City Joins County with Crime Stoppers Program

The Louisville Board of Aldermen voted on Tuesday night (February 19) to have the city officially join Winston County Crime Stoppers program (WCCS).

Morgan Freeman Fund for Scholarships Turns 15

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The generosity of one of Mississippi’s most famous residents attracts veterinary students from diverse cultural backgrounds to the Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Two Suspects in Winston Academy Case Arraigned

The two men arrested for the weekend's vandalism and theft at Winston Academy in Louisville were arraigned this afternoon in Winston County Justice Court. Hunter Glass (18) and Vernon Brown (20) appeared before Judge Robert Beck at 1:00 pm. Shackled and in prison jumpsuits, the men appeared separately as the list of charges were read.

Each were charged with 10 counts of willfull damage (vandalism) and 7 counts of breaking and entering with intent to steal. The breaking and entering charges can result in jail time up to 7 years (Ms. Code 97-17-33) while the felony vandalism charges carry up to a $5000 fine and/or no more than 5 years in prison.

A preliminary court date has been set for March 13 and bond for Glass and Brown were set at $500,000 each. Brown will be represented by a court appointed attorney.

W. McCully

Eiland Students Learn 4-R's of Recycling

click to enlarge

 material to make a donation of artwork to the school.

Assistant Principal Tantaneshia Houston accepts
artwork from Hill

The presentation was part of the classes' preparation for the science portion of the upcoming NC2 test. Hill explained the 4-R's as Reduce - Re-use - Recycle and Re-purpose; reducing the amount of waste we produce, re-using products when we can, recycling those products we can't and re-purposing items for other uses.

Hill provided a perfect example of re-purposing as she presented the school with her artwork of President Obama and Rosa Parkes which were made from recycled products. The paintings will be exhibited in the Eiland school library.

Hill encouraged the students to recycle and provided some examples of things that could and should be recycled. She also pointed out the "blue recycle box" located at the Louisville Coliseum  and it's purpose.

W. McCully

The Latest on Winston Academy Vandalism Investigation

Local law enforcement indicate that media reports over the weekend that suggested that others may have been involved in Saturday's vandalism at Winston Academy and that retaliation or school rivalry were motives are not supported by evidence at this point in their investigation.

20 year old Vernon Brown and 18 year old Hunter Glass were arrested on Saturday and are currently being held for the vandalism and theft that occurred at Winston Academy in Louisville in the early hours of Saturday morning. Extensive damage was done to multiple buildings and classrooms at the school as well as the theft of a number of items including computers.

WWN spoke with Chief L.M. Claiborne, Sheriff Jason Pugh and other officials on Monday morning. All indicated that the investigation points to the involvement of the two in custody and no one else. Paraphrasing as follows, "There is no evidence at this time that a Winston Academy student was involved in any way in what happened Saturday nor is there evidence that the Academy was targeted for any specific reason."

The investigation continues and is not concluded. Officials have recovered some of the stolen items including several computers that were tossed into a local creek.

Cleanup has continued at the school over the weekend and today and classes for the school's roughly 500 students are expected to resume on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, school vandalism is not an uncommon occurrence and has occurred at all area schools in the past - the most recent incidences at Eiland and Nanih Waiya. However, no damage has been as significant or as costly as this weekend's event.

W. McCully

From WTOK

Bill Favors Real Estate Business Over Home Inspectors: Bill: Real estate biz to oversee home inspections.

Prayer Vigil at Winston. as Cleanup Begins- Video

Prayer Vigil at Winston Academy as Cleanup Begins

It didn't take long for Winston Academy to begin cleanup of Saturday's vandalism. After local law enforcement completed their investigation, work began immediately to repair the damages that were spread thoughout almost all of the school's building.

 A prayer vigil (see video below) scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday evening took place even as cleanup continued. Led by faculty member Judy Sanders who told the crowd, 'The Lord said, Vengeance is mine, I shall repay.'We didn't gather here for vengeance."  The large crowd prayed and sang the school song as they gathered to show their support for their school.

 Louisville Police Department officials have indicated that two arrests were made on Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident and the Winston County Sheriff's Office confirmed their identities as 20 year old Vernon Brown and 18 year old Hunter Glass.There are also reports that some of the property stolen from the school has been recovered.

Cleanup is expected to continue on Sunday and Monday as no classes are scheduled.

W. McCully