State unemployment rate at its lowest mark in six years

There is good news in the latest state unemployment figures, which report Clay County had the highest jobless rate in the state last month.

Miss. sheriffs stand to see pay increase in July

A state bill that would give pay raises to county sheriffs statewide is waiting for Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s signature.

Higgins updates LINK projects, prospects

Right now, there are five industrial or business prospects considering locations in Lowndes County, two in Oktibbeha County and two more in Clay County.

Columbus Fire and Rescue earns national accreditation

Columbus Fire and Rescue is now officially one of fewer than 200 fire departments nationwide and the first in Mississippi to receive Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, the department announced Tuesday.

S&P boosts city’s bond rating

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services raised its long-term rating on Mississippi Development Bank’s series 2010A and 2010B special obligation bonds, issued for Columbus, MS to ‘A+’ from ‘A’ based on its specific criteria.

New firing range expected in Oct.

Design of a new firing range for local law and Columbus Air Force Base personnel is under way and the project itself should be complete in October.

Presley calls for natural gas expansion in rural areas

The Energy Information Administration reports that natural gas burns 30 percent more cleanly than petroleum and 45 percent more than coal, but the cleaner energy isn’t an option for many rural Mississippi residents.

Thieves take equipment from Yokohama

Clay County deputies have not yet made any arrests after $500 in equipment was stolen from the Yokohama Tire Company construction site Friday.

Proposed Army budget calls for more Lakotas

The U.S. Army introduced its proposed 2015 budget request last week and it includes a $245.4 million increase in funding for UH-72 Lakota helicopters that are made in Columbus.

Sanderson Plumbing seeks buyer

A Columbus company that is more than 100 years old and employs more than 250 people has sought assistance from an investment banking firm to sell its business.

Clay Co. supes to try night meetings

For the next five months, Clay County supervisors will hold their last board meetings of the month in the afternoon instead of in the morning.

With city’s error, no grant for low income homeowners

For the second time in less than six months, the city of Columbus is not eligible for a state grant because of errors on its part.

The city has three low income residents who could have received state funding to rehabilitate or rebuild their homes. They won’t, though, because city officials failed to follow a publication guideline that disqualified its application for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program grant.

Mayor outlines future goals for city

Quality of life is an often-used phrase from local politicians, a puzzle they all talk about solving when they get elected.

Columbus Mayor Robert Smith has been elected three times now and knows the puzzle has many pieces: Infrastructure, financial stability, safety, aesthetics and many others.

Clinkscales out, Amos in as drug court judge

Councilmen accepted the resignation of Nicole Clinkscales as the city’s drug court judge in executive session Tuesday.

Fellow municipal judge Marc Amos will replace Clinkscales until the current fiscal year ends on Oct. 1.

City disqualified for rehab grant due to error

Mississippi Development Authority public relations and media manager Jeff Rent confirmed the city of Columbus’ HOME rehabilitation/reconstruction grant application did not pass because publication guidelines prior to a public hearing were not met.

County mulls project to extend sewer service

As one quality-of-life project to help under-served Lowndes County residents ends, another may soon be beginning.

Officials from the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District and Columbus Light and Water are discussing the possibility of extending sewer service to a subdivision in District 4 just outside the Columbus city limits.

New county fire station projects ongoing

Weather is the main factor slowing progress of new county fire stations in Districts 1 and 2.

Once the new facilities are in place, they’ll add up to four new fire houses in Lowndes County.

Councilmen: Non-quorum meetings are often useful

Columbus Mayor Robert Smith has called non-quorum meetings with councilmen on four occasions in the past month to discuss matters involving public and taxpayer interest. Splitting meetings into non-quorum groups keeps the city from being required to post notice of a special call meeting and legally permits city leaders to meet without inviting the general public or media.

City skirts Open Meetings laws to discuss Trotter

For the third time in a month, Columbus mayor Robert Smith and city council members have met in non-quorum meetings to discuss matters involving taxpayers funds.

Sanders talks upcoming, finished projects

Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders is eager for the Riverwalk expansion to begin.