Tag boosts Blues Trail


Thursday, April 22, 2010
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Tag boosts Blues Trail

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photo by Sue Watson

Promoting the blues

Bobby Bonds proudly displays his new Blues Trail specialty tag. Suzann Williams, assistant director with the Holly Springs Tourism Bureau, joins Bonds in calling attention to the program.

The Mississippi Blues Foundation is spearheading the introduction and issuance of a new Mississippi specialty license plate to highlight the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The money raised by this specialty tag goes to support the Mississippi Blues Trail markers project. Holly Springs has one blues trail marker at the corner of College Avenue and North Center Street downtown.

The specialty tags are available for order through the Marshall County Tax Collector’s Office.

The reason for the tag is twofold, according to Luther Brown, chairman of the Blues Foundation.

“We currently have funding for 119 markers, but our wish list has grown to more than 180 sites that we think are worthy of being designated as a stop on the Blues Trail,” Brown said. “We also want the visibility of the tags on the highway, so people will have reminders about our blues heritage.”

Rep. Willie Bailey from District 49 was instrumental in getting the tag design approved and passed in the Legislature last year, and the State Tax Commission is now producing the specialty plate. The extra fee will be $31 for this special car tag with $24 going directly to the Blues Trail marker program.

“I know firsthand that the money raised by the plates will be of great help,” said Stephane Movre, director of the Holly Springs Tourism Bureau. “Each trail marker costs a total of $4,000 each. This is sure to help us acquire all four markers slated for Marshall County.

“Our first marker was paid for through donations as well as a charity concert with help from the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic Non-Profit Organization.”

The Mississippi Blues Foundation is a support organization made up of a diverse group of business and community leaders. The role of this group is to identify and secure sources of financial and programmatic support for the work of the Mississippi Blues Commission.

Approximately 100 Blues Trail markers have been unveiled to date, and the audio/video components for the markers are in the process of being developed, which will add a new level of interest.

Greenwood’s Wanda Clark, Mississippi Blues Trail project coordinator, said, “The foundation’s interest in taking on this project is wonderful. Besides adding funding to this program, it will be a reminder of the blues heritage our state possesses every time someone sees the license plate.”

For more information on the Mississippi Blues Trail go to www.msbluestrail.org.

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