Local News
(1 p.m.) Lawsuit filed over juvenile center
Lawsuit filed over juvenile center in Meridian
Disability Rights Mississippi is suing Lauderdale County over conditions in the county’s 30-bed juvenile detention center.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court. It claims young people with mental illnesses were locked in crowded, unsanitary cells for 23 hours a day and that staff members have used pepper spray on children’s faces.
The lawsuit represents only one side of a legal argument. It also claims juveniles were denied care for mental health and medical issues.
County administrator Mike Sumrall said Monday that ‘‘substantial improvements’’ have been made at the center the past two years. He said Lauderdale spends more on its juvenile center than some counties with similar populations.
Officials with the Southern Poverty Law Center were in Meridian's Highland Park today to discuss the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks to force the county to comply with federal law and open the detention center to inspection following reports of inhumane and unconstitutional conditions – including children being locked down in unsanitary, overcrowded jail cells, subjected to physical abuse and denied access to medical, mental health and educational services.
More details in tomorrow's edition of The Meridian Star.
— Associated Press and staff
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Honing Skills
The men and women who make up Lauderdale County's volunteer fire departments all have one thing in common – the desire to protect and serve their community.
Of course these volunteers don't get paid for their service, and although some are retired, there are many, like Bo Land from the Martin community, who work full-time and have a family.
That means volunteer fire department members must train nights and weekends. -
MPD probing weekend incidents
Detectives with the Meridian Police Department are investigating two incidents that reportedly occurred Sunday, one of which was an alleged armed robbery and the other a shooting.
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Deadly accident claims two lives
Meridian police are investigating a single-vehicle traffic accident that killed two people and sent two others to a local hospital on Monday.
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Partnership formed to promote fire safety
Last year, Key Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to 116 single family fires in its seven-county service area – 48 of which were in Lauderdale County.
"That's fires with total or major destruction," said Susan Wehr, executive director of the Key Chapter. -
Happy Birthday Meridian
Sesquicentennial is a big word, but what it means is simple — A sesquicentennial is a 150th anniversary.
2010 is Meridian's sesquicentennial, and the celebrations here will begin this week and go on for the rest of the year. -
Navy League accepting scholarship applications
Each year, the Meridian Area Navy League awards two $500 scholarships to deserving students to help with costs of higher education. This year, however, the organization upped the ante and will bestow two $750 scholarships. -
Arbor Day program set for Tuesday
The Lauderdale County Welcome Center celebrates Mississippi's Arbor Day this week.
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Fans show team spirit at Temple viewing of Super Bowl XLIV
The smell of hot nachos and cold beer is all around you. You can see beads of sweat falling from Peyton Manning's brow as he hurls the ball. The voice of the announcer booms on the loudspeakers.
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Star of The Week: Megan Mowdy
Meridian Community College Sophomore Megan Mowdy lives to sing, and she loves to share her passion for music.
20-year-old Megan is a Kemper County resident, and her love of music helped her to become the first member of her family to attend college. -
4-H leader is driving force behind community service
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Newton’s business and civic leaders have always expected a visit from Johnnie Mae Walker on behalf of the annual 4-H bike-a-thon for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, but they grew worried when other people appeared in her place.
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