Progress 2010

2010 PR

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RE

SS

ED

ITION

TH

ED

ISPATCH

PROGRESS

2010AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THEGOLDEN TRIANGLE

THEDISPATCH

Covers 3/11/10 11:52 AM

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2 THE DISPATCH � PROGRESS 2010

From the Editor

WEST POINT

Core philosophyAccording to Milton Sundbeck, If a city’s core issolid, the outer rings of the city will follow suit.

32

Dispatch Editor and PublisherBirney Imes recaps a year of change andrealizations of dreams small and large.

6

Made in the TriangleThe Golden Triangle is home to some interesting and unique products.8

Man on the StreetWhat makes your town unique?12

Status: LowndesA new health department and county offices among projects to be completed this year.

16

Building for the future

School district

evolves tosupport

expectedgrowth

with the completion

of ColumbusMiddleSchool.

44

Status: OktibbehaCounty sees schools expand facilitiesand a hospital poised for growth.22

Status: ClayBridge repairs on the horizon for West Point.28

INDUSTRY

AerodynamicsRegion ready for takeoff to new heights with Aerospace Park.

50

MSU 38Say Cheese!MSU’s famous Edam cheese has humble beginnings.

TABLE OFCONTENTS

Outdoor ObsessionThe Noxubee National Wildlife Refugehas a hidden charm.86

Saturday morning, Benjamin Harveyof Starkville holds his 2-year-olddaughter, Sasha, to see the naturalbeauty of the Noxubee WildlifeRefuge at Goose Overlook Point.


Celebrating 21 Great Years!

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Party Supplies • StationeryGifts • Pottery • Printing Department

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Specialty: Hospital Care

Baptist Memorial Hospital–GoldenTriangle’s hospitalist program offers personal care for hospitalpatients.

80

Ahead of the GameGreg Bryne works to improve athletic facilities to give theBulldogs a competitive edge.

92

LOCAL CUISINE

Food for the Soul Restaurant matriarch continues family tradition of soulful cooking.

62

MUW 68Down to EarthCeramics professor uses her love of clay to teach the “organic process of sculpting.”

A passion for politics

MartyWiseman,director of

the StennisInstitute of

Government,uses his analy-

sis and com-mentaries

to enlightenthe state.

56

Flight MissionArea’s largest employer is also thecountry’s premier pilot-training base.74

PROGRESS 2010 � THE DISPATCH 3

Dispatch Staff photographer KellyTippett took this photo of visitors tothe Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge,at the Morgan Hill Overlook, one ofseveral areas to view plants andwildlife at the refuge. The Morgan HillOverlook allows a covered place topause and view native grasses,flowers and butterflies. The photowas taken in March 2010.

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“It is time for us to realize that we are too great … tolimit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as somewould have us believe, doomed to an inevitable

decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matterwhat we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we donothing.”

Mississippi University for Women President ClaudiaLimbert used the above quote by Ronald Reagan in her 2009convocation speech announcing a proposed new name for theschool. It was later repeated by a W faculty member arguingfor the same. Alas, the name change did not happen. At least,not yet.

Change, that inexorable force, is, nonetheless, evidenthere in the Golden Triangle. Challenging economic times thatbegan in 2008 and continued through 2009 into 2010 havemandated all manner of change: Businesses are leaner andmore efficient, and communities and state government arescrambling to make do with declining revenues. Few havebeen unaffected.

While we’ve had layoffs in the Golden Triangle, there iscause for optimism. Major industries such as Severstal,Paccar and American Eurocopter are doing their part to buoythe local economy. Severstal, the Russian-owned steel facility,has been running at almost full capacity; Paccar is expectedto be making diesel truck motors by the end of the year; andin March, American Eurocopter celebrated the delivery of its100th helicopter to the U.S. Army.

The creation in October of the Golden Triangle RegionalGlobal Industrial Aerospace Park adds to the range of possi-bilities and offers another good reason to be hopeful.

Starkville continues to benefit from the economic enginethat is Mississippi State University. MSU President MarkKeenum has brought a calm air of stability to the campus, andAthletic Director Greg Byrne has made noticeable headwayreinvigorating the school’s athletic program. In town, newlyelected Mayor Parker Wiseman and a fresh crop of youngaldermen are bringing new ideas and new energy to thisbustling community.

West Point, with its exquisite downtown, fine dining andbeautiful homes, may find its role in the post-Sara Lee envi-ronment as a hometown for those attracted to the area look-ing for that Mayberry setting. Milton Sundbeck’s renovationof the Ritz Theater and creation of a fine restaurant by thesame name adds luster to a downtown that is one ofMississippi’s best-kept secrets.

The success of Columbus’ downtown is no secret. Longregarded as the poster child for Mississippi’s Main Street pro-gram, the city center is holding its own, evolving with newrestaurants and vibrant nightlife. Upstairs apartments contin-ue to be in high demand with young professionals and airmenat Columbus Air Force Base.

After a Main Street-sponsored charrette, the city andcounty in 2009 chose to site a long debated soccer park com-plex in Burns Bottom adjacent to downtown. Plans are to con-tain the facility within a city park that preserves wetlands andold-growth timber and tie it in to the ever-popular Riverwalk.

Questions abound over the fate of MUW. In February, law-makers rejected a bill that would set in motion a process thatwould give the 128-year-old school a gender-neutral name.Budget cuts have mandated a consolidation of administrativeservices at The W with nearby MSU. Whether this Columbusinstitution continues to be a freestanding entity remains to beseen.

In his poem “Washington Monument by Night,” CarlSandburg wrote, “Nothing happens unless first a dream.”

As communities we have our collective dreams; as individ-uals, we have personal dreams. In this year’s edition ofProgress, we take a look at some of the people who are look-ing beyond “small dreams.”

As a newspaper one of our jobs is to encourage and sup-port the realization of dreams. We encourage you to use yourgifts, whatever they might be, in bettering our community.You can do this by volunteering, by attending public events,by being engaged. It can be as ambitious as starting your ownbusiness or as simple as starting a conversation with a neigh-bor. Dreams are realized by action. Get up. Get involved. �


FROM THE EDITOR

First a dream

BIRNEY IMES


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PROGRESS 2010A publication of The Dispatch

AdvertisingRicky Clark

Adrian FieldsConnie HarrisDonna Harris

Angie MarquezLinda MasseyBeth Proffitt

Celsie StaggersJackie Taylor

Samantha Williamson

Business OfficeFelicia BowenTerri Collums

Elbert EllisDebbie Foster

Peter Imes

CirculationJanet JacobsCarol Talley

Tommie WoodsJerry Wooten

Editor/PublisherBirney Imes

NewsAllen Baswell

Adrian BohannonJason Browne

Garthia Elena BurnettKristin MamrackHenry Matuszak

David MillerAdam Minichino

Steve MullenTina Perryman

Luisa PorterTim Pratt

Jan SwoopeKelly TippettBuster Wolfe

ProductionSilvia Carr

LaMarcus DavisMatt GarnerRonald GoreJerry Hayes

Vernon Hedgeman Jr.Jeff Lipsey

Jamie MorrisonTina Perry

Lonnie Shinn

THE COMMERCIALDISPATCHP.O. Box 511

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THE STARKVILLEDISPATCH

101 S. Lafayette St. #16Starkville, MS 39759

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7-10 3/10/10 1:22 PM Page 1

MADE IN THE

GOLDENTRIANGLE

TOILET SEATS

Sanderson Plumbing Products Inc. inColumbus is the second largest man-ufacturer of toilet seats in the U.S.The company’s wood composition,plastic and vinyl seats are shippedfrom coast to coast and to localesincluding Ireland, Hong Kong, theCaribbean and the United ArabEmirates.� www.sppi.com; 662-328-4000

CANDLESAspen Bay Candles inStarkville specializes indesigner candle lines including

the Gold Leaf, Pagoda,Northwoods, Palmetto andInspirational collections.The company sells its

fragrant products in theU.S. and abroad. � www.aspenbaycan-

dles.com; 662-324-2231From the useful to the quirky, GoldenTriangle businesses of all sizes createand export a wide array of products tothe world. Here's a sampling.

CHEESECAKEJubilations Inc. in Columbus, now ownedby George Purnell, produces about 60varieties of cheesecake and ships themthroughout the continental U.S. Begun in1983 as a home-based bakery, TammyCraddock of Columbus and her staff builtJubilations into a nationally-known brand.Picture in background.� www.jubilations.com; 662-328-9210

DEER BLINDSSouthern Outdoors Technologiesin West Point produces severalmodels of deer blinds for hunters,including the Sportsman’s Condoand Ridgeline series. The compa-ny’s products are distributedthroughout North America.� www.southernoutdoortech-nologies.com; 662-295-5702

7-10 3/10/10 1:26 PM Page 2

SCUM FROGFISH LURESSouthern Lure Company in Columbusproduces Scum Frog, Big Foot andTrophy Series lures for fishing enthusi-asts. The company ships to outletsthroughout the U.S. and to countriesincluding Canada and Australia.� www.scumfrog.com; 662-327-4548

BASKETSBessie Johnson’s intricate basketry hasbeen featured in the Smithsonian’sTraveling Exhibition of Folk Art and onMississippi Public Broadcasting’s“Mississippi Roads.” The Clay County resi-dent is a 2010 recipient of the Governor’sAwards for Excellence in the Arts. Thischarter member of the Craftsmen’s Guildof Mississippi has also had her woven orna-ments selected as part of the White HouseChristmas decorations.� www.arts.state.ms.us; e--mail [email protected].

INDIANA JONESHATSHatmaker Steve Delk of Adventurebilt HatCo. in New Hope, Lowndes County,made Harrison Ford’s signaturefedoras for the “IndianaJones and The Kingdom ofthe Crystal Skull” movie.Producer Steven Spielbergpurchased Adventurebiltbrand hats to give to friendsas gifts.� www.adventurebilthats.com; 662-327-4644.

MRAPSNavistar Defense in West Point focuses on spe-cialized armoring solutions,including the mine-resist-ant, ambushprotectedvehicles —MRAPs — forthe U.S.Armyand the262 “Husky”tactical sup-port vehiclesfor the British military. � www.navistar.com

HELICOPTERSAmerican Eurocopter in Lowndes County is partof the manufacturing company with the mostcomprehensive range of civil turbine helicopters available, from the five-seat EC120light single to the 19-seat EC225 heavy twin.The company also provides Lakota Light-UtilityHelicopters for the U.S. Army.� www.eurocopterusa.com

TURFGRASSMississippi State University’s Department of Plantand Soil Sciences cultivates several varieties ofBermuda grass and holds the patents for MS-Choice, MS-Express, MS-Pride and MS-Supreme.More than a decade ago, MSU granted a licensefor MS-Choice under the name Bull’s Eye Bermudato West Coast Turf, a widely-known sports grassmarketer with operations in Arizona, California andNevada. The Rose Bowl and Edison InternationalField, home field of the Anaheim Angels, have usedthe grass. Other venues with MSU turfgrass in useare MSU’s Scott Field; Chase Field, home of theArizona Diamondbacks; Petco Park, home of theSan Diego Padres; and Kauffman Stadium, home ofthe Kansas City Royals.� www.msuturf.com; 662-325-9264

7-10 3/10/10 4:14 PM Page 3


7-10 3/10/10 1:29 PM Page 4

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11-14 3/10/10 1:31 PM Page 1

“There are a lot of places to

go shopping here.

Columbus has a lot of stores

that other places don’t.”

TACARA HARRIS, 22

“I came here for the

military, and have lived

here for almost 40 years.”

JAMES MERRIGAN, 72

“The community supportfor the Air Force basemakes Columbus reallyspecial. All the businessesand people are always will-ing to help us out.”JOHN-MICHAEL AYERS, 25

“The W makes me feel at

home — it definitely makes

Columbus special.”

LARESHA FLOWERS, 21

“West Point has a festival

every year — the Prairie

Arts Festival. That makes

this place pretty cool.”

SANDRA KNEDLIK, 38

“West Point is where my

Dad was born and is where

I learned to play softball.

It’s just a great town.”

LINCOLN PEARSON, 16

WHAT MAKES YOUR TOWN UNIQUE?COLUMBUS • WEST POINT • STARKVILLE


11-14 3/10/10 1:33 PM Page 2


“West Point has a close-

knit, family-like community

atmosphere that I love.”

DAVIDA HILL, 27

“Football makes West

Point awesome with six

state championships!”

ANTHONY JOHNSON, 14

“I’ve come to accept and

appreciate the simpleness

of Starkville. I’m from a

larger city, but I’m starting

to enjoy the small-town

atmosphere.”

ASHLEY TOOMBS, 22

“I’ve lived here about 37

years — it’s a friendly,

family-oriented place.”

JACK CARROLL, 70

“It’s all about the people that

live here. There are just so

many talented people that

are so willing to give to the

community and share their

gifts.”

ADA MCGREVEY, 50

“The right activities we

have here make Starkville

special — whether it be ani-

mal rights or archeological

awareness, Starkville is

involved.”

KIM MOFFITT, 24

11-14 3/10/10 1:35 PM Page 3

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Lowndes County District 4 SupervisorJeff Smith demonstrates how to catcha basketball to 5-year-old JeramiahCrawford, while Kenneth Henry, atright, helps. Smith and others beganthe Crawford Community CenterBasketball Camp as a way to offerrecreation opportunities for area children. Jeramiah parents areAmanda and Melvin Crawford.

Luisa Porter

15-20 3/12/10 8:58 AM Page 2


LOWNDESStatus Report:

story by KRISTIN MAMRACK photos by KELLY TIPPETT and LUISA PORTER

Anew 2,000-square-footHealth Departmentfacility currently

under construction at the inter-sections of Warpath andLehmberg roads likely will becomplete in late summer andcounty administrative officesare expected to occupy a newlyrenovated building — the for-mer First Federal BankBuilding at 12th Street andMain Street — this summer.

Renovations on the buildinglikely will be completed byJune.

The county tax offices, witha drive-through window, will belocated on the first floor of thethree-story building and countyadministrative offices, includ-ing the purchasing department,accounts payable and accountsreceivable offices and the coun-ty supervisors’ offices will belocated on the second floor; thethird floor will be used for stor-age.

COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONArchitects are considering

renovating the LowndesCounty Courthouse for more

HEALTH DEPARTMENT, COUNTY OFFICES, COURTHOUSE

PROJECTS ON TAP FOR COMPLETION THIS YEAR

Kelly Tippett

Lowndes County District 1 Supervisor HarrySanders predicts the new Lowndes County HealthDepartment, being constructed at the corner ofWarpath and Lehmberg roads, will have a hugeimpact on the area.

15-20 3/12/10 9:01 AM Page 3

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Service • Quality • VarietyBuilding contractors and do-it-yourself

homeowners appreciate quality merchandise, selection and friendly service. Add expertise and more than 100 years of combined experience, and it’s easy to see why Cash & Carry Building Supply at 1120 Gardner Blvd. is a preferred place to shop for building materials.

Cash & Carry stocks virtually everything needed to complete a home, building or remodeling job. In fact, the staff will analyze house plans and give cost estimates on materials needed for construction and finishing. Known for their incredible service, Cash & Carry has a knowledgeable staff, they

deliver and accept all major credit cards for your convenience. Cash & Carry stands behind what it sells, and takes personal interest in customers, because many of them are friends and neighbors. It is a locally owned and managed business, and it is committed to this community.

Owners Bill McBryde and Charles Shelton take pride in their staff, led by Manager Randall Grant, who has been with the company 38 years. Avery Duncan 35 years; Charles Williams, 34 years; Jim Key 34 years; Lindy McBryde, 13 years; Steve Lindsey 18 years; Tommy Betts, 11 years; and bookkeepers Dorothy Tarlton and Diane Lollar.

space for the Chancery CourtDivision, the Circuit Clerk Division, anew Circuit Court judge and the dis-trict attorney’s office, Sanders said,noting the courthouse annex buildingcurrently occupied by the districtattorney and supervisors’ offices,among others, will be demolished toallow for additional courthouse park-ing.

JUSTICE COURT COMPLEXAnd, architects are drawing up

plans for a new Lowndes CountyJustice Court complex, to be locatednext to the Lowndes County Sheriff’sOffice, reported Sanders, noting thesupervisors have not officially voted toconstruct a Justice Court building, buthave agreed to do so.

SOCCER COMPLEXConstruction on a Burns Bottom-

area soccer complex likely will start inJanuary 2011, and completion is esti-mated by September 2011. Sandersnoted all owners of the property need-ed for the complex have signedoptions to sell their property to thecounty for its appraised value and alandscape architect has been commis-sioned to draw up plans, expected inMarch, for the complex.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKSAlong with a new soccer complex

and park, supervisors have a neigh-borhood parks plan. District 4Supervisor Jeff Smith, who grew up ina neighborhood park himself, is amajor proponent of the project.

“It’s the lifeline of the community— the churches and the parks,” saidSmith, who grew up on Southside nearZion Gate and 10th Street Baptistchurches.

“I have a personal investment inthis community and want to see itprosper and do well,” he said. Smithstill lives in the area, and during thesummer, his neighborhood park —Hank Aaron Park — is still used forcommunity baseball games.

For Smith, whose district spansSouthside, East Columbus, Crawfordand southern and western LowndesCounty, the neighborhood parks proj-ect is about quality of life.

“Kids walk the streets during theday with nowhere to go,” he noted ofchildren living in areas several milesaway from “leisurely outlets.”

“This is what it is all about,” Smith

15-20 3/10/10 1:46 PM Page 4

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said. “It’s about improving the qualityof living. No one is going to tell methese people shouldn’t be able to haveleisure in their community ...”

Columbus-Lowndes RecreationDirector Roger Short, in November2009, presented a $1.6 million plan forimproving neighborhood parks.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE“Slowly, but surely, employment is

going to increase,” Sanders predicted.“Gradually, people will be back atwork and they’ll be higher-paid jobs.Because of that, you’re going to seeretail sales increase and home salesincrease and you’ll see a generalupswing in Lowndes County and areasaround. It’s going to be a regionalthing.

“Locally, you’re going to see an eas-ier way to do business with the county(in the new administrative building)and certainly the folks who have todeal with the justice system are goingto find it easier,” he continued, refer-ring to the new facilities. “And youknow there’s going to be a tremen-dous impact with the HealthDepartment in the new location. (Thesoccer complex) is going to give a newlook to downtown; there’s going to bea tremendous green space right indowntown Columbus and there will benothing like it in the South. It’s goingto be tremendous for quality of lifeand tying Burns Bottom into theRiverwalk is going to be a boon andwill clean up a somewhat blighted areaof the city.” �

It’s the lifeline of

the community —

the churches and

the parks.”

JEFF SMITH, Lowndes County

District 4 supervisor

15-20 3/11/10 3:33 PM Page 5


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As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of SII, we salute the 237 employees who work in manufacturing, sales, transportation, research, and in our

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1980 - 2010

15-20 3/11/10 3:35 PM Page 6

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LOWNDES COUNTYBOARD OF SUPERVISORS

District 1 - Harry SandersDistrict 2 - Frank FergusonDistrict 3 - John Holliman

District 4 - Jeff SmithDistrict 5 - Leroy Brooks

Chancery Clerk - Lisa Younger NeeseAdministrator - Ralph Billingsley

LOWNDES COUNTY...leading Mississippi in Business & Industrial Development

• Crossroads Megasite

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• Full Service Port on the Tenn-Tom Waterway

• State’s 3rd Busiest Commercial Airport

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21-26 3/10/10 1:54 PM Page 1


If hard hats are signsof progress, theStarkville School

District is making leapsand bounds. AtHenderson IntermediateSchool, district AssistantSuperintendent Dr.Walter Gonsoulin walkscarefully down a dustyhallway, his eyes glanc-ing around at construc-tion crews working hardto renovate a 50-year-oldsection of the building.The whirring of powertools echoes off the graycinderblock walls andlengthy extension cordsline the cold concretefloor.

“Wow,” Gonsoulinsays as he looks into aclassroom with littlemore than a wheelbar-row and a pile of rubble,its windows covered withplastic.

The renovation projectat Henderson is sched-uled to be completed byJuly, Gonsoulin said.Construction crews are“gutting” the buildingand renovating classrooms, turning offices into classrooms, extending the library,installing new wiring and, among other things, doing some exterior work on thebuilding “to make it a very eye-appealing place to the public,” he said.

OKTIBBEHAStatus Report:

STARKVILLE, OKTIBBEHASCHOOLS EXPAND FACILITIES;

HOSPITAL POISED FOR GROWTH

story by TIM PRATT photos by KELLY TIPPETT

21-26 3/12/10 9:08 AM Page 2

Starkville Assistant Superintendent Dr.Walter Gonsoulin stands amid ongoingconstruction at Henderson IntermediateSchool. Construction crews have beenworking to renovate a 50-year-old sec-tion of the building. It and several otherStarkville schools will have facelifts andexpansions once projects are complete.OPPOSITE: Thomas Graham, right, pass-es a plank to Paulino Anastacio, asthey work on renovations at HendersonIntermediate School in Starkville. Theconstruction on these projects was paidfor by a $26 million bond issue passedby voters in 2007.

21-26 3/12/10 9:09 AM Page 3

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Roadways on the east and west sidesof the building also will be repaved, newplayground equipment will be installed,and fencing will be erected around theentire campus, which includes Ward-Stewart Elementary School, Gonsoulinsaid.

Projects also are under way at a num-ber of other schools in the district.Construction crews recently completedthe interior portion of an approximately18,000-square-foot addition at SudduthElementary, with 10 classrooms, anactivity room, tutoring rooms and read-ing rooms, Gonsoulin said. Classesbegan in the new wing on Feb. 22.

The siding and landscaping outsidethe addition still needs work, along withthe walking track on the property. Theschool district also needs to put theplayground equipment back in place andinstall lights around the track,Gonsoulin said.

“We are expecting that to be finishedhere in the near future, but that alldepends on the weather,” Gonsoulinsaid.

ARMSTRONG EXPANSIONA new addition also is in the works

for Armstrong Middle School. That proj-

ect began in late 2008. It is scheduledfor completion in June. The additionincludes classrooms, exterior work,additional parking lot areas, rehabilita-tion of existing parking areas and pavingthe area around the Greensboro Center.The cafeteria also will be extended, hesaid, though the cafeteria and pavementwon’t be completed until July.

“All of our projects are scheduled forcompletion by July of this year, rightbefore school starts,” Gonsoulin said.

The district also recently completed arenovation and new entrance atStarkville High School.

Gonsoulin feels it is important to ren-ovate and build new classrooms in thedistrict, not only to relieve overcrowd-ing, but to give students the most mod-ern learning facilities possible. Newcomputers, smart boards and otheritems also are being purchased for class-rooms.

“It sets the climate for learning,”Gonsoulin said. “Kids want to go toschool in a building that looks good,that they can be proud of, and, also, withall of the renovations, it allowed us tooutfit the buildings with the latest tech-nology.”

ECONOMIC IMPACTThe region’s economy also could

benefit from a modern school system,he said.

“Updated equipment is going to allowour teachers and our students to beexposed to a top-notch educational expe-rience,” Gonsoulin said. “It puts themahead of the curve. And with the newfacilities, I think the public feels goodabout what they’ve done and howthey’ve contributed to the school districtwith the bond issue. It sends a messageto new businesses coming into town.They come and look at our schools andsee how they look. They’ll be very invit-ing, new, up-to-date, 21st-century equip-ment and facilities. It’s a place that willattract people.”

The construction on these projectswas paid for by a $26 million bond issuepassed by voters in 2007. But studentsin the school district still will encountercrowded hallways.

“Even with the additions, we are stillfilled to capacity,” Gonsoulin said.

HOSPITAL RENOVATIONSUpcoming renovations at Oktibbeha

County Hospital, which is set to berenamed OCH Regional Medical Center,

21-26 3/10/10 2:01 PM Page 4

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w w w . s t a r k v i l l e . o r g / s h o pPROGRESS 2010 � THE DISPATCH 25

also will be paid for with a bond issue. In November 2008, 61 percent of vot-

ers in Oktibbeha County approved ameasure for the county to issue up to$27.5 million in bonds to pay for renova-tions at OCH. The county Board ofSupervisors recently accepted a con-struction bid from Brasfield and GorrieLLC, of Birmingham, Ala., to completethe project at a cost of $23.29 million.

Arthur “Sonny” Kelly, CEO of OCH,expects construction to start in Marchand last 24 months. The project will becompleted in two phases, he said.

The first phase involves the con-struction of a new tower, which willinclude new patient rooms and a relo-cated intensive care unit, Caesarian sec-tion area, well-baby area and obstetricsdepartment, Kelly said. He hopes thenew tower will be completed within ayear.

The second phase involves renova-

tions to existing portions of the hospi-tal, including one project that will con-vert every three patient rooms into twolarger rooms. Kelly expects renovationson the existing hospital building tobegin after the completion of the newtower.

EXCITEMENT ABOUT PROJECTSKelly and the rest of the hospital

staff are excited about the upcomingconstruction projects.

“We’re very gratified that the citi-zens of our county have the trust in thehospital, that the citizens voted for a(bond) issue in what we realize are dif-ficult economic times, and that makes itall the more special to us,” Kelly said.“We are determined to deliver a greatproject for the citizens of OktibbehaCounty and the other counties weserve.”

NEW CENTRAL OFFICEIn the Oktibbeha County School

District, a new central office building isplanned behind Mugshots in downtownStarkville. The county Board ofSupervisors accepted bids for the proj-ect, but voted to readvertise in midFebruary when the bids came in “toohigh,” County Administrator Don Poseysaid.

Plans also are under way to replaceroofs this spring at East OktibbehaCounty High School, West OktibbehaCounty Elementary School and WestOktibbeha County High School,Superintendent James Covington said.

The Starkville Electric Departmentalso plans to move into its new, two-story, 9,000-square-foot building atJefferson and Lafayette streets by lateMarch, department Manager EddHattaway said.�

“Updated equipment is going to allow our teachers

and our students to be exposed to a top-notch educational experience.

It puts them ahead of the curve.”DR. WALTER GONSOULIN, Starkville School District assistant superintendent

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CLAYStatus Report:


The bridge at the corner of Highway 45 and Main Street in West Point is on the busiest intersection in the city, supporting9,000-13,000 vehicles a day.Repairs to the weather-damagedbridge will cost about $350,000.

27-30 3/10/10 2:08 PM Page 2

story by JASON BROWNEphoto by KELLY TIPPETT

BRIDGEREPAIRS ONTHE HORIZONFOR NORTHERNPOINT OF THE GOLDENTRIANGLE

Lately, when West Point officialstalk of building bridges, they onlywish they were speaking

metaphorically.The city will close the Main Street

bridge, located immediately east ofHighway 45 Alternate at the intersec-tion of Highway 45 and Main Street,around mid-March to begin demolitionof the old bridge and construction on anew one. The bridge was initially closedin September 2009 when heavy rainscaused the bridge’s brick arch to erodeand a hole formed in the middle of thebridge.

Because the bridge is located at thebusiest intersection in West Point, sup-porting 9,000-13,000 vehicles a day, itwas reopened in December with trafficdiverted to the stable outside edges ofthe road.

After attempts to apply for stategrants were scrapped because thebridge project does not qualify as anemergency, West Point decided torepair the bridge with funds receivedfrom the sale of $1.95 million in generalobligation bonds.

Approximately $800,000 of the bondswere spent late last year on equipmentpurchases including a street sweeper,track hoe and other items, leaving $1.1million for roads. Jones estimates thebridge repair will eat up $350,000 of the


27-30 3/10/10 2:09 PM Page 3


remaining money, leaving $800,000 for road work.Once the bridge project begins, Jones predicts the work

will last two-three months, “if the weather doesn’t interfere.”

CONSTRUCTION BIDSEngineering analysis for the project was completed in

February, freeing the city to begin advertising for demolitionand construction bids.

The new bridge will be constructed with pilings driven 20feet into the limestone bedrock to create a stronger founda-tion.

Jones says the estimated total cost of the bridge project isas low as $350,000 because the city will offer in-kind labor andequipment use. Additional labor is expected from ClayCounty, along with materials from the MississippiDepartment of Transportation and equipment and erosioncontrol from the Tombigbee River Valley Soil ConservationDistrict.

The rest of West Point’s bridges are reportedly in goodshape and are regularly inspected by MDOT and city engi-neers.

ROAD WORKOnce a new bridge is in place on Main Street, West Point

will be free to begin its road work.Each city selectman is responsible for turning in a priori-

tized list of their ward’s worst roads. The city will then priori-tize the streets on those lists to address those with the great-est need.

“From an engineering standpoint, we want to know theroads that, if we don’t fix, we’re going to lose. Because it costs

a whole lot more to lose a road than repair it,” said Jones.Roads become irreparable when moisture seeps through

cracks and penetrates the seal between the asphalt and theroad bed. If that happens, Jones says the road has to berebuilt from the bottom up, and $800,000 “won’t get you muchnew road at all.”

Fortunately, the price of asphalt has dwindled with lowergas prices and construction firms are making more competi-tive bids due to the economy, allowing West Point to stretchits remaining dollars.

The city will also recycle asphalt milled from roads whichhave leveled out and lost their slope, allowing standing water.

COUNTY BRIDGESClay County has a pair of bridge replacements of its own

on tap for the spring.Bids were opened in February to replace bridges on U.S.

Davidson Road and Ruth Cliett Road, both in the Montpeliercommunity.

Clay County engineers estimated the total cost for thebridge replacements around $500,000.

Clay County Chancery Clerk Robbie Robinson said thecounty is also seeking funding to pave 1.6 miles of TibbeeRoad, which would pave the road to the Lowndes County line.

“There’s a glimmer of hope through stimulus money,” saidRobinson.

That project is estimated to cost more than $1 millionbecause the area is prone to flooding and the road bed wouldhave to be raised. But Robinson says the road is an importantconnection between Clay and Lowndes, offering a straightshot to the Clay County Landfill and Highway 45 Alternate.�

27-30 3/10/10 2:10 PM Page 4

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Core

WESTPOINT

Michael Brown performs on his trumpet with the jazz band the State Messengers,from Starkville, in February, at West Point’s Ritz Theater on Commerce Street. Miltonand Christy Sundbeck have worked to restore the historic building to its original glory.OPPOSITE: Milton and Christy Sundbeck’s renovation of the 1931 Ritz Theater in hasinspired movement of sorts in downtown West Point. Milton Sundbeck believes astrong downtown “core” will lead to growth in the rest of the city.


31-36 3/10/10 4:18 PM Page 2

philosophy

MILTON SUNDBECK, Owner of Southern Ionics and The Ritz

“For this city to maintain itself

and be a place that has a high quality

of life, its center city must be focused.”

DOWNTOWN BELIEVER TRYING TO BUILD CITYFROM THE CORE OUT

story by JASON BROWNE photos by KELLY TIPPETT

and LUISA PORTER


Photos by Luisa Porter

31-36 3/10/10 4:19 PM Page 3

Milton Sundbeck subscribes tothe Downtown Core philoso-phy of city economics: If a

city’s core is solid, the outer rings of thecity will follow suit.

Conversely, if the core is allowed todeteriorate, the rest of the city won’t be farbehind.

As fate would have it, Sundbeck is oneof the few West Point citizens with thebankroll, business acumen and community-minded concern to make a positive impacton his city’s downtown district.

“For this city to maintain itself and be aplace that has a high quality of life, its cen-ter city must be focused,” says Sundbeck,owner of Southern Ionics, a chemical com-pany with nine manufacturing plants andfour barging facilities across the South,from Texas to Georgia.

Since moving his company’s headquar-ters to West Point in 1982 to be closer tohis largest customer base, Sundbeck haswalked the streets of downtown West Pointfrom his office on Commerce Street, admir-ing its old-fashioned, small-town charm butwincing at the condition of one particularbuilding.

“Two or three times a week I’d walk bythis old theater,” he recalls. “It was a verysick building that always bothered me. It

had dead pigeons in it and standing water.Over the last few years it was just a bigconcern to me.”

That ailing building — the Ritz Theateron Commerce Street — had a rich history.Built in 1931, it enjoyed a run of almost 40years before closing its doors around 1970.

During that period, ownership of The

Ritz changed hands several times. At onepoint the building was owned by the Bryanfamily before ending up with the WestPoint Community Foundation, which deed-ed the building to Sundbeck for $1.

After inspecting the building, which had2 feet of standing water at the foot of itssloped floor and decades worth of pigeondroppings in its projection room, Sundbeckconsidered simply demolishing the fadedmovie palace and starting from scratch.But he couldn’t bring himself to let all thathistory go to waste.

RESTORATION PROJECTInstead, Sundbeck and his wife, Christy,

decided to restore the theater to its formerglory. And a quick survey of businessesthat share Commerce Street with The Ritzleaves no doubt what the convention centerand café has accomplished in the yearsince its reopening.

“It’s really impacted the whole street,”says Valeda Carmichael, owner of Culin-Arts, a food crafts and art gallery locatedacross the street. “Now that the Ritz hasopened up, it’s brought a lot of out-of-townpeople in for lunch. Then they hit theshops. I see my business pick up in theafternoon, usually between 1-2 p.m.”

“One thing that’s really helped is TheRitz. If we continue what we’re doing(downtown), things will pick up,” saidLouise Campbell, clerk at Bits N Pieces, aconsignment and antiques store.

“The Ritz has been a big help bringingpeople downtown during the day. I’m excit-ed about the changes,” said Scott Reed ofPetal Pushers, a floral shop.

“It’s clearly the crown jewel of down-

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The Ritz Theater was built in 1931 and was open for nearly four decades beforeclosing its doors around 1970. The Sundbecks have worked to restore the historicbuilding. OPPOSITE, LEFT: Culin-Arts on Commerce Street has a fresh paint joband new awnings, adding to the charm of downtown West Point. MIDDLE: A vin-tage sign welcomes patrons to Kellogg's Hardware in downtown West Point. RIGHT: Bink salon on Commerce Street, owned by Dovie James, features areworked facade.

Luisa Porter

31-36 3/10/10 4:23 PM Page 4

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town,” added Mayor Scott Ross, who worksin City Hall, across Commerce Street fromThe Ritz.

DOWNTOWN REVIVEDThat’s not to say The Ritz did all of the

work alone. Ross says downtown WestPoint has been on an upswing for the pastcouple years thanks to the efforts ofgroups like the Main Street Associationand the West Point Garden Club.

Martha Allen, head of the West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance, the city andcounty’s Chamber of Commerce, points toa recent $12,000 grant secured by the MainStreet Association through the AppalachianRegional Commission that helped 15 busi-nesses find the funds to refurbish theirsigns or paint their buildings’ facades.

“It’s getting a little better,” says SkeeterBusbin, a clerk at Kellogg’s Hardware, ofthe changing face of downtown West Point.“Everybody’s starting to paint the front of

their stores. It’s kind of surprising the waythe economy is.”

Allen also credits the Garden Club forits work putting new potted plants through-out downtown to beautify the area.

A pending $35,000 grant from the ARCwill fund new signage aimed at funnelingtraffic away from Highway 45 Alternate todowntown West Point.

“One of the most important things is let-ting people know West Point is notHighway 45. You have to turn off 45 to get

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31-36 3/10/10 4:26 PM Page 5

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to downtown,” says Allen.And in April, West Point will host the

same charrette team which visitedColumbus in September to offer a compre-hensive plan for city improvement.

A MASSIVE UNDERTAKINGPresent and future improvements

notwithstanding, The Ritz is still thebiggest thing to hit downtown West Pointin years, fulfilling Sundbeck’s vision of anall-in-one entertainment center capable ofhosting conventions, performances,movies, dances, parties, wedding recep-tions, club meetings and other gatherings.

“The objective was we wanted the placeused on a regular basis,” said Sundbeck.

Creating the most diverse facility intown was no small order to begin with, butSundbeck wanted more. He wanted everyinch of The Ritz to speak quality and histo-ry.

The first challenge was flattening thetheater’s sloped floor.

“A lot of theaters kept that stadium-styleseating that was sloped. It’s just somethingthat couldn’t be utilized, so we hired Pryorand Morrow (Architects) to discuss thefeasibility of leveling the floor and whatthat would entail,” said Sundbeck. “To ourdelight and amazement, we were able tolevel the floor to create a building thatlooked like this is the way it was alwayssupposed to be built.”

The level floor allows for tables to be setout for fine dining, but Sundbeck didn’t likethe idea of having events catered by anoth-er company. So he put in a restaurant nextdoor.

Sundbeck bought the old Woolworth’sbuilding directly north of The Ritz andinstalled a full-service kitchen and cafécapable of catering events in the larger con-

ference center, but also capable of support-ing itself as a stand-alone restaurant.

SUPPLY AND DEMANDSince opening, The Ritz Café has

expanded its hours, days and menu tomeet growing demand. Next, The Ritz willmeet another demand: An appetite for localproduce. The Ritz will begin trucking infresh, organic vegetables from Sundbeck’sfarm.

“That’s a big thing people are reallyinterested in,” said Sundbeck. “I doubt ifit’s going to be cost effective, but we’regoing to do it anyway.”

But The Ritz is more than fine dining. Itis a theater, after all.

Sundbeck plans to incorporate regularentertainment into the theater’s schedule.Some early ideas include Grand Ole Opry-style talent revues and weekly classic filmscreenings.

It’s fitting that The Ritz shows oldmovies — in part because they may havepreviously played at the theater — because“classic” is the theme. From floor to ceil-ing, everything in The Ritz is original.

The theater was designed with Arabicstylings, popularized at the time of its con-struction by movies such as Casablanca.But the technology is anything but oldschool. The Ritz boasts a $75,000 state-of-the-art projector that faces a 20-by-20-footscreen that can be used for movies, com-puter-based presentations or satellite televi-sion.

“There are a lot of people over time thatworked to do this. I think the renovation ofThe Ritz has inspired a lot of people toimprove the upkeep of their buildings,”Sundbeck says. “The result is one of themost vibrant downtown business communi-ties of any small town in Mississippi.”�

An overall view of West Point’s downtown Ritz theater duringthe Valentine’s Day Ball Feb.13.


Luisa Porter

31-36 3/11/10 3:44 PM Page 6

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37-42 3/12/10 9:12 AM Page 2

saycheese

MSUThe early days of

Edam production

were limited to only

a few hundred

cheese balls per year

due to the outbreak

of World War II. ... The MSU Dairy Processing Facility

has sold millions of Edam cheese balls over the years.

FAMOUS MSU CHEESE HAD HUMBLE BEGINNINGSstory by TIM PRATT photos by KELLY TIPPETT

As the sun rises over the tree line east of MississippiState University’s Joe Bearden Dairy Research Center,herdsman Kenneth Graves is right there with it,

strolling through a barn full of Holstein and Jersey cows. He gazes over the sprawling 1,100-acre property on Turkey

Creek Road, five miles southeast of the MSU campus, shakes hishead and smiles.

“One thing I can say is I’ve probablyseen more sunrises than most people myage,” the 37-year-old Graves says.

Staff at the Research Center begin milk-ing the herd of approximately 150 cowsevery day at around 3:15 a.m. By the time

the sun rises, Graves already has been on the job for two orthree hours. Fellow herder J.B. Gardner and a handful of studentworkers also bustle about the facility.

“It takes a special breed of person to be a dairy farmer,”Graves says, his boots caked in mud and the vapor from hisbreath visible in the early morning air. Staff will milk the herdagain at 3:15 p.m. in a process that produces an average of about10,000 pounds, or 1,250 gallons, of raw milk per day, Graves said.

The dedication of Graves, Gardner andthe rest of the staff at the Research Centerhas helped the dairy program atMississippi State gain national recognition.

The Custer Dairy Processing Plant onthe Mississippi State campus, located in theF.H. Herzer Building, ranked fifth national-ly last year in pounds of raw milkprocessed by a university-operated cream-ery. The plant processes an average of 3.6million pounds of raw milk annually, whichit transforms into cheese, ice cream, butterand fluid milk for retail sale.

The MSU creamery also ranks secondnationally in overall cheese production,trailing only Washington State University.

OPPOSITE: Mississippi State UniversityCuster Dairy Processing Plant ManagerDavid Hall holds Edam cheese cannon-balls, at the sales store. RIGHT: In the

early days of Edam, production was limit-ed to only a few hundred cheese balls

per year. Now, about 50,000 are shippedevery year. ABOVE: Staff at the

research center begin milking 150 cowsevery day at around 3:15 a.m.

37-42 3/12/10 9:13 AM Page 3

The manufacturing facility at MississippiState produces in excess of 300,000pounds of cheese each year.

DAIRY RESEARCHBut it all starts at the Dairy Research

Center on Turkey Creek Road, where acarefully planned diet and close monitor-ing of each animal’s health improves thequality, and the taste, of the dairy prod-ucts Mississippi State produces every day,Graves said. Genetics also plays an impor-tant role. Mississippi State has the oldestcontinually bred Jersey herd in the coun-try on the university level, he said. It datesback to 1929.

Using artificial insemination, MSUbreeds the “best bulls” with the cows thatproduce the most milk, Gardner said.

The top cow at the dairy farm now, aHolstein, produces about 158 pounds, orapproximately 20 gallons, of raw milk perday.

“We’re constantly trying to improve,”said Gardner, whose family in Warrenton,Ga., has been in the dairy business forgenerations. “You can’t ever get lax ongenetics.”

After the cows are milked at theResearch Center by a pulsation machine,which squeezes and vacuums the liquidfrom the animals’ teats, the milk is storedand cooled at the facility. Milk typicallycomes out of a cow at about 101 degrees,Graves said, but is cooled and storedbelow 37 degrees to slow down bacterialgrowth.

After milking, the raw milk is pumpedout of the parlor’s storage tanks into the

university’s 2,000-gallon transport truckfor the five-mile trek to the processingplant on campus.

MILK, BUTTER, ICE CREAM AND CHEESE

The first stop for the raw milk uponentering the MSU production facility isthe pasteurizer, where it is heated to atemperature of 161 degrees Fahrenheit,Custer Dairy Processing Plant ManagerDavid Hall said. All raw milk must be pas-teurized, regardless of what it will be usedfor, in order to kill any enzymes or bacte-ria which could affect quality and foodsafety, he said.

Two percent milk, chocolate milk, but-termilk and butter are all produced by theMSU creamery, along with 16 flavorsof ice cream. Available in 8-ounce cups,half-gallon and 3-gallon containers, the fla-vors come in the standard vanilla, choco-late and strawberry, but also include sev-eral specialty flavors, like sweet potato andmuscadine ripple.

Cheese-making, however, is howemployees at the processing plant spend alarge portion of their time.

The history of cheese-making atMississippi State University dates back to1938, when dairy scientist FredrickHerman Herzer decided to create acheese that would both represent thestate college and show support for thebooming dairy industry in centralMississippi. His decision was to manufac-ture Edam cheese in distinctively shaped3-pound cannonballs.

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37-42 3/11/10 4:26 PM Page 4

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THE GROWTH OF EDAMThe early days of Edam production

were limited to only a few hundredcheese balls per year due to the outbreakof World War II. Nearly a generation later,the need for expanded cheese productioncapabilities has long since been realizedthrough the efforts of two MississippiAgriculture and Forestry ExperimentStation departments: Animal and DairySciences, and Food Science, Nutritionand Health Promotion.

The present-day Frederick HermanHerzer Building houses the dairy pro-cessing plant, the MAFES Sales Store,and the Department of Food Science,Nutrition and Health Promotion, whichinteract constantly through research andteaching. The facility also ships outapproximately 50,000 Edam cheese ballsannually, not only to Mississippi resi-dents, but to locations across the U.S.

The MSU Dairy Processing Facilityhas sold millions of Edam cheese ballsover the years. Nearly 90 percent of thesales have been accounted for during theChristmas holiday season.

A VARIETY OF CHEESESEdam isn’t the only cheese product

made by MSU’s dairy plant. The uniquelyshaped cannonballs are joined by 2-poundblocks of cheddar and jalapeno peppercheese, baby swiss Valagrett wheels, aswell as jalapeno and cheddar cheesespreads, available in 20-ounce souvenircrocks.

The manufacturing of cheddar cheesefor sale has grown to 40,000 2-poundblocks per year since production of theblocks started in 1970. Jalapeno peppercheese, which was introduced into theline of products in 1976, has increasedfrom a few hundred blocks a year to 8,0002-pound blocks annually. In this sameperiod of time, the sale of jalapeno pepperspread has increased to 4,000 20-ouncecrocks per year. Cheddar cheese spread,meanwhile, was introduced in 1983 andhas gone from 1,100 crocks that year to4,000 annually.

While the cheeses, milk and otherdairy products produced at the dairyplant are used in campus dining halls,proceeds from the MAFES Sales Storeand orders shipped elsewhere help sup-port the two Mississippi Agriculture andForestry Experiment Station depart-ments. And while the dairy program isself-supported, it also serves as a learningand research tool for MAFES students.

“The bottom line is, yeah, we’re self-supporting, but out here, it’s all aboutteaching and research,” Graves said. �

37-42 3/10/10 4:54 PM Page 5

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37-42 3/12/10 10:11 AM Page 6

43-48 3/11/10 8:39 AM Page 1

BUILDINGF O R T H E F U T U R E

OPPOSITE: Lee Middle School principal Cindy Wamble poseswith a cow skull used as a teaching aid in Amy Cummings’

eighth-grade science class. Cummings is in the background. Theteacher and administrator, both, will move to a newly construct-

ed middle school by January 2011. ABOVE: Construction isongoing near the corner of Highways 45 North and 373, where

the new Columbus Middle School will be located. The schoolwill house grades six, seven and eight.

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The recipe is simple. Combine threegrades, four principals, two facultiesand five magnet focuses in one

school; top with Pre-Advanced Placementclasses and sprinkle $19 million.

The Columbus Municipal SchoolDistrict kitchen is cooking up a mar-velous new middle school.

Cindy Wamble, head chef (i.e. prin-cipal) of the new middle school, knowsthe recipe will need some tweaking to

get it just right. But her team is readyto serve up some gourmet education.

The new Columbus Middle Schoolis scheduled to be completed byNovember and open in January 2011.The $19.1 million facility, built on a $3million, 50-acre site on Highway 373,will house sixth, seventh and eighthgrades and faculty from Lee MiddleSchool and Hunt Intermediate School.

That’s roughly 1,000 students, 70teachers and 10-15 administrators andsupport staff.

NEW INGREDIENTSBut the new school will be more

than three grades smashed together.New ingredients must be integrated.Elements of technology, such aspromethium smart boards and laptopcomputers, will join two science labs,dance and drama studios, multipleband halls and a drama classroom inaddition to traditional facilities like thelibrary, cafeteria and gym in a 155,000-square-foot complex.

With all those students runningaround all that space, Wamble says herfaculty’s first concern and biggest chal-lenge is clear: security.

“That’s No. 1 — that we know we’re

Lee Middle School principal Cindy Wamble outlines the layout of ColumbusMunicipal School District’s new middle school. At right are Lee office managerCarla Wilson and student Kenneth Miller.

43-48 3/11/10 4:29 PM Page 4

Come Discover CaledoniaCome Discover CaledoniaHello from the town of Caledonia,

home of the Caledonia Confederates!

Caledonia Mayor George Gerhart

Caledonia is home for 1015 residents within the city limits and hundreds of others that live in the surrounding area.

We are a community of close-knit families, thoughtful and caring individuals, with a strong belief in doing what is right.

We are extremely proud of our schools. Families with school-age children move into this area because of our highly-rated school system. There are dedicated administrators and teachers who make this an outstanding school for students in K-12 grades.

The Ola J. Pickett Park and Recreation Authority is revving up for another summer of sports activities for ages 3-15 and up. The park recently received $15,000 from the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority to be used for capital improvements. Park officials will make recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Alderman for improvements and other projects.

The Board of Alderman recently approved a contract to Perma Corp to construct a new water treatment plant at the town' s site on Old Wolfe Road. This contract was for approximately four million dollars. The new facility will help provide water for both present and future

customers. Benny Coleman is superintendent of the water and sewer department. Randle Flippo and Trey Robertson are technicians, with Cathy Brown as the offi ce manager.

Caledonia recently replaced the street lights on part of Main Street with 400 watt high-pressure sodium lights. This really makes a dif-ference in visibility from the Church of Christ to Academy Street. The town hopes to install more of these lights in the future.

Our town has three paid marshalls: Ben Kilgore, Steve Hatcher, Larry Swearigan and two auxiliary marshalls: Lance Lucky and Carl Griffin who work on a volunteer basis. Constable Hoot West is always willing to provide assistance if needed, as is, Sheriff Butch Howard.

All Caledonians are proud of the new businesses that have made our daily lives much easier. Pioneer Medical Clinic has been ex-tremely busy this winter. Dollar General and Shop and Save are popular places as well. We all wonder how we made it without the conve-nience of these stores.

Welcome to three new businesses: Jumps, Kicks, and Splits, Something Southern and the Home Run Grill.The Town Hall is open from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Judy Whitcomb, our town clerk, and Mayor George Gerhart may be reached at 356-4117.


COUNTY SCHOOLS FORGE AHEAD

Their first order of business wasrecovering from an F3 tornadowhich ravaged the town of

Caledonia. But they also are planningahead. With their eyes on the future,Lowndes County school board mem-bers have acquired a 2.53-acre plot ofland between two access roads east ofCaledonia schools’ campus.

Owning the land gives the districtthe option of expanding the highschool.

Meanwhile, new buildings toreplace facilities destroyed by thetornado that struck Caledonia in2008 and heavily damaged theschools’ campus, are in full use.

Caledonia Middle School is enjoy-ing a new gym. The school hasnever had a gym of its own. The pre-vious middle school gym was an oldfacility near the high school; thebuilding also housed the band halland art room, all of which were lev-eled in the storm.

Caledonia High School’s faculty,

staff and students now have a newallied health and building tradesfacility, which includes space forband and art studies.

The band hall features more openroom with better storage areas.

The combination band, art andvocational center, is about an 18,000-square-foot facility, with walkwaysadjoined to those already runningthroughout the campus.

The vocational buildings lost inthe tornado were the newest parts ofCaledonia High. They were complet-ed in 1999. The middle school gymwas built in 1972.

In addition to the school build-ings, more than two dozen homeswere completely destroyed duringthe severe storm on Jan. 10, 2008.Nearly two dozen more sufferedmajor damage. The tornado was sostrong it threw cars through the airand a picked up a school bus, whichended up on the roof of a schoolbuilding.�

going to be safe,” says Wamble.But that’s not news to anyone.

Security was the priority before thefirst sketch was jotted down. That’swhy, according to Chris Morrow, ofPryor and Morrow Architects inColumbus, the building’s main rotundawill offer a clear view down all threeclassroom wings and the extracurricu-lar facilities.

LIMITED ACCESSThe rotunda will also serve as the

school’s lone entrance.“If you’re visiting, you have to go in

through the front door and throughseveral checkpoints before you can getto the students,” said Wamble. “Notthat we have a lot of people that walkin (Lee Middle), but we have like 25entrances in this building.”

Another unique aspect that doublesas security feature and traffic reduceris self-contained wings.

Each of CMS’s three classroomwings will house just one grade, com-plete with administrative offices andassistant principal. CMSDSuperintendent Dr. Del Phillips saysthe seventh- and eighth-grade assis-tant principals from Lee will follow

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Wamble to the new middle school,while the sixth-grade assistant princi-pal will make the jump from HuntIntermediate.

ADMINISTRATORS ON EACH WING“We’ll have an assistant principal on

each grade wing. So you’ll have anassistant that will really function as thekey person,” said Phillips.

After security and administration,Wamble says the next challenge facedby at the new middle school will beorganizing and implementing a pletho-ra of curriculum features. Elements ofthe district’s five magnet schools willbe available to all students along withPre-Advanced Placement classes.

The magnet school elements, whichare now individually specific toColumbus’ five elementary schools,include fine arts, aerospace science,medical science, technology and com-munication and international studies.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIESWhile the majority of magnet stud-

ies will remain voluntary, the interna-tional studies focus — which will bepart of the International Baccalaureateprogram once approved by the IBOrganization — will be extendedschoolwide.

Wamble says all teachers at CMSwill be trained in IB curriculum, whichteaches children to think and learn inrelation to the entire world throughstudies of language, humanities, sci-ence, math, arts and technology.

“It’s a way of teaching and makingkids think,” said Wamble of the IB cur-riculum. “We’ll expose every kid tothat.”

A higher level of IB curriculum willbe available at Columbus High Schoolif students choose to pursue the cur-riculum.

ADVANCED CLASSESCMSD will also introduce voluntary

Pre-AP courses, which offer more rig-orous instruction.

Wamble and CMSD are also eyeinga possible switch to block scheduling,which extends class periods and

requires students attend two sets ofclasses on alternating days.

The change, according to Wamble,would not only give students thechance to take more classes, but wouldgive teachers a long planning periodeach day if all students in a grademoved to an elective at the same time.

RETIRING OLD FACILITIESWhen Columbus’ sixth-, seventh-

and eighth-graders take over their newschool in January 2011, Lee — whichhouses grades seven and eight — andHunt — which houses grades four andfive — will both be retired from educa-tion. Fifth grade will be distributedamong the district’s remaining elemen-tary schools.

New classrooms are being con-structed at Cook Elementary Fine ArtsMagnet School, Sale ElementaryInternational Studies Magnet Schooland Stokes-Beard ElementaryTechnology and CommunicationMagnet School to house the fifth-graders.�

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For Joe Higgins, the sky’s the limit for economicdevelopment in the Golden Triangle — literally. In2009, the Lowndes County industrial park was

renamed the Golden Triangle Regional Global AerospaceIndustrial Park — a moniker that capitalizes on aerospacebusinesses that have already landed in the 3,500 acresadjoining the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.

In addition to Columbus and Lowndes County, WestPoint, Clay County, Starkville, Oktibbeha County andNoxubee County are expected to benefit from the park,which will also provide opportunities for surrounding col-leges and universities, said Higgins, chief executive officerof the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link.

It’s the park’s “central location” which makes it such atreasure, he added.

“It’s in close proximity to all those communities,” heexplained. “And I think it lets us showcase four groups —Bevill State Community College, East MississippiCommunity College and their industrial training program,Mississippi State University and the University of

AERODYNAMICSREGION READY FOR

TAKEOFF WITH AEROSPACE PARK

story by KRISTIN MAMRACK photos by KELLY TIPPETT

49-54 3/11/10 8:48 AM Page 2


“I think you’re going to see aerospace be, for the next20 to 30 years, in the South what we saw automotive

(mean for the South) for the last 20 years.”

JOE HIGGINS, Columbus-Lowndes Development Link CEO

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Alabama’s engineering programs. Anytime we get a chance to showcase to theworld what these colleges can do, thatdoesn’t hurt anybody.”

The Link, Columbus and LowndesCounty, Starkville and Oktibbeha Countyofficials’ and other regional partners’efforts to establish the aerospace parkwas named one of the six 2010 InnovationSouth award winners in 2009.

The Link plans to use the site’s exist-ing resources — access to GTRA, rail-ways, highways and the Tombigbee River— to attract more companies in theexpanding aerospace industry. AmericanEurocopter, Stark Aerospace and AuroraFlight Sciences already occupy some ofthe site’s publicly owned acres andemploy more than 600 workers.

BEYOND AEROSPACEThe site boasts more than just aero-

space-related industries; it also houses aPaccar Inc. engine plant and a Severstalsteel mill.

Traditional industries also will be con-sidered for the park, Higgins said.

Funds have been secured for water andsewer infrastructure for the park, and con-struction likely will start in June or July.

Link officials also are applying for fund-

ing to purchase additional land in thesouth half of the aerospace park and a billwas introduced, as well as local and pri-vate legislation, to allow funds for the parkto be borrowed for a term of 30 years.

“We’re working with the Rural

Development Authority and the localbanking community to put together afinancing package,” Higgins reported, not-ing the group is asking for $13 million topurchase an additional 1,200 acres west ofGTRA.

Senior aircraft technician Alan Harwell works on the production floor of American Eurocopter. Senior technicians were trained at the EADS plant in Germany, so they could pass those skills on to other technicians. EADS is the parent company of Eurocopter.

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A REGIONAL EFFORTRegional partners in “every county

touching Lowndes County” as well astheir economic development organiza-tions have signed on to help market themegasite, Higgins noted.

“With funds being harder and harderto get, it’s easier for us to function onprojects that have regional benefits,” hesaid. “It’s no secret that projects withregional benefits seem to be a whole loteasier to get approval for than projectsthat just benefit Lowndes, Oktibbeha orClay county.

“The South has aerospace’s name allover it now,” he added. “I think you’regoing to see aerospace be, for the next20 to 30 years, in the South what we sawautomotive (mean for the South) for thelast 20 years. (The park is) basically away to stay current and compete and seewe’re going to have the greatest ofopportunities. If aerospace is foreign topeople in the GTR, it shouldn’t be. We’vebeen in the aerospace industry, sinceWorld War II. We may have more peopleemployed in aerospace already than wedo in steel, or paper or any of the other

industries we’ve got.”

JOB CREATIONHiggins earlier said the planned meg-

asite could feature up to 8 million squarefeet of industrial space and bring thou-sands of jobs to the Golden Triangle.

More than $100 million worth ofinfrastructure work already has goneinto the site, with more expected. The$150 million expansion plans include,new roads, water pipes and treatmentplants and electrical systems.

The GTR Global Aerospace IndustrialPark also will be included in TheAerospace Alliance, a new public/privateconsortium aimed at establishing theGulf Coast and surrounding region as aworld class aerospace, space and avia-tion corridor.

The Aerospace Alliance will includebusiness leaders, economic developmentprofessionals and government officials,who will advocate for policies, programsand specific aerospace projects on thelocal, state and national level and to pro-mote common assets, said officials withthe offices of Mississippi Gov. HaleyBarbour and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley. �

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MSU

Marty Wiseman, director of the StennisInstitute of Government, poses in hisoffice at the Institute on the campus ofMississippi State University. Behind himis a bust of John C. Stennis, the cen-ter’s namesake and founding father.

Kelly Tippett

55-60 3/12/10 9:22 AM Page 2


He is large in stature, physically, as well as in knowl-edge of state politics. Through his commentaries andanalysis — in both print and broadcast mediums, as

well as his primary venue at the Stennis Institute ofGovernment — he edifies his fellow Mississippians, brandedwith his trademark: a bow tie.

Politics was a part of Marty Wiseman’s life long before heassumed the directorship of the Stennis Institute ofGovernment.

Wiseman, a native of Kosciusko, became interested in poli-tics through his dad.

“Even when I was 10, 12 years old, I was fascinated with

government and politics. My dad ran for a seat in theLegislature to fill the remaining term of Clarence Morgan, whowent on to become a circuit court judge,” Wiseman said.

Wiseman’s father served one-and-a-half years of the termand left the political arena. Yet his brief stint as a lawmaker ledWiseman to what has become the focal point of his career:working with citizens and local and state government officialson policies and procedures.

And Marty Wiseman is not the only one in his family whohas been bitten by the political bug. His son, Parker, is themayor of Starkville.

“I did not get to vote for him, because I live out of theStarkville city limits,” the elder Wiseman noted. “He has donewell, and I am proud of him.”

a passionfor politics

STENNIS INSTITUTE’S RESEARCH TOUCHES LIVES ACROSS THE STATE

“Even when I was 10, 12 years old, I was fascinated

with government and politics.”

MARTY WISEMAN, Stennis Institute of Government

story By ALLEN BASWELL photos by KELLY TIPPETT and LUISA PORTER

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SPECIALIZING IN POLITICSMarty Wiseman’s interest in politics

led him to Mississippi State, where hereceived a bachelor’s degree in politicalscience and a master’s degree in publicadministration.

His areas of academic interest includeAmerican government, intergovernmen-tal relations and federalism, county andmunicipal management, public personneladministration and innovations in stateand local government management.

He is widely published, including arti-cles in numerous research and technicalassistance reports. Wiseman has alsoprovided testimony, on numerous occa-sions, to Mississippi Senate and Housecommittees on governmental issues.

IMPARTING KNOWLEDGEAlong with his duties as director of

the Stennis Institute, Wiseman alsoserves as a professor of political science.

“I have been here at Mississippi Statefor at least 34 years as a student, teacherand director of the Stennis Institute,” hesaid.

Wiseman is a sought-after speakerand commentator on state and local gov-ernment, particularly in Mississippi, andrural development. Often a guest editori-

al writer in Mississippi daily and weeklynewspapers, he can also be relied uponto evaluate federal, state and local elec-tion results for all media.

Wiseman serves as a committee mem-ber on the Civil Rights Commission onEducation, the Mississippi EconomicPolicy Center Advisory Council and theDelta Early Learning LeadershipInitiative.

DISSEMINATING INFORMATIONBut that is not all Wiseman and his

staff at the Stennis Institute do to assistlocal communities.

“We want to put information out thereto help policy makers and citizens todecide what their government can do,”Wiseman said.

Among the papers published by theStennis Institute for Government includepublications on policy and research.Wiseman said these reports put togetherat the request of state legislators, stateagencies, municipal governments andother related entities.

“The reports are comprehensive, com-missioned studies on various topics ofgreat interest which include municipalsalaries, taxes, Hurricane Katrina, hous-ing and more,” he said.

RESEARCHResearch briefs are also prepared by

staff members as part of the Institute’scivic education initiative. These briefsfocus on primary sources found in theCongressional and Political ResearchCenter at MSU’s Mitchell MemorialLibrary.

Wiseman said the intended audiencefor the briefs include elected officials,classroom teachers and anyone with aninterest in congressional and politicalaffairs.

The Institute also implements pro-grams to benefit government officials,including the State ExecutiveDevelopment Institute. Wisemandescribes it as an annual educationalworkshop offered by the Stennis Instituteof Government.

“It is designed to prepare mid- toupper-level state and local governmentexecutives to be more effective leaders,”Wiseman said

A broad range of topics are presentedby government officials, researchers andinstructors to provide participants a well-rounded and applicable curriculum.

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of MSU, the John C. Stennis Institute ofGovernment was established on Feb. 9,1976. Announcing its formation during atwo-day forum on politics honoring U.S.Sens. John Stennis and Margaret ChaseSmith, MSU President William L. Gilesoutlined the institute’s mission andgoals.

According to Giles, the institutewould seek to integrate research, serv-ice and teaching activities to improvegovernment in the state, as well as pro-mote the training of students who seekcareers in public service.

“We want to help all towns, from bigcities like Jackson and Hattiesburg, tosmall towns like Jonestown and Tula,”Wiseman said. “The needs of smallertowns are just as important to us. Wetreat everything the same.” �

In addition to running the StennisInstitute at MSU, Marty Wiseman

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61-66 3/12/10 9:26 AM Page 2

RESTAURANT MATRIARCH CONTINUES FAMILY TRADITION

LOCALCUISINE

story by JAN SWOOPE photos by KELLY TIPPETT

“I’m particular about my food ... very particular. I like for it to

be as close to perfect as possible.”

SOULFOOD FOR THE

OPPOSITE: It took HelenKarriem, owner of Helen’sKitchen, and her family a

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lenging to complete“Helen’s Kitchen: Cooking

from the Soul; SouthernCuisine & Family,” out inDecember, because she

doesn’t cook by recipes.

HELEN KARRIEM, Helen’s Kitchen

A plate of hot wings isready to be eaten at Helen’sKitchen in Columbus. Helen’sson, Ward 5 City CouncilmanKabir Karriem, talks to a customer in the background.

61-66 3/12/10 9:27 AM Page 3

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After 22 years as matriarch ofHelen’s Kitchen, Helen Karriemstill rises at 4:30 every morning,

even on rare days the third-generationrestaurateur doesn’t have to overseepreparation of some of the most mouth-watering soul food to be found inMississippi.

It’s a work ethic instilled by her late,beloved mother, Sallie Mae Jones (formerowner of Jones’ Restaurant in downtownColumbus), and a promise Ms. Helen —as she’s known — made to the good Lordyears ago.

“I get up early, even on Sunday,although the restaurant is closed,” shesays in a disarmingly soft voice. “I prom-ised God that if he let me halfway pay mybills, I’d be closed every Sunday. So, I geton up and read my Bible ... ”

The former coronary care nurse, whofound herself taking care of six childrenalone after 17 years of marriage, hasmade Helen’s synonymous with soul-com-forting fare. The neat brick building at thecorner of 15th Street and Seventh AvenueNorth in Columbus is in the heart of whatwas once a bustling center of African-American commerce and entertainment.

“We have a heritage festival every year

down here, and, oh my, that has broughtsome famous visitors to the restaurant —like Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland and Bobby Rush,”Ms. Helen reminisced, resting a fewmoments after a hectic lunch rush. Eventhe O’Jays are among those who madesure to stop by for some of that crispyfried chicken, catfish, yams, fresh greensand golden brown pan trout. Not to men-tion the signature peach cobbler andsweet potato pie.

CLOSE AND PERSONALAs good as the down-home cooking is,

Ms. Helen’s personal touch has made thefamily restaurant what it is — an inclusivegathering place, a pulse of the communi-ty.

Now that one of her sons, KabirKarriem, has joined in running the busi-ness, she can take it a bit easier, but thelifelong cook admits she can’t stay awayfrom the kitchen for long.

“I’m particular about my food ... veryparticular,” she says, in a tone that brooksno argument. “I like for it to be as close toperfect as possible.” It works. Even mid-afternoon, a steady stream of customerscrosses the red- and white-checked floorto place orders. Ceiling fans whir asfriendly servers scoop ice from an over-

61-66 3/11/10 9:56 AM Page 4

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Lunch at Helen’s Kitchen can consist of a variety of dishes such as fried chicken, green beans, macaroni and cheese, corn-bread rolls and peach cobbler.

61-66 3/11/10 9:57 AM Page 5


sized white ice chest and fill plates fromthe ample offerings.

“Hello, sweetie, how are you?” Ms.Helen smiles, greeting a familiar face.

“I come from a large family; I’m thesixth of 11 children,” she says, whilekeeping a practiced eye on customerservice. “My earliest memories of cook-ing are of standing on a chair when I was8 years old, making biscuits on a woodstove. I’ve always cooked.”

FROM THE SOULIt has taken 10 years, but with the help

of the Karriem children, the familyrecipes have been compiled into a cook-book. “Helen’s Kitchen: Cooking fromthe Soul; Southern Cuisine & Family,”out in December, was a labor of love.

“This cookbook took me so longbecause I don’t go by recipes,” explainsMs. Helen, who admits she often cooksmore by experience and intuition thanexact measurements.

The book is dedicated to her motherand her late sister, Annie Louise Petty, aformer chef at Columbus Air Force Base.

“They really were the wind beneathmy wings, in both my personal and pro-fessional life,” she says.

The opening pages are a family snap-shot, filled with messages from the chil-dren and memories of their mama’s finecooking and warm heart.

“There was no better feeling than get-ting off the school bus and entering thehouse to the smell of pipin’ hot food pre-pared by my mother,” writes her sixthchild, Ayesha Karriem-Mayagoitia, whoworked extensively on the cookbook proj-ect.

For her mother, the completed collec-tion is a testament to heritage.

“I hope my mother and sister’s spiritof hard work and devotion continues tolive on through this ... and I’d like for therestaurant to live on ... You know, I wouldlike to be remembered by the work I do... that is very important to me.”

Her brief break over, Ms. Helen grace-fully moves to the cash register to checkout a customer, seamlessly rejoining therhythm of the restaurant. Families gath-ered at tables laugh, share and sustainthe community hum.

“Have a good one, OK?” she says.“Goodbye, sweetie; you all come back.”�

HOW TO ORDER: � “HELEN’S KITCHEN: COOKING FROM THESOUL; SOUTHERN CUISINE & FAMILY”www.helenskitchenonline.com ($27.95, plus shipping)

Pecan and pumpkin pies are two of the mouth-watering desserts served at Helen’s Kitchen.

61-66 3/11/10 9:58 AM Page 6

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67-72 3/11/10 10:01 AM Page 1

EARTH

“Clay is just this lump

of earth. It wants to be

beautiful, and I like to help it.”

AL HOLEN, MUW assistant ceramics professor

D O W N T O

MUW

PROFESSOR USES LOVE OFCLAY TO TEACH THE ‘ORGANIC

PROCESS OF SCULPTING’

story by JAN SWOOPE photos by KELLY TIPPETT

67-72 3/12/10 9:29 AM Page 2

Al Holen spends lots of time atthe potter’s wheel in her officeat Mississippi University forWomen. The assistant professorhas reinvigorated the school’sceramics program.


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It is no surprise to find Alisa — Al —Holen at the potter’s wheel in heroffice at Mississippi University for

Women before class. The assistant profes-sor of ceramics is infectiously passionateabout her art, so spare moments are neverwasted.

A bright, natural light infuses the work-space as Holen completes a few turnsbefore wiping clay from her hands.

“It’s wonderful,” she laughed, movingto her desk. “It’s this mud pie you get toplay with; I can get stuff all over myclothes — and I don’t get in trouble.”

Since arriving in Columbus to teach atMUW in June 2008, the unpretentiousMinneapolis native has energized theceramics focus at the 128-year-old univer-sity. She taught her first semester atShattuck Hall, where the art departmenthad been temporarily housed for severalyears, while The W rebuilt the primary artfacility heavily damaged by a tornado.

Far from being daunted, the Universityof Iowa alumna and visiting assistant pro-fessor relished the challenge. After inven-torying and assessing equipment on hand,she repaired what she could and orderednew, when possible. The art faculty is nowgratefully ensconced in its new home, therenovated Art and Design Building oncampus.

Her enthusiasm for passing on a love ofclay to students takes a playful and sculp-tural approach.

“I knew I loved the organic process ofsculpting it myself, but I didn’t know I wasgoing to love teaching it so much,” sherevealed.

Holen’s own calling came early. Sheknew as a youngster the sticky, fine-grained stuff ran in her veins.

“When I was 12, I told my mom I want-ed to be a potter and live in the woods,”she chuckled. “Clay is just this lump ofearth. It wants to be beautiful, and I like tohelp it.”

INNOVATIONSIn January, one of Holen’s bold visions

for the university was realized —“Functional Relationships,” a nationaljuried ceramics exhibition she organizedand curated. Clay artisans from across thecountry participated. She also coordinateda simultaneous “Mississippi Mud” exhibi-tion at the Columbus Arts Council’sRosenzweig Arts Center, where sheserves on the gallery committee.

This past fall, Holen led the charge ingreatly expanding Empty Bowls into acommunity art project which raised about$6,000 for the Loaves and Fishes Soup

Kitchen and Global Connections, a reliefeffort for Africa.

“Potters tend not to be wealthy people,”said the Habitat for Humanity volunteer.“So I thought, what can I contribute? And Ifigured out I can contribute bowls and myknow-how and raise more for somethinglike Loaves and Fishes than I could evergive them myself in a million years.”

Ever on Earth watch, Holen is alsoincorporating recycling into the MUWdesign program, and is clearly enthusias-tic about a wood-firing kiln the departmentis building in collaboration with ColumbusBrick Co., a source for clay.

LOOKING AHEADAs the future unfolds, Holen hopes

MUW can eventually add ceramic sculp-ture courses. And the relatively newinstructor wants to recruit students “likecrazy.”

“I know a lot of students will takebeginning ceramics, and that’s it,” sheacknowledged. “So I’d like them to bechallenged and motivated; we really focuson problem solving, which can help themin every area of life.

“The earth is very important to me,”Holen stressed. “I just can’t imagine life


Al Holen was responsible for bring-ing “Functional Relationships,” a

national juried ceramics exhibitionto MUW, in January (above). Shealso coordinated a simultaneous“Mississippi Mud” exhibition at

the Columbus Arts Council’sRosenzweig Arts Center.

Normandy Alden’s “Untitled,” pictured here, right, was featured

at “Functional Relationships.”

67-72 3/11/10 10:04 AM Page 4


Candice Padden, a senior at Mississippi University for Women, works on a project during Al Holen’s ceramics class. Holenwants to pass on her love of “the organic process of sculpting.”

without clay. Just think; we take it fromthe ditches and end up putting it onpedestals. It’s an elevation of the earth.... I tell students when they put somethingin the kiln, know that it could survive for3,000 to 30,000 years — so don’t put it inunless you’re pretty sure,” she grinned.

Like her refreshing persona, Holen’soutlook is forthright and down to earth: “Idon’t think great art requires great mate-

rials. A great idea and craftsmanshipusually can get the point across.”�

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A L A B A M A

73-78 3/11/10 10:14 AM Page 1


CAFB

FlightMission

“Indeed, our mission is to train the world’s

best military pilots, but we also want to contribute to the

economic well-being of this area.”

COL. GEORGE H. ROSS III, Vice commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing

story by ALLEN BASWELL

CAFB Public Affairs

73-78 3/11/10 10:15 AM Page 2


For more than 67 years, Columbus Air ForceBase has served as the home of the 14thFlying Training Wing of Air Education and

Training Command.Each day, the wing flies about 300 sorties, or

training missions, making CAFB one of the busiestflying wings in the United States Air Force. Theseefforts exemplify the wing’s true mission: to devel-op the world’s best warriors, leaders and profession-al military pilots.

Yet CAFB also serves another role, as a key ele-ment in the economic impact of Columbus,

Lowndes County and the Golden Triangle area as awhole.

“We are the largest employer and have thelargest payroll. We have our personnel who live onbase, and our civilian workers live in LowndesCounty as well as Clay County,” said Col. GeorgeH. Ross III, vice commander of the 14th FlyingTraining Wing.

“Indeed, our mission is to train the world’s bestmilitary pilots, but we also want to contribute to theeconomic well-being of this area,” he added.

In all, the base has 1,400 military and 1,700 civil-ian employees; plus there are more than 6,000 mili-

COUNTY’S LARGEST EMPLOYER IS ALSO THE COUNTRY’S PREMIER PILOT-TRAINING BASE

Columbus Air Force Base student pilot 2nd Lt. Benjamin Hurlburt, left, under the watchful eye of Maj. George Mounce, 37thFlying Training squadron T-6 Texan II instructor pilot, reviews T-6 maintenance documents during pre-flight actions at the base’sflight line. CAFB trains one-third of U.S. Air Force pilots. OPPOSITE: Once completed, the Columbus Air Force Base ChildDevelopment Center will have room for up to 128 children, and will replace the current facility, which was built in 1968. TheCDC, designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, includes additional classroom space and training areas.

Sonic Johnson/CAFB Public Affairs

73-78 3/11/10 10:18 AM Page 3

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tary retirees who live in the Columbusarea. The pay of local military retirees— including Air Force, Army, Navy,Marines and Coast Guard — has seenan increase by $5.1 million from last fis-cal year.

According to a fiscal year 2008 CAFBreport, the base’s economic impact forthe area totaled $321 million, anincrease of $38 million from the previ-ous fiscal year.

Of that $321 million, more than $179million is for annual expenditures,$109.1 million, is for payroll, and $32.03million is for indirect jobs. A total of1,037 indirect jobs have been created.

Over the past five years, the base hasgradually increased its impact on thearea’s economy.

BY THE NUMBERSCommodities and purchased mainte-

nance of equipment increased for a totalof $23.5 million. Also, contract suppliesand equipment as a whole increased by$12.7 million for the 2008 fiscal year.

One of the key elements to helpincrease economic impact at the base isconstruction. It increased in 2008 from$15.8 million the previous year to $23.9million.

Construction of new gate houses at thebase’s main gate, off Highway 45 North,and back gate, on Highway 373, as well asreplacement airfield lighting and cable

and ducting repairs to the heating ventila-tion and cooling at the unaccompaniedofficers’ quarters, contributed to the boostin construction figures.

Contractors hang drywall in the new Child Development Center lobby. The $7.1 mil-lion child care facility will be more than 24,000 square feet and is scheduled forcompletion this fall. The contractors work for Acoustics Inc. of Ridgeland.

CAF

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ublic

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airs

73-78 3/11/10 4:47 PM Page 4

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PRIVATIZED HOUSINGDue to the privatization of housing,

there were no housing costs to the mili-tary last year.

According to Brian Linquist, primaryengineer for construction at CAFB,work on the main and back gates shouldbe completed by April.

Other building projects taking placeat the base include the construction andcompletion of the second phase of theMission Support Complex, a $7.8 mil-lion project.

The building will be used to supportconsolidation of administrative facilities.The complex was designed by theMobile District of the Corps ofEngineers.

“The furniture is being installed now,and full occupancy of the facility shouldbe no later than early April. All of ourdesigns come from the Mobile District,”Linquist said.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERAnother major construction project is

the CAFB Child Development Center.

“It will have a capacity for 128 chil-dren, and will replace the current facili-ty, which was built in 1968. Its capacitywas for 62 children, and trailers had tobe placed on the grounds in recentyears to handle the overflow,” Linquistsaid.

With this new building, it shouldmaintain the consistent enrollment ofapproximately 120 children.

“This is a state-of-the-art child carefacility, and in the construction work,great measures have been taken toensure good learning environment andchild safety,” Linquist said.

ENERGY REGULATIONSThe new building will also meet new

energy guidelines, he noted.“Part of the building will have natu-

ral lighting in order to help us main-tain new guidelines for going green,”Linquist said.

With each new building being con-structed, Linquist said, he had a partic-ular design in mind. He was inspiredby designs of buildings and streets ofdowntown Columbus and other partsof the Golden Triangle, as well as ante-bellum homes in Columbus.

“We want the designs to reflect thelook of the area’ we want it to have atheme of ‘Showplace of the South.’ Wewant to have a different, unique look,”Linquist said.

The Child Development Centershould be complete in October. Thetotal cost of construction is $7.1 mil-lion.

BASE HISTORYCAFB began as an advanced twin-

engine flying school during the rearm-ing of America before World War II.Pilot training for the U.S. Army AirCorps began at the base in 1942.

After the war, the base was inactiveuntil 1951 when it reopened to trainpilots during the Korean War.Columbus became home to a KC-135tanker squadron, and a B-52 bombersquadron in the late 1950s.

And even in these ever-changingtimes, the base continues its mission oftraining military pilots.

“We will continue to be the primarypilot training location for the UnitedStates Air Force and our allies,” hesaid.�


Hangar 450, a former B-52 maintenancehangar built in 1958, is receiving a$3.3 million overhaul. The aircraft main-tenance facility will be reclad andreceive new insulation, HVAC systems,electrical upgrades and a fabric doorallowing easier access and better work-ing conditions for maintenance person-nel. The overhaul will also increase thenumber of aircraft that can be servicedin the facility and should be completedin September.

CAFB Public Affairs

73-78 3/11/10 4:48 PM Page 5

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Hometown folks bringing you Hometown folks bringing you your hometown newspaperyour hometown newspaper

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“With Baptist’s hospitalist model, a physician is in

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DR. JOHN REED, Baptist Memorial Hospital–Golden

Triangle chief of staff

79-84 3/12/10 8:47 AM Page 2


Ateam of doctors, nurses and support staffhas brought to Baptist Memorial Hospital-–Golden Triangle the most rapidly grow-

ing medical specialty, freeing primary care physi-cians to care for a full schedule of office patientswith the assurance their seriously ill hospitalizedpatients are in good hands and bringing more timelycare to patients.

Hospitalists are physicians specializing in acutecare, who handle patients’ hospital care from thetime of admission until the patients’ dischargefrom the hospital.

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story by KRISTIN MAMRACKphotos by KELLY TIPPETT

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79-84 3/12/10 8:49 AM Page 3

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Unlike cardiology or neurology —specialties organized around organs —hospital medicine is a specialty organ-ized around a site of care, noted Dr.

John Reed, BMH-GT’s medical directorand hospitalist medical director, addinghospitalists are doctors whose primaryfocus is the care of hospitalized patients.

“With Baptist’s hospitalist model, aphysician is in the hospital 24 hours aday, seven days a week,” said Reed.“Working with patients’ primary care

From left, certified family nurse practitioner CarrieFlowers, Dr. John Reed and Dr. Brad Brown arepart of the hospitalist program at Baptist.

79-84 3/11/10 10:28 AM Page 4

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physicians, hospitalists coordinatepatients’ care and follow patientsthroughout their hospital stay.Hospitalists are a part of the health careteam and work with other physicians,nurses and other health care staff tocoordinate inpatient care.

“They also can react quickly through-out the day to changes in a patient’smedical status,” he continued. “Patientsreturn to their private physicians afterthey are discharged from the hospital.”

Hospitalists, which number morethan 28,000, have a presence in all lead-ing hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic,the Cleveland Clinic and HarvardMedical School-affiliated hospitals; pri-mary care physicians have come todepend on the services of hospitalists,with 58 percent of all hospitals employ-ing hospitalists.

NEW DIMENSION OF PATIENT CAREInstead of visiting hospitalized

patients only before or after their officehours, in a struggle to balance theirinpatient and outpatient needs, office-based primary care physicians now relyon hospitalists as a new dimension topatient care, allowing physicians moretime to see in-office patients.

Physicians choose whether or nothospitalists will treat their patients, untilafter they are discharged from the hos-pital and resume care under the physi-cian.

Surgeons and other specialists alsomay ask hospitalists to provide consulta-tions.

“Hospitalists bring many advantagesfor patients, physicians and colleagues,”said Reed. “They can provide moretimely care, because they are based atthe hospital and can make decisions assituations arise. They can modify treat-ment or follow up on a test result, on thespot, instead of waiting for the nextday.”

MORE TIMELY DISCHARGE“In addition, hospitalists can dis-

charge patients in the late afternoon orevening, so patients who are ready to gohome don’t have to wait until the nextday,” he added. “And they can consultwith the patient’s family more readily.”

“Quality of care and patient satisfac-tion are of utmost importance to us atBaptist–Golden Triangle,” said BMH-GTR Administrator Paul Cade. “Webelieve by having the hospitalists aspart of our health care team, our com-

79-84 3/11/10 4:52 PM Page 5


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munity benefits, because they relievesome of the pressure placed on physi-cians and they provide additional sup-port to our patients.”

The BMH-GTR hospitalist team con-sists of doctors Brad Brown, Reed,Matthew Wade and James Woodard, aswell as certified family nurse practition-ers Carrie Flowers, Nicole Terry, andRenee Vick.

According to information provided byReed, 82 percent of all hospitalists aretrained in general internal medicine, 6.5percent are trained in pediatrics and 4percent are trained in medicine subspe-cialities.

UNDER HOSPITALISTS’ CAREThe hospitalist team medically man-

ages a patient’s condition, coordinatesall specialist care and testing, keepspatients, their physicians and familiesinformed about their condition, discuss-es further treatment needs and pre-scribes medications needed upon dis-charge from the hospital.

Clinical services offered byBMH–GT hospitalists include consulta-tions, care of unassigned patients, refer-rals from primary care physicians, sur-gical co-management and care of

patients in critical care units.Additionally, BMH-GT hospitalists

offer coverage of cardiac arrests, a rapidresponse team, and care for patients inthe hospital’s skilled-nursing facility.

BMH-GT hospitalists also cover unas-signed emergency room admissions andprovide emergency room consultations,among other things.

Hospitalists provide value by reducingpatients’ length of stays and costs, withoutcompromising quality, said Reed.�

From left, Dr. James Woodard, certified family nurse practitioner ReneeVick and Dr. Matthew Wade are part of Baptist’s hospitalist program.Hospitalists take care of hospital-boundpatients 24 hours a day.

79-84 3/11/10 10:30 AM Page 6

Announcing A Very Special DeliveryGilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce a special

addition to its healthcare family.

The Women’s Center at Gilmore

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IIn the tradition of the Gilmore family, our new arrival was created with a mission to provide the highestpossible level of care and services for the women of northeast Mississippi.

Advanced Technology� Surgical Suites with state-of-the-art technology for C-Sections� The only Digital Mammography in our community� An advanced neonatal intensive care unit� Other comprehensive outpatient diagnostic services including: ultrasound, stereotactics, urodynamics

and bone density scanning

Comfort & Convenience� New main hospital entrance� Convenient separate Emergency Room entrance� Comfortable new hospital lobby and Emergency Room waiting area� Ample, accessible parking

Beautiful, Spacious Surroundings� New family-friendly Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Postpartum and

Labor/Delivery/Recovery Rooms with beautiful furnishings and finishes� Bright new Well-baby Nursery, with a special private viewing area

And, at The Women’s Center at Gilmore, you can count on the well-regarded caregiver team of physicians, nurses and technologistsyou know and trust.

PROGRESS 2010 � THE ISPATCH 85

85-90 3/12/10 10:14 AM Page 1


RECREATION

O U T D O O RO B S E S S I O N

story by BUSTER WOLFE photos by KELLY TIPPETT,BUSTER WOLFE AND LUISA PORTER

Kel

ly T

ippe

tt

85-90 3/11/10 10:37 AM Page 2


“Like we’ve said, it’s the best-

kept secret around here.”

NOXUBEE REFUGE HAS A HIDDENCHARM AND MASS APPEAL

Larry Box has been using theNoxubee National Wildlife Refugesince he was a little boy.

“Back when I was growing up, wedidn’t have any money,” said Box, for-mer superintendent of education forStarkville schools. “So Daddy wouldthrow us in the car and we’d go downand wade in the spillway on the week-ends. And that was recreation.”

The past president of the Friends ofthe Noxubee Refuge, Box belongs to aconcerned group of volunteers tied tothe refuge’s activities.

From picking up trash on therefuge’s seven trails to leading groupsof weekend rangers in conservation,environmental education or recreationactivities, the group has become animportant advocate for the refuge.

LARRY BOX, refuge volunteer

Lake Loakfoma can be seen looking outfrom the Larry Box Education Building.The building was named for Box, pastpresident of the Friends of the Refuge,a group formed to support the refugeand offer educational opportunitiesusing its natural resources.

85-90 3/11/10 10:39 AM Page 3

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The two-year-old group’s efforts wererecognized recently when the MississippiWildlife Federation awarded the Friends ofNoxubee Refuge the 2009 Educator of theYear Award at the 50th MississippiConservation Achievement AwardsBanquet.

The Friends received a statue of a white-tailed deer as only the third group to

receive the award in the past 40 years. “Most of the people who receive the

Educator of the Year Award are becausethat is their job,” said Dr. Cathy Shropshire,executive director of the MississippiWildlife Federation. “Because (the Friends)are a volunteer group, that makes it morespecial.”

Box said he also believes the award is

unique to the group.“So far as I know, it is somewhat unusual

for a group to receive the educator of theyear award,” he said. “One of our statedgoals is to provide educational opportuni-ties using the refuge as the entity to bringthat about. That’s one of the major reasonswe’ve got Saturdays at the Refuge.”

SATURDAYS AT THE REFUGE“Saturdays at the Refuge, for the group,

is the biggest thing going on that got theaward for this group,” Box said. “We do alot of other things besides that.”

“I thought that was fantastic” theFriends received the award, said Henry R.Sansing, the refuge manager at NoxubeeNWR. “We’ve been doing the Saturdaysprogram for over two years now. They’vebecome popular. And we have some really,really good programs.

“That’s one of our jobs on the refuge —especially with a focal refuge like Noxubee— is conservation awareness and educa-tion,” Sansing said. “We couldn’t do it alone.Without the Friends group, I couldn’t sus-tain as much activity. The volunteers —without them, these things just don’t hap-pen.”

The Friends of Noxubee Refuge helpwith the twice-monthly activities on the first

Noxubee Wildlife Refuge boasts an elevated walkway over Bluff Lake. A viewingplatform also juts out over the lake, offering an intimate view of the nature scene.

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and third Saturdays. The refuge uses theweekends in conjunction with the JuniorRefuge Ranger program, where campersages 4-14 can earn the honorary title bycompleting six activities.

Park Ranger Andrea Dunstan said theaddition of the Friends group put new life

into the weekend activities.“Before the Friends were here, I did do

weekend things,” said Dunstan, who ledthe refuge’s signature bluebird house build-ing recently. “But it was every other month,one weekend; I couldn’t do it, there’s justno way. When we got a regular schedule —

As part of Saturdays at the Refuge, the Noxubee County Wildlife Refuge, in February, hosted a blue bird house camp for children to make their own birdhouses. From left, are 4-year-old Paul Allen, his grandmother, Susan Allen, and his 5-year-old brother, Johnathan Allen, all of Sturgis.

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85-90 3/11/10 10:43 AM Page 5


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every first and third weekend — that wasthe best thing.”

Sansing likes to relate an observationhe sees at every weekend program.

“We’ll have parents bring their kids outto the activities, and the youngster may notbe interested in what’s going on,” Sansingsaid. “Then they’ll catch on and the two ofthem will leave the refuge laughing togeth-er and having a good time. It tickles me todeath when I see that happen.”

BEYOND WEEKEND ACTIVITIESThe Friends of Noxubee Refuge reach

beyond twice-monthly activities, serving involunteer roles to provide refuge mainte-nance, visitor center duties and operationof the Noxubee Nature Store at the visitorcenter. Proceeds from sales at the store goto the group.

Even when other groups use therefuge, the Friends become involved.Mississippi State University’s Departmentof Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture inthe College of Forest Resources sponsoreda recent youth squirrel hunt at NoxubeeNational Wildlife Refuge.

John Guyton, associate Extension pro-fessor and a Friends of the NoxubeeRefuge member, conducts wildlife, fish-eries and aquaculture and entymologycamps with the refuge as a resource.

Because of the refuge’s rich variety ofinsects, Guyton sees a renewed interest inthe camps.

“We’ve camped at all kinds of places.But the one thing kids and adults have fig-ured out is that the most diversity ofspecies that they have seen anywhere wehave camped has been on the refuge,”Guyton said.

IMPROVEMENT PROJECTSBy not being bound to an education-

only mission, the Friends of the NoxubeeRefuge also reach out to help with in-houseprojects. In October, the group helpedopen the 540-foot boardwalk stretchinginto Bluff Lake.

Sansing said an observation tower overLoakfoma Lake is expected to open in thespring or early summer after access is pro-vided.

With recent improvements and therefuge’s natural beauty, Box said he is stillsurprised when he hears people say theyhaven’t visited the Noxubee NationalWildlife Refuge.

“A friend of mine for 40 years is a mem-ber of the Audubon Society and Save theWhales and stuff like that,” he said. “Shehad never been to the refuge. It soundscrazy.

“Like we’ve said, it’s the best-kept secretaround here.” �

85-90 3/11/10 10:44 AM Page 6

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91-96 3/11/10 10:47 AM Page 1


AHEADOF THEGAME

MSU

BULLDOGS IMPROVE FACILITIES TO GET COMPETITIVE EDGE

Since Greg Byrne’s arrival as direc-tor of athletics at Mississippi StateUniversity, there’s been an

emphasis on giving the school’s athletesand coaches better ways to train and fansbetter ways to enjoy the games.

When it came to facilities in theSoutheastern Conference, MSU borethe stigma of being near the back of thepack. But after a productive 2009,there’s plenty of evidence of change sig-nifying State’s push to compete at achampionship level.

The ball really got rolling in 2008when an energetic and imaginativeByrne became AD. The $10 millionTempleton Athletic Academic Center,

which was planned before he took over,opened its doors, and a $6 million high-definition video board was installed atDavis Wade Stadium.

Then, last year saw most every sporton campus receive an upgrade.Volleyball, baseball and softball hadplaying surfaces redone, while newvideo boards were installed at DudyNoble Field and at the MSU SoccerField.

Then, the men’s and women’s bas-ketball teams got a major recruiting liftwhen they broke ground on a $12 mil-lion practice facility. It may seem like awhirlwind year of changes, but in realityMSU is looking to keep up with the restof a fast-moving conference.

“I think we made good progress lastyear,” Byrne said. “Getting the basket-ball practice facility going was a bigpart thanks to the generosity of theMize Foundation and through someother families, we were able to get thevideo board up. That has dramaticallyadvanced the atmosphere at our footballgames. I think we’ve made some goodstrides in improvements for a numberof our sports. With that, we still haveneeds.”

Byrne said he had a good base tostart with when he became AD, citingthe Palmeiro Center, Academic Center,Dudy Noble and Humphrey Coliseum.However, many projects loom on thehorizon for MSU as the school has

GREG BYRNE, MSU Athletic director

story by DAVID MILLER photos by KELLY TIPPETT

“Just like you want your business school, your

engineering school to look and have the latest equipment

and technology to let students know they’ll be able to train

at the highest levels — it’s the same thing for athletics.”

91-96 3/12/10 9:32 AM Page 2

Mississippi State University AthleticDirector Greg Byrne, who was appoint-ed to the post in 2008, wants to ensurethe Bulldogs are equipped to compete,with the latest equipment and facilities.

91-96 3/12/10 9:33 AM Page 3

9.04 Memphis Starkville

9.09 Auburn* Starkville

9.25 Georgia* Starkville

10.02 Alcorn St. Starkville

10.23 UAB (HC) Starkville

10.30 Kentucky* Starkville

11.20 Arkansas* Starkville

*- CONFERENCE GAMES

(HC) - HOMECOMING


begun construction on a $1.4 milliontrack. There’s also been $650,000 raisedfor a new golf practice facility.

The end of 2010 should see the bas-ketball practice facility completed, golfpractice facility finished and track done.

The athletic department has been

somewhat immune to ailing economy,marked by talks of MississippiUniversity for Women merging academ-ic programs with MSU. While thegrowth in the athletic department seemsto contrast the rest of the state’s finan-cial concerns, it’s a reflection of donors

making their mark on State athletics.The power of private donations for colle-giate sports is no secret, but the generalpublic typically doesn’t grasp theimmensity of private giving.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have statedollars we can ask for these types ofprojects,” Byrne said. “Obviously,there’s a lot of needs the university has,and we don’t want to be taking awayfrom any areas ... that would impact thebottom line for our campus. Private giv-ing is critical to allow these things tohappen. We need to explore everyavenue that’s out there and be as cre-ative as we can.”

Bonding and being selective in howmany donors are sought out for eachproject are a pair of creative ways Byrnehas helped steer the department’s facili-ties growth. For instance, the basketballpractice facility had 12 donors, whilefour donors pledged the money for thegolf practice facility.

For major projects like the DavisWade Stadium north end zone seatingplans, which would round off the cur-rent student section, a large group ofdonors will be needed. That project is inthe early planning stages, and Byrnesaid he has spoken with construction

The men’s and women’s basketball teams will enjoy a new practice facility, beingadded to MSU’s Humphrey Coliseum. The practice facility is a $12 million project.

91-96 3/11/10 10:54 AM Page 4

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IN THE WORKS FOR 2010� Basketball practice facility: $12 million� Golf practice facility: $650,000� New track and field: $1.4 million

FOR THE FUTURE� Softball field brickwork, chair backseating� Tennis locker room renovation, indoorfacility � Football training center, renovatedpractice fields� Davis Wade Stadium north endzoneseating� Dudy Noble skybox, club seat renovations

companies about the project, though atimetable for the project hasn’t beenset.

“We’re in a league that’s had tremen-dous growth in facilities,” Byrne said.“Just like you want your businessschool, your engineering school to lookand have the latest equipment and tech-nology to let students know they’ll beable to train at the highest levels — it’sthe same thing for athletics.” �

91-96 3/11/10 5:21 PM Page 5

4-County Electric Power Association ............................................3American Eurocopter ...................................................................55Antiques & Interiors by Jeanette Beard .......................................19Annunciation Catholic School .....................................................90At Home with Bassett ..................................................................95Atmos Energy ..............................................................................53BACCO Materials ........................................................................58Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle ...............................79Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle ................Back CoverBella Interiors ...............................................................................72Bennett Ophthalmology Group ....................................................88Broadcast Media ..........................................................................24Brunini Attorneys at Law .............................................................72Cable One .....................................................................................15Cash & Carry Building Supply ....................................................18CECO Building Systems..............................................................20Chateaux Holly Hills Apartments ................................................70City of Columbus ...........................................................................4Clinic at Elm Lake .......................................................................54 Lowndes County Radial Tire .......................................................54Coldwell Banker/West Realty Company .....................................60Columbus Brick Company ...........................................................14Columbus Cardiovascular Care ...................................................20Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau .....................................1Columbus Eye Clinic ...................................................................82Columbus Farm & Garden ...........................................................89Columbus Light & Water .............................................................21Columbus Police Department ......................................................14Columbus School District ............................................................43Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK ....................................10Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority ..................................88Covenant Presbyterian Church ....................................................84Domtar .........................................................................................11Century 21 & Associates Doris Hardy .........................................31Doug Dalrymple ...........................................................................83Dr. Gregory Childrey ...................................................................26East Mississippi Community College ..........................................35Eden MediSpa ..............................................................................83Electric Motor Sales & Service ....................................................54Express Employment Professionals .............................................27Falcon Lair Apartments ................................................................40Family Pharmacy .........................................................................64Friendly City Mini Warehouses ...................................................27Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance ...................................95Gilmore Memorial Regional Hospital Women’s Center ..............85Global Pharmaceutical Corporation .............................................66Golden Triangle Neurology Clinic...............................................64Golden Triangle Regional Airport ...............................................52Golden Triangle Security Alliance ...............................................19Granite Guys ................................................................................59Graphics by Arden .......................................................................36Greater Starkville Development Partnership ...............................25Hematology and Oncology Associates at Columbus ...................83Heritage Academy ........................................................................48Hometown Realty ........................................................................65Immanuel Center for Christian Education ...................................60James L. Holzhauer, M.D. .............................................................5Johnson Carpet Center .................................................................72

Junior Auxiliary ...........................................................................48Leigh Mall ......................................................................................7Lighting Plus ................................................................................76Lighting Unlimited .......................................................................58 Lowndes County Board of Supervisors .......................................21Lowndes Funeral Home & Crematory .........................................82Lowry Medical Clinic ..................................................................52Main Street Columbus .................................................................21Memorial Funeral Home/Gunter & Peel Funeral Home ..............60Merchant Law Firm .....................................................................36MetroCast .....................................................................................41Microtek Medical .........................................................................10Mid-South Signs ..........................................................................84Mississippi State University, Athletics ........................................94Mississippi State University, Admissions ....................................24Mississippi University for Women ....................Inside Back CoverMonograms Plus ..........................................................................19Moving Forward Counseling Center, LLC ..................................46Mt. Vernon Church ............................................ Inside Front CoverNeel-Schaffer ...............................................................................70Nephrology Associates, P.C. ........................................................34Newell Paper Company ...............................................................71Newman Oil .................................................................................26Nichols, Crowell, Gillis, Cooper & Amos ...................................41North Mississippi Medical Center, Columbus .............................72North Mississippi Medical Center, West Point ............................30Noxubee County ..........................................................................89Oktibbeha County Hospital ..........................................................42Ole Country Bakery .....................................................................90Party & Paper .................................................................................3Pediatric Dentistry, D.K. Curtis, D.M.D., P.A. ............................46Phillips Pipe & Products ..............................................................95Pinnacle Housing .........................................................................76Quality Automotive ......................................................................67Reed’s ...........................................................................................25Rehab@Work ...............................................................................26ReMax ..........................................................................................18Rivergate Apartments ...................................................................70Rodney A. Ray, Attorney at Law .................................................65 Saum Chiropractic .......................................................................59Severstal .......................................................................................49Shelter Insurance ..........................................................................64Smith Landscaping .......................................................................19Southern Ionics ............................................................................20St. Paul’s Episcopal School..........................................................77Swoope Insurance ........................................................................77T.E. Lott & Company, PA ..............................................................4Tennessee-Tombigbee Tourism Association .............................21The Dermatology Clinic ..............................................................14The Dispatch ................................................................................78The Franklin Apartments .............................................................91The Shops at Brickerton ...............................................................37The Waverly Apartments .............................................................91Town of Caledonia .......................................................................47Tuscaloosa Convention & Visitors Bureau ..................................73Weyerhaeuser ...............................................................................61YMCA ..........................................................................................89

Index of Advertisers

91-96 3/12/10 9:34 AM Page 6

Covers 3/11/10 11:26 AM Page 3

662-244-1000

goldentriangle.baptistonline.org

Making a Difference in Our Community

BAPTIST GOLDEN TRIANGLE is committed to serving our community

through programs that heal, educate and inspire others. In 2009 our

hospital and colleagues pulled together like never before to support

health and education initiatives vital to our region, contributing more

than $62 million in community benefit in Lowndes County — part of

more than $541 million contributed by the Baptist hospital system

throughout the Mid-South.

To view a full copy of our 2009 Community Report, please visit

goldentriangle.baptistonline.org.

Covers 3/11/10 11:26 AM Page 4

Progress 2010

Documents

Transcript of Progress 2010