Avery Springer hits for Houston.

Complete game story and photos will be published in the Wednesday, May 22 Chickasaw Journal.

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East Webster Lady Wolverines pose with their trophy.
Photo Brandon Speck

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HOUSTON — Habitat for Humanity of Houston is seeking applicants for homes currently planned for construction.

Persons who are interested in being considered should call Rev. Randy Rinehart at 542-1911 to begin the application process.

All information submitted to Habitat for Humanity is confidential.

Habitat does have legal guidelines to follow and a tried-and-true process that can make homeownership possible for people who might not qualify for a loan through traditional means.

Applicants are required to meet several qualifications to ensure success. In general, prospective homeowners must:

• Be a citizen or legal resident.

• Prove steady income.

• Have good credit.

• Earn a monthly income within limits of Habitat for Humanity guidelines, depending on household size.

In addition, each partner family will be required to:

• Invest “Sweat Equity” hours in building their own home or the home of others.

• Make an affordable down payment.

• Make timely mortgage payments over the life of the note.

• Attend homeowner education classes.

Churches are encouraged to contact Houston Habitat for Humanity and get the details to possibly sponsor a Habitat Home for a member of their congregation.

Habitat is a Christian-based organization that follows a non-discriminatory policy for family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing partner families. Partner families are always selected on their level of need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat. The final decision will be made by the local Habitat for Humanity of Houston Board of Directors.

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Caroline Sullivan, from left, Brittany Gates, Laveta Moore and Emily Thompson got their first opportunity to participate in a municipal election as poll workers May 7.
(Photo by Lisa Voyles)

HOUSTON – As voters filed into the civic center in Houston to cast their ballots, they had to chose a party affiliation and then locate their ward.
The civic center was filled with tables designating wards and plenty of poll workers were on hand to assist. This year, several new faces were in place as well.
Caroline Sullivan, Nicole Moore, Brittany Gates and Emily Thompson served as pollworkers for the first time this election and were glad to be of service.
“I thought it would be a great experience,” Sullivan said.”I did learn a few things about the election process I didn’t know.”
Moore volunteered when she heard the commission was looking for more poll workers for this election. She said she feels voting is important to her community and wanted to get involved.
“I want to get more active in community service and more involved in the politics of our city,” Moore said. “I think it was worth it becuase I did see and learn the process of the voting procedure.”
Gates is graduating Mississippi State University this month and responded to the call for volunteers.
“I agreed to do it because I knew it was something I had never done before and it was to help the community,” Gates said. “I really enjoyed myself even though it was a long day. At the end of the day I knew I was a lot of help to my team. I learned not only about the election but more about the people in my community.”
Sullivan agreed that volunteering was time well spent.
“I was definietly a long day,” Sullivan said. “It was well worth it.”

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Houston’s Chloe Tapley delivered the Valedictory address at graduation from Hebron Christian School in Pheba May 10.
(Photo by Lisa Bryant)

By Lisa Voyles and Lisa Bryant

Chickasaw Journal

PHEBA – “God has a plan for us all,” said Chloe Tapley as she addressed her classmates at Hebron Christian School one last time.
Tapley served as Valedictorian for the Class of 2013 during graduation ceremonies held May 10 at the school in Pheba.
she reminded the students of the support they have received through their educational years.
“I takes a lot of faith to send your child off to school, especially to a school in the middle of nowhere,” Tapley said of the small, private school south of Montpelier. “I would like to thank our parents for the support and encouragement to set goals and stand beside us as we check off the goals along the way and to tell us, ‘Job well done.’”
15 seniors made the walk to commencement at Hebron with eight recognized as honor graduates.
The graduation ceremony was the first of many to come for local and area students in the next two weeks and Tapely issued a challenge not only to her class but to her generation as they move into the future.
“I would like to challenge the graduating class, as we go out into the world, to remember we have been given the tools to succeed,” Tapley said. “Don’t be afraid to fail. For our future, we are now prepared.”

Candidates for graduation enter the gymnasium at Hebron Christian School. Shown from left are Heather Jackson, Chloe Tapley, Lauren McCormick, James Alan Moore and Ryan Moore.
(Photo by Lisa Bryant)

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OKOLONA – A multi-vehicle accident Wednesday night on U.S. Highway 45 near Egypt has killed the driver of an 18-wheeler and sent several area residents to the hospital.

Five people were also transported to local hospitals, including a six-month-old infant, following the three-vehicle wreck that blocked the highway for a little more than an hour.

“Around 11:30 PM a west-bound black, 2001 Nissan Maxima driven by 19-year-old Keana Brown, from Nettleton, was traveling west on Egypt Road,” said Cpl. Criss Turnipseed, spokesman for the Mississippi Highway Patrol. “The Maxima experienced a mechanical issue as it attempted to cross US 45 Alt. and stalled in the south bound lanes.

Turnipseed said a white, 1999 Honda Accord driven by Alisha Hunter, 28, from West Point was traveling south on Hwy. 45 and struck the Maxima.

“The Accord came to rest on the shoulder of the highway after the collision,” said Turnipseed. “A south-bound red, 2000 Freightliner driven by 58 year old male from Nacogdoches, Texas was attempting to avoid the Maxima and overturned.”

Turnipseed said the Freightliner then collided with both the Maxima and the Accord.

“The driver of the Freightliner was pronounced dead at the scene by the Chickasaw County Coroner,” said Turnipseed. “Ms. Hunter, the driver of the Accord, was transported to NMMC for treatment of moderate injuries.”

Turnipseed said Brown and three other passengers, including the six-month-old were driven by a privately owned vehicle to Pioneer Medical Center in Aberdeen. He said the infant was later sent to Lebonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis.

“We are not relasing the name of the 18-wheeler driver, pending notification of next of kin in Texas,” said Turnipseed. “The accident is still under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.”

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Vickie Birmingham and her poodle Sophia welcome customers to Jamaican-Me-Tan, a tanning salon and more on County Road 515 South of Houston.
(Photo by Floyd Ingram)

No other physical attribute says more about your health than good looking skin and nothing helps give you that glow like a healthy tan.

Jamaican-Me-Tan can give its customers that wholesome and healthy look and also provide you with the moisturizers to protect your tan and the perfect piece of jewelry to highlight your skin tone.

“We have the spray tan for the person who is looking for that quick tan,” said Vickie Birmingham, owner of Jamaican-Me-Tan. “And we also have traditional tanning beds that give you a safe, uniform tan.”

Birmingham said her spray tan booth is state-of-art and the customer gets in, gets sprayed and gets out with a tan.

“When you step out you have got 20 percent of your color and if you let it stay on 12-hours you get your full tan,” said Birmingham. “It’s perfect for the bride wanting a little color to set off that wedding dress or that person wanting that healthy look for any special event. It’s quick, it’s easy on your skin and it looks great.”

Jamaican-Me-Tan also has tanning beds with the industry favorite bronzing bulbs.

“We suggest 15-minute sessions until you get the tan you want,” said Birmingham. “I firmly believe this is safer than a true suntan. If you are an outdoor person, it is perfect for that protective tan before a trip to the beach or a summer at the pool or lake.”

Jamaican-Me-Tan also offers a full line of moisturizers and tanning oils for a wide variety of skin. Birmingham said finding the right oil or moisturizers can help a customer keep a tan longer and keep skin looking supple and fresh.

And then there are the accessories.

Birmingham said nothing set off that perfect tan and bathing suit like the perfect necklace, wrist band or ankle bracelet.

“We have Bendel beaded bracelets, Jewelry by Randi that is all Mississippi-made and features the cotton boles in black and white pearls from Mississippi,” said Birmingham. “We also have the collegiate licensed jewelry with Swarovski crystal and jewelry by Skosh for Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans.”

Birmingham also proudly displays her Halia charm bracelets that are the hot fashion accessory this summer.

“We try to keep on the cutting edge of fashion with our accessories,” said Birmingham. “And if we don’t have it, we’ll try and get it.”

Jamaican-Me-Tan also offers Greenleaf fragrances in candles, sprays, potpourri and diffuser oils and handbags in a variety of colors and styles. They also have Willow Tree angels and figurines.

“We just ask people to come out and see what we’ve got,” said Birmingham. “You might be surprised with what you find.”

Local Focus is a regular business feature of the Chickasaw Journal. Locally owned businesses wanting to be included in Local Focus should call the Chickasaw Journal at 456-3771.

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The annual memorial honoring law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty will be held May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Fairpark in Tupelo.
State Attorney General Jim Hood will be the keynote speaker for the event.
The memorial is sponsored by Survival, Inc., the Lee Copunty Sheriff’s Department and the Tupelo Police Department.
For information, go to www.wearesurvival.org or call 869-7088.

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HOUSTON – Austin Reeves heads to Nebraska in June to compete in the National 4-H Shooting Sports competition in .22-caliber and he was on the range in district competition in both .22 and shotgun recently honing his skills

Houston’s Austin Reeves, on right, aims at a clay target at the 4H District Shoot at Whitetail Shooting Range in Lee County Saturday as Rangemaster Stacey Horton looks on.
(Photo by Floyd Ingram)

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Reeves was one of 27 youngsters from Chickasaw County competing in .22-caliber rifle, air-rifle, shotgun and archery at Saturday’s 4-H Shooting Sports District meet at Whitetail Ridge in Lee County.

“This is my second year and it’s just fun,” said Reeves, who broke 11-of-15 in shotgun at Saturday’s shoot. “I like breaking those clays. I can hit them, unless they get far out there.”

Reeves was up against stiff competition in shotgun with one shooter busting 15 clays and two breaking 14. Shooters were given a left and right shot and a double from three stations. They were also allowed to call a clay at each station.

Mississippi has one of the largest 4-H Shooting Sports programs in the nation in part due to the efforts of MSU professor Dr. John Long, a driving force in the Magnolia State’s youth shooting events.

Saturday’s district meet saw more than 485 shooters, ages 8 to 18, compete in four disciplines. Winners at the district level move on to the state shoot. Winners at the state shoot compete nationally.

Reeves took 8^th place in .22-caliber last fall and earned a spot at nationals when several competitors said they could not make it.

4-H has been hosting shooting sports in Chickasaw County for more than 30 years and has seen a revival in the sport.

“I personally want to thank the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors for sponsoring our program and helping these kids practice,” said Scott Cagle, Chickasaw County Agent and Shooting Sports coordinator. “I also want to thank our volunteers who showed up at every practice to help our kids get better.”

Cagle said Shooting Sports is more than country boys with guns.

“We teach gun safety, responsibility, character and discipline,” said Cagle. “We also have girl shooters and some of them are better than the boys.”

The Chickasaw County 4-H Shooting Sports team practices every Saturday in the weeks leading up to competition in the spring. They start the program in the fall, teaching the basics to rookies and honing the skills of veteran shooters.

And Cagle said 4-H Shooting Sports build relationships with kids and adults as the program requires a parent or adult to attend every practice and shoot with their child.

“I just like to shoot,” said Chris Hewitt, of Houston, who was competing in the .22-caliber/scope rifle competition. “My grandfather got me involved. I hit a bulls-eye from the kneeling position today.”

Chase Huey, of Houston, said this was his second year and he felt he was getting better.

“I felt I shot pretty well today,” said Huey. “I need to work on being more accurate in the standing position.”

Like Hewitt, Huey said the competition is great, but shooting is where the fun is.

“Getting to go out to the range every Saturday is something I look forward to,” said Huey. “I can’t wait until we start up again next fall.”

For more information on Chickasaw County 4-H Shooting Sports contact the MSU Extension Service at 456-4269

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