CMSD approves $252K in improvement projects
Kill the lights, at least for this year.
The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees approved 10 capital improvement projects, but decided to table a project to address the lighting at the Columbus High School football stadium because of the expense of the board’s preferred option for the project.
Local architect Major Andrews thought in-kind services would earn him no-bid contract for Hunt
For the past six months, architect Major Andrews has worked with the Columbus Municipal School District planning improvements at the Hunt campus, giving him the impression he would continue those services after a Feb. 23 tornado badly damaged the building on 20th Street North.
Repairs, enhancements top list of parks goals
Starkville’s parks and recreation department is looking at a range of improvements across its facilities, should aldermen approve a proposed budget with a significant increase in parks spending.
Kerr-McGee settlement proceeds despite objections
A U.S. bankruptcy judge has accepted Anadarko Petroleum Corporation’s proposed $5.15 billion settlement to clean up former Kerr-McGee sites around the country and compensate those who have suffered negative health effects despite objections saying it was not enough.
Settlement brings new hope for Kerr-McGee cleanup
Maranatha Faith Center Pastor Steve Jamison sees the $5.15 billion settlement from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation as a major turning point in the 15-year fight his East Columbus church has led to remediate the contamination from the Kerr-McGee site and protect the safety of those who live near it.
Columbus site gets $67M in Kerr-McGee settlement
The site of a defunct plant in Columbus is part of a $5.15 billion dollar settlement from the company that acquired Kerr-McGee. Of that, $67 million for prospective environmental work will go to the environmental trust created to clean up the 14th Avenue North site.
KiOR stares down default on MDA loan
If KiOR does not finalize the details of a $25 million commitment from a California investor within the next nine days the company expects to default on a $75 million loan it received from the state of Mississippi.
KiOR has ‘substantial doubts’ about future
KiOR may be done in Columbus.
On Monday, the company filed its end-of-the-year financials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 257-page report paints a bleak picture of the company’s future.
14th Ave. drainage project moving forward
A painstaking process to make drainage improvements to a contaminated ditch on 14th Avenue North is taking a major step forward.
MUW begins dorm improvements
Mississippi University for Women residence halls are getting a facelift.
The enhancements will begin at Callaway Hall this summer and hopefully be completed by fall, school officials said.
Columbus biofuel plant to resume operations in spring
KiOR’s biofuels plant in Columbus will likely be up and running again in April, according to CEO Fred Cannon.
The Texas-based alternative fuel company’s 500-ton per day facility on The Island has been shut down since the beginning of January for maintenance, Cannon said.
KiOR shuts down production to make improvements
The facility on The Island that converts wood chips to fuel stopped production in December and remains offline today.
SSD to bid football field, track projects this winter
Major renovations to Starkville High School’s football and track field should be completed by the start of the next school year if the school system’s projected timetable comes to fruition.
Obama pitches mortgage overhaul as housing rallies
PHOENIX — Buoyed by an improving housing market, President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed a broad overhaul of the nation’s mortgage finance system, including winding
West Point begins work on $6 million water system retrofit
West Point officials said improvements to the city’s waste water system will put its processing operations on par with Starkville and Columbus.
Additions to soccer complex on schedule
Construction of a second concession facility at Columbus’ soccer complex is complete and an additional 100 parking spaces should be available by September, Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director Roger Short says.
Officials hope Highway 182 upgrade will lure new businesses
Starkville officials are optimistic a series of completed and ongoing projects will spur Highway 128 redevelopment and bring new businesses to one of the town’s most crucial corridors.
Soccer complex upgrades on track
“If you build it, they will come.”
That was the mentality when the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Columbus City Council decided to build the $5 million, 70-acre soccer complex, and with the announcement of two major tournaments — the Coaches Cup in November and the Presidents Cup in May 2014 — people will definitely be coming to the Friendly City.
Officials tout achievements; new plans for city
In February, city engineer Edward Kemp will present the Starkville Board of Aldermen a capital improvement plan intended to take the city through the next two to three years.
Improvements coming to Louisville Street in Starkville
As John and Lakeisha Randle walked along the side of Louisville Street Monday afternoon, traffic passed by just feet from where the duo stepped diligently over gravel, grass patches and driveways.