Traffic biggest concern for neighbors of new health department

Most of the residents and business owners polled Wednesday aren’t bothered by the location of a new Lowndes County Health Department facility in close proximity to their homes or businesses, although they are concerned about increased traffic to an already busy area.

Fate of historic building up in air

The Historic Preservation Commission and a community member have about 4 1/2 months to decide the fate of a historic Columbus building.

Soccer complex land has lone holdout

While the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors negotiates with property owners for Burns Bottom land needed for a proposed soccer complex, city officials will work to find creative ways to help finance a $1.6 million master parks plan presented by the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority.

Jennifer Frazer’s business, Le Truck Catering, puts good food on wheels

Looking for bangers and mash? How ’bout some weiner schnitzel?

From vegemite sandwiches to Southern soul food, she can do it all … and more.

Students learn valuable lessons from fun activities

Hundreds of rock stars Friday roamed the halls of Joe Cook Fine Arts Magnet School.

To mark the end of Red Ribbon Week, each of Cook’s 669 students and 100 teachers and staff dressed like rock stars and attended a concert by Senatobia DARE Officer Arthur Avant, who performed rap songs with a drug-free message.

MUW has potential, ‘bright future,’ say legislators

With alumni divided over a name change and talk the school might be more useful as a satellite campus of another university, Mississippi University for Women faces many challenges, but local legislators agree it’s an institution with a potentially bright future.

Local aerospace park part of regional partnership

The Golden Triangle Regional Global Aerospace Industrial Park will be included in The Aerospace Alliance, a newly launched private/public organization aimed at establishing the Gulf Coast and surrounding region as a world class aerospace, space and aviation corridor, officials said Tuesday.

Former Franklin student returns to his roots

Dr. James Keeton, the interim vice chancellor for Health Affairs at The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Friday returned to his roots.

School shows off new equipment designed to challenge physical education students

About 250 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade New Hope Middle School students on a sunny Monday morning watched as a group of their classmates demonstrated their athletic prowess on brightly colored fitness equipment provided through a $26,000 Project Fit America grant.

Soldiers return to Iraq after visiting with friends, family

After spending time with friends and family, a group of local soldiers is headed back to war in Iraq.

U.S. Army National Guard soldiers of the Alpha Battery 2-114 Strike Battalion, based in Columbus — Spc. Tommy Houser and Spc. Andrew Lepicier — who is serving his second term in Iraq, left Golden Triangle Regional Airport Saturday to return to Iraq after about two weeks of leave time.

Search for Kaila Morris continues

The search continues for a Columbus woman missing since Sept. 17.

Kaila Morris, 21, was last seen by her stepfather, Robert Triplett, leaving the house he shared with her mother, Bonnie Morris Triplett, at 181 Golding Road.

Sunday alcohol offers options, ‘convenience’

Several restaurant owners in Columbus and Starkville don’t expect Sunday or extended weekday sale hours to affect their business much. But it will offer their customers more options and convenience.

Welty collection welcomed home

To open the 2009 annual Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, which honors the renowned MUW alumna, Mississippi University for Women President Claudia Limbert Thursday announced a collection of Welty works has come home.

Council toughens curfew rules

The Columbus City Council Tuesday amended a city curfew ordinance to increase the penalties associated with violations, making parents responsible for their children.

A request to amend the ordinance, which was considered by a committee convened for the purpose, came after a recent spate of burglaries and robberies in downtown Columbus.

Program helps teach kids love of reading

At West Lowndes Elementary School, 19 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are learning about life, while improving their reading and vocabulary skills.

Columbus considers bringing Air Force base into city limits

The Columbus City Council Tuesday expanded the area being studied for possible annexation into the city.

Monday Profile: Engineering the future

COLUMBUS — Only 30 years old, Kevin Stafford, who currently serves as the city engineer for Columbus, already has 10 years of experience as an engineer with Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Heritage House: Senior class to build Habitat home as project

Heritage Academy students, parents and alumni have decided they can build it, if they build it together.

Veterans admire changes in Columbus

Nearly 15 years after first visiting Columbus for a 50th anniversary celebration of V-E (Victory In Europe) Day, B.W. Curry, and his wife, Nancy, returned over the weekend and were impressed with how the city has changed.

Local schools wired to alert parents, students

From mass communications programs to Facebook and Twitter, local school districts are utilizing current technology to better inform students, parents and the community of school happenings.