| Security Important In Rural Areas, Too |
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BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR
Panola Countians are being told to prepare for the threat of a terrorist attack the same way they’d prepare for survival after a tornado or ice storm.
That’s the word from Son Hudson, Panola County’s Civil Defense Director, who says rural dwellers shouldn’t take the attitude that " … it can’t happen here."
While area fire and law enforcement departments have not had joint meetings specific to terrorist attacks, Hudson said his office keeps the agencies informed.
Also, he says he’s had "a few" telephone calls from people who are concerned about Homeland Security and the prospect terrorists could strike here.
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued advice on how to prepare for a biological or chemical attack.
And while taking precautions is the right thing to do, Hudson said, "duct tape and plastic is not going to stop some of the material.
"A lot of that stuff we don’t even know what it is," Hudson said. "We just know it’s bad."
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| How To Assemble A "Disaster Plan" |
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| Americans are being offered tips on how to assemble a "disaster plan" and a more detailed guide can be found at .
Top tips include:
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Identify two meeting places. One near home and the second away from the neighborhood in case home cannot be approached. |
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Find out the emergency response plan of employers, school, daycare and other officials. To where would they evacuate workers and students? Write down the answers and keep a copy in your wallet. |
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Keep life, property, health and other insurance policies current and know their terms. Store copies of these and other important documents – identification, deeds, wills, a small amount of cash – in a watertight container. |
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Have a plan for pets, since shelters do not allow them. |
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Assemble a disaster supply kit and keep it in a designated place where it is ready to grab and go. It should include bottled water, food and emergency supplies, perhaps kept in backpacks or duffel bags. |
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With guidance from doctor of pharmacist, store prescription drugs and an extra set of prescription glasses. |
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First aid kit. |
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Tools and emergency supplies including extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, duct tape, plastic sheeting, matches, etc.
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 Garner Barbee, a kindergarten student at Batesville Elementary School, recently won first place in the individual award category at the District Reading Fair.
His display about "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" will now go on to Regional Reading Fair competition.
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| Records To Be Preserved |
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BY JASON C MATTOX
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The court records of Panola County could be around for a lot longer thanks to a decision made by the Panola County Board of Supervisors.
Lyn Clark appeared last week before the board to answer questions it had regarding the preservation of court documents through the 1950s.
"The Utah Genealogical Society has been doing this kind of thing since 1895," Clark said.
The first step in the process is to clean and restore the records in both county courthouses, she said.
Clark explained that two people will handle the restoration of the court documents, starting in the Sardis Courthouse then progressing to Batesville.
"They will work the Sardis Courthouse to completion before they start on the records in Batesville," she said.
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| Bad Scores Keep Como Middle School On Failing List |
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BY JASON C MATTOX
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Because of poor test scores, a Panola County School is one of six Mississippi Schools required to offer tutoring services.
According to published reports, Como Middle School in the North Panola School District is among 10 schools in the country that failed to improve test scores enough under guidelines of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind legislation.
Como Middle School, along with the other five Mississippi Schools, is involved in the Title 1 program, a program intended to give extra money to schools to help academically struggling students.
The guidelines under which the money is disbursed, requires schools to show an improvement in test scores or during the first year as a failing school. Under No Child Left Behind, students must be offered a choice of where, within the district, they wish to attend school.
Should the schools stay on the failing list for a second year as Como Middle has done, they are required to offer supplemental educational services (tutoring).
That provision went into affect in January.
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