Articles by Mary Pollitz
CMSD to address SPED compliance at public meeting
Columbus Municipal School District will host a public meeting tonight to address improvements and ongoing concerns about its special education department (SPED) amid a state investigation.
Delay of school rating approval blindsides local districts
Local school administrators expressed shock at the State Board of Education’s decision Thursday to postpone approving letter grade accountability ratings for school districts and schools.
Area districts all show gains in accountability ratings
The Mississippi Department of Education released its school district accountability grades Thursday, which showed improvements for three school districts in the Golden Triangle.
Business Moves with Mary: New bar opening in Columbus this October
Columbus will have a new “ultimate sports bar” in October on Highway 45.
First responders, nursing students hone skills at mock tornado drill
A tornado ripped through Propst Park Tuesday morning causing numerous fatalities and injuries.
Though just a drill, local agencies responded to the scene as if the disaster happened in real life.
The Depot opening for business: Wedding venue, catering company expecting to open early next year
A commercial tenant has agreed to do business on the first floor of the old Columbus Depot.
Kelly Pittman and her husband Matt are opening an events and catering venue they will simply call The Depot, giving a nod to the history of the 135-year-old building.
Business Moves with Mary: Main Street offers venue tours to the public
This Sunday, feel free to walk down Main Street and tour three different event venues in Columbus.
Miller: New athletic teams helped MUW avoid cutting budget
Mississippi University for Women has faced numerous state budget cuts in recent years, causing student tuition to fund more than 50 percent of its expenditures.
SOCSD receives $100,000 for students, parents at Emerson PreK-4
Richard “Dickie” Scruggs found his love for education while helping inmates receive their General Equivalency Diplomas while he served six years in federal prison.
New CMSD strategic plan focuses on student achievement
Columbus Municipal School District adopted a new strategic plan for the 2018-19 school year.
Some area schools see spikes in discipline issues
Columbus Municipal School District students saw an increase in disciplinary referrals from last August, largely due to incidents involving its middle- and high-school students.
Business Moves with Mary: Hoover’s Bakery reopens in West Point
Hoover’s Bakery, now located at 58 Highway 45 N. in West Point, will reopen under new ownership this October.
Labat: CMSD test scores should continue to rise
The Mississippi Department of Education recognized Columbus Municipal School District as one of the most-improved districts for the English Language Arts state tests, and CMSD Superintendent Cherie Labat believes the district can continue that improvement twofold.
Two killed during car wreck Saturday morning in Columbus
A fatal car wreck, involving a stolen vehicle, claimed the lives of two people just after midnight Saturday morning in Columbus.
United Way aims to raise $550K in annual drive
Lowndes County United Way received a $10,000 donation from International Paper to kick off its new fundraising campaign.
Business Moves with Mary: Construction projects abound on South Frontage Road
If you’re driving from Columbus to Starkville and look over to the left, chances are good that you’re going to see something under construction on South Frontage Road.
Yokohama adopts new work schedules to combat turnover
In an effort to combat employee turnover, Yokohama Tire Corporation created a new work schedule for its West Point plant employees.
Columbus man pleads guilty to second-degree murder
A Columbus man will spend 35 years in prison for fatally shooting a man outside a convenience store two years ago.
Parking tickets and police escorts: SEC ref tells tales from the road
When Southeastern Conference official Stan Murray arrived at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, hours before kickoff of a Texas A&M game last fall, he was looking for his designated parking spot — Lot 62, Space 710.
Business Moves with Mary: Kmart in Columbus scheduled to close this year
Columbus’ Kmart, 2308 Hwy 45 N., will close by November of this year.