Rankin Ledger from Brandon, Mississippi • Page A2

2A RANKIN LEDGER Send us news at Content Coordinator Barbara Gauntt(601) 360-4642 Account Manager Maranda Younger(601) 961-7278 Account Executive Michelle Hoffman (601) 360-4641 Legal Advertising Ashley Mitchell (601) 853-2899 Legal Advertising Beverly Bennett (601) 961-7144 Delivery Rankin Ledger is published every Tuesday and is delivered to most households in Rankin County by Gannett River States Publishing from offices a 201S. Congress Jackson MS39201. To submit news Calendar events or submitted photos may be e-mailed to ledger Items may also be mailed to Rankin Ledger, 201S. Congress Jackson MS 39201or faxed to (601) 853-8720. RANKINLEDGER View us online at www.rankin.ledger.com RICHLAND 1201 Hwy 49 601.487.8139 FLOWOOD 268 Dogwood Blvd 601.992.4200 MADISON 175 Grandview Blvd 601.605.4025 2015 Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

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Offer valid AUGUST SPECIAL AVAILABLE ALL DAY! 5 99 Includes a Pulled Pork Big Barbecue Sandwich, 1 side a drink CL-0000318052 WATSON JONES, P. A. Attorneys at Law John Chase Bryan has joined the Firm Of Counsel 2829 Lakeland Drive Suite 1502, Mirror Lake Plaza Flowood, Mississippi 39232 Telephone: (601) 939-8900 Facsimile: (601) 932-4400 www.watsonjoneslaw.com is pleased to announce that The Rankin County School decision to prevent the Brandon High School Band from playing the Christian hymn Great Thou A stop the fans from shar- i ng praise at seas on-opening game. sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee. How great Thou art! How great Thou parents and students stood and chanted in protest.

In an email to parents earlier that day, Brandon High School Band Director Tim Cagle indicated that Rankin County School District prohibited the band from performing he hymn because of a recent court order. The district has been involved in an ongoing battle over the ability to engage in religious activity. Freddie Harrell, school board attorney, said the district is exercising extra precaution to be sure it does not face any more penalties. analogous to that red Harrell said. might be times hen coming; in a hurry, but required to honor the fact that the light is red, and he court order specifical- admonishes the school istrict to refrain from promotion of religious act ivity.

And the law states that the school that is the has to remain July 10, U.S. District Judge Carlton eeves ruled that RCSD violated a 2013 agreement twice in 2014 and ordered the district to refrain including prayer, religious sermons or act ivities in any school sponsored event including but not limited to assemblies, graduations, award cere- onies, athletic events a nd any other school according to a release from RCSD. he district could face fine if it violates the ruling again. Harrell said that he et with RCSD officials and all of the school prin- ipals near the end of July so they understood the or- der and the restrictions the district is operating under. But he find out about concerns re- arding the band performance until the Friday before the game after a school employee brought i to his attention.

I 2013, a Northwest ankin High School student sued the district and hen-Principal Charles Frazier over a series of Christian assemblies held at the school. The district a greed it had violated the First Amend- ent rights and settled the lawsuit by entering into an agreement and paying the attorney fees. Reeves ruled that the istrict was in violation of the agreement when it held an awards ceremony where a Christian revere nd delivered a prayer a nd again when it assisted ideons in distributing Bibles at an elementary chool. Both events took place in 2014. Matt Steffey, a constitutional law expert and ississippi College School of Law professor, aid he know that the halftime song would niel, posted the video on Saturday.

It had more than 108,000 views on You- Tube Monday. Plunkett said he got the video from Candy Sansing, who posted the video on Facebook and has garnered over 265,000 views. also said the a ctions demonstrate some the frustrations in the onservative movement. of religion is aFirst Amendment right, and I think it speaks to a lot of the outrage that seeing just through culture in Plunkett said. Sansing, a parent of children in Brandon schools, said she found out the band was prohibited from playing before the game.

know we were isappointed for the she said. would have been wonderful if we were going to do this, it would have been done before the Friday of the The audience coordinated singing the hymn at halftime, though Sansing admits the group all in sync. Students and parents also protested at Brandon City Hall Sunday opposing the decision. apt. Ken Chapman and members of the Salvation Army Band played the song outside the high chool Monday morning.

agle did not respond requests to comment Monday. Instead, Trey ein, Brandon High assistant principal, referred all press to RCSD spokesperson Robi Haney. Contact Anna Wolfe at (601) 9617326 or Follow on Twitter. have warranted additional fines. not at all clear to me that it would be a constitutional viola- Steffey said.

But being careful to avoid another lawsuit, he added, what I want overnment officials to with my tax eanwhile, a video of the high school i mpromptu chorus has gone viral. Mississippi PEP, a blog dedicated to Conserva- ive run by Keith Plunkett, a former ampaign staffer for State Sen. Chris McDa- Brandon High parents, band members protest ban of hymn performance ANNA WOLFE RANKIN LEDGER RICK GUY RANKIN HERALD Jennifer Hartzog, mother of a Brandon High School band member, draws a cross along with the title of the hymn Great Thou on the back window of her vehicle in the parking lot of Brandon City Hall during a protest on Sunday. The hymn has ince been replaced with Honor Roll Jacob Berry, Zachary Taylor Britt, Abigail Mae Buelow, Lauren Gabrielle Cantrell, Parker Stewart Coleman, Marcus J. Daniels, Andrew Howell Davidson, Andrew Michael Deleeuw, Michelle Milling Dove, Margaret Synclair Dykes, Sonja Nicholle Falvey, Joshua Adam Ferren, Tyler Boyd Hardy, Spencer Neal Harrell, Paige Marie ollingsworth, Victoria Leigh Hosey, Andrew Mark Huff, Andrea Mae Jordan, Alexandra Nicole Lindsley Brittany Nichole Lott, Lakayla Desha Love, Martin Terrell Strickland Love, Tyler Jacob McIntyre, Brittany Nicole Murphree, Carolyn Brooke Owens, Cady Renee Porter, Rachel Nicole Ratcliffe, Hannah Rae Rogers, Kajal Sahoo, Tyler Mackenzie Scruton, Haley Nicole Toups, Anna Kathryn Traylor, Lauren Victoria Vonder Haar, Braden Witcher of Brandon; Erica Denise Clark, Logan Van Coney, Jamie Nicole ouglas, Kelley Olivia Hansbrough, Taylor Gray Mitchell, Allison Melissa Raey, Anna Frances Robinson of Flowood Tyler Caine Kuhn of Pearl Clinton Baker of Pelahatchie onor Roll Abu-Saoud, Eliza Bradley Adcock, Jared Michael Akers, Annelise Kay Albert, Hannah Claire Alfonso, Andrew Craig Arnold, Holly Victoria Baer, Rachel Elizabeth Baker, Brandi Leigh Berry, Jarrylenn Jenae Betts, Simone Elisabethanna Black, Taylor Ogden Bolland, Ryan Wayne Chapman, Asha Alexis Chatlani, Haley Nicole Crenshaw, Sean Cummins, Edward Cutrer, Harrison Reed Davis, Faith Rachelle Draper, Hannah Holland Duke, Courtney Carter Dukes, Paige Davis Dukes, Caroline Renee Greene, Jennifer Vashun Gross, Connor Holeman, Zachary Hez Hollingsworth, Matthew Hull, Shannon Leeann Kynerd, Colbert Neal Lehr, Michael Carlo Martella, Alex Kyle McGee, Joshua Ross McLemore, Erin Nicole McMurray, Courtney Elizabeth Newsome, Sarah Elizabeth Oakes, Briana Antoinette O'Neil, Meredith Ryan Parker, Eugene Brinson Polk, oxey Stamati Polles, Mary Madison Portie, David Tyler Pray, Memrie Krislyn Price, Pranati Puri, Cole Garrett Putman, Frank Howard Redd, Christi Michelle, Reynolds Christopher Morgan Rhodes, William David Ross, Kristen Claire Saltzman, Caitlyn Brooke Simpson, Brenna Christine Sit, Mindi Elizabeth Smith, Darby Marie Starks, Robert Lamar Waren, Elizabeth Tyler Zarich of Brandon Zackery Chastai, Katelyn Dukes, Jamie Morgan Hilt, Martha Marie Katterjohn, Ave' Monique Mayeux Charles amsay McCrory, Hilton O'Brian Mozee, Caitlyn Marie Ross, Katie Marie Shows, Morgan Lindsey Stringer Sara Elizabeth Wingate of Florence Bonnie Allen Blackmon, Madeline Grace Blakeney, Jordan Elizabeth Colbert, Joseph James Cook, Rachel Marie Franklin, Alexander Keith Gunter, Claire Hubacek, Miriah Breunna White of Flowood Rachel Granger, Faith Allyson Harris, Wilson Ryder Heath, Amy Nicole Herrod, Robert Devon Melton, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Myers, Cierra NCole Ray, Kruze Tadlock Vanderford, Alyssa Kathleen Wilmoth of Pearl Kali Ann Russell, Avery Storm Wolfe of Pelahatchie Brooklyn Leann Jenkins of Richland University of Mississippi honors Special to Rankin Ledger is purpose or each of us to develop ur gifts and to share she said.

do this by investing in others so that they may do the same for another, hereby creating a world here each one of us has a place and a purpose through which we may help and serve The Women of Dist inction induction cere- ony will begin with a si- ent auction and reception at 6 p.m. on September 24 at the Jackson Hilton Hotel. The induction dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 for a table for eight and may be purchased by contacting LaShaunda Rene, fund development director, at (601) 326-5653 or sgms.org. Women Continued from Page 1A Women of Distinction honorees Carol Albritton Biedenharn a certified as a music therapist and an owner and o-owner of numerous companies and partnerships that include timber, real state and mineral interests in Mississippi and Louisiana.

She attended Millsaps College from 1974-1976, graduated with a B.B.A. from Southern Methodist Univer- sity and continued her post- raduate education at William Carey University, Mississippi College and Colora- State University. She is chair of the Board of Trustees at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church and serves on the Mississippi Home Society Board of Trustees, the Millsaps College Board of Trust ess and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Board. Deborah Bryant wife of Gov. Phil Bryant, known for her commitment to serve the eople of Mississippi from all walks of life.

She is an ambassador for atson Hospital in Jackson, participates in multiple awareness camp aigns for childhood diseases and has started a trend of lighting the ansion in special colors to build awareness for breast cancer, autism, and dyslexia. ryant traveled the state as part of her Across program in 2014 and read to students in each of the 82 counties to promote literacy and bring a ttention to reading disorders. She is involved in Governor Teen Pregnancy Task orce and was instrumental in bringing parties together to pass Senate Bill 2563, also known as the Teen Preg- ancy Prevention Bill. The law requires colleges and universities to develop a lan of action to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancy for older teens. Another of her passions is he preservation of the 1841 Mississippi Mansion, the second oldest onsecutively occupied residence in the United States.

She is a member of St. United Methodist Church in Brand on. oRose Hunter of Jackson, a ssistant vice president and Regions At Work coordinator for Regions Bank, where he has been employed for the last 10 years. Anative of Holmes County and graduate of Mississippi State University, Hunter is a board member of the Wom- Foundation of Mississippi, United Way of the Capital Area, Partners in ducation and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. She is interested in i ssues that impact women and children as well ast hose that affect people living in he shadows.

Janet Scott executive director of the Greater Jackson Arts Council, recognized for her passion for the a rts. She is a graduate of Provine High School in Jackson and studied communications and arketing at Mississippi State University. Scott is also an avid duck hunter and has competed around the world ith her husband. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Jackson. r.

LouAnn Woodward vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the chool of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, is respon- ible for 9,300 employees, 3,000 students, four teaching hospitals, two community hospitals, five health professions schools and an a nnual operating budget of $1.6 billion. Woodward is an emergency medicine physic ian who has been a part of academic administration since 2003. he graduated from Mississippi State University and attended medical school and completed a residency in emergency medicine at UMMC. After residency raining, she joined the faculty in the Department of Emergency Medicine and olds the rank of tenured professor. She is a fellow of the American College of mergency Physicians.

Woodward chairs the Subcommittee on International Relations for the accrediting body for U.S. and Canadian medical schools: the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. She serves on the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Board of Direct ors and Executive Committee and was an elected school board member at adison-Ridgeland Academy. She also serves as a delegate to the Mississippi State Medical Association a nd as an advisory board member for the Office of Mississippi Physician Work- orce and the Mississippi College Physician Assistants Program..