LUY-Development

Category: Mississippi News

  • Winter is coming: Halloween house party puts ‘Fun’ in FUNdraiser

    Winter is coming: Halloween house party puts ‘Fun’ in FUNdraiser

    NATCHEZ — Fire and ice is a theme of the popular HBO television series “Game of Thrones,” and that theme is the inspiration for the third annual PURRfectly Spooktacular HOWLoween PAWS Event from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

    Every year for the past three years, the family of Dr. Geoff Flattmann has opened the doors to their house at 1046 U.S. 61 South for the party that raises money for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

    For the second straight year James Kennedy of the Bravo television show “Vanderpump Rules” will be the live DJ for the party.
    Last year’s event brought out approximately 200 people, Geoff Flattmann said.

    After the party, Lisa Flattmann said, James Kennedy, said, “I’ll see you next year.”

    “That means he’s coming back,” Lisa said.

    Geoff said the party started out when Lisa began hosting a jewelry party for women several years back but then the event quickly evolved into a Halloween party.
    “This will be the third year in that the format,” Geoff said. “It has been a successful fundraiser for the Humane Society. It is kind of her (Lisa’s) baby.”
    Every dollar collected at the event goes to the humane society, Geoff said.

    “The generosity and willingness of people in community to donate to the cause is amazing,” Geoff said.

    Lisa said she enjoys hosting the party each year and she begins planning the next theme even before she is through creating the current theme and transforming her house into a Halloween party venue.

    “What makes this exciting at least from our vantage point is that I simply adore Halloween and all of the festivities that go with it and every year,” Lisa said. “I’ve been transforming the house into different themes to invite people to come and tour.”

    Lisa said she strives to make the event fun each year and uses the hash tag “#notaboringFUNdraiser” on social media to promote the event.

    “I do ‘Fun’ in capital letters, because I want it to be the kind of thing that people look forward to every year, and it is about raising awareness for a cause, which is the shelter,” Lisa said. “If I can bring those two passions of mine together then I have ultimately met my goal to bring happiness and enjoyment to this time of year to the cause.”

    Lisa said she hopes this year’s theme of Fire and Ice will have some surprises for visitors.

    Tickets for the event are $35 per person, which includes food. The party is for people 15 years old and older and tickets can be purchased at the shelter 601-442-4001. Armbands are provided for anyone under the age of 21.

    -story from The Natchez Democrat

     By Scott Hawkins of the Natchez Democrat

  • Agriculture Commissioner’s Race Centers On Local Food

    Agriculture Commissioner’s Race Centers On Local Food

    The Democratic challenger for Mississippi agriculture commissioner is pitching a local food revolution, while the Republican incumbent seeks more incremental change.

    That’s one big divide between Democrat Rickey Cole and Republican Andy Gipson.

    It’s not that Gipson opposes local food, touting an online effort to connect producers and consumers. Cole, though, wants to exempt local food from the 7% state sales tax and use department employees use to market local food to stores.

    Gipson, a lawyer then serving his third term in the state House of Representatives, was appointed to the statewide post last year by Gov. Phil Bryant. He succeeded Cindy Hyde-Smith, who became a U.S. Senator.

    Cole ran unsuccessfully for agriculture commissioner in 2007 and is the former chairman of the state Democratic Party.

  • Mississippi examiner says slain 6-year-old was shot 4 times

    Mississippi examiner says slain 6-year-old was shot 4 times

    CANTON, Miss. (AP) — Trial testimony in the case of a slain Mississippi 6-year-old reveals the child was shot four times after being taken in his mother’s stolen car.

    News outlets report chief medical examiner Mark LeVaughn testified Wednesday that Kingston Frazier was shot in the head and arms in 2017 after the car he was sleeping in was stolen from a parking lot where his mother briefly left him.

    The testimony was given during the trial of 20-year-old Dwan Wakefield, who’s facing an accessory charge. Prosecutors say he picked up the convicted murder.

    Kingston’s mother testified Tuesday she left her car unlocked because she saw a police officer there. She says she went into a store to get items for Kingston’s kindergarten graduation.

    Byron McBride was sentenced to life in prison for murder. D’Allen Washington was sentenced to 15 years on an accessory charge.

  • Mississippi Examiner Says Slain 6-Year-Old Was Shot 4 Times

    Mississippi Examiner Says Slain 6-Year-Old Was Shot 4 Times

    CANTON, Miss. (AP) — Trial testimony in the case of a slain Mississippi 6-year-old reveals the child was shot four times after being taken in his mother’s stolen car.

    News outlets report chief medical examiner Mark LeVaughn testified Wednesday that Kingston Frazier was shot in the head and arms in 2017 after the car he was sleeping in was stolen from a parking lot where his mother briefly left him.

    The testimony was given during the trial of 20-year-old Dwan Wakefield, who’s facing an accessory charge. Prosecutors say he picked up the convicted murder.

    Kingston’s mother testified Tuesday she left her car unlocked because she saw a police officer there. She says she went into a store to get items for Kingston’s kindergarten graduation.

    Byron McBride was sentenced to life in prison for murder. D’Allen Washington was sentenced to 15 years on an accessory charge.

  • Mississippi Narcotics Agents Sue Over Pay Raises

    Mississippi Narcotics Agents Sue Over Pay Raises

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Twenty-five current and former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents who say they weren’t given raises mandated by state law are suing two officials and the bureau.

    The Clarion-Ledger reports the lawsuit was filed last week against the bureau, Director John Dowdy and Public Safety Commissioner Marshall Fisher.

    The lawsuit says Dowdy and Fisher intentionally failed to give fiscal officials necessary information to ensure money was budgeted to give agents pay raises based on their rank and experience.

    It says the agency told agents they didn’t have the money for pay raises but instead chose to “arbitrarily and capriciously” give credit to some employees and not others.

    The lawsuit says the agents are seeking salary and overtime back pay along with punitive damages against Dowdy and Fisher.

    Dowdy declined to comment.

    ___

    Information from: The Clarion Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com

  • Mississippi Dad’s ‘Shaken Baby’ Murder Conviction Reversed

    Mississippi Dad’s ‘Shaken Baby’ Murder Conviction Reversed

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi court has reversed the murder conviction of a father accused of shaking his 4-month-old daughter to death a decade ago.

    The Daily Journal reports Mississippi’s Court of Appeals ordered a third trial for Joshua Clark, whose lawyer said “shaken baby syndrome” has been proven to be “junk science.”

    Clark was sentenced to life in prison for killing his daughter in 2008. An appeal based on ineffective counsel resulted in a second trial, where a state medical expert testified in 2016 that she thought the baby had been violently shaken, causing fatal brain damage. Clark then got 40 years for second-degree murder.

    Defense attorney Jim Waide argued that scientists have cast doubt on this “syndrome.” Tuesday’s ruling agreed that the state witness didn’t provide support for her findings.

    ___

    Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://djournal.com

  • City Considers Cash Shift To Promote TV And Movie Production

    City Considers Cash Shift To Promote TV And Movie Production

    NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — Some officials in a southwest Mississippi city want to shift money earmarked for business recruitment and to promote film and television production.

    Natchez aldermen this week voted 5-1 to research whether up to $100,000 in property tax revenue could be redirected.

    The money now goes to Natchez Inc., an economic development authority serving Natchez and Adams County.

    A group called Film Natchez seeks $200,000 to promote area video production.

    The Natchez Democrat reports Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis proposed the switch.

    Mayor Darryl Grennell says he thinks a state law governing Natchez Inc. forbids such a move.

    Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ says his group supports film production and is willing to pass additional money through to Film Natchez, but opposes diverting the $100,000 because it pays his group’s operating budget.

    ___

    Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

  • Plaque Stolen From Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery

    Plaque Stolen From Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery

    NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) — A veteran’s cemetery in Mississippi says a bronze marker was stolen from the entrance of the memorial.

    The Natchez Democrat reports the plaque was noticeably missing Thursday from the Natchez National Cemetery and was reported stolen.

    Robert C. Winkler, assistant director of the Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Association, says the marker was posted at the entrance across from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plaque. He says the bolts holding the marker were pulled from the wall.

    Winkler says the cemetery was established in 1866 and the stolen plaque, that reads “Natchez National Cemetery,” was posted in 1930.

    He says the plaque is about 18 inches (46 centimeters) wide, 24 inches (61 centimeters) tall and weighs about 30 to 50 pounds (22 kilograms).

    The investigation is ongoing.

    ___

    Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

  • Mississippi Woman Found Safe In Sequoia National Park

    Mississippi Woman Found Safe In Sequoia National Park

    SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — A Mississippi woman who vanished on a visit to Sequoia National Park in California has been found safe after three days.

    Authorities say 56-year-old Mary Joanna Gomez of Jackson was found Monday after a California Air National Guard aircraft saw the letters SOS spelled out with rocks in a park area.

    The National Park Service says she was cold, thirsty and hungry but otherwise in good health. She was found off-trail about 3 ½ miles from where her car was discovered over the weekend.

    Gomez, who’s a traveling nurse based in San Francisco, had visited Kings Canyon National Park and said Thursday she intended to visit the Sequoia park. She was reported missing on Friday by her family after missing a work shift.

  • Mississippi Hospital Gets Upgrades As Part Of Takeover

    Mississippi Hospital Gets Upgrades As Part Of Takeover

    WIGGINS, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi hospital is getting some upgrades as it gets taken over by another hospital.

    WLOX-TV reports that Memorial Hospital at Gulfport is assuming control of Stone County Hospital in Wiggins. Chas Pierce, Senior Director of System Development for Memorial Hospital, tells the news station Stone County Hospital is getting updated lighting and paint. Floors and patient rooms are also being improved.

    Stone County Hospital offers emergency services, diagnostic imaging and other specialties and will continue to offer ambulance services in the county.

    Pierce says Memorial does not plan to change anything.

    ___

    Information from: WLOX-TV, http://www.wlox.com