News – Page 468 – The Mississippi Link

American Railcar Industries expanding operations into Brookhaven

Governor Phil Bryant, local officials and officials from American Railcar Industries (ARI) announced this month that the company is expanding its presence in southwest Mississippi by locating a railcar maintenance facility in Brookhaven in Lincoln County.

The company has had operations in Bude since 1974.

The new Brookhaven facility, which will complement the activities of the Bude location, represents a company investment of $7 million and will create 30 new jobs.
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Free oral cancer screening set for Monday and Tuesday

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Mississippi has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, with 26 percent of its residents lighting up regularly. But even non-smokers should be aware of the warning signs for oral cancer.

For that reason, physicians and dentists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Oral Oncology Clinic urge everyone to take advantage of the free oral screenings to be on Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, as part of Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The oral-screening event will be held at the clinic’s location in the Thad C. Cochran Jackson Medical Mall Thad C. Cochran Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. People interested in signing up for a screening are asked to call 601-815-1181. […]

Children’s book festival honors authors and others with awards

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Jon Scieszka sees himself simply as an author supplying the material needed by teachers and librarians “who go to work every day” to inspire their students and other young people to read.

“My job’s easy,” Scieszka said. “I just sit in my office and write, but they’re the ones in the trenches motivating kids to want to be readers.”

Scieszka is the author of the acclaimed The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. He was on The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus this week to receive the top honor given at the annual Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival, the Southern Miss Medallion. […]

President Nabors recruits Dr. Charlie Barnett to MDCC

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Mississippi Delta Community College recently welcomed Dr. Charlie Barnett as its new Assistant to the President, the Delta Business Journal said.

Dr. Barnett has a rich, qualified history in community college leadership. Most recently, he served as the Dean of Instruction for Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, MS from the summer of 2007 until his recent retirement in December 2012. Barnett previously served Itawamba Community College as the Tech Prep Coordinator (2005-2007) and Northwest Mississippi Community College as a Mathematics Instructor (1988-2004).

“I am very excited to have Dr. Barnett on board at MDCC,” said Dr. Larry Nabors. “He is an experienced college administrator who is very student oriented and he will be a real asset to Mississippi Delta. He is already hard at work on improving our recruiting efforts and our freshman orientation experience.” […]

Miss. governor says he'll sign DUI ignition bill

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Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant intends to sign a bill aimed at strengthening laws against drunken driving, his spokesman said Monday.

The response from the Republican governor came the same day the American Beverage Institute, based in Washington, D.C., urged Bryant to veto House Bill 481.

The group said it represents 80 Mississippi restaurants. It said if the bill becomes law, it would be expensive to enforce and would create too much work for Mississippi probation officers.

The bill is expected to hit Bryant’s desk in the next several days. With his signature, the bill will become law July 1, 2014. […]

Funk Brothers get star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Grenada native and Motown superstar Eddie “Chank” Willis and Jack Ashford of the Funk Brothers were recently honored for their musical contributions with a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“We are happy to honor The Funk Brothers on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!” stated Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Leron Gubler. “Many of us grew up with their amazing hit songs which they performed with some of the biggest stars of Motown!”

Gubler and guest speakers Stevie Wonder, Ray Parker Jr. and Mickey Stevenson helped The Funk Brothers unveil the 2,493rd Star in the Category of Recording at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard across from the Live Nation Building. […]

MDOC commissioner Epps honored for leadership

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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. […]

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

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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.
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Former Mendenhall police chief arrested for witness tampering

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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. […]

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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