Hollywood helps local youth
On Friday the local Boys & Girls Club received a check for $25,000. With guidance from Ole Miss head football coach Houston Nutt, the coaches appearing to in “The Blind Side” gave a gift worthy of a motion picture award. Why? The money came from the collective pay the coaches received for appearing in the movie. (July 12, 2010, Page 1)
No tax hike, Mayor says
Veterans Memorial Park shapes up
A park is taking shape thanks to the help of the city of Oxford. The Veterans Memorial Park is beginning to take shape as Bennett Construction crews have been placing curbing along the street. The addition of sidewalks next week will make it easier to walk from the State Veterans Home, past the new park and down the hill to the Veterans Building. (July 9, 2010, Page 1A)
Local dropout, grad rates better than most
The Oxford and Lafayette County school district dropout rates are better than most in Mississippi. After a slight decline in the past few years both school districts want to see graduation rates improve. Keeping dropout numbers in mind, both districts are making plans to lower dropout rates among students by keeping them engaged in school studies and activites. (July 9, 2010, Page 1A)
Voting ends for UM mascot
Soon Ole Miss fans may have a new mascot. Voting for the new University of Mississippi mascot ended at 5 p.m. on Tuesdy. Good luck to the Student Mascot Selection Committee who will begin the huge task of tallying and analyzing more than 12,000 results from voters. (July 8, 2010, Page 1A)
County accepts Oxmoor’s roads
The Amegy Bank of Texas became the new owners of the Oxmoor subdivision after the subdivision was foreclosed about two years ago. Most of the roads were left incomplete. On Tuesday, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved taking over the maintenance for the roads inside the upscale subdivision. (July 8, 2010, Page 1A)
Oxford School Board gets advice on bond issue
Bond issue survey results are in…. During a special Oxford school board meeting hired consultant Dan C. Davis explained the results of 301 surveys that were taken and said he believed that voters would be in favor of the bond. (July 7, 2010, Page 1)
New hotel could get tax exemption, off-site assistance
How much will the proposed Hampton Inn East boost tourism in Oxford? About $1.4 million according to Young Kim from the University of Mississippi’s department of hospitality. The department presented its findings that included that the city lost eight conferences due to lack of not having a hotel near the convention center. If a hotel were built near the convention center, the city would see a huge from economic impact from food and retail purchases. (July 7, 2010, Page 1)
Supervisors tell MetroCast ‘No’
MetroCast knows where the board of supervisors stand. ‘NO’ was the official word from Lafayette County Board of Supervisors as they considered a tax exemption for MetroCast. In the past year representatives from MetroCast have gone before the board asking for what they claim is a mandatory state law that would exclude them from paying certain taxes. The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors decided that MetroCast’s tax status would hurt both city and county school districts. (July 7, 2010, Page 1)
DUI arrests down for holiday weekend
Oxford Police Chief Mike Martin hopes the lack of any arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol during the four-day holiday weekend is a sign that people are getting the message to not drink and drive. (July 6, 2010, Page 1A)
