Superintendent's Uncle Sues CMSD, Hickman
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY TUESDAY | AUGUST 25, 2015 Superintendent’s uncle sues CMSD, Hickman CMSD school contrary” to his desire. The it was a condition of his hire at Educator seeks more than $280K in damages board voted 4-0 to suit, filed in U.S. District Court CMSD, according to the lawsuit. BY ANDREW HAZZARD perintendent of CMSD, went be- hire Smith. North Division of Mississippi, David Dunn, the attorney [email protected] fore the school board in August Less than a accuses CMSD of breaching a for CMSD, did not respond to 2014 and recommended that Les- week later, how- contract, negligent misrepresen- messages from The Dispatch on An Illinois educator has filed lie Smith, a resident of East St. ever, Hickman tation and gross negligence. Monday. a lawsuit against the Columbus Louis, Illinois, be hired for the released a state- It names CMSD and Hick- CMSD officials declined to Municipal School District and position of director of schools. ment saying Hickman man as defendants. Smith is comment on the pending litiga- its superintendent claiming he Smith is an uncle of Hickman’s Smith had de- asking for more than $280,000 tion. The district has not yet re- was not given a job with the dis- wife. The newly created position, clined the job. in damages. sponded in court documents to trict despite the school board Hickman said, would work with Smith, in a federal lawsuit Smith claims that he obtained the lawsuit. voting to hire him. the district’s nine principals. It filed Friday, claims that the an education certification from The position of director of Dr. Philip Hickman, the su- was to earn $70,000 a year. The statement was “fabricated and the state in August 2014 because schools was never filled. Police ID RUNOFF ELECTION TODAY suspect in Nash Road crash Suspect facing 2 counts of ag assault on police officer BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] The driver of a 2004 Ford Ranger which collided with a Columbus police officer’s vehicle on Nash Road on Friday was Bruce Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Kendall Owings, Carol Newell, left, and Frank Howell, of Columbus, cast their votes at Brandon Central Services this morning. Today’s run-off according to the Owings election will determine who the Republican candidate for Lowndes County Circuit Clerk is in November. The Republicans on Columbus Police the ballot are Teresa Barksdale and Justin Shelton. Polls are open until 7 p.m. Department. Owings, 53, of 558 Jolly Road in Columbus, is being charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and felony possession of a controlled Columbus council mulling ‘Field of Dreams’ substance. An agent with the CPD Narcot- Council wants to see how Lowndes supes handle request the council and requested $100,000 to ics Unit stopped Owings around help fund the baseball field at Propst 1:35 p.m. Friday near 12th Street BY Alex Holloway Propst Park. Park. Lewis indicated that he would ask North and Park Circle, in the area [email protected] The council wants to see how the Lowndes County supervisors for simi- of Lee Park. Owings, who had Lowndes County Board of Supervisors lar funding. outstanding warrants for traffic Columbus councilmen decided Mon- handles a similar request from CLRA The field, according to the funding offenses, fled in his truck when day to hold off on a decision for funding officials. request included in a packet at the ap- he learned he was being arrested, a Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Au- On Thursday, Greg Lewis, the exec- propriations hearing, is a proposed See SUSPECT, 8A thority proposed “Field of Dreams” at utive director of the CLRA, went before See COUNCIL, 8A GRAND OPEN- ING: Greg Lewis, City seeking municipal executive director of the Colum- bus-Lowndes judge applicants Recreation Au- thority, and Kath- ryn Ragsdale, No formal applications ing to human resources director assistant man- Patricia Mitchell. ager of External yet received As of Monday morning, Mitchell Affairs for Toyota said she had not yet received an ap- Engineering and BY ALEX HOLLOWAY plication for the position. Mitchell Manufacturing, sit aholloway@cdispatch said Corky Smith, a local attorney, at computer sta- had contacted her office with an in- tions during the Columbus is taking applications quiry about the position but he had Crawford Commu- for potential judges to fill former not formally applied. nity Center Toyota municipal judge Nicole Clink- Clinkscales, who was appoint- Computer Lab the grand opening scales’ seat. ed to the city bench by the council Monday. The city is accepting applica- in 2010, resigned the position this Mark Wilson/Dispatch Staff tions until 6 p.m. Monday, accord- See APPLICANTS, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS 1 What famous band’s name was August 31: Lowndes Super- Thursday, Aug. 27 visors, Courthouse, 9 a.m. inspired by Buddy Holly’s band, The ■ Battle of the Bands: The Crickets? September 1: Columbus winner of this 6 p.m. Battle of the 2 What do you call a carnival per- City Council, Municipal Com- former billed as a wild man whose Bands held at Mississippi State’s act includes biting the head off a live Lee Hall gets to open at Bulldog plex, 5 p.m. chicken or snake? Bash on Sept. 11. Free to attend. September 8: West Point Kylee Jones 3 What animal has the largest brain of Presented by the MSU Student Board of Selectmen, West any animal that has ever been known Association and Music Maker Third grade, Caledonia to live? Point City Hall, 5:30 p.m. 4 What mountain, located in the Cas- Productions. Visit msubulldogbash. September 11: Lowndes cade range, overlooks Seattle and is com for other information, or email County School District Board High 84 Low 56 [email protected]. Follow Bull- Washington’s highest peak? of Trustees, District Central Sunny 5 What restaurant chain is credited dog Bash on Facebook and Twitter. Full forecast on with inventing the Loaded Potato Office, 11 a.m. page 2A. Skins in 1974? September 14: Columbus Answers, 8B Saturday, Aug. 29 Municipal School District ■ Rodeo Roundup: The Mississip- Board of Trustees, Brandon pi Horse Park hosts Starkville Acad- INSIDE emy’s SAPA Rodeo Roundup with Central Offices, 6 p.m. inflatables, face painting, games Orlando Smith Jr. lives in Co- September 15: Columbus Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A and more from 4-7 p.m. For more lumbus and likes to play video City Council, Municipal Com- 136TH YEAR, NO. 142 Comics 6B Opinions 6A information, call 662-325-9350. games. plex, 5 p.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? SAY WHAT? “He played like Superman. He just wouldn’t let us lose the football game.” Prosecutor: Man sent nude pic Noxubee County coach Tyrone Shorter about Dispatch to Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter Tuesday Prep Payer of the Week Jeffery Simmons. Story, 1B. cutors say 25-year-old is he faces up accused of having to 10 years A THOUSAND WORDS in prison if inappropriate convicted. Sheer- communications er’s attor- ney, Robert Sheerer with 17-year-old Tarver, said he has no- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tified prosecutors that he plans to present evidence TOMS RIVER, N.J. that will show his client is — The owner of a home not guilty. He declined to where comedian Ros- provide specific details. ie O’Donnell’s teenage “We believe we have daughter was found last strong evidence that there week sent the girl a nude was no endangering here, photo, according to a crim- inal complaint released and that it will show that Monday. what has been reported Steven Sheerer, 25, is and what his role suppos- accused of having inap- edly was is completely propriate online commu- false,” Tarver said. nications with 17-year-old Sheerer was arrested Chelsea O’Donnell. He Friday night at his home. “knowingly distributed ob- Chelsea O’Donnell was scene images to a minor found at the home Aug. ... specifically a nude pho- 18, hours after her moth- to over the Internet,” the er posted a statement on- complaint said. line saying the girl had The Barnegat man left home in South Nyack, made his initial appear- New York, a week earlier. ance in state Superior Authorities have said Court in Toms River on police went to the home Monday afternoon, but did and the person answering not enter a plea. He faces the door initially did not Mark Wilson/Dispatch Staff charges of child endan- want to reveal Chelsea’s Geese fly over Columbus Friday night. germent and distribution presence. Police said they of obscenity to a minor. told the occupant they Bail remained at $40,000 would not leave until she cash, but a bail review was came out; Chelsea then scheduled for Tuesday. appeared and willingly left Ocean County prose- with police. 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