Junior Auxiliary of Columbus members give back with school supplies

Through Art Reach, over 1,600 zipper bags filled with art and school supplies were delivered to elementary schools throughout Lowndes County this past week in preparation for the new school year.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Junior Auxiliary of Columbus members have been busy with the return of Art Reach as students prepare to return to school. Originally established due to CDC guidelines during COVID, this project has continued because of its positive impact on the students and teachers of the community. Through Art Reach, over 1,600 zipper bags filled with art…

Bibles and backpacks supply students for the new school year

A former local Eagle Scout is giving back to his community in a big way, hoping to empower the next generation.

STARKVILLE, MISS. – A story of generosity takes center stage in Starkville today. A former local Eagle Scout is giving back to his community in a big way, hoping to empower the next generation. Freddie Williams has hosted Bibles and Backpacks in Starkville for the second year in a row. This event gave away hundreds of school supplies and bibles…

Gun policy divides candidate forum in Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- What started out as a candidate forum in New Hope, ended up being two candidate forums in New Hope. Candidates for Lowndes County offices were scheduled to meet this evening at the New Hope Community Center to speak to the public. That meeting was planned to be indoors, however, organizers of the event asked on-duty Lowndes…

SHINE Camp in Tupelo prepares girls for 7th grade

The Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo sponsors the camp, which teaches self esteem, healthy habits and other key traits for success

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It has been a week of art, good food, new friends, and wisdom from area leaders like Juanita Floyd, who told her story of growing up during desegregation. 48 rising seventh-grade girls took part in this year’s SHINE Camp, a project of the Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo. SHINE stands for Strong, Healthy, Independent, Non-Judgmental, and Empowered….

14th Chancery District hosts free family law clinic in Webster County

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The 14th Chancery Court District hosted a free family law clinic at the Webster County courthouse. The clinic’s purpose is to assist low-income families with legal matters. Residents from Chickasaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster Counties were all able to attend. Judge Paula Drungole-Ellis said several attorneys throughout the district showed up to volunteer…

Starkville police remind citizens to follow laws in school zones

During the summer, some drivers may get a little lax when it comes to traffic rules around schools, and they can get unaccustomed to seeing buses on the road. But Starkville police want to remind people that school will be back in session, and they will be watching.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – During the summer, some drivers may get a little lax when it comes to traffic rules around schools, and they can get unaccustomed to seeing buses on the road. But Starkville police want to remind people that school will be back in session, and they will be watching. Corporal Robert Eguires said passing buses or speeding…

Shopping for school supplies may be a little extra this year

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Several schools in our area are less than a week away from classes starting back. This means it’s time to get supplies to start off the school year. Most schools have a list of what students will need, but how much will that cost this year? According to the National Retail Federation, back-to-school spending is expected…

Columbus-Lowndes County Airport soaring to new heights

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The City of Columbus was awarded a $600,000 grant for a project aimed at constructing a new hangar at the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport. Dan Duston, the fixed base operator of the county airport, said the money was long overdue for updates. “The recently awarded multimodal grant can be used in collaboration with federal BIO funds that…

Overcrowding poses major issue for local animal shelter

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – Too many animals and not enough money or supplies. It’s a common problem at animal shelters across the country, especially in the Spring and Summer months. That means some shelter staff has to get creative about how they go about raising money. The sounds of dozens of dogs greet you as you approach West Point…

Columbus Fire and Rescue celebrates adding new fire truck

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus Fire and Rescue celebrated a new addition to its fire truck collection: Engine 25. The estimated life span of a fire truck is 25 years. And, During the last five years, it is time to look for a replacement. Columbus Fire Chief Duane Hughes said it was long overdue as one of their fire…

Lowndes County School District holds new teacher orientation

The Lowndes County School District wanted to make sure its new teachers had the resources they needed before the start of the new school year.

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The countdown is on for the beginning of the new school year. Parents are getting their children ready, stocking up on school supplies, and trying to readjust schedules. It is not just parents and students gearing up for the new year, teachers are getting ready too. The Lowndes County School District held its new teacher…

Dyslexia Summit brings together educators, parents, professionals

The summit was sponsored by the Regional Rehab Center as a way to share methods for teaching dyslexic students

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – It is estimated that one in five children suffers from dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading, writing, and spelling. Finding ways to help those children was the topic of a summit in Tupelo. For Dr. Melissa Thomas, finding ways to help kids with dyslexia succeed is crucial. As principal of Tupelo High School, she wants…

Contact Helpline finishes training, prepares volunteers to answer calls

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – More and more people are looking for somewhere to turn in crisis and a local nonprofit is filling the need. The contact helpline is a suicide prevention and mental health resource. The organization is training more volunteers to answer calls to the crisis hotline. The line is available 24/7 and volunteers answer the phone, where you…

Kealy Shields joins Mother Goose to help wrap up summer reading

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mother Goose brought in a little help to wrap up the final week of the Columbus Lowndes County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Our own Kealy Shields read to the children, and she even joined them and Mother Goose in singing a few songs and dancing the Hokey Pokey. The Summer Reading Program is designed to…

Small Business Administration remains active in disaster recovery efforts

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – While most people associate FEMA with disaster assistance, the Small Business Administration, or SBA, is also very active in recovery efforts. Since the March 24 and 25 tornado outbreaks, the SBA has approved over $19.2 million to assist in recovery efforts in the areas affected, including Monroe, Montgomery, and Carroll Counties. The agency is now expanding efforts…

Itawamba County supervisor indicted on child sex crime charge

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An Itawamba County supervisor was indicted on a child sex crime charge. Terry Moore was charged with touching a child for lustful purposes. Prosecutors alleged the crime happened in October 2022. The reported victim was under the age of 16 at the time. Moore is the supervisor for District 3. No trial date has been…

National Rural Road Safety Awareness Week: Slow down, save lives

ALABAMA (WCBI) – National Rural Road Safety Awareness Week. It’s a campaign with a mission: Slow down and save lives. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is partnering with the Alabama Transportation Institute to drive home the importance of speed management. According to Corporal Reginal King of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, speeding is still a top cause of rural crashes….

Calhoun County holds active shooter drill ahead of new school year

Multiple agencies take part in real world exercise

CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WCBI) – As a  new school year is set to begin, a local sheriff wanted to make sure law officers are ready to respond in case the unthinkable happens. Although the 911 radio dispatch said the shots fired call was an exercise, the scene at Calhoun City High School was very realistic. Calhoun County Sheriff Greg Pollan…