Articles by Grant McLaughlin
Hotel getting facelift, new name, new purpose
When the Holiday Inn opened in 1960 at 506 Hwy. 45 N., it was Columbus’ first big chain hotel and one of the few places for out-of-town visitors to stay.
User-friendly plaza coming this spring to HUB
Work is ongoing at the Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation’s Downtown Innovation HUB to convert its plaza into more green space and make it more user-friendly.
Six suspects now charged in East Columbus murder
Two more suspects are charged with murder in the shooting death of Labronze Moore, 17, of Columbus.
Kerr-McGee site cleanup comment period extended to Dec. 18
Columbus residents now have more time to submit comments and concerns regarding a proposed $13.6 million cleanup of the former Kerr-McGee main plant site.
Goings on with Grant: Longtime West Point jewelry store closing in January
Such as in life, so is in business. Simply put, all things come to an end someday.
Unemployment rates in Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay fall below 3%
October unemployment rates throughout the Golden Triangle 0.1% and 0.5% from September.
Gov’t offices closed Friday for holiday
If you need to see the tax office, renew your license or file a lawsuit in court Friday in the Golden Triangle, don’t go. For sanitation
FedEx driver OK after truck catches fire on Self Creek Road
A FedEx driver narrowly escaped harm after her truck caught fire Wednesday morning while driving down Self Creek Road near Adaton. Oktibbeha County Fire Services
Goings on with Grant: Holiday and Black Friday deals abound in the Golden Triangle
Well, folks, it’s that time of the year when shoppers brawl just to grab the last crockpot on sale, the one remaining Christmas toy for 50% off and sometimes, even the last can of cranberry sauce.
CREATE seeks industry partners to bolster area education support
Tupelo-based CREATE Foundation is seeking industry leaders in the Golden Triangle as partners in forming an education fund to support area schools.
Meeting lofty Red Kettle goals depends on getting more bell ringers
Despite falling short of collections during the 2022 holiday season, the Columbus and Starkville Salvation Army chapters begin their Red Kettle campaigns on Friday and aim to collect a combined $175,000 this year.
Carpenter to remain Heritage Foundation head
While Nancy Carpenter’s tenure as CEO of the Columbus-Lowndes Conventions and Visitors Bureau will end March 30, she will remain the leader of the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Columbus sales tax collections falter for only second time in 14 months
Columbus received $942,440 from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, down $72,951 from November 2022, marking only the second time in 14 months that the city saw a dip in collections.
Goings on with Grant: Baptist acquires Urgent Team walk-in clinics in Columbus, West Point
When it comes to businesses expanding their reach throughout the Golden Triangle, I think most people can agree that working with existing competition can be good for everybody.
Mall’s inside-out conversion could see property’s value triple
The project to convert the old Leigh Mall into Columbus Place, an outward-facing shopping center, will be finished by December, and new tenants could locate there in early 2024.
Ask The Dispatch: All your questions about the Microtek Medical building answered
With Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant having moved into his new office space at the former Microtek Medical complex, as well as an out-of-state buyer purchasing the warehousing area right next door, there is now only one building left on the complex up for sale on Lehmberg Road. But what are these buildings? Who was Microtek Medical? What did the company do there? And who owns what now?
Crossfit gym hosts first-ever crossfit showdown
New Hope Middle School baseball coach Brady Jones was one of 33 athletes to participate in the first-ever Steel Money Crossfit Throwdown, an event for crossfit athletes and members of the public to join an all-day competition to test their physical fitness and endurance capabilities.
Free goes from the football field to cockpit
When Bill Free signed up to join the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1995, his only goal was to play football for the school and get his degree.
Developer refutes report of Hobby Lobby coming to old Vowell’s
Hobby Lobby isn’t coming to the old Vowell’s Marketplace, Roy Oswalt told The Dispatch on Thursday.
Slimantics: Robotaxis beware: NYC eats hesitation for breakfast
June 24, 2025
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