ATTENTION PARENTS

CAFETERIA NEWS FOR 2018 – 2019

TWO WAYS TO APPLY FOR FREE / REDUCED MEALS

1. Complete a meal application and return it to your local school cafeteria or the Simpson County School District Child Nutrition Office.

The free / reduced paper meal applications are available now at your local school office and at the Simpson County School District office, 111 Education Lane, Mendenhall, MS  39114

2. Complete the meal application ONLINE at www.simpson.k12.ms.us and select “MY SCHOOL APPS”.

MY SCHOOL BUCKS is a feature that parents can choose to make meal payments online, view your child’s cafeteria account and receive low balance notifications.  You can access this app at www.simpson.k12.ms.us and select “MY SCHOOL BUCKS” or go to myschoolbucks.com.

If you have any questions please call the Child Nutrition Office at 601-847-8000.

All returning students from Simpson County Schools will eat on the same lunch status as last year until a new application has been received and processed in our office, or until September 20, 2018.  On this date, each meal status will become “FULL PRICE” if application has not been received and processed.  

New students and all kindergarten students are required to pay “FULL PRICE”  beginning the first day of school until a meal application has been received and processed in our office.  They cannot eat on their sibling’s status.

STUDENT MEAL PRICES FOR 2018 – 2019

BREAKFAST                                                                                                                

Full Price:  $1.25                                                                                           

Reduced Price:  $ .30                 

LUNCH

Full Price: $2.45

Reduced Price: $ .40

CHARGE POLICY:  Please note that all students can only charge breakfast and lunch for one day before being served an alternate meal.  Students in grades K-4 will receive the alternate meal for 10 days then no meal will be served to them. Students in grades 5-12 will receive the alternate meal for 5 days then no meal will be served to them.  Students will be charged for the alternate meals.

Kimberly Diana Scott, 35, of Pickens, was arrested Sunday and taken to the Rankin County Jail in Brandon. The contraband, concealed on Scott’s person, was discovered during a regular search.

 “Operation Zero Tolerance will always be in effect under my administration,” said Commissioner Pelicia E. Hall. “This is a reminder that anyone coming on prison grounds – whether that person is an employee, a visitor or a vendor, the person will be searched. If contraband is found on the person, the person will be arrested and taken to jail.”

Scott is charged under the state law that prohibits the sale, possession or use of controlled substances in a correctional facility. A conviction carries a maximum $25,000 fine, from three to seven years in prison, and no eligibility for probation, parole, suspension of sentence, earned time or any other reduction of sentence.

JH & H Architects met before the board to accept the bid on demolition of the Old Magee Middle School Building. The lowest bidder withdrew their proposal. The board approved to accept the withdrawal. The board approved the second lowest bid to Sullivan Enterprise. The demolition will cost $119,000. The company will have 75 days to complete the work.

Work is projected to start in a couple of weeks.  Be cautious when delivering and picking up students. Constructions crews will do their best to elevate construction traffic during the time of school starting and getting out in the afternoon. Remember constructions will not cease during this time so pay extra attention.

Construction fencing will be provided and should be installed shortly.

OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, announced today that the Sheriff of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, has been arrested on federal narcotics trafficking and extortion charges.

William Brewer, 58, a resident of Oakland, Mississippi, was charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and extortion and bribery under color of official right in violation of the Hobbs Act, set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 1951. Brewer was charged by criminal complaint in the Northern District of Mississippi.

If convicted, Brewer faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, along with fines ranging from $250,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 per count. Brewer appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending preliminary and detention hearings which are set for August 14, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., in the Federal Courthouse in Oxford, Mississippi.

A criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(photo from Facebook)

Prepared Hundreds of False Tax Returns, Claiming over $3.5 Million in Bogus Refunds

WASHINGTON – A former resident of Durant, Mississippi pleaded guilty today to preparing and filing a fraudulent claim for a tax refund with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Hurst, Jr. of the Southern District of Mississippi.

According to court documents and information provided in court, from 2005 through 2015, Teresa C. Chism operated tax return preparation businesses in Mississippi named Mo’ Money, MoneyCo USA, and Lady T Taxes .  Chism falsified her clients’ returns in different ways in order to increase their tax refunds, including reporting false wages, false self-employment income and expenses, and false education credits.  In total, Chism prepared more than 550 false tax returns, seeking over $3.5 million in fraudulent tax refunds.  The IRS paid at least $3.2 million in refunds on these bogus claims.  Chism also did not file individual tax returns or pay taxes on her own income for 2013-2015, despite earning more than $100,000 during those years.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 8, 2018.  Chism faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, as well as, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Hurst commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Robert J. Boudreau and William Montague of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Helen Wall of the Southern District of Mississippi, who are prosecuting the case.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”.
– Galatians 6:9

There are times when we feel like we are not getting any good breaks, work may be slow, you may be looking for a job, your finances are not where they need to be or you’re struggling in a relationship. It’s easy to think, “This is never going to change. I’m never going to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The light IS there. You just have to keep pushing on and trying.

Never give up! Shake off the the self-pity, shake off what didn’t work out, and turn your focus towards the positive. Turn your focus to where you want to be. Soon you will see that “light” that God has prepared for you!

Sharon Womack

At times, we can be afraid to let go. When we let go, we are giving up control. Most people don’t like feeling a loss of control.

But the truth is, we are not really in control at all; otherwise, we would not be struggling and worrying without progress.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is waiting for us to let Him bring us peace?

As God said in Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Sharon Womack

The city of Magee celebrated the opening of a new business located in the old Magee Elementary School in the Goodwater Community.

The Five County Child Development or often called Head Start, will house 220 children from a five county area. Dr. Jonthan Bines, former Mendenhall graduate, is the director of 5 county.

A welcome reception was held Friday, August 10th at the Civic Center in Magee. Brother Darnell Moffett welcomed guest and faculty. Mayor Dale Berry welcomed the organization and told 5 County was probably one of the largest businesses to locate in Magee during his term as mayor. The center will employ between 30 and 35 people. Mayor Berry entertained the crowd explaining how he already knew Dr. Bines. “I was coaching at Mendenhall, and coached this guy” explained Dale. Mayor Berry praised Alderman Patrick Brown for the work he did in getting Head Start to locate in Magee. “Patrick knew the importance of getting something in the old elementary school property and he went after it,” Berry said.

(Pictured Fontaine McNair, Patrick Brown, Dr. Jonathan Bines, Sue Honea, Dale Berry, and Darnell Moffett)

Dr. Bines, in turn, told of how when he saw Dale at a school board meeting he couldn’t figure out what Coach was doing at a school board meeting. “I thought he had retired. Last time I saw him, he was waving a white towel and telling us to push harder, “ laughed Bines.

Dr. Bines explained that the facility operates under the federal government which means strict regulations. “We will follow the regulations,” Bines stated. “ We are about educating the child and giving them a good foundation for life.”

The Mission Statement: “Improving the Quality of Life of Children, Families, and Communities”

The Vision Statement:            ” Building on the past;Reaching for the future”

We believe that low-income families should have the opportunity to improve their quality of life.  We believe that all people should be provided the necessary tools to enhance their educational, economic and social status.  Our Vision is to move our children and families from low-income dependent families to self-sufficient independent families with school ready children.

To realize the vision we will have to play the role of pulling the team together, look at indicators for the future to see where we want to be and get staff qualified to meet the future needs of our children, families and communities.

Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive services to nearly 30 million children and their families.

Moffett told of moving to Magee about 15 years ago to pastor Calvary Church located in the Goodwater Community. “The church was already mission minded and involved with the community, but I wanted the church to reach out even more,” said Moffett. Along with fellow community leaders, Darnell has worked diligently to improve and strengthen our city.

Alderman Patrick Brown spoke explaining how everyone had worked together to see Five County Child Development become a reality in Simpson County. Brown stated that Pastor Moffett spoke of the work begun 15 years ago, but actually, Patrick and Fontaine McNair began the journey to improve their community 22 years ago. Both men and others searched for ways to make a difference in the lives of citizens.

Brown thanked the mayor and board for their support during the journey to bring 5 County to Magee.

The reception was hosted by the City of Magee & CGC Development, Inc.

ACT, Simpson County theater group, has the stage set, the costumes ready, and the cast cramming their lines in preparation for the performance of “The Purrfect Crime on August 17th & 18th at Boswell Auditorium.

The adult play is entertaining for all ages. Tickets are $15 and Senior Citizens and children under 10 are $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

In Tracey Crawford’s words, “All the seats at Boswell are excellent and the AC works!”

Mark your calendar for the play dates.

August 17th at 7 pm
August 18th at 2 & 6 pm

Boswell Regional Center is celebrating its 100th anniversary!

Many people in the Simpson County area and the state of MS have been touched by the presence of Boswell.

Originally known as the Sanatorium, a facility for people with Tuberculosis, Boswell now stands as a lighthouse of history and care.

Click for more info

This information is posted on the BRC website.

“It was a mighty battle, waged by a dedicated healthcare force against a terrible disease. The Sanatorium saved lives.
Tuberculosis was an urgent public health problem when Dr. Henry Boswell appeared before the Mississippi Legislature in 1916, proposing a modern sanatorium. Lawmakers responded generously, and so did the city of Magee, donating 200 acres of land.
Over the next 60 years, the Mississippi State Sanatorium stood as a beacon and a refuge, caring for patients of all races and ages, adding the Preventorium for preventive residential care for children in 1930. Though the Sanatorium closed in 1976, and the facility became a care center for patients with developmental disabilities, now called the Boswell Regional Center. Today, BRC’s beautifully landscaped campus is still home to many of the original Sanatorium structures, some of which are designated as Mississippi Landmarks by the Department of Archives and History.”

T-Shirts commemorating the historical event are on sale.  Call Boswell’s main number  601-867-5000 and ask for any employee listed on the flyer in order to purchase a shirt.

I think we are more self confident as we get older. We have lived and learned. Confidence is a super power that affects every aspect of your life, from your relationships to your career and social life. So use this power to live a fulfilled life!
*  Tap into positive thinking, positive self-talk every morning. Make a conscious decision to be kind and gentle to yourself.
* Practice a strong pose or smile. It’s all about the attitude and our attitude towards others.
* Try new things, whether its exercise, a new skill or venture. The thing that has built my confidence is not being afraid to try new things.
Your confidence will give you self assurance that radiates and that is contagious! People enjoy being around people with confidence!

Maintaining a healthy body requires us to make healthy choices in multiple areas of our life.
*Monitor your weight. Eat daily to match your body’s needs and maintain a healthy weight. To lose weight, it is considered safe to cut just 500 calories from your current diet and then you’ll usually lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.
*Install online apps on your phone to help you keep up with food, nutrition and calories and your daily exercise. All of us need to exercise, find something you enjoy doing and go for it!
* Keep to a well-balanced diet. This means eating the right proportions or servings of each food. Research these details in order to balance your meals and snacks during the day.
* Drink adequate amounts of water and take vitamins. I take about 8 vitamins a day. This is especially important as we get older. It is all about fueling our body for that healthy glow.
Seeking a healthy life is a choice and has the benefits to a longer life which we all desire.

A few good sets of lingerie is part of taking care of yourself, feeling good and being confident in your own skin. Why? There’s a disconnect in your brain if you save your pretty things exclusively for special occasions. Don’t tell yourself that you only deserve to feel fantastic once in a while. While there are times you may want to go for comfort it is important to feel beautiful no matter what size you may be. It makes no difference if you are single or you are married to your soul mate it comes down to how you feel about yourself. A friend of mine who was single seemed to feel guilty about buying some beautiful lingerie to which I told her, don’t feel guilty, you know that it’s beautiful and you feel wonderful with it regardless if anyone else sees it or not! We should want to treat ourselves special all the time, every chance we get. You are worthy! There are a few reasons why I feel strongly about investing in pretty lingerie…

*What you wear affects your confidence and self-esteem. If you choose lovely underwear on a daily basis you will always feel pretty and poised.
*A properly sized bra should be a must have! The right bra can make the rest of you look slimmer and more put together.
* Having nice under garments makes you feel feminine. Something with lace is magical. When you feel feminine, you tap into that magnetic feminine power and others notice that radiated self-assurance.
*Claiming your feminine power is really about owning your “personal power”.
*Wear matching sets of under garments. This makes me feel complete, put together and strong.
Choosing to wear correct sizes and sets makes you feel good and sends a signal to your brain that you are deserving of beauty in your life! Wearing pretty sets underneath and layering it on the outside with something nice will invigorate you! It’s time to fall in love with yourself and your life by choosing to dress with love and care!

How to use your self-confidence, a healthy body and a few good sets of lingerie is very simple– take them all on to give you a better sense of balance. I believe it gives us a more conscious life, a more mindful awareness of our worth and how important each of us truly are. Each of us unique in our own individual way!

Barbara Ann Shotts, 63, of Mendenhall, died Friday at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland.

She was born Friday, April 8, 1955.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 13, 2018 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Colonial Chapel Funeral Home Mendenhall.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, August 13, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home Mendenhall. The Burial will follow in Herrington Family Cemetery. Bro. James Smith will officiate.

Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee is in charge of arrangements. (601) 847-4401

Mrs. Shotts was a member of Weathersby Baptist Church.

Mrs. Shotts was preceded in death by her parents Marvin Herrington, Jr. and Ruby Herrington; Brother Billy Herrington.

Mrs. Shotts is survived by her husband Samuel Shotts; Son Chris Shotts; Sister Ella Purser (Joe); Sister Joe Ann Floyd (Daniel).

Pallbearers will be Daniel Purser, Mark Floyd, Wes Shotts, Logan Franklin, Harry Rankin, and Ron Hale.

Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com

WESSON- The Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) Program at Copiah-Lincoln Community College will host a Fall Membership Social on Tuesday, Aug. 21. The social will be on the college’s Wesson Campus in the Billy B. Thames Conference Center from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

All retired or semi-retired persons are invited to the social to learn what activities are available through ILR and how to become a member. ILR hosts monthly luncheons, unique workshops, interesting guest speakers and various travel opportunities throughout the year.

For more information, contact Program Coordinator Julie Wright at 601.643.8702 or julie.wright@colin.edu.

Happy Birthday to Debbie Thompson!!! Debbie is a person who brings love and laughter to many people.

We at MageeNews.com hope you have a wonderful day.

We love and appreciate you!

I was out and about this weekend and noticed “dirt moving” all around our city.

Near Tractor Supply, the new Fast Pace Urgent Care Clinic building is coming on up! The urgent care clinic will provide treatment for a range of illnesses, injuries, and common conditions.
I have contacted the company for an approximate opening date.

Ferguson Federal Credit Union, located next to Dr. Foozy Dyer on 11th Avenue is really moving dirt!      
The business offers financial services.     

I heard but do not know this to be a fact, but a Dollar Tree may be coming in the old CVS building and a gym may replace The Dollar Store. Burger King is still in the running to put a restaurant in the parking lot of that same Highway 49 shopping center.

While I am on the subject of the Highway 49 Shopping Center, our police department has been given written permission by the owner of the shopping center to remove cars for sell and 18 wheelers.
We need to keep that area clean. The Highway 49 Shopping center is privately owned; therefore, the land owners have the right to keep their property clear of unwanted vehicles.

Progress continues in Magee!

54 area youth and 15 adults attended FBC weekend worship experience Connect.
The group met Friday night at the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church Magee before loading the vans and heading to Camp Garaywa in Clinton.

The program is an opportunity for students to learn more about Christ through the teaching of the Word, interpersonal relationships, song, and activities designed to highlight the truths of the Scripture .

The group spent two nights at Camp Garaywa and arrived back at FBC Sunday morning in time to greet church goers. What a wonderful feeling to be welcomed by smiling young people in green shirts! The youth were located at all entrances to the church!

Mason Kennedy and Jacob Johns presented the sermons. Both young men did an excellent job and brought a thought provoking message. (Click here for the link to the sermon)

Sunday service was a blessing to me. Loving one another for who they are not who you want them to be is the true Christian spirit.

Thanks to Nolan Bishop, youth director at First Baptist for an awesome weekend of worship.

Police Report for the City of Magee Week August 6-13^th, 2018

DUI – 4

No Insurance-1

Possession of Paraphernalia-1

No Driver License – 1

Possession of Control Substance – 1

Hold for Information – 1

Possession of Methamphetamine – 2

Seat belt Violation – 2

Disorderly Conduct – 1