Senate committee advises and consents to Terry Abbey for Stewardship Trust board

A Mississippi Senate committee voted to advise and consent to the nomination of Terry Lynn Abbey to the Stewardship Trust board following a confirmation hearing that ranged from endorsements of his conservation work to questions about a past court filing and a reported aircraft incident.

Abbey, the nominee, told the committee he was "glad to be here and proud to . . . have the opportunity to serve on the . . . stewardship, committee board." He said he supports using Stewardship Trust funds to encourage outdoor recreation among young people, adding that any effort that gets children "off the couch into the outdoors" is worthwhile.

The committee hearing included multiple endorsements. Senator Wiley said he has followed the board's work and praised Abbey's commitment to introducing young hunters to the outdoors. Senator David Parks (referred to as Senator Parks in the transcript) said Abbey is "an avid hunter and a man who takes care of his land," and urged the committee to accept the nomination. Senator McClendon noted Stewardship Trust funding recently awarded to Hernando and described the program as supporting parks and public land projects.

Committee members asked Abbey a range of questions about his residency, property and past incidents. Senator Anglin asked whether Abbey had filed a homestead exemption at an address listed on his peer report (540 County Road 103, Walnut, Mississippi 38683); Abbey replied, "That is correct," and acknowledged he "should have" filed a homestead exemption and would check on it.

Senator Seymour questioned Abbey about an episode involving hunters who were cited and removed by law enforcement. Abbey said he initially charged two people with "hunting on the land of others" after what he described as repeated trespassing by hunting dogs. He said a deputy changed the charge to trespassing and that, when the case reached court in Benton County, the charge was dismissed. Abbey told the committee, "I didn't charge them with trespass, I charged them with hunting on land of others," and that the matter was later dismissed in court.

Committee members also asked about an incident involving a gyrocopter. Senator England asked Abbey to explain the event; Abbey said he owned a gyrocopter (which he later sold) and that hunters were positioned at the end of his runway on National Forest land. Abbey said he did not deliberately harass the hunters, that he did not speak with the children involved at the time, and that a grandfather later apologized to him in a store. Abbey told the committee the court matter related to the episode "was dismissed."

After questioning and several members' remarks in support of Abbey's business experience and stewardship of private land, Senator Wiley moved "that we do advise and consent on the nomination of mister Terry Abbey." The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records the chair saying, "I think the ayes have it," and the committee rose to report.

The hearing record on the nomination includes both endorsements citing Abbey's experience caring for private land and promoting hunting opportunities, and scrutiny about the completeness of his peer-report disclosures and the facts surrounding past enforcement actions and local complaints. The committee voted to advise and consent on the nomination; the record shows a voice vote rather than a roll-call tally.

The committee did not record any amendments or additional conditions in connection with the nomination during the hearing, and no formal follow-up assignments were entered on the record at the end of the session.