Articles by Abigail Sipe Rochester
Inaugural book festival draws nearly 1,000 readers downtown
While reading may typically be a quiet activity, downtown was filled Saturday with the buzz of almost 1,000 excited readers that attended the inaugural Possumtown Book Festival.
Prairie Arts Festival to bring fine arts, fun downtown
For the 46th year, downtown West Point is gearing up for the Prairie Arts Festival
Woman who crashed into school bus drunk faces felony
A Caledonia woman who allegedly rear-ended a school bus while drunk Tuesday now faces two possible felony counts connected to the wreck.
CAC executive director resigns to take new position
Columbus Arts Council is on the hunt for a new executive director.
Woman allegedly hits school bus while drunk, flees scene
A Caledonia woman was arrested Tuesday after allegedly rear-ending a school bus while drunk, then fleeing the scene and resisting arrest.
Mediterranean chickpea salad to eat again and again
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I have to say, it was hard to come back to Mississippi after the vacation my husband and I went on last week.
Supervisor advocates for demolishing historic old hospital
District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer wants to move forward with demolishing the old Felix Long Memorial Hospital, even without Mississippi Department of Archives and History approval.
Aldermen give up raises next fiscal year for extra police camera
The mayor and aldermen are passing up raises next fiscal year, instead dedicating that money toward the police department’s camera request.
Community Profile: Starkville police officer named National D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year
When Cpl. Tonya McWhirter started working as a D.A.R.E. officer more than two decades ago, she didn’t do it for the awards or the recognition. She just wanted to give students a chance she never had when she was a kid.
Oktibbeha County on the hunt for new administrator
The board of supervisors is officially on the hunt for a new county administrator, with a plan in place to get the county through the interim.
Historic photographer leaves a stamp on local USPS employee
Having worked for the United States Postal Service for 17 years, Ansel Embry had seen plenty of new designs for stamps come and go.
Police cameras back on budget, other cuts looming
The police department may be getting its 20 requested cameras and two new employees to monitor them in the next fiscal year after all, with no tax increase required.
Golden Triangle cities, counties to get $1.7M in national opioid settlements
With two rounds of national opioid settlements finalized, the Golden Triangle is due to see about $1,719,781 in settlement payments trickling in from pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers, according to documents from the state attorney general’s office.
Guilty plea lands Columbus man 35 years in prison for murder
A Columbus man accused of shooting and killing another man before he fled to Wyoming in 2021 was sentenced to prison Wednesday in Lowndes County Circuit Court, according to District Attorney Scott Colom.
Lifelong harmonica player to teach workshop at blues museum
When Tim Gartland first picked up a harmonica at 13 years old, he started out just like any amateur: one song at a time.
Getting a taste of burgers without manning the grill
It’s summertime, and you’re at a party. You hear children splashing in a pool in the backyard. You see candy-colored cups and plates spread out on a buffet table.
Renovate or rebuild? Felix Long costs could vary by $4 million based on MDAH decision
After more than two years of sitting empty, the Felix Long Memorial Hospital building’s fate is finally in the hands of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. But getting it there led to some division among county officials.
Mother Goose’s assistant retires after 20 years at storytime
For the past 20 years, when Mother Goose has been singing songs and reading books to children during her weekly storytime sessions at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, she has had help.
Human trafficking doesn’t always look like the movies. And it’s happening here.
Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes had always heard of human trafficking, but he never imagined it could happen in Lowndes County.
