JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour has named Brigadier Gen. William “Bill” Freeman, Jr., of Newton, as the state’s Adjutant General replacing Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, who recently announced his retirement. In this position, Gen. Freeman will command the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard.
“I am deeply appreciative of Gen. Cross’ outstanding career in service of his state and country, especially his tremendous leadership in the war on terrorism and after Hurricane Katrina. I know Gen. Freeman has not only a huge respect and passion for the Guard as an institution, but also a very high personal concern for the well-being of our Guard members and their families. He is also a man of integrity, commitment, and honor, and I welcome his return to public service in this vitally important role,” Barbour said.
Gen. Freeman has more than 30 years of military experience with the Mississippi Army National Guard, and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal upon his retirement in 1999. Gen. Freeman began his career in 1966, when he enlisted in the Army National Guard in Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 114th Field Artillery.
Serving in various capacities throughout his career, including as a second lieutenant, platoon leader, air observer, assistant personnel officer, and battery executive officer, Gen. Freeman also held the position of service battery commander for five years, during which time his artillery battery was a three-time recipient of the Eisenhower Trophy awarded to the most outstanding National Guard unit in the state.
In 1990, Gen. Freeman became deputy commander of Detachment 1, 1st Calvary Division and took command of the 631st Field Artillery Brigade in 1992. Four years later, he was promoted to oversee the 66th Troop Command, where he was in charge of 2,457 soldiers. He maintained this post until his retirement in 1999.
Gen. Freeman is a recipient of various national and state achievement medals, including: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Cross, Mississippi War Medal, Mississippi Longevity Medal, and Mississippi Emergency Service Medal.
A resident of Newton, Gen. Freeman and his wife, Karen, have one son and one daughter and six grandchildren. Currently, Gen. Freeman is senior vice president, chief operating officer and board member of the Newton County Bank and the Newton County Bancorporation. He served two terms as mayor of Newton from 1979-1987.
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Barbour names Freeman head of Mississippi National Guard
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City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
Team Spirit
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High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
Master Dance Class
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Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. -
Inmate escapes custody
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials said Monday afternoon an inmate escaped from custody Friday and is still being sought.
Officials said Johnny Hall Jr. escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune. Preliminary information indicates Hall left the officers and jumped into a waiting black vehicle with a white female driver. -
Citizen’s Police Academy begins today
The work law enforcement conducts on a daily basis is often misunderstood by the general public.
Officials at the Meridian Police Department developed a program to inform and educate citizens on what police do in serving and protecting the population. The program, The Citizen's Police Academy, has been gaining speed for a couple of years since it was first offered. Officials said it shows residents are interested in police work and how it is conducted. - Woman: decongestant brought meth charge in Alabama
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