Articles by Carl Smith
Leaders see tourism, economic opportunities in ‘go-cup’ bill
Starkville bar patrons may have the ability to carry alcoholic drinks out in publicly designated districts sometime this summer.
Long Beach man arrested for false pretense
Starkville Police Department arrested a Long Beach man involved in Second Baptist Church’s sanctuary expansion on a felony false pretense warrant Thursday.
SFD, Housing Authority partnering on shelter
A partnership between Starkville Fire Department and Starkville Housing Authority is expected to provide a temporary home for families displaced by structure fire this summer.
Perkins calls for 1-mill tax increase to fund SPD renovations
Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins will ask fellow board members next month to support a 1-mill tax increase dedicated to fully funding a $5.4 million Starkville Police Department renovation project after state lawmakers failed to allocate money to the city Monday.
MSU-SOCSD partnership school receives funding
State lawmakers approved a $250 million bond bill on Monday that includes an appropriation for the construction of a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school after representatives and senators held pointed debates on it and a franchise tax cut in each chamber.
MSU, UMMC expanding research partnership
Representatives of Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center signed an agreement on Monday to expand ongoing research collaborations combating health care disparity in the state.
LINK industrial park report expected next month
Golden Triangle Development LINK officials are expected to discuss new industrial park options with Oktibbeha County supervisors and Starkville aldermen next month, but steering committee members responsible for deciding on a new site say the group has not yet decided how to move forward.
$14M mixed-use development planned for Starkville’s University Drive
A popular Starkville eatery will change ownership and anchor a $14 million, mixed-use development along University Drive.
MSU students protest state flag, minority issues
A group of Mississippi State University students protested the university’s continued flying of the state flag Wednesday by holding a sit-in at Lee Hall, the headquarters of President Mark Keenum’s administration.
Legislators await bond bill for possible funding
Local House members should know soon if three major Oktibbeha County projects will receive funding once the Mississippi Senate debuts its major bond bill, District 37 Reps Gary Chism, R-Columbus, and District 43 Rep. Rob Roberson, R-Starkville, said Tuesday.
Starkville Utilities warns of phone scam
Starkville Utilities officials are asking residents to be vigilant of an ongoing phone scam and to not disclose any personal information over the phone to con artists.
Big weekend ahead in Starkville
Sports, arts and food lovers will find their fill of events this weekend as tourists descend upon Starkville for Super Bulldog Weekend and the Cotton District Arts Festival.
National Volunteer Week: Verdell impacts community with small, large projects
Inspiration for community service projects can come out of nowhere. For Columbus High School senior Jessica Verdell, a magazine article inspired her to provide prom dresses to area girls unable to afford such an amenity.
Missing Starkville snake found at Cherokee Drive residence
North Starkville residents can breathe easy after a missing 7-foot-long boa constrictor was found and captured at a Cherokee Drive residence Sunday.
Circuit judge dismisses Vaughn DUI appeal
The state’s appeal of Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn’s driving under the influence case ended Friday when Circuit Judge Lee Coleman dismissed the challenge.
Backpack Buddies wins Restaurant Week charity prize
Backpack Buddies, a function of Starkville’s First United Methodist Church, won Starkville Restaurant Week’s charity competition and a $5,000 donation from Cadence Bank after securing almost 43 percent of the week’s total ballots.
Zika virus detected in Oktibbeha County resident
An Oktibbeha County resident who recently traveled to Haiti was diagnosed with Mississippi’s third case of Zika virus, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced Wednesday.
Authorities search for missing snake
Animal control officers continued searching a residential neighborhood in north Starkville this morning for a boa constrictor that has gone missing from a local residence.
Starkville takes no action on Open Meetings Act violation
Unless Starkville Board of Aldermen decides to hold a special-call meeting to address a recent Mississippi Ethics Commission decision, the city is not expected to challenge an Open Meetings Act violation.
Ethics commission: Aldermen violated Open Meetings Act
A hearing officer recommends the Mississippi Ethics Commission rule the Starkville Board of Aldermen violated the state’s Open Meetings Act last year by discussing a Starkville Parks and Recreation department employee’s job performance behind closed doors, a preliminary report states.
