Ozzy Osbourne holds key to Fountain of Youth?

Written by admin on July 14th, 2010

Chloe Oliver

Chloe Oliver of Foxworth writes a weekly community column for the Marion County Informer.

By Chloe Oliver

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, scientists are going to study why Ozzy Osbourne is still alive. The rocker who is legendary for his substance abuse, eerie screams, and biting the heads off of doves and bats will have DNA extracted from his blood. The blood will be sent to researchers in Missouri who will sequence his genome. The drug abuse generation is now graying. It seems that scientists want to discover why this  king of consumption has been able to tolerate his diet of drugs and alcohol  for so long. If something unique is discovered in Osbourne, I wonder if Ozzy clones  might ensue because of the study? Frightening.

There is a virtual roster of stars who could qualify for such a study. What about Keith Richards and Courtney Love? Tutankhamen’s  corpse looks better than these two.

Surely, the cost of this study on Osbourne will be expensive. A closer examination might save the time and expense.

Of course, the scientific study is based on the assumption that Osbourne is alive. Think about the clues: He has an odd gait, preference for night, pale skin,and eats the heads off of doves and bats. He  grunts, mumbles and groans  as a substitute for  coherent speech. In my opinion, he might be a vampire or a zombie. He might be kept erect and moving by means of cattle prods and electric shock, metal rods, or formaldehyde. Osbourne may be a better candidate for the “Amazing Creatures” program. Recollections of the movie, “Weekend at Bernie’s” also come to mind.

Even if Osbourne is still alive and not a zombie, he appears to be brain dead. If they try to study his brain, scientists probably won’t find more than a piece or two of cerebral  cortex. Studying his brain would be as fruitless as drilling for oil in a grain silo.

His longevity might be attributed to the fact that he has not had to toil at a regular job like most of us. He gets a lot more time to recuperate from his indulgences.

He  might really be the prince of darkness.

Behind that flat affect, he could be the Energizer Bunny.

On an episode of the television show, “The Simpsons,” Mr. Burns learns that the only reason that he is still alive is because all the diseases in his body are so busy fighting each other that they haven’t gotten around to killing him yet. Could this be the answer to Osbourne’s survival?

Freidrich Neitzsche has an even simpler explanation: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

Studying his children may yield more scientific evidence. Why has it taken his children a shorter space of time to reach the same state that it has taken Osbourne some 61 years to attain?

At odds with  what most parents believe, psychologists at Glascow Caledonian University in Scotland assert that listening to loud rock music may actually boost brain power. This also could be studied instead of Osbourne’s blood. Just look at what loud music has done for Ozzy.

I wonder if the bat and dove populations are holding nightly prayer services  in  anticipation that a diet of bat and dove heads has not contributed to Osbourne’s well-being? They should keep their talons and webbed fingers crossed.

Instead of scientists, the question of  Ozzy Osbourne’s long survival will probably be better answered by comedians,theologians, late-night talk show hosts, and philosphers.

In the meantime, those scientists should be careful with that extracted blood from Osbourne. I would think that  a few drops would be enough to keep a large herd of rhinos, a pack of wolves, and small school of dolphins stoned for weeks.

 

Posted in Columnists | 6 Responses »

July 14 Marion County Jail Docket

Written by admin on July 14th, 2010

Tajunuan Kendricks, 20, CPD, possession of controlled substance

Tina Slocum, 32, CPD, court programs probation violations

Megan R. Bollin, 20, MCSO, bad check

Glinda L. Holmes, 33, MCSO, public drunk

 

Posted in Jail dockets | 1 Response »

Marion County Informer For Sale

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

The Marion County Informer online newspaper is for sale. If you are interested in taking over ownership of this Web site, please call Publisher Josh Mitchell at (601) 549-3974 for details or e-mail marioncountyinformer@gmail.com. Mitchell wants to assure the excellent businesses and organizations that advertise on this site that they need not worry about current ad contracts going unfulfilled.

Sincerely,

Josh Mitchell

Marion County Informer

Publisher

 

Posted in Informer | 52 Responses »

Marion County supervisors now posting public notices of meetings following complaint

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

The Marion County Board of Supervisros is now posting public notices of meetings on the front door to the office.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Marion County Board of Supervisors is now posting public notices of its meetings, following an Open Meetings complaint being filed with the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

The Marion County Informer filed the complaint earlier this month after the Board of Supervisors held a meeting without posting any notice.

Board Attorney Joe Shepard has said that the Board of Supervisors is in session for 10 days each month, beginning on the first Monday, and during that time the Board can meet anytime it likes without posting notice. The Informer could not reach Shepard for comment to ask him why the Board of Supervisors is now posting notice of its meetings on the front door to the office.

County Supervisor Raymon Rowell said he does not know why meeting notices are now being posted, saying he does not think the Board is legally required to do so. Rowell said he still believes the supervisors can meet anytime during the 10 days they are in session without posting notice.

The Marion County Informer believes that the Mississippi Open Meetings Act requires the supervisors to post public notice of their meetings.

Rowell said he saw the meeting notice on the door and wondered why it was posted. He said he does not know who made the decision to start posting the notices, adding he has not seen anything from the Ethics Commission regarding the complaint.

Rowell said the Board would not want to meet in violation of the law. “We wouldn’t want to do something wrong,” he said.

If posting notices of meetings makes the citizens feel more comfortable, Rowell said he is in favor of doing so. “If people think we need to give notice, I don’t have a problem with it,” said Rowell. “I work for the people, and they pay my salary.”

Rowell added that if the people don’t like what he is doing he can be voted out of office. “I want to do what’s right,” Rowell said. “I don’t have a problem with people coming to our meetings.”

The Ethics Commission has not yet made a ruling on the Open Meetings complaint. Last week, the Informer received a letter from the Ethics Commission stating that the complaint had been received. The letter states that the next step is for the complaint to be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors which will have 14 days to file a response.

After the Ethics Commission receives the response from the Board of Supervisors or if no response is received, the complaint may be dismissed or a hearing may be set.

The letter, dated July 6, closes by saying, “Your continued cooperation in this matter will be appreciated.”

Other members of the Board of Supervisors including Lloyd Fortenberry, Randy Dyess, and Board President Calvin Newsom could not be reached for comment.

 

Posted in County | 18 Responses »

No damage estimate yet on School District fire

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

Assistant Superintendent Will Russell stands in his office that was damaged in the fire.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

There is still no estimate on what it will cost to make repairs to the Marion County School District office, which caught on fire Friday.

Eddie Ray Breakfield with SouthGroup Insurance of Columbia, is the agent overseeing the claim, and he said he hopes to have an estimate this week.

Breakfield on Monday appeared before the Marion County School Board, which held its regularly scheduled meeting in the boardroom admidst the strong smell of smoke left over from the fire. The public hearing on the 2010-2011 budget was postponed until next Monday night at 6 p.m. because of the fire.

The board voted in favor of an emergency declaration, which allows the superintendent and School District business manager to make necessary repairs to the building without going through the traditional bidding process, which can be time consuming. It is unclear what the insurance deductible is.

Breakfield assured the board that even though there won’t be a bid process that citizens should know that the insurance companies are not going to award contracts to companies with high prices.

Work has already begun on getting the smell of smoke out of the building. Ceiling tiles and insulation may have to be removed to get the smoke smell out. The primary damage to the building was light to moderate smoke and water damage, with Assistant Superintendent Will Russell’s office taking the biggest hit. Russell praised the fire departments for doing an excellent job fighting the blaze. The building also suffered some damage from the fire fighting efforts in that windows had to be broken out to provide ventilation, a hole had to be cut in the roof and eaves had to be ripped down to battle the blaze.

Breakfield said the fire was started by lightning striking a radio tower on the building.

 

Posted in Fires | 5 Responses »

City worker stripped of landfill, sanitation duties

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

Columbia Mayor Reed Houston

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Columbia Board of Aldermen on Monday voted to take oversight of the landfill and sanitation departments away from one department head and give those responsibilities to another city employee.

Oversight of the landfill and sanitation department was the responsibility of Street Superintendent Rusty Rowell, but the Board voted to put those departments under the direction of Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Director Earl Turnage.

The departments were passed over to Turnage to equalize the number of employees that Rowell and Turnage oversee, Mayor Reed Houston said. Prior to the switch, Rowell was supervising about 30 employees and Turnage 11. Turnage will gain nine employees under the new system, making them have about 20 employees each.

Rowell and Turnage each make the same salary at $32,240. Turnage told the Board of Aldermen that he does not have a problem taking on the additional departments, saying, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”

However, Turnage said he thinks Rowell has a “problem” with the change. Rowell declined comment to the Marion County Informer. Turnage said Rowell does not understand why the change is taking place.

Due to personal reasons, Rowell has difficulty attending certain seminars that are necessary to be certified, Mayor Houston added.

In other business, the aldermen denied a request to waive Expo Center fees for the Marion County School District, which wants to use the facility for an August event. The city already has a policy in place that states fees will be waived by 50 percent for government agencies wishing to use the facility. The aldermen decided to stick with the policy and offer the School District half off from the regular fee.

In other business, the aldermen voted to send Municipal Court Clerk Pearlie Magee to a mandatory Mississippi Municipal Court Clerks seminar in Choctaw. The state will reimburse the expenses of the seminar, according to City Clerk Donna McKenzie.

The Board went into executive session to discuss hiring and firing in the Police Department, hiring in the Fire Department and an employee issue on the 911 Board.

 

Posted in City | 67 Responses »

July 13 Marion County Jail Docket

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

Christopher Aguero, 19, CPD, aggravated assault, felony evasion

Jenny Hibley, 18, MCSO, DUI, expired driver license, no insurance, resisting arrest

 

Posted in Jail dockets | 2 Responses »

Foxworth man charged with burglary

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

A Marion County man is charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into a residence at 127 Dunaway Road on July 1 and stealing a gold band with diamonds, a wedding band, and eight gallons of gasoline.

The homeowner told a Marion County sheriff’s deputy that entry was made through the back bedroom window. The owner said his nephew, Michael Rymarowicz of Foxworth, was one of his former employees and had a drug problem, the affidavit states.

Last Friday, Rymarowicz, 20, confessed to the Sheriff’s Office that he broke into the residence and stole the two rings and gasoline out of a lawnmower, according to the affidavit. Rymarowicz told the Sheriff’s Office said he lost the rings, the affidavit states.

 

Posted in Crime | No Responses »

Police: Man crashes into light pole after high-speed chase

Written by admin on July 13th, 2010

Christopher Aguero

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A Monday high speed chase between law enforcement and an alleged Wal-Mart shoplifter ended when the suspect crashed his vehicle into a light pole and ran into the woods where he was apprehended.

The suspect, Christopher Aguero of Foxworth, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and felony evasion in relation to the incident. According to Detective Al Preston, Aguero struck Columbia police officer Lynn Phillips in the mouth with his elbow as she was trying to take him into custody at Wal-Mart for shoplifting.

After Aguero, 19, hit officer Phillips, he ran into the Wal-Mart parking lot, got in his vehicle and drove away on Highway 98. Aguero was traveling at a high rate of speed, ran a red light and was running other motorists off the road in the incident that occurred around 7 p.m. said Preston. The chase, which included police and the Sheriff’s Office, continued onto New Hope Road in Foxworth where Aguero was allegedly still running vehicles off the road.

Aguero lost control of his vehicle and collided with a light pole, and his vehicle rolled three times, Preston said. Aguero, who was not injured, bailed out of the vehicle and ran into the woods where he was apprehended shortly after. Officer Phillips was taken to Marion General Hospital for her injury where she was treated and released, said Preston.

 

Posted in Crime | 9 Responses »

July 12 Marion County Jail Docket

Written by admin on July 12th, 2010

Crystal Igleharte, 23, CPD, driving under suspension, implied consent, careless driving, no insurance, improper equipment

Hollis Dewayne Pace, 33, CPD, domestic violence-simple assault

Rodney Terrell Beach, 33, CPD, improper equipment, driving under suspension, DUI, no insurance

Erwin Demond Burton, 30, CPD, DUI 2nd

Sedrick Bourne, 36, CPD, municipal order DUI 2nd

Tiffany Crump, 29, MDOC, probation violation

Joshua Carroll, 30, MDOC, post release violation

 

Posted in Jail dockets | No Responses »

Forestry Association wants to grow Marion County timber industry

Written by admin on July 12th, 2010

From left, Tamme Bufkin, Ottis R. Bullock and Marion County Supervisor Raymon Rowell at the Board of Supervisors meeting this morning.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Marion County needs to do a better job of capitalizing on its timber industry to create jobs, a representative from the local Forestry Association told the Board of Supervisors Monday morning.

The Marion County Forestry Association and forestry associations from surrounding counties are in the process of developing a plan to reap the economic benefits of the rich timber industry in South Mississippi.

Ottis R. Bullock, who heads up economic development for the Marion County Forestry Association, and Tamme Bufkin of Hattiesburg, who lobbies state government on behalf of the Association, spoke to the Board of Supervisors Monday morning about the plan.

The plan’s goal is to make Marion County and surrounding counties more attractive to timber industries so those jobs won’t be lost to neighboring states such as Alabama, which is beating Mississippi in terms of attracting mills, said Bufkin.

With 70 percent of Marion County’s land being timber, there is a great opportunity to improve the economy with those resources, said Bullock. There is the potential to grow three times the amount of timber here than is being grown now, Bullock noted.

Forestry is Mississippi’s No. 1 industry with a total economic impact of $14 billion to $17 billion, and more can be done to grow the business, according to Bufkin.

The Board of Supervisors can help in the development of the forestry plan by creating a list of potential sites that could accommodate timber mills. Such sites would need access to water, electricity and preferably a railroad spur.

The supervisors suggested that the 3,000-acre former Columbia Training School site would be a good location for timber industries to locate, but there is a problem in using the property because it is currently under the control of the state Department of Human Services.

Bullock and Bufkin said they would see if the Mississippi Forestry Association could leverage some influence in the state Legislature to get the Training School property turned back over to the county so the land could be used as potential timber industry sites.

Bufkin said the biggest question Mississippi’s timber industry faces is, “Where is it going?” She noted that the nation continues to turn toward the renewable energy resources of wood, solar and wind, and Mississippi has a great opportunity as being No. 3 in the United States for timber.

Some companies have decided not to establish mills in Mississippi because of a lack of tax incentives and poor infrastructure, namely roads, Bufkin said.

Other than establishing a list of potential mill sites, the plan the Forestry Association is trying to put together will include timber inventories, labor force estimates and a strategy to lure industries. Mill sites can range in size from 20 acres to 1,000 acres.

Board of Supervisors President Calvin Newsom said it is difficult to fix poor roads to attract timber companies because funding is decreasing. The state needs to establish another funding mechanism by which counties can get money to improve roads, Newsom added.

The supervisors agreed with Bufkin and Bullock that developing a plan to capitalize on the area’s timber resources is a good idea. Supervisors Lloyd Fortenberry suggested possibly using land near the new Pearl River bridge in Goss for mill sites, saying there is a rail line and electricity available.

Bullock said he will have similar meetings with neighboring counties to move the plan forward.

 

Posted in Business, County | 3 Responses »

Weekend arrests in Marion County

Written by admin on July 11th, 2010

Thomas Alan Moore, 23, CPD, public drunk

Mary Ann Cook, 30, CPD, DUI 2nd, parole violation

Gary Jon Rymarowicz, 29, CPD, careless driving, DUI Click to continue »

 

Posted in Jail dockets | No Responses »

Reader Poll

Written by admin on July 11th, 2010

Do you think the Marion County Informer does a good job reporting the news?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
 

Posted in Polls | 16 Responses »

Fire at Marion County School District office

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

Firefighters break down the front door to the Marion County School District office to gain access to the fire.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

The Marion County School District office on Highway 13 North in Columbia caught on fire Friday night but escaped destruction thanks to quick action by firefighters.

(See the photo gallery below for more pictures from the fire.)

Firefighters from several departments were on scene for several hours fighting the blaze. Smoke billowed from the southeast corner of the building, and firefighters had to break down the front door to the School District office to gain entry.

The building suffered moderate to heavy damage in the southeast corner of the building with light smoke damage throughout the rest. School District employees showed up on scene and carried computers, documents, personal belongings and other items out of the smoking building. Superintendent Ronald Fortenberry was on scene and said the primary damage was to one office, which had smoke and water damage.

People carry computers out of the School District building.

Firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof to gain access to the blaze and bust out windows to provide ventilation. Superintendent Fortenberry said witnesses reported seeing lightning strike the building. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, according to the Columbia Fire Department.

Fortenberry said it is too early to tell whether normal business operations will resume at the office on Monday. Firefighters from the Columbia Fire Department were assisted by volunteer departments from Morgantown, Foxworth and Tri-Community, and Columbia Police blocked Main Street while the fire was extinguished.

City officials including Mayor Reed Houston and Alderman Todd Pittman were on scene as was State Rep. Ken Morgan, R-Morgantown. Firefighters battled hot weather in heavy gear and stayed hydrated with bottled water.

The Hattiesburg Eye Clinic is adjacent to the School District building, and it is unclear if it suffered any damage. This is the third structure fire this week for the Columbia Fire Department with one also occurring at apartments on Barnes Street Thursday and another at a trailer on D Street on Monday.

 

 

Posted in Fires | 11 Responses »

$3,000 stolen in liquor store burglary

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

Columbia Police Detective Chris Brumfield

Columbia Police arrested a 44-year-old Columbia man today on a charge of burglary for allegedly breaking into T&S Liquor on South High School Avenue and stealing a lock box containing $3,000.

Columbia Police Detective Chris Brumfield told the Marion County Informer that the suspect, Scott Eric Scharper, was arrested at his apartment, which is next to the liquor store. The money and lock box had still not been located, Brumfield added.

Entry into the liquor store was apparently made through an adjacent building connected to the liquor store. Access to the liquor store was then made through the attic.

Two bottles of alcohol that were also stolen in the burglary have been recovered. The burglary occurred between 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:45 a.m. this morning. Brumfield said Scharper is an ex-employee of the store who was fired last week.

 

Posted in Crime | 1 Response »

July 8 Marion County Jail Docket

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

Scott Eric Scharper, 44, CPD, burglary

Charles E. Abrams III, 29, MCSO, grand larceny

Dorthy Fairley, 29, MCSO, aggravated assault

Michael Rymarowicz, 20, Pearl River Basin Narcotics Task Force, manufacturing a controlled substance, burglary of occupied dwelling

Randy Conerly, 51, MCSO< DUI, expired tag, driving under suspension

Martin Farr, 19, MCSO, DUI, careless driving

Brittany Stringer, 21, MCSO, DUI, possession of paraphernalia

Roger Johnson, 31, MCSO, grand jury indictment, bad check

James Christopher Neal, 36, MCSO, felony malicious mischief

 

Posted in Jail dockets | No Responses »

Sandy Hook man charged with statutory rape

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

Jeramie Aikens

A Sandy Hook man is being held in Marion County Jail on $100,000 bond for a charge of statutory rape.

The suspect, Jeramie Aikens, 32,225 Mt. Carmel Church Road, allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old girl on Jan. 16, 2010, according to the affidavit. The victim was interviewed at the South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center in February and disclosed that she and Aikens had sex, the affidavit states.

Aikens was arrested June 30 by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Posted in Crime, Justice Court | 2 Responses »

Columbia gas prices in line with state average

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

Each week the Marion County Informer provides a breakdown of local gas prices compared to the state and national average.

Fuel prices at most Columbia gas stations are in line or below the state average today.

The state average for a gallon of unleaded today is $2.51 and prices in Columbia are ranging between $2.49 and $2.53. Only one Columbia station, Exxon on Highway 98, was above the state average with the $2.53 price. The national average for unleaded is $2.71 per gallon.

Here is a list of prices from local stations:

Highway 13 North Shell: $2.51

Burkett’s Grocery on Highway 13 North: $2.49

Sunny’s on Broad Street: $2.49

High School Avenue Shell: $2.51

U.S. 98 Kangaroo: $2.49

Foxworth BP: $2.51

Highway 98 Shell: $2.51

Wal-Mart: $2.49

Highway 98 Exxon: $2.53

Highway 98 Texaco: $2.51

 

Posted in Business | 4 Responses »

Correction: Budget was not for MCDP

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

The Marion County Informer reported on Wednesday that Board of Supervisors President Calvin Newsom has refused to release a copy of the Marion County Development Partnership’s budget.

The Informer received a letter from MCDP President Jerry Frazier today asking that the article be corrected. Frazier said the MCDP is a private non-profit organization and does not submit its budget to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

Frazier asked that the Informer clarify and apologize for the article, saying the budget Newsom was refusing to release was likely for the Marion County Economic Development District.

Newsom said today that the budget he was refusing to release was for the Marion County Economic Development District, not the MCDP. The Wednesday Informer article also stated that the MCDP received $359,000 from Marion County, but Frazier said that is not true either. The Informer received that dollar figure from the county.

Prior to running the story, the Marion County Informer attempted to reach Frazier for comment, but he was out of the office.

When Newsom refused to release the budget, the Marion County Informer filed a public records request with County Attorney Joe Shepard for the document. The Informer will file a revised records request for the MCEDD budget.

 

Posted in Corrections | 15 Responses »

Clarification to Columbia School District story

Written by admin on July 9th, 2010

In a Thursday Marion County Informer story about the Columbia School District budget it was reported that the county’s assessed value decreased by $359,000. Only the city School District’s portion of the assessed value decreased by $359,000. The assessed value for the county as a whole is down $2,286,844 for 2010-2011.

 

Posted in Corrections | No Responses »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »