Headlines – 8/12/2003

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Panolian Headlines: August 12, 2003

For complete stories, pick up the 8/12/03  issue of The Panolian


Murder Suspect Also Faces Charges
in Kidnap, Rape
    

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BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR

With his hands cuffed and legs chained, Edward Dickson Jr. bowed his head as Assistant District Attorney Robert Kelly read aloud the capital murder and aggravated assault indictments against him.

Dickson, 20, of Sardis, was arraigned Monday morning in circuit court in Batesville where his court-appointed attorney, David Walker, entered a plea for him of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Dickson is charged in connection with the home invasion robbery in Courtland on May 3, when Alvin Herring, 84, was shot and killed and his wife, Verlena, 75, was shot and critically wounded.

He is being held without bond in the Lafayette County Jail.
 
    


Hospital Sale/Lease Proposals
to Go Out
Tri-Lakes Hires New Attorneys

    
BY KATE B DICKSON
EDITOR

Three major developments with regard to the city-county owned Tri-Lakes Medical Center are at the forefront this week.
 

Requests for proposals from seven or more prospective buyers or lease holders of Tri-Lakes Medical Center are due to go out late this week
    
Assistant City Attorney Colmon Mitchell, who has been serving both as lawyer for the city and the Tri-Lakes board, has resigned his post as hospital counsel.
    
The company now contracted to operate the hospital – Emergent Health of Jackson – is forming a Batesville corporation and will seek to lease the facility and operate it as a local concern. Emergent’s CEO, Dr. Bob Corkern, was hired last month as Tri-Lakes administrator.
    

Former Batesville banker J.C. Burns, whose consulting company was hired by the owners – to oversee a feasibility study and legalities surrounding possible sale or lease said all is in place for the requests to go out.

While proposals from at least seven hospital and/or management entities are being sought Burns told The Panolian, "I expect that number to grow."
    


 
   

Practice Makes…
    
The South Panola High School marching band braved the hot weather for its annual band camp recently. Members of the percussion section practicing drills include (l to r) Anita Morgan, Antonio Lesure and Brittany Draper.
    

Street-By-Street
Check for Junk Set
    
If your street starts with an "A" it’s No. 1 on the list this week to be checked for junk cars, trash, etc.

Batesville streets starting with "B" follow until property on all streets, ending with Womack Cove, have been checked by John McCullom, assistant code enforcement officer.

The street-by-street inspection process is being instituted in place of checks based only upon complaints, said Pam Comer, code enforcement office administrator.

"If it were me," Comer said, "And I knew this was happening, I’d go ahead and clean up my property now."

Enforcement of the city’s new anti-junk ordinance began last month.

Violation of the junk ordinance shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, and the cost of prosecution, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the municipal judge.