Fierce storm kills 1
Diagnosed with cancer, Daniel Mertz was struggling with medical bills and other expenses when he sat down with Ability Works general case manager Phyllis Sabbatini on Thursday.
“I was without hope, but after just 30 minutes of talking to her, I had hope again,” Mertz said this morning. “She was just that type of person. Very kind and very understanding.”
Mertz found out this morning that Sabbatini died Sunday morning when her Abbeville home was ravaged by an EF2 tornado. (May 3, 2010, Page 1A)
Business offers gourmet meals to go
When Mary Catherine Guest was asked by her daughter, Olivia King, to help her open her food emporium in Madison, Guest agreed and helped with developing recipes and served as a support, both financially and emotionally.
Her role as helper soon turned into business operator when Olivia asked her mother to open a second Olivia’s Food Emporium on the Square in downtown Oxford. (May 3, 2010, Page 6A)
City swats litter bugs
On Wednesday, an Oxford Police Department officer issued a citation to the residents of a house on Beanland Drive that has had several complaints about leaving beer cans and other garbage laying around outside. City and county officials are seeing less intentional trash but uncovered garbage bags are wreaking havoc. (April 30, 2010, Page 1A)
New laws to help domestic violence victims
When there’s a domestic assault involving the use of hands — smacking, kicking or hitting — the abuser is generally charged with simple assault. When a weapon of any kind is involved, the abuser can be charged with aggravated assault which is a felony offense.
A new bill signed by Gov. Haley Barbour now allows strangulation to be considered an aggravated assault. (April 30, 2010, Page 1A)
United Way reaches goal
Despite a down-turn in the economy, the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County met and exceeded its $425,000 goal for its 2009 campaign, raising a total of $425,732 to be distributed to 16 of its partner agencies. (April 29, 2010, Page 1)
Users say no to rate hike plan
Dozens of residents spoke out Tuesday in a public hearing against a proposed Bell Utilities rate hike for water and sewer services. Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley was on hand at the event held at the Lafayette County Chancery Building. (April 28, 2010, Page 1)
Rain won’t delay Relay
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Friday with a dinner honoring cancer survivors in the Oxford High School cafeteria. Original plans are to then move the Relay events to the OHS football field. However, a 70-percent chance of rain Friday night could force organizers to move the event to the Oxford-University United Methodist Church. (April 28, 2010, Page 1)
Wreck claims life
Scott Franklin, 35, was killed Monday night when he lost control of his pickup while traveling on County Road 143 off Old Sardis Road, according to Lafayette County Sheriff’s Investigator Scott Mills. Friends will remember his smile, good sense of humor and big heart. (April 27, 2010, Page 1)
Storms could produce hail, tornadoes
An unstable air mass overtaking the Mid-South this afternoon is expected to produce severe thundershowers that could include large hail, high winds and tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. The storm system has already produced tornadoes in Texas and along the Florida panhandle. (April 23, 2010, Page 1A)
Double Decker move changes parking, traffic routes
With the bulk of the Double Decker Festival events being moved to Sunday, the Oxford Police Department has updated its traffic and parking restrictions for the weekend. (April 23, 2010, Page 9A)
