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OZONE ADVISORY

Ozone advisory for counties in Tenn., Ark., Miss.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Health officials have issued an ozone advisory for residents in three counties in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The Shelby County Health Department is warning that ozone levels are going to be higher than normal Saturday in the Memphis metropolitan area due to stagnant conditions, increased temperatures and decreased winds.

The advisory affects residents of Crittenden County, Ark., DeSoto County, Miss., and Shelby County, Tenn.

The expected ozone levels have been qualified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Very active children and adults, and people with respiratory problems such as asthma, are asked to limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Residents are asked to drive less, carpool and combine daily errands, and refuel cars and mowers after 7 p.m.

Memphis is offering 25 cent bus rides Saturday to reduce automobile usage.

DES MOINES APARTMENT DEATH

Mississippi man convicted in Des Moines killing

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa jury has convicted a Mississippi man of first-degree murder in the death of a Des Moines woman whose body was found in her apartment.

The Des Moines Register reports the jury Friday convicted 39-year-old Kino Keocil Davis in the strangling death of 52-year-old Kathryn Mitchell. Her body was found in her apartment in April 2011.

Mitchell had a long history of addiction problems who was known to open her home and share food and drugs with others.

Davis' DNA was found on several items in her apartment, but his lawyer argued that witnesses in the case were unreliable.

Davis had a criminal record and had last checked in with his Mississippi probation officer about a month before Mitchell died.

He's expected to be sentenced in July.

NESHOBA HOSPITAL

Neshoba hospital to open June 30 with public tour

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (AP) - The public will get a look at the new $19 million Neshoba County General Hospital on June 30.

Officials tell the Neshoba Democrat that the contractors expect to complete work by the end of May.

Foil and Wyatt Architects has tentatively set the state inspection of the facility for early June.

The new hospital includes a new two-story, 52,000 square foot building adjacent to the existing emergency department. It will house a new emergency room, a four-bed intensive care unit, 25 state-of-the-art patient rooms, a new radiology department, new surgery suite and a new pharmacy.

Also scheduled is a renovation of the current 50-year-old hospital. It will house obstetrics and gynecology offices, labor and delivery rooms and a nursery.

Overall, the hospital will a total of 44 patient beds.

PSC-PONTOTOC GAS SYSTEM

Pontotoc to expand, upgrade natural gas system

PONTOTOC, Miss. (AP) - The city of Pontotoc will spend $1.8 million to upgrade and expand of its natural gas system.

Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley said a news release this week that money comes from a period when rates for the Pontotoc system were approved by the three-member PSC.

Presley said the rates agreed to in the summer of 2012 will remain in effect for the system that provides natural gas to about 6,625 customers in Pontotoc and Union counties.

The city will keep a little more than $1 million in its cash reserves.

The system will spend $1.1 million to replace all natural gas meters. Another $754,734 will expand the system to 200 additional customers.

Rates have been reduced from an average of $67.09 to $51.43 per month.

DESOTO COUNTY

DeSoto approves bond issue for building upgrades

HERNANDO, Miss. (AP) - DeSoto County will borrow $10.5 million to finance a 3-year plan to overhaul local government facilities.

The Commercial Appeal reports that the board of supervisors this week approved a bid of from Stephens Inc. to purchase $10.5 million in general obligation bonds to help finance the projects.

County Administrator Vanessa Lynchard said the county got a 2.85% interest rate from Stephens

The county plans to update county facilities and streamline use and maintenance.

The plan includes relocating juvenile justice functions from the courthouse, building a 230-bed expansion at the new jail site south of Hernando and purchasing buildings for Facilities Management and Emergency Management Services. Other services will be relocated to other buildings.

County officials said purchases and major construction are being kept to a minimum.

LAWNMOWER INJURY-LAWSUIT

Lawsuit says defective lawnmower injures man

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A lawsuit in Mississippi says a man was seriously injured after he was attacked by yellow jackets, jumped off his riding lawnmower and was run over by the machine.

Everardo Garfias says the cutoff switch should have disengaged the engine when he jumped off the Husqvarna lawnmower.

Garfias says he was cutting grass for his lawn service on July 26 when the lawnmower ran over him, slicing his legs and completely severing one knee cap.

Garfias filed suit in April in Tate County Circuit Court against Husqvarna Professional Products Inc. and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

Kawasaki filed a motion this week to have the case moved to U.S. District Court in Oxford.

A Kawasaki attorney had no comment. Husqvarna lawyers didn't respond to phone messages.

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