Lamar County Democrat Supervisor wants tax breaks to draw businesses

| Hattiesburg American | www.hattiesburgamerican.com: www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20110908/NEWS0…80321

Lamar County District 2 Supervisor Ben Winston said he would like to see the board of supervisors consider tax breaks as a way of spurring economic development, particularly in conjunction with the South Mississippi Industrial Park near Lumberton.

"One thing that challenges us more in Lamar County than in Forrest County is that Forrest County is more (accepting) of tax exemptions," Winston said Wednesday morning during a meeting with the Hattiesburg American editorial board. "My thoughts on this, especially with the economics the way they are, is that if you fish with no bait, you’re not going to catch much, and if you do catch anything, it’s not going to have much value to it.

"Now, other people are fishing with a lot more bait, trying to catch businesses to locate in their areas."

Winston, a Democrat, is running against Republican challenger Warren Byrd in the Nov. 8 general election.

The incumbent is wrapping up his first term representing a swath of the county that swings east from central south Lamar over to a tapering strip that runs north up the eastern edge and into the Hattiesburg city limits.

#Hattiesburg #Supervisor #Ben #Winston #Lamar #County #tax #incentives #economic #development #Forrest #County #Warren #Byrd

Common Core Standards introduced to Pine Belt Schools

Higher expectations: Pine Belt schools introduce Common Core State Standards into classrooms | Hattiesburg American | www.hattiesburgamerican.com: www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20110816/NEWS0…60307

Kindergarten through second-graders in the Pine Belt and throughout Mississippi are learning at a more advanced level than ever before this school year.

They are the first students in the state to get lesson plans based on the Common Core State Standards.

"It’s much greater rigor. The (Common Core State) Standards go much more in-depth than previously. Many more things are expected from (the students)," said Carolyn Adams, assistant superintendent of academic education for the Lamar County School District.

Lamar County School District, along with Petal, Hattiesburg Public and Forrest County school districts, have all introduced Common Core State Standards to kindergarten through second-graders this year.

"It’s a very rigorous program, but we think our students are capable of this rigorous work," said Forrest County School District Superintendent Debbie Burt.

All four districts trained K-2 teachers in instruction of Common Core over the summer.

Under Common Core State Standards, adopted by 46 states including Mississippi, U.S. students learn to a set of common criteria in language arts and math, preparing them to compete with their peers across the nation and around the world.

#Mississippi #Education #standards #Pine #Belt #Forrest #County #Lamar #County #Petal #Hattiesburg

Jere Nash–Your vote matters

redblue | The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Catego…=Blog:36489e38-8ae6-4b2e-8841-0017ffb2c4ddPost:b83d1a9f-47cf-4b8b-9392-8b31482b23ab&sid=sitelife.clarionledger.com

Never let it be said that one person’s vote doesn’t matter. Take the case of the GOP primary in Senate District 8. This is the Jack Gordon open seat in Calhoun, Chickasaw, Grenada and Lee Counties. Patsy Gregory defeated Victor Horn by 1,330 to 1,323 (or a margin of 7 votes out of 2,653 cast). Or consider the re-election campaign of Rep. Harvey Fillingane in Forrest and Lamar Counties. Fillingane was defeated by Hank Lott in the Republican primary by a vote of 4,149 to 4,143 (or a margin of 6 votes out of 9,292 cast).

#Mississippi #elections #Patsy #Gregory #Victor #Horn #Hank #Lott #Harvey #Fillingane #SD8 #Lamar #Calhoun #Chickasaw #Grenada #Lee #Lamar #Forrest #Elections #campaigns #vote