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Chelsea Garrett has been the girls' assistant basketball coach at Amory for two years, but now she is stepping up as the next head coach.
Garrett helped lead the Lady Panthers to a 12-13 record and reached the second round of the playoffs last season.
Courtesy/Bethany Legaspi
After serving as the assistant girls’ basketball coach for two years, Chelsea Garrett is ready and excited to take on her new role as the head coach for the Amory Lady Panthers.
Garrett, a 2010 Mooreville grad, got her start in coaching back in 2016 when she was the assistant softball coach at Shannon High School before coming to Amory in 2019 as an assistant archery coach. She also played four years of college basketball at Blue Mountain College.
Garrett's love for the game of basketball led her to accept the head coaching position after the departure of former head coach Nathan Newell to Grenada.
“I love basketball and coaching is my way to stay connected to the game,” she said. “When I was an assistant coach, it was a different perspective from actually playing the game to watching it. One thing that I did learn from being under Coach (Nathan) Newell was that an assistant and head coach watch from different aspects. So I think my transition from assistant to head coach will go well because assistants see things from a smaller lens than the head coach would at times.”
With a ton of basketball experience under her belt from playing and coaching, Garrett knows what it takes to be a head coach and how to get her team invested.
“The role of the head coach begins with setting a standard of competence with the team, parents and community,” she said. “I was very involved as an assistant, so the transition kind of came naturally. Most of the kids I’ll be coaching, I’ve either taught in class or out on the court, so I think most of them are already used to me and how I do things. I want them to be able to believe in the process because the way Coach (Shay) Ashford and I plan to do things will be different from the way Coach Newell did things. It will be the same general concept of learning the game and improving because I think that’s the key to success, improving on yourself as a player and a person.”
Garrett believes that Amory volleyball coach Shay Ashford will provide even more coaching experience and basketball knowledge as her assistant coach.
“So far, we work really well together,” Garrett said. “She’s been a coach longer than I have, so she sees things that help me out. With her having assistant and head coaching experience, she has a good background of coaching and playing.”
With a roster full of upcoming sophomores and freshmen, Garrett said that she is most excited to watch her team grow while she grows as a head coach.
“Watching them grow in skill and development on and off the court is what it takes, and that helps me grow as a coach, trying to coach different skill sets," she said. "I’m a younger coach, so there’s so much for me to learn, but I really want to teach myself how to lead by example on a different level. When I was the assistant coach, the girls would come to me in different areas than they would a head coach, but now I have to separate that. I want them to come to me, but I need them to understand that we’re at a different respect level now.”
Last season, the Lady Panthers finished with a 12-13 record, reaching the second round of the playoffs where they fell to eventual state champion Booneville. Garrett plans to improve on their success and keep Amory’s winning culture alive next season.
“I tell the girls all the time that a winning culture in sports, life or work starts with a good attitude and striving to be excellent,” she said. “That means coming to work every day and getting everyone involved such as the parents and the community that has always supported us. As their coach, I plan to lead by example and nurture them to love the game, and I believe that will keep our winning culture alive.”
Garrett said that her main goal now as head coach is to help her players grow as individuals while also having a successful season.
“With us being a young team, I plan to coach them based on their abilities and prepare them for anything that the season throws our way,” she said. “I want them to be at their best when their best is needed, so I guess my greatest responsibility is to help them mature into responsible young adults because having responsibilities is a huge part of growing in life. I want to help them become honorable young women that are prepared for life beyond basketball, and as far as my expectations for the season, I just want to win every game that we can.”
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I think we can all agree that one of the hottest teams coming into Super Regionals in college baseball right now has to be the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
Now, I am not a huge Southern Miss fan, but I got inspired to do some research and write a column on their baseball team after remembering that we have a former Monroe County athlete on the team.
With their record currently standing at 47-17 and a conference record of 23-7, the Golden Eagles created a lot of buzz last week after knocking off LSU in an 8-7 victory to win Regionals and advance to the Super Regionals for the second time in the program’s history.
The last time the Golden Eagles were named regional champions was back in 2009, and this year just so happened to be the last time that they reached the College World Series. This big win over LSU of course put a huge spotlight on Southern Miss as they looked to carry over the momentum into its series against Ole Miss last weekend.
These two teams have a lot of history against each other as their record stands at a 16-16 since 2007, and the last time they faced off in May, Ole Miss took the win.
Southern Miss has some big-time hitters at the plate with a team batting average of .281, and Dustin Dickerson is currently leading the way with a .326 average. If that is not impressive enough, as a team the Eagles also have a total of 610 hits, 368 RBIs and 82 home runs with Christopher Sargent owning a team-high 21 of those homers.
Carson Paetow and Will McGillis tie for second-most bombs on the team with 16, while Reece Ewing and Slade Wilks both have 10 on the season.
Power hitting is not the only aspect that has gotten Southern Miss this far as they have a solid pitching core with Amory’s Aubrey Gillentine a part of the fun. Hunter Riggins, Tanner Hall and Hurston Waldrep have seen the most time on the mound for the Golden Eagles as they have a combined record of 23-7 and 353 strikeouts between the three.
In six appearances this season, Gillentine has helped pick up a pair of wins for the Eagles and eight strikeouts.
With all the hype surrounding this year’s Golden Eagles team, they have definitely became a fan favorite, not only in Amory but all across the world of college baseball.
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Baptist Union County starts support group for ostomy patients and caregivers
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has started a support group for ostomy patients and their caregivers on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the hospital, located at 200 Highway 30 West in New Albany.
Participants will learn how to adapt to colostomy/ostomy appliances after surgery, meet others receiving ostomy care and gain access to educational resources from Baptist Union County. During ostomy surgery, an opening is created to allow waste to leave the body through a prosthetic “pouch” or ostomy bag outside the body.
“Adjusting to an ostomy procedure can be emotionally and physically challenging for patients,” said James Grantham, CEO and administrator of Baptist Union County. “So we started the ostomy support group at Baptist Union County to offer ongoing support to ostomy patients and their families after surgery. It’s important patients know they’re not alone and our team is here to support them after their hospital visit.”
To register or for more information, call Deanna Thornton at 662-538-2438.
Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, sleep lab, maternity, surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has PET/CT, 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group and Outstanding Patient Experience and Patient Safety Excellence awards from Healthgrades. Baptist Union County earned five stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the hospital’s quality, outcomes, safety and patient satisfaction.
For more information about Baptist Union County, please call 662-538-7631 or visit unioncounty.baptistonline.org.
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The county school areas are yellow for Myrtle, red for West Union, orange for Ingomar and green for East Union. The blue area is the New Albany Municipal Separate School District. The county school attendance areas are not the same as the five county school trustees' districts.
This map shows the districts from which the five county school board members are elected (the orange area is the New Albany city school district). These are not the same as the school attendance areas or the five Union County Board of Supervisors' districts.
County schools to hold hearing on redrawing trustee districts Monday
The Union County School District will have a public hearing Monday, June 27, concerning the new map of school trustees’ districts.
The new map is a result of population changes shown in the 2020 Census.
The county school district has five trustees and Union County outside the New Albany Separate Municipal School District is divided into five sub-districts with a trustee elected from each.
The county school trustee districts are not the same as the county’s five supervisor districts, and also are not the same as the attendance districts for the four county schools, three of which are on the west side of the county with only one on the east side.
If this is all confusing, school officials say the proposed redistricting to be considered at the hearing really only affects which district a potential county school board member could run from.
The redistricting was done by Three Rivers Planning and Development District and an official there said the new map reflects little change.
The hearing will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the superintendent’s office at 250 Carter Avenue.
Members of the public may attend and offer documentation. Call the superintendents’ office for more information.
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Jimmie and Pam Lessel
Lessels to be honored for 50th wedding anniversary
Jimmie and Pam Lessel will be honored with a reception celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at Center Hill Baptist Church, 290 Lessel Road, Ecru, Saturday, June 18, at 2 p.m.
All family and friends are welcome.
The couple were married June 23, 1972.
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Julie Motte, daughter of Ginger and Stephen Harrel, was honored with a virtual shower at the home of her parents. Julie and her husband had been dealing with Covid for several weeks, so they thought this was the best way to do the shower. Julie and Mason were able to see everyone that was there as each guest opened the gift that they brought. They received so many useful gifts.
On Tuesday, May 31, Machelle Kirk was honored for 42 1/2 years of service at the Bank of New Albany. The employees decorated with beautiful flowers and had refreshments for the guests. A table was set aside for gifts from former coworkers and friends. Many brought beautiful bouquets of flowers as well as gifts. Machelle lives in New Albany and has one daughter, Tana Miller, and two granddaughters, Collins and Chandler.
Jace and Jeter Howell, Connor Coffey, and Arden McQuary went to Bethel VBS June 1-3. They were so excited to ride the bus.
Arden and Adilynn McQuary attended First Baptist Church VBS the week of June 6. First Baptist had a very large attendance, and they were super organized on the drop off and pick up of students. It was impressive how they carried it out so efficiently.
Ginger Shirley Harrel was honored with a retirement party on Friday, June 10th in one of the courtrooms in Hernando. Before that job, Ginger was a secretary at Ole Miss for four years while going to school full time there. After college, she went to work as a freelance court reporter in Macon, Ga., for a year. Then she moved to Jackson, Miss. and worked as a court reporter for the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for four years, and then she worked for Judge Mason in Meridian as his chancery court reporter for a year. She then taught court reporting at State Technical Institute for two years, and then worked for 27 years for circuit court in the 17th Judicial
District in Hernando. In 1995, George Ready was a newly elected Circuit Judge in Hernando, and he needed a court reporter. Ginger was teaching court reporting at State Tech in Memphis at that time, and Julia Mims was one of my students. She knew Ginger lived in Southaven and she told her about the new position and she was hired, beginning a 27 year period of her career. During her tenure at Hernando, she worked under some wonderful judges: George Ready, Bobby Chamberlin and Celeste Embrey Wilson. In all, Ginger worked 37 years for the State of Mississippi and three more years working a non-Mississippi employee for a grand total of 40 years in the field of court reporting. Congratulations Ginger on your retirement and all your years of service!! Ginger and her husband, Stephen Harrel, live in the Macedonia community and have three children: Julie(Mason) Motts of Missouri, Julie Canoy, and Wesley Harrel.
Jeter Howell, son of Cade and Hannah Howell, celebrated his fourth birthday on Sunday, June 12, at the Performing Arts Center in New Albany. The theme of his party was working tools such as hammers and drills. The kids played on the jumping apparatuses available. They always have fun at PAC. A fruit tray and delicious cupcakes were served. They were Oreo, red velvet, vanilla, and peach cobbler cupcakes served. Jeter received many gifts. Jeter has one brother, Jace.
Macedonia Baptist is getting ready for VBS July 10-13, with parent night on July 14. The tee shirt order will be submitted on June 20. If you would like to order a shirt, contact the church office at 662-538-0733
Make plans to attend the Patriotic Program at Macedonia on Sunday, June 26. You will be blessed.
Thought for the Week: “If you are too busy rowing the boat, you ain't got time to rock it.” Pastor Wier
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New Albany and Union County school districts receive $2 million for workforce development
The New Albany and Union County School Districts will benefit from legislation that passed in the most recent session. The purpose of Senate Bill 3011 is to extend funding to community colleges and to help fund workforce development initiatives.
“Without leadership and innovative ideas that began here locally, this would not be a reality,” explained State Representative Sam Creekmore. “Our local school districts were professional and organized in their plan and that enabled me to sell the ideas in Jackson during the legislative session.”
New Albany School District hosted a luncheon last summer to unveil a long-term plan for creating a School of Innovation and extending career and technical education, as well as workforce development opportunities for both students and adults.
Senate Bill 3011 began in the Senate, was amended in the House of Representatives, passed both houses of the legislature, and was finally signed by the Governor.
Section 18 of Senate Bill 3011 designated $2,000,000 to the New Albany School District that serves as the administrative and fiscal agent for the School of Career and Technical Education. This money will be used for renovation projects and equipment upgrades to create a School of Innovation which will be beneficial to New Albany and Union County School Districts, as well as the entire community.
“I would like to extend my appreciation to House leadership for helping make this become a reality,” said Creekmore who serves on the Workforce Development Committee. “Representative Donnie Bell who serves as Chair of the Workforce Development Committee, as well as Representative Jody Steverson and Representative Steve Massengill are to all be commended for their assistance.”
New Albany School District and Union County School District have a long history of collaboration to provide Career and Technical Education. The districts formed a consortium in the 1970s to construct the center and to begin the process of providing vocational training to students in both districts.
More recently the districts have partnered to offer innovative internship experiences for students who are juniors in the two school districts. School district leaders are excited about the possible partnerships that lie ahead with the School of Innovation.
“Graduation pathways and workforce development have become so important for our students,” said Russell Taylor, Superintendent of Union County Schools. “New Albany and Union County School Districts have long partnered for career and technical education of our students. We are excited about the prospects for all of our students with the advancements that are being made for CTE education and workforce development.”
Taylor said that he and the Union County School Board are grateful to Representative Sam Creekmore, the State Legislature, and the Governor for this investment in our students.
“We are very appreciative to Representative Creekmore and the Mississippi Legislature for the funding we have received. Both the New Albany and Union County School Districts will utilize this funding to enhance and expand Career and Technical Education as well as workforce training programs in our districts,” explained Dr. Lance Evans, Superintendent of New Albany Schools.
“Both school districts are committed to creating pathways to success with no dead ends for our students,” Evans added.
Renovation is currently underway for the School of Innovation and is located in the Glenfield area. The School of Innovation will be a modern career and technical center that prepares students and adults to be ready for our regional workforce.
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Gary L. Lee, 67, resident of New Albany, passed away peacefully, June 4, 2022, in the comfort of his home.
Services honoring the life of Mr. Lee will be at 11AM, Wednesday, June 8, 2022 in the Memory Chapel of New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care with Rev. Glenn Dendy officiating. Burial will follow in the Ingomar Cemetery.
Mr. Lee was born December 23, 1954, in New Albany, to the late Charles and Hermie Fooshee Lee. He was a graduate of Ingomar High School and was employed as an over the road truck driver for 47 years until his retirement.
A gracious and giving man, Mr. Lee will be remembered for his infectious personality and always making those around him laugh. A big Dale Earnheart fan, Mr. Lee also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Known as "Spanky" on his CB he will be missed by the many friends he made over the road throughout his career. His love for his family, especially his nephews, never went unnoticed.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 5PM until 8PM in the Memory Chapel at New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care.
Those left to cherish his memories include one sister, Pam Lee of New Albany, three nephews, Jon-Brooks Almand of New Albany, Justin Almand of Meridian and Jackson Toler, of New Albany. He was also survived by his special K-9 companion, "Rosco".
New Albany Funeral and Cremation Care invites you to share memories with the Lee family at nafuneralsandcremations.com.
Jerry Wayne Robbins, 77, died Thursday, June 9, 2022 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was born November 4, 1944 in Union County. He retired from Master-Bilt after 43 years. He enjoyed working outdoors and taking care of his property. He enjoyed teaching and helping his grandkids.
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What’s the best way to describe our day? We could easily call it an ‘upside-down’ world. Every day we read or hear things that seem unbelievable, irrational, immoral, frightening . . . and the list goes on. My solution is to rein my thoughts with truth, and that’s always found in God’s Word – all of His Word.
A verse that’s been encouraging me in recent days comes from II Corinthians 2:14. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”The verse immediately turns to God, the answer to everything life can or will throw into our paths as obstacles and heartaches.
Our family has been to two relatives’ funerals in the last few weeks. Death is a dark visitor and leaves a trail of grief that seems at the onset, impossible to bear. Even in this darkest of times, Paul’s verse to the Corinthians changes my focus from darkness to light. As the redeemed, we can join God’s triumphal procession with the truth that death is not the end but the doorway that believers use to enter eternal life with Jesus. I know about the victory of the believers, because God’s Word tells me: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
His truth assures me that I can be in His triumphal procession even in the face of death and all forms of grief.
The recent massacre of innocent school children in Texas, the demonic destruction of Ukraine and its citizens, and the corruption that seems to be brimming over in our land are examples of the dumbfounding and horrific attacks from the ‘dark’ side. At times, the darkness seems to be invading every corner of our lives, but God’s triumphal procession is never out of sight, so I can join it and be grateful for the assurance God’s Word brings to His children: “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.” Matthew 16:27.
The first part of that encouraging verse in Corinthians reminds us to be thankful, because God’s children know the final outcome. That’s why we are in a victory march regardless of the present or future circumstances. And I love the last part of that verse. It shows us that each of us has a part in spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of this final victory everywhere we go. As victors we don’t lose heart and drop out of the procession. No! We forge ahead waving our banner of hope, thereby offering the fragrance of that blessed hope and assurance to those who are standing along the parade route.
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The Girl Scouts also made a presentation to Toyota officials to thank them for the donation.
The Toyota Experience Center
Visitors can participate in simulated construction of a Corolla, even "painting" it using special effects.
The first model made by the Toyota company, said to be a failure because it was too underpowered to make it up and down hills in San Francisco. The vehicles obviously improved considerably over the years.
Toyota welcomes public to workforce training and interactive experience center
Toyota Mississippi celebrated the grand opening of its 15,000-square-foot workforce training and experience center this past week attended by officials from the three PUL Alliance counties that helped bring the manufacturer here.
Adjacent to the Blue Springs manufacturing facility, the state-of-the-art center was built in partnership with Mississippi Development Authority, and is an interactive museum providing guests the opportunity to be immersed in the world of Toyota manufacturing through innovative content, multimedia, and engaging simulations.
“The Toyota Mississippi Experience Center tells the Toyota story in a unique and energetic way,” said David Fernandes, president of Toyota Mississippi. “Our goal is to showcase Toyota’s culture, what goes into producing America’s best-selling vehicles, and the many high-growth career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.”
From a motion timeline highlighting Toyota’s rich 125-year history, to simulators and collaborative robots, the experience center is designed to engage and educate visitors of all ages. Video kiosks feature Toyota employees sharing about their diverse backgrounds and careers at Toyota; and, in the center of the gallery guests can experience a one-of-a-kind projection light show featuring the Mississippi-built Toyota Corolla.
Toyota Mississippi also announced a $75,000 donation to Girl Scouts Heart of the South supporting a Mobile STEAM Lab capable of reaching 2,000 students annually. This investment further demonstrates Toyota’s commitment to increasing access to education and workforce development programs in north Mississippi.
Toyota Mississippi Experience Center is now open to the public Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tram tours of the manufacturing plant will begin later this year. Visit TourToyota.com/Mississippi for up-to-date opening and tour information.
The Toyota Mississippi Experience Center is at1160 Magnolia Way. Call 1-662-317-3002 for information.
This is Toyota’s fourth experience center in the U.S., with other locations in Princeton, Ind.; Georgetown, Ky.; and San Antonio, Texas.
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Why the Gazette runs the opinion columns it does
I received a question the other day concerning why we run certain columnists on the opinion page.
The person did not elaborate on why the question was being asked, whether it was an implied objection, praise or simply curiosity.
My brief answer was that we use them because they are Mississippi columnists who usually write about Mississippi issues.
Of course, there is more to it.
Mainly, the columnists we use are the ones readily available to us (and cost us nothing, which, unfortunately, is a factor as well).
That they are widely read is both good and bad, in the sense that they have a track record, but also it means that there is a good chance the reader will see them elsewhere, making them redundant.
My preference would be that we have at least two local columnists a week and several letters to the editor rather than relying on non-local columnists.
That has not happened in a long time.
Occasionally, someone will ask us to write about some complaint, concern or even something good, but they rarely are willing to write a letter or column themselves.
It used to be that people just did not want their names attached to any opinion, perhaps for fear it would not sit well with neighbors or bosses. We got a lot of “concerned citizens” who were not concerned enough to attach their names.
Others may be worried about the quality of their writing, although the letters and opinions we have received have generally been quite acceptable.
Another reason for the columns we use is simply that no one has said anything about changing them. We’re not opposed to possible change; it just hasn’t come up lately.
I can’t guarantee we will use them but, if you have other columnists to suggest, we certainly can look into them and their availability.
I could perhaps understand people’s reticence in writing a letter in the past.
Now, though, that makes no sense when people are willing to hurl thoughts and opinions, no matter how incorrect, vacuous, or potentially embarrassing, into so-called social media where they will stay and be available essentially forever, open to trolling and misappropriation.
If they are willing to do that, why not a letter to the editor or guest opinion?
And that leads to perhaps my last answer as to why we run the columnists we do. Is that no one else locally is willing to step up and do it.
We always still welcome and encourage comments from the public, even if they are critical of us at times. People do read letters and comments from people they know, or even sort of know.
Also, how else will we know how we are doing and, more to the point, how well our community is doing.
We can’t solve problems if the problems are not presented, or honor those who do good work if we are not aware of them.
Send us your suggestions or, even better, send us your opinions.
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Air National Guard Intelligence Analysts assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing, 137th Intelligence Squadron Unclassified Processing, Assessment, and Dissemination (UPAD) site were hand selected to assist in new developmental programs at Hulman Field Indiana National Guard Base, Ind., Nov. 02, 2019.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Technical Sgt. L. Roland Sturm
Military welcomes assistance of artificial intelligence in battle
By Ben Wolfgang The Washington Times
TAMPA, Fla. • Writing an aircraft maintenance plan is far less sexy than the Hollywood-esque killing machines or images of a dystopian future often associated with artificial intelligence and its rise in the U.S. military.
Still, defense industry leaders say such relatively mundane tasks are perfect examples of the tangible, everyday capabilities that AI and machine learning can provide and underscore how the burgeoning partnership between humans and machines will lead to a more effective, safer fighting force. Whether predicting equipment failures on an F-16 before they happen to sort through a mountain of data or correcting overhead video in real time for a U.S. Special Forces team, the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in the military is often much less exciting than its critics suggest but more important than most realize.
Rather than shy away from a debate about the potential moral pitfalls of AI and its myriad uses in war fighting, industry insiders argue that it would be irresponsible — perhaps even immoral — to ignore the technology when it can accomplish a great deal of good in the right hands.
“These are often 18-, 19-year-olds with months of experience and training. And they say, ‘OK, your job, at the operational level, is to maintain this F-16,'” said Logan Jones, general manager and president of SparkCognition Government Systems, an AI-focused firm that is devoted to the government and national defense sectors.
Jones spoke to The Washington Times during a recent U.S. special operations convention in Tampa that drew companies from around the world, including many on the cutting edge of AI and its military applications.
One of Spark’s AI products, the “digital maintenance adviser” used by the Air Force, can comb through huge amounts of data — including handwritten maintenance logs — to help identify problems and prescribe solutions in far less time than a human brain alone.
“You give somebody a tablet and help them better triage or take symptoms and make a recommendation on what the problem might be — AI at the edge. It helps them do their job,” Jones said, before addressing the ethical debates surrounding AI and what it should or shouldn’t do.
The sensational, he said, distracts from the truly useful in the AI debate.
While critics’ focus often turns to “killer robots” and existential debates about whether AI can determine the value of human life, the focus deep inside the Pentagon usually is centered on how machines can quickly go through data, process reports, scour job applications for the right candidates, sort audio and video files, and perform other routine tasks.
Those missions have become big business. This year, the Pentagon is reportedly set to spend as much as $874 million on AI initiatives, a figure that has risen dramatically over the past several years. The exact amount of spending is difficult to pin down because the Defense Department and its industry partners are involved in hundreds of AI-related programs, many of which remain highly classified and the details of which will not be made public.
Pentagon leaders seem arguably most excited about AI’s potential to process, evaluate and sort massive amounts of information collected from various sources on or around the battlefield. Officials say that there is now so much open-source or commercial satellite imagery and other information on the internet that it’s incumbent on military units to examine that data in real time rather than rely solely on drone footage collected by military personnel, for example.
“How do you fuse that together, and not with overburdening the operator … so that it provides a holistic level of confidence to the operator without them having to do” all of the work? James Smith, acquisition executive at U.S. Special Operations Command, told reporters during a question-and-answer session during last month’s Tampa convention.
“What artificial intelligence could bring to bear on that very interesting problem: to provide a very simple user interface to the operator to say, ‘Here’s a level of confidence about what you’re going to see on this terrain,’” he said.
For skeptics, the rise of AI and the potential enlistment of autonomous weapons raises serious moral questions and should spur governments around the world to enact tough laws to limit their use. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, for example, has been a leading international voice in the push to get the U.S., Britain and other major powers to restrict AI in the military domain.
Industry leaders say that even at today’s cutting edge, there simply isn’t a world in which killer robots develop minds of their own and start taking lives.
“There’s going to be a human on the loop all day, every day,” Brandon Tseng, co-founder and president of Shield AI, told The Times. “I think a lot of people go straight to Hollywood and think: ‘worst-case scenario.’ But there’s a lot of nuance in between."
Tseng described his company’s portfolio as “self-driving technology for unmanned systems.” Shield AI, he said, specializes in unmanned systems that are able to operate without GPS using a program called “Hivemind.” That technology allows military personnel to give the system its mission and then allow the machine to carry out its objective.
In other words, there is no need for human hands on a joystick to control the machine’s every move as it scours a building for hostages, for example, because the system can carry out movements and make decisions on its own.
When integrated into a fighter jet, the company’s AI technology can build a pilot with decades of flight experience in a matter of several days, Tseng said.
Such technology may seem scary to some, but Tseng and other proponents argue that AI-piloted planes can take more risks and attempt more daring maneuvers than their human counterparts, all without putting a pilot’s life at risk.
“This is where the battlefield is going,” Tseng said.
Beyond the battle itself, AI also will play a central role in ensuring the accuracy of data that comes across the screens of military personnel.
Craig Brower, president of U.S. government operations at the visual intelligence technology company Edgybees, said his firm aims to “make the world accurate” by enlisting AI to help instantly correct raw video footage used by troops, firefighters, police or others on the front lines.
Such satellite video may appear accurate to the naked eye, but “it can be off from 20 to 120 meters,” Brower said. In the past, such corrections and verifications were performed by humans in arduous, time-consuming jobs that could cost valuable time.
“What the technology is actually doing is our AI machine-learning is looking at that video feed as it’s coming in in real time and it’s identifying control points throughout that scene,” Brower said in a conversation just off the Tampa convention center floor. “And then it’s mapping those control points to an image and elevation base.”
The video corrections, he said, are done “practically instantly,” which would be crucial during a military mission that is running on a tight schedule.
Brandon Tseng
Craig Brower
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In this file photo from Jan. 19, 2022, traffic passes by the sign welcoming people to the town of Smithville. According to the results of the 2020 census, the small Monroe County town lost more than 46% in its population since the 2010 census, one of the largest population drops in the state. Town officials believe the census results don't reflect the actual number of people living in the town, however.
Anne Cafer
UM population studies experts share projections, outlook for 2030 census
OXFORD • The discovery that Mississippi's actual population is significantly higher than 2020 U.S. Census numbers indicate could affect future federal funding and possibly other factors, according to University of Mississippi population studies experts.
Census data released in late 2021 showed a dip in the state's population by roughly 6,000 people over the last decade. But with an official population count of 2.95 million, a statewide miscount of 4% would mean Mississippi's tally was off by about 118,000 people.
Census data can affect state and local projects such as redistricting, grant applications and economic development programs. A variety of state and local projects rely upon census data, including redistricting efforts, grant applications and economic development efforts.
"The center is responsible for outreach related to the Census," Cafer said. "This new report doesn't change that. We will continue to monitor reports coming from the Census Bureau and help local governments navigate a new data landscape."
"I would guess that there will be a revived conversation around redistricting," Hancock said. "For instance, it is expected that Texas and Florida may have missed out an additional congressional seat due to their miscount."
"That potential lost funding is repetitive for total loss of over $236 million to the state over the next 10 years," he said.
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dpannell
Girl Scouts to host open houses in June, July
TUPELO - Girl Scouts Heart of the South in Tupelo is inviting the community to learn more about and get involved.
The organization is hosting two open house events, on June 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and July 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Both sessions will share the Girl Scouts’ mission to develop leaders.
“We want everybody to just drop in and see if they’re interested in Girl Scouts of any kind,” said membership manager Angie Owen. “Bring the girls, bring the family, just stop by and see what’s happening at the Girl Scouts office.”
The open house is a chance to show the Girl Scouts are here and active, Owen said. It is a chance for the public to ask questions and see the Girl Scouts office.
The group is currently recruiting members.
More information is available by calling 800-624-4185, contacting Owen directly at 662-397-8699, emailing info@girlscoutshs.org or visiting girlscoutshs.org.
Angie Owen
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Ole Miss second baseman Peyton Chatagnier and his Rebels are headed to the College World Series, opening Saturday night against Auburn.
Ole Miss 'putting it all together' at the right time
It’s hard for Ole Miss junior second baseman Peyton Chatagnier to pinpoint exactly what it is that has allowed the hitting part of the Rebels' math equation to find its footing in recent weeks.
But he’s sure glad it happened when it did, because Ole Miss is playing its most complete baseball when it matters most.
The Rebels — the one-time top-ranked team in the country that was later 7-14 in SEC play before rallying late to make it to the NCAA tournament as the last team in the field — experienced enough of a rollercoaster in 2022 to fill up an entire amusement park.
But Ole Miss (37-22) is headed to the College World Series for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2014. And, at the end of the day, that’s where the Rebels thought they belonged all along.
“I think our biggest thing was, we were putting both the offense and the defense together,” Chatagnier said. “A lot of the times earlier in the season, when we weren’t doing as well, it’s like our pitching was doing well, and then our hitters weren’t. Or hitters were doing well and our pitching wasn’t. But it seems like lately, we’re kind of putting it all together.”
Opening game for the Rebels is Saturday at 6 p.m. against a familiar foe, Auburn (42-20).
The pitching part of the Ole Miss equation has more of a direct answer than the hitting one: junior Dylan DeLucia and freshman Hunter Elliott. Sophomore Jack Dougherty said that, when DeLucia and Elliott stabilized the rotation as the top-two starters, it helped everyone else on the staff adjust and learn their roles.
“Solidifying a spot in the bullpen, knowing that’s going to be my role, it helps with the whole identity thing and really going out there and pitching like myself,” Dougherty said.
DeLucia and Elliott have given up 15 earned runs and seven total earned runs since May 6, respectively. Not coincidentally, that first matchup against Missouri by DeLucia on May 6 was the start of the Rebels’ strong sprint to the finish line.
Ole Miss finished the regular season winning eight of its last 11 games (including an SEC Tournament loss to Vanderbilt) and have won all five games in the NCAA Tournament, having surrendered a total of 11 runs this postseason.
“Those two guys have been unbelievable. I give them all the credit in the world,” Dougherty said. “They’ve gone out and really showed what they can do as a pitcher, and it makes pitching in the bullpen a lot easier with guys like that ahead of you.”
The bats were expected to be a given for the Rebels this season, given the return of nearly the entire lineup from the 2021 team. But that wasn’t always the case, as the offense had its shares of ups and downs.
While some of it can be attributed to a wrist injury to senior leftfielder Kevin Graham that kept him out a month, part of a lack of consistence effectiveness is hard for Chatagnier to explain.
Ole Miss is averaging just under 7.8 runs per game over its last 16 games. The Rebels have won 13 of those.
“I don’t know what clicked exactly,” Chatagnier said. “But it just seems to be something that we’ve started to do and something we believe we were able to do all year. It’s just, we haven’t quite been able to do it until just recently.”
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NEW YORK • The twin concerts for Foo Fighters' late drummer Taylor Hawkins will include Miley Cyrus, Liam Gallagher, Joan Jett, Mark Ronson, members of Queen, The Police, Rush, Kiss, The Pretenders, Motley Crue, Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Supergrass and comedian Dave Chappelle.
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Sydnei’s Grill, located on Highway 15 north in Pontotoc, was damaged by a fire around 2:45 p.m. this afternoon (Wednesday, June 15).
Units from Pontotoc Fire Department extinguished the fire.
No one was injured in the fire which employees said started from a clothes dryer in the utility room section of the restaurant.
At 3:45 p.m. firemen were still trying to clear smoke from the restaurant so that the exact extent of fire, smoke and water damage could be assessed. The restaurant had closed at 2 p.m. and only four employees were still at the restaurant when the smell of smoke was detected.
Employees tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the blaze which quickly spread inside the rear of the restaurant.
Restaurant officials said the restaurant will be closed indefinitely until they can reach a consensus on the extent of damage.
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Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks during a news conference, May 18, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. The Republican governor signed bills in April to create a $10 million infrastructure grant program for private schools, staring in July. On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, Parents for Public Schools filed a lawsuit challenging the grant program and saying the Mississippi Constitution bans the use of public money for private schools.
JACKSON • Mississippi is violating its own constitution by directing $10 million in pandemic relief money to private schools, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a parents' group that supports public schools.
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Conley, Jr., Glover
A genteel soul, a man of great joy, the best husband, grandfather and great grandfather any family could know, Glover Conley, Jr., 88, met his creator from his residence in Tupelo on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Known to his wife, Nan, as Jim, to his grands as Papaw or Jimbo, to his family as Junior, and to his longtime friends and co-workers as Bubba, he was affectionately referred to by many as Kenny Rogers. Mr. Conley was born on March 23, 1934 in Colbert County, Sheffield, Alabama to the late James Glover Conley, Sr. and Addie Lee Shook Conley. Jim married Nan Greene Wilbanks of Tupelo on July 1, 1989 and they shared almost 33 blissful years together. He worked over 20 years as a paint machine operator employed by Super Sagless Manufacturing in Tupelo. Jim's life was primarily that as a family man and he loved his own children and the family he came to know and love when he married Nan passionately and unashamedly. He loved camping with them, attending the grand's sporting and school events and playing cards. Jim was an unabashed, avid believer in the Crimson Tide and one of the school's greatest fans. He was a faithful member of the Verona Church of Christ. Nan expressed that he was her "Knight in shining Armor" and she was his "Queen". He will be sorely missed by all! A service celebrating his life will be held at 4 PM Friday, June 17, 2022 from the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Minister Wayne Cox officiating and his grandson, Chris Bolton, delivering family reflections. Visitation will be from 2 PM-service time on Friday with a committal service to follow in the Auburn Cemetery. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming and will be permanently archived thereafter. Jim is survived by his wife, Nan of Tupelo; his children, James Conley (Dalea) of Auburn, Debbie Conley Aderholt (Michael) of Tupelo, Steve Wilbanks, (Beverly) of Tupelo, Kathy Wilbanks Frederick (Perry) of Tupelo, LeAnne Wilbanks Young (Steve) of Robbins, TN, and Greg Wilbanks of Columbus; 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; a sister, Judy Conley Hamm of Russellville, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, two children, Billy Conley and Don Conley and 4 sisters. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Daniel and Josh Conley, Zack Aderholt, Blake Williams and Cole and Tyler Frederick. His remaining grandchildren and great grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tn. 38105. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
James Conley
Addie Lee
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James Leon Smith, 78, resident of Ripley, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home surrounded by family. on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2022. Funeral Services honoring the life of Mr. Smith will be at 11 AM Friday, June 17 at Whittentown Baptist Church with Carroll Roberson officiating. Burial will follow in Whittentown Cemetery. Mr. Smith was born February 28, 1944 in Ripley, the son of the late Earl and Lemmie Roberson Smith. He received his education at Ripley High School and was a self-employed electrician throughout his life. A member of Whittentown Baptist Church, Mr. Smith will be remembered as a simple man who loved his family, enjoyed making others laugh, trips to Tunica and New Orleans Saints Football. Visitation will be from 10 AM to 11 AM Friday, June 17 at Whittentown Baptist Church. Memories will continue to be shared by his wife of 18 years, Janie L. Smith of Ripley, a special niece, Debbie Wilson (Richard Cook) , two great nieces, one great great niece and his loyal canine companion, "Tank". He was also preceded in death by a brother, Baco Billy Smith. The Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with the Smith family at ripleyfuneralhome.com
Janie L. Smith
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Wise, Mary
Mary Earlene Webb Wise, 74, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at her home. She was born on November 8, 1947, in Haynes, AR to Charlie Lee and Mary Ann Moton Webb. She moved with her family to Mississippi as a child. She attended Greenwood Springs school and worked in the area garment plants but was a homemaker most of her life. She married William Gene Wise on August 19, 1963. She had a green thumb and could grow anything. She loved her grandchildren and was a proud great-grandmother. She was a member of DePriest Freewill Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022, at Cleveland-Moffett Funeral Home in with Bro. Phillip Miles and Bro. Russell Minga officiating. Burial will be in the Lockhart Cemetery in Gattman. In addition to her husband, Gene Wise, she is survived by three daughters, Sheila Irvin (David) of Gattman, Brenda Langford (Eric) of Hatley, and Linda J. Worthey (Lowell) of Hatley; 5 grandchildren, Matthew Irvin, Shelby Langford Creekmore (Jonathan), Ethan Langford, Carter Worthey, and Alaina Dickens (Jacob); a great granddaughter, Finley Dickens; and a host of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers, Raymond Lee, James, T.L. and C.L. Webb; three sisters, Willa Dean Moore, Polly Gail Turman, and Evie Jean Paulman; and an infant brother and sister. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be James and Joe Easter, and Dale Pennington. Visitation will be on Friday from noon until 2 p.m. Condolences may be shared with the family at clevelandmoffettfuneralhome.com.
Mary Earlene Webb Wise
William Gene Wise
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For their end-of-the-year community service project, the New Albany Elementary School's 5th grade EXCEL students designed and painted chairs, tables, and stools that were sold at auction raising a total of $1,800.
The project's goal was to benefit a charity or community member in need. Funds raised were divided between two beneficiaries: St. Jude Children's Research Foundation in honor of Madison Hardy, a survivor of childhood cancer, and NAES teacher, Casie Cook, who is currently battling cancer.
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Levi Booth, 24, of Shannon, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
Shean French, 36, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.
Janivan Holland, 23, of Fort Pierce, Florida, was arrested by the Mississippi Highway Patrol, wanted fugitive, driving under the influence – other, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, speeding.
Isa Muhammed, 37, of Chicago, Illinois, was arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, prescription fraud.
Breanna Reynolds, 26, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections parole violation, embezzlement greater than $1,000.
Demarco Darod Walker, 28, no address listed, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, attempted enticement of a child for sexual purposes.
A County Road 275 Blue Springs man said his son, 34, borrowed a 2002 Toyota Tacoma and said he would return it the next day. When four days passed and the pickup had not been returned, the father called 911 to press criminal charges.
A County Road 1353 Mooreville man said someone stole his 1998 Yamaha Kodiak four-wheeler from under his carport.
A landlord served an eviction notice at a County Road 683 Saltillo property but the tenant refused to leave. She was told she would have to go back and see a justice court judge.
A County Road 821 Saltillo woman said the folks at the house behind her keep her up at all hours. Tonight, they got a vehicle stuck or wrecked on the property and a loud verbal dispute erupted. She feared it would escalate into a full-blown fight.
A County Road 1559 Nettleton man said his neighbor’s dogs turned over his garbage can and strew trash all over the yard. He said the dogs have attacked his dog in the past and showed signs of aggression toward him.
A man said he was at the Mooreville Market on Highway 178 around 10:30 p.m. He spoke with a male acquaintance who “all of a sudden” got in the man’s truck and refused to exit, despite being asked several times. The man flagged down a deputy for assistance. The deputy told the man multiple times to put down his beer can and step out of the truck. When he continued to refuse, the 31-year-old was arrested for disorderly conduct and carried to the county jail.
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Doug Evans not right for circuit judge
By JEREMY PITTMAN of Grenada
District Attorney Doug Evans is not what the Circuit Court District 5, Place 2 needs in a judge.
We hold the key to accountability in every election; in fact, I would dare say those in the position of circuit judge must show the temperament suitable to be on the bench. Judicial races in our state typically haven’t drawn the amount of scrutiny as our other races. Often there is simply a lack of information about a judge’s performance or a district attorney’s performance as there aren’t many data points accessible to the public without significant research or news coverage.
However, this is not the case with Doug Evans. The Supreme Court of the United States, numerous news outlets across the United States, community groups and individuals have sounded the alarm on Evans’ unethical tactics in the Curtis Flowers cases. Malicious prosecutors like Evans shouldn’t be awarded for their behavior and should not be on the bench. Evans is currently involved in two lawsuits regarding his conduct.
George Orwell said, “A people that elect corrupt politicians, thieves and traitors are not victims … but accomplices.”
The community can no longer afford to be an accomplice to individuals like Evans for a circuit court judgeship or any other position. Evans might have fooled people for years, but the record is clear about what he is. The community need not get bit by the likes of him.
Change starts by going and voting in our November 2022 election.
– Jeremey Pittman,
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In this file photo from August 2021, NaKeysha Shannon, a teacher at Parkway Elementary School, helps second grader Caysei Vigres locate his class as he arrives for the first day of school in Tupelo. School district officials have approved the creation of a new code of conduct which dictates how district employees behave while at school.
Tupelo School Board approves creation of revised employee code of conduct
TUPELO • The Tupelo Public School District Board of Trustees has approved the creation of a revised set of guidelines for how its employees carry and present themselves during the school day.
The board unanimously approved a proposed revision to the employee code of conduct during its Tuesday afternoon meeting at Church Street Elementary. School district employees will now formally agree to adhere to a clearly defined set of expected behaviors at the time they're hired.
Although still in the process of being written, the foundation of the code of conduct will be a set of behavior and conduct expectations that articulate the district's standards for current and future employees.
Superintendent Rob Picou is collaborating with district administrators to design and develop this set of expectations.
"We're coming out of the pandemic and now, starting this new year fresh; we're going to refocus and rebuild from the foundation," Picou said.
Although TPSD had an employee code of conduct in the past, Picou said its enforcement has fallen out of practice.
"We want to hold ourselves to the highest level, accountable to our stakeholders," Picou said. "We want to be able to say to the community that we are committed to integrity at all levels."
The superintendent called the upcoming school year a time for rebuilding.
"It's time to recommit to what we know is effective, what we know is required of a high-functioning school district," Picou said, adding that district officials believe that process begins with improving classroom management and school-wide expectations.
According to the superintendent, a commitment to professionalism as educators is part of that equation.
"We have a lot of very committed folks," Picou said. "But we want to make sure our community knows that we are highly committed to integrity — academic integrity, safety integrity and professionalism."
"We are excited to adopt this Code of Conduct for all of our personnel who work with the children in the Tupelo community," said Paul Mize III, President of the TPSD Board of Trustees. "This clearly defined code of conduct is a visible sign that the Tupelo Public School District acknowledges the trust our community has placed with educators as they mold and engage the character and moral growth of students."
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Tupelo Fire Chief Kelly Elliott poses for a photograph at Station No. 1 in Tupelo on June 15, 2022. The new fire chief has spent the past couple of months studying the department he now leads.
Elliott settling in to role as Tupelo Fire Chief
TUPELO • Kelly Elliott has had to absorb a lot of information in his first two months on the job as head of one of the largest full-time fire departments in Northeast Mississippi.
“I think things are going good,” said the Pontotoc native hired as the Tupelo Fire Chief in early April. “I wanted to use the first two or three months to assess and evaluate the department to see where things stand.”
Although Elliott and his family are in the middle of moving their belongings from Jackson to Tupelo, the fire chief has spent the past two months in the All-America City on his own while his three sons finished the school year. That gave the reluctant bachelor the freedom to put in longer hours to study his department’s strengths and challenges.
Foremost, Elliott had to address the openings and the graying of the department. Because of a massive hiring spurt 25 years ago, a large number of firefighters now have enough years in the system to retire. Several veterans have stuck it out for another year, but hiring has been a priority.
“I have heard people say that once they heard (the new fire chief) was going to be me, instead of someone they had never heard of, they decided to hang around,” Elliot said.
Elliott is currently hiring five rookie firefighters, and he is still filling out his command staff.
“I am still missing a few members through retirement and moving on to the next stage in life,” Elliott said. “When I get the staff together, we will be able to put together a plan of what we want to accomplish, benchmarks of what we want to do – everything from one-year to a five-year plan.”
Part of that is also talking with the firefighters to see what they think the department is doing right and what they can do better.
“The firefighters are at the bottom of the inverted pyramid. They do the heavy lifting,” Elliott said. “As chief, I have to figure out how to support them and give them the resources – whether it is equipment or training – to do their job.”
Among the things Elliott would like to accomplish during his tenure is to establish a formal physical fitness program and to look into the possibilities of lowering the city’s fire insurance rating.
“Physical fitness is very important in firefighters,” he said. “If you look around, it is obvious we have a lot of folks in great shape. We have to work to make sure that is the case regardless of their stage of life. But I want to make sure that it’s not punitive, where they fear for their job.”
Elliott said he wants to ensure his employees are not only healthy enough to serve the city for decades but also in good enough shape to handle the rigors of fighting fires.
Improving the city’s current fire insurance rating of 4 will take quite a bit of work. The city has already ticked off the easy boxes. It has state-of-the-art fire trucks and a water system that can supply the pressure needed to fight fires.
“When you are a 4, the details matter. There are a lot of things we can do better,” Elliott said. “One of the big things the ratings bureau looks at is manpower. At the end of the day, they want you to have four men on a truck.”
Tupelo normally has three men on regular fire engines and four on its ladder trucks. More on each truck would mean Tupelo could get more personnel on the scene quicker, but hiring is costly.
“Then you have to look at things like fire prevention and code enforcement, and everything from the age of the hoses on each truck to response times,” he said. “There is a lot to consider.”
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Anne Frances Atkinson portrays the titular little girl, Matilda, TCT's upcoming production of "Matilda Jr." A TCT veteran, Atkinson is a native of Tupelo and student at Tupelo Middle School.
From left, Anne Frances Atkinson as Matilda and Thomas Roper and Naomi Murphy as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood star in next weekend's TCT production of "Matilda Jr." The cast members for TCT's summer production range in age from 9 to 18.
Brice Stone portrays Ms. Trunchbull, a cold and callous headmistress in "Matilda Jr." A 2022 Saltillo High School graduate, Stone is a veteran of Tupelo Community Theatre and will be continuing his college education at Northwest Community College in the fall.
Tupelo Community Theatre presents Matilda Jr.' next weekend
TUPELO • An uncaring family of crooks; a cruel and violent headmistress; a loving teacher with a secret past; and at the heart of it all, a little girl with a brilliant, powerful mind.
Tupelo Community Theatre will bring all of these beloved (and reviled) characters to life next weekend when they open "Matilda Jr.," their stage adaption of Roald Dahl's timeless children's novel, at the Lyric Theatre.
The show opens Thursday, June 23, at 1:30 p.m. and will run through Saturday, June 25, with a final matinee performance at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids and students.
Anne Frances Atkinson will portray the titular character, Matilda, a mischievous, ingenious child raised by terrible parents who gradually learns to harness an unusual power that makes her truly special.
As a Tupelo native and student at Tupelo Middle School, Atkinson has developed a love for theatre and starred in nearly 10 TCT productions so far.
"It's been really good but also stressful because this is my first main role," said the middle schooler about her leading role in the play. "I really like how strong her character is, but, also, she knows how to turn a frown upside down."
The kid-based summer production features young actors and actresses ranging in age from 9 to 18. Rehearsals began in May, so the cast has been working tirelessly to assemble the book-turned-movie-turned-play throughout the early summer.
A TCT veteran and rising freshman at Northwest Community College, Brice Stone said his role as Ms. Trunchbull has been challenging but fun to play.
"It's absolutely crazy because I have to completely transform into another person. It's someone that I'm not like physically or mentally," said the recent Saltillo High School grad. "We are not in the same head space in any form or fashion."
For those that haven't seen the 1996 film starring Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson, "Matilda" follows the journey of a brilliant young girl who is confined to a less-than-average life with her dim family members. However, she soon realizes her full potential and that her teacher, Miss Honey, and friends from school are more like family than her biological one.
Tupelo Community Theatre has a longstanding tradition of youth summer productions, including past performances of "Godspell," "The Little Mermaid Jr." and "The Lion King Jr."
Up next for the local thespian organization is their annual kids theatre camp beginning July 11. Additionally, the 2022-2023 TCT season will kick-off with Tony Award-winning musical "Once" on August 25.
To secure tickets for next weekend's production of "Matilda Jr.," call the Tupelo Community Theatre box office at 662-844-1935.
What: TCT presents 'Matilda Jr.'
When: Thursday, June 23, through Saturday, June 25. Showtimes vary.
Where: The Lyric Theatre in Tupelo
More info: To purchase tickets, for more information or to purchase tickets, call TCT at (662) 844-1935 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Tupelo Community Theatre Box Office
Matilda Jr.
Anne Frances Atkinson
Brice Stone
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Ole Miss relief pitcher Will Kline celebrates the last out in in the the Rebels' 9-3 win over Vanderbilt in the 2006 SEC championship game. The Tupelo native was a member of three super regional teams while in Oxford.
Will Kline, right, looks on as Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco, left, relays his pitching calls during a 2006 game against Southern Miss. Intangibles have been a key for this Omaha-bound version of the Rebels, Kline says.
Intangibles fall in place to help Ole Miss baseball over the hump
Will Kline is always proud to wear Ole Miss gear across his chest.
These days people can see it a little better.
Kline, a former Tupelo High School standout, was a member of the first three super regional teams at Ole Miss.
He never made it Omaha as a player.
“Being an alumni you’re just proud of the program, proud to wear Ole Miss baseball across your chest,” he said. “For years we’ve seen Mississippi State have success and get to Omaha. For it to be our turn finally, your chest is out. You’re just so proud.”
Kline last pitched for the Rebels in the Tempe Super Regional against Arizona State in 2007.
That same spring he was drafted by Tampa Bay with the first pick in the second round.
The Rebels reached the College World Series in 2014 and will be back in the field on Saturday night at 6 when they take on SEC rival Auburn.
Shoulder problems limited Kline to a brief minor league career. He and his family live in Tupelo.
Kline had a 127 career strikeouts at Ole Miss, second on the all-time list in 2007.
Tupelo resident Guy Mitchell shares Kline’s enthusiasm.
Mitchell followed the Rebels to Hattiesburg for a super regional sweep of Southern Miss.
“Our pitching was outstanding, our defense was outstanding,” Mitchell said. “When Hunter Elliott didn’t allow them a run, and we didn’t allow them a single run for two games … It was fantastic. You couldn’t ask for more.”
Mitchell is hopeful a second Omaha trip in eight years solidifies coach Mike Bianco’s future in Oxford.
Bianco’s future was in doubt when Ole Miss was 7-14 in SEC play with just nine conference games remaining.
“It means a great deal for me because I know how much it means to the Bianco family. Our grandkids and their kids are good friends,” he said. “I know how much it means to him and the whole family to be in Oxford. I hope he says for a long time, and this will sure help out.”
There have been Bianco teams with better batting averages and more pitching depth that didn’t make it to Omaha.
Sometimes the intangibles have to come into play to get a team over the hump, Kline said.
“Luck, a couple of breaks, confidence and some talent, and all of a sudden you’ve got a recipe for success,” he said. “This team is obviously peaking at the right time. Back to back shutouts in a super regional? C’mon, if the other team can’t score they can’t beat you.”
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Local election results from June 7’s U.S. House of Representatives 1st Congressional district party primaries mirrored that of the entire district. Incumbent Trent Kelly (R) and Democratic opponent Dianne Black received the most votes in both Monroe County and the region.
Locally, Kelly had 1,560 votes, or 94 percent, compared to his Republican opponent, Mark D. Strauss, who had 105 votes, or 6 percent.
While Black had 644 votes, or 85 percent, in Monroe County, her opponent, Hunter Avery, had 105 votes, or 14 percent.
Monroe County’s totals reflect unofficial results.
The 1st Congressional district encompasses Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union and Webster counties, in addition to a segment of Oktibbeha County.
As far as regional results, Kelly had 27,106 votes, or 89 percent, compared to Strauss’ 3,080 votes, or 10.2 percent. Black had 8,152 votes, or 79 percent, compared to Avery’s 2,154 votes, or 21 percent.
Kelly is from Saltillo, and Black is from Marshall County. She is the first Black female to secure a major party’s nomination for the congressional seat.
The two candidates will face each other in the Nov. 8 general election, and the deadline to register to vote in the race is Oct. 10.
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Angie Minor of Legacy Hospice, middle, explains a few of its services during Coffee & Conversations, a networking opportunity held last week organized by the United Way of Northeast Mississippi.
AMORY – Local agencies serving needs such as food, housing and health care were represented during the United Way’s Coffee & Conversation, held June 7 at Abundant Life Adult Activity Center. Acting as a way for organizations to network, the United Way plans on having similar casual gatherings throughout its eight-county region.
“We’re looking at making a deep impact, and our theme this year is United We Grow. We’ve got to have some deep roots in what we’re doing, and you know it’s usually never just one thing. It’s a family of needs that needs to be approached by a family of services,” said Patti Parker, president of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi.
She said the United Way plans to look extensively at the root causes of issues throughout the region and address them.
“With our youngest children, kindergarten through third grade who may have low academic attainment, if you dig a little deeper into why those kids may be doing poorly in school, you may find a family who has food insecurity. You dig a little deeper there and find why is this household food insecure? Maybe there is an underlying addiction there. Maybe there is a mental health issue that’s not being addressed. Maybe it’s grandparents raising grandchildren who may have an underlying health issue preventing them that needs to be treated and is not.
“We’re trying to address the whole thing at once and help so people can work in collaboration in all their bits of the whole while addressing the whole family and the whole issue,” Parker said.
In recent years, the United Way held listening sessions throughout the region, which led to coalitions addressing mental health, food insecurity and early education.
Agencies represented during last week’s meeting included Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Friend of God Recovery Center, the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services, Amory Meals on Wheels, the Amory Food Pantry, Abundant Life, Legacy Hospice, Sally Kate Winters Family Services, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the North Mississippi Kidney Foundation, the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce and the Amory Housing Authority.
Representatives from each organization shared details of how they serve the area, which opened opportunities for collaborating.
“We met several years ago and had a resource-type meeting. We had everybody’s resource and if I had someone who needed clothes, they could go here. If they needed help with rent, they could go there,” said Nancy Hoang, director of the Amory Food Pantry.
Rebecca C. Nelson, director of community impact with the United Way of Northeast Mississippi, said a meeting is held monthly in Tupelo for local nonprofits to network about needs and upcoming events. She has been in communication with Sheriff Kevin Crook about trying to create a similar series in Monroe County.
“That way you know if you’re trying to replicate a service that already exists or you’re just in better community with everyone that’s trying to be boots on the ground,” Nelson said.
Angie Minor, community educator with Legacy Hospice, said a grief support group was previously held in Amory and she would like to reestablish the program.
“It doesn’t have to be death. Grief comes in all forms,” she said.
In explaining the MCSO’s goal of rehabilitating inmates to become productive citizens, assistant jail administrator Tyler Stanford said one need is a GED instructor for inmates while another is for more businesses to partner for the department’s work placement program.
“This is what the whole concept of community is. We come together and turn around and help people who need our help and one day, we may get to help ourselves. We’re building a foundation for everyone to make a difference,” Nelson said.
The United Way of Northeast Mississippi has a link on its website to resources throughout the region at https://www.unitedwaynems.org/services/help-guide/.
Angie Minor
Rebecca C. Nelson
Abundant Life Adult Activity Center
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Austin Butler, who plays Elvis Presley; Baz Luhrmann, writer/director/producer of 'Elvis'; and Tom Hanks, who plays Col. Tom Parker, pictured at an early screening of the film at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis on June 11, 2022.
TUPELO • Elvis's legacy looms large over Tupelo, but in Australian writer/director Baz Luhrmann's new film, Tupelo's influence on the King of Rock and Roll is front and center.
Luhrmann, who served as writer, director and producer for "Elvis,” visited Tupelo two times to conduct research for the film. During his trips, he stopped at the Elvis Presley Birthplace and chatted with the late Sam Bell, a childhood friend of Elvis, who died in September 2021 at age 85.
In the movie, viewers are offered a sepia-toned look at Elvis's childhood in the Shake Rag community of east Tupelo in 1947, with scenes straight from Bell's mouth to the big screen.
While making the film, Luhrmann — whose previous movies include “Strictly Ballroom,” “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Great Gatsby” — found that most people show little interest in Elvis’s life before he walked into Sun Studio to record his first hit. But for Luhrmann, portraying Elvis's childhood fully and accurately was of the utmost importance.
"It was an obsession of mine to find someone who knew him in that time," Luhrmann told the Daily Journal via a video interview, this week. "Sam tells it in such an open-hearted way. I just found out so much. I put all of it verbatim in the movie."
In one of the film's opening scenes, Elvis and a group of friends from the predominantly Black neighborhood in which he lived peer inside a juke joint and see people dancing to "That's All Right" by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.
Elvis's version of the song would be the first single he recorded in 1954 at Sun Studio in Memphis.
"Down in Tupelo, Mississippi, I used to hear old Arthur Crudup bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place I could feel all old Arthur felt, I’d be a music man like nobody ever saw," Presley said in a 1956 interview.
From the juke joint, Luhrmann’s movie takes the boys to a tent revival, where a wide-eyed Elvis ends up in the middle of the worship service. And that's exactly how it went down, Bell recounted to Luhrmann.
"Do you think that kind of influenced the movement (he had onstage)?" Luhrmann said he asked Bell, to which Elvis’s childhood friend answered, “Absolutely.”
Elvis's friends thought hanging out in gospel tents was uncool, Luhrmann said. Bell remembered going up to grab Elvis and leave, but the preacher told him, "Leave him be. He's with the Spirit."
From watching Elvis movies to making one about him
As Luhrmann sees it, a lifelong connection to one's adolescence is a universal experience.
"I think in a way that period as you're transitioning into an adult, what happens to you then, you probably spend the rest of your life working it out," Luhrmann said.
"It just never goes away," he added. "It’s like being programmed. It’s your hard-wiring."
Luhrmann's first encounter with Elvis's larger-than-life persona came during his formative years. He grew up in the tiny town of Herons Creek in New South Wales, Australia — a town much smaller than Tupelo.
There was only one gas station in the town, which his family owned. Down the road, in the next biggest town, there was a movie theater.
And for a while, Luhrmann's dad operated it. The Sunday matinee was often an Elvis movie.
"I was a young kid. He was the coolest guy in the world," Luhrmann said. "So that was that, and it left an imprint on me."
Years later, he'd still refer to Elvis as a touchpoint for an understanding of America. But generations born after Elvis's untimely death know little of his life beyond the iconic white jumpsuit.
"(For) a certain age group, he’s just kind of relegated to a Halloween costume," Luhrmann said.
The director's goal isn't to sell Elvis to a new generation, but to show them a cautionary tale about fame in an era when anyone can pick up an iPhone and become famous overnight.
"What he represents about America and the journey he went through, the story, is so valuable and particularly in relation to the Colonel, that this generation will miss out if you don’t tell the story," Luhrmann said.
"There’s nothing wrong with self-promotion, hype and energy," Luhrmann said. "But if self-promotion, hype and energy become the dominant force and there’s no room for soul, truth, invention, creativity, that’s when tragic things occur."
It's like a Shakespearian play in that way, he feels.
"If Shakespeare were here, I think he would think the musical ‘Hamlet’ character in modern-day culture would be Elvis," Luhrmann said.
'Tupelo Shuffle': A modern take on a classic Elvis tune
The film's 36-song soundtrack includes one track that's sure to interest audiences in and around Northeast Mississippi: "Tupelo Shuffle" features vocals from Swae Lee and production from Diplo, both Tupelo natives. It also includes vocals from the gospel choir seen in the revival tent scene and interpolates Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Gary Clark Jr. as Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup performing "That's All Right" in the film.
Luhrmann, known for his involvement in creating the soundtracks for his films, said his goal was to translate the music's original themes and messages for a modern audience.
"(Diplo) and Swae wrote this overlay, which was really about going out on the town," Luhrmann said of the Tupelo-centric track. "It’s a kind of sexy song. Because in truth ‘That’s Alright Mama’ is a sexy song but it’s hard to understand that now."
Luhrmann said he's thankful for the kind people of Tupelo who looked after his team during their visits to research Elvis's early life.
"I wanted to represent that town and those people with the respect and the accuracy that it deserves," he said.
The film, which received a 12-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, will open in theaters June 24.
Early access fan screening events across the country, including in Tupelo, will take place June 21. Tickets can be purchased at elvis.warnerbros.com/earlyaccessfanevent.
Elvis Movie 2022
New Elvis Movie
Tupelo Ms
Tupelo Mississippi
Arthur Crudup
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Amory's Sam Parker and Everett Price signed with Itawamba Community College golf on Saturday. Pictured front, from left: Brett Spencer, Lesley Parker, Sam Parker, Amory coach Kyle Ragon, Kathy Thompson, Billy Thompson. Back, from left: Katie Parker, Blake Parker, Mack Parker, Gerald Parker, Jane Parker, Mandi Price, Justin Price, Claire Price, Mike Price, Joyce Price.
After a successful year with Amory, longtime teammates Sam Parker and Everett Price will be continuing their golf careers at Itawamba Community College after signing on Saturday afternoon.
Parker said that he always knew he would sign with ICC and the recent hiring of coach Taylor Boggs made him even more excited to play for their golf program.
“I thought it was the best fit, I wanted to start off somewhere small, and I’ve always been in love with the game of golf and wanted to further that,” Parker said. “This opportunity came, and I knew they were looking for a new head coach. Coach (Taylor) Boggs just so happened to text me one day, and when I found out he was the new coach I was very excited because I already knew who he was.”
Price also said that the hiring of Coach Boggs played a big part in his decision to sign with ICC along with getting the opportunity to continue playing alongside Parker.
“Coach Boggs getting hired was a big factor in my decision because I really like him,” Price said. “Being able to sign with not only one of my best friends but someone that I’ve had as a teammate for a long time played a big factor.”
Parker referred to it as “a dream come true” to get the opportunity to play at the next level with Price.
"We’ve always wanted to play at the next level together, and I’m just really excited to see where this takes me in the future," he said.
In their senior year, Parker and Price helped Amory win seven of eight regular-season tournaments, win their division and place second in the Class 3A state tournament. During their high school careers, they have qualified for the state tournament every year and finished in the top three in scoring average since their freshman year.
“They’ve been with me since their seventh-grade year, and they’re just phenomenal kids and golfers,” Amory coach Kyle Ragon said. "They’ve always done things the right way, and they deserve every bit of their success. I’m looking forward to their future with ICC, and I feel like they can make an immediate impact just based on their work ethic and the type of kids they are. Regardless of their performance on the course, they’ll make Itawamba better just because that’s the type of kids they are.”
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Hatley's Cayson Williams will return to the running back position for the Tigers.
Barry Burleson/The South Reporter
Hatley senior Josh Griffin will split time at quarterback.
Hatley's Logan Brown plans to also see some time at quarterback for the Tigers.
Deon Blanchard/Monroe Journal Files
With the addition of a new head coach and staff, the Hatley Tigers spent most of their spring adjusting to all the different changes.
“The spring this year was a lot of mental work than it was physical because we’ve got a completely new coaching staff coming in, and especially with myself coming in, there’s been a lot of new material that they’ve had to learn,” Hatley coach Seth Lee said. “They’ve reacted well to it and soaked it all in, and they’ve been very accepting of me and what we’re trying to do and accomplish this upcoming season.”
Lee said that he was able to get a lot of one-on-one time with his offensive and defensive players over spring practices due to not having his full staff yet.
“Practices have been a little different with it just being me,” Lee said. “Normally it would be breaking up into groups with different coaches, but this spring, we weren’t able to do that. Our practices this year were me calling plays for offense and defense to see what it looks like when they come together.”
During practices, Lee said that he noticed two solid options at running back in Cayson Williams and Braxton Harlow and a pair of options at quarterback with Josh Griffin and Logan Brown.
“So far, Cayson Williams has really impressed me at running back, and I also have an upcoming freshman named Braxton Harlow that’s looked good at running back too,” Lee said. I’ve got two people at quarterback that are going to help me out a lot. Josh (Griffin) and Logan (Brown) are going to split reps because both of them have strong points, and I believe we can utilize both of their strengths at the quarterback position.”
Harlow and Banks Smith are two defensive players that impressed Lee over the spring, and he said that he has high expectations for them in the upcoming season.
“Braxton (Harlow) has shown up and showed out over the spring, and he proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with,” Lee said. “He’s going to have to play both sides of the ball, and I count on him to be a special player for us. Banks (Smith) is going to play defensive line for me, and I expect him to get down there and wreak havoc.”
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Children and adults alike enjoyed petting the different animals on the front lawn of the Pontotoc County Library last week as part of the summer programs for children. You are invited to come to the library for programs each Wednesday morning through the rest of June at 10 a.m. Also make sure you encourage reading a good book by checking out books!
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TUPELO • A juvenile has been detained after the “negligent discharge” of a handgun sent a 13-year-old boy to the hospital.
“The initial information is that a juvenile was in possession of a handgun while visiting the victim’s home,” McDougald said. “A negligent discharge of the handgun occurred and the victim was struck.”
Neighborhood parents and witnesses helped authorities locate both the gun and the juvenile who brought it to the victim’s residence.
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A sign in a butterfly garden in the Key West, Florida.
My family and I recently went on vacation. We traveled the Overseas Highway to “island hop” through the Florida Keys. During the trip, our island stops included Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West.
Key West was our final destination. We planned to stay two days and two nights and explore several points of interest there. When we first arrived in Key West, we stopped at what appeared to be a visitor’s center to get some information to help plan our afternoon.
We entered the Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower. Located on Atlantic Boulevard in Key West, this is the site of a former Civil War fort and is a tropical garden paradise. We had stumbled upon a treasure in the city while just looking for a restroom and lunch recommendations.
The gardens are maintained by the volunteer members of the Key West Garden Club. The mission of the club is to provide educational opportunities to the community while beautifying the National Historic site where the gardens are located.
West Martello is comprised of several gardens which include: waterfall garden, prehistoric garden, native garden, cactus garden, perfume garden, and garden by the sea. However, we were drawn to and spent much of our time at the butterfly garden.
We enjoyed watching the monarch butterflies and learning about the pentas, red salvia, cockscomb, Maui yellow ixora, and the other plants that we saw there.
I was reminded of the importance of volunteer organizations. These groups give their time and resources to make communities look better and help citizens learn more. Homemaker groups, Master Gardeners, and other volunteers are the heartbeat of Mississippi State University Extension Service’s vision, beliefs, and goals as we continue “Extending Knowledge, Changing Lives”.
If you would like to learn more about one of these organizations or about volunteer opportunities to benefit our community, please call Mississippi State University Extension Service-Pontotoc County at 662-489-3910 or email me at james.shannon@msstate.edu.
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The other day as I was rummaging through the bathroom closet, I came across a bottle of conditioning hair spray that we had bought for the granddaughters a few years ago. Robin, my daughter, had read an article about a severe outbreak of headlice in the United States. We didn’t want any of the nasty varmints, so Robin asked her beautician to recommend a product to keep them away. We purchased the shampoo, conditioner, and spray to keep on hand at both of our houses. “An ounce of precaution is worth a pound of cure” and we made sure the girls’ heads were well treated to ward off any unwanted hitchhikers. The product boasted that it helped to repel the critters, and I noticed that one of the ingredients was rosemary. I never told anyone, but in addition to using the product, I cut lots of rosemary from the bush in my back yard and ran it through my hair several times a day.
Anyway, looking at the bottle in my hand reminded me of a poem that I hadn’t thought about in years. I absolutely loved English Lit at IJC (now ICC) and had read the entire book by the end of the first week of classes. My book was old and worn and had been gifted to me by a friend who was a year ahead of me in school. He, Connie Simmons, said it wasn’t worth much to resell and that way I wouldn’t have to buy one. I loved the book; I loved the Old English dialect; and I found it to be so full of wonderful writings that I have kept it all these years. One of my favorite poems was an odd one, but somehow it struck my fancy and filed itself away in my brain. “To a Louse” by Robert Burns ran through my mind as I put the bottle of spray away. I grabbed my book from its place on the bookshelf and quickly flipped to the poem. I ran my fingers across the page, but my limited eyesight kept me from being able to read it. Soon I had brought it up on my very large computer screen and found myself revisiting Miss Imogene Jackson’s classroom in Fulton. I could imagine her voice as she would have presented the work and asked us to analyze why Burns might have written it.
One of my granddaughters asked why I was laughing. I explained that I was reading an old poem that was funny. The grands like to hear me read, because I put forth lots of emotion, show action and change my voice for different characters. Of course, she wanted me to read the funny poem to her. OOPS! I soon figured out that she was clueless as to what I was reading. I realize that we, Southern folks, do put or own twist on the English language and do well to speak it as it is taught in the schools, The Old English dialect was totally foreign to the child’s ears. I’d may as well have been speaking in Vulcan. I quickly found an easy-to-read and understand translation on the internet. We read it and talked about how Burns had seen a louse crawling on a lady’s hat during a church service. That had served as his inspiration to put pen to paper. After I explained the poem to the child, she began to quiz me about getting lice at church. Upon being assured that her head should be totally safe, she said that she was glad the poem had been written a very long time ago and that she didn’t go to church back then. She laughed and went on her way. But I suspect her laughter was just to humor me. The grands don’t always enjoy things like I do. I’m pretty sure they describe me as their “weird old nana that says and does some really strange stuff.” And they are probably right about that.
If you haven’t thought about any literary classics lately, I invite you to do so. The web is filled with sites to read American and English Lit. I have found that most English Literature is offered in an easy-to-read translated version if that is what you might desire. You may think that reading just isn’t your ‘cup of tea’ because it did not appeal to you when you were younger, and it was a requirement in school. But it is possible that the more mature you might find real pleasure in reading. Chances are there is something out there just waiting for you to enjoy.
Speaking of reading, I recently ran across an old photo of the Pontotoc County Library’s book mobile. I lovingly remembered Mrs. Biffle and Mrs. Warren, who were featured in the photo. Grandma and I used to settle into her little pink car and make our way to downtown Toccopola to meet the book mobile. I thought that library on wheels was a most wonderful thing and could hardly wait for each visit. When it came to traveling conveniences, I put it right up there with the peddler’s rolling store. If I made a list of best memories, the book mobile would have to be on it.
I always loved to read and spent many hours reading by flashlight under the covers after Daddy had announced, “Bedtime.” Becoming legally blind put a damper on my love for reading until I discovered talking books. They are great! If you don’t like to physically open a book and read or you don’t have the time, these books are good to listen to when traveling in your vehicle. Dale and Robin learned to love to listen to books after I started using the talking version. Robin introduced these books to her husband, and he was soon hooked. Now when any of us go on a trip, one of the first things we pack is a good book for the road.
I encourage you to find some time to read or listen to a book, magazine, newspaper, or some sort of publication. Reading is fundamental. Reading can be fun. There is some sort of reading for everyone.
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Nam Y. Huh I AP
Strained food banks see rising fear, desperation amid inflation
By Susan Ferrechio The Washington Times
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. • Record-high gasoline prices, coupled with rapidly rising costs for food and other goods, have begun to cripple individuals and families at the lower end of the income scale, sending them in droves to food banks and other charities.
Some people are virtually stranded at home, unable to travel anywhere because they cannot afford to fuel their cars.
Amy, a mother of two who lives in Callahan, Florida, near the border with Georgia, said she spent $110 Monday at a local gas station, where a gallon of regular gasoline costs $4.81. She then hit the grocery store, where she pushed her cart past many of the items her family needed because she couldn’t afford them.
She said she left the grocery store feeling “ripped off” — and panicked.
“We’re just very, very careful,” Amy, who did not want her last name used, said as she broke down in tears. “And it almost scares me to the point where it’s like, how high is it going to go?”
Consumer prices rose by 8.6% in May over last year’s figures, higher than economists expected and up from 8.3% in April. The latest numbers shattered hopes that inflation, which has been climbing for months, was finally beginning to slow.
President Biden acknowledged the rising costs in a speech Tuesday at the AFL-CIO convention in Philadelphia. He told the crowd that inflation “is sapping the strength of a lot of families.” He did not take credit for the crisis and instead blamed Republicans for blocking additional federal spending and tax increases that Biden said would lower costs for working families.
Biden told the union crowd that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered higher fuel prices. “I’m doing everything in my power to blunt Putin’s gas price hike,” he said.
The president said he has a plan to bring down the costs of gas and food that includes tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, persuading other countries to release emergency oil and helping export grain trapped in war-torn Ukraine.
“It’s going to take time,” Biden said.
On a recent morning, cars lined up with their trunks open at Authentic Impact food pantry in Yulee, Florida, a few miles northeast of Jacksonville. Volunteers loaded boxes of food while outreach coordinator John Sauer scanned statistics on his phone that showed a drastic increase in the number of people seeking help from the pantry over the past few months, averaging a 57% increase over last year.
“There were people that were making it month to month,” Sauer said. “And all of a sudden, with the gas prices and the groceries, they just fell off a cliff and they come here.”
Sami Speaker, 83, a widow who lives a few miles away from the food bank, pulled up with a quarter of a tank of gas left. Speaker said it costs $85 to fully fuel her car and she can no longer afford soaring food prices. She now rarely leaves the house and has stopped making the trips to Jacksonville that she used to enjoy.
“It’s getting hard for me to get gas to get the free food,” Speaker said. “It’s gotten where I can’t go anywhere now. I just sit at home.”
Julie, a server at the Ritz Carlton in Fernandina Beach, said she makes decent tips but not enough income to cover rent and higher prices for necessities.
She decided to go back to the food bank. “I have not come for years,” Julie said. “I make good money, but it’s still not enough.”
A few miles up the road, Yulee Baptist Church is operating a food pantry. Administrator Michelle Springer said the number of people seeking help from the food bank has increased by 25% in recent weeks.
“It’s obviously food inflation, and gas,” Springer said. “People are just paying more for everything.”
The Labor Department announced that the Producer Price Index, which measures the costs of wholesale goods before they make it to store shelves, rose 10.8% in May over the previous year, largely because of higher fuel costs. Consumer goods rose 1.4% in May, marking five months of increases.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point Wednesday, the biggest increase in nearly three decades, in an effort to tame inflation.
On the day The Washington Times visited Sauer’s food bank, volunteers had given away 460 boxes of food by noon and planned to keep it open for another hour and a half. The food bank reopens at 5 p.m., when more cars typically arrive.
The food bank provided food for 832 families last week and needs more donations, Sauer said.
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Not so much with, “Hey, you got your ears lowered,” and other impertinent observations.
“I couldn’t help but notice” is the icebreaker for many a would-be benefactor. Yes, if you’re utilizing a ladder, spotlight, binoculars and bloodhound to scrutinize someone, you probably can't help but notice.
I’m especially creeped out by observations about the real or imagined status of my pants zipper. Seriously, if you "couldn’t help but notice" my fly-adjacent body zone, keep the ladder, spotlight, binoculars, bloodhound and candy — I’m still not getting in your van.
Granted, people sporting wind-chime earrings or head-to-toe tattoos are probably fishing for comments, but most of us who are finally experiencing a good day aren’t in the market for some clown to sympathize, “Hey, you look tired, buddy. And your parade looks soggy, too.”
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ABERDEEN – The Aberdeen Police Department served a felony warrant on behalf of Richland Municipal Court on former Mayor Maurice Howard Thursday for embezzlement under contract 97-23-25.
According to Aberdeen Police Chief Quinell Shumpert, the warrant stemmed from a rental vehicle from Enterprise.
“When you rent a vehicle, you rent it for a certain amount of time. When that time’s up and you don’t bring it back, they contact you. You have a contract to rent it from this date to this date. When you don’t bring it back, it’s considered embezzlement under contract,” he said.
Howard, who was first elected mayor in 2016, was removed from office in 2021 after pleading guilty to embezzlement by a public official in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Judge John White ordered his removal from office and 10 years in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody with the time being suspended.
He was not sentenced to serve any jail time through that case. Howard was also ordered to repay court costs of $431.50, a bond fee of $200 and the victim’s bond fee of $10, in addition to restitution in the amount of $8,226 to Old Republic Surety Company of Milwaukee.
Those criminal charges were brought forth by the Mississippi State Auditor’s office. They stem from trips he was reimbursed for in 2017 with taxpayer funds that he never took.
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Shotgun national championship set for West Point
The best instinctive shooters in America will compete for the U.S. Helice Association National Championship at Prairie Wildlife near West Point next month.
The event, set for July 21 through July 24, is open to the public. There is no admission charge for spectators. The venue, Black Prairie Helice, is part of Prairie Wildlife, a sporting destination specializing in upland bird hunting, target shooting and corporate retreats.
Helice is a shotgun game that blends the accessibility of clay targets with the true, erratic unpredictability of wild birds. The game was invented in Europe early in the 1900s, but it’s found a home in the United States, especially in the South.
A helice range bears some resemblance to a trap range. The shooter stands at a determined point and calls for a target that launches from some distance to his front going away, but that’s where the resemblance ends. The targets themselves consist of a white plastic witness cap mounted inside an orange ring with two propellers. As the shooter takes position, five launchers, facing away from the shooter and standing in an arc 26 meters away, each spin a target up to 5,000 revolutions per minute. On the shooter’s call, one randomly-chosen machine releases its target, which takes flight on a truly unique path. The shooter must break the witness cap free of its wings and have it fall to the ground before crossing a two-foot-high fence another 21 meters to their front. The time from release to successful shot can only be measured in heartbeats, and only then because the challenge is so intense.
Prairie Wildlife is home to five sanctioned helice events per year, plus an open helice event every month. Their helice rings are available to the public as well. A round of helice, called a “crank,” is a shoot of 30 targets taken five at a time in alternating succession with the other members of the shooter’s party. Helice is available at Prairie Wildlife for $90 per crank. For more information, visit prairiewildlife.com or call 662-494-5858.
The sanctioned events, while competitive, have a strong social side as well.
“Everyone wants to win, but they really want to see everyone shoot well and improve together,” Bryan said. “It’s really a genuinely nice bunch of people who all have good relationships with everyone else.”
Organizers are seeking community volunteers to help with logistics for the championship in July. If you’d like to get involved, call 662-494-5858 and let them know you’re interested in volunteering.
To learn more about the upcoming national championship, visit ushelice.com.
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Brown, Armetta
Armetta Mozell Moore Brown, age 87, entered earthly life on July 14, 1934, in Waterford, MS as the oldest of seven children born to Clen Moore, Sr., and Mildred Littlejohn Moore. She departed this life on June 11, 2022. She attended elementary school in Waterford and graduated from MS Industrial College High School. In 1956, she graduated from MS Industrial College with a BS degree in English and began her teaching career the same year in Tippah County, MS at Walnut High School. On July 28, 1957, she married her high school sweetheart and life partner, Charles Brown, Sr. and made their home in Ripley, MS. She retired from Tippah County School System as an outstanding educator of 34 years of dedicated service. She also worked part-time at Foster and Son Funeral Home in Ripley, MS for several years. She leaves to cherish her memory one son: Charles Brown Jr of Los Angeles, CA. Two daughters: Sharon Brown Hollins of Ripley, MS and Jennifer Brown (Karl) Hall of Lewisville, TX. One sister: Bernice Moore Hall of Byhalia, MS, one brother: Albert (Pauletta) Moore of Memphis, TN., brother-in-law, Wheatly Brown Sr. of Holly Springs, MS., sister-in-law Jean Moore of Waterford, MS. special friend, Carol Moody of Holly Springs, MS and several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation will Sunday, June 19, 2022, from 12p-4p at Foster and Son Funeral Home, Ripley, MS. Graveside service will be Monday, June 20, 2022, 10 am at Cottrell Cemetery, Holly Springs, MS. Viewing will be take place right before service at the cemetery. To view and sign the guest registry, please visit fosterandsonfuneralhome.com.
Armetta Mozell Moore Brown
Charles Brown Sr.
Ms Industrial College High School
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Ole Miss first baseman Tim Elko called stepping onto the field in Omaha on Thursday "an amazing moment" he has long dreamed about. He and he Rebels will open play on Saturday.
'I’ve always dreamed of playing in Omaha': Tim Elko, Ole Miss enjoying College World Series experience
OMAHA – As someone who grew up watching the College World Series, stepping onto the vaunted field at Charles Schwab Field was almost indescribable for Ole Miss senior Tim Elko.
The Rebels are in their first College World Series since 2014 following a season that would best be described as a roller coaster.
Ole Miss started the season in the top-five of nearly every national ranking, climbed to No. 1 and then tumbled out of the rankings and the NCAA Tournament field entirely. A strong finish helped the Rebels get in, and they’ve done nothing but bludgeon opponents since.
Ole Miss is 5-0 this postseason and has surrendered just 11 total runs. The team's first team practice on the field on Thursday was surreal, despite being delayed a few minutes due to rain and lightning in the area.
The Rebels play Auburn on Saturday at 6 p.m.
“It was an amazing moment. I’ve always dreamed of playing in Omaha, and I finally got here my last year,” said Elko, who was named a third-team All-American by the NCBWA on Thursday. “But just a really cool moment, being out there with all the guys and taking ground balls and just taking it all in. Really cool.”
Elko has long been the pulse of the Rebels, so it was only fitting he recorded the final out of a 5-0 victory over Southern Miss in the final game of the Hattiesburg super regional. He has nine hits – seven for extra bases – and 10 RBIs this postseason.
“Well my first thought was, ‘OK, I have to catch this ball. Just a really awesome feeling. It’s tough to put into words. Just feeling happy and excited, thankful, blessed just to be on such an amazing team," said the first baseman. "We overcame so much, and that made that moment so much better, to be able to get to Omaha and have a chance to win a national championship.”
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco didn’t necessarily get sentimental about stepping on the field. Not for him, anyway.
No, Bianco was excited for the players who had finally seen their hard work and dedication pay off. Bianco led Ole Miss the College World Series eight years ago.
“I think I have appreciated, even back to the super regional, just watching the kids, watching guys, not just Tim,” Bianco said. “Tim gets a lot of the pub, but other guys like (Justin) Bench and (Kevin) Graham and (Max) Cioffi and guys that have been on this team. They've won a ton of games, but they haven't played in this stadium. To watch them walk in it and take pictures, that's been really cool.
“This has been a really cool story up to this point. And to watch them get through all of that, from the very high, the beginning of the season, to about as low as you can get, and to get back here, it's been neat.”
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Randy Avery, 43, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, touching a child for lustful purposes.
Donna Butler, 51, of Baldwyn, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug.
Jackie Clark, 35, of Corinth, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.
Valtavion Finley, 21, of Saltillo, was arrested by the Saltillo Police Department, aggravated assault.
Jacob Garrison, 28, of Blue Springs, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, cyberstalking.
Michael McDonald, 20, of Mantachie, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of burglary tools.
Cameron Moss, 19, of Fulton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of burglary tools.
A County Road 931 Tupelo convenience store said two white males and a white female showed up before 7 a.m. and were wandering around the parking lot, looking in cars. One of the males tried to open the door of one of the cars, so the clerk called 911.
A Highway 348 Guntown convenience store said a woman showed up around 8 a.m. and was running in and out of traffic. She stayed at the store for about an hour.
A County Road 270 Nettleton man said several item have been stolen from his house. When he went to the residence of a male acquaintance’s mother, he saw several of his things, including dishes, bedding, clothes and Snap-On tools. He thinks the thefts have been going on for about four months.
A County Road 154 Shannon called 911 because her male friend was showing his weapon. She said her name is on the lease, but he stays there a well. She said she was going to get her things and leave for the night.
A County Road 1139 Auburn man said someone called him from a Tupelo number and asked for Jared. When he said he didn’t know a Jared, the caller said they wanted a sexy young male stripper. He said he hung up and felt offended.
A County Road 373 Tupelo man said his 3-year-old white German Shepherd was missing. He thinks it might have been a relative, because the dog is timid and will only go to people he knows. He called back less than 30 minutes later, saying he had found the dog.
A landlord said he evicted a couple from his County Road 659 Verona camper. When he went to check, two windows were broken, as were the table and some cabinets. The former tenants had also left the garden hose running full blast in the front room of the camper. He was advised to get an estimate of the damages and go see a judge.
A County Road 449 Shannon woman said her son saw a man walking behind the neighbor’s house, toward their shed. Since the neighbor are out of town, she called 911. Deputies arrived but found no one.
Police stopped a speeding car after it hit a curb around midnight on North Thomas Street. The driver smelled of alcohol. There were empty beer bottles in the passenger floorboard and a bag of marijuana next to him. He admitted he had consumed “about seven beers.” He was charged with driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and careless driving.
North Gloster Dollar General employees reporting to work found a box containing five broken phones, syringes and a birth certificate. The items were turned over to police.
A contractor said he left a large box truck overnight at a North Gloster construction site. When he returned the next morning, there was a hole in the fuel tank and all the diesel fuel was missing. He said he lost about $100 in fuel, and it will cost about $1,000 to replace the tank.
A man said he took his children swimming at the Tupelo Aquatic Center on North Veterans Boulevard. They placed three iPhones in a backpack and left it in the locker room. When they got ready to leave, they discovered the phones were gone.
A Peachtree Drive apartment manager said a tenant reported structural damage to one of the units. The maintenance man discovered intentional damage to the sheetrock all over the residence as well as damage to the ceiling in various locations. He checked the adjoining apartment, and there was no damage.
A woman said while she was inside the Malco Theater, someone vandalized her 2016 Chevy Malibu. The passenger door and hood were keyed. A milkshake was poured over the top and hood. She said it “looks like a 2-year-old got a hold of (her) vehicle.”
A guest at the Scottish Inn on North Gloster said he had a female acquaintance staying in his room for several days. He was not sure of her name but thought it was either Kiki or Mandy. They got into a verbal altercation about her letting other men into the room, so he had her removed. When she left, she took his black iPhone he said was worth $50.
A woman said she went to visit her partially blind father at his Modeannia Street home. While she was there, the father’s wife arrived and was upset that the woman was at the residence without the wife being present. The wife asked the woman to leave and they got into a verbal altercation. “Due to personal matters,” it escalated and the wife grabbed her left arm and twisted it, so that she could not move. Medics arrived but the woman refused medical treatment.
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McCoy's blistering bat sparks 49ers' hot start
Jackson McCoy’s confidence is off the charts, and so are his stats.
In six games, the Booneville native has destroyed opposing pitching for the American Legion powerhouse Tupelo 49ers (7-0). He’s 13 of 18 at the plate (.722) with two doubles, five triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs.
McCoy’s slugging percentage is 1.722.
“I’m going up there relaxed,” he said. “I’m putting no pressure on myself because I know I can hit, and I know my team has confidence in me.”
McCoy played in four of Tupelo’s five games at the Post 26 Classic at Murray, Kentucky, last weekend. He was 8 of 12 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Tupelo coach McKinley Holland isn’t the least bit surprised by McCoy’s hot start.
“It’s a credit to his work ethic,” Holland said. “Jackson’s probably in a cage somewhere right now in 98-degree heat. That’s just the kind of kid he is. He is going to work tirelessly on his game. The numbers are backing that up.”
McCoy has been murdering baseballs since his senior year at Booneville, when he hit .529 with seven homers and 46 RBIs. This past season, his freshman year at Northeast Mississippi CC, he led the team with a .366 average and drove in 37 runs.
What McCoy has done so far for the 49ers is especially impressive considering where the games have been played. The first two games were at Northeast, and the tournament last weekend was at Murray State.
“If we’re anywhere else on high school fields, he’s probably got seven or eight home runs right now,” Holland said. “He hit four off the wall at Murray State and two out of the ballpark.”
Three of McCoy’s triples came in one game, against Baldwyn at Northeast. Holland said he’d never seen anything like it.
“I’ve been on hot streaks before,” McCoy said, “but I honestly don’t remember the last time I went on an extra-base hit after extra-base hit (streak) like this.”
As good as he’s been, McCoy is far from the only reason Tupelo is off to such a good start. Easton Hood is batting .556, Davis Oswalt is batting .462, and Stone Collier checks in at .438.
“This year we’ve got several guys who can just really, really hit the baseball, and we don’t have to rely on get ‘em on, get ‘em over, get ‘em in. We can really hit the ball around the yard,” Holland said.
The confidence McCoy displays permeates the lineup. The 49ers reached the semifinals of the Senior Legion World Series last season and have the tools to make another run. In fact, it’s what they expect to do.
“We go out there with major confidence,” McCoy said, “because we know we’re good.”
Tupelo returns to action Saturday when it plays a doubleheader against the East Mississippi Redbirds at Itawamba CC.
Easton Hood
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Planets from the backyard create a different history
When Anthony Norris turned 10 years old, his mom and dad bought him a telescope for Christmas. There from his backyard in Tupelo in the 1970s, he stargazed.
Nothing fancy, he said. Norris could see the moon much better. He could make out the craters. He could tell Jupiter and Saturn were not stars. “It piqued my curiosity about astronomy,” he said.
Norris finished college during the early 1980s, bought a new telescope and tried photographing objects in the night sky. First, he used black-and-white film. He set up a darkroom. Later, that photography expanded into color.
“I just loved it,” he said.
Through many books on stargazing, he began to journey through the night sky pretty well. The telescopes varied in size and quality. He added a motor drive to track a planet. He dialed in coordinates and continued his nighttime journeys far away from light pollution.
At one point, Norris packed away his telescope and forgot about it. His wife, Dr. Gloria Norris, is from Nicaragua. He took two telescopes when they returned to the country. The couple’s house has a flat concrete roof with water tanks on top, which provided a great place for the couple to star gaze, in spite of night pollution on clear nights.
They made friends with an astronomer, who led an astronomy club. The group set up telescopes in the town for different events, like a solar telescope to show people what the sun looks like. Hundreds of people participated, Norris said.
But political upheaval in Nicaragua forced out people, including the Norrises and their friend, who sought asylum in another country. But the trio stayed in touch.
About a year ago, the friend called Norris to tell him about a program operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It’s called Exoplanet Watch. (exoplanets.nasa.gov)
This helps NASA more efficiently use its big telescopes by helping predict the next time a planet in a small region of the Milky Way will move in front of its host star.
These planets are called exoplanets. They exist beyond our solar system. Most orbit other stars, but some are free-floating and called rogue planets. The rogue planets orbit the galactic center and are untethered to any star.
NASA calls folk like Norris “citizen scientists,” and the agency’s Exoplanet Watch program is aimed toward amateur astronomers and astronomy students who have small telescopes and who can learn to observe transiting exoplanets that, at different intervals, pass in front of their stars. This makes the star dim a bit for a short period of time. The astronomers observe the transits and report them to NASA. This provides a direct measure of a planet’s diameter and mass. That’s essential to understanding more about that exoplanet system.
Armed with a computer and his telescope, Norris points to the night sky to see what exoplanets he can see from Grenada. He takes five or six hours of images, from 15 seconds to 60 seconds each image, runs the images through a program and it spits out the data. From that, scientists can determine the area or radius of the exoplanet and will actually give the gravity required to hold that planet in place, which allows them to determine the planet’s orbit, Norris explained.
NASA puts this in an ephemeris, a table that gives the future positions of naturally occurring astronomical objects as well as artificial satellites in the sky. The ephemeris always needs updating.
The work is more intensive than one might imagine. For instance, 5,000 exoplanets would take 5,000 observations to keep updating the ephemeris just once for each exoplanet. The more observations of each exoplanet, the more accurate the ephemeris. So, NASA has ranked the planets in order of priority.
Norris tries to observe and image the highest ranked exoplanet each night he can study the night sky. When the data is uploaded by NASA, the names of the observers are included. That way, when papers are written that use the data, the observers are listed as co-authors. So far, Norris has been the first observer for a couple of ExoPlanet Watch targets and has about a dozen included in their ephemeris.
“It’s a way to contribute to science. Here in Grenada. In my backyard,” he said.
Tupelo native Anthony Norris has been the first observer for a couple of ExoPlanet Watch targets and has about a dozen included in their data.
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LYNN JONES: The blessing of being a father
I tell young husbands that their becoming a father will be one of life’s greatest experiences. It certainly was for me.
My wife, Danielle, and I had been married 10 years, and it had become medically impossible for us ever to have children. That prompted us to make application with an adoption agency to try to adopt a child. We filled out all the forms, went to all the classes, and were approved as prospective parents. We got a nursery ready in our home, and then we waited. Four years went by, and we did not know if we would ever be parents or not.
In the 14th year of our marriage, one evening we were sitting in the den of the church parsonage watching the news when the phone rang, and Danielle answered it. She suddenly started crying and said, “I’m going to have to let you talk to my husband.” Thinking that someone in the church family may have died, I took the phone to find out what had happened. On the other end of the line, the voice of the adoption agency director said, “How would you like to come in the morning and pick up your infant son?” It was an unbelievable message. No one had died. Someone had been born, and we had been waiting for him for many years. What a day!
In a few minutes, we had gone from being a couple who may never have a child to being a couple who were going to pick our child up the next morning. It was an overwhelming experience. Baptists have traditionally been critical of dancing, but for what may have been the first time in the history of that church parsonage, the pastor and his wife did a wild dance of celebration in that house!
It was just as I suspected. Becoming a father was one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in my life. Our son filled a big hole in our hearts and filled our lives with unbelievable joy.
As unbelievable as it seems, rearing a child is a temporary assignment. Older parents often said to me when our son was young, “Now, you enjoy that boy. He will be grown before you know it.” And they were right! The days flew by. We savored every moment along the way and thanked God for the privilege of being parents.
This Sunday, during our Father’s Day service at Clear Creek Baptist Church, when we invite children to come forward, take a boutonniere, and give it to their fathers. My son, now almost 40, will come with the others, take a boutonniere, pin it on my lapel, give me a hug, and say, “Happy Father’s Day, Dad!” And there is no moment that I will enjoy more than that. Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads!
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MEDITATION: Let's get together
The pratfall described in Genesis 3 inspires the common snark that no self-respecting, intelligent human being would take seriously this sort of silliness. That argument might hold some water if the story was not so very, very human.
Consider the manipulation that engineers the fall: God is keeping something from you, because God is jealous of all that you can be. Then consider what most folks want to do after reading a simple sign on a plain, ordinary door: “DO NOT ENTER!” Curiosity, at the least, gets the best of you, and you may have to learn a hard, hard lesson after crossing a threshold.
It’s not just apples and oranges. Forbidden fruit whets the human appetite, and the juicier, the better. In a world filled with brand new delights and opportunities, the one and only prohibition winds up being the undoing of it all.
The two immediate consequences - undeniable awareness and hiding in shame - are also far too common to dismiss as slight fancy or a theological conjuring trick. A student once asked a famous Baptist ethicist to locate the Garden of Eden on a map. In response, the professor gave his childhood street address in Memphis, then told of misusing his milk money and later hiding in a closet in his house, only to be discovered by his mother, who asked, “What have you done?”
The healthiest theology of all refuses to marginalize sinners, because such a theology recognizes the universal human tendency to go the way we should not go. And sad to say, we all tend to pretend that things are alright, rather than coming clean in order to get the help we need. It is an all-too-frequent part of the human story. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
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Francisco Rangel, a mason with North Mississippi Brick Masons in Tupelo, scoops up fresh mortar as he and his crew set cinder blocks for brickwork on flower beds in front of Church Street School in Tupelo on June 14, 2022. The work is part of ongoing changes to the front of the historic school.
Workers North Mississippi Brick Masons in Tupelo measure their space for installing the cinder blocks for brickwork going in for flower beds in front of Church Street School in Tupelo on June 14, 2022.
Church Street Elementary renovations will bring new life to an old school building
TUPELO • Ongoing construction and improvement projects at Church Street Elementary and the surrounding property will bring new life to the former school-turned district office while honoring the building's history.
In May, the school district cut down trees and removed flowerbeds in front of the school to make room for 18 additional parking spaces along the front of the building, leaving the once lush exterior of the historic school looking desolate.
But TPSD Director of Operations Charles Laney said the barren scenery is only temporary.
According to Laney, the plan is to plant native trees and flowers in front of the building. This new plant life will be labeled, he said, to create a "native plant trail," offering local students an outdoor learning experience.
Church Street Elementary is no stranger to change. The current art deco-style building, constructed in 1937, is Church Street Elementary' s second iteration. The original opened in 1923 and was destroyed by the 1936 Tupelo tornado.
The building, which served as one of Tupelo Public School District's elementary schools until 2012, now houses TPSD's human resources, finance and marketing departments.
Construction projects at Church Street, including a new parking lot built in 2020, have been completed in phases to avoid interrupting the day-to-day work of the district's employees.
Gregg Ellis, TPSD's communications director, said any time construction takes place at Church Street, people call or stop by to see what's going on at the beloved school. Others stop at random.
"I get people who stop by and want to see it who haven't been here in years," Ellis said. "I had a gentleman from Michigan, two years ago, stop by. He was with his grandson, they were going to the coast. This is where he went to school and he wanted to show his kids, so I gave them a tour."
Another upcoming project will offer people a way to leave their mark on a school that made its mark on them as students. The district will repave a traditional walkway from Church Street down to Robins Field, where Tupelo seniors used to walk down for graduation, with engraved bricks that community members can purchase.
School district officials also plan to build a pavilion facing towards Robins Field, near where Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the city during his visit in 1934.
Inside the school, the district plans to create a small museum of TPSD's history. It will include writings, photos and videos, along with interactive stations for children who visit on field trips.
"I've gotten in contact with some older principals at different schools, or kids of principals who have passed away, and they have all this memorabilia that they've given me," Ellis said.
The district's goal is not only to be good stewards of the building spaces they have, but to be part of revitalizing the area around Church Street Elementary, Laney said.
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OMAHA – Yes, Hunter Elliott knows who he reminds people of. Yes, he thinks it’s pretty cool. And, yes, he thinks the jokes are funny, too.
Whenever the Ole Miss freshman pitcher — and Tupelo native — takes the mound for the second game of a weekend series, fans and even his teammates can’t help but be reminded of the last lefty to wear No. 26.
That, of course, was Doug Nikhazy, an All-SEC pitcher for the Rebels who propelled himself into rarified air with a legendary 2021 season that resulted in his being drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians.
Elliott spent the last few years watching Nikhazy shine for an Ole Miss program that came up agonizingly short of the College World Series. They’re both southpaws, they both wear No. 26 (Elliott wore No. 10 in high school, but John Rhys Plumlee had the number when he got to campus, and 26 was the number sitting in his locker). They both have long, flowing hair and, above all else, both have been really, really good since they first stepped on campus.
Elliott is 4-3 this season with a 2.82 ERA. He has 92 strikeouts in 67 innings. He was named a Freshman All-American and will pitch for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer.
He also knows people on Twitter refer to him as “Little Doug.” Elliott quickly rattles off some of the jokes with his trademark coolness.
“Some people are like, ‘Are we sure that's not Doug? Are we sure they haven't cloned him? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room at the same time?’” Elliott says with a smile.
Elliott has solidified himself as one of the Rebels’ best arms and was the starting pitcher in Hattiesburg in Ole Miss’ 5-0 win over Southern Miss, a victory that propelled the program to Omaha for the first time since 2014. He had the best outing of his young Rebels tenure, striking out a career-high 10 batters over 7 1-3 innings of work.
He might not look like he can shave yet, but Elliott has the demeanor of someone who has been pitching in the major leagues for a decade. The 19-year-old’s stoic manner on the mound — you’ll never see him sweat or show frustration —comes from his preparation. And that preparation is what has allowed him to soar to the biggest stage in college baseball.
Elliott wants the ball in the biggest moments because he knows he can deliver.
“That moment didn’t bother him,” Elliott’s high school coach, Justin Reed, said. “He’s always so cool, and he’s got it all together.”
And even “Big Doug” thinks what the new No. 26 has done is pretty special.
“He's been filling out all the steps, man. He's been so good,” Nikhazy said. “And it’s really been such a pleasure to watch.”
Constant competition growing up molded his composure
Wally Elliott admits he’s partially to blame for the absurd competitiveness of his son.
As the youngest of four children, Hunter had to scrap for everything, which included fighting for the front seat on family car rides. In the same way Ole Miss senior first baseman Tim Elko wasn’t allowed to play board games with his family, the Elliott family eventually had to ban family card nights because it became too much.
“I never let him beat me at basketball or anything that we ever did until he could actually physically do it. He would storm off and be mad, and (his mother) would get mad at me because I wouldn't let him win,” Wally said with a chuckle. “I joke with people and tell them that, I think if he was playing his grandmother in checkers, he’d want to beat her.”
Hunter grew up playing soccer, basketball and football in addition to baseball. While he was great at all of them, Wally first knew his son could be special before he turned 10. While living in Tupelo, Hunter played travel ball with teams in Louisiana and Arkansas. His father made sure to put his son on teams where he would never easily be the best player. There are three current LSU freshmen who were on his travel team, Wally said, and one team Hunter played for had 10 players that eventually played in the SEC or are in the minor leagues already.
There was something to be said for constant competition, to not take anything for granted. It only made Hunter work harder and get used to difficult situations.
Every big game he pitched in as a child never fazed him, whether it was a travel ball game or a state championship matchup for Tupelo High. Wally had friends texting him about Hunter after his super regional gem. His success is a surprise to exactly no one.
“(They) remember him from way back then and, and the text (would) read, ‘First time I ever saw him, I knew he was going to be special,’” Wally said. “I know that may sound like ‘Daddy talk,’ but I mean, he really has always had that composure and always had that mound presence.”
Reed remembers the first time Hunter came out to a varsity intrasquad after transferring from Tupelo Christian Preparatory School as a freshman. Reed knew the lefty’s stuff was good, but he had him working with the rest of the freshmen that fall. Reed told Hunter and the freshman coach that he should come pitch against some veterans.
Hunter faced three varsity players during that intrasquad. He struck out two of them, if Reed remembers correctly. A senior on the Golden Wave approached Reed with all the seriousness in the world afterward.
“I’ll never forget it,” Reed said. “(The player) said, ‘Coach, y’all are bringing that kid up, right? Y’all are going to bring Hunter up and have him pitch for us in varsity, right?’ I said, ‘Yeah man, I think he just solidified that just a second ago.’”
Hunter appeared in 30 games as a pitcher at Tupelo High, and the numbers speak for themselves: a career 17-4 record with an ERA of just 1.02. As a senior in 2021, he was 10-1 with a miniscule 0.56 ERA. He struck out 126 batters in just 63 innings; he also hit .404 with 50 RBIs that season.
If there was a big tournament or game, Hunter was always matched up with the best team in the field. Big crowds never got to him, nor did the highest stakes.
“That’s the one he wanted … He’s a huge competitor. It didn’t matter what we were doing,” Reed said.
Both Wally and Hunter’s mother, Misty, graduated from Ole Miss. Hunter was getting looked at by some of the country’s biggest programs as a freshman, including LSU and Vanderbilt. Elliott committed to the Rebels in ninth grade. Wally remembers his son, point blank, if he had an offer from every school in the country, where he would choose to go.
Hunter’s answer? Ole Miss.
“And I said, ‘So, why go through all that? Why do all the visits? Why talk to all the coaches if you know 100% that this is your dream school, this is your number one pick of schools that you want to go to?’ Wally said. “And (Hunter) said, ‘You're right.’”
The great Ole Miss lefty?
Coming on campus as a freshman and becoming a stalwart on a championship-caliber team isn’t easy, and there is a delicate balance between knowing your place and knowing you have what it takes to help your team. Nikhazy knows all about that.
Like Elliott, Nikhazy was called upon early in his career to be a difference maker. And he was just that, going 9-3 as a freshman in 2019 with a 3.41 ERA.
In a similar way to how Hunter competed against the best players at an early age, Nikhazy used teammate Gunnar Hoglund as someone he tried to chase after. They were best friends, Nikhazy said, but there’s nothing wrong with having a little bit of an edge. It creates competition and, above all else, breeds confidence.
“(It takes) unwavering belief in yourself,” Nikhazy said. “Not in a selfish way, but in a way where you know that you need to succeed for your team to have success, and you have unwavering belief that you could step out on the mound and do that for your team and be quality.”
Hunter said he could count on one hand this season the instances when he had the cliché “butterflies” on the mound. One was before his first college appearance against Charleston Southern in February, a home game at Swayze Field. Other than that, the times are few and far between.
“The guys that match that with talent like he does, and Doug Nikhazy and Drew Pomeranz and others, they're difference makers. Sometimes that's the biggest difference,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “Who are the guys that are tough enough to make the pitches when it counts? … Hunter’s got that special quality, that toughness, that grit, whatever adjective you want to use, guy who wants the ball.”
On the road in Hattiesburg, with the opportunity to send his team to the College World Series resting largely in his left hand, what went through Hunter’s mind, knowing fans clad in black and gold wanted nothing more than to see him fail?
Nothing. Literally nothing.
The only thing that matters is the current pitch, because that’s the most important one. There might be a moment when he has to pace around the mound and collect himself, but you’re never going to see Hunter flustered.
“I don't know what it is. I guess I grew up pitching in big games and big spots. So it's shaped me for these times,” Hunter said. “But you know, I feel like in big moments, I'm focused and locked in more than nervous or scared.”
Wally admits he is a bit of a nervous wreck before Hunter pitches, and it starts on Friday nights. His son certainly doesn’t get a cool demeanor from him, he says with a laugh. The family always goes out to dinner the day before Hunter’s starts, if possible. And Wally always asks Hunter if he’s nervous. Hunter’s answer is always the same — No, it’s just another game.
Wally truly believes Hunter’s constant state of being in control comes from doing all the little things. It’s taking care of your body. It’s showing up before everyone else does at practice to make sure you’re fully prepared to work. It’s putting in time with pitching coaches. And it’s doing extra work when no one else is around.
“I think, If you're prepared for the moment, I don't think you're nervous when the time comes,” Wally said.”
Before a given varsity game, Elliott and Tupelo’s catcher — Reed’s son — would be impossible to find. Though, after a while, Reed learned exactly where to find them: the bullpen, precisely two hours before the 7 p.m. game got underway, getting ready.
“It got to be a laughing deal with my son,” Reed said. “He’d go down there and warm Hunter up on Tuesday night … and I’d say, ‘How was he?’ He said, ‘Daddy, you just have to quit asking. He’s the same guy, he’s the same every time he goes down there.’”
There’s a self-assuredness to Hunter, Reed said, that teammates can’t help but gravitate toward. He’s never going to be the loudest guy in the room, and he isn’t a rah-rah guy. But teammates follow him because of his professionalism. That’s no small thing, especially as a young pitcher on a team filled with veterans.
“He’s handled it as a guy not seeming like a freshman,” junior catcher Hayden Dunhurst said. “And I think that’s good for him, and it’s good for us, the way he carries himself.”
Nikhazy sees himself in Elliott, but also a young player who 'is carving his own path'
When Nikhazy looks at Hunter, he can’t help but see himself. Not just in the cosmetic ways — hair, jersey number, size, etc. — but he sees a similar path toward early success. Hunter is checking off all the same boxes.
Both came out of the bullpen early in their freshman seasons. When their respective teams struggled later in the season, both Nikhazy and Elliott had starting outings that kept the Rebels afloat. Both were freshmen All-Americans. And, by the end of their debut seasons, both had the complete trust and confidence of their coaches and teammates.
At the same time, Nikhazy also sees a young man creating his own legacy. Elliott is stoic and, while occasionally fiery, you can’t really tell what’s going through his head at a given moment. Nikhazy admittedly wore his emotions on his sleeve; he rode that passion.
“I look at him and see a guy that really is carving his own path,” Nikhazy said. “Sometimes it’s hard to see it, because yeah, everyone is going to look through the lens of me … He really does do it his own way. His pitching style, and the way that he attacks hitters is fairly different. There’s not one way to do it.”
When Plumlee left Ole Miss for UCF, Elliott had the chance to switch numbers if he wanted to at some point, Wally said. No. 10 was the number of Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones, who was both Wally’s and Hunter’s favorite player. But no, Elliott wanted No. 26. Even if he didn’t see himself as trying to fill Nikhazy’s shoes, he didn’t want to run from the moment.
“Every single season tells a different story. And every single player does, as well. When you wear the same number, we rock the same haircut,” Nikhazy said. “They’re going to see him, and they’re not going to see me in a couple years. It’s so fresh right now, so I’m sure they do. But in a couple years they’re going to see ‘Hunter Elliott, the two-time All-American,’ and they’re not going to see me anymore. And that’s what’s important.”
Wally went to Omaha with Ole Miss during their last trip to the College World Series back in 2014. When he returned, he distinctly remembers telling Hunter that, even if his Rebels made it back to Omaha sometime between then and when Hunter played there, he wasn’t going. The next time he was going to the College World Series, he told his son, was with him on the team, helping lead the charge.
Wally can’t help but laugh at that moment now. Because it’s here.
“It’s a dream come true for him, and for us as well. I can’t put into words what it’s going to feel like just watching him walk out (on that field), just because it’s a dream of his,” Wally said. “That’s what he said, he said, ‘I want to go to Ole Miss because I want to go to Omaha with Ole Miss.’ And there they are.”
Tupelo High School
Wally Elliott
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A motorcycle ride June 18 benefiting Hatley student Jenna Hampton will begin in Tupelo and end in Amory. It will be capped off by a day of live music by local talent.
Hampton is a rising eighth-grader at Hatley Attendance Center who has been undergoing leukemia treatment.
The Riding with Jenna event begins at 8 a.m. at 645 Daybright Dr. in Tupelo, with kickstands up at 10 a.m. A car and bike show begins at 9 a.m.
The cost for the ride is $20 per motorcycle, and the cost to enter vehicles in the car and motorcycle show is $20.
The ride will end at Smokin’ Bros in Amory, where live music begins at 1 p.m. with Layla Taylor Moore.
Ethan Navarro will follow at 2 p.m., with Shannon Wayne Waits at 3 p.m. and Jason Carter at 4 p.m.
Cody Weaver performs at 5 p.m., followed by Mark and Christian Kennedy at 6 p.m., Luke Mosley, JJ VanYperen and Jon Armstrong of Jumping the Gun at 7 p.m. and Honeysuckle Blue at 8 p.m.
Jenna Hampton
Hatley Attendance Center
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Aberdeen Housing Authority Director Denise Dobbs watches as Rolanda Parson, left, and Jasmine Walker open gifts of Mac Book Airs provided by the housing authority, the CREATE Foundation and the McFarlane Fund. The two students were recognized for their continued higher education.
ABERDEEN – For several years, the Aberdeen Housing Authority awarded stipends to residents graduating from Aberdeen High School, GED programs and institutions of higher learning. Through a partnership with the CREATE Foundation and McFarlane Fund, two students were awarded laptops to help with their continuing education.
, who were both housing authority residents, were surprised with Mac Book Airs during a June 9 ceremony at the Aberdeen Main Street Depot.
Walker graduated from AHS in 2014 and majored in English at Itawamba Community College before transferring to Ole Miss, earning her bachelor’s and masters degrees in history.
In pursuing her doctorate, she is currently studying elements of the 19th and 20th centuries and hopes to bring lesser known people of the era to the spotlight.
“There was a gap in history that kind of left Black women out. I want to fill that gap in history with what women did in history, how we impacted history, how there’s no history without us,” Walker said.
After high school, Parson continued her education at Northeast Mississippi Community College and Ole Miss.
“I always said I wanted to go to law school, and it’s not completely out of the question,” said Parson, a 2017 AHS graduate who is now a teacher.
Her husband is stationed in California with the military and is being reassigned to Georgia, where she plans to pursue her master’s degree in the fall.
Members of the housing authority board and the community encouraged Parson and Walker’s continued success and hope they inspire other students.
Additionally, AHS incoming senior Jakihya White was recognized for studying abroad this summer in Spain.
“There are plenty of people in this town who will help push, and you’ve got to be pushed sometimes,” said Aberdeen Housing Authority board member Ann Tackett.
Ward 1 Alderman Robert Devaull said there’s always a way to succeed in life.
“Today, there’s no kid, no grownup, no one on Earth who should say, ‘I can’t do it.’ You can do it. Put your mind to it and stick with it. Hard work will never hurt you,” he said.
Aberdeen Housing Authority
Ann Tackett
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Taylor Kuykendall/The Commonwealth via AP
In this Dec. 16, 2019 file photo, Curtis Flowers speaks with reporters as he exits the Winston-Choctaw Regional Correctional Facility in Louisville, Miss. Civil rights advocates are asked federal appeals court judges Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, to revive a lawsuit they filed against Doug Evans, a Mississippi prosecutor accused of routinely rejecting Black jurors in criminal cases simply because of their race.
NAACP branch loses lawsuit challenging Doug Evans jury selection process in Mississippi
JACKSON • A county NAACP branch and its members do not have a right to prevent a Mississippi prosecutor with a recorded history of racial bias from striking them from future juries, a panel of federal judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday.
The panel ruled 2-1 that the Attala County Branch of the NAACP did not have sufficient standing to sue District Attorney Doug Evans because they had not yet been discriminated against by the prosecutor and weren’t sure they reasonably could be in the future.
“As we have already analyzed as to the four individual Plaintiffs, eligibility for jury service is not enough,” Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick wrote. “The members of the county chapter cannot demonstrate an imminent threat that they will be struck unconstitutionally from a petit jury by Evans.”
The organization and its members initially filed the suit against Evans in November 2019 and sought an injunction to stop him, the prosecutor for the state’s fifth circuit court district, from excluding Black people from serving on juries. The suit wanted a court to monitor the jury selection process.
» U.S. Supreme Court tosses Curtis Flowers ruling, says DA Evans acted unconstitutionally
» Victim's son disagrees with U.S. Supreme Court ruling
» Curtis Flowers files lawsuit against DA Doug Evans
» Doug Evans running for circuit court judge
Mississippi's U.S. Northern District Judge Debra Brown dismissed the case on procedural grounds but conceded the factual arguments about Evans’ practices with juries had merit.
Evans is perhaps best known for prosecuting Curtis Flowers, who is Black, six times and winning four convictions in connection with the 1996 murder of four people in the small town of Winona. Two convictions were for individual slayings and two were for all four killings. The two other trials ended in mistrials.
Each of the convictions Evans won was later overturned by a combination of state and federal courts over findings of misconduct by prosecutors, including multiple determinations by those courts that Evans unconstitutionally struck prospective jurors because they were Black.
Evans most recently prosecuted Flowers in 2010 and won a conviction that was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court after the majority found that Evans unconstitutionally diluted Black representation on juries.
Writing for the Supreme Court majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh determined in 2019 that Evans engaged in a “relentless, determined effort to rid the jury of black individuals.”
The bulk of the evidence on the juror selection process came from American Public Media, who analyzed hundreds of court records. In its popular 2018 podcast, the outlet found that Evans’ office struck Black people from a jury almost four and a half times the rate it struck white people.
Circuit Judge Gregg Costa dissenting from the majority wrote that because of these statistics it was likely the plaintiffs would have been impacted at some point by the jury selection process, given the small size of the county.
“The Plaintiffs provided ample evidence of their substantial risk of being summoned and subjected to Evans’s discriminatory jury selection practices,” Costa wrote. “It is hard to imagine what more they could have offered to prove an impending injury.”
Flowers also has a suit pending in federal court against Evans, alleging the prosecutor acted improperly by pressuring witnesses to implicate Flowers and ignoring other suspects.
Evans is currently running for circuit court judge in the same judicial district.
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Pontotoc County native Shane Montgomery is among five coaches who will be inducted into the Class of 2022 Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Hall of Fame tonight during induction and awards banquet ceremonies in Flowood, MS. A graduate of North Pontotoc High School, Montgomery coached girls basketball and softball during his 30 year coaching career at Tremont, North Pontotoc (twice) and Ripley. Montgomery coached North Pontotoc’s fast pitch softball team to a state championship in 2010 and Ripley’s girls basketball team to a state title in 2003.
North Pontotoc High School
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Linzy Patterson
CJ ADAMS I ICC
Amory native, ICC instructor picked for statewide award
Linzy Patterson of Amory, director of adult education at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the 2021-22 Mississippi Association of Adult and Community Education Administrator of the Year award.
In January 2018, Patterson joined ICC’s Adult Education department as an instructor at the Amory WIN Center, and in 2019-20, he was transferred to the Belden Center to serve as lead instructor. During this time, he was a member of the state SmartStart professional development committee as well as the TABE Frequently Asked Questions Manual committee. In August 2021, he was promoted to ICC’s director of adult education.
Patterson began his professional career with the Amory School District in 2010, serving as a special education instructor along with assistant football, soccer and tennis coach. He was selected as Teacher of the Year for the 2014-15 school year.
Patterson’s nominator for the award said, “Having come from a special education background, he is especially sensitive to the needs of those students. He has established connections with community groups, including the Regional Rehabilitation Center and the Lee County Youth Court, and brought in psychometrists for assessments for learning disabilities to lead to those students achieving more success.
Patterson attributed his success to ICC’s adult education team.
“I am extremely honored to receive this award,” he said, “but this is a direct reflection of the program we have at Itawamba Community College. An individual in a leadership/administrative role is only as good as his team, and we have built one of the best teams in the state. I am just so proud to receive this award on behalf of Itawamba Community College’s Adult Education program because they are making a difference. For us to receive recognition for all the hard work that goes into helping those within our district day in and day out is humbling.”
Patterson also expressed his appreciation to ICC President Dr. Jay Allen for his support of the adult education program.
“Directors such as Linzy Patterson are what makes ICC such a special place,” Allen said. “He takes a personal interest in each student. He knows their stories, and he evaluates and individualizes their keys to success. This award demonstrates that he is changing lives, many of which have had difficult beginnings.”
The award was presented during the 2022 annual adult education conference, June 6-8, at the Hilton Jackson. The conference theme was Skills2Strive4: Achieving Excellence in Adult Education.
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Bryan Oberc, Munster, Ind., tries out an AR-15 from Sig Sauer in the exhibition hall at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 27, 2019. Efforts to impose restrictions on firearms will soon have a supporter in the White House. But it's unlikely that big ticket items gun-control advocates have pined for will have much chance of passage given the tight margins in Congress and the increased polarization over gun issues. Much has changed in the past 12 years: more Americans own firearms and there are more AR-platform firearms in the civilian market.
Michael Conroy I AP
Americans’ favorite rifle under fire by gun control advocates
Gun control advocates revile the AR-15 rifle as an “assault weapon” or “weapon of war” that should be banned. Yet the same gun is beloved by firearms enthusiasts so much that it is the most popular style of rifle sold in the U.S.
More than 20 million AR-15-style rifles are legally in the possession of Americans, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a national firearms industry trade association.
Foundation spokesman Mark Oliva said the rifle’s versatility and ease of use explain the high demand for the AR-15 format.
AR owners, he said, use the firearm to shoot game, including goats, wild pigs and coyotes.
“It’s a small caliber that has very low recoil. It is easy to manage, and it is ergonomically designed to sort of fit your body that much better. And to be able to handle it accurately [and] safely. I think that’s what makes it such a popular platform for a rifle,” Oliva said.
Indeed, there is widespread agreement in gun circles that the AR-15 is an ideal rifle because it has such manageable recoil and is lightweight, accurate and modular.
Dana Loesch, a syndicated radio host and Second Amendment activist, noted that a person can more easily handle the recoil or kickback when shooting .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO rounds from an AR-15.
“They fit a variety of budgets from cheap to pricey, depending on build and manufacturer. Also, the media talks about them nonstop. So for people who aren’t around guns, it’s literally the only rifle they know of,” Loesch said.
Owners of AR-15-style rifles can choose from an abundance of aftermarket accessories to attach to the firearm’s Picatinny rail. Accessories include lighting systems, flip-up sights and laser-targeting devices.
President Biden and House Democrats are again attempting to ban AR-15-style rifles and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, though the legislation is expected to die in the Senate.
Loesch said other rifles that look less militaristic and more like the traditional hunting rifle do not get as much grief as the AR-15 platform despite its ability to shoot the same type of ammunition as an AR-15-style rifle.
Rep. Mike Thompson, a California Democrat who wants a ban, said the AR-15 even inspires killing.
“The invisible hand of the market caused that to happen,” he said. “People have been convinced that they need those sexy black guns, and that’s probably the biggest reason. I think the gun lobby, the gun industry really marketed those [guns] to appeal to people’s macho.”
The AR-15 stands for “ArmaLite Rifle.” It is named after the ArmaLite company, which designed the firearm in the 1950s and began sales in 1959 after the design and manufacturing rights were sold to firearms manufacturer Colt, which made further design tweaks.
In 1963, the military ordered 85,000 AR-15s for the Army and 19,000 for the Air Force. By the summer of 1964, the military stopped manufacturing the M14. The full-auto military version of the AR-15, known as the M16, was born. It became the iconic gun of the Vietnam War.
More than 50 years later, the AR-15, also known as the modern sporting rifle, is sold by a long list of manufacturers worldwide. In 2012, 1 in 5 rifles sold chambered in .223 Remington was an AR-15-type rifle, according to the research firm Southwick Associates Inc.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation takes issue that the AR-15 is somehow exclusive with its military roots and therefore is stamped in a negative light by gun control activists as a “weapon of war.”
“Every major firearm type used by the U.S. military has also been owned and used by civilians,” the foundation says on its website. Long guns previously used by the military include the lever-action Winchesters, bolt-action Springfields and pump-action shotguns from Browning. NSSF said the “assault weapon” or “assault rifle” reference is political terminology since the technical term “assault rifle” includes full-auto military firearms.
The label “assault weapon” or “assault rifle” is commonly applied to a semi-automatic rifle because of its cosmetic features. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines a semi-automatic assault weapon as one that uses a detachable magazine and has any two of the following features: a folding or telescoping stock, a vertical pistol grip similar to that of a handgun, a bayonet or knife mount on the barrel, a flash suppressor and a grenade launcher.
Those who want to ban the AR-15 note that epidemiological studies show that during a 10-year ban on the sale of the AR-15 and other similar semi-automatic rifles that began in 1994, there was a decline in the number of deaths from mass shootings and the rate of increase in the number of mass shootings.
Gun rights activists counter that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that looked at the gun control measures, including the “assault weapons ban,” concluded that a resulting reduction in crime could not be proved.
According to the FBI, almost two-thirds of homicides are committed with handguns. However, the gunmen in some of the deadliest mass shootings in recent history used AR-15-style rifles. That included the recent elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which revived talk of a ban.
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, New York Democrat, said it was beyond his imagination why the AR-15 was so appealing to so many Americans.
“No. 1, those guns are made for war. And, you know, it’s becoming an embarrassment for me internationally. I chair the Foreign Affairs Committee. I just came back from Finland, and they’re looking at me thinking, ‘How do we think that’s acceptable?’”
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Via Restart Mississippi
JACKSON • A business owner who advised the governor on how Mississippi’s economy should rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic has been indicted on federal charges alleging he fraudulently took part in a pandemic relief program.
Jabari Edwards, the owner of J5 GBL in Columbus, and Antwann Richardson, Edwards’ business associate, were both charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Edwards is also charged with making a false statement.
Gov. Tate Reeves appointed Edwards to the Governor's Committee on Economic Recovery, also called Restart Mississippi, a committee Gov. Tate Reeves created to advise him on reopening the state’s economy during the pandemic.
"We need Mississippians helping Mississippians,” Reeves said in April 2020 when he created the committee. “I have asked a trusted group of our state's top business minds to do just that. Under the 'Restart Mississippi' umbrella, they are going to develop a series of recommendations and goals for our new economy.”
Nearly all members of the task force, inducing Edwards, had donated to Reeves’ campaign, according to the Mississippi Free Press.
According to records with the Federal Elections Commission and the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, Edwards has also donated over $30,000 to several politicians such as Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, President Joe Biden and former Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree.
Leah Smith, Hosemann’s deputy chief of staff, said the lieutenant governor intends to donate Edwards’ $1,000 campaign donation to a charity.
Court records indicated that both men planned to retain their own counsel, but it’s unclear if they have yet hired an attorney to speak on their behalf. Neither Edwards nor Richardson responded to a request for comment.
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HOULKA —The Houlka Library recently received a monetary donation in memory of Martha Burt, Librarian Teri Hamilton and Dixie Regional Library System Director Regina Graham said this week.
The amount of the donation was not disclosed.
The donation allowed for a number of things. They included:
—The purchase of outdoor furniture.
—Contruction of a book drop in front of the library.
—Adding children’s books to the library.
—The purchase of two children’s computer tablets.
Hamilton provided some background information on the Burts, both of whom are deceased.
James A. Burt, Jr. was a 1939 graduate of Houlka High School, according to information provided by the family.
He married Martha McKee, who was teaching at Blue Mountain College at the time.
She was a Methodist preacher’s daughter who was always for the underdog. That passion reflected itself during her life, when she worked in the area of civil rights, family embers recalled.
Both later retired from the U. S. Postal Service and built their dream home in Houlka, according to information provided. by the family.
Martha was also an avid genealogist, and later donated a huge collection of books and other materials to the museum located in the historical school building.
Both wanted to do good things for Houlka, and the library was always dear to their hearts.
The Burt family wanted to honor the Burts by replacing the very old drop box at the library.
The family also honored the Burts by adding seating so patrons could have a seat to use Wi-Fi services at the library, and purchased two tablets for children to use.
Concluded Hamilton: “We are very thankful for any and all donations made to the library. Donations make it possible for many things from books to activities we have!”
Martha Burt
Martha Mckee
Teri Hamilton
Burts
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State Rep. Lynn Wright of Columbus dies at 69
JACKSON • State Rep. Lynn Wright, a Republican lawmaker from Columbus, died on Friday morning. He was 69.
State Sen. Chuck Younger of Columbus told the Daily Journal that Wright had Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Skelton Funeral Home in Reform, Alabama, is in charge of the arrangements, which are currently incomplete.
Wright was a native of Columbus, according to his public Facebook page, and worked for over 40 years as an educator, coach and administrator. He served as superintendent of Lowndes County School District for eight years.
Wright was first elected to the Legislature in 2020 after winning a special election to fill the seat vacated by Gary Chism’s retirement.
Now that the seat is vacant again, Gov. Tate Reeves will have 30 days to set the date for a special election to be held.
The winner of the race will serve out the rest of Wright’s term, which ends in 2023. The district covers portions of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties.
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Rust College students selected for prestigious White House program
HOLLY SPRINGS • Two Rust College seniors have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to join the prestigious White House program.
Zachary Wilson of Columbus and Christina Calhoun of Horn Lake will join a group of more than 80 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States to take part in the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity. This program recognizes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, civic engagement and much more.
Wilson and Calhoun were selected from a competitive pool of more than 350 students who submitted completed applications.
This was the ninth cohort of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students announced through the White House Initiative, a group of 86 scholars from 56 HBCUs across the United States which also includes 27 attending UNCF (United Negro College Fund) - member HBCUs.
“We support our students having a world of options beyond where we are geographically, but they also get a wonderful foundation and supportive environment,” said Rust College President Ivy R. Taylor.
Over the course of an academic school year, HBCU Scholars will serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative on HBCUs. They will be offered training and cross-university networking opportunities. Scholars will also have an opportunity to work on issues specifically related to the HBCU community and participate in national and regional events with professionals from a wide
range of disciplines.
HBCU Scholars will also be invited to the 2022 HBCU Week National Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., this September. During the conference, they will participate in sessions designed to engage a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and personal and professional development. Most importantly, scholars will have opportunities to engage with one another and showcase their individual and collective talent.
Rust College is the oldest most prestigious historically black college in Mississippi founded in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rust College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Rust College
Christina Calhoun
Zachary Wilson
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Neely Griggs, a 2021 UM graduate and West Point native, is the inaugural recipient of a Fulbright award dedicated to food security at the University of Reading in England.
West Point native among UM Fulbright recipients
OXFORD • A West Point native is among six current or former University of Mississippi students who have been awarded prestigious Fulbright scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year, which will take them to new challenges and opportunities in countries around the world.
Neely Griggs of West Point has been named as one of a historic number of Ole Miss grads to take part in the U.S. government's flagship international educational program. Established in 1946, the Fulbright program was designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. The highly selective program chooses university seniors, graduate and terminal degree students from the U.S. to study, research or teach English around the globe.
Griggs is a 2021 joint degree graduate in public policy leadership and German. Over the last year, she has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Wingate University in North Carolina, creating solutions to food insecurity and building infrastructure within the local food systems.
Her passion for sustainable food led her to apply and be the inaugural recipient of a Fulbright award dedicated to food security at the University of Reading in England.
"My experiences at Ole Miss and in the greater Oxford area prepared me for my next steps by encouraging my curiosity and giving me a space to explore my interests," Griggs said. "Without the support of my program's faculty, my friends and my mentors, I would not have discovered my passion for food, which led to the decision to pursue a Fulbright Award."
Other UM recipients include Tyler Caple of Huntsville, Alabama; Olivia Jaramillo of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Kaitlyn Read of Mobile, Alabama; and Charles Savage and Ashleen Williams, both doctoral students in the school's history department.
Two of the Ole Miss recipients plan to teach English abroad, two are pursuing master's degrees and two aim to conduct research toward their doctoral dissertations.
"This record-setting group of outstanding student Fulbright awardees has reached a tremendous pinnacle of achievement," Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. "We applaud them for their focus on excellence and their commitment to global learning and scholarly pursuits.
"It is incredible to witness the transformative impact of an Ole Miss education on our students and how that continues to result in competitiveness at the state and national levels for elite scholarships."
Fulbrighters meet, work, live with and learn from the people from other countries, sharing daily experiences there and acting as cultural ambassadors for the United States.
"It really has been a year of firsts," said Vivian Ibrahim, director of the university's Office of National Scholarship Advisement, or ONSA. "Our students have broken the university record for Goldwater, Truman and now Fulbright awards.
"We have never had this many UM students apply to competitive global and national scholarships. The process is extremely tough; students write, reflect and work hard on their applications. I applaud every single student who dedicated their time and effort to complete an application this year."
To help increase the quality and pool of the university's student applications, Ibrahim's office ran a free virtual Fulbright "boot camp" last summer. In the weekly sessions, prospective Fulbright applicants received individualized feedback on their applications and learned to craft their narratives and essays.
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Shawn King, center, a Tupelo State Farm agent, is surrounded by local officials and community members as he presents a check for $10,000 to the Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi on Friday, June 17, 2022, in Tupelo. King was one of 10 State Farm agents nationwide to receive the company's Outstanding Community Engagement Award, allowing him to select a nonprofit to receive $10,000.
DANNY MCARTHUR I DAILY JOURNAL
Tupelo State Farm agent donates $10K grant to Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi
TUPELO - A State Farm agent’s community service led to a $10,000 donation to tackle food insecurity in Northeast Mississippi.
Agents and community members gathered in Fairpark late Friday morning as Tupelo State Farm agent Shawn King presented a $10,000 to the Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi. The donation will generate over 150,000 meals for the coalition’s eight county coverage area, said Hunger Coalition director Jason Martin.
“I just think no one should be a benchwarmer. Everybody’s gotta participate,” King said. “What we do in terms of giving back is way bigger than insurance.”
King was selected as one of 100 agents nationwide to receive the Outstanding Community Engagement Award as part of State Farm’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Recipients were selected out of 19,300 agents. Each received a $10,000 grant to donate to a local nonprofit organization.
To mark the occasion, Mayor Todd Jordan signed a proclamation to make Friday, June 17, 2022, State Farm Day.
“Shawn has been considerate, he’s been dedicated, he’s been supportive of his community,” said Curtis Johnson, business lines consultant at State Farm, during the celebration.
King credits his father as a strong example of giving back. In addition to being a banker, his father was president of the chamber, read to fourth graders, and was involved in the community.
“I think I just absorbed that from him and I believe, when I came here seven years ago, that’s just what I wanted to do, is just give back. There’s so much need,” King said.
Donating to the Hunger Coalition was an easy decision for King. The Hunger Coalition is a CREATE Foundation special project and community initiative of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi. They partner with food pantries, hot meal services, and weekend programs for schools that work daily to address food insecurity in the region, Martin said.
Tupelo State Farm agents began a partnership with the coalition three years ago. Through that work, King was exposed to the prevalence of food insecurity and the affect it has on the community, especially among children.
Last year, the five Tupelo State Farm agents helped raise over $17,000 for the coalition. Friday’s grant will give a head start for their annual hunger prevention drive in the fall.
Working with State Farm was a natural fit, Martin said. The agency was the first to reach out to develop a partnership, and are well aware of the issues of food insecurity within the community, Martin said.
“I’m extremely grateful for their consideration of us. To be selected of only two recipients in the whole state of Mississippi, it really speaks volumes of our partnership,” Martin said.
One in five Northeast Mississippians is food insecure, according to the Hunger Coalition.
“In this time of inflation and need, the people that have the ability to give to organizations that are feeding people and meeting the need, this is the time to open up their resources and make those available to those organizations,” Martin said.
Martin encourages finding a local food pantry, hot meal service or weekend program and making a donation. The Hunger Coalition can also accept donations to give directly to those services.
More information is available at hungercoalitionnems.org, calling 662-432-1894, or emailing jason@unitedwaynems.org.
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Later, Bunning said about his flawless performance: “Everything has to come together, good control, outstanding plays from your teammates, a whole lot of good fortune on your side and a lot of bad luck for the other guys. A million things could go wrong, but on this one particular day of your life, none of them do.”
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JACKSON • A federal appeals court has found that the NAACP has no standing to sue a Mississippi prosecutor accused of routinely rejecting Black jurors in criminal cases.
District Attorney Doug Evans has been in office since 1992, and his jury selection tactics have been scrutinized for years. His exclusion of Black jurors in one high-profile murder case caused the Supreme Court to overturn the conviction of Curtis Flowers in June 2019, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh citing a "relentless, determined effort to rid the jury of black individuals."
The Attala County branch of the NAACP and four Black voters sued Evans months later, asking the courts to declare that the prosecutor's jury selection practices violate the constitutional rights of prospective jurors such as themselves. They also requested an injunction to prevent Evans and his staff from making race-based jury strikes.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision in its ruling Thursday. The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit because they "have not demonstrated a 'real and immediate threat' or a 'substantial risk'" that Evans could strike them from jury service because of their race.
In a dissent, Judge Gregg Costa wrote that the percentage of Americans who show up for jury duty is "staggeringly low," but that the people who sued Evans represent a "refreshing departure" by being willing to serve.
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Dr. Cheryl Hamlin drives to the airport after completing what will likely be her last shift at the Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, June 9, 2022. Dr. Hamlin travels from Massachusetts to Jackson to assist patients seeking abortions.
ERIC SHELTON I MISSISSIPPI TODAY
A demonstrator stops a car as they arrive at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Dr. Cheryl Hamlin once attended a demonstration against the Iraq War in the Boston Common, but she’s never felt like much of a radical. Then she started providing abortions in Mississippi.
Hamlin, a 60-year-old OB-GYN at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., spends three days a month at the state’s only abortion clinic in Jackson. Her work places her at the center of a decades-long national war that has culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court case poised to overturn the constitutional right to abortion: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The job is too dangerous for local physicians, so she and other out-of-state doctors fly in on a rotation.
Though Hamlin always thought being a doctor meant you were supposed to help people, she describes her career as “kind of ordinary.” A mix of idealism, principle and shock at the election of President Donald Trump led her to start working in Mississippi in 2017.
And last week, during what may well have been her final shift here, she wondered how far she would be willing to go to ensure access to abortion remains.
On Monday, June 6, a little before 4 p.m., she leaned over the steering wheel of her rental car as she pulled into the parking lot, in a hurry to get to her patients. They sat in idling sedans and SUVs, cranking up the air conditioning against a hot and sunny afternoon.
Standing on the sidewalk just beyond the metal fence that surrounds the pink stucco clinic – known around Jackson as the Pink House – Pam Miller watched the doctor drive up. Miller, a 67-year-old grandmother of seven, is a regular presence outside the Pink House, wearing her blue 40 Days For Life baseball cap and clutching a stack of pro-life pamphlets.
“That’s Cheryl Hamlin,” she said to Zach Boyd, another frequent protester. “She’s just now getting here.”
Hamlin didn’t notice them. And she wasn’t thinking about the seemingly imminent fall of Roe and the end to a constitutional right to abortion in the United States – at least not directly.
She was thinking about her patients. She felt the extra pressure of knowing that clinics across the Southeast are packed with people seeking abortions, that some of them had driven hours for their appointments, and that soon it could be too late.
A clinic staffer came out of the building to tell patients they could come inside.
Boyd held out a tan rubber fetus, smaller than his fist.
“God’s going to judge you,” he called to the clinic employee.
“Why are you worrying about what I’m doing?” she shouted back. “Worry about yourself.”
If the final ruling in Dobbs hews to the draft opinion that leaked in early May, the Pink House will close. The clinic and some of the staff will move to New Mexico. Hamlin will join them there once a month, just as she has done in Mississippi for the last five years.
“I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that fact,” Hamlin said of the possibility that this shift could be her last in Jackson. “But I guess I’ve been reading too much – it’s starting to affect my mind.”
While Hamlin began work inside the clinic, a young couple waited in their car down the block. As college students, they said, they’re not financially stable. They’re not ready to have a baby. The young woman had called Planned Parenthood in her home state, but they had referred her to Jackson.
The pregnancy was already causing health complications, and they were thinking about their future. There was nothing any protester or pamphlet could say to change their minds.
“I feel like everyone thinks that it’s an easy decision,” the woman said. “It’s really not.”
On Wednesday morning, six women sat in high-backed chairs arranged in a semicircle inside a narrow room in the back of the clinic. A purple sign taped to a door said “Everyone loves someone who had an abortion.”
The patients gripped medical forms or held their hands together on their laps; one rocked back and forth in her seat, and another crossed her legs and jiggled her foot.
“Hi ladies, how are you doing?” said Hamlin, taking her seat at the front of the room. The doctor has short hair and an air of friendly professionalism.
“So, I’m Cheryl Hamlin, the doctor for the week, and I’ll be doing your counseling.”
She described the risks of the procedure: infection, blood transfusion, uterine perforation.
“To put it all in perspective, if you were giving birth, I would tell you you have all the same risks, but many more,” she said.
She delivered the line required by Mississippi law, that abortion increases risk of breast cancer.
“Nobody thinks it’s true. I’m pretty sure Governor Reeves doesn’t think it’s true, but it’s a state law that I say those words,” she told them. She recited another required line: If the only reason for the procedure is financial, “there may be organizations that will assist you as well as the father of the pregnancy should be providing child support.”
Then she turned to what she called “the elephant in the room:” the Supreme Court’s impending decision in the case that started with this clinic. In the best case scenario, she said, the Court will uphold Mississippi’s law and allow it to forbid abortions after 15 weeks.
Since the Pink House currently provides the procedure through 16 weeks, that outcome wouldn’t make a major difference for the clinic.
“The more likely and worst-case scenario is they overturn Roe,” she continued. “This clinic, and every clinic through most of the South and Midwest, is going to close.”
She urged her patients to vote. Then she moved on to explain the process for surgical abortions and for medication abortions.
Next came individual counseling. Each person had a number to indicate her turn in line. Hamlin told them to keep an eye on her office door. Lately, as abortion clinics across the country have cut back services, the Pink House has been busy, and the process is designed for efficiency.
“When she comes out, you go right on in,” she said. “You guys pay attention, don’t wait for me to call you, and we’ll get you right on out of here.”
The individual counseling room is a small office shared between the doctors when they come to the clinic for their shifts. Hamlin sat behind a broad, dark wooden desk. The patients sat in a chair across from her.
None of the generic furnishings reflected anything of Hamlin; this was the clinic’s office, not hers.
The fifth patient to talk to Hamlin was a young woman in running shorts.
“Come on in, how are you doing?” Hamlin said.
“Good,” the woman replied as she sat down.
Hamlin looked at her medical records spread on the desk.
“You’re 15 weeks, so you have to come…” She paused, glancing up at the monthly calendar taped next to her seat. It was June 8.
The calendar showed Hamlin’s shift, which would end just before 1 p.m. the next day, and another doctor’s shift on June 10 and 11. But that doctor only performs abortions through 13 weeks.
“So it’ll be the next available…” Hamlin looked at the calendar again. “…is the 16th or 17th. Gosh. You’re 15 – we’re not going to get you in.”
The woman’s face betrayed no emotion. She explained that the nurse who performed her ultrasound had said the doctor might be able to do the procedure on Friday.
“Aaah,” Hamlin said in a high-pitched tone. “Let me just make sure what I’m saying is true.”
She ran the math in her head: The woman was already 15 weeks pregnant. The next time a doctor at the clinic could perform the procedure, she would be more than 16 weeks pregnant – past the clinic’s cut-off date.
Hamlin left the room. The woman looked at her phone on her lap.
Two minutes later, Hamlin came back. The patient wouldn’t be able to get an abortion in Jackson.
“But we can help refer you, we have a relationship with Huntsville, Alabama, that can do beyond (16 weeks),” she said.
“OK,” the woman replied. Hamlin guided her out of the room to talk to a staffer about the referral.
These were the limits of choice, even with Roe still technically the law of the land.
The patient might have waited weeks to get her first appointment at the Pink House because Texans were streaming into every clinic in the South following that state’s recent ban on abortions after six weeks. Then she ran into Mississippi’s mandatory 24-hour waiting period.
And the threats and harassment directed against local abortion providers meant that when Hamlin flew home to Boston, there would be no one in the state who could or would perform the procedure for days – critical days.
The Alabama Women’s Center in Huntsville, which performs abortions up to 21 weeks and six days, is more than five hours from Jackson by car. The clinic sees about five patients who have been referred from the Pink House every week, according to its office manager Makeda Harris.
That state has a 48-hour waiting period, meaning Hamlin’s patient would likely have to spend two nights in an unfamiliar city or make a long round-trip drive twice.
Hamlin felt terrible realizing that her patient would just barely miss out on being able to get an abortion in Mississippi.
Cases like this one raised the question of how much she was willing to sacrifice.
“I could do it today, but it’s a law that I can’t,” she said. “How many hoops do you jump through? … Should I stay a little bit later? I’ve done stuff like that, but you can also make yourself completely insane. If I miss my plane, I’ll be a really unhappy person … You can’t make yourself completely crazy.”
The constraints on the Pink House limit patient options in another way: Because there are so few slots available for surgical appointments, those whose pregnancies are under 11 weeks are urged to opt for a medication abortion.
That process is safe, but it involves hours of cramping and heavy bleeding, and often lighter bleeding for weeks afterward.
During Hamlin’s consultations on Wednesday morning, two patients whose pregnancies were early said they were scared of the pills and wanted a surgical abortion. Hamlin said she doesn’t hear that very often, and since the doctor coming in on Friday and Saturday could do the surgeries, she didn’t try to push them to take the pills.
“You want to give people all the choices,” she said. “If just one person does that, no big deal. But if people start coming in for their eight-week, seven-week surgical procedure, pretty soon we’re not going to fit all the 15-weekers in. So it’s always that balance of, how can you help the most people?”
War outside the Pink House
The war outside the Pink House started years before Hamlin first arrived in Mississippi.
In the 1980s, Mississippi had more than a dozen abortion clinics. Around the country, the number of providers began to fall as abortion opponents bombed clinics and harassed doctors. States also began imposing strict rules around clinic operations; in 1992, Mississippi passed the country’s first mandatory 24-hour waiting period.
By the following year, there were only three clinics. And in 2004, the Pink House became the last clinic standing.
Barbara Beavers, who has protested outside Mississippi’s abortion clinics for decades, remembers those days. She and her husband founded an anti-abortion pregnancy center in 1988.
At one point, she was a frequent presence outside a building that housed an abortion clinic on the second floor.
“Maybe a few times I did chase them up the stairs, and say, ‘Come home with us! Come home with us!’” she said, sitting in a camp chair outside the Pink House on Tuesday afternoon. “My husband liberated me to do that, and we’ve had girls in our home.”
“Here, we have to stand here,” she said, reminiscing about the days of easier access to patients. “We have to shout at them for them to hear us.”
Since Derenda Hancock established the Pink House Defenders in 2013, the volunteers have served as a buffer between patients and the people aiming to dissuade them from entering the clinic. While escorts at other clinics may ignore protesters, the Defenders believe confrontation fights abortion stigma and can help change “the cultural narrative” around abortion.
Since the leaked opinion draft came out in early May, there have been relatively few protesters outside the clinic. Some of them are preaching and passing out supplies in Ukraine. Others, the street preachers, are using the early summer to do yard work. With June being LGBTQ Pride Month, some regulars are busy protesting those events.
For the escorts, this is a bitter time. Hancock and Kim Gibson, who joined the organization in 2017, have felt for years that this day would come. Now, the world is watching, and it’s too late.
They’re also exhausted, as the clinic’s operating days have increased from three days a week to five or sometimes six. They guide patients into the parking lot for up to 10 hours at a time while the temperature climbs into the 90s and the shade disappears.
“We’re just sitting here waiting for the ax,” Hancock said. “It just needs to go ahead.”
When Hamlin started working in Mississippi in 2017, she was motivated by the desire to help people outside of her “pretty nice bubble” in Boston.
She wanted to practice in a state where access to abortion is limited – so limited that advocates say many people already believe it is illegal here.
On the morning of Hamlin’s first full day at the clinic, an anti-abortion demonstrator known to the escorts as “Stepper” took up her usual spot down the street from the parking lot entrance. She declined to share her name with Mississippi Today; the nickname comes from her tendency to pace up and down the block as she waits.
“It’s a lot quieter than I thought it would be,” she said of the period since the leak. “I thought the community would have been all over this. That case is going to put Mississippi on the map.”
Around 9 a.m., a woman wearing a crucifix necklace got out of a car and headed toward the clinic. Stepper called out after her as the driver of the car idled outside the clinic.
“Do know that God loves you and you can make a different choice,” she said. The woman didn’t look at her.
“What is this?” asked the woman’s driver, a middle-aged woman who said she works for Uber, while gesturing at the Pink House. The passenger had told her she was going to work.
“This is an abortion clinic,” Stepper replied.
“I thought they outlawed that,” the driver said.
Brooke Jones, a 28-year-old Jackson native and a sonogram and lab tech at the clinic, spent her afternoon break sitting on the patio with a bag of chips she decided she didn’t want to eat.
Jones said it feels like everyone at the Pink House is thinking about the upcoming Supreme Court ruling, but not talking about it much. What would she do if Roe were overturned and the clinic closed?
“Cry,” she said. “And not just because this is my job. Because it’s the only clinic in Mississippi.”
Jones has always been pro-choice. She joined the Pink House staff two years ago, thanks to an acquaintance who worked at the clinic and curiosity about what took place there.
Before that, she worked at group homes for kids.
“I know the kids they want you to keep and tell you the state is going to help – they treat them like s***,” she said.
If clinic director Shannon Brewer approves, Jones wants to move to New Mexico to work at the new facility Brewer and Pink House owner Diane Derzis are opening there. She’s made a list of pros and cons, and doesn’t see many cons. It’s a chance to keep doing the work she knows how to do and experience life in a new state.
In the meantime, she keeps coming to work. Every morning and every afternoon, she walks past the protesters. She’s memorized their lines.
“‘You can find something else, we can help you, let’s get you something else, you do not need the blood of innocent lives on your hands!’” she recited. “I’m like, ‘shut the hell up.’”
They don’t bother her, but patients sometimes say they were already scared and the protesters made it worse, she said.
Jones gestured toward Beavers, who was sitting in her camp chair by the fence.
“She’s going to sit there until everybody clocks out and walks to their car,” she said.
Then Jones went back to work to prepare for the afternoon’s surgical procedures.
Beavers, a leader of the pregnancy center movement in Mississippi, was hoping to get women to turn toward the Cline Center, a crisis pregnancy center across the street from the clinic, where they could get a free ultrasound. Around the country, these centers aim to dissuade women from seeking abortions and often offer supplies and parenting classes.
Now, they are the centerpiece of what Gov. Tate Reeves calls a “new pro-life agenda.”
The state’s nearly 40 centers can receive up to $3.5 million in tax credits thanks to a bill passed in the most recent legislative session. They are not regulated by the state department of health, and there are no rules or reporting requirements on how they spend the money.
Beavers said that after Roe falls, she wants to see the pro-life movement focus on helping women who have had abortions deal with “this hurt and this pain.” She has been praying for “revival.”
While Beavers has her priorities, Hamlin and those who work with her see a bigger problem to address: the lack of health care access in Mississippi, the state ranked at the bottom of most health indicators and one of only 12 that has not expanded Medicaid.
When Hamlin started working in Mississippi, she was shocked to meet so many patients who didn’t have health insurance, which meant they couldn’t afford to see a regular OB-GYN and often weren’t sure how to get or pay for birth control.
But Beavers doesn’t see much value in paying for people to get health care.
“We’re giving money to have babies without husbands, in my opinion,” she said.
“You can get health care in Mississippi,” she continued. “… They’re getting all their money from the government anyhow.”
Around 5 p.m., Beavers packed up and left for her weekly “post-abortion healing meeting” with women who have had abortions. They are told that accepting that they killed their child “is the first step in grieving,” according to a lesson plan Beavers shared.
Not long after Beavers left, a 24-year-old woman walked out of the clinic holding a bag of pills and started down the block toward her car. She had just taken the first pill involved in a medication abortion, and within the next 48 hours she would take the second set.
“I’m young, and I already have children. I’m a single mother,” she said. “And it’s already basically hard for me. I’ve barely got my head above water, with the high gas prices and basically we’re in a recession, they just don’t want to admit it … I think it would be selfish to bring another child into this world, and I’m knowing that I’m not able, physically or emotionally or mentally.”
Even making $15 an hour, she was just scraping by, she said.
Growing up in Jackson, she saw the anti-abortion protesters around town from time to time. They once posted up outside her high school with big posters of fetuses, which felt to her like harassment.
She had mostly managed to ignore them walking into her appointments at the clinic. When she heard them offer help, she didn’t believe it. Would they help her pay for housing and child care? Would they do that for the dozens of people who visited the clinic every week?
“Y’all don’t know us by a cat or a dog walking down the street,” she said. “When they go home, they’re living comfortably, without a care in the world, besides what’s going on with our bodies.”
If Roe falls, advocates expect the nearest abortion clinic will be in southern Illinois, a seven-hour drive from Jackson. Would she make trip?
“I would go,” she said.
Just before 8:45 a.m. on what might end up being her final day working at the clinic, Hamlin turned off State Street and angled into the clinic parking lot. As the escorts waved her to her parking spot, 78-year-old David Lane left his place across the street and walked toward the driveway.
“Cheryl, you need to quit killing the babies!” he called. “You’ll answer for every child you’ve ever killed. Won’t you repent and quit killing the babies?”
As Hamlin got out of her car, escorts stood nearby, eyeing Lane. Because the protesters aren’t allowed to cross onto clinic property, Lane kept shouting at Hamlin from yards away.
“We know you make a lot of money, but it won’t do you any good when you’re in a casket and your soul burns in hell for dying as a murderer. Won’t you quit?”
Lane had no megaphone—the protesters who’d left for Ukraine typically brought that. Hamlin couldn’t even hear him, but that didn’t matter to Lane: He shouted at her as a matter of duty and custom.
Hamlin disappeared into the clinic, and Lane shuffled back to his chair. He understands why the clinic’s doctors must travel from out of state. He helped make it that way.
“Nobody will do abortions from Mississippi here because they’d get recognized. They don’t like people coming to their house,” he said. “We go to the neighborhoods and tell everybody in the neighborhood what they do. They don’t like that. But if it’ll get rid of them, and it’s legal, we’ll do it.”
The likely closure of the Pink House will change Lane’s life, and that of his brother, Doug, who also protests regularly. Before Doug left for Ukraine two weeks earlier, the brothers were driving down the road together. Doug put his arm around David’s shoulder, and David could tell he was about to cry.
“He said, ‘David, I’m sorry that we didn’t get to do what we planned,’” Lane recalled. “And our daddy raised us hunting and fishing. And what we wanted to do was retire one day, and go hunting and fishing. But now we come here.”
He paused to envision the world after the Court rules in Dobbs.
“So I’ll, maybe I’ll get to do a little hunting, and maybe I’ll get to do a little fishing.”
The next shift
Hamlin walked out of the clinic just before 1 p.m. on Thursday. The parking lot was nearly empty. The escorts had left for the day. There were no protesters damning her to Hell.
As she started the 20-minute drive to the airport, she thought about her work in Mississippi and what might come next.
In what she considered an otherwise standard career, performing abortions in Mississippi had, from the very beginning, felt bold. When she applied for her license to practice here, she almost hoped it wouldn’t arrive. Then it came in the mail.
“I’m like, ‘OK, here we go,’” she said.
Now, she was questioning how bold she was willing to be.
“I do feel like this is bigger than just abortion rights, and it really scares me,” she said. “And I’m feeling like … for the first time, questioning … How far am I going to take this? Would I do something illegal? I mean, I don’t know. Right now I don’t think I want to. I’m going to try to do everything through legal means. But…”
“I guess at some point, if it’s really people’s lives at stake, I might.”
At the rental car drop-off, she got her duffel bag and backpack out of the Honda and retrieved a stray Earl Gray tea bag from the passenger seat. She walked across the parking lot into the airport, up the escalator and past the bust of Medgar Evers to security, a route she’s taken dozens of times before. She finished a can of seltzer, dropped it in a trash can, and headed for home.
She wasn’t sure when she would be back in Jackson. If Roe falls, the Pink House will close, and she’ll go to New Mexico for her next rotation.
But during her shift, she asked Brewer if she ought to buy tickets for July, just in case the Court doesn’t overturn Roe. Brewer said yes. So Hamlin left her spare T-shirts, running shoes, shampoo and toothbrush in the doctors’ shared apartment and booked her next trip to Jackson.
Cheryl Hamlin
Brewer And Pink House
Barbara Beavers
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Wadkins, Mack Loyd
Mack Loyd Wadkins, 84, died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Iuka. Mack Loyd was born in the Iuka community and was a member of the Iuka High School Class of 1957. In his early years, he was a registered sanitarian for Tishomingo and Alcorn County Health Departments. He served in the Mississippi National Guard for nine years, and while serving, he was deployed for the protection of the University of Mississippi during the riots that followed the admission of James Meredith. He was the director for the senior citizen program at Tishomingo State Park for several years and was adored by the elderly members who attended. He was also the previous executive director for the Tishomingo County Development Foundation. Mack recently received his 60-year Masonic pin and was a member of the Iuka Lodge #94 F&AM. He was the owner and operator of Sunflower Grocery Store which later became the Sunflower Antique Mall and Flea Market. He also owned and operated Iuka's first self-service gas station as well as Ran-Ron Car Wash. He was also the former owner of the Kreme Kastle restaurant and brought the pizza burger to Iuka. Mack Loyd served for 12 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives. During his time in the legislature, he was known for his active role in remodeling the Old Tishomingo County Courthouse, building Tishomingo County High School, securing funds for the schools and county, bringing in industry, reducing the cost of car tags, completing the four-lane expansion of Highway 72 to Memphis, and opening the county's first nursing home. Mack served in the legislature with author John Grisham and bought the very first copy sold of "A Time to Kill" out of the trunk of John Grisham's car. Mack was also well-known for his love of writing songs and children's books. He was a co-publisher of the popular song "Choices" by George Jones and accompanied Tammy Wynette on a boat tour of Bay Springs. He was the author of the children's books "Elvie the Elf" and "Elvie the Elf: Finding Bucky." Mack was a member of the Iuka Baptist Church and was a fabulous cook and gardener. Most of all, he was known for his kindness, generosity, honesty, love for his family and friends, and sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette Hudson Wadkins; two sons, Randy Wadkins and Ron Wadkins (April); one daughter, Risa Smith (Alan); five grandchildren, Kayla Tull, Rebecca Nigliazzo, Veronica Smith, Alli Claire Hisaw, and Cole Wadkins; and four great-grandchildren, Kurt Burcham, Jorden Nigliazzo, Kamden Tull, and Shyleigh Nigliazzo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Pauline Hubbard Wadkins; a sister, Willadean Hannon; and a brother, Edgar Earl Wadkins. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. Funeral services are scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Iuka, officiated by Bro. Stanley Magill and Bro. Johnny Hancock. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers include Todd Berry, Jamie Wadkins, Brad Thompson, Andrew Hisaw, Benny Marlar, and Harold Lomenick. Honorary pallbearers include Cecil Simmons, Harvey Moss, Larry Allen, Gene Hartley, and the Iuka High School Class of 1957. Visitation is scheduled for 2:00 until 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.
Ron Wadkins
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OKOLONA – The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors had to modify a bid for Cold Mix asphalt due to the increase in price.
They received a letter from Cold Mix, Inc., the company that supplies them with the product, stating that prices had increased.
“I am sending you this letter to inform you that, due to the excessive price increases of asphalt, diesel, limestone and freight, I am unable to honor the bid I submitted Dec. 2021,” said the letter. “On June 6, your price for Cold Mix asphalt will be $113 per ton. This price is in effect until further notice.”
According to Purchase Clerk Tommie Morgan, the county currently pays $94 per ton.
The board then had the option to either accept the alteration of the bid, or terminate the contract, however, she said that there was nowhere else to get the product, or it stands a chance of being higher elsewhere if they could find it.
“We would have to readvertise, and it might go up higher than that,” said District 3 Supervisor Russell Brooks.
District 2 Supervisor Bill Blissard made the motion to modify the bid to reflect the price increase and District 1 Supervisor Anderson McFarland seconded it. It passed unanimously.
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If you pay just about any kind of bills, you’re feeling a sting. For the first time in my life, I’ve continually paid more than $4 a gallon for 87 octane gasoline, and it seems to keep increasing.
Add in the trickle down effect of shipping costs with diesel at $5 or so per gallon, and the cost of most everything else is following right behind it.
A lawnmower I bought in April inflated by $100 overnight. A set of mixing bowls I bought this March went up a dollar in the course of week. Both of them were already in stock, so I don’t understand the price increases.
In trying to figure out how we got to this point as consumers, I still don’t fully understand.
Back in 2005, we all griped when gas surpassed $2 a gallon, which is a baseline we’d all be thrilled to have at the pumps now. About that time, I worked at a golf course and one of my co-workers used to say all the time, “Everything is going up except for the paychecks.”
I’m sure she’s saying it over and over and over again wherever she is doing whatever she’s doing.
As thrifty and independent as we can be, the price of living still isn’t easy these days. If you’re of a certain age, though, this probably isn’t your first go-round with something like this.
There were plenty of stories I’ve heard growing up about how poor the generations lived before us and how they just had to do without this and that. The stories of oranges and apples at Christmastime don’t seem as crazy since that $4 gallon a milk seems like a luxury item.
The recession in 2008 taught some of us younger people a new respect for gardening, and it also introduced a bartering system to others. We didn’t like it but we lived through it.
Absolutely no one likes paying more for groceries and gas and none of us like having to curtail the more pleasurable joys of life either, but here we are.
The actions of warlords, foreign leaders, executive fat cats, day traders and sometimes who is in Washington, D.C. is much bigger than us and even more out of the hands of common people like me and you.
However, the powers that be should be reminded of how important history is.
Have we ever had a global COVID-19 pandemic before 2020? Nope. Can you totally blame our current state of inflation on it? Nope.
Has Russia ever invaded a neighboring country while being a major global oil supplier? Yep. Can you solely blame our current state of inflation on Putin’s war on Ukraine? Nope.
Prices at the pumps rise and fall with most any excuse. A Gulf Coast hurricane shutting down oil platforms is something I get. Just because it’s a holiday weekend and more people are traveling is something I don’t get.
I’ve got friends in Houston who work in the oil industry and realize it’s an up and down job market there too.
However complicated of a situation it is that fuel prices drive the price of everything, including our own livelihoods, history should’ve taught us a long time ago there’s got to be a better answer.
Gas was affordable by modern-day terms a couple, three years ago. The economy was booming, and people were happy. These days, plenty of us just opt to stick closer to home.
Nobody around here has a crystal ball, but most anybody who has been through this before knows history will repeat itself, and prices will eventually balance out again.
In the meantime, it’d be great if the powers that be could pay a little more attention to the gripes of us common people and put it a little more thought and execution to stop this ever-spinning cycle.
Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Less humid. High 94F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..
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James Autry, Forest
Flora M. Hughey, Corinth
Mary "Joan" Monteith, Nettleton
Mack Loyd Wadkins, Iuka
MANTACHIE - James Mackey Copeland, 62, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2022, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Services will be on Monday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie. Burial will be in the Mantachie Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home. Condolences may be shared with the family at mcneecemorrisfuneralhome.com.
CORINTH - Flora M. Hughey, 85, passed away on June 17, 2022, at her sister's home in Corinth. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Patterson Memorial Chapel.
MEMO, CUTSHALL LOGO
IUKA - Mack Loyd Wadkins, 84, died Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Iuka. Mack Loyd was born in the Iuka community and was a member of the Iuka High School Class of 1957. In his early years, he was a registered sanitarian for Tishomingo and Alcorn County Health Departments. He served in the Mississippi National Guard for nine years, and while serving, he was deployed for the protection of the University of Mississippi during the riots that followed the admission of James Meredith. He was the director for the senior citizen program at Tishomingo State Park for several years and was adored by the elderly members who attended. He was also the previous executive director for the Tishomingo County Development Foundation. Mack recently received his 60-year Masonic pin and was a member of the Iuka Lodge #94 F&AM. He was the owner and operator of Sunflower Grocery Store which later became the Sunflower Antique Mall and Flea Market. He also owned and operated Iuka's first self-service gas station as well as Ran-Ron Car Wash. He was also the former owner of the Kreme Kastle restaurant and brought the pizza burger to Iuka. Mack Loyd served for 12 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives. During his time in the legislature, he was known for his active role in remodeling the Old Tishomingo County Courthouse, building Tishomingo County High School, securing funds for the schools and county, bringing in industry, reducing the cost of car tags, completing the four-lane expansion of Highway 72 to Memphis, and opening the county's first nursing home. Mack served in the legislature with author John Grisham and bought the very first copy sold of "A Time to Kill" out of the trunk of John Grisham's car. Mack was also well-known for his love of writing songs and children's books. He was a co-publisher of the popular song "Choices" by George Jones and accompanied Tammy Wynette on a boat tour of Bay Springs. He was the author of the children's books "Elvie the Elf" and "Elvie the Elf: Finding Bucky." Mack was a member of the Iuka Baptist Church and was a fabulous cook and gardener. Most of all, he was known for his kindness, generosity, honesty, love for his family and friends, and sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette Hudson Wadkins; two sons, Randy Wadkins and Ron Wadkins (April); one daughter, Risa Smith (Alan); five grandchildren, Kayla Tull, Rebecca Nigliazzo, Veronica Smith, Alli Claire Hisaw, and Cole Wadkins; and four great-grandchildren, Kurt Burcham, Jorden Nigliazzo, Kamden Tull, and Shyleigh Nigliazzo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Pauline Hubbard Wadkins; a sister, Willadean Hannon; and a brother, Edgar Earl Wadkins. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. Funeral services are scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Iuka, officiated by Bro. Stanley Magill and Bro. Johnny Hancock. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers include Todd Berry, Jamie Wadkins, Brad Thompson, Andrew Hisaw, Benny Marlar, and Harold Lomenick. Honorary pallbearers include Cecil Simmons, Harvey Moss, Larry Allen, Gene Hartley, and the Iuka High School Class of 1957. Visitation is scheduled for 2:00 until 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.
James Autry
FOREST - Longtime resident James E. Autry, age 80, and a pillar of the community died Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Forest following a lengthy illness surrounded by his family.
James E. Autry was born at home in Benton County, MS on October 9th, 1941. He grew up in the Able Store community in the rolling hills of North Mississippi. He was the youngest of 8 children. He grew up hunting and fishing in Benton County. He worked at Ables store as a youngster. He participated in the widely known annual "Christmas in the Cotton patch" play which re-enacted the birth of Jesus.
He married his High School sweetheart Winnie Louise Renick. He attended Northwest Jr College in Senatobia after high school graduation. He then went to work for the Soil Conservation Service. The Soil Conservation Service transferred him and his young family to Forest Ms in 1966 where he spent the entirety of his career. Through his work at the soil conservation service, he guided many of the farmers of Scott County in the conservation of the soil and natural resources assisting them to improve the productivity of their farms.
He was a long-time member of the Forest United Methodist Church. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening as his primary hobbies in addition to guiding young men's lives.
Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Winnie Louise (Renick) Autry of Forest, sons Michael Autry and his wife Robin, John Autry, and his wife Robin all of Forest. He is also survived by one sister, Ruby Childers of Ripley, MS, and 5 grandchildren; Rebecca Cox and husband Wes, Shelby Autry, Bethany Robinette, and husband Taylor, Brandy Reiss, and husband Ben, Cris Ricks and wife Ann. Mr. Autry also leaves a legacy of 5 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind 2 very close nephews, Tommy McMullen and his wife Judy, and Arnie McMullen and his wife Terry all of the Ashland community.
Pallbearers are Wes Cox, Taylor Robinettte, O.B. Triplett, Leslie Blackwell, Kevin Chambers, and Tim Needham. Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Lee, Noble Lee, and The Coffee Club.
MEMO, TISDALE NETTLETON LOGO
Mary "Joan" Monteith
NETTLETON - Mary "Joan" (Maher) Monteith, 88, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2022 at the NMMC in Tupelo. She was born on December 3, 1933 in St. Johns Newfoundland, Canada to parents Edward Maher and Catherine (Dalton) Maher. She was a floral designer before she retired . She loved to travel , crochet, sew and bake. She also enjoyed her time in Japan teaching English. Mom loved with her whole heart. Her greatest love was her family and she taught us that family always comes first, no matter what.
Funeral services will be at Crosspointe Fellowship Church of Nettleton on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. with Bro. Jason Franklin officiating. A private family only committal service will be at New Chapel Cemetery.
Survivors include her siblings: John (Nellie), Marie (Bob), Carol Ann (Dave), Deb (Tony), and Linda (Stead), her 3 children; Cathy (Jerry) Riley, Dale "Cookie" (Chris) Monteith, and Connie (David) Phillips, her 19 grandchildren: Edward Monteith Jr., Danny Monteith, Carol Ann Monteith, Josh (Katy ) Riley, Dale Henry Monteith, Candice Monteith, Alicia Monteith, Melissa Monteith (Victor Guerrero), Chelsea (Drew) Goff, Kimberly (Sawyer) Phillips, Jennifer (James) Magenheimer, Jonathon (Tiffany) Robinson and Justin Cooper (Brooke Kennedy) and her 10 great-grandchildren:
Skyler, Noah, Tucker, Paisley, Lyla, Ryan, Lynzie Grace, Knox, Avery, and Ashlynn.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Dale Monteith, her three sons: Eddie, David, and Johnny, her parents, her three brothers: Billy, Eddie, and Jim and her grandson: Jordan.
Pallbearers will be Dale "Cookie" Monteith, David Phillips, Jerry Riley, James Magenheimer, Jonathon Robinson, Justin Cooper, Josh Riley and Sawyer Phillips.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Noah Marrison, Tucker Goff, Ryan Magenheimer, and Knox Robinson.
Visitation will be Sunday at the church before the funeral from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family at www.tisdalelannmemorialfh.com.
Mary Monteith
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. • A standoff over the security of voting machines between a Republican-leaning county in New Mexico and Democratic state officials that threatened to erupt into a wider political crisis was defused Friday after local commissioners voted to certify their election results.
"My vote to remain a 'no' isn't based on any evidence. It's not based on any facts," Griffin said, nevertheless requesting a hand recount of ballots. "It's only based on my gut feeling and my own intuition."
There is no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting equipment that could have affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and no such fraud has surfaced in this year's midterms.
To underscore the accuracy of election results, another Sandoval County commissioner read to the audience the findings of an audit that compared the votes recorded by the county's tabulating machines in 2020 with a sampling of the actual paper ballots. The difference was just a fraction of 1% in the races for president, U.S. Senate and other offices — "almost insignificant," Republican commissioner David Heil said.
New Mexico's primary ballot included races at all levels — including Congress, governor, attorney general and a long list of local offices. Those races would not be official until all counties certified.
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Timothy Evans, 58, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2022, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo. Services will be on a later date to be announced at familys home.. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 2:30pm until 4:30pm at ASSOCIATED FAMILY FUNERAL HOME - TUPELO. Our family at Associated are very grateful and honored to have been chosen to serve the Evans family. You may log on to associatedfuneral.com for more information and to leave your condolences and memories..
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Weatherly, Shan
Ira Shannon Weatherly, age 66, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Sanctuary Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer. Shan was, first and foremost, a faithful man of God, was devoted to his family every day, and loyal to his many friends through the years. Shan was a longtime faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo where he was a greeter. He loved welcoming people at church, and his warm and sincere personality were apparent. In his early working years, Shan was a high school coach. After that, he worked for 40 years in the corrugated box business with the same company. Shan graduated from Pontotoc High School in his hometown and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi. He was an all-star quarterback for the Pontotoc Warriors where he was named Little Ten Conference Player of the Year in 1973. Tennis was another sport in which he excelled, and he played competitively for many years. He loved watching his children play sports, and he was an avid fan and supporter of the Ole Miss Rebels. Shan always enjoyed listening to music that was written and sung by his beloved brother, Jim, and he enjoyed spending quality time with his three precious granddaughters. Shan leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Kevin Ann Weatherly of Belden; two children, Brandon Weatherly (Lyssa) of Madison and Hannah Kimbrough (Matthew) of Tupelo; three granddaughters, Olivia, Evelyn Claire, and Nora; two sisters, Sherrie Winter and Elise Black (Scott), all of Pontotoc; and a sister-in-law, Cynthia Weatherly. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim; and his brother-in-law, Ronnie Winter. Services honoring Shan's memory will be 3 p.m. Monday, June 20, 2022 at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. John Boler officiating and special music provided by Randy Wood. Burial will be in Ecru Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Monday at the church. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors has been entrusted with the arrangements. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Wilder, Terry Wood, Jeff Roberson, Danny Kennedy, Larry Stewart, David Helms, Steve White, and Tommy Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Winter, Zack Weatherly, Scott Black III, Josh Montgomery, and Brad Wardlaw. Expressions of sympathy and fond memories may be shared at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.
Shannon Weatherly
Brandon Weatherly
Scott Black Iii
Cynthia Weatherly
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Dave says: Combine everything for you and your family
Q. I live with my boyfriend, and we have a baby together. I brought debt into the relationship, and I’m using your debt snowball method to pay it off, but he is debt-free. We have quite a few shared expenses that we split 50-50, but that means we are constantly reimbursing each other. Should we keep our finances separate until I pay off my debt, or is it OK to combine everything now? I’m 26, and we love each other and want to get married, but he makes quite a bit more money than I do. I feel guilty taking that step when I still have debt.
A. I don’t tell people they have to wait until they’re out of debt to get married. I don’t tell people they should wait until they’re debt-free to have children, either. Listen, you two love each other. You have a baby together, you live together and you’re trying to figure out a way to combine incomes and everything else – except the debt. Too late. That ship has sailed.
Here’s some arm-around-your-shoulder, old-man advice. The best thing for that baby, and the best thing for you and your boyfriend, is for you two to get married and combine your incomes, combine your lives – combine everything –and join it all so tight it cannot be torn apart. Then, go live a beautiful, glorious life together. Getting out of debt is part of the adventure. Raising that child together is part of the adventure. Waking up and looking at your husband when he starts to lose his hair is part of the adventure.
I’m not being judgmental. I just want good things – the best things – for you and your family.
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• North Mississippi Medical Center recently recognized electrocardiogram technician Lynn “Nikki” Hester as Star of the Month.
A coworker nominated Hester for investigating an EKG that did not seem quite right. Hester performed an EKG on a hospital patient, and the machine reported that the patient’s irregular heartbeat was caused by atrial fibrillation. Hester questioned the finding and showed the EKG to cardiac electrophysiologist Karthik Venkatesh Prasad, M.D., who immediately recognized the patient was actually having a heart attack. Because of Hester’s concern, the staff was able to administer emergency treatment.
Hester has worked at NMMC for 16 years, joining the staff as a nursing assistant on 3 South before becoming an EKG tech five years ago. She is a graduate of Tupelo High School and attended Itawamba Community College.
NMMC’s Star of the Month is selected by a team of employees.
• Several North Mississippi Health Services employees recently became Certified Professional Credentialing Specialists through the National Association Medical Staff Services.
Sherry Acker, CPCS, is the medical staff coordinator for North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point. A West Point native, she earned an associate degree from East Mississippi Community College and joined the hospital staff in 1988.
Cathy Jernigan, CPCS, of Houston coordinates Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation for NMHS’ Organizational Performance Department. She joined the hospital staff in June 2010, shortly after earning an associate degree in health information technology from Itawamba Community College.
Hollye Parker, CPCS, of Amory is a credentialing specialist at NMMC Gilmore-Amory. She earned an associate degree in medical administration from Rasmussen University in Bolingbrook, Illinois, in 2015. She joined the hospital staff in March 2016.
• North Mississippi Medical Center recently presented the DAISY Award to registered nurse Karla Parham of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.
Parham was nominated by a patient and his wife. “Karla is very personable and able to make her patients feel more comfortable in their medical surrounding,” they wrote in her nomination. “It was as if something was missing when Karla was off. We missed her conversation, encouragement, reminders, and questions to determine how he was doing and if he felt he was progressing. Karla’s presence increased our confidence. Her presence created a more comfortable atmosphere that also gave us a feeling of being watched over with expertise and caring.”
A 1984 graduate of Pontotoc High School, Parham earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Mississippi State University in 1988. She worked in graphic design for several years before joining the NMMC Wellness Center in 1992 as a member services representative. She changed careers after earning her associate degree in nursing from Itawamba Community College in 1994. She worked in Labor and Delivery before transferring to Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation 25 years ago. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Alabama in Florence in 2006.
• North Mississippi Medical Center recently presented BEE Awards to three employees at Women’s Hospital.
The three were nominated for volunteering to stay past their 12-hour shifts to help in a staffing shortage on the Mother-Baby Unit. “We had 25 mothers on our unit with only one nursing assistant,” she wrote in their nominations. “They worked until additional staff could get to Women’s Hospital. Their willingness to stay and help demonstrated true teamwork!”
Danelly Blanco-Hernandez of Tupelo is a unit coordinator and technician in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A 2019 graduate of Tupelo High School, she earned an associate degree from Itawamba Community College in 2021 and joined the hospital that July. She will pursue an associate degree in nursing from ICC beginning in August.
Lauren Hall of Nettleton is a new graduate nurse at Women’s Hospital. A 2017 graduate of Nettleton High School, she recently completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women. Hall joined the NMMC staff in 2021 as a nurse extern.
Karley Taylor of Belmont is a new graduate nurse at Women’s Hospital, having joined the staff as an intern in March. She is a 2019 graduate of Belmont High School and recently completed her associate degree in nursing from Northeast Mississippi Community College.
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David Trigiani enjoys a plate of perfectly scrambled eggs at his home in Jackson.
Robert St. John
Blunt request tests skills needed for perfectly scrambled eggs
By ROBERT ST. JOHN Contributing Columnist
I was in Jackson over the weekend, checking on our businesses up there and decided to check in on him before heading home. A longtime resident of Jackson, Trigiani is 82 but is in much better shape than most 60-year-olds I know (including me). His mind is as sharp as his tongue, and his tongue is razor sharp. When it comes to frank and to the point, he put the “ire” in direct.
I like to stay in touch with all my friends. David and I hadn’t seen each other for a while so I popped over to his house for a quick morning visit on Saturday before heading home. He had saved a newspaper article I was featured in, so we walked into his kitchen where he keeps the old papers fastidiously stacked in a neat pile beside the kitchen island.
Three eggs lay in a bowl next to a skillet on the front burner of the stove. “Make me breakfast,” he said, in true Trigiani fashion. I don’t have many friends who would boldly blurt out a demand with such ease. But of the friends I do have that would do it, Trigiani tops the list. To be honest, it wasn’t a stern command, but a more of a lighthearted and joking request, stated frankly. He obviously was about to cook breakfast, and I interrupted his morning routine. It would be the least I could do.
I gently stirred the eggs with the fork. “Aren’t you going to whip them up?” he said.
Trigiani wasn’t concerned with anyone’s brushes with celebrity; he was more interested in why I wasn’t going to whip up the eggs. As the truffle butter melted in the skillet, I explained that I wanted his eggs to come out smooth and ribbony, not fluffy and airy. “It’s not an omelet at Waffle House where they put the eggs in a milkshake machine before putting them in the skillet.” He chuckled at that comment. I poured the eggs into the skillet and let them sit for a bit before drawing them into the center with a rubber spatula and tilting the skillet so the uncooked portion could reach the empty side of the skillet.
Trigiani seemed pleased with the end result. “I didn’t know about not whipping the eggs and not incorporating air into them,” he said. I resisted pulling out the Julia card again, because he was obviously unimpressed. But I was surprised that he didn’t’ know this method of scrambling eggs. Trigiani is an excellent cook and spends a good bit of time in the kitchen cooking gourmet meals for friends, and for himself. Though he is Italian, and many Italians are in a constant who-has-the-better-food battle with the French (Trigiani comes down firmly on the side of the Italians), so maybe that explains his passe attitude toward the French method.
I have friends of all ages and from all walks of life. Trigiani would be my closest friend who is also an octogenarian. He’s one of my closest friends, period. But again, he acts and looks younger than most 50- or 60-year-olds I know. His frankness and straightforwardness are usually pretty funny in a sweet, older, get-off-of-my-lawn kind of way. Once a waitress in a diner asked us if we wanted to hear the daily specials. Trigiani pointed to her heavily stained apron and said, “Why don’t you just scrape some of that crap off of your apron, put it on a plate, and serve it to us?” She laughed and gave it right back to him. Everyone needs a friend who can get away with such statements.
ROBERT ST. JOHN is a restaurateur, chef and author. Find his recipe for Perfect Scrambled Eggs at robertstjohn.com.
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Ideal spacing between children is 3 to 4 years
A: Research puts ideal sibling spacing at three to four years. A child 3 or younger may respond to the birth of a sibling by regressing behaviorally and even becoming aggressive toward the new arrival. On the other hand, a child who is an "only" until age 4 may have difficulty giving up the benefits of that status. In either case, the risk is greater of ongoing jealousy on the part of the older child.
Whereas there are no guarantees in child rearing, only probabilities, spacing children according to the above "window" increases, as much as possible, the likelihood of the children bonding with one another and enjoying a good relationship for the long term.
A: You are overthinking this. Your question implies that if your son discovers this on his own, he will either be traumatized in some way or feel betrayed and never trust you again, or both. Withholding certain information from a child is justified if the information is irrelevant and/or unhelpful.
In this case, the truth of your son’s premarital origin is both irrelevant and unhelpful. Furthermore, your son will figure this out on his own at some point, assuming he acquires basic math skills.
JOHN ROSEMOND is a family psychologist. Fimd him at johnrosemond.com or parentguru.com.
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TONKS is a 5 1/2-year-old spayed American Pit Bull/Terrier mix. She was an owner surrender in November 2021, then went back to the owner. In January, she was returned to the shelter. Tonk's adoption number is 111908P.
FLOWER is a 2-month-old female cat. This sweet tabby was brought into the shelter in early May with nine other kittens and no mother. They were found in the woods. Flower's adoption number is 050406Q.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO PROVIDE Tonks or Flower with a good home, call the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society at (662) 205-4221 or stop by 2795 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Adoption fees for dogs and puppies range from $100 to $175. Adoption fees for cats and kittens range from $80 to $100. This includes one round of shots, worming, spaying/neutering. Please bring the photo of the animal you wish to adopt.
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Nettleton High School Classes of 1944 through 1972 will have a reunion Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Nettleton United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. Lunch is $20 per person. Please send checks showing the year of graduation to Catherline Payne, 140 W. Main St., Nettleton, MS 38858 by July 27. For more information call (662) 963-2258.
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Thomas family members will observe Father's Day today without their matriarch, Mike Thomas, who died May 14. They treasure a photo taken in April 2021 at Acme Oyster Bar in Orange Beach – the last family vacation they took together. From left are Field Thomas, his mother, Daintry Thomas, and siblings Natalie Ellis and Ruff Thomas, who is holding Pete, one of the family's three dachshunds.
One of Mike Thomas' favorite places to be was with family at Pickwick Lake.
Mike enjoyed reading stories to Ruff, Field and Natty in the 1980s.
Mike and Daintry Thomas were married Sept. 9, 1978, and would have celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this year.
Church plays a central part in the Thomas family. Mike was a presenting elder at First Presbyterian for all six of his grandchildren's baptisms.
Duck hunting at a camp outside Grenada with his son, Field, was one of Mike's favorite pastimes.
Mike and Daintry Thomas celebrate July 4, 2019, with their grandchildren Anne Bailey, Emerson, Chris, Bryan, Cam and Gia.
Mike and Daintry Thomas at Acme Oyster Bar in Orange Beach in April 2021 – the last family vacation they took together.
Natalie, Mike, Ruff and Field Thomas in the early 1990s.
Family photos show Mike letting every one of his grandchildren take the wheel of his boat at Pickwick. Here, he turns the reins over to his only grandson, Bryan Ellis.
TUPELO – In June 2021, Michael Ruff Thomas was diagnosed with metastatic uveal melanoma, a cancer that originated in his eye and eventually spread to his liver. On May 14, 2022, he died at home at the age of 73.
Today, his family will celebrate their first Father's Day without him.
"None of us has any regrets," said Daintry, his wife of 43 years. "Everybody did everything they could for him."
The Thomases have three children and six grandchildren. Ruff Thomas and his wife, Angelia, are parents to Anne Bailey and Emerson; Field Thomas and his wife, Amy, have one child, Cam; and Natalie Ellis and her husband, Bryan, have three kids, Gia, Chris and Bryan.
Earlier this week, on the one-month anniversary of their father's death, the three Thomas children gathered for lunch with their mom to recall stories and lessons learned and to honor the man they all called Mike.
"We went to him for everything – every big decision," said Natalie, 37. "He always had great discernment and led us in the right direction."
"He also saw all aspects of whatever the situation was," said Ruff, 41. "A lot of times, he'd bring up things we might not have considered."
There were few things Mike loved more than family, spending time at Pickwick Lake, and hunting at his duck camp near Grenada. In the last year of his life, he got to enjoy all three.
"One of the main things, when the doctors told him how long he had to live – the long term was not good," said Field, 38. "His goal was one more normal duck season. And he got that."
When the Thomas kids were growing up, the family had a small cabin at Pickwick.
"But there were only five of us then," Daintry said. "When we grew to 14, we had to build something larger because we wanted a place where everybody could gather. We went there every chance we got."
Family photos over the years show Mike at the wheel in his boat at Pickwick, with each grandchild, at one time or another, in his lap, helping to steer.
"After the grandkids were born, we saw a softer side of him," Ruff said.
"He let the grandkids do whatever the hell they wanted to," Field said. "It was all about enjoying them. He got all the good parts. That's what grandparents do."
"When I was little, I took dance lessons for years," Natalie said. "Mike maybe darkened the door of the dance studio once or twice in all that time. When the grandkids started to take dance, he'd just be-bop in there every week."
Daintry said when her kids were growing up, he was always fair with them.
"Even when he was not happy with you, he was still fair," she said.
"He always made the punishment fit the crime," Natalie said.
"One time, Natty said I'd done something, and it was probably the only time I hadn't," Field said. "We were standing on the stairs – she had her back to the stairs facing me – and she said, 'I'm going to tell Mike what you did.' And I said, 'But I didn't do anything.' And she said, 'It won't matter, because Mike will believe me.' And he was standing right behind her and had heard everything. I was so happy. But she still didn't get into trouble."
Ruff said his dad had a distinctive whistle he'd use to call the family.
"When you heard it, you stopped what you were doing and came to him," Ruff said. "Our friends knew that whistle, too."
"We were at the art gallery at a wedding reception, and after 15 minutes, Mike was ready to go," Daintry said. "He did that whistle at the wedding reception, and Natty and her friend, Kory, heard it and came over, and we left."
Field said he noticed that as his dad aged, he gained more patience.
"I've always had a really bad temper, and I think when he was younger, he had a temper, too," Field said. "As Mike got older, he let things go easier. And then something would happen, like you ran out of ketchup, and the flood gates would open, and it wasn't even about the ketchup. It was about six months' worth of stuff."
Ruff said his father loved animals – dogs in particular – and passed that love on to his children.
"Between labs and dachshunds, we had some great dogs," Ruff said. "When our first dachshund died – she was 10 – Mike called me to tell me, and he was so upset he couldn't even form the words."
Mike spent most of his career working in the development of promotional furniture. He and his business partner and best friend, Jim Wiygul, established Independent Furniture Supply in 1979, and as a team, they grew the business into one of the largest foam companies in the country.
But even after long days at the office, Mike still made time for his kids.
"In the evenings, after I'm done working and go to the gym, I get home and my 3-year-old is all over me, ready to go," Field said. "I think about when I was little. In the summer, Mike would get home from work and I'd be standing in the yard, waiting with a baseball. He never said, 'I'm tired' or 'I'm not doing that tonight.' When you're a little kid, you don't know what he's been doing all day – that he's been at work to earn a living for his family."
The life lessons are probably what the Thomas kids treasure the most.
"He taught us the value of being humble and treating everybody equally," Ruff said, "whether you were sweeping the floors or the president of a bank."
"He taught us the value of knowing everybody's name," Natalie said. "He fostered a sense of community in us, especially in our church."
A lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo, Mike was a ruling elder and sang baritone in the chancel for several decades.
"When Mike retired, I was really surprised by how much time my parents spent together," Field said. "I mean, they spent a ton of time together. It was a good example for us to see – a good example of marriage."
When Mike received his diagnosis, he was determined to enjoy the time he had left.
"He acted completely normal until the week before Easter, a normal, healthy man, even though he was in way more pain than he let on," Field said. "I saw him five days later and he looked so different. We knew when he was diagnosed how this was going to go."
"He was optimistically realistic," Natalie said. "He lived his life like he normally would, doing everyday things, and not apologizing for it."
"After his diagnosis, he started taking naps in the afternoons," Daintry said. "And the dogs loved it. They'd all three pile up in the bed with him."
But it was in his dying that Mike's family saw the real character of the man.
"We were in Nashville to see the doctor, at Vanderbilt, and you could tell the doctor was nervous because he was fixing to give Mike the bad news," Ruff said. "Before the doctor left, Mike got out of bed and shook the doctor's hand. Basically, Mike was comforting him. That's when we saw his true personality and character."
Michael Ruff Thomas
Natalie Ellis
Daintry
Tupelo Family
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The Raymond Heritage House is the oldest house in Verona, built before Verona was chartered in 1860.
Verona's birthday celebration planned for July 16
By MARGARET BAKER Contributing Columnist
With Verona’s 162nd birthday coming up on July 16, plans are now being made for the biggest birthday celebration ever.
Verona, the oldest town in Lee County, was charted on July 16, 1860. The charter was approved and signed by Gov. John J. Pettus. In 1850, John Stovall Ratliff purchased the land where Verona is located from Newton and Marion Davis. The first store was opened by John O’Carrell in 1850.
In 1857, the surveying party for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad crossed the old road from Palmetto, in Pontotoc County, to Richmond, in Itawamba County. This is where the town of Verona was located. Ratliff mapped the town and his daughter, Fannie, named the town for the city of Verona in Italy from a work by William Shakespeare.
Since Verona was named for a city in Italy, our theme will be “A Taste of Italy," to remember Fannie Ratliff for her contribution to Verona’s history.
As Italians celebrate birthdays, there will be balloons, wine tasting, pasta dishes, a birthday cake with 162 candles, and Italian music.
The event will be held at the Raymond Heritage House located at 5015 Raymond Ave. on July 16 from noon to 2 p.m. Donations will be accepted.
The Raymond Heritage House is the oldest house in Verona, built before Verona was chartered in 1860. In 2021 the City of Verona purchased the Heritage House to preserve this important part of Verona's history. It will be used as a multifunctional facility for the people.
Buon Compleanno, Verona (Italian for Happy Birthday).
My daddy, Marvin Allen, was a tall, well-built handsome guy who didn’t know his own strength. He could lift a ton with one hand. Since he did not have any boys, he tried to make one out of me. I would love it when he bragged on how good I did chores around the house, like sawing and cutting wood, milking cows, feeding pigs, pulling corn, picking cotton, etc.
He was very high-tempered. If you disobeyed something he had told you to do, he would get the razor strap to you in a minute.
He loved to hunt birds. He would go in the woods and stay all day. About dark he would bring in several birds and maybe a rabbit.
He loved to fish. We lived near Town Creek (we called it the channel back then), and he would fish all night, just him and the dogs. About daybreak he would come home with his catch and Mama would dress the fish for breakfast.
He loved music. He was a great musician who could sing, play guitar and blow the harmonica.
I miss Daddy, and I thank him for teaching me all the things he did as I have tried to teach my family. RIP Marvin Allen 1917-1970.
Note that Juneteenth – June 19, 2022 – is a National Holiday and most celebrations will have taken place on Saturday, June 18. All city and county buildings will be closed on Monday, June 20, in observance.
MARGARET BAKER is the Verona News columnist for Lee County Neighbors. Contact Margaret at mabake@bellsouth.net.
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Daily Journal reporter Blake Alsup at an early screening of Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis on June 11, 2022.
Riley Keough, Priscilla Presley, Austin Butler, Lisa Marie Presley and Baz Luhrmann at an early screening event for the "Elvis" film at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis on June 11, 2022.
Baz Luhrmann, writer/director/producer of 'Elvis' speaks to the audience before an early screening of the film at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis on June 11, 2022.
Austin Butler as Elvis in Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama “Elvis,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
MEMPHIS • I saw Elvis at Graceland.
No, not the Elvis, but a screening of Baz Luhrmann's brilliant new film of the same name.
I'd been invited, along with other members of the media and longtime fans, to see the movie during a special early screening at the Guest House at Graceland on June 11, prior to interviewing Luhrmann the following week.
The Guest House at Graceland is a resort hotel fit for a king — or in this case, the King — complete with a ballroom and a 464-seat theater where the movie was screened. Located on Elvis Presley Boulevard, it's just a short walk away from the Graceland mansion.
Stars of the film, Elvis's family members and even his high school girlfriend, Dixie Locke, were in attendance.
My closest brush with Elvis royalty came while washing my hands in the restroom before the movie started. I exchanged pleasantries with a gentleman I'd assumed was simply an Elvis fan, but discovered the next day that he was James Burton, lead guitar player in Elvis's TCB Band from 1969 to 1977.
Stars of 'Elvis' take the stage
Luhrmann took the stage to discuss the movie's origins and the process of making it, starting in 2017 when he first visited Memphis and Tupelo.
Every one the team came in contact with in either city was helpful and kind, he said, "whether myself and my research team were at Graceland or whether we were looking for someone like the wonderful Sam Bell, who took a long time to find and sadly passed last year."
Bell, who died in September 2021, was a Tupelo native and childhood friend of Elvis whom Luhrmann while conducting research for the film.
"Elvis" premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 12-minute standing ovation, and later screenings were held in London and Australia.
But Memphis was different.
"It's great to be in Cannes, but it's almost mythical the way that coming back to Graceland, it's not like anything else," Luhrmann said.
"It all started here, and it's amazing that we're all back here," he added.
Cast members joined him on stage, including: Yola, who plays Sister Rosetta Tharpe; Olivia DeJonge, who plays Priscilla Presley; Alton Mason, who plays Little Richard; and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays B.B. King.
And of course, Austin Butler, who plays Elvis Presley, and Tom Hanks, who plays Col. Tom Parker, were also in attendance.
Hanks told the crowd he likes to think he's responsible for two movies about Memphis.
"Not only do I play the manager that helped make possible, in his diabolical genius way, many, many a platinum record that has been delivered to Graceland. I also made the movie about the messenger delivery service that can deliver those platinum records overnight, on time, 365 days a year by way of FedEx," Hanks said, referencing his role as Chuck Noland, an executive for the Memphis-based shipping and transportation service, in the 2000 film "Cast Away."
As an actor, Hanks said, he's filmed in castles where kings and queens once lived.
"But notice all of those kings, queens have an 's' on the end of them, meaning there are more than one," Hanks said. "At Graceland, we are visiting the home of the King."
Elvis's family praises the film, cast
Elvis's longtime friend, Jerry Schilling, joined the cast on stage, along with members of Elvis's family — Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough.
"I was very reluctant at first, not knowing how this film was going to turn out," Priscilla Presley said. "Because you know, Baz can get a little — he has his own take on things."
In the film, Butler actually sings all of the songs performed by young Elvis. The family had high praise for Butler's performance, with Priscilla Presley telling him, "Elvis morphed into you, I have to say. You had his guidance."
Lisa Marie applauded his devotion to the role, from the performances to the way he spoke, adding she didn't realize Butler was singing the first time she saw the movie.
"He genuinely grabbed his spirit like I've never seen before," Lisa Marie Presley said. "I was quite young, but I still remember my father's energy and his vibe. Austin, absolutely, he nailed it."
A must-see movie theater experience
It felt surreal to watch the movie in Memphis at Graceland while sitting in a crowd of fans dotted with Elvis tribute artists and personal acquaintances of Elvis.
Luhrmann's signature fast-paced, colorful production style is perfect for illustrating the life of a man whose music and flashy lifestyle captured hearts and imaginations of millions around the world.
I've heard plenty of stories about Elvis's childhood in Tupelo, but seeing scenes of him pretending to be Captain Marvel Jr. and peeking into a juke joint to watch Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup playing "That's All Right" made them real.
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley were right. It's one thing to hear about Butler's phenomenal performance. It's another to see it. In 'Elvis,' Butler isn't just portraying a star; he's becoming one.
Every musical performance, and the soundtrack in general, were fantastic and had me tapping my feet through the entire movie.
The energy in the theater was electric, with the audience cheering and clapping anytime a Memphis landmark appeared or Butler nailed another piece of his performance.
Luhrmann's 2 hour, 39 minute odyssey through Elvis's life is as close as most will ever come to seeing Elvis perform live. 'Elvis' is a must-see movie theater experience.
I'm glad I saw Elvis at Graceland.
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DENNIS SEID: Small businesses need us more than ever
The past two years have been unprecedented for small business owners. Whether it was a bakery, bar, boutique, food truck, restaurant, etc., we all experienced shutdowns and reduced hours, fewer staff and supply chain problems.
And then the other shoe dropped.
In recent months it's been inflation continuing to rise to 40-year highs. Food prices have soared. Fuel prices have skyrocketed. Essentially everything you can buy now costs more.
You've no doubt seen the memes on social media, proclaiming that we shouldn't blame small business owners for their higher prices; they're only trying to cover their costs.
And that's true.
But it's quite possible that the situation may grow worse. There is a real threat of recession, as economists and other experts fear. The stock market certainly is feeling bearish these days.
The last recession we had was the Great Recession, which officially lasted from 2007-2009. But its aftermath was felt for up to three years afterward. Northeast Mississippi's unemployment rate was in double digits for 35 of 36 months.
Now we read that confidence among small-business owners in the U.S. flatlined in May for a second consecutive month, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. And, "expectations for future business conditions continued to deteriorate."
Plans to increase employment increased, but small businesses continued to struggle to fill open positions in a tight labor market. Around 51% of respondents reported job openings they could not fill, up 4 points from April, the NFIB said.
Inflation pressures broadened. The percentage of owners raising average selling prices increased two points to 72%, back to the highest reading in the 48-year-history of the survey last reached in March.
"Inflation continues to outpace compensation which has reduced real incomes across the nation," Dunkelberg said. Price growth remained the most important problem for business owners, the report said.
Supply-chain bottlenecks didn't show signs of easing, according to the survey. Almost 40% of owners reported that supply-chain disruptions have had a significant impact on their business, up 3 points compared with April.
So what can you and I do as consumers? Continue to support small businesses when you can. They are the ones supporting local organizations and sports teams. The owners are our neighbors and friends.
We will all have to cut back because of inflation, but remember the locally owned merchants are in the same boat as the rest of us. They have families to feed as well.
The economic downturn will eventually turn the other way around, as all downturns do. It won't be easy, and it won't come soon enough. But if we work together for the greater good, this too, shall pass.
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Daily Journal hosting brain drain forum June 30
Retaining skilled professionals is an ongoing issue throughout Mississippi, where brain drain has caused rural areas to shrink and young workers to flee the state. But Northeast Mississippi, while still battling these same issues, has found some success in growing population centers and helping to maintain a strong workforce.
On June 30, a panel will explore the issues that can battle brain drain and how different sectors of the community — including industry, small business, education and nonprofits — can do their part. The forum, which is free to attend, will take place at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Tupelo. Seating is limited.
Hosted locally by the Daily Journal through support from the Mississippi Press Association, the Mississippi Humanities Council and The Relevance Project, the forum will feature panelists David Fernandes, president of Toyota Mississippi; Rob Hairston, director of projects for the Community Development Foundation; and Scott Waller, CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council. Daily Journal Executive Editor Sam R. Hall will serve as moderator.
”We are excited to have such a strong panel of participants to talk about the different ways we can attract and retain top talent, especially younger people, in Northeast Mississippi,” Hall said. “Tupelo, Lee County and the surrounding areas have bucked the trend in Mississippi, but we can do more. We are not immune to the brain drain phenomena. This should be an insightful conversation.”
While the panelists will bring tremendous insight based on their experience, Hall said they are also looking to involve the audience through a Q&A session.
“Often the best ideas come from a broad, diverse discussion, which requires more points of view than we could possibly represent on a stage,” Hall said. “That’s why we’re encouraging people to come with plenty of questions and ideas.”
The forum is part of the national Community Forum project, a series of events hosted by local media outlets to highlight the importance of local journalism.
“We believe the series is an important function to bolster the work of local newspaper media as the ‘public square’ and the place to advance ideas on dealing with challenges to the communities they serve,” Mississippi Press Association executive director Layne Bruce said.
The Relevance Project, a partnership of state press associations aimed at “speed(ing) the resurgence of community newspapers, has been key in helping develop the different forums.
”Mississippi newspapers are leading the way in the Community Forum project,” said Tom Silvestri, executive director of The Relevance Project, It’s great to see publishers and editors demonstrate civic, civic discourse on issues of importance to their communities. It’s all about relevance.”
For more information about the event, contact Hall at 662-678-1586 or sam.hall@djournal.com.
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What will happen with abortion in Mississippi if Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade?
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial looked at the complicated opinions surrounding abortion and the expected overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to the editorial, a Gallup poll showed that 55% of Americans identify as pro-choice, while a WSJ poll found that 68% of Americans don’t want SCOTUS to completely overturn Roe.
The editorial goes on to say that while those numbers — on their face — point toward strong support for abortion rights, digging deeper into polling shows that support for abortion goes only so far. For instance, the Gallup poll said ”67% of Americans say abortion should be ’generally legal’ in the first three months of pregnancy. But it falls precipitously to 36% in the second trimester and 20% in the final trimester.”
At the heart of the case before the Supreme Court — Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — is the Mississippi law that essentially bans abortion after 15 weeks. Of the law, the WSJ editorial says, “Mississippi is presumably more supportive of the state’s post-15 week ban than is the nation as a whole.”
That’s likely a true statement, but it stood out to me because of recent questions we posed to our subscribers and the surprising responses we received.
Using SurveyMonkey, we polled our paid subscribers. Granted, the poll is not overly scientific and certainly skews whiter, more conservative and likely older than the general population of the state — all of which made the results even more surprising.
We asked, if an abortion law was put on the ballot, for what kind of abortion restriction would you support:
- No limitations on abortion: 11.78%
- Absolute ban on abortion: 28.32%
- Abortion only in cases of danger to the life of the mother, rape or incest: 30.08%
- No abortion after 15 weeks (Mississippi law before SCOTUS): 14.29%
- No abortion after 24 weeks (viability considered highest after this point): 13.78%
- No abortion after 38 weeks (considered full term): 1.75%
In a universe that is most assuredly more conservative than the state as a whole, less than 30% would outright ban abortion. Statistically the same number would allow abortion only in cases that threaten the life of the mother or where rape or incest were involved.
I’m reminded of the Personhood Amendment push in 2011, when 58% of voters defeated a constitutional ballot initiative that would have defined human life as beginning at fertilization.
Polling throughout the battle showed weak support for an initiative that could theoretically ban all abortion. Further complicating matters was the poorly written initiative that some interpreted as possibly banning fertility procedures such as in vitro fertilization.
Mississippi is largely conservative, but we do not see everything in simplistic terms, even on issues as politically divisive as abortion. While you can expect Mississippi to be among the most restrictive abortion states in the nation if SCOTUS overturns Roe, the desire for a complete ban does not appear to exist.
There are exceptions to consider, and — if polling and history are any indication — they include not only rape, incest and the health of the mother but time considerations and unintended consequences as well.
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Work by Hanna Contracting began last week to clear the site for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office's part-time training academy. During last Monday's supervisors meeting, county officials discussed the higher than anticipated cost estimate for the center's main building.
VFW Post #4490 Commander Raymond Layton, left, hears questions from District 3 Supervisor Rubel West June 6 about how post members assist veterans and their family in times of need.
ABERDEEN – Monroe County supervisors received a stout dose of sticker shock earlier this month when county engineer Kyle Strong shared the preliminary construction estimate for Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s part-time training center.
The estimate for a pre-engineered steel-framed structure on a concrete slab with no interior finishes totaled approximately $600,000, which equaled $100 per square foot.
“We can’t pay that,” said District 2 Supervisor B.R. Richey, summarizing the board’s reaction.
After discussing options, District 1 Supervisor Joseph Richardson expressed his frustration about what was thought to be a simple building project with no frills.
“It can’t be this hard to do,” he said.
Monroe County Chief Deputy Billy Richey, Jr. said once the building is erected, the county will utilize its own personnel to finish the interior and install equipment. The board is continuing to explore its options as far as consultants to provide required construction documents to bid the project.
During last Friday's meeting, county administrator Bob Prisock said he and Richey requested quotes from Neel-Schaffer for engineering for concrete and the building. He expected to received the quotes this week.
In other business, county fire coordinator Terry Tucker and Monroe County Emergency Management Agency Director Donna Sanderson updated the board on upgrades to emergency communications for the county.
“We did a 30-day trial of the new E-dispatch system at the beginning of May. (This system) dispatches 911 calls directly to cell phones of all volunteer firemen. We have just under 200 members to date. The trial went well, and they loved it,” Tucker said.
He cited an example of a recent fire at a cotton seed storage facility outside of Aberdeen. He was able to connect with 27 volunteer firefighters who got off work at 3 p.m. that day and relieved firefighters who had battled the blaze since 6 a.m.
“It saves on batteries so first responders don’t need to keep their radios on all the time. It’s a great system,” he said.
Tucker received the board’s commitment to underwrite the $3,992 annual cost to keep the service activated for 200 volunteer firefighters.
“The cotton seed fire brought up another issue. We need a ladder truck. That fire was 87 feet in the air,” he said.
Tucker suggested shopping for a used truck that still has some years of service life left, which he projected would cost close to $250,000, as opposed to $1 million or more for a new one. He said current options for Monroe County to call in a ladder truck for mutual aid are limited to West Point or Tupelo.
During public appearances, Raymond Layton introduced himself as the new commander of VFW Post #4490 and asked about the prospects of getting the road to the post repaired. County road manager Daniel Williams said it was going to be addressed some time next year.
Layton pledged that the local post is available to provide assistance to any veteran or their family who is in need. He also said the post will provide a wreath for any veteran’s funeral.
“Our veterans are very important. They are our number one priority,” he said.
In a separate matter, board members exchanged some intense concerns about hiring policy for county employees after an issue was brought up by District 4 Supervisor Fulton Ware.
District 3 Supervisor Rubel West suggested some benchmarks to consider with matters relating to hiring, setting salaries and approving raises or bonuses.
“Two things need to be considered. First of all, is it justified and secondly, is the applicant qualified?," he said.
Richardson supported West’s concerns, especially in the wake of the projected cost for the training center.
“We’re gong to have to watch our budget more than we have been,” he said.
Board president Hosea Bogan appreciated the frank discussion.
“Until we can come together and not shy away from issues, we won’t move (forward). When we don’t talk, we won’t get anywhere," he said.
The board approved for chancery clerk Ronnie Boozer to execute the grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding reconstructing the lighting for the Monroe County Airport’s runway and taxiway.
In another matter, supervisors reappointed Richardson to the Three Rivers Planning and Development District board.
The board also approved Ware’s rural recreation requests of $500 to the Wren RCDC, $1,000 to the Prairie RCDC and $500 each to Hausley Inspiration summer reading program and the B&B Youth Mentoring group.
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Tombigbee Fiber celebrates 10,000th customer
TUPELO • For six years, Shantia Jennings had to wrangle with slow internet service.
But not anymore. Jennings got her Saltillo home connected to Tombigbee Fiber, and in doing so was the 10,000th customer. And to mark the occasion, she was given a year's worth of free broadband internet.
"I wanted to get it immediately, but we had a waiting period, and as soon as it came into my neighborhood, I got it," she said. "I had had AT&T before and it was sluggish, almost like it didn't exist. It was at the point that we could only do one thing at a time."
It's taken Tombigbee Fiber – which is operated by Tombigbee Electric Power Association – less than two years to reach 10,000 customers. It signed its first customer on Aug. 13, 2020, and had its 5,000th customers last September.
Tombigbee Fiber is the first electric cooperative to reach 10,000 customers. It is one of 17 from among 25 co-ops across the state building a fiber network, and one of some 300 across the country.
Tombigbee has invested some $72 million in the broadband project so far, and totals costs are estimated to be abound $110 million. The three-phase project will eventually build some 4,000 miles of fiber; already, some 2,200 miles has been built. Nearly 32,000 of the association's 50,000 customers have been reached, and as of Friday there were 10,268 active customers.
Scott Hendrix, the CEO of the Tombigbee EPA, said there was no hesitation from the board three years ago when the Mississippi Broadband Act opened up the ability for electric co-ops to offer broadband service.
"Certainly, there was a lot of discussion; we spent probably a year studying and looking at other systems around the country to see how we could do it," he said. "I've never seen the board act so quickly and so passionately about. They were all in, and it was a unanimous vote. It was simply a question of once we did the math, how do we pay for it without endangering the system."
TEPA has received a $4.6 million grant from Mississippi CARES Act funding and another $9.8 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to help offset the costs. Hendrix said the fiber project is a long-term investment, much like the investment the co-op has put in its electric plant.
"We're not here to make money; we're here for service," Hendrix said. "It's going to pay pay for itself eventually, hopefully sooner than expected, and it will stand by itself. Our electric plant we built cost $140-$150 million over 80 years, so it's not unheard that it would cost us to build a fiber plant over the same territory and we'll condense that time period. "
Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley was a catalyst behind the push to give electric co-ops the opportunity to provide broadband access to rural customers. He said Tombigbee's success was no surprise.
"We couldn't have dreamed we'd have this much progress after we passed the law that opened the door," Presley said. "We have four electric cooperatives that have built to every customer; they're much smaller than Tombigbee, but for Tombigbee to cross 10,000 customers highlights the need that was out there for rural communities."
Presley had lobbied AT&T and other carriers for years to provide broadband access, but his efforts proved futile.
"There are carriers that had decades to serve rural communities, but they didn't know where they were and they didn't care," he said. "Bringing broadband access to rural communities is changing lives in the 21st century much like what rural electrification did in the early 20th century."
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TUPELO • The driver of an SUV has been charged after he allegedly struck and killed a cyclist on Briar Ridge Road Friday night.
Tupelo police responded around 9 p.m. June 17 and found a gravely injured adult male. The victim was carried to the emergency room at the North Mississippi Medical Center where he later died.
Witnesses on the scene told police that a champagne Chevy Tahoe struck the man, who was either riding or pushing the bicycle. The Tahoe then fled the scene.
Tupelo police spokesman Major Chuck McDougald said the suspected driver, Timothy J. Best, 58, turned himself in to Tupelo police officers at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office around 10:15 the same night. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving a death. That charge could be upgraded when presented to the grand jury.
During his initial court appearance Saturday, Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Willie Allen set bond at $100,000. He remained in the Lee County Adult Jail Sunday morning.
The identity of the victim has not yet been determined. Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green said the body will be sent tot he State Medical Examiner’s Office in Pearl to assist in the identification process.
This case is still under investigation with additional charges possible. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact TPD at 662-841-6491, tpdrecords@tupeloms.gov or Crimestoppers at 1-800-773-TIPS.
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In this Jan. 5, 1997 photo, Bill Stamps of Fresno, Calif., steps out of a washed-out section of roadway near Happy Isles Nature Center in Yosemite National Park, Calif. Yellowstone National Park, the home to soaring geysers and some of the country's most prolific wildlife is facing its biggest challenge in decades after this week's flooding. Yosemite has flooded several times, none more damaging than 25 years ago when hundreds were stranded as campgrounds were swamped, hotel rooms flooded, bridges and sections of road washed out, power lines downed and a sewage pipe broke. Yosemite was closed to the public for more than two months.
SCOTT ANGER I AP
BILLINGS, Mont. • Yellowstone National Park will partially reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, after catastrophic flooding destroyed bridges and roads and drove out thousands of tourists.
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Tupelo's Hayden Buckley battled throughout the weekend to finish in a tie for 14th on Sunday.
John Pitts
A weekend of hard work delivered a handsome payday for Tupelo’s Hayden Buckley.
Playing in his second-straight U.S. Open, the former University of Missouri standout finished in a tie for 14th at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, good for $241,302.
After making the cut on Friday and being tied for third overall, Buckley closed with rounds of 75 and 71 as conditions got more difficult. He wound up at 2 over par for the tournament, eight strokes behind first-time major winner Matt Fitzpatrick.
Tthe 26-year-old Buckley missed the cut at the U.S. Open last year in his first appearance at a major.
John is sports editor of the Daily Journal.
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By ALLIE ALLSUP
With the latest in his long line of culinary adventures, David Leathers is answering a question that, perhaps, no one has ever asked:
Why go out to a restaurant to eat when the restaurant could come to you?
That’s the idea behind Foodsmith, the 43-year-old Fulton native’s latest outside-the-box project. It’s a self-sufficient mobile restaurant, housed inside a custom-built trailer, that brings the restaurant to the customer for a one-of-a-kind, intimate dinner.
Not that there’s anything wholly unique about a mobile restaurant. Food trucks continue to be a growing option for hungry patrons.
But like most projects Leathers creates, Foodsmith is just a bit different, a blend of the familiar with something uniquely him.
“I’m from the South and I love that,” Leathers said. “No matter if I was all over the country, I always had my roots. So, I tend to honor southern food in my menu with a fun twist of creativity.”
Leathers’ name is likely familiar to anyone who’s kept even a casual eye on the Northeast Mississippi food scene. After culinary school some years of traveling the country, Leathers went on to open not one, but two restaurant businesses, including Forklift in Tupelo.
For the past few years, Leathers has been living and working in Nashville. However, like many people, he lost his job during the pandemic. He spent three months at home before he knew something had to give.
“I told my wife, ‘I need a new chapter,’” Leathers said. “But I love being a chef and couldn’t imagine doing anything different.”
Although Leathers has always enjoyed being a chef, the restaurant industry is a demanding beast, and he found the hours it required affected the time he could spend with his family.
“I didn’t want that life anymore,” he said. “The long hours, time on the road. I wanted to be able to come home and be with my wife and my boys.”
With that in mind, Leathers knew he had to come up with something that would allow him that time with his family while also keeping him feeling fulfilled and doing what he loved. Becoming a personal chef was an option, but he knew he needed a good kitchen he could work out of, which could be difficult to come by when changing venues or houses as a personal chef.
So, the idea for a traveling kitchen was born.
“The whole idea was to be mobile, so I began to think of how I could do some sort of traveling kitchen, but also the kind where you can come in and actually eat with me,” Leathers said. “In other words, a mobile restaurant.”
Leathers and his wife began putting the idea together when they realized their next obstacle: Something like this had really never been done before.
“It was a long process,” Leathers said. “It went through so many stages: Figuring out what to do and how to get it to where we wanted. But none of the options discussed had the structure we wanted or would be able to support what we wanted to do.”
So, they started from scratch, opting to build the trailer rather than buying or refurbishing one. After finding a company that could build from the ground up, Leathers started this new business journey.
Stretching over thirty feet long, this unique retro themed trailer has everything a chef would need to create a fine dining experience. The interior is split into two main sections, with one-third containing a commercial grade kitchen with beautiful subway tiles, wood shelves, and other details Leathers sets out for his parties. The rest of the space holds the dining area, with six chairs on either side and one at the head. A continuous piece of exotic wood, 13 feet long, splits down the middle of the trailer. It’ll sit 13 diners comfortably.
“It’s one of the first things that jumps out at you when you come in,” Leathers’ said. “But it’s also the whole experience. It’s the glassware I’m using, the pottery, the food being sourced.”
Since completing the trailer last summer, Leathers began hosting family and friends last August to work out the kinks. In September, Leathers finally started taking paying customers.
These days, he hosts two or three dinners a week.
A meal at Foodsmith typically includes around six courses, including an appetizer, salad, the main meal, a dessert, and a few other fun options chef Leathers provides for the night.
The entire experience is made for guests to feel at home, yet relaxed, with nothing to do but eat and enjoy.
Ultimately, Leathers has found that this type of work was exactly what he was looking for at this time in his life and career.
“I was always a chef, but I never always knew where that chef was going to take me throughout my career,” Leathers said. “But I think this is it. It gives me the capability to be a chef, but the freedom to work as I want when I want while also being financially successful.”
David Leathers
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Supervisors approve 2022 EMA plan
OKOLONA – The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors recently approved the 2022 updated Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
The plan, which is required by law, is spread throughout the different agencies so that everyone will know their role if the need arises.
“County government shares a responsibility with State and municipal governments to be prepared in the event of a natural, technological or man-made emergency or disaster that threatens life, property or the environment,” reads the promulgation statement of the plan. “…In order to provide an effective response to emergency situations, the federal, state, local and tribal governments must plan and prepare together. The concept and assignment of responsibilities outlined in this plan shall serve as the basis for the conduct of emergency operations by Chickasaw County. It shall be the responsibility of all county agencies and organizations to perform their assigned functional tasks and prepare and maintain standard operating procedures and/or guidelines.”
The plan is in compliance with all of the necessary regulations.
Another part of the plan was giving Linda Griffin, Emergency Management Director, the authority to implement the plan.
“I Charge the Director of the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency with responsibility for implementing this plan under emergency conditions and its ongoing development, as experience and changing conditions require.”
District 5 Supervisor Margaret Futral made a motion to adopt the plan and give Griffin the authority to implement it, and District 1 Supervisor Anderson McFarland seconded it. It passed unanimously.
Linda Griffin
Anderson Mcfarland
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After serving 25 years in the education field, Bro. Kevin Brown answered the call to the pulpit. He was voted in as New Prospect Baptist Church's preacher in February, where he plans to tap into the congregation's strengths in ministry.
LACKEY – Most of Bro. Kevin Brown’s professional career has been devoted to education, but answering a call to preach gave him a different kind of opportunity to educate others not just about scripture and the Lord but about their own potential to serve others.
“I’ve been told a lot of the teaching comes out in my preaching,” said Brown, who was selected as New Prospect Baptist Church’s preacher in February. “The Lord has equipped me through teaching to have a particular ministry, and that’s what I’m trying to preach. Everyone has their own ministry because you bring in your ministry whatever you’ve been through in your life.”
A foundation in education
Brown grew up in Fulton but graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1986. Following graduation, he attended Itawamba Junior College, where he met his wife, Debra.
From there, he began his career in education, teaching and coaching, at Hernando Junior High, with various roles to follow at schools in Yazoo City, Caledonia and Dorsey, where he got the call to preach after 24 years in the career field.
“I told Him, ‘I’ll do it but I’ve got to get in my 25 years,’” Brown said, adding about that time he was approached by the incoming principal at Horn Lake Intermediate School about a position. “She told me, ‘We’ve got 1,800 kids in grades 3 through 5 and we had 30 suspensions the last month of the prior year and I don’t need that to happen. I need someone like you to come and take charge of the discipline.’”
He developed a Bible-based restorative discipline plan for the role. When the elementary students were faced with the risk of suspension, they met with Brown, who explained they had one job – to go to school.
From there, students had to perform tasks such as cleaning, moving chairs and doing pushups to physically, mentally and emotionally prepare to return to class in good standings. Through a required service project, students also had to help other students through the three- to five-day process.
“We did it to show they needed the responsibility. That’s how they got their name back. They had to interview to get their job back and wear the appropriate clothes, tuck their shirts in, learn how to shake hands and look people in the eye,” Brown said.
Students had to interview with the school’s assistant principal, their teachers and fellow students before being readmitted to class.
“There were some times when the class said, ‘You’ve created such a disruption that since you’ve been out, we’ve been able to learn a lot more.’ At the end of the school year, we did not have any suspensions whatsoever,” Brown said.
While serving at Horn Lake, he was also a preacher at Courtland Baptist Church near Batesville, which led to his transition from the education field to the religion field.
Full-time in the pulpit
After retiring from education, Brown went on to serve at Shiloh Baptist Church in Houlka and Tremont Baptist Church before the opportunity came about at New Prospect Baptist Church.
He was without a church for six months and New Prospect was without a full-time pastor for three years when they connected. After meeting with the pastoral search committee twice, he was invited to preach to the congregation twice. After his second time preaching, the church voted 95 percent in favor of him being the new full-time preacher.
“It was a perfect fit for me and my wife, and we both feel this is where we’re called to be and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now,” he said.
New Prospect has 134 members on its roll, and the recent average attendance for worship services is 100 and 80 people for Sunday school.
Brown wants to see spiritual growth among the congregation, and his goal is for each member to tap into his and her own ministry.
“The Bible says we’re supposed to produce fruit so the more fruit we produce, the better the results,” he said. “Some members have a ministry of taking people plates to people that can’t get out. We have some who think they can’t do anything, but they’re the ones writing get well and thank you cards and letters to people.”
The church’s existing ministries include providing food for Hamilton Attendance Center students in need of weekend meals, enhancing spiritual growth for women, fellowship for senior adults, youth leadership and young adult enrichment.
“We’ve got a need right now for our Fathers in the Field Ministry. There are so many kids around here that don’t have father figures, and we’ve got a lot of men who can mentor those kids and carry them hunting and fishing and help out the moms,” Brown said.
New Prospect is looking to establish a prison ministry to serve the Monroe County Detention Center. Brown previously authored a devotion book for inmates, “From Darkness to Light,” which has universal themes for anyone.
“My oldest son spent about five years in Parchman. There was no way for me and him to connect. The only thing we had in common was the Bible,” Brown said, adding he asked his son and bunkmates to send a list of issues they were facing. “He sent me a list of about 65 different things they were going through, from dealing with authority to being away from their children to not having home cooked meals.”
He wrote devotions based on Bible verses that address each of the 65 topics.
“We’re all inmates. We’re all slaves to our sins so we need help in different situations,” Brown said.
While the Cross of Christ of Monroe County is an ongoing project, Courtland Baptist Church was part of Mission Batesville that secured a similar cross for that area during Brown’s tenure there.
“The cross is a good thing. It’s a visual representation of what the county stands behind. I completely understand not everyone in the county believes in the cross. We’re in the Bible Belt and as a general rule, it’s good to see a visual representation,” he said.
Mission Batesville
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A dog sniffs for a buried scent.
Testing the waters for a container scent.
By Jonathan Wise Special to Pontotoc Progress
The Memphis Kennel Club was started in 1874 by a Civil War veteran whose dog and the accompanying bird hunting had helped him recover his fragile health. The club was one of the first in the country to offer dog shows, holding their first in 1877 three months after the famous Westminster Kennel Club show.
It might not be widely known that the club puts on a large competition right here in Pontotoc County. Last month on May 21-22 the Memphis Kennel Club Scent Work Trial was held in Ecru.
“Our club has a deep history of doing performance events,” said MKC Show Chair Maggie Moore. “When scent work became something that was added to the American Kennel Club as something that we could host, we jumped at the opportunity. This is one of the really fun events that you can do with any breed of dog.”
The sport is based on the work of “professional detection dogs” (such as drug dogs). The Ecru event is one of the largest of its type in the country, with 400 search runs each of the two days.
The trial was held at the farm of Mike and Nancy Nesbit. The Nesbits hold two of these trials annually, with the other occurring in September.
“I lived in Memphis for 40 years and moved back to Ecru after I retired, and I have been showing dogs since the early 80s,” Mike Nesbit said. “I have been involved with the Memphis Kennel Club for a long time. It takes a lot of space to put one of these shows on, and after I moved back I volunteered our farm as a place for them to have it (the trials).”
“Dogs are searching for different odors in different types of environments,” Moore said. “It’s something that dogs with any physical ability or really anyone can do. They are searching for different oils- birch, anise, clove and cypress- and they have to find them and alert (the handler). As far as the different elements, you have ‘container,’ where the dogs are finding odor in a container. There is ‘interior,’ which is inside a building, in this case an old barn stall. Next there is ‘exterior;’ we have pastures set up where there are vehicles and all sorts of farm equipment and materials with odors hidden underneath, and the dog has to find them. The last one is called ‘buried’, where the odors are buried under sand or water.”
There are several different levels of difficulty with each element (search environment)- Novice, Advanced, Excellent and Master.
There is also a handler discrimination class where the handler’s scent is one targeted rather than the usual essential oils.
“In the lower levels, the handler touches a sock (or glove), and the dog has to find the handler’s sock in a group of boxes, with a similar item with scent from a judge hidden as well,” Nesbit said. “As you progress up, the handlers touch something like a cotton ball (or cotton swabs), which are hidden under a chair or similar location. Again there are a couple of other judge and helper scents out there, and the dog has to distinguish between the handler’s and everybody else’s.”
The most prestigious and demanding competition comes at the “Detective” level. Those trials are conducted at a seperate, specialized location.
“That would be very similar to a drug dog being turned loose in a large area and being expected to find drugs in various and sundry places,” Nesbit said. “Obviously we are using essential oils. The detective (competition) area can be from 2,000-5,000 square feet, and there can be from 5-15 hides, which can be anywhere from on the ground to up in the ceiling. It is the highest level, and it is extremely difficult. For the detective trials this time we used the Woodmen of the World lodge on Industrial Road and Shane Turk’s warehouse on Highway 15.”
There is an art to how the dogs and handlers perform, especially at the higher, more challenging levels.
“It’s clearly teamwork,” Nesbit said. “You have to know your dog, and you have to understand the way your dog is going to react to an odor. There are little, subtle signs you have to pick up. People have a connection with their dogs that is pretty remarkable.”
Memphis Kennel Club
Mike Nesbit
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Despite the cheesy costumes and over-the-top acting, it has important historical value, in that it describes a critical but faded episode of inhumanity: The persecution of Christians. We know about it, we have some vague memories of the people who had to dance around the lions in the Colosseum, but the events are generally filed under “news too old to care about.”
Nigeria is a country whose Christians have been under assault for over a decade. According to the website Genocide Watch, over 45,000 Christians have been assassinated in the last 13 years, making that country the most dangerous in Africa for members of the faith. Catholics are in particular danger because we represent a large percentage of Christians in the country and attract most of the attention.
This time they waited until the worshippers entered St. Francis Church in Owo, Ondo State, and then started shooting at them from both inside and outside of the building. Reports state that some of the attackers were disguised as parishioners. Some have attributed the assault to random violence.
I’ve also represented Protestant preachers who’ve been kidnapped, threatened and, in one case, orphaned (mother and father murdered) because of their ministries in Honduras and China.
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In this photo provided by Wonders of the Mekong taken on June 14, 2022, a man touches a giant freshwater stingray before being released back into the Mekong River in the northeastern province of Stung Treng, Cambodia. A local fisherman caught the 661-pound stingray, which set the record for the world's largest known freshwater fish and earned him a $600 reward.
Chhut Chheana I Wonders of Mekong via AP
BANGKOK • The world's largest recorded freshwater fish, a giant stingray, has been caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia, according to scientists from the Southeast Asian nation and the United States.
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Hughey, Flora Mae
Flora Mae Hughey, 85, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022, at her sister's home in Corinth. Services will be on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 12:00 noon at Macedonia Baptist Church. Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 4:00 until 6:00pm at Patterson Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Forrest Hill Cemetery .
Mae Hughey
Forrest Hill Cemetery
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Thomas, Libby
Elizabeth Ione Thomas has entered the Church Triumphant after a long, fruitful and productive life. She was 95 year old. Born in Lake Village, Arkansas to the late Elmo Thomas and Ruth Ione Livingston Thomas, Libby grew up in Vicksburg and graduated Central High School there. She later obtained an Associate Degree from Holmes Junior College. She met and married Walter Goodwin "Walt" Thomas, a MSU Engineering graduate whose working career spanned almost 40 years with the Tennessee Valley Authority. They lived several years in Chattanooga before moving to Lee County where they spent the remainder of their retirement lives. A master housewife and homemaker, Libby had a heart of gold and lived in selfless service to her God, family and others. A master cook, she was good with her hands in making things and spent her life loving her husband, children and grandchildren. She and Walt were faithful and loyal members of Wesley United Methodist Church until their deaths. They worked in all the ministries of the Church and were Godly souls whose lives made a difference for others. Libby was a devoted fan of the Mississippi State Bulldogs! A service honoring her life will be held at 2 PM Today (Tue. 6/21/22) at Wesley United Methodist Church with her Pastor, Rev. Emily Sanford and Dr. Bryan Collier officiating. Private burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1 PM-service time today only. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed through Wesley United Methodist Church Facebook/Livestreaming. Libby is survived by her daughter, Amy Thomas of Palmetto; 3 grandchildren, Taylor Elizabeth Thomas, Tucker Goodwin Thomas and Jordan Layne Thomas all of Biloxi; her brother, John Thomas and wife, Linda of Eupora and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmo and Ruth; her husband, Walt, her son, Paul and her sister, Jane Thomas Burns. Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 2122, Tupelo, MS. 38803. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Elizabeth Ione Thomas
Walter Goodwin Thomas
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Jodeci Agnew, 26, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, capias for possession of crack cocaine.
Ladale Marcus Beasley, 36, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, aggravated domestic violence.
Timothy Best, 58, of Shannon, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
Rocquis Trevonta Coleman, 25, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Verona Police Department, capias for trafficking methamphetamine.
Matthew Lee, 36, of Baldwyn, was arrested by the Baldwyn Police Department, grand larceny, petty larceny.
Melvin Livingston, 30, of Smithville, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections probation violation.
Darian Latawn Riley, 32, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug – methamphetamine, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest.
Renauldo Pullum Stewart, 38, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, aggravated assault, domestic violence, expired driver’s license, two counts of open container, possession of marijuana.
A Shannon business mailed a payment check to a supplier on May 10. The bank called on June 16 saying someone had used White Out to alter the “pay to” line and cashed the forged check.
A Shannon landlord said a Drive 259 tenant was arrested and had his bond revoked, leaving three pit bulls abandoned at the rental property. His sister said they would get the dogs but only removed them from the trailer and put them in a pen out back.
A County Road 746 Plantersville woman gave her boyfriend money because he had assaulted her in the past. When she asked him for the money back the next day, he refused.
A Highway 178 Mooreville used car lot said within the last few weeks, someone stole nine business checks. The bank called and said someone tried to cash a check for $1,900.
A County Road 1567 Mooreville woman said her back neighbors on Highway 371 are constantly shooting guns late into the night and towards her residence. She said another neighbor could hear shotgun pellets raining down on their roof.
A County Road 47 Shannon woman, 60, got into a verbal altercation around 11 a.m. with a male relative, 32, who lives at the same address. When he pulled a handgun and threatened her, she called 911. He then fled the scene, driving toward town. He returned about an hour later, after the deputies left, to get “a large bag of weed and a large bottle of liquor.” He was still armed and cursing at her when he returned. When she called 911 again, he left again.
A Corinth woman said she bought a 2006 Nissan Murano from a County Road 1190 Tupelo man and the car began to have issues on the drive home. She returned the car the next day, but he refused to refund the $4,000 she paid him.
A County Road 1145 Tupelo woman said her estranged husband showed up to get some clothes and personal belongings. When he tried to take the ATV her son signed over to her, she called 911. Deputies stood by as the man got his clothes and left.
Deputes responded to Brandywine Road in Belden while an ex-husband picked up his belongings. When they arrived, the couple said they had worked out everything peacefully and didn’t need the deputies any longer.
A Highway 371 Tupelo man said someone struck his mailbox, damaging it. He said this is the second time in a week someone has hit the mailbox.
A County Road 1419 Mooreville man said the 50-something white couple next door got into a loud verbal altercation around 9 p.m. and he was worried it might turn physical.
A County Road 1349 Mooreville woman, 59, said her husband kicked her out of their house on June 12 and told her to not come back. He has since moved his girlfriend into the residence. She said she needed an escort to get some of her belongings.
A Fulton man said he was walking down County Road 1409 Mooreville just before midnight when a female acquaintance grabbed him by the arm. A man pulled up in a truck, threw the man in the bed of the truck and drove him to their house. The suspect dragged the man out of the truck bed and grabbed him by the throat. The suspect pointed a finger at the man’s head and said he would put a hole in his head.
A Drive 329 Okolona woman said she hired a man to do some plumbing at her house. She gave him $300 to buy the materials. He returned and asked for an additional $200. She refused to pay him any more until he completed the job. He grabbed $200 cash from her hand, yelled and cursed at her, then threatened her with a garden tool before driving away. One of the man’s friends who was there gave her back $100 of the stolen money. While deputies were on the scene taking a report, the man returned and tried to start a verbal disturbance. He was arrested and carried to jail, charged with disorderly conduct and an outstanding contempt of court charge for disturbing the peace.
A County Road 2209 Saltillo man said someone stole a foldable KelTec 9mm rifle and a 30-round magazine from his truck. He is not sure when or where it was stolen.
A Highway 6 Tupelo man said three Hispanic males from the Green Tee Road area showed up at his place trying to sell him methamphetamine. When he declined their offer, they attacked him, beating him about the head.
A customer banned from the North Auburn Grocery for trying to pass counterfeit money in the past, showed up after 8 p.m. When the clerks asked him nicely to leave, he created a disturbance. When the clerk called 911, he left on foot, walking north.
An Ivy Wood Cove Saltillo woman said her husband took some of her personal belongings from their house and left them at his mother’s County Road 1645 house. She wanted an escort to go pick up her stuff.
A County Road 47 Shannon woman, 60, said a male relative, 32, who lives at the same address showed up around 10:30 p.m. but did not get out of his car. She said he had an outstanding warrant and deputies had already been to the house twice earlier that day. While talking to the man, the deputy could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle. When asked, the man admitted he had marijuana on him. When he stepped out of the car, the deputy found two bags of marijuana on him. He was charged with domestic violence and possession of a controlled substance and carried to jail.
No reports filed since June 16
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Cassidy Duskin is the 20th Northeast softball player to earn All-American since the program transitioned from slowpitch to fastpitch.
Duskin becomes Northeast's twentieth all-time softball All-American
LOUISVILLE, Ky. • The ace of Northeast Mississippi Community College's softball pitching staff is collecting top honors after a phenomenal second season with the program.
Cassidy Duskin was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II All-American.
Duskin was a second-team selection in the category of pitcher and utility player. She found a second home for the Tigers in the outfield when not leading her squad in the circle.
"She had an outstanding campaign," said Northeast head coach Jody Long. "She was a sparkplug all year long, but especially in the state and region tournaments. Our team kinda played off of her. She gave us an opportunity to be successful."
She broke into the top 10 of the Tigers' record book in three different pitching categories. Duskin's 17 wins were fourth best all-time at Northeast while her 163.1 innings were fifth most in a single season.
The Huntsville, Ala., native accumulated 145 strikeouts, which was the sixth highest total ever for the Tigers. Duskin issued only 32 bases on balls for a phenomenal strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.53.
Duskin had 20 complete games out of her 27 starts. She made six relief appearances as well with her only save coming in the nightcap of a home doubleheader versus Meridian Community College.
The left-handed hurler was nothing short of spectacular during Northeast's run to the semifinals of both the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) and NJCAA Region 23 tournaments.
Duskin drew six starts and compiled a 2.31 earned run average (ERA). She had masterful performances against Pearl River Community College with seven strikeouts and Copiah-Lincoln Community College with zero earned runs and only four hits allowed.
She was just as important on the offensive side of the equation for the Tigers. The slapper had a team-best .386 batting average with 61 hits, five doubles, two triples, 38 runs scored and 22 RBIs.
Duskin, who was named to the NFCA NJCAA Division II All-South Region team as well, connected on her inaugural over-the-fence home run in game two of the Tigers' sweep at Mississippi Delta Community College.
The Sparkman (Ala.) High School graduate also topped Northeast with 17 stolen bases in 18 attempts. She had a season-best nine-game hitting streak that started with a pair of singles versus Gordon State (Ga.) College on March 6.
"It's honestly a true blessing," Duskin said. "I cried some tears of joy because I've never won an achievement like that. I've worked really hard my entire life. I really just appreciate everybody that's been there for me throughout my entire experience with this game."
Duskin's career pitching numbers with the Tigers include a 28-18 record with 37 complete games in 44 starts, 56 appearances overall, 281.1 innings of work, 219 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA.
Her offensive statistics over 87 contests include a .383 batting average, .415 on-base percentage, 110 hits, 72 runs scored, 33 stolen bases, 30 RBIs and only 19 strikeouts in nearly 300 at bats.
Duskin is the 20th Northeast softball player to receive All-American accolades since the program transitioned from slowpitch to fastpitch in 2001. She is the fifth pitcher to earn this prestigious distinction.
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Bill Benson, seen in this Aug. 2, 2021 file photo, is the appointed Lee County administrator, as well as the elected chancery clerk.
TUPELO • Starting next month, contractors working in Lee County will be required to get permits for construction or renovation projects, although officials say they don’t expect any meaningful enforcement of the new rule.
Lee County supervisors on Monday voted to follow a new state law, HB 1163, which requires unincorporated areas of counties statewide to mandate contractors obtain both a license and permit for construction, plumbing or electrical work.
The law will take effect on July 1. Currently, contractors aren’t required to get any form of certification to work in unincorporated areas.
County Administrator Bill Benson said he was working on the permit form and planned to have it available on the first day of the new law's implementation. He noted that Lee County Floodplain Administrator Shawn Hairald, whose office is in the Justice Center, will oversee the permitting process.
Benson said the application won’t initially require a fee, although the board could later revisit the ordinance and add what he described as a “small fee to cover the costs of the permits.” Most contractors, he noted, would be able to get their permits back immediately upon turning over their applications.
Although supervisors voted to comply with the new statewide regulation, Benson said he didn’t believe the permits would be “immediately enforceable.”
“This issue we have is we are not set up for enforcement,” Benson said. “We don’t have the personnel. We’d have to have a code enforcement department like our cities.”
The state law does not include any built-in repercussions for violating it.
In response to a question of whether the county could beef up penalties, Benson said the supervisors could vote to add more to the ordinance. Board President and District 1 Supervisor Phil Morgan told the Daily Journal that he did not expect any further guardrails added.
“You need a licensed plumber, a licensed electrician and other licensed contractors for things that could result in bodily harm, but I don’t think there is enough support on the board for county-wide zoning,” Morgan said.
Phil Morgan
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