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Clik here to view.CCHS class of 1964 had their 50th class reunion recently. Attending were, front, from left, Virginia Hendricks Beavers, Brenda Helms Biffle, Nell Morre Holland, Barbara Hardin Parker, Dian Brand Long and Linda Ramage; 2nd row: Patsy Hood Williams, Nancy Boland Doles, Patricia Stribling Bowlin, June Vance Sturdivant, Alma Bailey Gordon, Bebe Bryant Maxwell, Betty Sheffield Dismuke and Charlsey Terry Nix; 3rd row, Buddy Dye, Jerry Vance, Jimmy Mawk, Robert Allen Langston, Erma Nalley Hudson, Thomas Lee Parker, Sandra Walters Hendrix andThomas Earl Doles; back, Roy Bailey, Larry Taylor, Bruce Dickey, Leslie Blaylock, Doug Ruth, Jimmy Taylor, Johnny Boyles and Charles Parker. Not pictured: Randy Hubbard and Royce Marshall.

You are invited to Jesse Yancy Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Family Night featuring “Animal Science: Classifications” by Animal Tales.

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Clik here to view.Sponsored by Friends of the Jesse Yancy Memorial Library, the Tuesday, June 24 at 6  p.m. program will be held in the community theater building on the Bruce Square (old Cinema 22 building).

So many different animal types! The Animal Science program will introduce and explore the topic of Animal Classifications.
Attendees will meet and learn about a member of each of the following animal types: Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, Mammal, Invertebrate, and maybe even a fish!

The audience will be asked to interact with the animals through “hands-on” volunteering, question & answer and crowd participation activities. All are guaranteed an up-close and personal experience.
The program is free of charge and open to all ages. For more information call (662)983-2220.

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Clik here to view.Josh Lindsey, a Calhoun City graduate, is opening a new taxidermy shop on Main Street in Vardaman. Lindsey has already won some major awards for his work and is taking aim at a national championship in July. Read his story below. Photo by Joel McNeece

The Mississippi National Guard 858th Engineering Company, based in Calhoun City, has returned to the U.S. following a year-long deployment to Afghanistan and is expected to return home to Calhoun County around July 4.

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Clik here to view.The company of more than 150 soldiers landed in Fort Dix, New Jersey on Friday.

“I know that everyone is excited that we made it to American soil and by the time of this post have not got on the correct sleep schedule. I want to thank everyone for the prayers and shout outs since we have made it here,” said Capt. Robert Sanders on the 858th’s facebook page.

An exact return time to Mississippi is not known as of now, but Capt. Sanders was able to confirm the soldiers will fly into Tupelo and disperse from there sometime around the Fourth of July.

•QUICK BITES will meet Thursday, June 26 at noon at the Multi-Purpose Building in Pittsboro. Topic is hydration essentials. Learn about healthy and tasty hydration options.

•Calhoun City Public Library, 113 East Burkitt Ave. will host a program about Water Safety presented by the Army Corps of Engineers Thursday, June 26 beginning at 10 a.m. Children of all ages will benefit from this program. For more information, call 628-6331.

•JAMES ‘BIRD’ MOORE BENEFIT for medical expenses will be Saturday, June 28 at Bruce VFW on 9W starting at 4:30 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs and BBQ plates will be served. Auction at 6 p.m. For info and donations call Kelly Bailey 662-598-5533, Becky Blount 662-414-0147.

•PERRY GOODSON RETIREMENT RECEPTION will be Sunday, June 29 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Calhoun City City Hall. All are invited.

•JULY 4TH PARADE Friday, July 4 at 5 p.m. in Bruce. Parade will begin on South Newberger. Deadline to register an entry in the parade is July 1. To register or FMI Call Noel Tunnell 662-983-2444, Traci Lee 662-983-5668, or Shea Logan, or contact via Facebook.

•ASTON REUNION will be Friday, July 4 at the American Legion Building in Calhoun City beginning at 10 a.m. Potluck lunch. All relatives and friends are invited.

•FUN DAY IN THE PARK at Willis Community Park in Calhoun City will be Saturday, July 5. Events include dunking booth, sack races, water slide, face painting, men and women’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament. Foods, concession stand, etc. Proceeds go to Class of 2006 reunion. For info, call Melinda Pittman, 927-0707, DeNice Coleman 832-5041 or Countess Welch Pierce 827-0626.

•BAKE SALE Friday, July 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Bruce Piggly Wiggly. Sponsored by No-Kill Animal Shelter. All proceeds benefit the dog shelter. To donate or volunteer contact Anna Crofford 662-473-8745 or via Facebook.

•DERMA SCHOOL REUNION… Calhoun County Agricultural High School and Derma School will have a reunion Saturday, July 5 at 1 p.m. at the Multipurpose Bldg. in Pittsboro. More information will be released later.

•BECKETT REUNION will be Saturday, July 6 at Bruce Community Building beginning at 10 a.m. Potluck lunch. All relatives and friends are invited.

•BRUCE SAWMILL FESTIVAL will be July 10-12 with the Aqua King and Queen Pageant, a concert by The Bouffants, Festival Golf Tournament, Car Show, 5K “Run For History,” Arts and Crafts show, live entertainment, local artists works displayed in Bruce Museum and more.
For information on any of the events or vendor information please contact Carol Shoemaker at 662-983-2222 or chamber@brucetelephone.com.

•SAWMILL FESTIVAL GOLF TOURNAMENT – “Freedom From Blindness”  – sponsored by the Bruce  Lions Club  will be held on Saturday, July 12 at Yoda Creek Golf Course in Bruce.  Players will get a festival cap and lunch. Door prize.  Prizes awarded in several categories.  For more information call Yoda Creek at 662-983-9632.

•BRUCE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1964 will have a 50-year-reunion Saturday, July 12 at Bruce Museum. Contact Rita at 662-983-7185, Sandra 662-414-7138 or Geneva at 662-983-2567.

•Calhoun City Class of 1984 will have their class reunion on July 12. For more info, contact Rhonda Langford Ray, Kim Hubbard Parker or Virginia Woodard Miller.

•CCHS BAND CCHS SUMMER ACTIVITIES have been announced. All activities are at the Band Hall. Color Guard Practice, July 14-16, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Rehearsal for Percussion and anyone who does not yet play an instrument, July 17-19, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Rehearsal for Color Guard and Percussion, July 21-25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Full Band, Color Guard and Percussion Rehearsal; July 24-25, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; July 28 – Color Guard fundraiser for uniforms and other expenses, details TBA; Full Band, Color Guard and Percussion Rehearsal, July 28-August 1, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

•Pleasant Agers will meet at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Wednesday, July 16. Meet and greet at 11:30 a.m. Potluck meal at noon.  Guest speaker will be Rev. Terry Coffey from Texas. He will be sharing the tragic event in his life, and how God took control. Everyone is invited.  The church is four miles west Bruce on County Road 231.

•FAIR EXHIBITS… Calhoun County Fair Association invites everyone in Calhoun County to enter exhibits in the county fair July 21-26. Exhibits books are available at the Extension Office and public libraries at Bruce, Calhoun City and Vardaman.

•Fairest of the Fair pageant will be Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building in Pittsboro. Contest open to any participant from any county. Register for the pageant anytime between now and the start of the pageant that night.  Entry fee: Beauty/Photogenic $25, Photogenic $10, Beauty $15. Western wear only. 2013 Fairest of the Fair winners are eligible to compete this year if they move up to the next age group. Age divisions– Girls: 0-12 months,13-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-11 years, 12-15 years, 16-18 years. Boys: 0-12 months,13-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-10 years.

•COUNCIL MEETING will be held on Tuesday, July 22 at 2 p.m. at the Multipurpose Building during the fair. Everyone is urged to attend.

•youth speed events horse show will be held at Calhoun County Agri-Center during the Calhoun County Fair Tuesday, July 22, beginning at 7 p.m. with the Dixie Riders performance. Youth barrels, poles and stakes at 7:30 p.m. Call the Calhoun County Extension Office (412-3177) for more information.

•UGLY LAMP CONTEST will be held at the Calhoun County Fair Bring entries to the Multi-Purpose Building Tuesday, July 22 from 4- 7 p.m. or Wednesday, July 23 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Open to all ages. One entry per person. No entry fees. Winner announced Saturday, July 26 at 3 p.m. in: Ugliest Lamp – Born Ugly; Ugliest Lamp – Made Ugly; Most Unique. Prizes awarded by Artifacts in Bruce.

•ICED CAKE CONTEST… Make an iced cake from any of the recipes published in the Calhoun County Journal and win a subscription for a year to the Calhoun County Journal. Entries must include a copy of the recipe along with the name of the featured cook that was published in the Calhoun County Journal to be eligible for the prize. For more information call 412-3177.

•YOUTH MEAT GOAT SHOW will be held at the Calhoun County Fair at the Calhoun County Agri-Center in Pittsboro, Wednesday, July 23 at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is
welcome to come watch the show. For information contact Trent Barnett at the Calhoun County Extension Office at 412-3177.

•BISCUIT MAKING DEMO… Calhoun County Happy Homemakers MHV club will be making homemade biscuits at the Calhoun County Fair July 24-25 at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to this demonstration. Sit down and enjoy a free sample. For information contact Trent Barnett at the Calhoun County Extension Office at 412-3177.

•PONY PULL CONTEST will be held at the Calhoun County Fair at the Calhoun County Agri-Center in Pittsboro Thursday, July 24, at 7 p.m. For information contact Trent Barnett at the Calhoun County Extension Office at 412-3177.

•CROCK POT SUPPER… Calhoun County 4-H will have a Crock Pot Supper Thursday, July 24 from 5-7 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Building during the Calhoun County Fair. $5 a plate. Supper is a 4-H fundraiser project. For information contact Trent Barnett at 412-3177.

•Calhoun County Fair Rodeo will be July 25-26  at 7 p.m. with the Dixie Riders performance. Everyone is invited to come watch local cowboys and cowgirls as well as competitors from other states compete in the bull riding, bareback horses, roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Kids’ activities offered. For information contact Trent Barnett at the Calhoun County Extension Office at 412-3177.

•Baking Contest with adult and youth divisions will be held at the Calhoun County Fair Saturday, July 26. Registration From 11 a.m.-noon. Categories include breads, cookies, cakes, pies and candy. Call the Extension Office (412-3177) for information and an exhibit book.

•Calhoun County Fair Big Buck Contest will be held Saturday, July 26 with registration and scoring starting at 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Typical and non-typical. Limit 2 mounts per person. $10 per mount entry fee. $50 first place prize in typical and non-typical. Adult and youth division. Whitetail only. Contact the Calhoun County Extension Office at 662-412-3177 for information.

•ROUND ROBIN ROPING… Calhoun County Fair Association will host a Round Robin Roping for adults and youth Saturday, July 26 at 9 a.m. Roping will be held during the county fair at the Horse Arena. Limited to first 10 teams. Entry fees $60 per person, 60/40  payback. For information and to register, contact Angie Embry, chairperson, at 662-983-5859.

•Calhoun saddle club upcoming showdates are August 9, August 23, Sept. 13, Sept. 20 and Oct. 11 at the Arena at the Multi-Purpose Building in Pittsboro. Training is at noon and show at 1 p.m. Ranch sorting at each show, entry $25, payback $10 per head.

•DOG LOVERS! LEAGUE FOR NO-KILL SHELTER meets the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Bruce Park Pavilion. For info, call 983-7471.

•DRIVER’S LICENSE RENEWAL station is open in Pittsboro every third Tuesday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the old tax assessor’s office/church building near the entrance to the Multi-Purpose Building on Hwy 9.

•ARE YOU A CANCER PATIENT? Calhoun Cares is an ongoing non-profit organization to benefit cancer patients. If you are taking cancer treatments and you live in Calhoun County, you are eligible for assistance. Contact Calhoun Cares, Tammy Tallant, 662-983-0864.

•CALHOUN CITY AMERICAN LEGION POST #50 and American Legion Auxiliary Post 50 meet the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. Meal at 6:30 p.m.

•WEIGHT WATCHERS IN BRUCE meets every Monday night at 5:30 p.m. at Jody’s Dance Studio.

•CALHOUN CITY VFW POST 12032 meets every 4th Thursday at 7 p.m. in the old Kellwood Outlet store building on N. Madison in Calhoun City.

•BRUCE VFW & AUXILIARY MONTHLY meet first Thursday of each month. Pot luck meal at 6 p.m. Meeting at 7 p.m. To rent building, call Mike Winter 412-2114 or Charlie Carter 414-0642.

•NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS meets Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. at Mt. Comfort Baptist Church, 38 CR?257, Bruce.

• BRUCE GROUP ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets Friday nights at 8 p.m. at Bruce United Methodist Church.

•CALHOUN CITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets Monday nights at 8 p.m. at Lewis Memorial Methodist Church, Calhoun City. For info, call 628-4222.

To submit items for the calendar, call 983-2570, fax 983-7667 email: calhouncountyjournal@gmail.com

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FOR SALE                       2
Houses, Land, Mobile Homes
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2 BR HOUSE in Bruce, $19,000. Call 662-417-5466.     25tnc-lp
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5 BR 3-1/2 BATH HOME IN PITTSBORO, Sutton home. Quiet neighborhood on dead end street. Move-in ready. Call 901-491-9071 or 901-491-4267.
11,18,25c-rb
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LARGE LOTS in Country Estates Subdivision, 2 miles west of Calhoun City Hospital, starting at $2,000 per lot; 3 lots in Churchhill Subdivision discounted to sell; 30 lots in Briarwood Subdivision Part II in Vardaman, practically finished, super opportunity. Fred Nabors, 456-6319.                                 9tnc
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REDUCED TO $55,000.  3 BR 2 B brick home in Bruce, 1,700 sq. ft. with 2 acres, 433 N. Pontotoc Rd. Call 983-2620 or 628-4171.                          23tnc-ec
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FOR SALE                       3
Autos, Trucks, Motorcycles
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2004 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP. Leather, loaded, high mileage. New tires, $3,500. Call 662-322-1079.    18,25,2,9c-dh
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FOR SALE                       4
Appliances,  Furniture
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SAVE $100s ON MATTRESSES! at The Mattress Outlet, Hwy 8, Vardaman. Open every Saturday, 9-4. Tommy Scarbrough, owner.                             21tnc
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Used appliances washers, dryers, ranges for sale at Brasher’s Home Furnishings, ph. 983-2368.
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FOR SALE                    6
Pets, Pet Supplies
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FOR SALE                     7
Misc.
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RATTLESNAKE BEANS. $17.50 per half bushel Please call to order, 413-4040. L.H. Johnson.
18tnc
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COUPLE OF HOGS, perfect for July 4th BBQ. Also full blooded German Shephard, good watch dog, $150. Call John Tucker, 983-0772 or 800-4535.   25tnc
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FOR RENT                     8
Misc.
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HOUSE FOR RENT in Bruce. 2 BR, 1 B on W. Countiss St. Quiet neighborhood and close to downtown. $425/mth + dep. Contact Clint at 317-507-8443. Employed and serious long-term applicants only, please.
-July 30-cc
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MINI-SYSTEMS of Bruce. Short or long term rental storage units. Climate Control Available! Various sizes—5×10, 10×10, 10×15, 10×20. Brasher’s Home Furnishings, ph. 983-2368.
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BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY                   9
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BUSINESS FOR SALE. Owner wants to retire from well established local floral and gift shop. Great customer base! Serious inquiries only. Call 414-1108.
19tnc
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WANTED                     10
Misc.
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NOTICE                        11
Misc.
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The Pickin’ Shed, Hwy 9W, Banner. Home Improvement Mdse.  Open Monday thru Saturday 9-5, closed every 4th weekend. Call 662-473-6660  for more info.                          19tnc
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The Journal assumes no responsibility for the wording or content of classifieds advertisements.
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SERVICES                   12
Misc.
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C&C LAWN CARE– Total Lawn Care for Calhoun and surrounding counties. Free estimates. Call 662-542-5055, Matthew Collins.                     25,2,9,16p
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LAWNMOWER, WEED EATING, etc. Reasonable prices. Call Matt 835-9662 or Tyler 637-7604.                               25,2p
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I WILL SIT WITH THE ELDERLY in their home. References available. Call 835-9404 or 628-1906.                  18,25,2,9c-cn
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WILL SHARPEN WOOD MIZER blades for band sawmill. $5 per blade. Call Ray at 628-6086 or 417-1461.                     12tnc-tj
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Bulldozer, Trackhoe and Tractor and Pan Services available. Also environmental land clearing. MARTIN AND MARTIN CONTRACTING, LLC-Banner, MS, 35 years experience. For quotes or more information, please call Freddie Martin at 662-473-6658.                         6tnc
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WINTERIZE NOW! Consider a new metal or shingle roof. Call Joey Collins for all your building, remodeling, repairs, metal roofing, plumbing and electrical needs. Free estimates. Call 662-927-0856 today!          14tnc-jc
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DO YOU NEED YOUR YARD mowed or other yard work? Call 662-628-5271 or 662-414-1831                            -6tnc-jh
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HOME REPAIR & MAINTENANCE– Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting and more. Tommy L. Roane, 662-983-8326 or 662- 983-7557.
17tnc
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BWS WELDING, STEEL & ALUMINUM, farm equipment repair, portable welder. Bobby W. Sexton, 614 CR 130. Call 662-414-8295 (cell)                   21tnc-bs
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MARTIN CONSTRUCTION & Home Maintenance. Contact us for all your home repair needs. TONY MARTIN, ph. 413-4644.
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POSTED                     13
Landowner Owners
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MELVIS McCORMICK LAND on CR 130 is posted against hunting and trespassing of any kind.
25,1,8p
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POSTED– Land in Calhoun and Pontotoc counties belonging to Mitzi Aron, Joe Aron or Jim Jim Aron is posted against hunting, fishing or trespassing of any kind without written permission of the landowners.                  -dec31p
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POSTED–The Gullick Place land of Rabon Gullick, Nellie Davis, Lillie Newsome and Sara Quillen is posted against hunting, fishing or trespassing of any kind.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Bruce “Throwback Thursday” Farmer’s Market Junior Entrepreneurs Janey Stacy, Abigail Maddox, Emmie Shaw, Jayla Norris, and Emma Kate Pratt were recognized last Thursday at the Farmer’s Market. The girls were presented certificates by Bruce Mayor Rudy Pope.  The girls took weekly turns selling lemonade and cookies at the markets, and some donated a portion of their profit to an organization or charity. Photo by Celia D. Hillhouse

It’s election day around Calhoun County as voters will return to the polls to decide the runoff election between Sen. Thad Cochran and State Sen. Chris McDaniel.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Those eligible to vote in the runoff are all who participated in the June 3 Republican primary and any registered voters who didn’t vote at all on June 3.

If you voted in the Democratic primary on June 3, you are not eligible to participate in today’s runoff.

The Journal will post local and statewide results as soon as they become available tonight.

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Despite muscle spasms in neck, and a strained groin suffered during his second deadlift, Yarnell Marks of Bruce not only captured his third Mississippi Powerlifting title of the year, but was crowned overall raw best lifter last weekend for the third consecutive time.

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Clik here to view.In a field of 23 raw lifters at the USPA MS Open at Revolution Fitness in Hattiesburg, Marks captured the 198 class title and raw best lifter. Marks squatted 523 pounds, bench pressed 385 pounds and deadlifted 512 pounds for a 1,420 pound total.

Marks next competition will be APA Southern Championship in Troy, Alabama on July  26.

“I personally want to thank my God, all my supporters and sponsors for making this possible,” Marks said. “My training team ‘The Pride’ and the whole PTW ITRAIN family. This was a very difficult meet due to the muscle spasms I dealt with all week. It wasn’t the best meet, but the best effort I could give and I can live with that.”

Edsel Blount, 86, of Bruce, died Monday, June 23, 2014, at his residence. He was born August 19, 1927 in Bruce, the son of the late Joseph Blount and the late Delon Ivy  Blount. He was a self-employed cattleman and farmer. He was a World War II Veteran. He was a member of Lantrip Baptist Church. 

Surviving are his sister, Mildred Bagwell, Bruce; two nieces, Cathy (Tony) Thompson of Starkville; Tamsie Morris, Bruce, and a host of  great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister, Madge Blount.

His funeral service will be Wednesday, June 25, at 11 a.m. at Parker Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Robert Earl Alexander officiating. Interment will be in Ivy Cemetery, Bruce.

Pallbearers will be Chance Adair, Carlton Leachman, John Allen Leachman, Scott Ledbetter, John Massey, Bobby Sexton, Joseph Thompson and Tony Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Camp, Henry Floyd Ramage and Dennis Reynolds.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Ivy Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 856, Bruce, MS 38915.

Online condolences may be made to the family at ParkerMemorialFuneralHomes.com

Ruby Gorden Brown Winter, 96, died Monday, June 23, 2014 at Bruce Community Living Center. She was the daughter of the late Early Brown and Dovie James Brown. She was a faithful member of Pleasant Ridge Church, where she served as secretary and treasurer for several years, and also sang in the adult choir. After her retirement from factory work at Glenn Slacks, she and her husband, Doyle, founded and ran Winter Feed and Seed Store in Vardaman for 15 years. She was well-known throughout Calhoun County for the home-cooked meals she prepared and served every day at the feed store to whomever happened to stop by. She was a community news correspondent for The Monitor Herald for 60 years and The Calhoun County Journal for 49 years. She also served as the female chairperson for Calhoun County Farm Bureau for four years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Doyle Winter, and her only son, Gwin Dale Winter, in 2011, as well as her two brothers, Ollie M. Brown and L.Q. Brown, and her sister, Earlene Alexander.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Gail Hobson Winter, Ripley; two grandsons, Michael Todd (Sidra Patterson) Winter, Pontotoc, and James Ryan (Jenni Tompkins) Winter, Grenada and great-grandchildren, Chandler Beth Winter and Allie Grace Winter, Tupelo, and Tripp McCrory, Grenada, and one sister, Peggy Cowsert, Bruce.

Visitation is today, Wednesday, June 25, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church from noon until time of her funeral service at 2 p.m. Bro. James Brown will be officiating and Bro. Jr. Ritchie assisting. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Easley Brown, Emmitt Brown, Larry Brown, William Brown and Robert Tedford.

Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce is in charge of arrangements.

Calhoun City native Mikie Knight has been hired as the new head baseball coach at Eupora High School.

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Clik here to view.Knight has served the past several seasons as an assistant on the Eupora football staff.
Knight’s wife Annie is pharmacist at Southern Discount Drugs in Calhoun City.

The Calhoun County Journal, which competes in the category with the largest weekly newspapers in Mississippi, earned seven awards in the press association’s Better Newspaper Contest, including three first place.

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Clik here to view.Joel McNeece earned first place for Best Feature Story for his article on Shirley Bratton, of Calhoun City, reuniting with her siblings after they were given up for adoption as small children.

McNeece earned another first place award for Best Feature Photo for a picture made at last year’s Calhoun County Fair that was featured on the front page of the CCJ.

Lisa McNeece also earned first place for Best Sports Feature Photograph for a picture she made of Calhoun City Wildcat Keshun Bobo.

Joel McNeece earned two second place awards. His November 2013 feature story with Edwin Boland on Robert Wadlow, the world’s Tallest Man visiting Calhoun City in 1940, earned second for Best Picture-Story combination.

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Clik here to view.McNeece earned second place in the Best Feature Photo category for a shot from 2013 Veterans’ Day services.

McNeece earned third place in the Best Planned Series category for his articles on Calhoun County municipalities entitled “Our Town.”

McNeeece’s weekly column earned third place for Best General Interest Column.

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Kerry Heinz and I have been best friends since elementary school. Along the way, there have been boyfriends, marriages, babies, divorces, deaths, but we’ve always had each other.

There have been times when we didn’t see each other for a while, but then our paths would bring us back together, and it was like no time had passed.
And now I feel like a part of me is missing.
Kerry died peacefully early Saturday morning at her home in Oxford. It had been a long journey for her– two and a half years since her initial diagnosis of breast cancer.

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Kerry Heinz and Lisa McNeece

There have been countless ups and downs along the way, good months and bad months, but through it all, Kerry’s example to us was consistent– she embraced a positive attitude.
She taught us about juicing and healthy eating. After her initial diagnosis, she embraced this lifestyle, and I think it bought her a lot of time.
She mixed concoctions in her kitchen of all sorts, colors and smells.

This lifestyle caused some issues for us, me especially, when we went out to eat or occasionally cooked at her house.
One night, she had invited me to dinner, and I lifted the lid of a pan to an oddly enticing smell.
“Tofu,” she said, “It’s good for you.”

On another occasion, she wanted us to go to an Indian restaurant in Oxford. I left the restaurant hungry and told her so.
The last several times we have eaten out this year, we had sushi– something we both could live with.
Over the years, we have been on many trips, seen many concerts– Ricky Van Shelton, Sawyer Brown, Mark Chestnut, Alan Jackson, George Strait, had a car stolen in Memphis, watched our children grow up and our grandchildren be born.

We used to talk about cute guys in cowboy boots, but in recent years it was cancer and menopause.
Some of my fondest memories were in the late 90s when Kerry and family lived on Tibbee Creek in Columbus. I would go down on the weekend, often taking my yellow Lab Chandler to hang with her chocolate Lab Ruben and Shar Pei, Denny.

There are so many memories that warm my heart and break it at the same time.
Even in the trying times over the past couple of years with her illness, we always found humor.
After her mastectomy, she offered me her old bras.

After she lost her hair due to chemo, she offered me her hair brush and proclaimed she could now beat me getting ready.
My early teenage charm bracelet, which I pulled out recently, is a chunky silver montage of my interests during that time in my life. Among the charms is a small disc that holds a photo on each side– on one side is my older sister, Celia, and the back– Kerry.

Kerry told me a couple of years ago that she still had a bracelet that I gave her on her birthday when we were in middle school.
It is a simple silver link bracelet with two hearts entwined in the center. Her daughter Briana gave the bracelet to me last week, and it is now one of my most prized possessions. Who knew that bracelet would mean a lifetime of friendship.

E-mail Lisa McNeece: lisamcneece@gmail.com follow her on twitter @lisamcneece

I’ll never forget the first time we met. I was greeted with a big hug and a wet kiss that left lipstick marks on my cheek. That was Kerry.

When my wife Lisa and I first started dating, there was only one person I needed a stamp of approval from – Kerry Heinz.
She and Lisa have been best friends since they were young girls. I’ve heard all the stories, seen all the pictures and laughed a lot. Nobody laughs like Kerry.

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Clik here to view.

Joel McNeece

That first meeting was two weeks after I met Lisa. We drove to Columbus to spend the day with Kerry and then the night with her and husband Steve who was running Ruben’s fish and steakhouse at the time. Before returning to Bruce, I received that approval stamp, but more importantly, a remarkable friend.
When Lisa and I were married at Puddin’ Place in Oxford, Kerry stood right beside us, as she has through all the other significant events in our lives.

From the heartbreak of the loss of my father-in-law Gale Denley, to the birth of our grandchildren – Kerry has always been there.
I would never have thought there could be anyone who loves dogs more than Lisa and I do, but Kerry did. She was constantly taking in strays, rescues, any dog needing a home.

Her phone calls were numerous describing a dog she saw at the shelter that was calling out to her. Lisa and I always knew early in the phone call, she’s already claimed that dog.

Her compassion knew no bounds. It’s what made her a world class nurse at Baptist Hospital in Oxford. I’ve heard so many stories over the past few weeks of former patients of hers who would call the hospital after they were discharged requesting her specifically, wanting to express their gratitude and to maintain that connection.
Simply put, if you met Kerry, you loved her. I know I do.

Kerry lived a life of constant challenge, but it’s what made her so admirable. She met every challenge head-on, with her beautiful smile, focused on the positive, determined to persevere.
When diagnosed with breast cancer, we all cried, and then Kerry set our focus on the fight.

Throughout her battle, her compassion for others couldn’t be contained. She traveled throughout the region sharing the importance of healthy eating and founded the Sassy Sparrows — a support group in Oxford for cancer victims.

Kneeling at her bedside early Saturday morning, our heart’s broke as Kerry’s long journey with cancer came to a close. She’s not hurting anymore, and we take great solace in that, but the pain of her loss is an incredible challenge.

But as she always did when met with difficulty, we will persevere with her strengthening our hearts. We will gather Saturday to celebrate her and strive to love life as hard as she did.

We will love our family, our friends, our neighbors, our dogs, as she would.
I will forever miss her hugs, her beauty, and her lipstick stains on my cheek.

Email Joel McNeece at joelmcneece@gmail.com & follow him on Twitter @joelmcneece

The Stegall/Weeks team earned first place in the Grenada Lake Grabbling Tournament last weekend.

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Clik here to view.Team members and supporters include, from left, front, Katie Stegall, Westin and Kimberly McCormick, Emily and C.J. Weeks, Carter Weeks and Courtney Stegall, and Carson Stegall; back, Matthew McCormick, Jody Stegall, Cody Weeks, Jacob Gregory, Stabler and Jonathan Stegall and Josh Stegall.

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Clik here to view.Jonathan Stegall, Jody Stegall, Matthew McCormick and Cody Weeks show the fish that helped their team win first overall and biggest fish caught at 62 pounds.

Brian Chrestman of Calhoun County and his team finished second in the tournament.

Former Calhoun City Home Economics teacher Rose Chandler was always looking for recipes that her class could make in their time frame that would be a good serving size for them. The chicken casserole recipe she got from the late Jessie Phillips proved to be a good one. “It fit the class size and time, and we used it a good bit,” adding that she still makes it sometimes for church meals.

She taught home economics for 40 years and said Mrs. Bert Johnson, of Bruce, was her mentor, who helped her a lot. The last three years she taught she said she had a wonderful department–double oven, dishwasher, microwave, and there was a whole semester of cooking and housing.
She never thought home ec would not be taught in the schools. It was a shock, but she hopes and thinks it will come back.
Miss Rose never cooked growing up, saying that her mother, the late Ottie Blue Chandler, did all the cooking. Her mother had written ingredients for many things, but no instructions. She wishes she had the instructions for some of her mother’s cakes and her chocolate chip cookies. Rose grew up during the Depression, and lived in town, saying that everyone in town had a cow, garden and chickens.

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Clik here to view.In college at The W, she had some older friends in Home Economics and she thought their foods classes sounded interesting, so that’s what she decided to do. The home ec students lived in a ‘practice house’ for eight weeks, where they were divided in small groups, with each person being responsible for a part of the meals. She enjoyed that and said it was a wonderful experience.

She began to cook more after college–mostly casseroles, salads, desserts, and some poultry. “We learned to cook by measuring at The W,” she said. At first, she was scared to change up a recipe, but that changed later. She combined some recipes to get one for her asparagus supreme and lemon chess pie. The Lemon Chess pie is something she really likes and she thinks the corn meal is the secret to it.

Her sister, Mildred Carter’s, orange salad is something her family likes and she makes a lot for Thanksgiving because of the color. She likes to make a red salad and sweet potato casserole with pecan topping for her family Christmas, and deviled eggs at Easter.
The salad dressing is an old recipe that’s been around a long time, and she remembers Mary Mounger and Christine Hardin sharing it. It can be stored in the refrigerator 2-3 weeks.

For church lunches she is likely to fix sweet potato casserole, asparagus casserole, lemon ice box or pecan pie, cookies or brownies. She was a New Century Club member for over 50 years, and the hostesses usually served a salad, sandwich, and dessert. She said there was lots of recipe sharing among club members.
The low calorie fruit is a Weight Watchers recipe from years ago that is good with Cool Whip. She sometimes takes it for church breakfast and says there are lots of different ways to use it.

Chandler, 89, and her other “ladies of the 80’s” friends eat lunch at Nelson’s in Calhoun City every day and enjoy their social time. Her favorite food is Bluebell Vanilla Ice Cream, and she loves her flowers and flower gardening.

Chicken Casserole
(Jessie D. Phillips)
1 can boned chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 eggs, boiled and chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 Tbsp. onion, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Cracker crumbs
Mix all ingredients well and pour into buttered casserole dish. Cover with buttered cracker crumbs. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Rotisserie Salad Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Wesson oil
1/4 cup catsup
1/2 tsp. mustard
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup onion, grated
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Juice of one lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of Tabasco sauce
Mix mayonnaise, oil, ketchup, mustard, garlic, onion, Worcestershire, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and tabasco. Store in covered jar in refrigerator.

Lemon Chess Pie
4 whole eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 1/2 Tbsp. corn meal
1/4 cup lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
1 unbaked pie shell
Beat eggs well and add sugar, margarine and corn meal, beating after each addition. Stir in lemon juice and salt. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake in pre-heated 325° oven until firm, about 30-35 minutes. (Knife inserted in center will come out clean when pie is done.)

Asparagus Supreme
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. flour
3/4 cup milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups asparagus, drained
1 Tbsp. chopped onion
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
To make white sauce, put butter and flour in saucepan and stir until mixed. Gradually add milk, salt and pepper; heat. When thick and smooth, remove from heat. Put asparagus, onion and eggs in buttered casserole dish. Mix gently into asparagus mixture about half of cheese and all of white sauce. Add rest of cheese to top. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Orange Salad
(Mildred Carter)
1-3 oz. pkg. orange Jello
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup hot water
1 small can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
Dissolve Jello and sugar in hot water. Let cool 5-10 minutes. Add pineapple and chill until partially set. Add sour cream and vanilla. Whip until fluffy. Fold in orange sections. Pour into individual salad molds.  Chill. Serves 8-10 depending on size of molds.

Low-Calorie Fruit
1 can pineapple tidbits in own juice, not drained
1 can lite sliced peaches, drained
1 apple, peeled and chopped
1 banana, sliced
1-3 oz. pkg. sugar-free strawberry Jello
Cool Whip
Mix fruit together. Sprinkle dry Jello  over fruit and stir to mix. Chill. Add Cool Whip to top when ready to serve.

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Clik here to view.Elizabeth Whitten, 2014 Sawmill Festival Queen, shows the new festival t-shirts that arrived this week and are now on sale at the chamber office in the Bruce Museum building, Jeffery’s, TNT and Piggly Wiggly. Shirts are available in different shades of green and range in price from $10-$15 depending on size. Photo by Joel McNeece

In a remarkable political turnaround, six-term Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi edged out tea party-backed challenger Chris McDaniel Tuesday night in a bruising, costly Republican runoff that pitted Washington clout against insistence on conservative purity.

Cochran carried Calhoun County in the runoff 884-713, compared to the 783-648 margin in the June 3 primary. The turnout for the runoff was up 166 voters.
Cochran and McDaniel split the five Calhoun County precincts in the primary. Tuesday night, Cochran won seven, McDaniel two (Bruce 3 and Northeast Calhoun) and they split Banner 57-57. McDaniel won Banner on June 3 56-49.

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U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran greets supporters and volunteers at his Canton, Miss., headquarters, Tuesday, June 24 during the Republican primary runoff election against state Sen. Chris McDaniel on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Calhoun City four remained the largest turnout of all precincts and the biggest Cochran win, 195-116.
Unofficial totals statewide showed Cochran with less than 51% of the vote as of press time.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Cochran had 51 percent to McDaniel’s 49 percent, three weeks after McDaniel had beaten the veteran lawmaker in the initial primary round but had fallen short of the majority needed for nomination. In the three-week dash to the runoff, Cochran and his allies had highlighted his seniority while McDaniel had argued that Cochran was part of a blight of federal overspending.

In a brief speech to supporters, Cochran thanked those who helped him secure a “great victory. … It’s a group effort. It’s not a solo. And so we all have a right to be proud of our state tonight.”

A defiant McDaniel offered no explicit concession, but instead complained of “dozens of irregularities” that he implied were due to Cochran courting Democrats and independents.

“We are not prone to surrender, we Mississippians,” McDaniel told his backers. “Before this race is over we have to be absolutely certain the Republican primary was won by Republican voters.”

The win for Cochran, a stalwart of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was a fresh blow to the tea party movement, which spent millions to cast aside a mainstream Republican who won a U.S. House seat in President Richard Nixon’s GOP wave of 1972 and has served in the Senate for more than three decades.

In another setback for the tea party, two-term Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma won the GOP nomination in the race to succeed Sen. Tom Coburn, who is stepping down with two years left in his term. In the solidly Republican state, Lankford is all but assured of becoming the next senator. Part of the House GOP leadership, Lankford defeated T.W. Shannon, a member of the Chickasaw Nation and the state’s first black House speaker, backed by former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, two stalwarts of the right.

Despite Congress’ abysmal public approval ratings, incumbents have largely prevailed midway through the primary season — with two notable exceptions.

Little-known college professor Dave Brat knocked out House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in Virginia’s Republican primary this month, and Republican Rep. Ralph Hall, 91, lost in a Texas runoff to a younger Republican.

Cochran and his allies, notably former Gov. Haley Barbour, promoted his Washington establishment credentials, focusing on the billions he funneled to his home state, one of the poorest in the nation. In a last-ditch effort, Cochran reached out to traditionally Democratic voters — blacks and union members — who could cast ballots in the runoff. That possible factor in Cochran’s victory is sure to be cited by critics in days and weeks to come.

In predominantly black neighborhoods of Hattiesburg’s south side, an organized effort for Cochran was evident. Ronnie Wilson, a 50-year-old unemployed Hattiesburg man, said he had been encouraged by his pastor to vote for Cochran.

“They say the other guy is trying to cut food stamps and all that,” Wilson said. “I’m trying to look after the majority of people not working.”

McDaniel had railed against the federal “spending sprees” by Cochran, but his calls to slash the budget unnerved some voters.

Frank McCain, a 71-year-old retired tax administrator from Mendenhall, voted for Cochran.

“I believe he is doing a good job,” McCain said. “But mostly I’m more scared of the other candidate. He wants to do things like not taking school funding when everyone else is.”

Bruce Elementary appears in the market for a new principal as Sandy Aron, who just completed her first year as the school’s leader, is expected to resign.

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Sandy Aron

Aron’s official resignation is expected to be accepted by the school board at their regular scheduled meeting next Monday night in Pittsboro.
Several sources have confirmed to The Journal that Aron has accepted a teaching position in the East Webster school district.
When contacted by The Journal, Aron declined to comment publicly on the matter at this time.

Superintendent Mike Moore was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but School Board President Billy McCord said Aron’s resignation is anticipated.
“If we receive her resignation it will be accepted Monday at the board meeting, and we (the board) will instruct the superintendent to begin the process to find her replacement,” McCord said.

Aron has worked the past dozen years in Bruce Schools, primarily at BHS before being hired as BES principal in 2013. She and husband Jeremy Aron met with the school board during their March meeting in executive session to discuss complaints with the Bruce High School softball program. The Arons have two daughters who played on the 2014 team.

No public action has been taken by the school board following that meeting.

Other agenda items scheduled for Monday’s meeting include the approval of the 2014-15 budget.
The board held a public hearing for the proposed $21.2 million budget last week in which there were no comments or questions presented from the public.
Other items scheduled for approval Monday night include a long list of student transfers and personnel moves.

Among those personnel changes are hiring of Karen Brown as speech and language teacher for “Extended School Year FY 2014” for eight weeks; Bobbie Russell hired as SpEd teacher; David Ross hired as teacher replacing Steven Gill who resigned; Larry Haggard hired as in-school suspension tutor replacing Joseph Griffin;

Kim Carr hired as secretary/store worker replacing Elizabeth Turner; hiring of Shelia Ferguson as teacher replacing Bethany LaValley; Cora Taylor Moore hired as teacher replacing April Pettit;

Megan Cooper hired as teacher replacing Cynthia Conley; John Austin Williams hired as teacher replacing James Frizzell; Kayla Thrasher hired as teacher replacing Tammy Pounds; Emily Sullivan hired as Spanish teacher; Michelle Skinner hired as secretary/store worker replacing LaSherica Shaw; Janae Winter as teacher replacing Sinatra Armstrong who resigned.

The following teacher transfers are slated for approval – Laketia Petty from CTC to BHS; Melany Taylor from VHS to CCMS; Jennifer Bennett from VHS to CTC into new engineering program; Barbara Jo Howell from CCMS to VHS replacing Jennifer Bennett;

Bethany LaValley from BHS to CCMS replacing Howell; April Pettit will transfer into CCES position replacing Whitney Bailey who resigned; Travis England into position vacated by Jason Keeton; Amanda Walls to position vacated by Sayra Salazar.