"The Coliseum in Tupelo has been somewhat surrounded in controversy," City CPA Bill Crawford said.

Mayor Bobby Baker said he had asked Crawford to get information about centers in the area so the city would not make similar mistakes.

Crawford said one reason the BancorpSouth Center is having trouble is because of an apparent lack of communication between city leaders and the Tourism Bureau.

"I think the best thing for the city to do is hire a manager and not create a board of directors," he said. "That way the city will know what is going on with the facility."

Crawford said he believed some of the problems the BancorpSouth Center is having might have been caused by the city having three separate funds to operate the facility.

"They have a debt service fund, a convention center bureau fund and they use money from the general fund," he said. "That’s in addition to the increase in tourism tax that generates $1 million for the operating expenses."

Both the Panola County Board of Supervisors and Batesville Board of Aldermen were informed that more than enough signatures were verified to force the hospital’s future to a vote.

The signatures were verified by the Panola County Election Commissioners and Circuit Clerk Joe Reid’s office. A total of 1,500 were needed to bring the sale to the public.

The city and county each own 50 percent of the hospital and had opened five proposals from parties interested in purchasing the hospital.

While negotiations between the owners and bidders can continue, the sale can not be finalized until the election is complete.

Under the Mississippi Compulsory School Attendance Law, parents and guardians are required to enroll their children in a public or private school. This law applies to children who have reached the age of six and have not exceeded the age of 17 by September 1.

Children who have attained or will attain the age of five years on or before September 1 and have enrolled in a full-day public kindergarten will be under the Compulsory School Attendance Law.

Parents interested in teaching their children at home are required to complete a certificate of enrollment card and to provide a simple description of the education that will be provided in the home.

If a child misses a total of 12 unexcused absences during the school year a petition will be filed.

Any parent or guardian who fails to comply with the compulsory school attendance laws may be found guilty of contributing to the neglect of a child and may face criminal charges and a fine up to $1,000 or jail for up to a year, or both.

Charles Blakely and Terissa Williams, County School Attendance Officers, are available to assist parents and guardians of school-age children to ensure that they regularly attend school.

There will also be a daytime curfew law in effect. It is unlawful for any child to be in the street, public park, or other public place within the city between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. each Monday through Friday.