Cross
Country Cowboy visits Corinth...
Michigan man travels west

By
Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
The stranger rode into town on a spotted Appaloosa horse as a dog
trotted happily alongside.
It was a bright and cool Tuesday morning, and the unusual sight -- like
something out of a western movie -- on a busy Corinth street caused
more than a few double-takes.
He was headed south, making use of the hiking and biking trail on South
Harper Road. A second Appaloosa was in tow with loaded bags draped across
its back.
Identifying himself with the fitting name of John Wayne Haynes, he sported
a thick beard, a hat and all the accouterments of a proper equestrian.
"We left Hudson, Mich., on Oct. 2," said Haynes, referring
to himself, horses Misty and Harley, and dog Sheila.
The dog ran around sniffing and wagging its tail, apparently unfazed
by the journey of almost 700 miles.
But there are many miles to go: Haynes said his destination is Santa
Fe, N.M., where he has a brother and sister. He said he headed south
to get into warmer weather and planned to cross the Mississippi River
at the Delta town of Lula.
The traveler said he is relocating to the West and simply thought that
horseback would be a good way to go.
It hasn't always been an easy ride.
"Some of the drivers aren't real courteous," said Haynes,
as cars zipped by on South Harper. "I'd like to have this trail
all the way to New Mexico."
He hopes to reach his destination by Easter, which falls on April 12.
Haynes said he might settle in the low desert area of New Mexico.
The newspaper received several reports and inquiries about Haynes as
his Western mystique eased through the area.
"It looked sort of like something from Montana instead of Mississippi,"
said Angie Roberts, who called as she passed Haynes on South Harper.
Another resident reported seeing the man watering his horses west of
town, and the last word of the traveler indicated that he had accepted
an offer to stay at a Union Center residence for a few days.
Before continuing on his way Tuesday morning, Haynes inquires if Highway
72 is ahead.
His directions confirmed, he points to the west with a nod, gives the
reins a tug with his gloved hands and resumes his journey.
Pursuit
leads to felony charges
By
Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
BOONEVILLE -- A New Year's Day traffic stop ended with a suspect
wrecking his car after attempting to elude authorities.
Samuel Dewayne Miller, 24, of County Road 1210, Booneville, led Prentiss
County sheriff's deputies on a pursuit that traveled into Tippah
County before crossing back into Prentiss where Miller crashed his vehicle
at the intersection of Highway 4 and Dry Creek Road.
Miller fled when authorities attempted to pull him over on a routine
traffic stop, said Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar. The suspect
has been charged with felony third offense DUI, felony fleeing and several
misdemeanors. He was released Friday on a $10,000 bond.
In a separate, unrelated case, Tolar said his deputies also recently
arrested a fugitive wanted in Florida and South Carolina. The sheriff's
department had received a tip that Jody Deas, 35, was in the county
and wanted by the other jurisdictions.
Tolar said deputies arrested him on Dec. 23 on Ripley Road in Baldwyn
without incident. He praised his deputies for making a safe arrest of
the suspect who has an extensive criminal history, including violence
against officers, and was considered dangerous.
Deas is being held without bond in the Prentiss County jail pending
extradition to Florida.
In another separate, unrelated case, a traffic stop on Friday led to
the arrest of a Blue Springs woman on a felony warrant from Texas. Deputies
stopped Tammi Gay Treadway, 40, of 1071 County Road 183, Blue Springs,
Friday on Fifth Street in Baldwyn.
Tolar said Treadway was wanted in Texas on felony charges and is being
held pending extradition.
Municipalities
preparing
for general elections
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
Most Mississippi municipalities are making preparations for 2009's
quadrennial general elections, and the candidate qualifying period has
begun with the arrival of the new year.
About 90 percent of the state's municipalities have elections for
mayor and aldermen this year, but Corinth is not among them. The city's
general election will occur in 2010.
But residents of all of Corinth's neighbors, such as Farmington,
Kossuth, Glen, Rienzi, Burnsville, Iuka and Booneville, will elect leaders
this year. In Iuka, which also elects its police chief, City Clerk Benny
Gray said it appears the city again will not have party primary elections
preceding the general election. Four years ago, the city went from having
primaries to only having the general election because the Democratic
and Republican executive committees had gone inactive.
That means instead of having potentially three elections -- a primary
and primary runoff followed by a general election -- Iuka will have
only the general election on June 2. The smaller towns will also participate
only in the general election. Farmington Clerk Debora Holloway said
the candidates essentially qualify as independents.
Because of New Year's closings, the qualifying period opens on
Monday in most municipalities. The deadline is March 6.
Holloway noted there is no qualifying fee. In Farmington, which will
holds its third general election since the town's 1997 incorporation,
prospective candidates need to submit the signatures of at least 50
qualified electors.
Fifty signatures are also required in Burnsville. For some of the smaller
towns, such as Rienzi, the signatures of 15 qualified electors are needed.
The Secretary of State's Office says absentee ballots should be
available by April 20 in cities and towns that do not hold party primaries.
May 2 is the voter registration deadline. The new term of office for
the municipalities begins July 6. The state's cities that do have
primary elections will hold them on May 5 with runoffs on May 19 if
needed.
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