Noxubee County teacher wins WCBI Back to School Essay Contest

Three teachers received an A plus for our essay contest and today they received their prize.

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Three teachers received an A plus for our essay contest and today they received their prize. A 500 dollar check to decorate their classroom. We paid a visit to Delois Mickens, a teacher at Noxubee County High school. Mickens appreciated the voters who supported her and talked about what she plans to do with the…

MSMS teacher wins WCBI Back to School Essay Contest

Julie Heintz of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is one of the winners in the WCBI Back to School Essay Contest.

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Julie Heintz of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is one of the winners in the WCBI Back to School Essay Contest. Today, she received a check for 500 dollars from Monroe County Farm Bureau. Teachers were challenged to write an essay about how they would spend the money in their classrooms. Heintz’s plans…

Shooting in Columbus sends child to hospital

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A shooting on Columbus’ Northside sends a child to the hospital. Columbus Police and Emergency crews were called to a reported shooting on 18th Street, near Sim Scott Park around 7:30 Wednesday Night. When they got to the scene, they were told the victim, a child had been taken to the hospital in a personal vehicle….

More than half of Starkville apartment tenants face homelessness after mass evictions

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Wednesday was the day that many tenants of the Catherine Street apartment complex in Starkville have been dreading. For more than a month, residents, many with lower incomes, children and in some cases, disabilities, have faced mass eviction after new owner Ferretti Property Services chose not to renew their leases. “They knew the day was coming,”…

Local store officials are still seeing empty shelves for various reasons

Empty shelves in a grocery store are bad news for customers and for managers

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-Some grocery stores in the Golden Triangle still haven’t been getting their products in; at the same rate as before the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not just the pandemic; severe weather and labor shortages have all played a part in not getting items on store shelves. Empty shelves in a grocery store are bad news for customers and for…

Largest consignment sale to start three day run in Tupelo

Organizers of the largest consignment sale in Northeast Mississippi are expecting big crowds for the three-day event.

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Organizers of the largest consignment sale in Northeast Mississippi are expecting big crowds for the three-day event. The “New 2 U’ Kids Sale is taking place in Building Five of the Tupelo Furniture Market.  Consigners have brought more than one hundred thousand items to sell at the three-day event. Thousands are expected each day at the…

Itawamba Crossroads Ranch will soon open housing for residents

J. R. Hawkins is excited to show off his future home at Itawamba Crossroads Ranch.

ITAWAMBA COUNTY, MISS. (WCBI) – J. R. Hawkins is excited to show off his future home at Itawamba Crossroads Ranch. Hawkins will move into one of five duplexes that were recently built on the property.  The idea for the assisted living spaces for high functioning special needs adults has been a dream of Renea Bennett, ever since her son, Marcus, suffered…

Downtown Starkville visitors may soon have to pay to park

At its most recent meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to consider proposals for paid parking in certain spots in the District and the Midtown area.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – If you’re driving to Starkville and plan on going to the Cotton District, you soon may have to pay to stay. At its most recent meeting, the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to consider proposals for paid parking in certain spots in the District and the Midtown area. So far, only one proposal has been submitted….

Leigh Mall to open a time capsule from grand opening event

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Leigh Mall in Columbus is preparing for a grand opening nearly 50 years in the making. No, it’s not a new store. It’s a glimpse at the past. Just over 49 years ago, in August of 1972, Sears opened its doors as the first store in Leigh Mall. At the Grand Opening ceremony, store managers invited…

CCHS juniors and seniors learn about career and college options

PITTSBORO, MISS. (WCBI) – More than three hundred juniors and seniors in Calhoun County schools were able to talk with professionals from various careers during a field trip. The Calhoun County Career and Technical Center hosted the high school college and career fair. Representatives from area companies, industries, colleges, military, and law enforcement were set up to talk to students…

Gov. Reeves says a special session about medical marijuana could be near

JACKSON, MISS. (WCBI) – Mississippi’s governor says a special session dealing with medical marijuana could be finalized in a few days. Negotiators in the House and Senate have agreed to a draft bill for a medical marijuana program. That program would replace one approved by voters last November but canceled by the state Supreme Court. Governor Reeves says he wants to…

Joint investigation leads to multiple arrests in rash of car burglaries across Webster and Grenada counties

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – On September 21, five suspects were arrested in connection with a rash of car burglaries spanning across Webster and Grenada counties, as well as the city of Eupora. On September 18th, Webster County Sheriff David Gore says three guns and some other items were stolen during five burglaries on the north end of Martin Luther King…

Northeast Mississippi Florist wins ‘Christmas At The Mansion’ contest

Starkville florist will decorate Governor's Mansion for Christmas

JACKSON, MISS. (WCBI) – A Northeast Mississippi florist will get to decorate the Governor’s Mansion for Christmas. Allison Siddall and Hannah Krapac Wamsley had seen photos of the rooms in the Governor’s Mansion, but being there in person gave them a better idea of how they will decorate each room. Siddall is the owner of the Starkville-based “State Floral,” which was…

Lowndes County road repairs are expected to begin soon

People who live in Lowndes County say local roads need some improvements

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- People who live in Lowndes County say local roads need some improvements. Those repairs are expected to be underway soon as the county was approved for a $5 million loan. The city of Columbus and Lowndes County receive sizeable amounts of money twice a year through the Mississippi Department of Revenue, but in addition to that,…

MSU encouraged students to register to vote with registration event

Student volunteers were set up at the Drill Field to make sure their classmates have a chance to be a part of the process.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a startling statistic for a Representative Democracy, but according to the 2020 Census, one out of every 4 people that is eligible to vote isn’t registered. Some students at Mississippi State University were out today trying to improve those numbers. Today is National Voter Registration Day. Every year people miss deadlines or simply don’t know…

The founders of a Golden Triangle start-up are looking at a bright future

Columbus native Hagan Walker and his business partner Anna Barker briefed a hometown crowd on the growth of their Starkville-based business Glo.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The founders of a Golden Triangle start-up are looking at a bright future. Columbus native Hagan Walker and his business partner Anna Barker briefed a hometown crowd on the growth of their Starkville-based business Glo. Since its founding as a project for a class at Mississippi State, Glo has experienced steady growth, moving from a business…

Dollars and Sense: Building Credit

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Having a credit history allows us to make investments or big purchases when we don’t have the money to buy. When you’re making payments on time and keeping your balance low, your score increases which opens up opportunities to be approved for a loan and pay less money in the long run with lower interest rates. You…

Hospital beds at Baptist Golden Triangle are freeing up from COVID-19 patients

In August 2021, patients were overflowing the rooms at hospitals around the state

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- COVID-19 case numbers have eased up in Mississippi in the last couple of weeks. Meaning hospitals have been able to free up beds and ICU rooms. In August 2021, patients were overflowing the rooms at hospitals around the state. Since the beginning of September 2021, the number of COVID-19 patients in Mississippi hospitals has dropped by half,…

After sewage flooded their house, Winona family says they face homelessness since insurance company won’t keep paying for temporary housing

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – In June, a Winona family had to leave their home after they say it was flooded with both water and sewage and have been in temporary housing while repairs are being made. But now, with over six weeks of repairs still left to be done, they say the insurance company will no longer pay for that…

Starkville Fire Department is considering a language requirement

After not being able to communicate with hurt Spanish speakers last Friday, Starkville F.D. is considering adding a language requirement for some staff.

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Fire Department is looking to add a language requirement for some of their employees. The Starkville Fire Department responded to a construction accident last Friday and was immediately on the scene. But despite their skill and teamwork, the department realized they had a communication challenge. Since the incident, Starkville’s Fire Chief said he has…

Two people are in the hospital following a car wreck

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Two people are in the hospital following a car wreck. It happened around 6 p.m at the intersection of Horseshoe Circle and Highway 12. Several vehicles were involved in the crash and two OCH ambulances took victims to the hospital for treatment. WCBI will have more information as it’s released. Categories: Featured, Local News Tags: car accident,…

A Tupelo-based organization is helping international student academically

El Centro has been tutoring students since 2006.

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Each year, more families are moving to Mississippi. A Tupelo-based organization called El Centro is helping students in language transition. Since 2006, Leticia Gassaway, a Chairwoman for the non-profit organization El Centro, has been helping international students academically. She said it’s important that people help young students in language transition. “Our main purpose is has been…

Dry tomorrow, some rain possible mid week

SUMMARY: Dry air looks to hang around for one more day, before humidity is on the increase as we head into the middle of the week. Highs will be increasing into the upper 80s through the end of the work week. It was originally looking like rain would stay to our west, but now it’s looking more likely we see…