West Point selectmen could consider smoke-free law

In 2006, Starkville became the first municipality in Mississippi to adopt a smoke-free building ordinance.

Columbus followed in 2010 with a partial ordinance.

West Point has no such law on the books. But that might change.

Island group wants LINK involvement

A committee of city and county officials formed earlier this year to discuss development possibilities for the Island wants to bring the Golden Triangle Development Link to the table.

Officials await word on City Hall grant

It will likely be December before Columbus officials learn if they will be awarded a grant that would fund renovations to City Hall, but preliminary work is already taking place in anticipation of the grant.

New vacuum truck will supplement drainage work

By day, Jimmie Nance is typically busy shifting gears on an excavator, demolishing dilapidated houses.

On Thursday in the Northaven Woods community, Nance was lowering the boom and opening the thumb and bucket on the large apparatus to uproot a small, stubborn tree.

Eutaw-McShan aquifer means good water for Columbus

Mitchell Brown makes sure Columbus residents have clean water to drink.

He does this by overseeing the city’s two water treatment and distribution plants and the equipment that processes raw water from 1,000 feet underground into something fit for consumption.

Waterworks: Lagoons are Columbus’ ace in the hole

The Reynolds R. Ridgley Wastewater Treatment Plant in Columbus has the capacity to treat 10 million gallons of wastewater a day. It typically sees 6-8 million gallons on a daily basis.

Consecutive heavy rains sustained early this summer might have presented a challenge for the plant if there weren’t two massive storm lagoons totaling 80 acres just outside the entrance gate.

Councilman Turner taken to court 3 times in 2 months

Columbus councilman Marty Turner was supposed to be in court Thursday. He did not show up.

CVB board clashes on retroactive director pay raise

The executive director of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau makes $80,000 a year, but one member of the CVB’s board of directors is questioning the legality of that salary.

Starkville breaks monthly sales tax record; Columbus numbers down

Data from the three Golden Triangle cities shows Starkville recorded its highest ever sales tax collection month while Columbus’s collections were down slightly and West Point experienced a modest gain.

Weathers awarded Calstar contract

Lowndes County supervisors accepted a bid from Weathers Construction on Monday to renovate the spec building that will house a CalStar plant.

Consultant challenges CVB: develop better focus

The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors revisited a proposed strategic destination plan Monday during its monthly meeting and will likely vote on adopting it next month.

CVB to revisit strategic plan

The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors will revisit its strategic plan today at 4 p.m.

Higgins briefs CL&W on redevelopment options

There will be opportunities for Columbus Light & Water to pick up some of what it lost when industrial customers such as Omnova closed their facilities. It’s just going to take time.

EPA may penalize CL&W for sewage overflows

A “handful” of sanitary sewage overflows may turn out to be a “big deal” for Columbus Light & Water.

Fledgling Reiki practitioner, oracle card reader seeks spiritual healing through alternative methods

It’s an upstairs bedroom in a Starkville apartment. There are lit candles in the window and some crystals on the floor. The walls are bare and the room is empty, except for a portable massage table. This is what Leslie Le Blanc calls her Reiki room.

What exactly are TIFs?

Tax increment financing plans — otherwise known as TIFs — have been used as a funding mechanism for large-scale infrastructure projects for decades, but the concept is gaining popularity with potential developments around the Golden Triangle.

Council approves plans for retreat

The Columbus City Council approved plans for a Dec. 5 strategic planning retreat to be held at the Plymouth Bluff Center.

Phil Hardwick, project manager at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University, will facilitate the retreat.

County transfers bridge, Island property to city

Lowndes County supervisors approved a request Tuesday from Columbus Mayor Robert Smith to donate the county’s interest in the Old Tombigbee River bridge and property west of the river to the city.

Council to hold hearing for hotel financing request

A Nov. 4 public hearing has been set for a $3.8 million tax increment financing plan for infrastructure improvements on what will be two new hotels going up near 18th Avenue North and Sixth Street North.

Maloney leaves West Point Link

Ron Maloney has left his post as the Golden Triangle Development Link’s vice president of economic development for West Point and Clay County, Link CEO Joe Max Higgins confirmed Tuesday.