SPORTS COOK OF THE WEEK NESHOBA ROCKETS ENTER STATE COOKING IS A FAMILY BASEBALL PLAYOFFS THIS WEEK AFFAIR FOR KINGS Center Hill — Page 3B Brittany Lovern King — Page 1B Established 1881 — Oldest Business Institution in Neshoba County Philadelphia, Mississippi Wednesday, May 5, 2021 140th Year No. 18 **$1.00 MAN ARRESTED FOR HIT-AND-RUN 2-year-old who died was ‘lively’ By DUNCAN DENT utes after it happened had ini- maroon 2017 Mississippi sissippi Highway Patrol and out of the Neshoba County [email protected] tially gone back to the scene but Chevrolet Sil- Highway charges are pending,” he said. Detention Center on a $75,000 fled, according to the Mississip- verado when Patrol. Winstead was apprehended a bond. Nolan Riley Norris, pi Highway Patrol. the toddler Winstead short time later on Mississippi Funeral arrangements for described by family friends as a The man, Andrew Graham ran out into returned to the 19 south of Philadelphia by a Nolan Riley Norris were incom- lively, vivacious 2-year-old, Winstead, 25, 12371 Road 383, the highway scene of the Neshoba County Sheriff's plete. died Thursday night in a hit- also known as the Fork Road, and was crash, but deputy. Nolan was born January 9, and-run accident near Union on was arrested and charged with struck, the “after realiz- Neshoba County Sheriff Eric 2019, according to his obituary Highway 492 in Neshoba leaving the scene of the 8:49 authorities Nolan Riley Andrew ing that he Clark said Union Police took on the Milling Funeral Home County, according to the author- p.m. accident, according to the said. had struck a the initial call and that Neshoba website. His parents are Madi- ities and multiple public social Mississippi Highway Patrol. “The Sil- Norris Winstead child he left the County dispatchers received a son and Jacob Norris of Union, media posts. Preliminary reports indicate verado collided with a toddler scene,” Moore said. description of Winstead’s vehi- according to Milling. A man charged in connection that Winstead was traveling that had run into the road,” said “This crash is currently cle at 9:01 p.m. “The family request that any with the accident about 15 min- west on Mississippi 492 in a Sgt. Jameka D. Moore of the under investigation by the Mis- Winstead on Sunday was let See NORRIS, page 8A METH science fair winners Tip leads to arrest of alleged dealer By DUNCAN DENT [email protected] A tip ended a two-month search for a suspected meth dealer last week, the authorities said. Charles Ellis Fanning, 47, of 16211 Road 505, was arrested and charged Wednesday afternoon on a bench warrant issued March 1 by a Neshoba County Circuit Charles Court judge. He Fanning was also wanted for a second-offense sale of methamphetamine charge. Clark said Fanning was indict- ed on the meth charge by a grand jury in March after the bench war- rant was issued. While serving that warrant on the tip, Clark said they arrested and charged a Kristin Brooke Bur- rage, 36, 10050 Road 167, for aid- ing and abetting Fanning in avoid- ing law enforcement. “She had helped keep him from getting picked up previously,” Clark said. “She had helped con- ceal him.” The Sheriff’s Office’s search ended on Wednesday, April 28 in the afternoon when the tip submit- Tucker Elementary School had 15 students who competed in the and Astronomy, Third place), Mamie Sam (Inorganic Chemistry, Third ted through Crime Stoppers led Regional Science Fair that was held virtually by Mississippi State Uni- place), A'Ria McMillan (Plant Science, Second place), Mylah Gibson deputies to 10050 County Road versity in Starkville. Tucker had six first-place winners, three second- (Inorganic Chemistry, First place), Jacaius Willis (Earth & Environ- 167 where Fanning was arrested. place winners, four-third place winners, one fourth-place winner and mental Science, Third place), Faithlyn Mingo (Biochemistry, First “We got a call from Crime one fifth-place winner. Tucker Elementary School students who place); third row from left, Karahdee Dan (Math and Systems Soft- Stoppers in Meridian because that placed in the recent Regional Science Fair are as follows: front row ware, First place), Zachary Polk (Plant Science, Fifth place), address is on the Carthage postal from left, James Polk (Earth & Environmental Science, First place), Lazethan Billy (Math and Systems Software, First Place), Cameron route and they were not sure who Kaleb Farmer (Physics & Astronomy, Third place), Lai'Lee Wallace Gibson (Earth and Environmental Science, Fourth place), and needed to take the call,” Clark (Earth & Environmental Science, Third place), Keilani Gibson (Plant Xanaeya Chapman (Biochemistry, First place). said. “We acted on the tip and sure Science, Second place), middle row from left, Dominic Willis (Physics See METH, page 8A COVID RECOVERY Restaurateur began by serving others By JOHN LEE nings, Spears has gone from national House of Pancakes in [email protected] washing dishes to serving peo- Oak Cliff, Texas. ple and owning her own While in Texas she met and As a teenager, Tammy restaurant as the COVID-19 married her first husband, a Neese Spears was washing pandemic began a year ago. man who also had a restaurant dishes and working beside her She has served food from background. They moved to mother, a life-long restaurant Texas to Delaware and two Delaware and managed a sea- server. decades ago her life’s journey sonal restaurant The Avenue at Spears credits her mother brought her back home to Rehoboth Beach until 1995. with her success today as Neshoba County. That’s when they moved to owner of Our Hometown Spears recalled spending Philadelphia to open the Philadelphia coming out of the summers with her two sisters Philadelphia House of Pan- pandemic on the one-year and her brother selling peanuts cakes in what used to be an old anniversary as the owner. and rolling down hills while Ward’s Hamburgers on Hol- “I was washing dishes and helping tend the garden of her land. working with my mom as grandparents, Vivian “Bill” In February of 1999, they early as 13 years old,” Spears Lee Neese and Katherine moved into what is now the said. “It’s because of her that I Bethany Neese, in the Lin- Dickey’s Barbecue location in have a strong restaurant back- wood community. the Canal Place Shopping ground. She was a server her Spears attended Neshoba Center since they needed more entire life, and I learned a lot Central High School until she space. from not only working along was 17 and moved to Texas to Then they moved to The Tammy Spears sits with husband Kenneth, along with former and current employees of Our with her but also watching seek treatment for a health Depot in May 2010 and Hometown Philadelphia. Pictured, from left: Roger Pearson, Shannon Floyd, Lailah Jaafar, her.” condition where she took her divorced later that year. He Kenneth Spears, Zack Shaw, Katelyn Barnett, Jordan Issac, Destiny Dill, Tammy Spears, Since those early begin- first job as a server at the Inter- See SPEARS, page 3A Mackenzie Johnson, Alesha Pauley, Carla Walton, Briana Huddleston and Cedric Smith. OPINION JUST AMONG FRIENDS OPINION Rich Lowry PAGE 4A Marianne Enochs PAGE 1B Patrick Buchanan PAGE 4A 2A, The Neshoba Democrat, Philadelphia, Miss., May 5, 2021 Crisis Pregancy Center preps for annual fundraiser at restaurants By DUNCAN DENT the center. can be a slow night so we usual- The center is entirely funded [email protected] The event is usually tied to ly bring some extra people in. It by local churches and this one Valentine's Day date night but is a good cooperation.” yearly fundraiser. Engagements & Weddings The Crisis Pregnancy Cen- had to be pushed back this year. This year Kilpatrick will lead “I think something that ter’s annual fundraiser comes at Organizers decided Mother’s the team at McAlister’s Deli. makes this group really remark- There is no charge for engagement and wedding a different time this go around Day would be an appropriate Her team has been together for a able is that we are almost entire- announcements. Submit them to weddings@neshobade- but they haven’t missed a year. occasion to move their event to. while and includes Pastor ly church funded and are sup- mocrat.com. CPC Executive Director Karcher said the center usu- Wayne Hill of Beacon Street ported by local churches of The deadline for submitting engagements and wed- Pauline Karcher said this is the ally raises between $15,000 and Baptist Church and Pastor Jeff many denominations,” Karcher dings is at noon on Friday before the Wednesday publica- 12th year they have held the $20,000 over the course of the Brewer of East Philadelphia said. tion. event. She knows from how evening. Baptist. The CPC has a far-ranging Every effort will be made to run the announcement on many shirts she has from past The fundraiser will be from 5 An aspect of the event Kil- mission. Kilpatrick said women the date requested, but space requirements and time some- events. p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 6, patrick said she looks forward to and families from surrounding times prohibit it. “We are hoping for a great at five local restaurants — every year is the friendly com- counties routinely attend their Wedding copy must not exceed the equivalent of more night for the center and a great Bloomo Diner, City Limits, petitive spirit that has sprouted classes and inquire about their than two 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages. night for the restaurants,” Laredo Grill, McAlister’s Deli up around the event.