East Flora still on the chopping block? What should happen to cover the shortfall?

Board trying to cut upcoming budget


Madison County educators are beginning to consider their options for dealing with state funding that continues to fall short of what is needed.

Dipping into cash reserves, cutting jobs, cutting paychecks or closing a school were among the possible scenarios floated before the Madison County School Board Monday in its first look at the upcoming budget process.

The idea of a tax increase was not among the alternatives suggested on how to cope with state funding that currently lags a cumulated $6.6 million below expectations for the past two years. The Legislature is still considering the funding amount for school districts for the 2011-2012 year.

"I'm not going to raise taxes on my way out the door," said Superintendent Mike Kent, who is not running for a fourth term in this year's election.

Possible options presented to the five-member school board by finance director Debbie Jones include:

•Take $2.7 million from the district's fund balance.

•Cut all teachers' and administrators' local pay supplement, an average of $2,000, which would be a savings of $1 million, and then supplement that with $1.7 million from fund balance.

*Cut 40 teachers' positions or cut 20 positions and take $1.7 million from reserves.

•Close East Flora Middle and take $1.7 million from reserves.

Which option would you pick? Vote in the poll to the left of the page.

Flora and Madison County gets blanketed in snow.

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Email your pictures to keith.plunkett@ymail.com 


Flora Depot covered in snow February 9, 2011.
PHOTO: B. Keith Plunkett

Magnolia leaves under the weight of snow in Flora. February 9, 2011.
PHOTO: B. Keith Plunkett 

Downtown Flora snow. February 9, 2011
PHOTO: B. Keith Plunkett

Stacking wood in preparation for a cold night. February 9, 2011
PHOTO: B. Keith Plunkett



Flora was blanketed by snow on Wednesday February 9.
PHOTO: B. Keith Plunkett

 

Backers make appeal to keep East Flora Middle School open

More time - that's what Flora parents and officials are asking of the Madison County School Board.
"Let us keep our children here, and we can work with them to get them up to par," Flora Alderman Mary Sumler said to school district officials Monday night at a public hearing on the possible closing of East Flora Middle School.

The school district has been underfunded by $7 million over the past three years, and district officials are looking to reduce costs if the state does not fund the schools at least at the same level as this year. East Flora Middle, the smallest school in the Madison County district, costs $1.1 million to operate, and closing it means a $750,000 saving, Superintendent Mike Kent said.

Kent said the board intends to decide at its April 4 meeting on whether to close East Flora and send those students to Madison Middle School next August.

Flora Mayor Leslie Childress asked the board to consider delaying any idea of closing the school, which has the Mississippi Department of Education rating of "academic watch."

Kent said the school is inefficient to run because of its small size, which makes the cost of educating each student about $14,000 compared to $7,700 in the rest of the district.

Academic performance of the students and low parental involvement also factor into the final verdict. "If performance of the kids goes up, that helps your cause," Kent said. "We have struggled over a number of years to bring the performance up."

Of the 17 who signed up to speak, only Lady Margaret Harvey asked the board to close the school so Flora students can attend Madison Middle School.

"Parents aren't going to send their children to a failing school if they can afford to send their children elsewhere. Tax dollars could be better spent," she said.

CL

Bronze Horse stolen from Andover.

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

WLBT is reporting that one of the bronze horses at the Andover Subdivision on Hwy 22 was stolen in the last days of December. I've driven by several times now since then and haven't even noticed. I guess I just got accustomed to them being there--kind of like being accustomed to driving by a dump--so at some point I stopped looking. Apparently we have thieves with very poor taste. Flora folks may remember the tacky lions that stood guard at the gates of Andover a few years ago. After some people who purchased lots there threatened to sell over it if they weren't removed, the lions disappeared and the horses showed up.

Sorry if I sound a little unconcerned, Mr. Eaves. But out here, we appreciate the real thing much more than your tacky expensive yard ornaments from Italy.

If nothing else the report was good for the fact that we get to replace the silly images of Bert Case being threatened with an ass kicking by former Governor Kirk Fordice,



and the images of Bert yelling at a dog,



with this:

There's a horse thief on the loose in Madison County.

But the horse is made of bronze and weighs about 600 pounds.

It was taken from the Andover Subdivision just east of the Flora city limits on Highway 22.

The stolen horse was taken between 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 27 and 7:00 a.m. Dec. 28.

The horse belongs to the John Arthur Eaves family and was brought here from Italy.

The bronze horse was purchased by attorney John Arthur Eaves, Sr. because the horses reminded him of some horses he owned when John Arthur Eaves, Jr. was a child.

"Someone came in the middle of the night and lifted this pure bronze horse out of ground, in this yard, which is an amazing accomplishment, by itself," John Aruthur Eaves, Jr. said. "So you can see we have one horse left, his name is Shadow and they took Velvet, and we just want to have them reunited in time for Valentine's Day."

The Andover Subdivision features 3 to 6 acre lots and appeals to horse owners.

"Well Bert I can't imagine, must a been a group of kids that pulled in here in a pickup truck on a trailer, and just loaded the brass horse off in it," Sheriff Toby Trowbridge of Madison County said. "And I need your help once again in trying to get this back. So my thought was let 3 On Your Side get a hold of it, and if any neighbors see a brass horse, in their neighbor's back yard please call you or us."

The bronze horse weighs about 600 pounds.

If anyone knows who stole it, they could get up to a $1,000 reward for turning them in.

Eaves, Jr. said if the people who stole the bronze horse bring it back, he will not press charges.

Buuuuhhhhrrrrrrt Case . . . WLBT

Keeping East Flora open is a bad idea until a majority of parents prove they care.

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

The Madison County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a resolution asking Madison County Superintendent Mike Kent to find a way to keep East Flora Middle School open following a special meeting on the subject on Friday January 28.

"The school is inefficient because of its economy of scale," Kent said, adding that the cost to educate a student there is $14,000 compared to $7,700 in the rest of the district.

In a Madison County Herald report today, District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks suggested the district redraw lines to force kids from Madison Middle School--rated a top rated Star School--into the Flora District as a way of increasing attendance. The East Flora Middle School is currently rated as "academic watch".  Banks suggested that, despite the fact that the Madison County taxpayers are spending almost double the average cost per student at East Flora, that the school is being "penalized." But, he obviously had no problem "penalizing" students from Madison Middle School.

"If you changed the attendance zone, student cost wouldn't be the issue. Fourteen thousand dollars is not the issue," said Banks, who represents the Flora area. "If you're going to penalize (East Flora Middle) because of the costs, you can solve that with the stroke of a pen - bring in more children."

"Maybe if the lines were drawn better, we could have two Star Schools," Banks said.

But, will bringing kids in whose parents care more about their kids education, into a school that's parental involvement is among the lowest in the district help students, or hinder overall achievment? And is that an experiment the School District wants to conduct on it children? Furthermore, how many of the Madison Middle School students who would be drawn into the Flora District will withdraw from public schools and enter the private school system?

My guess is: most of them, leaving the school district and East Flora Middle School with the same problems--lower achievement, a majority of parents who care more about their own convenience than they do about their kids education, and an extremely ineffecient school.

Supervisor Paul Griffin's suggestion was predictable: raise taxes.

Supervisor Paul Griffin said the school district could consider doing what the county did a few years ago to provide for needed funds - increase the millage rate.

"If the Board of Education wants to provide good schools and keep them going, they may have to bite the bullet and raise taxes," Griffin said.

Griffin made a similar suggestion weeks ago in order fund the construction of emergency sirens in his district.

The attraction to economic development is a wonderful argument on it's face. Having a school in town is a much bigger draw to industry looking to relocate. But, like the redistricting argument, it doesn't hold water, either. Once industry recognizes the school is in serious trouble, it may as well not exist.

If parents of students don't care about the school, why should the Madison County taxpayer.

Supes talk Flora Middle School Closure (Video) Part 2

Citzens respond at the Special meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors on January 28.

You can view Superintendent Mike Kent's statement in Part 1 HERE


Part 2 Madison County Board of Supervisors Jan 28, 2011 from DI Smith on Vimeo.

Supervisor Griffin says he's okay with Madison County incurring more debt for Emergency Sirens in his district.

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin was quoted in a weekend story as saying he would be willing to consider a bond issue for Madison County if he could get some emergency sirens in his rural district.

Now, only residents of Ridgeland, Madison, Canton and Flora are within earshot of emergency weather warning systems run by those municipalities. But, Griffin said he wants all other county residents to hear similar alarms sound when tornadoes or dangerous storms approach.

"It's for public safety. I want to get citizens as much notice as possible," said Griffin, who represents the rural northern end of the county. "Having sirens in the county has always been a thought of mine."

Let me say that I am not against properly managing emergencies. I am not against the people in Supervisor Griffin's district. I don't want to see their property destroyed by bad weather or a tornado. But, the idea that Madison County would even consider a bond issue right now is madness.

We have roads that have been engineered and re-engineered when the money isn't even there for construction. How much of these engineering fees that Mr. Griffin voted to approve could have gone to provide the safety he wants for his constituents?

Maybe Griffin wasn't looking that far ahead when he cast those votes. Maybe he doesn't care about budgets and taxes at all. After all, we know where the majority of the tax money comes from, and it ain't District 5!

But, let's just pretend that Griffin, Board President Tim Johnson, and Supervisor Karl Banks hadn't put the the taxpayers on the line 50 million dollars five years ago. Are the sirens a good investment?


District 5 is a very rural district. If, as the article says, to install a siren costs $20,000, it shouldn't cost over $40,000 to put one in Sharon and one in Camden. That should do it. Any more would be a waste and the money needed to cover those two communities can be found by cleaning up waste in other parts of the county budget. Attempts to cover the countryside with sirens to protect a few homes that, if they are like mine in Flora, already know the storm is coming before the sirens go off anyway, is a waste of resources.

Butch Hammack, the county's emergency management director, seemed to agree.

"There's always a lot of debate (about the effectiveness of sirens), but I'm putting together this study for the supervisors review," he said.

"It's not feasible to spend $20,000 for five houses and thousands of cattle," Hammack said.

East Flora PTA to meet Thursday night over potential school closing.

The East Flora PTA will meet Thursday night at 6:00 in the school gym to discuss the potential closing of the school. If closed, the town of Flora would be the only municipality in Madison County without a school. The move would force students to be bussed several miles away.

East Flora Middle School serves 147 students and is listed as underperforming. Madison County spends $14,000 per student at East Flora compared to the average per student cost of $7,700.

Concerned parents and town officials met Tuesday night at Flora City Hall to discuss the predicament.

Monsanto corn breeding facility up and running in Flora.



Mayor Les Childress, Ag Commissioner Lester Spell, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Congressman Gregg Harper, and Representative Phillip Gunn were on hand to welcome the new Monsanto facility to Flora.

 Elected officials from across the state joined Flora in welcoming Monsanto to the Flora Industrial Park on Tuesday January 11. The $2.4 million facility further boosts the company’s investment in the South and is a reflection of Monsanto’s commitment to continue delivering new high-performing products to southern farmers.

Flora Mayor Leslie Childress welcomes officials
from across Madison County and Mississippi to Flora.

The 26,000-square-foot corn breeding station will employ approximately 10 full-time and up to 50 seasonal workers. Corn production in the southern region has been growing in the last several years, and the new site’s research focus will be on using the latest breeding techniques to develop higher-yielding corn hybrids with greater resistance to disease and other environmental stresses, specifically adapted to the region.

The site will complement Monsanto’s global breeding program and become part of a network of more than 50 corn breeding locations around the world. Southern farmers also will benefit from the genetic diversity of Monsanto’s global germplasm pool.

Monsanto currently has 3 technology research sites in Mississippi – Scott, Leland, and Winterville – focused on delivering cotton and soy varieties and traits to meet the needs of southern farmers.

The announcement comes two years after the town lost out to a site in Kansas to be the new location for a Department of Homeland Security Bio lab. Flora's Industrial Park currently has only one tenant, Primos Hunting Calls, locating there in May of 2002.

Trowbridge will be sorely missed

BY: B. Keith Plunkett

Sheriff Toby Trowbridge

The news broke yesterday morning. I'll admit it was quite a shock to me that Madison County Sheriff Toby Trowbridge would not seek re-election this year. Those who have known the Sheriff since his youth have said that he was destined for this job. I've even been told he would sometimes dress as a law enforcement officer for Halloween in his younger days. His dedication to law and order and the brotherhood of officers that do that job well is unwavering.

The dealings I have had with the Sheriff over the course of my time living and working in Madison County have been extremely pleasant. His committment to his job sets the bar high for the person that will step into his shoes in 2012. He is well liked by his officers, and with 70 percent of the vote in the last elections, it is pretty obvious he is respected by the voters of Madison County. If current Census estimates are correct, Madison County has seen an increase in population of 24.7 percent in the past 10 years. Despite that phenomenal growth, and despite the county's close proximity to Jackson, crime has remained low. That's because of Trowbridge's leadership.

He has had a great working relationship with the Board of Supervisors during a time when the board has seen a great deal of political and managerial upheaval. His ethics are without reproach. A welcome thing following the way former Sheriff Jessie Hopkins left office.

The Sheriff and his wife Jenny are hard working and dedicated to their community and their church. In the past Jenny has given her time and efforts towards numerous causes. She is a previous director of the Flora Area Chamber of Commerce, and has recently giver her time to organize and promote the "Don't Forget Your Child" campaign. DFYC has been helpful in reminding busy adults not to leave their children behind in vehicles during the sweltering Mississippi heat. (Yes, apparently we have become that busy.) I have had the priviledge of witnessing their generosity at the Trowbridge home during a church event sponsored by she and Toby for the youth at Damascus Baptist Church where they open their home and their hearts frequently. The care they show is not about public relations.

Sheriff Trowbridge has never really quite cared much for being the celebrated center of attention, putting the work first. The media has never had an easy time getting anything more out of him than he thought he should give to inform without jeapordizing his officers or the cases they were working. When the blood began to swirl in the water over the ACLU and boycotts from black residents over profiling and roadblocks a few years ago, he simply said it wasn't up for debate and continued to do his job. His leadership has been calm and steady. We can only hope the next Sheriff has half his demeanor.

So, Toby is leaving the job. I am surprised. But, I would be willing to bet that he certainly will not be giving up on the good things he and his wife do for Madison County and the Flora community. His dedication to protect and serve runs too deep for that.

District may close Flora Middle School

The possibility of closing East Flora Middle School was discussed this week as the Madison County School Board faces another year of state funding cuts.

Flora Mayor Les Childress and a group of the school's PTA members sat down with School Board members in executive session to discuss the issue Monday.

The school has an enrollment of 154 students that requires around 13 teachers as well as administration and support staff. School officials estimate it costs around $1 million a year to operate.

Superintendent of Education Michael D. Kent said closing a school is never an easy decision, but with drastic cuts expected for the upcoming school year nothing is off the table.

"There's nothing set in stone, but is it being considered? Absolutely," he said. "It all hinges on funding at the state level.

"What we're doing right now is listening to all the talk coming from the state capitol about funding," he continued. "If we have the funding woes they're predicting we may not have any choice."

Childress said no one in Flora wants to see the school closed and he hoped to push the issue with the town's aldermen and with their state representatives.

"We certainly don't want to see any of the schools on this side of the county close," Childress said. "Hopefully the legislature will come up with the funding, but if not we need to look at all the options."

If closed, the students from East Flora Middle would instead go to Madison Middle School where Kent said they have room. Currently, Madison Middle has the district's second largest enrollment with 1,228 students, second only to Madison Central High School.

In July an analysis of the district's spending showed it costs nearly twice as much to educate a student at East Flora Middle School than it does at Madison Middle School.

The report calculated instructional, transportation and various other expenses coming up with a per-student expense at each school.

It showed East Flora Middle School, the district's smallest, is the most expensive school to operate at almost $10,000 per child.

Other middle schools, like Madison and Germantown Middle, average around $5,700 per student.

The district's overall average is $7,400 per student while the state's average is just over $9,000.

Read More: MCJ

Blake Walley Memorial Benefit to be held December 18 in Flora

Blake Walley

Saturday, December 18 at 11:30, friends and family members will gather for a benefit to remember Blake Walley. Walley was killed in a one vehicle accident in Louisiana on September 12. Blake, reffered to by many as just "Walley", was a great guy, a good friend to many and always greeted people with a smile and a handshake. He was the type of person the world needs more of.

The Fish Fry event will be held at the Holcomb Airstrip AKA "Roothog International" on Highway 22 just west of Flora. Plates will be available from 11:30 until 5:00 for $5.00 each. There will also be drawings for prizes and a live and silent auction at 1:00. Two helicopter rides will be among the auction items. Live music will be provided by Crossin Dixon.
All donations go to help pay for final expenses. Amounts in excess of the goal will be donated to a local charity.

Storey wills Tri-County to OT victory, North State

As the Tri-County Academy Rebels gathered around Trainor Storey at midfield towards the end of regulation in their second round game with DeSoto last Friday his message was simple.

"I just told them that we were brothers and we were going to go down and score and win this one," Storey said. "There was no way they were keeping us out."

The senior was true to his word as he guided the Rebels down the field to tie the game in the final minute and pull off a miraculous 35-28 victory in overtime.

The win kept the Rebs undefeated at 13-0 and was the first loss of the season for DeSoto.

TCA moves on to face Tunica Academy in the Academy A North State Championship this Friday.

"I'm very proud of this team right now," said Coach David Blount. "Their running game was probably the best we faced this year but in the end, our kids rose to the occasion."

MCJ

Bond Denied For Mother Charged In Newborn's Death

Police: Baby Was Found Inside Suitcase

A Madison County Circuit Court judge on Monday denied bond for a 41-year-old woman charged in the death of her newborn son.

Sheila Ealey is charged with murder, court officials said. She was recently indicted by a Madison County grand jury.

Madison County Sheriff's Department investigators believe Ealey gave birth to the boy in July. She's accused of wrapping the baby in a plastic bag and putting him in a suitcase, which was found behind Smith Chapel Baptist Church in Flora, police said.

Related Posts: Coroner: Baby Found Dead In Suitcase Behind Flora Church
Arrest made in dead baby case
Madison County DA: Baby was alive when dumped in Flora
Bond set in Madison baby death case

Seale says no to column in response to latest post. Offer for open thread Q&A on the table.

In response to the post Madison County Lobbyist won't answer questions until you answer some questions first, and prove your "special" , and in response to my offer of a guest column on this blog, Madison County Lobbyist C. Stephen Seale had this to write:

Mr. Harvester, thanks for the column offer but I'll just offer a few comments in response here. First, it's "you're", not "your special" as referenced in your headline, but you missed the point I was trying to make. I don't know you and don't know you to be a taxpayer. If you are a citizen of Madison County, you are represented by the Board of Supervisors. The Board is my client. I work on behalf of Madison County taxpayers as directed by the Board. I began my state Senate service in 1993 and have worked as a state Senator, Chief Counsel to Sen. Lott and as a lawyer/lobbyist at the federal and state levels since. This amounts to almost 18 years of experience working in and around government. I have worked on policy and funding issues for, among others, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, hospitals, telecommunications companies and other Mississippi-based interests. My clients seeking federal funding and I have a position on earmarks that benefit Mississippi and Madison County and its citizens, and we believe that should be the same position of our elected federal representatives. Finally, as to your position on my "defensiveness", my responses to what you write start with my objection to someone who doesn't know me or know much about my work writing about me and my work without at least trying to talk to me to get my position on the matters you write about. I hope anyone reading what you write and my response will understand that. If that's defensive, so be it.

Thanks for the editorial correction, Mr. Seale. No matter how many times I self-edit, I am bound to miss something. In that spirit, from one editor to another, might I suggest you create a new paragraph on occasion in your written responses. They are somewhat lengthy and would be a much easier read if you did so.

A few observations:

1. You write that you don’t know me to be a taxpayer. I am. As this website indicates, I am in fact a resident of Flora.

2. If you work on “behalf” of the Madison County taxpayers as you write, why would you not answer questions FROM the Madison County taxpayers? You seem quite ready to open up and defend yourself passionately online.  If you don’t wish to write it in the form of a column as I have offered, would you be willing to participate in an open thread Q&A? I’m trying to give you an opportunity here, Mr. Seale. Your friends are as welcome to participate as are those who may have tough questions for you. I’ll monitor the conversation and be sure the posts are only in the form of questions to you, not open ended statements, and no attacks on other commenters. I’ll see to it everything remains civil. Name the time and you’ve got the place.

3. I appreciate your lobbying experience and your time IN government. I made the reference to your time IN government. I made no judgment as to whether the length of that time disqualified you for service in your current capacity. In fact, I’m sure it gave you good insight, and obviously you do have extensive experience as a lobbyist since then. However, I do make a judgment call (as a taxpayer) as to the lack of oversight by which we can measure your success and our investment in your performance, and whether your services are actually needed. Regardless of who directs you and approves the invoices, you should be politically savvy enough to understand who actually pays that $100,000 per year salary.

4. Many of the taxpayers will take exception to you and your “clients seeking federal funding” and the position you hold on earmarks. Is it your contention that you and your “clients” know better than we lowly little taxpayers what is and is not to our “benefit”? I personally agree that it is the constitutional responsibility of Congress to “direct spending.” And I believe those that would end all earmarks are shortsighted, as that responsibility would then fall solely to the Executive Branch. But, I also believe earmark reform is needed to control runaway government spending. And, I also know a lobbyist shouldn’t publicly take a Congressman to task, and then expect him to take you seriously when you show up with hands out.

The problem with the current spending is that the Madison County citizens to whom you refer know mismanagement when they see it. There are serious questions regarding the Madison County Board of Supervisor’s management and lack of oversight. There is an outcry against bloated government, fraud and mismanagement of government spending. The current auditor’s report shows that lack of oversight in Madison County, and we have yet to see the financial report, which could be even more damaging to the board’s credibility. Mr. Johnson and Warnock can use the term “political witch hunt” all they want. The facts show that the questions and the audit were warranted. Your own statements show that you take the seriousness of the report lightly and defend the leadership of the Board of Supervisors despite the facts of the report. That shows a lack of judgment.

5. Finally, with respect to your defensiveness: You discredit yourself with the public when you make comments to the media defending the status quo, and then attack people online for calling such statements into question. What we know about you and your work is what we see, Mr. Seale. And you have made yourself seen and heard. You can’t now run from those comments. As to your “position on matters,” this door remains open to you.

This past week’s exchange between you and I has been referred to by others as a Madison County Food Fight. Why not instead turn it into a civil dinner of “food for thought”? If you choose not to participate in this offer of an open thread Q&A with Harvester readers, so be it. But the floor is still yours should you decide otherwise.

Distrtict 3 Congressional Candidates make final push before Election Day (Video)

Volunteer Jim Nash is trying to figure out which people will be responsible for placing campaign signs around the area. He’s surrounded by boxes full of merchandise including bumper stickers, shirts, and posters.




Volunteer Thelma Kumar was placing Gill’s support signs all along Old Fannin Road in Flowood on Wednesday.

Lucy’s Revenge Closes in on $10K, Breaks 300 Miles in Alzheimer’s Fundraising Effort

Mississippi Paddler asks East Mississippi health care officials and residents for help.


Flora, MS. October 19, 2010—Keith Plunkett, Mississippi paddler and organizer of Lucy’s Revenge, has paddled over 300 miles in the yearlong effort to raise money for and awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease on Mississippi waterways. Joining a group of eight other kayakers on October 16, Plunkett launched from Bell Fontaine Point in Ocean Springs in route across the Mississippi Sound to Horn Island. Plunkett says he was driven to paddle a few extra miles while out on the island in order to be sure he met the 300-mile mark by the time the group may landfall to end the trip.

“South Coast Paddling Company and Mississippi Gulf Coast residents have been a huge help to the project on the coast and I wanted to be sure and hit this milestone there,” said Plunkett. “The Horn Island trip was a South Coast Paddling sponsored trip, so they did all the planning. I hadn’t mapped it before hand, and I wanted to be sure I got the mileage in.”

With that worry in mind, Plunkett awoke on the west end of Horn Island on Sunday morning and decided to put in a few extra miles before joining back up with the group. Paddling south of the island to Buoy 1 at Dog Keys Pass, he added an extra 6.6 miles, and had some unexpected but welcome company on the way back to the island.

“The first buoy is a little over 3 miles south of the island out into the open Gulf,” said Plunkett. “It was a little nerve wracking to look back and see Horn Island as a little speck behind me. I felt pretty small and vulnerable out there. But on the way back I got an escort from about 8 to 10 bottlenose dolphin, and that helped calm my nerves. They are beautiful animals.”

When Plunkett landed again at Bell Fontaine Point on Sunday afternoon he had logged another 29.5 miles bringing his totals for the project to 305.8.

The Flora resident began kayaking just over a year ago and says he wasn’t around the water much as a child, but is growing more confident in his paddling ability every day.

“In mid-July I thought I had reached the far reaches of my distance for a weekend paddling trip when Sharon and I floated a 45 mile trip on the Wolf River. Less than two months later we kayaked over 86 miles from Shubuta to Leaksville on the Chickasawhay River. About a week ago, I paddled in the Ninth Annual Phatwater Challenge on the Mississippi River. On that trip I managed to paddle nearly the same mileage that had taken me a full three days only three months earlier, and I did it in less than 6 hours. My ability and confidence has grown by leaps and bounds.”

Plunkett kicked off a yearlong effort to paddle over 600 miles of Mississippi waterways in July on the Gulf Coast. A goal he says he now expects to exceed by the projects end date in June 2011. He began focusing on waterways in the East Mississippi Region in September, but due to drought conditions and interest from other parts of the state he’s not done as much in the area as hoped.

“East Mississippi has many of the jewels of our state’s paddling waterways,” he said. “I really need some more help from East Mississippi, and some sponsors to step forward. This disease knows no boundaries. I know there are people and caregivers there that need the support, and I want to be there.”

So far, Plunkett has been on the coastal waterways of Old Fort Bayou, Davis Bayou, Wolf River, Escatawpa River and the Pascagoula River. He has paddled sections of the Pearl River, Strong River and Mississippi River. He and wife Sharon also completed an 86-mile trip on the Chickasawhay River in East Mississippi on Labor Day Weekend. Plunkett has raised $8,600 for the Mississippi Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association since July while paddling through 14 Mississippi counties.

Stories, videos, and photos are posted to the website, http://www.lucysrevenge.com/ . General Donations and Sponsorship Opportunities links on the website connect donors directly to the Alzheimer’s Association website.

The project is named in memory of Plunkett’s Grandmother, Lucy Plunkett, who suffered from Alzheimer’s before succumbing to the disease in 1993. The matriarch of the Plunkett family reared six children, and oversaw the upbringing of 9 grandchildren. She was a housewife and an active member of her church and the rural community of Little Yazoo in Yazoo County.

We're teaming up with The Blue Rooster for an October Surprise!

Anyone who watches politics looks to October with great anticipation. One can often expect a challenger who is behind in polls or who is attempting to gain a little more name recognition to come forward with a jaw-dropper just prior to November elections.
Well, here at the Harvester, we're helping engineer an October Surprise for our friends at The Blue Rooster just in time for another November election. And, you can be a beneficiary. After all everybody loves a surprise.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Go to the email subscription to the right of The Flora Harvester website and enter your email and follow the Feedburner directions.


2. Look to your email inbox, and verify that you subscribed.

3. Stay tuned to your email for a notice that you won a free appetizer from The Blue Rooster. We're giving one away every week in October beginning Monday, the eleventh. This should be sufficiently enticing to get you in to the restaurant to try the Best Burger in Mississippi (Frankly, the appetizers are pretty darn good too!)

The Rooster Burger. You're drooling aren't you?

4. Vote for Mississippi's Best Burger by clicking HERE . Enter in The Blue Rooster, Flora Mississippi, and the Rooster Burger. Be sure and click Done at the bottom of the page. Voting goes on through the first week of November.

5. Read The Flora Harvester. We'll give our online subscribers and Facebook Friends an opportunity to double the chance to win throughout the month.


We'll give away an appetizer every week starting Monday, October 11.

Now here's the kicker, the real reward for those who have a long enough attention span to read this far: The entire list of subscribers, including double-chancer's will be entered for a chance to receive a Dinner For Two at The Blue Rooster. We'll draw on October 29th.

Now Get To Work.
Enter, Win, Vote and Eat.


NOTE: Some restrictions apply: Offer good for two entree's and two non-alcoholic drinks.
Questions? Comments? Email us at floraharvester@bellsouth.net

Can you spot the Democrat in this picture?

Joel Gill sign sightings have begun in a few areas around Madison County. The one pictured below is at the intersection of Highway 22 and 463. Notice anything missing?  No mention he's a Democrat. No indication except for that tiny little donkey. But the word "CONSERVATIVE" sure is prominently displayed, huh?


What is Mr. Gill ashamed of?

Can you find this Donkey in the picture below? Hope your wearing your specs!

He claims he's the most conservative person running for Congress.

Can he be more conservative THAN THIS GUY LISTED ON LINE 3?

Water running in West Madison, but questions remain.

According to a late Thursday afternoon report water began running about 5:30 p.m. Thursday for customers of the West Madison Utility District.

The district tapped into a back-up well for Flora which is being purchased by the Madison County Economic Development Authority for the utility district’s use after its own well collapsed, shutting off water for the Kearney Park and Magnolia Heights areas Sept. 12.

About a mile of pipe was laid to reach the well, which will also be used by Flora if a back-up well is needed.

This is great news for many out in the Kearney Park area. But, some questions remain.

Is this now going to be forgotten again? This problem has been ongoing for more than 25 years, and officials have known it.

Is this band-aid fix going to be the only thing that happens until another crash of the system? Over the years, small fixes have held the system together, oftentimes after residents have gone days or weeks without safe water. When the water would begin to flow again, West Madison and Madison County officials would fall back into business as usual.

Will the West Madison Utility District and Supervisor Karl Banks attempt to blame the residents when nothing is done again? Residents have been blamed for not signing a survey so that a grant could be obtained to help. But, there are a wide range of funding options throug a variety of agencies if officials really wanted to do something. Furthermore, residents and stakeholders were often turned away from board meetings, or the West Madison Utilities Board would go into Executive Session when they didn't want to answer tough questions. In one instance, a resident refused to leave and was threatened with arrest. That officials refuse to allow stakeholders to participate in solutions, yet blame them for not signing on to the only solution offered is arrogant and protectionist. People that would rather do a poor job than allow other solutions to be considered should be removed from the equation.

Will the West Madison Utility District find a way to blame the Town of Flora again for the problems that is the responsibility of West Madison? Flora residents and officials have come to the aid of Kearney Park and the West Madison Utility District countless times. Yet, when there is no easy excuse for their ineptitude they blame the Town of Flora for not pushing through "paperwork".

Or . . .

Will resident's come together and make some demands of Madison County to clean up the real problem? That problem is in the makeup of the utility district leadership itself, and how it has been politicized by the current Supervisor in order to protect his turf come election time. The underlying current here is race and socioeconomics. There have been many times that white and black residents have tried to come together to affect some change. There have also been a few times where there have been some investors interested in revitalizing the old Industrial area, a move that would benefit residents and businesses immensely. But, changes to the social and economic order mean those in power who mismanage, would begin to lose that power. No real infrastructure improvement, means no change to the status quo, and those in office stay in office. Resident's must come together and force the change.

West Madison Commissioner Lawrence Morris said, "That Flora well can supply us with water until we dig a new well.” Yet, there is no timetable for digging a new well.

If residents strike now, they can demand a plan be put together that will finally get this problem under control. It took an emergency for everyone to work together. But, it will take some changes in leadership to get it to stay that way.

Related Post: Here we go again! Decades old problems with West Madison Water District again rears it's ugly head.

Related Post: Madison Co. Routes Water From Flora To Help Cover Outage
Related Post: Madison Co. residents without water get relief
Related Post: Biting the hand the quenches? West Madison Utilities' Morris blames Kearney Park water problems on Town of Flora


West Madison Utilities/Kearney Park