In an effort to resolve a two month long battle, the Tunica County Board of Supervisors again agreed to draft a letter to an area utility.

Supervisors indicated that the letter will ask Coahoma Electric to appear before them to discuss the substation planned in the north portion of the county.

Robert Hall and Oscar Price spoke about the matter on behalf of the Hambrick Homeowners’ Association. Plans for the substation call for it to be constructed near the small community and residents have previously raised concerns about the project.

Hall said he was appearing before the board to “report, update and get feedback” on the situation. Hall said on June 23, the homeowners confronted Coahoma Electric officials at the site. Contractors had begun putting down posts and doing other work. [more]

Major Harold Harris (shown here) and the Tunica County Sheriff’s Department set up several checkpoints on county roadways last week, as Sheriff K.C. Hamp steps up efforts to help make Tunica County roadways safer for travelers. Deputies informed drivers on changes made to state law giving law enforcement officers probable cause to stop a vehicle and issue citations if driver and front seat passengers are not wearing seatbelts, or when witnessing a child not properly restrained. Officers did not issue citations but gave drivers warnings and handed out flyers produced by Hamp that reminded travelers of the legal requirements and offered suggestions for safer travel. Mississippi law requires that all passenger vehicle drivers and passengers wear seatbelts. Children under the age of four must ride in a federally approved child safety seat.

A young Magnolia Heights High School junior student with ties to Tunica is fighting the battle of his life after having survived a horrific accident on Monday, June 23.

Seventeen-year-old Drew Bouchillon, grandson of Battle Arena director Peck Bouchillon and nephew of Desoto County Chancery Clerk W.E. “Sluggo” Davis, was thrown from a tractor while bush hogging on family property. The machine he was operating crossed an old cistern covered by grass and threw the young man from the tractor. Bouchillon suffered extensive injuries, forcing the amputation of both legs, and is now at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis recovering in the intensive care unit. [more]

Shawnee Sharpe Jo-Ellen Sharpe 03.JUL.08 In the last five years, Shawnee Sharpe has gained at least sixty pounds, his legs frequently look like tree trunks, and his feet hurt most of the time. However, he still works twelve-hour days, teaches Sunday School when it’s his turn, and helps with the household chores--all because of a young man he never met. On June 15, 2003, a Sunday afternoon, 21-year-old Johnny Wyatt was at his home with his best friend and her boyfriend. The boyfriend had recently moved to the Memphis area from Nashville, and Johnny had given him a job and a temporary place to stay. [more]