Hometown Rankin - October & November 2015

volume 2 number 5 

oct/nov 2015 

An Eye for the Wildlife 

____________________ 

A Rodeo Reputation 

____________________ 

Arrows on Target 

____________________ 

PARTNERS IN PUMPKINS

Hometown Rankin • 3

Call us to schedule 

your next visit. 

(601) 825-3368 

Sarah Langston, DMD 

14 Woodgate Drive 

Brandon, Mississippi 39042 

4 • October/November 2015

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

CONSULTANT 

Mary Ann Kirby 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Alicia Adams 

LeeAnn Evans 

Rachel Lombardo 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Camille Anding 

Elizabeth Bennett 


Susan Marquez 

Gene Newman 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

CONTRIBUTING 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Bubba Brantley 

Onsby Vinson 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas - 3dt 

Missy Donaldson - MAD Designs 

The four seasons design was a great addition by God. Summer vacations arrived and released us from 

our tight schedules and school days. We enjoyed watermelon and summer walks at night. Then the 

summer got hotter – and hotter - and drier. Our yard wilted and the dust settled everywhere. 

Then in September a few refreshing rains and cooler nights arrived and fewer bad hair days, thanks to 

low humidity. Yes, I’m putting out the welcome mat for autumn and displaying it on the pages of this issue. 

See wildlife up close and through the lens of Bubba Brantley’s photography. Get informed about a 

Pelahatchie innovation in deer hunting. Celebrate the accomplishments 

of a young rodeo champion. Take the children on a local pumpkin patch 

hayride. And that’s not all! Don’t skip a single page of our wonderful 

advertisers and more interesting stories of people in our hometown. 

The best part may be getting to read this issue without the background 

hum of the air conditioner. Three cheers for autumn and 

the blessing of enjoying it in our wonderful hometown. 

• • • 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownrankinmagazine 

For subscription information 

visit www.htmags.com 

Contact us at info@HTMags.com 

601.706.4059 

26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F 

Brandon MS 39042 

• • • 

All rights reserved. No portion of Hometown Rankin 

may be reproduced without written permission from 

the publisher. The management of Hometown Rankin 

is not responsible for opinions expressed by its 

writers or editors. Hometown Rankin maintains the 

unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted 

material. All advertisements are subject to approval by 

the publisher. The production of Hometown Rankin 

is funded by advertising. 

In this issue An Eye for the Wildlife 8 

A Rodeo Reputation 18 

The Center for Violence Prevention 30 

Arrows on Target 32 

Aiming to Defend Yourself 44 

Partners in Pumpkins 48 

A Classic European Invasion 57 

Thanksgiving Favorites 74 

The Attitude of Gratitude 86 

The Brandon Opry 90 

The Metropolitan Supper Club 94 

The Chalkboard 98 


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Getting to Know Wildlife Photographer 

BUBBA BRANTLEY 





Learn Eagerly 

Providing your student with knowledge through 

Bible-based, rigorous academics in an 

atmosphere that encourages and provides grace. 

601-992-5333 

HartfieldAcademy.com 


LOOKING FOR SOME 

HALLOWEEN 

FUN? 

Thurs Night, oct 29th 

Muse Center, Pearl 

• 5K Run 

• 5K Walk 

• Kids Fun Run 

Costume up 

& come run! 

Info & Register online at: 

www.RankinGlowRun.com 

TREAT 

Street 

Thurs, oct 29th - 5:30-7:30 pm 

Muse Center, Pearl 

This safe and fun-filled 

indoor event is open to 

kids 12 & under. 

ARM BANDS $5 EACH 

RANKIN COUNTY CHAMBER 

101 Service Drive, Brandon MS 39042 

601.825.2268 


Betty Beard & Mandi Arinder 

Chris Irby, Ben Jones 

Ed Douglas, Stephanie Barnes 

Pam Hollingsworth, Mary Scarborough 

Corkscrews & How Do You Do's 

August 27, 2015 

Table 100 / Flowood, MS 

Tom Troxler, Supervisor Jared Morrison 

Nanette Sullivan, Beverly Varner 

Robert & Kathy Hackshaw 

Tammy & Wendell Phillips 

Sherry Franklin, DeAnna Williams 

Pam Reeves, Lisa Lewis 

Rachel Anthony, Mary Allen Bennett 

Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Elliott 


Cassie Phillips, Ann Giang Edwards, 

Adam Edwards 

David Broadaway, Phillip Pace 

Robert & Carrie Dienelt, Troy Odom, 

Amanda & Patrick Fontaine 

Lisa Grantham, Terry & Pam Reeves 

Mr. & Mrs. Marcus Robinson, Sheila Morrison 

Melissa Pittman, Pam Ingram, Rebecca Watkins 

Carrie Lindgren, Chris & Robin Hildebrand, 

Robert Jones 

Gordon McMullin, Caroline King, Miles Forks 

Don Williams, Julie White, Blake Chance 

Rosa Madden, Scotti Mashburn 

Rachel Lombardo, Liz Hogue, Melissa Madison, 

Wendy Weems, Hillary Cook 

Ashlee & Shannon Coley, Chance Mercante 

Linda Hogue, Charlene Bullock, Fay Ray, 

Charlotte Simpson 

Jennifer Davis, Rhonda Laprairie, 

Rebekah Alexander, Laurie Cutrer 

Harold Hogue, William Bullock 


WE ARE IN MADISON! 

Since 1973, we’ve made hearts beat. 

Highland Medical Arts Building 

106 Highland Way, Suite 200 

Madison, MS 

For an appointment please call 601-982-7850. 

www.jacksonheart.com 




A Rodeo 

Reputation 


Second graders at 

StoneBridge Elementary 

in Brandon will be 

hard-pressed to top Cara 

Beth Calhoun’s summer 

experience. She was named 

World Champion in the Little 

Wrangler Division of Barrel 

Racing by the National Little Britches 

Rodeo Association in Pueblo, Colorado. Her winning speed and 

showmanship earned her not only the elite title but also a man-sized 

buckle commemorating the event, a leather saddle, a $1000 college 

scholarship and a cash award. 

Rodeo life is the norm for Cara Beth, along with her mother, 

Emily, dad, Shawn, and her six-year-old brother, Case. The entire 

family is at home in cowboy boots and astride saddles. 

Cara Beth’s mom, Emily, has been riding horses since she was five 

and began rodeo competition at age seven. Deborah Tucker, Emily’s 

mom, helped her follow her dream by “pulling a horse trailer all over 

the country.” Emily is also a regular competitor in barrel racing. 

Dad, Shawn, rode his first horse at the age of thirteen. After being 

bucked off twice, he made peace with horses until three years later 

when a rodeo neighbor moved next door. From that point on, Shawn 

grew to love horses and the rodeo life. 

Today, he is a professional pick-up man in rodeos throughout the 

United States. His job, on his well-trained horse, is to help bucking 

bronco riders exit from their ride safely and in one piece! Shawn’s job 

is a dangerous occupation but a much appreciated one by all bucking 

bronco riders. When in Brandon, Shawn works in the family 

business, Jim McKay 

Drywall, Inc., but can carry 

on business via phone when 

he’s on the rodeo circuit. 

Case is only six and in the first 

grade but rides his own pony in 

rodeo competition. His dad says he’s 

already an excellent horse rider, and he’s 

growing in his roping skills. 

On the first of July, the entire Calhoun family packs their trailer 

with horses and saddles and hits the rodeo trails out West for an 

entire month. Their annual summer vacation gives them travel time 

“togetherness” as well as the rodeo life that they all love. 

While the summer hosts large rodeos out West, the Calhouns 

participate in year-round rodeos in the local as well as out of state 

competitions, traveling as much as 40,000 miles in a year. 

Cara Beth is at ease on a horse and in the field of competitors. 

She’s an avid fan of the rodeo and has made friends from “everywhere.” 

Her world title is an amazing accomplishment for an eight-year-old, 

and even she recognizes her talent. “I’ve only been thrown twice 

in all my horseback riding – once during this year’s competition.” 

She explained matter-of-factly, “The horse went one way, and I went 

the other!” 

It’s for sure the Calhoun family is going the way of the rodeo. 

Even with all the hard work of tending their nineteen horses and 

carrying on fifth generation farming, they spend valued time on the 

road and in the arena as a family. It’s something they all do and do 

with world-wide success. n 


Kick Off The Season 

Alumni House Style 

Open House 

December 5th 10:00-3:00 

Bells of Faith Performances at 11:00 and 1:00 

Family Bake Sale • One-of-a-kind Ceramics Raffle • Seconds Sale 

Year Round Gift Shop Hours 

Mon-Fri 9:00-4:00 and Second Saturdays 10:00-3:00 

A Christian Community for 

Adults with Developmental Disabilities 

www.mustardseedinc.org 

1085 Luckney Road • Brandon, MS 39047 • 601-992-3556 

Located inside the Holiday Inn-Trustmark Park 

110 Bass Pro Drive, Pearl 

With over 27 HD TV’s all tuned to sports, you won’t miss 

a pass, punt or touchdown. Even if you’re not the world’s 

greatest sports fan, you can still have a lot of fun, and 

score some of the finest cuisine around, as well as a huge 

assortment of craft beers. Come on over! 

Join us for Happy Hour! Monday–Friday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. 

Lunch & Dinner: Mon–Sat: 11:00 am–10:00 pm • Sun: 11:00 am–9:00 pm 

Breakfast: 6:00-10:00 am, 7 days a week 

Phone ahead: 601-939-5238 • www.alumnihousepearl.com 


Urology Associates 

of Mississippi 

Our physicians are highly skilled and experienced 

in treating a wide array of urology conditions 

Utilizing state of the art equipment and advanced treatment techniques, 

each of our board certified urologists have specific areas of urological 

expertise in addition to providing general urologic care to patients 

all over the state of Mississippi. 

Avinash C. Gulanikar, M.D. • Mark A. Condon, M.D. • Sujith K. Reddy, M.D. 

Please visit us at our new location: 

294 East Layfair Drive • Flowood, MS 

601.936.4645 


The Center for Violence Prevention 

Making a 

Difference 

for 25 Years 

Susan Marquez 

For those who have happy marriages with a kind and thoughtful spouse, the 

very notion of domestic abuse is hard to imagine. Yet one out of four women 

is affected by violence. It crosses all boundaries, racial, economic and social. 

“I have been blessed with so many great men in my life,” said Sandy Middleton, 

executive director of The Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl. “I had a loving 

father, a wonderful husband, and I’ve raised two sons who have become fine 

young men. Yet, I see the flip side come true in front of my eyes all the time. 

Sadly, I’ve seen it with some of my close friends and family members.” 


Middleton is marking her tenth year with the Center, after being a 

volunteer for some time. “I had just finished working with the Amy Tuck 

re-election campaign,” Middleton recalled. “I have a background in politics 

and fund raising. I was sitting at my mother’s home, feet propped up, reading 

the paper. There was an article about The Center for Violence Prevention, 

and it said they were faced with closing their doors due to lack of funds. 

I felt like I could do something, so I called and told them I’d like to put 

together a pro-bono fund raiser to help them out. It was very successful, 

and I continued volunteering any way I could. The board asked me to serve 

as interim director, and I did that for several months and finally decided that 

this is where I’m supposed to be, so I became the executive director. 

The Center for Violence Prevention, in operation for 25 years now, is 

still going strong. “We have a lot going on all the time,” remarked Middleton. 

The mission statement of the organization is “Through our partnership with 

multiple community organizations and a committed staff focused on the 

needs of the domestic violence client, The Center for Violence Prevention 

advocates that every person has the right to a life free from violence.” The 

Center serves ten Mississippi counties, including Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, 

Issaquena, Madison, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Warren and Yazoo. It began 

as an emergency shelter for women and children. The same shelter is still in 

operation, serving up to 17 at any given time. The typical stay is 30 days. 

There is also a nonresidential shelter for those who have a place to stay, 

but still need services such as therapy and case management. That shelter 

is for both men and women. “Men can be victims of abuse just like women, 

but it’s so much harder for them to seek help. Our culture tells them that 

men aren’t supposed to be victims. But we often see men, and their children, 

in need of assistance.” 

The Center also has a sexual assault program, with trained volunteers 

providing emergency response to hospitals to provide support to the victims. 

And now the Center offers services including trauma therapy and shelter for 

those involved in human trafficking. “We’ve now got a name for the problem, 

and it’s much bigger than many ever imagined,” said Middleton. “We knew 

about familial trafficking, where a mother might offer her own child up for 

sex in exchange for rent or drugs. But we’ve learned that the problem goes 

way beyond that. There are more slaves in the United States now than ever 

before in our history.” Middleton said the federal government has passed 

trafficking legislation, which is a good thing, but there are still no funds to 

deal with the issue. “Our state in particular is so far behind in addressing this 

issue. We need the state to step up to provide money to establish shelters 

for those kids. Right now, we have to make a choice between victims of 

violence or victims of trafficking. It shouldn’t be that way. Often the kids are 

housed in a detention center for lack of other places for them. We need a 

common sense solution.” 

In addition to assisting victims, the Center runs an offender program, 

working with both men and women. “It’s been highly effective in turning 

offenders around,” said Middleton. “It’s based on the Deluth model which 

is used nationally for intervention.” Those in the program are typically there 

due to a court order. “Chances are better to change people’s attitudes when 

the offender is trained early on. We currently have 100 people enrolled in 

our program.” 

Middleton said her biggest challenge is meeting the needs of the Center. 

Funding comes primarily from grants. “We do get support from some churches, 

but we could use more; and we have a couple of retired gentlemen who 

faithfully send a check each month.” The Center runs the Second Chance 

resale shop in Pearl, with money going to families in need. Volunteers are 

always needed in all areas of the operation. “We need volunteers to sort 

and hang clothes at the Second Chance shop,” Middleton explained. 

“We need volunteers to help with the sexual assault cases. And we need 

volunteers for everything in between. We rely on volunteers to provide all 

the services we do.” Middleton said that specialized volunteer positions 

received in-depth training to prepare them for the tasks they’ll be doing. 

And while the stories can be heartbreaking, there is great joy for 

Middleton with the job she is doing. “Seeing the victims become survivors 

makes it all worthwhile. It’s a wonderful opportunity to sit on the front row 

to see life change for the positive. We see people walk in and you know by 

their posture that they have been beaten down, emotionally or physically 

or both. To watch those same people become happier and more confident, 

knowing that they’ve become survivors, well that’s what makes it all 

worthwhile. I tell my staff all the time that other people don’t get to go to 

work each day and see people’s lives change the way we do.” 

And as for working in Rankin County, Middleton said it can’t be beat. 

“Rankin County is so good to us. We have a 

great partnership with Sheriff Brian Bailey, 

as well as with the different municipal police 

departments in the county. We are extremely 

grateful for that. I’ve had the opportunity to 

do some really cool things in my life and I’ve 

been around some amazing people, but this 

is the best job I’ve ever had. I truly feel that 

God led me to be here.” n 


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Special Thanks 

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H o m e t o w n L o v e 

pearl 

Gene Newman 

I wasn’t born and raised in Pearl, but I got 

here as fast as I could. My family moved to 

Pearl from Brookhaven the year I became a 

junior in high school. Like most young 

people, I wasn’t in favor of giving up all my 

friends, but I decided it wasn’t that far away 

so I could always go back on the weekends. 

As time went by and I got to know more 

people, my trips to Brookhaven came less 

and less. The more people in Pearl that I got 

to know, the more I came to love my home– 

My Pearl. 

You see, the main thing that I’ve learned 

to love about Pearl through all these years is 

the people that I know and have known. 

The place that is Pearl has always been 

changing. To some it changes for the better 

and others just don’t like the change. When 

I was the younger version of me going to the 

old Pearl McLaurin High School, before 

there was a City of Pearl, things were 

simpler–but they were changing, even then. 

But no matter how things changed, the 

people were what always mattered and 

they were always the constant. Even though 

people came and went, the longer I stayed 

in My Pearl, the more friends I made. 

Some folks will tell you that since Pearl is 

right here at the crossroads of U.S. 49, I-55 

and I-20, it gives us great access to all parts 

of Metro Jackson so that there’s always 

plenty to do and go see. And some will add 

that not only does the crossroads give you 

access to the Metro, it also gives you easy 

access to places like the Mississippi Gulf 

Coast, New Orleans, and Memphis. And 

others will add that it’s just a hop on over to 

Atlanta, Dallas or so many other places. 

When I was getting on airplanes every 

week, the airport being right here at Pearl 

was a wonderful thing and being able to go 

easily and quickly is great but that’s really 

not what makes My Pearl special. 

What makes My Pearl special is the 

people. Whether it’s Pirate football, baseball 

or any sport, there’s always going to be 

friends there helping support our Pirates. 

The Pearl Pirate Band has always been great 

and what makes it great is the support of 

the parents and staff at the schools. But 

even more importantly, all of our city 

supports our schools by buying chicken 

dinners, raffle tickets and everything else 

anyone can think of to raise money to 

support our kids. And that’s one of the keys 

– our kids. The people in Pearl supported 

me when I came here and all these years 

later, they’re still supporting our schools. 

Because even if we don’t have a child or 

grandchild in the Pearl school system, 

they’re still our kids. They’re Pearl Kids! 

That’s My Pearl! n 


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Charla Bullard, Lisa Grantham, Jeff Arnold, Renee Deweese, Doug Hurd 

Alumni Party 

July 30, 2015 

Jackson Yacht Club 

Charlie McGuffee, Ann Giger 

Roy & Beth Embry 

Abby, Arthur, & Beverly Johnston 

Leah & Steve Calder (Winners of Live Auction) 

Will Crump, John Stringer 

Keith Fulcher, Jordan Thomas (Asst Alumni Director), Bill LaForge (DSU President), Jeffrey Farris (Director of Alumni Affairs) 

Daniel James Elliott, Bellipanni, Billy Thomas Lisa Spencer 


Hays Collins, Fran Strenlow, Andrew Strenlow 

Nancy LaForge 

Ross Reily, Don Fitzgerald, Matt Jones, Sam Reily 

Pauline & Jack Cochran (earliest graduates at party!) 

Katy & Will Crump, Sara Jane Nelson, John Polles 

Susan & David Farris, Lily Leach 

Russell Green, Rob Armour (National Alumni President), 

John Fletcher (National Alumni Treasurer) 

Jeff & Teresa Arnold 

Lloyd Clark, Erin Cole, Jason Cole, Gary Bouse 

Jennifer Covington, Vanessa Stark, Sara Leach, Jeffrey Kent 




Arrows 

on 

Target 


If you spend any length of time with Marlo and Justin 

Sarrett, you come away with a feeling of renewed hope 

in the next generation, a sample of refreshing hospitality, 

and a lofty respect for their business savvy. Theirs is a 

dual story of success and investment in their home 

county of Rankin. 

In 2002, Justin was heading up his manufacturing 

business, Emerald Transformers, when it attracted the 

attention of a larger company. In 2013, Justin sold his 

business to that company and within a short space 

of time, that same company hired him as their CEO. 

Now Justin was over 326 employees in seven plants 

throughout the United States. 

The CEO job is demanding of his time – some 

weeks taking eighty hours of work and travel. 

Justin’s quiet spirit and visible humility don’t 

appear to align with a CEO directing a large 

corporation. However, those attributes paired 

with his business insight keep him firmly 

in charge and successful. 



He shared how some of his employees with Harvard 

degrees go to great lengths to introduce business ideas 

for the company. Justin says, “Within a few minutes of 

their in-depth explanations, I stop them and tell them that 

my gut tells me that won’t work.” At his level of success, 

his employees are quick to go with his gut feeling. 

While Justin spends long hours away from their home 

in Pelahatchie, Marlo runs a bustling enterprise of her 

own. She and business partner, Michelle Carter, own and 

operate the Brick House Fitness Center in Pelahatchie. 

Marlo also handles the reservations for the Blue Chair 

Properties in Destin, Florida, that she and Justin own. 

However, she invests most of her time in their two sons, 

Jordan, a ninth grader and archery enthusiast and Colin, 

a fifth grader and soccer player. 

She’s presently completing a general associate’s 

degree at Hinds Community College, a goal she wasn’t 

able to complete in her past. 

The couples’ latest project and business adventure is 

Broken Arrow Outfitters at The Plantation, 1580 Leesburg 

Road outside Pelahatchie. Their spacious home sits at the 

front of this 1300-acre hunting property called Broken 

Arrow Outfitters at The Plantation and is the well-kept 

habitat of white-tailed deer and turkeys. 

The thirteen miles of fencing has caused some 

questions and misguided conclusions about fenced 

hunting. After thorough research and proper planning, 

Justin is convinced that a hunt at Broken Arrow Outfitters 

will be a challenge and an earned reward. The challenge 

is targeting a buck on the 1300 acres with bow and arrow 

as the only weapon allowed. The reward will possibly be a 


trophy buck because Justin says, “We’ve allowed the deer 

to reach their potential in age and structure – something 

the average hunter doesn’t realize. We also keep all 

predators away.” The animals are all natural with no 

controlled breeding or use of steroids. 

Even though archery hunting is more 

challenging, Justin believes the hunter’s odds 

are favorable. He’s studied Rankin County’s 

hunting records and stats and found that 

there’s one deer per every ten to twelve acres. 

In Broken Arrow Outfitters, there’s one deer per 

every four acres. 

The hunting facility began as an idea for a restful 

hunting retreat for Justin’s company associates and 

clientele. Hunters will arrive on a Sunday afternoon, lodge 

in resort-style accommodations, and eat three meals per 

day that are prepared and served by a talented cook and 

carried to hunting locations by guides that insure their 

safety. The hunt concludes on Wednesday at noon. 

The Sarretts will officially open the hunting 

camp in October. They are keenly aware of the 

major responsibility and undertaking in such 

an expansive project. 

“But this is not a money-making operation,” 

Justin is quick to add. He looks at Marlo and 

together they try to express an undefined goal 

of sharing their blessings with special needs families 

and youth. “We’re not sure what direction Broken Arrow 

Outfitters is headed, but we’re testing the waters and 

excited about what the future holds.” n 




The Mustard Seed 

Tailgating 

in Style 

AUGUST 25, 2015 

FLOWOOD, MS 

Sponsored by 

The Mustard Seed's 

Ladies Auxiliary 



Karli AnneMassey 

& John DavisMcGinnis 

–ENGAGEMENT– 

Mr. and Mrs. James Jeffrey Massey of Mendenhall announce the engagement 

of their daughter, Karli Anne Massey, to John Davis McGinnis, son of Mr. and 

Mrs. James Earl McGinnis, III of Meridian. 

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Leon Bairfield of 

Mendenhall, and Mrs. Bettye Purvis Massey and the late Mr. James Lloyd Massey 

of Pelahatchie. 

The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Miles 

Shirley of Meridian, and Mr. and Mrs. James Earl McGinnis, Jr. of Meridian. 

Miss Massey is a 2010 honor graduate of Simpson Academy, where she was 

inducted into the hall of fame. She attended The University of Mississippi where 

she studied pre-physical therapy. She was a member of the Chi chapter of Delta 

Delta Delta sorority. She is now furthering her education as a physical therapist 

assistant student at Meridian Community College. 

McGinnis is a 2009 honor graduate of Meridian High School. He received a 

bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the University of Mississippi, where he 

was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He is now a pine and hardwood buyer at 

The McGinnis Lumber Company in Meridian. 

The couple will exchange vows Saturday the seventeenth of October, at six 

o’clock in the evening at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Meridian. A reception will 

follow at The Historical Soule. 

Bethany Julianna Johnson 

& Jonathan Brent Frazier 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Allen Johnson Jr. of Brandon, Mississippi are pleased to 

announce the engagement of their daughter Bethany Julianna Johnson to Jonathan 

Brent Frazier, son of Paul and Debbie Frazier of Braxton, Mississippi. 

The bride elect is the paternal granddaughter of Julie Johnson Paster and 

the late Richard Allen Johnson Sr. of St. Petersburg, Florida. She is the maternal 

granddaughter of Roy V. West Jr. and the late Mary Catherine Moriarty and 

the late MaryNell West of Laurel, Mississippi. 

Miss Johnson is a 2012 graduate of Puckett High School and is currently attending 

Mississippi College majoring in medical science with a minor in business administration. 

The prospective groom is the paternal grandson of the late Bobby Kay Frazier 

and Doris Frazier. He is the maternal grandson of the late Harold Andrews and 

the late Francis Andrews. 

Mr. Frazier is a 2009 graduate of Puckett High School and is currently employed 

with Ram Electric. 

The couple will exchange vows on October 11, 2015 at five in the afternoon at 

McClain Lodge, Brandon, Mississippi. The couple plan to make their home in 

Florence, Mississippi. 


–ENGAGEMENT– 

ErinElizabethHamilton 

&CoryStephenBass 

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hamilton of Brandon, Mississippi announce the engagement 

of their daughter, Erin Elizabeth Hamilton, to Cory Stephen Bass, son of Mr. and Mrs. 

Joseph Bass, Jr. of Meridian, Mississippi. 

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Middleton, 

Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey, Mrs. Annell Hamilton, and the late Mr. Bobby Hamilton. 

Miss Hamilton is a 2012 graduate of Brandon High School and will graduate from 

Mississippi College in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 

The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Joe A. Covington 

and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Bass, Sr. 

Mr. Bass is a 2010 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School in Meridian, 

Mississippi and a 2014 graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in 

Business Administration with a focus in accounting. He received a Master of Business 

Administration with a focus in accounting from Mississippi College in 2015. He is 

employed at Horne LLP in Ridgeland, Mississippi. 

The couple will exchange vows on December nineteenth at two o’clock in the 

afternoon at First Baptist Church of Brandon. Following the ceremony, a reception 

will be held at McClain Lodge. Upon returning from a honeymoon to Georgia, the 

couple will reside in Clinton, Mississippi. 

 

MaggieCarolee Harper 

& Brett Ashley Bailey 

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Livingston Harper of Pearl, announce the engagement of 

their daughter, Maggie Carolee Harper, to Brett Ashley Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. 

William Carlton Browning and Mr. Ronald Carol Bailey, all of Ellisville. The bride-elect 

is the granddaughter of Lois Livingston Harper and the late Calvin Douglas Harper 

of Pearl, and Marjorie Thomas Hancock and the late Lee Ronde Hancock, Jr. of Clinton. 

The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Frances Evelyn Bailey and the late Carol 

Bailey, and Marion Junior Ashley and the late Mary Virginia Ashley, all of Ellisville. 

Miss Harper is a 2010 graduate of Pearl High School and a 2013 summa cum laude 

graduate of Mississippi State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political 

science. At State, she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, a 2011-2013 Alumni 

Delegate, member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies, and 

involved in the student association. After graduation, she completed a six-month public 

relations internship with Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France. She is a political 

fundraiser through Frontier Strategies in Jackson. 

Bailey is a 2009 graduate of South Jones High School in Ellisville and a 2013 cum 

laude graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 

real estate with a minor in banking and finance. At Ole Miss, he served as president of 

the Real Estate Financial Association and was its representative for the business 

associated student body. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, 

and Gamma Beta Phi honor societies. He was a co-founder of RunToRescue and 

served on the leadership team for Campus Crusade for Christ. He is a broker 

associate with NAIUCR Properties in Flowood. 

The couple will wed January 16 at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, with a 

reception to follow at The South. 


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AIMING TO DEFEND 

YOURSELF 

ELIZABETH BENNETT 

kKim Condon is a woman 

who wears many hats. But her 

latest venture, Boondocks, is a 

new business created with her 

husband, Dr. Mark Condon, owner 

of Urology Associates in Flowood. 

Boondocks is a firearms training 

facility for civilians wanting to 

learn to effectively use a firearm. 

It is a school with a controlled 

environment and is only available 

for those registered for the 

training classes. There are three 

different class levels: beginner, 

intermediate and advanced, with 

some of the advanced classes even 

including home invasion simulation. 

The purpose of Boondocks is to teach civilians how to defend themselves 

with a firearm. “It is your God given right to own a firearm. We are supporters of 

the 2nd Amendment,” said Kim. “We want people who own guns to be trained, 

prepared and know how to use them effectively.” 

The idea for Boondocks actually originated after a very tragic event. When 

the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting happened in 2012, it really struck 

a chord with Kim. She said she’s keenly aware that the world is getting crazier 

and she isn’t getting any younger and just wants to be prepared and ready to 

defend herself should the need ever arise. “I feel it’s important to do whatever 

you need to do to make yourself feel safe. We all wear a seatbelt, not wishing 

to be in a wreck, but to be as safe as possible just in case. We all have a fire 

extinguisher–not that we hope we have a fire, but just in case. Personally, 

I choose a firearm as my means of self-defense because I know for sure if I am 

ever in harm’s way, the best equalizer will be a firearm. Some people may choose 

martial arts. Some people choose to carry a knife or Mace. Whatever your choice 

may be, training is the key. The skills you lack may be the very ones you need to 

save your life.” 

After much thought about the theater shooting, Kim decided she wanted to 

properly, and safely, learn how to use a gun. She told her husband, who has been 

Kim Condon – Owner & Founder 


around guns his whole life, and off they 

went to the Gun Site Academy in Arizona 

for training. After her very first training, 

she had a completely different outlook on 

guns and wasn’t afraid of them anymore. 

She has been back three times for 

additional defensive classes. 

Back in Mississippi, she took a class in Edwards to get her enhanced-carry permit. 

It was at that time that Kim realized there wasn’t an official training center anywhere 

in Mississippi like the Gun Site Academy in Arizona that she had visited. So, one 

night over dinner, she and her husband explored the idea of opening up their own 

gun training facility. She suggested using the land in Raymond that they have owned 

for over six years. The very next day, the Condons had an architect draw up plans. 

Boondocks provides classes for ages 21 and up. All students must wear eye and 

ear protection and additional mandatory gear is specific to the class taken. Kim and 

Mark Condon are the owners of Boondocks and Cliff Cargill is the range-master 

and training coordinator. Michael Frazier is the facility manager and there are 

currently forty instructors on the roster from Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. 

It should be noted that Boondocks is also very female friendly. Kim is a leader in 

The Well-Armed Woman Clinton/Raymond Chapter which educates, equips and 

empowers the female gun owner. “It is empowering to have the ability to defend 

yourself,” she said. “A tragic event in Colorado transformed my thought process of 

gun use being recreational into something that is educational and beneficial to our 

community and state” said Condon. 

Miranda Blanton, Pearl resident, is an instructor at Boondocks. “Boondocks is 

fabulous! In my opinion, there’s nothing like it in this region. We offer a great 

selection of classes for men and women. I enjoy teaching the Well-Armed Woman 

class and Enhanced Permit classes.” 

Boondocks Training Academy is all about attitude, ability and awareness. If you 

are looking to learn something new and find out how to properly and safely use a 

firearm, then look no further than Boondocks Training Academy in Raymond. They 

are located at 11771 Highway 18, in Raymond, Mississippi, or you can reach them by 

phone at (769) 972-2382. Check them out on the web at www.boondocksfta.com. n 


4-25-15 

2.5 x 1.75 

Attitude Ability Awareness 

BOONDOCKS FIREARMS TRAINING ACADEMY 

The Boondocks is an all-inclusive training facility designed 

for both men and women to learn safe gun handling and 

defensive firearms training for multiple skill levels. 

Monthly TWAW Chapter Meetings 

State of the Art Facility 

Skilled and Certified Instructors 

Safety is our Priority 

Education is Key 

Enjoyment is Goal 

Class Descriptions on Website 

www.BoondocksFTA.com 

Sign up online for your class 

Click on Class Title to receive class description/prices/etc. 

11771 Highway 18 769-972-2382 Raymond, MS 39154 

TWAW Shooting Chapter Clinton/Raymond MS 

www.TWAWshootingchapters.org 


PEOPLE IN THE NEWS 

Jeri Bullard 

Mary Kay independent beauty consultant Jeri Bullard 

of Brandon has earned the use of a new Chevy Cruze 

as a result of her outstanding achievements in her Mary 

Kay business. She took delivery of the new Chevy Cruze, 

her first Mary Kay career car, at Rogers Dabbs in Brandon. 

“What an incredible feeling to earn this trophy on 

wheels,” said Bullard. “Mary Kay is so generous with 

prizes. It has been my joy and honor to work with my 

amazing team as we all reach individual goals and 

continue to enrich women’s lives.” 

The Career Car Program includes the Chevy Cruze 

in white, Chevy Equinox crossover in black, Toyota 

Camry in black, BMW320i in black and the iconic 

and coveted pearlized pink Cadillac, a signature color to 

the Mary Kay career car program. 

Barry Moss 

Rankin County welcomes Barry Moss as the new 

CEO for Merit Health Rankin. Barry comes from 

Merit Health Wesley where he served as COO. 

Prior to that, he served as assistant chief executive 

officer and vice president of professional services 

at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama. 

Barry received both his Master of Business 

Administration and Master of Science in Health 

Administration from the University of Alabama at 

Birmingham. He received his undergraduate degree 

from Birmingham Southern College. 

In 2013, Moss was recognized as one of Dothan 

Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and was named by 

Business Alabama as a 2013 Young Mover and Shaper. 

Barry will officially join Merit Health Rankin 

as CEO on October 5, 2015. 


Partners in 

Pumpkins 



October means only one thing 

to the Nichols & Boyd families in 

Pisgah community – pumpkins! 

The two families, living and farming on adjoining property 

of over 100 acres, convert a large tract of that land to an October 

pumpkin experience for all ages. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, better known as Roy and A.B., join 

efforts with neighbors David and Jane Boyd, along with a staff 

of 35-plus family and community members in the fall-fun and 

education enterprise. Roy gets credit for the idea that was put 

in place in 1997. Sharing the land and equipment made perfect 

sense for such a challenging venture. 

During weekdays in October, field trip school buses deliver 

children to the Nichols-Boyd Pumpkin Patch for a tractor-pulled 

hayride that rolls past a variety of farm animals. The ride also 

includes picking a pumpkin from the field, a visit to an oldfashioned 

playground and light refreshments in the shaded 

picnic area. The barn store carries a variety of homemade sweets, 

candies and novelties for purchasing. (Note: checks and cash are 

the only accepted currency at the Patch.) 

A tour guide rides with each class or group and answers 


questions during the ride. Tours leave every thirty minutes and 

last about one and a half hours. Up-close viewing of farm animals is 

a treat for all the passengers. 

Jane and A.B. were former school teachers, so education, 

structure and fun are creatively laced into every tour. A.B. feels 

certain that their pumpkin patch experience is viewed in a 

positive way. She says, “We’re now seeing second generation 

visitors returning with their children.” 

August and September are busy months getting ready for the 

thousands of October visitors. Susan Irby, a major assistant and 

former kindergarten teacher, helps the two families make the 

event reach its goal of being a fun, learning experience for 

everyone. 

While A.B. is in charge of making the appointments and 

scheduling, Jane stays busy seeing that the tours stay on schedule 

and that the individual candy treat bags are packed and ready 

for distribution during the weekdays. “We work hard to see that 

every part of the visit runs smoothly,” Jane adds with sincerity. 

October activities also include cook-outs on the “Back Forty.” 

Groups enjoy a hayride, plus hotdogs, canned drinks, and 

marshmallows. Birthday groups, office parties, and sorority 

groups are some that reserve this nighttime event. Reservations 

and deposits are required. 

A.B. and Jane urge visitors to remember that all weekday 

visits to the Pumpkin Patch must be pre-booked. Hours are 

Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 3:00. The cost is $8 per child and 

$6 per adult. 

Weekends are geared to the general public and no 

appointments are needed for Saturdays, 10:00 to 4:00 and for 

Sundays, 1:00 to 4:00. Arrive by 3:00, though, to catch the last 

wagon loading at 3:00. 

The corn maize is a recently added experience that’s 

getting a lot of attention. Visit their website for 

detailed information about all the Pumpkin Patch 

activities at www.nicholsenterprisesllc.com. 

All ages, families, and groups are 

welcomed and assured of a unique fall 

experience at the Nichols-Boyd Pumpkin 

Patch. It’s definitely the happening place for 

October and the only official “pumpkin juice” 

distributor in Rankin County. n 



JACKSON ACADEMY 

Jackson Academy is accepting applications 

for the James Peter Jernberg, Jr. Scholarship 

from students entering fifth through eleventh 

grades in 2016–17. Jernberg Scholars will 

receive full tuition and fees to attend JA. 

Applicants must demonstrate some financial 

need, and scholars will be selected based 

on academic excellence, enthusiasm for 

success, and determination to excel in a 

challenging, innovative environment. 

Apply now at jacksonacademy.org/jernbergscholars. 

A Worthy Name, An Exceptional Education 

The Jernberg Scholarship 

Achieve your full potential at JA! | jacksonacademy.org | 601.364.5450 


St. Mark’s 

United 

Methodist 

Women 

3rd Annual Tablescapes Luncheon 

Scott Davidson and Rick Long 

Barbara Glasscock 

Becky Hall 

Christy Jones and Arlene Petus 

Jimmie Ray Gordon 

and Sara Meeks 

Jane Dunaway and Merriam Smilley 

AUGUST 29, 2015 

Two hundred attended 

and helped raise money 

for local missions. 

Nancy Crisco and 

Shirley McKenzie 

Men Servers 


Christy Jones and Arlene Petus 

Jennifer Goodwin, McClean Fletcher Center 

Bethleham Center 

Connie Thompson and Helen Morrison 

Faye Hollingsworth, Little Light House 

Cari Clarkson and Elizabeth Luckett 

Connie Shelton and June Miracle 


ProuD To be ParT of rankin counTy 

Tom Douglas 

PresiDenT 

roberT Douglas 

Vice-PresiDenT 

817 n college sT. 

branDon, ms 

Meet the 2015 Real Men Wear Pink Candidates 

makingstrideswalk.org/realmenjacksonms 


A Classic European Invasion 

Susan Marquez 

Some of the most elite names in European automobiles like 

Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo will be on 

display at the first ever Flowood Euro Summit on October 25th. 


When Rodney Chamblee wanted to get a major event started 

in the Lakeland Drive area, he called on Mike Marsh. Marsh is a 

self-proclaimed car guy who has experience putting together classic 

European car shows. Since 2008 he’s coordinated the Euro Fest 

in Ridgeland. But Chamblee, owner of Chamblee Hospitality 

Group, wanted an event on the east side of the Pearl River, and 

that’s how the first ever Flowood Euro Summit came about. 

The event will be held on October 25 in the parking lot of 

Table 100 and the Holiday Inn Express next door. Cars like 

Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo will be 

on display, as will many more of the most elite names in European 

automobiles at the event. “We expect to have between 25 and 40 

cars at this event, with car owners coming in from several states,” 

said Marsh. 

A collector of vintage Mercedes-Benz, Marsh has been 

entering his cars in shows for years. “The problem for me was 

that most car shows were mixed shows,” said Marsh. “There 

were hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and more, but very few classic 

European cars. I wanted a show that was purely European cars, 

and classic cars, meaning the cars are 25 years old or older. I 

always said if I could find a local venue that’s right for this kind 

of show, I’d make it happen.” He worked with the management 

team at the Renaissance in Ridgeland to put together Euro Fest. 


A Classic European Invasion 

While the first Flowood Euro Summit may be a smaller event, 

Marsh expects entries with cars manufactured in five countries: 

Britain, Italy, Germany, Sweden and France. “We are talking with 

car owners from nine southeast states,” said Marsh. “Spectators can 

see such classic cars as Volkswagen, Porsche, Land Rover, Royal 

Enfield, Talbot Lago, Henson, Daimler, Jaguar, Bugatti, Ducati, 

Marcos and more. All cars are manufactured before 1991.” 

The event is 3pm to 6pm and is free to the public. Those 

attending the event will have an opportunity to vote for their 

favorite car. The car with the most votes will win the People’s 

Table 100. Those who vote will also have a chance to win a $100 

certificate to Table 100. 

Marsh stressed that the Flowood Euro Summit is a familyfriendly 

event and said the public is encouraged to come and 

bring their cameras. “This is a gathering of classic European 

automobiles for public viewing,” said Marsh. “The car owners 

will be on hand to talk to folks about their cars and to answer 

questions. Chances are you’ll see a vehicle you’ve never seen 

before, or may never see again.” And chances are, you’ll wish 

you were in the driver’s seat. ■ 

Choice award and the owner will get a $100 gift certificate to 


Flowood euro-summit 

sunday, october 25, 2015 • 3-6pm 

Table 100 & holiday Inn Express • Flowood, Ms 

• Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres 

• Complimentary Valet Parking 

• $100 table 100 gift card Drawing 

• Live Music 


The RIGHT Person, 

At The RIGHT Time, 

For The RIGHT Reasons 

Vote Experience With A Purpose! 

PROFESSIONAL 

● Current Rankin County Chancery Court Family 

Master presiding over paternity cases, temporary 

hearings and Department of Human Services’ cases 

● Staff Attorney, Rankin County Chancery Court 

(2007-2015) These years of experience and involvement 

in over 10,000 civil and domestic cases have equipped 

Haydn with the necessary tools and knowledge to be 

the type of Chancery Judge Rankin County needs and 

deserves – one of honesty, integrity and fairness 

● Court Appointed Mediator 

● Attorney for the Rankin County Chancery Clerk 

● Member of the Mississippi Bar and the Rankin 

County Bar 

● Member Board of Directors, Rankin County 

Bar Association (2013 - present) 

COMMUNITY 

● Charter Member of The Pointe of Brandon, 

a UnitedMethodist Community of Faith 

● Chairman of the Administrative Board 

at The Pointe of Brandon (2009 - 2012) 

● Division 1 and 2 select and competitive soccer 

coach at Brandon Futbol Club (2009 - 2015) 

VOTE Tuesday, November 3rd 

www.RankinforRoberts.com • www.facebook.com/rankinforroberts • twitter @rankinforroberts 

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF HAYDN ROBERTS

ankin 

RECIPES 

Betty Upton’s 

Chicken & Dressing 

• 1 hen, baking size 

• Broth from cooked hen 

• 1 stick butter/margarine 

• 1 large skillet cornbread 

• 2-3 cold biscuits OR 4 slices of loaf bread 

• 1 large onion 

• 1 tsp. black pepper 

• 1 cup chopped celery 

• 1 whole raw egg 

• 4 boiled eggs 

• ½-1 cup milk 

• ½ stick butter/margarine to chip on top 

of dressing 

• 1 can cream of chicken soup 

(if needed for more broth) 

Cut up and boil baking size hen (or fryers can be 

used) in salted water until meat will slip off the 

bone (about 30-45 minutes or if you have a 

pressure cooker, about 25 minutes). Remove meat 

from broth, let cool and take the meat off the bone. 

Add 1 stick butter to the broth. 

Note: It doesn’t matter how you cut up the hen. Just 

cover it with water and salt with about ½ - 1 tsp of salt. 

Bake 1 large skillet of cornbread and let it cool or, 

better still, bake it a day ahead. Put the bread in a 

large pan and crumble it until it’s fine. Add 2 or 3 

cold biscuits or 4 slices of loaf bread. Chop 1 large 

onion (about 1 cup chopped) and add it to the 

bread. Add about 1 tsp. of black pepper (or to 

taste). Add 1 cup chopped celery (if desired). 

Pour hot chicken broth over this. Mash with 

vegetable masher to make it smooth. Mix in 1 

whole raw egg. Stir well until it disappears. Add 

4 chopped boiled eggs. Then add enough milk 

to make the mixture almost soupy (not stiff ). 

Pour into a buttered baking dish – at least a 9”x13”. 

(It may take a 2nd dish.) Place pieces of the 

cooked chicken on top of the dressing and press 

into the mixture. Dot with butter – simply take 

about a half stick of butter and chip off pieces at 

random spots. Bake in 400 degree oven until done 

and lightly browned – I would check it after about 

35 minutes. Shake it and if it appears stiff, it is done. 

Don’t overcook but if it still “shakes” in the center 

– leave it a while longer. 

NOTE: If you need more chicken broth after you add 

all the ingredients, add one can cream of chicken soup 

and one can of water. Heat before adding it in. 

Cornbread 

• 2 cups self rising corn meal 

• 1 cup sweet milk 

• 1 egg 

• 2 T cooking oil 

Put enough oil in the bottom of a large black iron 

skillet to cover the bottom. Put it on an eye of the 

stove to get hot. When it is hot, sprinkle cornmeal 

all around but not enough to absorb the oil. Take 

off heat and pour in batter and spread well. Put in a 

400 degree oven, already preheated and bake 

about 10 minutes and check to see if it’s firm in the 

middle. If not let it bake about 5 minutes longer. 

Turn on broiler to brown and remove from oven. 

Dump out of skillet immediately onto a plate. 


How to Cook a 

Frozen Turkey 

Breast 

• 1 frozen turkey breast, unthawed 

• Accent Seasoning Salt 

• 1 tablespoon sugar 

• Onion salt 

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted 

• Celery Salt 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Rinse and dry frozen 

turkey breast. Place on length of heavy duty 

aluminum foil long enough to fold around turkey, 

and seal. Generously shake salt, onion salt, celery 

salt and Accent over turkey and sprinkle with 

sugar. Rub in seasonings with fingers. Pour melted 

butter over turkey. I leave it breast side down. Fold 

foil around turkey as though wrapping a box, 

sealing top and ends tightly. Place turkey “package” 

in small roasting pan. Roast at 450 degrees for 2 

hours, then open foil and cook another 20 minutes 

to brown. If using meat thermometer, temp should 

read 190 degrees when fully cooked. I turned the 

oven off after the 2 hours and let the turkey sit for 

about an hour before opening the foil. 

Mama Upton’s 

Fresh Coconut Pie 

• 1 cup sugar 

• 4 T self-rising flour 

• 3 eggs 

• 1 ½ cup milk 

• 2 T butter or margarine 

• 1 t. vanilla flavoring 

• 1 cup grated fresh coconut (can use fresh frozen) 

Pour sugar into a 2 qt. saucepan, place flour on top 

of the sugar and mix with fingers thoroughly. Add 

the yolk of 2 eggs and 1 whole egg (save the egg 

whites for the topping). Stir in to mix. Place on 

stove and cook on high stirring constantly until it 

thickens. Set off heat, add butter and vanilla and 

the coconut. Pour into a cooled baked pie crust. 

TOPPING 

• 1 cup sugar 

• ¼ cup water 

• 1 T white Karo Syrup 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring 

Mix ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a 

boil. Let it continue to boil until it reaches a stage 

where when you take the spoon you’re stirring 

with out of the pan up above and let it drip, the 

drip becomes like a thread about 3 inches long. 

Have 2 egg whites beaten stiff in a small mixing 

bowl. Pour hot syrup on egg whites very slowly, 

mixing as you pour. Add 1 t. vanilla and spread on 

top of pie. Sprinkle fresh coconut on top. Let cool 

before serving. 

With Thanksgiving nearing , I wanted to share 

some of my mother’s recipes just as she wrote them 

for me as a young bride, trying to help me learn 

how to cook. I treasure every word because I can 

just hear my mother telling me every step. 

All of these recipes are wonderful but the turkey 

recipe is especially handy. Several years ago, a 

friend from North Carolina shared a recipe for 

how to cook a frozen turkey breast and it is 

actually so good that I have used it several times, 

even when I wasn’t short on time. It's easy and 

delicious, juicy, and cooked to perfection. I hope 

you will enjoy all these recipes as much as we do. 

– Patsy Tolleson 




Bettye Massey, Ruby Burns, Margie Warren, Ellen Davis 

Amanda Cox, Rep. Mark Baker, Vance Cox 

Anna Adams, Bertha Adams 

Pelahatchie 

MAYOR’S 

Prayer 

Breakfast 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 

Charles Everett, Sydney & Casey Collier 

Audrey Booker & Mandy Miles 

Cecil Brown, Ryan Brown 

Due McKinion, Sue Townsend 

Ellen Davis & Brady Harrell 

Steven Wallace, Haydn Roberts Jennifer & Kevin Poole Willie Mosley Sr., Kathy Mosley Glenda Shoemaker, Megan Hall 


Guy Hughes, Michael Evans 

Larry Beasley, Dolly Merchant 

Marcus Bowers, Michael Adams 

Sheriff Bryan Bailey, Irl Dean Rhodes 

Evelyn McMillan, Mary Mitchell 

Mayor Knox Ross, Jamie Ross, Rida Mashburn 

Ida Jones, Pat Gibbons, Evern Harper, Velma Davis 

Tom & Melinda McLemore 

Gloria Rhodes, Martha Coghlan 

John Edwards, Due McKinion 

Julie & Don Davis 

Supervisor Walter Johnson, Judge Tom Broome 

Jennifer & Dick Hall, Tom Miles 

Billy & Judy Fortenberry, Judge John Grant 



HOMETOWN 

Sponsored by 

For ten weeks, Renesant Bank and Hometown Rankin Magazine will 

honor school personnel throughout Rankin County for outstanding work 

in their fields. Nominations are accepted through Facebook each week and 

those receiving the most nominations were awarded gift baskets from our 

sponsor. We are pleased to have been able to celebrate with these amazing 

school employees that were voted on by their peers. Thank you to all who 

participated and congratulations to our first two winners. 


After receiving a call from an 

exchange services coordinator looking 

for families to host high schoolers as 

exchange students, the Singleterry 

family decided to open up their home 

and give it a go. 

The Singleterry household in Brandon is always active with two 

growing boys. Their eight-year-old and three-year-old keep them 

busy enough, but add to the mix a teenaged girl. One from another 

country to boot. “It makes for some fun times,” said Steven Singleterry. 

Steven and his wife, Allison, are a host family for International 

Cultural Exchange Services (ICES), based in Virginia. And while 

neither have ever studied abroad, they have opened their home for 

high school students from other countries to take up residence for 

an entire school year. 

It all started when the Singelterrys received a cold call from an 

ICES regional coordinator out of Alabama. The coordinator was 

seeking families to host high schoolers as exchange students. 

“While we had never considered that, both of us thought it would 

be a fun idea,” said Steven. After meeting the local coordinator, 

who lives in Pearl, the Singleterrys went through a credit check, 

criminal background check, home inspection and intensive 

interviews to assure the couple was able and willing to take on 

such a big responsibility. “We also talked about what countries we 

might like to have students from.” 

The Singleterrys recently welcomed their third student, a junior 

from Slovakia named Beky. “In the past two years, we’ve had a student 

from Germany, and another from Finland,” said Steven. “They all 

speak fluent English, so that has not been a problem.” The Singleterrys 

got detailed profiles of their students, but only met the first two 

when they arrived a couple of weeks before school started. “With 

Beky, we’ve had an opportunity to ‘meet’ her online, and we’ve been 

communicating with her since February. When she arrived here, 

we felt as if we already knew her.” 

Susan Marquez 

During the school year, the exchange students spend all major 

holidays and go on vacation with the Singleterrys. “The boys love 

having a ‘big sister’ around, and we’ve enjoyed having a girl along 

with our two boys.” The family plans to continue hosting students 

well into the future. “We will most likely switch to boys when our 

own boys get older.” 

All of the students the Singleterrys have hosted have been high 

school juniors. The students attend Brandon High School, where 

they make friends just like other students. “I always loved history,” 

said Steven. So learning about other cultures is very interesting for 

me. We had an exchange student in my high school that I became 

friends with, and I’ve always regretted that we didn’t stay in touch.” 

Steven said the family plans to stay in contact with their students 

after their ten months here is over. “We are already planning a trip 

to Germany, where our first student is from. We keep in touch with 

her, and I email regularly with her dad, who is a student of history 

as well.” 

While having a teenage girl in the house can be challenging, the 

Singleterrys believe that, overall, the experience has more benefits 

than drawbacks. “We certainly won’t be surprised when our own 

boys reach their teens,” laughed Steven. The girls are like family to 

them, and like any family, there are some difficult moments. But 

those have been easily managed and the family feels as though the 

girls’ presence enhances all of their lives. Allison communicates with 

other host families, and that helps in making sure they are on track. 

“This is something we’d recommend to other families,” said 

Steven. That fateful phone call opened doors the family never 

realized existed. “We are grateful for the opportunity to get to 

know students from other countries.” n 



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FAVORITE PLACE

At my cabin in the Montgomery 

County woods. My family 

comes to eat tons of good 

food, spend four relaxing days 

together and of course watch 

the MSU vs. Ole Miss game. 

One of my favorite dishes is 

the stuffing or “dressing” as we 

all call it. My mom was the one 

to always make the dressing 

and when she passed away the 

responsibility came to me. It 

took me many years to perfect 

the recipe but I have finally 

done it. Mom would be proud. 

Growing up, it was definitely 

at my Grandmother’s house. 

My cousins and I used to play 

ball, eat, and play ball all day– 

in that order. Now that I have 

a family of my own, we really 

enjoy going to our condo at 

the Beach Club in Gulf Shores. 

My favorite dish is traditional 

homemade macaroni and 

cheese. Coconut pie would 

be a close second. 

Shea Taylor, Reservoir 

A favorite place to spend 

Thanksgiving is at my house 

or another family member’s 

and visit and have a big meal 

together. Then I look forward 

to going to the Egg Bowl. 

My favorite dish is 

turkey and dressing. 

Sondra Odom, Pearl 

I love that 40-50 people 

come to my house for 

Thanksgiving and stay 

for the day. Our oldest 

family memer is 78 

and the youngest is 2. 

My favorite Thanksgiving 

food is turkey & dressing 

and honey baked ham. 

Eddie Adams, Brandon 

Barbara Adams, Richland 

Growing up, I loved going to 

Cadaretta, Mississippi, where 

my grandparents and cousins 

lived. Now I am blessed to be 

able to spend Thanksgiving in 

Florence with my 93-year-old 

aunt and her family. 

My favorite Thanksgiving dish 

is sweet potato casserole with 

praline topping. 

June Pickle, Brandon 

Thanksgiving is gathering at 

my grandmother’s 110 year old 

house, that we affectionately 

call the “big house”. My three 

siblings, their spouses and 

children, twelve aunts and 

uncles, eighteen cousins and 

their twenty-seven children, 

and any other extended family 

that can will be there. Turkey, 

ham, cornbread dressing, more 

casseroles than you can count, 

every cook’s favorite dessert 

and everyone’s favorite– 

Mamaw’s apple tarts! 

Susan Irby, Puckett 

My favorite place is my 

grandma’s (Becky Wallace) 

house because it is a family 

tradition. Every year we go 

there and make memories. 

My favorite food is my 

grandma’s chicken because 

no one can cook like her. 

Carmen Hamilton, Pelahatchie 

I love to be at home for 

Thanksgiving. All of my family 

comes for several days and we 

have a wonderful time. 

My favorite dish is my 

wife’s turkey and gravy. 

My favorite place to spend 

Thanksgiving (my favorite 

holiday) is with my whole 

family up north–enjoying 

each other’s company, 

laughing and reminiscing 

about growing up in a big 

household. I love watching our 

kids playing outside like we 

did when we were younger 

with cool temperatures and 

amazing fall foliage. 

Picking a favorite dish is 

tough since I love turkey with 

mashed potatoes and gravy, 

side dishes and then, of course, 

home-made apple pie. But the 

one dish I can’t get enough of 

is green bean casserole with 

French fried onions on top. 

I love it! 

Dave Burke, flowood 

Doug Baker, Brandon 


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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 

A CARNIVAL BALL… 

Preview Gala & Auction 

Presented by the Junior League of Jackson 

A LEGACY OF LIGHT TOAST | 7 p.m. 

Presented by Ergon, Inc. 

WALK THE RED CARPET | 7 – 9 p.m. 

Presented by C Spire 

SILENT & PREMIER AUCTIONS | 7 – 10 p.m. 

LIVE AUCTION | 9 p.m. 

Presented by Patty Peck Honda 

PRESENT PICK | 6 – 10 p.m. 

Presented by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry 

Thursday, November 5 

MISTLETOE MORNING 

8 – 11 a.m. 

Presented by Trustmark 

BRING ON THE BUBBLY 

Girls’ Night Out Event 

6 – 8 p.m. 

Presented by Belk 

GENERAL 

SHOPPING HOURS 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 | 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 | 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Friday, November 6 

MARKETPLACE BRUNCH 

8 – 11 a.m. 

Presented by Regions 

THE HEART OF THE MATTER 

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Featuring Vicki Lawrence 

Presented by Baptist Health Systems 

ROCKIN’ COUTURE: A FASHION GLOW 

For Tweens and Teens 

3:30 – 5:30 p.m. 

Presented by University of Mississippi 

Medical Center 

#flashbackfriday 

7:30 – 11 p.m. 

Presented by Southern Beverage Co., Inc. 

CHILDREN’S EVENT 

SANTA SNAPS 

2:30 – 6:30 p.m. 

Saturday, November 7 

THE RUDOLPH RACE 

5K RUN/WALK & ONE-MILE FUN RUN 

8 a.m. 

Presented by St. Dominic’s 

CHILDREN’S EVENTS 

SANTA SNAPS 

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

I CAN BEAR-LY WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS 

9:30 – 11 a.m. 

Presented by the 

Junior League of Jackson 

For more information or to order tickets, please visit MistletoeMarkeplace.com or call 1.888.324.0027. 


DELTA 

STATE 

Keeping your mind and body fueled. 

www.deltastate.edu/visit 

@DELTASTATE • FACEBOOK.COM/DELTASTATEUNIVERSITY 


FLORENCE'S FINEST 

Chief Richard Thomas 

FLORENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Why did you decide to be a policeman? 

I wanted to be a police officer from the time I 

was around 6 years old. My father (C.N. Thomas) 

owned Surplus City USA in Jackson, Miss. He 

had a lot of police officers that visited the store 

and I was able to talk with them about the job 

of a law enforcement officer. The job appeared 

to be one with excitement and where you 

could help others. The job has allowed me to 

meet a lot of people and assist many people 

who have been victims of a crime. 

How long have you been the Florence 

Police Chief? 

I have been employed by the City of Florence 

as a law enforcement officer since 2002. 

I became chief of police in January of 2008. 

I started in law enforcement in 1982 with the 

Jackson Police Department, went to work for 

the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office in 1990 until 

1997. I was a police reserve with the City of 

Clinton from 1998 until 2002. 

Tell us about your family. 

My wife Cindy and I have been married for 34 

years. We have two sons Brandon and Britt. 

Both are both married. Our son Britt is a police 

officer in Madison and our son Brandon works 

for J.L. Roberts Mechanical and has his own 

lawn service. We have one grandchild named 

A.J. who is a year old. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

This is hard say. I’ve had friends that lost their 

lives in the line of duty and responded to many 

tough calls for service. If we spoke of calls for 

service, I would have to say those dealing with 

children. I responded to a call years ago where 

a young boy had been shot point blank range 

with a shotgun. I still remember this scene, so 

I would have to say it was the worst. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in 

your spare time. 

I enjoy going to barrel races with my wife and 

her friends. I enjoy hunting and fishing. I also 

enjoy cutting grass with my tractor, which gives 

me time to think about things other than work. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I would like to go deep sea fishing. 

I would like to go to Australia. 

I want to spoil my grandchildren. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I would have to say my father. He passed away 

in 2014. He worked most of his life 6 to 7 days 

a week and made sure that the family had what 

was needed. He made time for the family, with 

vacations, weekend getaways and hunting trips 

with my brother and me as often as he could. 

He made sure that we grew up knowing the 

value of a dollar, meaning you work for what 

you get. He also taught us to keep our word. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

I would like to eventually obtain a job with a 

company doing asset protection or some type 

of fraud investigations. But that will be a few 

years from now. I still love police work and 

working for the City of Florence. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

Develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and 

surround yourself with good people. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

The same mistake most of have made. Trying 

to acquire materialistic things without the 

money in hand and developing a lot of debt 

through credit, which causes stress. 

What is your favorite thing about the 

City of Florence? 

The people of Florence are so nice. I cannot 

tell you how many times people have fed our 

officers on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

We get told a lot by the people of Florence, 

“Thank you for what you do.” 



GIRLS’ 

NIGHT 

OUT 

Fashion Show 

August 29, 2015 

Clyde Muse Center



attitude 

the 

of gratitude 


Staying positive in a negative world will not only better your life 

but will change it in more ways than you can ever imagine. 

I’m not sure I remember a time in my 

life that I’ve truly felt the “weight” of the 

world like I have recently. I’ve literally 

gotten to the point that I cannot bear to 

watch the news for the constant barrage 

of negative behavior, terrible stories and 

discouraging reports. Sometimes I think 

it would be best to just squeeze both my 

eyes shut and stick my fingers in my ears. 

La-la-la-la-la-la . . . . 

It’s easy to see all that’s wrong in the 

world. It’s everywhere–social injustice, bad 

politics, immorality, violence, persecution 

of Christians, lousy jobs, crime. And it’s 

certainly easy to get overwhelmed and 

consumed with worry and dread, not to 

mention that all of us have our own struggles. 

We all have mountains. 

So how do we stay positive in such a 

negative world? 

It has become my mission, particularly 

as we embark upon the season of thanksgiving, 

to focus on the things I’m thankful 

for. I’m deliberately turning a blind eye 

and limiting my exposure to all the things 

in this universe that can zap me of my joy. 

And at the risk of sounding cliché, it’s an 

attitude of gratitude that can move those 

pesky mountains that often seem to get in 

our way. 

I started thinking about my son and 

how important it is to ensure that he 

understands the concept of being thankful 

in what I consider to be a largely thankless 

world. I don’t know about you, but I am 

keenly aware of the sense of entitlement 

that our young people seem to have today– 

and I believe it’s purely generational. It’s 

not even their fault. They’ve just never 

known what it is to do without. And we’re 

the ones that worked ourselves to death 

to give them everything! Think about it. 

Oh, the irony. 

Teaching a child to look beyond their 

one-person universe can be a challenge. But 

kids who aren’t taught to be grateful end up 

with those feelings of self-entitlement and, 

even worse, are constantly disappointed. 

And if that’s not reason enough, grateful 

people report lower levels of depression 

and stress, stronger immune systems and 

lower blood pressure, feel less lonely and 

isolated and have more joy, optimism and 

happiness. Who couldn’t use a good dose 

of optimism and happiness these days? 

So since they’re not born with it, how 

do you teach a child to be appreciative? 

The most obvious answer I can think of is 

to lead by example. We must live lives of 

gratitude if we want our children to really 


We are called to be a thankful people. 

learn to be grateful. We need to point out 

the positives in people and in situations. 

We need to criticize and complain less. 

I know I need to be more mindful of my 

grumbles and let my child hear me being 

more overtly thankful for things–often 

easier said than done when we’re so 

inundated with outside noise. 

We should also reward thankfulness. 

It may sound crazy, but thanking our kids 

for thanking us may go a long way toward 

teaching them that we appreciate them, too. 

If we consistently delight in their gratitude, 

it will reinforce that behavior and they will 

express it more often. 

By using everyday moments to make 

gratitude and thankfulness part of your 

family’s daily life, you’ll foster a confidence 

and gratefulness in your child that will lead 

them to become kinder and more appreciative 

people in general–which leads us back 

to where we started. In a world with 

countless negative forces, what if we all 

made it our mission to overcome them 

with loving, positive affirmations of 

gratefulness? 

The incredible thing about gratitude is 

that once we realize all the things we have 

in our lives and all the things we can do, 

we create feelings of contentment within 

ourselves. And it’s with these feelings of 

contentment that we live happier lives– 

because when we’re content, our thoughts 

are positive. And based on the law of 

attraction, when we think “thankful” 

thoughts, we bring more into our lives 

to be thankful for. 

No matter what the current circumstances, 

there’s always good to be found. 

Even when things aren’t at their best, count 

your blessings anyway and let them buoy 

your sagging spirits. Whatever you send out 

into the universe will come back to you. 

So, find the good–and teach your children 

to find the good as well. Surround yourself 

with encouraging, optimistic and grateful 

people and see what happens. 

And be happy about finding the positive 

and consciously cultivate more gratitude— 

so much so that your heart explodes with 

delight and contagiously stretches out to 

those around you. The people that you love 

in life deserve your gratitude the very most 

and they will respond in ways that are both 

encouraging and fulfilling. 

We are called to be a thankful people. 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life– 

and turns what we have into enough. 

If you want to feel happy, try on an attitude 

of gratitude for a change in your mood, 

your outlook and your life. n 


Sometimes you just need to know everything is going to be okay. 

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• Results while you wait*, onsite 

interpretation by Radiological Group, PA 

• Surgeon consult available for positive 

findings within 24 hours 

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screening available for uninsured 

or underinsured patients 

(no insurance filed) 

• Breast Health Navigator (RN) to 

coordinate care 

• Private, comfortable setting 

• Soft, full length robes 

Ask your doctor about having your mammogram 

at the Center for Breast Health 

*Radiologist must have prior films at the time of your appointment. 


Center 

for Breast Health 

1225 North State Street 

Jackson, MS 39202 

601-973-3180 

www.mbhs.org/breasthealth


for a boot-scooting, foot-stomping, 

hand-clapping good time . . . 

It was in 1999 that Rodney and Barbara Joyner of Brandon 

offered their barn as a gathering for music lovers like themselves. 

The “barn” had a welcoming atmosphere with its farm and country 

life mementoes lining the walls and a performing stage for the 

entertainers. For ten years, the Joyners shared their farm and home 

with the 250 guests that the venue seated. When other interests and 

lifestyles changed for the Joyners, Bobby Ray, a talented and regular 

participant since 2005, suggested they find another venue for the 

musicians and fans of the Opry that wanted it to continue. 

The city of Brandon had the answer with an offer to host the 

event on the third Saturday night of most months. The Brandon 

Opry continues to grow with its family-friendly country and gospel 

music show. The audience is encouraged to enjoy the roomy dance 

floor and line dance, boot scoot or make their own moves to the 

foot-stomping, hand-clapping music. 

The hometown Opry has a group of approximately forty very 

talented performers that make regular visits to the stage. Lead 

guitarist Bob Saxton has played for years in Nashville with artists 

such as Patsy Cline, Merle Travis, Billy Walker, and Charlie Louvin. 

Bobby Ray, keyboard master extraordinaire, has played as a regular 

and favorite. David McCoy adds drum rhythm and a popular 

harmonica. Wilson Karges rounds out the band with his bass guitar 

and Dobro. And Sharon Ross, Bobby Ray’s sister, is a tambourine 

rhythm setter and backup vocalist. 

The caliber of talent that makes up the monthly entertainment 

would be comfortable on larger stages and before bigger audiences, 

but Bobby Ray says the joy of performing in his own hometown, 

before audiences who appreciate good music and fun, is a rewarding 

and amazing experience. 


The Brandon Opry is a jewel of entertainment that continues to 

bring high quality artists to share the stage with local favorites. Some 

say it’s been a well-kept secret, but according to the participation and 

future guest lineups, the Brandon Opry is front page news in the 

entertainment world. Certainly, it’s a positive step toward success when 

it’s the entertainers that request stage time at the monthly hoedown. 

On Saturday, October 17, a Blackwood Quartet gospel concert 

will follow the Brandon Opry. The Brandon Opry will begin at 

5:45 pm and guests, along with the Brandon Opry Band, will perform 

until 7:20 pm. The Blackwood Quartet performance will begin at 

7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 (for combined show of both the Brandon 

Opry and Blackwood Quartet) if purchased before October 17 and 

are $15 at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and is general admission 

seating. Tickets will be available at the Brandon Municipal Complex. 

Guest performers include Lori Ladner from Madison singing some 

Tammy Wynette specials, CandyLee Dobbs from Brandon, and 

Lynn Landry from Louisiana, along with the Brandon Opry Band. 

Mark Blackwood and the Blackwood Quartet joined Willie Nelson 

at the 30th annual Farm Aid event in Chicago, Illinois in September. 

Willie Nelson is a huge fan of the Blackwood Quartet and of gospel 

music. This marked the 10th consecutive year for the Blackwoods to 

perform as Nelson’s personal guests.The Blackwood family has won 

8 Grammy Awards, 27 Dove Awards, 5 All American Music Awards, 

and sold millions of recordings. 

Don’t miss an incredible night of country and gospel music at the 

Brandon Opry. For additional information call the Brandon Municipal 

Complex at 601-825-8421, visit them on Facebook or at their 

website, www.brandonopry.net. n 


...of health care 

professionals in training. 

Rankin Campus 

3805 Hwy. 80 East, Pearl 

601.936.5552 

www.hindscc.edu 

Hinds Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to 

handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Debra Mays-Jackson, Vice President for the Utica and Vicksburg-Warren Campuses and Administrative Services, 34175 Hwy. 18, Utica, MS 39175; 601.885.7002. 


LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 2015 

BRING LUNG CANCER 

OUT OF THE SHADOWS 

Raise Your Voice During Lung Cancer Awareness Month 

American Lung Association in Mississippi 

Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer. 

And this year, lung cancer will kill more Americans than any other cancer. 

In fact, lung cancer will claim more lives than the next three leading 

cancer killers—breast, colorectal, and pancreas cancers—combined. 

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to bring more 

awareness to the disease. 

Increased attention on this disease is desperately needed. Lung 

cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths and in Mississippi it kills an 

average of 1,929 people per year. Despite these devastating statistics, 

and despite being the leading cancer killer of women and men, lung 

cancer has been in the shadows for decades. Anyone can get lung 

cancer, yet awareness about the disease is especially low. In fact, only 

one percent of women cite lung cancer as a top-of-mind health risk. 

“Many may believe they are not at risk for lung cancer, but the reality 

is that anyone can get lung cancer,” said Amy Ellis, Regional Director 

of Health Promotions. “Everyone should be aware of the risks and 

symptoms.” 

Smoking is the greatest risk factor for lung cancer, and exposure to 

radon, asbestos and air pollution may also raise one’s risk of developing 

lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the 

leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Learn more about 

radon at Lung.org/radon. 

It is also important to recognize the symptoms, which can often be 

mistaken for other diseases or conditions. Some of the most common 

symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that won’t go away, coughing 

up blood and shortness of breath. 

To raise awareness about this terrible disease, the American Lung 

Association launched LUNG FORCE, an initiative that unites women in 

the fight against lung cancer, encouraging them to raise their voices 

for change. 

“Through LUNG FORCE, the American Lung Association has set 

out to raise awareness about lung cancer so everyone understands 

their risks and to advocate for innovations in research that will lead to 

earlier detection and more personalized treatments, so everyone has 

a fighting chance,” said Ellis. 

Over the past 37 years, the lung cancer death rate in women has 

about doubled. Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates 

compared to other major cancers. One reason lung cancer is so 

serious is because it usually is not found until it has spread and is 

more difficult to treat. Increased awareness and improved access to 

screening options are key to saving lives. 

Today, thanks to investments in research and the power of patient 

advocates and public health organizations like the Lung Association, 

we have made strides in early detection and treatment. Millions of 

Americans at high risk for lung cancer now have access to potentially 

lifesaving lung cancer screening which can detect lung cancer before 

there are symptoms, when it is easier to treat. Unfortunately, most 

often, lung cancer is detected in late stage when it’s more difficult to 

treat. Learn more about whether you are a candidate for lung cancer 

screening at Lung.org/lcscreening. 

New therapies also are being developed and strides are being made 

in the fields of precision medicine and immunotherapy. However, the 

nation’s investment in research must grow to ensure all patients have 

access to emerging therapies that could potentially save or extend their 

lives. LUNG FORCE is helping to make this a reality. 

Through LUNG FORCE, the American Lung Association will invest 

$10 million in lung cancer research and $5 million in increasing public 

health promotion. This includes generating awareness of lung cancer 

screening, providing patients with information about clinical trials and 

biomarker testing and advocating for increased federal funding for lung 

cancer research from $213 million today to $300 million by 2020. 

“We are on the cusp of major positive changes in lung cancer,” said 

Ellis. “We encourage everyone to learn more about lung cancer during 

Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and for those whose lives have been 

touched by lung cancer, we encourage you to share your story and 

raise your voice against lung cancer.” 

If you or a loved one has been touched by lung cancer, share your 

story on our website to inspire others to do the same. The more we 

discuss how lung cancer has impacted our lives, the more we’ll raise 

important awareness and funds to defeat lung cancer. Learn more 

about lung cancer and how to #ShareYourVoice at LUNGFORCE.org. 

And in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, join the LUNG 

FORCE Giving Day on November 17, 2015 by visiting LUNGFORCE.org/ 

givingday. Cancer Treatment Centers of America will match every gift 

to Giving Day, dollar for dollar up to $100,000. Your help has never 

been more needed, please join us in giving our mothers, sisters, 

daughters and loved ones a fighting chance. n 


THE METROPOLITAN SUPPER CLUB 

SUSAN MARQUEZ 

Barbara and John Collier waited until they were both 

in their early 40’s to get engaged in the summer of 1993. 

John enjoyed cutting a rug on the dance floor, Barbara not 

so much. But when John’s cousin invited the couple to join 

a supper club that centered on dancing, they jumped at the 

chance. “We attended mainly for the fellowship, but 

I ended up enjoying the dancing more than I thought I 

would,” said Barbara Collier. 

The Colliers have been members of the Metropolitan 

Supper Club ever since. “We’ve made some wonderful 

friends over the years,” Collier said. “We see several of 

them outside of the supper club. We’ve been through all 

kinds of things together.” 

The Metropolitan Supper Club was started by Stuart 

C. Irby, Jr. and Dudley Hughes in 1992 to promote dancing 

to live music in a 1940s supper club atmosphere. It was 

organized to provide a place to listen and dance to big 

band music, enjoy a good meal, and to have fellowship 

with friends. Over the years, the club has met at various 

locations and as often as three times a week. 

Currently the club meets eight times a year at the Capital 

Club in downtown Jackson. The dance is held on a Friday 

night from 7:00 to 10:30pm. A buffet dinner is served, 

and a cash bar is available. But the main attraction is the 

music, always provided by a live band. The bands are the 

Jackson All Stars, led by Dave Schommer, and The Sessions, 

led by Bob Davidson. The two bands alternate each month. 

When the club was organized, the membership 

consisted of over 100 couples. In recent years, however, 

the membership has not grown in proportion to the 

number of aging members who have dropped out due to 

ill health, moving or death. Today the club has 36 couples 

from Rankin, Hinds, and Madison Counties who are 

members, with several potential memberships pending. 

Membership is contingent upon being approved by the 

board of directors. A couple may come as a guest one time at 

a cost of $52. After the first visit, a couple may come as a 

guest for $90 each time. The board of directors will not 

approve those whose behavior makes others uncomfortable. 

The cost to join the club is $240 per year. In addition, 

the cost of the buffet meal with gratuity is $52 per couple 

each time the couple attends. Reservations are made in 

advance. There are two formal dances a year, one in March 

and the other in December. Black tie is requested for the 

formal dances, but not required. Dress for the other dances 

during the year is coat and tie for men, while women may 

wear a dressy pantsuit or a Sunday dress. 

Being involved with the Metropolitan Supper Club 

has been a joy for Barbara Collier. “It’s been so much fun. 

We look forward to it each month!” Collier said she wishes 

more young people would get involved. “It’s such a fun 

activity for young couples, and like us, you grow old with 

friends you meet in the supper club. Unfortunately, it’s a 

well-kept secret, but we’re trying to get the word out!” ■ 

For more information on the Metropolitan Supper Club, visit their website at www.metsupclub.com. 




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The CHALKBOARD 

RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

Florence 

There are great things going on at Florence High School this 

year! Our Eagle P.R.I.D.E. focuses on the values of preparation, 

respect, integrity, determination, and excellence in all our students 

so that they can excel in academics, sports, and extracurricular 

activities. In remembrance of 9/11, FHS selected the homecoming 

theme “Honoring Our Heroes” with special emphasis this year 

being placed on fundraising projects to benefit Wounded Warriors 

of Mississippi. The students spent the week remembering members 

of the military, police, and fire departments. 

Our athletic and academic teams are not only thriving but also 

excelling. The FHS JROTC physical training team recently won 

the first place in mixed teams, first place in all female team, and 

third in all male team at the Warren Central PT meet. Senior, 

Wesley Evans was selected as a national merit semi-finalist. Our 

new girls’ volleyball team celebrated its first of many wins, and the 

academies are seeing success also. 

In May, the first group of health science academy students 

graduated. The Talon Entrepreneurship and Management 

(TEAM) Academy is boasting its first “complete” academy with 

classes in each grade level enrolled. Recent accomplishments 

include top 30 winners at DECA international competition, 

statewide 1st and 2nd place teams in the Southern Entrepreneurship 

Programs business plan competition, and another successful 

year of operating our school coffee shop, Mocha Loca, which 

sustains the Academy. This year, Academy classes are looking 

forward to mentorships with community business leaders, 

long-distance learning with a business class in Oregon, and other 

projects that connect students with the business community. 

There are many exciting things happening on our campus and 

in our classrooms. To find out more, you can find us on social 

media. Visit @allthings_FHS on Twitter or Instagram and All 

Things FHS on Facebook for important announcements and 

highlights throughout the year! 


Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.

McLaurin 

McLaurin High School is proud to introduce our new 

agriculture teacher, Mr. Bryan Collins. Mr. Collins taught at both 

Mendenhall High School and Covington County Vo-Tech. 

While in these positions, he trained six state championship teams 

and is excited to lead McLaurin’s team to victory, as well. He 

obtained his bachelor’s degree in agriculture information science 

and education from Mississippi State University and his master’s 

degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. 

He is excited about the opportunity to move into a brand new 

agriculture building at McLaurin. 

The building will house a classroom with a computer lab area 

and a large shop area where students will have access to agricultural 

equipment such as welders, small engines, and carpentry 

equipment. This building will give our students the opportunity 

to use their technical skills to build projects such as picnic tables, 

deer stands, and hay rings; as well as, engage in agricultural 

experiments like DNA extraction and seed germination. 

Mr. Collins has hit the ground running and the McLaurin 

FFA Chapter was recently awarded a Living to Serve: Natural 

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Grant to help our 

community become more prepared for severe weather events. 

Award winners were chosen from agriculture programs across 

the country. The McLaurin FFA Chapter grant project is entitled 

“Be Smart, Be Safe, Be Ready,” and will focus on educating 

students, teachers, and the community about how to react in a 

severe weather event. The grant will be used to purchase weather 

alert radios for each building on both McLaurin campuses. The 

grant will also purchase first aid kits to be distributed to classrooms 

and to members of the community who attend storm preparedness 

training workshops. 

The workshops will be presented by McLaurin FFA members 

and will cover topics such as developing household emergency 

plans, building emergency food and water kits, basic first aid 

training, and storm spotter training. The grant is in the amount 

of $2,000 and information on workshops will be given as dates 

are set. Mr. Collins hopes that everyone will take advantage of 

these presentations throughout the year and will help us become 

a storm ready community. 

Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion. 




Northwest 

Rankin 

Northwest Rankin High School continues to strive to reach its 

full potential. Already one of the premier high schools in the state, 

this year it hopes to further the tradition of excellence already 

established. Administrators, teachers, and students work side by 

side every day to create a community of excellence. 

With 1650 plus students, each is provided with the necessary 

tools to succeed. Northwest has been rated a star school by the 

Mississippi Department of Education. It is one of only four 

schools in the entire state to be presented with a $500,000 grant 

for High School Redesign and a Southern Regional Education 

Board “High Schools That Work” Gold Award Winner. Northwest 

offers twelve AP courses, having added three in the past year, 

along with ten Dual Credit courses. It has fifteen National Board 

certified teachers. However, what makes the school truly great is 

the students. Northwest Rankin has a diverse population of 

students. Last year 

there were six National 

Merit Finalists. 45% of 

students graduated 

with a twenty-two or 

above on their ACT, 

and more than fifty 

students in the school 

have a composite thirty or better on the ACT. Twenty-two 

students received athletic scholarships. 

NWRHS continues to not only develop learners but inspire 

leaders through the many community service opportunities the 

clubs offer. The entire school is looking forward to the upcoming 

school beautification at end of September as well as the food fight 

with Brandon High School and the school’s partnership with the 

Make-a-Wish Foundation. Multiple clubs will also host coat 

drives, pet food drives, mission projects, and other volunteer 

opportunities. NWRHS students are making a difference in the 

community. These are just a few of the standards set that are 

being lived up to and surpassed by the current teenagers walking 

through Northwest’s doors. 

Pelahatchie 

It started out a simple dream for a 2nd grade teacher at 

Pelahatchie Elementary School and turned into something 

spectacular also known as Pelahatchie’s ‘CHIEFTACULAR’ 

show choir. Shelia Sharplin had huge shoes to fill when Vicki 

Mercier retired as Pelahatchie’s music teacher. But, Mrs. Sharplin 

rose to the challenge 

and had a vision to start 

Pelahatchie’s first ever 

6th grade Show Choir. 

The who, what, 

when, and where began 

flowing through her 

mind. One afternoon 

in May, she held 

auditions where nine 

students were chosen, 

but the real fun had 

just started. These 

dedicated 6th graders 

practiced twice a week 

every week during the 

summer and became more excited with each practice. Mrs. 

Sharplin’s main focus was to identify individual talent and unite 

each child’s voice into a unique but modern sound. From the song 

choices to the choreography, Chieftacular includes bits from the 

70s, 80s, 90s, and today. 

Their first “gig” was performing for Pelahatchie Elementary 

and Pelahatchie High School teachers during professional 

development. Ashley Gough, an English teacher at PHS was 

quoted saying, “I thought it was very cute, and they showed a lot 

of confidence to perform in front of a large group of adults. They 

had a lot of enthusiasm and put on an enjoyable performance.” 

This group of eight girls and one boy has a year full of events 

including singing the national anthem, performing at halftime 

shows during Pelahatchie Chiefs football games, serenading the 

town during the Muscadine Jubilee, wowing guests at Halloween 

in the Park, and participating in various events in the area. Mijia 

Ward, Assistant Principal at Pelahatchie Elementary, praised the 

show choir when she said, “This is an amazing group of students 


who have been given the opportunity to showcase their talents to 

our school and community. 

Mrs. Sharplin’s passion for music and the special gifts each of 

these kids possess has truly made a difference in our students and 

school.” Chieftacular members are Madelyn Cain, Avery Demuth, 

Collins Doster, McKinnley Goodin, Sharetha Hobbs, Emily Ingram, 

Jactavius Macklin, Haley Mills, and Kaitlyn White. Keep your 

ears open as you will be hearing GREAT things from this group! 

Pisgah High 

Enrollment at Pisgah High School continues to grow, with our 

largest senior and seventh grade classes ever beginning this August. 

For the first time, PHS has over four hundred students on campus. 

Our extracurricular and academic programs are all benefitting 

from the continued growth in excellence and student involvement. 

This year PHS expanded several of its flagship academic and 

extracurricular programs to meet demand. After the introduction 

of two AP English courses last year (English Language and 

Literature) as well as AP Art, AP Government, and AP U.S. 

History this year, students now have the opportunity to experience 

college-level rigor (and earn college credit) through all five AP 

courses. These new opportunities are in addition to our longstanding 

dual credit program, the largest in the area, which allows 

students to earn 35 college credit hours at PHS through a 

partnership with Hinds Community College. 

In extracurriculars, 

our show choir program 

is one of the largest on 

campus, with the addition 

of a new junior high 

show choir, Prodigy, 

beginning this year and 

record participation in 

the award-winning high school Innergy choir. Both groups will 

be attending local and statewide competitions in 2016, and a new 

choral ensemble is beginning as well. 

In 2015, the Dragons won the Division 6-2A football championship 

and the Lady Dragons won the 6-2A fastpitch softball 

championship, while track, baseball, and tennis teams all brought 

home district runner-up honors. We are proud that all seventeen 

sports teams qualified as MHSAA Scholar Athlete teams as well. 

Academically, last year was a banner year for PHS, with a senior 

class that earned a record average of 21.5 on the ACT, won over $3 

million in scholarships, and sent graduates to schools all over the 

state and beyond. PHS held the area’s first academic College 

Signing Day to honor their achievements, and now plans are 

underway for this year’s event. We are looking forwards to 

another exceptional year at Pisgah! 

Puckett 

Elementary 

One thing we are working on at Puckett Elementary School this 

fall is teaching our students to have a growth mindset. A growth 

mindset is what most people would call a positive or can do attitude. 

Along with the content standards we want our students to learn to 

believe in themselves and become problem solvers. 

Sometimes a student’s lack of success stems from his or her level 

of self-confidence. At PES we want students to feel safe enough in 

their learning environments to take risks each day by admitting 

when they need help and by working together to inquire about 

topics of interest for the purpose of offering solutions to real 

world problems. 

We want students to know if they change their words, they 

will change their mindset. For example, instead of saying I can’t do 

math, we want them to say I’m going to train my brain in math. 

Instead of saying I give up, we want them to say I’ll use some of the 




strategies I’ve learned. Instead of saying this is too hard, we want 

them to say this may take some time and effort, but I can do it. 

The growth mindset is something that we start teaching in 

kindergarten with stories like The Little Engine that Could. We 

want our students at PES to know we see the potential in them, 

and, in the words of the book, know they can. 

Richland High 

Teachers at Richland High School are no strangers to collaboration. 

In fact, they kicked off the 2015-2016 school year preparing 

innovative strategies to incorporate literacy across the curriculum, 

as well as strategies for our PBIS program to reward good behavior. 

This is not the first year literacy has been the primary focus for the 

school, which teachers realize is important in each content area. 

Teachers are working in their Professional Learning Communities 

to implement lessons that promote reading critically, writing 

effectively, and communicating clearly to an audience. 

With our PBIS program, both teacher and student expectations 

have risen as a result of RHS being named a PBIS Model School 

this past year. PBIS will continue to be steadfast in the promotion 

of positive behavior. The program will continue to reward students 

with “No Tardy Tuesdays,” “Random Rewards,” “Perfect Attendance 

Celebrations,” “Off-Campus Lunch,” and Field Day for deserving 

students. 

The accomplished implementation of PBIS enables teachers 

to focus more on instructional practices as we prepare students 

academically and socially for success in the twenty-first century. 

Rouse 

Elementary 

Being associated with special education for many years, the 

stories about happenings at school have not always been pleasant. 

But that all has changed at Rouse. We have been blessed in so many 

ways. We have a very supportive administrator, Kelli Adcock, who 

has gone to bat for us when funding was tight. She is always asking 

about our children and takes a genuine interest in them as she does 

every child. 

The teachers are supportive as well—including the students in 

every way possible. The students go to music, recess, lunch, and 

many other activities. They do not just attend these activities but 

are included in every way. The music teacher, Pam George, includes 

the students by picking them for games and even letting them help 

her lead in a special program. The teachers and assistants make sure 

to greet each child by name and teach their students to do the same. 

The students go out of their way to be kind even choosing to sit 

and play with a student in a wheelchair on the playground while 

their friends run and play. In a world where we hear of so much 

heartache it is nice to be in such sweet atmosphere. We are all 

blessed to be at Rouse. 


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Worthy of Merit 

Steve Dobbs has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merit Health 

to oversee efforts of enhancing quality, improving access to quality care, and 

expanding services for patients across the central Mississippi region. 

Dobbs has nearly three decades of executive healthcare management experience, 

serving in leadership roles at hospitals and healthcare organizations in Oklahoma, 

Florida and Kansas. Most recently, he served as CEO of Urologic Specialists of 

Oklahoma, a 20-member physician practice in Tulsa. He has worked with countless 

boards of directors, institutional officials, government regulators, the media, and 

community leaders. His accomplishments have graced the front page of USA Today 

and he has even been a healthcare contributor on The Fox News show, Fox & Friends. 

Dobbs holds a master’s degree in health services administration from the 

University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from 

Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. 

Hometown spoke with Steve in more detail about his role with Merit Health: 

Q. What is your vision for Merit Health? 

A. Ultimately, I look forward to utilizing our vast group of physicians and professionals 

to expand access to quality care. Merit Health is developing innovative ways to care 

for the central Mississippi community, and I am excited about the opportunities in our 

future. We hope to become the first choice of patients in the region. 

Our company culture is also evolving. New programs empower employees to 

optimize the overall patient experience through a more mindful approach. We are 

also providing new tools that enhance safety, communication, and quality measures. 

Q. Lately, I have seen the Merit Health name 

more frequently. What have been some of your 

growth initiatives? 

A. Recently, we added over 30 Merit Health Medical Group clinics to our six 

hospitals (Merit Health Central, Merit Health Madison, Merit Health Rankin, Merit 

Health River Oaks, Merit Health River Region, and Merit Health Woman’s Hospital) 

in the Jackson/Vicksburg metropolitan area. Overall, we employ more than 3,300 

people, have 1,200 licensed beds, and 1,800 physicians on active medical staff. 

As these entities join together in various ways, we are making a concerted effort 

to inform our patients that first and foremost, their health and experience in our 

facilities is our top priority. 

For example, you may have seen our 30 minute ER service pledge campaign. 

We’ve incorporated a tool within our emergency departments that allows us to see 

patients within 30 minutes of their arrival. Providing this level of service is one way 

we are communicating the benefits of utilizing our facilities to the community. 

Q. Now that Merit has expanded in the market, 

how do you plan to get involved in each of the 

facility’s surrounding communities? 

A. We are currently involved in several community programs and there are others 

we are further researching and engaging with over the next several months. For 

example, we work with a local school district to supply school nurses and health 

education information to families and students. We are also participating in 

community programs supporting cancer care, heart disease, maternal and fetal 

health, and many more. Personally, I am excited about getting to know community 

leaders and figuring out ways we can work together to improve health and vitality in 

all of the communities we serve. 

Q. I know you’ve been busy, but what do you like 

to do in your spare time? 

A. My favorite past time is going on cruises with my family. It allows us to enjoy 

and explore new places and unplug from our busy lives. My kids are grown, so when 

we have time alone together on vacation, I definitely treasure it. 

Q. What are you impressions of Mississippi? 

A. It has been a great experience thus far. Throughout my career, I have had the 

opportunity to live in a lot of different places and uncover the unique nuances of each. 

It’s been a hot summer, but one full of friendly faces and exceptional possibilities. 

Q. What are the latest trends helping patients 

lead healthier lives? 

A. Emphasizing the importance of prevention and patient education has become 

paramount. This trend started some time ago, but it has taken a while for everyone 

to figure out the best way to address this paradigm shift. Clinical data supports the 

value of prevention and we want to encourage our patients to be their own advocates. 

To support this endeavor, we have accelerated and improved the volume, 

content, and reach of our educational materials. In addition, prevention has become 

a more integral part of the provider and patient conversation, especially as new 

research uncovers ways for patients to prevent and/or live “well” with common, 

but debilitating illnesses, such as heart disease or diabetes. 



The Time Coin 

It wasn’t often that my big brother, Jack, 

asked his eleven-year-old sister to go 

fishing with him, so there was no 

hesitation in my reply. The early spring 

weather was melting the winter chill – 

so the fish had to be biting! 

I was surprised that Mother allowed 

me such a venture. The bottom was a mile 

walk from our house and covered in dense 

woods. I followed as closely behind Jack as 

my cane pole would allow, hoping the tall 

brush would soon give way to the river. 

Suddenly the sound of barking dogs 

caused Jack to stop. My brother was already 

an adept woodsman, and I had learned to keep quiet and still whenever 

he stopped. The barking clamor was getting closer. “They’re chasing a 

deer!” Jack said in an excited whisper. “Don’t move, we may get to see it.” 

My adventure was suddenly exceeding my expectations. Would 

the deer run upon us? Would the chasers be stray dogs or a pack of 

wild ones? My heart was racing as I strained to see through the thick 

wilderness. 

“Look!” Jack said pointing to a clump of thick undergrowth. It 

couldn’t be what I thought, but it was! A tiny deer lay curled up in its 

only defense mode. As Jack rushed closer, the infant deer jumped up to 

run but Jack was quicker. 

“He can’t be but a couple days old,” Jack said as he nestled the small 

animal in his arms. 

“What are we going to do with it?” I asked. For me, without the 

counsel of my parents, it was a monumental question. It wasn’t for Jack. 

“We’re taking him home. Those dogs would find him and . . .” He didn’t 

finish the sentence. A baby deer had just been placed in a new home. 

Much transpired in the next few days. Our parents agreed to let us 

keep him since we, with the dogs’ help, had made him an orphan. 

Daddy found a baby bottle and showed us how to warm the milk and 

remind us that the fawn was our responsibility. 

Ownership changed too. The deer cried for 

its mother for the first night, so my brother “let” 

me move his blanket-lined box to my room. From 

that night on, Bambi, (my original name choice) 

was the family’s joy, but he belonged to me. 

As Bambi grew, he pulled at the leash to run, 

but I pulled back to keep him close. One 

challenging day, Daddy said I should remove 

the leash and let him run like a real deer. The 

thought horrified me. What if he ran away or 

raced back toward the bottom? Daddy finally 

convinced me to free Bambi. 

We watched in amazement as Bambi 

streaked away in magnificent, graceful strides. 

He circled our giant lawn several times, demonstrating his amazing 

talent to his family and then disappeared into the woods. I bit my jaw 

to hold back the tears. Then within seconds Bambi broke through the 

woods and back to my side. Bambi still belonged to me! 

The next winter, all of Bambi’s spots were gone and tiny horns were 

sprouting. Daddy said that enclosing Bambi inside the ten foot garden 

fence would protect him during deer season. He mustn’t be let out of 

the fence. 

One morning during deer season I made my early trek to check on 

Bambi. He wasn’t there. I called and waited but no Bambi. I left for 

school with a heavy heart. My beloved pet still wasn’t back when I 

rushed home from school. 

Days later, Daddy heard a hunter brag on shooting a deer in an open 

field adjacent to a garden. I refused to believe it was Bambi. 

I look back on that memorable summer and am convinced that I had 

the most loving and perfect pet a child could ever have. I’ll never forget 

the bond we had – a bond of love that taught me how to let go but 

never stop loving. n 


CELEBRATING 115 YEARS OF LASTING IMPRESSIONS 

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Because there’s Merit 

in excellence. 

The scales have 

tipped in your favor. 

Weight loss surgery can be life-changing, offering you an opportunity to lead a healthier, more active and more satisfying life. 

And if you’re considering it, we have very good news. Merit Health River Oaks is fully accredited as a comprehensive bariatric 

surgery facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program of the American College 

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of obesity and its related conditions, call us today. 

To learn more, join us at a free informational seminar. Call 601-936-1170 or visit MeritHealthWeightLoss.com. 

M 

Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the 

benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment. 

108 • June 2015

Hometown Rankin - October & November 2015

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