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THE LEADER THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 ▪ VO L . 1 2 9 , N O. 3 5 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
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Suspect sought in attempted murder Argument ends with pursuit, near-fatal shooting
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com MASON – Police are searching for a man they say tried to kill another man after a bar fight Sunday. According to police chief James Paris, Wallace Jermaine Goodwin was charged with attempted firstdegree murder, reckless endangerment and criminal attempt in the shooting of Devon Fields. Police reports indicate Goodwin, Fields and other individuals were
involved in an argument at the Low End Bar on Front Street at approximately 11:30 p.m. Fields reportedly left in his vehicle and headed to a residence in the Richland Hills subdivision. That's when police say the shooting happened. Goodwin allegedly began following Fields and before Fields could arrive at his destination, Goodwin began shooting at him and his vehicle near the area of Friendship Circle and Countryside. Fields, said Paris, was hit by
gunfire at least four times, one of those in the back of his head. A Countryside residence was also struck by a bullet. A police officer found Fields at Gainesville Lane and Springview. He was transported to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis. His condition is unknown. Paris said Goodwin is still at large and may be driving a white, late '90s model four-door Buick. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Mason Police at (901) 294-2189.
BOOGEY NIGHTS
GOODWIN
DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four arrested in meth bust By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
Local children – like Ella Macray Fleming – have enjoyed this year's Music on the Square summer concert series.The last show of the season will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. and will feature Southern Voices. The concert will take place on the east side of the square. Photo by Echo Day
SCHOOLS
Atoka mother requests change in attendance policy By FRANCE GASQUET fgasquet@covingtonleader.com During last week's school board meeting, Brandi Beamon, mother of an Atoka second-grader, requested a change in the system's attendance policy after a tardy resulted in her daughter's disqualification from an award. Beamon suggested an amendment that would require four tardies the number that would disqualify a student from earning the perfect attendance award. Currently, one unexcused tardy disqualifies a student from the award. "Her not getting awards did disappoint me, but
I wanted her to be aware that it's important for her to go to school and your education is important. BRANDI BEAMON Atoka Elementary parent
there is significant reason … she was awarded a perfect attendance ribbon with her first … she hasn’t missed any days this year at school. She has two tardies, one excused, one unexcused." Beamon said, when it happened, she didn't review the attendance policy, but most parents wouldn't. Her daughter's report card, she said, has two tardies recorded during the first semester and none during
the second semester. "I didn’t think any more about them, because I thought four tardies was an absence … we get a report card next spring, and she has a perfect attendance in there, as well as the A-B honor roll ribbon, as well. So I’m assuming she has perfect attendance." Beamon said during the end of the year awards assembly, her daughter did not receive the awards and she was angered by it.
“When it comes to May 21, awards day, and she doesn’t get a ribbon, I’m in question … and like I said, she has two tardies, one unexcused." Beamon said she didn't even sign her daughter out for field trips because she believes attendance is important. "I didn’t sign her out, even when we had challenge field trips or regular field trips, I didn’t sign her out because that would indicate a tardy and I wanted her to be aware that it’s important for her to go to school and your education is important and so forth." Beamon is upset that the school could not provide her with proof of the tardies
On Thursday, four Mississippians were arrested after police say they were intending to sell methamphetamine. The arrests, said Sheriff Pancho Chumley, came as the result of a narcotics investigation. After conducting a traffic stop, deputies and investigators reportedly saw a pipe commonly associated with the smoking of meth in plain view. Two bags of meth – a total seven grams – was found inside the vehicle. Charles Marcus Lowery, 31, Ronald Wayne Ellis, 28, Jessica Nicole Hannan, 22, and Amanda Gail Ralston, 22, were arrested on the scene and the vehicles and the narcotics were seized by officers. Hannon and Ralston reportedly live together on Carter Road in Southaven.. Lowery is their next-door neighbor. Ellis lives on West South Street in Hernando. Ellis and Hannan were charged with possession of schedule II drugs with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lowery and Ralston were charged with possession of schedule II drugs with intent to sell. They are due back in court on June 24 and are currently being held on a $20,000 bond. Crossing the state lines to sell drugs, as well as the amount of narcotics in their possession, may lead to federal charges for the group. It is unclear what, if any, ties the group has to the area. The sheriff urges anyone with information about this case, or any other drug trafficking case, to contact 901-4753300.
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