A tradition of turning trees into treasures
With the skill and a passion for working with wood, Tom Lutken has been building a gazebo on the late William Faulkner’s property. (July 30, 2010, Page 1B)
Tax-free weekend underway
Parents and college students shopping for back-to-school clothing will get a small break today and Saturday during Mississippi’s tax-free holiday which began at midnight and ends Saturday night. (July 30, 2010, Page 1A)
Building a solid foundation
A United Way committee is looking at ways to improve early childhood education in Oxford and Lafayette County. Accessibility to free or affordable preschools for all Lafayette County children is one area the committee is examining.
Scam artists targeting elderly diabetic patients
Scammers are targeting elderly people with diabetes to get their credit card and other personal information.
Consumers have called the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi and the American Diabetes Association to report they are receiving unsolicited requests from individuals purporting to be employees with those organizations. (July 29, 2010, Page 2)
IRS cracks down on charities
Close to 50 charities in the community are at risk of losing their tax-exempt status if they don’t file tax returns by Oct. 15, according to the Internal Revenue Service. (July 28, 2010, Page 1)
5-year-old saves home from fire
John Preston Turner Jr. knew something just wasn’t right when he saw smoke coming from his friends’ chimney at about 8:15 Saturday evening.
“Daddy, look,” John Preston said to his father, Preston Turner. “Joe has a fire going.”
“I didn’t think anything of it at first,” Turner said. “But then I thought, ‘That was odd,’ since it was about 100 degrees outside.” (July 27, 2010, Page 1A)
Commission approves new AT&T cell tower
The Lafayette County Planning Commission approved a new cell tower to be constructed on Highway 30 by AT&T during its Monday’s meeting. Representatives from SBA Communications of Alabama appeared before the commission to have a tower, which will be leased and used by AT&T, constructed on Highway 30 next to the Calvary Baptist Church. (July 27, 2010, Page 3A)
Funds still available for shelters
Thanks to grants being offered by Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, finding a safe place away from tornadoes will be much easier for those who take advantage of a program that reimburses residents up to $4,000 to help build a safe storm shelter on their property. (July 26, 2010, Page 1)
Social media sites changing law
Like many judges around the country, Circuit Court Judge Andrew Howorth has had to start including warnings to jurors that as long as they are sitting on the jury, they can’t discuss the case on any social media outlet, such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. (July 26, 2010, Page 1)
Killer on the loose in county shooting
It’s been almost eight months and investigators with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department are still racking their brains to come up with new evidence in the murder of Frank Bowie. Investigator Scott Mills said, “we’re just not getting that many calls. We know there’s got to be someone in the community that will help us — it’s just finding the right way to extract it.” (July 23, 2010, Page 2A)
