County to gain millions as in-lieus end

A 10-year fee-in-lieu agreement between Caledonia Generating and Lowndes County ends this year, meaning the company will pay full ad valorem taxes to the county beginning with the next fiscal year

Crowd turns out at delinquent tax sale

More than 170 people participated in Lowndes County’s annual delinquent tax auction Monday at Trotter Convention Center.

Potential bidders sat through a bidding process that lasted more than six hours. In their hands were lists of 2,160 parcels totaling more than $1.75 million in unpaid property taxes.

Hospital fund committee to narrow firm search

Twelve financial firms that submitted proposals to manage Lowndes County’s $30 million hospital trust fund will be narrowed to three this week.

TVA rate increases likely to have local impact

Expect the light bill to go up.

On Thursday, Tennessee Valley Authority announced a 1.5 percent base rate increase. Officials with the company said the increase will likely mean about an extra $18 a year coming out of consumers’ pockets.

City, employees will share insurance rate increase

Councilmen approved to split a five percent insurance rate increase between city funds and city employees during their Thursday budget session for the 2014 fiscal year due to a rise in dental coverage costs and claims experienced.

Nunnelee cheered, grilled at forum

A packed Lowndes County courtroom greeted Mississippi 1st District Congressman Alan Nunnelee for a town hall meeting Thursday evening.

July unemployment numbers fall

Unemployment numbers in the Golden Triangle and across the state decreased noticeably in July.

With the exception of Clay County, the rates were down at least more than one percentage point in Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Noxubee counties, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, which released updated figures Wednesday.

12th annual Roast-n-boast starts Friday

At the 11th edition of Columbus’ Roast-n-boast festival last year, Chris Morgan and his South Eastern Cookers grilling team received an award that meant more to him than the prize money that came with others his team won before.

Catfish Alley monument to be unveiled Sept. 5

Catfish Alley committee members have set Sept. 5 as the date for a ribbon cutting and unveiling of a monument commemorating the historic area that was once the epicenter of the city’s black business community.

City chooses Major Design Studio as Trotter architect

City leaders Tuesday gave the contract to renovate Columbus’ downtown convention center to Major Andrews IV, a local architect who started Major Design Studio earlier this year.

City bus service delayed again

For the second time, a planned bus service for the city of Columbus has been stalled before it was to begin. On Tuesday city officials learned that some of the bus stops Lawrence Transit wants to have in its routes require Historic Preservation Commission approval.

CVB eliminates tourism grants

The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors approved next year’s budget Monday, which establishes grant amounts for local festivals and does away with tourism grants.

Presley wants to extend small business incentives

Mississippi Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said he hopes to extend a program that lowers gas and utility rates for people wishing to start small businesses.

Councilmen to approve Trotter contractor

Columbus councilmen will determine Tuesday which architectural/engineering firm will renovate the Trotter Convention Center and how much money they’ll receive to do the project.

Lowndes County fire station demolition estimates sought

Supervisors gave Lowndes County Volunteer Fire Department the OK on Thursday to begin the process of building a new station on Jess Lyons Road.

The first step will be to solicit estimates on having the current one demolished before seeking bids on a contractor to build the new station on the same site.

Supes explore new approaches to litter control

County administrator Ralph Billingsley said he’s seeking input from all supervisors about the new options to run its litter-control program in the wake of the May retirement of community services coordinator Sylvester Harris.

Railroad hearing sparks lively debate

The possibility of railroad crossing closures had South Columbus residents talking once again Thursday during a public hearing at the municipal complex.

This time, they had the opportunity to voice their concerns to representatives from Kansas City Southern Railway, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and city officials.

Nightclub ordinance passes

Beginning September 14, all Lowndes County nightclubs must shut their doors by 1 a.m.

Prior to supervisors passing the ordinance Thursday, there was no law on the books requiring establishments to close at a specific time.

Lowndes supervisors approve travel policy

Lowndes County supervisors approved a tighter travel policy Thursday that makes county officials follow state code more closely in order to be reimbursed for expenses.

New proposed city budget shows tentative surplus

A millage increase is not likely in Columbus next year as city leadership and department heads turned an $860,836.75 deficit into a $34,817.53 surplus after a budget workshop Wednesday.