County extension office presents annual report

The Marshall County Extension Service presented a year of achievements in its annual accountability report to the board of supervisors.

Agent Janet Jolley retired this year and was replaced by Kelsey Martin, who works alongside Lemon Phelps. He introduced Martin and two forestry commission employees to the board.

Martin served as an agent in DeSoto County for three years as a family consumer agent and also worked with 4-H. She is married to Brody Martin, a Red Banks resident.

Phelps serves as county coordinator and as ag/natural resources agent. He also works with 4-H and is married to Nicole Phelps, newly appointed chancery clerk in Marshall County. They have one son, Lemon Xavian Phelps, a student at Millsaps College.

The agents have started a newsletter that will provide up-to-date information on events and activities and also seek ideas and suggestions from the public as “Marshall Minutes” or “Messages from Marshall County.”

The newsletter will go out twice a month and highlight five different programs, including agriculture and natural resources, community research and development, consumer science and 4-H news.

“It's really important to me so everyone sees what we are doing and so they can get involved if they want to,” Martin said.

Phelps touted the Master Gardeners program which last year provided a value in services estimated at $39,966.

“Master Gardeners did a lot of work in the county and took three awards,” he said.

Their work is showcased at the Rosenwald School, the Marshall County Fairgrounds and the Marshall County Library.

Mississippi Master Gardener Association board member and Northeast District Chairperson Donna Kovack will help start Pollinator Gardens which will be established over the state.

“It will be the first time publishing with somebody's name on it,” Phelps said.

A flower bed at Henry High School in Byhalia was built by Jan Sisk with the help of Master Gardeners.

District 3 supervisor Keith Taylor said the Barton Ladies Club wants to get involved more with Master Gardeners.

“It is a real good group and they feed real good, too,” Phelps said.

“Speaking of feeding, are you doing that this year?” asked District 1 supervisor Charles Terry.

“Not this year,” said Phelps. “We are still working with Head Start.” “Do you have adequate funding to go into the schools?” Taylor asked.

“Yes, Marshall County and the Board of Supervisors does a great job supporting us,” Phelps said.

“If it is ever an issue with not enough funding, there's always help,” Taylor said. “Byhalia Garden Club adopted flower pots and I sponsored two.

Lemon said Bobby McAlexander's son has qualified to go to national competitions in shooting sports this year.

Taylor asked where shooting practice takes place at the fairgrounds and Phelps said it is done in the very back, so no one should be disturbed by the 4-H'ers practice.

Marshall County Library report

Jane Heineke, with the library board of directors, and new library director Le'Chel Shannon reported to the board on activities since Shannon has taken the job as director.

Heineke praised Shannon for her knack for working with people.

“It has worked out wonderfully well for us,” Heineke said. “She is very good at supervising staff and working with programs.”

“We are bridging communities together,” Shannon said. “Libraries are safe places for children.”

Taylor asked if board members are showing up for meetings.

Heineke said the board was meeting every other month but will go to monthly meetings and some meetings may be zoomed.

District 4 supervisor George Zinn III asked if the WiFi at the library has a strong connection so the community can use it, say from the parking lot.

“The signal picks up very well and cell phones and laptops,” Shannon said. “I conducted my interviews on zoom at the library.”

Heineke said the Mississippi Library Commission in Jackson will visit the county to check the computers and progress.

Shannon said she was unable to find a place to stay in Holly Springs and is now commuting from New Albany.

“But don’t treat me as an outcast,” Shannon said.

She has a six-month lease while waiting for the housing shortage to ease in Holly Springs.