New Yazoo County Circuit Clerk Robert Coleman works with staff members Crystal Collins and Patty Fletcher in his office at the Courthouse.By JAMIE PATTERSON
Managing Editor

Robert Coleman believes in teamwork now, success now.
That’s his motto.
“People working together right now should have success now,” he said. “It ultimately leads to a successful future.”
Coleman’s optimistic nature and enthusiasm can be felt seconds after meeting him. It’s that same attitude and work ethic that he is using for the next chapter in his life.
Serving as Yazoo County’s new circuit clerk, Coleman knows there may be challenges in his journey. But through teamwork and motivation, he is determined to be successful for his community.
“What is a challenge to me excites me,” he said, in his new office. “It keeps me motivated every day to conquer what I need to do.”
Coleman was born in Yazoo City to the late Robert and Louella Coleman. He graduated from Yazoo City High School in 1992.
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By JASON PATTERSON
Editor & Publisher

Three Yazoo County men are accused of forcing their way into a man’s home while he was asleep on the couch, dragging him outside and assaulting him.
Vernon Hearst, 52, of 1607 Bell Road, Leonard Hearst Sr., 55, of 1601 Bell Road, and Leonard Hearst Jr., 32, of 1609 Bell Road, are each facing felony charges of kidnapping and breaking and entering.
“They allegedly kicked in the door, dragged him out of the house and beat him,” said Deputy Jack Willingham. “The whole thing was supposedly about some kind of civil dispute.”
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By VERNON SIKES
Herald Correspondent

Just because all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted when an individual votes absentee ballot, there's no guarantee his vote will be counted.
In last week's hearing in which Bennie K. Warrington challenged the election of Danny Neely as Southern District justice court judge, a review of 11 absentee ballots indicated that the qualifying of absentee ballots is not an exact science.
“Just because you vote absentee in the circuit clerk's office and the deputy circuit clerks see that you do everything correctly doesn't mean the pollworkers are going to count it,” former Circuit Clerk and Registrar Susie Bradshaw said recently. “If (the pollworkers) look at the name and don't like the person, they can reject it and there's nothing (the circuit clerk) can do about it.”
Bradshaw said several ballots from one precinct's box in last November's election that had been completed with the assistance of the deputy circuit clerks were rejected for no apparent reason.
“Everything was completed exactly according to code,” she said. “Why were they rejected is what I'd like to know.”
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Joseph Thomas, Dr. Calvin Collins and Rutha B. Washington participate in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March Monday in Benton. More photos from the celebration appear on page 16.