Congratulations to the Collins High School Lady Tigers and the members of the cheerleading team for being named scholar athletes. They will be graduating in the top 30precent of the CHS Class of 2017. Pictured above (front, from left) are Ta’Shira Hawthorn, Da’Shira Hawthorn, LaChara Beasley (second row) Brenna Slay, JaShon Turner, Porsha Fairley, Alexis Harris, (back row) Zakyia Weathersby, Salutatorian CHS Class of 2017. Their participation in sports while maintaining a high grade point average provided each of them with a good experience of team work, an opportunity to achieve their greatest potential while developing the characteristics of being a leader.
Okatoma Festival tshirts are on sale now at all local banks and the Covington County Chamber of Commerce office. The shirts are $15.
The Covington County DECA marketing students at the Vo-Tech Center visited the Collins Veterans Home where they made a contribution to the Veterans OutReach. In a countywide community service project beginning in November, the students collectively spent 1,000 hours with the community’s military heroes. They went the extra mile to raise $500 to donate to the organization which accommodates the veterans with items to make living more comfortable. The veterans have enjoyed the time spent with the students while the students were rewarded by the service as well. “Honestly, it makes me feel good because I want to give back to the people who did so much for us,” said Miercoles Keys, a junior at Collins High School. “It inspires me and makes me want to go to the army.” Jake Sanford, founder of Veterans OutReach said the money will go a long way, but the time the students gave meant the most. “It not only does my heart good to see them doing this, it does these veterans’ hearts good to know there’s a group of young people who love them, care for them, and want to do this for them,” he said.
The Collins Rotary Club “Spring Classic” golf tournament will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017, at the Okatoma Golf Club. The tournament is organized around a two-person scramble format with prizes awards for first, second and third places in First Flight and Second Flight. The entry fee for the two-man scramble is $50 and includes green fee, cart, food and beverages. The “Spring Classic” will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Prizes include $250 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place the First Flight and $200 for first place, $150 for second place and $100 for third place in the Second Flight. Prizes for the closest to pin and longest drive will also be awarded. Lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Mulligans are $5 each and there are only two per golfer and four per team. Mulligans may not be used on “closest to pin” or “longest drive”. For more information about the event, call 601-765-1841, or Oliver Hitt at 601-765-4466. Proceeds support the Collins Rotary Club’s scholarship program which annually awards scholarships to graduating seniors from Covington County who will attend a state college or university and also to an eligible Covington County sophomore attending Jones County Junior College.
The qualifying deadline has passed for municipal elections in Collins where Democrat incumbent Mayor V.O. Smith is being challenged by Democrat Hope Jones Magee and Republican Tom Brooks. Magee served as Ward Two Alderman in a previous term until she was defeated by present Alderman Robert Thompson. Brooks is a local business owner.
Bobby Mooney, incumbent Alderman-at-Large does not have a challenger.
In the Ward One Alderman’s race, incumbent Lester Magee will face Merria Lisa Speight. Both are running as Democrats.
Ward Two Alderman Robert Thompson will face challenger Regina Daughdrill. Daughdrill is running as a Republican, and Thompson is running as aDemocrat.
Ward Three Alderman Gerald Buffington is not seeking re-election. In that open seat, Buffington’s wife Sally Buffington will run along with Johnathon L. Anderson and Ray Magee. All three are running as Democrats.
Ward Four Alderman Halbert Walker will face challenger Ann Lott. Walker is running as a Democrat while Lott is running as a Republican.
The primary election will take place on Tuesday, May 2. The general election will be Tuesday, June 6.
Candidates wishing to qualify for local elections must do so by Friday, March 3, 2017 at 5 p.m. The primary election, which will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, will be for the city offices of Mayor, Aldermen and Alderman-At-Large. All candidates must qualify with the City Clerk.
The Covington County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual General Membership Meeting on Monday, February 20, 2017. The meeting will be held at Woodland Trails in Collins at 6:30 p.m. Special guest speaker for the meeting will be Sam Britton, Public Service Commissioner for the Southern District. Sam graduated from Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He worked at the Office of the State Auditor and the Mississippi State Tax Commission. He received his CPA certificate and opened his own CPA firm in his home town of Waynesboro. He has been working in accounting and finance-related positions for 30 years. With his experience and education, Britton is truly a financial expert and was named one of “Mississippi Leaders in Finance for 2014” by the Mississippi Business Journal. He has been invited as a guest speaker at universities on the topics of finance including business valuation and accounting-related topics. Britton is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Business Advisory Council, the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, the Middle Market Investment Banking Association, the Association for Corporate Growth, the Mississippi Economic Council, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Southeast Chapter of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. Sam is also a life member of the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association and the Jones County Junior College Alumni Association. Britton is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi and has served as Secretary-Treasurer for the Jones County Junior College Foundation Board and served as the finance committee chairman, Board of Governors of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, Past President of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Southeast Chapter of the Certified Public Accountants, and various other leadership positions in volunteer organizations. Britton is married to Robin Robinson and they live in Laurel. The chamber will also recognize area legislators including Senator Joey Fillingane, Representative Bob Evans and Representative Noah Sanford at the event. Cost to attend is $20 per plate. To make a reservation, call the Covington County Chamber of Commerce at 601-765-6012.
The Covington County Miss Hospitality program is seeking contestants for the 2017 title of Covington County’s Miss Hospitality. Requirements for the local program include: • Be a resident of Mississippi – parent or guardian must also be a resident of Mississippi • Represent her hometown and/or county, not the city where she attends college. • Not currently hold a title that would interfere with duties of Miss Hospitality. • Be a high school graduate, never married, have no children and be age 18 and not over 24 by Wednesday, July 19, 2017 of the pageant week. • Have a 2.5 scholastic average for the last completed semester. A transcript is required upon registration for the state pageant. • Must be present at the coronation ceremony for Mississippi Miss Hospitality and participate in events scheduled for the period July 16-22, 2017. • If attending an out of state university and wins the state pageant, you must enroll immediately in a university in Mississippi. • Participate in the Okatoma Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2017. The entry fee is $20. Local Miss Hospitality contestants will have a seven minute personal interview with a panel of three out-of-town judges and present a 90-second speech in front of the judges and guests on “How would you promote our state to a visitor?” The dress is Sunday dress or a suit. Contestant applications and entry fees must be turned in to the chamber office by Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m. Contestants are to meet on April 7 at 5 p.m. at the chamber office to have a group picture made for the newspaper and draw for interview times. The state Miss Hospitality pageant will be held July 16-22, 2017. Applications are available at the Chamber of Commerce office located at 500 Komo Street in Collins. For additional information call 601-765-6012.