The South Reporter — Thursday, February 16, 2012


Thursday, February 16, 2012
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Capital improvement plan flies

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Sue Watson

Aldermen Harvey Payne and Calvin James consider the mayor’s comments about capital fund needs.

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to ask the Mississippi Legislature for authority to add a 1 cent on the dollar sales tax.

The revenue, if authorized, would eventually produce $8 million to purchase equipment such as a town weather siren, heavy equipment for departments and police vehicles.

Mayor Andre’ DeBerry urged the board last year to approve $21 million, with this $8 million to be funded by local and private legislation. The remaining $13 million he recommended would be used to upgrade streets and sidewalks and would be paid for with bonds.

Full Story

Cash flow solved

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

A tight cash flow problem the Marshall County Board of Supervisors experiences every year in November and December was solved in January 2012.

“It’s rolling in,” said tax collector Betty Byrd, who reported collections as of the end of January.

February 1 every year is the day when property taxes are due or become delinquent.

Full Story

Photo by Sue Watson

Tree planting

The Byhalia Garden Club recently celebrated Arbor Day by planting a magnolia tree at the Erma Rogers Head Start Center. A group of club members were welcomed by Eleanor Fordyce, club president, with alderman Joe Tunstall leading the invocation. Jan Sisk, club first vice-president, spoke to students briefly about the importance of planting trees and caring for them. The magnolia was donated and planted by Brooks Brownlee with Brownlee Farms. Afterward, everyone was invited to a reception. The Head Start center has 176 students with the youngest 6 months and the oldest 4 years old. The center has 10 classrooms and operates on the hours of 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Students get breakfast, lunch and snacks. National Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April, but states and communities set their own times for celebration. Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton from Nebraska who saw a need for more trees in his state.

Photo by Sue Watson

New magnolia

Byhalia Garden Club members, other community leaders, and teachers and children from the Erma Rogers Head Start Center participate in the planting of a magnolia tree on the Head Start campus in recognition of Arbor Day.

Police chief reports force needs

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Chief James Dean reported to the Holly Springs Board of Aldermen last week his assessment of the equipment and staffing situation as he found it during his first month at the police department.

Dean began his duties as police chief January 9.

The fleet of patrol cars is aging rapidly, he said. Most vehicles have upward of 80,000 miles with many over 100,000 miles on the odometer. One car is out of service and the dog catcher’s pickup is about shot.

Full Story

Zoning approves Class I rubbish site

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Sue Watson

Jon Porter (left) discusses plans for a Class I rubbish site on his property in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park. His attorney, Bill Schneller (back), and zoning board members (right, from front) Joe Hurdle, Flick Ash and Bill Kinkade look on.

Two developers, with 73 acres each located in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park, were given the green light to take the next step in obtaining a permit for a Class I rubbish site.

Jon Porter, speaking to the Marshall County zoning boad for both partners, said the site should have very little impact since there are few residences in the area. The site would accept construction wastes from the building of structures and demolition of structures, he said. It could accept tree debris, and appliances after motors are removed, sheetrock, wood, cardboard, cans, and masonry, but no household waste, he said.

Full Story

Career Day

Former graduates of St. Mary's, Cadet, and now known as Holy Family School, recently gathered for Career Day. Students led the morning devotional and entertained prior to being introduced to several dozen alumni from the school.

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Registration underway for ServSafe class

ServSafe Food Certification Class will be taught March 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and the certification exam will begin at 3 p.m. on March 29.

The class will be held at the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority located at 520 J.M. Ash Drive in Holly Springs.

Cost of the course is $130. The deadline to register is February 27, and the class is limited to 15 people. There must be at least seven people registered for the class to be offered.

Call the Marshall County Extension Service at (662) 252-3541 for additional details and to register.

Street Smart intended to prevent injury, save lives

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Students in grades 9-12 at H.W. Byers School and Bethlehem Church School heard straight talk and saw graphic images of authentic automobile wreck scenes recently from firemen with the Street Smart Program.

The program is designed to warn high-schoolers about unsafe decisions that lead to accidents, life-time injury and death. It shows what paramedics and firefighters see when a wreck occurs that could have had a different outcome if choices had been made differently.

Full Story

Photo by Sue Watson

Talking newspaper

A group of journalism students from Rust College recently visited The South Reporter office to learn more about photography, news gathering and other aspects of the weekly newspaper business. Editor Barry Burleson (right) is pictured answering questions from the college students.

Photo by Sue Watson

Cutting the ribbon
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, conducted by the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce, was held February 9 at MaSea’s Nails and Spa, located in the the Holly Springs Commons on Crescent Meadow Drive. Alderman-at-large and vice mayor Johnnie Bagley-Johnson, representing the City of Holly Springs, was on hand to cut the ribbon for owners Chelcey and Jacqueline Malone. Many Marshall Countians joined the celebration.

Four face drug charges

The Holly Springs Police Department reported seven recent felony arrests, several for possession, according to chief James Dean.

Officers responded to 83 calls last week.

Full Story

Tax preparer enters guilty plea

A Holly Springs man pled guilty last week to an indictment in federal court.

Thelbert Lamont Lesure, 40, pled guilty to count one of an indictment, charging him with knowingly preparing and transmitting a fraudulent tax return to the IRS, according to Felicia Adams, United States attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and James C. Lee, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.

Full Story

Photo by Barry Burleson

Go Lions

The H.W. Byers cheerleaders were selling “Lion City” towels during the Region 2-1A Basketball Tournament last week. Shelia Moore uses hers to help lead cheers from the stands as the Lions and Lady Lions advanced to North State competition this week.

Byhalia Police Department responds to variety of calls

The Byhalia Police Department responded to 26 calls during the past week.

Chief Gary Looney released the following report – alarm calls, 2; miscellaneous, 8; escorts, 5; assists, 2; motor vehicle accidents, 1; fires, 1; medical, 6; and trespassing, 1.

Byhalia police officers also made one arrest during the past week, according to Chief Looney.

Is it spring yet?

Colet Pierce submitted this photo of an iris in full bloom at her home. This picture was taken Sunday, February 5.

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