Caledonians rally to support families who lost homes in fires

This Christmas will be marked with misfortune for a pair of Caledonia families, who lost their homes in fires over the past week.

Moms find Christmas preparations stressful

Christmas break?

For moms, there is likely to be no greater misnomer.

For some parents, the Christmas season is a far cry from a Norman Rockwell painting.

In the days of Elf on the Shelf and Pinterest, there are increasingly new ways — and new pressures — to make each Christmas the “Best Christmas Ever.”

Haunted by Newtown: Parents struggle with safety fears after tragedy

Monday morning, students grabbed their jackets and back packs, lunch boxes and homework and loaded on school buses or in the back seat of SUV’s just like they do every morning before school. They spent the car ride singing to the radio, eating breakfast bars they grabbed as they were hurriedly walking out the door and arguing with their siblings in the back seat.

However, this past Monday, morning routines that seemed mundane in nature took on a different meaning for parents.

If Friday were the last day for Earth, what would you do?

Scientific Mayans measured the passage of time with the Mayan Long Count calendar. It has 5,125 year cycles, with the 12th cycle or “Baktun” ending on Friday, December 21, 2012.

While it is questionable if the Mayans ever made a prophesy of the end of the world, movie makers and writers have latched on to the Apocalypse hype. Modern scientists have assured us the world will not end Friday.

Mom, children arrested for felony shoplifting

A mother and her two adult children were arrested Tuesday after they attempted to steal approximately $1,200 in merchandise from Walmart in Columbus.

Four arrested on gambling, alcohol charges

Four people were arrested at Clay County nightclubs over the weekend and charged with various charges relating to illegal gambling and selling beer without a permit.

Flu on the rise throughout Columbus

As the weather drops into the colder temperatures, children and parents alike are starting to see fevers increase to dangerous numbers as the flu settles into schools across Columbus.

Monday profile: After more than three decades, Nails say goodbye to bridal business

When women get engaged, chances are they already have the perfect wedding planned out in their minds. While little boys are playing animated games of cops and robbers, countless little girls spend their Saturday afternoons playing bride.

When those little girls grow into women, they turn to a local bridal boutique for the perfect Southern wedding.

Bernsen resigns as city’s chief financial officer

The chief financial officer for the City of Columbus resigned Wednesday afternoon.

Mike Bernsen, who has been the CFO for the city since 2008, will take a position as the new comptroller for Columbus Light and Water.

Man leads deputies on two-county chase

A Columbus man led law enforcement on a chase that spanned two counties Wednesday in an attempt to avoid being taken to Baptist Memorial Behavorial Care.

Lile sentenced to 10 years for embezzlement

A Columbus woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday after she pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly a half-million dollars from her employer.

Skimming fraud on upswing during shopping season

With only 19 shopping days left until Christmas, shoppers crowd the stores and browse the Internet in search of the perfect gift. For many, that means paying for the item by a swipe of the debit card and that could make unsuspecting shoppers vulnerable.

Two arrested for drugs in Columbus

A Columbus man was arrested Monday night and charged with possession of marijuana more than an ounce with intent to distribute.

Personnel dispute means end of Metro Narcotics Unit

The local drug task force known as the Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit has been disbanded. The decision to disband the unit was finalized last week after an exchange of letters between Columbus Police Department Chief Selvain McQueen and Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge.

Pregnant woman stabbed by sister’s boyfriend

A Maben man was arrested Sunday for stabbing a pregnant woman earlier in the day. John Jones, 30, of 110 Sanders Trailer Park Road in Maben, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault after he stabbed his girlfriend’s sister Sunday morning.

Equal under the law? Gender may influence sentencing in sex crimes

When local attorney Rod Ray was defending a client accused of sexual battery, he gave an impassioned speech to members of the jury, asking them to take the facts of the case into account and not give in to public perception that when a man is accused of a sex crime, he is automatically guilty.

Merchants wary of shoplifters during holiday shopping season

As shoppers file into stores, anxiously searching for that perfect Christmas gift, retailers are taking steps to protect themselves from another kind of shopper — shoplifters.

Georgia native Nicholson chosen as Main Street director

Main Street Columbus has a new director.

Atlanta native Nickie Nicholson will begin work as director on Dec. 10, replacing Amber Brislin.

The Main Street board announced Nicholson’s hiring on Wednesday via a press release.

Teen convicted of rape of half-sister sentenced to 10 years

A Columbus teen will spend 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in Lowndes County Circuit Court on Wednesday to raping his half-sister.

Murder suspect to be charged in shooting incident

A man awaiting trial on a murder charge is a suspect in a shooting that left one man injured in a Starkville trailer park Tuesday night.