LAFAYETTE COUNTY

Russell services set for Thursday

- OXFORD - A memorial service is planned here Thursday for Dr. Randy Russell, an eye surgeon and former congressional candidate.

Deputies found his body after they were sent to his rural home on King Bailey Road shortly after 7 p.m. Friday.

Lafayette County Coroner Lonnie Weaver ruled the cause of death a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Russell, 56, was an ophthalmologist with Rayner Eye Clinic. He ran in 2008 for the Republican nomination for Mississippi's 1st District Congressional seat, placing third in the primary behind Glenn McCullough and Greg Davis.

A memorial service will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Oxford. A memorial service was also held Monday in Jackson, Russell's former hometown.

Oxford man charged with domestic assault

- OXFORD - Oxford police have charged Travis Dean Edwards, 36, of Oxford, on a charge of aggravated domestic assault.

Police Chief Mike Martin said Edwards was in a moving vehicle on Belk Boulevard on May 13 when he pushed Tammy Redwine Edwards out of the vehicle. Bond was set at $10,000 after the suspect's arrest late last week.

No information was available on the victim's condition.

PRENTISS COUNTY

Results unchanged in Ward 3 election

- BOONEVILLE - The Democratic Executive Committee on Monday notified the attorney for Ward 3 alderman candidate Paul Bonds that the election results originally certified on May 6 would stand.

Bonds had challenged results of the May 5 election, which left him out of today's runoff. He finished one vote behind Mark McCoy and three votes behind Billy Whisenant.

Whisenant and McCoy names are on the Ward 3 runoff ballot. The winner faces independent Gary "Bubba" McCoy in the June 2 general election.

Bonds' attorney, Danny Lowrey of Corinth, said he didn't know if the matter would be taken to circuit court.

MONROE COUNTY

Accused threatener to get trial in July

- ABERDEEN - A July 6 trial date is set for Jerry Wayne Norton, accused of assault on a federal official's family.

Norton, who pleaded not guilty Monday before U.S. Magistrate S. Allan Alexander, was indicted June 19, 2008, on one count that he threatened to assault FBI special agent Steve Thomason and members of his immediate family.

Thomason said Norton came into the U.S. Probation Service office in Tupelo on June 3 and said to tell the FBI "that I will burn him down and kill him and his family."

On Dec. 1, Norton's attorney gave notice he will claim insanity. On May 6, Norton was examined by a psychiatrist and six days later the report was sealed.