Absentee votes carried Stewart to runoff

The voters who kept long-time Ward 4 councilman Fred Stewart in the race never made it to the polls.

Absentee ballots accounted for 100 of Stewart’s 361 votes, enough to force a runoff election with challenger Marty Turner, who had accumulated 53.7 percent of the vote before the absentee ballots were counted.

Council will help fund Juneteenth

The Columbus City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday in favor of providing $2,500 in matching funds to the Afro-American Culture Organization in support of the Juneteenth Festival at the request of festival founder and Lowndes County supervisor Leroy Brooks.

Turner, Stewart face runoff; Incumbents Karriem, Gavin breeze past foes

It will be two more weeks before residents in Ward 4 will know who will represent them on the Columbus City Council for the next four years. There will be no change in leadership in Wards 5 and 6, as incumbents Kabir Karriem and Bill Gavin handily defeated their opponents.

Trio of council spots on ballot today

Months of campaigning from candidates vying to lead Wards 4, 5 and 6 has come down to this.

Columbus’ municipal primary election officially began at 7 a.m., and at the very least, who will take the latter two seats will be known tonight after votes are tallied.

Supes hear complaints on unsightly properties

On Monday, Lowndes County supervisors agreed to hold a public hearing on a property complaint during their May 15 meeting while they approved ordering another property owner to clean his land within 30 days.

Deadline approaches for CVB grant requests

Columbus Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Nancy Carpenter said she encourages people interested in organizing festivals that would bring visitor traffic to Columbus to apply before the May 10 deadline to be considered for grant funding during the second half of Fiscal Year 2013.

Candidates share views on helping city’s children

The Mayor’s Youth Council. The Boys and Girls Club. These two groups are among several in Columbus designed to engage young people in the community and involve them in productive activities that can serve as a strong foundation for future success as adults.

Candidates grapple with housing issues at forum

For Columbus council and mayoral hopefuls squaring off in Tuesday’s primary, Thursday night’s forum was one last chance to distinguish themselves in front of voters.

Karriem, Turner lead in campaign contributions

A look at the campaign finance reports from the Columbus primary election next Tuesday shows a noticeable disparity in contributions made to candidates.

Jobless numbers fall, but still up from 2012

The decline seen in February from Lowndes County’s 11.6 employment rate in January continued in March, Mississippi Department of Employment Security statistics released Wednesday showed.

Market Street Festival begins Friday

Downtown Columbus will be a mecca for arts and entertainment Friday evening and all day Saturday during the 18th Market Street Festival.

District 3 firefighters secure grant

The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors signed off on an Assistance to Firefighters Grant recently awarded to District 3 Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday during its board meeting that will provide the department more than $50,000 for equipment purchases.

Done deal! Officials sign deal to bring $1.2 billion project to Clay County

After the ink was dry on the contract officials from Mississippi and Yokohama Rubber Company signed Monday, Golden Triangle Regional Development Link CEO Joe Max Higgins wasted no time letting a packed house at the Ritz Theater and Conference Center know what needed to happen during construction of the tire manufacturer’s newest plant.

State, Yokohama leaders make partnership official

A host of Mississippi and Yokohama Rubber Company officials gathered at the Ritz Conference Center earlier today to announce the company’s plans to construct a new manufacturing plant on the Prairie Belt Powersite in Clay County and officially sign a memorandum of understanding.

Supes seek grant for firefighters

Lowndes County supervisors will consider a request from District 3 volunteer firefighters to apply for an assistance to firefighters grant when they meet 9 a.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse.

Victory! Clay County finally gets a break

Through the collaboration of a local development alliance, Mississippi legislators and a global tire manufacturer, Clay County has finally gotten a long overdue financial break.

Officials optimistic after Lawrence Transit visit

Local officials returned from a fact-finding mission in Indiana late Wednesday with optimism toward Lawrence Transit System’s proposal to provide public transportation in Columbus, saying only a few minor details need to be worked out before the company can begin providing its services here.

Legislators to vote on $1.2 billion West Point project

State legislators will vote today on an incentive package that is expected to bring a $1.2 billion tire manufacturing plant to West Point and create 2,000 jobs by the time the multi-phase project is complete.

Officials provide update on projects

Local and state officials updated Ward 4 residents about measures they are taking to improve conditions on 14th Avenue while fielding questions about what still has to be addressed during a community meeting Thursday the Columbus Municipal Complex.

Industry leaders saluted at EMCC

Area manufacturers and economic developers packed the East Mississippi Community College Mayhew Campus’ Lyceum Center for the school’s 24th Annual Salute to Industry.