News Briefs From Across The State
Truck used in thefts found abandoned
Gulfport Police said a vehicle, possibly used in the theft of two ATM machines, was found abandoned and they need the public’s help in searching for the suspects.
Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford said he believes two suspects were seen in a white 1999 Ford F-150 pick up truck with “Designs Precast and Paint” on the side. The suspects were seen between the dates of Dec. 22 and Dec. 27, 2011.
After the vehicle was reported stolen, it was found abandoned in the 200 block of 32 ½ Street. Weatherford said the vehicle may have been used in two separate burglaries where ATM machines were stolen. One of the burglaries occurred on Dec. 22, 2011 at Pure Country located at 10166 Lorraine Road and the second occurred on Dec. 27, 2011 at the Harrison County Courthouse.
Anyone with information can contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or CrimeStoppers at 1-877-787-5898.
Wiggins woman dies in crash
Authorities said a 41-year-old Wiggins woman died in a one-vehicle accident Oil Well Road.
Stone County sheriff’s Lt. Lewis Husband told The Sun Herald Jennie Rebecca Roper died when her car overturned into a culvert around 11:35 a.m. Monday.
Roper was pronounced dead at the scene. Husband said she was wearing a seat belt.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Natchez borrows $350K to make payroll
The city of Natchez has borrowed $350,000 of its $400,000 tax-anticipation loan since December to help cover payroll expenses.
City Clerk Donnie Holloway told The Natchez Democrat the city originally budgeted for the $400,000 tax-anticipation loan, but he said the city will not need the additional $50,000.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen approved taking out the loan for this fiscal year in early October.
The city received the loan, which is distributed in chunks as needed, from Trustmark National Bank at a 1.84 percent interest rate.
Holloway said the loan is needed to meet financial obligations until the city receives ad valorem taxes.
He said the loan is used solely to cover the city’s payroll for employees. He said $255,000 is paid out for payroll twice a month.
Ex-cop cleared of child abuse charge
A Harrison County grand jury has declined to indict a former Gulfport police officer and his girlfriend on a charge of felony child abuse involving the woman’s son.
Adam Dedeaux, a nine-year veteran of the Gulfport Police Department, and Kristen Eason, were arrested in May 2011 after a New Orleans hospital notified local authorities of a possible child-abuse case involving Eason’s son, then 2 years old.
Dedeaux’s attorney, Wayne Woodall, said the complaint was unfounded, and the Department of Human Services “ran amok” and assumed the toddler had been abused.
Woodall says Dedeaux wants to return to work in law enforcement but has been waiting for the charge to be resolved.
Miss. sailor’s July death reclassified after probe
More than five months after a Mississippi sailor died in Bahrain, the Navy has reclassified his death as one in support of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
The Defense Department said 35-year-old Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson of Rolling Fork died July 18 on work to support Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a master-at-arms assigned to Naval Security Force Bahrain.
No other details were released.
The Navy Times reported that Johnson died in a motorcycle accident that was not originally considered part of the operation. It quotes Jen Stride, a Navy spokeswoman in Bahrain, as saying a continuing review found that Johnson was directly supporting the invasion.
Jackson gets LED traffic lights
The city of Jackson’s traffic signals are going green – even the red and yellow lights.
The Clarion-Ledger reports that Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced Tuesday a $2.2 million project to replace thousands of traffic lights at 324 intersections with energy-efficient LED bulbs that are better for the environment. He estimated the new bulbs will save the city $240,000 a year in electricity and operational costs — or $3.6 million over their 15-year life span.
City spokesman Chris Mims says the bulbs also are expected to reduce the city’s carbon footprint by 2.8 million pounds each year. That’s the equivalent of taking around 235 cars off the road.
Mims says the project will be paid for by a U.S. Department of Energy grant program funded by the federal stimulus package.
Lauderdale Co. shutting down detention center
Lauderdale County officials are moving to shut down their youth detention facility.
The Board of Supervisors approved the move Tuesday at the recommendation of Sheriff Billy Sollie, who took over the juvenile detention center in October at the request of Youth Court judges who had fielded complaints about conditions.
The board created a committee to begin negotiations with Rankin County to house Lauderdale’s youthful offenders.
The decision drew praise from Jody Owens, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Jackson, which had sued Lauderdale County over the facility. He said he’s pleased the county is pursuing alternatives and realizes it “can no longer violate the constitutional rights of children.”
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