Articles by Jan Swoope
Lost and found: Found objects meet vivid imagination in this friendly ‘invasion’
In the hands of a good science fiction writer, an invasion of robots will send shivers up the spine. Amy Ballard’s army of robots, or bots, however, is no threat.
Labor Day weekend heralds return of Prairie Arts Festival
As sure as Labor Day weekend signals summer’s closure, West Point’s Prairie Arts Festival opens the fall festival season with a flourish.
Black Prairie Blues Fest returns to West Point for 23rd year
Jesse “Guitar” Robinson and Friends, Ghost Town Blues Band plus Big Joe Shelton and the Black Prairie Blues Ambassadors will lead the way in celebrating the blues Friday at the 23rd annual Black Prairie Blues Festival in West Point.
Apply now for first Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs Market
Young people in the Golden Triangle with an entrepreneurial spirit are invited to showcase their handmade or homegrown talents and ideas at the Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs Market to be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23 in Columbus.
Fall floral designs, turf grass head September Quick Bites
With the scorch of summer soon — it is hoped — to become a memory, September turns thoughts to pigskins and autumn landscapes.
Playing with fire: Bob Thompson knows some like it hot
So, we’ve heard of “parrot heads,” but “pepper heads?” Bob Thompson is one. The genuine pepper-loving fan can’t seem to get enough of the fiery stuff capable of making arms flail and heads explode.
Hawk watch: An everyday bus ride becomes a time to explore
“Looky there, there’s Sparky!” said Debby Lawrence, carefully piloting a Lowndes County School District bus, just as she has almost every school day for the past four years. She points ahead, to the top of a utility pole in the rural west Lowndes countryside, where she’s spotted a hawk.
Calling fine artists for Starkville Art Walk
The Greater Starkville Development Partnership is getting artsy. The economic development, tourism and community development office will present a Downtown Art Walk from 2-5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14.
National Eat a Peach Day: it’s a real thing
Nowhere can I find whether the Allman Brothers inspired it or not, but there is actually such a thing as National Eat a Peach Day.
A mural revisited, one more time
Jerry Franks skirted the ravages of time in a deserted hallway of his alma mater, S.D. Lee High School.
Neighborly collaboration: Friends get creative in sweet and savory ways
Sometimes it’s all about putting your heads together. In this case, three of them. It happened last year when Michael Dodson, an instructor of biology at Mississippi University for Women since 2009, got to chatting with his apartment complex neighbors, Franco and Makie Lopes.
Project HELP: ‘Homeless’ doesn’t end when school bells ring
Kelli Phelps has been busy. Her Wednesday morning was spent transporting a carload of backpacks, hygiene products, notebooks, cleaning wipes, pencils and other school supplies — all donations collected by members of the Golden Triangle Association of Realtors.
Art for EB honors Super Gabe, keeps grandparent’s pledge
Gabe Valentine of Starkville was born with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare condition causing fragile, blistering skin and other debilitating complications.
Golden Triangle writer brings home RITA Award
Kait Nolan grew up with her nose in books penned by a long list of authors she enjoyed.
It’s that time: Lessen the stress of back-to-school
When store displays of beach towels and flip-flops are replaced by three-ring binders and backpacks, change is in the air.
Listen to the dance: Adult tappers let their feet become the instruments
As a little girl, Anna Couch loved tap dancing so much she would tap her way down the grocery store aisles behind her mother.
Patriotism sparks drive for military care packages
With more than 4,000 Mississippi National Guard soldiers currently deployed, people across the state want to show their support.
Lowndes Tomato Battle announces biggest ‘mater
The 2018 Lowndes County Tomato Battle has a champion.
August Quick Bites: cool flowers, little critters, apps and crafts
Cool Flowers for Hot Days is the topic leading off August Quick Bites programs for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Be cool: Need a cold dish for a hot summer day?
There is a time for steaming bowls of hearty stew and savory chili. This is not it.
Deputies searching for two suspects in Sunday double homicide
June 29, 2025
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