick around much longer. Compared to this week, next week is looking downright pleasant! Saturday is still very hot in the upper 90s with low storm chances, but Sunday rain chances begin to increase. The heat backs down a…
Featured, Local News

Tommy Chisholm will spend the rest of his life in prison

MorrisAdmin,

OKTIBBHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – William “Tommy” Chisholm will spend the rest of his life in prison. Judge Lee Howard sentences Chisholm to Life Without Parole for the January 2018 shooting death of Dr. Shauna Witt. An Oktibbeha County jury took less than an hour to deliver the guilty verdict this afternoon. Chisholm’s defense rested this morning after just over…
Featured, Local News

As delta variant surges in MS, medical experts urge folks to stay healthy

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES/OKTIBBEHA COUNTIES, Miss. (WCBI)- The delta variant continues to surge across the Magnolia State, and folks are trying to stay healthy. Vaccinated or unvaccinated, Mississippians are using different routes to fight the delta variant of COVID-19. One thing they’re trying, boosting their immune systems. Chris Bonner, Pharmacist and Owner of Chris’s Pharmacy in Columbus, says the 2020 pandemic left shelves…
Local News

Local businesses in Starkville donated a percentage of sales to the state children’s hospital

MorrisAdmin,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some businesses in downtown Starkville are helping children all across the state with a special donation. Starkville Main Street Association members teamed up to raise money for Children’s of Mississippi. For a week, a percentage of all sales at participating stores went to the state’s only dedicated children’s hospital. Today, the merchants presented a check for…
Local News

Peter’s Rock Church in Macon hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic

MorrisAdmin,

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – A Macon church is bringing the vaccine closer to underserved communities. Peter’s Rock Macon partnered with Noxubee General Hospital to sponsor a vaccination Clinic today. Within the first hour, there was a steady stream of cars at the drive-thru clinic. Nurses from the hospital administered either the Johnson and Johnson or Moderna vaccines. Organizers say they…
Local News

Statewide U-Haul shortage leaves college towns desperate for equipment

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Summer is ending and a new semester will soon begin. That means college students are on the move and moving trucks are in high demand. “It’s the first time that I’ve ever had it be this bad, on shortage of equipment,” Moreland said. Kim Moreland owns three U-haul locations in Starkville. She said August is their…
Coronavirus Information, Featured, Local News

Tupelo Public School District is responding to a COVID-19 outbreak

Eric Lampkin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Classes haven’t even started yet in most schools, and one district is already reporting a COVID outbreak. The Tupelo Public School district is postponing open house events at all schools, due to an outbreak in the THS Band. A statement on the band’s website says in part “School nurses and administrators have determined that there is…
Featured, Local News, Weather

Hot & humid weekend, storms possible again

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SUMMARY: Dangerous heat and humidity will continue this weekend. Heat indices may approach 115° so be sure to limit your exposure to the outside environment as much as possible. A few storms are possible Saturday but odds are higher Sunday with an incoming cold front. FRIDAY NIGHT: Isolated evening showers and storms are possible across our northeastern counties. Anything that…
Local News

Troop Three Boy Scouts helped retire a U.S. Flag in Tupelo

Allie Martin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Boy Scouts from Troop Three helped retire a U.S. flag that had been flying in front of Magnolia Manor At Tupelo. When the United States flag becomes worn or faded, it is supposed to be replaced with a new flag, and the old flag should be retired. Boy Scouts demonstrated how to properly retire a flag…
Local News

Houston FD hosted a Fire Academy for Kids

Allie Martin,

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – More than thirty kids have spent part of their week learning all about what it takes to be a firefighter. They got to see a controlled burn and how fires spread, and are put out. The Houston Fire Department held its 13th “Fire Academy for Kids.” Young people, ages 8 to 13 spent three evenings at…