News

By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

A Cleveland business was victim of an armed robbery last week.

The attendant was threatened, and money was taken from Movie Gallery last Saturday night. The Movie Gallery store is located on Sunflower Road.

On the evening of March 14, an unidentified white male wearing a black ski mask entered the store wielding a knife. The masked robber approached the counter and frightened the female attendant with the blade. She responded to his demands by relinquishing an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.

Police received the report at 10:55 p.m. Officers responded and searched the vacinity, while detectives questioned the clerk. Investigators established the crime as armed robbery but were unable to locate the perpetrator.

By David Johnson
The Leader

The Cleveland Police Department was flooded with phone calls last week regarding a series of text messages circulating warning of threats of violence due to gang initiations.

Police chief Buster Bingham told the Sunday Leader that his department received approximately 400 phone calls on Thursday, as citizens learned of an alleged gang initiation to take place at retail giant Wal-Mart.

"Our morning shift took anywhere from 100 to 150 different calls, and our afternoon shift took more than 200," Bingham said. "I received 35 calls on my cell phone regarding the matter."

By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

The Women’s Resource and Pregnancy Center will hold the annual Walk for Life on Saturday, April 4, at Delta State’s Statesmen Park.

For a decade now participating walkers have made the two-mile hike in support of the free-of-charge services offered by the women’s center. “The event gets a lot of community support with good turnouts from sororities and local businesses,” director Renee Steadman told the Sunday Leader.

Steadman will “hold onto hope,” as the organization’s slogan says, that their $20,000 goal will be raised by an expected 135 walkers in 2009. Odds favor the group in making that mark since the center has met its goal every year.

The Warehouse, located on Sharpe Street in Cleveland, has recently opened their doors for downtown dining.

With a new dinner menu, updates to the existing eating area and exciting events in the works, The Warehouse says it is sure to become a favorite evening dining option.

“ The timing was right for us to begin opening at night," said Scott Speakes, who owns the popular Cleveland eatery. "We have added a nice bar area, as well as an open- concept stainless kitchen in front so customers can see what is happening.”

By David Johnson
The Leader

More and more people are turning to their public libraries as the economy spirals downward.

Libraries across the nation are seeing an influx of patrons turning to a free source for Internet service, video rental and even books, as the economy continues to slump.

The Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library in Cleveland is no exception.

"It's been really crazy," said Lynn Shurden, director of the Bolivar County Library System. "Really, since December our numbers have been going through the roof."

By David Johnson
The Leader

After months of speculation, the field of candidates for elected office in Cleveland is set.

In the end, only two seats went unchallenged, as 14 people qualified to run for municipal office.

Ward 1 alderman Maurice Smith will return unopposed, and newcomer Kirkham Povall will fill the Ward 4 seat to be vacated by the retirement of Willard Samuels.

Povall's reprieve came at the last minute, as Democrat Debbie Holder withdrew her candidacy in Ward 4. Holder then filed to challenge incumbent Gary Gainspoletti for the alderman-at-large seat.

The field for the mayor's chair became crowded Friday afternoon as the number of candidates grew to three. John Joel and Cynthia Blocket each qualified late Friday, joining Billy Nowell in the race to replace retiring incumbent David Work. Nowell and Blocket, both Democrats, will face off in the May 5 primary. Joel, who filed as an independent, will await the winner in the only race slated for the June 2 general lection.

By David Johnson
The CNL

Cleveland businesswoman Debbie Holder has decided to run for citywide office.

Holder, who had filed qualifying papers to run for alderman in Ward 4, reversed field late Friday and filed instead to face incumbent Gary Gainspoletti in the race for alderman-at-large.

The alderman-at-large represents the entire city.

Her decision hands Kirkham Povall a bye in his bid to be elected alderman, as no other candidates qualified in Ward 4.

By David Johnson
The Leader

Chalk one up for the youth movement.

Twenty-four-year-old John Joel filed his qualifying papers to run for mayor of Cleveland late Friday. He will run as an independent.

Also joining in the mayor's race will be Cynthia Blocket, another late Friday qualifier. Friday was the deadline for all candidates to qualify in the municipal election.

Joel will face the winner between Democrats Billy Nowell and Blocket in the June 2 general election. Nowell, along with alderman Paul Janoush and mayor David Work, sat in a lobby at city hall as the buzzer sounded for qualifying at 5 p.m. Friday.

By David Johnson
The Leader

Ruleville mayor Shirley Edwards has released a list of seven projects the city has placed on a priority list for stimulus funding.

The total cost for the seven proposed projects totals nearly four million dollars.

"I'm working hard to make sure Ruleville is in line for the stimulus funding," Edwards said. "We're working with our engineer (Bob Eley), contacting everyone we can directly and attending every meeting dealing with the stimulus."

By David Johnson
The Leader

Candidates for elected office in the City of Cleveland will have the opportunity to take center stage Tuesday, April 14 when the Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library plays host to a moderated question and answer forum.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library organization, will be held during National Library Week.

"This will be our big thing for National Library Week," said Lynn Shurden, director of the Bolivar County Library System. "We'll notify the candidates and invite them all to participate."