ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY MONDAY | AUGUST 15, 2016 FEELING THE FORCE Local victims get $60K from AG’s office Victim compensation fund in danger of chopping block DISPATCH STAFF REPORT Golden Triangle crime victims received more than $60,000 in assistance from Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood’s office during fiscal year 2015-16. The AG’s office dis- tributed more than $3.7 million to 1,163 victims Hood across Mississippi. Locally, 10 victims in Lowndes County received a total of $57,221, four victims in Clay County re- ceived a total of $18,154, and nine vic- tims in Oktibbeha County received a combined $10,000. The Crime Victim Compensation Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Program reimburses eligible crime Mark Hall, 2, trades his Darth Vader toy for Kylo Ren’s light saber during the Comic and Toy Expo at the Trotter victims or next-of-kin up to $20,000 Convention Center on Saturday. Mark is the son of Susan and Sam Hall of Columbus. per individual for expenses not covered by other sources, such as insurance. Compensation can be used for expens- es such as medical treatment, mental Successful comic, toy expo health services and funeral costs. The program is funded by fees as- sessed to convicted criminals, court-or- dered restitution and federal grants. sets stage for future events In order to qualify for the program, victims must report the crime to law enforcement officers within three days BY ZACK PLAIR of the incident or show good cause for [email protected] not reporting. The AG’s office must re- ceive the request within 36 months of ost days, Chase Gray is a pharmacist in Memphis, the crime happening. For child sexual Tennessee. abuse cases, the application must be M received within 36 months of the crime On Saturday, he was a biker being reported, or before the child’s scout for the Empire, scouring 25th birthday. Trotter Convention Center’s first Applicants must cooperate with law floor for “Rebel scum and sympa- enforcement investigations and pros- thizers.” ecution and cannot have contributed, “I’ve found just a couple so far, provoked or in any way caused the inju- but you won’t see them again,” ry or death. the fully costumed Gray grunted “Mississippi residents who are vic- through his ominous-looking head- tims of violent crime deserve the assur- gear. “Of course, that’s unofficial.” ance that they can receive help to recov- Gray was among 11 costumed er and move forward from often times members of the Mississippi-based tragic circumstances,” Hood said in a Rancor Raiders Garrison on duty press release. “The Victim Compensa- for photos, in- and out-of-character tion program is funded in large part by Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff interaction and ambiance enhance- convicted criminals whose heinous acts ment at the first Golden Triangle Wearing his Steampunk attire, David Fulton, of Starkville, plays “Hanabi” with friends during the Comic and Toy Expo at the Trotter Convention Cen- caused the injury and loss sustained by Comic Book and Toy Expo. ter Saturday. victims. My office is committed to en- Part of the 501st Legion, a world- suring that crime victims are not re-vic- wide organization of avid Star Wars imperial officers — stole the show. than one might anticipate from Em- timized because of the costs associated fans who make their own costumes Proudly displaying their attire pire guards, approaching initially with violent crime.” and tour as characters from the and faux weaponry, they marched awestruck or reticent children and There is some concern about the pro- franchise’s “Dark Side,” the 11 Ran- through the Trotter giving out putting a comforting arm around gram’s future. The Mississippi Legisla- cor Raiders — ranging from bounty high-fives to event goers young and them. ture directed this year that assessments hunters and storm troopers to old. Some even showed a softer side See EXPO, 6A imposed by courts go to the state’s gen- eral fund, instead of the Crime Victim See VICTIMS, 6A City hall renovation progressing Contractors hope for “substantial completion” by late Nov. BY ALEX HOLLOWAY of work — they don’t exist anymore,” he [email protected] said. “I’ve got 30 years under my belt, and you don’t find craftsmanship like this Columbus’ city hall is 113 years old. Apex Insu- anymore. It just doesn’t happen.” lation Inc. To Jeff Johnson, it’s a testament to its The reason, as Johnson told it, is be- employee, builders’ craftsmanship. cause in modern construction, contrac- Scotty Hen- Johnson, a project manager with J5 tors can just buy the parts needed for a son, installs Broaddus for city hall’s in-progress ren- building, rather than making it all by insulation ovation, lauded the work of the original hand as was needed when city hall was on the pipes of City Hall construction last week during a tour of built in 1903. on Thursday the facility. Now, as the $1.3 million interior reno- afternoon. “These craftsmen that did this kind See CITY HALL, 3A Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 In what year was gold discovered in vance; $12 at the door, if MEETINGS Thursday available. Limited seating; Aug. 15: Lowndes California? ■ Art reception: The 2 What was the name of the first advance tickets recom- County Supervi- public is invited to a re- American Space Station? mended. Purchase online sors, Courthouse, ception from 5:30-7 p.m. 3 What was the make and model of at columbus-arts.org, or 9 a.m. for an exhibit of artwork the General Lee on Dukes of Hazard? call 662-328-2787. Aug. 16: City 4 What rapper’s real name is O’Shea by Frank McGuigan at the Council, municipal Lily Gray Jackson? Greater Starkville Devel- 5 Who was the first athlete depicted Saturday complex, 5 p.m. Second grade, New Hope opment Partnership, 200 on a Wheaties box? ■ Possum Town Triath- Aug. 22: Colum- E. Main St., Starkville. lon: Cheer on triathletes bus Municipal Answers, 6B High 89 Low 72 who will swim 600 yards, School District spe- Chance of t-storms Friday bike 17 miles and run 3.3 cial call meeting, Full forecast on ■ Will Kimbrough in miles in the fifth annual Brandon Central page 2A. concert: The Columbus Possum Town Triathlon. Services, 6 p.m. Arts Council presents Competition begins at 7 Aug. 25: Colum- singer, songwriter and a.m. at Columbus Lake on bus Municipal producer Will Kimbrough Wilkins Wise Road in Co- School District INSIDE at 7:30 p.m. in the lumbus. Awards presen- Board of Trustees Rosenzweig Arts Center tation is at 10 a.m. Visit annual retreat, Classifieds5B Obituaries 5A Omnova Theater, 501 possumtowntriathlon.com Ray Balter, of Miami, is a Brandon Central 137TH YEAR, NO. 132 Comics 4B Opinions 4A Main St. Tickets $10 ad- for more information. student at MSU. Services, 4 p.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2016 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “It’s more politically polarizing than abortion. It’s more politically polarizing than gay marriage.” Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program Rising floodwater leaves on Climate Change Communication, on the issue of global warming. Story, 5A. thousands homeless in La. Monday In some areas isiana Sunday, residents scrambled to get to safety HOUSAND ORDS close to two feet as rivers and creeks burst A T W their banks, swollen from of rain fell over days of heavy rain that in some areas came close to 48-hours two feet over a 48-hour pe- riod. BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN In high-water vehicles, AND MAX BECHERER boats and helicopters, The Associated Press emergency crews hurried to rescue scores of south BATON ROUGE, La. Louisiana residents as the — Robert and Gwen Arce- governor warned that it neaux endured a sleepless was not over. More than night Sunday after notic- 10,000 people are in shel- ing floodwater creeping ters and the Baton Rouge into their home — in a River Center — usually re- neighborhood that had served for major events — never seen water before. was sheltering evacuees. They gathered up their From the air homes dogs and a few bags of be- in southwest Louisiana longings and fled out the looked more like little is- back door, eventually wad- lands surrounded by flood- ing through waist-deep ed fields. Farmland was water to a passing National covered, streets descend- Guard truck — joining the ed into impassable pools more than 20,000 people of water, shopping cen- rescued from their homes ters were inundated with in a still-growing tragedy only roofs of cars peeking across southern Louisi- above the water. ana. From the ground it was Now safe at a movie stu- just as catastrophic. dio-lot-turned-shelter their Drivers tried to navi- worries weren’t over, as gate treacherous roads they tried to get medica- where the water lapped at tion for Robert, who suf- the side or covered the as- fers from lung cancer. phalt in a running stream. “We need to get some- Abandoned cars were where safer,” Gwen said, pushed to the side of the as her dogs panted heavily road, lawn furniture and under the hot sun. children’s toys floating Across southern Lou- through the waters. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? n [email protected] Report a missing paper? n 662-328-2424 ext.