Columbus Owes $74K After Parks Split Lowndes Officials Say City of Columbus Went We Separated,” He Said
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY FRIDAY | JULY 13, 2018 County: Columbus owes $74K after parks split Lowndes officials say city of Columbus went we separated,” he said. “They tonomous organization that was used the CLRA money to buy all (supposed to be) 50-50.” on shopping spree with shared money that. You know where the lawn- Former CLRA Executive Di- mower is? It’s at the city’s shop. rector and now the city of Colum- BY HANNAH GRECO in equipment, bank statements ... Why am I paying to buy the bus’ Park Director Greg Lewis [email protected] and workers’ compensation city a lawnmower?” did confirm that equipment was costs still owed by the now-de- And that was just the tip of bought with CLRA funds within More than nine months after funct Columbus-Lowndes Rec- the iceberg, Board of Supervi- a month of the entity dissolving Columbus and Lowndes County reation Authority. sors President Harry Sanders and that no portion of the money ended their joint parks and rec- Billingsley said the city still Billingsley Sanders said. used to buy the equipment has reation operations, the two en- owes the county for equipment The city should have paid the “They (also) bought $8,000 been returned to the county. tities still haven’t settled all the it purchased with CLRA funds county half the value of those worth of tables and chairs ... in Lewis would not comment terms of the divorce. before Oct. 1 that the city parks expenses, Billingsley said, but it September, paid three employ- further. County Administrator Ralph department kept after the split, has yet to do so. ees’ comp time, including a sala- The invoice Billingsley sent Billingsley sent a letter to city as well as for cash balances in “(The city) bought a zero-turn ried employee,” Sanders added. the city also includes about leadership last week, including CLRA bank accounts that were lawn mower for 8,000-some- “What really gets stuck in my $65,000 in the CLRA bank an invoice for more than $74,000 never divided. thing dollars two weeks before craw ... it was an individual au- See CLRA, 6A Couple arrested RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD after allegedly going on shopping spree with friend’s debit card Suspects reportedly stole debit card, cash, personal items and vehicle DISPATCH STAFF REPORT A Steens couple is accused of going on a spending spree to Walmart with some- one else’s credit card after stealing the vic- tim’s car. Jeremy Glenn Vasser Vasser, 41, and April Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Joy Richardson, Tryekia Petty of Caledonia flips a large tire across the Hitching Lot parking lot Thursday while the rest of her Tinukai fitness 39, were arrested class cheers her on in the background. “It’s hard, look at my sweat, but I do it to stay fit and stay summertime fine,” she said. Wednesday for a slew of charges, including fraudulent use of I.D. and felony taking of a motor vehicle. Vasser and Rich- ardson, who are Richardson As officials push public housing relocation in a romantic rela- tionship, had been staying at an acquaintance’s home when they stole the acquaintance’s debit for Pecan Acres, residents seek answers card, cash, personal items and ve- on the north side of Highway hicle, according to Lowndes Coun- Some details of 182, west of Reed Road. That ty Sheriff’s Office investigators. new facility would then be They drove the vehicle to Walmart relocation project swapped with Pecan Acres’ where they went shopping with the current location on Highway debit card. remain unclear 12 across from KFC, which LCSO Capt. Greg Wright said BY ALEX HOLLOWAY is being eyed for commercial deputies caught Vasser and Rich- [email protected] ardson in the checkout lane at development. Local attorney Johnny Walmart with several items and Citizens arrested them. INside Moore, who is representing pressed ■ HOME In addition to fraud and taking Dobbs, presented the rede- S t a r k v i l l e BASE: velopment proposal to the a motor vehicle, Richardson was Pecan Acres Housing Au- Starkville Board of Alder- charged with burglary, posses- thority offi- relocation is sion of a controlled substance and bad deal for men in April. At past forums, cials during violation of parole. Lt. Tony Coo- residents. Moore has said a hotel com- a Thursday Alex Holloway/Dispatch Staff per with LCSO said the burglary Page 4A pany is interested in the site, evening fo- along with some restaurants Starkville Housing Authority board chair Loren “Bo” Bell, left, charge is from Richardson having and consultant Johnny Taylor address the attendees of a to break out of the victim’s home rum for details and an entertainment venue about a proposed land swap public forum Thursday evening. The forum focused on a po- after stealing the items. such as a bowling alley. tential land swap and new development on Highway 12 that Richardson is currently on pa- development that could see At Thursday’s forum, would see Pecan Acres relocated to Highway 182. role from Mississippi Department the public housing complex which a few dozen people at- of Corrections after being convict- relocated. tended, citizens asked ques- Loren “Bo” Bell, chairman proposal at three tenant-fo- ed of burglary in May 2015. Her Christopher Dobbs, a Tus- tions about tenant reception of the SHA board, said multi- cused meetings about the bond has been set at $23,120. Vass- caloosa, Alabama-based de- to the proposal, as well as ple times tenants have shown project. er’s has been set at $15,000. veloper, is looking to build a about how the new housing “overwhelming” support for Pecan Acres has more Both Richardson and Vasser replica of the 70,000 square- would fit onto the land that’s the move. He said 40 out of 50 than 100 residents. are in custody at Lowndes County foot Pecan Acres low-income being considered on High- tenants signed a petition in Johnny Taylor, a con- Adult Detention Center. housing development on land way 182. favor of going ahead with the See PEcaN ACRES, 6A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 Which of these is not a dog treat — Commerce St., West MEETINGS Today Point. Free to the public. July 16: Lown- Cheese Please, Dogreos, Pup-Peroni ■ Exhibit reception: or Snausages? des County 2 What NBA MVP was born in South The public is invited to a free reception from Saturday Supervisors, 9 Africa, grew up in Canada and has ■ played for Dallas and Phoenix? 5-8 p.m. for an exhibit of Sizzling Second Sat- a.m., Court- 3 What actor came into the world as blind contour oil paintings urday: Special activities house at Columbus’ Hitching Lot Isaac Wright Thomas Mapother IV? by Emmie Sherertz July 16: Colum- 4 What chain’s first store opened in Farmers Market between First grade, Caledonia of Columbus at the bus Municipal Almhult, Sweden, in 1958? Columbus Arts Coun- 7-10 a.m. include a School District 5 Which was the first Canadian cil’s Rosenzweig Arts visit from The W’s Project Board of Trust- newspaper — Calgary Herald, Halifax CHEW food truck with High 93 Low 74 Center, 501 Main St. For ees, 4 p.m., Gazette, The Klondike Sun or The healthy snacks for kids, Chance of a p.m. t-storm Montreal Mirror? more information, visit Brandon Central Full forecast on columbus-arts.org or call water safety advice from Answers, 6B Services page 2A. 662-328-2787. the Army Corps of Engi- July 17: Lown- ■ Friday Night Jams: neers plus face painting. des County INSIDE The West Point/Clay Kids can paint a ceramic County Arts Council piggy bank to keep. Supervisors, Classifieds6B Obituaries 2A hosts live music with Fri- Saum Chiropractic will of- Sam Shafer, 5, likes recreation work Comics 4B Opinions 4A day Night Jams at 7 p.m. fer stress screenings for hanging out with his grand- session, 10 Crossword 5B Religion 5B at the Louise Campbell adults. Second Avenue fathers, Boss and Pop Pop, a.m., Court- 139TH YEAR, NO. 105 Dear Abby 4B Center for the Arts, 235 and Second Street North. and swimming. house DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? SAY WHAT? “We’re going to keep trying to make it better and better, and I think we’re off to a really good start.” Streaming rules Emmys as Mississippi State Director of Athletics John Cohen, talking Netflix snaps 17-year HBO streak Friday about the construction at Dudy Noble Field. Story, 1B. HBO still boasts the year’s most- nominated series, ‘Game of Thrones’ Grief and hope over news BY LYNN ELBER (20), while Netflix fielded AP Television Writer “The Crown” (13 nods) and “Stranger Things (12). that Emmett Till case reopened LOS ANGELES — “The more distribution When Netflix snapped platforms, the more con- ‘It’s something that happens to us all the time. I Till’s relatives pressed Attorney HBO’s 17-year streak as tent’s getting created, the General Jeff Sessions to reopen Emmy nominations leader, more people are going to the case last year after the publi- more than bragging rights think if you’re black, you know what it’s about. ... be working. ... It’s good cation of a book in which the wife switched hands. It repre- news for us in the indus- of one of the suspects was quoted sented the breathtaking It’s hard to live here, but this is our home.’ try,” said Maury McIntyre, as acknowledging that her testimo- change in how audiences TV academy president.