History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 109

Meridian Star, October 4, 1961

County Voters OK School Bonds
Voters Across Mississippi Okay Two Amendments
Lauderdale County Citizens Tuesday joined voters throughout the state in giving
overwhelming approval to two constitutional amendments, as well as a bond issue for new
county schools. Citizens of beat three also voted in a justice of the peace. The amendment
giving counties the same power as cities to grant a 10-year tax exemption for new industry
received a county-wide vote of 4,294 to 181. The amendment permitting sale or lease of 16th
section land for 99 years was approved 4,284 to 199. Voters outside the Meridian separate
school district voted 61.7 percent in favor of the $1,400,000 school bond issue, in favor of the
bond issue were 1,754 and against it, 950.
Runoff Stated – For beat three justice of the peace, a runoff will be held October 17 for
T. Harold Crenshaw and Alton P. Joyner, who tied with 259 votes each. Out of the race were
L.E. Boone, with 253, and Mrs. Nellie Harris, with 114.
The school bond issue permits construction of a Northwest and a Southeast Attendance
Center and additions and renovations to the Clarkdale School. With the already constructed
Northeast School, all county education will be centered in a four-school system. The 64.7
percent vote exceeded by almost five percent the margin needed for the issue to pass. Last year,
53 percent voted for approximately the same program. In two county beats, two and five, a
majority voted against the bond issue. In beat two, 53 favored it and 80 opposed it; in beat five
243 favored it and 290 opposed it. Beat one voters approved the issue by 231 to 185; beat three,