2013 – Page 40 – The Mississippi Link

Macon minister gets new trial in statutory rape of 13-year-old

A new trial has been ordered for a now 78-year-old minister serving 20 years for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.

R.C. Hibbler was convicted in 2005 for having sex with a girl who came over to his house to play with his twin daughters.

Prosecutors previously filed an appeal to reinstate the statutory rape conviction after the State Court of Appeals last fall ordered a new trial in the case. The Supreme Court denied that motion last week. […]

Jones and Totten to be honored at Legends Reception

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Former Mississippi Valley State quarterback Willie Totten and the late defensive lineman David “Deacon” Jones will be two of five former HBCU standouts to be honored Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. at the MEAC/SWAC Legends Reception in Orlando, hosted by ESPN.

The Legends Award was established in 2009 to pay tribute to extraordinary alumni who have used their respective MEAC and SWAC university education to bring excellence to their professional achievements and/or community service endeavors whether local, statewide, nationally or globally.
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Entergy Donates $50k to Washington County

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On June 11, Entergy celebrated 90 years in business with a luncheon held in Greenville, one of the Mississippi communities where Entergy got its start. At the event, Entergy Mississippi President Haley Fisackerly saluted outgoing board member Billy Percy for his 14 years of service on the Entergy board.

Fisackerly mentioned to the audience that Percy’s father had also served on the board when the company was known as Mississippi Power & Light and that out of 90 years in business, the Percys had collectively served 42 years on the board.
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Man dies in fall from bait boat near Horn Island

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Authorities are investigating the death of a Pascagoula man who fell off a commercial bait boat south of Horn Island.

Melissa Scallan, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, says 44-year-old Jeffery “Chickenwing” Lee was one of 12 people on a 45-foot commercial boat from CC’s Live Bait of Pascagoula.

Company employees had taken the boat to Horn Island on Thursday for an Independence Day celebration. Lee had worked for the company as a deck hand for about a year. […]

Anti-drug initiative loses funding

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Washington County has lost funding for its community anti-drug program that has operated for 25 years.

Audine Hayes, executive director of the Anti-Drug Community Partnership RADAR Center, tells the Delta Democrat Times that the Mississippi Department of Mental Health chose to close it down by the end of summer due to budget cuts.

Hayes said the RADAR Center began as a 12-person task force comprised of Hayes, law enforcement officials, business professionals and school administrators who chose to take a proactive approach in changing the lives of youth in the Delta. That 12-person group eventually expanded to more than 150. […]

Preschoolers offered free summer meal program

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For as long as many can remember, the Petal and Hattiesburg school districts have provided free meals during the summers for children 18 years and younger, and this summer is no exception.

The districts are just a few of the more than 150 feeding sites across the state offering free breakfast and lunch to children up to 18 during the summer.

Last year was the first year free dinner was offered by a location in the Petal School District. This year, free dinner will be offered again at Petal Upper Elementary School.

Danny Dillistone, child nutrition director for Petal School District, said Petal has been serving free meals with the Summer Food Service Program for more than 11 years. […]

It’s time for authentic festivals and fairs in ‘The True South’

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One of the great traditions of summer in the True South is to attend an outdoor festival or fair for a taste of the diverse cultural heritage displayed across Mississippi.

Many of these are annual events that draw locals and visitors alike to enjoy long-standing traditions.

“Throughout the summer, there are so many unique festivals and fairs taking place in communities across Mississippi that showcase the authentic sights and sounds of our state’s Southern culture.” said Malcolm White, director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division.“ Now is a great time to plan a trip and experience the True South’s most interesting events of the summer.” […]

Louisiana man killed on I-10 in south Mississippi

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A Louisiana man was killed late Friday when he was standing on Interstate 10 in south Mississippi and was struck by an eastbound sport utility vehicle.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Cpl. Jason Gazzo says 30-year-old Demarcus K. Williams of Pineville, La., had pulled over and parked a Ford Explorer on the right side of the interstate, about two miles east of the Louisiana state line.

At about 10:30 p.m. Friday, Williams was struck by a 2007 Cadillac Escalade driven by a Florida man.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. […]

Air base construction ahead of schedule

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Columbus Air Force Base officials say construction of a center runway is ahead of its projected late-August completion target.

The Commercial Dispatch reports the work began in March and officials say it is about two-third complete.

The $31.29-million project is the most extensive overhaul to the two-mile runway since it was built in 1959.
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State’s first West Nile Virus death reported in Montgomery County

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The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first West Nile virus death for 2013, along with two new human cases. The death was in Montgomery County – in Duck Hill – and the new reported cases are in Forrest and Wayne counties.

Tuesday’s report brings the state total for 2013 to six cases, including one death. This time last year there were no reported deaths from WNV in Mississippi.

So far this year, cases have been reported in Madison, Forrest (2), Wayne, Lowndes and Montgomery counties. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. […]