Insurance agent says guilty plea coerced
Ken Nowlin, the former insurance agent of record for Lafayette County, has filed a motion with the U.S. District Court in Oxford claiming his attorney forced him to plead guilty in an insurance scam case from 2007. (March 23, 2010, Page 1)
District 5 planning commissioner steps down
Lafayette County Planning Commissioner Johnny Clemmons’ desire to spend more time with family and work has led him to step down as the District 5 representative. (March 23, 2010, Page 2)
India Night set for Saturday
H1N1 swine flu still lurking
The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported the death of a Lafayette County child. It was the first death associated with the seasonal flu in Lafayette County since the flu season began in August. (March 22, 2010, Page 1)
Lots happens during Spring Break vacation
Taking off a week for Spring Break isn’t anything new in an education-oriented community. Neither is having lots to catch up on when you return, as Editor Don Whitten found out after spending a week out of town. He discusses things that went on during the previous week, including deaths, weather, sports and local business. (March 22, 2010, Page 4)
Pet stores coming to Oxford
Two new pet stores are coming to Oxford this year. The first opening at the end of April focuses on healthy eating for your pets. The Memphis-based company, Hollywood Feed, has been around for over 50 years and is now beginning to branch out into new markets. The second is national chain PetSmart set to open at the end of the year. (March 22, 2010, Page 6)
Keeping gangs at bay
When does wannabe youth gang activity turn into actual gang activity? That’s a question the Oxford School District hopes to never have to answer as it continues to remain vigilant each year to keep such issues minimal in the community. But, like every public school in the country, the district does see its share of students fascinated by gang culture.
Earlier this winter, a situation occurred at Della Davidson Elementary School in which individual fourth- and fifth-graders called themselves members of two gangs. They also, reportedly, used tactics to bully other students. (March 22, 2010, Page 1)
Training underway for climb
Sure, we’re living in the hills of north Mississippi. But when it comes to training to climb one of the tallest mountains in the world, it takes a lot of hills to get there. Abbeville woman Janice Carr is set to climb Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro this fall, both to fulfill a personal goal and to raise money for Angel Ranch. (March 19, 2010, Page 1A)
Construction comeback?
Getting an intro to the arts
To keep the arts sustainable in a weak economy, Wayne Andrews, the director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, knew when he took the job that the council would need to help art groups stand on their own two feet. A new season pass program may be just the ticket to help accomplish this.
In addition to this new initiative to bring more people to more cultural events, YAC is debuting a new darkroom for local shutter bugs. (March 19, 2010, Page 1A)
