Articles by Zack Plair
Road, land investments ahead for industrial project
Over the next three years, more than 2,200 acres in west Lowndes County will transform into an industrial development with the largest capital investment in Mississippi’s history.
Alderman pushes return of curbside recycling
Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty has led the charge to bring back some semblance of a recycling program to the city, helping introduce drop-off bins for certain recyclables at the Sanitation Department headquarters in spring 2021.
$2.3M downtown water, sewer project to begin next year
As the city prepares to upgrade water and sewer infrastructure downtown, Starkville Utilities Department is working to keep the public in the loop.
Apartment complex fined for false fire alarms
A wiring issue at 21 Apartments will be subject to county fines until it is fixed.
$10M retail, condo development planned for Russell St
Aldermen on Tuesday gave the green light to a $10 million condominium and retail project at the corner of Russell and Jarnigan streets.
South Montgomery-MSU connector road explored
In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion on South Montgomery Street, the city is commissioning a feasibility study for an additional eastbound route from there that would connect to Mississippi State University.
CHS ‘swatted’ with fake active shooter call Friday
Natashea Brown, Columbus Municipal School District’s chief school resource officer, had just finished her normal patrol of the high school campus at about 11 a.m. Friday when she learned someone had called 911 claiming there was an active shooter there.
Matt Bogue appointed to CVB board
Dutch Oil vice-president Matt Bogue is the newest member of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau board.
Supervisors renege on $1M in wastewater commitment
Supervisors on Monday reneged on part of its funding commitment to the East Oktibbeha Wastewater District, potentially jeopardizing a multi-million dollar sewer infrastructure expansion project.
Starkville to use ARPA for water projects on 182, downtown
With a last-minute tweak to its American Rescue Plan Act resolution on Thursday, aldermen believe the city has put its best foot forward in receiving a dollar-for-dollar match for its $6.3 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Candidates tout experience, importance of rehabilitation
In 20 years on the bench, Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens has presided over more than 300 jury trials ranging from bad checks to capital murder cases where the death penalty is in play.
City pivots to request proposals for commercial garbage pickup
State law caused city officials to pivot Tuesday on a plan to subcontract its commercial garbage collection service to a private company.
Oktibbeha designates all its ARPA toward three projects
In a flurry of split votes, the board of supervisors on Monday committed all $9.6 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to three projects.
New Starkville building code aims to address dilapidated structures
Aldermen on Tuesday will host a second public hearing on revisions to the city’s unified building codes, one of which would require property owners to repair boarded up buildings within 180 days.
Monday Profile: Former Red Cross volunteer, budding BTS superfan, recalls two weeks at Ground Zero after 9/11
Saturday was special for Gratia Karmes and her granddaughter Ruby Brenner.
Aldermen shoot down proposed tax increase
Split votes on Tuesday shot down a proposed tax increase and approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
‘Very dangerous’ Starkville teen sought in shooting
Authorities are still looking for a Starkville teen suspected of shooting someone Wednesday afternoon in Columbus.
Home Base: Stewing in my own juice: A beef stew recipe using homegrown tomatoes and okra
“What are we going to do with all this juice?”
Oktibbeha steps in to keep Maben library open four days a week
On the first floor of the split-level Maben library, Henry Brown sits at a small, round table using one of the facility’s two publicly available computers.
Leaders call $13M for Oktibbeha County Lake dam an ‘unofficial’ probability
The purported sure thing of the county receiving $13 million in federal funds to repair the lake dam has proven, at least for now, to be more of a definite maybe.
Group distributes 528 backpacks, school supplies at Lock and Dam
July 13, 2025
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