ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! THURSDAY | JULY 27, 2017 Murder suspect released without trial after 12 yrs 45 Alternate. The sault on law enforcement. Two personnel) have basically said Man accused of killing father declared gunfight followed mental evaluations, however, they’ve done with him all they multiple attempt- have found him incompetent to could do, so it could come at any incompetent; care options limited ed carjackings by stand trial. day.” Harris, accord- Clay County Sheriff Eddie The resident at the beauty BY INDIA YARBOROUGH tody without standing trial. ing to previous Scott said Harris, after spend- salon said she fears freeing [email protected] The resident, who asked to reporting by The ing 12 years in the Clay County Harris could put West Point’s remain anonymous due to con- Dispatch. jail and almost six months at citizens in danger. One West Point resident was Harris cerns for her safety, said her un- Harris was East Mississippi State Hospital, “Knowing that he was in working in a downtown salon cle was one of three West Point charged with murder in the will be released at an undis- jail for murder and (will be) Wednesday when she heard the police officers Steven Jessie 2005 shooting death of his fa- closed date in the near future. released with mental issues, I man who allegedly shot her un- Harris allegedly shot in October ther and two counts of kidnap- “We know it’s going to be don’t think it’s safe for our com- cle would be released from cus- 2005 in a gunfight on Highway ping, along with aggravated as- soon,” Scott said. “(Hospital See HARRIS, 3A Unity Park New Hope YMCA members organize to try to save facility induction process expected this fall Committee looks to honor up to 2 people on MLK Day 2018 BY CARL SMITH [email protected] A process to hon- or Oktibbeha County residents who posi- tively impacted their community at Unity Park is expected to begin this fall. The Unity Park Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Committee, a group Taylor Frank P. Phillips YMCA Director Andy Boyd speaks Wednesday to concerned members of the New Hope YMCA about the pos- of residents charged to oversee sible closure of the facility. “The issue here is dollars,” Boyd told the crowd. and promote the public greens- pace next to Mugshots restaurant, been open since 2001. asked supervisors to provide fund- Location to close YMCA Executive Director ing for beautification projects and Andy Boyd relayed the news for a website that will serve as an Aug. 31 due to to members of the New Hope educational resource on the loca- YMCA during a Wednesday tion. lagging revenue morning meeting that lasted Once established, the website about 90 minutes. There, he will also allow the public to sub- BY ALEX HOLLOWAY told members the board of di- mit names of former residents who [email protected] rectors decided to close the could be honored each year at the New Hope branch because park’s annual Martin Luther King Members of the Frank P. it has struggled to generate Jr. Day celebration. Phillips Memorial YMCA enough revenue to remain The inaugural nomination peri- branch in New Hope are rally- open. od is expected to run from mid-Au- ing to save the facility. “If we were making a dime gust to mid-October this year, and The Board of Directors for here, or breaking even or the committee will decide how to the Frank P. Phillips Memorial close, we wouldn’t be having move forward with honoring nomi- YMCA, which has branches in this meeting,” Boyd said. “We nees in the winter. downtown Columbus, Caledo- have been way in the red for Unity Park Committee member nia and New Hope, announced years.” Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff and president for the Oktibbeha Wednesday the branch will Boyd told members the New New Hope resident Erica Gruseck voices her concerns County chapter of th National As- close Aug. 31. Hope branch saw a roughly about the New Hope YMCA closure during a meeting sociation for the Advancement of New Hope’s YMCA, located $50,000 deficit last year and is Wednesday. “I was disappointed to hear about this clos- See UNITY PARK, 3A on Lake Lowndes Road, has See YMCA, 8A ing right after I paid my annual membership,” she said. Dan Gallion Let the sunshine in measures while Brent Heil, Local attorney converting office building. right, steadies And in a roundabout a solar panel to home, office, rental way, President Donald be installed on Trump was the incentive the home of Co- properties to solar power — if not for converting lumbus attorney their properties to solar, at David Owen. BY SLIM SMITH least the timing of it. The Owens’ [email protected] “Renee and I started home, office Owen thinking about doing this and rental prop- Columbus attorney David Owen and when Obama was president,” Owen said erties are being converted to his wife, Renee, are having solar pan- Wednesday. “When Trump got elected solar power. els installed in their historic Southside we decided to move quickly. We can get Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff home, rental houses and his downtown See SOLAR POWER, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 In fencing, what is the difference MEETINGS Today through Saturday Today: Joint between an epee and a foil? ■ SCT: Unplugged 3: Starkville Community 2 Which country has the greatest pro- Starkville Board Theatre presents a showcase of music from portion of its surface below sea level? of Aldermen-Ok- the ’70s to today with a diverse group of area 3 In which film did Dustin Hoffman tibbeha County star with Tom Cruise, winning the singers and musicians. Performances are 1988 Best Actor Oscar? 7:30 p.m. at the Playhouse on Main, 108 Board of Super- visors meeting, Karson Hughes 4 Which famous British naval E. Main St., Starkville. Tickets are $25. A mistress was born Amy Lyon around Second grade, Annunciation dessert reception follows. Limited seating; 6 p.m., county 1761, later changing her name to courthouse Emma Hart? make reservations between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at July 28: High Low 5 What was the nickname of band 662-323-6855. 95 74 leader William Basie? Starkville Board Partly cloudy of Aldermen Full forecast on Friday Answers, 8B work session, page 2A. ■ Mississippi Characters: Columbus Com- munity Theatre youth bring characters from 11 a.m., City state history to life. Tours are 6:30, 7, 7:30 Hall INSIDE and 8 p.m. at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, Aug. 1: Business 4A Dear Abby 7B 501 Main St. Free, but ticket required (only 15 Starkville Board Classifieds8B Obituaries 5A people will be scheduled per tour session). of Aldermen, 5: Comics 8B Opinions 6A Sign up for preferred time at columbus-arts. 30 p.m., City Crossword 8B org or call 662-328-2787 (closed Mondays). Carey Schuller works at Newk’s. Hall DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to academically and athletically.” Jury: Michael Jackson estate Mississippi State defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, talking about former Noxubee County owes Quincy Jones $9.4 million Thursday High School standout Jeffery Simmons. Story, 1B. Producer had sought $30M in lawsuit BY BRIAN MELLEY Weitzman said he and his The Associated Press team were surprised by FRUIT FEST the verdict and would ap- LOS ANGELES — A peal it. jury on Wednesday found Weitzman and co-coun- that Michael Jackson’s sel Zia Modabber wrote in estate owes Quincy Jones a statement that Jones was $9.4 million in royalties seeking money that wasn’t and production fees from owed to him. “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” “Any amount above and more of the super- and beyond what is called star’s biggest hits. for in his contracts is too The award from a Los much and unfair to Mi- Angeles Superior Court chael’s heirs,” the lawyers jury fell short of the $30 said. “Although Mr. Jones million the legendary pro- is portraying this is a vic- ducer sought in the law- tory for artists’ rights, the suit filed nearly four years real artist is Michael Jack- ago, but well above the ap- son and it is his money Mr. proximately $392,000 the Jones is seeking.” Jackson estate contended Jones claimed in the Jones was owed. lawsuit that Jackson’s es- The jury of 10 women tate and Sony Music En- and two men had been de- tertainment owed him for liberating since Monday. music he had produced “This lawsuit was nev- that was used in the con- er about Michael, it was cert film “This Is It” and about protecting the in- two Cirque du Soleil shows tegrity of the work we all that used Jackson’s songs. did in the recording studio The lawsuit said the and the legacy of what we entities had improperly created,” Jones wrote in a re-edited the songs to de- statement. “Although this prive Jones of royalties (judgment) is not the full and production fees, and Sarah Dutton/Dispatch Staff amount that I was seeking, that he had a contractual Talia Tabares, 7, smiles with her watermelon at the inaugural “Fruit Fest” hosted by Starkville Community I am very grateful that the right to take first crack at Church at McKee Park on Sunday. Talia attends Starkville Christian School. Her mother, Eleisha Tabares, jury decided in our favor any re-edit or remix.