June 2013 – The Mississippi Link

Southern Miss Quintet Chosen for National Festival

June 28, 2013 Kermit 0

The Southern Quintet, composed of students from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music, has been accepted to attend the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival held at The Julliard School in New York City July 28 – Aug. 8.

The 11-day festival hosts advanced and professional musicians, ensembles and composers from all across the country and abroad to perform and be mentored by Imani Winds, a Grammy Award-nominated wind quintet known for their legacy of innovative music. The Southern Quintet is the first student chamber group from Southern Miss to be accepted to the festival.

“This is an exceptional honor and wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Michael Miles, director of the School of Music at Southern Miss. […]

Funeral services held for Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland in Memphis

June 28, 2013 Kermit 2

Funeral services for soul-blues singer Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland were held Thursday, June 27, at First Baptist Church at 2835 Broad Ave., in Memphis.

Bland, a distinguished singer who blended Southern blues and soul in songs such as “Turn on Your Love Light” and “Further On Up the Road,” died Sunday. He was 83.

Rodd Bland said his father died due to complications from an ongoing illness at his Memphis home. He was surrounded by relatives. […]

Petal woman arrested for exploiting elderly woman

June 28, 2013 Kermit 0

A Petal woman has been arrested for allegedly making herself the power of attorney for an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s and taking her money illegally.

Deloris Gordon, 70, also known as Deloris Gatlin, was arrested Tuesday, June 26, by the Forrest County Sheriff’s Office and charged with one count of a vulnerable adult.

Attorney General Jim Hood said investigators the Vulnerable Adult Unit presented the case to the Grand Jury alleging that Gordan signed papers naming herself to have Power of Attorney over the affairs of an elderly woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and subsequently took money that was intended for the victim. […]

Bryant: Medicaid special session starts Thursday

June 27, 2013 Kermit 0

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said Monday that he’s calling lawmakers into special session at 10 a.m. Thursday to keep the state’s Medicaid program alive and funded once the new state fiscal year begins July 1.

The Republican is not asking lawmakers to expand Medicaid, which is an option under the federal health care law that President Barack Obama signed in 2010.

Many Democrats have been pushing to expand Medicaid or to allow low-income working people to use federal subsidies to buy insurance on the private market.
However, Republican leaders say the state can’t afford to add another 300,000 people to Medicaid, and they don’t want to increase people’s dependence on government programs. […]

4 arrested for beating Gulfport man

June 27, 2013 Kermit 0

A 19-year-old Gulfport man was severely beaten after authorities said he tried to break up a fight between two females.

Gulfport police said Jairus King was allegedly assaulted on June 2 at the Magnolia State Apartments in the 1000 block of West Birch Drive. Reportedly, King was trying to stop the fight when the four alleged assailants misunderstood what he was doing.

King was kicked and knocked unconscious, The Sun Herald reported. Gulfport police said his injuries required surgery. […]

Swagger convicted in Gulfport city court

June 27, 2013 Kermit 0

Professional wrestler Jack Swagger has been convicted in Gulfport Municipal Court on charges of driving under the influence and speeding.

Swagger, whose real name is Donald Jacob “Jake” Hager Jr., was arrested just before midnight Feb. 19 in Gulfport. Swagger had just completed taping the TV show “WWE SmackDown” in Biloxi at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. […]

Two officers arrested in conspiracy to transfer drugs

June 26, 2013 Kermit 0

Two former Columbia police officers have been arrested for conspiracy to transfer controlled substances, Attorney General Jim Hood said Tuesday.

“Drug dealing is a scourge to our communities and families,” Hood said. “It is especially disturbing when law enforcement officers are charged with violating the very laws they are sworn to uphold.”

Michael Steven Bullock, 35, of Hattiesburg and Herbert Cocroft, 45, of Sumrall were arrested Monday, June 24, at their respective homes after indictment by the Marion County Grand Jury. Bullock was indicted on two counts of conspiracy to transfer controlled substances, and Cocroft was indicted on one count. […]

Hankins Lumber Company re-opening in Grenada

June 26, 2013 Kermit 0

Officials from Hankins Lumber Company announced this week that the company is reopening its facility in Grenada following a 15-month closure due to the downturn in the economy.

The project represents a $1.5 million investment and is creating 120 jobs, many of which will be filled by former employees working at the facility when it closed.

A producer of southern yellow pine products, Hankins Lumber Company produces and supplies a variety of lumber and related products for commercial and residential clients throughout Mississippi, as well as the country’s retail and wholesale markets. […]

Grammy Museum groundbreaking at Delta State

June 26, 2013 Kermit 0

– A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Grammy Museum was held at Delta State’s Derrall Foreman Golf Course near Highway 8 in Cleveland on Tuesday, June 11.

The event was organized by Cleveland Music Foundation.

Gov. Phil Bryant presented a check for $2 million to the project. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Sen. Willie Simmons were scheduled to speak. Deputy Director of Grammy Museum at L.A. Live in Los Angeles Rita George was also scheduled to address the crowd. […]

Coroner: Police kill gunman at Lexington church

June 25, 2013 Kermit 0

Police fatally shot the son of a church deacon Sunday morning after they were called to a church when members of the congregation started arguing over the firing of a pastor, authorities said.

Cacedrick White, 26, arrived with a shotgun and fired it once in the parking lot while police were at the church in Lexington, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain said. A Lexington police officer fired back three times, wounding White. He died at a hospital.

Strain said no one else was injured or arrested. […]