Officials seek public input on soccer complex

Columbus and Lowndes County officials hope for a lot of public input on a soccer complex — tentatively titled Tan Yard Park — proposed for the Burns Bottom area.

City, county expected to split remaining cost of bridge renovation

The Columbus City Council and the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors this week are expected to vote to commit matching funds for a $2 million Mississippi Department of Transportation grant to renovate the historic Highway 82 bridge across the Tombigbee River.

Jail-death suit thrown out

A federal judge this week threw out a lawsuit, filed by the sister of Roosevelt Pernell Jr., against the city of Columbus, officers with the Columbus Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

Lowndes gets green light to install infrastructure for aerospace park

Lowndes County now can borrow money from the Rural Development Association for a longer term, to install infrastructure in the Golden Triangle Regional Global Aerospace Industrial Park, west of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

Designers refine plans for park, soccer complex

Preliminary plans for a soccer complex proposed for the Burns Bottom area are being refined, in anticipation of a May 3 public hearing on the park, which officials say will be a full recreational asset, with opportunities for much more than soccer.

City agrees to joint funding of emergency communication system

The Columbus City Council Tuesday approved the city’s share of a Mississippi wireless communications grant, enabling local emergency agencies to better communicate with other local and state emergency operations.

Monday Profile: Change for the better

Freda Dismukes, 46, had more than 15 years experience working in upper retail management when she decided to make a career change.

Triplett’s probation revoked; child porn trial set for June

The probation of Robert Warren Triplett Jr., a Lowndes County man who faces child pornography charges, was revoked April 8.

Supervisors ask CVB to fund bridge project

The Lowndes County supervisors Thursday voted to ask the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau to pay $400,000 to restore the old river bridge, echoing action earlier this week by the City Council.

Speaker urges Tea Partiers to ‘get back to Constitution’

The Tea Party must look for conservative candidates, Bryan Fischer, director of issue analysis for government and public policy for the American Family Association, told an audience of about 50 people at a Tax Day rally on the steps of the Lowndes County Courthouse.

Only one qualified for new judge’s seat

In 2005, lawmakers voted to add a third judge to the 16th Circuit Court to represent Noxubee and Clay counties. But, so far, only one person has qualified for the seat in the upcoming election.

Be Counted: Friday deadline to mail back questionnaires

Friday is the last day to return 2010 Census forms by mail.

The U.S. Census Bureau will accept all census forms mailed on or before April 16, after which Census Bureau workers will visit individual households to collect the data.

State treasurer ‘ready for normalcy’

The state’s spending of federal dollars is not “sustainable” for the future, Treasurer Tate Reeves Wednesday told members of the Columbus Kiwanis Club.

City, county want tourism board to pay for bridge repairs

Restoring the old river bridge mostly will benefit tourism, the Columbus City Council said Tuesday, asking the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau to pay a required $400,000 match for funds to do the work.

Proud to be an American

On Friday, 49 natives of 23 different countries were proud to be Americans as they completed a naturalization ceremony in U.S. District Court in Aberdeen.

Country club in ‘good financial situation,’ board member says

After a series of cost-cutting moves, a new membership drive and a commitment from shareholders, the Columbus Country Club is back on firm financial ground, board member Don West said Thursday.

Columbus scales back annexation plans

Informed of preliminary expenses associated with annexing six study areas into the city and the estimated cost of providing water and sewer services to the annexed areas, the Columbus City Council Thursday authorized Chris Watson, of Oxford-based Bridge and Watson, to study and present new data on a smaller area of consideration.

Council reprimands Smith, Karriem

Embattled Columbus mayor and city councilman have agreed to drop assault charges against each other. The two also plan to have a discussion about the matter.

Mayor, councilman: ‘I’m sorry’

The mayor of Columbus this morning issued an apology for his part in a Thursday altercation with Ward 5 City Councilman Kabir Karriem. And Karriem held a press conference at the Municipal Complex to “apologize” and to set the record straight, he said.

“I would like to take this time to offer a sincere apology to my family, my friends and fellow council members, and especially to the citizens of Columbus for the event that took place at City Hall on Thursday night,” Columbus Mayor Robert Smith wrote in a prepared statement e-mailed this morning.

Councilman plans public statement on fist fight with mayor

Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem plans Monday to make a statement about a physical altercation with Columbus Mayor Robert Smith.