News – Page 729 – The Mississippi Link

Free oral cancer screening set for Monday and Tuesday

Mississippi has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, with 26 percent of its residents lighting up regularly. But even non-smokers should be aware of the warning signs for oral cancer.

For that reason, physicians and dentists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Oral Oncology Clinic urge everyone to take advantage of the free oral screenings to be on Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, as part of Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The oral-screening event will be held at the clinic’s location in the Thad C. Cochran Jackson Medical Mall Thad C. Cochran Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. People interested in signing up for a screening are asked to call 601-815-1181. […]

Children’s book festival honors authors and others with awards

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Jon Scieszka sees himself simply as an author supplying the material needed by teachers and librarians “who go to work every day” to inspire their students and other young people to read.

“My job’s easy,” Scieszka said. “I just sit in my office and write, but they’re the ones in the trenches motivating kids to want to be readers.”

Scieszka is the author of the acclaimed The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. He was on The University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus this week to receive the top honor given at the annual Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival, the Southern Miss Medallion. […]

President Nabors recruits Dr. Charlie Barnett to MDCC

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Mississippi Delta Community College recently welcomed Dr. Charlie Barnett as its new Assistant to the President, the Delta Business Journal said.

Dr. Barnett has a rich, qualified history in community college leadership. Most recently, he served as the Dean of Instruction for Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville, MS from the summer of 2007 until his recent retirement in December 2012. Barnett previously served Itawamba Community College as the Tech Prep Coordinator (2005-2007) and Northwest Mississippi Community College as a Mathematics Instructor (1988-2004).

“I am very excited to have Dr. Barnett on board at MDCC,” said Dr. Larry Nabors. “He is an experienced college administrator who is very student oriented and he will be a real asset to Mississippi Delta. He is already hard at work on improving our recruiting efforts and our freshman orientation experience.” […]

First black judge of Miss. to speak at Alcorn diversity event

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In 1963, Constance Slaughter-Harvey enrolled in Tougaloo College. There she met civil rights leader Medgar Evers shortly before he was assassinated. His brutal death inspired her to get involved in the civil rights movement and help bring about changes in Mississippi.

After graduating cum laude from Tougaloo College with a degree in Political Science and Economics, Slaughter-Harvey continued her fight for social equality while attending law school at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and persevered to become the first black woman to receive a law degree from that institution in 1970. She later became the first black judge in the state of Mississippi.

As a trailblazer, Slaughter-Harvey will speak on a panel of “phenomenal female firsts in Mississippi at Alcorn State University on Monday, April 22. […]

Man sentenced for DUI crash that killed nurse

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A Vicksburg man has been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison for aggravated driving under the influence in a wreck that killed a nurse in 2012.

The Vicksburg Post reports that Julius Hebron was sentenced Friday on two counts of aggravated DUI causing injury or death. Hebron pleaded guilty in March.

Authorities say Hebron ran a stoplight and struck the driver’s side of a car driven by Andrea Michelle “Shelly” Guider, a nurse at River Region Medical Center. Guider was pronounced dead at the scene. […]

Miss. governor says he'll sign DUI ignition bill

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Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant intends to sign a bill aimed at strengthening laws against drunken driving, his spokesman said Monday.

The response from the Republican governor came the same day the American Beverage Institute, based in Washington, D.C., urged Bryant to veto House Bill 481.

The group said it represents 80 Mississippi restaurants. It said if the bill becomes law, it would be expensive to enforce and would create too much work for Mississippi probation officers.

The bill is expected to hit Bryant’s desk in the next several days. With his signature, the bill will become law July 1, 2014. […]

Corinth man arrested in suspicious letters investigation

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At approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, FBI special agents arrested Paul Kevin Curtis, the individual believed to be responsible for the mailings of the three letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service which contained a granular substance that preliminarily tested positive for ricin. The letters were addressed to a U.S. senator, the White House, and a Mississippi justice official.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it intercepted a letter addressed to President Barack Obama that contained a “suspicious substance.”

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the letter was intercepted at a facility away from the White House. He said the letter was also received Tuesday. […]

Funk Brothers get star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Grenada native and Motown superstar Eddie “Chank” Willis and Jack Ashford of the Funk Brothers were recently honored for their musical contributions with a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“We are happy to honor The Funk Brothers on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!” stated Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Leron Gubler. “Many of us grew up with their amazing hit songs which they performed with some of the biggest stars of Motown!”

Gubler and guest speakers Stevie Wonder, Ray Parker Jr. and Mickey Stevenson helped The Funk Brothers unveil the 2,493rd Star in the Category of Recording at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard across from the Live Nation Building. […]

2 teenagers die in Lee County traffic accident

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Two teenagers died in a Sunday morning traffic accident in Lee County. Lee County Coroner Caroline Green identifies them as Gage Fidram, 17, and Jesse Witt, 17, both of Saltillo.

Sheriff Jim Johnson told WTVA that Witt was driving south on Busy Bottom Road when he left the roadway and collided with a tree.

Authorities say the accident occurred at approximately 4:38 a.m. It took more than an hour to extricate both individuals from the vehicle, Johnson says. […]

MDOC commissioner Epps honored for leadership

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Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner (MDOC) Christopher B. Epps has been honored by one of Jackson’s most historic churches for his transformative and innovative leadership.

Epps was the recipient of Mount Helm Baptist Church Anchor Community Award in Government. He and seven other recipients were honored on March 29 at the 2013 Resurrection Gala and Community Anchor Awards Banquet at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson. […]