BROWNING ON BUSINESS Inside, See page 4A ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM FREE! THURSDAY | JUNE 25, 2015 New school district, OCEMA to share facility Howard, Trainer and Williams show support SOCSD is ex- board meeting. district instead of providing per- pected to take “We walked through the petual rent payments. for future construction project over control of building earlier today, but I’ve As approved, the action does its portion July 1, still got to talk to AT&T about not call for new construction. In- BY CARL SMITH and Oktibbeha County Emer- but reconfiguring moving phone lines and with stead, supervisors said they will [email protected] gency Management Agency. the building’s top our own folks about possible continue to discuss the matter The move solves two prob- floor for E-911 equipment upgrades,” Phelps internally and with school ad- The short-term future of Ok- lems immediately: What to do operations could Phelps said. “We’re very excited about ministrators in the future. tibbeha County School District’s with the facility once the coun- take at least six our new prospects. (Finding The most recent school administrative home was decid- ty school system merges with months, incom- OCEMA a new home) has been merger bill — SB 2818 — orders ed Wednesday as supervisors Starkville School District and ing OCEMA Director Shank a long time coming.” the board of supervisors to pro- voted 3-2 to temporarily split the how to solve overcrowding is- Phelps said. The board voted 3-2 on the vide SOCSD administrators of- Main Street facility between the sues at OCEMA’s current home Such an overhaul isn’t as easy matter after District 3 Supervi- fice space, furnishings and util- upcoming Starkville-Oktibbeha inside the Oktibbeha County as moving terminals and flip- sor Marvel Howard pushed for ities similar to what the county ping a switch, he said after the Consolidated School District Jail. new construction for the school See CONSOLIDATION, 8A WILKINS WISE ROAD CRASH Alabama duo arrested for identity theft in Columbus Authorities say men were involved in the purchase of farm equipment with stolen credit card info BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] Two men from the Birmingham area had a surprise waiting for them when they showed up at H&R Agri-Power in Columbus on Saturday. Investigators with the Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff Lowndes County Sher- Malone A Honda Accord iff’s Department say Eric wrecked along Wilkins Malone, 31, and Roder- Wise Road about ick Jemison, 32, came to 9:45 a.m. Wednes- pick up equipment from day. The driver of the the Highway 182 East car was taken by am- business allegedly pur- bulance to Aberdeen chased with stolen credit before being airlifting card information. When to North Mississippi they came to retrieve Medical Center in Jemison Tupelo, according the items, deputies were to Columbus Police waiting to arrest them. Department Assistant Master Sgt. Darrell Nabors with Chief Tony McCoy. LCSD said the purchases were made The driver’s moth- See THEFT, 8A er posted on The Dispatch’s Facebook page Wednesday INSIDE that she was OK. An ■ FLAG: GOP senators: Remove Confeder- update on her status ate sign from Miss. flag, Page 3A. was unavailable at ■ OBAMACARE: Supreme Court upholds press time. health care law subsidies, Page 5A. Isabelle Altman/Dispatch Staff Clinkscales steps down as judge, focuses on campaign pointed her paign for the Democratic current role as a city City judge announced bid for state office on Monday to the post nomination for District 41 judge. five yearsrepresentative. “The judicial canons BY ANDREW HAZZARD Clinkscales confirmed from the appropriate le- require she resign a ju- [email protected] ago. Darlene Ballard, ex- the move to The Dispatch gal authorities, it was de- On Mon- ecutive director of the dicial office before pur- in an email this morning. termined that in order to Columbus Municipal day, on the Mississippi Commission suing another office in a “I have committed my- allow myself to serve in steps of on Judicial Performance, different branch of gov- Judge Nicole Clinkscales self to being available as a this capacity I would have the Lown- told The Dispatch on ernment,” Ballard said. has resigned her position write-in candidate for the to resign my position as a Clinkscales des Coun- Wednesday that the A sitting judge open- from the bench to run District 41 seat,” Clink- member of the judiciary. I ty Court- moment Clinkscales ly running for political for a position in the state scales said. “After further have done so.” house, Clinkscales appealed for votes, she office calls into question Legislature. examination and insight The city council ap- launched a write-in cam- effectively gave up her See CLINKSCALES, 8A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What was first employed during the MEETINGS Today July 7: Columbus telecast of the Army-Navy football ■ Palmer Home Radiothon: Tune in to game on December 7, 1963? City Council, Mu- 2 Who hosted Weekend Update on SuperTalk Mississippi programs between 6 nicipal Complex, “Saturday Night Live” for the longest a.m. and 6 p.m. to donate to Palmer Home for 5 p.m. period of time (six years)? Children by calling 662-245-4642, or visiting July 16: Colum- 3 What is the second tallest mountain palmerhome.org, or texting “donate” to bus City Light in the world at 28,251 feet? Katelyn Jordan 41444 with the keyword PALMER. Help Palm- and Water, CLW 4 What word means “an honor or er Home reach its $120,000 Radiothon goal. Second grade expression of praise”? boardroom, noon 5 What was the first American manu- July 21: Colum- High Low facturer to establish a foreign branch, Saturday and Sunday bus City Council, 96 74 opening a factory in London to supply Mostly sunny ■ “Suddenly, Last Summer” auditions: Municipal Com- the British with weapons during the The Tennessee Williams Tribute hosts audi- plex, 5 p.m. Full forecast on Crimean War? tions for “Suddenly, Last Summer”(2 men, 3 June 30: Lown- page 2A. Answers, 8B women; ages 25-55) Saturday at the Rosenz- des Supervisors, weig Arts Center, 501 Main St., 2 p.m., and Courthouse, 9 Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish a.m. INSIDE Hall, 318 College St., 2 p.m. Play to be August 4: Colum- presented Sept. 6-12 in Columbus and Sept. bus City Council, Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A 24-27 in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Infor- Darrell Martin lives in Columbus Municipal Com- Comics 6B Opinions 6A mation: Brenda Caradine, 662-328-5413. and likes to play basketball. plex, 5 p.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I couldn’t have forecast it. But we’re darn glad we’re sitting up here with this trophy.” Virginia baseball coach Brian O’Connor, Pat Houston: Bobbi Kristina whose team beat Vanderbilt 4-2 on Wednes- Brown moved to hospice care Thursday day to win the national title. Story, 1B. Lawsuit filed against Brown’s partner BY MESFIN FEKADU toward Brown, misrepre- A THOUSAND WORDS AP Music Writer senting the nature of their relationship and taking NEW YORK — Bobbi money from her without Kristina Brown has been authorization. moved to hospice care Bedilia Hargrove, a after months in the hospi- court-appointed conser- tal, and a lawsuit has been vator for Brown, sued filed against her partner. Gordon in Fulton Coun- In a statement Wednes- ty Superior Court and is day, her aunt Pat Houston seeking at least $10 million said Whitney Houston’s in damages. daughter’s condition has Gordon is accused of worsened. assault, battery, intention- “Despite the great al infliction of emotional medical care at numerous distress, unjust enrich- facilities, Bobbi Kristina ment and conversion. Brown’s condition has The complaint says continued to deteriorate,” after Brown was in a the statement read. “As of medically induced coma, today, she has been moved Gordon stole more than into hospice care.” $11,000 from her bank ac- Brown, 22, was found count. face down and unrespon- Calls to Gordon’s attor- sive in a bathtub in her ney weren’t returned. Atlanta area home Jan. 31. Brown is also the She underwent surgery to daughter of singer Bobby replace her breathing tube Brown. He, along with Pat with a tracheostomy tube Houston, were appointed in February. co-guardians of Brown last “We thank everyone for month. their support and prayers. Whitney Houston was She is in God’s hands found unresponsive in now,” the statement read hotel bathtub on Feb. 11, on behalf of the Houston 2012 and died shortly af- AP Photo/Martin Swant family. ter. Pat Houston, the musi- State workers take down a Confederate national flag on the grounds of the state Capitol, Wednesday, in Montgom- ery, Ala. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley ordered Confederate flags taken down from a monument at the state Capitol. A lawsuit filed Wednes- cal icon’s sister-in-law and day against Brown’s part- manager, was appointed ner, Nick Gordon, accused administrator of the trust him of being physically fund Whitney Houston set and emotionally abusive up for her daughter. As South Carolina honors CONTACTING THE DISPATCH victims, Alabama lowers its flags Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 Ala. Governor Bentley HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? compared the banner n [email protected] Report a missing paper? n 662-328-2424 ext.