Montgomery County Sheriff warns of gravel and asphalt scammers

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Miss (WCBI)- Crews are breathing some new life into old scams across the area. The Carroll and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices are warning residents about gravel and asphalt scammers. According to the sheriff’s office, the alleged scammers are preying mainly on elderly residents by offering work for a small fee and then demanding more money using threatening tactics,…

Juniors and Seniors at Calhoun County Schools prepare for the future with career and college fair

More than 35 businesses, government agencies and colleges took part in the annual event

PITTSBORO, MISS. (WCBI) – Juniors and seniors in Calhoun County schools had a chance to visit with area business professionals and college recruiters. It was part of an annual career and college fair. Albany Industries was busy at the career fair, recruiting for its soon to be opened plant in Calhoun County. “This is next generation, of not just Albany,…

Student sent to jail for threatening school shooting

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A social media post threatening a school shooting at a Rankin County High School lands a girl in jail. This is according to our news partner WLBT. A spokesperson for the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office says a Northwest Rankin High School student under the age of 18 made a threat toward her school on Instagram….

MSU hosts panel featuring women in leadership

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi State University is showcasing the talents of women in leadership roles on campus and in the community. The university’s office of Human Resources Management hosted a panel discussion today featuring female leaders at MSU and Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. They each shared experiences in their respective roles and offered advice about navigating the academic, political,…

GOP Attorney Generals oppose credit card companies tracking gun sales

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI)- Mississippi’s attorney general is joining a league of other A-G’s in opposition to a recent decision by credit card companies to track gun and ammunition sales. This is according to our statewide news partner WLOX. In early September, the Internation Standards Organization approved a New merchant Copy Code to track guns and ammunition sales. This is according…

Students in custody after Columbus High School fighting spree

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Nearly a dozen students were reportedly involved in a brawl at Columbus High this morning. Parents say the school briefly went on lockdown during the melee. City leaders were told nine students were taken into custody. Columbus firefighters were on the scene because pepper spray was used to break up the fights. Interim School Superintendent, Dr….

Attempted murder trial begins for woman in Noxubee County

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – An attempted murder trial begins in Noxubee County. Jeraldine Campbell is also charged with armed robbery. Campbell is accused of shooting Bobby Hibbler in July 2020 at a home on Grissom Road. Hibbler was shot in the head during the ordeal. Prosecutors called him and an investigator to the stand today. Campbell’s trial is expected…

Man pleads guilty to shooting former sheriff’s son

MACON, Miss. (WCBI) – The man accused of shooting a former sheriff’s son will spend the next five years in prison. David Hampton pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon. He will also be on probation for five years once out of jail. In December 2018, Hampton shot Roman Grassaree in the chest. The…

White House releases information on student loan forgiveness eligibility

MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA (WCBI) – Since the Biden Administration’s announcement about student loan forgiveness, supporters and critics alike have been asking how many people are going to feel the effects of the relief. Today, the White House released state-by-state estimated numbers, and the totals may surprise you. In Mississippi and Alabama, just over 1.7 million people may be eligible for some level…

Starkville parks look forward to major financial upgrade

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some of Starkville’s parks could be in for a multi-million dollar upgrade. At tonight’s meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen is expected to take up a resolution that would authorize up to $15 million to go towards improvement projects at various city parks. Improvements would allow for updates and expanded services, and city leaders hope they…

State Auditor’s Office investigates misuse of public funds

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The State Auditor’s Office has a number of duties, but it’s best known for one – investigating the misuse of public funds. And State Auditor Shad White has had his hands full in that department in the past year. White was in Starkville today speaking to business and community leaders. Even though White’s office has over…

MSU discusses importance of Constitution Day

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Everybody recognizes July 4th as a milestone in American History, but many may not know the significance of September 17th. On that day in 1789, the U.S. Constitution was signed giving the nation a framework for governing the newly formed nation. Constitution Day may not come with celebrations and sales, but historians and those who study…

Columbus fire and rescue are preventing financial fires

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Some first responders are looking for ways to respond to steady pay and inflation. Last week the city council and Mayor approved raises for Columbus Fire and Rescue. As of October 1, entry-level firefighters’ wages will be raised from $10.39 an hour to $12.50. The pay scale has had many firefighters relying on side jobs to…

Fund set up to benefit family of store clerk killed in robbery

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Support is pouring in for the family of a store clerk killed in an armed robbery in Tupelo earlier this month. Parmvir Singh, 33, was shot and killed September 13th at the Chevron Station on Cliff Gookin Boulevard. The Tupelo Sikh Center has launched a GoFundMe account to help support Singh’s family in India. Organizers of the…

Staff discover chemical leak in Jackson water treatment plant

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – Jackson’s beleaguered water treatment plant hits another roadblock but avoids catastrophe. A chlorine leak was discovered this morning after an alarm sounded at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says the staff found three leaking valves and secured the area. No evacuations were necessary. Safeguards at the building to keep chlorine…

Oxford police officer responds to call about choking infant

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI) – Oxford police released an incredible video of an officer saving an infant’s life. This is body camera footage from this past Thursday after 911 received a call about a baby not being able to breathe. Officer Ortiz, whose first name was not released, took the child and began lifesaving measures. The object stuck in the infant’s…

Law enforcement looking for woman using counterfeit money

WINSTON CO., Miss. (WCBI) – Area law enforcement is looking for a woman accused of passing bogus bucks. This is a picture from surveillance footage of the suspect. Louisville police say the woman is accused of using counterfeit $20 bills to pay for her items. Stores in Louisville, Noxapater, Ackerman and Kosciusko have fallen victim to the fake money. If…

Illegal marijuana operation leads to arrest in Saltillo

SALTILLO, Miss. (WCBI) – Saltillo police found an illegal marijuana-growing operation leading to the arrest of one person. Investigators are just now releasing details of this August 28th arrest. Police say they were called to a disturbance at a home, and that’s when they found several marijuana plants being grown at the home. Sean Hettinger is facing charges of felony…

Color run will honor memory of Pontotoc PD Sgt. Jeff Turner

Sgt. Turner's widow says she is grateful for the community support

PONTOTOC, MISS. (WCBI) – A memorial color run taking place this weekend honors the memory of a Pontotoc Police officer who died last year from Covid 19. Although Jeff Turner started his career in law enforcement later than most people do, the person who knew him best says it was definitely his dream career. “When I say he was built…

Columbus Interim Police Chief speaks on unaccounted for handguns

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A follow up to the story we brought to you yesterday. Columbus police department still has guns unaccounted for. Yesterday, sources told WCBI that there were 34 handguns unaccounted for within the department. Interim chief Dorian Johnson would say it was thirty something guns initially during the inventory check and that some guns unaccounted for goes…

Lowndes County deputies arrest drug dealer and solve burglary

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies arrested a suspected drug dealer and solved a recent burglary in one operation. Agents with the Sheriff’s STING Unit learned that large amounts of drugs were reportedly moving through a house on 27th Street North in Columbus and got a warrant to search it. During the search, they seized two pounds of marijuana,…