Enterprise-Journal from McComb, Mississippi • Page A006

BY KAREN FREEMAN ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL South Pike school trustees on Monday heard good news about the district, including a $25,000 grant to Eva Gordon Elementary School and a Bronze Medal citation in U.S. News and World Report for South Pike High School. Weyerhaeuser representative Pam Berry surprised Eva Gordon principal Connie McNabb with the $25,000 check during a recent visit to the school. McNabb said the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation grant will be used for environmental education, conservation and recycling programs. going to create an outdoor McNabb said.

are thrilled about our grant, and we wait to get started. We are going to teach our children how to take care of their Superintendent Dr. Bill Gunnell expressed appreciation for the grant and the opportunities it will open to the students and school district. Gunnell also was happy to report to trustees that South Pike High School was one of 36 schools in the state to receive a bronze medal for U.S. Best High Schools 2009 by School Matters.

The bronze medal recognizes schools that met criteria based on standardized test performance and proficiency rates ofall students, including the least advantaged. schools have demonstrated commendable performance on state wrote U.S. News edi- tor Brian Kelly in a letter to South Pike in announcing the ranking in the second annual list Best High Schools. There were no gold or silver awards given in Mississippi. A third criteria, noting challenging college-ready curriculum through advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses, was used to award higher-level schools.

In other matters, the board: Heard a presentation from junior high school principal Joe Leavy concerning the successes and plans for improvement. Elected Dr. Luke Lampton as president and Angie Jones-Lee as secretary. Approved a transfer of $290,600 from the Sixteenth Section interest fund to the transportation fund to pay for four 2009 International school buses. Approved the appointment ofthe Rev.

Kenneth Handy to the ACHIEVE Foundation Board. The foundation is a fundraising auxiliary of the school district. Agreed to terminate the 16th Section hunting and fishing lease awarded to Wardell Norris for non-payment, and to advertise the lease with a minimum bid of $15 per acre. Approved hiring Osyka teacher Sandra Bush, Eva Gordon after-school tutors Amber Magee and Whitney Pattie. The board terminated food service employee Glenda Rape.

Approved a request for the Magnolia Elementary book fair fundraiser Feb. 27 through March 9. South Pike receives $25K grant BY MATT WILLIAMSON ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL The Summit Historic Preservation Commission has held three meetings since its inception and is and getting its chairman told the Summit Town Council at Tuesday board meeting. Commission chairman Billy Russell asked the council to approve three measures its bylaws, its application for Certified Local Government status, and its authority to apply for historic preservation grants. The council approved all measures on a 3-0 vote, with Councilman Lester Swanigan absent.

Obtaining certified local government status allows the town to take part in a federal-state historic preservation program that could qualify it for historic preservation grants, Russell said. The commission faces a Jan. 25 deadline to apply for the status and pursue a grant that would go toward cataloging historic properties in town. Ifit misses the deadline, it be able to apply for grants until April 2010, he said. Meanwhile, Council member Kathleen Harbour grilled Russell about a number ofapparent procedural violations by the commission.

She said the panel presented its bylaws or meeting minutes to the town council in a timely manner and given proper notice ofits meetings. Russell said the commission held its first meeting in December to elect officers and was sidelined until after the Christmas and New Year holidays. It has met twice this month. just up and get- ting he said. people have asked me about the Harbour said.

may not be aware, but there was a lot ofcontroversy over this, and people want to know what want to Russell assured prompt reporting ofthe minutes of each meeting, which will be held 5 p.m. the first Monday ofeach quarter at Town Hall. The next meeting will be in April. He also requested a $1,000 line-item budget. The council said it must first review the budget and took no further action.

In other business, the council: Scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the request ofCouncil member Missy Hancock to discuss design and construction plans for the new police station. Exercised an option to buy 1 1 2 acres ofland on the east side ofthe railroad tracks across from Town Hall from Robert Lanham for $6,500. Presented a plaque to retired Election Commissioner Martha Jackson.

Approved a request for cash from the Mississippi Development Authority in the amount for the $1 million downtown revitalization project. Of that amount, $4,000 will go to the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District for grant administration work and $11,300 will go to for Dungan Engineers ofColumbia. Agreed to place a sign in front ofSa- fari Day Care on Robb Street. Approved an agreement to give water lines on George Edward Road to the City of McComb. The water lines are in McComb city limits.

Summit Mayor Percy Robinson said McComb will collect garbage and sewer bills for those residents, while Summit will collect water bills for McComb. In turn, McComb will collect sewer bills for about eight apartments on Martin Luther King Drive that are in recently annexed Summit city limits but still on lines. Those lines will eventually be turned over to Summit, Robinson said. Approved travel for town clerk Tonya Andrews to attend a conference at Meridian and a professional development course at Tunica, both in March, and for town superintendent Tim Baylor to attend training at Natchez in February. Accepted a proposal from Dickerson Bowen to provide asphalt and gravel supplies.

The company gave quotes per ton for cold mix asphalt and $79 per ton for hot mix. Summit panel up and running FROM STAFF REPORTS An investiture ceremony for Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James W. Kitchens will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the Copiah County Courthouse in Hazlehurst. ChiefJustice William L.

Waller Jr. ofJackson will welcome guests. Speakers will include U.S. Rep. Bennie G.

Thompson, and attorneys Kathryn N. Nester of Madison, Carlton Reeves of Jackson and Ronald L. Whittington ofMcComb. Justice son, Daniel W. Kitchens will speak on be- halfofthe family.

Retired Circuit Judge Joe N. Pigott ofMcComb, who continues to serve as a senior status judge, will administer the judicial oath to Justice Kitchens during the investiture. Kitchens took the oath of office on Jan. 5 with three other new justices ofthe Supreme Court in Jackson, and began his duties on the court. It is traditional to have a formal investiture ceremony, including a ceremonial administering ofthe oath, at a later time.

Kitchens chose to have his ceremony in Copiah County, where he is a lifelong resident. Kitchens, 65, was elected to an eight-year term on the Mississippi Supreme Court in November 2008. He previously served for nine years as district attorney for the circuit court district, which at that time included Copiah, Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties. He was first elected district attorney in 1971. He returned to private law practice.

Three ofhis five children practiced law with him in Jackson before he joined the court. Ceremony slated for Kitchens A6 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009 LOCAL ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL, McCOMB, MISSISSIPPI www.enterprise-journal.com REPORTLITTERANDILLEGALDUMPS I NPIKECOUNTY CALL 249-4694. TAKEACTION TRADITIONAL JEWELERS EDGEWOOD MALL, MCCOMB 601-684-6797 Cultured 10 mm Pearl bracelet, necklace, and earring set SALE: 1,199 99 REG: 1985 00 TRADITIONAL JEWELERS EDGEWOOD MALL MCCOMB 601-684-6797 Diamond Gemstone heart pendant your choice SALE: 99 99 REG: 150 00 3 CTW Diamond illusion set ring SALE: 2,999 99 REG: 4,695 00 DAILYON THEDINNERBUFFET All-You-Can-Eat Only $9.99 Monday-Saturday Night All Day Sunday 601-684-8601 CHAPTER 12 (Family BANKRUPTCY Stop Foreclosures Repossessions Reschedule Land Equipment Payments Modify Loan Terms Streamline Your Operation Eliminate Certain Debts CCaallll ((666622)) 884433--33779977 Glenn H. Williams, P.A. Attorney at Law 200 N.

Pearman Ave. Cleveland, MS 39732 CCaallll ttooddaayy ffoorr aa ffrreeee Under recent amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, certain fishermen now qualify as family farmers. Pictured presenting a plaque to retired Election Commissioner Martha Jackson are from left, Summit Town Council mem- bers Missy Hancock and Joe Lewis, Mayor Percy Robinson, Jackson and Council member Kathleen Harbour. MATT WILLIAMSON ENTERPRISE-JOURNAL FIVE YEARS AGO: On Jan. 14, 2004, Kristie Powell and Mandy Roberts of the Park- lane Academy dance line were invited to perform at a pre-game show at the Super Bowl in Houston, Texas.

TEN YEARS AGO: On Jan. 14, 1999, George L. Maddox, a 1943 graduate of McComb High School, received the Gerontological Society of Distinguished Career Contribution Award at Duke University. TWENTY YEARS AGO: On Jan. 14, 1989, the Dixon Family of Amite County sang at Pisgah United Methodist Church on Smithdale Road.

THIRTY YEARS AGO: On Jan. 14, 1979, Boy Scouts Denny Johnson, Bobby Wallace and Byron Stinson, all members of Troop 245, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and Terry King, also of Troop 245, received the Bronze Palm. FIFTY YEARS AGO: On Jan. 14, 1959, J. Warren Krout was commander of Cecil parsons Post No.

3005, Veterans of Foreign Wars in McComb. BACKWARD GLANCE TAKEACTION REPORTLITTER ANDILLEGALDUMPS IKECOUNTY 249-4694..