Articles by Zack Plair
Garbage Can City: Some unhappy with green cans downtown
One look along the sidewalks downtown reminds Bill Strauss of a new, not-so-kind nickname he’s heard given to his hometown.
Garbage Can City.
SOCSD slow to tell authorities of allegations against teacher
Scott Colom said he first learned about recent allegations of a Starkville High School teacher touching students from news reports.
More money brings renewed calls to use amphitheater
Another $1 million for the Sen. Terry Brown Amphitheater on The Island has come with renewed calls for the city to start hosting events there.
Man who killed teen at birthday party loses appeal
A Columbus man convicted of killing a 16-year-old girl after her birthday party at Propst Park lost his appeal this week.
Former councilman, man of many talents, passes away Monday
Former city councilman Bill Gavin was a lot of things to a lot of people.
Ask the Dispatch: All your questions answered about when county tornado sirens sound
At 5:56 p.m. May 9, the National Weather Service alerted the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency of a severe thunderstorm bearing down on Columbus.
Man faces attempted murder charges for setting fire to home with 2 people inside
A Columbus man faces two counts of attempted murder for allegedly setting fire to a house with two people inside. William Mendoza, 45, was arrested
Council to Greene: Keep annexation out of your mouth
Rusty Greene wanted to discuss the city’s pending annexation plan at the Tuesday evening council meeting in the Municipal Complex.
Sexual battery suspect skips out on court before conviction
A man who testified at his own trial Tuesday is on the run after he failed to show up for closing arguments and his ultimate conviction.
Development group shows interest in Burns Bottom
Columbus Redevelopment Authority does not yet have a developer under contract for its Park View project near downtown. It does, however, have a prospect.
41 new police cameras proposed for Starkville
A fight breaks in the Cotton District with several parties involved. Many more are witnesses.
Mayor pushes for data-driven policy for placing police cameras
For Mayor Keith Gaskin, great police cameras come with great responsibility.
Farmers’ Market grand opening brings first-time vendors, steady traffic
COLUMBUS – It wasn’t too long into Saturday morning’s Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market Krystal Staats made her first sale. Her booth, Embers of Joy Clean
Future bill could push rural water areas into city systems
A local and private bill that would have made some rural water associations in Oktibbeha County vulnerable to city takeover died this legislative session without a vote.
DA urges feds to fully prosecute Noxubee corruption case
Sixteenth Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom has waited years to tell the backstory of how his office helped “root out the corruption and illegal behavior at Noxubee County Sheriff’s Office.”
Library HVAC still kaput as summer approaches
Philip Carter turns off the portable air conditioner in his office in the Starkville Public Library before joining a Zoom.
$200 a day for Mickens? ‘So moved. I’ll take that.’
After initially recusing himself from the discussion, Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens broke a tie vote Tuesday to pay himself an extra $200 a day to fill in for the mayor this week.
Redistricting could change boundaries in five wards
A proposed redistricting plan would redraw the boundaries for five of the city’s six wards.