Mar. 8--JACKSON -- Pike County and the owners of inner tube rental companies will square off before the Mississippi Supreme Court on March 30 in an ongoing dispute over a ban of sale of alcohol on heavily used stretches of the Bogue Chitto River and Topisaw Creek.

The county enacted the ban in 2008 after local authorities and residents complained of numerous instances of public drunkenness, fighting, nudity and underage drinking among floating enthusiasts along the popular waterways.

Ronnie Perry of Gator's Tubing and Wendy Ryals of Dogwood Tube Rental challenged the county ordinance, arguing their businesses were hurt by the ban.

In defending the ordinance, the county cited hundreds of arrests made on the river for alcohol-related offenses, along with numerous injuries and several fatalities. Law enforcement officials contended problems virtually ceased since the ban was enacted.

Circuit Judge David Strong upheld the alcohol ban in August 2008.

Supervisors said they had wide latitude in restricting sale of beer and prohibiting consumption on public property.

The ordinance applies to the Bogue Chitto River from Holmesville to the Bogue Chitto Water Park, and Topisaw Creek from Leatherwood Road to the Bogue Chitto River.

The case is among dozens the Supreme Court will consider during the March-April term.

The Supreme Court will decide a number of cases based on briefs filed by attorneys rather than oral arguments. Among them are:

-- The Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance's complaint against Lamar County Justice Court Judge Bill Anderson. Last November, the judicial watchdog agency recommended a public reprimand and a temporary suspension of Anderson. The commission alleged Anderson failed to issue rulings in cases, refused to timely rule in certain criminal cases and improperly held a defendant without bond, among other acts. Anderson has denied the allegations.

-- Andre J. Jones' appeal of his 2008 conviction in Jones County in the death of Eric Rogers. Jones was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors said Rogers was stabbed to death on July 17, 2007, at his home in Laurel. At trial, Jones claimed he acted in self defense.

-- Randy Lamar Tapper's appeal of 2009 convictions in Jackson County for sexual battery against two children. Tapper was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 75 years in prison. Prosecutors said the incidents occurred in summer 2006 while the two children stayed at Tapper's trailer in Vancleave. They said the molestation was discovered after the children's mother had them examined at Singing River Hospital.

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