Supervisors taking hands-off approach to Unity Park issues

District 3 Supervisor Marvel Howard informally handed off short- and long-term Unity Park planning responsibilities to a new group of concerned citizens Monday.

Partnership turning attention toward lobbying

The Greater Starkville Development Partnership is primed to take a more hands-on approach to public policy as the organization will develop a taskforce to compile local issues and lobby pro-business ideals that the organization will promote and advocate to city, county and state lawmakers.

Hardin appointed Starkville’s next city clerk

Starkville aldermen on Tuesday unanimously promoted Deputy City Clerk Lesa Hardin to the department’s lead position.

Nichols is new Starkville police chief

Aldermen appointed Frank Nichols, a 22-year veteran of Starkville Police Department, as the city’s police chief with a 6-1 vote Tuesday.

Nichols takes over immediately, replacing Interim Chief John Outlaw, who is expected to re-enter retirement.

New legislation strikes language appointing Holloway

State lawmakers removed all language specifically appointing Starkville School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway as the county school district’s conservator on July 1 with new legislation this week.

Interviews set for county administrator finalists

Oktibbeha County’s search for a new administrator will continue Feb. 17 when supervisors interview five finalists for the vacant position.

Starkville police chief finalists down to 3

The finalist pool for Starkville’s vacant police chief position is down to three after former Meridian police Chief James Reed pulled out of the search, city Personnel Director Randy Boyd confirmed Monday.

Starkville gearing up for 2 percent renewal push

Starkville aldermen are expected to begin the process toward securing another decade of 2 percent food and beverage taxing authority today during a 5 p.m. special-call meeting at the Starkville Sportsplex.

House, Senate bills would make Holloway OCSD conservator

Two bills moving through the Mississippi Legislature would place Starkville School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway in control of the Oktibbeha County School District on July 1 and provide him short- and long-term local financing options to improve the two systems’ campuses for state-mandated consolidation in 2015.

Study: 4 of 5 fourth graders are not proficient readers

A recently released Kids Count study shows 4 out of 5 Mississippi school children are not proficient readers by the time they enter the fourth grade.

Nomination period open for Starkville Restaurant Week charities

Greater Starkville Development Partnership officials hope to build upon the inaugural Starkville Restaurant Week’s success this year with minor tweaks aimed to streamline the event.

Camp, MSU Baseball honored with GSDP awards

The Greater Starkville Development Partnership honored Dan Camp, the former Starkville mayor who single-handedly transformed Starkville’s most well-known neighborhoods into a widely praised New Urbanism development area, and other local business leaders for their service to community development on Monday.

Volunteers going door to door in C Spire fiber push

Starkville’s 10 potential “fiberhoods” are all well below the sign-up requirement to become Mississippi’s first recipient of C Spire’s Fiber to the Home program, but a local group of volunteers are going door to door in an effort to earn the distinction before eight other towns qualify.

Finalized consolidation plan heading to legislature

Between smiles and handshakes after signing their final consolidation report Friday, members of the Commission on Starkville Consolidated School District Structure turned their focus to lobbying lawmakers for legislative language and funding streams needed to successfully consolidate Oktibbeha County School District and Starkville School District.

Area preps for second round of frigid temps

As Golden Triangle residents brace for another round of freezing temperatures, at least two organizations are making adjustments in anticipation of problems associated with cold weather.

TVA asks users to voluntarily reduce power consumption ahead of cold weather

Tennessee Valley Authority officials are asking customers throughout the Southeast to voluntarily reduce power consumption beginning 4 p.m. today.

Wiseman says GOP out of touch in State of the State response

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman called for bipartisan ideas and creativity to help solve Mississippi’s toughest challenges during the state Democratic response to Gov. Phil Bryant’s State of the State address.

Finalists selected for vacant county administrator position

Five applicants, including Oktibbeha County’s current comptroller and Starkville’s former chief administrative officer, will move forward into the next phase of the county’s search for a new administrator.

Vaughn lashes out against negative public comments

Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn took exception Tuesday to seven months of negative public comments directed at the Starkville Board of Aldermen by lashing out after a former alderman’s criticism and describing such statements as a “disgrace in the sight of God.”

Starkville supports LGBT residents with historic resolution

Starkville aldermen denounced various forms of discrimination against residents and city employees, including discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, with a new policy Tuesday.