First National Bank Now FNB Oxford

MichaelHarrelson — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:01:42 +0000

FNB Oxford, a local community bank which began in Oxford in 1910, has a fresh new look.

The former First National Bank of Oxford recently underwent a bank charter conversion, changing from a national bank to a state-chartered bank. As part of the conversion, new signage recently went up at all of FNB's Oxford locations. FNB Oxford President and CEO Johnny Barrett said the bank's name is the only thing that is changing for customers. "FNB Oxford has been, and will continue to be, a local bank that serves local interests. We think that knowing customers well and knowing markets well is a great benefit for a local bank." Most importantly, Barrett added, "We believe that our local knowledge helps our customers. With the banking climate changing, our Board and management felt that a local regulator, that is very familiar with our markets, would similarly serve us better. "We believe this conversion to a state charter will allow FNB Oxford to continue providing quality banking products and services to our customers into the future." In keeping with its community bank tradition, fresh popcorn still will be offered at the bank on Fridays.

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Whirlpool Trails Closed for Repairs Starting May 28

Hillary Houston — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:00:48 +0000

The University of Mississippi has announces plans to repair the Whirlpool trails next week. Beginning Tuesday morning May 28th, the repairs are expected to take five days to complete. A sign will be posted at the major entry points notifying the public of trail's temporary closure. Once the work has been completed, signs will be removed and the trails will be reopened.

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Camp Lake Stephens Readies for Summer

MichaelHarrelson — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:43:11 +0000

Staff members and volunteers are in a scramble to ready Camp Lake Stephens for the first of 1500 campers who will arrive next week for the camping season which goes through the end of July. Lake Stephens is operated by the United Methodist Church on property located on 150 acres south of Oxford. The camp includes housing, dining, meeting, and activity facilities as well as a Olympic size pool and spring feed lake. While staffers such as Joel Garrott, an Ole Miss junior from Senatobia, and Morgan Tubbs, senior at Mississippi State from Cleveland, huddled about the property making opening week program plans, Oxford Boy Scouts were busy erecting and painting directional signs. Gage Dorris collected members of Troop 45 to complete his Eagle Scout project before opening week. Lake Stephens offers a wide range of programs for students from first grade through senior year, including elementary, junior and senior high camps. Mini-camps, day camps, and camps for mentally challenged students are also offered. Older campers make side trips for back packing at the Sipsey Wilderness Park in Alabama; rafting, fly fishing, rock climbing, kayaking and tubing at various Mid-South locations, including Arkansas’ noted Buffalo River. For additional information, visit www.camplakestephens.com or call 662-234-3350.

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A Passion for Puppies

AdamBrown — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:26:19 +0000

Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society employee, Megan Walker, has a passion for taking care of puppies at home and at work. After attending the University of Mississippi, Walker started working at the humane society, and for the past two years has been saving puppies’ lives. Walker welcomes in puppies to the humane society everyday as she treats them as her own, showing attention and caring for them. The love and passion Walker shows these dogs at work carries over to her life at home. Walker owns five dogs, three of the five dogs come from the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society after she offered to shelter the dogs herself to avoid euthanization. The puppies that come in and out of the humane society touch Walker’s heart, as she still takes dogs home regularly to avoid euthanization. Walker works hard in her free time to promote the adoption of these puppies, if it was up to her, she would keep them all.

This video was filmed by John Chicoli, a student in Mikki Harris's 375 Photojournalism class in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at Ole Miss.

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Baseball Fans; Who Are You Rooting For?

AdamBrown — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:41:46 +0000

Good mornin’! Good mornin’! Mine was a Macgregor blue baseball glove that I bought from Western Auto in Indianola. Chris Stauffer still asks me about it. It’s probably still in my boyhood closet hidden with other timeless treasures in my old room. Hot Wheels cars, my gold aluminum bat and my electronic football game – all priceless items that helped mold my youth. And growing up in the Delta we had a baseball team in Inverness – minor league and little league and later pony league. We traveled to such exotic locales as Isola, Sunflower, Moorhead and Parchman. Yes, the little hamlet that houses the state’s most inhumane criminals. We bought Nabs and cokes in the women’s quarters and for some reason we were never scared. I guess we just didn’t know any better or had faith in the guards’ aim. We won about as many as we lost, had fun, learned the game and I even made All-Star once at third base though I had been a shortstop before fleet-footed and now Dr. Asa Bennett moved to town. I did once catch a line drive from Moorhead’s Lenny Chisolm that “pert near” burned a hole in my hand. I even pitched but my ERA is not printable due to its hideousness and the number is so large there’s not enough room here. And I remember playing catcher once and only once when my cousin Mark Aycock, a hard throwing left-hander was on the mound when we hosted Parchman. Now some guys went on to play high school and at the moment I can’t recall any that made it to the college level, though while in college I met some Delta guys who were great players. Tony Banks from Greenwood comes to mind. He was a legend and later transferred his skills to the softball field. But our great state has produced and – by the looks of it today – is mass producing all-star baseball talent – and attracting it. Mississippi State has always been a hotbed for diamond talent. Back in the 1940s, Shaw native Dave “Boo” Ferriss graduated from MSU, got drafted by the Army and the Red Sox and pitched until a shoulder injury ended his career on the mound. So he came home and pulled a Kevin Costner probably before Costner was ever born. He built a baseball field and program in Cleveland at Delta State out of a soybean field. Now the best college player in the state gets a trophy that has Boo's last name on it. They’ll award that on Monday over at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. There’s a couple of Rebels, a Golden Eagle, a Bulldog and a Statesmen vying for the treasured trophy. Now as a freelance writer my favorite thing to write about is sports. And I get to track down some legends mixed in with soon to be someday legends from high school to JUCO, Division I, II and III schools. One of my favorites was and still is Jack Reed from Silver City. He went to Ole Miss and played football and baseball and was drafted by the Yankees and backed up Mickey Mantle. He came home to farm and would speak at athletic banquets and get-togethers. He’s the reason I became a Yankees fan. Here’s a link to my feature on him if you’re interested, http://bit.ly/gL2eQQ. And I could go on and on and on…and on some more if we started trying to list the talent that has come out of the Magnolia State. This site, http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/birthplace.php?loc=Mississippi, has a great list of Mississippi born players. Nowadays, I have the privilege to cover Delta State baseball. This season they’ve been ranked as the number one team for almost the entire season. Now at 43-9-1, they are playing in the South Regional in Tampa, Fla. in the Division II Championship. It’s a double elimination tournament and the winner gets to go to Cary, NC next week to represent the South Region in the Division II World Series. DSU plays tonight at 6:00 p.m. CT against West Florida. Yeah, they’ve won the whole thing before – they’ve won a lot since Boo plowed up the bean field. Check out www.gostatesmen.com to listen to their play-by-play and SID main man, Matt Jones. Oh, how much have they won? This much: NCAA National Championships: 2004 NCAA Regional Championships: 1968, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2012 Gulf South Conference Championships: 1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012 Now they aren’t the only school in the state winning these days. In Division III, Millsaps is in the postseason mix. The Majors won the first round Wednesday night but lost in the second round to number four ranked Salisbury, 11-5. So the Majors will be playing today at 7:00 p.m. Let's get out some rally caps! (Psst – I’m a 7-5/8 fitted). The team is 35-12 now overall – hey, I almost went to school there. If you want to know more about them, check out www.gomajors.com. And from getting a glimpse at the high school – both private and public – there will be plenty of great talent to keep every school in Mississippi supplied with great talent for years to come. I know Division I is still in regular season and will soon be working their way to Omaha for their World Series but if you need a good fix for some great baseball, don’t wait – put on some green or grab you some purple and get behind some incredible teams. If you have a college team that’s doing well, give me the info in the comment section or if you have a favorite player from Mississippi or who may have played at a Mississippi college, I’d like to hear about them too. Oh, and just one question… “Who You Rootin’ Foh!” And I’d always 'preciate your comments here or over at Facebook or you can tweet me @markhstowers or click on my name and email me….see yah next week!

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Kala Marie Waltman at Music in the Hall

TadWilkes — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:03:15 +0000

Oxford songstress sings 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?'

Music in the Hall is a grass roots music series of intimate pocket concerts, based in Oxford, Mississippi, and hosted by Daniel Morrow since November 2008. HD digital downloads and DVDs are available for purchase, but all content displayed on the Music in the Hall site is free. Among the newest releases of MITH shows is this clip of Kala Marie Waltman, accompanied by Damein Wash, performing “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” on December 21, 2012. The full holiday set includes Tate Moore, Damein Wash, and Duex Filles de Sangin and is available at the Music in the Hall site. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga9ETrvnMOE&list=UUrtj7EZt5X9b-RFEecyk9bA&index=4

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Studies Show Processed Meats Can Cause Cancer

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:01:27 +0000

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has completed a detailed review of more than 7,000 clinical studies covering links between diet and cancer. Bottom line: Processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption. Consumers should stop buying and eating all processed meat products for the rest of their lives. Processed meats include bacon, sausage, hot dogs, sandwich meat, packaged ham, pepperoni, salami and virtually all red meat used in frozen prepared meals. They are usually manufactured with a carcinogenic ingredient known as sodium nitrite.2 This is used as a color fixer by meat companies to turn packaged meats a bright red color so they look fresh. Unfortunately, sodium nitrite also results in the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines in the human body. And this leads to a sharp increase in cancer risk for those who eat them. A 2005 University of Hawaii study found that processed meats increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 67 percent.3 Another study revealed that every 50 grams of processed meat consumed daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent.4 These are alarming numbers. Note that these cancer risks do not come from eating fresh, non-processed meats. They only appear in people who regularly consume processed meat products containing sodium nitrite. Sodium nitrite appears predominantly in red meat products (you won’t find it in chicken or fish products). Here’s a short list of food items to check carefully for sodium nitrite and monosodium glutamate (MSG), another dangerous additive: • Beef jerky • Bacon • Sausage • Hot dogs • Sandwich meat • Frozen pizza with meat • Canned soups with meat • Frozen meals with meat • Ravioli and meat pasta foods • Kid’s meals containing red meat • Sandwich meat used at popular restaurants • Nearly all red meats sold at public schools, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and theme parks If sodium nitrite is so dangerous to humans, why do the FDA and USDA continue to allow this cancer-causing chemical to be used? The answer, of course, is that food industry interests now dominate the actions by U.S. government regulators. The USDA, for example, tried to ban sodium nitrite in the late 1970′s but was overridden by the meat industry.5 It insisted the chemical was safe and accused the USDA of trying to “ban bacon.” Today, the corporations that dominate American food and agricultural interests hold tremendous influence over the FDA and USDA. Consumers are offered no real protection from dangerous chemicals intentionally added to foods, medicines and personal care products. You can protect yourself and your family from the dangers of processed meats by following a few simple rules: 1. Always read ingredient labels. 2. Don’t buy anything made with sodium nitrite or monosodium glutamate. 3. Don’t eat processed meats served by restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels or other institutions. And finally, eat more fresh produce with every meal. There is evidence that natural vitamin C found in citrus fruits and exotic berries (like camu camu) helps prevent the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines, protecting you from the devastating health effects of sodium nitrite in processed meats. The best defense, of course, is to avoid eating processed meats altogether. Story provided by The Institute for Natural Healing

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Lafayette County

AdamBrown — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:46:50 +0000

Lafayette County was formed from lands ceded by the Chickasaw in the treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832. The county was organized in 1836, and in 1837 by three pioneers John Martin, John Chisom, and John Craig who purchased the land from Hoka, a female Chickasaw landowner, as a site for the town. During the Civil War, Oxford suffered an invasion by federal troops under the command of Major General Andrew Jackson "Whiskey" Smith who burned the buildings in the town square, including the county courthouse. In the postwar Reconstruction Era, the town slowly recovered, with the aid Federal Judge Robert Andrews Hill, who secured funds to build a new courthouse. The original drawings of the second Lafayette County Courthouse, by the architect S. Boling, were signed and dated April 1871. The present day Lafayette County Courthouse was completed in early 1873 and is one of the oldest in the state in continuous use as a courthouse. The courthouse was extended in 1953, adding on to the point past the two arched windows. The courthouse sits on the Oxford town square, which is the geographic center of Lafayette County, and is surrounded by a variety of gourmet restaurants, home décor shops, upscale clothing boutiques, coffee shops and professional offices. The Lafayette County Courthouse was declared a National Historic Place on September 23, 1977.

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OM Eliminated from SEC Tourney

AdamBrown — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:22:48 +0000

HOOVER, Ala. – Ole Miss and Alabama faced elimination on Thursday in the SEC Tournament, and it was the Crimson Tide that stood taller with a 7-5 victory. “It’s always disappointing to finish here without advancing to the weekend,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said, his team now 37-22 on the season and most likely a No. 2 seed on the road next weekend in a NCAA Regional. “But it’s the No. 1 baseball conference in the country. If you don’t play well, you lose. We had opportunities the last two days.” But the Rebels lost to Arkansas 2-1 Wednesday after defeating Kentucky 4-1 Tuesday morning. And now they await the NCAA Tournament announcement, which is at 11 a.m. (CDT) Monday. Bianco said Rebel junior ace Bobby Wahl was set to start the Friday game had there been one for Ole Miss. “Bobby would have started tomorrow. Now we’ll have to figure out what we’ll do,” he said of moving forward with Wahl and actually all the pitchers to try to get them back into a rotation similar to the regular season prior to the last two weekends. “He needed the rest, and unfortunately we didn’t get to stay here long enough to get him in a game. Not pitching I don’t think will be a bad thing for him at all.” Thursday’s game was tied 5-5 after the Rebels scored two runs late to eventually send it into extra innings. Ole Miss trailed 5-3 when the Rebels loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Tide starter, RHP Spencer Turnbull, was pulled and RHP Mitch Greer came in to pitch. He immediately gave up a two-RBI double to Stuart Turner to tie the game 5-5. Then in the eighth after Bama didn’t score, Auston Bousfield drew a walk to lead things off. Cameron Dishon came in to pinch hit for Sikes Orvis as Alabama changed pitchers, this time going to RHP Tucker Hawley. Dishon sac bunted Bousfield to second. Preston Overbey was then intentionally walked. But a key moment was about to go against the Rebels. Will Allen was up next, pinch hitting for Christian Helsel. Allen lined out to a leaping Alabama third baseman Kenny Roberts, who threw to first to get Overbey out for the double play to keep things tied after eight innings. It remained that way until the tenth inning when Alabama got a one-out walk by Kyle Overstreet off Tanner Bailey. That was followed by a double down the third base line by Ben Moore. Brett Huber was then called upon to relieve Bailey. But Mikey White then got a two-RBI double, the first batter off Huber. That made it 7-5 and the Rebels had to overcome the disadvantage in the bottom of the tenth, which they were not able to do. Ole Miss started freshman right-hander Jacob Waguespack and he was able to put up three innings of three up, three down baseball to Crimson Tide hitters. But in the fourth, with Ole Miss already leading 3-0, he allowed two runs and was relieved by Scott Weathersby. Waguespack had an arm injury earlier in the year, and it has taken much of the season to recover. “I felt good,” he said. I fell behind some counts. My defense did a great job behind me. I just tried to pound the zone and get some ground balls and get out of some innings.” Waguespack said he’s glad to be contributing at this point in the season after a long road back. “I’m just out there trying to do my job,” he said. “That’s out of the bullpen or whenever (Bianco) wants to start me. I’m just looking to contribute and get better every day. My arm keeps getting better every day. I just couldn’t get out of that (fourth) inning.” “I’m certainly proud of his effort,” Bianco said of Waguespack. “We knew he would challenge them. We knew he would throw the ball into the strike zone without fear. He deserved (to start). He’s pitched well every time out. He’s getting stronger and he’s going to be a good one.” The Rebels had gotten the early lead with three runs in the second. Andrew Mistone led things off with a double. After Auston Bousfield struck out, Sikes Orvis got Mistone to third with a groundout. Preston Overbey’s double to the left corner got Mistone home and gave Ole Miss a 1-0 lead. Christian Helsel then walked, followed by Jamison’s single and an Alabama error that scored two more runs. Alabama, now 34-25 on the season, scored five runs from the fourth through sixth innings before Ole Miss was able to tie it up in the seventh. -- Jeff Roberson, OMSpirit.com

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Medgar Evers 50th Anniversary Commemoration

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:49:06 +0000

In partnership with museums, universities, foundations, and national organizations across the country, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute is sponsoring events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Medgar Evers’ assassination, culminating in a series of activities in Washington, D. C., and Jackson, Miss., in June 2013. For a complete list of events, visit http://www.eversinstitute.org/. Events in Jackson, Miss., June 8-12 • June 8 – Inaugural Medgar Evers International Day of Justice and Service www.MEdayofjusticeandservice.org • June 9 – Medgar Evers Sunday Faith leaders all over the world will remember Medgar Evers and celebrate his legacy by sharing a message of unity and faith. • June 9 – Liturgy for Racial Reconciliation, 4 p.m. Commemorating the life and legacy of Medgar Evers, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral • June 9 – Medgar Evers Exhibit Grand Opening and Reception, 6 p.m. Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center • June 10-11 – Where Medgar Walked: Civil Rights Sites Tours (city-wide) • June 10-11 – Civil Rights Film Festival, Davis Planetarium • June 11 – Day of Commitment Youth Congress: Dedicated to the Cause of Freedom, Cabot Lodge Millsaps • June 12 – International Day of Remembrance, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Art Garden Celebration on the Green, Mississippi Museum of Art, Music • Art • Food festival • Literacy fair • Reflections and book signings by historians and authors • Sponsor exhibits • Service of the Bells, Noon – 12:30 p.m., Memorial and praise in word and song • Tribute Gala, 7:30 p.m. • Jackson Convention Complex For tickets, call 1-800-599-0650. Story provided by Ole Miss News

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UM Wins Japanese Speech Contest

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:35:56 +0000

University of Mississippi students took home top honors in the South Central Japanese Speech Contest at Tulane University. Four of seven participating UM students won awards at the contest, which brought together 31 students from Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama in late March. “The students in our Japanese language program are exceptional,” said Donald Dyer, chair and professor of modern languages. “They have developed high-level linguistic skills and are very motivated to succeed.” Zhen Guo, an engineering graduate student from China, took home first place in the first-year level, while Nicholas Denette, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Waveland, won first place in the second-year level. Brittany Linkous, a senior English major from Cleveland, received the Consul General of Japan Award. Eduardo Lopez, a senior political science major from Greenville, won second place in the third-year or higher level. “We encourage students in all our language programs to compete at such venues,” Dyer said. “We find such competitions to be beneficial to students’ linguistic confidence and their abilities to speak publicly and to perform, critically important competencies in high-level language learning.” The students’ success at the competition is illustrative of not only their dedication to the language, but also of the dedication and professionalism shown by Kaoru Ochiai, instructional assistant professor of modern languages, and teaching assistant Yukari Nakajima, Dyer said. “It is all the students’ efforts,” Ochiai said. “I feel the students who prepared ahead of time and worked on the speech for long hours won the prizes. Each student (who participated) is motivated to learn Japanese and had the guts to try it out.” The UM Department of Modern Languages offers an undergraduate minor in Japanese that emphasizes language and culture. For more information, visit http://www.modernlanguages.olemiss.edu. Story by, Lindsey Abernathy provided by Ole Miss News

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Sandwich Watch: Rib Cage Melt

TadWilkes — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:11:58 +0000

Mississippi BBQ on Texas toast.

For a diversion from their regular barbecue sandwiches, the Rib Cage (311 South Lamar) offers the Rib Cage Melt, which features cheddar cheese and Texas toast, with slaw in the sandwich or on the side. The Rib Cage menu includes ribs, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, and kids' items, and they cater. — Tad Wilkes

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Remembering our Soliders

AdamBrown — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:06:20 +0000

Art Shirley graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1984 with a BA in Art. While at Ole Miss, Art drew the daily comic strip Ernie, Skip & Joe which ran for a little over three years in the Daily Mississippian. Art is currently the Creative Director for Quest Group, an advertising and marketing firm in West Point, Mississippi, where he and his wife, Becky, make their home. Art and Becky have two sons; Will, a junior at Ole Miss, and Drew, a freshman at Mississippi State. Art has continued to do some cartooning “on the side” in the nearly thirty years since he left Ole Miss, contributing to several local papers, websites and trade magazines. He has just self-published a graphic novel, enjoyed some internet success with a cartoon about the Weather Channel’s alleged “Land Mass” gaffe and is particularly excited to be contributing cartoons for HottyToddy.com.

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Happee Days Rolls Into Oxford

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:49:00 +0000

Ferris wheel of the Happee Day Shows group stood ready to signal the opening of a fun run in Oxford this week. The traveling carnival set up on the property at the end of Sisk Avenue, across from the Oxford Convention Center and next to Wendy’s.

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Protesters to March Against Monsanto

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:30:40 +0000

Local protesters plan to march as a part of the worldwide demonstrations against Monsanto Co., the leading producer of genetically engineered seed, on Saturday in Jackson, Miss. and Memphis, Tenn. In what organizers say is a cause to "end the dictatorship over seed, over life, over our food, and over our freedom," people in Jackson and Memphis are being asked to join others from throughout the world in a March Against Monsanto on Saturday, May 25. The St. Louis-headquartered company is at the center of criticism over the genetic engineering of seeds that interrupt the natural germination cycle by rending the next generation of seeds sterile. Beginning in the 1980s, Monsanto lobbied for and helped draft laws imposing patents on its seeds, making it illegal for farmers to save and reuse them. More recently, the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld Monsanto’s patent right on seed in the Bowman v. Monsanto case. Protesters also seek to draw attention to U.S. laws that make the company immune from any court action to protect diversity and the reuse of seeds by farmers. "In India, we have a very strong and very good law under the Environment Protection Act. It predates the Earth Summit, it predates the Convention on Biodiversity, it predates the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, and it’s meant to regulate GMOs," said the Global Alliance for Seed Freedom's Dr Vandama Shiva, in calling for worldwide protests against Monsanto. "Because we used the law to stop the Bt gene, the Bt brinjal, there’s been attempts by Monsanto to write a Monsanto Protection Act. It is called the Biotechnology Regulatory Act of India. It’s a deregulation act, but in typical Monsanto double speak, it’s called a regulatory act. It would throw citizens into jail for challenging GMOs. It is taking away the federal rights of our state governments who were a major player in stopping the Bt eggplant." She said another Monsanto Protection Act similar to the one written into U.S. budget laws is being shaped in Europe to make it illegitimate and illegal for gardeners and farmers to have their own seeds. "This is a new form of fascism. It's a new form of dictatorship. "When Hitler came to power and the Nazis came to power with their kind of genocide, people created resistance movements everywhere," she said. "Today, this new fascism is over life itself in all its diversity. It’s not just controlling one religion and one race. It’s wanting to outlaw all diversity of all life on Earth, and the rights of the producers as well as the eaters of food. After all, the huge onslaught against any attempt for labeling GMO foods in the United States is part of this Monsanto dictatorship. "That is why the March Against Monsanto is a march for freedom. And this march is not just for the 25th of May. We will have to carry it on everyday of our lives as we plant our seeds and save our seeds, and we stand up in resistance with our gardens of resistance, growing healthy food, nurturing the soil and the seed, thanking the ancestors of those seeds and the future generations, handing over to our future generations the care and custody of our precious diversity."

The March Against Monsanto in Jackson, Miss. is expected to start at the Farmer's Market on High Street at noon, then march up High Street to the Capitol between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The organizers are Lindsey Lemmons and Julie Dennis Stewart. For more information, find the event on Facebook: Mississippi March Against Monsanto. For more information visit the official March Against Monsanto website at march-against-monsanto.com/.

The March Against Monsanto Memphis rally will be held in the First Congregational Church's south parking lot at 1 p.m. featuring guest speaker, Chris Peterson with Grow Memphis. The march will follow the rally, starting at First Congo, following the sidewalk up Young, left on Parkway, left on Central, left on Cooper, back to First Congo. Participants are encouraged to bring signs and wear red. For more information visit the March Against Monsanto Memphis Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/147826612052424/. Watch the full video of Dr Vandama Shiva calling for a worldwide March Against Monsanto. http://youtu.be/dfUMHhrQamw

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Tips on Ordering Healthy at Restaurants

Hillary Houston — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:45 +0000

No matter what your favorite restaurant serves, you can still practice healthy dining. Cleveland Clinic Sports Nutritionist, Katherine Patton, MEd, RD, LD, CSSD, says regardless of the restaurant, it’s important to watch your portions and look for balance in your meals. She recommends avoiding all-you-can-eat buffets, where it’s all too tempting to go back for another slab of ham or more scalloped potatoes. “I recommend using the plate method — make half your plate full of vegetables, ¼ lean protein-chicken, turkey, fish, beef or pork tenderloin, or legumes, and ¼ plate whole grain starch or complex carbohydrate like whole wheat pasta or tortilla, brown rice, quinoa, barley, and baked, red skin or sweet potato,” she says. Here are some of her tips for ordering at specific types of restaurants:

Italian restaurants

Choose pasta with red sauce
Avoid sausage in sauces
Skip high-calorie dishes loaded with creamy sauces or extra cheese, such as alfredo, lasagna and carbonara
Limit buttered garlic bread

Mexican restaurants

Don’t fill up on chips and salsa before the meal
Choose fajitas or other grilled items
Avoid cheesy or deep-fried entrees
Limit sour cream and guacamole. Guacamole is a source of healthy monounsaturated fat, but too much still means too many calories

Asian eateries

Avoid egg rolls, wontons and other deep-fried items
Ask for broth or stock to be used to cook the meal, not oil
Limit sweet and sour items, and egg drop soups
Choose brown or steamed rice over fried rice

Steakhouses

Try leaner cuts like sirloin, filet, flank or London broil
Take a 6-ounce portion over a 16-ouncer
With potatoes, order sour cream and butter on the side or choose a sweet potato
Eat just one piece of bread before the meal

Pizzerias

Choose thin crust over deep-dish pizza
Choose veggie toppings
Request half the cheese
Try leaner meat toppings like chicken, ham or Canadian bacon
Put meat on only half the pizza

Fast food places

Choose grilled chicken or broiled burgers
Limit cheese and bacon
Avoid fries
Don’t super-size portions
Choose salads with grilled chicken and go easy on the dressing
Avoid salads with a lot of mayo (tuna salad) or lots of calories (pasta salad)

Restaurants know customer service is important. Don’t hesitate to ask for meals to be prepared the way you want them. Story provided by the Family Health Team of the Cleveland Clinic

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Elmore Lifts Millsaps to World Series

AdamBrown — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:35:08 +0000

Will Elmore grandson of Doug Elmore helps send Millsaps to the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series. Millsaps College heads to the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series for the first time, and the grandson of a Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer has helped the Majors reach that lofty goal. Will Elmore, grandson of the late, great Doug Elmore, pitched a complete game, 7-0 shutout to get the Majors into the NCAA Regional championship game last Friday night. The Majors then defeated the same opponent, Salisbury (Md.) College 7-6 on Saturday to earn entrance to the Division III World Series, which begins Friday in Appleton, Wisc. Will Elmore, a senior right-hander from Houston, scattered four hits and struck out seven in what his coach, Jim Page, called “the best performance of his career.” Salisbury had pounded out 18 hits in defeating Millsaps 11-5 the day before in the Regional at Millington, Tenn. “We couldn’t do anything with their hitters,” Page said. “They just pounded us. That’s what makes Will’s performance so amazing. He shut them down. He gave us a chance. He was as clutch as clutch can be. And he went all nine innings which saved the pitching we needed for the championship game.” “Clutch” was the term teammates and coaches used to describe Doug Elmore, an Ole Miss football and baseball standout (1959-61). Elmore was an All American quarterback and an All-SEC center fielder. Says Art Doty, one of Doug Elmore’s closest friends and a former Ole Miss teammate, “Throw Doug a ball, any kind of ball, and he could play with it. He was just a special athlete.” Will Elmore apparently gets his versatility from his grandfather. He played both football and baseball at Clear Lake High School in Houston. At Millsaps, he has concentrated on baseball, but besides pitching, he plays any position in the infield and has played in the outfield as well. “One of the most versatile players I’ve had in my 25 years at Millsaps,” Page said of Elmore. “He can play anywhere on the diamond and as a pitcher he has a Major League curve ball.” Will Elmore was used mostly in relief this past season, so imagine his surprise when he got a start in his team’s do-or-die game — and not only started, but finished. “I was hoping to go five innings and give my team a chance,” Elmore said. “I never thought about going the entire game, but my teammates got me some runs and I just kept going inning by inning until it was over.” He threw a career-high 150 pitches. “I was fatigued, no doubt about that, but my arm still felt strong,” Elmore said. “I guess it was just adrenaline.” Elmore already has graduated from Millsaps with a degree in business administration and will spend this summer coaching a select 16-and-under team in Houston. And then? “I am going to go to culinary school,” Elmore said. “I want to be in the restaurant business. I’ve worked for Bill Latham at Babalu and Table 100 and he’s been kind of a mentor to me.” Doug Elmore died when Will was eight years old, but the grandson has vivid and fond memories of his grandfather. “He was always at my little league games or my peewee games,” Will Elmore said. “I heard all the stories from other people about how great he was at Ole Miss, but to me, I just remember him as being just a great grandfather, a nice man.” Doug Elmore was all that — a splendid athlete, a nice man — and a Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer. ••••••• Millsaps will play Southern Maine Friday at 10 a.m. in the first game of the D-III World Series. •••••• Follow the Majors at www.millsaps.edu and http://gomajors.com/sports/bsb/ •••••• Millsaps will hold a viewing party Friday at 10 a.m. in the Leggett Center on campus. It’s free, open to anyone. -- Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

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Diamond Girls are Forever

MichaelHarrelson — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:21:46 +0000

Diamond Girls shine as they support Ole Miss baseball The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team wrapped up its final, regular-season home series last weekend, beating arch rival Mississippi State two out of three games. The Rebels moved up to #14 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, and are currently finishing up the regular season in Baton Rouge against #2 ranked LSU. Of course, much of the focus centers around the team playing on the field. However, there is a group of young ladies whose support at each game is invaluable to the baseball program and the Ole Miss Sports Marketing Department. They are the Ole Miss Diamond Girls. Former Rebel pitcher Stephen Head, the 2003 SEC Freshman of the Year, National Freshman of the Year, and 2004 SEC Player of the Year, is now the director of baseball operations for Ole Miss. He speaks highly of the Diamond Girls and the contribution they make to the entire program. “The Diamond Girls are the face of our Ole Miss Baseball program,” Head says. After thinking about it for a second, Head added, “Actually, the Diamond Girls are more the face of the program than the players, themselves.” It is hard to argue with Head’s assessment. When you enter the stadium, you are greeted by a Diamond Girl. When you need a baseball program, you purchase one from a Diamond Girl. When you find the promotional towel or t-shirt in your seat, you know a Diamond Girl has placed it there. And when you see Rebel player drop his bat on the way to first base, you see it is a Diamond Girl who races out to retrieve that bat. “Without a doubt, Rebel fans make our program thrive,” Head says, “and the Diamond Girls truly interact more with the fans than the players do. This makes them a critical part of our team.” Taylor West was a four-year member of the Diamond girls from 2008-2011 and captain of the group in 2010 and 2011. Currently an auditor for KPMG in Birmingham, she fondly recalls her days as a Diamond Girl and what inspired her to join the group. “I remember growing up and going to regionals hosted by Ole Miss, specifically the series against Texas,” West said. “There was something electrifying about the atmosphere, and I knew then that I was interested in being a part of the Diamond Girls.” Whitney Hodge was a Diamond Girl for three years from 2009-2011, serving as a captain in 2011. She echoed West’s sentiments about wanting to be a Diamond Girl. “I grew up 20 miles south of Oxford, so I went to a good number baseball games before I attended Ole Miss,” she said. “I had always seen the Diamond Girls at the games, and when I saw the ad in the Daily Mississippian I immediately knew I wanted to try out!” Katherine Barkett-Byrd was a four-year Diamond Girl from 2006-2010 and captain in 2009 and 2010. Her background drew her to the squad. “My dad was a baseball coach at St. Andrew’s in Jackson for 20 years and also owned a sporting goods store,” she said, “so I definitely had a long-standing passion for baseball.” When she saw a poster in her dorm announcing Diamond Girl tryouts, she knew she had to attend. So exactly how does one become a Diamond Girl? The process has changed, somewhat, over the years. When Barkett-Byrd was a freshman, the application process consisted of an interview with one of the assistant baseball coaches at Ole Miss and the director of sports marketing. “They lined us up six at a time and asked us questions about our background, as well as about baseball,” she said. “Not long after I became a Diamond Girl, we added a quiz about baseball as part of the process,” Barkett-Byrd said. “We wanted to make sure the girls knew as much about Ole Miss baseball as possible.” It was during this time that West and Hodge applied. West explains she submitted a resume and filled out an application at an interest meeting. “Then, at the meeting we took a quiz over baseball rules and specific questions about Ole Miss baseball,” she said. Those girls with the top scores were asked back for interviews. When West was selected, she competed with approximately 250 girls for one of 45-50 total spots. The selection process no longer involves a quiz, but the competition is just as intense. “This past year we had 120 girls vying for 20 open spots,” Head explained. The current roster of Diamond Girls numbers 45 and is divided into three squads of 15. The squads rotate games, with each working one game of a three-game series. When a squad is assigned a game to work, the captain of the group coordinates the girls and creates the schedule for that day’s game. “There is a 3-inning rotation that involves selling programs, working promotions for Ole Miss marketing, and, of course, the on-field responsibilities of home and visitor bats and home and visitor foul lines,” West explained. In addition to their duties as bat girls, the Diamond Girls help in other ways, such as passing out Ole Miss baseball camp fliers and distributing marketing and promotional items. “On Mike Mayers day at the park, for example, the Diamond Girls passed out over 8,000 white masks as part of the day’s promotions,” Head said. Their days as Diamond Girls prompt many fond memories for West, Hodge and Barkett-Byrd. West quickly answered when asked what her most memorable moment was at Swayze. “It was game one of the super regional against Virginia,” she said. “I was working the visitor bats for Virginia. Most of the time I would hold back cheering for Ole Miss out of respect for the other team. Not this time. The Virginia Head Coach (Brian O’Connor) was standing right by where the Diamond Girls sit. As our offensive momentum got rolling, I was basically jumping on his back in excitement when our guys were scoring to win game one. I still feel kind of bad about that.” Hodge reminisced about the 2010 SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. “I loved being there because it was my first time at Hoover. Representing Ole Miss at such a big tournament was special,” she said. “After we lost the series to Auburn at home that season, it was amazing to beat them in the SEC tournament to advance to the semifinals. I’ll never forget being there.” Barkett-Byrd, like the other former Diamond Girls, had a hard time narrowing it down to just one most memorable moment. “For me, it was always so special to be able to work the Home bats because we sat with the team and had a front-row seat to all the action,” she said. “We got to hear Coach Bianco and really get into the emotion of the game.” Singing the National Anthem at Swayze was another special memory for Barkett-Byrd, a former Miss University. “It was incredible to sing the National Anthem at a home game in my Diamond Girl uniform. That was truly a highlight,” she said. Though they give so much to the baseball program at Ole Miss, the Diamond Girls believe they receive plenty in return. “The best part of being a Diamond Girl is being lucky enough to do it for Ole Miss,” Hodge said. “Standing in that stadium on game day is indescribable, and actually being on the field soaking up the spirit, emotion and intensity of one of the best game day atmospheres is amazing.” West reiterated how much the group meant to her. “I loved the opportunity to be a part of the Diamond Girls while at Ole Miss. It was a way to meet all kinds of great girls and I am very thankful for the friendships I made.” Barkett-Byrd echoed the sentiments of her fellow captains. “After my first two years in the Diamond Girls, I had more passion for the game and the squad than ever,” she said. “I applied to be a captain so I could take on a leadership role in the organization. Though I was already in a sorority, Diamond Girls actually became my sorority because I spent so much time with them,” she said. Given Barkett-Byrd’s baseball background and her love of the game, it is not surprising she attended Ole Miss games when she was not even scheduled to work. “I’d go to the games on my off-days and sit in the student section,” she said. Like the other Diamond Girls, she traveled to away games whenever possible. “I recall going to Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Vandy, and almost all the games in Jackson,” she said. All three former Diamond Girls emphasized the strong commitment the group makes to the program. “We are at every game, greeting people, selling programs, throwing t-shirts, etc.,” Barkett-Byrd noted. “One time I recall working a game in the snow. It was extremely cold, but we were still out there doing our jobs.” As one may imagine, these former Diamond Girls still enthusiastically support Rebel baseball. Whitney Hodge is pursuing a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. However, she has attended baseball games every season since graduation. “I don’t get to as many games as I’d like, but I definitely make it a point to attend a series when I’m home for a weekend,” she said. Katherine Barkett-Byrd is a staffing supervisor at a staffing agency in Jackson. She is married to an avid State fan, but still ardently follows Ole Miss baseball. And it comes as no surprise that Taylor West, like Hodge and Barkett-Byrd, still attends Ole Miss baseball games when she has the opportunity. “Swayze Field is my favorite place to be in Oxford,” she said. All three of these former Diamond Girls cherish the days they spent supporting Rebels baseball. So the next time you’re at Swayze, be sure and thank a Diamond Girl for being a fantastic ambassador for Ole Miss baseball and the University of Mississippi. As evidenced by West, Hodge and Barkett-Byrd, Diamonds truly are forever. -- Evelyn Van Pelt Evelyn studied English at Texas A&M University, but fell in love with Ole Miss and Oxford when her daughter attended Ole Miss on a volleyball scholarship. Her daughter received three degrees from Ole Miss, including her Pharm D. in 2012. Evelyn has been a proud supporter of Ole Miss for over a decade and covers Rebels football for gridirongirl.org. Follow her on Twitter at @OleMissEvie and e-mail her at OleMissEvie@gmail.com

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UM Implements New Grade Forgiveness Policy

MichaelHarrelson — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:11:26 +0000

Ole Miss has made some big changes to their grade forgiveness policy, according to Associate Registrar Denise Knighton.

“The policy has been around for several years,” Knighton said in an interview on Tuesday. “The council just approved in May that students can now have up to four forgivenesses, or a total of 12 credit hours.”

The original policy allowed for students to retake up to two courses. While the original grades would still be recorded on a student’s transcript, if they were to repeat the course, only the grade from the second attempt at the course would be reflected in the student’s overall GPA. “In the old policy, there were only two courses that could be forgiven and those courses also had to be a D or an F,” Knighton said. “Now you can have a C minus, a D or an F. After you’ve taken the course a second time, you can invoke the forgiveness policy.” While many students are happy with the new policy, some believe that being able to replace four separate courses could be a bit excessive. “Part of me is concerned that this will allow students to make higher GPA’s while wasting time and money at a time when college already seems to be getting easier yet more expensive,” philosophy major Jason Wilson said. “I feel like the old policy was sufficient, but I can also see circumstances in which this might be helpful for those times when different unavoidable life events disrupt a student’s performance.” While some are on the fence regarding the new changes, Knighton believes it to be a good thing that students will be able to further increase their overall GPA, if they so desire. “I think this is a good idea,” Knighton said. “It’ll help students who may be on a borderline. You have to have a 2.0 to graduate, and perhaps some students are right there at a 1.9. “ “Before this was ever passed, there was a committee that looked at the other SEC schools, and I want to say we were one of a few that didn’t offer four,” Knighton added. “Some schools offer unlimited chances in their forgiveness policy.” –– Jared Senseman, senior journalism major, Meek School of Journalism and New Media Email Jared Senseman at jrsensem@go.olemiss.edu

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Obamination

AdamBrown — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:41 +0000

There has been a lot of commentary about the scandals enveloping the Obama White House. At the risk of repetition, here are a few more thoughts. No, strike that. This needs to be repeated, from every possible outlet, until the American people realize the seriousness of what is going on. The chain of scandals relating to the Benghazi coverup, IRS targeting of conservatives, and Department of Justice intrusion into Associated Press journalists’ phone records represent a chilling pattern of behavior by our government. And, that behavior emanates from the tone set at the top. I am not talking about the increasingly unserious partisanship between Democrats and Republicans. Not only are people sick of it, the pettiness of Washington is becoming a dangerous tranquilizer. President Obama’s flacks (including many in the media) are furiously spinning their own shocking actions into a mere partisan witch hunt by “desperate Republicans.” Move on, nothing to see here, just the usual Washington noise. Incredibly, many in the GOP are taking the Democrats’ bait and shrinking these scandals into the next campaign pitch. If I get another email from the GOP using these scandals to ask for campaign money, I may unsubscribe. From the Party. Republicans should jettison the campaign hype, be the adults in the room, and get to the bottom of what the President and his people knew and when they knew it. (If they do, campaign donations will follow.) This is not a D versus R campaign issue. This is a systematic abuse of power by the most paranoid and politicized White House since Nixon’s. Many of us thought that electing as President a radical leftist with no experience in governing was a disaster waiting to happen. It’s no longer waiting. I served as a White House Fellow in the Bush Administration. One of the purposes of the Fellows program is to allow people from outside Washington like me to observe how decisions are made inside Washington. Some of the lessons learned as a Fellow are instructive. First, the IRS. There is simply no way that a group of low-level IRS employees just decided on their own to start targeting conservatives for audits, tougher questioning, and slow-walked applications for the tax exempt status (that was simultaneously being given to liberal groups). No way. Bureaucrats do not set policy, and they surely do not do so without running everything up the chain of command, multiple times. Obama may not have given the order, but he appointed the officials who did. And, the IRS targeting fits right in with a President who has expressly stated he intends to “punish his enemies” and, specifically, crush the GOP. Mr. Obama, your Administration got the message and carried it out long enough to help you win in 2012. Mission accomplished. Benghazi. Again, it is inconceivable the White House was not intimately involved in scrubbing those infamous talking points through twelve drafts, until all the “inconvenient truths” were removed. Before a President gives any speech, literally dozens of folks wordsmith and check facts, across every agency involved. For a national security story like Benghazi, senior leadership would have signed off on everything. Mistakes do happen; but lies do not happen by accident. And, in the case of an ambassador assassinated by terrorists, it now appears that everything being said before the November election was not said by accident. Likewise, the “what difference, at this point, does it make” explanations after the election have been riddled with misstatements, at least until three career State Department officials came forward with (some of) the truth. Heckuva job, Secretary Clinton. The DOJ’s scrutiny of the Associated Press reporters’ phone records also fits the theme. Ostensibly to investigate leaks that threatened national security, the DOJ’s intrusion into the work, cell, and personal phone records of twenty reporters was done without notice to the AP. Occurring in the Spring of 2012, as election season heated up, the search has already diminished journalists’ capacity to report on the government, according to the head of the AP. There is more to come on this one. So, let’s review. Your freedoms of speech and association, a free press, and protections against unreasonable searches have been seriously compromised for Obama and his pals to maintain power. Add in the Administration’s attacks on your right to bear arms, freedom of religion, and the basic expectation that our leaders tell the truth, and it’s quite a second term agenda. For those who still support this President, it’s time to put down the Kool-aid, and start paying attention. -- Cory T. Wilson is a Madison attorney with Heidelberg Steinberger Colmer & Burrow, P.A. Follow Cory on Twitter, @CoryWilsonMS, or email cory@corywilson.ms.

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Mississippi’s Contribution to America’s Culture

Hillary Houston — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:57:48 +0000

During the past ten years, blues music has more than ever been in the forefront of today’s news. Through the past several years alone, we have seen the U.S. Congress take notice of this special art form by declaring a “Year of the Blues” because of it’s enormous impact to music in general. A few years ago, a nation wide audience tuned in to PBS in order to watch Martin Scorsese’s epic that documented the evolution of blues music in America. In Mississippi, our governors have gotten involved starting with Governor Musgrove when he saluted this music with a proclamation called “Year of the Blues In State of Mississippi” almost ten years ago. During Barbour’s term, he and the Mississippi State Legislature created a comprehensive registry of all blues related sites and activities in the state that led to the Blues Trail. Barbour also recognized the blues in several other ways when he was governor. Now, Governor Phil Bryant is also doing the same. Although our great state is blessed to have many talented musicians from all genres of music, if it weren’t for the blues musicians of the Mississippi Delta and the east Mississippi hill country, this music would have never existed. Blues music is the root form to all popular music in the Western Hemisphere. For without this special music, the world would have never heard of an Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, or anyone else. The significance of this music cannot be understated. The explosion that would spread all over the globe began in Clarksdale in June of 1901. That year, Charles Peabody, from Harvard’s Peabody Museum, arrived in Coahoma County to begin archaeological excavations on several indian mounds located west of Clarksdale. After arriving in Clarksdale, Peabody hired a dozen or so men to help carry all of his equipment and other provisions from Clarksdale to the first mound about 15 miles away. One Sunday morning on their walk to the first mound, Peabody’s workers started a “chant like” rhythm. One man would chant a few lines, then the others would answer back in a refrain. Peabody, who had some musical training, took out a piece of paper and began writing down the lyrics and also tried to make some musical transcriptions. Peabody’s notes were later published in the 1903 Journal of American Folk-Lore. His descriptions are the first we have of black music in the Mississippi Delta. Forty years later, a second explosion would take place when two folk song collectors from the Library of Congress, Alan Lomax and John Work, traveled to the Delta with a tape recorder to record the music of the Delta that they had been hearing about, which by that point, had left the “chanting” stage and transformed into songs performed on acoustic guitars with bottleneck slides that would soon be labeled, blues music. These recordings eventually made their way onto records that were distributed worldwide providing inspiration to young musicians who in turn created another form of music from this root element that became rock music. Has north Mississippi made a significant contribution to the U.S. and world? Absolutely. Our region has made many contributions to mankind. And, our great blues music is just the start of what we have contributed that has bettered America. The list is very long and as a seventh generation Mississippian, I could not be any prouder of our great state, our accomplishments, and our people! Story by, Scott Coopwood Scott Coopwood, a seventh generation Deltan, lives in Cleveland, Mississippi, with his wife Cindy and their three children. Scott is the publisher and owner of Delta Magazine, one of the South’s leading lifestyle publications, the Delta Business Journal, the first business publication in the Mississippi Delta; and Cleveland’s weekly newspaper, The Cleveland Current . Email Scott Coopwood at scott@coopwood.net

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Sandwich Watch: Fresh is Key at Bistro Burger

TadWilkes — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:11:15 +0000

Never-frozen beef brings big flavor at new restaurant.

Opened by Madhu Ankisetty, owner of nearby Maharaja Indian Cuisine, Bistro Burger is putting a fresh slant on the American bunned classic. Located at 2580 West Jackson—next door to Game Stop and just two doors down from Maharaja—the new eatery uses only high-quality beef. "We cut them every morning, so they're fresh, never frozen," explains Manager Heath Riddle, who says the beef is hand-pattied and cooked to order. Chicken sandwiches, wraps, and more are also made to order. Bistro Burger will offer weekly specials and create new items—such as forthcoming grilled sweet potatoes, homestyle potatoes, and fried okra—on an ongoing basis (scroll down this page to see menus). Riddle says the most popular menu choices thus far at the Oxford restaurant, opened this spring, are the namesake Bistro Burger and the Rodeo Cheeseburger. — Tad Wilkes

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Ole Miss Falls to Arkansas in Extra’s

AdamBrown — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:02:48 +0000

HOOVER, Ala. - Matt Denny’s young shoulders had a lot riding on them with bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth in game one on day two of the SEC Tournament. The freshman left-hander had been a boost all season to an Ole Miss pitching staff perhaps not as deep in arms as it needed to be. That’s why when he threw a wild pitch that allowed an Arkansas runner to score from third base for a 2-1 Razorback win, it was a moment Denny will learn from, according to his head coach. “You grow up. The game is very unfair, and it will beat you down if you let it,” Mike Bianco said. “You have to grow up in a hurry. Matt’s been terrific for us all year. It’s a tough situation, but it was the situation we had. He got the big strikeout of (Jacob) Mahan, and he just tried to overthrow a slider and it got away from Stu (Turner).” Indeed Denny has been reliable this year and will be important in remaining games as the Rebels move on in this tournament and on to a NCAA Regional next week. “Like I just told him he’ll be in that situation again, either sometime this weekend or next weekend in a Regional,” Bianco said. “Those type of situations will make you grow up. Next time maybe he’ll be one pitch better and get out of it.” Sam Smith, the Rebel starter, went six innings and allowed just one run on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. “It helps a lot when I can fill the zone up with all my pitches,” Smith said. “I was able to locate my slider well and keep them off balance. And my defense helped me a lot.” Aaron Greenwood was the first in after Smith. He went 3.1 innings and allowed one run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. “Greenwood was terrific and it’s nice to have him back,” Bianco said. “The way he pitched today is the way he pitched most of the year. The bullpen took a lot of flak the last few weeks and probably deservingly so. It was nice to see him pitch so well back to back weekends.” Bianco said both starters – Barrett Astin and Smith - were at the top of their games as indicated by the low score. “Both guys were outstanding today,” he said. “Sam has really located well and kept the ball down. He’s got enough fastball to beat you with that. But much like Mike Mayers yesterday, he worked both sides of the plate with his fast ball. Today his slider was outstanding and his changeup was good. “He picked up a blister against LSU and couldn’t go anymore today. We need to get that better for next week. But just a great outing. He gave us all he could.” Tanner Mathis led off the first with a single. Stuart Turner got him home with a single he tried to stretch into a double but was thrown out at second base to end the inning. Tyler Spoon with a two-out RBI single tied the game in the bottom of the first. And things stayed that way for a long, long time. In the third, the Razorbacks got runners on first and second with no outs but failed to score. Austin Anderson had a one-out single in the fourth. But a Stuart Turner double play ball ended things still tied 1-1. Arkansas had runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Brian Anderson walked to load the bases, and Dominic Ficociello was up. Smith got him to strike out. Anderson got something going for Ole Miss in the seventh with a one-out double to the right corner. The Hogs then chose to intentionally walk Turner. Auston Bousfield then hit into a second base unassisted to first base double play to end the Rebel threat. Will Jamison got aboard with two outs in the eighth. A wild pitch got Jamison from first to third. But Will Allen lined out to first to end the threat. Brian Anderson came through a one-out single to right center in the eighth. Ficoiello singled to right to put Razorbacks at the corners. Spoon then lined out to Christian Helsel at second base, but Jacob Mahan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Eric Fisher then hit one that might have scored at least one run, but it hit Mahan heading to second base and the inning ended right there. With one out in the top of the ninth, Andrew Mistone reached after his ball up the middle bounded off the pitcher, bounced up, and he was able to get to first with ease. Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice as Mistone was called out at second. Turner then reached on a throwing error by Arkansas third baseman Mahan. Bousfield struck out to end the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the tenth, the Hogs had bases loaded with one out. Mahan struck out. Eric Fisher was at bat when Denny threw the wild pitch that got past Turner, and the run from third came home for the Arkansas win. Arkansas outhit Ole Miss 11-6 and left nine runners stranded to the Rebels’ four. “It was a very well-played game,” said Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn. “Both pitchers and bullpens did a tremendous job. We play a lot of tight games. It’s almost like it’s normal now.” Bianco said he wasn’t certain about pulling Preston Overbey heading into the sixth inning at second base and inserting Christian Helsel. “It was something I wasn’t sure about going in,” he said. “Preston’s been so hot. Astin’s so tough on right-handed hitters. Defensively Preston is just hobbled and can’t get to balls. There are balls hit to the right side he just can’t get to. We just felt we had to go with another defensive lineup.” Freshman right-hander Jacob Waguespack will go for the Rebels on the mound Thursday, likely against Alabama which trails LSU. He’s made five appearances, mainly because he was injured earlier, allowing three runs in nine innings of work. -- Jeff Roberson, OMSpirit.com

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M&F Bank Embezzler Sentenced

Hillary Houston — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:24:00 +0000

OXFORD, Miss.- Felicia C. Adams, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, Laurie Younger, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Region, Office of Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and, and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, announce that: Deborah Shaw, 53, of Waterford, Mississippi, former employee of Merchants and Farmers Bank in Holly Springs, has been sentenced by United States Senior District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr., in Oxford, Mississippi, following her plea of guilty last fall on one count of embezzlement by a bank employee. Judge Biggers ordered Shaw to serve 30 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $327,842.00. Ms. Shaw has been ordered to report to prison on June 17. United States Attorney Felicia C. Adams stated: “The sentence Ms. Shaw received reinforces the message that federal courts view embezzlement as a serious crime that warrants significant punishment. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to holding those who abuse their authority accountable for their illegal activities.” Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Special Agent in Charge Younger stated: “The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General is pleased to join our law enforcement colleagues in bringing Ms. Shaw to justice. We are especially concerned when trusted insiders abuse their positions to harm the financial institutions that employ them. We will continue our efforts to investigate such abuses in FDIC-insured financial institutions throughout the country.” Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi, stated: “Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will use every appropriate tool and available resource to find, stop, and punish those who commit fraud schemes that impact our financial institutions.” This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Mims and Clayton A. Dabbs. Story provided by the United States Attorney Northern District of Mississippi

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Pat Patterson 2

Chelsea Williams — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:54:21 +0000

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MFFC Soccer Tryouts Exceeding Expectations

MichaelHarrelson — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:52:46 +0000

Soccer tryouts for MFFC competitive league continue today and tomorrow. When the Mississippi Flood Futbol Club scheduled tryouts for its startup, competitive soccer league this week, MFFC officials expected to field five teams at the most, based on the initial experience of a similar multi-sports facility in Meridian. But with Monday and Tuesday tryouts complete and two more days to go (tonight and Thursday) MFFC developer Dr. Michael Perry has adjusted his estimates upward. “I am on cloud nine right now. Even with the weather, we had 128 kids show up in the first two days,” Perry said. “And that’s not counting 20 more who had told us that they could not come the first two days.” Perry said he now expects to double his original estimates. “We will have ten teams, so we really exceeded our expectations,” Perry said, noting that the makeup of the teams includes kids from throughout North Mississippi. Although the soccer component of the 73-acre private facility currently being developed south of Oxford is not expected to be ready for tournament play until August, the competitive soccer teams will begin their training on practice fields in early summer, Perry said. Perry attributed the high turnout figures to the professional level of the coaching that has been assembled for the new multi-sports facility. “Parents and kids realize how important coaching is for kids who want to compete at this level,” Perry said, adding, "These coaches also will be available for U8 Soccer Academy, which the MFFC will be initiating this summer." Those parents interested in pre-registering their kids for MFFC soccer tryouts can sign up by logging on to www.msfloodfc.com. –– Michael Harrelson, editor, HottyToddy.com. Email Michael Harrelson at michael.harrelson@hottytoddy.com.

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Moon Pie Curtis at Music in the Hall

TadWilkes — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:51:38 +0000

Four-song set of Oxford singer/songwriter released.

Music in the Hall is a grass roots music series of intimate pocket concerts, based in Oxford, Mississippi, and hosted by Daniel Morrow since November 2008. HD digital downloads and DVDs are available for purchase, but all content displayed on the Music in the Hall site is free. Among the newest releases of MITH shows is this set, recorded August 16, 2012 at Bottletree Bakery, featuring Oxford singer/songwriter Moon Pie Curtis with Will Smith, performing four original songs: "Takin' What She Can Get," "Cold, Cold Water," "Baby Got Ahold of Some Cocaine," and "Catfish." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v6oxqx1_nY

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Lunch Watch: Asian Style

Hillary Houston — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:57:11 +0000

With 158 items on the menu, The Noodle Bowl Asian Bistro on Jackson Avenue West, offers tasty choices from crab and cheese Wontons, to Ahi tuna Tataki Sushito, as well as a variety of soups, sushi, salads, poultry, beef, seafood and vegetable dishes. One luncheon special, as descriptive as it is delicious, is the Jade Green boosting a heaping pile of broccoli, asparagus and green beans sauteed in white garlic sauce. Easily a meal for two, and only $7.95.

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Summer Sunset Series in Grove Each Sunday in June

TadWilkes — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:47:24 +0000

Outdoor concerts begin June 2.

The Summer Sunset Series returns for 2013 with five concerts every Sunday in June. The concerts hosted in the Grove on the campus of the University of Mississippi are one of the highlights of summer in Lafayette County. The series provides free concerts with rotating musical styles highlighting the diversity of talent in the community. Families and friends are invited to pack a picnic, spread a blanket, and enjoy the music under the shade of the trees in the Grove. The concerts are from 7 to 9 p.m. each Sunday in June. The series kicks off with a evening of jazz by Michael Worthy & The Mississippians on June 2, 2013, presented by the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council will host the next two concerts on June 9, featuring rockabilly with the Bays/Guyer Band and on June 16 with Jeff Calloway, known as the trombone player for the Yalobushwhackers, showcasing his original songs. Moonstone & Friends will give country flair to the series on June 23, presented by the Ford Center. The University Museum will close out the season on June 30 with the Minor Adjustments. The concert series is free and is presented by the University Museum, Ford Center, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Development Foundation. — Wayne Andrews Wayne Andrews is director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

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Jake Gibbs Shares Memories

AdamBrown — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:04:26 +0000

Gibbs a two-sport star at Ole Miss. Few people have contributed more heart and soul to Ole Miss than Mr. Jake Gibbs. Through his unwavering commitment, dedication and love of all things Ole Miss, Gibbs has become a Rebel treasure. With the current buzz surrounding the Rebel football program, now is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the career of a man that helped shape Ole Miss athletics for decades. Recently, I was afforded an opportunity to visit and talk sports with the living legend. It was like sitting down for a history lesson with your grandfather, as the warm, outgoing family man remembered dates, scores and conversations as if everything he recalled happened yesterday. At 74 years old, the Grenada, MS native has officially been part of the Ole Miss family since first signing to play football in the late 1950’s. While initially recruited to only play football, he let recruiters know of his desire to play both football and baseball from day one. Not only did Ole Miss push hard for Gibbs’ services, but so did folks in Starkville. Fortunately for Rebel fans, a home game on November 15, 1952 ultimately helped seal the deal for Ole Miss. Gibbs recalled, “When I decided to play football in college, it was the 1952 Ole Miss, Maryland game with QB Jimmy Lear that made up my mind. When Ole Miss beat Maryland, it really put Ole Miss on top nationally.” Thanks to the program-building win in 1952, coach John Vaught landed an eventual Rebel great. Gridiron Greatness A two-time national champion at Ole Miss (1959 and 1960), Gibbs went a combined 23-3-1 while playing QB in coach Vaught’s motion offense. Gibbs said of playing for Vaught, “I really loved him, and everyone respected him.” The two shared a special relationship which translated into incredible success on the field. While the Rebs went 9-2 in 1958, including a win over Florida in the Gator Bowl, 1959 would serve as Gibbs’ coming out party. As a junior in 1959, he helped his club earn a share of the national championship with a 21-0 win over LSU in the Sugar Bowl. During that special season, Gibbs remembered a classic Vaught moment. He recalled, “We played Arkansas at Crump Stadium in Memphis. He (Vaught) gave one hell of a pre-game motivational speech, and got the locker room shaking. It was one of the best I’ve ever heard.” The riveting pep talk carried over to the field, as Ole Miss topped the Hogs 28-0 that day. Leading the SEC in both passing and total offense in 1959, Gibbs was a first-team All-SEC selection. Later, he would go on to become part of the 1959 SEC Team of the Decade. As good as 1959 was for the standout, Gibbs’ senior year would cement his legacy as an Ole Miss great. A co-captain with guard John Warner Alford Jr. in 1960, Gibbs led the Rebels to a 10-0-1 record with a win over Rice in the Sugar Bowl (scoring both Rebel touchdowns in the game). In leading his team to victory, Gibbs received the Miller-Digby Award as the game's most outstanding player.

1st Quarter Sugar Bowl Highlights (courtesy: SugarBowlClassic) Not only was the senior named a 1960 All-American and the SEC Back and Player of the Year, but he also finished third place for the Heisman Trophy. However, it was much harder to gain recognition as a potential Heisman candidate during his playing days than it is today. Along those lines, Gibbs credits former Ole Miss sports information director Billy Gates for truly getting his name on the Heisman ballot by mailing out countless promotional letters. Minus the major media coverage surrounding the Heisman today, Gibbs said he actually discovered his finalist status one day while reading a newspaper. Having been a part of countless special games over his career, I asked Gibbs what games stood out as the most memorable (minus the 1959 Halloween night game). With a mind like a steel trap, he quickly recounted three contests. “I had a good game at Mississippi State my junior year. We beat them 42-0. I remember Tennessee my senior year. We won 24-3, and hadn’t won in Knoxville before then for a long, long time. Then we played Arkansas in Little Rock my senior year and won 10-7.” Diamond Dominance While Gibbs excelled at football, the 1960 and 1961 All-American was equally as impressive on the baseball field. In fact, he became a legend at both in Oxford. During his pursuit by then-football recruiting coordinator and baseball coach Tom Swayze, Gibbs remained up front with Vaught and Swayze about his desire to play both sports. It’s a good thing coaches listened, as Gibbs helped Ole Miss capture its first SEC Baseball Championship in 1959. The very next season, the Rebels won another SEC Championship. To this day, his batting average still hovers near the top of Ole Miss record books. In 1961, the two-sport star was drafted by the New York Yankees. As a Yankee, he would enjoy a 10-year career in the big leagues. New York management moved him to catcher, where he would eventually start in between the careers of Yankee catchers Elston Howard and Thurman Munson. It wasn't soon after his 1971 retirement that Ole Miss would call him home. He noted, “Ole Miss rubs off on you, and you don’t realize how good you’ve got it until you’re gone. People leave and say 'God I miss that place.'” Soon after his playing career ended, Gibbs returned to Ole Miss to coach the diamond Rebs after coach Swayze retired. Compiling a career coaching mark of 485-389-8, Gibbs sits only behind Mike Bianco as the all-time winningest Rebel baseball coach. Due in part to taking his team to the 1972 College World Series (the last time Ole Miss reached the CWS), Gibbs was named 1972 SEC Coach of the Year. A few years later in 1977, he would claim the award for a second time. Today, more than one Gibbs can be found around Swayze Field in Oxford. Redshirting this season, Gibbs' grandson, Luke Gibbs, hopes to make a splash as an infielder in the not-too-distant future. Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel On a visit to Oxford one Yankee offseason, Gibbs decided to watch Vaught’s Rebels practice one afternoon from afar. When the head coach caught a glimpse of his former QB, he quickly motioned for Gibbs to join him down on the field. Frustrated with his quarterbacks’ inability to get to the outside, Vaught told Gibbs, “Show them how to run 36 Slant.” Not wanting to interrupt the flow of practice, Gibbs kindly told his coach that he’d prefer to just watch. Gibbs recalled that without hesitation Vaught shouted, “I don’t give a damn, show ‘em how it’s done.” From that day forward, the two-time national champion would help coach Rebel quarterbacks in Oxford when he wasn’t playing baseball. While he developed a number of Rebel signal-callers, the player he impacted the most was likely 1970 Heisman Trophy finalist Archie Manning. Ironically, Manning went on to finish third for the Heisman (as would son Eli in 2003), just like his coaching mentor in 1960. Today, Gibbs lives right around the corner from the Eli’s offseason home in Oxford. Who knows, maybe the younger Manning will also help develop Rebel quarterbacks once his playing career ends? Looking Towards the Future As our conversation neared an end, the topic shifted to the current state of Ole Miss football. Reflecting on last season Gibbs said: "When the season started, I don’t think a lot of people knew what to expect. That staff did one of the best jobs anywhere. I was so proud of them. The kids came in and understood what he (Freeze) was all about, how he was going to run things, to go to class and that they’d be held accountable. He did it in a way where players accepted his whole philosophy. He laid the groundwork and they accepted it, and I think you’re going to see the same thing this year." As for what advice he would give to the incoming recruiting class, he suggested: "They (incoming recruits) need to get adjusted to college life as quick as they can, with an understanding they are student-athletes and will be held to standards as a football player and a student. Keep your nose clean. Stay out of trouble and just do your job." Gibbs certainly did his job in school, and he’ll forever be remembered as one of the greatest Rebels of all-time. In fact, no student-athlete may ever again leave the type of legacy Gibbs did at Ole Miss. Jake Gibbs remains the essence of what it truly means to be an Ole Miss Rebel. — Seph Anderson, Sportswriter to The South, covers timely Ole Miss, SEC, & national news from the sports world. @SephAnderson

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