News Briefs From Across The State
By Monica Land
Child was playing near the water
The Tishomingo County coroner said an 8-year-old girl died of an apparent drowning last week during a camping trip with her father in northeast Mississippi.
Coroner Mack Wilemon said an autopsy on Cierra Walters was scheduled for later in the week. Wilemon says Cierra and her father, Chad Walters, had been camping near J.P. Coleman State Park.
Her father told authorities that at about 6 a.m. Monday, June 11, Cierra was skipping rocks when she fell into waters between J.P Coleman State Park and Steel Bridge. Her father pulled her from the water, and paramedics took her to North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka, where she was pronounced dead.
The Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department and state wildlife authorities are investigating.
Hinds County the latest to consider Baggy Pants ordinance
Hinds County supervisors plan to set a public hearing for residents to air their views on a proposed law that would ban saggy pants.
The ban is being proposed by Hinds County Supervisor Kenneth Stokes, who in 2009 as a Jackson councilman unsuccessfully pitched a law that would prohibit sagging pants in the state’s capital city.
The Clarion-Ledger reports the supervisors were to discuss setting the public hearing at their regular meeting Monday.
Stokes said he’s continuing his crusade for the ban because he has long held that wearing sagging pants is a practice that can negatively influence younger children.
Stokes’ proposal is still being drafted, but Martin said there could be a community service requirement or a nominal $10 fine.
Fire rating improves in Columbus
A new ranking for the Columbus Fire Department could mean reduced insurance rates for home and business owners.
The Commercial Dispatch reports the Mississippi Rating Bureau has rated Columbus a “four,” up from the “five” rating it’s held for three decades.
Columbus joins other Mississippi cities ranked four on a scale of 10, with 10 being the lowest rating. The other cities include Biloxi, Gulfport, Tupelo, Greenwood, Meridian and Hattiesburg.
Mayor Robert Smith said the new rating could mean savings for property and business owners.
Man wants conviction tossed in pot case
A man convicted of a marijuana charge related to a raid on a Jackson car lot is asking for a judge to throw out his conviction and order a new trial.
Jeremy Lee Stambaugh, owner of Paradise Auto Sales in south Jackson, was arrested at the car lot in February along with Johnny Earl Course and David E. Jones.
Stambaugh and Course pleaded guilty, but Jones went to trial. He was convicted June 6.
His attorney wants that thrown out, arguing in U.S. District Court that the evidence didn’t support the conviction.
Federal court records say a raid on the business uncovered 416 pounds of marijuana.
Petal weighs changing garbage collection
In an effort to save money, the Petal Board of Aldermen is rethinking garbage collection for the city.
Mayor Hal Marx tells the Hattiesburg American the city is negotiating with sanitation companies Advanced Disposal and Waste Pro to privatize garbage collection.
The two companies were the lowest bidders for the project. After negotiation is complete, the mayor and board will discuss the better option and make a decision.
Marx says it’s a move that could save citizens $4 to $6 each month. Customers currently pay a monthly $17 fee.
The company chosen would keep the same schedule and pick up garbage once a week and bulk items once a week.
The change would come in the 2013 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.
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