City Countersues Turner Over Cell Phone

Dec 15, 2016 | | 0 |

BY BRIAN JONES brian.jones@packet-media.com COLUMBUS – The City of Columbus has filed a counterclaim against Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner in the ongoing struggle over a city cell phone. In late October Turner filed suit against the city and Mayor Robert Smith in his individual capacity after Smith took his city cell phone away. Turner, who is represented by Pontotoc attorney Walter Zinn, is arguing that Smith exceeded his authority by ordering the phone disconnected, and that the loss of the phone interfered in Turner’s ability to serve his constituents. Smith had ordered Turner’s phone turned off after he made a series of vulgar, abusive posts, including an apparent death threat, on Facebook. It later came out that Turner had also been using his city phone to provide free wifi for teenagers in his neighborhood. Turner admitted as much during a November city council meeting. According to city documents, Turner’s data usage was about 70 percent of the total use from all city councilmen’s phones, and it cost the city nearly $3,000. Tuesday the city, who is represented by attorney Corky Smith, responded, asking that Turner’s suit be dismissed. Corky Smith also filed a countersuit against Turner, seeking repayment of about $2,800 in cell phone date fees. The counterclaim alleges that Turner’s phone was to be used “specifically for municipal purposes” and that “the phone, plan and its use...

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Urology Group at Exchange Club

Dec 15, 2016 | , | 0 |

BY BRIAN JONES brian.jones@packet-media.com COLUMBUS – Dr. Joshua Griffin and Dr. Ben Woodson of the Columbus Urology Group spoke to the Columbus Exchange Club Dec. 8. They talked about common urological ailments and new treatments. Griffin covered prostate screening, overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. “Urologists are not just plumbers,” he said. “We do a lot more than ‘why does it sting when I pee, doctor?’ We deal with kidneys, bladder, prostate disease, urinary incontinence, fertility, urinary tract infections, cancers of the urinary tract. We also cover men’s health, when it comes to erectile dysfunction and low testosterone and those kind of things. Urology is not men-specific. A lot of people think that urology is a man’s doctor, and that’s true, but we treat a lot of women as well.” Griffin began with prostate problems. “All men have a prostate,” he said. “Initially, anyway, unless you see one of us. It’s basically the size of a walnut, and is at the base of the bladder. It’s around the urethra. It is a gland that produces fluid that is transported into the sperm during ejaculation. It’s important for fertility and that’s about it. “Some of the things that we see very commonly is problems with it being enlarged or having chronic infections,” he said. “We also see prostate cancer. It is a natural thing as men age. The prostate gland grows...

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Pizza Posse Arrested, Includes 12-year-old

Dec 15, 2016 | , | 0 |

The Packet Three teens and a 12-year-old were arrested last week for three alleged robberies of pizza delivery drivers, according to the Columbus Police Department. The department is also working on a fourth robbery. The alleged robberies occurred on Dec. 3, 4 and 5. On Dec. 3 at about 11 p.m., a Domino’s Pizza driver reported an attempted robbery in the area of East Manor Drive. He drove away, and the robbers were left empty-handed. On Dec. 4 at about 7:10 p.m. a Papa John’s Driver was robbed at gunpoint on 18th Street North. This time the bandits made off with pizza, a cellphone and about $38. Finally, on Dec. 5 the robbers struck again, this time holding up a Domino’s driver on Forrest Lane. The bandits netted pizza and about $25 this time. No injuries were reported in any of the three incidents. CPD investigators were able to link the crimes, and on Dec. 7 made three arrests. Tone Lamar Hill, 18, of 150 Noblin Road, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Bond was set at $25,000. Casimir Makarios Poe, 16, of 130 King Street, was charged with two counts of armed robbery and bond was set at $100,000. He is being charged as an adult. The third robber was a 12-year-old. His name was not released, but he was charged with two...

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Bob Shearer Named New Board Member at BankFirst

Dec 15, 2016 | | 0 |

Bankfirst Financial Services announced that Bob Shearer has joined the Board of Directors. Shearer was appointed at the institution’s November board meeting. A seasoned accounting professional, Shearer has spent his career in serving and assisting financial institutions of all sizes. “Bob Shearer offers BankFirst a depth of accounting knowledge with his extensive business experience in advising financial institutions in the South. We are pleased to have him join our Board of Directors,” said Moak Griffin, President and CEO of BankFirst. A Certified Professional Accountant, Shearer works at Smith Shellnut Wilson in Madison, Miss. As part of the financial institutions team, he assists in portfolio management and provides insight into problems and opportunities facing today’s financial institutions. He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to joining Smith Shellnut Wilson, he spent his career as a CPA serving and assisting financial institutions of all sizes. Shearer served eight years as an audit partner in charge of the financial institutions practice for BKD, LLP’s Jackson, Mississippi, office. He was a founding partner of Shearer, Taylor & Co, PA in 1981, where he was managing partner and audit partner. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Shearer earned his bachelor of science degree in mathematics in 1974 and his master’s in business administration degree in...

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