Starkville School District Family Centered Programs and Excel by 5 are planning a Back to School Bash we are requesting your help to help get the word out.

TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — Traffic is expected to return to normal on Old West Point Road this week as crews complete the reconstruction of a bridge that washed out earlier this month.

The primary bridge reconstruction work has been completed by Ellis Construction of Columbus, Starkville city engineer Edward Kemp said Friday, but inclement weather Thursday and Friday prevented the necessary work for roadway repaving and final cleanup. Work will continue on the bridge today and Tuesday, with a goal of reopening the bridge on Wednesday morning, Kemp said.

A motorist was driving on Old West Point Road May 3 when he noticed an approximately 4-by-4 foot hole had formed in the southbound lane, at the edge of a bridge about 1/4-mile south of the Highway 82 overpass. The bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of Sand Creek.

A large pile of downed trees, limbs and other debris formed a dam at the bridge, which forced rushing water into the south side of the bank. Eventually, enough of the bank washed out under the road to cause the pavement to collapse at the edge of the bridge, approximately 20 feet above.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

Starkville and Oktibbeha County soon will be the first areas of the state with access to a 311 non-emergency call service.

Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley, D-Nettleton, announced Thursday that the PSC has unanimously approved the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County for use of 311 service for citizens wishing to contact their local government about non-emergency issues.

Because of the Public Service Commission’s approval, Starkville and Oktibbeha County will become the first governments in Mississippi to deploy 311 service. The 311 service gives citizens a single contact number to call in reference to an array of city and county services, including reporting street and road problems and utility services, along with other facets of government.

“I am proud that the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County have taken advantage of 311 to help their citizens,” Presley said. “One of the biggest complaints I hear from consumers is that they never can find a way to quickly communicate with government offices and utilities. This will go a long way to fix that problem.”

Examples of typical 311 calls include animal control problems, potholes, trash pickup problems, trees in the road, water line breaks and illegally parked vehicles or vehicles blocking alleys or driveways which don’t block traffic flow. The number also will give callers access to city agency phone numbers, addresses and hours of operation, and all other city services, such as public works, motor vehicles, human services and the mayor’s office.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

Residents of Oktibbeha County who have non-traditional mailbox posts could soon face fines if the posts aren’t replaced.

In order for Oktibbeha County to receive Mississippi Department of Transportation Office of State Aid road construction funds, all mailboxes along State Aid road rights-of-way in the county — not in the city of Starkville — must be placed atop 4-by-4-inch wooden posts, or “breakaway” posts, county administrator Don Posey said. Counties receive State Aid funds for road improvements and construction projects, but must conform to State Aid regulations to receive the funds.

State Aid funds for the overlay of Oktoc Road, for instance, could be withheld due to multiple mailbox posts in the right-of-way which don’t conform to State Aid standards, Posey said. Oktibbeha County receives approximately $49,900 a year in State Aid funds, he said.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

A convicted drug dealer who was deemed to be a habitual offender was sentenced Tuesday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to serve 17 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections on two drug-related charges.

Judge Jim Kitchens sentenced Dexter Moore to 16 years in the MDOC without the possibility of parole for possession of cocaine as a habitual offender. Kitchens also sentenced Moore to 30 years in the MDOC, but suspended 29 years, for the sale of cocaine. Moore also faces a $5,000 fine and five years of post-release supervision.

In other court business Tuesday, Judge Lee Howard sentenced Isaac Starks to a combined seven years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections system for four counts of burglary of an automobile and two counts of identity theft. Starks also must pay $4,436.16 in restitution and a combined $2,000 in fines. Three additional counts of burglary of an automobile were dropped as part of a plea bargain.

Kitchens sentenced Trevor Edmonson to one year of house arrest and five years of post-release supervision for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. If Edmonson does not complete the house arrest program successfully, he must serve six years in the MDOC.

Kitchens sentenced Willie Rogers to five years in the MDOC for felony fleeing a law enforcement officer. The sentence is to run consecutively to a sentence Rogers already is serving. He also must pay a $500 fine.

Kitchens sentenced Larry Smith to two years of house arrest for possession of a weapon by felon. If Smith completes the house arrest program successfully, he faces five years of post-release supervision. If not, Smith must serve 10 years in the MDOC.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.

TIM PRATT

The trial of a Maben woman accused of killing her husband while the couple hunted in western Oktibbeha County was continued Monday until Aug. 2.

The trial of Verina Marie Childs, 38, of 3875 Jeff Peay Road, was delayed until August because the investigation is still ongoing, according to a court order.

Childs was charged with murder in the shooting death of her husband, Douglas Marion Childs, 32, on Nov. 22, 2009, off Hawkins Road. The couple lived at the corner of Jeff Peay and Hawkins roads, not far from the scene of the shooting.

Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy George Carrithers at the time said Douglas Childs was shot in the back with a rifle.

According to the court docket, Assistant District Attorney Lindsey Clemons is prosecuting the case against Verina Childs, Rob Roberson is her defense attorney and Judge Lee Howard is presiding over the case.

In unrelated business Monday, Howard and fellow Sixteenth Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens handed out a number of sentences.

Howard sentenced Calvin Hubbard to 10 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the sale of cocaine and an additional 10 years in the MDOC for possession of cocaine greater than 30 grams. The sentences are to run consecutively. Howard also gave Hubbard a $5,000 fine and five years of post-release supervision.

Howard sentenced Bruce Jefferson to five years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for statutory rape. Jefferson also faces a $1,000 fine and five years of post-release supervision.

Howard sentenced David Porter to two years in the MDOC for felony driving under the influence — third offense. Porter also was given a $2,000 fine and faces three years of post-release supervision.

Kitchens sentenced Wanda Larrimore to 10 years in the MDOC, but suspended the sentence, for embezzlement. Kitchens gave Larrimore five years of probation, a $200 fine and ordered her to pay $1,909.50 in restitution.

Read complete article at Commercial Dispatch.