Prentiss County Voice

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Public and elected officials have disapointed the people of northeast Mississippi more than once in recent years by being charged with felonies and then being convicted of them or entering a guilty plea.
Elected officials should plan to hold themselves to a higher standard or not seek these offices of public trust in the first place.
In Prentiss County, a former sheriff and a former justice court clerk served prison time for their crimes and have been released.
They did the crime; they did the time. And now they are back home as productive local citizens. Good for both of them!
In nearby Tippah County, a former justice court clerk is currently serving time for embezzlement. She got 10 years with seven years suspended and three to serve. She is also incarcerated.
The most recent sentencing of an elected servant in Tippah County resulted in little more than a slap on the wrist, or ankle, in this case since the convicted felon will likely wear an ankle bracelet for one year - at home.
Danny Shackelford, a chancery clerk in Tippah County for 20 years, has admitted to stealing nearly a quarter million dollars
($230,000) from public accounts, trusts and
estates to cover personal debts.
Some of that money has been repaid but Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering is demanding Shackelford pay another $180,000.
Officially, Shackelford received a five-. year prison sentence with four years suspended, and one year to serve under house arrest.
Mr. Shackelford’s residence, on Highway 4, a few miles west of the Prentiss/Tippah county line is in a pastoral setting - a beautiful location, horses grazing nearby, park-like grounds with a lake and in the shadow of the bucolic Hatchie Hills. If you’ve got to be on house arrest, for only one year, this would not be a bad place to serve it out!
Some have said the low sentence was due to Shackelford’s medical condition. Question: Don’t they have medical treatment at Parchman or the other MDOC facilities in this state?
Perhaps, the state thought it would cost them too much money. Does that mean anyone with a serious condition can commit a felony and get the ‘big slap’ too?
Several have also asked me this question: Should not Circuit Court Judge Robert “Bobby” Elliott have recused himself in this particular case? Who knows I worked for the Ripley newspaper from 1987 to 1996 and during that time Elliot served as attorney for the Tippah Count; Board of Supervisors for several years.
So, technically, he and Shackelford were both county employees at the same time.
ln being so, Elliott would have worked many times hand-in-hand with Chancery Clerk Shackelford who basically served as the comptroller, county auditor, and, during at least part of the era when Elliott was still the board attorney, clerk for the board of supervisors. Tippah now has a County administrator.
We’ve also been asked - Is this a conflict of interest? After all, Shackelford as the chancery clerk would have signed payroll checks for Elliott when he was the board attorney for Tippah’s supervisors.
Perhaps none of this would have been questioned had Shackelford received the maximum sentence possible. However, the sentence imposed was an insult to the people of Tippah County, in the opinion of many, but not all of course…
As a comparison, former Union County Chancery Clerk Larry Koon pled guilty exactly nine years ago today to embezzlement charges of taking $172,873.19, much less than Shackelford’s ill-gotten gains. Koon paid restitution as well. Yet, he was sentenced to five years with three suspended and served two years in prison, - not on house arrest - according to an official at the Union County Circuit Clerk’s office. Koon was represented by former Booneville Attorney Joey Langston and was sentenced by Judge Henry Lackey.
Many would believe both sentences to be considerably less punishment than your
‘ “regular-Joe” would likely receive for the same crime. Special treatment for some? Meanwhile, the legal troubles of elected and public officials will continue in this area for months to come.
One former county attorney for the Prentiss County board of supervisors has entered a plea of guilty for attempting to bribe a judge. He awaits sentencing. Many predict it will be another slap on the hand, while some think his crime will be made an example of and he will get the maximum.
Only time will tell whether or not JL must serve time in jail.
And in Benton County, a former superintendent of education has been charged with buying votes along with a large number of others. That case, too, is still pending, though several of the others charged have already been sentenced.
There’s a Prentiss County connection there too. That superintendent’s brother was a former long-time basketball coach locally until he took a job as a coach in Ben- ton County when his brother was still acting as that school’s superintendent.
These problems all affect us in many ways - besides the pocketbook. It’s no wonder public officials are losing credibility more and more. It’s also no wonder more good people do not offer up their talents for public service these days.
We, as electors, could likely cut some of these problems off at the pass’ by getting out and voting for qualified candidates of our choice, those whom you know will keep their hands out of the ‘cookie jar’!
voter apathy has run rampant in Prentiss County time and time again. It’s time that we have an incredibly large voter turnout to stop some of these candidates going into office with voting ratios at much less than 50 percent. Some candidates with large families have actually told others they prefer a low voter turnout. Blood is thicker than water, even when it rains on election day! The ‘blood’ will cast their ballots regardless of the weather.
When elected officials do get caught committing felonies, judicial decisions should be based on the crime - not whom the defendant is, and especially not if they worked with them personally on a close and regular basis. Judges should always recuse in those instances, shouldn’t they?
I can guarantee you the prisons are full of persons who committed the same crimes as Danny Shackelford or Larry Koon, but received greater sentences. Why???
To verify for yourself, go on the internet, google in Mississippi inmates, follow the prompts, call up various names. See what sentences those “regular-Joes”, who were convicted for embezzlement, received.

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Copied from ELMERVOTES.COM

Dear Elmer:

After much thought and prayer, we have decided to share an experience with other people with the hope that it might possibly save another person from the same or similar treatment. Because of it’s length, we failed in our attempt to get our letter published in Booneville’s local newspapers. We thank you in advance for printing it on your website.

We are citizens of Prentiss County. Although we do not live within Booneville city limits, we feel that we and our families are a part of Booneville. We, our parents, and grandparents have always done most of our business and shopping in Booneville. We feel that our forefathers helped to make Booneville a thriving city and that our family is still contributing to it’s growth. We believe that every law-abiding citizen has the right to travel on the streets of Booneville without the fear of being harassed by law enforcement. We believe that regardless of a person’s social status, social circle, income, career choices, race, ethnic origin, religious preference, physical appearance, or appearance of one’s home/vehicle/clothing.. ..no person deserves better or worse treatment than others from anyone, including officers of the law. As a former elementary education teacher, I (Linda) always taught my students that a policeman is someone you can trust and that they are someone who will “serve and protect” you. We also taught our own two children that same concept as they grew up and they always believed it to be true. One year ago that belief was shattered. In the future, I will find it difficult to teach another child that all policemen are good servants of the community, because it just is not true.

On March 3, 2007, our son “COMMITTED A CRIME”…. He dared to ask a police officer why he was being stopped. According to what we observed on police videos and what was told to us by our son, the following events occurred. When the officer was asked why he had stopped our son, he became so angry and upset that he threatened to take our son to jail. Our son stated that he would like to be taken to the police station to talk to someone in authority because he felt that he was being falsely accused. He was asked to get out of his vehicle, which he did. The officer tried to provoke him by saying, “Bow up on me!”, which he did not do. Within seconds, a second officer appeared on the scene. Thinking that this officer would not act as the other one did, our son put his hands behind his back and said, “Cuff me.” Instead of cuffing him, he began to shake up his can of mace. The first officer shoved him toward the police car and then both officers began to restrain him while slamming him on the hood of the car. While my son’s hands were still behind his back, the first officer began to beat his arms with his fists, forearm, and elbows. This is the point where our son removed his arms from behind his back to prevent the breaking of his arms. While this was happening, the second officer sprayed mace directly into his eyes and put the nozzle of the mace container INTO his nostrils and sprayed. Because he was having trouble breathing, he asked him not to spray but the spraying continued. A third officer then appeared on the scene. At this point the first officer pulled the hood of his coat completely over his head and he received a knee blow to the upper abdomen and lower chest. Two officers used police batons on him at separate times while another officer held him from behind in a choke hold, causing him further breathing problems. The other officer screamed at him to get down and put his hands behind his back. This would have been almost impossible, since there was a man weighing about 250 pounds on his back, choking him while he was already on his knees. While his head was being held back, he received another burst of mace directly into his eyes, nose, mouth, and face at point blank range. After that, he received multiple blows from a baton to his back and to the back of his legs from the first officer. He also received a blow to the right side of his face while being held by the second officer. At all times there were three officers participating in all or parts of the mistreatment by: choking, hitting, spraying mace, and screaming. At no time did our son fight back. He only tried to shield his body from pepper spray/mace. His vehicle was searched and his belongings were scattered on the hood of the police car. A drug dog was brought on the scene…no drugs were found.. .our son does not take drugs nor does he have anything to do with drugs. We actually believe that they were disappointed that no drugs were found.

He was charged with “resisting arrest”, yet he was NEVER told that he was being arrested until after the beating. Then he was told, “You are being arrested for resisting arrest.” The statement makes no sense . He was also charged for no proof of insurance. He had his proof of insurance in his hand. We found it the next day, where one of the officers had thrown it into the back of his truck. ( We observed this action on the police video.) When this action was pointed out to the chief, he said, “Oh, well, that ticket will be dropped, then.” It didn’t seem to matter that an officer had lied about the proof of insurance. He was given a ticket for reckless driving, because the officer who stopped him claimed he went over the center line. Our son says he was innocent of that charge. He was also charged with failure to comply because he didn’t produce his license until the officer told him why he had been stopped.

We took our son to the hospital to seek treatment for injuries sustained from the police brutality. He had requested medical treatment from a doctor while he was at the police station, but that request was denied. I, his mother, also asked that he be taken to the hospital but was told that I was at a police station and had no right to demand anything. He had bruises on his back, legs, arms, head, thighs, feet, and chest. He could not see for three days because he had been sprayed directly into his eyes with the mace and he suffered terrible sinus problems for a long time afterward because the mace was sprayed directly into his nostrils. He had to continue seeing a medical doctor for several weeks to treat an injury to his foot.

We were not allowed to view the video until two days after the incident. Mr. Fortenberry told us that he had not looked at the videos and that this would be his first time to see them. One of the officers told someone we know that Mr. Fortenberry and each of the three officers had watched their video previous to our seeing them. While we viewed the videos, the chief seemed oblivious to videos showing three officers beating and pepper spraying an innocent person, because he only glanced at it a couple of times and told us he had some paperwork to do. Immediately after the first video started, we noticed that the audio wasn’t working, and this is when Mr. Fortenberry told us that the officer’s audio on his camera wasn’t working properly that night. Very important audio evidence was missing! The officer whose audio on his video wasn’t working knows what was said on the missing part. When we asked the chief to rewind one of the videos so that we could see a small portion again, he became VERY ANGRY and told us that we had seen enough and that we could see the rest of the videos in court. After being so rudely dismissed, we left without having seen the remainder of the police videos.

Our son filed a complaint at the police station several days later about what had happened the night he had been stopped, beaten, and taken to jail.

Thankfully, three of the aldermen who viewed the videos and read the complaint, believed him. Thank you, Mrs. Livingston, Mr. Barrett, and Mr. Goddard for caring about an innocent person and for being understanding and treating our family with respect.

One of the other two aldermen said that the officers thought their lives were in danger. We don’t understand why they would be afraid of A PELLET GUN hanging on a gun rack inside the vehicle with the door CLOSED and the person they were hitting, spraying with mace, and kicking was OUTSIDE of his vehicle several feet away. There was NEVER a reason to feel that their lives were in danger.

Our son obtained a lawyer to prove his innocence and spent a large amount of money in doing so. In addition, he spent a large sum of money on hospital and doctor bills. Judge George Via ruled in favor of the police officers and our son had to pay all the fines except for the no proof of insurance. He may have lost his case in court…. but the real losers are the officers and the police chief because they and an all-knowing God know exactly what happened that night.

To the people who defend Mr. Fortenberry and say that people are telling lies about things he is allowing some of his officers to do, we say. ” We know the facts about this incident and this is not “unfounded misinformation nor bitter innuendos”. We have police video to prove what we’re saying is true.

Mr. Fortenberry stated that he believes it was God’s will for him to become Booneville’s police chief. Well, we are also Christians and we DO NOT believe that it is God’s will for a police chief to allow his officers to falsely accuse an innocent person, to allow officers to ticket unjustly, to allow officers to provoke someone, to allow officers to lie to cover themselves, to teach officers that police brutality is acceptable, and to teach officers that video tampering is acceptable. We also do not believe that it is God’s will for a police chief to use profanity when a concerned mother requests medical treatment for her family member.

To any law enforcement officer who is not guilty of any of the above, you have our highest respect because you are honoring your profession as you loyally “Serve and Protect”. We are proud of you because you are doing what you are sworn to do to make us feel safe.

There have been several writers to a local newspaper recently who have defended the chief of police. We have some questions for you. 1. Were you there? 2. Did it happen to you or your family? 3. Have you seen the police video? 4. Have you talked to the person it happened to or to any of the witnesses of an incident? If you cannot answer yes, then the only way to form a realistic, truthful opinion about him is to have participated in the actions listed, not by taking a person’s word just because he is in a respected position.

What if your son, daughter, grandchild, or other family member is treated the way our son was treated? Will you be so quick to defend then? Would you suddenly become an “overly protective parent“ as one writer called us? We are probably not the only citizens that have had innocent family members mistreated and falsely accused by law enforcement officers. More than likely, you will not read about it in the newspaper, but it happens. The saddest part about it is.. .most of the time it cannot be proven .. .because as everyone knows… police officers and police chiefs don’t lie.

There were witnesses at the Chevron station in Booneville where this happened. We also have in our possession police videos that shows exactly what happened. The only part missing is part of the audio on the first officer’s video, including the part where our son requested to be taken to the police station to talk to someone in authority. The videos can be seen if it ever becomes necessary.

We hope no person ever has to endure what our son did that night. Our son is NOT a criminal. He DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME.

Respectfully,

Jerry and Linda (Padgett) Harris

Congressman Travis Childers is lying his butt off in this ad. Travis Childers has taken more money from Planned Parenthood/Pro Abortion lobby groups than from voters in numerous counties he is supposed to represent.
Travis Childers has voted WITH nancy pelosi 87% of the time in his congressional career Travis Childers voted against bills that would have opened up ANWR and off-shore drilling.
Travis Childers voted for a billion dollar tax break for trial attorneys (no mention of whether they must be out of prison to recieve such benefits)
Travis Childers REFUSES to sign a pledge to lower oil cost

http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/10677/#38943

Richard Babb is Congressman Travis Childers district director ,Just a brief history on Babb he was a partner with Tim Baldicci and Steve Patterson when Balducci offered the judge the (Sweet Patatoes) Bribe now I have to wonder how Mr Babb got this job ?

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1867&dept_id=124331&newsid=20044487&PAG=461&rfi=9

NANCY PELOSI AND TRAVIS CHILDERS
Earlier this month, over Republican objections, she shut down the House of Representatives and went on a month-long book selling tour. The Democrats, under Ms. Pelosi’s leadership, have repeatedly blocked efforts to formulate an energy bill, and we can all attest to how much the price of gasoline has increased under her leadership.

Gas prices have reached record highs, while Congress’s popularity has plummeted to record lows. Congress’s approval rating is even lower than George W. Bush’s.

Apparently the pressure is getting to Pelosi, as she recently said she might “let” the House vote on a “comprehensive” energy bill. Normally “comprehensive” is a very good term, but we are wary of her use of it. To her, the word “comprehensive” will likely mean loading a so-called energy bill with lots of giveaways and unprecedented taxpayer burdens.

Mississippians would do themselves a great service to remember that Pelosi is one of the top leaders of the same political party as Ronnie Musgrove and Travis Childers, both of whom will be on the ballot this fall. Both of whom, no matter how they talk at home, will ultimately have to answer to the commands of the national Democratic party.

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To the editor,
Hello to all of my frends in Prentiss County.
Although my friends’ list has gotten shorter these past few weeks since I have brought it to your attention that, the supervisors have hired an inexperienced person to reappraise our taxes.
As you may have heard or even read about I have been degraded and verbally assaulted by the supervisors. I have received threats by people from blocked numbers, although I recognized the voices and then I have received treats from a few that have told me who they where and that they would see to it I STAYED OUT OF THE SUPERVISORS BUSINESS.
Then to top the cake the one person who I thought to be my best friend in all of Prentiss County called me and told me to stay away from the supervisors or he would hit me where it would hurt me the most, my children. Sure enough two days later Children Services of Prentiss County paid me a visit with a complaint of child neglect and abuse.
I know now to keep that friend at a distance and away from my children. That’s is not politics it is just plain mean and evil.
Now to the point of my letter by now you all, now the supervisors have gone over the tax assessor’s head and hired a man of their choosing to reappraise our property taxes.
First, let me explain this. I received a letter from an attorney stating that Mr. Parsons is a Certified Appraiser through the Mississippi Tax Commission, not to be confused, he is not a Licensed Real Estate Appraiser through the Mississippi Real Estate Commission. This certificate does not make you a licensed real estate appraiser nor does it give you any type of experience in Mass Tax Appraisals. What it will get you is a little certificate that will get you a $50,000 a year job in Prentiss County,
I have contacted the Mississippi Tax Commission and the way it has been explained to me, is that anyone, who wishes to take their test and pays $325 could become a certified appraiser through them. Also, according to them, this person must work under the direct supervision of the Tax Assessor, unless they are a private firm with five years experience in Mass Appraisals.
Second, the County’s Tax Assessor must approve all appraisals. I have tried to contact our Tax Assessor on several occasions and so far, I have not spoke to him. But I will tell you according to the Mississippi Tax Commission the hired tax appraiser has to work under the direct supervision of the tax assessor and under his supervision and if our tax assessor does not ok his assessments then they are useless to the county and the supervisors will have wasted a lot of our money.
Next, everyone needs to understand that Mr. Parsons WAS HIRED and works directly for the supervisors and not the tax assessor. I would like to explain this again. Mr. Parsons’ job is to reappraises our property and if it is beyond a certain level, our supervisors will then be able to give themselves a new raise.
I also want point out that THE SUPERVISORS HAVE STATED THAT MR. PARSONS IS A EXPERIENCED TAX AUDITOR. That has nothing to do with tax assessments and property appraisals and nor does it give him any experience in the property appraisal field. In fact if Mr. Parsons was working for a private firm he would be required to have five years experience to do the County’s appraisals and also be a licensed real estate appraiser but because the supervisors hired him as a county employee he doesn’t have to meet those requirements JUST WORK DIRECTLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TAX ASSESSOR. Although it is my opinion as a county employee, he should be held to a higher standard.
Oh a note on his employment Mr. Parsons was not a certified appraiser until after he was hired by the supervisors and the county probably paid for him to go to the school so in fact they hired Mr. Parsons knowing he has no experience and before he even had his certificate. Now on that note again I would like to say Mr. Parsons has no experience hi mass appraisals and being a tax auditor does not give you that
experience.
For ALL of you that have thanked me, thank you for you support. I feel I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.
For ALL of that have threat- ; ened me, I still ain’t scared of! you or the Supervisqrs.
And finally for the best friend who I lost due to the phone call he made to children services: They found nothing wrong in my home. I am a good father, grandfather, and teacher to my children today and hopefully I can always teach them the difference between right and wrong because that’s what God says I must do. As far as losing you as a friend, my heart hurts not for myself but for you and your loss.
Charles Cole

These are the questions asked of the supervisors concerning the hired tax assessor We all should be asking the supervisors why we are hiring someone from out side to perform a job we have an elected tax assessor to do

1. How or why did the supervisors become involved in hiring a person to perform the job of State mandated appraisals when, in fact, it is the job of the County Tax Office to perform this job. Answer: Supervisors have a statutory and constitutional responsibility on all State mandates.

2. Who is Mr. Neil Parsons? Answer: Mr. Neil Parsons is a retired State Auditor

3. What credentials does he have to do the job he has been hired to do? Answer: He is a retired State Auditor and has passed the State Tax Appraisal Tests.

4. What makes him qualified to reappraise our County Taxes? Answer: He has been certified by the State to do reappraisal work

5. How can Prentiss County citizens be assured that the appraisals are correct if they are not done by our elected Tax Assessor? Answer: Mr. Parsons has the experience and training to properly perform this job

6. What is his rate of pay? Answer: $50,000 per year which is less than a contractor

7. Will he also be furnished a County vehicle to perform his job? Answer: Yes

8. Will he be given a fuel allowance? * Answer: Yes

9. Who will ok his expenditures? Answer: The Board of Supervisors

10. Why do the Supervisors think they would know more than the Tax Assessors Office when hiring someone to appraise taxes in our County - are they qualified in the field of tax assessment? Answer: The Board of Supervisors does not claim to have any expertise in the appraisal of taxes which is the reason for hiring Mr. Parsons

11. Since he will be doing a job concerning taxes will Mr. Parsons be working for and with the Tax Office? Answer: Yes

12. How long will Mr. Parsons be employed at the sum he is at now (50 thousand) is he contractual and when will his contract end? Answer: Mr. Parsons employment agreement goes through the coming fiscal year

13. Who was hired as Mr. Parsons part time help? Answer: Angie White

14. At what rate of pay is the part time help paid? Answer: $ 15. 00 per hour

15. What are the part time helps credentials and qualifications ? Answer: Certified Appraiser

16. How long will the part time help be working for the citizens of Prentiss County? Answer: Unknown at this time

I received this late last evening one of our readers and a close freind asked these questions of the supervisors in reference to them hiring someone to do our tax and property assesment ,this means that this gentleman will be the person that decides what you pay in taxes ,According to my freind one of the supervisors advised him that they didnt have the time to discuss this with him in a open supervisors meeting and I personally would have to wonder where it is supposed to be discussed if not at a regular meeting of the supervisors ,I think maybe others should be asking these same questions and insisting that they get answers ….

1…
How or why did the supervisors become involved in hiring a person to perform the job of state mandated appraisials when in fact it is the job of the county tax office to perform this job

2…
Who is Mr Neil Parsons,

3..
What credentials does he have to do the job he has been hired to do

4…
What makes him qualified to reapraise our county taxes

5…
How can Prentiss county citizens be assured that the appraisals are correct if they are not done by our elected tax assesor

6…
What is his rate of pay

7…
Will he also be furnished a county vehicle to perform his job

8…
Will he be given a fuel allowance

9…
Who will ok his expenditures

10…

Why do the Supervisors think they would know more than the tax assesors office when hiring someone to appraise taxes in our county are they qualified in the feild of tax assesment

11…

Since he will be doing a job concerning taxes will Mr Parsons be working for and with the tax office

12…

How long will Mr Parsons be employed at the sum he is at now (50 thousand) is he contractual and when will his contract end

13…

****** Who was hired as Mr Parsons part time help *******

14…

At what rate of pay is the part time help payed

15..

What are the part time helps credentials and qualifications

16…

How long will the part time help be working for the citizens of Prentiss County

We would like to thank the Banner ,Kenny Goode,and all the staff for helping us in our effort to keep Prentiss County and surrounding areas informed .

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