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State judge hears arguments on keeping abortion legal in Mississippi
JACKSON • Just two days before abortions will largely become illegal in Mississippi, an attorney representing the state’s only abortion clinic asked a state judge to block the state’s “trigger ban” from going into effect.
Rob McDuff, an attorney with the Mississippi Center for Justice, in oral briefings Tuesday asked Chancellor Debbra Halford to temporarily freeze the ban because he believes it conflicts with a previous order from the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Mississippi Constitution.
Halford did not issue a ruling at the end of the hearing, but she is expected to do so soon.
The lawsuit centers on a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court opinion, Pro Choice Mississippi v. Fordice, that ruled the Mississippi Constitution contains a right to privacy that “includes an implied right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.”
“While there is great disagreement in this state about abortion and the related question about when life begins, those questions are not before you,” McDuff said. “The primary issue before the court is whether that decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court is binding.”
But attorneys representing the state disagreed with McDuff and argued the Fordice ruling largely became invalid when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, two opinions that established a right to an abortion.
Halford, who is a chancery judge in southwest Mississippi, will have to determine if the previous ruling from the state’s highest court warrants an order freezing the trigger ban or if the nation’s highest court invalidated the Fordice ruling.
Whenever the judge rules on the injunction request, it will impact scores of people throughout the Magnolia State.
If the trigger ban takes effect on Thursday, it will prohibit all abortions in the state except when the mother's life is at stake or if the pregnancy was caused by rape that was reported to law enforcement. The ban would essentially close the abortion clinic in Jackson, meaning Mississippi women seeking an abortion will have to travel out of state.
The final outcome of the legal challenge will likely be decided by the nine-member Mississippi Supreme Court, who will have an opportunity to revisit the 1998 ruling.
Stewart told the Halford that if she froze the trigger ban, then he would eventually ask her to pause that order until it could be argued on appeal at the Mississippi Supreme Court.
McDuff said if the judge issued any type of ruling that was negative to the Jackson clinic, he would consider appealing to the state Supreme Court, but it would depend on the details of the ruling.
Though technically nonpartisan, the majority of the justices on the state's highest court are largely conservative jurists and have recently overturned past rulings.
Rob Mcduff
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Nancy Ann (Scarborough) Danley
Nancy Ann (Scarborough) Danley passed away late in the evening on June 26, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee.
She was born on December 1, 1938 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Leland Scarborough and Bessie Mae Pugh. She attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and met her husband of 62 years, LTC James Melvin Danley, Jr.
As an Army family, they lived in multiple locations all across the United States and in the Republic of Panama. In each of these locations, she worked as a school teacher while raising a daughter and three sons. She was active in gardening clubs, scout activities, and served as a community volunteer everywhere she lived.
Her lifelong passion was her family and its history. She spent close to 50 years researching family histories in libraries, public and private archives, and eventually online. She became a board-certified genealogist and corresponded with countless other researchers across the world, always searching for one more piece of information and sharing what she had learned. She enjoyed helping others get their start in genealogy, teaching local classes and serving as a mentor to those just beginning their journey. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and several other genealogical societies.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Pat, her husband James, and her daughter Delia. She is survived by two sisters, three sons, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
She will be buried in a private service at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Tennessee Genealogical Society or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
James Melvin Danley
Leland Scarborough
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Robert Doyle “Bob” Ferrell
Robert Doyle “Bob” Ferrell passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at home in Pass Christian, Mississippi, after an extended illness. He was 63 years old.
Bob is survived by his parents, Doyle W. Ferrell and Jean Ferrell, of Gallatin, Tennessee; son John (Lindsey) Ferrell and daughter Katey Ruth (Tyler) Turner, both of Booneville, Mississippi; grandchildren Heath, Heidi Kate and Hadley Turner and Ryleigh Jean Ferrell, also of Booneville; sisters Anita (Steven) Stevens of Northglenn, Colorado, and Liz Ferrell of Gallatin, Tennessee; nephew and niece Brian and Lindsey Stevens, of Northglenn, Colorado; Sherry Mathis Ferrell, mother of his children; and special friend Jennifer Jeffrey, with whom he shared the latter part of his life.
Bob was born in Forest, Mississippi, but claimed Belmont, Mississippi, and Booneville, Mississippi, as his hometowns, graduating from Booneville High School in 1977. He worked most of his adult life in construction, particularly in the design and building of bridges along Mississippi’s highways, until retiring for health reasons in 2011.
After retirement Bob lived for several years in Northglenn, Colorado, and visited family in Tennessee and Mississippi whenever possible. Early in 2022 he returned to his home state of Mississippi to live in Pass Christian with Ms. Jeffrey, where she and the other friends he had made in that area gave him a new lease on life.
Bob loved football and golf, and was a devout Mississippi State fan. He had a deep love for music and enjoyed having “listening parties” with those closest to him. He was an excellent and innovative cook. He had a soft spot for animals, underdogs and people marginalized by society. He had a great and generous heart, a valiant warrior’s spirit, a keen mind and quick wit, and hard-earned wisdom. He was a source of unyielding support and encouragement for countless friends over the years. He became a Christian at an early age and was a member of the Methodist Church. His faith caused him to be a passionate advocate for social justice, equality, and inclusion for all.
A great lover of animals, Bob requested that his obituary include mention that he is also survived by his beloved Shih Tzu, GloBug, and step-dog Xander, a Boston terrier.
Those wishing to honor Bob’s memory in a tangible way may contribute to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), to The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org/en-us/), or to a local no-kill animal shelter or animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice.
The family will hold a service in celebration of Bob’s life in Booneville, Mississippi, in the near future, at a time and location to be determined.
Jennifer Jeffrey
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OXFORD • A former Amory teacher first arrested two years ago now faces child pornography charges in federal court.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office wanted him to remain detained until trial. Instead, Sanders ordered Wilson released Tuesday on an unsecured $10,000 bond, pending future proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint filed last week, Wilson’s inappropriate conduct with students dates back to at least 2005. He was an instructor with the Technical Students Association.
Wilson’s activities only came to light after a former student told his story to a counselor in early November 2020. Two weeks later, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office interviewed Wilson at Amory High School and arrested him after a search found illegal drugs in his car. A subsequent search of his phone and other electronic devices revealed numerous images and videos of Amory High School male students in sexual positions and/or performing sexual acts.
The ensuing investigation lead to searches of Wilson’s house and storage building the following May. During those searches, investigators seized more than 300 items, including video tapes labeled with sexual positions and the names of known Amory High School students. There were also nondisclosure agreements signed by Amory students.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also began looking into Wilson’s activities. Interviews with victims revealed that Wilson would allegedly pay up to $100 to film the students and that at least one student was only 16 at the time.
The videos, which Wilson called “experiments,” according to court records, were shot on TSA trips, inside Wilson’s empty classroom and at a studio Wilson rented next to a car dealership in Amory.
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JACKSON • A judge on Tuesday denied a request from Mississippi’s only abortion clinic to block the state’s “trigger ban” on abortions from going into effect, clearing the way for nearly all abortions to become illegal in the state.
The rationale behind the request stemmed from a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court opinion, Pro Choice Mississippi v. Fordice, that ruled the Mississippi Constitution contains a right to privacy that “includes an implied right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.”
Chancellor Debbra Halford in her denial wrote that the previous justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court relied heavily on the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which affirmed that a person had a constitutional right to obtain an abortion.
Since the nation’s highest court recently overturned those recent opinions and ruled a person no longer has a constitutional right to an abortion, Halford wrote that “it is more than doubtful that the Mississippi Supreme Court will continue to uphold Fordice.”
“Since Roe and Casey are no longer the law of the land, reliance upon Fordice will almost certainly not be well founded when pursuing this case at the (Mississippi) Supreme Court,” Halford wrote.
Special Chancelor Debbra Halford on Tuesday issued an order denying a request from Mississippi's only abortion clinic asking the court to block the state's "trigger ban" on abortions from going into effect. By TAYLOR VANCE Daily Journal
Rob McDuff, the attorney representing the Jackson clinic, told members of the media that he would review the decision and consider his options for further legal action.
A representative of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, which defended the trigger ban, declined to comment on the order because the full case is still pending.
Halford's order comes only hours after attorneys appeared before her in Hinds County Chancery Court on Tuesday morning to argue about the request to pause the abortion law from taking effect.
McDuff asserted that the 1998 opinion was legally binding. But attorneys representing the state believed the Fordice opinion became invalid once the U.S. Supreme Court last month issued its Dobbs opinion eliminating the legal right to an abortion.
“There is no Roe or Casey anymore,” Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart said. “And as a result, there is no Fordice."
Halford agreed with Stewart's arguments, and now that she's declined to freeze the trigger ban, almost no abortions will be conducted in the Magnolia State when the law goes into effect Thursday.
A law passed in 2007 bans physicians from conducting abortions unless a mother’s life is at stake or when the pregnancy resulted from a rape that has been reported to law enforcement. The law does not allow for an exception for incest.
Halford's decision will essentially force the clinic located in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood to cease operations.
The clinic's leaders have said that even if the facility closes, its mission won't end. After Thursday, they will try to find transportation and money for Mississippians to seek an abortion in other parts of the country.
Abortion Lawsuit
Mississippi Court
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Robert Mitchell Beard, 65, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022, at NMMC in Tupelo. He was born June 15, 1957 in Washington D.C. to the late Otto Beard and the late Sula Ables Rhyne Beard. He was a member of West Jackson Street Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was an active member of the American Legion. He was active in the Marine Corp League and the D.A.V. He spent a lot of time at Spring Street Cigars and enjoyed fishing with his brother-in-law Rocky Bennett. He was in sales for many years. He loved telling others about Jesus. Services will be 11:00 am on Friday July 8, 2022, at Senter Funeral Home with Dr. Keith Cochran, Bro. Billy Burleson, and Gary Beard presiding. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 Friday, July 8. Burial will be at New Salem Methodist Church Cemetery. Senter Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Brenda Kay Beard of Tupelo; daughter, Mollie Kay Beard of Mantachie; daughter, Shannan Isaacson of IL; sisters: Betty Peugh, Regina (Rocky) Bennett; brothers: Gary (Levita) Beard, Pallbearers will be Jeff Bennett, Jesse Bennett, Rocky Bennett, Leon Embrey, Derek Sheffield Honorary Pallbearers are the Spring Street Cigar members. Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com
Gary Beard
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Guyton Pollan Clayton, Mevelene "Mell"
Mevelene "Mell" Clayton, 91, went home to our heavenly Father on July 1, 2022. She was born on November 7, 1930, in Amory, MS and was a loving daughter to the late James Garland Guyton and Mary Etta Allred Guyton. Mevelene attended school in Monroe County, Mississippi and went to work at a young age. She worked for many years, helping support her family, and she eventually retired from Tecumseh Manufacturing. During her lifetime, she was blessed by God with two loving husbands and three children. She believed in God, was Methodist, and was always putting others first in her life. In her free time, she liked to go fishing, reading, gardening, and watching the never ending saga of Days of Our Lives. Mevelene had a great sense of humor and was so down to earth that you could always count on her to be straight forward with you. She was kind and loved her family with all her heart. Mevelene was a one of a kind woman, a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her presence will be missed greatly. Although those here on earth were not ready to say goodbye, they all know that she was more than ready to go home and have some great reunions. They will cherish her memories forever. Left behind to treasure her memories are her daughter, Judy Daniels, Smithville; sister, Glenda Tate, Nettleton, MS; brother, Gary Lindsey (Mar), Nettleton, MS; step-son, Jimmy Clayton, Greenwood Springs; step-daughters, Cathy King (Dwight), Smithville, Julie Clayton, MO; grandchildren, Michael Anthony Daniels (Sharon), Tracey Faulkner, Wayne (Misty), Jay Pollan (Stacey), John Marshal Brown, Mathew Brown; great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Elizabeth, Chase, Mia, Kasey, Michael, Tyler, Alex, Nathan, Sarah, Gabe, Rowan, and Jonathan; 9 great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, John "Doc" Pollan and Ed Clayton; son, John William Pollan; daughter, Deborah Kay Brown; five brothers; and one sister. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 2:00 pm at EE Pickle Funeral Home in Amory, MS. Burial will follow in Hatley Cemetery with Pallbearers being Michael A. Daniels, Michael W. Daniels, John Pollan, John Marshall Brown, James Daniels, Jonathan Daniels. Honorary Pallbearers will be Chase Hacker, Nathan Daniels, and Matthew Brown. Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.
Jimmy Clayton
Mary Etta Allred Guyton
Mevelene
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Ellie Don Leech, 86, passed away June 30 at his home in Amory. Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty Welch Leech, as well as two children and their spouses, Marsha and Mike Tapscott and Michael and Debbie Leech; four grandchildren, Zachary Leech, Whitney Fisher, David Tapscott and John Tapscott; and four great grandchildren, Cole Fisher, Clay Fisher, Ryleigh Leech and Jaxon Leech. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vester and Edna Leech, two sisters, Mary Cody and Carolyn Leech, and an infant daughter. He earned an associate of arts degree from Itawamba Junior College in 1955 and a bachelor of business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1957. He remained an avid Ole Miss fan throughout his life. Following college, he served in the U.S. Air Force then lived in Jackson, Mississippi for several years before moving his family of four to Amory in 1964. His employment includes working as a vice president at Gilmore Puckett Lumber Company then buying and operating a small grocery store, Leech Grocery. His longest tenure in his career was with Morgan Lumber Sales, based in Columbus, Ohio, and he had a one-man office based in Amory. He especially enjoyed the years that his office shared the same office space as the Amory Chamber of Commerce. Don was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and chairman for many terms. He served as a Sunday school teacher and a member of the church choir for many years. He also was a member of Gideon's International. He was a long-time member of the Amory Civitan Club, which later merged with the local Kiwanis Club. He spent numerous hours over many years placing American flags to fly at local businesses on holidays. Family time and living a life that glorified God defined him. He and Betty spent countless hours at school, church, sporting and civic events to show their love and support for the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. One of his favorite hobbies was travel. Together, he and his wife traveled to all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries. Their travel included solo trips, extended family trips and cross country trips with friends. He enjoyed the act of planning trips for himself and others. Many in his circle called upon his travels to help them plan their trips. In addition, Don and Betty enjoyed Southern Gospel music and had many fine adventures attending concerts with their friends. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, July 8, 2022 at First Baptist Church in Amory, with the Bro. Allen Simpson and Jimmy McFatter officiating. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery. Pickle Funeral Home will be in charge of the services. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Crump, Cole Fisher, Zachary Leech, Mickey Russell, David Tapscott and John Tapscott. Honorary pallbearers will be past and current First Baptist deacons and the McDonald's coffee club in Amory. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to First Friends, a non-profit senior daycare center, at First Baptist Church in Amory.
Cole Fisher
Betty Welch Leech
Amory Chamber Of Commerce
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McVay, Ken
David Kenneth "Ken" McVay, 82, departed this life for his life eternal on Saturday, July 2, 2022 from Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. He was born in the Black Zion Community of Pontotoc County on May 30, 1940 to Barney and Lona May Stuart McVay. His father died when he was 9 month old and his mother relocated the family to the Randolph Community near her relatives. Ken graduated from Randolph High School in 1958 Ken was the husband of Peggy Glasgow McVay, to whom he married on June 30, 1960. He was father of David McVay and Missy McVay Brown and Paw to his beloved grandchildren. The McVay family made Okolona their home in 1963. He spent over 42 years in the sales and repair of Industrial sewing equipment, working in local garment and furniture businesses. He was employed by the Cutter's Exchange, which later merged with Singer Sewing Machines. During his long tenure of over 42 years, he was named top salesman in his region several times. Ken, a patriotic American and devoted community leader, served 20 years on the Okolona Board of Aldermen, where he was a voice of reason and progress. He was an active member of Prairie Lodge # 87 where he was Worshipful Master several years. Ken was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church-Okolona where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. A great southern storyteller, Ken made a difference in the lives of his family, his work associates and the greater community. He will be missed! A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 PM Thursday, July 7, 2022 from the First Baptist Church of Okolona with Rev. Dr. Randy Lewman and Rev. Dr. Roy McHenry officiating. Burial, with Masonic honors, will take place immediately following at East Chickasaw Memorial Gardens. Visitation will begin at Noon Thursday until service time at First Baptist- Okolona. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona is honored to be serving their friends. Ken is survived by his wife of 62 years, Peggy Glasgow McVay; his son, David Winborn McVay and wife, Brenda of Van Vleet; his daughter, Missy McVay Brown and husband, George of West Point; his grandchildren, Shelbie Brown, Stuart McVay and Ellis McVay and wife, Katie; two great grandchildren, Jackson and Jake McVay; a sister, Barnie Mae Gann of Houston. He was preceded in death by his parents, Barney and Lona Mae McVay. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 201 West Main St., Okolona, MS. 38860 or to Hope Village for Children, 2422 23rd Ave., Meridian, MS. 39302, formerly the Masonic Children's Home. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
David Kenneth Mcvay
Stuart Mcvay
Okolona Board
Peggy Glasgow Mcvay
Barnie Mae Gann
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Michael Phillip Pittman left his earthly home Sunday, July 3, 2022 in Haleyville, AL. He was born January 10, 1955 to Alice Watson Galloway and Wardell Samuel Pittman in West Point, MS. Mike was an avid reader, guitar player and enjoyed archeology. He married Kay Cash Pittman on September 3, 1982. Kay and Mike lived in West Point, MS for 19 years before moving to Tupelo, MS in 2002 where they made their home for over 20 years. A man who wore many hats, Mike was a career EMT/firefighter, worked at Weyerhaeuser Paper Industry for 25+ years and was the current owner of My Brothers Cup Coffee Company. Mike was a man of few words but much action. His life verse was Matthew 19:26 "But with God all things are possible" as he lived it out by answering the call to go into the uttermost parts of the world to share the Gospel. He led short term medical missions for 20 years into the foothills of the Himalayas, as well as India and across Southeast Asia. He also established a restaurant in Beijing to support missionary efforts in reaching as many people as possible with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In addition to leading missions across the ocean, he and Kay served families through preparing a hot meal once a month at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis,TN. They provided them with physical and spiritual sustenance for 25+ years. During their time of serving, they were able to donate the Mandi Green Chapel in the RMH in 1998 for the Mandi Green Ministry, in honor of Mandi Green who was a patient at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mike always said, "When you are not afraid of dying, you can truly live!" His life exemplified Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Many are in Heaven today because of his willingness to serve his Savior. We know that his wish would be for others to do the same. A service celebrating his life will be held at 3 PM Thursday, July 7, 2022 from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors with Pastors David Ball, Benny Knight, and Chris Payne officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time on Thursday only. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming at 3 PM Sunday and will be archived thereafter. A Graveside service will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Europa, MS at 6 PM. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and brother Fred Galloway, sister-in-law Sandy Galloway and a stepbrother Joseph Pardon. Mike is survived by his wife Kay, of Tupelo, MS, a daughter Shannon Denise Hall (RD) of Aberdeen, MS and son Michael Phillip Pittman II, of Portland, OR , grandson Evan Lee Atkins, of Tupelo, MS, granddaughter Hannah, Katherine Atkins of Daytona Beach FL, sisters Anne Hollywood (Mike) of Orlando, FL, Jackie Yager (Fallon) of Tyler, TX, L.E. Galloway, Jr (Nancy) of New Ulm, TX, Frank Galloway of West Point, MS, Tom Galloway (Linda) of Dallas, TX, Richard Galloway (Mary Keith) of Austin, TX, stepmother Mrs. Sarah E. Pittman of Greenwood, MS and a host of nieces of nephews. Memorials may be made in Lieu of flowers to the following: Way Out Ministries, 117 Kellum Dr, Salitillo, MS 38866; Transformation Garden, P.O. Box 4054, Tupelo, MS 38803; or The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, 535 Alabama Ave, Memphis, TN 38105
Michael Phillip Pittman Ii
Kay Cash Pittman
Sandy Galloway
Fred Galloway
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Mississippi State head softball coach Samantha Ricketts receives contract extension
Samantha Ricketts led Mississippi State softball to its first-ever NCAA Super Regional in 2022.
The MSU head coach, who just completed her third season in charge of the Bulldogs’ program, received a contract extension through the 2026 season. Her four-year term is the longest allowable contract by Mississippi law.
“Coach Ricketts has improved our program during the past three seasons as our head coach,” athletic director John Cohen said in a news release Tuesday. “It is evident that Coach Ricketts and her staff have worked tirelessly to elevate Mississippi State softball to the Super Regional level. We are very excited about the future and look forward to reaching new heights under Samantha’s leadership.”
Ricketts also kept her staff intact, promoting assistants Tyler Bratton and Josh Johnson to associate head coach. Johnson, the Bulldogs’ pitching coach, will serve as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
Ricketts took over for Vann Stuedeman, beginning her head coaching tenure with a 25-3 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Mississippi State made a third straight regional final in 2021 before surpassing that feat this spring.
The Bulldogs upset No. 2 national seed Florida State twice to win the Tallahassee Regional and host the program’s first Super Regional. MSU was swept by Arizona in two games.
Ricketts owns a career 97-55 record as a head coach. She served as an assistant at MSU from 2015 to 2019.
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Biden criticized for overlooking police suicides
Mental health experts tie rise in deaths to anti-cop vitriol
By JEFF MORDOCK The Washington Times
Suicide has quietly become an epidemic among the nation’s police, ranking as the No. 1 cause of officer deaths this year. Frustrated police advocates and mental health experts warn that President Biden has not only ignored the crisis but also exacerbated it with anti-police rhetoric.
Once a loyal ally to law enforcement during his more than 30 years in the Senate, Mr. Biden has tread a fine line when it comes to policing. He has pushed back against the left’s defund-the-police movement but has made few public comments supporting the police, fearful of crossing the Democratic Party’s progressive base and Black voters.
“The administration is not addressing police suicides, but in many ways, they are contributing to the stress, uncertainty and mental health issues that a lot of American law enforcement officers feel,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association.
As president, Mr. Biden has signed legislation to reduce and prevent suicide among frontline health care workers, launched a military and veteran suicide prevention strategy, and advocated mental health services for transgender teens.
But administration officials have remained largely mum on law enforcement suicides outside of mourning the deaths of the four officers who died by suicide after responding to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
During his remarks, Mr. Garland noted that the Justice Department’s COPS Office this year will issue $7 million in grants to prevent suicide and expand mental health services for law enforcement. However, most of the money had been allocated under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, a 2018 measure signed into law by then-President Trump.
The spokesperson said the department has not increased the level of funding for fiscal 2023, but it has expanded the training and technical assistance it provides to law enforcement for mental wellness. This year the department added a consolidated list of officer safety and wellness resources to its website.
Mr. Garland also touted a $2 million grant to convene a national consortium on preventing law enforcement suicides. Those funds were approved by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance in 2019.
This year, 64 law enforcement officers in the United States have died by suicide — an average of more than 10 per month — according to Blue H.E.L.P., a nonprofit that keeps such statistics.
Experts say the number is likely higher. Blue H.E.L.P.’s data is based on reports from local police departments. Those departments are hesitant to provide accurate numbers because of the stigma attached to suicide and it isn’t considered a line-of-duty death so families of officers who took their own lives can’t get benefits.
In a statement meant to honor officers during Police Week last year, Mr. Biden bashed officers for creating “a deep sense of distrust” between law enforcement and communities of color.
“The biggest thing the Biden administration could do is apologize to the profession for some of the outrageous statements Joe Biden has made since the election,” Ms. Brantner Smith said. “American law enforcement feels that not only does the administration not have our back, but we are actively in the crosshairs and that wears on the mental health of the men and women on the streets trying to do their job.”
Mr. Biden also could host a day honoring law enforcement, or an event highlighting the need for officer mental health services. The White House previously announced several mental health initiatives with much fanfare, including a plan to reduce military veteran suicides.
Police advocates said the grants provided under the 2018 legislation are woefully insufficient and need to be supplemented with funds from the federal government. The grants available under the COPS program and Byrne program are helpful, they said, but cash-strapped departments are spending the funds on critical needs such as replacing damaged vehicles and upgrading holding cells, leaving only a few dollars left for mental health services.
Currently, there is no legislation pending in Congress that would increase federal funding for law enforcement mental health services. While some have blamed the Biden administration, critics note that Republicans have not introduced legislation to improve police access to mental health services.
“The resources that exist are helpful but they are not enough,” said Ms. Lee, the police psychologist. “It is a political danger zone to be pro-police.”
She called for legislation that would mandate police officers have an annual session with a therapist and require officers involved in critical incidents to attend a debrief with officials and counselors. Congress can implement such rules only for federal officers, but local departments usually follow suit.
Currently, only one bill in Congress addresses the higher suicide rates for first responders. The Public Safety Officer Support Act would enable families of officers who died by suicide to be eligible for benefits.
An aide to Mr. Cornyn said the president could have done more to help the bill advance more swiftly.
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Have you enjoyed the fair so far? Well there is still plenty of action to see before it leaves town again.
Mitchell Brothers is bringing us the midway and Bearden Rodeo Company out of south Mississippi will once again bring the rodeo. They are with the Tristate and Southern Pro Rodeo Association.
Now while you may be enjoying all the sights and sounds of the fair don’t forget to thank the folks who put in a lot of time and effort to get it here. It doesn’t just appear all by itself, it takes many hours of planning and phone calls and lots of pushing pens and punching computer keys to get everything in line. Those who serve on the fair board include: Tommy Newell, Kevin McGregor, Kevin Foster, Shad Long, David White, Audra Chism, Annice Simmons, Joey Moody, Jeremy Graham, Jered Newell and Victoria Kilpatrick. Besides these the folks at the Extension Office, Tammy Farr, James Shannon, Ensley Howell and Jane Chamblee do a lot of extra work coordinating and making sure all the paper work is there for the days events. If you see any of these folks throughout the week, make sure you thank them for their hard work. This could to happen without them.
Exhibits, gate admission and carnival
What would the fair be like without the exhibits of good food, good canned goods and pretty artwork and needlework? You may look at them Thursday and Friday nights from 5-8 p.m. at the yellow exhibit building on the south side of the Agri-Center.
Gate admission for each night is as follows: Wednesday night (tonight, July 6) admission is a canned good for the food pantry. Thursday nights admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Friday and Saturday night is $10 for adults and 5 for children under 12.
The carnival is under way with a $25 armband to ride from 5-11 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, July 6. Thursday armbands are buy one get one free for $30 from 5-10 p.m. Both parties must be present when purchasing the ticket. Friday armbands are $30 for 5 p.m. until midnight. Saturday armbands are $30 for 4 p.m. until midnight.
Kiddies are invited to the children’s celebration inside the Agri-Center beginning at 10 a.m. There will be fun actives as well as a free hot dog lunch. And one activity you don’t want to miss is the magic act! The Pontotoc County Library will be partnering with the Pontotoc County Fair in providing entertainment for the children. Magician, David Strange, will be at the Fair around 11:30 for Children's Day.
Out back in the arena the Dairy Goat show will begin at 10 a.m., but you can check and weigh in beginning at 7:30 a.m.
There will be a livestock show exhibition and clinic beginning at 1 p.m.
The Pony pulling will get underway at the outside track at 6 p.m.
Family night at the fair with Bryan Jackson stunt shows will begin at 6:30. Please see related article in this paper for more information on this spectacular show.
Admission is a canned good for the food pantry.
If you have Market lambs and wether dams your show will start at 6 p.m. with check in and weigh in beginning at 4 p.m.
The youth rodeo will also begin at 7 p.m. in the arena. Registration for the youth rodeo will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Gate admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12.
Wild West Action rodeo gets underway at 8 p.m.
Evening gate admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
If you are a law enforcement officer, first responder or in the military you will be allowed to enter for $5 with a valid I.D. or if you are in uniform.
An old fashioned domino tournament will get under in the conference room at the Agri-Center at 9 a.m.
Beef show starts at 10 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 9 a.m. in the Akers/Moorman pavilion.
A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Generally clear skies. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable..
A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Generally clear skies. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable.
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Braden Shettles drops back and locates an open Bulldog teammate downfield during Tuesday's 7 on 7 action at New Albany.
NEW ALBANY - Braden Shettles enters his freshman year at New Albany as a multi-sport athlete and is on tap to be the quarterback for the Bulldogs after earning a starting role in basketball in 2021-22 as an eighth grader.
Shettles has made use of the June 7 on 7 scrimmages to develop his skills as the Bulldog signal-caller for the upcoming season and shared how it has aided with his progression.
"It helps me get the in-game reads that you need, so when we are in pads, it's all regular and all normal," Shettles said.
The fast-paced action of the 7 on 7 play speeds up the decision-making process as far as the reads and checks that Shettles goes through as each play unfolds.
"So, we've got these reads that I've gotta make, if one is not open then I've got to go to the next and if that one is not open then I've got to go to the next and when one is open, I've just got to hit them," he said.
Shettles hit Kaleb Shumpert with a perfect pass that went for the two-point conversion during the game with Nettleton. Shettles threw the pass with pin-point accuracy and Shumpert completed the play by getting his foot down inside the stripe before falling out of the end zone.
"He (Shumpert) made a really good catch," Shettles said. "We were running a corner and that was really my only option, had a smaller guy on him, just throw it up and let him get it."
The month of June has been really busy for Shettles with his schedule of 7 on 7 football, weight-lifting workouts and basketball. He shared how he makes time to fit in each one in his daily routine.
"We are done with basketball now, but last week it was get up at 5:30 a.m. and go to basketball, then come to football, lift, do the 7 on 7, go home and eat, workout some more and that's about it."
Even with such a full day of activities, Shettles says that it is fun and he appears to be making the most of all his athletic opportunities.
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Ashland's Lavarius Nunnally goes up for one of several dunks in summer action at Potts Camp.
Ashland senior point guard Quintavius Cotton dribbles the ball, looking for room to work in summer action against Shannon.
Blue Devils leaning on Cotton, Nunnally for now
POTTS CAMP • In three summer league basketball games back on June 15, Ashland leaned heavily on Quintavius Cotton and Lavarius Nunnally.
That wasn’t too much of a surprise for head coach Michael Cathey, who is entering his fifth year in charge of the Blue Devils.
In the first contest, Ashland was overmatched by Division 3-1A rival H.W. Byers to the tune of a 44-12 win for the Lions – last year’s Class 1A state runner-up. Of that, Cotton and Nunnally combined to score all 12 points.
The reasoning for that can be portioned out to show that H.W. Byers is still a big threat in the 1A basketball ranks, while also shedding some light on an issue that needed some ironing out for the Blue Devils – something they did as the day went on with a with over Shannon and a close loss to Potts Camp.
“We progressed after the first game. The jitters were going in that first one, playing against the best team from our district,” said Cathey. “I’m pretty happy with the results from the last two games. We’re just going to build on this and go from there.”
The duo of Cotton and Nunnally still carried the team in the 32-19 win over the Red Raiders. Nunnally led the team with 11 points after scoring eight against Byers, and Cotton added eight against Shannon.
But in that game, the Blue Devils had three other players score a basket, helping lighten the load a little.
It’s something Cathey is hoping to see develop even more as he continues to challenge his two guards to do more than just score.
“They’ve just got to show more leadership,” said Cathey. “Hopefully everybody can just piggyback off what they’re doing. If they will lead us in both the big and small things, we will be a much better team because of it.”
Ashland nearly erased a 13-point deficit after cutting the score to 38-33 with 2:15 to go against Potts Camp, but the Cardinals held on down the stretch for a 42-35 win. Nunnally, again, led with 11 while Cotton was held in check with just five points. This time it was Nicholas Jones who was second in scoring with nine points – all in the first half.
Jones is one of a handful of guards that has the potential to provide quality depth to the 1-2 punch of Cotton and Nunnally.
The biggest question mark, however, is in the post.
Cathey noted that, right now, it’s a committee approach to dividing the minutes to players such as Latrell Peterson, Brendan Gorman and eighth grader Jaylon Moore.
“We’ve got to go inside-out,” said Cathey. “We’re too guard-oriented right now. I think once that happens we will see a better result in our game.”
Now, over the coming months of the offseason, Cathey’s goal is to set the expectation for a group that didn’t lose a single player to graduation a year ago, but only secured a 5-17 record and a quick first-round exit in the 1A state playoffs.
Returning everyone seems like a blessing on the hoof, but Cotton is still the lone senior on a team that has more development needed to take the next step.
“We’ve understand there is going to be some growing pains, but we just have to take things one game at a time,” said Cathey. “We’ve had to use this summer to really get better. If that happens, then we will see some good results.”
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Jackson Owen is the first Northeast baseball player to win a national player of the year recognition. He won a Gold Glove Award® as well.
By MICHAEL H MILLER NEMCC Public Information
Gold Glove catcher Owen earns National Defensive Player of the Year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. • Early to bed and early to rise has helped Jackson Owen of the Northeast Mississippi Community College baseball team take home another top accolade.
Owen was selected as the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Defensive Player of the Year.
"I can't say enough good things about him," said Tigers head coach Richy Harrelson. "I'm just pumped for the guy. Most people don't see the extra stuff he does to become a better player. He's always one of the first guys to practice.
"The coolest thing to me about Jackson is that he's so good behind the plate that you never notice him. He steals strikes, keeps the ball in front of him, back picks and when runners steal he throws them out."
This recognition comes on the heels of Owen receiving a Rawlings Gold Glove Award® at the catcher position from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the NJCAA.
Owen, who also served Northeast as a designated hitter when not calling pitches from behind the plate, is the first student-athlete in program history to earn a national player of the year recognition.
"I couldn't be more honored," Owen said. "I'm a firm believer in being confident in your abilities. So I was just confident in myself and it worked out for me. I'm just really looking forward to next year and being better than I was this year."
The Starkville High School graduate routinely starts a normal day between 6-6:30 a.m. in the gym with workouts that focus on his mobility before moving on to the classroom and then to The Plex to take some extra swings before practices or games.
"I think it really helped with my longevity through the season," said Owen. "I loved being at the baseball field more often than compared to high school where you're at school for six-to-eight hours a day."
The extra efforts paid dividends as Owen handled the Tigers' pitching staff masterfully. He committed only two errors all season and was mistake free in 23 out of 24 appearances as Northeast's backstop.
He caught 15 total runners attempting to steal during his true freshman campaign. Owen had four games in which he snagged multiple runners, including during the Tigers' marquee home victory over Pearl River Community College.
Owen also stood out offensively with a 16-game hitting streak to end the year. He had a .360 batting average overall with a team-best 10 home runs and a .475 on-base percentage.
He pieced together nine multiple hit performances, which included a trio of three-hit outings against East Central Community College, Meridian Community College and Pearl River.
Owen racked up 17 extra base hits that resulted in a team-best .703 slugging percentage. He added 37 RBIs, 27 runs scored and 26 free passes between walks and hit by pitches.
His lone triple of the season came during a victory over Holmes Community College at Vicksburg's Sports Force Parks. Owen's only multi-homer game happened at Meridian with a pair of solo shots.
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Hickory Flat senior point guard Logan King scans the floor for an open teammate in summer league action against H.W. Byers on June 15. King is the lone returning full-time starter for the Rebels.
Hickory Flat's Noah Carnell blocks out the H.W. Byers forward for a rebound in summer action at Potts Camp on June 15. Carnell is one of a handful of pieces vying for a starting spot.
Rebels trying to find their own grit in offseason
POTTS CAMP • Zach Carnell isn’t looking too far for a mantra for his Hickory Flat boys team to identify with for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
In fact, just 30 minutes or so east of the Rebels resides the defending Class 2A champs, whose recent historic season has inspired a message for Carnell and his young team.
“That’s the main thing I’ve preached to them is that of Pine Grove’s: ‘Gritty Not Pretty,’” said Carnell. “It’s kind of similar. I want you to get on the floor, I want you to do what you got to do, do your job, be willing to work so hard that you have to have a sub. I’m really just trying to find my group right now that is going to give it everything they’ve got.”
Trying to find the pieces to put together starts at the top with point guard Logan King.
King is the only returning full-time starter from last year’s squad that went 18-14 with a first-round playoff loss in the Class 1A state playoffs.
His 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game stick out from a production standpoint.
King is undoubtedly the best ballhandler on the team, so moving him out of the point guard role is nearly impossible. But Carnell mentioned he hopes to see the senior take on more scoring for a team that will miss the scoring outputs from outgoing seniors like Drew Wilson, Alex Tatum and Landen Wilkerson.
All of Ty Webb, Noah Carnell, Austin Bryant and Bradford Hopper saw time as a spot starter throughout the season a year ago. Realistically, those four can join King in the starting lineup to form a formidable group with some experience but the puzzle of building a good team isn’t always that simple.
“We’re trying to figure out who needs to go where? Who needs to do what?,” said Zach Carnell.
In summer action at Potts Camp on June 15, the Rebels found themselves down just 15-11 at the half against a tough H.W. Byers group. Hickory Flat was outscored 27-8 in the second half, but not for a lack of trying.
That came in the next game against Potts Camp, where the Rebels snoozed their way through the two halves yielding very little fight and it resulted in a 50-9 onslaught and a long afternoon of practice right after.
“I’ve always told those guys, ‘We may get beat by 50 by somebody, but I can overlook the scoreboard as long as you’re working as hard as you can.’ It was apparent in that second game, they were not,” said Carnell.
Instilling that grit takes time – more than one summer month can offer. But for now, Zach Carnell’s focus is to consistently hound on good shot selections and getting back to the basics. It’s a recipe he knows his team will have to follow with so much firepower now gone.
“It’s definitely going to be interesting to replace those guys we lost last year, but I think if they’ll buy in, and they’ll do all the little things – the fundamentals they tend to think they’re too cool to do – then we can get back going, and probably surprise some people this year, hopefully.”
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Versatile Itawamba AHS senior Isaac Smith, a four-star recruit at safety, has more than two dozen scholarship offers – eight from SEC schools.
As a four-star recruit, Isaac Smith has a lot on his plate, but he’s in no rush to lighten his load.
The Itawamba AHS senior, who plays safety and running back, has more than two dozen scholarship offers. Eight of them are from SEC schools: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
“It gets hard at times to focus on your actual life, and then you have a recruiting life,” Smith said last week, in a visit to the Daily Journal office. “I’ve gotten used to it, though.”
Smith said he still has some official visits to take once football season begins and expects to commit shortly before the December signing period. He wants to keep his options wide open for as long as possible.
“Most all the schools I’m heavily looking at, I’m fine with going there and sitting a year out, learning and getting bigger, better, stronger, faster and developing my game,” he said. “But there are some schools I’ve looked into where I can go and be a first-year starter, make an impact my freshman year. A big role is academics, of course; my mom is big on that.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Smith is the third-ranked prospect in Mississippi and projects as a safety at the next level. Over the past two seasons, he’s recorded 148 tackles, nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
According to Smith’s recruiting profile on 247Sports.com, he has “an ideal frame for the strong safety position and growth potential to add additional weight to his frame.”
Smith is already working on getting bigger.
“I feel better when I weigh more, so if I can move better at a higher speed, that’s what I’d really like,” he said. “And I’ve been working on my man-to-man skills as well.”
The 2021 Daily Journal Two-Way Player of the Year is the son of former Ole Miss linebacker Reggie Smith. That would seem to give the Rebels an edge, but Smith isn’t tipping his hand.
“As time goes by,” he said, “my choices are narrowing down day by day.”
Itawamba AHS opens the 2022 season Aug. 26 when it hosts Amory.
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Dr. Regina Biggers will serve as BCSD's new superintendent.
Dr. Regina Biggers was sworn in by Judge Kelly Luther as Benton County School District's new Superintendent of education on July 1 at the district office in Ashland.
Biggers succeeds Pete Howell in the role, who, after a 22-year career in education, retired due to personal reasons, according to the district office. The search for Howell's replacement was advertised beginning April 20, and applications were accepted for roughly four weeks.
Dr. Biggers will begin her 19th year in education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and her master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Mississippi.
She is leaving the Scott County School District, where she served as the elementary curriculum director since July 2016. She also formerly served as a teacher and principal in the Kosciusko School District and currently serves as a part time adjunct professor in the leadership departments of the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University.
“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve the students and families of the Benton County School District,” said Dr. Biggers. “I look forward to building relationships with the educators and families across the district as we work together to provide the best education possible for every child.”
Wendy’s to celebrate fresh, new look restaurant
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Chickasaw County EMA facilitated an active shooter tabletop exercise last week.
HOUSTON – The Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency facilitated an active shooter tabletop exercise for the county schools and hospital/nursing home, last week.
“The focus of the exercise was to introduce resources in Chickasaw and surrounding counties available to us in event of mass causality event with focus on active shooter and discuss each agency’s emergency plans as a group,” said EMA Director Linda Griffin.
There were a variety of topics covered including emergency response and evacuation, just to name a few.
“Topics included critical info supplied to 911 dispatchers; cooperation among the responding agencies (EMS, LAW, FIRE, EMA); mass evacuation of schools, nursing home, personal care homes; reunification of parents with their children after an event.”
Griffin said that this was an important exercise for all involved, as it lays the groundwork for planning and response in the event of an emergency.
“In the event of any type of emergency, these two organizations not only have to keep themselves safe but are responsible for one of our most vulnerable populations, children and the elderly.”
There were representatives from the different agencies present.
Among those included staff from multiple different areas of the hospital system and the town-wide healthcare system as a whole, as well as emergency personnel such as Sheriff James Meyers, and representatives of Houston Police and Fire as well as Okolona Fire and the Sheriff’s Department.
The school system had principals from each of the schools there as well as Superintendent John Ellison and school board trustee Tammy Chamblee.
“We were very pleased with the turnout from all areas of emergency response, as well as local medical clinics who will provide support in event of mass causality event. I want to get local industry involved in future meetings as well due to the large number of people working under one roof.”
That is one of the main goals of this exercise, making it a regular event, in order to keep it fresh on everyone’s minds so that they will be prepared in the event of an actual scenario.
“Each agency has its own meetings and training events, but I would like to see Chickasaw County host events like we had today that included all the key players in one room. This will help us in our response and recovery efforts in any emergency situation, and make sure that we are all on the same page and understand the best method to work together. We all have different roles but one common goal and that is to save lives.”
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HOUSTON – The Chickasaw Journal will no longer be publishing new issues after July.
The final issue will publish on July 27.
The Chickasaw Journal has served the county for over 100 years and has been the de facto town hall of the community.
The decision was not an easy one, however, despite having exceptional circulation numbers, there was not enough advertising revenue to continue to support the publication.
The increased cost of printing materials also played a key role in the decision.
Owned by Journal Inc., the Chickasaw Journal was one of six weekly newspapers that the company owns, the others being The Pontotoc Progress, The New Albany Gazette, The Southern Sentinel, The Monroe County Journal and The Itawamba County Times.
William Bronson, C.E.O of Journal Inc. had this to say.
“As a lifelong newsman that believes in the power of community journalism this is a very sad day. We have fought this decision for a few years. We hoped coming out of the pandemic local business would return. We had corrected the circulation issues and were very optimistic. However, with out-of-control inflation costs and very soft advertising support, we could not continue to operate at a loss. I am very sorry we have come to this junction in the road, because without the sunlight of community journalism the governed falls to a disadvantage to the governing. A community also loses the ability to celebrate its citizens and commemorate those that helped define and build a community. The Daily Journal will continue to keep a watchful eye in Chickasaw County and cover your story as best we can.”
This will not affect the dedication of the Chickasaw Journal staff, to continue reporting on the news in the county until the final issue.
“We are saddened by this outcome, however, we still have a duty,” said Robert Scott, Editor of the Chickasaw Journal. “We have a duty to the people of Chickasaw County to continue providing the same service that we have for all of these years.”
Scott, who took over as Editor in May 2019, was fresh out of college when he started.
“I graduated on a Saturday and started on a Monday. I have loved my time here and I am thankful that I was able to meet the people that I did, and I will always have a special place in my heart for the Chickasaw Journal. I wouldn’t trade my time spent here for anything.”
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Scammers are on the prowl in this area, using phone lines to look for easy pickings.
One of the most frequent scams involves a person notified of cash winnings by phone. The victim is usually notified by phone of a "Cash Winning " in a drawing or sweepstakes. The suspect tells the victim to purchase a cashier's check and deliver to the caller in order to receive their winnings.
Citizens have also reported being contacted on the Internet of a "Secret Shopper" scam. The victim receives a check and is instructed to cash the check, purchase selected items at predetermined locations and send the remaining cash to the caller. The checks are fraudulent, and if a victim falls for this scam, he/she will be held responsible by the bank for the amount of the bad check. If you can't pay the bank back the money, you can be charged with a felony.
Authorities have also received reports of the "Pigeon Drop" scam. Often occurring in a mall or shopping complex parking lot, a well-dressed young woman approaches the selected victim, usually an older woman. The younger woman will claim she has just found a bag, briefcase or envelope containing cash and inquires about ownership. A second suspect will approach and tell them she works for an attorney and will seek his advice. Ultimately the pair of thieves will convince the victim to give them cash to secure her part of the found money. They tell the victim the money is necessary to receive her part of the found money.
Along a related line, people should be aware of all charges on their credit cards.
A town police department received a police report from an Arkansas Sheriff's Department where items charged on the stolen card number were shipped to a town address.
The woman who lived at this address said she met this man from Africa on a chat room and later talked to him on the phone and emailed him. She had pictures and info on "him" from a "My Space" page, she told investigators.
The man told the woman he was going to have items shipped to her address and for her to mail those to him in Africa because it was cheaper to buy things over here and have them shipped over there.
She sent him several packages that were sent to her house at her own expense, but when a big order for car parts came to her house, she told him he was going to have to send money. She told him it was going to be too expensive for her to send the parts. He never got around to sending her the money.
The victim in Arkansas stated that her card was never physically stolen, but that someone just got her number.
You can avoid becoming a victim by just using common sense: If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
For more information on the above listed scams or other scams, please go to the Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi website at www.crimestoppersnems.com, or contact your local Police Department or Sheriff’s Department.
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Pictured are the guns that are being raffled.
This ATV will also be raffled.
HOULKA — The Houlka Volunteer Fire Department is holding several raffles to raise money to help buy a new fire engine to help maintain the department’s Class 7 rating, town officials said this week.
Keeping that rating is a dollars and cents issue to area residents; if the rating rises, so could the cost of fire insurance in the area the department serves, fire officials said this week.
The department’s Class 7 rating determines what residences and businesses in the department’s area of operation pay for fire insurance.
If a new truck is not obtained, the department’s rating would likely rise to a 9. That means the cost of fire insurance would likely more than double, according to Chickasaw County Fire Coordinator Jonathan Blankenship.
To help raise money for the truck, the department is raffling off several long guns.
A separate raffle offers the chance to win a new ATV.
The four rifles and a shotgun being raffled off are on display at Hometown Supply in Houlka. Fire department members bought the firearms for the raffle.
The firearms will be raffled off at a date to be announced in November, Mayor David Huffman and Houlka Fire Chief Derek Earp said this week.
Gun raffle tickets are available for $20 each or 10 for $100.
The ATV is expected to be raffled off sometime after the first of the year, the mayor said.
The 2022 Honda Rancher 420 4x4 is also on display at Hometown Supply.
The ATV tickets are available at $20 each or six for $100.
To buy tickets for either raffle, see any fire department member or call 662-446-6987 or 910-330-1211, for more information.
The town is also working with county supervisors to acquire some funding for the fire engine, which is expected to cost about $330,000, Blankenship said.
A small portion of the funding for the truck will likely come through the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program.
Supervisors recently transferred an RFTAAP round, worth $90,000, to the Town of Houlka to help pay for the vehicle.
That means the town would have to raise about $240,000 for the truck.
Actually, according to RFTAAP guidelines, “I want it understood that the town must raise the truck’s entire $330,000 purchase price before we see the $90,000,” Mayor Huffman said this week.
At this point, the mayor said it’s unclear where the rest of the truck’s purchase price will come from.
Plans are to aggressively seek any available state or federal funds, hold an auction and more raffles, and seek donations from area residents and business owners, he said.
The fire coordinator said this week the deadline to have the pumper truck ordered “is in the neighborhood of October,” and it will likely be that time before it’s ordered.
Once ordered, it may be up to one and a half years before it’s received.
“Also, due to new standards that have recently gone in to effect, the price of fire trucks has increased.
“Fire trucks and fire equipment are very much affected by inflation and costs continue to rise rapidly.
“Ordering the truck sooner than later will also save money,” Blankenship said.
The department is required to have the new truck mainly due to the age of the 1995 truck.
“It has surpassed its ratability age. As a result, due to its age it is given no credit toward the department’s rating,” the fire coordinator said.
Once the new truck is received, and the old truck replaced, the old truck’s fate is uncertain.
“We’re really not sure what could become of the 1995 truck, which was bought by Chickasaw County. The department can keep it if they want,” the fire coordinator said.
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Chester Buchanan, 41, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of crack cocaine, possession of methamphetamine.
Steven Crocker, 39, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.
Austin Ellis, 24, of Fulton, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, violation of probation, disorderly conduct, false ID, resisting arrest.
Randy Floyd, 27, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, possession of methamphetamine.
Mitchell Lindsey, 48, of Mantachie, was arrested by the Guntown Police Department, violation of probation, switched tag, no insurance, driving with a suspended license.
Jason Miller, 41, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Guntown Police Department, grand larceny, possession of a controlled substance.
Rayquan Deon Smith, 19, of Lake Village, Arkansas, was arrested by the Mississippi Highway Patrol, felony fleeing, disorderly conduct, improper lane change, improper passing, no insurance, no seat belt, reckless driving, speeding.
Joshua Young, 41, of Baldwyn, was arrested by the Baldwyn Police Department, tampering with evidence, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, littering, no headlights, disorderly conduct, no insurance, possession of paraphernalia.
A County Road 1439 Mooreville woman saw a man, 55, and a woman, 24, were sitting in an SUV parked in her front yard around 10 a.m. She walked outside and saw a needle in the female’s arm. When she told them to leave her property, the female got out of the vehicle and began hitting her and kicking her. The male then got out and pinned her against the SUV by placing his arm across her neck. When she called 911, the suspects ran off into a nearby pasture.
A Raybern Foods employee said a former employee with the same first name picked up her Rapid Pay Card. She doesn’t know the suspect and did not give her permission to take the card. There have already been two transactions in West Point on her card.
A County Road 1900 Saltillo woman said her ex-boyfriend showed up wanting to get his stuff. She put all his stuff outside three weeks ago when they broke up. He was banging on the door and windows wanting inside to get the window unit air conditioner and light fixtures.
A County Road 659 Tupelo woman said when she went to get her mail, her neighbor’s three pit bulls tried to attack her. She is scared of getting bitten while walking in her own yard.
A Blue Springs man was riding with a friend when they were pulled over by a deputy on County Road 1498. The friend was arrested and carried to jail. The man then walked back to his friend’s County Road 1349 house. Five people showed up and wanted to know what was going on. When the group realized they couldn’t bond the man out of jail, they started taking vehicles and items from the friend’s house. When the man refused to help them, they began beating on him and chased him away.
A County Road 1145 Tupelo woman returned from the store and took one load of groceries inside. When she stepped back outside, there was an unknown male in her garage. He said he had been beat up. She told him to leave and he did.
A High Forrest Lane Tupelo man said his younger brother is mad and has been threatening to beat him up. The younger brother is upset because the man and his wife are still friends with the brother’s ex-wife.
A Ybarra Drive Nettleton woman said someone entered her house and stole a portable generator and a window unit air conditioner. Both items came from Rent A Center.
A woman said there was a black Toyota Camry parked outside her mother’s County Road 561 Shannon house. The mother was not home, and no one was supposed to be there. After deputies cleared the house, the woman went inside and said it looked like someone had been sleeping there.
A County Road 1409 Mooreville woman saw a male walking around her shed at 9 p.m. She said the man is on meth and looking for something to steal.
A County Road 1650 Tupelo man said he parked his 1997 Jeep Wrangler in his drive at the top of the hill. While he was asleep, the Jeep rolled down the hill and hit a tree. The impact damaged the rear bumper, gate, back glass and warped the frame to the point the doors won’t open.
A County Road 31 Tupelo woman said a man showed up and got out of his truck waving a pistol at her and her father. The man was saying something but she couldn’t hear him because his truck was so loud. She said the two men had a previous altercation on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
A County Road 1349 Tupelo man said someone stole a trail camera and a trolling motor from his property. Another trail camera showed a blurry image of a man on the property at 4 a.m.
A Nettleton man said his son was driving his 2000 Chevy 2500 truck but was entering rehab. The man went to get the truck, but a cousin had the keys. The cousin finally brought him the keys, but they were the wrong ones. He is scared the cousin will steal the truck while the son is away at rehab.
A County Road 1752 Saltillo man, 60, said his roommate, 36, went to a party and got drunk. Around midnight, the man noticed the light on above the pool and went to check. The roommate was freaking out, saying there were two people in his room who attacked him. He then assaulted the man, breaking his glasses. The man said there was no one else at the house.
A County Road 931 Tupelo man said overnight, someone stole his red 2010 Ford F150.
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Next state superintendent a crucial choice
Mississippi must reassess education needs, goals before making hire.
Mississippi sits at a crossroads as it prepares to hire a new state superintendent of education. With the retirement of Dr. Carey Wright, who spent nine years as head of the Mississippi Department of Education, it is time to reassess our goals and decide exactly what we need from a state superintendent.
Clearly we have made some great strides under Wright based on national rankings and metrics. She oversaw the implementation of several new legislative programs and the launching of charter schools. And she was a passionate advocate for early childhood education and one-to-one technology initiatives.
While many of the initiatives started under Wright are vital to the future of our education system, we must also take a moment to ask ourselves, "What do we want our public education system to look like in the future, and what kinds of students do we want our schools to produce?"
We have seen marginal steps toward realigning our schools from the overwhelming focus of college-readiness to the dual missions of college-readiness and career-preparedness. These meager strides must increase drastically across the state, and that means an MDE that is driving that message.
For instance, the career coach program instituted in Tupelo and a few other districts has become a pilot program for other districts across the state. It should also become a standard approach to education in Mississippi.
Furthermore, we need a state superintendent who will drive bold innovations and isn't afraid to break current molds to increase student success. This would include looking at year-round school years for more districts, using technology to provide higher-level instruction across district lines to allow more opportunities to students in smaller schools, and stepping away from an over-reliance on standardized testing as a means to judge academic success.
It is no secret that our current means of measuring the success of our schools is too dependent on standardized tests. The byproduct has been that teachers in certain grades do nothing but teach a standardized test all year. There is little learning going on in those classrooms, and the hoops through which schools jump to make their test scores look as good as possible is borderline dishonest.
ROB PICOU: Are state tests robbing students of a great learning experience?
We also need a superintendent who understands politics and the legislative process. Unfortunately, these are essential skills. It is not enough to be well versed — even a genius — in education policy. The state superintendent must be able to work with our legislative leadership to increase funding, secure support for crucial policies and maintain the political backing that will ensure he or she can do the job successfully.
The state Board of Education will send a clear message about the future of Mississippi public schools with its hire. We urge the members to ask difficult questions and make an honest assessment of their goals. This is a crucial decision that will reverberate for years.
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Dr. Carl Rollyson will speak at the Historical Society Monday, July 18.
The Pontotoc County Historical Society will host acclaimed literary scholar and biographer Dr. Carl Rollyson for a presentation of his works on Monday night, July 18, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Pontotoc Community House.
Rollyson is the author of more than 40 books, including the two-volume biography The Life of William Faulkner. Rollyson’s Mississippi tour is being organized by the Pontotoc County Historical Society and will include programs in Pontotoc, New Albany and Ripley.
“We’re excited and honored to have Dr. Rollyson coming to Pontotoc,” said Bob McGee, president of the Pontotoc County Historical Society. “ He will discuss arguably America’s greatest writer, William Faulkner, and his connections to Pontotoc and the surrounding area. Faulkner’s life is fascinating, and no one is better at telling his story than Dr. Rollyson.”
"Dr. Rollyson has graciously consented to sign copies of his two-volume biography of William Faulkner. Books will be available for purchase at this event."
Rollyson is a professor at The City University of New York and is one of the leading biographers working today. He has authored biographies of William Faulkner, Norman Mailer, Marilyn Monroe, Lillian Hellman, Susan Sontag, and Walter Brennan.
McGee said this project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Rollyson will speak at the Union County Heritage Museum in New Albany on July 19 and the Ripley Public Library on July 22. In between these events, he will be attending the Forty-Eighth Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference at the University of Mississippi. For more details about these events, visit http://mshumanities.org/events/
Also, Jack Elliott, a Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History retiree and author of a new biography of W. C. Falkner, William’s great grandfather, will conduct a tour of William Faulkner-related sites in and around Pontotoc, including the site where Faulkner’s brother Dean died in an airplane crash. The time and location of the Elliott tour will be announced later.
Historical Society Hosting Dr. Carl Rollyson
William Faulkner Scholar And Biographer
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Gaillard is Valedictorian, STAR student at Walnut High School
Logan Harold Gaillard is the Valedictorian and STAR student for 2021-22 school year at Walnut High School. He is the son of Johnny and Beverly (Wilbanks) Gaillard. He is the grandson of the late John D. Gaillard, Peggy (Cheatham) Gaillard, the late Harold Wilbanks, Bill Lower, and the late Bonnie (Welch) Lower.
Throughout high school, Logan served in the National Beta Club and Student Government Association. He also participated in Wildcats Baseball, Football, DECA Business and E-Sports. Logan was voted Most Intellectual math/science awards under the leadership of Mrs. Beth Smith and the late Mr. Danny Meeks (Walnut Science Team), which catapulted his interest in the sciences, especially chemistry.
Logan was named STAR Student during his senior year, scoring a 35 on his ACT. In turn, Logan chose Mr. John Eaton as his STAR teacher. Mr. Eaton's teaching, friendship, and love of music made a lasting impression on Logan.
Logan will be attending Mississippi State University this fall, where he was awarded full academic scholarships. He is a member of the Shackouls Honors College and is seeking a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the Bagley College of Engineering.
tim.watson@djournal.com
Tim is the general manager of the Southern Sentinel-Advocate.
Follow Tim Watson
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Puckett's Nashville is located at 500 Church St, Nashville, TN.
The stage at Puckett's. Check out the lineup of musical artists and bands scheduled for the rest of the summer online at: puckettsgro.com/nashville/music
Bella, Jackson, and I got a taste of Nashville at Puckett's Grocery.
Here's my "keto" modifications after ordering a chicken sandwich without the bun and subbing out fries for broccoli. You can access the menu at: https://puckettsgro.com/menu/Pucketts-Nashville-Menu.pdf
Jackson and his spicy BBQ Chicken Nachos, before he ate his way to the bottom of the tray.
Bella's BLT!
Last week, I wrote a "sweet" column about our family vacation to Nashville, highlighting the fun we had shopping at Savannah's Candy Kitchen on Broadway. This week's column is a continuation of last week's, highlighting a Nashville restaurant that is a MUST TRY on your next family vacation to Music City.
Nashville is the perfect destination for a family vacation. About a three hour drive from Ripley or a short flight from Tupelo Airport, there’s never a shortage of inspiring things to do. From musical attractions to honor both past and present, to art galleries, theaters, and performance stages, Nashville is a mecca for the arts.
It was a music venue that brought my family to town (to see our favorite band, American Aquarium, debut at The Ryman Auditorium).
While there, my young adult daughter, Bella, teenage son, Jackson, and I enjoyed local cuisine at a favorite Nashville restaurant: Puckett's Grocery!
Bella, 21, and I last enjoyed a meal at Puckett's shortly after moving to Mississippi from Florida, when the city was largely shut down to COVID restrictions in May 2020. I had to go to Nashville on business and brought Bella along for the trip, as she had never been to Nashville before and was excited to see the hometown of Jason Isbell, her music idol.
In spite of having limited restaurant options due to COVID restrictions beginning to be put into place, Puckett's Grocery was, fortunately, still open, and Bella and I enjoyed our first taste of Nashville there. We knew, when we returned to Nashville with Jackson, 17, we would need to bring him to Puckett's for one reason and one reason only:
the BBQ Nachos.
Jackson is a HUGE lover of nachos. He apparently has a hollow leg, because he eats giant mounds of nachos at least once a day, and stays skinny, meanwhile, I look at a plate of nachos and gain three pounds. Jack must have been at the front of the line when God was handing out fast metabolisms, but I digress. Nachos make my teenage boy happy, and Bella and I wanted to surprise him with the best nachos ever on our trip to Nashville.
So, fast-forward to June, 2022. Nashville is open again, and Bella, Jack, and I roll into town after our three hour drive, STARVING. Bella can't believe the contrast between when the city was shut down during COVID and this trip. She was amazed at how full of life and bustling it was, when there were veritable tumbleweeds rolling down empty streets during COVID. The excitement of the city fueled us as we marched down the sidewalk to Puckett's Grocery. Of course, Bella and I couldn't wait to see Jack's reaction to the BBQ Nachos, but we also couldn't wait for him to enjoy Puckett's history and overall vibe with us.
Why is this restaurant called "Puckett's Grocery?" Founded by the Puckett family decades ago, the namesake country store served communities in rural Tennessee for years. It was a place to grab the week’s groceries or a fill a tank of gas, but it was also a gathering spot in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee for many decades (according to the restaurant's website, puckettsgro.com).
Entrepreneur Andy Marshall grew up in the grocery business. When he launched his own career in the industry at the age of 26, it led to him owning several Piggly Wiggly stores across the Southeast.
In the mid-1990s, Marshall’s love of food, music, and community began to steer him in a different direction. His desire was to serve one small town with just one store, where he could also offer home-cooked family recipes to the community he was serving. So, in 1998, he decided to sell all of his stores and purchase a little gem in the heart of Leiper’s Fork. That gem was Puckett’s Grocery. In 2002, Andy transformed the grocery into a restaurant and music venue. This served as the inspiration for five more restaurants.
In 2010, Marshall opened the restaurant in downtown Nashville, located at 500 Church St, Nashville. Puckett’s 5th & Church has a larger stage for musicians, seats up to 150 guests, and provides a large stock of supplies and groceries for downtown dwellers. Today, the Nashville restaurant has become a favorite amongst the locals as well as those visiting Music City. The restaurant serves as a sought-after destination for live music, down-home cookin’ and the quintessential Southern experience, which is why we love it so much.
Ever since the beginning, Puckett's has been focused on providing both new and old friends with great food and Southern hospitality. It has built a name on hosting live, local music and serving Southern staples: classics, like meat-and-three items, and their famous slow-smoked BBQ, in a laid-back, down-home atmosphere.
About twenty-three minutes into our meals, Jack was rubbing his tummy and looking incredulously at an empty tray in front of him where a mountain of BBQ Nachos once was. I raised him right; he's not a quitter. After giving us two thumbs up, Bella and I looked at each other and smiled. Mission accomplished.
Enjoy the pics of our plates and the interior of Puckett's, and be sure to stop by on your next family vacation to Nashville. Hope to see you there!
What's your favorite family-friendly Nashville restaurant? email me at lauren.gay@journalinc.com so I can check it out next time I am there.
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The Board of Aldermen of the Town of Falkner met on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Present were: Mayor Ross Gay, Alderman Jonathan Weatherly, Alderman Brandon Butler, Alderman Petie Rutherford, Alderwoman Susan Rutherford, B. Sean Akins, Town Attorney; Tracy Jeter, Town Clerk, Charles Terry, Jacob Bates and David Hobson. Absent were Vice Mayor and Alderman Kenny Shelton.
Highlights of the meeting included approval of a public hearing for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) District 2 Hazard Mitigation Plan, transfer of funds from the general fund to the water fund, and hiring Jim Jackson as a part-time town employee.
The Board unanimously approved the scheduling of a public hearing on June 7, 2022 to express public desire to participate in the MEMA District 2 Hazard Mitigation Plan. To qualify for mitigation grants, state and local governments are required to develop and implement hazard mitigation plans. Disaster loss reduction measures are carried out through the development of state and local hazard mitigation plans and the implementation of those plans.
Other motions that were unanimously approved, unless otherwise noted:
• that James Alberson's water bill should be corrected the sum of $44.19.
• that the sum of $19,182.83 shall be transferred from the general fund to the water fund.
• that the claim in the sum of $19,182.83 to Luckett Pump and Well Service should be paid.
• that Jim Jackson is hereby hired as a part-time employee at a rate of $10.00 per hour.
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The Board of Trustees of the Tippah County Hospital met on Monday, June 6, 2022, via teleconference.
Present were: Ray Crawford, Roger Childs, David Hubbard, Vicki Skinner, Robert Cagle, Greg Ward, and Lana Richardson. In addition, also present for the meeting were Stephanie McAlister, Melinda Crum, Dr. Patrick Chapman, Amy Jones, Veronica Hoyle, Carol Anne Hurt, and Fred C. Permenter, Jr.
Highlights of the meeting included monthly reports from the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Financial Officer, authorization for the Administrator to obtain quotes for the purchase of a new ambulance and tree removal, and the rescheduling of the July meeting due to the Independence Day holiday.
Carol Anne Hurt, the Chief Nursing Officer who gave her monthly report on Quality Management, Core Measure Compliance, Accrediation Management, Patient Satisfaction, and Medical Staff Reports. She further advised the Board that she had no reports on Compliance and Security, Employee Relations, Risk Management and Credentialing.
Motions unanimously approved, unless otherwise indicated, included:
• adoption of the proposed dress code policy and proposed badge policy for the Tippah County Hospital.
• acceptance as presented and approval of the financial report presented by Chief Financial Officer, Stephanie McAlister, including the fiscal and statistical report, write-offs, budget adjustments, and accounts payable for the month of April 2022.
• entrance into, followed by conclusion of, an Executive Session.
• authorization for the Administrator to obtain quotes for the removal of certain trees from the Tippah County Hospital campus and to also obtain bids for a new ambulance.
• rescheduling the July meeting from July 4 to July 11.
• The meeting was adjourned until July 11, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. for a meeting via teleconference.
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Representatives from the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation (CIF) spoke to members of the Itawamba Historical Society during their June meeting.
CIF Chief Executive Officer Brady Davis and Chickasaw Heritage Center (CHC), Director Robert Parker educated those gathered on the organization and its plans for the Chickasaw Heritage Center in Tupelo.
The name, Chickasaw Inkana Foundation, was selected to reflect the mission of the foundation. Combining the official name of the Chickasaw Nation itself, with the historic Chickasaw word “Inkana” meaning “friend,” Davis told the group. Further lending to the focal point of the foundation is its logo, the historic Peace Medal given to famous Chickasaw leader, George Colbert, by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801. Colbert was the brother of Levi Colbert, also known as Chief Itte-wamba or Itawamba, from which Itawamba County was named. The symbol was selected to highlight the foundation's desire to form lasting partnerships with organizations and individuals within the State of Mississippi.
The organization was first envisioned by the Chickasaw Nation’s Governor Bill Anoatubby in 2011 and was officially founded in February 2014. According to the CIF website, inkana.org, Governor Anoatubby’s vision was to form a grassroots, independent non-profit organization in the Chickasaw Homeland with the goal of fostering enduring partnerships with governments, local civic and educational organizations, and institutions to preserve and protect Chickasaw heritage sites, as well as accurately interpret Chickasaw history and culture in the region from the Chickasaw perspective.
The CIF, a 501(c)3 non-profit, will manage the future Chickasaw Heritage Center to be located off the Natchez Trace in Tupelo. The Chickasaw Homeland constitutes not only its epicenter in the Tupelo, Mississippi area but, all of North Mississippi, West Tennessee, Northwest Alabama, and Southwestern Kentucky.
Plans for the 39,000-square-foot center will include an exhibit hall, a theater, lobby/atrium, cafe, gift shop, multipurpose rooms, laboratory/collections, and offices. Also on the grounds will be a facility maintenance building and a reconstructed Chickasaw village, playground, and outdoor plaza.
The 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall will encompass an eternal flame with a state-of-the-art interpretative space highlighting Chickasaw history and culture from the Chickasaw perspective.
“Some of the major interpretive topics that visitors will see in the exhibit hall are our cultural identity, our economy, our warriors, and our removal,” Parker told the group.
The 4,000-square-foot theater will feature the latest in high-quality lighting, sound, and audio technology. It will host various activities and live performances from scholarly lectures and symposia to musical performances, demonstrations, cultural events, and films.
The 6,500-square-foot lobby and atrium will combine modern and traditional elements to create a welcoming atmosphere. It will host a variety of temporary and special exhibits, cultural demonstrations, and hands-on activities as well as highlight our donor recognition feature.
“This will be a state-of-the-art facility and will be unique in that it tells the Chickasaw story from their perspective,” Davis said. “This is the first center that we know of being constructed for a tribe that was fully removed from their homeland and have come back and invested in an educational facility like this.”
The CIF received $16 million to fund the project with the Chickasaw Nation committing to match up to $16 million. Other commitments include the Tupelo CVB, the city of Tupelo, Cadence Bank (formerly BancorpSouth), the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance, and the National Park Service. The CHC Charter Membership now stands at over $67,000. Individuals or businesses wishing to donate can call 662-842-4176. The Chickasaw Inkana Foundation Legacy Awards Gala will be held on September 15 at BancorpSouth Arena. Tickets can be purchased online at https//inkana.org.
Construction on the center is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022 with the center tentatively scheduled to open in the early part of 2025.
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Jim Milucky plays a trumpet solo at a Monday Night Jam in the Carolina Community Center.
Photo by Lukas Flippo
Betty Gammel performs at the Monday Night Jam on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the Carolina Community Center.
People dance during a song at the Monday Night Jam in the Carolina Community Center on May 23, 2022.
Attendees of the Monday Night Jam on May 23, 2022, join hands for a gospel song at the closing of the concert.
By Lukas Flippo Mississippi Free Press
Betty Gammel is a magnet dressed in a mint-green suit, as her white boots make clack-tap sounds across the wooden floor of the Carolina Community Center in rural Itawamba County, Miss. She bounces around the room from person to person, only sitting for as long as she can go unrecognized.
Every Monday night, anywhere between 50 and 100 people come from as close as down the road in Carolina or from hours away in Northwest Alabama to pay $5 so they can play or listen to live music in the auditorium of the white-shingled community center. The building used to house a school, which closed in 1958.
Some guests bring their guitars, trumpets or keyboards and take a seat in a circle at the center of the room. For nearly three-and-a-half hours, each person takes a turn playing or singing a song of choice, ranging from old gospel hymns to modern country songs. Others fill in the chairs spread about the room to listen until the music brings them to the floor to dance in a rhythmic fever to a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” or to waltz with their partners to a cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over.”
The Monday Night Jam can be traced back to around 2009 when the Rural Community Development Committee of Carolina invited Gammel to teach a class on the dulcimer, a wooden string instrument shaped like a flattened hourglass.
“Anyone can play the dulcimer,” Gammel said. “I had around 25 students from grandmothers to grandchildren.”
After a few classes, spouses and family members began attending the class to listen. Listening turned into playing when Tommy Todd, whose wife was in the class, brought his guitar to strum along with the group. The class moved from a smaller room in the building into the auditorium due to the increasing attendance, and the jam in its current form was born, with a mixture of young and old playing dulcimers, guitars, keyboards and horns.
Gammel discontinued the dulcimer classes, however, when her breast cancer returned in 2014 after she initially entered remission in 2008. “It redirects your entire life,” Gammel said. “You’re not the same anymore.”
While the dulcimer slowly disappeared from the group, Todd continued to organize and steer the weekly jams, which grew in size and popularity.
“The dulcimer is a quiet instrument compared to the guitar,” Gammel said. “You could play it in a hospital waiting room if you strummed it quietly. You need a lot of them to keep up.”
Gammel rejoined the weekly jam sessions once her cancer reentered remission, though the dulcimers no longer play as significant a role in impromptu schoolhouse orchestra. Every Monday afternoon, she spends around 30 minutes carefully picking an outfit and preparing her hair, which she cuts, combs and maintains, before making the hour-long drive to Carolina from her home in New Albany.
“Cancer has taken a toil on my body,” Gammel said. “But it hasn’t taken my pride.”
The musician said that another source of pride for her are the people scattered around the circle and in the listening chairs on Monday nights. Many of them had attended Gammel’s classes or later came along and learned to play various other instruments during the weekly event.
“I am blessed with knowing that my little effort has helped people learn how to play,” Gammel said.
Carolina, named after the original settlers from the Carolinas who arrived in 1833, has no official population. But Linda Dozier, who works the kitchen at the back of the auditorium on Monday nights, guesses it must be getting bigger.
“When I was little, a lot of the roads were dirt,” Dozier said. “Now, they are all paved!”
While she spends most of her time in the kitchen during the weekly jam sessions, Dozier said she knows the building intimately, as she graduated from the eighth grade in the building nearly 70 years ago when it was actively a school.
Born in Carolina, Dozier carries on her family’s long history within the community. She can trace her Carolina roots back to her great-grandparents in the late 1800s or early 1900s on both her mother’s and father’s sides. Her parents met in the Carolina school, and when her father returned from World War II, he bought and cleared land to raise a family. Dozier still lives on the land, and several of her children raise their families on adjoining lots.
“I never wanted to leave,” Dozier said of Carolina. “It’s a place where if you have a difficulty, people will always be there to help.”
When Dozier’s husband, Roger, passed away last month, the Carolina community came together to provide her with food. The entrance fee for the weekly jams often doubles as a charity fund, whether it is to help with the medical bills of a lifelong community member or a grandchild’s boyfriend who finds himself in need.
“Everyone is welcome at Jam,” Dozier said. “It’s one big family.”
Although the audience and the group of performers are aging, Gammel and Dozier both show pride and appreciation for the consistency of attendance. The jams continued during the pandemic, albeit with masks and limited singing. Organizers feared that if the jams stopped, they might never start back up again.
That fear never materialized. As pandemic restrictions have relaxed and case numbers declined, more and more people have begun attending the jams. What was once two hours of music has turned into three hours due to the number of people who take turns playing instruments and singing songs.
After the concerts come to a close around 10 p.m. most Monday nights, everyone packs into their vehicles and slowly rolls out onto the unlit, country Carolina backroad, sure that they see one another the following week.
“It’s so wonderful to know that unless something bad happens, we will be back loving each other on the next Monday night,” Gammel said. “I just hope it will never die. Your heart is in it, and you don’t want it to go away because it is a piece of you.”
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The Monroe County Airport was among six airports across the state receiving Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) multimodal grants.
The Monroe County Airport’s grant totaled $171,406 for an agriculture aircraft operations apron.
“It’s going to be for a 100-by-100 ag apron, and we’ll lease it to a local operator in the county so it will generate revenue for us,” said Monroe Count Airport Manager Wes Kirkpatrick. “He’s going to allow others to lease it, so it will be a non-exclusive lease but he’ll be paying the lease rate and others will be able to use it. It will give them their own location and make it a little safer of an operation out here so they’re not cutting across the ramp going back and forth to the fertilizer hopper.”
The Mississippi Transportation Commission recently announced the award of approximately $3.2 million in funding for multimodal transportation projects throughout the northern district. The commission approved MDOT to award grants to regional and municipal airports, ports, railroads and public transit systems throughout Mississippi, according to a press release.
It continued to state funding for these multimodal grants comes from the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Fund. Money from this fund is allocated specifically to support multimodal grants each year.
Grant applications, which include project details and funds requested, are reviewed and approved by a multimodal committee specific to each separate mode of transportation.
Monroe County Airport
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ABERDEEN – Three local Rotarians were honored June 27 for being 2021 and 2022’s Paul Harris Fellows.
While Alan Gurley, who is Monroe County’s coroner, and Glenn Summers, who is Aberdeen’s State Farm agent, were 2021 honorees, Chris Chandler, who is CEO of Monroe Regional Hospital, is the 2022 Paul Harris Fellow.
Paul Harris Fellows make contributions of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Eligible members are reviewed internally and selected based on integrity and commitment to the club and the community.
“This club is very close to being 100 percent Paul Harris Fellows. That is very, very rare. It’s certainly rare in our district but it’s rare outside our district. That’s a really big deal and to make that happen, you made a commitment to the Rotary Foundation for a long, long time,” said Gray Carter, former district governor, who was the meeting’s keynote speaker.
He spoke about meeting a fellow Rotarian, who is the organization’s district governor in Kyiv, Ukraine, while attending an international Rotary Club event in Chicago this spring.
“He asked me if I was familiar with the early Christians and everything they went through. He said being a Rotarian is like being an early Christian. He said Rotarians are leaders and doers. They speak up, they help other people and they’ve visible. He said, ‘Those are five things that will get you shot in my city now. There are people watching for leaders, watching for people who speak up and are visible and out front,’” Carter said, adding Rotary Club meetings there are now held discretely because of the Russian invasion.
He added the Rotary Club is the largest assistance organization as a public entity in Ukraine and it makes sure donated funds are getting to the proper people in need.
Rotary Club launched an initiative in the mid-1980s to rid the world of polio with help through the Gates Foundation. Carter noted COVID-19 vaccination work was modeled after how the polio effort worked in other nations where it is still active.
He applauded Aberdeen’s club for being resilient, saying some chapters within the district folded because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally during last week’s meeting, the gavel passing ceremony was held for the Rotary Club chapter’s president. Greg Miller takes the place of outgoing president Tina Robbins.
She said during her year as president, the club was written and awarded $2,500 in grants from the Rotary Foundation.
Leigh Mobley also received a $500 community grant from the club through District 6800 for the Wounded Warriors. It was made possible because member Tim Alford attended the district conference.
She recently spoke to Aberdeen’s Rotary Club about contributions through the Wounded Warriors.
“Every one of you has a Rotary story. You may not realize you have a Rotary story but if you think hard, there are things that have happened because of your involvement in Rotary that are unique to you that if you shared it with somebody else, they might make Rotary their habit. It’s a great way to recruit,” Carter said.
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Amory native and Smithville High School alumni Joey Brown takes a selfie from inside the cockpit of one of the several aircraft he flew as a civilian enrolled at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. On average, two civilians graduate from the program each year.
Brown stands next to a T-6, which was among 31 different aircraft he flew at Test Pilot School.
In the process of applying for Mississippi State University, Amory native and Smithville High School Class of 2011 graduate Joey Brown had to answer a question about where he envisioned himself in 15 years.
Even though he may have foreseen then being a programmer working on flight testing, being one of the few civilians to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School was something he never imagined.
“In my lifetime, no more than 26 civilians have graduated from Test Pilot School. More people have Super Bowl rings than the number of people who have graduated from Test Pilot School,” he said.
He completed the program last month.
Years before sitting in the cockpit, himself, he was first exposed to flight testing through a student design team while majoring in aerospace engineering at MSU.
After college graduation, 97 job applications led to 12 interviews, finally leading to his first job doing developmental weapons testing in Florida with the U.S. Department of Defense through Eglin Air Force Base’s 780th test squadron.
“I did a lot of testing with F-16s and was a ground-based test conductor. I was a glorified wedding planner with bombs and jets,” Brown said.
The job opened up the opportunity for graduate school at the University of Colorado in Boulder in human space flight before returning to Eglin for work he explained as highly accelerated, which sometimes required him to tell F-16 pilots what buttons to push.
The Golden Horde project
One of the major roles Brown played while at Eglin AFB was serving as lead test engineer on the Air Force Research Laboratory's Golden Horde Vanguard project. His experiences in graduate school and development weapons testing led up to his work on Golden Horde.
According to an overview from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Golden Horde develops technology for Networked, Collaborative and Autonomous (NCA) weapons. The program’s original objective was to demonstrate the type of weapons by creating an integrated system allowing them to autonomously work together to increase lethal capabilities and survivable outcomes.
A May 2021 report through the U.S. Air Force following the final test flight stated the Golden Horde program is an initiative focused on advancing NCA weapon capabilities through live and virtual testing.
The test involved live warheads, and there were two places in the United States providing for the best fit – Eglin and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
“I was involved in every single aspect and had to prove this is the right decision,” Brown said, adding the process in locating the exercise in New Mexico required uncomfortable discussions with high-ranking Air Force officials at Eglin.
During flight tests, two F-16s released their weapons simultaneously, and the weapons established communications with each other. Objectives included expanding radio networks of weapons in flight and as a ground station, weapons performing a synchronized time on target attack on a single target location and an in-flight target update from a ground station to flight weapons to demonstrate the ability of Golden Horde weapons to interface with a larger command network, according to U.S. Air Force reports.
In the cockpit
Golden Horde helped Brown establish more of a name for himself, which opened the opportunity for consideration to Test Pilot School, located at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The school helps develop the next generation of research pilots and engineers.
Through Test Pilot School, Brown flew 31 different aircraft, including modern fighter planes, a P-51 Mustang, a T-6 and four different types of helicopters.
He said the experience taught as much through curriculum as it did through the environment.
“In my work environment at Eglin, the people who made the decisions graduated from Test Pilot School,” he said, adding Test Pilot School graduates have influence in making leadership impacts in the field.
He and his wife, Rachel, both competed for the most recent civilian slot through Test Pilot School. Following his experience, he has the opportunity to teach at the school.
Brown now works with the Department of Defense in Palmdale, California, and future goals include working toward advancements in Air Force flight tests. He ultimately would like to have a leadership role in Washington, D.C.
Joey Brown
Test Pilot
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OXFORD – Former Amory High School teacher Toshemie Wilson appeared in U.S. District Court Tuesday for his initial appearance related to federal charges for producing and possessing child pornography.
After an hour of witness testimony and oral arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Sanders determined there was probably cause as to a criminal complaint filed June 29 by the FBI.
He denied U.S. attorney Julie Addison’s motion for Wilson to be detained and ordered he be released on a $10,000 bond, pending future proceedings. Wilson is being defended by Jamie Franks.
The affidavit states the Mississippi Department of Education contacted the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office in November 2020 regarding a possible sexual abuse case involving Wilson. The state department of education first received a complaint from a recovery center in San Diego regarding the instance.
It continues to allege Wilson offered narcotics and money to students in exchange for allowing him to videotape them performing sexual acts.
Following state attorney general investigators’ initial visit to the Amory School District to explain the allegations to the superintendent, narcotics were located by AHS’ school resource officer in Wilson’s vehicle and he was taken into custody.
The investigation continued to reveal Wilson had numerous pictures and videos of younger males in sexual positions and/or performing sexual acts after he consented to a search of his electronics devices and cell phone.
Wilson, who was a Technology Student Association sponsor at AHS, is alleged to have “perpetuated a pattern of grooming and exploitation of students who participated in TSA,” according to the affidavit.
In May 2021, search warrants to search and seize evidence related to child exploitation at Wilson’s home and storage building led to the discovery of more than 300 items including videotapes labeled with sexual positions and names of AHS students, file folders with nondisclosure agreements signed by students and a backpack containing underwear and sex toys.
The affidavit also states Wilson recently tried contacting victims through social media.
Wilson was arrested following the execution of the search warrants, and a $250,000 bond was set in Monroe County Justice Court by Judge Brandon Davis.
For more on this story, check out the July 13 edition of the Monroe Journal.
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The Amory Lady Panthers won the Saltillo Summer Tournament on Thursday after defeating Saltillo in PKs.
Amory's Ellie Baker scored the lone goal in the first game against Saltillo on Thursday.
Amory's Sutton Payne plays the ball off his chest in Friday's game against Saltillo.
Amory's Mylie Williams steals the ball away near midfield.
Amory's Dylan Thompson scored a pair of goals in Wednesday's win over Wayne County at the Meridian Tournament.
Amory's Sam Black controls the ball from the back line.
SALTILLO – The Amory Lady Panthers ended their summer off with a bang, going undefeated at the Meridian Community College Tournament last Tuesday and winning the Saltillo Summer Tournament after a 0-0 shootout win, 4-3 in penalty kicks, against Saltillo.
“This was a good finish to our summer,” Amory coach Nathan Clayton said. “The girls got better every week, and any time you can beat Saltillo more than once it’s really good. We’re pleased with the development of the girls that we have returning, and we’re excited about some of the younger ones.”
After 30 minutes had passed, the Lady Panthers found themselves tied 0-0 in the championship game against Saltillo, forcing the game to go into PKs. The Lady Tigers missed their first shot, while Mylie Williams made hers to give Amory a 1-0 lead.
Saltillo responded and tied things up on its next shot, but Emma Pinkerton drilled her shot to put Amory up 2-1. The two teams continued to go back and forth in PKs as Saltillo made its next one, while Ellie Baker made hers, giving the Lady Panthers a 3-2 lead.
The score remained at 3-2 after a pair of missed shots by the two teams, but the Lady Tigers tied the game at 3-3 after making their next attempt. Emma Gore closed the game out after drilling in her shot for the win.
“We played pretty well on the back line and didn’t give up very many shots all game,” Clayton said. “They probably took three or four shots in the last 15 minutes, but for the most part, we did a good job of marking up. Even in the New Albany game, outside of that one goal they scored on, that was the best look that we gave up all night. I was very pleased with our effort offensively and defensively.”
(G) Games 1 & 2: Amory 1, Saltillo 0; New Albany 1, Amory 0
In Amory’s first game against Saltillo, the Lady Panthers got on the board first as Baker put one in the back of the net with 18:30 left, and a few key saves by Annabelle Holman helped them take a 1-0 win.
In their second game of the day against New Albany, the Lady Panthers fell 1-0 after giving up a goal with 14 minutes left on the clock.
“It was pretty close all the way through in both those games against New Albany and Saltillo, and they’re really good competition,” Clayton said. “New Albany played in the 4A state championship last year, and in 5A, it always comes down to Lafayette and Saltillo for the North half championship every year. So to beat Saltillo twice and put up a good fight against New Albany was a positive thing to see.”
(B) Amory 0, New Albany 0; Amory 0, North Pontotoc 0; Saltillo 1, Amory 0
After back-to-back 0-0 ties against New Albany and North Pontotoc, the Amory Panthers were eliminated from Friday’s Saltillo Tournament after losing to Saltillo 1-0.
“I thought Noah (Coker) played pretty well in the goal because he hasn’t spent very much time there over the summer, but he still did a great job,” Clayton said. “We played pretty well on the back line, and we did a really good job of trapping New Albany in our first game and slowing down their forwards because they were trying to play really, really high.”
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead with 19:53 left in the game. Amory had a few good scoring opportunities as Cayden Smith and Izaiah Legaspi took shots at the net after Saltillo scored, but they were unable to cash in.
With 17 seconds left, a penalty was called against Saltillo, giving the Panthers a chance to tie on a penalty kick. Smith was elected to take the shot, but it just missed as the clock ticked down.
“I think we got a little tired towards the Saltillo game, and they probably had more opportunities to score than anyone else,” Clayton said. “I was pretty pleased with how we played defensively because we gave a much better effort than we did at the Meridian Tournament. We had some situations where a few midfielders made some good defensive plays for us too, closing off passing lanes and covering over 1-on-1 situations.”
Meridian CC Tournament
At the Meridian Community College Tournament, the Lady Panthers won three of their games last Tuesday, with one ending in a tie, while the Panthers finished the tournament with a 1-4 record on Wednesday.
“All of the tournaments we’ve been to over the summer had really good competition, and most of the teams we’ve faced were either 5A or 6A schools,” Clayton said. “That’s definitely going to help us in the future.”
The Lady Panthers started off the tournament with a dominant 6-0 win over Northeast Lauderdale as Payton Ford, Ellie Baker, Allie Goldman, Mylie Williams, Christi Carol Smith and Emma Pinkerton scored goals. Game 2 against Newton County ended in a 1-1 tie as Williams scored the goal for Amory.
The Lady Panthers bounced back and took a Game 3 win against Kosciusko with Emma Gore, Ford and Williams putting in goals. Amory closed out the day with a 3-1 win over Sumrall to remain undefeated in the tournament.
Gore scored a goal at the start of the game on an assist from Baker, and Williams finished with a pair of goals on assists from Leecie Martin and Goldman.
“Our girls have really matured over the break since last year,” Clayton said. “We’ve got quite a few things that we’ll need to improve on from August to November, but we’re really excited about the upcoming year.”
The Panthers fell in their first two games against Northeast Jones and Ridgeland, 6-0 and 2-0. Amory managed to rebound after back-to-back losses as they took down Wayne County 4-1 with Cayden Smith and Dylan Thompson both scoring a pair of goals.
In Game 4, Amory matched up against Northeast Jones again, and they fell 4-1 as Smith scored the lone goal for the Panthers on an assist by Sam Black. The Panthers concluded their day at the tournament with a 5-3 loss to Kosciusko with Smith, Noah Coker and Sutton Payne scoring goals.
“It wasn’t one of our better days on the guys’ side of things,” Clayton said. “We struggled at all phases of the game, offensively and defensively. Hopefully, we can use days like that one as a learning experience because if you’re not physically and mentally ready, you’re going to have some bad situations. Probably the better game that we played was actually against Ridgeland, who went undefeated again. We actually spread out and attacked a little bit, and even though we didn’t finish opportunities, we set things up pretty well in that game.”
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Lillian and Eleanor are twins, but aside from the pearl necklaces each wore everyday, the two are nothing alike except they share a very similar appearance. Lillian, who prefers solitude, is one of only two women in Columbia University’s undergraduate Physics program and is working to gain admission to the doctoral program at Harvard University. Bubbly Eleanor is an extrovert and aspiring actress. However, the sisters are devoted to each other. Their father died when they were young and their mother was effectively lost soon after. Lillian, the oldest, sees herself as the one who holds the family together and carries most of the responsibility for the family, but she finds that she depends on Eleanor more than she realizes when Eleanor’s dreams put her own in jeopardy.
Sarah James’ debut novel “The Woman with Two Shadows” will be published by Sourcebooks Landmark on July 26. The work of historical fiction takes readers on two journeys. One is Lillian’s travels Oak Ridge, Tennessee in search of a missing Eleanor, but within the city behind a fence, Along with a love story that goes disastrously wrong, Lillian finds the answers to more than one mystery: what happened to her sister, what happened to others that has gone missing at Oak Ridge and what exactly were the people there working one because nobody seems to know. The second story is that of the events leading up to Eleanor’s departure for Oak Ridge and why she went. A betrayal, exactly what kind is unknown to readers until late in the book, endangers the twins’ relationship and sets the course for the events that follow..
James’ novel is a bit slow in the beginning, but James is laying groundwork for a mystery that takes twists, turns and a flight to the New Mexico desert before coming to a surprising conclusion. The flashbacks are well placed within the present story with readers learning just enough to understand how things happened as well as their impact on current events as well as wanting to know what happened next.. The book gives Lilian, Eleanor and readers closure as “The Woman with Two Shadows” comes to an end.
The Book Bag
The Woman With Two Shadows
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Last week, the state of Mississippi was able to celebrate a second straight College World Series national championship with Mississippi State winning last year and Ole Miss winning this year.
We saw so many posts about how the state of Mississippi rules college baseball. In addition to those two championships, you also have Southern Miss, a perennial contender themselves.
Many of those posts also pointed out success outside of Division I baseball – Pearl River winning the NJCAA title and last season two Mississippi teams being ranked No. 1 in high school baseball and softball.
Those are all really awesome accomplishments, and it makes me think about all the great baseball that is being played right in our own backyards.
Of course, you have the 3A state champion Amory Panthers, and as far as high school teams, I saw them go toe to toe with plenty of the other best teams in our area. Now that the high school season is over, most of the members of that team are traveling over the Mid-South facing some really tough competition in summer ball, and it seems like next year’s seniors in that group are committing to play at the next level left and right.
Between them and this year’s group which already has several going on to the next level, they could be part of championship teams at the next level we could be talking about in the future.
Also earlier this week we were talking with Andin Johnson for a feature story coming up, and we were discussing last year’s Tupelo 49ers run through the American Legion World Series. That was four of our county players playing on the national stage against some of the best talent in the country, and we have four Nettleton guys on this year’s team that is currently undefeated.
That group is poised for another huge postseason run and hopefully will end up in North Carolina playing for a championship again.
I hear plenty of times softball coaches say that you don’t have to go far to play good teams – in reference to the number of softball state championships and appearances over the last several years.
We can definitely say the same thing about baseball – we don’t have to travel far to see good baseball teams. Year in and year out, we have them right here in our own county and beyond that in Northeast Mississippi.
The state of Mississippi is constantly shining at the next level in baseball, whether it’s a JUCO national championship, Mississippi guys playing all over the country at the DI level or guys representing in the Major League.
The last time before these championships for MSU and Ole Miss that teams from the same state won the national championship in back-to-back years was Texas in 2002 and Rice in 2003.
It might be that long before we see it happen again, or we could see our state continue on with its reign.
Melissa Meador is the General Manager of the Monroe Journal. Contact her at melissa.meador@journailnc.com or follow her on Twitter: @MelissaMeador14.
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New Albany Middle School Principal Paul Henry was named the Mississippi Middle School Principal of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals on June 22, 2022.
“I am overwhelmed and very honored to be recognized for such an award,” Henry said. “It is so humbling that the work of so many that I have had the privilege to work with would lead to this honor.”
Henry has worked in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator for more than twenty years. Nineteen of those years have been in an administrative capacity.
He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Mississippi State University.
Henry has had leadership experience in five school districts serving as athletic director, assistant principal, and principal in the middle school, high school, and K-12 capacities.
He has been with New Albany School District as principal of New Albany Middle School since 2019 where he led a team of school and district leaders in implementing the IMAGINE Lab, a state-of-the-art STEAM based learning lab.
Henry was named the New Albany School District Administrator of the Year in 2020. He is currently serving as the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents Alliance Chair, as a board member of the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals, and on the State Superintendent of Education’s Principals Advisory Committee.
“What an honor it is to have the MASSP Mississippi Middle School Principal of the Year leading New Albany Middle School,” said Dr. Lance Evans, Superintendent. “Our students and community have benefitted from his leadership. He has been instrumental in extending our fine arts offerings, implementing an impressive STEAM lab, and finding creative ways to lower our dropout rate and increase our graduation rate.”
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Venderventer shows kids a chicken snake.
Venderventer goes nose to nose with a hog nose snake.
At six feet six inches, it took three people to stretch this specimen out.
Library gets visit from 'The Snake Man'
One of the Union County Library’s most popular visitors, Terry Venderventer, also known as “the Snake Man,” recently presented a program as part of the summer learning program.
As usual, he brought a variety of live specimens with him for children to see.
He told them about how his love of reptiles began when he was only four years old. He and his mother were out walking when they saw a snake. He said they put the snake in a peanut butter jar, poked holes in the lid and took the snake home.
Then, his mother took him to the library to get some books about snakes and that’s how it began.
Since then, he has been to several foreign countries and capture deadly snakes and has done quite a bit of work with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson.
Illinois native Venterventer, who lives in Jackson, said he is retiring at the end of July after 45 years of education (but he also said he was retiring a year ago).
More can be found out on his website www.livingreptilemuseum.com.
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No county school tax increase needed for coming year
The Union County School District will not be asking supervisors for a tax increase to help fund the 2022-2023 school year, Superintendent Russell Taylor said.
“We’re in good enough shape that we don’t have to,” he said. In fact, the county schools have not needed a millage increase in the past several years.
The budget will be higher than for the past year at projected $35,623,345 in expenses in contrast to the $29,756,955 budget for 2021-2022. Some of the increase may come from increased assessed valuation for the county’s growth; that total should be ready this week.
The schools have also gotten assistance through the Covid ESSER, or Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds.
Superintendent Taylor said the new budget contains no major capital projects that will rely on local funds but there are some the ESSER money will assist.
One obvious adjustment school officials are having to make concerns the high cost of fuel. “We’re paying twice as much for fuel,” he said “It’s up 60 percent.” Some schools are budgeting bus fuel at $6 a gallon. “We hope it’s going to go down,” Taylor said.
One improvement for the district is replacement of flooring in all the schools this summer.
Another will help East Union. “We’re going to renovate the cafeteria this fall,” he said.
The school, with by far the largest student population in the district, has been stuck with the original cafeteria despite growth.
“We have to start at 10:30 and go to 1:30 to get all the students in,” Taylor said. The plan is to add up to 600 seats, which should solve the problem to a large degree.
“We’re also doing bathroom renovations at the schools,” he continued. Each bathroom will now have touchless water faucets and toilet flush valves, something brought on in part by the Covid pandemic. The schools converted water fountains for use as bottle fillers earlier.
“Probably our biggest project will be windows,” Taylor said. The district is replacing all the windows in all the schools, many of which apparently date back to 1963. “That will be next summer and it will help with aesthetics, light, energy saving,” he said.
Some district funds will be spent on safety.
Taylor said that although the campuses already have cameras, they are going to add more that are high-resolution, motion activated and have zoom capabilities. They also are adding more keyless entry features. “I’m really excited about the safety upgrades,” Taylor said.
The schools will continue their one-to-one technology policy. That means that every child in grades K-6 has a Chromebook to use and students in the upper grades have their own iPads.
Where does school funding come from?
Funding sources are 21 percent from local taxes ($7,585,289), 55 percent from state ($19,997,112) and 24 percent from federal ($8,780,522). Total revenue is forecast to be $36,362,923, more than a total expenditure of $35,623,345 to give the district a required operating cushion.
More than half the district’s expense is for instruction at 56 percent. Support services get 27.75 percent, non-instructional services use six percent, facilities acquisition and construction are allocated 10 percent and debt service will use 0.25 percent.
Something of a sore point with school officials is the Mississippi Adequate Education Program passed by the legislature in 1997.
That body approved a formula ostensibly to provide adequate funds to the schools for a basic adequate education, but legislators have not provided the money promised by the formula.
The county district should be receiving $19,235,011 but the legislature only approved $17,216,159. In fact, the Union County schools have been underfunded by $20,547,183 over the years – money that could have gone a long way toward benefitting children.
The Covid ESSER funds mentioned above have come in three parts: $525,669, $2,128,563 and $4,861,184. In addition to helping fund some of the previous mentioned projects, the funds have helped pay for loss of learning during the pandemic, added cleaning and needed custodians for sanitation, improved WIFI services and hot spots to help students during remote learning and subject intervention.
The district employs 376 people including 214 teachers. The nearly 3,000 students break down to 923 at East Union, 666 at Ingomar, 688 at Myrtle and 629 at West Union.
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John Robert Young, 82, died shortly after midnight on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Born and raised, poor, on a farm. He learned success comes from loving your family and leaning on them always, both through the good times and the bad. He understood that hard work, determination, sacrifice, having a vision, and the willingness to take risks that others were unwilling to take is what it took to be successful. He could find a diamond in the rough because he was one himself. He was a man defined by his own definition of Character, which he said was doing what was right when no one is looking. He despised praise but was the first to give it. He had a kind soul, and an even softer heart. He was generous to a fault and would give you the shirt off of his back, as long as you didn't try to take it from him first. He was honest. He was fair. He believed that if a man could put in a hard days work, the least you could do was give him an opportunity to do so and to give him a meal for the strength to succeed. He was loyal to the people he loved and they were loyal to him. He was humble because he had been humbled by life itself. He knew what it felt like to be hungry and he never wanted anyone to have to know how that felt. He knew what it meant to fail, but knew that the failures were only opportunities to learn and to share those lessons with others so they could learn from his mistakes without having to only learn from their own. He knew how to lead by example. He understood his blessings and respected them. He was frugal in his own life so that he could be fruitful in the lives of others. He loved his family more than can be imagined and that family wasn't exclusive to ones that shared his blood. When you were family, you were always family. He loved his God and his Church. He loved his Friends and his Community. He loved his life. A life he lived in his own very particular way. A life that was good, full of love for the people he shared it with. A life that started in the rough on a farm in Blytheville, AR. A life honed and polished through the years by hard work and immeasurable amounts of Love, turning him into the beautiful jewel of a man we all know and Love. Mr. John Robert Young.
Visitation will be at Bethlehem Church on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 11:00a.m. until the funeral service time at 1:00p.m. Dr. Jeff Lawrence will officiate. Burial will be at Bethlehem Church Cemetery. United Funeral Service is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements.
He is survived by two daughters, Chrystal Coleman (Ben) of New Albany and Frankie Prescott (Bill) of Myrtle; three sons, Michael Starlyn Young (Marti Brooke), Terry Robert Young (Crystal "Christie") and John Walker Young (Shannon), all of New Albany; three sisters, Carol Anson of New Albany, Melinda Dunlap of Cumming, GA and Cathie Bouland (Jeff) of Marion, AR; one brother, David Young (Diane) of Pickwick, TN; and sixteen grandchildren: Conner Coleman, Caitlyn Coleman, Sean Carter Coleman, Clayton Coleman, Lidia Grace Young, Starlyn Grady Young, Morgan Laraine Young, Gradie Brooke Robbins, Cotton Clyde Young, Bella Ruth Young, Georgia Raeann Young, Matthew Keaton Young, Cohen Robert Young, Collins Virginia Young, Silas Walker Young and Sebastian Gage Young.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Richard "Dick" Young, Terry Young and Steve Young; and two brothers-in-law, Jack Dunlap and John Anson.
Pallbearers will be Phil Young, Matt Young, Conner Coleman, Keaton Young, Sean Carter Coleman, Freddie Payne, Bill Prescott and Elder Borjas. Honorary pallbearers will be Starlyn Young, Cohen Young, Clayton Coleman, Barry Pankey, Gerald Bogue, Jess Owen, Michael Rainwater, Robert Hurdle and Thomas Wall.
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“I won’t spend money on a newspaper that doesn’t print what I agree with.”
That’s where we are today.
This was a woman’s response during an interview about the death of newspapers generally and local papers in particular – but her comment was actually more far-reaching.
This woman was basically saying that not only was her head in the sand, but that she was piling more sand on top of it.
She was saying there was no possibility she was wrong and had no interest in learning anything that did not fit her preconceived ideas. She was promoting the sadly common misconception that if one does not agree with it, it surely must be fake.
I fear that too many people feel that way regardless of which way they lean philosophically, and which contributes to the catastrophic split in our country. If one disagrees with you, he or she literally becomes an enemy, sometimes to the point of violence.
Once upon a time, we got 30 minutes of national news on TV each weeknight. That was it. Walter Cronkite or one of his peers would speak and people would take what he said at face value. He would end his broadcast with, “And that’s the way it is….” People did not doubt him, and did not think the news was slanted toward any political view.
Then Ted Turner wrought the first 24-hour satellite cable news.
Since there was not enough news to fill 24 hours, they repeated what they had. But it was still not enough so they began to explain the news, partly on the premise viewers could not understand it and partly to fill the airtime.
Taking political sides reinforced taking political sides even more and the natural political natures of people became amplified, reinforced and cemented more in place.
Next came social media, with no accountability for truth or accuracy or even that the source is real, but a focus on the number of views and the premise that the more people are riled up, the better it is for business, truth be damned. Social media works hard to keep one from changing and that means keep from learning or growing.
People have lost the ability of critical thinking and just swallow unreservedly what they are fed, if it is what they agree with.
Social media flourishes and in the meantime, community newspapers are dying – now at the rate of about two every week.
Obviously, I take this personally.
Sure, internet news is free, but you get what you pay for in terms of accuracy and reliability.
Then there is The New Albany Gazette, which is the newspaper of record for Union County.
That not only means printing news, but that we are the custodians for history of news, business and advertising, legal matters and more extensive material that one will never find on the internet.
As a newspaper of record, we are entrusted with printing and preserving things accurately and without bias. We try to just tell you objectively what happened and avoid political leanings. I, for one, don’t think political party philosophy has a place in local city and county events anyway. A pothole is neither Democratic nor Republican.
But it continues to get tougher for local papers.
One study found that 360 newspapers have shut down since the end of 2019, 336 of them weeklies serving small communities. There are various economic reasons as well as changing reader trends. However, the study found that communities without a reliable local newspaper tend to be “poorer, older and less educated” than those who have solid local news coverage.
Newspaper readers are generally better-educated, more involved in local government and community activities, and have more disposable income as well.
One may say of the newspaper, “There’s nothing in there,” but one of our front pages will have more information than a half-hour TV news broadcast. It will be as accurate as possible, fair and all of it will be relevant to our local community.
One hopes it will open the reader to other possibilities, broaden horizons, and help make better citizens in a better community.
We just celebrated Independence Day. Celebrate independent thought.
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Christy and husband Harold with some of the refreshments and gifts provided by co-workers.
Christy Sullivan was honored by fellow employees with a reception June 22 as she prepared to retire from the Union County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office.
Sullivan has worked in the office for 33 years, starting in the tag and tax department and working her way up. Over the years, she served under tax assessor-collectors Bob Bailey, Dennis Rakestraw, Randy Dunnam and, now, Tameri Dunnam.
She said she plans to travel some, but will spend time with grandkids and plenty of things that have accumulated she wants to do at home.
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The Union County Literacy Council is announcing their upcoming tutoring workshop on Monday, July 11, at 6 p.m. at the Literacy Council office, located at 921 Fairgrounds Spur Road, New Albany.
This workshop will familiarize new or returning tutors with new programs and also be a refresher course for existing tutors.
Dr Larry Yager will be the facilitator and the program will be a concise summary of the course. As always, it will be interesting and cover all the salient points for anyone to feel confident in providing help to a student.
To attend, call 662-538-3838 or 662-534-1930. You may feel free to leave a message. The deadline is July 8 to register
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Wise family makes farming fun, educational and profitable
New Albany and Union County are becoming more and more a tourism destination with plans to add to the resources we already have.
One aspect that may not come to mind readily and is still comparatively new is agritourism.
In fact, the Union County area is home to several thriving agri-tourism businesses.
One of the oldest and most successful is Wise Family Farm. Stanley Wise, the person most responsible, talked about agritourism at the Union County Heritage Museum recently.
“It’s the fastest-growing part of tourism in the U.S.,” he said, adding a benefit is that, “It’s almost recession-proof.”
Wise Family Farm has grown to have a plethora of activities and draws people from all over North Mississippi and beyond. It started fairly simply and, in part, as an effort at self-preservation.
The Wise farm was successful for years but then things changed. “Interest rates put us out of business,” Wise said. “Farming changed, had to change, to survive.”
His first foray into agritourism was the creation of a corn maze – a complicated series of labyrinthic paths cut into thickly planted tall corn. You walk in and try to figure out how to get out (some have to eventually be rescued) Wise drew out a design and used a GPS device to help actually cut the maze (later, the mazes would have unique complex designs and reflect schools or pop culture).
That first maze was actually sort of a teaching tool.
“I learned corn mazes to tell farmers how to add enterprise, not depend on swings of agriculture market,” he said. He has since become the corn maze and agri-tourism guru, speaking and helping with mazes all around the country.
Wise was a long-time Extension Service County Agent and he was ready to get back to farming, but he also wanted to continue to educate.
“So, now, we bring in school kids and teach them about agriculture and more,” he said.
One might not think about it, but Wise noted, “In the U. S., we are five generations removed from the farm. Most people don’t understand anything about what farms do.”
Kids, and many adults, know nothing about picking cotton or milking cows, for instance. They may not even have a clear idea where much of their food comes from.
Wise Family Farm is essentially selling an experience that most visitors simply do not have.
“It’s educational, fun and makes memories,” he said. “Agritourism is growing.”
Wise Family Farm is a real working farm in addition to its agritourism aspect. That helps and Wise tries to find ways to incorporate farming activities in an entertaining way.
“Kids like to get their hands on things,” he said. He offered a benchmark as to how successful his events are: “They put their telephones up,” he said of his young visitors.
Agri-tourism is a good way to keep a farm going and a family together during a tough agriculture climate. It can be profitable and if one already has a working farm, there may not be so much of an initial investment.
It isn’t for everyone, though.
“My daughter in 2016 decided she wanted to take over the farm,” he said. “She’s good with the farm, not as good with people.”
“Agri-tourism requires people skills,” he said. “A love for serving people, being a leader and motivator, having a sense of humor, a strong work ethic, physical stamina. Problem solvers enjoy this type of work.”
Wise said if one is considering going into agritourism, there are questions to be asked.
“Are you willing to learn new skills? Can you commit the time?” he asked. “Will your family be involved? Do you have an outgoing personality? If not, who in your family does?”
“Can you give up your privacy? Can you change your mindset from a farmer to a tour guide and educator? Can you go from selling your crop to marketing your crop?”
If the answers are yes, agritourism can increase income and add value to farm products. It can
educate the public about agriculture. It can keep the family on the farm and involve multiple generations. It can be a source of fun and pride.
When Wise first began work on his first corn maze, his father was skeptical, more so because it was taking his best pea patch.
“Son, I think that sure is foolishness,” his father finally told him.
Then, 3,000 people came that fall. His father was sold on the idea, became an active participant and loved telling stories about the farm to everyone.
While the corn maze was the first attraction, Wise says that now it is value-added. “People come for the farm,” he said.
The opportunities are nearly endless, limited only by the imagination. Growing and picking pumpkins has been successful. So has cotton picking, a country store, play equipment made from farm equipment, haunted hayrides, concerts, sunflower and other flower picking, paint ball, various classes, fee hunting or fishing, on and on. The growing interest in locally-sourced food offers even more opportunities.
“We could not make it on that 80 acres,” he said, but with creativity and persistence, Wise Family Farm is flourishing.
“It’s about the future of agriculture and making people supporters,” he said. “Every farm has a story and what we do in agritourism is tell it.”
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By JEFFREY MARTIN Head Librarian Itawamba County Pratt Memorial Library
Hello, everyone! I hope you are having a great summer so far! We are thrilled that things have been quite busy here at the library for most of the summer! Our Summer Reading Program has been going on since the beginning of June and will continue through the end of July. Thus far, we have had 192 people sign up for the program. There is still time to register your children or yourself, as we will be holding our grand prize drawings on Monday, August 1, 2022. We will give away four grand prize $50 Visa Gift Cards in each of the four age divisions. We will also give away second-place prize packs in our youngest divisions. These packs will include a summer reading program t-shirt, bag, and several different fun toys. We will have smaller incentives available for everyone who participated in the program.
Our most successful single program thus far this summer has been our Live Animal Program. That program had approximately 170 people in attendance. We just held our last program at the Historic Fulton Grammar School for the summer, but we still have several programs planned in July that will be held here at the library. Thanks to the City of Fulton for letting us use that building again this summer. As a reminder, here is our schedule of July events:
Thursday, July 7 – 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Children’s Puppet Show and Craft
Monday, July 11 – 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM - Children’s Storytime
Tuesday, July 12 – 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM - Writers Group
Thursday, July 14 – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Finding Nemo
Monday, July 18 – 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM – STEM Exploration Day
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM - Children’s Storytime
Thursday, July 21 – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Science Experiment Day
Friday, July 22 – 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM - Kids and Young Adults Book Club: Wonder by R. J. Palacio *We accidentally had two different dates for this event on our Facebook page at one point. The 22nd is the correct date and time.
Monday, July 25 – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Adult Book Club: Wingwalkers by Taylor Brown
5:00 PM- 5:45 pm – Children’s Storytime
Tuesday, July 26 – 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Writers Group
Thursday, July 28 – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Afternoon Movie: Dolphin Tale
Thanks to everyone who has helped make this summer successful thus far. We are thankful to have been awarded a $3,000 Summer Reading Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. We are also grateful for a very generous donation from one of our library users that helped support the program financially. I also want to thank everyone who has helped us spread the word about our programs by liking and sharing social media posts, telling friends, etc. I feel like the pandemic put many of our children behind where they would otherwise be at this time academically. Because of this, I think the summer is even more valuable now than ever in providing a time for children to work on their reading and other related skills. Thank you to all the parents who have encouraged their children to read this summer and who have brought their children or grandchildren to our programs. We hope you will keep reading and join us for the other fun programs we have planned this summer!
Library Musings
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An incoming Aberdeen High School senior lost his life July 5 following a June 28 single-vehicle accident.
According to a press release from Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley, Tyjaleek J. Smith, 17, of Aberdeen was a passenger of a Honda car that crashed at 4:16 a.m. June 28 on Highway 25 S, just outside of the Aberdeen city limits.
Smith was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected several yards from the vehicle. The car was burned beyond recognition.
He was transported to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where he was being treated for his injuries.
He died at 7:35 p.m. July 5, and Gurley stated the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Tyjaleek J. Smith
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These children were just a few of the nearly 400 people that turned out for the huge Celebrate America July 4 parade on Pontotoc's Main Street this past Monday morning. Golf carts, side by sides, bicycles, dogs, people and wagons were all decorated in the red, white and blue as folks enjoyed a drizzly parade. There were more than 150 vehicles that took part in the celebration.
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LaShae Collums D.T. Cox Math teacher has been selected as a state finalist for a National Math award.
D.T. Cox Elementary third grade math teacher LeShae Collums is among five from the state of Mississippi who have been named a state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The PAEMST Program is the nation’s highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science). Two of the five will be named to the National title.
Collums said she was shocked to learn she had been amongst the five finalists. “I was very shocked but grateful when I learned that I had been chosen as a state finalist. I could not believe that a small town girl from Pontotoc had made it past the state level,” she said.
A South Pontotoc graduate in 2009, Collums attended Itawamba Community College for two years and transferred to the University of Mississippi, “where I earned my Bachelor's Degree of Arts in Education. I have recently just earned my Masters Degree of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, from Mississippi College.”
Collums said that the subject she teaches is extremely important for students. “Both Math and science form the foundation for innovation. If we want our students to think deeply and be the next generation of innovators then we must instill in them strong mathematical and scientific skills.”
It comes with its own set of challenges. “One of my greatest challenges as a teacher is understanding the different learning abilities and capacities of the students.”
She taught in the Houston Upper Elementary School for five years and just completed her third year at D.T. Cox. “I love my Warrior family!” she enthused.
And she loves being a teacher. “I wanted to be a teacher so I could make a difference in the lives of children. A lot of children do not have a positive influence in their life and I want to be that positive influence, along with sharing my love of learning with the students,” she said. “My greatest joy is teaching math and seeing those “light bulb” moments occur among my students.”
Collumns is married to Brandon Collums and they have a son, Tate. They live on a small cattle farm with several dogs and chickens. Her parents are Angela Gardner and Brodey Hendrix.
The other four teachers who were named state finalists include Jana Chao from the Clinton, Wendy Dean from Lawrence County, Jennifer Hitt from Pearl Public Schools and Dr. Marti Ladner from Pass Christian School District. The national award winners will be announced later in the year.
Leshae Collums
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In this Sept. 30, 2019, photo, Bradford Freeman, a member of the "Band of Brothers," speaks during the gathering Sunday at the Lee County Justice Center. Freeman, who was the last surviving member of the "Band of Brothers," died Sunday, July 3, 2022, in Caledonia.
Bobby Pepper | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM
Last 'Band of Brothers' survivor, Bradford Freeman, has died in Caledonia
CALEDONIA • Bradford Freeman, the last survivor of the famed Army unit featured in the World War II oral history book and miniseries “Band of Brothers” has died at the age of 97.
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Hunter Mason, seen here with his girlfriend Calla Basil, credits his development as a coach to his mentors – including Calla's father, East Union baseball coach Chris Basil.
Hunter Mason doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he’s had some of the best mentors a young coach could want.
The 24-year-old has been hired as Lafayette’s boys basketball coach. He replaces Brad Gray, who resigned after four seasons.
Mason spent the first two years of his coaching career as a boys assistant at East Webster under veteran head coach Jon Ginn. When he played at Hickory Flat, Michael Seger was his head coach. And Mason is dating the daughter of Chris Basil, the legendary East Union baseball coach.
All three have stressed to Mason the importance of letting the players know he cares for them.
“That’s one of the things which all three of them have told me, that if you develop relationships with kids, then there’s not much that they won’t do for you,” Mason said.
Lafayette was 17-76 under Gray but showed flashes of promise. Ginn said one of Mason’s strengths is skills development, and that should pay dividends for the Commodores.
“I’ve always looked at Lafayette, they’ve got such great athletes, if anybody could ever go in there and start developing some skill, they’d have a chance to be successful,” Ginn said. "That’s what he excels at."
Mason was head coach for East Webster’s middle school team, and besides honing players’ skills, he taught them to play at full tilt. From what he’s seen of the Commodores, they play the same way.
“The kids play hard,” he said. “The biggest thing is that we’ve got so many kids that play football and basketball. The biggest challenge is trying to get those football guys to bring that winning mentality into basketball.”
Ginn said Mason was “coachable” as his assistant, never resistant to correction.
“He wanted to know, ‘OK, what can I do to make this better?’ With him, if he runs into something he’s going to give me a call, he’s going to give Seger a call, he’s going to give Chris a call,” said Ginn.
Despite his youth, Mason isn’t intimidated by the prospect of taking over a Class 5A program. He said he feels ready in large part because of the knowledge he’s soaked up from his mentors.
“I didn’t know that I would get here this quick, but I’m thankful that the Lord provided me with the opportunity, because it’s awesome just to be able to do what I can do and love on some kids.”
Hunter Mason
Lafayette Commodores
East Webster Wolverines
Jon Ginn
Michael Seger
Chris Basil
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Tony Brasher
Tony Ray Brasher, 57, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2022, at home in Houlka. He was born August 8, 1965. Services were Saturday, July 2, at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc. Burial followed in the Collums Cemetery.
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Lucy Gullick
Lavonia, Georgia
Mildred Lucille (Lucy) Gullick was a New Year's baby, born on January 1, 1932. She was the seventh child born to Lillie and Bolivar Lindsey. She attended Potts Camp High School where she graduated in 1950. After graduating, she worked as a telephone operator and shortly thereafter met her sweetheart, the late Norman (Norm) Gullick.
Lucy and Norm married in 1954 and welcomed their first child Randy, and a few years later were blessed with Cindy and later followed Lisa. They cherished, encouraged and were so proud of their children and reminded them daily how much they loved them. Lucy and Norm were married for 63 years.
Lucy was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her late husband traveling to new places and visiting family and friends. Lucy also loved to cook, share recipes, shop with friends, loved flowers especially hibiscus and pansies, and cherished the fellowship she had with her friends in the "Red Hat Society." She was a member of the Lavonia Presbyterian Church for over 20 years, served as an elder during some of this time and was awarded an honorary life membership to the Presbyterian Women. Lucy loved her church family and was dedicated to helping to serve the community through the Mobile Food Pantry which she and her late husband helped to start.
Lucy was called to eternal rest on May 25, 2022. She will be missed by all who knew her, but memories of Lucy live forever. Lucy leaves to cherish her memory three loving children, Randy, son (Donna); Cindy, daughter; Lisa, daughter (Mike); grandchildren, Ryan, (Alexandra); Megan, great-grandchildren, Sienna and Cole (Megan); Jackson (Ryan and Alexandra); brother Jim (Jean), many nieces and nephews and a host of beloved relatives and friends.
The memorial service will be held at Lavonia Presbyterian Church on July 9, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Lucy ask that you donate in her memory to the Mobile Food Pantry or your favorite charity. To make donations to the Mobile Food Pantry send to: Lavonia Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 82, Lavonia, GA 30553 and in the memo line note Mobile Food Pantry.
Strickland Funeral Home of Lavonia is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register and leave personal condolences to the family, please visit stricklandfh.com.
Shirley Faye Baldwin
Shirley Faye Baldwin, 86, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. Services were Friday, July 1, at Pontotoc City Cemetery.
Browning, has pic
Ila Mae Robinson
Ila Mae Robinson of Pontotoc, MS, passed away at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Ila Mae was born in Clay County, MS on March 7, 1932, to Luther Ell and Janie Mae Whitt and she grew up in a close, loving, Christian family with her 5 siblings. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in her youth and her faith in Jesus guided her steps throughout her life.
She graduated from Montpelier High School with honors as Valedictorian of her class. While attending Montpelier High, she met and married James E. (Eudy) Martin of Clay County, MS, who had returned to high school after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After living in the Arbor Grove community in Chickasaw County, MS in her early married life, she and Eudy moved to Pontotoc, MS in 1952, where she worked as a bookkeeper for Dowdy Lumber, aka Gray Lumber Company until June 1963, when she joined the First National Bank (currently, First Choice) as a loan clerk.
Ila Mae was well known for her stellar customer service and banking skills as she enjoyed helping customers with their banking needs during her 37-year career at First Choice Bank in Pontotoc. During her long career in retail banking, she served most of her tenure as a teller earning the title of Vice-President - Head Cashier during her later years, prior to her retirement in September 2000.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Janie Mae Harmon Whitt and Luther E. Whitt, and her five siblings: brothers, James W. Whitt (Ruth) of Greenville, MS, Lonnie Whitt, Luther E. (Bully) Whitt, Jr., and her sisters, Florence Whitt Rambo (Leo) and Alice Whitt Harmon (John H. (Hamp)), all of Houston, MS, her beloved first husband of 37 years, James E. (Eudy) Martin of Pontotoc, MS and her beloved, second husband of 20 years, Harry G. Robinson of Houston, MS. Ila Mae is survived by her two daughters, Rhonda Martin Rodgers (Billy) of Pontotoc, MS and Merri Annelyn Martin Edwards of Stanwood, WA, two grandsons, Martin Clay Rodgers (Jennifer) of Pontotoc, MS, Ryan Scott Rodgers of Jackson, LA, one granddaughter, Brooke Nicole Edwards of Stanwood, WA, one great-grandson, Andrew Mitchell Rodgers (Hallie Ashley, fiancée) of Starkville, MS, one great-granddaughter, Rebecca Grace Rodgers of Pontotoc, MS. She is also survived by one stepson, Harry G. Robinson, Jr. (Nancy), four step-granddaughters, Renee Robinson Durham (Scott), Sarah Robinson, and Amanda Robinson Mendenhall (Kevin) all of Ft. Smith, AR, Kellye Smith Dumis (Russell) of Alvin, TX, fourteen step-great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Joyce Whitt of Woodland, MS, and Bonnie Whitt of Houston, MS, special friend and neighbor, Gloria Lanoux of Pontotoc, MS, and many nieces and nephews.
Ila Mae was a dedicated Mississippi State Bulldog fan, who loved watching and attending many sporting events, especially SEC college basketball games, whom she enjoyed with her beloved spouse, Harry Robinson. She even cheered for 'State' rival, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) when they are not competing against her 'Dawgs'.
The family celebrated her life on Friday, July 1, at First Baptist Church, Pontotoc, MS, where Ila Mae was a long-time member, serving several years as a Sunday School teacher in the young children's department. In addition, she was member of First Baptist Church, Houston, MS for 20 years during her marriage to Harry Robinson, where she served again, ministering to young children. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is honored to assist the family with the arrangements.
Pallbearers were her grandson, Martin Rodgers, her great grandson, Andrew Rodgers, her nephew, Tracy Whitt, and family friends, Patrick Maxey, Paul Rackley, and Joey Rodgers.
The family is thankful for all of caregivers at Sanctuary Hospice House and for family members and friends who prayed for her during her health issues during the past few years.
Memorial donations can be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, Tupelo, MS or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Condolences may be offered at www.browningpontotoc.com.
Hubert Turner
Hubert Turner passed away on June 28, 2022, at Dogwood Assisted Living in Corinth, MS, at the age of 92. He was born at home on March 28, 1930 in the Robbs Community in West Pontotoc County. He graduated Pontotoc High School in 1949 and attended Itawamba Junior College and played on the first football team which was coached by the legendary Butch Lambert. He then spent two years in service during the Korean War. He attended MSU and graduated in agriculture in 1955. In 1956, he married Joyce Sparkman from Pine Bluff AK after she graduated from Blue Mountain College. Hubert worked for the US Dept of Agriculture and later Farmers Home Adm. for 30 years. During that time he served in the National Guard and Army Reserves for 27 years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Services were Friday, July 1, at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home with Military Honors. Dr. Lewis Harrell officiated. Burial was in the Baldwin Memorial Gardens. Tutor Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Turner is predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Joyce E. Turner, a son, Ronald R. Turner, his parents, Hugh Turner and Willie Bond Turner; and an older brother, J T Turner and his wife, Wilma.
He is survived by a daughter, Debbie Adams (Nathan) and a brother, Hugh Gene Turner (Janice) and nephew and nieces.
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Policy weakens waiting period for deportees
Making it back into the U.S. after being ousted is “irrelevant” to an illegal immigrant’s eligibility to apply for a new legal status, the Homeland Security Department’s citizenship agency says in a new policy.
In the past, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would have denied the application under a law that required onetime illegal immigrants to wait outside the country for up to 10 years before they would be eligible to apply to come back legally.
Experts said the policy now says the law doesn’t require a wait elsewhere as long as the immigrant doesn’t pop up on Homeland Security’s radar during the waiting period.
“This is like the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ We won’t ask you where you’ve been during your inadmissible period, and you don’t tell us. It’s sheer craziness,” said Emilio Gonzalez, who ran USCIS during the George W. Bush administration.
At issue is the three-year/10-year bar to admissibility, which is supposed to deter immigrants from trying to live in the country illegally.
Under the bar, someone who was in the U.S. without legal status for at least six months but less than a year must depart and wait three years before applying to come back legally. Someone in the U.S. without authorization for more than a year must leave and wait 10 years before applying and being deemed admissible.
USCIS previously assumed migrants were supposed to wait outside the U.S. during the bar, Mr. Gonzalez said. Those who returned before their time was up would be denied.
The new policy says that’s no longer the case.
The policy appears to apply retroactively. Would-be migrants who were denied based on location at the time of application can file motions to reopen their cases.
In a statement to The Washington Times, USCIS said someone who left and then sneaked back into the U.S. illegally could still be blocked by other sections of the law.
That didn’t mollify analysts, who said the overall thrust of the memo is to pursue leniency.
“This is basically an invitation for any deported alien to pay the cartels to smuggle them back into the U.S. while they let the clock run out,” said Rob Law, who headed the USCIS policy office in the Trump administration and is now director of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for Homeland Security and Immigration.
She pointed out that sneaking back into the U.S. after deportation is a felony, making government leniency an odd move.
The bar is applied relatively infrequently, and it’s not clear how many people the policy would affect.
USCIS said one reason for the new policy is to bring unity to its operations. The agency said it was aware of instances in which different offices reached different conclusions about how to apply the rules concerning an applicant’s location. The agency did not provide more details.
One case involved a Japanese woman who entered the U.S. on a short-term visitor’s visa in 1996 and stayed until 2003, thus triggering the 10-year bar. She returned in 2005 and again overstayed but eventually applied for status after marrying a U.S. citizen.
The judge ruled that the law says the 10-year bar runs from the time she departed, regardless of her return and subsequent overstay.
The other case involved a Brazilian man who came to the U.S. on a tourist visa in 1993. He overstayed and was ordered deported in 1994, but he didn’t leave until 2000. He managed to get another tourist visa in 2002 by hiding his previous illegal presence and has remained in the U.S. since.
He applied for permanent status in 2016, but USCIS said he was ineligible because of the 10-year bar, which should have been in place to prevent his second arrival.
“I hold that an alien is inadmissible only during the 10-year period following his or her departure,” said Judge Kevin McNulty, an Obama appointee to the court in New Jersey. Still, he acknowledged it might amount to “bad policy.”
Ms. Jenks said the new USCIS policy may run afoul of the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires a public comment period before major policy changes are implemented. The act has repeatedly snagged the Biden administration’s immigration policy changes, just as it did for some of President Trump’s moves.
USCIS described the new rule as “policy guidance.” It said the policy manual had no language dealing with the matter.
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Robert Mitchell Beard, 65, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022, at NMMC in Tupelo. He was born June 15, 1957 in Washington D.C. to the late Otto Beard and the late Sula Ables Rhyne Beard. He was a member of West Jackson Street Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was an active member of the American Legion. He was active in the Marine Corp League and the D.A.V. He spent a lot of time at Spring Street Cigars and enjoyed fishing with his brother-in-law Rocky Bennett. He was in sales for many years. He loved telling others about Jesus. Services will be 2:00 pm on Friday July 8, 2022, at Senter Funeral Home with Dr. Keith Cochran, Bro. Billy Burleson, and Gary Beard presiding. Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 Friday, July 8. Burial will be at New Salem Methodist Church Cemetery. Senter Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Brenda Kay Beard of Tupelo; daughter, Mollie Kay Beard of Mantachie; daughter, Shannan Isaacson of IL; sisters: Betty Peugh, Regina (Rocky) Bennett; brothers: Gary (Levita) Beard, David (Teresa) Beard. Pallbearers will be Jeff Bennett, Jesse Bennett, Rocky Bennett, Leon Embrey, Derek Sheffield Honorary Pallbearers are the Spring Street Cigar members. Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com
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Burton, Marguerite
We are heartbroken to announce the unexpected passing of Marguerite (Margo) Burton at the age of 63. As a family, we knew the depth of her love and care, but we are now discovering the far-reaching impact she had on so many of you. Margo always had an open heart and warm hand for everyone. Not wanting to draw attention to herself when entering a room, her first words were always "there you are!", never "here I am". She would listen intently and never judge someone or their words. She was unbiased to the core and a champion of others. She was a woman of extensive experience, education, and unbridled curiosity. She started her career as an occupational therapist, and briefly, before transitioning to the Tupelo Children's Mansion, worked as a barista in a coffee shop where she honed her skills in making and drinking coffee. She joined Tupelo Children's Mansion Academy, the on-campus school of Tupelo Children's Mansion, as a teacher and quickly advanced to principal, then Director of Education. Throughout her tenure at the academy, she directed the children's choir and accompanied them as they traveled across the country. From there, she transitioned, along with her husband, to starting Community Medical Supply in Tupelo. Margo was deeply devoted to God, her husband, and her family. She adored her dogs and the peace of her home, which was always enjoyed with a cup of strong coffee in hand. She had a surprising knowledge of many topics and was a consummate reader on everything from religion, food, politics, animals, travel, to health and wellness. So much was her passion for learning that she earned her M.A. in Education later in life. She, her husband, and close friends loved to travel the world and explore new cities and food. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed making meals for others and hosting holidays. Everyone was welcome at her table and made to feel like family. Margo is survived by her beloved husband, Ken; her children, Eric and his wife Kamala, Annell and her husband Ryan, and Rebecca; her grandchildren, Whitney, Jaden, Breanna, Jordyn, Oliver, Emily, Brooklyn, Kate, Morgan, and Noah; great grandson, Legend; her mother, Marsha Morgan Byrnes; her uncle, Mike Morgan; her sisters, Babs Deacon and Kirsten Moomey; and cousins Roxanne and John Morgan. She will be desperately missed but until we meet again . . . A service of celebration for her well-lived life will take place at 11:30 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at Life at Tupelo, 900 South Thomas St., Tupelo. Visitation will be held at Life at Tupelo from 5 PM - 7 PM on Friday, July 8, 2022. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their longtime friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marguerite Burton Memorial Fund: Adoptions & Academics c/o Create Foundation, PO Box 1053, Tupelo, MS 38802. To make an online donation, visit www.createfoundation.com and click on "make a donation" in the top right corner
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Word, Jr., A G
A G Word, Jr., 60, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory. Services will be on Sat, July 9, 2022 at 3 p.m. at New Life M.B. Church. Visitation will be on Fri, July 8, 2022 from 2-4 p.m. at Belle Memorial of Aberdeen.
Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center
Life M.b. Church
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The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Nicholas Deangelo Berry, 48, of Belden, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II, shoplifting.
Mark A. Fields, 46, of Belden, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, aggravated domestic violence, kidnapping.
Andy Jackson, 29, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, Mississippi Department of Corrections probation violation.
Casper Newcomb, 24, of Fulton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, impersonating a federal agent.
Peggie Norris, 67, of Fulton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, impersonating a federal agent.
A Guntown Bam Market employee said a male was standing outside asking customers for a ride to West Point. She asked him to leave, but he didn’t. He left when deputies told him to.
A County Road 151 Tupelo man said a female was trying to argue with him last night so he got his boy and left, headed to his mother’s. When he returned the next day, he saw where she threw a chair into the television.
A County Road 452 Nettleton woman said someone abandoned two dogs on her property, and she cannot care for them.
A County Road 1752 Saltillo man said he got into an argument with his mother. She told him he had 10 minutes to move his camper. She took a baseball bat and broke three windows in the camper, then left around 10 a.m.
A County Road 1752 Saltillo man said his mother was yelling at him and trying to start an argument around 11:30 a.m. while he was working on his trailer. He said he just wants to repair his trailer and move to Pontotoc, but she won’t leave him alone. She told deputies she would go to a neighbor’s house and allow him to get his things together and leave.
A Birmingham Ridge Road woman said her cable went out around 9:30 p.m. The Xfinity technician said her cable box near the road had been shot and damaged. She wanted law enforcement to know about it.
A County Road 681 Saltillo woman heard what sounded like someone trying to get into her house at 2:30 a.m. Deputies checked the property and found no one.
A Haze Drive Verona woman got into an argument with her husband. When he got loud, she called 911 fearing he might get physical.
A North Spring Street man said a shirtless, drunk male kicked his front door and was banging on the windows after midnight. Officers had told the same suspect earlier in the night to stay off his own property and to quit disturbing others. He was charged with public intoxication and disturbing the peace.
A Feemster Lake Road woman said overnight someone sideswiped her car parked on the road. The 2017 Volkswagen Passat had damage to the rear passenger bumper area.
A West Main Walmart employee said an 18-year-old female intentionally failed to scan items at the self checkout. She placed seven items worth $53.40 in her bag and tried to leave without paying. She was cited for shoplifting.
A Belk employee said a female concealed women’s clothing and a necklace in her purse and walked out of the store into the mall where she was detained. The $236 in merchandise was recovered. She was cited for shoplifting.
A woman said she parked at a West Main Street bank to watch the Fourth of July fireworks at Ballard Park. As she was trying to leave the parking lot, a white Chevy Tahoe kept inching closer to her SUV. The Tahoe eventually hit the right rear of her GMC Terrain. She waited until she got home to file a police report because of the traffic.
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Oswalt
If the Tupelo 49ers can make it through this weekend unscathed, they’ll have really done something.
The American Legion baseball team is hosting the annual King City Classic, which starts today. Fifteen teams are in the field, and pool play games will be held at three locations: Golden Wave Field in Tupelo, Northeast Mississippi CC, and Itawamba CC.
The tournament features teams from six states, and there are seven squads from North Mississippi, including Amory, Lafayette and Panola. Tupelo coach McKinley Holland, whose team is off to an 18-0 start, expects a tough road to Sunday’s championship game.
“I don’t want to say it would take a miracle, but we are going to have to play our very, very best baseball to not lose this weekend,” Holland said. “That undefeated talk, everybody thinks about it, but we don’t talk about it.”
The 49ers are in the same pool as Tuscaloosa, Alabama. These teams met last weekend in Columbia, Tennessee, with Tupelo pulling out a 7-5 win.
A day prior, the 49ers fought off Pontotoc, 10-7.
“That’s probably the best competition we’ve played all year,” Holland said.
Tupelo has indeed been in very few competitive games. It averages 10.5 runs per game and owns 10 double-digit victories.
Even with the luxury of an explosive offense, Tupelo’s pitchers haven’t let up. The staff is led by Davis Oswalt, who is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA.
“Davis was born a pitcher. He was born an athlete really,” Holland said. “This is his fourth year playing for us, and every time we’ve put him on the mound, he’s given us a chance to win. Every single time.”
The staff is a deep one that also includes J.W. Armistead, Taylor Ballard, Turner Leathers, Evan Smith, Jacobie Smith and Jack Taylor.
Oswalt has also led at the plate, where’s he’s hitting .520 with a .920 slugging percentage. He homered and had three RBIs against Columbia on Saturday.
“I think hitting some at Northeast, seeing better pitching than he’s ever seen, has really helped his discipline at the plate,” Holland said. “He’s the unquestioned leader of our baseball team.”
Tupelo’s first game is at 8 p.m. today against Panola.
Davis Oswalt
J.w. Armistead
Turner Leathers
Jacobie Smith
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Rachel Shumaker of Pontotoc will crown her Miss Mississippi Volunteer successor this Saturday at the second annual Miss Mississippi Volunteer scholarship pageant in Tupelo. Shumaker recently placed third at the inaugural Miss Volunteer America pageant in Jackson, Tennessee where she also won a Lifestyle and Fitness award and the overall Community Service Award. The 2022 Miss Mississippi Volunteer pageant will give away nearly $90,000 in scholarship money to its winners.
As the first-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer, Rachel Shumaker partnered with the Mississippi Highway Patrol to promote their D.R.I.V.E. Campaign which stands for Driving Requires Initiative Values and Education. The Mississippi State University graduate visited over 45 schools and civic organizations this year to share safe driving practices.
First-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer to crown successor this weekend
TUPELO • This time last year, Pontotoc native Rachel Shumaker had no idea what would await her as the first-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer. Now, as she prepares to crown her successor, she reflects on her year-long journey as Mississippi's inaugural winner.
Miss Mississippi Volunteer is a scholarship pageant that is a state affiliate of the Miss Volunteer America pageant. Shumaker recently competed at the inaugural Miss Volunteer America pageant in Jackson, Tennessee, this May, leaving the stage with a Second Runner Up finish, a preliminary award for the Lifestyle and Fitness category and the overall Community Service Award.
For Shumaker, this past year has been about establishing a legacy and building the scholarship program from square one.
"When I won the crown, there was no previous Miss Mississippi Volunteer for me to look to and mold my year after," said the state titleholder. "From day one, it was about shaping the program and deciding what I wanted it to look like in the future and also kicking off the partnership with the Mississippi Highway Patrol."
A pianist and public speaker, Shumaker has traveled around Mississippi promoting not only the Miss Mississippi Volunteer pageant but also the Mississippi Highway Patrol's D.R.I.V.E. Campaign, which stands for Driving Requires Initiative Values and Education. The initiative was created by the Mississippi Highway Patrol to combat reckless driving and fatalities among Mississippi teens.
As the official spokeswoman for the D.R.I.V.E. Campaign, the Mississippi State University graduate has visited high schools throughout Mississippi to encourage safe driving practices.
Up next for the pageant queen is law school at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in August. By winning Miss Mississippi Volunteer alone, Shumaker will be able to put $10,000 towards her education on top of the additional scholarships she received at the national pageant.
"Last year, we gave about $24,000 in scholarships, and this year we're giving close to $90,000," the outgoing state titleholder said.
Although her reign is coming to an end, Shumaker's involvement with the program is just beginning, as she will step into the role of marketing and public relations director once her successor is crowned.
"I will help oversee social media, handle press and media, and make sure that the relationship with the Mississippi Highway Patrol is maintained," she said.
Shumaker didn't fail to emphasize how thankful she is for Tupelo's embrace of the new program.
"We really have had an outpouring of support from Tupelo with sponsored judges meals, contestant meals and a trip to the Elvis Presley Birthplace, along with the beautiful banners hanging downtown," she said.
The 2022 Miss Mississippi Volunteer will be crowned Saturday, July 9, at the Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. The new state winner will again receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, among other scholarships to Mississippi colleges and in-kind sponsorships to prepare her for Miss Volunteer America next June.
In addition to a new Miss Mississippi Volunteer being crowned Saturday, a new Miss Mississippi Teen Volunteer will also be selected. With the teen title comes a $3,000 scholarship and a spot in the 2023 Miss Teen Volunteer America pageant.
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The Punch List: Here's what's coming up to do
Pontotoc will host their annual Peach Festival this Saturday, July 9. Beginning at 8 a.m., the festival will feature live music and the Flamin' Fury Trail Run four-mile run. A tradition for the Pontotoc community, the Peach Festival is sponsored by Cherry Creek Orchards and will also include food vendors, arts and crafts, and orchard tours for attendees.
The Slugburger Festival is another annual tradition that will kick off Friday, July 8, in Corinth and continue through Saturday, July 9. This year's festival will make for the 35th iteration of the festival, which is named after a Northeast Mississippi staple, the slugburger. In addition to the namesake food item, the festival will feature a classic car cruise-in, live entertainment, a carnival and more.
Cook Around The World Kids Camp is coming to Tupelo's Link Centre starting Tuesday, July 26, and concluding Thursday, July 28. The event is organized by Cooking as a First Language, a Tupelo-based organization that seeks to break down barriers and build up community over food. The camp is open to kids ranging in age from 8 to 12, and each day will feature a different culture's cuisine. Registration for this kid-friendly culinary event can be found online.
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Dr. Cheryl Hamlin speaks with reporters outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Hamlin is one of a rotating group of physicians that provide abortions at the clinic, which is the only facility that performs abortions in the state. On Tuesday, a chancery judge rejected a request by the clinic to temporarily block a state law banning most abortions. Without other developments in the Mississippi lawsuit, the clinic will close at the end of business Wednesday and the state law will take effect Thursday.
By ROGELIO V. SOLIS | Associated Press
Starting today, abortion is now mostly outlawed in Mississippi
JACKSON • Abortion in almost all cases is now prohibited in Mississippi.
Since a state judge declined to freeze Mississippi’s trigger ban — a 2007 law declaring that if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned Roe v. Wade then physicians would be barred from performing abortions unless the health of the mother was at stake or the pregnancy was caused by rape — went into effect on Thursday morning.
Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the state’s only abortion clinic, told reporters last month that if state courts allow the trigger ban to go into effect, then the facility will soon close its doors.
Physicians at the clinic, commonly referred to as the Pink House, tried to see as many patients as possible on Wednesday. Cars in the parking lot there had license tags from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, according to The Associated Press.
Vara Lyons, a policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union, previously told the Daily Journal that the trigger ban won’t stop abortions from happening in Mississippi. Instead, it will cause people to either seek the procedure out of state or through an unsafe method, she said.
“The thing that I feel that anti-choice politicians don’t understand is you’re not going to stop abortions,” Lyons said. “You’re going to limit people’s access to them, but people are still going to get them.”
Mississippi is now living in a post-Roe environment at the same time that it leads the nation in negative maternal health metrics. Mississippi is the deadliest state in the nation for newborn children, large spans of the state’s citizens don’t have access to an OB-GYN and the state-run foster care is still dealing with a long-running lawsuit.
It’s unclear what elected officials plan to do in the future, if anything, but legislative leaders have formed committees to decide which policies should be enacted to combat these metrics and support women who have given birth.
Diane Derzis, the owner of the Pink House in Jackson, previously told reporters that she is concerned about people in Mississippi not having access to reproductive health, and will try to pair them with resources to seek the procedure out of state.
Though Derzis will close the clinic’s doors soon, she largely views her time in the Magnolia State positively.
“It’s been such an honor and a privilege to be in Mississippi,” Derzis told reporters last month. “I’ve come to love this state and the people in it.”
Maternal Healthcare
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ABERDEEN – This weekend, the Elkin Theatre will show “Top Gun: Maverick” July 8-9, following two successful weekends last month of screening “Jurassic World: Dominion.”
While the nonprofit theatre’s streak of landing summertime blockbusters on the big screen remains, there will be a change at the concession stand.
“We appreciate the 524 moviegoers who came to ‘Jurassic World’ and look forward to ‘Top Gun.’ Admission is still $5 but due to prices of candy and popcorn, we have to go up on our concessions prices,” said Bob Seymour, president of the Elkin Theatre Board of Directors. "We're sorry, but prices have risen so we can no longer keep concessions at $1."
The price of all concessions, including drinks, will increase from $1 to $2 due to the price of goods.
“The price of a Snickers is more than $1, and the 50-pound bag of popcorn we get has gone up two and a half times more from what we used to pay,” Seymour said.
He anticipates the size of popcorn bags used by the theatre to increase after the current inventory of bags is used.
Doors to the Elkin Theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. The next movie after this weekend will be shown July 22-23.
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Aberdeen football coach Alex Williams and athletics director Sherell Drake hold a check for a $10,000 donation from Steel Dynamics Inc. for an upgrade to filming capabilities at the football field and basketball court.
ABERDEEN – A recent connection made at a Starkville restaurant ultimately led to a $10,000 donation from Columbus manufacturer Steel Dynamics Inc. for the Aberdeen School District’s athletics program.
The district’s athletics director, Sherell Drake, hopes the technology upgrade it’s paying for will lead to not only better college recruitment videos for student athletes but also a better way for coaches and players to review game footage.
Drake said one rising senior in particular, Jayden Walker, has already received a couple of offers to play at the college level.
“Sometimes it’s difficult when you have students recording from an iPad or a camera and not getting all angles on the basketball court or the football field,” she said.
The district already uses the Hudl video platform through each sport’s individual budget, but the recent donation will provide for high-definition video and better angles through a motion-sensor camera system on the basketball court, for both basketball and volleyball, and on the football field.
“In addition to those, we’ll be able to use them for junior high sports as well. It’s a win-win. It is my hope that if this works well this year, we can extend our package to softball and baseball. I’m looking to truly grow our department,” Drake said.
She said it has livestream capabilities too.
“Coach [Alex] Williams has been the spearhead of it. His roots are in Aberdeen, and he takes pride in the district. In his talks with Hudl, he was looking for longevity for all sports. Football isn’t the only sport to benefit. He doesn’t say much but when he does, he speaks up for all students,” Drake said.
Drake met Steel Dynamics General Manager Dan Keown, who recently moved to the area from Indiana, while recently dining in Starkville. They made a connection because of Mississippi State University, where his son attends.
“I was just trying to tell him the culture there and in Starkville during football season so they’d have the opportunity to go to a couple of games. They’re truly enjoying the Mississippi atmosphere,” she said of Keown’s family.
That conversation eventually shifted to the Aberdeen Bulldogs and the connection between parents who worked at the plant.
”He talked about how he was enjoying meeting his employees and how important it is to build relationships and not just have workers, and that really stuck with me,” she said, adding he talked about support the manufacturer made to local schools.
It inspired her and Williams to seek financial support from local businesses and industries for additional requests, such as pink socks and helmet decals for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pre-game meals.
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Nettleton's Zion Seals plans to lead the Lady Tigers' offense from the point guard position.
Deon Blanchard/Monroe File Photos
Nettleton's Aaliyah Harris will provide the Lady Tigers with rebounding and a defensive presence from the post position.
Nettleton's Sydnie Harris will be one of the returning secondary ball-handlers for the Lady Tigers.
Like most teams over summer break, building an identity and gaining chemistry to be successful is always at the top of a team’s list. The Nettleton Lady Tigers did not shy away from this lengthy process as they worked hard over the summer to improve.
“We’ve got a different team with new team leaders and people playing in different positions, so we’ve really been trying to get adjusted to all the changes, build some chemistry and find our identity as a team,” Nettleton coach Brent Kuhl said. “That’s why we played a few games over the summer against teams like Shannon, South Pontotoc and Belmont so I could figure out how I need to be a better coach and put this group in a better position to be successful. We’re not in the best of shape just yet, but the main things we’ve been focusing on are our defensive pressure and intensity.”
The Lady Tigers displayed a glimpse of that defensive pressure and intensity as they kicked off their summer with a 36-31 win over Shannon in late May. Zion Seals led the way for Nettleton with 11 points, Sydnie Harris added seven points and Sharman Mosely cashed in six points.
“Sydnie and Zion have been pretty consistent for us over the summer, and they always get out and apply pressure on defense, plus they run the floor well on offense,” Kuhl said. “We’re really going to rely on Sharman and Aaliyah (Harris) a lot for defense and rebounding, and they’re going to score a lot for us in the post.”
After graduating three of their top scorers this past year, the Lady Tigers have been looking for someone to take on that scoring load. Kuhl believes that Seals, Mosely, Aaliyah Harris and Sydnie Harris will fill that void.
“Zion (Seals) has really solidified herself as a really great basketball player and leader, and she’s going to continue to do that,” he said. “Sharman (Mosely) is going to step up and score more this year, and Aaliyah (Harris) is going to get a lot more minutes and be a big contributor for us. We’ve asked Sydnie (Harris) to step up and shoot the ball more, so I believe those four players, plus a few girls coming off the bench, will make up for the three seniors that we lost.”
With a new group of players coming off the bench, Kuhl said that he sees a lot of potential in his bench, and he expects them to be a vital part of their success.
“They’re going to have to come along in practice and learn what we do, and all of them are athletic and good enough to play a lot of minutes this year,” he said. “They’re going to have to play the role that this team needs them to play in order for us to be successful. Kayli Jenkins and Lasharidan Johnson are going to play a lot, and I believe they’re going to be that spark for us off the bench.”
Now that all of Nettleton’s summer games have come to a close, Kuhl said that he is excited for his team to come back from summer break and show some competitive fire.
“I love to give the kids a break because I feel like we all need one, but when we get back in the gym, I’d love to see that competitive fire in them,” he said. “Other than that, I want to see a lot of weightlifting out of them over the summer and conditioning.”
Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Hot and humid. High around 95F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..
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Nearly 200 arrests, 8,000 citations issued over 4th of July holiday
JACKSON • Mississippi state law enforcement officers issued more than 8,000 citations and arrested nearly 200 people for operating a car or boat under the influence during the Fourth of July holiday period.
In addition to the standard enhanced enforcement by the Mississippi Highway Patrol on the state’s interstate, federal and state highways, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks conducted Operation Dry Water on the state’s waterways.
During the MHP’s four-day Independence Day Holiday Travel Period, troopers issued a total of 7,999 citations, made 168 arrests for impaired driving and cited 860 motorists for occupant restraint violations. MHP also investigated 224 crashes resulting in 57 injuries with one fatal crash in Wilkinson County that claimed the life of a 16-year-old driver.
Conservation officers conducted saturation patrols July 2-4 to promote boating safety and raise awareness on the dangers of boating under the influence.
Officers responded to one boating incident with no fatalities; however, there was one drowning that was reported for the state. During the three-day period, conservation officers issued 414 citations, including 46 alcohol and drug violations and 25 boating under the influence arrest.
Officers also conducted almost 1,800 safety checks.
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Water deeply in your garden during these dry days.
This summer has been hot and dry. The lack of rainfall has caused many gardeners to begin irrigating. During periods of drought providing water to plants can be the difference in success and failure.
Incorrectly watering gardens can reduce plant growth and encourage plant diseases. This column will discuss how to get the most benefit from irrigation. The reference used is the Mississippi State University Extension Service publication “The Plant Doctor: Watering and Plant Disease.”
It is important to apply the correct amount of water to maintain the health and productivity of plants. If too much water is applied the soil will be saturated removing needed oxygen. Failing to provide enough water will cause plants to wilt and lose productivity. The general rule of thumb is that most plants need one inch of water per week either from rainfall or irrigation.
When irrigating it is important to water plants deeply. The goal should be to allow the topsoil and subsoil moisture to meet. This encourages roots to grow deeply into the soil in search of water and nutrients. When the soil begins to dry another deep application of water should be applied.
Frequent shallow watering will only wet the top layer, leaving dry soil underneath. The roots will stop growing when they reach the layer of dry soil. Plant growth will suffer because the nutrients in this small area will be quickly depleted. The root system will also fail to provide a good support system for the plant.
Keep the leaves dry
Fungal and bacterial plant disease symptoms are more likely to occur when water is present on leaf surfaces. Strategies that limit the amount of time that leaves are wet can help prevent plant diseases.
It is best to water when the leaves would be wet from dew anyway. This normally occurs between 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Watering during the heat of the day will wet leaves when they would normally be dry. This provides additional opportunity for diseases to develop.
The use of sprinklers and over-head irrigation should be limited in gardens. Using drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or directing water at the base of plants promotes plant health by also reducing the amount of time that the leaves are wet. Watering deeply and only when necessary will limit the spread of disease as well.
If dry conditions persist throughout the summer you can use sound watering practices to promote good plant health. If you would like to learn more about gardening or other topics, call the Mississippi State University Extension Service office in Pontotoc County at 662-489-3910 or email me at james.shannon@msstate.edu.
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FAA grant to help GTRA with $11.3M terminal expansion
COLUMBUS • The Golden Triangle Regional Airport has received an $11.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration for a terminal renovation project as part of the newly established Airport Terminals Program.
The grant was made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
This terminal renovation project will add a second floor with a jet bridge to provide access and capability for larger regional jets, ensuring the airport can continue to meet near and long-term requirements for modern regional and mainline aircraft.
The GTR Airport currently has three roundtrip flights daily to Atlanta via Delta Airlines.
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OXFORD • The U.S. Attorney’s Office has asked a federal judge to overrule a Tuesday order that allowed a former Amory High School teacher facing child pornography charges to be released on bond.
“Under any standard of review, the release order and conditions ordered by the magistrate judge are wholly insufficient to address the risk of danger Wilson poses to the community,” Kline said.
The release order limited Wilson’s use of the internet but allowed him to keep his cell phone. The government argues that is inadequate because victims reported that Wilson recently reached out to them through text messages and Instagram.
“His unfettered ability to contact victims, despite the court’s admonishment not to, is a danger to the community that is unchecked by these conditions,” Kline said.
According to the criminal complaint filed last week, Wilson’s inappropriate conduct with students dates back to at least 2005.
Wilson’s activities came to light in early November 2020. A search of his phone and other electronic devices revealed numerous images and videos of Amory High School male students in sexual positions and/or performing sexual acts.
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Mississippi abortion clinic asks state Supreme Court to let it re-open
JACKSON • On the same day that almost all abortions became illegal in Mississippi, the state’s lone abortion clinic is asking the state’s highest court to allow it to resume offering patients access to the procedure.
The clinic, represented by attorneys from the Mississippi Center of Justice and the Center for Reproductive Rights, petitioned the Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday to suspend the enforcement of Mississippi’s “trigger ban” on abortions.
“We are doing all we can to allow the clinic to keep serving patients,” said Rob McDuff, an MCJ attorney representing the clinic. “We hope the Mississippi Supreme Court will abide by its prior ruling that the Mississippi Constitution protects the rights of women to make their own decisions in matters of childbirth.”
The ban, a 2007 law adopted by the Legislature, prohibits doctors from performing abortions unless the life of the mother is at stake or unless the pregnancy was the result of a rape that's been reported to law enforcement. When it was passed, it held a provision — or trigger — that the law would go into effect if Roe v. Wade was ever overturned.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, led by Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch, will be tasked with defending the trigger ban in court. Representatives from the office have largely declined to comment on the legal challenge, but have previously defended the law.
The request to the nine-member state Supreme Court comes two days after a state chancery court judge denied the clinic's request to block the trigger ban from going into effect. The law went into effect Thursday, 10 days after Fitch certified that the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned Roe.
The crux of the Jackson facility's legal argument rests on a 1998 Mississippi Supreme Court opinion that said the state constitution gives its citizens a right to privacy, which includes the right to an abortion.
But Chancellor Debbra Halford rejected that argument and denied the clinic's request to freeze the trigger ban, contending the legal landscape changed when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe.
Still, the Jackson clinic, in a last-ditch effort, is now asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to adhere to its previous 1998 opinion and allow the facility to re-open and provide abortions to patients.
“We are simply asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to uphold its own ruling," said Vangela Wade, the CEO of the MCJ. "It would be a mistake to reverse decades of precedent and allow government and politics to override a woman’s right to make health decisions directly impacting her life.”
The justices who sit on the Court are nonpartisan, but the majority have adopted a conservative judicial philosophy. One justice is a former Republican state lawmaker and another was previously involved in GOP politics.
The nine judges will now decide if the Legislature's abortion restrictions run afoul of the Mississippi Constitution or whether they should overturn the Court's prior precedent.
It's unclear if the justices will invite oral arguments to discuss the clinic's request or simply issue an opinion based on written briefs from the parties involved.
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Lawmakers aim to cut off funding for work at lab linked to COVID
By BILL GERTZ The Washington Times
A House appropriations panel has approved an amendment to a major spending bill working its way through Congress that would ban funding for work in China by a New York-based group linked to suspect virus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The fiscal 2023 appropriations bill for the State Department includes language to restrict any spending in China for the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, a group whose president worked closely on gain-of-function virus research at the Wuhan institute. The institute’s work is at the heart of a raging global scientific debate over whether COVID-19 passed naturally to humans from animals or was the result of an accidental leak from the Chinese research facility near the heart of the original 2019 outbreak.
The amendment was drafted by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Penn., and passed on a voice vote by the House Appropriations Committee on June 29. The amendment says the Secretary of State can waive the funding ban if the support is found to be in the national security interest.
“It’s deeply concerning that U.S. taxpayer dollars have been funneled to a lab controlled by the Chinese Communist Party that conducts dangerous … research and is the likely origin of COVID-19,” Reschenthaler said.
“We must ensure that organizations with a history of funding risky experiments in labs controlled by our foreign adversaries don’t receive a single cent of U.S. taxpayer dollars,” he said.
U.S. intelligence agencies have reported that the Wuhan Institute of Virology is one of two potential sources of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spy agencies say the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 also could have emerged from an infected animal.
U.S. and international investigators say China’s government continues to stonewall probes into the origin of the pandemic. Beijing has refused to provide samples of the virus, first collected in December 2019 when the pneumonialike disease appeared in Wuhan.
EcoHealth President Peter Daszak, a British zoologist, was part of an initial World Health Organization investigative team that concluded it was highly unlikely that the virus behind COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab. WHO has since walked back that conclusion and now views the lab leak theory as a viable origin for the disease outbreak.
John Ratcliffe, a former director of national intelligence, has said several scientists such as Mr. Daszak and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical adviser, incorrectly claimed there were no live bats, gain-of-function research or military activities at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
It is not clear whether the appropriations amendment would bar funding from the National Institutes of Health to EcoHealth Alliance.
NIH provided $3.1 million in grants to EcoHealth from 2014 to 2019. A total of $599,000 of those funds was spent at the Wuhan lab for research in identifying and altering bat coronaviruses, according to documents obtained by the newsletter The Intercept.
Under questioning from Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, at a hearing of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Dr. Fauci defended funding of Chinese research. He said it produced major advances in biomedical research.
Dr. Fauci said he believes the virus “very, very likely” emerged from an animal host and that a lab leak was still the less likely source.
In the final days of the Trump administration in January 2021, the State Department published a fact sheet revealing intelligence it said pointed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the source of the coronavirus.
The intelligence included the illnesses of three Wuhan Institute of Virology workers with symptoms similar to COVID-19 prior to the official outbreak in December 2019. Other intelligence included details of the bat virus research and the fact that the Chinese military was conducting experiments at the lab, contrary to claims of institute officials.
A Marine Corps researcher revealed in a memorandum made public in January that the virus behind the pandemic was produced from vaccine research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, The Washington Times reported.
Maj. Joseph P. Murphy disclosed in the memo to the Pentagon inspector general that EcoHealth Alliance, NIH and the Wuhan Institute of Virology manufactured the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 from gain-of-function research outlined in a Pentagon grant proposal.
“SARS-CoV-2 is an American-created recombinant bat vaccine, or its precursor virus,” Maj. Murphy stated in an Aug. 13, 2021, memo made public this week by Project Veritas. “It was created by an EcoHealth Alliance program at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), as suggested by the reporting surrounding the lab-leak hypothesis.”
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Storage tanks are shown at a refinery in Detroit in this Tuesday, April 21, 2020, file phot.
PAUL SANCYA | AP
The exports are part of a broader and historic release of 1 million barrels per day through October from the reserves, one of several efforts by Biden to blunt high fuel costs that have had minimal impacts.
Phillips 66 has shipped roughly 470,000 barrels from a reserve storage site in Texas to Italy, according to Reuters news agency. Atlantic Trading & Marketing, part of French oil company TotalEnergies, exported more than 1.1 million barrels.
The outlet reported that crude from the reserves was also bound for the Netherlands, India and China.
In total, Biden plans to release up to 260 million barrels of oil from domestic reserves from October 2021 through October 2022, depleting the reserve to less than 400 million, the lowest since 1984.
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ABERDEEN – A 13-year-old uniform policy for the Aberdeen School District was lifted Thursday during a special-called meeting of the Aberdeen School Board.
School board members voted 5-0 to adopt the same dress code Aberdeen High School has, meaning the school uniform policy for grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade is abolished.
Students in the lower grade levels will no longer be required to wear the khaki pants and dress shirts mandated by the outgoing uniform policy.
The Aberdeen School District adopted a school uniform policy in 2009 and during June’s regular school board meeting, parent Tash White made a plea for the district to lift the policy beginning with the upcoming school year.
She spoke on behalf of parents, stating the cost of school uniforms posed a financial burden.
Tash White
Aberdeen High School
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Myrtle's Kinsley Gordon ...
Kinsley Gordon was named to a Daily Journal All-Area team six times during her four years of high school.
The Myrtle product made our All-Area basketball and softball teams three times apiece, and she was a first-team selection for each this past year. She’s one of the best all-around athletes I’ve seen since returning to the high school sports beat five years ago.
On the basketball court, Gordon averaged 28.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 steals per game. She then turned around and batted .598 for the softball team.
She’s also excelled on the track, winning individual state titles in discus (twice) and triple jump.
Gordon isn’t the only All-Area double dipper we had this year. Let’s recognize the others.
• Allie Beckley, Pontotoc: The dynamic point guard earned first-team honors, averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She was a second-team softball pick as a shortstop, batting .381 with 28 runs scored and 24 stolen bases.
• Caitlyn Carnathan, Saltillo: Like Gordon, Carnathan has been a standout for a long time. This past school year she made our soccer list – which is just 12 players – by notching 28 goals and 12 assists.
She might be even better on the softball diamond, where she earned first-team honors. Carnathan was 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA, plus she batted .438 with 39 runs scored.
• Zae Davis, Biggersville: Athletic as they come, Davis was a first-team Small School pick in football and a third-teamer in basketball. Davis accounted for 1,208 yards of offense and scored 23 total touchdowns – including via defense and special teams – last fall. He then scored 16.0 points per game and led the Lions to a second-straight Class 1A state basketball title.
• Rett Johnson, East Union: After missing most of 2020 with an injury, Johnson excelled at quarterback and was a football second-teamer. He passed for 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions and helped some in the run game.
Johnson then aided the Urchins in winning the 2A baseball championship as starting shortstop. He batted .474 with 45 RBIs, 55 runs scored and 34 stolen bases to earn a first-team nod.
• Macie Phifer, Ingomar: It’s hard to believe she still has three years of school left. Phifer was a dominant force in volleyball, recording 251 kills en route to earning third-team All-Area honors.
She’s even better at basketball. Phifer posted 19.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to earn a second-team pick.
• Hayden Roberts, East Union: This kid is as athletic as they come, too. He was a Small School first-teamer in football, accounting for 898 yards of offense while making 68 tackles on defense. Roberts could punt, too, at a 41.3-yard average.
He was also a key cog for the baseball team, especially on the mound. Roberts was 9-0 with a 1.72 ERA and was named to our first team.
• Jon Paul Yates, Tupelo Christian: Yates was a two-way star on the football team. He had 819 yards and seven TDs receiving, and on defense he made four interceptions to earn second-team Small School honors.
Yates was a savvy hitter on the diamond, finishing with a .494 average, 27 RBIs, 53 runs and 42 stolen bases.
Johnson and Phifer are the the only ones out of this group who didn’t graduate this year. I’m going to miss watching those other kids play, but I’m sure some others will come along.
Kinsley Gordon
Allie Beckley
Caitlyn Carnathan
Zae Davis
Rett Johnson
Macie Phifer
Hayden Roberts
Jon Paul Yates
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Fawn and Rusty Keen at First United Methodist Church in Tupelo.
MARRIED MINISTERS
The Revs. Rusty and Fawn Keen are both United Methodist ministers. They also happen to be husband and wife. And now they are both on staff at First United Methodist Church in downtown Tupelo — Rusty as lead pastor and Fawn as associate pastor.
“We were each appointed to different roles,” Rusty said. “I will be the lead pastor, and Fawn will do congregational care, as well as assisting in all services.”
After one week in their respective roles, the Keens already feel like Tupelo will be a good fit.
“We had a tremendous first Sunday,” Rusty said. “Since a lot of people were out of town, we combined our three services. We had a full house, and the mood was so celebratory and positive. It was just awesome to come together in such a beautiful place to worship together.”
The Keens both call Vicksburg home, but as 30-year veterans of itinerant ministry in the Methodist church, they’ve done their share of moving.
“Moving from place to place is not always easy for pastors or for churches,” Rusty said. “But we make that commitment when we are ordained. You take a vow to go where you are called.”
While they have lived all over the state, the Keens are well-acquainted with North Mississippi, and they are happy to be setting up house in their new home on Madison Street.
“We served in Amory for 14 years, so we’re familiar with Tupelo,” Rusty said. “But the growth in the last few years is unreal, especially downtown. We’re excited to be in a downtown church in the midst of all of that.”
Most recently, Rusty served as district superintendent for the Greenville District of the Methodist Church, while Fawn served as pastor of two congregations in Natchez. After a season of keeping separate houses and only getting to spend weekends together, the Keens are happy to merge households.
“We had different houses for a year in Greenwood and Natchez,” Rusty said. “We’re glad to be working together and living in the same house. We’ve been married 35 years; we’re too old to live apart!”
A former school counselor, Fawn said empathetic listening is her “strong card” as a minister.
“Rusty is a good administrator; I’m not,” she said. “My strength is compassion. I’m a good listener, and I’m open-minded. I’m very approachable. You can come see me about anything, and I’ll be there for you.”
In her small Natchez-area congregations, Fawn said she was responsible for every aspect of worship.
“I’ve always been at small-membership churches where I did everything,” she said. “It was just me and a piano player. Some Sundays, I’d do that, too.”
Her skills at the piano sometimes helped her in the pulpit, Fawn said.
“I love to preach,” she said. “But there were times when, if I couldn’t ‘land the plane,’ I’d just go to the piano and play and sing something. The people loved that; they ate it up.”
The Keens bring different skills, as well as different temperaments, to their roles in ministry. Fawn said her nature is quiet, introspective and spiritually curious.
“I’m a reader,” said Fawn. “Knitting and needlepoint keep me centered. I have friends in other denominations, and every year we go together to a retreat at a convent.”
Rusty, on the other hand, said his nature is social to the core.
“Fawn can go very deep and be nurturing,” he said. “I’m more of a ‘social arranger.’ I’m the one to have fun with. I always want to be at the table. I told our congregation that I wish we could all live together in a big house.”
“And I don’t!” Fawn said with a laugh.
An avid squirrel hunter, Rusty said he has his eyes set on the fall, when he and his non-human friend can head to the woods.
“I’m a country boy,” he said. “I have a little treeing feist named Jack, and I love to take him and a buddy and go to the woods. Jack does the work so we can visit and fellowship.”
Working side-by-side in a large-membership church will certainly present its share of challenges to the Keens, but they both plan to “keep the main thing the main thing.”
“There’s so much meanness in the world,” Fawn said. “People are hurting, and we need to be there for them. They need to know God cares, and they need to know their pastor cares, too.”
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On the importance of wisdom
By LYNN JONES Guest columnist
Where I come from, one of the worst things you can say about someone is, “He ain’t got a lick of sense.” One of the reasons why that is such a bad thing to say is the grammar of the statement, but even more significant is the content of the statement — that the person doesn’t have a “lick” of sense. I never have understood exactly how much sense a “lick” is, but it obviously isn’t much.
While the Bible never uses the language of that statement, it agrees with the content of it. The Bible emphasizes the importance of wisdom.
Unfortunately, wisdom is often scarce. James Moore wrote, “We are living in times of taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; higher incomes, but lower morals; more knowledge, but less wisdom.”
Echoes of that sentiment are seen in a study cited by Rick Warren. Dr. Hugh Moorhead wrote to 250 famous intellectuals asking them, “What is the meaning of life?” Some offered guesses, but most of them admitted that they didn’t know. Warren wrote, “The conclusion of the study is unsettling: In our time, the wise men are running low on wisdom.”
So, where do we find wisdom? There is a widespread notion that wisdom comes with age. That is not necessarily true. Age does not always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.
The psalmist said, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). Gaining a heart of wisdom is not automatic with the passage of time. It comes only as we revere every day and invest it with things of lasting value.
D. J. Dupree lived to be almost 100 years old. When anyone asked Dupree, “How old are you?” he might say, “I am 32,850 days old.” When asked why he answered in days, not years, he would say, “Because the Bible teaches us to number our days.” I’m not sure we have to keep a running count of all our days, but we do need to value every single day. We need to have Dupree’s sense of the sacredness of time. It is the heart of wisdom.
Sometimes wisdom emerges from the crucible of suffering as gold comes from the refiner’s fire. Brandon Slay was favored to win the gold medal in wrestling in the 2000 Olympics. Instead of winning the gold, he won the silver medal. A few weeks after the Olympics, Slay said winning the silver medal was the best thing that ever happened to him. He said that it was only through defeat and disappointment that he had gained wisdom and understanding. He quoted Proverbs 16:16: “How much better to get wisdom than gold and understanding than silver.” Now there is someone that had more than a lick of sense. We need to have the same.
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Lee County Supervisors to hold public hearing on redistricting plans
TUPELO • The Lee County Board of Supervisors’ district lines will shift significantly if they adopt a proposed redistricting plan.
The county will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. July 18 at the supervisor’s office to discuss its the proposal, which would correct the extreme imbalances in its districts caused by shifting populations within the county.
“I anticipate it will be accepted pretty easily,” County Administrator Bill Benson said.
With the release of Census data at the beginning of every decade, counties and municipalities must take stock of their shifting populations and correct course for any deviation over 10% of the ideal population. Lee County's deviation was at 20%, with most of the population loss in District 4, the county’s only minority-majority district.
Of the five districts that make up Lee County, districts 1, 4 and 5 were underpopulated, according to 2020 Census data provided by Oxford-based consulting firm Bridge & Watson. District 4, represented by Supervisor Tommie Lee Ivy, was under the ideal population of 16,669 by 1,896 people.
Mirroring changes accepted by the Lee County School District last week, the major modification to the map was District 4’s assimilation of a large chunk of Verona, which is currently in District 5.
“A lot of folks in Verona are going to be happy because they had to go to Haven Acres to vote, and now they will be able to stay in Verona,” Benson said. “I think the folks coming into (Ivy’s) district will be satisfied.”
The changes to District 4 will preserve its minority-majority status but not without lowering the Black population of District 5 by 10%.
Ivy, who was heavily involved with the process, said his priority was to protect his district’s racial makeup. He said he believed the decrease in District 4's population was from a handful of factors, including the coronavirus pandemic, under counting in the census and increased growth in northern Lee County.
"I lost a big number of people over the last ten years," he said. "I believe there are probably more people in south Lee County that just didn't fill out the (Census) forms, and the pandemic slowed it down."
Meanwhile, District 1 will pick up residents of North Tupelo from District 2. To offset the loss, District 2 will take residents from West Tupelo in the Gun Club area, which is currently in District 3.
District 5 will take on a large chunk of District 1’s south end to compensate for its loss of Verona. The sum and total of the population juggling brought the county within a total 6.7% deviation.
“It was about as simple as the board could do to get to the numbers required and keep the minority district," Benson said. "No one likes change, but in this case, there is no other option.”
The county must draw and approve its new map before elections next year when supervisors are up for reelection.
Justice Court, constable districts also drastically shifted
The county also hired Bridge & Watson to evaluate and correct deviations in the Lee County Justice Court and Constable Districts, which had a deviation of over 24% in its four districts.
District 4, which comprises Southwest Lee County, was the lone district to lose population. To remedy this, Bridge & Watson proposed injecting 2,597 people into the district, taking a portion of West Tupelo from District 2 and a portion of Southeast Tupelo from District 3. The piece of District 3 moves up Veterans Boulevard from Eason Boulevard to the end of East Main Street.
District 4, also a minority-majority district, will see a slight reduction in its Black population from 64% to 62.7%.
Meanwhile, the other three districts shuffled population, with District 1 extending some of its border with District 2 to reduce the overpopulation of District 2.
Copies of both maps are available at the county supervisor’s office, and the public hearing will include a presentation from Bridge & Watson.
Supervisors are expected to vote on the new maps after the hearing in a continuation of its regular meeting.
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Emmett Till lynching news brings up memories of Tupelo connection
The news late last week of a search for new evidence about the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till brought back many memories of the Tupelo link from more than two generations ago.
Last week, news of a search by members of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and two relatives of the Leflore County Courthouse in Greenwood revealed a longtime warrant for the arrest of “Mrs. Roy Bryant,” now Carolyn Bryant Donham.
Authorities apparently sought the warrant in connection with the kidnapping and murder of the Chicago teenager after he allegedly wolf-whistled at Donham in their small grocery store in Money, a few miles north of Greenwood. All this occurred in August 1955.
It was Donham, then Bryant, who supposedly pointed out Till to her husband, Roy, who owned Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, and initiated the abduction of Till from a relative’s house in the wee morning hours.
Three days later, authorities pulled the youth’s body from the Tallahatchie River. Roy Bryant and Milam were indicted for murder.
This is where the Tupelo connection comes in.
Robert Bruce Smith III was an attorney in private practice in 1955 with an office in Ripley. He didn’t know anyone connected to the killing of the teenager. He knew as much about the case as anyone who regularly consumed newspapers.
The late Bruce Smith of Tupelo once told me his father became a co-prosecutor in the case because then-state Attorney General J.P. Coleman asked him to help District Attorney Gerald Chatham. Coleman knew the attorney Smith because they had been classmates in law school.
Interestingly, Chatham stood as a political insider in his neck of the woods. Since 1931, Chatham had practiced law and served in the Mississippi Legislature, as county superintendent of education and as county prosecuting attorney before the people elected him as district attorney in 1942. In an announcement made previous to the trial, Chatham stated his intention to retire from public office. He had nothing politically to lose.
The elder Smith practiced law with Fred Smith, his brother. He had served in the Marine Corps during World War II and had worked as an FBI agent prior to entering legal practice in Northeast Mississippi. At the time he worked on the case, he had a wife and three sons: Bruce, Jak and Fred, ranging in age from 10 to 6.
This trial occurred during the time of Jim Crow and long before women in Mississippi could serve on juries. Bruce told me the sons watched their father on television because the world had become involved in this murder case in Mississippi. More than 70 reporters packed the courtroom, and hundreds of others hung around the courthouse that September in Sumner, where the trial was held.
Chatham and Smith attempted to do some police work to buoy their case with assistance from a couple of Mississippi State Highway Patrol officers appointed by the governor and state attorney general because Sheriff Clarence Strider refused to do so. The prosecutors attempted to find witnesses, driving hundreds of miles on county roads to do so and poking into myriad cotton gins in the region to attempt to find the source of the gin fan attached to Till’s body discovered when authorities pulled his corpse from the river.
Two of the state’s witnesses, Leroy “Two Tight” Collins and Henry Lee Loggins, who investigators believed were with Bryant and Milam the night of Till’s abduction and beating, went “missing” during the trial. In actuality, Strider had the two men, both African American, jailed under aliases in a Charleston jail until the jury delivered its verdict of “not guilty.”
It took a little more than an hour for the jury to make the decision to acquit Milam and Bryant.
A year later, Chatham died of a heart attack at the age of 50. He had suffered a heart attack just prior to this particular trial.
A little more than 15 years ago, an exhibit about Till’s death came to the Lee County Library. The three brothers came to that exhibit and talked about their father and the impact it had on them. Although they were young at the time, the trio remembered impressions.
Fred, the youngest, also talked about why he believed his father took on the case during the height of Jim Crow — time when the state-supported and taxpayer-funded spy agency, the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, had formed to prevent integration in the Magnolia State.
At the time, Fred told me that he believed it was his father’s relationship with Josey Booth, an African-American woman who had taken care of the three brothers since she was 12 years old. Their father had grown up with this woman, whom he had known through childhood.
Later, Bruce showed me letters written by various individuals to his father. The letters threatened violence, wished the family dead and hurled vile epithets at the senior Smith. The governor followed up on those threats by placing security at the Smith home.
However, one letter praised the elder Smith for his work. Troy O. Melton thanked him for his effort. The brothers said their father never discussed the case.
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ABERDEEN – The public is encouraged to join in the fun July 9 as law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and 911 dispatchers from throughout Monroe County are recognized during Blue Day in the Park, which includes a parade, tributes, vendors and entertainment.
“If you see a responder, say thank you. You hear about negative stuff all over the country, but we don’t have that here. We’re blessed to have good people,” said organizer Neil Palmer of local first responders.
The event, which is being held through Save Aberdeen Landmarks, will benefit the M-17 Scholarship, which honors the legacy of late Monroe County deputy Dylan Pickle, who lost his life following an accident in 2020.
The event will begin with a parade on Commerce Street at 11 a.m.
“We’ll have as many emergency vehicles as we can and will have three Mardi Gras floats. One will have [Pickle’s mother] Debi Pearson and her M-17 Pageant winners. Another will carry kids of first responders, and the other will be Save Aberdeen Landmarks. We’re going to throw beads and other kinds of goodies,” Palmer said.
While participants in the parade are limited mostly to first responders and their families, the public is encouraged to line the parade route to catch beads and cheer on responders.
The parade will make its way to Acker Park, where there will be arts and crafts and food vendors, inflatables and live entertainment. Activities continue until 4 p.m.
Vendor fees are $25, with all proceeds benefiting the M-17 Scholarship, which provides for a deputy to participate in law enforcement academy.
“We’ll also lay a marker for first responders we lost. If you have the name of a local responder we lost, please call me so we can read their name,” Palmer said.
His contact number is (662) 436-1003.
He hopes for Blue Day in the Park to become an annual event.
Neil Palmer
Blue Day
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Westlake Plant Manager Jimmy Autrey speaks to an applicant at Aberdeen's job fair last July. The city will host a job fair July 14 from 1 until 4 p.m. at the Aberdeen Park and Recreation Building.
ABERDEEN – Companies’ needs for employees are still in demand as much as job seekers’ needs for employment. To benefit both sectors, the City of Aberdeen will host a job fair July 14 from 1 until 4 p.m. at its park and recreation building, located at the intersection of Commerce and Matubba streets.
“It fits both molds, especially since we have new organizations in the city opening pretty soon. We want to support their efforts to get new applicants,” said Mayor Charles Scott.
As of late last week, employers committed to the job fair included Westlake, the Care Center of Aberdeen, Monroe Regional Hospital’s Garden Suites, Monroe Regional Hospital, McDonald’s and the Aberdeen water, public works and police departments.
Additionally, stations will be set up for Itawamba Community College, the WIN Job Center and the Aberdeen fire and electric departments.
Job seekers should bring their resumes and dress in business attire.
The city has worked with Dr. Greg Yarbrough, a WIOA career coach through ICC at the Monroe County Government Complex, for workforce development to prepare people for the job market.
“Our objective is to cross all spectrums when it comes to people looking for a job or looking to get into a job program. With working with ICC and the job program, they’re not only going to mentor them within the program but they’re also going to make sure they’re taking care of the essential things,” Scott said.
Greg Yarbrough
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RAY VAN DUSEN Monroe Journal
With Mississippi’s incoming medicinal cannabis act soon taking effect, local authorities remind people of rules to avoid potential fines and charges.
The Mississippi Department of Revenue stated medical cannabis dispensary license applications will be available in July, and the Mississippi State Department of Health anticipates products to be available in late 2022.
“If you’re a licensed card holder and can possess it, it has to be within the limits of Mississippi law and you can’t go by whatever Arkansas’ law is or Oklahoma’s law is. You have to go by what you state allows you to have at a time,” said Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook.
Monroe County Chief Deputy Billy Richey said the department previously worked a case regarding a substantial amount of marijuana found to be in the possession of individuals licensed in Colorado, but they were still in violation of Mississippi law.
“There is some confusion that people think it’s legal or they’ll argue with you that they shouldn’t be charged now already,” said Monroe County Attorney Candy Blalock.
“Ignorance of the law is no defense. People come in and say they didn’t know, but it doesn’t matter. You’re still going to be charged and still could be found guilty. Just because you didn’t realize you were committing a crime, you still committed a crime,” she added.
The state’s legislation regarding medicinal cannabis is hundreds of pages.
Part of it addresses permit requirements for cultivating marijuana, and violators of the law could be charged with manufacturing marijuana.
“You can’t just grow a few potted plants in the back and think you’re harvesting. You’ll be charged with manufacturing marijuana,” Richey said.
Crook said licensed cardholders will not be permitted to distribute medicinal cannabis to others.
“We hope the general public understands even though they have a prescription, much like Lortabs and Xanax, you can’t operate a vehicle under the influence,” Blalock said.
The state’s medicinal cannabis regulations include lower THC percentages.
“The bad stuff is already here – the stuff with the high THC and laced is already here on the street and not going to change. People still want to have that because of the high instead of the limited THC they can get from a medical dispensary if they go through the hoops to get a card,” Crook said.
He said statistically in the United States, most users use marijuana to cope with other drug addictions.
“They have to come down, they have to eat, they have to sleep, so they’re not really recreation marijuana users; they’re just a lot of people who have to have it because of other addictions,” he said.
Billy Richey
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Jimmy Wayne Young (left), Thomas Braxton Craig (right)
Two men were recently arrested by Fulton Police Department in separate cases.
Jimmy Wayne Young, 57, of Fulton, was arrested after a traffic stop on June 6, on East Main Street led to the discovery of illegal narcotics. Young was charged with possession of a controlled substance and destruction of evidence. Judge Harold Holcomb set his bond at $15,000.
On June 17, Fulton officers arrested Thomas Braxton Craig, 41, during a traffic stop. Craig was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Judge John Bishop set his bond at $10,000.
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It's so predictable, maybe we should start calling it “Gun Control Day.”
Like the movie "Groundhog Day," it happens again and again after a mass shooting, like the one at a July 4th parade near Chicago that killed seven people and wounded two dozen.
The professional anti-gun mob — i.e., liberal Democrats and the major media outlets — immediately springs into action and exploits the tragedy as much as they can.
Fewer than .005% of America's 400 million guns were used to commit a murder in 2021.
Only about half of the year's 20,000 homicides involved handguns — and far more people were killed by knives, fists and rocks than rifles of all kinds.
It's a certainty that a whole bunch of good Americans will refuse to cooperate with the totalitarian dream of the gun-control mob, but my son Cameron has a deal he wants to make with them.
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Sharon E. DeRucki, resident of Blue Mountain, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 7, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Services honoring the life of Sharon will be announced at a later date by the family. Ms. DeRucki was born March 21, 1942, in Detroit MI to the late Ernest and Loretta Rausch White. She was a graduate of Kimble High School and was employed with Lucent Technologies in the communications industry for 25 years before her retirement. A Christian, Ms. DeRucki was a devoted wife to her late husband, Daniel "Doc" DeRucki of 19 years. She cherished her family time and is described as being a little bit "spoiled rotten". Ms. DeRucki will be remembered as a hard worker who enjoyed traveling, camping, listening to Elvis and watching British Cinema. Those left to cherish her memories include one daughter, Deanna Yates (Don) of Blue Mountain, one son, Edward Crider of Myrtle Beach, SC, three grandchildren, Adrianna Copeland, Mike Reyes, and Amber Crider, and six great-grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother, Melvin White. Memories can be shared with the DeRucki family at nafuneralsandcremations.com.
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Kellum, David James
David James Kellum (65) passed away Thursday, July 7, 2022 at his home in Booneville. He was a member of the National Guard and was a born again believer at the First Christian Church in Okolona. He was an avid Mississippi State fan. He also enjoyed flea markets, bargain hunting, playing Santa Claus at Christmas, fishing and spending time with his grandson. He was a jokester and never met a stranger. Services are 2 pm Sunday, July 10, 2022 in the Booneville Chapel of Kesler Funeral Home with Bro. Chuck Boxx officiating. Burial will follow in the Prentiss Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 12-2 pm Sunday in the Booneville Chapel of Kesler Funeral Home. David is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gail Kellum of Booneville; his son, Jr. Wright (Jamie) of Saltillo; his brothers, Mark Kellum (Loretta) of Rienzi and Paul Kellum (Doris) of Smithville; his sisters, Lydia Storey (Tommy) of Booneville and Mary Kellum of Booneville; his grandson, Joshua Cage Wright of Saltillo; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dewayne and Gail Wardlow and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James H. and Ruth Kellum and his nephews, Jeremy "Poncho" Smith and Jason Miller. Pallbearers are Mark Kellum II, Jon "JP" Kellum, Shawn Smith, Matthew Storey and Doug Matney. Honorary pallbearers are Paul Barnes, Rusty Barnes and Rick Clements.
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Simon, Jane
Lillye Jane Collins Simon, 75, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at the Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, Alabama after a brief illness. She was born in Tupelo on September 20, 1946 to Durward and Anna Lou Mobley Collins. Her family moved to Florida and she graduated from Apalachicola High School in 1964. Jane then earned her Bachelor's Degree at Ole Miss and her Master's Degree from UT Knoxville. During the 1970's she was a home economics teacher at Shannon High School and later taught in the home economics department at Ole Miss. She was married to Maurice Simon and they made their home in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She was a member of First Baptist Church. A king a caring individual, Jane always thought of others before herself. Survivors include her husband of over 30 years, Maurice Simon; step-daughter, Cherie Simon of Los Angelis, Calif.; step-son, Marc Simon of New Orleans, La.; step-grandson, Blake Simon of New Orlenas, La.; and cousins, Bill Collins and wife Lisa of Shannon, Joe Collins and wife, Christi, of Baldwin, and Tom Collins and wife, Gail, of Tupelo; The family will honor Jane's memory with a private graveside service on Monday at Shannon Cemetery with Dr. Gayle Alexander officiating. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo MS 38803; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101. Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.
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Simons, Dan
Dan Simons, 74, departed this pilgrimage to meet his Creator on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at NMMC after a bout with Covid and Pneumonia. Dan was born in Humboldt, TN on July 24, 1947, the oldest of 4 sons born to the late Ben and Sue Evans Simons. He grew up in Tupelo, graduated from Tupelo High School in 1965 and from his beloved Mississippi State University in 1969. He married his childhood sweetheart, Teresa Jean Harwell on July 26, 1968, a marriage of almost 54 years. Dan spent his working life in sales and management, primarily with Coca Cola and Pepsi beverages where he won numerous awards for his business skills. He and Teresa lived in Jackson, West Point, Aberdeen and Corinth with his job. He served during the Vietnam era in the U. S. Army Reserves having done his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dan, a colorful and vibrant soul, enjoyed his life and his experiences. He enjoyed being around people and certainly propagated the Simons family trait of joyful extended conversation and encouraging others. He put on The All American Boat and RV Show for over 30 years which he always looked forward to. In his retirement years, Dan became a Day trader on the stock market, a hobby which brought him much satisfaction. A collector, Dan enjoyed Civil War relics, Native American Indian artifacts and Coca Cola memorabilia. He was a longtime member of the St. Luke United Methodist Church, an avid MSU Bulldog fan but his greatest joy was his family and Pop especially enjoyed his only grandchild, Bentley. A service celebrating his life will take place at 6 PM Monday, July 11, 2022 at the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo. Visitation will begin at 4 PM Monday. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming. Dan is survived by his wife, Teresa Simons of Saltillo; his son, Marcus Simons of the home and Nicole Simons and her son, Bentley of Guntown; his three brothers, Gary Simons and wife, Cynthia of Brandon, Larry Simons and wife, Mariella of Ridgeland and Terry Simons of Tupelo and their families.; a sister in law, Cecilia Harwell Hollowell(Ronnie) of Memphis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Sue Simons, his in laws, Cecil and Jeanette Meins Harwell and a sister in law, Dinah Simons. Memorials may be made to Hope Unbridled Equestrian Program, 185 Timberland Dr., Tupelo, MS. 38801 or to St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1400 Clayton Ave., Tupelo, MS. 38804. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
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Mike and Brenda Pitts Wester of Tupelo, formerly of the Furrs community in Pontotoc County, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner party hosted by their children, Keri Stewart Alexander and her husband, Brandon, of Saltillo; and Jason Wester of Dudley, Georgia. The couple's grandchildren, Jayla, Dillon, and Keelan Stewart, and Flannery and Chloe Wester, also attended the celebration. The Westers were married on July 1, 1972, at First Baptist Church in Fulton.
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Cookbook release postponed, but will be better for it
Last Friday, I wrapped up a photo shoot for my new cookbook, “Mississippi Mornings.” It's a book I've wanted to write for almost a decade, and one I've been seriously contemplating for five or six years. Recipe testing finally began this past February and we got about halfway through the roster before I had to head to Europe for work. A week after my return in May, we began recipe testing again.
Recipe testing for cookbooks is much different than creating recipes for restaurants. In the restaurants, I’m able to speak a form of shorthand to the chefs, and most of the support ingredients are already in the building. Cookbook recipe testing is more precise, and the result will be prepared in home kitchens. Most of the ingredients aren’t in the commercial kitchens where we do a lot of the recipe testing. There is still shorthand spoken because we have worked together for so long, but the final outcome is for six to eight portions in someone’s home instead of a single dish in a restaurant dining room.
Several years ago, I served as food stylist alongside a photographer from New York on a grilling book I released. It was a great experience, but nothing like the one we just completed. I have always enjoyed collaboration and the synergy that comes from working with one or more individuals on a project. This was the epitome of a team effort.
Chef Linda Roderick, a longtime collaborator,headed up the food testing for the book. She and I have worked together — on and off — for 20 years. She was the executive chef at the Purple Parrot for a decade or more and worked with me on the recipe testing of the first few cookbooks I wrote. Scott Strickland, we call him Scotty, is also a veteran of the Purple Parrot for more than 20 years. Anyone who ate lunch in that restaurant from the year 2000 until we shuttered it would have eaten food prepared by Scotty. He and Linda teamed up and did an excellent job carrying out my wants and wishes while executing the breakfast recipes.
Martha Foose, a friend of almost 20 years, and a talented pastry chef and baker in her own right, served as food stylist for the shoot. She and I are in the process of opening a bakery in Hattiesburg, and I signed the lease for that bakery on the final day of the cookbook shoot. Martha has written four cookbooks and ghostwritten a dozen more. She has a great eye and perfect touch when it comes to styling. She has good taste, too. I look forward to working with her as we bring this bakery to life over the next few months.
Anthony Thaxton — coming straight off our win for a Regional Emmy for the Walter Anderson documentary we co-produced — is designing the book. He designed the companion book to the documentary this past fall and did an excellent job. That book is now in its second printing. He's never designed a cookbook before, but I have yet to discover a task Thaxton isn't up to when asked.
My overworked personal assistant, Simeon Williford, was there every step of the way and helped with logistics, scheduling, planning, and just running general errands. Everyone needs a Simeon in their life, especially someone who has ADHD and is as scatterbrained and busy as your columnist. My wife and our friend Justin were the prop masters and the main reason our dining room, kitchen, and den have looked like a flea market for the past three weeks.
I have written often that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Whether this becomes one of my favorite cookbooks, or not, remains to be seen. From my view here in the development stage, it certainly is a strong contender.
“Mississippi Mornings” was originally scheduled to be released this November and the accompanying promotional, book-signing tour would follow leading up to Christmas. With all the supply chain issues I’ve experienced and horror stories I've heard from fellow authors — in addition to the aforementioned Walter Anderson book being three weeks late last November — I have chosen to push the book’s release date to next fall. It was the right decision. The copy editor in New York was champing at the bit to get the edit done and I wanted to make sure that all the recipes and photographs were spot on. The process took longer than normal. This will be a much better book when released in 2023 instead of this November.
Moving the release date to a Fall 2023 schedule will enable me to add a few extra recipes and to cover breakfasts during a few different seasons of the year. It will also give me a chance to work even more with these wonderful people I have spent so much time with in recent weeks. My key to cookbook success is the same as my key to business success — surround yourself with people who are more talented than you, set the course, guide the ship, and get out of the way when necessary.
ROBERT ST. JOHN is a restaurateur, chef and author. Find his recipe for Crawfish Omelet with Horseradish Cream at robertstjohn.com.
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Krista Blanchard of Pontotoc started making her line of jewelry, Sadie, in 2005 when she was at home on maternity leave. Today, she has her line in stores in Tupelo, Starkville, Pontotoc, Oxford, Aberdeen and New Albany in Northeast Mississippi.
Blanchard uses 14 karat gold-filled wire to make these delicate earrings.
Big earrings are popular in several boutiques.
Delicate chains with tiny crosses on them are Blanchard's best-seller.
Blanchard sometimes uses antique watches to make pieces, and a lot of her jewelry is inspired by nature.
Krista Blanchard has been making jewelry at her kitchen table in Pontotoc for 17 years.
PONTOTOC – Seventeen years ago, when Krista Blanchard was taking three months of maternity leave with her first son, she wanted to find something that would bring in a little extra money.
So she started playing around with jewelry. She went to Hobby Lobby and bought beads and wires and began creating pieces. The first place she took her jewelry to was Reed's Department Store in Tupelo, where she worked in the women's department.
"All my co-workers were like, 'Oh my goodness. You need to make some for Reed's,'" Blanchard said. "I ended up selling my first order to Reed's and have sold to them ever since."
When she first began her business venture, Blanchard didn't have a name for the earrings, necklaces and bracelets she made. But her co-worker, Tommy Green, solved that problem.
"We were at the University Club in Oxford doing a fashion show for Reed's," Blanchard said. "As the models were walking around modeling our clothes, one of them had on my jewelry. And Tommy, who was the emcee, was introducing her, and he said, 'And this model is wearing ...' and he looked at me. He knew my mother's name was Sadie, so he said, 'The model is wearing Sadie Jewelry.' He came up with the name on the spur of the moment."
A couple of years later, in 2007, Blanchard found a sales representative to sell her line of jewelry. At one time, Sadie Jewelry was in 100 boutiques across the South. Blanchard was so busy she had six or seven people – mostly family members – helping her make the jewelry, including her mother Sadie Kenney, and her father, David Kenney, who died in 2018.
"Mama and Daddy would come to my house first thing in the morning and sit at the kitchen table and drink coffee and make jewelry," she said. "When I'd get home from work at Reed's in the evening, they'd still be sitting at the table, making jewelry."
Over the years, the quality of Blanchard's pieces has improved. She started out using gold-plated and silver-plated metals, but now she uses sterling silver and 14 karat gold-filled metals, and semi-precious stones.
"I really try to make sure my products are quality pieces," she said. "I don't want to have anything returned."
Blanchard uses a lot of nature-inspired themes in her jewelry, like butterflies, bees, dragonflies, gingko leaves and flowers.
"I also love to use vintage pieces," she said. "I'll find an antique watch or a piece of antique jewelry and take it apart and remake it into something. I love to work with two-tone metals, because you can wear that with more."
Blanchard said every line of jewelry has a best-seller, and for her it's a delicate chain with tiny crosses on it.
"Those have been my most popular item for at least 10 years now," she said. "I'm always surprised by what people like. Sometimes, my least favorite pieces sell well. One time, I ordered all these beautiful, colored wool felt balls – they were my favorite and my mother's favorite line I'd done – and it didn't sell."
After Blanchard's sales rep retired in 2016, Blanchard started representing her line herself. She takes it with her on vacations to the beach, and sells it to different boutiques. In Northeast Mississippi, Sadie Jewelry is available at Reed's in Tupelo and Starkville; City Mercantile in Pontotoc; Olive Juice Gifts in Oxford; The Blue Owl in Aberdeen; and Hey Nezzie Boutique in New Albany.
Blanchard and her husband, John Scott, have three sons, Chance, Luke and Sam, who all attend Pontotoc City Schools. Between homework and sports, it's sometimes hard for Blanchard to find time to devote to her craft.
"I've been on the way to the ball field making jewelry, and I've been on the ball field making jewelry," she said. "But mostly, I'm here on the weekends doing it at this kitchen table. It once was smooth and pretty, but now, it's worn out."
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BUSINESS COLUMN
By DAVE RAMSEY Guest columnist
Q. My father-in-law passed away earlier this year. Since then, my wife and I have faced a dilemma because of the inheritance. Her dad had several life insurance policies, and he left one to her and one to each of her siblings. The one he left my wife was bigger than the ones he left to the others, and now her sister who received the smallest settlement is angry about the situation. She wants more, and it’s causing a real dilemma within the family. I told my wife I am OK with doing what she feels is best. What are your thoughts?
A. So, your wife’s sister feels like she’s entitled to something their dad didn’t want her to have? The arrogance of your sister-in-law is appalling. If their dad had wanted her sister to have a different policy, he would’ve put her name on the other policy. I mean, it was his decision, not hers.
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Joe Yarber organizes a table full of neck ties at MLM Clothiers in downtown Tupelo on Thursday.
TUPELO • The necktie — the once-ubiquitous menswear accessory seen in every boardroom, bank, hospital and other "professional" setting — has been around hundreds of years.
As trends come and go, ties have been through their ups and downs as well: not so popular in the 1960s, a resurgence in the go-go 80s, a dip in the early 2000s.
Enter the pandemic and working remotely. Those Casual Fridays turned into Casual Every Day, and when gatherings began anew, it seemed fewer ties were being worn.
And men's clothing stores have noticed.
"We've come in contact with a lot of guys who used to wear them but aren't wearing them now," said Joe Yarber, owner of MLM Clothiers in downtown Tupelo. "The banks are pretty much not wearing them anymore, but they are still wearing coats."
Hank Owens used to swear by a coat and tie every day. In the insurance industry for years, he didn't go without the combination. But a few years ago, he started to shed the tie.
"I just think that I just went with the times; everywhere I went they were't wearing them anymore, and I just evolved into it," he said. "Five years ago, I wore a tie every day — I didn't think I was dressed. I'll still wear a sport coat, but not in this weather."
The necktie can be a polarizing topic, according to website Real Men Real Style.
Among the pros, according to RMRS, is that wearing a tie "gives you a professional-looking edge that stacks you up above the average jeans and shirt-wearing man," as well as inspiring your confidence and improving your professional appearance.
And among the cons of wearing ties: looking too formal for today's more casual world, and oppressing your self-expression.
Ringing up some $115 billion in annual sales, menswear is big business in the U.S. and, of course, globally.
But while there seems to be an apparent dip in necktie sales nationwide, that's not necessarily the case everywhere.
Jack Reed Jr., CEO of Reed's department store in Tupelo, said any drop in tie sales have been more than made up by wedding parties and by men who are buying suits and then ties and having them to own after the ceremony, "instead of renting tuxedos with nothing to have after."
"We just reordered seven dozen ties last week," he added.
And Yarber said tie sales have stayed strong at MLM, even though he's noticed fewer ties being worn.
"We've reordered six times," he said, pointing to the table of ties that at the beginning of the year had some 300 ties for sale. This week there was about a third that many.
"Now once the tie is bought and it leaves here, we don't know what happens; they may never wear it again or maybe it's a gift to someone. We really don't know," Yarber said.
Even Yarber himself admits he doesn't always wear a tie. A few years ago, he would have never gone without a tie.
"Nationwide, the talk is that there are less neckties being worn, and 10 years ago I would have never gone without it," he said. "But I kind of got used to it during COVID. I'll admit I didn't wear one on Tuesday."
More often than not, however, Yarber won't be seen without a tie at MLM. "Especially if I'm trying to sell you a tie, I figure I ought to be wearing one."
Yarber also has seen an increase in sales of suits and sport coats as customers have returned to attending meetings, weddings and other more formal occasions.
And at MLM, the ties have a certain cache: only two of each pattern are available, and the ties are handmade by premium clothiers across the country that Yarber knows personally.
"We buy from small manufacturers that you won't find at mass retailers, so they may not be for everybody because they're not cheap," he said. "But we're not going to sell a cheap tie just to sell a tie."
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Bobby Bolden, 57, no address listed, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.
Eric Brownlee, 39, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, burglary of a commercial building, burglary of an auto, felony taking of a motor vehicle, false ID.
Toni House, 22, no address listed, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.
Dachristopher Johnson, 31, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, aggravated domestic violence.
Daniel Russell, 27, no address listed, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.
Sara Wells, 30, no address listed, was arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, prescription fraud.
A County Road 449 Shannon man said two males showed up at his place uninvited and jumped his grandson. He wanted a report to go to justice court to file trespassing charges against them.
A County Road 1551 Mooreville man said that sometime in December 2021, he lost his Diamondback .380 pistol. He last saw it when he was cleaning out his vehicle at his house. He wanted a report in case it turned up.
A County Road 683 Saltillo man reported a suspicious white male wearing a black leather jacket walking down the road around 3 p.m. He said it was the same subject he saw laying in the cemetery at St. Thomas Catholic Church earlier in the day. The suspect told deputies he was walking to a friend’s house.
A Saltillo woman reported suspicious activity at what appeared to be an empty house. Deputies responded and found a man who explained that the homeowner gave him permission to start tearing down the structure.
A County Road 325 Tupelo man said his daughter told him that his son-in-law, 42, took the battery from the man’s car and put it in his own car.
A County Road 133 Tupelo woman said her security system alerted her to motion out front at 2 a.m., and she saw a dark-colored vehicle in the front yard. Deputies responded. The driver said he knew the homeowner and had stopped there to sleep since he had been drinking. Deputies told the woman, who said the suspect was a friend of her son and she would see that he was taken home safely.
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"And I'm proud to be an American..." –Lee Greenwood
A Gallup poll has found only 38% of us are "strongly proud" to be Americans, the lowest on record. Another 22% say they are "moderately proud."
What is responsible for these numbers and attitudes about America? Part of it, I think, is the way much of the media cover stories, which are usually bad (and, more importantly, the good ones they ignore). They pit us against each other — rich against poor, black against white, Republicans against Democrats. They stress the fringe groups on both left and right and ignore moderate voices, rarely considering solutions to problems.
The Bee writers take this on as follows: "Starting in pre-school your goal is to turn kids against their parents. Start by asking them simple questions like, 'Why are your parents so white and dumb'? Or 'Did you know your turtle sandbox is sitting on land your Dad stole from indigenous people?'"
In all satire there are elements of truth, which is what makes it funny, at least to those not being skewered. In this case that would be the woke crowd and those who wish to be woke so they can be accepted by the spirits of the age. The Bee says to become fully woke requires constant apologizing for one's whiteness and even your humanity because you are a racist — don't deny it — and are guilty of destroying the planet by your very existence.
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In this file photo, a marijuana bud is ready for processing at the Greenleaf Medical Cannabis facility in Richmond, Va., on June 17, 2021. Mississippi's medical marijuana program was signed into law Feb. 2, 2022. The first products from the state are expected to be available in early 2023.
Mum on Marijuana
TUPELO • As the medical cannabis industry in Mississippi steadily moves toward the day physicians can start prescribing marijuana, health care providers are walking a tightrope when discussing the impact on medicine in the state and whether they will actually prescribe it.
While the Legislature passed a law this year to make medical marijuana legal, the program will not actually go into full effect until later this year at the earliest. Between now and then, growers and suppliers are getting licensed and setting up their operations, while the Mississippi State Department of Health continues to outline the rules and regulations governing the program.
Doctors are spending this time educating themselves further on the use of medical marijuana and specifically how the program will work in Mississippi.
Many are also trying to decide whether they will prescribe it.
The Daily Journal reached out to almost two dozen specialists, physicians and clinics in Northeast Mississippi to gauge thoughts on the process. Many did not respond to multiple attempts to reach them. Others indicated they would not comment. Here is what we learned.
Healthcare systems cautiously await developments
Large healthcare systems are being extremely cautious when speaking publicly about medical marijuana, going so far as to preventing their doctors from talking to the press.
Northeast Mississippi Medical Center has a host of physicians practicing in all fields, from oncology and hematology to endocrinology and neurology. Spokesperson Morgan Burger Roe told the Daily Journal that though no physicians were available for interviews, the health system is following details as the state releases them.
"Our leadership, including physician leaders, are currently reviewing the information and participating in education sessions related to the new law, the accompanying regulations and experiences from other states,” she said in a written statement via email.
Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford also declined requests to interview physicians, electing instead to release a statement to the Daily Journal.
“Baptist Memorial hospitals follow all applicable laws regarding medication use, and our physicians prescribe medication in harmony with our medical staff policies, best practices and as medically necessary,” the hospital’s statement said. “Providing quality and safe patient care is our No. 1 priority.”
Neurologist endorses it but won't prescribe it
The lion’s share of qualifying conditions can be treated through a neurologist. William Owens, a neurologist at Midsouth Neurology in Corinth, said he planned to implement the drug in his practice but only through referrals.
”I am going to integrate it into my practice, but I am not going to be a prescriber,” he said. “I endorse it without prescribing. I think it will be great for insomnia and as an adjunctive medication for pain.”
Owens said he believed referrals would be the approach of most neurologists in the state because most conditions qualify due to some form of pain or sleep disorder. In those cases, he said, the standard practice in his field is to refer patients to a pain or sleep center.
“It’ll be interesting to see if there will be a consensus from neurologists on referrals versus prescribing,” he said. “Most neurologists, I don’t think they will prescribe (medical cannabis).”
Owens predicts that about a quarter of physicians in the state will get certified to prescribe the medication, but he “foresee(s) a high demand” for patient IDs.
Retired optometrist is strong proponent of medical marijuana
Though long-time optometrist Matthew Wesson retired last year, he said he attended the certification course held by the state. The course, which comes with a $200 price tag, fills the physician’s eight-hour continuing education requirement to prescribe medical cannabis.
“This was absolutely the best and most important meeting that I’ve ever been to,” he said. “I learned a lot about marijuana and addiction in general.”
Wesson said the turning point for his opinion on medical cannabis was when a friend of his was diagnosed with cancer. He said nothing helped the friend until their physician suggested cannabis, which was illegal at the time. Wesson said there was a marked change in his friend’s quality of life with the use of medical marijuana while terminally ill. He said he hoped, with the state's adoption of it, more people would get help.
His advice to other physicians who are hesitant about medical cannabis is if other medications aren't helping a patient, give it a try and see if it helps. Wesson noted that cannabis was a good alternative to other, more dangerous medicines.
“It is an excellent substitute for opioids with substantial benefits, including decreased addictions, decreased deaths and minimal side effects,” he said.
When asked how many practicing physicians would likely adopt medical cannabis this year, Wesson said he did not expect many initially but that the number would grow as physicians became more comfortable using it.
“There will be a low number of doctors, but in five years, it will be accepted medically,” he said. “It’s going to take time. Time and perceptions have to change. (Medical cannabis) very much has medicinal value.”
Wesson’s former partner sees benefit but won't prescribe often
Optometrist Fred Watershed said he initially had some reservations about medical cannabis, but speaking with Wesson, who was his former business partner, changed his mind.
Mothershed said he planned to take the state’s continuing education course and register to prescribe medical cannabis. But despite interest in the state's process, he said he doesn’t expect to prescribe medical cannabis to his patients often, unless patients specifically ask.
“It is something I want to do even though I don’t foresee using it much,” he said. “There is no doubt that medical marijuana is going to help a lot of people that are in pain.”
Glaucoma is one of the 24 different qualifying conditions outlined by the state and the only condition specific to optometry. While Mothershed contends that multiple of his glaucoma patients confided in him about cannabis to manage symptoms, he said it was impractical as a treatment for the disease and could not be a substitute for other prescriptions or surgery.
“There may be some place for medical marijuana for glaucoma, but (a patient) would have to take it seven to eight times a day,” he said. “Even supplementally, I don’t see that happening very much. ...
"I’ll venture to guess I probably will never use it for glaucoma. But there is use for it with patients that have chronic pain or terminal illnesses.”
“There will be a low number of doctors, but in five years, it will be accepted medically. It’s going to take time. Time and perceptions have to change."
– Matthew Wesson, retired optometrist
Northeast Mississippi Medical Center
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We read in the New Testament about rugged old Peter who wrote about early Christians and the fire. He urged them not to be surprised at fiery trials as if they were something strange (1 Peter 4:12). Much of the Christian life is lived in the life.
Jesus endured the worst fire of all – the cross. Paul spent seven years in jail and then was beheaded. James was thrown into jail and then executed. Tradition tells us that all the 12, except John the Beloved, were martyred. John, himself, spent his last days as an old prisoner on the tiny island of Patmos.
The first 300 years of the Christian faith witnessed great waves of persecution by Rome. Trials came in like the tide and carried Christians out to the sea of eternity by the boatload.
Martin Luther spent his adult life kicked out of the Roman church and banned by the empire. Calvin was run out of Geneva. John Knox was chained to oars as a galley slave, just like Charleston Heston in “Ben Hur.” More Christians have died for the faith in the 20th century than any century since ancient times.
Yet, you and I think we are in the fire if someone at work jokes about us because we believe in Jesus. A snarky co-worker jokes that you talk to an invisible friend named Jesus. A godless cousin snips at you at Thanksgiving dinner, reminding you of fallen preachers and Christian fakes.
A partisan person mocks your faith in the midst of politics or a pandemic. The guys on a business trip mock you because you will not go to a strip joint. These are just little flames compared to the big fires of Christian history.
The harder fires are those of betrayal in your own home, devastating diagnoses and runaway kids. God never guaranteed you would not face flames and conflagrations. In fact, Jesus flatly said, “In this world, you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). He flat out promised it. You will live in a fire much of the time.
There is a falsehood in the Christian faith today. The counterfeit promises you’ll have health and wealth if you have enough faith – that is an outright lie. Ask Job, a man so righteous that God begged on Job to the Devil. Job lost his stuff, his kids and his own health. In the middle of that, he was surrounded by “friends” who told him it was all his own fault.
They threw gas on the fire. Yet, at the end of the book, it was God who stands with him in the fire. God bless Job at the end of the fire.
God has a purpose in your fire. It is to refine you in ways that nothing else can do. It takes fire to bring use, so it is also in life.
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Seeing’s how I get my teeth cleaned once every two months, I really don’t know my dental hygienist on a personal level. A couple of weeks ago, however, we made a pretty good connection by that one question that is the icebreaker of the summer so far – “Have you seen ‘Top Gun’ yet?”
Every so often, there are historic events that catch us by surprise and to that end, some people can say where they were when they heard about Elvis or Kurt Cobain dying. Icebreakers.
As sad as those surprising moments can sometimes be, it’s great to bond over things that get us all excited in a happier way.
Plenty of people can agree the last couple of years have made for some lackluster summers at the box office, but the blockbuster summer is back. Since COVID restrictions have cleared compared to the summers of ‘20 and ‘21, Hollywood studios are more prone to gamble on people returning to the theaters.
Even though the trend of releasing some movies directly to streaming is here to stay, there’s something about the movie theater experience that can’t be matched by a bag of microwave popcorn and a recliner at home.
The thrill of action scenes on the big screen and shrill roars on the surround sound add up to an experience you just can’t get at home. No matter how much of a drawback movie ticket prices can be, some memories are just worth it.
I remember hearing the family stories from back in 1977 when the first “Star Wars” came out. My grandfather stormed out of the theater mad to wait in the lobby because he knew nothing in the movie could actually happen in real life.
A few years later, I remember the big screen experience of “Return of the Jedi” sucking me into a world of imagination and a fan following I still can’t shake nearly 40 years later.
In my lifetime, there have been too many extraterrestrials, good guys, villains, car chases, catch phrases, explosions, tacky jokes, celebrity crushes and dance moves on the big screen to name. There’s no way to count how many still shots and soundbites of these movies are burned into my memory.
There’s something about that perfect comedic timing bringing out the tears, those jump scares making our hearts thump and clinching plot twists sticking in our heads for days that make us keep looking forward to the next time going to the movies.
When it comes to certain movies, don’t make a sequel, don’t make a prequel, don’t show me the deleted scenes. It’s perfect as is. Other movie franchises are timeless and will keep being remade again and again.
I’ve learned when it comes to really good remakes, it takes the right cinematic magic. This year, I’ve learned by watching newer versions of “Ghostbusters” and “Top Gun” that bringing some of the original creators and cast back captures that magic.
If you’re of a certain age, ‘80s movies were about as good as it got. When we were too young to drive and stay out all night, there were Friday nights going to rent movies and HBO Saturday night premieres that made anything else seem less interesting.
When spend the night parties were accentuated with trips to the movies, you and your friends argued about who would portray who when it came to playing out the movie when you got home. It’s that kind of spirit that sold the action figures then and makes us get giddy when the remakes are done right all these years later.
The only spoiler alert I’ll give about the new “Top Gun” is you’re probably going to want to see it again. The only lasting impression of the conversation with my dental hygienist is how before the new “Top Gun” came out, her 72-year-old mother hadn’t gone to the movies since “Smokey and the Bandit” came out in 1977.
Even though it may take decades for the movies to come along that get most everyone to talking, take advantage of those icebreakers with complete strangers when you can. Some things – no matter if it’s movies about dinosaurs, superheroes or true stories – are a given when it comes to what we watch.
As different as our opinions may sometimes be, we’ve always got what entertains us to bring us together in one common language. It may be movie quotes or it may be quotes explaining your own excitement but say whatever it is.
The blockbuster summer is back. Go to the movies, enjoy it and tell somebody about it.
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In total, 14 states have doled out some type of stimulus or rebate, and many others are pondering such a move. Many states are saying they are providing the funds to help with the high price of gasoline.
Reeves recently touted on social media that effective July 1 the largest tax cut in Mississippi history would go into effect. Technically it did. The last line of House Bill 531, known as the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act and authored by Speaker Philip Gunn, says the legislation goes into effect July 1, 2022.
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If any of that sounds familiar, it should. Every time there's a mass shooting in this country — which, as a functional matter, pretty much means every day — those are the kinds of explanations routinely offered in the aftermath. A simple trip to the store, seeing a movie, going to school — or, as was the case last week in Highland Park, north of Chicago, going to a parade — ends up in carnage, and reporters dutifully waylay the shooter's parents, teachers and friends to ask how this could have happened. And the portrait emerges.
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