When Kyle Staude sat in a police station with a DUI on his record, he knew it could have easily been avoided.
That was more than five years ago, when Staude was a college student. Now CEO of EZ-RYDR — a ride sharing company similar to Uber or Lyft — Staude said he could have used a transportation network in college to avoid some of his poor decisions. Hopefully by February, Staude will have that answer in place for Mississippi State University students.
EZ-RYDR, a subscription-based transportation service, launched in Oxford in October 2018. Staude is hoping to expand the phone app transportation service to rural college towns throughout the nation. Riders will pay for a subscription, for a week or a month, and have unlimited rides in the greater Starkville area.
Safety, Staude said, is the company’s priority. Once a rider is in the vehicle, both the driver and rider have a SOS button in their apps that contacts local law enforcement. There is also a feature for female riders to select female drivers in their settings.
“It’s a different way of paying for transportation,” Staude said. “Every ride is already paid for. You have no reason to get behind a wheel if you’ve been drinking.”
Staude said the company is beta testing and working with students at MSU to gauge how much the subscriptions will cost. He is currently recruiting drivers and will try to launch in Starkville when he has hired at least 10 drivers.
Though EZ-RYDR is targeting college students, with a mission of abating drunk driving instances, anyone living in Starkville can subscribe and use the service for any reason once it launches.
In Columbus, a new spa is slated to open next month.
Lucent Medispa, 2406 Hwy. 45 N. Suite B., will offer facial and skin treatments, pedicures, manicures, waxing and more. Spa manager Brea Lidell said Lucent will also offer cool sculpting treatments which freezes a body’s fat cells so the body can break down areas of concern.
The spa will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays by appointment only.
Daymond John, businessman and partner on Shark Tank, will present his formula for success to Columbus in February. According to John’s website, he may not attend each event but will send his team of professionals to share his business secrets.
The event is free for those who register online. The seminar will be at noon and 6 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Courtyard Marriott in Columbus.
Life Church Columbus started offering church services in its new location. The Columbus church, 4888 N. Frontage Road, moved from its former location on Wilkins Wise Road. The church offers services on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
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