Man stabbed during fight at Head Start graduation

News Briefs From Across The State

By Monica Land

Victim stabbed in the face

Authorities are searching for a man who allegedly stabbed a family member Tuesday during an altercation that started at the PACE Head Start graduation at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Head Start Director Peggy Ainsworth tells the Hattiesburg American she was not aware of the incident at the time it occurred.

Southern Miss Police Chief Bob Hopkins said authorities have identified the suspect and will release his name when a warrant is obtained for his arrest.

Hopkins said a fight between the suspect and the relative started about 11 a.m. May 8, inside Reed Green Coliseum. Police broke up the fight, but it resumed outside the building. That’s when the suspect allegedly stabbed his cousin in the face, authorities said.

Hopkins said the injuries were not life-threatening.

Tupelo intersection to be closed on Saturday

The intersection of Westmoreland Drive and South Gloster Street will be closed Saturday, May 12. Crews will shut down the intersection to install a drainage line.

The work is part of the South Gloster Street expansion and the intersection will be closed from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday.

Drivers will need to take another route around the work area.

Man drowns while wade-fishing on sand bar

Authorities said a 66-year-old man from Sugarland, Texas, drowned Tuesday in the Mississippi Sound while fishing with friends south of Pass Christian.

Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove tells The Sun Herald Gregory L. Stoerner and his friends were fishing on the Biloxi charter boat ‘Double Trouble’ on May 8 and the boat stopped at a sand bar known as a popular fishing spot for trout and redfish.

Hargrove said Stoerner’s friends saw him get out of the boat to go wade-fishing and then saw him floating face-down in the water.

Hargrove said the sand bar is known for its drop-offs.

Man dies in Jones County crash

A 33-year old man was killed Monday night in a fiery one-vehicle crash in Ovett in Jones County.

The Hattiesburg American reports that John Williams was traveling north on a local road in a Jeep Cherokee when he apparently lost control in a curve. The vehicle flipped over several times and burst into flames, authorities said.

Williams was thrown from the vehicle, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Jones County Deputy Coroner Burl Hall said Williams had lived in Gonzales, La., but was staying with his mother, who lived less than a mile from the accident site.

Armed robber gets 50-year prison term

A judge has ordered a 50-year prison term for a Biloxi man who admitted to three armed robberies of two stores to fund his addiction to prescription drugs.

The Sun Herald reports 27-year-old Kraig Laurence Funderburk II said the weapon was an Airsoft gun, which shoots plastic pellets, but prosecutors said the gun seemed plenty real to those he robbed.

Funderburk enter a guilty plea on Monday, May 7, and was sentenced.

Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson suspended 35 years and ordered him to serve 15 years day-for-day.

If he violates probation after his release, Funderburk will be required to serve the full 50 years.

Interim schools chief named in New Albany

Jackie Ford will serve as the interim superintendent of the New Albany School District while the search continues for a permanent schools chief.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports Ford’s appointment for up to a year was approved on Monday night by the School Board.

He replaces Charles Garrett, who retired to take a position with the Wellspring Center for Professional Futures.

Ford has been New Albany’s assistant superintendent for seven years.

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