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Pictured above, front row from left, Bob Shoemake, Alderman-at-Large; Hope Magee Jones, Mayor; Debbie Lundy, Alderwoman Ward 4; and Sally Buffington, Alderwoman Ward 3.  Back row from left, Lester Magee, Alderman Ward 1, and Robert Thompson, Alderman Ward 2.

Mayor Jones is beginning her 2nd term.  Ward 1 Alderman Magee is beginning his 7th term and is the Mayor Pro Tem.  Ward 2 Alderman Thompson is going into his 3rd term.  Alderwoman Ward 3 Buffington is entering her 2nd term as is Alderwoman Ward 4 Lundy.  Alderman-at-Large Shoemake is beginning his first term on the City Board.

The City Board of Aldermen meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Collins Civic Center, located at 3220 Highway 49 in Collins.  Board meetings are always open to the general public.

Chelsea Sullivan, Distinguished Young Woman of Covington County, will be one of 29 Mississippi high school seniors competing.  Chelsea, the daughter of Joseph Gordon Sr. and Charlotte Sullivan of Taylorsville, attends Seminary High School.  She plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi to purse a career in Physical Therapy after enlisting in the Air Force.

During the week-long program in Meridian, contestants are evaluated on scholastic achievement, fitness, self-expression, talent and interview.  Sullivan has chosen a Piano Performance of “Minuet in G Minor” for her talent.

The three nights of competition at The Evangel Temple concludes on Saturday, July 24.  Curtains open 7:30p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday.  General admission tickets are available for $45 for a three night package , or may be purchased for individual evenings.  Call 601-480-3438 to purchase your ticket.

Laka Till will represent Covington County in the 72nd Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition at the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater in Downtown Hattiesburg July 15-17, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. each evening.  Laka Till is a 2019 graduate of Seminary Attendance Center.  She currently attends Jones College and will begin the nursing program in August 2021.  Laka plans to be a travel nurse and specialize in pediatrics.   Laka is an active member of Rock Hill Baptist Church youth group and choir.  She is the daughter of Chris and Shalinda Till.

Representing Covington County as a Little Miss Hospitality is Stella Shoemake, daughter of Morgan and Roman Shoemake of Collins.

Four years ago, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition added a Little Miss Hospitality component, which encourages local representatives to serve as a mentor to a young girl from her hometown between the ages of 6 and 10.  If crowned the next Mississippi Miss Hospitality, the contestant’s Little Miss will serve alongside her as she fulfills her duties and responsibilities as Mississippi’s Goodwill Ambassador.

Tickets are available online at HattiesburgSaenger.com or by calling the Saenger Theater Box Office at 601-584-4888.  Tickets can also be purchased at the Saenger in advance or at the door if any remain.

On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Bobby A. Mooney was honored with a Retirement Reception at the Collins Civic Center in Collins.  Mr. Mooney is retiring after 42 years as an alderman.  Before becoming alderman, Mr. Mooney worked with the Electrical Department of the City of Collins.

A large gathering of his family, co-workers, and friends were in attendance for the event and spoke their words of gratitude to him for his service and friendship.

To commemorate his years of service to the City, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen have named the city building on Fir Avenue the Bobby A. Mooney Complex.  This building is used for the Fire and Police Training, and is the training site for other City Departments.

The City was presented a Silver Shovel award on June 15, 2021 from Spire for their commitment to natural gas pipeline awareness and safe digging in the City!

The Collins City Municipal Election will be held at the Collins Civic Center in Collins with all 4 Wards voting.  All candidates, including unopposed candidates, will appear on the ballot allowing for write-in votes.

Democrat incumbent Mayor Hope Magee Jones is unopposed.

Running for Alderman-at-Large are Democrat Bob Shoemake and Independent Mason Pope who will face each other.

Democrat Alderman Lester Magee of Ward One and Democrat Alderman Robert Thompson of Ward Two are both unopposed.

Republican Alderwoman Sally Buffington of Ward Three and Republican Alderwoman Debbie Lundy of Ward Four are both unopposed.

Voters in Collins Wards 3 and 4 will head to the polls on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, to cast their ballots in the primary municipal election.  Collins voting will take place at the Collins Civic Center from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m..  Curbside voting at the Civic Center will be available.

Absentee ballot voting will be available at the Collins City Hall through Saturday, April 3, 2021, with City Hall being closed on Friday, April 2, for the Good Friday Holiday.  Saturday hours at Collins City Hall will be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on April 3.

Ward Three Alderwoman Sally Buffington will race challenger Lucy Crosby.  Both are running as Republicans.

Ward Four Alderwoman Debbie Lundy faces Misty Dickens.  Both are running as Republicans.

The Covington County Chamber of Commerce will host the 32nd annual Okatoma Festival on Saturday, May 1, 2021.   Plans are underway for the events of the day including the 2021 Okatoma Festival Parade to be held on Saturday, May 1, at 10:30 a.m.  If you cannot make a float, you may use a 4-wheeler, truck, car, or golf cart.  Due to safety concerns, walkers will not be permitted to participate in the parade with the exception of bands, color guard, and The Camp Shelby Youth Challenge Group.  For more information on the parade, please contact Ginger Kirkley at Peoples Bank at 601-765-6514 or email gkirkley@pbms.com.

Rubber Duck Race tickets are available at all the local banks.  Many prizes will be available including a first prize of $300, a second prize of $200, and a third prize of $100.

The special guest for the day and Grand Marshal of the parade will be country recording artist John King.

For more information about the Festival, contact the Covington County Chamber of Commerce at  601-765-6012.

Covington County Hospital recently acquired the old Covington County Nursing Center across the street from Collins High School in Collins.  The hospital opened a Covid-19 vaccination drive thru in the building on Monday, March 15, 2021.

The vaccination drive thru will be open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Patients wishing to receive their Covid-19 vaccination must make an appointment by calling 601-419-SHOT.

“We will still leave doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on our outlying clinics, such as Sumrall, Magee and Taylorsville, but this will give individuals in Covington County a central location to receive their Covid-19 vaccine,” said Santana Fulcher, CCH Clinic Director.

As of Monday morning, the hospital had doses of the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccine available.  Patients will be able to choose which vaccination they would like to receive depending on availability.

In addition to a vaccine drive thru, CCH will be moving some staff members to the facility for increased office space as the hospital continues to grow.

The Covington County Nursing Center has been empty since 2018 when the company that owned the building built Landmark of Collins.  Until CCH purchased the building, it was owned and managed by the City of Collins.

Landmark of Collins has named Bobby Hamilton as the new Administrator.  Before being named Administrator in November 2020, he served as the Director of Psychology at Millcreek Rehabilitation Center in Magee.  He has over 20 years of experience in the Mental Health and Developmentally Disabled population.  Mr. Hamilton received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and his Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Science Degree in Psychology from William Carey University.  Mr. Hamilton also serves as the Senior Pastor of Pillars of Truth Church in Mendenhall.  He resides in Magee with his wife, Karen, and their son, Colby.