Arnold to spend more than half a century in prison

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A man accused of trying to kidnap a child will spend more than half a century in prison. The jury found John Arnold Jr. guilty of two counts of attempted kidnapping, one count of simple assault on a law enforcement officer, and one count of attempted escape. In February 2018 Arnold went to two Starkville schools…

Pontotoc furniture company opens health clinic to provide employees and their families with affordable medical care

PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) – Southern Furniture Industries has opened a new health and wellness clinic in Pontotoc to provide quality healthcare for employees and their families, without the high cost. “I get to practice medicine the way medicine needs to be practiced,” says Jessica Maffett, the nurse practitioner at the clinic. “Without having to worry about the money, the insurance.”…

Columbus police have released new information on recent homicide

  COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus police have released new information about a homicide from earlier this week. These are still images from a surveillance camera that police released today. Police Chief Fred Shelton says this is the person they want to talk to about the shooting death of 23-year-old Shad Reese. The shooting happened early Monday morning in the…

Dick Guyton to retire as executive director of Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation

Guyton says it's time to let someone else oversee the foundation, birthplace and museum

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The longtime executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation is retiring. Dick Guyton announced that he will retire on January 8th, which would have been Elvis’ 87th birthday. Guyton has served as executive director of the Memorial Foundation and the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum since 2002. Guyton is 82 and says it’s time to…

Lt. Gov. Hosemann says lawmakers will have a medical marijuana bill in regular session

The lieutenant governor said the bill is complete

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann says he believes lawmakers will deal with medical marijuana during the regular legislative session. Hosemann says lawmakers have completed most of the work on a medical marijuana bill. The lieutenant governor says the bill will allow medical marijuana and not the recreational use of the drug. “I think it’s one of…

Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge will stay closed for foreseeable future

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A popular Columbus landmark will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Repairs to the Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge aren’t likely to begin anytime soon, and when they do they’re going to be expensive. The “Old River Bridge” as it’s sometimes known was severely damaged in February 2020 when it was struck by a runaway barge filled with…

Tip leads to a pursuit that ended in a drug bust in Pickens County

PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – A tip leads to a Pickens County pursuit that ends in a drug bust. Kenya Curry is facing several charges, including the attempt to elude, reckless endangerment, and possession of marijuana. Sheriff Todd Hall says the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force alerted law enforcement about drugs being brought into the county. An Aliceville officer and…

30 percent of workers in the manufacturing sector are women

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – According to the latest census, 30 percent of workers in the manufacturing sector are women. Some local workforce development leaders think that number should be higher. And they’re saying now is a good time for them to get a foot in the door. There’s a nationwide shortage of qualified workers – manufacturers are hiring –…

Oktibbeha County deputies are searching for two supects after alleged robbery

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Oktibbeha County deputies are searching for two men after an alleged robbery ends in a shooting. 18-year-old Ian Bradford and 21-year-old Marquez Williams are both wanted for aggravated assault and armed robbery. Investigators say the shooting happened on October 28th on County Lake Road. This information was released today. The victim had non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies…

Stallion Street Festival

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Edna Cole from the South Lamar Chamber of Commerce gives details on the Stallion Street Festival in Millport, Alabama. Categories: Special Guests Tags: family fun, festival, shopping

Tishomingo County couple facing child abuse charges

TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A Tishomingo County couple is facing child abuse charges. Bond for 30-year-old Charles Ewing is 50,000 dollars. 27-year-old Kayla Owens has a 20,000 dollar bond. Tishomingo County deputies say the child abuse allegedly involves a five-year-old. No other information about the case has been released. Other charges are possible against the couple. Categories: Crime, Local…

Winston Medical Center CEO fears even more healthcare workers could quit over Medicare & Medicaid vaccine rule

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – November 1st was the deadline for staff at Baptist Memorial Healthcare and University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, smaller hospitals like Winston Medical Center are still bracing for a decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “I do anticipate we will have some people that will leave…

One person still missing after burglary of Hunt Middle School

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The old Hunt Middle School in Columbus has seen its share of bad luck recently. It was damaged in a tornado two years ago and it’s also been hit by accused thieves. Now, David Ashmore is charged with burglary. Janet Price and Latasha Terry are both charged with accessory after the fact of burglary. Columbus Police…

Starkville child recovering from rare condition associated with COVID-19

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A 5th grade student in Starkville is recovering from a rare, but serious condition associated with COVID-19. Lexi Robinson, 10, was diagnosed with coronavirus in August. She was cleared to return to school after her quarantine, but weeks later more severe symptoms struck. After two trips to the emergency room, a doctor suspected Lexi had developed…

Runoff will happen for Board of Trustees seat for Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A runoff is in the works for a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees. Cassandra Palmer garnered the most votes. She has 45 percent of the vote. Ronnie Tucker finished second with 23 percent of the vote. Those two candidates will meet for a November 23rd runoff. This school board seat is one of…

Columbus City Council discusses a new purpose for Propst Park

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) –  The Columbus City Council has discussed a new purpose for Propst Park. During Tuesday’s meeting, the Council voted to commission the Neel-Schaffer engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study to upgrade a master plan for the park. City leaders have been discussing several plans for modernizing Propst Park, using money from the city’s share of the…

Flex Factor and EMCC educates students on a career path to advance manufacturing and technology

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- East Mississippi Community College and Flex Factor are connecting students to career pathways that could lead them into the manufacturing sector. During a multi-week program focused on entrepreneurship and technology, 9th-grade students at Armstrong Junior High School were asked to develop a business concept and deliver a shark take style presentation about solving real work problems using…

Man charged with murder in 2020 trial beginning

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A murder trial begins today in Winston County. Michael Jones is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Malik Hudson. Hudson was shot in April 2020 at Ivy Apartments and later died at a Jackson hospital. Jones, who is from Gulfport, later turned himself into Louisville police. The trial is expected…