Recent Stories & Articles Operation Christmas Child heads into final weekend11/20/2009 11:41:00 AM Their shopping carts give them away. The plastic shoebox-sized containers, tiny toys, toothbrushes, school supplies and small, stuffed animals are sure signs of an Operation Christmas Child shopper. Golden Triangle stores have been filled with them. 49th annual Country Store Bake Sale transcends generations11/18/2009 10:03:00 AM As a young girl, Jean Wilder remembers her mother baking apple crunch pies for the Country Store Bake Sale. It was only one of the delicious homemade goodies Laura Pennington made to support the preservation of the historic Stephen D. Lee Home at 316 Seventh St. N. Scrooge and company sing their way through classic holiday tale11/14/2009 7:02:00 PM It’s dusk on Christmas Eve. All is cold in London’s darkening streets. As gloom settles in the accounting office of Scrooge and Marley, old Ebenezer Scrooge, that bitter miser, sparingly lights a candle at his desk. Nearby, his shivering clerk, Bob Cratchit, copies accounts. For Debbie Gibson’s extended family, Sundays at the dinner table strengthen the ties that bind11/11/2009 9:59:00 AM Once upon a time, big family-style Sunday meals were the rule rather than the exception. Aromas drifting from mom’s or grandmother’s kitchen promised delicious home-cooked dishes, hot from the oven. Children, changed out of their church clothes, romped and played, before being told to go wash up. Tennessee Williams honored in New York with induction11/7/2009 10:25:00 PM The late Tennessee Williams, born in Columbus in 1911, is most often associated with the vivid plays and characters he created and twice winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. But it is the Mississippi native’s poetry which inspired his induction Thursday, and in a special service today, into the American Poets’ Corner at the magnificent Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City. CD release party has Swing Shift ‘Back 40 Rockin’11/7/2009 10:25:00 PM “People have always been good to us, and we’d kinda like to put on a little party for our friends and fans,” says Swing Shift front man and founder Johnny Coleman. “They’ve been with us a long time.” Debut concert launches Choral Society11/7/2009 10:25:00 PM The newly-formed Columbus Choral Society will present its first concert Sunday, Nov. 15, in the First United Methodist Church Artz Fellowship Hall located at the corner of College Street and Sixth Street South in Columbus. Musicians sought to resurrect that big band sound11/7/2009 10:25:00 PM Gill Harris freely admits he could talk all day about the big band era. A father of invention: One man’s tale on becoming an inventor of ‘bizarre and useful devices’11/7/2009 10:25:00 PM Bob Elder — inventor, artist, world traveler, problem-solver — likes to make things. Rarefied, mechanical things; practical, labor-saving things; beautifully artistic things. Give him a challenge, and chances are, the gears will start tumbling. The 76-year-old retired mechanical and design engineer already holds patents for various widely-used components of farm, material-handling and asphalt-laying equipment. And, he’s a deft hand with stained glass and wood-cut art, as well. Get the holiday spirit at the Handworks Bazaar10/31/2009 10:01:00 PM If the past three years are anything to judge by, savvy shoppers with an eye to the holidays will be out in force Nov. 7 for the 2009 edition of the Handworks Christmas Bazaar in Starkville. Recycling field trip stops at imagination station10/31/2009 10:01:00 PM Fourth- and fifth-grade MERIT students from New Hope Elementary School took a field trip Oct. 20 to learn about recycling first hand. After visiting the Lowndes County landfill, Triangle Maintenance and Columbus Scrap Metal, students took in the eye-popping sights at artist Elayne Goodman’s studio and yard, which are filled with whimsical art made with recyclables of every kind. All the difference: United Way way agencies can10/31/2009 10:01:00 PM Mamie Cunningham, at 93, likes to sit on the front porch of her home, absorbing the comings and goings of the neighborhood. The longtime Columbus resident takes pleasure, too, in the time she spends with family members each day. It’s a joy made more special for the wheelchair-bound woman since her doctors’ recent pronouncement that she is cancer-free. Art in Autumn: Kappa Pi art auction draws out success10/31/2009 10:01:00 PM For area art lovers, one of the much-anticipated events of the year is the Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity’s Art in Autumn auction. CAC presents guitar virtuoso, Starving Artist opening Nov. 810/31/2009 10:01:00 PM Lily Afshar, deemed “one of the world’s foremost classical guitarists” by Public Radio International, will bring her unique blend of Eastern and Western influences to the Rosenzweig Arts Center’s Omnova Theater Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3:30 p.m. Cookie mama: From Care Bears to clone troopers, cookies rule in the Willcutt household10/28/2009 9:45:00 AM Grinning jack-o-lanterns, fanciful Frankensteins and dancing skeletons fill the kitchen at Lucy and Macy Willcutt’s house. But the 4- and 7-year-old sisters have nothing to fear. The Cookie Mama has just been hard at play, baking and decorating a fun-filled cast of characters ripe for gobbling up, each as sweet and tasty as the next. Halloween night with MPR at Duff Green Mansion10/26/2009 11:19:00 AM The public is invited to join MPR at Vickburg’s Duff Green Mansion (1856), the source of many tales of benign paranormal activity. The investigation begins at 4 p.m. and extends beyond midnight. Decorative Arts Forum explores the 19th century South and its changing palate10/24/2009 8:21:00 PM In the genteel dining rooms of the 19th century American South, many families entertained at polished tabletops adorned with some of the most exquisite decorative service hand-crafted abroad. Dining customs, as well, reflected changing times and European influences.
With the 2009 Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum and Antiques Show and Sale Nov. 5-8, the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation explores all this and more with gala events, illuminating talks and a glittering array of antiques. 'Empty Bowls' will benefit Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen10/24/2009 8:21:00 PM In a show of community unity, school students, university faculty, area artisans and other caring individuals have pitched in to make more than 500 ceramic bowls for the Nov. 7 “Empty Bowls” event to alleviate hunger. Bump in the night: Mississippi Paranormal Research tries to explain the inexplicable10/24/2009 8:21:00 PM Unexplained voices, shadowy figures, doors that open and close by themselves ... it’s the stuff of sleepless nights. And especially as Halloween nears, a surprising number everyday folks feel plagued by just such bumps in the night. When their rattled nerves send them searching for answers online, many discover the Mississippi Paranormal Research team. Mother and daughter partner as wedding caterers — and so much more10/21/2009 10:02:00 AM While it’s not unusual for blushing brides and dashing grooms to tie the knot or hold their beautiful receptions in some of Columbus’ gracious antebellum structures, what has evolved at Shadowlawn is a bit out of the ordinary. Tony Allen entered a competition, but found an equine partner10/18/2009 12:07:00 AM Tony Allen of Vernon, Ala., leans on the metal railing of an indoor riding arena, black cowboy hat low on his forehead. His intent gaze follows his four-legged charge, which idly and confidently roams the new environment, investigating whatever sights and smells there are for a horse to explore. One couple’s experience coping with the insidious thief, Alzheimer’s disease, may help others10/18/2009 12:07:00 AM Joe Seger is a learned man. Director of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University, a professor of religion, an authority in Middle Eastern pre-history, a holder of multiple degrees — including one from Harvard University. He is a gentleman accustomed to painstaking research and the quest for elusive answers. A home for the heart: For Linder Burt, recovery leads to a new home and ‘ideal job’10/14/2009 9:38:00 AM For Linder Burt, preparing lunch and supper for a dozen adults every day isn’t a hardship; it’s a life-saving blessing.
As head cook at Recovery House, a substance abuse treatment facility for women, Linder brings very personal insight to the unique environment. Only 18 months ago, she herself arrived homeless and helpless at the Lowndes County agency, in dire need of treatment. Games, costumes, bachelors highlight W’s Oktoberfest10/10/2009 7:57:00 PM With games and food booths, costume contests for people and pets — plus a bachelor auction — Mississippi University for Women’s Oktoberfest, Tuesday, Oct. 20, promises fall fun for the whole community. Admission is free to the event on Shattuck Lawn from 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Shades of the ’60s — Beatlemania strikes again10/10/2009 7:57:00 PM While it may not be the actual Fab Four, the live show in Rent Auditorium Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. will be a chance to relive the sound that inspired a sea change in music and pop culture. Tennis, anyone?10/10/2009 7:57:00 PM Ponce de Leon might have been a few hundred years too early in his quest for the elusive fountain of youth. Two Columbus men may have trumped the Spanish explorer, discovering a secret or two of their own to long-lasting vitality — on courts where the crisp thwack of a tennis ball is a much sweeter sound than the creak of any rocking chair. Lasting effects: A Disney legend in animation, a Columbus son, is honored10/3/2009 7:36:00 PM On the gray, weathered boards of a modest, one-car garage on Columbus’ north side, Josh Meador left a telltale sign. Eighty years later, it remains: “Joshua Meador March 12, 1929,” roughly scribed in white paint on an interior wall. Facing it, from the opposite side, is an impromptu painting of mountains and clouds, in the same pigment. Blues bash: Live bands, food, fun highlight CAC Fall Blues Ball Friday10/3/2009 7:36:00 PM When it means friends, good food and dancing the night away to the music of Jesse Robinson and the 500 Pounds of Blues Band, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry and the Black Prairie Blues Band, who wouldn’t want to have a bout of the blues? Princess stage to host David Allan Coe Oct. 810/3/2009 7:36:00 PM David Allan Coe has spent a career pushing the proverbial envelope. As each new generation of “rednecks, kickers, pickers, preppies, skinheads, Deadheads, hippies and bikers” showed up to hear him, his reputation as one of country’s outlaws grew. Take a ‘spirited’ tour with local Ghosts & Legends10/3/2009 7:36:00 PM Among October’s many gifts are the tingling thrills and chills in anticipation of things that may go, at least gently, bump in the night. Hazard Lecture Series celebrates ‘Voyage of the Artist’10/3/2009 7:36:00 PM The 18th annual Hazard Lecture Series returns to Columbus on two consecutive upcoming Mondays, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Featuring noted author George Thatcher of Gulfport and composer K. Lee Scott of Birmingham, Ala., the free public events designed to stimulate thought and broaden horizons will celebrate the “Voyage of the Artist.” Petite treat: ‘Baby’ pralines are easy pick-up sweets9/30/2009 10:24:00 AM As chair of the committee planning and preparing goodies for the Columbus Arts Council’s gallery receptions, Beverly Norris is always on the hunt for pick-up treats gallery-goers can enjoy as they stroll through the show. And, tying the refreshment table to a theme is her specialty. 36th annual style show, auction to aid Recovery House9/26/2009 9:26:00 PM As sure as Mother Nature drops tantalizing autumnal hints this time each year, Soroptimist International of Columbus can be counted on to be hard at work planning its annual style show, luncheon, silent auction and tablescape showcase. The 36th annual event takes place Thursday, Oct. 8, at Trotter Convention Center. A fall perspective: Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation launches inaugural Fall Tour9/26/2009 9:26:00 PM Columbus’ spring Pilgrimage is a venerable and familiar friend, widely-known for its resplendent display of antebellum architecture and living history. But the Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation is adding a fresh perspective with the first-ever Fall Tour of Historic Homes — and downtown loft apartments — Oct. 1-4. Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival will be a ‘party with a purpose’9/26/2009 9:26:00 PM Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival chair Kabir Karriem has a good feeling about this year’s big event Oct. 1-3. ‘True Grits’ Sept. 25 proves storytelling is not just for kids9/19/2009 9:52:00 PM And who said storytelling is only for children? Award-winning story performer and actress Dolores Hydock handily dispels that misconception with “True Grits: Stories of Home Cooking, Diet Detours and Southern Hospitality” Friday, Sept. 25, in the Columbus Arts Council’s Omnova Theater at 501 Main St. Free music, fan fun to highlight Bulldog Bash9/19/2009 9:52:00 PM The Bulldog nation and music fans of all allegiances will be out in force Saturday, Sept. 25, as a crowd estimated to reach near 30,000 fills Starkville’s Cotton District for the 10th annual Bulldog Bash.
Headlining the free event sponsored by the Mississippi State University Student Association and Alumni Association is nationally-known rock band Third Eye Blind. Also performing are Jamie Davis and Soul Gravy, Sterling Y, The Flames, Red Hill City, Z-Flo and Hot Chelle Rae. Bulldog Bash co-coordinator Rob Triplett said the SA chose this year’s lineup with a strategy based off of polling, research and student responses from previous bashes.
Local sites star in film ‘Butterfly Rising’9/19/2009 9:52:00 PM In 2006, when Tanya Wright first penned the script for a very personal film she hoped to one day make, she had never heard of Columbus, Mississippi. But while in the city to meet a business partner, the native New Yorker and Los Angeles-based actress had what one might call a Possum Town epiphany. ‘No Dead Authors’ hosts Civil War scholar, author Sunday9/18/2009 11:26:00 AM Civil War scholar Dr. Brandon H. Beck will be the featured author Sunday as the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts the second in a series of book talks titled “No Dead Authors.” The free event at the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center, 300 Main St., begins at 2 p.m. Local fans watch as ‘Light’ fades to black9/17/2009 10:09:00 AM “Alan died today,” said a surprised Carolyn Linder of Columbus on Wednesday. She was referring to the oft-reviled “Alan Spaulding” (Ron Raines) of CBS’ daytime soap opera, “Guiding Light.” It was just one more door closed as writers and producers bring television’s longest running program to a final wrap. Grammy-winning musician brings signature sandwich, Caribbean cuisine to town9/16/2009 9:54:00 AM You won’t hear him bragging, but Nathan Best may take a prize for remarkable restaurateur stories. The affable Columbus resident with a ready smile is a past member of the O’Jays and the Fairfield Four, a Grammy winner for his part in the “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack, a pastor, a Christian supply store owner and purveyor of island cuisine at the Trinity Caribbean Café. MSU’s Riley Center season is off to a grand start9/12/2009 8:29:00 PM The much-anticipated fourth season of Mississippi State University’s Riley Center in Meridian is off and running. Launched with a quickly sold-out appearance by B.B. King in September, the 2009-2010 season is filled with music and theatrical performances for adults as well as children. Local Band of Brothers veteran gets a princely welcome, remembers war9/12/2009 8:29:00 PM The last living Mississippian of the 101st Airborne’s legendary World War II Band of Brothers enjoys sitting quietly on his front porch in Caledonia, listening to his birds hold court in branches overhead.
On the go? Try these recipes to get you in and out of the kitchen9/9/2009 9:56:00 AM Whether it’s football or soccer games, cheerleader or dance team practice, civic meetings or simply long days at the office, most families are on the run more often than they like. The frenetic pace often dooms family time around the table or kitchen counter. Cruisin’ the River boasts car show, commode races and King of the Hill bragging rights9/5/2009 8:20:00 PM Given his druthers, Southern Cruisers Car Club member Jimmy Terry of West Point would probably spend all his days bringing old cars back to life, transforming them inside and out into the powerful, gleaming machines they once were. Area musicians host benefit concert for Reed Andrews9/5/2009 8:20:00 PM “I’ve learned some things: Don’t ask, ‘Why me?’ and don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” said Reed Andrews Monday, sitting immobile in a medical clinic in Tupelo, as he does eight hours a day, four days a week, while receiving chemotherapy. Terrific tailgating: Fans get tips for safe gridiron grub9/2/2009 10:56:00 AM With about 72 hours left on the SEC season count-down clock, tailgate pros and red-shirt rookies alike are looking forward to major game day munchies. For many, a game is not a game unless a tailgate spread precedes it. Friends, blues fans honor native son Howlin’ Wolf at annual West Point fest8/29/2009 8:07:00 PM “I was just this fat, little kid who loved him,” Colin Linden chuckles, reliving his first encounter at age 11 with the inimitable bluesman Howlin’ Wolf in Toronto, Ontario. The seven-time Juno Award winner’s voice travels, accessible and warm, via phone from Nashville. Recipes to take a shine to: StarShine’s chefs share some of their best8/26/2009 10:58:00 AM Ever wished you could tap into some of the most creative dishes devised by great chefs? Today is your day. Recipes that wowed the crowd — and judges — at the Starkville Area Arts Council’s StarShine culinary extravaganza at The Bistro in Starkville Aug. 7-8 are yours to try. Celebrating Tennessee: Revered actress brings one of America’s great playwrights to life8/22/2009 10:48:00 PM There was a time when Thomas Lanier Williams, born March 26, 1911, in Columbus, was simply another curious toddler growing up on College Street. His first years were there with his family in the rectory of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where his maternal grandfather, the Rev. Walter Dakin, was priest. Take a peek: Three of Columbus’ Victorian era homes open for tour during Tribute8/22/2009 10:48:00 PM While it’s often Columbus’ antebellum homes at center stage, don’t overlook many of the lovely and classic examples of Victorian architecture to be found here. Columbus man in ‘Millionaire’ hot seat8/21/2009 12:18:00 PM Eight seconds and four Winter Olympics’ sites were all that stood between Jim Robinson, of Columbus, and the Hot Seat opposite Regis Philbin on ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” Thursday night. Local 'Millionaire' contestant goes for the big bucks tonight8/20/2009 1:46:00 PM Three weeks ago, Jim Robinson was thrilled to get the phone call he’d been waiting on for nearly a decade. When producers summoned the Columbus resident to New York City as a potential contestant on ABC’s special two-week 10th anniversary edition of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” it was the culmination of a dream. Caring Cooks: Casserole ministry needs friends helping friends8/19/2009 10:38:00 AM Some words have the power to shake our foundation. “Cancer” is one of them. Six letters with the ability to turn life inside out. The road to becoming a cancer survivor is a challenging one, often filled with life-altering treatments, all while trying to maintain some semblance of daily life. National abstinence educator to speak at ‘Boots for Babies’8/15/2009 6:22:00 PM Seven years ago, Pam Stenzel grew weary of hearing the phrase, “Nobody told me.” After years of counseling young girls who found themselves in crisis pregnancies, the then-director of a crisis pregnancy center in Minnesota began to realize so many were completely unaware of the risks involved with sexual activity — that many had never been told about the consequences of their choices. Autographed fiddle makes music for MSMS8/15/2009 6:22:00 PM Dr. Clyde Lindley is a seasoned veteran when it comes to collecting autographs. The director of academic affairs at Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science has been doing it for the past 40 years. Golden Triangle cyclist discovers America, one mile at a time8/15/2009 6:22:00 PM Several years ago, Jimmy Richardson’s brother made an astounding suggestion. The two men had completed a cycling trip on the Natchez Trace, and brother Charles floated the idea of traversing America on bikes. Columbus native returns for exhibit at RAC8/8/2009 9:23:00 PM Watercolorist Jennie Quinn Szaltis followed her artistic calling from Columbus, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mississippi University for Women, to Pensacola, Fla., where she worked in interior design, her major field of study at the W. A streetcar named “Desire” tours town, in advance of the Tennessee Williams Tribute’s theatrical production8/8/2009 9:23:00 PM The days when streetcars rumbled through Columbus’ city streets are long past. Their clanging rail-borne songs had faded away by 1917. But, for a nostalgic moment one recent afternoon, visions of a vintage trolley car reappeared in historic downtown, if only in miniature. Treasure Hunters Roadshow in Columbus through Saturday8/7/2009 10:44:00 AM Bruce Barnett walked into the Wingate Inn Wednesday with a hefty collection of coins and small silver bars that has been sitting idle for years. The Columbus man had come to find out what the Treasure Hunters thought of it. Laser games, heroes’ tribute hail local opening of ‘G.I. Joe’8/7/2009 10:41:00 AM When forces of good and evil clash on movie screens across the country as “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” opens Aug. 7, Columbus’ Malco Theatre and the Mississippi National Guard will be right there with them. Hobby gardener turns swimming pool into veggie smorgasbord8/5/2009 11:00:00 AM When Nick and Eleanor Hairston decided an in-ground pool installed behind their west Lowndes County home in 1974 had served its purpose, they opted for dramatic changes. Not many months after retiring from his post as Lowndes County administrator, Nick was ready to tackle a new project. With the help of savvy friends, family, the “Garden Tabloid” — and even garden guru Felder Rushing — he transformed the 34-by-17 foot pool into a bountiful backyard garden. Come on Down: The Columbus Opry is alive and well8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM “Yeah, Brother Fiddle Player, hey, hey, hey!” Hilton Hammond calls from the audience, clapping her hands as retired Air Force Col. Jim Fain launches into “Orange Blossom Special.” The house band jumps in, and the audience is hooked, even the youngsters playing cards, or hide and seek under the tables. Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market earns MDA certification8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM The Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market was recently certified by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce as part of the Mississippi Farmers’ Market Certification Program. The MDA launched the program as a way to recognize the growing number of farmers’ markets across the state. ‘Idol’s’ Murray sings at home for Red Cross benefit8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM The Golden Triangle was justly proud when its own Jasmine Murray made it into the Top 13 on American Idol’s Season Eight only a few short months ago. On Saturday, Aug. 22, the former Columbus Girlchoir member returns to her roots to join a host of performers lending their talents in support of the American Red Cross Tenn-Tom Chapter. Hear America roar: Sturgis revs up for rally, music and more8/1/2009 10:36:00 PM The big bikes are coming. They will roll into Mississippi from every direction, converging on the town of Sturgis — population 200 plus — Aug. 14-16. Thousands of motorcyclists and enthusiasts will gather at the 13th annual Sturgis South Motorcycle Rally in Oktibbeha County to enjoy national music artists, good food, vendors and fleets of gleaming bikes. Wonderful watermelon: This summer favorite celebrates its big moment7/29/2009 4:07:00 PM One bite into a cool, crisp wedge of watermelon takes us back in time. We’re kids again, parked at a picnic table or barefoot in the back yard, melon juice running down our chins, trickling between our little fingers. And we don’t have a care in the world. Belly dancing, anyone?7/25/2009 8:57:00 PM There is nothing unusual about the Columbus Arts Council offering classes. But three new August offerings with an unconventional twist arrive soon at the non-profit Rosenzweig Arts Center in the center of historic downtown. Belly Dancing Bootcamp, a Juggling for Dummies workshop and free sketching sessions will take centerstage. Match point: With simple supplies and respect for her past, Bessie Johnson passes on a lost art7/25/2009 8:57:00 PM Bessie Johnson has come to appreciate the humor in it. But when check-out clerks first suspected her of being up to no good after repeat store visits to buy armloads of wooden matches and bottles of glue, the moment wasn’t quite as amusing. Unrest in Honduras steers local youth to missions at home7/18/2009 The pounding of hammers and swish of paint brushes were punctuated with laughter as a team of youth and adult volunteers from the Columbus of Christ gave a modest home on 18th Street North a new lease on life Wednesday. New Columbus Choral Society sets auditions7/18/2009 Enthusiastic organizers have been hard at work laying solid groundwork for the newly-formed Columbus Choral Society. The group dedicated to bringing more fine art choral singing to the Golden Triangle has set initial auditions for Thursday, Aug. 13, and Tuesday, Aug. 18. Interested singers, male and female, over the age of 16 are invited to audition in the First United Methodist Church Choir Room, 602 Main St., between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” invites audiences to engage imaginations7/18/2009 “Welcome to the tale of a delicious adventure in a wonderful land,” the narrator entreats as the curtain rises on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” With green-haired Oompa Loompas, rivers flowing with chocolate, ballooning bubble gum and other mind-blowing mishaps, the audience is invited to suspend belief during this fantastical play that entertains even as it reminds us dreams can come true. Old farm, new life7/15/2009 “I see you,” Scott Enlow grinned, triumphantly plucking a stray squash bug from a plant thriving with bright yellow and green zephyr squash. Then, before heading back to the house where he grew up, the genial Columbus man cast vigilant eyes one last time across rows of summer vegetables in a garden like no other in the Golden Triangle. Local man prays third time is the charm for kidney transplant7/11/2009 For 25 of his 32 years, Johnny Grammar Jr. has lived with the reality of kidney disease. After two previous transplants, at age 15 and again at 19, the Columbus man is a walking testament to the patience and prayer he says he’s tried hard to practice. He urges others who may be in his situation to hold on to hope.
Although he has long been on three separate transplant lists, Grammar had begun to feel he would see no end to dialysis, the life-sustaining treatment for those with end stage renal disease.
At 89, this senior volunteer is still going strong7/11/2009 You won’t hear Vergie Gee boast about it, but the fact remains the 89-year-old Columbus woman has done more for Alzheimer’s research in the past several years with her delicate and careful stitches than most people will ever know. Red Barber recordings hit one out of the park7/11/2009 Walter Lanier “Red” Barber was born in Columbus in 1908. He left the Friendly City decades ago, going on to become one of the most famous broadcasters in sports history. He was the play-by-play pioneer of televised Major League Baseball, the first voice of the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers, and, in 1978, the first broadcaster to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Mel Allen. With colorful phrases like “tearin’ up the patch” and “I’ll be a suck-egg mule,” he carried a bit of his Southern roots with him wherever he leaned into a microphone. Gordo author, songwriter releases uplifting book, attends signing7/9/2009 One day, while sitting on a park bench, author Mark D. Jones, of Gordo, Ala., was asked by an old man, “Why do you do what you do? Why do you work where you work?” King of Pop’s passing sparks library blog explosion7/5/2009 Columbus-Lowndes Public Library Archivist Mona Vance had quite a shock Tuesday morning when she checked the library’s Local History Announcements blog. The historian has lately been accustomed to seeing between three to 10 blog hits per day on average. Imagine her surprise at discovering what amounts to a 2,026 percent increase in weekly statistics. Don’t tell Tom Keller he’s out of his gourd — he’s heard it before7/4/2009 Tom Keller still remembers the day he said to his wife, Madaline, “Don’t tell our neighbors we’re gonna drive 1,000 miles to a stupid gourd show.” That was 15 years ago, not long after the one-time Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealer had retired following 43 years in the auto and real estate business in West Point. The couple were heading out at the time to their first gourd show, in Ohio. Barista! For the connoisseurs of coffee, it’s all about pulling the perfect shot6/26/2009 Somewhere between the plain ole cuppa joe and java of old, America’s coffee drinkers became adventurous. What began in the early 1970s with start-up for Seattle’s Best and Starbucks turned into a caffeine-laced evolution that gradually spread from one coast to the other. Our love affair with the intense Italian nectar espresso — and the delectable concoctions it inspired — was on. One-man coffee bar6/26/2009 David Dunn shies away from the word “obsession.”
“‘Passion’ sounds better,” he chuckles, “let’s say I have a passion for roasting my own coffee.” When the dinner bell rings, volunteers step up for Camp Rising Sun6/24/2009 For 21 summers, peals of laughter from children attending Camp Rising Sun have echoed through the tall pines surrounding Camp Pratt in western Lowndes County. For a few days each June, fishing, archery, arts and crafts, rock walls and talent shows help round out a traditional camp experience for youngsters who have already had to deal with some very untraditional stress in their young lives.
As Dirty Presley, Daniel Peeples gets to go a little crazy6/21/2009 There’s a side to Daniel Peeples you might miss on the first pass. Quiet and unassuming, the 23-year-old comes across as a reticent teddy bear of a guy. But don’t be lulled into assumptions. Put a beat or song idea into his head, and a recording camera in his hand, and mild-mannered Daniel morphs into Dirty Presley, an out-there extrovert on a mission. Saddle up for Dusty Trails and ‘vittles’ at RAC6/21/2009 Singing cowboys and gals are dusting off the songs of the old west for a unique open mic night at the Rosenzweig Arts Center Saturday, June 27. The Columbus Arts Council has invited poetic cowpokes to join in, too, with spoken word. MUW Culinary Camp for Kids’ demos let young chefs shine6/17/2009 Two pretty, young ladies wait in a hushed hallway in the Mississippi University for Women Culinary Arts Institute Friday afternoon. Nervous energy bubbles beneath the surface. They carefully look over their cart one more time to be sure nothing essential has been forgotten. Egg whites, sugar, half-and-half, mixing bowls — all there. Through clay, this local therapist and artisan realizes a dream6/13/2009 Steven Garner dons a smudged apron and settles at the potter’s wheel to center and shape another piece of a dream-come-true.
This time, it’s a graceful bowl, to complete a set of three lipped nesting bowls destined to become a conversation-starter in someone’s kitchen. For Steven and his wife, Beverly, each completed piece inches them closer to officially opening Three Oaks Pottery, a vision they’ve nurtured for years. Bernard Romans DAR chapter honors late members with insignia markers6/13/2009 The Bernard Romans Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution paid tribute to deceased members in memorial ceremonies at Friendship Cemetery May 30. Young gardener nurtures herbs from garden to market6/10/2009 It’s been recorded that the ancient Greeks crowned their heroes with dill and laurel. Mint was credited by long-ago civilizations with mystical powers to neutralize the “evil eye.” Yes, man’s fascination with medicinal, ornamental and aromatic herbs can be traced through the ages, surfacing in romance, religion, food, health and superstition. ‘Listen to it’: Local man finds soul therapy giving new life to old wood6/5/2009 Under a huge, spreading oak in East Columbus, Roosevelt Davis listens to the wood ... the cedar, bois d’arc and oak limbs and trunks he and his nephew, Tarvars Davis, have salvaged from the woods along rural country roads. Caledonia senior’s education gets a boost with gift of car6/5/2009 Danielle Morales clearly remembers her pounding heartbeat during the recent Caledonia High School senior awards banquet. ‘Church without walls’ plans visionary move6/5/2009 If there is such a thing as a “good problem,” outgrowing your worship facility might be one of them. The Columbus Christian Center is experiencing those growing pangs and looking forward with excitement to a new building to be erected on a 21-acre plot on Highway 182 East, past the New Hope Road turn-off. Sights and Sounds: For MSMS students, music’s past comes to life along the Mississippi Blues Trail5/30/2009 For years, Performing Arts Director Dawn Barham harbored the idea of hitting the road — or, more specifically, the blues trail — with her band and choral students from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus. That vision became reality a few months ago when Barham, history instructor Julie Heintz and 50-plus excited teens struck out for the fertile Delta to tap into the rich roots of America’s indigenous music at selected sites along the Mississippi Blues Commission’s official Blues Trail. Big bikes hit the road for American Cancer Society5/29/2009 Motorcyclists will be out in force this weekend, revving their engines in the battle against cancer. The third annual Columbus Ride for Life event begins today with a bike show in center court at Columbus’ Leigh Mall and culminates with a roar Saturday. Little ‘Jimmy Buffett’ ... the educated squirrel5/22/2009 Like the famous native Mississippian of “Margaritaville” fame who inspired his name, “Jimmy Buffett,” the curious squirrel, is feeling carefree. He’s got a doting stepmom and stepdad, a comfortable place to lay his head, and all the grapes and nuts his tiny tummy can hold. ‘Mom and Pop’ roadside market offers fresh produce and good company5/20/2009 Except for the look of the vehicles steadily pulling in and out of the roadside lot, the scene at Don and Linda Beard’s open-air produce and curb market at 5731 Military Road, where Wolf Road intersects, could almost have been plucked from the fictional community of Mayberry.
Virtual dementia tours in Columbus offer vital insight5/15/2009 On May 18-19, Community Counseling Services will provide an unprecedented “hands on” glimpse into the mental and physical obstacles faced by adults with dementia. Monday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., staff will offer virtual dementia tours to the public in two mobile crisis units at CCS, located at 1001 Main St. Summer at the libraries: Open a book, open new doors5/15/2009 There’s always something interesting going on at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library — and not only for children. Two free summer programs soon to begin are “Be Creative @ Your Library!” for youngsters age 5-12, and “Master the Art of Reading” for adults 18 and up. Never give up: There is hope and help on the road to addiction recovery5/15/2009 Janice’s story begins as do too many others — with marijuana. At age 15, a little pot, the “gateway drug,” seemed harmless enough. The fleeting highs and clandestine thrill gave no clanging warning of the demons that would eventually swarm through the door that had been opened. CONTACT Helpline fish fry helps keep the lines open5/13/2009 Every morning around 8:30 a.m., 92-year-old June Kettinger relies on the phone to ring. The daily reassurance call from volunteers with CONTACT Helpline is one small but vital link that helps the Columbus resident continue living on her own. Mommies and children: building better readers through word, music, fun5/10/2009 Retired children’s librarian Hope Ellis is passionate about making great readers out of today’s children. The Columbus resident, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in library science from Mississippi University for Women and a Masters degree in library science from the University of Mississippi, has amassed a treasure trove of educational resources in her 21-year career. Willie King’s Freedom Creek Festival lives on5/10/2009 There’s an isolated field in the Old Memphis community, tucked behind a collection of mobile trailers circled, more or less, like a ragged, rust-pocked wagon train. Palmer Home house moms have more than enough love to go around5/9/2009 Skinned knees and funny poses, school plays and runny noses. Homework, chores and playground fun; tussles, learners’ permits and big homeruns. If it were possible to write a job description for moms, the line items would fit right in, somewhere between wondering where the instruction manual is and becoming a grateful grandparent. For the house mothers at Palmer Home for Children, the tasks, freely undertaken, are never done. There is always another child in need of that special acceptance and patient, tender care.
Cattlemen’s Association fires up the grills for scholarship fundraiser5/6/2009 For beef lovers, few aromas can rival the enticing lure of a flavorful, tender steak expertly grilled. There will be plenty of temptation to go around as the Lowndes County Cattlemen’s Association prepares nearly 3,000 ribeye steaks May 8-9 on grills set up at the Kroger parking lot on Highway 45 North. Arc hopes to bowl a strike at Market Street Festival5/1/2009 Bill Smith, of Columbus, considers himself a “pretty good bowler,” and relishes his Saturday mornings at Columbus Lanes Bowling Center with his buddies in the Gutter Busters league. But this Saturday, the friends plan to take their game to the street — Market Street Festival, that is. Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market ‘Celebration Saturday’ launches new season5/1/2009 Beth Rogers was delighted with her unexpected find. It wasn’t a long-lost locket, a forgotten $20 bill in a coat pocket, or even a great sale on spring shoes. No, Beth was thrilled to discover lettuce — fresh, crisp lettuce at the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market on opening day April 25. Like most loyal market followers, for Chef Beth, of J. Broussard’s Restaurant, the new growing season couldn’t get here quickly enough. Caledonia High School faithful mark 75th anniversary of alumni gathering5/1/2009 With all due respect to the late novelist Thomas Wolfe, Caledonia High School alumni would argue that you can go home again. Many of them do every Mother’s Day weekend, maintaining a long-held reunion tradition dating back 75 years. Good tunes, good times highlight Market Street Festival4/29/2009 As the clock ticks down to Market Street Festival 2009, organizer Main Street Columbus and an army of several hundred volunteers are busy with final preparations for the city's largest gathering Friday and Saturday. An estimated crowd of near 40,000 is expected to enjoy all the festival has to offer - renowned live entertainment, more than 200 arts, crafts and food vendors, and dozens of special events and children's activities. A funny thing happened on the way to the polls:“Dottie” and “Mollie Golly” run for mayor4/24/2009 As the May 5 primary elections draw near, political talk of promises and platforms escalates. Earnest candidates vying for the voter’s nod pull out all the stops to generate interest. In Starkville, the mayoral race is drawing a little extra attention — from two write-in candidates whose only real platform is the one they’re discreetly bolted to on the graceful wrap-around porch at 501 Louisville St. CAC brings Robinson’s ‘smooth’ music back to Columbus4/24/2009 “Smooth” is an adjective often associated with Jesse Robinson’s rich repertoire of blues and jazz. The “seventh son, thirteenth child, baby boy, and a preacher’s son” first picked up a guitar at 6 years old and hasn’t set it down yet. Nature heals the human spirit in YMCA’s “The Secret Garden”4/24/2009 One of literature’s most heart-warming classics is the inspiration for the YMCA Drama Team spring production. “The Secret Garden,” based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, will be presented by the Frank P. Phillips YMCA troupe Friday, May 1, in Rent Auditorium on the Mississippi University for Women campus at 7 p.m. Belk, Ala., hosts bluegrass fest this weekend4/22/2009 Sometimes the best things come in small packages. Take the third annual Bluegrass Festival in the rural community of Belk, Ala., about a half-hour’s drive from Columbus. Wok-N-Roll Cafe: Chinese cuisine and global missions mix at youth all-nighter4/22/2009 Nothing says “feed me” like 75 hungry teens bent on staying awake all night. And when it came to satisfying those robust appetites, the mood was decidedly Oriental as youth pastors Pat Davidson, Aaron Lane and Tim Bentley joined forces recently for a Wok In with their respective youth groups from Evangel Church and First Assembly of God, in Columbus, and First Assembly of God in Amory. Local soap and candle maker is one of nearly 200 vendors preparing for Market Street Festival4/17/2009 Chris McDill has been creating something from almost nothing since he was “ ... old enough to have my hands on anything.” Saturday marks opening day for Farmers’ Market4/17/2009 As sunshine and mild temperatures become more consistent, Mother Earth is beginning to yield the first of what promises to be months of delicious, homegrown goodness for the table. ‘Boss’ Sweet Potato Queen Jill Conner Browne to appear in West Point4/17/2009 They’re gaudy, brash and shamelessly funny. And if you can’t tell that from the Sweet Potato Queens’ lime sequined outfits and big red hair, maybe one of the “Boss Queen’s” books — like the No. 1 New York Times Best Seller “The Sweet Potato Queen’s Field Guide to Men: Every Man I Love is Either Married, Gay or Dead” — will clarify the point. Curtain opens on ‘The Pajama Game’ at Heritage April 24-264/17/2009 There’s trouble brewing on the pajama factory floor, and only delicate negotiations will quell it. But while the leader of the union grievance committee and the handsome new factory superintendent square off — and fall in love — the audience can count on “The Pajama Game” to entertain with Broadway-style show numbers at Heritage Academy April 24-26. Heart of the home: Three kitchens welcome visitors during Columbus Girlchoir fundraiser4/15/2009 The kitchen, it is often said, is the heart of a home, a central place of gathering and sharing. To get it “just right,” to create that place of comfort and welcome, is always an aspiration. And who doesn’t enjoy a glimpse into how homeowners, designers and builders turn the vision into a reality? Art and architecture meet the past in artist's detailed drawings of Columbus4/10/2009 Tracie Grace Lyons is convinced old buildings have stories to tell. Armed with rulers, watercolors and a keen eye to the past, the Mississippi State University fine arts major is giving visual voice to as many of those as she can. Ean Evans’ friends to rock Columbus at Mississippi Kid Festival4/10/2009 Those who know him best will tell you he’s one of the good guys. Selfless, generous with time, talent and encouragement. Ean Evans — “The Mississippi Kid” — has spent years doing for others. And now friends want to do something for him. Golden Triangle gears up for Relay for Life4/10/2009 Eager supporters of every age are breaking in their walking shoes for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life April 24 at Saunders Field (Magnolia Bowl). This signature event celebrates courage, survivorship and remembrance for every individual and family who has battled the disease. Friendship Cemetery to get a face lift4/10/2009 Rakes and garden gloves are encouraged, but not essential. A willing heart and pair of hands are the primary tools needed to be an integral part of the Community Day of Service April 18 at Friendship Cemetery. Church dessert auction raises ‘hoots, hollers’4/8/2009 It’s an unlikely place for a bidding war, but the action in the church fellowship hall has everyone riveted. Back and forth the spotter’s attention flies, following competition spurred on by a shrewd auctioneer. The dollar amount increases; delighted gasps rise from the crowd. Building back: Virginia volunteers resurrect burned Tabernacle cabin4/4/2009 The Rev. Ron Thomas remembers the phone call that came that late November Sunday. A century later, Friendship’s weeping angel still inspires4/4/2009 She is one of the most photographed ladies in Columbus, her image gracing magazines, brochures and gallery walls. She captures imaginations and inspires artists. And, even after 118 years, the weeping angel of Friendship Cemetery still keeps a silent and poignant vigil over the grave of the Rev. Thomas Cox Teasdale, the ninth pastor of First Baptist Church in Columbus, who died in 1891, at the age of 83. An antebellum table: Before food was fast and take-out took over, meals were made the old-fashioned way4/1/2009 For imaginative visitors, a stroll through the gracious antbellum dining rooms of Columbus Pilgrimage homes on tour through April 11 just may inspire romantic visions of belles, beaus and balls of a bygone era. What few of us give much thought to, however, is the fare that may have filled those sideboards and tables of old. A community spring cleans for first-ever ‘giant yard sale’3/28/2009 Ever since Spirus Roach, that wizened settler said to resemble a possum, inspired native tribes in the early 1800s to dub our little settlement Shook-huttah-tom-a-hah — Opossum Town — Columbus has rather enjoyed its lighthearted association with the waddling marsupial. Even then, pioneers and traders passing through knew a good bargain when they saw it. Hearing loss doesn’t keep local woman from being ‘just like you’3/28/2009 For too many employees, reporting to work every morning means just another day at the office. But for Jennifer Lee, the punch of the clock as it stamps her J.C. Penney Co. time card is a success story, a validation of her newfound courage and confidence. Live music, home tours, living history launch Pilgrimage Monday3/28/2009 The 69th annual Columbus Pilgrimage begins Monday with a flourish of live music and living history. Classical guitarist to perform at RAC April 53/28/2009 Young classical guitarist Erol Ozsever, of Indiana, will be in concert in the Omnova Theater of the Rosenzweig Arts Center Sunday, April 5, at 3 p.m. The artist’s program includes selections by Sylviu Leopold Weiss, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Sergio Assad, among other noted composers. Historic homes do the talking in young authors’ new book3/28/2009 “If these walls could talk ... ”
Thanks to Dale Rainey’s class of gifted students at Heritage Academy, some of them can. In “More Houses Talk,” 16 antebellum homes speak from the pages, offering a friendly, first “person” glimpse into the pasts of some of Columbus’ architectural treasures built between 1828 and 1858. Local gardens are big attractions for Pilgrimage visitors3/20/2009 All around Columbus, plump buds peek out from their protective capes, aware they are about to be given their cue. Under Mother Nature’s watch, azaleas, graceful dogwoods and winding wisteria seem to know the time is near to step on stage to the ooh’s and aah’s of an appreciative audience. The show of color is about to begin, just in time for the 69th annual Columbus Pilgrimage. Humane Society to benefit from Beta Sigma Phi event3/20/2009 A warehouse in East Columbus is filling up with everything from bedding sets to baskets in preparation for an extensive rummage sale to benefit the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society. Five local chapters of Beta Sigma Phi are joining together to help the local animal shelter move a step closer to getting the new facility it desperately needs. ABWA style show helps local group mark 20th year3/20/2009 Fresh silhouettes and pretty prints will be part of the spring landscape soon as the Columbus Anniversary Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association presents its 15th annual style show. Girl Scout cookies take on new starring role3/18/2009 In an innovative blending of tastes — and a sterling example of non-profit and commercial collaboration — popular Girl Scout cookie flavors inspired three new Jubilations cheesecakes this month and are featured on Harveys’ dessert menus in Columbus, Starkville and Tupelo. Érin go bragh: A Girl Scout patch offers a wee peek into Irish culture3/14/2009 “You can’t take your eyes off of a leprechaun ... for if you do, he’ll escape!” Paige Lawes told young, wide-eyed Girl Scouts sitting attentively in their seats. Lawes, however, wasn’t being literal; she was reading from a story, sharing a bit of folklore from the Emerald Isle, where magical tales of faeries, heroes and gods have been passed down for thousands of years. Ragtime means good times at third annual festival3/14/2009 Charles Templeton Sr. had a passion for American music, and Chip, his son, grew up with the “same disease.” Renovating recipes: A little nutritional creativity can put pizzazz in diabetic diets3/11/2009 Where is it written that diabetic diets must be bland and limiting? With resources and products available these days, those living with diabetes — almost 350,000 in this state alone, according to The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi — shouldn’t have to sacrifice flavor. Having a ball at the Y3/7/2009 The cast of the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball skit this year is especially fresh-faced and energetic — which is exactly what one would expect from a lively group of youngsters ages 12 and younger. Sporting swim goggles, flippers or basketballs, 13 girls and boys ages 7-12 will perform their way across the Trotter Convention Center stage at the 59th annual event April 4. Little Falcons hone rhythm, discipline, commitment3/7/2009 All eyes in Mississippi State University’s Humphrey Coliseum were on a group of fourth-graders from Joe Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School Feb. 28 as the pint-sized dribblers took the court during half-time of the SEC match-up between MSU and Auburn University. Showcasing basketball skills to music, the group of about 38 children brought the crowd to its feet. First annual event celebrates the ‘art of gardening’2/27/2009 Gardening as art? Yes, indeed. The profusion of colors, textures and shades can be as inspiring as a painter’s palette, while the process of bringing them to vibrant life on the earth’s canvas may be as painstaking as the artist’s quest to create his finest. And the fulfillment afforded to those who drink in the beauty of a well-loved garden can equal that of viewing a master’s brushstroke. MUW art students bring home awards2/27/2009 The Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition has undergone a lot changes since the 1970s, when Mississippi University for Women would rent a huge truck and faculty members Tom Nawrocki, Larry Feeney and David Frank would personally escort hundreds of pieces of student artwork to the prestigious competition in Jackson. Junior Miss chair moves on, leaving strong program in place2/27/2009 To leave a place better than we found it is a laudable goal, but one we don’t always attain. That is not the case for Casey Stephens Chudy. This week, the young wife who followed her then-student pilot husband to Columbus Air Force Base in 2004 moves on with him — and their two children born in Columbus — to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. But in her time here, the former Junior Miss from Barren County, Ken., has directly and positively impacted the lives of dozens of young women planning for college. Market Street Festival to welcome Paul Thorn Band May 12/27/2009 The big event may still be nine weeks out, but plans for the 14th annual Market Street Festival are well underway. On May 1-2, the streets of downtown Columbus will fill with live music, smiling crowds, art and crafts vendors, food and children’s activities of every kind. Blackwood Quartet to headline Red Cross benefit2/27/2009 Great gospel music has been a hallmark of the Tenn-Tom Chapter of the American Red Cross fundraiser for the past seven years, and 2009 will be no exception. On Friday, March 13, the renowned Ron Blackwood and The Blackwood Quartet present their “Hope for America” tour in Trotter Convention Center at 7 p.m. King cake and other New Orleans specialties reign during Mardi Gras ... and after2/26/2009 The revelry of New Orleans’ Carnival season isn’t confined to the Big Easy. On Monday, with beads and moon pies flying, Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science students celebrated Mardi Gras with a parade, a musical “second line” and a surfeit of high spirits. HEARTS purse auction features Nash Street and one-of-a-kind finds2/21/2009 Patti Johnson loves an artistic challenge. The Columbus artist has been busy transforming a cigar box into a trendy accessory and a shell-shaped container into a stylish adornment. It’s all for a good cause. Johnson, and others like her, are gearing up for the third annual HEARTS Spring Purse and Bag Auction benefiting the non-profit after-school tutoring program. ‘The Glass Menagerie’ and screamers highlight week at MUW2/21/2009 With incredible nuance and what some might call an almost preternatural insight, Tennessee Williams crafted on paper some of literature and film’s most memorably complex and flawed characters. A few of them will be in Columbus for a visit this week. The brutish “Stanley Kowalski” and his long-suffering “Stella.” An overbearing “Amanda Wingfield,” her tragically fragile daughter, “Laura,” and conflicted son “Tom” — in one form or another, they each will resurrect the spirit of the famous playwright born in Columbus in 1911. Cotton District Festival calls on artisans2/21/2009 Longer days and spurts of warm weather signal the impending arrival of spring. With the new season will come area festivals filled with live music, good food and unique visual arts. Giant Possum Town Yard Sale debuts at Farmers’ Market April 42/21/2009 Crammed closets got you down? Having trouble closing cabinets? Or perhaps you’re simply a fan of fantastic bargains. Well, the Hitching Lot Farmers’ Market in downtown Columbus has something for you. Coffeehouse concert benefits Palmer Home Friday2/14/2009 As far as the Carlstrom family of Columbus is concerned, “love is still a worthy cause.” That’s the name they’ve applied to a community coffeehouse concert they have organized for Friday at 7 p.m. at the Columbus Country Club. Tennessee Williams celebrated with ‘Meals for a quarter’ Friday on MUW campus2/14/2009 When it comes to bargains, the Mississippi University for Women Department of Music and Theatre can’t be beat. For a mere quarter, they are offering Brando, red beans and rice and an evening of Tennessee Williams Friday, Feb. 20, in Cromwell Communication Center on the MUW campus.
As a prelude to its production of Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” Feb. 26-March 1, the department’s “Meals for a quarter in the Quarter” will include “dinner and a movie” beginning at 7:30 p.m. The original play, written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author born in Columbus, won the prestigious New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1945.
“When Tennessee Williams was a struggling artist in New Orleans, he lived for a while in a home run by an eccentric landlady who tried briefly to open a restaurant,” explained play director Brook Hanemann, of MUW. “To help pay rent, Williams passed out flyers for his landlady brandishing his own advertising slogan: ‘Meals for a quarter in the Quarter.’ Making dreams come true: Local family helps fund new therapeutic riding center2/14/2009 Inspired by their own daughter’s physical improvement from therapeutic horseback riding, a Columbus family is investing in the future of a new year-round therapeutic riding center to serve children and adults from Northeast and Central Mississippi with physical and mental disabilities. Love at first bite2/11/2009 Hello, Mr. Lincoln2/8/2009 “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation” exhibit and special events explore the 16th president’s legacy ‘Crooners, Songbirds and Serenades’ usher in Valentine’s2/8/2009 Mississippi’s Best concert reveals a ‘Cinderella’ story2/7/2009 ‘We wrote a book!’2/1/2009 West Point pre-schoolers launch a hands-on love of books Singin’ the blues2/1/2009 Perseverene propels local musician into IBC finals Writing by the river2/1/2009 Local author finds Columbus ‘blessed with a spirit of writers’ Mississippi’s Best Grassroots event showcases music, art1/31/2009 Paul Thorn, Nash Street, Eden Brent lead musical lineup Search our archives for older stories by Jan Swoope
