| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

The Source - Pinola School Auditorium morphs into Community Center

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 08:37 AM

Pinola High School Auditorium recently underwent a name change to Pinola Community Center. Signage has arrived and is ready for placement…once a cherry picker is located to do the heavy lifting.
Renovations to the old auditorium began in earnest around 2000 under the guidance of Truitt Grubbs and the Pinola Historical Society. Two years ago society board president Charles Slater believed a change was in order to reflect the building’s availability county wide, not just to Pinola proper.

The Source - Hard work, drive and ability land Hall at the top

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sfairchild

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 08:23 AM

Hard work pays off. Just ask Dana Hall, Vice President of Operations with Russell Restaurants in Magee, MS.
Hall grew up in Mendenhall and graduated from Mendenhall High School in 1999. She will be the first to willingly say that her childhood was less than ideal. After graduation, she attended Jones Junior College for a year but returned home when she discovered that she was expecting a baby.

The Source - James Harper is a man who ‘dearly loves’ D’Lo and his heritage

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sfairchild

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 08:10 AM

D’Lo, MS native James Harper is a quiet man with a gentle spirit. Now 68, he says he was not always that way but learned to be so as life went on.
Harper lives across the railroad tracks on South Oak but grew up on North Oak. He lives in a modest house he built himself with the help of friends. He poured the slab in 1999 and completed the work in 2000.

Honoring Veterans - Jamie Jackson

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sfairchild

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 09:15 AM

*This is the third in a series of articles recognizing Simpson County’s veterans.

Books at the 7-9 age table at the Reading at the Park event in Cleveland, Miss., where organizers were intentional about buying books that feature Black characters and leaders, May 14, 2022. Credit: Julia James/Mississippi Today

‘Mississippi marathon’ continues: 85% of third-graders pass reading test

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:50 PM

The latest results of Mississippi’s third-grade reading test show no dramatic declines in student performance. But they show no significant gains, either.

Since 2021-22, the first year of student data after the pandemic, the share of students passing the assessment — including the initial test and any retest — has hovered around 85%.

Estes: Mississippi should double down as an education innovator

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:42 PM

Below is a political opinion column by Hunter Estes:

Hunter Estes says when Mississippi families can vote with their feet, or with their wallets, education becomes a market of ideas, not centralized government control.

Third grade reading assessment pass rate climbs in Mississippi

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:32 PM

After all retests were administered, the Mississippi Dept. of Education reported that 85 percent of all third graders passed the assessment during the 2024-2025 school year, an increase of a full percentage point.

A growing number of Mississippi third grade students passed their reading assessment tests in 2025.

The Mississippi Department of Education reported on Thursday that 77.3 percent of third grade students in the state passed their reading assessment on the first try.

The legislative school choice subcommittee meets before a packed room at the state Capitol, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Smith: Teacher of the Year - Don’t derail Mississippi’s education momentum with vouchers and ‘choice’

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 03:28 PM

Below is an opinion column by Louise Smith:

Editor’s note: This essay is part of Mississippi Today Ideas, a platform for thoughtful Mississippians to share fact-based ideas about our state’s past, present and future. You can read more about the section here.

Okolona school district placed into District of Transformation over fiscal mismanagement

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:40 PM

MDE said the move comes as a result of serious financial impairments that threaten the district’s ability to provide students with an adequate and stable educational environment.

Okolona Municipal Separate School District has been placed into a District of Transformation by the Mississippi Department of Education.

MDE said the move comes as a result of serious financial impairments that threaten the district’s ability to provide students with an adequate and stable educational environment.

The Central High School Building, which houses the Mississippi Department of Education, is pictured here in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

State takes over Okolona schools again

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Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:32 PM

Mississippi Department of Education officials say problems including financial mismanagement and accreditation violations merit an emergency response. Okolona schools were under conservatorship from 2010 to 2012.

The Okolona Municipal Separate School District is under state control for the second time in 15 years.

Leaders in the town that helped elect House Speaker Jason White just voted ‘no’ to school choice

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Thu, 11/13/2025 - 12:08 PM

House Speaker Jason White continues to champion school choice at the state Capitol, but some of his constituents aren’t so sure about the policies.

The Kosciusko Board of Aldermen adopted an anti-school choice resolution on Tuesday night, breaking from their representative and the set of proposals that White, a Republican, is aggressively pushing. Kosciusko, 70 miles north of Jackson, is the largest city in White’s district, which encompasses parts of Attala, Carroll, Holmes and Leake counties, and it’s where his law office is located.

The Source - Renaissance Man Richard Dean brings talents to Simpson County

sfairchild

Tue, 11/11/2025 - 01:04 PM

Some people would call Richard Dean a Renaissance Man, defined as someone who has many interests and talents and is an expert in several fields.
Dean, 64, is a police officer on the campus of Co-Lin Simpson Center. He found his way to Simpson County through a long and winding road beginning in 1981, when he left Southern California.

Sewing circle fills shoeboxes

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sfairchild

Tue, 11/11/2025 - 12:38 PM

Three years ago Maxine Shows says she followed her heart in obedience to the Lord when she and the ladies of Liz’s Sewing Circle said yes to revive the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry at Goodwater Baptist Church.
The first year the members assembled and delivered 50 boxes to the distribution center, Corinth Baptist Church. This year their goal is to match the 150 boxes from 2024.

Shop Local this Holiday Season

sfairchild

Tue, 11/11/2025 - 11:54 AM

Honoring Veterans - Leo Windham

sfairchild

Tue, 11/11/2025 - 11:45 AM

*This is the second in a series of articles honoring veterans in Simpson County.

Students walk across the Mississippi State University campus in Starkville, Miss., on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Student enrollment is up for most of Mississippi’s public universities, including Delta State and The W

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Mon, 11/10/2025 - 01:22 PM

Delta State University and Mississippi University for Women credit growth to recruitment, retention and affordability.

Seven of eight public universities in Mississippi see enrollment growth

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Tue, 11/04/2025 - 01:14 PM

Alcorn State University was the only institution to show a decrease in enrollment, down 3.2 percent over the year.

Every public university except one in the state of Mississippi experienced enrollment growth over the last year, with the largest growth by percentage seen at the Mississippi University for Women.

On average, the entire system under the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning saw enrollment increase by 2.7 percent from 79,817 in 2024 to 81,961 in 2025.

IHL: Board of Trustees to Hold Virtual Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, November 5

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Tue, 11/04/2025 - 11:32 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning:

Jackson State University holds an on-campus listening session for students, faculty, staff and alumni to offer opinions about the next JSU president, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Jackson State community opens up about what they want to see in their next leader

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Tue, 11/04/2025 - 10:38 AM

Stakeholders say they hope the next historically Black university president addresses student housing and campus safety issues.

Akenya Woods, a freshman from Chicago studying sports journalism, doesn’t want to transfer from Jackson State University. But, unhealthy living conditions there have left her wondering if she may have to.

Governor Reeves orders reestablishment of Presidential Fitness Test in Mississippi schools

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Tue, 11/04/2025 - 10:34 AM

The governor’s order follows a July executive order from President Donald Trump reinstituting the fitness test.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) has issued Executive Order to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test for elementary, middle and high school students across the Magnolia State.

The governor’s order comes after President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order that reestablished the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and reinstituted the Presidential Fitness Test.

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