Archive - News Article
February 14th, 2013
The Mississippi Senate is moving forward with a bill that would require the consolidation of the West Point School District and the Clay County School District, and some longtime Clay County school officials say they’re totally in favor of the consolidation.
For 21 years Annie Johnson has served on the Clay County School Board and currently serves as its president. Johnson said consolidating the two school districts in the county is a wise move by state leaders and feels that it will be a great deal for both West Point and Clay County.
Two weeks ago, the West Point annual banquet was held under the theme “Our Secrets Revealed.” The idea being that West Point has tons of history and scores of new opportunities for the future.
Aside from our contributions to the arts and being the home of renowned businesses like Southern Ionics and Mossy Oak, West Point is also home to nearly 200 of arguably the best cattle in the state.
February 13th
Area florists and gift shops are ready for today’s Valentine deliveries of balloons, stuffed animals, candy and flowers. At Petal Pushers, Barbara Reed takes an order for Valentines Day gifts from Kelsey Malone. Photo by Donna Summerall
It was a proud and humbling moment Tuesday night for longtime West Point attorney Bennie Jones, who received a hearty round of applause after the city of West Point hired him as the first African American Municipal Court Judge.
The decision by the West Point Board of Mayor and Selectman came just one week after current Municipal Court Judge Mark Cliett submitted a letter to the board stating he would be stepping down as judge effective February 28.
Few people would argue that a program aimed at keeping children from abusing drugs and alcohol is not a great initiative, but unfortunately some such programs on the local level just don’t have the funding it needs.
That includes the West Point Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which currently receives funding only from fundraising activities and West Point’s Prairie Opportunity Center.
February 12th
The time to qualify to run for the vacant House District 36 seat has passed.
Tuesday was the final day that eligible citizens in the had the opportunity to file qualifying papers, and the day closed with the already half dozen candidates that had filed by late last week.
It is still a healthy group that is running, and Clay County dominates the pack with five of the six candidates.
Mississippi drivers who do not possess liability insurance on their vehicles may have to pay one way or the other starting July 1.
House District 37 Representative Gary Chism said on Monday morning that the Public Safety Verification Enforcement bill that he has supported for years is supposed to go into effect and if so will result in fines for drivers in the state that refuse to comply with purchasing the insurance.
In the event of a car accident, liability covers costs to the victim and that person’s property who is not at fault.
House District 37 Representative Gary Chism brought a little relief to Mississippi drivers on Monday morning when he told Clay County citizens that a recently proposed gasoline tax hike would likely not pass into law.
“Republicans don’t believe in increasing taxes,” Chism told citizens at West Point’s City Hall. “But there are some Rhinos, Republicans in name only.”
Chism is speaking of Dick Hall, Transportation Commissioner for Mississippi’s Central District and Hall’s proposal of a 10 cent increase on the already existing 18.4 cent tax drivers pay when they fill up their tanks.
The old-fashioned method of getting fingerprints from an alleged criminal is fast becoming extinct, as most law enforcement agencies are turning to a quicker, more beneficial fingerprint collection system.
Just last week the West Point Police Department rolled out a new Cross Match Live Print Scanner, which automatically scans a person’s fingerprints without any sticky ink or paper involved.
West Point Chief of Police Tim Brinkley said for years the WPPD used the ink and roller to collect and process prints, but things are now changing for the better.
Suzie Marshall (standing) and Susan Moore prepare to play this Wednesday at Noontime Tunes at the Library. The two will be accompanied by Hannah Garbutt, as they theme will be Love Songs in honor of Valentines Day week. Photo by Bryan Davis
