By Billy Davis

The tragic death of Panola County’s sheriff topped the news in 2009.

“It caught everyone by surprise,” Panolian managing editor Rupert Howell said of Hugh “Shot” Bright, who took his life September 27. He was 50.

Law enforcement officials were still speeding to the site of Bright’s death, a home on College Street, when Howell arrived on the scene about 1:30 on a Sunday afternoon.

Bright had accumulated a lengthy resume at the time of his death. He started with the sheriff’s department in 1984 as a jailer. Former sheriff David Bryan promoted him to jail administrator in 1996.  

Bryan’s death in 2005 created a vacancy in the office and also set up Bright’s first run for public office.

The former jailer was elected sheriff in a special election, defeating the department’s then-chief deputy, Craig Sheley, in a runoff. Bright then won a second election, in 2007, to win a full term.

Bright, at first, ran into trouble when he squabbled with county supervisors over budget issues. But he had added round-the-clock patrolling and a drug interdiction unit, among other improvements, when he passed away.

Behind the scenes, deputies also credited Bright for restoring harmony within the department after the back-to-back sheriff’s races.  

In the newspaper, The Panolian covered Bright’s memorial service, which was held at the Batesville Civic Center and attended by 1,200 people.

“We did not ever think we would be gathered here today, but things changed in the blink of an eye,” said the Rev. Karen O’Brien.   

Famed blues musician Bobby Rush ended the funeral with a harmonica. He played a medley, “Farther Along” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Bright’s death, and the vacancy it created, set up the second-biggest news of the year: the appointment of Chief Deputy Otis Griffin as interim sheriff. (See related story, page A1).

Other news from 2009 included:

•Hospital gains new owners. In late summer, Tri-Lakes Medical Center emerged from bankruptcy with Alliance Health Partners, a coalition of local doctors, in possession of the facility.

A ribbon cutting was held October 21 that offered the new owners an opportunity to promise improvements.  

“We are not all things to all people but we will do the best job we can and you will be proud of the care you are given at your local hospital,” said new co-owner Dr. Mike Havens.

“We want to make you happy,” said Dr. William Haire, the hospital’s chief of staff.  

Joining Havens and Haire as partners are Dr. Ramon Rosenkrans, Dr. Lee Linder, Dr. R.C. Purohit, and Dr. Tom Crowson.

•GE Aviation ramps up production. Panolians learned in December that GE Aviation plans to add 350 employees to its Batesville plant, which would top out employee numbers at 475 workers.

The Batesville plant had been slowly adding workers throughout 2009, topping 100 employees in the fall.

The announcement included news that GE Aviation plans to invest $100 million in the expansion. The state of Mississippi has pledged $8 million and Panola County is expected to spend $4 million on infrastructure improvements.  

•Sunday beer sales passes. Sunday beer and alcohol sales became legal in Batesville in October following action by the Board of Aldermen.

Allowance of off-premises consumption – stores sales – was followed weeks later by on-premises consumption at restaurants when the state Tax Commission approved the city’s request.  

Allowance of off-premises sales passed 3-2. On-premises sales passed 4-1.

Aldermen then unanimously voted to set the penalty for first violation at $500, $1,000 for a second offense, and a $1,000 fine plus municipal action to revoke an alcohol sales permit for a third offense.

•Cosby found guilty, sentenced. In August, the two-day circuit court trial of Dennis Ray Cosby ended with a guilty verdict and a life sentence.

A jury of nine women and three men, deliberating for just 28 minutes, found Cosby guilty of killing his wife, Windy Cosby, during Thanksgiving weekend in 2007.

Authorities alleged that Cosby knocked his wife unconscious during a fight, then put her body in the bed of his pickup in a panic. He then dropped her into the Tallahatchie River in Tallahatchie County.

Their two children were riding in the extended cab pickup at the time, court documents showed.  

Windy Cosby’s body was recovered from the river on February 10, 2008.

Circuit Judge Andrew C. Baker sentenced Cosby at 2 p.m., explaining to him that defense attorney David Walker had worked hard on his behalf.

Baker also reminded the defendant that a manslaughter plea had been offered by prosecutors as late as Monday, but Cosby had refused to accept the plea offer.

Baker’s admonishment came after Cosby’s court appearance in May, when instead of pleading guilty he claimed his wife had jumped from the bridge.

Mississippi law allows Cosby, who was 55 at the time of his sentencing, to seek parole after serving 15 years in prison.

•Job Corps Center renamed. The Batesville Job Corps Center officially became the Finch-Henry Job Corps Center following a renaming ceremony held on October 19.

The center bears the name of former Governor Charles “Cliff” Finch, of Batesville, and former state Representative Aaron Henry, of Clarksdale.

The two men forged an alliance to bring the first Job Corps Center to Mississippi in 1977, and in 1979 Governor Finch broke ground for the Batesville Job Corps Center.  

•Blues markers unveiled. In May, Como bluesman Fred McDowell was honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker in a ceremony attended by Grammy-winning singer Bonnie Raitt.

McDowell, who died in 1972 at age 68, is credited with pioneering the “North Mississippi” blues style. He began recording in 1959 and was a popular performer at festivals and clubs.

The ceremony was repeated in August, when fife player Othar “Otha” Turner was honored with a market.

•Rolando Curtis Foods did not open.

Does that really need any more explanation?