Thursday, January 27, 2011
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Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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Malone presents state of town By SUE WATSON
Byhalia Mayor Phil Malone was guest speaker at the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce’s membership luncheon in January. He introduced the town board and city department heads and clerks and gave a 20-point list of accomplishments the town is proud of. Malone, who served two terms as president of the chamber, praised the work done so well on behalf of businesses and the city by the organization. “My heart runs deep when you talk about the chamber,” he said. “They do the town so well, the county so well and the state so well.” Sharing some positive thoughts before going into his list of accomplishments, Malone used some good ideas he gathered from a gift calendar from Mary Peebles, director with Trinity Missions Health & Rehab of Great Oaks. ‘Together we achieve the extraordinary.’ “We all do that for Byhalia,” he said. ‘Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.’ ‘The greatest pleasure in life is to do the things that people say you cannot do.’ Malone said he believes the board and mayor all want the same thing for the town. He recognized town leaders, thanking each for the great job they do. A few recent accomplishments the mayor said all could be proud of included: • audits completed in the last 15 months covering years 2006, 2007, and 2008. He said the audits were needed and should help the town get grants. • contracted grass mowing for places like the cemetery and park. Brunswick Park has added a gazebo, new sod and landscaping. • held a mini-Relay For Life - Byhalia’s first Relay. • conducted Main Street Charrettes. • built an outside basketball court, benches and other items at the park on Fuller Street. • repaired swings, painted and made other improvements at the walking track. • made improvements at the cemetery. • widened Ball Park Road and replaced water lines. The town hopes to resurface the road this year. • cleaned up around the old brick plant. • bought new police cars, installed a new flagpole at Brunswick Park and installed 25 new Christmas banners for the town’s first Christmas parade in a long time in December. • opened a WIN Job Center at the library. • welcomed a number of new businesses, including Home Health First, Crafts Pallet Company, Encore Propane, and added a new dental clinic and doctor at Northeast Mississippi Healthcare. • turned maintenance of Highway 309 through Byhalia over to the State of Mississippi. “So we do have a little growth going on,” Malone said. “The board of supervisors has worked with the town to get some STP (surface transportation program) money for reworking Stonewall Road west of Highway 309. I hope you take this information and become proud you are affiliated with this unique town. I want you to be proud to say, ‘I live in Byhalia, Marshall County and the State of Mississippi.’ ” Several mottos and slogans Malone said he likes are: ‘Byhalia, No Place Like Home’ and ‘Let’s Give ’Em Something to Talk About.’ ”
New chamber president Leah Grant presented a plaque of appreciation for dedicated leadership to Bobbie Matthews, with Matthews Liquor, who served on the board from 2008-2010. Dorothy Young, with Citizens Bank, was welcomed as a new board member. Pat Woods presented a brief commercial for the chamber which he said was originated by Wayne Hollowell, former Northcentral Electric manager, and others in 1985 or 1986. Hollowell called a group of Byhalians to a meeting and suggested the town organize a chamber, he said. “I got the opportunity to be on the first board about 20 years ago and was president from 1991-1992,” Woods said. “Y’all don’t know how humbling it was to get this many people together. Ann Walker was the first president and we had Jean Burrow there pushing us all the way. “I would like the board to try to write down the history of the chamber and its accomplishments, presidents and board members. Wayne always said, ‘Don’t make any killer statements and don’t talk bad about our town.’ ” The chamber quarterly luncheon was held at a new business, Craw De Lis Restaurant, 21 Vinson Road behind Tony’s Discount (Highway 178 West). Co-hosts for the luncheon were Southern Pride Sod Farm, Byhalia, and Kent Mathis with UBS Financial Services, 1717 W. Massey, Memphis, Tenn. Mathis introduced the chamber’s two fund-raisers that let people honor their friends, family or associates and also help provide support for the chamber. “The little plaques are available and can be purchased to be put up on the wall inside the chamber office.” Walk of Honor bricks are available for $75 each and will be installed in the walk outside the chamber office. “Honor a friend, a pet, a loved one or a business,” he said. Friday, Feb. 25, is a day to mark on your calendar to help support Byhalia Beautiful and Byhalia Main Street Association. The event is 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Craw De Lis Restaurant and features music, raffles, gift basket auction, dancing, beverages, favors, and King and Queen Costume Contest. Call 662- 838-8127 for reservations. |
       
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