ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 1, 2018 Off-duty officer, robber exchange gunfire downtown the suspect for one block. The ed to the scene and gathered ev- door seating area. MBI investigates shooting while Columbus suspect got away. idence. Shelton said CPD’s stan- “We believe that someone police search for masked suspect A city source gave The Dis- dard procedure is to call MBI knows who this is and we ask patch a name for the officer in- to investigate officer-involved the public to contact Crimestop- BY ISABELLE ALTMAN bus Police Department press re- volved, but the newspaper could shootings. pers at 1-800-530-7151 and iden- [email protected] lease. Authorities do not believe not otherwise confirm the offi- MBI spokesperson Warren tify this person,” Shelton said in anyone was injured. cer’s identity by press time. The Strain confirmed MBI’s involve- the press release. An off-duty police officer Early reports indicate the press release indicated CPD ment with the case but did not “We will diligently continue and an armed robbery suspect would not publicly identify the comment further on the shoot- our work that began last night off-duty officer was outside the exchanged gunfire outside The officer. ing. to identify this suspect and ar- Princess Theatre downtown The Princess Theatre restau- Police Chief Fred Shelton The suspect is described as rest him,” Shelton continued. business shortly after midnight rant on Fifth Street South when said the officer will return to a tall black male who was wear- “The management and staff of Wednesday. the armed robbery suspect shot work on his standard schedule ing an orange bandanna over The Princess are cooperating Mississippi Bureau of In- at him. The officer, who was since he was off-duty when the his face. Shelton told The Dis- with us 100 percent, and we be- vestigation is investigating the carrying a legal off-duty weap- shooting occurred. patch he was attempting to rob lieve we will bring this suspect shooting, according to a Colum- on, shot back and then chased MBI investigators respond- customers in The Princess’ out- to justice.” County claims WHERE’S THE FIRE? County looks for parks money new way to raise promised property tax to city is collection fee ‘reimbursement’ on city Columbus mayor asking Tax assessor wants to supes to put stipulation meet with city, county in writing attorneys to hammer BY Hannah GRECO out compromise [email protected] BY Hannah GRECO Lowndes County [email protected] supervisors insist they are not holding After an aborted $200,000 from the plan to get the city city parks system. of Columbus to pay They just want to $80,000 more in fees know what they are for ad valorem tax paying for first. collection, Lowndes At Tuesday’s Sanders County officials are Board of Supervisors now willing to work meeting, Columbus with the city to find Andrews Public Information another way. Officer Joe Dillon County Tax Collector/Assessor confronted supervi- Greg Andrews publicly addressed sors about if the city the criticism he received for not should budget the adequately communicating the is- $200,000 the county sue with city leaders before asking previously agreed to Smith supervisors on July 16 to impose provide it for parks the fee hike. He even apologized and recreation each INsiDE to supervisors during Tuesday ■ year for three years. OUR VIEW: morning’s meeting for the fallout When Harry When the county dumped Sally. that came from that decision before and city dissolved Page 6A indicating he wants to meet togeth- the Columbus-Lown- er with City Attorney Jeff Turnage des Recreation Au- and County Attorney Tim Hudson thority on Oct. 1, 2017, the county Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff to hammer out a compromise. An- Omarion Grant, 7, adjusts his new Dalmatian-printed firefighter helmet he re- initially agreed to provide the city ceived from a Columbus Fire and Rescue firefighter while exploring one of CFR’s drews is hoping a new agreement those funds as part of the terms of trucks Tuesday. Omarion and his family attended an ice cream block party host- could come by the end of the calen- the split, as it was determined that ed by the Columbus Police Department, CFR and the Family Resource Center. dar year. See PARKS MONEY, 8A Omarion is the son of Christopher Rush and Ternesha Roby of Columbus. See TAX COLLECTION, 8A Community meeting at Noxubee Rodriguez Broadnax, permanent interim superintendent for County schools addresses takeover Noxubee County representatives from Mississippi De- School District, MDE spoke to more than spoke to more than partment of Education took questions 300 concerned 300 concerned citizens from the audience regarding MDE’s teachers, parents recent takeover the district, attend- and community BY MARY POLLITZ ees seemed reassured by Broadnax’s members Tuesday [email protected] plans for the district, which include night at Noxubee the creation of a task force and plans County High School More than 300 concerned parents, to meet with district staff and commu- gymnasium. Missis- teachers and community stakehold- nity members during the fall semes- sippi Department of ers packed the Noxubee County High ter. Education has taken School gymnasium Tuesday to meet On July 19, Gov. Phil Bryant de- over operations at the district due to the new face of Noxubee County clared NCSD in a state of emergency, several standards School District. which mandated state involvement. violations. While neither incoming Interim Su- According to previous reporting by Mary Pollitz/Dispatch Staff perintendent Rodriguez Broadnax nor See NOXUBEE, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What is notable about the Buffy the MEETINGS Thursday through Sunday Aug. 6: City Coun- Vampire Slayer episode “Once More, ■ Artesia Days: This summer festival With Feeling”? cil budget work- includes an Aug. 3 block party with entertain- 2 White cats with eyes of what color shop, 2 p.m. City ment, motivational speakers, dance teams are most likely to be deaf? Hall Courtroom and more from 6 p.m.-midnight. On Aug. 4, 3 What city’s ballpark hosts the Sau- Aug. 7: City Coun- sage Race just prior to the seventh opening ceremony is 2 p.m., followed by a cil, 5 p.m., Munici- inning? cake walk, face painting, cartoon characters, Briley Pyle pal Courtroom 4 What road connects all ten provinc- gospel music and blues that evening. A base- First grade, Annunciation es of Canada? Aug. 8: Columbus ball game Aug. 5 begins at 2 p.m. For informa- 5 What actor acted in only five feature Municipal School tion, call Artesia Town Hall, 662-272-5104. High Low films — each of which was nominated District board 85 68 for a Best Picture Oscar? Chance of a t-storm review meeting, Answers, 8B Full forecast on Saturday, Aug. 11 11:30 a.m., page 2A. ■ Sizzling Second Saturday: The Hitching Columbus Success Lot Farmers Market celebrates a Back to Academy School Bash from 7-10 a.m., with music by Aug. 9: CPD Citi- INSIDE Melvin Mordecai, Mother Goose and a visit zen Overview Com- Classifieds7B Food 5B from The W’s Project CHEW food truck, plus mittee, 11 a.m., Comics 4B NATS 7A fresh produce, baked goods and crafts at Sec- Municipal Complex Crossword 8B Obituaries 4A ond Avenue and Second Street North. Contact Jim Turner likes to travel (rescheduled from 139TH YEAR, NO. 121 Dear Abby 4B Opinions 6A Main Street Columbus, 662-328-6305. and read. Aug. 2.) DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? LA prosecutors decline sex abuse charges against Les Moonves to all three incidents,” the Wednesday CBS Corp. CEO worksheet said. acknowledged CBS declined to com- ‘THE SNAKE MAN’ ment Tuesday. Terry Vandeventer, formerly of the Jackson Zoo Reptile Depart- making advances In an article last week in ment, brought some slithering friends from his Living Reptile The New Yorker, six women Scene&Seen Museum to the Starkville Public Library July 25. that may have — four of whom spoke on the record — alleged sexual made women harassment or misconduct uncomfortable by Moonves between the 1980s and late 2000s. THE ASSOCIatED PRESS Four of the women de- scribed forcible touching LOS ANGELES — Pros- or kissing during business ecutors in Southern Califor- meetings, it says, while two nia declined to pursue sexu- said that Moonves physi- al abuse claims against CBS cally intimidated them or Corp. CEO Les Moonves threatened to derail their because the statute of lim- careers. itations has expired, accord- Moonves acknowledged ing to documents. making advances that may The unidentified wom- have made women uncom- an, who worked in the tele- fortable but said he never vision industry, went to Los misused his position to Angeles police in February harm or hinder anyone’s to report three alleged inci- career. dents, two in 1988 and one The incident reviewed by from 1986. prosecutors was not men- The Los Angeles County tioned in The New Yorker District Attorney’s Office piece written by Ronan Far- was considering three pos- row, who tweeted Tuesday sible criminal charges in- that the incidents reviewed cluding two misdemeanors, by prosecutors were not in- battery and indecent expo- cluded in his piece. sure, and a felony, forced CBS said Monday that Mahimadeva, Tanvee, Srivas and Hasini Yamagowna, Krishnaroo Saini (in back) oral copulation, according it was hiring outside coun- to a charge evaluation work- sel to investigate claims sheet. made in the article by Far- The document stated the row, who wrote a Pulitzer woman disclosed at least Prize-winning story last one of the alleged incidents year for the same maga- to a friend a year before fil- zine uncovering many of ing the police report.