Month: April 2013

Police Report

2 teenagers die in Lee County traffic accident

April 18, 2013 Kermit 0

Two teenagers died in a Sunday morning traffic accident in Lee County. Lee County Coroner Caroline Green identifies them as Gage Fidram, 17, and Jesse Witt, 17, both of Saltillo.

Sheriff Jim Johnson told WTVA that Witt was driving south on Busy Bottom Road when he left the roadway and collided with a tree.

Authorities say the accident occurred at approximately 4:38 a.m. It took more than an hour to extricate both individuals from the vehicle, Johnson says. […]

Statewide News

MDOC commissioner Epps honored for leadership

April 18, 2013 Kermit 0

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner (MDOC) Christopher B. Epps has been honored by one of Jackson’s most historic churches for his transformative and innovative leadership.

Epps was the recipient of Mount Helm Baptist Church Anchor Community Award in Government. He and seven other recipients were honored on March 29 at the 2013 Resurrection Gala and Community Anchor Awards Banquet at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. […]

Top Stories

Events planned for 50th anniversary of Medgar Evers’ death

April 17, 2013 Kermit 2

Myrlie Evers, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute (MMEI), has announced plans for a national commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of her late husband Medgar Evers, Mississippi civil rights pioneer.

Events sponsored by the Institute will begin Wednesday, June 5, in Washington, D. C., and culminate with a community celebration, and tribute gala in Jackson, on Wednesday, June 12. Joining Mrs. Evers in the announcement were representatives of community organizations helping to sponsor the activities and hosting their own events.

Reena Evers-Everette, daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers and executive director of the MMEI, announced that a memorial service will be held at her father’s gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery on June 5 at noon.
[…]

Top Stories

Registration open for Mississippi Young Professionals Summit in Meridian

April 17, 2013 Kermit 0

On April 25 and 26, 2013, the Mississippi Young Professionals (MSYP) will host the MSYP 2013 Summit, Rethink Mississippi: No Suits, No PowerPoints, No Bull, at the Mississippi State University Riley Center, located at 2200 Fifth Street in downtown Meridian.

The event, coordinated by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), will launch the first year of MSYP, a non-profit organization designed to connect the state’s existing young professionals and YP organizations in order to create a network that will develop, empower and retain young professionals in Mississippi. MSYP’s 19-member board is comprised of business leaders in their 20s, 30s and 40s from each region of the state. […]

Education

Myrlie Evers brings message of peace, justice and dialogue to Millsaps

April 17, 2013 Kermit 1

Civil rights icon Myrlie Evers filled the Robert and Dee Leggett Special Events Center in the A. Boyd Campbell College Center on Friday. April 5 for the 2013 Rabbi Perry Nussbaum Lecture Series, urging students to embrace and recognize the history of social justice at Millsaps College, while remembering her past in the capital city. 

“Millsaps has stood tall since the very beginning of (civil rights) dialogue sessions in Mississippi,” she said. “For those of you that are students here, enjoy each and every moment and take in all the knowledge that is provided to you.”

The lecture series, which is dedicated to men and women who have stood against racial bigotry and religious prejudice, was endowed by Dr. John D. Bower, a renal pioneer, in 2008 in honor of Nussbaum, rabbi at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson from 1954 until 1974.
[…]

Statewide News

Former Mendenhall police chief arrested for witness tampering

April 17, 2013 Kermit 0

Donald “Bruce” Barlow, 50, who served as the Mendenhall, Mississippi chief of police until Oct. 2010, has been arrested by special agents of the FBI.

The arrest took place on March 7, around 12 p.m. at his residence in Mendenhall pursuant to an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

While federal officials would not release the details of the allegations against Barlow, they said he is charged with extortion and witness tampering. The arrest follows an investigation by the FBI, with support from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office. […]

Top Stories

Reception set to honor Dr. Vivian Presley’s 38 years at CCC

April 16, 2013 Kermit 1

With the approaching retirement of Dr. Vivian Presley as president of Coahoma Community College (CCC), a number of activities celebrating her 38 years at CCC have been planned during the week of April 16 through April 20, according to Rosemary Lamb, vice president of institutional effectiveness.

Dr. Presley will retire at the end of June, and Dr. Valmadge Towner of Marks has been named CCC’s fifth president by the CCC Board of Trustees.

Dr. Towner, who is director of pupil services for the Desoto County School District, is an alumnus of Coahoma and a former trustee of the college.

“Dr. Towner is an outstanding administrator who has been closely associated with the college for many years; we look forward to welcoming him home as Coahoma’s new president,” commented McGlown. […]

Top Stories

Harper and Bounds to speak at JSU’s 2013 spring commencement activities

April 16, 2013 Kermit 0

Actor and author Hill Harper and IHL Commissioner Dr. Hank Bounds will be the speakers for Jackson State University’s spring commencement exercises May 3 and 4.

Harper will address undergraduates during the ceremony at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. Bounds will speak at the graduate exercises at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on the university’s main campus.

More than 1,000 students will celebrate the completion of their undergraduate and graduate degrees during the exercises. […]

Top Stories

Starkville man killed in two-vehicle crash

April 15, 2013 Kermit 0

A Starkville man was killed Saturday morning after colliding with another vehicle on Highway 45 Alternate.

Walter Sykes, 77, was attempting to enter the northbound lane from a private drive when he was hit by a 2009 Toyota 4-Runner driven by 26-year-old Meredith McClure, WTVA reported.

The impact caused Sykes’ vehicle to overturn throwing him from his 2002 Ford Ranger truck. Sykes was not wearing a seatbelt. […]