DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

A Starkville resident who was hit by a motorist near Zachary’s Thursday night has been treated and released this morning from Baptist Memorial Hospital–Golden Triangle.

According to information provided by Columbus Police Department Public Information Officer Terrie Songer, Willie Wilson Sr., 58, of 112 Beattie St. in Starkville, was struck by a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Robert McIntyre, 30, of 135 Pearrow Drive in Caledonia.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — More than 250 people are expected to lose their jobs over the next two months at the Sitel call center in Starkville.

The employees will be laid off in two segments, with one group spending their last day at the facility on Feb. 2, and the other segment finishing their employment there on March 3.

According to Andrew Kokes, Sitel’s vice president of marketing, the layoffs come as a result of “the reduction in business needs” of two different Sitel customers. One is a health care company and the other is a high-speed Internet provider, though Kokes did not identify the companies. The employees being laid off serve as customer service representatives for the companies.

“This is all due to their changing business needs,” Kokes said of the two companies.

At its peak, Sitel employed about 850 people at its facility in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. Kokes did not know how many people work there now.

Sitel is working with other businesses and government agencies in the area to assist these individuals in finding new employment, Kokes said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

The Starkville Board of Aldermen fought back Tuesday against what they called a “proliferation” of high-interest lending businesses popping up within city limits.

Approximately 20 companies, commonly referred to as “payday loan” businesses, car title loan businesses and check-cashing businesses, operate in Starkville, with a majority of them located on Highway 12, the city’s busiest thoroughfare.

Aldermen Tuesday voted unanimously that these high-interest loan businesses “are to be denied a privilege license and certificate of occupancy for doing business” within city limits for the next 12 months, or until the board adopts a revised comprehensive plan, which would specifically address those types of businesses. A privilege license and certificate of occupancy are required for a lending business to operate in Starkville.

The moratorium does not affect lending businesses already operating within the city. Additionally, upon the cessation of operations of currently existing businesses, for whatever reason, their privilege license and certificate of occupancy will not be valid for renewal or transference to another entity.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

More than three weeks after the fatal Academy Crossing Apartments fire, investigators still have not determined an official cause of the blaze, Starkville Fire Department Chief Rodger Mann said Tuesday.

State and local investigators are waiting on private insurance company electrical engineers representing Academy Crossing to finish their analysis of the scene before making a determination of what caused the Dec. 28 blaze that killed nine people, Mann said.

“I don’t know where it’s at on their part,” Mann said of the engineers. “You assume that you hand something to someone, well, you just assume they go to working on it then, but that’s not always the case. I have no idea how long it’s going to be. That’s what everybody is waiting on. We can’t really finish anything until we know the results.”

It is “very common” for insurance companies to take lengthy periods of time to finish an investigation into a fatal fire, Mann said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

The mood inside New Horizons Christian Fellowship Monday afternoon was one of excitement, hope and a little apprehension.

Eleven volunteers and their loved ones rushed around the church at Highway 12 and Spring Street, organized boxes of medical supplies and received last-minute Tetanus shots. The group then left the church bound for the rescue effort in Haiti, where an earthquake last week killed thousands and left the country in ruins.

The Mississippi State University Athletic Department donated a bus for the local effort, which the group rode Monday from Starkville to Fort Pierce, Fla. After spending last night in Fort Pierce, the group was scheduled to fly this morning to Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince.

“We’re going right in to ‘Ground Zero,’” said New Horizons Christian Fellowship Pastor Johnny Buckner.

The group plans to stay in Haiti for eight or nine days, Buckner said, though some people may stay longer.

“We’ll be working with a hospital,” Buckner said. “We have several hospitals we could be working with, but we will be working with a hospital that’s functioning. It’s just completely overloaded, so we’re going to do whatever we can.”

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

OFFICIAL AGENDA THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN
OF THE CITY OF STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
RECESS MEETING OF TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010,
5:30 P.M., CITY HALL COURTROOM
101 LAMPKIN STREET

I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE

III. APPROVAL OF THE OFFICIAL AGENDA
A. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA (SEE APPENDIX A)

IV. APPROVAL OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN MINUTES
THERE ARE NO MINUTES FOR CONSIDERATION

V. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS
A. MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
1. RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:
ULYSEES GANDY
LOVELY CROMWELL
B. BOARD COMMENTS: 2

VI. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS

VII. PUBLIC APPEARANCES
A. PUBLIC APPEARANCE BY PARK COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, DAN MORELAND AND PARK DIRECTOR MATTHEW RYE, PRESENTING THE QUARTERLY REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH MS CODE §21-37-37.
B. PUBLIC APPEARANCE BY COMMISSION ON DISABILITY CHAIRMAN, WHITNEY HILTON, PROVIDING THE COMMISSION ACITIVITIES ANNUAL REPORT AS DIRECTED IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN ENABLING LEGISLATION.
C. PUBLIC APPEARANCE BY NIYA SMITH REQUESTING FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR A MATH TUTORING PROGRAM “PROGRAM UNLOCK.”

VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF STARKVILLE, ADMINISTRATION,
ARTICLE II. BOARD OF ALDERMEN, SEC. 2-29. RULES OF PROCEDURE.
B. SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDING THE SPRINKLER ORDINANCE, 2007-4 AND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 58, FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, ARTICLE III. AUTOMATIC FIRESUPPRESSION SYSTEMS FOR THE CITY OF STARKVILLE

IX. MAYOR’S BUSINESS
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

X. BOARD BUSINESS
A. CONSIDERATION OF MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.
B. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF STARKVILLE, ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE II. BOARD OF ALDERMEN, SEC. 2-29. RULES OF PROCEDURE. 3
C. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING THE SPRINKLER ORDINANCE, 2007-4 AND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 58, FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION,
ARTICLE III. AUTOMATIC FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS FOR THE CITY OF STARKVILLE.
D. CONSIDERATION OF PLACING A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY AND PRIVILEGE LICENSES FOR CHECK CASHING, TITLE LOAN AND “PAYDAY LOAN” BUSINESSES FOR TWELVE (12) MONTHS OR UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
E. CONSIDERATION OF CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDING THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, 2008-2 AND THE CITY OF STARKVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 94.
F. CONSIDERATION OF ADVERTISING A MINIMUM OF TWICE IN THE APPROPRIATE PUBLICATION FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST FOR THE POSITION ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE STARKVILLE SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD BY WALTER TAYLOR FOR A TERM ENDING ON MARCH 6, 2010.
G. CONSIDERATION OF CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON REPEALING AND REPLACING THE CITY OF STARKVILLE FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE, 2003-03, AND CITY OF STARKVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 62.
H. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE WASTEWATER PUMPING STATION ON SAND ROAD.

XI. DEPARTMENT BUSINESS
A. AIRPORT
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
B. BUILDING, CODES AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
C. OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
1. REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE CLAIMS DOCKET AS OF JANUARY 14, 2010, FOR THE CITY OF STARKVILLE DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
2. REQUEST APROVAL OF THE STATE SOURCE OF SUPPLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY GRANTED IN MS CODE §31-7-7.
D. COURTS
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
E. ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE OFFICE FURNITURE UNDER STATE CONTRACT FOR THE NEW STARKVILLE ELECTRIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
2. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR THE SALE OF SCRAP ALUMINIUM AND COPPER WIRE.
F. ENGINEERING AND STREETS
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
G. FIRE DEPARTMENT
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
H. PERSONNEL (ALL ITEMS ON CONSENT)
1. REQUEST TO PROMOTE MICHAEL GIBSON TO FILL THE ADVERTISED JOB OF DRIVER/FOREMAN IN THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.
2. REQUEST TO ADVERTISE TO FILL THE POSITION OF DRIVER IN THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT VACATED BY MICHAEL GIBSON.
3. REQUEST TO ADVERTISE TO FILL THE POSITION OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK IN CITY CLERK’S OFFICE VACATED BY ALICE BASSETT.
4. REQUEST TO ADVERTISE TO FILL THE POSITION OF MAINTENANCE WORKER I IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT VACATED BY MARVIN FORESIDE.
5. REQUEST TO ADVERTISE TO FILL THE VACANT POSITION OF RADIO OPERATOR/RECORDS CLERK IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I. POLICE DEPARTMENT
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA
J. PUBLIC SERVICES (ALL ITEMS ON CONSENT)
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR THE SALE OF SCRAP STEEL.
K. SANITATION DEPARTMENT
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR THIS AGENDA

XII. CLOSED DETERMINATION SESSION

XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. PENDING LITIGATION
B. LAND ACQUISITION
C. POTENTIAL LITIGATION

XIV. ADJOURN UNTIL FEBRUARY 2, 2010 @ 5:30 AT 101 LAMPKIN STREET IN THE CITY HALL COURTROOM.

Area church congregations answered the call from pastors to help victims of the Haiti earthquake with donations, volunteering, and even direct visits to the country.

In Starkville, a group of local volunteers is leaving this afternoon for an emergency mission trip to Haiti, where the earthquake last week left the country in ruins.

New Horizons Christian Fellowship, located at the corner of Highway 12 and Spring Street in Starkville, is spearheading the effort, but Pastor Johnny Buckner emphasized this morning that it is a “community-wide event.” Oktibbeha County Hospital has donated medical supplies for the group to take to Haiti and Lowe’s donated respirators, Buckner said.

The group plans to meet at the church this afternoon, then take a bus donated by Mississippi State University to Fort Pierce, in Florida, before they leave for the Caribbean. Most, but not all, of the people going to Haiti attend New Horizons Christian Fellowship.

“We’re going to be breaking down medical supplies on the bus as we go,” Buckner said. “We have to hit the ground running; we have since 20 minutes after the earthquake.”

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

DISPATCH STAFF REPORT

From triumph to disaster, the area has seen its share of headlines that still have impact.

Many have earned the area national attention — for both the good and the bad.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories of the past decade.

Ravaged by storms

In the past 10 years, Lowndes County alone has seen multiple storms and continues to recover from their wrath.

In January 2008, an F3 tornado tore a vengeful path through Caledonia, leaving leveled houses, school buildings in rubble, twisted metal and broken glass in its path.

Workers and concerned neighbors rallied around the town to help in recovery efforts.

While many have repaired or rebuilt, including Caledonia schools, others still have yet to reclaim their Caledonia homes. Caledonia Church of Christ, which was left as nothing more than debris, has been rebuilt, bigger and better. And Lowndes County School District continues construction on a combination band-art-vo-tech building, along with a new middle school gym.

In February 2001, straight-line winds tore across Lowndes County from Mayhew to Columbus, knocking down walls and destroying mobile homes, houses and an apartment building, and left behind $11 million in damage.

In November 2002, a string of tornadoes traveled across Lowndes County, leaving home after home in ruins and one person dead. The storm also devastated the campus of Mississippi University for Women, which has continued to rebuild over the years.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.