Time
Featured, Local News

Columbus city leaders bury a time capsule, will open in 2072

Artifacts and cherished memories will be locked away for the next five decades.
Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- As Columbus wraps up its bicentennial year, city leaders leave a reminder for their successors to open when the Friendly City marks its 250th anniversary. Pictures, lottery tickets, cellphones, and coupons… Artifacts and cherished memories to be locked away for the next five decades. On Friday, Columbus leaders packed the steel container with memorabilia from families around…

Wcbi Default
Local News

Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine now available over the counter

Eric Lampkin,

MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – After more than a decade, you will no longer need a prescription to buy decongestants that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. A law passed in this year’s legislative session will take effect tomorrow. It will allow products containing pseudoephedrine to once again be sold without prescription. In an effort to cut down on methamphetamine production, the legislature passed…

Tornado
Local News, State News

Tornado that went through Winfield, Ala. confirmed EF-1

MorrisAdmin,

WINFIELD, Ala. (WCBI) – The storm that moved through downtown Winfield, Alabama Wednesday night has been confirmed as an EF-1 tornado. There is significant damage to structures in the downtown area, including roof damage to a theater. Street lights were knocked down. Store windows were blown out and streets were covered in debris. No injuries were reported. Around 100 people…

Wayne Fraser
Local News

Bond is set for man accused of killing his wife in Caledonia

Joey Barnes,

CALEDONIA, Miss. (WCBI) – Bond is set for the man accused of shooting and killing his wife in Caledonia. 45-year-old Wayne Fraser is charged with murder. His bond is set at $500,000. Fraser remains in the Lowndes County jail. Deputies were called to Cedar Street on Thursday morning about a possible shooting. 55-year-old Natalie Ryan-Fraser was dead when they arrived….
Local News

Columbus Police officers will be out in full force on New Years Eve

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – As you ring in the new year, you’ll also see more Columbus police officers. The agency will have extra officers working tonight and conducting safety checkpoints. Police Chief Fred Shelton is also reminding people that fireworks are illegal to shoot inside the city limits. It is also against the law to shoot a gun up in…

Andrew Emerick
Crime, Local News

Escapee from Choctaw County still on the run

Joey Barnes,

CHOCTAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A man that escaped from a Choctaw County work center remains on the run. 28-year-old Andrew Emerick was last seen Wednesday morning. He is five foot – ten inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. Emerick has red hair and brown eyes. The escapee was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black hooded zip jacket,…

Lowndes Wanted
Crime, Local News

Lowndes County deputies searching for driver of SUV

Joey Barnes,

L OWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are asking for help finding the driver of an SUV. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says this vehicle is involved in catalytic converters and thefts in the county. Surveillance video captured the Dodge Durango in the area of Highways 373 and 50 back on December 13th. The 2003 Durango is grey and possibly…

Sat Severe
Featured, Local News, Weather

Severe weather Saturday, plummeting temps and snow Sunday

MorrisAdmin,

SUMMARY: a VERY busy forecast for us here in northern MS to kick off 2022. We’ll see very warm temps continuing into Saturday, with a major severe weather risk during the afternoon and evening hours Saturday. A powerful arctic cold front then moves through during the overnight hours into Sunday, with a period of snow and plunging temps Sunday afternoon!…

Cigar Pic
Featured, Local News

Spring Street Cigars lounge and brewery opens in Starkville

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) –  A local business will ring in the new year by opening up its doors in Starkville. Spring Street Cigars is opening its fifth Mississippi store in downtown Starkville on Friday. The two-story shop will feature a premium selection of cigars as well as multiple lounge areas. The location also has a craft brewery. Co-owners John Higgins…

Exec Session Preview
Featured, Local News

Golden Triangle representatives expect intense legislative session for Mississippi in 2022

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Between medical marijuana, redistricting, and a big pot of federal money to spend, the 2022 Mississippi legislative session could be one of the most intense in recent memory. “I think it’s going to be a very eventful session,” says District 41 Representative Kabir Karriem. “There’s a lot to unpack.” When the session opens on January 4th,…

Img E30661
Featured, Local News

Calhoun co. sheriff’s department adds military vehicle to fleet

Joey Barnes,

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- A veteran military vehicle is helping the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department get to people in hard-to-reach places. They got a chance to put it to the test when high water trapped residents during Wednesday’s flooding. All it takes is a few inches of rain. County Road 231 in Calhoun County was underwater in about an hour…

lowndes county sheriff
Local News

Lowndes Co. Board of Supervisors votes for new surveillance cameras

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The price tag for a camera system for the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is going to be a little higher than expected. At their December 15th meeting, Lowndes County Supervisors voted to approve the purchase of 4 portable surveillance cameras. After further communication with the supplier, it turns out that the deal was for a…

Caledonia
Crime, Featured, Local News

Lowndes County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting in Caledonia

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting in Caledonia. The shooting happened about 8:20 this morning on Cedar Street. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says deputies arrived to find a 55-year-old woman dead. An unidentified 45-year-old man was detained by deputies at the duplex. Hawkins tells WCBI the investigation is in the very early stages and…

Gaskin
Local News

Columbus mayor held a “State of the City” address

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The city of Columbus has never had a “State of the City” address until now. Mayor Keith Gaskin recorded the speech in his office today. It will be posted on the Columbus Mayor Facebook page on Friday. Gaskin wants to let voters know how the city is faring. He says people in town deserve to hear…

Realtor Threat
Crime, Featured, Local News

Lowndes County realtors warned against dangerous man

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Lowndes County realtors are being told to be extra cautious. The Greater Golden Triangle Realtors group posted the message on Facebook. It warns that an unidentified man is threatening to have his wife set up an appointment to view a property. The suspect also says he will show up to rape the realtor, along with…

Wppd
Crime, Local News

West Point Police to receive new body cameras in January

MorrisAdmin,

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – A new tool is on the way for crime-fighting in West Point. Police officers will be receiving new body cameras next month. This is all part of a federal Rural Development Grant. The grant was approved for $72,000. That’s 60% of the total cost of the cameras. The city will pay the rest, about $37,000…

Tupelo Nye
Local News

Tupelo holding New Years Eve celebration

MorrisAdmin,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Tupelo will be kicking off the new year with a large celebration downtown. This is the second New Year celebration held in Tupelo since 2019. Live music will begin at 8:15 p.m. and go until midnight. There are multiple stages to choose from for your entertainment. The Kids Fest portion of the event has been canceled…

Nmmc Omicronjpg00 01 35 26still001
Featured, Local News

NMHS bracing for unpredictable future as Omicron cases surge while staffing shortage gets worse

Joey Barnes,

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced their updated COVID-19 guidelines, North Mississippi Health Services announced that they are limiting their emergency departments to patients with severe medical issues or who need hospitalization. NMHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeremy Blanchard says this is now the second time during the pandemic that they…

Crime Labs
Crime, Featured, Local News

More law enforcement agencies turning to private crime labs, Oktibbeha Co. Sheriff’s Dept. says it’s a ‘stopgap’

Joey Barnes,

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – As the backlog of cases at the Mississippi State Crime Lab continues, more law enforcement agencies are turning to private crime labs, especially for their most pressing investigations. “There’s dozens of cases that are down there that are waiting on some type of result, whether it be from a DUI investigation or homicide,” says Operations Captain Brett…

0924900 01 15 28still001
Local News

Two Noxubee County churches were broken into last week

Churches are usually considered safe place, but over the weekend that safety was shattered
Joey Barnes,

NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Churches are usually considered safe place, but over the weekend that safety was shattered. Two local churches in Noxubee County were burglarized. Now deputies are searching for answers and pastors are searching for peace. “It does but this is but this is the first time we actually had people breaking in churches so this is a…

182 Shooting
Crime, Local News

Columbus Police searching for McDonald’s shooting suspect

Joey Barnes,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Gunshots ring out at a busy east Columbus shopping center. Customers run for cover, as bullets pierce several vehicles. Now, police are searching for the gunmen. The shooting happened behind McDonald’s on Highway 182. Columbus police say a man was grazed by a bullet but not seriously injured. In fact, he had several warrants for his…

Crime Prevention
Crime, Local News

Columbus City Council members held press conference for crime prevention

Eric Lampkin,

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Recent violent crimes, including a fatal shooting in the Columbus Heights neighborhood just last week, have area elected officials calling for action and help from the community. Columbus City Council members Ethel Taylor Stewart and Pierre Beard joined Lowndes County Supervisor Leroy Brooks and representatives from the Columbus Police Department and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office for…