August 2013 – Page 7 – The Mississippi Link

Miss. in 2014 to remember Freedom Summer of 1964

August 5, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

Mississippi civil-rights activists are preparing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer in 2014. Some say race relations might’ve improved, but people must remain vigilant to protect voting rights.

“The struggle to make democracy work still continues,” Frank Figgers, vice chairman of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement Inc., said Friday at Tougaloo College in Jackson.

In 1964, thousands of people descended on Mississippi to help with voter registration and to provide education programs for black residents who had been systematically denied full rights as citizens. The work was dangerous. […]

Madison attorney sentenced in bankruptcy fraud scheme

August 5, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

Michael E. Earwood, 61, an attorney from Madison, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bankruptcy fraud, federal officials said.

Earwood was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $792,228.53.

Earwood previously pled guilty to devising and executing a scheme to obtain money from a business partner by falsely representing that the money would be used to maintain real property owned by Kinwood Capitol Group. […]

Woman held without bond in toddler’s death

August 2, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

A Hinds County woman is being held without bond after being charged with capital murder in the death of her 1-year-old son. Tiffany Michelle Menifield remains behind bars at the Hinds County Detention Center after appearing in court on Saturday, July 27.

Menfield, 25, who lives in the 600 block of Hampton Circle in Jackson, was charged after her son, Tyree McDonald, died on Sunday, July 18 at UMC Hospital. […]

Vendor charged with taking contraband to prison

August 2, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

A 26-year-old Canton man has been released on a $50,000 bond after allegedly trying to smuggle drugs, alcohol, cell phones and other items into a correctional facility in Pearl.

Twenty-six-year-old James Brooks was released from jail Monday following his arrest on Friday, July 26. Brooks, a truck driver for a private vendor, was taken into custody after a search of the Stericycle truck he had driven to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility turned up the contraband.

MDOC officials discovered cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, 46 cell phones, 44 phone charges, an I-Pod, alcohol, 94 vacuumed packed bags of tobacco, 21 lighters, a pack of hearing aid batteries and 21 bags of yeast. […]

Nissan breaks ground on $50 million new supplier park

August 2, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

Nissan expanded its U.S. manufacturing footprint this week with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant joining Nissan employees to break ground on a reportedly one million square foot, $50 million new supplier park at the company’s Canton, Miss. vehicle assembly plant.

The project will support more than 800 jobs, including an expected 400 newly created supplier jobs as well as 400 employees that Nissan has hired since June 1 in anticipation of the project.

The State of Mississippi has reportedly given Nissan more than a billion dollars in incentives. […]

Food Network to feature ‘The Shed’ of Ocean Springs in new reality show

August 2, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

When Starkville-native Robbie Montgomery launched her “Welcome to Sweetie Pies” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), it quickly became one of their most successful shows to date. And now with the Food Network premiering The Shed this Sunday night, television viewers will get another look at how good old-fashioned Mississippi country cooking is done.

Based in Ocean Springs, The Shed, is the dreamchild of founders Brad Orrison and his sister, Brooke Lewis.

For the Orrison family, barbecuing isn’t simply a habit; it’s a way of life, the Food Network said in a release. This loveably quirky and offbeat bunch is known for their over-the-top personalities and offers food to match, specializing in finger-lickin’-good ribs and from-scratch barbecue sauce. […]

Myrlie Evers honored with National Urban League Civil Rights Award

August 1, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

The Alcorn family congratulates civil rights icon Myrlie Evers for being honored with the National Urban League Civil Rights Award. Mrs. Evers, who serves as Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Alcorn State University, accepted the award at the 2013 National Urban League Conference held July 24-27, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“We are extremely proud for Professor Myrlie Evers for adding another coveted award to her array of honors,” stated Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II. “We are grateful for everything Mrs. Evers is doing for the nation and for her invaluable contribution as faculty at Alcorn.” […]

Panel: 1/5th of child deaths in 2011 preventable

August 1, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

More than one-fifth of all childhood deaths in Mississippi could have been prevented, a state panel says.

The Child Death Review Panel looked at 229 of the 610 child deaths reported statewide in 2011. It found that 134 of those deaths – about 22 percent of the 610 – were preventable.

Seventy-five of the deaths were the result of motor vehicle accidents. […]

Mississippi gets funds for anti-obesity program

August 1, 2013 Kermit Comments Off

The Mississippi State Department of Health will receive $8.5 million over the next five years to help combat obesity and chronic disease across the state.

State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier said in a news release that the funds come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Currier says the money will support a comprehensive, statewide approach to promoting health and controlling and preventing chronic diseases and their risk factors. […]