Houston Middle School band students awarded for performance and achievement include, clockwise from left, Austin Barfield, Daisy Guevara, Savannah Clark, Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton Brassfield and Harley Nabors. Not pcitured, Carla Coronado and Jaleel Brownlee.
(Photo by Lisa Voyles)

Special to the Chickasaw Journal
HOUSTON – Eight members of the Houston Middle School band were awarded for achievement following the HMS spring concert.
The band is under the direction of William Shirey and Josh Robinson and is comprised of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.
Students who received awards include:

Beginning band most improved
Carla Coronado, percussion; and Daisy Guevara, percussion

Beginning band Director’s award
Savanna Clark, tenor saxophone; and Anthony Gonzalez, alto saxophone

Intermediate band most improved
Jaleel Brownlee, percussion

Intermediate band Director’s award
Peyton Brassfield, percussion

Advanced band most improved
Austin Barfield, alto saxophone

Advanced band Director’s award
Harley Nabors, bassoon

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Students at Okolona Vocational Center got to experience distracted driving in an educational setting.
(Courtesy Photo)

Special to the Chickasaw Journal

OKOLONA – The National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) hosts Global Youth Traffic Safety Month each May during prom, graduation and the beginning of the summer driving season to engage and empower youth to lead traffic safety efforts in their communities.
This organization has put together the best practices for engaging teens in distracted driving preventions.
The Okolona FCCLA Chapter members participated by presenting at Okolona Vocational Complex’s Safe Driving Awareness Day sponsored by Farm Bureau’s Mr. John Hubbard of Batesville.
Students were challenged to maneuver a golf cart through a course while texting and driving and while wearing glasses that obscured their vision to give the illusion of drinking and driving. The FCCLA members explained common teen distractions, the three main types of distractions for everyone, and statistics of teen accidents and casulties.
The NOYS supplied a toolkit with promotional items, including wristbands, magnets, buttons, sunglasses, pens and pencils, that were given out to students who completed the course.
The NOYS is supported by The Allstate Foundation.

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by Patsy R. Brumfield

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Captain Jonathan Blankenship of the Houston Fire Department and Linda Griffin of Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency go over plans for a hazardous material drill set for 6:30 p.m. Monday in Houston.
(Photo by Floyd Ingram)

HOUSTON – When you see the men in the yellow suits, it’s not normally a good day.

But May 20 will be a good day for the Houston Fire Department and the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency to host a hazardous material drill on Harrington Street.

“We wanted to inform the public ahead of time about what is going on,” said Linda Griffin director of the Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency. “The public is welcome to watch, but we do take this training serious and just ask they stay out of the way.”

Griffin said in the event of a real hazardous material drill, the public would be kept far away from the site.

“If you do ever see the men in the yellow suits, you need to find out what is going on and the proper way to protect yourself,” said Griffin. “In any kind of HazMat incident, knowledge is power.”

Monday’s drill will see EMA and the Houston Fire Department suit-up and respond to a simulated hazardous material accident. A special decontamination tent will also be set up to initially treat and decontaminate “victims.”

“There are a lot of hazardous materials in factories around here and they can be found in trucks that ride up and down our highways every day,” said Capt. Jonathan Blankenship, of the Houston Fire Department. “A key part of this drill is teaching our guys how to protect themselves when they go to help someone who has been contaminated.”

Blankenship also pointed out victims have to be decontaminated before they can be transported to a hospital.

“If you put someone in an ambulance that has not been decontaminated and send them to the hospital, that ambulance crew and that ambulance have to be taken out of service until it is decontaminated and made safe,” said Blankenship. “If a contaminated person is rushed into an emergency room, you could be forced to close the emergency room down and decontaminate all your doctors and nurses, equipment  and rooms.

“In a real emergency, those are the last things you want to see happen,” he added.

And teaching firefighters how to use the yellow suits is also part of the training.

“Those suits have to be put on properly and our guys need to know what they can and can’t do in those suits,” said Blankenship. “If they are comfortable in those suits and know the limitations of their equipment, they can be much more effective.”

Monday’s drill will start at 6:30 p.m. and should wrap up about dark.

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Elaine Brown of Houlka celebrated her 100th birthday with a reception May 4 at Houlka First Baptist Church.
(Courtesy Photo)

HOULKA – Elaine Brown was born May 2, 1913, in Chickasaw County to Doyle and Mattie Kirkpatrick and was one of nine children.
She has lived in Houlka for her entire life. She married Elon Brown in 1935. They had two daughters, Barbara Ann Boutwell and Martha Collums. Her husband passed away in 1969.
She grew up on a farm and lived on a farm after she married.She also worked in a factory, worked in teh cafeteria at Houlka School and at Campt Tik-AiWitha. She is the oldest living member of First Baptist Church of Houlka.
Before her eyesight failed, she was known for her beautiful quilts and delicious rolls and bread which she shared with her family and friends. She is one of those people you just cannon out-give.
“Miss Elaine,” as she is known by everyone, has two grandson, Glenn Goodwin and Jason Boutwell and five great-grandchildren.
Miss Elaine is well know for her firm belief that when the Lord gets a persons place prepared, He will call them home and that everyone should be ready.
Approximately 80 people attended her birthday party May 4. It was a wonderful and blessed day. Many friends and family members came by to see her and she seemed to have the most fun of all.

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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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