ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! FRIDAY | JANUARY 5, 2018 Leigh Mall shooting sends one to hospital both shooter and victim had al- Investigators found casings, blood just off ready left the scene, according Law en- to a CPD press release. forcement sidewalk to mall’s back entrance officials Police received reports some- were on DISPATCH STAFF REPORT ficers responded at about 3:50 one was injured in the shooting, scene af- p.m. to the shooting outside a Shelton said, and when officers ter a man A 28-year-old man is being rear entrance of Leigh Mall that arrived at Baptist Memorial was shot treated for non life-threatening reportedly involved two vehi- Hospital-Golden Triangle, they outside injuries following a shooting be- cles — a tan Honda and a white found the tan Honda parked Leigh Mall in hind Leigh Mall Thursday after- Dodge Charger or Nissan Maxi- outside the emergency room Columbus noon, while at least one suspect ma. Both vehicles sped from the area. The vehicle appeared to Thursday. is still at-large. scene after the incident, Shelton have several bullet holes, Shel- Deanna Robin- son/Dispatch Columbus Police Chief Fred said. ton said, and a black male inside Staff Shelton told The Dispatch of- By the time police arrived, See SHOOTING, 8A Water main EMBEZZLEMENT damage A violation of trust closes two MSU dorms Sustained below-freezing temperatures blamed BY ALEX HOLLOWAY [email protected] Mississippi State University has tempo- rarily closed two of its residence halls due to a water main break near the buildings caused by the week’s spell of below-freez- Salter ing temperatures. According to a press release the university issued Thursday evening, Davenport Hall and Dogwood Hall Embezzlement a common crime that hurts have been closed while repairs are made on the water main. No damage has been reported inside the build- businesses, nonprofits, governments alike ings. However, the university has turned off water to the residence BY ISABELLE ALTMAN Last year, law enforcement in Lown- unpaid administrative leave two weeks halls while repairs are in progress. [email protected] des County made about one embez- before her arrest, and she resigned not The closure of the two buildings zlement arrest per month, including a long after. Herman Peters, head of her former administrative assistant Columbus Municipal School District em- department, was fired at a subsequent comes before classes for the spring with the City of Starkville Parks ployee accused of stealing $45,000 when board of aldermen meeting. Starkville 2018 semester begin on Monday. Aand Recreation department stands she worked at Belk and an employee of Mayor Lynn Spruill said Evans had MSU Chief Communications Offi- accused of embezzlement after author- another company who used a company worked for the city for at least five years. cer Sid Salter said the university is ities say she stole $2,000 from the city card to buy gas for his vehicle. asking students who live in the two while she worked there. And how the crime is committed Cases large and small residence halls not to return to cam- But embezzlement is much more ram- varies. Jeff Read, managing partner at the pus while repairs are underway, if pant than one administrative assistant “It ranges from people at Belk letting accounting firm T.E. Lott’s Starkville possible. in Starkville, District Attorney Scott their friends get merchandise for less office, has conducted audits at business- “They will be notified by email Colom said. He estimates embezzle- than its sale value or even for free to es and nonprofits where employers have and may follow social media for up- ment – which he defines as someone people who are straight stealing cash contacted his firm asking it to look into dates,” Salter said. who legally possesses funds or assets from the cash deposit at a business,” missing funds. On Facebook, Salter noted re- misappropriating them – is one of the Colom said. “Generally what happens is people pairs on the water main may be more common property crimes, more Starkville authorities haven’t released will steal a little bit and they get away completed as early as today and the frequent than grand larceny and up much information on the details of Ev- with it, and then they’ll steal a little bit university will continue to provide there with passing bad checks. ans’ alleged theft, but she was placed on See EMBEZZLEMENT, 8A See MSU, 8A Flu season and cases rampant in Golden Triangle, state cy, the only pharmacy in the town of Health. Mississippi suffering of 1,100 people. “It’s bad. People Flu cases are identified as are coming in to fill prescriptions persons with a fever of 100 de- CLPN Tam- from its highest flu for Tami-flu or cough and cold grees or higher with symptoms aria Clay rate in four years prescriptions. There’s an herbal of coughs or sore throats. Using administers remedy that people are asking that measure, 37 states are con- a flu shot to BY SLIM SMITH for, but we’re out of stock and sidered to have widespread flu co-worker [email protected] outbreaks after a sharp rise in LPN Teena have it back-ordered. Between Young at the flu and strep (throat) it seems cases in December. Not everyone in Caledonia has Laird Clinic like everybody in town is sick.” Mississippi’s flu rate spiked in Starkville had the flu this winter. While not everyone has the considerably last month, more Thursday. Of- It just seems like it. flu, this year’s flu season has than doubling from 6 percent to ficials say flu “We probably see 25 people a been seen more cases than nor- 12.2 percent. The percentage is cases this week coming in with flu symp- mal, based on data collected by based on the number of patients year are up toms,” said Audra Armistead, a reporting flu symptoms com- significantly. the Centers for Disease Control Luisa Porter/Dis- pharmacist at Caledonia Pharma- and the Mississippi Department See FLU, 3A patch Staff WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC MEETINGS 1 What were the rooms in Austria’s Saturday, Jan. 6 Das Park Hotel originally — drain- ■ Art showing: A showing of original artwork by Jan. 9: Planning and pipes, grain silos, or zoo cages? Zoning Commission, 2 What “Hitchcock blonde” married Andre Ray begins at 6 p.m. at Beans & Cream, 60 into European aristrocacy in 1956? Brickerton St., Columbus. Open to the public. 5:30 p.m., City Hall 3 What graphic novel debuted as a Jan. 9: Starkville-Ok- 12-issue comic series in 1986, then Thursday, Jan. 11 tibbeha Consolidated became a movie in 2009? School District Board, 6 Jake Macasek ■ Preserving Family Photographs: The Columbus 4 What kind of scientist would study p.m., Greensboro Center First grade, Caledonia Lowndes Public Library hosts this workshop with Pele’s tears? Jan. 12: Board of Kim Du Boise from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the library, 5 What three races make up the Triple Aldermen work session, 314 Seventh St. N. Bring up to three family photos, High Low Crown of horse racing? 1 p.m., City Hall 40 20 negatives or films for evaluation. Free; limited seat- Cold Jan. 15: Board of Super- Answers, 8B ing. Register at 662-329-5300 or email mvance@ Full forecast on visors, 5:30 p.m., Oktib- lowndes.lib.ms.us by Jan. 5. page 2A. beha County Courthouse Jan. 16: Board of Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 11-14 Aldermen, 5:30 p.m., INSIDE ■ Mississippi Theatre Festival and Convention: City Hall Classifieds 8B Obituaries 4A Mississippi University for Women hosts this state- Comics 6B Opinions 6A wide festival for community theater and high school Crossword 7B Religion 7B theater productions, many of which are open to the Keturah Keen enjoys Dear Abby 6B public. For more information, visit mta-online.org. singing with her family. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? ‘When cyberspace was closed down, the sedition was stopped. The nation does not support a social network that has its key in the hands of the United States.’ Not unlike Trump, Wolff loves Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami on how social media is affecting a brawl and the spotlight Friday the Iran protests and unrest. Story 6B. BY LAURIE KELLMAN announced late Thursday The Associated Press that it would move up the release to Friday due to A THOUSAND WORDS WASHINGTON — He’s “unprecedented demand.” a provocateur who’s said “Thank you, Mr. Presi- to love a brawl and once dent,” Wolff tweeted. bemoaned the glare of the Trump tweeted late spotlight — and the bigger Thursday that Wolff’s disappointment of watch- book was fiction and relied ing it move on. on fake sources. “You think, well, what “I authorized Zero ac- am I, chopped liver?” au- cess to White House (ac- thor Michael Wolff said tually turned him down in 2009 about coverage of many times) for author of his divorce, according to phony book! I never spoke Women’s Wear Daily. Obscurity is a threat to to him for book. Full of Wolff no longer. lies, misrepresentations His explosive new and sources that don’t ex- book on President Donald ist. Look at this guy’s past Trump is drawn from what and watch what happens he said was regular ac- to him and Sloppy Steve!” cess to the West Wing and Trump wrote. more than 200 interviews, The 64-year-old author including with Trump.