Articles by Amanda Lien
Storm debris removal nearly complete
Contractors responsible for storm debris removal in Columbus following a Feb. 23 tornado estimate pickup will be completed by this weekend.
Lowndes voting locations moved
Four Lowndes County voting precincts have been renamed or relocated ahead of county elections in August.
Recruiter: Leigh Mall taking improvement bids
Leigh Mall’s new management, Jones Lange LaSalle Americas (JLL), have begun repairing the struggling shopping center’s roof and parking lot while also trying to attract new businesses to fill their vacant retail spaces.
‘For the people that went here, it’s sacred ground’: Lee High alumni reflect on school days as building undergoes renovation to high-end apartments
When Columbus resident Carol Littlejohn thinks of the historic Lee High School, plenty comes to mind.
Tornado debris cleanup begins despite lack of FEMA funding
Columbus city councilmen voted during a special-call meeting Tuesday to begin storm debris monitoring and cleanup following a Feb. 23 tornado that damaged parts of north and east Columbus.
CLW looks to fund broadband expansion itself
Columbus Light and Water is pursuing other ways to fund a broadband expansion after a bill to fund that venture died in committee last week.
Council approves plan to save $1.1 million
Columbus councilmen approved a seven-part plan Tuesday that will purportedly save the city $1.1 million this fiscal year.
Tunica County health care controller hired as city CFO
Columbus has hired Deliah Vaughn, a health services controller in Tunica County as its new chief financial officer.
Closed bridge affects local catfish farm
Lowndes County officials are looking at options for quickly fixing a bridge over Gilmer Creek after hearing its closure is affecting a local business.
Candidates to gather for citizen-led forum Friday
Candidates for county and state offices will speak at a community political forum and answer citizen questions at the Anderson Grove Community Center Friday night.
Bill to finance Columbus Light and Water fiber expansion in limbo
Columbus Light and Water is still interested in selling phone and internet service to businesses in the city, but the future of that venture is uncertain as a bill to fund the initiative makes its way through the Legislature in Jackson.
Applicant pool lean for Columbus CFO
Of the five candidates who applied by Monday evening’s deadline to be Columbus’ next chief financial officer, only one meets the minimum criteria in the city’s job advertisement, multiple sources confirmed.
A month after tornado, volunteers still cleaning up
To Renee Sanders’ surprise, not a single person who registered with United Way to volunteer for storm cleanup Saturday morning was a Columbus native.
Fire station construction to resume within 2 weeks
After months of inactivity, construction will resume on the new Fire Station 4 on Airline Road with the goal of completing the station by the end of the year.
Retail Coach to update council on progress
Columbus councilmen will hear an update this evening on retail recruitment efforts in the city.
Caroline Hearnsberger, a retail recruitment specialist with The Retail Coach of Tupelo, said her report will partially focus on foundational data, such as demographics, the firm can use to attract new retailers. The council meets at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Complex.
Monday profile: Local antique shop owner offers wisdom on helping others
Two local antique dealers only spent a few minutes inside Quirky Antiques, Fred Haley’s antique store on Second Street North near Second Avenue, but they still gave Haley something to think about.
“Antique dealers are a little like used car dealers,” he mused. “The kind of people not exactly trusted in society. I don’t know where that came from.”
County to pay $15K to settle wrongful arrest suit
Lowndes County supervisors voted in executive session Friday to pay a former New Hope High School student $15,000 to settle a wrongful imprisonment lawsuit against a justice court judge, board president Harry Sanders confirmed to The Dispatch.
Lowndes supervisors ban Kratom
Following a public hearing on Friday, supervisors banned Kratom county-wide effective April 1.
City hires firm to manage storm debris removal
Columbus City Council awarded a contract to Debris Tech for storm debris management during a special-call meeting Thursday.
Crawford reaches agreement with IRS on tax lien
The town of Crawford has reached an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to pay off a more than $30,000 tax lien from improperly managing employee retirement fund matches.