Hometown Clinton - Winter 2017

Volume 4, Issue 4 

Winter 2017 

Raggio Custom Calls 

_______________________ 

A Happy Fit 

_______________________ 

Cindy Hamil's Commitment to Excellence 

_______________________ 

55 Days of Unforgettable Memories

All of us at Century 21 David Stevens 

would like to wish everyone a very 

Merry Christmas! 

601-926-1511 

1009 Hampstead Blvd 

Clinton, MS 39056 

Just ask Clinton homeowners about Century 21 David 

Stevens, Inc. They’ll tell you we know Clinton and we 

know homes. In fact, David Stevens has been helping 

families like yours find their dream home in 

Clinton since 1973. 

Clinton has great schools, great neighborhoods, great 

shopping and dining areas, and great entertainment 

and recreation options. We know this town. We love 

this town. And we’re ready to help you feel 

right at home here! 

Give one of our Century 21 David Stevens, Inc. 

hometown real estate professionals a call. We’re all 

about finding homes, selling homes, and making 

dreams come true. 

HI-ENERGY GAMES & SPORTS GRILLE 

www.playtimeentertainmentms.com 

playtimems 

playtimeentertainment16 

David W. Stevens, CRB, CRS, GRI 

Broker/Owner 

C21DSTEVEN@aol.com 

Cell: 601-951-9100 

century21davidstevens.com 

Pamela Moore 

Cell: (601)209-2691 

buysellclintonms@gmail.com 

Hometown Clinton • 3

The reason I chose Hinds is because it just 

felt right. When I visited campus, I knew it 

was the perfect fit for me because of the 

welcoming atmosphere, the great faculty, 

and all of the student activities. Hinds has 

helped me grow both academically and 

personally and it has been a rewarding 

and memorable experience every step of 

the way. 

-Tori Ross, Sophomore 

Register now - Classes start Jan. 8 

100 Reasons to Choose 

In compliance with the following: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable Federal and State Acts, 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 educational programs and activities. The following person has been designated to 

handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Tyrone Jackson, Vice President for Utica Campus and Administrative Services and District Dean of Student Services & Title IX Coordinator Box 1003, Utica, MS 39175 . Phone: 601.885.7002 or Email: titleIX@hindscc.edu 

1.800.HINDSCC • www.hindscc.edu 

We believe that marketing & selling homes is done 

“one story at a time.” 

Our Story 

The official start-up date for Godfrey 

& Ivy Realty, Inc. was March 1, 2005. 

The partners in this company come to 

you with over 40 years of combined 

experience in the service industry. We 

opened an independent company 

because we believe that marketing 

and selling homes is done “one story 

at a time.” 

Danny Ivy 

601-953-2644 

Karen Godfrey 

601-672-0829 

Debbie Ivy 

601-927-3159 

Brittany McHann 

601-506-5686 

Brad McHann 

601-259-0269 

We believe the key to success for 

anyone is that they always think more 

highly of others than themselves. This 

includes not only our clients, 

but the team we work with at Godfrey 

& Ivy Realty, Inc. We believe that serving 

others must include respect, integrity 

and commitment. 

Lee Irwin 

601-259-5544 

Mark McNeece 

601-214-1949 

Sheri Shramek 

601-613-4699 

Jena McNeece 

601-613-2979 

Bracey Godfrey 

601-832-3971 

Lonnie Rushing 

601-906-2222 

Kevin Upchurch 

601-750-8328 

Christine Whitton 

601-278-4230 

Dena Thornburg 

601-695-9500 

Cindy Roberson 

601-415-5880 

Emma Merritt 

601-573-2364 

Our Website: www.godfreyandivy.com 

Serving Clients in Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren Counties & Vicksburg/Eagle Lake 

4 • Winter 2017 Hometown Clinton • 5

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

Winter 2017 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER 

Brenda McCall 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Dacia Durr 

Karla Johnson 

Carrie Truhett 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Camille Anding 

Elizabeth Bennett 

Katherine R. Dougan 

Mary Ann Kirby 

Ken Sandridge 

Abigail Walker 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER 

Acorn Studio 

Lea Anne Culp 

STAFF WRITER & LAYOUT DESIGN 

Leah Mitchener 

GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas-3dt 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

Alisha Floyd 

• • • 

www.facebook.com 

/Hometown-Clinton-Magazine 

For subscription information 

visit www.htmags.com 

The glitter and glitz are sparkling in the shop 

windows and I’m thinking the Christmas spirit is 

on its way to our own hometown. And what a 

special hometown Clinton is for the Christmas 

spirit! 

If we exert a little extra effort and accompany it 

with an added portion of thoughtfulness, the 

Christmas spirit could only enhance an already 

special place. 

Shopping with local businesses could encourage 

them and keep sales tax working in our local 

municipality. It’s a win-win for our hometown. 

The Christmas spirit could lift the spirits of 

neighbors and friends who might be a part of the 

large number of people finding Christmas a lonely 

time. Why not share a serving of your blessings 

with someone who needs a thoughtful gesture? The 

blessing always comes back to the one doing the 

blessing. 

That same Christmas spirit would appreciate 

families making together-time a priority. Everyone 

knows how Christmas 

activities can keep us 

running and actually rob us 

of family time. It’s a 

challenge to prioritize 

calendar scheduling, but it’s 

doable. 

Finally, enjoy the spirit of 

Christmas throughout the 

December days before 

Christmas Eve. Take time 

each day to celebrate the most significant birth ever 

accomplished. Make special memories as you create 

your own advent calendar. 

And lest we forget Thanksgiving! We at 

Hometown Clinton list you, our readers and our 

advertisers, on our list of things to be thankful for. 

Thank you! May we all celebrate our blessed 

holidays in the giving spirit! 

Contact us at info@HTMags.com 

601.706.4059 

26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F 

Brandon MS 39042 

• • • 

In this issue The Way We Were 8 

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have 

made our success possible. We’re thankful for every advertiser 

and every reader who continue to give us purpose each day. 

It is in that spirit that we say thank you and best wishes for the holidays. 

Merry Christmas 

and Happy New Year 

from the staff of 

Hometown Magazines. 

Hometown Clinton is published by 

Hometown Magazines. 

All rights reserved. 

No portion of Hometown Clinton 

may be reproduced without written 

permission from the publisher. 

The management of Hometown Clinton 

is not responsible for opinions expressed 

by its writers or editors. 

All communications sent to our 

editorial staff are subject to publication 

and the unrestricted right to be refused, 

or to be edited and/or editorially 

commented on. 

All advertisements are subject 

to approval by the publisher. 

The production of Hometown Clinton 

is funded by advertising. 

Raggio Custom Calls 12 

A Happy Fit 24 

Good Citizen 34 

55 Days of Unforgettable Memories 40 

Reader Spotlight 65 

The Time Coin 66 

6 • Winter 2017 

Hometown Clinton • 7 

Hometown madison • 5

The 

way 

were 

we 

Pat and Billy Allen 

Elizabeth Bennett 

savings—the washer, dryer, stove and 

refrigerator. Their first apartment 

together was furnished with furniture 

that both sides of their families had 

given them. They had a coffee table 

for the kitchen table. They didn’t have 

much, but were young and in love. 

Having met and married so 

young, the Allens feel like they grew up 

together. “We are still in love as much as 

we were back then,” said Billy. Pat likes 

Billy because he is so kind. Billy likes 

Pat because she is fun to be around. 

The Allens have some great 

marriage advice that I’m sure has 

contributed to the longevity of their 

marriage. Pat says, “Communicate with 

your spouse and have a date night.” 

Billy added, “Listen to your wife and 

talk to your wife. Be available. We have 

gotten up early in the morning and 

talked to each other and through that 

process, we are best friends.” 

Billy has discovered a book 

through his counseling work that he 

encourages engaged couples to read 

before marriage and newlywed couples 

as well. It is called Tying the Knot, by 

Rob Green. 

In the 1980s, the Allens had a 

crafty family business they enjoyed 

doing together. Their business was 

called “Homemade Happys” and 

they made pillows, crocheted rag rugs, 

wooden checkerboards and more. They 

enjoyed creating these things and selling 

them at the Canton Flea Market. Their 

children helped with it, too, by packing 

and unpacking. The most popular items 

they sold were sets of wooden blocks 

shaped like houses using colorful stains 

and varying roof lines. One set had four 

blocks with “HOME” written out with 

hand-printed lettering in pen-and-ink 

on one side and “NOEL” on the other. 

“Pat hand-painted holly leaves and red 

berries around the “NOEL” letters. 

We sold hundreds of these during the 

years we had our booth at the Canton 

Flea Market. Pat’s initials, “PA”, were 

put on each set. Another set was our 

“WELCOME” blocks, a set of seven, 

done in colorful stains and varying roof 

lines as well,” said Billy. 

The Allens have three children: 

Curt, Casey and Carly. Curt is married 

to Janelle and lives in Madisonville, 

Louisiana. Casey passed away in 2015 

and Carly is married to Wes Winborne 

and lives in Clinton. 

Altogether, the Allens have 5 

grandchildren: Will, Connor, Jordan 

Ann, Jack and Grant. They have a 

In this love story, the Garden State 

meets the Magnolia State. Pat Allen 

was born on July 21, 1946, and raised 

in New Jersey. She spent the first 17 

years of her life in the New Jersey and 

then moved to Laurel, Mississippi, 

where her dad was from. Pat’s dad was 

stationed at Fort Monmouth in New 

Jersey during World War II. When Pat 

came to Mississippi in 1963, her family 

moved to Laurel where she finished 

her senior year at R. H. Watkins High 

School in 1964. After graduation, Pat 

attended Hinds Community College. 

Billy Allen was born on August 

30, 1946, in Brookhaven and was 

raised in Jackson. He attended Provine 

High School and graduated in 1964. 

Upon graduation, he attended Hinds 

Community College. 

The fall of 1965, in accounting 

class at Hinds Community College, 

is where this love story began. Pat 

and Billy’s eyes met while crunching 

numbers in class. They became friends, 

dated, and the following August, in 

1966, they decided to elope. “When 

we met in fall of 1965, our relationship 

grew in the right direction from the 

beginning. We actually spoke about 

our faith early in the dating process. 

We decided to elope simply because we 

did not want to wait for what would be 

involved in a traditional wedding. It just 

seemed right from the very beginning,” 

said Billy. “She was fun to be around.” 

The Allens eloped to Livingston, 

Alabama. They chose to elope to 

Livingston because they were too 

young to be married without parental 

permission in Mississippi at that time. 

Pat was 20 and Billy was 19. Pat is only 

six weeks older than Billy. They found 

a pastor of a local Baptist church there, 

Rev. James Ellis, who married them in 

the living room of his home instead of 

them going to the justice-of-the-peace. 

After they eloped, Billy went back 

to school and Pat finished at Hinds 

Community College with an associate’s 

degree in business in 1966. Then Pat 

worked while Billy finished school. He 

went on to Mississippi College to earn 

his degree in business administration in 

1969. 

A family heirloom that is very 

meaningful to the Allens is the 

hope chest that was made by Pat’s 

grandfather. Pat’s name is engraved 

on it. When they got married they had 

their hope chest, with only two terry 

cloth dish towels in it—“so there wasn’t 

much hope,” joked Pat. 

Billy has been a saver from the 

beginning. When he was 14-years old, 

he had a little business cutting grass. 

He began saving from that job back 

then, and when they got married, he 

bought all the appliances with those 

“We decided to elope 

simply because we did 

not want to wait for 

what would be involved 

in a traditional 

wedding. It just seemed 

right from the very 

beginning,” 

said Billy. “She was fun 

to be around.” 


ig legacy to pass on to their children 

and grandchildren. “I want them to 

remember our commitment to each 

other under all circumstances,” said 

Billy. 

In 1969, shortly after the birth of 

their first son, Pat started experiencing 

symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Then, 

Pat was formally diagnosed in 1972 

when she was 25. It was soon after 

their second son was born when she 

had a major attack requiring steroid 

infusion treatments. “It was a time to 

come together. Our faith anchored us 

from the beginning of when she was 

diagnosed,” said Billy. “There were 

times when it was obviously difficult; 

however the Lord had provided 

for every need along the way. Even 

including Pat’s recent cervical spinal 

fusion surgery in March of this year.” 

Pat’s case was initially a form 

of relaxing-remitting MS. Pat was 

running 5K and 10K races in the early 

1980s. In the mid 1980s, she began to 

experience more episodes requiring 

infusion therapy. In the mid 1990s, Pat’s 

case moved to a progressive stage of 

MS with her needing a service dog—a 

golden retriever named Ellie Mae. She 

received Ellie Mae in 2001 to aid her 

with balance when she walked. Then, 

in 2008, her case progressed where she 

has had to rely on a motorized power 

chair to get around. “Our vehicle has 

been customized to transport her power 

chair. The Lord’s providence has been 

evident in recent years for the resources 

to do this,” said Billy. 

Eight years ago, Pat had to begin 

using a power chair because she could 

not walk without difficulty. On March 

28, 2017; Pat had cervical spinal fusion 

surgery. “It was one of the most trying 

times in our marriage,” said Billy. Pat 

takes one infusion a month which has 

stopped the progression. Ten years ago, 

her neurologist put her on a medication 

to help slow the progression. 

Billy has always been very active. 

He retired in 2013 after a 42-year 

career in healthcare administration. 

He jumped right in to another fulltime 

job after retirement working as 

the church’s administrator at Morrison 

Heights Baptist Church. He also has a 

counseling portion of his job which he 

really enjoys. He conducts counseling 

sessions with parents, men, couples and 

does team counseling. 

Pat’s career began at various 

banks in Jackson and continued in 

Hattiesburg. Then her career evolved 

into becoming a homemaker. In the 

1990s, she had a dream to have a bed 

and breakfast. Billy designed it and built 

it new to look old. Pat ran the bed and 

breakfast. It had 11 guest beds. She had 

the bed and breakfast from 1997-2004. 

The name of the bed and breakfast was 

Dunhopen. 

They named it “Dunhopen” 

because after construction, Pat was 

“done hoping” for her bed and 

breakfast. “The word ‘Dunhopen’ was 

coined in memory of her grandfather 

who, after building his home in New 

Jersey, remarked that he was “done 

hoping” for his new house,” explained 

Billy. “We had many interesting guests,” 

said Pat. “I enjoyed hearing the various 

stories and interacting with our guests 

about what brought them our way. One 

guest actually lived in Long Branch, 

New Jersey, in the area where I grew 

up. Another guest was Supreme Court 

Justice Antonin Scalia, who came to 

Hattiesburg to speak at the University 

of Southern Mississippi. Larnelle 

Harris, who was invited to sing at our 

church, Temple Baptist Church, was 

also a guest.” 

“One of the first couples that 

held their wedding reception at 

Dunhopen returned for their first 

anniversary weekend as our guests,” 

said Pat. Pat enjoyed meeting the 

guests that came from all over the 

United States and other countries, 

too. The most challenging aspect for 

her was balancing time between the 

business side of things and interacting 

meaningfully with their guests. When 

the season came to close Dunhopen, 

the Allens sold it to Forest General 

Hospital to be used as an extension of 

Pine Grove, their residential addiction 

treatment program. 

The Allens lived in Jackson from 

1966-1984, Hattiesburg from 1984- 

2013 and have lived in Clinton since 

2014. The Allen’s enjoy living in 

Clinton close to Billy’s mother as well 

as their daughter Carly and three 

grandchildren. Billy has siblings and 

lots of family in the Jackson area. They 

also enjoy playing table games such 

as Mexican Train and Rummikub 

together with friends. 

The Allens have embraced Clinton 

as their home during their “retirement 

years” and enjoy living here close to 

family. Billy and Pat Allen are thankful 

to call each other best friends after 51 

years of marriage. • 

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EVERYTHING FROM TIRE REPAIRS 

TO MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS 

AUTO AND DIESEL WORK 

449 E. NORTHSIDE DRIVE • CLINTON, MS 39056 • 601-924-2325 

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Happy 

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& Merry 

Christmas! 


Raggio 

“I just wanted to make myself a call. 

I never thought it would be a business.” 

Custom 

Calls 

By Abigail Walker 

From the 

moment you enter 

the Raggio call shop, you 

can tell Josh Raggio is passionate 

about the world of duck calling. His 

showroom is filled with calls—some he’s made, 

others gifts from other makers, a few as old as 

the 1930s. 

“There’s a story behind each call,” he says. 

Raggio has made over a thousand duck calls 

since he began in 2013. What started out as a 

hobby quickly became a business when Raggio 

Custom Calls was named a Garden & Gun Made 

in the South Finalist in 2014. Now his beautifully 

crafted calls are being recognized far beyond 

Mississippi. 

“I just wanted to make myself a call,” says 

Raggio. “I never thought it would be a business.” 

Raggio grew up in Raymond, Mississippi. His 

father, an avid duck hunter and caller, introduced 

him to the sport at a young age. “He instilled 

in me that same passion for waterfowl,” says 

Raggio. “It’s in my blood.” He displays his dad’s 

old duck hunting journal in his showroom and 

keeps his own journal with details of each hunt. 

He’s already started a call collection for his son, 

Jett, born earlier this year. 

When he first started making calls, Raggio 

had a small work area in his grandmother’s 

garage. Once the Garden & Gun feature pushed 

him into the spotlight, he realized he needed 

a bigger space where he could work without 

being exposed to the elements. The biggest 

selling feature of the house he and his wife, Ann, 

bought in Raymond several years ago was the 

woodworking shop out back. 

“We joke that we bought a shop and a house 

came with it,” says Raggio. 

Now he has his own private space to craft his 

calls, complete with showroom and cozy seating 

area. One wall is covered in signatures from 

friends, customers, and visiting call-makers. When 

he’s not at his day job at Puckett Machinery, 

Raggio can usually be found out in his shop, 

cutting calls or playing his guitar. 

“It’s my getaway,” he says. “I love hosting 

people and I wanted the space to be inviting, 

where we can just come and hang out.” 

Raggio says handmade calls like his are a 

rarity these days. While many duck call makers 

use duplicators to mass produce, he hand-turns 

his calls one at a time. And you won’t see any 

stickers or commercial labeling on his calls—just 

sleek, classic design. 

“I’m a traditionalist,” says Raggio. “My goal is 

to make a beautiful call that sounds good.” 

The process itself takes a while to perfect. 

Raggio uses over 30 kinds of wood to make his 

calls, but his favorite is Yellow Cedar Burl. He 

starts off by checking the moisture content of the 

piece of wood and making sure it’s suitable for 

use before drilling out a space in the middle for 

the insert. He then uses a lathe to hand-turn the 

barrel into the desired shape. But the insert is the 

trickiest part. Each call’s insert makes a custom 

sound that can take months to get right. 



“It’s a musical instrument,” Raggio says. 

“Sanding it down too thin can keep it from having 

that necessary ‘ducky’ sound.” 

Raggio says it took him about six months to 

get a sound he was happy with, and he created 

his own tone board jig to replicate it. Once the 

barrels and inserts are cut and pieced together, he 

adds the band and paints on a clear, waterproof 

layer over the call to protect it. He also recently 

bought a machine that allows him to engrave the 

metal bands by hand. 

“It adds a whole other element to the call,” he 

says. 

Though all his calls appear uniform when lined 

up, Raggio says he can spot the differences in 

each one. He keeps a drawer of “mess-ups” as 

a reminder of the hours of trial and error from 

when he was teaching himself how to use the 

machinery. 

“If you’re passionate about something, you 

can do it,” says Raggio. “I’m so thankful that I did 

it the hard way. I want to create an heirloom that 

people can pass down one day, a call that will 

hopefully have a lot of stories behind it.” 

Raggio was named the Mississippi State Duck 

Calling Champion in 2009, and one man 

placed fifth in the World Live 

Duck Calling Contest 

using a 

Raggio 

Custom 

Call. 

But making calls isn’t the only way Raggio is 

contributing to the duck hunting community. In 

2016, he began hosting what he dubbed “Call 

Nights,” where people gather to enjoy a meal and 

just talk about the art of duck calling and hunting. 

Raggio wanted an educational component to 

these call nights, so he invited experts in the 

industry to come and share their knowledge. 

“I want to teach the art of duck calling to the 

next generation,” says Raggio. 

These call nights soon grew to include live 

bands, contests, and giveaways. People offered 

to sponsor the nights and even had Call Night 

t-shirts and hats made. Some of the celebrity 

experts included caller legend Billy Starks and 

John Stephens of RNT Calls, one of the largest 

duck call manufacturers in the U.S. 

For the call night that Stephens attended, 

Raggio had over 140 people in his backyard and 

over 4,000 people watching on Facebook Live. 

Stephens gave away 150 duck calls that night and 

gifted Raggio with his own custom call. 

With so many fans of the call nights, everyone 

wants to know when the next one is, but with duck 

hunting season fast approaching, Raggio has his 

hands full. He says he hopes to host about two to 

four call nights a year. 

“It’s going to be hard to top the last ones we 

did,” he says. 

Raggio is also excited about his next big 

project—having a space at the Circle Seven 

Outpost & Provisions loft at Garden & Gun. About 

once a month, Raggio will travel to Charleston, 

South Carolina, and craft calls by appointment, 

allowing him to add that personal touch for out-ofstate 

customers. With each one-of-a-kind call he 

sends out, Raggio includes an invitation to his shop 

in Raymond. 

“I want to offer an experience and a bit of 

hospitality,” he says. “Ann and I like taking care of 

people.” 

Besides selling to Garden & Gun Mercantile 

and Upper Duck, Raggio also makes custom calls 

for businesses like Ameristar Casino. Even major 

league baseball players are sending him their bats 

so he can use the wood to make them each a 

personal call. 

For now, Raggio says he’s keeping his business 

relatively small, focusing on the personal aspect 

rather than quantity. He says he enjoys using the 

extra income to give back to others, whether that’s 

purchasing socks for the homeless or sponsoring a 

Stop Hunger Now meal packing. 

The purpose of his duck hunts has also 

changed. He says it’s more about the fun of calling 

and spending time with his friends than the number 

of ducks he gets. “I still enjoy the hunt,” he adds. “I 

just appreciate the art behind it more now.” 

You can purchase Raggio Custom Calls 

through upperduck.com, ggmercantile.com, or at 

circle7online.com. Raggio also periodically posts 

calls for sale on Instagram @raggiocustomcalls. For 

more information, you can contact Josh Raggio at 

601.201.6576. • 



OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS 

OPEN FOR YOU! 

PRINT 

DIRECT DIGITAL GREEN CROSS MEDIA DESIGN 

247 Industrial Drive N Madison, Mississippi 39110 

601-853-7300 1-800-844-7301 

www.hederman.com 


18 18 • Winter • 2017 2017 Hometown Clinton • 19

Mary ann Kirby 

Once you find the light at the end of the tunnel, 

become that light for others . . . 

Be the Light 

There are very few times in my life that I can recall thinking 

to myself, “that was an absolutely terrible week.” An occasional 

bad day? Sure. But a whole week? Not that I can remember. But 

recent events have started to erode my optimism a bit and make 

me wonder if this is the new normal. Hurricanes and wildfires, 

earthquakes and epic flooding, the threat of nuclear conflict, 

24-hour doom-and-gloom news cycles, and a general sense of 

civil and political unrest have all played their part in undermining 

my broader sense of well-being. Frankly it’s becoming more 

and more challenging to stay above the fray in the midst of 

such negativity. 

While I’m usually a pretty positive person, I once made 

the critical social-media misstep of commenting on what 

seemed like a fairly benign political discussion among friends 

on Facebook, only to be completely hijacked and eventually 

eviscerated by a complete stranger. It took me days to get 

over it as I had never been the recipient of such a hostile and 

unprecedented lashing out by a keyboard warrior. And I’m no 

shrinking violet mind you . . . but nor am I able to function in 

a way that brings me joy while trying to think of the meanest 

thing I could possibly say in retaliation—all while salvaging 

my own sense of self-respect. 

I might should just stick to pictures of puppies and kittens. 

And baby goats. And Pinterest recipes. 

People just seem so angry. Maybe it’s a sign of the times– 

and finding the best during difficult times can, no doubt, be a 

daunting task. But here are a few things I’ve learned while trying 

to do it, nonetheless, despite what’s happening around me: 

You gotta take the bad with the good. They say that bad days 

make you appreciate the good days more. It’s that whole 

Yin-Yang thing, I suppose. It takes negative space to create 

balance with positive space. What would it be like if all we 

had was good days? Would we any longer know they’re good? 

So, even on your worst day, try to find something good. Life 

is always going to contain a little darkness. We have to focus 

on the light that will follow. 

Life’s not always fair. There are so many things that happen 

that we may never understand, or can explain, that seem 

completely unfair. Like, why do some people retain their health 

despite their poor lifestyle choices while others that live “by 

the book” are blind-sided with a life-changing diagnosis with 

no apparent reason or warning? Why do some enjoy great 

success without significant effort while others seem to struggle 

their entire lives? Why do some good people die young? These 

are all challenging questions to which I don’t know the answer. 

Sometimes life just hits you so hard it knocks your helmet off– 

but what defines us is how well we rise after falling. The point 

is to rise. Get back up, every time. 

Every day is a do-over. The best part of this life is that we are 

given the chance to start over every single day that we wake up. 

Don’t drag the negative with you from day to day like a dead 

body. You’re not obligated to give it a free ride. Move forward 

with thoughts and actions that empower you, not the ones that 

weaken you. This is your opportunity to begin again, so be 

intentional. This is your do-over. 

Make a “good things” list. One of the best ways I’ve found to 



stay optimistic when times are tough is to focus on 

what I have rather than what I don’t. Gratitude is one 

of the best tools for overcoming any difficulty and, as 

counter-intuitive as it may seem, it’s particularly 

beneficial when things aren’t going well. 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, it unlocks a fullness of life and turns what we have 

into enough. 

Learn to harness your opinion–or should I say, 

“articulate your thoughts and views in a more 

constructive way.” Lordy! Never in my life have I seen 

so many opinions shared about things that either have 

absolutely nothing to do with the person sharing them 

or are communicated in such a way that it creates 

complete divisiveness and hostility. And when did it 

become acceptable to rebuke someone because they 

happen to think differently? We live in the Universal 

Age of Sharing. Let’s commit ourselves to doing it 

nicely. Otherwise it will be the downfall of civility. 

Find a place for faith. If you’re Christian, faith is not 

only the belief that Jesus Christ can save you, but it’s 

actually knowing that He’s on his way to do it—and 

that promise alone provides hope for many. But 

regardless of your religious beliefs, the point is that it’s 

important to believe in something. It’s been proven 

that people of faith have a greater sense of optimism 

than those without it. 

They say that how we respond to life ultimately 

defines our character. There are plenty of days I want 

to crawl under the coffee table and hide from the news 

and the mean people and the storms of life. But then 

I remember that I have a job to do. We all have jobs 

to do. Our jobs are to be the light in a dark world. 

To spread hope and joy any way we can. To show love 

when no one else does. 

So when it rains, look for rainbows—when it’s 

dark, look for stars! And when you can’t find the 

sunshine, BE the sunshine. That would go a long way 

toward making the world a better place. n 


HAPPY FIT 

By Leah Mitchener 

Think of the most inspirational 

person you know. What is it about 

them that puts you in such a state 

of awe? Is it their dedication? Their 

perseverance? Their spirit and zest 

for life? Anyone who has spent 5 

seconds talking to Natalia Trotter 

would agree that she is a constant 

inspiration to those around her for 

all of these reasons. She is a light in 

a dark room. 

Born in Kursk, Russia, Natalia 

soon moved to Ukraine with her 

family where she attended college 

and met an American named 

Wilson Trotter; a man who knew 

he would marry her after having 

one of her home-cooked meals. 

It was “providence” according to 

Natalia. They were married after 

just four short months. 

After spending a year living 

with Natalia’s parents, the couple 

moved to America in June of 1999. 

Wilson’s family owns hundreds of 

acres in Mississippi where he grew 

up, so they built a house on the 

land and called it home. Though 

she had taken a few English classes 

in college, she had absolutely 

zero English-speaking skills and 

struggled to do things most of us 

take for granted like answering 

the phone or seeing who had come 

knocking at the door. 

But she was determined. For 

three whole months, she did 

nothing but listen to television and 

radio stations to gain confidence in 

her English-speaking abilities. “The 

first English book I read was The 

Magic of Thinking Big by Napoleon 

Hill. I took down and studied 40 

unknown words just from the first 

page,” she said. She even found 

a little help from God himself 

by attending choir practices at 

church. She wanted to “hear, see, 

and pronounce words”, and had 

the added bonus of really enjoying 

singing and worshipping. 

After the birth of her second 

child, Natalia found herself sinking 

into a deep depression. Wilson 

was gone to Chicago on business 

during the week, and her new 

little baby was having some 

health issues. Her feeling of 

helplessness continued for 

seven months. Mentally 

and physically worn 

out from the strain 

of holding the 

household together 

and caring for her 

ailing son, she knew she 

had to do something to 

better her life. “I just knew 

the person I had turned into 

was not the person I used to be,” 

she said. “I was looking for ways to 

better my life. I wanted to become 

“I BECAME INFATUATED WITH THE 

daring” 

IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING 


a new woman and leave my 206-pound 

body in the past.” 

When she started, Natalia was 

not really interested in the world of 

fitness as anything more than a means 

by which to lose weight and make a 

change in her life for the better. “I knew 

I could do more, serve better, and give 

more frequently to people I love,” she 

said. “I took a look at myself and I knew 

that I had to change myself first.” She 

had no idea that these small changes 

she was making would turn into 

something so much bigger. 

Through the power of prayer, Natalia 

began her journey to a healthier, 

happier life. She started to train at 

5:00 a.m. in her backyard gym five 

days a week, 45 minutes per day. In 

the timespan of just seven months, 

she dropped 70 pounds! “I found joy 

and happiness like never before,” 

she cheered. Told as a child that she 

was genetically pre-dispositioned to 

being overweight, she was always 

very ashamed of her body. With her 

new-found happiness and confidence, 

though, she also found it within herself 

to be bold and outgoing. 

That’s when she started looking into 

the idea of bodybuilding competitions. 

“I became infatuated with the idea of 

doing something daring, like wearing 

a posing suit on stage in front of 

the audience.” Using her faith and 

determined spirit, Natalia worked 

hard enough to become a three-time 

National Physique Committee 1st place 

champion in the figure division. “Every 

time I went for the competition I was 

opening the door for the opportunity to 

learn and grow my attitude.” 

Natalia now works as a personal 

trainer for the Aerobics and Fitness 

Association of America. She has 

dedicated her life to encouraging 

healthy choices within her family and 

for those around her with tips and tricks 

she has learned in her own personal 

weight-loss journey. “Being a product 

of the system helps me to have deep 

connection and understanding of what 

people that I train go through,” she said. 

In fact, her friends at the Mississippi 

Writers Guild have encouraged her to 

share her story, and she has taken them 

up on their suggestion. She is currently 

in the process of writing an inspirational 

and instructional book on how she 

completely transformed her body in 

seven months and how you can, too. “I 

pray about being a vessel and delivering 

healing of the body, mind and spirit 

to others. When I am a vessel, when I 

am fully engaged, the right words and 

actions always flow in just the right 

direction,” she said. 

Though she misses her family in 

Ukraine, Natalia has built a new life, a 

new body, and a new understanding of 

happiness here in America. She is fired 

up about life and all of the possibilities 

and opportunities it has to offer, and 

does whatever she can to help others 

find the light inside of themselves. • 



The Clinton Chamber of Commerce 

Public Service Appreciation Luncheon 

Guest Speaker Gregg Harper 

B.C. Rodgers Building on Mississippi College Campus 

Friday, October 6th 



Eastside 

Elementary 

Cindy Hamil’s 

Commitment 

to Excellence 


For over 10 years, Eastside Elementary has flourished 

under the leadership of principle Cindy Hamil, whose 

positive attitude and proactive mindset keeps Eastside on 

their A-game. By embracing new technology and pushing 

for excellence in every area of education, Hamil is working 

to better prepare her students, and teachers, for the 

ever-changing world. 

Hamil grew up attending Clinton public schools, and 

she and all three of her children graduated from Clinton 

High School. 

“I’ve been an Arrow all my life,” she says. 

“I bleed red and black.” 

Hamil earned her degree in elementary education 

in 1991 and her masters in educational leadership and 

supervision in 1998 from Mississippi College. She taught 

at Jackson Public Schools for 3 years before helping 

start the Clinton Alternative Program in 1993, where she 

developed the elementary component and taught K-6. In 

1997, she moved to Eastside, where she taught 5th grade 

and later served 4 years as assistant principle. 

Since taking the role of head principle in 2005, Hamil 

has become known for her passion for incorporating 

modern technology in the classroom. 

“I’ve always been interested in technology,” she says. 

“My dad built my first computer, and I found 

it fascinating.” 

When Hamil was working for the Clinton Public 

School District as a test coordinator, one of her jobs was 

webmaster. She actually built CPS’s first webpage using 

html code and trained other teachers on how to make 

webpages for their individual schools. As she moved into 

more administrative roles, Hamil carried those skills 

with her. 

“I knew that I wanted Eastside to be on the 

forefront of technology,” she says. 

Hamil worked with the PTO to buy SMART Boards for 

almost every classroom at Eastside. She also introduced 

an interactive learning system called Nearpod, as well 

as virtual reality field trips. Tools like these allow for 

a more engaging and unique learning experience 

for students. Hamil says that having every teacher 

at Eastside become a Nearpod and Apple-certified 

educator has made the transition to a One-to-One 

school (where every student has an Apple device to use 

in the classroom) an easy one. 

Hamil motivates teachers to incorporate new 

technology by modeling it during faculty meetings. 

“My goal is to keep teachers on top of the technology 

trends and continue to get better at using those tools 

in the classroom,” she says. 

In addition, Hamil encourages the Eastside team to 

be strong supporters of physical fitness. From Zumbathons 

to walk-to-school days, she finds ways to promote 

healthy choices. Eastside earned the title of NFL Play 

360 Super School because of their enthusiasm about 

physical education and received a $10,000 grant from 

the NFL to better their playground. 

Another area that Hamil focuses on is service. 

Eastside participates in projects such as collecting socks 

for the homeless and each year, and raises over $8,000 

for the American Heart Association. 

“Any activity that gets students caring about others 

is important,” Hamil says. 

Some of the highlights from Hamil’s time at 

Eastside include building a new school, having Rachel 

Ray and First Lady Michelle Obama visit for a healthy 

school segment, and, of course, earning the title of an 

A-rated school. 

“We try very hard academically to maintain an 

A-rating,” says Hamil. “When we get our scores each 

year, it feels like a success.” 

Hamil strives to create a positive learning 

environment, and she says that starts with maintaining 

a fun atmosphere for the teachers and meeting their 

needs. “I tell them to pretend like we’re at Disney 

World,” she says. “I want them to express joy in their 

jobs because it trickles down to the children.” 

She adds that everything she does is based on 

relationships, and she does her best to preserve a 

feeling of trust with her coworkers. “We are a family,” 

she says. 

“She has an open door policy,” says Eastside 

Assistant Principle Brittany Ricker. “And we always feel 

"Any activity that gets students caring 

about others is important." 

comfortable going into her office to talk about literally 

anything, or, in my case, just sit there and cry after a 

bad day. She is accepting and loves her staff fiercely. 

Ms. Hamil consistently invests herself into the lives of 

those around her to make Eastside and Clinton Public 

Schools excellent. I consider it an honor to work with 

Ms. Hamil each day, but also to call her a friend.” 

“Ms. Hamil has given me room to grow as a teacher, 

along with guidance as I have needed it,” adds Jana 

Chao, one of Eastside’s computer science teachers. “She 

allows me to see the needs of my students and meet 

those needs in the ways I see fit as a professional. She 

always encourages new ideas, only questioning whether 

or not those ideas will grow students.” 

“The commitment to excellence is empowering,” says 

Hamil. “I love getting up and going to work every single 

morning. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” 

Hamil has three children and three grandchildren. 

When she’s not at school or with her family, she loves 

to garden. • 



Fall For Clinton Market 

& Chick-Fil-A Pet Parade 

October 14, 2017 



GOOD CITIZEN 

C R A F T E D 

C U R A T E D 


Anna Boyd Hawks says she always 

wanted to own a business. The ideas 

ranged from art gallery to coffee shop 

and everything in between, but the sense 

of community was a must. As assistant 

director of Main Street Clinton, Hawks is 

constantly interacting with creative people, 

and she wanted a physical space to reflect 

that. 

“With my Main Street job, I got to know 

a lot about this area and local craftsmen,” 

she says. “I was also inspired by the Olde 

Town Markets 

and wanted to bring an element of that into 

a store.” 

Seeing homemade, uniquely-designed 

items and meeting the people behind them 

propelled her vision. For two years, Hawks 

took little steps toward creating her store, 

not quite sure where it would take her. 

But it wasn’t until the space on the Brick 

Streets became available that she knew 

her idea to combine her love of people and 

art could become a reality. Sure enough, 

Good Citizen opened its doors March 10, 

2017. 

Located at 310 Jefferson Street in 

Clinton, Good Citizen is the source for 

handcrafted and locally-made products, 

as well as international items that give 

back to communities. As their social media 

states, Good Citizen is all about “celebrating 

creators and small batch makers, good 

design and doing good.” 

“We try to use companies that have a 

level of social responsibility,” says Hawks. 

Hawks shares the space with friend 

Emily Hamblin, who runs Hard-Pressed 

Studio. The store provides a place for her to 



do her printmaking, as well as 

display her art. 

“I’ve enjoyed having a 

space outside my home 

to work on prints and 

be able to meet a few 

of the customers,” says 

Hamblin. She has also 

helped Hawks put on 

several art classes for the public, including 

printmaking, kitchen lithography, and 

Japanese stab binding. 

While much of the store is geared 

toward college students, Hawks says 

there’s something for everyone. Jewelry, 

hats, wall art, and even Mississippi-made 

beard oil line the shelves. 

Good Citizen carries a wide variety 

of items from local artisans, including 

handcrafted journals by Dylan Lowe, art 

prints by Christy Henderson, and custom 

coasters by Kylie Stinson. Clintonian Scott 

Taylor makes wooden lamps, shelves, 

letters, and more. 

“I love having my products there,” says 

Taylor. “Since Taylor/Made is definitely a 

side-pursuit based in my garage, I don’t 

have the space to have an inventory for 

my products. So I can point people to Good 

Citizen if they want something that is in 

stock.” 

There is also a focus on items that “give 

back” internationally. Honest Cotton, a 

company based out of Austin, Texas, allows 

Mexican women to receive a fair wage for 

the shirts they make. DOT school supplies, 

created 

by Hallie Darphin 

Brand, helps fund education for 

children in other countries, and every 

purchased candle by Bridgewater Candle 

Company feeds a child for a day. Hawks 

says the candles are their bestsellers, 

and they’ve paid for over 500 meals since 

opening in March. 

“Everybody has been super supportive,” 

says Hawks. “It’s encouraging to see people 

excited about handcrafted items and 

supporting artists.” 

Since supporting local talent is a huge 

component of the store, Good Citizen 

hosted its first artist showcase this past 

summer. Musician Ben Ford performed; 

photographer Andrew Welch displayed his 

prints; and Emily Hamblin demonstrated 

her printmaking in her studio. Hawks says 

she wanted to give customers a chance to 

interact with local artists. 

“I sold several of my prints that night,” 

says Welch. “That people now have my 

work hanging on their walls is truly 

humbling.” 

“Stories connect with people,” says 

Hawks. “They want to hear about the 

person behind the product and the story 

they are trying to tell.” 

Good Citizen has also allowed local 

creatives to use the space for pop-up shops. 

Hawks says she often sees something she 

likes and inquires about carrying it in the 

store. “It’s a chance for me to celebrate 

things that I think are good or beautiful,” 

she says. “It’s all of my dreams in one place.” 

Hawks, originally from Pontotoc, Miss., 

received her marketing undergrad and her 

master’s in business administration from 

Mississippi College. In her spare time, she 

plays piano and trumpet and dabbles in 

pottery. 

“I would have regretted not opening a 

business,” says Hawks. “Olde Towne really 

is the gem of the community, and I wouldn’t 

want to have a store anywhere else.”•• 

Good Citizen is open Tuesday thru Friday 11 a.m. 

to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Follow Good 

Citizen and Hard-Pressed Studio on Facebook and 

Instagram @shopgoodcitizen 

and @hardpressedstudio. 


Your Best 

Christmas Memories 

Start Here! 

An Ice Skating, 

Ice Sliding, 

Bouncing Blast. 

NOVEMBER 12 - JANUARY 6 

Monday thru Saturday: 10am – 11pm ❆ Sunday: Noon – 11pm ❆ Pearl, MS 

In the giant tent across the street from Outlets of Mississippi and Bass Pro Shops 

601-212-8810 ❆ info@bigsouthevents.net ❆ www.christmaswonderland.ms 

@ChristmasWonderlandMS 

©Copyright 2017 

Big South Events, LLC 

Madison, MS 

38 38 • Winter • 2017 2017 Hometown Clinton • 39

55 Days of Unforgettable Memories 

Ken Sandridge 

Holiday memory-making in Mississippi 

usually doesn’t include ice - unless, of 

course, it’s the ice in a glass of sweet tea. 

However, thanks to the vision of local U.S. 

96.3 radio celebrity and Big South Events 

partner, Scott Steele, Central Mississippi 

families will enjoy over 55 days of 

unforgettable memories on ice beginning 

November 12 during Steele’s event titled, 

Christmas Wonderland. 

Describing the nearly two-month 

long event as an ice skating, ice sliding 

extravaganza, Steele and his partners 

are ensuring skating and sliding fun - 

rain or shine - by holding the event in a 

giant 30,000 square foot tent filled with 

thousands of Christmas lights and 

decorations in the parking lot of 

Mississippi Braves stadium in Pearl. 

“Actually, the great memories my 

children and I had at the ice rink held in 

Madison a few years back,” Steele said, 

“were the inspiration for Christmas 

Wonderland.” “As my partners and I began 

developing the Christmas Wonderland 

concept, we knew we had to find a way 

to keep Mother Nature from shutting 

down the fun,” Steele said in referring to the 

more than 20 days of rain that prevented 

skating at the Madison event in 2013. 

“So, holding Christmas Wonderland in 

a massive tent was our only option,” 

he added. “If not for the underwriting 

commitments of our title sponsor, Merit 

Health, as well as other generous 

supporters like Outlets of Mississippi, 

BankPlus, and Coca-Cola,” Steele explained, 

“there would have been no way to bring 

an event of this magnitude to the Metro 

Jackson area.” Steele also praised Pearl 

Mayor Jake Windham and the businesses 

and organizations in the area for their 

support of the project - including the host 

venue Mississippi Braves, Bass Pro Shop, 

Holiday Inn, and Cavender’s. 

One of the nation’s most experienced 

providers of portable ice rink venues, 

internationally acclaimed Magic Ice USA, 

was tapped to develop and install the 

Christmas Wonderland ice rink and ice 

slide. In addition to a nearly 8,000 square 

foot ice rink, Christmas Wonderland will 

feature a double ice slide appropriately 

titled, The Arctic Blast, where two sliders 

climb stairs to the top of a 20-foot high 

ice-tower before zooming down a 120-foot 

long run of ice to the bottom of the run. 

As a bonus for younger children who 

may find it slightly challenging to navigate 

the ice rink and slide, Steele and partners 

also designed a kid-friendly area with an 

assortment of inflatables that will include 

a huge 22-foot high triple slide that gives 

even the youngest event-goers thrills 

galore. 

“Speaking of kids,” Steele continued, 

“we have a ton of things planned to make 

the event especially exciting for them 

during the Christmas season. For instance, 

moms and dads can have their children 

be a part of several Breakfast with Santa 

dates where the kids will actually have 

breakfast and visit with St. Nick himself - 

along with filling out their wish-list and 

dropping it in his big red bag!” 

“Birthday parties at Christmas Wonderland 

are another opportunity,” he added. 

We have already booked a ton of 

children’s birthday parties, which include 

skating, sliding and bouncing in the 

inflatables area!” 

“And not to be outdone by things for 

the kiddos,” he remarked, “Christmas 

Wonderland makes the perfect venue for 

Christmas gatherings of all kinds - including 

company, church, and other types of group 

and organizational gatherings!” 

Throughout the nearly eight-week long 

event, there will be a variety of local and 

regional concerts and entertainment 

appearing daily on the BankPlus Stage - 

ranging from church and school choirs to 

professional entertainers. 

“Almost everyone has a favorite 

Christmas memory,” Steele added. “This 

year, we’re confident Christmas Wonderland 

will become that magical place where 

friends and families celebrate the season 

and make memories that last a lifetime.” 

Christmas Wonderland will operate 

daily beginning November 12 thru January 

6, 10am - 11pm Monday thru Thursday, 

and 12 noon - 11pm Friday thru Sunday. 

For more information call 601-212-8810, 

email info@bigsouthevents.net, or visit 

www.christmaswonderland.ms or 

FaceBook.com/ChristmasWonderlandMS 



Red Brick Roads 

Music & Arts Festival 

August 25th & 26th 

Olde Towne Clinton 


Hometown Clinton • 43 


AT WOODCHASE 

NOW OPEN IN CLINTON 

801 W. Northside Drive, Suite B 

P: 601-708-4205 

MATT THOMAS, PT, CENTER MANAGER 

601-925-0009 

131 Woodchase Park Dr. ~ Clinton, MS ~ woodchase@heritageproperties.com 

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. 

We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing 

because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. 

Need Not Be Built. For Marketing Purposes Only. All renderings, floor plans, features and photography are artist’s depictions only. 

Features, pricing and dimensions shown herein are subject to change without notice. All dimensions are approximate. Developer 

reserves the right to modify or adjust prices and/or specifications without notice. Special offers are subject to change without 

notification. All move in discounts and specials are not for existing residents. 

DRAYERPT.COM/CLINTON 


SERVING OUR COMMUNITY 

CLINTON'S FINEST 

Captain Marshall Molpus 

CLINTON FIRE DEPARTMENT 

Detective Robert Nordan 

CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 


Why did you decide to be 

a fireman? 

My daddy was a fireman and I remember going 

to the station as a child and playing on the 

firetruck and putting his hat on. When I 

graduated high school, Clinton was hiring for 

Station 2. It felt right to do what my daddy 

had done. 

How long have you been with 

the Clinton Fire Department? 

I’ve been here since March, 1982. 

That’s 35 years. 

Tell us about your family. 

My wife, Beth, and I have adult 2 sons, 

Jacob and Trey. 

What is the toughest thing you 

have experienced in your job? 

The tragedies we’ve seen; whether a traffic 

accident, a heart attack, accidental death, or 

fire death – particularly if any of it involves 

children. 

Share some things you enjoy 

doing in your spare time. 

I like being outdoors and hanging out with 

friends. But I mostly enjoy being with 

my family. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

I don’t really have a bucket list; I just try to 

continue to be a good father, husband, 

coworker, and person in all I do. I’m sure there 

are some things I’d like to do, but I’ll think 

about that after I retire. 

Who is someone you admire 

and why? 

That would have to be my father. He was just a 

good man. He taught me about the Bible and 

salvation, and he was a great example of a 

family man. I also had a great mother, brother, 

and sister. 

Where do you see yourself ten 

years from now? 

I hope to be retired and enjoying the good life. 

If you could give one piece of 

advice to a young person, what 

would it be? 

I would tell them to develop a personal 

relationship with Jesus Christ. THAT is what will 

get you through the tough times. It’s more 

important than air, food, and water. 

What is a favorite childhood 

memory? 

I had a good childhood. Wherever we lived, 

there seemed to be a lot of kids. We did a lot of 

wandering in the woods. We would usually end 

up in somebody’s pond if we could find one. 

We were just real adventurous. Momma would 

say, “You’re not going to be coming in and out. 

Either stay in or stay out.” We chose to stay out, 

and most of the time we’d be out all day 

getting into something. 

What is the biggest mistake you 

think young people make today? 

I think people today don’t believe Jesus can 

handle it. 

What is your favorite thing about 

the City of Clinton? 

The Clinton Fire Department, of course. It feels 

like home. Plus, the roads are better here than 

in Jackson. 

Why did you decide to become 

a detective? 

I always love a challenge and I love to keep 

learning new things. I’m new to the division. 

I’m in a spot where I have a great group of 

experienced detectives to learn from. 

How long have you been with 

the Clinton Police Department? 

Since May 1, 2015. I was a patrolman up until 

September of this year when I became 

a detective. 


I’m married to my ridiculously good looking 

wife, Priscilla. We have an Australian Shephard, 

Ellie, and a cat that I’m allergic to, Callie (she’s a 

calico). I have an older brother and two older 

sisters. My brother, Edward, is a fireman here in 

Clinton. My sister Gabie and her husband Eric 

are married with two awesome kids. My sister 

Emma is pretty much a comedian and it’s a 

guarantee she’s going to have you laughing. 

What is the toughest thing you 

have experienced in your job? 

Seeing people resort to a means of stealing to 

feed their drug addiction. I’ve seen it time and 

time again. People will spend whatever money 

they have on drugs. Then when the money 

runs out, they’ll steal something of value to buy 

more drugs. This happens all too often and is a 

very real problem. 

Share some things you enjoy 

doing in your spare time. 

In my down time I enjoy spending time with 

the wife and hanging out with the friends I’ve 

made while working at CPD. I also enjoy going 

to the gym and getting in a good workout. 

Staying in shape is important to me. I do 

believe I have Forrest Gump beat when it 

comes to running as well. 

What is a favorite childhood 

memory? 

Going to the WCW house shows at the 

Mississippi Coliseum with my dad and my 

sister Emma. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

Go to Wrestlemania (which I hope to do next 

year), buy a Harley Davidson, and take that 

Harley Davidson for many rides. 

Who is someone you admire 

and why? 

My dad. He and my mother were police 

officers in Jackson many moons ago. I 

admired him because he had an incredible 

work ethic. He worked hard his whole life. Quit 

was a word he did not know. 

Where do you see yourself ten 

years from now? 

Chief. That probably won’t happen in ten years, 

but hopefully one day. That’s the goal. 

If you could give one piece of 

advice to a young person, what 

would it be? 

Always always always stay motivated. If you set 

a goal, you better reach it. Always keep 

learning. Education never stops. 

What is the biggest mistake you 

think young people make 

today? 

Relying on social media as a main source for 

information. I think young people are too easily 

influenced by what others say on Facebook, 

Twitter, etc. Don’t form an opinion by what 

some Joe Blow says on the internet. Do some 

actual research from a reputable source. Real, 

truthful information is out there. Go find it, 

study it, then form an opinion. 

What is your favorite thing about 

the City of Clinton? 

The respect for law enforcement the citizens 

of Clinton have. When I was on patrol people 

would regularly approach me and thank me for 

my service and tell me how appreciative they 

were of me. That respect makes me that much 

more proud to wear the badge. 


In Clinton, 

it’s always the 

most wonderful 

time of the year. 

The Perfect Gift 

The Perfect Gift 

3 JACKSON FAVORITES 

1 CONVENIENT CARD 

Make Us Part Of Your Giving Tradition 

YOUBELONGINCLINTON.COM 

AVAILABLE IN-STORE & ONLINE 


An 

Interest 

in 

Pinterest 

It wasn’t until 

we saw it on 

Pinterest that we 

ever considered 

using grandma’s 

vintage silver 

tureen and 

putting a fern in it! 

So just in time 

for the holidays, 

we’ve curated 

some of our 

favorite decorating 

inspiration images 

and put them 

here for you. 

Be creative! 

Shop your own 

cupboards and 

storage chests. 

Find new life 

for things you 

already have. 

And most of all, 

have fun. 

Happy Holidays! 


Clinton 

Recipes 

Oatmeal Cream Pie 

with Cream Cheese 

Filling 

• 1 cup butter softened 

• 1 cup sugar 

• 1 cup brown sugar 

• 2 eggs 

• 1 T Mexican vanilla 

• 2 cups flour 

• ½ t cinnamon 

• 1 t baking soda 

• 1 t salt 

• 3 cups quick cooking oats 

Cream together the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. 

Mix cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flour together 

and add to creamed mixture. Mix in oats until 

combined well. Roll into evenly sized balls and place 

on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 

– 13 minutes. Do not overcook. Spread cream 

cheese icing between 2 cookies. 

Filling: 

• 1 8 oz. cream cheese (softened) 

• 1 stick butter 

• 1 T Mexican vanilla 

• 4 cups powdered sugar 

Cream together the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. 

Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time mixing well after 

each addition. Spread between 2 oatmeal cookies for 

oatmeal cream pies. 

Iron Skillet Biscuits 

• 4 cups Bisquick 

• 8 oz. sour cream 

• ¾ cup club soda 

• 1 stick butter melted 

Mix sour cream and club soda together. Add 

Bisquick until just combined. Don’t over mix. Place 

skillet over low heat with 1 T of the melted butter. 

Melt the remaining butter in a small bowl. Dip 

biscuit batter by heaping spoonful’s into the melted 

butter then place in warm skillet until pan is full. 

Any remaining butter can be poured over the 

biscuits before baking. Bake at 450 degrees until 

golden brown, 12 – 15 minutes. 

Molasses Cookies 

• 1 cup sugar 

• 1 t cinnamon 

• ½ t salt 

• ¾ cup shortening 

• 1 egg 

• ½ t cloves 

• 2 t baking soda 

• ¼ cup molasses 

• 2 cups flour 

Cream together shortening, eggs, and molasses. Mix 

sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves, baking soda and flour 

together and add to creamed mixture. Mix well, roll 

into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 

350 degrees until light brown and let cool on cookie 

sheet before removing. 



Ten years ago, founding 

members of Clinton Christian 

Academy believe they were 

called to a higher purpose: to 

start a school that offered not 

only educational excellence, 

but more importantly, the 

mission of bringing students 

closer to the Lord. 

Since the school started, 

attendance has nearly 

doubled, ACT scores have 

risen, and CCA has achieved 

and maintains accreditation 

from the Mississippi Association 

of Independent Schools 

(MAIS), the Southern 

Association of Colleges and 

Schools (SACS) and an AA 

rating, the highest rating of 

excellence for schools. 

In addition to growing its 

student population, CCA is 

undergoing expansion on the 

grounds and in the classroom. 

In spring 2016, CCA started a 

campaign to raise funds to 

build a gym and performing 

arts center on campus. 

Celebrating a Decade of 

Christian Education 

By Katherine R. Dougan 

“In the fall of 2016, the 

land was cleared, and the 

sign went up as the initial step 

toward the future home of 

our gym and performing arts 

center,” said Marie Brooks, 

Director of Admissions and 

Publications. 

“Initial plans have been 

made and approved by the 

City,” said Sam Bryson, CCA 

Board president. “We are in 

the early stages of a significant 

fund-raising campaign to 

move forward.” 

Brooks is in a firsthand 

position to watch CCA grow, 

as she has been at CCA since 

the doors opened. She loves 

the low student-to-teacher 

ratio, which is one teacher 

for every eighteen to twenty 

students with an even smaller 

ratio in the lower elementary. 

However, she said what she 

loves most about the school 

is God’s Word being taught in 

the classroom. 

“We have chapel services 

every Monday in keeping with 

our mission at CCA. The Word 

of God is taught individually 

and collectively. I love that 

as a parent.” Along with her 

duties as director of admissions 

and publications, she also 

teaches seventh grade Bible 

studies. 

In addition to Bible 

courses, small class sizes and 

excellence in education, 

CCA provides a safe family 

atmosphere. Dr. Phillip H. 

Broome is the Headmaster 

at CCA. “One of Dr. 

Broome’s top priorities is a 

safe environment in which 

our students can learn, grow 

and be the person God has 

created them to be,” Brooks 

said. 

“It is truly an honor 

and a privilege to serve 

as headmaster of Clinton 

Christian Academy,” said 

Broome. “I’m amazed at the 

progress that has occurred 

in its ten years of existence. 

The accomplishments of 

CCA are remarkable and can 

be attributed to the efforts 

of faculty, staff and parents. 

If the past ten years are any 

indication of the next ten, then 

I expect great and wonderful 

things to occur.” 

This year, the school 

added a STEM lab which 

focuses on project-based 

learning in Science- 

Technology-Engineering- 

Mathematics. Students learn 

about the engineering design 

process and are given new 

challenges each week to 

process. They learn how to 

find solutions to problems by 

collaborating and working 

in groups with peer reviews. 

The skills gained in the STEM 

lab help students learn 

to problem-solve in real 

time. They also learn how 

communicate and better 

manage their time. 

CCA is now a testing 

facility for the ACT 

examination and offers the 

test – for free – to juniors and 

seniors in the fall. The test is 

given again in the spring for 

sophomores and juniors, and 

ACT prep is incorporated into 

English, math and science 

courses. In 2014-15, CCA 

started the 25- point and 

30-point ACT Club, which 

includes students who score 

more than a 25 or 30 out of a 

possible 36 points on the ACT. 

“We look forward to the 

growth of these clubs,” Brooks 

said, adding that the school 

is always working to improve 

the school’s average score on 

the ACT. 

Students are also getting 

prepared for college through 

the dual enrollment program 

with Hinds Community 

College. This program allows 

students the opportunity to 

earn college credit for courses 

taken their junior or senior 

year at CCA. Last year’s 

graduating class earned a 

total of 139 college credit 

hours. 

With an award-winning 

show choir and concert 

choir, the music and arts 

are vibrantly alive at CCA. 

Cindi Nix directs the music 

programs, which are part of 

the curriculum for grades K-6 

and are optional for grades 

7-12. Most of the students opt 

to continue with choir, Brooks 

said. Music and art are offered 

as part of the enrichment 

courses at CCA, which also 

include physical education, 

computers and library. 

Josh Zeitz, CCA’s athletic 

director, is excited about 

the future of the athletic 

department. 

“In ten short years, Clinton 

Christian Academy has gone 

from a vision to a thriving 

independent Christian school. 

As athletic director, I have 

gotten to be a part of building 

our sports programs to a level 

where we don’t just field 

teams, but we compete for 

championships. This has only 

occurred through the grace 

of God and the hard work of 

the faculty, parents, and kids,” 

Zeitz said. 

CCA offers athletics 

starting in the 4th grade. 

Elementary students can 

participate in football, girls’ 

and boys’ basketball, archery 

and cheer. Junior varsity (JV) 

and varsity athletics consist of 

football, basketball, baseball, 

54 54 • Winter • 2017 2017 


softball, cheer, and track 

and field. This past year, CCA 

achieved record-breaking 

success with a South State 

Championship and District 

Championship in softball, 

South State runner-up in varsity 

boys basketball, South State 

runner-up in track with 12 state 

finalists, 2nd place finish in 

the South State and Overall 

State in archery, and District 

Championships in JV boys and 

girls basketball. 

Natalie King, the school’s 

counselor, who has been at 

CCA since the school started 

says, “One of the greatest joys 

I have at CCA is being able to 

watch the students develop 

educationally, spiritually, and 

physically. Our current ninth 

grade has eight students who 

started the kindergarten (K5) 

program the first year. I have 

loved watching them mature 

(along with so many others) 

while also developing long 

and lasting relationships with 

each of them. These students 

become family to me, to 

each other, and to our staff.” 

In just ten short years, 

CCA is providing a nurturing, 

loving environment for 

students allowing them to 

grow academically, spiritually, 

and socially as they fulfill the 

purpose to which they were 

called. • 

www.clintonchristianacademy.org 

CCA: 10 years of 

Accomplishments 

· Enrollment has grown 94% 

since opening 

· AA MAIS accreditation 

status, the highest level 

attainable 

· Received SACS 

accreditation in 2014 

· Mentoring program 

between high school and 

elementary students 

· Dual Enrollment program 

with Hinds in 2012 

· STEM lab, keyboarding, 

community service, yearly 

education trips, Student 

Government, National 

Honor Society and other 

clubs for students 

· Approved for ACT 

Weekday testing twice a 

year in 2014 

· Campus has grown from 

24,000 square feet to 36,000 

square feet 

· Addition of a baseball field, 

football field and softball 

field 

· Competitive and award 

winning show choir since 

opening 

· Implementation of Project 

Fit America PE curriculum 

in 2017 



More than 30 practices. 

Quick appointments. 

One number: 844-MSMERIT. 

The CHALKBOARD 

CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR 

MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX 

VISITS LOVETT ELEMENTARY 

Because there’s Merit in convenient care. 

With more than 30 primary care and specialty practices in four counties across the Jackson and Vicksburg metropolitan 

areas, Merit Health Medical Group providers offer quality care for your family with your schedule in mind. From sore 

throats and fever to annual wellness visits and more specialized care, we’ve got you covered. 

To see all locations and specialties, please visit MyMeritDoctor.com 

Bestselling children’s author Margaret Peterson 

Haddix speaks to sixth-graders at Lovett Elementary 

School. Pictured are (clockwise, from left) Haddix, 

Melissa Van, Lovett librarian Janet Bridgforth, Colton Raney and 

Creston Garlington. 

Bestselling children’s author Margaret Peterson Haddix said the ideas 

for her books come from her own children and family experiences. Haddix 

spoke recently to sixth-graders at Lovett Elementary School. She was in 

the Jackson area for a tour stop at Lemuria Book Store. 

About her book Among the Hidden, she said, “When my children were 

1 and 3, my husband and I were deciding whether to have more children. 

It’s hard to make a decision like that and we talked about a lot of issues 

including overpopulation.” 

In the book, there are children who have to hide because they’re 

living in a society where families can legally only have two children. The 

book was so popular that it kicked off The Shadow Children series. 

From there, she wrote The Missing series, Children of Exile series, The 

Palace Chronicles, the Under Their Skin series, and over a dozen more 

stand-alone books. After her presentation at Lovett, students asked many 

questions including, “How do you write a book,” “Where do you get your 

ideas,” and questions about specific books. 

Lovett library/media specialist Janet Bridgforth worked with Lemuria 

to arrange Haddix’s visit. She said the students had read one of her books 

in their language arts class and were familiar with Haddix’s work. 

“This was a great experience for our students and they really enjoyed 

having Mrs. Haddix visit their school,” said Principal Mike Pope. “We work 

hard to encourage literacy and events like this are a great way to get kids 

excited about reading.” 

Call 844-MSMERIT for a provider near you. 

Walk-ins are welcome at all primary care practices, 

or ask about same-day and next-day appointments. 





AWARD-WINNING COUNSELOR 

HEATHER NORTON CARES FOR 

SUMNER HILL JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS 

Counselor Heather Norton is the 

Mississippi Counseling Association’s 

School Counselor of the Year. The award 

recognizes a school counselor for 

outstanding service and achievement in 

the field of school counseling. To be 

eligible, nominees must hold a master’s 

degree in counseling, be a member of 

the Mississippi Counseling Association 

for a minimum of three years, possess 

the personal qualities thought to be 

desirable in a professional counselor, 

and be currently employed as a school 

counselor. The award is based on the 

extent to which the nominee may have 

been responsible for bringing about 

innovations in their school counseling 

program and the provision of leadership 

in the further development of existing 

counseling services or the performance 

of outstanding counseling services to 

their school. 

Norton has served as Sumner Hill’s 

school counselor for 16 years, and has 

been an educator for 23 years. “I’m 

honored to receive such an outstanding 

award,” she said. “I am so glad to 

represent Sumner Hill and the Clinton 

Public School District. Our counseling 

program strives to identify critical 

educational needs of our students and is 

always advancing to implement our 

district’s vision, which is ‘Excellence is 

the Only Option.’” 

The counseling department took 28 Sumner 

Hill students to tour Mississippi College. They 

learned what a college campus looks like and 

what to do now to prepare for college. 

First Row (L-R): Cameron Kinnard, Jaydah Leggett, 

Whitley Miller, McKenzie Smith, Terria Tubwell, 

Arianna Younger, DeMarion McLaurin 

Second Row (L-R): Devin Bass, Kaitlyn James, 

Gracie Wallace, Haley Wells, Jada Jelks, Asharia Cavett 

Third Row (L-R): Chrishana Wright, Jada Smith, 

Natalie Derrick, Katie Pace, Chelsea Razinobakht, 

Lindsea Razinobakht, Gracie Bethany, Derrick Taylor 

Fourth Row (L-R): Trace Howell, Melvin Anderson, 

Jeremy Mack, Kevin Lopez, Reese Rayburn, 

DeAndrae Cavett, Omarian Luss 

2017-2018 Peer Guidance Committee. 

This group of outstanding students will serve as 

leaders as ninth graders. One example of their 

service is adopting Mrs. Booth’s first grade class at 

Clinton Park Elementary School to mentor her 

students throughout the year. 

First Row (L-R): Blair Ukele, Nhi Nguyen, Ashley Henze, Lily 

Belle Cole, McKinnon Garrard, Mya Pierson, Kaitlyn 

Hamilton, Peyton Torrence 

Second Row (L-R): Samira Wakem, Emma Grace Stanteen, 

Bethany Young, Whitley Miller, Gracie Wallace, Cailyn 

Donaldson, Caitlyn King, Grace Goolsby, Kine Bledsoe 

Third Row (L-R): Brandon Cox, Devin Bass, Carsson 

DeYoung, Grant Dean, Hardin Copeland, Quintin Powell, 

Chris Fowler, London Dixon, Trace Howell 

Congratulations to our character traits recipients 

for Orderliness. They will receive a lunch courtesy of 

Chick-Fil-A of Clinton. 

First Row (L-R): Peyton Torrence, Shivani Shukla, Regina Mazy, 

Keandria Franklin 

Second Row (L-R): Matthew C. Brown, Kaitlyn James, 

Christopher Kelley, Michael Bell 

Third Row (L-R): Madison Cardenas, Emileigh Little, 

Ella Ballenger, Garren Temple, Alex Sullivan 

Rob Logan, Entergy’s representative, presented 

Sumner Hill Junior High School with a check to help 

support student rewards. Entergy is one of Sumner 

Hill’s Business Adopters. Thank you Entergy for your 

generosity and support of our student’s success! 

(L-R): Christie Claxton, Sumner Hill Principal, Rob Logan, 

Jermaine Brown, Assistant Principal 

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





LADY ARROW JANAI' MASON SELECTED 

TO CLASS OF 2020 PHENOM LIST 

CLINTON PARK ELEMENTARY 

USES PTO GRANT TO PURCHASE 

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT 

Lady Arrow volleyball player Janai’ Mason was selected as a part of the Class of 2020 

Phenom list by the AVCA. Athletes recognized on the Phenom List have been identified by 

the AVCA as elite rising high school volleyball student-athletes. These athletes are 

underclassmen who have received some form of recognition for their outstanding play 

(All-State, Prep Volleyball, USA Volleyball Team, etc.). These athletes will be eligible to 

participate in the AVCA Phenom College Prep Program, an invitation only event. 

Invitations to this event will be sent out in October. Janai’ is a sophomore middle hitter for 

the Lady Arrows. 

A $24,000 grant from the PTO will allow Clinton Park Elementary School 

to purchase new playground equipment. 

The total cost of the equipment is $34,000 but Principal Kelli Pope said 

the difference will come from other PTO donations in recent years. 

“With this money we’ll be able to purchase one big play area that can 

hold 60-70 kids,” she said. “We will also be adding swings and other covered 

play areas for students.” 

The new equipment is expected to be installed by the time students 

return from the Christmas and New Year holiday. 

Last year, the school had two major fundraisers, a raffle for a trip to 

Disney and the Boosterthon. This year’s Boosterthon begins Monday, Oct. 2 

and concludes Oct. 13 with a fun run. 

“The kids will be collecting sponsorships for each lap,” Pope said. 

Through Boosterthon, students also learn important character lessons, 

and all students participate in the fun run regardless of whether they 

collected sponsorships. 

“We have an amazing PTO that does a fantastic job supporting our 

students, teachers and school,” Pope said. “This purchase will make our 

playground even better for many years to come.” 

Clinton Park Elementary School is purchasing new playground 

equipment with a donation from the PTO. 

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




Excellence is the Only Option 

CLINTON PUBLIC 

SCHOOL DISTRICT 

An “A” District 2017-18 

Hometown Clinton 

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Dana 

Wright 

Clinton’s public schools earned the 

highest possible academic rating for the 

2017-18 school year. According to results 

released today by the Mississippi 

Department of Education, the Clinton 

Public School District is an “A” rated 

school district with an overall score 

of 689. 

“Today’s announcement is the 

culmination of a lot of preparation and 

hard work by our students, faculty, staff, 

and families,” said Dr. Tim Martin, 

superintendent of schools. “While we are 

pleased with our district rating, we know 

we still have a lot of work to do. We will 

continue to focus on research-based best 

practices in our classrooms and work with 

each student to do his or her best.” 

The A-F grading system is set by state 

law, and is designed to inform parents and 

communities how well their schools are 

educating students. CPSD’s score places 

the district fifth overall among all 

Mississippi public school districts, behind 

Petal, Booneville, Oxford and Enterprise 

(tied score), and Ocean Springs. 

The grading system considers several 

indicators, including how well students 

perform on state tests, whether students 

are showing improvement on those tests 

from year to year and whether students 

are graduating on time. The system also 

factors in how well schools are helping 

their lowest achieving students make 

progress toward proficiency. 

CPSD’s overall academic rating is an 

A, the highest possible rating a district can 

attain. School ratings are: 

- Clinton Park Elementary, A 

- Northside Elementary, B 

- Eastside Elementary, A 

- Lovett Elementary, A 

- Clinton Junior High, B 

- Sumner Hill Junior High, A 

- Clinton High School, A 

All schools in CPSD are rated B or 

higher. Clinton Alternative School and the 

CHS Career Complex are not assigned a 

separate grade under the accountability 

system. 

Northside’s rating is a B this year 

despite an increase in its test scores over 

last year, due to the rating formula and 

how lower grades are assigned grades. All 

schools must be assigned a letter grade 

according to federal requirements, but 

Mississippi’s state accountability testing 

begins in third grade. 

For school districts divided by grade 

and not zone, this means that lower 

elementary schools with no tested grades 

are assigned a rating based on scores from 

other schools. In Clinton, Northside and 

Clinton Park are rated based on scores of 

students who are tested in grades 3 and 4. 

“Clinton Park’s rating and part of 

Northside’s rating are based on test results 

from Northside and Eastside,” Martin said. 

“So these ratings are determined by 

students who left these schools 

1-4 years ago.” 

One issue for concern statewide was 

unusually low scores on the fourth-grade 

English Language Arts test. This dip was 

largely responsible for Northside’s “B” 

rating, despite the school earning higher 

test scores and proficiency rates than 

last year. 

“It is complex and confusing,” Martin 

said. “But we are recognizing Northside 

internally for the gains and growth that 

students achieved. There is always more 

work to be done, but we are very proud of 

all our students and schools on 

these ratings.” 

Why did you decide to make Clinton your 

home? 

Clinton has been the town where I met my dearest 

friends at Mississippi College, fell in love with my 

husband, and currently get to serve the community 

through my job at Clinton High School. I couldn’t 

imagine calling anywhere else home. 

How long have you lived in Clinton? 

I have officially been a resident of Clinton since 

Michael and I got married in 2016. 


I grew up in Corinth, Mississippi, where my 

immediate family still resides. Michael, my 

husband, works at Mississippi College as the 

assistant director of admissions and I work at Clinton 

High School as one of the guidance counselors. 

Let’s not forget about cockapoo and kitten, 

Chipper and JoJo. Michael says we named them 

after the Braves announcers but we all really know 

the truth. Michael and I attend Pinelake (Clinton 

Campus) where he serves as a deacon and we take 

part in the Care Center community outreach 

every month. 

What is your favorite memory of living in 

Clinton? 

One of my favorite memories of living in Clinton 

was last year when I was able to host a group of 

girls that attended Mississippi College for dinner 

once a month. It was so much fun and even though 

they thought a home-cooked meal was a blessing 

to them, they were definitely the greater blessing to 

me. 

Where are your 3 favorite places to eat in 

Clinton? 

Salsa’s and 303 Jefferson are my favorite dinner 

spots. I would consider myself a loyal customer 

when Great Wall answers and asks if I want 

“the usual.” 

What are some fun things to do in Clinton 

on the weekends? 

I love anything and everything that involves the 

brick streets. Whether it’s the farmers market or 

movie on the bricks there is nothing like the 

warmth of community and enjoying time together 

with our neighbors. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

I have recently started a wedding coordinating 

business and have already booked several beautiful 

brides! It is such a joy to see a wedding day 

flawlessly come together for a bride. I am also 

training for the St. Jude half-marathon in 

December, so you might see me, “the world’s 

okayest runner,” logging some miles 

around Clinton. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I can’t think of three but adoption and travel 

would be on my list. I don’t have anywhere in 

particular I want to go, I simply enjoy the 

experience of other cultures and people around the 

world. Maybe one day these two will make a 

beautiful collision. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

A person that I admire happens to be one of my 

best friends, BethAnne Clark Mitchell. BethAnne 

and I became close friends when I attended MC 

and even though she moved cross country, and 

then across the world, our friendship has never 

missed a beat, which is what friendships should be, 

right? She, along with her husband and two 

children, will be making the journey back overseas 

for long-term mission work. Despite the fears that 

could come along with this process, she has trusted 

the Lord and walks in a courageous obedience to 

spread the gospel to the nations. I admire who she 

is as a friend, wife, mother, and ambassador 

of Christ. 

Where do you see yourself ten years from 

now? 

I see myself right here, in Clinton, and that is not a 

bad thing. Psalm 16:6 says “The lines have fallen for 

me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful 

inheritance.” I pray that I am faithful in my 

boundaries (i.e. job, town, family, etc…) that the 

Lord has entrusted to me. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

My cousins and I would create a band by making 

outfits out of grocery bags and crayons. We would 

then cover ‘50s songs while using brooms and 

upside down garbage cans. Somehow we never got 

a record deal. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

“Measure thy life by loss and not by gain, not by the 

wine drunk but by the wine pourth forth. For love’s 

strength in love’s sacrifice and he that suffereth 

most hast most to give.” Ugo Bassi 

What is your favorite thing about Hometown 

Magazines? 

I love reading about our community members and 

learning more about their lives and stories. 



Camille Anding 

The Time Coin 

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR COLOR 

You can count on it. There’s always a 

newspaper, TV, or magazine piece 

sharing tips on how to take the stress 

and hectic out of the Christmas holidays. I’ve 

read my share every year because every year 

seems to carry its own dose of frenzied shoppers, 

traffic headaches, and gluttonous schedules. 

Simplify! That’s what my conscience is already shouting – days 

before I take that disquieting safari up to the attic and to the boxes 

brimming with Christmas glitz. Who decided Christmas had to be 

packed in a box or wrapped in shiny paper? The origin of Christmas 

certainly doesn’t represent or model that pattern. 

Bethlehem had its crowds, but they weren’t shopping. They were 

there under official Roman orders to register in their city of origin. For 

Joseph and Mary, that meant a 70 mile trek over mountainous country, 

and add “great with child” to that picture. 

A warm, cozy lodging in a well-known inn would have totally 

removed the multitude of nativity crèches that most homes display 

since then, but the crowds arrived in advance of Joseph and Mary. 

With no reservations they found the only available shelter – with the 

stable animals. 

With Mary having labor pains, I can assure 

all that she wasn’t concerned about cleaning, 

dusting, and polishing for this blessed event. 

There were no lighted trees or storage boxes 

filled with snowmen, sleighs, and tangled lights. 

The only decoration was a brilliant star that 

marked the sacred birth, and the only guests were 

shepherds who had been invited by a host of singing angels in the 

night sky. 

In spell-bound wonder, they had left their flocks to see the 

newborn Savior in His manger crib. There were no refreshments or 

tasty treats for Mary to offer the shepherd guests. Worshipers are never 

concerned with physical food. 

When the family of three left Bethlehem, there were no boxes to 

pack, gifts to return, or half-price sales to chase. They were carrying 

Christmas with them, and in a brief lifetime, Jesus would offer Himself 

as the greatest gift ever given. 

I know I won’t celebrate Christmas without a Christmas tree or 

sharing fellowship with family and friends, but the simplicity and 

wonder of that first Christmas REALLY make me rethink my 

December. Christmas didn’t come in a box; it never will. n 

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Hometown Clinton - Winter 2017

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