ABERDEEN – The Monroe County Narcotics Unit arrested four people in two separate incidents Monday.

A traffic stop on Highway 41 resulted in the arrest of Gayla Marie Blansett, 49, of Okolona. She was charged with possession of ICE, a concentrated form of methamphetamine.

Later that day, officers served a search warrant on Hurt Martin Road where they arrested Angela Faith Blansett, 35, of Okolona; William D. Bryant, 52, of Mooreville; and Randy Blansett, 35, of Okolona. All three were charged with possession of ICE with intent to distribute.

All four are being held in the Monroe County Detention Center.

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Special to the Chickasaw Journal

PITTSBORO – Two Calhoun County residents have been arrested in connection with the death of Billy Covington.

Frankie T. Jones, 26, of Pittsboro, was charged with first degree murder, and Ashley Hobson, 24, of Calhoun City, was charged with accessory after the fact. During their arraignments Friday, bond for Jones was set at $500,000 and the bond for Hobson is $250,000.

“They’ve both been in jail for several days,” said Calhoun City Sheriff Greg Pollan. “We picked up Jones on two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. She has been here since Saturday on a misdemeanor DUI charge.

“While they were in here, we got the information we needed to charge them.”

Covington, 26, was discovered in a ditch along County Road 308 about three miles west of Calhoun City by walkers on the morning of July 11. He was killed by at least one gunshot.

“The case is still under investigation, but we are confident we have the primary people responsible in custody,” said Pollan. “We do not anticipate any more arrests.”

The post Two charged in Calhoun County death appeared first on Chickasaw Journal.

Daily Journal

TUPELO – A Tupelo woman is facing a felony charge and up to 10 years in prison for allegedly trying to sell her son.

Kathryn Herring, 31, was formally charged with offering to sell a child Wednesday afternoon. According to Tupelo Police detective Lt. Lynette Sandlin, the arrest was the result of an investigation that began in February.

“Citizens came forward and alerted authorities that she was trying to sell her child,” said Sandlin. “It’s been a lengthy investigation, and we have documented that on numerous occasions, she tried to sell the child for profit.”

The Department of Human Services placed the 18-month-old boy in foster care months ago when the allegations emerged.

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(Floyd Ingram / Buy at photos.chickasawjournal.com)
Police and sheriff’s deputies listen to a quick exercise assessment following Thursday’s Emergency Management Agency drill of shots fired at Houston School of Science and Technology.

By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

HOUSTON – It is too late to train when the call comes in, and local emergency response crews learned the hard way last week what can go wrong should a shooter show up at Houston schools.

The Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) hosted a live drill Thursday morning where a person with a gun got inside the Houston School of Science and Technology, shot students and administrators and then attacked law enforcement fire and ambulance crews responding to the scene.

“The scenario was the parent of a bullied student showed up during a class change, walked into the school and started shooting,” said Brian Maske, MEMA Exercise Officer. “The purpose of the drill is not to point fingers, but to let a community see how they respond, how bad it can get and see how they react.”

The drill saw 13 people “die,” including seven students and faculty and six law enforcement officers who entered the building and tripped a homemade bomb.

“Do you understand what happened and why we did this?” Maske said in his After Action Review. “You can never train for everything, but you can learn how horrible it can get.

“People always say it won’t happen here,” he added. “But it does happen and it is local agencies who respond and react when seconds count.”

And overwhelming the local response was part of the drill.

“Communications between agencies is always a problem in every drill we conduct,” said Maske. “It can be as simple as gathering intelligence on the situation and getting it to the right people or getting the right number of fire and ambulance crews on the scene.”

Linda Griffin, Chickasaw County Emergency Management director, said every agency was observed and graded by an EMA professional.

“We will take their notes and reviews and see what we can do better,” said Griffin. “These type drills are becoming more and more common because it does happen. There will be a drill in Webster County in a few weeks. I hope our people can be part of that drill.”

Houston School Superintendent Tony Cook said training is part of the education process and he was glad Houston schools could be a part of the exercise.

“It opened my eyes and we will go over this with our employees,” said Cook. “Safety of students and employees is the first job of the Houston School District. I learned a lot and that is ultimately why we did this.”

Teaching basic first aid to school employees was one area Griffin said she wanted to pursue and she felt that would be beneficial in less serious situations, too.

Houston Police Chief Billy Voyles said the drill hammered home a need to prepare for the worst and a need to work with local agencies to develop teamwork.

“You can’t just show up and decide to do something,” said Voyles. “Everybody has a job to do at something like this and we all need to know who handles what.”

Chickasaw County Sheriff Department Chief Deputy James Meyers said the exercise got people to think outside the box.

“Things like this happen quick and you have to respond quick,” said Meyers. “Anyone who has ever been in law enforcement knows training teaches you what to do so you don’t have to spend valuable time figuring out what you should do – what is the best thing to do immediately.”

Griffin said she was pleased with number of emergency personnel Chickasaw County got to the scene and how quickly they responded.

“People in this county really come together when things get bad,” said Griffin. “We saw that after the tornado came through a few years ago. Helping Houston, our schools and the county be ready to deal with disaster is what emergency management is all about.”

The drill lasted two hours and saw all Houston school go into lockdown.

Griffin said the Chickasaw Emergency Management Agency tries to hold a large drill once a year to train emergency personnel, schools, municipalities and the community.

“We held a table top drill in Houlka two years ago and we held a drill in Okolona last year where a train derailed,” said Griffin. “We have learned a lot of ways to make our community safer from both those drills and we learned a lot Thursday about the best way to respond.”

The post Training for the worst appeared first on Chickasaw Journal.

JACKSON – The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office arrested a Bruce man and charged him with possession of counterfeit goods with the intent to sell.

Henry Davis, 49, was recently arrested following a joint investigation involving the Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division and the Pontotoc Police Department. A tip from a concerned citizen led authorities to Davis.

According to Attorney General Jim Hood, the investigation uncovered that Davis was allegedly selling counterfeit textile goods within the city limits of Pontotoc. Several different types of counterfeit goods, including NFL hats, jerseys, purses and wallets were also seized during his arrest.

If convicted, Davis faces up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

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By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

OKOLONA – To say some people in Chickasaw County need to pay their debt to society is a little bit of an understatement.

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors were presented numbers from unpaid Justice Court fines and fees last week with more than $1.8 million currently due the county.

The list presented to the Board of Supervisors contained names of those already convicted in Okolona and Houston Justice Court Districts and covered 60 pages.

“That’s a lot of money,” said District 3 Supervisor Russell Brooks. “If we could get some of that we might be able to fix roads and things around here.”

Current figures have $825,754.27 in unpaid fines due in Houston Justice Court and $1,058,518.96 in unpaid fines due in Okolona Justice Court.

“If you arrested people and locked them up they might find a way to pay that fine,” said Chickasaw County Sheriff Jimmy Simmons. “But constables are elected and if they are not wanting to serve (those warrants) you can’t do much.”

Board of Supervisors President Jerry Hall said the county turns many of those fines and fees over to Mississippi Warrant Network, a business that charges a fee on fines they collect. The service basically makes a telephone call seeking payment for old fines and even garbage fees.

The current justice-court-to-constable-to-county system of paying fines has several weak spots.

Judges can only fine offenders and sentence them to jail upon conviction and they are not responsible for collecting old fines or serving warrants or arresting those who fail to pay. Constables can only execute the warrants and papers that are presented to them and signed by a judge. Both Constables and Justice Court Judges are freely elected and don’t answer directly to the County Board of Supervisors.

“I try to work with people and I don’t want to lock someone up that has a job and then they lose their job,” said Houston Constable Billy Voyles. “I will say people who owe fines know they owe fines and they need to work with the judge to make payments.”

Voyles said one of the main ways old fines get paid are when the debtor rolls up to a highway safety checkpoint and has their driver’s license run by officers running the roadblock. Voyles said a lot of old fines get paid when police and deputies make a routine traffic stop, too.

“It’s too late then and we do carry them to jail at that point, if they can’t pay the fine they owe,” said Voyles. “Like I said, people know if they have an unpaid ticket and they need to tend to business before they get stopped.”

Judges can look at their unpaid fine list and issue bench warrants for contempt of court to those with unpaid fines. Constables are then charged with issuing those new warrants and the offender has to pay additional court costs, constable fees and can be jailed by the judge when they are hauled into court the second time.

Chickasaw County has fines and fees on its books going back to 2002.

Houlka’s Board of Aldermen recently asked Houlka Police Chief Ray Laney to send letters to those owing fines in Houlka Municipal Court.

With the state’s reduction of inmates serving time in county jails, many counties are looking harder at unpaid fines and putting people in jail and letting them work off fines in county-monitored work programs.

In 2005 Pontotoc and Monroe counties collected more than $200,000 in delinquent fines and court fees with special sessions of Circuit Court aimed solely at finding and arresting those with significant fines.

Monroe County collected $117,703.32 in old debts and Pontotoc County raised $91,456.

In Monroe County, all defendants owing money to the county were summoned to explain why they had not paid. Police departments in Amory and Aberdeen, as well as the sheriff’s department and probation and parole officers, served process on these cases.

Court officials said at the time, as word of the sweep spread through the community, many came in voluntarily and paid their fines.

Pontotoc collected $150,000 a year earlier using the same process.

Anyone wanting to know if they owe a fine can all the First District Justice Court Office in Houston at 456-2878 or the Second District Justice Court Office in Okolona at 447-3402 during regular business hours.

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By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

HOUSTON – You can rake those leaves into as high a pile as you want, but don’t put a match to them!

Mississippi is still under a state-wide burn ban and that means anyone caught burning anything outside can be cited and fined up to $500. Despite recent rains the state has extended its burn ban that was initially imposed by Gov. Phil Bryant on Oct. 20.

“It’s been July since we have had any significant moisture on the ground,” said Houston Fire Department Captain Jonathan Blankenship. “Chickasaw County Supervisors issued a burn ban at thair meeting Tuesday morning and the Governor backed it up with a statewide ban later in the day. People need to realize it is dangerously dry out there.”

A state-wide burn ban was issued in 2010. The Mississippi Forestry Commission estimates it has responded to more than 430 wildfires since Oct. 1. Those fires have consumed more than 7,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes and buildings, destroying 23.

All local fire departments and law enforcement agencies are reminding residents it is illegal to burn anything outside during a burn ban.

“Call us before you burn to find out if the burn ban has been lifted,” said Blankenship. “If you light a fire and we are called, we have to show up, put it out and are required to issue a citation.”

Blankenship said the decision to extend the burn ban has been made at the state level and county and city officials must obey that ruling.

Chickasaw County’s imposed burn ban is effective until at least Nov. 2. The statewide burn ban will be monitored by the Forestry Commission and adjusted on a daily basis.

While there is a 20 percent chance of rain this weekend, it would take a substantial, soaking rain for the

In Chickasaw County the current average Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is over 600, with some areas of the state over 700. The maximum drought index number is 800, and the current levels indicate the county is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. In addition, the current and forecast fire danger ranges from high to very high.

KBDI is a soil/duff drought index that ranges from 0 to 800 and is based on the soil capacity in 8 inches of water. The depth of soil required to hold 8 inches of moisture varies. A prolonged drought – high KBDI – influences fire intensity largely because fuels have a lower moisture content.

Blankenship said area fire departments will respond to call of people burning leaves and citations will be issued.

“You just don’t need to be burning leaves right now,” said Blankenship. “Yes, you may be able to contain your fire, but the embers can drift a long way in the wind and start a fire.”

And fire officials remind the public that ignorance is no excuse for burning or being responsible for a wildfire.

“I want to remind everyone they are always liable for any damage caused by any fire under their control,” he added. “It takes seconds – literally seconds – for a fire to get out of control and then it is too late. We’re begging people to please not burn anything outside until the burn ban is lifted.”

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Daily Journal

OXFORD – The University of Mississippi Police Department has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to independently investigate an incident involving a temporary police officer and a fan during the Ole Miss-LSU football game Saturday.

Christopher Barnes, 27, was arrested on three charges after a confrontation with police that was captured on video and then shared on social media. The confrontation ended with Barnes apparently being struck in the face by one of the officers after a verbal altercation.

The temporary officer is a member of the New Albany Police Department, but he was not on duty as a New Albany Police officer and was working independently at the time of the incident, according to a statement released by New Albany Police Chief Christopher Robertson.

Robertson said the officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay until further information becomes available.

Robertson said since the officer was not on duty or representing New Albany when the incident took place, the police chief is awaiting the outcome of the university’s investigation before considering further action.

According to the Lafayette County Detention Center docket, Barnes was charged with public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was booked at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and released on bond at 9:50 a.m. Sunday.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department stated in a press release Monday no one from the department will comment on the incident until the investigation is complete.

University of Mississippi Police Chief Tim Potts said no additional information will be available until the FBI completes its investigation.

“We do not tolerate violent behavior on our campus, and our request for an independent FBI investigation should make it clear that we are taking this situation very seriously,” Potts said.

Witnesses with information that would be beneficial to the investigation are encouraged to contact either the UPD, which is continuing its investigation, or the FBI office in Oxford. Contact UPD at either 662-915-7234 or upd@olemiss.edu.

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OXFORD (AP) – A Calhoun County supervisor faces federal charges that he solicited bribes from timber haulers.

Earnest M. Fox of Bruce was indicted Friday on two counts of interference with commerce by extortion. WCBI-TV reports that FBI agents arrested Fox on Wednesday. Neither Fox nor the FBI could immediately be reached for comment.

Fox faces up to 40 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.

The indictment states that on two occasions, once in early April and then again between April 15 and June 9, Fox sought bribes. The indictment alleges that, the first time, Fox demanded a campaign contribution in exchange for the hauler continuing to move logs and leave mud on county roads. The indictment alleges Fox demanded additional payments directly to himself the second time.

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Special to the Chickasaw Journal

OXFORD – A Calhoun County supervisor faces federal charges that he solicited bribes from timber haulers.

Earnest M. Fox of Bruce was indicted Friday on two counts of interference with commerce by extortion. FBI agents arrested Fox on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Neither Fox nor the FBI could be reached for comment.

If convicted Fox faces up to 40 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.

The indictment states that on two occasions, once in early April and then again between April 15 and June 9, Fox sought bribes. The indictment alleges that, the first time, Fox demanded a campaign contribution in exchange for the hauler continuing to move logs and leave mud on county roads. The indictment alleges Fox demanded additional payments directly to himself the second time.

MDE charges principal with cheating on state tests

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) issued an administrative complaint on Dec. 16 against Lowanda Tyler-Jones, principal of Heidelberg Elementary School in the Clarksdale Municipal School District, for violating state law by knowingly and willfully cheating on state assessments.

This is the third complaint filed as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of testing irregularities at Heidelberg Elementary School. MDE is seeking to revoke the license of Tyler-Jones.

“Our investigation has yielded evidence that Ms. Tyler-Jones directed and encouraged cheating during the 2012-13 school year,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “As I have said before, we remain committed to pursuing the appropriate disciplinary action against those who were involved in the testing irregularities.”

The complaint alleges Tyler-Jones participated in, directed, aided, counseled, assisted in, encouraged or failed to report any acts in violation of during the administration of the 2013  Mississippi Curriculum Test Second Edition (MCT2).

“Principals are charged with ensuring that all of the students in their schools receive a quality education. Cheating by a principal undermines the integrity of the school, deprives students of an opportunity to learn, and puts students behind academically. A school leader who engages in this type of conduct does not belong in any school,” Wright said.

Complaints of fraud, abuse or waste of students, tax dollars or state testing should be made to Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Internal Accountability, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS, 39205 or by calling 601-359-3052.

Two charged with capital murder in Pittsboro slaying

Two men have been arrested and charged in the murder of a Pittsboro resident.

Vintrell Bobo, 21, and Rocdriques Denton, 24, both of Calhoun City, were arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department after a home invasion that left 24-year-old Kenneth Patterson Jr. dead.

Bobo and Denton have both been charged with capital murder and are being held on $1 million bond each.

The men were allegedly involved in a home invasion at 9-B Private Road 2001 in Pittsboro on Tuesday. Patterson was shot and killed.

Bobo was injured during an exchange of gunfire and is being treated at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Denton is being held in the Yalobusha County Jail.

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ABERDEEN – Monroe County narcotics agents arrested an Alabama couple and a Monroe County man over the weekend on drug charges.

Christina Ann Abbott, 40, and Clinton Matthew Joshlin, 35, both of Carbon Hill, Alabama, and Dustin A. Long, 29, Aberdeen, were arrested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as the result of traffic stops and each charged with possession of controlled substance.

Long was arrested Friday on Highway 278, and Abbott and Joshlin were arrested on Lake Lilly Road in Prairie.

Long was bonded on a $15,000 bond. Abbott and Joshlin, who were arrested Saturday, are currently in the Monroe County Detention Center awaiting arraignment.

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By Ray Van Dusen

Monroe Journal

Bond was set Thursday at $1 million for Charles Thompson, 40, of Aberdeen, who was arrested on Wednesday and charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of weapon by a felony.

The charges are in relation to a shooting at Cullum Apartments that left one man dead and sent another to the hospital.

Thompson is currently being held in the Monroe County Detention Center.

On Wednesday, Troy Weaver, 50, was fatally shot at the apartment complex, and his son, Everett Morgan, was also shot but is expected to make a full recovery.

According to Buzzy Cullum, who owns the apartment complex, Weaver was a longtime tenant of the apartment and never had any troubles with the law.

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Downs

By William Moore
Daily Journal

SALTILLO – A 22-year-old Saltillo woman is facing numerous felony charges after an early morning chase up U.S. Highway 45.

In addition to traffic violations, Lindsey Downs, 22, of Northgate Circle, Saltillo, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Saltillo Police Chief Grant Bailey said it began around 12:30 Monday morning when a patrol officer clocked a motorist doing 65 mph in a 45 zone along Highway 145 near Turner Industrial Park Road.

“By the time he got turned around, she was already on the four-lane,” said Bailey. “When he caught up to her near the primary school, she was doing 100.”

When the officer tried to stop the 2015 Hyundai, the driver accelerated. Speeds reached 140 as the pursuit headed north and ended inside the city limits of Baldwyn when Downs wrecked.

“After the wreck, we found almost 93 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the car,” said Bailey. “She also had on her a firearm, that was reported stolen out of Tupelo.” Officers also seized $1,100 in cash.

Downs was taken to the North Mississippi Medical Center for medical treatment. When she was released, she was taken to jail. Bailey said Downs will initially be charged with possession of the controlled substance. Additional felony charges, including felony fleeing and possession of a stolen firearm, could be added during the grand jury process.

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By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

HOUSTON – One of two people sought for a shooting in Thorn on Thursday has been arrested and authorities hope to make a second arrest in the shooting today.

Rudy Flores, 18, of Tupelo and formerly of Houston, was arrested about 2 a.m. in a motel room in Holly Springs. Flores has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and is currently in the Chickasaw County Jail. Flores is expected to be arraigned and bond set on Monday.

“We believe at this time that four people were involved in this shooting,” said Meyers, Friday morning. “We are still getting conflicting stories about what was going on. They all knew each other and so we have a good suspect and hope to make an arrest as soon as we can run him down.”

Meyers said deputies responded to a call on County Road 405 near Thorn at 12:02 a.m Thursday and found two men on the roadside near their vehicle and suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower part of their bodies.

Sean Russell, 24, of Houlka, and Eddie Bailey, 42, of Houston, were transported to a hospital in Tupelo in serious but stable condition.

Meyers said Russell and Bailey are expected to make a full recovery and authorities have interviewed both victims.

Meyers said early in the investigation they had developed suspects and knew they were a “high flight risk” and have worked with area state and federal authorities to track the two suspects down.

“Our investigation has us talking to people who knew these people and where they all were prior to the shooting,” said Meyers. “Anyone with details on this incident is urged to call the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department at 456-2339 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-8477. All calls are anonymous and there is a reward.”

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Chickasaw County Sheriff James Meyers stands with an automatic rifle, pistols, drugs, paraphenalia and cash seized in a drug arrest recently in Okolona.

By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

CHICKASAW COUNTY – The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department has executed two search warrants and arrested four people on drug charges following information provided by the public.

Robert Wall, 38, of Okolona, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine on Tuesday after a search of his residence turned up methamphetamine and paraphernalia.

John Blankenship, 35, of Okolona, was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver/enhanced in presence of firearms after a search of his home turned up high-grade marijuana, seven grams of methamphetamine, a police scanner, a .40-cal. automatic pistols and semi-automatic AR-15 rifle.

Also arrested at Blankenship’s residence were Amber Pepper, 26, of Houston, and Adrian Gonzales, 31, of Tupelo. Both were also charged with possession of methamphetamine. Cory Brown, 33, and Samantha Cline, 26, both of Houston, were also arrested on drug charges.

Several hundred dollars in cash and assorted drug paraphernalia were also seized in the searches.

“We developed this case from calls from the community,” said Chickasaw County Investigator Michael Fowler. “We obtained search warrants and executed them and found these drugs and weapons. As with all drug arrests, we hope these arrests will lead to more arrests.”

A check of the pistol recovered in the Blankenship search is believed to have been stolen from the Memphis Police Department, and authorities are checking to see how it came to Okolona and if other charges can be brought.

“I want to commend our investigators and others for this investigation and these arrests,” said Chickasaw County Sheriff James Meyers. “We are trying to start the year off right and urge the community to call us if they have concerns about any kind of possible drug activity.

“We may not make an immediate arrest, but we will investigate it,” he added. “We are going to put a damper on illegal drugs in Chickasaw County.”

The suspects were placed in the Chickasaw County Jail. A court appearance was scheduled to set bond.

If convicted, those arrested could serve up to three years in prison.

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JACKSON (AP) – The Hinds County Sheriff’s Department says a traffic stop Wednesday resulted in one of the largest interdiction seizures of methamphetamine – reportedly valued at $3 million – in state history.

Officials said in a news release that the discovery was made by a Hinds County K-9 unit after a 2015 Toyota Corolla was stopped near Interstate 55 for careless driving.

Authorities said two men inside the vehicle told law enforcement they had traveled to Jackson from Atlanta to visit friends.

According to the sheriff’s department, the vehicle was searched with the occupants’ consent. During the search, 30 kilograms of methamphetamine was found.

Sheriff Victor Mason says the department has not released the suspect’s names at the request of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He also indicated that others are involved and the investigation is ongoing.

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By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

HOUSTON – One of two people sought for a shooting in Thorn on Thursday has been arrested.

Rudy Flores, 18, of Tupelo and formerly of Houston, was arrested about 2 a.m. in a motel room in Holly Springs. Flores has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and is currently in the Chickasaw County Jail. Flores is expected to be arraigned and bond set on Monday.

“We believe at this time that four people were involved in this shooting,” said Meyers, Friday morning. “We are still getting conflicting stories about what was going on. They all knew each other and so we have a good suspect and hope to make an arrest as soon as we can run him down.”

Meyers said deputies responded to a call on County Road 405 near Thorn at 12:02 a.m Thursday and found two men on the roadside near their vehicle and suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower part of their bodies.

Sean Russell, 24, of Houlka, and Eddie Bailey, 42, of Houston, were transported to a hospital in Tupelo in serious but stable condition.

Meyers said Russell and Bailey are expected to make a full recovery and authorities have interviewed both victims.

Meyers said early in the investigation they had developed suspects and knew they were a “high flight risk” and have worked with area state and federal authorities to track the two suspects down.

“Our investigation has us talking to people who knew these people and where they all were prior to the shooting,” said Meyers. “Anyone with details on this incident is urged to call the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department at 456-2339 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-8477. All calls are anonymous and there is a reward.”

The post Man arrested in Thorn shooting appeared first on Chickasaw Journal.

This week’s Chickasaw Journal contains news about a major drug sweep on the regional level that reached into Chickasaw County. It is the first major, regional, significant bust in this community in several years.

There is a new Sheriff in town and while he was not directly involved in this investigation, he knew they were here and stepped aside to let them do their work. We hope the word is getting out that illegal weapons, dope and alcohol are not tolerated in Chickasaw County.

This newspaper also supports the decision of our school board to allow sweeps by law enforcement and their animals of local schools. Some say headlines of drug busts at local school are bad news. We think anything that is done to keep drugs out of our school is positive. Sweeps with the drug dogs is just a tool that keeps drugs out of our schools.

We would like to point out whatever is found in our community will be found in our schools, our factories and even in our churches.

But let’s not just pick on schools. Industry should allow drug sweeps of their property. Local retail store parking lots should allow the drug dogs to sniff around.

And with that this newspaper hopes it is the threat of such searches and subsequent punishment for law-breakers that will keep drugs, guns and illegal alcohol out of our community.

We do have a newly elected Sheriff and we hope voters will press him to take a hard line on drug use and trafficking in our community. In two years Houston will have city elections and we will vote on a police chief. City voters need to voice their concerns and city fathers need to back up the chief and officers when they make a bust.

It’s here, it’s tolerated to some extent by many and it needs to be stamped out. We believe drug roundups need to be a regular event for this county and community.

Your Chickasaw Journal does not like running the names of people arrested for drug crimes. We would like to point out we usually run crime news on inside pages and try to put positive and influential stories on Page One.

We hope the good people of this community will take the opportunity to talk to their children, neighbors and family members about the negative ramifications of the recent sweep. Lives have been changed. We hope they will get the message across to their children, family and friends that illegal drugs, guns and crime will be swept out of our community.

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By Floyd Ingram

Chickasaw Journal

CHICKASAW COUNTY – Federal, state and local authorities executed search warrents and made arrests Tuesday on people living in Chickasaw, Calhoun, Clay, Pontotoc a variety of drug charges related to an alleged methamphetamine ring.

The indictment came out of U.S. District Court in Oxford and named 12 in the court document with the names of two people blacked out in the indictment. The indictment named a person from California and authorities are continuing their investigation.

“I was notified a while back that federal and state agents were in Chickasaw County,” said Chickasaw County Sheriff James Meyers. “We offered our assistance and I have repeatedly told them we stand ready to help any agency any way we can stop illegal drug use in Chickasaw County.”

Meyers said he was called late Tuesday morning by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and informed arrests were being made.

The indictment was signed by United States Attorney Felicia C. Adams and followed direction of a grand jury for the Northern District of Mississippi.

The following eight individuals were arrested on warrants stemming from that indictment. They are listed by name, nickname (if any) and hometown:
• Christopher “G” McKinney, Pheba.

• Morickus “Hot Boy” Davidson, Una.
• Akida “Kid” Williams, Fresno, Calif.
• George “Head” Fields, Una.
• Christopher “Wolf” Graham, Una.
• Contessa Gates, Eupora.
• Deanta Ewing, Vardaman.
• Robert Bailey, Ecru.
• Trent Montgomery, Ecru.
• Terry Lynn McKinney, Vardaman.
• Jennifer Criddle, Houston.
  • Paul “Wall” Jackson, Cedar Bluff.

The indictment alleges those arrested were part of a linked network to obtain and distribute methamphetamine, specifically between California and Mississippi. The indictment also said proceeds from the drug transactions were deposited into various banks in Tennessee and Alabama.

Property subject to forfeiture and named in the indictment as part of the organization included, a Rossi high-powered rifle, three automatic pistols, a 2010 Nissan Maxima and more than $7,400 seized from a home in Una and $5,100 from a home in Houston.

The charges against the major players in this indictment carry, if convicted, sentences of from 10 years to life and fines up to $20 million.
The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Other law enforcement agencies who provided assistance include the U. S. Marshal Service, Sheriff’s Department in Clay, Chickasaw, Calhoun, Webster and Pontotoc counties, Houston Police Department, Pontotoc Police Department and Calhoun City Police Department.
The indictment is not evidence of guilt and each defendant is presumed innocent until a verdict is declared.

No trial date, arraignment or bond was named in the indictment.

The post Feds arrest 12 in four counties appeared first on Chickasaw Journal.

By Bobby Harrison

Daily Journal Jackson Bureau

JACKSON – Parents will be eligible for up to $5,000 per year in state funds to send their children to private schools under legislation pending in both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature.

The legislation could be taken up as early as today in either the House or Senate Education committees or both.

“They are calling it scholarships, but in reality it is public education funds going to private schools,” said Rep. Jay Hughes, D-Oxford.

Hughes said the state funds, which under the legislation is capped at about $29 million for the first year, but then escalates, could be used to provide funds for the purpose of home schooling children.

Gov. Phil Bryant and others have said they want to provide more school choice options for parents who are not satisfied with the public schools. Other pending legislation, for instance, would allow students to move from a poor-performing district to a better-performing district.

The voucher legislation, though, is what is receiving the most attention.

In a news release, Bryant said of the proposal, “This bill is a tremendous step toward ensuring that every child in Mississippi has the opportunity to choose a high-quality education.”

The bill would be an enhancement of the legislation that passed last year to provide $6,500 per year for parents of special needs children to pursue private education options.

Under what is being considered this year in addition to the vouchers for special needs students, low-income students would be eligible for vouchers of $5,000 for private-education options while middle-income students could garner $4,000 and high-income earners could receive $3,000.

“You could make $1 million a year and get the funds,” Hughes said.

It is not clear how the legislation would be impacted by Section 208 of the state Constitution, which reads no funds shall “be appropriated toward the support of any sectarian school, or to any school that at the time of receiving such appropriation is not conducted as a free school.”

Hughes and others question the wisdom of providing vouchers to private schools when the public schools have been underfunded $1.7 billion since 2008.

bobby.harrison@journalinc.com

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