Utility board backs benefit

Sponsors Home Run 5K

901-333-2012

Letting its humanitarian impulses flow, the DeSoto County board that oversees wastewater treatment has approved a sponsorship contribution to the Home Run 5K to benefit Habitat for Humanity and sent its thanks to a teacher for her artful photos.

The annual run is set for 1 p.m. Oct. 20 at Snowden Grove in Southaven, and it drew about 1,100 people last year, said Regional Utility Authority board member Donnie Chambliss. The board last week approved a $500 sponsorship, and plant operations contractor Severn Trent will donate two bicycles for drawings to generate more funds for nonprofit Humanity, which seeks to house the homeless.

Also, a resolution of appreciation was approved for Beverly Scepkowski, a kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart School in Southaven, for her photo contributions to the authority.

“No fee, no nothing — she’s donated her skills,” said authority executive director Bill Austin, who requested the resolution.

And in a nod to the environment, the board OK’d a task order for a study of feasibility and costs of water re-use project in the Delta area of western DeSoto County.

Consulting engineer Tracy Huffman said a new gravity line has made unnecessary an old pump station east of the new Johnson Creek treatment plant. The proposal would relocate the station, which had served Lake Cormorant schools, to the plant and reverse the flow to pump treated water to a farmer who grows crops for animal feed.

“I think it’s the green thing to do,” said board member Ray Denison.