Smoke Signals and other news
The Byhalia Garden Club’s Annual Arbor Day celebration will be held Friday, Feb. 10, at 10:30 a.m. in the old school auditorium at 161 Highway 309. Guest speakers will be the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Michael Hatcher, who has provided a full range of landscape services throughout north Mississippi. This free event is open to the public.
In writing articles for The South Reporter and especially the Profile Edition, I have learned to be aware that everyone has a story. It may not be one they want to share, or it may not be exciting, but it is their story. For instance, a friend recently passed away, and at the funeral, I learned he was a Prison of War (POW), and while he was a POW, he only ate rice. After hearing the story, I understand why he never allowed rice in their home.
Little Moo’s Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening will be Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m.
Due to the Town of Byhalia diverting rainwater to prevent flooding, resident Josie Thomas is happy to report that she didn’t have any flooding on her property after the rain.
Bailey Place is a newly renovated local Airbnb located in the historic district of Byhalia. The historic home was built on September 11, 1928. Originally it was a doctor’s office that had separate living quarters.
If you know me, you know I am going to talk baseball. Signups are underway in Byhalia and Holly Springs, all of which are Marshall County Sports Association members. Yes, you will travel to these towns for some of your games. The distance between the two furthest fields is about a twentyminute drive. However, there are benefits to traveling this short distanceyou have more teams to play, you and your child will meet people you would never have had the opportunity to meet, and you can explore towns you may have never seen. You will drive for all practices and games if you sign up in another location. For your information, a child can play anywhere you choose, but if they are not signed up in the community
where they would go to the local high school, they will not be eligible to go to allstars.
Miranda Boothman, owner of The Trap Glam Boutique, said she has been in St. Louis with her dad for the last few months as he went through his first round of chemotheraphy and going through testing, and herself, to see if she is a match to be a donor for him. In her absence, construction on the salon has been a little slow-moving, but she hopes to be in town this week to get everything ready for the final inspection. She anticipates opening soon.
Many of you have heard horror stories about the service at the driver’s license center in Olive Branch. I misplaced my driver’s license recently, and since it was almost time to renew, I decided to do that. I hesitated going to Olive Branch but decided to try them. I went online and made an appointment. I arrived on time, went in and completed a simple form, and settled in for the wait. Amazingly, I was back in my truck in less than fifteen minutes with a new license. Every employee I encountered was pleasant and efficient.
The Byhalia history lesson continues. The tone set by these early God-fearing pioneers was to prevail for many years. Large families were the norm, with marriage at earlier age. Religion, family, and a close-knit social order of a conservative, but generous nature, developed and matured as the town grew. Courting was restricted to as far as the horse or buggy would allow and during respectable hours. Therefore, as marriages occurred between families, a tighter bond developed. It remains a wise policy to speak no evil of a Byhalian, as one may be talking to a relative. The town of Byhalia gave attention to maintaining the roads. It was so important for commerce. Since the Pigeon Roost Road to Memphis was often impassable during wet weather, a stock company built a plank road about three miles west of the town. With plentiful white oak lumber available, all required was time and labor. However, toll gates were not well received by many local citizens who knew of another dirt road off Collierville Road that turned north and led to Memphis. Soon it became known as “Shun Pike Road,” as there were no toll gates, and allowed the one on Pigeon Roost Road to be “shunned.” Weather and the Civil War eventually destroyed this plank road.
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