Macon man charged with sex crime against child

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – A man in Macon is facing almost a dozen charges in connection with a child sex crime. 61-year-old Jerry Hull was arrested. He’s charged with 3 counts of sexual assault, 3 counts of statutory rape, and 3 counts of carnal knowledge of an unmarried stepchild or adopted child. Hull is accused of raping a young family…

Mental health professionals offer tips to spot signs for physical or sexual child abuse

When physical or sexual abuse cases involving minors occur, victims and their families often seek help

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI)- When physical or sexual abuse cases involving minors occur, victims and their families often seek help. Professionals say the first person to go to should be a trusted family member then it’s up to that person to get the child the help they need. If and when a child has been abused physically or sexually in…

Tupelo club creates a positive influence in the community

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A civic group in Tupelo is doing its part to make a positive difference in the community. The Tupelo Luncheon Civitan Club holds its regular meetings each week, but the club does a lot more than just meet and eat. Members act as ushers at all events at the BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center. The club…

“Pause for Paws” fuzz therapy on MUW’s campus

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN, Miss. (WCBI)- Mid-terms can be stressful for college students, so Columbus Lowndes Humane Society offered fuzz therapy on the W campus. MUW’s Women’s Psi Chi organization along with its Psychology Club partnered with the humane society partnered for a “Pause for Paws” event, where students got to play with a dozen puppies at the Bryan Green Gazeebo…

Starkville Police needs your help to find an armed robbery suspect

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Starkville Police need your help finding a suspect accused of armed robbery. Tavion Pegues allegedly stole a firearm and other property on Mercantile Street Friday morning. SPD would like Pegues to turn himself in. Otherwise, if you have any information, contact the Starkville Police Department at 662-323-4131 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151. For 24/7…

Jury finds Noxubee County woman guilty of attempted murder

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Noxubee County woman will spend the next three decades in prison. Jurors found Jeraldine Campbell guilty of attempted murder. She was sentenced to 30 years in jail. She shot Bobby Hibbler in the head. The shooting happened back in July 2020 at a home on Grissom Road. Hibbler testified during the trial. Prosecutors say…

Former MDHS Director pleads guilty to misusing welfare funds

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – The former Mississippi Department of Human Services Director pled guilty to charges of misusing welfare funds. John Davis pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs getting federal funds. During an investigation, the State Auditor’s Office found that MDHS misspent more than $77 million in welfare funds…

Crowds watch as Cross of Christ for Starkville is raised

STARKVILLE, Miss, (WCBI) – It is not every day that a construction project draws a crowd. But around a thousand people were on hand in Starkville today to watch the raising of a giant steel cross. Crews have been assembling the Cross of Christ for Starkville for a little over a week now. Today, it was time to put the…

Oxford man arrested, charged with child sex crimes

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – An Oxford man is charged with two child sex crimes. The investigation started on September 17th after deputies received a report of a child being sexually assaulted. Two days later 48-year-old Jessie Jones was charged with one count of sexual battery and one count of molesting. Jones was given a $100,000 bond. He remains in the…

Public service commissioner approves funding for broadband expansion

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley has approved more than $9 million in federal funding that will help local electric co-op subsidiaries expand broadband service. Nine local electric co-op subsidiaries will get grants to be spent in 2023 from the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. That fund was created for broadband expansion. This morning representatives from the…

Bank robbery in Oxford leads to arrest of 60-year-old woman

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – A Water Valley woman is accused of a bank robbery in Oxford. 60-year-old Karen Bell was booked into the Lafayette County Detention Center for armed robbery. Oxford police say she stole more than $2,000 from a bank on University Avenue. Thanks to quick actions in getting her description and the vehicle she was in, oxford police…

Lowndes County chase ends after driver crashes into deputies car

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 23-year-old Caledonia man on multiple charges, after a brief pursuit in which the suspect intentionally rammed a deputy with his motorcycle. The man arrested was identified as Tristin Manuel Saraiva. The incident began around 1:04 p.m. when a deputy with the Lowndes County…

Responding to school threats at Columbus High School

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Social media has been buzzing about the Columbus High School brawl and an alleged threat today, leading many parents to check their children out of school early today. Columbus High School was put on lockdown after several students were involved in a fight Tuesday. Lydia Quarles is a Youth Court Referee in the juvenile court…

Pontotoc County teenager in jail, charged with murder

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Pontotoc County teenager is dead and another teen is in jail. 17-year-old Dalton Wages is charged with murder. Sheriff Leo Mask says 17-year-old Matthew Westmoreland was shot to death on Morris Lane. Mask tells WCBI there was a party with alcohol involved at the home. Deputies learned there was a fight and then gunfire….

Sandfield Cemetery upkeep raises questions at City Council meeting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Questions over the maintenance of a Columbus cemetery unearth further questions about its ownership. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Columbus resident and attorney Nicole Clinkscales approached the Council about the upkeep of Sandfield and Union Cemeteries. Union is privately owned, and the City cannot perform maintenance there, but Sandfield has long been under the city’s…

Sheriff’s office hosting community meeting

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Lowndes County Sheriff’s office hopes community members will speak up about illegal activity in their neighborhoods. The department is hosting a community meeting in response to the recent increase in gun violence and drug activity in the county. The  meeting will be held Thursday at 6:00 pm at the life center at Charity Full Gospel…

Starkville Public Library hosts Banned Book Storytime

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Public library celebrates the “freedom to read” for National Banned Books Week. The national effort represents an effort to respond to challenges libraries face and the attempt to ban books from libraries, schools, and bookstores. It also encourages the freedom to support ideas without fear of censorship. Today, the public library hosted a Banned…

Starkville may turn garbage collection over to private contractor

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Trash day in Starkville may be turned over to a private contractor. The Board of Alderman agreed to ask for bids for waste pick-up in the city. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the board voted for rfps. That stands for request for proposals. State law requires cities to take bids from businesses before reaching a contractual agreement…

Boil water notice for Big Creek Water Association

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A water leak is prompting a Boil Water Notice for customers of the Big Creek Water Association in Calhoun County. All customers on County Roads 309 and 311 and those on County Road 308 between the intersection of 309 and 311 need to boil their water for at least one minute before use. Categories: Local…

New pallet block manufacturing facility creates jobs in Winona

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – ArbaBlox plans to build a new pallet blocks manufacturing facility in Winona creating 41 new jobs. The Mississippi Development Authority made the announcement this morning. ArbaBlox will invest more than $51 million in the plant. The company plans to use sawmill residuals from Biewer Lumber to make its composite wood pallet blocks. This will be the…

West Point police search for missing man

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – West Point police continue to search for a missing man. 32-year-old Cortez Pratt was last seen on North Jackson Street this past Sunday. Pratt was wearing blue shorts and a t-shirt, along with flip-flops. He is about five foot, 11 inches, and weighs 220 pounds. West Point Police Chief Avery Cook says Pratt now has…