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Safe rooms approved for six DeSoto Co. Schools

Safe rooms approved for six DeSoto Co. Schools

Mississippi is not taking their chances with dangerous weather.

Six DeSoto County schools have been approved for stand alone safe rooms that are built to withstand tornados.

Grants from the federal emergency management agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency are covering 95 percent of the $8 million total.

That leaves the county on the hook for only $405,000.

Superintendent Milton Kuykendall said it's a small price to pay for added safety.

"It is a win win for Desoto County. Our children win because we can get them all in case of a tornado we can use them for physical education we can use them for facilities," said Kuykendall.

Hernando Elementary, Horn Lake Elementary, Lewisburg Elementary, Olive Branch Elementary, Walls Elementary and Hope Sullivan Elementary will house the safe rooms.

Construction will start this spring and should take about a year.

DeSoto Central senior up for Wendy's High School Heisman honors

DeSoto Central senior up for Wendy's High School Heisman honors

A DeSoto Central High School senior will soon find out if he’s the Wendy’s High School Heisman winner in Mississippi.

Charlie Palmer is a three sport star in basketball, baseball, and swimming for the Jaguars.

He was one of 10 boys and 10 girls to be named a finalist for the award that honors athletes that also perform well in the classroom.

Palmer will head to Jackson to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame February 19th for a banquet where the winner will be announced.

Olive Branch, DeSoto Co. to help maintain Career Technology Center

Olive Branch, DeSoto Co. to help maintain Career Technology Center

The city of Olive Branch and DeSoto county will help the school system maintain its new Career Technology Center.

The Commercial Appeal reports the school board approved an agreement allowing the city and county to pay maintenance costs.

Under that agreement, each government will pay $50,000 dollars a year for the next three years.

That's a total of $300,000 dollars

Mississippi lawmakers to debate over charter schools

Mississippi lawmakers to debate over charter schools

Mississippi lawmakers also begin their session Tuesday and a debate over charter schools.

Governor Phil Bryant and Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves consider charter schools an option worth trying in areas where public schools are failing.

The Parents' Campaign, a grass roots group of public education advocates, disagree.

They say it's an effort to push a for-profit agenda rather than enact what has been proven to advance student achievement.

MS Department of Education reviewing safety policies

MS Department of Education reviewing safety policies

The Mississippi Department of Education is reviewing its safety and training policies at schools across the state.

It's a response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

State Education leaders are conducting visits at schools to ensure compliance with existing policies.

The department will help local school districts with training and technical assistance.

Girl Scouts send care boxes to soldiers

Girl Scouts send care boxes to soldiers

DeSoto County soldiers will have some extra care this holiday thanks to some area Girl Scouts from Olive Branch.

The girls sent 125 Christmas Care boxes to deployed service men and women from DeSoto County.

Olive Branch Girl Scout Junior Troop 10528 started collecting items at Olive Branch Intermediate School.

After a contest, the students in Ms. Montgomery’s class raised more than 200 items to send off to the soldiers.

Family and friends also contributed to the efforts with donations.