Columbus man faces DUI-maiming charge

A Columbus man was charged with DUI-maiming after his passenger suffered a broken neck in a car crash.

William Zackery Johnson, 20, of 350 Deer Trail, was arrested on Tuesday after investigators with the Columbus Police Department determined Johnson was intoxicated at the time of an accident that occurred at the Luxipalila Creek Park on June 22.

Missing Aberdeen man found dead

A missing Aberdeen man has been found dead.

The body of William Harold Wright was discovered late Wednesday afternoon in the Bartachie River after Monroe law enforcement received a tip.

Custodian foils rape attempt at Leigh Mall

A career felon faces charges of attempted sexual battery after he allegedly attacked a woman in a restroom in Leigh Mall Saturday.

Sammie Lee Smith, Jr., 50, of 158 Community Road, was arrested Saturday night by officers with the Columbus Police Department after police say he attacked a woman in the mall’s public restroom.

CMSD board hires accountant to work on budget

The Columbus Municipal School Board has hired an accountant to help construct the district’s budget for the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year.

The board originally made a motion to hire CPA Frances Goldmon during a special meeting Tuesday morning but then tabled the issue until a rate of pay could be determined. The board met again this morning and approved the motion by a 3-0 vote. Board members Currie Fisher and Angela Verdell did not attend today’s meeting.

Two Columbus men arrested on meth charges

Two Columbus men were arrested this weekend on methamphetamine charges.

Rickey Lamar Harrison, 56, and David Ray Keating, 37, were arrested Friday night after agents with the Lowndes County Narcotics Unit conducted a traffic stop near North Lehmburg Road.

Liddell sues CMSD for reinstatement

Former Columbus Municipal School District Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell has sued to be reinstated as the district’s superintendent.

The Dispatch obtained a copy of the lawsuit, which was filed Friday afternoon in Lowndes County Chancery Court by her attorney, Austin Vollor of Starkville. Dr. Liddell is asking the court to “intervene to restore the rights of the plaintiff, namely to reinstate her as superintendent.”

Monday profile: Lacey’s love leads to St. Paul’s

When Jennet “Jen” Lacey left the classroom last year, she didn’t know she would be returning so soon.

Lacey retired from the Columbus Municipal School District in December 2012 and less than four months later was hired as the director for St. Paul’s Episcopal Preschool.

With time running out, budget is top priority for CMSD

The looming budget deadline is a top priority for Columbus Municipal School District Interim Superintendent Edna McGill.

McGill was appointed as interim superintendent on a temporary basis during a special meeting of the CMSD board of Trustees Thursday. She started work on the budget Friday morning.

Fisher out as school board president

In unprecedented back-to-back special meetings of the Columbus Municipal School Board Thursday, Edna McGill was named temporay interim superintendent and Currie Fisher was removed from her position as board president.

Governor’s School offers blend of fun, study

For the past three weeks, the campus of Mississippi University for Women has been filled with 122 upcoming high school juniors and seniors for the annual Mississippi Governor’s School.

While most teens may be spending the summer relaxing or working part-time jobs, the students at MGS are earning college credit.

CMSD begins search for superintendent and CFO

Less than 20 hours after it fired its superintendent, the Columbus Municipal School Board of Trustees met Tuesday to begin looking for an interim superintendent and a new chief financial officer.

Columbus school superintendent fired

Columbus Municipal Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell has been fired.

After a four-and-a-half hour executive session, the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees voted, 3-2, to terminate the superintendent during Monday’s board meeting.

Picking up the pieces

Two months after a devastating tornado swept through Noxubee County, the residents of Shuqualak are rebuilding their homes and their lives.

County expects budget in place by July

As the 2012-2013 fiscal year comes to a close, area schools are finalizing their budgets for next year.

During the Lowndes County School Board meeting on Friday, the district made plans to approve the budget by the end of June.

State investigator meets with CMSD officials

An investigator with the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor was at the Columbus Municipal School District Wednesday, according the documents obtained by The Dispatch.

Wright, Hester testify in appeal of wrongful termination suits

Lowndes County Superintendent Lynn Wright and former New Hope baseball coach Stacy Hester appeared before the Mississippi Court of Appeals on Wednesday regarding their wrongful termination lawsuits against the Lowndes County School District.

School board takes no action in special meeting

After meeting for almost four hours in executive session, the Columbus Municipal School Board took no action on a personnel matter involving Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell.

Spice shipments estimated at $70,000 confiscated

Almost $70,000 worth of synthetic marijuana, commonly known as “spice,” has been taken off the streets of Columbus.

CMSD’s dropout prevention program delayed

Two weeks after its intended launch date, Project 2020 has yet to be implemented in the Columbus Municipal School District.

Touted as a dropout prevention program, the project has been Dr. Martha Liddell’s pet project since she became superintendent in June 2011.

Monday profile: Budlove finds harmony of art, dance in new business enterprise

For local artist Kristin Colvin Budlove, art isn’t simply a painting on a canvas. It’s a state of mind.

Married and a mother of three, Budlove, 28, said she has been creating different works of art for as long as she can remember. Whether it’s expressing herself through dance or giving new life to reclaimed pieces of furniture, the New Hope native said being an artist is a large part of who she is.