Local leaders react to Peace Prize

Local News

Related Photos

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

October 12, 2009

By Jeremy Pittari Picayune Item Mon Oct 12, 2009, 07:27 PM CDT

PICAYUNE — With the recent announcement that president Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace prize, there has been a mixed bag of reactions, from that of pride all the way to surprise.

Local past and present elected officials along with the president of the local chapter of the NAACP had good things to say about the news.

Nobel Prizes are chosen by panels of people set forth by founder Alfred Nobel. In the case of the Nobel Peace Prize, that consists of a committee of five people elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Nominees for each prize are selected in part by members of academies, university professors, scientists from numerous countries and parliamentary assemblies, according to nobelprize.org.

Former Picayune City Council member Leavern Guy said the announcement is an honor, not only for Obama, but for the entire country, and he is appalled by the negative reactions he has seen from people such as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

“I don’t think anybody else would have got such a negative reaction if another person was president at this time,” Guy said.

While Guy says there have been other great leaders who were worthy of the prize, such as John F. Kennedy for his work with the Cuban Missile Crisis, he seems certain that the committee who chose Obama for the prize believed he was worthy. Both Guy and Pearl River County Board of Supervisors president Anthony Hales said Obama did not campaign or petition for the award.

Pearl River County NAACP president Jimmy Richardson sees Obama’s win as a great accomplishment, even though he has only been in office for a short time. However, in that short time Richardson said Obama has worked to bring people together and work for the good of the country as a whole. In light of the negative feedback, Richardson said he would tell Obama, “Don’t focus on the negative, continue to focus on the positive.”

Hales said he was surprised by the announcement, but realizes that Obama was not selected for what he has accomplished, but for what he wants to accomplish. Hales thinks it is Obama’s message of uniting world leaders through dialogue, rather than aggression, that earned him the award and sends a message to the world that those are the type of leaders the world wants.

Even though it seems there is a certain section of the American population that has not embraced this nation’s leader, Hales said it appears as though there is a segment of the world population that has, and this award is a reflection of that. He said America should be proud that their president was chosen.

Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero Jr. took a neutral stance, saying that he doesn’t get involved the national media hype and there does not seem to be much that the award will do for the people of Picayune. Pinero did say he was surprised to hear that Obama received the prize, since he has been in office for such a short time.

“His policies haven’t had a chance to succeed yet,” Pinero said. “I want him to succeed, but I think it’s premature for any policy maker after a couple of months.”

Text Only

Local News

Bar fight ends in man being run over
A bar fight Friday morning resulted in one man being run over by the other with a pickup truck.
The fight was reported to Picayune Police officers Friday morning at about 1:44 at the American Legion Hall on Union School Road, said Capt. Chad Dorn.

February 4, 2012
Arson suspected at possible murder site
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department investigators suspect arson was involved in a structure fire that occurred at a home where James Raine was killed last year.
The home at 24 Emma Lane was the scene of what investigators believe was the murder of the 37-year-old Raine in October, 2011.

February 4, 2012 1 Photo
Inmate escapes leaving father’s wake
Johnny Hall Jr., 30, escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody Friday afternoon while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.

February 4, 2012
Inmate escapes from funeral procession
State inmate Johnny Hall, Jr., escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody today at approximately 12:30 p.m. while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune, Miss.

February 3, 2012
REPAIRING GAS LEAK
Contract and city workers were at this gas leak on Beech Street installing a clamp.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
CAMELLIA SHOW
The Poplarville Garden Club Community Camellia Show is today in the lobby of the Poplarville branch of Hancock Bank.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Local gas prices continue a gradual upward trend
From Monday to Thursday, the per gallon price of regular gasoline at RaceTrac jumped six cents, from $3.289 to $3.349. RaceTrac sets the pace in Pearl River County for the lowest posted price, and Wal-Mart and Bill’s Quick Stop at Mississippi Highway 43 and East Canal quickly follow.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
StennisSphere closing
StennisSphere is closing it’s doors to make way for a new tourist attraction, and to help increase security at John C. Stennis Space Center. According to a press release from Stennis, the tourist attraction officially will close in mid February.

February 3, 2012
ENJOYING THE RAIN
These ducks weren’t phased by Wednesday’s rainy conditions.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Picayune featured in “Blondie” comic strip
Occupy Picayune?
All Mr. Dithers wants to see occupied is Dagwood’s desk chair.
That is part of the adventures of Dagwood Bumstead, which includes a mention of the City of Picayune in Friday’s “Blondie” comic strip, which appears in the Picayune Item as a daily feature.
Picayune’s mention in Friday’s strip that also is released in other publications gives Picayune a name recognition boost worldwide, says the artist who draws the feature, Frank Cummings, a former Picayune resident and former employee of the Picayune Item.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Local leaders react to Peace Prize

Site Map

Contact Us