The Dispatch

Mary Means Business: Indoor playground facility coming to Starkville After sitting vacant for two years, the former Tuesday Morning location in Starkville is finally getting a playful, new lease on life.

Starkville Playtopia, an indoor playground for children up to age 12, is set to open in the coming months. The new venture is led by owner Kelsey Anderson, alongside her husband Bryan, friend Kelsey Griggs, and a group of angel investors.

Booth and Bothwell named to Doak Walker watchlist Two Mississippi State players were named to another preseason watchlist this week.

Running backs Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell have both been named to the 2025 Doak Walker Award preseason watchlist, which was released Tuesday. The annual award honors the nation's top college running back.

Sheriff, hospital refute mayor’s narrative of officer-involved crash In a press release issued Monday, Mayor Stephen Jones seemed to claim credit for the sheriff’s office reopening a crash investigation and deflected blame for a mishandled drug test of the city police officer involved in the crash.

Far from being closed, Hawkins said the case was in fact being treated as a potential criminal investigation at the time, dependent on whether Bankhead survived his injuries.

The program has everything you could want for automotive training. Everything, that is, except for an instructor.

Volunteers erase early deficit to capture 5-2 win over Calhoun Academy Starkville Academy showcased some grit and comeback savvy as it climbed out of an early 2-0 deficit against Calhoun Academy Tuesday to best the Cougars, 5-2, for the team’s second win of the early season.

Up next for the Cavs is a 6 p.m. match today at Ripley, a team that Brooks said is solid, but her Cavs are in a groove. The Yellow Jackets also see action today when they play at Northwest Rankin at 6 p.m. looking for their third win of the year.

Teen to face grand jury after assaulting 13yo with a gun on video A Caledonia teenager could face felony charges after allegedly threatening and hitting another minor with a gun while recording a video that has since gone viral on Facebook.

A Caledonia teenager could face felony charges after allegedly threatening and hitting another minor with a gun while recording a video that has since gone viral on Facebook.

Jackson and Reese providing senior leadership for new-look offensive line Mississippi State football is in its second week of fall camp ahead of the 2025 season, and many of head coach Jeff Lebby’s team leaders have had their turn speaking to the media about their return to practice.

Both Jackson and Reese have noticed how an improved defensive line – a major weakness in 2024 – has led to increased competition in the trenches during camp.

Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally returns next week Motorcycles will once again be driving through the streets of Sturgis to support the city at this year’s Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Between 3,000 and 10,000 attendees are expected for this year's three-day rally starting Aug. 14, which will include rides throughout Oktibbeha County, concerts and around 15 vendors.

Business owner appointed to redevelopment authority The city council on Tuesday unanimously chose Robert G. Cooper to serve on the Columbus Redevelopment Authority Board.

The city council on Tuesday unanimously chose Robert G. Cooper to serve on the Columbus Redevelopment Authority Board.

Disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles attends MSU open practice STARKVILLE — Disgraced former Baylor head coach Art Briles was at a Mississippi State football open practice session on Monday.  Briles, who is the

Disgraced former Baylor head coach Art Briles was at a Mississippi State football open practice session on Monday.

Vols, Raiders claim wins on diamond, Patriots open season with setback Oak Hill Academy and Starkville Academy both added another tick in the softball win column on Monday, and Heritage Academy got its season started on the

The Volunteers used 14 hits and 19 RBI to wallop Hebron Christian 22-3 in Pheba for a bounce-back win that improves the team to 2-1 on the season.

Karriem retains District 41 seat, beating Beard by wide margin Rep. Kabir Karriem will retain his seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives after winning Tuesday’s special primary election for House District 41.

Rep. Kabir Karriem, who was first elected to the seat in 2015, earned 1,309 votes (83.8%) to defeat former Columbus councilman Pierre Beard, who received 248 votes (15.87%) in the primary, according to unofficial results.

ATV rider hospitalized after being assaulted on trail A male victim was found in critical condition at Mudslingers Offroad Trails near the county’s border with Chickasaw County.

CCSO believes there are at least three suspects who were involved in the assault of the victim. Deputies are still searching for the suspects.

CMSD may request an additional $180K for operations Columbus Municipal School District trustees are weighing a request of $180,104.14 more in ad valorem taxes this fiscal year in a proposal that would not result in an increased tax rate for property owners in the district.

The board will approve a budget during its upcoming regular meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Rogers told The Dispatch. Once approved, the city will set the number of mills – or the tax rate – necessary to fund the budget.

Slimantics: Revenge of the old me On July 9, 1948, Satchel Paige, already a legend in the Negro Leagues, made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians amid much speculation about his age.

For most of my life, I've always believed myself to be younger than I am, despite all the evidence to the contrary. For example, I no longer make purchases of items on bottom shelves, and I am sometimes startled by my own image in a mirror.

Hear me out on chicken crust pizza I like pizza with chicken for the crust.

None of us wanted to eat the freezer pizza. We all wanted the pizza with chicken as a crust over real, bona fide bread. It was delicious. And so, this recipe has entered my food rotation.

Teen arrested after assaulting another minor on video A teenager was arrested after allegedly threatening and hitting another minor with a gun while recording a video that had amassed more than 63,000 views on social media since it was posted Sunday.

A teenager was arrested after allegedly threatening and hitting another minor with a gun while recording a video that had amassed more than 63,000 views on social media since it was posted Sunday.

Driver arrested for drag racing after crashing into apartment complex A Weir man was arrested Saturday morning for allegedly drag racing on Highway 182 and fleeing police before crashing into an apartment complex.

Jaheim Woodard, 20, is charged with one felony count of fleeing or failure to stop when an officer signals, two felony counts of contributing to the neglect of a minor and one count of drag racing, a Starkville Police Department press release said.

Morning shuttle available for Henderson carpool students during road construction To help parents avoid the construction-related traffic on Highway 182, Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has launched a morning shuttle for Henderson Ward Stewart carpoolers.

The temporary shuttle will leave from Bridgeway Church on North Jackson Street each day at 7:30 a.m. as the city continues construction to revitalize a one-mile stretch of the highway, which includes Henderson Ward Stewart.

Week 1 recap: What the players said after Bulldogs’ return to practice Mississippi State football got back to work last week with a month to go before the start of the 2025 season. Head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff all had

Mississippi State football got back to work last week with a month to go before the start of the 2025 season. Head coach Jeff Lebby and his staff all had their turn to speak to the media, and the players took their turn on Friday.

City prosecutor sentenced to day in jail for contempt of court Unprofessional conduct in court could see the city prosecutor, who is also seeking a municipal judgeship, spend a day behind bars.

Nicole Clinkscales was sentenced Wednesday to one day in Lowndes County Adult Detention Center and ordered to pay a $100 fine after Judge Gary Goodwin found her in contempt of court for an incident July 24.

Oklahoma transfer Thompson embracing leadership role with Bulldogs “I've never seen a person with my own eyes that fast on the football field.” Mississippi State wide receivers coach Chad Bumphis has had plenty of

The transfer wide receiver hasn't played a single down of football yet for Mississippi State, but he's already considered one of the main leaders on offense. He may have only arrived in January, but he knows the playbook as well as anyone.

Ask The Dispatch: Who do I contact about lost or injured animals in the Golden Triangle? Editor’s note: Do you want answers to questions about the Golden Triangle? Each week, Dispatch reporters set out to explain or update a timely, practical

Sightings of lost dogs and cats in the Columbus area have raised questions regarding what locals should do if they find lost or injured animals. What should you do if you find a lost domesticated animal? What about if it is a wild animal?

Jones overcomes slip and fall to win first-ever pickleball game at Propst Park A steady pour of rain on Friday afternoon didn’t stop the first-ever pickleball game ever played at Propst Park. More than a dozen spectators, many of

Columbus Parks and Recreation director Greg Lewis said the new courts will be open for play from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, people can play from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Community Profile: Anthony uses ‘heart of a teacher’ to update state history textbook By his own admission, Kenneth Anthony is not a historian, so when he was chosen to update the Mississippi history textbook the state’s junior high and high school students are using this year, it may have seemed an odd choice.

By his own admission, Kenneth Anthony is not a historian, so when he was chosen to update the Mississippi history textbook the state's junior high and high school students are using this year, it may have seemed an odd choice.

Newly created East Columbus Day Festival set for Aug 9 When Ward 2 Councilman Roderick Smith talked with constituents on the campaign trail for this year’s municipal elections, one question seemed to be on their minds.

On Aug. 9, the efforts of that planning will become reality with the East Columbus Day Festival. The event is set to start at 4 p.m. and will go until celebrators head home for the night at the East Columbus Gym, Smith said.

SA’s Fischer humbled to be named Mississippi’s High School Broyles Award winner For a moment, Starkville Academy linebackers coach Tate Fischer couldn’t find the words to describe being honored as one of the best assistant high school

The veteran coach, who is entering his seventh year at SA and spent 29 years coaching at Starkville High School, was tabbed as Mississippi's High School Broyles Award winner on Tuesday, the school announced.

‘Long way to go’: Bulldogs open fall camp despite challenging conditions Football is back at Mississippi State.  The Bulldogs hit the field at the Leo Seal practice facility for the start of fall camp on Thursday, and there was

The Bulldogs hit the field at the Leo Seal practice facility for the start of fall camp on Thursday, and there was a feeling of positive change.

Oak Hill’s Pennington powers team to back-to-back wins It’s been a week full of softball action for Oak Hill Academy and Starkville Academy as the two teams are back on the diamond and are making their way

It's been a week full of softball action for Oak Hill Academy and Starkville Academy as the two teams are back on the diamond and are making their way through the early slate of the season's schedule.

LCSD board weighs $1 million more in local taxes The Lowndes County School District Board is set to vote whether to request $1.1 million more in ad valorem taxes this fiscal year.

If the board chooses not to request a funding increase, the mill rate would drop by 2.88 mills to 49.15, meaning homeowners could see their bill decrease by $28.88 per $100,000 of value.