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Covington County Junior Livestock exhibitors have spent numerous hours in preparation for the 2022 County Livestock Show which will be held January 14-15, 2022.

“We hope everyone will come out and support these young people at our county show. The hard work they have put into their project animals will continue as they move forward to the District Show in Hattiesburg and as they conclude the season with the Dixie National Junior Roundup in Jackson!” says Covington County ANR/4-H Agent, Ellen Russell. “This is a year long project for most exhibitors and they have put a lot of time and efforts into making their animal look their best for these shows. These are family projects which truly involve the whole family and make for a lot of quality time in the barn at home.” Russell concluded.

For more about livestock events information please contact the Covington County Extension Office at 601-765-8252. For more information on any Covington County 4-H Activity contact, Ellen P. Russell, Covington County ANR/4-H Agent, Mississippi State Extension Service, at 601-765-8252.

Collins Christmas Parade

Collins Christmas Parade held Thursday, December 2, 2021 was called one of the biggest and best ever! More than 45 entries participated in the Parade which included floats, bands, and so much more making it one of the largest Christmas Parades in Collins’ history.

Santa’s Village of Games brings out many children and adults in Collins

To say the children were excited to see Santa and Mrs. Claus on Friday, December 3, 2021, in Collins would be a large understatement. His arrival was met with a large crowd of children just waiting to tell Santa Claus what was on their Christmas list! Santa’s Village of Games was held in the V.O. Smith Courtyard in downtown Collins. Collins City Merchants were open for everyone to do their Christmas shopping as well as to mingle with their friends and families.

The City of Collins will hold its 2021 Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The theme will be “A Hometown Christmas.” Around 6:15 p.m., Marie Shoemake and the Covington County Chamber of Commerce will hold their drawing for Chamber Dollars, and then Mayor Hope Magee Jones will light the Christmas Tree on the vacant lot next door to Regions Bank on Main Street. Judges will be selecting 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for the floats.

Santa’s Village of Games will be Friday, December 3, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Also the Mayor and Board of Aldermen welcome all businesses with a current City of Collins Privilege License to set up a table on Main Street.

Mayor Hope Magee Jones of the City of Collins has been appointed to the Mississippi Municipal League’s 2021- 2022 Legislative Committee by MML President Mayor Errick D. Simmons of Greenville.

The 25 member committee is led by Legislative Chairman Alderwoman-at-Large Ricki Garrett of Clinton. In addition to participating in regular briefings during the session, committee members will be actively involved in visiting with legislators by phone and in person to lobby for important bills that will benefit municipalities.

“The role of the MML Legislative Committee is to provide guidance to the League staff in the development and promotion of our legislative agenda. I am honored that Mayor Simmons has the confidence to appoint me to this position and I am very appreciative to the MML members who have agreed to serve with me” Alderwoman Garrett said.

“I am pleased to be able to serve the League in this capacity and will work hard to help MML pass favorable legislation that will help not only the City of Collins but every municipality across the state” said Mayor Hope Magee Jones.

The mission of the Mississippi Municipal League is helping cities and towns excel. MML is a non-partisan association established in 1931, representing 290 city, town and village governments in Mississippi. MML is also affiliated with the National League of Cities, a lobbying, legislative and legal arm representing municipalities before the U.S. Congress. For more information about the Mississippi Municipal League, visit www.mmlonline.com.

Now in its 16th year, Santa Shops Covington County First has evolved into a traditional community event. It’s more than sales, door prizes and Chamber Dollars. It’s about our local merchants, our families, our community and our desire to keep the Christmas season close to home. It’s about our resilience during a worldwide pandemic and devastating storms! Our businesses stayed open during the difficult times to serve the community, and we thank them.

It has never been more important to keep our citizens shopping locally and eating at our restaurants. Small business is the strength of our county and keeping local businesses healthy is essential to Covington County’s economic future. Invest in our community and keep tax dollars at HOME!

Santa Shops Covington County First will run from Thursday, November 18, thru Tuesday, November 30, 2021. When an item is purchased at a participating merchant’s store, the customer signs up for a door prize from that store. Those names also go into the drawing for Chamber Dollars of $500, $300, and $100. The GRAND PRIZE drawing for Chamber Dollars will be Thursday, December 2, 2021, prior to the Collins Christmas Parade schedule for 6:30 p.m.

If your business has never participated in the Santa Shops program, the Chamber invites you to join the other businesses as we work together to build a stronger county. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 601-765-6012 for additional information.

The City of Collins recently received a Mississippi Department of Health- Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. This Grant will be used to establish an Exercise Center at the Collins Senior Center in Collins for Senior Citizens and employees of the City of Collins. The Grant is focused on promoting a healthy “you” inside yourself.

The City of Collins Board of Aldermen are providing additional funding to help cover the expense of setting up the Exercise Center. Equipment has been selected with Senior Citizens and City Employees in mind. A security system will be installed in the Senior Center for the safety of the Seniors and Employees using the Center. It is expected that the Exercise Center at the Collins Senior Center will open soon. The Exercise Center will be open Monday through Friday, 9: a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for Senior Citizens.

Collins Mayor Hope Magee Jones said, “I am so excited we are adding this amenity to our City. To be able to offer this Exercise Center to our Senior Citizens and our City Employees is a joy. I would like to thank the MS State Department of Health for this boost in the right direction. In the near future, we will be establishing a Mayor’s Health Council. This council will help to plan events and activities that will promote a Healthier Collins. We deserve it.”

Everyone at Mitchell Farms has been in high gear getting ready for the 11th annual Mississippi Peanut Festival to be held Saturday, October 2, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 3 from 12 noon until 5 p.m. Admission is $15.00 for each person 2 years and older. The price of admission includes Festival access and Pumpkin Patch festivities.

The Pumpkin Patch and Maze are open to the public through Sunday, November 7 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays. During the month of October the Pumpkin Patch and Maze are open on Fridays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Mitchell Farms is located at 650 Leaf River Church Road in Collins.

The City of Collins, along with St. Joseph Hospice, held a pinning ceremony for veterans in the area, at the Collins Senior Center. Veterans representing the Marines Special Forces, Army, Air Force, and an Army Paratrooper, were in attendance. “Our veterans have served our country well, now it’s time, we serve and honor them,” said Shelia Williams, Volunteer Coordinator, with St. Joseph Hospice.

The veterans in attendance were pinned by Teddy Reed, Director of Outreach, for Mississippi Veterans Affairs.

St. Joseph Hospice is a level 5 member of the We Honor Veterans National program and holds activities for veterans and seniors on a regular basis, at the Senior Center.

Pictured, left to right are… Virgil R. Hollingsworth, James P. Rogers, William Morris, Melvin Banks, Teddy Reed, Carlton McRaney, Harry D. Maudlin and Nelson Flowers.  

Virgil R. Hollingsworth-SGT. First Class, National Guard,1960-1999

CPL. James P. Rogers-US Marine Corp., SPL Forces, June 1960-1966

Full CPL. William Morris, US Air Force, National Guard Commission, Army Reserve, 1951-1988

Melvin Banks-US Army, Specialist E5 to Company Commander, 1966-1968

CPL. Carlton McRaney-Merchant Marines,1945-1947, US Air Force,1952-1954

Harry D. Maudlin-US Army Airborne Division Parachutist, SGT. E5, Aug. 1955-Apr.30,1962

Army Infantry SP-Nelson Flowers, Bronze Star recipient, E4 1967-1969

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Covington County Hospital opened a new Covid-19 Treatment Center, in partnership with the City of Collins, located in the old armory building.

The center will provide monoclonal antibody treatment to Covid-19 positive patients.  Monoclonal antibodies work by binding to a specific target – such as the Covid-19 virus – to make them harmless.

The city helped coordinate the use of the old armory building, recently renamed the Bobby A. Mooney Complex, located at 1613 South Fir Avenue in Collins.

“The City of Collins is committed to our residents here in Collins and Covington County as a whole, ” said Mayor Hope Jones.  “The Board of Aldermen and myself as the mayor would like to do all we can to support our medical community in their efforts to keep our community safe and healthy.”

The treatment center will begin by seeing 60 patients per day.  This number will increase as time and staff allow.

Treatment will be given by appointment only to Covid positive patients who have a doctor’s order or met certain qualifications set by the state.  To schedule an appointment, call 601-698-0316.