The Daily Press http://www.starkvilledailynews.com http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/apfeed.xml--1 Copyright The Daily Press 2012-02-03T22:27:39-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89452012-02-03T22:07:12-05:002012-02-03T22:07:12-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily NewsFollowing a week of interviews with five semifinalist candidates, the Starkville School District Board of Trustees narrowed the list down to three finalists for the district superintendent position. The school board voted unanimously for Lewis Holloway, superintendent of Bulloch County, Ga.; Michael McInnis, superintendent of Union City School District; and Michael Van Winkle, assistant superintendent of Jackson County School District as the three finalists. The board voted on the semifinalists, which also included SSD Assistant Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin and Andy Parker, principal of Bay St. Louis-Waveland High School, after the initial interviews wrapped up Thursday. “We took about two hours (Thursday) ... to discuss the matter and it wasn’t easy,” school board President Keith Coble said. “I think that the candidates did a good enough job that they made our job very difficult.” The public has the opportunity to meet the finalists for the first time in a forum Monday. During the forum, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Starkville High School Theatre, the finalists will give a brief presentation and will be asked questions submitted by SSD stakeholders. After the forum, the Starkville Foundation for Public Education, Parents for Public Schools and PTA will sponsor a reception in the SHS library.Those who attend the forum will have the chance to give the school board feedback on the finalist candidates. School board members have said public participation in the entire process of the superintendent search was important. “I think it’s a very important commitment that we made to the community last summer. I think this was really an important step to allow people to see the candidates to see how they perform in terms of their presentations,” Coble said. The school board will meet as soon as possible after the forum to review the feedback and discuss the finalists. Coble said if the board is able to reach a consensus on the preferred candidate, negotiations would begin as soon as possible, and the process would move on from there. “My wife and I are very excited,” Van Winkle said. “We look forward to the opportunity to come up on Monday night and meet the community.” McInnis said he was humbled and excited by the announcement. “I am very much excited. I’ve heard so many good things about the city of Starkville from the teaching staff, the administration and the students. I’m very excited to meet the community and share my vision of what the Starkville School District could be,” he said. He has set out the goal of making SSD a star school district but also wants to ensure the students feel safe within the schools.“We’re here to love these kids, first of all. Some of them come from varied backgrounds and that’s my first concern. Once that gets addressed, we’ll get to the rest,” he said. “That’s the type of district I want to be associated with, and I think that’s the type of superintendent the community wants.” Starkville, MSNo author availableSchool board reveals top 3 SSD finalistsStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8945Change0Usable2012-02-03T22:07:12-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89442012-02-03T22:03:23-05:002012-02-03T22:03:23-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily NewsThe fifth annual Starkville Young Professionals SOUPer Bowl is scheduled today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at State Theater. Tickets are $20 at the door, and proceeds benefit the United Way of North Central Mississippi. Children 12 and under get in for $5 and children under age 3 are admitted for free.SYP President Robyn Cain said the theme for this year’s SOUPer Bowl is “You decide who’s hot.” First, second and third place are chosen by attendees, who each receive a ballot and choose their three favorites. Another award, Best in Show, is given to the booth with the best overall presentation.“The SYP SOUPer Bowl is a great way for restaurants and Starkville Young Professionals to give back to the community,” Cain said. “In its fifth year, SOUPer Bowl is a community event that the young and old look forward to each year.”Cain said the event is part of the second Savor Our South weekend where participants can enjoy a taste of the new South, Starkville style.“Everyone will have the opportunity to sample delicious soups from ... local restaurants and test their picks against the SYP’s top honors,” Cain said.Cain said honors will be awarded at 2 p.m. so plenty of time remains for MSU basketball fans to travel to the Hump for MSU’s game against Auburn.“Some of last year’s champs will be participating including Harvey’s and The Veranda,” Cain said. SOUPer Bowl 2012 participating restaurants include Three Little Pigs, Bin 612, Sweet Peppers Deli, Brian Michael’s, Harvey’s, The Ritz, Old Venice Pizza Co., Hilton Garden Inn, The Veranda, Restaurant Tyler, Zorba’s and Chef Dave’s Smoked Meats Arma de la Cruz, director of marketing for the Eat With Us group, said the SOUPer Bowl inspires chefs at each of its restaurants to come up with new soup recipes that sometimes end up on their menus.“These type of events such as the SOUPer Bowl allows our chefs and managers to step out of the restaurant and interact with our customers in a different setting while at the same time raising money for a good cause,” de la Cruz said.Restaurant Tyler, Bin 612 and Zorba’s Chef Ty Thames said he loves participating in SOUPer Bowl each year.“It’s a well put together event, it’s fun and it’s for a great cause,” Thames said. “All of our restaurants are participating.”Martin Crawford of Old Venice said the restaurant looks forward to competing in the community event.Starkville, MSNo author availableA hot decision: SYP serves up SOUPer Bowl todayStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8944Change0Usable2012-02-03T22:03:23-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89432012-02-03T22:27:39-05:002012-02-03T22:01:19-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily NewsThe January circuit term at the Oktibbeha County Courthouse wrapped up this week with numerous convictions. Many of the major cases were continued until the next term, including the case against George Johnson, who stands accused of assaulting two Shipley’s Do-nuts employees during an attempted robbery in May. Johnson will undergo a mental evaluation before the case proceeds.The following cases were resolved during the last week: Justin E. Kent was found guilty of uttering forgery. Kent was given a suspended sentence of 10 years in prison and a $500 fine.Caesare L. Fair was found guilty of possession of cocaine, greater than .1 gram, less than 2 grams. Fair was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,200 fine.Marcel Nash was found guilty of automobile burglary. Nash was sentenced to five years of probation and a $2,000 fine.Lawrence Rowe was found guilty of selling marijuana, greater than 30 grams, less than 250 grams. Rowe was sentenced to six years in prison, a $1,200 fine and five years of post-release supervision.Kristopher Jackson’s probation sentence on a charge of burglary was revoked. Jackson was sentenced to three years in prison, a $500 fine and $40 restitution.Christopher Sellers was found guilty of DUI, third offense. Sellers was sentenced to two years in prison, a $1,200 fine and three years post-release supervision.Samuel Tenney was found guilty of selling marijuana, less than 30 grams. Tenney was sentenced to three years of probation and $670.71 to cover cost of court and restitution.Jardez Johnson was found guilty of armed robbery. Johnson was sentenced to seven years in prison, a $500 fine and five years of post-release supervision.Barron Hubbard was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. Hubbard was sentenced to two years in prison, a $50 fine, $238.50 restitution and three years of post-release supervision.Quentin Balams was found guilty of grand larceny. Balams was sentenced to five years of probation, a $500 fine and $4,687.20 restitution.Gregory E. Buck was found guilty of possession of marijuana, greater than 30 grams, less than 250 grams. Back was given a suspended sentence of three years in prison, a $1,000 fine, $300 restitution and three years of probation.Willie E. Graham Jr. was found guilty of robbery. Graham was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a $500 fine, $130 restitution and five years of post-release supervision.David L. Free was found guilty of DUI, third offense. Free was sentenced to five years in prison, one year of house arrest, a $2,000 fine and four years of post-release supervision. Jeffery Lance Hill was found in criminal contempt of court orders. Hill was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.Alex Fisher was found guilty of DUI, third offense. Fisher was given a three year suspended sentence and granted one year of house arrest with two years of probation, and a $2,000 fine.Jodie Demoney was found guilty of identity theft. Demoney was given a five-year suspended sentence, a $500 fine, $562.69 restitution and five years of probation.Henry Spencer was found guilty of sale of marijuana, less than 30 grams. Spencer sentenced to 20 years in prison with eight years suspended, a $1,000 fine, $300 restitution and five years of post-release supervision.Brian Lee Buford’s suspended sentence for a charge of tampering with evidence was revoked and he was sentenced to two years in prison.Monique Hemphill was found guilty of possession of cocaine, greater than .1 grams, less than two grams. Hemphill was sentenced to five years of probation and a $500 fine.Dominique Hoskins was found guilty of two counts of sale of hydrocodone. Hoskins was sentenced to 10 years and 15 years in prison to be run consecutively, five years of post-release supervision, and $2,000 in fines.Roderick Franklin was found guilty of armed robbery and failure to register as a sex offender, habitual offender. Franklin was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.Derrick Hall was found guilty of possession of cocaine, greater than .1 grams, less than 2 grams. Hall was sentenced to eight years in prison with four years suspended, a $500 fine, $300 restitution, and four years of post-release supervision. The court term also handled a number of civil cases. The following are the rulings from those cases: Anthony Bell was ordered to pay $5,956.83 to State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance.Antonio Nichols was ordered to pay $3,111.28 to Midland Funding LLC.Debbie Brown was ordered to pay $1,681.35 to Midland Funding LLC.Starkville, MSNo author availableCounty wraps up circuit court termStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8943Change0Usable2012-02-03T22:01:19-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89422012-02-03T12:00:23-05:002012-02-03T12:00:23-05:00Copyright 2010 Starkville Daily NewsThe school board voted unanimously for Lewis Holloway, superintendent of Bulloch County, Ga.; Michael McInnis, superintendent of Union City School District; and Michael VanWinkle, assistant superintendent of Jackson County School District as the three finalists. The semifinalists, which also included SSD Assistant Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin and Andy Parker, principal of Bay St. Louis-Waveland High School, had their first interviews with the board this week. The board voted last night following the last interview. The public will have the opportunity to meet the finalists for the first time at a public forum on Monday evening. During the forum, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Starkville High School Theatre, the finalists will give a brief presentation and will be asked questions submitted by SSD stakeholders. Starkville, MSCOLLEEN MCCARTHYSSD announces superintendent finalists Starkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8942Change0Usable2012-02-03T12:00:23-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89412012-02-03T11:58:53-05:002012-02-03T11:58:53-05:00Copyright 2010 Starkville Daily NewsThe school board voted unanimously for Lewis Holloway, superintendent of Bulloch County, Ga.; Michael McInnis, superintendent of Union City School District; and Michael VanWinkle, assistant superintendent of Jackson County School District as the three finalists. The semifinalists, which also included SSD Assistant Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin and Andy Parker, principal of Bay St. Louis-Waveland High School, had their first interviews with the board this week. The board voted last night following the last interview. The public will have the opportunity to meet the finalists for the first time at a public forum on Monday evening. During the forum, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Starkville High School Theatre, the finalists will give a brief presentation and will be asked questions submitted by SSD stakeholders. Starkville, MSCOLLEEN MCCARTHYSSD announces superintendent finalists Starkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8941Change0Usable2012-02-03T11:58:53-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89372012-02-03T06:10:19-05:002012-02-02T20:42:37-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily Newssdnedu@bellsouth.netA children’s choir is bringing the songs and dances of Africa to Mississippi State University’s Lee Hall tonight. The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center is hosting the Grammy-nominated African Children’s Choir at 7 p.m. tonight in the Bettersworth Auditorium. “The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center strives to coordinate culturally enlightening and educational programs for students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities,” Program Coordinator Brea Roth said. “The music is joyous and inspiring, the message is life changing; and the bright smiles of the children touch hearts in a very special way. It will also give people an opportunity to share in proving the lives of thousands of homeless and disadvantaged children in Africa.” The African Children’s Choir was started in 1984 by human rights activist Ray Barnett, who witnessed thousands of children become orphaned by the Ugandan Civil War. The choir selected orphaned and vulnerable children between ages 7 and 11 from Kampala and Luwero, Uganda, and gave them musical training. The African Children’s Choir began to tour, and the money earned supported the children, funded members’ education and helped build an orphanage in Kampala. Since 1984, more than 1,000 children have participated in the program. The 38th generation of the choir is now touring the country sharing its music and spreading its story.Once they return to Africa, they will be given an education, leadership training and spiritual ministry. The choir works with the Music for Life Institute, which has relief and development programs for children in Africa. The event is free to the public, but a free-will offering will follow the concert where donations will be collected for the organization. Starkville, MSNo author availableChildren’s choir to bring songs of Africa to MSUStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8937Change0Usable2012-02-02T20:42:37-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89362012-02-03T06:10:19-05:002012-02-02T20:41:50-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily Newssdnlife@bellsouth.netA Mississippi State University and Starkville tradition, the annual Dudy Gras parade, begins 4:30 p.m. today at the Rick’s Cafe parking lot.“We call this the sixth-and-a-half annual Dudy Gras celebration because we got sleet and snow the first year,” co-founder Hobie Hobart said in December. “We ended up at Mugshots where we paraded around the restaurant. That should give us at least a half-year credit.”Hobart said trailers, trucks and MSU fans will gather at Rick’s Cafe at 3:30 p.m., and the parade plans to pull out at 4:30 p.m. Hobart said he hopes to have high participation this year and encourages everyone to join the fun. “I don’t care if it’s just some fans in the back of a pickup truck,” Hobart said. “Wear some maroon and white, bring a cowbell and come celebrate the beginning of baseball season with us.”Hobart said as long as someone is an MSU fan and is willing to decorate his or her vehicle and ring a cowbell out of a window, he’ll be happy.“I’ve always said two is a coincidence and three is a parade,” Hobart said. “This is all about having fun and celebrating a great time of year and a great tradition in Starkville.”Hobart hopes fans will show up and support the parade as well, which begins by going west on Highway 182, takes a left on Washington Street and heads up to Main Street where it continues down Main Street and University Drive to campus. After the rigs are set up, everyone is invited back to Rick’s Cafe for the post-party and awards ceremony. There is a “Best Overall Rig” award and a “Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez” award, which is French for “Let the Good Times Roll.” Hobart said this award is typically given to the group that has the most fun. Hobart said the tradition began so that fans could get together and celebrate the opening of not only MSU baseball season, but also move-in day for the Left Field Lounge. Joe Dier of MSU media relations said in December the Left Field Lounge became a gathering spot in the 1960s when fans were allowed to drive their vehicles to the area behind left field to watch the games.Starkville, MSNo author availableAnnual Dudy Gras Parade begins todayStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8936Change0Usable2012-02-02T20:41:50-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89352012-02-03T06:10:19-05:002012-02-02T20:41:06-05:00Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily Newssdnlife@bellsouth.netHerman Peters, certified self-defense trainer and police officer sports coordinator, is teaching a basic, two-hour course of self-defense moves at the Starkville Sportsplex Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon. The class is free to the public.Starkville Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Rye said the self-defense seminar will educate participants on personal protection, environmental awareness and practical self-defense techniques.“Our aim is to teach some basic self-defense moves that can keep you and your family safe inside and outside your home, on a college campus and at leisure activities,” Rye said. “Whether you are in a group or all alone, this seminar is designed to give you the ability to respond effectively in a realistic attack situation.”Rye said Saturday’s seminar will be a basic overview of some self-defense moves. For those interested in learning more, there will be a more in-depth series for six weeks made available for $30 or $5 a class.“It’s that time of year when people start to exercise outside more and we just want to offer this class to the public so that they are prepared,” Rye said.Peters said he started training in 1995, teaching direct care workers how to protect themselves from clients who show aggressive behavior.  “At that time I taught a technique called TMAB: Technique for Managing Aggressive Behavior,” Peters said. “After that I started at a local gym in Magee teaching a family self-defense class one night a week.”Peters said he believes knowledge is power and will increase your general awareness, making you more conscious of what is going on around you.  “A basic knowledge of these weak and sensitive areas, mixed with some basic self-defense techniques and skills can help make you become very effective in defending yourself,” Peters said. “Self-defense techniques are not just the physical skills that you can use. They also include skills that will help avoid putting yourself in a situation of high danger in the first place.”Herman said it is important for people to know that regardless of strength, size, age or previous training, anyone can learn several effective self-defense techniques.“I have 15 nieces, four sisters and several church members that have inspired me to keep teaching this self-defense class,” Peters said. “I think it’s important.” Peters said to dress in something loose and comfortable, and bring some water. Gym shoes should also be worn. Those interested can register for the class online at http://www.starkvilleparks.com or the morning of the class at 9:45 a.m.Starkville, MSNo author availablePeters offers free self-defense classStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8935Change0Usable2012-02-02T20:41:06-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89332012-02-02T16:56:33-05:002012-02-02T16:56:33-05:00Copyright 2010 Starkville Daily NewsStarkville, MSBY TOM CHAPINSix more weeks of winterStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8933Change0Usable2012-02-02T16:56:33-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:89192012-02-02T06:51:25-05:002012-02-01T20:32:19-05:00Copyright 2010 Starkville Daily NewsStarkville, MSNo author availableNational Signing DayStarkville Daily Newsurn:publicid:dailypress.com:8919Change0Usable2012-02-01T20:32:19-05:00