SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2011 Who is on this year’s cover? Look inside this edition for your copy of Wedding ? Belles. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all VOLUME 109 • NUMBER 15 ESTABLISHED 1882 men unto me.” — John 12:32 Arrests made in church burglary Most of stolen items recovered by police “It (the arrests and search) was a big joint effort.” phoned into the Marion “Sheriff’s investigators search arrant By Mark Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, led Jamie Singley, Michael and while — CPD Detective Al Preston Managing Editor to the arrest of Kai Stevens and Lee Cotton went executing Hollingsworth of 67 to check on the tip, and they the warrant BURTON HOLLINGSWORTH Two men face burglary Hollingsworth Road in notified me,” Preston said. items were charges and nearly $10,000 Sumrall and Edward Burton As investigators were recovered, worth of items stolen from of 122 Daisy Drive in conducting a check of the leading to the arrest of the thing except one item,” worked together on the case. the Calvary Baptist Church Picayune. The tip alerted law address, several of the items two men. Both were charged Preston said. “It was a big joint effort,” were recovered Wednesday enforcement that the items were observed in plain view. with burglary of a The Marion County Preston said. by local authorities. stolen were located at 803 The Columbia Police commercial building. Sheriff’s Office, Pearl River Items taken from the A Crime Stoppers tip, Beauvoir Street in Columbia. Department obtained a “We’ve recovered every- Basin Task Force and Columbia Police Department See ‘Arrests’ Page 3 Fighting back Bringing down the house against bullying By Mark Rogers Managing Editor A new program designed to reach teens and give them hope and options, and bring attention to bullying is kicking off in Marion County. If You Really Knew Me will get off to a big start when Grammy nominee MATTHEW WEST Matthew West performs in Columbia March 10. He said he thought “Why “Back in November, Aaron can’t we create something Hailey came to me and along those lines? What can wanted to do a no bully rally we do to reach our kids and of some sort,” said Nate help our schools?” Rios, youth pastor at The committee, comprised Woodlawn. I felt he was on of Rios, Paris Schepemaker, City crews demolished the condemned house at 911 Church Street Thursday. Submitted photo to something.” A local team Wandee Spiers, Lisa White, which mixes religious Roy Dearman, Casey Odom leaders, educators and and LaKisha Dillon worked City tears down condemned home on Church Street business people was on coming up with a concept assembled and began the task to “invest in something that attention of the Columbia residing in Alabama. Gray the legal procedures of finding ways to help teens can go back into the By Lori Watts Board of Aldermen on a inherited the property from outlined in the state law in the community. schools,” Rios said. The Staff Writer recurring basis since before his grandfather, Bill Gray. passed last year,” Houston “I did some research and movement is now a 501C3 the current city officials Mayor Reed Houston said said. “We don’t want to be discussed the concept with non-profit. “We’re a City bulldozers and were in office. In January, the removal of the structure doing this sort of thing friends,” Rios said. “We had legitimate movement now,” backhoes made quick work the board voted to tear the is an example of the city often, but if we have to do several tragedies involving Rios said. of demolishing the structure structure down and charge working as it should. “We it, this one was done right.” teens,” he said. He then “We’re in the process of at 911 Church Street the cost back to the property followed all the proper steps The city could not do the began to base his thoughts on finalizing our program,” Rios Thursday morning. The owner, Ryan Gray, a and went about taking down work until there was drier the MTV show “If You said. “We’ve already got two Really Knew Me.” “The idea property had occupied the Columbia native, currently the structure according to See ‘Home’ Page 3 is a great concept,” Rios said. See ‘Bully’ Page 3 Black History Month Story shared with students Annual celebration set Ward, a few other first grade racial ten- By Lori Watts students were participating in sion,” Wells in Foxworth. “We try to Staff Writer the integration of said. By Mark Rogers stay within Marion McDonogh. After her Managing Editor County for our speakers,” Crowds surrounded the Shirley Carson Wells told presentation, Lewis said. “The speaker police car with protest signs, her story about being part of the West The 23rd annual Marion County Black and honorees are always some throwing rocks and the first integration of New Marion stud- History Celebration will observe living local.” yelling threats and racial Orleans schools to the ents asked history Feb. 26. “It’s not a retiree slurs at 6-year-old Shirley WELLS students at West Marion questions. “We honor people who have been dinner,” Lewis said. “It’s FORTENBERRY Carson, the young black girl Primary last week, as part of “How did working 20 years or more and about people who are still the officers were escorting to the schools focus on Black those names they called you management,” said Earnestine Lewis, the working. It’s about the longevity of being McDonogh Elementary #19, History Month. Wells shared make you feel? What did founding coordinator of the event. This an employee in your hometown.” in the lower Ninth Ward in a short essay, she named those names mean to you? year, attendees will find out who has been Last year the dinner honored hairdresser New Orleans. “Growing Up in the 60s,” Did you ever make any working the longest and see many area Charity P. Fortenberry. “She’s still doing The year was 1960. While outlining her experience as friends there?” asked the people honored. “The committee lets hair and she’s been doing it a long time,” photographers snapped a she went to school, escorted students. people know who is going to be honored,” Lewis said. Fortenberry has been in the now famous photograph of by federal marshals. “It Wells told the children that Lewis said. business world for 65 years. She’ll be little Ruby Bridges on her definitely was scary to me. she did make friends at the This year's featured speaker is the Pastor honored again this year. “She only goes to way to the all-white William My heart was racing and all school but that it was not Donald Aaron from Christian Hill Church Frantz Elementary on N. the changes caused a lot of See ‘Celebration’ Page 3 Galvez Street in the Ninth See ‘Wells’ Page 3 SATURDAY 2 www.columbianprogress.com February 19, 2011 Barker-Necaise to unite Folks-Pierce to wed Mr. and Mrs. Michael V. Stephanie LeAnn Folks Price of Columbia are pleased of Hattiesburg, and to announce the engagement Gannon Pope Pierce of of their daughter, Johna Columbia, announce their Mayree Barker to Kyle Joseph engagement. Necaise, son of Mr. and Mrs. Miss Folks is the Leslie Kerwin Necaise of daughter of the late Necaise Crossing. Phyllis Runnels Folks of The bride-elect is the Hattiesburg, and granddaughter of Mrs. Anniece granddaughter of Dr. Alexander of Purvis, and the Gathel Runnels and the late Charles M. Alexander, late Nannie Runnels of Mrs. Phyllis Price of Columbia Hattiesburg. and the late Harvey J. Price. Stephanie received her She is a 2004 graduate of B.S. and Masters at The Columbia High School and a University of Southern 2007 graduate of Pearl River Mississippi. She is a Community College with a speech therapist for Certificate of Proficiency in Picayune School District Cosmetology and also 2010 in Picayune. graduate with her Associate in Mr. Pierce is the son of Arts Degree. Johna is currently Mr. and Mrs. Glynn attending William Carey James Necaise. He is a 2001 Electric of Gulfport. Pierce of Columbia, and Hattiesburg. reception following in the University where she will graduate of Hancock High Wedding vows will be grandson of Mr. and Mrs. The couple will be united church fellowship hall. receive her Bachelor’s Degree School and a 2005 graduate of exchanged at 2 p.m. on James E. Pope of Columbia in marriage on March 5, Following a 7 day in Elementary Education. Pearl River Community Saturday, April 2, at the St. and the late Mr. and Mrs. 2011, at Temple Baptist Caribbean cruise, the Johna is currently employed College with an Associate in Matthews Catholic Church in Horrace Pierce of Church (East Campus) in couple will reside in with Lloyds Cabin in Necaise Arts Degree and in 2010 Necaise Crossing. A reception Columbia. Hattiesburg, with a Picayune. Crossing. Associate in Applied Science will follow at the West Gannon received his The prospective groom is Degree. He also in 2010 Harrison County Civic Center Associates Degree at the grandson of Rev. and Mrs. completed his apprenticeship on Espy Avenue in Long Pearl River J.T. Byrd of Gulfport, Mrs. with the IBEW Local 903 of Beach. Community College. Joeann Ladner of Necaise Gulfport. Kyle is currently Family and friends are He is employed with Tylers have a girl Crossing and the late Leslie employed with Haynes invited to attend. Comsouth Inc. in Smiths welcomes son Michael and Kristen Smith was seven pounds eight of Columbia are pleased to ounces.