Man Gets 20 Years for Sexual Battery Two Other Defendants Plead Guilty to Separate Armed Robberies
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY TUESDAY | MARCH 5, 2019 NEW NARRATIVES FESTIVAL Man gets 20 years for sexual battery Two other defendants plead guilty to separate armed robberies DISPATCH STAFF REPORT A Columbus man arrested three years after he reported- ly sexually assaulted a woman pleaded guilty to the assault in Lowndes County Circuit Court last week. Jamory Ross, 21, was sen- tenced to 30 years in the Missis- sippi Department of Corrections Ross with 20 to serve after admitting to the charge of sexual battery. According to the indictment, Ross broke into a Columbus residence and forced a woman to have oral sex with him after threatening her with a firearm in July 2015. However, he was Alex Holloway/Dispatch Staff not arrested until nearly three Collie Steve Soltis, a member of the advisory board for Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, talks years later, after DNA evidence to the Starkville Rotary Club about the New Narratives Festival and Conference. The festival, which focuses on com- placed him at the scene. munication, is scheduled for March 22-23 at the Mill at MSU. Ross was also charged with burglary and armed robbery, both of which were dismissed ‘Are we really saying anything?’ as a condition of his plea. Other defendants who plead- ed guilty in the most recent New narratives festival to focus on corporate HOW TO GO term of circuit court include Gardner ■ WHAT: New Narratives Festival Jeffrey Collie, 38, of Aliceville, ■ WHEN: March 22-23 Alabama, and Ian Gardner, 21, of Columbus, communication, changing avenues for communication ■ WHERE: The Mill at MSU both of whom pleaded to separate armed rob- BY AleX HolloWAY ry Club about the festival. beries. [email protected] This year’s festival is scheduled “A lot of that disruption is cre- Collie was sentenced to 20 years in prison for March 22-23 at the Mill at MSU. ative friction which is a very positive after he was accused of robbing a man at gun- For the second year, Mississippi MSU Professor and Head of the State’s Department of Communi- force,” Soltis said. “We’re going to be point on 19th Street North in 2017. Department of Communications cation will host the New Narratives exploring a lot of that.” According to the indictment, Collie threat- John Forde said Soltis helped create Festival and Conference to focus on The festival will include speak- ened the victim with a gun and took his mon- the changing landscape of communi- the idea for the New Narrative Festi- ers such as MSU President Mark ey, a backpack and a shaving kit. Police later cation. val about three years ago. Keenum, who will talk about food found Collie hiding under a nearby house and Steve Soltis, a retired corporate This year’s festival, Soltis said, scarcity, and celebrity chef Robert arrested him, according to previous report- communications professional with will focus on communicating St. John, who will discuss the “farm ing from The Dispatch. more than 20 years of experience through times of transition and dis- to table” movement, which promotes Collie was also charged with shooting into working for Coca-Cola and UPS, and ruption. He said new competitive serving local food. a dwelling and possession of a weapon by a a member of the advisory board for forces, technologies and regulatory It will also feature Denise Horn, convicted felon. Those charges were retired the Department of Communications, pressures cause an almost constant director of corporate communica- based on his guilty plea. spoke Monday to the Starkville Rota- state of disruption. See ROTARY, 6A See PLEAS, 3A Supes consider abandoning section of overgrown road in New Hope that connects with Highville Burns: Small portion of Old Court has been completely Yorkville Road South hasn’t overgrown and now blends with the property at 1212 Old been maintained ‘in years’ Yorkville Road S. The road BY AMANDA LIEN funnels down from a two-lane [email protected] road to a single-lane road, then Burns abruptly dead-ends at what ap- The Lowndes County Board of Supervi- pears to be the edge of private sors voted during its regular meeting Mon- property. According to online mapping, the day to hold a public hearing about abandon- road should continue through that property ing a section of Old Yorkville Road South and connect with Highville Court. Amanda Lien/Dispatch Staff that hasn’t been maintained for years. Lowndes County Road Manager Ronnie Old Yorkville Road South ends about a mile before it is supposed to con- According to maps, Old Yorkville Road Burns said the county hasn’t maintained that nect with Highville Court. County officials say they want to abandon the road because it has been overgrown for years, despite still being the responsibility South runs between Old Yorkville Road and section of the road “in many years.” of the county. A hearing on the abandonment is set for April 30 during the Highville Court. However, a portion of road See ROAD, 6A regular board of supervisors meeting. No foul play suspected in woman’s death at Regal Inn DISPATCH STAFF REPORT was found in the Regal Inn in He and city officials both con- in a room at the Highway 182 Friday. Columbus. firmed her death is not being in- motel Monday morning. Mer- Merchant said Edwards’ offi- Lowndes County Coroner’s Coroner Greg Merchant vestigated as either a homicide chant said motel management cial cause of death is still under Office is investigating the identified the woman as Sha- or suicide. reported it to authorities. She investigation, but that she had death of a woman whose body ron Edwards, 58, of Columbus. Edwards was found deceased had apparently been dead since ongoing health problems. WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 Who was posthumously awarded MEETINGS Last week: Water/Ways Exhibit March 5: the 2008 Oscar for Best Actor in a ■ Water/Ways Exhibit: Through March 7, the Tenn-Tom Wa- Supporting Role? Columbus City terway Museum hosts the Smithsonian Water/Ways traveling 2 What could no longer be advertised Council regular exhibit at 317 Seventh St. N. Museum hours are Monday-Fri- on TV as of January 1971? meeting, 5 p.m., day, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For information or to book group tours, call 3 What is a word derived from a Municipal Com- person’s name — epigram, epiphone 662-328-8936. plex Courtroom Jacqueline Baumbach or eponym 4 If you broke your ulna, where would March 7: Colum- Fourth grade, Annunciation the doctor put the cast — ankle, arm Today bus Municipal or shin? ■ Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper: This annual pan- School District High Low 5 Jack Purcell, namesake of the leg- cake supper and bingo event from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Board regular 45 22 endary sneaker, was world champion Clear Episcopal Church, 318 College St., Columbus, benefits the meeting, 4 p.m., in which sport — badminton, squash church youth group. Get tickets at 662tix.com/events/pan- Brandon Central Full forecast on or tennis? page 2A. Answers, 6B cake-supper. For more information, contact the church office, Services 662-328-6673. March 11: Co- ■ Turf & Landscape seminar: Lowndes County Master lumbus-Lowndes Gardeners present this free seminar at 6 p.m. at the MSU Ex- Convention and INSIDE tension Service Lowndes County office, 485 Tom Rose Road, Visitors Bureau Classifieds5B Dear Abby 5B Columbus, with Jeff Wilson, Master Gardener state coordina- Donta Perry works at The Board regular Comics 5B Obituaries 5A tor. Topics include lawn care and establishment, landscaping Dispatch and likes to fish meeting, 4 p.m., 139TH YEAR, NO. 303 Crossword 6B Opinions 4A ideas and maintenance. For information, call 662-328-2111. and play basketball. CVB office DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? Spielberg’s push against Netflix at the Oscars hits a nerve Tuesday BY LINDSEY BAHR Spielberg’s Amblin Enter- AP Film Writer tainment, did. ALABAMA TORNADO Still, Netflix was a legit- LOS ANGELES — imate contender and this When Steven Spielberg year, the streaming ser- speaks about the business vice is likely to step up its Man finds father’s body in storm wreckage of Hollywood, everyone awards game even more generally listens and few with Martin Scorsese’s BY KIM CHANDLER Julie Morrison and her dissent. But reports that “The Irishman,” which AND JEFF MARTIN “We knew we were flying because it daughter-in-law picked he intends to support rule The Hollywood Reporter The Associated Press through the remnants of changes that could block said may also gunning for picked the house up.” Morrison’s home, look- BEAUREGARD, Ala. Netflix from Oscars-eli- a wide-theatrical release. Sunday’s tornado survivor, Julie Morrison ing for keys and a wallet. — Picking through the gibility have provoked a A teaser ad aired during They managed to salvage twisted debris that had heated, and unwieldy, de- the 91st Oscars for the was the reason I lived, the “I’m not going to be the couple’s safe, her hus- been her Alabama mobile bate online this weekend. gangster drama said “in reason that I got up.” surprised if we don’t band’s motorcycle boots home, Carol Dean found It has found the legendary theaters next fall,” instead The tornado that come up with some more and her embossed Bible. her wedding dress and a filmmaker at odds with of the “in select theaters” struck the area where the deceased.