Dr. Dennis Jones, a native of Collins and a 2002 graduate of Collins High School, is involved in research at Boston University which is aimed at stopping cancer from metastasizing (spreading) throughout the body by identifying the immune evasion mechanisms used by cancer cells to persist in lymph nodes and eventually metastasize to distant organs.
Dr. Jones is currently the Ralph Edwards Career Development (Assistant) Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. He earned his B. S. in Biology from Morehouse College in 2006, completed Doctoral training in the Immunobiology Department at Yale University in 2012, and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Radiation Oncology Department at the Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School until 2018. He has expertise in vascular biology, cancer biology, and immunology.
“Blazing New Trails of Legacy through the Generations” is the theme for this year’s Black Heritage Celebration Association’s events in Covington County to honor Black History Month.
There have been events all during the month of February leading up to the biggest day for the festivities. The 24th annual Black Heritage Celebration will be held Saturday, February 26, 2022, in Collins.
At 12:00 noon, the Black Heritage Celebration Parade begins with the line-up at the Collins High School and the parade route continues through downtown Collins.
Following the parade, everyone is invited to the Carver Middle School Campus for the Heritage Museum in the Gymnasium and live stage performances at the campus.
Grand Marshals for the Parade are Dr. Sonya Barnes Barker, Delphia J. Barnes, J.B. “Ben” Barnes III, Deborah Denard Delgado, Katrina Mead Dennis, Charles Fairley, Kristal Mead Hillie, Dr. Sandra McCullum Mclaurin, Chelsea Sullivan, Dr. Shomari T. Thompson, and Arnitra Crosby.
The 2022 Black Heritage Celebration Honorees are The Family; Lincoln, Hopewell, Carver Alumni Association and Teachers 1954-1969.
11 Mayors across the Pine Belt have agreed to participate in Extra Table’s event, MARCH OF THE MAYORS! It’s a canned food drive, a fundraiser and it’s Mississippi’s Largest Food Box Packing Party.
The March of the Mayors is a 4-week-long event, driven by donations of specific food items, that will benefit Extra Table’s partner food pantries. Each participating city is collecting one specific food item that will be dropped off at different select locations. Food collection last for 4 weeks with a final box packing party where volunteers are needed. ALL FOOD collected in the Pine Belt will stay in the Pine Belt going directly to Extra Table’s partner food pantries!
The City of Collins is collecting “Spaghetti Noodles” from February 16 to March 8, 2022. Donation boxes are located in City Hall, Collins Fire Department and Ramey’s.
Bobby Mooney, a dedicated public servant of the City of Collins, died Monday, January 24, 2022, at his residence.
His service to the city began in 1975 where he started in the electrical department. Shortly after in 1979, he was elected as alderman where he would serve for 42 years until his recent retirement in June 2021. He was dedicated to the growth and development of his beloved city and leaves behind the legacy of a leader in the community who was fair and treated everyone equally.
“Bobby committed most of his life to serving the residents of Collins. Even after he retired, he made sure that he stayed in contact with me concerning all aspects of the city and to make sure that we stayed on the path of progress,” said Collins Mayor Hope Magee Jones. “He will be missed.”
City Clerk Suzette Davis agreed.
“Bobby was dedicated to the City of Collins citizens and the employees. He took into consideration the feelings of citizens and employees when making decisions for the city. Bobby was not afraid to vote his voice even if it was unpopular, and I admired him for that. It was an honor and a pleasure to serve under his as the City Clerk for Collins. He has been missed since he retired and will be missed even more now,” said Davis.
During his lifetime of service, he was a part of the police station renovations, construction of the fire station and later addition to the fire station, restoration of the historic train depot, construction of the civic center and senior citizens center, the VO Smith courtyard and renovations to the library, Collins softball and baseball fields and Westside Park.
His strong leadership was recognized with the honor of a certified municipal official with the Mississippi Municipal League serving on the board of directors for nine years and was inducted into the Mississippi Municipal Hall of Fame in 2017.
Alderman Mooney was a part of obtaining numerous grants for the city including the Mississippi Development Authority, Small Municipal and Limited Populations Grants, Community Development Block Grants, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Crime Prevention Grants, Department of Justice, Mississippi Forestry Grant, Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Grants and the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District Area Agency on Aging Grant.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at the Collins Civic Center with visiting beginning at 11 a.m.
The City of Collins will host a Retirement Reception for Alderman Bobby Mooney on Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Collins Civic Center and the public is invited to attend.
General Election is Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at the Collins Civic Center in Collins from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Everyone in Collins votes at the Civic Center.
Voting by absentee ballot ends Saturday, June 5, at 12:00 noon.
Can absentee vote Tuesday through Friday, June 1-4, from 8-5 and Saturday, June 5, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at Collins City Hall.
The Primary Elections will be held on Tuesday, April 6, and primary runoff elections will take place Tuesday, April 27. The General Election is set to be held on Tuesday, June 8.
Voters who want to participate in the upcoming municipal election must be registered to vote in the city at least 30 days prior to Election Day. Monday, March 8, is the deadline to register before the Primary Election and Monday, May 10, is the deadline to register before the General Election.
The City of Collins Court Clerk’s Office has moved from City Hall to the Collins Police Station (202 South Arrington). Phone: 601-765-1657; Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
The City of Collins hosted its annual Christmas parade and Santa’s Village of Games. Visitors enjoyed the lights, activities, music and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
