POPLARVILLE — Pearl River County Board of Supervisor President J. Patrick Lee says he believes Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King’s promise to open the lines of communication between MDOT and county political leaders. King, who ran on a promise of opening up communication and liaisons between the Mississippi Department of Transportation and local officials, was elected in November. He assumed office in January as one of the three members of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, which directs the activities of the MDOT. King is the former chairman of the Mississippi Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Lee at Wednesday’s board meeting told the press that King had called him personally and had given him phone numbers where King can be reached any time day or night on any issue that Pearl River County leaders face. At an April 13 meeting between MDOT officials and county and Picayune officials at District Six headquarters in Hattiesburg, King told Pearl River County and city leaders that he knew there had been breakdowns in communication in the past, but he wanted a new start on the problems District Six faces. Lee said that King told him this week that he would brief supervisors at least monthly on the issues Pearl River County faces. “I believe he is sincere, and it’s a heck of lot more attention than we got under the previous office holder,” said Lee. County and Picayune officials were told at the April 13 meeting that the U.S. Highway 11 North project would be let for bids in 2015 and the probable completion date is 2017. In the interim, MDOT will install a traffic signal at U.S. Hwy. 11 and Highland Commons Parkway and reconfigure traffic lanes on the intersection to make traffic flow smoother. MDOT envisions making U.S. Hwy. 11 four lanes from the north end of East Hobolochitto Creek bridge to the entrance to Hide-A-Way Lake. The original start day was 2013, but that was delayed, MDOT officials said, because of red tape and budget restrictions. At the end of the April 13 meeting, Lee told the press, “He (King) has promised us we will be kept fully informed on it (the project) from now on. He is just elected, and he deserves a chance, and we are going to give him that opportunity. He has said that he will do everything in his power to move the project along, and I believe he is doing that. So what else can you do? You have to work and pull together to get anything done,” Lee said.
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PICAYUNE VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN
Chad Porter, the valedictorian for Picayune Memorial High School, and Tiffany DeVore, the salutatorian, addressed their fellow graduates at Thursday’s graduation exercises.
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POPLARVILLE VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN
Valedictorian Samantha Gentry and salutatorian Brent Breland agave the Poplarville High School class of 2013s final farewells before the class of 139 graduating Seniors received their diplomas Friday evening. (Photos by Butch Weir)
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Fugitives captured: team effort
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PMHS SALUTATORIAN
Picayune Memorial High School salutatorian Tiffany DeVore will speak at the school's graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school stadium.
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PRC VALEDICTORIAN
Pearl River Central High School valedictorian Baylee Brooklyn Owens will speak at the school's graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Friday at the high school stadium.
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PMHS VALEDICTORIAN
Picayune Memorial High School valedictorian Chad Porter will speak at the school's graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school auditorium.
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City council seeks grant for downtown parking improvements
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POPLARVILLE SALUTATORIAN
Poplarville High School salutatorian Brent Breland will speak at the school's graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school stadium.
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POPLARVILLE VALEDICTORIAN
Poplarville High School valedictorian Samantha Gentry will speak at the school's graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school stadium.
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