| ‘Footloose’ Takes Stage at 8 Tonight |
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| The South Panola Music Department will take this stage this weekend for the production of "Footloose." The 42 students will dance and sing their way through songs made famous by the movie.
Performing in the garbage scene are (l to r) Javar Pollard, Lendrell Barksdale, Justin Lee, Kendrell Barksdale, Justin Rogers and Jason Ales. The performances take place in the Batesville Jr. High School auditorium Friday through Tuesday, April 4 through 8.
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BY MYRA BEAN
SPORTS EDITOR
BATESVILLE – The South Panola High School Music Department will present the spring musical "Footloose," this weekend.
The 42 students will sing and dance to the soundtrack to the movie while a live orchestra plays.
Performing in the musical are students Jonathan Pegues, male lead; Te’Shawn Harmon, female lead; Brandis Shaw, Quinton Hankins, LaQuestria Robertson, Cedric Lawrence, Josh Taylor, Ashley Manning, Courtney Jones, Krystal Ellis, Justin Lee, Michael McKinney, Barcel McKinney, Nicole Sturgis, Justin Rogers, Tormontiel Chapman, Hollie Hinton, Jonathan Dickey, Kendrell Barksdale, Lendrell Barksdale, Shamika Barksdale, Emily Brewer, Amberly Chapman, Molly Chapman, Marcus Griffin, Bethany Harris, Brittany Harris, Bridgette Harris, Simin Hirani, Jessica House, Melanese Johnson, Barbara Kirk, Maxine Oby, Javar Pollard, Alicia Wilson, Brittany Young, Scott Honnoll, Latanya Flagg, Whitney Stafford, Jason Ales, Chris Boothe and Clint Norwood.
Producer and musical director of the show is Pam Stafford, along with Matt Croshaw serving as the drama director.
Choreographer is Kianna Leland. Playing in the orchestra are South Panola assistant band director Christy Colburn and on the keyboard former Batesville Elementary and Batesville Jr. High music teacher Saundra Bishop.
The students will perform Friday through Tuesday, April 4 through 8, in the Batesville Jr. High School auditorium. All shows start at 8 p.m. with the house opening at 7:30 p.m., except Sunday. Sunday showtime is 2:30 p.m. and the house opens at 2 p.m.
Admission is $10 per person.
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Board: Sardis Dogs Must Go Behind Fences
Chained Animals Outlawed |
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BY JASON C MATTOX
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Sardis pet owners must adhere to stricter laws thanks to an ordinance adopted by the Board of Aldermen.
During a meeting Tuesday night, City Attorney Tommy Shuler told the aldermen the city’s existing ordinance was tweaked.
"We reworked it to have pets kept in fenced in areas rather than on a chain," he said. "Pet owners will be required to keep the pets at either the back of the house or in the side yard."
Shuler said the ordinance did not set forth required sizes for the fenced in quarters.
"The ordinance also refers to the pet’s owner or person having custody," he explained. "That means the person caring for the animal is responsible for its actions."
Shuler told the aldermen that fines were also adjusted to be more imposing.
"The penalties for the violations under the original ordinance weren’t really that much," he said.
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| The Panola Playhouse will be the stage for the rendition of “The Member of the Wedding.” The play is directed by S. A. Weakley in conjunction with the Northwest Mississippi Community College Division of Fine Arts. Appearing in the play are (l to r) Laura Hill “Frankie Addams”, of Batesville; Kristen Gilbert “Janice” of Horn Lake; Chris Waller “Jarvis” (Frankie’s brother) of Batesville; and David Durham “Mr. Addams” of Horn Lake.
The play will be performed Thursday through Sunday, April 3 through 6. Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 3,4, and 5. On April 6, the play will be at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free for Northwest students with an I.D., and $5 for other students. General admission for adults is $10, and $8 for seniors.
For more information call Weakley at (662) 562-3329 or Panola Playhouse at 487-3975.
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| Family Hit by Two Home Fires; Lose All |
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As her Cole’s Point house burns, Nellie Gentry is embraced by her daughter Patti Brown. Brown and her husband Joshua were living with Gentry in the wake of their own home loss to fire in December.
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BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR
"She has nothing left."
So said Patti Brown as she watched wind-whipped flames destroy the Cole’s Point home of her mother Nellie Gentry.
Brown, and her husband Joshua, know the sickening feeling a home fire can bring.
"On December 4 our trailer burned," Joshua said Wednesday, pointing to the vacant area next door to Gentry’s house.
"We lost everything we had … we were living with her mother," Joshua said as he picked at the spring grass growing where he sat.
"The insurance company just moved it yesterday," Patti said of their former home.
Two volunteer fire departments, Sardis Lake and Cole’s Point, fought in vain to save Gentry’s home.
"It took 25 minutes for them to get here," Joshua said. "Then they ran out of water … and all this wind. They did the best they could. We can’t complain about that."
While Gentry does have insurance, it won’t cover replacing all that she lost.
Anyone who is interested in helping out either family may do so by calling Joshua and Patti at 662-562-2677 or 662-562-2416.
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| City to Pay 14.45% Health Insurance Hike |
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BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR
Batesville’s city employees will continue to have the same health insurance coverage as they have now at no cost thanks to the city picking up the tab for another premium increase.
The City Board voted unanimously Tuesday to renew the premium with Aetna insurance after meeting with Alan Tanguay of Mississippi Group Marketing, P.A. The new policy takes effect on May 1.
The renewal will add an increase of 14.45 percent. This policy year the premium cost $419,406, said Mayor Bobby Baker.
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| City to Pay 14.45% Health Insurance Hike |
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BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR
Batesville’s city employees will continue to have the same health insurance coverage as they have now at no cost thanks to the city picking up the tab for another premium increase.
The City Board voted unanimously Tuesday to renew the premium with Aetna insurance after meeting with Alan Tanguay of Mississippi Group Marketing, P.A. The new policy takes effect on May 1.
The renewal will add an increase of 14.45 percent. This policy year the premium cost $419,406, said Mayor Bobby Baker.
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