Funeral services were held for Barbara Hazel Adkins, 69, were held at 11 AM Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at Wise Funeral Home Chapel in Eupora with Bro. Allen Robinson and Bro. Jason Bridges officiating. Burial followed in Bluff Springs Cemetery in Choctaw County.

Ms. Adkins passed away on Sunday May 5, 2013. Ms. Adkins was a member of Bluff Springs Church in Choctaw County and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Ms. Adkins is survived by 2 sons Jimmy Adkins of Eupora and Keith Medders of Eupora; a daughter Nan Pittman of Eupora; and 2 sisters Earline McCulloch of Eupora and Rachell Hodges of Eupora. Ms. Adkins is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Keith Medders, Jake Medders, Zachary Adkins, Colby Adkins, and Jimmy Adkins.

Wise Funeral Home in Eupora is in charge of arrangements.

JuneFest has plenty of activities planned for the entire family to enjoy together this year. Mark your calendars now to spend Saturday, June 1, in downtown Ackerman. There will be activities held throughout the day.

Crowd favorite activity Bingo at JuneFest will move to a new time this year. Bingo will start at 3 p.m. at Pap’s. When the temperature is rising in the afternoon come cool off inside and play a few games of Bingo.

Bingo is sponsored by the Ackerman Twentieth Century Club each year. Tickets are 50 cents and most games cost one ticket to play. There may be several two ticket or higher games with a bigger door prize at stake. Play every game of Bingo with a $25 all afternoon pass. The winner of every game of Bingo receives a prize donated by local businesses.

There will be all day family activities like the Petting Zoo and Kids’ World. The Petting Zoo will be held at the corner of East Quinn and Commerce Streets on the shaded lot to keep the animals cool.

The Petting Zoo will have chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats, miniature donkeys, horses and mules, along with a few unusual, surprise animals. Kids can get up close and personal with the animals in the Petting Zoo by feeding them for only a $1. There will also be games for $1 and pony rides for $3.

This year’s Kids’ World will have activities for all ages of kids and even a few activities the adults may enjoy. There will be a rock wall and bucking bull all ages can enjoy. The bucking bull will be controlled by an operator who can increase or decrease the intensity for each rider. Two rock wall climbs or two rides on the bucking bull are $5.

There will be four different inflatables for kids to play on plus a water slide. There will be your traditional jump house and new inflatables like an obstacle course and many more surprises. There will be a $5 unlimited play wrist band available for kids to enjoy all the inflatables.

If you have any questions or comments about JuneFest, please contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 662-285-3778. Stay tuned until next week when the JuneFest feature entertainers will be announced.

Tina Goodin appeared before the Ackerman Board of Aldermen to file an official complaint against the Ackerman Police Department.

She said her complaint is that somehow her booking photo was circulated less than 24 hours after her April 24 arrest for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

“I’d like to formally file a complaint to find out who, how and why they did it. I’d like for ya’ll to find me some answers,” said Goodin.

She said it was a “total breach of privacy” for her booking photo to be circulated on Facebook.

Ward 4 Alderman Dale Reid assured her there would be an investigation.

“We will certainly look into it and find you some answers,” said Reid.

Mayor Dick Cain asked Police Chief Tanya Burton if she had any comments.

“Not until we find out where the booking photo came from,” said Burton. She later added that Officer Lloyd Denning, the arresting officer, was the only person that had a copy of the booking photo, during the time the photo was circulated. Burton said he followed procedure and no one else had access to the photo.

Also in the aldermen meeting, the board met with Caroline Thomas to discuss a tax lien on a portion of her property. The Town of Ackerman holds the tax deed on the land. Mayor Dick Cain said the board would look into the matter.

Ward 2 Alderman Tommy Curtis was absent from this meeting.

The Ackerman Board of Aldermen approved:
-Agenda after adding voting delegates for MML Convention.
-Minutes.
-Accounts.
-To award 4D Construction the 2013 Sewer Main Evaluation and Rehabilitation Project for their lowest bid of $255,889.50.
-To hire temporary summer help for the Public Works Department.
-For Mayor Dick Cain to apply for the Small Municipality & Limited Population grant.
-Voting delegates for the MML Convention as Alderman at Large Barney Phelps, Ward 3 Alderman George Rooks and Ward 2 Alderman Tommy Curtis.

The next regularly scheduled Board of Alderman meeting will be Tuesday, June 4 at 6 p.m. The meeting will not be held in the boardroom due to Election Day. The meeting will be held at Town Hall.

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors is debating on whether or not to purchase a brand new tar distributor truck for approximately $150,000.

In their previous meeting, Jay Barrett with Puckett-Caterpillar presented the board with information on a brand new tar distributor truck.

Board President Chris McIntire, District 3 supervisor, began in the discussion, in their May 6 meeting, about purchasing a new tar distributor truck.

“We all know the need we have if we are going to continue to pave roads,” said McIntire.

He also said currently there is $108,269 in the county-wide fund with no debt service. McIntire said he did some estimates that it would cost the county $38,000 a year to payoff the $150,000 or more truck in five years.

“It’s a lot of money for a machine, but I’m hoping to work out a deal with surrounding counties to pay us to use it,” said McIntire. He encouraged other board members to approve to advertise for the new machine. “We need to get the ball rolling,” said McIntire.

The county’s current tar distributor truck is over 30 years old and the county bought it used.

District 5 Supervisor asked what is the true cost to the county for purchasing, maintaining and using the machine.

“What’s the business side of it? True cost of buying this? How many miles will we pave each year?” asked Chambers.

He continued, “For me, I don’t have enough information to even publish it.”

District 1 Supervisor Archie Collins suggested contacting the state aid department to see how much they would pay the county to reseal their state aid roads.

Chambers said, “It’s about unity. About having a full business plan.”

McIntire responded, “With a unit system you have to have a four year plan. Beat system you don’t. We have 30 plus years of service and it’s gone (the current tar distributor truck).”

Chambers suggested for the county to consider hiring a paving company to pave the counties roads when needed.

District 4 Supervisor David Carter suggested at the board looking into how much it would cost for the county to hire a paving company and how much to purchase a tar distributor truck.

“Last year it took a lot of time and tar. We need to be more efficient,” said Carter.

Chambers asked McIntire to talk to surrounding counties about possibly paying to use the machine and for him to “bring your full proposal to us.”

Chambers continued, “I’m not in favor of advertising right now. I’m in favor of talking to other counties and putting together a business plan.”

The Board of Supervisors then discussed options to include in the business plan and who would work on the business plan. Chambers will put together the business plan with help from other supervisors with information.

No action was taken at this time.

Also in the board meeting, the supervisors discussed how to pay Evans Johnson Construction $680,295 for construction of the new hospital.

McIntire explained that all of the bonds funds have been used.

“We pledged to pay over and above in the hospital bonds,” said McIntire.

The $680, 295 payment to Evans Johnson is the first construction payment due out of the county’s budget, outside of the bonds.

McIntire said that according to figures by Maxey Peterson, with Pryor & Morrow, and Steve Montgomery, Chancery clerk, the county will owe $1,353,171 which includes all credits and overages. After making the $680,295 payment then the county will owe approximately $672,000 on the construction of the hospital.

After looking at funds in five different accounts that will be used to pay the construction costs, the county will be short approximately $25,000. This amount will have to come out of the county’s budget.

The board approved to pay Evans Johnson $680,295 out of Fund 125.

The Choctaw County Board of Supervisors approved:
-Agenda.

-Minutes.

-Inventory deletion-inoperable phone.

-Travel for Chris Coleman, fire coordinator, to mandatory training on May 14 at the fire academy in Jackson.

-Travel for Chris McIntire, board president, to the Mississippi Association of Supervisors and Planning and Development District regional meetings.

-Pay Pryor and Morrow $6,133 for percentage completion of the news hospital.

-Object to three homestead exemptions and approve the remaining based on recommendations from Steve Montgomery, Chancery clerk, and Lori Kerr, tax assessor.

-Claims.

Purchasing children’s play area equipment and sponsoring three scholarships are a few things that the Choctaw County Medical Foundation did within the last year.

This was announced in the foundation’s annual meeting on May 2. In the business part of the meeting, Harvey Black, with the foundation board, said North American Coal-Red Hills Mine donated $2,000 to the foundation.

“Many times we don’t appreciate our corporate businesses in Choctaw County. We are so very blessed to have three generating plants and the mine,” said Black.

Mike Thomas, with the Red Hills Mine, said NAC tries to participate in the community as much as possible.

“We are proud to support our local hospital. We’re glad to see us (hospital) growing. We try to support our community as much as possible,” said Thomas.

Black continued stating the Choctaw County Medical Foundation purchased the furniture for the children’s play area at the new medical clinic, the Pioneer Medical Clinic, bought two tape players for the Choctaw County Nursing Home and finalized the foundation’s 501(3)c status within the last year.

The foundation also sponsored three scholarships, $500 each, for high school seniors in the county. The recipients are Ricky Adams from Ackerman High School, Ericka Howard from French Camp Academy and Sarah Stevenson from Weir High School.

For the next fiscal year, the foundation is sponsoring the snack table for the JuneFest 5k Run/Walk and possibly the project of a portico at the nursing home.

After a recommendation from the nominating committee, the foundation members approved to reappoint Harvey Black and Rick Jenkins to the foundation board. Other board members are Ron Bennett, Bonnie Thomas and Bobby Prewitt.

Prewitt gave a financial report stating the foundation began 2012 with $5,000, had a donation of $2,000 and expenses were $2,800 leaving a balance of $7,397.

Also in the foundation meeting, District 3 Supervisor Chris McIntire, also board president, thanked everyone for their dedication to making the new hospital a reality.

“We couldn’t have done it without the Board of Trustees with their dedication and devotion,” said McIntire. He added that building the new hospital is a county wide accomplishment. “It’s not a Board of Supervisor thing, Board of Trustee thing. It’s a county wide thing. That’s the spirit of the county,” he said.

As a special part of the annual meeting, Allen Gamble, administrator, at the Pioneer Community Hospital of Choctaw, gave an update on how the current hospital has progressed over the last year and hints of what’s to come in the future.

He said he the hospital has been growing with a 20 percent increase in inpatient stays, swing bed and senior care stays from last year. Gamble added that visits to the emergency room have increased over 50 percent from 2011 and visits to the clinics have almost doubled. The Choctaw County Nursing Home is at full capacity almost every day.

Gamble also explained that the majority of their expenses are payroll, contracted personnel and bad debt. He said that Pioneer Community Hospital of Choctaw employs approximately 200 people and pays $7 million in payroll.

“$7 million turns through this county,” said Gamble.

The future of the PCH-Choctaw is bright with the opening of the new hospital planned for med June. The new hospital will feature 15 beds, 10 bed geri-psych unit, expanded emergency services, expanded ultrasound capability, a surgery suite with post anesthesia care, an area for endoscopy/colonoscopy and a mobile MRI unit.

Gamble also said PCH-Choctaw plans to reopen the Weir Clinic soon with at least one provider, one day a week. The Pioneer Medical Clinic in Ackerman will welcome Dr. Gene Cathey to the staff this summer.

On Sunday, April 21, Millspring M.B.C. remembered the tragic events
that took place three years ago on April 24, 2010. This was the day
that the tornado hit Choctaw County. The Millspring area was affected
by this powerful storm.
On Sunday, Millspring had a fellowship service and dinner with
several activities taking place on this day. The theme for the day
was “Remembering the Past, but looking toward the future.” Haggai
2:9. The Pastor of Millspring, Dr. Vincent Coleman, presented
District 1 Supervisor, Archie Collins and District 3 Supervisor Chris
McIntire with a plaque and a certificate of appreciation for their
self less acts and Godly duties shown to the Millspring Church and
community in the aftermath of the tornado.
Also recognized in the service were Dee Ann Williams and Ashley
Williams. They were unable to attend the service.
Testimony service was held by Valerie Lampkin and Tako Lockett.
Reflections of the past and a slide show of the destruction of the
storm were presented by James Anderson.
Millspring M.B.C. and the community realizes that there were a lot of
people from surrounding counties that came and aided in the
rebuilding and reconstruction of the church home and community.
“We don’t remember all the names, but we would like to thank the
people of Choctaw County, the surrounding Churches and the
surrounding areas for your prayers and everything that they may have
done to help ease our burden in our time of need. Thank you and May
God Bless you.”

The Choctaw County School Board held a special meeting, on April 22.
At the beginning of the meeting, School Board President Mike Thomas
made a statement.
“We are not going to discuss school colors, mascots tonight. We do
not plan to go into executive session, unless there is a question
about a particular employee. We are sticking to our agenda.”
In the consent agenda, the School Board approved to cut the JROTC
program. After the meeting, Superintendent Glen Beard explained why
the board cut this program.
“This program was closed as a result of federal sequestration from
the federal government. This program requires a minimum of 75
students to maintain the funding. This program has been in the
district for 2 years. The closing of this program will save the
district $85,000 per year,” said Beard.
The meeting lasted six minutes.
In the consent agenda, the board approved:
—Approve the following resignations:
-James Pullen from AHS.
-Cinda Markham from AHS.
-Peggy Henderson from FCE.
-Tracie Stephenson from FCE.
-Renne Haynes from WAC.
-Morgan Britt from WAC.
-Tamara Moore from WAC.
-Ommie Ashford from WAC.
-Sherry Raybourn is resigning as a cafeteria worker only.
-Karen Clardy is resigning as a school bus driver only.
-Robin Robinson from Bus Driver.
—Approve cutting JROTC program.
—Approve recommendation concerning AEST program and WAC.
The recommendation was to close the AEST program at WAC.
Superintendent Beard explained after the meeting, “The district
currently operates two separate AEST programs one at the Career
Center and one at Weir Attendance Center. With the recent (federal
court) ruling there will no longer be a program at Weir Attendance
Center therefore board approval is required to close a program.”
—Approve new bus driver pay scale.
—Approve coaching supplements.
—Approve employee recommendations.
-Administrators
-Central Office
-Ackerman Elementary School
-Ackerman High School
-Alternative School
-CCCTC
-French Camp Elementary
-Weir Attendance Center -Cafeteria
-Bus Shop
-Approve Ronda Huffman to attend the Spring CTE Directors’ meeting at
Hinds Community College on -April 30, 2013.
-Approve contract with Pioneer Community Hospital of Choctaw.
Superintendent Beard said the contract is to provide therapy services
to special education students on an as needed basis.
-Approve WAC Softball girls to MSU Softball game.
The next regularly scheduled School Board meeting will be Monday, May
13 at 7 p.m. in the boardroom at Central Office.

The Kids’ Fishing Rodeo held on Saturday, April 20, at Choctaw Lake
was a huge success. The fishing rodeo was sponsored by the Choctaw
County Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Forest Service, Mississippi
Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and Farm Bureau Insurance.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP)
stocked Choctaw Lake with catfish. The daily park fee at the Choctaw
Management Area was waived for families during the fishing rodeo by
the U.S. Forest Service. There was a five fish limit for each child
at the beginning of the rodeo, but was changed to ten fish after many
of the children caught their limit early in the day. A total of 178
children participated in the fishing rodeo with an estimated 450
catfish caught.
The first 150 children to register at the fishing rodeo received a
cap donated by the Southern Company. At the opening ceremony Stewart
Edwards, President of French Camp Academy and board member of the
Choctaw County Economic Development District led everyone in prayer.
Boy Scout Troop 41 chartered by Ackerman United Methodist Church
presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Lara Bowman,
Director of the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce, welcomed and
thanked all parents and children for attending the rodeo. Sherry
Hazelwood, director of the fishing rodeos for the MDWFP, gave all the
families the rules for having a fun, safe day of fishing.
Children who caught a catfish with a red tag received a special door
prize. Area businesses donated door prizes for the fishing rodeo.
When the children grew weary of fishing there was fishing related
activities to continue to hold their interest. The kids could color
a fish to hang up on a clothes line or have their face painted.
There was a casting game to help the kids learn to cast. Door prizes
were awarded to winners of the casting game and to the best colored
fish in different age categories. Smokey the Bear from the U.S.
Forest Service made a special appearance at the fishing rodeo to pass
out fire prevention materials to the kids and take pictures.
Farm Bureau Insurance fed all of the children a hot dog lunch and
provided hamburgers for all of the volunteers. The fishing rodeo
would not have been successful without the time and effort of
volunteers from the community. The Chamber of Commerce had 52
volunteers help families find a place to park, register each child
for the rodeo, help the kids take fish off their poles and provide
lunch.
A total of $3,500.00 was contributed to the fishing rodeo. The
Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following community
supporters of the fishing rodeo: Farm Bureau Insurance in Ackerman,
Southern Company, Wal-Mart in Louisville and Starkville, Sullivan’s
Crossroads Grocery in Weir, Guns and Roses Pawn Shop in Ackerman,
Carey and Deb Bunkelman of Menzner Lumber and Supply Company in Weir,
State Farm Insurance agent Bert Parish in Eupora, Sports Center in
Starkville, Mossy Oak in West Point, Delta Telephone Company in
Ackerman and Mississippi State Extension – Choctaw County.

Lillian Estelle
Henning Suber
April 27, 2013
Funeral services for Lillian Estelle Henning Suber were held at 2
p.m. April 30, 2013 at Coleman Funeral Home in Ackerman, MS with Rev
Jerry Lawson and Aaron Suber officiating. Interment was at Crape
Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ms. Suber, a native of Choctaw County, was a member of Crape Creek
Baptist Church. Ms. Suber died April 27, 2013 at Vickers Personal
Care Home in Mathiston, MS.
Survivors include sons Robin Steven Suber (Pam) of Ackerman, MS,
James Wayne Suber (Diane Ansley) of Water Valley, MS; daughter
Lillian Denise Bailey (Ricky) of Columbus, MS; brothers Barney Paul
Henning of Winona, MS, Cecil Lewis Henning of Mantee, MS, Edward
Monroe Henning of Winona, MS, James Richard Henning of French Camp,
MS, Thomas Lester Henning of Winona, MS; sisters Patsy H. Carson
Barton of Winona, MS, ruth H. Gregg of Grenada, MS, Peggy Reed of
Winona, MS, Gwendolyn H. Burton Richardson, of Mathiston, MS and 9
grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
Coleman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Family suggests
memorial be made to Crape Creek Baptist Church. To sign the guest
registry, visit www.colemanfuneral.com.