Substitute teacher accused of statutory rape

Submitted by Michael Clark on Friday, May 10th, 4:28 pm

DESOTO COUNTY, MS- (WMC-TV) - A former substitute teacher is accused of statutory rape involving a 14-year-old.

Investigators said the teen was a student of the teacher's at some point. Julie Pope, 27, was arrested by Olive Branch Police Wednesday.

Pope is off the substitute teacher list for DeSoto County schools. She was charged with statutory rape, and it involved a relationship with a 14-year-old boy.

A DeSoto County schools spokesperson said the former substitute was employed through a temp agency. They will not say what schools she worked in.

Olive Branch police said the alleged incident occurred earlier this year and did not happen on school property. The alleged victim was a student of the substitute's at one time, according to police.

Pope has not worked in a DeSoto County school since December of last year. The case is still under investigation.

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Unofficial results for DeSoto County primary

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 12:26am

(WMC-TV) - Voting for the DeSoto County primary races was held Tuesday. Below are the unofficial results for the Republican primary:

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Body of missing teen found in Yocona River

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 10:14am

(WMC-TV) - The body of the missing 19-year-old teen has been found in the Yocona River, according to LaFayette officials.

Stephen Emerick was last seen one week ago. He left work early because he was sick, according to officials.

Surveillance video caught him at two Walmart stores on the way home. His truck was found by the Yocona River not far from his house on Tuesday. His wallet and cell phone were found inside.

Check back with WMCTV.com for more details as this story develops.

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Crawfish Music Festival hits Olive Branch

Submitted by Samantha Davidson on Friday, May 3rd, 7:05 pm

One Mid-South festival is combining the love of music and crawfish.

Be sure to catch the first Crawfish Musical Festival by the South Branch Lions, Saturday, May 4, from 3pm-11pm at the Whispering Woods Conference and Hotel in Olive Branch.

For 10 dollars you can enter a crawfish eating contest and see who can be the first to eat three pounds of crawfish the fastest.

There will be live music, games for the kids, and craft vendors on site.

It's 5 dollars to enter, kids 12 and under get in free.

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Officer shot in line of duty up for 'hometown hero'

Submitted by Michael Clark on Tuesday, April 30th, 5:06 pm

OLIVE BRANCH, MS- (WMC-TV) - Olive Branch Police officer Mark Ayers is in the running to be a hometown hero. Just six years ago Ayers was in Atlanta for rehab after being shot in the line of duty in 2006.

"I'm paralyzed from just my upper waist and my chest down. It's just wait and see right now," he said.

Now, he works with Tim Presley in the detective division – but getting to and from work gets difficult in an aging wheelchair friendly van.

"I see how he struggles you know trying to get his van to the shop when it breaks and all that," said Presley.

Fellow officers from around the Mid-South are throwing Ayers' name into a hometown hero contest. Whoever gets the most votes gets a new van.

Even though Ayers still has difficulty getting around, an Internet full of databases allows him to continue to be an asset to the department.

"20 years ago it might have been hard to keep Mark busy," said Presley.

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Relay For Life Under The Stars

Submitted by Bernadette Davis, Freelance Writer

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 4:38pm

Cancer survivors will make the first lap of the event that will kick off the evening of the DeSoto County Relay For Life. Volunteers will walk and run to support people that are fighting cancer and remember those that lost their fight with the disease. The annual race starts at Snowden Grove Park on Getwell Road in Southaven, MS, on May 10th. The 12 hour event starts at 6pm and will include bands, games, contests, and prizes.

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Tunica RiverPark Muse News

Submitted by Bernadette Davis, Freelance Writer

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 3:06pm

A new traveling arts exhibit is on display for Tunica RiverPark & Museum goers. The Delta Artists exhibit features works from Mississippi Delta natives and resident artists. Some of the featured artists include Jamie Tate, Donna Blackard,Tom Clifton, and James Hayes. "We decided to introduce constant change to the museum by opening a traveling exhibit area that would fit in with the theme of the Mississippi Delta, " said Webster Franklin, President and CEO of the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau.