REPM Recognizes 3 Elected Sheriffs With Winston County Backgrounds

Joe Wylie presents REPM & State of Ms Certificates
 to Mike Arledge,Steve Gladney & Jason Pugh

It wasn't very long ago that Winston County was recognized as the home of three top SEC Basketball coaches. Now Winston County can lay claim to another group of three who are tops in their field of law enforcement. The past election brought in new Sheriffs in Winston, Oktibbeha, and Lowndes County; all with their roots in Winston County and the Louisville School System.

The Winston County Group of Retired Educational Personnel (REPM) hosted Jason Pugh -Winston County Sheriff, Steve Gladney - Oktibbeha County Sheriff and Mike Arledge - Lowndes County Sheriff on Thursday (Feb 2) at the Louisville City Hall. Each sheriff was presented with recognition certificates not only from REPM but also the Louisville Municipal School District and from the State of Mississippi. (see photos)

Mike Arledge, the newly elected sheriff of Lowndes County, graduated from LHS in 1973 and has been in law enforcement for 31 years. Incoming Oktibbeha County Sheriff, Steve Gladney, graduated from LHS in 1974. Gladney and Arledge spent time working together as members of the Miss. Highway Patrol. Jason Pugh, who took office in January as Winston County Sheriff, is a 1990 graduate of LHS as well.

Each sheriff spoke to the group about growing up in the area and particularly about school experiences. They also provided background as to why they sought the office and new programs and ideas that they are implementing or pursuing within their administrations.

Norma Jackson presents certificates
 from Louisville Public Schools 

One of the more interesting and concerning aspects of the discussion surrounded budgets for each office. While there are considerable differences in population size for the three counties;  geographic area and office requirements are similar.  The retired educators were concerned to note that while the Sheriff's Department in Lowndes had a budget in the $6.2 million range and the Oktibbeha Department had a budget around $3.5 million, the Winston County Sheriff's Department was operating on a $560,000 budget or 1/6 the size of Oktibbeha and about 1/11 the size of Lowndes.


w. mccully

Name Change for Noxubee Refuge Awaiting Obama's Signature

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has given final congressional approval to legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) to name the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge for the late Sam D. Hamilton, the Starkville native and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who passed away almost two years ago.
Cochran and Harper in early 2011 introduced companion bills (S.266 and HR.588) to designate the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge as the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.  The House approved HR.588 on Nov. 14 and the Senate followed suit late Wednesday night.  The bill now goes to President Obama to be signed into law.
“Mississippi’s natural beauty inspired Sam Hamilton’s appreciation for natural resources and wildlife habitat preservation.  The renaming of the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge for Sam Hamilton honors his service to the nation and to Mississippi,” Cochran said.  “I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate and House for agreeing to this appropriate tribute.” “Sam Hamilton had a long and personal history with the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, where he caught his first fish at age 5 and began his conservation career at age 15.
Renaming this refuge in Sam’s honor is a fitting tribute to his remarkable career and commitment to wildlife conservation,” Harper said. Hamilton died on Feb. 20, 2010.  At the time, he was director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Hamilton had a 30-year career with the agency and was recognized following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for his work to restore coastal wetland and wildlife habitats.  He had also been recognized for his efforts to promote restoration of the Florida everglades.   Before graduating from Mississippi State University, Hamilton worked with the Youth Conservation Corps on the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Located in east-central Mississippi, the Noxubee Refuge covers 48,000 square acres and is a resting and feeding area for migratory birds.         
Cochran introduced similar legislation in March 2010 and gained support for it from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who recalled Hamilton as a consensus builder on cooperative conservation projects.  That legislation was not enacted before the end of the 111th Congress, but was renewed in February in the 112th Congress. S.266 was approved by the Senate in February 2011 and forwarded to the House.  The House Committee on Natural Resources approved S.266 in June 2011 and then HR.588 on Nov. 10, 2011.           Cochran, who serves on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, is vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a member of the subcommittee that funds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other Interior Department agencies.

LPD Reminds "Don't Drink & Drive" Over Super Bowl Weekend

Press Release from Louisville Police Department:

In 2010, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 31 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities.

If football fans plan on drinking during the Super Bowl, designating a sober driver can help increase the chance of avoiding an alcohol-impaired-driving crash. Alcohol-impaired driving is no accident nor is it a victimless crime. 10,228 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 in which an impaired driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

There are just too many drivers out there who believe that having just a few drinks and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle is harmless. But numbers don’t lie.  Drinking and driving can result in loss of life or serious injury.  These not only affect the lives of the impaired driver but can affect other families as well. 

When you choose to drink, drink responsibly, and pass your keys to a sober driver.  Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. If you know of someone who has been drinking and is planning to drive, please remember Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

More information can be found on NHTSA’s Super Bowl XLVI page.

L M Claiborne, Jr.

Chief of Police

City of Louisville

Winston County Unemployment at 13.8% in December

The unemployment rate in Winston County dropped slightly in December to 13.8%. November’s unemployment was at 14.1% while the rate was 15.2% in December 2010.  Following the national and statewide trend, the county’s rate has slowly decreased but is still significantly higher that the statewide average of 9.9% and the national average of 8.5%.   December initial unemployment claims totaled 91 with 648 continued claims in the county. Winston ranked 71 out of 82 counties in rate of employment.

It's Not Too Late to Form a Relay For Life Team

Although the 2012 Winston County Relay For Life has already begun taking shape, it's not too late to start a team and take part in the fight against cancer.

Brandi Krajewski, co-chair of Winston County Relay For Life, said individuals and organizations are still invited to  form teams to take part in the June 8 event. At the second Relay For Life team captain's meeting Thursday, Krajewski said the number of teams involved had grown but encouraged the teams and committee members in attendance to recruit more teams who want to get involved in the fight against cancer.

According to Krajewski, each team must consist of 8-15 members. Relay For Life requests that at least one team member remain on the track at all times during the event. Teams will receive T-shirts and choose campsites at Bank Night, to be held at 5:30 p.m. May 24, when teams will turn in the majority of funds they have raised.  In order to qualify for a T-shirt, an individual must have raised at least $100 for Relay For Life. Campsites will be assigned on a first-come, first-pick basis.

Winston County Relay For Life is a 12-hour event on June 8th that begins at 6 p.m. and continues through the night until 6 a.m.  This year, teams will set up campsites around Columbus Street downtown as an added excitement to the event. This year’s Relay will be held in the downtown area in front of Citizen’s Bank. The campsites for teams usually include tents decorated to represent the theme of the Relay. This year's theme is yet to be set, which allows the teams time to submit an idea to Krajewski prior to the next team meeting.

The evening will be filled with entertainment, activities and games. The Relay For Life committee currently needs bands and groups or individual entertainers to volunteer to play, sing or perform at the event. Last year, the entertainment included a talent show, skits and several team activities and contests.

The highlight of Relay For Life, the Luminaria Ceremony, honors those who have fought cancer or are currently fighting cancer and memorializes those who have lost their battles with cancer. The Relay For Life committee aims to sell 500 luminarias this year. Luminarias can be purchased in honor of those who have overcome cancer or are currently fighting cancer and in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer. Multiple luminarias can be purchased for an individual. During the Luminaria Ceremony, the luminarias are lit as the names of those they honor or memorialize are read. “Go ahead and starting purchasing your Luminaria,” said Penny Crowson, Luminaria chair. Anyone interested in purchasing Luminaria should contact Penny Crowson or stop by Pennies from Heaven to purchase one or they can be purchased from any Relay For Life team.

Krajewski said the most important thing to do right now for those interested in joining the fight against cancer is to start putting a team together. "The more teams we have at Relay, the more people we have involved and the more people we have involved, the more people we have turn out at the event,” Krajewski said. “Once a team is formed, the next thing participants will want to do is choose a team captain.”

The team captains may also want to bring along another team member when attending the Relay meetings to help absorb all the information and attend in place of the captain should he or she not be able to attend a meeting. When the team has chosen a captain, it's time to start raising the money that the American Cancer Society uses to fight cancer.

Of the 8 teams at the last meeting, several teams have already started plans for raising money for Relay For Life. Winston Medical Center's Team will sponsor a soup sale Jan. 27 to raise money for the cause and has a Valentine basket raffle ongoing for $1 per chance. “WMC has been hard at work fundraising,” said Krajewski.

Team HOPE from Noxapater High School is hosting a “Bunko for Relay” night on January 30, 2012 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.  Refreshments will be provided for those who attend.  Those who wish to participate in this must register by calling Carol McAdory at 662-803-4257 to register by January 26, 2012.  THere is a $15.00 game fee to be paid the night of the event and all proceeds go to the Winston County Relay for Life.  Prizes will be given away to the winners.  “This a great fundraiser and lots of fun,” said Krajewski.

The WCCRF Team will be selling Boston Butts on Easter Weekend April 6 to raise money for the event.

Future dates to mark on calendar for Relay:

Here are the other dates for Team Captain meetings which will be held monthly on the third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the WMC Dining Room:

Feb. 16, 2012

March 15, 2012

April 19, 2012

May 17, 2012

Bank Night:  May 24, 2012

Relay for Life:  June 8, 2012

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity. It offers everyone in the community the chance to fight against cancer. Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

The national Relay For Life began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, Relay For Life will take place in nearly 5,100 communities in the United States and 20 other countries and raise funds to support the Society’s mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back, and celebrate a world with more birthdays.

Bomb Threat at Local Store on Wednesday

Louisville Police Department indicates that a bomb threat was received by Fred's Department Store on S. Church around 2 pm this afternoon (Jan 25th). The store has been evacuated of customers and a search by a canine unit from Meridian is underway. The store will remain closed until the search is completed. Police Chief Claiborne and several officers of LPD are on the scene. Claiborne indicated that this was the 3rd threat of this nature in the city in the last several years. Under Federal Homeland Security laws, the utterance of a bomb threat, even if it is a hoax, is considered a serious crime and will result in significant jail time. If anyone has any information concerning this matter, please contact the Louisville Police Department.

W.McCully

Area Congressman Responds to Obama's State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) issued the following statement this evening in response to the president’s State of the Union: “I’m astonished that the president would call for an economy built on American manufacturing and energy and an all-of-the-above energy strategy – a Republican initiative – since his actions have never matched such rhetoric. “Less than one week ago, the White House denied a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would create American jobs and energy. Time and again the House has moved bills to eliminate the administration’s bureaucratic delays that continue to stall American energy production. “The president had an opportunity to advance this shovel-ready jobs and energy project. But in a trademark Obama political decision, his administration prolonged the process with job-destroying regulations and bureaucratic betrayals. “Gas prices have jumped $1.50 per gallon since the president took office. This means that Americans are paying an extra $30 for 20 gallons of fuel because the president has failed to enact a meaningful national energy policy. “If the president were sincere about creating jobs and increasing energy production, he would remove the excessive federal regulations stinging manufacturers and would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline. “Let’s promote entrepreneurship, not penalize the principle.”

A Republican representing the Third District of Mississippi, Gregg Harper serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Ethics.