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December 17, 2025
Serving Columbus & Starkville, Mississippi

Articles by Cadence Harvey

15 high-end apartments in former First Baptist Church to be finished by Feb

High-end apartments in the former First Baptist Church on Seventh Street North will be move-in ready by February, with more developments still to come.

OCH hospital sale proceeds climb up to $58M

While initially poised to receive about $30.5 million in net proceeds from the sale of OCH Regional Medical Center, Oktibbeha supervisors are now expecting to pocket between $55 million and $58 million, though they’re no closer to deciding what to do with it.

CAFB program trains pilots like Division 1 athletes

Col. Nicholaus Lofthouse, commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing Operations Group at Columbus Air Force Base, believes that pilots are tactical athletes long before they ever step foot into a cockpit.

Sweet, savory and student approved

At Columbus High School, students are helping shape what’s being served in their cafeteria, and there are two things at the top of their wishlist: more chicken wings and baked potatoes.

Citywide lighting survey to begin Monday

City workers will begin rolling through Starkville on Monday night to launch the first of two weeklong lighting surveys intended to keep residents out of the dark.

Holiday Night of Hope returns for underprivileged children

Christmas will come early next week for about 20 children in need during A Holiday Night of Hope, hosted jointly by Columbus Police Department and Building Bridges of Hope.

Smash-and-grab burglary targets BJ’s Pharmacy

BJ’s Family Pharmacy was robbed in a “smash and grab” early Monday morning, according to pharmacy owner BJ Cougle.

Tupelo civic group fosters conversations across political lines

Two years ago, a political disagreement ending in harsh words nearly cost Buddy Stubbs a friendship of more than 40 years.

Eclectic European: Amata Italian Restaurant to open mid-January

Renovations are nearly complete at the future site of Amata Italian Restaurant on Main Street, expected to open by mid-January.

Farm-to-table: Student farm’s first harvest marks milestone in campus-grown dining options at MSU

Mississippi State University is working to expand farm-to-table options in dining halls across campus through a partnership between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the university’s dining service partner, Aramark.

Zach Bryan announces May performance at Davis Wade Stadium

Grammy Award-winning country singer Zach Bryan will be stopping at Mississippi State University in May on his 2026 tour.

Reading therapy: Kitty reading program builds literacy skills, socializes cats

A week before Thanksgiving, 6-year-old Callie Grace Faucette and 7-year-old Scott Thomas Boone sat cross-legged on the floor of the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society’s adoption room, reading books aloud as cats nuzzled into their laps and pawed at the pages.

Panhandling barred after dark in Starkville

Panhandling will no longer be allowed after dark in Starkville, following the board of aldermen’s unanimous vote Tuesday evening to add a nighttime ban to the city’s solicitation ordinance.

Ask The Dispatch: Where can Golden Triangle residents help this holiday season?

With winter closing in and the holiday season in full swing, organizations across the Golden Triangle are gearing up to help families in need, and many residents are looking for ways to contribute.

Homeless coalition eyes spring move-in for tiny home village

Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition members are hopeful to see residents moving into the Fresh Start Tiny Home Village on Airline Road by next spring, though the organization still needs roughly $160,000 to make it happen.

Christmas tree lightings, parades return to Golden Triangle

Holiday spirit is set to sweep across the Golden Triangle this week with Starkville, Columbus and West Point gearing up for tree-lightings and Christmas parades.

Community Profile: The ultimate ‘disc’-jockey

Dawson Archer discovered his first ultimate Frisbee club more than seven years ago at the Alabama School of Math and Science.

Christmas tree lots: Some branch out, others trim back

Chad McComic hauls Fraser firs from a truckload of more than 200 Christmas trees Friday morning, lining them along the front yard of CM Farms in West Point.

Federal funds resume for Oktibbeha dam project

With federal grant funding once again available and engineers nearing their final recommendations, work on the long-awaited Oktibbeha County Dam project could begin by mid-2026.

Starkville, Columbus sales tax revenue outpacing FY 25

Both Columbus and Starkville are outpacing last year’s sales tax revenues in the second month of Fiscal Year 2026, with 1.66% growth in Columbus and 9.45% growth in Starkville compared to November 2024.