ANGIE CARNATHAN

The Starkville Main Street Association will host the second annual Downtown Block Party, the first event of its New South Weekends, tonight from 6-8 p.m. on Main Street in downtown.
There is no charge for admittance to the event and the public is encouraged to attend.
“We’re looking forward to great attendance at the first event of the series,” Jennifer Gregory, Greater Starkville Development Partnership vice president for tourism development and Starkville Main Street manager, said.
The block party features live music, a fashion show, multi-cultural food tastings provided by international student organizations and a kids village with inflatable jumpers. All activities are free.
Organizations offering food tastings include the Indian Student Association, the Sri Lankan Student Association, the Club de Hispanas de Starkville and the Starkville Multicultural Lions Club.
Regular main street restaurants such as Mugshots, Old Venice, Starkville Cafe and Segoi will have food available for purchase.
Live music entertainment acts include the Mississippi State University Black Voices and Jeff & Jeff featuring Bill Cooke. That stage will be set up facing east in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse.
Many of the Main Street stores are staying open late for after-hours shopping. Shops participating include Harmonie Boutique, The Sundial, Occasions, Oooh La La, Mary Virginia’s, Polka Tots, Dandy Doodlez, Frock Fashions, R. Tabb & Co. and Book Mart & Cafe.

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COLLEEN MCCARTHY

The Starkville School District Board of Trustees will evaluate and vote on 11 new policies during its Oct. 4 meeting, including a potential extension of a code of ethics to all district employees.
The board could decide whether to require only licensed educators — such as teachers, principals or counselors — to comply with the Mississippi Professional Educator Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, or extend the standards to all district employees.
The code includes 10 different standards which outline appropriate employee conduct both in and outside the school.
The first standard requires the educator or employee to act in a professional and ethical manner. This calls for the employee to respect their co-workers, maintain competence in regards to their job and responsibilities, and provide professional education services in a nondiscriminatory manner. It forbids unethical conduct, including harassment of colleagues, physical altercations, misuse of test materials and inappropriate language, during school activities.
The code also deals with relationships within the school setting, including student-educator and co-worker interactions.
During the 2011 Legislative Session, Gov. Haley Barbour signed House Bill 641 into law. The law provides specific grounds for revocation or suspension of a teacher’s or administrator’s license for sexual misconduct with a student. The law requires superintendents and principals to report incidences of sexual involvement of school employees with a student.
Charles McClelland, chairman of the Mississippi State Board of Education, said the code will help protect Mississippi students.
“The media frequently reports that the numbers of sexual relationships between teachers and students is increasing across the nation. As Facebook and other social media outlets continue in their popularity, the boundaries between students and educators become less defined,” McClelland said. “Our hope is that the Mississippi Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct will set clear guidelines and protect the health, safety and general welfare of our students and educators. This law may serve as a model for other states that face similar situations when dealing with unethical behaviors of educators.”
The fourth standard requires the employee to maintain a professional relationship with the students. Employees are encouraged to support the students and create a challenging environment for students. The standards prohibit employees from harming a student in any way and outline behaviors that would be deemed inappropriate, such as sexual jokes or remarks, electronic communication, such as texting or invitation to social networking.

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ANGIE CARNATHAN

In response to recent criminal incidents against women on University Drive, Starkville Police Department is warning females to be vigilant when it comes to their safety.
Master Training Officer Laura Hines Roberson said the most important aspect of vigilance is a person’s awareness of his or her surroundings.
“The criminal is scoping you out and determining whether or not you’re a good target,” Roberson said. “If you are aware of your surroundings, then you are not a good target. If you’re listening to your iPod (with) speakers in both ears and you’re oblivious to what’s around you, then you are the perfect target.”
Although officers believe both incidents were unrelated, Detective Josh Buckner said both victims were approached from behind. Neither of the women knew their attackers.
Roberson said a person’s awareness of someone approaching can be key in staying safe. Even in full daylight, Roberson said continually looking around and being proactive about your surroundings will make you safer.
“If you see them first, a lot of times that’s a good defense because they don’t get to sneak up on you,” Roberson said. “So if you beat them on that particular aspect, you’re doing good because they want to be sneaky.”
Roberson said the department’s warnings are not intended to scare anyone, but officers want residents to be smart and aware in light of recent events. Officers say running alone during the early morning or late at night is unadvised. They also encourage runners to avoid listening to music in both ears, change the time of day they run as much as possible and avoid using the same routine route.
Roberson said although she means no disrespect to previous victims, walking alone at night is never a good or safe idea and everyone should do everything in their power to make themselves a bad target for criminals.
“If you have somebody with you, that makes you less of a good target,” Roberson said. “It never hurts to have a cell phone with you. You can call 911 if you need it, or you could be a witness to someone else being attacked and need to call the police.”
Roberson said she encourages anyone who witnesses any suspicious behavior, who is in fear of their safety or who thinks they are being followed to immediately call 911.
“Don’t be afraid to be rude or to be wrong; it’s always better to be safe,” Roberson said. “Your fear of being rude or unsure should never outweigh your fear for your own or someone else’s safety.”
Roberson said the police remain confident the person who attempted the sexual assault will be apprehended, but they will need the public’s assistance.
“We want to catch this guy,” she said. “Somebody has to know him. I guarantee you he’s around females every day because he wants to be around females. He’s scoping out (potential victims); he could be a guy you see at the grocery store. If somebody is making you feel uncomfortable, don’t second-guess yourself. Trust that instinct and call the police.”
Roberson said it’s helpful to give police your name when reporting someone suspicious, although it’s not necessary and shouldn’t stop someone from reporting something.
“It’s helpful because if the officer doesn’t get there in time to identify the subject, we might need to contact you for additional details,” she said. “However, we would never give out your name, and if you want to call anonymously you can.”

Read the complete article at Starkville Daily News.