VOLUME 110 ISSUE 06 PERRY COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI ONE SECTION USPS 465-660 THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 50¢ PER COPY

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Community Calendar

Submit your events to Community Calendar by faxing to 601-788-6031 or

e-mail to: news@therichtondispatch.com

HEALING OILS CLASSThe 12 Healing Oils of the Bible thiscoming Saturday, May 23, from 5until 8 p.m. Taught by CarolynRussell of Mandeville, LA, the classwill focus on spiritual oils used inhealing, not only in Biblical times,but today as well. We are all famil-iar with Frankincense and Myrrh,but there are aothers such asCassia, Sandalwood andSpikenard. Join us as Carolynshares what we know about thesegreat oils God gave us from the verybeginning of time. There is a $5charge per attendee to cover costsof supplies used in the class. If youneed additional information, callPenny Hyde at 601 818 2735.

CHURCH ANNIVERSARYOak Grove MBC of Brooklyn, MSwill celebrate their “Annual ChurchAnniversary” on Sunday, May 24,2015, at 2:30 PM. The speaker willbe Reverend Theophlius McSwain,Pastor of Good Hope BaptistChurch of New Augusta, MS andCarter Hill Baptist Church ofBeaumont, MS. Everyone is invitedto attend. Bro. John Warren isPastor. For additional information,contact Deacon Ray Benjamin at601-598-2041.

HICKORY GROVE CEMETERY DUESAnnual cemetery dues are due inMay for the Hickory GroveCemetery on Hickory Grove ChurchRoad. Please send a $25 check toRobbie Merrill at P.O. Box 434, NewAugusta, MS, 39462.

BIBLE SCHOOLKittrell Congregational MethodistChurch will be having its BibleSchool on May 31st- June 5th, from5:30- 8:30 PM. All three year oldsthrough teens are invited. Thetheme is “Camp Discovery: Jesusat work through Us”. For more infor-mation call Beverly Hestern at 601-620-8258. Pastor is Bro. DeltonParker.

CLASS REUNIONPerry Central Class of 1995 willhave their 20th year class reunionon Saturday, May 30, 2015, from 5-8 PM. It will be held at the CatfishWagon Restuarant in Runnelstown.RSVP to April Clark Bryars at acbr-yars@comcast.net. For more infor-mation call, 601-408-9900.

DAYLILY GARDEN TOURThe Annual Daylily Garden Tours, inHattiesburg, will be May 23rd and25th, presented by The HattiesburgDaylily Society (HADS). The sched-ule of participating gardens, direc-tions, and the days and times eachwill be open and will be availablenearer the tour dates at HattiesburgVisitors Center, Main Street Books,or visit www.hattiesburgdaylily.comfor the schedule and HADS informa-tion.

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICEThere will be a Memorial DayService on Monday, May 25th, at 10AM, in the New Augusta Court-Room. Please join in the service topay tribute and remember all thosewho served and our fallen heroes.

FAMILY REUNIONThe Robert and Annie ShoemakeFamily Reunion will be heldSaturday, May 30, 2015, from 10AM- Until. It will be held at theBarrontown Community Center, 610Herrington Rd, Petal, MS. ContactSandra at 251-649-1486, if youhave any questions.

RUNNELSTOWNCHEERLEADING REGISTRATIONCheerleading registration will beheld Friday, May 22nd, from 5 PM- 7PM and Saturday, May 23rd, from10 AM- 12 Noon, outside of theschool cafeteria at the picnic tables.The registration fee will be $50 perparticipant. The total estimatedcosts this year is $300. The remain-ing balance will be due by June26th. Your child must be 4 years oldto be eligible for registration. Pleasecontact Heather Meeler at 601-408-1386, if you have questions.

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PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

Memorial Day service on Monday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Augusta Courthouse

Curtis R. Gatesannounces forConstable JudicialDistrict #2

Johnnie WayneBarnes, Jr.announces forConstable District 1I, Johnnie Wayne Barnes,

Jr., am hereby announcingmy candidacy for the office ofConstable District 1 in PerryCounty, Mississippi.A formal statement will

appear at a later date.

Johnnie Wayne Barnes, Jr

Dale Goodinannounces forSuperintendent ofEducation postI, Dale Goodin, am hereby

announcing my candidacyfor the office ofSuperintendent of Educationof Perry County Schools. A formal statement will

follow at a later date.

Dale Goodin

I, Curtis R. Gates, wouldlike to formally announce mycandidacy for Constable forJudicial District #2 in PerryCounty.After talking to many con-

cerned citizens throughoutthe county, you have encour-aged me to run for this polit-ical office.There are many reasons

why I know I am qualified tobecome your next constable.I am a true Christian for

the love of God Almighty.I am an all around “peo-

ple’s person”. I am alwaysconcerned about the qualityand the condition of ourlives. I believe in helpingpeople as long as they wantto help themselves. My eyessee no race or color of skin.We all are God’s children.I have 35 years of military

and law enforcement experi-ence.I have a full time state cer-

See Gates, Page 3

Richton announces 2015Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Perry Central announces 2015Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Mr. Daniel Henley, principalat Richton High School, proud-ly announces that Anna ClaireMercer has earned the honorof valedictorian of the 2015senior class. Michaela DianneNowell has achieved the honorof salutatorian.Anna Claire is the daughter

of Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Mercer.The current Miss RHS, sheholds a 4.0 GPA and has con-sistently been on the All “A”Honor Roll. She is aMississippi Scholar and aRebel Scholar, and representsPerry County as itsDistinguished Young Woman2015. Anna Claire wasRichton High School’s HOBYAmbassador to the MississippiLeadership Conference in2013. She then representedthe state at the Hugh O’BrianWorld Leadership Conferencein Chicago, along with repre-sentatives from all over theUnited States and 16 othercountries. She has beenselected to represent RHS atMississippi Girls’ State andPeople to People International.She was named CongressionalYouth Leadership CouncilNominee, and has receivedPerry County Exchange ClubStudent of the Month and theRichton Rotary Student of theMonth.Miss Mercer has held many

leadership positions throughhigh school. She is currentlyBeta president and a memberof the Leadership Committeefor First Priority. She has rep-resented her class by beingelected Freshman ClassPresident, Sophomore ClassVice-President, Junior ClassPresident, and Senior Classpresident. She was chosen byher classmates as MostIntellectual four consecutiveyears.She has received numerous

subject area awards, includingChemistry I, Speech andDebate, AP English Languageand Composition, U.S. History,World History, AP U.S.Government and Politics,Microbiology, Genetics,Geography, MississippiStudies, Technology Discovery,and English I. She also madethe top score on the 2013English II SATP II. Anna Claire has been part of

the Maroon Marionettes danceteam for four years, andserved as Captain the past twoyears. She was selected as anAmerican All-Star Dancer forthree years. Miss Mercer has been an

active member of theFellowship of ChristianAthletes, Academic Quiz Bowlteam, Bobcat Math Leagueteam, Science Club, Mu AlphaTheta Math Honor Society,Students Against DestructiveDecisions, and Diamond Girls. Miss Mercer enjoys worship-

ping with her church family atFirst Baptist Church ofRichton, where she is an activemember of the youth groupand is involved with variouscommittees and activitiesincluding vacation bibleschool, World Changers, and

community outreach. Anna Claire has been

awarded the Elaine MoserScholarship, the Mamie AllenChristian Leadership Award(for two consecutive years), theU.S. Air Force Math & ScienceAward, and was chosen theOutstanding Senior for theClass of 2015. She was nameda Lucky Day Scholar to theUniversity of SouthernMississippi where she willbegin classes in the fall tostudy political science. AnnaClaire later plans to attendlaw school at the University ofMississippi.Michaela Nowell is the

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. MikeNowell. She holds a 4.0 GPAand will graduate as aMississippi Scholar and aRebel Scholar. Michaela hasmaintained All “A” Honor Rollrecognition throughout school,and she has received numer-ous subject area awardsincluding Geometry,Geography, Biology, English II,English IV, Family Dynamics,Nutrition and Wellness, U.S.History, Genetics, and AP U.S.Government and Politics, TopSATP II U.S. History Score,and Top SATP II BiologyScore.

Miss Nowell is a member ofthe Beta Club, Mu AlphaTheta Math Honor Society,Maroon Marionettes whereshe served as co-captain herjunior year, and DiamondGirls. She representedRichton High School as a dele-gate to Girls’ State her junioryear. In addition to schoolactivities, she is involved withmany worthwhile activitiesthat have benefitted the com-munity such as ForrestGeneral Spirit Girls. Michaelahas been a member of the ACEAllstars Competitive CheerOrganization for 11 years.Her team won Nationals thisyear and is currently ranked11th in the world.Michaela earned the distinc-

tion of RHS Star Student, theGulf Coast EducationInitiative ConsortiumSuperintendent’s Nominee,Richton Rotary Club Studentof the Month, and the RHSSenior Achievement Award2015.Miss Nowell has been

awarded the Get2CollegeEssay Scholarship from theEducation ServicesFoundation, and numerousscholarships from theUniversity of Mississippiincluding Academic ExcellenceScholarship, BledsoeScholarship, SalutatorianScholarship, Star StudentScholarship, and Girls StateParticipation Scholarship. Michaela has been accepted

into the Early EntryPharmacy Program at theUniversity of Mississippiwhere she will pursue a careerin Pharmacy.We congratulate Miss

Mercer and Miss Nowell onthis very important achieve-ment and wish them contin-ued success in their futureendeavors.

Perry Central HighSchool’s Principal, Mr. TitusM. Hines has announcedthat the graduating class of2015’s Valedictorian andSalutatorian are DierraShauntrell Myers and HaleyOlivia Brown.Dierra S. Myers,

Valedictorian, will be gradu-ating with high honors as aMississippi Scholar. She hasbeen a member of BETA for4 years, the NationalTechnical Honor Society for 2years, served as president ofher sophomore class, andcurrently serves as Presidentof the Student Council.Dierra also served as cheer-leader (2 years), a member ofHOSA (2 years), DECA (1year) and Mu Alpha Theta (2years). She attended theHugh O’Brian YouthLeadership Conference dur-ing the summer of 2013 andserved as delegate to theDixie Electric YouthLeadership University dur-ing the fall of her junior year.Dierra was chosen as PerryCounty’s Exchange ClubStudent of the Month hersenior year and was votedSenior Maid for PerryCentral High School’sHomecoming festivities. Dierra has been recognized

as Student of the Monthmultiple times. She hasbeen a Principal’s list stu-dent (4 years) and scoredadvanced on all of her sub-ject area exams. Dierrareceived academic excellenceawards for Algebra I, Art I,English I (Accelerated), MSStudies, Biology I, WorldHistory, Accelerated EnglishII, Physical Science, U.S.History, World Literature,

Pre-Calculus, U. S.Government, English III(Accelerated), Economics,and Spanish II. She alsoreceived AcademicExcellence for the highestcumulative average (over 4years) in English, math, sci-ence and social studies.Dierrahas completed 6 hours of

college credit (EnglishComposition I and CollegeAlgebra I)and served over 100 volun-

teer hours for various chari-ties. She was inducted intothe Hall of Fame duringPerry Central’s senior nightceremony. Dierra has been offered

the Second CenturyScholarship and a StudyAbroad Scholarship fromMillsaps College, aPresidential Scholarshipfrom Jones County JuniorCollege, the GoldenOpportunity Scholarshipfrom the University ofSouthern Mississippi and aFull Technical Scholarshipfrom Pearl River CommunityCollege. Dierra attends Nicholson

Temple Church of God inChrist and is the daughter ofMr. and Mrs. Robert T. Myersfrom the Indian Springscommunity. Dierra will beattending Millsaps Collegein the fall as a Majors’ cheer-leader and pursue her degreein the field of medicine.Earning the status of

Salutatorian is Haley O.Brown. Haley is graduatingwith high honors withMississippi Scholar status.She has been named to thePrincipal’s List all four yearsof high school and has beenselected Student of theMonth in several classes byindividual teachers. In addition to academics,

Haley is a member of the IvyPearls of Hattiesburg, BETAclub (treasurer-2 years), theBible Club (3 years), theFellowship of ChristianAthletes (president-3 years),the Mu Alpha Theta MathTeam, the FCCLA (PublicRelations Leader), theNational Society of HighSchool Scholars, the StudentCouncil (2 years), and is cur-rently Student Body VicePresident. Other activities

that Haley is involved in arebeing a member of the LadyBulldogs basketball team (4years) and the varsity trackteam (2 years). Haley hascompleted six college hours(English Composition I andCollege Algebra), She hasalso donated 343 servicehours to her community.Haley has been selectedMost Courteous and MostLikely to Succeed in PerryCentral’s Who’s Who andwas named the 2014-2015Perry Central High SchoolHomecoming Queen.Haley received numerous

awards during PerryCentral’s senior night cere-mony, including the Essenceof Light (Chapter 189)Scholarship, the AlphaKappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.Scholarship and placed sec-ond in the Pink Cotillionpageant sponsored by thesorority during the summerof 2014. She has beenoffered a HeritageScholarship from MississippiCollege and a PresidentialScholarship from JCJC andwas awarded the Good HopeBaptist Church Scholarship.In addition, Haley wasselected to Perry Central’sHall of Fame and votedStudent of the Year by PerryCentral’s faculty. Haley attends the Church

of God in Christ in McLain,MS and is the daughter ofMr. and Mrs. Jason Sumrallof New Augusta, MS. Haleywill attend Alcorn StateUniversity in the fall to pur-sue her degree in nursing. Congratulations to Dierra

and Haley on their accom-plishments. We know youboth will make us proud!

Dierra Myers Haley Brown

Anna Claire Mercer Michaela Nowell