The last quarter of 2002 began and ended with severe stormstoppling trees and damaging homes, but new construction, anelection and the war on terrorism helped keep people’s minds offthe weather.

October

One Loyd Star student was killed and two injured Oct. 1 when theATV they were riding collided with a 1990 Ford Bronco at theintersection of Jackson-Liberty Drive and Norton Assink Road.

Hurricane Lili struck the Louisiana coast Oct. 2, dumping heavyrains and bringing high winds across South Mississippi. It weakenedconsiderably throughout the day Oct. 3 as it moved northward and bynoon Louisiana residents, who had fled the storm to Brookhavenshelters, were contemplating returning home. Lincoln County escapedLili with only minor damage reported.

Citizens and community officials turned out Oct. 10 to celebratethe official opening of the Lincoln County Public Library’s $1.07million expansion and renovation.

Long-time Lincoln County Supervisor Cliff Givens died Oct. 26after a lengthy illness. Givens was in his sixth term as supervisorof District 1. Givens’ wife, Vedia, was appointed in his place bythe Board of Supervisors Nov. 4.

Renovation of the Old Wesson School began Oct. 28. Oncecompleted, the building will be used for the newly-established St.Ambrose Leadership College.

Law enforcement officials were called to Copiah-LincolnCommunity College Oct. 30 following a bomb threat at the school.The Henley Building was evacuated. No bomb was found.

November

State and local dignitaries joined families and friends biddinggoodbye to soldiers of the Army Reserve’s 296th TransportationCompany at the armory Nov. 1. A detachment of the unit was calledto duty by President George W. Bush as part of Operation EnduringFreedom, the war on terrorism.

More than $17,000 was raised Nov. 2 during the American HeartAssociation’s annual Heart Walk at Exchange Club Park.

One Brookhaven man admitted his role in the murder of MarvinDurr June 18 and pleaded guilty to capital murder Nov. 4. A secondman charged in the crime is still awaiting his day in court.

Republican Chip Pickering defeated Democrat Ronnie Shows in ahotly contested campaign for the newly-created District Threecongressional post. The district was created when Mississippi losta seat in Congress because of a declining population reported inthe 2000 census. Pickering’s and Show’s districts were merged toaccount for the loss. In most other local races, incumbentsremained in office, but in one race challenger Steve Rushingdefeated incumbent James A. Keen Jr. as the Lincoln County SchoolsDistrict 4 board member.

Brookhaven aldermen approved a resolution Nov. 6 to officiallybegin the annexation process. Some residents are opposed to theannexation.

Former Brookhaven resident Richard “Dickie” Scruggs returnedNov. 7 to complete his $500,000 pledge to the Mississippi School ofthe Arts. Scruggs and his wife, Diane, pledged the amount inOctober 2000 when they made their initial $50,000 contribution.

Paul King McLain III, president and chief executive officer ofthe Lawrence County Community Development Association, left officeNov. 7 to move to Arkansas with his new wife, whom he married Nov.9. McLain had announced his resignation in October after more thaneight years in the office. The search for his replacementcontinues.

More than 100 people attended the dedication of a historicalmarker to the Brookhaven Light Artillery in Railroad Park Nov. 9.The BLA formed here early in the War Between the States and servedwith distinction in the Confederate Army throughout the war,finally surrendering at war’s end without ever being captured.

Former Compaq Computer and Hewlett-Packard boss Michael Capellaswas named as chairman and chief executive of WorldCom Inc. Nov. 14.Capellas replaced John Sidgmore as chief executive and Bert C.Roberts as chairman. Sidgmore took the reins April 29 when companyfounder Bernie Ebbers resigned.

Jeff Peterson won a runoff election Nov. 19 against AntreaseMagee Autman for Lawrence County tax assessor/collector. Petersonand Autman were lifted from a field of eight in the generalelection Nov. 5.

Governor Ronnie Musgrove joined Brookhaven and county officialsNov. 26 to celebrate ground-breaking ceremonies for ContinentalCarbonic Products, Inc. in Industrial Park.

December

Two men’s honors dormitories at Co-Lin were receiving finishingtouches Dec. 5 and school officials said they would be occupied bythe next semester. The new dorms have been named Lincoln andLawrence Hall.

Brookhaven’s Delphi Packard Electric Systems announced a $10million expansion to its facility Dec. 15.

Dr. Jim Barnett, who represents District 92 in the MississippiLegislature, was named as one of 16 members to the nation’s newHomeland Security Task Force.

Brookhaven banker Bill Sones was named chairman of the Board ofDirectors of Mississippi College Dec. 17. Sones is a 1981 graduateof the school.

Brookhaven aldermen voted Dec. 17 to discontinue commercialgarbage pick up service. The vote came after months of the citylosing money in the solid waste department and nearly a year afterthe city began investigating ways to cut costs in thedepartment.

Damage in Lincoln County was widespread Dec. 19 as a tornadoripped through the county from west to east damaging homes anduprooting trees. Two homes were destroyed and many damaged, but noone was injured.

A severe thunderstorm struck the county Dec. 23, toppling treesand knocking down powerlines. Power was restored to all residentsin time for Christmas Eve festivities.