Invitation Magazines - August 2019

AUGUST 2019

S E R V I N G

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CO U N T I E S

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N O R T H E A S T

M I S S I S S I P P I

AL L inin the the fa m ily CORINTH FIREFIGHTERS AND MORE

JUNIOR GARDENERS

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC AL AWARDS

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HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & HOT FUDGE

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DEPA RTMENT S

18 No Business Like

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Letter From the Publisher

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In Season: Ice Cream

New Albany High School’s spring musical earns recognition at the prestigious High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis.

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Calendar

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Out & About

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Shoutouts

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Recipes: Hot Fudge Sundaes

22 Growing Gardeners

ON THE COVER

Show Business

From butterflies to historical horticulture, Lee County Junior Master Gardeners have the inside dirt.

26 All in the Family

Corinth firefighters. Tupelo Hardware.

Brody’s restaurant. For these families, their life’s work is a part of their heritage.

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Father-and-son firefighters Kaleb and Shawn Nelms both work for the Corinth Fire Department. Shawn always dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps. And they aren’t the only firefighting family in Corinth.

Read more on page 26.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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Children’s Art Camp

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Taste of the World

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Father-Daughter Ball

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Rooster Run

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Golfing 4 Diabetes

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Mississippi Beauties

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Hank Williams Jr. Concert

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Cornhole Tournament

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PUBLISHERS

Phil and Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITORS Allison Estes Emily Welly

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EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rachel Burchfield Rachel A. Ishee Clint Kimberling Sarah McCullen EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Meredith Hull COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur INTERN Abbey Edmonson

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26 OFFICE

L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

Unplugged.

That’s how I spent a lot of my summer: unplugged from technology, television and the things that seem to eat up more of my time than I’d like to admit. With that extra time, I decided to plug into my family, celebrate birthdays, spend time with old friends, enjoy nature, eat ice cream and catch up on things that I’d left undone around the house during the year.

When I purposefully left some distractions behind, it was amazing to see how much clearer my focus became.

A lot of the people we feature in this

month’s magazine are especially good at devoting time to the things that interest them most.

For some, that means pursuing a lifelong goal of a career that is also a family tradition. Turn to page 26 to read about Tupelo Hardware’s Booth family, two families of Corinth firefighters and Brody’s Family Restaurant in Okolona.

On page 22, you’ll learn about Lee County’s Junior Master Gardeners. From teaching children to grow flowers to educating them about where their food comes from, the program offers a great

learning experience not only for children but for the whole family.

Also in this issue, on page 18, don’t miss the story about New Albany High School’s award-winning musical theater program.

They put on an outstanding show last spring and are sure to do it again this school year.

We hope you can find a few moments to unplug and enjoy this magazine. Thanks for spending time with Invitation.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Gandy Tarver Reeder Lisa Roberts Whitney Worsham SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR & ART ASSISTANT Alexis Lee

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Becca Pepper Hallie Thomas ADVERTISING INFORMATION invitationmag.com

Serving Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties.

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

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Pioneer Day C OM I NG

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C O M M U N I T Y

The Tombigbee Pioneer Group demonstrates pioneer-era crafts and activities. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center. natcheztracetravel.com

Art Demonstration with Mary Buckley A U G U S T 17

A U G U S T 2 3 AT 7 P. M .

Tupelo vs. South Panola Shannon vs. Corinth Saltillo at North Pontotoc Mooreville vs. Booneville Baldwyn vs. Kossuth Amory at Itawamba Agricultural Ripley vs. Water Valley Pontotoc at Houston Aberdeen vs. Okolona

Award-winning Starkville artist Mary Buckley demonstrates her techniques for landscape and floral paintings. Call 662-205-0351 for more information. Free.

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Caron Gallery, Tupelo. thecarongallery.com

Down on Main AUGUST 15

Enjoy live music, good food and cold beverages at this free summer concert series featuring a variety of music from country to blues to rock. 6-9 p.m., Fairpark, Tupelo.

A U G U S T 2 9 AT 6 : 3 0 P. M .

Itawamba vs. Pearl River Northeast vs. Southwest

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TUPELO COMMUNITY THEATRE

LEIGH ANN MATTOX

Movie in the Park

“Mamma Mia!”

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Tupelo Parks and Rec hosts the third installment of its free summer movie series with a showing of “The Incredibles 2.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray. Concessions are available for purchase. 8:30-10 p.m., Ballard Park, Tupelo.

Tupelo Community Theatre kicks off its 50th season with a Tony award-nominated musical that incorporates several of ABBA’s hits in a lighthearted story about a young woman in search of her birth father. Adult tickets $25, students $10. 7:30-9:30 p.m., the Lyric Theatre.

facebook.com/TupeloParkRec

tct.ms

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

Bodock Festival

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LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL KICKOFF

A U G U S T 3 1 AT 1 1 A . M .

Ole Miss at University of Memphis Mississippi State at Louisiana-Lafayette

The Pontotoc Chamber honors the city’s rich history with an arts and crafts fair, a flea market, food vendors, the Twilight Run, a bike tour, a motorcycle tour, a car show and a talent show. Free, downtown Pontotoc. For more information, call 662-489-5042.

Labor Day SEPTEMBER 2

Museum Rummage Sale S E P T E M B E R 5 -7

Corinth’s Crossroads Museum hosts a community yard sale fundraiser. Donations of clothing, books, toys, electronics and furniture to be sold are needed. Items not sold will be donated to the Salvation Army.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 662-287-3120. crossroadsmuseum.com

Lee County Classic S E P T E M B E R 1 3-1 4 IMAGE SCREEN PRINTING

TUPELO MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

AUGUST 15-SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

4-H and FFA members show goats and cattle at an annual livestock show at the Lee County Agri-center in Verona. Shows take place at 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.

Saturday. For more information, call 662-841-9000.

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S H O U T O U T S Sam Sliman

SHOUTOUTS

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E r ic Hue y

Mo r g a n T idwe l l

Sam Sliman is a man of many talents. In addition to making a perfect ACT score and becoming a National Merit Scholar, he plays several instruments including the alto sax and violin, and has been a part of several bands that play around Tupelo. He also ran on the Tupelo High School cross country team. Sliman has recently graduated from Tupelo High School, and he plans to take a gap year in order to gain coding experience with Viridian Transvision, a tech startup in Austin, Texas.

“I needed to find a place that would be willing to teach me a little bit at first, and kind of just make that investment,” Sliman said. “Then I could move on to being more helpful (with coding).”

Sliman hopes that this year of work will give him a leg up when he applies to colleges next year.

Derek Stegall and Dalvin Pack each received a $15,000 scholarship to Base Camp Coding Academy in Water Valley. Stegall and Pack attended Tupelo High School and were nominated by teachers for the 12-month program, which teaches software development along with leadership skills. Students at BCCA attend classes every weekday and are guaranteed jobs in the IT field after they finish the program. Both Stegall and Pack dream of developing gaming codes for Sony in the future.

“We are one big family here,” Stegall said. “It has been an amazing opportunity for me, and more people need to know how great it is.”

“If you’re willing to put in the effort you can be really successful here,” Pack said. “The teamwork helps and makes it not too stressful.

We all lean on each other.”

Learn more about BCCA at basecampcodingacademy.org.

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S i mo n a M i le v

Simona Milev, a rising eighth grader at Tupelo Middle School, made it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, held this May in Maryland. Milev comes from a family of keen spellers and has been competing in spelling bees since she was in the fourth grade. This is her first year to compete at the national level, and she loved every second of the journey.

“I get nervous right before I go on the stage,” Milev said. “But the second I am out there and see the crowd, it is an exhilarating and happy feeling that comes across me.”

Milev competed in multiple qualifying rounds including class, school, district, state and finally national. She was one of 565 kids chosen out of 11 million to compete in the National Spelling Bee, four of whom were from Mississippi.

“The best feeling is hearing them call out your word and knowing it’s one you have practiced and can spell,” Milev said.

For more information on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, visit spellingbee.com.

Eric Huey has certainly earned The Clarion-Ledger’s Tennis Player of the Year title. With four state class 6A single title championships, he knows his way around the courts.

Huey started playing tennis as a fun activity to share with his family during a summer vacation, and he stuck with it.

“The most exciting thing about tennis is the people you meet,” he said. “No matter where you go, it seems like a small world.”

This fall, Huey is majoring in biology at Duke University, and he wants to make school his top priority.

“I’m going for school, but I might play tennis just for fun every now and then,” Huey said. “It was hard enough to balance high school, so I just figured I needed to focus on my grades first. I don’t want to start off struggling.”

When he’s at home in Tupelo, he plans to play recreational tennis and help teach the game to children at a New Albany day care center.

Huey said that ending his time on the courts is bittersweet, but he’s looking forward to his time at Duke.

As a fifth-grade student at Lawndale Elementary School in Tupelo, Morgan Tidwell entered this year’s Doodle for Google contest — and became one of 10 state finalists in her age group. The theme of the contest was “When I grow up, I hope …”

Tidwell’s drawing, “Building a Future” portrays a neighborhood she envisioned and reflects her dreams of being an architect.

“I have always liked to draw,” said Tidwell, who is now in sixth grade. “But I was so surprised and excited when I found out I had won. They gave clues, including my favorite superhero, to let us know I was Mississippi’s winner.”

This year’s judges are Jimmy Fallon, Kermit the Frog and Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning. The prizes include tech packages, scholarships and a trip to Google headquarters in California. View Tidwell’s doodle at doodles.google.com/d4g/vote.

MORGAN TIDWELL/GOOGLE

D e re k S t e g a l l a nd D a lv i n Pa c k

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C R E A M

WRITTEN BY SARAH McCULLEN

ew things are quite as nostalgic as a bite of cold, creamy ice cream on a scorching summer afternoon. Often a childhood favorite, one taste has the power to whisk you back in time quicker than the scoop on your cone can melt.

Americans have indulged in the classic frozen dessert since the mid-18th century, but it was a rare treat until technological innovations made cold storage and distribution possible. The old-fashioned icecream parlor was a hometown icon until the 1970s, when mass production began to make them obsolete. But today, small-batch, artisanal ice cream is making a comeback.

“Ice cream for me is something that has deep roots tied to my family,” said Andrew Grove, the founder of NOMS Ice Cream in Corinth. “I remember making ice

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cream in the stairwell of our basement in the summertime as a kid, and it was always a special memory.”

Groves inherited his family’s old icecream maker a few years ago and dug his favorite ice cream recipe out of a cookbook passed on to him through three generations.

Using that simple recipe, Groves began experimenting by adding other flavors. He wanted to share his homemade creations with others, so he established NOMS. The name is an acronym for North Mississippi.

“The secret to really good ice cream is to use the best ingredients you can find and take your time,” Groves said. “Visit your farmers market and pick up fruit that’s in season, or use herbs from your garden. I also like to use honey as a sweetener to make it really creamy, but the most important thing

is to give it time to churn so you get the best consistency.”

Ice cream is different from gelato, sherbet and sorbet because of its milk fat content, usually between 10 and 16%. It’s not cultured like frozen yogurt, and it doesn’t include egg yolks like frozen custard. Simply put, ice cream is mixture of milk, cream, sweeteners and flavorings.

“Ice cream just makes you feel good,” Groves said.

Look for artisanal ice creams and fresh local ingredients at your farmers market or hometown ice-cream parlor, or visit nomsicecream.wordpress.com to see what Groves is currently scooping. Or dust off your family’s ice-cream maker and try the easy recipe for NOMS vanilla ice cream found on page 48.

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or high school theater departments, selecting the spring production is an important decision. There are hundreds of possibilities, with considerations for budget and logistics making it even more complicated. This was especially true for New Albany High School — because this year, the production, “Seussical,” was up for consideration in the prestigious Orpheum Theatre High School Musical Theatre Awards.

Entering the competition for the Orpheum awards isn’t done on a whim; there is a long application process. Each musical in the running to compete undergoes an adjudication process by industry professionals from the Memphis community, who attend the local high school productions.

HSMTA judges came unannounced to New Albany’s Sunday matinee performance of “Seussical” in February of this year.

NAHS’s production of “Seussical,” directed by theater teacher and musical director Mary Beth Muncie, involved over 100 students. That included not only the cast but also costume, hair and makeup, lighting and stage crews. Clearly the judges were impressed — NAHS garnered eight nominations for their production, in several different categories.

After the nominations were announced in April, the students began preparing for the awards ceremony held at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. The ceremony, which is modeled after the Tony Awards right down to the pre-show red carpet event, is an evening of performances and awards presentations.

For some students, the evening involves more than just sitting in the

NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL’S SPRING MUSICAL EARNS RECOGNITION AT THE PRESTIGIOUS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE IN MEMPHIS. WRITTEN BY CLINT KIMBERLING

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“The whole school is involved,” Welborn said.

“It’s really special the way everyone comes together.

I get to know people in a different way and even meet new friends.”

And New Albany did not go home empty-handed.

The school received the award for Outstanding Small Ensemble, The Bird Girls.

Welborn and Reid are excited about the possibility of returning to Memphis for the awards next year. The big spring production has yet to be decided on, although some possibilities have been kicked around.

“I’m one hundred percent on board for whatever we decide to put on,” Welborn said.

audience hoping their name is called. It’s also a chance to get back in character and perform their starring role one more time. Those nominated in performance categories travel to Memphis a week in advance of the big night for a round of intense rehearsals with Orpheum theater professionals and other musical theater students from across the region.

Laura Ruth Welborn, nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as Gertrude McFuzz, earned NAHS’s only individual performance nomination.

Welborn is a rising junior; “Seussical” is just her second high school theater production, and the first where she had a starring role.

“It was an amazing experience to work at the Orpheum,” Welborn said.

Welborn rehearsed with the other six outstanding lead actress nominees for an awards night medley in which she sang “All For You.” With less than a week to polish the performance, a typical rehearsal day that week started in the afternoon and continued late into the evening, with very few breaks.

“We quickly developed a real community atmosphere,” Welborn said. “It was very special to be a part of, and we all cheered each other on.”

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Emma Reid, also a rising junior at NAHS, performed in the opening and closing numbers of the awards show.

Reid played Mayzie LaBird; the song “Amayzing Mayzie” was recognized for outstanding production number. Reid, who has been performing since she was very young, also participates in musical productions at Blue Mountain College and the Magnolia Civic Center.

“I love the feeling of performing,” Reid said. “It’s exhilarating, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a lead or in the ensemble. The feeling of giving joy to the audience is indescribable.”

Recent NAHS graduate R.J. Rutherford has had a role in productions in each of his high school years.

Rutherford, who starred as Horton, and also got to perform on awards night, plans to continue acting when he attends Mississippi State University this fall.

“It was an amazing show that we put a lot of work into,” Rutherford said. “I’m glad I was able to do it before graduating. It’s fun to get on stage, to make people laugh or smile. It’s a great feeling for me.”

While Welborn, Reid and Rutherford did not hear their names called, the experience was about more than just awards and accolades. Welborn said it was worth it for the sense of community.

AWA R D S New Albany High School was nominated for the Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards in eight categories.

Outstanding Production Materials Outstanding Production Number: “Amazing Mayzie” Outstanding Hair and Makeup Outstanding Costumes Outstanding Lighting Outstanding Technical Achievement Outstanding Lead Actress: Laura Ruth Welborn as Gertrude McFuzz Outstanding Direction by a Teacher: Mary Beth Muncie AUGUS T 2019 | INVITATION

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Growing Gardeners FROM BUT TERFLIES TO HISTORICAL HORTICULTURE, J U N I O R M A S T E R G A R D E N E R S H AV E T H E I N S I D E D I R T. WRITTEN BY RACHEL A. ISHEE PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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hen families gather around the dinner table for a meal, the kids may know that the food in front of them has been prepared by a parent or a restaurant — but often that’s as far as their knowledge goes. Many have never thought about the process of cultivating food and how it came to be on their plates.

Junior Master Gardeners, sponsored by Lee County Master Gardeners, is working to change that. Led by Donna Tucker and other master gardeners, this program aims to foster and promote a love of gardening starting at a young age. The program is open to kids of all ages, but the curriculum is geared toward third to fifth graders.

“I grew up with my parents having gardens, and I helped them garden as a child,” Tucker said. “Nowadays, (kids) go to the grocery store with their parents, and they get food from there, but they don’t know how it grows. And same thing with flowers — they think that they’re just made; they don’t know where they’re coming from.”

On the fourth Thursday of each month, year-round, kids in the Junior Master Gardener program have the opportunity to get down and dirty and learn all of the basics of gardening. From large greenhouses bursting with plants of all colors and sizes, to outdoor gardens with lovingly tended raised beds, children get to experience a full spectrum of the possibilities that come with the hobby.

Tucker and the other instructors work to keep the nearly 20 young minds engaged both in and out of the classroom.

“I’ll do PowerPoint presentations and such on rainy days, but we try to do as much hands-on as we can because they like the hands-on stuff more than being in the classroom,” Tucker said. “I’d rather be out there in the garden than in the classroom, but you’ve got to do the learning, too.”

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Ann Chambers’ daughter Olivia has been attending Junior Master Gardeners monthly for two years now. Whether she’s learning about types of plants or getting to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, Olivia loves to be involved in the entire process — and the parents get some education on the side.

“The kids are often sent home with things they themselves planted while at the meetings or with plants and seeds to try their hand at growing at home,” Chambers said. “I am learning right along with my daughter and enjoying it. The instructors encourage and inspire us to try new things, and we’re excited to go back and tell them what we’ve done.”

The gardens change with the seasons, so the kids are constantly learning, and their interest is constantly growing.

“Last year we did a butterfly garden on the grounds,” Tucker said.

“The kids walked out there and found caterpillars growing on some of the host plants, and (they) took the caterpillars home to try to hatch them. Some of them even hatched.”

Through this experience, the students were not only able to help create and watch a particular type of garden grow but also see firsthand the process of metamorphosis.

“Back in February, the kids got to plant a flower of their choice in a little cup to carry home,” Tucker said. “They also took home some cuttings of a plant to root.”

Participants plant more than just flowers; they are also taught about growing fruits and vegetables. One of the main reasons that the program was started nearly two years ago was to teach children where their food actually comes from and the process of bringing it from the farm or garden to the table.

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The kids also learn how some fruits and vegetables can be replanted and enjoyed time and time again.

“One time, we showed them how to plant things that you find at the grocery store,” Tucker said. “So we showed them how to plant a pineapple and a sweet potato.”

During the warm growing season, the junior gardeners have many different plants in the ground. Right now they are busy tending tomatoes, watermelon and peanuts, among other favorite summer fruits and veggies.

Children in the program also learn some of the history of horticulture. They have planted a “three sisters” garden of corn, squash and beans. Native Americans discovered this trio of companion plants that thrive together centuries ago.

“The corn grows tall and the beans grow upward and use the corn as a trellis, and the squash is planted in the middle to shade the soil,” Tucker said. “The beans also release nitrogen into the soil that the corn needs to grow.”

Tucker said that her favorite part about being involved in a program like this is watching kids get their hands dirty and seeing them learn about different types of plants. She acknowledges that gardening often involves some trial and error, but sees it as part of the mystery and the joy.

“Some things don’t work and you don’t know why,” Tucker said. “It’s fun to see when things don’t work because that’s a part of gardening.”

To enroll your child in Junior Master Gardeners, fill out an application at the Lee County Extension Center, 5338 Cliff Gookin Blvd. in Tupelo. Learn more at leecountymastergardeners.com.

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Tupelo Hardware Company

FOR SOME FAMILIES IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI, THEIR LIFE’S WORK IS A PART OF THEIR HERITAGE. WRITTEN BY RACHEL BURCHFIELD

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upelo Hardware Company, the iconic shop where Elvis’ mother, Gladys Presley, bought him his first guitar instead of the rifle he really wanted, might be the most famous hardware store in the world. But it is also an institution within the Booth family, now in its fourth generation as a thriving family business.

George Booth III is the fourth generation of Booth men who have run the store and is currently Tupelo Hardware’s vice president.

His father, George Booth II, is the owner and president. Booth III was a teacher in South Carolina for a number of years, but always knew that running Tupelo Hardware was a foregone conclusion for his future. He came back to Tupelo five years ago to assume the role of second-in-command and heir presumptive of the family business.

“I taught school for a number of years in South Carolina, and a lot of people probably thought I’d stay there,” Booth said. “Teaching was fun, and I enjoyed it, but I knew I would come back at some point. For anybody who’s on down the line like me in the fourth generation, there’s definitely pressure to try to keep things going.”

Booth’s great-grandfather, George Henry Booth, opened Tupelo Hardware 93 years ago in 1926, three years before the stock market

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crash of 1929 and the beginnings of the Great Depression. The business survived that dark period and the horrific 1936 F5 tornado in Tupelo that killed 216 and leveled many businesses. In 1946, five years after Tupelo Hardware’s new building opened in 1941, Gladys Presley stopped in to buy her 11-year-old son Elvis a birthday present. She paid $7.75 and 2% sales tax to purchase the guitar that changed music — and Tupelo — forever, eternally cementing Tupelo Hardware into the annals of history.

In 1945, George Henry Booth’s son, William Thomas Booth, returned from World War II and went to work for the family business.

After his death in 2000, his son, George Booth II, took over. In 2014, George Booth III began working full-time for Tupelo Hardware, and family ownership will likely continue into a fifth generation — that is, if Booth’s 18-month-old son, William Colin Booth, signs on.

“If my dad had just worked here as an employee, I wouldn’t have had the draw to come work here myself,” Booth said. “But the fact that we own it, it’s different. Think of it as renting versus owning a house. If you own a house, you have to maintain (it) in order to get the proper return on investment. When you own a business, there is blood, sweat and tears invested, and you have more skin in the game.”

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MARGARET BRADLEY

In a poignant photo, 2-year-old Kaleb Nelms stares right into the camera, dressed in an incredibly oversized firefighter’s jacket and boots belonging to his father, Shawn Nelms. At the time the photo was snapped in 1999, Shawn had worked for the Corinth Fire Department for about a year. It was around this time, Kaleb says, that he knew what he wanted to be when he grew up: a firefighter, just like his dad.

And 21 years later, he made it happen. As of January, Kaleb became not only Shawn’s son, but also his firefighting brother. They can’t work on the same shift since Shawn, now a lieutenant, can’t have supervisory charge over Kaleb, a rookie. But every morning, Kaleb’s crew relieves Shawn’s crew at Station 4 in Corinth. And every morning, Kaleb comes in early to work, arriving at 6:15 for his 7 a.m. shift — to have coffee with his dad.

“That few minutes in the morning is kind of special,” Shawn

Corinth Firefighters

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said. “A lot of mornings I still see him as a little boy and think, ‘How does the time pass this fast?’”

Since firefighters work 24-hour shifts every third day, they become as close-knit and tight as any family. Shawn’s fellow firefighters watched Kaleb grow up just as Shawn did, and Kaleb played as a child with the kids of many of his firefighting brothers.

Now that he’s one of them, they kid him and call him “Baby Nelms.”

Though it is a family tradition, especially in many bigger cities like New York and Boston, to pass the firefighting torch down in families from generation to generation, Shawn said he would never force his son to follow in his footsteps unless he wanted to — which Kaleb always did.

“My dad’s always done everything he had to do to make ends meet,” Kaleb said, choking back tears. “Firefighting has been a part of my life since I was born. It’s all I ever wanted to do, and I’ve never changed my mind. It really means a lot to make sure our name gets carried on. It makes me want to be a better firefighter. I’ve seen the pride he takes in his work, and I’ve seen how happy it makes him.”

“He’s got big boots to live up to,” Shawn said. “I always told him growing up, ‘If you want to pick up the ax and run with it, pick up the ax and run with it.’ The bar is set high for him to live up to. If he wants to be equal to or greater, he knows what he’s got to accomplish. I am so proud of him — every father aspires for their kid to do greater things than they ever did. There’s not a more loyal line of work to do (than firefighting).”

Station 4 isn’t the only Corinth fire station where fighting fire is the family business.

Ricky Maness became a firefighter in 2002, when his two middle sons, Tate and Tanner, were 8 and 6, respectively.

As little boys, Tate and Tanner were fascinated by their dad’s fire truck and wanted to dress up in the uniform just like him. As teenagers, they remained interested, often showing up as bystanders to a fire Ricky was fighting, to watch him at work.

“If they were not in school or if it wasn’t in the middle of the night, they were there for about every big fire we had,” said Maness, an engineer at Station 1. “That inspired them, watching me do it.

They’d say, ‘I want to do what Daddy does.’”

Now 25 and 23, Tate and Tanner have officially made their father’s work a family affair. The brothers each joined Corinth Fire Department at age 21, the earliest one can become a firefighter, in order to get the most beneficial experience from the career.

Maness is proud to have second-generation firefighters in the family, but of course, he worries, especially when he works with one of his sons on some shifts. On the job they are firefighting brothers, but they are also father and son — and watching your son run into a burning building can be nerve-wracking.

“I operate the trucks, and I don’t get to see what’s going on inside,” Maness said. “I do worry, but it also excites me to watch them, knowing they’re turning into men now. I’m proud of them.”

It’s too soon to tell if there will be a third generation of firefighters in the Maness family. Tate and Tanner’s children are just babies. But Maness said it could happen — the most likely candidate right now is his oldest grandchild, 6-year-old Jace, who dresses up as a firefighter for Halloween.

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Brody’s Family Restaurant Brody’s Family Restaurant is all about family, right down to the eatery’s name. When Kallie Hughes opened her restaurant in 2000, it was called Main Street Grill and Pizzeria because of its location on Main Street in Okolona. But in 2007 when the restaurant moved to Church Street, its name no longer made sense. So Kallie — whose son, Chris Hughes, is now co-owner and the second generation of her family business — named the restaurant after her first grandchild, Brody. (The Hugheses have seven grandchildren, with the eighth due this month.) The restaurant’s commitment to family is reflected in its full name: Brody’s Family Restaurant.

In fact, nearly every member of the Hughes family has worked at Brody’s at one point or another, but Chris Hughes has stayed on even after his siblings went off to pursue careers elsewhere. He finished his mathematics degree at Mississippi State and returned to help run the restaurant, known for its burgers; dinners like hamburger steak, catfish and country fried steak; and homemade pizzas with handtossed dough. (Chris said he can still remember studying for tests back by the pizza oven.)

While the Hughes family is behind the operations of the restaurant, Brody’s family encompasses the entire town of Okolona.

“Being as tight-knit as this town is, you get a lot of connections with a lot of people,” Chris said. “A lot of the people that come in feel like extended family. We talk with them, we laugh with them, and it sucks to lose them. We’ve lost quite a few over the years, whether they pass away or just move off to other places, and it hurts when those things happen.”

Brody’s has customers who have been eating there since the beginning. Some people stop by every day.

“In a small town, everyone knows everyone, and I (know) just about everyone’s name that walks in,” Chris said. “They don’t have to tell me what they’re going to order, I just go back and grab it.”

Other customers, like ones he had this week, are brand new, but still treated like family.

“Just the other day we had three guys in from South Africa,” Chris said.

The restaurant’s loyal customer base grew from Brody’s commitment to good food and good service — and, as Chris said, because people have to eat.

“I was at the bank earlier and mentioned Brody’s was closed for a couple of weeks (for the Fourth of July),” Chris said. “The girls in the bank were like, ‘Where am I gonna eat?’”

Only about six people have ever worked for Brody’s that weren’t blood family, Chris said, and they have become like family, too.

“A lot of days it doesn’t even feel like work,” Chris said. We come in, clean and prep, talking and joking the whole time. We walk out at night, talking and joking the whole time.

“Family is the business.”

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INVITATION | AUGUS T 2019

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CHILDREN’S ART CAMP F U LT O N

TASTE OF THE WORLD

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

A children’s art camp took place July 15-17 at the Farmhouse in Fulton. Participants learned about succulent plants, painted flowerpots with a marbling technique and planted their own succulent arrangements.

Cooking as a First Language presented Taste of the World July 12 at the Link Centre. The event featured a four-course dinner with each course from an international tradition represented in Tupelo. Proceeds benefited the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

T U P E L O

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1. M.J. Hayes and Farrah Gough 2. Gracie Cole, Stell Gough and Lily Gray 3. Elizabeth Stockton and Sydney Wade

1. Ali Ballard and Blakely Beggs 2. Lauren McElwain, Pyar Brazile and Melanie Deas 3. Adam and Rachel Morgan

4. Vivian Richardson and Dulaney Kent 5. Kelsey Whitten, Molly Pearce, Brittany Gray and Abigail Chrestman 6. Harper Payne and Rachel Chrestman

4. Van and Harold Roby 5. Kalil and Theodore DeLacoudray 6. Grace Gault, Jennifer Martin, Sarah Barrett and Jane Stanford

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FATHER-DAUGHTER BALL

FATHER/DAUG HTER

continued

T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The 17th annual Gumtree Twigs FatherDaughter Ball took place June 22 at BancorpSouth Arena. More than 1,000 people attended the Hawaiian-themed event, with proceeds benefiting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

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1. Jade Hurt, Lucy Vaughn and Monica Kight 2. Bill Chism and MacKenzie Anderson 3. John and Lyric Knotts with Bryce Vaughn and Kam and Terry Robinson 4. Chloe, Rodney and Gracey Long 5. Lila Kate Luke, Eliza Lea and Chip Turner 6. Sadie, Abigail and Kyle Miller with Harper Doxey 7. Jake and Isabella Arnold 8. Chris and Lauren Cullin with Matt, McKenzie and Wesley Braken 9. Chris and Abbie Grace Long 10. Anthony Rogers and Tearia Gladne 11. Noel Cameron and Jessica Haygood

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ROOSTER RUN

ROOSTER RUN

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C O R I N T H

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

The fifth annual Rooster Run took place June 15 in the Gift Bottom community. The event featured a 5K run, a motorcycle ride and a chicken-grilling contest. Proceeds benefit Alcorn County veterns and the Corinth American Legion Auxiliary.

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1. Scott Smith, Greg Windham and Cooper Glidewell 2. Chris Marshall and Mark Coombs 3. Sarah Lancaster, Lauren Green and Cindy Hinton 4. Sam Johnson and Kelly Mims with Jimmy and Leah Johnson 5. Neal, Maude deLes and Ken Lancaster 6. Zane Elliott and John Williams Cornelius 7. Cam Rilee, Chassey, Cooper and Creighton Nelms 8. Ron Strom and Havis Hurley 9. Janet and Steve Thompson 10. Rodney and Carolyn Swindle 11. Riley Jane, Allison and Addie Cornelius 12. Molly Mitchell and Anna Grace Schnabl 13. Sandy Childs Jones and Mackey Childs

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GOLFING 4 DIABETES T U P E L O

MISSISSIPPI BEAUTIES

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The fifth annual Golfing 4 Diabetes event took place June 15 at Bel-Air Golf Course.

The four-person scramble tournament also included a hole-in-one challenge on the third hole. Proceeds benefit Bikers Against Diabetes of North Mississippi.

A meet-and-greet event for pageant winners from the local area took place June 30 at the Grey Antler in Mooreville. The event included photo opportunities and a chance to wish them well at the national pageants July 28-Aug. 4 in Las Vegas.

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View more photos at invitationmag.com.

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1. Roger and Marla Elmore with Steven Counce and Nathan Carlisle 2. Porkie Neisler, Charles Smith, Anthony Hendrix and Michael Wood

1. McKenzie and Penni Rhett 2. Harleigh Fortenberry, Jennifer Cain, Keri McMillin, Lillybeth Shouse and McKenzie Rhett 3. Brandi Hughes and Jennifer Cain

3. Gary and Darlene Burroughs with Kati and Jeff Reynolds 4. Mark Rourke with Angie, Duke and Bodean Davis

4. Tyson and Devin Shouse 5. Harleigh Fortenberry and Mandy Hughes 6. Sheridan Popetz and Eric Stogner

5. Michael Chapman and Allen Knight with Cindy and Boyce Googe 6. Maggie and Suzy Price 7. Tim Harrell, Ricky Williams, Shane Surber and Pam Thompson

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HANK WILLIAMS JR. T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Hank Williams Jr. performed live June 15 at BancorpSouth Arena. The country music singer-songwriter superstar is touring to promote his latest album, “It’s About Time.”

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1. Olivia Miles and Aspen Stacy with Lucy and Lilly Turnbo and Brittany Bennett and Nicole Turnbo 2. Kevin Russell, Tara Robbins and Brian Phillips 3. Lacie Northcutt with April and Jamie Andrews 4. Boyce and Cindy Googe and Kim Evans 5. Amanda Stark, Lindsey Spears and Nikki Yarbrough 6. Hilary Ray and Tony Young 7. Odell Crouch, Nicole Johnson, Keisha Davis, Shelby Daniels and Leah Kline 8. Brenda and Andy Christian 9. Laura Beth Lambert, Mollie Beth Robbins and Pam Blissard

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CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Mugshots Grill & Bar hosted a cornhole tournament June 20. Proceeds benefit Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to children and spouses of fallen and disabled military service members.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

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1. Eric Roberson and Shelly Wray 2. Darlene Buse and Dot Cryder 3. Toni and Steven Floyd 4. Douglas and Matthew Parker with Kenny Cordell 5. Katherine Jackson and Dana Ryan 6. Larry Brymer, Melba Williams and Johnny Robbins 7. Brett Dillard and Mike Moore 8. Tanner Wallace, Kyle Taylor and Jason Kennedy

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MUSIC, MONET AND MARGARITAS

MISSISSIPPI'S BEST

T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Lyric Krewe presented its 16th annual Music, Monet and Margaritas fundraiser for Tupelo Community Theatre June 15.

BankPlus sponsored the street party, which included live music, a silent art auction and food catered by Outback Steakhouse.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

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8 1. Mike and Marsha Tapscott 2. Montana Hopper and Ivan Arman 3. Hannah Maharrey, Shane Aguirre, Melanie Dees and Lauren McElwain 4. Glen Nabors, Tonya Gentry, Leslie Geoghegan and Rufus Vanhorn 5. Green Smith, Mary Ann Elmore and Deloris Jenkins with Robert and Patti Coggins 6. Sandra Earnest and Liz Dykes 7. Meredith and Brent Martin 8. Greg Pirkle and Nan Lawrence with Jack and Lisa Reed and Tom Both and Traci Conwill

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more

OUT & ABOUT

OUT & ABOUT

VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT INVITATIONM AG.COM

P u r ple H e a r t Ho me s

It awa m ba C o m mu n it y C ol le ge C u l i n a r y C a m p fo r K id s

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1. Maylee Johnson and Sophie Grubbs 2. Aadyn Allen and Kayden Kyle 3. Max Johnson, Gavin Starks and John Todd 4. Tom Brown, Dean Z and Cote Deonath 5. Giovanni Mercuri and Allie Martin 6. Susan Hester and Gary Haynes 7. Amy and Michael Lane 8. Nancy LaBarreare, Stacey Burgett, Alix Gunner and Joycelyn Witherspoon 9. Mallory Peters, Charlita Zollioffer, Sarah Reid, Ashley Owens, Ellen Reed, Lacey Kuhn and Kacie Daniels 10. Scott Burns and Chad McMahan 11. Julian Carroll and Andrew Lawhon 12. Marilyn Reed and Carolyn Green 13. Mike and Charlene Gannon with Kayle Stafford

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hot fudge S U N D A E S A CL ASSIC SUNDAE WITH HOMEMADE ICE CREAM IS SURE TO PLEASE THE WHOLE FAMILY.

G

et out your ice-cream maker and try this incredibly easy and eggless Philadelphia-style vanilla ice cream recipe from Andrew Groves, owner of NOMS Ice Cream in Corinth. With just a few simple ingredients, this is a mix-in-themorning, serve-after-supper summertime treat. Top with made-from-scratch hot fudge or serve over a homemade brownie to make it extra special.

vanilla

ICE CREAM

RECIPE BY ANDREW GROVES

3½ cups half-and-half 2½ cups whole milk 1½ cups sugar 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt ½ vanilla bean, scraped, or 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Makes approximately ½ gallon.

Using a whisk or immersion blender, mix all.

Pour into chilled ice-cream maker, and churn.

Variation: Macerate seasonal berries or fruit from a local farmers market with a bit of sugar to amplify the flavor. Blend, chill and add into the ice cream right before the churn is finished.

hot fudge S A U C E RECIPE BY KIMME HARGROVE

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INVITATION | AUGUS T 2019

2 cups sugar 2 cups whipping cream

2 cups cocoa powder 2 sticks butter

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients, and heat over medium-low until combined, stirring throughout the cooking process. Let cool to thicken. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. When ready to

serve, microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval, or reheat on the stove in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. For more delicious ice-cream sundae topping recipes, visit invitationmag.com/food-blog.