 
Wilson elected to Mississippi Tourism Board of Directors
Wilson elected to Mississippi Tourism Board of Directors
JACKSON, Miss. -- Bob Wilson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA), has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA). Wilson will serve as Vice President of Tourism Related Industry for the 2010-2011 year term.
The 2010-2011 MTA Officers include:
President-Kim Thomas, Harrah's Tunica
Vice President-Kim Terrell, DeSoto County Tourism Association
Secretary/Treasurer-Kappi Allen, Coahoma County Tourism Commission
VP Accommodations-Lyn Fortenbery, Dunleith Historic Inn
VP Restaurants and Attractions-Rochelle Hicks, Ridgeland Tourism Commission
VP Tourist Information-Tonja Ray-Smith, Yazoo City CVB
VP Tourism Related Industry- Bob Wilson, MMSA
VP Casino Industry-Leslie Barfield, IP Resort and Casino
VP Legislative Affairs-Beau Whittington, Convention Display
VP Education-Terry Watkins, Pearl River Resort and Casino
Area I-Hills-Mary Kathryn Milner, Oxford CVB
Area II-Delta-Wesley Smith, Greenville Washington County CVB
Area III-Pines-Suzy Johnson, Meridian Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau
Area IV-Capitol/River-Wanda Wilson, Jackson CVB
Area V-Coastal-Kristie Fairley, Visit Hattiesburg
At Large-Anne Coggins, Tunica CVB
Wilson has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience. He has been with MMSA since 1998 and has served as Executive Director since 2005.
Wilson currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Trust Main Street Coordinators and was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour to the 2009-2010 Delta Leadership Institute. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Heritage Hills Area Alliance, Mississippi Heritage Trust, Munistrategies and Downtown Jackson Partners.
Wilson is married to Lisa Robins Wilson, and they are the proud parents of 17 year-old daughter Storey Kate and 15 year-old son Will Carter.
Mississippi Blues Trail License Plates now Available
Blues Plate Promo Sheet
INDIANOLA, MS - After working for almost two years to get Mississippi Blues Trail license plates approved by the state legislature, pre-sold to meet the required minimum, in production, and available at the local tax assessors' offices, members of the Mississippi Blues Foundation can finally see the fruits of their labor. "We had a Blues Trail marker unveiling in Benoit this week, and it was a great feeling to see several vehicles there with the new tags," said Janet Webb, a member of the Miss. Blues Foundation. Luther Brown, who is also a member of the Blues Foundation and a major proponent of the license plates, attended the unveiling and echoed the sentiments of Webb. They explained that it had not necessarily been an easy sell early on when they were trying to get people to commit to purchase a tag, not knowing exactly when they would reach the magic number of 200 to satisfy the minimum requirement. There were also people who wanted to wait until closer to the time that their current tags would expire.
These specialty tags cost $31 extra, with $24.50 of that going to the Miss. Blues Commission to help fund its projects, including aid for older musicians as well as helping with expenses of the Miss. Blues Trail marker program. Brown, who is the director of the Delta Center at Delta State University, conducts many bus and blues tours throughout the year and knows how important the exposure of the Blues Trail is to visitors to the state. "It's like a miniature billboard," Brown said. "Someone may see the tag and start asking questions about the Trail, and it gives us a great opportunity to tell the person about our musical heritage and how proud we are of that," he continued.
Now that the license plates are in production, anyone interested in having one can order it from their tax assessor's office. It typically takes from seven to ten days to receive it after the order is placed. Webb thinks that the final product was worth the wait. "I've had many people call me and tell me how proud they are to finally have it on their car," she said.
Mural adds vibrant view in Louisville
By Joseph McCain
The Winston County Journal
When drivers enter Louisville and stop at the red lights on Church and Main Street, a vision of Winston County life should capture each person's
attention with the recently completed mural on the side of Becky's Antiques building.
"It has brought a new life and new meaning to the downtown area," said Linda Skelton of the Winston County Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Association. The idea for the mural was borne from the Winston County Chamber of Commerce/Main Street design committee and a push from community leaders to enrich downtown.
The design and artisans behind the mural- Rebecca Ashley, Amanda Taylor and Susan Ard- did not settle for painting on a scene of life in Louisville. They created a design that pulls in diverse parts of the community.
"It has been a real morale booster," said Skelton "This positive creation carries over into all aspects of our community."
Skelton noted that the shoppers on Ladies Nite Out appeared to happier and more into the season as they shopped downtown and checked out the mural.
Rebecca Ashley involved the idea of steel into the mural creating a steel bench, lamp pole, pine trees to add to the 3D effect of the art as well as
to illustrate the idea of the steel industry in Winston County. The pine trees illustrate the wood related industries of the community. The metal
portions of the mural also allow the artists to add to the creation by placing seasonal art pieces onto the metal.
"So many people want to see it (the mural) evolve," said Ashley.
The seasonal adaptation idea was first inspired by Louisville Mayor Will Hill who wanted a way to make the mural fresh as often as possible.
With that possibility, the artists ran with the idea and created Christmas ornaments for the holiday season and have many future creations denoting the
passing of time in mind for the mural.
"Anything positive for the community is great especially in these economic times," said Mayor Hill. Hill along with many others in the community have reacted positively to the mural.
"The reactions have been 99 percent positive," said Amanda Taylor. "I'm really proud of it."
"It has been so encouraging to me since so many people have said 'thank you'," added Taylor. "It makes you want to do something else."
The positive reactions and the creative mural has sparked other ideas and persons in the community as well.
"It has fired us up and I think fired up the community," added Ashley.
The design committee is examining future projects.
"We are open to suggestions on future projects," said Ashley. "We may not be able to afford to implement but we will try."
The committee hopes to create a color scheme for downtown, complete the toppers in the downtown area, and create an attention-getter that helps
bring drivers and shoppers from the bypass into downtown.
"I'm proud of what we have accomplished," said Ashley. "To see a problem and get involved and be part of the solution really serves the community."
"I take this project and the ideas for improving Winston County seriously," added Taylor. "It is awesome to be part of our community's history."
The seriousness with which the artists took the project can be verified with the amount of time each invested and the support each sought for the
project.
"We have had so much support," said Taylor. The three artists spent about 55 hours each on the project. Taylor explained even when not seen outside painting the three were working on project such as washing brushes, planning each piece, creating the seasonal pieces and much more. While time consuming, each of the committee felt reward from the project.
"I plan on spending my life, raising my children and hopefully my grandchildren in our community; so anything positive I do is an investment in a brighter future for our community," said Taylor.
And noted she is excited about the possibility of future projects for the group after completing the mural.
Ashley encouraged volunteerism among Winston Countians since it will reward the community and the person.
Taylor added that some can afford monetary donations and other can donate their time or talents.
Ashley and Taylor noted their families also played such an important role of support and helping with the project as well. The support came in the form
of lots of volunteer time and donations.
"Susan (Ard) has been a real workhorse with the project as well," said Taylor.
While the Stew Stomp committee of the Winston County Chamber of Commerce provided $500 of seed money to the project, Skelton noted that without the
generous donations of the community, businesses and volunteers the project could not have been completed. The mural and the new d?cor for the old meter
poles were designed to go in conjunction with one another.
The Jewel Shoppe also plans to create and release in the spring special Winston County Charms in a series. A portion of the proceeds will go to the
design committee's future projects.
Skelton thanked all those involved with special mentions for Andre McDaniel, Haley Ward, Billy Allen, Karen and Boyd Allen, city engineer Kenny Morris,
Mike Cournoyer, Temtco, Dale Cagle, James Ashley, Robert Taylor, The Taylor Group, Becky and Phil Lowery, the Stew Stomp Committee, Mary Snow, Bennett's Do It Center, and many more.
Former parking meters change into city art
By Joseph McCain
The Winston County Journal
Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Association "top off" old parking meters with new artist creation.
"We realized the old parking meter poles were a detriment to the visual landscape," said Linda Skelton of the Winston County Chamber of Commerce.
Gerald Mills, Winston County Economic Development Director, mentioned turning them into some type of creative display.
Mike Cournoyer, president of the Chamber of Commerce Board, along with members of the design committee ran with the idea.
The Chamber and Main Street Association then enlisted the talents of new Winston County businessman Kevin Whitehead of Ole South Metal Art to create
the "toppers" for the former parking meter poles.
"We expect these (the toppers) to become even more noticed with so many persons shopping downtown during the holidays,? said Skelton.
The first design Whitehead created are based upon the downtown monument and the first three were placed on meters in front of the Strand Theatre across
from the new downtown mural.
One future design will focus on the idea of a Stew Pot since the Stew Stomp Committee provided the seed money for the pole toppers and the mural in
downtown Louisville. The Stew Stomp is held each November and has raised money to reinvest in the community through ticket and shirt sales.
Skelton noted that businesses and persons may also make a $68 donation in honor or memory of someone to have one of the toppers placed on the
remaining 11 posts in the community. A small plaque denoting the donation in memory or in honor of will also be placed on the pole. The Winston County
Journal has donated to have three of the posts decorated on Court Street.
Hundreds Brave Cold for Sesquicentennial Celebration in Senatobia
Hundreds Brave Cold for Sesquicentennial Celebration in Senatobia
Despite the persistence of snow on the ground from a surprise snowfall earlier in the week, and temperatures well below-average, several hundred people gathered outside Senatobia City Hall in February to wish the city a happy birthday.
School children and centenarians alike bundled up to see the unveiling of the official city flag, a laser-cut sculpture, and a commemorative quilted wall hanging.
Senatobia Mayor Alan Callicott welcomed those in attendance, and later presented a proclamation recognizing the city’s 150th birthday which he and the Board of Aldermen had previously signed.
Although several had been in attendance at the city’s Centennial celebration in 1960, only one - 103-year-old Elise Veazey - had been alive when the city turned 50 years old.
A Sesquicentennial Wall Hanging was presented by Chantay Rhone and Doris Schultz, two members of the Patches and Pieces Quilting Club. The piece was later hung in the lobby of City Hall.
Dr. Brant Kairit, chairman of the Celebrate Senatobia committee, along with Ben and Cynthia DeLap of CPF in Arkabutla, unveiled a laser-cut Sesquicentennial Sign. The piece is affixed to the front wall of City Hall. Kairit also said that Northwest Mississippi Community College and Chromcraft had assisted with the project.
Former Judge Melvin McClure presented a brief history of Senatobia which he had researched. The presentation was given without his overcoat, just as he said William Henry Harrison had delivered his inaugural address in 1841.
A Sesquicentennial Flag, designed by local graphic artist Kevin Pitts, was also unveiled and raised in front of City Hall.
Once the presentations were done, the crowd moved inside City Hall, where Penny’s Pantry had provided refreshments and Franklin’s Florist had donated floral arrangements.
Standing out from the crowd were several ladies and young girls dressed in vintage clothing. Some of the dresses had originally been worn during the city’s Centennial celebration in 1960.
Several other commemorative events will be planned throughout the year. For more photos of Senatobia's Sesquicentennial Celebration, click here.
By Melissa Turner
News Editor
The Democrat
219 E. Main Street, Senatobia, MS 38668
662-562-4414 ex. 13
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Club Ebony
Indianola has two blues venues, the historic Club Ebony, “Home of the Blues” and the innovative 308 Blues Club and Cafe, which hosts blues, rock, country, and hip-hop acts. |
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