The Charleston Sun-Sentinel from Charleston, Mississippi • 1

Sfclb tifcft? fiSHD Alita DeBerry says modern road system far cry from old. Page 4. See what local churches are doing, in Tallahatchie Notes. Page 8. Even Cupid couldn't resist these Valentine's Day ideas.

See page 12. The Charleston TT "Serving Tallahatchie County" Volume 75 Number 7 Charleston, Thursday, February 12, 1998 50 cents West Tallahatchie schools launch building projects I frMLfM slllfe HIGH SC340CH. CAMMM Work continues on a new classroom addition at West Tallahatchie High School. This is but one of a number of ongoing or planned building and improvement projects within the school district. Charleston Mayor Robert Rowe (seated with granddaughter Hallie McBrayer) signs a proclamation designating Feb.

9-13 as "National ROW DfOClClilflS Vocational Education Week" in the city. Rowe's proclamation said "vocational education provides the valuable service of developing Iead- VOCdtlOltCll ership, encouraging cooperation, promoting good citizenship, teaching up-to-date business information and inspiring patriotism" among CUUCUtlOll W6CK school students participating. Rowe is flanked by, from left, Charleston High School vocational students Lisa Rodgers, Jeffery Goodwin, Johnathan Page and Connie Wrenn. (Photo by Krista McFerrin) John Emmerich inducted into Leflore Hall of Fame SUMNER The West Tallahatchie School District recently announced plans for the sale of nearly $2.5 million in State Aid Capital Improvement Bonds to finance new construction and renovation of existing school facilities. The district's Board of Trustees is receiving sealed bids for purchase of the bonds until Feb.

26, when a decision is to be made on their sale. The bonds are being issued to finance numerous building projects all designed to enhance the learning environment and educational experience for public school students in western Tallahatchie County, said Superintendent Reggie Barnes. Administratively, the district made a number of changes last year to centralize school operations and thereby reduce costs. The district closed Sumner Elementary School and shifted its kindergarten and first-grade students to nearby Bearden Elementary, which houses about 700 youngsters. To make room for the new arrivals, Bearden's seventh-graders were moved permanently to West Tallahatchie High School at Webb.

Presently, eight classrooms and two restrooms are being constructed on the north end of the high school campus as part of a $496,000 addition which will house the newly-come seventh-graders. Weather permitting, the metal-frame building is expected to be completed by April, Barnes said. The bulk of the money from the upcoming bond sale will be used to finance the construction of 10 new classrooms at Bearden six kindergarten rooms with individual bathroom facilities and four first-grade rooms as part of the district's next administrative move: the planned shutdown of Black Bayou Elementary School in Glendora. Barnes said the district board has made the decision to close the Glendora school, which houses about 200 students in grades K-6. The move will save the district "tons of money," Barnes noted, as well as provide more educational and extracurricular opportunities for Among other district improvements to be undertaken with proceeds from the bond sale are: At the central office, roof repairs will be made and a rooftop air-conditioning unit will be replaced.

At the high school, some roof repairs will be made, as well as "minor general renovations" to the school building. All restroom facilities at both the high school and Bearden will be completely renovated and made handicapped-accessible. Barnes said it may take a full year to complete the planned construction, repairs and renovations. "We'll have to do all of this work in phases to get it done," he noted. In addition to centralizing the district's educational and extracurricular resources, school officials hope the consolidation plans, new construction and improvements will, in the long run, help to improve the district's student scores on standardized state tests, set the district on sounder financial-footing and earn the district good grades from state officials on school building inspections all of which are major criteria by which school districts in Mississippi are measured and graded for state classification, funding considerations and other perks.

on behalf of her late husband. With her was jier son, Wyatt, president of Emmerich Newspapers and editor and publisher of the Northside Sun in Jackson. "John Oliver Emmerich would be very proud to accept this award," Mrs. Emmerich said. Emmerich had been editor and publisher of the Commonwealth for over 21 years when he died of a heart attack Feb.

25, 1995, at age 65. He was a past president of the cham- GREENWOOD John O. Emmerich the late editor and publisher of The Greenwood Commonwealth and longtime owner of The Charleston Sun-Sentinel, was named a member of the Leflore County Hall of Fame last week. Emmerich was honored for his contributions to the business and civic life of Greenwood over a period of more than 20 years. Celia Emmerich, owner of the Commonwealth, accepted the award County seeks law grant SUMNER The Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors last Friday authorized Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer to apply to the U.S.

Justice Department for a COPS grant, which could be used to pay salary and other benefits of full-time county deputies. Brewer told the board, meeting in regular session, that the county is receiving a $38,000 grant from the program and he wanted to apply for more funding under the latest new round of COPS grant applications. In other board news: James Ford, chairman of the Tallahatchie County Fire Commission, met with the board about relocating the county fire department from a municipal building in the town of Webb. The board voted to lease to the fire commission, for $1 per year, the shop area of the old county barn located between Webb and Sumner for housing of the Webb fire trucks and equipment. Third person adds name to list of sheriff hopefuls the students at the Glendora school, who presently are alienated from many district activities by distance and transportation concerns.

After the closing of Sumner Elementary last year, of Hopson Elementary several years ago, and the planned closing of Black Bayou, the West Tallahatchie School District will have evolved from a district of five regular school campuses to one of just two, with Bearden being created as the school for students ranging from kindergarten through the sixth grade. For Bearden to assume such a role, Barnes said that aging facility will undergo a series of improvements, including the following: The school's cafeteria will be enlarged and its kitchen renovated and equipped with modern fixtures. A new parking lot area will be constructed. This summer, the school will undergo a landscaping project. The roof on the Bearden school will be repaired.

Various upgrades will be made to the school's electrical wiring and fixtures. Barnes said the consolidation and improvement project is all part of "a vision for the future in reference to the education of our local students." sheriff in the 1995 elections. He joins present Sheriff William L. Brewer Jr. and District 1 Constable Jimmy Manues as candidates for this year's race.

Interested persons may qualify for sheriff anytime between now and the qualifying deadline of Sept. 4 by filing a statement of intent with the circuit clerk's office. -pZ ij iii nun ber and Greenwood Rotary Club. He grew up in the newspaper business as the son of J. Oliver Emmerich, editor of the McComb Enterprise-Journal.

John Emmerich worked there before going to work as a writer and managing editor of the Minneapolis Tribune. After working at The (Baltimore) Sun and the Houston Chronicle, he returned to Mississippi in 1973 and over the years acquired a dozen community newspapers in Mississippi and Louisiana. He had a strong educational foundation, graduating from the University of Mississippi and having studied at the University of Paris and at Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow. Mrs. Emmerich said her late husband loved Greenwood, loved Mississippi and loved his profession.

She said he was a man of energy, expertise and intense personal integrity who cared about his environment and his friends. Wyatt Emmerich, who also spoke, said that both his grandfather and his father was committed to free enterprise, progress and economic development as a means of raising standards of living. Charleston pastor dies Charles W. Cornelius, 61, local minister and retired painter, died of an apparent heart attack Saturday, Feb. 7, at his Charleston home.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at Pine Hill Presbyterian Church, where he was the pastor. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Newsom Funeral Home was in charge. Cornelius also served as the pastor of Coffeeville and Oakland Presbyterian churches. "His pleasant smile and kindly words were an inspiration to all who knew him," said Pine Hill member and Sun-Sentinel correspondent Sara Newton, who also was Cornelius' Charleston neighbor.

John McKinnon, an elder at Oakland Presbyterian Church, said Cornelius was typing his sermon for Sunday when he died. "We will sorely miss him," McKinnon added. Cornelius is survived by five sisters, Betty Porter and Sadie Moore, both of Charleston, Margaret Gray of Sard is, Eppie Lee Ashmore of Fort Worth, Texas, and Mable Olson of Denton, Texas; and a brother, Marian Cornelius Jr. of Lake Village, Ark. tf1 9ri I 1 4T 'IM'ZA Since the sheriff's election is a special election this year, there will be no party primaries.

A runoff, if necessary, will be held on Nov. 17. The person elected as sheriff in November will serve out the remaining year or so of former sheriff James Pugh's term. Pugh resigned in October 1997, necessitating this year's special election. TifiiiiitiiiiTiir Eddie G.

Bradham Jr. of Route 1, Box 160A, Scobey, filed qualifying papers Monday with the circuit clerk's office in Charleston to become the third candidate for Tallahatchie County sheriff in the Nov. 3 special election. Bradham, a former Louisiana lawman, was one of 10 unsuccessful candidates for Tallahatchie County 'Yard of the Month 4 i ha KOI Ufc: Roberts honored at retirement First Sergeant Thaddius A. Roberts (left) and his wife, Janet, both of Charleston, receive the Command Sergeant Major's Award from Mississippi Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major Daniel Scarborough of Jackson during a retirement reception Sunday afternoon at the National Guard armory in Charleston.

An estimated 200 well-wishers were on hand to congratulate Roberts upon his retirement after 44 years of military service, which included some 35 years of full-time service in the Guard. During ceremonies, Roberts was presented the Mississippi Magnolia Cross award for meritorious service to the state; was awarded a rifle from the Family Support Group of Company 223rd Engineering Battalion; and received an honorary promotion to sergeant major. (Photo by C.VV. Parker) The Charleston lawn of Martha Dowdle, located at 406 E. Cypress St, has been selected by the Magnolia Garden Club as its "Yard of the Month" for February.

This year, club members have altered judging criteria for the award to also include as prime candidates those Charleston-area properties which have shown the most improvement in their appearance..