New Hope murder: Witnesses testify mother-in-law admitted to 2015 killing

During Wednesday’s abbreviated session of the Lydia Martinez murder trial, the prosecution focused heavily on the events of July 22, 2015, when authorities found what was described as a suicide note/confession in the defendant’s bedroom, and when Martinez allegedly admitted her guilt to a paramedic as she was being taken to the hospital.

New Hope murder: Granddaughter says religious tension in family led to father’s murder

Moments after taking her seat on the witness stand, fighting back tears even before the first question had been asked, the young woman was instructed to point out the defendant.

Gasping for air and clutching a tissue in her left hand, she raised her violently trembling right hand and pointed in the direction of the defense table — a young woman identifying her grandmother in the trial of her murdered father, the witness’ mother having already pleaded guilty in the case.

County supervisors implement mask policy they admit has no teeth

Lowndes County residents will be required to wear a face mask in public settings through the end of April, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors decided during its regular meeting Monday.

Or will they?

New Hope rail crossing sees two collisions in 10-day span

Locke and Gail Boyd have lived close to the tracks for more than a half-century.

Majority of CMSD students lag behind grade level

Sixty-four percent of Columbus Middle School students are two or more grade levels behind in reading and 53 percent of those students are two or more grade levels behind in math, according to the district’s mid-year assessment presented Thursday to the school board.

Those grim numbers were presented during a marathon board meeting as one by one, school principals gave status reports of their schools, painting a portrait of an already-struggling school district badly affected by COVID-19 limitations on in-person instruction.

CMSD board taps Cox as president, replacing Spears

In the closing minutes of a 6 1/2-hour Columbus Municipal School District board meeting on Thursday, members unanimously voted to change officers.

‘Mule guy’ takes reins at Airbus Columbus

On one end of the open bay at Building A on the Airbus campus sat two helicopters, which provided a backdrop for the company’s announcement of a new manager for the facility.

Before outgoing manager Mike Spears or his successor Johannes Dienemann spoke, the two helicopters had already told a big part of the Airbus Columbus story, which began in 2003 and has seen the plant build or assemble more than 14,000 helicopters since.

BMH vigil marks anniversary of first COVID patient

After Jonathan Blackburn, director of pastoral care at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, was assured that no one else had a prayer to offer up, he dismissed the gathering of about two dozen hospital doctors, nurses and staff and noted the brevity of the prayer service held Monday in the hospital lobby to mark a grim anniversary.

Slimantics: Which Mississippi?

When my out-of-state friends ask me about Mississippi, I generally respond by asking, “Which one?”

Monday Profile: From ‘brown thumb’ to Master Gardener

Nancy Reeves isn’t just a gardener. She’s a master gardener. She isn’t just a master gardener, she is the president of Master Gardeners of Lowndes County.

OCH board member sues administrator, rest of board over financial records

A member of the OCH Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees has filed a civil suit against hospital administrator Jim Jackson and her fellow board members, alleging the hospital, with the board’s approval, has withheld public information she needs to perform her duties.

Solar farm nearly doubles plans, bringing millions in tax revenue

Thirteen months after awarding a contract for a 200-megawatt solar facility in west Lowndes County to a Florida-based company, TVA has awarded another contract to the same company for another 150-megawatt solar plant.

County grapples with over-budget bids for soccer complex walking path

In 2015, work on a 900-foot concrete pathway connecting the Columbus Riverwalk to the Lowndes County Soccer Complex was completed to the tune of $600,000.

It won’t cost nearly that much to extend a new concrete “walking path,” the Riverwalk/Soccer Complex connector, across the soccer complex’s northern section to its terminal point near Corretta Street.

Supes OK immediate raises for 64 of lowest-paid employees

A plan to close pay disparities and bring all Lowndes County employees to at least a $15 per hour pay rate over three years won partial approval during Monday’s board of supervisors meeting.

The board voted 3-1 to provide 50-cent pay raises for 37 employees and 75-cent pay raises for 27 others — all of whom are making less than $15 per hour — effective immediately.

Arborists: Care needed in keeping trees healthy after ice storm damage

When the ice began to melt after the Feb. 14-15 ice storm, George Hazard did what a lot of homeowners were doing.

In remembrance: Maranatha founder, pastor led fight for Kerr-McGee compensation, redevelopment

Steve Jamison built his legacy at Maranatha Faith Center in Columbus, the church he founded and served as pastor for 41 years. The section of Waterworks Road in front of the church bears the name: “Reverend Steven M. Jamison Way.”

But his broader impact in the city began not in the church, but in its parking lot, where a planned church expansion led to the discovery of creosote in the soil, confirming what people in the Memphis Town area of Northside had long suspected.

Slimantics: Kansas and Dumber

If the Mississippi Senate signs off on HB1439, we will be Kansas.

Bill to phase out state income tax, raise sales tax passes House

A bill that would phase out the state income tax in Mississippi and reduce sales tax on groceries, while raising the general sales taxes, is getting some pushback from local business owners and at least one local legislator who say it would seriously harm retailers.

CMSD board votes down year-round school

Columbus Municipal School District adopted a traditional school calendar for the 2021-22 school year after a five-hour recess board meeting held Friday at the Joe Cook Elementary School auditorium.

City has received almost $1.4 million in FEMA recovery funds for 2019 tornado

The city of Columbus is close to finishing its work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency after an EF-3 tornado swept through the central part of the city. Today marks the two-year anniversary of the storm.