Statewide News – Page 27 – The Mississippi Link

Case-Price Named New Director of Childrens Center at Southern Miss

Sarah Case-Price began her affiliation with The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi more than a dozen years ago as a student worker.

On July 1, she will take over the reins as director.

Case-Price has served in several capacities at the center since becoming a full-time staff member in 2006 – most recently as assistant director. She takes over for acting Director Cindy Bivins, who will continue to help with the center as a volunteer. […]

Ex-Biloxi mayor still denies role in killings

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Former Biloxi Mayor Pete Halat, now free from prison, still says he had no part in a murder plot that led to him spending almost 16 years in federal prison.

Halat told WLOX-TV that he had “absolutely nothing” to do with the murders of Harrison County Circuit Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife, Margaret, in 1987.

Sherry and Halat had been law partners starting in 1981. Halat was elected mayor 1989, losing a re-election bid in 1993.

Halat was convicted in 1997 of conspiracy to commit racketeering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
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Brown nominated for US district judgeship in Miss.

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President Barack Obama on May 16 nominated Jackson attorney Debra M. Brown to be a U.S. District judge for northern Mississippi.

If confirmed, Brown would be the first African-American woman to serve as a federal district judge in the state, said a spokesman for Mississippi’s senior U.S. senator, Republican Thad Cochran.

“I congratulate Debra Brown on her historic nomination and am hopeful the Senate will conduct a timely and thorough consideration of her qualifications to join the federal bench,” Cochran said in a news release. […]

Moss Point man found drowned after going overboard

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The body of a drowned man has been found in the Escatawpa River.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department says the body of Timothy Gordon Sr. of Moss Point was found about 12 p.m. Saturday, the Mississippi Press reports.

Gordon and Curtis Goleman, a Grand Bay, Ala., resident, were on the Escatawpa River about 5 p.m. Friday when their boat hit something and both men were thrown overboard. Gordon was not wearing a life preserver. […]

New Albany police chief quits

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New Albany Police Chief David Grisham says it’s time to step aside and allow someone else to serve as the city’s top law enforcement officer, WTVA reported.

Grisham, 61, says he feels good about leaving his department in good shape.

“Well, I’ve been here 32 years. I’ve served eight terms as police chief here in New Albany. It’s been good to me. I ‘ve enjoyed it. The people in New Albany have been good to me. I just felt that it was time to step down and let someone else have an opportunity,” he said.

Grisham has been a law enforcement officer for all of his professional career and was inspired as a high school student. […]

Miss. mayoral candidate: Radical or mainstream?

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An attorney who was active in a black nationalist group decades ago and still refers to a client as a “former Black Panther heroine” is running for mayor of Mississippi’s capital city.

Can Chokwe Lumumba persuade voters that he’s a mainstream politician concerned about a diverse swath of people?

That’s a big question he faces businessman Jonathan Lee in Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff in Jackson. […]

Tougaloo College plans civil rights commemorations

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Tougaloo College is starting an 18-month commemoration of the civil rights movement, 50 years after the effort helped reshape the American political and social landscape.

The first event, a gala was Saturday night at the Jackson Convention Complex, honoring four people who founded organizations designed to help the poor or disenfranchised: Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center; Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund; Dr. H. Jack Geiger of Physicians for Human Rights; and Robert “Bob” Moses of The Algebra Project. Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Roberta Flack will perform.
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New Kilmichael Clinic holds first heath fair this Saturday

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Dr. Katrina Poe and the new Kilmichael Clinic in Montgomery County will hold their first health fair since they opened their doors in September 2012.

In conjunction with Kilmichael Hospital, the fair will be held on Saturday, May 18, in front of the hospital at 301 Lamar Avenue from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Eulandia Thompson, Office Manager for Kilmichael Clinic, said the health fair will feature several health-related vendors including Mid-Delta, Sta-Home and Legacy Hospice. […]

Purvis man facing murder and arson charges

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A 36-year-old Purvis man has been charged with murder and first-degree arson following a fatal house fire on Monday, May 13.

Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel tells The Hattiesburg American Timothy Taylor was taken into custody for investigation on suspicion of arson. He says Taylor was picked up in Purvis late Monday night, charged with arson after his arrest, then with murder on Tuesday.

Emergency Management Director James Smith says after the fire was put out, they found human remains inside the home. […]

Shamrock Plank Flooring locating to Hernando

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Officials from Shamrock Plan Flooring, a division of J.T. Shannon Lumber, said the company is expanding its presence in north Mississippi by locating manufacturing operations in the 62,900-square-foot facility formerly occupied by Stylecraft Lamps in Hernando, Miss., in DeSoto County. The project represents a company investment of $1 million and will create approximately 25 new jobs.

Shamrock Plank Flooring, manufacturer of high-end hardwood flooring, also has operations in Horn Lake, Miss., where the company has 140 employees. […]