Headlines – 9/9/2003

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 9, 2003

By Editor

Panolian Headlines: September 9, 2003

For complete stories, pick up the 9/9/03  issue of The Panolian

Fire Claims Sardis Child’s Life
Father Burned Rescuing Two Children;
Can’t Get Third Out
    
A smoky haze filled the air after firefighters put out an apartment fire in Sardis that claimed the life of a 3-year-old and left her father with burns on his arms.
    

BY JASON C MATTOX
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Despite a father’s best efforts, his 3-year-old daughter perished Monday as result of an early morning apartment fire.

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The fire that started in the apartment claimed the life of Aiaesha Lester, State Fire Investigator Chuck Moore said.

A sheriff’s investigator was on the scene but repeated calls placed by a reporter to the Panola County Sheriff’s Department for information were not returned.

According to Moore, a call went in to the Sardis Volunteer Fire Department at about 8:15 a.m. and the fire at an apartment on Atkins Street was extinguished by 8:30 a.m.

Sardis Police Chief Sonny Stepp said at press time he is not sure of any details other than the one death.
    

Ousted Supervisor Says Lack of Paving in His District Contributed to His Defeat
    
BY JASON C MATTOX
SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Defeated Supervisor Dennis Lott expressed his dismay that no roads were paved in his district this budget year – a fact he says contributed to his election loss.

The comments came during Monday’s meeting in which Panola County Road Manager Lygunnah Bean gave the Board of Supervisors an update on road conditions and the near end to the traditional "paving season."

Bean said every district, except District Five, had some amount of roads paved.
    

Police Building Job Starts
    
Preliminary work is under way at the Batesville Police Department where a $201,897 addition will get under construction this month.

The contract was recently awarded to the low bidder, Jackson Construction of Grenada. The project architect is Jones-Zander Ltd. of Grenada.

The project will include 10 new offices and a training room, said Police Chief Roger Vanlandingham.

"We really do need this addition," the chief said. "We have people walking over one another … working three and four to an office."
To make room for the construction, the motorcycle building has been moved, a tree will come down and the 50-foot radio tower will be relocated on site.

Other bidders were Kenneth Thompson – $219,200; Wagner General Construction – $221,500; Panola Construction – $223,954 and Gray Little Contractor – $236,000.
    

City Crime, Other Stats
    
Batesville police officers issued 86 non-DUI tickets, made one DUI arrest during August and worked 39 accidents including five with injuries.

Other statistics include:
Adult arrests – 28
Juvenile arrests – 6
Public drunk arrests – 1
Funeral escorts – 6
Grand larceny offenses – 8
Petit larceny offenses – 12
Shoplifting – 4
Assaults – 18
Domestic violence offenses – 7
Statutory rape offenses – 1
Total vehicles unlocked – 81
Sexual battery – 1

The total value of property stolen during the month was $22,076. The value of property recovered was $236.
 
   

A two-car collision on Highway 51 across from the Family Dollar parking lot resulted in one being injured early Monday afternoon. The person was taken by ambulance to Tri-Lakes Medical Center. The extent of injuries was unknown at press time.
    
Sheriff’s Report
    
All information is taken from the open records of the Panola County Sheriff’s Department records. An arrest does not mean a conviction. All individuals are innocent until proven guilty. Names will not be left out of the records upon request. If a name appears in the arrest logs, it will appear in The Panolian.

Sept. 5
Justin White, 2181 Liberty Hill Rd., Courtland, was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Tonya Davis, 2634 East Lake Blvd., Tunica, was arrested and charged with grand larceny. The case will be heard in Circuit Court.

Suzanne Welch, 2210 Church St., Oxford, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. The case will be heard in Sardis Municipal Court.

Eddie Leurson Jr., 2737 Harmon Hill Cir., Senatobia, was arrested and charged with improper equipment, DUI and driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Como Municipal Court.

Sept. 6
Maurice Daniels, no address given, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

John Henderson, 641 Garfield St., Clarksdale, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Letorico Martinez, Batesville, was arrested and charged with DUI, careless driving and possession of marijuana. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Linwood Nixon, 6526 Lost Oak, Memphis, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended and no proof of insurance. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Willie Campbell, 2167 Springport Rd., Sardis, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Diane Valentine, 217 Pearson St., Batesville, was arrested and charged with public drunk. The case will be heard in Batesville Municipal Court.

Brian Harris, 628 Rice Bell Rd., Bellwood, Ill., was arrested and charged with DUI and improper driver’s license. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Robert Webb, 15412 Ballentine Rd., Sardis, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Larry Johnson, 132 Charles Berry Rd., Senatobia, was arrested and charged with DUI and driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Derek Sanders, 1558 Mallory Rd., Memphis, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Wesley Fondren, 8320 S. Carpenter St., Chicago, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Willie Haymon, 2310 Shady Lane, Pickens, was arrested and charged with DUI. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Leon Rowell, 620 Rowell Rd., Coldwater, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Sept. 7
Annie Blackburn, 104 Patton Ln., Batesville, was arrested and charged with public drunk. The case will be heard in Justice Court.

Ronnie Robertson, Old Panola Rd., Sardis, was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended, DUI and possession of marijuana.
    

 

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