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oxfordcitizen.com

Volume 2 | Issue 53

Thursday, October 29, 2015

UM lowers state flag

Inside 3 Lifestyle

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

University of Mississippi Police Department officers lowered and furled the state flag in a Lyceum Circle ceremony as the campus opened Monday morning. The flag was taken to the University Archives, where it will be stored along with the resolutions passed last week by student, faculty and staff governments calling for its removal.

The university’s removal of the flag is the latest development in discussions within the state about whether to change the official state flag, which includes the Confederate battle flag in its canton. Critics of the flag have labeled it a racist symbol while its supporters have called it an important link to Mississippi’s history and heritage. State voters approved keeping the flag in a referendum in 2001.

Interim Chancellor Morris Stocks first joined other state and university leaders calling for a change in the state flag in a statement last June.

“The University of Mississippi community came to the realization years ago that the Confederate battle flag did not represent many of our core values, such as civility and respect for others,” Stocks said in a press release. “Since that time, we have become a stronger and better university.

We join other leaders in our state who are calling for a change in the state flag.”

Camellia Hospice to hold open holiday grief sessions at Brookdale-Oxford for local citizens.

9 Business

ERROL CASTENS

Lafayette County continues flying the Mississippi state flag, pictured here at the Chancery courthouse, along with the POW/MIA and United States flags. The City of Oxford removed the state flag from its buildings in August, and the University of Mississippi lowered the state flag from the Lyceum Circle and archived it on Monday.

After an Oct. 16 rally drew an estimated 200 protesters against the flag and a handful of counter-protesters carrying Confederate flags, the Associated Student Body Senate, Staff Council, Graduate Student Body and Faculty Senate all passed resolutions last week asking the administration not to fly the current state flag on campus.

Stocks said at a Monday press conference that senior

leadership met several hours on Sunday and unanimously agreed to take down the flag the next day.

“We appreciate our state leadership, and we do not intend this as any form of disrespect for our state,” he said.

“We love our state, and we are proud to be part of the State of Mississippi, but we believe for us to accomplish our academic mission, this was the right move at this time.”

In answer to media questions, Stocks said the low-key, unannounced retirement of the state flag was considered the prudent action.

“We’ve had protests and counterprotests over the last couple of weeks, and we thought possibly the best way to do it would be without fanfare in a respectful fashion,” he said.

TURN TO FLAG PAGE 12

Children's clothing store Elliott Lane is open in Highland Court and invites all to visit and shop.

21 Sports

The Ole Miss football team, fresh off a 23-3 win against Texas A&M, heads to Auburn for an 11 a.m. game Saturday with renewed confidence.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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Annual 'Our Team, Our Town' event Saturday at Powerhouse

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Organizers of the annual Our Team, Our Town event received an early treat when the time for the Ole MissAuburn game was announced. With the game being played on Halloween, and Oxford being a town that revels in that moment, an evening start to the game would have put a little damper on the fundraiser.

“We were concerned with the conflict of Halloween.

We know how the Oxford community is with Halloween and it's an enjoyable time for many kids and families and folks in town,” said co-chair Angela Brown. “We wanted to make sure that we didn't distract from the traffic that is normally on North and South Lamar. We are very pleased that it is a brunch hour kind of game.”

For those that aren't familiar with Our Team, Our Town, which is entering its fourth year, the Young Professionals of Oxford, a subsidiary of Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, help bring Ole Miss football and a charity together. This year, the Girls and Boys Club of Oxford will receive money from the event. Last year, Helping Hands, a resale shop that employs special needs people with a safe work environment, benefited from the festivities.

Brown was looking forward to Saturday's event, which will be held at the

Powerhouse. The Lyric hosted the event in 2014, and Brown said the same space was unavailable.

“The Lyric has always been so gracious to us in donating the space, and the Powerhouse has done the same thing for us this year,” Brown said. “We are very appreciative of them opening our arms to us to be able to do that since we had trouble finding a weekend this year.

We are excited that we have two rooms so it will be separated out into two different areas, food, beer and auction and then game and dining. It kind of have more of movie theme which gives it a bit of a different aspect.”

There are several new food vendors, and an overall increase, compared to 2014, Brown said.

“Places like Wing Stop, Salsarita's, My Guys, vendors that we have not had in the past. We really have tried to not wear out our Oxford restaurant community of past years and we've got some new folks in the loop,

which is exciting,” Brown said. “We will still have our signature cake from Sweet T's bakery. They will do a 'wow' desert that is framed around athletics and football. Last year they did some really cool jerseys that were made out of cake. This year is a surprise.”

A bottomless beer cup will be sold. A special cup comes along with that purchase.

The event's beer sponsor is Yalobusha Brewing Company.

Advance tickets for the event are $10 and they can be purchased at http//ourteamourtown.bp t.me/. Tickets are $15 at the door. Doors will open at 10 that morning with kickoff for the game set for 11.

Contributions are welcomed outside of purchasing a ticket, and they can bring those donations to the event an hour before or at the chamber, Brown said.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 3

Camellia Hospice to hold grief sessions at Brookdale Oxford

BY JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Camellia Hospice of Oxford wants people in the community to know there is a place they can go to help them with their grief as the holiday season approaches.

And that is for any type of grief.

According to Rev. Marjorie Buckley, the chaplain at Camellia Hospice and a former associate pastor at Oxford-University United Methodist Church, while the holidays are a happy time for many, for some they are not.

“If people are trying to find ways to cope with the holidays or come up with new traditions or just looking for some kind of support, we want them to know there is place they can go,” Buckley said. “A lot of people are loners and don’t know where to go to try to get support. Some people are not church people and don’t have that fellowship and support. This is a place they can come and meet people.”

Buckley said Camellia

Hospice is now developing and expanding its grief counseling programs.

“Our company, Camellia Hospice, is in five states,” she said. “We had our chaplain’s meeting about a month ago, we learned that all of our Camellia offices are now expected to offer grief support groups. But it is pretty much up to each office to decide how they’ll go about doing that.

“The fulltime social worker, Jennifer Garrott, and I got together two weeks ago.

She’s been in this kind of business for 20 years. It’s just my second year. She has some resources from the past that she’s used in grief support.”

Together they devised some plans to help citizens at this time of year and beyond.

“Jennifer suggested that since the holidays are coming up, we would offer sessions to help people deal with grief during the holidays and special occasions,” Buckley said. “I mentioned it to the Council on Aging last week at Brookdale Assisted

PETRE THOMAS

Rev. Marjorie Buckley Living (in Oxford). Lori Hannah said they would like to host those sessions at Brookdale.”

There will be four sessions. On November 12 there will be a morning and an evening session, and on December 3 there will be a morning and an evening session. Those will be at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. People may pick from any one of the dates and times to attend.

Here is what the text of an announcement from

As District 3 Supervisor I promise to bring to office: • Smart Economic Development • Honesty • Accountability • Commitment • Availability I have been married to Lindy Wren Rikard for 11 years. We are blessed with our three wonderful children, Swayze, Rivers, and Molly York. As a homeowner and lifelong native, I have the passion to serve Oxford and Lafayette County. As your supervisor, I understand that I work for you. I will be available anytime to listen to your concerns. We are at a pivotal time in the history of Lafayette County. I promise to insure the integrity and uniqueness of Oxford and Lafayette County with a long term plan for the future.

I humbly ask for your vote on November 3rd.

Thank You,

David Rikard

Paid for by David Rikard

Camellia Hospice in Oxford says about the mission of the sessions: Celebrating the holidays and special occasions can be a challenge, especially for those who are experiencing the holidays without loved ones who have died. At times that were previously happy times, the bereaved can feel overwhelmed with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression.

“How can I get through the holidays?” There is no

single answer. But, there are some survival tips for handling holidays and special occasions: •Plan ahead •Accept your limitations •Take care of yourself •Be prepared •Accept and express your feelings •Avoid additional stress •Lower your expectations •Ask for help •Accept help ‘Then in January we’re going to have a six-session grief support group, a closed group.,” Buckley said. “That means there will be the same people who begin and end with the group. There is a confidentiality with that, and there won’t be new people popping in an out during the six sessions.”

Marjorie, Jennifer, and Tracy Morgan, a part-time social worker, are leading the grief sessions.

“Jennifer and I serve both the Oxford and Southaven offices. Jennifer works mostly in that area and lives in Senatobia. I live here and Tracy lives here. All of us have to make ourselves

available to other offices.”

Buckley said her appointment is actually through the United Methodist Church, although Camellia Hospice is not affiliated with any one church.

“My appointment here is called Extension Ministry,” she said. “It is to be the fulltime chaplain here with Camellia Hospice. That is something I had to work out with the (United Methodist) Bishop (of Mississippi).

Buckley loves her work and wants to help others.

That is why these upcoming sessions are so important.

“My dad was a doctor. I’ve always been drawn to medicine and to the role that prayer plays in people’s health,” she said. “I love hospice. We work together as a team. We are midwives to the dying. Death is a part of life. All of us here are committed to help the dying cross the threshold and hold up their families as they say goodbye to their loved one."

For more information call 662-238-7771 or 662-8320336. The holiday grief sessions are open to anyone.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 4

OBITUARIES COLUMBUS BURWELL HOPPER

Dr. Columbus Burwell “C.B.” Hopper, 83, passed Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, at Grand Boulevard Rehab Center in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.A graveside memorial service will take place Friday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. at Oxford Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Robert Allen officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from Noon until 1:30 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions in Dr. Hopper’s memory may be made to the University of Mississippi Foundation, Attention: Columbus B. Hopper Scholarship Fund, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655.

JIMMY LYLES HODGE

Fund, 1171 Highway 334, Oxford, MS 38655.

LESLIE LEE MCDOWELL Dr. Leslie Lee McDowell, 84, died Sunday, Oct. 24, 2015, at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford after a brief illness.A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford with Rev. John Semmes and Rev. Ann Kelly officiating.

Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday evening, Oct. 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home. He served four years in the United States Air Force. In honor of Dr. McDowell’s service to our country, the flag of the United States Air Force will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.

Jimmy Lyles Hodge, 78, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, at his home in Oxford.The funeral service will be Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, at 1 p.m. at New Prospect Baptist Church with Rev. Buster Wilson and Rev. Chase Owen officiating. Burial will follow in Delay Baptist Church Cemetery.Visitation will be held BOBBY HARMON prior to the service at noon at the church.

Bobby A. Harmon, 91, formerly of Water Valley, Memorial contributions in Mr. Hodge’s memory may died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 at Forrest General Hospibe made to New Prospect Baptist Church, 823 High- tal in Hattiesburg. A graveside service will be held way 334, Oxford, MS 38655 or the Delay Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 30 at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Water Valley at 1 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Forrest General Health Care Foundation Hospice, PO Box 19010, Hattiesburg, MS 39404.

read more online

SANDRA KAY VARNUM

oxfordcitizen.com

Sandra Kay Varnum, 73, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 at Oxford Health and Rehab.There are no plans for a memorial service at this time. Coleman Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, P.O. Box 1674, Oxford, MS 38655.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Time To Vote sitting next to Ed asked what he did for the Army. Ed, by that time had logged Harold Brummett over 30,000 hours stick time dating back to before the Tet Offensive. Ed is rated County Roads in all kinds of aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing. Since Ed was a teenager he had flown, the son of an Army Aviator that is all he had done and was good at it. Ed pointed to the driver at the front ime to vote is coming up soon of the bus and told the man, “me and and it is time to hire or re-hire him do the same thing.” I was amazed some people to work for us. The at his response, Ed had spent years in bottom line is, we are hiring flying machines, and did not just fly the someone to do a job. What we wish for our county, city or state comes down to machine but wore it. Ed was humble who can best do the job we hire them to and practical in a profession that do. What most people want, is someone tended to make people a bit egotistical and self-important. Ed boiled his job who will answer the phone when they call, (not routed through the county ad- down to the basic, picking people up and dropping them off. ministrator) and either take action or Politicians do not invent things, they not and if not, why. The pay of $40,000+ do not build things, and they don’t do for a part time job is a princely sum to anything except what we allow them to most of us and the least we should exdo. Like a bad employee if they are not pect is to be able to talk to our county doing their job, voters can fire them. I representative. am suspicious of a politician that deThe lazy supervisor’s way out is to scribes his job or his political accomsimply list the courthouse as their adplishments beginning with the letter I. dress and phone number. When the He may have voted for himself, but he constituents call this number, they get wasn’t elected with just that one vote. to talk with the secretary of the county As voters we have the power and the readministrator. Never having dealt sponsibility to elect a candidate who is much with the other supervisors I can both humble and smart. only speak to my dealings with Mike At the Good Ole Boys and Gals get toPickens. Mike always answered his gether at Mr. Morgan’s place the other phone or returned the call in a timely manner. He may not always had the an- week, I was hunting the end of the line swer I wanted to hear, but could always for the chicken dinner. Angie and I came across Delbert Hosemann the Secretary be counted on to be straightforward of State. I cannot imagine a finer gentleand candid in his response. I am grateman. Secretary Hosemann talked to us as ful to Mike for this. if Angie and I were old friends of his who A person in office should not too big to talk to everyday people. I like doctors he had met after a long absence. I do not like that. I like dentists like that. I hire a believe the whole time at the get together person to do a job I expect them to talk I met anyone at the state level who was to me and explain things. A person hires as genuine as Secretary Hosemann. Seca mechanic to repair a car and they hire retary Hosemann seemed sincerely intera doctor to repair their body. Not to take ested in us and justifiably proud of his accomplishments as Secretary of State. I anything away from the specialization would vote for Secretary Hosemann for of our physicians, but we hire them to King if he ran. do something we cannot or don’t have The folks that I have spoken to all the time to do ourselves. It is no differseem to want the same things from ent with our politicians; they are hired their elected officials. Voters want their to do a job. official to be accessible, responsible, reYears ago, early one morning, my friend Ed and I was on a bus from Tong- sponsive, show up on time and preduchon (in Korea) to Seoul. We had de- pared to do the people’s business.

Voters want an official to care as much cided to eat Sunday Brunch at one of the hotels near embassy row. Dressed in about their job as the people do that similar garb of blue jeans, boots, flannel hired them. Not get the ‘big head’ and remember who the boss is. shirts and bright red suspenders we Hire somebody, go vote. stood out like neon. A Korean National

T

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

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OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

LEADING UP TO THE NOV. 3 GENERAL ELECTION, THE OXFORD CITIZEN IS FEATURING A Q&A WITH CANDIDATES IN STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE RACES INVOLVING LAFAYETTE COUNTY.

Daugherty: ‘Stop waste, broken promises’ Ken Daugherty, whose questionnaire is below, is an independent from Batesville running for House District 10. His opponent, incumbent Nolan Mettetal (R-Sardis), did not respond to the Oxford Citizen’s inquiries.

A: (1) SPEND MORE money on lowering student/teacher ratio to make it easier on individualizing instruction and teaching the hard-to-teach; (2) Funding the four lane highway projects; (3) funding retirements for volunteer firemen and a Veterans Hospital.

Q: WHAT CAN THE Legislature do to have a real impact on each of those challenges?

A: PASS A REDUCTION in red tape and reduction in force to help cut down on administrative spending and overstaffing. For example, at North Panola we have two assistant superintendents for 1,500 students.

We did have a deputy superintendent along with these while Robert King was there a couple of years Q: WHAT ARE THREE long- ago. As a conservator he term issues that state gov- was paid $200,000, also. ernment should be Q: WHAT ROLES would addressing now?

Q: WHAT DO YOU see as Mississippi’s three greatest immediate challenges in the next four years?

A: (1) STOP WASTING tax payer money with wasteful spending. (2) Stop overstaffing in educational administration areas. (3) Stop breaking promises to the people – for example, in health care. I am interested in helping people instead of hurting them.

you add to or remove from state government?

A: I WOULD NOT remove any roles for state government, and as a candidate I would have to talk to the people about what they wish for me to add. Listening to the people and keeping promises would be a good place to start in state government.

Q: WHAT EXPERIENCE, knowledge and characteristics do you have that would make you a better Representative than your opponent?

A: I HAVE JUST retired from 26 years of teaching and have volunteered to do many things in my teaching career and public life. Took another Harry Truman walk at Avent Park this morning, and I am glad I helped to build this place. I have lost three times as a Republican candidate in Lafayette County, but am running as an independent now. We have some good Democrats

in District 10, too. We need to find a way to work together as a team. Fighting each other sets a bad example for our children.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR position on Initiative 42?

A: I WOULD LIKE to see the teaching working conditions improved by lowering the teacher/student ratio but cannot support administrative waste and overstaffing. We would not need the $200 million in Initiative 42 if these cuts were made.

So I am for it and against it.

Our MDOT has not had a raise in seven years. If we can afford it, we need a #42 for all state employees.

I am “one of us for all of us.” Our colleges and universities are having to raise tuition too much to pay bills, and we need something to the help students at this level. Many of them tell me that they are having to borrow more and more to get a college education. A

Ken Daugherty, candidate for Mississippi House District 10, independent, retired educator from Batesville nurse and a radiology major said that they get a $2,000 dollar grant and still have to borrow $5,000 a semester or year to make it.

When I went to college, tuition was around $1,000 a year. Now I feel sorrow for parents and students who have to pay so much for tuition and supplies. Something has to give or cut back. I know that we can improve on this matter.

Q: WHAT ELSE would you want voters to know going into this election?

A: OUR VOLUNTEER firemen get a retirement in other states. I believe the Mississippi Legislature should pass some legislation to give them one in District 10. Also, a Veterans Hospital in Oxford would make health care more convenient for all North Mississippi veterans.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

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OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

False alarms small price to pay for safety

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

The end of National Fire Prevention Month makes an apt time to consider some of the aggravations that come with saving lives and property Take Oxford Fire Department’s call-outs, for instance. Of more than 130 response runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 27, smoke detector malfunctions and false alarms were responsible for a large plurality.

A number of alarm malfunctions were unexplained, but some false alarms came in while workers were installing or repairing them.

Others were clearly from human interaction.

Such calls included the Croft Institute on the University of Mississippi (twice on the same afternoon) and The Graduate Hotel, at both of which construction workers triggered a smoke alarm in unspecified ways, and a North 14th Street home, where the dust from

sheetrock being sanded also triggered an alarm.

Firefighters were called to Phi Mu sorority house three times in the two months – each from incidents involving smoke/heat detectors and the nearby use of a hair dryer, a curling iron and hairspray, respectively. (The Tri-Delta house and North Residential College also had hair-products-related fire calls.)

Food burning on stoves, in toasters, in ovens and in microwave ovens prompted more than a dozen firefighter responses, but food wasn’t the only thing that burned: A towel and a tote left on top of stoves also were responsible for separate OFD callouts, as was a grease fire in an oven. One unfortunate resident of Campus Creek caught a pan of oil on fire and instead of covering it to smother the flames, put it in the sink and ran water on it, which spread the flames and smoke.

People’s olfactory sensitiv-

ity triggered some OFD responses: Several residents or workers in various places reported smelling natural gas, one smelled gasoline in the house, and several others reported the unexplained aroma of smoke. (In each case, firefighters checked with instruments far more sensitive than human noses before giving the all-clear.)

Firefighters even made one response visit after a Cambridge Station resident reported smelling carbon monoxide – which happens to be colorless, odorless and tasteless.

Slightly related was the call to respond to a wreck where a vehicle was reported to be on fire. When firefighters arrived, however, they determined that the “smoke” that led to the fire concern was actually dust left over from the activation of an air bag.

Intentional false alarms – including as apparent pranks at The Connection, Sigma Nu fraternity house, Oxford Middle School, The

Lyric and Baptist Memorial Hospital – accounted for several calls, along with another where a nursing home resident had pulled the alarm. There was also an incident when an employee accidentally bumped the fire alarm at a restaurant coincidentally known as Boneheads.

While most calls turn out to be low on the adrenaline ladder for responders, a couple of grease fires, an elevator entrapment, medical assists and several wrecks requiring extrication of victims tested firefighters’ training, skills and stamina.

Oxford Fire Chief Cary Sallis said false alarms and dry runs are a small price to pay for not having more serious fires and other emergencies than the city and university campus have.

“It’s hard to stop a lot of that. We run into a lot of issues with people putting smoke detectors too close to the kitchen, too close to the shower,” he said. “If anybody has questions about where

PETRE THOMAS | BUY AT PHOTO.DJOURNAL.COM

Oxford fire Lieutenant Eric Thweet shows firefighters Josh Ferguson and Chad Bagwell new techniques how to open a locked door. to locate them, if they need help installing them or even changing the batteries, call us – that’s what we do.”

As for the alarms caused by carelessness, Sallis is philosophical.

“Students, especially freshmen, are in a new place and new circumstances,” he said. “They’re going to do

their hairspray, take showers with the door open, use hair dryers and candles under an alarm. That’s just a given.

“We’d rather people call us even if it’s a false alarm than to wait too late to call us,” Sallis said. errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 9

Elliott Lane a unique children's store for Oxford JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Don’t confuse Elliott Lane with another store that you might have heard of somewhere else.

This new Oxford business stands alone.

Combining the middle names of the daughters of its two owners, Elliott Lane opened two months ago in the new Highland Court on West Jackson Avenue.

The children’s clothing store, which also has gifts and accessories, is owned by two neighbors who wanted to do something fun and special. They thought about it for a while, talked about it for a while, and Elliott Lane is now the result of their planning.

Kari Bailey and Megan Tomes say it’s a store they had been wanting to open for a while. Now that they have, they are excited about it and pleased that people are finding out they are open.

“We’re an upscale, contemporary store for kids,” Bailey said.

“We don’t carry things for babies.

We focus on things that are styl-

PETRE THOMAS | BUY AT PHOTO.DJOURNAL.COM

Elliott Lane has contemporary clothing for both boys and girls. ish, yet age appropriate. We run from size 4 to size 16. That’s anywhere from ages 3 or 4 to ages 14 or 16. Some college girls that are real petite can wear the big girl stuff.”

Bailey said their offerings are

some of the same brands that adults can buy in other stores for themselves.

“We carry high-end denim and high-end brands that other stores carry in their adult lines,” she said. “So they can come in

and get the same things for kids.”

Some of the brands are Ella Moss, Splendid, Hudson Denim, Joe’s Jeans, Frye Boots, and Vince.

The store is in a convenient location with plenty of free parking at the new Highland Court.

Not too far from the Square or the Ole Miss campus, they are easily accessible for consumers.

“It’s been great,” Tomes said.

“We’ve had a good response from people in the community.

Everyone tells us, ‘Oxford really needed something like this for kids.’ So it’s been a great start for us.”

“We’re doing something different here,” Bailey said. “Oxford has a great baby store that specializes in babies and traditional baby clothes. We’re more for elementary and middle school girls that are wanting to look their age. They’re ready for moving up to a different age of fashion and what they’re wearing.

“The response has been very positive and is steadily getting better as people find us,” Bailey

continued. “Those who have come in say, ‘I can’t wait to tell my friends, or my sister, or my neighbor.’ We’ve had grandmothers come in to shop for their grandchildren, and we’ve had several people from out of town shop with us – people from Pontotoc, Tupelo, Water Valley, the Delta.”

There are other items in the store such as accessories, jewelry, and birthday gifts.

And their own children happen to be the precise age of those the store caters to each day.

“We have a good split,” Bailey said. “My kids are 14 and 10. Her kids are 9, 6, and 5.”

“They’re our walking billboards,” Tomes said.

Store hours are normally 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

And the name again?

“Elliott is my daughter’s middle name, and Lane is her daughter’s middle name.” Bailey said.

Unique. Independent. And Oxford. That’s Elliott Lane.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

October 13 an important date for Mae Stone

BY JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Mae Stone will always remember October 13. Every year of her life it will now mean something different.

Last year it was the day she had surgery for breast cancer. This month it was the one-year anniversary of her being cancer free.

Three months prior to that date last year, her life changed completely.

“August 4, 2014, I got out of the shower and felt a knot under my arm,” said Stone, whose family moved to Oxford in 1964. “I was like ‘What’s that?’ I knew I needed to check it out.”

One reason was her sister, Sue, had breast cancer 12 years earlier. Sue has survived it and continues to live a full life. So Mae went to see a doctor about the situation.

“Maybe it was a tick bite,” she said they told her. “Let’s wait two or three weeks. It was still there. An ultrasound showed nothing.”

Another ultrasound at another office showed something. The next step was a biopsy.

“I went to the surgery center the next day,” Mae said. She got the procedure done and left.

“I was on the way to Kroger to get some pain medicine that was called in.

A friend was driving me in a new vehicle that had a blue tooth. She answers and (the doctor) said ‘We got the result and it’s metastatic.’ I still had enough drug in me (from the biopsy) that I was just like, ‘Oh, OK.’ If they had called me later or the next day, I probably would have had a lot more of a reaction.”

But her course was now set. She had to prepare for whatever was next in her upcoming surgery and recovery. Her father is longtime Oxford physician, Dr. Carroll Stone.

“My friend called my dad and my sister. We all met at dad’s house,” Mae said. “We got through that on that day. The support from family and friends has just been fantastic.”

There was testing to find the tumors and there were ultimately two. The knot under her arm was where cancer had already spread

to the lymph nodes.

“One tumor was contained in the duct. The other was invasive and had spread out to the lymph nodes.” Mae said. “On October 13 they did surgery.

They took out the two tumors and ten nodes; five of those nodes were positive for cancer.”

She went through four rounds of chemotherapy three weeks apart; then 33 radiation treatments.

“There were 28 treatments to the whole area,” Mae said. “Then there were five directly to the tumor area.”

Her family and friends had a “no mo chemo” party for her after the four rounds. That was in February. Her last radiation treatment was on May 15.

There was no party then but a real relief that it was behind her.

Mae said there was some re-evaluation of her life and her work prior to the treatments.

“I did medical transcription for years. I managed dad’s office for years. I continued to work for other offices after he retired,” Mae

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Mae Stone said. “(The doctor) said there was no way I could sit at a computer and do that during treatment (for 8-10 hours a day). But instead, I just retired. My younger sister, Melanie, had been trying to get me to retire for some time. She said, ‘Well,

it took cancer to finally get you to retire.’ But it was time.”

Mae said she feels good now and certainly her reports have contributed to how she feels. But it has been quite a year and a few months for her since

discovering the knot under her arm.

“I’d never had surgery before. I’d never had any real illness before,” she said.

“From being in the medical field all these years, it was TURN TO MAE PAGE 11

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 11

Mistilis knows the meaning of taking care of one's own health

BY JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

Maggie Mistilis knew her life was changing in December, 2008, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Everything changes when you hear you have cancer,” said Maggie, the wife of John Mistilis. “I just went into overdrive with all these emotions. Thank goodness John went with me to all my appointments.

You need someone with a different set of ears than yours. Your mind is going in so many different directions.”

There is one recurring theme we seem to always hear when a breast cancer patient has a lot of distance between the present and when they were first diagnosed.

“We caught it early,” Maggie said.

But there was a lot to go through in the months after her diagnosis.

“It was micro invasive ductal carcinoma. My doctors were wonderful. I had two lumpectomies within a ten-day period. Then I had 36 radiation treatments at the diagnostic center here.

My care was excellent. I could not have gotten better care.”

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Maggie Mistilis Maggie had seen the affects of what cancer can do on loved ones and also the positive side of recovery.

Many in her immediate family have dealt with cancer personally, “My mother had breast cancer and colon cancer when she was in her late 60s or early 70s. She’s 93 years old now,” Maggie said. “My younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer about 13 or 14 years ago.

She’s still here. So I come

Mae FROM PAGE 10

‘OK, this is what I’ve got.’ I did fine.

“I was covered in prayer from people here in Oxford to Cape Cod where my sister lives to a friend in Australia. My sisters had t-shirts made with ‘Team Mae’ on them. It says ‘Love Mae’ on there. Dad even has one. My friend in Australia has one. I have had so much support and prayers.”

from good, strong stock.

“We had not had a history in my family of breast cancer. My mother’s, as I understand, was estrogen based.

Mine nor my sister’s was estrogen based. It was sort of bad luck, we were told.”

But those aren’t the only ones in her family who have dealt with cancer.

“Out of seven children, six of us have had cancer,” she said. “I lost my oldest brother in 1989. I lost my second brother this Febru-

She attributes how her body reacted to the treatments to those people and their prayers.

“You hear so many horror stories with cancer,” she said. “The nausea, the vomiting, the mouth sores. I didn’t have any of it. I lost my hair and I’ve got it back now.

There were two times I broke down and cried.”

One was when the doctor told her she could not do as much as she had in the past with mission work called “Operation Christmas Child.” And then when her hair was cut.

ary. Somewhere in there there’s something that has made us susceptible to getting it.”

But there’s a lot of unknown as to why. They simply have dealt with it and continued to move on. Her family has always been strong.

“We grew up on a farm in Kansas and Oklahoma. My family moved here. My dad was in the cattle business, and that’s what brought us here. I’m from Columbus,

“I had taken a shower and it started coming out. My sister, Melanie, was home in early December. I had all my support team right here – my two sisters and my dad. I said, ‘Y’all need to cut my hair tonight.’ It was a real emotional time. But after that, it was no big deal.”

Operation Christmas Child is a big part of her life. Already there are shoe boxes sitting in her home awaiting the time they will be sent overseas to children who don’t have anything at Christmas.

That is but one reason why

went to the W and graduated in education. I taught school for 34 years; 26 of those in Oxford.

“I’ve been retired for three years, but that didn’t last long for me. I got my real estate license and was offered this job part-time. I’m a leasing agent property manager at Solo. I make sure things are taken care of, the physical property and make sure the tenants have what they need.”

She likes her job. It’s four hours a day and she knows there will be some routine in it.

“It’s perfect,” Maggie said.

“It keeps me current with the college students and gives me a routine and schedule. Teachers like a routine and schedule.”

Being a teacher in the Oxford School District had also been a positive when it came to knowing her doctors.

“I had taught all my doctors’ children, so I had a personal relationship with them as well as a professional relationship,” Maggie said. “They took excellent care of me. They were quick to act and also encouraging about my diagnosis. The type of cancer I had has like a 95 percent success rate of survival. I was very fortunate

Christmas will be special this year.

“I feel good physically,” she said. “Everything keeps coming back fine. I’ve got a good outlook.”

She encourages women, and men, to keep their health a priority as well as take precautions.

“My life is in God’s hands. He’s brought me through this,” Mae said, a relay center coordinator for Operation Christmas Child at the Wesley Foundation. “I’m very thankful, very grateful, and I’m looking forward to many more years of Operation Christmas Child.”

in that.”

There is always that distance from time of diagnosis and surgery as well as treatments that makes a patient feel better. The farther from the beginning of the problem, the better.

“Five years seems to be the gold standard, and maybe you can take a little bit of a deep breath,” she said. “I remember getting to that five-year mark and just thinking how fortunate I was.

“We all know people who have been affected by breast cancer, and you want to believe everyone is going to have a happy ending. But the reality is that some don’t.”

Support is extremely important, according to Maggie.

“As teachers you become a part of a real tight community. My teacher friends were wonderful. And the people at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church were wonderful.”

Her advice to others? Take care of those you love and all those around you. But never forget about yourself when it comes to your own wellbeing.

“When it comes to taking care of your health,” she said, “you’ve got to put yourself first.”

One thing that gave her assurance of her recovery was the day she drove home from her last radiation treatment.

“I usually don’t listen to much in the car,” Mae said. “ But I had the radio on AFR and there was a song that came on. ‘I am not alone. You will go before me. You will never leave me.’ The very last day of radiation.

“I thought, ‘I wish I had heard that at the beginning (of her journey with breast cancer). But He was there all along from day one.

And I knew it.”

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 12

Who – and what – is on Tuesday’s ballot?

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

As with every general election in the year preceding every presidential election, Mississippi voters will face a full slate of offices to fill on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Only one statewide candidate – Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney (R) – is unopposed, but several other races are considered shoo-ins for incumbents.

On a more local scale, District Attorney Ben Creekmore is unopposed, and several county incumbents either were unopposed at all or defeated their only opponents in their primaries or runoffs.

Competing initiatives dealing with full funding of education – as established by the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) in 1997.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The following will be on the general election ballot:

ANCE: Mike Chaney (Rep)

Rickey Babb (Rep) Brian Hyneman (Independent)

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER NORTHERN DISTRICT: Brandon Presley (Dem) Mike Maynard (Rep)

SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 2: Jeff Busby (Dem)

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER NORTHERN DISTRICT: Danny Woods (Dem) Mike Tagert (Rep) DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 3: Benjamin F. Creekmore (Dem) STATE SENATE DISTRICT 9: Cristen Hemmins (Dem) Gray Tollison (Rep)

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE SOUTHERN: Johnny Wayne McLarty (Dem)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 10: Nolan Mettetal (Rep) Ken Daugherty (Independent)

CONSTABLE CENTRAL: Jody B. Mayfield (Dem)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 13: Justin Cluck (Dem) Steve Massengill (Rep)

STATE TREASURER: Lynn Fitch (Rep) Viola V. McFarland (Reform) COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE: Addie Lee Green (Dem) Cindy Hyde-Smith (Rep) Cathy L. Toole (Reform) COMMISSIONER OF INSUR-

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE CENTRAL: Mickey Avent (Dem)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 8: John T. “Trey” Lamar III (Rep)

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Tim Johnson (Dem) Tate Reeves (Rep) Ron Williams (Libertarian) Ross B. Williams (Reform)

STATE AUDITOR: Jocelyn “Joce” Pepper Pritchett (Dem) Stacey E. Pickering (Rep) Lajena Walley (Reform)

SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 5: Mike Roberts (Dem) Johnny Mike Fortner (Rep)

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE NORTHERN: Carolyn Pettis Bell (Dem) Jeffery M. Johnson (Rep)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 12: J. P. “Jay” Hughes Jr (Dem) Brad Mayo (Rep)

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Jim Hood (Dem) Mike Hurst (Rep)

SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 4: Chad D. McLarty (Dem)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 5: John Faulkner (Dem)

GOVERNOR: Robert Gray (Dem) Phil Bryant (Rep) Shawn O’Hara (Reform)

SECRETARY OF STATE: Charles E. Graham (Dem) Delbert Hosemann (Rep) Randy Walker (Reform)

SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3: Dale Timothy Gordon (Dem) David Rikard (Rep) Zach Carey (Independent)

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 23: Charles Jim Beckett (Rep) LAFAYETTE CIRCUIT CLERK: Baretta Mosley (Dem) LAFAYETTE CHANCERY CLERK: Sherry Wall (Dem) LAFAYETTE CORONER: O. E. “Rocky” Kennedy II (Dem) LAFAYETTE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Bela J. “Jay” Chain III (Dem) LAFAYETTE SHERIFF: F. D. “Buddy” East (Dem) LAFAYETTE TAX ASSESSORCOLLECTOR: Sylvia Baker (Dem) SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 1: Kevin W. Frye (Dem)

CONSTABLE NORTHERN: Greg (Spankey) Pettis (Dem) CONSTABLE SOUTHERN: Jack E. Theobald II (Dem) SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2: Max D. Hipp (Independent) SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3: Lola M. Pearson (Independent) STATEWIDE INITIATED BY PETITION AND ALTERNATIVE

BY LEGISLATURE Initiative Measure No. 42, “Should the State be required to provide for the support of an adequate and efficient system of free public schools?”

Section 201: Educational opportunity for public school children. “To protect each child’s fundamental right to educational opportunity, the State shall provide for the establishment, maintenance and support of an adequate and efficient system of free public schools. The chancery courts of this State shall

have the power to enforce this section with appropriate injunctive relief.”

Legislative Budget Office Fiscal Analysis: Because this proposed amendment shifts funding decisions from the Legislature to the court system, it is impossible to provide a specific fiscal impact of Initiative 42. If the court system, acting under the new authority granted by Initiative 42, required K-12 Public Education to be funded at the amount called for by the statutory Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the Legislature would need to appropriate an additional $201,031,129 above the Fiscal Year 2016 budgeted amount. Fiscal Year 2016 revenues are not adequate to support this funding increase without the Legislature having to cut agency budgets or identify new sources of revenue (such as fees or tax increase) to comply with the court’s dictate.

Alternative Measure No. 42A, “Should the Legislature provide for the establishment and support of effective free public schools without judicial enforcement?”

Section 201: “The Legislature shall, by general law, provide for the establishment, maintenance nd support of an effective system of free public schools.”

Legislature Budget Office Fiscal Analysis: There is no determinable cost or revenue impact associated with this initiative.

VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF EITHER, OR AGAINST BOTH: FOR APPROVAL OF EITHER Initiative Measure No. 42 OR Alternative Measure No. 42A AGAINST BOTH Initiative Measure No. 42 AND Alternative Measure No. 42A AND VOTE FOR ONE: FOR Initiative Measure No. 42 FOR Alternative Measure No. 42A errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Flag FROM PAGE 1

Stocks said Jeffrey Vitter, who will visit campus Thursday and likely be announced as the next chancellor, was kept informed of the decision.

“I talked to Dr. Vitter about it this morning, and he understood our reasoning. I do think we’re better off making this decision now and getting this behind us before he arrives,” Stocks said.

Students seemed to be largely receptive of the change.

Thomas Sanders, a sophomore computer science major from Kosciusko, who is white, said, “I think it’s progress; it’s a good thing.”

Ian Morrison, a sophomore accounting major from San Antonio, Texas, said, “As an African-American student who came to this school, and the first things I see are Confederate symbols, I had a preconceived notion of what this university is, and I decided to come here anyway. I think their taking down the flag is one step closer to having an accepting environment for all students. I’m happy about it.’

Morrison added, “I think it’s as big an issue as you want to make it. For some people, the flag doesn’t affect them, and for some, it’s like, ‘Oh, my God!’ To me, it’s kind of a

big issue. I don’t like to see my school abused.”

Holland Nader, a freshman from Madison, majoring in nutrition and exercise science, is white.

“I don’t agree with (the removal). I didn’t find it offensive. I didn’t think it was that big of a problem,” she said. “It’s kind of odd for the school that calls itself the state’s ‘flagship university’ to take the flag down.”

She added that it doesn’t trouble her much.

“It’s not that big a deal,” she said.

Briana Evans is a paralegal studies senior from Ellisville. A black woman, she said she has “felt very comfortable” at Ole Miss.

“Honestly, I have kind of mixed emotions about it,” she said. “Personally, it’s really not an issue to me.

“I don’t think it’ll really make a difference in how people of different races treat each other. I think when you’re taught those traditions, that’s basically what’s going to come out.

I’ve been taught to treat races equally.

“I was pretty much prepared for any type of situation, that if I were to come to a point where racial equality was a problem, I would be able to handle it,” Evans said.

“Being raised in a Christian family, I was taught to pray about things, to consult God about everything.” errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

www.oxfordcitizen.com CONTACT US • Advertising: Sarah Brooke Bishop 662.801.9607 sarahbrooke.bishop@journalinc.com • News: Jeff Roberson 662.816.6745 jeff.roberson@journalinc.com Errol Castens .662.816.1282 errol.castens@journalinc.com • Sports : John Davis 662.801.2362 john.davis@journalinc.com

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1176 Oxford, MS 38655 Fax: 662-638-0111 CORRECTIONS The Oxford Citizen will correct any error found in the newspaper.

A correction or clarification will appear in the next issue. Email corrections to: jeff.roberson @journalinc.com.

A publication of Journal, Inc.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 13

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 14

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

JEFF ROBERSON

JEFF ROBERSON

Susan Rose and her brother-in-law, Jim Rose, at the North Light Gallery at the Orchard in Oxford Robert Saarnio, Director, University Museum and Historic Houses at the University of MissisMonday night for “Art With a Kick.” Susan displayed art at the show, as did Jim’s wife, Sandra. sippi, views the art at the “Art with a Kick” Show at the Orchard in Oxford Monday night.

North Light Gallery at the Orchard helps bring art to life JEFF ROBERSON OXFORD CITIZEN

“There’s nothing more thrilling for an artist, whether 7 or 70, than to see their work on a wall.”

Robert Saarnio, Director of the University Museum

and Historic Houses, summed up with those words what it means for the artists who display their works at North Light Gallery.

Saarnio was among those who visited the gallery Monday night.

North Light Gallery, a part

of the Orchard church, was hosting a reception for the closing of “Art With a Kick,” an event of the Oxford Park Commission.

The Orchard, at 295 Highway 7 North, is more than a facility for a church. Various activities take place there on

a regular basis. One of those is North Light Gallery, a permanent art gallery at the church, which is home to several shows each year.

“One of our goals has been to create common ground between the church community and the arts community of Oxford,” said Pat Ward, Lead Pastor at the Orchard. “We’ve been able to do that from kids’ art to Ole Miss students’ art to artists inside our church to artists who would never imagine showing their art in a church.

“It’s led to great conversations and it’s been very inspiring to have so many creative people connected to that space.”

Community and College Pastor Don Ross said it’s been a space in the church, a large and extended hallway with windows on the northside of the building, that seems to welcome exactly what it’s being used for.

“It’s been fun to be able to show local art and regional art, and to create opportunities for artists to be exposed to the church,” Ross said.

“And for the church to be exposed to local art and to make some connections there.”

Cynthia Howle, who attends the Orchard, volunteered more than a year ago when Ward was seeking volunteers to help with the space. She serves basically as curator for the North Light Gallery.

“I help curate and make a connection between the artist and the gallery,” Howle

said.

She also said it’s been one of those projects that has evolved over time from an idea to implementation, now with seven shows since the gallery began in summer, 2014.

“Basically what we did was come up with a calendar of things we were interested in doing, and we worked with the other galleries in town along with the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council to see what kind of shows they were doing and to see how we could fit in with that,” Howle said. “In the spring we hope to do something in conjunction with the Oxford Conference for the Book.”

But up next is a show of local interest to many Oxonians and area citizens. Angelo Mistilis will have a show of art that he gathered, not necessarily did.

“The next one is a showing of Angelo’s collection of artwork by inmates at the Lafayette County Detention Center,” Ross said. “Angelo was the cook there for over a decade. While he was working there, he would bring in crayons, colored pencils, and other art supplies for the inmates to give them something to do to pass the time. He has a collection of those, and he wants the world to see it. It’s a fantastic collection of what he calls ‘Jail Art.’ We’re going to sell some of it as a way to raise money for Kairos Prison Ministry, and we will be doing that show sometime in early December.”

Ross talks more about some of the other shows they’ve had.

“This show (that just closed) was the ‘Art With a Kick’ class that is put on by the Oxford Park Commission and run by Andi Bedsworth, who is a local artist and does a lot with the (Yoknapatawpha) Arts Council,” he said. “Andi does a class with kids in the summer called ‘Art To Go’ and she came here and hosted her class at the North Light Gallery one week. The kids did some special art that we displayed with that show.

“We had local artist Michael Carter, who displayed some of his jazz musician and graffiti artwork here in our gallery. We had a couple of different shows we did through the University Art Department. One was undergrads and the other was graduate students. They were excellent and a great way to connect with the art department, which is always looking for ways to display their work.”

Ward said art and church should go together and long ago were joined as basically one.

“Church and art used to be married,” he said “The Sistene Chapel is a work of art. The church used to commission all the great works of art. Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten that and chose to separate them.”

Now they are being brought back together at the Orchard in Oxford’s North Light Gallery.

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 15

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

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PAGE 17

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PAGE 18

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 19

Former employee charged with Roberson murder

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

A former employee who had lived with funeral home director Kenneth Roberson was charged Wednesday in Roberson’s death.

Nathaniel Arnez Huddleston, 27, was arrested in or near Jackson by Oxford Police Department Investigators with the assistance of U.S. Marshals. He was being returned to Oxford as of late Wednesday, and investigators expected to begin interviews with him as soon as possible.

Roberson, 52, was found dead of two gunshot wounds in the head at his house on Molly Barr Road early Saturday morning after OPD responded to a call asking them to check on Roberson after friends and employees had been unable to contact him.

On Monday OPD issued a “BOLO” (Be On Look Out) alert for a 2013 Gray Jeep Cherokee missing from Roberson’s house. A lead that came in through an anonymous call to CrimeStoppers helped locate the car in Canton, not far from where the suspect was arrested.

Huddleston already had a troubled history with Roberson.

In July, the Kenneth I. Roberson Funeral Home in Pontotoc was set ablaze, but the fire was confined to the office area, from which a safe was missing. Huddleston, who was identified at

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Oxford Police Chief Joey East confirmed that Huddleston had lived for a time with Roberson but could not confirm the nature of their relationship.

East said he and other law enforcement officials were relieved to have advanced the investigation to the point of arresting a suspect.

“I would like to thank the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the United States Marshals Service for their cooperative efforts on this case,” East said.

“Everyone has worked on this non-stop, and we are glad to have this person in custody.”

Roberson was a native of Magnolia in Southwest Mississippi, and had connections to Brookhaven.

His North Mississippi visitation was scheduled for Wednesday night at the Tallahatchie-Oxford Missionary Baptist (T.O.M.B.) Building in Oxford, with a South Mississippi visitation from noon to 7 p.m. today at Tyler Funeral Home Inc. in Brookhaven.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Friday at Macedonia M.B. Church in Brookhaven, with interment to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Brookhaven. errol.castens@journalinc.com; Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 21

John Davis Sports Editor

Hard work, luck has No. 1 Rangers two wins from state title en weeks ago, if Jack Wright, the head coach of the Northwest Mississippi Community College football team, was told that his Rangers would be 81 and hosting an MACJC playoff game, he would have been on board.

“I actually would have said 'Where do to I sign up?'” Wright added with a laugh. “I would have snatched a pen from somebody to sign that. If I could have gotten that in writing, I would have taken that for sure.”

It surely has been a memorable season for Wright and the Rangers, who enter Saturday's playoff matchup with East Central ranked in the top five of the NJCAA rankings.

A week ago, the Rangers were preparing to play the game on the road, at Gulf Coast.

Then, East Mississippi got into a skirmish with Mississippi Delta. The Lions were eliminated from the playoffs, and event though the Rangers lost to them a few weeks back, they are now the No. 1 seed. A win Saturday at home also means the MACJC state title game will be played at Bobby Franklin Field on Nov. 7.

There have been some close wins garnered along the way to earning the top seed.

Many may not realize that the Rangers still have scholarship issues stemming from probation a few years ago. Wright and his staff have done a masterful job navigating that mine field, and producing positive results.

And getting a little luck hasn't hurt a bit.

“There were some games during the ninegame schedule that we didn't play as well in, but we were able to get a win in the end. We got some luck,” Wright said. “To me, that's the sign of a solid football team when you find ways to win, even on a day or two when you're not at your best.”

Holmes and Hinds were the two games that Wright demonstrated his point the best.

“We were down very late in the fourth quarter and we had to make a play. We had to make a third down conversion or catch this ball over the middle,” Wright said. “All the things that go into that. So many things can go wrong in those life and death situations at the end of the game. We were able to do the right thing, enough, to win those games.

That's big and that means that our kids have a lot of confidence. It means that we were able to execute at a high level when the game was on the line.”

Saturday is Halloween for anybody that 1) doesn't have a child or 2) doesn't have a calendar. Wright was hoping that his fans would garner some early treats with a win over the Warriors.

T

TURN TO RANGERS PAGE 24

THOMAS WELLS | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Ole Miss has confidence heading into Saturday's matchup with Auburn on the road thanks to an impressive 23-3 win over Texas A&M last week.

Rebels have confidence heading to face Auburn

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Ole Miss stopped its bleeding last week with a home win over Texas A&M. Now, it's time to see if the No. 19 Rebels can use the confidence gained against the Aggies to their advantage against Auburn on the road.

The Rebels (6-2 overall, 31 in the SEC) showed a lot of promise for the final stretch with the way they played against the Aggies. As coach Hugh Freeze said, it was the most complete win of the season considering the quality of opponent.

“Every game is a must win. We just wanted to fight as hard as we could for 60 minutes and we did that and we got the win,” quarterback Chad Kelly said about the A&M victory.

“That win can only build confidence. We have to correct the mistakes that we

made in this game and get better and get rid of the turnovers. I had three interceptions that I wish I had back. We got the win and that's all that matters.”

Wins and losses are the only two things that matter for the Rebels the rest of the way. They are still in control of their down destiny in that they 1) still play undefeated LSU at home and 2) have the head-to-head over Alabama, which hosts LSU on Nov. 7. Of course, the Rebels can't lose at Auburn, or against Arkansas for any of that to really matter.

“All of that is great, but let's just win one at a time,” Freeze said. “I know that is in the back our kids' minds.

Hope is a great thing in life.

You have to maintain that hope, whether you are going to end up on top or in the middle. I like to take it one week at a time. We got our team ready to play very well at times, and sometimes we

haven't. The challenge that I always look at is how do I get them ready to play at Auburn on Saturday to give us the best chance to win."

Ole Miss is a better frame of mind following the victory over the Aggies because of the way the defense played. For the first time since the season opener, the Rebels didn't allow a touchdown. The Rebels clamped down A&M quarterback Kyle Allen, and held him to just 88 total yards, a season low.

“They turned up. That was the Land Shark D that we've known and seen in practice every day,” Kelly said. “Their enthusiasm and intensity was great this past week in practice and it carried over to the game.

Everybody was focused and locked in and ready to go.”

Safety Trae Elston and defensive end Marquis Haynes were both honored by the SEC for their performances

VS.

Kickoff: 11 a.m.

Radio: WQLJ-FM 93.7 TV: ESPN Series: Auburn leads 29-10

against the Aggies. Elston was the Defensive Player of the Week for knocking down five passes, while Haynes was named Defensive Lineman of the Week for finishing with two sacks.

Outside of two plays to have big gains, Freeze felt his defenders were in the right place to stop the Aggies. He added that things TURN TO REBELS PAGE 27

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 22

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Friday Night Previews: Week 11 Commodores have corrections to make against Indians

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Fans of the Lafayette Commodores need to be fans of the Tunica-Rosa Fort Lions this Friday night. In order for the Commodores to improve their playoff seeding, the Senatobia Warriors have to be defeated by the Lions. If the Warriors, who beat the Commodores last week, win, they will be the No. 1 seed out of 2-4A play when the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs get rolling on Nov. 6.

“We will be keeping an eye on that game. If Rosa Fort can win, it becomes a three-way tie, and we can still come out in first place,” LHS coach Eric Robertson said.

Lafayette defeated Tunica by 23 points, which gives them a plus 11 point differential if there is a tie because the Commodores lost by a point to Senatobia.

“We need Rosa Fort to win for us to be the one seed,”

Robertson said.

Of course the Commodores (8-2 overall) have to defeat Byhalia in the final game of the regular season at William L. Buford Stadium. Robertson said while losing is never good, the loss to the Warriors allowed for re-evaluation of things.

“It forces us to respond. As a result of the loss, we'll get better because of it,” he added. “That's what we have to do. I think we got better (Monday) without even stepping on to the field. We have to correct those mistakes. We can't just go out and talk about them. If we do that, then we'll definitely be a better football team.

You never want to lose, but if you lose one, you would rather lose it in the regular season and not in the playoffs. Fortunately we have an opportunity to fix it. Two weeks from now, we won't have that opportunity.”

Expect Lafayette's starters to see more action against

Byhalia at Lafayette Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Radio: WQLJ-FM 93.7

Byhalia because of the loss to Senatobia.

“Our mindset is strictly on Byhalia. We're not talking about the playoffs or anything down the road. Our mindset is strictly on Byhalia and for Lafayette getting better,” Robertson said.

“We'll treat Byhalia like it's the most important game of the year because it is. That's our focus. We're going in with a game plan that we play for four quarters and we play our best football. We were in control of things and with the loss, we're not.

JOEY BRENT

The Lafayette Commodores are looking to bounce back from a loss to Senatobia this Friday night against Byhalia.

We've got to go and treat it their best and it cost them like it's the biggest district an undefeated mark in 2-4A game of the season.” play.

“I thought Dillon Woods played really well for us on SOME POSITIVES Robertson felt like there defense. There were times were times against Senato- where I thought we played bia that his team played really well. We're kind of a well. There were too many momentum team and when spurts, however, where the we did go down and score, Commodores didn't play we played really well,”

Robertson said. “I think in spurts, we played really, really well on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, when there was adversity and Senatobia played well, it hurt us.

Our play was just real spotty.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Liggins, Johnson have been consistent for LHS defense

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

It was tough for Lafayette's Zeke Liggins and Amani Johnson to watch film of the loss to Senatobia Monday. The two veteran defenders weren't happy with the 2019 setback, and both were focused on using it as motivation the rest of the season.

“It's going to help us a lot. It's going to get us back focused and back on track, back to what we were supposed to have been,” said Liggins, a senior who plays the Commodore linebacker position. “It's going to keep us focused. It was very tough to watch because we didn't do a lot of stuff we were supposed to do. The whole team. We can't point fingers at just one person. It was everyone. It is what it is. We have to come back out the next game and get better.”

The next game for the

Commodores is Friday night at home against Byhalia. If the Commodores get some help from Tunica-Rosa Fort, then they could end up being the No. 1 seed out of 2-4A. At the worst, the Commodores remain the No. 2 seed in the upcoming playoffs, which means they will host a team on Nov. 6.

Lafayette's defense had some good moments in the loss to the Warriors.

Liggins had an interception of Senatobia quarterback Cooper Stevens to give him two on the year.

“I saw what he was doing. We saw it in practice every day. He motioned the running back out to get me to come up on the running back. I made it seem like I was coming up on him, but I dropped back,” Liggins said. “It felt great because it was a big momentum swing for the defense.

Once I got the interception, the offense scored right back.”

PETRE THOMAS

Lafayette defensive end Amani Johnson, left, and linebacker Zeke Liggins have been steady performers this fall.

As a whole, Liggins felt like the defense has performed “pretty good” but he was looking for more.

“Against Senatobia, I'm going to say we didn't perform very good at all,” he said.

Johnson, a junior who plays defensive end for the Commodores, called the loss to Senatobia a “humbling experience.”

“It's something that you

don't want to see happen, but it's something that maybe needed to happen,” Johnson said. “I try as hard as I can, but I don't know if I would say it was a good job.”

Quin Jones and Vincent Lewis may have garnered the biggest headlines for the defense this season, but the importance of Liggins and Johnson can't be undervalued. Johnson said that Liggins does a great

job of setting the edge against teams.

“He keeps most teams from staying outside and he lets them come in to all of us so we can make bigger plays,” Johnson said of Liggins.

Conversely, Liggins, who is flipped to the side when three wide receivers line up, felt like Johnson was a great defensive end who does well at pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

“He keeps pressure and hurries the quarterback at all times. He gets sacks, tackles for loss, all of that,” Liggins said. “He's just an overall great defensive end.

He's very productive. He's just underrated. We have a lot of those.”

The best part about sacking a quarterback for Johnson is how pumped up the crowd gets.

“People love a sack,” the duo both said.

Both Johnson and Liggins understand that the Byhalia game is the last

one for the team to correct mistakes because everything is win or go home after that.

“As (head coach Eric Robertson) told us, this is our last chance to fix it because we're not going to get a chance to fix it in the playoffs,” Johnson said.

“It's all the more reason to go in wanting to get more.”

“We have to play hard and keep playing hard through all the four quarters,” Liggins added.

Robertson said that Liggins, who is a three-year starter, flies below the radar but as consistent as any of the other players on that side of the ball.

“Zeke is where he's supposed to be. He is a sure tackler and just been a solid player for us, someone who has gotten better for us each year,” Robertson said. “He has speed, and he has played with a lot of confidence this year.

TURN TO DEFENSE PAGE 27

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

PAGE 23

Friday Night Previews: Week 11 Chargers looking to garner another goal Friday

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Oxford accomplished the first of some seasonlong goals last week with a win over the Clarksdale Wildcats. The 53-13 victory earned the Chargers a spot in next month's MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

The next step is to defeat Center Hill, and get that much closer to earning the No. 1 seed from Division 1-5A overall.

Johnny Hill felt like his team played well against a Clarksdale team that is well coached by Henry Johnson and filled with talent.

“They're going to get better and better you can see them getting more fundamentally sound.

They can play. They're quarterback is good and they've got some good receivers and their running back was a load,” Hill said.

“We had problems the first drive in the fact that we were catching. We weren't attacking that running back, and he had his way with us on defense.”

The Chargers recovered

from being down 7-6 at the end of the first quarter, and Hill felt like his defense did a much better job of attacking the Wildcats. On offense, the Chargers moved the ball on the ground and through the air with quarterback Jack Abraham.

And when the offense did stall in the red zone, Hill thought it was good to kick two field goals.

“I thought our guys played well. When you look at the film, we still have some things we've got to get fixed,” Hill said.

“Defensively we had a really good game plan but sometimes the players didn't follow the game plan and they would run around a block and not protect their gap. All in all, I thought it was a good game. I thought our special teams played well. We got three scores off special teams. We didn't block a punt, but we hurried the punter enough to where he kicked it into his own player. We got the ball down there once on the 10 and once on the 5 from our punt block team.”

Oxford at Center Hill Kickoff: 7 p.m.

Radio: WOXD-FM 95.5

TALENTED QB Danterius Ellington is a name Oxford fans should learn if they don't know it already. He is the quarterback of the Center Hill Mustangs, the Chargers' opponent on the road Friday night. Ellington, a senior, is a true dual threat.

He has thrown for over 1,500 yards and accounted for over 20 touchdowns. At one point this season, he was averaging almost 5 yards per rush, and almost 100 per game on the ground.

“He is one of the most elusive guys that we will probably see all year,” Hill said. “He is almost like Houdini. You have him

PETRE THOMAS | BUY AT PHOTO.DJOURNAL.COM

Oxford wide receiver Jimmy Greaser catches a pass for a big gain during last Friday’s game against Clarksdale. dead to rights and he gives you a little wiggle or rolls out of it and he takes off.

We're going to have to be cautious. We have to try to get after him, but also try and contain him.”

Ellington does have a favorite receiver, Jonathan Weeks, that has well over 50 percent of the catches this season.

“It's really a two-man team that we have to stop.

Defensively, we have to hem that quarterback up and we have to cover 83.

The rest of it will take care of itself,” Hill said adding that if the timing for his offense is there, it will be tough for the Mustangs to stop. “Their (defensive) line play is not real strong.

Their linebackers are a little better, but I don't think their secondary play is that strong. We should be able to run and throw the football if we execute and get after it. I think they're going to have a hard time stopping what we do.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Nichols headlines strong group of Oxford swimmers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday will be the final races for three Oxford seniors as they compete in the MHSAA Class 5-6A state meet in Tupelo. Jacob Nichols, who competes in the 100-yard breast stroke, has been a part of the program since he was just old enough to swim. It's his seventh season as a member of the varsity team, and coach Robert Gonzalez said he's done a fantastic job again this fall.

“To me, he's almost been like an assistant coach to me. He is the one I can kind of look at and say I need some help with this or work with this,” Gonzalez said.

“His ability to peer coach inside of practices has really been an invaluable asset to me. On top of his talent in

Members of the Oxford swim team that will compete in Tupelo Saturday include, from l. to r., kneeling: Noel Torma, Mary Victoria Sullian, Kate Sudduth, Catherine Field, Jeffrey Wang, Tommy Hoskins, Vance Byars and Cole Moore and standing: Kate Byars, Lucy Chiniche, Anna Dennis, Elizabeth Field, Jacob Nichols, Graham Norris, Harrison Tann and Will Carrington. Not pictured is Isacc Manly. the pool, his ability to communicate and have that role on the team, the coaching ability, makes him a real dynamic asset. He is able to do more than any normal

swimmer can do.”

Nichols is the defending champion in the breast and he will be competing against his foil from Hernando in Stetson Lamb. Nichols en-

ters Saturday's meet at the No. 2 spot, but Gonzalez said it should be a great race.

“That's probably going to be the most exciting event at the state championship,” he said. “When it comes to all four strokes, none is more timing oriented than the breast stroke is. And his timing for that even is just perfect. He has a perfect timing to pull ratio and he maintains it through the entire event.”

Because he won last season, Nichols said he had confidence going into the meet. He's done more conditioning to get ready for the race, and he's rested, which is another key.

“I feel pretty good about it,” he said. “It could be a close race, but I feel like I can win. I'm fresh. I'm out of the gym and no more weights.

I'm letting my body rest.

(Lamb) is fast and he's always been around. You want to leave it all out there and do the best that you can.

And definitely give the younger kids something to look up to.”

SHOWING IMPROVEMENT Gonzalez felt like because the northern part of the state is so dominant in scoring compared to the south, the times of his Chargers and Lady Chargers should be lower this coming Saturday compared to the north state meet.

“The ones that were battling for top spots two weeks ago are going to be the ones battling for the top eight spots again at the state championship,” Gonzalez said. “Our relay teams that were strong at north half are the same at north half. I'm

hopefully that we can actually move up a spot on both sides, boys and girls. We're all hopeful for a top five finish in the Class 5A and 6A standings. Then, give or take a spot here or there on relay swims, that will be the difference between a fourth, fifth or sixth.”

For those keeping score, the Lady Chargers finished first in 5A and fourth overall.

The Chargers were second in 5A and sixth overall with all the schools combined.

“I think we have a shot of moving up on the girls' side one more spot. We have room for improvement, especially on the relays,” Gonzalez said. “We got beaten out by DeSoto Central by a couple of spots. I do think we have the horsepower to move up a spot on the girls' TURN TO OXFORD PAGE 25

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Johnson back, and ready to make a difference for Rebels This week's Q & A is with Ole Miss baseball pitcher Sean Johnson.The 6-foot-7 junior is back on the mound, and healthy, after only being able to pitch one inning last season after coming to Oxford from Iowa Western Community College. Johnson's successful Tommy John surgery actually turned out to be a good thing for the Rebels, as he Johnson says he is even stronger.

JOHN DAVIS: What was it like to have to deal with that injury. You were on the verge of being a weekend starter, and definitely pitching. And them boom.

SEAN JOHNSON: It was a little heartbreaking. I got out there for one inning and all I got was a little taste of it.

Then I was done. To be honest, it stunk. It really did. But I looked at it as a blessing in disguise.

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

DAVIS: I know you never plan for injuries, but how did it come about. Was it a snap deal?

JOHNSON: It happened the bullpen I threw before the weekend I threw. I was in the bullpen, working on some curveballs and I came out of the bullpen thinking that my elbow doesn't really feel right. Our trainer, Josh Porter, he looks at it. He was looking at what was going on. He thought it was my forearm, so we did a few things for my forearm and got back out there. I threw my first inning and then I came out that inning and I went down to throw some more pitches and I couldn't get the ball to the catcher. I turned to Coach (Carl) Lafferty, who was in the

Rangers FROM PAGE 21

“I would love to see a huge crowd and that home field thing should help us,” Wright said. “You don't ever know though. We have played well on the road this year, too. Hopefully we will play really well and we'll have a big crowd that makes them play. And de-

JOHNSON: I was actually born in Oklahoma. Me and Evan (Anderson) were actually born in the same hospital in Edmond. I was raised a Sooners fan. I came back to Iowa Western from my visit from Ole Miss and I was telling my mom all about. I came back from my visit from Oklahoma and I started to tell her all about it.

She says 'Sean, the sound in your voice after you visited Ole Miss was so much more excited and energetic and that you were ready to play Division I college baseball compared to what it sounded like when you got back from Oklahoma.' At that moment, I knew Ole Miss was the place I needed to go.

Last year, we had a little team chemistry problem.

The older guys were over here and the young guys were over here. It was all separated, but this year, everyone is all one.

DAVIS: And what ultimately made you decide that it was Ole Miss?

DAVIS: It's obvious to me that it does feel different than last fall.

JOHNSON:When I walk on to the field this year, I'm smiling. I'm happy. I'm looking around and seeing smiling faces. Everyone is out there and ready to get better at baseball. Last year, it felt like we were dragging around just trying to get through it. This year, everyone is jumping up and down and having energy everywhere they go. They're ready to succeed and ready DAVIS: What have you to see what we can do this done in between the injury, season. pitching wise? Do you have DAVIS: And do you feel a new pitch, or are you just better with some of your like you will be a weekend other pitches? guy or after not playing at JOHNSON: Honestly, I feel all, are you just happy to better with all of my pitches. pitch anywhere?

JOHNSON: I can say that My out pitch is probably my slider. I've thrown so many I'm happy to just get inbullpens now that I've got- nings, but of course, my ten done with Tommy John goal is to be a weekend guy. surgery. Fastball after fast- I want to be a weekend guy. ball, spot after spot. I feel so much more confident with DAVIS: Do you feel like all of my pitches, no matter you are close to reaching what pitch it is. I threw a that goal? bullpen every other day for JOHNSON: I do. My ultitwo months straight. My mate goal is to be a starter arm feels strong and ready and to get some wins for to go. this team. I want to be on the weekend rotation and to DAVIS: What do you think be able to help. about this team? Seems like DAVIS: When was the last this team has a lot of positime you actually pitched an tive buzz about it.

JOHNSON: I saw this with entire game?

JOHNSON: Outside of the my team when I was on Iowa Western and we won a one inning I threw here, the national championship. last time I pitched was the The talent that we have here quarterfinals of the (2014 is unbelievable. There are NJCAA) World Series when I kids from all over the coun- was with Iowa Western. try that came here with their talent. We're mixing toJohn.davis@journalinc.com gether like most teams do.

Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

very good at stopping the run. That's a formula for a playoff team. That's why they're here.”

There are a lot of reasons why the Rangers have had such a good season in Wright's second since his return to Senatobia. Quarterback Gardner Minshew has been very good in his freshman season. Justin Crawford has also been very productive at tailback

as a sophomore.

“I do think that the guys that touch the ball a lot are difference makers. Quarterback and running back are going to touch it almost every play and those guys are on the elite level in this league,” Wright said. “Having an experienced offensive line, guys that have played a ton of snaps, that's obviously helped. On defense, having guys back,

having returners that have lifted weights all year is a big help. This year we had things invested. We had dozens and dozens of workouts invested over a period of time. It takes kids to have that to play at a higher level.”

Kickoff in Senatobia Saturday is set for 2 p.m.

what baseball means here and to know your teammates better. So after doing that, what is your impression of the fans, and Ole Miss overall?

JOHNSON: I got to sit in the dugout for every single game and see what was going on in the stands and see what the guys were doing. I just learned so much from it to be honest.

It just showed me how big baseball is here, how much people care about it and how much they want to win. The whole SEC conference, it's all about dominating it. You want to be the best in the SEC because if you're the best in the SEC, you're the best in the nation. It's a part of the culture here that you have to be the best.

Sean Johnson is back on the mound for the Ole Miss Rebels after going down with an injury that required Tommy John surgery last spring. bullpen, and I said I can't got back out on the mound, throw any more. it felt every part of the stress I had back from my injury DAVIS: And the actual in- just left my mind. I was able jury that lead to Tommy to get back up on the mound with a fresh mind.

John surgery is what?

JOHNSON: It's either a DAVIS: I know that notearing or breaking of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament. body wants to get injured, What they do is they go in but was it really a good thing and they take either your now that you look back? tendon from your wrist or JOHNSON: Definitely was. your hamstring. They took Last year, I came here exmy wrist. It was actually so pecting to be a weekend long that they only loop it starter and to be drafted and through twice and they ac- only spend one year here. tually looped it through Now, I get to finish my dethree times. So my UCL is gree. I got so sit around and going to be a little big learn some baseball. stronger. I feel 1,000 times better. To be honest, when I DAVIS: You got to learn mands effort. And yells at them when we do wrong.”

East Central is no pushover, Wright said. The Warriors are 7-2, which is their best record since 1999.

They are in the playoffs for the first time since the 2001 season.

“When you look at their schedule, they have a lot of quality wins,” Wright said.

“Take the Hinds game for example. We beat them in

the first overtime on a missed PAT on their part.

The very next week, Hinds goes to East Central and gets beat by two touchdowns by them. Time after time after time, when you go and look down their schedule, they have beaten some teams that are battle tested. That's shows when you watch the tape. They're big and physical. They like to run the football. They're

DAVIS: I know Iowa Western is right across the way from Omaha. Were you thinking about coming back to pitch in the College World Series when you signed with Ole Miss?

JOHNSON: I signed the year they went to the College World Series. We were 10 minutes away from TD Ameritrade Park, so I had driven around it plenty of times and I drove by it every single time we went to the airport. When I heard that a team like Ole Miss wanted me to play for them, I knew it was a special thing.

DAVIS: What were the other schools that were looking at you?

JOHNSON: My main schools were Louisville and Oklahoma. I actually decided not to go to Louisville before I talked to Ole Miss. It really came down to Oklahoma and Ole Miss.

john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Swindoll's time management has led to success in sports, grades This is the seventh in a series of stories on athletes from both Oxford and Lafayette.

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Over the past two seasons, Oxford senior Will Swindoll has established himself as one of the better offensive linemen in the state of Mississippi.

Over the last five years, he has been classified as one of the top tennis players in the state, especially for a player that is 6-foot-3 and weighs 275 pounds.

Swindoll, the starting right tackle for the Chargers, is a two-sport standout, who is set to add a third sport — basketball — to his lengthy list of accomplishments this winter. In between sporting events, Swindoll has dedicated himself to making good grades.

He has a grade point average of 3.45, and he has been taking college classes at Northwest Mississippi Community College to boot. It's not always easy to balance grades and athletics, but Swindoll said there was no other option.

“You have to balance your schedule really well. If you get a good balance, it's not that difficult, but you have to time manage. That's definitely the secret to it, time management,” Swindoll said. “It's something that I've had to develop. I'm not a Type A person. I'm more Type B, more of a laid back guy.”

Swindoll said that his parents made it clear, from an early age, that they wanted him to do well in school, and not just get by being mediocre.

Oxford football coach Johnny Hill felt like Swindoll was a good player, and student, because his parents don't settle for excuses.

“They hold him accountable for practice time, and grade time and you have to tip your hat off to the parents for helping and doing it the right way,” Hill said. “Will has been a pleasure to coach the past three, four years. He's the kind of kid that you count on. It's also fun to go watch a tennis match.

I've seen him do some ballerina stuff out there on the net and win the point.

A big man isn't supposed to do that.

It's a lot of fun to watch him compete like that.”

A strong work ethic, or at least managing his time wisely, has translated to improvement on the football field.

Tennis is the sport that Swindoll has played the longest, which means football is the sport he has improved in the

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Oxford FROM PAGE 23

side.”

The most surprising thing for the team, Gonzalez said, was how impressive the underclassmen have been in the pool.

“Right now we're taking a lot of eighth, ninth and 10th graders to the state championship. Out of the 16 we have going, we're only swimming three seniors,” Gonzalez said. “We hate losing those three, but the number of eighth, ninth and 10th graders makes you hopefully, especially on the girls' side where a some of our relays are fielded by three and four freshmen. I think that our girls' team has a

chance to be making a major run in the next couple of years as they advance into becoming juniors and seniors. Those eighth and ninth grade girls have tremendous potential to be making a run two years from now.”

Nichols felt like Gonzalez had the team headed in the right direction.

“We've had a different coach the past four years and we get Coach Robert Gonzalez in this year and he's turned it around,” Nichols said. “He's going to do great things. We have a such a young team. You got to somewhere and they're going to be very strong.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

SPORTS IN DEPTH CREDIT FOR WILL SWINDOLL IS PETRE THOMAS

Senior Will Swindoll has balanced football tennis, and school, ever since he entered high school at Oxford. He is also set to add basketball to his list of accomplishments this winter. most since he started in high school.

“Playing the o-line is a lot harder than people think. It's not all brute strength. There is a lot of technique and footwork type things that go along with being an offensive lineman that I've had to work on,” Swindoll said “It's repetition and you have to get it down.

Even with different plays. They change from day to day and they change your footwork and your assignments. You definitely have to be pretty smart and athletically gifted to do it, and to be good at it.”

Swindoll felt like his base in tennis helped him become a better offensive lineman. As this point of his career, Swindoll felt he was a better pass blocker because the Chargers throw the ball so much.

“That's really what we harp on, not letting Jack (Abraham) get touched.

Not even sacked, get touched,” Swindoll said. “If Jack gets time, it's almost always a good play.”

Oxford offensive line coach Jason Russell felt like Swindoll really started to emerge during the 2014 Class 5A playoffs. Swindoll felt like the whole team was really at their peak about this time a year ago.

“We didn't really play our best in the state championship game, but the other three playoff games, we played really well,” he said. “I think it was the north half game where there was a screen play and I ended up getting my and ended up driving him 30 yards down the field. I was right there when Kenzie (Phillips) step out of bounds.

So that was definitely a high moment.”

Through the meeting with Clarksdale, Swindoll felt like his best game as a senior came in Week 3 against Madison Central. Then, starting with region play, Swindoll felt like he, and the rest

of the line, really stared to perform at a high level.

“They started harping on our district games a lot more and demanding more out of us at practice, which has helped me in particular and everyone,” said Swindoll, who will take part in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star game in December. “It's a good reward for all the hard work that I've put in, but my main goal is to win state. It's a nice individual recognition, but the whole team has put in work, so I feel like my main goal and main reward is for us to win a state championship.”

Winning titles is nothing new to Swindoll in tennis. He has been an individual champion in doubles, and helped the Chargers win a handful of team titles during the last half decade.

“From a tennis standpoint, he will leave here as the most accomplished player we have ever had probably,” tennis coach Louis Nash said. “Very few are ever going to win six titles in a row. He will definitely be the most accomplished doubles player we have ever had. And he's right up there with being the best doubles player we've had. And we've had some good ones.

If any of them had a chance to choose a partner, nine out of 10 would choose Will to play a big match. That's how you determine how good kids are is who would choose you to be on your team? His skills are amazing for any size not to mention his size. They always say he has great skills for someone his size. Well, Will has great skills period. His hands would be great for anybody. His footwork and the way he manages the game is great for anybody.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

FRIDAY'S RESULTS Oxford 53, Clarksdale 13 Oxford 6 26 21 0 – 53 Clarksdale 7 0 6 0 – 13 First Quarter OXF - Liam Cooper 31 field goal, 10:01 CHS - Davion Hill 15 run (Hill kick), 5:09 OXF - Connell Yoste 27 field goal, 2:07 Second Quarter OXF - Jimmy Greaser 26 pass from Jack Abraham (Cooper kick), 8:22 OXF - Greaser 59 pass from Abraham (kick failed), 5:53 OXF - Hiram Wadlington 8 run (pass failed), 3:31 OXF - DK Metcalf 7 run (Cooper kick), 1:51 Third Quarter OXF - Wadlington 23 run (Yoste kick), 9:48 OXF - Zach Cousar 4 pass from Abraham (Gray Jenkins kick), 6:31 CHS - Hill 1 run (kick failed), 2:20 OXF - Josh Patton 61 run (Jenkins kick), 1:35 Records: Oxford 7-2, 5-0; Clarksdale 6-4, 3-2.

Senatobia 20, Lafayette 19 Lafayette 0 13 0 6 – 19 Senatobia 0 6 8 6 – 20 Second Quarter SEN – Maurice Toney 37 run (try failed), 7:33.

LAF – Tyrell Price 2 run (Robbie Langley kick), 5:28.

LAF – Price 9 run (kick failed), 1:39.

Third Quarter SEN – Toney 1 run (Cooper Stevens to Antwain Taylor ), 5:27.

Fourth Quarter LAF – Price 24 run (try failed), 2:24.

SEN – Travis Tucker 68 pass from Stevens (try failed), 2:11 Records: Senatobia 8-1, 4-0, Lafayette 82, 3-1.

REGION 1-5A

STANDINGS Overal Region W L W L Oxford* 7 2 5 0 West Point 7 2 4 1 Clarksdale 6 3 3 2 Lake Cormorant 7 3 4 1 Center Hill 5 4 3 2 Lewisburg 2 7 1 4 New Hope 2 8 0 5 Saltillo 0 10 0 5 Week 11 Games Oxford at Center Hill, 7 p.m. (95.5 FM) Lake Cormorant at Clarksdale West Point at New Hope Saltillo at Lewisburg Week 10 Results Oxford 53, Clarksdale 13 New Hope 35, Lewisburg 33 West Point 50, Saltillo 0 Lake Cormorant 34, Center Hill 14 *-Denotes earned playoff spot

REGION 2-4A

STANDINGS Overall Region W L W L Senatobia* 8 1 4 0 Lafayette* 8 2 3 1 Rosa Fort* 8 1 3 1 New Albany 4 6 1 3 Ripley 3 6 1 3 Byhalia 2 7 0 4 Week 11 Games Byhalia at Lafayette, 7 p.m. (93.7 FM) Senatobia at Tunica-Rosa Fort New Albany at Ripley Week 10 Results Sentobia 20, Lafayette 19 Tunica-Rosa Fort 50, New Albany 14 Ripley 46, Byhalia 7 *-Denotes earned playoff spot

OPC FLAG FOOTBALL SCORES

Tuesday, Oct. 27 Results 6-7 LEAGUE Texans 27, Patriots 0 Scoring: Texans – Griff Hill, Zane Hill, Cooper Williams, Wade Hill.

Offense: Texans – Connor Hill. Patriots – Elliott Chaney.

Defense: Texans – Cooper Williams. Patriots – Cade Gregory.

Game Hustle: Texans – Kameron Gaines. Patriots – Elijah Garner.

49ers 31, Packers 18 Scoring: 49ers – No information provided.

Packers – Carter Ewing.

Offense: 49ers – Lawson Fortner. Packers – John Colt Robertson.

Defense: 49ers – Harris Byrd. Packers – Brett Williams.

Game Hustle: 49ers – Peyton Allen. Packers – Mett Garner.

8-9 LEAGUE Saints 26, Titans 0 Scoring: No information provided.

Offense: Saints – William Wilkinson. Titans – Cole Tomes.

Defense: Saints – Hunter Tidwell. Titans – Whit Roady.

Game Hustle: Saints – Sam Roberts.Titans – Jack Speed.

Chiefs 32, Cowboys 13 Scoring: No information provided.

Offense: Chiefs – Max Roberts. Cowboys – Thomas Rayburn.

Defense: Chiefs – Max Roberts. Cowboys – Grant Young.

Game Hustle: Chiefs – Hiram Eastland IV. Cowboys – Benjamin Makamson.

10-12 LEAGUE Saints 28, Dolphins 21 Scoring: Saints – Britt Robertson. Dolphins – Matthew Downing, Seth Ross, Will Dabney.

Offense: Saints – John Clark Love. Dolphins – Matthew Downing.

Defense: Saints – Ty Martin. Dolphins – Noah Cornelius Game Hustle: Saints – No information provided. Dolphins – Landon Lawrence.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

Nail's move brings Lafayette another dedicated performer

BY JOHN DAVIS

MEET

SPORTS EDITOR

A move from Winona brought the Lafayette Lady Commodores another dedicated, and talented, cheerleader in Jennifer Nail. The senior tried out of the team when she was sophomore, and she has been busy ever since.

“I love Lafayette and I love the school. It's a whole lot bigger than Winona,” Nail said.

Nail added that the competition aspect of being on the team was what she liked the most.

“I like doing all the crazy stunts and just working hard,” she said. “I think I do stunts better. Me and Maryle (Clarkson), Madison Sharp, when we get in there and start doing stunts, we can fly. That's my favorite part.”

The best part about a Friday night for Nail is when the fourth quarter hits, and the band really gets pumped up.

“I like when you can feel everyone,” said Nail, who prefers home games to being on the road. “I like the home games because there are more people there, more students who are into it. (Oxford game) was hands down my favorite because of the atmosphere. The student section was just huge.”

Outside of the home game with Oxford, the next best game for Nail to cheer at this season has been the Tunica-Rosa Fort contest. She even enjoyed the driving rain.

“Even a couple of years ago when it rained against Shannon it was a lot of fun. It's just a lot of fun goofing around,” Nail said.

Lafayette is about to wrap up its regular season with a home game against Byhalia on Friday night. The Commodores have

YOUR

Cheerleader Jennifer Nail earned a spot in the upcoming Class 4A playoffs. Nail said she wanted to see the team continue to what they have been doing, which is winning a lot more often than not.

“And then when we're doing, it will be working hard on competition since it's in December,” said Nail, who is captain of the competition team. “We get in there and work hard. The competition cheer is way different.

It's more laid back when we're painting signs, and then Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, we hit the gym hard. And it's non stop until 5 o'clock.”

Nail has been able to balance her school and cheer together, but she added it was starting to get tough because the practices were getting longer. She also works at the concession stand at FNC Park during the week.

“I'm supposed to be at work at 4:45 and we don't get out until 5, so I have to wrap up practice real quick and have to work till about 9 and then start back over again,” Nail said. “It keeps me

busy. I wouldn't trade it for anything.”

Clarkson has been a friend to Nail ever since she first moved to the county. Defensive tackle Jared Tolbert is the player Nail gets food for before the games.

“He's actually kind of quiet for a football player. You think of most of them as a little loud or cocky, but he's quiet,” Nail said.

“He's always really appreciative when I bring him food or candy on Fridays. He loves the Gummi Life Savers and I can't ever find them. I try so hard. I keep bringing him red Gatorades and he's never complained.”

Lafayette coach Jennifer Sharp said Nail was one of the strongest young ladies she knew.

"Jennifer has fought a bout with cancer through these last couple of years. After her first major surgery, I was worried about how hard to push her and she ended up pushing herself far beyond what I even asked of her," Sharp said. "This past summer she would be on the

JOEY BRENT

Senior Jennifer Nail balances school and work at FNC Park to help the cheer on the Commodores each Friday night.

track alone, before her cheer a very strong young lady in practice, running getting back many ways and such a great ather 'normal' self. She was deter- tribute to our team." mined that she would do whatever she wanted and cancer was John.davis@journalinc.com not going to stop that. Jennifer is Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Meet your cheerleader presented by:

Proudly Serving Oxford & Lafayette County Since 1938

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015

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Oxford Citizen Pick ’Em JOHN DAVIS

JEFF ROBERSON

CHRIS KIEFFER

PATRICK OCHS

BRANDON SPECK

Oxford Citizen Sports Editor Record: 58-22

Oxford Citizen Managing Editor Record: 59-21

Daily Journal Multimedia Editor Record: 60-20

Sun Herald General Assignment Reporter Record: 51-29

Daily Journal Prep Editor Guest picker

Defense

solid at stopping the run and rushing the passer. He's gotten better at hitting the offensive tackle which is one of the main things we ask him to do. He's gotten better at coming off the ball. His first step was slow at first, but he does rush the passer well. He has improved every part of his game.”

Both Liggins and Johnson were tied for third on the team in total tackles with 53 coming out of the Senatobia game.

GAME 1 Ole Miss vs. Auburn

GAME 2 UTEP vs. Southern Miss

GAME 3 South Carolina vs. Texas A&M

GAME 4 Florida vs. Georgia

GAME 5 Tennessee vs. Kentucky

GAME 6 Notre Dame vs. Temple

GAME 7 Stanford vs. Washington State

GAME 8 Oregon vs. Arizona State

GAME 9 North Carolia vs. Pittsburgh

GAME 10 Air Force vs. Hawaii

Rebels FROM PAGE 21

were simplified in the secondary, which allowed the defense to miss fewer tackles and create turnovers.

“We basically ran four things instead of 14. We made sure our kids were going to play hard and be in the right spot. Sometimes it just clicks in the game plan,” Freeze said.

“There will be a point in time where C.J. Hampton and the Moore twins, Tony

Bridges, and Red (Zedrick Woods) are out there. Red played very well. He's been real unsure of himself and all of a sudden, the other night, he is very confident. Cam (Ordway) was in great position for two fade balls. Hopefully, it just kind of clicks. Again, with one game, it is hard to tell. We picked up the tempo of practice and went good on good which we haven't been doing.

Which one of those things was that worked I'm not sure, but we are going to try them out again.”

SCOUTING REPORT Auburn is in search of an SEC win in the worst way. The Tigers got close last week before losing to Arkansas in four overtimes. Auburn defeated Ole Miss last season when Laquon Treadwell was pulled down, and injured, just short of the end zone.

Since that win, the Tigers have lost seven of their last 12 games. Freeze said the Tigers, who are just 13 in the SEC this season, are hungry and would love to give the Rebels a trick rather than a treat on

Halloween.

“Knowing Gus (Malzahn) like I know him, he is going to have his kids ready to play,” Freeze said. “They'll have a great plan and be hungry for success at home.

There's nothing like returning at home in front of your people to help you get that boost of energy that you need. I expect we'll see the best Auburn team of the entire year.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

FROM PAGE 22

He's a guy that everyone knows they can count on.

He's kind of a quiet leader for us.”

Johnson, who plays some nose guard at times, has gotten better each week since the opener.

“Age wise, he's probably a sophomore but he's just continually gotten better and be real consistent for us.

Everything we have asked him to do, he's improved on them,” Robertson said. “He's

john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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