By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

Homicide tainted the streets of Cleveland late last Saturday night.

It was the city's first murder in nearly three years.

“At 11:09 PM on the night of March 14, police dispatchers received a call that a shooting had occurred on Johnson Street,” according to a Cleveland Police Department press release.

Cleveland Police Chief, Buster Bingham, told the Sunday leader that officers reported to the scene and found “Zenkendrick Johnson, age 30, lying facedown in the front yard of 1141 Johnson Street with what appeared to be two gunshot wounds to the chest.”

Emergency Medical Services rushed Johnson to the Bolivar County Medical Center where he later died.

Celtic Crossroads, an Irish music show, will make its Cleveland premiere on Sunday, March 29, at 2 p.m. and on Monday, March 30, at 7.30 p.m. in the Bologna Performing Arts Center.

Just when you think that you have seen the best that Irish music has to offer, a fresh new show from Ireland appears and takes the art form to an entirely new level.

Celtic Crossroads presents Irish music like never before, set to do to Irish music what Riverdance has done to Irish dance. Three outstanding seasons of performances in Galway, Ireland, saw Celtic Crossroads enjoying standing ovations every night. The show has received numerous accolades in its hometown and country:

“Elevating Irish music to an exciting and electrifying dimension,” wrote "The Galway Independent."

By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

Construction has begun on the interior of what will be Cleveland’s new city court building on South Sharpe Street.

“The new court building will be something citizens will be proud to have,” Cleveland Police Chief Buster Bingham told the Sunday Leader on Friday. “I think everyone will be pleased,” Chief Bingham added.

The old city court facilities have been used since the late eighties when the police department moved from the current location of the county courthouse.

Quotes for construction were taken this January, and construction began the first of March. “We project completion of construction by mid April,” Chief Bingham said. “We are also trying to keep costs down as low as possible,” the chief commented when asked about money for the new courthouse.

By David Johnson
The Leader

Despite a chorus of protests from several candidates, Bolivar County Library System executive director Lynn Shurden is standing steady with her decision to have Judson Thigpen moderate a political forum for Cleveland municpal candidates scheduled for April 14.

Thigpen, is the executive director of the Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce.

Some candidates have expressed their concern over Thigpen serving as the moderator for the forum due to the fact his organization receives approximately $250,000 annually in taxpayer funding fron the City of Cleveland. That funding, which comes from the city's tourism tax coffer, is part of several candidates campaign platforms. Some candidates have said they would like to look into the funding the city provides the chamber to see if the citizens are receiving the best benefit from their tax dollars.

By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

A Cleveland business was victim of an armed robbery last week.

The attendant was threatened, and money was taken from Movie Gallery last Saturday night. The Movie Gallery store is located on Sunflower Road.

On the evening of March 14, an unidentified white male wearing a black ski mask entered the store wielding a knife. The masked robber approached the counter and frightened the female attendant with the blade. She responded to his demands by relinquishing an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.

Police received the report at 10:55 p.m. Officers responded and searched the vacinity, while detectives questioned the clerk. Investigators established the crime as armed robbery but were unable to locate the perpetrator.

By David Johnson
The Leader

The Cleveland Police Department was flooded with phone calls last week regarding a series of text messages circulating warning of threats of violence due to gang initiations.

Police chief Buster Bingham told the Sunday Leader that his department received approximately 400 phone calls on Thursday, as citizens learned of an alleged gang initiation to take place at retail giant Wal-Mart.

"Our morning shift took anywhere from 100 to 150 different calls, and our afternoon shift took more than 200," Bingham said. "I received 35 calls on my cell phone regarding the matter."

By Ryan Fulgham
The Leader

The Women’s Resource and Pregnancy Center will hold the annual Walk for Life on Saturday, April 4, at Delta State’s Statesmen Park.

For a decade now participating walkers have made the two-mile hike in support of the free-of-charge services offered by the women’s center. “The event gets a lot of community support with good turnouts from sororities and local businesses,” director Renee Steadman told the Sunday Leader.

Steadman will “hold onto hope,” as the organization’s slogan says, that their $20,000 goal will be raised by an expected 135 walkers in 2009. Odds favor the group in making that mark since the center has met its goal every year.

The Warehouse, located on Sharpe Street in Cleveland, has recently opened their doors for downtown dining.

With a new dinner menu, updates to the existing eating area and exciting events in the works, The Warehouse says it is sure to become a favorite evening dining option.

“ The timing was right for us to begin opening at night," said Scott Speakes, who owns the popular Cleveland eatery. "We have added a nice bar area, as well as an open- concept stainless kitchen in front so customers can see what is happening.”

By David Johnson
The Leader

More and more people are turning to their public libraries as the economy spirals downward.

Libraries across the nation are seeing an influx of patrons turning to a free source for Internet service, video rental and even books, as the economy continues to slump.

The Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library in Cleveland is no exception.

"It's been really crazy," said Lynn Shurden, director of the Bolivar County Library System. "Really, since December our numbers have been going through the roof."

By David Johnson
The Leader

After months of speculation, the field of candidates for elected office in Cleveland is set.

In the end, only two seats went unchallenged, as 14 people qualified to run for municipal office.

Ward 1 alderman Maurice Smith will return unopposed, and newcomer Kirkham Povall will fill the Ward 4 seat to be vacated by the retirement of Willard Samuels.

Povall's reprieve came at the last minute, as Democrat Debbie Holder withdrew her candidacy in Ward 4. Holder then filed to challenge incumbent Gary Gainspoletti for the alderman-at-large seat.

The field for the mayor's chair became crowded Friday afternoon as the number of candidates grew to three. John Joel and Cynthia Blocket each qualified late Friday, joining Billy Nowell in the race to replace retiring incumbent David Work. Nowell and Blocket, both Democrats, will face off in the May 5 primary. Joel, who filed as an independent, will await the winner in the only race slated for the June 2 general lection.