Columbus soccer team wins two games in Tupelo Tournament

TUPELO — Matthew Esquivel scored four goals in three games this weekend to help the Columbus High School boys soccer team win two of three games in the Tupelo Tournament.

Esquivel scored both goals in a 2-1 victory against Saltillo on Friday, scored the only goal in a 6-1 loss to Corinth on Saturday and scored scored a goal in a 3-0 victory against Center Hill on Saturday.

Sevascian Vasquez led Columbus (3-2-1) with two goals against Center Hill.

MSU’s 37th annual Holiday Bazaar to draw more than 100 vendors

Mississippi State University welcomes the holiday season with a two-day arts and crafts fair Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center on campus.

African-American genealogy sought for Chicago publication

Have you asked yourself, “Why can’t I find anything about my people in my county’s heritage book?” Do you wish your ancestors had left behind a narrative of their own lives, rich in details about the people, places, and things that were most important to them?

MSU offers poinsettias, flowers at Holiday Open House

Dozens of poinsettia varieties and novelty plants will be on display and sale at the Dec. 4 Holiday Open House hosted by Mississippi State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Additional poinsettia displays will be available Dec. 5 in Kosciusko and Jackson.

When planning holiday gifts, don’t forget the garden and kitchen

Mississippians may find themselves with many people on their gift lists and a small budget this year, but a few ideas and some creativity can help them give good gifts.

CAC presents ‘A Classical Ballet Holiday Gala’ to brighten holiday season

The Columbus Arts Council presents the award-winning Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya in a “Classical Holiday Ballet Gala” Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2:30 p.m. The professional dance troupe of Russia will bring to life Tchaikovsky’s most beloved numbers from the second act of “The Nutcracker,” as well as other classical gems. They will also perform “Remember When,” a new one-act ballet to the music of George and Ira Gershwin during the festive event at Rent Auditorium on the Mississippi University for Women campus.

Shannon Bardwell: Class or crass

My mother was definitely a Southern mother, and I appreciate her more and more the older I get. I feel that I must apologize to the following generation, especially the young women, for spending more time and money trying to preserve my own youth and less acquiring the wisdom necessary to pass on to their generation. “ … older women … train the younger women … ”

Lamar County football team remains undefeated

VERNON, Ala. — Undefeated Lamar County High School had posted back-to-back shutouts entering its game against Red Bay in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Coach Ken Adams said he wasn’t worried about getting a third shutout in a row Friday night as long as Lamar County won.

Adams didn’t have much to worry about as the Bulldogs rolled to a 42-0 victory.

Pickens County football team re-establishes itself in playoffs

REFORM, Ala. — Top-seeded Pickens County needed to re-establish itself in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs coming off its first loss of the season to rival Gordo in its regular-season finale.

The Tornadoes did just that, lighting up the scoreboard for 43 first-half points in a 57-24 victory against Keith..

Noxubee County footbll team victory not pretty

MACON — It wasn’t the prettiest game in the history of the Noxubee County High School football program, but coach M.C. Miller will take it.

The Tigers surrendered their second-most points in a game this season, had more 100 yards in penalties, and committed three turnovers, but mustered enough offense to defeat New Albany 36-17 Friday night in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A North Half State playoffs.

Bates leads Louisville football team past Pontotoc

LOUISVILLE — There was some question going into the Louisville High School football team’s first-round Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A North Half State playoff matchup as to whether sophomore wide receiver C.J. Bates would play.

The Warriors of Pontotoc High School left the turf of Louisville’s R.E. Hinze Stadium on Friday night wishing he had not.

Bates caught seven passes, including one for a touchdown that led to LHS tying the game late, and intercepted a pass on the last play of the game to spark the Wildcats to a 28-21 double-overtime win.

Victory Christian wins championship game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– Winning football championships has become contagious at Victory Christian Academy.

Victory Christian won its second-consecutive title, and third in four years, Friday by beating Tuscaloosa Christian 49-6 in the Christian Football Association championship game.

Parker Eaves completed 9 of 11 passes for 320 yards and threw four touchdown passes to lead Victory Christian (10-0) to its second consecutive undefeated season.

Dentry leads New Hope football team past Gentry

INDIANOLA — Terrance Dentry rushed for 155 yards and scored both of his team’s touchdowns Friday night to lead the New Hope High School football team past Gentry 14-0 in its final game of the regular season.

New Hope (9-1, 6-1 Class 5A, Region 1) scored all its points in the first half as Dentry scored on a 24-yard run in the first quarter and on a 3-yard run in the second quarter.

Dentry finished the regular season with 1,010 yards.

Artists and Authors Showcase welcomes Clay County’s own

WEST POINT — On Nov. 15, West Point will showcase its own Clay County artists and authors as part of Christmas Open House. The West Point Arts Council is hosting the second annual Artists and Authors Showcase, from noon-4:30 p.m., in the historic McClure Furniture building on the corner of Broad and Commerce Streets downtown.

Vendors, there’s still time to sign up for Holiday Market

Vendors of all things locally grown, made or conjured up still have time to sign up for the Nov. 21 Hitching Lot Holiday Market, Main Street Columbus has announced.

Entertaining travel trilogy is topic of FOL Book Talk

In a Friends of the Library Book Talk Wednesday at 2 p.m., Dr. Jane Hinton-Stegal will explore the ventures and adventures of native Iowan and journalist Bill Bryson, who spent 20-plus years in Britain before returning to his native land. The free event at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 Seventh St. N., is open to the public.

TV stations launch food drive

North Mississippians are urged to drop off non-perishable canned goods at any of the 17 Mississippi State University Extension offices for the Food for Families Food Drive presented by WTVA, WLOV and WKDH TV stations. The drive runs through Dec. 16.

Starkville’s Festival of Trees opens with gala Thursday

The second annual Festival of Trees, benefiting United Way of North Central Mississippi, opens Thursday with a Holiday Party and Auction in the Palmeiro Center on Mississippi State University’s campus. Last year, more than $20,000 was raised during this multi-event festival. For 2009, a new venue, more events, and increased participation promise an even better year.

Where does food come from? Preschoolers learn from the ground up

The growing season may have come to a close, but the knowledge gained by a new crop of very young hands-on enthusiasts will hopefully last a lifetime.

Columbus loses game to Olive Branch

OLIVE BRANCH — Olive Branch High School football coach Scott Samsel hadn’t called a swinging gate play in three years.

He did so at just the right time Saturday afternoon.

With the Conquistadors nursing a seven-point lead against Columbus with 84 seconds left in the first half, the play sprang running back Keyshun Shipp for a 41-yard gain that turned the momentum of the game at Leslie Pool Field.