Articles by Zack Plair
Mayor returns to work after 2-week health absence
Mayor Keith Gaskin sat at his desk Tuesday afternoon shuffling through documents that would come up for discussion at that evening’s city council meeting.
Victim found burned in car, murder suspected
Sheriff’s deputies found a burned body in a car Monday morning at Luxapalila Creek Park. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said his department is investigating it as a homicide.
Vice mayor wants to delay city raises, buy more cameras
The city’s vice mayor wants to delay city employee raises by three months and purchase double the planned number of police cameras next fiscal year.
Water, sewer rates rising for Starkville residents
Water and sewer rates are likely rising for city users, with sewer becoming the more expensive of the two.
City signals additional tax cuts, then changes mind
At a Thursday morning work session, the city council voted to call a public hearing to potentially further dampen tax hikes for Fiscal Year 2025. By that evening, council members changed their minds.
Council still won’t commit to grant match for visitors center restoration
City council members are expected to vote Tuesday on whether to match a grant that is helping fund renovations to the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center downtown.
DA: ‘Seven brave souls’ help bring murderer to justice
Seven witnesses came forward to testify against Undra Lamorris Williams for opening fire in the Inferno Sports Bar in May 2023.
City may cut its property tax rate even more
The city may not be done talking about its ad valorem tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025.
21% tax hike coming for Columbus homeowners
Property tax rates are dropping slightly next fiscal year in the city, but that won’t translate to decreased tax bills for citizens.
$15 minimum wage for city workers nearly a done deal
A $15 per hour minimum wage for full-time city employees looks to be just one council vote from becoming reality.
CFO clarifies: City general fund balance more likely to be between $11M and $13M
The city’s projected general fund balance will more likely fall between $11 million and $13 million, Chief Financial Officer Jim Brigham said Wednesday during a press conference at City Hall.
Mayor Gaskin sidelined for two weeks for cholesterol
Cholesterol problems have sidelined Mayor Keith Gaskin from duty for at least the next two weeks, according to city officials who spoke to The Dispatch.
Storm shelters, more police cameras coming to Columbus
New storm shelters should start popping up at city fire stations within two weeks.
Ask The Dispatch: All your questions answered about the status of Columbus redistricting
COLUMBUS – It’s been more than three years since the U.S. Census Bureau released data collected for the 2020 Census, triggering state and local governments
$15/hr minimum wage sought for city workers
A $15 per hour minimum wage could be in the cards for city employees if a few city council members get their way.
Beard pleads guilty in Gordo DUI case
A Columbus councilman pleaded guilty Tuesday in municipal court to driving under the influence and marijuana possession related to a traffic stop in December.
Farmer ousted as Oktibbeha administrator with split vote
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY – Supervisors came to the chancery courthouse Tuesday afternoon prepared to discuss next year’s budget with various department heads. When they left four
Windows broken, copper stolen from Hunt site
Renovations to the Hunt campus should be complete by December.
CMSD board seat to convert to elected post
It appears one Columbus Municipal School District board seat will become an elected position by November 2025.
Despite outburst, porn hack at trial, supreme court upholds Lowndes murder conviction
A grieving mother’s outburst and a brief porn interruption of Zoom testimony in a Lowndes County courtroom proved not enough to overturn a 2022 murder trial conviction.
Holiday Handcrafts Bazaar accepting vendor applications
July 12, 2025
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