Articles by Jan Swoope
Oktibbeha Heritage Museum to host ‘Chit Chat’ series
Connecting a community to its history may be the primary mission of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, but a new Chit Chat series intends to connect community members to each other.
Dip, devour: It’s National Chocolate Fondue Day
With Valentine’s Day just over a week away, it seems a good time to mention that February is National Chocolate Month. In fact, today — Feb. 5 — is Chocolate Fondue Day.
Empowered: Entrepreneurial women get a big boost from a new group
It might be a form of business world karma that Misty McCraw and Kaitlin Mullins chanced to meet in 2019. It occurred first through their computers, when both were taking part in a national online entrepreneurs’ group and McCraw, of West Point, posted a message asking if anyone in the network happened to live nearby. She received a response from just down the road — from Mullins, in Starkville.
Actress, author to speak at African American History Banquet
Many will remember Bern Nadette Stanis as daughter “Thelma” on the popular CBS sitcom “Good Times,” which ran from 1974 to 1979.
A sundae for Sunday?
While in the car Monday morning, I happened to tune in to Mississippi Public Broadcasting; about the first words I heard were “barbecue sundae.” Now, I admit, that’s a new one on me. (Some of you are saying, “Where’ve you been?”)
The art of the blade: Local bladesmith takes forge skills from the back porch to national TV
Anticipation ran high at the Cargile house in Lowndes County the night of Jan. 15. Friends and family gathered around the television — Mitch Cargile was about to make his screen debut. Cargile, 38, was one of four bladesmiths competing in that evening’s episode of “Forged in Fire.”
SCT brings home major wins from state festival
Starkville Community Theatre’s entry in the annual Mississippi Theatre Association festival Jan. 16-19 brought home top honors in categories including Best Production, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
Lowndes Master Gardeners annual training to begin
Flowering containers and landscaping at Lee Park, the Butterfly Garden at the Columbus Riverwalk, the herb garden at The W’s Culinary Arts Institute — these and other projects around the county are the work of Lowndes County Master Gardeners.
And the survey says … Internet searches reveal some Super Bowl favs
Neither of Sunday’s conference championship games went my way, so at the moment any personal investment in Super Bowl LIV is at low ebb. This brief period of pouting shall pass, however; past experience predicts I’ll rally to get interested in at least the chow to be served during the big game Feb. 2. So an email in my inbox about favorite Super Bowl snacks for every state sounded like it could be fun.
Coming in from the cold: Compassion, teamwork drives development of new warming shelter
For most of us, freezing temperatures are usually no more than an inconvenience. But for a man, woman or child without a place to call home — or with a home, but no heat — they can become life-threatening.
Resolutions to ‘get fit’ mean more as we mature — longer life, less disability can be the pay-off
Driving music could be heard long before this visitor opened a door near the gym at the downtown Columbus Y. Inside the room, volume intensified as a circle of more than 20 women surrounded the dynamo at its center. Participants danced and clapped, making the most of this regular Wednesday morning romp called Move and Groove.
Athlete-turned-mom shares story of life after injury
LeAnn Sanders Shelton lost her left arm in a traumatic lawn mower accident when she was only 4 years old. The McShan, Alabama, resident, now 37, has never let it define who she is.
Doing it better in 2020: So, you want to ‘eat better’ this year?
Eight days into the new year, resolution-makers everywhere are trying to instill new habits.
Longtime FBC pastor to lead Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
A change is coming to First Baptist Church in Columbus. Longtime pastor Shawn Parker will soon leave the pulpit to take on new responsibilities as executive director-treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
Countdown to Christmas
In the weeks leading up to Dec. 25, anticipation builds as moments grand and simple fill the calendar.
Horton adds ‘spunk and swing’ to Christmas with album release
Back in July, when the sun shone high and hot, Jessica Horton was in Studio 115A in Columbus imagining she was singing in a winter wonderland.
Building Christmas: Graham cracker houses — no baking required
New housing starts in Columbus saw a boost last week when more than two dozen sweet new “structures” got underway. But these miniature houses were more tasty than livable.
Random acts of kindness … from gallons of gas to warm coats, a random round-up of kindness
Tim Hudson found out that pumping gas can be good for the soul. He made the discovery on the first Saturday in December, when he helped fill the gas tanks of nearly 40 vehicles at Steens Superette. The unpublicized “Random Acts of Kindness” by Piney Grove United Methodist Church in Steens astonished drivers with free gas and spread plenty of Christmas cheer.
A world of Christmas: Friends celebrate their bond with international flair
A customary stillness at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library gave way to some hustle and bustle Monday morning. Christmas was in the air.
