News

Main Street park to be named after longtime Collins Mayor

Collins Aldermen voted unanimously at their meeting on Tuesday, May 16 to name the park on Main Street in honor of Mayor V.O. Smith. “V.O. has done a lot for our town, and I think we ought to do this for him,” said Alderman-At-Large Bobby Mooney. The city purchased the property located nextdoor to City Hall last year. When it was purchased a dilapidated building was on the property, and crews went to work tearing down the building in preparation for a small green space. Mayor Smith took the project on to create a park where an eyesore once sat. “I’m all for it,” said Alderman Lester Magee. Smith, who has served as Mayor of Collins for nine terms was defeated in the primary election earlier this month. “The park will have a plaque at the entrance and an arched sign above it with his name on it,” said Mooney. The motion was made and it passed unanimously.

May 25, 2017 in Blog

CPD launches “Click It or Ticket”

Collins Police Chief Joey Ponder announced that his department has received a “Click It or Ticket Day and Night” grant from the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety. “With the funds awarded to the City of Collins, officers with police department will be out day and night looking for unrestrained drivers and passengers,” said Ponder. The extra manpower will come at no additional expense to city taxpayers. The campaign will be going on from May 22-June 4. Ponder urged all drivers to buckle up not only themselves but children as well.

May 19, 2017 in Blog, Community

Boys and Girls Club to host fundraiser

The Boys and Girls Club of Covington County will host its 20th Annual Steak and Steak Dinner & Silent Auction, Saturday, May 20, 2017. The event will be held at the Collins Civic Center. The Silent Auction will begin at 6:00pm with Dinner at 6:30pm. The special guest speaker will be Melanie Preston. Preston is a native of Collins. She graduated from Collins High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She also attended William Carey University where she completed graduate studies in Counseling Psychology with a minor in School Counseling and received her first Master of Arts degree. In 2012, Mrs. Preston pursued and completed a second Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Preston is a state and nationally board certified Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is also a licensed school counselor, school psychologist, and administrator. She is married to Patrick Preston and they are the proud parents of three children, Nia, Nehemiah, and Nalivia. “The evening will be filled with food, fun and fellowship, but most important, we will be celebrating the commitment of our community to support the Boys & Girls Club of Covington County”, says Peggy Weary, Executive Director. The Theme for the evening will be “Going for the Goal: Academic Success.” Tickets are $100 per plate or $500 per table and seating is limited. They can be purchased from any Boys and Girls Club Board Member, Unit Director or at the Main Office. Donations to the Club and for our Silent Auction are always greatly appreciated, with all monies being used locally. For more information on how you can join this celebration of our young people and make a difference for the future by supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Covington County, please call 601-765-6300.

May 17, 2017 in Blog, Community

Collins donates vehicles to Sheriff’s Department

The City of Collins donated two vehicles from its fleet with the Collins Police Department to the Covington County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicles, according to Police Chief Joey Ponder, have approximately 200,000 miles on them and are in good working order. “They still have about 100,000 miles worth of use left in them,” said Sheriff Stann Smith. “We have a lot of ground to cover and we appreciate these vehicles.” The cars were given at a cost of $100 per vehicle as required by law. “We are happy to help the Sheriff’s Department,” said Collins Mayor V.O. Smith. “We like to help any way we can, and we are glad that the Sheriff’s Department will get some use out of them.” The Collins Police Department has just purchased two new vehicles that are being outfitted for service.

May 16, 2017 in Blog, Community

Woolwine opens new dealership in Collins

New cars are rolling onto the lot at Woolwine Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in Collins. “We are excited to offer these new lines to Collins and the surrounding area,” said John Woolwine. Woolwine said they approached the Chrysler brand four years ago about bringing the lines to Collins, and at the time the company did not have an opening for a new dealership. “We really wanted it specifically for the Dodge diesel trucks and the new Jeeps,” said Woolwine. “A lot of our customers are crazy about the diesels and the Jeeps and there is a high demand in the area.” Last year, Woolwine said, a representative with the Chrysler brand flew to Mississippi and met with the Woolwine family to discuss a possible spot that would be opening up for a dealership in the area. “She asked us if we were still interested,” he said, “because she told us there were four other dealerships looking to bring the brand to Collins.” The Woolwines committed to the brand. “Of course we wanted to bring the brand to Collins,” he said. Woolwine noted that the Chrysler product has become extremely popular with the improvements they have made. “The Ram truck is the fasting growing truck in popularity right now,” he said, “and we are ready to get on board.” Woolwine added that their inventory was beginning to trickle in. “We have been told that our allotment of new vehicles will be coming in over the next month,” he said. While the dealership receives its new shipments over the next several weeks, Woolwine added that they are able to locate new vehicles at other dealerships for their customers. “We also have a full line of program cars,” he said. Currently, the dealership is housed in the old Woolwine Ford Lincoln building. “We are remodeling that building right now,” he said. “It’s going to meet all of the Chrysler specifications.” There are plans to build a new dealership just south of the new Woolwine Ford Lincoln dealership on Highway 49 in Collins. “Chrysler wants a new building in the next few years, and we are working on that,” said Woolwine. With the addition of the Chrysler dealership, Woolwine said they will be adding several new jobs especially in the service department. “That’s where we will be adding the bulk of new jobs,” he said. “Most of our salesmen will sell at both dealerships. We will probably be adding a few salesmen along the way.”

May 16, 2017 in Blog, Community

City elections to be held May 2

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, to cast their ballots in the primary municipal elections in the City of Collins. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All voting in the city elections will take place at the Collins Civic Center.

A special write-in election is being held for the Ward Four Alderman’s seat left vacant upon the passing of Alderman Halbert Walker.

Candidates running the City of Collins Election are:

Mayor

V.O. Smith – Democrat

Hope Jones Magee – Democrat

Tom Brooks – Republican

 

Alderman At Large

Bobby A. Mooney – Democrat

 

Alderman Ward 1

Lester Magee – Democrat

Merria Lisa Speight – Democrat

 

Alderman Ward 2

Regina Daughdrill -Republican

Robert Thompson – Democrat

 

Alderman Ward 3

Johnathon L. Anderson – Democrat

Sally Buffington – Democrat

Ray Magee – Democrat

 

Alderman Ward 4

Ann Lot – Republican

Debbie Lundy – Democrat Write-In

 

 

April 27, 2017 in Blog

Lady Tigers graduating Top of the Class

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.

April 7, 2017 in Blog, Community