News Briefs From Across The State
Pearl River has highest rate of cases
Five newly reported cases of West Nile virus bring the total in Mississippi this year to 24. The state Health Department said a new case was found in Madison County. So far this year, cases have been confirmed in Forrest (3), Hinds (4), Jones (3), Madison (2), Pearl River (6), and one case each in: Coahoma, Rankin, Tallahatchie, Tate, Wayne, and Washington counties. Two deaths have been confirmed, in Jones and Pearl River counties.
In 2010, Mississippi had eight West Nile virus cases and no deaths.
Jackson man faces November trial for hit-and-run death
A trial for a Jackson man charged in the hit-and-run death of a man in the parking lot of Smith-Willis Stadium has been set for Nov. 7. The Clarion-Ledger reports that Julius Lamont Reed Jr. has been charged with capital murder. He also has pending charges of receiving stolen goods, possession of cocaine and five counts of auto burglary.
Jackson police said 52-year-old Franklin Salas of Vicksburg was run over after he interrupted the burglary of his own car on June 12, 2010. Authorities say suspects got out of his Ford Explorer and into their own vehicle before he was killed. Authorities say Reed had been out of prison less than two months and was on probation for auto burglary when the incident happened.
New clinic for uninsured kids in Pontotoc County
A new clinic for uninsured children has opened in north Mississippi’s Pontotoc County. The clinic is a partnership between a nonprofit medical treatment group and the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Catch Kids is a nonprofit organization that strives for quality health care for children who aren’t covered by health insurance. There are 15 Catch Kids clinics. They are in Chickasaw County, Lee County and the newest one in Pontotoc County.
Valerie Long, the executive director of Catch Kids, said the need for local, affordable health care has long been a serious problem in Mississippi.
Long says the clinics rely on local doctors to volunteer. Partnerships with local pharmacies provide prescription medication at no cost.
Belden man sentenced on child porn charges
A Belden man has been sentenced to five years in prison on federal child pornography charges. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that 21-year-old Bradley Pegues was sentenced after pleading guilty to using the Internet to receive computer files of child pornography.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons will decide where he will serve his time.
Suspects arrested for car burglary
An early morning report of suspicious activity at a Chevron Station in Jackson County led to the arrest of two men, one with a prior auto burglary charge. Kevin Kiet Hoang Nguyen, 20, of Biloxi, and 18-year old James Nguyen, also of Biloxi, were arrested at the Chevron on Highway 609, near Exit 50 in the St. Martin Community.
Jackson County deputies also discovered during the arrest a large amount of stolen property which resulted in felony charges being filed against the two men.
Authorities said some of the stolen property has since been returned to the rightful owners and that some of the burglaries occurred in both the St. Martin and D’Iberville communities.
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