Mississippi election commissioners on Wednesday removed all four Reform Party candidates from the November congressional ballot because of questions about the state party's leadership.
The candidates have until next Tuesday to appeal their removal. They are Barbara Dale Washer in the 1st District, Ashley Norwood in the 2nd, Tracella Lou O'Hara Hill in the 3rd and Anna Jewel Revies in the 4th.
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says their qualifying papers were submitted by Thomas Randolph Huffmaster, who called himself chairman of the Reform Party of Mississippi.
Hosemann says his office has a sworn statement from the national Reform chairman that Huffmaster was not state chairman and didn't have the authority to submit candidates' names.
CL
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The University of Mississippi Medical Center Joins The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society In Fundraising Efforts
The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and The Cancer Institute at The University of Mississippi Medical Center have formed a walking team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night fundraising walk.
The “HEME” team is made up of nurses and doctors who are making One Thousand Paper Cranes to help raise awareness and support critical funding for cancer research. The idea came to them when they heard the story about a little Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, who was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age. She spent her time in a nursing home folding paper cranes in hope of making a thousand, which supposedly would have allowed her to make one wish - to live. Following suit, the HEME team has their wish - Cure Cancer!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk brings hope to patients like Sadako all over Mississippi. Light The Night is a two-mile evening fundraising walk to celebrate and honor lives touched by cancer. Teams gather and walk in twilight, holding illuminated balloons—white for survivors and red for supporters.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Trustmark Park will be the place to be for the 12th annual Light the Night Walk-- food and family entertainment will be provided for all. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be food and festivities and you won’t want to miss the line-up of entertainment for the program at 7:00 p.m. There are no fitness level requirements, so everyone can participate! Help raise funds to enhance, prolong, and save lives. To register, or for more information, call 601-956-7447 or visit www.lightthenight.org/msla
To volunteer, or for more information about Light The Night, contact the Mississippi Office of the Mississippi / Louisiana Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (601) 956-7447 or http://www.lightthenight.org/.
This year, the State of Mississippi, with the endorsement of Governor Haley Barbour, has adopted a resolution designating September as Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month in the state of Mississippi.
“Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase the public’s understanding of blood cancers and encourage people to support the funding of research to find cures and education programs to help patients have the best possible outcomes throughout their cancer experience,” said Lisa Alejandre, Executive Director for the MSLA Chapter of LLS. “With this in mind, we encourage everyone to come out on Saturday, September 25th at Trustmark Park and take part in our annual Light The Night fundraiser walk,” states Alejandre.
The “HEME” team is made up of nurses and doctors who are making One Thousand Paper Cranes to help raise awareness and support critical funding for cancer research. The idea came to them when they heard the story about a little Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, who was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age. She spent her time in a nursing home folding paper cranes in hope of making a thousand, which supposedly would have allowed her to make one wish - to live. Following suit, the HEME team has their wish - Cure Cancer!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk brings hope to patients like Sadako all over Mississippi. Light The Night is a two-mile evening fundraising walk to celebrate and honor lives touched by cancer. Teams gather and walk in twilight, holding illuminated balloons—white for survivors and red for supporters.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Trustmark Park will be the place to be for the 12th annual Light the Night Walk-- food and family entertainment will be provided for all. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be food and festivities and you won’t want to miss the line-up of entertainment for the program at 7:00 p.m. There are no fitness level requirements, so everyone can participate! Help raise funds to enhance, prolong, and save lives. To register, or for more information, call 601-956-7447 or visit www.lightthenight.org/msla
To volunteer, or for more information about Light The Night, contact the Mississippi Office of the Mississippi / Louisiana Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (601) 956-7447 or http://www.lightthenight.org/.
This year, the State of Mississippi, with the endorsement of Governor Haley Barbour, has adopted a resolution designating September as Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month in the state of Mississippi.
“Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase the public’s understanding of blood cancers and encourage people to support the funding of research to find cures and education programs to help patients have the best possible outcomes throughout their cancer experience,” said Lisa Alejandre, Executive Director for the MSLA Chapter of LLS. “With this in mind, we encourage everyone to come out on Saturday, September 25th at Trustmark Park and take part in our annual Light The Night fundraiser walk,” states Alejandre.
Another Jackson County Embezzlement Charge Investigation By Auditor Pickering Results In An Arrest
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| State Auditor Stacey Pickering, center, speaks at a press event Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagola with Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence, left, and Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd. |
Former court clerk Diehl surrenders to police
Former Pascagoula court clerk Rhonda Diehl surrendered to authorities after being indicted on three counts of embezzlement, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said this morning.
A city employee for 25 years, Diehl is accused of stealing a total of $17,175 over a three-year period while serving as the city's court clerk. She resigned in January, Pascagoula Police Chief Kenny Johnson said, at the conclusion of their investigation.
The city began an internal investigation after noticing irregularities in the city court funds. They called on Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence and State Auditor Stacey Pickering to assist in the investigation, which ultimately led to authorities identifying Diehl as a suspect.
The city, Johnson said, has since put in place additional precautionary measures to "quickly" detect any type of embezzlement involving city funds.
As for Diehl's arrest, Johnson said, "it's a shame."
SH
A report this morning on yesterday's arrest in the Mississippi Press said:
There are two other pending embezzlement cases in Jackson County.Sounds like we can expect at least one more arrest, and another very big feather for the Auditor's cap.
One involves two suspects and an undisclosed amount of misappropriated money from the Jackson County Fair Commission, which Pickering said he could not comment on because the investigation was ongoing. The missing funds were discovered in August 2009.
Lack of arrest in Madison County Teacher's crash upsets victim's family
The parents of a Madison County teacher who was killed in a head-on collision this month are questioning why no one has been arrested in the case.
"My husband has called the police several times," Bobbie Ward said Monday. "They just say they haven't finished the investigation."
Ward's daughter, Madison-Ridgeland Academy teacher Leigh Anne Ward, 35, died on Aug. 17 in the accident on River Thames Road in Jackson. Her car was hit head-on by a pickup driven by a 19-year-old.
Police said it will be a few more days at least before they release any more details about the accident.
"Hopefully, we will know something by the end of the week," said Colendula Green, spokeswoman for the Jackson Police Department.
Still, Bobbie Ward and her husband, Frazier, are frustrated. "(Today) is two weeks since it happened, and we haven't heard a thing from the police," Bobbie Ward said.
Leigh Anne Ward lived with her parents at their Jackson home. She was on her way home from MRA to take her father, a retired surgeon, to a birthday party.
Police have refused to release the name of the 19-year-old driver of the Toyota Tundra pickup that collided with Ward's Toyota Camry. He was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for observation.
"What I want to know and what my husband wants to know is why has that young man not been arrested," Bobbie Ward said.
Witnesses told police that the driver of the pickup was speeding on River Thames Road, where the speed limit is 25 mph.
CL
"My husband has called the police several times," Bobbie Ward said Monday. "They just say they haven't finished the investigation."
Ward's daughter, Madison-Ridgeland Academy teacher Leigh Anne Ward, 35, died on Aug. 17 in the accident on River Thames Road in Jackson. Her car was hit head-on by a pickup driven by a 19-year-old.
Police said it will be a few more days at least before they release any more details about the accident.
"Hopefully, we will know something by the end of the week," said Colendula Green, spokeswoman for the Jackson Police Department.
Still, Bobbie Ward and her husband, Frazier, are frustrated. "(Today) is two weeks since it happened, and we haven't heard a thing from the police," Bobbie Ward said.
Leigh Anne Ward lived with her parents at their Jackson home. She was on her way home from MRA to take her father, a retired surgeon, to a birthday party.
Police have refused to release the name of the 19-year-old driver of the Toyota Tundra pickup that collided with Ward's Toyota Camry. He was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for observation.
"What I want to know and what my husband wants to know is why has that young man not been arrested," Bobbie Ward said.
Witnesses told police that the driver of the pickup was speeding on River Thames Road, where the speed limit is 25 mph.
CL
Auditor Pickering issues demand for $1.2 Million against former Jackson County Employee
Former Jackson Co. clerk accused of stealing $890,000
A former Jackson County employee is charged with embezzling $890,000. The indictment against Ginger Lashley, 50, released Tuesday accuses her of using her position as a clerk to steal money from 2001 until November 2009 when she was fired and arrested.
The indictment alleges Lashley diverted county money into a personal savings account at a local bank. That account, entitled "Jackson County Food Drive," received regular deposits of county checks according to court papers.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said bank officials became suspicious of the account in 2009 and alerted investigators. Byrd said the frequency and size of the deposits seemed suspect. He added there is no official county account for a "Jackson County Food Drive."
Lashley was first accused last year of stealing $125,000 of county money. However, as investigators dug deeper, the amount of money that disappeared from county coffers grew.
State Auditor Stacy Pickering said his office issued a demand against Lashley for $1,232,579.73, which includes the amount she is accused embezzling along with investigative costs.
"This is one of the largest embezzlement cases we've investigated by the State Auditor's Office and represents a significant loss to taxpayers of Jackson County," Pickering said.
Jackson County Board President Mike Mangum said since the investigation started, the County has implemented safe guards to prevent this type of activity from happening again.
"As public servants, we take this situation very seriously and understand our first responsibility is to be good stewards of the taxpayer's money," Mangum said.
Lashley began working for the county in 1998. Investigators say the embezzlement began in 2001 when Lashley was working in the Accounts Payable office.
WLOX
A former Jackson County employee is charged with embezzling $890,000. The indictment against Ginger Lashley, 50, released Tuesday accuses her of using her position as a clerk to steal money from 2001 until November 2009 when she was fired and arrested.
The indictment alleges Lashley diverted county money into a personal savings account at a local bank. That account, entitled "Jackson County Food Drive," received regular deposits of county checks according to court papers.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said bank officials became suspicious of the account in 2009 and alerted investigators. Byrd said the frequency and size of the deposits seemed suspect. He added there is no official county account for a "Jackson County Food Drive."
Lashley was first accused last year of stealing $125,000 of county money. However, as investigators dug deeper, the amount of money that disappeared from county coffers grew.
State Auditor Stacy Pickering said his office issued a demand against Lashley for $1,232,579.73, which includes the amount she is accused embezzling along with investigative costs.
"This is one of the largest embezzlement cases we've investigated by the State Auditor's Office and represents a significant loss to taxpayers of Jackson County," Pickering said.
Jackson County Board President Mike Mangum said since the investigation started, the County has implemented safe guards to prevent this type of activity from happening again.
"As public servants, we take this situation very seriously and understand our first responsibility is to be good stewards of the taxpayer's money," Mangum said.
Lashley began working for the county in 1998. Investigators say the embezzlement began in 2001 when Lashley was working in the Accounts Payable office.
WLOX
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