Subscribe to Weekly Local Best Of COP feed
3 weeks ago
Cody James Alford, 36, Kokomo, arrested by MCSO, charged with GJI-possession of controlled substance.
Darren E. Bond, 60. Lumberton, arrested by MCSO, charged with bench warrant; driving while license suspended; DUI 1st offense-(1)(b) under the influence of any substance that would impair; careless driving; providing false information to a law enforcement officer.
Issac Hugh Cox, 23, Kokomo, arrested by MCSO, charged with bench warrant-shooting into a dwelling.
By staff reports on
3 weeks ago
Ellisville State School honored Jamie Jackson of Columbia as one of its January Staff of the Month. Jackson was one of four employees to receive the honor for the month of January. Dr. Rinsey McSwain, Agency Director of Ellisville State School, presented the winners with a gift and congratulated them on the honor. The ESS Family and Friends Association sponsors the monthly recognition program.
By Submitted to C-P on
3 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Lady Wildcats star Malea Martin winds up Friday against Stone.
Another week, another loud offensive output by the Columbia Lady Wildcats.
On March 3, McComb came to Columbia and was quickly ushered out as the Lady Wildcats (6-5) scored 12 runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning to win 19-0. Seven Lady Wildcats drew walks in the two innings, while six more reached base via hit-by-pitch. Malea Martin, who tossed three scoreless innings in the circle, and Xzayiah Buckley led the team with two hits. Buckley and Mari Claire Johnson each drove in a pair of runs.
By Jackson Howell - Sports Contributor on
3 weeks 2 days ago
West Marion’s premier show choir, New Era, finished its competitive season Saturday with another first-place finish in the Small Mixed Division, something the ensemble accomplished at every event it entered.
West Marion High School show choir "New Era" closed out its competition season on Saturday by capping off a historic season with a first-place finish at the Gulf Coast Classic at Biloxi High School.
New Era earned Best Visuals as well as taking home the top spot in the Small Mixed Division.
By staff reports on
3 weeks 2 days ago
The Harry Taylor and Reichhold properties in Columbia have the potential to lure commercial or industrial companies and provide hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs if they are deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The City of Columbia, thanks to a Brownfields grant issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, will soon get environmental studies conducted at the Reichhold and Harry Taylor properties in an effort to land large businesses.
The Reichhold property, which is 81 acres in the heart of Columbia, has long been a hot-button topic since the 1970s when a state investigation revealed that “waste water containing phenols, oil and grease was discharging to a small creek,” according to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technological Information.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
3 weeks 2 days ago
West Marion sophomore Ellie Miller has stepped into a starting role this season and is batting .360.
As part of West Marion’s difficult non-district slate in 2026, the Lady Trojans keep testing themselves against top competition. Against a strong West Lincoln team and a higher classification team in Pearl River Central, West Marion passed both tests.
By Jackson Howell - Sports Contributor on
3 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Wildcats superstar Brayden Thornhill launches a moonshot home run Friday night against Pearl and celebrates with his teammates at home plate.
The Columbia Wildcats have something special in Brayden Thornhill, who has progressed from a strong asset to a star player in his second season as a starter.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
3 weeks 2 days ago
Columbia Academy southpaw Logan Buckley and West Marion righty Kolby Stringer dominated Games 1 and 2, respectively, in the annual Cougars-Trojans rivalry showdown as the two Marion County ball clubs split the series.
In Game 1 March 3 at The Swamp, Logan Buckley tossed six shutout innings, striking out 12 batters and allowing just three hits and no walks as he led CA to a 9-0 victory over West Marion. Cougars head coach Keith Stanley said it was very encouraging for Logan Buckley to have his command back after a shaky start in Alabama.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
3 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Capt. of Investigations Chris Brumfield and Lt. Jonathon Martin of the Columbia Police Department search for shell casings at Hendricks Street Apartments Tuesday following a shooting. Inset, Larry Green has been charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in connection with the incident.
A resident of Hendricks Street Apartments, Larry Green, was arrested for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon Tuesday afternoon after allegedly firing two shots in the direction of an individual during an altercation. Nobody was shot during the incident.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
3 weeks 3 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Columbia Police officers examine the crime scene Tuesday afternoon at the Hendricks Street Apartments.
At least one shot was fired shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Hendricks Street Apartments, but nobody was shot in the incident, nor have any arrests been made yet.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
3 weeks 6 days ago
Dear Editor,
In our community, we have become used to something that should never feel normal: unwanted dogs being dumped in rural areas, stray dogs and cats roaming our streets, overcrowded shelters, and the constant struggle to find homes for unwanted animals. But here is the truth — this problem is not inevitable.
By AMY JOHNSON on
4 weeks 1 day ago
Three Columbia men were taken into custody for separate offenses committed last week as the Columbia Police Department was kept busy.
A Columbia man, who was arrested 15 days prior on methamphetamine possession charges, was arrested by the Columbia Police Department again Feb. 28, this time on possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute charges.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
4 weeks 1 day ago
Photo by Staff, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Eagles freshman Bentley Blansett helped East Marion pick up its first win with a two-run double against Tylertown Feb. 25.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for East Marion to start the 2026 season, but the Eagles showed heart against Tylertown by overcoming an early five-run deficit to pull out a 13-10 win.
In the Tylertown comeback win Feb. 25, East Marion (1-8) first got on the board after Jaquez Hathorn scored on a passed ball, making it a 5-1 ballgame in the bottom of the first. After a three-up, three-down second inning by Larry Thompson and the Eagle defense, a pair of two-run doubles by Brady Sinclair and Bentley Blansett, respectively, tied the game 5-5.
By Jackson Howell - Sports Contributor on
4 weeks 2 days ago
William Cain Anderson, 33, Eight Mile, Ala., arrested by MCSO, charged with public drunkenness.
Jashon Jaquaviez Baker, 25, Tylertown, arrested by MCSO, charged with DUI 1st offense-(1)(a) under the influence of liquor.
Brett Carlos Broom, 25, Columbia, arrested by MCSO, charged with DUI 2nd offense-(1)(b) under the influence of any substance that would impair.
Anthony Jason Cox, 48, Purvis, arrested by CPD, charged with credit card fraud; GJI-credit card fraud.
By staff reports on
4 weeks 2 days ago
In the early hours of Saturday evening, gunshots rang out in Foxworth as a disagreement between two men led to gunfire on John Thornhill Road.
On Saturday, Kevin Hansen, 30, and an unnamed man got into an argument on the phone, which led to Hansen driving over to the man’s house, causing a disturbance, nearly hitting the house, damaging property and exchanging gunfire.
Despite both parties firing shots, nobody was hit or injured in the crossfire. The homeowner, who had an autistic child and elderly woman in the home, was not charged in the incident.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
4 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Kolby Stringer has struck out 52 of the 76 batters he's faced this season while allowing only three hits.
West Marion may have faced some struggles after sweeping Columbia to open the season, but one thing remains true — Kolby Stringer can pitch.
He took the mound Friday night against Pearl River Central at The Swamp and didn’t let his coaches take him out of the game. He threw 98 pitches across seven innings, allowing one hit and walking two batters. Out of the 21 outs he recorded, 16 were strikeouts.
By Jackson Howell - Sports Contributor on
4 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
County singer Elsie performed her song “GHETTO COWBOY” at EME’s Black History Program.
East Marion Elementary hosted a Black History program on Feb. 26 to showcase important black historical figures in American history and their impact on American culture.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
4 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
CA senior Roman Lawrence was one of CA’s key cogs in Alabama last week.
Columbia Academy had a busy week on the diamond, and although the Cougars failed to add to the win column, they showed they can play with some of the top teams the country has to offer in the south.
It started Feb. 24 when the Cougars (5-5) traveled to Lamar School in Meridian and went to extra innings in the 8-7 loss despite opting for a “bullpen game.”
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
4 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
East Marion Elementary held its annual Vocabulary Parade on Feb. 25. This year’s theme was “Mardi Gras Mambo Vocabulary Parade.” Students from Pre-K to fifth grade were exposed to 287 vocabulary words. Students marched around the EME campus displaying the vocabulary words they learned before enjoying a Mardi Gras parade outside.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
4 weeks 2 days ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
American Legion Post 90, in partnership with the City of Columbia, began a project Tuesday morning to construct a parking area, wall and walkway that will connect to Legion Square inside City Park.
Columbia’s efforts to make the most out of City Park continued Tuesday morning as American Legion Post 90 began constructing a new parking lot, a wall and walkway to Legion Square.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
