Court upholds Coast community’s incorporation bid

DIAMONDHEAD — The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld the incorporation of Diamondhead on the Gulf Coast.

The Supreme Court rejected complaints from plaintiffs that the incorporation petition was improperly filed and a chancellor didn’t let opponents cross-examine witnesses at a hearing.

The Supreme Court, in yesterday’s decision, said the incorporation petition was properly handled and there were no errors in the hearing.

Leaders of the initiative to incorporate Diamondhead filed the necessary papers July 22, 2008, Ingraham said. The first hearing was January 2009, but the judge who heard that case died in September of the same year.

The Supreme Court appointed retired judge Billy Bridges of Brandon to take over the case. Bridges ruled in January 2010 that Diamondhead could incorporate, and that prompted opponents to appeal.