Kior to hold job fair at EMCC

Kior officials are seeking 70 people to fill full-time slots at the Columbus biofuels plant, and they’re hoping to find at least some of those people Saturday during a job fair at East Mississippi Community College.

Music, fireworks tonight kick off Caledonia Day festivities

The Town of Caledonia was abuzz this morning as residents and business owners finished last-minute preparations for the 8th annual Caledonia Day festival, which kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. at Ola J. Pickett Park and continues Saturday with a full roster of events.

Artists converge on Northport this weekend for Kentuck

NORTHPORT, Ala. — For some, it is pilgrimage. For others, it is curiosity. But for two local artisans, it is something else entirely — part homecoming, part family reunion, encompassed in a two-day rainbow of color nestled in a place early settlers dubbed paradise.

Bean speaks about Center for Creative Learning Initiatives

It was 2004, and Dr. Claudia Limbert was president of Mississippi University for Women. She strode into Dr. Suzanne Bean’s office and asked her what she would do with a million dollars. The question seemed preposterous, but Limbert wasn’t kidding — a federal grant was available from the U.S. Department of Education, and Limbert wanted Bean to chase it. Bean called her husband and told him she would be working late. Then she sequestered herself behind her desk and carefully wrote out a proposal that would win the grant and lead to the creation of the Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning.

Waste Pro acquires Mississippi Industrial Waste

A longtime local leader in the commercial solid waste industry is changing hands, but company officials say customers should see little to no change.

Turning over a new LEAF: Columbus gets first glimpse at Nissan’s new fully electric car

It was hard to tell whether Christmas had arrived early or Columbus Nissan had been completely launched into an even further-reaching future Wednesday afternoon as customers and employees got their first glimpse of the automobile dealership’s latest offering: An all-electric car which carries a sporty look — and an equally ambitious price tag.

Baptist hosts breast cancer education luncheon Thursday

There are a lot of misconceptions about breast cancer. Oncology Nurse Navigator Amanda Mordecai, of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, hears them every day. Thursday, she hopes to do a little myth-busting at the hospital’s first breast cancer education luncheon, a free program which will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the hospital’s Patient Tower Education Rooms 4 and 5.

Baptist hosts breast cancer education luncheon Thursday

There are a lot of misconceptions about breast cancer. Oncology Nurse Navigator Amanda Mordecai, of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, hears them every day. Thursday, she hopes to do a little myth-busting at the hospital’s first breast cancer education luncheon, a free program which will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the hospital’s Patient Tower Education Rooms 4 and 5.

Columbus schools consider service animal policy

Cook Elementary School may become the first school in the Columbus Municipal School District to have a service animal on campus. The board of trustees is currently reviewing a policy which specifies the criteria and conditions under which service animals may be used to assist students in the classroom and at school functions.

Legends 2 concert tonight at Riverwalk

It’s a jam-packed weekend for entertainment, but if you’re looking for something to do in Columbus tonight, the place to be is the Riverwalk for the second annual Legends concert, which features four bands this year.

Caledonia businesses round out aldermen agenda

As one new business owner arrived in Caledonia this week, another pondered the future during Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Fall tour of homes illustrates diversity of architectural styles

The arrival of fall has brought a cornucopia of ways to spend the pleasant temperatures outdoors, and members of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation hope people will use the weekend to attend the third annual Fall Tour of Homes.

Columbus, Lowndes schools hold off on sex ed decision

Mississippi schools have nine months to decide how they will handle a state mandate to incorporate “abstinence-only” or “abstinence-plus” classes into the curriculum, but not every district is rushing to make the choice.

Felon leads deputies on high-speed chase

CALEDONIA — A wanted felon led local law enforcement officials on a high-speed chase down the narrow, winding roads of Caledonia Tuesday afternoon before he was finally captured.

Program encourages fathers to get involved in their children’s education

The smiles on the children’s faces were enough to tell Franklin Academy Principal Patricia Overstreet and Edward Yeates, founder of Father’s Child Ministries, that they’re onto something good. Tuesday morning, the two paired up for the second year in a row to bring fathers into a place they’re not always seen — the classroom.

Caledonia pay raises stand, mayor’s veto fails

CALEDONIA — Pay raises for a number of town employees in Caledonia were upheld by the Caledonia Board of Aldermen last night, after Mayor George Gerhart’s veto failed by a 4-1 vote. Alderman Quinn Parham cast the lone vote in alliance with the mayor.

Preservation commission eyes redrawing historic district maps

Plans to create an ordinance outlining and protecting Southside Columbus’ rich architectural history have hit a snag — the maps under which the district was originally created are more than three decades old and must be redrawn.

Expert to give advice on business in the changing economy

Business owners interested in learning new strategies for the changing economic times will have the opportunity to work with a customer service and business development expert Thursday as the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link concludes its “ABCs of Business” seminar series.

Goodbye, Godspeed: West Point holds sendoff ceremony for Guard unit

WEST POINT — Lt. Col. Michael Cleveland stared into the sea of faces at the West Point High School gymnasium, searching for the three he holds most dear. There, on the left, near the top of the bleachers — his wife, Shannon Cleveland, and their two daughters, Hannah and Sierra.

He paused at the podium and struggled to gain control. His voice shook anyway as he spoke: “Not a day will go by that I will not think of you.”

Scout bake sale tempts drivers with sweet treats

Saturday dawned windy and chilly, but that didn’t daunt more than two dozen members of Cub Scout Pack 1, who turned out for the group’s annual bake sale.

As drivers waited at the stoplight on Highway 45 N. in front of Kroger, the boys waved signs and plastic buckets, offering sweet temptation in the form of cupcakes, cookies, homemade preserves and other treats.