Former Mississippi State women’s basketball coach dies at 51

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. (WCBI) – Former Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Nikki McCray-Penson has died at the age of 51. McCray-Penson served as the Bulldogs coach for the 2020-2021 season and lead them to a 10 and 9 record that year. She played at Tennessee before playing professionally for six different teams, becoming a three-time WNBA all-star and being inducted…

4-County Electric Power Association shares tips on managing energy cost

Hot and humid weather is inevitable, but that does not mean high electric bills have to be

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Here in the Southeast, hot and humid weather is inevitable, but that does not mean high electric bills have to be. Jon Turner at 4-County Electric Power Association said managing energy costs when temperatures rise is for personal benefit. “Lower energy cost equals a lower bill,” Turner said. “In the bigger picture, the more we…

New nepotism policy allows room for law enforcement legacies to form

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Recently, we reported on fathers serving in law enforcement having the opportunity to induct their children into the profession as well. A change in city policy will now allow for generations to serve together in the Columbus Police Department. Columbus City Attorney Jeff Turnage said the city’s former policy concerning nepotism limited recruitment efforts. “It prohibited…

Former Alabama tight end reunited years laters with legendary memento

Jim Simmons's prized ring went from Greenville to Monticello, Arkansas, before finding its way back

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A northeast Mississippi man is reunited with a memento from his days when he played for the University of Alabama, under legendary coach Bear Bryant. This is a story more than fifty years in the making. It was 1971 and the Alabama Crimson Tide had just started using the wishbone offense under Coach Bear Bryant. That…

Lowndes County Jail feels weight of mental health crisis

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The duties of law enforcement are going beyond the usual as they are often faced with dealing with mental health crises within the community. Mississippi Today reported that, on average, 25 inmates are sitting in jail waiting for beds to open up at state mental hospitals. And while that is a temporary solution to get…

Local politician celebrated for his years of service to Starkville

At Wednesday night's board meeting Starkville board of aldermen approved a resolution making July 6, 2023, Roy A. Perkins Day in Starkville

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Local politics can be a fickle business. The population of a district or ward can change over time, and so can residents’ attitudes. Getting re-elected isn’t a sure thing. At Wednesday night’s board meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen approved a resolution making July 6 Roy A. Perkins Day in Starkville. “I am in this job…

Local service organization to host benefit for children in foster care

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A service organization in Columbus is throwing a big party to benefit a special Christmas project. The Community Benefit Committee is hosting its annual “Party with a Purpose” on July 28. The group has adopted all of the children in the foster system in Lowndes County and several from the Columbus and Lowndes County School…

Finish line remains distant for Financial Concepts’ downtown project

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Rooted in the downtown community, Financial Concepts celebrated its 35th anniversary. Hoping to expand, in 2021, the company purchased the lot where the Gilmer Inn use to sit to build a new office building. Columbus City Council decided the designs for the construction of the new building have to be approved by both the Columbus Preservation…

Traffic stop leads Carroll County deputies to drug arrest

CARROLL COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A traffic stop in Carroll County landed a Greenwood man in jail. On Wednesday, Carroll County deputies pulled over a green SUV in Carrollton. After questioning the driver and the passenger, the deputies were given consent to search the vehicle. They also searched the driver, Recardo Reed of Greenwood, and reportedly found a clear bag…

MedStat begins contract with OCH Regional Medical Center

As of last Friday, you may have noticed a change to the ambulances in Oktibbeha County. MedStat officially started its contract with OCH Regional Medical Center.

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s been a month since the CEO and administrator for OCH Regional Medical Center went to the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors to inform them of their decision to contract with Global Medical Response to provide Emergency Medical Services. As of last Friday, you may have noticed a change to the ambulances in Oktibbeha County…

Plantersville’s animal control officer honored during recent MML conference

Officer Jason Lessel gets the public safety award for his efforts at reducing stray dogs through a registration program

PLANTERSVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Less than two years after starting the animal control department in Plantersville, Officer Jason Lessel was recognized by his peers during the recent MML conference. “I was surprised, but honored,” Lessel said. Lessel has been a police officer with Plantersville for six years but saw a need for an animal control officer to help deal with…

Golden Triangle Boys & Girls Clubs to provide hot meals for children

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Golden Triangle are making sure children in the community have hot meals while school is out for the summer. The clubs in Columbus, Starkville, and West Point serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. While several school districts in the area host summer feeding programs, some of those…

Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Department gets new fire truck

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County recently bought a new fire truck. The county was in need of a new truck after one was sent to another department and an older truck needed to be serviced. They got this one for a reduced cost. The new truck has many new features. Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Department Chief Joe Pennell…

Contestants arrive for Miss Mississippi Volunteer Pageant

The pageant offers more than $120,000 in scholarship money

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – As they arrived at the Performing Arts Center at Tupelo High School, each contestant was “sashed” by the newly crowned Miss Volunteer America Hannah Perrigin. This time last year, Perrigin won Miss Mississippi Volunteer. “For this week, I want to encourage all the girls, the teens and misses to make friends. They will get exactly what…

Mississippi Highway Patrol releases July 4 travel enforcement period report

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – The Mississippi Highway Patrol issued fewer tickets but reported more fatalities this July 4 Holiday compared to last year. The 2023 Independence Day Holiday Travel Enforcement Period only ran two days this year, from 6 a.m. Monday until Midnight Tuesday. During that time, State Troopers wrote over 4,400 tickets and made 49 arrests for impaired driving. They…

Tupelo man taken into custody and charged with three counts of Sexual Battery

These charges will be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – On Friday, May 5, Tupelo Police Department officers responded to a report of inappropriate sexual contact with a juvenile. After further investigation, Javarus Shackelford, 26, of Tupelo,  was taken into custody and charged with three counts of Sexual Battery by a Person in a Position of Authority. On July 2, Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Allen ordered…

A Starkville girl scout is helping a member of her community

Paige Shelton chose to help clean up a portion of Charles "Lala" Evans land for her community project for her Civil Award.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville girl scout is helping a member of her community. Paige Shelton chose to help clean up a portion of Charles “Lala” Evans land for her community project for her Civil Award. Most know “Lala” Evans in Starkville as the town’s first Black mail carrier. However, he’s also known for this area in his yard…

Families make a splash at Moncrief Park for free pool day

The Parks and Rec department held a free swim as part of its 4th of July celebration.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Jump right in. Dozens of families spent the holiday at the pool at Moncrief Park in Starkville. The Parks and Rec department held a free swim as part of its 4th of July celebration. Moncrief is one of only a few public swimming pools in the area. It was closed at the beginning of the summer…