Copple trial could begin this week

Depending on the outcome of a couple pending motions, the Elbow Room murder case will go to trial this week, the final week of the current Lowndes County Circuit Court session.

Trial by Fire: Duane Hughes relishes new role as training officer

Duane Hughes is still trying to get his feet wet in his new position. Hughes took over as Columbus Fire and Rescue chief of training in June, but still comes in on Fridays, typically a day off for salaried city employees, to get a better grasp of his position.

Concerned citizens form neighborhood watch

North Columbus residents are taking action and formed a neighborhood watch group. The group held a meeting Thursday at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and 60 residents discussed a number of topics such as “peddlers” hanging around streets, people knocking on doors and recent burglaries that affected some group members.

Lowndes Country Circuit Court 12-2-11

A Caledonia man accused of child abuse was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gerald Melvin Fink III, of 2036 Anderson Grove Road Lot 1 in Caledonia, was sentenced Nov. 16 by Circuit Court Judge James Kitchens to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Trial continued in case of murdered club owner

The capital murder case of Cedric Cortez Whitley, of 20393 Egypt Road in Aberdeen, was continued by Circuit Court Judge Lee Coleman until next year.

Community sends off EMCC with support (video)

It was a warm sendoff for the East Mississippi Community College football team. Head Coach Buddy Stephens only hopes it isn’t the biggest celebration the team has. “We hope that there’s a bigger party when we come back,” Stephens said. “And we’ll be happy if that happens.”

Community sends off EMCC with support (video)

It was a warm sendoff for the East Mississippi Community College football team. Head Coach Buddy Stephens only hopes it isn’t the biggest celebration the team has. “We hope that there’s a bigger party when we come back,” Stephens said. “And we’ll be happy if that happens.”

Fire breaks out at Columbus home

A fire broke out at a one-story home in Columbus this afternoon. Columbus Fire and Rescue firefighters responded to 2212 Fourth Ave. S. at around 4:15 p.m. Firefighters got the fire under control at about 4:45 p.m.

Police looking for man after grocery store robbery

Lowndes County deputies are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Wednesday night at Black Creek Grocery.

Columbus man exonerated of charges stemming from 2010 armed robbery and kidnapping

The defense kept pushing that there was not enough evidence to convict a Columbus man of armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary.

And it worked.

Recent incident highlights need for boater safety

Local water-safety coordinators want boaters to know they are in more danger during the winter.

And locally, the most near-death accidents have been in the winter months, according to Joseph Ponder, park ranger and water safety coordinator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Tenn-Tom Waterway Management Center.

Three males suspected of burglary

Columbus police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with a home burglary Tuesday night.

A 911 call came in sometime around 6:30 p.m. at the 800 block of Eighth Ave. N.

Lowndes Arrest Report 11-30-11

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office reports the following felony arrests:

UPDATE: Fox not guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery

A jury found Lavento Shamon Fox, 28, not guilty on all five counts Wednesday.

A 12-person jury including nine women and three men deliberated for around one hour Wednesday morning before returning to the Lowndes County courtroom to deliver the verdict.

‘Tis the season … for shoplifting

The Christmas season is in full swing, and area police expect property crime to increase. “Crime goes up as a result of human nature,” Interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen said. Downtown store owners also recognize the possibility of shoplifting to spike during the Christmas shopping season.

Firefighters rescue 93-year-old woman from burning home

Thanks to two firefighters, a 93-year-old woman was saved from a burning home Tuesday morning. A family escaped a house fire in south Columbus, but two received enough injuries to go to the hospital for treatment.

Lowndes County deputy returns from administrative leave

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office cleared Lt. Steve Hatcher to return to duty Wednesday after firing his weapon at a suspected burglar almost two weeks ago.

Lowndes Arrest Report 11-25-11

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office reported the following felony arrests:

UPDATE: Police identify burglary suspects caught on video

Columbus police are looking for a Columbus man and a Macon man believed to be responsible for a Wednesday-night home burglary caught on video.

Thanks and giving: Citizen, police volunteers deliver more than 1,000 meals to community members

Usually, the visits take around five minutes. You stop at the house, introduce yourself, tell why you are there and hand over a warm Thanksgiving meal in an act of kindness.