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2 months ago
Samuel Bennett, 66, Sumrall, arrested by MCSO, charged with DUI 1st offense.
Kelvin Lashon Caldwell, 46, Columbia, arrested by MCSO, charged with DUI 2nd offense-(1)(b) under the influence of any substance that would impair; careless driving; disorderly conduct: failure to comply with command of law enforcement; eluding law officer; resisting/obstructing arrest.
By staff reports on
2 months ago
The West Marion boys powerlifting team claimed the Region 4-3A championship Friday at St. Patrick, sending 10 lifters to the South State meet later this month.
Ten of the team’s 12 competitors placed in the top three of their respective weight classes to qualify for South State, scheduled for Feb. 28 in Quitman.
By staff reports on
2 months ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
James Stampley hustles down the court, preparing for West Marion’s next play.
A clutch overtime surge powered West Marion to a rivalry road win at Tylertown, but the Trojans couldn’t replicate the late-game magic at home, falling to Presbyterian Christian the following night.
West Marion (14-5, 4-2) edged Tylertown (8-10, 1-4) 67-63 in a tightly contested matchup Jan. 22 in a packed gym, responding after a late 3-pointer forced overtime. The Trojans regrouped quickly and finished the extra period with a decisive run to secure the win.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
2 months ago
Eddie “Dale” Mullins
65, Columbia
A memorial service will be held at a later date for Eddie “Dale” Mullins, 65, of Columbia, who passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026.
He was a talented and kind-hearted man who found joy in hunting, fishing, working with his hands, playing guitar, drawing and singing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Mullins and Frances Harrell.
By staff reports on
2 months ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, Trudi Evans, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Chip Bilderback, Raymond Powell, John Smith and Jimmy Oliver will soon be inducted into the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame.
Marion County Sports Hall of Fame Director Michael “Duck” Griffith announces that Raymond Powell, Chip Bilderback, John Smith and Jimmy Oliver will soon be inducted into the exclusive club.
Powell played for the Wildcats, started for two seasons at Southern Miss and had a brief stint in the NFL before returning to Marion County as a teacher, coach and principal.
Bilderback’s career remains ongoing, but he has already won two state championship while leading the Columbia football program.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Senior guard Clydarrien Peters fights through a foul inside to earn a trip to the charity stripe Friday night against Poplarville.
Nobody could have predicted the way the Wildcats got here, but Columbia is on the precipice of potentially earning the No. 1 seed in its district tournament thanks to a pair of forfeit victories.
On Jan. 13 at South Pike, McComb and South Pike got into a brawl that ended the game in the third quarter and resulted in four automatic forfeits for both schools going forward.
As a result of this, the Wildcats (12-11, 5-1) earned forfeit victories over both South Pike (Jan. 20) and McComb (Tuesday), securing either the top or second seed in the district tournament.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months ago
West Marion’s show choir, New Era, shows off its first-place trophy for winning the South Jones Show Choir Invitational Saturday.
West Marion High School’s show choir, "New Era," opened its competition season Saturday at the South Jones Show Choir Invitational, earning top honors and caption awards.
By Submitted to C-P on
2 months ago
Standing with the choir, from left, are Columbia School District Jason Harris, Sen. Joey Fillingane, Columbia High School Associate Choral Director Mitchell Crawford, CHS Principal L.V. McNeal, CHS Director of Choral Activities Kimberly Walley, Rep. Ken Morgan and Rep. Bill Pigott.
The Columbia High School Choir sang on Jan. 20, at the Capitol as part of Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann’s tradition of allowing students to share their talents.
By Submitted to C-P on
2 months ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Wildcats are set to host their playoff game in program history.
Columbia’s soccer program has reached a historic milestone this season, earning the opportunity to host the first playoff match in school history after finishing second in the district and putting together one of its strongest campaigns to date.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
2 months ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
The Columbia Fire Department responded to a structure fire Jan. 18 that claimed the life of a 69-year-old man.
A structure fire on Barber Drive claimed the life of a 69-year-old Columbia man Jan. 18 and remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
The Columbia Fire Department was dispatched just before 1 a.m. and was on scene by 1:03 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered Robert Barber deceased in the yard. An autopsy has been conducted, according to Coroner Jessie Graham, but the results have not yet been released.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months 1 week ago
Anthony Wayne Ardis, 46, Columbia, arrested by CPD, charged with license tags or plates and renewal license decals, issuance and duration, contents, fastening to vehicles, defaced tags and decals; no proof of liability insurance; burglary: possession of burglary tools; receiving stolen property-value <$1,000; forgery: possession counterfeit bank notes with intention to utter: less than $1,000.
David Ryan Barker, 43, Sumrall, arrested by MCSO, charged with possession of controlled substance.
By staff reports on
2 months 1 week ago
By Submitted to C-P on
2 months 1 week ago
Grace Nell Stogner
88, Columbia
By staff reports on
2 months 1 week ago
A balloon release was held Dec. 24 to honor the life of Luke Davis, a Columbia High School student who tragically died in 2024. Friends and family gathered to remember Davis as the tremendous young man he was.
By Submitted to C-P on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Daniel Lowery heads down the court to set up the next play against Amite School Center.
Columbia Academy put together a dramatic and telling week on the hardwood, mixing a dominant blowout, a comeback win against a district leader and a tight defensive loss as the regular season heads toward its final stretch.
The Cougars (8-11, 4-2) opened up the week with a commanding 67-29 victory over Wayne (0-13, 0-3) at home on Jan. 13, followed with a 46-42 comeback win on the road against Christian Collegiate (14-5,5-1) on Friday before dropping a low-scoring, physical contest to Parklane Academy (4-8) 29-23 at home on Saturday.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
At left, East Marion High School Principal Sarah Gatewood is presented Marion County Schools Administrator of the Year by Superintendent Brian Foster. At right, West Marion High School’s Lori Street is presented MCSD Teacher of the Year by Foster.
During its Jan. 12 meeting, the Marion County School District Board of Trustees recognized the teachers and parents of the year, with each recipient earning personal recognition and a framed certificate. West Marion High School’s Lori Street was named District Teacher of the Year, and East Marion High School Principal Sarah Gatewood was named Administrator of the Year.
Below is a collection of what was said by the district’s principals about each of the recipients.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Marion General Hospital Administrator Tomaz McCarty said the hospital remains on solid financial ground, but there will be revenue losses on swing beds.
As part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, healthcare subsidies that were initiated by former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act are no longer. The changes in how Medicare and related insurance plans reimburse hospitals for swing bed services are putting new financial pressure on Marion General, but the hospital’s leadership says MGH remains in good financial standing to overcome the adjustments.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Joshua Campbell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Columbia Academy cross country coach Duane Powell is overcome with emotion after being surprised by his selection to the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame.
When Columbia Academy cross country coach Duane Powell showed up at the school on Jan. 12, he believed it was for his Lady Cougars’ state championship rings. Little did he know that it was actually all about him as he was surprised on his future induction to the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame.
Powell, who was moved to tears by the surprise, said being selected to become a member of the Hall of Fame is the biggest honor in his life.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months 1 week ago
A side-by-side accident near Red Bluff Monday afternoon claimed the life of 65-year-old Randy Guillory of Tennessee and Michael Dyess of Bassfield remained in critical condition as of Tuesday evening.
By Joshua Campbell - Publisher on
2 months 1 week ago
Photo by Nichlos Cutrell, © 2026 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
West Marion guard Brandon Bullock, who had a big week as the Trojans’ leading scorer, watches a shot in the air.
West Marion defended its home court with two victories, surviving a late rally to defeat rival Tylertown 57-54 before dominating St. Patrick 78-40 behind strong transition play and defensive pressure.
The Trojans’ (14-3, 3-1) narrow win Jan. 13 over Tylertown (8-8, 1-2) was a physical back-and-forth contest that tightened in the final minutes. West Marion built a 10-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but Tylertown responded with defensive adjustments that slowed the Trojans’ offense and turned the game into a possession-by-possession battle.
By Nichlos Cutrell - Reporter on
