Officials welcome Baptist decision

While the final site for a new $300 million hospital has not been selected as of Monday, county and city officials are breathing a collective sigh of relief over knowing where the new hospital won’t be going.

Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. officials announced Monday during the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, that the hospital will no longer consider building the new facility on land located on Highway 6 West, a few miles outside Oxford’s city limits. (April 5, 2011, Page 1A)

County upset with MDOT, MOU

During their regular meeting Monday, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors agreed to meet with city officials to go over a joint MOU with the Mississippi Department of Transportation in regards to three local projects including the interchange at the West Jackson Avenue/Highway 6 intersection. Both city and county officials have expressed concerns about MDOT changing previously agreed upon details. Other issues discussed Monday included United Way’s Excel by 5 application; a  redistricting resolution and property being transfered for the new Winchester plant. (April 5, 2011, Page 2A)

Lafayette County gets help to clean up dumps

Lafayette County has been awarded a $14,000 grant by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to offset costs of cleaning up illegal dumps. (April 1, 2011, Page 5A)

Early education key to success

The United Way will be asking the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors on Monday to appoint a representative to sit on a 15-member coalition to determine the community’s needs and resources for early childhood education. (April 1, 2011, Page 1A)

Planning Commission OKs Katrina-cottage subdivision

The Lafayette County Planning Commission approved Monday the preliminary and final plat for a small rental unit subdivision that will feature “Katrina cottages.” (March 29, 2011, Page 2)

Trial for double murder slated for May

The trial of Caleb Corrothers, who is  accused of killing a father and son in 2009, has been scheduled for May. Jurors will be selected from Lee County and the trial will be held in Lafayette County. (March 24, 2011, Page 2)

Think before you burn

With warmer temperatures and light breezes, burning leaves and lawn debris can get out of hand quickly. However, the U.S. Forestry and Mississippi Forestry Commission have been burning hundreds of acres over the last week in an attempt to keep wildfires at bay. (March 22, 2011, Page 1)

Bankruptcies down in Lafayette County

While the number of bankruptcies filed nationally rose in 2010, Lafayette County saw a dip in the number of cases filed. Oxford bankruptcy attorney Alex Alexander explains the differences between the different types of personal bankruptcies and some views on why the nation’s number of cases have risen. (March 21, 2011, Page 1A)

Japan radiation fears hit Oxford

With experts predicting a radioactive plume coming from Japan could hit the west coast of the U.S. by Friday, locals here in Oxford are looking to stock up on potassium iodide pills, which have been show to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after exposure to radiation. (March 17, 2011, Page 1)

Chancery Court records now free after ethics complaint

Because of a complaint filed with the Mississippi Ethics Commission, searching online for Chancery Court records is now free for the public. (March 17, 2011, Page 2)