News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Candidate will replace Dickie Sistrunk who retired in July
The board of alderman has interviewed eight applicants for police chief in Philadelphia.
Mayor James A. Young tells the Neshoba Democrat that the candidates were “very positive, very professional and presented themselves very well” to the board.
The eight, interviewed last week during an executive session, included the current assistant chief and two other officers currently on the force.
The new chief will succeed Dickie Sistrunk who retired in July.
Assistant Police Chief Julian Greer has been overseeing the department since Sistrunk retired. He was among those interviewed. Young says the candidates include police officers Larry Smith and William “Bill” Cox.
Young says there is no timetable for making a decision on the new chief.
Fire destroys abandoned home in Sherman
Sherman and Southeast Union fire departments were called out Sunday afternoon for an abandoned house fire in Sherman.
The abandoned structure was less than 50 yards from a home nearby but no one was injured in the blaze.
Firefighters say that when they arrived the house was fully involved and posed a threat to the surrounding wooded area, but were able to subdue the fire very quickly.
“We got the call around 5:30 p.m. It was a fully-involved structure fire,” said Sherman Fire Chief Brad McMurry. “It was abandoned. We’re going through looking for hot spots and we’re going to do a thorough search just to make sure the house is completely cleared before we leave.”
No word yet on what caused the fire.
Residents say there was no electrical power to the structure.
Training center to open in October
Southwest Mississippi Community College is preparing for an Oct. 22 finishing date for its $6.5 million work force training center.
The Enterprise-Journal reports that the 32,000-square foot facility is designed to provide advanced skills training to a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, emergency medical, public works, law enforcement and other first responders.
SMCC President Dr. Steve Bishop says the school received a $4.8 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to help fund the facility.
Bishop says the training center is geared toward adults who are employed and want to enhance their skills or learn new skills.
Classes at the new center are expected to begin the first of the year.
Bishop said an open house will be held in January or February.
Walls receives new fire rating
The fire ratings for the town of Walls and its fire district have improved to the lowest rates in the town’s history.
Walls Fire Chief Mike Hancock tells The Commercial Appeal the town’s rating dropped from a 7 to a 6. He says the Walls fire district rating has also dropped from an 8 to 7.
Hancock says the lower ratings are due to better fire equipment, manpower in the fire department, training and water supply.
He says the lowered ratings means homeowners and businesses will save money on their residential and commercial insurance.
He says lowered fire ratings could save residents 1 percent to 8 percent a year on their homeowners insurance while business owners could see a 5 percent to eight percent savings.
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