CVB to discuss strategic plan at retreat

The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday to be followed by its annual retreat, where members will discuss the budget for the upcoming fiscal year as well as a strategic plan.

City sales tax collections up at last

Columbus sales tax receipts for this month are up $17,330.92 from last July, ending a string of eight months where collections were down.

CL&W OKs sewer agreement with school district

The Columbus Light and Water Board of Directors agreed Thursday to their end of a memorandum of understanding with the Lowndes County School District that would have the school system pay for installation of a pipe that would transfer sewage into CL&W’s sewer line.

County’s bridges better than most, just 5 of 119 bridges fall into ‘red flag’ category

Data from the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction (OSARC) shows Lowndes County fares well among the state’s 82 counties when it comes to the condition of its bridges.

Hospital fund trustees hire consultant to review proposals

Twelve financial firms have submitted proposals to manage funds from Lowndes County’s hospital sale, and county trustees of those funds have agreed to hire a consultant to whittle the applicants to a group of finalists. Those interviews could begin late next week, funds trustee president Harry Sanders said.

District 4 residents air complaints at community meeting

Where Hardy-Billups Road meets Swedenburg Road in Lowndes County’s District 4, there are two signs reminding motorists not to dump litter or other unwanted items.

What draws the ire of residents of the Hill City area just above downtown Crawford is that they still see anything from trash to old mattresses abandoned around that sign.

CCEDD launches, approves land purchase

The newly formed Clay County Economic Development District performed its first major order of business Monday — the authorization to purchase up to $11 million in parcels needed for Yokohama Tire Company to build its plant.

County supes expect millage value boost in 2014

Citing preliminary figures from the Lowndes County tax assessor’s office, Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders said the value of a general county mill may increase about $40,000, while school millage value could see a jump as high as $57,000.

Supes outlaw firearms in county buildings

Lowndes County supervisors Monday unanimously approved a proposal that will ban firearms from county-owned buildings and property.

Atmos deal will cut gas rates in half in Artesia

Sixty-one customers of the Artesia natural gas system will soon see their monthly rates cut 49 percent after Mississippi Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley signed an act approving a sale and transfer to Atmos Energy Corporation Monday.

Monday profile: Cooper’s love for cars turns into career

Tucked away behind the main storefront of Bob’s Paint & Auto Body in Columbus is a shop with a couple of antique cars, one of which is a black 1961 Chevrolet Corvette — the latest project Tom Cooper and two of his employees have been working on for several months.

Councilmen head to MML conference

On the third Tuesday of each month, Columbus councilmen typically hold their recess meeting, but this week they join some 1,800 municipal officials across the state in Biloxi for the annual Mississippi Municipalities League conference.

Supervisors consider mandatory closing time for nightclubs

Lowndes County supervisors will review a draft of an ordinance that would force nightclubs to close at 1 a.m. if approved during their recess meeting Monday.

Clay County establishing economic development district

To date, Clay County has not had an economic development district.

That will change Monday when a seven-member Clay County Economic Development District board will hold its first meeting at 9 a.m.

Yokohama chooses Georgia firm to build first phase

Officials from Yokohama Tire Company confirmed Thursday the selection of Atlanta, Ga.-based Kajima Associates/Architects & Engineers to design and build the first phase of its Clay County manufacturing plant location scheduled to begin operation in October 2015.

Catfish Alley ceremony pushed to August

The finishing touches are being applied to an overhaul of Catfish Alley, and a ceremony to unveil a monument which honors the history of the street is tentatively planned for late August, city planner Christina Berry said.

Yokohama chooses Georgia design firm

Officials from Yokohama Tire Co., have chosen Athens, Ga.-based Kajima Associates/Architects & Engineers for first-phase construction of its Clay County facility.

Audit shows city’s fund balance up in 2012

According to an audit of the city’s financial statements by accounting firm Watkins, Ward and Stafford, Columbus governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $7,401,643 at the end of the 2012 fiscal year, an increase of $754,089 compared to 2011.

Negotiations for bus service in holding pattern

More than three months after local officials visited Lawrence Transit System’s main headquarters in Indiana, negotiations to contract the public bus service for use in Columbus remain ongoing.

Island committee finalized

A team of city officials, county officials and developers has been formed to explore community development in the area known locally as the Island.

It was announced previously that Lowndes County supervisors Leroy Brooks and Jeff Smith as well as Columbus councilmen Gene Taylor and Kabir Karriem would serve on the committee.