For several weeks people have inquired about a sign along Highway 82 indicating that if you take the Macon/Meridian exit, a McDonald’s is about a mile south on Highway 45.
There is no McDonald’s there, however.
We contacted Mississippi Logos, the Madison-based company that manages the logo program for Mississippi’s highways and interstates, to find out the situation. Mississippi Logos maintains approximately 3,000 blue highway signs that display business logos across the state. They have 1,400 customers — gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Johnny Durrett, the company’s general manager, said the McDonald’s logo at the Macon/Meridian exit was inadvertently put in the wrong place. It has since been taken down, Durrett added.
Interesting note: According to traffic counts posted on Mississippi Logo’s website, the most frequented Columbus exits along Highway 82 are for Fifth Street and 18th Avenue. About 27,000 vehicles travel each one a day.
Moving on.
This week, the 12th Magnolia Directory phone book hit the streets. The locally-owned business puts out the only Columbus and Lowndes County specific phone book. The newest version — of which about 30,000 were printed — is 180 pages long (90 white pages, 98 yellow pages).
Caledonia native Andy Tentoni started the company in 2002. Between that year and 2009, the business grew steadily before leveling off. However, three out of the last four years, Tentoni said, business has increased.
What sets Tentoni’s phone book apart from others? It contains a cross reference for all local numbers, has large print, contains maps of Columbus and Lowndes County, and pages of coupons. It is free.
You can pick up extra copies of the Magnolia Directory at the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center, the Main Street Columbus downtown office, at Columbus Light & Water, and at Caledonia Town Hall.
Magnolia Directory has three employees.
Lastly, Girlz-N-Pearlz, a Columbus boutique, opened late last year.
Lisa Jones is the owner. The boutique is located at 2316 Sixth Ave. N., right behind Lisa’s Land of Learning, a daycare Jones also operates. The boutique offers women’s and girls’ clothing, as well as purses and accessories.
It is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and employs two people.
Browning on Business is a weekly column that runs each Thursday. We want your input. Send items and tips to [email protected] or [email protected].
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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