Former Laurel Public Works Director pleads guilty to embezzlement
JACKSON — Luther Russell, the former director of the Laurel Public Works Department, has pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, State Auditor Shad White announced. According to the auditor’s office, Russell instructed city employees to load the city’s track hoe onto the city’s low-boy trailer and transport the equipment to his property. Russell then […]
Mississippi football players face risk of serious hand injuries, specialist says
MISSISSIPPI — With football season in full swing in Mississippi, many players and coaches will tackle an extra opponent: hand injuries. Studies show a quarter of all sports injuries involve the hand or fingers. In football, where hands can be smashed between helmets and fingers may be jammed while catching passes, players are especially susceptible […]
Water contact advisory issued for Trahon Creek tributary
JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has issued a water contact advisory for an unnamed tributary of Trahon Creek and a section of Trahon Creek leading to the Pearl River because of an ongoing sewage bypass. The advisory, issued Tuesday, covers the unnamed tributary and Trahon Creek from the culvert at the Interstate […]
Columbus man sentenced to federal prison for distributing fentanyl pills
ABERDEEN — A Columbus man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing hundreds of fentanyl pills, U.S. Attorney Scott Leary announced. Joshua Wilson, 35, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Robert P. Chamberlin imposed the […]
Operation Stronghold finds three credit card skimmers in statewide sweep
JACKSON — A nearly monthlong statewide operation targeting credit card and EBT skimming devices resulted in the recovery of three devices after investigators inspected more than 2,100 point-of-sale terminals at 421 businesses, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced. Operation Stronghold, conducted from July 31 through Aug. 27, brought together federal, state and local law enforcement […]
Person airlifted after crash with entrapment in Coahoma County
COAHOMA COUNTY — One person was airlifted to an area trauma center after being trapped inside a vehicle following a crash Tuesday afternoon on Harry Black Road, authorities said. The Coahoma County Fire Department and Pafford EMS responded to the area after receiving a report of a motor vehicle collision involving entrapment. Fire personnel found […]
STEPPING UP TO SERVE: Rain or Shine in Tunica County
TUNICA COUNTY — Sometimes it’s the little things that show you care. Last week, right around the lunch hour, a man stopped by the Tunica County Sheriff’s Office to take care of some business. By the time he walked back out to his vehicle, though, he found out he had a real headache on his […]
Document and insure your property during National Preparedness Month
JACKSON — Homeowners across the country are constantly faced with risks due to wildfires, floods, tornadoes, severe storms, and other natural disasters. Take time now, during National Preparedness Month, to prepare by following these three steps: Document your property Understand your coverage options Ensure you have appropriate insurance “Your home, vehicle and belongings are some […]
Investigators continue to examine cause of massive Howard Industries fire
LAUREL — Investigators continue working to determine what caused a massive industrial fire Monday at Howard Industries in Laurel that forced the evacuation of employees and drew a large response from fire departments across south Mississippi. Laurel Fire Chief Leo Brown told WDAM that firefighters were forced to battle two separate fires on the Howard […]
MEMOIRS OF A MEDIC: I hate to lose
Kevin Whitsell is a 20-year veteran paramedic and firefighter and the founder and host of “A Silent War Within,” a podcast dedicated to confronting and destigmatizing mental health challenges among first responders and healthcare professionals. A Mississippi native, Whitsell spent years in critical care transport, including pediatric and neonatal patients, before moving into supervisory roles. […]