Circuit clerk field widens as Snyder enters race
The number of candidates vying for the open Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk office has increased to five after a local teacher qualified on Monday.
Stephanie Snyder , who teaches introduction to engineering and design at Millsaps Career and Technology Center, is the fifth candidate to officially qualify for the non-partisan special election for circuit clerk that will be held on Nov. 7.
Snyder, 46, lives in Sturgis and is a lifelong resident of Oktibbeha County. She graduated from Starkville Academy in 1989 and holds a bachelor's degree in Office Systems and Technology, a bachelor's degree in Technology Teacher Education and a master's in Instructional Technology from Mississippi State University.
"As a lifetime resident of Oktibbeha County, I've developed personal and professional relationships with county and city residents," Snyder told the SDN on Monday. "I understand their needs and concern for professionalism in the office.
Snyder has taught in the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District for 15 years and worked for 10 years at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine prior to beginning her teaching career with the school district.
Her resume includes teaching 8th grade Computer Discovery for seven years in addition to teaching Introduction to Engineering and Design.
This will be Snyder's first attempt at running for public office, but she said she has always valued being an engaged member of the community and wants to bring that attitude to the office.
"I want voters to know that my education and work experience will allow me to utilize more technology to promote greater efficiency in the Circuit Clerk's position," Snyder said,
In addition to her educational career, Snyder has also worked as a volunteer with the Christian Women's Job Corp, which she claims gives her experience and knowledge of the community's needs.
With a professional background focused in technology, Snyder said she hopes to boost and refine the digital profile of the circuit clerk's office.
"I love technology, so I would try to keep it up to date with the latest technology and just make sure the public knows how to use the machines if they come out with something new or updated," Snyder said.
Other candidates competing for the circuit clerk seat include: Starkville Municipal Court Administrator Tony Rook, MSU Receiving coordinator Teresa Davis, Oktibbeha County Election Deputy Clerk Sheryl Elmore and MSU Administrative Assistant Elaine Boykin Turner.
The circuit clerk position was vacated by Glenn Hamilton, who stepped down after pleading guilty in Clay County Circuit Court to felony possession of methamphetamine.
Former Circuit Clerk Angie McGinnis currently serves in the role in an interim capacity and has no plans to run for the office.
SDN STAFF REPORT
The 4-County Electric Power Association is warning the public to be aware of potential scammers calling homes and businesses.
The company said on Monday the scammers will call to collect immediate payment on money owed or threaten to disconnect the customer's power service.
The Association says 4-County does not call members to collect payment and warns commercial and
BY SARAH RAINES life@starkvilledailynews.com
A dozen teenage volunteers are spending the last week of their summer doing community service activities, and they began by working at the Habitat for Humanity Resale Store and the Oktibbeha County Humane Society on Monday.
Youth minister at Saint Joseph Catholic Church Jeff Artigues calls the week of community service "Homework."
"We have been doing this roughly about 10 years, now," Artigues said. "The idea behind it is that it's great to go out and do service work in other states and countries, but there is plenty of stuff that you can do here in your own back yard."
On Monday morning, the group helped to organize the Habitat for Humanity Resale Store and replaced the gravel on the walking path at the Oktibbeha County Humane Society.
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The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District's 2017-2018 budget was presented at a budget hearing Monday evening.
District Chief Financial Officer Tammie McGarr gave an overview of the district's budget. The district's total revenues were laid out at $58,063,067, and it's total expenditures at $81,026,717. McGarr said the difference in revenues and expenditures was due to construction funds the district was required to use.
“We will not have any more money coming in, so we won't have any more revenue, but we do have those expenditures that have to be made this year,” McGarr said. residential members to never give personal financial data to anyone who calls or visits seeking information.
“This is not the way we conduct business,” said 4-County System Security Coordinator Jimmie Daniels. “If you have any concerns about phone calls where individuals are claiming to be representatives of 4-County, please contact us.”
If you suspect you have encountered an attempted scam call, please contact the cooperative at 1-800431-1544.
Approval of the budget is scheduled for the next regular school board meeting on Aug. 8.
This year's budget includes across-the-board allocation cuts of 10 percent to almost all departments. This cut is a result of a $131,409 decrease in the district's Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) funding.
“Pretty much every department got cut 10 percent, except for maintenance, we cut them five percent and transportation, we cut them three percent," McGarr said.
The budget allocates $22.50 per elementary student, $31.50 per middle school student and $36 per high school student, all 10 percent less than the previous bud-
The teens piled shovelfuls of new gravel into wheelbarrows, dumped them onto the old path that had been worked on for a previous Homework project in 2011 and raked the rocks into place.
"It is expensive to do the work that needs to be done, and when they provide the labor, that saves us money so we can afford to use it for something else," OCHS Board Member Karen Lilly said. "There are so many places our funds need to go toward — transport, feeding, care of animals — so anytime we get a volunteer group that is willing to come out and help us with labor, it's very beneficial for the shelter."
During the week, the youth from St. Joseph Catholic Church will prepare food for the elderly in their church, prepare food for the Tuesday evening Casserole Kitchen, paint at Camp Seminole, do work at the Palmer Home Thrift Store and clean the grounds of their church property.
"We're just kind of helping out around the community, getting some community service hours in," Starkville resident Bryan Richey, 17, said.
This is Richey's third year participating in Homework. Starkville native Olivia Artigues, 16, has participated in the week-long service project for two years.
"I enjoy discovering things that need doing here," Olivia Artigues said. "You hear about missions and stuff but here we get involved in stuff we drive past all the time."