Starkville commits additional $1.2M to TIF at old Garan site

Aldermen voted 6-1 Friday afternoon to increase the city’s tax-increment financing obligation for the redevelopment of the old Garan Manufacturing site from $3 million to $4.2 million.

Starkville-based United Way chapter faces financial uncertainty fueled by pandemic

Randy Davis was running out of options. The 41-year-old Starkville resident lost his job at an area manufacturing plant in February 2020 and was surviving off his 401K as he fruitlessly looked for work during the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Center Grove seeks to fix water woes with $1M well

It’s been at least two decades since Center Grove Water Association could provide all its customers with water from its own well.

That’s roughly how long ago the letters started coming from the Mississippi Department of Health telling the association’s board the well had reached its capacity and couldn’t accommodate additional customers.

5 alderman races contested in Starkville

Four new candidates qualified in aldermen races on Friday, including two Republicans in Ward 5.

Friday was the final day to enter the 2021 municipal races.

Democratic challengers file in Ward 2, 5 races

Two Democrats qualified Thursday to challenge incumbents in primaries for separate wards.

After 20+ years, some Starkville residents to finally get sewer service

By sometime early next year, the often stinky, muddy, water-filled hole where the septic tank drains in Darrell and Annie Johnson’s yard on Babylon Road, should be no more.

The Johnsons have been looking forward to that news for 23 years.

New parks plan aims for cleaner facilities, more programming

Brandon Doherty started his job as Starkville Parks and Recreation executive director in August amid a slate of already underway capital improvement projects in his department, the largest being a $20 million tournament-ready baseball/softball complex at Cornerstone Park.

Brewpub discussion bogs down in ‘nuance’

Confusion and uncertainty over the effects of a proposed ordinance change to remove the food sales requirement from brewpubs citywide has aldermen again rethinking the scope of what they should allow.

Williams trying again for Ward 1 alderman seat

Christine Williams qualified Tuesday to run as a Democrat in the Ward 1 alderman race.

If she gets through the Democratic primary to the general election, she could face a rematch with Republican incumbent Ben Carver, who edged her by 19 votes in the general election four years ago.

Oktibbeha County starts redistricting process

Oktibbeha County supervisors on Monday contracted with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District for redistricting services, the same group that led that work for the county 10 years ago.

Aldermen consider allowing food-less brewpubs citywide

Starkville aldermen have reset the public hearing process on whether to exempt brewpubs that make and sell craft beer and wine on-site from food sale requirements.

If passed, the new change would apply citywide, not just in the Leisure and Entertainment District that includes downtown and the Cotton District.

4-County secures $35M in federal funds for broadband

On a “good day,” the internet connection speed at Hebron Christian School in Pheba reaches 3 megabits per second, Headmaster Bobby Eiland said. On a “really good day,” it pulls about 6.

Austin Check joins Ward 4 race in Starkville

A Republican candidate has announced he will run for Ward 4 alderman.

2-year residency law could exclude Ward 7 hopeful from ballot

A relatively new residency requirement for local election candidates may keep a Ward 7 alderman hopeful off the ballot.

Anonymous anti-Spruill billboard invokes Bernie Sanders meme

Bernie Sanders’ sudden appearance in his meme-worthy mittens on a Highway 12 billboard has garnered plenty of local attention.

It may also run afoul of state campaign finance law.

SMART ridership down 40-plus percent in 2020

In Sam Pitts’ 2 1/2 years driving the central campus route for the Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) system, 2020 stands out. He’s unlikely to ever forget it.

Challenger qualifies in Starkville Ward 7 alderman race

Ward 7’s alderman seat has produced the first competitive race for this year’s Starkville municipal elections.

Aldermen ‘leaning’ toward rule change that would allow brewpubs to operate without selling food

Starkville aldermen took another key step Tuesday toward granting another exception to its code of ordinances that would clear the way for a prospective business to locate downtown.

Supes discuss more debt, possible tax increase, for new 5-year road plan

Oktibbeha County supervisors continued grappling Tuesday morning with the prospect of issuing more bonds to cover a new five-year road work plan.

Bang for the buck: Starkville museum owner starts GoFundMe to raise $150K for field cannon

An addition to the Starkville Civil War Arsenal building sits virtually empty, with only construction materials scattered throughout the space that is scheduled to be finished this week.