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The Daily ReView
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Maurice Mitchell
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Sandersville man threatens to blow up jail
A Sandersville man called the Jones County jail on Friday and threatened the corrections staff when he told them to deliver a message to a female inmate. Now, he can deliver his own messages to her. He’s in custody at the jail, charged with making a bomb threat.
Maurice James Mitchell, 33, of Cotton Drive, called the jail around 2 p.m. to leave a message for a female inmate, then reportedly told the correctional staff, “they better get the message to the inmate within 20 minutes or he was going to blow the jail up,” said Sgt. John Smith of the JCSD.
The phone call was traced to Mitchell’s residence and he was placed in custody by Sandersville Police Department and JCSD investigators shortly thereafter. He is now in custody at the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
“We take threats of bomb or explosive devices very seriously,” Sheriff Alex Hodge said. “It is a felony offense to make such a threat therefore we will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to Mississippi Code, it is against the law to report that a bomb or any other weapon of mass destruction has been placed in any public or private location, knowing that such report is false. Anyone convicted of the crime could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Friday the 13th accidents: 5 injured, snake angered
Four people were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on collision near the 1800 block of Mill Creek Road on Friday afternoon. Volunteer fire and rescue units from M&M and Glade were dispatched to the incident at 5:04 p.m. and responded. Arriving personnel advised that a GMC pickup and Pontiac passenger car had collided with an adult female trapped in the passenger car which left the roadway and crashed down an embankment.
A 2-year-old girl in the car was extricated by passersby while the man driving the pickup was able to extricate himself with his passenger, a boy, unable to escape the vehicle due to injuries. M&M firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to extricate the trapped female victim in the Pontiac and all four of the injured were transported in two EmServ ambulances to South Central Regional Medical Center for injuries that didn’t appear to be life-threatening.
Units from the Jones County Sheriff's Department also responded to the scene, which closed Mill Creek Road for more than an hour. The roadway was wet from a steady rain in the area although deputies were still investigating the scene to determine the cause of the accident. In addition to having four victims injured with one trapped, firefighters extricating the woman had to deal with a large, unhappy cottonmouth that was just a couple of feet away from the car, but it slithered away, to the relief of emergency responders.
Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna also responded to the scene along with two rollback wreckers, which were required to tow the extensively damaged vehicles away. M&M Fire Chief David Jordan served as incident commander.
Later that night, an Ovett man suffered a head injury while attempting to pull a boat out of a wooded area by his home using a tow strap hooked to both the boat and his Ford Ranger pickup. As the tension on the tow strap increased and the boat failed to move due to its weight, the metal hook on the tow strap broke through the fiberglass boat shell and the hook and strap were propelled forward and through the rear glass of the pickup, striking the victim in the back of the head.
Ovett volunteers were dispatched to the scene and reported the victim was conscious and alert, but had suffered a skull laceration and was bleeding profusely. The victim was transported by EMServ to SCRMC for treatment of his injuries, which were not believed to be life-threatening.
Ovett firefighters, medical first-responders and McKenna responded to the incident, which occurred on Ovett-Moselle Road near downtown Ovett.
— By Lance Chancellor/Jones County Fire Council PIO
Fire destroys Sharon home, kills family dog
An early morning fire destroyed a home on Lake Como Road in Sharon on Sunday. Homeowner Polly Clark and her five guests escaped from the burning home just after 2:30 a.m. after being awakened by smoke detectors. They were able to get one of the family dogs out of the home, but one reportedly died in the fire.
Sharon Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Hodge, who served as incident commander, reported heavy fire conditions and requested more water from the Sandersville Volunteer Fire Department. Fire units were on the scene until 5:30 a.m., then had to return just after 10 a.m. to extinguish hot spots. Agencies that assisted included the American Red Cross, Dixie Electric and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. The home was deemed a near loss with an estimated $75,000 in damage.
On Saturday night, Ovett and Johnson volunteers were dispatched to a fire at a double-wide mobile home on Upper Ovett Road. Search and rescue teams went into the burning structure because of reports that there may be residents inside, but they later learned that the occupants, Ricky and Bonnie Graham, weren’t home.
Firefighters reported that flames in the front door of the area had extended into the living room area. Fire units were dispatched at 9:10 p.m. and were on scene until 11:47 p.m. conducting salvage and overhaul operations. Damage was estimated at $15,000.
Ovett Fire Chief Gordon Pitts served as incident commander. Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna was on the scene along with the American Red Cross and Dixie Electric.
— Dan McKenna contributed
STATE CHAMPS! 8-year-old Nationals take AA title
PASCAGOULA — The Laurel Jones County 8-year-old National All-Stars scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a tie, then the defense withstood a bases-loaded threat to knock off Kosciusko, 7-4, in the AA state championship game Tuesday night.
“It was back and forth all night, but our defense was better than our hitting tonight,” LJC coach Todd Allred said. “This team just stayed together and didn’t get down. They play good together.”
The team’s record over the summer was 30-2.
Amid the celebration, some parents and coaches admitted to being frustrated that a scheduling snafu prevented their team from getting to advance to the AA World Series in Longview, Texas.
“Someone got the dates messed up, so we won’t get to go,” Allred said, “but we’re going to take them somewhere ... maybe to a Braves game.”
In the title game, Mark Diers, DJ Allred, Kelton Keene, Jaylen Ayers and Cade Law all had two hits apiece while Mason Smith, Dayvis McLeod, Dawson Brooks, Lane Pitts and Brayden Barksdale all contributed singles.
After the game, LJC and Kosciusko players, coaches and fans gathered on the pitcher’s mound to pray for a Kosciusko player who reportedly suffered a stroke during the game. His condition was not known.
8-year-olds to play for state championship tonight;
American 9s, National 10s seal spot in state tourney
The Laurel-Jones County 8-year-old Nationals will play for the state championship tonight (Tuesday) in Pascagoula. They will face the Kosciusko-McComb winner at 8 p.m. immediately after those two teams play.
The LJC squad suffered its first loss of the tournament on Monday night, 11-8, to McComb. “We just made a few errors,” coach Todd Allred said.
The LJC team beat McComb twice in district play this year and beat Kosciusko by the 10-run mercy rule earlier this week. LJC opened the tournament with a mercy-rule win over Carthage, then edged Lawrence County, 11-10.
In other action:
• The LJC Nationals eliminated the Americans from the 11-year-olds’ tournament with a 7-2 win in Magee on Monday night. The Nationals were coming off a loss to defending state champion Hattiesburg the previous night. The Americans’ other loss in the double-elimination tournament was to the Nationals on Saturday.
• The undefeated LJC 9-year-old Americans mauled McComb, 24-3, in three innings on Monday night to set up a rematch with the LJC Nationals in the South State tournament at the Sportsplex tonight at 8. The McComb squad forfeited in the third inning. The LJC squad’s win clinched a spot in the state tournament in Hattiesburg, which starts Saturday.
• The undefeated LJC 10-year-old Nationals used some late-inning heroics to beat Lincoln County, 4-3, on Monday night. With the win, the LJC team earned a spot in the state tournament in Hattiesburg. The home team will play Lawrence County tonight at 8.
Late rally boosts LJC 10s in opener
Hayden Bryan ripped an RBI triple and scored the winning run on Christian Carter’s infield dribbler to give the Laurel Jones County 10-year-old National All-Stars a dramatic, come-from-behind 7-6 win over Lawrence County in the opening round of the South State tournament at the Sportsplex late Friday night.
The home team trailed 5-1 going into the fourth inning but rallied for four runs, highlighted by back-to-back run-scoring hits by Bryan and Bynum.
Lawrence County scratched across the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth, but Bryan answered in the bottom of the inning with a line drive over the centerfielder’s head. When he crossed home plate on Carter’s grounder to third, it set off a wild celebration on the field that served as a prelude to the opening-night fireworks show, which started at almost midnight because of a rain delay.
Bryan, who was the starting pitcher, had a triple and a double to lead the offense and Bynum picked up the win in relief.
Lawrence County took advantage of seven walks in the first two innings to take the early lead, but the LJC squad capitalized on four Lawrence County errors to help pull off the win.
The LJC squad was set to play district champion Moss Point at 8 p.m. Saturday.
In other all-star action:
• The 9-year-old Americans crushed the Nationals, 18-2, in an all-LJC South State opener at the Sportsplex. The Americans won their two previous matchups, 10-9. The Americans play Saturday at 8 p.m. and the Nationals play at 6 p.m.
• The 11-year-old LJC Nationals crushed host Magee, 14-0, in their South State opener on Friday. Steven Sasser pitched the five-inning, three-hit shutout. He struck out six and didn’t issue any walks. Their next game is at 4 p.m. Saturday.
— See more details and photos later online and in the print edition. Report results by e-mailing revieweditor@bellsouth.net.
Richton man killed in Ovett wreck
A Richton man was killed in a one-vehicle crash at Highway 15 South and Upper Ovett Road at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
A friend of the family who was on the scene identified the victim as Odis Thompson, who worked at Auto Glass Unlimited in Laurel. He was in a pickup with that decal on the side at the time of the crash.
Ovett and Union volunteer firefighters and Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna had to work for more than 30 minutes to extricate the man from the truck, which apparently ran off the road and crashed into a culvert. Jones County Coroner Nancy Barnett pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Family members gathered nearby while firefighters were removing their loved one from the crumpled cab of the vehicle.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Forest Service, Investigator Wayne Black of the Jones County District Attorney’s Office and EmServ also responded.
The victim appeared to have been heading north when he lost control of the vehicle and went down a steep embankment before crashing into the side of the ditch, Trooper Scott Goddard said. — By Mark Thornton/The ReView
Higginbotham receives prestigious Grassroots Champion Award
Each year, the American Hospital Association honors one individual in each state with the Grassroots Champion Award, to recognize excellence and commitment to grassroots advocacy efforts relating to important health care issues. Mississippi's 2010 recipient is Doug Higginbotham, executive director for South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. Higginbotham was recognized at a special Breakfast of Grassroots Champions at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in April and was also recognized during the Mississippi Hospital Association’s annual Leadership Conference.
The American Hospital Association created the Grassroots Champion Award to honor leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and their patients.
“We depend upon strong local voices to help tell the story of hospitals as cornerstones of the communities they serve,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “This award is a small token of our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of these individuals to improving health and health care in America.”
He has made many outstanding accomplishments in grassroots advocacy. He has taken a proactive role in shaping health care policy through his involvement in such organizations as the American College of Health Care Executives.
In his numerous affiliations and leadership roles, Higginbotham has an extensive track record of being an effective voice for our hospital community. He currently serves on the MHA Board of Governors and served as board chairman from 2000-2001. He also served as chairman on the MHA Committee on Legislation, where he worked to shape policy decisions to help hospitals and the patients they serve. In addition, he served as chairman of the Mississippi Hospital Association’s Committee of Past Chairmen/MHAPAC Board and continues to serve on the board. He takes a proactive role in political action committee support, which helps to elect decision-makers who champion health care issues. As a member of American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board in Region 4, Higginbotham is also involved in policy development on the federal level.
According to Mississippi Hospital Association officials, Higginbotham is always one of the first to respond on any grassroots call to action affecting hospitals. In addition, he takes advantage of every opportunity to educate policymakers on complex health care issues. He leads by example and encourages others to increase their participation in the legislative process.
“This award recognizes Doug’s hard work and determination to provide strong leadership for hospitals in our state,” said Sam W. Cameron, president and CEO of Mississippi Hospital Association. “He is truly engaged in every aspect of legislative advocacy on both the state and federal levels. His enthusiasm spreads throughout his hospital and to other leaders in the health care community. He exemplifies this award, because he goes above and beyond the call of duty and makes it his personal mission to serve as a crusader for health care in our state.”
‘High School Musical 2’ opens tonight
"High School Musical 2" will open at the Arabian Theatre tonight (Friday) at 8. There will be a Saturday show at 8 p.m. and a Sunday show at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5. The director of the production us Cynthia Welborn.
Sandersville man arrested for pot plants, meth-making materials
A Sandersville man was arrested Tuesday after Jones County Sheriff’s Department narcotics investigators discovered several marijuana plants near his home along with the makings of a methamphetamine lab, Sheriff Alex Hodge said.
Jason Yarber, 27, was charged with possession of precursor chemicals and manufacturing marijuana after officers executed a search warrant at his home, which is in the 400 block of Sandersville-Eucutta Road. He was on probation for a previous precursor charge, Hodge said.
“Investigators discovered several marijuana plants alongside a well beaten path leading to a wooded area beside the residence,” Hodge said in a press release. “A search of the property also revealed several precursor chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine and a cooler full of instruments used in a meth lab.
The marijuana plants were 3 to 4 feet tall, Hodge said.
Yarber was arrested and taken into custody at the Jones County Jail without incident.
Story of survival in Sandersville ‘a miracle’
On Wednesday afternoon, a 2-1/2-ton pickup truck fell on Brad Keith and trapped him underneath until he lost consciousness. The next night, he was back at home recovering. He didn’t have any broken bones. No internal injuries. Just soreness.
There’s only one explanation for her husband’s survival, Tracy Keith said: “It was a miracle. God saved my husband.”
Mr. Keith had changed the transmission fluid in his Chevrolet Silverado at his Sandersville-Pleasant Grove home that afternoon when he decided to adjust the linkage in the transmission. After shifting it from “Park” to “Neutral,” he went back to work under the vehicle and, to his wife’s horror, the truck rolled down the car ramps onto his chest and stomach area, she said.
Her husband was able to talk for a few minutes before fading out. Mrs. Keith ran in to call 911 and told 19-year-old daughter Deavon what had happened. And she began to pray.
“I begged for God to help me,” she said. “I was trying to get him out ... but I couldn’t even think how to use (the jack).”
Her prayers were answered. She was able to stop a passing motorist and inside the vehicle were a father and two sons and another man who was a home health nurse. They were able to jack up the truck and get Mr. Keith out, but he wasn’t breathing. His wife was sure he was dead.
“You don’t understand,” Mrs. Keith said, her voice cracking with emotion, “he was black when they pulled him out from under there.”
But the nurse was able to resuscitate him.
“He was gasping,” she said. “I’m not sure what he did ... they were keeping me away, I was so upset.”
Mr. Keith was airlifted from the scene by a Baptist LifeFlight helicopter to Forrest General Hospital. When his wife arrived there, he had regained consciousness.
“He was alert and talking ... I couldn’t believe it,” Mrs. Keith said.
She was thankful for the selfless actions of the passersby. She believes they were God-sent.
“I hope they read this,” she said.
According to Jones County Sheriff’s Department reports, the “good Samaritans” were Kendall Robertson and Marty Cheeks.
Volunteer fire and rescue units from Rustin, Sandersville, Powers and Pleasant Grove from Wayne County responded, along with ambulances from EmServ and Wayne County General Hospital. Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna and JCSD units also responded. Northeast Jones Fire District Chief John Bounds served as incident commander.
— By Mark Thornton and Lance Chancellor
Tearful testimony on first day of Nathan Key trial
The prosecution began the Nathan Key trial today with emotional testimony from the 5-year-old’s mother, Lori Key, and the driver of the school bus the kindergartner was riding the day he was run over and killed in front of his home.
Video footage of the accident shot from a camera inside the bus brought tears to many in the court room, including Nathan's parents, who watched from the front row. Defendant Dominic Gebben remained solemn throughout the trial.
Lori Key took the stand first, describing how she was in the line of cars behind the bus on Dec. 11, 2009, when Nathan was struck and killed while crossing the street to his house. She said she saw her other children kneel down and knew something bad had happened. After having a wreck while trying to get to her driveway, Key first saw a pair of small back boots that she knew belonged to Nathan.
Mrs. Patrick, who was driving the school bus, choked up as she described the last few minutes of Nathan's life. Although Nathan, who was sitting on the front row of the bus, could not be seen in the video, Patrick's voice could be heard telling an excited Nathan to please sit down. That brought tears and a slight smile to the face of father Andy Key, who has often described Nathan as “full of spirit.”
The video does not show the Key children crossing the street, but the shadow of Gebben's car as it passed the bus and struck Nathan can be seen. Patrick's voice can be heard screaming in the video.
Patrick testified that after Nathan was struck, she ran to him.
“I held his hand and told him I love him and to hold on,” Patrick recalled.
Numerous other witnesses were called by the prosecution, including Tony Shaw, who chased down Gebben after he fled the scene.
The prosecution plans to rest by noon tomorrow. The defense does not dispute that Gebben struck Nathan and fled the scene, but they are seeking a lesser charge. If found guilty, Gebben faces 20 years for manslaughter and five for fleeing the scene of a crime. It is not known if the defense will call Gebben to the stand.
— By Lauren Leist/The ReView
Farmers' market postponed by rain
The opening day of the Laurel Farmers Market was postponed Friday because of rain, according to Laurel Main Street director Jackie Lee.
The market will open Friday, June 11, 3-6 p.m., at the corner of Oak and Front streets. The market will feature homegrown products, some arts and crafts, as well as live music.
Escapee swallows meth, in critical condition
An Ovett man who had reportedly escaped from Walnut Grove Restitution Center in Leake County several weeks ago was is in critical condition after swallowing drugs while being arrested by Jones County deputies on Thursday.
Jason Holmes, 23, was facing charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and probation violation when Jones County Narcotics Deputies arrested him Thursday at the home of a relative on Ovett-Moselle Road, where Holmes was residing. They found a “large amount” of the ingredients used to make the drug and an inactive meth lab after receiving information that Holmes was there, Sheriff Alex Hodge said.
Holmes was arrested and transported to the Jones County Adult Detention Center and charged with probation violation, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of precursors.
He was later transported to a local hospital by EMSERV Ambulance after reporting that he had become ill from ingesting a large amount of meth Holmes told authorities that he ingested the drugs after he discovered that Narcotics Deputies were at his residence. Holmes remained in critical condition as of Thursday, Hodge said.
JCJC’s Gardner, Pierce, Williams receive postseason honors
Three Jones County Junior College baseball standouts have been tabbed for postseason recognition.
West Jones’ sophomore outfielder Tyler Gardner, Northeast Jones’ sophomore pitcher Cory Williams and Stringer freshman pitcher Andrew Pierce were selected to the All-MACJC team. Gardner and Pierce were selected for the All-Region 23 team.
Gardner, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound Delta State University signee, led the Bobcats in the “Triple Crown” categories with a .413 batting average, 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. He was also the team leader in stolen bases with 19 and slugging percentage at .749.
Gardner was selected NJCAA Division II Player of the Week for April 21 when he hit .785 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. Eight of the RBIs came in JCJC’s 19-8 victory over Co-Lin, where he belted a grand slam and a three-run home run.
Pierce, a 6-foot-2, 165-pound righthander, posted a 10-2 record with a 1.94 ERA and a team-leading four saves. In 93 innings pitched, he struck out 106, allowed just 69 hits and walked only 23. He had two shutouts and opponents only hit .199 against Pierce.
Pierce was the NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Week for March 10 when he threw a no-hitter at Mississippi Delta Community College. He had seven strikeouts in JCJC’s 4-0 victory vs. the Trojans and faced the minimum of 21 batters in the seven-inning game.
Williams, a 5-11, 170-pound William Carey University signee, also posted a 10-2 record with one save. The righthander had a team-best 1.67 ERA. In 75-1/3 innings, he notched 51 strikeouts, allowed only 57 hits and walked only 15. Williams tossed three shutouts and held opponents to a .205 batting average.
These players helped head coach Christian Ostrander’s Bobcats to a school-record for victories in 2010. JCJC went 38-12, won its first MACJC South Division championship and advanced to its second straight state tournament.
— By Shawn Wansley/JCJC
ALL-MACJC Team
SOUTH
Jones County – Tyler Gardner, Andrew Pierce, Cory Williams
Hinds – Nick Schneeburger, Josh Clarke
East Central – Quin Stokes, Richie Long
Pearl River – Ashley Graeter
Southwest – Kyle Wheeler, Scott McDaniel
Gulf Coast – Jeremy Hill
Co-Lin – Kendall Logan
NORTH
Itawamba – Ladarrius Cole, Joseph Koon, Will Irvin
Holmes – Jayson Keel, Bubba Cooper
Northeast – Brandon Farley, Michael Collie
Northwest – Seth Millorn, Chad Wardlaw
Delta – Spencer Brunson
East Mississippi – Drew Vaughn
Coahoma – Demarcus Rieves
ALL-REGION 23
Jones County – OF Tyler Gardner, P Andrew Pierce
Hinds – IF Nick Schneeburger
LSU-Eunice – IF Ralph Rhymes, P Chance Mistric
East Central – C Quin Stokes, IF Richie Long
Pearl River – IF Ashley Graeter
Itawamba – OF Ladarrius Cole, P Joseph Koon
Holmes – OF Jason Keel
Gulf Coast – DH Jeremy Hill
Defensive Player of the Year – C Jacob Fisher, LSU-Eunice
Bobcats fall to Pearl River, finish season at 38-12
JACKSON – A season on the road came to a close for the Jones County Junior College Bobcats here Friday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium.
Pearl River edged the Bobcats, 5-4, in a losers’ bracket game of the MACJC Tournament.
JCJC ends the year with a school-record, 38-12 record. It is a remarkable accomplishment, considering the Bobcats played every game on the road this season because of the ongoing construction of the Community Bank Park Baseball/Softball Complex.
Head coach Christian Ostrander’s Bobcats have gone 74-28 in his two seasons at the helm.
Pearl River, 26-26, will advance to the 7 p.m. Friday contest vs. the loser of the 4 p.m. winner’s bracket game between East Central and Hinds. The top three teams in the tournament will advance to the Region 23 Tournament May 20-22 at Hinds, the highest remaining seed left in the tournament. The tournament concludes Saturday.
Wildcats 5, Bobcats 4 — The Wildcats used the pitching of freshman lefthander Buck Bernard to keep the Bobcats in check for most the game.
Bernard kept the Bobcats scoreless until the seventh, as he improved to 8-3.
Pearl River took a 2-0 lead in third when Matt Linton led off with a single and Jake Hawkins walked. B.J. Smith then reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs.
Matthew Magee’s sacrifice fly to right drove in Linton and Temple Harvey’s ground out scored Hawkins.
Pearl River increased the lead to 4-0 in the sixth when Harvey singled and Graeter followed with a two-run home run.
JCJC finally got on the board in the seventh when Chase Headrick singled to center and Nick Ray followed his fifth home run, a two-run blast over the rightfield wall to make it 4-2.
The Wildcats added a crucial run in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs, Hawkins singled and advanced to second and third on wild pitches. He would score on a passed ball.
The Bobcats came back in the eighth.
Brock Landry singled to left with one out and Chris Lofton followed with a ground-rule double to left-center. Zachary Robertson’s groundout scored Landry and Tyler Gardner delivered a two-out, run-scoring single. Headrick then reached on a two-base error to place runners on second and third.
Ray was then intentionally walked to load the bases. But Darion Hamilton grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
In the ninth inning, the Bobcats were retired in order and their season came to a close.
Lofton had two singles and a double for JCJC, while Landry singled twice. Ray homered, while Ryan Roberts, Headrick and Gardner added singles.
Cory Williams (10-2) started, went 6 2/3 innings and took the loss. He gave up four runs, nine hits, one walk and struck out two. Bryce Penny faced two batters and walked them both. Blake McIlwain went the final 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit.
Graeter homered and singled for PRCC, while Hawkins singled twice. Linton, Smith, Bryn Whitehead, Harvey, Grae Orman and Zach Farrar added singles.
Bernard started, went 7 1/3 innings, scattered eight hits, walked only one and struck out four. Sean Kelly went 2/3 of an inning and allowed one hit and one walk. Taylor Martin pitched the ninth inning, got a strikeout and recorded a save for PRCC.
— By Shawn Wansley/JCJC
Pearl River 5, JCJC 4
Jones County (38-12) 000 000 220 – 4 9 1
Pearl River (26-26) 002 002 10x – 5 10 3
WP-Buck Bernard (8-3). LP-Cory Williams (10-2). 2B-Chris Lofton (J). HR-Nick Ray (J); Ashley Graeter (P).
Warriors stun JCJC with six runs in ninth
JACKSON – The Jones County Junior College Bobcats face a “win or else” situation on Friday.
The rallied from a 3-0, fifth inning deficit, tied the game in the sixth and scored six unearned runs with two outs in the ninth to stun the No. 15 Bobcats, 9-3, here Thursday night at Smith-Wills Stadium in the opening round of the MACJC Tournament.
The Bobcats, 38-11, now will face Pearl River at 1 p.m. on Friday in an elimination game. The winner of that game will qualify for the Region 23 Tournament next week. The season will end for the loser. Pearl River lost 4-0 to Hinds in Thursday’s opening game.
The Warriors, 37-15, will take on Hinds at 4 p.m. in a winners’ bracket game. The winner of the JCJC/Pearl River game takes on the loser of the Hinds/East Central game at 7 p.m. in an elimination game.
Warriors 9, Bobcats 3 — JCJC took a 1-0 lead in the first when Brock Landry led off with an infield single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on an error.
The Bobcats made it 2-0 in the third when Chris Lofton walked and advanced to third on Zachary Robertson’s single. Lofton would score on a wild pitch.
JCJC went up 3-0 in the fourth when Darion Hamilton walked, took second on a fielder’s choice and scored on Landry’s single.
The Warriors had loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but JCJC starter Andrew Pierce got a strikeout and a double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
But ECCC would tie the game in the sixth.
Andre Yates singled and Richie Long followed with a single. Quin Stokes then followed with a two-run double to center to make it 3-2. Charles Hill then delivered a two-out, run-scoring single to make it 3-3.
That set the stage for the decisive top of the ninth.
With two outs, Blake Lawson singled and Jerrod Myers followed with a walk. Darmaal Moore then hit a slow roller to third. Chase Headrick made a bare-handed grab and threw to first, but Moore was called safe on a bang-bang play to load the bases.
Donnie Tabb then hit another slow roller to Graham Odom at shortstop. He fielded the ball, but it was thrown wide of first base and all three ECCC runners scored.
Yates was then hit by a pitch and Long came to the plate. He blasted his 13th home run of the season, a three-run shot over the rightfield wall and suddenly, the Warriors were up 9-3.
The Bobcats were limited to five hits. Landry had three singles and Robertson had two singles.
Pierce started for the Bobcats, went seven innings, gave up three runs, nine hits, one walk and struck out six. Ryan Waters pitched 1 2/3 innings, gave up six unearned runs, three hits and struck out three. He took the loss and is now 3-4. Jaron Bailey got the final out.
Colton Mitchell, the third pitcher of the evening for ECCC, posted the win. He went 2 1/3 innings, gave up no runs, no hits and struck out one to improve his record to 7-3. Ernie Triplett started, went 2 1/3 innings, gave up two runs, three hits, walked three and struck out three. Tyler Dalton pitched 3 1/3 innings of middle relief, allowed one run, two hits and struck out five.
The Warriors outhit Jones, 12-5. Long homered and singled for ECCC, while Moore, Yates and Lawson all had two singles each. Stokes doubled, while Myers, Tabb and Hill each singled.
East Central 9, JCJC 3
East Central 000 003 006 – 9 12 4
JCJC 101 100 000 – 3 5 1
WP-Colton Mitchell (7-3). LP-Ryan Waters (3-4). 2B-Quin Stokes (E). HR-Richie Long (E).
UPDATE: St. Stanislaus ends Tigers’ season
BAY ST. LOUIS — Northeast Jones’ season came to an end at Stanislaus on Monday night despite a big-time effort by ace Brady McBride, who pitched his second complete game in three days. The junior left-hander allowed only three hits and struck out seven, but the Rockachaws (20-3) managed to score single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Southern Mississippi signee Boomer Scarborough struck out 12 and gave up six hits, but the Tigers couldn't get timely hits. They finish the best season in school history, win-wise, at 22-7.
Tigers rip Rockachaws, force Game 3
A night after getting knocked around at St. Stanislaus, Northeast Jones roughed up the Rockachaws in The Jungle on Saturday to force Game 3 in the Class 4A first-round series. Left-hander Brady McBride shutdown the St. Stanislaus bats to send the series back to Bay St. Louis for the decisive game Monday at 7 p.m.
The Tigers (22-6) dealt the Rockachaws (19-3) their worst loss of the season. The other two losses were 3-2.
Rockachaws knock around Northeast
BAY ST. LOUIS — St. Stanislaus rocked Northeast Jones, 12-2, in Game 1 of the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday night.
A pair of infield errors allowed the Rockachaws (19-2) to score their final two runs and end the game on the 10-run mercy rule in the fifth inning. It was their 14th straight win.
The series returns to NEJ on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Tigers (21-6) face a must-win situation to keep the best season in school history alive. Coach Jeremy Parker will have his ace, left-hander Brady McBride, ready to go.
“We wanted Brady at home ... that’s been our rotation all year,” Parker said. “We wanted to match up our No. 2 with their No. 1 and our No. 1 with our No. 2.”
McBride was the lone bright spot for the Tigers on Friday night. He hit a solo home run to left-center with two outs in the top of the fifth after hitting one to nearly the same spot off the wall earlier in the game. The Tigers’ first run came in the third inning on Catfish Gainey’s bases-loaded fielder’s choice.
The game was closer than the score indicated, Parker said.
“We hit a couple off the wall early, and we just missed a double play that would've got us out of a big inning ... We had five or six little things that would have made a big difference,” he said.
Zac Ferguson took the loss and Southern Mississippi signee Boomer Scarborough got the win. Zander Romano had a three-run homer for the Rockachaws.
The Tigers were without starting shortstop Markas Holifield, who suffered a high ankle sprain in practice this week.
Parker said his players can bounce back if they play to their potential.
“It’s a new season and we’re 0-1,” he said. “That’s the mindset we have to have if we want to come back.”
More severe weather in forecast, Day in the Park should be OK
Less than a week after a killer tornado left a path of destruction through central and north Mississippi, more severe weather is expected this weekend.
Severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and tornadoes are expected to move into the state on Friday and continue through Sunday. The most severe weather is expected on Friday, northwest of a line from Brookhaven to Meridian.
The storms are expected to produce very heavy rainfall. Some locations could receive several inches, according to the National Weather Service, and flash flooding will be a concern going into the early part of next week.
There are several local outdoor activities planned for this weekend, the biggest of which is annual Day in the Park in Laurel’s Mason Park. Local officials said that the weather should be OK for most activities on Saturday — just carry an umbrella for an occasional rain shower. The worst of the weather Saturday is expected to be in the Mississippi Delta and in Arkansas.
Rainfall potential for Jones County is expected to range from 2 to 3 inches Friday through Monday.
Last Saturday’s tornado killed 10 people and damaged or destroyed more than 700 homes in 17 counties in the state.
Tigers take down perennial power West Lauderdale
Brady McBride pitched his sixth straight complete-game win and Catfish Gainey went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Northeast Jones to an 8-2 victory over defending state champion West Lauderdale in front of an overflow crowd at The Jungle on Friday night.
The Tigers (19-3) were shut out by the defending state champion Knights (16-7) in Collinsville on Tuesday night, 10-0.
“I feel like we can beat anybody,” McBride said. “We didn’t have any confidence at their place. Our fans were awesome ... our defense was awesome.”
And they would probably describe McBride’s performance as awesome. He struck out 11, walked two and limited the high-powered Knights to three hits. With a curveball that left batter after batter swinging at pitches in the dirt, he struck out the side in the first and final innings.
Gainey broke the Tigers’ scoreless streak against the Knights in the first inning when he lined a two-run, opposite-field double to left and Hunter Beech made it 3-0 with an RBI groundout.
In the second, Caleb Helton pulled the Knights within a run with one swing, sending a line shot over the fence in left-center to make it 3-2. But McBride responded by picking off the next runner, then striking out the side in the third inning.
After that, it was all Tigers. They took advantage of four Knight errors over the final three innings as they scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth and sixth innings.
Zac Ferguson had an RBI double, McBride drove in two runs when he reached on infield errors and Blake McBride had an RBI. The Tigers had seven hits and were errorless in the field. Beech made two stellar plays at third in the fourth inning, when he assisted on all of the putouts.
“We folded under the pressure over there ... I think we had eight errors,” NEJ coach Jeremy Parker said. “Our fans made a huge difference. I’m very proud of the way they turned out.”
The Knights will still win the outright region championship because of run differential, but the Tigers will try for the co-championship when they take on Laurel twice next week then get ready for the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Last year, the Tigers advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Knights are one of the most storied programs in the state, with an MHSAA record 12 championships.
The Tigers, ranked No. 15 in The Clarion-Ledger’s poll, can get their school-record 20th win today (Saturday) at Taylorville at 6 p.m.
But the 19th win — the one over West Lauderdale — may be the biggest in school history, Parker agreed, who quickly added, “up to this point.”
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
County man caught breaking into old Star Reach Center
Deputies were dispatched to the 600 block of Magnolia Road Wednesday in reference to a possible break-in at the old Star Reach Center on Magnolia Road, Sheriff Alex Hodge reported.
“After further investigation, deputies determined that the suspect allegedly fled the building through a window after making contact with Jones County maintenance employees who were at the building performing maintenance at the building,” Hodge reported.
Shortly thereafter, deputies arrested 22-year-old Davion Jordan at his residence in the 400 block of Smith Chapel Road. He was discovered in the rear of the home. Jordan was charged for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and transported to the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
To report drug or criminal activities to the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, call (601) 425-3147 or leave leave tips by accessing the department’s Web site at: www. jonesso.com. Citizens could receive a cash reward by reporting crime to Crime Stoppers by dialing (601) 428-7867 or (601) 428-STOP.
Officers involved in shooting, suspect killed
A Laurel man who was a suspect in the shooting of a woman at a local nightclub was killed by officers Saturday night, Investigator Kevin Flynn said.
The suspect was shot to death in front of a home on the 1100 block of 1st Avenue after two patrol officers pulled him over for questioning in connection with a shooting that had just occurred at Club Lexus on Ellisville Boulevard. Residents on 1st Avenue identified the man who was shot as Harvey Lee
“Bobo” Fenderson.
“(Fenderson) pointed a gun at the police, and the police pointed their guns at him ... and I went inside after that,” said a resident who would not identify herself.
Another nearby resident said he heard four gunshots. At least one of the officer’s shots hit Fenderson in the head, residents said.
“The whole thing stemmed from a shooting at Club Lexus,” Flynn said. “Officers found the suspect and there was a shooting ... and the suspect is deceased. We’re still putting together what happened.”
It was believed that eight rounds from a .45 caliber pistol were fired from the street in front of the club, which is across from the downtown Fred’s. A woman was shot at least once there, but her name and condition was not known. She was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center.
The officers involved in the shooting are in the Patrol Division, Flynn said, but they were not identified.
The ReView will have more information online when it becomes available.
— Mark Thornton/The ReView
Epilepsy awareness walk Saturday
The Epilepsy Support Group of Laurel will sponsor a walk on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. at Highland Baptist Church and continuing to Mason Park until 11 a.m.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects more than 50 million people worldwide and the number of people with epilepsy worldwide is greater than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined. There are more than 3 million people with epilepsy living in the United States, with an estimated 150,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed this year, despite the fact that diagnosis is established only after a person suffers two or more unprovoked seizures.
Epilepsy does not discriminate due to age, gender or race and an estimated 10 percent of the population is expected to have a seizure by the time they have reach adulthood. The annual medical costs are estimated to be in the $15 billion range.
Last year, more than 100,000 students worldwide, joined by politicians in the United States and Canada, showed their solidarity by wearing purple to support epilepsy awareness. The City of Laurel is asking that individuals, businesses and community groups support the local Epilepsy Support Group by wearing purple on Friday to bring more awareness to this disease.
— By Wanda Benson/City of Laurel Public Relations
Ex-trooper from Laurel says MHP discriminates against blacks? ?
Two black state troopers who were fired last year say that the head of the Mississippi Highway Patrol took revenge on them and other black troopers who have made complaints about the way the department operates.
Jerry Merrill of Laurel and Michael McField of Southaven, both of whom were troopers for nearly six years, are appealing their terminations. During a news conference in Jackson on Monday, they said they believe that Col. Michael Berthay has discriminated against all black troopers.
Merrill and McField said they have filed appeals challenging their dismissals, which were upheld by the state Personnel Board. Both want their jobs back, but not under Berthay.
“You would hate to go back to a job where you worked for a man who thinks he’s God Almighty,” Merrill said.?
In February 2009, the NAACP filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Mississippi's 200 black troopers. In July, the EEOC said it found evidence of discrimination and forwarded those findings to the U.S. Justice Department.?
Just before that complaint was filed, The ReView obtained a letter that was addressed to Gov. Haley Barbour and signed by the “Board Members of the Mississippi Central State Trooper’s Coalition.”
The letter said that “several acts of discrimination” had taken place in the MHP under Berthay to “ensure that Minority State Troopers be denied the opportunity to advance even when they were the most qualified. These unfair practices have plagued this entire organization and have kept it from conforming to the 21st Century.”
Among the allegations detailed in the letter:
• It’s been proven that Minority Troopers received low scores during the interview process from the Interview Board to disqualify them;
• Col. Berthay encourages and continues to allow racial discord to go on and refuses to bridge opportunities for diversity within this organization;
• Col. Berthay continues to allow unfair and harsh discipline towards Minority Troopers while providing a laid back approach to his white counter-part.
The letter went on to allege that Berthay had knowledge of several white troopers in Troop F (New Albany) giving drugs and alcohol to a white female dispatcher, without her knowledge, then raping her. “This matter, which should have been handled by another agency, was instead handled by Internal Affairs, which was a conflict of interest ... Furthermore, the female victim has continuously been harassed and threatened without any relief from Col. Berthay.”
The letter went on to say that white troopers in Troop K (Biloxi) have “solicited large sums of money from organizations, businesses and casinos for personal gain” with Berthay’s knowledge.
The board also accused Commissioner Stephen Simpson of ignoring troopers who voiced their concerns about equality in the department.
The letter listed a dozen other people in MHP supervisory positions who “continue to provide unfair and unjust treatment,” and accused Berthay and others of making racist statements. It also listed 17 black troopers who have been demoted or removed from key positions since Berthay was appointed to his position.
“It appears that his own personal rules override the policies and procedures of the Department of Public Safety,” the letter states. “Governor, the Trooper Coalition is asking that you rectify these problems by removing Col. Berthay immediately from his appointed position as Chief of the Patrol and appoint someone with more knowledge, experience and diversity.
“We, the Trooper Coalition, refuse to allow unfair and unjust treatment.”?
Simpson told The Clarion-Ledger that he appointed a three-member panel to investigate the claims brought forth in the letter, but none of the troopers would come forward with their complaints, he said.
In an e-mailed statement, Simpson wrote: “The grievances from Michael McField and Jerry Merrill were reviewed by their supervisors and up through the chain of command, including the commissioner’s office. They appealed their dismissals to the Mississippi State Personnel Board’s employee appeals board, which received their complaint and reviewed its merits. After full consideration by the appeals board, McField and Merrill’s appeals were dismissed and the agency’s action to terminate was sustained.”
When asked why African-American troopers still on the force weren’t speaking out, McField said, “They want their job. I lost mine for speaking out to The Clarion-Ledger in 2009. It won’t be just two of us in the future (speaking out).”
McGee ready to ‘see what it’s like to do nothing’
After 10 years as Superintendent of Education of the Laurel School District, Dr. Glenn McGee announced his retirement Wednesday afternoon effective June 30.
"It's time," said McGee. "I have no plans. I want to see what it's like to do nothing!"
McGee said that everyone at some point in his life comes to the conclusion that it's time to make a change and he has come to that point.
"It's personal. It's about me, for me,” he said of his decision. “You just know it's your time ... what you value in life ... and what becomes important to you."
He continued by saying that anyone who knows him knows that he walks fast and that he's always on the go and involved in the activities of the school.
"Take last week for example," he said. "Every day of last week and through the weekend I was at a school event."
He explained that after 37 years of a life dedicated to the education system that he's missed out on things, so it's time for him to spend more time with his family, church and friends.
When asked about his achievements during his administration, he said his number one goal when he took the position 10 years ago was to improve the school facilities.
"The buildings were horrible," he said.
He said that the improvements are not where he wants them to be at this point, but the process is in place to make it happen.
Another goal was student achievement and improving test scores. He said that the present scores are not where they should be and do not reflect what the students are really capable of achieving, but that they will be.
"My years have been nothing but positive," he said in conclusion.
He explained that the success that he has experienced as superintendent can be attributed to the people around him.
"I have surrounded myself with the best people of any school district in the state of Mississippi," he said.
"I've done my best. I'm at peace with my decision."
— By Linda Cranford/The ReView
Severe weather coming Tuesday, Wednesday
Tuesday's severe weather is expected to be a precursor to stronger weather predicted for Wednesday, Jones County officials said at a press conference at the Emergency Management Agency on Monday afternoon,
Heavy rain with pea-size hail and isolated strong storms in super cells are predicted for Tuesday night. Those storms will serve as a primer for the atmospheric conditions for Wednesday's storms, said Lance Chancellor, public information officer for the Jones County Fire Council.
"Wednesday could be a long day," said National Weather Service officials. The timing of the weather event could not be determined Monday, so it could be an all-day event. The worst activity could be from 4 p.m. until midnight. There could be golf ball-size hail or larger in some areas, damaging winds and the potential for tornadoes is forecast.
Marda Tullos, Deputy Director of the Jones County EMA, chaired the weather briefing and encouraged the public to stay tuned to local media for updates.
Chancellor encouraged citizens to charge their cell phones, gas up their vehicles and have an emergency preparedness kit ready, with enough food and water to sustain them for at least three days.
By Linda Cranford/The ReView
Deputies arrest Milwaukee bank robber
A Milwaukee man who was on parole for bank robbery is behind bars in Jones County.
Rodell Combest, 39, was awaiting extradition to Wisconsin after Jones County deputies, working with a U.S. Marshals task force,
arrested him at a residence on Brewster-Priester Road on Thursday. Combest was wanted out of Milwaukee by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for parole violation. He was on parole for an armed bank robbery.
“Deputies received information of Combest’s location and, upon securing the exterior of the home, subsequently had to make entry into the home,” Sheriff Alex Hodge said in a news release.
After authorities arrived, Combest went to the attic of the home, but later surrendered from a window on the gabled end of the home. He was taken into custody without further incident and locked up in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility pending extradition to Wisconsin.
Moselle man jailed for meth
A Moselle man was arrested on meth-related charges after Jones County Narcotic deputies executed a search warrant at his home on Russell Lane on Wednesday.
Glinton Dale McDonald, 47, was charged with possession of precursors with intent to manufacture meth while in possession of a firearm. He was transported and booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
While searching the property, deputies found an automatic shaking machine and a large quantity of chemicals that are used to make meth, Sheriff Alex Hodge said, adding that the warrant was a result of an investigation that took place over the past few weeks.
Woman arrested again for forgery
A Laurel woman who was out on bond for forgery has been arrested for embezzling writing more than $5,000 in checks on her employer’s account in only a month. Danita Dement, 38, allegedly wrote checks to herself and her boyfriend from an account belonging to her employer, Innovative Services of Laurel, where she became employed on Feb. 1, Investigator Sgt. Carla McMahan reported.
At the time of the arrest, Dement was out on felony bond for previous charges of forgery and uttering. She was arrested without incident for embezzlement.
Also arrested was Patrick Futrell, 36, for cashing checks and receiving money that Dement embezzled. He was charged for uttering and forgery. Both suspects were booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
Capitol rally for Nathan’s Law Tuesday; bus leaves mall at 6 a.m.
Jones Countians will rally at the Capitol on Tuesday in support of Nathan’s Law, a bill that will up the penalties for drivers who pass stopped school buses. Charter buses will leave the west side of Sawmill Square Mall at 6 a.m. for transportation to the Capitol.
The measure passed the Senate unanimously but hasn’t been brought out of committee for a vote in the House. It is being delayed by Judiciary A Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Blackmon (D-Canton) “for political reasons,” several insiders have said. Tuesday is the deadline for the Legislature to vote on bills.
The bill is named after 5-year-old Nathan Key, who was struck by an SUV and killed after stepping off a school bus in front of his Houston Road home in October. Nathan’s parents, Andy and Lori Key, have become advocates for school bus safety since the death of their son.
Last year, Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ellisville) introduced a bill to stiffen penalties for passing a school bus, but the bill never came up for a vote. The tragedy in Jones County brought the issue to the forefront and McDaniel’s bill quickly passed in the Senate, but it has been held up in the House for weeks.
Taylor hosting town hall meeting today
U.S. Rep. Gene
Taylor is hosting a town hall meeting at Jones County Junior College. 1:30-3 p.m., today (Monday) at the Home Health Auditorium.
Citizens are welcome to attend and ask the longtime Congressman questions about national policies and pending bills. Several members of the local We Surround Them organization have said they intend to be there.
Mother, 4-year-old daughter escape burning home
A Jones County mother and her 4-year-old daughter escaped injury in a house fire at 104 Wisteria Trail just after 3 a.m. Friday. The initial call was dispatched to Powers Volunteer Fire & Rescue with a report of heavy smoke coming from the fireplace area of the home. Upon arrival, Powers firefighters discovered that the wood sub-floor in front of the fireplace was burning with moderate smoke being generated throughout the home.
A quick interior fire attack was initiated while Powers Fire Chief Brent Broadway requested a second alarm, dispatching Glade and M&M volunteers to respond as well since it was not known how far the fire had spread. The fire was quickly suppressed and firefighters used a fan to remove the smoke from the home.
The temperature at the time of the fire was approximately 26 degrees and the family was using the fireplace and a space heater to warm the living room, where they were sleeping while the home was under renovation. The mother and daughter waited in Powers Engine 1 to stay warm while firefighters conducted fire suppression and overhaul operations.
The fire appeared to have been caused by a crack in the fireplace floor, which allowed fire to reach the wood sub-floor. The mother advised that she awoke to the smell of smoke, grabbed her daughter and called 911. The home did have a working smoke detector that activated when firefighters began their interior attack. Units from Powers, M&M and Glade responded. There were no injuries reported at the scene and all Powers fire units were back in service by 5 a.m.
This was the 48th structure fire handled by Jones County volunteer fire departments since the week of Thanksgiving 2009.
Dog heater catches house on fire
A heater that was being used to keep two dogs warm on the porch almost wound up burning down a two-story house Tuesday morning on Graves Road in Ellisville.
Homeowner John Stennett was not home when the blaze started, said his ex-wife, Kimberly Williams, who was on the scene after firefighters extinguished the blaze that charred the front porch and living room.
“The heater caught the dogs’ bedding on fire, and that caught their doghouse on fire,” said district Fire Chief Lee Garick. “There was some damage to the structure before we could put it out.”
The dogs — an Australian shepherd mix and a dachshund mix — were believed to be OK. They “took off running” when a window over the porch exploded during the fire, witnesses said.
Family members said that Stennett always tried to take good care of his dogs. Garick suggested that owners who have to leave their dogs outside during cold weather use cedar chips to keep them warm.
“That’s what I have for my dog, and he hasn’t frozen yet,” Garick said.
Stennett’s 11-year-old son Casey, daughters Amy Cotton, 24, and Amber Browning, 20, and 2-year-old grandson Hunter were also not at home when the fire started.
“It’s by the grace of God that no one was here and no one was hurt when it started,” Williams said.
Ellisville Fire Chief Ronnie McGilberry, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna and volunteer units from Pleasant Ridge and South Jones responded to the fire, which was reported at about 7:15 a.m.
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
Dog saved from burning mobile home
One dog was saved but another one died when a mobile home on Magnolia Road was destroyed by fire on a busy Saturday for Jones County volunteers.
At 9:27 a.m., units from District 3 and 4 responded to a fully involved mobile home at 464 Magnolia Rd. Flames were shooting out of the mobile home and the wood structure that had been added to the back when Sandersville units arrived.
The occupant, Cara Wilkerson, had left to visit her mother shortly before a passerby saw smoke and flames coming from the mobile home and called 911, said Powers volunteer firefighter Lance Chancellor, who is public information officer for the Jones County Fire Council. The cause of the fire was ruled to be from a burning cigarette, Chancellor said.
Because of the cold and snow Wilkerson had put her dog, a bull mastiff, in the house. The dog was rescued from the burning home and tended to by first-responders before taken to a local veterinarian. When fire officials returned to the scene later in the afternoon, the dog was running around in the yard. A Chihuahua that was also in the home was found under the bed but, unfortunately, it had succumbed to the smoke.
The mobile home was deemed a total loss, but landlord Dennis Duke told Wilkerson that he would find them another place to live before the end of the day. Representatives of the American Red Cross and Salvation Army were present to provide additional support to the Wilkerson family.
Also responding to the fire were Powers, M&M and Glade VFDs, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, Dixie Electric Power Association and Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna.
While District 3 and 4 volunteers were on the scene at Magnolia Road, District 1 VFDs Calhoun, Soso, Pleasant Ridge and Hebron were dispatched at 9:53 a.m. to a house fire only a few doors from the Calhoun fire station on Hines Road. The owner of the home is Barbara Smith, who lives next door to the house. Her son returned home to find smoke billowing out of the front bedroom window. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and contain the damage to the bedroom. McKenna was on the scene and later reported that the fire was caused from a faulty extension cord.
Just as volunteers were leaving the scene on Magnolia Rd at 11:10 a.m. Glade VFD was dispatched to a home on Morning Dew Road to the smell of burning wires. Powers and M&M followed Glade to that address. Upon arrival, firefighters located a wire behind the refrigerator that had shorted out and was about to cause a fire.
Earlier Saturday morning, Soso VFD was called to Rainbow Grocery in downtown Soso to a possible fire; however, it was only smoke coming from a wood heater. Southwest VFD responded to a vehicle in the water near the Leaf River Bridge while Boggy and South Jones VFD stood by. However, no occupants were found in or near the vehicle.
— By Linda Cranford/reviewwriter@bellsouth.net
Jones County wakes up to winter wonderland
Most Jones Countians woke up Friday morning to a cold blanket of 3 to 4 inches of snow — more in some places, according to reports — and 3 or so more inches could be on the way before the day is up, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 40 traffic accidents — none of them serious — have been reported in Jones County since the winter weather moved in around midnight, said Lance Chancellor, public information officer for the Jones County Fire Council. Officials were urging residents to stay off the roads unless it's necessary for them to go out. Road conditions are expected to worsen Friday night and Saturday morning as temperatures drop into the 20s and the snowy slush refreezes on roadways. That will cause “black ice” and treacherous traveling conditions, warned Don McKinnon, director of the Jones County Emergency Management Office.
Plenty of children, and children at heart, were out playing in the white stuff in their yards early this morning. And that’s where residents should enjoy the snow — at home — officials said.
Check back on the Web site for updates.
— Mark Thornton
Forecast: 6-8 inches of snow expected; schools closing
Jones County can expect 6 to 8 inches of snowfall tonight and Friday, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. Earlier forecasts called for accumulations of 2-5 inches.
Laurel and Jones County schools, Laurel Christian and Jones County Junior College have announced that they will be closed on Friday because of the weather. Laurel School District students will also be off Monday because it's a staff development day.
Treacherous road conditions caused by “black ice” are expected, emergency officials said at an afternoon press conference, so they are encouraging residents to stay home unless they have to go out.
A mix of rain and sleet is expected to move in this afternoon, then it will turn to snow early this evening. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. and it will begin to taper off by midday Friday.
Mississippi Department of Transportation personnel will be using de-icing material on major roadways and bridges, but county roads and bridges are a concern, officials said.
“Kick back, enjoy the snow and stay at home,” said Don McKinnon, director of the Jones County Emergency Management Office. “If you don’t have to be at work, don’t.”
LCS squads fall in district finals, advance to South Central
WAYNESBORO — The Laurel Christian Lions won’t get to hang a district championship banner in their gym for a fourth straight year. But they still have a chance to add a couple of even more impressive banners to the collection.
Both LCS teams advanced to their District 8 Tournament finals on Friday night but came up short in the championship games. However, their second-place finishes earned them a spot in next week’s South Central A Tournament at Rebul Academy in Learned. The Lady Lions will face No. 3 seed Mount Salus at 4 p.m. Tuesday and the Lions meet No. 3 seed Newton Academy at 5:15 p.m. The top three finishers in the six-team tournaments earn a spot in the state tournament.
In Friday’s district tournament finals, the Lions lost a heartbreaker to Alpha Christian, 58-55, after battling their way back from a double-digit deficit in the second half. Luke Morgan scored 21 points, Thomas Morgan had 14, including four 3-pointers, and Kennis McNair added 12 points. All three were selected for the all-tournament team.
For the Crusaders, Akeem Pollard had 21 points (five 3-pointers) and Northeast Jones transfer Grady Taylor scored 14, all in the second half.
In the girls’ championship game, tournament host Wayne Academy got a second-half surge to pull away from the Lady Lions, 65-38. Wayne led 21-17 at the half but outscored the Lady Lions 44-21 in the final two quarters.
Erin Morgan had nine points, Jessica Tibbs had eight and Alison Cegielski added four as they earned spots on the all-tournament team.
For the Lady Jaguars, Katrina Lofton scored 13 and Kelli Durr added 10.
Flash flood warning
The National Weather Service in Jackson has placed Jones County under a Flash Flood Watch beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through Thursday night. According to the NWS, “An area of low pressure will combine with Gulf moisture to bring widespread 2- to 3-inch rainfall with localized amounts in excess of 4 inches to locations generally along and south of a line from Brookhaven to Quitman. Much of this rainfall could occur with embedded thunderstorms and in a period of six hours. A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.”
Jones County Emergency Operations Center Director Don McKinnon urges residents to pay close attention to all severe weather watches and warnings which may be issued on Thursday. “Please pay particular attention to roadways that may become flooded,” he warned. “Do not attempt to drive through an area where water is over the road. Heed the ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ advice as it takes just a few inches of fast-moving water to sweep a vehicle away. There is a high potential that with rainfall amounts up to four inches in six hours or less that flash flooding will occur and residents need to be prepared to move to higher ground if conditions merit.”
Additional information on this potential severe weather event will be provided as updates are received from the NWS.
— By Lance Chancellor/Public Information Officer for Jones County Fire Council
Pair charged with armed robbery at Dixie Gas
A Pennsylvania man and an unidentified woman who are accused of holding a convenience store clerk at knifepoint and stealing cash on Saturday night have been arrested, Sheriff Alex Hodge reported.
John Cardamone, 41, of Carbondale, and a woman who identified herself as “Jane Doe” were charged with armed robbery after being caught on the interstate shortly after the incident, which happened shortly after 10 p.m.
The clerk, who was held at knifepoint as the two suspects demanded cash, was commended for helping provide information that led to the arrest. The clerk gave precise information to dispatchers about the vehicle and the suspects, reporting that they were traveling in a four-door Saturn headed south on Interstate 59, Hodge said in a news release.
Ellisville Police Department assisted in the search of the vehicle and was successful in locating the vehicle on I-59 near exit 88. The suspects were apprehended and booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
“This was great teamwork,” Hodge said. “I commend the clerk, Jones County dispatchers, Ellisville Police Department and Jones County deputies for a job well done. The weapon and money were recovered and there were no injuries reported in the incident.”
Domestic dispute leads to shooting; Moselle man, 65, arrested for meth
A Jones County man who forced his way into his ex-wife’s residence suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds when the woman’s boyfriend used an assault rifle to defend her and her young daughter early Wednesday night, according to reports.
Sgt. Don Sumrall of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department reported that no charges have been filed against Robert Stenson, 29, who shot 22-year-old Robert Butler. According to reports, Stenson forced his way into his ex-wife’s house on the 200 block of Reedy Creek Road shortly after 7 p.m. She was holding her 3-year-old daughter when the confrontation took place and Stenson used an SKS rifle to defend her. Butler was shot in the abdomen and the arm and was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center with gunshot wounds that were deemed to be life-threatening. The case will be presented to a grand jury.
• In a separate case, a 65-year-old Moselle man and a 32-year-old woman were arrested after Jones County deputies seized a meth lab that the two were believed to be operating.
Doyle Moore and Jennifer Trotter, whose a last known address was in Seminary, were charged with manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine. Moore was arrested on similar charges in 2008. Both are in Jones County Adult Detention Facility. Their arrests were the result of a length investigation, according to a news release from the JCSD.
“The tips and information received from concerned citizens along with assistance from Metro Narcotics was very instrumental in placing these suspects in custody,” said Maj. Robbie Suber of the JCSD.
Jones County has a “huge problem” with methamphetamine, Sheriff Alex Hodge said. “However, we will continue to aggressively pursue those who chose to manufacture this drug.”
Meth is the most popular drug in Jones County, said Hodge, who is helping lobby legislators for a new law to slow down the meth problem in the state.
UPDATE: Sandersville woman dies in crash on Highway 29
A Sandersville woman died of injuries she suffered when the pickup she was driving left the roadway and struck a large pecan tree off Highway 29 early Monday night.
Tasha M. Holifield, 34, was killed in the one-vehicle crash, said Sgt. Perry Snyder of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. She was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash, which happened at 7:17 p.m., about a half-mile south of the Highway 84 intersection, he said. She was southbound. The cause of the crash was not known.
The victim was trapped inside the burning 1999 GMC pickup after it hit the tree, but a portable extinguisher was used to put out the fire before volunteers from Pleasant Ridge and Calhoun arrived. Rescuers had to use hydraulic rescue tools to extricate her from the crushed cab of the pickup. She was transported by EMServ Ambulance Service to South Central Regional Medical Center with injuries that were described as “extremely critical” and “life-threatening” before she was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Highway 29 was closed for more than an hour as rescue, accident investigation and vehicle recovery operations proceeded. Trooper David Smith is the investigating officer.
Units from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Jones County Sheriff’s Department responded, along with Wayne Black with the Jones County District Attorney’s Office and Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna.
— By Mark Thornton and Lance Chancellor
Two killed in head-on collision, victims identified
Two people were killed in a head-on collision on Highway 28, about three miles west of Soso, early Sunday morning.
Candie Denise Bolivar, 22, of Soso was the driver of the Chevrolet HHR, Coroner Nancy Barnett said. The driver of the other car, possibly a Toyota, was positively identified Wednesday as 20-year-old Steffan Myers of Laurel. (See obituaries under Daily obituaries.)
The drivers were the only occupants in each car. No cause had been determined.
The collision happened at about 1:15 a.m., but it was dispatched as a car fire based on information given by the 911 caller, said Lance Chancellor, Public Information Officer for the Jones County Fire Council. The two vehicles appeared to have collided at the top of a hill in front of the old storage tanks just west of Gitano Grill. Firefighters had to use extrication equipment to remove both victims.
Several units from the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded, as did volunteers from Soso, Pleasant Ridge and Calhoun amd the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. Soso Fire Chief Glenn Musgrove served as incident commander Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna and Chancellor were also on the scene along with EmServ and the coroner's office and Memory Chapel Funeral Home. A Mississippi Department of Transportation unit also responded because water that was used to extinguish the fire iced over the highway.
(Look for updates on the Web site and in this week’s print edition)
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
Vehicles destroyed in morning fire
Three vehicles were destroyed or severely damaged when a garage burst into flames at Harry Brownlee’s residence at 983 Poole Creek Rd. in the Rustin Community early Wednesday morning.
Flames illuminated the predawn skies as firefighters from Rustin, Sandersville, Powers, M&M and the Pleasant Grove Volunteer Fire Departments from Wayne County arrived on scene. According to Rustin Fire Chief Shane Lily, who served as incident commander, the burning structure was just about to collapse and the edge of the home was about to catch fire when the firefighters arrived.
Inside the burning structure, a late model Ford Thunderbird was destroyed. A Ford F350 Truck and motorcycle, parked outside, sustained substantial heat and fire damage.
It was the second time this week firefighters from District 3 and 4 rolled out of bed at approximately 5 a.m. Early Monday morning, firefighters responded to a fire at Hunt Southland Refining Company in Sandersville.
“Firefighters just can’t get a break,” said Lance Chancellor, Public Information Officer for the Jones County Fire Council and a Powers volunteer.
There were 20 fires in Jones County in the last month and a half of 2009. This was the second fire in the first week of the new year.
Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna also responded to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
— By Linda Cranford/The ReView
Three-alarm fire at Sandersville refinery
A potentially disastrous situation was averted when the first Jones County fire of 2010 occurred early Monday morning at the Hunt Southland Refinery in Sandersville.
At 4:45 a.m., a fire started at the oxidizer still inside the refinery and by 6:42 a.m., the fire was out. Officials from Hunt Southland Refinery would not release any details about the incident until further internal investigation could be conducted.
Jones County volunteers were dispatched to the three-alarm fire at 4:59 a.m. Volunteers from Sandersville, Rustin and Sharon began arriving on the scene within 12 minutes. The second alarm had units responding from Powers, M&M and Glade. The third alarm, for Calhoun, So-so, Pleasant Ridge and Hebron, went out before it was determined that the firefighters were gaining control of the fire, so the third alarm was canceled. Volunteers from Ovett and South Jones were also sent to their stations on standby and soon released.
Sandersville VFD Chief John Bounds served as incident commander, coordinating the efforts with Hunt Southland personnel and the VFD units. Also on the scene were Jones County Emergency Management Director Don McKinnon and Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, as well as Public Information Officer Lance Chancellor.
(More details to come in this week’s print edition and on the Web)
20th fire in 37 days deemed suspicious
A mobile home in the Hebron community was destroyed Wednesday night when it suspiciously rekindled after being contained to the kitchen area by volunteer firefighters that afternoon.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon a neighbor called 911 and reported smoke coming from the mobile home owned by Keith and Angie King located on Centerville Road. Heavy smoke was coming out of the vents of the mobile home when volunteer firefighters arrived and the firefighters were able to extinguish the fire that was concentrated in the kitchen in the area of the dishwasher.
"It was just about to flash," said Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, who entered the mobile home with Pleasant Ridge volunteer firefighter,James Garrick and extinguished the fire in the kitchen.
Volunteer firefighters from Hebron, Pleasant Ridge, Soso and Calhoun searched for possible victims and stood by for rapid intervention in case a firefighter went down. The fire was extinguished and the damage to the mobile home was kept to a minimum and deemed repairable.
However, by 7:30 p.m., District 1 volunteer firefighters were called back to the scene and the mobile home was engulfed in flames when they arrived.
"It's not repairable, now," McKenna said.
It was the 20th fire in Jones County in a little over a month, with 15 of them being in District 1.
"This is unbelievable," said Lance Chancellor, public information officer for the Jones County Fire Council. "We've talked to people involved in firefighting all over the country, and places larger than Jones County have not had 20 fires in the entire 2009 year.
“It's beginning to take it's toll on the firefighters. They still have to go to work the next morning after fighting a fire the night before. And the emotional toll it takes when you see your friends and neighbors lose everything or have to extricate one from a vehicle."
While fighting the mobile home fire on Centerville Road that night, a serious one-vehicle accident occurred on Sand Hill Church Road in the Hebron community. Firefighters from Pleasant Ridge and Calhoun had to leave the fire to respond to the accident. Extrication of the victim took approximately 45 minutes.
— By Linda Cranford/lindareview@bellsouth.net
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