A good place to be
I met so many wonderful people at two press events last week. The Byhalia Chamber Main Street luncheon held at Northcentral Electric Cooperative Thursday and Friday’s event at Rust College celebrating $1.5 million from the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was revealed, at both events, how local businesses, citizens, local and state officials are deeply involved in Marshall County.
Thursday, on the campus of Northcentral Electric Cooperative, I noticed the beautiful flowers and shrubbery walking into the meeting. The venue was filled with many dignitaries, businessmen and women. Sue Watson, staff writer, and I entered the room and started handing out the newspaper, The South Reporter, as we walked around the relaxed setting and taking photos too.
Before I sat down I decided to take one more photo at a table that was close. The ladies sitting at the table were from Maddox Foundation Volunteer Center and the Community Foundation. The Maddox Foundation Volunteer Center/MS Northwest HUB is a program of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. This group works hard and makes a difference in the community by assisting organizations and businesses in developing successful programs that offers meaningful, effective volunteer opportunities. The ladies sitting at the table were Olivia Zeringue and Stacye Trout, both with the Community Foundation, Kara Dulaney, with the Maddox Volunteer Center and Brenda Smith, MS Northwest HUB.
Sarah Sawyer, director of Byhalia Chamber Main Street, welcomed everyone and Kevin Doddridge, CEO of Northcentral Electric Cooperative, was the guest speaker.
The Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson and his team prepared a delicious catfish meal with all the trimmings. Everyone enjoyed.
On Friday morning Rust College’s event was held at Mississippi Industrial College campus. It was a celebration of funding to restore the historic buildings Carnegie Auditorium and Booker T. Washington Hall. It is anticipated it will take $10 million to complete restoration of Washington Hall and $14 million to restore Carnegie Auditorium.
Many people attended even though rain was in the forecast. Many public officials, local business owners and Mississippi Industrial College and Rust College alumni were in attendance at this historic event.
Jesse Edwards, MI College Alumni Association spoke of his memories on MI campus. “I was nurtured here. I learned how to learn here,” he said. He holds four college degrees.
Special guest were U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Mississippi Representative John Faulkner, and State Senator Neil Whaley, Holly Springs Mayor Sharon Gipson, and Charles Terry, a member of the Marshall County Board of Supervisors.
Terry noted during when he spoke “Marshall County is not a good place to be from, it’s a good place to be in.”