| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Parchman prison. Jan. 10, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Mississippi Department of Corrections cancels prison visitation to prevent spread of COVID

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:36 PM

Visitation at all Mississippi Department of Corrections prisons has been suspended, Commissioner Burl Cain said in an internal memo Monday.

Crossing the century mark

sfairchild

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:27 PM

Wenona Hill Moorehead crossed the century mark on her birthday on July 13.
The 100-year-old Simpson County native was born in the D’Lo hospital in 1921, the middle child to her parents, Red and Hattie Hill.
D’Lo was a booming town during those days, thanks to the Finkbine Lumber Company. Moorehead spent the early years of her childhood just north of D’Lo in the Piney Woods community. Her family moved back to D’Lo when she was 11 years old due to the Great Depression.

Happy 103rd!

sfairchild

Tue, 07/27/2021 - 01:25 PM

Hey, Mr. Charlie, you sure are looking good!
On Thursday, July 29, Charlie Dixon will celebrate his 103rd birthday at his home out near the Shivers community in Simpson County.

MDA announces second round of V-Quad grants for technology ventures

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Tue, 07/27/2021 - 11:30 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Development Authority:

The Mississippi Development Authority invites qualified teams that are developing new products or services in the energy and agriculture technologies to participate in the “Pitch in the V-Quad” competition to be held on Aug. 26.

Students participate in class during the first day of school at Neshoba County Central Middle School on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

Teachers union calls on Reeves to mandate masks in schools

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Mon, 07/26/2021 - 01:48 PM

The state’s teachers union is calling on Gov. Tate Reeves to mandate masks in schools in the fall.

The Mississippi Association of Educators cited the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the state’s low vaccination rate and reports of children with the virus in the intensive care unit in a letter to Reeves on Monday.

Annalyn Swan is an official panelist in this year’s Mississippi Book Festival on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy Annalyn Swan.

‘The more quirky and eccentric the person, the better’: How Annalyn Swan fell in love with biographical writing

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Mon, 07/26/2021 - 09:18 AM

‘It’s not an individual decision’: Parents sound off on mask, vaccine requirements in schools

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Fri, 07/23/2021 - 05:24 PM

Florance Bass of Brandon kept her kindergarten son home last year.

Nicholas, who has Down syndrome and a repaired congenital heart defect, wasn’t able to participate in virtual school because of vision issues, but he did receive about one hour of instruction a day via Zoom.

Bass was determined to get her son back in a school building this year as he repeats kindergarten. But the rise of the Delta variant, recent surge in COVID-19 cases and woefully undervaccinated status of the state has her increasingly concerned — and angry —for her high-risk child.

Baeuerle chosen senator

sfairchild

Wed, 07/21/2021 - 08:08 AM

Andy Baeuerle, an incoming senior at Magee High School, has been selected as a senator for American Legion Boys Nation in the Washington, D.C. area, July 23-30.
Boys Nation is an annual American Legion program that includes civic training, leadership development and a focus on Americanism. Baeuerle served as Commissioner of Agriculture at Mississippi Boys State, which had roughly 250 participants.

State releases COVID-19 guidelines for K-12 school year

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Mon, 07/19/2021 - 10:24 AM

The Mississippi Department of Health on Friday released COVID-19 guidelines for K-12 schools for next school year, including recommendations for masks for unvaccinated students, teachers and staff and social distancing of 3 feet when possible.

Dr. LouAnn Woodward, the vice chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, at a press conference at UMMC. Credit: UMMC Communications

‘This is the right thing to do’: UMMC will require employees, students receive the COVID-19 vaccine

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Fri, 07/16/2021 - 05:18 PM

The University of Mississippi Medical Center announced a new vaccination policy on Thursday that will eventually require, with limited exceptions, employees and students to get fully vaccinated after the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines receive full authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

MSDH releases K-12 COVID Guidance for 2021-2022 School Year

brandonsup

Fri, 07/16/2021 - 05:06 PM

Below is a press release from Mississippi Department of Health:

Friday, MSDH is releasing updated Public Health Guidance for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Mississippi K-12 settings for the 2021-2022 school year – consistent with CDC guidelines.

Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health Guidance:

Zach New, left, and his mother Nancy New exit the Cochran federal courthouse on March 18, 2021, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Feds add charges for Nancy and Zach New in alleged education fraud scheme

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Fri, 07/16/2021 - 10:36 AM

A federal grand jury entered a new indictment in the case of Nancy and Zach New on Tuesday, doubling the amount that the mother-son owners of a Mississippi private school district are accused of stealing from federal education funds.

The indictment, released on Thursday, replaces an earlier one from March.

Students wear face masks as they sit in a classroom on the first day of school at Neshoba County Central Middle School, Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

Without statewide orders, Mississippi schools to set their own COVID policies as cases surge

brandonsup

Thu, 07/15/2021 - 05:24 PM

As infections continue to increase and in some cases hospitalize children, Mississippi schools are grappling with what COVID-19 restrictions, if any, should be made for the upcoming school year.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs recently expressed his concerns about a “surge of cases in kids” as a result of the spread of the Delta variant. This week seven minors were hospitalized after becoming infected with the variant, and the state on Wednesday saw its highest single-day caseload since March.

Without statewide orders, Mississippi schools to set their own COVID policies as cases surge

brandonsup

Thu, 07/15/2021 - 05:24 PM

As infections continue to increase and in some cases hospitalize children, Mississippi schools are grappling with what COVID-19 restrictions, if any, should be made for the upcoming school year.

State Board of Education sets policies to resume in-person schooling as primary teaching mode

brandonsup

Thu, 07/15/2021 - 04:36 PM

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

The SBE policies will help districts safely open schools in the fall.

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) passed two policies that call for all school districts to resume in-person instruction as the primary mode of teaching starting in the 2021-22 school year. The policies set requirements for districts that choose to offer a virtual learning option to individual students and establish standards for virtual learning days.

Mississippi Congressional Campaign Reporting Points to 2022 Mid-Term Challenges

brandonsup

Thu, 07/15/2021 - 10:12 AM

The 4th Congressional District will not be the only race to watch next year after all.

Thus far, the mid-term attention in Mississippi has been on the 4th Congressional District where incumbent Congressman Steven Palazzo is likely to face a number of primary challengers as well as potential general election opponents in 2022. This is due, in large part, to the ongoing ethics inquiry that is pending in the U.S. House related to the use of campaign funds, leading some to believe the six term Republican could be vulnerable.

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn speaks during the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America

Speaker Philip Gunn struggles to garner support for income tax-sales tax swap

brandonsup

Wed, 07/14/2021 - 10:12 AM

So far, no Mississippi statewide elected leader or major business or policy group has fully endorsed Speaker Philip Gunn's plan to eliminate the individual income tax and increase other taxes.

As he tours the state selling his plan to eliminate Mississippi’s individual income tax and increase sales taxes, House Speaker Philip Gunn utters a common refrain: “No one has really been able to tell me why from a policy standpoint it’s a bad idea … From a policy standpoint, no one’s been able to poke a hole in it.”

Magee Lions Club installs officers for the upcoming year

sfairchild

Wed, 07/14/2021 - 09:03 AM

The Magee Lions Club met this week and installed new officers for the upcoming year. In most cases they were repeating their positions from the previous year because of Covid-91. From left, Dale Berry, director; Randy Moore, greeter; Gerald Regel, club communicator; Rhuel Dickinson, second vice president; Ian Cowart, president; John Mark Williams, treasurer; James Smith, secretary; Tommy Meador, site chairman; Tom Duncan, first vice president; Pat Brown, director; Dr. Rudy Runnels, tail twister; Dr.

The Simpson County School Board held their regular monthly meeting on July 8 which marked the first meeting for new School Superintendent Dr. Toriano Holloway. Holloway plans to host a meet and greet in Magee, Mendenhall, and Simpson Central in the near future. At the meeting, from left, are Dr. Toriano Holloway, attorney Wesla Sullivan Leech and board members Stacy Herrington, Patrice Boykin, Danny Cowart, Stanley Bulger, and Lillie Hardy.

Holloway at helm of school district

sfairchild

Wed, 07/14/2021 - 08:32 AM

The Simpson County School Board held their regular monthly board meeting on July 8, which marked the first meeting for new School Superintendent Dr. Toriano Holloway.
Dr. Holloway plans to host a meet-and-greet soon in the communities of Simpson County.
Mendenhall High School was recognized for receiving the 2020-2021 ACAC School of Excellence Award given to schools that have done exemplary work in helping students pursue a college education.

Maddox vies for state DYW

sfairchild

Wed, 07/14/2021 - 08:26 AM

Megan Maddox, Distinguished Young Woman of Simpson County, will be one of 29 Mississippi high school seniors competing for more than $28,900 in college scholarships when the 2022 Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Program gets under way Thursday, July 22, in Meridian.

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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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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?

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