Local News
Koch Foods to open plant in Noxubee County
About 400 jobs are coming to Noxubee County as Koch Foods Inc. has announced its intention to open a poultry processing plant in Brooksville.
The company will have an annual payroll of $10.5 million.
“Noxubee County is pleased to announce the largest economic development project in our history,” said Brian Wilson, interim economic and community development director for Noxubee County
Koch Foods Inc. (pronounced “cook”) has an existing poultry plant in Scott County. The company’s headquarters are in Chicago and has an annual revenue of $1.5 billion and employs approximately 8,000 people.
Wilson said he is pleased that a respected business recognized by Forbes as one of the largest private companies in the United States recognized the attractive benefits we have to offer such as GoZone tax incentives, affordable Tennessee Valley Authority-generated power, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, major rail service and 4-lane highway access.
“Today is a great leap forward for our economy and a sign of the many more good things to come,” Wilson said. “Koch Foods is one of the fastest growing and largest poultry companies in the nation and we welcome them as a neighbor and a partner in our continued growth.”
William Oliver, president of the Noxubee County Board of Supervisors, said the county plans to assist the company in any way possible.
“We want to welcome them to our home, the best kept secret in Mississippi.”
Wade Jones, president of the East Mississippi Development Corp., said he was pleased to hear Koch’s announcement.
“It’s great for the region, and it will have a significant impact on jobs in Brooksville,” Jones said. “Brooksville is 65 to 70 miles away, and is right on the northern line of our trade area.”
Jones said the plant will most likely draw the majority of its employees from the Starkville and Columbus area, but could be good for Lauderdale County because local growers could provide poultry to the plant.
Jones said the EMBDC continues to aggressively seek economic development opportunities for Meridian and Lauderdale County. He said the EMBDC is currently focusing on work force development, downtown development and image branding.
He said the EMBDC is working with the city and county to unveil a logo and a slogan this fall.
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Flying Milestone
T-45 Goshawks from Naval Air Station Meridian were recently part of a flyover of the USS George H.W. Bush in celebration of the jet trainers 1 million flight hours mark.
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County faces fines from MDEQ
At the same time as they are investigated by the state auditor's office, Lauderdale County is facing fines from another state agency — the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
MDEQ is fining the county $12,000 for failure to use sediment control at a county road project, but Road Manager Neal Carson said the sediment controls were there.
According to MDEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ found that a road project in Toomsuba did not have the proper sediment controls to prevent run-off into Roasted Hog Creek. -
Convicted sex offender arrested
Nothing freezes the blood of a mother more than hearing the cries for help from one of her children.
Monday night, a mother and her 14-year old son allegedly found themselves in a battle against a man who earlier this year pleaded guilty to a sexual crime. Fortunately, the two were able to fight off the man, identified now by authorities of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as Christopher Todd Shelton. Shelton, 41, of Toomsuba, is now being held in the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility on charges of attempted kidnapping, failure to register as a sex offender non-compliance, and probation violation. -
No time like now
If State Treasurer Tate Reeves was concerned whether or not the fifth grade students at Poplar Springs Elementary School were listening to him, then he was convinced they were judging by the questions the youngsters were peppering him with after he spoke Wednesday morning.
"Boy these are very good questions," said Reeves as he took a minute to collect himself from the barrage. "You people are really testing me but I like that. It shows you are interested in this issue." -
Downtown organizations adopt a common name
Something as simple as a name can cause a lot of confusion. Three different downtown organizations in Meridian have learned that the hard way, and they've decided to do something about it.
What used to be three sister downtown advocacy groups — related, but separate — are now one. What were Meridian Main Street, the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, and the Meridian Downtown Association will now all operate under the Meridian Main Street name. -
MPD and LCSD get grants
Each year the Meridian Police Department and the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department receive a joint grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help pay for upgrading equipment used to fight crime.
Twenty grants worth more than $630,000 have been approved to help city and county law enforcement agencies in Mississippi upgrade law enforcement equipment, according to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The grants to Mississippi police and sheriffs’ departments represent formula grant funding provided through the DOJ Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. -
Rollover sends one to hospital
Meridian Police Department units responded Tuesday afternoon to a two-vehicle collision in downtown Meridian that sent one person to a local hospital with injuries.
According to officials, the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of 12th Street and 18th Avenue next to Rush Foundation Hospital. A black two-door sedan was flipped onto its roof as a result of the impact. -
Aniel back at work 12 days after surgery
At first glance, Pete Aniel doesn't look like someone who recently underwent heart surgery.
"I guess you were expecting me to look all weak, and walking around toting an oxygen tank," said Aniel, smiling broadly and – just 12 days after surgery – is neatly dressed in his work uniform.
"Can you believe this?" he says, still amazed himself at the possibility. "I was riding a bicycle in my neighborhood with my wife and grandson just this past Sunday. I tell everyone if you've got to have heart surgery and you're a candidate for this type of procedure, go for it!" -
Stateley Visit
State Auditor Stacey Pickering spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Meridian on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
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State superintendent tours local schools
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham took a day away from his office in Jackson Tuesday to visit several local school districts.
"We don't want to get bogged down in the office in Jackson; when you do, you sometimes will see a lot of frustration," said Burnham, who visited Meridian High School, Clarkdale Attendance Center and Enterprise High School. - More Local News Headlines
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Flying Milestone
