Just Among Friends
Philadelphia High School students had an amazing time on their recent field trip to Jackson, where they toured the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Upon their arrival, the students were welcomed by the museum’s director and addressed by Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, the youngest freedom rider to be arrested.
As a museum docent, Civil Rights leader, speaker, and a living part of history, one of Mr. Watkins’s greatest pleasures is getting to teach younger generations the importance of embracing the past to create a better future. This was an interesting method of teaching history through lessons from the not-too-distant past.
~
The Philadelphia Rotary Club was honored to recognize three of our local high school students as the October Students of the Month during last Monday’s meeting.
The Choctaw Central High School student is Brylee Willis; Cassidy Hickman, Philadelphia High School; and Lakota Coley, Neshoba Central High School.
They were introduced by Mark Taylor, Student of the Month Chairman. The club thanked all of the parents, school counselors, principals, and superintendents for their support. Congratulations!
~
In a congratulatory gesture, the Leake Academy football team presented the Leake State Champion Cheerleaders with flowers during an assembly in their honor. Head of School Brian Pickens presented them with the honorary Bad to the Bone Award. Congratulations!
~
For Red Ribbon Week, Neshoba Central Middle School participated in a door decorating contest. The homeroom doors were all decorated with the theme of anti-drug use. The hallways looked so colorful with the various slogans and illustrations.
The homerooms that won were: Mrs. Swearing- First Place; Mrs. Hicks-Second Place, Mrs. Irons-Third Place. Congratulations!
~
The headlines on the front page of the Congressional Record recently read “House of Representatives Honoring the Musical Talent of Mississippi Native, Hardy.”
This awesome honor was proposed by the Honorable Michael Guest, a member of Congress, who gave a resume of his career highlights, including writing the words to Blake Shelton’s iconic song, “God’s Country,” ACM award winner and two-time CMA award winner. In 2022 he was voted “Song Writer of the Year.”
He is a promising purveyor of keeping the spirit of heavy Southern rock alive, according to American Songwriter.
According to the Guest, “I thank HARDY for his dedication to the art of music and contributions to our great Nation through music.”
~
The Ole Miss vs Oklahoma game was a special one for Marcus Dent and Pashen Thompson Dent, and their family. As Marcus said, “Boomer Sooner from the ’Sip” because Sooner #73 is their son Isaiah!
He accepted Oklahoma’s offer of a football scholarship out all of those he received, and now is a Sooner. His super fan, Grandmother Ruby Jean Thompson Brazzle, joined the group from Philadelphia. She was so excited to see Isaiah play.
~
Congratulations to the Philadelphia High Tornadoes, who defeated Union 16-6 to win the District Championship!! Congratulations to Coach Grace, the Tornado coaching staff, and everyone who has supported the team!
~
Brian and Lydia Whitaker Berry celebrated their 29th Wedding Anniversary with a weekend trip to the Coast where they went to church at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church which is also the home church for the priest who married them.
Afterward, they went to Jourdan River Steamer for a luscious dinner. Congratulations!
~
My daughter, Candler Foster, and my son-in-law, Bert Foster, returned from a trip to London, England, to their home in Dallas. The trip was to celebrate their 17th Anniversary. They had a wonderful time exploring all of the fascinating sights. They went to a soccer game the first day they arrived in a packed stadium that resembled one of our college games! I am happy that they enjoy traveling. I now travel vicariously and like to read about other people’s travels.