Museum celebrates ‘grand re-opening’


Thursday, April 15, 2010
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Museum celebrates ‘grand re-opening’

Photo by Sue Watson

Field trip to museum

Ty Bolden (left) and Chase Warren, students at Heritage Christian Academy in Holly Springs, check out of one of the many displays at the Marshall County Historical Museum.

Senator Roger Wicker will be in Holly Springs Saturday, April 17, to cut the ribbon at the “grand re-opening” of the renovated Marshall County Historical Museum, which is also celebrating its 40th birthday.

“It will be a stellar day for the museum,” said Lois Swaney Shipp, museum curator. “We are thrilled that Senator Wicker will be here, and we will also be honoring our board of supervisors, because without them, we would not be here. The supervisors are men of vision who could see that the museum, which is all about the past, is really all about the future.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 11 a.m.

“The museum is like an industry and has become one of our most visible, main attractions for tourists and visitors,” Shipp said.

She said the contents of the museum are all from the county, except one, and since the move back to the renovated building, lovers of the museum have donated many of their treasures to add to the historical collections.

“Actually, we quit guessing at how many items we have displayed,” Shipp said. “Come see us. You will be glad you did.”

There is a fee at the door to benefit the museum.

Roger Wicker

Wicker, who represents Holly Springs and Marshall County in Washington, D.C., has had a lifetime of public service. Before election to the Senate, he served seven terms as a congressman. He served in the state Senate from 1987 to 1994.

As a member of the House of Representatives in Washington, Wicker served on the leadership team as deputy whip. In 2001, he was elected to the Republican Policy Committee and re-elected to that position in 2007.

He served on the powerful Appropriations Committee, a seat he landed as a freshman in 1995. He was a member of the Defense Subcommittee and in 2007 was named ranking minority member of the Military Construction/VA subcommittee. His responsibilities encompassed helping fund wide-ranging activities affecting veterans including health care, construction of VA facilities, pensions, and benefits as well as military construction projects in the United States and around the world.

Wicker has been a strong supporter of health care research, and cancer research. In 2003 he was presented the American Cancer Society Capitol Dome, an award for securing by-partisan support of cancer programs.

Wicker is involved in activities to spur economic development to bring jobs to Mississippi. His advocacy for programs such as the Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration has led to millions of dollars in private investment. He has received awards for “Manufacturing Excellence” in 2006 for support of pro-growth, pro-manufacturing excellence.

Photo by Sue Watson

Learning about county’s history

Recently touring the Marshall County Historical Museum from Heritage Christian Academy in Holly Springs are Kathy Jo Smith, Rooker Childers, Rylea Barrier, Noah Barrier, Kyle Davis, Ty Bolden, Chase Warren, Justin Holbrook, Hayley Yon, Shelby Culver, Aaron Yeats, Kyndall Jones, Rebecca Hundhausen, Cora Pope, Alle Yeats, Chloe Barrier, Katie Culver, B.J. Sanders, Toria Folsom, Dylan Bolden and Rachel Spoon.

He is a native of Pontotoc and is 58 years old. He received his BS degree and law degree from the University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, he served as the Associate Student Body president and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He served in the United States Air Force Reserves and retired in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1987 he became the first Republican elected to the state Senate from North Mississippi in the 20th century.

Wicker is married to the former Gayle Long of Tupelo. They have three children. He is very community-minded and belongs to the Community Development, the Lions Club, the First Baptist Church, where he sings in the choir and formerly served as chairman of the board of deacons.

Also attending the ceremony Saturday at the museumwill be General U.S. Grant and General Nathan Bedford Forrest (impersonators).

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