By David Johnson
The CNL

Cleveland businesswoman Debbie Holder has decided to run for citywide office.

Holder, who had filed qualifying papers to run for alderman in Ward 4, reversed field late Friday and filed instead to face incumbent Gary Gainspoletti in the race for alderman-at-large.

The alderman-at-large represents the entire city.

Her decision hands Kirkham Povall a bye in his bid to be elected alderman, as no other candidates qualified in Ward 4.

By David Johnson
The Leader

Chalk one up for the youth movement.

Twenty-four-year-old John Joel filed his qualifying papers to run for mayor of Cleveland late Friday. He will run as an independent.

Also joining in the mayor's race will be Cynthia Blocket, another late Friday qualifier. Friday was the deadline for all candidates to qualify in the municipal election.

Joel will face the winner between Democrats Billy Nowell and Blocket in the June 2 general election. Nowell, along with alderman Paul Janoush and mayor David Work, sat in a lobby at city hall as the buzzer sounded for qualifying at 5 p.m. Friday.

By David Johnson
The Leader

Ruleville mayor Shirley Edwards has released a list of seven projects the city has placed on a priority list for stimulus funding.

The total cost for the seven proposed projects totals nearly four million dollars.

"I'm working hard to make sure Ruleville is in line for the stimulus funding," Edwards said. "We're working with our engineer (Bob Eley), contacting everyone we can directly and attending every meeting dealing with the stimulus."

By David Johnson
The Leader

Candidates for elected office in the City of Cleveland will have the opportunity to take center stage Tuesday, April 14 when the Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library plays host to a moderated question and answer forum.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library organization, will be held during National Library Week.

"This will be our big thing for National Library Week," said Lynn Shurden, director of the Bolivar County Library System. "We'll notify the candidates and invite them all to participate."

Boyle faces little change

There won't be much to talk about come election day in Boyle, as there will be no contested races. The only change will come in Ward 3 where James Donald Cooper qualified and will subsequently replace the retiring Brown Ryle on the board. Joe Reed will remain as mayor, along with aldermen Jeff Mullins (Ward 1), Joe Denson (Ward 2), Sanders Richardson (Ward 4) and Azalean Rogers (Ward 5).

School board meeting set

The 2009 American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Bolivar County has been set for Friday, April 24.

As in years past, it will be held on the campus of Delta State in Cleveland, between the football and baseball fields.

"We are very excited about our Relay this year," said Nancy Nassar, Director for the Bolivar County event. "We continue to grow and are looking for this year's to be our best yet. But in order to do that, we need more teams."

By David Johnson
The Leader

In the midst of a sagging economy, one local organization has great financial news.

North Sunflower Aacdemy is debt free.

"It feels like a giant burden has been lifted," said Stafford Shurden, a member of the school's board of trustees.

Nestled just off Highway 49 between Ruleville and Drew, North Sunflower Academy is the exception to the rule when it comes to small, rural, private schools.

Beth Holloway, mother of missing Mountain Brook, Ala., teen Natalee Holloway, will present a spring break presentation on March 10 at 7 p.m. in the Delta and Pine Land Theatre of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the campus of Delta State University.

Natalee Ann Holloway disappeared on May 30, 2005, during a high school graduation trip to Aruba. Her disappearance caused a media sensation in the United States.

Since March 2006, Beth Holloway has been traveling across the country speaking to high school and college students about the importance of travel safety and safety in foreign countries.

Holloway said she doesn’t discourage foreign travel, but wants people to know the differences they face.

The Third Annual Italian Festival of Mississippi will be March 13 and 14 at the Bolivar Expo Building in Cleveland.

Teams from all across the state are preparing to compete in cooking competitions, bocce tournaments, grape stomping and spaghetti eating contests.

Along with the exciting Italian fare, fabulous entertainment will be supplied by headliners The Soulsations from Memphis on Friday night, followed by local favorites The Back 40 Band on Saturday evening, as well as Ralph Miller, Delta Rox and Ole School Review.

By Taylor Mitchell
The Leader

A new, 24-unit, apartment complex might be coming to Ruleville soon.

Ruby Sims requested the city board’s permission to begin the planning process for the apartments last week at the town's monthly meeting.

“The complex would be for senior citizens,” Sims said. “The purpose of the apartments would be for senior citizens, 62 or older, so they could be in an area that is safe and easily accessible.”