Beard takes office; City approves FY 2020 budget

For Ward 4 Columbus councilman, Thursday’s first special-call council meeting was short and sweet.

In memoriam: Bill Stacy, former MSU football star, Starkville mayor, ‘stood for all the right things’

This spring, Mississippi State baseball player Jake Mangum was dubbed “the mayor of Starkville” as a sign of affection by Bulldog fans.

But 30 years ago, it was another Bulldog star who held that title, literally.

Billy Stacy, a football All-American at MSU in the late 1950s and mayor of Starkville from 1985-89, died Tuesday at age 83 after an extended illness.

Slimantics: Are we safer now than before 9-11?

Every generation has that seminal moment, an event that stops us in our tracks and is indelibly written into our memory.

For my parents, both born in 1919, that event was Pearl Harbor. For my older siblings, it was the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Ward 1 candidates share vision for city at forum

With eight of the nine candidates on hand for Tuesday’s Ward 1 city council candidate forum, the 100 or so residents who gathered at Townsend Community Center were given much to consider before going to the polls on Sept. 24.

Clinkscales rounds out 9-candidate field for Ward 1 seat

Former Columbus Municipal Court Judge Nicole Clinkscales will join nine other candidates in the Sept. 24 special election to fill the unexpired term of Ward 1 councilman Gene Taylor, who died last month.

Ward 1 candidate forum set for this evening

When Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor died unexpectedly on Aug. 6, it was a big blow to the senior citizens who meet weekly at Townsend Community Center.

MSU’s athletic director promises better concession service at Davis Wade

It was hot Saturday and it was still hot Monday, and the subject is not the weather.

A day after Mississippi State Athletic Director John Cohen took to Twitter to apologize to fans for problems with concessions at Davis Wade Stadium for Saturday’s football home opener versus Southern Mississippi, Cohen was still biting his tongue Monday during his visit to the Starkville Rotary Club.

New Hope fifth grader organizes Color Run to raise bullying awareness

For Sonya Fields and her four children, birthdays are more about the event than the individual, an approach that has always seemed to resonate especially with her daughter, Kori Tate.

Flood-plagued amphitheater stage falls prey to vandals

Almost a year ago, the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau held its monthly tourism partners meeting on the grounds of the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater, confident Phase 2 of the project could be completed in time for a paid concert in the spring of 2020.

Ninth and final candidate qualifies for Ward 1 race

A field of nine candidates will square off Sept. 24 in a special election to fill the Ward 1 city council position left vacant by the Aug. 6 death of Gene Taylor.

New Sim Scott center could open by early 2020

With a little luck, the new community center at Sim Scott Park could be open for business in early 2020.

Six absentee voters claim to live with candidate Gibbs-Gray

Six adults claiming to live at candidate Kegdra Gibbs-Gray’s home at 2514 22nd Ave. N. cast absentee ballots for the Aug. 20 special election for Ward 4 Columbus councilman. All six – five of whose last names are Gibbs – registered to vote at that address between July 14 and Aug. 6.

Two more qualify for Ward 1 seat

A pair of lifelong Southside residents have joined the crowded race for the Ward 1 city council seat.

Slimantics: I’m not benefiting from Reeves’ 50 tax cuts. Are you?

Every now and then, Gov. Phil Bryant says more than he intends.

You’ll find no better example of this than Bryant’s comments in support of Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves during his campaign for governor.

Gunn doubles down on call to change state flag

During his appearance at Tuesday’s Columbus Rotary Club, Mississippi Speaker of the House Philip Gunn devoted his time to discussing the 2019 legislative session, which ended almost five months ago.

AARP, Presley to lead broadband workshop at MUW

Older Mississippians may not be familiar with the technology, the terminology or even how high-speed internet works.

But they do know what they want.

Caledonia board tentatively approves property tax increase

In a town where low taxes are a point of pride, the Caledonia Board of Aldermen’s plan to raise property taxes for the first time in nine years was met with mild opposition during Monday’s budget hearing.

Six months on: Long-term recovery efforts still underway after Feb. 23 tornado

Deundrae Cockrell stepped onto the front porch of his parents’ home on Shady Street, shaking his head sadly as he looked at what was left of the brick pathway and low brick wall that fronts the home.

City proposes tax hike to cover increased debt service

During its first Fiscal Year 2020 budget hearing, the city of Columbus expects to finish the year with a surplus of nearly $900,000, but it will require an ad valorem tax hike to get there.

Slimantics: In establishment versus underdog only one has plan

The eve of tonight’s GOP runoff debate found the two candidates in much different surroundings.