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Mothers program to target youth |
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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
By Davida Hill-Beckum
Daily Times Leader
Mothers of Inmates, a West-Point based support group that began more than a year ago to help mothers with the emotional anguish of parenting children in prison, is expanding their ministry to reach the youth of the community as well.
MOI will host their first youth forum on Feb. 22 in the fellowship hall of Northside Christian Church at 2:00 p.m.
“This is an extension of what we began in October,” said Jean Smith, founder of the organization. “The response was so great that we plan to do some sort of youth outreach each month.”
Rev. Bradford Moore, a former inmate, will be hosting the forum. Smith encourages every young man who can attend to be present.
“(Bradford) is going to share his testimony,” said Smith. “My prayer is that this outreach will deter at least one individual from beginning a life of crime. If we can prevent one child from becoming an inmate our work is not in vain. Don’t get me wrong though, I want to save more than one.”
According to Smith, too many males are making the Mississippi Department of Corrections their new home.
“These are good boys that are making bad choices,” said Smith. “They make these choices and then they have to deal with the consequences. Prison is the consequence and sitting home watching BET and Sponge Bob does not prepare you for prison.”
Smith believes the youth will be responsive to Moore because he has made those choices and survived the consequences. She believes his testimony will help accomplish the mission of MOI.
“Whatever assistance this community its civic organization and its churches can provide,” Smith said, “it is our responsibility to do so. For too long we have turned or heads while thinking ‘it’s not in my house’. That can’t happen anymore. That mentality is causing us to lose our children. I am a firm believer that it really does take a village.”
MOI will host their monthly meeting Feb. 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Northside.
For more information on either event, contact Smith at 312-2683.
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Concerned citizens talk cleanup |
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Monday, 08 February 2010 |
By Brandon Walker
Daily Times Leader
Over two dozen concerned West Point citizens filled the Growth Alliance building on Broad Street Thursday night with one goal in mind: Cleaning up West Point.
In a meeting organized by Growth Alliance members Jackie Edwards and Spencer Griffin, several public officials and other interested parties were in attendance to discuss options on how to go about cleaning up the city.
“We have no plan in place right now, we just wanted to sit down with others who feel something needs to be done. We wanted to get ideas out there and to see where we could go from here,” Edwards said. “We didn’t advertise this meeting at all, we just got together through word-of-mouth. With a turnout like this, it’s obvious that there are plenty of people in the community who are ready to act on this.”
One by one, those in attendance stood up and shared their concerns, ideas or observations, ranging from the County’s litter problem to the importance of recycling bins throughout the city.
Ward 1 Selectman Rod Bobo and Ward 2’s Homer Cannon were on hand to listen to the debate, as were District 2 Supervisor Luke Lummus and District 3’s R.B. Davis.
Another topic of discussion was the state of West Point’s Highway 45-A corridor.
“I think one of the best points made at this meeting has been the link between cleaning up and economic development,” Bobo said, reiterating an earlier point made by a citizen. “We have to get this city looking its best or it will be difficult to get jobs here.”
The presence of the four city and county officials was not lost on those in attendance.
“I just want to say how much I appreciate the selectmen and supervisors being here,” said Growth Alliance member Michelle Easterling. “I don’t think they were obligated to be here, so it shows you have the same concerns that we do.”
For Lummus, the strong turnout was a good sign, but he stressed that whatever action taken out of the meeting should include a long-term plan.
“We’ve had efforts before that start off strong, then it fades away,” Lummus said. “I think one way to prevent that is to get young people involved in whatever plan you come up with. If they get passionate about something, the sky is the limit.”
While no course of action was officially announced at the meeting, the group’s commitment to a cleaner, nicer West Point was evident.
“It can’t be ‘me’ or ‘I’, it has to be ‘us’, Yates said. “It’s going to take the entire community, but we have to pull together and get something done.”
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Rotary gets lesson on crime, drugs |
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Friday, 05 February 2010 |
By Davida Hill Beckum
Daily Time Leader
Members of the West Point Rotary Club received a lesson in crime trends during their Thursday weekly meeting.
Chief Deputy Eddie Scott, of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, spoke to Rotary regarding the pros and cons of technology for law enforcement and the current trends regarding drug use and sales in West Point.
According to Scott, the new E-911 system has made the job of law enforcement officials easier by offering a more accurate dispatching of emergency personnel. Scott believes cell phone technology and the computers and phones in police cars have also helped to apprehend criminals. However, with all of the pros introduced during his 10-year career with the CCSD, technological advances are also responsible for a newer kind of crime; identity theft.
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