BASKETBALL REVIEW 2021 SPORTS COOK OF THE WEEK 2021 BASKETBALL HARDY PLANNING SEASON IN REVIEW LOTS OF TRAVEL Championship, playoff runs — INSIDE Tommie Hardy — Page 1B Established 1881 — Oldest Business Institution in Neshoba County Philadelphia, Mississippi Wednesday, March 24, 2021 140th Year No. 12 **$1.00 NEW CASES CONTINUE TO DROP State surpasses 1M vaccinations By SCOTT HAWKINS county the recipients reside. to https://msdh.ms.gov/c19appo figures were available. As of last Friday, Pearl River meeting spaces and other Resort [email protected] Vaccinations are currently intment#local to check avail- The Mississippi Band of Resort moved to Phase 2 of their venues; being administered in Neshoba ability. Choctaw Indians reported four reopening that included increas- • Placing all slot machines A million COVID-19 vacci- County at the Coliseum, 12000 On Tuesday, Neshoba Coun- new COVID-19 cases in the ing capacity on the casino gam- and electronic table games back nations had been administered Mississippi 15 north, Philadel- ty recorded 25 new confirmed past week for a total of 1,831 ing floors from 50% to 75% and into service; as of Monday, Gov. Tate phia, Tuesday through Friday cases of COVID-19 over the positive cases, up from 1,827 in easing smoking restrictions. • Resumption of full service Reeves announced, and 7,066 by appointment at covidvac- past week for a total of 3,933 last week’s report. The decision to move into at the Spa at Silver Star. were in Neshoba County, cine.umc.edu or by calling 1- cases up from 3,908 cases the The Tribe reported one new phase 2 came after consultation Mississippi’s total number of according to the Mississippi 877-978-6453. The website is previous week, according to the death from COVID-19 in the with the Mississippi Band of confirmed COVID-19 cases State Department of Health’s the best option, officials have MSDH report. past week for a total of 113 Choctaw Indians Tribal Gov- now stands at 186,527 with Tuesday COVID-19 report. said. Neshoba Central Middle deaths from the virus, with one ernment, Choctaw Gaming another 116,711 probable cases That Neshoba County num- Selected Walmart pharma- School was the only Neshboa current hospitalization. Commission and Choctaw for a total of 303,238 COVID- ber was up 602 from last week. cies and local clinics and hospi- County school to report quaran- Some Tribal deaths may also Health Services. 19 cases and 4,841 confirmed Although the shots were admin- tals are now offering a limited tined students with four students be included in the Neshoba Other changes include: deaths and 2,136 probable istered in Neshoba County the number of COVID-19 vaccina- quarantined between March 4 death total, but officials make • Increasing capacity to 75% COVID-19 deaths since the state does not designate in what tions. Go and 12, the latest date for which no distinction. for restaurants, retail outlets, pandemic began last March. DUNN ROAD 3 armed men in pickup rob teen By DUNCAN DENT [email protected] The stickup of a juvenile walk- ing on a rural Neshoba County road by three armed men in a pick- up is under investigation. Sheriff Eric Clark said they received a call that someone had been robbed on Road 1535 about 3:30 p.m. on Monday. The victim, a teenager, was accosted by three men in a blue Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck, Clark said. The passenger rolled down the window and demanded money In front of the Tribe’s new T-Rex ladder truck, one of the largest in the Marco Patrick, firefighter/medic Barry Harrison, Sgt. Derek Partridge, while brandishing a firearm, he state, are firefighter Brett Shoemake, firefighter Dalen Wheeler, Sgt. and Sgt. Billy Wallace. said. The teenager threw a $20 bill in the window and ran as the pickup sped off, the sheriff said. New ladder truck turns easier, driver says “We had officers in the area quickly and stayed there for most By JOHN LEE to the pen while keeping the wrong numbered mostly rural area, but they have the high rises at of the afternoon,” Clark said. “We [email protected] cattle back. the Pearl River Resort. could not a find a vehicle that fit The new truck, a Rosenbauer T-Rex, is one of Jackson, Meridian and cities on the Mississip- the description but we are look- Driving the Tribe’s new $1.5 million aerial the state’s largest and has a better turn radius and pi Gulf Coast have ladder trucks of comparable ing.” ladder truck is much easier than a smaller truck more advanced controls than the previous truck, size. Philadelphia’s ladder truck is comparable to The incident happened above they retired, says Sgt. Marco Patrick of the said Patrick, who jointed the department in 2016. the Tribe’s old truck. Burnside off Road 573 or what is Choctaw Fire Department. Driving the T-Rex can be intimidating at first “Places that have multi-story hotels and dif- known as Dunn Road. A Sebastopol native and a member of the due to the weight and water on the truck. ferent things that is where they would have to Clark said investigators have Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Patrick Although he got the hang of driving the large have them,” Pickle said. “A lot different factors limited descriptions of the suspects decided to become a firefighter while attending truck fairly quickly, he still uses caution when would go into it, gallons per minute and the as the window was only rolled Sebastopol Attendance Center and began volun- making wide turns and quick stops. length of the ladder.” down partway. teering for the Sebastopol Volunteer Fire Depart- “For me, getting to drive the T-Rex and pro- The T-Rex, replaced a 1998 model E-ONE He said that the occupants of ment, which he still does. tecting the people of this community is the best 105 HD ladder truck the Choctaw Fire Depart- the vehicle have been described as When he is not firefighting, Patrick enjoys part of working for this department,” he said. ment purchased in 1999. three black males. riding horses and takes part in competitions “Having it is such a great asset in case anything The T-Rex has more features, such as a tele- The driver was said to be thin called ranch sorting throughout the Southeast. happens.” scopic boom, a 300-gallon water tank, hose bed and had dreadlocks and both pas- Ranch Sorting is an event that pits a team of two The department purchased the new truck in and 115 feet of ground ladders, and it handles sengers, including the one who riders on horseback against the clock. 2019 replacing a truck they’d got around the much better than the older truck, Patrick agreed. accosted the victim, were of medi- Much like firefighting, ranch sorting requires time the Golden Moon was built. The T-Rex has an articulate extension ladder um build. teamwork, a key with both riders working in har- Phil Pickle, director of the Choctaw Fire that can go over trees and walls, a proximity sen- Contact the Neshoba County mony to cut out the correct cattle and drive them Department, said the T-Rex is a bit unusual for a See T-REX, page 8A Sheriff's Office at 601-656-1414 if you have information. GIFTS FOR CHILDREN Baskets emerge out of foster care blessing By STEVE SWOGETINSKY stress and trauma from recent How quickly? The goal [email protected] life changes and are placed in was to prepare 122 Easter bas- homes of individuals or cou- kets for the upcoming Easter An effort to provide Easter ples who are licensed by the weekend. Within a week and a baskets for foster children in state to care for them. half, they had 130-plus bas- Neshoba County came togeth- Andrea said Hannah was kets and more were coming. er quickly with an overwhelm- involved in the Easter project “The response was over- ing response, said the organiz- and excited to be a part and whelming,” Moore said. “Peo- er, a foster parent who adopted giving back. ple brought baskets to me. a child who is now her daugh- “Hannah was part of the Some brought items such as ter. inspiration to put this program candy and toys. Some sent Andrea Moore, a member together, since we know the money. Some worked with of Grace Baptist Church, came struggles of what foster chil- their own children and packed up with the idea as part of a dren go through,” Andrea said. baskets. It was a community nearly decade-long personal “She drove us to make it hap- effort.” journey. pen and she even put together Moore said the baskets Moore and her husband a basket of her own for a foster were to be delivered Tuesday. Tim adopted Hannah seven child to receive.” “I have an awesome God, years ago after initially receiv- The project was taken on awesome church family, and ing a call asking if they were by the children and youth of an awesome community!!” interested in fostering her after Grace Baptist Church. “It Moore posted on Facebook she was born prematurely in came together very quickly,” Sunday. “12 days ago God the Neshoba County Jail. Moore said. “We kind of placed on my heart to collect More than 120 foster children living in Neshoba County will receive Easter baskets inspired Foster children are children rolled with it and the commu- these baskets for the children in part by Hannah Moore, above, and organized by her mother Andrea in an effort carried who may be experiencing nity wanted to help.” See EASTER, page 3A out by the children and youth of Grace Baptist Church.