Safety patrol schools set over county - Safety patrol schools have been set for Itawamba County on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a statement made by Dexter Digby, County Superintendent of Education.

In these schools, boys and girls will be taught to direct the safety of their school buses, especially during loading and unloading on the routes. "We are expecting to train at least 100 boys and girls in these schools," Digby said.

The schools will be under the direction of A.P. Smith, State Director of Buildings and Transportation. John Shelton of Tupelo will be the first teacher.

Beer vote possible - Itawambians may get to vote whether or not to legalize alcoholic beverages after all.

More than 33 pages bearing 1,615 signatures in favor of calling a special election to legalize the transportation, sale, distribution and possession of alcoholic beverages in the county were submitted to the Itawamba County Circuit Clerk's office. Supervisors were notified, and met behind closed doors Tuesday morning to discuss the referendum issue.

Jerry Turner, proponent of the referendum, had decided earlier not to submit the petitions, saying, "It's not the right time." Turner said he changed his mind after an article in the Oct. 13 issue of The Times prompted several Itawambians to suspect he had "sold out."

City to notify property owners - After an arduous search by city officials, owners of the 67 dilapidated city buildings and lots being considered for board action were identified last week. Notification letters will be delivered by the end of the month.

"[The board of aldermen] wants to send all notices out at the same time so all board hearings can be completed at the same time," said city clerk Betty Pearson. "Because there are so many areas on the notification list, it took a while to find out who owns each of them."

After notification, property owners have 30 days to appear before the board and explain their cases. If the notification letters are delivered as hoped, the final hearing date will be in December.

Principals propose upping credits - Twenty credits are currently required by the Mississippi Department of Education in order to graduate from high school. At Monday's Itawamba County School Board meeting, the board heard from principals Pete McMurry and Ronnie Hill who proposed the requirements for the three high schools in this district to be raised to 23 credits.

"We feel like with the courses offered and the opportunities we have, it would be better for the students if we raise the requirements," McMurry said.

The additional three credits can be electives chosen by the student. Currently, IAHS and Tremont students can take a maximum of 28 credits during high school. At Mantachie, they can complete up to 32 credits.

"Ninety-nine percent of dropouts don't have a problem with the elective credits," Hill said. "It's the required credits such as English and math classes that cause dropouts."