Redistricting meeting set Friday
With the results of the 2010 Census calculated, the Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment has scheduled a series of public meetings to allow the public an opportunity to discuss the effects the census will have on redistricting for the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives.
The first in this series of meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Johnson Commons ballroom on the campus of the University of Mississippi. (February 9, 2011, Page 1)
Supervisors send subdivision squabble back to county planners
County Engineer Larry Britt updated the board as to the status of the eight-lot University Heights subdivision, owned by James Davis, that apparently was built in 2004 without having a plat on file.
County Attorney David O’Donnell said a suit was filed in June against Davis for noncompliance of the subdivision regulations, however, the suit was dismissed due to the complaint being “vague.” (February 8, 2011, Page 2A)
Signs of new Olin plant seen
On Tuesday, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution of intention authorizing and approving the county to receive a loan for $6 million from the Mississippi Development Authority for the purpose of land development and infrastructure for the 500,000-square foot plant Olin Corp. will build next to the existing Winchester plant in the Lafayette County Industrial Park.
A legal ad in Tuesday’s EAGLE also asked for subcontractors to qualify to be prospective bidders for a slew of construction jobs at the new plant. (January 19, 2011, Page 1)
Hard work behind the scenes pays off
A lot of work was done behind the scenes over the last few months on “Project Duke,” which helped bring Olin Corp.’s Winchester Centerfire Operations and 1,000 jobs to Oxford and Lafayette County. Editor Jonathan Scott takes a look at some of the players in the relocation and expansion project who helped make it happen. (November 10, 2010, Page 4)
County appeals drug court debacle
The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors instructed county attorney David O’Donnell to file an appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court against a final order given by a Circuit Court judge instructing them to not interfere with the operation of the county’s Drug Court.
The one-page appeal, filed Tuesday, says the supervisors are appealing the entire Final Order filed Sept. 21 by Circuit Court Judge Andrew Howorth but doesn’t list any specific parts of the order. The appeal was filed after the board voted 3 to 2 granting O’Donnell permission to file the appeal during an executive session earlier this month. Supervisors Robert Blackmon and Mike Pickens were the dissenting votes.
Howorth, who started Drug Court three years ago, filed a “cease and desist” in June against the supervisors from interfering with the operations of the Drug Court and the Circuit Court in general. Howorth claims the supervisors have continually interfered with the operations of the Circuit Court, almost from the day the current board took office in 2008. He also ordered the supervisors to comply with all reasonable requests made by and on behalf of the Drug Court pertaining to Drug Court funds administered by Lafayette County. (October 21, 2010, Page 1)
Court Briefs
Judge closes lawsuit against county
A lawsuit against former and current county officials claiming they railroaded former insurance agent Ken Nowlin into pleading guilty to crimes he didn’t commit, has been closed by a federal judge.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Aycock found in favor of the defendants and ordered the case closed.
UM former employee pleads
Ben Willians, a former employee of the University of Mississippi, pleaded guilty Friday for stealing more than $67,000 while working in the Dean of Students office, according to the indictment. He was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation. (October 13, 2010, Page 2)
Square clock to tell time?
Just days away from having a lawsuit filed against him, master clockmaker Lloyd Larrish of Minnesota arrived back in Oxford on Friday to complete the work he had been hired to do more than three years ago — fix and restore the historic Lafayette County Courthouse clock. (August 9, 2010, Page 1)
Supervisors OK response to Drug Court order
Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved a written response drafted by County Attorney David O’Donnell to a court order that instructed the board to cease and desist from interfering with business of the 3rd Circuit Drug Court. A copy of the letter has not been made available. (July 13, 2010, Page 2A)
Supervisors to pursue legal remedy for courthouse clock
The remedy for the ailing courthouse clock is legal action. The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors announced in their regular meeting that they hired a man over three years ago to repair the clock who has not made the restorations or returned the clock parts. Now the board is seeking a clockmaker to help restore the current one, but may have to settle for a newer clock that works. (July 7, 2010, Page 3)
County replies to insurance agent’s lawsuit
Attorneys representing the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors denied allegations made by a former insurance agent who claimed the county set him up on conspiracy charges.
The suit, filed May 27 by former insurance agent Ken Nowlin, also names attorney Tony Farese, whom Nowlin says failed to act in his best interest and coerced him into pleading guilty in 2007 to conspiring with former supervisor Gary Massey to scam the county. (June 29, 2010, Page 2)
