The Newton Record from Newton, Mississippi • 1

(Site sty iv 1 A century of service 100 $ZUtfi A century of progress Pigs PJ.s Court escapee still at large -TT i 1 i 1 i An Itawamba County man facing charges of sexual battery in his home county escaped from custody in Decatur last week while he was making an initial appearance before a judge at several charged filed against him in Decatur. Mark S. McElhenney, 36, was out on bond after charges were filed against him in Itawamba. Bryan Jones, an investigator with the Itawamba County Sheriff's Department, said McElhenney was charged with seven counts of sexual battery. See ESCAPEE on page 5A A AS, 7 -V Mark S.

McElhenney Incumbent alderman wins Newton election I n' I Relay for Life surpasses goal The Newton County 2001 Relay for Life has met-and even far surpassed-its original goal of $40,000. The official count, as of Tuesday morning, was $51,324.23. This year there were 18 teams. The businesses whose team(s) raised the most money were: La-Z-Boy with ESCO with and Newton Regional Hospital with $5,000. Other awards made during the relay on Friday night: Best Tent, the NASCAR tent; Best Spirit, Union Planters Bank; Best Skit Entertainment, Newton County Bank; Best Midnight Snack, Newton Regional Hospital.

In the pajama contest, there was a tie: Mike Atwood, of Meridian, who works at Milling Funeral Home in Union, and Donna McKee, of Newton, who works at Newton Regional Hos- pital. Several of those who assisted in the coordination of the event were recognized with plaques or certificates, including: Tim Thomas, who was the Corporate Sponsorship Chairman; Michael Miller, the entertainment chairman; Lisa Roebuck, the recruitment chair; Ginger Hand, the luminary chairman; and See RELAY on page 5A vote of 53-33. Hamp Beatty remains mayor, and the aldermen for the next term are: Ward 1, Michael Hillie; Ward 2, Murry Weems; Ward 3, Charles Love; Ward 4, David Carr; Ward 5, Brand. In Decatur, a three-way race for alderman in Ward 1 was decided in favor of a new board member Michael Miller. Miller received 31 votes in a field of three candidates.

Michael Derisory running as a Republican, received 12 votes, and independent Billy Todd received no votes. See ELECTIONS on p. 5A Photo at left: Two contestants tied for first place during the pajama contest at the Relay for Life on June 1. The winners were Mike At-wood, of Meridian, who works at Milling Funeral Home, and Donna McKee, of Newton, who works at Newton Regional Hospital. At right: Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight and State Sen.

Terry C. Burton size up a pig as Burton appears to go in for a quick smooch. The two men volunteered to "kiss a pig" at high noon in the middle of the intersection of Church and Main streets in Newton if the Relay for Life reached its goal of $40,000. The Relay earned over $50,000, though it may never be known how much of the amount over and above the $40,000 was earned because of the willingness of these two good sports to offer this extra The mayor and all the incumbent board members-except one, who did not run in the election have won their seats for another term in Newton city government. The mayor and four of the board members won their elections in the primaries earlier in the year, and the election on Tuesday confirmed their selection.

Only 6ne Newton election had more than one candidatethe alderman election for Ward 5. Tom Brand, the incumbent, won in the primaries against Terry McKinion, and on Tuesday won against independent candidate Stuart Tune by a Board opens bids for computer system In a routine business session on Monday, the Newton County Board of Supervisors opened bids for a computer system for the courthouse. Only two bids were received: a bid for $89,808 from Premise, of Hatties-burg, and a bid of $89,404 from Data Systems Management of Jackson. The proposed computer system would have a central unit "networked" with all the offices in the courthouse rather than each office having separate systems. The four components of the new system include an upgrade of the main unit; several additional peripherals such as printers, terminals, and CD "burners" for the Tax Assessor and Chancery Clerk offices; an expansion of the cabling inside the courthouse so the entire system could be net worked; and provisions for internet access, complete with "firewalls" (protective hardware and software) to isolate the county's network from unauthorized external access.

The bids were taken under jidvisement. Represen- See BOARD on page 5A Kansas City Southern RR wins safety award The Kansas City South-em and Western Gateway Western Railways have been recognized with Gold Harriman Awards for having the best employee safety records, as documented by the Federal Railroad Administration, in each of their respective size groups for the year 2000. Kansas City Southern is considere, which includes a Class Group railway, which includes railroads with four million to 15 million employee hours worked. Gateway Western is in the Group category, comprising railroads of less than four million employee hours worked. The Harriman Awards were founded in 1913 by the late Mary Harriman in memory of her husband, Edward H.

Harriman, an American railroading pioneer. The awards are administered annually by the E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute, with support from the Mary W. Harriman Foundation. Gold, silver and bronze medal awards went to companies in three groups of See AWARD on page5A Former officer sentenced An officer working for the Decatur Police Department in 1999 was tried and found guilty on two sex charges in St.

Johns County, Florida, Circuit Court earlier this year. Campbell was found guilty of one county of sexual battery committed against a minor and one count of sexual activity with a minor by a person with familial or custodial authority. On Tuesday, John Campbell, 41, was sentenced to life in prison on one count and to nine years with the Florida Department of Corrections on the second count, the sentences to run consecutively. An employee with the St. Johns County Office of the Circuit Clerk said according to Florida law, Campbell will not be eligible for parole for 25 years.

1 A detective with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Department said the charges filed against Campbell involved two separate minors and that the alleged incidents occurred over a period of time from the "early 1990s" to 1997. Hickory Day set Saturday Hickory Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. The tentative entertainment schedule: 8:45 a.m., The Redeemed Gospel Group; 9:30 Nancy Gressett; 9:45 Sharon Alexander; 10:00 Dr. Jim Matthews; 10:30 Shanna Pugh; 10:45 Heather Rossum; 11:00 Kenneth Neese; 11:15 Robin Acord; 11:30 Lindsey Walker; 11:45 Tanya and Michael Aycox; 12:30 Kenneth Neese; 12:45 Lindsey Walker; 1:00 p.m.

Paige McKin-nion; 1:15 Lori Dickens; 1:30 Michelle and Lily Addy; 2:00 Wanda McClelland and Son; 2:15 Gary Dover; various bands. The schedule may be subject to change. Ballistic vest grants in area Fourteen jurisdictions in Mississippi were the recipients of grants to purchase ballistic vests sometimes called "bulletproof vests for their law enforcement agencies. Of the 14 jurisdictions, three are located in the East Central Mississippi region. Jurisdictions in the East Central Mississippi area which will receive grants include Lake, funded at Leake County, funded at and Morton, funded at $3534.61.

The offices of Rep. Chip Pickering made the announcement in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice-Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Partnership. A A Ab W. Rees, KCS Railway Senior Vice President of Operations (left) and Edward R.

Hamberger, Association of American Railroads President and CEO. State Games begin June 15 in Meridian trian event, which will include dressage, western pleasure and the mule and donkey show. Competition for the State Games of Mississippi will be held in Meridian on two separate weekends June 15-17 and June 21-24, with opening ceremonies scheduled for Friday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium. State Games of Mississippi welcomes back its two founding Gold Sponsors, Rush Foundation Hospital and Meridian Coca Cola Bnottling Company.

Also recognized as Gold Sponsors are the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and BellSouth Cingular Wireless. BellSouthCingular is also the Sportsman of the Year sponsor. The State Games of Mississippi Board of Directors and staff have announced the sponsors for the 2001 State Games of Mississippi, a statewide amateur sportsfest patterned after the Olympics for athletes of all ages and abilities. In its 10th year, the State Games of Mississippi will offer 27 events including the expansion of the eques Silver Sponsors include AmSouth National Bank, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Mississippi, CenturyTeL the City of Meridian, the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Power Company, Super Stop, Trustmark National Bank, and first-time sponsor Amtrak. See GAMES on page 5A.