Articles by Cadence Harvey
Starkville ambulance service up to 7X faster than the county’s. Will the county change?
In Oktibbeha County, ambulance service provider Medstat EMS responds to between 1,800 and 2,100 emergency calls and hospital transports each year. Meanwhile in Starkville, Pafford EMS responds to nearly twice that, and seemingly does so 4-to-7-times faster on average.
MDOT safety study to decrease crashes, pave way for federal dollars
Residents could see significant road safety improvements in the coming years as Oktibbeha County embarks on a federally funded road safety study aimed at preventing future crashes.
Justices upholds aggravated assault, attempted robbery conviction
The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a man found guilty of shooting and paralyzing a victim during an attempted robbery in Starkville.
SPD cameras provide real-time support for officers, investigations
When Sgt. Brandon Lovelady pulls his gun from its holster, an alert immediately sounds in the earpiece of every Starkville police officer on duty and his body camera begins recording.
Supes approve $12M bond for road, capital projects
Supervisors should have about $12 million available by July for a slate of capital improvement projects after voting Monday to authorize a general obligation bond issuance.
Williams promoted to city engineer
Aldermen didn’t have to look far to fill the city engineer position following Cody Burnett’s planned departure at the end of the month.
Ask the Dispatch: Do utility lines belong above or underground?
As new developments and infrastructure improvements continue in Starkville and Columbus, residents are seeing more utility lines moved underground – a change that can offer several practical advantages. But how do they compare to traditional overhead systems, and what factors determine which option is used?
Columbus businessman killed in private plane crash
A private plane crash east of Columbus resulted in the fatality of a local businessman Sunday afternoon.
School officials have vague answers for aldermen on expected tax impact of new high school
A board of aldermen work session grew contentious Friday following a status update on the new Starkville High School after Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District officials failed to provide an estimate on how taxpayers could be affected by the board’s decision to borrow $101 million.
After 180 years, Columbus Marble Works remains at top of its field
At the turn of the 20th century, a young Thomas Arthur McGahey earned 50 cents a day smoothing the surfaces of marble headstones at Columbus Marble Works, a modest operation tucked near the railroad tracks in south Columbus.
Defendant acquitted of killing, burning body of man at Lux
A Columbus man who has been held in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center for two years was acquitted Thursday for the 2024 murder of 23-year-old Elias Trudell, whose body was found burned in a vehicle near Luxapalila Creek.
Louisville St lane closures planned for utility pole replacement
Residents along Louisville Street can expect slightly longer commutes this summer as Starkville Utilities begins a major utility pole replacement project beginning June 1.
Families find ‘new lease on life’ through organ transplant journeys
Just days after Adeline Rollins was born, her mother knew something was wrong.
Lowndes third-graders outperform state average on reading test
Third-graders in the Lowndes County School District continued to outperform the average on the first round of the state reading assessment this year, with 86% of students passing on the first try, compared to the state average of 75.6%.
Auditor: Oktibbeha tax assessor gave sweetheart deals on car tags
Three current employees and two former employees in the Oktibbeha County Tax Assessor and Collector’s Office could be on the hook for more than $31,000 after an investigation by the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office found they allegedly failed to collect city taxes on vehicle tags for multiple city residents.
Starkville makes up ground, Columbus lags behind sales tax projections
Both Starkville and Columbus saw an increase in general sales tax collections this month, but Columbus is still on pace to fall just shy of its $12 million projected budget for the fiscal year. Meanwhile, Starkville is now poised to exceed its $10.3 million projected budget by more than $100,000.
Plans progress for housing, mixed use projects in Starkville
Aldermen approved initial development plans Tuesday for two projects that could bring new housing and commercial opportunities to the city’s west side and downtown.
Man arrested following Sunday break-in, assault
A man is in custody following an alleged Sunday morning break-in and assault on Peoples Street.
When does a city inmate become a county one? Oktibbeha wants a clear answer
Starkville and Oktibbeha County remain divided over when financial responsibility for felony inmates should shift from the city to the county, an issue Mississippi law doesn’t clearly define and one that could cost the city thousands more annually.
Starkville to halt utility donation program, citing 2023 AG opinion
Aldermen plan to rescind an order approved earlier this month that would have shifted Starkville Utilities’ Power of Change program to a voluntary opt-out model after discovering a 2023 Mississippi Attorney General opinion that opposes the program altogether.
