SPORTS COOK OF THE WEEK TAYLOR RECEIVES CALLAHAN PHILLIPS ENJOYS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD COOKING WITH SON Emma Taylor — Page 5B Casey Phillips — Page 1B Established 1881 — Oldest Business Institution in Neshoba County Philadelphia, Mississippi Wednesday, April 21, 2021 140th Year No. 16 **$1.00 ON THE LAM AGAIN Felon was out on early release By SCOTT HAWKINS burglary in Leake County and Mississippi Depart- jail docket published in charge was issued on Nov. 19, revival at The First Baptist [email protected] strong-armed robbery and auto ment of Corrections the Democrat. 2020. Church. burglary convictions in Nesho- website last week in “There is a warrant Catchings, according to jail Catchings was out on a A man with a string of felony ba County, but gained early researching Catchings’ out for his arrest records, most recently posted a $30,000 bond on the grand lar- burglary convictions arrested release in March 2020. criminal record. because he has $10,000 bond and was released ceny charge when he allegedly again last month for stealing Catchings, who has used Local law enforce- absconded supervi- on March 30. stole the purses out of the vehi- two purses from a parked vehi- Neshoba and Copiah county ment officials said they sion,” Chris Baker, Prior to that, on Dec. 1, 2020, cle on Center Avenue in March. cle downtown is now wanted addresses, was arrested March were unaware of the spokesperson for the Catchings was arrested in Baker said Catchings was on for violating terms of his early 26 and charged in the March 13 MDOC warrant. Nicholas Mississippi Depart- Neshoba County and charged earned early release, which is release, the Democrat has auto burglary. He bonded out Catchings has a ment of Corrections, told with three counts of grand larce- available to inmates who have learned. four days later. decade-long history of Catchings the Democrat last week. ny, including the theft a rifle demonstrated good behavior in The man, Nicholas Catch- The Democrat discovered being charged with crimes in Baker said this week the from a Mississippi Bureau of the system. Early release is sep- ings, 35, had been serving a 17- the warrant for violating the Neshoba County, according to warrant for Catchings’ arrest on Investigations agent’s vehicle arate from parole. year prison sentence for auto terms of early release on the archived copies of the county the absconding supervision during a November 2020 See FELON, page 8A TRAFFIC STOP Meth found on inmate’s ‘person’ By DUNCAN DENT [email protected] A substance believed to be methamphetamine that a woman allegedly hid on her person as she was booked into the county jail on marijuana charges follow- ing a routine traf- fic stop was dis- covered by a jail- er within 24 hours, the authorities said. The Preston Bailey woman has been Cumberland charged with bringing illicit drugs into the Neshoba County Detention Center after she was arrested with mari- The Neshoba County Distinguished Young Woman Program will be Woman of Neshoba County, Mary Kate Moran, Maggie Lee Griffis, juana in the parking lot of one of held Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Neshoba Central Elemen- Emily Duran, Mary Margaret Hall; back row from left, Paris Hantzis, the casinos last Monday morning tary School auditorium. Those entered are, front row from left, Hailey Laurel Brantley, Faith Shumaker, Sydney Sisson, Carlyn Vaughn and April 12. Donald, Molly Cliburn, Mallory Chunn, 2021 Distinguished Young Sierra Holley. The woman, Bailey Cumber- land, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana fol- lowing the traffic stop. Sheriff Eric Clark said that after Young women compete Saturday Cumberland was brought into the jail it was discovered that she had the controlled substance believed By STAFF REPORTS rolling with all the punches the shutdown caused for all guests. Masks/facial coverings are us all to endure. We felt like this year’s theme required for all guests. to be methamphetamine concealed The Neshoba County Distinguished Young would be our coming out of the dark anthem.” Available ticket information will be updated on her person. Woman Program is Saturday with the theme No tickets will be sold at the door. All tickets once participants have purchased tickets for The substance was discovered “Overcomer” since the pandemic upended last will be pre-sold due to COVID-19 protocol and family and close friends on Thursday evening. within Cumberland’s first 24 hours year’s competition. guidelines set by the CDC and the Neshoba Contact Shannon Posey 601-416-7664, inside the jail, according to Clark. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. at the County School District. Christy Barrett 601-416-0310, or Jennifer Prince He said that jailers found the Neshoba Central Elementary School auditorium. If you would like to purchase a ticket, you 601-416-5891 to inquire about tickets after drugs on April 13 after she “transi- “We are so thankful that we were able to may buy one from a participant or a committee Thursday evening. tioned the meth from one part of carry through last year and have a program, member. Following are the contestants: her body to another.” even though it was a virtual program,” said Tickets are $10 for general admission. Pro- • Sydney Sisson attends Leake Academy and Clark said that guards were DYW committee member Shannon Posey. gram Books will be available for purchase for her parents are Jim and Maria Sisson. Her talent alerted when they noticed her in “The Class of 2021 participants were troopers $5 at the door. will be a dance routine “Hot Stuff.” the cell trying to hide something in and handled themselves very well last year Temperatures will also be checked at the door her bra. See DYW, page 2A See JAIL, page 3A MISSISSIPPI STOCK MARKET GAME 8th graders win on Carnival ‘stock’ By DEBBIE BURT MYERS below S&P 500 growth. the competition. Special to the Democrat The Neshoba Central Two of his teams placed in team outperformed the S&P the top three last year. A team of eighth-grade by 31.4 percent. “This year’s team did a lot STEM students at Neshoba Sistrunk was impressed by of research-based learning Central Middle School took his team’s hard work and ded- because they needed to know top regional honors in the ication to the online competi- which stocks were going up Mississippi Stock Market tion. and what technology was Game, earning about $30,000 “Our largest gain was in coming out,” Sistrunk said. in virtual game cash. our Carnival Cruise stock,” he “They looked for something The four-person team, said. “It dropped way down that was going to grow and coached by Nathan Sistrunk, and we bought in at $11. It make more money.” captured the first place Region was up to $22 a stock at the They called their team the 4 award in the fall middle end of the competition.” Refrigerator. school division of the Stock Neshoba County Superin- While no one really bene- Market Game, sponsored by tendent of Education Lundy fitted financially from the the SIFMA Foundation. Brantley said he was very competition, Sistrunk said it Over 80 teams competed in proud of Sistrunk and his stu- was not only a fun experience the game on the state level. dents. for the team but an education- The program enables teams “These are outstanding al one as well. of students to invest a hypo- skills for the students to “It was a real-world experi- thetical $100,000 in the stock have as lifelong skills," he ence for them especially dur- market over a 13-week period. said. ing a pandemic,” he said. Eighth-grade STEM students, from left, Jacey Shotts, Payton Gipson and Kayee Myers at Winners were determined on This was the second year “They got to see how events Neshoba Central Middle School took top regional honors in the Mississippi Stock Market the percentage return above or for Sistrunk to have a team in See STOCK, page 2A Game, earning about $30,000 in virtual game cash. Not pictured is Hayden Barrett. OPINION JUST AMONG FRIENDS OPINION Rich Lowry PAGE 4A Marianne Enochs PAGE 1B Patrick Buchanan PAGE 4A 2A, The Neshoba Democrat, Philadelphia, Miss., April 21, 2021 Engagements & Weddings There is no charge for engagement and wedding announcements. Submit them to weddings@neshobade- mocrat.com. The deadline for submitting engagements and wed- dings is at noon on Friday before the Wednesday publica- tion. Every effort will be made to run the announcement on the date requested, but space requirements and time some- times prohibit it. Philadelphia Police officers help distribute groceries the Open Arms ministry. Wedding copy must not exceed the equivalent of more than two 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages. The Democrat reserves the right to edit articles to fit space requirements and style. Police hand out groceries to needy News of parties relating to engagements or weddings can be submitted. By DUNCAN DENT nity policing.” handed out about 350 bags of officers volunteered their time [email protected] About 15 PPD officers, dis- groceries. and energy. Lately, it seems Obituary policy patchers and others volun- “He called us,” Bowen like officers have gotten some- Distributing groceries to teered their time to hand out said. “I think he called about a thing of a bad rap and this The Democrat publishes a standard format obituary at the needy one afternoon last the groceries on April 13. month and a half ago and said gave people the opportunity to no charge. week through a local food Open Arms is a local min- he would like to serve in any see them out serving the com- The standard obituary includes: service, burial and ministry was a way for istry that started in 2012.