Supes approve extending extra leave policy for COVID-quarantined employees
Lowndes County supervisors took the weekend to explore their options for changing one of the county’s COVID-19 policies, but on Monday opted to accept the recommendation made at Friday’s meeting by Lowndes County Administrator Jay Fisher.
Local legislators anticipate COVID-19 relief, criminal justice reform in 2021
The 2021 session of the Mississippi Legislature is scheduled to start next week amid an ongoing pandemic that sidelined several issues and sickened dozens of members last year.
‘Like a bathtub filling up’: Alabama is slammed by the virus
With its dozen intensive care beds already full, Cullman Regional Medical Center began looking desperately for options as more and more COVID-19 patients showed up.
Lowndes continues to outpace rest of Golden Triangle in COVID case numbers
The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the Golden Triangle, particularly in Lowndes County, where more than 4,000 total cases have been reported as of Saturday.
How is Christmas going to be different for you this year?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched into the Christmas season, many have adapted, or downsized, their plans to celebrate. We asked area residents how their Christmas celebrations will be different this year.
COVID cases in Mississippi surpass 200,000 before Christmas
The total number of coronavirus cases in Mississippi surpassed 200,000 Wednesday, two days before the Christmas holiday when health officials said they expect a spike due to social gatherings.
COVID halts new 4-H director’s plans to increase hands-on activities for kids; club memberships have remained steady nonetheless
When Darrell Banks took over as Lowndes County 4-H Director, he had several new ideas he wanted to implement to grow programs and membership.
OCH administers first doses of vaccine
Monday saw some of the first doctors in Starkville to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at OCH Regional Medical Center.
Mississippi churches face difficult decisions at Christmas
It always feels special for Pastor Jay Richardson when his congregation at Highland Colony Baptist Church gathers during the holidays — but this year, that’s even more true because of time they’ve spent apart.
Lowndes sees more than 500 new COVID cases in a week
Lowndes County continues to see the largest area increases in positive COVID-19 cases by the week, Mississippi Department of Health data shows, with more than 500 new cases between Dec. 9 and Wednesday.
COVID-19 amps up pressure on postal service
It doesn’t have a catchy name and you won’t see it in any advertising campaign, but Monday was an important day in the Christmas season.
It was the last day the United States Postal Service could guarantee delivery by Christmas Day, a fact not lost on Dante’ Davis of Columbus.
LCSD board president, attorney leave masks off during school board meeting
At the end of a week that saw a decrease in the number of students and staff who reported testing positive for COVID-19 at Lowndes County School District, Superintendent Sam Allison reported to the school board at Friday’s meeting that he does not believe the virus is spreading through classrooms due to the use of plastic dividers between students and a mask mandate at all the schools.
Golden Triangle sees record-shattering COVID-19 cases
As Mississippi shattered its record of COVID-19 daily case counts with 2,746 new cases Wednesday, the four-county area saw a record-breaking spike of 658 new cases over the past week, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) website.
Clay County EMA director predicts county will be placed under state mask mandate
Clay County may soon join 54 other Mississippi counties that Gov. Tate Reeves has placed under a mask-wearing executive order to help curb the spread of COVID-19, the county’s Emergency Management Agency Director Torrey Williams told the West Point Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting Tuesday.
Sanders attends supes meeting despite possible exposure to COVID
One member of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has tested positive for COVID-19. Another, who told The Dispatch he may have been exposed, attended a public meeting in person anyway.
Golden Triangle COVID cases spike along with state
Lowndes County saw the Golden Triangle’s largest spike in positive COVID-19 cases in a week’s time since the pandemic began, with 283 from Nov. 25 to Wednesday, according to Mississippi Department of Health data.
CPD pleads with public to wear masks after reported violations of mandate
Columbus Police Department is asking the public to comply with the city’s mask mandate due to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases and a rising number of citizen complaints about violations, Chief Fred Shelton said at a Wednesday press conference at City Hall.
Warming Center will not open due to COVID concerns
A Monday afternoon phone call to Columbus Mayor Robert Smith confirmed what Glenda Richardson had already suspected: The city’s warming center will not be open this winter because of the threat of COVID-19.
Cities discourage large groups in social events, holiday shopping season
All three cities in the Golden Triangle are discouraging residents from gathering in large groups due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — including by canceling annual holiday events or adapting them to go on without crowds.
Area hospitals see spike in COVID cases, have not reached ICU capacity
COVID-19 cases in the four Golden Triangle counties continue to increase as the holiday season begins and local hospitals continue to manage several symptomatic patients per day.