TNT League FC Dawgs Play 2nd Game of Season Saturday 15th

September 12, 2012

ROXIE, MS -  This Saturday, September 15, 2012, the three Franklin County Dawg teams and the outstanding Cheerleader Squad will travel to Brookhaven and play three games against the Brookhaven Southern Wildcats who are also 0-1 in all age groups within league play.  The first game begins with the 6-8 year old group at 10:00 AM sharp  and each additional game is scheduled as follows: ages 9-10 at 11:05 AM and ages 11-12 at 12:30 PM

The three age group teams of  6-8; 9-10 and 11-12 year old's played their very first game on August 25th at the McComb High School field in McComb, Ms.  Since those three games, the teams have had plenty of practice time to add to their football experience.  The scores of all three games did not reflect the very strong effort put forth by the players and the coaches as some of the Dawgs played their very first career game in the newly formed local league against one of  the TNT League's most talented and mature groups, all three of the Southern Iron Horse teams.   

League schedule and information can be found at TNT Sports (click here).   Get more information about the Leagues Football Certification Course online, team Mom duties, team rosters, cheerleader information and more. 

A location map of the fields in Brookhaven at the Industrial Park Sports Complex can be seen by clicking here. . 

Parents and supporters are all encouraged to come out and support the teams as over 58 children are participating in football and cheer.  

Source: TNT Sports Schedule / FCSports Reporter 

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'Animals in Movies' Art Contest - Children 1st-5th Grade

September 12, 2012

MISSISSIPPI STATE — Lights, camera, action! The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine is inviting children to submit artwork that showcases animals on the “silver screen.”

As part of the 2012 Nestle-Purina Human-Animal Bond Lecture Series, the MSU-CVM is sponsoring an art contest for children in first through fifth grade. Children are asked to submit an original print, drawing or painting that fits within the theme “Animals in Movies.” The artwork should be no larger than 11” by 14”, and only one entry per student is allowed. The deadline for submission is Oct. 5.

Winners will be announced by Oct. 15, and all of the art work will be displayed in the MSU-CVM second-floor foyer from Oct. 22-26. First, second and third place winners will be awarded a certificate and invited to have their picture taken with Bully on Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m.

Please contact Melissa Montgomery at (662) 325-5170 or mmontgomery@foundation.msstate.edu or visit www.cvm.msstate.edu to get a registration form.

Source: Press Release
Sept. 11, 2012
Writer: Karen Templeton
Contact: Melissa Montgomery, (662) 325-5170

Bugfest To Be Held At Picayune's Arboretum 9/21-22

September 12, 2012

PICAYUNE – School groups, 4-H groups and families are invited to Bugfest, a two-day event at Mississippi State University’s Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Ms.

The hands-on learning event will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21st and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22nd. Participants can collect and identify insects, make crafts and play games.

MSU professor John Guyton and entomology student Breanna Lyle will bring a traveling classroom and a portable scanning electron microscope for an up-close look at Mississippi’s insects.

Admission on Friday is $2 for students and FREE for teachers, chaperones, and bus drivers until 6 p.m. Admission after 6 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

On Sept. 21, insect collection activities will be open to school groups from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. School groups of more than 20 should call ahead to preregister for an arrival time. Collecting will continue from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. At dusk, night collecting will begin. Those participating in night collecting should bring a flashlight or headlamp. An insect identification and mounting station will be open continuously at Pinecote Pavilion. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. children’s games and crafts will be available at the Buggy Midway.

Events resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Insect collecting, live demonstrations, pet bugs and exhibits will be ongoing throughout the day. The Buggy Midway will be open from 10 a.m. to noon. The Audubon Nature Institute’s Audubon Zoo Bugmobile will present two shows on Saturday, one at 3 p.m. and one at 3:45 p.m.

Go to the Crosby Arboretum’s calendar page at http://www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu to download the 4-H Insect Collecting Manual and the updated outline of the insect orders.

For more information, including directions to the Arboretum, visit the website or call (601) 799-2311.

Sources: Press Release
Sept. 10, 2012
Writer:  Susan Collins-Smith
Contact: Richelle Stafne (601) 799-2311

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Price-Gouging Law Tested With Arrest in Franklin County

Saturday, September 1, 2012

ROXIE, MS - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood's office said in a press release that Roxie Truck Stop business owner, 51-year old Kuldip 'Dee' Singh of Natchez, was arrested at approximately 6:30 PM on August 29th at his business in Franklin County and charged under the statue of the once challenged 'price-gouging law'.  Investigators say prior to his arrest that during the 'state of emergency' and within a 48 hour time frame Singh's gas prices at his truck stop skyrocketed from $3.59 a gallon to $3.99.  Franklin County was proclaimed by the Governor under a 'state of emergency' order at 5:20 p.m. on Monday, August 27, 2012.  Singh was held at Franklin County Detention Center but has made bond according to information from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office. It is not known at this time if he is represented by an attorney.  

The Roxie Truck Stop is located at the corner of hwy's 33-84/98 in the western section of Franklin County.  Singh was charged with price-gouging during a 'state of emergency'. The state of emergency  is currently in place because of Tropical Storm Isaac. Investigators accuse Singh of charging 17 cents per gallon over his 'usual profit margin' at the station which is clearly in direct conflict and non-compliance with the interpretation and meaning of the price-gouging law.   Hoods office said 'It was not clear whether  another gas station owner arrested in Madison,  Ms at the same time, 50 year old Fajinder Singh, is related to Singh or whether either parties have attorneys'. 

It is not clear if additional charges will be brought and the investigation is still ongoing.  It is also not clear if Singh's timing of his price increase was within the 'state of emergency' time frame but the broad scope of the law addresses this with the 'usual profit margin' which is at the center of the law.  Additional evidence of  price-gouging by increase pricing at his business will be determined by investigators upon further examination of audited report of receipts in recorded cash register log given to customers effected by purchases other than gas, such as cigarettes and dry goods.  This log 'tape' must be present to reflect the proper amount of collected sales tax and reported to state tax commission monthly for due sales tax payments. Investigators also will look at computer recorded timing of any scanner price increase. A computer increase or decrease occurs when the control selling price is altered or entered into the computer to reflect  the purchase amount when products are scanned and recorded  'at the counter cash register' indicating proper purchase amount.  It is not clear if the business uses a scanner or only uses a recorded cash register tape. Investigators also pointed out that state tax receipts from prior months along with current wholesale purchase invoices could also be used to address the 'usual profit margin' portion of the law in determining additional charges.   

The 'usual profit margin' is at the very center of the constitutional interpretation of the 'price-gouging' law and has been upheld by the Mississippi Supreme Court in a 2010 ruling involving Fair Oil Co of Louisville, Ms. Timing of the price increase has also been under question but upheld due to invoice dating and tax receipts.  Mississippi’s price gouging law prevents a merchant from increasing 'his' average profit margin on products until a state of emergency executive order is lifted.  Businesses have complained that the effective time and date of an executive order is sometimes unclear because of lack of communication within the community. Attorney General Jim Hood has said many times 'if something is unclear, then call 'someone' and find out. My office is always open for these types of questions'.  

Attorney General Jim Hoods office issued a printed statement  by Jan Schaefer, Public Information Officer (601.359.2002) on August 28, 2012 which said in part “The proclamation engaging the price gouging law only applies in counties traversed by Interstate 20 and all counties south of that line,”  The counties covered under the price gouging statute during the state of emergency are: Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Scott, Newton, Lauderdale, Claiborne, Copiah, Simpson, Smith,  Jasper, Clarke, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Lincoln, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Wayne, Wilkinson, Amite, Pike, Walthall, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene, Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison and Jackson.  “The rule of thumb for merchants inside this area is that they can pass on verifiable increases in their cost of products, but they cannot increase their average profit margin on products after 5:20 p.m. on Monday, August 27, 2012, until the executive order is rescinded. Violations of our price gouging laws could result in one to five years behind bars per count.”

As with all cases, a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  This case is being investigated by Richie McCluskey and Bo Luckey and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Patrick Beasley of the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division.  Anyone who suspects price gouging should contact the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-281-4418 or visit web site at http://www.ago.state.ms.us/.  

The price-gouging law has been tested in the courts.  A 'price gouging' appeal was filed in 2008 by State Attorney Jim Hood's office after a ruling dismissed a lawsuit filed against Fair Oil Company of Louisville, Ms.  Attorney General Jim Hood’s lawsuit accused the Mississippi oil company of charging too much for fuel after Hurricane Katrina.  The Mississippi Supreme Court took up the appeal of a Winston County judge's ruling in that case that said "Mississippi’s price-gouging law was unconstitutionally vague".   In the results, the Mississippi Supreme Court  unanimously overturned the ruling and it upheld the constitutionality of the state’s price-gouging law in November 2010. 

The Supreme Court sent the case back to Winston County to determine if Fair Oil Co. of Louisville violated the law. Fair Oil Co settled out of court. 


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Source: Press release - Attorney General Office / FCNews Staff Reporter