Hometown Rankin - December 2017 & January 2018
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volume 4 number 6<br />
december <strong>2017</strong><br />
A Story of Being<br />
_______________<br />
Mississippi’s First Lady<br />
_______________<br />
The Priceless Gift
2 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 3
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8 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 9
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10 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 11
During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have<br />
made our success possible. We’re thankful for every advertiser<br />
and every reader who continue to give us purpose each day.<br />
It is in that spirit that we say thank you and best wishes for the holidays.<br />
Merry Christmas<br />
and Happy New Year<br />
from the staff of<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> Magazines.<br />
12 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
PUBLISHER & EDITOR<br />
Tahya A. Dobbs<br />
CFO<br />
Kevin W. Dobbs<br />
CONSULTING EDITOR<br />
Mary Ann Kirby<br />
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES<br />
Dacia Durr Amis<br />
Karla Johnson<br />
Carrie Truhett<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
Camille Anding<br />
April Carter<br />
Mary Ann Kirby<br />
Ken Sandridge<br />
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Othel Anding<br />
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Ashleigh Coleman<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT<br />
Alisha Floyd<br />
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER<br />
Brenda McCall<br />
STAFF WRITER & GRAPHIC DESIGN<br />
Leah Mitchener<br />
LAYOUT DESIGN<br />
Daniel Thomas - 3dt<br />
• • •<br />
The glitter and glitz are sparkling in the shop windows and I’m thinking the Christmas spirit is on its<br />
way to our own hometown. And what a special hometown <strong>Rankin</strong> County is for the Christmas spirit!<br />
If we exert a little extra effort and accompany it with an added portion of thoughtfulness, the<br />
Christmas spirit could only enhance an already special place.<br />
Shopping with local businesses could encourage them and keep sales tax working in our local<br />
municipality. It’s a win-win for our hometown.<br />
The Christmas spirit could lift the spirits of neighbors and friends who might be a part of the large<br />
number of people finding Christmas a lonely time. Why not share a serving of your blessings with<br />
someone who needs a thoughtful gesture? The blessing always comes back to the one doing the blessing.<br />
That same Christmas spirit would appreciate families making together-time a priority. Everyone<br />
knows how Christmas activities can keep us running and actually rob us of family time. It’s a challenge<br />
to prioritize calendar scheduling, but it’s doable.<br />
Finally, enjoy the spirit of Christmas throughout the <strong>December</strong><br />
days before Christmas Eve. Take time each day to celebrate the most<br />
significant birth ever accomplished. Make special memories as you<br />
create your own advent calendar.<br />
And lest we forget Thanksgiving! We at <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> list you,<br />
our readers and our advertisers, on our list of things to be thankful for.<br />
Thank you! May we all celebrate our blessed holidays<br />
in the giving spirit!<br />
On the cover: First Lady Deborah Bryant, Photography by Othel Anding<br />
www.facebook.com<br />
/hometownrankinmagazine<br />
For subscription information<br />
visit www.htmags.com<br />
Contact us at info@HTMags.com<br />
601.706.4059<br />
26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F<br />
Brandon MS 39042<br />
• • •<br />
All rights reserved. No portion of <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
may be reproduced without written permission from<br />
the publisher. The management of <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
is not responsible for opinions expressed by its<br />
writers or editors. <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> maintains the<br />
unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted<br />
material. All advertisements are subject to approval by<br />
the publisher. The production of <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
is funded by advertising.<br />
In this issue A Story of Being . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />
Christmas Wonderland . . . . . . . . 22<br />
Tchaikovsky on Pointe . . . . . . . 28<br />
Mississippi’s First Lady . . . . 32<br />
Christmas in Dixie . . . . . . . . . . 62<br />
The Choir Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . 80<br />
That One Thing . . . . . . . . . . . . 88<br />
The Priceless Gift . . . . . . . . . . . 94<br />
Business in the Classroom . . . . . . . 102<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 13
CITY OF PEARL<br />
Veterans Day Ceremony<br />
November 10 / Miskelly Furniture<br />
14 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
5709 Hwy 80 E • Pearl, MS 39208<br />
601.850.9103 • www.focusfitms.com<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 15
16 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
For as long as Mary Neese can remember,<br />
her husband, Shelby, has been passionate about<br />
ministry – always to the poorest and the least.<br />
When he was on staff in Montgomery, Alabama,<br />
his being passionate about ministry and sharing<br />
the Gospel always translated into going to the<br />
poorest and neediest section of town.<br />
A ministry move in 1989 to the original<br />
Pinelake Church as minister of music and<br />
missions only increased that passion. When<br />
his workload outgrew the hours in a day, he had<br />
to make a choice between the two. He chose<br />
missions as his ministry theme for life.<br />
Now he was able to concentrate more on<br />
his mission trips north of Nairobi, Africa, and<br />
increase his home church involvement among<br />
the Cushite people groups. The missionary<br />
family living in the village of Marsabit was<br />
reaching retirement age and asked Shelby to<br />
consider a three-year commitment to continue<br />
their work.<br />
Shelby asked Mary to pray about it. Their<br />
son and daughter were both married and were<br />
starting their own homes. The timing was perfect.<br />
After a second year of more earnest prayer,<br />
Mary felt God’s call, too. That’s when Shelby<br />
told her he had already signed them up for the<br />
three year commitment from 2009 to 2012!<br />
In those three years, the Neeses learned<br />
about being faithful and being strong. Shelby<br />
said, “The Cushites were probably the most<br />
remote and neglected people in the world.”<br />
Their retiring missionary friends described the<br />
challenge, “Marsabit was 100 miles past the<br />
Great Commission!”<br />
Through the physical ministry of helping<br />
the Cushites find clean water and dig nearby<br />
wells, the Neeses built relationships that allowed<br />
them to share Christ’s “living water.” As Mary<br />
explained, “You can’t tell them about Jesus<br />
when they’re starving physically.”<br />
When the three-year commitment was<br />
completed, the Neeses’ world had changed.<br />
Shelby had worked to exhaustion, they were<br />
grandparents to two grandchildren that they<br />
hadn’t seen, and Shelby’s mother in Florida<br />
was extremely ill.<br />
Reunions, family care, school teaching for<br />
Mary and interim pastorates for Shelby filled<br />
their new lifestyles. Their son, who was in<br />
construction, had two building sites in Starkville<br />
that Shelby was also able to help oversee.<br />
On <strong>January</strong> 26, 2016, Shelby was in the<br />
attic of one of the two-story homes and fell<br />
through the sheetrock of both ceilings onto the<br />
concrete floor below. He has no recollection of<br />
how he fell.<br />
A Story<br />
OF Being<br />
Camille Anding<br />
Coincidentally, the owner of the house<br />
being built, a professor at Mississippi State, was<br />
suddenly so compelled to go to his new home<br />
that he left his office midday. When he got to<br />
the construction site, Shelby lay unconscious,<br />
bleeding from his nose and ears.<br />
After being rushed to the Tupelo trauma<br />
center, Shelby was treated for internal bleeding,<br />
a cracked skull and bruised spinal stem. From<br />
<strong>January</strong> 26 to June 12, he was in hospitals in<br />
Tupelo, Jackson, and Atlanta.<br />
Since then, the Neeses have learned about<br />
being patient. Shelby had to learn to walk and<br />
read again. He sees double without special<br />
glasses and still finds balance an issue that<br />
impedes his want-to-be speed. His lack of<br />
stamina confines him to limited activity, but<br />
he’s grateful to friends who introduced him<br />
to trikes – three-wheeled exercise vehicles that<br />
he rides near the Reservoir most days.<br />
The prayer room in their new home holds<br />
memorabilia from Africa and friendships in<br />
years of ministry. “I’m still an ordained minister,<br />
and retirement is not in my vocabulary, so<br />
I believe I can still do something for the<br />
Kingdom,” Shelby says with fervor. Part of<br />
his new ministry is praying for others and<br />
writing truths that God opens up to him<br />
during his daily studies. Shelby describes his<br />
new lifestyle as “getting to be with Him more<br />
and in knowing Him better, becoming more<br />
like Him.”<br />
In the peacefulness of their den, Shelby<br />
walked slowly to the piano and began to play.<br />
He hopes his left hand dexterity will return as<br />
before the accident, but with his heart and his<br />
hands, he played “Near to the Heart of God.”<br />
It was a musical testimony of where Mary<br />
and Shelby Neese are and where they are<br />
preparing to stay. Mary smiled as she listened<br />
to her husband’s miracle music. “God is not<br />
finished. The story is not over. We are just<br />
‘being prepared.’” n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 17
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Brandon, MS 39042<br />
18 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 19
<strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
Republican Women<br />
Salute to<br />
Women<br />
Leaders<br />
OCTOBER 11<br />
PEARL COMMUNITY CENTER<br />
20 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 21
22 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
55 Days of Unforgettable Memories<br />
Ken Sandridge<br />
Holiday memory-making in Mississippi<br />
usually doesn’t include ice - unless, of<br />
course, it’s the ice in a glass of sweet tea.<br />
However, thanks to the vision of local U.S.<br />
96.3 radio celebrity and Big South Events<br />
partner, Scott Steele, Central Mississippi<br />
families will enjoy over 55 days of<br />
unforgettable memories on ice beginning<br />
November 12 during Steele’s event titled,<br />
Christmas Wonderland.<br />
Describing the nearly two-month<br />
long event as an ice skating, ice sliding<br />
extravaganza, Steele and his partners<br />
are ensuring skating and sliding fun -<br />
rain or shine - by holding the event in a<br />
giant 30,000 square foot tent filled with<br />
thousands of Christmas lights and<br />
decorations in the parking lot of<br />
Mississippi Braves stadium in Pearl.<br />
“Actually, the great memories my<br />
children and I had at the ice rink held in<br />
Madison a few years back,” Steele said,<br />
“were the inspiration for Christmas<br />
Wonderland.” “As my partners and I began<br />
developing the Christmas Wonderland<br />
concept, we knew we had to find a way<br />
to keep Mother Nature from shutting<br />
down the fun,” Steele said in referring to the<br />
more than 20 days of rain that prevented<br />
skating at the Madison event in 2013.<br />
“So, holding Christmas Wonderland in<br />
a massive tent was our only option,”<br />
he added. “If not for the underwriting<br />
commitments of our title sponsor, Merit<br />
Health, as well as other generous<br />
supporters like Outlets of Mississippi,<br />
BankPlus, and Coca-Cola,” Steele explained,<br />
“there would have been no way to bring<br />
an event of this magnitude to the Metro<br />
Jackson area.” Steele also praised Pearl<br />
Mayor Jake Windham and the businesses<br />
and organizations in the area for their<br />
support of the project - including the host<br />
venue Mississippi Braves, Bass Pro Shop,<br />
Holiday Inn, and Cavender’s.<br />
One of the nation’s most experienced<br />
providers of portable ice rink venues,<br />
internationally acclaimed Magic Ice USA,<br />
was tapped to develop and install the<br />
Christmas Wonderland ice rink and ice<br />
slide. In addition to a nearly 8,000 square<br />
foot ice rink, Christmas Wonderland will<br />
feature a double ice slide appropriately<br />
titled, The Arctic Blast, where two sliders<br />
climb stairs to the top of a 20-foot high<br />
ice-tower before zooming down a 120-foot<br />
long run of ice to the bottom of the run.<br />
As a bonus for younger children who<br />
may find it slightly challenging to navigate<br />
the ice rink and slide, Steele and partners<br />
also designed a kid-friendly area with an<br />
assortment of inflatables that will include<br />
a huge 22-foot high triple slide that gives<br />
even the youngest event-goers thrills<br />
galore.<br />
“Speaking of kids,” Steele continued,<br />
“we have a ton of things planned to make<br />
the event especially exciting for them<br />
during the Christmas season. For instance,<br />
moms and dads can have their children<br />
be a part of several Breakfast with Santa<br />
dates where the kids will actually have<br />
breakfast and visit with St. Nick himself -<br />
along with filling out their wish-list and<br />
dropping it in his big red bag!”<br />
“Birthday parties at Christmas Wonderland<br />
are another opportunity,” he added.<br />
We have already booked a ton of<br />
children’s birthday parties, which include<br />
skating, sliding and bouncing in the<br />
inflatables area!”<br />
“And not to be outdone by things for<br />
the kiddos,” he remarked, “Christmas<br />
Wonderland makes the perfect venue for<br />
Christmas gatherings of all kinds - including<br />
company, church, and other types of group<br />
and organizational gatherings!”<br />
Throughout the nearly eight-week long<br />
event, there will be a variety of local and<br />
regional concerts and entertainment<br />
appearing daily on the BankPlus Stage -<br />
ranging from church and school choirs to<br />
professional entertainers.<br />
“Almost everyone has a favorite<br />
Christmas memory,” Steele added. “This<br />
year, we’re confident Christmas Wonderland<br />
will become that magical place where<br />
friends and families celebrate the season<br />
and make memories that last a lifetime.”<br />
Christmas Wonderland will operate daily<br />
beginning November 12 thru <strong>January</strong> 6,<br />
10am - 11pm Monday thru Thursday, and<br />
12 noon - 11pm Friday thru Sunday.<br />
For more information call 601-212-8810,<br />
email info@bigsouthevents.net, or visit<br />
www.christmaswonderland.ms or<br />
Facebook.com/ChristmasWonderlandMS.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 23
24 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
©2014 Ergon, Inc. All rights reserved.<br />
ergon.com<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 25
26 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
SMILE<br />
www.drsarahlangston.com<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 27
28 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Leah Mitchener<br />
Tchaikovsky on Pointe<br />
“It is such a Christmas tradition that the holidays just aren’t<br />
complete without seeing a live performance of The Nutcracker,”<br />
said Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Artistic Director Jennifer<br />
Beasley. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is perhaps one of the<br />
most well-known Christmas-themed dance performances in<br />
the world, and has been for over one hundred years. The<br />
Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet will be putting on their 25th<br />
annual production of this beloved story on <strong>December</strong> 9th and<br />
10th. “It’s a multi-generational experience. Grandparents down<br />
to grandchildren come, and they come every year,” Jennifer<br />
added. “It’s a tradition that we’re honored to uphold for these<br />
families. I think that’s what keeps us doing it year after year.”<br />
The dancers of the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Company<br />
put in a lot of time and effort to make sure the show will<br />
continuously be better than the year before. This traditional<br />
Christmas performance is the only one each year that allows<br />
the young students of the Academy (the official school of the<br />
Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet), to audition for walk-on parts<br />
to get some stage experience under their tutus and to fill<br />
supporting roles.<br />
Auditions were held all the way back at the beginning of<br />
September, and the dancers have been rehearsing tirelessly ever<br />
since. Joining the company of over 100 local dancers will be<br />
professional guest performers Joseph Gatti, a USA IBC bronze<br />
medalist, and Ashley Ellis, principal dancer for the Boston Ballet,<br />
as well as other professional performers. And while the company<br />
is comprised of dancers from all over the surrounding Jackson<br />
areas, many hail from our very own <strong>Rankin</strong> County. These<br />
dancers have had the opportunity to train at one of two Academy<br />
locations in either Madison or at the Reservoir.<br />
Performer Mattie Grace Morris loves the Nutcracker<br />
because, “it is a tradition that always helps our community get<br />
into the Christmas spirit.” She is especially excited this year to<br />
perform one of her favorite roles as the Arabian soloist. Her<br />
classmate, Anna Claire Nelson, is also thrilled about being able<br />
to show her family, friends, and the community the beautiful<br />
production that they’ve been working so hard on.<br />
This will be Taylor Binkley’s ninth Nutcracker performance.<br />
As her favorite production each year, Taylor is, “excited about<br />
getting to perform for everyone in the audience because it brings<br />
so many different people so much joy,” and that is exactly why<br />
she loves the art of dance. Similarly, Rachel Lehman is especially<br />
enthusiastic for this year’s Nutcracker because, according to her,<br />
now that she’s older, things are more serious in her dancing life,<br />
and the Nutcracker is a big opportunity! Having such traditional<br />
performances in these young dancer’s repertoires is sure to help<br />
them go far in their artistic careers.<br />
The Nutcracker is an institution in the world of dancing.<br />
These young artists have dedicated much of their spare time to<br />
perfecting every pirouette, plié, adagio, and countless other<br />
graceful movements in order to give family, friends, and the<br />
community an unforgettable performance.<br />
This is a can’t-miss event, so be sure to get your tickets today<br />
and definitely stick around after the matinees for the “Nutcracker<br />
Sweet” tea parties catered by Table 100. Also, mark your calendars<br />
for the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet’s spring performance of<br />
Fairy Tale Favorites, featuring selections from the company’s<br />
favorite and most well-received ballets including Beauty and the<br />
Beast, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, and Princess and the Pea! It will be<br />
sure to please the whole family. n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 29
30 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 31
Mississippi’s<br />
First Lady<br />
Upon first meeting her, one<br />
might notice her infectious<br />
laughter and bright eyes.<br />
She greets everyone<br />
enthusiastically and treats<br />
them as if she’s always<br />
known them. Deborah Bryant<br />
seems to have an endless<br />
supply of energy and has<br />
served our state with<br />
compassion and joy—<br />
and we were honored to<br />
have the opportunity to<br />
get to know her in a more<br />
personal way.<br />
32 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> What do you do to relax and clear<br />
your mind of hectic, demanding schedules?<br />
Mrs. Bryant Mow grass at our land in the country.<br />
A zero turn mower has always been on my<br />
bucket list. I finally got one!<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Give us a brief background of your<br />
childhood - parents, siblings, and home-life.<br />
Mrs. Bryant I grew up in West Jackson with<br />
my mom and dad and two brothers and two<br />
sisters. It was the best of times, when we could<br />
play outside all day long and early into the<br />
night, and our parents never worried about<br />
our safety.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> What’s your favorite room in the<br />
Governor’s Mansion?<br />
Mrs. Bryant I love all the rooms in the<br />
Governor’s Mansion; but if I had to choose<br />
one, I guess it would be the front Rose Parlor.<br />
We don’t really spend much private time in<br />
the historical side, but one of my favorite<br />
memories was sitting in that room with my<br />
granddaughter in front of the Christmas tree<br />
singing to her. She was mesmerized by the<br />
pink chandelier and the large decorated<br />
Christmas tree.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Can you name a standout guest among<br />
the dignitaries that you’ve hosted in the mansion?<br />
Mrs. Bryant Justice Antonin Scalia. He had been<br />
hunting with Phil the day before and really<br />
loved the whole Mississippi experience.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Take us through a buffet of your all-time<br />
favorite foods.<br />
Mrs. Bryant Fried chicken and vegetables. A good<br />
old southern meal. We normally have only<br />
lunch prepared so we make the most of it.<br />
Governor’s Mansion Photos: Ashleigh Coleman<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> What’s a concern of the governor that<br />
you wish you could convey to the citizens of Mississippi?<br />
Mrs. Bryant All children that are in need,<br />
especially those in foster care. I know his<br />
concern for the issues like none other.<br />
He really cares.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 33
34 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> What’s your biggest burden<br />
concerning our state?<br />
Mrs. Bryant Public education. I’ve read books in<br />
at least one school in every county, and I’ve<br />
seen the challenges we have across our state.<br />
All kids should be afforded the best education<br />
they can get. It takes dedicated teachers,<br />
administrators and parents, all working<br />
together. But, we have made a difference.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> How do you maintain a positive<br />
attitude when you hear criticism of your husband?<br />
Mrs. Bryant No one knows my husband’s heart<br />
better than me and the love he has for every<br />
citizen in this state. You can never please<br />
everyone. You just have to do the best you<br />
can do and be at peace with that.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Name three assets of our state that<br />
most outsiders don’t realize or understand.<br />
Mrs. Bryant We are the birthplace of America’s<br />
music. Most people don’t realize rock-n-roll,<br />
the blues, and country music were all created<br />
by Mississippians.<br />
Ingalls Shipyard has built 70% of America’s<br />
U. S. Navy warships. They’re the best<br />
shipbuilders in the world and help defend our<br />
freedom around the world.<br />
Mississippi has the kindest, most giving<br />
people in America. We routinely lead America<br />
in charitable giving and church attendance.<br />
Governor’s Mansion Photos: Ashleigh Coleman<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> We are told that we learn from our<br />
mistakes. Can you share a not so serious mistake or<br />
blunder that you have made as the First Lady?<br />
Mrs. Bryant When Phil first became Governor,<br />
I was really pushed out of my comfort zone<br />
with things like public speaking and changing<br />
careers (after working at St. Dominic hospital<br />
for more than 30 years). At first, I was not a<br />
very happy camper. I learned that when I<br />
started focusing on the opportunities God had<br />
in store for me and all of the wonderful people<br />
surrounding me, every day became a blessing.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 35
36 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Do you have help with your wardrobe or<br />
are you your own consultant when it comes to “what do I wear?”<br />
Mrs. Bryant I do not have a consultant, and usually<br />
shop by myself. I like to shop locally and love to<br />
where pieces made by Mississippians.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> When the governor’s term ends,<br />
what will you miss the most?<br />
Mrs. Bryant I hope to continue reading at schools,<br />
but it will not be in 82 counties in a year. I will<br />
miss hugging all of those children the most.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Do you remember your first official visit<br />
as First Lady to <strong>Rankin</strong> County?<br />
Mrs. Bryant We lived in <strong>Rankin</strong> County for nearly<br />
20 years. It is where we raised our children, and<br />
where we continue to attend church. I don’t<br />
know that I will ever feel “official” in a place<br />
that has been home for so long.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> What’s your favorite Christmas gift<br />
you’ve ever given and received?<br />
Mrs. Bryant Since becoming First Lady, I’ve given<br />
a cross crafted by a Mississippian each Christmas.<br />
I do this because I believe the love of Christ is<br />
the greatest gift anyone can give or receive.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> Share with us a family holiday tradition.<br />
Mrs. Bryant Every year my entire family (including<br />
my 95-year-old mother, my siblings and their<br />
families) goes to the Christmas Eve service at<br />
Van Winkle Methodist Church, where I<br />
attended church growing up, Phil and I were<br />
married there, and both of our children were<br />
baptized there. We all take communion together<br />
and then have a big dinner together, usually at<br />
my mother’s home. It is the best of times for<br />
us all. n<br />
Governor’s Mansion Photos: Ashleigh Coleman<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 37
(L-R): Karen Stockton (Oxford), Robby Carr (Madison),<br />
Warner Cannada (Highland Colony - Ridgeland),<br />
Daniel Barham (Jackson), Johnny Beck (Flowood)<br />
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38 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
17ORIGIN204_HR_HP-V_R1.indd 1<br />
7/28/17 4:27 PM
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 39
40 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
SERVING OUR COUNTY<br />
Lieutenant Al Bounds<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT<br />
Why did you decide to be in law<br />
enforcement?<br />
I wanted to be in law enforcement since I was a young<br />
boy. I would see officers and how they help people and<br />
keep people safe, so I wanted to do that, too.<br />
How long have you been with the <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
County Sheriff’s Department?<br />
18 rewarding years.<br />
Tell us about your family.<br />
I have five beautiful kids who have loved and supported<br />
me throughout my career. My oldest, Chielita, always<br />
reminds me to be careful and give my all. This is what<br />
I told her growing up. My other children, Latina, Laetta,<br />
Santantrius, and Damien, have taught me as much as<br />
I’ve taught them. It has been an extreme pleasure raising<br />
them and watching them blossom into productive<br />
members of society.<br />
What is the toughest thing you have<br />
experienced in your job?<br />
One of the toughest things I have experienced is seeing<br />
people whose circumstances have led them to cross my<br />
path as a law enforcement officer. They all have some<br />
type of unfortunate downfall in their lives that have led<br />
them to do drugs, commit crimes, and/or lose everything.<br />
It’s tough to think that I might have a part in making it<br />
worse by incarcerating them but I have always tried to<br />
help them once they were in our custody.<br />
Share some things you enjoy doing in your<br />
spare time.<br />
I love to go to church, exercise, and help others as much<br />
as I can.<br />
What are three things on your bucket list?<br />
To own my own business, see all of my grandkids<br />
graduate high school/college, and establish a fund for<br />
the rehabilitation of ex-incarcerated offenders.<br />
Who is someone you admire and why?<br />
I admire Sheriff Bryan Bailey. Throughout my career here<br />
at the sheriff’s department he has continually made me<br />
strive to be a better person and better officer. He leads<br />
by example and is always willing to help someone out.<br />
His innovations and structure for rehabilitating offenders<br />
is an extremely admirable quality and I am honored to<br />
serve under his leadership.<br />
Where do you see yourself in ten years?<br />
In ten years I see myself retired and owning a funeral home.<br />
I have been affiliated with Dean’s Funeral Home here in<br />
Brandon for 10 years. I like the care and compassion they<br />
have for the families they serve.<br />
If you could give one piece of advice<br />
to a young person, what would it be?<br />
I would advise them to respect their parents, stay in<br />
school, and get a good education. I would also advise<br />
them to stay away from drugs and to be the best person<br />
they can be.<br />
What is a favorite childhood memory?<br />
My favorite childhood memory is going to the store for<br />
my grandmother because she would allow me to get<br />
something for myself. In those days we didn’t have<br />
much–so anything outside of necessity was a treat.<br />
What is the biggest mistake you think<br />
young people make today?<br />
Not respecting authority. This includes their parents,<br />
parental figures, teachers, and law enforcement. There<br />
are too many incidences where young people are<br />
following the wrong crowd and they are getting into all<br />
the wrong situations.<br />
What is your favorite thing about<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County?<br />
My favorite thing about <strong>Rankin</strong> County is the feeling of<br />
family. I have prided myself on not just living in <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
County but being part of the <strong>Rankin</strong> County family. We<br />
look out for each other and help each other. I think that’s<br />
what this world needs more of and I’ve found it right here.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 41
Welcome<br />
reception<br />
Phillip Ley, M.D., FACS<br />
& Madina Dixon, CFNP<br />
Merit Health Surgical Oncology<br />
Flowood / October 12<br />
42 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 43
44 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
46 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 47
48 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Hart & Soul<br />
October 19 / The Ivy
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 49
50 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 51
52 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
in-depth pre-employment interviews. We know our employees<br />
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Learn more about our detailed<br />
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601-933-0037 or visiting our website.<br />
www.SouthernHealthcare.com<br />
At Southern Healthcare we evaluate our future team members<br />
with one of the industry’s most rigorous screenings, involving<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 53
R.E.A.L.<br />
Christian<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
16TH ANNUAL<br />
FALL CELEBRATION<br />
DINNER<br />
OCTOBER 12<br />
RICHLAND<br />
COMMUNITY CENTER<br />
54 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 55
56 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 57
58 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
RICHLAND<br />
MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL<br />
AND THE CITY OF RICHLAND<br />
Annual<br />
Haunted<br />
Halloween<br />
Trail<br />
OCTOBER 26, <strong>2017</strong><br />
RICHLAND COMMUNITY CENTER
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 59
ankin<br />
RECIPES<br />
Pumpkin Roll<br />
• 3 eggs<br />
• 1 cup sugar<br />
• 1 tsp lemon juice<br />
• 3/4 cup flour<br />
• 1 tsp. baking powder<br />
• 2 tsp. cinnamon<br />
• 1 tsp. ginger<br />
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg<br />
• 1/2 tsp. salt<br />
• 1 cup nuts, chopped<br />
• 2/3 cup pumpkin powdered sugar<br />
FILLING<br />
• 1 cup powdered sugar<br />
• 8 oz. cream cheese<br />
• 4 tsp. margarine or butter<br />
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla<br />
Beat eggs at high speed for 5 minutes. Add sugar<br />
gradually. Stir in pumpkin and lemon juice. Mix<br />
all dry ingredients together in separate bowl. Add<br />
to pumpkin mixture. Mix well. Spread in greased<br />
and floured jelly roll pan. Top with nuts. Bake at<br />
375 for 15 minutes. Turn out on cloth sprinkled<br />
with powdered sugar. Start at side and roll up towel<br />
and cake. Let cool completely.<br />
Beat all filling ingredients together until smooth.<br />
Unroll the cake. Spread the filling on cake. Roll<br />
back up (without the towel). Wrap in waxed paper<br />
and then with foil. Chill. Best if prepared the day<br />
before and allowed to chill overnight. Keep<br />
refrigerated.<br />
Hershey Bar Pie<br />
• 18 to 20 large marshmallows<br />
• 7 Hershey bars with almonds<br />
• 1/3 cup milk<br />
• 16 oz. Cool Whip<br />
• 1 graham cracker crust<br />
Combine marshmallows, Hershey bars (break<br />
them into small pieces) and milk in a double boiler<br />
or microwave safe dish. Heat on low until melted.<br />
Stir until everything is combined. Add 1/2 of the<br />
Cool Whip. Mix well and spoon into graham<br />
cracker crust.<br />
Let chill for several hours. Top with the rest of the<br />
Cool Whip and shave chocolate over the top.<br />
Butterscotch<br />
Haystacks<br />
• 1-2/3 cups butterscotch morsels<br />
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter<br />
• 1 8.5 oz. can or 2 5 oz. cans of chow mein<br />
noodles<br />
• 3-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows<br />
Line trays with wax paper. Microwave morsels in<br />
large, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on medium<br />
high power for 1 minute; stir. The morsels may<br />
retain some of their original shape. If necessary,<br />
microwave at additional 10 to 15 second intervals,<br />
stirring just until morsels are melted. Stir in the<br />
peanut butter until well blended. Add chow mein<br />
noodles and marshmallows; toss until all ingredients<br />
are coated. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto<br />
prepared trays.<br />
You may also add a 1/2 cup of chopped nuts,<br />
either peanuts or pecans if you like.<br />
Dill Pickle Dip<br />
• 8 oz. of cream cheese, softened<br />
• Chopped dill pickles, preferably a spicy or<br />
garlic variety (about half a jar of the spears)<br />
• 1 to 2 Tbsp. of juice from the jar<br />
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped<br />
• 1 tsp garlic powder<br />
• 1 to 2 tsp of dill (fresh or dried)<br />
• Tabasco to taste (optional)<br />
Chop pickles and onion. Mix all ingredients in a<br />
large bowl. Cover and let set in refrigerator for at<br />
least two hours, preferably overnight. You may<br />
need to add a little more pickle juice if it is too<br />
thick. Serve with chips.<br />
Sweet Potato<br />
Dumplings<br />
• 1½ cups sugar<br />
• 1 Tbsp. Karo syrup<br />
(add a little more to make more syrupy)<br />
• 2 cups water<br />
• 1 stick margarine<br />
• cinnamon<br />
• 1/2 pkg. sweet potato patties<br />
(sliced yams in freezer case)<br />
• 1 can Grands flaky biscuits<br />
Mix and boil first four ingredients for 10 minutes.<br />
Add a little cinnamon. Half the biscuits and put<br />
potato patty inside. Gently pinch the edges to seal.<br />
Do not mash the top of biscuits.<br />
Place in casserole dish and pour boiled mixture<br />
over it. Bake at 375 until brown on top about 20<br />
to 25 minutes. You will have enough potato patties<br />
for two recipes if you double the other ingredients.<br />
A single batch will make 8.<br />
60 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
ankin<br />
RECIPES<br />
Shrimp Scampi Dip<br />
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter<br />
• 8 oz. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined<br />
and roughly chopped<br />
• 4 cloves garlic, minced<br />
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (can add more)<br />
• 1/4 cup white wine (can use chicken stock)<br />
• 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice<br />
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste<br />
• 4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature<br />
• 1/4 cup sour cream<br />
• 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise<br />
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley<br />
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided<br />
• 2 Tbsp. grated parmesan<br />
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9 inch baking<br />
dish or coat with cooking spray.<br />
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.<br />
Add shrimp, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook,<br />
stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2 minutes.<br />
Stir in wine and lemon juice; add salt and pepper<br />
to taste.<br />
Bring to a simmer; remove from heat and stir in<br />
cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, parsley,<br />
1/4 cup mozzarella, and parmesan.<br />
Spread mixture into the prepared baking dish and<br />
sprinkle with remaining cup of mozzarella. Place<br />
into oven and bake until bubbly and golden, about<br />
10 to 12 minutes.<br />
Serve immediately with crackers or garlic bread.<br />
Hot Bacon<br />
& Swiss Dip<br />
• 2 8 oz. package cream cheese<br />
• 1 cup mayo<br />
• 2 cups grated Swiss cheese<br />
• 4 Tbsp. chopped green onions<br />
• 16 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled<br />
• 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers<br />
Soften cream cheese in a mixing bowl, add mayo,<br />
Swiss cheese, and green onions. Mix well. Transfer<br />
to a baking dish. Top with bacon and Ritz. Bake at<br />
350 for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly.<br />
Macaroni & Cheese<br />
• 16 oz. pkg. elbow macaroni<br />
• 6 Tbsp. butter or margarine<br />
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch<br />
• 3 cup milk<br />
• ½ tsp. salt<br />
• 1.2 tsp. black pepper<br />
• ¾ lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed<br />
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded<br />
• 1 egg<br />
Cook macaroni according to package directions,<br />
drain and set aside. In a 3 qt. saucepan over low to<br />
medium heat, melt margarine. Stir in cornstarch<br />
with a wire whisk until smooth. Gradually add<br />
milk stirring constantly until thickened. Add salt,<br />
pepper, and Velveeta until all is melted. Add 1 cup<br />
shredded cheddar. Stir until melted and remove<br />
from heat. In a separate bowl, beat egg and add<br />
¼ cup of the cheese sauce, mix well. In a 13 x 9<br />
glass dish pour in cooked macaroni. Combine the<br />
egg mixture back into the cheese sauce and mix<br />
well. Pour cheese sauce over macaroni noodles,<br />
mix well and top with remaining shredded<br />
cheddar. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -35 minutes.<br />
Special Occasion<br />
Potatoes<br />
• 9 to 12 red potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes<br />
• 3 garlic cloves<br />
• 1 8-oz cream cheese, softened<br />
• 3 Tbsp. butter<br />
• 1/2 cup sour cream<br />
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided<br />
• 1 tsp. garlic powder<br />
• 1 tsp. onion powder<br />
• Salt and pepper to taste<br />
• 1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach,<br />
thawed and squeezed dry<br />
Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan.<br />
Add about a tsp. of salt; cover with water. Cover,<br />
and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes or<br />
until very tender. Drain well. In a mixing bowl<br />
mash potatoes and garlic with the cream cheese<br />
and butter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add<br />
sour cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, garlic powder,<br />
onion powder and spinach. Stir just until mixed.<br />
Spread into a greased 13 x 9 casserole dish. Bake<br />
uncovered at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until<br />
heated through. Top with remaining cup of<br />
cheddar cheese and bake 5 minutes longer or<br />
until cheese melts.<br />
You can prepare this the night before and bake it<br />
right before you are ready to serve it. It will need<br />
to cook a little longer because it will be cold.<br />
Recipes submitted by Kathy Coker of Origin Bank.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 61
Christmas<br />
in Dixie<br />
That’s the theme that runs through the<br />
Christmas decorations of the recently<br />
built home of Dr. and Mrs. John Brooks.<br />
Mrs. Brooks (Teresa) is proud of her<br />
southern roots, and the flavor of the<br />
South’s cotton fields and wild game<br />
blend fashionably in each room.<br />
The Brooks’ home is designed for<br />
optimum entertaining with its space<br />
and flow. “We love to entertain,” Teresa<br />
says in describing the layout of their<br />
spacious house plan.<br />
The couple make excellent entertainers<br />
due, in part, to their obvious compatibility.<br />
They met in their 7th grade class<br />
homeroom when they attended school<br />
in Pearl. First they became good friends,<br />
and then romance followed. Marriage<br />
seemed the right choice for working<br />
together to put John through Millsaps<br />
College and med school.<br />
62 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 63
Since Teresa had her first job at age<br />
twelve in the kitchen of Beatty Street<br />
Grocery in downtown Jackson, she<br />
was groomed for a great work ethic.<br />
The young couple held down three<br />
jobs while John earned his diplomas.<br />
Today, John suits up in scrubs for his<br />
position as medical director at the<br />
Richland MEA. According to Teresa,<br />
she has the best job she’s ever had –<br />
keeping their three-year-old grandson,<br />
Kross. His parents, Brittney Brooks<br />
Emmons and Cameron, live in Brandon.<br />
The Brooks’ son, John Breland,<br />
is a senior business major at<br />
Mississippi State.<br />
Chapman’s Florist gets credit for<br />
incorporating their artistry with<br />
Teresa’s personal touch and family<br />
decoration traditions.<br />
Enjoy the images from the<br />
Brooks’ home to experience a bit<br />
of their warm and inviting intent<br />
for the Christmas celebration.<br />
64 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 65
We asked several juniors and<br />
seniors at Hartfield Academy,<br />
“What are your personal goals<br />
for <strong>2018</strong>?”<br />
Here’s what they told us:<br />
Aden Clark<br />
Maintaining a good self-character/<br />
moral standard and GPA during<br />
my first semester of college.<br />
Kaylynn Steen<br />
To keep growing academically and<br />
spiritually and start figuring out my<br />
future. As a person, I have epilepsy and<br />
I’d like to beat it! I also will continue<br />
working with the epilepsy organization.<br />
Gracee Wells<br />
To grow spiritually as I grow<br />
with my friends in faith. I pray that<br />
everything goes well for my<br />
senior year coming up.<br />
Katie Long<br />
I want to prepare for college and<br />
medical school–and I want to be a<br />
candy striper this summer at UMC.<br />
Ciera Garrett<br />
To make better grades and grow<br />
in my spiritual life. I want to gain<br />
better leadership with my peers.<br />
Baleigh Anderson<br />
To be a good leader. As an upcoming<br />
senior, I want to do what’s right for<br />
our school. I want to finish<br />
the year with A’s and B’s.<br />
Bria Thompson<br />
To be successful and prosperous<br />
when I attend college. I plan to<br />
attend college out of state and I want<br />
to excel wherever I am.<br />
Kristin Barnett<br />
Kimberlee Moore<br />
Laney Armstrong<br />
Brandon Gardner<br />
To graduate in the top two of my class<br />
and to go to one of my dream colleges.<br />
I’d like to go to University of North<br />
Carolina or an Ivy League. I want to<br />
prosper in my major and my studies.<br />
I want to be in the top 25% of my<br />
class and have all A’s my first<br />
semester of college. I’m going to<br />
Liberty University in Virginia.<br />
To graduate in the top of my class and<br />
finish my senior year strong. I also<br />
want to help others grow spiritually.<br />
My main goal is to win state<br />
championship in baseball.<br />
66 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Eien McGee<br />
Josh Murphy<br />
Dennis Martin<br />
Nick Stinson<br />
I’m going to UT on a swimming<br />
scholarship so I want to be the<br />
best student athlete I can be.<br />
To finish my junior year strong<br />
and go into my senior year strong<br />
with a good GPA.<br />
I want to finish out the year strong<br />
and start off with a 4.0 at Ole Miss.<br />
Keep my GPA high when I graduate<br />
and go to Mississippi State<br />
and get involved there.<br />
Blake Powell<br />
Ross Gilstrap<br />
Jacob Cokely<br />
J.D. Beall<br />
To learn something new every day<br />
and to keep my grades up in college.<br />
I’m going to Mississippi State!<br />
I’d like to finish the year with<br />
a 4.0 and grow spiritually.<br />
To volunteer more in the community<br />
and to be a better friend.<br />
My goal for <strong>2018</strong> is to be in a<br />
football program that is as good<br />
athletically as they are spiritually.<br />
Oliver Adams<br />
I want to grow spiritually and<br />
academically and to do my<br />
absolute best in everything I do.<br />
Daisy DeLaughter<br />
My personal goal is to bring justice<br />
to Maria’s character in the Sound<br />
of Music. I have the lead<br />
in the spring musical.<br />
Jarod Weston<br />
Keep my grades up and get accepted<br />
to all colleges I want to go to. I’m<br />
interested in Auburn and Alabama.<br />
Jim DeLaughter<br />
High School Principal<br />
To open the new school with<br />
excitement in August <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 67
20th<br />
Anniversary<br />
Celebration<br />
Cookout<br />
Community Bank<br />
Brandon<br />
68 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
THE RANKIN COUNTY CHAMBER PRESENTS:<br />
Faith N Candy<br />
Southern Raised<br />
McClain Catering<br />
The Beach Look<br />
O! How Cute<br />
Cricket Wireless<br />
Miss Priss<br />
Vintiques<br />
Sombra<br />
Amerigo<br />
Factory Connection<br />
AllyOops<br />
Cobo's<br />
Chapman's Florist<br />
* %<br />
*<br />
For more information, call the <strong>Rankin</strong> County Chamber at<br />
(601) 825-2268 or email mbilello@rankinchamber.com
70 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 71
An<br />
Interest<br />
in<br />
Pinterest<br />
It wasn’t until<br />
we saw it on<br />
Pinterest that we<br />
ever considered<br />
using grandma’s<br />
vintage silver<br />
tureen and<br />
putting a fern in it!<br />
So just in time<br />
for the holidays,<br />
we’ve curated<br />
some of our<br />
favorite decorating<br />
inspiration images<br />
and put them<br />
here for you.<br />
Be creative!<br />
Shop your own<br />
cupboards and<br />
storage chests.<br />
Find new life<br />
for things you<br />
already have.<br />
And most of all,<br />
have fun.<br />
Happy Holidays!<br />
72 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 73
ENROLLMENT<br />
OPENS FEBRUARY 1ST!<br />
Did you know that Hartfield enrolls<br />
grades K3-12th?<br />
Do you have a student who would be<br />
interested in seeing a day in the life<br />
of Hartfield? We schedule<br />
shadow days with students<br />
so they can experience<br />
Hartfield first-hand.<br />
Schedule a tour for<br />
any grade to get<br />
an inside look<br />
at the school.<br />
Schedule A Tour<br />
ENROLLMENT BEGINS FEB. 1, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
SPOTS ARE VERY LIMITED!<br />
601.992.5333 | HARTFIELD.ORG<br />
74 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 75
Teach the Children<br />
Author Unknown<br />
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I<br />
just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to<br />
go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the<br />
door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out<br />
next to the fireplace.<br />
"What are you doing?" I started to ask him. The words caught in my<br />
throat as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was<br />
gone. Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know. He then<br />
answered me with a simple statement . . .<br />
“teach the children.”<br />
He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of himself. “Teach<br />
the children that I, Santa Claus, merely symbolize the generosity and<br />
good will we feel during the month of <strong>December</strong>.”<br />
He reached in again and pulled out a holly leaf. “Teach the<br />
children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the<br />
crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent<br />
blood shed by Him.”<br />
Next he pulled out a gift from the bag and said, "Teach the<br />
children that God so loved the world that He gave His only<br />
begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.”<br />
I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and<br />
with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from<br />
behind the tree. As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, “Teach the<br />
Children. Teach them the old meaning of Christmas—the meaning that<br />
now-a-day Christmas has forgotten.”<br />
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a fir tree and<br />
placed it in front of the hearth. “Teach the children that the pure green<br />
color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the<br />
everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward,<br />
making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.”<br />
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant star.<br />
“Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises<br />
long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the<br />
sign of fulfillment of that promise.”<br />
He then reached into the bag and pulled out a candle. “Teach the<br />
children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world,<br />
and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces<br />
the darkness.”<br />
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a wreath and<br />
placed it on the tree. “Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes<br />
the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous<br />
round of affection.”<br />
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a candy<br />
cane and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that<br />
the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The<br />
crook on the shepherd's staff helps bring back sheep<br />
that have strayed from the flock. The candy cane is the<br />
symbol that we are our brother's keeper.”<br />
He reached in again and pulled out an angel<br />
“Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded<br />
in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang<br />
‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good will<br />
toward men.’”<br />
Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he<br />
pulled out a bell. “Teach the children that as the lost sheep<br />
are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to<br />
the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.”<br />
Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked<br />
back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his<br />
eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the<br />
true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in<br />
the center, for I am but a humble servant of the<br />
One who is, and I bow down and worship Him,<br />
our lord, our god."<br />
76 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> Brookhaven <strong>Rankin</strong> • 77 13
Richland-Florence Garden Club<br />
Blue Star Memorial<br />
Dedication Ceremony for Veterans<br />
NOVEMBER 9 / RICHLAND CITY HALL<br />
78 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 79
Choir<br />
The<br />
Guy Camille Anding<br />
“It was my dream to be<br />
governor of Mississippi,”<br />
Lavon Gray declared from behind his desk on the third floor of First Baptist Church<br />
Jackson. It was so much a plan for his future that after graduating from Mendenhall<br />
High School, he enrolled in Co-Lin Junior College to pursue a political science degree.<br />
By the time he finished Co-Lin and entered the University of Southern Mississippi,<br />
he relinquished his own plans for his life to follow God’s gentle but persistent leading<br />
into music ministry.<br />
80 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Photos: Judy & Lane Rushing<br />
His preacher friends encouraged him to stick with<br />
completing his political science degree because they assured<br />
him he would never be able to make a living doing church<br />
music. Gray heeded their advice and got the political science<br />
degree but continued to follow his call by entering New<br />
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. From there he earned<br />
his Ph.D. at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth.<br />
After serving in churches in Mississippi, Texas, and South<br />
Carolina, he accepted the minister of music position at FBC<br />
Jackson in 2001. For the past thirteen years he’s led in<br />
worship in front of a 300-voice choir (when all are present).<br />
Plans are going forward to renovate the choir space to hold<br />
an additional thirty to forty members.<br />
When asked about his favorite part of being minister<br />
of music, he didn’t hesitate: “I’m a people person; I love<br />
people and building relationships with them. And secondly,<br />
I love leading worship on Sunday mornings.” With the<br />
unusual experience of serving with three pastors plus<br />
interims in his thirteen years at FBC, Gray’s sense of<br />
humor speaks, “Everyone may not like me, but I am a<br />
consistent presence!”<br />
The meetings that are a necessary part of the music<br />
calendar are his least favorite part of the ministry, but how<br />
else does one involve and delegate 800 volunteers in the<br />
annual church Christmas program, Carols by Candlelight?<br />
Fifteen thousand tickets have already been given out for<br />
this year’s musical theme, Love Came to Me, scheduled for<br />
<strong>December</strong> 14-17.<br />
Larry Black, a former minister of music, began “Carols”<br />
in 1971. His choir of twenty grew to one hundred by the<br />
first performance. Dr. Gray gives Black credit for the music<br />
foundation that he left for his successors.<br />
Gray’s customary smile turns to laughter when he recalls<br />
glitches in the performances. In 1988, because of church<br />
renovation, the presentation was relocated to the coliseum for<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 81
82 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Photos: Judy & Lane Rushing<br />
that year. Live animals are never used in the sanctuary,<br />
but for the coliseum “Carols,” it was the perfect opportunity<br />
to use them. Humphrey, the camel, was rented so one of<br />
the wise men could ride aloft him to the manger scene.<br />
Humphrey overreacted either from the crowds or stage<br />
fright and took the first exit out after entering – along<br />
with his wise man. Theirs was a brief exposure.<br />
Another time, Gray realized within moments of the<br />
overture that his music was upstairs on his desk. Ava Hart,<br />
pianist and music assistant, rushed to his office to retrieve<br />
his music. On another occasion a stage crew member crawled<br />
in guerrilla warfare style beneath Gray’s podium to handdeliver<br />
a message.<br />
The “Carol” glitches are seldom in the presentations that<br />
are spectacular with a dedication to sharing the Gospel. The<br />
labor of love begins in <strong>January</strong> with the meeting of thirty key<br />
leaders who volunteer to cover all areas of the production.<br />
February is take-a-breath month. March is for theme<br />
selection; April, May and June are song selections months.<br />
Orders are made in July and rehearsals begin in August.<br />
Lavon, as most members call him, has always been at<br />
home in his musical world. His mother, the church pianist,<br />
eloped when she was fourteen. A year later Lavon was<br />
born, and one week after that his grandfather carried him<br />
to church to have their pastor dedicate the future minister.<br />
“I’ve not missed much church,” Lavon added.<br />
He remembers family reunions with his mother on the<br />
piano, his dad playing guitar along with more guitar-playing<br />
cousins and kin. “We might start out with Johnny Cash and<br />
Hank Williams songs, but we would always end up singing<br />
gospel music.”<br />
When away from the church, his greatest enjoyment is<br />
his family. His wife of twenty-nine years, Wendy, is mother<br />
to their three daughters, Kayla, Lizzie, and Katibeth – all<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 83
homeschooled. “I was the principal,” Lavon says with<br />
a laugh. Their two oldest daughters are married, and<br />
ten-year-old Katibeth has been and is their “back side<br />
blessing.” A recent grandson, Grayson, has given the<br />
Grays a new favorite title.<br />
On Thursday nights Lavon reaches for his striped shirt<br />
and whistle to referee junior college football games. Sports<br />
officiating for the past thirty years is another favorite<br />
pastime of the multi-faceted minister.<br />
Humility is a recognizable trait in Dr. Gray when he<br />
speaks of his limited ability in music while praising the<br />
talents and gifts of his choir, staff, and network of volunteers.<br />
He also gives much credit to his administrative assistant,<br />
Terry Sims, a fellow laborer for forty years in the music<br />
department.<br />
He refers to himself as a sophisticated redneck from<br />
Simpson County and whose favorite hymn is ”Victory in<br />
Jesus.” “I’ve never been the most talented; I’m not the greatest<br />
musician, but God has given me the ability to be a great<br />
minister of music. I guess I’m just a choir guy,” he says<br />
with his down-to-earth charisma.<br />
Then he adds, “I’m just so honored to lead here.” For the<br />
vast majority of all who will hear the sounds of Carols by<br />
Candlelight this Christmas, their response with emotions and<br />
hearts brimming will be, “You didn’t need to be governor.” n<br />
84 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Photos: Judy & Lane Rushing<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 85
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86 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 87
88 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
That One Thing
Mary Ann Kirby<br />
In light of the recent flooding in Houston and wildfires in California,<br />
where people were literally forced from their homes with only what<br />
they could carry, and no time to spare, I considered the daunting task<br />
of having to decide, what does one take in that situation knowing<br />
that a complete loss was imminent? What is that one thing you<br />
couldn’t leave behind?<br />
Asked that question in two different decades and my answer might<br />
be drastically different.<br />
In my 20s, I would have been most concerned with my shoes and<br />
clothes. My purse collection, makeup, and favorite leather bomber<br />
jacket with fur trim would have all made the list, too. To this twentysomething<br />
year old, “stuff” was important.<br />
At fifty, my priorities have dramatically shifted. But when faced<br />
with the question about choosing what to take, I still can’t come up<br />
with a definitive answer.<br />
It’s a given that people and animals come first, so we’re going to<br />
assume that my family and dog are safely evacuated in our little pretend<br />
scenario. We’re also going to assume that we all have our phones,<br />
laptops, purses and wallets, driver’s licenses, and important documents<br />
and papers.<br />
But now comes the tough part. What non-essentials do you take?<br />
What is that one thing that you absolutely would not want to part with?<br />
I recently posed this question on social media and the responses<br />
were varied . . . and fascinating. Many of them were, understandably,<br />
about precious family photos – boxes of pictures and photo albums<br />
that have been curated, inherited, or passed along from one generation<br />
to the next, which could never be recreated. Ironically, it has been<br />
during my lifetime that many people have actually stopped printing<br />
pictures. I pause for a moment and wonder how future generations<br />
will remember us without printed evidence of our existence.<br />
Bibles ranked as a top item along with jewelry, treasured artwork,<br />
children’s blankets and hand-made family quilts. Guns and ammunition<br />
were surprisingly important to many, as well. I’d never considered the<br />
need for weapons in an evacuation-type situation, but anyone that’s<br />
ever misplaced a child’s cherished binky knows that it is worthy of<br />
being heavily guarded.<br />
So as I continued to contemplate the question at hand, my inability<br />
to easily identify what “things” I would take was becoming a source of<br />
frustration for me. I began to realize that I’m not particularly attached<br />
to anything! And don’t get me wrong, I have a safe-box and fully<br />
understand the importance of protecting certain legal documents, but<br />
it was very revealing to me that not one material possession in particular<br />
stood out as being of paramount significance.<br />
Things don’t wear matching pajamas on Christmas Eve and watch<br />
Christmas movies seen so many times that every line can practically<br />
be quoted by heart. Things didn’t cheer on our favorite kicker on the<br />
football field or feel the excitement of watching him make his first-ever<br />
field goal.<br />
Things can’t get all dressed up and take you to dinner on your<br />
birthday or celebrate when you achieve an important milestone.<br />
Things can’t reassure you when someone’s hurt your feelings.<br />
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my most<br />
prized possessions are my memories–of the life experiences and<br />
adventures shared with the people I adore most–and no box or album is<br />
big enough to contain them. They’re the people and places and feelings<br />
and moments. They’re the hugs and the smiles. And the laughter.<br />
It’s not about what we’ve bought, but what we’ve built–and no<br />
fire or flood can destroy it. And it is in that moment, the moment<br />
I was forced to articulate what it was that I actually treasured most,<br />
that I had a breakthrough and it was an amazing feeling.<br />
While it is not likely that my son can tell me a single thing he<br />
received last year for Christmas without having to really stop and think<br />
about it–he can sing every word to the family vacation song we made<br />
up while driving through the mountains six years ago. We hiked to a<br />
waterfall hidden deep in the elevations and got caught in a rainstorm<br />
on our way out. It was freezing and we were soaked to the bone . . . yet<br />
it will go down as one of the single greatest family experiences that we<br />
ever had. We were with each other, where we’re truly the most happy,<br />
and we wouldn’t have changed a thing.<br />
Experiences make for the greatest treasures. And memories.<br />
So while this exercise has come full circle and prompted some<br />
much-needed soul-searching on my part, I come away with a single,<br />
glorious realization. When the waters rise, and the flames grow near,<br />
I’m already packed. And while I’d never want to be faced with having<br />
to part with the material things that have played such an important<br />
role in creating our comforts of home and have helped to define our past,<br />
I know that as long as we have each other, everything will be alright. n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 89
Your Best<br />
Christmas Memories<br />
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Ice Sliding,<br />
Bouncing Blast.<br />
NOVEMBER 12 - JANUARY 6<br />
Monday thru Saturday: 10am – 11pm ❆ Sunday: Noon – 11pm ❆ Pearl, MS<br />
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90 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
@ChristmasWonderlandMS<br />
©Copyright <strong>2017</strong><br />
Big South Events, LLC<br />
Madison, MS
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 91
The Pearl Chamber of Commerce,<br />
Fire Department, and Police<br />
Department held the<br />
PEARL FALL FEST <strong>2017</strong><br />
OCTOBER 30<br />
BASS PRO SHOPS<br />
92 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 93
Prıceless<br />
The<br />
GiftCamille<br />
Anding<br />
Gift-giving in our hometown is fast<br />
approaching a complex undertaking due to<br />
the range of selections offered in stores,<br />
catalogues, and online. Lists are helpful as<br />
we begin our shopping campaigns, but to<br />
find that special gift that remains timeless<br />
and a treasure will always be a challenge.<br />
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could<br />
box and wrap special qualities for our gifts<br />
this Christmas? Contentment, joy, and<br />
kindness would make the list. Wisdom<br />
would also be a top choice. And here’s<br />
some good news; after just a brief time with<br />
Frank and Mary Ann Mullins of Brandon,<br />
Mississippi, I can offer an early gift of<br />
wisdom from their “storehouse.”<br />
Fifty-three years of marriage and still<br />
smiling qualifies them to share marital<br />
wisdom with other couples. Frank pledged<br />
to try to love his bride as Christ loved the<br />
church. Mary Ann realized her role as<br />
respecting her husband through the love<br />
of God.<br />
They shared some difficult times but<br />
always kept God at the center of their<br />
marriage. Whenever they had to move,<br />
finding a church and developing strong<br />
Christian friendships remained priorities.<br />
In answer to their prayers for children,<br />
God gave them three wonderful sons.<br />
Raising children is a challenging task, but<br />
the Mullins’ wisdom branched out into<br />
child-rearing, too.<br />
Frank said, “We prayed a lot!”<br />
Mary Ann nodded and added, “We<br />
also tried to take them to places and events<br />
that would nurture their spiritual lives.”<br />
The Mullins were regular chaperones<br />
with their sons’ youth groups, and their home<br />
was open to constant youth gatherings.<br />
Togetherness was a key ingredient to<br />
molding and being a model for their sons.<br />
Hugs were a daily wakeup ritual. Then<br />
everyone helped with breakfast, either in<br />
preparation or cleanup before leaving for<br />
work and school. Mary Ann shared how<br />
they kept responsibility charts during the<br />
boys’ early years. Laundry was one of those<br />
chores. Each son carried his dirty clothes<br />
to the laundry room. After the laundry<br />
was washed and dried, the sons had rotation<br />
duty to sort the clothes for the five-member<br />
family. Then they had a folding party<br />
where each member folded and put away<br />
his or her own clothes. Neatness was<br />
always encouraged.<br />
The three sons, Robert married to<br />
Pam, Charles married to Lynn, and<br />
Andy married to Michelle, have blessed<br />
the Mullins with nine grandchildren.<br />
When asked if the three sons, all in<br />
ministry positions, have applied this<br />
parenting wisdom to their own children,<br />
Frank said that it’s never actually been<br />
stated, but the results are obvious. The<br />
wisdom multiplies!<br />
So you’ve opened an early Christmas<br />
present, and it’s guaranteed to never go<br />
out of style or lose its value. Wisdom is a<br />
gift that keeps on giving. n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 95
96 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 97
What are your three favorite<br />
things about Christmas?<br />
Hanging out with family.<br />
The feeling of goodwill—<br />
everyone seems to be<br />
nicer to each other.<br />
Pretty decorations.<br />
Mrs. Stephanie Burns<br />
Northside Elementary<br />
Pearl<br />
God’s birthday.<br />
Spending time with family.<br />
Opening presents.<br />
Abby Morrow<br />
Being with my family.<br />
Presents.<br />
Snow.<br />
Karma Comans<br />
Presents.<br />
Decorating.<br />
Going to my grandparents.<br />
Kinsley Ables<br />
You get cool toys.<br />
Get out of school.<br />
It’s a HAPPY time!<br />
Tomaj Johnson<br />
Getting presents.<br />
Seeing Santa.<br />
Eating milk & cookies<br />
in the morning.<br />
Dakota Moody<br />
Singing Christmas Carols.<br />
Getting presents.<br />
Being out of school.<br />
RJ Alfons<br />
Presents.<br />
Putting up the Christmas<br />
tree and the ornaments.<br />
Snow.<br />
Damien Robinson<br />
Presents.<br />
Santa Claus being at my house.<br />
Being out of school a few days.<br />
Charles Walker<br />
Sleeping in late.<br />
Unwrapping presents.<br />
Having fun in the snow.<br />
Aiden Flanagan<br />
Skiing on ice.<br />
Sledding down a hill.<br />
Getting presents.<br />
Ethan Ward<br />
Being with my family.<br />
Singing Christmas Carols.<br />
Baking cookies for Santa.<br />
wD’Lahah Friday<br />
98 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
If you could get your parents anything<br />
for Christmas, what would it be?<br />
I’d get my mom a necklace<br />
and I’d get my dad<br />
a pair of pants.<br />
John Null<br />
My mom would like a<br />
Nissan truck and a blue<br />
Mustang for my dad.<br />
Kole Derrick<br />
A car for my dad and<br />
make-up for my mom.<br />
Brooklynn Lopez<br />
I’d give my parents Jesus.<br />
Campbell McHenry<br />
I will give them both a BIG hug.<br />
Marleigh Ainsworth<br />
I’d give my mom a new house<br />
—a mansion! And I’d give my<br />
dad a red Ferrari.<br />
Brody McCool<br />
I’d get my mom a new bike<br />
because she likes to ride a lot.<br />
My dad likes to run so I’d get<br />
him some new shoes.<br />
Rosemarie Lopez<br />
Dad likes cool cars<br />
so a Lamborghini. My mom<br />
wants an Infiniti.<br />
Kaleb Woodson<br />
Merry<br />
Christmas<br />
My mom likes clothes a lot<br />
so a gift card to Flawless.<br />
And I’d get my dad<br />
a red Corvette.<br />
Mary Allyn Grisson<br />
I’d give my mom a picture<br />
of our family and I’d do<br />
work for my dad.<br />
Carter Young<br />
I’d give them both my LOVE.<br />
Madison Jones<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 99
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100 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 101
102 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Business<br />
in the Classroom<br />
April Carter<br />
As adults, most of us have, at some point,<br />
wrestled with the age-old question, “What do you<br />
want to be when you grow up?” Or, perhaps just as<br />
importantly, “Where do you want to be when you<br />
grow up?” A desire to help students answer these<br />
questions drew over 100 community members to<br />
speak in classrooms for the annual Business in the<br />
Classroom event coordinated by the Flowood Chamber<br />
of Commerce and the schools within the Flowood<br />
community. October 12, <strong>2017</strong> saw community<br />
professionals gather en masse to speak to students<br />
about their careers, the paths that led them to their<br />
work, and the career opportunities in the Flowood<br />
and greater Jackson area.<br />
Speakers for the event spanned the gamut of<br />
careers, from artists and authors, to engineers, to<br />
medical practitioners, to public officials. Among the<br />
speakers were State Senator Josh Harkins, State<br />
Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, Judge Haydn<br />
Roberts of <strong>Rankin</strong> County Chancery Court, and<br />
Brandon Alderman Tahya Dobbs. One group of<br />
students interacted with Assistant District Attorney<br />
Dewey Arthur, listening eagerly as he related some of<br />
his experiences and asking questions to learn more.<br />
Meanwhile, another group listened as Pulitzer<br />
Prize nominee Marshall Ramsey, nationally syndicated<br />
political cartoonist, author, and radio show host,<br />
spoke about his professional and personal journey.<br />
From the perspective of senior Alyssa Moncrief, “His<br />
[Ramsey’s] speech was so inspiring because it proved<br />
that the harder you work, the more successful you<br />
will be. He said you will always encounter barriers,<br />
but pushing through them is how you grow.” Alyssa<br />
explains, “Although I do not plan to pursue a career in<br />
art, I am very interested in journalism and if anything,<br />
it made me more curious if a career in that field<br />
would be right for me.”<br />
Like Alyssa, many students have their interest in<br />
a particular career field encouraged by hearing their<br />
Business in the Classroom speaker. Emma King, an art<br />
student who heard Ramsey speak says, “Mr. Ramsey<br />
inspired me by telling me to work hard and not give<br />
up. He told me if I really want a career in art to not<br />
give up and go for it.”<br />
Voicing the thoughts of many of the day’s<br />
speakers, Director of Emergency Medicine for Merit<br />
Health Tracy Laird says, “I have had the pleasure of<br />
speaking with Northwest <strong>Rankin</strong> High School students<br />
for the past several years. High school is a difficult<br />
time for many as they begin to struggle with their<br />
future and career choices, and Business in the<br />
Classroom is a fantastic program that allows people<br />
from all walks of life to tell the students a little bit<br />
about their respective career choices and opportunities.”<br />
According to Northwest <strong>Rankin</strong> High School<br />
Principal Ben Stein, Business in the Classroom<br />
originated years ago during the time that Jean Massey<br />
was principal, though, at that point it, was exclusively<br />
a high school event. Over the years, the event faded<br />
away until Stein revived the practice in the fall of 2014<br />
during his first year as high school principal. Business<br />
in the Classroom has now grown beyond the high<br />
school as a result of Stein’s interest in connecting the<br />
school and community. Flowood Chamber of<br />
Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Anderson<br />
joined with Stein to form an education committee<br />
under the auspices of the chamber. In the fall of<br />
2015, this committee extended invitations to all of<br />
the schools in Flowood, and Business in the Classroom<br />
expanded to include all of the <strong>Rankin</strong> County School<br />
District schools in the area. This year, Hartfield<br />
Academy joined with area RCSD schools to invite<br />
area professionals to speak in classrooms.<br />
Says Jennifer Anderson, “I believe BIC [Business<br />
in the Classroom] is a great opportunity to tie the<br />
many businesses together with our future leaders<br />
(students). I think it opens up an endless horizon of<br />
opportunities available here in <strong>Rankin</strong> County that<br />
the students may not know exist.”<br />
Anderson believes the benefits of this event<br />
flow both ways. She continues, “As for the business<br />
leaders, I believe it allows them the opportunity to<br />
support not only the students, but to support education<br />
in our area. The stronger the bond our schools have<br />
with our businesses, the stronger our community will<br />
be. This is such an important factor in economic<br />
development.”<br />
Is this event hitting its mark? What is the takeaway<br />
for students? When asked about his experience,<br />
Northwest <strong>Rankin</strong> senior Jared Collum says, “My<br />
Business in the Classroom speaker was incredibly<br />
interesting. She was a voice-over actress with many<br />
different experiences under her belt and a wealth of<br />
knowledge of her career to share. She took our class<br />
through her own personal journey in how she came to<br />
this job opportunity, and explained to us the different<br />
trials she went through as well as some of her<br />
successes.” Student Alyssa Moncrief called the day<br />
an “amazing opportunity,” and JJ Kaler, another<br />
senior, says that “Business in the Classroom was<br />
quite interesting.”<br />
The success of this event is due largely to the<br />
willingness of area professionals that take the time<br />
and interest to come speak to students and help them<br />
think about career possibilities, show them the wide<br />
range of career opportunities in and near Flowood,<br />
and to explain the paths they took through education<br />
and earlier work experiences to land where they are<br />
today. Principal Stein is grateful for the partnership<br />
with the Flowood Chamber of Commerce and for the<br />
support of <strong>Rankin</strong> County Sheriff Bryan Bailey and the<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County School District. n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 103
104 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
READER<br />
SPOTLIGHT<br />
April<br />
Carter<br />
How long have you lived in <strong>Rankin</strong> County?<br />
7 years.<br />
Tell us about your family.<br />
I have four daughters. Anna is a freshmen at<br />
Mississippi College, Beth is a junior at NWRHS,<br />
Catie is a freshmen at NWRHS, and Dorothy is<br />
in 4th grade at NWR elementary.<br />
What are your Thanksgiving Day family<br />
traditions?<br />
Leading up to Thanksgiving Day, we have a<br />
“thankful vine”. We have a rope draped over the<br />
kitchen table, and we write things we are thankful<br />
for on paper leaves (things as big as family and as<br />
small as chocolate or no homework days) and<br />
attach the leaves to the rope. Over a couple of<br />
weeks, our vine gets very full.<br />
What about Christmas family traditions?<br />
Christmas Eve, we always go to the Christmas Eve<br />
service at Brandon Baptist with our extended family,<br />
and then go back to my parents’ house for chili,<br />
seafood gumbo, and Happy Birthday Jesus cake.<br />
What led you to teaching?<br />
I’ve always enjoyed helping other people<br />
understand things, trying to explain things, or<br />
giving examples so what didn’t make sense before<br />
becomes clear.<br />
What is the best part of your job?<br />
I really enjoy the relationships with students and<br />
the opportunity to encourage them and give them<br />
new perspectives and ways to think through<br />
difficult issues.<br />
Do you have a favorite book?<br />
This is NOT a fair question for an English teacher!<br />
There is a book that I first read in the 7th grade<br />
that I tend to re-read about once a year, just for<br />
fun, called Celia Garth. It’s historical fiction, set<br />
in the Revolutionary War. Reading it for me is<br />
like eating comfort food.<br />
Do you have a favorite childhood memory?<br />
Traveling to my grandparents’ house for<br />
Christmas–both sets lived far away with one<br />
family in New Mexico and the other in West<br />
Virginia. Visiting their houses and being with<br />
all my cousins and aunts and uncles was a treat,<br />
something we got excited about, and counted<br />
down towards for weeks in advance.<br />
What are your three favorite places to eat<br />
in <strong>Rankin</strong> County?<br />
El Sombrero, Newk’s, and Lost Pizza.<br />
What is a favorite memory of living in<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County?<br />
Honestly, it’s a little every-day thing more than<br />
a big event. It’s the witty, funny conversations<br />
around the dinner table with my girls. I love<br />
hearing about what’s going on with them, and<br />
they can be hilarious when they get together.<br />
Those are my favorite memories, hands-down.<br />
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?<br />
I think I will be teaching–probably helping<br />
college students learn to think deeply and to<br />
write clearly, whether that is still through teaching<br />
dual credit at Northwest <strong>Rankin</strong> or in some<br />
different setting.<br />
Who is someone you admire and why?<br />
I know it’s a little cliché, but I admire my parents<br />
for their stability and consistency. They are an<br />
incredible resource for so many people because<br />
they have spent their lifetimes pursuing the<br />
Lord, listening for His direction, seeking His<br />
wisdom. They are my most valuable sounding<br />
board and are so practically helpful in so<br />
many ways.<br />
What is your favorite Christmas movie?<br />
It’s a Wonderful Life.<br />
Favorite Bible verse?<br />
That changes all the time and depends on the<br />
season I’m in, and what the Lord is showing me.<br />
Right now, maybe it’s Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore,<br />
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of<br />
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and<br />
sin which clings so closely, and let us run with<br />
endurance the race that is set before us, looking to<br />
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who<br />
for the joy that was set before him endured the<br />
cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the<br />
right hand of the throne of God.”<br />
Share some things you like to do in your<br />
spare time.<br />
Read fiction (not surprising for an English<br />
teacher), shop, and be with my girls.<br />
Name three things on your bucket list.<br />
Traveling in Europe, publishing a piece of my own<br />
writing, and maybe owning a house with a great<br />
front porch and a peaceful view.<br />
What are some fun things to do in<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County on the weekends?<br />
I may not be the best person to answer this<br />
question. My weekends are fairly full of essay<br />
grading, grocery shopping, and laundry. Maybe<br />
I should look into this… .<br />
What is your favorite thing about<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> Magazines?<br />
Finding familiar faces and names and seeing what<br />
friends and acquaintances are doing. n<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 105
HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE<br />
CENTENNIAL GALA<br />
NOVEMBER 4 • MUSE CENTER<br />
106 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 107
108 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
HOLIDAY<br />
MARKETPLACE<br />
NOVEMBER 11<br />
PELAHATCHIE<br />
BAPTIST CHURCH<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 109
110 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County Chamber<br />
Annual<br />
Treat<br />
Street<br />
October 27, <strong>2017</strong><br />
Clyde Muse Center, Pearl, MS
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 111
112 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 113
114 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 115
Flowood<br />
Chamber<br />
of Commerce<br />
HEALTH<br />
FAIR<br />
October 5<br />
Flowood<br />
YMCA<br />
116 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 117
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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<br />
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<br />
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118 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 119
120 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
ANNUAL LUNCHEON<br />
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 121
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122 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 123
Mississippi<br />
Mississippi Grown. Mississippi Good.<br />
Farm toSchool Week<br />
The first full week of October marked Mississippi<br />
Farm to School Week. The Mississippi Department<br />
of Agriculture and Commerce and the Mississippi<br />
Department of Education collaborated with the<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County School District to celebrate on<br />
Tuesday, October 3, at Highland Bluff Elementary.<br />
Special guests, including Commissioner of<br />
Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith,<br />
USDA Office of Community Food Systems National<br />
Director Erin Healy, <strong>Rankin</strong> County School District<br />
Superintendent Dr. Sue Townsend, MDE Chief of<br />
Operations Dr. Felicia Gavin, MDE Director of Child<br />
Nutrition and Healthy Schools Scott Clements, in<br />
addition to several Mississippi farmers who grew<br />
some of the featured lunch menu items, had the<br />
privilege of eating lunch with the students.<br />
Over the last 15 years, the Mississippi Department<br />
of Education and the Mississippi Department of<br />
Agriculture and Commerce have made successful<br />
efforts to increase the amount of Mississippigrown<br />
fruits and vegetables served in cafeterias<br />
across the state through the Department of<br />
Defense Farm to School Program. The program<br />
124 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
offers schools 15 varieties of Mississippigrown<br />
fruits and vegetables, including<br />
butterbeans, southern peas, sweet potatoes,<br />
yellow squash, butternut squash, zucchini,<br />
turnip greens, collard greens, cantaloupes,<br />
watermelons, green beans, corn cobbettes,<br />
cucumbers, blueberries and broccoli crowns.<br />
The first full week of October was designated<br />
as Mississippi Farm to School Week by the<br />
Mississippi Legislature in 2012. Farm to School<br />
Week was introduced to schools in an effort<br />
to encourage them to serve locally-grown<br />
and locally-raised agricultural products in<br />
their meals and to recognize the substantial<br />
economic and health benefits of farm to<br />
school programs. Farm to School Week<br />
draws attention to the vast number of crops<br />
that are grown in Mississippi and serves as<br />
an educational tool to teach children where<br />
their food comes from beyond the grocery<br />
store. For more information on Mississippi<br />
Farm to School Week or educational materials,<br />
visit farmtoschoolweek.org.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 125
&<br />
Gives Back!<br />
Pure Air Consultants wants to give back to the community<br />
that has so graciously supported us. We have been blessed<br />
with continued growth and want to give back. We recognize<br />
and appreciate the fact that we would not be who we are or<br />
where we are without the continued patronage of our<br />
customers and the support of <strong>Rankin</strong> County.<br />
Here’s Our Plan<br />
We’d like to find a family that’s truly in need of a new heating and cooling<br />
system. Do you know an elderly person on a fixed income, a family with a sick<br />
child or parent in the home, or a disabled veteran? Maybe it’s an existing system<br />
not operational or it’s very old and inefficient and the family cannot afford to<br />
replace it. The recipient’s home must be in <strong>Rankin</strong> County.<br />
What They Get<br />
The recipient chosen from online applications/nominations will receive the<br />
following: One new 14 SEER (efficiency rating- current standard) Rheem heating<br />
and cooling system, installed. This is a complete system, providing new equipment<br />
both inside and outside, for a home that has existing central heating and cooling.<br />
Pure Air Consultants will also provide a new pad for the outdoor unit and a new<br />
digital thermostat. (Note: Replacement system must be of the same size/<br />
tonnage as winner’s existing system, and have the same heat source<br />
(gas, electric, or heat pump) as the existing system.)<br />
How To Enter<br />
Log onto surveymonkey.com/r/pacgivesback or MyPureAirConsultants.com<br />
and nominate someone in need. Anyone interested in submitting may enter<br />
themselves or nominate another person or family. All entries are completely<br />
confidential. Before and after photos of the job will be taken, and winner will<br />
be announced through social media. Media release required. We will accept<br />
submissions through February 28, <strong>2018</strong>. The winner will be selected and<br />
announced on March 1, <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Enter today<br />
surveymonkey.com/r/pacgivesback<br />
www.MyPureAirConsultants.com<br />
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• Conducting business<br />
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126 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
SHOP<br />
• Screen Printing<br />
• Embroidery<br />
• Caps<br />
• Pens & Cups<br />
• Business Cards<br />
• Car Magnets<br />
• Signs<br />
• Vinyl<br />
• Yetis<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 127
VINTIQUES<br />
Kathrine’s Candles, Pomegranate scent<br />
Locally made in Brandon • $12<br />
Polk’s at Crossgates<br />
Reindeer Tartan Christmas Platter<br />
allyoops<br />
A’Maries Bath Flowers<br />
Handmade in Pearl, MS - $39<br />
O! How Cute<br />
Musee Bath Balms<br />
Cavender’s<br />
Nocona Hero Collection - $129.99<br />
Willow Blu<br />
Florist, Gifts & Custom Framing<br />
rankin county co-op<br />
Variety of children’s gifts<br />
Terry’s Barber<br />
Give your guy an old fashioned hot towel<br />
and razor experience<br />
chapman's florist<br />
Holiday towels<br />
Jewelry by Randy<br />
Custom jewelry by award-winning<br />
Mississippi artist Randy Walker<br />
128 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Mockingbird Marketplace<br />
Enewton Jewelry<br />
The beach look<br />
Untamed Purses<br />
Red Wagon Boutique<br />
Barefoot Dreams Socks<br />
apple annie's<br />
Oxford Candles, hand-poured<br />
in Mississippi<br />
boots n more<br />
Ariat mens or ladies boots valued up to $250<br />
Sweet Peas<br />
Paddy wax candles and Capri Blue<br />
pink peppermint and Volcano candles<br />
Southern Grace & Gifts<br />
Happy Wax all natural soy wax melts<br />
jackson jewelers<br />
14k white gold sapphire and diamond<br />
necklace with an Art Deco design.<br />
MIGI'S<br />
Shaggy fur one-side cold<br />
shoulder sweatshirt • $39<br />
Crossgates jewelers<br />
Men’s and Women’s Citizen Watches<br />
Flawless Boutique<br />
Women’s Clothing • Shoes<br />
Accessories • Gifts<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 129
130 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
CITY OF BRANDON<br />
Veterans<br />
Luncheon<br />
November 10<br />
Brandon Municipal Complex<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 131
The CHALKBOARD<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS<br />
Northshore<br />
Several businessmen and women throughout <strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
visited 4th-6th grade classes and spoke about their profession<br />
during Business in the Classroom.<br />
Some of the high school football players and cheerleaders put<br />
on a pep rally for our first Big Event.<br />
The local fireman and police visited our kindergarten classes.<br />
Students were recognized and celebrated during Cougar of<br />
the Quarter for exemplifying Cougar Pride by being kind,<br />
respectful, responsible, and ready to learn.<br />
The Venture classes<br />
sponsored a school-wide<br />
collection of snacks for<br />
the Blair Batson Children’s<br />
Hospital Cancer Center.<br />
They donated 2,182 snacks<br />
to the hospital.<br />
132 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
McLaurin<br />
Elementary<br />
McLaurin Elementary School is ALL IN!<br />
When it comes to instruction at McLaurin<br />
Elementary School (MES), our parents are just<br />
as eager to learn as their students. Thanks to the<br />
collaborative efforts of MES’s families, faculty<br />
and staff, McLaurin Elementary School has<br />
successfully shared resources and lessons to the<br />
school community in its first year of monthly<br />
Parent Academies.<br />
The first academy focused on literacy. Family<br />
members explored the school’s current data<br />
regarding reading proficiency and also practiced<br />
hands on methods to boost reading engagement<br />
and proficiency at home. From comprehension<br />
based origami to reading like a pirate, both<br />
families and students had a wonderful time<br />
learning together!<br />
The second academy was led by MES teachers.<br />
After exploring the school’s data for math proficiency,<br />
the MES faculty taught families math strategies<br />
in a rotation of four mini sessions. Through the<br />
generous donations of the MES PTO, parent<br />
volunteers, and the faculty, family members drew<br />
tickets for door prizes throughout the evening.<br />
The MES motto is “ALL IN - every student,<br />
every day, WHATEVER it takes!” This certainly<br />
resounds true with the dedicated efforts of the<br />
school and community in the parent academies.<br />
As the monthly meetings progress, McLaurin<br />
Elementary School comes one step closer in<br />
establishing its vision – to become a model of<br />
academic excellence through the collaboration of<br />
parents, staff, and students.<br />
Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 133
The CHALKBOARD<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS<br />
Florence Elementary<br />
Florence Elementary School is proud to announce an “A” rating<br />
for the 2016-<strong>2017</strong> school year. The staff, students, and community<br />
of Florence Elementary School and Steen’s Creek Elementary<br />
School are committed to providing our elementary students<br />
with “A” BEST education. According to testing data published<br />
by the Mississippi Department of Education, Florence Elementary<br />
School gained a total of 19 points in all categories of the state’s<br />
accountability model. While continual growth is expected and<br />
is our top priority, we took a few opportunities to celebrate this<br />
high honor. RCSD School Board Member, Mrs. Kym Jamison,<br />
made a delicious cake to help celebrate. Thank you Steen’s<br />
Creek Elementary, RCSD support teams, Florence community,<br />
and all who work to support the staff and students of Florence<br />
Elementary to ensure student success. #FocusEducateSoar<br />
#RCSDG2B<br />
Richland High<br />
In its eighth year of implementation at Richland High School,<br />
the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support program continues<br />
to thrive. In fact, for the past three years running, Richland High<br />
School has been awarded Model School status by REACH MS<br />
for its excellence in executing the program within the school.<br />
Richland High School is the only high school in <strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
to have the distinction of Model School status, an accolade the<br />
school prides itself on.<br />
With an emphasis on promoting positive behavior throughout<br />
the school, the teachers at Richland High School seek to improve<br />
academic and behavior outcomes to ensure students have access<br />
to the most effective instructional and behavioral practices and<br />
interventions possible. Over the years, PBIS has proven to reach<br />
exceptional students, as well as those who may struggle in a<br />
traditional classroom setting. A program like PBIS can be very<br />
encouraging to students across the board because of its emphasis<br />
on positive behavior.<br />
As students earn tickets, they enter their tickets into drawings<br />
for gift cards, prize packages, and special reward opportunities.<br />
This year, RHS students are most fond of Ticket Tuesday, which<br />
allows them to bring their tickets to swap for snack items and<br />
drinks. Skylar Andrews, a senior says, “I got to school extra early<br />
to redeem my PBIS ticket for a pack of cookies because I knew<br />
that I would want a snack later on that day.”<br />
There are several reward opportunities for students to enjoy<br />
in the coming weeks, such as, an off-campus lunch, a perfect-attendance<br />
reward, and a school-wide field day. Richland High<br />
School admits, faculty, staff and community members have<br />
embraced PBIS and have all learned that PBIS isn’t something<br />
Richland High School does, it is a part of who they are.<br />
Jamison Miller<br />
7th grade<br />
Brady Windham<br />
11th grade<br />
134 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Northwest High<br />
In 2006, NWR High School art instructor, Teresa Aikens,<br />
started a program to integrate her students’ work into the<br />
community. Each year since the program began, a new class of<br />
high-achieving, talented students has participated, and in that<br />
time, they have created over 30 original artworks for permanent<br />
display in businesses and community facilities around our city,<br />
county and state.<br />
To participate in the program, students must complete Art I<br />
class with an A grade, show good work habits, be self-motivated,<br />
and apply for acceptance into the class. The students work<br />
directly with our community partners to develop artwork that<br />
reflects the personality of the business. The students create designs,<br />
present them to their community partners, and complete the<br />
design that is chosen for the artwork. The partners pay for<br />
materials for the final project, so the students get to work with<br />
professional grade media.<br />
While meeting the art needs of local businesses and organizations,<br />
the program accomplishes several goals for our students.<br />
They learn how to meet the needs of the community through<br />
their artwork and understand the role of art in our culture. It<br />
helps them understand how and why people appreciate and<br />
value art and they gain an understanding of artists’ relationships<br />
with their communities. It’s been a great success, and we’re<br />
especially proud to see our students’ work in so many places<br />
around Mississippi. It gives our students pride in their community<br />
and state.<br />
The community partners are enthusiastic and appreciative<br />
of the students’ work. Many community partners return in<br />
successive years for additional artwork for their interior spaces.<br />
Some sites where NWRHS students’ artwork is permanently<br />
displayed are Community Bank Operations Center, Flowood<br />
Fire Department, Flowood Police Department, <strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
Chancery Clerk’s Office, <strong>Rankin</strong> County Courthouse, <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
County Tax Collector’s Office, Reservoir Community Center,<br />
Reservoir Fire Department, and <strong>Rankin</strong> County School<br />
District Technology Center, <strong>Rankin</strong> County Sheriff’s Office,<br />
<strong>Rankin</strong> County Jail, Raising Canes and Ballet Mississippi.<br />
Northwest Art and Community class, under the instruction<br />
of Melissa Magee, painted canvases and pointe shoes for<br />
Ballet Mississippi. These beautiful pointe shoes will be<br />
auctioned off during Ballet Mississippi’s production of<br />
The Nutcracker <strong>December</strong> 1-3 at Thalia Mara Hall.<br />
Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 135
The CHALKBOARD<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS<br />
Puckett High<br />
Puckett Students Answer the Call to Serve<br />
Puckett High School, with the help of the community, has<br />
worked together to answer the call to serve. Every year, more<br />
and more families struggle to provide the necessities it takes to<br />
feed their families. In response to this ever-growing demand for<br />
help, the community of Puckett has stepped up to help feed<br />
those in need.<br />
This September, Puckett High School students participated<br />
in the WAPT Food for Families Canned Food Drive Challenge.<br />
As a thank you from the administration for their participation,<br />
compassion, and generosity, students were allowed to wear hats<br />
and even received an extra break for collecting non–perishable<br />
food donations which go to local food agencies to help the less<br />
fortunate.<br />
Puckett High School was challenged by McLaurin High<br />
School in a contest collect cans for the hungry. The winner was<br />
announced at the football game on Friday, September 22, at<br />
halftime. Puckett High School raised 12,041 cans over the week,<br />
while McLaurin raised 5,000 cans. Both schools’ generosity<br />
surpassed previous drives and had many students contemplating<br />
what else they could do for the less fortunate.<br />
This September’s community-centered event brought<br />
together more student involvement and an increased dedication<br />
to feeding families in need both in our schools and local<br />
communities. The students and administration enjoyed the<br />
event, and are excited to participate in more community<br />
outreach. As the Christmas season approaches, students are<br />
already stepping up to lend a helping hand during the season of<br />
giving. It is clear that these projects are having a real impact on<br />
the compassion of the students and the local community.<br />
136 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Pelahatchie<br />
Pelahatchie High School Takes State by Storm<br />
Pelahatchie High School has traveled all over Mississippi with<br />
several different school-related field trips. On October 20, the print<br />
journalism class went on a field trip to the MSPA Fall Convention<br />
at the University of Southern Mississippi. The students participated<br />
in several classes around the college that would help them better<br />
understand journalism. The classes targeted newspaper writing,<br />
broadcasting, and yearbook/pictures. There were individual classes<br />
for each subject arranged in several locations among the University of<br />
Southern Mississippi campus.<br />
There also was a trip to the Hinds Community College <strong>Rankin</strong><br />
campus for students who had at least a 3.5 GPA and who were<br />
Pisgah<br />
The <strong>2017</strong>-18 school year at Pisgah High is heralded by outstanding<br />
achievements, both academically and athletically. PHS has once again<br />
been recognized as a National Bronze Level School by U.S. News and<br />
World Report in its <strong>2017</strong> edition of Best High Schools. Pisgah has received<br />
this award every year since its inception in 2009. The award is given<br />
based on several factors, including state and AP assessment results,<br />
enrollment, graduation rates, and diversity. Overall, the honor is given<br />
to schools that best serve all of their students, including economically<br />
disadvantaged groups. Being a federal programs Title I school, one<br />
achievement in which Pisgah has long prided itself is reaching our<br />
diverse population of students and preparing each learner for college<br />
and career readiness. Attaining this award demonstrates that we<br />
continually strive toward and are meeting this goal.<br />
Athletically, Pisgah continues to be met with success on the court,<br />
trails, and field. The Lady Dragons volleyball team completed its most<br />
successful season in its brief history with 14 wins. The team finished<br />
3rd in their division and came in 2nd at the Warren Central Invitational.<br />
Our cross country team placed 1st in the <strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
Championship for Division 1A-3A. Seven participants competed<br />
in the state finals on Saturday, November 4th. Among them, Faith<br />
Ashley made the Region 3, Class 2A All-District Team. The Dragons<br />
also dominated in football as the District 6-2A champions for the<br />
second time in a row and the third time within the last four years.<br />
Our senior running back, Don Ragsdale, was named to The Clarion-<br />
Ledger’s Dandy Dozen. Ragsdale is the first player in PHS history to<br />
receive this award.<br />
Be sure to follow Pisgah High School on Facebook and Twitter as<br />
we continue to #breathefire and make this year our greatest yet.<br />
interested in the Hinds Honor Program. The students who<br />
attended were able to get an up close and personal look into a real<br />
college classroom. They also met several of the college instructors.<br />
The teachers had experiments laid out to give the students an idea<br />
of what college students do in each class.<br />
The J.R.O.T.C rifle team went to Brandon High School to<br />
participate in a district rifle competition. Although the students<br />
competed against some of the biggest schools in <strong>Rankin</strong> County<br />
(including Northwest <strong>Rankin</strong> and Brandon High) they brought<br />
home the second place trophy.<br />
Principal Dr. Bryan Marshall stated, “We are excited about these<br />
trips and feel they lead to better understanding of the world outside<br />
of our town.”<br />
Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 137
The CHALKBOARD<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS<br />
Discovery Christian<br />
The <strong>2017</strong>-18 school year has been very exciting for Discovery<br />
Christian School Athletics. Our school was founded in 2011, and<br />
athletics were not introduced until 2014. The programs grow<br />
stronger each year on our campus.<br />
In September, our girls’ soccer team earned the first program win<br />
in their two-year history and played our first home game on their<br />
new soccer field.<br />
Congratulations to the DCS junior varsity boys’ basketball team<br />
for their first win of the season on <strong>December</strong> 7th. November 7th<br />
was the first win ever for the varsity boys’ basketball team.<br />
Our cheer squad attended their first Universal Cheer Association<br />
camp this summer where they earned several awards. This<br />
fall they competed in the first cheer competition and represented<br />
our school well!<br />
We are very proud of our student athletes for the way they<br />
perform both in and out of competition. For more information<br />
about our school, visit discoverychristianschool.org.<br />
138 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
The CHALKBOARD<br />
RANKIN COUNTY SCHOOLS<br />
Hartfield<br />
Homecoming festivities were celebrated<br />
September 29th. Lochlan Clark was<br />
crowned the <strong>2017</strong> Homecoming Queen<br />
and was crowned by last year’s queen,<br />
Shelby Killough. Lochlan is the daughter<br />
of Ronnie and Ashley Clark. David Horner<br />
(right) presented the queen with flowers.<br />
Kylie Hawkins and Kaylee VanNorman<br />
were both selected to play in the MAIS<br />
All-Star Soccer game. They both played on<br />
the White team and won 5-1!<br />
Hartfield Academy’s <strong>2017</strong> Yearbook,<br />
The Legacy, was chosen as a finalist for<br />
Best Yearbook by the Mississippi Scholastic<br />
Press Association. Each year the yearbook<br />
staff, led by Tara Hall, pours countless<br />
hours and lots of creativity into making<br />
the yearbook an incredible representation<br />
of Hartfield.<br />
Congratulations to McKenzie Ragan,<br />
Aden Clark, and Nick Stinson for being<br />
recognized as Wendy’s Heisman Award<br />
winners! We are proud of your leadership<br />
in the classroom, on the field, and within<br />
the community!<br />
Congratulations to the Boys Cross Country<br />
team for winning first place in State and to<br />
Will Sullivan who won first place overall<br />
and is the individual boys state champion!<br />
Congratulations to our 4 students who<br />
placed FIRST in the C-Spire Coding<br />
Challenge yesterday and received $8,000<br />
in total scholarships!<br />
Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 139
The CHALKBOARD<br />
PEARL PUBLIC SCHOOLS<br />
Rouse Elementary<br />
Students at Rouse Elementary are joining other schools in our<br />
district on the forefront of technology! In recent years, technology<br />
such as iPad apps and computer websites have become more<br />
relevant to student lifestyles and resulted in students who are<br />
better prepared for their upcoming academic years.<br />
With this in mind, Rouse has decided to introduce Chromebook<br />
carts to our students. The carts have been a huge success!<br />
Teachers have been excited to research new ways to use Chromebooks<br />
in their classrooms. We have seen great results in students<br />
learning and they have made gains in their technological abilities.<br />
These kindergartners and 1st graders quickly rose above all<br />
expectations set before them. Chromebook has given teachers the<br />
unique opportunity to personalize each student’s account with<br />
apps and websites specifically fit to their individual learning needs.<br />
It also has the advantage of being kid-friendly and easy to navigate.<br />
Rouse students are now using Google Classroom to research<br />
historic events, build knowledge of science, and participate in class<br />
assignments given by their teachers. They are setting the bar for<br />
their peers, and the bar is only getting higher. Your next visit to<br />
Rouse Elementary may leave you even more impressed than before!<br />
140 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 141
Camille Anding<br />
The Time Coin<br />
You can count on it. There’s always<br />
a newspaper, TV, or magazine piece<br />
sharing tips on how to take the stress<br />
and hectic out of the Christmas holidays.<br />
I’ve read my share every year because every<br />
year seems to carry its own dose of frenzied<br />
shoppers, traffic headaches, and gluttonous schedules.<br />
Simplify! That’s what my conscience is already shouting – days<br />
before I take that disquieting safari up to the attic and to the boxes<br />
brimming with Christmas glitz. Who decided Christmas had to be<br />
packed in a box or wrapped in shiny paper? The origin of Christmas<br />
certainly doesn’t represent or model that pattern.<br />
Bethlehem had its crowds, but they weren’t shopping. They were<br />
there under official Roman orders to register in their city of origin. For<br />
Joseph and Mary, that meant a 70 mile trek over mountainous country,<br />
and add “great with child” to that picture.<br />
A warm, cozy lodging in a well-known inn would have totally<br />
removed the multitude of nativity crèches that most homes display<br />
since then, but the crowds arrived in advance of Joseph and Mary.<br />
With no reservations they found the only available shelter – with the<br />
stable animals.<br />
With Mary having labor pains, I can<br />
assure all that she wasn’t concerned about<br />
cleaning, dusting, and polishing for this blessed<br />
event. There were no lighted trees or storage<br />
boxes filled with snowmen, sleighs, and tangled<br />
lights. The only decoration was a brilliant star<br />
that marked the sacred birth, and the only guests were shepherds who<br />
had been invited by a host of singing angels in the night sky.<br />
In spell-bound wonder, they had left their flocks to see the newborn<br />
Savior in His manger crib. There were no refreshments or tasty treats<br />
for Mary to offer the shepherd guests. Worshipers are never concerned<br />
with physical food.<br />
When the family of three left Bethlehem, there were no boxes to<br />
pack, gifts to return, or half-price sales to chase. They were carrying<br />
Christmas with them, and in a brief lifetime, Jesus would offer Himself<br />
as the greatest gift ever given.<br />
I know I won’t celebrate Christmas without a Christmas tree or<br />
sharing fellowship with family and friends, but the simplicity and<br />
wonder of that first Christmas REALLY make me rethink my<br />
<strong>December</strong>. Christmas didn’t come in a box; it never will. n<br />
142 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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