Top Stories – Page 80 – The Mississippi Link

Former Jackson State football coach ’Judge’ Hughes dies

Kermit Comments Off

Former Jackson State football coach, Robert “Judge” Hughes died Wednesday, July 31, at the age of 68.

Jackson State says in a news release Hughes died Wednesday from complications of diabetes. Services are pending.

Hughes, who has been in and out of the hospital over the last several months, will be remembered by JSU fans as one of the great football players and coaches in the history of Tigers football, Jackson State said in a release. […]

Former Mississippi standout Crespino dies at 75

Kermit Comments Off

Robert “Bobby” Crespino, a tight end and receiver for some of Mississippi’s best football teams from 1958 to 1960, died on Monday, July 29, in Atlanta. He was 75.

Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, Miss., confirmed Crespino’s death after a lengthy illness, but did not provide details of the illness.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Crespino played for three Ole Miss teams that had a combined 29-3-1 record and earned a share of two national championships in 1959 and 1960. He caught 30 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns in 1960. […]

Judge hears details of Clarksdale candidate's slaying

Kermit Comments Off

A Mississippi judge has allowed prosecutors to proceed with their case against a man charged in the death of mayoral candidate Marco McMillian.

The Press Register reports that Circuit Court Judge Charles Webster heard details of the investigation during a preliminary hearing Friday for Lawrence Reed, accused of killing McMillian.
[…]

Miss. in 2014 to remember Freedom Summer of 1964

Kermit Comments Off

Mississippi civil-rights activists are preparing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer in 2014. Some say race relations might’ve improved, but people must remain vigilant to protect voting rights.

“The struggle to make democracy work still continues,” Frank Figgers, vice chairman of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement Inc., said Friday at Tougaloo College in Jackson.

In 1964, thousands of people descended on Mississippi to help with voter registration and to provide education programs for black residents who had been systematically denied full rights as citizens. The work was dangerous. […]

Madison attorney sentenced in bankruptcy fraud scheme

Kermit Comments Off

Michael E. Earwood, 61, an attorney from Madison, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bankruptcy fraud, federal officials said.

Earwood was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $792,228.53.

Earwood previously pled guilty to devising and executing a scheme to obtain money from a business partner by falsely representing that the money would be used to maintain real property owned by Kinwood Capitol Group. […]

Woman held without bond in toddler’s death

Kermit Comments Off

A Hinds County woman is being held without bond after being charged with capital murder in the death of her 1-year-old son. Tiffany Michelle Menifield remains behind bars at the Hinds County Detention Center after appearing in court on Saturday, July 27.

Menfield, 25, who lives in the 600 block of Hampton Circle in Jackson, was charged after her son, Tyree McDonald, died on Sunday, July 18 at UMC Hospital. […]

Vendor charged with taking contraband to prison

Kermit Comments Off

A 26-year-old Canton man has been released on a $50,000 bond after allegedly trying to smuggle drugs, alcohol, cell phones and other items into a correctional facility in Pearl.

Twenty-six-year-old James Brooks was released from jail Monday following his arrest on Friday, July 26. Brooks, a truck driver for a private vendor, was taken into custody after a search of the Stericycle truck he had driven to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility turned up the contraband.

MDOC officials discovered cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, 46 cell phones, 44 phone charges, an I-Pod, alcohol, 94 vacuumed packed bags of tobacco, 21 lighters, a pack of hearing aid batteries and 21 bags of yeast. […]

Nissan breaks ground on $50 million new supplier park

Kermit Comments Off

Nissan expanded its U.S. manufacturing footprint this week with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant joining Nissan employees to break ground on a reportedly one million square foot, $50 million new supplier park at the company’s Canton, Miss. vehicle assembly plant.

The project will support more than 800 jobs, including an expected 400 newly created supplier jobs as well as 400 employees that Nissan has hired since June 1 in anticipation of the project.

The State of Mississippi has reportedly given Nissan more than a billion dollars in incentives. […]

Food Network to feature ‘The Shed’ of Ocean Springs in new reality show

Kermit Comments Off

When Starkville-native Robbie Montgomery launched her “Welcome to Sweetie Pies” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), it quickly became one of their most successful shows to date. And now with the Food Network premiering The Shed this Sunday night, television viewers will get another look at how good old-fashioned Mississippi country cooking is done.

Based in Ocean Springs, The Shed, is the dreamchild of founders Brad Orrison and his sister, Brooke Lewis.

For the Orrison family, barbecuing isn’t simply a habit; it’s a way of life, the Food Network said in a release. This loveably quirky and offbeat bunch is known for their over-the-top personalities and offers food to match, specializing in finger-lickin’-good ribs and from-scratch barbecue sauce. […]

Myrlie Evers honored with National Urban League Civil Rights Award

Kermit Comments Off

The Alcorn family congratulates civil rights icon Myrlie Evers for being honored with the National Urban League Civil Rights Award. Mrs. Evers, who serves as Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Alcorn State University, accepted the award at the 2013 National Urban League Conference held July 24-27, 2013, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“We are extremely proud for Professor Myrlie Evers for adding another coveted award to her array of honors,” stated Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II. “We are grateful for everything Mrs. Evers is doing for the nation and for her invaluable contribution as faculty at Alcorn.” […]