Dec. 23, 2015

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oxfordcitizen.com

Volume 2 | Issue 71

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Inside 3 News

Blackmon retires as county supervisor

5 Lifestyle

LAUREN WOOD | OXFORD CITIZEN

Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze hugs his wife Jill following this year's win over LSU. The couple have created the Freeze Foundation that will help orphans from America and around the world gain some of the most basic needs we all take for granted.

Making a difference Freeze Foundation ready to make an impact on children’s lives

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

As the Ole Miss Rebels have garnered more and more wins on the field under the guidance of head coach Hugh Freeze, his ability to help more and more orphans in the world has also become a reality.

Through his newly created Freeze Foundation, the opportunity to help children in need, both in America and abroad, is really starting to take shape. The foundation is still in its infancy, but Freeze, and his wife Jill, have been thinking, and praying, about starting a foundation for three years now.

“This didn’t just happen overnight. That’s for sure. Jill and I have always felt like we were blessed and we should give back to different things whether it be a church or different organizations,” Freeze said. “Ever since we’ve been here, we’ve had a heart for orphans. That’s not to say we don’t help with other things,

Scenes from a L-O-U Christmas

13 Sports

but that’s been a driving force and we have been involved.”

Freeze and his wife have also been involved with the Reclaimed Project, which is an organization based in Mississippi. Its mission is to help orphans, not only in Mississippi, but worldwide.

TURN TO FOUNDATION PAGE 7

Abraham, Metcalf, Wadlington headline All Citizen for Oxford.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

Oxford’s ‘Cocoa with a Cop’ popular with children

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

Code enforcement, crime and Santa Claus were among the topics of conversation Monday morning when McDonald’s on Jackson Avenue hosted “Cocoa with a Cop.” The event was part of Oxford Police Department’s occasional “Coffee with a Cop” series of community visits, tweaked for the Christmas season and the fact that kids are out of school. Police officers worked the counter and the drive-through window for a while but spent most of their time visiting with citizens.

Carson Paine, who appeared to be about 6, said he’d learned from police officers, including his uncle, OPD officer Lee Paine, that “they help other people, (but) be careful what you do.”

Robert Neely, 7, and his sister, Miller, 4, came with their mother, Margaret Neely, and brought pictures they had drawn to give to

ERROL CASTENS | OXFORD CITIZEN

Wren Greene, left, and Catherine Daugherty visit with Officer Johnny Sosseman, right, at the Jackson Avenue McDonald's on Monday while Palmer Daugherty (with back to camera) and Hardy Greene listen. The visit was part of Oxford Police Department’s “Coffee/Cocoa with a Cop” series hosted by various dining venues around town. the officers.

“If you brought in a picture for a police officer, you got a free breakfast, so we did that this morning,” Margaret Neely said.

“Miller was really excited to see a lady police officer.”

“They seem to enjoy us being here,” said one of those lady officers, Kandice Beavers. “I’m a people per-

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son, so I like getting involved in the community and sitting around with people and talking about their day.”

Among the questions

Robert Neely had for several officers was how many people they put in jail.

“I haven’t made the list yet,” he said.

Wren Greene and Catherine Daugherty were having a friendly chat with Officer Johnny Sosseman about code enforcement and property rights as his son, Hardy, and her daughter, Palmer, listened.

“I enforce all the local ordinances – everything from building codes and fire codes to trash and solid waste, down to health codes,” Sosseman said.

Wren Greene was half amused, half aghast by the detail of Oxford’s neighborhood codes. Among Sosseman’s focuses, particularly in student-dominated areas, are furniture on roofs – yes, it happens – and indoor furniture on front porches.

“That seems like an infringement of my property rights. I can’t put a couch on my front porch?”

Greene said. “Does the government really need to be involved in what sits on my

front porch?”

“Would you really want your next-door neighbors to have their 20-year-old couch sitting out on the front porch? That’s usually what ends up happening,” Sosseman said.

“If they own the house, I would say, ‘By God, they ought to be able to do it.’

I’m a libertarian,” Greene said with a laugh. He recalled his college days, when he lived on Jackson Avenue and had an avocado-green recliner with a built-in electric massager on his front porch.

“You’re one of the guys that caused this ordinance to be created,” Sosseman laughed.

“I probably was. That was a long, long time ago, but, man, you could get on that thing and kick back, turn on those magic fingers and watch the world go by,” Greene said, laughing again. “You could spend the whole day sitting there.”

Catherine Daugherty TURN TO COCOA PAGE 7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 3

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ERROL CASTENS | OXFORD CITIZEN

Lafayette County officials marked the end of an era Monday with the final board meeting of Robert Blackmon's 20-year tenure as District 3 Supervisor. From left are Chancery Clerk Sherry Wall, District 5 Supervisor Mike Roberts, Blackmon, District 2 Supervisor Jeff Busby, District 4 Supervisor Chad McLarty and Board Attorney David O'Donnell. Two-term District 1 Supervisor Mike Pickens, who is also retiring from the board, was absent but will be presented later with a plaque of appreciation.

Blackmon retires as county supervisor

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

Robert Blackmon, the dean of Lafayette County supervisors, participated in his last regular Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, during which he was given a rousing ovation from an unusually large audience.

Blackmon, who represents District 3, is finishing his fifth term on the board, having chosen not to run for re-election.

“I’ve been with the county since 1984, and I’ve been a supervisor since 1996,” he said. “I served three terms as constable and two years as a deputy sheriff – altogether, 30something years.”

Board President Jeff Busby said before presenting Blackmon with a commemorative plaque, “Robert, you can’t be replaced, that’s for sure. The knowledge, wisdom and service you’ve given to this community is something you can certainly be proud of.”

The retirements of Blackmon and two-term District 1 Supervisor Mike Pickens from the board leave Busby, District 4 Supervisor Chad McLarty and District 5 Supervisor Mike Roberts, who are all finishing their first

term, as the most senior members of the board.

“We’re proud of you, and we’ve certainly enjoyed the four years that the three of us have been serving with you,” Busby told Blackmon.

“You taught me many, many things – I’ve called you every time I’ve had the slightest problem, and you tell me, ‘Calm down; take a deep breath,’ quite often.”

Roberts pulled out a yellowed piece of newsprint.

“It says in this paper you were 36 years old when you decided to start serving this county,” he told Blackmon.

“Your picture has changed, but your service hasn’t. For all the ups and downs that political service can do to you … you’ve helped a lot of folks.” Roberts noted that Blackmon was his supervisor for many of the years Roberts lived in District 3.

“It’s been an absolute privilege, Robert,” McLarty said.

David O’Donnell added, “Robert, I’ve been board attorney for 12 years, and it’s been an honor and privilege to serve you. I regard you as a friend, and that will not change.”

Blackmon was moved by the accolades.

“I appreciate you guys.

I’m very humbled,” he said.

Turning to the audience, he

said of his fellow supervisors, “These guys right here, this is what they do. I love them, and I thank God for them, and I know they’re going to do some great things for this county.

“I appreciate all that Lafayette County and the people in the City of Oxford have done for me. I appreciate (County Engineer) Larry (Britt) and (Road Manager) Jerry (Haynie),” Blackmon added. “Jerry and I fight a lot, but we love one another. We have had many fights, day and night.

Jeff calls me when he has a problem, and I say, ‘Jeff, calm down,’ and before it’s over, he’s telling me to calm down. And (Chancery Clerk) Sherry Wall’s been great.”

Blackmon joked about O’Donnell’s low-key approach to offering legal counsel.

“One thing about David O’Donnell: He won’t ever tell you, ‘Don’t do it.’ He’ll just tell you what you don’t need to do to go to jail.

That’s what an attorney’s for,” Blackmon said.

Hinting that he would continue seeking Blackmon’s advice, Busby said, “I told Robert, ‘Don’t ever turn that cell phone off.’”

TURN TO BLACKMON PAGE 7

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PAGE 4

OBITUARIES VIRGINIA LEE RAMAY JOHNSON Virginia Lee Ramay Johnson, 47, passed away Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL. A memorial service was held Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, at Oxford University United Methodist Church with Rev. Eddie Rester and Rev. Warren Black officiating. ?Memorial contributions in Virginia’s memory may be made to Oxford-University United Methodist Church, 424 South 10th Street, Oxford, MS 38655 or the American Organ Transplant Association, P.O. Box 418, Stillwell, KS 66085.

LAWRENCE NEWEL KING Lawrence “Larry” Newel King, 90, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Coleman Funeral home is in charge of those arrangements.

LUCILLE KIMMONS Lucille Kimmons, 87, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Hodges Funeral Home.

NELDA GRISHAM

PONTOTOC – Nelda Sewell Grisham, 82, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, from 5 to 8 p.m. Services will be Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Bro. Jody Rock will officiate. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Tutor Memorial Funeral.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

Prison educator undaunted by robbery

BY ERROL CASTENS OXFORD CITIZEN

An Oxford writer, publisher and educator sees irony in being one of two people robbed at a local ATM on Dec. 15, after another victim was held up in the same place, perhaps by the same robber, a few days earlier.

Louis Bourgeois, whose work as executive director of Vox Press includes teaching creative writing to prison inmates, said becoming Bourgeois a victim of violent crime was traumatizing, but he’s undaunted about his work at Parchman Penitentiary and the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.

“New experience: robbed at gun point in my fair city Oxford, Mississippi, at 6 in the evening at the Regions ATM on Jackson Avenue,” he posted on his Facebook page shortly after he was held up at gunpoint. “Yes, I see the irony in this and, no, it does not in any way change my view on the importance of liberal arts education in Mississippi prisons.”

Bourgeois went to the Regions ATM at 1800 West Jackson Avenue around 6 p.m. on Dec. 15. Because he had used the same machine many times before, he paid little attention as he drove up near a man standing beside a truck.

“The door is open on the driver’s side, and there’s a white kid with a cap on standing there – early 20s, curly redheaded guy, looks more like a frat kid. He was just standing there, and at first I thought he was waiting for his friend to use the machine,” Bourgeois said in an interview. “If we’re in Memphis or Jackson, I would never go to an ATM after dark. But I use this ATM all the time, I’m in Oxford, I’m not anticipating that anything could go wrong – which is stupid, I guess, but I’ve been here for 19 years and never had any trouble with things stolen or crime or any-

ERROL CASTENS | OXFORD CITIZEN

A customer uses the automatic teller machine at the Regions Bank branch on West Jackson Avenue, at which three people were robbed within a few days earlier this month. thing.”

A black man in a hoodie approached Bourgeois and demanded he withdraw $500.

“I’ve never been held up at gunpoint before. I come from working-class New Orleans and was privy to all kinds of violence, but I’d never actually had a pistol pointed at my head,” Bourgeois said.

“My daughter was about 15 feet away (in a vehicle), so it was going through my mind, ‘If they kill me, what are they going to do to her?’ That was the direct link there for me, more than anything else.”

Bourgeois withdrew the money, laid it on the ground and ran to his truck and sped to the police station, hoping the two guys weren’t following him. The redheaded man soon arrived, too, but it turns out he was also a victim.

“I make it to the police station, and I’m a complete wreck. Not only have I just had a gun pointed at me, but I just quit smoking two weeks ago, and I’m already frazzled,” Bourgeois said. “I’m trying to tell what’s going on, my daughter’s trying to tell what’s going on, and finally they bring the white kid in, and he fills in the rest of the narrative.

He was being robbed and then held hostage. We all became good buddies trying to figure out what to think about all this.”

When the other man’s ATM effort proved fruitless, the robber made him stay while he waited for another victim.

“That kid was with the dude for like five minutes,” Bourgeois said.

“The kid only had 20 bucks, so the dude was like, you stay right here while I wait for the next guy, so he was able to get a good look at him.”

Once at the police station and with their narratives building on one another, police showed surveillance images from a robbery at the same facility from the previous weekend.

“He had pointed a gun to the back of (that victim’s) head. It was a huge, silver pistol. It was a big, nasty-looking automatic – big and silver. It looked ominous,” Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois acknowledged his own carelessness in becoming a victim, but he also placed responsibility for the crime on the bank, Oxford’s fast growth and an educational gap that afflicts too many young people.

“The guy who robbed

me is more of a symptom than a cause of violent activity,” he said.

Not that he’s giving the robber a complete pass.

“At first I was thinking, how stupid of this guy!

He’s going to get caught.

Don’t commit crimes that you can’t get away with,” Bourgeois said. “They may not catch him this time, but he’s going to do it again.”

Between three armed robberies and a possible kidnap charge, he said, “When they catch him, he’s probably going to spend the rest of his life in prison. For what? Five hundred dollars? How ignorant!”

Bourgeois said a further irony is that he may actually cross paths some day with his robber in a more controlled environment.

“Even if you’re not educated, even if your life is hard – this is just going to make your life harder,” he said. “You’re going to get caught, you’re probably going to end up in Parchman – maybe even in my class, and I’ll tell you that was a stupid thing to do.

“Does that change the nature of what I do? Absolutely not,” Bourgeois added. “I would argue that the reason things like that happen are lack of education, lack of basic logic ra-

tionale. Apparently he missed the boat on that, and he needs to be taught that so if he ever does return to society, he’s not in total crap.”

Bourgeois said he was perplexed that Regions is not willing to reimburse him for the money he lost to the robbery. The manager of the West Jackson Avenue Regions branch declined to comment on the situation, and a bank security official had not returned the Oxford Citizen’s call by press time.

The ATM is on the west side of the building, welllighted and visible from the busy street, but it is available for walk-up use only and requires users to face the building.

As of Tuesday morning, Oxford police were continuing their investigation of the crime, but no suspect had been arrested.

“This individual was in this area and probably chose this location because it met his needs at the moment. I don’t think he strategically picked this place,” said Oxford Police Major Jeff McCutchen. “I think Regions has a good setup there, and we’d never had any trouble there before. Whether he was living in that area or visiting, it was probably just a convenient place for him. That’s a really safe area of town.”

McCutchen said investigators have followed every lead tendered, but nothing had materialized as of Monday.

“We believe this person is probably not from Oxford, but we’re trying to keep an open mind,” he said. “In cases like that, we really rely on our community and rely on our investigators to get out and talk to people. You never know when you’ll be talking to someone and a question will jog their memory. We want to be vigilant, but we also want to be very patient.”

Anyone with information that may related to any of the robberies is urged to call OPD at (662) 232-2400 or Crime Stoppers at (662) 234-TIPS (8477). errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 5

L-O-U CHRISTMAS Oxford Citizen readers submitted photos of Christmas events they were participating in for a chance to win a Malco prize pack. The winner of the prize pack is Steven Bennett.

Mrs. Darce’s Kindergarten Class from Bramlett Elementary worked with Mrs. Swingle’s Class to create a Gingerbread Bramlett that was displayed at the Ford Center. Photo submitted by Elisabeth Darce.

Brooklyn Elise Burns sees Santa for the first time. Photo submitted by Anna Burns.

Mrs. Wade's first grade class at Oxford Elementary celebrated Christmas with a visit from Santa. Photo submitted by Lyndsey Wade.

Linley Beth Walker poses by the Christmas tree. Photo submitted by Lisa Logan.

Patricia Hughes, Sarah Ann Ratliff, and Mary Cook admire Kinney and Mary Mac Ferris visit the Gingerbread Village at Vaiden Bennett and her dad, Steven, visit with Santa at Holli's Christmas lights on the square. Submitted by Mary Cook. the Ford Center. Submitted by Kinney Ferris Sweet Tooth. Photo submitted by Steven Bennett.

PAGE 6

C

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

The Incarnation: a troubled treasure

hristmas is sights – a thousand points of light, a thousand renderings of Santa, everything red and green, angels and shepherds and stars, candy stripes and poinsettias, Rudolph’s fluorescent nose and gold-wrapped presents under a silver-bedecked tree.

It’s sounds – Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sweet-even-though-notquite-melodic children, sleighbells, “Mary Did You Know?,” “O Holy Night,” “Attaboy, Clarence!” and Charlie Brown’s plainvoiced plea, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Christmas is smells and flavors – cinnamon and cloves and nutmeg, pine and fir and cedar, orange and lemon and grapefruit, gingerbread and sugar

H

ere in good old Oxford, Mississippi we don’t even bother to wish for a white Christmas. The last one was a two-inch dusting on Christmas Day 2010. Before that, you have to go back to 1930. When a white Christmas does happen in these parts, it melts away quickly and leaves us with the usual, dreary, gray wetness that is our cheap imitation of snow. Thus the chances of snow in Oxford on December 25 rank right up there with winning the lottery, losing weight or going to the Sugar Bowl. It happens, but only once a century.

Christmas 2015 is poised to set heat records in some areas of the country. New York City is looking at the warmest Christmas in their history with temperatures forecast for the 70s.

Here in Oxford we’re looking at 70 degrees and 90 percent humidity. These conditions fly in the face of how we expect Christmas to be feel; cold, crisp, snowy (if you’re lucky) if not frightful. This year, you’ll have a white Christmas only if you pour a thick head on your beer while doing yard work.

Just where is all this warm air coming from? According to TIME magazine it’s caused by El Nino as well as something called “Arctic Oscillation.” The maga-

Errol Castens News writer cookies, vanilla and chocolate, coffee and eggnog, wood smoke and leather, Old Spice and Yankee candles.

It’s warmth – smiles and hugs and kisses, sweaters and snuggies and slippers, cocoa and Christmas cards and classic movies, newness and nostalgia.

But if our thoughts of Christmas are all sweetness and light, we miss its most important meaning.

In its original form, before poets and painters and peddlers got hold of it, the sights surrounding the birth of the Savior included not just stars

and angels and trumpets but impatient soldiers, greedy tax collectors, and a populace cowered by Rome’s reputation for harsh, horrible “justice” meted out to those who resisted it.

The sounds of Christmas included the angelic choir, but they also included the screams of babies slaughtered at Herod’s command and the wails of their mothers, reflecting Jeremiah 31:15 – “Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.’”

The warmth of “good news of great joy” was countered by the cold hearts of those gossiping about Mary’s unexpected expectancy, Joseph’s cold sweat when he realized his betrothed

was carrying a child not his, and the cold stares of hostile Samaritans as the couple who would raise God to be a man traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where instead of Currier & Ives scenes of idyllic New England winterscape, the Nativity was framed by the harsh Near East wilderness.

It was no accident that in his first breath, the Creator of the universe probably encountered the smell of manure. In the incarnation, after all, He was named Jesus “because he will save his people,” and nothing is more putrid than the sin from which He saves.

Jesus was born into the poverty of a stable to “bring good news to the poor.” He was born into the oppression of Judea to “proclaim liberty to the captives.” He was born into

horror and grief of the slaughter of the innocents to “proclaim … the day of vengeance of our God.” He was born into nastiness to make people “clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”

Savor Christmas’ flavors, enjoy the sights, exult in the sounds and let your heart melt at its warmth. But take some time to reflect that Jesus entered our filth because we could not otherwise enter his perfection.

As wonderful as the story of the Baby in the manger is, ponder this – that the manger was only a milestone on the way to the cross.

Errol Castens is a reporter for the Daily Journal and the Oxford Citizen. Contact him at errol.castens@journalinc.com or (662) 816-1282.

Sweaty Christmas anomalies over the years – and centuries. He notes a ‘Medieval Warm Period,’ from the 9th cenJim Dees tury to the 14th century when “the northern hemisphere was Tales of the town warmer than at any other time in the last 8,000 years of the earth’s history.” Later, he writes that Mississippi experienced the zine says a strong Artic Oscilla“Little Ice Age” when “it snowed tion traps cold air in the Artic for much of the summer of not letting it seep south; a weak 1816.” By 1859, winters became oscillation allows the cold air to “gentler” and “peach trees blosblow our way with brutal temps somed in February.” and windy freeze.

January of 1951 saw that “This happened the two previ“greatest ice storm of record in ous winters,” the magazine says, the United States,” according to “when the so-called ‘Polar VorEnzweiler. That week, Oxford extex’ left huge swathes of the U.S. perienced a temperature of -8 F. to experience bone-chilling In February 1994 came another record low temperatures.”

COURTESY ice storm remembered by many TIME: “El Niño, a climate "You’ll have a white Christmas only if you pour a thick head on your beer." current locals (myself included) event that occurs when Pacific that left thousands without Ocean temperatures rise along power or water for weeks. InI for one am happy to see 70 the Equator, drives up tempera- York City might be a bit shaken deed, the standard greeting that tures across the globe. That tem- to feel warm humid air dampen- degrees at Christmas. It is anmonth when one encountered a other day that we win, that the ing their Christmas. Even many perature effect is particularly fellow resident was, “Do you weather isn’t pushing us in the south are horrified at the strong in the Northern part of have power?” around. We can step outside thought of T-shirt weather at the United States as El Niño-reSo yes, this Christmas I will and not be blown back inside.

Christmas. Christmas is suplated winds push warm air in don my gay apparel – in this We can wear shorts. We can posed to be crisp and cool so from the Pacific. case a Hawaiian shirt and shorts pocket a few precious coins “When you combine an Arctic you can break out the red – and dig this unseasonal seathat would have gone to the sweaters and roast some chestOscillation along with a strong son. Winter will come soon El Niño, this [70 degrees] is what nuts on an open fire so that tiny Electric Dept. enough and then we can comIn this newspaper earlier this tots can have their eyes all you end up with,” said Mike plain about that. For now, surf’s aglow. You’re not supposed to be year, Stephen Enzweiler wrote Halpert of the Climate Predicup and baby, it’s warm outside. an excellent analysis of north sweating on Christmas. You’re tion Center.”

Mississippi winters and found supposed to throw another log There you have it; a perfect Jim Dees has lived in Oxford for over 30 on the fire and sleep through the that this year’s warm Christmas storm of sweat. One imagines years and lived to tell the tale. is but one of many weather Cowboys-Lions game. the holiday denizens of New

OXFORD CITIZEN

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

Foundation FROM PAGE 1

Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Freeze have become friends over the past few years, and it was Tebow who asked if Freeze had a foundation.

“He brought the original idea up. I said I didn’t have a clue on where I would start and he was the one who started showing me everything that his foundation has done,” Hugh Freeze said, adding he was amazed at how much Tebow has helped champion since he left Florida. “I couldn’t get away from it in my mind. Jill and I kept thinking about it and praying about it.”

Freeze and his wife paid all the legal fees and did all the leg work necessary to get the foundation up and running. The non-profit foundation was filed on Nov. 19, 2014.

“I finally got tired of thinking about it. I’m reading this book ‘If’ by Mark Batterson and that book really inspired me. It talks about the what ifs, the as ifs and the if only and I’ve become real good friends with (Batterson),” Freeze said.

“He told me to do what it takes to start it, and watch what happens.”

Jill and Hugh Freeze were the only contributors to the foundation until he sent out a message to a few people and then again on Twit-

Cocoa FROM PAGE 2

sounded more sympathetic about the ordinances aimed at Oxford’s aesthetics.

“Everybody’s got to be looking nice,” she said.

Sosseman noted that trashy houses and yards negatively impact neighbors’ property values.

“Yeah, I know. I’m kind of just giving you a hard time,” Wren Greene said.

“I understand, but I am sort of a libertarian.”

After finishing his conversation with Sosseman, Greene said, “I appreciate what these guys do.

It’s not an easy job.”

Beavers said it’s important for police and the public to understand each other’s perspectives.

“We want them to know that we’re not bad people, that we’re out

ter. Before noon this past Saturday, Freeze had 10 checks sitting on his desk.

“We’re going to give 100 percent of it away of course.

And the goal this Christmas, the reason I went on and sent it out and got it started is to get two major goals that we can make a difference in by the end of the year,” Hugh Freeze said, who added he has already talked with Auburn’s Gus Malzhan about joining the effort.

He added that the foundation can be re-named at any time. Another wellknown sports figure who is involved is pro golfer Ben Crane. Chad Spencer, another good friend of the Freeze family, is also heavily involved with the foundation.

“Those are the four guys that I have talked to about being partners with me and I’m anxious to see what God does through it,” he said. “It doesn’t take a huge amount to make a difference in a life in an orphanage in Africa.”

A tweet this past Saturday was the first public comments made about the foundation. Freeze said that he had let some people know about the foundation in a text message. By Saturday morning, he had 10 checks on his desk. He wanted everyone to know that there was no such thing as a small amount to give. Every little bit would there just to protect people and make sure everybody stays safe,” she said.

“My favorite part of the job is dealing with the public – talking to people, helping people.

We’ve helped people who were unable to get home certain times, people that needed gas in their cars. We do a lot of things that people don’t see.”

“Coffee with a Cop” started shortly after Chief Joey East was hired as Oxford’s top cop in December 2012.

“When we first did it, we asked someone to host it, but luckily, now, they call in and say, ‘Hey, we’d like to host this.’

We’ve got a couple on the waiting list now,” East said. “It’s been good, because citizens get to see us, we get to talk to some people. It’s good public relations for everybody.”

East borrowed the idea

make a difference in the life of a child.

“It will all make an impact on someone’s life. Obviously people don’t need me to do that, but if they want to use our foundation as their vehicle to disperse it to places like Reclaim Project, then we are happy to be that vehicle,” Hugh Freeze said.

This past spring, Jill Freeze and her daughters accompanied her husband and others from the football program to Haiti to help those in need. Providing clean water was one of the projects the group accomplished. Jill Freeze said it was a “no brainer” to create the foundation. The bigger hurdle to overcome was how to create the foundation the right way, and in the process, affect the most amount of people.

“I think that’s where it slows things down. You have to talk with people who have already done it and get advice to make sure it’s done the right way,” said Jill Freeze, who felt like residents of Lafayette County would respond well to the foundation. “My experience with Oxford is it’s a community that is very compassionate and a very generous community.

We’ve been nothing but welcomed here and anybody who has come here has felt the same way. When you see children in need, you want to do something

from police departments on the Gulf Coast and in Tupelo.

“We’ve talked about everything from unsolved murders to speeding and why we write tickets to we need to write more,” he said. “I’d say 99 percent of the people we visit with are thankful for what we do.

We just talk and visit. I haven’t had anyone negative to us; no one’s been ugly to us at all.”

Captain Alan Ivy said plans are to have a midafternoon “Coke with a Cop” event near Oxford Middle School sometime next semester.

“Maybe some of the kids can come by and visit with us. It’s a whole different crowd that’s out in the afternoon,” he said. errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

to help. And Oxford is a community that just wants to help in the best way they can. I definitely think people will jump onboard. To make a difference, a lifelong difference in a child’s life is so appealing.”

One of the big things that Jill Freeze wanted her children to gain from the trip to Haiti was how much they take for granted living in America.

“Just the necessities of what I’m going to eat today and to be able to drink water and not have to worry about it as a mom,” Jill Freeze said adding that her children were ready to visit Haiti again. “We do have the ability to help and make a difference. For me personally, once you meet basic necessities, you’ve opened the door for eternal decisions. Telling that God loves them and telling them about Jesus, that’s an eternal difference. One of the things we all noticed was the amount of joy they had and they had nothing. But they had such joy.

“And you look at yourself and you realize that you are a very selfish person. They help each other. They may not have anything, but what they have, they’re willing to share. It’s just a strong community. It was life changing. I want my daughters to know that it’s not just about them, that there is a whole world out there that needs to help and

Blackmon FROM PAGE 3

McLarty joked, “He’s going to change his number.”

Afterward, Blackmon reflected on his 20-year service as a Lafayette County supervisor.

“The best part of being supervisor is dealing with my people, taking care of my people,” he said. One of his favorite accomplishments was securing funds to get houses built near Abbeville for five Lafayette County families.

“That was a highlight,” Blackmon said. “I got a HUD grant written through Washington, D.C., and it didn’t cost the people not one dime. I got those done for them, and I’m the only supervisor that ever did that for people in Lafayette County.”

He also noted as favorite

PAGE 7

for them to do what they can to make a difference in their lives.”

Spencer, who is the president of the Dufresne Spencer Group based in Memphis, first met Hugh Freeze on the golf course four years ago. They played in the FedEx St. Jude proam and through that they have built a relationship and friendship. Spencer said his journey is similar to Freeze’s from a professional level. Spencer added he wanted to give more than he received and that was something he connected on with Freeze as they talked about the creation of the foundation.

“His story is an amazing one to see where he’s come from and where he’s been and where he’s at now. He understands what it means to be a good shepherd, a good steward of those blessings,” Spencer said.

“We have been talking the last couple of years about what’s happening.

I adopted a child about a year ago. We are friends and play golf together, but we are also on this journey of life together and we just want to see God do amazing things. As we have been praying to see what that looks like, we have literally have seen God kindle that fire of giving back to orphans. Freeze has been such a partner, calling me consistently and checking on me because we’ve had accomplishments the construction of two county facilities.

“This building right here (the Chancery Building) is one of the great things we’ve done, and building the new barn up in Abbeville for the Sanitation Department,” he said.

Given the chance, would he do anything different?

“Sometimes you get bent out of shape and lose your patience, so I wish I could have been more patient,” he said. “I thank my wife, Rosie, for being there with me and working alongside me and the people.”

Blackmon also noted good working relationships with both City of Oxford and University of Mississippi officials throughout his two decades on the Board of Supervisors.

So, what’s next for Robert Blackmon?

“Right now, my wife says she’s got a lot on her honey-

some complications with our child. He has just been so rock solid. So when he called me about the foundation, he said he needed someone to join forces with and with someone who is passionate about orphans.”

Spencer just got back from Honduras where his company helped give away 100 beds. Spencer felt like the foundation would be a success long term, especially as more and more got to understand the foundation. Like Freeze, Spencer has been inspired

by Batterson book, and even quoted parts of it to help tell the story of the foundation.

“A lot of it is getting people in a position to give and the people with means who can give into that position,” Spencer said who added the more people consume, the less they enjoy. “Joy is appreciating what you have and in a lot of ways, it requires less. You have to find fulfillment in the simple pleasures of life. We think that foundation is going to be special. We feel like we can raise a lot of money and bless a lot of kids that just don’t have the basic needs such as family, a roof over their head or a bed to sleep in. Food, water, all those basic needs. This is our chance to do something special.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

do list, so I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get them done,” he said. “But I’ll be doing something. I’ll be around. I’m going to be mentoring some people I think I can help. And I sing in a gospel group, and we’ll be doing some traveling.”

Pickens was not at Monday’s meeting, but fellow supervisors will also present him with a plaque expressing appreciation for his eight years of service to the county.

“Mike has been an asset to this board and this county,” Busby said, noting that Pickens was one of those who rode herd on the sale of Baptist Memorial Hospital, which led to the current construction of the new $300 million medical complex. “He’s worked hard for the people, and he’s going to be missed.” errol.castens@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenec

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 8

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Journal A LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND MANKIND.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

BRIEFING Armed robbery suspect arrested

eight group study sessions with actual community projects that Oxford police arrested a local require them to use and develop leadership skills. Training sesman Saturday on a charge of armed robbery. Chris Paten, 27, sions include leadership, team of Oxford, was charged after an building, medicine, education, legal field and law enforcement, alleged victim filed a complaint government, career developthat said Paten and other men were on Robinson Road shooting ment and the arts, among other topics. The program runs from dice when Paten got angry, late January through the early pulled a gun and took the vicApril and meets on Monday aftim’s money. Bond was set at ternoons after school from 4:15 $75,000. to 6:15 p.m.

OPD Major Jeff McCutchen The program is restricted to said Paten was also found to be in possession of narcotics and a 10th grade students who live in Oxford and Lafayette County. firearm that was believed to have been stolen in an unincor- Acceptance is based on compleporated part of Lafayette County. tion of the required forms and documents by the assigned McCutchen added that OPD deadline of Friday, Jan. 15, and investigators do not believe the payment of $45 tuition fee.

Paten is connected with the reThe class is limited to 25 particicent robberies of ATM customers at Regions Bank on West pants. Preference will be given to applicants who, in addition to Jackson Avenue. their potential for leadership, would contribute to the overall Hazardous weather diversity and strength of the possible this week The National Weather Service class and have available time to commit to the program. office in Memphis has issued a To download an application statement noting an “enhanced” risk of hazardous weather today, form, go to http://files.ctctcdn.com/566db90 tonight and again on Christmas b001/9ea87203-6175-4387Day. “There is an enhanced risk for 8caf-1cdaa49babd4.pdf severe thunderstorms across the Mid-South along and east of the UM remembers Stead Mississippi River on Wednesday University of Mississippi facfrom mid-afternoon through ulty, staff and alumni are fondly Wednesday night and a slight remembering retired civil engirisk of severe thunderstorms neering professor Kenneth Alva across the remainder of the Stead Jr., 85, who passed away area,” the Weather Service Nov. 20 after a lengthy illness. statement reads. “Large hail, A memorial service is scheddamaging winds, and tornadoes uled for 2 p.m. Dec. 28 at St will be possible with any thunPeter’s Episcopal Church in Oxderstorms that reach severe lim- ford. Stead was a member of the its. Severe weather will be UM civil engineering faculty for possible across the entire Mid25 years. During his tenure, he South, with the highest confiinfluenced countless colleagues dence across areas along and and students alike, said Samuel south of I-40. Localized heavy DeLeeuw, UM chair and profesrainfall will also be possible. A sor emeritus of civil engineering. wind advisory may also be “Ken was a good teacher, but needed across the area Wednes- his main forte was that he was day into Wednesday night.” the teacher that students went Storm spotter activation may to on personal questions,” be required across portions of DeLeeuw said. the region today and tonight.

DeLeeuw first met Stead in 1965 when the former became chair of the Department of Civil Junior Leadership Engineering. deadline Jan. 15 “He had taught here for three The Oxford-Lafayette County years and was acting head for Chamber of Commerce invites 10th grade students to be a part one semester,” DeLeeuw said. “I urged him to take a leave and of their Junior Leadership proearn a PhD., which he did in gram. In its 17th year, Junior three years. This greatly enLeadership attempts to identify young leaders in the Oxford and hanced the faculty and helped Lafayette County area. The pro- make us look good to the accreditation board.” gram is meant to motivate parBorn in Martins Ferry, Ohio, ticipants and assist in Stead served in the U.S. Navy sharpening leadership skills to exert a strong positive influence during the Korean War. He completed his undergraduate degree on the future of Oxford and at the Speed College of EngineerLafayette County.

Participants will work together ing at the University of Louisville, a master’s degree in civil engiin a program that combines

neering from the University of Missouri and doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

While a graduate student, Stead worked on the Saturn V Project, part of NASA’s effort to land men on the moon, at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Embry Legacy Lives on in Scholars When University of Mississippi freshman Tyler Donovan called to tell his mother he had been named the 2015 recipient of the Joey Embry Memorial Scholarship, she became so emotional that she had to hang up, regain her composure and call him back.

“There are a lot of scholarships that are named after people, but when you actually know the person, it really makes an impact,” said Alison Tyler of Bruce. She grew up with Embry, the Rebels’ promising 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle who tragically drowned in 1998.

“I’ve got pictures of us hanging out on the playground in junior high. Growing up in Bruce … it’s such a small town, you know everybody in your class and Joey was just a big teddy bear,” she said. “He was always smiling. He liked to have fun and was a friend to everybody. He was just a person that everybody could like.”

Donovan, like Embry, played football for Bruce High School and is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis in computer science.

Colonel Reb ‘halfway to Sugar Bowl’ The Colonel Reb Foundation is now halfway to its goal of raising $2,000 for the mascot to appear at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. For the first time in 45 years, Ole Miss will play in the historic New Orleans game, facing familiar bowl foe Oklahoma State inside Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Colonel Reb Foundation respectfully requests your help to send Colonel Reb to cheer-on the Rebels before, during and after the game. Donations are needed to help pay for the mascot’s and the student escorts’ tickets to the game, hotel rooms, travel, food, and other expenses.

The foundation welcomes any and all financial support at www.colonelreb.org/donatenow.

The Colonel Reb Foundation was formed during the summer of 2003, just as Colonel Reb was officially removed as the University of Mississippi’s mascot by the administration.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 9

PAGE 10

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OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 12

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

TO P L I S T E R S

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Eileen Saunders

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PAGE 13

John Davis Sports Editor

Players, coaches, friends offer final thoughts on Hill

S

aying goodbye to Oxford High football coach Johnny Hill was bittersweet. It was sad to see him go. It was a lot of fun to talk about him, and remember all the good moments during his career. Hill meant a lot to his players, and coaches, and several of them shared some great stories over the past calendar year with me.

••• Quarterback Jack Abraham broke every single throwing record at Oxford the past three seasons. This is what he had to said about Hill.

“Every time before a game, he would say don’t roll those blue hats out there boys,” Abraham said. “That’s stuck with me through this whole process. He’s been like a second dad to me, from the Buccaneers all the way through now. Everything he’s said to me, I’ll remember for the rest of my life. He’s the best coach a guy could ask for.”

When wide receiver Jimmy Greaser got to Oxford before the 2014 season, he remembers Hill telling him how much fun he was going to have out on the field. He also recalled the story Hill told the team about jumping on a bull when he was younger.

“The lesson from it just have to take risks and when you’re out on the field, just play all out and that you will be OK at the end of the day,” Greaser said. “I think it’s meaningful in life because you have to take risks and that you will be OK.” Jack Turner remembers Hill telling the Chargers to always go full speed.

“He also told us to not play down to our competition. That’s something that stuck with me the whole time,” Turner said. “He said if you’re going to do something, why not try as hard as you can to get to where you can.”

Every time center Colton Skidmore walked into the field house, Hill asked him “How bout cha?” Skidmore heard it so much he started to ask it back. And he would say “How bout cha?” back.

••• Hill was beloved by his coaching staff.

He always had a knack for making good hires, and several never forgot that.

“Coach Hill gave me my start coaching football. He is a guy who many respect and always leads by example. He has taught me more about not only the game, but how to TURN TO HILL PAGE 17

PETRE THOMAS | OXFORD CITIZEN

Members of the Oxford All-Citizen football team include, front row from left, Jack Turner, Devin Rockette, Hiram Wadlington, Liam Cooper, Connell Yoste and Jack Abraham. Second row, from left, Colton Skidmore, Tag Gatlin, Will Swindoll, Jimmy Greaser and Ken Hickinbottom. Pictured below are DK Metcalf and Ken Presley.

All Citizen Oxford Abraham, Metcalf, Wadlington headline 2015 Chargers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Oxford’s most prolific football team in regards to offense set the tone for the Chargers on the gridiron in 2015. Quarterback Jack Abraham threw for over 5,000 yards and 57 touchdowns.

DK Metcalf caught 93 passes for 1,455 yards and 22 touchdowns. And Hiram Wadlington came on late in the season to have over 1,500 allpurpose yards.

This year’s All-Citizen football team included Abraham, Metcalf, Wadlington, wide receivers Jimmy Greaser and Ken Presley, who were both right at 1,000 yards receiving and both combined to score 25 touchdowns. Offensive linemen Colton Skidmore, Will Swindoll and Tag Gatlin gave Abraham time, and holes for Wadlington to run through.

On defense, linebacker Jack Turner led the Chargers

in tackles (153). Cornerback Devin Rockette had a steady season, while end Kent Hickinbottom did exactly what coach Johnny Hill wanted up front. Punter Liam Cooper

and Connell Yoste round out this year’s team. Yoste and Cooper combined for 60 extra points made.

“We had a lot of good football players on the team and

they really played well together,” Hill said. “We’ve had a lot of guys with a lot of experience out there and that TURN TO CHARGERS PAGE 17

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 14

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

Skilled QB rewrites Chargers’ record book seeing everybody and going through the regular routine.”

Abraham is an early graduate, but won’t enroll in college just yet. He recently de-committed from Tulane after Green Wave head coach Curtis Johnson was fired, changing the school’s offensive direction.

“I’m just going to take it day by day and just see what happens,” he said.

Abraham broke his collarbone trying to get into the end zone for what would have been a gamewinning touchdown in the 5A title game against Wayne County, but only after he had thrown for 550 yards and four touchdowns.

His collarbone won’t require surgery. He’ll now have time to let it heal.

ond in the state in yardage and first in touchdowns.

That is also the state’s highest number of attempts, completions and its highest completion percentage. He had a 131.9 QBR on 500-plus pass attempts.

He was sixth in the country in TD passes and fifth in yards and was named Mississippi’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

Hill saw Abraham’s potential when the youngster was playing for dad Michael with the pee wee Oxford Buccaneers. Abraham saw his own goals pretty early too. He threw for more than 12,000 yards and 130 touchdowns as Oxford’s three-year starter.

“I started playing when I was 8,” he said. “When I started getting used to the speed of the game and how you’re supposed to play, that’s when I started GAUDY NUMBERS This season Abraham falling in love with it.”

PETRE THOMAS | OXFORD CITIZEN threw for 5,091 yards and brandon.speck@journalinc.com Oxford quarterback Jack Abraham was named the Daily Journal Player of the Year for 2015.

57 touchdowns on 331 of Twitter: @brandonspeck 503 passing. He was secHe threw for over 5,000 yards and 57 touchdowns this past fall.

BY BRANDON SPECK DAILY JOURNAL

Some six years before Jack Abraham rewrote Oxford’s record book, Chargers coach Johnny Hill went to watch the sixth-grader play quarterback.

“He was out there throwing corner routes like it was nothing,” Hill said. “We knew many years ago he was going to be something special. And he’s stepped up every ballgame.”

Abraham (6-foot-1, 196) went on to lead Oxford to three straight Class 5A state championship appearances. En route he set every Oxford quarterback record and for the second time – the first time as a sophomore – the senior is the Journal’s Offensive Player of the Year.

He said it still hasn’t totally set in yet that his high school career is over.

“We definitely had a good ride,” Abraham said.

“It’s weird not going back to school last week and

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Rebels’ DT Nkemdiche will miss Sugar Bowl, turns pro

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

PETRE THOMAS | OXFORD CITIZEN

Oxford's Johnny Hill was named Daily Journal Coach of the Year for leading the Chargers to 12 wins and to the MHSAA Class 5A state title game.

Veteran coach says fond farewell to his Chargers

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

All of the things Johnny Hill has collected over the years at Oxford, or during his coaching career in general, laid in boxes on Friday.

For the veteran head coach, it was tough to say goodbye to his staff, and Chargers.

The 2015 season was Hill’s last at Oxford, his last at any school. His Chargers came an inch short of winning the MHSAA Class 5A state title. It was the third straight trip to the title game for the Chargers, who have been one of the most consistent pro-

grams in the state under Hill.

He ends his career with 215 overall wins against 82 losses. He won 180 games at Oxford, and 35 leading the Tupelo Golden Wave for four seasons.

Hill wanted to make sure that all the supporters in the community knew how much they meant to him, and how glad he was that they put up with him for over two decades.

“I want to thank all the people over the years that have had to put up with me,” Hill said. “I’ve told people that this was the best job in the state. We’ve got such a great commu-

nity, great parents. The administration has always been behind you. Not just the school board, but the principals at the high school and from Bramlett on up.

“It’s been a great place to work. I really have enjoyed my stay here.”

RECORD OF SUCCESS Oxford has won 10 or more games four straight seasons under Hill. This past season, the Chargers finished 12-3. Hill won games by being flexible on offense, and by being very sound on special teams. Hill had a number of onside kicks up his

sleeve. This past fall, his Chargers recovered the first 14 he called for.

“I kind of am what I am. I think it’s been a great marriage,” Hill said in regards to his style and the town of Oxford. “I haven’t had any problems here with parents or with the kids. I’ve always treated those kids like they were mine. You’re putting your kid in my hands for three hours almost every day, and sometimes more. That’s big honor, and privilege, to be in charge of these kids.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

We want to hear from you write to us at P.O. Box 1176, Oxford, MS 38655, email us at mail@oxfordcitizen.com or visit us online at oxfordcitizen.com.

Sports Editor John Davis john.davis@journalinc.com

News reporter Errol Castens errol.castens@journalinc.com (662) 816-1282

Advertising Sarah Brooke Bishop sarahbrooke.bishop@journalinc.com

An off-the-field incident that involved law enforcement and a lengthy fall from a hotel has cost Ole Miss its leader in the middle of the defensive line.

Junior tackle Robert Nkemdiche will miss the Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State and will turn pro.

Ole Miss coach Hugh F r e e z e made the announceNkemdiche ment Sund a y morning through a news release. He issued a statement, as did Nkemdiche, who fell 15 feet out of an Atlanta hotel a week prior, bringing along national attention. His fall not only required stitches, but it involved police, who found seven marijuana cigarettes at the scene, leading to misdemeanor charges.

Nkemdiche is headed to the NFL now, as he is projected to be selected in the first round of the 2016 draft. His final official game as an Rebel was against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Nkemdiche missed the first practice for the bowl this past Monday.

Freeze met with him, and Nkemdiche issued a public apology about the incident on Wednesday.

His thoughts released on Sunday were also contrite, but much more to the point about his future.

“While I wish I could have finished this journey with my team, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program, and I am ready to begin the next phase of my life,” Nkemdiche said. “I have learned a valuable lesson in the last week, and

I look forward to showing NFL personnel that this is not representative of my true character. I want to thank my coaches, my teammates and Rebel Nation for their support these past three years, and I look forward to making them proud for years to come.”

A final decision on Nkemdiche’s playing status was expected soon, although there was some speculation that Freeze would make a the call once the Rebels reported to New Orleans.

According to the statement, the decision for Nkemdiche not to play in the bowl was made last week with guidance from athletics director Ross Bjork.

Freeze said that he will continue to support Nkemdiche as he prepares for the next step in his playing career.

“I look forward to sharing with NFL general managers and scouts what a unique and talented individual he is,” Freeze said.

“Robert has made an immeasurable impact on our program, and we are forever indebted to him. He and his family will always be part of the Ole Miss family.”

With Nkemdiche out of the lineup, expect more reps for Breeland Speaks in the middle, along with Woody Hamilton and DJ Jones seeing time like they have been during the season.

Nkemdiche, who was named to the second Associated Press All America team, finished his career with 98 tackles, with 19 going for a loss. He also had seven sacks in his career and he scored three touchdowns this fall on offense. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 16

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

SPORTS IN DEPTH OXFORD BASKETBALL

MONDAY’S RESULTS Smoky Mountain Classic Oxford (B) 74, Ooltewah 66 Oxford 14 16 16 22 – 74 Ooltewah 18 13 17 18 ≠ 66 Leading scorers: Oxford ≠ Jarkel Joiner 29, DK Metcalf 28, Terry Williams 12. Ooltewah – K. Jones 16.

Lovett School 49, Oxford (G) 48 Oxford 15 15 8 10 – 48 Lovett 8 14 9 18 – 49 Leading scorers: Oxford — Jordan Freeze 15, Aliyah Herod 14. Lovett — Quinn Barry 19.

OLE MISS BASKETBALL

(w) Ole Miss 96, McNeese State 56 McNeese State (56) Carswell 3-7 1-2 7, Rogers 0-3 0-0 0, Baggett 5-15 1-2 12, Johnson 1-6 6-6 8, Donnes 2-2 0-0 5, Hudnall 5-7 3-4 13, Sheppard 0-0 0-0 0, Rivas 1-1 0-0 2, Guidry 0-0 0-0 0, Cupit 0-2, 0-0 0, Jenkins 0-4 12 1, Haywood 2-5 1-6 5, Rachal 1-3 1-2 3, Shaw 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-55 14-24 56.

Ole Miss (96) Joseph 0-4 0-0 0, Hayes 3-9 2-2 8, Sisk 713 9-11 23, Sessom 9-15 2-2 22, Lewis 28 0-0 6, Golden 4-9 0-0 12, Williams 0-2 0-0 1, Muhate 2-3 0-0 4, Briggs 3-7 1-2 7, Muhammad 1-6 4-4 6, Hart 2-4 0-0 4, Alston 1-4 2-2 4. 34-84 20-23 96.

Halftime – Ole Miss 55, McNeese State 21.

3-Point Field Goals – McNeese State 2-9 (Baggett 1-3 Johnson 0-1, Donnes 1-1, Hundnall 0-1, Jenkins 0-2, Rachal 0-1), Ole Miss 8-24 (Joseph 0-2, Sisk 0-2, Sessom 22, Lewis 2-6, Golden 4-7, Briggs 0-1, Muhammad 0-4). Assists – McNeese State 11, Ole Miss 16. Turnovers – McNeese State 33, Ole Miss 17. Total Fouls – McNeese State 24, Ole Miss 28. Records – McNeese State 7-4; Ole Miss 7-5.

(M) ole miss 85, MEMPHIS 79 OLE MISS (9-2) Newby 2-6 8-14 12, Saiz 4-9 2-5 11, Gielo 3-9 2-2 10, Brooks 4-7 2-2 11, Moody 6-20 6-9 21, Escobar 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Hymon 2-5 2-4 6, Finley 2-2 1-2 5, Perez 44 0-0 9, Shepard 0-0 0-0 0, FitzpatrickDorsey 0-0 0-0 0, Brutus 0-0 0-0 0, Coddington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 23-38 85.

MEMPHIS (7-3) D. Lawson 7-17 5-6 21, Goodwin 1-4 5-9 7, Woodson 2-6 1-2 7, Crawford 2-6 2-2 6, Tarrant Jr. 8-14 8-10 29, Burrell 2-8 4-6 8, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Broddie 00 0-0 0, Randall 0-0 0-0 0, K. Lawson 0-6 12 1, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 0-0 0-0 0, Wallingford 0-0 0-0 0, McDowell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-63 26-37 79.

Halftime–Ole Miss 43-31. 3-Point Goals–Ole Miss 8-18 (Moody 3-6, Gielo 2-6, Perez 1-1, Saiz 1-1, Brooks 1-3, Newby 0-1), Memphis 9-20 (Tarrant Jr. 5-7, D. Lawson 23, Woodson 2-6, Martin 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Burrell 0-2). Fouled Out–Hymon, Perez. Rebounds–Ole Miss 42 (Newby 12), Memphis 44 (Goodwin 15). Assists–Ole Miss 15 (Brooks, Moody, Newby, Saiz 3), Memphis 13 (Crawford, Tarrant Jr. 3). Total Fouls–Ole Miss 27, Memphis 26. Technicals–Hymon, Burrell, Memphis Bench. Records – Ole Miss 9-2; Memphis 7-3.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

OTHER GAMES Miami Beach Bowl USF vs. Western Kentucky – Dec. 21, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN) Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Akron vs. Utah State – Dec. 22, 2:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Marmot Boca Raton Bowl Temple vs. Toledo – Dec. 22, 6 p.m. (ESPN) San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Boise State vs. Northern Illinois – Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) GoDaddy Bowl Bowling Green vs. Georgia Southern – Dec. 23, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan – Dec. 24, 11 a.m. (ESPN) Hawaii Bowl Cincinnati vs. San Diego State – Dec. 24, 7 p.m. (ESPN) St. Petersburg Bowl Marshall vs. Connecticut – Dec. 26, 10 a.m.

(ESPN) Hyundai Sun Bowl Miami vs. Washington State – Dec. 26, 1 p.m. (CBS) Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl Washington vs. Southern Miss – Dec. 26, 1:20 p.m. (ESPN) New Era Pinstripe Bowl Duke vs. Indiana – Dec. 26, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) Camping World Independence Bowl Virginia Tech vs. Tulsa – Dec. 26, 4:45 p.m.

(ESPN) Foster Farms Bowl Nebraska vs. UCLA – Dec. 26, 8:15 p.m.

(ESPN) Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman Pittsburgh vs. Navy – Dec. 28, 1:30 p.m.

(ESPN) Quick Lane Bowl Central Michigan vs. Minnesota – Dec. 28, 4 p.m. (ESPN2) Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Air Force vs. California – Dec. 29, 1 p.m.

(ESPN) Russell Athletic Bowl North Carolina vs. Baylor – Dec. 29, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN) NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl Colorado State vs. Nevada – Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. (American Sports Network) AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl Texas Tech vs. LSU – Dec. 29, 8 p.m. (ESPN) Birmingham Bowl Memphis vs. Auburn – Dec. 30, 11 a.m.

(ESPN) Belk Bowl North Carolina State vs. Mississippi State – Dec. 30, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Capital One Orange Bowl Clemson vs. Oklahoma – Dec. 31, 3 p.m.

(ESPN)

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl Louisville vs. Texas A&M – Dec. 30, 6 p.m.

(ESPN)

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Alabama vs. Michigan State – Dec. 31, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

National University Holiday Bowl Wisconsin vs. USC – Dec. 30, 9:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

College Football Playoff National Championship Clemson-Oklahoma winner vs. AlabamaMichigan State winner – Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

Outback Bowl Northwestern vs. Tennessee – Jan. 1, 11 a.m. (ESPN2) Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl Michigan vs. Florida – Jan. 1, Noon (ESPN)

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Houston vs. Florida State – Dec. 31, 11 a.m.

(ESPN)

TaxSlayer Bowl Georgia vs. Penn State – Jan. 2, 11 a.m.

(ESPN)

Fiesta Bowl Notre Dame vs. Ohio State – Jan. 1, Noon (ESPN)

AutoZone Liberty Bowl Kansas State vs. Arkansas – Jan. 2, 2:20 p.m. (ESPN)

Rose Bowl Stanford vs. Iowa – Jan. 1, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Valero Alamo Bowl TCU vs. Oregon – Jan. 2, 5:45 p.m. (ESPN)

Sugar Bowl Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss – Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Cactus Bowl West Virginia vs. Arizona State – Jan. 2, 9:15 p.m. (ESPN)

PETRE THOMAS | OXFORD CITIZEN

Sophomore Jonathan Page is the defensive leader for the Lafayette Commodores. His tough-minded play has been praised by coach Gene Anderson.

Page sets tone for ’Dores from back row

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Jonathan Page may be listed as a sophomore on the roster for the Lafayette Commodores, but he plays much more experienced than that when he gets on the field.

Page is a team leader for head coach Gene Anderson, even though Anderson has always stressed ownership from everyone.

Page, who is a defensive minded specialist, said his main goal each match is to stay focused and to have the back of his fellow teammates.

“I always want to be there for them,” Page said.

“If a ball gets through, I’m there. Of if they just need someone to pick them up, I’m there to help.”

Anderson started Page when he was in the ninth grade. He has the most experience on the defensive side of the ball.

“When we graduated the three other guys, we moved him from right back to center back because he has the most experience,” Anderson said.

“He’s done a really good job of helping the other guys as far knowing when to step to somebody and when to cover.”

Before the Commodores wrapped up play before Christmas in the Oxford Showcase, Page was praised for his play against Ripley. Anderson said that for 20 minutes, they were unable to do much on defense.

“We had some real bad defensive play and we just couldn’t get the ball out of there and he just ran up to the top and took ball and went up the field about 30, 40 yards,” Anderson said.

“He was the last guy back there and he got the ball up to the offense. Without kicking the ball up the field, or losing the ball, he just took it upon himself to carry it on up there.”

Page has been playing soccer since he was 6, which is 10 years now. He played club-level soccer and he noticed himself getting better and better because of it. Despite years of playing, it was only last season that Page really knew that soccer was his sport.

“I played baseball through those years, too, but I quit baseball last year to concentrate more on soccer and when I did, it just brought me closer to it and I liked it a lot more,” Page said, who added that his position of center back

suits him well. “The first thing I do is to step for a player, pressure him and then push him to one side or the other. I like to stay on the left side.”

While Anderson talked about a specific moment from the Ripley game for Page, he felt like his play against Southaven were his best moments. He has also made all three of his goals during penalty kicks, which has been some other memorable moments.

SHOWING IMPROVEMENT Lafayette has played well for being so much younger than last season.

They were 7-6-1 heading into the Christmas break, and with players like Page leading the way, Anderson was upbeat about what the team could achieve once the bulk of the division season got going.

“We’re playing some really good soccer. We’ve probably been playing about 60 good minutes and 20 OK minutes,” Anderson said. “If we can get to playing a full game really well, we can compete with anyone in 4A. We’ve played some big teams and four of our first five losses were by one goal.

We’ve been in every game and in some instances we did everything but beat people. So as we get into just games with 4A schools, if we play consistent, we can play with pretty much anybody that we’re going to come across.”

And if the Commodores are going to be a special team this year, they have to remain very good on defense, like they have been.

“Anyone can score, but we’re just not going to put up the numbers that we did in previous years,” Anderson said. “Defensively, I was kind of worried about it, but they’ve picked it up quick and we’re solid. We can shut down anybody as long as they play 80 minutes and don’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Page thought the team could be more talkative on the field during matches.

He said overall he thought the team was “pretty good” overall.

In the Oxford Showcase, the Commodores tied Caledonia 1-1. They defeated Itawamba AHS 2-0 and Kosciusko 3-0. Their lone loss was 3-1 to Washington out of Greenville. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordicitizenjd

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015

Chargers FROM PAGE 13

always helped. All of the guys picked are very special guys.”

Turner was an individual that Hill felt really stepped up and filled a void that was much needed.

“Jack was huge for us and then Kent Hickinbottom was another one on defense for us that I really thought stepped his game a whole lot,” Hill said.

“Against Vicksburg, we started giving out hoodies for kids that really played

Davis

hard, that showed up on the scoreboard. Kent and Jack really put a lot of effort into it. You noticed these two guys in games past, but when you got to really studying the film, you noticed that they played lights out. They played with a great passion.

“Of course we had a lot of guys on offense that really stood out. DK goes full speed every time. When he’s double covered and know he’s not getting the ball, he’s still running full speed route so that somebody else can get open,” Hill added.

“When you’ve got kids

OXFORD CITIZEN doing that for their team, then you have kids that are special. I can say that about a lot of them. Jimmy, Presley, Hiram, they all did a great job. I was also very proud of the offensive line, even the ones that didn’t make this team. They played their tails off. Stone Threlkeld, Ashton Stewart, those guys were graded as high as anybody on the team day in and day out.

Wayne County has some really good defensive guys and I thought they neutralized them exceptionally well.”

Hill felt like that offen-

sive line, as a collective group, did the best job against Wayne County. He thought it might have been the best performance in the last three years, which is saying a lot.

Oxford finished the season with a 12-3 overall record. The seniors who make up the team: Abraham, Metcalf, Swindoll, Gatlin, Turner, Greaser, Presley, Cooper and Yoste never lost a game to a team from the 1-5A Division. Hill said Greaser really stepped up in the first meeting against West Point.

“He just hit another gear

PAGE 17

and once he did, he was as solid as they come,” Hill said. “Connell and Liam are both good ones.

They’re going to miss those two on special teams next year. They have been a big part of our team. Even tough we didn’t punt as much as much this year, I thought Liam did a really good job and Connell did a really good job. He worked hard in practice and he was always where he needed to be and working hard to always get better.”

The thing that Yoste did the best was onside kicks.

The first 14 the Chargers

tried, they recovered.

“His batting average is really, really high. It looks easy because he makes it look easy, but it’s hard to put that ball right there in that corner, right where it needs to be,” Hill said.

“That was a weapon that people had to try and slow down or stop.”

Oxford finished the season with 88 touchdowns scored. The Chargers averaged 345.6 yards through the air and 136.3 yards on the ground. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

chance to win. But, we didn’t laugh out loud as we knew what the outFROM PAGE 13 come of that would have been.” treat people the right way ••• and be more than just a When you win over 200 coach,” said Logan Dodgames, there are a lot of son, who coached tight memorable plays inends this past year for the volved in the triumphs. In Chargers. “He is a great the case of Hill, some husband, father, and people will remember his grandfather. I hope one off-the-cuff one liners as day I can be half the man much as anything. he is. I will always remem“He couldn’t play dead ber him saying “How bout in a Western,” Dr. Ed cha?” and “Gentlemen!!!”

Field, who also loved He is a leader through and when Hill said if you want through and he will be somebody’s back side, greatly missed. Thank you you had to bring some Coach Hill for all you have back side. done for me, this commuChris Baughman, the nity, and the Oxford head coach of the baseSchool District.” ball team, used to be an Jason Russell, who assistant on Hill’s football coached the offensive line staff. The quote that he, for the Chargers, had this and many love, the most to say about his former came when the Chargers boss. defeated Lafayette in the “Coach Hill gave me my 2012 season. It was the opportunity to become a coach and has taught me PETRE THOMAS | OXFORD CITIZEN first win over the Coma great deal about how to Oxford coach Johnny Hill touched a lot of lives during his time at Oxford High. His final day on the job was this past Friday. modores since 2005, and Hill, a country boy to the be a leader of young end, made sure to demen,” Russell said. “I will this about Hill from years in the game of life. I have coaching tire just right.

“The thing I will rescribe what his Chargers forever be grateful for the never known Coach Hill to gone by.

“We took it as an omen member most about opportunities he has “One night we were be- had been doing in relathat we were going to have go into a game thinking Coach Hill is his dedication to playing the Comgiven me. One of my fathat he couldn’t come out hind at halftime by a a good year,” Carter said. tion to helping young modores. vorite lessons that he with a win. It didn’t matter touchdown. He came in “It was just minutes after people, especially those “We have been sucking taught me is to always others have given up on.” we had talked about need- if he thought his team was the locker room pretty hind tit in this rivalry,” consider each athletes situpset because this was a outmatched. He always ing these tires that this Jeff Carter served as an Hill said during his live inuation individually. Our team we were suppose to did his homework and happened.” assistant coach to Hill at terview. kids come from all kinds have easily handled. His was very good at finding ••• Oxford and Tupelo. A story Hill’s last day on the job of different backgrounds, opening comment was Hugh Brown played for weaknesses in his oppohe will never forget hapwas this past Friday. He and as a coach we have to pened just before the sea- the Chargers just like Cut- nents. He would draw up ‘Guys, that was a horrible was given a scrapbook take into account their display of football, and cliffe and he said that Hill a play especially for this son. Hill’s tower needed filled with some of his different situations. Anwas a winner, who always weakness and run it at the that’s the best thing I can tires as all four that were biggest accomplishments. other of my favorite lessay. You guys are better most opportune time in had his team ready. on the movebale tower It was an appropriate sons is to always do what than this team. I can tell the game. The opponent “A coach does not just were dry rotted out. Not you say as a coach. This never even realizes he has you this though, if ya’ll will ending for a man who has teach you how to play a long after Carter pointed obviously been giving us go out there and score a lesson has had a major been setting this play up game. A coach is a role that out, the staff heard a all so many things to refew times and not let impact in how I handle the whole game. It’s almodel, somebody you loud crash from Highway them score anymore, then member for so many my athletes.” look up to, somebody you most like a magic trick to 7, which is located right him … he gets you looking we might have a chance to years.

Chris Cutcliffe, the son can turn to for help, a next to the school. Carter win!’ Well, several of us of a college football coach, was entrusted to check character builder,” Brown in one place but the play looked at each other and John Davis is the Oxford Citizen is actually happening in said. “Coach Hill not only played quarterback for things out and five or six had to hold back some sports editor. He can be reached another!” teaches you how to play Hill, and then joined the tires had broken off a laughs, because, based on at john.davis@journalinc.com.

Jerry Moore, the superfootball, he tries to teach trailer and traveled into staff in the effort to instill Follow him on Twitter you how to be a good per- intendent of education in the rules of math, we’d values into the next gener- the kudzu. Four of them have had more than a at @oxfordcitizenjd. son and do the right thing Marshall County, offered ended up fitting the ation of Chargers.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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