New Year’s resolutions lead to crowded gyms

If you hit the gym this month, you may have to wait a little longer than usual for a turn on the treadmill.

As people vow to keep the common New Year’s resolution of getting into shape, local gyms are filled to near capacity.

Beth Jeffers, owner of The Fitness Factor, said her gym sees an average membership increase of 15 to 20 percent in the first of the year.

Board member wants new middle school

After serving on the Lowndes County School District board for more than a decade, Jacqueline Gray continues to be an advocate for the students of West Lowndes.

Authorities still probing infant death

Two weeks after Columbus authorities discovered a newborn baby dead in a closet, the infant’s cause of death has still not been determined.

Lowndes County man arrested for cocaine

A Lowndes County man was arrested Thursday after being on the run for more than a year.

Columbus teen injured in New Year’s shooting

A New Year’s Day shooting left a Columbus teenager injured and police searching for the suspects.

Lowndes school board pushes bill to change superintendent selection process

The Lowndes County School board passed a resolution on Dec. 26 asking state legislators to consider making the state’s school superintendents an appointed positions.

Expert: Keep resolutions ‘realistic, within reach’

It’s that time of year.

As the world rings in 2014, millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions. In order to keep those resolutions, a local certified clinical counselor offered some suggestions.

Highway Patrol to increase patrols on New Year’s Eve

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to think twice before they get behind the wheel of a car after New Year’s Eve drinking.

MSU senior wins $3K-plus on Cashwords

After 18 months and tens of thousands of entries, Cashwords has a winner.

Willie Davis, 22, of Starkville won the $3,200 prize. Davis, a senior at Mississippi State University, said he was “overwhelmed” when he learned he won the cash payout.

Lowndes County school board will appoint supe

Voters in the Lowndes County School District will no longer be able to vote for their school superintendent.

In a 4-1 vote, the Lowndes County School board voted to grant themselves the power to appoint the superintendent.

Columbus schools set to implement new goals

The Columbus Municipal School District is moving forward with a new strategic plan.

The school board approved the plan earlier this month. It is set to take effect when school resumes in January. With six specific goals, the plan is designed to make the district more effective, said interim superintendent Edna McGill.

Bond set at $500K for murder suspect

A $500,000 bond has been set for the Columbus man accused of murdering his friend last week.

Churches celebrate with special services

Several area churches are having evening services tonight and encouraging people to come and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Newborn found dead in closet of Columbus home

A newborn baby was found dead in a closet early this morning.

The baby was approximately six to seven months into gestation, according to Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant. A cause of death has not yet been determined, Merchant said.

Salvation Army confident lagging kettle donations will improve

The local chapter of the Salvation Army received an abundance of gifts for children for the holidays but is still in dire need of financial donations. Major Eric Roberts, executive director of the local chapter, said the organization received more toy donations this year than they did last year, but they are behind in red kettle donations.

Man arrested in Friday homicide

A Crawford man has been charged with murder for his role in the Friday morning shooting death of a Columbus man.

Crawford man killed in shooting

An early morning shooting left one man dead and the Columbus Police Department searching for the shooter.

Randle Carl Cooper Jr., 20, is wanted in connection with the shooting of 23-year-old Virgil Harris of Crawford. Cooper is considered armed and dangerous, Chief of Police Selvain McQueen said.

Holiday stress: How to cope

A local psychologist is offering advice to ease some of the pressures of holiday stress.

“The first thing you have to do is define stress,” Carrie White, clinical coordinator of Baptist Golden Triangle Behavioral Health Center, said. “What is stress? If you think about it, stress itself does not exists. There is no such thing.”

However, White said there are “stressors.”

Fired CFO files claim against Columbus school district

Kenneth Hughes filed a tort claim alleging that he was wrongfully fired on May 12 by former superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell for “his having reported illegal activity which negatively affected school district finances for Columbus Municipal School District.”

Columbus schools return $75K grant

The Columbus Municipal School board on Monday voted unanimously to return a $75,000 grant and officially end Project 2020.

The money will return to the Wal-Mart Foundation.