The Magee Courier from Magee, Mississippi • A1

BY PAT BROWN PUBLISHER Simpson County Schools has a new superintendent of education, Dr. Toriano Holloway. A special meeting was held Monday at the central office in Mendenhall to introduce Dr. Holloway to staff and faculty members of the school district. With the assistance of the State Superintendents Association, which advertised for applicants who met a list of qualifications set by the local board, the list of candidates was whittled down to 15.

From there, the Simpson County Board selected their top four choices to interview. The board used a point system to grade the candidates. The final four included two applicants from Simpson County and two from outside the county. According to Board President Danny Cowart, only one point separated the candidates. He told the group that each and every of them was an independent thinker.

Board member Patrice Boykin stated that Holloway had done his research and knew individually who he was going to be interviewing with. She added that his was Dr. Holloway acknowledged that he had big shoes to fill, referring to retiring Superintendent Greg Paes. He assured the group that he did not do change just for the sake of change, interjecting that the only thing that needs immediate change is a wet baby. He assured those present that the task of improving the district was not just his job, but rather the job of the entire team.

He added, we take care of the kids everything else will take care of Dr. Holloway comes to Simpson County from the Quitman School District in Clarke County. His wife had previously known School Board President Danny Cowart from the time Cowart spent coaching in Gulfport. She is employed with Gulfport High School. Dr.

Holloway will officially start his employment with the school district on July 1, 2020, replacing Paes, whose retirement becomes effective at the end of June. BY PAT BROWN PUBLISHER The Board of Supervisors is serious enough about county infrastructure to pass a bond issue of up to $5 million for improvements to the roads in Simpson County. The good news is that better roads should not cost the tax payers any more than they are currently paying, mainly because existing road bonds are set to expire soon and if the levy is not taken from the tax rolls it will service the debt of the potential bond. In addition, the revenue generated from internet sales tax will also go toward servicing the debt as promised by the state legislature when the legislation was passed. Currently the county receives 25 percent of those revenues and the amount increases annually by 25 percent until the county is receiving 100 percent of the funds that can be spent for road and bridge projects.

The board is consider- ing approximately $3 million in bonding for the project but approved increasing that figure to as much is $5 million to determine just exactly how much is needed. The existing road bonds are set to expire in June of 2024. At that time the county would start paying against principal. Until then they would only pay interest in the estimated amount of $60,000 per year. The note would then go to approximately $450,000 per year until 2031.

At that point the bond debt of almost $3 million would be paid off. So to borrow approximately $3 million would cost the county $420,000 for the life of the loan. However, the problem comes at the end of that term when roads will have gotten back to the present condition because the county has been saddled with paying road bonds and did not have additional funds to service debt other than to patch Country Club Now Offering The Simpson County Country Club is now offering Terrific Tuesdays. Participants can stop in from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday nights for entrees and desserts from Chefs Darwell and Nettie, take out or eaten at the club.

Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m., $2 a game with prizes for winners. Club membership not required. Mendenhall Chamber Banquet April 22 The Mendenhall Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Banquet on Thursday, April 22, at the National Guard Armory, 6:30 p.m. Tickets at the Chamber office for $25 each. For more information, call the Chamber office at 601-847-1725 or 601-847-2525.

Run-off Election for Ward 2, Magee, April 27 A run-off election for the position of Alderman of Ward 2 in the City of Magee will be held on Tuesday, April 27, between incumbent Matthew Hickman and Beth McCall Moore. Voting takes place at the Magee Civic Center between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Magee Chamber of Commerce Banquet, April 29 The Magee Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Banquet on Thursday, April 29, at First Baptist Church of Magee Family Life Center. Reception at 5:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets on sale at the Chamber office, $25 each. Businesses are invited to do tablescapes for no fee. For info or to reserve a table, call 601-849-2517. Golf Course Closures for Tournaments The golf course at the Simpson Country Country Club will be closed on the following dates: April 21, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for SCA Invitational Scramble; April 22, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

for Lions Club Tournament; May 6, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. for One Ten Vision Golf Scramble; May 13, closed ALL DAY for play for Delta Waterfowl Golf Scramble; May 20, closed ALL DAY for aeration of greens. For i On Thursday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m., 4 On Friday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., 7 on Saturday, Jan.

13, at 7 p.m. in the Boswell A Tickets are available at the The deadline to enter is Feb. 11. For a MemberFDIC Peoples Bank Saturday, Jan. 13, at Former Simpson pro- VOL.

122, NO 43 SMNJUQTJOPSN New school superintendent hired Board considers up to $5 million bond issue See Bond Issue, 3 Danny Cowart welcomes Dr. Holloway Simpson County School Board President Danny Cowart, right, welcomes Dr. Toriano Holloway as the new superintendent of Simpson County Public Schools..