Smoke Signals and other news
My husband Doug celebrated his 82nd birthday on Saturday, Aug. 19. Spending your birthday in a skilled nursing facility is not the best thing in the world, but we made the best of it. He had requested a “vanilla” cake with strawberry frosting. That was easy. He was surprised that some family and friends came to his birthday celebration. There was cake and ice cream to share and some of the staff joined us, and of course, a few presents that mainly consisted of snack foods for his stay. He was surprised and happy. He is slowly recovering.
Our community is greatly saddened by the untimely loss of Lisa Dalton in such a tragic accident. The family laid her to rest on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Please pray for the family, especially those critically injured in the accident, and continue on the road to recovery. An account is set up for the Dalton family to help with expenses at the Bank of Holly Springs Byhalia branch.
Thursday of this week marks the last of the Market Festival hosted by the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet. The festival is from 5 p.m. To 8 p.m. And offers something for everyone. Admission is free.
Something to consider: When you release “in memory of” balloons, they usually end up in a field with livestock. Young calves or goats will chew/eat on them, which can cause intestinal blockage or even cause them to choke. Wildlife can become tangled in the strings, causing them to be unable to move or strangling them. I understand the sentiment behind releasing them and have even participated in releasing such balloons, but there are other options:
• Planting a flower garden.
• Planting a tree and watching it grow.
• Hosting an “In Memory” celebration without releasing balloons.
In partnership with Northcentral Electric, the Silicon Ranch is constructing a new solar project near French Road. Silicon Ranch invited the public to come and learn more about this project and what it will mean for the city of Byhalia. The meeting was held Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Byhalia Event Center on 28 Chase Street. Our beloved Thistledome is hosting an estate sale of some of their beautiful antiques on August 25, 26, and 28 from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m. And August 27 from 12:30 p.m. To 3 town to see this wonderful home and event center sell the many antiques they have collected and the building itself. If you are in the market for any beautiful antiques, go by and collect a treasure.
The following account of General Van Dorn’s raid was printed in the December 22, 1960 issue of The South Reporter and written initially by the late Prof. J. G. Dupree, a member of the First Mississippi Cavalry and a participant in the engagement.
On the night of December 19, 1862, Van Dorn’s troopers halted within five miles of Holly Springs, dismounted, and in grim silence and without fires, stood holding their horses, ready to mount at a moment’s notice. Before daylight, an order was passed along the column to mount and form fours in the road. It was the day for the First Mississippi to lead McCulloch’s brigade. Lieutenant S. B. Day commanded the advance guard of 20 men. Orders were given to move forward on two roads at a gallop, to capture the pickets or follow them so closely that no alarm could precede us. All appreciated the wisdom of the order, and it was obeyed with alacrity. The First Mississippi were to enter Holly Springs from the northeast, charge through the infantry camp without halting to fight or receive any surrenders, but attack the cavalry as soon as discovered. The Second Missouri were to dismount at the edge of town, charge on foot and capture or disperse any infantry encountered. Ross’ Texans were to approach from the east, coming in by the railroad station, and thus prevent any reinforcements from surprising us in that direction; also, a detachment of Texans was to go south and watch the Abbeville road--more next week.
Please share your news with me at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901 246-8843. You can message me on Facebook as Clair Wagg.