News & Articles

City Joins County with Crime Stoppers Program

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:45:00 +0000

The Louisville Board of Aldermen voted on Tuesday night (February 19) to have the city officially join Winston County Crime Stoppers program (WCCS).
At the regularly scheduled board meeting, aldermen heard from police chief L. M. Claiborne, Sheriff Jason Pugh
, WCCS Pres. Tom Bush and state official Trish Hall about the program.

In past years, Louisville and Winston County have been part of the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers but issues of distance from the organization’s base in Columbus have sometimes been a limitation into the program’s effectiveness.

WCCS has been formed in the past year by local citizens and has already been approved and joined by County law enforcement. Hall indicated that the city’s participation was a “no-brainer. It makes good business sense and is a good crime fighting tool.” The crime stoppers program is funded by a two dollar assessment on fines paid across the state so there is no direct local cost for the program.

After discussion, Claiborne officially requested the city to join WCCS. The motion to do so was made by Aldermen Frances Ball and approved unanimously.

W. McCully

Morgan Freeman Fund for Scholarships Turns 15

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:30:00 +0000

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The generosity of one of Mississippi’s most famous residents attracts veterinary students from diverse cultural backgrounds to the Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman established the Morgan Freeman Endowment for Veterinary Medicine in 1998 to make a quality education available to young Mississippians interested in veterinary careers. Funds from the endowment are awarded to a veterinary student who meets the qualifications Freeman established to help the college aggressively recruit underrepresented minority students.

The college’s statistics reflect a national pattern of predominantly Caucasian female applicants, but the percentage of minority students enrolled is increasing. For example, underrepresented minority students make up 6.25 percent of the Class of 2013, followed by 7.06 percent, 14.11 percent, and 10.59 percent in subsequent classes.

Dr. Richard Meiring, assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, said the Freeman scholarship is advertised to all students, who apply using the standardized form that includes information such as GPA, financial need, career goals, leadership experience, and participation in extracurricular activities.

“From my standpoint, the Freeman scholarship’s advantage is that it helps us recruit and retain minority students from Mississippi who might otherwise not be able to come to CVM,” Meiring said. “This scholarship is a recruitment tool when I talk to minority students. It’s usually awarded once every four years. Typically, students receive it as freshmen and keep it for the four years they’re here in veterinary school.”

MSU veterinary students graduate with an average debt load of $130,000. Meiring said the scholarship is a great help to students and the college.

“It helps remove the financial hardship to attend, and Mr. Freeman’s name being attached to it adds a lot of credibility to the scholarship and the school,” he said.

Camille Harris of Ridgeland, received the Freeman scholarship in 2002 for two years, and credits it with advancing her career.

“I worked my first and second year of vet school, so it was great to have financial support for my clinical year and externship year,” Harris said. “Because I had non-traditional career goals in wildlife medicine, the scholarship was immensely helpful to me. When I travel and talk about MSU, I often highlight this scholarship and Mr. Freeman’s support.”

Other Freeman scholars are also working to recruit minority students to the profession. Dr. Talisha Moore, a 2011 CVM graduate and Freeman scholarship recipient, and Courtney Hunter, the 2013 recipient, recently spoke to the Boys and Girls Club of Starkville about careers in veterinary medicine.

“My work with the Boys and Girls Club stems from my desire to diversify the veterinary profession as whole, as well as MSU’s veterinary classes,” Moore said. “My parents supported my decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine throughout high school and college.

“However, I do not feel this is the case for many minorities. As a result, I feel it is very important to offer guidance to kids at a young age and mentor those who have a serious interest in the profession,” she said.

Like Moore, Hunter became interested in veterinary medicine at a young age.

“I have been aware of this scholarship since I first came to the CVM’s Open House in the ninth grade,” Hunter said. “It has always been something that I hoped for as I worked to complete all of the classes needed for vet school admission. I am ecstatic and also extremely grateful to the CVM and Mr. Freeman.”

Another Freeman scholar, Carlson Graham of Batesville, will graduate this spring.

“When looking at the debt load that we face as veterinary students, the Morgan Freeman scholarship has helped me tremendously,” Graham said. “It’s given me a running start that I wish everyone could have. My name may never be known to the extent that Morgan Freeman’s is, but this honor has inspired me to give back in the hope that I can help someone like me.”

The “pay it forward” mentality of the Freeman scholars will benefit future CVM students and reach far beyond the MSU campus.

“Morgan’s scholarship is a great example of how his generosity has changed students’ lives forever, as well as benefited society as a whole, and we are extremely grateful to him for that,” said Keith Gaskin, senior director of development for MSU’s CVM.

By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Ag Communications

Two Suspects in Winston Academy Case Arraigned

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:55:00 +0000

The two men arrested for the weekend's vandalism and theft at Winston Academy in Louisville were arraigned this afternoon in Winston County Justice Court. Hunter Glass (18) and Vernon Brown (20) appeared before Judge Robert Beck at 1:00 pm. Shackled and in prison jumpsuits, the men appeared separately as the list of charges were read.

Each were charged with 10 counts of willfull damage (vandalism) and 7 counts of breaking and entering with intent to steal. The breaking and entering charges can result in jail time up to 7 years (Ms. Code 97-17-33) while the felony vandalism charges carry up to a $5000 fine and/or no more than 5 years in prison.

A preliminary court date has been set for March 13 and bond for Glass and Brown were set at $500,000 each. Brown will be represented by a court appointed attorney.

W. McCully

Eiland Students Learn 4-R's of Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:51:00 +0000

click to enlarge

material to make a donation of artwork to the school.

Assistant Principal Tantaneshia Houston accepts
artwork from Hill

The presentation was part of the classes' preparation for the science portion of the upcoming NC2 test. Hill explained the 4-R's as Reduce - Re-use - Recycle and Re-purpose; reducing the amount of waste we produce, re-using products when we can, recycling those products we can't and re-purposing items for other uses.

Hill provided a perfect example of re-purposing as she presented the school with her artwork of President Obama and Rosa Parkes which were made from recycled products. The paintings will be exhibited in the Eiland school library.

Hill encouraged the students to recycle and provided some examples of things that could and should be recycled. She also pointed out the "blue recycle box" located at the Louisville Coliseum and it's purpose.

W. McCully

The Latest on Winston Academy Vandalism Investigation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:13:00 +0000

Local law enforcement indicate that media reports over the weekend that suggested that others may have been involved in Saturday's vandalism at Winston Academy and that retaliation or school rivalry were motives are not supported by evidence at this point in their investigation.

20 year old Vernon Brown and 18 year old Hunter Glass were arrested on Saturday and are currently being held for the vandalism and theft that occurred at Winston Academy in Louisville in the early hours of Saturday morning. Extensive damage was done to multiple buildings and classrooms at the school as well as the theft of a number of items including computers.

WWN spoke with Chief L.M. Claiborne, Sheriff Jason Pugh and other officials on Monday morning. All indicated that the investigation points to the involvement of the two in custody and no one else. Paraphrasing as follows, "There is no evidence at this time that a Winston Academy student was involved in any way in what happened Saturday nor is there evidence that the Academy was targeted for any specific reason."

The investigation continues and is not concluded. Officials have recovered some of the stolen items including several computers that were tossed into a local creek.

Cleanup has continued at the school over the weekend and today and classes for the school's roughly 500 students are expected to resume on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, school vandalism is not an uncommon occurrence and has occurred at all area schools in the past - the most recent incidences at Eiland and Nanih Waiya. However, no damage has been as significant or as costly as this weekend's event.

W. McCully

From WTOK

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:53:00 +0000

Bill Favors Real Estate Business Over Home Inspectors: Bill: Real estate biz to oversee home inspections.

Prayer Vigil at Winston. as Cleanup Begins- Video

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Prayer Vigil at Winston Academy as Cleanup Begins

It didn't take long for Winston Academy to begin cleanup of Saturday's vandalism. After local law enforcement completed their investigation, work began immediately to repair the damages that were spread thoughout almost all of the school's building.

A prayer vigil (see video below) scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday evening took place even as cleanup continued. Led by faculty member Judy Sanders who told the crowd, 'The Lord said, Vengeance is mine, I shall repay.'We didn't gather here for vengeance." The large crowd prayed and sang the school song as they gathered to show their support for their school.

Louisville Police Department officials have indicated that two arrests were made on Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident and the Winston County Sheriff's Office confirmed their identities as 20 year old Vernon Brown and 18 year old Hunter Glass.There are also reports that some of the property stolen from the school has been recovered.

Cleanup is expected to continue on Sunday and Monday as no classes are scheduled.

W. McCully

Suspects in Winston Academy Vandalism Identified

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 03:31:00 +0000

Quick action by local law enforcement resulted in arrests this afternoon of two local young men in Saturday's early morning vandalism at Winston Academy. Vernon Brown (20 yrs old) and Hunter Glass (18 yrs old) are currently in custody at the Winston County Correctional Facility. Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh indicates that both men have cooperated in the investigation and are believed to be the only two involved in the incident. They will be held until formal charges are filed on Tuesday.

Sometime during the late evening and/or early morning hours on Friday/Saturday, individuals entered the campus and did significant damage throughout the school property. Offices, classrooms, cafeteria, gym and even the pressbox and school bus were damaged. Windows were broken, doors were damaged and office equipment and plumbing fixtures were damaged and destroyed.

W. McCully

Video of Last Night's Vandalism at Winston Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:27:00 +0000

These scenes are just a very small part of the vandalism that occurred overnight at Winston Academy in Louisville. Law enforcement were on the scene throughout the morning as concerned parents, students and faculty gathered in the parking area of the school. You can read more in our original story by clicking here.

A prayer vigil will be held this afternoon at 6:00 pm in the school's parking lot and there will be no school on Monday. We'll have updated reports as information becomes available.

Vandalism at Winston Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:16:00 +0000

Louisville Police, Winston County Sheriff's Officers and MBI are still on the scene this morning (Saturday, Feb 16) investigating vandalism at Winston Academy. Police Chief L. M. Claiborne gave WWN the following briefing:

Sometime during the late evening and/or early morning hours on Friday/Saturday, an individual or individuals entered the campus and did significant damage throughout the school property. Offices, classrooms, cafeteria, gym and even the pressbox and school bus were damaged. Windows were broken, doors were damaged and office equipment and plumbing fixtures were damaged and destroyed. The area has been taped off during the investigation and to allow the school to inventory and assess the damage.

Claiborne indicated that due to the amount of damage, those responsible were likely on the scene for an extended period of time. He also indicated that there was evidence left behind at the scene and that at least one perpetrator was injured and blood evidence was being taken. The injury was likely to a hand or arm.

Chief Claiborne asked that anyone with information please contact the Louisville Police Dept or the Winston County Sheriff's Office. There is a reward available from Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers for any information leading to an arrest and conviction. Crime Stoppers number is 1-800-530-7151.

WWN will have more information and video from the scene later today.

W. McCully

Pet of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:51:00 +0000

This dog's name is Roscoe and he is a one year old Lab and Rottweiler mix. He has been neutured. He is playful and is looking for a great home. The Louisville Animal Shelter is overrun with bigger dogs, so come by the shelter today and adopt a pet. For more information on this animal or others, please call the shelter at 662-773-4320 or come by the shelter located on 110 Thompson St. Thank You.

911 Advisory Board Looks Addressing/Training/GIS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:57:00 +0000

The Winston County 911 Advisory Board met on Wednesday morning without a full quorum. Several topics were up for discussion. They included the following:

· Concern about the delay of the completion of GIS mapping for 911. Golden Triangle Planning and Development are contracted to provide 911 GIS maps for the County but have indicated that they may need an extension to complete the project.

· EMA Director Buddy King provided information on first responder training.

· There was discussion of the new digital radio system in use by the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Jason Pugh indicated that they were quite happy with the service and that the use of digital radios had improved the coverage area in the County. He wanted to remind the public that while officers were still sometimes using analog radios, digital transmissions would not be heard on scanners. There is no code available for digital transmissions and as the department migrates away from analog radios, their transmissions will no longer be heard on scanners.

· King also raised the issue of the use of 911 personnel to answer administrative calls to the Sheriff’s Department and Police Department, indicating that we needed to do more to educate the public about the use of 911. While the 911 Center is utilized for after-hours contact, too many daily calls for nonemergency situations are placed through the Center.

· Problems with 911 addressing were also brought to the attention of the members. Many residences still do not have full 911 addresses marked appropriately. Reference was made to the County Ordinance requiring proper 911 addressing and possible fines that might be imposed. The question was raised as to who is responsible for enforcing this issue and problems that resulted from lack of 911 addressing was also discussed; including ambulance and fire personnel not being able to find the proper residence in the event of an emergency. Sheriff Pugh indicated that his office had lettering and supplies available to the public to assist in properly marking their residences.

· Attendees also discussed the need for disaster exercises in the community. King indicated that EMA is required to do at least three exercises per year. He indicated that one must be done before June of this year. Previous exercises have been desktop exercises and it was a consensus of the group that a live disaster exercise should be considered in the future.

Be Prepared for Tornado Season

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:52:00 +0000

The recent events in South Ms. reminds us that in our area of the Country, almost any time of the year can be tornado season. Here's some tips to help you always be prepared:

Pick a place where family members could gather if a tornado is headed your way. It could be your basement or, if there is no basement, a center hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this place uncluttered.

Assemble a Ready Kit that Includes

First aid kit and essential medications.
Non-perishable food and can opener.
At least three gallons of water per person per day.
Protective clothing, bedding or sleeping bags.
Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
Items for infants.
Special items for elderly or disabled family members, such as extra eyeglasses, medications, insurance information and items for service dogs.
Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to restore natural gas service.)

Monitor and Keep Informed

Follow local radio, television, NOAA Weather Radio and local online sources including our Twitter and Facebook Accounts and WinstonWebNews.

Traffic Stop Results in Drug Arrest

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:27:00 +0000

marijuana and scales seized on Friday by Sheriff's Dept.

A traffic stop on Dawkins Street in Louisville resulted in an arrest for drug charges on Friday, February 8. A Winston County Sheriff Deputy stopped a black Pontiac Grand Prix at 4:24 pm. The driver, 29 year old Chantel Haynes was found to have a quantity of marijuana in his possession. Haynes also known as "Blue Tick" was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Haynes was on probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and cocaine possession at the time of his arrest.

Local Crowd Attends as MDWFP Commissioners Meet at Legion in Louisville

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:14:00 +0000

A crowd of more than 50 local citizens joined the Board and Staff from the Mississippi State Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as the Commission conducted a scheduled meeting at the historic lodge at Legion State Park in Louisville.

Crowd of locals attend MDWFP Meeting
at Legion State Park

Friends of Legion State Park(FOLSP), a non-profit group had encouraged locals to attend and show their support for the local facility. The Commissioners were welcomed by Frances Ball, President of FOLSP, Tim Flake, Park Manager and local Senator Giles Ward. Ball thanked the Commission for the recent renovation of the Lodge at Legion and expressed the local community's desire that the Park remain open.
As a regularly scheduled meeting, the Commission dealt with multiple issues including: public comments, license sales, a fisheries report and law enforcement. Items of note included the large increase in sale of non-resident waterfowl stamps, the appearance of two citizens requesting re-instatement of hunting privileges after conviction of violation of hunting laws and pending legislation affecting hunting and fishing rights across the state.

Some legislation of interest that are still pending included HB102 that would create special areas in state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for use by those designated as "Wounded Warriors", HB1001 that would combine fishing and small game hunting licenses at a reduced cost of $8 and SB1139 that would allow landowners to use a weapon of choice on their own land within any legal hunting season (primitive).

The Commission thanked those who gathered at the Lodge prior to going into executive session.

w mccully

ECCC Awards GED Diplomas at Semi-Annual Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:49:00 +0000

Feb. 8, 2013 News Release:
Numerous area residents received their high school equivalency diplomas at the semi-annual GED Graduation held Jan. 24, 2013, at East Central Community College in Decatur.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves was guest speaker for the special ceremony, held in Huff Auditorium.

ECCC President Dr. Billy Stewart awarded diplomas to the 33 graduates. Other program participants representing the College included Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Jimmy Hollingsworth of Lake, Vice President for Instruction Dr. Teresa Houston, music instructor Len Bobo and Adult Basic Education/GED instructor Bryan Burt.

Graduates Ashly Thompson of Forest and Johnathon Scott of Carthage also participated in the program and provided testimonials.

Other graduates and their respective hometowns included Perry Randall Logan, Paulding; Ree Kinslow and Deanna Webb, both of Carthage; Yolanda Renee Ruffin and Ashley Nicole Thomas, both of Lena; Benjamin Ferguson, Skylor Matthew Hines, Samantha M. Abel, Daniel Dywayne Fincher, Zach Holmes and Catina McFee, all of Union; Alicia Oliver, Odalys Portell, Destiny Lashay Threet and Morris W. Willis, Jr. all of Philadelphia; Terri Lynn Aycox and Gillis Ray Duett, both of Decatur; Hannah Grace Robinson, Newton; Austin Jay Rowell, Lake; Michael D. Smith, Hickory; Samantha Bennett Thompson, Conehatta; Clarance L. Crimm, Kerry Ingle, Da’Marcus M. Lofton, Brittney Nicole Slack and Erica Denise Spivey, all of Forest; Corey Ray Sistrunk and Melinda Sistrunk, both of Pulaski; and Lajordan Tra Coleman, Candi Watkins, Chelsie Watkins and Katelyn Maree Woodard, all of Louisville.

East Central offers free Adult Basic Education/GED-Preparation classes throughout the five-county district.

For more information, contact Ryan Clarke, program director, 601-635-6387 or call toll free, 877-462-3222, ext. 387. His e-mail address isrclarke@eccc.edu.

(seated from left) Katelyn Maree Woodard, Louisville; Austin Jay Rowell, Lake; Lajordan Tra Coleman, Louisville; Hannah Grace Robinson, Newton; Deanna M. Webb, Carthage; Yolanda Renee Ruffin, Lena; Alicia Oliver and Odalys Portell, both of Philadelphia; Michael D. Smith, Hickory; and Samantha Bennett Thompson, Conehatta; (second row, from left) Morris W. Willis, Philadelphia; Benjamin Ferguson, Union; Candi Watkins and Chelsie Watkins, both of Louisville; Destiny Lasha Threet, Philadelphia; Ashley Nicole Thomas, Lena; Perry Randall Logan, Paulding; Melinda Sistrunk, Pulaski; Kerry Ingle, Forest; Samantha M. Able, Union; Terrie Lynn Aycox, Decatur; and Erica Denise Spivey, Forest; and (back row, from left) Zack Holmes, Union; Ashly Thompson, Forest; Ree Kinslow, Carthage; Da’Marcus M. Lofton, Forest; Johnathon S. Scott, Carthage; Daniel Dywayne Fincher, Union; Clarance L. Crimm, Forest; Corey Ray Sistrunk, Pulaski; Gillis Ray Duett, Decatur; Catina McFee, Union; and Skylor Matthews Hines, Union. click on the phototo enlarge

Winston County Sheriff Office Makes Drug Arrest Overnight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:24:00 +0000

The Winston County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant on Thursday night (Feb 7) at 112 Isabell Street in the southeast area of Louisville. Deputies seized an amount of marijuana, a shotgun and cash from the residence. Remario Savior, a 27 year old black male was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm. The Louisville Police Department provided patrol assistance during the operation.

w.mccully

Highlights from Louisville Board of Alderman Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:37:00 +0000

The Louisville Board of Alderman met Tuesday night February 5 at 5:30. Before beginning the session, Board members sent up prayer for absent member Eugene Crosby, who was having heart surgery the following morning.

The Board took up the following agenda:

Received update for the Winston County Library from Beth Edwards.
Approved accepting bids on surplus property for a Massey-Ferguson tractor that was readvertized.
Authorized E911 GIS mapping project payment of $62,500 to Golden Triangle Planning and Development upon receipt of $50,000 from ARC.
Accepted resignation of Bobby McWhirter from Zoning Board.
Appointed Paul Hogue to Zoning Board. Hogue took Wally Bennett's unexpired term. The Board also appointed Scott Hendrix to fill the position vacated by Bobby McWhirter.
Approved Docket of Claims for January bills for $132,338.10.
Authorized a payment to IPFC for $4,113.10 upon receipt of payment from Red Hills Salvage for insurance on GP facility.
Approved payment to APAC for $795.80 for asphalt to be paid from G O Bond Construction Fund.
Approved payment of $9,296.95 to Neel Schaffer for professional service to be paid from Landfill fund.
Acknowledged agreement for monthly payment from Winston County for $4,500 for Landfill billing.
Discussed scheduling of next public hearing on rental property ordinance. Rental Property hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 26, 2013 at 5:30. Mayor Hill wanted to give Board member Crosby enough recovery time.

MSU Establishes Farm for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:56:00 +0000

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Some Mississippi State University students may be able to eat their own homework as they transform a hayfield into a student farm.

MSU’s newly established student farm is located on about 24 acres of the H. H. Leveck Animal Research Center, commonly called South Farm. The student farm is a project guided by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, and MSU’s Department of Landscape Architecture.

“Over the past few months, we’ve met with a steering committee of students, faculty and staff to brainstorm the founding principles for the farm, to develop a mission statement and to envision the possible uses for this unique piece of land,” said Billy Kingery, a MAFES soil scientist and professor and an advisor for the student farm.

Kingery and Joe Massey, also a MAFES scientist and professor, put together a new course to get the farm up and running: Hands-on Design and Food Production Practices for Small Farm Sustainability.

“We have students in this course ranging from freshmen to seniors, and from a variety of majors, including geoscience, architecture, forestry, agribusiness, agronomy, horticulture, landscape architecture and animal and dairy science,” Kingery said. “There is a critical and widely acknowledged need for new, young farmers to replace an aging farm population and a significant interest in local, sustainable agriculture.”

The inaugural small-scale farming class is structured to provide students with hands-on experience designing and implementing farming practices, growing food, living in harmony with the earth, and conserving natural resources.

The farm’s master plan includes high tunnels and production fields, an outdoor classroom, beehives, composting areas, restored prairie and more to be developed over time.

“The farm will be a place for student-led activities, for addressing 21st-century issues, and for experimenting with design and land use that enhances local ecosystems,” Massey said.

Project participants will also care for the riparian buffer along the edge of Turkey Creek.

“We want to maintain the stream bank areas to prevent erosion and encourage habitat for pollinators and other wildlife,” he said.

By the end of January, students had planted a variety of seeds to develop their first high tunnel crops. They take turns watering and caring for the seedlings.

“They selected peppers and Swiss chard to start with and later will add tomatoes, lettuce, squash, zinnias and sunflowers,” Kingery said. “A few students brought in some other seeds they wanted to try on their own -- jalapenos, basil and cilantro. Eventually, students hope to divide their harvest in three ways: produce to eat, to sell and to donate to charity.”

Kingery and Massey plan to take the students on field trips to give them a firsthand look at local food production.

They have also lined up an extensive list of speakers from the Extension Service, MAFES, the National Resources Conservation Service and Mississippi Solar.

Each presenter’s topic ties in with important farm elements: soil, water, energy and production. All of the educational sessions will lead up to a Spring Break work week.

Dallas O’Bryant, a senior from West Point studying agribusiness, took the class to learn strategies to help his existing business.

“I grow produce on about 10 acres of family land and sell at the different local farmers’ markets,” O’Bryant said. “I don’t have a high tunnel, so this course will help me figure out if it’s an investment I want to make.”

O’Bryant said MSU needs an on-campus farmers’ market for the students to have close access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“I think having a farm here that can sell produce to students and teach students more about where their food comes from is something that’s been needed for a while,” he said. “It’s exciting to be part of getting the student farm started.”

By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Ag Communications

Board of Supervisors Meeting Feb. 4

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:55:00 +0000

The Winston County Board of Supervisors met on Monday, February 4. The Board’s agenda was as follows:

Heard from Jimmy Kemp of Kemp and Associates concerning subcontracts with state aid bridge projects.
Constable Ed Hunt asked the Board for lights and constable markings for his vehicle to insure the public as to his identity when out in the county. The Board asked Sheriff Jason Pugh to help out Constable Hunt on this matter.
Beth Edwards of the Winston County Library gave the Board an update on the library and the activities that are offered there.
Patsy Patterson of Golden Triangle Planning and Development updated the Board on Rural Development Grants, Community Block Development and HOME GrantsPresentation and the County's current status of eligibility and requirements.
Claudell Weaver, Dean Park Commissioner, gave the Board an update on bathrooms to be built at Dean Park. They are still looking at quotes from several contractors and asked the board to consider helping with cost of the construction. The Board told Weaver to get quotes and they would consider the issue.
Tax Assessor Larry Woodward presented several Homestead deletions and changes for Board approval.
E M A Director Buddy King asked the Board to consider a contingency plan for disasters such as the Courthouse burning in Webster County. King says it would be a good idea to have something in place here in case of such an occurrence and is open to any ideas and suggestions on how to get this done.
Warden Tim Palmer gave Board update on Correction Facility. Palmer also informed Board that contraband was being brought into facility. They are also looking for a medical doctor to serve inmates.
Board acknowledged receipt of FY 2012 Forestry Funds - $132,304.79
Acknowledge expense summary for December 2012
The Board approved the following:
Order to correct minutes from September 17,2012 meeting accepting interlocal agreement to transfer Coy Church Rd. and Kemper Co. Bridge #101 to Winston Co.
Approved coast to coast marketing agreement for county employee RX cards. No cost to County
Approved attendance of Attorney Caroline Moore for Guardian AD Litem Training
Approved attendance of Chancery Clerk Julie Cunningham at Midwinter Conference
Acknowledge emergency purchase of water heater for the DHS Office
Approved veterans training for Terry Kelley
Approved solid waste additions/deletions
Approved attendance of Circuit Clerk Kim Ming to Redistricting Training.

The full agenda of this meeting is available at the Chancery Clerk's Office and minutes will be available once approved at the next meeting.

Speed Up Your Computer By Removing Clutter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Obsessive-compulsives are not the only ones who should note that the second Monday in February is National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Cleaning a computer is a great way to speed up the computer, find files more quickly and prevent pesky viruses and spyware from taking control of the hard drive.

Start with the desktop. If there any unused icons or files saved on the desktop, delete them. Most desktop icons are simply shortcuts for easy access to other programs installed on your computer. I have a bad habit of saving photos people email me to the desktop so I can find them easily. Photos take up a lot of space and should be moved to the “My Pictures” folder under “My Documents.” The fewer documents, photos and other files saved to your desktop, the faster your computer boot-up time will be.

Don’t forget to clean out your recycle bin, which can be found on your desktop. Carefully review the items to be deleted and then empty the recycle bin. Once items have been deleted from the recycle bin, consider them gone for good. Technically speaking, they can be restored but it will take a great deal of time, effort and money to pay a technician to retrieve the lost files.

Next up is that jungle known as the “My Documents” or “Documents” folder. I always have the best of intentions of organizing my files, but the phone rings, the dog barks, and I’ve simply saved another file randomly in the My Docs folder. The only problem is that over time it can be increasingly difficult to find those files. Try organizing your documents folder much like a filing cabinet. Create folders under documents for various topics such as banking, taxes, family and church. To create order out of chaos, open the docs folder and right-click in a blank area. In the pop-up menu, left-click “New” and then left-click “Folder.” Name the folder and press “Enter.” If you accidently click off of the folder and it will not let you type in the name field, just right-click on the folder and in the pop-up menu left-click “Rename.”

Once you have created your folders, you can left-click once on the document that needs to be filed and then hold down your left mouse button and drag the file to the folder. When the file is hovering over the folder, release the mouse; the file has been successfully moved. Continue until all of your files have been organized.

Honestly, most of us are not going to take the time to organize our files. So, the next best thing you can do is to defragment the hard drive. Every computer has a program called Disk Defragmenter. You can find yours by going to “My Computer” and doing a search for “Disk Defragment.” Once you find it, open the program and left-click “Defragment.” Defragmenting takes all of the same types of files and organizes them on your hard drive so the computer can access them more quickly.

Another great tip for cleaning a computer is to delete temporary Internet files and cookies. Any time you get out on the World Wide Web, cookies and temporary files store on your computer. Over time, they can slow the computer down and lead to annoying pop-ups. To delete them, open Internet Explorer and left-click “Tools/Internet Options.” In the “Delete Browsing” box, left-click “Delete.” Check cookies and temporary files, and left-click “Delete.” If you haven’t done this in a while, it may take a few minutes to complete.

Last but not least, run a program, such as Spybot Search and Destroy, which looks for spyware, malware and adware on your computer. The program is free and can be downloaded from http://www.safer-networking.org/. Once the program has been installed, left-click “Check for Updates.” It may take several minutes for the program to run. When finished, it will give a listing of the problems it found and ask if you want the program to fix them. Left-click “Yes.”

Now that the cleanup is done, it’s time to start the party. Celebrate National Clean-Up Your Computer day with friends, family and coworkers.

By Mariah Smith
Extension Center for Technology Outreach

HARPER REFILES DISABILITIES PROPOSAL

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:20:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R–Miss.) reintroduced a legislative package today that aims to redesign federal programs for individuals living with intellectual disabilities as they transition from secondary school to the workforce.

The three bills, collectively referred to as the “Transition toward Excellence, Achievement and Mobility” (TEAM Act), aim to support youth with significant disabilities from adolescence to adulthood and refocus federal resources on improved outcomes in post-secondary education and integrated employment.

By promoting meaningful post-secondary educational and employment opportunities, this package intends for intellectually disabled citizens to gain full-time employment in an integrated setting at a livable wage. The plan also seeks to produce long-term career development and community inclusion through independent living and social engagement opportunities.

“In order for individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their maximum potential, Congress must enact a systems change,” said Harper, a third-term lawmaker and longtime champion for the disabilities community. “The current federal disability laws are hopelessly outdated and will ultimately lead to unemployment and poverty for these children.”

The “TEAM-Education Act” ensures that schools are provided the necessary guidance and resources to proactively engage transition coordinators who assist America’s disabled children during their public education tenure.

The “TEAM-Empowerment Act” creates an adult transition planning process and system of supports for youth and their families under the supervision of state disabilities agencies.

The “TEAM-Employment Act” seeks to stimulate a national system-change initiative, which will establish that agencies coordinate services better to produce the desired outcomes of integrated living and employment.

“This legislation helps promote an efficient blending of resources and coordination of services among federal and state agencies,” added Harper. “As the father of a special needs child, I understand the need for these reforms and the urgency to act.”

Harper’s 23-year-old son, Livingston, lives with Fragile X Syndrome. This disorder is the most commonly inherited form of intellectual disabilities and the only known genetic cause of autism.

The Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination (CPSD) has endorsed this legislation. This advocacy group is a network of eighteen national disability organizations committed to high-impact public policy reform to promote the economic advancement of citizens with significant disabilities.

Fire Dept. Responds to Early Morning Fire

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:35:00 +0000

At 4:14 A.M on Monday morning, the Louisville Fire Department responded to a reported fire located at 119 South Church Street. The structure was being used as a car wash and detailing business. A vehicle being stored inside the structure is believed to be the point of origin for the fire. The building sustained some fire and heavy smoke damage. No one was injured as the structure was unoccupied at the time. We'll have more details when they become available.

Check It Out at the Winston County Library

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:14:00 +0000

The following FICTION BOOKS are now available for checkout at the library:

Sherryl Woods – After Tex

Robert Crais – Suspect

Linda Howard – Shadow Woman

W.E.B. Griffin – Empire & Honor

Brad Meltzer – The Fifth Season

P.C. Cast/Gena Showalter – After Moonrise

Vanessa Davis Griggs – Blessed Trinity; The Other Side Of Dare

Lori Copeland – Under The Summer Sky

Gena Showalter – Last Kiss Goodnight

Stephen Hunter – The Third Bullet

Ramona Bridges – Sweet By & By; Standing On The Promises

Gillian Flynn – Dark Places (author of Gone Girl)

Max Brand – Sky Blue

James Rollilns – The Blood Gospel

Robert B. Parker’s Ironhorse

Bertrice Small – Bianca

James Patterson – Private Berlin

Jayne Ann Krentz – Dream Eyes

Robert Jordan – A Memory of Light

Mary Jane Clark – Footprints In The Sand

James Grippando – Blood Money

Tracie Peterson – To Honor & Trust

Kimberla Lawson Roby – The Perfect Marriage

Bernard Cornwell – 1356

Joyce Carol Oates – Daddy Love

Marcia Muller Bhe Bughouse Affair

Rosie Thomas – The Kashmir Shawl

Stuart Woods – Collateral Damage

Janet Evanovich – The Husband

Sue Grafton – Kinsey & Me Stories

Ian McEwan - Sweet Tooth

The following NON-FICTION BOOKS are now available for checkout at the Winston County Library:

W Encyclopedia – The Definitive Guide To WWE

The Petite Advantage Diet: The Specialized Plan For Women 5’4” & Under – Jim

Karas

501 Little Known Facts, Obscure Trivia, World Records & Historical Minutia From The

State Of Mississippi – D. K. White

The Appalachian Trail: Celebrating America’s Hiking Trail – forward by Bill Bryson

The Devil In Pew Number Seven – Rebecca Nichols Alonza

E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street

Band – Clinton Heylin

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program – Gary Small, M.D.

7 Years Younger: The Revolutionary 7-Week Anti-Aging Plan by Editors Of

Good Housekeeping

ECCC Fast-Pitch Softball Team

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:41:00 +0000

Preparing for another successful season are the above members of the 2013 East Central Community College fast-pitch softball team. Lady Diamond Warriors and their respective high schools include (first row, from left) pitcher Mary Sanders (2), Adams County Christian School; infielder/pitcher Amber McBroom (3), Brandon; outfielder Casey Cherry (5), Union; infielders LaJoya Griffin (6) of Philadelphia, Kaylin Hopkins (7) of Louisville and Dakota Vowell (10) of Neshoba Central; outfielder Kristen Chipley (11), Leake Academy; utility player Laken Fulcher (13), Nanih Waiya; and outfielder Marlee Massey (15), Neshoba Central; (second row, from left) infielder Lindsey Beard (17), Clarkdale; outfielder Morgan Porter (19) and infielder Malauri Robinson (21), both of Enterprise; pitcher Tenna Patterson (22), Lexington (Ala.); infielders Ty Buckley (23) of Neshoba Central and Hayley Stephens (24) of Union; and outfielder AJ Peeler (27), Neshoba Central; and (third row, from left) Courtney Nunn, assistant coach; managers Sam Evans of Union and Jordan Clearman, Katherine Upchurch and Eden McGee, all of Neshoba Central; and Kristin Chaney, head coach. (EC Photo)