There was breaking news tonight!  The House and Senate conferees have agreed and signed the 2010 Budget Restoration bill that has been in conference.  The most important information in SB 2495 for us is that the Highway Patrol originally had only $765,198 in the bill to help finish out the budget year which runs through June 30. Tonight, that amount now stands at $1,765,198!  Now that the conferees have done an incredible job of putting this conference report together, the bill must be passed by both the House and Senate!  It then will go to the governor.  Hats off to Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and Speaker of the House Billy McCoy and the following conferee members as their names appear on the conference report for SB 2495:  Senators Alan Nunnelee,  Doug Davis, and Terry Burton; House of Representatives Johnny Stringer, Cecil Brown, and George Flaggs, Jr. Be sure to call your House and Senate member to ask them to support the bill, and THANK THEM for their support of Mississippi Troopers.  Please click on the bill number at the end of this article to read the bill in its entirety.    SB 2495

We’re saddened to report that Brenda Wallace, our “Mama,” has passed away late this afternoon.  She had been hospitalized for knee replacement surgery, and developed an upper respiratory lung infection.  Brenda passed away from complications from the infection.  As you know, she was a long-time employee of DPS before retiring some years ago.  Since her retirement, Brenda has been working for the MSTA at the Trooper Store.  Brenda loved her retired troopers and her active troopers as if you were her own.  Her cheerful smile and her effervescent personality will be missed by all of us.  The memories we have of Brenda and all the funny stories each of us can tell will be remembered forever. We can all be thankful that we were fortunate and blessed to have shared a laugh or two with her, leaned on some strong shoulders when we needed them, and looked at the world a little better after talking with her.  Her passing reminds me of the song, “Because You Loved Me.” The lyrics are:  “For all those times you stood by me, For all the truth that you made me see, For all the joy you brought to my life… You were my strength when I was weak, You were my voice when I couldn’t speak, You saw the best there was in me, Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach, You gave me faith ‘coz you believed, I’m everything I am, Because you loved me.” FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:  Visitation will be Sunday, 21/02/10 from 4-8 p.m. and the funeral will be Monday, 22/02/10 at 2 p.m.  Both the visitation and funeral will be at Baldwin and Lee Funeral Home on Highway 80 East in Pearl.  And to our Brenda, we love you… now rest in peace.

Greetings MSTA family - We are proud to announce the scholarship topic for this year.  Please have all students eligible to write about the following:  “THE REFLECTION OF A MISSISSIPPI STATE TROOPER: REPUTATION IS FOR TIME; CHARACTER IS FOR ETERNITY.” A famous saying states, reputation is for time; character is for eternity.  Think about this quotation as it relates to a person’s character and the impact that our life choices have on our character. Write an essay explaining your thoughts as they relate to this quotation. Be sure to support your thoughts and specific points and/or examples. You may use points and/or examples based on personal experiences, reading, or observations and base them as a reflection of a Mississippi State Trooper.  So, good luck and get busy writing.

On November 12, Trooper Xavier Carr, of Troop C, was injured on a SOG detail when he and other members of the team were searching for an elderly man who was lost in a wooded area.  He sustained a severe knee injury.  For several weeks, Carr attempted to rehabilitate his knee through painful physical therapy.  His doctor decided that his knee was not healing nor was it improving.  Last Thursday, Trooper Carr underwent extensive knee surgery as a result to the injury he sustained on the SOG detail.   He is resting at home now and recuperating after a lengthy surgery.  Please remember to keep Trooper Xavier “Shooter One” Carr in your thoughts and prayers.  On behalf of the MSTA Board of Directors and troopers from all across the state, we wish you a speedy recovery!