Articles by Emma McRae
Columbus teacher arrested for possession of weed, meth
A Columbus High School teacher was arrested Monday on drug charges following a traffic stop.
SNAP pause strains families, sparks wave of community support
Makayla Rose hesitated last week before she posted on Facebook, asking if anyone knew where she could find food for her family.
Plans stalled for monument honoring Black WWI soldiers
Officials are still working to finalize plans to honor 12 Black soldiers and two white soldiers whose names were omitted from the World War I monument at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
From parades to luncheons, Veterans Day festivities begin today
Each year on Nov. 11, Americans pause to honor those who have served in the nation’s armed forces.
Hwy 182 revitalization nearly halfway finished
The Highway 182 revitalization project is nearly halfway complete.
7th Ave soccer park entrance to close permanently as Parkview moves forward
A portion of Seventh Avenue North will permanently close at the beginning of the year as construction ramps up for the Parkview development in Burns Bottom.
Officers threaten ‘blue flu’ amid morale complaints at CPD
Amid claims of communication issues and dwindling trust in leadership, some Columbus Police Department officers say a policy requiring them to be “on standby” without compensation during scheduled days off has further drained morale at the department, though officials dispute any problems exist.
18,000 in the Golden Triangle set to lose food funds if SNAP goes undisbursed next month
Unless the federal government intervenes, more than 15,000 people in the Golden Triangle are set to lose access Saturday to funds they rely on to buy food.
County mapping project saves Columbus big on street study
A countywide mapping project that used high-tech sensors to capture every crack, curb and sign in Lowndes County will save Columbus about $110,000 on a proposed street assessment.
Survivor credits faith, family with her recovery
For Evette Rice, a special education inclusion teacher at Columbus Middle School, the first indication there was something wrong with her health was immense pain in her left arm.
Ask The Dispatch: How 16th Section land complicates Franklin Academy’s future
With the shuttering of Franklin Academy earlier this year, Columbus Municipal School District trustees must decide what comes next for the property.
Community Profile: After losing family to domestic violence, Butts devotes career to supporting victims
Patrice Butts keeps a photo of her mother and sister on her desk at Safe Haven, where she works as a case manager for victims of domestic violence.
Higgins launches consulting firm after LINK departure
Joe Max Higgins, former CEO for the Golden Triangle Development LINK, has started his own economic development consulting firm called 2EQLAST.
Italian restaurant in works for old Main Street Thai space
An Italian restaurant is coming downtown.
Students find new futures in trades at annual expo
Before Wednesday, Azaryia Dale, an eighth-grader at B.F. Liddell Middle School in Noxubee County, had plans to become a nurse after high school.
Committee of ‘area experts’ to inform what’s next for Franklin Academy
Though no definitive decision has been reached yet regarding what comes next for Franklin Academy, interested parties have already started inquiring about – and touring – the school.
Faith carries survivor through two bouts of breast cancer
Geraldine Smith was getting ready for bed one Friday in 2022 when she felt a lump on her left breast.
Trotter renters could soon pay $125 extra for ice
Renting the Trotter Convention Center and its many amenities could come at a higher cost if the city council approves a new public facilities policy on Tuesday.
Inmate recovering after being stabbed with broom handle
An inmate previously housed at Lowndes County Adult Detention Center is recovering after he was allegedly stabbed in the neck by other inmates last week.
Starkville couple arrested for financially exploiting a vulnerable adult
A husband and wife were arrested Tuesday for financially exploiting a vulnerable adult relative, a Starkville Police Department press release said.
