Flu and Covid hospitalizations are up in Mississippi

Fluctuating temperatures have more people visiting healthcare facilities and even raising the number of hospitalizations

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s warm outside for December which is not normally the case in many states. Fluctuating temperatures have more people visiting healthcare facilities and even raising the number of hospitalizations. “With the weather changing there’s just a lot going on; you’ve got sinuses going on, you’ve got the flu dying down and covid ramping back up so we…

Local, county, state agencies prepare for holiday traffic enforcement

Law Enforcement Liasion Network holds meeting to discuss strategies and grants available

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – City, county, and state law enforcement officers are preparing for extra traffic on the roads this holiday season. “We absolutely want everybody to have a great holiday, we understand a lot of people consume alcohol during the holidays if you don’t drive,” said Sherman Police Chief Joel Spellins. That is the message for the “Drive Sober…

MHP Trooper faces misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WCBI) – A Mississippi Highway Patrolman is facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Tuscaloosa. A Tuscaloosa Police spokesperson said 29-year-old Steven Jones turned himself in at TPD this morning and was served a warrant for third-degree domestic violence/harassment. He was released on bond. WCBI was told that Jones filed an emergency protection order in Lowndes County last…

Two groups partner to host toy drive for children in Lowndes County

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Community Benefit Committee are helping Santa get gifts for some kids in Lowndes County. The Community Benefit Committee works year-round to help people in the area, but things really kick into high gear at Christmas. Along with Sheriff Eddie Hawkins’ Office, they are organizing three events. The two…

East Mississippi Community College hosts 2022 fall commencement

MAYHEW, Miss. (WCBI) – The “pride” of East Mississippi Community College grew today. Graduates from three different programs walked across the Mayhew campus stage to get their official paperwork. These proud EMCC Lions graduated from the Adult Education program. There were also ceremonies for the Surgical Technology and Nursing degree graduates. EMCC hosts a fall commencement every year. For 24/7…

Deputies continue search for Memorial Garden Cemetery vandal

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Over two months later and the search continues for the person who vandalized a grave in Oktibbeha County. The incident happened at Memorial Garden Cemetery on Oktoc Road back on October 1. Deputies said someone stole an urn and scattered ashes on the property. Some grave markers were also reportedly taken. If you have any…

Alabama Power announces electricity bill rates will increase

ALABAMA (WCBI) – Alabama residents might be hoping that the recent mild weather continues because their next power bill could put a chill on their bank accounts. Alabama Power is following a December rate hike with another in January. For the average household using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month, the December hike runs about $10 a month. The…

Tupelo based insurance agency to feed 1,000 families ahead of Christmas

Bobby Brock Insurance will distribute food boxes December 17th at the Tupelo Furniture Market

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A local insurance agency wants to make Christmas brighter for a thousand families. When Justin Brock heard about the company-wide layoffs at United Furniture Industries, he wanted to do something to make a difference. “Seeing how some partners of ours in another state had done something similar, we decided we wanted to feed 4,000 people, or…

Sturgis city leaders chose to table proposed ordinance

STURGIS, Miss. (WCBI) – A proposed ordinance for the town of Sturgis has now been tabled. Following a developer’s purchase this year of multiple properties in downtown Sturgis, city leaders drafted a new ordinance that would have given the city architectural review and approval of all designs and improvements for existing buildings. It would also give the city design approval…

Columbus leaders draft plans to use ARPA money to ease flooding issues

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus leaders are moving forward with plans to use American Rescue Plan Act money to alleviate some of the city’s flooding issues. The Council voted to allow Waggoner Engineering to move forward on seeking grant money from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to help pay for two projects around 15th Avenue North and the Brickyard….

Business approaches city, county about buying old building on Yorkville Rd

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A former manufacturing plant could soon be going back to work. A Lowndes County business has approached Supervisors and the Columbus City Council about buying the old Maxxim Medical building on Yorkville Road. The city and county partnered to buy the building in 2008. Since then it has been used primarily for storage. Both groups have…

Woman arrested for trespassing at Hatley School, assaulting student

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A school parking lot fight led to charges in Hatley. 18-year-old Aubrey Denton is accused of going onto the Hatley School campus and assaulting a student. Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook said Denton then left the area. She was later arrested in Pontotoc County on a trespassing charge, filed by the Monroe County Schools Superintendent….

District Three Constable Phil Gann announces plan to retire

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – One of the longest-serving elected officials in Lee County history is retiring. District Three Constable Phil Gann spoke about his decision to not run for an 11th term, and his future plans. It was 1983 when Phil Gann was elected to his first term as Lee County Constable, and he has never looked back. “Never…