Kidnapping victim ‘too terrified’ to flee

The victim in a kidnapping, armed robbery and sexual battery case told a Lowndes County jury Wednesday that when Autravious Gaston kidnapped her at gunpoint and drove her to West Point three years ago, her only goal was survival.

State auditor visits Columbus

Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering readily admits state finances can make a boring conversation, but he still takes seriously the task of education citizens about how the numbers work.

Trial for Sprint Mart robbery, kidnapping suspect to begin

The trial for a man accused of holding up a Sprint Mart, kidnapping and assaulting two employees begins this week.

Ugandan Kids Choir visits Golden Triangle

The 10 children on the stage at Rosenzweig Arts Center Friday night didn’t need to be asked by the adults in the audience what they wanted to be when they grew up.

‘The best partner you could have’

A local canine officer discovered a bag each of cocaine and methamphetamines at Lion Hills during the Exchange Club’s weekly luncheon Thursday. Luckily, it was just a drill.

Columbus fire department trains two new puppies for search and rescue

Mack, a 6-week-old McNab Shepherd puppy, squirmed in Columbus Fire and Rescue engineer Eric Minga’s arms on their first day together as search dog-in-training and handler at the fire station on 31st Avenue North Friday.

Seven-year-old murder conviction overturned in Oktibbeha County

The conviction of an Oktibbeha County woman found guilty of killing her husband in 2011 has been overturned.

Finding the right fit

Pinkie is just like most puppies. She wags her tail, pricks up her ears and loves walks with her humans.

She has no idea she’s blind, said Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society director Karen Johnwick, so she doesn’t let it slow her down.

School shooter, mother formerly of Golden Triangle

The alleged shooter of a high school in Kentucky and his mother have ties to the Golden Triangle.

‘Magic’ Max earns place in Book of Golden Deeds

Columbus resident Max Cullum always told his children to leave places better than they were when they arrived — something he apparently has practiced all over volunteer sites in Columbus, from serving food at Loaves and Fishes to repairing elevators at First United Methodist Church.

Missing autistic man found safe

Fifty-seven hours after his aunt had last seen him at his home on 19th Street, a 25-year-old autistic man was found safe and unharmed walking around in his backyard Wednesday afternoon.

Civil Service Commission sides with city in suspended police officer case

After a nearly three-hour hearing Wednesday, the Civil Service Commission of Columbus ruled not to change the punishment of a Columbus police officer who was suspended after pointing a Taser at a shackled inmate.

Stakeholders encouraged by economy, concerned with workforce

Nearly three-fourths of attendees at a meeting of business and community leaders from the Columbus area Tuesday said the state economy is doing better now than it was five years ago.

Ending celebration of Mississippi’s literary tradition

When Beverly Norris was looking for a way the Columbus Arts Council could celebrate Mississippi’s bicentennial last year, she remembered some of the people for which the state is most well-known.

Family of missing autistic man still searching

The family of a 25-year-old autistic man has filed a missing persons report with Columbus Police Department.

Leaks from frozen pipes keep plumbers busy, cost homeowners thousands in some cases

One day after a hard overnight freeze earlier this month, Starkville resident Vaughn Nickels went into her kitchen to find what she described as a “waterfall.”

Six search firms submit bids to help replace CMSD supt.

The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees plans to choose a search firm for the hiring of a new superintendent on Jan. 17.

Embezzlement a common crime that hurts businesses, nonprofits, governments alike

District Attorney Scott Colom estimates embezzlement – which he defines as someone who legally possesses funds or assets misappropriating them – is one of the more common property crimes, more frequent than grand larceny and up there with passing bad checks.

New police chief wants to make Columbus model city

At Fred Shelton’s first public appearance after being appointed chief of Columbus Police Department, he laid out his vision for transforming the department into one which is as concerned with preventing crime as solving it and which will be an example for other law enforcement agencies in the state.

Fire destroys Holly Hills home in Columbus

A house on Holly Hills Road was destroyed Wednesday night when a fire engulfed the entire building.