nday news so s Su ’ d r
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Sunday EDITION
Volume 3 | Issue 93
oxfordcitizen.com
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Inside 3 News
UM student creates art to cope with anxiety
12 News
CHANING GREEN
ndrew Gordon works with Thomas Jones Thursday afternoon during a piano lesson. Gordon works with 32 students across different age and skill levels.
Musical Mastery
Souvigny to perform at Ole Miss
13 Sports
Gordon and his students learn the keys to proper piano performance He never had a reason to leave. Gordon grew up in New York City. He “I love this town,” Gordon said. “I’ve been made his way down to Oxford about 20 years ago to attend to university for his second here since 95 and it’s just been really an oasis Andrew Gordon has been a musical master’s degree in music. This one was fo- for me. Before I came here, I was incredibly member for the Oxford community for over cusing on composition while is previous degree was for piano performance. two decades now. TURN TO GORDON PAGE 6 BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER
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OXFORD CITIZEN
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SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
Dorms to Trunk Shows UM student creates successful jewelry business BY REAGAN SMITH SPECIAL TO OXFORD CITIZEN
Dallas native Marielle Mosley, 21, started a successful jewelry line from her University of Mississippi dorm room. The marketing major and an art minor hopes to attend fashion school after graduation and dreams of having her own store featuring her jewelry, accessories, art and home decor designs. “I started beading because my sister wanted me to sell jewelry in her store, and ever since I started making jewelry, I wanted to pursue this as a potential career,” she said. Beginning with a $100 budget, Mosley bought beads and leather to create her first jewelry line. “Freshman year was
night, I had 60 orders all of a sudden, and I was rushing to make all the necklaces to get them to the customers as soon as possible.” Over the last few years, Dupre Designs has grown. Mosley now has her own website and thousands of dollars of profit. “I get a lot of my business from the South, from Texas to the Carolinas,” she said. “I have gotten orders from many people who have heard about my company through social media or friends.” Mosely said she cares about her customers and believes you should offer COURTESY discounts because it gives University of Mississippi student Marielle Mosley creates pieces for Dupre Designs. them a bigger incentive to shop with your company difficult for my business did not really know how “As I learned the ropes started to gain followers, again. because I was just start- to get the word out about about how to begin mar- and the online orders TURN TO MOSLEY PAGE 4 ing out,” she said, “and I my new company. keting my company, I came with them … One Specializing in Employee Benefits for 27 Years
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UM student creates art to cope with anxiety BY COLLIN RIVERA SPECIAL TO OXFORD CITIZEN
Gabrielle Dispenza is a University of Mississippi freshman, who is taking her second semester of classes and pursuing a nursing major. Like most majors, she has a favorite hobby. She creates sophisticated drawings in her notebook whenever she has free time, and her artwork helps her cope with anxiety. “My favorite type of drawings are patterned,” she said. “Because I like to draw the tiny details in different thicknesses. This adds a lot of dimension to my drawings, and it makes them more appealing to the eye.” A recent drawing that Dispenza had been working on. “If I had my own art studio,” she pondered, “I would sell my canvases for low end prices, probably for $20 to $50, depending on the size and detail of the canvas.” As she looked through drawings in her notebook, she reflected on some of the work that she’s made in the past. “It’s tough to choose,” she said, as she looked through her drawings. “But if I had to pick, I’d say my favorite drawing is the canvas I made for a friend’s birthday. It incorporates a patterned flower, and a Hindu symbol that my friend always drew on her hands and papers.” She didn’t just pick up her
drawing talents like some gifted artists did. She practiced it. “I’ve always loved doodling,” she smiled. “I’d doodle in all my notebooks at school, but I only started making canvases and other advanced drawings my senior year of high school.” She has created more than 10 canvases ranging from small to medium. Her friend, Jenna Keleman, who is also a freshman, described her thoughts Dispenza’s drawings. “I love them,” she said. “I’ve always thought Gabby has a special talent in these drawings whenever I first saw them. I even asked her to make me one, and now I’m just in awe with how much detail is in it.” When asked about whether Keleman could do the work she does, she laughed and said, “There’s no way I could do the work that she does. She’s definitely more arts and crafty than me. I just give her a lot of credit for being able to create such detailed drawings while keeping up with all of her schoolwork. That takes a lot of focus and patience.” Dispenza uses her hobby to cope with anxiety. “Drawing helps me with my anxiety,” she said. “It helps me focus my mind on a single thing, which helps calm my racing thoughts. My art takes both time and
COLLIN RIVERA
Gabrielle Dispenza creates sophisticated drawings in her notebook and her artwork helps her cope with anxiety. precision. This is why it sometimes takes me multiple sessions over multiple days to finish my pieces. So the long periods of time help me with my anxiety over those stretch of days.” Unlike some artists, she’s not trying to impress others with her art. “It doesn’t have to make others happy,” she said. ‘It doesn’t have to be sold. If it makes you happy, and is a creative outlet for you, then keep doing it.” Her favorite material is painting on canvases. “I love painting on
Taylor and Abbeville announce candidates BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER
Abbeville and Taylor have officially announced who will be running in their upcoming elections for mayor and aldermen. There are seven candidates running for five aldermen seats in Taylor. They qualified earlier this week and the full list was posted on the town’s website along with mailing addresses for anyone interested in getting in contact with the candidates. Taylor is not divided
into wards, but rather has five Alderman-At Large who oversee and vote on issues that arise. Those running for alderman include Jimmie Willingham, Lyn Roberts, Justin Reid, Noel Montgomery, Ellen B. Meacham, Courtney Covington and Tim Bridges. Of those seven, Roberts, Montgomery, and Reid are the only ones who are not currently serving on the town’s Board of Aldermen. Current mayor of Taylor, James E. Hamilton is running for reelection unopposed.
In Abbeville, there are six candidates pursing five seats on the Board of Aldermen. Ken Hanks, Wayne Haynie, Lynn Klepzig, Ronnie Willimas, Will Kent and Don Ward are all seeking positions on the board. Of those, Kent and Ward are the only two who are not currently serving as alderman for Abbeville. Mayor Scott Fricker is running for reelection unopposed. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen
canvases because of the textures of the canvas and the colors of the paint,” she said. Like every artist, Dispenza believes in the art of master-
ing the skill through practice.“I plan on making more canvases to decorate my room, and for friends to put up on their walls as well. The
right mindset is to not get upset if you mess up on the minor details. Those can always be fixed on your next canvas.” She then reflected on her anxiety, giving advice to those who have it and struggle with their artistic skills. “I would start with drawing simple things,” she said “like flowers or other things from nature, and if you can’t focus, then write down all of your thoughts and come back to drawing afterwards.” Dispense said she will continue working to improve her art. “I have tried to paint a beach setting at a painting class before, and I wasn’t too pleased with how mine turned out, but it was still a cool experience,” she said. “I think maybe if I practiced a little more, I may become better at it and find that I like it, but until then, I will stick to patterned drawings. It’ll just have to take more practice. I believe that I get better each time I make a new piece.”
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OBITUARIES GERALD LEVERNE BELVIN Gerald Leverne Belvin, 75, died Thursday, March 9, 2017, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo. The funeral service was held Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. in the Chapel at Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Wes Sherman officiating. Burial followed in Eastover Memorial Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mr. Belvin’s memory may be made to the VFW National Children’s Home, 3573 South Waverly Road, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.
VINA MAE WILLIAMS SANDERS Vina Mae Williams Sanders, 88, died Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Yalobusha General Hospital in Water Valley. The graveside service was held Friday, March 10, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Charleston Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Annette Ford officiating.
NANCY PALMER BRANCH Nancy Palmer Branch, 62, passed away Wednesday, March 08, 2017, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. Services will be on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 3:30 at From the Graveside at Memorial Garden Cemetery in West Point. Visitation will be on Sunday, 2:00 3:00 at Calvert Funeral Home.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
Spring Fling Fashion Show set for March 23 BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD PARK COMMISSION
An opportunity to view the latest styles in day wear and support the Leisure Lifestyle programs of the Oxford Park Commission are what residents can accomplish later this month. The Powerhouse will serve as the site for the Spring Fling Fashion Show. All proceeds from the March 23 event will go to benefit the Friends of LLO.
Mosley FROM 2
“Over the holiday season, I got notified that I had more than 20 orders lost in the mail,” she said. “I contacted the customers through email and explained that I was getting them another order as quickly as possible, and also gave them a 30 percent off coupon for their next purchase.” Mosley also believes in giving back to the community. She wants to hold trunk shows with UM
Anna Haller has led the organization of the fashion show and luncheon, which will start at noon at the Powerhouse. Haller is used to organizing events like this. She helped put them on for other civic or charitable organizations such as the Daughters of the British Empire. She credited the help of others associated with the Friends of LLO, as well as the exercise classes, for helping with the preparations.
The LLO is near and dear to the heart of Haller, who has been participating in the various programs offered for the area’s mature adults for the past two years. “I have enjoyed the programs ever since I’ve gotten involved,” said Haller, who grew up in Oxford, England and moved to Mississippi from Chicago with her husband Terry. “It’s a lovely community and this is something we like doing to help out.”
Haller has a background in interior design and for the past four months, she has been putting that knowledge to good use organizing the fashion show. That includes getting all the little details Men and covered. women models will be on the runway March 23. Haller said Belk Department store is providing the day and the athletic leisure wear that will be worn. The show is expected to last an
hour. Cost to enter is $10. On top of the show, there will be raffles to take part in and prizes awarded. Some of the prizes should include a basket of wine or coffee as well as cosmetics or bath supplies. Anyone wishing to help volunteer with the event are encouraged to do so. Contributions would also be greatly appreciated. For more information on the event, contact the LLO at 236-1157.
sororities and give a percentage of profits to a philanthropy. “I like to use Dupre Designs and its followers to get the word out about philanthropies and their causes,” she said. “It is also a goal of mine go give back to the community, and doing it through something I love, is so rewarding.” Mosely said running a business during college is a lot of work, but she enjoys it. “I love doing it,” she said, “and it has taught me a lot over the years.
Being a marketing major, this business has helped me be able to apply the marketing principles I learned in class to real life.” When Mosely goes back to her home for summer and winter breaks in Dallas, she attends trunk shows. After going to many, she decided to start participating in them and setting up her own booth. That has helped her attract more business. “It is always good to get to know different types of clients through going to
trunk shows in Dallas,” she said. “Back at Ole Miss, there is a much different audience than ones in Dallas and other cities. Some customers might not like colorful jewelry and others do, so going to trunk shows has increased my following from many different types of customers.” Many of Mosley’s clients are from Oxford, but growth has come from social media and networking through trunk shows. Mosley has begun participating in trunk shows
at some of the local boutiques on the Square to potentially sell her jewelry in their stores. She is also an artist. She created most of the art in her home, and wants to add some of it to her website in the future. Customer Rachel Vitali purchased a necklace from Mosely’s website. “The necklace was extremely good quality, and you could tell that it was made by hand, which made it even more special,” she said. Mosley posts new items on Instagram.
Oxford Writes to hold workshop
Rippee, editor of the Daily Mississippian. Writers of all experience and skill levels are welcome. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to contact Oxford Writes at oxfordwrites1@gmail.co m and to visit the group’s webpage, oxfordwrites.com and Facebook page.
BRIEFING Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce announces details for 3rd Annual Red Carpet Gala The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Cannon Motors of Mississippi will be hosting its 3rd Annual Red Carpet Gala on Thursday, May 18, 2017, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Castle Hill Resort. Creating excitement for this year’s event are three fabulous raffles! For the third year in a row Lammons Fine Jewelry will be donating diamonds, this year a 2 Carat Diamond Bracelet! Our second raffle donated by the family of Karen Preston-Morf is a
signed football by legendary Ole Miss Coach Johnny Vaught, the only coach in Ole Miss history to win an SEC football championship. “The Chamber has helped me with my real estate business over the years,” says Karen Preston-Morf. “By donating the Johnny Vaught football would be a great benefit to the Chambers.” Finally the third raffle donated by The Range at TGC Outdoors consists of a custom AR- 15 rifle designed exclusively in honor of Archie Manning, who played for the Ole Miss Rebels football and a former American football quarterback who played professionally for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Making this rifle even more valuable is Archie Manning’s signature on the shaft of the
gun. “When we built “The Archie” I knew I wanted to do something special with it,” said Joshua Gregory, owner of TGC Outdoors. “Being that Archie Manning is such a big supporter of Oxford himself I wanted the rifle to somehow give back to the town. The Chamber and Economic Development Foundation felt like the perfect fit for the donation.” Raffle tickets for each raffle are $20 per ticket, 3 for $50, or 10 for $100. Packages of tickets must all go towards the same individual raffle item. The winner of each raffle will be drawn on May 18th at the Red Carpet Gala. You do not have to be present to win. All proceeds go to the Chamber to help promote and provide additional resources to the citizens and businesses of the community.
You won’t want to miss this anticipated black tie event as tickets are on sale for $75 “two for price of one,” now through March 15th. The public is welcomed to attend. One of the most popular Memphis bands ever to hit the party scene, Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster will be the entertainment for the evening. There's no way you’ll be able to resist the dance floor! In addition, the fabulous Chef Shuffle, offering delicious tastings will feature Oxford-Lafayette County restaurants and chefs. For more information on the 3rd Annual Red Carpet Gala, sponsorship opportunities and tickets go to www.olccredcarpetgala.com or contact Pam Swain, senior vice president of the Chamber, 662-234-4651 or pam@oxfordms.com
On March 25, Oxford Writes will host its free, second annual writing workshop featuring Daniel Connolly, reporter for the Commercial Appeal and author of The Book of Isaias: A Child of Hispanic Immigrants Seeks His Own America. Connolly’s presentation will begin at 9 a.m. at The Orchard, 295 Hwy. 7 North, followed by a Q&A session. An interactive learning session about sports writing begins at 1 p.m. Jeff Roberson of The Ole Miss Spirit and Webb Lewis of Southern Elite Sports will moderate a panel including Parrish Alford of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Chase Parham with the Ole Miss Rivals.com website, and Brian Scott
Free survivor dinner The Ole Miss Chapter of Colleges Against Cancer will be hosing a free dinner for survivors of cancer and/or a caregiver of some who has battled the disease. The dinner will be held on April 21 and catered by Taylor Grocery. Those interested in attending are asked to visit www.relayforlife.org/olemiss to register as a survivor.
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
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Miss University dreams of becoming Miss Mississippi and Miss America BY LYDAZJA TURNER SPECIAL TO OXFORD CITIZEN
A University of Mississippi senior, who is also known as Miss University, is studying to become a broadcast journalist, but dreams of becoming Miss Mississippi and Miss America. Leah Gibson grew up cheering, singing and doing community service work, like working with the organization Teens for Jeans to collect 100 pairs of jeans for the charity. Gibson was part of the broadcast journalism program in high school. As part of the staff of five, she helped create a newscast during her lunch hour, and she became became a features writer for her high school newspaper in 10th grade. Gibson tried several different majors before deciding on journalism. She first considered studying to be a lawyer or psychologist until she thought about the time those degrees required. Instead, she wanted to do something that allowed her to be more creative, and she didn’t want to sit behind a desk every day. Gibson soon realized she loved being in front of the camera, going out and getting stories, and finding different angles for stories that have been told thousands of times. Before deciding what college she wanted to attend, she initially had Mississippi State University in mind until she met former Chancellor Robert C. Khayat in Washington, D.C. while she was a Al Conference Neuharth scholar. He convinced her to look into the Meek School of Journalism and New Media program, and she decided on UM based on information she received from each school. Gibson said she loves the Ole Miss sense of unity. She believes Ole Miss accepts its past and that the community wants to move forward. “Every time something bad happens in the media, Ole Miss faces it head on, puts together focus groups, put out new policies, and ensures that everyone feels safe,” she said. Gibson has volunteered as a cheer coach for Up-
tion leaders and were Lucky Day residential community assistants. A relationship formed, and he said Gibson is a vibrant individual, happy at all times, and has genuine care and concern for others. During her Miss University campaign, he watched her disconnect from everyone to focus, and that showed her passion and drive. “Leah stands out from other Miss Universities in the past because of her drive and commitment to the title,” he said. “I believe she knows she is representing something bigger than herself. She is living up to the work of the title and not just the name.” Gibson’s dream is to become Miss Mississippi, then Miss America. If that does not work out, she plans to take a year off after graduation and study COURTESY abroad, because she believes traveling and culture Miss University, Leah Gibson, is a University of Mississippi senior studying broadcast journalism. is something you cannot Distinguishing Apex leadership summit said they didn’t talk much teach, but something ward Basketball and cheer- Miss leading in Oxford, and be- Women Competition in for rising high school sen- in college. However, they someone has to experilieves this has made her a high school, and did not iors in 2012, Chad Knight later both became orienta- ence. stronger person. She chose win, but she wasn’t ready to to walk early mornings give up. Determined to win a from Lucky Day to First Baptist Church by Rebel title, her mother found the Books to get to the games Outstanding Teen program and practices. She said she within the Miss America liked the idea of sharing organization. As a teen, something she was pas- Gibson placed within the sionate about with other Top 10 her first year, but girls and hopes they will soon realized she had aged participate in competitive out and could no longer compete because she was a cheer. She also volunteered at graduating high school the Boys and Girls Club for senior. She then competed in a year and a half and started a mentoring pro- Miss University and did gram called GLAM squad. not win, but her talent for GLAM stands for Giving singing did. She still felt Learning Achieving Matur- like she wasn’t finished ing, and focuses on teach- with competitions and ing girls to embody who went on to win Miss they are and what they Meridian. “You have to go through bring to the table. She also focused on her pageant hurdles to get to where you’re trying to go for your platform, highway safety. Gibson has been active ultimate goals to come to on campus for four years, life,” she said. “She loves to but she is now focused on compete because, for her, it the Black Student Union, is more than just pageants. her sorority Alpha Kappa She thinks about people Alpha Inc., being the Rebel from her hometown or litRadio station manager, and tle girls she might inspire in fulfilling her duties as Miss the process. “I want people to reUniversity. Some may wonder why member me, not as someGibson wants to be Miss one who had potential, but University. It’s a dream she as someone who always had many years ago. When went after their biggest she first began competing goals,” she said. What makes Gibson in competitions, they were small beauty reviews. She stand out? After working did the National American with Gibson during the UM
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SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
Gordon FROM 1
depressed, I had no idea what I was going to do and I was feeling really helpless. This place kinda threw me a vine.” After graduating from Ole Miss, he still didn’t really know what he wanted to do. He decided to stick around town and try to make a life here. Since he graduating he’s been a working musician, a title that’s getting more and more rare these days, he said. So for that, he’s extremely grateful to the community. A major part of Gordon’s business is giving piano lessons. He also plays weddings and special events and works with Oxford High School’s theatre program. For the high school, he helps them put on their musicals, plays piano when they need it and hires and conducts the band when live music is needed. “I’ve done pretty much everything musical you can do in the community over the years,” Gordon said. “I’ve let some of it go. It can be overwhelming. When I had 40 students and was in civic chorus and orchestra and
CHANING GREEN
Gordon has lived in Oxford for over 20 years now. In addition to he lessons, he performs at weddings and special events. Gordon also helps out with musical theatre at Oxford High School. recitals and everything else — you’ll start to lose your marbles, if you’re not careful.” Gordon currently has 32 piano students who he works with, which he says is a really good number to have. His students vary widely in age, with some being very small and others in high school. Their proficiency varies
adults,” Gordon said. “Working with kids is easier in some ways because they have that parent to hold stuff over their head and make sure they stay on task. I also think it’s also good not to know why you’re there. By that, I mean that a lot of adults tend to question why they’re there, why they’re doing this. I think they should
approach it more like a little kid, be extremely open and don’t have any preconceptions.” Gordon said that he always makes an effort to approach students with no preconceptions and asks that they do the same. He talked about one student in particular he had years ago. Gordon said
chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen
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widely. In the past he’s worked with students as young as 3 and 4 years old to some in their late 60s and 70s. He said that he’s happy to work with whoever comes through the door, as long as they’re willing to put forth the effort. “Working with kids is a lot different than working with
he once had the thought that this student was beyond his help. But the student stayed dedicated, practiced, put in the work and within in three semesters, the students had learned two complicated intermediate pieces and played them well. Gordon vowed to never again let himself think someone is unteachable. “My friend Kim once put it as you don’t always set out do something as much as one day, you find that what you are doing is what you have become,” he said, when asked why he loves what he does “I do love teaching. I’ve been doing it for so long. My students have educated me. I was a decent teacher when I started, but I’ve learned so much over the years. They’ve taught me to think outside the box and try new things that help them. I have this whole bag of tricks now to use when I’m working with my students. When it comes down to it though, it’s not really about me and it’s not really about them. It’s about passing down the art form. I’m really proud to be a part of that.”
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CHANING GREEN
Brooke Fly's class at Magnolia Montessori School reads letters they've received from classes from Lafayette and Oxford Elementary School.The letters came with special drawings of unique mascots designed by each class.
Pen pal project connects students across Lafayette County BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER
For Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America, the LOU Reads Coalition, Lafayette County Literacy Council and the Mississippi Campaign for GradeLevel Reading came together to connect classrooms and build a sense of community by creating a pen pal project. Edy Dingus is an AmeriCorps Vista working with the Oxford-Lafayette United Way, which oversees the LOU Reads Coalition. She led the charge on the project. Sarah McLellan, who serves as the director of the Literacy Council, reached out to her a few weeks ago and said that she’d like to help out with a project for Read Across America. Dingus was really excited about the opportunity to do something for the event, so the pair began brainstorming. “We talked about balloons and carnivals and all these other things, until I finally decided to look at different projects other schools do,” Dingus said. “I stumbled upon a similar pen pal project, and we decided to run with it.”
There are 18 classes across Lafayette County involved with this pen pal project. Each class is tasked with coming up with a special mascot to represent their classroom. It could be whatever they wanted it to be. They were then given a rhyming passage that had a similar cadence to Dr. Seuss’ famous rhymes. There were blanks within the passage where students had the opportunity to describe what the mascot looks like and what kind of clothes it wears. What are some of the mascot’s favorite things to do? What adjectives describe the mascot? The classes would decide on a mascot, draw it and fill out the rhyming passage. Some classes drew multiple different versions of their mascot to send to their pen pal, while other classes just worked collectively on one big drawing. Each class was then paired up with a sister class from another school in the county, with both public and private schools participating, and they sent their mascots to one another. Dingus said she loved this project because it gave kids in different schools
The letters and drawings are a part of a pen pal project being put on by partnerships through the LOU Reads Coalition, the Lafayette County Literacy Council and others to connect students from across Lafayette County. the chance to reach out to from me at this other one another. They likely school.’” Dingus said that she’s would have no other opportunity to interact with each other in or out of the classroom. Allowing them to exchange letters and artwork is a way of removing that sense of otherness from the way children might view kids who go to different schools. “I wanted something that not only promoted literacy, but also promoted this idea and sense of community,” Dingus said. “It helps break that egocentric world view for the kids so they can begin to think ‘Yes, I am a student at this school, but there are also students who are just like me or different
hoping the project will be able to return year after year to the community as a way to bridge gaps and continue to build that sense of community she talked about. Magnolia Montessori School doesn’t have a mascot, so Brooke Fly’s class wasn’t able to base their class mascot off of anything the school uses. They decided their mascot would be Sugar, a dog that lives near the school and has come by periodically for visits and pets for the past three years. “I knew from the beginning they would be com-
ing up with a ton of different ideas, and they did, completely on their own,” Fly said. “Now, with this other layer coming into it today of exchanging the letters and I told them they can dress up today like a Dr. Seuss character, and they were really excited about doing this. Some children are much more interested in drawing the character while others are much more interested in the writing. I love this project because it appeals to everybody.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen
PAGE 8
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SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
DANIEL SOUVIGNY
Renowned pianist Daniel Souvigny will be coming to the Un iversity of Mississi ppi later this month to perform in the Nutt Auditorium.
Souvigny to perform at Ole Miss BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER
Friday, March 24 at 7:30 in the Nutt Auditorium at the University of Mississippi, three-time World Junior Ragtime Champion and piano virtuoso Daniel Souvigny Will perform a concert showcasing jazz and ragtime through the ages. The 16-year-old pianist has been playing since he was 5 years old. He began performing at the age of 8 and hasn’t stopped since. His performance this month will be to promote the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival being held at Ole Miss this Memorial Day Weekend. Souvigny has been competing in the festival since 2009. This is the second
year that the festival his being held in Oxford. Before that, it was held in different venues around Illinois, and before that, competitors met on the back of a caboose on the Monticello Railway to play on an upright piano from the 1870s. Souvigny said that he has always had an affinity for ragtime and jazz music. He likes how it’s fast and has a brighter tonality and mood than a lot of classical piano. “I first became attracted to it mainly because it’s very upbeat, happy music,” he said. “When I was young, I always loved to play the piano fast. That was my big thing. Ragtime is generally pretty fast music, and that just hooked me right from the start.” Souvigny is home-
Souvigny's perfor mance will be center ed around ragtime and jazz. The concert is in promotion of the World Old-Time Pi ano Playing Contest, which Souvigny has won three times. schooled. It gives him much more flexibility to pursue piano and keep up with an often unpredictable touring schedule. He said there are slow months where he might not play a single concert, and then others where he is at ragtime and jazz festi-
vals every weekend. His busiest months are usually in the summer. Over this past summer, Souvigny spent a month in Russia training at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory under one of their most renowned pianists. His piano teacher here in the
States is originally from Saint Petersburg and has ties to the conservatory. This was the farthest his work has ever taken him, geographically speaking, and he said it was really cool for a lot of reasons. Having the opportunity to experience the Russian culture and lifestyle was also a ton of fun, he said. “I had to get used to the language barrier and the fact that my Russian is pretty poor,” Souvigny said with a laugh. “It’s a totally different style of living. One of the greatest things about it is that they are so very preforming arts centered over there. It’s ridiculous. It was so great.” The concert he’s performing at Ole Miss will follow a bit of a timeline. He’s going to begin with early classical ragtime. His set is
going to then transition into a later style called stride piano followed by swing. Souvigny is going to end the concert with a little bit of modern jazz. Daniel Souvigny will be performing in the Nutt Auditorium on the Ole Miss campus Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.olemissboxoffice.co m, or by emailing or umbo@olemiss.edu calling 662-915 7411. Revenue from ticket sales will go toward prize money being awarded during the Old-Time Piano Playing Contest. Souvigny will also be appearing on the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour the night before his concert. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
PAGE 13
Parrish Alford Ole Miss Sports
Rebels’ run ends in quarterfinals BY PARRISH ALFORD DAILY JOURNAL
NASHVILLE – Ole Miss needed a long run in the SEC tournament, but the Rebels’ stay was brief. No. 3 seed Arkansas eliminated the Rebels 73-72 and now will face Vanderbilt in the semifinals Saturday. Ole Miss got a big night from Terence Davis with 26 points, but could not win against a top 30 RPI opponent. The Rebels will wait to see if their resume earns them an NIT bid. “We’re disappointed,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “We had opportunities, but Arkansas made the plays down the stretch.” Ole Miss advanced with a win over Missouri onThursday, and leg-weariness began to show in the latter stages of the second half when the Razorbacks more frequently beat the Rebels down the floor. Ole Miss players said fatigue was not a factor, but Arkansas coach Mike Anderson disagreed. “They played the way we play, up and down the floor,” he said. “That’s a lot of wear and tear. I thought fatigue was a factor.” The Rebels were plus-10 on the glass but in a one-point loss were only 8 for 14 at the free throw line. Arkansas was 20 for 23. The Razorbacks defeated Ole Miss 98-80 in Fayetteville in the regular season. “They kind of embarrassed us at their place. We just wanted to come out and compete, defend Ole Miss,” said freshman guard Breein Tyree, who finished with 13 points and was 3 for 7 from 3-point range. “We did a good job of that. We don’t have anything to hang our heads about.” The game was tied at 52 with 11 minutes, 12 seconds left after Rebels guard Deandre Burnett hit two free throws. Slowly Arkansas (24-8) began to take control, but the Razorbacks couldn’t shake Ole Miss (20-13). The Rebels took the lead on a 3-pointer by Tyree with 1:43 left but gave up the lead on the next possession. Seconds later Tyree was short on another 3pointer, and Sebastian Saiz grabbed the rebound – his seventeenth – but his follow-up was packed by Moses Kingsley. Arkansas’ Jaylen Barford could not score at the rim, but the Hogs got the rebound with the shot clock off, and the Rebels were forced to foul. TURN TO OLE MISS PAGE 15
BEN MIKELL
The Lady Commodore basketball team won the MHSAA class 4A state title on Thursday night.
Golden Girls Lafayette tops Ripley to win 4A Title BY BEN MIKELL SPORTS WRITER
You couldn't find a dry spot on the Lafayette Lady Commodore's locker room floor after they had won the 4A state championship, either because of the emotions shown by the players or all the water the players drenched on their coach Shayne Linzy the moment he managed to make it through the locker room door. Lafayette defeated a scrappy Ripley Lady Tiger team 55-45 Thursday night inside Mississippi Coliseum to win their first gold ball since 1982 when the Lady 'Dores won the Class-A championship with Jennifer Gillom donning the red and gold. It is Lafayette's second gold ball in school history. Shaniyah Buford lead the Lady 'Dores like she has all season long with a gamehigh 24 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Once the buzzer sounded at the end of the fourth quarter, it was nothing
but tears and smiles after all the hard work she and her team went through. "I've been trying since I was an eighth grader and the dream finally came true," Buford said. "Shoutout to my team, because they push me every day in practice. I push them every day in practice. Our coach gave us the tools and we executed. We've been working ever since this summer, he told us this summer that we had a chance. We worked hard ever since he told us that and we got it." After Buford and the rest of her team surprised Linzy with their own version of a Gatorade bath in the locker room, a soaked Linzy credited Ripley (19-11 overall) like the Lady Tigers have throughout the postseason for making it extremely tough on his team to do what they wanted to do, but was happy that his team got the job done. "My hats off to Ripley," Linzy said of the Lady Tigers. "They came in with a great game plan. Not only a great game plan, but they really got after us, and it af-
fected us. We were able to make some runs, but they were able to continue to fight back. We continued to fight. Even in the times where it didn't look, we called timeouts or get them off to the side and talk to them for a little bit, and the girls responded. Could not have asked for a better response from them." Lafayette (30-3) never generated a double-digit lead in the game until the last 15 seconds where two Chelsea Allen free throws provided the final margin. Linzy told Buford in the second half to make her last game in the red and gold count. "I told her 'this is your last game at Lafayette, let's win this,'" Linzy said. "The ball needs to be in her hands. That doesn't mean she's scoring, but it means she's doing things with the ball like scoring or getting somebody else involved. That's what she finally started doing, she started being aggressive to the basket. We TURN TO GOLDEN PAGE 18
OXFORD CITIZEN
PAGE 14
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
USA TODAY
Former Ole Miss quarterback, Bo Wallace was hired to assist the quarterbacks and offense at East Mississippi Community College in January.
Bo Wallace: Quarterback to Coach BY BEN GARRETT SPECIAL TO OXFORD CITIZEN
Former Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace had a decision to make. It was mid-May in 2015. Despite an open roster spot, the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t going to sign Wallace, who had participated in a weekend rookie minicamp on a tryout basis as an undrafted free agent. His NFL dream was all but over, though there were playing opportunities elsewhere, namely from a few teams, including the Toronto Argonauts, in the Canadian Football League. But Wallace knew it was time. His life plan for as long as he could remember was to play football as long as possible before transitioning to coaching. Wallace spent the 2015 season as an assistant football coach at the Episcopal School of Dallas, followed by a season as the quarterbacks coach at Mar-
shall County (Tenn.) High School. He was hired to assist the quarterbacks and offense by his old junior college head coach, Buddy Stephens, at East Mississippi Community College in January. “It’s cool, man. I’m back where it all started,” Wallace said. “I think, looking back at my career after I left Arkansas State, I was just going to transfer to UT-Martin and play for them. I came down here, and then this place gave me so many opportunities. I was able to go get SEC offers and all kinds of stuff like that. This place is really special to me. I can’t tell you how glad I am coach Stephens trusted me with the quarterbacks and helping with the offense. I’m really appreciative of everyone on this campus that wanted to bring me back.” Wallace quarterbacked the Lions to an NJCAA national championship in 2011, the same season in
which he was named NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year. Wallace established new NJCAA single-season records for passing yards (4,604), total offense (4,810) and passing touchdowns (53). He went on to start all 39 games in his Ole Miss career, leading the Rebels to three straight bowl games. He set school records for total offensive yards (10,478), completion percentage (63.0), passing efficiency (140.8) and 300-yard passing games (11), and he finished his career ranked second in school history in passing yards (9,534), completions (747), attempts (1,186) and passing touchdowns (62). “My whole life it was I was going to play as long as I could, then I was going to coach,”Wallace said. “My favorite thing is to scheme somebody else. When I was in college, I tried to be around the coaches as much as possible to learn and things like that. My whole life
I knew I was going to play or coach. I have to have that competition. I have to try to get better at something every day.” Wallace said his coaching style is similar to that of former Ole Miss quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Dan Werner. Werner coached Wallace in all three of Wallace’s seasons as a Rebel. Werner was fired by Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze following the 2016 season and replaced by former Sam Houston State offensive coordinator Phil Longo. He was recently hired as an offensive analyst at Alabama. “I think you naturally take to the way you were coached,” Wallace said. “I think I’m a lot like coach Werner. I’m not going to get in your face and cuss and yell, but I’m going to hold you accountable for all the decisions you make on the field and off the field. If I have to get in you, then that’s what
has to happen. Coach Werner was a great balance of that for me. I think naturally you pick that up from being around a guy for three years. You have so much respect for him and learned a lot from him. The guy was at great places before that. He’s a football-knowledge guy. You naturally go into that mentality and personality when you get out on the field.” Wallace has been a frequent visitor to Ole Miss in the years following his playing career. The Rebels are currently two weeks into spring football practices. Wallace was in attendance day one. He’s attended a handful of games, too, and he said he’ll attend many more. He’s looking forward to the upcoming season. He’ll be watching. Because Ole Miss will always be home, no matter where Wallace finds himself as he climbs the coaching ladder.
“Me and coach Freeze, especially with me being down here, we probably talk at least once a week, and sometimes two or three times a week,” Wallace said. “My recruiting area is up there. I think we still have some athletes. It’s going to be up to the defense to stop guys, but you look at that offense, you’ve got D.K. (Metcalf), he’s unbelievable. He’s a specimen. And then you’ve got Shea Patterson, A.J. Brown, Tre Nixon, getting Jordan Wilkins back, the whole offensive line is back. We can win games. “My hope is we stop some teams that have a chance to play for a national title. With the bowl ban, that’s what this season’s going to be about – ruining people’s seasons. That’s the team’s mindset right now, and from what I’ve seen, we have the athletes to win a lot of games. I’ll be supporting them. I’ll be at games, and I’ll be a Rebel until the day I die.”
OXFORD CITIZEN
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
PAGE 15
Oxford shuts out Cabot, Little Rock-Central in Arkansas trip BY BEN MIKELL SPORTS WRITER
CABOT, Ark. - The Oxford Chargers used big innings and great pitching to notch two wins Friday night at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Field on the Cabot High School campus. The Chargers first defeated the Cabot Panthers 10-0 in a run-ruled five inning game. Parker Stinnett earned the win on the mound allowing three hits and no walks while striking out four in four innings of work. John Reece McClure pitched the last inning against Cabot. Oxford (7-1 overall) and Cabot (5-3) remained scoreless and competitive until the
them finished with three hits in the contest. *LR-Central* Oxford capped off the doubleheader with a 7-0 win over the Little RockCentral Tigers. Reed Markle drew his first start on the mound this season after sitting out the first few games with a back injury. Markle got the win on the mound going five innings and giving up just two hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in the shutout victory. "I thought all four guys that threw today were tremendous," Baughman said of the pitching staff. "Very proud of Reed. He actually went longer than I originally planned on him going, but it was such a tight ballgame
Charger third inning when Oxford sent 13 players to the plate and scored nine runs to take command of the contest. "I thought we swung it real well against Cabot the whole time," Oxford coach Chris Baughman said about the first game. "In the one big inning, we had seven balls that we hit that was in the middle of the field or in the oppo-gap and I thought that was impressive. That's what we preach and it finally paid off tonight and I was proud of the way we played." The Chargers added a run in the fifth inning when Ben Bianco drove in Carson Stinnett with a single after he reached on a double. Both of
Ole Miss
but Tyree missed a 3-pointer, and Kingsley blocked a shot by Burnett. Davis had 15 points in the first FROM 13 half. Tyree’s jumper with 3 seconds The Rebels had several opportu- left tied the game at 40 even though nities on a frantic final possession, nine Ole Miss turnovers had led to
and his pitch count was down and he said he felt good, so I stayed with him until we got those five runs. Tyler (Smith) came in and threw the ball really well." The Chargers got a run in the fourth inning when Drew Bianco reached on a two-base error after LR-Central's third baseman Ben Farzley couldn't field a popup. Bianco scored on a Preston Perkins single three batters later to put Oxford on the board up 1-0 over LR-Central (0-6). Oxford got five runs in the sixth inning on four hits aided with a pair of Tiger errors to push the lead out to 6-0. The Chargers tacked on one more run in the seventh inning to provide the
16 Arkansas points. Kennedy said the Razorbacks made the hustle plays that put them over the top. “We chart 50-50 balls, and we’ve been under, terribly under,”
final margin. Baughman thought his team swung the bat a lot better than in their 3-2 loss to the Mooreville Troopers Thursday night that saw his team only muster two hits despite reaching 10 times on walks. "I thought our swings tonight were much better than (Thursday's) swings," Baughman said. "I thought for all 12 innings we were better than we were (Thursday) night. I thought our swings and approaches at the plate were good for the most part. I thought we got a little big and a little ahead of ourselves when they brought the lefty in, but we made an adjustment there and got some big hits late in this
Kennedy said. “At the end, they take posed to be back for floor balance a shot, it’s 50-50 ball after Barford is laying on the floor in the lane. gets downhill. If we get that ball, not “But they came up with it.” only do we have an opportunity to parrish.alford@journalinc.com score in the open floor, but their Twitter: @parrishalford point guard, the guy that’s sup-
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game." CJ Terrell was the only player with multiple hits in against the Tigers and also drove in a run. Clark Stovall, Preston Perkins. Duncan Graeber, and Chase Kessinger each drove in a run in the contest. Oxford's next game will be at Edwin Moak Field for the first time this season Monday when they host the Lafayette Commodores in the Oxford Spring Break Tournament. The Junior Varsity game will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the varsity first pitch time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Oxford will also play Water Valley on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and Lake Cormorant at 6:00 p.m. during the tournament.
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OXFORD CITIZEN
PAGE 16
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
Experience Counts Stokes provides pitching, leadership to OM Rebels BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS WRITER
Two seasons ago, Will Stokes was learning on the run as a member of the Ole Miss Rebels. Now, the junior from Meridian, has two letters on his jacket and a perspective that surpasses almost everyone else on the roster. When Stokes first arrived in Oxford, Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco had to rely on him to get outs. It wasn't a surprise that Stokes saw action considering his talent level but even Bianco put him situations he didn't necessarily expect to right away. “When you talk about older guys, we don't have very many. We have two seniors and six juniors and on the pitching staff, we even have less. Will is a guy that has been in the battle going on three years,” Bianco said. “He was so good out of the bullpen as a freshman and we were so thin on the mound that we even started him a game against Florida. When you look at his statistical year as a freshman, it was very mediocre, but yet he was terrific. We squeezed him as much as we ever squeezed a freshman. We needed him and he's always answered and I think that's why he had such a great season for us last year.” The 2016 season was a good one for Stokes, who tied the school record for appearances in a season with 30. He was 2-1 with seven saves last year. Coming into the weekend series with Furman, Stokes had three saves in four appearances to his credit. He has shared the mound late in games with Dallas Woolfolk, who was praised by Stokes for the way he's pitched. “I've been happy with what Dallas has done this year. He's been awesome throwing strikes and filling up the zone with dominance,” Stokes said. “Our relationship has worked well. It's kind of like me and Wyatt (Short) last year. It's always having a really
role last year. He really wasn't the set up guy. It was more like we had two closers at the back end and it was a huge luxury for me with Wyatt and Will that we could go right left and then have somebody go two innings and someone one and then bring him back the next day,” Bianco said. “He was a huge reason why the bullpen was so affective for us last year and because of that, he brings a ton of experience, big-time experience, from not-so-much success as a freshman to a lot of success as a sophomore. He's seen a lot of the battles in the Southeastern Conference. We don't have a lot of those guys, so I think his leadership has been huge for these guys and this staff.” Stokes played high school baseball at the state's top program – West Lauderdale – but even that wasn't enough for him to not experience some growing pains when he first arrived. Being thrown into the fire actually turned out well for Stokes, who is able to pass on that direct knowledge the bevy of freshmen on the 2017 roster. “I think it's totally different, no matter what high school program you come from. The competition level is so much better and you have to learn a lot coming from high school,” Stokes said adding the biggest thing he's learned is facing adversity. “In high school, if you're a good pitcher, you don't struggle that much. Out here, you're always going to have some struggles to work through. That's the big thing.” From a pitching standpoint, Stokes' slider is more reliable than when he arrived. He has evolved from just throwing fastballs past batters. JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS “Getting ahead and Ole Miss junior Will Stokes is a lot more than just a reliable arm out of the bullpen for coach Mike Bianco. being able to dump in a slider for a strike is a big up a lot during 2015, and thing that I've learned,” good guy in front of you or thing to have two guys at games.” There isn't a situation his experience is very wel- Stokes said. “In this sport, behind you to come in if the back of the pen that you have to grow up quick you screw up or if he has a have been there before that Bianco is scared about comed. “He was in a different and I think I have.” bad outing. It's a neat and are able to close out putting Stokes in. He grew
OXFORD CITIZEN
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
PAGE 17
Passionate Rebel Softball is life to Ole Miss junior Cox BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS WRITER
Softball is life for Elantra Cox. The Ole Miss junior from Henderson, Tennessee has been hitting the ball and running bases since she can remember. Even when Cox could be recruited by college teams, she was more interested in playing in the next tournament. “Softball has always been something I've been good at and wanted to get better at,” Cox said. “I've played since I've been 3 or 4. I want to get a good education, but if softball can pay for my school, my thought was why not do it.” A passion for softball has rubbed off in a positive way for the No. 23 Rebels. Cox, who plays in the outfield, is willing to do anything it takes to help the team win. She is literally that simple when it comes to playing. “It feels amazing and that all of our hard work is paying off,” Cox said adding she loved playing for head coach Mike Smith. “He knows more about this game than anyone. He's won the championship games and gotten the rings. Why would you not want to listen to him? He makes you want to get to the same spot that he's gotten to at
ing, but if somebody was to ask me how I played, I would say I was really fast. It's scary at times because I don't even know what I'm going to do,” she added. “I like to put a surprise on people's face. I love stealing bases. It's my favorite thing to do and if I could do it all day, I would. It's something that just sets fire into my heart. When I get on, I'm looking to see where I can go next.” Softball, and school, takes up a huge part of Cox's life. When she isn't doing one of those two things, she likes to watch Netflix and chill out. “I love Netflix. I'm on the series 'Once Upon a JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS Time,'” Cox said. “I'm Ole Miss junior Elantra Cox is off to a fantastic start for the Rebels in 2017. Heading into the weekend, she was hitting .597 glued to it. I would recommend that show.” with 15 stolen bases and eight RBIs. Ole Miss will conclude pops up at the house and Cox does well. She came bases in 16 attempts. previous schools.” its classic tournament When Cox came on her is always at the games,” into the weekend hitting “I love doing the defense today against Jackson State official visit to Ole Miss, Cox said adding that her .597, and she had 15 stolen aspect, especially the div- at 2 p.m. she remembers looking at mother was a softball her mother and saying standout in high school. “My mom is my rock, my 'Wow.' “It was the best campus soul and the reason I wake I had been to and the up in the morning.” The Rebels have started coaches really made me feel at home,” Cox said. “I the 2017 season just like knew if I felt at home here, the finished 2016. Cox said it was the right place for the team was “a force to be reckoned with.” me.” “I definitely believe that Cox's hometown is just under two hours away we are still continuing to from Oxford, so her let everyone know that mother is always coming we're here. If Ole Miss is on your schedule, you betdown to see her play. “If my mom wants to ter watch out,” Cox said. Offense is the thing that pop up at the house, she
OXFORD CITIZEN
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SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
Golden FROM 13
weren't really aggressive in the beginning, we got some transition stuff. It took them until the fourth quarter when in our minds we said 'oh my gosh, we could lose this' that we finally became the aggressor. It probably helped that I had to sit down so they couldn't listen to me anymore. That was the longest eight, 10 minutes to sit down." Late in the third quarter after a foul was called on Mariah Holland, Linzy received a technical foul for his efforts to defending his players that caused him to sit down for most of the remainder of the contest. At one point in the first half, Lafayette had been called for 12 fouls while Ripley had only been called for two. Ripley's Dayzsha Rogan led the Lady Tigers with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals. Montara Crum added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals for Ripley. Holland also added 11 points, eight rebounds, and three steals for Lafayette.
BEN MIKELL
Coach Shayne Linzy celebrates winning the MHSAA class 4A state title.
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2016 JEEP RENEGADE TRAILHAWK White, 4 wheel drive, fully loaded. 2,500 miles. (662)6107755 Ask About our Enhancements for Single-Column Ads. We have a variety of ways to customize your ad to get the action and results you want! Call today to place your Oxford Citizen classified ad! 1-800-270-2622 Fax: 662-620-8301 E-mail: classifieds@journalinc.com
General Employment
Trucks
DODGE Dakota 2007, 4 door, silver, full power, cold air, V6, $7,500, call Roy (662)7903111 LOOK at our Service Directory. If you would like to know how your service can be advertised at an affordable price, give us a call today for details on how to place a classified ad that gets results FAST! 1-800-270-2622 Fax: 662-620-8301 E-mail: classifieds@journalinc.com
General Employment
Due to record business growth United Furniture Industries has immediate openings! We are offering the following to qualified individuals:
$500 signon bonus New higher pay rates
Production pay opportunity of $21+ per hour We are looking for experienced:
Framers Springers Upholsterers
Highly experienced people will be placed in production paid positions ASAP! We have 100+ positons available, and are hiring for Amory, Okolona, Nettleton, and Verona facilities. United Furniture offers a 401K, Health, Dental and a full range of ancillary benefits including Vision insurance. Apply on line at www.ufijobs.com. Kiosk are set up at each facility to access on line application. Hours for applying are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. United Furniture Industries is an equal opportunity employer.
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OXFORD CITIZEN
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017