Articles by Carl Smith
Special election needed to replace retiring prosecutor
A special election will be needed this year to replace longtime city and county prosecutor Roy Carpenter Jr. Carpenter submitted a letter to both county
SPD arrests Maben man in connection with robbery
A joint city-county effort led to the Wednesday arrest of a Maben man in connection with a recent gas station armed robbery.
Link moves to create shovel-ready sites in Oktibbeha
Golden Triangle developers confirm Yokohama Tire Corporation considered locating in both Oktibbeha and Lowndes counties, but massive infrastructure needs took both counties out of the running.
Shafer leaving GSDP for BankFirst
Austin Shafer, Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s vice president for membership and the chamber of commerce, will leave the Partnership at the end of the month and assume a new role with BankFirst Financial Services’ local branch.
Adams tasked with exploring SPC issues
Starkville officials authorized City Clerk Taylor Adams Tuesday to review Starkville Parks and Recreation’s audit and budgeting issues in order to determine how the city will handle the autonomous board after numerous anomalies surfaced in its Fiscal Year 2012 report.
Perkins says Parks report and deadline politically motivated
Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins Tuesday called an upcoming, city clerk-led investigation of Starkville Parks and Recreation’s budgeting and bill payments a political maneuver “intended to bring some desired results” for the June 4 general election.
Sistrunk, Wynn concluding campaigns for Ward 2
For the second time in two weeks, Ward 2 residents are heading back to the polls to pick their next city representative.
Restaurant Week’s effect felt in 2 percent tax returns
Starkville’s 2 percent food and beverage tax returns improved in March, a sign the city’s first Restaurant Week helped stimulate the local economy, organizers said.
Capella health care proposes 50-year OCH lease
Capella Healthcare Vice President for Acquisitions Doug Johnson confirmed Friday the for-profit group is exploring a 50-year lease agreement for Starkville’s OCH Regional Medical Center.
BREAKING NEWS: Capella Healthcare makes lease bid for OCH
Tennesee-based for-profit hospital chain Capella Healthcare has made an offer to lease Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center. is working with officials
Police seek suspects in two robberies caught on camera
Surveillance footage shows similarities with two Starkville robberies this week, but investigators are not yet sure if the incidents are related, Starkville Police Chief David Lindley said.
Starkville will have planned blackout Sunday
The Tennessee Valley Authority will pull the plug on Starkville’s power supply early Sunday while workers improve the area’s power grid.
Attorney: Wynn challenging at least one Ward 2 affidavit
Ward 2 alderman candidate Lisa Wynn is formally challenging the Starkville Municipal Democratic Executive Committee’s Monday decision to reject at least one affidavit, Wynn’s attorney Charles Yoste said Thursday.
Trainer named final school merger commission member
The entire seven-member Commission on Starkville Consolidated School District Structure was set Wednesday after officials announced Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors President Orlando Trainer as its final member.
Ward 2 candidates report no outside funding
Both Ward 2 alderman candidates Sandra Sistrunk and Lisa Wynn filed campaign finance documents by Tuesday’s pre-runoff report deadline.
Consolidation committee taking shape
The Starkville School District Board of Trustees named Superintendent Lewis Holloway, school board member Lee Brand and Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership Director Rex Buffington as its three-person delegation to a soon-to-be-formed Starkville-Oktibbeha consolidation study commission.
Sistrunk, Wynn meet in Tuesday runoff
Six additional votes were not enough to separate Sandra Sistrunk and her challenger, Lisa Wynn, for the remaining unfilled Starkville alderman seat.
Ward 2 candidates agree to delay affidavit processing
Ward 2 alderman candidates Sandra Sistrunk and Lisa Wynn both agreed to delay the affidavit-certifying process for their election until 9 a.m. Monday.
Ward 2 race could be contested today
An official from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office began observing unfinished Ward 2 affidavit processing today at Starkville City Hall.
UPDATE: Secretary of State’s office called in over Starkville affidavit issues
Numerous issues surrounding Ward 2 affidavits prompted Starkville City Clerk Taylor Adams to request election oversight from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office.
Chain’s life in the water leads to a lap around Key West
July 19, 2025
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