The nation continued to cope with the aftermath of the WorldTrade Center attacks while bioterrorism emerged as a potentialthreat in the form of anthrax during the last quarter of theyear.

A few minor anthrax scares reminded locals that they were notimmune to terrorism, but they continued to move forward andprogress.

October

State and area officials celebrated the much anticipatedcompletion of the four-laning of Highway 84 between Natchez andBrookhaven Oct. 18.

A Jayess man was convicted of computer fraud and grand larcenyin mid-October after hacking into Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege’s computer system for personal gain, obtaining personalinformation belonging to the Internet service provider, andcommitting credit card fraud in numerous Internet transactions.

Southwest Regional Medical Center officially assumed operationalcontrol of Lawrence County Hospital October 25, bailing thehospital out of trouble which could have seen it permanently closeits doors. The hospital had been in financial trouble for years,but the need became critical early in 2001 and county officials hadworked diligently to save it, eventually reaching a leasingagreement with SRMC.

Brigadier General Steve L. Melancon, who retired in 1996 with 31years of military service, was appointed as the director of theSelective Service System in Mississippi Oct. 25 by President Bushon a nomination from Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. He had held the positionof Director of Operations for Selective Service from 1994-1996before retiring from active duty.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove visited Brookhaven and Monticello Oct. 26to promote educational and economic development. He toured severalschool campuses and Foster’s Millworks, a new industry in LawrenceCounty.

The Lawrence County Regional History Museum officially openedits doors to the public during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct.27.

November

A Brookhaven motel suffered damage to several rooms after a firebroke out on Nov. 5.

Three Monticello postal employees were taken to Lawrence CountyHospital Nov. 8 after being overwhelmed by an extreme odor. Afourth postal employee from the Sontag post office was sent to thehospital Nov. 9 with the same symptoms. Local residents fearedanthrax, but the bacterium was quickly ruled out by authorities.The cause of the illnesses was never determined.

A jury ruled for the plaintiffs Nov. 28 in a Lincoln County oilfield pollution trial, but the defendants’ attorneys soundedvictorious following the $88,500 verdict. The jury awarded theplaintiffs no compensation for emotional distress or mental anguishin the trial against Chevron U.S.A. over the company’s oilproduction and exploration activities in the Brookhaven Oil Field.A judge refused to apply punitive damages against Chevron Dec.5.

Jerry E. Bailey, retired Lincoln County tax assessor-collector,died Nov. 28 at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson ofcomplications following a respiratory infection. Bailey, 66, servedthe county as tax assessor-collector from 1976-2000.

December

The body of a Brookhaven pilot who had been missing since Nov.15 was discovered in the wreckage of his aircraft Dec. 1 in aremote area of Pearl River County. Civil Air Patrol volunteers hadsearched southern Mississippi and northern Louisiana diligently formore than two weeks to find the wreckage and Jeff Allen’s body.

An official groundbreaking ceremony featuring Gov. RonnieMusgrove and several state and local public officials was held Dec.4 for the new Mississippi Highway Patrol substation on Highway84.

A Brookhaven man was sentenced to six months in the county jailfor his role in a conspiracy to commit arson and collect on aninsurance policy on one of the city’s oldest homes. Thomas HardyLittle, 45, of 205 Natchez Ave., pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to theconspiracy.

A Ruth couple was sentenced Dec. 14 after pleading guilty tosexual battery, child exploitation and conspiracy charges Nov. 28.Frank Hebert, 45, was sentenced to 93 years and Mary Hebert, 34,was sentenced to 60 years.