Headlines – 5/7/2004

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 7, 2004

Panolian Headlines: May 7, 2004

For complete stories, pick up the 5/7/04  issue of The Panolian

BJW League Awards Essay Winners
    
Each year, the Batesville Junior Woman’s League sponsors the Mother-of-the-Year essay contest for third and fourth graders at South Panola, Pope, and North Delta Schools.

Each student can write about his or her mother, grandmother, or aunt, telling why she is great. This year two winners were chosen: a Mother-of-the-Year and a Grandmother-of-the-Year. An honorable mention was also chosen. The two winners will each receive a $150 savings bond and the honorable mention receives a $50 savings bond.

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Mother-of-the-Year Winner: Carly Baker, 4th grade, Pope Elementary School, Mrs. Chandler

Grandmother-of-the-Year Winner: Sarah Atkinson, 4th grade, North Delta School, Mrs. Gaines

Honorable Mention: Emily Hopper, 4th grade, Batesville Middle School, Ms. Patton

Carly Baker, fourth grade student at Pope in Ms. Chandler’s class won the Batesville Jr. Women’s League essay contest.

Sarah Atkinson, fourth grader at North Delta, is the winner for her Grandmother-of-the-year essay. She is the daughter of Billy Atkinson.
Emily Hopper, fourth grade student at Batesville Middle School in Ms. Patton’s class received an Honorable Mention in the Mother’s Day essay contest.
    

South Panola Holds 30th Annual Dining In and Awards Ceremony
  
Andrew Schwinn (r) received the National Sojourner’s award from Col. Robertson.
    
By C/ Maj. Leann McCoy
SP AFJROTC

On April 20, the South Panola AFJROTC held the 30th Annual Dining-In and Awards Ceremony

The group awards were given as followed:
    

Superior Performance Ribbon: 22 cadets
Achievement Ribbon: 19 cadets
Activities Ribbon: 46 cadets
Leadership Ribbon: 10 cadets
Dress & Appearance Ribbon: 55 cadets
Attendance Ribbon: 11 cadets
Good Conduct Ribbon: 27 cadets
Academic Ribbon: 34 cadets

The individual awards were given as followed:
    

Co-Curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon:
  Angela Brewer,
Keri Matthews,
Kenika Money

    
AFJROTC Teacher of the Year:
  Mrs. Jackie Sergi
    
Professional Performance Award:
  Heather Mills,
Kenika Money,
Dexter Aldridge

    
Most Improved Cadet:
  Jessie Dogan
    
Outstanding Flight Commander:
  Angela Brewer
    
Citizenship Award:
  Dexter Aldridge
    
Outstanding Cadet Award:
  AS I: Michael Dettor;
AS II: Vanesha Jaiswal;
AS III: Tiffany Swindoll;
AS IV: Calvin "C.J." Dixon;

    
Outstanding Scholar Award:
  Rumeal Bell
    
Tuskegee Airman Award:
  Kenika Money
Chanmeika Hill

    
Air Force Sergeant’s Association Award:
  Courtney Menzie
    
Military Order of the Purple Heart Award:
  Mason Tutor
    
Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction Award:
  James Robinson
    
Sons of the American Revolution Award:
  LeKeldrich Thompson
    
National Sojourner’s Award:
  Andrew Schwinn
    
Veterans of Foreign Wars Award:
  Thomas Shroads
    
Military Officers Association Award:
  Ashley Anderson
    
Military Order of World Wars Award:
  Shelby Brinkley
    
Reserve Officers Association Award:
  Megan Gordon
    
American Veteran’s Award:
  Tiffany Dettor
    
Daughters of American Revolution Award:
  Misty Hill
    
E’Spirit De Corps Award:
  Te’Shawn Harmon
    
American Legion Scholastic Award:
  Heather Mills
    
American Legion General Military Excellence Award:
  Tiffany Swindoll
    
Daedalian Award:
  Leann McCoy
    
Air Force Association Award:
  Angela Brewer
    
Joe G. Hamlin Award:
  Calvin "C.J." Dixon
    
Aerospace Science Award:
  Heather West
Amber West

    
Principal’s Award:
  Kayla Hentz
Superintendent’s Award:
  Dennis Pearson
    
$500 AFJROTC Scholarship Award:
  Kayla Hentz
    
Top Flight Award:
  Foxtrot Flight.

On a final note, the South Panola AFJROTC was named as one of the Distinguished Units in the United States. 150 out of the 751 units nationwide receive this award. 
  


 
   

Chapman Says Signage
     Might Stop Accidents
    
An accident on Highway 6 Monday involving a South Panola School District bus and another car killed one person, Erica Friday, of Memphis and injured three children and the father, also passengers in the car. Students on the bus were not injured. Conditions of other passengers from the accident were not available at press time.
    
By Jason C. Mattox
News Editor

The tragic wreck on Highway 6 Monday that left one dead, was the second in as many weeks for the bus involved.

According to South Panola School District Transportation Director Robert Chapman, the first accident that occurred on Thursday of last week was a minor "scrape" near Wal-Mart.

"It was a minor accident," he said. "The bus and another car bumped, it was nothing major."

Chapman said he has not had time to investigate the first wreck because of the time he has put in to the fatality accident.

"I haven’t even had a chance to get a copy of the accident report," Chapman said.

As for the second wreck, Chapman said it did not appear the driver was at fault.

According a parent whose child rides the bus, the driver had asked on numerous occasions if she could pull off to the side of the road in order to drop off riders.

"The driver knows it is a major Mississippi Department of Transportation no-no for a bus to pull off to the side of the road," Chapman replied.

Chapman said if the bus were allowed to pull off the road way, it could cause confusion and lead to more accidents.

"If a person is following behind the bus and sees it pull over, the first thing they might think is the bus is having problems," he said. "If that’s the case, the other drivers on the road may just speed on by instead of stopping and that could result in a child getting injured.

"The general public wants you to do it, but they don’t understand you are putting more children at risk when you do," Chapman said.

Mississippi State Law says all vehicles must stop for busses when the stop arm of a bus is out.

"When state law says everyone has to stop for a bus, that seems to be the safest option," he said.

Chapman said the driver took every precaution to make sure the students on the bus were safe.

"The driver used her stop arm and her warning flashers on top of the bus," he said. "That’s all a driver can do in a situation like this."

Chapman said the driver has been told in the past to pull off the highway and drop the children off in the parking area of the restaurant near the Crossroads intersection.

"The biggest problem is not where the children are being dropped off," he said. "The problem is the road they are being dropped off on.

"It seems like everyone who drives up and down that stretch of road is driving between 65 and 80 mph," he said. "That is the problem that needs to be resolved."

Chapman said when people are driving that fast down the road they may not notice that a bus is stopped or may just ignore the stop arm.

One thing Chapman believes could remedy the situation is having signage of a bus stop area near the intersection.

"We need bus stop loading zone signs up at the intersection to let people know they should be ready to slow down," he said. "And another past the stop.

"Hopefully that would help prevent another accident like this one," Chapman said.
    


Resident Concerned About
     Junkyard on 51

   
By Jason C. Mattox
News Editor

One resident on Highway 51 is tired of property owners junking up his neighborhood.

Norris Wray appeared before the Panola County Board of Supervisors asking for help with his problem.

"As everyone knows, there has been a junkyard out on Hwy. 51 for quite a long time," he said. "I believe it is nothing more than an eyesore and health hazard for everyone who comes in contact with it."

Wray told the board he had spoken with representatives of the DEQ who came to check it out.

"Every time I call DEQ, they tell me the property owner is in compliance with their regulations," he said. "Well, this junkyard is the prime location for a breeding ground of all kinds of animals and insects and something needs to be done about it before it gets even more out of hand."
    


Relay for Life Begins Tonight
   
By Jason C. Mattox
News Editor

During this year’s Relay for Life, participants will have the chance to remember loved ones and honor those battling cancer with a special luminaria ceremony.

The ceremony will be held at Tiger Stadium on tonight, beginning at 10 p.m. Each luminaria represents the love that families and friends have for a survivor who has won the battle against cancer or for the memory of someone who lost the fight. Hundreds of these beacons of hope will illuminate the field during this moving ceremony.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life began in 1985 and remains a celebration of survivorship and remembrance that raises funds for the awareness of the fight against cancer. The ceremony of light symbolizes the hope and courage with which we continue to work toward a cure for this deadly disease.

At sunset at each of the more than 3,300 Relay for Life events nationwide, luminaria decorated with the names of those who have battled cancer are lit and left glowing throughout the night to remind everyone of the incredible importance of their contributions.

The five-year cancer survival rate gas grown to more than 60 percent, but an estimated 1,500 people are still lost to the fight daily.

    


Late night fire
   
By Jason C. Mattox
News Editor

Batesville Firefighters were called out earlier this week to put out a fire at the new law office under construction on Lakewood Drive. It is unknown how much damage the building sustained during the blaze.