Enterprise-Journal from McComb, Mississippi • Page A001

HIGHLIGHTS COMING UP Mission Pike County plans service for mayor Mission Pike County will hold an inaugural prayer service for new McComb Mayor Zach Patterson from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church. Dr. Dolphus Weary, president ofMission Mississippi, is keynote speaker.

Patterson and the city board will be sworn in at noon on the east steps of City Hall. Also participating in the service will be the Rev. Steven Cooper, director of the Foundation for the Mid Visionary Leadership Institute; Fern Crossley ofMission Pike County; Pastor Jim Dalton ofMc- Comb First Assembly of God; Pastor Tasha Dillon and Pastor Terry Weems of New Life Fellowship, McComb; Bro. Dwight Martin, minister of24th Street Church ofChrist; Elder Gregory Partman, pastor of Chapel Free Will Baptist Church; and the Rev. Cleveland Quinn pastor ofFlowery Mount Baptist Church.

Music will be performed by Kelly Parker ofJ.J. White and Pastor Valerie Bass Russell ofNew Life Fellowship, Silver Creek. Refreshments will be available. Dr. Lane Stephenson is the host pastor.

Agnes R.B. Fleming, 72 Curtis Marsalis 60 Eva Lee McGee, 77 Evelyn M. Prestridge, 62 A3 Local shut-in lives dream after state foundation grants wish. Sunday Enterprise- Journal 116TH YEAR NO. 224 www.enterprise-journal.comMcCOMB, MISSISSIPPI FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2007 50 CENTS Storm surge Camp Van Dorn chapel succumbs to Hurricane Katrina.

B2 Pay as you go: Spending proposal faces House debate. NEWS A2 A lot to prove: Manning yet to meet golden boy expectations. SPORTS A8 UNITEDWESTAND Enterprise- Journal The one newspaper in the world most interested in this community NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) At least two people were killed and 15 others were taken to hospitals after reports oftornadoes touching down during a strong cluster ofstorms in southern Louisiana. Locally, Pike County Civil Defense officials reported no damage in the storm.

The county was placed under a severe thunderstorm warning from 10:45 to 11:15 p.m. Thursday and received 1.95 inches of rain. A meteorologist was to check the area to see whether or not the winds were tornadoes, National Weather Service Kent Kuyper said today. The storm front had moved into Mississippi and Alabama, but the storm-free period will be brief, he said. showers and thunderstorms are on the way Saturday afternoon and evening as we get another cold front coming through.

in a progressive pattern almost like clockwork, every three days get a front Kuyper said. However, he said, the next round does not appear likely to spawn any storms like In the New Iberia area, the winds tore offroofs and ripped seven mobile homes from their foundation, SheriffSid Hebert said. Yevette Williams, 37, and Ruby Mouton, 65, were killed in their home, according to a spokesman for the Iberia Parish Office. Louisiana tornado kills two; 15 hurt BY IRIS COOPER ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL As a child growing up on Fifth Avenue in McComb, Bob Bellipanni used to watch steam engines on the Illinois Central Railroad. Bellipanni, 64, sits on the board ofdirectors ofthe McComb City Railroad Depot Museum and was practically brought to tears when he discovered that someone had stolen a bronze plaque that contained an historic route map.

a piece ofthe said Bellipanni, whose grandfather Jake Bellipanni Sr. served as a conductor for the rail system. really leaves a hole in your Affixed to a piece ofgranite that weighs about 450 pounds, the plaque is 10 1 4 inches in diameter and was given to McComb in 1951. Board member Edwin Etheridge reported the theft to authorities shortly after 1 p.m. on Dec.

28. looks like they had a crowbar and popped it out ofthe Bellipanni said. A circular plaque that documented the 100th anniversary of the railroad also was mounted to the granite. It was not damaged. appear that they messed with the other side at all.

It really make Bellipanni said. When the city initially received the monument, Bellipanni said they have a place to put it because ofits size. So officials decided to display it near McComb High School. About two years ago, the monument was moved to the railroad museum and placed by the train display. Since the theft, the monument has been moved again.

Now housed inside the Depot, which is locked at night. Bellipanni said the Depot has been the target ofvandalism in the past, but nothing ofthis magnitude. He said vandals have previously spray-painted the engine and boxcar. And last year, windows were smashed out ofthe train wrecker. have no idea what was on their Bellipanni said.

really hurt us. Why would anybody take something that had significant value to the city of McComb and its McComb police detective Shannon Sullivan said the department encourages anyone with tips regarding the theft to come forward. museum and the city of McComb would be grateful for any Sullivan said. just hoping ifit does surface there is no TO REPORT INFORMATION regarding the theft, call the McComb Police Department at 684-3214. Museum plaque stolen in heist FROM STAFF REPORTS Candidates for Pike County positions have wasted no time in filing qualifying papers at the circuit office.

As ofthis morning, more than 20 people have filed to run in this elections. In the running for District 5 supervisor are Cheyenne Cole, Randy Eckman, Gary Honea, Eddie Simmons and the Rev. Bertrand Smith. Seeking the District 3 spot are Edward Bullock, James L. Freeman and Chuck E.

Lambert. Other candidates: District 2 supervisor: Jesse Patterson. District 4 supervisor: incumbent Venton Ray Adams. Sheriff: incumbent Mark Shepherd. Chancery Clerk: incumbent Doug Touchstone.

Tax Assessor-Collector: incumbent Joe B. Young. Circuit clerk: incumbent Roger A. Graves. Coroner: incumbent Percy H.

Pittman Jr. County attorney: David L. Brewer. Northern District constable: incumbent Denny Johnson. Northern District justice court judge: Jim Nettles.

Southern District justice court judge: incumbent Aubrey P. Rimes. Central District constable: Robert G. McNabb and incumbent Billy Young. Southern District constable: incumbent Scott Enlow and Oliver James.

All filed as Democrats except Mark Shepherd and Denny Johnson, who are Republicans. The qualifying deadline is March 1. Primary elections are Aug. 7, second primary Aug. 28 and the general election Nov.

6. Full field quick to file for Pike posts BY JACK RYAN ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL McComb Mayor Tom Walman, who leaves office next week, has started work as the housing policy coordinator and administrator in Gov. Haley office. immediate focus will be in speeding up housing construction on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which is struggling to recover from Hurricane Katrina. Ultimately, he said, Barbour wants Walman to focus on housing needs across Mississippi.

quite a challenge. I just hope up to Walman said today from his office in Jackson, where he started work on Tuesday. there to literally help thousands and thousands Walman said there will be billions coming into Mississippi for hurricane rebuilding, and Barbour wanted someone in his administration to assist and supervise the various government and nonprofit programs. His hiring is interesting in that Barbour is a Republican and Walman is a Democrat. In addition to his one term as McComb mayor, he served four terms in the state House ofRep- resentatives.

one thing, the governor knew what we had done in McComb, as far as the after the hurricane, Walman said, asked me to come talk to him, outlined what the problem was and asked ifI would be interested in trying to address it. Of course I said Walman said chief ofstaff, Charlie Williams, was instrumental in steering him to the position. Williams and Walman entered the House at the same time, in 1976, and remain close friends. Walman to head housing rebuild OUTSIDE Saturday Mostly cloudy High: 72 Low: 55 Rain: Wind: 10 A2 TO SUBSCRIBE 684-2713 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday NEWS, ADVERTISING 684-2421 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Friday CONTACT US Bob Bellipanni kneels next to a 450-pound monument at the McComb City Depot Railroad Museum, where thieves pried a plaque away that celebrated the railroad history. Railway robbery CLASSIFIEDSA11 COMICSA10 DIVERSIONSA14 LOTTERIESA2 OBITUARIESA3 OPINIONA4 RELIGIONA6 SPORTSA8 STOCKSA9 INSIDE AARON RHOADS ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL Southwest Mississippi Community College bookstore employee Jennifer Bates, left, helps student Miranda Ham of Jayess find needed texts on Thursday. Students have been returning this week ahead of the spring semester, which begins Monday. AARON RHOADS ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL Booking it BY IRIS COOPER ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL A 50-year old McComb man is recuperating from a gash to the forehead that he sustained during a home invasion. Charles Davis ofMorris Davis Road told authorities that an African-American male and female came to his residence Thursday night demanding to see someone who was supposed to be there.

Displeased with response, the individuals reportedly became upset and barged their way inside the home. According to reports, Davis grabbed a bat and struck the man in the chest. After doing so, one intruder reportedly grabbed Davis while the other struck him in the head with a liquor bottle. Davis sustained about a 3- inch cut to his forehead. He went by ambulance to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

The incident remains under investigation, according to sher- iffofficials. Intruders injure man in home invasion DEATHS Walman next role to focus on Coast work SEE WALMAN, PAGE A2.