East Webster names Ferguson, Williamson to replace Brand

The East Webster High School softball program didn’t have to look far to find a replacement for coach Bill Brand.

Former East Webster High fast-pitch softball coach Dallas Ferguson and assistant football and fast-pitch softball coach Ken Williamson were recently named to replace Brand as the school’s slow-pitch and fast-pitch coaches.

Fedora, Eagles come to town

The Southern Mississippi football program already has made an impression on Rickey Knox.

Wednesday afternoon was an opportunity for Knox and more than 70 other football players from the region to get to know the Golden Eagles’ coaches and program even better.

Coach Larry Fedora and members of his coaching staff worked out players from Lowndes County, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee for more than two hours Wednesday at Columbus High School.

Justices dismiss appeal of CMSD board attorney case

JACKSON — The state Supreme Court decided Thursday not to rule on rebuffed attorneys’ claims that the Columbus school board schemed to rehire its longtime legal counsel in an unlawful secret meeting five years ago.

Area arrests

The following people were arrested on felony charges, according to reports released by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

Columbus Air Force Base to open new housing to reservists, guardsmen

Part-time military members, not just full-timers, will be allowed to move into the new housing on Columbus Air Force Base after it opens in October.

Meth arrests: Missouri trio meets Columbus, Lowndes authorities

Three people passing through Columbus on their way home to Missouri Tuesday were arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.

MUW hosts kids’ culinary camps, Mississippi Governor’s School

Mississippi University for Women offers several summer programs to students throughout the state that focus on academic enrichment, leadership development and culinary exploration.

First case of swine flu reported in Lowndes

The Mississippi Department of Health has confirmed a case of swine flu in Lowndes County, bringing the state’s total number of swine flu cases to 50.

Budget Woes: School contracts in Limbo

JACKSON — The House and Senate concluded their five-month session last night in gridlocked failure over the state budget and now await Gov. Haley Barbour to order them back.

‘Green Acres’ is the life for me

Will miracles never cease? We boiled our first garden-grown potato recently! Only one, and I undercooked it, so we could only nibble it to be sure it was edible. How exciting. Well, it is for us, anyway.

A new day: Columbus voters cast out two more incumbents bringing a total of four new council members

Voters on Tuesday handed pink slips to two incumbents giving the Columbus City Council four new faces. In Ward 5 political activist and restaurant owner Kabir Karriem trounced Republican incumbent Jay Jordan with over 62 percent of the vote. Political newcomer Joseph Mickens ousted Susan Mackay in Ward 2 with a 52-percent margin.

Police still searching for second suspect in wreck

The Columbus Police Department is seeking public aid in locating and arresting a suspect involved in a May 23 wreck in downtown Columbus.

Police believe 44-year-old Richard Williams, of 1010 Third St. S. in Columbus, fled officers after a Toyota pickup truck he was driving while fleeing from police was struck by a Cadillac at the intersection of Fifth Street and Main Street.

Caledonia mayor’s race: Gerhart ousts incumbent

CALEDONIA — Three hours of tallying votes reminded one onlooker of watching paint peel. But tension held the room in suspension.

About 30 people sat in and just outside of a room in Caledonia’s town hall Tuesday night as they awaited a final tally of votes for mayor and aldermen.

Crawford voters elect Tolon mayor

The town of Crawford Tuesday secured its first new mayor in nearly 16 years, as voters named retired Army 1st Sgt. Fred Tolon the town’s new leader.

Reasons vary for casting ballots

STARKVILLE — All around the city, as supporters of candidates for aldermen and mayor stood near polling places, they held placards and waved.

State superintendent named new IHL head

JACKSON — The state college board has selected a fast-rising administrator who was a city school superintendent just four years ago to oversee Mississippi’s higher education system, and it named a medical doctor who specializes in high blood pressure to lead the University of Mississippi.

Rob Hardy:‘But Wait … There’s More’: The history of informercials

A fad for deregulation hit our country in the mid-1980s, and whether you think this was a good thing or a bad thing, it inarguably brought us late-night advertisements for the miracle Food Dehydrator, the Ronco Automatic Pasta Maker, spray-on-hair for balding persons, the Snuggie and colon cleanse based on Biblical principles.

No injuries reported after Minor explosion at Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaueser company officials this morning confirmed an explosion Monday evening at the Columbus Cellulose Fiber operation.

FROZEN BLISS: Warm weather heralds lazy days of summer and the welcome chill of a favored confection

Martha Gail Stafford brandished two silver spades, grabbed a small wad of white cream and smoothed it out on a black countertop before sprinkling brown specks over the cream.

“Chop, chop, fold, fold,” she said.

Precincts open Tuesday for Columbus elections

Precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for the Columbus municipal general elections. Voters will cast their ballots at the following locations: