SOCSD to keep traditional school schedule next year

Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District will not implement a modified, year-round school schedule — at least not for the 2021-22 school year.

MSU to bulk up attendance at Dudy Noble this weekend

Mississippi State will allow an increase in capacity at Dudy Noble Field as soon as this weekend.

A source inside the athletic department, who asked not to be named, confirmed to The Dispatch Tuesday that the school plans to sell an additional 4,400 chairback seats, while outfield rigs will now be allowed to hold as many as eight people.

One killed, another injured in Pilcher Street shooting

One person has been killed and another critically injured in a shooting Wednesday evening outside a Pilcher Street apartment complex.

Aldermen vote to keep local mask mandate in place

With a 5-2 vote Tuesday, aldermen upheld its requirement for people to wear protective face coverings in businesses and other buildings where social distancing may not be possible.

Partnership reflects on unconventional year at virtual awards ceremony

The Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Starkville’s community development organization, hosted its 20th-anniversary award ceremony virtually Thursday morning.

Typically an in-person banquet, the Partnership held this pre-recorded event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in order to keep the community safe, said Paige Watson, Partnership special events and projects coordinator.

Starkville Strong keeps building awareness, members through volunteer service

With the majority of Starkville residents confined to their homes last week because of a winter storm, local musician Tahj Mckey sacrificed his safety by delivering goods and supplies to those in need.

Mckey became involved with Starkville Strong Facebook group at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic because he was trying to find ways to give back to the community during the difficult time.

The Mag film festival starts today with virtual purchasing options

The 24th Magnolia Independent Film Festival begins today, at least virtually.

Also known as The Mag, Mississippi’s longest-running film festival is offering a slate of 42 films on its website that viewers can purchase.

Supes approve stricter procedures for maintaining bus turnarounds

Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution setting up clearer guidelines and more oversight for the county maintaining bus turnarounds on private property.

Macon man arrested in Reed Ridge Circle shooting

A third suspect has been arrested for a December shooting on Reed Ridge Circle in Starkville that sent one person to the hospital.

Monday Profile: Power outage does not stop Tribble from teaching children in China

At 3:15 a.m. Thursday, Suzanne Tribble was halfway through her first cup of coffee when a tree fell across West Main Street a few hundred feet east of her home, ripping through power lines and providing a horrifying light show of sparks flying from buzzing transformers.

Then her electricity, along with much of the city’s, was out and would be for the next several hours.

Food sales requirement dropped for brewpubs, breweries in limited area

Aldermen voted unanimously Friday afternoon to allow brewpubs and small craft breweries in the city’s Leisure and Entertainment District to sell beer, wine and light spirits on premises without having to also sell food.

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.

Monday Profile: Meet Ron Caulfield, Mississippi State baseball’s own Candyman

If Willy Wonka based his operations in North America, Ron Caufield might well be his director of Southeast distribution.

For more than two decades, Caulfield, better known around Starkville as “The Candyman,” has endeared himself to Mississippi State faithful young and old through an ear-to-ear grin and a 40-pound bag of varying confections.

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.

Classes at J.L. King Center aim to help residents with energy efficiency

Friends of J.L. King and Starkville Utilities are partnering to create a program to help residents save money on their utility bills.

The program, “Power-Up,” aims to educate Starkville residents who may be struggling to pay their bills during the coronavirus pandemic.

SOCSD monitoring weather to determine if it will go all-virtual Monday and Tuesday

Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District is monitoring the weather for a possible transition to virtual learning for all students Monday and Tuesday, a press release issued this morning said.

Arrest report for 2-11-21

The following arrests were made by the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office: Adrian Mora, 21, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and sale of

MSU student arrested for alleged armed robbery on campus

A Mississippi State University student has been arrested for multiple counts of armed robbery following an incident on campus Monday.

Boyles: Mississippi ‘a model’ for how to utilize National Guard to fight pandemic

When Maj. Gen. Janson Boyles, adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard, told Starkville Rotary Club Tuesday that the state’s armed forces were hard at work administering COVID-19 vaccinations throughout Mississippi, they didn’t have to take his word for it. They could clearly see him speaking from a vaccination site in DeSoto County in the background of his Zoom call.

Arrest report for 2-9-21

The following arrests were made by the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office: Tyquerius Doss, 17, was charged with attempt to commit a crime, two counts aggravated