Statewide News – Page 18 – The Mississippi Link

Louisiana man killed on I-10 in south Mississippi

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

Kermit 0

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.
[…]

State’s first West Nile Virus death reported in Montgomery County

Kermit 0

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. […]

Woman and granddaughter killed in crash

Kermit 0

WTVA is reporting that a Baldwyn woman and her granddaughter were killed in a car accident Saturday afternoon after a driver ran a stop sign forcing her car into traffic.

Deborah Hill, 59, died Saturday night about 8:34 p.m., and her granddaughter, 11-year-old Montana Roberts, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision on Highway 145 and Pratts/Friendship Road.

Lee County Coroner Carolyn said it appeared Hill was hit by a car coming toward Highway 145 that never stopped at the stop sign. The resulting hit pushed the car into oncoming traffic, WTVA reported. […]

Pickering to study viability of hospitals

Kermit 0

The office of State Auditor Stacey Pickering will be studying which community-owned hospitals in Mississippi are facing economic difficulties and why.

Pickering says he is concerned that some accessibility to health care will be lost if those hospitals can’t remain viable.

Pickering spoke last week to a forum hosted by Mississippi State University’s Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps.
[…]

Bodies of 6-year-old twins found in river

Kermit 0

Officials in Greene County have found the bodies of 6-year-old twin boys who fell into the Chickasawhay River last Saturday.

Greene County Emergency Manager Trent Robertson told WLOX-TV in Biloxi that one of the boys was found late Sunday night and the other around 5:30 a.m. Monday.

James Scott and Isaac William McGowan, who lived in the St. Ellen community in Leakesville, disappeared Saturday in the Chickasawhay River, on the southern part of Greene County. Robertson said a friend of the family saw the two boys stepping into a deep part of the river and being swept away by the current. […]

Nelson Mandela on life support, faces impending death

Kermit 0

Nelson Mandela is being kept alive by a breathing machine and faces “impending death,” court documents show.

The former president’s health is “perilous,” according to documents filed in the court case that resulted in the remains of his three deceased children being reburied Thursday in their original graves.

“The anticipation of his impending death is based on real and substantial grounds,” the court filing said. […]

Ole Miss football player killed in car accident

Kermit 0

The Old Miss Rebels “are hurting” head coach Hugh Freeze said after one of their own was killed in a car accident Wednesday afternoon.

Park Coleman Stevens was killed on impact when his truck hit the back of a semi that was crossing a four-lane highway in Chickasaw County, Miss.

Although he was not immediately identified, Cpl. Chris Turnipseed told the Mississippi Daily Journal that “the driver of the pickup was killed upon impact.” […]

Attorney says indicted Miss. lawmaker is innocent

Kermit 0

State Representative Brian Aldridge has turned himself in to law enforcement after being indicted by a grand jury on an embezzlement charge.

Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson says the lawmaker from Tupelo appeared at the sheriff’s department early Thursday afternoon.

Aldridge posted bond after it was set at $5,000.
[…]

Alcorn President, Myrlie Evers honored at 2013 HBCU Awards

Kermit Comments Off

Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II continues to be recognized as a pioneer leader and Saturday, June 28, at the Center for HBCU Media Advocacy’s third annual HBCU Awards he captured the title of Male HBCU President of the Year.

Myrlie Evers-Williams, a distinguished scholar-in-residence at Alcorn, was honored as Female HBCU Faculty Member of the Year. She teaches social justice seminars, advises senior research papers, and interacts individually with students, encouraging them to succeed in their studies and passion for social justice and equality. […]