| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

Mississippi’s largest school district ignored passionate pleas for mask requirement, emails show

Thu, 11/11/2021 - 02:06 PM

During Mississippi’s deadliest stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic in August and September, the state’s largest school district received emotional pleas from parents and even a student to implement a mask mandate in its schools.

The DeSoto County School District, from July 28 to Sept. 30, heard from dozens of parents and community members asking for a mask mandate, according to emails obtained by Mississippi Today through a public records request.

MDE: State Board of Education to Hold Regularly Scheduled Meeting Via Livestream

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Thu, 11/11/2021 - 11:42 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

A live-streamed State Board of Education meeting will be held on Friday, November 12th.

WHO: Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE)

WHAT: The SBE will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting via livestream only to limit contact due to COVID-19.

WHEN: 10 a.m. Friday, November 12, 2021

Forty Nine North Boutique has ribbon cutting

sfairchild

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 02:39 PM

The Magee Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome Forty Nine North Boutique to the area. Located at 1588 Simpson Highway 49 North in Magee, the business is owned by Jose and Mandy Perdomo and is the third business they have opened in Magee. Perdomo said the vision of the boutique is to have “big city style meet small town value.”

Cottontail Specialties has ribbon cutting

sfairchild

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 02:36 PM

Cottontail Specialties was welcomed to Magee by the Magee Chamber of Commerce. Cottontail Specialties is a specialty shop located at 408 11th Avenue SW Magee, MS. The shop showcases açaí bowls, gelato, smoothies, baked goods and coffee. Tina Wade, Janice Ates, and Kali Massey celebrated during the ribbon cutting for the new business.

Dr. Wyatt assumes pastorate at Corinth

sfairchild

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 02:33 PM

Dr. Adam Wyatt, his wife Laurie and their three daughters recently moved to Magee, where he began his pastorate of Corinth Baptist Church.
Wyatt, 39, grew up the only son of an Air Force veteran and pastor, in an atmosphere of faith. He was born in South Dakota but travelled the US and abroad before his family moved to the Carthage, Mississippi area when he was in the 6th grade. While Wyatt has had experiences elsewhere he states that Mississippi is definitely home.

Running with the Special Olympics torch into Boswell’s campus recently as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run are from left: Magee Police Officer Mike Grubbs, Magee Police Chief Chris Jones, Simpson County Deputy Mark Herrin and Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins. A ceremony honoring the athletes and officers was held on Boswell’s campus before the torch moved on to another location enroute to the Fall Games at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg.

Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run

sfairchild

Wed, 11/10/2021 - 09:05 AM

A student walks to class on Mississippi Valley State University's campus in Itta Bena. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

More states are increasing focus on need-based financial aid. Not Mississippi.

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Tue, 11/09/2021 - 05:06 PM

In 2018, Georgia lawmakers voted to create the state’s first financial aid program specifically for working-class students. A year later, a higher education board in Utah redistributed millions of dollars in financial aid to prioritize students who couldn’t afford college on their own.

MDE: Families of kindergarten – 3rd grade students invited to regional literacy meetings across state

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Mon, 11/08/2021 - 02:18 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

Today, The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) kicks off a series of eight regional literacy meetings across the state for families of students in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Got a 17 on your ACT? Mark Keenum doesn’t want you at Mississippi State

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Thu, 11/04/2021 - 04:18 PM

A little-known education board that oversees college financial aid in Mississippi has recently proposed a drastic overhaul of the state’s existing programs.

In lieu of three separate programs, the Post-Secondary Board put forward a single program called the “Mississippi One Grant” that would award financial aid based on a student’s income and ACT score.

VFW Post 9122 gives to Fire Department

sfairchild

Wed, 11/03/2021 - 09:12 AM

VFW Auxiluary Post 9122 members, Elaine Tanksley and Glenda Lucky, presented a check for $200.00 to Magee Fire Dept. representative, Phillip Magee, to help fund the the Veteran's Day Program on November 11th.

VFW Post 9122 gives to homeless

sfairchild

Wed, 11/03/2021 - 09:09 AM

VFW Auxiluary Post 9122 Simpson County presented bags for the homeless to Lori King with the Mendenhall Police Dept. , Sheriff Paul Mullins at Simpson County Sheriff's Office and officers Green and Burkett with Magee Police Dept. Representing the VFW Auxiluary is Glenda Lucky and community volunteer, Loree Lucky Clark. Thanks to all who helped with supplies for the bags.

Grayson McNeil Mrs. MS 2021

sfairchild

Wed, 11/03/2021 - 09:07 AM

Grayson Taylor Green McNeil is the new Mrs. Mississippi 2021.
Grayson was born and raised in Mississippi. Her parents are Brad and Jennifer Green. She graduated from Mize High School in 2017. Grayson continued her education with full scholarships to Pearl River Community College, where she received an associate’s degree in 2019. She then competed the Cosmetology Program at Jones College in 2020 and is now employed as a cosmetologist at The Hair Bar in Magee.

Charter school operators and advocates unhappy with new performance framework

stevewilson

Tue, 11/02/2021 - 02:18 PM

Despite unified opposition to new regulations that govern accountability, the Mississippi Charter Authorizer Board is set to approve them at its next board meeting on November 8.

SCSD Employee Awarded Grant from Mississippi Professional Educators

sfairchild

Mon, 11/01/2021 - 09:17 AM

Stephanie Hubbard, an English Language Arts Instructional Coach for Simpson County School District, was recently selected as a recipient of a competitive grant from the Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE).
Selected among 66 applicants, Hubbard was one of 44 finalists to be chosen for a 2021-2022 MPE Classroom Grant Award, for up to $40,000, to enhance classroom instructional offerings or educational experiences for students.

Ribbon Cutting Celebration held for Home Care Hospice

sfairchild

Wed, 10/27/2021 - 02:32 PM

Members of the Magee Chamber Board turned out last Thursday to celebrate the opening of Home Care Hospice, one of only a few that are based in Mississippi. Chuck Parish is the administrator, and Raymond Jefcoat from Simpson County is their chaplin. They can be reached at (601)909-6105. Lee Maddox, Chamber President, presented them with a certificate of membership to the Magee Chamber.

State Fair Food

Christi

Wed, 10/27/2021 - 01:48 PM

The State Fair may be gone, but the smells of the delicious “Fair” food linger in my mind. The Mississippi State Fair signals the start of another fall season. It almost always comes with a much needed cool front for part of the week. I always go for the pig races, the petting zoo and the food. Don’t get me wrong, I also love the rides, and I am a “wristband kind of girl” so I can ride all the rides for one price. The games are fun but we have never really won anything except one fish and I think he was dead before we got home.

Early Dismissal for Simpson County Schools

sfairchild

Wed, 10/27/2021 - 11:12 AM

Due to the potential for inclement weather all Simpson County Schools will dismiss at 2pm today!! Please be weather aware!

Mendenhall roundtable discussion has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9.

sfairchild

Wed, 10/27/2021 - 08:50 AM

Cleveland School District Superintendent Otha Belcher welcomes Pearman Elementary 5th grade students on their first day back to class Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

‘It starts at the head’: Cleveland community questions its schools’ leadership

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Tue, 10/26/2021 - 04:06 PM

As students, educators and parents adjust to the newly consolidated Cleveland Public School District, what began as rumblings of discontent with the new administration has escalated into a movement.

Mississippi Today spoke with more than a dozen parents and current and former employees about their concerns, which range from what they say is a lack of transparency, incompetence and irresponsible spending on the part of the administration and the school board. The administration says the community is just resistant to change.

Alyssa Payne named Queen

sfairchild

Tue, 10/26/2021 - 02:45 PM

Alyssa Payne, center, was named the 2021 Magee High School Homecoming Queen Friday night. Alyssa was crowned by 2020 queen Vyronyca Lee. The pair is joined by Principal Bill Broadhead.

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April 16, 2026

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Do you agree with the Mississippi State Board of Education's decsion to no longer require the U.S. History State Test?

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Magee, 39111, MS

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April 16, 2026

The Source

Community Polls

Do you agree with the Mississippi State Board of Education's decsion to no longer require the U.S. History State Test?

If you had to listen to only one genre of music for the rest of life, which would you prefer?

Current Temp

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