OXFORD February 16, 2017

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

Inside 2 News

OHS color guard dominating the season

9 News

COURTESY

The seventh annual Feed the Hunger Pack a Thon will be held Friday and Saturday. Volunteers pack individual packets of food that are distributed worldwide.

Feed the Hunger

Tenth Annual St. Jude Taste of Oxford to be Held

16 Sports

Ole Miss to hold annual Feed the Hunger Pack A Thon

BY KATHRYN WINTER STAFF WRITER

Feed the Hunger Pack a Thon will be held at Oxford Intermediate School gym on Martin Luther King Drive from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and 9 to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

Feb. 18. This will be the seventh year

for the Oxford Lafayette community to participate in the event in conjunction with the University. Volunteers select a shift to work and help pack individual packets of food that are distributed worldwide. This year, the Pack a Thon will be hitting their millionth meal packed at Ole Miss.

Cayla Hari, an Ole Miss student who

has been involved with Feed the Hunger and traveled to Haiti, said that she wanted to volunteer with the organization because she has seen the struggles of hunger herself. “I wanted to get involved because my family is from India, and when I visit there I see TURN TO FRONT PAGE 11

Fantastic Finish: OHS cheerleaders bring home UCA national championship

OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

OHS color guard dominating the season

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Oxford High School’s color guard program has had a really great season so far. This weekend, the high school Winter Guard group will be traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in Winter Guard International’s Regional Competition.

Oxford has two color guard programs currently competing, The Cadet Guard, made up of seventh and eighth graders and the Winter Guard, open to high school students.

The show that the high school guard will be taking to Tulsa is called “Bound.”

The performance explores the different meanings of the word. An abstract spider web is the floor art being used for the performance.

Dancers are clothed in shirts that make it seem as if their arms are bound to their sides and the moves in the show include many leaps and bounds. It’s a dark show, compared to other color guard performances.

“This is the first time we’ve done a kinda spooky or scary theme,” said Jessica Roebuck, a band director at Oxford who oversees the color guard programs. “Before, it’s always been upbeat and light, and the girls have really been able to get into a different character with this show.

They’ve mastered the smiling and beautiful performance, but now we’re working on getting low on the ground and throwing creepy, angry faces at the audience at different points in the show.”

The Cadet Guard’s performance is a bit more light

PHOTO COURTESY OF OHS WINTER GUARD

Oxford High School’s Winter Guard will be attending Winter Guard International’s Regional Competition in Tulsa to comepete and perform their show “Bound." and cheery. The show is called “7 Years Old” and is to the tune of Leah Guest’s rewritten cover of Lukas Graham’s hit “7 Years.” During the beginning of the performance, the girls are depicted as children playing with one another and dancing with teddy bears. As the song continues, the girls age and live out their lives. The show ends with all the girls remembering what it was like to be 7 years old. Roebuck said that this one usually leaves the moms in the audience with a few tears.

This show won the group

first in their class at this year’s Center Hill High School indoor competition in Olive Branch.

Roebuck has been a band director at Oxford for three years now. She was formerly a director at Wayne County in Southeast Mississippi after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi. She moved to Oxford after receiving a job offer from Oxford’s Head Band Director Mel Morse.

He offered her great deal of autonomy and time to dedicate to Oxford’s guard programs.

She spends two days a week rehearsing with the high school Winter Guard and one day a week working with the Cadet Guard. In addition to this, she has guard classes every day worked into her regular schedule of music classes.

She has two classes for middle school students for guard. One is the Cadet Guard and the other is a non-competing class where she just works with students on the basics.

Roebuck said that her favorite part of the job is pushing kids and watching

them succeed. She said that she really enjoys being able to help a student get to that next level and encouraging them to go forward.

Whether that forward be high school band, college band, Drum Corps or whatever, she’s happy to be there cheering them on. She said there’s a lot to love about her job.

“I love working with students, whether that be on instruments or in color guard,” Roebuck said. “I love being able to watch them advance throughout their band and guard career.

I love finding that kid who may not think they have a lot of talent and looking at them and going, ‘I know you’re going to be amazing one day.’ I love pouring my time and energy into that student and then watching them, by the time they hit high school or senior year, and they’re a beautiful dancer or beautiful flute player or what every. I just love seeing the progression from when they begin to when they graduate.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

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Meet Katrina Caldwell, UM's Vice Chancellor for Diversity versity, and before that I was at the University of Illinois at Chicago as the assisIn October, Katrina Cald- tant dean of minority well was announced as the affairs. first ever vice chancellor for diversity at the University of GREEN: Why did you deMississippi. Caldwell is the cide to come to Ole Miss?

CALDWELL: It was all a first person to hold the newly created position and combination of timing. Probegan her job in early Janu- fessionally, I was looking for ary. The Memphis native another opportunity. Perhas been working in the sonally, I was looking for the field of diversity and inclu- chance to transition closer sion in post-secondary ed- to home. I’ve been away ucation for the past 25 since 1988, so I was looking years. Working directly for a professional opportuunder Provost Morris nity that would bring me Stocks, Caldwell will be closer to home. working to facilitate an environment that encourages GREEN: You’ve spent the diversity, cultural exposure majority of your career in and community engage- post-secondary education. ment. Caldwell took time Why? Why is this something out of her busy schedule that you care about?

CALDWELL: I feel like colWednesday morning to sit down with Oxford Citizen lege students are our future. reporter Chaning Green I think that transition that’s and discuss her work and made for college students to go into the work force, to new position at Ole Miss. start families and to change CHANING GREEN: Where the world is a great point to interact with them around are you from?

KATRINA CALDWELL: I’m issues of diversity and eqoriginally from Memphis. I uity. I believe the collegiate came to Oxford once as a age is when people are young child, but I spent more open to explore these most of my time growing up concepts. It’s also where in Memphis. My mother’s some students are exposed family is from Byhalia. I also for the first time to diverse have family in Clarksdale groups and diverse experiand Holly Springs. I’ve been ences. Being able to work living in Chicago and the with those students during surrounding suburbs for this period of cultural development is pretty gratifying. about the last 25 years.

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

GREEN: Where were you working during that time in Chicago?

CALDWELL: Before coming to Ole Miss, I was at Northern Illinois University as the assistant vice president for diversity. Before that, I was at DePaul Uni-

GREEN: Tell me a little bit about the work you do here.

CALDWELL: So right now, we’re developing a new department and division for community engagement.

I’m spending my first couple of months just listening to faculty, staff, community

COURTESY

Katrina Caldwell recently began her job as the Inaugural Vice Chancellor for Diversity at the University of Mississippi. It will be Caldwell’s job to assist in establishing an environment that encourages cultural exchange and community engagement, both on and off campus. members—both on cam- ward to coming home, but pus and externally as well as also to be seeing home from from different parts of the a different point of view region—about how people understand diversity and community engagement.

After I’ve had an opportunity to have those conversations and I’ve reviewed the diversity plan that the University of Mississippi has developed, I will then come out with a strategic plan on how to move forward.

GREEN: How are you liking the job so far?

CALDWELL: Everyone has been so very supportive.

The University of Mississippi is such a great campus, and Oxford is a great city. I was really looking for-

now. I’m an adult now, and I was just 18 when I left. A lot has changed. I’m looking forward to learning what those changes are and to have a fuller appreciation of the progress that’s been made both in the state and the region.

we all want college students to do. We want them to contribute and become good citizens. We want to see them grow and develop strong families. In order to do that, I think being able to navigate differences is an important skill to have.

GREEN:What role does diversity and equity play in education? What do you believe it contributes to the educational experience?

CALDWELL: Our students will likely end up working professionally as well as living in a pretty diverse world.

Colleges and universities are the perfect opportunity for them to explore those experiences and develop some competency around working within different communities. Most importantly, this gives them the chance to see how we are more alike than we are different. It lets us realize our differences are our strength.

I believe our commonalities can bring us together to work on the world’s problems. Ultimately, that’s what

GREEN: What do you think is your favorite part of your work?

CALDWELL: Working with students, hands down. Seeing the world from their point of view is the best part of my job. Even though I’ve been doing this work for nearly 25 years, it changes.

The world evolves. People’s understanding of diversity and inclusion changes not just with every generation, but it changes every year or two. To hear from our students their perceptions of diversity and inclusion, to sit in a room with students and hear how they see the world – that's the best part of my job. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

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OBITUARIES

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

CITY DEDICATES HISTORICAL MARKER TO ROSENWALD SCHOOL

DR. FRANK R. BANKS Dr. Frank R. Banks, 80, died Saturday, February 11, 2017, at Oxford Health and Rehab in Oxford. The memorial service will be held today at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Oxford-University United Methodist Church with Rev. Eddie Rester and Rev. Warren Black officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the activity center at OxfordUniversity United Methodist Church. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers in Dr. Banks’ memory may be made to the Oxford-University United Methodist Church Building Fund, 424 South 10th Street, Oxford, MS 38655 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease at michaeljfox.org or Donation Processing,The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.

PHOTO BY CHANING GREEN

Mayor Pat Patterson, Oxford Superintendent Brian Harvey, city officials and community members gathered near on Washington Avenue near Oxford Intermediate School Monday morning to install a marker dedicated to the old Rosenwald School. A marker was initially placed on the site in 2006, but had been later destroyed in an accident. A new marker now stands in its place.

Students compete in North Mississippi reading fair

BY THOMAS SIMPSON DAILY JOURNAL

Hundreds of students across the state gathered in the lobby of Lafayette High School on Saturday to compete in the 17th annual Regional Reading Fair.

The competition is intended to give students a deeper enjoyment of reading and, hopefully, help them acquire a lifelong love of reading, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

“We want to promote literacy and a love of reading books,” said Susan Scott, host of the event for the 13th year. “I have parents who come to me and say, ‘My child is not involved in sports, cheerleading or any activities like that, but they love the reading fair.’ This fair gives the children an outlet and lets them feel a part of something big.”

There were 302 students registered in the competition, with participants from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

“The kids at this event had to win first place in their school fair and their district fair to get to the regional level,” Scott said. “They use their creativity, their thought

PHOTO BY THOMAS GRANING

Cami VanSlyke presents her project on “Socks” at the 17th annual Regional Reading Fair at Lafayette High School in Oxford on Saturday. processes, all of that to get to school lobby with their projects. this point.”

After checking out the The day started with participants entering the high presentations of other con-

The contestants were ing on division. Divisions testants, the students and their parents were called judged on creativity, quality were made by grade level into the gym while judges in- of writing, comprehension TURN TO READING PAGE 7 and other criteria, dependspected posters.

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

The Lyric to hold concert benefiting local famalies

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

This Saturday, The Lyric will be hosting a concert and fundraiser to benefit two Oxford women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kahla Cobb and Emily Durham are both in their early 30s and were diagnosed in the fall. Cobb and her husband live in Oxford and have five young children. Cobb is the owner of Bella Mia Salon on North Lamar.

Durham and her husband are Oxford natives and have two young children.

Durham is known in the community for her work at Chaney’s Pharmacy.

The two became connected through a mutual friend shortly after their diagnoses and have maintained regular contact since, leaning on each other for support. Emily’s husband Lee said that this connection along with so many other people in the community reaching out

COURTESY

Nashville country singer Pat Cooper is performing a concert to benefit the Cobb (left) and Durham (right) families. Kayla Cobb and Emily Durham were both diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall. to offer kind words and “Emily and Kahla still chemotherapy, radiation helping hands has really have a long road ahead of and multiple surgeries,” kept them all going. them including finishing Lee said in an email to the Citizen. “Both of our families would like to say thank you to everyone.

The outpouring of love and kindness from family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, the community and even strangers has been overwhelming.”

This Saturday’s concert is actually the first time the two women will be meeting in person. Between doctors visits, work and family life, the pair have simply not had time to come together face-toface.

“About two weeks ago, Emily’s husband text my husband and me and let us know that they were doing a big benefit for the both of us, which I though was absolutely amazing,” Cobb said. “Only recently did they even find out who we were. They just sent us this text message and told us all we had to do was be there. Even though Emily and I haven’t met, technically, I feel like I already know her. I feel like we’re sisters through this journey we’re having to face together.”

Lee knew they would have to hold some sort of fundraiser to help slightly alleviate the massive fithat nancial burden

comes with a cancer diagnosis. After brain storming ideas, they decided to go with concert because they felt it would be more open and inviting. The positive atmosphere of a concert gave them the chance to have some fun and take their minds off things for a bit.

Nashville country singer Pat Cooper will be performing at the concert.

Lee has been a fan of Cooper’s music for a while now. When it came time to plan the concert, Lee took a shot in the dark, as he put it, and reached out to the artist and explained the situation.

“Pat e-mailed me back within a few hours offering his condolences and any help he could give,” Lee said. “Pat has been very supportive and helpful and is an all around good guy and great musician. I contacted Lindsay the Dillion-Maginnis, manager of The Lyric, and she has been so kind and welcoming and offered to help out.”

They had the venue and the artist booked before they knew it.

They have no set fundraising goal for the event. Absolutely all of the profits from the concert are will be split down the middle between the Cobb

and Durham families.

They will go to medical bills as well as expenses that have accrued while the women have had to miss work. The Lyric has also agreed to donate a portion of their drink sales from the night to the families. A donation table will be set up and there will be a small auction held as well.

“The main thing that I would like for people to know is go to your medical provider regularly,” Lee said. “For the ladies, it doesn’t matter if you’re at the recommended age to get a mammogram or not, please go for cancer screenings now. Ask your healthcare provider to get you one. It doesn’t matter if your insurance provider won’t cover it. Make payments. Do what ever needs to be done because cancer does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, old or young. The key to surviving cancer is early detection, prayer and support from your family, friends and community.”

Tickets for the concert are available at www.thelyricoxford.com as well as the door the night of the event and are $10 each. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 7

Reading FROM 4

and by whether the project was completed by an individual or a group.

“The students choose a book that they have read, and they choose to tell, or depict, the story on a board,” Scott said. “It’s hard to judge at an event like this because the boards are so creative and, as you walk through, you can see the imagination of the students.”

Scott said several students even dress up for their projects.

“They love to tell stories about their character, and some even take on the personality of that character,” she said.

Ole Miss cheerleaders were available for autographs and pictures in the gym while members of LHS’ student council provided concessions.

Gail Caldwell, LHS student council advisor, said she and her students have provided refreshments at the annual reading fair for several years.

“They are in the gym and tend to get hungry and

PHOTO BY THOMAS GRANING

Students present their projects during Saturday’s reading fair. thirsty while sitting down for so long,” Caldwell said.

All proceeds at concessions go toward service projects for the student council.

The state’s Department of Education is the main sponsor of the reading fair and partners with the North Mississippi Education Consor-

tium (NMEC) at Ole Miss, a regional education service agency of which Scott is a member.

“Our region covers all the divisions in the northern part of the state from DeSoto County down to Tallahatchie, Chickasaw, Starkville, Columbus and

Tishomingo County,” Scott said.

There are four other regions in the state the department partners with: Delta State, Mississippi State, Jackson State and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Until recently, first-place winners at the regional com-

petition moved on to the state reading fair. This year, the regional level is the final stop in the competition, as the state did away with its event.

However, Scott said winners and participants at the Regional Reading Fair still receive several prizes.

Grand Opening

“We give away first-, second- and third-place ribbons to students,” she said.

“The children also get a certificate, a pencil, a bracelet that says, ‘I love reading!’ and a little goody bag of candies.” thomas.simpson@journalinc.com

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PAGE 8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

BRIEFING Abundant truth

increasingly meeting strong resistance from more secretive elected officials.

The panel will include veteran Clarion-Ledger investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell, whose work helped send several former Ku Klux Klansmen to prison, Marshall Ramsey, the Clarion-Ledger cartoonist, Ronnie Agnew, execProminent utive director of Mississippi Public journalists Broadcasting, and Kate Royals, the award-windiscuss assault ning education reporter on news media for Mississippi Today.

Overby Fellow Bill Four veteran Mississippi journalists will dis- Rose will serve as modcuss growing hostility to erator for what is exthe press in a panel dis- pected to be a frank and free-wheeling discuscussion at 1:30 p.m. on sion of what it's like on Feb. 17 at the Overby Center for Southern the front lines of daily Journalism and Politics journalism at a time at Ole Miss. when attacks on the The program comes press are flying fast and as news media credibil- furiously. ity seems to be at a low “These are some of ebb nationally. Meanthe state’s most talented while, Mississippi jourjournalists. We expect nalists trying to report them to shed light on on state government are the extraordinary

Church will be accepting donations for the ATSL Food Pantry this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This food pantry serves the Lafayette County Area. Donations may be dropped of at Abundant Truth Church, located at 485 Cr. 303 (Old Taylor Rd.) Taylor, MS 38677.

lengths elected officials go to in order to keep them from news the public needs and hungers for,” Rose said.

Mitchell’s aggressive investigations of old civil rights era “cold cases” prompted authorities to reexamine numerous unsolved killings from the 1960s.

His stories helped prosecutors finally convict notorious Greenwood Klansman Byron De La Beckwith for the 1963 assassination of NAACP leader Medgar Evers.

Mitchell’s reporting also helped secure convictions of KKK Imperial Wizard Sam Bowers for ordering the fatal firebombing of NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer in 1966, Bobby Cherry for the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church that killed four little girls, and Edgar Ray Killen for helping pull off the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County.

PHOTO BY CHANING GREEN

Participants with OutOxford present handmade valentines to a resident at Oxford Health and Rehab Tuesday as a part of a community service project.

OutOxford dedicated to serving and uniting community

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

OutOxford is a new organization in town dedicated to serving the community and bringing LGBT, allies and others together under the banner of loving thy neighbor.

Jonathan Kent Adams and his partner Blake Summers are spearheading the organization.

Adams said that he has tried to lead other pride organizations, but they always just ended with him posting on social media and very little more. He wanted to create something that got the queer community of Oxford involved in the broader community, to bridge that gap that between the two.

“We wanted to start something that was serious and that would bring people together,” Adams said. “I just thought it would be cool if we set it up so that everyone was welcome to meet up, and that we could work on projects and do community service. People could see us doing good in the community.”

It was important to Adams that OutOxford not only preach love and acceptance, but to actively practice it. He wants the broader Oxford community to look at the work OutOxford is doing and the service being done by the LGBT community and re-

alize that they are legitimately here to spread love, that they have something valuable to contribute.

Summers and Adams are hoping that OutOxford will also be able to function as a bridge between the university’s pride community and Oxford’s. Summers is now in charge of Code Pink events through the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, as well as helping with OutOxford. The couple is hoping to bring both groups of people together so that everything feels a little less separate and distant.

OutOxford’s first project was held Monday night.

Several students and community members came together at Bottletree Bakery, who donated space for the evening, to make Valentines for the residents at Oxford Health and Rehab.

They had a list of names of residents who didn’t receive many visitors and they made each of them personalized Valentine’s Day Cards, sometimes several. Volunteers also made several cards that weren’t personalized so that they could be given to anyone at the home. By the end of the night, they had over 100 cards to distribute.

“We’d like to get more involved with the nursing Adams said. home,” “There’s just such a need there and we had no idea.

They need people to be there. Blake handed one

lady a card, she wasn’t on our list so we gave her one of the others, and she just started crying and was just so thankful. After sitting there and talking with everyone, Blake and I both left crying. We were happy to be able to have done something, but also there was a lot of weight to the loneliness we felt in there.”

Adams and Summers are hoping to expand OutOxford’s programming to feature get togethers, fundraising events, yoga classes, bar or dinner nights, self defense classes and so much more.

“This is about more than being seen,” Adams said.

“It’s also about having a place for people to come together and do something positive. In doing that, we build not only our community stronger, but we also strengthen the larger Oxford community.”

Adams made a point to acknowledge all the great work being done by other LGBT groups in town and at the university. He said that OutOxford would have never existed without the outpouring of support the organization received when it was still just an idea.

OutOxford can be found on Facebook and Instagram and welcomes suggestions for events, service projects and more. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 9

Tenth Annual St. Jude Taste of Oxford to be Held

BY KATHRYN WINTER STAFF WRITER

St. Jude’s Taste of Oxford fundraiser will be held Thursday, February 23, at The Jefferson from 6 until 11 p.m. This is the 10th anniversary of Taste of Oxford, and the event will feature gourmet food with bourbon and wine tastings, plus a live and silent auction. Live entertainment will be provided

by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Tickets are $100, and for those who cannot make the event, donations can be made on the St. Jude Children’s Hospital website.

“In honor of the tenth anniversary, the fundraising goal is $250,000. Last year we crossed the $1 million mark for this event,” said Lee Bobo, Regional Event Specialist for St. Jude. “I think people really enjoy this event because it’s a fun atmosphere and all in celebration and honor of the children and families fighting for their lives at St. Jude.”

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Unlike

other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors. It costs $2.2 million per day to operate St. Jude, and public contributions provide 75 percent of the funds necessary to operate the hospital.

This year the silent auction will feature jewelry, artwork, kids activities and more. The live auction will feature trips and sporting event opportunities. Food from 20 local Oxford restaurants will be provided including: Beagle Bagel Café, Boneheads, Elizabeth Heiskell Catering, Funky’s, Grit, Gus’s Fried Chicken, Lenora’s, Mesquite Chop House, Mugg Cakes, My Michelle’s, Neon Pig, Obys, Old Venice Pizza Co, Proud Larry’s, Rebel Barn, Rib Cage, Round Table, Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co, The Cakery, The Green Roof Lounge and Wine Bar. “More and more people wanting to support this great cause. It is a wonderful way for the community to come together and support the hospital that treats so many children including some of their own,” Bobo said.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.stjude.org/tasteofoxford.

As a children's research hospital, St. Jude must be able to provide care to patients regardless of economic fluctuations, and because of this it is important for them to main-

tain a reserve fund. St. Jude prides itself on the ability to research and treat life-threatening childhood diseases for the patients who come through the hospital doors today as well as the children who will need care in the future. According to the website, “The reserve fund consists of restricted funds that we cannot use and are legally required to maintain in perpetuity according to donor stipulations, and unrestricted funds that we could use in times of economic stress to ensure we can meet the hospital's operating costs for approximately 1.5 years.”

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from twenty percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to over 80 percent today. In addition, St. Jude has achieved a 94 percent survival rate, including medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, which has increased from 10 percent to 85 percent today.

St. Jude was the first institution to develop a cure for sickle cell disease with a bone marrow transplant and has one of the largest pediatric sickle cell programs in the country. And the hospital freely shares medical breakthroughs so that one child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists in communities everywhere can use that knowledge to save more children.

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PAGE 10

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

OFF unveils Kids Film Fest Fest in addition to their regular programming. The event will be open to chilThis weekend, the Ox- dren between the ages of 8 ford Film Festival is holding and 16 and features a varitheir inaugural Kids Film ety of activities and films

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

geared toward younger viewers.

Films being shown are a combination of special screenings as well as films that were curated from the

festival’s regular programming that fit the needs of the Kids Film Fest. One of those films is “Science, A Film by Fifth Grade Horizon Students,” which was filmed in Oxford by local children.

The event will take place both Saturday and Sunday and feature short films as well as features. Two specialty workshops are included and the children attending the two-day event will be fed.

Executive Director of the Oxford Film Festival Melanie Addington said that she’s thrilled to be adding the unique event to the film fest this year.

“We’re always looking for ways to innovate the film festival to be more than just, ‘let’s sit and watch some films,’” she said. “It’s about finding ways to engage our audience, like food lovers who want to try eating what they’re seeing on screen, or letting a whole new generation experience the idea of a film festival. This is really key to growing our festival.”

There will be several

Support Your Community

carefully chosen volunteers from the film fest there specifically to look after the kids. In addition to those, there will be the venue manager as well adults there to lead workshops.

The workshops will be focusing on acting and animation. New York actor Gabriel Furman is leading the acting workshop. Furman has appeared in hit shows like Netflix’s “Daredevil” and USA Network’s “White Collar.” He also wrote and started in started in the dramatic short film “Mother’s Day” that claimed several awards in film festival across the country.

Oxford transplant Valerie Polgar will be leading the animation workshop through her business Misbits. Misbits is a art space located in town that is dedicated to educating the community about new media and providing a place where that work can be shown.

Both workshops as well as food are included in the $10 ticket price. This covers both days of the festival,

everything that entails and the food being provided.

The reason for the low pricing is that grants and sponsorship provided by Visit Mississippi and Kids First are helping to pull all of this off. This is the first year the film fest is doing such a special event for kids, and they’re hoping it goes well because they would love to expand it in years to come and add more age groups as well as programing.

Addington said that she is excited to add the event to film fest’s programming because it shows that the festival is growing, and allows for the next generation to learn what it’s like to be a part of a film festival.

“It’s great because your kids can get involved and learn how to make films while also enjoying films,” she said. “You can drop them off for several hours, go run errands or watch films yourself. It should be great, and I really hope it works out. I’m excited about it.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

SHOP LOCAL

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Front FROM 1

a very clear picture of starvation amongst the people. It has been something that has always broken my heart, and when I learned about Feed The Hunger, I realized I could actually do something about it. The opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the world through Feed The Hunger while sharing God's love is something that has become such a big part of my life,” Hari said. “The Pack a thon affects our community because it draws us closer when we work together for a common cause. Additionally, we are collecting donations for Love Packs during the Pack a thon. We believe in the importance of helping hungry kids in Oxford and worldwide!”

Love Packs provides meals for Lafayette County school students who may not have meals over the weekend. Items being collected include Beenie Weenies, pop-top soup or ravioli, apple-

sauce or granola bars.

Hosted every year in February, Ole Miss was the first college campus to host a Feed the Hunger Pack-A-Thon. At this multi-day event, volunteers participate in a hands-on experience putting together meal packets that are shipped to at-risk children in Feed the Hunger programs all across the world. Almost 16,000 children die from hunger related causes everyday, yet hunger is not a food problem but a distribution problem.

Feed the Hunger is trying to help by getting nutritious food to places with children who are desperate for food.

Melinda Staples, project manager at Feed The Hunger headquarters in Burlington, North Carolina said it has been an honor over the years to have the University of Mississippi partner with the organization. “We hope that this relationship continues to grow, impacting thousands of lives everywhere,” Staples said. Mary Katherine Phillips started the first

PAGE 11

COURTESY

Feed The Hunger provides thousands of meals for impoverished children.

Ole Miss Pack A Thon, and Ole Miss students helped Mississippi State hold their first Pack A Thon last weekend.

Phillips started the event with her sorority sisters in Kappa Kappa Gamma, and the charitable energy

spread quickly campus wide and then members from the LOU community also wanted to get involved.

“My favorite part about the pack a thon is watching people have fun while doing something good

and being a part of something that is so much bigger than them. I got to travel to Haiti in January and saw firsthand where they store Pac A Thon food. Additionally, I had the opportunity to serve meals to some children at

schools and orphanages.

To see the whole thing come full circle has been such a humbling and rewarding experience,” Hari said. “The Pack A Thon is such a cool event that brings people from all backgrounds in our community together for one common goal: to feed sweet kids worldwide. It is high energy, upbeat, and so much fun!”

Feed The Hunger provides thousands of meals for impoverished children in Kenya, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Jamaica and rural Kentucky. “Another way to help is by financially contributing. It will cost us $50,400 overall, and we fundraise every penny. To donate, visit feedthehunger.org and click "donate now." Fill out the online form, enter your amount, and select "ole miss packathon" for the donation designation. $65 feeds a child for an entire school year!” Hari said.

To get involved with the Pack A Thon, or for more information, email olemissfth@gmail.com.

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PAGE 12

Eileen Saunders

Tommy Morgan

Paula Crum

Betty Wiseman

Sean Hettinger

Vic Sullivan

LOTS & LAND FOR SALE Polina Wheeler

CR 331

Shaun Hudson

Blake Thompson

Danny Flowers

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

$400,000

Three parcels for a combined 200 +/- wooded acres available as a future home site or future harvesting of wood product. MLS#134132.

Call Paula Crum – 662.701.7789.

CR 430

$439,500

146.5 acres includes 3/4 mile of road frontage on CR 430, just past CR 445. Whether a farm or home site or your private place to hunt, you must see this beautiful countryside. Just a few miles from Lafayette County High School. MLS#137672.

Call Paula Crum - 662.701.7789.

CR 430-B

$60,000

Easy to Show; beautifully wooded Home site; partial sale of Parcel No. 225-16-1 which includes + / -20 Acres. Additional acreage needs are negotiable. There will be Deed Restrictions as there will not be any types of mobile homes allowed. Just a few minutes from Lafayette County High School.

MLS# 135599.

Call Paula Crum- 662-701-7789.

Hwy 6, Oxford

$693,600

Good Development location, one small lake on property with several other potential spots. 102 acres available. Owner is a licensed MS real estate Broker. MLS# 135604.

Call Danny Flowers – 662-816-7294.

Hwy 6, Oxford

$1,010,000

Prime commercial lot with homesite and other buildings. 4 acres with 500 feet frontage on busy HWY 6 West just minutes from the Jackson Avenue intersection. Possible commercial development or business relocation. Includes spacious home to live in or convert to office space, B&B, doctor's office… opportunities are endless. Detached 2 car garage features additional workshop space.

MLS# 135695.

Call Eileen Saunders- 662-404-0816 or Polina Wheeler- 662-401-4632.

Kaye Ladd

Stan Abel

300 CR 442

Nicole Cain Wright

$1,500,000

Beautiful 322 acre piece of property with a very large 100 acre private lake. This property is a great get-away less than 25 minutes from Oxford.

Enjoy spending time in nature and fishing on the gorgeous lake. This place is a must-see! Owner also has a 2.4 and 2.5 acre parcel that can be negotiated as well. Owner is willing to consider owner financing. MLS# 136279 Call Paula Crum- 662.701.7789 or Danny Flowers662.816.7294.

3014 Highland Circle

$239,000

Where is “Heaven on Earth?” It’s the Highlands of Oxford, MS! Beautiful LAKEFRONT Lot where you can witness the Sunrise over the Looking-Glass, Crystal-Clear Lake every morning from “Your back Porch” with that special someone and a cup of your favorite java! Amenities include access to the private Trophy Lake where Bass are legendary; the Marina for boat launch or fishing off the floating docks, taking brisk walks on the ~1 mile paved walking path within Braemar Park which includes Gazebo with BBQ Pit, Basketball, Soccer/Baseball Field, Jungle Gym, and more.

Oxford City Schools. MLS# 136113.

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Alister Cove at the Highlands $129,000-$159,000

Come live in the Highlands of Oxford, MS where nature is always present. Select your Highlands’ Lot NOW before they are all taken! No time restrictions to start. You can begin your custom home when you are ready to build, but immediately begin taking advantage of the private ~80 Acre spring fed Trophy Lake and all the numerous amenities of Braemar Park right away. (Minimum required (heated/cooled) space is a minimum of 2500 square feet.). MLS# 136853.

Call Paula Crum – 662.701.7789.

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Weesie Biedenharn

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The Highlands - Have you ever wanted to just get away from all the hustle and bustle of city life, especially the stressful traffic jams? Find peace and tranquility where the only the sounds you hear are the sounds of nature as the buzz of honey bees, the grazing of deer and flapping of eagles wings as they fly over the ~80-acre Trophy Lake and ~30-acre Braemar Park. This ~2.4 acre lot is one of the lowest priced available and will not last long! (Lafayette County Schools; minimum required (heated/cooled space is 3,000sf).

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Lafayette County! Build your dream home on this quiet country road surrounded by nature.

Located just minutes from the square. The property is partially cleared with utilities.MLS# 137244.

Call Dede Lewis- 662-681-6997.

Nice lot in city school district great location for Multi Family buildings. MLS# 137662.

Call Danny Flowers- 662-816-7294.

OXFORD| TUPELO 2092 Old Taylor Rd., Oxford, 662.234.5344 210 East Main St., Tupelo, 662.842.3844 tmhomes.com

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Upstairs, another BR and Bath with a huge finished bonus room utilized at the Home Theater complete with Cotton Candy and Popcorn Machine! Storage room galore! MLS# 136466.

Directions: From HWY 7 headed North take HWY 30 Exit keeping to the right; continue East on HWY 30 for about 4.5 miles till you see the Entrance of Cobblestone Subdivision on the LEFT. At the STOP Sign, turn Right; then Left on Downing Street, the house in on the left.

“

PAGE 13

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Let me put my experience and knowledge of this market the perfect home or property.

317 Windsor Dr. N

$335,000

WINDSOR FALLS - Beautiful 4 bedroom/3 bath in popular neighborhood. Customized Indianola plan includes a slightly larger kitchen, 4th bedroom (full bath and closet) upstairs that could also be used as a bonus room, office or guest room.

Built-in cabinets surrounding fireplace. Covered patio accessible to master bedroom and kitchen.

Fenced yard for privacy. Community pool access for an extra $300/year. Approx. 2 miles to Baptist Memorial, 3 miles to the Square. MLS# 136673.

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PAGE 14

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

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WELLSGATE - Come be a part of one of Oxford's most prestigious neighborhoods in this custom built home!

This great home sits in the back of Wellsgate & backs up to one of Wellsgate's natural lakes where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets. Kitchen with custom oak cabinets and stainless appliances features solid granite counter tops.

Hardwood, ceramic, and carpeted floors throughout the home. Family room with a fireplace on lower level. Two pantries for storing your goods. Breakfast area looks out to the lake. Jetted tubs in the bathrooms. Sellers giving $1k allowances for both carpet and appliances. MLS# 137482. Call Blake Thompson - 662-801-7014.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 15

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 16

Parrish Alford Ole Miss Sports

Bumper crop: Rebels bank on top-ranked recruiting class

T

he difference is the quantity.

Ole Miss has had strong baseball signing classes before, with eight of them ranked in the top 10, but only the 2016 class has been ranked No. 1.

Three times under Mike Bianco, Ole Miss has produced the top freshman in the SEC as named by the league coaches.

When the Rebels open the 2017 season on Friday at 4 p.m. against No. 10 East Carolina, one third of the Ole Miss starters will be playing college baseball for the first time: catcher Cooper Johnson, shortstop Grae Kessin-ger and left fielder Thomas Dillard.

“We’ve always had great freshmen, but when you look at this class … this is a super-talented class. There seems to be more of those guys,” Bianco said.

The class consists of 15 freshmen and three junior college transfers. Four of the freshmen played at Oxford High School, including Kessinger and Dillard.

The class was ranked No. 1 by media outlets Perfect Game and Baseball America and drew praise from other national media members.

Bianco, entering his 17th season as Ole Miss coach, says he’s seen college baseball freshmen evolve. Many are more prepared to play, and more of them are needed.

“There’s a lot of competition, and so many of them have played so much baseball before they got here, and because of the draft and the 11.7 scholarships you need those guys to contribute immediately,” Bianco said. “The great ones usually do.”

Five members of the Ole Miss signing class were drafted, and all five chose to attend college.

Recruiting rankings don’t always mean a fast start to the college game.

Junior second baseman Tate Blackman was ranked in the top 50 of all prospects and had been a 20th-round draft pick when he arrived as a freshman and went on to hit .197. He hit .322 with 13 doubles last year and has been eager to share his experience with the new guys.

Kessinger reached out to Blackman after D1Baseball.com named Kessinger TURN TO REBELS PAGE 21

COURTESY

Oxford's Lady Chargers won the 2017 UCA Gameday National Championship Sunday night at Walt Disney World.

Fantastic Finish OHS cheerleaders bring home UCA national championship

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS WRITER

Allison Wally returned to teach at Oxford High Tuesday morning. She was still on Cloud 9 and at a loss for words to accurately describe what winning the UCA Medium Varsity Gameday National Championship felt like.

Wally, the head coach of the OHS cheerleading team, know she got chills when the Lady Chargers accomplished their mission of winning the title at Disney World.

“It’s still unbelievable. The night that it happened, I was lying in bed thinking I didn’t want to go to sleep because I was going to wake up thinking it was a dream,” Wally said. “Just watching those girls faces, we have the video out there of them getting their jackets, and seeing the absolute joy, it’s just indescribable.”

For the record, the Lady Chargers wore their white satin jackets, with the national championship script on the back, to the Magic Kingdom on Mon-

day. The victory for OHS has been building over the past few seasons.

The team finished fifth there in 2016.

“My goal for us going down there was top three. I knew that if we hit the routine that it was good enough to win it. I knew we had all the pieces in place and that we had done the work,” Wally said. “We were ready, but they had to hit. They couldn’t have any bobbles; we couldn’t drop anybody and we couldn’t have an upside-down sign or any of the little things that could go wrong in those three minutes. We had No. 1 goal each time we took the mat and that was to hit.”

Before each trip out on the mat to compete, the girls huddled up and all said “1-2-3 hit” in order to emphasize the execution. Wally said they hit both times on the mat.

“You only get that one shot with cheerleading. You don’t get to call a timeout and regroup and try to do it again. You do your two and a half to three minutes and you’re done,” Wally said. “That was their goal and they knew if we did we would have a

chance. They were solid and they came off that mat knowing that they had a chance.”

Wally couldn’t thank her team leaders enough for their hard work and effort in getting the team ready. Her three seniors — Ansley Byars, Brynnen Yoste and Sara Caroline Bridgers — made sure to get the youngsters prepared for the event.

“Those three girls have wanted it from day one. We went down there last year and got fifth and they knew we were better than we were last year,” Wally said. “They were hungry and we had the goal to get top three and the seniors said they wanted more because this was their last chance. They pushed and motivated the younger ones all year. We took 15 girls and 10 of those were freshmen or sophomores. It’s a young team. We will miss those three and their leadership but they knew we had put in the work and that we had the talent.”

Wally also thanked the efforts of coTURN TO OHS PAGE 21

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 17

PETRE THOMAS

Oxford High baseball coach Chris Baughman feels good about his Chargers heading into the start of the 2017 season.

Baughman upbeat about his OHS Chargers in 2017

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS WRITER

For the past two years, the Oxford Chargers have been at the top of the high school baseball rankings in the state of Mississippi.

Some of the most talented players in Mississippi have played on the team. Two former players will start for the Ole Miss Rebels this weekend.

A fantastic senior class helped the Chargers win the MHSAA Class 5A title in 2016 and now it's up to the sophomores and juniors who saw all of that to take hold of the reigns.

Coach Chris Baughman has liked what he has seen from the squad during the practices leading up to the season opener, which comes next weekend in

New Albany.

“This is a group that has sat behind that group that graduated last year and watched those guys play in front of them. They've really done a tremendous job and they're very excited about the opportunity to play and finally get out on the field on a day to day basis,” Baughman said about this year's team and the returners from last season. “They've had to be role players during the championship run and now this junior and senior class are the guys. They are the guys we will rely on.

They're anxious to compete against other people and to compete knowing it's their time.”

Baughman will rely on the likes of Carson Stinnett on the mound and Drew

and Ben Bianco in the field. Time is needed for this year's team to grow and really mesh because the game is moving fast for a lot of them, Baughman said.

“There are things and details and plays that you make in situations that you have to pay attention to in a varsity game that you didn't have to do in a junior varsity game,” Baughman said.

Oxford has never scheduled down under Baughman and this year will be no exception. There are many challenges early, and that will be used to season for the division slate.

“I think when the end of April gets here, and we get enough games under our belt, we're going to com-

pete again,” Baughman said. “Lewisburg is going to be really good. New Hope is going to be good and of course Hattiesburg out of the south. If they don't win the south, I think that's a disappointment. I think we're going to be right in the thick of things. I like the way we develop our guys and I like the talent level of this team to give us a chance to be there in April and May again.”

There is balance on the roster and Baughman felt he was going to have to use some depth to get the Chargers through games on the mound. He has been used to running out pitchers that could throw 88 to 92 miles-per-hour and beat teams for seven straight innings.

“We know we don't have that but we also know we have four or five guys that can sure enough pitch,” Baughman said. “They may not beat people with velocity, but they can pitch. They're going to keep us in ballgames.

We're going to have to swing it and do some small ball things we haven't had to do in the past few years.

The makeup of this team is such that they embrace that. I feel like once we get some experience under out belt, we'll be deep enough. I feel like we can play 16, 17 kids out there at any moment. That's how many kids we have out there that can contribute for us.”

Defense has been the three phases of the game that has been the most

consistent for the Chargers. They weren't as good in that department this past Friday but Baughman said his outfield was faster overall and they were running down balls there. And on the infield, the Chargers have sure handed guys that can make plays.

“We've really hit well in spots. Drew and Ben both hit two home runs in our scrimmage,” Baughman said. “We are going to have to develop some guys in the bottom half of our order that will contribute for us consistently for us and get on base. We've got to get a guy in the leadoff spot that is getting on base consistently. We feel like once we take a few weeks to figure out those pieces, we'll be ready for a division run again.”

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 18

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

Bortles Brings Omaha Mentality to Young Rebs

BY BEN GARRETT SPECIAL TO OXFORD CITIZEN

Omaha is still a fresh memory for most every Ole Miss fan. For the team itself, however, it’s a dream yet realized.

Well, for all but one.

Senior third baseman Colby Bortles is the last remaining player from the 2014 Ole Miss baseball team that reached the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. It was the Rebels’ first appearance in the College World Series in 30 years. They went 2-2.

It’s no surprise, then, that Bortles was named a team captain for the second year in a row. Ole Miss has 36 players on its opening day roster. Eight are upperclassmen. None are more accomplished than Bortles, a preseason AllAmerican and All-SEC selection.

“The freshmen will come up to me and ask, ‘What’s it’ like?’ I just try to explain it the best I can,” Bortles said. “The ultimate goal is to get there. They’ll understand once we go there how awesome it is and how much you want to be there.

“It was the greatest experience of my life, the most fun two weeks of baseball I’ve ever played.

We went 2-2. It’s the mecca of college baseball. (Ole Miss head) Coach (Mike) Bianco says it all the time, there’s no unhappy people on the flight to Omaha. happy.

Everybody’s Whether you have 200 atbats or three, when you’re going to Omaha, you’re going to be happy. So I try to explain it the best I can and try to make them as hungry as I am to get there.”

Bortles played in 40 games in 2014, starting 14.

He made nine starts at DH and five at first base, and he appeared in three games (one start) in the College World Series. His pinch-hit walk against Texas Tech provided the game-winning run in a walk-off win.

He’s a different player now. He’s started a combined 115 games over the last two seasons, including all 62 a year ago as one of four Rebels to play in every game. He made 61

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Senior third baseman Colby Bortles is the last remaining player from the 2014 Ole Miss baseball team that reached the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. starts at third base and one start at first, hitting a team-high 21 doubles, which was good for second in the SEC and fifthmost in a single season in school history. He ranked 15th in the SEC with 50 RBI. “He has the most experience,” Ole Miss second baseman and fellow Rebel captain Tate Blackman said. “He’s won a regional game, a super regional game and he’s been and won in Omaha. He’s definitely a shoulder to lean on and knows how to win games around here. He’s definitely a good guy to go up to when stuff hits the fan. When we don’t know where to go or who to turn to, he’s always the guy I personally talk to. He’s done it all. He has the most experience. It’s definitely a good advantage to have him around with us.”

“When you think of guys

who are leaders, you think of guys like Colby,” Bianco said. “They’re not the Vince Lombardi speeches or somebody standing on a stool in the locker room.

It’s the day after day after day guys that do it the right way, that are great teammates, that love the university and love playing in the program. That’s Colby Bortles. If he wanted to play pro ball, if he didn’t want to be here, he could’ve easily gotten drafted last year. His draft stock dropped when they knew it meant a lot for him to return his senior year. I didn’t know what a huge impact it would be; I knew it would be great for us to have him back. But I didn’t know how great until you look now. We’d be a totally different team without him. You just watch his presence in the dugout and in the locker room in everything that we do.

Everybody looks over their shoulder at him to get their cue for what to do.

Part of being a great leader is being so open and so welcoming to young guys.

He’s got such a great personality. His teammates appreciate what such a good teammate he is.”

Bortles will again man third base in his final Rebel season. And as a .272 career hitter with, arguably, the most power potential on the team (17 career HRs), he figures to bat in the middle, and anchor, a batting order that he believes can hit for power, average and force action on the bases.

But even if his role were smaller, if he was just another name, he’d be OK. He wants to win. Because he’s been to the mountain top, and he wants to go back. Everything else is immaterial.

“Last year I thought we

were really good. I’m on the team, so I’m always going to say we’re going to Omaha,” Bortles said. Ole Miss won 43 games last season and opens the 2017 season Friday at 4 p.m. against East Carolina. “But I really believe this team can do it. You look around and there’s no weak spot.

We can hit, we can hit for power, we can run, we can steal, we can play defense and then we’ve got 10 pitchers that are unbelievable. I think we can get there.”

“Him and J.B. (Woodman) are by far the best leaders I’ve ever played for or played with,” Blackman said. “Him being back again, he took a leadership role last year. He’s doing it again. He showed me the way to lead. He does the right things. I’m not really a vocal guy on the field either, so I just try to show the upperclassmen this is

how we practice, this is how we play. We’re going to play the right way and we’re going to play hard.

Don’t hold anything back each and every game.”

Bortles said he welcomes the opportunity to lead the way. It’s his time.

“It’s different. My freshman year, we all looked to Austin Anderson. We looked to Will Allen. Whatever they were doing, that’s what we did,” he said. “It’s different. I’ve got to be extremely aware of my reactions and what I’m doing and certain stuff like that. Me, Tate and Will (Golson) are the right people for it. We’re extremely selfless. We’re not going to have a bad attitude. If I go 0-4 and we win, I’m going to be extremely happy. The same with Tate and Will.

Once they see that and realize that, then they’ll understand.”

An Omaha mentality.

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 19

Chargers throttle West Point Lady Chargers face elimination with loss to New Hope

BY BEN MIKELL SPORTS WRITER

The Oxford Chargers left no doubt that they are the team to beat in the 2-5A Division Tournament Tuesday night in the New Hope gym.

Jarkel Joiner scored 41 points on 16-for-25 shooting en route to a 7851 Oxford victory over the West Point Green Wave. The Chargers advanced to their eighth consecutive division championship game on Friday against the host New Hope Trojans who defeated the Saltillo Tigers 70-55 in their opening round game.

Oxford (22-6 overall) only allowed 51 points in the contest which is the fourth fewest of the sea-

son as the Chargers held West Point (4-21) to just 32 percent shooting from the field. Oxford coach Drew Tyler wanted to keep the pressure on the Green Wave throughout the contest.

"I thought the team was really patient and let the game come to them," Tyler said of his team.

"They were a lot more patient than me and the coaching staff. I was wanting the 10 point lead to jump to 20 and then 30. On our defense, we stayed in a two-three zone, but we really wanted to push the ball.

(Drew) Bianco, (Hiram) Wadlington, and (J.J.) Pegues are rebounding, we get some early runouts to get easy baskets and it really puts the

pressure on the opponent."

Wadlington earned his second double-double of the season with 14 rebounds and 12 assists.

While he only scored two points in the contest, it is his vision to find the open player on the court that sets him apart from his teammates. Wadlington is currently eighth in the nation in assists with 9.0 per game according to Maxpreps.

"He is in the top 10 in the nation in assists and it fuels his fire," Tyler said. "What a stat to have as far as on your team. At the same time, he is one of the toughest athletes in Mississippi on the football field or on the basketball court. He brings it every night. (As-

sistant) Coach (Tyler) Reed and I can't say enough for what Hiram brings to the court for us, but at the same time he does a good job being our quarterback on the floor and at times calms us down, organizes us, and also getting those double-doubles."

Tyler Williams was the only other Charger in double figures with 10 points. Jacorius Hammond led West Point with 11 points and eight rebounds.

-Girls FallThe Oxford Lady Chargers couldn't pull off a third straight doubledigit comeback against the New Hope Lady Trojans as they find themselves on the correct end of a 51-48 final score after

losing by the same score 11 days previous in Oxford.

Oxford (10-18) will play in a elimination game against Saltillo Thursday who lost to West Point 5724 in their opening round game. The winner will advance to the MHSAA 5A playoffs that start Monday while the loser will have their season end.

"It'll be tough Thursday coming over here after a loss like this, but I just don't think that's going to define this team," Oxford coach Cliff Ormon said. "We overcame a lot. I expect them to come out and play with some fire. They want to get to the playoffs. We know if you can ever get into the tournament, the

dance, lots of things happen. There's always that upset that can throw things. We plan on finding a way to win Thursday. You never know what could happen and I want that opportunity with this group."

Oxford trailed by as many as 16 points in the contest before mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter. Kelsey Wilborn led Oxford with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Christina Owens chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. New Hope (1610) was led with a double-double by Lanoria Abrams with gamehighs of 22 points and 15 rebounds. Alex Melton added 17 points for the Lady Trojans.

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OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 20

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

LHS punches ticket to MHSAA Class 4A playoffs with tourney win

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS WRITER

Lafayette's Commodores have decided to play their best basketball at the point of the season when things matter the most. Thanks to their 56-45 win over New Albany Tuesday night in the first round of the Division 2-4A Tournament, the Commodores punched their ticket into next week's MHSAA Class 4A playoffs. A loss would have ended Lafayette's season overall.

Coach John Sherman was pleased with his team and how they have found ways to win games down the stretch of the year.

“You want to be playing your best basketball in February and for whatever reason, we seem to be doing that. It's all due to the fact that we're now scoring better than we have,” Sherman said. “We're putting more points on the board and anytime you do that it's a plus. That's kind of happening right now. We had 56 and then 63 against Potts Camp. To beat a tradi-

PETRE THOMAS

John Sherman was very proud of his Lafayette Commodores for earning a win over New Albany in the Division 2-4A tournament Tuesday night. tion-rich team like New Albany, where basketball is like a religion in Union County, and to win two games against that program this year is another really good positive step.”

Tuesday's win was the

fourth straight for the Commodores, who have now won 12 games. Two seasons ago, the Commodores were winless in 12 total games. Last year, the Commodores won six games in Sherman's first

leading the program.

“Without getting too carried away, it's the idea that 12 wins never felt so good.

At this point in the season and in this program, doubling our wins is a great mental step moving this

program forward,” Sherman said. “We would love to have 14, 18, 20 wins but we started out slow. We lost some games that we had a chance to win and that was very disappointing. But to double our season total,

that is a very positive step for us. Being in the semifinals in the division tournament is a first time in four years is a step forward. I think we've accomplished some steps that we needed to take. It's what we wanted to do and it's satisfying.”

Byhalia, the No. 1 seed in the 2-4A Tournament, is up next for the Commodores tonight. A win over the Indians would push them into the championship game on Friday night. Regardless of what happens the next two games, the Commodores will be playing on Tuesday night. A win over the Indians would give the Commodores a home playoff game instead of being on the road.

“We're playing with house money you might say. We've got a very tall task and everything gets tougher now playing the No. 1 seed on their home court,” Sherman said.

“That's going to be a very tough task, but we're looking forward to it. No matter what happens, we're playing Tuesday night.”

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! When you subscribe to Rebel Nation Magazine™ you’ll pay just $24 for six (6) great issues (one year) or $40 for 12 issues (2 years). Just fill out the form below (cutout, photo copy or simply include your address in an envelope) and insert check or money order and mail to: Rebel Nation Magazine™, P.O. Box 5842, Brandon, MS 39047. Make checks payable to Rebel Nation Magazine™.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 21

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The Oxford Lady Chargers went from finishing sixth at the MHSAA state meet to finishing first in the nation over the weekend.

FROM 16

coach Nicole Roberson as well as the talents of volunteer Melissa Scott and Trey Griffin. Both of them helped with the choreography of the number, an area that Oxford ranked right at the top.

Only about half of the team that traveled to Orlando were returning from last year’s team that competed at the national championships. Wally was

Rebels FROM 16

the SEC’s preseason freshman of the year.

“I said, ‘Hey, just don’t be the player that you’re not,’ ”Blackman told reporters on Monday. “Stay within yourself. Stay with what got you here, what got all the pro scouts on

impressed that with so many new cheerleaders competing how well they handled the pressure.

“You don’t get comfortable. There are always nerves. Everybody knows that everyone down there is good,” Wally said.

Winning a title should only increase the interest level for the Lady Chargers. The past couple of years, being a member of the competition squad has been optional. This was the last year for that to be an option.

“Some of the girls have been on the fence because they knew they had to try out but I feel like this is going to be a huge motivator for most of them to be in,” Wally said.

Joining Bridgers, Byars and Yoste on the team were Kate Abraham, Lexi Nichopoulos, Emily Hayward, McLain Hill, Marjorie Ann Neilson, Sydney Spears, Ann Michael Armstrong, Makyla Brannon, Lucy Case, Cofield Collins, Lauren Nelson and Julia Tann.

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That willingness to learn has been evident throughout the group of newcomers, Bianco and

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“Early on they came in and wanted to learn. It was the opposite of what you would think. They came in asking questions.

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Citizen

PAGE 22

OXFORD CITIZEN

OXFORD

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Publication of any classified advertisement does not constitute endorsement by Journal Publishing Company. We make every effort to screen out advertising that may not be legitimate. However, since we can not guarantee the legitimacy of our advertisers, you are advised to beware of offers that appear to be too good to be true, misleading ads and those that ask you to send money.

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Advertisements in this classification usually offer informational service or products designed to help FIND employment. Before you send money to any advertiser, it is your responsibility to verify the validity of the offer. Some ads may require a toll call or a directory purchase. Inquiries can be made by contacting the Better Business Bureau at 1800-987-8280

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Professional

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NEWS REPORTER

PAGE 23

Professional

The Oxford Citizen is looking for an intelligent, energetic, aggressive reporter to cover local news and features in Oxford and Lafayette County. Candidates should have an interest in and curiosity about how com­ munities work, as well as the ability and desire to report how decisions made will likely impact individual citizens and the community as a whole.

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Join the Journal Inc. family and grow your career today!

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401K Retirement Plan, Medical, Dental/Vision Plans, Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability, Direct Deposit Send a resume, cover letter and samples of your work to Human Resources, at

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PAGE 24

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2017