House Bill 1088

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF U.S. HIGHWAY 82 IN LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "DAYTON EGGER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN BRIDGE IN SMITH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "HOWARD L. (BONEY) COOLEY MEMORIAL BRIDGE"; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REPLACE CERTAIN SIGNS DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO THE JACINTO COURTHOUSE IN ALCORN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY 513 IN CLARKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "MARINE CORPORAL DUSTIN LEE MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY 25 IN TISHOMINGO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "SERGEANT JASON VAUGHN MEMORIAL HIGHWAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The segment of U.S. Highway 82 in Lowndes County, Mississippi, beginning at its intersection with U.S. Highway 45 South and extending westerly to the Lowndes-Oktibbeha County line, is designated and shall be known as the "Dayton Egger Memorial Highway."

(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs along and approaching the segment of highway described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. (1) The bridge that spans the West Tallahala Creek on Highway 18 in Smith County, Mississippi, is designated and shall be known as the "Howard L. (Boney) Cooley Memorial Bridge."

(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs at each end of the bridge described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 3. The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall conduct a review of all directional traffic signs that direct motor vehicles to the Jacinto Courthouse located in Alcorn County, Mississippi. Any signs that the department finds to be in disrepair shall be replaced as soon as practicable.

SECTION 4. (1) The segment of Mississippi Highway 25 in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, that is within the municipal limits of the City of Iuka, Mississippi, is designated and shall be known as the "Sergeant Jason Vaughn Memorial Highway."

(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs along and approaching the segment of highway described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 5. (1) The segment of Mississippi Highway 513 in Clarke County, Mississippi, beginning at the northern limit of the town of Stonewall, Mississippi, and extending southerly to its intersection with Mississippi Highway 145, is designated and shall be known as the "Marine Corporal Dustin Lee Memorial Highway."

(2) In addition to memorializing the ultimate sacrifice Corporal Lee made on March 21, 2007, the Legislature also recognizes Corporal Lee's Military Working Dog Lex, who was wounded in the attack that killed Corporal Lee, earning Lex an honorary Purple Heart Medal. The bond between Corporal Lee and Lex was so strong that the wounded Lex would not leave Corporal Lee's side and had to be dragged away by corpsmen to be treated, and as such it is only fitting that this memorial highway designation also serve as a memorial for Lex, who reunited with his partner on March 25, 2012.

(3) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs along and approaching the segment of highway described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.