Equipment and manpower from each of Newton County’s five beats may soon be on the way to neighboring counties to help clear debris from recent storms.
In an April 16 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Beat 3 supervisor Charles Moulds told the board he had contacted officials from Jasper and Clarke counties and volunteered his beat’s resources to help.
“He called me Monday and said yes, they needed help,” he said.
Moulds said he was told efforts to clear debris would be delayed until state and federal officials could survey the damage. Afterward, however, he said he would be heading to Jasper County to help where needed.
“He said he appreciated the offer and would probably take us up on it,” he said.
Other supervisors agreed to lend their resources to the clean-up effort as well, and the motion was made by Joe Alexander to travel to Jasper and Clarke counties when recovery efforts got underway.
Board Attorney Jason Mangum said the disaster declaration signed by Gov. Tate Reeves after the Easter Sunday storms opened the door for counties to reallocate resources to help those affected by the tornadoes.
Newton County did not see a tornado from the Easter storms, but Supervisor Joe Alexander said one of Beat 2’s trucks was damaged by a fallen limb.
“A tree fell on the truck I just bought,” he said.
The truck, which Alexander purchased at the Deanco Auction last month for $2,598.75, was insured through the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust for $18,000.
Alexander said he would be contacting MASIT to file a claim.
In other business, Beat 5 Supervisor Jacky Johnson told the board he would be assisting the Town of Chunky with some bush hogging, pothole patching and other small projects.
