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The LPD is looking for Kenneth Lee Dean, 20, for questioning in connection with a shooting on Roberts Street on Wednesday night. Anyone who knows his whereabouts should call 601-425-4711.
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Laurel man wanted for shooting
A Laurel man is being sought by the Laurel Police Department for a shooting that occurred Wednesday around 8:27 p.m. in the 1400 block of Roberts Street.
Kenneth Lee Dean, a 20-year-old black man who is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 125 pounds, is wanted for questioning in the shooting, which occurred after Dean and another man got into an altercation. During the argument, the victim was shot, then transported to South Central Regional Medical Center. The victim was in stable condition last night.
As with all cases, the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sheriff’s department harvests $100K worth of marijuana
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department found more than two dozen marijuana plants and arrested a Jones County man who admitted to a TV reporter that he had been growing the drug on his property.
James Edward Ellzey, 43, of 81 Riverside Church Road, was charged with manufacturing and sell of marijuana on Thursday afternoon after JCSD Narcotics agents found 26 plants between 6 and 15 feet tall planted on property behind his rural home.
The plants have a street value of about $100,000, Sheriff Alex Hodge said.
“We’re just not going to tolerate drugs in Jones County,” Hodge said.
Hodge said narcotics officers had Ellzey and the home under surveillance for some time and were waiting for the right time to make the bust.
“This is the best team in the world,” Hodge said of his officers. “I’m so proud that God brought us together.”
Officers also found plants that had been harvested and were hanging in a shed to dry. On the wall behind the drying marijuana was a portrait of Jesus overlooking his flock.
— By Mark Thornton
Jones County women seriously injured in crash
A one-vehicle rollover accident on Alton Gavin Road, just off of Springhill Road, on Thursday afternoon has left a Jones County woman seriously injured.
Shady Grove Volunteer Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the call, along with units from the Jones County Sheriff's Department and a unit from EMServ Ambulance Service, at 1:52 p.m. The Geo Tracker that the woman was driving left the roadway, rolled onto its side and crashed into a ditch. The driver was apparently able to extricate herself and walked to a nearby home for assistance. She was transported by EMServ to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment of what appeared to be serious injuries. Alton Gavin Road was limited to one lane of traffic for approximately 30 minutes as accident investigation and vehicle recovery operations were conducted.
— By Lance Chancellor/Jones County Fire Council Public Information Officer
WORLD SERIES UPDATE: Dixie Boys win championship!
Jake Smith delivered the game-winning hit to score Josh Sullivan and give the Laurel Jones County 14-year-olds a 5-4 win over the Louisiana in the Dixie Boys World Series championship game in Christiansburg, Va., on Wednesday night.
Trenton Stringer had a pair of hits while Jaylon Keys pitched four innings and Chandler Blakeney pitched the final three for the victory.
The LJC squad will bring home the championship trophy as well as the Sportsmanship Award from the tournament.
(More details and photos to come)
Facing another must-win game, the Laurel Jones County 14-year-old All-Stars beat Virginia, 5-1, on Tuesday to advance to the championship round of the Dixie Boys World Series in Christiansburg, Va., on Wednesday.
The LJC squad slipped by South Carolina, 3-2, in 12 innings on Monday night, scoring on two suicide squeezes in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2 to force extra innings, then scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 12th to eliminate South Carolina and advance.
Only three teams remain in the tournament, which started with 12 teams.
In Sunday’s 8-3 win over Florida, Eric Surrett had a pair of doubles and Josh Sullivan had a triple to lead the winners, who scored twice in the second and fifth innings and scored three in the sixth. Blake Shows and Trenton Stringer had a pair of singles in the win. Jaylon Keys, Wyatt Butler and Chandler Blakeney all pitched for LJC.
LJC lost its second game of the Dixie Youth World Series, 8-3, to the Louisiana state champions on Sunday afternoon in Christiansburg, Va. The Mississippi state champs will have to win Monday to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament. They will play either Florida or North Carolina at 9 a.m. Central time. Listen to games live at: http://www.facebook.com/l/2cc601X_cznsf1QCyOuwNCXz6hg;valleysportsnow.com.
Josh Sullivan had a pair of singles in the loss while Jaylon Keys, Blake Shows, Chandler Blakeney, Trenton Stringer and Zach Walker also singled in the loss.
In Saturday’s opener, winning pitcher Jaylon Keys had a double and two singles to lead LJC to a 6-2 win over Alabama. Keys pitched four no-hit innings. Zach Walker pitched in middle relief and Chandler Blakeney closed it in the second inning.
LJC Dixie Boys win state, World Series-bound
The Laurel Jones County 14-year-old All-Stars beat Petal, 7-1, on Thursday at Wooten Field to win the state championship and earn a trip to the Dixie Boys World Series in Virginia.
It will be the third straight year that some of the players have participated in a Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.
Chandler Blakeney, who won the home run derby in last year’s World Series as 13-year-old, had a key hit to spark LJC in the fourth inning of the state championship game. His two-run single with two outs gave the host team a 4-1 lead and a little breathing room after they had trailed 1-0 going into the third inning.
Just making it to the World Series isn’t enough for Blakeney this time, though. He wants to bring home the trophy.
“We haven’t done that, so that’s what we want to do now,” he said. “It’s pretty big, having that experience already. We can tell the other guys about our past experiences and what to expect.”
Eric Surrett, Jake Smith, Trenton Stringer and Blakeney were teammates on the 12-year-olds’ World Series team while Jaylon Keys, Josh Sullivan and Blake Shows joined them the next year and helped the team finish fifth in the 13-year-olds’ World Series.
The experience those players will bring to the tournament is “very important,” head coach Kenneth Seymour said after getting doused with a victory shower of ice water. “They’ve been there before and finished fifth, and they know that’s not good enough. They won’t be wide-eyed ... They’re hungry.”
The LJC squad will face Alabama at 1 p.m. on July in the double-elimination tournament, which will be played in Christiansburg, Va.
Keys, who was the starting pitcher in the state championship game, struck out nine in four innings and Blakeney pitched three shutout innings for the save. Shows hit a two-run double in the sixth, then Sullivan drove in a run when he reached base on an error.
Stringer made a running catch in shallow center to save a run in the fifth. Keys got back-to-back strikeouts in the third to get out of a jam with runners on second and third and one out. He also got LJC’s first run after leading off the third with a double, then scoring on a wild pitch with two outs. Shows scored the go-ahead run moments later when the catcher threw to second on a steal attempt.
“These guys play well as a team,” Seymour said, adding that they committed only five errors — four of which came in one inning — throughout the tournament. “We’ve played in a lot of close games and we’ve had to come from behind. All of them can step up.”
UPDATE: The sheriff’s department reports that Larry Massey Jr. was found, unharmed, in Leakesville.
Myrick man, 75, missing for more than a week
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a 75-year-old Myrick man who has been missing since July 3.
Larry Massey Jr. is believed to left his Masonite Lake Road home that day and head to the Gulf Coast. Friends and family members have not seen him since. He is believed to have been driving a 1970 Ford pickup. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt with stripes.
Massey is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 160 pounds, with gray eyes and gray hair.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the JCSD’s Investigation Division at (601) 425-3147.
Myrick family loses home, family dog in fire
A Myrick family lost all of their possessions, as well as the family dog, in a house fire in the 2300 block of Mill Creek Road Saturday afternoon.
David and Tina Oakman, who have two teenage daughters, had left their home approximately 40 minutes earlier to dine at a local restaurant when passerby and a neighbor discovered the home burning and called 911 to report the fire just after 3 p.m.
M&M, Powers and Glade Volunteer Fire & Rescue units were dispatched at 3:05 p.m. and M&Mfirefighters advised that the wood frame house was fully involved in fire. M&M Fire Chief David Jordan requested a second alarm, which dispatched Rustin and Sandersville volunteer fire units to the scene to assist. Firefighters not only battled the intense heat of the burning home, but had to contend with a heat index over 100 degrees and live downed power lines. In addition to fire units, the Jones County Sheriff's Department, EMServ Ambulance Service, the American Red Cross, Jones County Assistant Fire Coordinator Kenny Keith, Northeast Jones District Fire Chief John Bounds and Dixie Electric Power Association responded to the scene. The home was deemed a total loss, along with all of the family's possessions, including a family dog that apparently perished in the blaze. No cause of the fire had been determined, but a fire investigator from the Jones County Sheriff's Department was requested by the homeowner to try to determine the cause of the blaze.
While firefighters were conducting fire suppression efforts on Mill Creek Road, another fire was reported at 4:35 p.m at No. 25 Clark Cemetery Road in the Myrick Community where a brush fire was threatening two mobile homes and a storage barn. Incident Commander Chief David Jordan released M&M Brush 1, Powers Rescue 1 and Powers Tanker 1 from the house fire scene and requested Glade Brush 1 to respond as well. Firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished the grass and brush that was burning before any damage was sustained to the three structures. A unit from the Jones County Sheriff's Department was requested at the scene by a complaintant and responded as well. Upon completion of the assignment, all four fire units responded back to the scene of the house fire to assist with salvage and overhaul operations. There were no injuries reported to any emergency services personnel during the responses to the four incidents which involved mutiple fire and rescue apparatus.
Jones County volunteer fire departments had a busy Saturday, responding to three different fires and a two-motorcycle accident with injuries. The first call was at 9:23 a.m. with Sandersville Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Rustin Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Heidelberg Volunteer Fire Department responding to a report of an electrical breaker box on fire at No. 397 McFarland Road. Firefighters arrived to discover the fire had traversed up the wall and was burning in the attic. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack and saved the home from extensive damage.Volunteer units were on the scene for over an hour conducting fire suppression, salvage and overhaul operations. In addition to fire units, a unit from Dixie Electric Power Association responded to the scene. Sandersville Fire Chief John Bounds, who also serves at District Chief for the Northeast Jones Fire District, served as incident commander at the fire scene.
Calhoun Volunteer Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 12:46 p.m. to a report of an accident involving two motorcycles on Highway 84 West near Life Church. Calhoun Rescue 1 and Rescue 2 responded to the scene along with multiple units from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Laurel Police Department, Jones County Sheriff's Department and a unit from EMServ Ambulance Service. Two men, who were part of a benefit motorcycle ride involving dozens of bikers, were injured in the accident and transported by EMServ to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Calhoun Fire Chief Joel Blackwell served as incident commander during the fire department response to the incident. Highway 84 West was limited to one lane for westbound traffic for more than 30 minutes as rescue and vehicle recovery operations were conducted.
— By Lance Chancellor
Missing woman found alive
Hundreds of people who searched for 83-year-old Alzheimer’s patient Mary Bryant never gave up that they would find her. Even after temperatures climbed into the 90s and and the number of hours she had been missing stretched to 46 hours, they never gave up hope.
Their patience and faith were rewarded Tuesday just after 11 a.m.
Elvin Creel, a 57-year-old self-employed carpenter from Ovett, found Bryant in a ditch, dirty and dehydrated, but very much alive.
She was taken to Forrest General Hospital to be treated. Meanwhile, dozens of exhausted searchers, some of whom had been on the scene for almost 40 hours, suddenly had a spring in their step after they got word that Bryant had survived.
“We never once gave up hope,” said incident commander Don McKinnon, who is director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency. “We weren’t going to leave here without her ... but we always believed that we were going to find her alive. That’s what kept everyone going.”
L.D. Bryant, her husband of 55 years, said he was touched by the outpouring of support and help to find his wife, who was a nursing instructor at Jones County Junior College for three years then at Southern Miss for about 20 years.
“Jones County is undoubtedly a fine community,” he said early Monday.
More than 250 people searched for Mrs. Bryant at different times, including law enforcement officials and volunteer firefighters from local departments and the surrounding area. Several canine units and at least two helicopters also participated in the search.
Creel found Mrs. Bryant about 200 yards off a farming road that was about a quarter-mile from the command post that had been set up on Ovett-Petal Road in the old Whitfield Community since early Monday morning. She was able to raise her hand to acknowledge his presence, but she didn’t say anything.
“She was in a ditch laying flat on her back,” Creel said, “and I came to get help. She opened her eyes ... but she wasn’t in any condition to talk.”
McKinnon said she would have been hard to see from a helicopter because her red blouse was so dirty, it was the color of the soil she was found lying in and she was wearing tan pants. It’s also possible that she had moved. But because she’s an Alzheimer’s patient, “we’ll never know,” he said.
Asked if he felt like a hero, Creel said, “I’m just glad someone found her.”
Creel was one of about 200 citizen volunteers who participated in the search. He is an acquaintance of Mrs. Bryant’s, but they aren’t close friends, he said. He just wanted to help a neighbor in need.
“A lot of people made this happen by putting forth a lot of time and effort,” McKinnon said. “This is the best possible outcome we could have hoped for. She wanted to live.”
(Look for more in this week’s print edition)
Search for missing woman intensifies
Jones County officials, volunteer firefighters and dozens of neighbors and family members are searching for an Ovett woman who went missing after taking a walk up the road from her home on Sunday afternoon.
Mary Bryant, an 83-year-old Alzheimer’s patient, was last seen at about 6:30 p.m. Several search and rescue dogs, teams of people on ATVs and four-wheel-drive pickups spent the night combing the fields and woods near her home. Helicopters have been used in the search since daybreak Monday.
Bryant, who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 150 pounds, was last seen wearing a red blouse and tan slacks. She is in good shape physically, said her husband, L.D. Bryant.
A handkerchief that is believed to be hers was found near a barbed-wire fence about a quarter-mile from her house. A bloodhound was able to pick up her scent from that, but the trail kept running out.
“We don’t know about the scent because she walks up and down this road almost every day,” said incident commander Don McKinnon, who is director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bryant is asked to call the Jones County Sheriff’s Department at (601) 425-3147 or the Jones County EMA at (601) 428-3187.
Wrong-way woman killed in interstate crash
A woman who was going south in the northbound lane of I-59 was killed in a head-on collision just north of the Sandersville Exit 99 around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The woman, who has not been identified, had been going the wrong way on the interstate for approximately 20 miles before the crash, according to Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers.
She was the only occupant in a Ford Fusion with Rankin County plates.
Her car collided with a Dodge dually that had a large toolbox and equipment in the back. Tools were strewn for about 100 yards along the interstate, leaving a trail down into the median, where the pickup came to rest. There were two occupants in the truck, and one was believed to have a broken leg, troopers said.
MHP, Jones County Sheriff’s Department, Sandersville and Laurel police units were on the scene, along with EmServ and volunteer fire units from Sandersville and other departments.
Traffic was at a standstill for more than an hour before cleanup had begun, and it was expected to be a while before even one lane could open, troopers said.
(Look for more details later on the Web)
— Mark Thornton/The ReView
Wheelchair-bound woman saved from burning home
A home on Bush Dairy Road went up in flames Monday morning with six people inside, including a wheelchair-bound woman and a 7-year-old boy.
"A man in a van was driving by, and he saw smoke coming out of the roof," said Willie Ross, cousin of owner Luther Barnett. "Because of his warning, we were all able to get out in time."
With the help of Ross and another lady, the wheelchair-bound woman was able to leave the house unscathed. She credits them for saving her life.
Moments after all six people were evacuated, the house was consumed by the fire.
"We got the call at 10:58 a.m., and the fire was fully involved when we found it." said Shady Grove Fire Chief Ed Harper.
Barnett was in Hattiesburg when Ross called him with the devastating news.
The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started near the gable vents by the meter up in the top of the house, had not been determined.
Everything was destroyed — except the spirits of the residents.
"Everything is in God's hands," Barnett assured those surrounding him as the firefighters fought to contain the last bit of fire.
One puppy that had been living under the house was rescued from the burning building, and it seemed to be unharmed, but nothing else appeared to have survived the fire.
Surveying the scene, Barnett remarked, "All I have left are the clothes on my back."
By Emily Cegielski/The ReView
JCSD: Deputies searching for escapee
Authorities are looking for a Jones County inmate who walked off a work crew at Hogan and Matthew Road Thursday at around 2 p.m., Sheriff Alex Hodge reported.
The escapee is Keith Ainsworth, 32, with a last known address of 1333 Tower Road. He was charged with burglary in December. He is 6 feet, 4 inches tall and 210 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing an orange and white Jones County inmate suit.
“It is believed that Ainsworth is a non-violent offender,” Hodge said.
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Ainsworth is asked to call (601) 425-3147, Jones County Crime Stoppers at (601) 428-7867 or citizens may leave tips by going to the Jones County Sheriff’s Department Web site at www.jonesso.com.
Congressional primaries today
Polls will be open to voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) for Congressional primaries.
Voting at Nora Davis School has been moved to the L.T. Ellis Center this year, and Lamar School voters should head to the North Laurel Precinct.
Most Jones County voters are in the 4th Congressional District, but a few in the northwest corner of the county are in the 3rd Congressional District.
The 4th Congressional District Republican primary pits Steven Palazzo against Joe Tegerdine. The winner will face longtime Democratic incumbent Gene Taylor in November.
The 3rd District Democratic primary is between Joel L. Gill, James D. Jackson and perennial candidate Shawn O'Hara. The winner will face Republican incumbent Gregg Harper in November.
Serial rapist behind bars in Mexico
A man who is a suspect in seven sexual assaults of women between the ages of 59 and 87 is behind bars in Mexico, Sheriff Alex Hodge announced at the Jones County courthouse Tuesday morning.
Miguel A. Oros, 33, was arrested in Tabasco, Mexico by Mexican government officials on May 19, Hodge said as he was flanked by officials from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Marshal’s Office and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant.
Dozens of people who had gathered in front of the courthouse steps erupted into applause as news that the man who terrorized women in Jones County from 2005 to March 2009 had been caught.
The arrest was the result of “thousands and thousands of hours of investigating,” said Hodge, who took office in January 2008.
“This is the culmination of teamwork,” District Attorney Tony Buckley said.
Hodge thanked former Sheriff Larry Dykes, who was in the audience, and the Mexican government for their cooperation. He said he expects Oros to be extradited to Jones County in the next 30 to 60 days.
Officials identified Oros as the suspect back in October 2009, when he was believed to have returned to Mexico. He has already been indicted by two Jones County juries for 11 counts of sexual assault and burglary. He’ll face “well over 100 years” in prison, Buckley said.
Oros, who is believed to have worked as a welder, is accused of assaulting five women in Jones County, one in Lauderdale County and one woman in New Iberia, La.
Authorities were tightlipped about what led to the arrest of Oros, saying they don’t want to jeopardize the case and his extradition.
“This is for the victims,” said Hodge, whose voice cracked with emotion as he made the announcement. “We’re thankful for their support. This is their day. I know their pain and suffering will last for the rest of their lives, but we hope this will give them some sense of healing. With God, they can find a peace that’s past our understanding.”
(More to come in this week’s print edition)
— By Mark Thornton/revieweditor@bellsouth.net
Deputy honored for DUI enforcement
Deputy Howard Chandler of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department was recently honored for his efforts in keeping drunk drivers off the roads.
He was one of 40 law enforcement officers from across the state who was inducted into the “100 Club” at the annual DUI awards luncheon in Jackson.
Chandler wrote 125 DUI citations in 2009.
“We are very proud of Chandler’s induction into the DUI 100 club, which is a result of hard work,” Sheriff Alex Hodge said. “Drinking and driving is very serious. I encourage motorists to make wise decisions before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated or drunk because it increases their risk of being involved in car accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths.”
Ex-employees suspected of burning chickenhouses; damage estimated at $1 million
Fire destroyed two Rustin chickenhouses early Monday and two ex-employees who rented the house on the property are suspected of setting the blaze.
Mike Langley, who owned the two Wayne Farms breeder houses off Poole Creek Road, fired the suspects — a man and a woman — and evicted them from the house the day before, Sgt. Ellis Smallwood said.
They are wanted for arson and possibly other charges. The suspects were identified as Mary Brown and Kevin Michael Hamil, both in their 50s and both with ties to Florida, according to a “be on the lookout” bulletin tthat was issued by dispatchers. They were believed to be in a 1980s model small Chevy SUV that was primer gray and equipped with red lights on the dash.
“They’re facing some very serious charges,” Smallwood said.
Damage was estimated at between $700,000 and $1 million.
More than 17,000 chickens were picked up from the houses on Wednesday, Langley said, adding that he does have insurance. He owned and operated the chickenhouses for almost 19 years. Asked of he will rebuild, he said, “I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Smallwood found the fire when reports came that there was an orange glow in the sky in the area. The fire could be seen from several miles away. Volunteer fire units from Sandersville, Rustin, Powers and Pleasant Grove (Wayne County) responded, along with Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, Dixie Electric and Lance Fulgham of Wayne Farms.
“It was fully involved when I got here,” Smallwood said.
Fire units were able to contain a fire at a Sanderson Farms chickenhouse on Tom Windham Road the previous Sunday. About half of the structure burned. That blaze was believed to have been caused by lightning.
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
Investigators seize ‘large amount’ of precursors, meth
After an investigation of several months, Jones County Narcotics Investigators got a search warrant that led to the arrest of an Ellisville man for possession of methamphetamine and “a large amount” of ingredients that are used to make the drug.
Martin Griffin, 46, of 94 Three Mile Stretch Road was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of chemical precursors.
Deputies executed a search warrant at the residence last week, according to a report from Sheriff Alex Hodge.
“Investigators collected information and after receiving sufficient information issued a search warrant to Griffin’s residence,” Hodge said. “The warrant was a result of an investigation that lasted several months. Narcotics Investigators seized a large amount of precursors as well as an undetermined amount of methamphetamine in the arrest.”
Griffin was booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
Taylorsville man killed in crash on Highway 84
A Taylorsville man who was driving a 1992 Ford F250 pickup that crashed on Highway 84 West late Wednesday morning has died as a result of his injuries, according to reports. The victim was identified as Odell Hatten, age unavailable.
The one-vehicle accident happened about a mile west of the Highway 28 intersection when the eastbound pickup left the roadway and crashed into a large tree. The force of the collision broke the tree at the base and demolished the truck. The driver was ejected and lying beside the passenger’s side of the pickup.
The driver was placed on a backboard and carried up a steep embankment by volunteer firefighters and EMServ medics to an ambulance. He was transported by EMServ to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment of what appeared to be serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.
Pleasant Ridge volunteers were dispatched to the incident at 11:29 a.m. Other responding units included Calhoun Medical First Responders, Hebron Rescue 1, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, Jones County Fire Chaplain Drew Blanton, Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Lance Taylor and three units from the Jones County Sheriff's Department. Emergency services units were on scene for over an hour conducting rescue, accident investigation and vehicle recovery operations. Pleasant Ridge volunteer firefighter James Garick served as Incident Commander during the fire department response to the accident scene.
Confederate Memorial Day celebrations today
There will be two local Confederate Memorial Day celebrations today.
The local Sons of Confederate Veterans will preside over a short program at the Ellisville courthouse at 4:15 p.m., then at the Laurel courthouse at 5:15 p.m.
Attorney Carl Ford will be the speaker at both programs.
Local TEA Party members were expected to attend the events.
Severe weather coming, women’s conference canceled
Severe storms packing 80 mph, softball-sized hail and “long track” tornadoes are headed our way, Jones County officials warned at a special meeting Thursday afternoon.
National Weather Service officials said that the weather system that will make its way into the state Friday afternoon will be “a prolonged event.”
For Jones County, the bad weather will likely start Saturday around 4-5 a.m., said Jones County Emergency Management Director Don McKinnon. Severe storms will continue throughout the day until the system moves out of the state around 6 p.m.
NWS officials were emphasizing that this is a potentially dangerous system, McKinnon said. It has already produced tornadoes in Texas.
Because of the threat of severe weather, the Women’s Life Conference, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled, South Central Regional Medical officials announced this morning.
The conference will be rescheduled for a later date and all participants will be notified as soon as the date is confirmed. This is the first postponement in the 21-year history of the Women's Life Conference. More than 500 area women are registered for the event and conference planners are already working hard to notify those who are participating in the conference.
Tax-day rally at Ellisville courthouse
Ryan Walters stood on the steps where his great-grandfather once gave political speeches, hoping for a day when the government’s role would return to that of his forefathers’ era.
“We’re not going to let our republic be destroyed without a fight,” Walters said as TEA Party revelers cheered him on at the Ellisville courthouse.
It was one of hundreds of similar rallies across the nation on Thursday, which was the day federal tax returns were due. The grassroots groups were formed in response to federal bailouts of the banking and automotive industries, with people saying they were Taxed Enough Already. And the recently passed federal health care plan has only increased their numbers and their determination.
Walters is an Ellisville native whose great-gradfather was Victor Walters of Ellisville. He is a doctoral student in American history, and he is one of 11 plaintiffs named in a lawsuit that was filed against the federal government in response to the so-called “Obamacare” bill.
“We’re well on our way to taking down this horrific law. If we get to the Supreme Court, we will win,” he said, citing their “superb legal team” of Sen. Chris McDaniel and Doug Lee.
“It’s not about politics or party,” Walters said. “It’s about defending the the Constitution, nothing more.”
Dozens of people carrying flags and signs applauded as he talked about the limited power of government, according to the Constitution, and when he took shots at President Obama.
“I never thought I’d see a day when we’d elect a president worse than Jimmy Carter,” Walters said, “but ol’ Jimmy’s looking pretty good right now.”
But the election of Obama was positive in one way, Walters said.
“It took Jimmy Carter to get us Ronald Reagan,” he said. “We just have to find our Reagan now.”
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
Oil field worker's gamble pays off with $15.2 million verdict
A retired oilfield worker from Laurel was awarded $15.2 million in damages for his claim that products used in his job caused permanent damage to his lungs and cut years off his life.
Troy Lofton, who turns 71 on Saturday, refused a $900,000 settlement from Conoco-Phillips attorneys minutes before the Jones County jury returned the multimillion-dollar verdict on on Wednesday evening.
“It was a gamble,” Lofton said, “but my lawyers said it was my decision. It took 10 years off my life waiting on (the verdict).”
Working with the asbestos product Flosal for two decades also took years off Lofton’s life, his doctors told him.
“They gave me seven to 10 years to live,” Lofton said from his recliner, tubes from an oxygen tank running to his nose. “That’s hard to take.”
Lofton, who worked for several drilling companies from 1964 to December 2008, filed a lawsuit against CP Chem, a division of Conoco Phillips Corporation, in 2004.
“In 2003, I went to the pulmonary doctor because I got to where I couldn’t breathe,” Lofton recalled. “I couldn’t catch my breath, and it scared me.”
His doctor discovered that his lungs were scarred, so he asked Lofton if he had ever worked around asbestos.
“I didn’t know that 20 years later I would pay the consequences for working with that stuff,” he said.
Attorneys for the defense argued that years of smoking caused Lofton’s condition.
“But I quit in 1982,” Lofton said.
The defendant sold Flosal, an asbestos product that was used in the oil and gas well-drilling industry from 1965 until 1985.
“The proof showed that, as a result of exposure to the asbestos, Lofton developed a lung disease named asbestosis,” said Robert Sullivan, one of Lofton’s attorneys.
Asked if he believed the company knew the asbestos products were dangerous, Lofton said, “Sure they did ... and somebody ought to be held accountable.”
Lofton admitted that he was surprised by the amount the jury awarded him in a 10-2 decision.
After growing up as a sharecropper in Smith and Jasper counties, Lofton said “it”s an odd feeling” to know that he just won millions of dollars. But he feels like he earned it. He and others like him gave their lives to the oil drilling industry and helped build Conoco Phillips into the $64 billion industry it is today, he said.
“A lot of (workers) never got the chance I did because a lot of them aren’t here anymore,” Lofton said.
There are several more similar cases on file in Jones County awaiting trial, according to Circuit Clerk records.
Lofton and his wife, Jimmie Dale, plan to stay in their ranch-style home that sits on a well-tended five-acre lot on Springhill Road. Their ability to travel or enjoy the money is limited because both are on oxygen (she has emphysema). They have two grown sons who worked in the oilfield until the recession of the 1980s, Lofton said.
“We may have a cookout or something to celebrate,” Lofton said. “We’re just going to take care of our kids, the grandkids, nieces and nephews.”
— By Mark Thornton/The ReView
West Jones wins JCJC Scholars’ Bowl, LCS junior gets top award
For the sixth year in a row, West Jones High School took home the first place win at Jones County Junior College’s annual High School Scholars’ Bowl Tournament, which was Wednesday at the college’s Advanced Technology Center.
Taking second place was Laurel Christian High School. An additional prize at this year’s event was a Howard Desktop computer given to the student who answered the most questions correctly in the final rounds. Alex Hendry, a junior at Laurel Christian School, was awarded the computer.
“I think it’s good to reward success. I’m probably not the smartest kid here, I just got lucky,” said Hendry, who participated in the competition for the first time. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think it’s a great opportunity for students who do their homework, keep up in school and read to really shine.”
Thirteen teams competed in the round-robin format. Seniors that are members of both the first and second place teams who enroll at Jones will receive Scholars’ Bowl scholarships.
West Jones senior Brock Kizzar’s JCJC scholarship is set in stone. The team captain has competed three years in a row, each time winning wtih his team.
“I was nervous coming into (the competition) because it has a legacy behind it that we needed to live up to,” he said.. “It was a big relief to win it.”
The West Jones team practices twice a week, said advisor Mark Brown. “They’ll practice even when the advisors aren’t there. They have a lot of devotion to it.”
The West Jones team’s preparedness was evident throughout the day. In all 12 round-robin matches, where they were pitted against every school present, the team was undefeated. Counting the semifinal and the championship round, the team had competed 14 times by day’s end.
“It’s a combination of natural blessings, hard work and competitiveness,” Kizzar said.
Teams that participated this year include West Jones, Quitman, Wayne County, Tylertown, Collins, Stringer, Taylorsville, Laurel, Wayne Academy, Mize, Laurel Christian, Richton and Perry Central.
Hispanic pastor’s home burns, cause under investigation
The home of a well-known Laurel Hispanic pastor was gutted by fire Friday morning despite the efforts of firefighters.
The brick home served as the parsonage for Pastor Roberto Valez and his wife Marie for the last six years, according to a family member. Valez serves as an interpreter for the Laurel Police Department and is an outspoken advocate for Hispanic causes in the community. He is pastor of the Peniel Christian Church, which is at the corner of Jefferson Street and 14th Avenue. The home is beside the church.
Flames had reached the attic and were coming through the roof when firefighters arrived on the scene.
“There was heavy smoke showing on all sides when we arrived,” said Capt. James Brown of the Laurel Fire Department. “It was a hot situation. The guys did a good job.”
Firefighters went inside the home to make sure there were no occupants. The fire was burning so hot, some of the firefighters’ face shields melted, Brown said. After it was determined no one was inside, firefighting efforts were moved to the outside.
“We’re going to have to try to determine a point of origin” to begin making a determination about the cause of the fire, Brown said.
Fire Prevention Officer Alfred Jordan is the arson investigator for the LFD.
— Mark Thornton/The ReView
Laurel man arrested for molesting 4-year-old
A Jones County man was arrested Friday and remains behind bars for molestation, Sheriff Alex Hodge reported in a news release.
Tim Rogers, 47, of Line Road in Laurel was arrested Friday after an investigation revealed that he had fondled a 4-year-old child for lustful purposes around March 15.
Rogers was arrested without incident and booked in Jones County Adult Detention Facility for one count of child molestation.
If convicted, Rogers could face up to 15 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Separately, three people pleaded guilty Tuesday in molestation cases. The sentences came on the recommendation of the victims' families, District Attorney Tony Buckley said. Although the DA's office was prepared to go to trial in each case they took the family's recommendation to avoid having the child go through the trauma of court, he said.
• Earl Eugene English, 27 - 15-year sentence, will serve five years in prison, 10-year probation period, and will be remanded to the State of Arkansas at the end of his five-year imprisonment.
• Rodney H. Dye, 36 - 10-year sentence, will serve four years in prison, six years on probation.
• Jerry Seals, 21 - 10-year sentence, will serve five years in prison, five years on probation.
Emergency official struck by vehicle, in serious condition
Marda Tullos, deputy director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency, was struck by a vehicle driven by an elderly woman around noon today as she was crossing Beacon Street on foot. She was returning to the EOC from McDonald’s, where she picked up her lunch. Tullos is listed in serious condition and is undergoing surgery this afternoon.
"Our prayers are with Marda and her family," said Lance Chancellor, Public Information Officer for the Jones COunty Fire Council. "This is a tragic accident. We deal with tragedy all day long, but when it's one of your own, it really hits home."
According to Chancellor, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna was outside the EOC at the time of the accident and heard the comosion. McKenna, who is also a medical first-responder, jumped in his vehicle and rushed to the scene not knowing who the victim was.
Tullos' sister, Tammy Wells, who also works with the Jones County EMA as well as the Jones County Fire Council, was notified of her sister's accident and rushed to her sister's side as she lay in the middle of Beacon Street.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
— By Landa Cranford/The ReView
Citizens’ tips lead to arrest of Ovett man
A day after Sheriff Alex Hodge reiterated his request for citizens to report possible drug activity, an Ovett man has been arrested for making methamphetamine because of tips that came from people in the community.
William Landrum, 28, was charged for manufacturing meth.
“Jones County Sheriff’s Department Narcotic Investigators have received numerous tips and complaints from citizens about Landrum’s involvement in manufacturing methamphetamine over the past few months,” Hodge said. “Subsequently, a search warrant was executed to Landrum’s residence at 63 Upper Ovett Rd. on Wednesday. A search of the residence revealed an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals used to manufacture meth. Several weapons were also located on the property.
Landrum was arrested and booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
“I am very thankful for the assistance received from the citizens because they are working tirelessly to make Jones County a safer place to live,” Hodge said. “It is very rewarding when citizens call and express how appreciative they are that their concerns are not going unnoticed. I want them to know that we value every call of concern and any information that we receive. It would be almost impossible for this department to fight crime without support from citizens throughout Jones County. I applaud their efforts and appreciate their diligence as we work to rid our communities of criminal activity, Hodge added.
Teen thieves caught by property owner, both charged with grand larceny
Two teenagers face felony charges after a homeowner arrived at his
residence on Morris Bankston Road and saw them loading scrap metal
items into a blue truck, Sheriff Alex Hodge reported.
Jones
County deputies arrived on the scene and arrested Jeremy Wilkerson, 18,
of the 400 block of Magnolia Road and Nathan Trudeau, 18, of Masonite
Estates Road, both of Laurel. The teens were charged with grand larceny
and locked up at Jones County Adult Detention Facility, Hodge said. The
estimated value of the stolen metal was $1,500, Hodge said.
“I
encourage citizens to pay close attention to not only their property,
but the property of their neighbors,” Hodge said. “If you witness a
strange vehicle pulled up in your neighbors’ yard or people whom you do
not recognize lurking around on your neighbors’ property during odd
hours of the day, that is certainly reason enough for you to contact
your local law enforcement officials immediately. You do not have to
leave your name, only the information is necessary, Sheriff Hodge added.
To report drug or criminal activities to the Jones County Sheriff’s
Department , call (601) 425-3147 or leave tips by going to the
department’s Web site at: www. jonesso.com.
Citizens could possibly receive a cash reward by reporting crime to Crime Stoppers by dialing (601) 428-7867 (STOP).
Sex offender too close to day care
A registered sex offender whose residence was too close to a day care could have a new residence for the next five years — prison.
Clarence William Goodson, 56, was arrested by Laurel police at 214 N. 13th Ave., which is one block away from Small Wonders Daycare on 14th Avenue. Registered sex offenders are required to live at least 1,500 feet from day cares, schools and/or parks. Goodson was living about 300 feet from Small Wonders, which has been at its 14th Avenue location since 2001.
Goodson said he wasn’t aware of the law.
“I’ve been living here for a year,” Goodson said as he was being handcuffed and put in the back of a police car. “Nobody told me anything about that.”
But that’s not true, officials pointed out. When registered sex offenders check in at the jail every 90 days, they have to sign a document stating that they aren’t violating the terms of being on the registry, including living within 1,500 feet of a day care, school or park.
Violators can face a fine of up to $5,000 fine and/or five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Goodson’s arrest was made as the result of Laurel police checking on registered sex offenders who reside in the city.
“The Laurel Police Department takes this crime seriously when it comes to sex offenders living near day cares, parks and schools,” Laurel Police Chief Walter “Bear” Martin said. “We will check every month on every sex offender living within the City of Laurel. Our department wants the public to know we are contnually working to keep your children safe.”
Goodson was convicted of forcible rape on Jan. 5, 1988 in Vermilion, La.
Ellisville railroad crossing closing
An railroad crossing in Ellisville is closing and another one is getting upgraded safety equipment, according to a news release from the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
The Pine Street crossing at Highway 29 will be permanently closed as crews with Norfolk Southern remove the crossing devices and pavement in the immediate area of the railroad crossing, and MDOT maintenance crews remove the remaining 80 feet of pavement.?
Safety enhancement project funds totaling more than $200,000 were awarded to the City of Ellisville for the Pine Street crossing closure and for future upgrades to the crossing at the Highway 29. Studies showed that eliminating the crossings and encouraging motorists to use other nearby signalized crossings would reduce hazards to motorists.?
“Our number one priority is the safety of our citizens,” said Daniel W. Johnson, MDOT Rails Law Enforcement Senior Inspector. “Each year, the State of Mississippi evaluates nearly 3,000 railroad crossings across the state to determine the effectiveness of those crossings in relation to others in an area. In cooperation with state and local officials, we held public meetings to evaluate this crossing at Pine Street in Ellisville and agreed to award funds for the permanent removal of the crossing.” ?
Johnson said the Pine Street crossing is heavily traveled by students and personnel at Jones County Junior College in their daily commutes. He urges motorists to proceed with caution in the project area once crews begin work to remove the railroad crossing and make alternate travel plans using other crossing locations. ?
MDOT will provide traffic advisories regarding the Highway 29 railroad crossing upgrade project when that schedule is determined. Crews will move the current Pine Street signal and crossing devices to the Front Street railroad crossing in Ellisville.
Sandersville teens, Sharon man arrested for meth
Two Sandersville teenagers were arrested Thursday for their involvement in manufacturing methamphetamine, according to a news release from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Jeremy Adams and Charlie Trudeau, both 18, were arrested after deputies received numerous complaints and tips about possible drug activity at 208 South Pine St. in Sandersville. After further investigation, deputies were successful in seizing a meth lab as well as an undetermined amount of meth.
Both suspects were arrested and charged for possession of methamphetamine and manufacturing methamphetamine, then booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
In a separate incident, Jones County deputies charged 27-year-old William Walker of Sharon for possession of methamphetamine and possession of precursors with intent to manufacture after deputies responded to Walker’s residence on Howard Walker Road.
“Shortly after deputies arrived on scene, they discovered meth and precursors,” Sheriff Alex Hodge said.
Walker was arrested and booked in the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.
Laurel couple charged in brutal beating of toddler
A young Laurel couple face charges in the brutal beating of a 3-year-old boy who was taken to the emergency room Tuesday with bruises and broken bones “over most of his body,” according to a news release from the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
The child was later airlifted to University Medical Center in Jackson with brain trauma.
The little boy’s mother, 22-year-old Daisy Delgado, and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Fernando Sanchez, both of the 100 block of Palmer Road, were arrested Tuesday after deputies were dispatched to the South Central Regional Medical Center because of a report of a 3-year-old with several visible injuries on his face and feet.
A family member discovered the injured child and took him to the ER, Sheriff Alex Hodge said. After investigators determined that the child had been severely abused, Sanchez was charged with felony child abuse and Delgado was charged with child neglect and accessory after the fact. He could face up to 20 years in prison and she faces up to 15 years. Both are in Jones County Adult Detention Facility. In their initial appearance in Jones County Justice Court on Thursday morning, Judge David Lyons set a cash bond of $500,000 each.
“This case is very disheartening,” Hodge said. “Any time you have an incident that involves children, it’s always difficult for every officer involved. Many children suffer from this epidemic but there are times that it is hidden or not reported to the proper authorities. Our investigators have performed honorably in handling such a severe case of abuse as this.
“Both individuals deserve the maximum penalty allowed under the law. Our prayers are with all precious children who fall victim to these kinds of evil people.”
(More to come in the next print editio
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