Local Guardsmen prepare for deployment

Dozens of families across the region are saying extra prayers...and saying thank you for advancements in technology.

In just a few days, the 4,200 members of Mississippi’s 155th Armored Brigade National Guard unit will head out to Camp McCain and Camp Shelby in Grenada and Hattiesburg, then to Ft. Bliss, Texas and then to Kuwait in June for nine months as part of Operation Spartan Shield.

The unit, the seventh-oldest infantry group in the country, has deployed to Iraq twice before, first in 2004-05 and again in 2009-2010. But many of the current Guardsmen weren’t in the unit then so preparing is a new experience.

“Both of us are just real matterof-fact. We look at it as if it’s just going through a checklist of the things we have to get done...switch over checking account, get life insurance, all those things,” Sgt. Ryan Moore, a medic with LifeCare EMS who also is a medic in the Guard, said of how he and his wife, Rachel, have been ready since they learned of the deployment last fall.

as of press deadline on Friday.

Deputies also charged 30-year-old Maefrances Bobo with aggravated assault on Jan. 18.

Bobo is accused of stabbing the female victim multiple times in the arms, legs and torso.

Lt. Brett Watson said investigators believe the stabbing occurred following a minor traffic accident involving the suspect and the victim on Oak Street in the Blackjack community.

Watson said he does not believe Bobo or the victim knew each other.

The victim was taken to OCH Regional Medical Center to be treated for non lifethreatening injuries.

Bobo was taken to the Oktibbeha County Jail and was later released on $20,000 bond.