TIM PRATT

A man responsible for a series of break-ins last year in the Whispering Pines community outside of Starkville was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years behind bars.

Dennis Degraffenreid Jr., 60, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary of a dwelling in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court. Judge Jim Kitchens sentenced Degraffenreid to 20 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system for each of the three counts, but the sentences will run concurrently. Degraffenreid also must pay a $500 fine, $2,280.10 in restitution and faces five years of post-release supervision.

The break-ins occurred May 15, 2009, along Whispering Pines Circle, just west of the Starkville city limit.

In one home, Degraffenreid stole four guns — a Browning BAR .270, a Remington 742 .30-06, a Remington 1187 shotgun and a Remington 700 rifle, according to court documents. In another home, Degraffenreid stole a reciprocating saw and a chain saw.

The third count for which Degraffenreid pleaded guilty came from a burglary at the home of Oktibbeha County Administrator Don Posey. Degraffenreid took a fan and coolers full of food, among other items, Posey said, and left them in piles with other stolen items along a nearby tree line, Posey said.

When Degraffenreid returned to the scene later to retrieve the stolen items, police were waiting for him, Posey said.

As part of a plea agreement, the state retired four counts of burglary of an automobile, three additional counts of burglary and larceny of an automobile, two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of burglary and larceny of a shed.

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TIM PRATT

The city of Starkville is set to form a citizens committee to help determine a site for a new municipal complex.

Each member of Starkville’s newly formed municipal complex committee, which is made up of aldermen Jeremiah Dumas, Roy A. Perkins and Richard Corey, along with Mayor Parker Wiseman, plans to nominate two people to serve on the citizens committee. Wiseman also plans to nominate a chairman, which would bring the number of citizens committee members to nine.

The city’s municipal complex committee will recommend to the entire Board of Aldermen Tuesday which nine people will serve on the citizens committee. The group was still undecided on potential candidates Thursday, except for Perkins, who said he would like to see one of his constituents, former Starkville public works director Bill Webb, serve on the citizens committee.

“I think it is very important for the public to be involved in this (municipal complex) process from the beginning,” Perkins said.

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TIM PRATT

The city of Starkville could soon become a Mississippi Main Street community, which would give the city additional tools to promote economic development downtown.

The Starkville Visitors & Convention Council, a member agency of the Greater Starkville Development Partner-ship, committed funds last week in their monthly advisory board meeting for staffing and association dues to move forward with Starkville’s application process to become a Mississippi Main Street Association community.

The Starkville Downtown Business Association voted Monday to amend their by-laws to transfer duties to Starkville Main Street under the GSDP, effective Sunday, pending approval by the Mississippi Main Street Association.

“The CVB board felt that pursuing Main Street designation was a prudent use of funds to further enhance our community for visitors and residents alike,” said VCC advisory board chair Michelle Jones.

Mississippi Main Street Association is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Development Authority. The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to provide leadership, guidance and counsel to Mississippi Main Street communities through organization, promotion, design and economic development to make Mississippi cities and towns better places to work, live and play.

Jennifer Gregory, GSDP vice president for tourism development, will take on the additional role of Starkville Main Street manager, and Robyn Cain, GSDP administrative assistant, will transfer into a new role as Starkville Main Street program coordinator, all effective Sunday.

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TIM PRATT

Drug cases dominated much of the action Tuesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court as a handful of drug dealers were sentenced to lengthy terms in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Sixteenth Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens sentenced Ladreleous Hogan to a combined 20 years in the MDOC after he pleaded guilty to one count of sale of hydrocodone and one count of sale of amphetamine. Hogan also received a combined $10,000 in fines and faces five years of post-release supervision.
Judge Lee Howard sentenced Caleb Mosley to a combined 16 years in the MDOC for two counts of sale of cocaine. Mosley also must pay a $5,000 fine and faces five years of post-release supervision.
Kitchens sentenced Curtis Bishop to six years in the MDOC for sale of cocaine, plus a $5,000 fine and five years of post-release supervision.
Kitchens sentenced Jessica Chandler to four years in the MDOC for possession of cocaine, but suspended the sentenced and ordered Chandler to serve five years of probation. Chandler also must pay a $250 fine and $250 in restitution.
Carlos Curiel pleaded guilty to one count of sale of marijuana less than 30 grams, but sentencing was deferred until today.

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KRISTIN MAMRACK

Area retailers are getting ready for Mississippi’s second annual tax-free shopping weekend.

From 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Saturday, sales tax will not be collected on purchases of clothing or footwear items, excluding certain items, priced under $100.

Shoppers at JC Penney in Leigh Mall will find the store open extended hours, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

“We expect to have a super-duper weekend,” Manager Mike Law said of the tax holiday, noting the store will be staffed with extra workers. “It was very successful last year and we anticipate the same this year.”

Belk, on Highway 45 North in Columbus, also will be open extended hours, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“All of our people will be working this weekend and management will be here,” said Manager Perky Richard. “We’ve got extra coverage and we expect huge crowds this weekend. It was extremely successful last year. We’re pumped up for it.”

“We are picking up all the tax on everything,” Reed’s of Columbus owner Lex Jackson said, explaining customers also won’t have to pay sales tax on items normally excluded in the tax holiday.

The sales tax holiday, which is statewide, does not apply to sales of items not designated as clothing and footwear. Accessories — such as jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, backpacks and briefcases — are not included as tax-free purchases.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.