Articles by Abigail Sipe Rochester
Freedom Summer volunteer recalls fight for Black vote
As a college student in the 1960s, Peter Norall watched what was happening across the country.
A festival that keeps them coming back
Music and the smell of festival food drifted through the air on Saturday afternoon, while hundreds of vendors filled the streets downtown for the 28th Market Street Festival.
Part of old sheriffs ranch earmarked for industry
The land around the former Mississippi Sheriffs Boys and Girls Ranch is about to be in the hands of The Lowndes County Industrial Development Authority.
Ask The Dispatch: Wasn’t Homeless Coalition building a tiny home village?
Editor’s note: Do you want answers to questions about the Golden Triangle? Each week, Dispatch reporters set out to explain or update a timely, practical
MSMS students to portray 160 years of Black history for Eighth of May
Almost 60 years ago, 20-year-old Marvin Griffin joined the efforts of the Council of Federated Organizations during Freedom Summer. He and his cohorts fought to help Black citizens overcome poll taxes and literacy tests and register to vote, while facing harassment, threats and possible arrest.
Hundreds gather at county courthouse in prayer
“Pray with me,” Reverend Vaughn Stafford said in front of the Lowndes County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.
Three juveniles arrested in Wednesday shooting
Three juveniles have been arrested following a Wednesday shooting in the area of 18th Street and Seventh Avenue North.
Two teens injured in Northside drive-by
Two teenagers were walking on Seventh Avenue North on Thursday when they were shot by four males wearing ski masks in a passing vehicle, according to a Columbus Police Department press release.
More than 190 children in county CPS custody
While she may handle everything from civil matters to the county’s bad check docket, Lowndes County Court Judge Allison Kizer said she spends most of her time in the courtroom handling youth court cases, primarily cases of abuse and neglect.
SOCSD school bus accident leaves one injured
Starkville Police Department is investigating a Tuesday accident between a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District bus and another vehicle.
Monster Cookies make everything sweeter
Sometimes, you just need a cookie. This week was one of those weeks.
Sober living program doubles footprint with new building
Dusty Snider’s addiction started when he was just in high school, after a doctor prescribed him pain medication for a sports injury.
Tiny Truck to bring art, concert series around city starting this summer
The Columbus Arts Council is officially taking this show on the road.
Weekend bets: Fun things to do in the Golden Triangle this weekend (April 26-28)
This weekend has a variety of events to choose from, including the Old Main Music Festival, Frank P. Phillips YMCA Centennial Block Party, DelFest and
Clay Chief Deputy pulls men from flaming SUV
It took only three minutes after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a call Tuesday for a head-on collision on Highway 50 for Chief Deputy Woody Woodruff to get to the scene.
Person of interest identified in homicide of young woman
Columbus police are looking for a person of interest in the death of a woman whose body was found outside an abandoned duplex apartment at
Body found outside duplex sparks homicide investigation
The death of a woman whose body was found Tuesday morning outside an abandoned duplex apartment at the end of Industrial Street has been ruled a homicide, officials confirmed.
Day care can keep purple awning, must repaint outside walls
When Ewaldson Francois and his wife Martisa repainted Empowerment Station Academy on Whitfield Street in June 2022, their goal was to bring fun, bright colors to the day care both inside and out.
