MDOT’s plans for Highway 182 taking shape

Mississippi Department of Transportation officials are developing a major Highway 182 improvement project which could begin this summer, Starkville City Engineer Edward Kemp announced Tuesday.

House adopts school merger bills for Oktibbeha, Clay

State Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, confirmed Wednesday the House adopted two separate conference reports for Golden Triangle school consolidation.

Conference committee pushes report requirement to 2014

A joint House-Senate conference committee developed Monday compromises language in the Starkville-Oktibbeha consolidation bill which adds an additional Starkville School District representative to a local merger study committee and pushes its report deadline to March 1, 2014.

Clay County consolidation bill now mirrors Oktibbeha County

Legislators finalized a six-person conference committee Wednesday to work out House and Senate differences in a potential Clay County school consolidation bill.

Officials thrilled over response to Restaurant Week

Tourism officials say Starkville Restaurant Week produced almost 10,500 charity ballots last week.

How impressive is that figure? Greater Starkville Development Partnership CEO Jennifer Gregory says that total eclipses the total collected during similar week-long events in Jackson. There, the high mark stands at approximately 6,000 votes, she said.

Schools tour helps district leaders gauge progress

Starkville School District officials saw first-hand Tuesday how investments in technology and teachers are paying off in the district.

Carl Smith: Gay marriage isn’t the end of equality issues

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments Monday in two landmark cases which could impact how states and the federal government interpret marriages.

I am optimistic laws can catch up to our nation’s changing viewpoint on same-sex marriages, but I’m also certain federal protections are sometimes needed to ensure equality.

School consolidation committee taking shape

Three Mississippi House Education Committee members – Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, Gary Chism, R-Columbus, and John L. Moore, R-Brandon – will serve on a conference committee charged with reaching a consensus on a potential Starkville-Oktibbeha school consolidation bill.

MSU students play roles in park planning

Mississippi State University landscape architecture students are getting hands-on design experience by helping envision future improvements to the park located adjacent to Fire Station No. 1.

Restaurant Week event provides boost in sales

Patrons wanting Old Venice’s creole salmon special Sunday afternoon were out of luck: The fish flew from the restaurant’s menu.

Holloway: Better to negotiate merger bill now than later

Starkville School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway told public stakeholders Thursday it is better to negotiate a school merger bill now than have a future measure without local input, according to unofficial strategic planning session minutes released by the district.

Consolidation conference committee remains in limbo

State legislators and local public education stakeholders are in a hurry-up-and-wait situation after House and Senate leaders failed to establish a conference committee for an Oktibbeha-Starkville school merger bill.

Parks board promises to ‘shop at home’

Starkville Parks Commission Board leader Dan Moreland promised Thursday his organization will seek more local purchases after hearing a complaint from a local merchant over a broken agreement.

Sales tax returns are cause for optimism

Starkville posted its second-highest January sales tax returns this year, according to data released by the city earlier this week.

Aldermen pass outdoor furniture ordinance

The Starkville Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance regulating the use, location and visibility of furniture storage Tuesday and is expected to address new landscaping codes at its next meeting.

The ordinance passed 6-1 with Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey casting the lone “Nay” vote.

Additional TVA line will shore up city’s electrical grid

Starkville Electric Department General Manager Terry Kemp said Tuesday two power outages are needed this summer to proceed with installing a secondary high-voltage feeder line to the city.

Local representative proposes Zacharias road designation

State Rep. Joey Hood, R-Ackerman, says he will seek legislation soon to rename a portion of a local roadway after former Mississippi State University President Dr. Donald Zacharias.

Mill financing request not expected at aldermen meeting

An expected tax increment financing request by Columbus-based developer Mark Castleberry will have to wait at least one more month.

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman confirmed Monday Castleberry’s request would not be on today’s board of aldermen agenda.

Tax assessor sues county over payroll request denial

The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized attorney Jack Brown to seek outside counsel Monday to represent the county in litigation surrounding a denied tax office payroll request.

Board Vice President John Montgomery confirmed tax assessor Allen Morgan filed a bill of exceptions with Circuit Court after the board failed March 4 to allow a payroll increase for a full-time tax office employee.

Conference committee expected to meet on school consolidation

State Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, says a conference committee between Mississippi House and Senate members should be created this week to iron out the differences between both chamber’s Starkville-Oktibbeha County school consolidation bill.