DEKALB, MISS. — Clowning around in Kemper County has just become an expensive proposition. At least until Nov. 1.

The Kemper County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance during its regular meeting on Monday that makes it unlawful for any person of any age to appear in public in Kemper County in a clown costume, clown mask or clown makeup. The ordinance was signed into effect by Kemper County Board President Johnny Whitsett at 11:28 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 24 and expires the day after Halloween.

The ordinance is enforceable by the Kemper County Sheriff’s Office and violators can be fined up to $150.

Kemper County Sheriff James Moore had asked the board to consider such an ordinance at a previous meeting.

“In order for it to be effective you have to put teeth into it,” board attorney Bo Bailey told the board, explaining the fine.

“It has really gotten out of hand,” Whitsett said, referring to the national situation with people dressing up as clowns. Whitsett, and other board members, voiced concern about what the reaction of the public would be if they saw a clown in their yard. “It wouldn’t be good,” Whitsett said.

Moore said he wanted the ordinance to be in place to make it clear that dressing as a clown in public at this time was not acceptable.

District 3 Supervisor Justin Creer made the motion with District 1 Supervisor Pat Granger providing the second.

Also during the meeting the board heard from approximately a dozen representatives of the Mississippi Department of Health sharing what their agency provides both to Kemper County and the state.

“I really had no idea how much you guys do for Kemper County,” said District 4 Supervisor Mike Luke. “It’s good to know. This has been very enlightening.”

The board also discussed advertising to have a section of timber in and around the Kemper Neshoba Regional Correctional Facility removed, as well as discussed needed land acquisition for the expansion of Waste Pro, which is located near Scooba.

Source: Kemper County Messenger