December 2012 – Page 8 – The Mississippi Link

Two men plead guilty to hate crimes against blacks

December 6, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

William Kirk Montgomery, 23, from Puckett and Jonathan K. Gaskamp, 20, from Brandon, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Jackson to conspiracy and federal hate crime charges in connection with their roles in the assault of African-Americans.

The Justice Department said defendants Deryl Paul Dedmon, 20; John Aaron Rice, 19; and Dylan Wade Butler, 21, all from Brandon have previously entered guilty pleas in connection with their roles in these offenses. […]

Ex-coach charged with sex with student

December 6, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

Authorities said a former assistant coach at two Rankin County schools has been charged with gratification of lust and of sexual battery. They said the charges are related to allegedly inappropriate contact with a student.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said that 27-year-old Matthew Wilder had worked at McLaurin Attendance Center and Florence Middle School. […]

AP: Exchange student sponsor out over abuse claims

December 6, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

An organization has lost its government designation to bring foreign exchange students to the United States after facing allegations of mismanagement and lax oversight that included students being placed in homes where they were sexually abused.

State Department spokeswoman Susan Pittman told The Associated Press that Pacific Intercultural Exchange, or PIE, was removed from the department’s list of official sponsors. […]

Wide load to move across the state today

December 5, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) would like to inform motorists of a wide load that will move through the state today.

Today, Dec. 5, a wide load will depart Holly Springs and travel south on Highway 7 to U.S. Highway 78 to Olive Branch. […]

Scruggs to be released from prison Dec. 12

December 5, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

Federal prison officials say Richard “Dickie” Scruggs will be released Dec. 12.

Scruggs will be granted a release on $2 million bond while he appeals a 2009 guilty plea that he improperly influenced then Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter. […]

Grenada metal stamping plant adding 35 jobs

December 5, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

Officials at Ice Industries Grenada said they are adding 35 jobs and investing $500,000 in an expansion.

The unit of privately-held ICE Industries of Sylvania, Ohio, says it’s expanding engineering, testing and manufacturing at the north Mississippi metal stamping plant, The Clarion-Ledger reports. […]

MDCC names Dr. Larry Nabors as next president

December 5, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

The Mississippi Delta Community College Board of Trustees announced that Dr. Larry Nabors, Executive Vice President at Northeast Mississippi Community College, has been named President of the College.

Nabors will replace interim president Dr. Lynda Steele who has held the position since June 1, 2012 following the retirement of Dr. Larry Bailey. […]

Gulfport man killed after colliding car into tree

December 4, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

A 67-year-old Gulfport man is dead after officials said he collided with a tree on Highway 90 late Saturday night. Jimmie Jamison was pronounced dead at Memorial Hospital after being transported from the scene, Gulfport police said.

Officers responded about 11:19 p.m. to Highway 90 adjacent to Roberts Avenue regarding a single-vehicle accident. […]

High school obesity rate drops in Miss. students

December 4, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

Mississippi’s obesity rate in high school students has dropped, knocking the state’s teens out of the number one spot down to number five in obesity nationwide.

A 2011 survey finds the rate of obesity among Mississippi high school students down to 16.5 percent from 18.1 percent in 2009. […]

'Freak accident' leaves 2 Harrison Co. children severely burned

December 4, 2012 Kermit Comments Off

It was a freak accident that left two children with severe second and third degree burns all over their bodies. That’s how one family member describes the explosion at a home on Smith Road in Harrison County over the weekend.

Katelyn and Tyler Myers are being treated at a burn center in Augusta, Georgia. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, the children’s aunt talked to WLOX about the children’s physical injuries and the family’s own emotional agony. […]