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oxfordcitizen.com

Volume 2 | Issue 87

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Community first

Inside 4 News

Parham's love for Oxford evident in leadership

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

To say that Cynthia Parham cared about her community would be an understatement. A big one. Parham has lived in Oxford and Lafayette County her whole life. She grew up in Abbeville, graduated from Lafayette High School and then helped raise sons who graduated from OHS in the 1990s.

Parham is very involved with her church, East St. Peter Missionary Baptist, located off Highway 30, where she serves as clerk and is a member of the choir.

“I was the choir president, but I don’t have that job anymore,” said Parham, who serves the community as an Allstate Executive Agent during the day.

Parham is also the president of the Oxford Development Association, which is the one of the oldest African-American organizations that has been established. She is also a member of the Oxford Heritage Foundation, which has been the driving force behind the renovation of the Burns-Belfry Museum & Multicultural Center. For those that may not be familiar with Burns-Belfry, it is dedicated to African-American History and there is still more to do complete the efforts.

“That building is an ever evolving door to a century that our kids know nothing about.

And it’s our job to make them

The first of a two-part series on Mississippi artist Chris Haywood and his connection with Oxford and Ole Miss.

6 Business

Holli’s nine-year legacy as the sweets capital of the Square will officially come to a close following this year’s annual Double Decker Festival.

JOHN DAVIS

Cynthia Parham is all about the Oxford community and promoting all the benefits that are here. interested in knowing about it,” she said. “Growing up here, with all the things that came through with segregation and (James) Meredith and all of that, seeing Oxford come together, which we did, to make something out of nothing is just really a proud thing for me.”

Oxford, to Parham, doesn’t change, the people that live in the town, and make up the community, drive the change.

“When you come to Oxford,

you come to visit but you end up staying. That’s the ambiance that our town throws off,” she said. “That is why I’m proud of our town. Everyone that comes in to me tells me that Oxford is growing but I see Oxford as coming into it’s own. When I was young, the people that molded me came from the old school. From growing up from there and seeing them walk and talk the right way and do things that were right, it only made me

want to do the right things.”

One of the things that Parham is so proud of is that the people that helped shape her way of thinking weren’t just African-Americans, they were people from all walks of life and all races.

“From my principal who was John Smith in Abbeville to Leonard Thompson who was one of our leaders to Samantha TURN TO COMMUNITY PAGE 10

15 Sports

Both the Chargers and Commodores made it to the MHSAA playoffs. The athletes that played the biggest role in the wins all made the 2016 All-Citizen team.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Gilleylen loves giving back from role at Della Davidson

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Brittany Gilleylen was set to be a nurse. Enrolled at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Gilleylen was on the course of helping people in a different way, even if she wasn't totally bought into the career choice.

“That was more my parents. That was something for young girls back home to do,” said the Amory native. “It's like one day I woke up and said nursing is not for me. I don't want to sit in a nurse's office or a hospital all day long doing that. I said 'What does Brittany want to do?'

I'm a preacher's kid, so I did some soul searching.

My dad told me to ask God for guidance, and just really think about your interests and what do you want to do.”

God's advice led her to law enforcement, and Gilleylen went about taking classes in order to earn her degree in criminal justice.

ON THE BEAT

Brittany Gilleylen “I took one class and just loved and that's when I knew I was going to transfer to Ole Miss, and let's focus on law enforcement,” said Gilleylen, who is a country girl at heart and loves to be outdoors.

“It has been the best decision I have made.”

Gilleylen has been with the Oxford Police Department since August, 2011.

She started out part time in the reserve program before moving into a fulltime role.

“There have been some ups and downs, but for the most part, it's been good.

It's been a rewarding job,” she said. “I'm a people person. I like getting out and learning different cul-

tures.”

Her current role with the OPD is serving as resource officer at Della Davidson Elementary where her son Cameron attends. This is her second year at Della, but she goes to all the schools, mentoring mostly to the young girls at the middle and the alternative schools.

“Sometimes I go to the high school and take cases there, but I'm pretty much all around,” she said adding that working at the schools meant bigger rewards. “With me being a parent and having a son in the school, I was hesitant about coming over. Patrol

JOHN DAVIS

TURN TO GILLEYLEN PAGE 3

Brittany Gilleylen serves the Oxford Police Department at Della Davidson Elementary.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Gilleylen FROM PAGE 2

was good, but I was also never big on stopping 50 people and writing a bunch of tickets. I was worried if I came into the school I wouldn't get to do anything. I thought I was just going to be babysitting, but it was totally different than what I thought. You still get to help, you get to mold people.”

The future is big to Gilleylen, and she wants to make sure that the kids that attend Della have good structure.

“I get the opportunity every single day to help mold these kids and that's what I love,” Gilleylen said. “When you're on patrol, you're dealing with people that are pretty much set in their ways. With these kids, you can help make a difference. They're going to be our future nurses and politicians and doctors and teachers and lawyers.”

At first the children

were cautious of Gilleylen. Now, the hugs are plentiful and long lasting.

“Once they see that I'm human, and I'm a mom, and that I can dance with them and at PE, I'll go work out with them,” Gilleylen said. “They love that, they want to see that. Just the other day, some kid ran out of class jto hug me. You never know what kids are going through. He may have needed that hug right then.

“When I was first hired, they told us to just flip the switch when you go home and forget about work. Some can do that, I can't,” she continued. “I go home everyday thinking about the kid that the only time he can eat or gets good food is when he comes to school or that the only time he gets that love and attention is when he comes to school.

It's very heartbreaking.

That's why I look at this as a reward. You get to make a difference in the little people's lives. It will stick with them forever.”

OXFORD CITIZEN A moment that Gilleylen will never forget so far as an officer actually occurred away from the school. The first time she was ever in a vehicle pursuit came a few years back.

“I was thinking we were going to be going 100 miles down the road. We got a call from a concerned citizen about somebody being all over the road. It was on Highway 7 and they were near Popeye's and I was at the station at the time,” Gilleylen said. “I was thinking by the time I get there, they're going to be gone. Most of the time, we don't catch up with the people, but this particular time, this person stayed behind them and kept up with 911. I caught up with the guy and spotted him. It was on Molly Barr. You don't know if this is intoxicated or health problems.

I thought I had him stopped and as I'm getting out of the car, he starts to proceed on down Molly Barr. I told PD that I was in pursuit. What

stood out was we never got over 26 miles per hour. I will never forget, 26 miles per hour. Our procedure is we have to call in everything, from the traffic, to the direction, to where we are. I told them the weather, traffic is light and we're passing by this condo and that condo.”

The “pursuit” lasted a couple of miles before the man pulled into the gas station right by the police station.

“I had the lights and sirens going and everyone else was pulling over,” Gilleylen said, adding the man in question was intoxicated. “He said he was going to get some milk. It was at night and I'll never forget how comforting it was to have my supervisor right there.

Sometimes you're scared, but I knew back up was here. And before long, pretty much everybody was there. Unfortunately, he had to go to jail. I'll never forget that.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

PAGE 3

Sustainable Oxford releases schedule for 2016 Spring Potluck and Speaker Series

Sustainable Oxford has announced the schedule for its 2016 Spring Potluck and Speaker Series at the Powerhouse. The organization is its fifth year of providing a forum for conversation and action concerning issues of sustainability in the Oxford-Lafayette area. Each potluck has a food theme that ties in with the discussion that follows the meal.

The family friendly events are open to the public and focus on improving the community through discussions relating to social justice, transportation, local economics, alternative energy, food systems and more.

Each event lasts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 28: Food Theme: 10-Minute Homemade/ Discussion Topic: Transportation Tuesday, March 29: Food Theme: Traditional Recipes/ Discussion Topic: Cultural Sunday, April 24: Food Theme: Liquid Diet/ Discussion Topic: Water Sunday, May 22: Food Theme: Farmer’s Market Faves/ Discussion Topic: Digital Divide

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

OBITUARIES CAROLYN GREER HEARD Carolyn Greer Heard, 83, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, after a long battle with kidney disease. ?Visitation was held Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana followed by graveside services Wednesday, Feb. 17 in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Oxford. The Rev. Warren Black officiated. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.?In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), 3939 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126 for the Greer-Heard Foundation, or to a charity of your choice.

Happy return: Haywood's pop art thrives in Oxford

BY JOHN DAVIS

EMMA JOE WHITE GAMBLE Emma Joe White Gamble, 96, passed away Feb. 13, 2016, at her daughter’s home in DeLand, Florida. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

She will be buried beside her husband in St. Peter’s Cemetery, in Oxford, Mississippi with Rev. Tom Elkin officiating. In lieu of flowers a contribution to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

CELIA-BLAKE ANSLEY COX Celia-Blake Ansley Cox, 4 months, passed away Feb. 13, 2016, at her home. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Acree Hill Cemetery. Randle Harris officiated. Memorial contributions in Celia-Blake’s memory may be made to LeBonheur Children's Medical Center, 50 North Dunlap, Memphis, TN 38103-9984.?For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.

OXFORD CITIZEN

Editor’s Note:This is the first in a two-part series on Mississippi artist Chris Haywood and his connection with Oxford and Ole Miss.

Outside of the Ole Miss football coaching staff and a few family members, Chris Haywood was the only person able to see how head coach Hugh Freeze reacted on National Signing Day earlier this month. Over 2,000 miles away from where he was just a few months ago in Seattle, Haywood rubbed elbows with the likes of Freeze, and Terrence Metcalf, his friend of several years.

Haywood is an artist. Someone who doesn’t know any better would call him a painter, but his work is so much more than just color on canvas. His “pop artwork” has been profiled on CNN and splattered all over social media. In a nutshell, if something has caught your eye, there is a good

chance Haywood has produced it.

“It’s street art, highly contrasted photos reminiscent of Warhol or Shepard Fairey who did the Obama campaign poster, the red, white and blue,” Haywood explained. “I’m drawing it out and carving it out by hand.”

When Haywood was with Metcalf in Freeze’s office, the former Ole Miss standout made sure to show the Sugar Bowl-winning coach how talented his friend really is. The end result: Freeze commissioned a portrait that was already in production nine days later.

Clarksdale is the town that Haywood calls home right now. It’s the Mississippi city that first gave him a name, and where he first met Metcalf. It’s also the town where he created a 22 foot tall wall mural of Clint Eastwood’s Josey Wales character that still stands.

“Terrence walked into my gallery a few years ago and bought a bunch of paintings. Ever since, we’ve been really good friends,”

Haywood said. “He always talks me to the Ole Miss games, the locker room. I call it rolling with Metcalf royalty. They introduced me to everyone like I was special.”

Haywood had to shut his art gallery down in Clarksdale a few years ago after his mother got ill.

He was out in Washington state for a little over a year and said he “just kind of forgot why I left here.”

“I had it made when I was here.

I had my gallery, I was selling paintings, friends with Terrence,” Haywood said. “I did want to be by my brother and sister after my mom’s passing. I kind of lost sight what I was doing and I was flying when I was here.”

The art is natural, or a talent, with Haywood. He is self taught, meaning he didn’t go to school to become an artist. How it all started, he said, was when one farmer bought a painting in 2010.

“It all trickled from there. Once I got my art gallery, 2012, on Delta Avenue, it just started catapulting.

I was doing stuff everywhere,” he

said. “Then I found out my mom had six months to live and I shut it all down.”

Art didn’t stop for Haywood even though he moved from Mississippi. He worked with the Seattle Seahawks, who took one of his paintings and made it into a vinyl print and T-shirts. A great playoff run for the NFL team led to a Super Bowl win, which made everything Haywood produced that much more special.

“My paintings were hung at the Copacabana in New York during Super Bowl week. I had friends in New York see my paintings on the wall. Everything is thrown together when your team gets to the Super Bowl,” Haywood said. “All of it made me have a glimmer of hope I could do my artwork up in Seattle, but not really. It’s a graphic region. It’s not cultured up there.

So I had to come back to where the work was.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Jim, Chad Kelly sets new record for Ole Miss FCA Breakfast

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Todd Johnson knew how big securing NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly could be for the annual Ole Miss FCA Breakfast.

Johnson, the campus director of the FCA chapter, said it was actually like catching “lightning in a bottle” as far as the impact of the former Buffalo Bill in relation to selling tickets for the annual fundraiser.

Jim Kelly, who played in four straight Super Bowls, is the uncle of current Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly for those don’t know much about football. Approximately 800 tickets were purchased for the event, making it the most highly anticipated event in the three years of the event. The first year former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden was the

guest speaker. Jill and Hugh Freeze both talked at the 2015 event.

“I didn’t know if we could out do Bobby Bowden or not. That’s setting the bar pretty high, but I have been very pleased that Jim and Chad are both going to share at this year’s breakfast,” Johnson said.

Chad Kelly had one of the best years for any Ole Miss quarterback this past season. He came to Oxford under a cloud of uncertainty, but Johnson said the rising senior has been very grounded since he’s been on campus.

“I think a big part of that is Coach Freeze and his influence on Chad and many other guys as well.

The type of environment that those guys are in, and not just Coach Freeze, they see themselves as coaches but also mentors,” Johnson said. “When you have that approach as a coach, it makes

a really big difference in the culture, in the environment and how your team performs as well. And not only on the field but off the field. I think the environment for those guys have been huge. I think the transformation is being felt in the community.”

The annual banquet, which is Saturday and being held at the C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum, is also filled up because the Rebels have been winning.

“They are excited about seeing Chad and Jim Kelly at the event, but when you put that together with the success our program has had on the football field, the numbers are going to continue to grow,” Johnson said. “As I was planning this year and looking to see who was going to speak, we solidified Jim halfway through the football season. Then how everything else fell into place, it was like

the perfect storm.”

Johnson has been on staff at Ole Miss for the past seven years. He is hoping that with the breakfast in its third year, people want to be a part of it, even if there wasn’t as high profile of a speaker.

“They have seen the difference that it does make in athlete’s lives and not just in football, but all across the board,” Johnson said.

“The importance of it being a fundraiser and they know this a way for them to give. I’m always going to aim for having a high profile speaker or somebody well known. But even if we don’t get the high profile person, I think people will still come.”

With the event being held in the Coliseum, the acoustics for the event should be better, Johnson said, who also added there was more room as well for people to move around com-

pared to last year when it was at the Manning Center.

The overall FCA program has grown every year since Johnson has been in Oxford. He did say that there were some years where the numbers were down, but this past year, he said the numbers were up.

“With our college retreat, which was two weeks ago, we had 40 student-athletes attend,” he said. “We had over 500 college athletes from all over the state and Ole Miss had a great representation. We had our entire softball team, half our volleyball and good representation from our football team as well. I even seen the baseball team be more heavily involved this year as well. Across the board, there have been more people coming on a regular basis.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Visit Oxford sponsoring Health & Race Expo Friday

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Visit Oxford Mississippi wants residents to be healthy and happy. Friday will be the Health and Race Expo at the Manning Center at Ole Miss, a day before the first of four Grand Prix races planned for the town.

From 3 until 8 p.m., there will be a number of events for families, residents or anyone who is visiting to take part in, and get educated about in relation to health.

Marvin King of Run Oxford is helping organize the Rebel Well Mighty Half and 5K that will be held Saturday morning. He said the Expo event features a bounce house for kids, a 50-yard dash, a hula hoop demonstration and more. There will be a Q & A with an Ole Miss sports nutritionist. That will be from 4:45 until 5:15. Those taking part in the Rebel Well race will eat from 5:30 until 7:30.

There is also free Yoga classes planned starting at 5:30.

“We’ve tried to make it useful for runners because that is where the pick up is,” King said. “They will get their bib and T-shirts. We really wanted to make it something for the whole city so we will have stuff in there for the kids. We are also going to have a jiu jitsu

demonstration. All of it is free and open to the public so if they want to come and bring their work out clothes, that’s great. The School of Pharmacy will be there and they will do blood pressure tests. Lu Lu Lemon, which sells Yoga gear, they will be there. So we really wanted to make it for everyone and get a big crowd of folks to come and just have a fun day.”

The half marathon Saturday will begin at 7 a.m. The 5K will start 30 minutes later, King said.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Senator Wicker doesn’t see replacement for Scalia this year

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Senator Roger Wicker, speaking Tuesday afternoon at the Rotary Club of Oxford, said he doesn’t believe that a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will be named President Barack by Obama.

The first question Wicker took from the audience revolved around the passing of Scalia, who died of a heart attack Saturday while hunting in Texas. Scalia was the longest serving justice on the Supreme Court, having been appointed to that position in 1986 by then President Ronald Reagan.

“How do you see Justice Scalia’s replacement playing out?” was exactly how the question was phrased.

“This will make some of you happen and some of you unhappy. We’re not going to be able to confirm a Supreme Court nominee this year,” Wicker said in response. “There is precedent there. In modern times, and don’t take my word for it.

JOHN DAVIS

Senator Roger Wicker talked to the Rotary Club Tuesday.

The first question he got revolved around the replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

This was on CBS Morning News (Monday) morning.

The Supreme Court analyst pointed out that in the modern era, we have never had a Supreme Court vacancy occur in a presidential election year and it be filled in a presidential election year.”

Wicker went on to cite an example involving Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Democrat, when he was president working with a Democratic led Senate, he was unable

to get a nominee through to fill the vacancy of Earl Warren.

“They refused to confirm in an election year his nomination,” Wicker said. “It’s still the rule that you have to have 60 votes. Even when (Senate Minority Leader) Harry Reid gave the nuclear option last year, he left it at 60 votes for the Supreme Court. It is just not the least bit likely. My position is in a 5-4 court era, we need to let the American people speak on this issue. I’m comfortable in having an election and it may be that we have a record number of votes.

And that would be fine with me. People may come out and vote on First Amendment issues and they might vote on Second Amendment issues. As a practical matter, and as a matter of it being really important that can be consequential for decades, the decision most likely to be made by the next president, not this president.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Holli's Sweet Tooth to close its doors

BY DAVIS MCCOOL SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN

The bustling Oxford Square can make or break a small business, and beloved ice cream and candy shop Holli’s Sweet Tooth is no exception to its madness.

Holli’s nine-year legacy as the sweets capital of the Square will officially come to a close following this year’s annual Double Decker Festival.

Store owner Holli Ratcliffe announced on Feb. 13 that due to increasingly high costs, her store did not renew its three-year-lease, and that it will officially run out at the end of April. “(Closing) started becoming a reality this past October. I tried some last minute hopes to try and make some things happen before the new year, which didn’t work out,” she said. “So I realized that it was time to make it official, and I told my manager and my employees in early

January, and it kind of came out to the public around Valentine’s Day.” Ratcliffe attributes the decision to the growing cost of her sweets, as well as the price of downtown rent.

“It’s been a little over a year now that a lot of our costs have gone up,” Ratcliffe said. “All of our candies and chocolate prices have gone up, and the price of milk has gone up tremendously and Blue Bell ice cream’s absence raised our costs as well.”

She did, however, debunk the rumor that her leasing price was the sole cause, saying in a Facebook post, “There are many rumors about my landlord being the cause, let me say… my rent is not unreasonably high compared to downtown prices.”

“Each time I’ve renewed a lease, it’s gone up,” Ratcliffe continued. “That’s not uncommon, especially on the Square, so I’m definitely not

DAVIS MCCOOL

Holli's Sweet Tooth will serve its last customer during the Double Decker Arts Festival. blaming the owner. As the popularity of this area goes up, so do the prices. With a small candy store, your margins are already small, and so you just have to be very careful about watching prices.”

Although April 24 will mark the end of Holli’s Sweet Tooth on the square, Ratcliffe has not given up all

hope, as moving the business elsewhere is still a possibility.

“Currently, there is nothing certain,” Ratcliffe said.

There have been some opportunities that haven’t worked out, but there are still more routes that we are considering. There are people that I still have to call, and there are places I have

to visit. It’s not as easy as moving to a place with lower rent, because we still have to account for the raising input prices.”

Ratcliffe described her emotions regarding the close as “bittersweet.”

“It’s been a run of reflection over the past nine years,” Ratcliffe said. “I had a business model that I thought could work, and Oxford really embraced us, and brought us to a level that I couldn’t have imagined. They were all so supportive, and I have the best memories. The hardest part is thinking back at how many lives we have touched with something sweet - and not just in a product, in an atmosphere.”

Holli’s originally opened in December 2006, as a oneof-a-kind candy and ice cream joint on the Square that was new to Oxonians and dessert lovers alike.

“There wasn’t as many sweet shops when we

opened,” Ratcliffe said.

“Even across the town, we were really one of the only ones. For Holli’s in particular, I think that we were really the first of our kind.”

Although the square can be tough to aspiring business owners, Ratcliffe braved the challenge and remained steadfast for nine years.

“I knew of the risk, because I had worked at two restaurants on the square before,” Ratcliffe said. “I knew one of the biggest risks was rent, and when I decided to open a candy store, I took that into consideration. It’s always been three components in one here. We have ice cream, candy, and we also offer birthday parties. I really felt that we could overcome financial problem and I really tried to think outside the box to get past those problems.”

She claimed that she TURN TO SWEET PAGE 10

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

PAGE 7

Winter playing possum Jim Dees Tales of the Town

H

ere in God’s Country, we promote out blues heritage with juke joints, festivals and pretty much just wallowing in our blues vibe. Mississippi also has literary, civil rights and country music markers to highlight our unique past for out-of-state visitors. In order to attract tourists, a place has to promote what it has. In Mississippi, we have songs and stories and a powerful civil rights history, among other draws. In other places, say, Gobbler’s Knob, Penn. (pop. 6,000) they have a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil.

Each year on Feb. 2, Gobbler’s Knob’s population swells to 30,000 as hordes descend on this western Pennsylvania borough to watch Phil waddle out onto a stump for a few seconds. Like I say, you work with what you have.

As we all know, if Phil sees his shadow it means six more weeks of winter; if there’s no shadow, it means an early spring. For the

record, this year, Phil cast no shadow, so, presumably, an early spring is forecast. (Hate to break it to Phil but that’s not news here in Bluesville.)

Like most of society, Phil has changed with the times. His brief weather-forecasting antics are now filmed with a Go-Pro camera and his predictions appear on Twitter. You and I may laugh (we do) but Phil has proven such a crowd pleaser that other locales have adopted a weather rat.

In Canada, they have a weather savvy rodent known as Shubenacadie Sam. In this country, according to USA Today, other “furry forecasters include West Virginia’s French Creek Freddie, Georgia’s Gen. Beauregard Lee, Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck, North Carolina’s Sir Wally Wally, Louisiana’s Cajun Groundhog, Alabama’s Smith Lake Jake and New York’s Staten Island Chuck.”

In Wisconsin, there’s Jimmy the Groundhog who made local headlines last year when he bit the ear of Sun Prairie, Wisc. Mayor Jon Freund as the mayor bent down to “hear” the animal’s prediction, which turned out to be that Mayor Freund would soon be taking a trip to the emergency room. Then there’s Staten Island Chuck. Chuck

has had his share of controversies.

In 2009, he bit the hand that feels him, then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (yes, billionaires bleed too). Last year, current Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped a groundhog, which died a few days later.

This year, according to Reuter’s, “a specially built rodent-sized elevator lifted the groundhog called Staten Island Chuck into what zoo officials called “an innovative Groundhog Day viewing unit": a box with clear plastic sides and fake turf.” No bites, no blood, no shadow.

Although woodchucks – groundhogs to you - have been “predicting” weather since the 1880s, the practice gained widespread notoriety with the release of the 1993 Bill Murray film, “Groundhog Day.” Towns with a weather-watching groundhog are lucky; spring could’ve been predicted by a Ghostbuster, a caddy or a lounge singer – “Nick Winters,” anyone?

For the record, weather wonks at The Washington Post and at the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club conclude that Phil has been accurate less than 40 percent of the time. With that amount of failure, you and I might lose our jobs, but

COURTESY

Mississippi Possum: No bites, no blood, no shadow Phil is secure. As long as 30,000 people continue to swoop down each Feb. 2, to rent hotel rooms, buy gas, meals, and presumably purchase stuffed Phil toys, he’s got the gig.

Down here in Mississippi, we might consider cashing in on this craze. We could use a pet possum and trot him out in early February.

Maybe have one called “Governor Phil” that sees its shadow and it means four more years of big hair.

Or perhaps, the “Bobby Rush.” If this possum sees its shadow, it means another month of shaking your booty. If the “William Faulkner” possum sees its shadow,

it means your next sentence runs on for six more weeks. Or one called the “Stars and Bars.” If he sees his shadow from a flagpole, it’s not spring for another 100 years.

Spring in Mississippi is not the mystery it is above the Mason-Dixon line. We get sneak previews all through February (like today). We’re not snowed in and so desperate for entertainment we have to wrangle woodchucks into “innovative viewing units.” We can just put on a B.B. King record, curl up with the Snopes trilogy, and predict for ourselves when the magic of renewal will commence.

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Drug Court graduates 20 participants

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

The Third Judicial District’s Drug Court held a ceremony in the Lafayette County Courthouse Tuesday where it graduated 20 participants celebrating sobriety.

All of the graduates were, at some point, arrested and charged with addiction related offenses and given the option of completing the program and getting sober, or continuing on their current course of self-destruction.

Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth opened the graduation with an introductory “Hey, y’all,” and continued by thanking everyone for attending and congratulating the 20 participants that were graduating. He quoted Bible verses and spoke of redemption and second chances before turning the microphone and podium over to former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Randy Pierce.

Pierce led by thanking

CHANING GREEN

Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth speaks at the Lafayette County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon Key Note Speaker, Former Mississippi Supreme Court Juice during the Drug Court’s Graduation Ceremony.

Randy Pierce speaks at the graduation ceremony. everyone in attendance and recognizing the commitment of all those involved in the process that it takes to make Drug Court work. He acknowledged the young children in the audience and said it warmed his heart to see them here supporting

their families. He also asked that if any of the graduates see him on the outside that they stop by and give him an update on their progress.

The introductions and thank yous were followed by graduates of the program sharing their stories

and talking about how hard life had been before Drug Court literally saved their lives. The first speaker was a mother that had been addicted to methamphetamine for 17 years. She talked about her ex-husband being a fellow meth addict and being

both physically and mentally abusive. They spent three years where they did nothing but cook and smoke meth. They slept on the couches and floors of fellow addicts.

She was laying in bed high one day when a police officer was suddenly

beside her with a gun pointed at her, asking her to put her hands behind her head. After that, she entered Drug Court and is now a sober, contributing member of society. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

Shining Stars Della Davidson Elementary has announced their January Shining Stars, students chosen by their teachers for showing excellent behavior, character and citizenship in school during the month of January. Students were recognized with certificates and ribbons.

COURTESY

Shining Stars in third grade are (front row, left to right) Zoe Metcalf, Sam Bain, Kate Tschumper, Ma'Layjah Certion,Tekerah Townes , Carter Kirk,Alice Williamson, Reed Ussery (back row, left to right) Ellie Hampton, Shimba Nagaoka, Larkin Dowling, Cameron Wilder, Syna Gandhi, Cayden Ferriss, Will Nordstrom, and Kamayia Tallie.

Shining Stars in fourth grade are (front row, left to right) Alyssa Alexander, Ayrah Kashmiri, Andrews McLellan, Ja'Korian Austin, Drew Saxton, Charlie Dear, Crishun McKinney (back row, left to right) Chris Finner, Belinda Mendoza, Asiah Jones, Elisa Karahan, Eathen Garcia, Jacob Tulchinsky, Parker Pruitt and Annie Shaw. Photo courtesy of the Oxford School District.

During the Oxford School District Lower Elementary Science Fair, held on Feb. 3 at Oxford Elementary School, over 50 students answered real-world questions they had about science, engineering, and technology. The top three winners in ten individual categories now move on to compete at the Region VII Science Fair at the University of Mississippi on April 6, 2016. OSD Lower Elementary Science Fair winners are (back row, left to right) Noah Najjar,Andrew Colby, Elijah Beene, Scot Campbell, Mollie Jones, Ellie Jones, Lake Dale,Anna Burlaka, (front row, left to right) Malak Albadry, Nevin Foster, William Bouldin, Ranad Rashad, Lillie Roberson, Ivanna King, Farida Marzouk, and Fisher Giles. Photo courtesy of Oxford Elementary School

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Community FROM PAGE 1

Redmond who was one of my teachers, Susie Marshall and Reverend Arthur Herod and Ms. Della Davidson,” Parham said. “Those were fighters and forerunners and these people made it happen. And my parents believed in respect first. I never wanted anything to get back home to my parents.”

Raising children was done differently when Parham was doing that job on a daily basis. Everyone was close knit and stood together, she said.

“If I knew were your child was, I didn’t have a problem calling you and saying ‘Michael is out there, would you get him?’ Our kids, we didn’t teach them to go through a color barrier,” Parham said. “The kids had respect for each other and the parents had respect for each other. There was a sense of closeness when my kids grew up and the closeness came with the parents.

They have those same friends now and that is something to be very, very

proud of. My parents, especially my mom, used to say there should be no place in Oxford, Mississippi that you shouldn’t be able to go and be comfortable. And there’s not. It took a little while, but there’s not.”

Parham’s husband, Thomas, of 39 years worked for John Leslie, the former Oxford mayor was so beloved by the town.

“When I got out of high school, I started worked for John Leslie and that was nothing but knowledge to work for John Leslie,” she said. “He was the one that introduced me to my first boss in insurance, Marti Stark. I worked for her for 18 years.”

Black History Month is emphasized at Parham’s church. The youth minister puts on a program each Sunday. Parham said that the Oxford Development Authority will have a short Black History Month program on Feb. 27, but Parham didn’t think there was enough emphasis put on it, or enough emphasis on history overall.

“The Burns-Belfry building is open. If I can herd African-American kids in

there and just say ‘Look, you don’t realize just how good you have it. There are some folks that really fought for you to be here,’” Parham said. “They don’t have to go through anything. All they have to do is walk. I don’t think they know they have an advantage. I don’t think they have a clue because they don’t think that could happen to them. We have a new era coming up. Our police chief is Joey East. He is a little bit older than my kids and now he’s police chief.

Look at that. You can be anything you want to be. As parents, we should be pushing our kids to be something. But I don’t see enough of that.”

The parents, and the community, should be more involved in teaching about that history, Parham felt.

“They need to be proud of where they live. I’m proud of where I live. When someone comes to do business with me, I hope they are doing business with me because I know what I’m doing, I’m good at what I do and because I love where I live and I want you to love it also,” Parham said. “I don’t

need you to come do business with me because I’m black because I know that. I don’t need you to verify that. I need you to know that where you’re coming is a good place. We love people in our town and we love people around our town.

You can not find a more graceful set of people if you look around Oxford. I could tell you people that came here five years ago that wouldn’t leave. Oxford is just that kind of place. We grow on you and you become a part of us.

“I don’t think that story has been told enough, the stories of the Leonard Thompson’s and the Susie Marshall’s. Those stories are not told enough for people to understand and how important those folks were to the cost of their living right now,” Parham continued.

“On the same hand, there is a John Leslie and a Will Lewis, Pat Patterson and a Richard Howorth. They don’t know the cost that those folks had to pay. I just don’t think we teach enough personal history.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Sweet FROM PAGE 6

never saw closing her business a possibility until financial instabilities finally proved her better.

“I have to be a realist, I know that small business don’t always last forever, but I was always optimistic about the support and the growth that we went through,” Ratcliffe said. “I had hoped that we would be here longer than we have been. I saw Holli’s lasting at least 20 years, and I did not hope nor think that this day would come so soon.”

She admitted that the possibility of raising prices prices to alleviate the pressure of closing quickly became out of the question.

“I’ve been approached about just raising prices, and my answer to that is no,” Ratcliffe said. “I couldn’t do that to my customers, and I don’t want to be at a price that I am not ethically comfortable with selling.”

Although her employees will be left jobless if the store does not find a new location, they will not be left on their own.

“They’re helping us find jobs, so we’re not just going to be left out to fend for ourselves,” Oxford High School junior Spencer Patton said.

“We’re all going to have something to do come closing time.”

Employees and customers alike have experienced the grace from Ratcliffe and her managerial staff throughout the years.

“It’s been great,” Patton said. “The staff could not be better. My manager and my boss are both awesome people and I have great respect for both of them. You couldn’t ask for anyone better to run the place. The store has just been so integral to the community.”

Though the future of Holli’s Sweet Tooth is in the air, one thing is certain — come Double Decker, the downtown hotspot for sweets will be greatly missed.

“Even if we find a new spot or we are at the end of our road, we can look back and count our successes and know the joy in that,” Ratcliffe said. “Even though a new chapter is about to begin, we are staying positive.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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Rebels Laporte, Miller will be missed

A

thletes can teach us a lot about life.

The young men and women that come to play for the Ole Miss Rebels (I still like Lady Rebels for the women’s sports) are in great physical shape. They make the impossible seem possible. Laquon Treadwell did for sure with the way he caught the ball down the sideline or across the middle of the football field. He’s going to do the same thing in the NFL. Stefan Moody has great skill, and unbelievable lift to dunk at his height. He’s a dynamo for sure.

The players that make up the teams we all watch, or cover, may act like super heroes but the reality of it is they are still young men and women. Some would even say kids. They’re human regardless of how they are addressed, and they aren’t indestructible.

We lost two Ole Miss athletes in the matter of two weeks. First, it was Maikhail Miller, the quarterback from Itawamba AHS, on Jan. 30. Miller was recruited by Houston Nutt and played for Hugh Freeze before he left Oxford to finish his career at Murray State. He died at age 23, in a car wreck near Holly Springs. His time with us was too short. Miller’s passing brought praise and condolences from a lot of his former teammates. Nutt and Freeze both weighed in on his passing as well. In the past few weeks, some locals have talked about Miller. They remember him playing against the Lafayette Commodores in the 2009 Class 4A north state title game in Fulton. Miller had beaten the Commodores once during the season, but he couldn’t duplicate the performance in that playoff meeting. The Jeremy Liggins-led Commodores were just too good, too fast that evening even for Miller’s abilities. It was a shame he wasn’t able to stick with the Rebels. Various things contributed to that, but it’s still unfortunate because it’s always great to see athletes settle in and find a way to contribute regardless if they start or not.

There was a big turnout for his funeral. The Daily Journal’s Sports Editor, John Pitts, covered it. He wrote a nice story about Miller that painted a small picture of the player/person he was.

Just as it seemed like we were over the loss of Miller, the death of volleyball player Ty Laporte brought the subject back up. LaPorte was also 23. She also was involved in a car wreck, near Holly Springs. She left us all too early.

LaPorte was from Irmo, South Carolina, the same hometown of former basketball standout Murphy Holloway. During an inTURN TO MISSED PAGE 20

PETRE THOMAS

Members of the 2016 All-Citizen soccer team include, front row, from left: Lafayette's Brian Leyva and Jason Reveles and Oxford's Keaton Calhoon, Brooks Kevin, Neil Chandler and back row, from left, Lafayette's Brelynn Hudgins, Jonathan Page and Yusha Patton-Bey and Oxford's Cole Calhoon, Malek Daghestani, Connell Yoste and James Cutler.

All-Citizen Soccer

Chargers, 'Dores improved as season went on

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Some of the best soccer of the season was played down the stretch for the Oxford Chargers and Lafayette Commodores. Both Oxford’s Jonathan Branch and Lafayette’s Gene Anderson saw their respective rosters grow over the course of time.

Both the Chargers and Commodores made it to the MHSAA playoffs. The Chargers went one more round. Still, the year was deemed a success by both coaches, and for similar reasons. The athletes that played the biggest role in the wins all made the 2016 All-Citizen team.

They include Oxford’s Brooks Kevin, James Cutler, Neil Chandler, Cole Calhoon, Keaton Calhoon, Malek Daghestani and Connell Yoste. Lafayette is represented by Brian Leyva, Jason Reveles, Yusha Patton-Bey, Jonathan Page and Brelynn Hudgins. Yoste, Daghestani, Cutler, Hudgins, Reveles and Leyva are seniors. Chandler, Cole Calhoon and Patton-Bey are juniors, while Page, Kevin and Keaton Calhoon are sophomores.

OXFORD “All of these guys played some vital role. A few of them, we will have for a couple of more years. A few of them, this was my last opportunity with them and it’s hard to replace guys like that,” Branch said. “You can piece those guys along

with anybody else and you’re going to have a really good shot. We leaned on them so much. Those were our go-to guys. We could always trust them.”

Yoste arguably made the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time.

Branch knew he would miss Yoste at the start of the season due to him kicking on the football team, but he didn’t expect him to miss even more time due to injury.

“That put us behind the eight ball when one our best player, we’re really only going to have him for a month of the year,” Branch said. “We worried about how he was going to come back after not playing for how long. He got thrown in the mix a little before we wanted him in because Malek went down. We had to throw Connell in. We were a little bit worried and then after about 10 or 15 minutes doing what Connell does best, we said ‘That will work.’ It’s like he never missed a beat. He is so smart. He sees everything and he steps when he needs to and he retreats when he needs to. He’s just so soccer smart. It’s kind of hard to teach that. He played a huge role for us.”

The Chargers had to do some soul searching in order to make the playoffs. It was a rocky start that came to boil at the Oxford Showcase. Instead of crumbling, everything was worked out and the tears shed at the end of the season were a direct result of bonding.

“This year could have been a disaster.

We had a few team issues and our fresh-

men weren’t feeling like a part of the team. The seniors didn’t feel like they were a part of the team. I wanted our motto to be One Team. I said that a lot at the start of the year and they were kind of buying into it but it never held true,” Branch said. “We had couple of issues going on before Christmas. This team could have just shut down and said this isn’t working and this is no good. But they didn’t and a lot of that is from the seven guys on the team. I challenged them and told them to do it for the guys that are around you. Don’t let those guys down.

Everybody bought into that part of it.

Even our freshmen that knew they weren’t getting in, even they were practicing a little bit harder. Everybody was doing a little more and it was getting a little more exciting for everybody. Then we became an actually family. Our freshmen loved the seniors and our seniors loved the freshmen. That’s what I really wanted to accomplish at the start of the year.”

Oxford finished the season 15-9-1 overall, and as the Division 2-5A champions.

On Cutler, Branch said: “He’s a great utility guy. I can trust him. Not only is he super skillful, he’s soccer smart. His IQ is just off the charts.”

On Daghestani, Branch loved his vocal leadership: “He’s very valuable to us. He will vocalize whatever we need to get accomplished.”

TURN TO ALL-CITIZEN PAGE 21

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Right mix Oxford's Blackmon trying to mesh youth, experience

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

There are a handful of returners back for the Oxford Lady Chargers on the softball field.

Coach Steve Blackmon said his young team was working to get bonded. He is looking to Kaytlon Pegues, Madison Crosby, Harley Thomas and DD Mathis to lead the team in 2016. The Lady Chargers have seemingly been young every season, so it’s not a suprise to Blackmon in regards to finding a way to mesh that youth together. When the basketball season comes to an end, Blackmon will get back Kyla Malone, a senior who provides pop in her bat.

Blackmon said Thomas is “fiery” and that she knew how to play the game behind the plate.

Through last week, Thomas has been hurt, and sidelined with a hip injury. She was able to return to practice this week but she can’t catch.

“We’re relying on our second catcher, Kelsey Wilbourn, who is

JOEY BRENT

Oxford's Madison Crosby, DD Mathis and Kaytlon Pegues are three of the players coach Steve Blackmon is counting on this season. very athletic. She’s a ninth grader and still trying to get through basketball,” Blackmon said.

Former Ole Miss pitcher Laruen Lindsey is leading that area for Blackmon, who added that the staff was coming along

well. Amber Pettis, who has played first base and outfield, is working as a pitcher as is Gracie Beardain, who is a ninth grader.

Blackmon said she threw for the middle school last season.

“They’re coming along and

we’re getting them live hitters and experience. I would like to think we could get Amber to the point to where she could be the one that actually starts for us,” Blackmon said. “Madison Crosby is our best shortstop and our best pitcher. Early in the year, you can experiment to see if we can afford to have her at short and not have to put her in the circle or if we have to put her in the circle, we will, and then adjust the defense.

Madison came on strong the last third of the season pitching wise.

She was our second pitcher and she is the one player I’ve got that eats and sleeps it 24-7.”

Fast-pitch softball is a pitching game and Blackmon was hoping to get Pettis to the point where she could consistently throw strikes and make other teams swing the bat and put the ball in play.

“If we’re wild and really struggle in the circle, we won’t have a way to stop what they’re doing if we don’t throw strikes,” Blackmon added. “That’s a focus, pitching and defense. That’s what

we’re working real hard on. I think we will hit the more we see live pitching. We did last year in spurts. We have to play defense.

We have to catch it when they hit to us. Everybody will tell you that.

The key is to not give the other team more than three outs per inning. Make the plays they hit to you because big innings seldom happen without help from the defense.”

Division play begins on March 24, and maybe by then most, if not all, of the kinks will be worked in order for the Lady Chargers to punch a ticket back to to the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

“We’ll be in the same spot as we were last year. It’s the same as it has been since I’ve been here, New Hope and Saltillo have finished one-two in some order.

Then it’s between us and West Point for that third spot,” Blackmon said. “It had been us until West Point beat us out for it last year.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

PAGE 17

Ready to repeat Chargers enter 2016 at top of the rankings

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Oxford’s Chargers ended the 2015 baseball season ranked No. 1 in the state of Mississippi and ranked as one of the best teams in the nation. Heading into the start of the 2016 season, the Chargers aren’t just the best team in the state any longer.

They’re at the top of all the national polls and they are at the point in practice where they want to show off some of that skill.

“We’re ready to see some other people, to take live ground balls off bats that aren’t hit by our own guys,” Oxford coach Chris Baughman said. “We’re ready to compete. I feel like we’re ready to see how good we really are.”

It’s been a slow burn to get back to the diamond for the Chargers, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps.com “You get so wrapped up in football and cheering for your other coaches and your kids that are playing other sports and the kids that you teach and the kids that you see everyday,” Baughman said. “You get involved with basketball. We always start fall practice in August talking about how it will get here before you know it. And it has.

I can remember the first few days of fall practice. And our guys coming in a you just develop a chemistry, a mixture in the fall in the 90 minutes that you’re able to be together. You hope that it carries over to the spring when you add those other guys from other sports. You hope they add to that chemistry.”

Last season, the Chargers finished 35-1. It will be tough to produce that level of success with a schedule that includes some of the nation’s top teams let alone some of the best in the state.

“We don’t have a goal record wise. You just don’t do that. But we want to win it again, period,” Baughman said. “We want to be the best team in Mississippi. It doesn’t matter how we do it.

We’re not going to shy away from it. These kids they have earned the accolades and the hype that they’re getting

PETRE THOMAS

Oxford's baseball team is back to win a second straight MHSAA Class 5A state title. The four players who signed with Ole Miss, from left, Jason Barber, Grae Kessinger, Thomas Dillard and Houston Roth, are the players who lead from the mound and at the plate. right now and I’m not going to take that away from them.

We also know that we haven’t done anything in 2016. We haven’t beaten anybody yet. We haven’t won our division yet. We haven’t won a state championship yet and we know there is nobody that is going to lay down and give it to you.”

Baughman even told his Chargers before a practice session exactly what Nick Saban told his Alabama Crimson Tide before they played Clemson: “He said ‘Guys, you deserve to be here. You’ve earned the right, you have earned everything you’ve gotten.

But you are entitled to nothing.’ That’s what I want our mentality to be everyday.

Nobody is going to give it to us. Everybody knows you’re supposed to be good. You are good. You’re very talented, but you have to go out and show it.”

The ultimate goal, or the thing that will make Baughman the most pleased, is to

see the Chargers be the best they can be day in and day out.

“And if we do that, everything else will take care of itself,” Baughman said.

TALENTED ROSTER Four of the Chargers have signed with the Ole Miss Rebels. Pitchers Jason Barber and Houston Roth are the top two arms on the team, while shortstop Grae Kessinger and catcher Thomas Dillard, who also signed with the Rebels, can also throw off the mound.

Carson Stinnett is also another very reliable arm that Baughman has to work with this season.

“He’s going to get his innings on the mound, especially in the beginning of the year until we can get to division. Our schedule is tough at the beginning of the year,” Baughman said. “You start out with Southaven and Olive Branch and then you play Itawamba who is returning a lot and may win that division. Then we go

and play in the Mid Mississippi Classic and play Warren Central, Hillcrest out of Alabama and Brandon who is going to be top 5 in the state. They have a sophomore who is already committed to Mississippi State.

Then we play Lafayette sandwiched in between Mid Mississippi and us going to Atlanta in the Perfect Game tournament. So those first few weeks, we have to have somebody step up on the mound other than Houston and Jason.”

The Chargers also have a lot talent in the field, and at the plate. Baughman felt like his team would have to score some runs, and felt like they could. The key was doing it consistently. Ben Bianco will play catcher and third base. Bianco will likely catch Roth, Dillard will catch Barber and play right field when Roth pitches.

“We feel good with Drew (Bianco) at second, Grae at short. Houston and Thomas will start in right. Sage (Mullins) will be in left to

start the year,” Baughman said. “We feel like as practice has gone on the first two weeks, center field has separated itself a little bit but we’re not ready to say this guy is going to start. It can always change. Sage didn’t start for us until about halfway through division play. I try to remind our guys that they can be called on, that they have to be ready to play and do your part to put this team in a position we hope it can be.”

Duncan Graeber and Tag Gatlin are battling to start at first base. Korbin Harmon can help as a designated hitter. Jack Clemons will play a “big utility” role for the Chargers, Baughman said.

“Whether it’s on the bases or in right field so we can sit Houston after he’s pitched a game. We feel like Carson is going to play a little third base. He or Jack so that we can give Jason’s arm a rest,” Baughman said. “We try each year to get about 16 guys we know we can count on. I feel like we have about

16 guys we can throw out there at any moment.”

Ultimately, how the Charger-Rebels fare each game is what will determine how successful the team is this spring.

“We’ve got some other guys that are talented enough to carry us, pick up the slack and if you took those four off, we would still be competitive,” Baughman said. “Without a shadow of a doubt, they take us to that next level and they are a big reason why we’re getting all the hype and all the recognition early. We know that. But every guy also knows they have to pull their own weight. And every one of them in that room wants to pull his own weight. He doesn’t want to be the one that keeps this team from accomplishing everything we think that we can accomplish. It’s a more mature, business-like feel, but it’s fun, too.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Buford's big night lifts Lafayette to 2-4A title game

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Shayne Linzy asked his team at the half of their Division 2-4A matchup with Ripley if they wanted to be at home in the playoffs, on the road. Down double digits at the time to the Lady Tigers, the Lady Commodores decided that being at home was a better option.

Led by Shaniyah Buford’s big offensive night, Lafayette roared to life in the second half, erased its deficit and then went on to

post a 55-52 win that advanced them into Friday’s 2-4A title game against Byhalia. Buford finished with 36 points in the victory for the No. 2 seed Lady Commodores, who are now one win from 20 on the season.

Linzy said his team had a “freeze up moment” in the second quarter. Things were different in the second half.

“I asked them how bad do you want it? And they played well,” Linzy said. “Azariah Buford, my eighth grader, she came off the bench and she did really well for

us defensively. Shelbi (Buford) was free to do things that she was really good at. She got some shots up and handled the ball.

We were a totally different team, a lot more energy. We played with a more desperation type attitude. We weren’t just going through the motions. We played like this game meant something.”

With the win over Ripley, regardless of what happens against Byhalia, the Lady Commodores are at home on Monday night to start the Class 4A playoffs.

Joiner's big night lifts Chargers past Green Wave

“We played with a sense of urgency. We’ve done that a few times this year, but I want them to play like that every game,” Linzy said. “They played like if we lose, we’re done. It was good to see that. Shaniyah really took it upon herself to get things going offensively. With the way she was playing, everybody else got involved.

“Everyone was able to feed off her high energy and offensive play. Then defensively, with her helping on the back side with man-to-man, everyone else was

BY JOHN DAVIS

SPORTS EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

Jarkel Joiner had done enough losing to West Point this season. He wasn’t going to see his Oxford Chargers fall for a third time. And for the second time at home.

Joiner was a scoring machine Tuesday night in the Division 2-5A Tournament.

He finished with 45 points in the Chargers’ 89-78 win that advanced them to Friday’s title game against Saltillo.

Joiner had been the focal point of the Green Wave all season. Coach Brad Cox had employed a Box-and-1 on Joiner the first two meetings, but a quick start for the Chargers took that away.

And with Joiner, and his mates facing a sagging 2-3 zone, it turned into a feeding frenzy so to speak.

“Terry opened things with him driving. That 2-3, it was so wide and we had enough guards to expose it,” Joiner said. “We knew we had to come in and win. We had a sense of urgency. We were locked in from the get go. We don’t want to get to high or get to low. This is a good feel.”

Oxford coach Drew Tyler joked that he graduated players that averaged 58 points per game last season and Joiner almost made that up by himself in what was the biggest win of the year considering what it meant.

“He was in different spots tonight. If he wasn’t bringing the ball down, he was hiding in the corner,” Tyler said of Joiner. “They did go to a Boxand-1, but when they did that, we were able to find

RIPLEY – A third meeting between Lafayette and New Albany turned out like the first two for the Bulldogs. Paced by a strong defensive effort, the Bulldogs are moving on in the Division 2-4A Tournament. Their 59-41 win over over the Commodores set up a matchup with TunicaRosa Fort tonight in the quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs only allowed nine points in the first half. They scored the first 10 points of the game, and led 15-2 after the first quarter. They were comfortably ahead 29-9 at the half.

“When you only give up nine points in the first half, that’s pretty solid,” New Albany coach Robert Burdette said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times, but at the same time, if you’ve beaten them twice, then you know you can beat them a third time.”

Burdette said he told his Bulldogs that it didn’t matter what the record or the score was.

“It’s can we do the things that will allow us to be successful,” Burdette added. “Can we defend, can we rebound, can we take good shots and can we take care of the ball. If can do those things, then the score will take care of itself.”

New Albany was able to check off all the details Burdette stressed, and them some. Lafayette had

JOHN DAVIS

other shooters. I wanted them in attack mode. We could still throw to (DK) Metcalf backside and if they stepped up to stop us, that would open up Metcalf. If they’re passive and hanging back on Metcalf, it actually allowed us to go all the way to the goal and that’s how Terry Williams got a triple double.”

Williams finished with 11 rebounds and 11 assists to go along with his 13 points.

Tyler really loved that Williams was able to rebound.

Oxford was able to get a double-digit lead and then fought off a late charge from the Green Wave. Tyler said that two more wins will advance them to play in Jackson, in the state tournament, for the second straight season.

“We’re one third of the way there. At the same time, we beat West Point twice during the regular season and they beat us once in the

finals of the tournament,” Tyler said. “We’ve been on the other side of this. We took it quarter by quarter.

We wanted to get off to a good start and we did. We’re a tough team to beat when we’re making shots because it just stretches the defense and Jarkel and Terry play so well off the bounce, if you stretch the defense, it just opens avenues for them.”

Williams added that locking in on defense was going to be key moving on. He added that once he knew Joiner was feeling good, it was going to be a long day for West Point.

“It feels good, a real good feeling,” Williams said of his triple double. “It feels real good to know that I helped my team, that I did everything I could to help them win.”

Tipoff for Friday’s game is set for 8:30 p.m. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Bulldogs eliminate Lafayette from 2-4A tourney

BY JOHN DAVIS

Oxford point guard Terry Williams recorded a triple double in the Chargers' 89-78 win over West Point Tuesday night.

able to really handle their own spots instead of worrying about somebody else. Overall, the team play was just so much better and so much more aggressive in that second half. It really looked good.”

Fourteen of the 36 points for Shaniyah Buford came in the fourth quarter, while 22 came in the second half overall. Friday’s championship game for the Lady Commodores will begin at 7.

LAUREN WOOD | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

New Albany’s Sam McMillin and Lafayette’s Xavier Hill both reach for the ball during Monday night’s playoff game at Ripley. several opportunities to make it a game early but just couldn’t make a key basket, or stop.

“We didn’t handle the slow start very well, we didn’t play as a team and we didn’t react well as a team,” Lafayette coach John Sherman said. “Mentally, we just self destructed.”

Miles Washington led New Albany with 18 points in the win. Rashaun Rockette and Tyler Williams each had eight for Lafayette. For more on the Commodores’ 20152016 season, see Sunday’s print edition. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

PAGE 19

Ready to start Smith poised for a big role with Rebels

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Chad Smith grew up an Auburn fan 30 minutes away from Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama. He came to Oxford to play for the Ole Miss Rebels with the goal of being in the weekend rotation.

The 6-foot-4, 198-pound righthander from McCalla, Alabama has impressed. He did in the fall and he has continued to pitch well in the spring practices that have led up to this weekend’s opening weekend against Florida International.

“People have told me that I’ve thrown well. It’s preseason, you’re supposed to get better and you’re trying to get better everyday,” Smith said. “You don’t worry about the outside talking and all that kind of stuff.”

Smith picked Ole Miss because of the fans, who he called “welcoming.”

“Everything just stands out. The culture at the baseball games, the life here,” Smith said, who took his official visit in mid October of 2014. “It’s the SEC and I watched the run they made to the College World Series. I thought the program was headed in a great direction. After I left on my visit, I knew this is where I was coming.”

The past two seasons, Smith pitched for Wallace State Community College. His head coach there, Randy Putnam, was a very tough guy, who ultimately pushed Smith to his extremes and made him do things he didn’t think he could.

“He pushed me in the weight room and things like that, just being more tough and a better competitor,” he said. “I’ve always been a power guy, but it’s just a different mentality when you’re there in junior college and you’re facing better competition. He just brought out a toughness and got everything that was in there.”

Smith has the ability to be a weekend starter, and to be honest, that’s another reason he signed with the Rebels.

“My expectations are really high.

I expect a lot out of myself,” Smith said. “Coming here the goal was to be a weekend starter. We will see where that goes. I’m just trying to stay focused on me and trying to help this team out.”

Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said that the team is fortunate to have Smith since he was drafted in the 23rd round of last season’s Major League Baseball draft.

“He got got hurt last year, tore

VS.

Friday, 4 p.m.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, Noon All games on SEC Plus, 105.1 FM his oblique, and if he didn’t do that, he would likely been a really high pick and probably not gotten to us,” Bianco said. “Because he had the injury, he kind of fell down the draft board and we ended up getting him. He pitched well in the fall, but he’s actually taken another step this spring as far as stuff. I think part of it was getting over the oblique injury because he hadn’t thrown healthy since about this time last year. He was really good the first couple of intrasquads and then kind of plateaued out a little bit, got a little tired.”

Bianco pointed out that even though Smith was older than a freshman, he was a newcomer who had to get used to college life and the grind that comes with this level.

“It’s all new to them as far as weights and not just the baseball end of it, but also getting acclimated to school and everything else,” Bianco said. “I think he hit a wall mid fall but since we’ve gotten back, he’s been excellent. The stuff has been off the charts, throwing the ball in the mid to low 90s with a hard slider and a change. He has given up a run in the intrasquad games.”

The pitch that Smith looks to get batters out is his slider. Bianco also talked highly about that pitch, and how his stuff correlates to his stats.

“He hasn’t given up many hits and he hasn’t given up runs,” Bianco said. “He only has a couple of strikeouts and part of that is we have to throw some better breaking balls in those counts where he has an opportunity to strike people out. And he will strike out people because his stuff is too good.

He’s going to learn and he’s going to get better. He’s a super talented kid.”

“I think I throw that consistently in the strike zone. It’s got a good, sharp break and I locate it well,” Smith added about his slider.

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Junior Chad Smith is set to be a weekend starter for Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco.

Returning Rebels have all said that this year’s team is more bonded. Smith wasn’t here last season, but he has been around successful teams and the game his whole life. He feels like the team is close, and he agreed that the intangibles are as important as much as anything.

“I think in regards to great teams, you have to start off with leadership,” Smith said. “There is leadership out here everyday from

guys that have played here and know the expectations. People that have gone to Omaha. That’s the ultimate goal, to get to back to Omaha and win it.”

Playing in the College World Series has been a dream for Smith.

He has never been to Omaha, but he watched all the games growing up. He played football, quarterback to be specific, as well growing up, but baseball is in Smith’s blood.

His grandfather Norm Zauchin

played for the Boston Red Sox. “It’s always been in the family.

My uncles all played college baseball. My brother played college baseball,” said Smith. “My uncle ended up going to Alabama and my brother ended up going to junior college like I did and transferred to a Division II school in Tuscaloosa.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Hansson, Rebels inspired with big win over No. 4 Baylor Gustav Hansson is entering his second season with the Ole Miss men’s tennis team.The Kariskrona, Sweden native helped the Rebels defeated No. 4 Baylor on Feb. 6 by recording the final win on the court.

Ole Miss returns to action Saturday at home against Southern Miss.

Oxford, what did you think?

HANSSON: It’s so different.

We have nothing to expect of college. It’s not the same as an American. I think every American grows up with knowledge of where they want to go and some thoughts on what their favorite school is. College is huge, but Europeans don’t really follow football, or follow the NFL. It’s different systems. Coming to Oxford, the city is based on the school. I really like it now.

My first semester was different. The food was different.

JOHN DAVIS: How did you feel coming out of Baylor?

GUSTAV HANSSON: It was special, really special. They were top five. Last year when we played them here in Oxford, it was probably the craziest match of the whole year. They had such a good team. We were so close to beating them. They had such a good team.

DAVIS: Is it as big of a match win as you’ve had as a team?

HANSSON: For sure. Without any doubt.

DAVIS: What do you think this does for your rankings and the momentum?

HANSSON: We are probably going to jump up to top 15, top 12 now. Hopefully we will be able to get going and win most of our SEC matches, preferably all of them. We have a young team right now, but I feel like everyone can win at every position. We have a young team this year.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Sophomore Gustav Hansson and the Rebels earned a big win over No. 4 Baylor, which Hansson believes could be a huge boost for the team.

HANSSON: I’m trying to do tough. I didn’t really like my work for the team. Get think of my training and I down to business. didn’t appreciate everything in the same way as I do. Now DAVIS: Do you notice that I really see how high level it people are relying on you for is in college. Most of these knowledge or anything like teams have potentially two that? or three pro players in the HANSSON: I’m kind of future. You have to take adquiet on the court. I don’t re- vantage of all opportunities ally say that much. I’m trying you have here. We can practo do my thing and trying to tice whenever we want. We stay as professional as I can have a few classes a day but on the court. I’m emotional, at the end of the day, we but I try to not show it. Com- have a lot of time practice. pared to everyone else here, That’s perfect. It’s really good.

I guess I’m kind of quiet.

DAVIS: You say it’s young but it’s more balanced and deeper?

HANSSON: Yes, we have a lot of options. Anyone can play basically. We have Stefan (Lindmark). He’s the captain and he’s playing DAVIS: How have you DAVIS: Pro tennis is what well. grown as a tennis player you want to do? being here?

HANSSON: Long term, yes.

DAVIS: What would you HANSSON: What I did my My long term goal is to play say your role is? first semester, it was pretty pro. I’m looking to get my

Missed FROM PAGE 15

terview this past season, I asked Laporte about being from there, if she knew Big Murph and how she got to Ole Miss. She, and teammate Nakeyta Clair, were the subject of a Q & A and they were both so perfect together.

LaPorte was kind enough to take some time and talk with my daughter, Caroline, who came

with me since the interview took place not long after school got out. Caroline got to see the inside of the locker room. When she came back for the Mississippi State match later that season, it was hard for her to understand why she couldn’t get walk back in there. It was a special moment that Laporte, and her teammates, made possible. It was short, just like her life was, but it was meaningful.

Laporte was born in 1992. To

degree and then go on to the pros.

DAVIS: What other sports did you play when you were younger?

HANSSON: Soccer, golf.

Handball. It’s a European sport. It’s a fun sport and fun to watch. I wish they had it here.

DAVIS: Was it a transition coming over here?

HANSSON: It really was. It’s so different. When you come from our perspective in Europe, you have no idea. I had been to America a lot of times before, been to Florida a bunch of times.

DAVIS: So when you got to

her parents, it probably feels like yesterday that she came along. To say I really knew Laporte would be wrong. A few interviews and matches some volleyball watched only give me a snapshot.

She was kind to my girl, as all the volleyball Rebels have been.

Those few small moments still gave me an idea of who Laporte was. Her play on the court did as well. She had fire, passion and she was aggressive. She was no wilting flower. You can’t be when

HANSSON: My best shot is probably my forehand. It’s consistent.

DAVIS: Professional wise, who do you think you might play like or try to play like?

HANSSON: Maybe a little like Novak Djokovic. It’s a tough question.

DAVIS: I’m sure you look at a player and say you want to be more like him or I want to do everything he can do, right?

HANSSON: For sure.

Novak changes directions.

He’s such an athlete. You don’t even need to be interested in tennis to see that.

He’s so mentally and physically strong, it’s unbelievable. These guys are playing five and six hour matches in 100 degrees. It’s crazy.

DAVIS: What is the difference from food standpoint?

HANSSON: I eat more healthy food back home just in general. Not a lot of people eat fried or have chips to their sandwich. There is less cream in the pasta and stuff DAVIS: Is that what tennis like that. Small stuff, small is really, that it’s like a details. marathon on the court?

HANSSON: I think so. It’s so DAVIS: What do you think different from any sport. does team does now with When you’re out there alone on the court for four and a the big win?

HANSSON: We always be- half hours. It can be crazy. It’s lieved in ourselves. The such a battle. It’s not easy to rankings, I don’t know if stay calm the whole match. I we’re going to be 10 or 20, it feel like people react differdoesn’t really matter. I think ently. we can beat anyone for sure.

DAVIS: Do you remember Beating Baylor, it’s a tough match and now the fresh- when you first picked up a men have seen what it takes. racquet?

HANSSON: I remember Now they can expect something from the other crowds. when I was 8 and I was playIt’s a good thing because ing with my mom. I liked it. when we play a tough SEC DAVIS: And you had sucmatch or a tough NCAA match, they will be prepared cess early, right?

HANSSON: I did, but at the for it. They will know what to expect. Last year we really same time, tennis was a didn’t have the same team challenge to me. We had chemistry. We wanted to do such a good soccer team better in the playoffs but it and handball team. We won was a weird feeling. There everything. Then all of a was something missing sudden, some of my friends even thought we had Nik were better than me at ten(Scholtz). Now everyone is nis and I couldn’t handle that. Then it took one or two supporting everyone. years. And it was fun.

DAVIS: What is your best shot? Do you serve better?

John.davis@journalinc.com Volley?

Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

you’re a middle blocker in the SEC. I could see her being a risk taker outside of volleyball, and that’s a complement, not a knock.

We need people to take risks still in this country. Being bold has defined a lot of great people over the years. It seems like Laporte defined the Ole Miss program in more good ways than not. She will be missed, just like Miller will be.

Laporte’s funeral is this Saturday in South Carolina. She

touched a lot of lives, and made an impact on more than just the record books here at Ole Miss. A memorial fund has been created to help her family that can be visited at this address: http://givetoathletics.com/ty-laporte-mem orial-fund/. Anything would surely be of comfort to them. She was a comfort to many here, my daughter included. Rest In Peace.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016

All-Citizen FROM PAGE 1

On Cole Calhoon, Branch raved about passion: “He has something you just can’t teach. He’s got the want to, the heart.”

On Chandler, Branch came on late in the season: “He was phenomenal. If he stays healthy, he could be one of the best players in the state.”

On Keaton Calhoon, Branch thought he was technically the best on the team: “He was figuring out the runs towards the end of the end of the year. He could also be one of the top players in the state next year.”

On Kevin, Branch said he came out of nowhere: “We thought he would help us this year but had no idea his year would be like it was. We for sure would have been where we were without him.

Brooks had the best year out of everyone.”

LAFAYETTE

Anderson said his players really meant a lot to his team, and the program moving forward.

I am so impressed with how much these kids grew

over the year. Not one of them needed me to motivate them to improve,” Anderson said. “As a group they all got a long, hung out together, ate together, had fun, and put in the work to improve. As a team we were athletic, skillful, and had more depth than I’ve ever had on a team. That said, these five guys were crucial to our success every game.

They were the most experienced members of our team.”

In the past, the Commodores have been more of an offensive minded team.

This past year, they relied on defense to win games.

Going into the season I knew this team was going to be much different than past seasons. The biggest change was we had a lot more players who were going to be in the rotation,” Anderson said.

“When that is the case you have to find out what role each player fits best and then it comes down to building chemistry, which takes time. I was excited and new that we could be in any game that we played hard and limited mistakes. We ended up about were I thought we would. We made it to the post season again

for the third consecutive year. We had a bunch of intense games like the crosstown classic.

We played some real good 6A, 5A, and 4A teams. Even though many of the kids lack inexperience as a team they showed poise and maturity in tight games. The way things turned out make me proud of the guys who are graduating and excited about the future.”

Lafayette was 11-9-1 overall and finished second in the Division 3-4A standings.

Hudgins started 20 games and had 95 saves with 25 goals against. He averaged just over one goal against per game.

“Brelynn was a fantastic keeper with outstanding athletic ability,” Anderson said. “He made some amazing saves for us during his career and continued to grow and lead all season.”

Page started 20 games at center back and had one goal and two assists.

“Jonathan was the sole returning defender this season and was the anchor of a defense that ended up becoming very strong,” Anderson said.

Patton-Bey started 19 games this season for the

Commodores before moved from the midfield to more of an attacking role.

“He scored seven goals and had two assists late in the season. Yusha, has the ability to take on defenders one on one and make things happen,” Anderson said.

Reveles started 20 games, had four goals and four assists.

“Jason was the gritty enforcer on the field this season. He played as a defensive midfielder most of his career and has great defensive instincts. His contribution help us grind out some narrow victories,” Anderson said.

Leyva started 18 games and had four goals with three assists.

“Brian played many positions this past season, but has been a center midfielder most of his career,” Anderson said. “He fought through injury the entire year, but was able to be a leader on the field. Brian is the type of player every coach loves to have, when he is on the field he provides a spark and everyone believes they will win.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

PAGE 21

SPORTS IN DEPTH PREP BASKETBALL Tuesday's Results Division 2-5A Tournament Oxford Oxford (B) 89, West Point 78 West Point 12 11 29 26 – 78 25 18 28 18 – 89 Oxford Leading scorers: Oxford — Jarkel Joiner 45, Terry Williams 13, DK Metcalf 11, Cole Cromwell 10.West Point — AJ McFarland 17, Kelly Martin 17, Shaunderrius Westbrook 14, Randall Johnson 13, Austin Crowley 12.

Records: Oxford 18-9; West Point 12-15.

Note: West Point plays Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

Oxford plays in 2-5A title game on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Oxford (G) 69, Saltillo 26 Saltillo 1 11 9 5 – 26 Oxford 26 19 15 9 – 69 Leading scorers: Oxford — Maggee Hobson 27, Emma Schultz 9.

Records: Oxford 23-4; Saltillo 0-20.

Division 2-4A Tournament Ripley Lafayette (G) 55, Ripley 52 Lafayette 14 10 15 16 – 55 Ripley 12 23 10 7 – 52 Leading scorers: Lafayette – Shaniyah Buford 36, Shelbi Buford 10. Ripley – Daysha Rogan 27, Montaria Crum 14.

Monday's Results 2-4A Division Tournament New Albany (B) 59, Lafayette 41 2 7 15 17 – 41 Lafayette New Albany 15 14 15 15 – 59 Leading scorers: New Albany – Miles Washington 18, Reggie McWilliams 11.

Lafayette – Rashaun Rockette 8, Tyler Williams 8.

Senatobia (G) 42, New Albany 25 New Albany 2 6 9 8 – 25 13 11 12 6 – 42 Senatobia Leading scorers: Senatobia – Destini Cathey 22, Dakerrica Allen 12. New Albany – Kenidi Sanders 7.

THIS WEEK AT OLE MISS

Thursday, Feb. 18 Women's basketball at Tennessee, 6 p.m.

(SEC Plus) Friday, Feb. 19 Baseball vs. Florida International, 4 p.m.

(SEC Plus) Saturday, Feb. 20 Baseball vs. Florida International, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Plus) Men's basketball at Auburn, 4 p.m.

(SECN) Sunday, Feb. 21 Baseball vs. Florida International, Noon (SEC Plus)

read more online oxfordcitizen.com

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