Ex-MSU Employee Arrested for Embezzlement
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 Ex-MSU employee arrested for embezzlement er charged travel “Employees like Ms. Hold- Suspect allegedly absconded with $35K in foundation funds expenses on her er, who violate the public trust, DisPatCH StaFF REPOrt Wednesday after an investiga- on one count of embezzlement personal credit will be held accountable for tion was conducted by the state after the state auditor’s office card, which was their actions,” Pickering said in A 20-year employee of Mis- auditor’s office. determined Holder “received paid by a private the release. sissippi State University is University Chief Communi- excessive reimbursement foundation, and Holder worked for MSU accused of embezzling about cations Officer Sid Salter con- for travel” — approximately then submitted from 1991 until she was fired $35,000 from the university firmed Holder was state 4-H $35,496.98 — between Septem- Holder reimbursement on Nov. 30, 2011, the release across a five-year period. program leader and an Exten- ber 2007 and October 2011. to MSU for the states. Susan Holder, 63, was sion Service professor. Holder was released on a same expenses,” The Associated Press re- arrested by the Oktibbeha Holder was indicted by an $10,000 bond on Friday. a release from Auditor Stacey ports Holder had moved from County Sheriff’s Department Oktibbeha County grand jury “Evidence shows that Hold- Pickering’s office states. Starkville to Pecos, Texas. 16 CMSD Boys and Girls Club to expand students teen center with $50,000 grant retained for reading scores Hickman releases number to avoid facing Open Records complaint BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] Sixteen students in the Columbus Municipal School District are repeat- ing third grade this year after failing the 2015-16 state-mandated reading Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff assessment, CMSD Su- From left, Columbus Middle School students Kevin Chen, 11, Jakylia Collins, 12, and Alivia Coleman, 11, work perintendent Philip Hick- in their Career Launch workbooks at the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus. Chen is the son of Yizhong and Qiuju man confirmed in an email Hickman Chen of Columbus. Collins is the daughter of Linda Stewart of Columbus and Jerome Collins of West Point. Wednesday. Coleman is the daughter of Jay and Alisha Coleman of Columbus. Another 11 students had failing scores but were promoted based on good cause exemption, which includes students with Columbus club to use funds disabilities or students for whom English is a second language. received from Lowe’s grant The Dispatch previously reported the BY ISABELLE ALTMAN retention rates of the Lowndes County [email protected] and the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidat- ed school districts. LCSD did not have very afternoon after school, 12-year-old any students repeat third grade, while Jakylia Collins gets off the school bus on SOCSD retained 12 third graders. E14th Avenue North to spend a little time at Hickman released the numbers to The her home away from home. Dispatch more than three weeks after For four years, she’s spent the gap between receiving a written open records request leaving school and going home at the Boys and only after the newspaper expressed and Girls Club in Columbus, and she said she to the superintendent its intent to file an wouldn’t have it any other way. Open Records Act complaint against him “I couldn’t imagine myself going anywhere and CMSD with the Mississippi Ethics but here after school because I’ve been so used Commission. The two other districts released their to coming here,” Collins said. “It would be weird if I had to go somewhere else.” Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff retention rates on the same day they re- From left, Aja White, Nadia Colom and Brittany Turner sit ceived requests for the information. Collins is one of 25 students enrolled in the together in the teen center at the Boys and Girls Club in Hickman, who initially denied the teen program at the Columbus club — one of 130 Columbus. They are hoping to use a $50,000 grant to open records request because he believed See GRANT, 8A expand the center and to serve more area teenagers. the Mississippi Department of Education See CMSD, 8A Lowndes increases security after break-ins Security cameras to be Courthouse, the administra- tion building and Lowndes FUN AT THE added after August incident County Justice Court. PARK: Layla Two men were arrested for Edwards, 2, enjoys the BY AleX HOllOWAY the Aug. 8 incident, after one swings at [email protected] allegedly stole a truck from Propst Park Perma Corporation, located in Columbus Lowndes County will soon begin install- at 125 Armstrong Road, took Billingsley Tuesday after- ing camera systems at several of its build- it to the Lowndes County noon. Layla is ings after a break-in at a county road barn vehicle barn in Caledonia, set the daughter in early August. it on fire, and then stole a Lowndes Coun- of Natalie Supervisors unanimously approved ty pickup. The man, 34-year-old Edward Edwards and Fredrick spending $10,000 for security camera in- Jones, was later found in Pickens County Roland. stallation at the county’s five district road after he abandoned the county truck to Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff barns, the central barn, Lowndes County See CAMERAS, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC Tickets also available at MEETINGS 1 Who was the lead singer of Journey Today through when they released “Escape”? the Columbus Arts Council, Sept. 12: 2 Who played Bud Fox in “Wall Sunday 501 Main St. Columbus Street”? ■ Tennessee Williams Municipal School 3 Who is the only player win the Tribute: The 15th annual Saturday District, Brandon Heisman Trophy two times? Tribute in Columbus Central Services, 4 What institution awards Pulitzer ■ Peace Project kickoff: includes an opening night The Columbus Arts Council 6 p.m. Aaron Cargile Prizes? 5 What is the only continent without gala Sept. 8 featuring introduces “The Peace Proj- Sept. 15: Second grade, South Lamar an active volcano? music, food, silent auc- ect: a Season of Peace” Lowndes County tion and David Roby in 8-10 a.m. at the Hitching Supervisors, Answers, 8B High Low “sometimes there’s God so Lot Farmers’ Market in Co- Courthouse, 94 70 9 a.m. Sunny quickly”; the play “Unseen lumbus. Paint peace rocks, Sept. 20: Full forecast on Character” (Sept. 9-11); make original “peace Columbus City page 2A. free acting workshops with doves.” Mother Goose Council, Munici- Roby (Sept. 9-10); Stella story at 9 a.m. Peace pal Complex, Shouting Contest (Sept. 9); Project events throughout 5 p.m. scholars’ talks and more. the season will include an INSIDE Several events are free. For open mic, writing project schedule or tickets, visit and a spoken word open Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A tennesseewilliamstribute. mic. For more information, Dennis “Tough” Lyles lives in 137TH YEAR, NO. 152 Comics 6B Opinions 6A org or call 662-368-8591. 662-328-2787. West Point. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I was really nervous going out there and getting my first start in front of 60,000 people.” Concerts, instruments, money Mississippi State linebacker Leo Lewis on his help music survive after floods Thursday collegiate debut. Story, 1B. ‘Think of a film ONLINE: CAMPAIGN 2016 n Louisiana Philharmonic: without music http://www.lpomusic.com/ n New Orleans Opera: http:// — then think of neworleansopera.org/ n Baton Rouge Symphony GOP’s Trump promises huge Orchestra and chorus: http:// a community brso.org/ without music’ n CMA Foundation: http:// www.cmaworld.com/initiatives/ boost in military spending THE ASSOCIATED PRESS cma-foundation/ n Schlegel: https://www. usm.edu/music/faculty/aman- ‘We want to deter, NEW ORLEANS — da-schlegel Classical musicians are avoid and prevent planning benefit concerts was untouched by this Clinton, Trump confront in New Orleans, a faculty year’s great flood, Baton conflict through our member at the University Rouge and other areas, in- of Southern Mississippi is cluding parts of Acadiana unquestioned military weaknesses in security forum collecting instruments and were affected. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a country music-affiliated A concert Thursday, strength’ charity is donating $30,000 organized by the New NEW YORK — Donald Trump and Hil- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS to help make sure music Orleans-based Louisiana lary Clinton confronted their key weak- survives the disastrous Philharmonic and the nesses in a televised national security PHILADELPHIA — Republican floods that hit south Loui- forum, with the Republican defending his New Orleans Opera Asso- Donald Trump vowed Wednesday siana in August. preparedness to be commander in chief ciation, will benefit public to boost defense spending and de- For some who lost despite vague plans for tackling global school music programs, ploy more active troops, fighter homes, instruments and challenges and the Democrat arguing that arts organizations and the planes, Navy ships and submarines music to Hurricane Ka- her controversial email practices did not Recording Academy’s Mu- as he works to convince skeptics in trina 11 years ago, it’s pay- expose questionable judgment. Trump Clinton siCares charity. On Sun- both parties that he’s ready to lead back time. Trump also renewed his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin day, musicians from New the world’s most powerful military. “The Baton Rouge Sym- and his disdain for President Barack Obama, saying that the Russian Orleans and Baton Rouge The New York businessman, phony was so nice to us enjoyed an 82 percent approval rating. “The man has very strong con- will perform Mozart’s Re- who has struggled at times to during the Katrina years.