Lelia Kelly: Chase away winter blues with blooming houseplants

This time of year can be hard on gardeners.

Roses and thorns: 2-28-2010

A rose to the MUW’s theater department, department head William “Peppy” Biddy, director Brook Hannemann, thespians, backstage workers and other participants in the college’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream.”

Haircuts from the heart: Salon offers free trims for Palmer Home children

More than a dozen kids from Palmer Home for Children were treated to free haircuts Saturday, courtesy of the stylists of Salon 417.

Vicksburg Four saga continues

Four Columbus Police officers are waiting to hear if they’ll get another shot at recouping a month’s pay.

Ex-supervisor to start sentence

Former Lowndes County District 4 Supervisor Jim Terry Monday was transported to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County, where he began serving a 13-month sentence for fraud in public office.

Ex-policeman to serve two years

A former West Point police officer will spend more than two years in jail for embezzlement.

New Hope begins softball season with pair of wins

MERIDIAN — The New Hope High School fast-pitch softball team started its season in style Saturday.

Empress Shirley went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in her first varsity start in game one, and Lauren Holifield and Anna Holley had three RBIs in game two to lead New Hope past South Jones 18-8 and Yazoo County 16-0 at the Northeast Lauderdale Pre-Season Tournament.

Shirley had a single and a triple at designated player for New Hope (2-0). Holifield, who earned the victory in the five-inning game, was 1-for-2 with three walks. Holley (2-for-3), Haley Tutor (1-for-5), D.J. Ferguson (1-for-4), Kasey Stanfield (sacrifice fly), Rachel Rhoades (2-for-4, two RBIs), Anna McCrary (1-for-3, RBI), and Jessica Moore (2-for-4, double, four RBIs) also contributed to the hitting attack.

Ex-West Point police officer sentenced to more than two years in prison

OXFORD — Prosecutors say a former West Point police officer has been ordered to serve two years and three months in federal prison for his part in a scheme to embezzle money from a crime-fighting fund he oversaw.

Barbour: February tax shortfall worst of fiscal year; more budget cuts may be coming

JACKSON — Mississippi budget writers exchanged sharp words Friday but came no closer to deciding how much money they’ll restore to schools, prisons and other government services. Meanwhile, state Tax Commission released preliminary figures showing tax collections were 12.4 percent below expectations in February — a shortage of $33 million for the month.

Police Academy begins March 29

Applications for the Columbus Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy are being accepted through March 1, with the classes beginning March 29, officials said. Classes will be every Monday night from 6-9 p.m. for eight weeks.

Holliman denied motion for new trial

Brian Holliman, serving a life sentence for the 2008 shotgun murder of his wife, Laura-Lee Godfrey Holliman, was denied a motion for a new trial Thursday in Lowndes County Circuit Court.

Pearl River C.C. beats EMCC in men’s MACJC title game

SCOOBA — In a classic championship contest between regular-season division champions, the No. 12 East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team dropped a 61-58 decision to No. 25 Pearl River C.C. on Thursday in the men’s title game of the EMCC-hosted MACJC State Basketball Tournament at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.

Arrest Report 2-25-10

The following people were arrested on felony charges, according to reports released from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office:

West Point fills vacancies; bridge work to begin

WEST POINT — Repairs to West Point’s Main Street bridge are a step closer after the city Board of Selectmen allowed City Administrator Randy Jones to begin advertising bids for work on the partially collapsed structure.

Circuit Court 2-24-10

Sentences in cases ranging from drug possession to burglary have been handed down during the first two weeks of the February term of 16th District Circuit Court in Lowndes County.

Jury selection continues in Lowndes murder case

Jury selection in the murder trail of Michael Shane Richardson continues today, and one may be picked by noon or later in the day, according to a Lowndes County Circuit Court spokesperson.

Top eight seeds advance at MACJC state basketball tournament

SCOOBA — The top eight seeds have advanced to today’s semifinals of the MACJC State Basketball Tournament, as all four No. 1 and 2 women’s seeds prevailed Tuesday in opening-round women’s action at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.

In Tuesday’s nightcap, which was a rematch of last year’s NJCAA Region 23 championship contest, the No. 3 nationally ranked Lady Wolves of Copiah-Lincoln remained unbeaten (24-0) with a 73-65 victory against East Mississippi Community College.

County discrimination case moves forward

A U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi judge Thursday denied a request to dismiss the case of a former Lowndes County Road Department employee, who sued the county for sex discrimination in her February 2008 termination.

Man suspected of shooting wife will stand trial next term

The murder trial of George Pate — who is accused of shooting his wife to death — has been continued until a time to be determined, according to Lowndes County Circuit Court.

West Point Police make arrest in robbery case

West Point Police have made an arrest in the robbery of Radio Shack in the Winchester Shopping Center.