Columbus pd search for suspect in connection to armed robbery

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus Police are looking for a suspect in connection to an armed robbery at a residence August 15th. Chief Shelton said the victim was asleep in their home on 7th Street South when the suspect entered the house through an unlocked door. The suspect asked the victim to withdraw money from an ATM and to drop him…

Two Prentiss county men are charged with grand larceny

PRENTISS COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- Two Prentiss County men are charged with theft of a catalytic converter stolen from a car at Zion Rest Church of Christ on Highway 371. Ronnie Lee Jones faces grand larceny of a church, failure to stop a motor vehicle when officer signals, and possession of burglary tools. Justice Court Judge Trent Moore set his bond at…

Make-a-wish Mississippi reveals surprise for 8-year-old boy

STARKVILLE,Miss. (WCBI)- Make-A-Wish Mississippi granted a special wish for an 8-year-old boy in Starkville. Mason Saxon was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2019. Friends, family, and Make-A-Wish surprised Mason with a golden retriever puppy and other gifts. Saxon’s family decided to name their furry friend Phobe. “Today, we’re celebrating Mason in remission from being diagnosed with leukemia. He had…

Columbus police host national night out on crime

LOWNDES COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)- It’s a night to get to know the men and women who protect and serve your community. Crowds gathered in Columbus to partake in national night out on crime hosted by the Columbus Police Department and Lowndes County EMA. Folks can met with officers, deputies, and other agencies. Police Chief Fred Shelton says some citizens also had…

Community members gather for a peaceful march in Macon

MACON, Miss. (WCBI)- After two women were killed just weeks apart in what police say were domestic violence arguments; a group from Columbus made their way to Noxubee County to remember those lives and hope to prevent more tragedies from happening. “It’s been going on for generations and I know the spirit of God can break anything so we came…

Fearless Karate hosts clinic with Power Ranger actors

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Dozens of students gathered in Starkville to show off their karate skills with the help from surprise guests. “They can be a superhero in every day of their life,” Josh Buford said. Josh Buford is the owner of Fearless Karate in Starkville. He said the clinic is a great way to show a different style of…

Cooler and wetter weekend, T.S. Fred moves through Mon-Tue

SUMMARY: Showers and storms are likely for Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures will drop from the low 90s into the upper 80s by Sunday, and remain in the 80s through Wednesday. Tropical Storm Fred’s track has been shifting further west towards our viewing area, with impacts likely Monday into Tuesday in the form of widespread rain and cloud cover. Winds…

Southern states are crippling in high COVID-19 case numbers

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- As the country faces the fourth wave of COVID-19, southern states are crippling by daily high case numbers. Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas are areas in dire need of more nurses and healthcare workers. Extending shifts, treating ill patients, and going to the next facility is the reality for most travel nurses. “People are exhausted, they’re…

Caledonia High School going virtual for two weeks

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Caledonia High School students will move to a virtual format for the next two weeks. Parents received this letter today, letting them know the school district’s decision to go virtual. District superintendent Sam Allison says the high school will be on the virtual platform from August 16th thru 27th. All extracurricular activities are canceled during…

Noxubee County School District received mask from Kappa Alpha Psi

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The local chapter of a Greek organization is answering the call for help. When members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity found out the Noxubee County School district was pleading for PPE and other supplies for their students, they got to work. With help from the community, the group purchased 24-thousand masks for the elementary and…

Two men have been arrested in a drug sweep in Noxubee County

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Two men are arrested in a drug sweep through Noxubee County. 27-year-old Maxie Chandler and 36-year-old DeKendrick Bland are both charged with trafficking a controlled substance. Noxubee County Sheriff Tommy Roby says his deputies teamed up with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to make the drug busts. He says more arrests are expected. Both men…

Rain chances stay elevated, tropics very active

SUMMARY: Thanks to a front which will stall over the area, as well as tropical storm Fred, wet weather looks likely over the next few days and as we start next week. Rain and cloud cover will hold our highs down into the mid to upper 80s Sunday to Wednesday, a nice reprieve from the heat! Scattered shower and storm…

Cooler temperatures but higher rain chances for the weekend

SUMMARY: After dealing with the brutal summer heat & humidity all week long, changes are moving in for the weekend. Cooler temperatures but higher rain chances are on the way. We’re continuing to watch the tropics. TROPICS: Tropical Depression Fred is just north of eastern Cuba this morning. Tropical Storm Watches & Warnings have been issued for SW Florida &…

Mississippi’s depleted healthcare workforce pushed to the brink as long COVID-19 patient recovery contributes to overwhelmed hospitals

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – There has not been an open ICU bed at OCH Regional Medical Center during the month of August. “Just a lot of very sick people,” says OCH Emergency Room and ICU Director Jacob Leggett. “We’re seeing an increased number of patients presenting with COVID signs and symptoms. Some of them are really critically ill.” The majority…

A challenge for rural hospitals: keeping beds staffed and vaccinations

NOXUBEE COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI) We’ve been here before. Rural hospitals are struggling to keep units staffed with nurses and to get more of the public vaccinated. Hospital numbers are steadily climbing. Even though we’ve been in the pandemic for a year now, there’s still the unknown of what the surge could mean for healthcare. In Noxubee County, 1,437 people have contracted…

A series of catalytic converter arrests northeast Mississippi

Prentiss County, Miss. (WCBI)- Multiple counties have made a series of arrests of catalytic converter thefts. The Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department and the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department received information that led to the arrests of three suspects in their areas. Chase Teeter, Scott Behrens, and Devin McGuire are accused of cutting the converters off the mufflers of several vehicles including…

Pickensville, Ala. clerk to spend the next year in jail

PICKENSVILLE, Ala. (WCBI) – A former Pickensville, Alabama clerk will spend the next year in jail. 46-year-old Sidra Simpson pleaded guilty to the use of an official position for personal gain. As part of her plea deal, she will go to prison and be on probation for five years. District Attorney Andy Hamlin says Simpson must repay the Town of…

Rain chances on the increase

SUMMARY: Remaining at heat advisory levels for one more day. The weekend looks cooler with higher chances of afternoon showers and storms, as highs drop to right around the 90 degree mark. Rain chances stay elevated as we start next week, with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Rainfall could be enhanced on Monday and Tuesday by moisture from…

Cooler summer temperatures but better rain chances are on the way

SUMMARY: We still have another hot & humid couple of days for us before temperatures start cooling back down into the 80s. The trade off will be rain chances increasing this weekend into early next week thanks to a cold front and moisture from Tropical Storm Fred. TROPICS: A disorganized Tropical Depression Fred is moving back over the Caribbean after…

Amory father getting a second chance with his children and in life after more than 20 years of drug abuse and addiction

KILMICHAEL, Miss. (WCBI) – Eric Crisp was born into a life of addiction and drug abuse. “The earliest memory I have was, my parents were crackheads and they sold the front door off of our house for crack,” Crisp says. Growing up in Amory, Crisp says he sold his first bag of marijuana when he was 8 years old. He…