Articles by Carl Smith
MHP Troop G construction bills remain active
Local lawmakers say they are hopeful one of three bills funding the construction of a new Mississippi Highway Patrol substation in Starkville will be approved this session.
SPD arrests alleged Beanie Babies thief
An Olive Branch man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly stole multiple Beanie Babies toys from a Cotton District business.
Roberson kills SOCSD school board shakeup bill
A bill disbanding the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees in favor of an expanded, majority-elected group was among a number of Oktibbeha County-specific proposals that died in the Mississippi Legislature this week.
Starkville aldermen set downtown parking times
Starkville aldermen unanimously voted last week to set the city’s downtown parking regulations and will now enforce the two-hour-maximum from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Aldermen reach out to supes on growth control
Two Starkville aldermen want Oktibbeha County supervisors to enact growth control measures to ensure the city inherits proper infrastructure and buildings in future annexations.
Starkville Municipal Court caseload drops to 10-year low
A drop in felony and misdemeanor cases from 2014 to 2015 resulted in Starkville Municipal Court’s lowest caseload since 2004.
SOCSD proposes bringing East elementary students to city campuses
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District administrators propose bringing kindergarten through fifth grade students attending East Elementary School to city middle schools to satisfy Department of Justice issues with racial diversity at the county campus.
Higgins: Challenges shaping industrial park plan
Golden Triangle Development LINK Chief Executive Officer Joe Max Higgins said his team is close to unveiling its plan for a new industrial park in Oktibbeha County after recent developments significantly impacted the Columbus-based firm’s pitch.
Starkville aldermen take aim at LINK
Tense relations between the Starkville Board of Aldermen and the Golden Triangle Development LINK came to a head Tuesday when Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins said he was not impressed with the industrial development firm’s ability to attract retail investments and hopes to one day sever the city’s contract with the group.
Little hopeful delegating retail duties will focus LINK on industry
David Little, the Starkville alderman who co-authorized a pending contract for an outside group to take over retail attraction for the city, said he’s hopeful a transition will lighten the Golden Triangle Development LINK’s responsibilities and allow the entity to focus its specialty – industrial recruitment.
Collins: Lake level could draw down park’s shores
Efforts to fully understand slope failures plaguing Oktibbeha County Lake could draw down its water level enough to significantly affect Starkville Wet N Wild operations, county officials said Monday.
Starkville poised for agreement with Alabama retail firm
After icy relations and communication issues emerged between Starkville aldermen and the Golden Triangle Development LINK, it appears the city and county are ready to pass retail attraction and development duties to a new firm.
DOJ, SOCSD ask for new desegregation report due date
Department of Justice and Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District representatives are asking a judge for more time to negotiate a long-term desegregation order.
Chism pushes ‘scarlet letter’ DUI tag forward
District 37 Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, has tough words for critics of his bill that would force people convicted of two or more driving under the influence charges to display a special license plate noting their past crimes: Those drivers should deal with the consequences of their actions and change their behavior.
Starkville, Oktibbeha exploring state, federal lobbying services
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors and Starkville Board of Aldermen could enter into a mutual agreement for federal and state lobbying efforts with Cornerstone Government Affairs next week.
Chism asks state to fund $10M for partnership school
State Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, joined other area lawmakers this week in filing a state funding request for the construction of a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school, but the District 37 representative’s bill could, if approved, delay the build by a year.
Lawmakers make new push for $6M MHP station
State lawmakers are again taking a shot at a bond bill to fund a new Mississippi Highway Patrol station in Starkville.
Ellis, Roberson file SOCSD-MSU partnership school bills
Local education bills call for the state to fund a Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District-Mississippi State University partnership school, change the composition of the local school board.
SFD courtesy inspections boosting dept’s visibility
Starkville firefighters are providing an additional service to business owners with courtesy walkthroughs that identify potential fire code violations.
Public invited to Parks planning meetings
Starkville officials are asking residents to attend a three-day set of meetings designed to gather public input for its park system’s master planning efforts.
Bulldogs announce 2025-25 men’s golf schedule
July 24, 2025
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