Articles by Jason Browne
Forest man dies in Clay County shooting
A Forest man was killed Friday night in Clay County in what is being reported as an accidental shooting.
Starkville native gets new cancer treatment
Shortly after being diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in May 2004, Dorinda Hickey’s concern shifted.
The Starkville native and 15-year Columbus resident didn’t retreat into a shell. She didn’t dwell on her problems. Instead, she thought of others.
County plans to clear overgrown yard
Lowndes County supervisors took steps toward eliminating a hazardous eyesore in Oakdale Park Thursday.
In a public hearing included as part of Thursday’s board meeting, the supervisors unanimously passed a motion to begin collecting bids for the task of clearing the overgrown yard of Keith Kimmerle’s home at 128 North Chestnut Drive.
Chief: Despite assaults, downtown still safe
Safety in downtown Columbus can be as simple as paying attention.
Responding to a string of reported robberies and assaults over recent weeks in the downtown area, Columbus Police Chief Joseph St. John says downtown is not a dangerous area, but crime can occur anywhere.
Therefore, St. John is encouraging pedestrians and shoppers to keep their eyes and ears open.
Boys and Girls Club slowly gaining support
The clock continues to tick for the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus.
Wracked by funding problems, the club, which serves around 120 young people every day, faces the possibility of closing for an unspecified period of time or operating fewer days each week. Dr. Melvin Ray, board president and chief volunteer officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Golden Triangle, says those changes could come as soon as November.
West Point names interim police chief, deputy clerk
WEST POINT — During a three-hour executive session, the West Point Board of Selectmen tapped West Point Police Department Officer Bobby Lane as interim police chief and Reba Mattix as named deputy clerk.
The West Point board voted 4-1 in August to fire former Police Chief Steve Bingham.
Well-wishers show Limbert support as she announces retirement
The reaction was all love for Mississippi University for Women President Dr. Claudia Limbert as she announced her retirement at Cochran Hall on the MUW campus.
Experts: Leaders’ move in change of venue petition ‘creative,’ but not unethical
Local lawmakers, Caledonia’s mayor and a local school board member have been under scrutiny for signing affidavits in support of moving Brian Holliman’s murder trial out of Lowndes County.
Pilots recall action over skies in World War II
History spoke for itself at Columbus Air Force Base as the 49th Fighter Training Squadron hosted its annual reunion over the weekend.
Fighting the flu
Local medical establishments don’t know when the H1N1 vaccine will arrive in Columbus, nor are they worried.
Despite a clear presence of swine flu, local doctors are confident conventional methods of flu prevention and treatment are sufficient to battle the virus.
Local politicians ask judge to move Holliman murder trial out of county
Four prominent Lowndes County public figures have signed affidavits filed in Circuit Court requesting the relocation of Brian Holliman’s murder trial.
Holliman is charged with the shooting death of his wife, Laura Holliman, Oct. 25, 2008, at the couple’s Caledonia home.
West Point Water and Light head faces disturbing the peace charge
The interim superintendent of West Point’s Water and Light Department will appear in municipal court Oct. 27 to stand trial on charges of disturbing the peace.
Clay supes delay plans to collect fines
The Clay County Board of Supervisors tabled plans to allow a web-based collection agency to begin pursuing more than $1 million in unpaid justice court fees during its Thursday meeting.
Investigators still searching for answers in case of missing woman
Nine days short of a month since Kaila Morris disappeared from her Lowndes County home, officials still are waiting for a break in the case.
Caledonia shoots down salary freeze
CALEDONIA — A vote to freeze salaries for all city positions until 2013 was voted down Tuesday at the Caledonia Board of Aldermen meeting.
West Point clerk: I don’t want to resign after all
WEST POINT — West Point City Clerk Robin Perry continues to await an opportunity to appear before the city’s Board of Selectmen to discuss the withdrawal of his letter of resignation in September.
The city clerk position is one of two key West Point jobs in limbo as the board decides how to handle the pending opening at clerk and the continuing search for a new police chief to replace Steve Bingham, whom the board fired Aug. 11.
Columbus funeral home owner dies on hunting trip
Willis Newbell Puckett II died in his element.
Puckett, 79, owner of Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus, was deep in the Alaskan wilderness Sunday on a bear hunt when a suspected heart attack claimed his life.
West Point clerk says he was on verge of firing, resigned instead
West Point City Clerk Robin Perry’s recent resignation may have preempted his firing by the city board. Perry submitted a verbal resignation during a meeting of the West Point Board of Mayor and Selectmen Sept. 17 amid allegations of improper conduct.
Boys and Girls Club in dire straits
The Boys and Girls Club of Columbus is down but it’s not out.
Dr. Melvin Ray, board president and chief volunteer officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Golden Triangle, says the Columbus branch is so short on funds that directors are being forced to “make choices between paying staff or paying the mortgage.”
CAFB south gate gets an upgrade
It’s all about air conditioning, rest rooms and repelling terrorist attacks.
Thursday Columbus Air Force Base unveiled its newly reconstructed south gate in a small ceremony attended by base brass.