Tippah County Names Interim Coroner After Resignation
Tippah County has an interim coroner. At their regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Administrative Building in Ripley, the Tippah County Board of Supervisors accepted the resignation of coroner Chris McCallister and appointed Shad Spight to serve out the rest of the current term on an interim basis.
The coroner is an elected county office in Mississippi. The coroner investigates deaths that happen outside a doctor’s care or under unusual circumstances, determines and certifies the cause and manner of death, and works with law enforcement and medical examiners on death investigations. When the office is vacated in the middle of a term, the board of supervisors can appoint someone to fill it on an interim basis.
The published meeting summary did not give a reason for McCallister’s resignation. Under the board’s practice, votes were unanimous unless noted otherwise, and no dissent was noted on the appointment.
Tippah County Interim Coroner Among Several Board Actions
Supervisors Mike Graves, Glenn Michael, Jimmy Gunn, John Griffin and Chad Newby attended the meeting along with county administrator Melinda Crum, board attorney Sean Akins, Sheriff Karl Gaillard and other county officials. Besides the coroner appointment, the board:
- Opened bids on state aid project SAP 70-(20)S, which would level and reseal about 21 miles of state aid road, and took the bids under advisement
- Approved a contract with JE Vance & Co. for the county’s 2026 and 2027 audits
- Approved a $2,237.37 pay request from Tetra Tech for public assistance services through September 2026
- Approved air compressor quotes for the Dry Creek Volunteer Fire Department using legislative funds
- Approved an airport grant agreement
- Heard road department updates from road manager Matt Gates and approved his report and reimbursements
Emergency Management and Burn Ban Updates
Emergency management director Tom Lindsay updated the board on several grants, including an Emergency Management Program Grant of $23,525, as well as ongoing FEMA reviews and water boards. Much of that work stems from the county’s recovery from January’s winter storm.
At the Oct. 15 meeting, supervisors also opted to let the countywide burn ban expire on Oct. 18. Dry conditions continued, however, and on Oct. 21 the board announced a new 30-day burn ban running through Nov. 21.
When the Board Meets Next
The Tippah County Board of Supervisors holds regular meetings at the Administrative Building in Ripley, and meetings are open to the public. Residents with questions about county business can contact the board administrator’s office.
Related: Tippah County Burn Ban Back in Effect Through Nov. 21
Source: Southern Sentinel
