Articles by Carl Smith
Starkville accomplishes most strategic goals this term
While numerous political controversies, flash points and moments of ballyhoo have drawn attention in Starkville, the city’s mayor and board of aldermen quietly accomplished almost all of the goals defined by the administration’s strategic plan for the term.
Dairy Queen planned for Louisville St.
The intersection of Louisville Street and Lynn Lane could soon become home to a new Dairy Queen and gas station.
Safety measures discussed for Old 25 intersection
Oktibbeha County supervisors are looking to install safety implements, including lighting and a traffic signal, at the intersection of Old Highway 25 and Poor House Road after multiple traffic accidents were reported in the last week.
Nicholas gets TIF money despite issues
Developer Mark Nicholas received about $909,000 in tax increment financing reimbursements from Starkville after the board of aldermen accepted his Cotton Mill Marketplace plat Tuesday despite future upkeep worries for a private road connecting the development to public infrastructure.
Aldermen deny TIF requests for Wal-Mart grocery store
A proposed Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is in jeopardy after the Starkville Board of Aldermen denied two different tax increment financing proposals Tuesday.
Oktibbeha looks at purchasing waterpark
Oktibbeha County is moving toward conducting a cost-benefit analysis that could lead to the purchase of the Starkville Wet N Wild waterpark and assumption of Oktibbeha County Lake lease agreements associated with the property.
Livingston tapped as interim chancery clerk
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors named Sharon Livingston interim chancery clerk Monday after learning procedural rules prevent the former deputy clerk from issuing payroll checks to employees.
Oktibbeha supes may delay picking interim chancery clerk
Oktibbeha County supervisors will discuss the vacant chancery clerk’s position at its Monday meeting, but they will likely delay appointing an interim clerk until after funeral services for Monica Banks, who had held the position for the past 20 years.
SOCSD supt. won’t appeal convictions
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway will not appeal two misdemeanor simple assault convictions handed down in Oktibbeha County Justice Court in August, his attorney, Roy Carpenter, confirmed Thursday.
Civic duty brings election commissioners back to their posts
On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in each November — and all other primary, runoff and special election days — Joe Baker, Sissy Smitherman and their fellow Oktibbeha County election commissioners can be found at the circuit court annex, surrounded by the hustle of election workers bringing in the county precinct boxes.
SOCSD board member could stay through May
The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees will have at least two new members in 2017 after a November election.
MDOR: July hotel tax spike due to late payments
A portion of Starkville’s 280-percent increase in July 2-percent hotel tax receipts was the result of a local business catching up on late tax payments to the state, a Mississippi Department of Revenue spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Three qualify for Nov. school board election
Three Oktibbeha County residents are vying for a spot on the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees.
Holiday Inn project heading toward foreclosure
The future of a planned hotel project in Starkville is in question.
SCVB’s Savor Starkville earns state tourism award
Savor Starkville, a Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau campaign highlighting the city’s blossoming culinary scene, received the Mississippi Tourism Association’s Tourism Promotion of the Year Award Tuesday at the Mississippi Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Natchez.
Knife-wielding clown hoax reported
Local law enforcement agencies deemed reports of individuals dressed as clowns and roaming Oktibbeha County apartment complexes as a hoax Tuesday after social media posts spread the unsubstantiated claims.
Aldermen to interview 4 HR director candidates
Starkville aldermen are expected to schedule interviews for the city’s vacant human resource officer position after four candidates, including the department’s interim director, emerged as finalists for the job.
Starkville aldermen stop short of amending SPRD director’s duties
Aldermen approved two middle management positions within the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department Tuesday but stopped short of redefining SPRD Director Herman Peters’ role as it will function with the addition of a maintenance director and sports programming director in the future.
Citizen complains about OCH trash in neighborhood
OCH Regional Medical Center has instituted stricter policies and is monitoring how employees dispose of gloves after handling garbage since a complaint was filed with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in regard to stormwater washing non-biohazardous trash into the nearby Plantation Homes subdivision.
Oktibbeha employees get 3-percent raise
Oktibbeha County employees will receive a 3-percent cost-of-living adjustment in Fiscal Year 2016-17 as supervisors added the annual raise to their budget Tuesday.
