Starkville pulls firefighter reservists amid staffing shortages
Starkville’s fire department is bolstering its ranks by rehiring lapsed personnel as reservists, hoping to improve training and faltering recruitment efforts.
Ethics commission says public doesn’t have right to MHP chase policies
The Mississippi Ethics Commission dismissed Feb. 7 a complaint The Dispatch filed against the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, alleging it excessively redacted documents pertaining to Mississippi Highway Patrol vehicular pursuit policies.
Mickens begs for city attorney’s advice to deal with alleged phone threats
A city councilman claims he’s receiving threats on his personal cell phone, and he wants them to stop.
City says no to AT&T tower at Moore Creek
AT&T is headed back to the drawing board after city officials again rejected the company’s plans to build a 5G cell tower at Moore Creek.
Absentee voting opens for primaries, sparking illegal harvesting concerns from Brooks
Absentee voting for Mississippi’s upcoming municipal elections has begun, ringing the starting bell as well as bringing up old questions in Columbus about the line between accepted voter assistance and illegal ballot harvesting.
Easements on their way for city’s $6.2M watershed project
While difficulty obtaining easements temporarily stalled a $6.2 million watershed project to improve drainage in major flooding areas across the city, City Engineer Kevin Stafford said those easements will soon be in hand.
Heart Walk set for Saturday aims to promote heart health, provide screenings and resources
Despite being largely preventable with healthy living and regular check-ups, cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the country.
Education Briefs for 2-18-25
Students Named to Dean’s List at University of Maryland Global Campus ADELPHI, Md. – The University of Maryland Global Campus released its Fall 2024 Dean’s
Community Profile: Longtime student, Hail State Rewards record holder, finds post-graduate home in athletic dept
Daniel Montgomery is confident that his 213,345 Hail State Rewards points for attending Mississippi State sporting events is an unbreakable record.
Unlucky Hwy 82 overpass struck, damaged again
The Highway 82 overpass at Old West Point Road is closed and awaiting repairs from the Mississippi Department of Transportation following yet another strike from an eastbound oversized vehicle.
‘Scheduling conflict’ keeping Jones out of mayoral debate
A “scheduling conflict” will keep Stephen Jones from squaring off with his primary opponent in what was supposed to be a Democratic mayoral debate Feb. 25 at the Municipal Complex.
Starkville updates ADA plan for first time in 14 years
Starkville is seeing the benefits of a renewed push for compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, employing new technologies to identify where city sidewalks have fallen into disrepair.
Ask The Dispatch: What bills have local legislators authored this session?
Roughly a month into the legislative session, local legislators are advancing bills aimed at tackling issues ranging from sexual assault victim rights to education reform.
Ex-sheriff in Mississippi is heading to federal prison for 2½ years
Former Hinds County interim sheriff Marshand Crisler has been sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison for soliciting and accepting bribes during his unsuccessful 2021 campaign.
‘School choice’ bill sending taxpayer money to private schools stalls in Mississippi House
A bill that would allow some Mississippi parents to use taxpayer money to pay for private school does not have the support to pass this session, House leaders said Wednesday.
Lawmaker: There is no outside oversight of medical care at Mississippi prisons
The House passed a bill Thursday that would direct the state Department of Health to conduct a sweeping review of the medical care provided to inmates at Mississippi prisons.
TVA energy plant to be up and running in Caledonia by 2028
Tennessee Valley Authority is officially moving forward with building a gas-powered combustion turbine energy plant near Caledonia.
Harvey joins Dispatch staff as general assignment reporter
Cadence Harvey has joined The Dispatch newsroom staff as a general assignment reporter.
Lease snafu has SOCSD overhauling 16th Section process
After issuing a lease that ran afoul of the city’s zoning laws, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is sorting through all its 16th Section properties and revamping its leasing process.
W will submit proposal to keep MSMS, has backup plan if school relocates
If Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is moved to Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women has a backup plan for the high school’s facilities.
Nearly 4 inches of rain dump on area Sunday morning
June 8, 2025
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