SPORTS COOK OF THE WEEK CHOCTAW CENTRAL LADY GRANDMOTHERS WARRIORS EYE 8TH TITLE ARE INSPIRATION Basketball — Page 2B Brooke Winstead — Page 1B Established 1881 — Oldest Business Institution in Neshoba County Philadelphia, Mississippi Wednesday, March 3, 2021 140th Year No. 9 **$1.00 CO-OP TO STALLO Deputies led on 25-mile pursuit By DUNCAN DENT The pursuit, which began Massey over she seemed impaired to him at Meanwhile, Clark said she back onto Mississippi 15 [email protected] near the Neshoba County Co- in front of the that time as well. was passing other vehicles on before turning onto Road 832 Op on Main Street during a Co-op at Clark said deputies had the road in a dangerous man- headed for the Winston Coun- A woman suspected of traffic stop, ended just a quar- approximate- pulled Massey over and were ner. ty line. being intoxicated led Sheriff’s ter-mile short of the Winston ly 5:15 a.m. running her driver’s license. The suspect then got onto At this time, Clark said deputies on a 25-mile pursuit County line with Massey zig- Monday, They had the door open and Mississippi 15 north and pro- Massey lost control of her from the Co-Op all the way to zagging down county roads in March 1. were trying to remove her ceeded toward Stallo. vehicle and went off the road Stallo before daylight Monday and around Burnside, Dunn Massey keys when she decided to flee. Clark said she led deputies into an embankment between morning. Road and points north. was driving a Clark said his deputies around Burnside before taking a quarter-mile and a half-mile Olivia Massey, 33, of Massey has been denied black Cadil- Olivia were able to get out of the way a left on County Road 571 from the Winston County line. 12580 County Road 759, was bond on the felony fleeing lac SRX Massey but one was reaching into the crisscrossing a number of “My guys did a really good arrested and charged with charge and has a hold for SUV and was car at the time she sped off. county roads. job,” Clark said. felony fleeing, failure to yield another agency, officials said. spotted driving erratically and Clark said deputies fol- “At one point I think she “She was obviously to blue lights, resisting arrest, The other charges have a total stopping in the roadway. lowed the Cadillac east on turned around and started impaired and they did a good disorderly conduct and driving of $3,100 in bond. Clark said he talked to Main Street, disregarding sev- heading toward deputies,” job of getting her off the road. under the influence first Neshoba County Sheriff Massey after she led deputies eral traffic lights, before turn- Clark said. She put a lot of other people in offense. Eric Clark said deputies pulled on the 25-mile chase and said ing north on Pecan Avenue. Eventually, she would get danger.” ESCAPES JAIL state champions Inmate flees for birthday supper By DUNCAN DENT [email protected] A Neshoba County jail inmate escaped custody while being booked last Thursday to enjoy a birthday dinner at his mother’s home near Dixon. Jacob Ryan Dove, 29, of 10720 Road 149 has been brought back into custody after he escaped from the Neshoba County jail Thursday afternoon and ended up on the Fork Road in a ditch. Sheriff Eric Clark said they brought Dove back into custody later that evening without incident at his mother’s home on Road 2412 near Dixon. He is charged with felony escape, three counts of credit card fraud and a hold for the Sheriff’s Department in Orange County, Texas. Clark said that they want him in Texas on possession of a con- trolled substance charge. Dove remains in the Neshoba County Detention Center on a $110,000 bond, $50,000 of which is for the escape charge and $20,000 for each fraud charge. Dove was arrested last Thurs- day, Feb. 25, his birthday. Clark said law enforcement’’s interaction with Dove began that morning when deputies investigated a sus- picious vehicle parked on Road 339 in the Dixon community. Photo by Robbie Robertson Clark said they found Dove passed out in the driver’s seat. The Leake Academy girls celebrate winning the Class AAAA state competing in the MAIS Overall Tournament on a mission to win that At that time deputies discov- championship on Saturday at Hillcrest Christian. The team is now title. — See story, 4B. See ESCAPE, page 2A TRAINING SEEN AS CRITICAL New Police Chief Lyons once held bass fishing record By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Lyons was born, raised and season but that it was nothing under four different police [email protected] educated in Philadelphia, hav- to brag about. chiefs. ing graduated from Philadel- The new chief said other “I have seen how different Newly-minted Police Chief phia High School in 2004. area law enforcement officers chiefs handled different situa- Eric Lyons loves to hunt and After graduating, Lyons have a hunting camp around tions,” Lyons said. “I have fish in his spare time and even worked a couple of years the House community on 800 seen what has worked and held a local fishing record before deciding to become a acres rented for deer hunting. what didn’t work. There are once. police officer and joining the For the past couple of some things we can bring back “I love bass fishing,” said Philadelphia Police Depart- months, Lyons served as the that I think would improve Lyons, Philadelphia’s new ment where he has served for interim police chief after things.” police chief. more than 14 years, first as a Julian Greer retired Jan. 1. Lyons said he thinks the There is a 12-pound bass patrolman and later as a DUI “I know all of the officers department is in good shape mounted on his wall at home officer and commander. personally,” Lyons said of his but could use improvement. he caught at Neshoba Lake in During his spare time new role. “I know problems “Not that this department is March 2009 that was the Lyons said he likes to be with the officers have. The officers in trouble,” Lyons said. record at the time. his wife Jamie and their six want to see change in this “Policing isn’t what it was 14 “I don’t think that record children, Logan, Erica, Can- department. Being an officer years ago. Laws change, tech- still stands, but it was then,” dace, Jadalynn, McKenzie and myself, I want to see change. I nology changes and people he said. McKinley, at their home in wanted this job. I have some change. Over the last few Lyons, named chief of Philadelphia. ideas. I believe can turn this years, the public’s perception police unanimously on Feb. 23 Lyons has a pond where he department around adminis- of law enforcement has dimin- by the Mayor and Board of likes to fish. And in addition to tratively and make a differ- ished. We want to build back Alderman, is not new to fishing, Lyons said he also ence.” the trust.” Police Chief Eric Lyons shown with the 12-pound bass he Philadelphia or to the police likes deer hunting and said he During his time on the caught at Neshoba Lake that was a record. force. took his share of deer this past force, Lyons said he worked See CHIEF, page 3A OPINION JUST AMONG FRIENDS OPINION Rich Lowry PAGE 4A Marianne Enochs PAGE 1B Patrick Buchanan PAGE 4A 2A, The Neshoba Democrat, Philadelphia, Miss., March 3, 2021 Contest brings life to Civil Rights studies By STEVE SWOGETINSKY ter, there was the fist with the [email protected] names of people who have died because of their support Philadelphia High School for Civil Rights.” teachers used a Black History Johnson’s botany class Month project as part of their focused their door on Dr. curriculum, giving students George Washington Carver Engagements & Weddings hands-on experience with the and his research work on courses. peanuts. There is no charge for engagement and wedding The project was a door dec- “This is a botany class and announcements. Submit them to weddings@neshobade- orating contest for first-period Dr. Carver was a botanist,” mocrat.com. classes in the middle and high Johnson said. “He was born a The deadline for submitting engagements and wed- school. slave. He became a botanist dings is at noon on Friday before the Wednesday publica- Each teacher picked a sub- and he really changed the tion. ject related to Black History world in the South. He invent- Every effort will be made to run the announcement on Month, which was celebrated ed 300 peanut products. the date requested, but space requirements and time some- throughout February, and dec- “The door centers on a times prohibit it. orated their doors. peanut plant and around it are Wedding copy must not exceed the equivalent of more “We were not able to have a all the things he invented from than two 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages. program because of COVID- peanuts. From makeup to ink 19,” principal Steve Eiland The first-period classes of Mary Kate Collins Hollingsworth, to feed. He came up with all of The Democrat reserves the right to edit articles to fit left, and Jennifer Johnson tied for first in Philadelphia High space requirements and style. said. “This was a way in these products to encourage News of parties relating to engagements or weddings which we could acknowledge School’s Civil Rights door decoration contest.