2013 – Page 59 – The Mississippi Link

Former Mendenhall police chief arrested for witness tampering

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. […]

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

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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. […]

Bolivar County nurse arrested for taking drugs from hospice patients

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A Bolivar County nurse has been arrested and charged with taking drugs from patients at the hospice center where she worked.

Linda T. Kittle, 56, of Cleveland, a registered nurse (RN) and formerly Director of Nursing at Grace Community Hospice in Hollandale, turned herself in to Bolivar County authorities on March 25.
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Harper and Bounds to speak at JSU’s 2013 spring commencement activities

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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. […]

Starkville man killed in two-vehicle crash

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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. […]

Legal assistance offered April 16 in DeSoto County family law cases

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A legal clinic scheduled for April 16 in Hernando will assist low income people with irreconcilable differences divorces, child support or custody modifications, name changes and other similar cases in DeSoto County Chancery Court.

The 4 to 8 p.m. pro se clinic will be held at the DeSoto County Courthouse. People seeking assistance must contact the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project in advance to be screened for eligibility. The phone number is 601-960-9577.

Participation is limited to DeSoto County residents with an annual income of less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level. That would be annual income of less than $13,963 for an individual, or less than $28,813 a year for a family of four. […]

4th lawsuit filed against JSU athletics director

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The athletics director of Jackson State University is now facing four federal lawsuits related to allegations that she sexually harassed an assistant and fired other employees who supported the woman.

The first lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in August by Lolita Ward, who says Athletic Director Vivian Fuller subjected her to inappropriate comments, gestures and touching in 2011.

The lawsuit claims Ward was subjected to a hostile work environment and fired in October 2011 after rejecting the advances. […]

Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary attends rural job event

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In late March, Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Doug O’Brien met with local and regional officials to discuss ways USDA can help businesses create jobs and stimulate local economies.

The United States Department of Agriculture remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty.

“I am proud to support and highlight the great work under way here to bring economic opportunity to Mississippi’s rural communities,” O’Brien said during a Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator event at Mississippi State University. “Public-private partnerships are some of the best ways to leverage resources for job creation and business development.” […]

Coroner: Man shot self twice after killing officer

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The murder suspect who killed a detective at police headquarters in Mississippi’s capital city last week shot himself twice in the head after shooting the officer four times, the coroner said Tuesday.

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said 23-year-old Jeremy Powell shot himself once in the side of the head and once under the chin after shooting veteran Jackson Police Detective Eric Smith four times on Thursday, April 4. Grisham-Stewart said last week that Powell had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

“It is unusual, but the first shot didn’t kill him,” the coroner said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Powell was being questioned about a stabbing death when he grabbed Smith’s gun during an interview on the third floor of the department and shot the 40-year-old detective twice in the arm and twice in the chest, authorities say. […]

Tornado rips through Noxubee and Kemper counties; 1 dead

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Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of Emergency Thursday for Kemper and Noxubee counties due to the impacts of severe storms and tornadoes that injured many and left one person dead.

A command post has been set up in downtown Shuqualak after a tornado ripped through the area around noon Thursday. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) director Robert Latham was in town as part of the effort to help following the tornado.

MEMA spokesman Greg Flynn says the fatality was reported west-northwest of DeKalb, near Mississippi Highway 493, in Kemper County. […]