News Briefs From Across The State
One victim was ex-girlfriend
A Biloxi man has been charged with domestic abuse and aggravated assault after he allegedly tried to run over two women with his car. Kevin Crouchet, 20, was arrested on Aug. 12 after the incident on U.S. Highway 98 in Hattiesburg.
Police said Crouchet was driving and he had two female passengers in the vehicle with him. After they arrived at an Exxon Service Station, the three exited the vehicle and Crouchet allegedly began fighting with one of the woman believed to be his ex-girlfriend.
After the fight, authorities said Crouchet got back into his vehicle and allegedly hit both women with the car. He fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle a short distance later.
The women were transported to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries and Crouchet was arrested at a residence in Petal.
The incident remains under investigation.
Government to pay 90 percent of tornado aid
Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss) said the federal government has agreed to pay 90 percent of the disaster recovery costs from the tornadoes and floods that hit Mississippi in April and May.
Cochran said this aid usually requires a 75-25 cost-share match.
“Easing the cost-share requirements on this disaster assistance is intended to lessen the financial hardships faced by tornado and storm victims in Mississippi,” said Cochran. “These severe spring storms damaged rural and impoverished areas where meeting nonfederal cost-share requirements could compound the stress on already strained state and local budgets.”
Following the April 23-24 storms, a presidential disaster declaration was issued to make local governments and certain private, non-profit organizations eligible for FEMA public assistance funding to support debris removal and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. This declaration covered Attala, Choctaw, Holmes, Issaquena, Monroe, Warren and Yazoo counties.
Alcorn, Benton, Marshall, Panola, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties were made eligible for the same type of assistance following severe storms and tornadoes on May 1-2.
Coahoma County business gets development grant
United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson announced that the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded a grant in the amount of $15,900 to the Economic Development Authority of Coahoma County.
The Rural Development funds will be used to purchase equipment on behalf of Burton Electric Company, a small and emerging business in the county.
Contractor starts fire at old fish plant
Contractors inadvertently started a fire a Greenville plant that was slated for demolition. Crewman were working on the old Farm Fresh Fish Plant when their torches caught fire while they were salvaging iron from the facility. WABG reported that the workers were trying to cut scrap metal when the blaze started.
Firefighters responded and within an hour had subdued the fire.
The fish plant closed in 1992.
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