FEBRUARY 2015
community SUPPORT
•TOYOTA MISSISSIPPI ❤S TUPELO •DOG RESCUE
plus
MEET MIKKY EKKO
SINGER-SONGWRITER-PRODUCER
If you’re tired of spending the night on the couch, spend a night with us. The NMMC Sleep Disorders Center has helped people suffering from sleep apnea, excessive snoring and other sleep-related conditions for more than 25 years. With a team of experienced board-certified specialists, including four pulmonologists and three neurologists, our new facility in Tupelo is the most modern and comfortable in the region with 14 private beds for overnight observations. For an appointment, call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375) or talk to your doctor.
Visit nmhs.net/sleep_center.php and follow us on Twitter @NMMC_news.
1845 S. Green St., Tupelo, Miss. NMMC’s Sleep Physicians: William R. Edmondson, M.D., Mark H. Fletcher, M.D., Justin C. Graff, M.D., Samuel D. Newell, M.D., Lyndon H. Perkins, M.D., David A. Reed, D.O., Jaime R. Ungo, M.D.
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
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%
Obesity is a health crisis in our state—reducing life expectancy as well as quality of life. To help, the Mississippi Center for Obesity Research at UMMC is developing new prevention methods. SEC Professor of the Year, Dr. John Hall, is leading a new generation of doctors and researchers in the fight against obesity. UMMC is also working with local governments, communities and businesses, motivating our state to make healthier choices. This is a fight for our lives and we’re in it together.
UMMC Research. Tomorrow. Every day. Learn more at ummchealth.com/mcor. ©2015 UMMC
of Mississippi adults are obese. UMMC is
100
%
committed to the fight.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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IN THIS ISSUE FEBRUARY 2015
FEATURES 32 Hand Picked Jeremy Rushing builds customized banjos and guitars that are coveted by musicians.
44 Driving Force COVER ART BY AIMEE SHAW
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi has become known as much for supporting northeast Mississippians as for the vehicles it builds.
71 Branching Out A longtime ladies reading club shares books that provide intellectual stimulation as well as a foundation for friendship.
76 On Location: Mikky Ekko Meet Nashville’s Mikky Ekko, a Grammynominated singer, songwriter and producer who spent his formative years in Tupelo.
EVENTS
39 A Different Breed of Art
Aimee Shaw, whose artwork is featured on the cover and above, paints whimsical portraits of beloved animals – from dogs and cats to lizards and horses – to raise money for her north Mississippi dog rescue operation.
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
16 18 20 22 24 26 28 52 54 56 58 60 62 78 80 82 84
Almost New Year’s Party Disney on Ice Tupelo Christmas Parade Hope for the Holidays Lighting of the Museum Mac McAnally Concert Black-Tie Banquet NMSO Concert The Nutcracker Premier Bridal Show Sideways Santa Musical Tour of Homes Elvis’s Birthday Celebrations Ultimate Christmas Take a Time Out Tom Kimmel Concert Celebrity Wait Night
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84 DEPARTMENTS 10 12 42 68 86 88
Letter From the Publisher What’s Happening Pets of the Month In Season: Salads Out and About Tupelo Spirit: Jeanette and Leighton Dillard February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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oppeli C A Tupelo Ballet presents
Director | Sharon Long
Saturday, March 21 at 2 pm at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium featuring the Tupelo Ballet Company & guest artists
Call 662-844-1928 for tickets & more information. Accepted
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
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the publisher
LETTER FROM
T
aking food to a neighbor is commonplace in the South. It’s usually a cake or pie that we take to show we care, but this month I have salad on my mind. It might sound strange, but to me, a salad represents the way the folks of Lee County support each other. With a salad, when you mix the ingredients together with dressing and toppings, the end result is better than the parts alone. And that’s exactly what is happening in Lee County. People from different walks of life are coming together to make this a better place to live and work. Big and small, corporations and individuals, are all joining forces to help the communities where they live and work. One example is Toyota Mississippi, named the 12th-largest company in the world by revenue in 2014. The company is putting its dollars to work right here to help others. Thanks to the company's significant philanthropy funds and caring people who are willing to help their community, Lee County is a better place to live. Christi Webb, executive director at Family Resource Center, sees that every day. A $20,000 grant from the company enables her to give hundreds of car seats each year to families who otherwise couldn’t afford them. And it doesn’t stop there. Seventy-seven percent of Blue Springs management team members serve as board members for 22 local organizations, 18 of which are in Lee County. Their story of helping the community with both financial and handson efforts is not only noteworthy but also noble. And then there are philanthropists with smaller budgets who are also making big impacts, like Aimee Shaw. Shaw paints whimsical portraits of beloved pets to raise money for her north Mississippi dog rescue operation. You’ll find an original piece of her artwork on the front cover of this month’s magazine. We are honored and excited to be part of a community with such a great mix of people and such wonderful stories to tell.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
Check out some creative salad recipes on page 68.
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
For more recipes, photos and stories, visit the redesigned invitationtupelo.com.
PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Emily Welly ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lena Anderson ART DIRECTOR Hallie M. Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts, Joe Worthem STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson DESIGNERS Becca Bailey, Zach Fields, Courtney Sims CONTRIBUTORS Chasity Dees, Kimme Hargrove, Emily Suber, Aimee Shaw, Andrew Stanford, Sonia Thompson OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationtupelo.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 3192, Tupelo, MS 38802 or visit invitationtupelo.com to pay online. To request a photographer at your event, to obtain an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Hallie at hallielandonmarshall@gmail.com.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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what’s happening February 15-March 15 A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
MUSIC Now through March 31
BENEFITS, PERFORMANCES, SPECIAL EVENTS AND MORE Now through February 28
February 28
Hot Rods and Street Rods on Exhibit
Civic Ballet’s Coppelia
Visit a free music exhibit featuring Carvel Lee Ausborne, better known as Mississippi Slim, at the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau, 399 E. Main St. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Custom hot rods and street rods are on display at Tupelo Automobile Museum. The museum is open MondaySaturday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon-4:30 p.m. tupeloautomuseum.com
February 19
February 18
Jason Coleman Concert
Harlem Globetrotters
The Civic Ballet performs its spring recital, Coppelia, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. Premium tickets $25, general admission $15, children 12 and under $6. Following the matinee, children are invited to meet the cast, take photos and have light refreshments. $10 per child, adult chaperones free. civicballet.org
Tupelo Concert Association presents Jason Coleman at Tupelo Civic Auditorium. Tickets $25. 7 p.m. tupeloconcertassociation.com
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters take the court at BancorpSouth Arena. Tickets $20-62. 7 p.m. bcsarena.com
February 20
February 19-21
Jason Aldean Concert
2015 Magnolia Independent Film Festival
Country music artist Jason Aldean performs in his Burn It Down tour with special guests Cole Swindell and Tyler Farr. 7:30 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena. Tickets $32-62. bcsarena.com
A film festival takes place at nearby Hollywood Premier Cinemas in Starkville, Miss. starkvillearts.net
Mississippi Slim Music Exhibit
February 21 NMSO’s Musical Majesty North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, led by Conductor Steven Byess, presents Musical Majesty featuring violinist Alexander Markov. 7:30 p.m., Link Centre. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 students. nmsymphony.com
February 26 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular BancorpSouth Arena welcomes Christian music’s largest annual tour. Featuring Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli and Tony Nolan. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets $10. bcsarena.com
February 20 Kids Night at Healthworks! Children ages 4-12 get a fun night at Healthworks! Parents get a night off. Dinner is provided. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Register early for $15 per child, $10 per member child. 662-377-5437, healthworkskidsms.org
February 26-27 Building Healthy Families Conference New Beginnings Adoption hosts a two-day conference for social workers and adoptive families, featuring speakers Dr. David and Jayne Schooler. newbeginningsadoptions.org
February 28-March 1 Monster Jam Monster Trucks Monster trucks take over BancorpSouth Arena. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $22-33. bcsarena.com
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
March 3 Developing Bird and Butterfly Habitats Learn which plants provide food and shelter for birds, serve as nectar sources for butterflies and host hungry caterpillars in a free class presented by the Master Gardeners of Lee County. 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Lee County Extension Office. Pre-registration is required by calling 662-841-9000. leecountymastergardeners.com
March 6 Kiwanis Drawdown Take your chances at a $10,000 grand prize at the annual Tupelo Kiwanis Club Charity Drawdown and Dinner. 6 p.m., Bancorp South Conference Center. $225 per couple includes dinner, full bar and a raffle ticket. For more information, call 662-791-1085 or e-mail jim.goodwin99@yahoo.com.
March 13-14 Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel The Link Centre’s signature fundraiser is a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition. This year’s fifth annual contest includes $17,500 in cash prizes. Fairpark. tupelobbqduel.com
SPORTS AND FITNESS Ongoing
Tupelo Fit
Interested in getting fit, trying new workouts and meeting new friends? Check out Tupelo Fit, a free sampling of fun workouts from Jazzercise and Zumba to CrossFit and Bootcamp. Offered Thursday evenings in different locations around Tupelo. For weekly times, places and class details, visit facebook.com/tupelofit.
February 19-22 State Swimming Championship Tupelo’s Shockwave Aquatic Team will host swimmers from around the state for the MS Swimming, Inc., Short Course State Championships taking place at Tupelo Aquatic Center. tupeloaquatics.com
March 13 Fun and Fit at Healthworks! Children and their grown-ups are invited to get fit at this 1980s-themed rock party. Exercise, run a relay, learn in the lab and more. 10-11:30 a.m. General admission $5, free for members. 662-377-5437, healthworkskidsms.org
Paul B. Farabaugh, M.D. Jonathan R. Kalish, M.D J. Timothy Posey, M.D.
C. Stephen Farmer II, M.D. Wm. Hughes Milam, M.D. Kristopher W. Whitehead, M.D.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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WeWe openopen the finest the finest We open the fin doors in town doors in town
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1264 Charleston Blvd., Tupelo 13-918
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206 Pleasant Ridge, Mooreville 14-1944
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151 Lakeover, Tupelo 13-2464
Sara Mills
2024 Lake Circle Dr., Tupelo 14-1711
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210 East M
Sara Mills
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179 Poplar Springs, Tupelo 14-3260
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104 Poplar Springs 14-2513
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Sara Mills
1970 Forest Park, Tupelo
Sara Mills
858 Indian Oaks Dr., Saltillo 14-3146
14-3618
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1418 Charleston Gardens Dr., Tupelo
14-2100
Sara Mills
737 N Madison, Tupelo
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TUPELO | OXFORD
662-842-3844 tmhomes.com
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14-3320
acres in historic Highland Circle. 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home has all thisLocated houseonis2iehtake fhakpoqwh kjfh ;aksjchliaueylfka. the charm this of older homeis& iehtake amenities fhakpoqwh of with hardwood floors, gourmet kjkahkjheakajeclkja;lksjelkfja l a new home kjfh house ;aksjchliaueylfka. kitchen with granite and Viking appliances, 2 gas fireplaces, newly landscaped, kjkahkjheakajeclkja;lksjelkfja l of home and overlooks the freshly painted screened in porch runs length grounds and pool/sauna. $569,900.
Main St., Tupelo Tommy Morgan, Broker/Owner 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford Harris, Managing Broker MichelleJessica w 662-401-0015
Sara Mills
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4206 Ridgeway, Belden
14-3265
Stately home located in family friendly, Ridgeway subdivision. Open floor plan, 4 bedrooms plus large bonus, beautiful, two-story kitchen with catwalk and granite this house is iehtake fhakpoqwh kjfh ;aksjchliaueylfka. countertops. All new windows, fresh paint, and updates in the master bath. this house is iehtake fhakpoqwh kjfh ;aksjchliaueylfka. kjkahkjheakajeclkja;lksjelkfja l Fenced backyard. $329,000. kjkahkjheakajeclkja;lksjelkfja l
Sara Mills
TUPELO | OXFORD TUPELO | OXFORD
662-842-3844 662-842-3844 tmhomes.com tmhomes.com
210 East East 210 Main St.,Main Tupelo Morgan, Broker/Owner 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford Jessica Harris, Broker Broker 210 Main St., Tupelo East St., Tommy Tupelo Tommy Morgan, Broker/Owner 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford JessicaManaging Harris, Managing
photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Almost New Year’s Party View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
A crowd began ringing in 2015 early at the annual Almost New Year’s Party, held Dec. 29 at the J.J. Rogers Building. The event raised funds to help rebuild American Legion Post 49, which was destroyed in last April’s tornado. The band Two Drink Minimum performed.
Amber and Jordan Beane
Glen Bingham and Cathy Smith
Tommy and Debbie Watson, Jennifer and Mike Pettigrew, Jimmy Stevens, and Tom Carr
Pam and Truman Fry
Amanda and Paul Mitchell with Paul Mize, Javanté Ingram Wayne and Yvette Slocum with Clay Stewart and Catherine Mize
Chuck McArthur, Moe Livingston, Harris Magruder, Scott Reed, Todd Hunt, Lynn Dietrich Jeni and Justin Chandler, Robin and Bennett Maynard, Kathy and Kevin Lott, Shannon and Dennis Nolan and Tim Overton, and Karen and Rob Harness
1583 Highway 45 | Saltillo | MS | 38866 | 662.869.1690
Custom built modular and manufactured homes. Let our family help your family build the home of your dreams Like us on 16
INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
or visit us online at www.the-home-gallery.com
The Bachelor of General Studies degree at The University of Mississippi was created to meet the needs of students who have accumulated college credits but have not completed a bachelor’s degree program. The BGS provides maximum flexibility with defined career objectives and includes the core curriculum, three minors, and electives.
olemiss.edu/tupelo The Bachelor of General Studies degree is offered on the Tupelo campus located in the Advanced Education Center. To learn more about the BGS and other UM degree programs, call (662) 844-5622 or visit the website at olemiss.edu/tupelo. Take care of your business at The University of Mississippi-Tupelo.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Disney on Ice Treasure Trove View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Mickey, Minnie and many of their pals performed for some of their biggest fans in Disney on Ice Treasure Trove Dec. 4-7 at BancorpSouth Arena. For a schedule of upcoming events, including family-friendly events like Disney on Ice, visit bcsarena.com.
Westin and Ashley Duke
Carlee and Bella Morgan
Keegan Vernon, Alonna Snyder, Autumn Clegg, Emmy Poston and Camden Vernon
Emily Browning with Briley, Paisley and Keri Stout
Tripp, Jack, Kim and Sie Summers
Leigh, Autrey and Stephanie Naugher
J.J., Leah, Cole and Jennifer Potts
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Amanda and Taylor Reeves
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tupelo Christmas Parade View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The 66th annual Reed’s Christmas Parade rolled Dec. 8 with grand marshals Matt Laubhan and Emily Leonard of WTVA symbolizing the “Season of Hope” theme. The husband-and-wife team is credited with helping prepare the community for the April tornado.
Amber Moyer and Hannah Flake
Rachel Williams, Hannah Tybor, Daphne Young, Sarah Beth Stewart, Hannah Baggett, Madelyn Von Straw, Maggie Phillips and Julia Hardee
Lilly Donnell, Wesley McDonald and Reese Donnell
Emilee Clemons and Victoria Meza-O’Neal
Jason Warren, Teresa Irwin, Neel Dean and Robin Walton
Claire and Teresa Newcomer with Larry and Casey Bonds
Santana Davison and Thanesha Townsend
Erin Anderson and Macy Byrda
Providing professional, comprehensive eye care to the people of Northeast Mississippi
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
When the time comes, we have the perfect place for your loved one
In-Home Senior Care Services
Agape Senior Living
WE ARE COMFORT KEEPERS Our mission is to provide our clients with the highest
Oaktree Manor Assisted Living
level of quality of life that
60139 Cotton Gin Port Road, Amory, MS 38821
is achievable.
Countrywood Manor Assisted Living
We shall treat each of our
145 Watson Dr. Mantachie, MS 38855
Pre-booking now for Northeast Mississippi’s exclusive Alzheimer’s Assisted Living Facility.
Church Street Manor Personal Care Home 36 Elm Lane, Ecru, Ms 38841
Contact: 662.322.4636 • info@agapesl.com
clients with the respect and dignity they deserve, as though we were caring for a member of our own family.
(662) 841-8477 www.ComfortKeepers.com An international network of independently owned and operated offices © 2009 CK Franchising, Inc.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
21
photographed by Courtney Sims
events Hope for the Holidays View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
North Mississippi Dance Center raised more than $14,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with its annual Hope for the Holidays fundraiser recital, held Dec. 14 at the Lyric Theatre. For more information on the dance school, visit northmsdance.webs.com.
Bennette, Macie and Brad Kellum with Charlotte Murrell
Lucy Cochran, Cara Holliday, Ella Petrie and Hattie Mets
Andrew, Loden, Ginger and Eva Brooke Sweeney
Kaylin Costello, Katelyn Williams and Avery-Claire Littleton
Susan and Shannon Kirkland with Courtney Vines
Mary Frances Massey and Beth Richardson
Ryleigh Owen and Margaret McNeece
Allison and Emma Grace Dudding
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
101 W. Main St. | Baldwyn, MS
Mon - Fri: 10AM - 6PM Sat: 10AM - 4PM 662.365.5200
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Lighting of the Museum View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation and Oren Dunn City Museum ushered in the holiday season on Dec. 1 with the annual Lighting of the Museum. The museum also hosted a meet-and-greet event with the Grinch and collected donations for Toys for Tots.
Michaela and Lorrie Heiteger
Makynley and Cory Franks
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Emily Reese, Carly Talbott, Brooke Turner, Lexi Dicky and Addi Turner
Mitzi Duchett and Della Poston
Matt, Paxton and Debbie Long
Glenda Jones, Sarah Krudewig and Leigh Eaton
Samantha Wilemon, Mitzi Moore and Harper Payne
Suzanne and Sara Crow
Clara Frances and Trey Wilemon
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Mac McAnally Concert View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo Community Theatre presented Mac McAnally in concert Dec. 12 at the Lyric Theatre. The Mississippi singer, songwriter, musician and producer has received numerous honors, including seven Country Music Association Musician of the Year awards.
Donna and Jesse McNeece
Kristi Paxton, Bev Crossen, Tracy Coleman, Regina Russell and Melissa Nolan
Andrew Weddle and Catherine Adams
Johnny and Meredith Farris
Rex and Alice Smith
Karla Reese and Chuck Redwood
Melinda and Edward Alexander
Cortney and Tim Warren
Lou Remmers and Deborah Tierce
Mitzi and Eddie Moore with Carol and Mark Akin
Laura, Clay and Betty Armstrong
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Kathryn Leigh Photography
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Historic Downtown Tupelo 662.842.6453 • Mall at Barnes Crossing 662.842.5287 • reedsms.com
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February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Black-Tie Banquet View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Committee for King held a black-tie banquet Jan. 17 as part of its Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. The weekend also included an Apollo Night, a commemorative service and a motorcade to St. Paul Christian Life Center, where a birthday celebration was held.
Arlillian Danner and Henry Cobb
Diamond Sharpe, Lashonda Montgomery, Donnesha Nixon, Danielle Johnson, Tahjinesha Harbour, Melanese Harbour and Anita Ambrose
Tamara Washington, Dorothy Tucker, Betty Rogers and Lashun Rogers
Shirley Agnew, Jannette Kirk, Eloise Mayfield and Linda Blackmon
Ann Betts, Pansey Bradley, Annie Spearman, Summer Bradley and Cindy Howard
Florine Nails, Curmie Arnold and Gladys Fisher
John R. and Ripple Foster with Pamela Hadley
Charles and Roberta Davis with Sean Suggs
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Jeffery Gladney and Mary Rainey
Ruby Bradley and Margie Arrington
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Jason Warren, Broker/Owner Robin Walton, Broker/Associate Neel Dean, Broker/Associate
MLS# 14-3290 $105,000 2100 HOLLY HILL DR. WILDWOOD | TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; Split bedroom plan; inground pool
MLS# 14-3311 $129,900 1701 CLAYTON AVE. JOYNER | TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/1.5 Bathrooms; completely remodeled
MLS# 14-3287 $619,500
MLS# 14-3288 $299,900
MLS# 14-3277 $219,000
5362 CHESTERVILLE RD. TUPELO 6 Bedrooms/4.5 Bathrooms; in-ground pool; barn w/ electricity; approx. 10 acres
1952 BORDEAUX LN. BORDEAUX | TUPELO 4 Bedroom/3.5 Bathrooms; Split bedroom plan; formal dining
1011 BELLEDEER DRIVE BELLEDEER | TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms; beautifully remodeled inside & out
MLS# 14-3251 $249,999 145 ACADIAN CR.
ACADIAN VILLAGE | TUPELO 4 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms; French country open large eat-in kitchen w/ keeping room & gas logs; after country,
DAYS L OD
MLS# 14-3250 $229,900 4645 MEADOW BROOK DR. MEADOWLAKE | TUPELO
4 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; two masters; large eat-in kitchen w/ keeping room; beautiful pine floors & split bedroom floor plan
SIN 48
MLS# 14-3216 $250,000
MLS# 14-3215 $249,900
MLS# 14-3153 $109,950
MLS# 14-3064 $115,000
MLS# 15-96 $68,500
107 VALLEY VISTA DR. MEADOWLAKE | TUPELO 4 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; home w/private master suite & bonus room
4741 CHESTERVILLE RD. MEADOWLAKE | TUPELO 4 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; new construction; two main level master suites
908 BEECHUT WILDWOOD | TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; large eat-in kitchen; inground pool; move in ready
545 WALNUT DOWNTOWN TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; cottage; new construction; split bedroom plan
1313 LEONARD BRISTOW ACRES | TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; hardwood floors; new roof; fenced in backyard & shop
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MLS# 14-3207 $150,000
MLS# 14-3342 $165,000
MLS# 14-3014 $169,900
MLS# 14-3252 $175,000
MLS# 14-3134 $189,900
2116 REAGAN DR. TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; quiet cul-de-sac street; split floor plan
422 WILLENA CV. WESTWIND | TUPELO
1806 CARDINAL DR. AUDUBON | TUPELO
932 DIXIE CREEK SALTILLO
518 MAGNOLIA TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms, updated kitchen with granite counters & two living areas
MLS# 15-104 $339,000 1433 LAKESHIRE NORTH TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/ 2.5 Bathrooms; two family living areas; beautifully remodeled
MLS# 14-3649 $229,900 68 VALLEY VISTA MEADOWLAKE | TUPELO
MLS # 14-3450 $199,900 38 CLARK BLVD. FAIRPARK | TUPELO
MLS# 14-3145 $125,000 133 SAINT THOMAS GUNTOWN 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; cul-de-sac location; split bedroom plan
4 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms; large family room w/tall 10’ ceilings & gas fireplace; in-ground pool
4 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; newly updated int & ext; open eat-in kitchen w/Pierce cabinets; beautiful hardwood floors.
4 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; open & easy living floor plan; private master suite; great open kitchen
MLS# 14-3407 $425,000
MLS# 15-26 $275,000
MLS # 14-3432 $375,000
1943 BORDEAUX NORTH TUPELO
425 HIGHWAY 6 NETTLETON
4543 LAKEWOOD LN. TUPELO COUNTRY CLUB
3 Bedroom/2.5 Bathrooms; amazing architectural details; one owner custom built; overlooks TCC Golf Course
4 Bedroom/3 Bathrooms; bonus room could a 5th bedroom; 2 master suites; Like new!
very spacious 3 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; acreage w/shop 4 bays heated/cooled w/office and bath
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4 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; split floor plan; in-ground swimming pool
3 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms; Townhome; large open family room and kitchen; spacious courtyard
307 WEST MAIN STREET TUPELO | MS | 38804
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MLS# 14-3471 $ 99,900
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MLS# 14-3173 $269,500
MLS# 14-3017 $310,000
Adorable 3BR/2BA cottage in Joyner neighborhood! Beautiful hardwood floors; split bedroom plan; large back yard.
1001 VALLEY RD. NORTH TUPELO 4 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; beautifully renovated & remodeled!
103 CORI CV. GARDEN PARK | SALTILLO
MLS# 14-3300 $375,000
MLS# 14-3324 $410,000
181 SCOTLAND DR. SALTILLO
2597 ST. ANDREWS TUPELO COUNTRY CLUB
4 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; custom built; large formal dining w/fireplace; shop; 5 acres
4 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; completely renovated & movein ready; gourmet kitchen
842 CHESTER TUPELO
MLS# 14-3539
$179,900
972 COUNTY ROAD 931 TUPELO
MLS# 14-3376
$525,000
1935 NORTH PARC NORTH PARC | TUPELO
Mooreville School District, 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms, split floor plan, 20x30 shop w/electricity, approx. 2 acres
5 Bedrooms/4.5 Bathrooms, gourmet style kitchen w/ new Pierce cabinetry, pool
MLS# 14-3356 $419,500
MLS# 14-3214 $550,000
4338 MEADOW CR. OAK MEADOWS | BELDEN 6 Bedrooms/4 Bathrooms; custom built; large open family room w/ fireplace
611 NORTH THOMAS ST. TUPELO 5 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; sitting on just over 10 acres; banquet size formal dining
MLS# 14-3586 $239,900 1209 CLAYTON AVE. JOYNER | TUPELO
4 Bedrooms/3 Bathrooms; large eat-in kitchen w/eat at counter; family room w/fireplace; bonus room
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MLS# 14-3136 $450,000
MLS# 14-3062 $425,000
MLS# 14-3332 $439,500
1546 LARKSPUR SPRINGLAKE | TUPELO 4 Bedrooms/4 Bathrooms; mediterranean style home; kitchen w/ keeping area
3173 NORTH HILL MT. VERNON PLANTATION 4 Bedrooms/4 Bathrooms; large formal dining & living room; 2 main level bedrooms
4595 PINE CONE LN. OAK MEADOWS | BELDEN 5 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; French country; gourmet style kitchen; media room
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MLS# 14-3043 $450,000 4739 MEADOW LN. OAK MEADOWS | BELDEN 5 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; quiet cul-de-sac; family room w/ fireplace; pool; lake
4 Bedroom/2 Bathrooms; updated kitchen & baths; stainless appliances; large backyard with screened back porch
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MLS# 14-3408 $325,000 112 COUNTY RD. 1950 SALTILLO
5 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms, southern carriage style; wrap around porch; office; 2.5 acres
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MLS# 14-3217 $325,000
MLS # 14-3427 $195,000
4539 MEADOW CR. OAK MEADOWS | BELDEN
720 NORTH MADISON HIGHLAND CR. | TUPELO
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MLS # 14-3534 $99,900 106 LAURELBROOK SALTILLO
3 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms; French country; enormous living & dining w/vaulted ceiling & exposed beams
3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; new roof & HVAC; guest house; beautiful character & details
MLS# 14-3223
MLS# 14-3457 $200,000
MLS# 14-3314 $199,900
1272 ELVIS PRESLEY TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; one owner home; large open eat-in kitchen; 30 acres
1956 INTERNATIONAL DR. TUPELO Commercial Property; 4 office areas; heated/cooled warehouse; reception area
$339,000
4526 RIDGEMOOR RIDGEWAY | BELDEN
4 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms; traditional style; both downstairs & upstairs master suites; large eat-in kitchen; beautiful in-ground pool
662.842.2710
Adorable and move in ready! This 3 BD/2 BA offers a large eat-in kitchen; great room w/vaulted ceiling; fenced backyard.
MLS# 15-64 $284,900
MLS# 14-3585 $989,000
2224 CLA-WOOD TUPELO
3070 ORCHID CIRCLE SPRINGLAKE | TUPELO
4 Bedroom/3.5 Bathrooms; one level with multiple living areas; large tree covered lot
Custom built lakefront home 5 Bedrooms/4 Bathrooms/two 1/2 baths; gunite pool; pool house w/fireplace & cooking center; dock; putting green
MLS# 15-90 $79,900
MLS# 15-113 $159,900
3552 FAIR OAKS COLONIAL ESTATES | BELDEN
3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; move in ready; large family room
6002 WESTWIND TUPELO 3 Bedrooms/2 Bathrooms; great floor plan; open living & dining; in-ground pool
JasonWarrenTupelo.com February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Jeremy Rushing turned his love for music into a business building customized stringed instruments and now his one-of-a-kind banjos and guitars are coveted by experienced musicians.
WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
Jeremy Rushing
knew what he wanted to do when he returned to Tupelo at age 24. After years following the Grateful Dead and Phish, hopping freight trains and communing with hippies all over the country, Rushing settled into the auto body work program at Itawamba Community College with visions of restoring vintage hot rods and Harleys. Twelve years later, a handful of motorcycle tanks and helmets waiting to be pinstriped still crowd the tables of his two 20-by-20 foot backyard workshops in Eupora, Miss. But it’s the handmade instruments in various states of construction on which he is now focused. Rushing, a self-taught banjo player and guitarist, bought his first band saw, Dremel tool and drill press to make a banjo for himself five years ago. “Someone wanted to buy it from me for a decent amount, so I sold it and used the money to buy more tools and supplies to build another.” Rushing said. “When I sold that one just as quick, I decided maybe I should build instruments instead of working at a body shop.” Rushing began buying any instrument he could find to tear apart, inspect and rebuild. “In lutherie [stringed instrument making], not a lot of people will help you and hand out those secrets. You hit a closed door. Some will even tell you the wrong thing to do just to throw you, so I had to figure it out the hard way,” he said. He found that most instrument makers do wrapped rims or steambent slat rims using more glue, which affects sound. They use routers
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“He’s a phenomenal luthier who makes quality instruments.” -TWEED OWNER ANDREW RATCLIFFE
Self-taught musician and instrument maker Jeremy Rushing tests the sound on a handmade custom guitar in one of the two workshops in his Eupora, Miss., backyard. Rushing specializes in building banjos but has expanded his craft to include acoustic, electric and lap steel guitars. No two instruments he makes are alike.
and computer-operated machines to shape instrument necks with ease and efficiency. But Rushing doesn’t take shortcuts in his craft. He builds his banjos differently, starting with raw chunks of maple, mahogany, walnut, ash or swamp cypress wood. Small angular pieces are glued together in the shape of a stop sign to make a preliminary block rim. He then spins the rim on a wood lathe and shaves it with a chisel to shape it into a circular banjo body. Necks are roughly cut and hand-shaved with spokeshaves, rasps and chisels. On each
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instrument, the inlay, pearl fretwork and any engraving is handcrafted. Rushing has no back stock cluttering his shop, just the few instruments he’s made for himself and whatever he’s building. And style reproductions or repeats are off-limits. “When things are no longer one of a kind and you start making just one thing you’re no longer an artist; you’re a manufacturer,” he said. “People come to me because they can customize their instrument like a tattoo. I even get them to send me music they play and examples of the artists they love before I start.”
Rushing usually spends two weeks in his workshop on each project, clad in overalls and blaring outlaw country music. The craft comes so innately to him now that he can tap the body of the instrument while it’s on the lathe and tell what it will sound like from the timbre of the “knock note.” His instruments are favorites of artists such as Joey Fortner from Soldier’s Heart on Discovery Channel’s Hillbilly Blood, folk musician Dylan Valvo, and Frankie Revell with the Lickety Split Banjo Boys. Rushing offers his banjos to musicians at a folk school in New
VISIT AMORY, MISSISSIPPI
The Amory Regional Museum is dedicated to preserve, curate and archive historical significant regional history, genealogical interest, and provide innovative, educational programming that celebrates the culture and community of Amory, Mississippi and the surrounding area.
HOURS: Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Major Holidays
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Jeremy Rushing may know how to pick a banjo, but he believes his real talent is in building them. He handcrafts banjos and guitars to fit the needs of individual musicians, even learning about the music they play and artists they love as part of the building process. ”People come to me because they can customize their instrument like a tattoo,” he said.
York and Tweed Recording in Oxford, Miss. “He’s a phenomenal luthier who makes quality instruments,” Tweed owner Andrew Ratcliffe said. “Several people have tracked on the banjo we keep at the studio for different records, and they always are impressed by the
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
craftsmanship and how easy it is to play.” Now that he’s in tune with banjos, Rushing is also building acoustic, electric and lap steel guitars. Rushing posts shots of his latest creations on Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr to keep
in touch with his growing band of followers. “Every day is a learning day here,” he said. “I thought this would give me more time to pick when I started, but it’s the opposite. I do more building and less jamming. But that’s okay. I think I’m a better builder than a picker.”
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February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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214 W. Market St. Booneville, MS 662-416-1534 Wed-Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-2 807 Suite A Varsity Dr.•Tupelo, MS Located inside Thrifty Sisters 662-350-3845
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A Different Breed of Art Aimee Shaw paints whimsical portraits of beloved pets to raise money for her north Mississippi dog rescue operation. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
Aimee Shaw discovered a new talent while searching for a creative way to raise funds for the pit bull rescue operation she started. She began painting colorful portraits of people’s beloved pets and selling them to raise money to support the operation. The artwork is sold online and at local festivals and regular events, including the Tupelo Flea Market.
THE LARGER-THAN-LIFE DOG PAINTING hanging in the playroom of Lori Davis’s Jayeff, Miss., home is more than just lively decor to amuse her grandchildren. For Davis, the
brightly colored image is an homage to a family friend. “Rocco was an American pit bull terrier I raised from when I bottle-fed him until he was
2½. When we had to put him down back in May, I was heartbroken. I knew when I wanted his portrait done I would have to get Aimee Shaw to do it,” she said. “Her work is amazing, February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Aimee Shaw’s pet portraits don’t just feature pit bulls; she also paints beloved pets and other animals, including cats, lizards, horses and even favorite SEC mascots. She hand-paints piggy banks and sells other merchandise like calendars and T-shirts decorated with her whimsical artwork.
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but I know the money goes to helping her other bullies.” Shaw, a full-time graphic designer, began painting the portraits to fund her passion: rescuing dogs with Shaw Pit Bull Rescue in New Hope, Miss. Proceeds from the portrait sales help provide food, medical care and shelter for the dogs the rescue operation supports. “The whole operation started with me finding a stray mama pit guarding her dead pup at the river one day. I just couldn’t leave her there like that,” Shaw said. “My husband, Kenneth, and I agreed to take in one or two dogs at a time, and before we knew it we had 69 dogs to love. I think we’ve adopted out
120 since we started, so now we’re down to a roomy 33.” The dogs live outdoors in a space that includes wire kennels with pea gravel floors and a doggie play yard. About a year ago, the couple decided to renovate the current rescue setup into a professional-grade indoor/outdoor facility. The renovation project inspired Shaw to pick up her paintbrushes to raise money. First, she decorated piggy banks. Then she started painting pit bulls in vivid acrylic on 11-by-14-inch and 16-by-20 inch canvases, using members of her pack as models. Soon online patrons began sending special requests for likenesses of their favorite
animals. Orders included a menagerie of pets, from tortoises, tree frogs and koi fish to special orders for paintings of SEC mascots. Now Shaw takes her piggy banks, paintings and other products, such as calendars and T-shirts, featuring her pit bull art to local festivals and regular shows like the Tupelo Flea Market. The publicity spreads awareness of the rescue and increases demand for the portraits. “All they have to do is get me a good closeup of their animal and let me know what colors they like, what size they need and how abstract they want it,” Shaw said. “I’ll paint just about anything for the dogs.” Within days of sending in her shot of
Rocco, Davis’s portrait was hanging in her house. Now she’s thinking of getting one of Shaw’s more abstract depictions of her lost pooch to accompany the first. “Our family fell in love with that portrait the minute we saw it because she somehow captured the essence of who he was in that bright paint. As someone who has been rejected and had a great family dog excluded because of his breed, I know the level of prejudice their rescue faces,” Davis said. “This is just one beautiful way to give them a chance.” For more information on Shaw’s rescue operation or to order her artwork, visit shawpitbullrescue.com.
Shaw Pit Bull Rescue started when Aimee Shaw rescued one stray dog. Since then, the operation has adopted out 120 dogs and currently houses around 30. Money raised through Shaw’s artwork goes toward food, medical care and shelter for the dogs the rescue operation supports.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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PETS
of the Month
ABE
SUGAR 42
INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS
Adoption is just one way to help stray animals. Stop by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society at 2400 S. Gloster St. to volunteer or adopt a pet, or visit tupelo leehumane.org to make a donation.
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From giving away free car seats to building and revitalizing community parks, TOYOTA Motor Manufacturing Mississippi has become known as much for supporting northeast Mississippians as for the vehicles it builds. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
T
oyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi has kept its promises, four years after opening its nearby Blue Springs, Miss., plant. In addition to bringing jobs and bolstering the local economy, the international business has positively affected quality of life in northeast Mississippi. The company’s ability to offer financial support and its insistence on core values that influence the entire workforce has breathed life into community programs.
GIVING BACK Every time Christi Webb hands a new car seat to a deserving family at the Family Resource Center in Tupelo, she sees Toyota generosity at work. And she gets to see it often. “We’ve already given out 19 car seats just this week, and this is only Thursday,” said Webb, Family Resource Center’s executive director. “We get so many referrals now from the area nonprofits every day. After three years of doing this, the word is finally out.” Thanks to a $20,000 grant from Toyota, the center gives around 400 free car seats and booster seats per year to families without means to purchase one. The center’s certified passenger safety technicians also provide free preinstallation training on car seat safety and set up. Webb and her staff of 23 provide the services on-site at the center, as well as in other locations in Lee, Pontotoc and Union counties. The group travels throughout the counties to health fairs, high schools, churches, foster parent organizations and medical facilities to provide for children and families in need. The grant, for which the resource center reapplies annually, is only a portion of Toyota philanthropy money donated in the area. Since the grant program began in 2012, the factory has provided more than $2 million to Mississippi organizations. More than $1.1 million of those funds went to 49 organizations in Lee County. Family Resource Center’s grant money allows them to reach a whole new population of locals with car seats, safety instruction and other services, from parenting classes to their food pantry and clothes closet. “It has been a godsend here because so many families just can’t afford the equipment, and many have more than one child at home. It opens a door for us since lots of those families could really use the other services we provide, too,” Webb said. “This sponsorship makes it possible for us to help save lives.”
Lindsey Beard and Pam Morris are Car Passenger Safety Technicians at Tupelo’s Family Resource Center. Through a grant from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, the center offers free car seats and car seat safety classes to families in need. They give away around 400 car seats and booster seats per year.
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77 percent of Blue Springs management team members serve on the boards of 22 local organizations, 18 of which are in Lee County.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING MISSISSIPPI
In all,
JOINING HANDS Saltillo, Miss., resident Sean Suggs’s monthly schedule leaves little doubt of his personal commitment to his new community. Since leaving Tennessee for a Toyota job one year ago, the 18-year automotive industry veteran spends much of his time off from his vice president of administration duties as a board member for organizations such as Tupelo’s Tree of Life Clinic and
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the CREATE Foundation. “I believe it should be part of any executive’s job description to not just do the business but also help the community they work in. It’s a part of the job I’ve always enjoyed,” he said. Suggs’s dedication is just one example of factory leadership lending their business skills to local organizations after work hours. In all, 77 percent of Blue Springs management team members serve on the boards
of 22 local organizations, 18 of which are in Lee County. Like Suggs, some leaders serve on multiple boards. “Like any performance indicator we track here for safety or quality, we keep up with how we engage with the community because we want to continue to grow as a great community partner,” Suggs said. “It’s a matter of pride for our workers to know that we care about investing in their community.”
Musical Majesty
February 21, 2015 - Alexander Markov, Violin The phenomenal and internationally-acclaimed violinist, and Tupelo favorite, Alexander Markov returns to Tupelo to perform Mendelssohn's lyrical masterpiece, the concerto for Violin in E minor. Link Centre Concert Hall, 7:30pm
My Fair Lady in Concert March 21, 2015 The NMSO presents a semi-staged production of one of the greatest musicals ever written. A grand collaboration of the NMSO, the Ohio Light Opera Company, and the University of Memphis Department of Musical Theatre.
THS Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm
439 Hwy 4 W. Booneville MS • 416-2884 Thursday & Friday 11 - 5 • Saturday 10-3 Shop with us on February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Toyota team members commonly roll up their sleeves to serve as volunteers. The plant staff put in
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING MISSISSIPPI
8,100 local volunteer hours in 2014.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi team members and their families volunteer in an annual National Public Lands Day event each September to clean, beautify and even build local parks. Work includes planting flower seeds to attract endangered monarch butterflies, pictured at top. Butterfly gardens are also planted at the Toyota Blue Springs plant.
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DIGGING IN Leadership members are not the only ones at Toyota getting involved. Toyota team members commonly roll up their sleeves to serve as volunteers. The plant staff put in 8,100 local volunteer hours in 2014. National Public Lands Day in September, for example, brings Toyota team members together to serve in surrounding counties. Volunteers beautify local parks by adding mulch to playground areas, clearing walking paths and building pollinator gardens like those outside their workplace that attract endangered monarch butterflies on their migratory flight south. The group took efforts further last year by donating $100,000 including materials and labor to build the Toyota-Blue Springs Water Garden and Educational Park. “I came here from the West Virginia plant, and the overwhelming attention in our workforce here to giving back to the community is very impressive,” said environmental engineer Sean McCarthy. “We have the highest volunteer registration and turnout for this event, more than all of our North American affiliates.” The event has drawn as many as 750 volunteers, including Toyota team members and their families, in years past. As the model Toyota plant for sustainability, volunteers make the parks environmentally sound by building picnic tables from reclaimed wood, using environmentally friendly cleaners and placing polymers on plant roots to decrease watering. Their revitalization efforts on former sites – including Ballard Park in Tupelo; Park Along the River in New Albany, Miss.; and Howard Stafford Park in Pontotoc, Miss. – have been lasting. “I’ve been out two of the three years I’ve worked here, and it was an awesome thing to be part of,” said Derric Morrison, a Toyota team member and pastor at Second Baptist Church in Pontotoc. “People in my church live two minutes from that park. We have our church picnic there every year. That is the park in this area, not one of them, so that’s a big impact. It shows we go beyond cars and paychecks here. We’re helping provide groundwork for future generations.” Toyota’s 2015 National Public Lands Day park project site will be in Lee County. Details will be announced this fall.
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662.842.5080 Daniel H. Kellum, D.D.S. | Thomas N. Kellum, D.D.S. 505 North Robins Street | Tupelo Cleanings & Fillings | Root Canals | Extractions | Porcelain Crowns & Bridges | Veneers | Implants | Professional Whitening
FAMILY DENTISTRY
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OUR WEBSITE HAS A NEW LOOK!
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Concert View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Christmas with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra featured Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter concerto set to Howard Blake’s animated video The Snowman. Violinist Er-Gene Kahng and the NMSO Children’s Chorus joined the orchestra for the Dec. 13 concert.
Erin and Rita Pounds
Colleen and Devon Leckie
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Alex Jones, Katie Reese and Austin Jones
Carl, Betty and Will Daniels
George and Mary Ann Simpson
Anna and Ella Stone
Sharla Saylors and Margaret Whitehead
Jim and Gertrude Sanders
Maria Geno and Mallory Davidson
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662-407-0026 www.phifabrics.com 2020 South Gloster, Tupelo, MS February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events The Nutcracker View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo Ballet, accompanied by Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, presented The Nutcracker Dec. 5-6 at Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. The ballet company will stage Coppelia March 21 at Tupelo Civic Auditorium. Visit tupeloballet.com for more information.
Amy Haadsma and Emily Anderson
Olivia Orr, Emme Riley, Abby Curlee, Lydia Asters and Hannah Faith Cox
John Nicholson Todd and Dawson Tackett
Anna Kate Dunn, Trevor Hart and Olivia Dickey
Addy Eckard, Lily Roper, Berkley Madaric, Mary Lawson Lesley, Rachel Talton, Lindsay Hopkins, Charlotte Wise, Ivy Moffatt and Bailey Eaves
Isbella Posey, Allie Montgomery, Audrey Reeves, Ella Barber and Cora Beth Sheffield
Mason Deas, Ella Dunn and Mary Westmoreland
Ellora Dey, Meagan Tucker, Lilly McCluer, Anne-Daniel Sams and Emma Gregory
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Paige Moore, Gaby Ungo, Caroline Micheal and Mary Conlee Wilson
Madison Green, Shebly Burks, Maggie Gibens, Hanna Hill and Charlea Crayton
Prentiss Street Baldwyn, MS 662.365.8087
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Spring Is Arriving Now at
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events The Premier Bridal Show View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Brides- and grooms-to-be met a variety of wedding event vendors at The Premier Bridal Show, held Jan. 18 at BancorpSouth Conference Center. The traveling show visits various cities in Mississippi. For more information, visit thepremierbridalshow.com.
Corie and Blaine Walters
Chanda Edwards, Candace Dell and Mary Kathryn Coltharp
Angela Walker-McCray, Ashton Walker and Reba Bailey
Joyce and Amber Hudspeth
Cheryl Henning and Courtney Holcomb
Karla Stone with Sidda and Stacy Armstrong
Hayden Graham and Becky Adkins
Tess Mason, Amanda Gholson and Lauren Moore
Jorja Johnson and Kristin Tedford
Victoria Sawicki, Lauren Bean and Reagan Hern
Brenda Young, Sam Thomas and Andrea Gibson
Sue Kemp, Haley Bustin and Kevin Hinton
Hannah, Richard and Sarah Gunnells
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
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662-728-4447 203 North Second St. Booneville, MS February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Courtney Sims
events Sideways Santa View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
A holiday-themed pub crawl raised money for underprivileged children in the community. The Dec. 13 event started at Spring Street Cigar Bar, where attendees paid $10 admission and donated toys. The crawl ended with an after-party at Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen.
Tyler Hill and Kara James
Wesley Hazel, Dalton Healy, Molly Johnson and Megan Dye
Jenea Britton, Brent Martin and Tracy Coleman
Christina Vaughn, Sequoyah Lincks and Siera Wages
Michael and Amber Ricks with Katy and Kyle Irwin
Danielle Del Grande, Mayor Jason Shelton and Chat Phillips
Sadie Schmidt, Katie Scott and Megan Johnson
Brian Leathers with Ruthie, Bo Morrison and Chris Root
Rocky and Arizbeth Pickering with Stephanie Davis
Jessica Clayton, Kim Leathers, Kim Root and Natasha Morrison
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Colt Snell, Jenna Rose Koon, Stormi Taylor and Jessi Gatlin
Photograph taken at the Oren Dunn Museum
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www.creativetouchtupelo.com • 2613-A Tracewood Dr., February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Courtney Sims
events Holiday Musical Tour of Homes View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
The North Mississippi Symphony League presented a Holiday Musical Tour of Homes Dec. 14 in support of the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. The tour featured four homes that sustained damaged in last April’s tornado and have since been repaired.
Morgan Robinson and Macy Goodwin
Kim McAuley, Bobbi Kellum and Mary Connor Victoria
Lindsey Lee and Kim Floyd
Shelia Bezotte and Carolyn Allen
Danyelle Gray and Tina O’Quinn
Tracy and Charlotte Loden
Claudia Jackson and Carolyn Mason
Angie May and Tasha Easterling
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Beth Reid and Deedee Cantrell
Yvette Slocum and Belva Poland
Christy Oswalt and Christa Estes
INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Brian McGraw and Bart Mason
Chanda Cossitt and Megan Robinson
Connie Carter and Bonnie Boldt
821 S Gloster St Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 842-7260
Mon - Sat 6 am – 8:30 pm Sun 7 am – 2 pm
Connie’s Chicken
Family owned & operated. In business for over 37 years & voted Tupelo’s Best Fried Chicken.
New & colorful designs just in time for Spring!
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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events Elvis Presley Birthday Celebrations
CONTINUED ON PAGE 64
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau partnered with Elvis Presley Birthplace, GumTree Museum of Art, North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Tupelo Community Theatre and the Link Centre to make Presley’s 80th birthday celebration in January a citywide event.
ELVIS PRESLEY BIRTHPLACE CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAVID LEE
Sandra and Scott Cripps
Jennie Barker and Barb Tyler
Donna Hill and Annette McClendon
BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING AT ELVIS PRESLEY BIRTHPLACE
Shirley Scott, Carolyn Best and Judy Shumpert
Polly Brown Adkins with Lisa and Tom Brown
Derek Russell, Bobby Geno, Craig Helmuth and Keith Henley
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU UNVEILING OF MISSISSIPPI SLIM EXHIBIT
Dana Harlow, Amie Murphy, Emily Zizzi, Carolyn Cole and Melissa Fulghan
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Claudia Howard and Valerie Bradley
B.W. and Irene Ausborn with James David Ausborn Sr.
photographed by Lisa Roberts
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT GUMTREE MUSEUM OF ART
INTRODUCING
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Christine and Jon Jeffords with Sandy Adams
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Memphis Jones Trio
Wanda Todd, Nancy Diffee and Laura Ashley
Come see us for a
fresh Spring style! Holli Duffie, Megan Gale, Lindsay Henry, Candice Parker, Dawn Dyson, Ginger Carson, Shana Tatum, Terry and Angel Harbin with Bud and Amy Forrest
662-205-4683 • 1004 Commonwealth Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38804 February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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events Elvis Presley Birthday Celebrations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63
View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
UNVEILING OF THE 2015 ELVIS FESTIVAL POSTER
FAIRPARK
Debbie Falgout and Beth Trahan
A wreath was placed at the Fairpark statue by Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club.
Debbie Brangenberg and poster artist Richard Tucker
NORTH MISSISSIPPI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PERFORMS WITH RICHARD MARX
Steve and Gloria Holland with Chelsea Rick and Mayor Jason Shelton
Stephanie and Anna Grace Coomer with Breezy Moody
Paula Pittman, Kathy Vandevander, Kim Estess, Reta Doughty and Sheryl Blackburn
TCT OFF BROADWAY PRESENTS GRACELAND
Belinda McKinion and Madeleine Pressley
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Sandra Ballard, Brenda Daugherty, Carol Duckworth and Anna K. Webb
Erin Hamblin and Ashley Mosley with Stacie and Jason Hamblin
g photographed by Lisa Roberts
JAILHOUSE ROCK SING-ALONG AT THE LINK CENTRE
AnimalCare CareCenter Center Animal Animal Care Center of Tupelo of Tupelo of Tupelo Tupelo of
“your ot her family doctor” Pat Humphrey, Barbara Mallory and Jackie Armstrong
(662) 842-8707 5362 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38801 www.animalcarecenteroftupelo.com
Memphis Jones
Doyce Deas, Pat Rasberry and Meredith Tollison
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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IN SEASON Salads RECIPES BY Kimme Hargrove PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
A
fter the annual holiday binge-fest, it’s time to detox with some lighter fare. You won’t feel deprived with these delectable salads topped with homemade salad dressings, which are the true stars in these recipes. All of these dressings can be stored in the refrigerator for weeks and used as needed; they taste best when made in advance. Be sure to check out the redesigned invitationtupelo.com for more recipes by food blogger Kimme Hargrove.
Fresh Arugula with Sherry Vinaigrette Dressing
Classic Wedge with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
SHERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING 1 shallot, minced 3 Tablespoons sherry vinegar 3 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 Tablespoons honey 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt
BLUE CHEESE DRESSING ¾ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt) 1½ cups mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled ½ teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper
ARUGULA SALAD 2 Tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 10-12 ounces fresh arugula 2 ounces Gorgonzola cheese (or freshly grated Parmesan for a milder flavor)
WEDGE SALAD 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 4 wedges Crispy bacon Grape tomatoes, halved Red onion, slivered Blue cheese, crumbled
Place dressing ingredients in a container with a tight-fitting lid (such as a Mason jar or a glass salad dressing shaker). Shake vigorously until mixed. To toast pine nuts, heat on low in a small skillet for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from skillet to cool. Shake dressing before serving, and pour approximately 1/3 cup over arugula. Sprinkle cheese and pine nuts on top. Serves 4.
Mix ingredients for dressing in a bowl, and refrigerate at least 3 hours. When dressing is ready, place a wedge of iceberg lettuce on each of 4 salad plates. Top each lettuce wedge with desired amount of dressing. Sprinkle salad toppings over each wedge. Serves 4.
For more recipes, visit our food blog on the redesigned invitationtupelo.com.
Spinach Salad with Feta, Strawberries and Toasted Almonds (pictured) APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DRESSING 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon celery seeds Pinch of salt Mix all ingredients for the dressing together, and bring mixture to room temperature before serving. SPINACH SALAD 16 ounces baby spinach 8 ounces strawberries, sliced 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled Almonds, slivered or sliced Toast almonds in a skillet on low heat, stirring often until fragrant and lightly browned. For a sweeter salad, make candied almonds by adding 1 Tablespoon sugar per ½ cup almonds while toasting. Let cool. Toss salad ingredients, and then top with desired amount of dressing. Serves 4. February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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IS YOUR MAGAZINE
We want to hear your story ideas!
Do you have a friend we should write about? Are you part of an organization that deserves a story? Is there a picture-perfect place we should photograph? Submit story ideas to us at erwelly@gmail.com or by calling (662) 234-4008.
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B r
O g u n t i h c n a
A Tupelo reading club shares books that provide intellectual stimulation and a foundation for friendship. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Members of a longtime Tupelo book club include (front): Lisa Reed, Betsy White and Elaine Lovorn; (back): Ann Milam, Catherine Dale Mize, Elsie White, Sonja Jenkins, Claire Magee and Susan Wright Roberts.
fficial meetings of the Ladies Book Club may start with small talk and snacks, but when president Shawn Brevard settles into a comfy chair with her book, the whole mood shifts. All conversation pauses. Hardcover book jackets snap open, and members are poised with opinions at the ready. “There’s a powerful social connection here, but it’s also very much about internal stimulation and sharing of the written word,” Brevard said. “It’s easy to lose sight of any academic discipline when you get out of school, but that’s one of those cases where if you don’t use it you really do lose it. It’s been nice to put that gray matter to work
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and find great friends in the process.” Brevard became a founding member of the club shortly after she moved to Tupelo from Ohio in 1986. The setup was simple. No rules guided which books would be acceptable to read, and there was no defined process to join the group. There were no membership fees or set meeting space. The originators just agreed on a good book and reached out to other readers they knew. The assembled bibliophiles chose to meet monthly at a different volunteer hostess’s home to discuss their selected text. Today, half of the original 10 members are still active. The group recruits through an open
door policy but limits participants to fewer than 20 to maintain an intimate size. And in this club, flexibility equals longevity. Books selected encompass all genres – from mystery and historical fiction to poetry and plays – to accommodate all tastes. The group also makes an effort to fit in at least one classic every year. “There are a few duds every year, but I never walk out of a meeting without liking what we read even more just because of the discussions,” fellow founder Sonja Jenkins said. “There’s always something you can miss or a new way to read into the story because of our different backgrounds and points of view.”
Must Reads
An informal poll of the Ladies Book Club revealed these all-time favorite titles. Although, co-founder Sonja Jenkins said, “the idea of picking 10 favorites is almost impossible.”
The Power of One BY BRYCE COURTNEY
The Poisonwood Bible BY BARBARA KINGSOLVER
A Thousand Acres BY JANE SMILEY
Gilead
BY MARILYNNE ROBINSON
The Light Between Oceans BY M.L. STEADMAN
Cutting for Stone BY ABRAHAM VERGHESE
Crossing to Safety BY WALLACE STEGNER
No Ordinary Time BY DORIS KEARNS GODWIN
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats BY JAN-PHILIP SENDER
The Secret History BY DONNA TARTT
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While members of the Ladies Book Club enjoy each other’s company, they also take their reading seriously. President Shawn Brevard started the group after moving to Tupelo in 1986 from Ohio, in part because she missed the book club she had belonged to there. Today, 5 of the orginal 10 club members are still active.
Members search best-seller lists, scan reviews and poll friends for books to add to the club’s “must read” list, which is agreed upon after the New Year. Sometimes the list is set 12 months out, and sometimes the women vote by the month. Regardless, preapproved lists are apt to change if the right book comes along.
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When it comes time to talk text, the routine varies each month. There may be a group discussion initiated by a volunteer reader, or one reader may present a review to her peers. “We still love being together after all this time, and I think it’s partly because we’re a close-knit group with no pressure added. It
never feels like an obligation or gets boring,” Jenkins said. “If you have too much going on at home, take a month or two off and come back. If you have a book suggestion, bring it. It doesn’t matter what kind. We just want to travel the world together in the pages.”
Novel Approach
Lee County Library’s ladies book club is less traditional than most. In fact, there’s no required reading list at all. Each member of the group picks her own title to peruse and then meets up with the collective monthly to share. “I’d never joined a book club before because I didn’t want to have to read something I didn’t like just because it was on a best-seller list,” group leader Vicky Manning said. “A lot of our ladies have done traditional clubs before and wanted something different because they know what they like, and that’s the kind of readers I was hoping to find. There’s too much good stuff on these shelves you might miss if you just read what’s popular.” As the librarian in charge of teen fiction, Manning favors that genre and science fiction, but her fellow readers have their own personal preferences. One reads nonfiction, one likes bestsellers, another ingests almost any audiobook, and there’s one library-shelf browser that surprises the group every time. The wide range of tastes keeps the gatherings interesting, as does the surprise of not knowing what books will be up for discussion. “We’ve been together a year now, so it’s more like friends who know each others’ preferences. We just have to make sure we’re done with our books before we meet because more than likely someone will ask to take it with them when we leave. It turns into a swap meet sometimes,” Manning said. The club also benefits the library, according to Manning. “This group opens a door for these ladies to show me new books and authors we may need to have on our shelves, and that helps our library grow for our community,” she said.
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February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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WITH MIKKY EKKO Nashville’s Mikky Ekko, a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer, spent his formative years in Tupelo. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Eliot Lee Hazel Singer, songwriter and producer Mikky Ekko (aka Steve Sudduth) has come a long way since he left Tupelo for Nashville a few years after high school graduation. At age 30, the young RCA artist has already had several career-topping firsts. Ekko’s music has been featured on television programs such as Pretty Little Liars and Orange Is the New Black, and in the theme song for the movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. His song Stay hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Charts and No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 2013. In addition to co-writing and producing the single, Ekko sang the duet with pop star Rihanna on the track. The pair performed the hit to much acclaim at the Grammy Awards, where Ekko had a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Collaboration. With his debut album, Time, released in January, Ekko took a break to talk with Invitation Tupelo. INVITATION TUPELO: What is your connection to Tupelo? MIKKY EKKO: Tupelo is always where I’ve felt like I really grew up and was able to be myself. My dad was a preacher at First United Methodist Church, and we were there for my high school years until I graduated in 2002. I was in Wave Connection and wound up in the choir and even was in Madrigals my senior year.
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IT: How did you make the move to professional musician? ME: I went to NMCC [North Mississippi Community College] for a minute, but it wasn’t until later I realized I wanted to pursue this and went to Nashville. I didn’t play an instrument when I got there, which is tough. At first, I did music where I sang the melody and bass lines and did claps and stomps for the rhythm. That ultimately led to doing beats and growing as a producer. I got a MacBook and was doing everything in GarageBand. IT: What was the 2013 Grammy Awards performance like? ME: Everything has been so surreal since then, but I try not to take any of it for granted. That affected me in a way and gave me a perspective I’ve never had before. It was the one moment when I realized what it’s about to write songs that are bigger than yourself. I realized that night what an impact a single song can make. IT: Were you starstruck to perform with Rihanna? ME: I think I basically blacked out. When we hit the stage, she came over and held hands with me a minute and said, “I’m so nervous!” That immediately put me at ease. IT: What is your debut album all about?
ME: This album is about the pursuit of a song and my growth as a songwriter and artist. I wanted to put together something that was true on a singles basis but still felt cohesive. It’s more than trying to find a paycheck. It’s about pushing myself to those limits to make sure the lyrics I was writing cut through. IT: Was it hard to finish with all the touring? ME: This last leg was pretty short. I was out with Alt-J and the Hearts for two weeks and then got one off before heading back out. Finishing the debut was like building a house where you know it’s almost done but a couple of rooms could use a little more work before you move in. You just get in there any minute you can. When you put in that last board, you’re like, “Is it done now?” IT: When do you have time to write? ME: I think that’s about all I do. When you live it, that’s just it. A lot of the songs on this album were written half on someone’s tour bus and the other half backstage. Some I wrote in 15 minutes. I never know when or where [inspiration] will strike. IT: What are your plans for 2015? ME: The album dropped in January, so I’ll be touring as much as possible. I’ll also be working on album two.
February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events An Ultimate Christmas View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Elvis Presley tribute artists, including Jay Dupuis and Cody Ray Slaughter, performed with EAS Band Dec. 6 at the Link Centre in An Ultimate Christmas. The show was put on by the Tupelo Elvis Presley Fan Club. For more on the club, visit tupeloelvisfanclub.com.
Johnny Kalb, Kathy Brashears, Peggy and Charlie Watson
Jay Dupuis, Tom Brown, Cody Slaughter and Jeff Lewis
Gara Toohey, Brenda Beng, Lynn Pruitt and Nancy Thompson
John and Cheryl Crenshaw and Al Babyok
Bobbi Lake, Louise Allen and Kim Lewis
Richie Sansone, Eddie Stephens and Robert Florez
Daphene Hendricks, Carl Bradychok and Kim Maxwell
Dennis Cobb with Traci and Woody Watson
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Make Your
Landscape Dreams
A Reality!
Call us today!
(662) 841-9202 February 2015 | INVITATION TUPELO
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2/2/15 10:27 AM
photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Take a Time Out View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
North Mississippi Medical Center Spirit of Women’s Jan. 22 Take a Time Out event at Summit Center featured Mississippian Sarah Thomas, a member of the NFL’s Officiating Development Program and finalist to become the first female permanent NFL game official.
Tarji Holcomb and Beth Aycock
Betty Homan, Betty A. Miller, Sarah Thomas, Carol Filgo and Sara Powell
Brenda Sparks and Melissa Coker
Tammy McDowell, Amber Green and Karen Nichols
Faye Bullock, Jennifer Swords and Susan Worthey
Lisa Lucius and Susan Fitts
Marie Mason and Ellen Friloux
Brandy Sheffield and Tamatha Sheffield
Bettye Sheffield with Lynn and Macy Replogle and Debbie Nita Atkins and Sonya Burnett Anthony
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Sarah Thomas with Lanna and Grant Bailey
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tom Kimmel Concert View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Singer, songwriter and musician Tom Kimmel performed Jan. 24 at the Link Centre. Guitarist Clint Jordan from Oxford, Miss., was the opening act. The show was part of the center’s Monthly Music Mix, which features a different artist in concert each month.
Beth Harrison and Lynn McGrath
Jordan and Tiffany Tarter
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Linda Johnson and Bill Keller
Kathy and Randy West
Shera McKinney and Heather Williams
Jo Reed and John Harris
Sam and Debbie Givhan
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photographed by Courtney Sims
events Celebrity Wait Night View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationtupelo.
Local “celebrities” donned aprons and assisted waiters at Fairpark Grill for the sixth annual Celebrity Wait Night Jan. 27. All donations and tips collected by the celebrities benefit Make-A-Wish Mid-South, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
Anna Terrell and Jeffrey Rea with Adam and Laura Watson
Micah, Jenea, Lewis, Marcus and Tanya Britton
Betty Caldwell, Senator Nancy Collins and Steven Lyles and Mitch Waycaster Patricia Fleishhacker
Alyssa Osborne, Mayor Jason Shelton and Lexie Osborne
Rachel, Andrew and John Bremseth
Matthew and Matt Gillis
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Peter Rinaldi, Debra Beadles and Dennis Garegnani
Chris and Glenda Clay
INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Kandye Bailey and Lisa Fite
Matt Laubhan and Javanté Ingram
Dixie Smith, Lindsay Collins, Jace Counce and Rebekah Sudduth
Roxy and Mark Weathers
Wedding & prom the
EXPO
The 2015 Wedding and Prom Expo will be held at the Oxford Conference Center on Saturday, February 28, 2015. This event will bring together caterers, photographers, videographers, venues, boutiques, event planners, and much more - all under one roof for you and your special days. Wedding & Prom - two unique markets together, for the first time! • Tickets available now! ($15/ea.) • For more information, please contact the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management at The University of Mississippi Office: 662.915.2621 • Location: Lenoir Hall Email: weddingandpromexpo@gmail.com
Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for expo announcements, vendor information, and much more!
www.facebook.com/weddingandpromexpo
DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
@wedandpromexpo DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
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out and about NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI BOARD OF REALTORS AWARD CEREMONY
TUPELO STRINGS ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT
David Anderson, Gloria Holliday, Kaye Ladd, Aundrea Inman Detrick, Cindy Black, Shirley Curry, Keith Henley, Gail Collins, Martin Mesecke and Bea Luckett
Sophia Scott, Jefferey McDaniel, Courtney Cochran, Taylor Chapman, Mario Pachco, Tanner Chapman, Brandon Phan, Sara Thordersen, Destiny Pimentel, Mary Katherine Knight, Victoria Van, Jordan Wayne, Lansiya Stegall, Lexi Miller, Kennedy Gamble and Kametria Wells
CHI OMEGA CHRISTMAS PARTY
Beth Eckard, Lauren Darsey and Paige Kelly
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AT ST. JEAN’S BAKERY
Bethany Alexander and Taylor Hilbun
Constable Whodunnit, Santa and the Grinch with the Saltillo High School Tigerettes dance team
RAFFLE DRAWING FOR OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH AT CORNER SHOE STORE
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
Tommy Lee with Kitt, James, Melanie and Kinsey Plunkett
Brenda, Larkin and Eliza Estes with Blair Cleveland Finley
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INVITATION TUPELO | February 2015
Cheryl and Erin Claire Cockrell
COOKIES WITH SANTA AT SNOOTY OWL
Colton, Ellie Kay and Crystal Washington with Santa and Brody, Peyton and Amber Mooneyham 25TH ANNUAL TOY RUN AND MOTORCYCLE PARADE
Amber Westmoreland and Jamie Williams
David Bell, Dakota Ryan and Richard Cox
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TUPELO SPIRIT Jeanette and Leighton Dillard
INTERVIEWED BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Andrew Stanford
Jeanette and Leighton Dillard have been sweethearts much longer than their 24-year marriage. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the retirees, who live in a Green House Home at Traceway Retirement Village, reflect on love.
Q: How did you meet? JEANETTE: In a bar in Memphis almost 45 years ago. [laughing] That’s not how you recommend most people do it, but it’s worked out fine for us.
Q: Then what? JEANETTE: We dated over a year and then called it off because he still had some wild oats to sow. We saw other people for a while and ended up getting back together. That’s when he surprised me and told me he was ready to settle down. I told him we’d have to see if I was. LEIGHTON: Even when we were apart, I knew she was it.
Q: How have you stayed together so long? JEANETTE: We always talk things out. We may disagree, but we don’t fight because we respect each other. You really can’t go to sleep angry.
Q: Mr. Dillard, what advice do you have for young men?
LEIGHTON: Just listen to what she says. Pay attention. Respond. You can go from there.
Q: What was your best Valentine’s Day together?
JEANETTE: We never had many because he was a truck driver, but probably our first one as a married couple. He took a piece of fabric and made me a Valentine’s picture I kept hung on the wall for years. The best thing was we were together. Q: What’s it like to be here with each other? JEANETTE: There aren’t many couples here. I think we’re it. Our family is far away, so we depend on each other. We never have to go through anything alone.
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LEIGHTON: She makes this like home. Sometimes just one word from her makes the whole day okay.
Q: Do you still date? JEANETTE: We’ve had one [date] since we got here in August. They took us to Ryan’s to have dinner together. We used to sit on the porch
a lot at home. Now on pretty days, we go out on the patio together in the afternoon to sit and talk. LEIGHTON: My room is two doors down at the end of the hall. So we see each other every morning for breakfast, or at least for coffee. And every night we spend some time together before we have to say goodnight.
You Know She’s Worth It
The South’s leader in Estate Jewelry and Diamond Solitaires Located in Historic Downtown New Albany, MS
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