Santa Claus is coming to Downtown Collins Friday Night!
With all the decorations going up in downtown Collins, it isn’t hard to know that the Christmas Season is here! One of the events that will be held this Christmas Season is Santa’s Village of Games set to be held in Downtown Collins Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. It is hoped that this event will bring families and friends to Main Street to enjoy this Season of the year.
An assortment of games will be set up in the V.O. Smith Courtyard. There will be photo opportunities with Santa during the evening, along with a dry slide, obstacle course, train ride and much more.
Some of the downtown merchants will be open for shopping and dining throughout the evening.
Everyone is invited to stroll down Main Street Collins and enjoy the sights, sounds and food of the Christmas Season.
Elected officials of the City of Collins recently attended three days of training and leadership development presented at the Mississippi Municipal League’s 91st Annual Conference at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center.
At this year’s conference, entitled “Blast Off to Municipal Excellence,” the League celebrated 91 years of service to Mississippi’s cities and towns. An estimated 2,500 municipal elected officials, municipal employees, state agency representative, legislators, exhibitors and others attend this annual event. Many state and federal agencies provided speakers for the educational sessions. Topics included state law updates, grant opportunities, medical marijuana, municipal liability issues, community and economic development, infrastructure funding, disaster recovery, and water and sewer issues.
Other conference highlights included the presentation of the 2022 Municipal Excellence Awards, an induction ceremony for the 2022 Municipal Hall of Fame and an expo show, showcasing over 150 businesses, state agencies and other organizations. Also at he Conference, the Certified Municipal Official graduation took place, recognizing more than 100 municipal officials for their achievement in the program.
For more information about the Mississippi Municipal League, visit www.mmlonline.com
Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1, 2022. Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney is encouraging Mississippians to pack a “Go Bag” before the season begins.
Go Bag contents should include:
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free Home Inventory App. It makes it easy for consumers to create and protect a record of their belongings and offers tips on disaster preparation and filing claims. The NAIC Home Inventory App can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
“Don’t forget to review your insurance coverage and make sure you are familiar with your policies, “said Commissioner Chaney.
Flood damage is generally not covered by a standard homeowners or renter’s insurance policy. If you don’t have flood insurance and are considering purchasing a policy, remember there is a 30 day waiting period if you buy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Some insurance policies have a special deductible for losses caused by named storms. The insurer applies this deductible only when a named storm causes damage. This deductible is separate and different from the normal deductible in a homeowners policy.
If you need assistance with an insurance question or claim, call 601-359-3569, email consumer@mid.ms.gov or visit www.mid.ms.gov
The 2022 session adjourned on Tuesday, April 5. To provide for allocation of federal funds received by virtue of Congress’ passing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the session was lengthened by a few days.
The most important bills to pass this session:
Noah Sanford represents parts of Covington, Simpson, and Jefferson Davis Counties in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He can be reached at NSanford@house.ms.gov
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is pleased to announce unanimous Senate approval of S.623, the Sunshine Protection Act. Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of this legislation to make Daylight Saving Time the new, permanent standard time. The Senate-passed bill, which still requires House passage and the President’s signature, would delay implementation until Nov. 20, 2023.
“The public safety improvements, economic benefits, and the wellbeing of the American people are all excellent and credible reasons to embrace year-long Daylight Saving Time,” Hyde-Smith said. “I know the agricultural sector in Mississippi and across the nation desires this change. I believe the Sunshine Protection Act would give us an immediate and long-term boost after a terrible pandemic year and a very dark winter.”
Potential effects of making Daylight Saving Time permanent for the nation:
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 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.
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.