House Bill 1088

(As Sent to Governor)

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 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"; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF MISSISSIPPI 15 IN JASPER COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "JOHNNY THOMAS THORNTON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF U.S. 98 IN PIKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "CASEY LYNNE CASANOVA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY"; TO DESIGNATE A CERTAIN BRIDGE IN LEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE "CLYDE WHITAKER MEMORIAL BRIDGE"; 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. (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 4. (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 5. (1) The segment of Mississippi 15 in Jasper County, Mississippi, beginning at the southern city limits of Bay Springs and extending southerly to its intersection with County Road 12, is designated and shall be known as the "Johnny Thomas Thornton 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 6. (1) The segment of U.S. Highway 98 in Pike County, Mississippi, beginning at the western city limits of Summit and extending westerly to the Pike County line, is designated and shall be known as the "Casey Lynne Casanova 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 7. (1) The bridge on Coley Road Extended/West Barnes Crossing Road that spans Interstate 22 in Lee County, Mississippi, is designated and shall be known as the "Clyde Whitaker Memorial Bridge."

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

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.