BLUE SPRINGS, MISS. (WCBI) – Many of the team members at Toyota Mississippi have spent the past three weeks giving back to the community. During the production shutdown, team members were given three options; they could take paid time off, take days with no pay, or come to the plant where volunteer opportunities would be provided for them. On Wednesday afternoon, …
BLUE SPRINGS, MISS. (WCBI) – A three-week production shutdown at Toyota Mississippi will soon be coming to an end. On a regular workday, the track on the west side of the Blue Springs plant would be busy, as Corollas are test-driven. But for the past three weeks, there has been no activity on the track. Toyota announced a temporary production…
OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) – A suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of an Okolona man earlier this week. 27-year-old D’Marcus Darden has been charged with the murder of 43-year-old Tavares Williams. Assistant Police Chief Sherry Hardin says the shooting happened Monday afternoon at the Okolona Terrace Apartments. Chief Hardin said Williams drove onto Fleming Street, where he…
ATTALLA/CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – We are learning new details about a car theft ring investigation that could span across two states. Now, the FBI is also investigating the case. The second suspect arrested in the case is Johnny Carter. He’s charged with burglary and felony taking of a motor vehicle in Kosciusko. Carter is charged with burglary and receiving…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It was a key theme in Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin’s campaign, getting a full understanding of the city’s finances. City leaders take one step closer to that today. They interviewed representatives from a firm that is being considered to conduct a forensic audit of Columbus’ books. Gaskin’s goal is to have 2 firms make their pitches…
PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – Four people have been arrested after several burglaries in Pickens County. Marty Moore, Thomas Lawson, Angela Chappelle, and Jaime Pierce are all facing charges. Sheriff Todd Hall says deputies made the arrests at a Liberty Road home after a month-long investigation. Investigators found a large amount of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and some stolen items were…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Thursday, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation launched their new website for people to report suspected cases of human trafficking. “This is modern-day slavery,” says Assistant Police Chief Doran Johnson of the Columbus Police Department. “This does happen and it’s happening closer than where we think it’s happening. It’s happening…
CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Teon Garrett of Huntsville, Alabama is charged with felony fleeing, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest. Those are the charges in Choctaw County. In Oktibbeha County, Garrett is charged with felony fleeing and receiving stolen property. He also faces charges in Kosciusko. The investigation started after six…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Businesses are looking to hire again, and people who have been out of the workforce for a while are looking to get back in. While that may sound like a recipe for success for local employers and job recruiters, some new trends are emerging. Many returning workers are being more selective about the jobs that they…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- After Lowndes County deputy Adam Honsinger and his wife discovered their 3-year-old son Sawyer was diagnosed with Leukemia, the community quickly stepped in to provide support. The Honsinger family has been staying in Memphis for Sawyer’s treatment for about two months. During that time Sheriff Eddie Hawkins and president of the Community Benefit Committee Rhonda Sanders…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Tow truck drivers removed two cars from a three-car collision just before noon. It happened about an hour earlier, around 11 a.m. The drivers of three vehicles crashed traveling eastbound on Highway 82 in Columbus. The accident happened between the exits for Military Road and 18th Avenue. All three drivers were taken to the hospital. “There…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – You could soon be paying to park in downtown Starkville with your phone. Aldermen will consider advertising for a paid parking solution at tonight’s meeting. The areas under consideration are from Montgomery Street at University Drive to campus, and to Russell, Lampkin Streets, Maxwell, Paige, and Adkerson Way. Mayor Lynn Spruill says the city will not…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Most people are familiar with services like Door Dash or Grubhub to get food delivered to their door. Mississippi passed a bill to allow liquor stores to offer that same service on July 1, 2021. The bulldog package store in Starkville started the service last weekend and anticipates more traction in the coming weeks. Store owner Ashley…
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some federal money could put more police on Starkville streets. Aldermen are considering using American Rescue Plan Act funds to help hire two police officers. Towns across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to find police applicants. Those same cities must also watch their budget. Starkville police say believe using this money is a win…
SHERMAN, MISS. (WCBI) – A police chief in one Northeast Mississippi town leads the nation when it comes to identifying what drugs are causing drivers to be impaired. Whenever the Highway Patrol or other agencies stop a suspected impaired driver, a standard field sobriety test is conducted. If the driver isn’t under the influence of alcohol, but still has signs…
WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Missing person searches often make headlines, both nationally and locally. When law enforcement agencies begin a search for someone, it often involves other agencies, special units, and very specific techniques. When a loved one goes missing, one of the first calls families make is to law enforcement; making that call as soon as possible is critical….
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Some area cities are finding it tougher to keep the streets safe. Across North Mississippi, several law enforcement agencies are experiencing a shortage of qualified officers. Smaller departments have always faced challenges hiring and keeping officers, usually because forces in larger neighboring cities could offer better pay and benefits. Now, those larger departments are also having…
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man is dead after a horrific crash in Lowndes County. The accident happened on Highway 45 Alternate about one o’clock Monday afternoon. State troopers say it appears the SUV collided with the back of an 18-wheeler. Traffic was backed up for at least an hour while crews cleared the scene. The Mississippi Highway Patrol…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Two people escape serious injury after being shot early this morning. Now, Columbus police are looking for a gunman. The shooting happened at 18th Street and 7th Avenue North, just after midnight. Police Chief Fred Shelton says a female victim and her boyfriend had been arguing most of the day. She called her cousin to come…
WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – On September 7th, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that Mississippi had 120 days to come up with a proposal for a plan to cut down on the unnecessary institutionalization of those with mental illnesses. “There’s that small window of opportunity where somebody is still able to understand or hear that they’re struggling,” says Karen…
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Annunciation Catholic School is celebrating International Day of Peace with pinwheels. Students created pinwheels and wrote their thoughts about war, peace, and tolerance on them. They spent Monday morning planting their creations on the school lawn. Students and staff hope the spinning pinwheels will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the community and the country…
HOUSTON, MISS. (WCBI) – One of Chief Adam Harmon’s top priorities when he began his new role July first, was to upgrade the police department headquarters, which hasn’t seen any renovations in 20 years. Harmon is third-generation law enforcement and served with the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department for 23 years before applying for the chief’s job. He is the first appointed…
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Two people are in custody in two different counties after six vehicles were stolen from a car dealership in Kosciusko last night. It was late Sunday night when Chief Tim Cook said Ackerman Police got a call. There were four suspicious vehicles parked outside the Choctaw County Medical Center. “We had a report of suspicious…
TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – It was a tearful reunion for a teacher at Tupelo’s Early Childhood Education Center, as her husband surprises her with an early homecoming. Navy Petty Officer Seth Dover was a guest of honor during a morning assembly at ECEC. His wife, Talana, who is a special education teacher, thought her husband wouldn’t be home until December. Students…