2010-11 | imagestupelo.com ®
What’s Online See a video of the Tupelo Automobile Museum
tupelo, mississippi
Hunka, Hunka Street Art Guitar sculptures brighten downtown
BUSINESS IS PLEASURE Companies thrive in this economy
BASTE ON THE FACTS Dining scene remains exciting
sponsored by the Community Development Foundation
We are driven …
to provide excellent real estate services! Gloria Holliday (662) 372-2826
Waurene Heflin (662) 891-5631
Emma Lou Clingan (662) 610-3163
Brenda Estes (662) 231-5336
Shirley Curry (662) 321-1674
Norma Cother (662) 321-2324
1289 N. Gloster • Suite A • Tupelo, MS 38804 • (662) 680-9355 • www.crye-leike.com
36
2010-11 edition | volume 9 ®
Tupelo, Mississippi
co nte nt s F e atu r e s 16 His Majesty and Much More Tupelo’s music scene sounds great.
22 Business is pleasure Tupelo’s strong manufacturing sector keeps the economic wheels turning.
26 out and about Tupelo offers a wide array of family-friendly festivities.
32 home sweet home The diverse housing market can satisfy anyone’s longing for home.
36 Hunka, hunka street art Public art guitar sculptures brighten downtown
38 Vision 20/20 A new 10-year plan makes the CDF’s vision for economic development crystal clear.
26
Tu p e lo
5
it’s all in the
D e tai l S …
Sue Gardner Realty (662) 842-7878
CentuRy 21 Sue Gardner Realty 1720 McCullough Blvd. • tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 842-7878
www.SueGardnerRealty.com ©2008 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21® is a trademark licensed to Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is independently owned and operated. C21Ad72
2010-11 edition | volume 9 速
Tupelo, Mississippi
56 d e pa r tm e nt s 12 Almanac 42 Biz Briefs 45 Chamber Report 47 Economic Profile 48 Image Gallery 56 Local Flavor: Baste on the Facts 60 Health & Wellness
60
64
62 Arts & Culture 64 Sports & Recreation 66 Education 69 Community Profile 72 Photo Finish
on the cover Photo by Antony Boshier A guitar sculpture on Main Street
66
Tu p e lo
7
Life’s Better in Tupelo/Lee County Community Development Foundation Chamber of Commerce Division
Community Development Foundation David P. Rumbarger, President/CEO P.O. Box A • 300 W. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38802-1210 (662) 842-4521 or (800) 523-3463 Toll-free • (662) 841-0693 Fax www.cdfms.org
imagestupelo.com The definitive relocation resource
What’s Online
picture perfect We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.
relocation Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.
Videos In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.
facts & stats Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care • Utilities • Parks • Taxes
Local Flavor From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.
About this magazine Images gives readers a taste of what makes Tupelo tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts. “Find the good – and praise it.”
– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder
Tu p e lo
9
Turn the pages of our
Digital Magazine 2010-11 | IMAGESTUPELO.COM ®
What’s Online See a video of the Tupelo Automobile Museum
TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI
Hunka, Hunka Street Art Guitar sculptures brighten downtown
BUSINESS IS PLEASURE Companies thrive in this economy
BASTE ON THE FACTS Dining scene remains exciting
SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
ADD RICH CONTENT TO YOUR WEBSITE Embed the digital magazine in your website or blog to add rich, compelling, local content that engages your readers.
SHARE WITH A FRIEND Forward a specific article or the entire digital magazine via e-mail or post it to your Facebook or Myspace page.
EASY BROWSING Thumbnail views of each page allow easy browsing through the content of the digital magazine.
SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FIND An easy-to-use search function allows you to find specific articles.
A DIGITAL TOOLBELT Tools allow you to customize the look and function of the magazine on your desktop, comment on articles, print individual pages, as well as download a PDF version for offline reading.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS An easy-to-use search function “Embedded links” quickly connect you to advertisers and other community resources.
imagestupelo.com 10
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
®
Tupelo, Mississippi Project Manager courtney seiter Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinators Jennifer Graves, Erica Hines
Now Showing in Our Video Gallery
Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editors Lisa Battles, Joyce Caruthers, Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Carol cowan, Spencer Mohead, JEssica mozo, jessica walker, tiffany williams Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams Media Technology Analysts Chandra Bradshaw, Yamel Hall, Alison Hunter, Marcus Snyder Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Managers John Hood, Kim Madlom Web Design Director Franco Scaramuzza Web Designer Leigh Guarin Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. Service Technician Ryan Sweeney Regional Sales Manager Charles Sweeney Sales Support/Community, Business, Custom Rachael Goldsberry Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Integrated Media Manager Blake Pettit Sales Support Manager Cindy Hall Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner V.P./Content Development Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim Newsom V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Travel Publications Susan Chappell Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Recruiting/Training Director Suzy Simpson Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop
Images Tupelo is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Community Development Foundation and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com. For more information, contact: Community Development Foundation 300 W. Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804 Phone: (662) 842-4521 • Fax: (662) 841-0693 www.cdfms.org Visit Images Tupelo online at imagestupelo.com ©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member
Magazine Publishers of America
Member
Sit back and enjoy a preview of Tupelo amenities. Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.
See its downtown, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.
Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings. Tupelo is rated L for Livability
imagestupelo.com
Custom Publishing Council
Member Community Development Foundation
Tu p e lo
11
Almanac
Welcome to Tupelo An introduction to the area’s people, places and events
It’s All Up in the Air
Where the Buffalo Roam Buffalo in Tupelo? In fact, the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo’s herd is one of the largest east of the Mississippi River. Veteran cattleman Dan Franklin started out with only six buffalo from Colorado and Canada. Today the herd of nearly 100 is the main attraction at the park, a 217-acre menagerie of giraffes, monkeys, buffalo and more. The park, which occupies a former Chickasaw Indian village, offers schoolchildren and families part animal kingdom experience and part social studies lesson. More than 140,000 people annually visit the attraction, which also features zebras and tigers.
Vibrant colors filled the skies in early April for Tupelo’s first Up, Up & Away Hot Air Balloon Festival, a weekend event hosted by Tupelo Christian Preparatory School. Festivities kicked off on Friday evening with a Hot Air Balloon Glow, during which several balloons were set up for attendees to admire. People also took rides in the tethered balloons. The actual balloon rallies were held during the day Saturday. Besides balloon watching, the festival featured arts and crafts vendors from throughout the state, music, games, rides, food and more for all ages. Saturday morning activities coincided with the school’s annual 5K Race and Fun Run at Ballard Park. For information on the 2011 event, visit upupnawayfest.info.
What a Doodle Can Do From sketchbook doodles to brush strokes on canvas, artist Lucia Randle brings her extraordinary characters, called Oddits, to life. These Oddits live up to their names, with some having hourglass-shaped bodies, and others with long spring-like necks or wheels for feet. Randle, a trained graphic designer turned marketing director for Reed’s Department Store, had only created works for family and friends in recent years, until now. She had sketched hundreds of the creatures in black and white before giving them their bright color on canvas. When she brought one to show a co-worker, she was asked to sell the works in the store’s gift shop, where their whimsical charm already has won over scores of admirers.
12
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Fast Facts n The Tupelo Automobile Museum, which includes an 1886 Benz and an 1889 Knox Porcupine, is regarded as the official car museum for the state.
Thank You, Troops It just seems fitting that Tupelo's largest, newest park honors those who have sacrificed the most. The 206-acre Veteran's Park and Memorial are located on Veteran's Boulevard in east Tupelo. In 2007, Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department director Don Lewis was approached by a group of Tupelo area veterans who were interested in constructing the memorial to recognize all branches of the military. Lewis says the $200,000 project is nearly complete but still needs a pavilion for Memorial Day and Veterans Day commemorations. The entire project is expected to be complete by the end of 2010. The park includes many features, including a four-field baseball/softball complex, splash pad, sand volleyball court, playground, disc golf course, and a half-mile hard surface trail for walking and jogging.
n Each year the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo attracts 140,000 visitors who can safely view the big beasts by riding aboard a Monster Bison Bus. n Approximately 80,000 people tour the Elvis Presley Birthplace attraction each year. n Fishing is abundant in the Tupelo area, with popular spots such as Elvis Presley Lake, Lake Lamar Bruce and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. n The GumTree Museum of Art is housed in a Beaux Arts-style building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Play Ball at Ballard! For more than two decades, competitive spirit has filled the air at Ballard Park Sportsplex, which has 153 acres of space dedicated to baseball, soccer and football plus a lot of other great recreation amenities. Families flock to this West Main Street destination for youth sports leagues games, as well as its 3-acre lake, cross-country course, 1.3 miles of hard-surface trails, amphitheater and skate park. The park is the site of many community events, including the 4th of July Picnic in the Park. A $250,000 renovation project is under way that will enlarge the concession stand, add more restrooms, improve the 15 soccer fields, construct a Wall of Champions, and build a memorial plaza in honor of Weston Reed, an 11-year-old who died of sudden cardiac arrest at a soccer game at the complex in 2007.
n In 1934, Tupelo became the first city in America to buy electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Residential electric rates in Tupelo today remain among the lowest in the nation.
Tu p e lo
13
Oh, You Are So Welcome
Magnificent Motors An 1886 Benz, a Duesenberg, a Tucker and even a Lincoln owned by Elvis Presley are among the more than 100 cars on display at the Tupelo Automobile Museum. But more than sparkling chrome and gleaming fenders await visitors to this attraction. The museum also regularly hosts special events and traveling exhibits, such as the Sparkle & Twang: Marty Stuart's American Musical Odyssey collection of music memorabilia that was on display from January to the end of June in 2010. The museum also hosts special community events throughout the year, including spring's Blue Suede Cruise.
Native son Elvis was known for saying "Thank you, thank you very much," but the city of Tupelo is becoming just as well known for the common response: "You're welcome." In fact, the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau slogan is "Our Talent Is Hospitality." Besides kindly rolling out the red carpet to guests, the bureau works hard to showcase the many things to see and do here. Tupelo is home to the Tupelo Automobile Museum – the official car museum for the state of Mississippi – the Oren Dunn Museum, located in a 1936 dairy barn and showcasing numerous artifacts from Tupelo’s past; the Tupelo Veterans Museum, which houses memorabilia from the Civil War to the present, and the GumTree Museum of Art, which hosts a variety of exhibitions, workshops and lectures.
Tupelo At A Glance Population Tupelo: 36,233 (2008) Lee County: 81,913 (2009) Location Tupelo is in northeast Mississippi, 90 miles from Memphis, Tenn., and 165 miles from Jackson, Miss. Beginnings Tupelo was incorporated as a city in 1870, and its development was closely tied to the boom of the railroad industry. For More Information Community Development Foundation 300 W. Main St. Tupelo, MS 38804 Phone: (662) 842-4521 Fax: (662) 841-0693 www.cdfms.org
Tupelo
What’s Online Take a virtual tour of Tupelo, courtesy of our awardwinning photographers, at imagestupelo.com.
Tu p e lo
15
16
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
His Majesty and
Much More Tupelo Music Scene Makes Cultural and Economic Impact
Story By Kevin Litwin
A statue titled Elvis at Age 13 at the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum; members of the Tupelo Symphony
Photo Courtesy of J.A. Huddleston
T
upelo’s rich music scene is a critical part of its cultural identity as well as a major lure for tourism dollars. Elvis Presley is an iconic name in Tupelo, and for good reason. This city will always be known as the rock ‘n’ roll king’s hometown. Even the small house where he was born in 1935 has been transformed into a museum in his honor. Tupelo is also home to an annual Tupelo Elvis Festival. “The city understandably has a deep appreciation for Elvis and everything he accomplished,” says Bobby King, program manager for the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area that promotes tourism throughout northern
Tu p e lo
17
Antony Boshier
18
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Staff Photo
Even though Tupelo is primarily known for Elvis, the live music scene here is so much more. Mississippi. “But even though Tupelo is primarily known for Elvis, the live music scene here is so much more.” Another musical lure for visitors is BancorpSouth Arena, a 10,000-seat venue that hosts dozens of concerts each year. The arena is a former mall that was vacated and then started to deteriorate. City officials later purchased the empty mall from the original developer. After much architectural planning and an astute transformation process, the eyepleasing building now hosts concerts and conventions.
“This has become a venue that can be compared to fine arenas found in larger cities throughout the United States,” King says. “Besides concerts, BancorpSouth Arena also hosts regional musicals as well as off-Broadway productions. The arena has become such a popular and important gathering place in Tupelo that a Hilton Garden Inn was constructed adjacent to the site in order to mostly accommodate event attendees.” Each year music lovers count the days until summer, when they can enjoy yet another aspect of the Tupelo
music scene – the Down on Main Summer Concert Series in the Fairpark District near city hall. “There are quite a few Tupelo residents under 40 years old who are married and have children, and they still want to go out once in a while to have a good time,” King says. “The Summer Concert Series provides such an opportunity in a comfortable greenspace setting, with several diverse musical events scheduled on various evenings during the summer.” Tupelo is also home to its very own
Left: The GumTree Festival is a celebration of the arts and music. Above: The Tupelo Symphony Orchestra purchased a world-class Steinway Concert Grand piano in 2005. Many symphony patrons contributed toward the purchase.
Tu p e lo
19
Tupelo Retirement Living
Come Home to
Tupelo
Your Dollars Go Farther …
• Clean, Friendly & Safe Neighborhoods • Nine Lively Festivals • Wildlife, Fishing & Parks • Golf, Recreation & Walking Trails
• Largest Non-Metropolitan Full-Service Hospital in the Nation • Continuing Education • Cultural Amenities • Affordable Housing • Low Cost of Living, 12.7% Below National Average • Great Shopping & Restaurants • Places of Worship & Civic Organizations • Convenient Airline Connections & Good Highways • Retirement Income Is Exempt from State Taxes Tupelo Retirement Living Call: Ora Baldwin (800) 488-0739 retirement@ci.tupelo.ms.us • www.visitmississippi.org/retire/tupelo.html
The Tupelo Symphony Orchestra; BancorpSouth Arena
By the Numbers
1935
Photo Courtesy of J.A. Huddleston
Tupelo Symphony, even though a full orchestra in a smaller city the size of Tupelo (population 35,000) is a rarity. The symphony has been around since 1971 and showcases approximately 15 annual concerts, most of which occur at the Link Centre. “Everyone who plays in our symphony is a professional, and they live all over the region,” says Margaret Anne Murphey, executive director of the Tupelo Symphony. “We contract with them by the concert, and we have a core of musicians who come to every performance.” And Tupelo is also a part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, which is overseen by the Mississippi Blues Commission. The Trail is widely promoted on their www.msbluestrail.org website that lists 120 Mississippi blues music and culture hot spots that bring tourism dollars into their respective communities. A good example of how the Trail can benefit communities is in Sunflower County, where the B.B. King Museum helped increase tourism there by 12.5 percent in 2009. “All these aforementioned examples about our city help give Tupelo the rich and positive reputation that it so justly deserves,” Bobby King says.
The year Elvis was born
10,000 Number of seats at the BancorpSouth Arena
39 Number of years that the GumTree Festival has been held in Tupelo
Number of annual concerts performed by the symphony
Jeff Adkins
15
Tu p e lo
21
22
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Thriving
&
Driving
Tupelo’s strong manufacturing sector keeps economic wheels turning
Story By Carol Cowan Photography By antony boshier
M
anufacturing has been the backbone of the Tupelo/Lee County economy for more than half a century. And while local economic development organizations maintain strong recruiting programs to attract new businesses to the area, the Community Development Foundation knows that it’s a lot easier to keep – and grow – the ones you have. “Seventy-eight percent of new manufacturing jobs can be attributed to expansions of existing industries,” says Greg Giachelli, vice president of existing industry for the CDF. “That’s why the staff of the CDF puts a lot of emphasis on providing information and tools to help our industries be successful.” To prove his point, Giachelli rattles off a list of local manufacturers that are expanding, despite the down economy: Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is making a $36
million capital investment over the course of 2009-2010 and adding 150 new jobs. MTD Products is undergoing a $6.25 million expansion that will add 170 jobs. Martinrea Automotive Structures will spend $7.5 million and create 70 jobs. Lane Furniture has just added 180 new jobs, and the furniture industry as a whole, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of jobs in the area, is picking up. And that’s just to name a few. One of the key factors contributing to Tupelo’s favorable business climate is its workforce. “The rural background and work ethic of our people is one of the most important factors we showcase and the reason our existing industry base is so strong,” Giachelli says. Other factors include the non-union environment, strong partnerships and relationships with county and state government officials, a policy of tax
Working Hard The CDF’s Economic Development Division uses a proactive recruitment approach touting the area’s labor force qualities, quality of life and amenities, and industrial real estate capacity when vying for projects.
The Lane Home Furnishings Store in Belden
Tu p e lo
23
24
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Jeff Adkins
incentives for locating new and existing industries, a strong educational segment in the public schools, and excellent workforce training at Itawamba Community College. “Training is very important, because this is a time of transition to higher-tech jobs and the new type of labor that employers are looking for. Itawamba Community College sets the pace for the rest of the state with its Manufacturing Skills Certification program, customized training programs, the Advanced Education Center and the WIN Job Center,” Giachelli says. The Tupelo area’s strong, diversified manufacturing base attracts skilled workers to jobs that command higher pay than service-sector jobs. The families that move into the area to fill those jobs spend money here and create a culturally diverse community. “Manufacturing-income dollars turn over multiple times in the community. Higher incomes allow people to afford homes and spin off additional spending. The influx of new families also brings cultural diversity, and it’s hard to put a value on that,” he adds. A lot has changed over the years, Giachelli notes, from political leadership to the evolution of high-tech manufacturing industries, but one thing has remained the same. “When you look at Tupelo, the CDF is the one organization that has been a constant, driving force, especially in keeping the business climate strong and nurturing the existing industry base for the last 60+ years.”
Clockwise from top left: A student from ICC works at a grinding machine; a laser cuts sheet metal profiles at Hawkeye Industries Inc.; a Lane furniture manufacturing plant
Tu p e lo
25
Out
Abo
festivals and the arts keep residents entertained
26
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
&
ut
Story By Kevin Litwin Photography By antony boshier
Y
ou can hop into a classic car and attend the Blue Suede Cruise during the first weekend of May, then make a pig of yourself at the Tupelo Hog Roast on the second weekend of May. Those are just two of many festival options that Tupelo offers its residents – and visitors – on an annual basis. One of the more well-known events is the Tupelo Elvis Festival that takes place during the first weekend of June. “More than 10,000 people attend this hometown tribute each summer, with activities that include an Elvis Look-Alike Pet Parade and a 5K
Art of all types can be bought at the Cellular South GumTree Festival.
Tu p e lo
27
28
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Left: The GumTree Festival; Top: Tupelo Automobile Museum; Bottom: Azalea Festival
Running With the King race,” says Debbie Brangenberg, director of the Tupelo Elvis Festival and the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association. “The celebration began in 1999 and has been going strong ever since.” One highlight is an Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competition that draws top impersonators and musicians influenced by Presley’s music and style. “In addition, there is a carnival, food and a Sunday gospel concert,” Brangenberg says. “The festival appeals to people of all ages.” Meanwhile, Mother’s Day weekend in Tupelo means more than lunch with Mom. For nearly 40 years, it has also meant heading downtown to the lawn of Lee County Courthouse for the Cellular South GumTree Festival. The two-day May event is orchestrated by the GumTree Museum of Art and includes a 5K run,
By the Numbers Number of artists who participated in the 39th Annual Cellular South GumTree Festival
Staff Photo
88 7 Number of years Cellular South has sponsored the GumTree Festival
1985 Year the GumTree Museum of Art opened
2011 dates of the Cellular South GumTree Festival
Jeff Adkins
May 7-8 Tu p e lo
29
Jeff Adkins
30
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
songwriting contests and a juried competition for artists and craftspeople. “There are also new events every year to keep things interesting,” says Tina Lutz, GumTree Festival executive director. Tupelo is also home to an Azalea Festival each April at Veterans Park, and an All-America City Picnic in July at Ballard Park. There is also a Tupelo Film Festival that began in May 2005 to attract avid moviemakers and moviegoers into town, and nowadays the gathering provides an opportunity for independent moviemakers to network with one another. About 25 filmmakers and 450 movie watchers attend the Tupelo Film Festival, with all movies screened at the historic Lyric Theatre. Awards are presented in categories such as Best Feature, Best Feature Documentary and Best Short Documentary, and recognition is also given in the experimental, student, comedy and children’s film categories. Also in Tupelo, a North Mississippi State Fair is showcased every September at Lee County Agri-Center, and a Fall Chili Fest takes center stage in October along Broadway Street downtown. At the Oren Dunn Museum each May, a Dudie Burger Festival takes place to serve unique Dudie hamburgers that first became famous in Tupelo during World War II. And for those who appreciate more good taste, dinner is served each January whenever Taste of Tupelo arrives in town. The Community Development Foundation sponsors the Taste as part of its annual Business-toBusiness Connection Expo. CDF hosts the two-day expo for all its members, and the Taste of Tupelo on the first night is a popular way to begin the entire event. The Taste occurs at BancorpSouth Arena with more than 20 restaurants showcasing their trademark dishes to more than 2,000 attendees.
Clockwise from top left: The Lyric Theatre; The GumTree Festival is a competitive juried fine arts show featuring artists across the nation.
Tu p e lo
31
Home, Sweet
32
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Home
Tupelo’s diverse housing market can satisfy anyone’s longing for home
Story By jessica mozo
F
inding your dream home in Tupelo is a cinch, thanks to the city’s wide variety of charming neighborhoods with everything from affordable singlefamily homes to million-dollar mansions. “Tupelo is very fortunate, and somewhat unusual for a city this size, to offer so many different kinds of neighborhoods that are good places to live,” says Shane Homan, senior vice president of economic development and planning for Tupelo’s Community Development Foundation. Tupelo’s new developments have unusual character not typically found in subdivisions. In west Tupelo, The Villages include single-family and multifamily housing in a gated, landscaped site with a central clubhouse to connect people in the community. The resort-like development also offers daily activities such as exercise classes and card games as well as a swimming pool, walking trail, picnic area and three lakes. “It’s a much more urban, unique environment than you might expect to see in a modern subdivision,” Homan says.
Staff Photo
Choices Galore Other residential options for newcomers to Tupelo include the historic Highland Circle district, the family-friendly Joyner neighborhood
Fairpark Plaza is located on the southeast side of downtown Tupelo.
Tu p e lo
33
Affordable Living Residents and those looking to relocate would be hard-pressed to find such a varied and affordable housing market. Tupelo/Lee County features one of the most affordable housing markets in the United States, according to the Center for Community and Economic Research.
34
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Home Prices Homes are available in virtually all price points, but most are in the $150,000 to $250,000 price range. According to the Community Development Foundation, the average price of a single-family home is $122,600 and annual property tax
based on $100,000 primary residence would be less than $1,176 in the city of Tupelo and $922 in the county. New Character Even the newer developments have character. The Villages in west Tupelo features neighborhood-oriented services and more.
and the posh new Spring Lake development. “One of the real highlights of Tupelo is the diversity, not only in the people but the types of neighborhoods we have,” says Zell Long, director of the city’s community development division. One reason Tupelo’s neighborhoods thrive is because of the comeback of several neighborhood associations, which have helped keep areas vibrant that might otherwise have become neglected. Haven Acres, for example, is a lower-income area that was unkempt and crime-ridden a decade ago. But after a neighborhood association formed and partnered with the city, crime was cut by 86 percent, street lighting and infrastructure were improved, and a 20-year-goal of building a community center came to fruition. “The turnaround was really remarkable,” Long says. The Presley Heights neighborhood in east Tupelo has also benefited from having an active neighborhood association. Residents there host an annual garden tour and Azalea Festival in April that spawned from several neighborhood beautification projects. Urban Living Downtown Tupelo is another coveted place to live, with an exciting mix of boutique shopping, gourmet restaurants, the Fairpark fountain, and luxury apartments and duplexes all within walking distance of one another. All two dozen of downtown’s “upper floor” housing units have waiting lists. Debbie Brangenberg, director of the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, lives
Staff Photos
Building Tupelo and Lee County Since 1941
in upper floor housing downtown with her husband, Carl, and says living there is fantastic. “Our choice to move downtown was about lifestyle, maintenance and simplifying,” Brangenberg says. “To be in the middle of the city’s Christmas decorations, hear music playing and watch many other activities from our second-floor terrace is energizing. You can walk to shopping, dining or work, so it’s the best of all worlds.” Thanks to the new Fairpark District, downtown is slated to have even more housing units to help satisfy the demand for urban living. The 50-acre development that was once the county’s fairgrounds is seeing new life with an urban renewal project that has already made it home to the new City Hall. It will eventually also include retail and office space. “We’ve never let downtown fall by the wayside like some cities, and we have always been able to maintain a diverse mix of people,” Brangenberg says. “We try to be proactive. We try to plan for the future. We recognize issues and address them. You can see the results across the city.”
Tupelo neighborhoods offer everything from starter homes to million-dollar mansions to homes in historic districts.
2020 McCullough Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 842-3240 www.jescoinc.net
The Largest Industrial Contractor in the South
Living green starts from the ground up. Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.
Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon
Tu p e lo
35
36
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Downtown
Tune
in
Public art guitar sculptures brighten downtown
Story By Courtney Seiter Photography By antony boshier
T
here’s no mistaking Tupelo’s rich musical history on Main Street. Its rock ‘n’ roll roots are larger than life these days, thanks to a series of 6-foot-tall, colorfully painted guitar sculptures lining the streets. Thomas Street Elementary School art teacher Kit Stafford dreamed up the public art project, which was implemented with the help of the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association and lots of young artists. Students from every public school in Tupelo participated in designing and painting the 14 large, steel guitars that now serve as lasting art in downtown Tupelo. Visual art teachers helped inspire the students by bringing in prints and examples of artwork inspired by blues, jazz, rock and guitars. The guitars were unveiled at what would have been Elvis’ 75th birthday in January 2010, beginning with the ceremonial first guitar in front of Tupelo Hardware. A popular stop for die-hard Elvis
fans, the store is where Elvis bought his very first guitar at age 11. Modeled after that first guitar, the sculptural pieces were designed by Stafford’s husband, Russell Stafford. Most of the sculptures were installed along Main Street in locales such as the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Main Street Vintage Guitars and the Community Development Foundation. Some guitar sculptures even tie in with their locations. For example, the sculpture in front of the Lyric Theatre is painted with a movie reel, and the Heartbreak Hotel-themed guitar found a home outside the Hilton Garden Inn. The project was made possible through a $14,000 grant from the Elaine Dundy and Roy Turner Endowment for the Arts, which provides financial support to area charitable organizations. Now that the guitars are in place, they’re creating a major tourism buzz. In June 2010, the project received the Mississippi Main Street Association award for Best Public Improvement Project. There’s even been talk of expanding the guitar art into other parts of the city – a goal Stafford says is music to her ears.
Giving Back Elaine Dundy bequeathed $600,000 to establish the Elaine Dundy and Roy Turner Endowment for the Arts; she died in May 2008. Dundy’s Elvis biography titled Elvis and Gladys was published in 1985, and royalties from her books contribute to the endowment. Roy Turner is a Tupelo/ Elvis historian who helped Dundy with her research about Elvis.
Tu p e lo
37
Vision 20/20 New 10-year plan makes CDF’s vision for economic development crystal clear
Story By Carol Cowan Photography By antony boshier
I
f the last 10 years are any indication, the next 10 years are going to be dynamite for the Tupelo/Lee County region. A comprehensive economic development strategy, known as Future Focus 2010, guided the not-for-profit Community Development Foundation’s efforts through the ups and downs of the previous decade, and now Vision 20/20 lays out a clear vision for progress in the one to come. Every 10 years, the CDF reviews its long-term goals and measures progress toward achieving them. Then it looks ahead to the next 10 years, breaking goals down into structured five-year operational plans and short-term, one-year goals and objectives. It’s a bit like eating an elephant one bite at a time, and the results so far have been nothing short of outstanding, says David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the CDF. “At a time when many American communities lost significant manufacturing, CDF Chairman Billy Crews, standing, and former Chairman Chris Rogers
38
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Jeff Adkins
Tu p e lo
39
Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi will supply parts to the Toyota plant.
40
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
the Tupelo/Lee County area added 9,012 new jobs in the manufacturing sector, outpacing most of our peer communities,” he says. Big wins include the Pontotoc Union Lee Alliance Wellspring Project’s successful recruitment of Toyota to Blue Springs, where the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi Inc. will build the Corolla, and to supply the new plant, the 2010 opening of Auto Parts Manufacturing of Mississippi, the North American headquarters of Toyota Auto Body, in the Harry A. Martin North Lee Industrial Park. Also of major significance was the saving and expansion of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and the expansion of long-time presence MTD Products. Those investments, along with numerous others, resulted in the area being named one of the top five micropolitan areas in the U.S. in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Over the course of the 10-year strategy, the capital investments announced by new and expanding companies totaled more than $1 billion, and more than 10,000 workers were trained in new skills. Building on its success and enjoying the support of the CDF’s 1,450 business and individual members as well as endorsement by all of the county’s nine cities and the Lee County Board of Supervisors, Vision 20/20 will pursue 14 strategies, 10 of which continue those put forth in the 2010 program and four that lay out new objectives for the coming decade. One of the newly added strategies focuses on medical center development and medical training. “Everything I read tells me we will need more health-care workers in the future,” Chris Rogers, former Chairman explains. “Our strong North Mississippi Health Services will continue to need great talent in medicine to be competitive, so we are getting behind them to support the development of trained and talented health-care workers.” Another area of focus will be taking investment into small business programs to the next level. A third new strategy involves creation of a Tupelo/ Lee County alumni program to attract talented people with north Mississippi roots back to the area. The final new objective of Vision 20/20 will be to recruit target industries that pay higher wages and demand more highly skilled workers.
Can you imagine … a world without children?
We Can’t.
Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org
Tu p e lo
41
Biz Briefs Businesses – both large and small – that help define tupelo’s economic climate
Scorecard Business At A Glance
3,627 Total number of firms
$1 Billion Annual retail sales
$29,488 Retail sales per capita
$93.5 Million Annual food services and accommodation sales Source: QuickFacts, census.gov
Community Development Foundation Biz: Economic & community development organization Buzz: The CDF is the chamber of commerce and economic and community development organization for Tupelo and Lee County. The CDF has a new website, which also has a mobile version, that provides easy access to a wealth of resources, including listings of available buildings and sites, maps, and much more. Website: www.cdfms.org Mobile version: m.cdfms.org 42
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
SOLD
Residential
Dossett Big 4 Auto Dealers Biz: Auto dealer Buzz: A Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda dealer, Dossett Big 4 Auto Dealers sells new and used cars in Tupelo. The auto dealer also offers a Service Center focused on supplying prompt, quality assistance to customers. www.dossettbig4.com The Mall at Barnes Crossing Biz: Shopping center Buzz: Offering a variety of retail stores, restaurants and services, the Mall at Barnes Crossing strives to satisfy its customers by supplying a wide range of items at a convenient location, where Hwy 45 and Hwy 78 intersect. In addition, the mall hosts events, such as fashion shows, meet-and-greets and performances. www.barnescrossing.com
Property Management
Commercial
TRI
INC/REALTORS®
842-8283 www.TRIrealestate.net Since 1952
B&B Concrete Co. Biz: Concrete manufacturing company Buzz: This company offers readymixed concrete, as well as cement, plaster, mortar and lime to the Tupelo community. The business is located at 130 Industrial Road North, and can be contacted via telephone. (662) 842-6312 Mac’s Tire Center Biz: Automotive retailer Buzz: In business since 1956, Hal McPherson offers tires, brakes, alignment, custom exhausts and a variety of additional services at Mac’s Tire Center. Located at 1123 West Main Street, this Tupelo business offers affordable prices and quality service, working to assist customers quickly and efficiently. (662) 842-7904
Tu p e lo
43
44
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Chamber Report Tupelo Young Professionals Group Grows to 600 Members
K
ory Rogers was born and raised in Tupelo, and when she moved back here after college, she looked for a different outlet for meeting people whom she had never met while growing up in Tupelo. Tupelo Young Professionals was that outlet. She went to her first TYP meeting in 2008 and met 20 new acquaintances at that introductory event. Today, she serves as co-chairperson of the entire organization. “I actually met our other co-chair – Josh Mabus – at a TYP meeting, and we now do business together,” says Rogers, a personal banker with Renasant Bank. “TYP offers a good time and a good way to meet people for business-related and personal reasons. There are more than 600 young professionals currently on our TYP roster.” The TYP chapter meets on the third Thursday of each month, either at a luncheon that begins at 11:30 a.m. or a business-after-hours event that runs from 5-7 p.m. Tupelo Young Professionals is open to anyone in Tupelo and Lee County between the ages of 21 and 40. “We are open to active, civic-minded people who have a vision of what they want Tupelo and the county to look like in the future,” says Jennie Bradford Curlee, chief communications manager for Community Development Foundation-Tupelo/Lee County, and one of the TYP founders. “These are the future leaders of the community, and we’d like as many of them as possible to be networking with each other.” To join TYP, an individual simply needs to send their name, business name, mailing address and e-mail address to typ@cdfms.org. “We never give out a member’s mailing or e-mail address, to protect them from getting spam e-mail,” Curlee says. “Every time an event is scheduled, a TYP member will automatically receive an e-mail and get updates from us. We also have Facebook and Twitter accounts.” Curlee says TYP has four committees that help govern the organization. “There is a membership committee,
service projects committee, special events committee and a professional development committee,” she says. “The committees help organize events that inform members on subjects such as tax updates, when to make big purchases, how to invest money and other programs.” Tupelo Young Professionals is also involved with community projects such as Habitat for Humanity and shipping
packages overseas to the troops. “We started this group because we saw a void of young professionals attending the various Community Development Foundation-sponsored events, and now they have an ideal networking opportunity,” Curlee says. “Tupelo is a nice place to live, work, raise a family and excel in business.” For more information on TYP, visit www.typs.biz. – Kevin Litwin
Tu p e lo
45
Everything in Janitorial, Paper & Packaging Supplies
WHOLESALE Tennant Scrubbers & sweepers Hillyard products Mats of all kinds Rubbermaid Gym floor finishes Lysol Butchers Johnson Diversity Roll foam Bubble wrap
MERCHANTS Carton sealing tapes Pallet wrap Poly bags Deb soaps Gojo soaps Retail packaging supplies Swimming pool supplies Copy paper Bay-West paper products Kimberly Clark Bakery supplies
Safety supplies Hotel/motel supplies Weed killers Liners of all sizes Memphis gloves
1616 7TH Ave. S. • CoLuMBuS, MS (662) 327-1467 • ToLL-fRee: (800) 844-1467 • WWW.neWeLLPAPeR.CoM
46
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
economic profile Business climate As one of the most rapidly developing micropolitan areas in the state, Tupelo/Lee County has consistently ranked in the top 10 for population growth, new business development and personal income generation. The primary economic sector is manufacturing, which employs more than 25 percent of the county’s workforce.
Tax Structure
0.25% City Sales and Use Tax
7.25% County Sales Tax
Government Offices
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Tupelo City Hall 71 E. Troy St., 38804 (662) 841-6513 www.ci.tupelo.ms.us
North Mississippi Health Services, 4,286
Public Works Department 604 Crossover Rd., 38801 (662) 841-6457
Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., 1,625
Department of Planning and Community Development 71 E. Troy St., 38804 (662) 841-6510
State Sales Tax
Lee County Government P.O. Box 1785, 38802 (662) 841-9110
7.25%
Industrial Sites
7% Total Sales Tax
www.cdfms.org/ed/
Transportation Tupelo Regional Airport 2704 W. Jackson St., 38801 (662) 841-6570 flytupelo.com
Economic Resources
COST OF LIVING INDEX
86.5% Tupelo
94.2% Gulfport-Biloxi
Community Development Foundation 300 W. Main, 38804 (662) 842-4521 (800) 523-3463 www.cdfms.org Tupelo Chamber of Commerce 300 W. Main St., 38804 (662) 842-4521 (800) 523-3463 www.cdfms.org/chamber
92.5% Huntsville, Ala.
89.1% Jackson, Tenn. National Average is 100% Source: 2008 Year-end Average Council for Community & Economic Research
Lane Furniture Industries, 2,080
Tupelo Public School District, 1,200 MTD, 1,050 JESCO Inc., 1,000 Walmart/Sam’s Club, 979 Lee County Schools, 931
Employment by industry Accommodation and Food Services, 3,910 Administrative Support and Waste Management Services, 4,150 Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, 60 Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, 410 Construction, 1,860 Educational Services, 270 Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate, 2,090 Health Care and Social Assistance, 8,050 Information Services, 670 Management of Companies and Enterprises, 1,090 Manufacturing, 11,920 Other Services, 1,150 Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, 2,230 Public Administration, 5,620 Retail Trade, 7,690 Transportation and Warehousing & Utilities 1,810 Wholesale Trade, 1,930
Tu p e lo
47
48
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Image Gallery
A waterfall along the Natchez Trace Photo by Brian McCord
Tu p e lo
49
Image Gallery
HealthWorks! is a curriculum-based, interactive health education center that offers hands-on learning to area schoolchildren. Photo by Antony Boshier
50
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Art of all types is available for purchase at the Cellular South GumTree Festival. Photo by Antony Boshier
Tu p e lo
51
Image Gallery
52
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Carousel at the Barnes Crossing Mall Staff Photo
Tu p e lo
53
Image Gallery
Stained glass in the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church Photo by Antony Boshier
54
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
A child plays in a fountain in Fair Park. Photo by Antony Boshier
Tu p e lo
55
Local Flavor
Baste on the Facts eateries – from down-home to upscale – tempt the taste buds Comfort food craving? Tupelo’s dining scene is full of restaurants that will more than meet the need, with menus featuring traditional Southern cooking – from barbeque to meat-and-three offerings. The town also offers several fine dining establishments and others specializing in desserts that will satisfy every sweet tooth.
Barbeque Restaurants Serving lunch and dinner, Romie’s Barbeque is open Monday through Friday. The restaurant specializes in fresh, handmade dishes, and a favorite among many loyal customers is its white barbecue sauce. Bar-BQue by Jim serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and offers a variety of dishes, including pulled pork, ribs and hot wings. Featuring unique eats such as Gator Taters and Macho Nachos, Bishop’s BBQ Grill in Saltillo has its own line of merchandise, including sauces and apparel. Eli’s BBQ Grill is open Monday through Saturday. Favorite dishes include pulled pork and chicken sandwiches and beef brisket.
Meat-and-Threes
Fine Dining
Open seven days a week, Romie’s Grocery is famous for its homemade plate lunches. Customers may choose from three meats and 12 vegetables, with a variety of daily specials available. Permanent menu items include sandwiches, burgers and salads. For dinner, guests can choose from menu choices such as steak and fresh fish. The restaurant caters and also hosts special events such as crawfish boils and live musical acts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Papa V’s has three locations in Tupelo, one of which is a Phillips 66 convenience store. Customers rave about the smothered pork chops, barbecue, deli sandwiches and Mexican cornbread.
Offering a more upscale experience, Park Heights is open for dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Diners can choose from a broad selection of entrees, such as Chilean sea bass and pan-seared escolar. The restaurant offers two private dining rooms that can accommodate up to 90 guests, with rooftop seating available from March through October. In addition, Park Heights provides catering services for a variety of events, including weddings and corporate or social gatherings.
Dessert The Bakery – formerly known as the Dutch Pastry Shoppe – satisfies sugar cravings with its cinnamon rolls, crème pies, cupcakes and cookies. Savory dishes such as casseroles and lasagna are available as well. At Creative Cakes & Supplies, customers can buy freshly baked goods or purchase supplies to make their own. Creative Cakes is a combination retail decorating supply store and bakery that specializes in custom orders. Goodies such as petits fours, cream cheese mints, chess squares, brownies, cupcakes, fudge-covered tea cakes and a variety of other cookies are available. – Jessica Walker
56
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
133 Number of eateries in Tupelo according to www.tupelo.net/restaurants/
7 Number of Southern and soul food restaurants in Tupelo, according to www.urbanspoon.com
Bishop’s BBQ Grill
Park Heights Restaurant
Creative Cakes
Jeff Adkins photos by Antony Boshier
Park Heights Restaurant
Tu p e lo
57
Health & Wellness
Treating Digestive Diseases for Patients in North Mississippi Colon Cancer Screening Heartburn/GERD Irritable Bowel Syndrome Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis Hepatitis and Liver Diseases Pancreas and Biliary Diseases Nutrition Clinical Research
Stephen T. Amann, M.D. John B. Averette, M.D. Barney J. Guyton, M.D. Roger L. Huey, M.D. Noel K. Hunt, M.D. C. Allen Justice, M.D. Samuel C. Pace, M.D. John O. Phillips, M.D. Carah W. Edgeworth, CFNP W. Carl Kellum Jr., M.D. 1952-2006
589 Garfield St., Ste. 201 • Tupelo, MS 38801 • (662) 680-5565 • Toll-free: (877) 942-7876
Digestive HealtH specialists p.a. Urology P rofessional a ssociation and
Paul B. Farabaugh, M.D. C. Stephen Farmer II, M.D. Jonathan R. Kalish, M.D. Wm. Hughes Milam, M.D. J. Timothy Posey, M.D. Kristopher W. Whitehead, M.D. Sally Lawson, CUNP Lauri McKell, FNP-C
Full range of Urologic procedures including robotic surgery, testing and treatment for both male and female urinary incontinence, no scalpel vasectomy, erectile dysfunction, infertility, and treatment for prostate and kidney problems.
-No Referrals Necessary!
830 S. Gloster St. • East Tower • Fourth Floor • Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 377-7100 • Incontinence Center: (662) 377-7279
www.urologypa.com
58
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Sanders Clinic for Women GynecoloGy InferTIlITy rouTIne & HIGH rISk obSTeTrIcS
C.K. White, M.D. Johnny F. Miles, M.D. Mark A. Ray, M.D. Clay B. Hudson, M.D. Kristen Y. Turner, M.D. Cassie B. Hill, M.D.
1041 S. Madison St. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 844-8754
Tu p e lo
59
Health & Wellness
Getting Better Soon New patient tower to be added to region’s premier hospital Improving the health of the region’s residents is the goal; continuous refinement of strategic plans and processes is the method that keeps North Mississippi Medical Center on the cutting edge of health care, and has earned the hospital multiple awards of excellence.
Recent Improvements
Expansion To Add 250 Rooms
Tangible results of NMMC’s drive to provide ever-improving, patient-centered care include the recent expansion of its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the addition of the da Vinci robotic surgery system. And more is soon to come. Opened in 2009, the Neonatal ICU sits atop NMMC’s Women’s Hospital as a whole new second floor. It accommodates 34 newborns, with the flexibility to accommodate 50, plus space for 18 premature or critically ill newborns and facilities for family members. In another part of the NMMC campus, the operating room now boasts the hightech da Vinci Surgical System, which provides a less-invasive alternative to open surgery and laparoscopy. The innovative da Vinci robot requires only a small incision and gives doctors a 3-D, zoomable view of the surgical area. It is used for a variety of procedures, including prostatectomies, kidney surgery, hysterectomies and some cancer treatments.
And coming soon is the hospital’s most ambitious improvement project to date: a $55 million expansion and renovation of patient rooms. The West Bed Tower project will add 250 new rooms that will be 50 percent larger than the old rooms. And not only will the rooms be bigger, they’ll be better as well. Each room will be outfitted with an ADAaccessible toilet and shower, non-slip flooring, bedside table, closet and recliner. Patients will have bedside control of everything – from the television and temperature to the lights and window blinds. Window views also will be expanded. “All in all, the new rooms will provide quite a nice experience for patients,” says Bruce Ridgway, vice president of facility management and construction. Nursing staff will gain efficiency from identical placement of light switches and equipment, as well as in-room desks and sinks and linen cabinets that are accessible from both outside and inside rooms. Phase I of the project commences in August 2010 and calls for a brand-new, five-story tower to be built adjacent to the existing West Tower; the target date for its completion is the summer of 2012. All patient care then will be moved to the new tower while the existing tower is demolished and rebuilt to match, with completion of the second tower targeted for 2013. A wide corridor will connect the two structures. – Carol Cowan
Providing Care north mississippi medical center remains at forefront Located in Tupelo, NMMC is the largest hospital in Mississippi and serves a 24-county region that includes north Mississippi, northwest Alabama and portions of Tennessee. The 650-bed facility’s comprehensive care, provided
60
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
by a staff of 450 doctors and 6,000-plus employees, includes a cancer center, heart institute, surgical services, diagnostic imaging, emergency department, behavioral health, women and children’s services, and more. The Tupelo facility is
designated as a Level II trauma center by the Mississippi State Department of Health. And the NMMC hospitalist program has been recognized by The American Journal of Medicine for providing cost-efficient care to hospitalized patients.
Nephrology & hyperteNsioN AssociAtes Ltd.
North Mississippi Medical Center
Thomas D. Wooldridge, M.D. J. Martin Lee Jr., M.D. Tzonko V. Milev, M.D. Kenneth M. Kellum, M.D. Morris R. Hamilton, M.D. Christopher D. Miller, M.D. Marcus L. Britton, M.D. Son Lam, M.D. Patricia McKnight, CFNP 1542 Medical Park Cir. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 844-4711 2301 S. Lamar Blvd. Suite 130 Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 236-2900
toll-free (866) 344-4711
Brian M c Cord
STAMP OUT BREAST CANCER WITH YOUR FEET.
The da Vinci Surgical System
Staff Photo
Every step you take in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® helps raise vital funds for the fight against breast cancer. But don’t let your journey stop there. Take a step toward improving your own health by educating yourself about the disease and getting regular screenings. Step by step, this Race will be won.
Learn more about the Komen Race for the Cure by visiting www.komen.org or calling 1-877 GO KOMEN. This space is provided as a public service. ©2008 Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Tu p e lo
61
Arts & Culture
The Sweetest Sounds Tupelo Symphony Orchestra Continues to Make History Back in 1971, when attorney Wade Lagrone founded the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, many doubted its potential. Now, TSO stands as a national player and continues to grow to immeasurable heights. “It is a remarkable thing that a town of 35,000 people has been able to support an all-professional orchestra,” said Margaret Anne Murphey, who serves as TSO’s president and executive director. Finishing up its 38th season and drawing top-notch musicians from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, TSO is known for quality and revered for its stellar sound. Its music director, Steve Byess, has served in his position since 2006, leading the orchestra to new levels of greatness. An outreach program, under Byess’ leadership, has allowed the orchestra to travel to nearby, smaller communities such as Amory, Columbus, Fulton and New Albany. In addition to its outreach
62
program, TSO’s annual season has grown to include five concerts, children’s shows, a mini-series of four afternoon programs featuring its Steinway Concert Grand Piano and more. Most recently, the orchestra took a chance on internationally renowned violinist Alexander Markov and his originally composed “Rock Concerto.” Wanting to bridge the gap between classical and rock audiences, Markov set out to attract young people and expose them to something different. With the first half of the program consisting of classical music and the latter half incorporating rock ‘n’ roll, Markov was able to do just that. “More than half (of the attendees) were young people
who had never attended a symphony program before,” Murphey said. “They were very attentive and engaged for the first half. Then, they got what they came for.” Filling Tupelo’s Civic Auditorium for the first time ever, the performance included music by Markov on his new, one-of-akind six-string electric violin (designed by James Remington) and his rock band, accompanied by the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, the Itawamba Community College Chorus and the Tupelo Symphony Children’s Chorus. Under the direction of Byess, the program was not only a first for Tupelo but a first anywhere. “We feel we all made history,” Murphey said. “We are so proud of ourselves.” After receiving such high acclaim, the concerto is scheduled for Carnegie Hall in New York on Oct. 9, 2010. – Tiffany Williams
500
4
1971
Number of seats in Link Centre’s Concert Hall
Number of states the musicians hail from
Year the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra was founded
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Photo Courtesy of J.A. Huddleston
Steven Byess conducts the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra.
Tu p e lo
63
Sports & Recreation
Lake Lamar Bruce
64
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Brian M c Cord
Sports & Recreation
Natchez Trace Parkway
Golfing in Tupelo
Reconnect With Nature Tupelo Outdoor Recreation Options Include Fishing, Camping and Golf Tupelo is the ideal place for outdoor recreation. From simple outings to more significant connections with nature, opportunities abound for people of all ages and abilities. Regardless of what you choose to do, a fun time awaits.
Fishing
Golf
The diversity and number of fishing spots in northeast Mississippi make Tupelo a fisherman’s paradise. Some of the more popular spots include Enid Reservoir, Pickwick Lake, Lake Lamar Bruce, the Tombigbee Waterway, Trace State Park and, of course, Elvis Presley Lake. The region is known for its crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish and bream fishing.
Lush greens and sculpted fairways await visitors to Tupelo’s various golf courses. The historic Bel Air public course offers nine holes, while members can enjoy the 72-par Tupelo Country Club, ranked as one of the best tracts in Mississippi. The challenging Natchez Trace and Bermuda-grass Big Oaks 18-hole courses can be found in nearby Saltillo.
Camping
Natchez Trace
One benefit of being almost smackdab in the middle of the Natchez Trace is the number of great campsites that serve Tupelo. Trace State Park, Elvis Presley Lake and Campground and Tombigbee State Park are great locations for camping, cabin rental and all kinds of outdoor activity. Scenic, affordable RV hookups can be found at Barnes Crossing, Natchez Trace RV Park and certain sites in Tombigbee State Park.
Based on animal trails and the ancient pathways of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee’s first residents, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a vibrant cable to the roots of America. The 444-mile parkway, headquartered in Tupelo, is open to biking, hiking, horseback riding and considerate drivers. Along the trace sightseers will find prehistoric mounds, civil war battlegrounds and near-pristine wildlife. – Spencer Mohead
Not Playing Around The Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation maintains more than a dozen parks and other facilities. At 153 acres, Ballard Park is the biggest in Tupelo. It features a 3-acre lake, one amphitheater, two pavilions, sand volleyball courts, 20 picnic tables and much, much more.
Tu p e lo
65
Education
An Apple for the Student
All students and teachers that attend Tupelo High School are given an Apple Laptop.
Antony Boshier
Laptops and tuition guarantees give area students a boost
Exciting things are happening for area high school students, thanks to forwardthinking leadership, community generosity and a local spirit of cooperation. Tupelo Public School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Shaver believes education has to be relevant to be effective, which is why students at Tupelo schools are using high-tech “books” for their schoolwork these days. Under Shaver’s leadership, monies that would have been budgeted for paper-based expenses are being used instead to purchase Apple MacBook laptop computers, and, after some training, each student gets one to use both on and off campus. As of the start of the 2010-2011 school year, every TPSD student in grades six through 12 has a
66
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
laptop of his or her own. “The reason we’re doing this is that these students are 21st-century learners,” Shaver says. “We’ve been trying to teach them using methods from the 1940s and 1950s. They learn so much more using the technology they know and use every day – like computers and iPods, which lend themselves to project-based learning. We find that students do so much better when we give them a problem to solve or a project that they have to figure out, rather than a set of facts and figures to memorize.” The relevance of the
technology enhances the overall school experience, and many of the seniors who got the first batch of laptops opted to use them to do their senior projects. Likewise, the first group of Lee County graduates to benefit from another innovative idea, the Lee County/Marchbanks Helping Hands Tuition Guarantee Program, started classes at Itawamba Community College in the fall of 2009. Two hundred nineteen students participated the first year, and administrators anticipate 500 in 2010. The seed of the tuition guarantee program took root in
the 1990s as an idea and then a goal of CREATE Foundation, the leading community foundation in the region. But not until John and Frances Marchbanks left the organization an $8.5 million gift to be used to benefit Lee County were the funds available to bring the program to fruition. The Lee County Board of Supervisors partnered with the foundation to provide additional funding and support, the upshot of which is that every high school graduate in Lee County now has the opportunity to attend four regular semesters at Itawamba Community College tuition-free. “Mr. Marchbanks was from this area, and he remembered how hard it was to get ahead for a lot of people. He wanted to give them a leg up,” says Lewis Whitfield, senior vice president of CREATE Foundation. “The partnership of the Lee County Board of Supervisors sends out a good message that the county cares about our young people and about creating a good workforce in the community.” Information about requirements and application for the tuition guarantee can be found at the Itawamba Community College website, www.iccms.edu. – Carol Cowan
$7,453 Per pupil spending ration
13 to 1 Student/teacher ratio
Tu p e lo
67
Jim (662) 840-8800 • 203 Commerce St. • Tupelo, MS 38804
BAR-B-Q
by 68
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Over 100 classic automobiles from the 1880s-1990s!
1 Otis Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 842-4242 www.tupeloauto.com
Hours: March-October Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. November-February Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Closed: Mondays, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
community profile Snapshot Tupelo combines small-town charm with urban accessibility. The relatively low cost of living here makes the city attractive to newcomers. Tupelo has a thriving arts and cultural community and is home to a symphony and ballet. The city’s close proximity to professional sporting events and major universities adds to its appeal.
Education
Climate Tupelo’s climate offers four distinct seasons. Mild winters make outdoor activity possible year-round.
32 F January Low Temperature
The Tupelo Public School District has been nationally recognized for academic excellence. Four of the 12 schools in the district are National Blue Ribbon Schools, each receiving the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on a school. Nearby Oxford, which is home to the University of Mississippi and a devoted Southern literary community, offers many higher education and continued learn ing opportunities. For a list of schools and other information, visit imagestupelo.com.
Health Care
50 F January High Temperature
71 F July Low Temperature
91 F July High Temperature
Tupelo arguably offers the finest health-care services in the state. North Mississippi Medical Center is the largest non-metropolitan hospital in the nation and the largest hospital in the state. It serves as the hub of a 22-county health-care system that
extends into northwest Alabama. For a breakdown of medical services, visit imagestupelo.com.
Utilities Tupelo Water & Light Department (water) 320 Court St., 38804 (662) 841-6470 www.ci.tupelo.ms.us/ water-elec. Atmos Energy (gas) 1352 W. Main, 38801 (662) 842-2441 www.atmosenergy.com Tombigbee Electric Power Association 1906 S. Gloster St., 38801 (662) 842-7635 www.tombigbeeelectric.com Comcast (cable/internet) 353 N. Gloster St., 38801 (662) 842-5625 comcast.usdirect.com/ ms-tupelo-comcast-cable.html AT&T (phone/internet) (662) 557-6500, www.att.com
This section is sponsored by
Floral Designs N’ More s ’ B D Specializing in meeting your needs
Serving Tupelo and Surrounding Areas Open Mon.-Tue. & Thu.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Wed. & Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Danny Brown, Owner/Designer
Da Del ily iver y
• Fresh Silk Arrangements • Gift Baskets • Weddings, Free Consultation • Funeral Arrangements • Collegiate Items
• Willow Tree Angels • Candles, Candle Warmers, Aroma Tea • Pottery, Plants, Gifts, Balloons and More
388 Mobile St. • Saltillo, MS 38866 • (662) 869-3620 Fax: (662) 896-3621 • E-mail us at: dbsfloraldesignsnmore@yahoo.com
Tu p e lo
69
visit our
advertisers Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association www.tupelomainstreet.com
BancorpSouth www.bancorp.com BBQ by Jim LLC www.bbqbyjim.com
Hilton Garden Inn – Tupelo www.tupelo.hgi.com
Cellular South www.cellularsouth.com
Hunter Douglas www.hunterdouglas.com
Century 21 Sue Gardner Realty www.suegardnerrealty.com
Sanders Clinic for Women The Mall at Barnes Crossing www.barnescrossing.com The McCarty Company www.mccartycompany.com TRI Inc. Realtors www.trirealestate.net
Itawamba Community College www.iccms.edu
Tupelo Auto Museum www.tupeloauto.com
Jesco Inc. www.jescoinc.net
Community Development Foundation www.cdfms.org
Tupelo Buffalo Park www.tupelobuffalopark.com
Kellum Dental Clinic www.kellumdental.com
Cook Coggin Engineers www.cookcoggin.com
Tupelo Church of God www.tupelocog.org
Nephrology & Hypertension Associates LTD
Tupelo Retirement Living www.visitmississippi.org/retire/tupelo.html
Newell Paper Company www.newellpaper.com
Urology Professional Association & Continence Center www.urologypa.com
Coldwell Banker Tommy Morgan Inc. Realtors www.tmhomes.com
Cooper Tire www.coopertire.com Crye-Leike Realtors www.crye-leike.com DB’s Floral Designs N’ More Digestive Health Specialists
2009-10
North Mississippi Medical Center www.nmhs.net Renasant Bank www.renasantbank.com
2008-09
WCBI-TV-DT www.wcbi.com Woman’s Clinic
2007-08
Making History One Year at a Time
Throughout the years, the spirit and pride of Tupelo has been captured in Images magazine. In print and online, Images reaches newcomers, new businesses and existing residents annually with stories about living and working in Tupelo. We’re proud to be a part of preserving the history of one of the nation’s most livable communities as it continues to evolve.
READ ARTICLES FROM PAST ISSUES OF THE MAGAZINE ONLINE AT imagestupelo.com
70
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Jeff Adkins
Photo Finish
T
he Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum continues to attract throngs of people 33 years after the King’s untimely demise. The house was built in 1934, and Elvis lived there until 1948. Elvis’ childhood home, a museum, gift shop, a chapel and the Assembly of God church that Elvis attended when he was a little boy are on the grounds.
72
i m ag e s t u p e l o . c o m
Ad Index
2 BancorpSouth
68 BBQ by Jim LLC
46 Cellular South
6 Century 21 Sue Gardner Realty
9 Coldwell Banker Tommy Morgan Inc. Realtors
8 Community Development Foundation
68 Cook Coggin Engineers
10 Cooper Tire
1 Crye-Leike Realtors 69 DB’s Floral Designs N’ More
58 Digestive Health Specialists
46 Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association
C3 Hilton Garden Inn – Tupelo
44 Hunter Douglas
14 Itawamba Community College
35 Jesco Inc.
45 Kellum Dental Clinic
61 Nephrology & Hypertension Associates LTD
46 Newell Paper Company
C4 North Mississippi Medical Center
Ad Index (cont.)
C2 Renasant Bank
59 Sanders Clinic for Women
41 The Mall at Barnes Crossing
67 The McCarty Company
43 TRI Inc. Realtors
68 Tupelo Auto Museum
71 Tupelo Buffalo Park 4 Tupelo Church of God
20 Tupelo Retirement Living
58 Urology Professional Association & Continence Center
44 WCBI-TV-DT
59 Woman’s Clinic
Complete conference and meeting facilities On-site culinary experts Over 10,000 sq. ft. of flexible space
You’ve Got to Start Meeting Like This. 387 E. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 718-5555 • Fax: (662) 718-5560
Everything. Right where you need it.® Located in the heart of historic downtown Tupelo, The Hilton Garden Inn is the first choice for comfortable accommodations, memorable meals and successful events.
Also Featuring: Hotel Facilities
Guest Room Features
Full-service Great American Grill® restaurant
Microwave, mini-refrigerator and coffee brewer
Indoor pool and whirlpool
Large work desk with Herman Miller Mirra® ergonomic desk chair
24-hour fitness center and Stay Fit Kit® Complimentary newspaper Pavilion Pantry convenience market Fully equipped business center Complimentary HSIA throughout hotel Banquet and meeting space
Remote printing to the business center Phillips® 26” inch HD flat-screen television
Hairdryer, iron and ironing board
Hilton Garden Inn Tupelo 363 E. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38804 (662) 718-5500 • Fax: (662) 718-5550
Two telephones with voice mail and data ports
www.tupelo.hgi.com
Innovative MP3 compatible clock/radio