The Magee Courier from Magee, Mississippi • Page A08

I know I am still a newbie in Simpson County a friend told me I have to be here 10 years before I can criticize so that must mean it is okay to compliment. We have a new staff member at the paper, and I was lucky enough to be selected to drive her around and introduce her. During the process, of course, we get everybody lunch and meetings occurred but we tried. I was somewhat surprised with the sense of pride that I felt when I was showing Simpson County off to a new resident. It was unexpected because I see these things every day.

I remember when I first saw things that impressed me after all it was only a couple years ago, but it feels like a life time in a good way. Elizabeth is our new name. She says she knows country, but I think she knows Simpson County Country. I mean that in a good way. You rarely see a coat and tie, unless you are in court or at a funeral, and that is good, I think.

The pace here is slow, friendly, reassuring, and when returning from a long trip, just coming home is a comfort. I saw the Courthouse through someone eyes. The grandeur of the place is impressive. Yes, she needs a tummy tuck here and there, but she is 100 years old and in great shape for her age. As I drove through Magee I did notice the development bring on the that is coming into town.

I found myself bragging a little about what is available for the small size of the town. If the credit goes to the Board of Aldermen, more power to them. When compared to other towns the size of Magee, our growth is phenomenal. And, for years, it has been done without increased taxes to the residents. We do have a lot to show for our size and getting better every day.

When the hospital is completed it will be one of a kind in medical care for a small town. Another reason to stay at home among friends. Simpson County is just a good place to live, when seen through my eyes. We have safety, for the most part, especially when compared to larger places. We have sports and year round we have something to be proud of when they take the field.

I am kinda proud of that winning is much easier to write about than losing, but the pride is there regardless. I am anxious to show Elizabeth the ropes for football. I forgot to explain to her that it is almost a religion around here, and people plan their social events around the schedules of the Cougars, the Tigers, and the Trojans. It matter. When the fever hits, she will see it.

As I introduced Elizabeth to our county leaders, I was impressed by them, because I was sitting there really listening to what they said. We are blessed to have, for the most part, hard-working leaders in positions of trust. They may be laid back, they may even refer to themselves as the occasional redneck, but they are also what it means to be Simpson County. As hokey as it may sound, if Norman Rockwell had lived in the South, he might have had a vast array of materials just drawing our way of life. Kids on bicycles, old men in pick-ups joining their friends for coffee, a football field packed with friends, family and fans, and communities that revolve around their churches.

If he had time he might even have drawn the gracious way of life that remains in Magee, as well as the open hearts of the residents. Simpson County is home, and it is a good home. Good for families, good for friends, and even good for transplants that come in from other areas. We are lucky to be here. Note: The following is the policy for publishing obituaries in The Magee County News Astandard obituary, consisting of the basic information about the death, the funeral and the names of survivors in the immediate family, will be published free.

Obituaries containing additional information will be published for a charge of at least $25. Shirley Jean Ray Goodwin Shirley Jean Ray Goodwin, 82, beloved wife of Edward L. Goodwin for 62 wonderful years, left this life on August 12, 2007, after a long and hard-fought battle against multiple illnesses. She was born February 24, 1925, the younger daughter of the late Mattie Eva and Ance Ray of Camden, Mo. She had one sister, the late Leona Martin of Richmond, Mo.

She grew up in Camden and met and married Ed Goodwin of Greenville, in April, 1945. The couple moved from Missouri to Mississippi in 1952, settling in Greenville, where they remained until Ed became postmaster of Mendenhall. In 2003, they moved to Westerville, Ohio, to be near their only son and his wife, Ron and Ruth Goodwin. Shirley was a member of Mendenhall First Baptist Church. She was a Past Worthy Matron of the Mendenhall Chapter, Past Grand Matron of the Mississippi Order of the Eastern Star, and a Past Queen of the Daughters of the Nile She is survived by her husband Ed; one son, Ronald; a daughter- in-law, Ruth; two grandsons, Ray and Edward Lynn; a granddaughter-in-law, Angie; two great-grandchildren, Neil and Alexis; a step- granddaughter, Megan; and a step-grandson, Nathan.

She will be missed by her many wonderful sisters and brothers in the Order of the Eastern Star, and by nieces, nephews and friends in Mississippi, Missouri and Kansas. An Order of the Eastern Star graveside service will be held at a later date in Mississippi. Tommy Lee McIntyre Sr. Tommy Lee McIntyre 76, of Magee, an Avery Body Co. retiree, died July 13, 2007, at Hillcrest Nursing Center in Magee.

He is survived by his wife, Inez Davis McIntyre; children, Tommy Lee Mylinda, Lee Henry and Mary Ann; a brother, Eugene; two sisters, Mary and Susie; 22 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Daisy Nichols Daisy Nichols, 88, a retiree, of the Jaquith Nursing Home in Whitfield, died August 13, 2007, at University Medical Center in Jackson. Graveside services were held at the Dry Creek Baptist Church Cemetery on August 16. Mims Mitchell Funeral Home of Magee handled arrangements. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Ruby Nichols of Magee.

Tod Bishop Roberts Tod Bishop Roberts, 30, of Magee died August 15, 2007. Funeral services were held on August 17 at First Baptist Church in Magee, with burial in the Magee City Cemetery. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Magee handled arrangements. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Hall Roberts; son, Tod Triston Roberts; daughter, Kylie Elizabeth Roberts; parents, Billy F. and Robbin Bishop; and a sister, Courtney Bishop.

Memorials may be sent to Peoples Bank for a college fund set up for Triston and Kylie. Willie B. BratcherSmith Willie B. Bratcher Smith, of Richland, age 76 years, one month, and 12 days, entered this life on July 5, 1931, in Simpson County to the late Daniel Allen and Dicie Howell Bratcher. She departed this life on Friday, August 17, 2007, at the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center of Jackson.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 21, in the chapel of Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Interment and graveside services followed at Kennedy Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Simpson County. Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home of Pearl handled arrangements. She was a homemaker and a member of First Pentecostal Church of Richland. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include sons Garry Smith of Jackson, Mark Smith and Ronnie Smith, both of Richland; a daughter, Cindy Smith Coneliussen of Central City, grandchildren, Wayne Smith, Tayna Hearn, Michelle Denham, Chad Smith, Alicia Brabham, Adam Cotten, Josh Quick and Justin Quick; great-grandchildren, Brandon Hearn, Alexis Hearn, Austin Smith, Hunter Quick, Ty Quick, Cody White, Eli White and Gabe Denham. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jessie Wilson Smith; granddaughter, Jennifer Cotten; her parents, Daniel Allen and Dicie Howell Bratcher; brothers, Allen Bratcher, Dick Bratcher, Hilton Bratcher and Dennis Bratcher; and sisters, Ruby Craft and Zelda Bratcher. Stephen Knight Statham Stephen Knight Statham, 56, a resident of Boswell Regional Center, died August 12, 2007, at Magee General Hospital. Memorial services were held at the Boswell Chapel on August 18 with burial in Magnolia Cemetery, Magnolia. He is survived by his sister, Suzanne Herren of Dallas, Texas; his cousin and surrogate, Cloma C.

Mangum of Mendenhall; other family members and the staff of Boswell. SECTIONAPAGE 8 HE HE AGEE AGEE OURIER OURIER Simpson County News THURSDAY, AUGUST23, 2007 BITUARIES BITUARIES Colonial Chapel Upton-Mims PRE-NEED peace of mind for you security for your loved ones. 849-5031 847-1733 Affordable Funeral Choices Our Family Serving Yours Complete Funeral Service at one Location 88 88 22 22 22 22 SS SS ii ii mm mm pp pp ss ss oo oo nn nn HH HH ww ww yy yy 11 11 44 44 99 99 MM MM aa aa gg gg ee ee ee ee MM MM SS SS 33 33 99 99 11 11 11 11 11 11 Owner: Terry Tutor 849-9995 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 370- Magee, MS Souther Souther Memorial Memorial Gardens Monuments Gardens Monuments Accepting All Pre-Ar Accepting All Pre-Ar rangements and Burial rangements and Burial Insurance From Other Funeral Homes Insurance From Other Funeral Homes uu uu tt tt oo oo rr rr FFuunneerraall HHoommee TT TT Since 1937 AGEE OP 849-3381 Got Your Mowers 500 Business Cards Black $25 00 Colored Ink $35 00 Courier Printing Wilbert Lee, Owner Located In The Back Of The Magee Courier Chevrolet illiams Serving Simpson County For Over 50 Years! See our courteous staff for all your Chevrolet Sales, Service and Parts needs. 500 Simpson Hwy 149 849-3336 ON BUSINESS ORDINANCE NO.

248 AN ORDINANCE VACATINGAND CLOS- INGAPORTION OFTHE STREETAND ALLEYADJOININGBLOCK 1 AND BLOCK 2 OFTHE FIRSTADDITION TO THE TOWN OFMAGEE, MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE ITORDAINED by the Mayorand Board of A1dennen of the City of Magee, Mississippi; Section 1. That Magee Benevolent Association and Medical and Surgical Clinic, Inc. are the only adjoining land owners to the part of the street and alley to be closed and have petitioned the Mayorand Board of Aldermen to close that portion of said street and alley herein described. Section 2.

The Mayorand Board of Aldermen find and adjudicate that the persons listed above constitute all of the interested and abutting land owners to that pmi of said street and alley to be closed and vacated. That thereby, the City of Magee has the legal right to vacate and close said part of said street and alley. The Mayorand Board of Aldermen furtherfind and officially adjudicate that the closing of said portion of said street and alley will not inconvenience the traveling public. Further, that there are still adequate streets and alleys to accomodate traffic and the Mayorand Board of Aldennen now find and officially adjudicate that said part of said street and alley should be closed and vacated as provided by law. Section 3.That the following described street and alley should be and hereby is vacatedand closed; to wit: The 20 foot wide alley adjoining the West side of Block 1 and Block 2 of the First Addition to the Town of Magee from the North Right-of-Way of Mississippi Highway 149 to the North line of Lot 6 of Block 107 of the Original Survey of the Town of Magee, and That part of 12th Street (Second Street SE) described as: Begin at the Northwest Comer of Lot 6 of Block 2, First Addition to the Town of Magee; thence run East 20 feet; thence run North 60 feet; thence run West 20 feet; thence run South 60 feet to the Point of Beginning.

Section 4. That the Mayorand Board of Aldermen find and adjudicate that the closing ofthe above described parts of said street and alley would be in the best interest of the City of Magee, Mississippi, and the citizens thereof. Section 5. That the City of Magee hereby reserves an easement forany and all utilities that are now, ormay be, installed upon said property. Section 6.

That the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published at least one time in the Magee Courier, a newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices in the City of Magee. Section 7, This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force as provided by law. THE ABOVE AND FOREGOINGORDI- NANCE was first reduced to writing and read, considered and approved, section by section, and approved as a whole and its entirety at this regularpublic meeting of the Mayorand Board of Aldermen held on this the 3rd day of April, 2007, at the City Hall in the City of Magee, Mississippi, the regular meeting place of the Mayorand Board of Aldermen of said City, and the vote on its final passage was taken by "yeas" and Amotion to adopt the foregoing Ordinance was made by Alderman Steele and said motion was duly seconded by Alderman Grubbs. Whereupon, the motion was put before the Board of Aldermen by Mayor Jimmy Clyde, and upon roll call, Aldermen, F.M. Grubbs, Joe Mangum, Robert Vinson, Patrick Brown, and Lane Steele voted "yea" all in favorof said motion and the adoption of the Ordinance and voting none.

The Ordinance having received the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Aldennen ofthe City of Magee, Mississippi, MayorJimmy Clyde declared said Ordinance to have been fully adopted and to be in full force and effect according to its provisions. SO ORDERED, this the 3rd day of April, 2007. Jimmy Clyde Jimmy Clyde Mayor Attest: Donald Fortenberry Donald Fortenberry Clerk ORDINANCE NO. 249 AN ORDINANCE ALTERINGAND AMENDINGTHE ZONINGORDINANCE OFTHE CITYOFMAGEE, MISSISSIPPI AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE ITORDAINED by the Mayorand Board of Aldermen of the City of Magee, Mississippi as follows: Section 1.

That the Mayorand Board of Aldermen of the City of Magee, Mississippi find and adjudicate that the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Magee, Mississippi should be altered and amended to better serve the citizens of Magee, Mississippi. Section 2. That the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Magee, Mississippi should be and hereby is altered and amended as follows: A.Section 2314.01 shall be amended to delete subsection B.Section 2314.03 C. shall be amended to delete "no billboards shall be located on the same lot with any building (i.e., any lot upon which a billboard is erected must be vacated except forthe billboard). C.Section 2320 shall be amended to add "14.

Any and all billboards." D.Section 1603.2 shall be amended to delete Number1. Section 3. That the Mayorand Board of Aldermen find and adjudicate that the altering and amending of the said Zoning Ordinance would be in the best interest of the City of Magee, Mississippi, and the citizens thereof. Section 4. That the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published at least one (1) time in the Magee Courier, a newspaper authorized by law to publish legal notices in the City of Magee, Mississippi.

Section 5. The Ordinance shall take effect and be in force as provided by law. THE ABOVE AND FOREGOINGORDI- NANCE was first reduced to writing and read, considered and approved, section by section, and approved as a whole and its entirety at the regularpublic meeting of the Mayorand Board of Aldermen held on this the 15th day of May, 2007, at the City Hall in the City of Magee, Mississippi, the regular meeting place of the Mayorand Board of Aldermen of said City, and the vote on its final passage was taken by "yeas" and Amotion to adopt the foregoing Ordinance was made by Alderman Steele and said motion was duly seconded by Alderman Vinson. Whereupon, the motion was put before the Board of Aldermen by Mayor Jimmy Clyde, and upon roll call vote, Aldermen, F.M. Grubbs, Joe Mangum, Robert Vinson, Patrick Brown, and Lane Steele voted all in favorof said motion and the adoption of the Ordinance, and voting none.

The Ordinance having received the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Magee, Mississippi, MayorJimmy Clyde declared said Ordinance to have been fully adopted and to be in full force and effect according to its provisions. SO ORDERED, this the 15th day of May 2007. Jimmy Clyde Jimmy Clyde MAYOR ATTEST: Donald Fortenberry Donald Fortenberry CLERK INVITATION TO BID The City of Magee will receive sealed bids forthe purchase of a used 1999 ornewer8 yd dump truck. Bids will be received at the Office of City Clerk until 10:00 AM on Complete specifications may be obtained at the Magee City Hall. The City of Magee reserves the right to waive any formality and to reject any orall bids.

Donald Fortenberry City Clerk Legals Continued LIHEAPPublic Hearing The Simpson County Human Resource Agency is applying for funds for Low Income Home Energy (LIHEAP) assistance from the MS. Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2008. There will be a public hearing concerning these funds and services on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mendenhall National Guard Armory in Mendenhall, MS. For more information contact Mr.

T.J. Moore at SimpsonCounty Human Resource Agency, 406 North Main Mendenhall, MS. Phone, 601847-4641. Wisteria Clara Aucoin.