Starkville: Mississippi's College Town

FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP: Local inventor, businessman plans movie based on his life

2012-02-28T10:15:00.000-06:00

Starkville entrepreneur John Campbell will begin production of “From the Shotgun House to the White House” in the summer. Campbell, a native of the delta, says the blend of traditional cinema and documentary is intended to inspire people heading into the 2012 Presidential election. / David Miller/Dispatch Staff

David Miller
February 25, 2012 9:19:00 PM

STARKVILLE -- Starkville inventor and businessman John Campbell's trajectory from poverty to successful entrepreneur wasn't easy, but with imagination, hard work and a little common sense, he made it to the top.

He's an inventor, with Shaver's Choice skin therapy system and Ram-Lock protection systems to his credit. He's a businessman, as founder of Yo' Transportation, a car service for Medicaid and Medicare recipients.

Now, he's looking ahead to his latest endeavor: A movie based upon his life.

Campbell, perched in his second floor office on Main Street, has plenty of time to kick back and smile about how he made it from the cotton fields of Inverness to owning eight patents.

Using his path to success as a narrative, Campbell is two months out from beginning production on his second film, "From the Shotgun House to the White House."

The film will be shot in the Delta and will feature documentary clips from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, singer Will.I.Am, Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornell West. The film is part documentary, part biography, said Campbell, who'll be portrayed by Wendell Pierce, of TV shows "The Wire" and "Law and Order."

"The film will really shine light on a lot of issues that maybe aren't being brought up right now," said Campbell, noting the lack of aid to small businesses. "You hear a lot about embracing small businesses, but there's very few resources for people with great ideas."

Campbell said the country's job issues are far greater than the plight of struggling small businesses, but Mississippi -- his home state -- has as much potential as any other state to spark private sector growth.

"In Mississippi, there's a lot of vacant land that can be used for crops," he said. "There's a lot of vacant buildings that can be opened in ways that small business people can go into them as an incubator or something of that nature. It's time for America to wake up and realize we can do a lot for ourselves if we give people a vehicle to use their ideas and bring something to the table."

Campbell hopes the film, which should finish production in late summer, will inspire people who have more questions than answers about how to find work, provide jobs and sustain.

It's a narrative with which he's intimately familiar. Forty years ago, he was just starting out, trying to patent inventions and market them. Inventing things wasn't the tough part; getting mainstream attention and finding a vehicle to take his product nationwide was the hurdle.

"This whole thing is to showcase my life story, where I came from, my inventions," Campbell said. "It's amazing you have to toot your own horn, but when there's no one to do it for you, you have to blow it yourself."

"I'm almost 60-years-old. I've been inventing stuff since I was 10," Campbell added. "I struggled to get certain grants and loans. What I'm trying to get is politicians to think about the grassroots level. Help them come up with the means it takes them to get going."

Campbell wrote his script with help from Doc Suggs, who has written for "The Today Show" and Florida-based Sunco Film Corp. Suggs also writes original screenplays and stays busy as a freelance writer.

Suggs said Campbell didn't need much guidance in writing the script, despite the unusual nature of blending a documentary and a traditional film.

"It's not particularly hard," Suggs said. "Robert Altman had a similar idea back a few years ago, putting together his political ideas in what he called a 'mockumentary.' Technically, this is not mocking, like 'Spinal Tap' or other films. This is a more serious approach to the political situation and economy we find ourselves in at the moment. I've been more of the teacher of how to put these ideas in screenplay format."

Campbell said the film will cost $500,000. He's currently fundraising in an attempt to offset some of the costs.

What's Happening This Weekend in Mississippi's College Town

2012-02-03T09:12:00.000-06:00

Click here for the full line-up of this weekend's Savor Our South events!

GTR Airport Receives Regional FAA Award

2012-02-03T09:06:00.000-06:00

GTR Airport Receives Regional FAA Award

The Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) has been awarded the 2011 FAA Air Carrier Airport Safety Award for the Southern Region. Doug Murphy, the FAA Southern Region Administrator, presented the award to GTR Executive Director Mike Hainsey at a recent Southern Region conference in Atlanta.

The Air Carrier Airport Safety Award is given annually and recognizes airports that have taken actions, instituted programs, or otherwise operated in such a manner deserving of special recognition for improving airport safety. Selection is based on the development or implementation of a specific program or activity, or other special and unique accomplishments, involving the operation of an air carrier airport that resulted in enhanced safety. The FAA cited the work done during the runway extension, efforts to reduce wildlife habitat, and a project to improve lighting and access in the terminal parking lot as examples of the safety efforts by the airport.

"I’m extremely proud of our people here at GTR," Mike Hainsey stated. "Safety has always been our top priority. This award is a result of a team effort by airport staff, air traffic controllers, airline employees, engineers, contractors, and all that work at the airport."

For more information contact Mike Hainsey, GTRA Executive Director, at 662.327.4422 x201 or mhainsey@gtra.com. Or log onto the website at www.gtra.com.

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Young Professionals to hold annual SOUPer Bowl

2012-02-03T09:04:00.000-06:00

BY: Jan Swoope

The Dispatch

February 1, 2012

No need to wait until Sunday for Super Bowl weekend action to crank up. On Saturday, the Starkville Young Professionals will host their own annual face-off -- with soups.

Twelve restaurants will bring their A-game to the 2012 SOUPer Bowl in The State Theatre at 213 E. Main St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chefs throughout Starkville are fine-tuning recipes for this year's match-up. All will be vying for first place and Best of Show honors, but sure winners will be SOUPer Bowl fans, who get to taste every soup before casting their ballots for favorites.

"This is our annual fundraiser, and it benefits the United Way of North Central Mississippi," said Robyn Cain, current president of Starkville Young Professionals (SYP). "It's a good time; we show the MSU basketball game, and people get to enjoy the soups and socialize."

SYP's Jackie Hudson added, "The area's best restaurants will be on hand serving specially-prepared soups for all attendees to taste. The event not only highlights local restaurants, but benefits our community's areas of greatest needs."

How to go

Tickets to the fifth annual SOUPer Bowl Feb. 4 are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for children 12 and under are $5. Children 3 and under may attend free. Get them in advance at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership at 200 E. Main St., or at R. Tabb & Co., 210 E. Main.

Starting lineup

Restaurants participating in this year's Bowl include Bin 612, Brian Michael's Meat Market and Deli, Bulldog Deli, Central Station Grill, Harvey's, Hilton Garden Inn, McAlister's Deli, Old Venice, Ritz Café, Sweet Peppers Deli, The Veranda and Three Little Pigs.

Recipe teasers already include shrimp bisque with tasso bits and mascarpone cheese, chicken and corn chowder soup, and chicken and sausage gumbo.First place honors last year went to Harvey's Chef Leon Jefferson. The Best of Show Award went to The Veranda and Chef Earl Yates.

Amy Yates, The Veranda's marketing director, said, "Every year we've done something exclusively for this event. We'll come up with an idea, look toward our suppliers and come up with something completely unique."

The fundraiser is a great place to try a dozen different soups for one price, in one place, Yates added.

Arma de la Cruz is director of marketing for the Eat With Us Group (Bulldog Deli, Harvey's, Sweet Peppers, The Grill).

"We really enjoy the SOUPer Bowl; we like to support the charities that are impacted and enjoy the partnership with the Starkville Young Professionals," said de la Cruz. "And this is a great way for our chefs to get creative outside the restaurant."

Since it's inception, SOUPer Bowl has raised about $10,000 for the United Way of North Central Mississippi, according to Cain.

"We really encourage everyone to support this," she urged. "It benefits such a great cause, and with the way the economy is, the United Way agencies really need that support."

For more information, contact Cain at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, 662-323-3322, or Jackie Hudson at 662-325-4214.

unWINE Downtown Thursday Night in Downtown Starkville

2011-11-09T15:19:00.000-06:00

Starkville Main Street is bringing yet another event to Downtown Starkville -- this time, Ladies Only! The inaugural unWINE Downtown includes wine tastings at 14 of your favorite boutiques and retailers, a souveneir stemless wine glass, and a 25% off discount in all 14 participating stores! Main Street member Oa, and Steel selected 14 unique wines that all retail for under $20 per bottle, making all the selections very accessible, just in time for your holiday entertaining! The following Starkville Main Street members will be included on the wine tasting tour:

Harmonie Boutique (Lafayette St.)
Book Mart & Cafe
The Sundial
Occasions
Oooh La La
Mary Virginia's
Polka Tots
R. Tabb & Co. Frock Fashions
Reeds
Libby Story
Purple Elephant (Lampkin St.)
Thyme (Lampkin St.)

Then, Don't miss the official After Party at the Central Station Grill! 40 reservations were made, and only 12 remain! Admission includes a signature cocktail, entree, and dessert at this fun and fancy private party!

Tickets for unWINE Downtown are $20 per person and may be purchased at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership office at 200 East Main Street, Starkville, between 8 am - 5 pm. Tickets for unWINE Downtown plus the official After Party are $40 each.

For more information, go to www.visit.starkville.org/insider!

Blues Trail to Recognize Oktibbeha County

2011-11-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

MISSISSIPPI BLUES TRAIL RECOGNIZES OKTIBBEHA COUNTY’S MUSICAL LEGACY

Jackson, Miss. (November 8, 2011) – On Friday, November 11, 2011, Oktibbeha County will receive a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker unveiling ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum located at 206 Fellowship Street in Starkville, Miss.

Oktibbeha County has produced several blues artists who achieved fame for their recordings and live performances in Chicago, California and other areas. Blues Hall of Famer Big Joe Williams (1903-1982), who waxed the classic “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” was born close to Noxubee Swamp on the southern edge of the county. Tony Hollins (1910-1959), who hailed from the Starkville-Osborn area, and Sturgis native Lou Thomas Watts (1934-1970), aka Kid Thomas, left small but significant bodies of recorded work.

Oktibbeha County blues performers have been featured at local clubs, restaurants, juke joints, festivals and Mississippi State University campus events, and the music of locally-born blues recording artists has reached audiences around the world. Big Joe Williams, one of the most prolific and well-traveled figures in blues history, maintained close ties to Oktibbeha County throughout his life. A longtime resident of the Crawford area, Williams recorded hundreds of tracks between 1935 and 1980. He also acted as a session producer and talent scout, resulting in recordings made at a Starkville radio station by Shortstuff Macon, Glover Lee Connor, Williams and his uncles, Bert and Russ Logan, in 1965 and 1971.

In 1941, Williams and guitarist Tony Hollins, whose family lived in Osborn in 1910, became the first artists to record the song, “Crawlin’ King Snake,” which was later covered by John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and the Doors. Hollins also made the earliest recording of the blues standard, “Cross Cut Saw.” During the 1930s and '40s, Hollins lived and performed in the Delta and was regarded as a major influence by Hooker.

Lou Thomas Watts, who recorded under the name Kid Thomas, among others, left Sturgis at an early age when his family moved to Chicago. Watts said he taught drums to schoolmate Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, who later gained fame as a member of the Muddy Waters band, and in turn Smith taught Watts to play harmonica. Watts made records that ranged from frantic Little Richard-style rock ‘n’ roll to deep Chicago harmonica blues. After moving to Wichita and then to Los Angeles, he was just gaining the attention of the international blues community when he was shot to death by a distraught father whose son had been struck and killed by Watts in an automobile accident.

In Starkville, singer Willie Harrington and bassist Raymond Doss founded the Flames, a popular soul, funk and blues band in 1972. The group broke up in 1978, but was revived in 1997. Over the years, the Flames performed at local venues including the Underground, Rick's Cafe Americain, the Dark Horse Tavern and the Veranda. Emmett “Piano Red” Hudson (1909-1993) from Clay County, also performed for college crowds and at clubs in the area. Guitarist Big John Henry Miller, who recorded in Chicago in 1965, was a Starkville native, as was St. Louis guitarist Little Robert Weaver (1933-1993). Social Security files suggest that Lonnie Williams, a blues guitarist who, according to Williams, was an important local influence on Elvis Presley in Tupelo, may have also been born in Starkville.

Blues-related activities have been a part of the region. Some included the Osborn Blues Festival in the 1980s, the long-running Down Home Blues Festival just north of the county line in West Point, and an event that honors a predecessor to blues music, ragtime: the Ragtime Jazz Festival (sponsored by the Mississippi State University Library and the Charles Templeton Sr. Music Museum, repository of a large music collection amassed by Templeton, a Starkville businessman).

With over 140 markers, the Mississippi Blues Trail is a museum without walls taking visitors on a musical history journey through Mississippi and beyond. The trail started with the first official marker in Holly Ridge, the resting place of the blues guitarist Charley Patton, and winds its way to sites honoring B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Son House and others. Out-of-state markers are located in Chicago; Memphis; Los Angeles; Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Ferriday, Louisiana; Helena, Arkansas; Rockland, Maine; Grafton, Wisconsin; and Tallahassee, Florida.

For more information about the Mississippi Blues Trail, visit http://www.msbluestrail.org or explore the official Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Web site, http://www.VisitMississippi.org. You may also contact Alex Thomas, MDA Tourism’s Music Trails program manager at 601.359.3297 or athomas@mississippi.org.

Dr. David Shaw is our secret weapon for Economic Development

2011-10-24T09:40:00.000-05:00

Dr. David Shaw sees MSU’s role in state economic development

By GWEN SISSON
sdnlife@bellsouth.net [2]

David Shaw, vice president for Research and Economic Development for Mississippi State University, said the university serves as a catalyst for change in Starkville and throughout the state of Mississippi.

“I see MSU playing a critical role in Mississippi’s economic development,” Shaw said. “I work very closely with the governor’s office and the Mississippi Development Authority in industry recruitment, and make that a high priority.”

Shaw said Mississippi has been exporting graduates for far too long.

“Bringing in new industries into the state will help us keep those graduates, and will create opportunities for everyone in the state,” Shaw said.

Shaw said MSU is working on very visionary opportunities that will position the state well for the future with “tremendous opportunities in renewable energy, aerospace, and automotive technologies.”

“We use our research expertise to attract companies locally and statewide, and have a strong program in seeing intellectual property developed at the university spun out into industry partnerships and startup companies,” Shaw said. “All of this benefits not only through job creation, but also in keeping the best and brightest from Mississippi staying in Mississippi.”

Shaw said the research program also has a tremendous impact on the quality of life in the state.

“MSU as a leading research institution creates unique opportunities to regularly interact with leading researchers from throughout the world through joint research programs, invited lectures, and conferences that we host,” Shaw said.

As the Cotton Mill project continues to develop, Shaw said he is looking forward to seeing these opportunities expanded greatly through MSU and Starkville hosting more research conferences than ever before.

The Office of Research and Economic Development has three primary responsibilities. According to Shaw, the office must provide leadership and vision for the research enterprise at MSU; provide the infrastructure necessary to support a top-tier research program; and must serve as the advocate for MSU’s researchers with state and federal agencies, Capitol Hill, corporations and private foundations.

“First and foremost, we prepare students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to go out into the workforce with the best education available,” Shaw said. “This is because an education at a research-intensive university is uniquely different than what is received elsewhere. The opportunity to interact with world-class researchers in the lab and classroom puts students at the cutting edge of their field.”

One of the most visible programs of the Office of Research and Economic Development is the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park

Shaw said the research park “is really coming into its own now.”

Started back in the mid ’80s, it began with a business incubator building. When it became full, MSU built a second, which was completely filled with one of the startup companies from MSU – SemiSouth. The third incubator building was completed this past year, and at the grand opening was over 70 percent filled. Shaw said MSU’s partnership with a technology company, II-VI, Inc., has led to the construction of a fourth incubator, and construction is underway and expected to be completed in late spring of 2012. Phase II of the Research Park underway, with a new four-lane boulevard under construction soon. This will take in an additional 80 acres just to the east of the current Park.

“What’s most important though is what’s in the Park, not the Park itself,” Shaw said. “We have a number of companies located in the Park that are growing and hiring. In addition, some of MSU’s high-profile research programs are located there, including world-class work in vehicular systems, sustainable energy, computational simulation, geospatial technologies, and social sciences research.”

MSU President Mark Keenum said research activities at Mississippi State are essential to the university’s success in advancing higher education and boosting economic development.

“David’s experience and contacts in Washington, D.C., across the nation and around the world have been instrumental in sustaining Mississippi State’s place as the flagship research university in our state. The Carnegie Foundation recently classified MSU as a very high research activity university, putting us in an elite category nationwide,” Keenum said. “That achievement is due in no small measure to David’s strong leadership.”

“It is extremely beneficial to have someone like Dr. Shaw as the VP for Research and Economic Development because he realizes the value of cooperation and collaboration,” said Jerry Gilbert, MSU’s Provost and Executive Vice President. “We function as true partners on issues that affect research and teaching. It is great to have him on the team.”

Bill Kibler, MSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs, said Shaw assumed the role of Vice President for Research and Economic Development after a career at MSU as one of the university’s most prolific and accomplished researchers.

“He was perfect for the role because he had ‘walked the walk’ for many years through his impressive record of bringing research funding to MSU,” Kibler said. “He also brings national and international respect to MSU as a result of the impact his research has had. He now champions and represents the research interests of our university throughout the state, in our nation’s Capitol and around the world. “

“Dr. Shaw has an extraordinary record of leadership in research, has received national recognition for his work, and has the respect of colleagues at Mississippi State University and around the country,” said Amy Tuck, MSU’s Executive Director of Campus Operations. “He is always seeking innovative partnerships to broaden our university’s research impact, and he has a strong vision for MSU.”

Zant Don, MSU’s Vice President for Budget and Planning said he has known Shaw for several years and have enjoyed working with him.

“Over the years David had proven to be extremely knowledgeable regarding sponsored research, has strong moral and ethical character, and is very willing to work with the President and other vice presidents as part of a team to help MSU fulfill it’s mission,” Don said.

“David is tireless in his efforts to expand the scope of research at MSU ultimately impacting the economic development of Mississippi,” said Don Rush, MSU’s Vice President for Development and Alumni. “He has a true passion for his work.”

That passion for his work began in his high school science class and on the farm.

Shaw grew up on a family farm in Oklahoma. For his undergraduate degree, he attended Cameron University while farming full-time. In March before he graduated in May, he decided the family farm wasn’t going to be able to support another family with the flux that farm programs were experiencing in the late ’70s and early ’80s. His academic advisor strongly encouraged him to look into graduate school.

Shaw received his master’s degree and his Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University, and moved to MSU immediately thereafter. All of his degrees are in agriculture-related fields, with graduate degrees focusing on weed science.

Shaw said he believes growing up on a farm has always led him to the practical side of research.

“And seeing (that research) applied in the real world through new technologies and economic development is immensely satisfying,” Shaw said.

Shaw said his parents and grandparents also set him on a path to success by giving him a solid foundation, work ethic, and example of service to others rather than a focus on self.

Shaw sees his family as his biggest accomplishment in life.

“I have two wonderful children and a son-in-law that are huge blessings in my life,” Shaw said.

Shaw and his wife, Sherri, have been married for almost 33 years. She worked to put him through graduate school, and then came home to raise their family. They have two children. Their daughter Stacy and her husband David live in Jackson, Tenn. She is an accountant at a local hospital, while David has gone back to school to be a nurse anesthetist. Their son Russ graduated in May, and is now a free-lance graphic designer in Atlanta.

Today, Shaw’s personal passion is all about excellence.

“I enjoy challenges, trying to achieve more than what anyone would think possible,” Shaw said. “And that translates into a passion for challenging others to achieve their utmost. I love to see leadership develop in other people, and want to be a facilitator for leadership development in every aspect, whether it be professional, personal, or in the family.”

Friends say that passion for excellence has been fueled in every area of Shaw’s life and continues to serve as a yardstick for personal and professional development, now and in the future.

“I’ve always trusted in God to lead me, so have never focused heavily on having set long-term plans for myself,” Shaw said. “Every position I’ve held I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. That has never been more true than what I’m doing now. President Keenum and his leadership team are a great group of people, and I’m happy and privileged to work with them.”

Wow...Pumpkinpalooza!

2011-10-18T15:25:00.001-05:00

Another great event with a fantastic crowd....Pumpkinpalooza!

Downtown Starkville was the place to be Friday night! It was lots of fun.

Thanks to 96.1FM WLZA and Bill Thurlow with Thurlow's Party to Go for the great tunes all night. Also, thanks to everyone that participated and help make Pumpkinpalooza a huge success!

Pumpkinpalooza was sponsored by Starkville Main Street Association, Greater Starkville Development Partnership, and Starkville Community Market.

**Take a look at some pictures from the event. You can view more pictures on our Facebook page at Starkville: Mississippi’s College Town

Look forward to next year!

Pumpkinpalooza THIS FRIDAY!!!

2011-10-13T16:49:00.000-05:00

3rd Annual Downtown Pumpkinpalooza

Ready to have a GREAT TIME!!! Come out THIS Friday, October 14th from 6 p.m. till 8 p.m.

Activities include Pumpkin patch right in the middle of Main Street with locally grown pumpkins!

MSU pep-rally with Bully, MSU Cheerleaders, and MSU AD Scott Stricklin!

Starkville Community Market vendors selling preserves, baked goods, and more!

Inflatable jumpers, Face-painting, trick-or-treating to Main Street merchants!

Restaurant specials for kids in costumes!

AND MUCH MORE....

Click here to view Thurlow’s TOP 10 Pumpkinpalooza Playlist. It's sure to SPOOK you!

For more information, visit www.visit.starkville.org

Downtown Gameday Shuttle

2011-10-13T15:34:00.001-05:00

Need A Ride...

Brought to you by the Starkville Main Street Association, City of Starkville, and the Mississippi State University Athletic Department, the Downtown Gameday Shuttles (3) will operate on home football gamedays on the following schedule:

-- 3 hours prior to kick-off
-- 2 hours following game end

STOPS INCLUDE:

-- Starkville Daily News parking lot
-- Oktibbeha County Courthouse Annex parking lot
-- McArthur Hall (MSU Campus)

For live maps and arrival times, go to http://transit.msstate.edu/ on your smart phone.

The Starkville Main Street Association encourages riders to eat and shop Downtown before riding the shuttle to campus. For a complete listing of Starkville Main Street members, see http://www.visit.starkville.org/.

Go Dawgs! Beat South Carolina!

Bulldog Brunch & Browse

2011-10-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

Come Dine and Shop With Us…

After the Bulldogs win against South Carolina and before you go back to your destination Sunday, come eat at one of the downtown restaurants and shop at your favorite stores. Visit Downtown Starkville for lunch and shopping from 11 a.m. until.

Bulldog Brunch & Browse is each Sunday following Mississippi State University home football games. This gives alumni and fans the opportunity to connect with Downtown Starkville. Enjoy special shopping and dining hours with our participating Starkville Main Street Association members. Bulldog Brunch & Browse is part of New South Weekends.

Participating retailers include: Frock Fashions, The Book Mart & Café, Libby Story, Polka Tots, Reeds, Bath Bayou, The Sundial, R. Tabb & Co., Harmonie Boutique, Thyme, Mary Virginia’s, Oooh La La Boutique, and Occasions Gift Shop.

*Need help finding where those favorite stores are.... Here's a glance!!!

For more information about Bulldog Brunch & Browse, visit our website at www.visit.starkville.org/brunch.

A Legend Comes To Town

2011-10-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

The King is in Starkville!!! Blues legend B.B. King that is!

We are so happy to have an all-time great here!

The King of the Blues, B.B. King

Tonight at the Lee Hall's Bettersworth Auditorium on Mississippi State University, the legendary blues musician will be taking the stage in front of a SOLD OUT audience. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. The show is part of the 2011-2012 Lyceum Series.

Hits such as "The Thrill is Gone," "Everyday I Have the Blues," and "Payin' the Cost to be the Boss" are sure to be crowd pleasers.

B.B. King was born near Itta Bena on September 16, 1925. Over the span of his career, he has recorded over 50 albums and many classics. He averages about 250 concerts a year all over the world. What an honor to have him in Starkville!

Though the show is sold out, you can still listen to one of his greatest classics, "The Thrill is Gone."

For more information on B.B. King and other upcoming Lyceum events, visit http://www.lyceum.msstate.edu/

3rd Annual Downtown Pumpkinpalooza

2011-10-10T11:39:00.000-05:00

Come join in on the fun! The 3rd Annual Pumpkinpalooza will be held Friday, October 14, 2011 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Come out and enjoy trick-or-treating to Main Street merchants.

Enjoy this fun-filled event. There will be a pumpkin patch with locally grown pumpkins available for purchase. Free face painting and 3 inflatable jumpers for kids. Come to see who will win the window display decorating contest. All activities are FREE and open to the public.

Halloween music will be provided be WLZA and Thurlow’s Party-to-Go. There will also be a MSU pep rally featuring cheerleaders and Bully.

*Take a look at some of last year's photos*

For more information, please contact Starkville Main Street Association at 662.323.3322 or www.visit.starkville.org.

Starkville named one of Sporting News' Best Sports Cities

2011-10-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

Best Sports Cities: The list from 1 to 271

It's more than just championships.
Sporting News’ Best Sports Cities rankings, which look at the 12 months from summer 2010 to summer 2011, are based on point values assigned to various categories, including but not limited to, won-lost records, postseason appearances, applicable power ratings, number of teams and attendance.

See the full list here.

2011 Starkville Main Street Christmas Parade

2011-10-05T10:58:00.000-05:00

The time is near! Giving presents, singing carols, and just having a good ole jolly time. The 2011 Starkville Main Street Christmas Parade will be held on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 6 p.m. This year's theme will be "Christmas in Candyland."

Entry forms can be picked up at Starkville Main Street Association or downloaded from http://www.visit.starkville.org/. Entry fees are $25 per organization or individual entry. A $10 fee will be assessed for each additional entry. All checks and/or money orders are to be made payable to: Starkville Main Street Association. The deadline for all applications and payments is Friday, November 11, 2011.

A mandatory meeting will take place on Thursday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. regarding details of the parade. The meeting will be held at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Office. Each entrant or representative should be in attendance. In addition, all participants should note the revised guidelines.

In this year’s parade, Starkville Main Street Association require that ALL floats and/or entries be decorated according to the theme “Christmas in Candyland” and that walking groups be active in the parade.

For questions or more information, please contact Starkville Main Street Association at (662)323-3322 or christmasparade@starkville.org.

We look forward to another great and successful year!

Former Senator Trent Lott joins the Board of Directors at Starkville's Camgian Microsystems

2011-10-03T11:24:00.000-05:00

Starkville, MS – October 3rd, 2011 – The Board of Directors of Camgian Microsystems Corporation today announced the appointment of former United States Senator Trent Lott as an independent director of the firm effective October 1. Lott‘s appointment expands Camgian‘s board to four directors.

”Senator Lott‘s significant experience and valuable perspective on business and government will be a tremendous asset for Camgian as we build our brand and expand our market presence,“ said Dr. Gary D. Butler, Camgian Chairman and CEO. ”We are honored to have him join our team.“

”I think Camgian is an outstanding young company with great potential,“ said Senator Lott. ”I'm very happy and excited to be a part of this dynamic organization.“

Lott, the former Majority Leader for the United States Senate, represented the people of Mississippi in Congress for 35 years and is one of a handful of officials to have held elected leadership positions in both the House of Representatives and Senate. For 16 years in the House and 19 years in the Senate, Lott was a driving force in the United States Congress working closely with seven presidential administrations and was regarded as a savvy coalition builder and dealmaker. In 2006, Senator Lott was elected Senate Republic Whip, giving him the distinction of being the only person to hold that position in both the House and Senate. After his retirement from the United States Senate, Senator Lott founded the Breaux Lott Leadership Group with former Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, a partnership offering strategic advice, consulting and lobbying to a wide range of clients. The firm unites two former Senate leaders from opposite parties, with a combined total of nearly 70 years experience in Congress.

News about New South Weekends

2011-09-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

Downtown shops benefit from NSW event

By CARL SMITH sdnnews@bellsouth.net

Many local business managers say Friday’s Downtown Block Party provided an infusion of visitors and revenue as local and out-of-town shoppers spent the evening browsing shops and eating at various Starkville restaurants.

Despite numbers indicating fewer people were in town for Saturday’s football game — more hotel rooms were open Friday night and almost 1,400 fewer fans utilized Saturday’s Downtown Shuttle compared to Sept. 15’s game against Louisiana State University — Jennifer Gregory, Greater Starkville Development Partnership chief operating officer and vice president for tourism development, said Friday’s event drew an estimated 2,000 attendees downtown. An estimated 1,500 people took part in last year’s event, she said.

“We’re trying to position Starkville as the college town of Mississippi so potential visitors will always want to come for Mississippi State athletic events, but they’ll also want to come back on non-athletic game weekends because they had a great time while they were here,” Gregory said. “I think we’re experiencing a great success.”

As more and more local and out-of-town shoppers spend their money in Starkville, the city, local economic development agencies and Mississippi State University have seen influxes in much-needed 2-percent food and beverage tax revenue. Forty percent of the tax’s revenue goes into Starkville Parks and Recreation, while 20 percent is reserved for the MSU Student Association. The Starkville Conventions and Visitors’ Bureau and Oktibbeha County Economic Development Association both receive 15 percent, while the city of Starkville takes in 10 percent.

Ward 5 Alderman Jeremiah Dumas said most of those organizations use the money toward attracting more tourists — and more tourism revenue — to the area.

Barbara Foster, co-owner and manager of Starkville’s Bookmart and Cafe, said her location did as much business Friday during the block party as it normally does in a single day.

“It was just fabulous for us. Book stores worldwide are not doing well. So many of them are struggling and going out of business. Anything we can do to boost our business, we’re going to jump on it,” she said. “We want to see downtown succeed, and we’re so thankful for our friends at the partnership.”

Frock Fashions Manager Callie Greening said her store remained open until approximately 9:30 p.m. when the last customer was served. The New South Weekend’s block party provided Frock Fashions with an additional 30 percent of business and traffic in the store, she said.

“Between 6-9:30 p.m., we had about 300 people come to our store. It was one of our most successful nights ever,” she said. “Not all of them were actively shopping, but the people we had will more likely be back in town for future football games and will remember us.”

Following Friday’s block party and Saturday’s football game, shoppers were also treated to Bulldog Brunch and Browse, a special shopping event which opens retailers to potential Sunday business. Gregory said Frock Fashions, Book Mart and Cafe and Libby Story stayed open later than the planned 11 a.m.-to-2 p.m. window due to the high volume of shoppers.

Dumas said recent ordinances — including the city’s ordinance allowing the sale of alcohol on Sundays — have transformed how travelers stay and spend their money in Starkville.

“Just in the past few years, we’ve seen a huge influx with the brunch crowd on Sundays,” Dumas said. “What we’re seeing now is people who used to come in for a football game and leave are now making a three-day event out of it. The proof is in the pudding.”

Gregory said the potential for Sunday business success has always been evident, especially on home football game weekends.

“Sundays have been non-shopping days in Starkville, but we thought while we have 60,000 people in town for home football games, why not ask our retailers to open their doors and try to capture some of those dollars,” Gregory said. “It’s been wildly successful, even on the first date (and) with limited publicity through social media and rack cards placed at hoteliers on Friday.”

Future dates set for Bulldog Brunch and Browse include Oct. 16, Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 27.

Pumpkinpalooza, the next New South Weekend event, is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Since the event was featured in an edition of Mississippi Magazine, Greening said she expects the coverage to provide Frock Fashions with one of its best shopping days ever. Last year’s event brought in approximately 5,000 attendees.

Pumpkinpalooza will open with a downtown MSU pep-rally featuring appearances by Bully, cheerleaders and Athletics Director Scott Stricklin at 6 p.m. Main Street members will be open to trick-or-treaters, a pumpkin patch with locally grown pumpkins will be located in the middle of Main Street and retailers will feature MSU Fashion Board members as live models in their windows.

Future CVB Christmas events include an open house and tree lighting on Nov. 6, unWINE Downtown on Nov. 10, the Christmas in Candyland-themed Christmas parade on Nov. 28, the 39th Holiday Bazaar Nov. 30-Dec.1 at the Sportsplex and a special secret Santa promotion featuring local retailers.

Copyright 2011 Starkville Daily News

Blufish Design in Starkville wins design awards

2011-09-30T09:02:00.002-05:00

Starkville business receives design awards

Blufish Design Studio, a graphic design and advertising agency, received three American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA for their design work. Winning designs were the Southern Biomass and Cypress Creek Hospital logos and the Stennis Center for Public Service "Reflections" brochure.

Blufish was among the 15 percent selected out of over 8,000 entries.

American Graphic Design Awards honors excellent work in all media forms. Graphic Design USA is the premier publication for graphic designers and other creative professionals.

"Our team is thrilled to receive these awards. It’s wonderful to get recognized on the national level," said owner and creative director, Melissa Dixon.
Lead designers for these projects were Callender Hughes and Sara Renfroe. Blufish owner and creative director is Melissa Dixon.

Blufish Design Studio is a graphic design and advertising agency staying ahead of the curve specializing in print, web, corporate identity and local and national advertising. For more information about Blufish Design Studio visit www.blufishdesign.com.

New South Weekends begin THIS weekend!

2011-09-20T15:14:00.000-05:00

That’s right! The inaugural NEW SOUTH WEEKEND is coming up this week beginning on Friday evening. We just confirmed all the details for Downtown Block Party, and you will not want to miss it! Here’s what’s happening…

Click here to view the Starkville Insider Blog -- the official Blog of the Starkville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Main Street Association.

High Tech Grows Roots in South

2011-09-20T15:10:00.000-05:00

Click here to read full article.

Tucked into Starkville, there’s a little slice of Silicon Valley. The home of Mississippi State University is also the home of Camgian Microsystems Corporation.

Emerson Family School pioneers fresh food program

2011-09-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

September 14, 2011

By COLLEEN MCCARTHY
sdnedu@bellsouth.net

A Mississippi food revolution is underway and getting its start right here in Starkville.

The Emerson Family School is the first preschool in the state to replace processed foods with fresh ingredients and meals made from scratch.

The Fresh Start Campaign was the idea of a few concerned parents who were uncomfortable with their young children being fed processed food at school.

“It all started when my daughter moved to the 1-year-old room, and I checked what they served to the kids in the menu. I was happy to see that they had balanced meals with fruits, vegetable (and) grains. It’s later on that I figure that it was canned goods,” Clemence Bouvard said. “Salt and sugar alter the original taste of food, and I wanted our kids to be able to experience the real taste of a green bean or a pear. They have all their life to add salt to their meal if they want to, so let’s not impose that to them at age 1.”

Parents were concerned their children were learning a preference for processed foods. Lisa Long, whose 1-year-old daughter attends Emerson, said she hopes the program will teach the children healthy eating habits that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

“I also think that if you educate kids at early age to grab an apple instead of a cracker or a juice when they are hungry, it will impact their eating behavior in a positive way for the rest of their life,” Bouvard said. “Alison Buehler and Marion Sansing from Gaining Ground (Sustainability Institute) proposed to start a farm-to-school program, so we thought that it was even better if we could have fresh produce from local farmers.”

Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute is an organization that helps support small farms in the state and encourages organizations to do the same. It has supported the new program at Emerson from the beginning.

Buehler and Sansing teamed up with Nate Rosenberg, a Harvard Law student who studied a program called Farm to School and its potential to work in Mississippi through the Food Policy Initiative of the Harvard Health Law and Policy Clinic.

“We discussed the possibility of conducting a pilot program at Emerson, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” Rosenberg said. “The morning after our meeting, Alison called to tell me that the director of Emerson was on board and that she had a dedicated team of parents ready to make it happen. All of us met the next week to discuss how to get started. GG and the parents were incredibly well organized, and the director and school cook were completely supportive.”

Farm to School works to connect schools with local farmers to get healthy foods into school cafeterias to improve child nutrition and support local farmers. Starting next month, the school will be getting some help from Don Autry, a local farmer and owner of D&G Farm. His farm will provide the school with fresh vegetables for lunch three times a week at cost.

“My wife and I adopted two children and when they came to us, they just weren’t in good nutritional shape. We were trying to grow to keep our family healthy, but now we’re trying to extend that to where all kids are eating healthier,” Autry said. “A lot of kids don’t have any idea what fresh fruits and vegetables are; when they do eat fruits and vegetables, they’re out of a can. So when Alison Buehler called and asked if we wanted to get involved, we jumped on it. We’d like to see it get to the point where Mississippi farms provide food to schools around the state.”

Buehler said the program is a good thing for everyone — the children are getting better nutrition from the very beginning which will help them live healthier lives, and the local farms are getting a much needed boost in sales.

“It will help support the local farmers and economy,” Buehler said. “It will cut down on travel costs, too. It’s all about localization. Can you imagine how many local farmers we could support if just the Starkville School District got involved?”

It wouldn’t have been possible without Laura Roberson, who has been feeding the children at Emerson for nearly seven years. She is well known for being a great cook who can make even the processed foods taste good.

“Cooking is just a passion of mine. When I’m in the kitchen, I’m relaxed so work doesn’t ever feel like work to me,” Roberson said.

She has been cooking for over 40 years and credits her mother for teaching her. That experience goes into every meal the Emerson students eat.

“I went in the cafeteria the other day and I was amazed at the variety of vegetables and the kids were eating them and really enjoying it,” Cathy Brown, preschool coordinator at Emerson said. “None of this could have happened if we didn’t have someone who really knew how to cook.”

Roberson developed a menu that will be both healthy and within the budget, which has been one of the biggest challenges the school has faced. In Mississippi, the budget for food for preschool programs is approximately $1.75 per child per day. Each child eats breakfast, lunch and two snacks at the school. Fresh foods are often significantly more expensive, even when they’re grown locally.

“That’s the problem. The processed food — like 600 rice crispy treats — is really cheap, and sometimes it’s hard to find a replacement,” Roberson said. “Sometimes the healthier food isn’t available in bulk.”

Although it is still a work in progress, she said, they’re finding a way to do it. Each day, the children get two healthy meals made from scratch that include fresh vegetables or fruits. The snacks include fresh oranges, whole grain crackers, fig bars and string cheese.

In February, representatives from Emerson will give a presentation at the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi’s summit in Jackson. The summit will focus on communities living sustainably on a tight budget. The Emerson representatives will report on their progress and offer advice on how other communities can get involved.

“A lot of parents and teachers are concerned about the fact that Mississippi is the most obese state and are really willing to act now to change that. I think it’s a reality in people’s mind that we need to give kids good eating habits from early ages,” Bouvard said. “Emerson Family School is a nurturing place for our babies, toddlers and preschoolers, so serving healthy food completes this curriculum perfectly.”

Eventually, Buehler said, they would like to see the program go out to schools across the state — they just have to prove it can be done.

“The Fresh Start Campaign is particularly exciting not only because it will be the first program of its kind within Mississippi — and will be, at least for a short time, the only local Farm to School program in the state — but also because it could serve as a model for programs in other states,” Rosenburg said. “There just aren’t that many Farm to Preschool programs out there right now, despite the fact that they have enormous potential to influence early childhood eating habits.”

Those involved with the Fresh Start Campaign know it won’t be easy to convince other schools to get on board, but it’s something they are willing to fight for.

“Anytime you do something different or out of the norm, it can be scary. But we have to keep an open mind and at least try,” Brown said.

For more information on programs like the Fresh Start Campaign, visit http://www.farmtoschool.org./

Downtown Gameday Shuttle

2011-09-15T09:04:00.000-05:00

Brought to you by the Starkville Main Street Association, City of Starkville, and the Mississippi State University Athletic Department, the Downtown Gameday Shuttles (3) will operate on home football gamedays on the following schedule:

-- 3 hours prior to kick-off
-- 2 hours following game end

STOPS

-- Starkville Daily News parking lot
-- Oktibbeha County Courthouse Annex parking lot
-- McArthur Hall (MSU Campus)

For live maps and arrival times, go to http://transit.msstate.edu/ on your smart phone.

The Starkville Main Street Association encourages riders to eat and shop Downtown before riding the shuttle to campus. For a complete listing of Starkville Main Street members, see http://www.visit.starkville.org/.

Go Dawgs!

Manufacturing Expectations and Belief at Mississippi State

2011-09-15T09:02:00.000-05:00

Manufacturing Expectations and Belief at Mississippi State

By PETE THAMEL

Published: September 14, 2011

Dan Mullen, the Bulldogs’ third-year coach, has brought a winning attitude — and the wins — to a program long known for losing.

Click here for full story.

Get Swept Up in Mississippi's College Town

2011-09-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

Starkville's Town & Country Garden Club is doing their part to spruce up Starkville in the annual Get Swept Up community clean-up day! Over 400 volunteers are picking up trash to prepare the town for Mississippi State's first home football game against the LSU Tigers on Thursday, September 15th. Check back for more pictures as Get Swept Up continues!

Starkville named 2011 Playful City USA

2011-09-06T16:35:00.000-05:00

By COLLEEN MCCARTHY

sdnedu@bellsouth.net

Click here for full story.

After several years of community effort to provide more opportunities for play for local children, Starkville was named a 2011 Playful City USA.

Starkville is one of only 151 cities in the country — and one of only five in Mississippi, including Hernando, Horn Lake, Senatobia and Petal — to receive this honor. The recognition was granted to the city by KaBoom!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play in an effort to protect children’s health, achievement levels and overall well-being.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play time is vital to healthy brain development and allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Children spend less time playing outside than any other previous generation, partly because only 20 percent live within walking distance of a park or playground.

“The play deficit continues to harm our children and stifle their mental and physical development, while directly facilitating the ongoing childhood obesity crisis,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! Founder and CEO. “These 151 Playful City USA communities have joined KaBOOM! in making a collective statement that we will no longer accept the misconception that play is a luxury when the reality is that play is an absolute necessity for children. Starkville is committed to the well-being of children and serves as an outstanding role model for the rest of America as we continue to strive toward the KaBOOM! vision of a great place to play within walking distance of every child.”

A number of community members, including Mayor Parker Wiseman, SSD Assistant Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin, Greater Starkville Development Partnership President Jon Maynard, Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Rye and GoPlay founder Heather Carson, formed a Play Task Force before applying for the recognition. The GoPlay initiative played a large part in earning the title. The program was started by Carson in 2009 after she saw a need for a new playground equipment at Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary. With the support of parents, the school district and the community, GoPlay was able to provide the school with a playground that encouraged outdoor play, exploration and fun. The space now features a garden, outdoor classrooms and a student art mural.

“I’m very excited about this project because I think it helps the community at large. Any time we can provide more play space for our children so they don’t have to ride across town, but can just walk to a playground in their community — that’s a great thing,” Gonsoulin said.

Having access to public parks and play areas had a positive impact on him as a child and he hoped it would do the same for Starkville children, Gonsoulin said.

“Quality play spaces improve the health and well-being of our community,” Wiseman said. “With obesity rates soaring, it is increasingly important for us to focus on making it as easy as possible for our citizens to exercise regularly. Play spaces make exercise more accessible and make exercising a fun and engaging activity.”

The title not only validates all of the hard work the community has done to promote play, but it also qualifies the city for a number of grants that can be used toward improving and expanding playgrounds and other play activities. One of the first grants the task force plans to apply for is one that will go toward constructing a creative play space at the Henderson Ward Stewart complex.

As a part of the application, the task force submitted a plan of projects that will span over the next six to eight months. Some of the projects will simply be a partnership between two or more community organizations to develop relationships that will help promote play and physical activity in the future.

“We really felt that we needed to provide a broad range of action plans,” Carson said.

By spring, a Starkville Parks Foundation will be established, which will allow citizens to make tax deductible donations to Parks and Recreation for the purpose of improving quality, quantity and access to public parks.

The task force also plans to collaborate with the city and school district to put up signs all around the city to inform the public of the location of playgrounds and parks.

The city will have to reapply for the recognition every year, but Carson said plans for next year are already in the works.

“We’ve set up a pretty ambitious action plan for our first year. We have some pretty supportive community leaders who are willing to collaborate on this,” she said.

The main goal of Playful City USA is to encourage cities to share creative ideas and programs in an effort to increase play opportunities for children. Gonsoulin said the group will work to collaborate with other groups and organizations in the community to provide access to play areas to as many children and families as possible.

As they apply for grants, Carson said they hope to expand the major projects out from the school system and into the community.

“We are looking to do a community build, similar to what the Junior Auxiliary had done in donating their time and money to creating a play space at the Sportsplex,” Carson said. “We are looking for a place in our city where we can take an existing playground and transform it into something better than it is.”

For more information on the 2011 Playful City USA and the Starkville Play Task Force, visit http://www.goplaykids.org/.

A project with CLASS: Greater Starkville Development Partnership's Project Community Leaders Assisting Schools for Success helps students, teachers

2011-08-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

Click here for article.

A project with CLASS: Greater Starkville Development Partnership's Project Community Leaders Assisting Schools for Success helps students, teachers

August 28, 2011 12:02:00 AM

David Miller

STARKVILLE -- Sometimes, teachers need a helping hand.

By nature, children learn at different rates. Some have discouraging elements outside of the classroom that hinder their growth, which in turn can hold back a classroom as a teacher works to bring individuals up to speed.

Through the Greater Starkville Development Partnership's Project CLASS, or Community Leaders Assisting Schools for Success, every third-grade classroom in the Starkville and Oktibbeha County school districts has a support network to improve students' reading and math skills, so they can perform at grade level by the end of the year.

Each class is sponsored by a local church or business, which provides resources, cash donations for supplies and/or volunteer hours to help tutor students.

The goal of the program, which originated from discussion in the education committee of the Partnership, was to unite churches and businesses already interested in supporting local schools but didn't know how. Through Project CLASS, churches and businesses know exactly what students and schools need and where to go.

Originally, the Partnership wanted to sponsor every classroom from second to eighth grade. But for the pilot year, organizers chose third grade because it's considered "a make or break year" in a student's development.

"Third grade was identified because that's where we could have the most impact for future standardized testing goals and future school system goals," said Partnership CEO Jon Maynard. "We knew we could have an immediate impact there."

The 2010-11 school year was the pilot year for the program, which had 140 trained volunteers tutor at every third-grade classroom and a handful of fourth-grade classrooms.

The pilot year was considered a success, as reading and math test scores improved. Students' attitudes and motivation improved, too.

Lynn Parker, a third-grade teacher at Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School, was sponsored by the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. By the end of the school year, six tutors from the church would spend at least an hour each week in Parker's classroom.

"I had a lot of students struggling with math," Parker said. "The tutors I had worked really hard taking the kids to the side and helping them with things like rounding numbers and multiplication. They were here no matter the weather."

Episcopal Church tutor Julia Heard was unsure of how effective she'd be since she had no teaching experience. She thought the presence of one or two tutors would be a burden for a teacher already looking to keep an entire class focused.

What she found, though, was that the tutors were a welcome detour from the set structure of everyday learning.

"At first, I think a lot of people thought it would be embarrassing for a child to be singled out," Heard said, "but they all loved it. It didn't matter what kind of student they were. And it's not like they were using it as an excuse to get out of the classroom.

"Because none of us are teachers, you can leave there thinking there's nothing you did that helped that child," she added. "Then you get back the next week and find out they were better. Some of that is because Lynn's a great teacher, but I think they just responded to the extra help."

The Partnership and Project CLASS organizers initially asked businesses to make donations of $250 or $500. Some businesses, like Sullivan's Office Supply, provided office furniture and school supplies instead of cash. Maynard said Project CLASS isn't actively seeking donations this year because of a surplus of last year's funds. Financial contributions this year will be on an as-needed basis.

Funding plays a vital role in Project CLASS, and not just for teaching resources. Parker said teachers are keenly aware of each student's welfare. So when they see a student needs something that goes beyond what they can provide, Project CLASS takes care of it.

"A lot of students come and don't have winter coats, paper, you name it," Parker said. "I was even able to get glasses for a student. It was really beneficial. The GSDP was outstanding in making sure we had the resources."

Project CLASS hasn't launched yet for the 2011-12 school year and is currently seeking volunteers.

For more information or to enroll, call the Partnership at 662-323-3322.

David Miller reports on news from the Starkville bureau.

Starkville is Mississippi's Healthiest Hometown

2011-07-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

http://www.healthiermississippi.org/healthy_hometown_winners.php

Check out this link about Starkville being chosen as Mississippi's Healthiest Hometown!

Kiplinger Names Mississippi Number Two State in Country for Retirees

2011-07-08T11:30:00.001-05:00

Kiplinger Names Mississippi Number Two State in Country for Retirees

Jackson, Miss. (July 8, 2011) – Kiplinger, a publisher of business forecasts and information regarding personal finance issues, has named Mississippi as the number two state in the country for retirees to locate. The publication’s rankings were based on the overall tax burden on retirees in each of the contiguous U.S. states, factoring in both state tax rates and tax exemptions..

Kiplinger cited Mississippi’s exemption of Social Security benefits from state income taxes, as well as the exclusion of all qualified retirement income, including pensions, annuities and IRA and 401(k) distributions, from state income taxes in its ranking of Mississippi and its designation of the state as a “retiree tax heaven.” Additionally, the publication took into account that Mississippi boasts some of the lowest property taxes in the U.S. and that prescription drugs and healthcare services are exempt from sales taxes.

The Hometown Mississippi Retirement program, the state’s official retiree attraction program administered by the Mississippi Development Authority, has certified 20 Certified Retirement Cities located all throughout the state. These include Aberdeen, Booneville, Brandon, Brookhaven, Clinton, Corinth, Columbus, Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Madison, McComb, Natchez, Oxford, Picayune, Southaven, Starkville, Tupelo, Vicksburg and West Point.

To qualify as a Certified Retirement City, each city must pass a comprehensive three-month screening process, which is conducted by Hometown Mississippi Retirement. The cities must be warm and welcoming, and they must have an affordable cost of living, low taxes, low crime rate, quality medical care, recreation, educational and cultural opportunities.

To view the full Kiplinger article online, click here. For more information on Starkville, Mississippi's College Town, click here.

SDN: County sees tourism boost

2010-10-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

October 21, 2010

ByPAUL SIMS

sdnnews@bellsouth.net

During the recent fiscal year, Starkville posted a more than 9 percent increase in tourism spending over the previous period, an official said Wednesday citing preliminary figures.

The Mississippi Tourism Association – an agency affiliated with the Mississippi Development Authority – which issues an annual statistical report in February, released the preliminary numbers, said Jennifer Gregory, vice president of tourism development with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.

These early figures show people spent an estimated $65.2 million in Oktibbeha County in the most recent period.

This spending is up more than 9 percent from the previous fiscal year’s number of $59.8 million.

Gregory says part of the local increase includes construction of a new hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn.

Officials attribute a large part of the rise in spending locally to the excitement and surge in interest in Mississippi State University athletics, primarily football, she said.

“Anytime you have an additional” 10,000 to 15,000 people in the community for an event, they are bound to spend money at restaurants, hotels and local stores, which all inevitably boost these figures,” Gregory said.

This is evident in the Cotton District Arts Festival, one of the community’s premier events, she said. When it was paired with Super Bulldog Weekend, “they saw double the amount of festival-goers then they had the previous year,” she said.

Officials don’t want to forget “all the other fantastic attractions” in the community, including the Mississippi Horse Park, the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge, along with museums and galleries.

These attractions bring visitors to Starkville themselves, but officials can’t deny the impact of the approach by MSU Football Coach Dan Mullen and Scott Stricklin, the university’s athletic director, to enhance the visitor’s experience at an MSU athletic event has had on the community’s economy, Gregory said.

Plus, spending increases like this “are what places our community at the perfect spot” to improve “quality of life, aesthetics and general livability in Starkville for all these repeat visitors,” she said.

Ideally, these people could relocate or retire to the community, purchase second homes and really invest in Starkville, she said.

This is why it was such a good time for Starkville to become a Main Street community, she said, “because it really encourages local officials – and us at the Partnership – to focus on policy, restoration and promotions in our core business district, which is downtown Starkville.”

Gregory said: “Lots of people are coming and they are spending, so it would be wise of us to focus heavily now on the experience these visitors will have in our community.”

Gregory detailed a planned next step with which is a possible design workshop “to help us see what our potential is and gain concrete resources ... we can use to better the appearance, walkability, cleanliness and overall experience our visitors have when they visit Starkville.”

Following the workshop, officials plan to take action on some of the recommendations which will immediately enhance “what our visitors see and how they feel when they are in our community,” she said.

Officials anticipate some of the recommendations will be:

• A marketing and branding campaign.

• Increased way-finding signs around the downtown area.

• A better physical connection between the city and MSU in such ways as consistent signs and banners, landscaping and similar improvements.

• Policy recommendations which will encourage the City of Starkville to start planning now for smart growth throughout the city.

Starkville and MSU are “positioned for great things right now because of the collaboration” between the City of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, the GSDP and MSU, Gregory said.

“If that collaboration continues, in my opinion,” the possibilities “are endless for what what the community can become,” she said.

Starkville's Christmas Open House set for Sunday, November 7th

2010-10-19T19:04:00.000-05:00

Starkville's Christmas Open House will take place Sunday, November 7th from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., featuring merchants from across Starkville. Take this opportunity to see all of Starkville's boutique retailers debut of Christmas and other holiday merchandise, and come see Santa at Polka Tots in Downtown Starkville -- presented by the Starkville Main Street Association at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. For more information, contact Jennifer Gregory, Starkville Main Street Manager at (662) 323-3322 or jgregory@starkville.org.

3rd Annual Festival of Trees, benefitting United Way to take place November 9-11 & 13

2010-10-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

The Third Annual Festival of Trees, benefitting United Way will take place November 9 – 11 & 13 at the Palmeiro Center on MSU’s campus. Last year, over $30,000 was raised for United Way, and this year, festival organizers are even more ambitious! Activities for this year’s festival will include:

2010 Festival of Trees, benefitting United Way

November 9-11 & 13

Palmeiro Center, MSU Campus

Open Viewing

November 9 – 10
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

$5 per person – may be paid at the door

Be the first to see and/or bid on the beautifully decorated Christmas trees, handmade Gingerbread houses, and silent auction items!

Holiday Party & Auction

November 11
7:00 p.m.

$40 per person/$80 per couple – maximum of 250 tickets will be sold
Tables of 10 may be reserved for $400

**Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Office, 200 East Main Street, Starkville; or the United Way Office, 1016G Louisville Street, Starkville. For out of town patrons, please e-mail festivaloftrees.starkville@gmail.com to reserve your tickets. A maximum of 250 tickets will be sold. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Attire – Black tie optional

Enjoy the magic of Christmas at the Holiday Party & Auction! Live music, eclectic local food, beverages, live auction, and the finale of the silent auction all make this event one to remember! Elaborately decorated Christmas trees, gingerbread homes, silent auction items, and more will be sold to the highest bidders at this authentic Christmas event!

Cookies with Santa

November 13
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

$10 per child – maximum of 200 tickets will be sold

**Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Office, 200 East Main Street, Starkville; or the United Way Office, 1016G Louisville Street, Starkville. For out of town patrons, please e-mail festivaloftrees.starkville@gmail.com to reserve your tickets. A maximum of 200 tickets will be sold. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Bring your children to visit with Santa at our popular “Cookies with Santa” event! Ticket price includes time with Santa (bring your camera!), home-made cookies, face painting, and a special craft that our elves will help your child make! This is a great opportunity to take photos of your children for Christmas cards in front of our extravagantly decorated Christmas trees!

Pumpkinpalooza set for October 29

2010-10-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

Join us for the 2nd Annual Pumpkinpalooza on Main Street in Downtown Starkville, MS from 6:0 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29. Sponsored by Starkville Main Street Association, Greater Starkville Development Partnership, and Starkville Community Market, this fun, family-friendly event will feature the following activities:

-- Trick-or-treating to Main Street merchants
-- HUGE pumpkin patch with locally grown pumpkins by D&G Farms
-- Inflatable jumpers
-- Face painting by Dandy Doodlez
-- Pumpkin painting station provided by Starkville Area Arts Council
-- Starkville Community Market vendors selling baked goods and fall produce
-- MSU pep-rally and an appearance by Bully
-- Window decorating contest by Main Street merchants
-- Halloween music provided by WMSV & Thurlow's Party-to-Go
-- Restaurant specials to kids in costumes

All activites are free! Don't forget your costumes!!

Also, hang around after the event for a late night movie beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Starkville Community Market location (corner of Jackson & Lampkin Streets.) Bring your lawn chair!

For more information, contact Starkville Main Street Association at (662) 323-3322 or e-mail jgregory@starkville.org!

Get Swept Up!

2010-09-01T15:32:00.000-05:00

More than 500 volunteers were out in force today cleaning up Starkville in advance of the start of Mississippi State University’s upcoming football season.

The seventh Get Swept Up event got under way at 7 a.m. today and continued through 1 p.m.

Volunteers picked up litter and removed weeds and trim growth along bike paths and sidewalks. This was the second year participants recycled items they collected.

The event was the culmination of a month-long effort to encourage local residents to make needed repairs, perform landscape improvements and guide similar upgrades.

“What a great way to welcome visitors to our lovely community,” said Tasha Hill, Greater Starkville Development Partnership special events coordinator.

She expressed gratitude for work of Project Coordinator Libby Gerald. “This could not have been done without” Gerald’s leadership, Hill said.

The Bulldogs start the 2010-11 campaign at home against the University of Memphis Saturday with a 6 p.m. kickoff.

CITY OF STARKVILLE SELECTED TO JOIN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

2010-09-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

CITY OF STARKVILLE SELECTED TO JOIN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

JACKSON, Miss. -- On Thursday, Sept. 9, the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) will officially designate the city of Starkville as a Main Street Community. The designation ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership (GSDP) office (200 East Main Street) in downtown Starkville.

Starkville will become the 50th Main Street Community in Mississippi and the only community designated for 2010. Speakers at the designation will include: Mike Armour, Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Office of the Governor; Bob Wilson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Main Street Association; Parker Wiseman, Mayor of Starkville; and Joy Foy, Director of Asset Development of the Mississippi Development Authority.

"The City of Starkville is in an ideal position to join the Main Street program," Wilson said. "We look forward to working with the current city, university and county leaders as well as other local and regional partners who are investing in downtown Starkville to make it an even better place to live, work and play for residents, students, alumni and visitors."

Jennifer Gregory, Vice President of Tourism for the GSDP, will oversee the Main Street program and Robyn Cain will serve as the Starkville Main Street Program Coordinator. Jan Miller, MMSA Central District Director, has conducted training for committees based on the Main Street Four-Point Approach® - Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Miller and MMSA staff will work with Gregory and Cain and the Main Street committees on workplans to revitalize and promote downtown Starkville. A Main Street Resource Team will also conduct a design program in Starkville and give recommendations for a long-term master plan for the downtown.

The Mississippi Main Street Association is an econommic development program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Development Authority with many strategic partners. MMSA provides several membership levels and works in more than 70 cities and towns in Mississippi to provide training and technical assistance to the local revitalization programs. Since 1993, MMSA has provided more than $4 billion in public and private re-investment back into Main Street communities. For more information, visit www.msmainstreet.com.

Cochran and others to honor WWII vets Saturday, August 28 at MSU Union

2010-08-25T14:00:00.000-05:00

Two events sponsored by the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum are set to take place in the coming weeks to pay tribute to World War II veterans of Oktibbeha County and to celebrate the county’s rich history in aviation research and innovations.

“Public Forum and Panel Discussion: History of Aviation in Oktibbeha County” will take place on Thursday, August 26, 2010, in the Main Gym of the Starkville Sportsplex at 10:00 a.m. and will feature such speakers as Dave Raspet, Chester McKee, Terry Camp, Ernest Russell, George Bennett, Mel Swartsberg, Estel Wilson, Stuart Vance, Tom Hardy, Greg Stewart of Aurora Flight Sciences and will be moderated by Dr. Roy Ruby.

World War II Veterans Recognition Ceremony will take place Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in the Foster Ballroom of the Colvard Student Union on Mississippi State’s campus, and will include a keynote address from Senator Thad Cochran. MSU President Mark Keenum will provide the welcome, and former Mississippi Lt. Governor Amy Tuck will serve as emcee. Veterans of World War II residing in Oktibbeha County are urged to contact the Greater Starkville Development Partnership if they have not received an invitation to the event at 662-323-3322.

The public is welcome and invited to attend both events free of charge. For details or additional information, please contact Jennifer Gregory, GSDP Vice President for Tourism Development at 662-323-3322 or at jgregory@starkville.org.

Special thanks also go to the following contributing sponsors: Greater Starkville Development Partnership, MSU Center for America’s Veterans, and Gulf States Manufacturers.

Downtown Block Party Set for Friday, Sept. 3

2010-08-25T13:57:00.000-05:00

Downtown Block Party, the first event in a series of pre MSU home football game events entitled Viva Starkvegas, is set to take place Friday, September 3 prior to Mississippi State’s season opener football game against University of Memphis on Main Street in Downtown Starkville.

Sponsored by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and the MSU Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Downtown Block Party will feature a street fair atmosphere with live music, art displays and sales by Starkville Area Arts Council local artisans, Main Street restaurant vendor booths, tailgating-wear fashion show, multi-cultural dancing and demonstrations, a children’s village with inflatable jumpers and face painting, and much more.

“We saw huge success with Pumpkinpalooza last year on the premise that community events prior to MSU home football games provide a fun, free, family activity for local residents, students, and MSU fans on nights before ballgames. We decided we definitely wanted to do more of that and also want to encourage MSU fans to come up to Starkville a night early to really experience what our community has to offer in addition to MSU sports,” said Jennifer Gregory, GSDP vice president for tourism development & Starkville main street manager.

Festivities will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown Starkville. Main Street will be closed to traffic for the event from 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. from Washington Street to Jackson Street. All activities are free of charge, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Live music performers include: Jeff & Jeff, Bill Cooke, and others.

For more information about Downtown Block Party or any of the Viva Starkvegas events, contact Gregory at jgregory@starkville.org, (662) 323-3322, or visit the Viva Starkvegas website at visit.starkville.org/vivastarkvegas.

Mississippi State Head Football Coach Dan Mullen on ESPN

2010-08-19T11:08:00.000-05:00

Click here for video.

Viva Starkvegas set for this Fall

2010-08-18T15:07:00.002-05:00

Get ready for Fall Football season in Starkville, MS! Organizations from the Starkville community and Mississippi State University have come together to coordinate a series of Friday night events to be held in the community or on campus prior to MSU home football games. Here's a run-down of what you can expect to see this Fall!

SEPTEMBER 3
(on the eve of the MSU vs Memphis game)
DOWNTOWN BLOCK PARTY
6:00 - 9:00pm in Downtown Starkville
Downtown Open House, music, arts, cultural diversity, kids activities.
Mid-night pep rally!

SEPTEMBER 24
(on the eve of the MSU vs Georgia game)
BULLDOG BASH
in the Cotton District
The biggest free concert in the free world. Pep rally!
OCTOBER 22
(on the eve of MSU Homecoming vs UAB)
BULLDOG FAMILY FRENZY
Downtown Starkville and The Junction on the MSU Campus
Parade starting downtown, ending in the Junction, followed by
pep rally & kids activities

OCTOBER 29
(on the eve of the MSU vs Kentucky game)
PUMPKINPALOOZA
Trick-or-treating, fall festival, final Starkville Community Market of the year,
MSU pep rally

National Travel & Tourism Week: Cotton District Arts Festival Continues to See Growth

2010-05-11T12:50:00.000-05:00

Cotton District Arts Festival continues to see growth

Editor’s note: In celebration of National Tourism Week, the Starkville Daily News is publishing a series of articles examining different aspects of tourism and various tourism events and attractions locally. With the season opening for the Starkville Community Market set this week, today’s installment focuses on the Cotton District Arts Festival.

This year marked the 15th year of the Cotton District Arts Festival, and with attendance at an all time high, it was one of the most successful years to date.

According to organizers, festival goers came from all over the region to celebrate the arts in Starkville’s Historic Cotton District.

The Cotton District Arts Festival broke all previous records this year, the most dramatic was the overall attendance at the festival. Last year’s record of 28,000 was shattered when 42,000 festival goers descended on the Cotton District to enjoy the best in arts and culture.

Many of the various activities within the festival showed marked increases.

The Hilton Garden Inn 5K boasted a record 300 runners.

The Spruill Properties Pet Parade also had a record breaking year when over 80 pets and their owners marched down University Avenue strutting their stuff.

The Cotton District Arts Festival Villages had record attendance at the multitude of performances, demonstrations, and activities they offered.

The musical entertainment didn’t disappoint either. All four stages played to “standing-room only” crowds.

Taste of Starkville vendors also enjoyed a very successful year. Taste vendors worked tirelessly to satisfy the crowds with their delicious food and much appreciated cold beverages.

One of the day’s biggest highlights goes to the incredible variety of art in the Artisan’s Village featuring the work of 113 artisan vendors. Organizers said not only did the Cotton District Arts Festival have more artisans this year than in past years, but the vendors had record breaking sales, thanks to the festival attendees.

For more information on the Cotton District Arts Festival or how to join the Starkville Area Arts Council, contact the SAAC office at 324-3080 or http://www.starkvillearts.org/.

National Travel & Tourism Week: Pumpkinpalooza Sees Success in Inaugural Year

2010-05-11T12:43:00.000-05:00

Pumpkinpalooza sees success in inaugural year

Editor’s note: In celebration of National Tourism Week, the Starkville Daily News is publishing a series of articles examining different aspects of tourism and various tourism events and attractions locally. With the season opening for the Starkville Community Market set this week, today’s installment focuses on the Downtown Pumpkinpalooza, an event in which the market plays a key role.

Starkville began a new tradition this past October that combined various aspects of the community into one successful celebration.

Planned to be held annually in conjunction with a home MSU football game closest to Halloween, 2009 saw the first-ever Downtown Pumpkinpalooza in Starkville.

Sponsored by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Starkville Downtown Business Association and the Starkville Community Market, the event was a huge success, bringing more than 2,000 people to the streets of Starkville.

This local event was held the night prior to a Mississippi State University home football game, and provided visiting fans and local residents a family-friendly event to celebrate the fall season.

This year, the event will be held Oct. 29 prior to MSU’s home football game against the University of Kentucky.

Main Street is to be closed from 4 to 8 p.m. between Jackson and Washington streets, offering a street fair atmosphere for children, families, MSU football fans and Starkville residents of all ages.

Downtown merchants extend their hours so children can trick-or-treat to each store, Starkville Area Arts Council sponsors a pumpkin painting contest for children, and a pumpkin patch with locally grown pumpkins provides the center of activities on Main Street.

Starkville Community Market vendors set-up Friday evening selling their fall produce, breads, pies, and other treats. Street musicians perform along Main Street, and inflatable jumpers are on-hand for children.

Restaurants on Main Street offer dinner specials for children wearing costumes, and Main Street merchants go all-out for a competitive window decorating contest.

Festivities kick-off at 6 p.m. with a pep rally to cheer on the Bulldogs featuring Mississippi State cheerleaders, pom squad, and Bully.

Downtown Pumpkinpalooza T-shirts are available for purchase, and pumpkins may be purchased from the pumpkin patch. Parents are encouraged to bring your camera for pictures in the pumpkin patch.

National Travel & Tourism Week

2010-05-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

GSDP ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK IN STARKVILLE

The first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984. Localized events are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel. It was established as National Tourism Week when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1983 designating the week to be celebrated in May. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with “the appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Since its establishment, the U.S. travel community has collectively marked the event in a number of creative ways, from staging local rallies and conducting media outreach to securing proclamations and resolutions from local legislative bodies. This year, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership is partnering with the Starkville Daily News in an asset mapping project to better inform Oktibbeha County residents about our hometown travel and tourism attractions and assets. The GSDP will also formally dedicate the new location for the Starkville Community Market on Friday, May 14 as the culmination of this exciting week.

“This week, we stand up for travel,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the U.S. travel industry. “Travel is one of the country’s biggest employers with more than 10 million Americans depending on this industry for their paychecks. Everyday travel powers our economy in cities and states across the country.”

Travel and tourism is a $59.8 million industry for Oktibbeha County, providing 950 jobs and generating $4.8 million in tax revenue locally. Travel is a broad and diverse industry employing a vast workforce, from airline and attraction employees to restaurant, hotel and taxi workers.

“I’ve worked in the travel industry for 20 years, and I depend on travelers to Starkville for my living,” said Chip Carley, Managing Partner at Holiday Inn Express. “When people make the choice to travel here, it makes an enormous impact to Starkville’s residents who work in this industry,” said Carley.

The U.S. Travel Association reports that travel and tourism is one of America’s largest industries. Direct spending by domestic and international travelers generated $704 billion in the nation’s economy last year. The industry also represents one of America’s largest employers, accounting for more than 10 million direct and indirect jobs. Though the travel workforce has declined as a result of the prolonged recession, the industry expects to add 90,000 new American jobs due to modest gains in travel expected in 2010. U.S. Travel projects 1.95 billion domestic person-trips will take place this year, up 2 percent from last year. International arrivals are expected to total 56.5 million in 2010, an increase of nearly 3 percent over 2009, according to U.S. Travel.

“In these times more than ever, everything we can do to support our travel and tourism industry helps Oktibbeha County, said Jennifer Gregory, GSDP Vice President for Tourism Development. “It is vital that we continue to remember the value of encouraging travel to our area and showing visitors all that Oktibbeha County has to offer,” said Gregory.

“This week, we’ll spotlight several of our tourism partners and hopefully enlighten our residents about the outstanding attractions, museums, galleries, and facilities that Oktibbeha County has to offer. Not only are there interesting and enlightening things to see and do in the greater Starkville area, but there’s a unique, vibrant, and progressive atmosphere that is unlike any other town in Mississippi,” said Gregory.

National Day of Prayer

2010-05-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

Thursday, May 6 was celebrated across the country as National Day of Prayer. In Starkville, MS, a group gathered at the MSU Veterans Memorial Rose Garden to take part in a non-denomination program featuring statements by Mayor Parker Wiseman, local pastors and preachers, Tommy Tomlinson of Cadence Bank, and others. Nash Street provided live music, and gatherers enjoyed fun, fellowship, and warm weather! Below are some pictures from yesterday's event.

Clarion Ledger: Bulldogs to name Stricklin new AD

2010-05-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

Click here to read: "Bulldogs to name Stricklin new AD"

Starkville High School Senior Class Day

2010-05-06T09:07:00.001-05:00

May 5, 2010

The Senior Class Day awards ceremony at Starkville High School Wednesday was, as one presenter said, “a great day to be a Yellow Jacket!” The Class of 2010 collectively garnered more than $4.6 million in scholarships and awards! The program started early, and the variety and number of awards presented was so impressive. SHS students include National Merit finalists, semi-finalists, one student who scored a 36 perfect on her ACT, those who were recognized for arts abilities and citizenship and community service and a variety of other achievements. Wednesday was a great day for these seniors and for our entire community as we recognize the caliber of talent and character coming out of our local schools. Also impressive were the variety of organizations, churches and community leaders who are involved in making scholarship awards available to graduating seniors. Many churches and individuals award scholarships. The total amount is staggering! It was my pleasure to attend and announce 55 students who will graduate with the distinction of Mississippi Scholar. The Greater Starkville Development Partnership congratulates our Mississippi Scholars and the entire Class of 2010! We’re proud of you!!!

- Allison Matthews

Starkville Community Market Location Dedication

2010-05-04T14:06:00.001-05:00

Plans have been finalized for a dedication ceremony of the new Starkville Community Market location on the corner of Lampkin and Jackson Streets. The event will feature live music and refreshments, as well as a chance to learn more about the Starkville Community Market and properly thank the individuals that are responsible for this new outstanding location. Mark your calendar for the dedication -- it's open to the public! More details to come about the event and the market.

Starkville loves our Bulldogs!

2010-05-04T09:05:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Kerry Smith/AP

Check out this great article about our Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen! Starkville loves our Bulldogs!

Click here to read "Finebaum: Dan Mullen is the future of college football."

Ulysses S. Grant Association Annual Meeting

2010-05-03T11:05:00.001-05:00

Mississippi State University Mitchell Memorial Library has the distinct honor of being the home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Collection, the largest collection of it's kind consisting of 15,000 linear feet of correspondence, research notes, artifacts, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia and includes information on Grant’s childhood from his birth in 1822, his later military career, Civil War triumphs, tenure as commanding general after the war, presidency, and his post-White House years until his death in 1885. There are also 4,000 published monographs on various aspects of Grant’s life and times.

The Ulysses S. Grant Association, a distinguished group of scholars, professors, lawyers, and other professionals from across the country, and the world for that matter, and the keepers of the Grant Papers are currently visiting Starkville for their Annual Meeting, which began last night, Sunday, May 2 with a dinner in the John Grisham Room of the Mitchell Memorial Library. Prior to dinner, the group enjoyed tours of the Library and of a new Civil War Artillery Museum in Starkville. Guests listened to National Park Service historian Pam SanFilippo's presentation, "White Knight and Drunken Butcher: Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant in American Memory." Today, the group is traveling to Vicksburg, Mississippi to tour more sites of Civil War historical significance. On Tuesday morning, the meeting of the Board of Directors will take place, followed by open time for the members to tour Starkville and Mississippi State University.

This is a most distinguished group, and we had the pleasure of joining the group for dinner last night. We sat with a barrister lawyer from London, a retired attorney from Seattle, professors, and historians from across the country. The significance of the Mississippi State University Mitchell Memorial Library being the home of the Grant Papers is tremendous, and I believe most of Starkville's residents aren't even aware of this jewel that made it's way down to the Deep South in January 2009. Additionally, many of the members of the Grant Association that we visited with were so pleased with the hospitality they've been shown by Starkvillians and were excited to see more of our community. As of now, the Papers are not open for exibition and are primarily for the purpose of scholarly research, but this collection is bringing positive publicity and honor to Mississippi State and Starkville. To find out more about the Ulysses S. Grant Association or the Grant Papers, click on the image above for a link to the Mitchell Memorial Library website.

Starkville Community Market Progress

2010-04-30T11:20:00.001-05:00

The Starkville Community Market, Starkville's very own local produce farmers market, is in the process of moving from it's original location on Lafayette Street to its new location on the corner of Lampkin Street and Jackson Street in Downtown Starkville. Special thanks to Andy Gaston of East Mississippi Lumber for allowing the market to use this new space for the ever expanding market!

Not only are we excited about the market moving, but there are huge improvements and construction going on as we speak to make this site perfect for market-goers. In the last few days, a steel pavilion, created and donated by Gulf States Manufacturing has been erected bearing the market name and logo.

In the coming days and weeks, volunteers, headed up by Dylan Karges, will continue to get the site ready for vendors. Drive by and check out the AMAZING progress they've made! Special thanks to Dylan for his tireless efforts and contribution to the community. Not only will this be the new market site, but this new space will also be available for residents and visitors of Starkville to hang out, eat lunch, enjoy the public arts installation that Dylan will be installing soon, and enjoy some hard to come by green space in our historic downtown.

Mark your calendars for a dedication ceremony for the new market location on Friday, May 14, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. Much more info to come about the dedication ceremony and the market, which is scheduled to open May 15th.

Check out the pictures below to see the progress that our dedicated community volunteers and businesses have made! If you're interested in volunteering to help the crew clean-up this site, the next work-day is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st.

Smart Talk for Growing Communities

2010-04-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

Smart Talk for Growing Communities: A Community Forum for Addressing Growth Issues in Starkville & Oktibbeha County

Join the members of the Starkville/ Oktibbeha County Leadership Forum for an open discussion on addressing the issues of working and living in a dynamic, growing community. We hope that you will join other community residents in sharing ideas on looking at the causes of change and growth in our community and how can we address these issues to make our community a better place to work and live.

As a forum participant, you will be providing valuable insight to issues that are currently taking place in the City of Starkville and in Oktibbeha County. Your participation is vital in cultivating a vision for developing the potential of this community as a wonderful place to live.

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to Robyn Cain at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership at 662-323-3322 or rcain@starkville.org.

SEE & DO in Starkville, MS

2010-04-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Greater Starkville Development Partnership's blog! Bookmark our blog and check it out often to see what's going on in Starkville, MS! We plan to blog about everything Starkville including information about upcoming events, pictures and wrap-ups from previous events, news clips affecting our area, and anything else that Starkville's residents and visitors might want to read about! Don't forget to also follow us on twitter @GSDPartnership and join our Facebook group!