Tim Pratt Profile - The Dispatch

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September 3, 2010

Tim Pratt

The Commercial Dispatch’s Starkville Bureau is manned by Tim Pratt. Tim Pratt, of Glen Burnie, Md., assumed the position as Dispatch Starkville Bureau reporter in June 2008. Since then, he has delved into the inner workings of government bodies, quality-of-life matters, economic development and other areas to offer daily coverage of events and issues in, around and impacting Starkville and Mississippi State University, as well as the surrounding communities. Before joining The Dispatch, Pratt held a news reporter position with The Evening Sun in Hanover, Pa., where he established the Upper Adams County beat. Pratt received his bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in print journalism from Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa.

Tim Pratt
Starkville Bureau
News & Sports Department
tpratt@cdispatch.com

Recent Stories & Articles
Hundreds 'Get Swept Up' in Starkville  9/2/2010 10:30:00 AM
More than 500 people took to the streets of Starkville Wednesday for the city's seventh annual Get Swept Up event.

Maben man dies when tractor struck by truck on Highway 82  9/1/2010 1:49:00 PM
A Maben man was killed Tuesday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 82.

Police searching for second Brookville Gardens suspect  9/1/2010 11:10:00 AM
Starkville police have arrested one man and are looking for another in connection with an incident at Brookville Gardens last month, during which several shots were fired and an apartment door was kicked in illegally.

Oktibbeha Supervisors plan tax increase  8/31/2010 10:32:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is planning a 2010-2011 fiscal year budget which includes a 4.48-mill ad valorem tax increase.

Record crowd attends Travis Outlaw Day  8/30/2010 12:14:00 PM
The largest crowd on record packed McKee Park Saturday for the city of Starkville's sixth annual Travis Outlaw Day.

Conflict brews over sidewalks  8/29/2010 2:52:00 AM
As Golden Triangle Planning and Development District Executive Director Rupert "Rudy" Johnson walked along the edge of Miley Drive Friday morning, he looked west and eyed Southwire and Clark Distributing Co.

Sheriff's department searches for motorcycle thieves  8/27/2010 9:56:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public to help identify and apprehend three men suspected of stealing a motorcycle Wednesday from a local apartment complex.

Perkins opposed to 'subjective' pay raises  8/25/2010 10:58:00 AM
When the Starkville Board of Aldermen Monday voted to move forward with plans for an ad valorem tax increase and a hike in sanitation fees, Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins was vehemently opposed.

Commission to examine possible historic districts  8/25/2010 10:58:00 AM
Starkville's newly formed Historic Preservation Commission met for the first time Tuesday and is now planning the first steps toward designating older portions of the city as "historic" and protecting them from unchecked development and modifications.

Events honor end of World War II, remember area's aviation history  8/25/2010 10:58:00 AM
STARKVILLE -- With the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II approaching, some of Oktibbeha County's biggest history buffs are preparing for a weekend event to honor area veterans.

Starkville residents facing tax increase  8/24/2010 9:47:00 AM
Residents of Starkville could soon face a tax increase. The Starkville Board of Aldermen Monday voted 4-3 to instruct the city clerk's office to compose a 2010-2011 fiscal year budget which includes a .45-mill tax increase.

New schools showcased in Starkville  8/23/2010 9:58:00 AM
As 6-year-old Alvin Rogers walked through the new classroom wing at Sudduth Elementary School Sunday afternoon and entered the gymnasium, he gestured excitedly at the high ceiling, bright white floors and wide open space.

Starkville board's first year marked by success, controversy  8/21/2010 7:59:00 PM
It has been nearly 14 months since Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman and the Board of Aldermen took office with plans to upgrade city infrastructure, improve residents' quality of life and oversee the construction of a new, state-of-the-art municipal complex.

At Sturgis motorcycle rally, some bikers spread gospel  8/21/2010 5:51:00 PM
Dozens of church groups and Christian motorcycle clubs were among those packing Sturgis this weekend for the Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally.

Pat Station Road Extension construction begins in Starkville  8/20/2010 11:35:00 AM
The woods west of Old West Point Road have been cleared and the surveyors' flags have been laid as construction began this month on the Pat Station Road extension project.

Back in the saddle: Bikers invade tiny Sturgis for All-Bike Motorcycle Rally  8/19/2010 9:39:00 AM
STURGIS -- Gray clouds hung over Sturgis most of the day Wednesday, but the mud and the rain did little to dampen the mood in this town of less than 300 people as residents and vendors prepared for the Sturgis South All-Bike Motorcycle Rally.

Aldermen grapple over budget, tax increase  8/18/2010 10:42:00 AM
With one side speaking out against a tax increase and the other saying one is necessary to maintain city services, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday night rejected three different budget options for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Woman arrested for grand larceny  8/18/2010 10:42:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department arrested a Starkville woman Tuesday morning on a warrant for grand larceny.

Oktibbeha Supervisors looking into vicious dog laws  8/17/2010 9:48:00 AM
In the wake of three recent dog attacks south of Starkville, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is looking into measures to help control dangerous animals.

Police investigating shots fired at Brookville Gardens  8/17/2010 9:48:00 AM
No injuries were reported following a Sunday night shooting at Brookville Gardens Apartments.

Red Cross hires new office head  8/17/2010 9:48:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County branch of the American Red Cross now has a full-time office coordinator.

MONDAY PROFILE: New York franks  8/16/2010 10:58:00 AM
Long Island native brings hot dog stand to Starkville streets.

Dogs attack again in Oktibbeha  8/15/2010 3:21:00 AM
Less than three weeks after a pack of dogs killed five calves off Oktoc Road, the same group of dogs is suspected of killing a goat and injuring two others Thursday night in the Chapel Hill community.

Service Dawgs day nears  8/13/2010 12:07:00 PM
Volunteers are set to take to the streets of Starkville, Columbus and West Point next week as part of Mississippi State University's third annual Service Dawgs community cleanup day.

Welcome back: MSU campus flooded with students on move-in day  8/12/2010 12:31:00 PM
STARKVILLE -- Vehicles lined the drop-off areas outside Mississippi State University's 16 dormitories Wednesday as thousands of students returned for the fall semester.

Maroon Edition: MSU partners with Habitat for Humanity on second home for woman, two sons  8/11/2010 10:02:00 AM
At the end of Greenwood Street in the Sunset subdivision west of Starkville, one Habitat for Humanity house is complete and another is just getting started.

Starkville braces for the return of MSU students  8/10/2010 9:50:00 AM
With move-in day set to take place Wednesday at Mississippi State University, businesses around Starkville are bracing for an influx of students.

Local teen arraigned for retaliatory shooting  8/7/2010 8:57:00 PM
A Starkville teenager accused of shooting a 12-gauge shotgun into the home of Club 124 murder suspect Dennis Thompson was arraigned this week in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Wildlife official: No gator die-off  8/6/2010 10:53:00 AM
Visitors to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge this summer might have a difficult time spotting alligators.

Okitbbeha Circuit Court wraps up with drug, theft cases  8/6/2010 10:53:00 AM
As Oktibbeha County Circuit Court continued to wind down this week and the halls of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse Annex emptied, Judge Lee Howard was on hand to dole out a number of sentences.

Drug dealers sentenced  8/5/2010 10:46:00 AM
A Starkville man was sentenced in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Tuesday to a combined 48 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system for four drug-related charges.

Adam Kazery Short Film Benefit moved to Old Venice due to possibility of rain  8/5/2010 10:46:00 AM
A film festival scheduled this weekend to honor a former Mississippi State University student has been relocated due to threats of inclement weather.

Aldermen delay decision on tree cutting moratorium  8/4/2010 11:27:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday tabled a controversial measure which would have forbidden city residents from cutting down trees at least 16 inches in diameter for the next six months.

Second suspect arrested in Starkville stabbing  8/3/2010 2:34:00 PM
The second suspect wanted in connection with a Sunday stabbing outside Mac's Meat Market was captured this morning by Starkville police.

Brass-knuckles beating brings six months for trio  8/3/2010 1:10:00 PM
A former East Mississippi Community College football player was sentenced to six months in Oktibbeha County Jail Monday for a brass-knuckle assault outside McDonald's in March 2009.

Local chapter warns against state Red Cross  8/3/2010 1:10:00 PM
The conflict between current and former American Red Cross officials continued Monday at the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meeting as former members of the local chapter's board of directors showed up to warn supervisors to be wary of state American Red Cross officials' promises.

'A little bit of everything'  8/2/2010 10:36:00 AM
Maben restaurant owner Larry Gladney finds secret ingredient for success.

Local group to protest tea party 'racism'  8/1/2010 1:35:00 AM
When the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People marches on Washington, D.C., this October, the Concerned Citizens of Starkville will be there too.

Mantee man gets 15 years for assault, drugs  8/1/2010 1:35:00 AM
A Mantee man who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and drug charges in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court was sentenced Thursday to a combined 15 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

New times, uniforms for Starkville schools  8/1/2010 1:35:00 AM
Students in new school uniforms will be arriving at new times and following new class schedules once the school year begins in the Starkville School District, Aug. 5.

Convicted burglar gets 20 years  7/30/2010 10:07:00 AM
A man responsible for a series of break-ins last year in the Whispering Pines community outside of Starkville was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years behind bars.

Committee makes progress on Starkville Municipal Complex  7/30/2010 10:07:00 AM
The city of Starkville is set to form a citizens committee to help determine a site for a new municipal complex.

Starkville on track to become Main Street community  7/29/2010 10:09:00 AM
The city of Starkville could soon become a Mississippi Main Street community, which would give the city additional tools to promote economic development downtown.

Drug cases dominate Circuit Court docket  7/29/2010 10:09:00 AM

Starkville eyes four-day workweek, explores reorganization  7/28/2010 11:00:00 AM
With budget time looming, city leaders are eyeing a number of changes for the next fiscal year, including a four-day workweek for city employees, reorganization of city departments and the elimination of some outside contributions, among other measures.

Murder trials continued to next term  7/28/2010 11:00:00 AM
Two Oktibbeha County women scheduled to go on trial next week on unrelated murder charges will have to wait until November before their cases are heard in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Pit bull attacks leave five cows dead  7/27/2010 9:24:00 AM
Five dairy heifers are dead and more than a half-dozen were injured in two pit bull attacks Sunday off Oktoc Road.

Graffiti artists arrested  7/24/2010 10:03:00 PM
Two Mississippi State University art students surrendered to police Friday and were charged with malicious mischief for their roles in the recent rash of stenciled graffiti seen around Starkville.

'Stop the Violence' parade called off  7/24/2010 10:03:00 PM
A "Stop the Violence" parade was supposed to take place Friday in downtown Starkville, but the event was called off because nobody showed up to march.

Task force opposes juvenile curfew in Starkville  7/23/2010 9:42:00 AM
With the exception of one member, the city of Starkville's curfew task force is opposed to a proposed juvenile curfew and plans to make a recommendation against one next month to the seven-member Board of Aldermen.

Hundreds say goodbye to Suttle Hall (VIDEO)  7/22/2010 10:42:00 AM
Hundreds of onlookers packed the hills and parking lots around Mississippi State University's Suttle Hall Wednesday afternoon as a wrecking ball brought down chunks of the 43-year-old building.

Aldermen reject University Club condos  7/21/2010 10:39:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday denied a developer's conditional use request to convert the former University Inn hotel into condominiums.

Police going after graffiti artist  7/21/2010 10:39:00 AM
When the first stenciled storm trooper appeared months ago on the side of the former Starkville Buses building at Jackson and Lampkin streets, Starkville Police Department Chief David Lindley admits he thought it was "kind of cute."

Film festival honors former MSU student  7/21/2010 10:39:00 AM
As Adam Kazery's friends and family tried to describe him this week, many didn't know where to start.

Oktibbeha residents getting new addresses  7/20/2010 9:02:00 AM
Most Oktibbeha County residents outside Starkville city limits are on the verge of receiving new street addresses.

'Positive momentum' builds for former Cre8tive Warehouse  7/17/2010 9:12:00 PM
It's been two months since the Cre8tive Warehouse closed at the corner of Washington and Lampkin streets.

Red Cross searches for new Oktibbeha leader  7/17/2010 9:12:00 PM
The American Red Cross is looking for someone to manage its Oktibbeha County office.

One year in, aldermen pursue municipal complex  7/15/2010 10:29:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen is set to take on a project previous administrations couldn't complete: the construction of a new municipal complex.

Keenum: MSU enrollment to top 19,000 this fall  7/14/2010 10:45:00 AM
The state's most populous university is about to get bigger.

Starkville planning board rejects developer's rezoning request  7/14/2010 10:45:00 AM
The Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday voted against a developer's request to rezone 4.88 acres off Highway 12 East for a multimillion dollar commercial development.

Fourth of July robbery suspects arrested  7/14/2010 10:45:00 AM
Three suspects wanted for the armed robbery of a couple walking home from a Fourth of July party were arrested Tuesday by Starkville police.

Police ID remaining robbery suspects  7/13/2010 11:12:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department Monday released the identities of the two remaining suspects wanted for an armed robbery last week on Spring Street.

Starkville police identify remaining robbery suspects  7/13/2010 10:35:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department Monday released the identities of the two remaining suspects wanted for an armed robbery last week on Spring Street.

MONDAY PROFILE: A visit with a local Pawn Star  7/12/2010 9:35:00 AM
A step inside AAA Jewelry & Loan Co. on Highway 182 in Starkville reveals a bargain hunter's paradise.

Road paving continues around Starkville  7/10/2010 5:24:00 PM
Paving operations will continue around Starkville this week.

Police seek Starkville armed robbery suspects  7/9/2010 1:07:00 PM
The Starkville Police Department is searching for three suspects wanted in connection with an armed robbery Monday morning on Spring Street.

Five left homeless after Oktibbeha County house fire  7/9/2010 12:43:00 PM
Five people were displaced when fire destroyed their home Thursday afternoon on Self Creek Road in Oktibbeha County.

Starkville aldermen approve new sidewalk along Gillespie Street  7/9/2010 12:42:00 PM
Pedestrians in Starkville soon will have a new sidewalk to traverse.

Ex-Red Cross leaders work to form new organization  7/7/2010 10:59:00 AM
From the ashes of the former Oktibbeha County Red Cross, a new organization is forming to provide local disaster response services.

Oktibbeha County exploring bond issue for road paving  7/7/2010 10:59:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a motion to put a $10 million bond issue for road improvements on the November ballot, but the motion then failed when one member of the board changed his vote.

A building with a bright future  7/7/2010 10:59:00 AM
The Starkville Electric Department now is located in a new building.

Oktibbeha Red Cross director quits amid statewide restructuring  7/2/2010 10:15:00 AM
The mood was somber Thursday at the Oktibbeha County chapter of the American Red Cross.

Man wanted in Macon shooting found dead in Starkville home  7/1/2010 10:17:00 AM
A Starkville man wanted for a shooting in Macon Tuesday night was found dead in the home of his estranged wife Wednesday afternoon of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Property tax evaluations raising some eyebrows  7/1/2010 10:17:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Tax Assessor's Office is in the middle of evaluating property values in Starkville and Oktibbeha County, but the assessments are raising eyebrows among some residents.

Area businesses make the Best in Mississippi list  7/1/2010 10:17:00 AM
Several Golden Triangle businesses were listed among the state's best in Mississippi Magazine's recently released Best of Mississippi rankings.

Starkville planning commission OKs University Inn project ... again  6/30/2010 9:13:00 AM
A public hearing Tuesday on the proposed University Inn renovation project pitted developers and supporters of the venture against representatives of the CottonMill Marketplace development, who spoke out in opposition.

'The Real World' premieres with MSU student  6/29/2010 9:49:00 AM
The streets of New Orleans were abuzz this winter with the sights and sounds of the Saints Super Bowl celebration, Mardi Gras and the antics of MTV's latest "The Real World" cast.

Starkville camp features fun, learning and a dose of star power  6/26/2010 7:12:00 PM
The walls of the Armstrong Middle School gymnasium reverberated Friday morning as more than 270 campers at the 2010 Summer Enrichment Camp were greeted by a surprise visitor: 2009 American Idol finalist and Columbus native Jasmine Murray.

Humane Society sets low-cost spay and neuter event  6/24/2010 10:33:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Humane Society is teaming up with Mississippi State University next month to offer a low-cost spay and neuter event at the county's animal shelter on Industrial Park Road.

MSU radio-controlled aircraft team gets national honors  6/24/2010 10:33:00 AM
A team of Mississippi State University students is making a name for itself in the radio-controllable aircraft field.

Oktibbeha County receives grant to clean illegal dump sites  6/23/2010 10:05:00 AM
Along a secluded stretch of Pierce Road, about a mile west of Sturgis-Maben Road in western Oktibbeha County, beer bottles, boxes and tires litter the tree line.

Public hearing scheduled Tuesday for University Inn project  6/22/2010 11:40:00 AM
The Starkville planning and zoning commission will hold a public hearing next week on the proposed redevelopment of the former University Inn.

MSU: Consolidation of schools won't bring layoffs  6/20/2010 12:54:00 AM
The combination of schools at Mississippi State University isn't expected to result in any job losses, a university official said Friday.

MSU workshop introduces students to architecture  6/20/2010 12:54:00 AM
The inside of Giles Hall was bustling with activity this week as nearly three dozen high school students from throughout the Southeast converged on Mississippi State University for the 2010 Design Discovery architecture workshop.

Starkville police seize drugs, guns in raid  6/18/2010 4:00:00 PM
The Starkville Police Department arrested a Brookville Gardens woman Thursday after a pre-dawn raid yielded drugs, paraphernalia, a gun and a ballistic vest.

Starkville Fire Department team headed to World Championships  6/18/2010 11:44:00 AM
STARKVILLE -- It's called the toughest two minutes in sports. For the Starkville Fire Department, it could be called the toughest one minute and 28 seconds.

Police: Juvenile curfew wouldn't curtail crime  6/17/2010 10:56:00 AM
The city's newly formed Curfew Task Force met for the first time Wednesday and heard reports from officers in the Starkville Police Department which express doubt over whether a juvenile curfew would result in a decrease in crime.

Starkville OKs funding for Cotton Mill Marketplace  6/16/2010 12:14:00 PM
In an effort to support the proposed CottonMill Marketplace retail and residential development, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday passed a number of resolutions, including two to seek a combined $11.8 million in funding for the project and another which will give tax incentives to the developer.

Starkville aldermen approve rezoning for condos  6/16/2010 12:14:00 PM
Despite protests by a half dozen neighbors, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday approved a zoning change on South Washington Street for a proposed 16-unit condominium development dubbed "The Georgetown."

Aldermen to seek funding for CottonMill project  6/15/2010 10:47:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen today is expected to seek nearly $12 million in funding for the proposed CottonMill Marketplace retail development.

Man charged in dog fighting incident  6/15/2010 10:47:00 AM
A Starkville man was arrested Monday morning after police responded to a dog fight at the Brookville Gardens apartment complex.

VIDEO: Born performer: Nine-year-old wants to follow in moonwalk of Michael Jackson  6/14/2010 10:53:00 AM
For as long as he can remember, Stephon Davonte Kriegel-Duck has been a performer.

Peeples Pecan Co. a staple of Starkville for 35 years  6/13/2010 12:40:00 AM
Down at the edge of the orchards along Pecan Drive, just off Rockhill Road north of Starkville, Peeples Pecan Company owner J.L. Peeples sat leisurely in his rocking chair Thursday morning as a pair of Labradors wandered in through the shop's open door.

Construction begins on new education building  6/10/2010 12:06:00 PM
Construction began this week on the new Oktibbeha County School District central office building.

Developer resigns from Planning Committee  6/10/2010 12:06:00 PM
A former Louisville, Ky., developer who left town amidst controversy and wound up on Starkville's Comprehensive Planning Committee resigned Wednesday, according to city officials.

Construction begins on new education building  6/10/2010 11:08:00 AM
Construction began this week on the new Oktibbeha County School District central office building.

Planning and zoning board approves RV park  6/9/2010 11:54:00 AM
The Starkville planning and zoning commission Tuesday approved a preliminary plat for a 44-lot RV park at the corner of Spring Street and Lincoln Green.

Summer program at MSU aids kids who use communication devices  6/9/2010 11:54:00 AM
The halls of the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability at Mississippi State University have been transformed this week into an airport of sorts.

Oktibbeha County to issue remaining bonds for OCH renovation  6/8/2010 10:32:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday passed a resolution to issue the remaining $6.5 million in bonds needed to complete the OCH Regional Medical Center renovation project.

Sleeping beauty: Developer breathing new life into old University Inn hotel  6/6/2010 1:53:00 AM
As Larry Tabor walked through the hot, empty halls of The University Inn Friday, little had changed since the hotel closed Jan. 1.

Second suspect charged in retaliatory shooting  6/6/2010 1:53:00 AM
A Starkville man with a history of violence was arrested Thursday and charged with being an accessory to a shooting last week.

Oktibbeha County man arrested with $22K worth of marijuana  6/3/2010 4:52:00 PM
An Oktibbeha County man was arrested this week in connection with the seizure of approximately $22,000 worth of marijuana, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics announced Wednesday.

Starkville going after beaver problem  6/3/2010 10:37:00 AM
Down in the brush along some railroad tracks off Lynn Lane, not far from Southwire Company and Starkville Recycling, a dam backs water up into a dark, murky pool.

Starkville considers curfew  6/2/2010 11:01:00 AM
In response to recent violence in the city, the Starkville Board of Aldermen is considering a curfew to keep young people off the streets.

Aldermen cite 'deficiencies' in condo plan  6/2/2010 11:01:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday delayed a decision on a proposed 50-unit condominium project and voted to send the developer's conditional use application back to the city's planning and zoning commission.

Starkville school district forms roundtable group  6/2/2010 11:01:00 AM
In an effort to better communicate with the public, the Starkville School District is forming a group of parents and community members who will meet regularly with SSD officials.

Starkville Boy Scout's project helps kids at horse camp  5/29/2010 7:11:00 PM
An Oktibbeha County teenager recently completed a project that will help wheelchair-bound children experience the joy of horseback riding.

School board names new principals at Armstrong, Sudduth  5/28/2010 10:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE -- The Starkville School District board of trustees Thursday named new principals for Armstrong Middle School and Sudduth Elementary during a special call meeting at the Greensboro Center.

Sheriff's Department: Blown tire likely caused crash  5/28/2010 10:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE -- Thursday morning, passing vehicles slowed to look at site of a fatal Wednesday crash, located 1 1/2 miles south of the Starkville corporate limit, between Palace Drive and Colony Drive. The car's trunk rested against the tree line, while side view mirrors, a CD case and CDs were scattered throughout the weeds.

Sheriff's Department identifies wreck victims  5/27/2010 3:11:00 PM
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department Thursday released the names of the three Starkville men who were involved in a fatal single-vehicle wreck Wednesday night on South Montgomery Street.

Starkville Area Arts Council helps youth attend art classes at local, national schools  5/27/2010 12:08:00 PM
In a little building off North Jackson Street, not far from Garrard Road, Linda Wade moves with ease around the new home of Main Street Arts.

Campus Trails fire ruled accidental  5/27/2010 12:08:00 PM
State and local fire investigators have ruled the blaze that destroyed two buildings April 18 in Campus Trails Apartments was accidental.

Wiseman promotes unity in Golden Triangle  5/26/2010 10:43:00 AM
For the Golden Triangle to attract new businesses, Starkville, Columbus and West Point must work together instead of viewing each other as "the competition" when it comes to economic development, Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman told the Columbus Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon.

Old West Point Road to reopen this week  5/24/2010 10:49:00 AM
Traffic is expected to return to normal on Old West Point Road this week as crews complete the reconstruction of a bridge that washed out earlier this month.

Monday Profile: Starkville's guitar doctor  5/24/2010 10:49:00 AM
For Tony Foster, working at Backstage Music on Highway 12 is a dream job.

Starkville homes fight flooding  5/23/2010 12:19:00 AM
The Sunset subdivision west of Starkville has been flood-prone for decades. Residents there say heavy rains have flooded yards, culverts and homes as far back as the early 1970s. Friday was no exception.

Memorial Day Parade set for downtown Starkville  5/23/2010 12:19:00 AM
Starkville Academy graduate Ashley Cumberland has been a supporter of the U.S. military for as long as she can remember.

Starkville, Oktibbeha first to get 311 service  5/21/2010 11:02:00 AM
Starkville and Oktibbeha County soon will be the first areas of the state with access to a 311 non-emergency call service.

Parents sound off on Starkville schools  5/21/2010 11:02:00 AM
A group of Starkville parents could soon form an advisory committee to question the policies of the Starkville School District and make recommendations to the SSD board of trustees.

Perkins questions legality of votes in executive session  5/21/2010 11:02:00 AM
One member of the Starkville Board of Aldermen believes the board violated Mississippi's Open Meetings Law Tuesday night during an executive session after its recess meeting in City Hall.

Rent-a-Center, It's Fashion Metro to occupy former Jitney Jungle  5/20/2010 10:04:00 AM

Aldermen create Historic Preservation Commission  5/19/2010 10:23:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen took the first step toward protecting the city's historic homes and landmarks Tuesday when it voted 6-1 to form a Historic Preservation Commission.

Starkville Aldermen delay decision on RV park  5/19/2010 10:23:00 AM
Construction of a five-acre motor coach and recreational vehicle park near Mississippi State University will have to wait.

Some Oktibbeha residents must alter mailboxes  5/18/2010 12:10:00 PM
Residents of Oktibbeha County who have non-traditional mailbox posts could soon face fines if the posts aren't replaced.

FEMA opens temporary office in Starkville  5/18/2010 11:56:00 AM
A once-vacant building at Highway 12 and the Highway 25 bypass is now home to a disaster coordination center for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hundreds attend Starkville Community Market opening  5/15/2010 8:27:00 PM
The third season of the Starkville Community Market kicked off Saturday with hundreds of local residents and dozens of vendors crowding the market's new location at Jackson and Lampkin streets.

Starkville aldermen tour city, plan improvements  5/15/2010 8:25:00 PM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen spent nearly five hours Saturday touring the city, talking to residents about flooding and drainage problems, and formulating plans to address issues in each of Starkville's seven wards.

Top chefs to square off for charity in Starkville  5/15/2010 8:23:00 PM
Some of the top chefs in the region will gather Tuesday at Mississippi State University for a cookoff to benefit the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Association.

Starkville police arrest student for assault on teacher  5/14/2010 9:47:00 AM
A Starkville High School student was arrested Wednesday for assaulting a teacher.

Starkville Christian School student pays tribute to fallen soldiers  5/8/2010 9:20:00 PM
Working in the steel business, Gulf States Manufacturers President Danny Coggins knows it's tough to make grown men cry. One Starkville Christian School student, however, can do it without even trying.

Habitual drug offender gets 17 years  5/6/2010 12:04:00 PM
A convicted drug dealer who was deemed to be a habitual offender was sentenced Tuesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to serve 17 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections on two drug-related charges.

Helmet saves cyclist  5/6/2010 12:04:00 PM
Jan Morgan was cycling Monday along Bluff Lake Road, near the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, when she suddenly found herself standing on the side of the road, dazed, injured and unable to identify her surroundings.

Murder trial in Oktibbeha County hunting death delayed  5/5/2010 10:36:00 AM
The trial of a Maben woman accused of killing her husband while the couple hunted in western Oktibbeha County was continued Monday until Aug. 2.

Starkville OKs repair for Old West Point Road  5/5/2010 10:32:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday approved emergency repairs for a section of Old West Point Road which collapsed Monday.

Starkville aldermen appoint pastor to school board  5/5/2010 10:29:00 AM
After months of controversy, the Starkville Board of Aldermen appointed a local pastor Tuesday to fill the vacant seat on the Starkville School District board of trustees.

Storm washes out bridge on Old West Point Road  5/4/2010 10:39:00 AM
Heavy rains over the weekend nearly caused a catastrophe Monday on Old West Point Road.

Residents push supes to pave roads  5/4/2010 10:39:00 AM
Another group of citizens came to the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday to ask the county to pave their road, spurring yet another debate on how to improve the county’s vast network of dust and gravel.

Store owner’s fraud trial postponed  5/4/2010 10:39:00 AM
A Starkville woman accused of defrauding more than a dozen people out of $50,000 worth of furniture will have to wait until July to stand trial in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Local florist is busy as Mother’s Day approaches  5/3/2010 9:39:00 AM
With Mother’s Day approaching, business is booming inside The University Florist at Mississippi State University.

Emerson begins recycling program  5/3/2010 9:39:00 AM
The students in Becky Bickford’s 4-year-old pre-kindergarten class at Emerson Family School could hardly contain their excitement Friday morning when members of the Green Starkville organization introduced the Starkville School District’s first comprehensive recycling program.

Arts community wants to salvage Cre8tive Warehouse  5/2/2010 12:16:00 AM

MSU students protest helmet ordinance  4/30/2010 10:06:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The group began gathering outside Perry Cafeteria on the Mississippi State University campus Thursday just before 7 p.m.

Starkville Community Market to open May 15  4/30/2010 10:06:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A once-vacant lot in downtown Starkville is quickly being transformed into the new site of the Starkville Community Market.

Cre8tive Warehouse founder hosts meeting Friday about future of the building  4/28/2010 10:20:00 AM
STARKVILLE — When Heath Kleinke, Eric Abbott and Carey Estes opened the Cre8tive Warehouse in April 2008, their goal was to provide a work space where local artists could feed off each other’s creativity.

Officials: Tornadoes struck Oktibbeha, Clay  4/28/2010 5:28:00 AM
The National Weather Service today confirmed tornadoes touched down Saturday afternoon in Oktibbeha and Clay counties as part of a violent line of thunderstorms.

Miss. State police investigate strong-arm robbery  4/27/2010 3:11:00 PM
Mississippi State University police seek more information about a weekend robbery reported on Monday.

Oktibbeha couple ‘lucky’ damage wasn’t worse  4/26/2010 10:57:00 AM
Roy and Doris Sagely were in their mobile home near the corner of Highway 389 and Sun Creek Road Saturday afternoon when they heard what sounded like a tornado approaching from the southwest.

Damage from reported tornado in Oktibbeha, Lowndes counties  4/24/2010 2:55:00 PM
STARKVILLE — An unknown number of houses and trailers were damaged this afternoon in Oktibbeha County when a line of severe storms passed through the area, County Administrator Don Posey said.

Down to Earth: MSU touts environmentally friendly efforts during celebration  4/23/2010 9:46:00 AM
A gathering of some of Starkville’s most environmentally conscious minds took place Thursday at Mississippi State University as the 40th anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated around campus.

Shooting suspects face armed robbery charges  4/23/2010 9:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Two men suspected of shooting a man last year on North Montgomery Street are facing new charges in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Citywide Burn ban in effect indefinitely  4/22/2010 9:38:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Fire Department this week issued a burn ban throughout the city until further notice.

Construction to begin on Pat Station Road extension  4/22/2010 9:38:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Construction on an extension of Pat Station Road could start within weeks, following action from the Starkville Board of Aldermen this week.

Aldermen to re-advertise vacant school board seat  4/21/2010 10:24:00 AM
STARKVILLE — After months of delays, public scrutiny, an appointment and subsequent veto, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted to readvertise for letters of interest to fill the open seat on the Starkville School District board of trustees.

Starkville passes controversial helmet ordinance  4/21/2010 10:24:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved a controversial safety helmet ordinance Tuesday, despite complaints of too much “big government” involvement coming from opponents of the measure.

Apartment fire cause could be weeks away  4/21/2010 10:24:00 AM
STARKVILLE — It could be weeks before fire investigators make an official ruling on the cause of the Sunday morning blaze at Campus Trails Apartments, a senior fire official said Tuesday.

Construction to begin on education building  4/20/2010 10:12:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Construction could begin by the end of the week on the new Oktibbeha County School District central office building in downtown Starkville.

Museum garden an exercise in sustainability  4/20/2010 9:18:00 AM
The grounds of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum are being transformed this week into a series of self-sustaining gardens as construction continues on a first-of-its-kind landscaping project in Starkville.

Construction work sparks blaze in Starkville home  4/19/2010 3:39:00 PM
A day after fire tore through two buildings in the Campus Trails apartment complex, Starkville firefighters were back to work this afternoon for a house fire on Green Street.

Officials: Fire at Starkville complex started in attic; no foul play suspected  4/19/2010 10:35:00 AM
Fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused a Sunday morning fire in the Campus Trails apartment complex that damaged two buildings and displaced 70 residents.

City to host third hearing on helmet ordinance  4/19/2010 9:54:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Starkville residents will have one more chance to weigh in on a proposed safety helmet ordinance before aldermen vote on the measure Tuesday night at City Hall.

Road, bridge work continues around Starkville  4/17/2010 8:36:00 PM
Drivers who use Old West Point Road can expect delays and lane closures this week as work begins on a bridge north of Pat Station Road.

Tea Party draws crowd to downtown Starkville  4/16/2010 11:46:00 AM
Bearing flags, signs and disgust for the federal government, more than 100 people rallied Thursday in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse as part of the Starkville Tea Party’s Repeal, Replace and Restore Tax Day Rally.

Motorcylist killed in accident in Oktibbeha County  4/15/2010 3:18:00 PM
One man died today in a motorcycle wreck on Oktoc Road, Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy George Carrithers confirmed this afternoon.

Carver Drive ditch improvements approved  4/15/2010 10:50:00 AM
As Daisy McDowell walked through the backyard of her home on Carver Drive Wednesday morning, a cool breeze blew in from the west, freshly cut grass stuck to her shoes and birds chirped from the nearby tree line.

Starkville to readvertise school board position  4/14/2010 9:39:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Despite claims of political maneuvering and racial inequality, the Starkville Board of Aldermen made progress Tuesday night in its quest to appoint the next member of the Starkville School District board of trustees.

Tea Party rallies set for Tax Day  4/14/2010 9:39:00 AM
While citizens across the country file last-minute tax returns Thursday, members of the nation’s Tea Party organizations, including those in Columbus and Starkville, will rally to voice their displeasure with the federal government.

Pounding the pavement: Starkville’s We Count Census Committee takes to streets  4/11/2010 12:13:00 AM
More than two dozen volunteers took to the streets of Oktibbeha County Saturday to encourage residents to complete and return their U.S. Census forms.

Unfinished business: Override of School Board veto, helmet ordinance on agenda for aldermen  4/9/2010 10:53:00 AM
STARKVILLE — When the Starkville Board of Aldermen called a recess Tuesday in the middle of its regularly scheduled meeting due to the Crossgates Apartments fire, the board left a number of potentially controversial items on the table.

Chief: Careless smoker caused Crossgates fire  4/9/2010 8:23:00 AM
A discarded cigarette started the fire at Crossgates Apartments Tuesday evening, Starkville Fire Department Chief Rodger Mann announced Thursday.

Still no cause in Crossgates fire  4/8/2010 10:02:00 AM
Investigators still don’t know what caused the Tuesday evening fire that destroyed three buildings in Crossgates Apartments, damaged four others and displaced dozens of residents.

VIDEO: Thirty-one residents lose homes, three firefighters hurt in Crossgates fire  4/7/2010 9:26:00 AM
Fueled by high winds and dry conditions, fire ripped through three buildings in Crossgates Apartments Tuesday evening, leaving three firefighters injured and sending smoke billowing high into the sky above Starkville.

VIDEO: Fire tears through Starkville's Crossgates Apartments  4/6/2010 7:55:00 PM
Fire ripped through three buildings in the Crossgates Apartments in Starkville Tuesday evening, creating a chaotic scene and sending smoke billowing into the air that could be seen for miles around the city.

Supes consider tax exemptions for businesses  4/6/2010 11:07:00 AM
STARKVILLE — In an effort to attract more industry to Oktibbeha County, the Board of Supervisors is considering a policy that would offer tax exemptions to businesses bringing 10 or more new jobs to the county.

Aldermen to attempt override of mayor's school board veto  4/3/2010 9:55:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen might not have the votes to override the mayor’s recent veto of Susan Tomlinson’s appointment to the Starkville School District board of trustees, but aldermen plan to try it anyway Tuesday night in City Hall.

State approves $15M for C&G rail project  4/3/2010 9:55:00 PM
The Mississippi Senate last week approved $15 million in matching funds toward the reconstruction of a 90-mile stretch of the former Columbus and Greenville Railway line.

City road construction begins in earnest  4/2/2010 12:27:00 PM
With warm weather upon us, drivers in Starkville should be prepared for detours and road closures over the next few months as construction crews are scheduled to repave more streets this year than any other building season in recent memory.

MSU student’s body found  4/2/2010 12:27:00 PM
A Mississippi State University student from West Point was found dead Thursday afternoon in a lake north of Starkville.

Developer: Economy delays CottonMill plan  4/1/2010 10:54:00 AM
No updates have been provided lately on the proposed CottonMill Marketplace project because there is “nothing new to report,” developer Mark Nicholas said Wednesday.

Bad check suspect surrenders  3/31/2010 9:28:00 AM
A West Point woman on the run from law enforcement for cashing nearly a dozen bad checks in the Starkville area turned herself in to the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department Tuesday, according to an OCSD news release.

Scared straight: Graphic images used to discourage underage drinking  3/31/2010 9:28:00 AM
STARKVILLE — As images of mangled vehicles and car accident victims flashed on the Greensboro Center auditorium screen Tuesday night, many of the 40 or 50 Starkville School District students in attendance had to avert their eyes.

Authorities search for robbery, false pretense suspects  3/30/2010 9:13:00 AM
Law enforcement officials in Oktibbeha County are asking for the public’s help to find two suspects wanted for unrelated crimes. The Starkville Police Department is searching for a suspect who robbed a convenience store this weekend on Highway 12.

Monday Profile: Nature, music in harmony  3/29/2010 10:46:00 AM
As Mississippi State University student Wyn Dawson walked along the Trail of Big Trees this weekend in the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a female Red-cockaded Woodpecker tapping determinedly on a nearby tree.

Highlands Plantation owners fund road repaving  3/27/2010 8:36:00 PM
The streets of the Highlands Plantation resort community have been in disrepair for years. The roadways have deteriorated, potholes have grown deeper and discontent among residents has left the community’s homeowners struggling to find renters, Highlands Plantation Home Owners Association President Jay Bradley said.

Earth Hour set for this weekend  3/26/2010 9:11:00 AM
The city of Starkville is joining a global environmental initiative this weekend by turning off all non-essential lights in city buildings and encouraging citizens to do the same at home.

Overturn of school board veto could be dead  3/25/2010 10:53:00 AM
STARKVILLE — When the Starkville Board of Aldermen finally appoints the next member of the Starkville School District board of trustees, as few as five of the city’s seven aldermen could be a part of the process.

Joint effort to improve aerospace industry  3/25/2010 10:53:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Improvements could be on the way to Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and the surrounding infrastructure thanks to a joint effort between the city of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, MSU and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.

Local business celebrates opening with patients its doctors have helped save  3/24/2010 11:03:00 AM
As Bernice Edwards walked toward Dr. Charles Montgomery Tuesday in the lobby of Cancer Care at Premier Health Complex, she smiled, stuck out her arm and gave him a warm hug. When she emerged from the embrace, the Maben woman wiped her moist eyes with a tissue.

Sheriff's department nabs burglars  3/23/2010 4:30:00 PM
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department last week arrested two Starkville men for burglarizing a business on Old West Point Road.

Hospital breaks ground on expansion project  3/23/2010 4:28:00 PM
Nearly 18 months after Oktibbeha County voters approved a $27.5 million bond issue to pay for the expansion of Oktibbeha County Hospital, the project broke ground Tuesday during a ceremony at the facility on Hospital Road. A host of citizens, business leaders, city and county officials, hospital administrators and employees attended the ceremony. Officials also unveiled the hospital’s new name, OCH Regional Medical Center, and logo.

One shooting suspect still awaiting extradition  3/23/2010 10:37:00 AM
One Starkville man was in Oktibbeha County Jail this morning and another was awaiting extradition from New Orleans to face charges of aggravated assault for a shooting on North Montgomery Street last October.

Construction to begin on hospital expansion  3/22/2010 9:52:00 AM
Construction on the Oktibbeha County Hospital renovation and expansion project is set to begin Tuesday as OCH officials, county supervisors and local business leaders gather for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on Hospital Road.

Children treated for chemical burns  3/20/2010 8:49:00 PM
STARKVILLE — Three children were treated at Oktibbeha County Hospital this week after they ingested sodium hydroxide outside a building in Brookville Gardens Apartments.

Mayor vetoes School Board appointment  3/19/2010 10:54:00 AM
Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman on Thursday vetoed the Board of Aldermen’s appointment of Susan Tomlinson to the Starkville School District board.

Tensions flare at Oktibbeha Supes meeting  3/19/2010 10:54:00 AM
New Light Road residents Fred and Tamara Allen have attended nearly every meeting of the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors for the past six years, but the couple stormed out of the board meeting Thursday afternoon after a heated exchange with supervisors.

DUIs on the rise in Starkville, Columbus  3/18/2010 9:44:00 AM
While the number of drunk driving arrests decreased last year across Mississippi, Columbus and Starkville proved to be the exceptions.

Aldermen pick Tomlinson for school board  3/17/2010 10:55:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday appointed a seasoned educator and volunteer to fill the vacant seat on the Starkville School District’s board of trustees, but not before city officials exchanged contentious words on the selection.

Helmet ordinance hearing draws mixed reaction  3/17/2010 10:55:00 AM
The first of two public hearings on a proposed child safety helmet ordinance drew mixed reaction Tuesday night from Starkville citizens, aldermen and former city officials.

Suspect wanted in Starkville shooting captured in New Orleans  3/16/2010 3:42:00 PM
The second suspect wanted for an October shooting on North Montgomery Street was captured today in Louisiana. Roderick D. Franklin, aka "Bam Bam," of 203 Middle Court, Starkville, was apprehended shortly after 12 p.m. by U.S. Marshals and the New Orleans Police Department at a home in New Orleans, Starkville Police Department Sgt. Chadd Garnett said.

Starkville parents file appeal over new dress code  3/13/2010 11:33:00 PM
An attorney representing citizens opposed to a dress code in the Starkville School District filed an appeal Friday afternoon in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

More than 100 join lawsuit over school uniform policy  3/12/2010 11:52:00 AM
A steady stream of parents and community members filed into the Starkville Sportsplex multi-purpose building Thursday night to join an appeal against the Starkville School District’s recent decision to implement a dress code policy beginning this fall.

A day of Black and Gold: Starkville honors state champs  3/12/2010 11:52:00 AM
The sun was shining, temperatures were soaring and spirits were high on the streets of Starkville Thursday afternoon as the Starkville High School boys basketball team paraded through town in celebration of its recent state championship.

Parents to sue to keep uniforms out of schools  3/11/2010 10:28:00 AM
A group of Starkville School District parents is planning to appeal the SSD board of trustees’ decision last week to implement a dress code this fall in city schools.

Arsenal of history: Starkville man turns Civil War collection into museum  3/10/2010 1:00:00 PM
The building sits just off the beaten path in the Sunset subdivision west of Starkville. From the outside, it has no distinct features. The brown metal, coupled with white bay doors, gives the 2,200-square-foot structure the appearance of a storage unit. It doesn’t even have an address. But a step inside takes visitors back to the 1860s.

Starkville school board candidate ruled ineligible  3/10/2010 10:50:00 AM
One of the candidates vying for a seat on the Starkville School District Board of Trustees has been declared ineligible by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

Woman tries to put out fire, suffers smoke inhalation  3/9/2010 10:31:00 AM
A Starkville woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation this weekend after fire broke out in her home on Highway 25 South and she tried to extinguish the blaze herself.

Woman tries to extinguish fire, suffers smoke inhalation  3/8/2010 1:36:00 PM
A Starkville woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation this weekend after fire broke out in her home on Highway 25 South and she tried to extinguish the blaze herself.

MSU students arrested for stealing beer  3/8/2010 9:47:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department arrested two Mississippi State University students Sunday morning for breaking into a convenience store on Highway 182 and stealing several 12-packs of beer.

Contest aims to help Starkville stay healthy  3/6/2010 8:39:00 PM
A new exercise program being initiated by Starkville’s Healthiest Hometown Committee begins next weekend at six locations around town.

First lady recognizes Starkville schools  3/5/2010 9:46:00 AM
First Lady Michelle Obama gave kudos to the Starkville School District Wednesday for its efforts to improve the health of city students.

Police still searching for suspects in computer, identity theft cases  3/4/2010 9:56:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Police Department is still searching for two suspects wanted for stealing four touch-screen computers from Wal-Mart over the past three months, and a woman suspected of illegally using another woman’s debit card to purchase items from the same store.

Starkville OKs new animal rules, considers bicycle helmet ordinance  3/3/2010 11:35:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved amendments to the city’s animal control ordinance aimed at improving living conditions for pets.

Starkville shooting suspect turns himself in  3/2/2010 3:36:00 PM
STARKVILLE - The second suspect wanted in connection with a weekend shooting on North Montgomery Street turned himself in to police just before lunch Tuesday, SPD Sgt. Chadd Garnett said.

Art with issues: Mississippi State University professor’s poster among display on campus  3/2/2010 10:34:00 AM
The chain link fence next to Mississippi State University’s Colvard Student Union is lined with posters from all over the world. Of the more than 4,000 submissions, Good 50x70 judges chose a poster created by Mississippi State University graphic design professor Jude Landry to be one of 210 featured in a traveling display.

Oktibbeha supes plan work session on roads  3/2/2010 10:34:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors will hold a work session later this month to discuss how to improve the county’s roads.The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors will hold a work session later this month to discuss how to improve the county’s roads.

Monday Profile: ‘No one day is the same’  3/1/2010 9:03:00 AM
Karen West has worked in hair salons across the Golden Triangle, from Blade’s Hair Styling in Columbus to Tokros in Starkville.

Census count coming  2/27/2010 10:58:00 PM
As the 2010 U.S. Census approaches, the city of Starkville’s census committee is gearing up for a round of advertisements to encourage participation among residents.

Police: No leads in tire vandalism  2/26/2010 11:06:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department is still searching for a suspect or suspects who slashed tires on a half-dozen vehicles last weekend.

MSU partnering with Choctaw Nation on green projects  2/24/2010 9:36:00 AM
PEARL RIVER — The Smith John Justice Center is a place where juveniles on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ Neshoba County reservation are sent when they run afoul of the law.

Oktibbeha County’s WWII vets honored  2/24/2010 9:36:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Andrew Lee Smith can still remember the bombing runs. Flying over enemy territory during the height of World War II, Smith was a fresh-faced 22-year-old from Mantee, serving as an Army Air Force navigator on a B-24 bomber.

Police search for computer thieves  2/23/2010 9:22:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department is searching for two men suspected of stealing four high-end touch screen computers from Wal-Mart over the past three months.

Academy Crossing fire ruled accidental, but still no cause  2/20/2010 9:03:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Fire Department Friday ruled the blaze that killed nine people Dec. 28 at Academy Crossing Apartments was accidental, though investigators still have not determined a cause.

From eyesore to green space: Corner of Lampkin and Jackson Streets temporary home to community market  2/20/2010 9:03:00 PM
The northwest corner of Lampkin and Jackson streets is a hodgepodge of building foundations, concrete slabs and crumbling asphalt, interspersed with patches of green and brown grass.

What we learned from a hitchhiker named John  2/20/2010 9:03:00 PM
When I picked up a hitchhiker named John last Friday on Highway 82, I never dreamed what a stir he and I would cause in the community.

Starkville aldermen hold off on school board appointment  2/19/2010 10:13:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen was scheduled to interview the final candidates for a seat on the city school district’s Board of Trustees Thursday night, but instead delayed the appointment process due to questions over the eligibility of one of the candidates.

Starkville police search for identity theft suspect  2/18/2010 10:09:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department is searching for a woman suspected of using a Missouri woman's debit card last month to purchase items at Wal-Mart on Highway 12 West.

Pet owners face new regulations  2/17/2010 11:51:00 AM
Pet owners in Starkville could soon face some new regulations.

Fire dept. says he’ll release cause of fatal fire  2/17/2010 11:51:00 AM
The Starkville Fire Department plans to release an official cause of the fatal Academy Crossing Apartments fire by the end of the week, Chief Rodger Mann said Tuesday.

Hospital renovation becoming reality  2/16/2010 9:26:00 AM
Construction on the long-awaited Oktibbeha County Hospital renovation project could begin as soon as next month. The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors on Monday accepted a bid from contractor Brasfield and Gorrie LLC, of Birmingham, Ala., to complete the project at a cost of $23,291,000. The county will meet soon with Brasfield and Gorrie representatives, and architects from Dean and Dean Associates, of Jackson, to finalize plans for the renovation and construction, board President Marvell Howard said.

MSU fraternity could be re-colonized  2/13/2010 11:11:00 PM
The Mississippi State University chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity could be re-colonized as early as this summer, the national organization’s executive director said Friday.

The hitchhiker's guide to Starkville  2/13/2010 5:30:00 PM
Late Friday morning I happened to be cruising west on Highway 82 out of Columbus when, on the side of the road, I saw a solitary figure with a bag at his feet and his thumb in the air.

Starkville students, parents say ‘No Uniforms’  2/12/2010 11:26:00 AM
STARKVILLE — As Starkville School District Superintendent Judy Couey stood at the microphone Thursday night in the Greensboro Center auditorium, Starkville High School students Robert Ingram, Allison Price and Jennifer Hunt walked down the side aisle, turned and faced the crowd in front of them and held up large, homemade signs.

MSU police arrest cowbell assault suspect  2/12/2010 11:26:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University Police Department has charged a MSU student from Columbus with aggravated assault for an attack with a cowbell last year at the Egg Bowl.

Starkville assistant police chief retires  2/11/2010 10:05:00 AM
STARKVILLE — As John Outlaw relaxed in the living room of his home Wednesday afternoon on Laurel Hill Road, he smiled when looking back at his 31 years of law enforcement experience.

Gone fishin': Motorists scoop up catfish from overturned truck on Highway 82  2/9/2010 2:38:00 PM
Dozens of Oktibbeha County residents gathered Tuesday morning at the intersection of Highway 82 and Douglastown Road with their coolers in tow as work crews cleaned up the remains of an overturned catfish truck in the median.

Planning the future of Oktibbeha County  2/9/2010 10:44:00 AM
Don Posey has been serving as Oktibbeha County Administrator for nearly 15 years and, in that time, has seen administrations come and go, whether it’s in the city of Starkville, at Mississippi State University or on the county’s Board of Supervisors.

Another fire at scene of fatal blaze  2/9/2010 10:44:00 AM
Less than six weeks after fire tore through a unit in Academy Crossing Apartments and killed nine people, Starkville firefighters were back at the complex this weekend to extinguish another blaze, although no injuries were reported.

Program encourages minority and female students to pursue science careers  2/9/2010 10:44:00 AM
STARKVILLE — As fifth-graders Kelsey Jones, James Travis and Matt Hutchinson sat together Monday morning in Nancy Sistrunk’s class at Ward-Stewart Elementary School, all three had smiles on their faces.

Bulldog baseball gets special welcome  2/5/2010 11:28:00 AM
A celebration of the Mississippi State University baseball program kicks off in Starkville this afternoon with the fourth annual Dudy Gras Parade.

Starkville group volunteering for recovery lean on faith amid ‘horrendous’ conditions  2/5/2010 11:28:00 AM
Pastor Johnny Buckner wasn’t feeling well this week, but he’s not one to complain. He says he is doing “incredibly, fantastically well,” despite the flu-like symptoms.

Cre8tive Warehouse: Sculptor featured artist for First Friday  2/4/2010 9:54:00 AM
STARKVILLE — When A.J. Meadows was growing up in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, he never really thought of himself as an artist. He was better at math than he was at painting and drawing. Even when Meadows moved to south Mississippi in 2000, he never considered a career in the arts.

Souper Bowl this Saturday at State Theatre  2/4/2010 9:54:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Some of the most popular restaurants in the Golden Triangle will compete this weekend at the Starkville Young Professionals’ third annual Souper Bowl charity event, set for 12-4 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre on Main Street.

Aldermen spar over drainage project  2/3/2010 9:41:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen on Tuesday voted 4-2 to complete a number of infrastructure-improvement projects over the next two years, though work on an 850-foot section of culvert along Carver Drive prompted heated discussion.

Three arrested with pound of marijuana  2/2/2010 5:09:00 PM
Three Oktibbeha County men were arrested Sunday by the Mississippi Highway Patrol on felony drug charges in eastern Lowndes County.

County makes headway on construction projects  2/2/2010 9:36:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday opened bids on a facility to replace the county schools’ central office, which was damaged in 2005.

State: Smoking caused fire that killed nine in Starkville  2/2/2010 9:13:00 AM
The State Fire Marshal’s office on Monday announced the December blaze that killed nine people at Academy Crossing Apartments was accidental.

Dancing as a way of life: Gilmore teaches Starkville students of all ages  2/1/2010 11:03:00 AM
Kayla Marie Gilmore spends much of her time teaching dance to people of all ages at the Starkville Park and Recreation Department’s new multipurpose building on Lynn Lane. But Gilmore isn’t teaching dance just for fun. It’s all about health and fitness.

Aldermen focus on infrastructure  1/30/2010 11:32:00 PM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen concluded its retreat Friday night with a list of ways it hopes to improve city services and infrastructure over the next few years.

Drug dealer sentenced to 54 years  1/30/2010 11:32:00 PM
As the first week of Oktibbeha County Circuit Court wrapped up this week, a man who pleaded guilty in November to 10 drug charges was sentenced to more than 50 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system.

Starkville family hurt in fatal accident wins $200,000 judgment  1/28/2010 4:43:00 PM
A Starkville family that was injured in a June 2006 accident on Highway 82 was awarded more than $200,000 Thursday in a civil suit against the estate of the other vehicle’s driver and his employer.

Civil case for fatal wreck continues today  1/28/2010 10:03:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Jacorey Williams was asleep in the front seat of his grandmother’s car the afternoon of June 14, 2006, when he awoke with a start.

Police release photos of cowbell assault suspect  1/27/2010 9:38:00 AM
The Mississippi State University Police Department this week released photos of a suspect wanted for assaulting another man with a cowbell at the Egg Bowl in late November.

Starkville woman arraigned on murder charge  1/27/2010 9:38:00 AM
A Starkville woman accused of killing a Mathiston man in 2008 was arraigned Monday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court on one count of murder.

Retreat produces timeline for municipal complex  1/27/2010 9:38:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen is making progress on its quest to build a new municipal complex in the city.

Hundreds turn out to Starkville Fire Department's fire-prevention workshop  1/26/2010 9:43:00 AM
Sudduth Elementary is a school that has been marred by tragedy this winter. A fire Dec. 28 at Academy Crossing Apartments killed nine people, including two Sudduth students, brothers Jacorian Vasser, 6, and Richard Vasser Jr., 5. Jacorian was in first grade and Richard, also known as “R.J.,” was in kindergarten.

AG: Starkvile’s cease and desist letter illegal  1/22/2010 10:17:00 AM
STARKVILLE — After months of discussions and legal opinions, the Starkville Board of Aldermen is considering an amendment to its sanitation ordinance which would allow private companies not contracted by the city to provide solid waste and recycling pickup services in town.

Oktibbeha County leaders quarrel over hospital bond  1/22/2010 10:17:00 AM
STARKVILLE — After some heated discussion Thursday, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors took a step toward increasing the county’s bonding capacity.

Sitel to lay off more than 250 in Starkville  1/21/2010 10:56:00 AM
More than 250 people are expected to lose their jobs over the next two months at the Sitel call center in Starkville.

Sitel to lay off 250 in Starkville  1/20/2010 11:37:00 AM
More than 250 people are expected to lose their jobs over the next two months at the Sitel call center in Starkville.

City says no to more ‘payday loan’ outfits  1/20/2010 10:00:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen fought back Tuesday against what they called a “proliferation” of high-interest lending businesses popping up within city limits.

Still no cause found in Academy Crossing fire  1/20/2010 10:00:00 AM
More than three weeks after the fatal Academy Crossing Apartments fire, investigators still have not determined an official cause of the blaze, Starkville Fire Department Chief Rodger Mann said Tuesday.

Locals leave for mission to devastated Haiti  1/19/2010 10:39:00 AM
The mood inside New Horizons Christian Fellowship Monday afternoon was one of excitement, hope and a little apprehension. Eleven volunteers and their loved ones rushed around the church at Highway 12 and Spring Street, organized boxes of medical supplies and received last-minute Tetanus shots. The group then left the church bound for the rescue effort in Haiti, where an earthquake last week killed thousands and left the country in ruins.

MSU, local bars to combat underage drinking  1/16/2010 9:55:00 PM
Mississippi State University is spearheading a campaign to combat underage drinking in Starkville.

Family mourns loss of longtime carrier  1/15/2010 11:45:00 AM
STARKVILLE — As Ingrid Minor sat in her kitchen Thursday morning and flipped through a photo album with pictures of her late husband, Winston, a warm, yet somber, smile spread across her face. She had come across a photo of Winston from 1964, the year after the couple met, when Ingrid was a young German woman living near Munich and Winston was stationed in country with the U.S. Army.

CEO: ‘Cadence moves on’ after board resignations  1/15/2010 11:45:00 AM
Cadence Bank CEO Lewis Mallory this week acknowledged the bank went through a “challenging” 2009, but said the institution’s financial situation isn’t as bleak as some media reports suggest.

Academy Crossing fire started in living room; wiring being investigated  1/14/2010 10:45:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Fire investigators met Wednesday in Starkville to try to determine what caused the deadly Dec. 28 blaze at Academy Crossing Apartments, but the gathering yielded no definitive results.

Cold weather fuels concern for gators  1/14/2010 10:45:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The normally choppy waters of Bluff Lake were frozen Tuesday morning as Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge Manager Henry Sansing took a stroll along a recently completed pier and gazed through the icy patchwork of trees and downed branches. A small area in the center of the 1,200-acre lake was thawed and the nearby spillways flowed freely, but most of the surface was covered by a thin layer of ice.

School-uniform decision draws heated reaction  1/13/2010 9:19:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A day after the Starkville School District board of trustees voted to implement a dress code for students and staff beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, parents polled at Overstreet Elementary School Tuesday had mixed feelings about the issue.

Another apartment fire in Starkville  1/13/2010 9:19:00 AM
No one was injured Tuesday night when fire broke out in an apartment on Lynn Lane, about a half-mile from the scene of the Academy Crossing Apartments blaze that killed nine people in late December.

Fire investigators eye cigarette, wiring  1/12/2010 9:48:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Investigators still haven’t determined a cause of the Dec. 28 blaze that killed nine people at Academy Crossing Apartments, but a Wednesday meeting among fire officials, electrical engineers and others could change that.

Dispatch carrier dies in hospital from Dec. wreck  1/11/2010 10:13:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A Dispatch newspaper carrier who was seriously injured in an early December accident died this weekend in Jackson, according to a long-time friend and fellow carrier.

Restaurants back to business after alcohol license suspension  1/9/2010 7:50:00 PM
Two Starkville restaurants are now serving alcohol again after the State Tax Commission’s Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control suspended their liquor license last week.

Starkville restaurants back to business after alcohol license suspension  1/8/2010 10:28:00 AM
Two Starkville restaurants are now serving alcohol again after the State Tax Commission’s Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control suspended their liquor license last week.

Final victims of Academy Crossing fire laid to rest  1/7/2010 9:36:00 AM
The final four victims of the Academy Crossing Apartments fire were laid to rest Wednesday, but not before a crowd of around 800 people packed into their funeral service at the Starkville Sportsplex.

Columbus woman dies in single-car accident  1/6/2010 9:50:00 AM
A Columbus woman died Tuesday night in a single-car wreck east of Starkville.

City to fix problem with wastewater  1/6/2010 9:50:00 AM
The city of Starkville’s wastewater treatment plant on Sand Road soon will receive some much-needed improvements.

A kiss goodbye: Lakesha Gillespie, victim of Academy Crossing fire, remembered as a fun-loving, artistic woman  1/6/2010 9:50:00 AM
As the family of 20-year-old Lakesha Gillespie approached her casket Tuesday inside Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church, her mother, Bessie, and sisters, Shonta and Adrian, couldn’t hold back tears. Gillespie’s father, Joe Henry, and brother, Joe, also fought to hold back their emotions as each walked to the casket and gave Lakesha one last kiss goodbye.

Supervisors vote to hire road manager  1/5/2010 9:30:00 AM
Over the past two years, Don Posey has worked two full-time jobs in Oktibbeha County: One as County Administrator and another as the county’s interim road manager.

Rejoicing amid sorrow: Castella Maria Bell remembered as young mother trying to turn her life around  1/5/2010 9:30:00 AM
A row of hearses sat in the parking lot outside Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church Monday, one for each of the four caskets inside. The first cries rang out inside the church at around 12:45 p.m., shortly after the organ player began a slow, somber hymn.

Getting Starkville fit  1/4/2010 10:29:00 AM
Taking a walk through the gymnasium at Oktibbeha County Hospital’s Wellness Connection Center, Elaine Schimpf smiles from ear to ear.

Academy Crossing residents struggle to cope  1/2/2010 7:29:00 PM
Kashonda Elliott was awake Thursday at about 4:30 a.m. when she heard an eerie noise. It sounded like a smoke detector going off in the building across from hers in the Academy Crossing apartment complex, where fire tore through a second-floor apartment days earlier.

Cause of fatal fire still under investigation  12/31/2009 11:52:00 AM
Fire officials are still trying to determine what caused a Monday morning blaze that killed nine people at Academy Crossing Apartments.

Hundreds remember Starkville fire victims  12/30/2009 10:26:00 AM
A day after fire killed six children and three women at the Academy Crossing apartment complex, hundreds of people turned out Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil in front of the building’s charred remains.

Friends, neighbors reeling from fatal fire that killed nine  12/28/2009 10:10:00 AM
The call came in to the Oktibbeha County E-911 center Monday just after 4:30 a.m. A fire was tearing through the second floor of Building E in the Academy Crossing apartment complex, and nine people were trapped in one unit.

Starkville woman dies in Clay County crash  12/23/2009 11:13:00 AM
A 54-year-old Starkville woman died Sunday morning in an accident at U.S. Highway 45 Alternate and Old West Point Road in Clay County.

Supes consider hiring agency to collect fines  12/22/2009 10:36:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors is considering whether or not to hire a collection agency to recover more than $1.1 million in unpaid taxes and fines from county residents.

Municipal complex plans moving slowly  12/19/2009 8:47:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The effort to build a new municipal complex in Starkville is moving slowly but surely, Mayor Parker Wiseman said Friday, but the city is not yet ready to release details about potential locations.

Wet year spoils Oktibbeha roads  12/18/2009 12:05:00 PM
Oktibbeha County is on pace to receive more precipitation this year than any year on record and, as a result, planned improvements to the county’s roadways have fallen by the wayside.

Police bust counterfeit operation  12/17/2009 10:06:00 AM
Larry Pritchard has a history of printing counterfeit money in Mississippi, Wisconsin and Missouri.

Aldermen approve condo project  12/16/2009 10:46:00 AM
A new condominium could soon spring up along Highway 182. The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday night unanimously approved developer Michael Kraker’s request to allow a residential use in a C2 general business district. The .38-acre property is located adjacent to a two-story, two-building apartment complex already owned by Kraker at the corner of North Montgomery Street and Highway 182.

Tea Party groups to rally in Starkville  12/16/2009 10:46:00 AM
The new multipurpose gymnasium in the Starkville Sportsplex building on Lynn Lane has a capacity of nearly 1,000 people.

Injured carrier stable, but in intensive care  12/15/2009 9:36:00 AM
It’s been a rough nine days for the family of Winston Minor, the Starkville Dispatch carrier who was seriously injured Dec. 6 in a crash on Highway 182.

Starkville celebrates a new sign at Patriot’s Park  12/12/2009 10:20:00 PM
When the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department this fall announced a “Name that park” contest for the playground at Whitfield Street and Avenue of Patriots, phone calls began pouring into its Lynn Lane office immediately.

Economist: Education key to healthy economy  12/11/2009 12:04:00 PM
The state and national economies are in bad shape, but an emphasis on improving residents’ education could help turn things around, a leading economist said Thursday at Mississippi State University.

Building a healthy hometown: Local group looking to win competition, improve quality of life  12/11/2009 12:04:00 PM
City officials in November formed a committee of local business leaders, medical experts and other community members to enter Starkville in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation’s “Healthy Hometown” competition against other municipalities from around the state.

Officials: Avoid fires, check smoke detectors  12/10/2009 9:45:00 AM
Fire officials in Starkville are urging residents to check their smoke detectors this winter following two blazes in area homes over the past week. The most recent incident was reported to Oktibbeha County E-911 around 9 a.m. Tuesday from Azalea Lane, where an electrical fire began behind a wall and the elderly resident’s smoke detector had dead batteries.

Highway 182 overlay still years away  12/10/2009 9:45:00 AM
City officials met Wednesday with Mississippi Department of Transportation representatives and learned an overlay of pothole-riddled Highway 182 won’t take place until 2013.

District to test program that touts math, science careers  12/10/2009 9:45:00 AM
In an effort to get more female and minority students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related career fields, a group of researchers from Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women is teaming up to bring those fields to Starkville School District classrooms.

Sportsplex to add toddler playground  12/9/2009 10:23:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The city of Starkville’s Parks and Recreation Department is preparing to add yet another feature to its award-winning Sportsplex facility on Lynn Lane. Construction will begin soon on a playground designed specifically for toddlers. The playground will feature small sliding boards, decks and rubber ground surfacing for safety.

Police release details of carrier’s accident  12/9/2009 10:23:00 AM
The Mississippi Highway Patrol on Tuesday released details about a weekend crash in Clayton Village that left a Dispatch newspaper carrier in critical condition.

Supervisors move forward on hospital renovation  12/8/2009 10:54:00 AM
Construction could begin as early as this spring on the renovation and expansion of Oktibbeha County Hospital.

Helping county students SOAR  12/8/2009 10:54:00 AM
A pledge by a local organization to provide additional scholarship money every year will provide an annual opportunity for graduates from Starkville and the surrounding county to attend East Mississippi Community College for free.

Dispatch carrier injured in early Sunday crash  12/8/2009 10:54:00 AM
A longtime newspaper carrier, who was preparing to deliver Sunday’s edition of The Starkville Dispatch, was seriously injured when his vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer.

Starkville ink: New tattoo studio opens  12/7/2009 9:54:00 AM
Since Dragon’s Ink Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio opened nine weeks ago at the corner of University Drive and Montgomery Street, owner Melissa Burton, 27, hasn’t had a lot of free time.

CottonMill Marketplace developer backs out of project  12/5/2009 9:46:00 PM
Developers Mark Nicholas and Brooks Holstein have spent the past 24 months trying to turn the land across Highway 12 from Mississippi State University into CottonMill Marketplace — an expansive development of retail space, restaurants, residences, a hotel and conference center.

Cowbell assault a ‘high priority’ for MSU police  12/4/2009 10:39:00 AM
The Mississippi State University Police Department is continuing to investigate a weekend assault during which one man severely injured another by hitting him over the head with a cowbell.

A Cre8tive birthday for local gallery  12/4/2009 10:39:00 AM
At Cre8tive Warehouse, Kris Lee, Heath Kleinke and several other artists will be celebrating Lee’s birthday by painting pieces utilizing the number 33 as a theme.

‘Classic Country Christmas’ to set new record  12/4/2009 10:39:00 AM
The Starkville Christmas Parade this year promises to be the biggest yet because 90 local churches, schools, businesses and other organizations had registered to participate in the parade.

Tears of joy  12/3/2009 11:08:00 AM
Sabrina Randle was shedding tears of joy Wednesday after she and husband Rufus Harvey, along with their three children, Kjuan, 13, Mya, 11, and Rufus Jr., 7, were about to spend the first night in their new Mississippi State University “Maroon Edition” Habitat for Humanity House.

Local civil rights activist donates papers  12/3/2009 11:08:00 AM
One of the most prominent civil rights activists in Oktibbeha County history is donating her personal papers to Mississippi State University.

Wife of dead hunter remains in jail  12/2/2009 10:05:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The wife of a hunter found shot to death last week south of Maben was still behind bars this morning on a $125,000 bond.

Local civil rights activist donates papers to MSU  12/2/2009 10:05:00 AM
One of the most prominent civil rights activists in Oktibbeha County history is donating her personal papers to Mississippi State University.

City hires agency to collect unpaid court fines, debts  12/2/2009 10:05:00 AM
Residents of Starkville with unpaid debts to the city might soon find a collection agency calling.

MSU robotics team wins national championship  12/1/2009 11:30:00 AM
When a team of Mississippi State University industrial technology students built a robot in 2008 and entered it in a competition against colleges and universities from around the U.S., not many people expected the Bulldogs to win.

Former restaurant now a cluster of ‘creative offices’ for small businesses  11/25/2009 5:05:00 PM
Jim Lytle can’t help but get a little teary-eyed when he talks about his new business, Mediagraphix Photography, on North Jackson Street.

Sheriff: Man's hunting death was murder; wife arrested  11/25/2009 1:14:00 PM
The wife of a hunter found dead Sunday morning in western Oktibbeha County was arrested Wednesday and charged with her husband's murder.

Starkville man who allegedly told 'sob story' held for robbery, kidnapping  11/24/2009 10:25:00 AM
A Starkville man who police say has been going door-to-door in the middle of the night and begging for money with a "sob story" about a sick daughter is now being held on charges of robbery and kidnapping.

Residents concerned over road extension  11/24/2009 9:54:00 AM
The plan to extend Pat Station Road roughly three-fourths of a mile from Old West Point Road to the intersection of North Montgomery Street, Rockhill Road and Garrard Road was met with interest and some concern Monday during a public hearing at the Starkville Sportsplex.

Officials probe fatal hunting accident, second shooting  11/24/2009 9:54:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a hunter found shot Sunday morning near the Choctaw County line.

Appeals court hears Oktibbeha land dispute  11/20/2009 11:34:00 AM
The gravel road separating Academy Crossing Apartments and the property along Louisville Street owned by Dr. Charles Scarborough is 12 feet wide and, at one time, is believed to have gone all the way to Louisville. These days, it’s in the middle of a five-year-old property dispute between Scarborough and Academy Crossing owner Mildred Rollins.

Curbside recycling records biggest week yet  11/19/2009 11:42:00 AM
A crowd gathered at Starkville Recycling Wednesday to celebrate the success of the city’s curbside recycling program, but the group was greeted with some unexpected news when Ward 3 Aldermen Eric Parker announced the amount of recyclable materials collected that morning from city streets was the largest amount to-date.

Aldermen deny housing development on Yellow Jacket Drive  11/18/2009 10:03:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday denied a developer’s request to rezone 4.98 acres on Yellow Jacket Drive for a medium-density housing development.

Search begins for funds to improve culvert and drainage systems in Starkville  11/18/2009 10:03:00 AM
On a ride through the Sunset subdivision west of Starkville, Bobby Bardwell points to a pool of water in a culvert at the corner of Greenwood Street and Chisholm Drive. Tall grass pokes through the water’s surface. Empty bottles and cans float nearby.

Police search for stolen four-wheeler, mower  11/14/2009 7:02:00 PM
The Starkville Police Department is asking for the public’s help to locate two pieces of equipment stolen recently from area homes.

City recycling program: 25 tons and counting  11/13/2009 10:26:00 AM
In an effort to keep sustainable living fresh in the public’s mind, the city of Starkville is introducing residents to one new facet of its recycling program every month.

New system to offer easy access to local information  11/12/2009 10:25:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Residents of Starkville and Oktibbeha County could be the first in the state to dial 311 for non-emergency calls.

Kappa Sigma appeals charter revocation  11/10/2009 9:47:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State University chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity is appealing a decision by the organization’s national office to revoke its charter.

Study: Heart attacks down since smoking ban  11/10/2009 9:47:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A Mississippi State University study released Monday shows a 27 percent decrease in heart attacks among Starkville residents since the city passed its no-smoking ordinance in 2006.

Greta Bryan helps victims, families as they go through emotional court cases  11/9/2009 9:31:00 AM
Throughout the recent capital murder trial of Bobby Batiste in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, family and friends of victim Andreas Galanis sat in a group two rows behind the prosecution’s table, sometimes in tears, other times stoic. The group sat through graphic testimony and photos of the crime scene; detailed stories of deception and fraud; and even pictures of Galanis’ battered and lifeless body. Yet, through it all, one woman was by their side, even though she never met Galanis or his family until shortly after the murder.

Shooting suspects’ family members arrested  11/6/2009 12:02:00 PM
The Starkville Police Department is still searching for two men involved in a weekend shooting on North Montgomery Street, but three of the suspects’ family members were arrested this week for withholding information about their whereabouts.

Plane’s owner, instructor uninjured after pair forced to make belly landing at Starkville airport  11/6/2009 12:02:00 PM
No injuries were reported Thursday afternoon when the landing gear on a Cessna Cutlass 172RG malfunctioned and the aircraft slid to a halt beside the runway at George M. Bryan Field.

Boy Scouts prepare for trip to Rocky Mountains  11/5/2009 11:13:00 AM
STARKVILLE — While their friends spent Halloween weekend trick-or-treating around the Golden Triangle, a group of local Boy Scouts took to the woods to prepare for an upcoming trip to the mountains of New Mexico.

Tobacco-free policy begins this month for city employees  11/4/2009 9:45:00 AM
City employees accustomed to using tobacco on the job have less than two weeks left to enjoy their habit. The Starkville Board of Aldermen in September adopted a tobacco-free workplace policy for employees, set to go into effect Nov. 15.

Supes OK new wastewater district  11/3/2009 9:41:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday approved a resolution officially creating the East Oktibbeha Wastewater District.

Authorities yet to release name of fire victim  11/3/2009 9:41:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A pair of dogs laid lazily in the tall grass along Townsend Road Monday afternoon and another stood alert just inside a thin wire fence. The hound in the yard barked menacingly at anyone who approached while the charred remains of a mobile home loomed in the background. The roof of the trailer was melted and scorched, and the blackened insides of the structure were visible from the dusty, unpaved road. The home belonged to an elderly man who died Sunday when the structure caught fire and he was unable to escape. Authorities have not released the identity of the man, only saying he was in his early 70s.

Police continue search for weekend shooting suspects  11/3/2009 9:34:00 AM
The Starkville Police Department was still searching today for two suspects involved in a weekend shooting on North Montgomery Street.

Bobby Batiste sentenced to death  10/31/2009 10:01:00 PM
After three hours of deliberation today, an Oktibbeha County jury sentenced 29-year-old Bobby Batiste to death for the capital murder of his rommate last year at 21 Apartments.

Local activist protests Batiste’s all-white jury  10/30/2009 10:06:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A community activist is protesting the all-white jury in the trial of a former Mississippi State University student accused of killing his roommate.

Evidence contradicts Batiste’s account of killing  10/30/2009 10:06:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Thursday testimony suggests a former Mississippi State University student on trial for capital murder might not have been totally truthful last year in statements to authorities regarding the death of his housemate at 21 Apartments.

Defense Attorney: Batiste was attacked first  10/29/2009 10:38:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Jurors in the capital murder trial of Bobby Batiste got their first glimpse Wednesday at the brutal slaying of Mississippi State University student Andreas Galanis last March at 21 Apartments, but defense attorney Jim Lappan threw the panel a curve ball when he said during opening statements that Galanis was the aggressor and initiated the fatal fight with Batiste.

Attorneys question potential jurors about death penalty  10/28/2009 9:45:00 AM
It’s been a long two days for Bobby Batiste. Sitting silently with his team of defense attorneys in front of a packed courtroom at the Oktibbeha County Courthouse, the former Mississippi State University student has faced more than 100 prospective jurors in his capital murder trial, all the while knowing 12 members of the group ultimately will decide whether he lives or if he dies.

Jury in Batiste trial could be sequestered  10/27/2009 10:04:00 AM
Jury selection continued this morning in the capital murder trial of former Mississippi State University student Bobby Batiste, who is accused of killing his roommate last year at their off-campus apartment.

Chiropractor bounces back from office fire  10/22/2009 11:00:00 AM
It’s been nearly two months since fire ripped through the chiropractic office of Dr. Robert Leach at the corner of Russell and Hogan streets.

Sidewalk, stormwater ordinances irk builder  10/21/2009 9:46:00 AM
Builder Clayton Richardson is fed up with Starkville’s stormwater and sidewalk ordinances, saying the regulations are too strict and are scaring away developers.

Excitement builds for aerospace megasite  10/20/2009 9:29:00 AM
Touting messages of progress and economic development, some of the state’s most influential people gathered Monday at East Mississippi Community College-Golden Triangle to mark what Joe Higgins called “the end of the beginning” of the Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park project.

Supervisor wants return to the beat system  10/20/2009 9:23:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County Supervisor Orlando Trainer has long been a proponent of road-improvement projects in his district, but he’s felt limited by the unit system under which the county operates.

Cash festival attendance down from past years  10/19/2009 9:19:00 AM
Hours after the conclusion of the third annual Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival Sunday, organizer Robbie Ward said he plans to bring the event back to Main Street next year.

Starkville teens building robot  10/19/2009 9:19:00 AM
The buzzing of power tools echoed down the empty corridor in Mississippi State University’s Simrall Hall Friday night, though no classes were in session.

Johnny Cash Festival rocks Starkville  10/18/2009 12:07:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Musician John Francis recalls a time last February when he was working with John Carter Cash, the only son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, and the pair went to a cabin in the woods to hash out some songs.

Mark Keenum installed at MSU  10/18/2009 12:07:00 AM
STARKVILLE — When Mark Keenum and Scott Ross roamed the campus of Mississippi State University three decades ago, they were just students with their whole lives ahead of them.

Fists of fury: Wrestling a way of life for MWF performers  10/18/2009 12:07:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Danny Campbell walks confidently through the narrow back hallways at Rick’s Cafe Americain with a drink in his hand, a smile on his face and a tight black T-shirt that reads “I support midget violence.” At the edge of the kitchen, Campbell, 44, is stopped by a handful of young women who ask to pose with him for photos. He is more than happy to oblige.

On wings of Eagles: Starkville teen overcomes obstacles to earn Scouting's highest honor  10/16/2009 9:53:00 AM
David Bouchard of Starkville was born blind and has spent all 18 years of his life overcoming obstacles. He will be awarded Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church for overcoming one of them.

Johnny Cash fest offers more than just music  10/15/2009 9:56:00 AM
While much of the attention at the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival this weekend will center on the musical acts of headliners Carlene Carter and Justin Townes Earle, aspiring musicians will have the chance to learn more about the songwriting process from two other renowned performers.

Planners reject controversial zoning change  10/14/2009 9:38:00 AM
The Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday voted against a developer’s request to rezone 4.98 acres off Yellow Jacket Drive.

Kappa Sigma's charter revoked at MSU  10/12/2009 2:33:00 PM
The national office of the Kappa Sigma fraternity last week revoked the charter of the organization’s Mississippi State University chapter. Kappa Sigma was investigated by university officials for violations stemming from a September party involving alcohol and underage drinking.

Midget wrestling coming to Starkville  10/10/2009 7:57:00 PM
Fans of the unusual will be in for a treat this week as Rick’s Cafe in Starkville hosts a night of professional midget wrestling. The Micro Wrestling Federation, a nationwide touring group, will put on a show Oct. 14 at Rick’s, located at 319 B Highway 82 E. The MWF will set up a ”mini” wrestling ring in the middle of the dance floor, said Rick’s Cafe owner Rick Welch, and six to eight wrestlers will perform.

Curbside recycling kicks off  10/9/2009 10:41:00 AM
Joe Bell and Stan Shurden were ready Wednesday for the first day of citywide curbside recycling pickup to begin in Starkville. But the co-owners of Starkville Recycling had no idea how much material they would actually process.

MSU set to begin work on EcoCAR  10/8/2009 10:11:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The design phase is complete and the team is all set. Now, students at Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Technology are ready to transform a 2009 Saturn Vue into an electric-powered hybrid vehicle.

City enforces strict drainage rule  10/7/2009 10:04:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman made the definitive decision Tuesday on what stormwater runoff standards developers will have to meet to build in the city.

Oktibbeha supes back megasite  10/6/2009 9:18:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday threw its official support behind a potential aerospace megasite project adjacent to Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

Painting and skating  10/5/2009 10:59:00 AM
STARKVILLE — On the first Friday of each month, a new artist’s work is put on display at Cre8tive Warehouse at Washington and Lampkin streets in downtown Starkville. The pieces then remain on display for a few weeks before another artist takes over the Warehouse’s gallery space.

Program trains seniors to re-enter work force  10/3/2009 6:23:00 PM
Experience Works is looking for more than two dozen senior citizens to begin on-the-job training programs — and possibly find gainful employment — at locations around the Golden Triangle.

Black Hills Festival reborn in Starkville  10/2/2009 9:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE — It’s been 10 long years since the sounds of the Black Hills Festival echoed throughout the neighborhoods around J.L. King Memorial Park, off of North Long Street. This Saturday, however, nearby residents will once again be greeted by a drum call and day-long celebration when the event returns to Starkville.

Carville, Matalin light up MSU  9/30/2009 10:24:00 AM
James Carville and Mary Matalin come from vastly different backgrounds. He’s a Democratic political strategist who grew up in Louisiana. She’s a Republican from Illinois.

E-mail scam targets arts council  9/30/2009 9:40:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Candy Crecink went to work Tuesday morning expecting it to be just like any other day. But within minutes, Crecink was on the phone with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report a suspected Internet crime.

Carville, Matalin to speak at MSU tonight  9/29/2009 9:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Political commentators James Carville and Mary Matalin, the husband-and-wife duo known for sitting on opposite sides of the political aisle, are set to speak today at Mississippi State University as part of the College of Business’s third annual Leadership Summit.

Police searching for Oktibbeha man  9/29/2009 9:46:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help to locate a man missing since Monday afternoon.

Starkville Parks and Rec garners state recognition  9/26/2009 9:26:00 PM
STARKVILLE - The Starkville Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating two awards it won this week at the Mississippi Recreation and Park Association Conference in McComb.

Bulldogs ready to bash  9/24/2009 9:31:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The streets of the Cotton District will be abuzz this weekend as the 10th annual Bulldog Bash kicks off with food, fun and live music.

Latimer appointed city attorney  9/23/2009 9:38:00 AM
STARKVILLE — After more than two months with an interim city attorney, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday finally agreed on an official replacement.

Construction to begin on Poorhouse Road paving  9/22/2009 9:16:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Construction is set to begin soon on two long-awaited infrastructure projects in Oktibbeha County.

Curbside recycling a sign of the times in Starkville  9/19/2009 9:52:00 PM
STARKVILLE — As Starkville residents continue to sign up for the city’s new curbside recycling program, officials and “green” advocates in town can’t help but feel like their efforts are finally paying off.

Leaders ready to ‘move on’ from liquor debate  9/17/2009 10:09:00 AM
The final chapter in Starkville’s Sunday alcohol sales debate was written Wednesday in Jackson by the Mississippi Tax Commission.

Hunter safety courses available  9/17/2009 10:09:00 AM
STARKVILLE — It’s not too late for Golden Triangle residents to sign up for upcoming hunter education courses with the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

State approves Sunday liquor sales in Starkville  9/16/2009 10:24:00 AM
The State Tax Commission this morning approved the city of Starkville's request to allow restaurants to sell liquor and wine on Sundays.

Electric rates on the rise in Starkville  9/16/2009 9:54:00 AM
STARKVILLE — On the same night the Starkville Board of Aldermen approved a balanced budget and long-term plans to improve the city’s infrastructure, the board also voted 4-3 in favor of a utility rate increase for customers of the Starkville Electric Department.

State takes up Sunday alcohol petition today  9/16/2009 9:54:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi Tax Commission was scheduled to meet this morning to consider the city of Starkville’s request to allow restaurants to sell liquor and wine on Sundays.

CVB, Cash festival organizer at odds  9/15/2009 9:25:00 AM
A majority of the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival next month won’t take place at its usual location in downtown Starkville, but at Rick’s Cafe American on Highway 182.

Oktibbeha supes raise taxes  9/15/2009 9:25:00 AM
The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday unanimously approved a 5.14-mill property tax increase as part of its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.

DeRego creates art in all forms  9/14/2009 10:15:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Troy DeRego is a writer, a filmmaker, a musician, an artist and a Web site designer all rolled into one. The New Hampshire native also serves as one of the organizers of the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival each year in Starkville. And he runs a Web site, http://starkvilleeats.com, which serves as a guide to the city’s restaurant scene.

Angel Food Ministries offers help for needy  9/11/2009 10:26:00 AM
By day, Matthew Rye is director of the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department.

GSDP unveils new logo  9/10/2009 9:57:00 AM
When Greg Jeffries sat down to design a logo representative of the city of Starkville, he wanted to create something that captured the community’s culture and character.

New wastewater system in the works  9/9/2009 9:56:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Residents with no access to public wastewater systems in eastern Oktibbeha County could soon find a new treatment option in place.

Starkville planners approve Creamery at Central Station  9/9/2009 9:50:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday approved the first phase of the Creamery at Central Station project, proposed in the old Borden Milk plant off South Montgomery Street. The preliminary/final plat, which planning and zoning passed unanimously, now must be approved by the Starkville Board of Aldermen.

Starkville makes do amid hiring freeze  9/5/2009 8:20:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The hiring freeze approved Tuesday by the Starkville Board of Aldermen will leave some offices short-handed, but city department heads Thursday acknowledged it was a necessary move and said they aren’t too worried.

Oktibbeha supervisor arrested in Starkville  9/4/2009 10:30:00 AM
An Oktibbeha County Supervisor was arrested last week on a charge of disorderly conduct after an incident outside the Starkville Police Department.

State: Starkville's alcohol sales request 'neither approved nor denied'  9/3/2009 8:37:00 AM
The State Tax Commission said it has neither “approved nor denied” Starkville’s request to allow Sunday alcohol sales, after reports surfaced Wednesday that the Tax Commission’s Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control had issued a preliminary denial of the city’s request to allow restaurants to sell wine and spirits by the glass on Sundays.

ABC denies Starkville’s request for Sunday alcohol sales  9/2/2009 11:51:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Just two weeks after the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to allow Sunday alcohol sales, the State Tax Commission’s Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control threw the city a curve ball.

New fire station getting funded by grant  9/2/2009 10:56:00 AM
A new fire station is on the way in Starkville. The about 5,800-sqaure-foot building will be constructed at Reed Road and Highway 25 South.

Plan could create Beale Street atmosphere  8/30/2009 12:17:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Business owners in downtown Starkville have grown increasingly alarmed over the past few years as crowds during Mississippi State University football weekends have spilled into the streets.

Starkville authorities investigate possible arson  8/28/2009 11:24:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A day after fire ripped through his chiropractic office on Russell Street, Dr. Robert Leach was back to work Thursday, only this time it was from a new location: his home.

Starkville Sportsplex offers yoga, other activities  8/28/2009 11:24:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The new Starkville Sportsplex building on Lynn Lane has become popular for city residents looking to play basketball or use the facility’s free indoor walking track.

Cash family to pardon the city during ’09 Flower Pickin’ Festival  8/26/2009 10:58:00 AM
During each of the past two Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festivals, the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County have granted symbolic pardons to the family of Johnny Cash, who was arrested in Starkville in 1965 and later wrote a song about the ordeal: “Starkville City Jail.”

McDonald’s shooting suspects face new charges  8/26/2009 10:58:00 AM
Two Columbus men who were arrested in December for their involvement in a shooting outside a Starkville McDonald’s are facing new charges this week related to an Aug. 15 purse snatching in downtown Starkville.

Travis Outlaw Day this weekend  8/26/2009 10:58:00 AM
Golden Triangle residents who want to hang out with a professional basketball player will have the chance this weekend when the city of Starkville celebrates Travis Outlaw Day.

Missing Starkville man found in Florida  8/22/2009 10:48:00 PM
A Starkville man who went missing Wednesday was found safe and sound Friday in Florida.

Swine flu keeps MSU on edge  8/21/2009 12:18:00 PM
Rumors of upcoming class cancellations at Mississippi State University due to an H1N1, or “swine flu,” outbreak aren’t true, university officials said this week. As of Thursday afternoon, the university had 109 potential cases of H1N1 on campus, though only eight cases have been confirmed by the Mississippi Department of Health, said Robert Cadenhead, administrator of the university’s Health Center. Some of the cases might be seasonal flu, Cadenhead said, though he acknowledged seasonal flu outbreaks typically don’t show up until later in the year.

Starkville police locate missing man  8/21/2009 11:04:00 AM
A Starkville man who went missing Wednesday has been located in Florida.

In wake of vote, Starkville residents, visitors still split on Sunday alcohol sales  8/20/2009 10:11:00 AM
A day after the Starkville Board of Aldermen voted to allow Sunday alcohol sales, the city of about 24,000 Wednesday had mixed feelings about the issue.

Starkville approves Sunday alcohol sales  8/19/2009 7:12:00 AM
Touting messages of progress and development, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday took another step toward allowing Sunday alcohol sales.

Lt. Gov. pushes voter ID reform at Starkville meeting  8/18/2009 10:44:00 AM
Mississippi Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant was in Starkville Monday and asked the city’s Rotarians for their support in making identification requirements stricter for voters when they head to the polls.

Starkville residents asked to name city park  8/18/2009 10:44:00 AM
The Starkville Park Commission is calling on residents to help name a popular city park.

Ragtime Festival receives grant  8/17/2009 10:38:00 AM
The Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival is still seven months away, but Mississippi State University Thursday announced it has received a $4,000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission to help produce the event.

Sexual assault suspect arrested  8/15/2009 7:13:00 PM
A sexual assault Wednesday morning outside of Starkville left one woman in Oktibbeha County Hospital and the suspect in Oktibbeha County Jail.

Aldermen plan to revise Sunday alcohol ordinance  8/14/2009 10:08:00 AM
The Starkville Board of Aldermen is expected to vote Tuesday on proposed amendments to the city’s alcohol ordinance after it holds a second public hearing on the matter.

Bikers rolling in to Sturgis for rally  8/13/2009 10:51:00 AM
STURGIS — The town of Sturgis is bracing for an influx of bikers this weekend as the 13th edition of the Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally kicks off in southwestern Oktibbeha County.

Starkville School District video garners national attention  8/13/2009 10:16:00 AM
Working in the video production business, Robbie Coblentz doesn’t often get chills when he views a piece of work. But a video his company put together for the Starkville School District over the summer recently made his hair stand on end.

Planners deny rezoning request  8/12/2009 11:47:00 AM
STARKVILLE — A developer’s attempt to rezone 4.98 acres off Yellow Jacket Drive for a new subdivision was rejected Tuesday night by the Starkville planning and zoning commission.

Group of MSU students, faculty comb Starkville for litter, make other improvements  8/11/2009 10:23:00 AM
Donned in blue shirts, shorts and gloves, a handful of Mississippi State University students walked side-by-side through the streets of the Cotton District Monday morning, plastic bags in hand, their eyes peeled for garbage and recyclables. Another group traversed the downtown area with the same goal in mind: to rid the streets of litter.

Starkville's Mike Murphey, who came to town as a student, has owned The Bicycle Shop for 30 years  8/10/2009 10:16:00 AM
Nestled deep in a corner of Cotton Crossing Shopping Center, The Bicycle Shop over the past three decades has become a haven for Starkville’s cycling community.

Oktibbeha churches cook for less fortunate  8/8/2009 9:41:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The group stood as one and bowed their heads Thursday evening when Paul Millsaps, a member of First Presbyterian Church on University Drive, led them in a blessing before dinner.

Ex-student who choked coed faces 20 years at sentencing  8/7/2009 12:06:00 PM
STARKVILLE — A former Mississippi State University student who admitted to choking a freshman coed last fall in a campus dormitory is set to be sentenced today in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Neighbor shoots family’s dog  8/6/2009 10:45:00 AM
STARKVILLE — An Oktibbeha County man was arrested over the weekend for killing a neighbor’s dog that wandered onto his property.

Passionate arguments from those for, against alcohol sales dominate charged public hearing  8/5/2009 11:00:00 AM
Some have called the debate over Sunday alcohol sales one of the most divisive in Starkville’s recent history.

Ex-game warden sentenced to 60 years for fatal DUI crash  8/4/2009 10:36:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The night began like any other. A group of friends were hanging out at Rick’s Cafe American in Starkville and agreed to meet again later for a cruise around the back roads of southern Oktibbeha County.

Crash on Highway 45 Alternate injures three  8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM
A two-vehicle crash near Crawford Saturday afternoon sent three people to the hospital and left watermelon pieces strewn across the road.

Sunday alcohol hearing this week  8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM
STARKVILLE — The first of two public hearings on Sunday alcohol sales in Starkville will take place this week at City Hall.

MSU prof faces assault charge  7/31/2009 11:00:00 AM
A Mississippi State University professor accused of assaulting a student last month is scheduled for an Oktibbeha County Justice Court appearance Tuesday to face the charge.

Treetop foundation: Refuge Friends build new bald eagle’s nest  7/31/2009 11:00:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The dead old pine tree stands ominous and gray in a section of woods just off the beaten path in the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.

Starkville police seek info on Sears break-in  7/31/2009 11:00:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Police Department is continuing to investigate a break-in this week at the Sears store on Highway 12.

MSU professor faces charge of assaulting student  7/30/2009 3:25:00 PM
STARKVILLE — A Mississippi State University professor accused of assaulting a student last month is scheduled for an Oktibbeha County Justice Court appearance Tuesday to face the charge.

Railroad cleanup scheduled next weekend  7/30/2009 10:33:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The railroad tracks beneath the University Drive bridge in Starkville are overgrown, littered with garbage and stink of stagnant water.

Son of ex-alderman gets 15 years on cocaine charge  7/29/2009 10:37:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The son of a former Starkville Board of Aldermen member was sentenced Tuesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to 15 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system for dealing cocaine.

Former Starkville official’s son guilty of cocaine charge  7/28/2009 10:12:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The son of a former Starkville Board of Aldermen member was sentenced today in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court for a drug violation that dates back more than two years.

Artists wanted for new Starkville logo campaign  7/27/2009 10:42:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Artists, grab your sketch pads. The Greater Starkville Development Partnership is now taking submissions for a new logo/slogan competition to represent the Starkville community. The winning logo/slogan will be available to the city, businesses, Mississippi State University and anyone else who wants to use it, Partnership President and CEO Jon Maynard said.

Starkville sales tax revenues drop  7/25/2009 8:48:00 PM
STARKVILLE - A look at sales tax figures released Friday by the city of Starkville shows revenues are down over the past year. As of May, the most recent month for which figures were available, the city received $1,098,487.98 in sales tax. This compares to $1,239,757.53 reported by May 2008.

City misses bike path deadline; returns unspent $1.2 million  7/24/2009 10:12:00 AM
With plans for the proposed Lynn Lane multi-use path at a standstill, Starkville officials this week asked the state to keep more than $1.2 million in unspent federal grant money until the project is ready for construction.

Street signs with a flair  7/23/2009 10:25:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Residents of some Starkville neighborhoods soon might not have to look at the same drab street signs as other parts of the city.

Sunday alcohol supporters, opponents dig in  7/22/2009 10:59:00 AM
The latest debate over Sunday alcohol sales heated up Tuesday in Starkville. Newly elected Alderman Jeremiah Dumas brought the issue to the table when, during a marathon meeting in City Hall, he and his fellow aldermen agreed to hold two public hearings next month to discuss the issue. The board is considering amendments to the city’s code of ordinances which would allow alcohol sales seven days a week.

Aldermen OK Academy Road zoning change  7/22/2009 10:55:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen approved a controversial zoning change Tuesday night, despite the wishes of several dozen residents who showed up in opposition.

Starkville police ask for help to solve robbery  7/21/2009 11:25:00 AM
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Police Department is investigating a weekend robbery outside of Cadence Bank downtown.

Wiseman: New municipal complex is ‘highest priority’  7/21/2009 11:19:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman Monday said a new municipal complex should be “the highest priority” for the city, and he expects the issue to come to a referendum by next summer.

Oktibbeha supes delay decision on road repairs  7/21/2009 10:59:00 AM
STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer made progress Monday in his quest to pave the county’s vast network of gravel roads, but fellow board members held off on his request to pursue a bond issue for major infrastructure improvements.

Making a stand: Greg's Produce Barn, owned by Greg Bollinger, offers fresh produce to Oktibbeha residents year-round  7/13/2009
STARKVILLE — Greg’s Produce Barn is a colorful little place on Highway 12, just west of Starkville in the Longview community.

Developer churning new life into former Borden Milk plant  7/9/2009
STARKVILLE — The old Borden Milk plant has sat vacant at the corner of Lampkin and Montgomery streets in Starkville for years.

Volunteers leave their mark on Noxubee Wildlife Refuge  7/8/2009
STARKVILLE — The group came together nearly a year ago as total strangers from all over the country. One was from Minnesota and another was from Georgia. Massachusetts also was represented, along with Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

Oktibbeha supervisor wants new bond issue for road work  7/7/2009
STARKVILLE — Another citizen showed up at the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday to ask for the county to pave a road, but the board ultimately told him it probably won’t happen any time soon.

Mayor Camp vetoes Lynn Lane path  7/5/2009
STARKVILLE — Outgoing Starkville Mayor Dan Camp on Thursday issued a veto of the revised Lynn Lane multi-use path project.

No more ink: Oktibbeha to get scan fingerprint technology  7/5/2009
STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department soon will begin using some new, state-of-the-art fingerprinting technology in an effort to improve its outdated system.

Wiseman: ‘Something big is about to happen’  7/3/2009

Battling the bug: Starkville, Columbus pull out the stops to control mosquitoes  7/2/2009
STARKVILLE — In the city of Starkville, Joseph Goddard is a mosquito’s worst enemy. The 22-year-old Mississippi State graduate has been on a mission to control the city’s mosquito population for each of the past three summers. He places mosquito larvicide tablets in standing water to kill the insects before they hatch; he sprays chemicals to kill mosquitoes in areas where they’ve become a problem, including the city’s streets and neighborhoods; and he has eight New Jersey mosquito traps set up throughout town.

Starkville aldermen shake up Parks Dept. in final meeting  7/1/2009
STARKVILLE — In its final meeting of the term, the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday made a controversial decision about the future of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Aldermen OK new bike path for Lynn Lane  7/1/2009
STARKVILLE — A new Lynn Lane recreation path is in the works. The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted 4-3 for engineering firm Neel-Schaffer to move forward with a revised plan that would connect Sycamore Street to McKee Park and the city’s Sportsplex.

Starkville aldermen OK new Lynn Lane bike path plan  7/1/2009
STARKVILLE — A new Lynn Lane recreation path is in the works. The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted 4-3 for engineering firm Neel-Schaffer to move forward with a revised plan that would connect Sycamore Street to McKee Park and the city’s Sportsplex.

Faver takes over as Starkville judge  7/1/2009
STARKVILLE — Rodney Faver was sworn in as Starkville municipal court judge Tuesday during a ceremony in City Hall and took over in place of retiring Judge William Eshee today at 12:01 a.m.

Theater brings home awards  6/30/2009
STARKVILLE — Starkville Community Theatre members earned several awards last week for their portrayal of “Catfish Moon” at the American Association of Community Theatre Festival in Tacoma, Wash. The group won the Outstanding Backstage Achievement Award and the Outstanding Ensemble Award.

Wiseman's funding dwarfed mayoral opponents  6/27/2009
STARKVILLE — A look at the campaign finance reports from the Starkville municipal election this spring shows a significant disparity in the amount of contributions made to each candidate.

Starkville restaurant wants to cook up world record  6/27/2009

Eat With Us Group boycotts Canadian seafood  6/26/2009
A local restaurant group has joined businesses all over the world in a boycott of Canadian seafood. The Humane Society of the United States announced this week the Eat With Us Group, which is based out of Columbus, is boycotting Canadian seafood in response to the country’s annual commercial seal hunt.

MSU picks one of its own new dean of students  6/25/2009
STARKVILLE — Despite a nationwide search for a new dean of students, Mississippi State University has selected one of its own to fill the position.

New utility deposit policy approved  6/24/2009
STARKVILLE — A new, more expensive utility deposit is on the way in Starkville. The city’s Board of Aldermen Tuesday approved a new Starkville Electric Department deposit policy which increases the amount new residents must pay when setting up new accounts. The new rates are based on a customer’s utility credit history, which the Electric Department will check when patrons sign up for service.

Bike path won’t connect Starkville to MSU  6/24/2009
STARKVILLE — The Lynn Lane bike path project is dead. Kevin Stafford, of engineering firm Neel-Schaffer, told the Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday the whole scope of the Lynn Lane project needs to be changed. Neel-Schaffer asked the Federal Highway Administration for an extension to get all the final right-of-way acquisitions done, and to take care of other issues needed before the project can move forward, such as environmental studies, but the FHA didn’t grant the extension, Stafford said.

Oktibbeha supervisors reach deal with Highlands Plantation  6/23/2009
STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors Monday night put one ongoing controversy to rest — at least for now — but rekindled the flame in another.

Starkville to get DEQ grant for curbside recycling  6/19/2009
STARKVILLE — The city of Starkville received word this week it was approved for a $25,000 Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality grant to initiate a curbside recycling program.

A model neighborhood: Campers study Cotton District architecture  6/18/2009
The Cotton District these days is a vibrant and bustling section of Starkville, with restaurants, apartments, bars and other businesses. It’s a far cry from the way it used to be, says Mayor Dan Camp, who began buying properties in the Cotton District in 1969. Camp described the old neighborhood as a “slum that nobody would walk into.”

Former Starkville Daily News editor remembered  6/17/2009
STARKVILLE — Don Foster was known by many in the Starkville community as a charismatic writer and sports editor for the Starkville Daily News.

City judge leaving bench  6/17/2009
STARKVILLE — William Eshee wears a lot of hats. He’s a judge, a professor, a hunter, a soldier and a father. At the end of this month, Eshee will take off two of those hats when he retires as municipal court judge for the city of Starkville, and as a business law professor at Mississippi State University. He officially retires from both jobs June 30.

Starkville Community Theatre heading to national competition  6/16/2009
STARKVILLE — On stage, Krista Vowel is a complicated character. Her name is Betty and she’s caught up in the middle of a tense love triangle involving her ex-husband and one of his childhood friends. Her brother, meanwhile, tries to maintain the peace.

Peach stand returns, at new location  6/15/2009
STARKVILLE — She parks her truck in front of the old service station on University Drive four days a week, pulls out a chair and sets up her umbrella.

Officials want bike-friendly status  6/13/2009
With a bicycle lane already connecting downtown to Mississippi State University, and another planned nearby, the city of Starkville in recent years has worked hard to provide safe transportation opportunities for cyclists.

Wiseman wants board to wait on personnel changes at City Hall  6/13/2009
STARKVILLE — Incoming Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said Thursday he doesn’t plan to recommend any immediate personnel changes at City Hall, but a six-month evaluation period might be in the works.

McCool man arrested for a weekend shooting  6/11/2009
STARKVILLE — Starkville police arrested a McCool man Tuesday night for a weekend shooting in the Brookville Garden apartment complex. Stennis Miller, 18, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of shooting into a dwelling.

CottonMill developers seek new deal with MSU  6/11/2009
STARKVILLE — Despite months of negotiations, developers of the CottonMill Marketplace project still have not reached an agreement with Mississippi State University on the sale of the historic E.E. Cooley building.

Oktibbeha County Lake levee set for repairs  6/10/2009
STARKVILLE — Officials in Oktibbeha County are set to repair a deteriorating section of the Oktibbeha County Lake levee in coming weeks.

Along the tracks, sounds of silence  6/9/2009
STARKVILLE — The train cars line the tracks outside of Starkville for miles on each side. Many are rusted and covered with graffiti. The tracks, meanwhile, are becoming overgrown, with some weeds standing as high as 6 and 7 feet tall. For Kansas City Southern, the company whose trains run through Starkville, the idle box cars are just a sign of the times.

Profile: 'It’s definitely not monotonous’  6/8/2009
STARKVILLE — Ty Thames goes through 1,000 spoons a week. As the co-owner of Restaurant Tyler in downtown Starkville, plus other restaurants in town including Bin 612, Rock Bottom Bar and Grill, and Barrister’s, Thames nearly always has a plastic spoon in his hand as he makes his rounds through the kitchen. He strolls from sauce to sauce, dish to dish, and constantly checks tastes and temperatures.

New city leaders ready for future  6/8/2009
STARKVILLE — The city of Starkville is poised to welcome a new mayor and five new members of the Board of Aldermen next month, but the incoming leaders aren’t worried about a lack of experience in City Hall.

Mayor Dan Camp looks back on four years of progress  6/6/2009
STARKVILLE — In the minds of some Starkville residents, the last four years in City Hall have been as contentious as any in recent memory.

Starkville alderman continues to vote ‘nay’  6/6/2009
STARKVILLE — Roy A. Perkins has been on the Starkville Board of Aldermen for 16 years. In that time, the Ward 6 representative often has voted against his fellow board members, as countless 6-1 votes can be found in city records.

Starkville recount yields no change in Ward 2 election results  6/5/2009
STARKVILLE — Election officials in Starkville Thursday held a recount of the general election results from Ward 2, but when all was said and done, the vote totals remained the same.

Aldermen work out details of increasing utility deposits  6/3/2009
STARKVILLE — Newcomers to Starkville could soon have to pay a bit more when setting up electric and other utilities in their homes. The Starkville Electric Department and the city’s Board of Aldermen are working on a proposal which would increase the deposit new customers must pay when setting up their accounts.

Complaints by neighbors lead to arrests in drug raid  6/3/2009
STARKVILLE — The investigation into possible drug activity in the Blackjack community outside of Starkville began six months ago, when neighbors complained to police about a high volume of traffic coming in and out of homes on Loco and Theodis roads.

Wiseman Elected, one of youngest mayors in state  6/3/2009
STARKVILLE — Parker Wiseman started thinking about going into politics when he was a student at Starkville High School.

Oktibbeha landowners push for sewer line  6/2/2009
STARKVILLE — A group of landowners in eastern Oktibbeha County is banding together in an effort to bring sewer service to their community.

Highlands, Cowbells Booze dispute continues  6/2/2009
STARKVILLE — With the future of the Highlands Plantation resort community still up in the air, Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan and developers of the $60 million development came a bit closer to an agreement Monday.

Starkville City Hall in for a change  5/31/2009
STARKVILLE — Voters in Starkville Tuesday will have the opportunity to reshape the face of city politics, though candidates with experience in City Hall are few and far between.

Oktibbeha water association doubles in size  5/29/2009
STARKVILLE — The city of Starkville is continuing to grow, and now a water association in Oktibbeha County is expanding to meet the demand.

Starkville company wins governor’s award  5/28/2009
STARKVILLE — A Starkville company was one of six in the state to receive the Governor’s Cup award this week, which recognizes businesses in the private sector for their impacts within the community.

Poorhouse Road project delayed in Oktibbeha  5/28/2009
STARKVILLE — More than a half dozen contractors showed up at the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday to find out who would win the bid for the Poorhouse Road construction project, but the group left without any answers.

Former Negro League baseball player to visit Starkville Wednesday  5/26/2009
STARKVILLE — A former Negro League baseball player will be in Starkville Wednesday to visit the James “Cool Papa” Bell exhibit at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum.

Base honors longtime fire chief by naming new station in his honor  5/22/2009
For more than 50 years, Robert McAllister “dedicated his life” to helping others, ensuring his co-workers’ safety and serving his country in many different ways.

Experience Works offers new pursuits to older Americans  5/22/2009
STARKVILLE — Norbin McCollum Jr. was an employee of Southwire Co. in Starkville for more than 18 years. But in 2006, at the age of 62, McCollum says he lost his job and had no other means of income.

How did he do it? Wiseman’s Starkville campaign lauded by politicos  5/22/2009
ANALYSIS: Securing minority vote turned election in favor of political newcomer, experts say

Starkville passes sidewalk ordinance  5/20/2009
STARKVILLE — Starkville became a bit more pedestrian-friendly Tuesday night after the Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance to set standards for the construction of all new sidewalks throughout the city.

Wiseman wins runoff for Starkville mayor  5/20/2009
STARKVILLE — The race for mayor in the city of Starkville became a bit clearer Tuesday night as Parker Wiseman narrowly won the Democratic runoff against Matt Cox and secured his spot in the general election two weeks from now.

Starkville Sportsplex now a reality  5/19/2009
STARKVILLE — For Fred Tate, Mondays are fun days. Tate, 38, lives in Starkville, but works as a barber in Ackerman, more than 20 miles to the west.

Mayor, aldermen seats at stake in Starkville  5/16/2009
STARKVILLE — The upcoming runoff elections in the city of Starkville will feature two candidates in the race for mayor and two more facing off for a seat on the Board of Aldermen.

Drug unit investigates Starkville detective  5/14/2009
STARKVILLE — A Starkville Police Department detective is on administrative leave this week while he is being investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and his own department for possible misconduct.

Starkville hotel tax snafu clarified  5/14/2009
STARKVILLE — A clerical error is to blame for the sudden drop-off in hotel tax revenues in the city of Starkville, tourism officials said this week.

Oktibbeha sheriff says he’s open to talks on Highlands Plantation’s resort status  5/11/2009
STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan says he is willing to talk with representatives from the Highlands Plantation resort community about a new proposal to limit excessive drinking among residents, but he wants to hear more about the plan before he makes a decision.

MSU grad’s on a mission  5/11/2009
STARKVILLE — The city of Chiang Mai is a sprawling metropolitan area in the northern mountains of Thailand. The climate is hot and humid, the food is spicy and fresh, and for much of the past year, a former Mississippi State University student has called the region home.

Starkville election officials prep for runoffs  5/11/2009
STARKVILLE — With the Starkville runoff and general elections set to take place over the next few weeks, officials at City Hall are doing everything they can to make sure the process runs smoothly.

Maben man gets two life terms for murders  5/8/2009
STARKVILLE — A Maben man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he pleaded guilty Wednesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to the murder of his wife and another woman last summer west of Starkville.

Firm combats downturn with soldier sculptures  5/8/2009
STARKVILLE — The factory floor inside the Nucor steel plant in Starkville is long, loud and bustling with working men.

Starkville alderman races set up changing of the guard  5/6/2009
STARKVILLE — While the city of Starkville braces for a new mayor this summer, residents also can expect to see some new faces on the seven-member Board of Aldermen.

Camp out as Starkville mayor; Cox and Wiseman in runoff  5/6/2009
STARKVILLE — Starkville City Hall was bustling Tuesday night as city officials, candidates and supporters alike gathered to wait on election results.

New plan aims to curb drinking outside homes, spare sports bar  5/5/2009
STARKVILLE — The fate of the Highlands Plantation resort community outside of Starkville hasn’t been decided just yet. Although the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors voted last month to ask the State Tax Commission to revoke the community’s resort status, the board on Monday decided to continue the resolution until it investigates the situation further.

Ward 4 primary features two MSU students  5/4/2009
STARKVILLE — In the race for the Ward 4 alderman seat, incumbent Richard Corey is running for re-election on the Democratic ticket and will face Republican challengers Nick Papas or John Michael VanHorn in the general election on June 2.

Self and Vaughn to face off in Ward 7 race  5/4/2009
STARKVILLE — The battle for Starkville’s Ward 7 alderman seat will pit incumbent Janette Self against challenger Henry Vaughn Tuesday in the Democratic primary. With no Republicans entered in the race, the winner of the Democratic primary will secure the Ward 7 seat.

Starkville Ward 1 Democratic primary to feature Bagwell, Duncan and Weaver-Reese  5/4/2009
STARKVILLE — With Starkville’s Ward 1 Alderman Sumner Davis opting not to run for re-election, five candidates have come forward to fill his seat. Democrats Corey Bagwell, Mark Duncan and Juliette Weaver-Reese will square off Tuesday in the primary election. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Ben Carver and Independent Helen Eaves in the general election on June 2.

Starkville Mayor’s race: Camp, Cox and Wiseman square off Tuesday  5/3/2009
STARKVILLE — With the city of Starkville growing each and every year, many are calling the upcoming municipal election one of the most important in community history.

Georgia man charged in Thursday kidnapping attempt at MSU  5/3/2009
STARKVILLE — A Georgia man arrested Thursday morning at Mississippi State University on a robbery charge now faces additional charges by city and campus police.

Suspected prank forces closure of MSU auditorium  4/24/2009
STARKVILLE — A Thursday afternoon French class at Mississippi State University turned into quite the adventure for a professor and a few of his students after the group was exposed to some suspicious white powder in a campus auditorium.

Board denies rezoning for proposed subdivision  4/23/2009
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted 4-3 to deny a developer’s request to rezone 4.98 acres at the southwest corner of Yellow Jacket Drive and Eckford Drive from an R-1 single-family residential district to an R-3A single-family medium density district.

Starkville woman gets 15 years for 2008 shooting  4/23/2009
STARKVILLE — A Starkville woman was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system for the shooting death of another woman last March in the Pecan Acres neighborhood.

Starkville aldermen aim to regulate outdoor furniture, yard sales with proposed ordinance  4/23/2009
STARKVILLE — As part of a continued effort to improve the appearance of Starkville, the city’s Board of Aldermen is considering an ordinance to ban couches and other indoor furniture from porches and yards.

Suspicious powder found at MSU  4/23/2009
The Mississippi State University Police Department is investigating some suspicious white powder a professor found this afternoon in an auditorium on campus.

New technology hurts Oktibbeha 911 budget  4/22/2009
STARKVILLE — With more people relying on cell phones and other means of communication instead of traditional land lines, the Oktibbeha County E-911 dispatch center has found itself in a financial bind.

Starkville police nab MSU robbery suspects  4/22/2009
STARKVILLE — Two juveniles and a 20-year-old have been arrested for robbing a Mississippi State University student Monday night on Sorority Row.

Man upset with supes over land deal  4/21/2009
STARKVILLE — The effort to pave a short stretch of gravel road just south of Starkville has left one property owner angry at the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors over what he calls a campaign of “deception” and “half truths.”

Starkville set for Bulldog Bash, Cotton District Arts Festival  4/16/2009
STARKVILLE — The city of Starkville will be abuzz this weekend as organizers prepare for Super Bulldog Bash and the Cotton District Arts Festival.

Starkville joins the ‘party’  4/16/2009
More than 100 people rallied in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse in Starkville to protest the federal government’s economic policies.

MSU gets grant for C&G Railway study  4/15/2009
STARKVILLE — Representatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission were in Starkville Tuesday and presented Mississippi State University officials with a $100,000 check to study the Columbus and Greenville Railway line, which has been out of service between West Point and Greenwood since 2001.

Mayoral candidates spilt on Sunday alcohol sales  4/15/2009
STARKVILLE — Residents of Starkville got a glimpse of their future leader Tuesday night as all four candidates in the race for mayor gathered for a public forum at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Starkville mayoral forum set for tonight  4/14/2009
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Young Professionals will hold their third and final public forum tonight for candidates in the upcoming Starkville municipal election.

Shortened bike path plan called a ‘reasonable compromise’  4/10/2009
STARKVILLE — Although the Lynn Lane multi-use path won’t be quite as long as initially planned, members of Starkville in Motion are excited to see the project move forward.

Starkville hotel tax revenues drop  4/9/2009
STARKVILLE — Hotel tax revenues in the city of Starkville are down substantially over the past year and some local businessmen want to know why.

Supervisors vote to revoke hamlet's resort status  4/7/2009
STARKVILLE – The fate of the Highlands Plantation resort community outside of Starkville now rests in the hands of the state.

Starkville Aldermen prepare to take on sidewalks regs  4/3/2009
STARKVILLE — A new ordinance intended to regulate the construction of sidewalks in Starkville is in the final stages and the city’s Board of Aldermen will soon take up the measure. Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey on Tuesday will request two public hearings to discuss the ordinance, which would require sidewalks along all new public and private roads built within the city. It also would require sidewalks in front of all new homes and businesses before the city issues certificates of occupancy.

Starkville owl’s parents return  4/3/2009
STARKVILLE — The effort to save a baby barn owl whose home was destroyed by high winds last weekend appears to be a success.

Charlie, the owl that went to church  4/2/2009
STARKVILLE — Charlie is a 5-week-old barn owl who lives in a tree along Greensboro Street, not far from downtown Starkville.

Starkville aldermen candidates speak of city’s growth potential  4/1/2009
STARKVILLE — A half dozen candidates campaigning for seats on the Starkville Board of Aldermen came together for a forum Tuesday to discuss their plans for the city, with much of the talk centering on the need for smart growth and citywide infrastructure improvements.

Green movement in Starkville continues to gather steam  3/28/2009
STARKVILLE – When Stan Shurden and Joe Bell began a little company called Starkville Recycling back in 2004, some people thought they were crazy.

Suspect in MSU kidnap attempt still at large  3/27/2009
STARKVILLE — A suspect in the attempted kidnapping of a Mississippi State University student was still at large Friday, two days after the incident at a Starkville apartment building.

Starkville sidewalk group on move  3/27/2009
STARKVILLE — The quest to improve Starkville’s cracked and crumbling sidewalks is well under way for the city’s sidewalk committee, but the group for now is content to tackle the task one step at a time.

MSU student jumps from moving car to escape kidnapper  3/26/2009
STARKVILLE – A Mississippi State University student was kidnapped Wednesday night from outside her apartment building, but escaped her assailant by jumping from a moving car.

Starkville residents applaud CottonMill Marketplace  3/25/2009
STARKVILLE — Developers of the CottonMill Marketplace project were curious about the reception they would receive Tuesday at a town hall meeting to discuss the development.

State’s economy ‘likely to get worse before it gets better’  3/24/2009
STARKVILLE — Sales tax receipts are up statewide compared to this time last year, State Treasurer Tate Reeves said Monday, and the city of Starkville is no exception.

Shinn’s Little Store an oasis for outdoorsmen  3/23/2009
STARKVILLE — On most days, W.T. “Bud” Shinn sits outside his store in the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge and watches the world go by.

Starkville sidewalk ordinance in the works  3/20/2009
STARKVILLE — While Starkville residents will see massive repairs to city streets and drainage systems this year, the city’s newly formed sidewalk committee is working hard to improve things for pedestrians.

Starkville aldermen approve curbside recycling plan  3/18/2009
STARKVILLE — A citywide curbside recycling program is finally on its way in Starkville. After months of discussion, the Starkville Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved a plan to collect curbside recycling from more than 6,000 homes throughout the city.

Starkville police: Child predator story ‘a lie’  3/17/2009
STARKVILLE — A Starkville woman who told police a man approached her last week and threatened her children admitted Monday the story was a hoax.

Booze dispute simmers in Oktibbeha County  3/17/2009
STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan is standing firm in his stance against Highlands Plantation's resort status as the county Board of Supervisors debates what to do about the controversial community.

Mother, two children drown after wreck  3/16/2009
STARKVILLE — An Oktibbeha County woman and her two children drowned over the weekend when their vehicle veered off a gravel road and overturned in a flooded culvert.

Starkville aldermen to consider curbside recycling program  3/14/2009
STARKVILLE — The effort to create a greener Starkville is picking up steam as the city’s Board of Aldermen Tuesday will consider a proposal to implement a voluntary citywide curbside recycling program.

C&G Railway vital to towns along the tracks  3/14/2009
EUPORA — As Cynthia Wilson walks along a stretch of Columbus and Greenville Railway line, she points ahead to a section of track not far from the main drag in downtown Eupora.

Starkville’s future policy makers talk issues, project proposals  3/12/2009
STARKVILLE — Some of the newest faces on the Starkville political scene gathered for a public forum Tuesday night and gave city residents a brief glimpse into their plans for the future.

Former MSU linebacker faces felony charges  3/11/2009

First of three public forums for Starkville candidates tonight  3/10/2009
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Young Professionals are set to hold a public forum tonight for candidates running in the upcoming Starkville municipal election.

Three Starkville incumbents not seeking re-election  3/7/2009

Starkville after-school programs need funding  3/6/2009

CottonMill Marketplace public meeting scheduled  3/6/2009

Mother’s prayers answered when missing daughter calls from hospital  3/5/2009

Sheriff wants no more beer at popular Oktibbeha bar  3/4/2009
If Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan has his way, a popular sports bar and restaurant outside of Starkville one day will stop selling beer.

Starkville committee plans city stimulus spending  3/3/2009

Starkville police battle DUI problem  2/28/2009
STARKVILLE – The number of DUI arrests in Starkville has increased steadily in recent years, but city police are working hard to combat the problem.

Work begins on new Starkville Electric building  2/25/2009
STARKVILLE — Construction has begun at the site of the new Starkville Electric Department building in downtown Starkville.

Organizers gearing up for Starkville Community Market  2/24/2009
STARKVILLE — With the second season of the Starkville Community Market set to kick off in May, organizers are planning an event in downtown Starkville this weekend to help raise funds.

Hamming it up: Cub Scout’s radio interest leads to company, success  2/23/2009
STARKVILLE — Martin Jue can trace the entire course of his life back to one day. He was an 8-year-old Cub Scout, living in the Mississippi Delta town of Hollandale, and took part in a group activity where he learned how to build a radio. Little did Jue know this one activity would change his life.

Oktibbeha group looks to lure automaker  2/20/2009

Starkville High School principal resigns  2/19/2009

Starkville aldermen OK $3 million in road bonds  2/18/2009

Starkville High School principal resigns  2/18/2009
STARKVILLE — Starkville High School Principal Kathi Wilson submitted her resignation this morning to school district Superintendent Judy Couey.

Supes asked to seek funding for return of the railway line  2/17/2009
STARKVILLE — An engineering study is under way on the Columbus and Greenville Railway line as plans to reconstruct the roughly 200-year-old tracks continue to move forward.

Trooper acquitted of fondling charge  2/7/2009

Trooper’s fondling case nearly ends in mistrial  2/6/2009

Trooper found not guilty of fondling teen  2/6/2009

Trooper’s fondling trial continues today  2/4/2009

Oktibbeha recruits help tackle $27.5M hospital bond  2/3/2009

Drunk driver gets 35 years for fatal crash  2/3/2009

Starkville aldermen Davis, McLaurin call it quits  1/31/2009

State seeks death penalty for Maben murders  1/30/2009
A Maben man accused of brutally killing his wife and another woman last summer now faces a possible death sentence in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

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