Court rules for city in annexation case

TUPELO — A Lee County judge has refused to dismiss Tupelo’s attempts to annex about 16 square miles from six different areas around the city.

Lee County, the cities of Plantersville and Saltillo and more than 100 residents have formally opposed the move.

Attorneys on both sides spent the trial’s first hour Monday arguing over whether the city failed to comply with state statutes dealing with public notification.

Lee County Chancery Judge Edward C. Prisock ultimately agreed with the city and allowed the trial to proceed, but attorneys for the opponents warned their argument will surface again.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that there are 26 businesses, 20 subdivisions and 2,800 residents in the area that Tupelo officials want to annex.