News

To many, the Fall season means the change of leaves, cooler temperatures and bonfire gatherings; but for Covington Countians, it’s all about the Peanut Festival.
Now in its fifth year, the Mississippi Peanut Festival, held at Mitchell Farms in Collins, has gained momentum as one of the area’s premier events of the season.
Thousands of people come from all over to get bags of the Mitchells’ delicious peanuts, shop at arts and crafts booths, stroll through the five-acre grass maze and pick a pumpkin from the notorious pumpkin patch.
Guests also enjoy a wide selection of food  vendors, live entertainment and access to the farm’s various amenities.
This year’s event will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, 8 a.m until 6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Entry fee  includes admisson to the pumpkin patch and maze.
For more details, call 601-765-8609 or visit the farm’s website at www.mitchellfarms-ms.com.

Crews with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) began this week the paving project along Main Street in Collins.  Work will be ongoing through October 31 from the hours of 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
MDOT has contraacted with The Blain Company to pave, mill and stripe Main Street.
“We are very excited about the new paving,” said Mayor V.O. Smith.  “This will make our downtown look real good.  It’s also going to be a nice, smooth ride through town.”
Crews, according to the Mayor, must be off site by 6 a.m. so as not to interfere with daily business along Main Street.
“They will be working at night so they don’t block traffic,” Smith said.  “This project is going to make our town look very nice for the Christmas season.”

District Attorney Matt Sullivan is cautioning businesses and citizens of Covington, Jasper, Simpson and Smith Counties to beware that his office and other law enforcement agencies are receiving increasing reports of individuals in our area attempting
to use counterfeit bills as legitimate currency.  Sullivan is urging the public to use caution and common sense when accepting cash.  “Some of the fake money being taken into evidence recently appears extremely authentic,” says Sullivan.  It is a crime to knowingly possess, transfer and/or manufacture United States currency.  To do so may be both a federal and state crime.  Please report any violations to your local police departments or sheriff’s offices.

The Covington County Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual Christmas in the Park.  The Bettie Robertson Park in Collins will soon be transformed by thousands of glittering lights on display throughout the Christmas season.
According to Chamber Executive Director Marie Shoemake, this year will include several new displays.
“This is a positive thing for our community,” said Shoemake.  “It has a good economic impact on Covington County and it is something everyone can enjoy.”
Shoemake noted that the chamber is seeking volunteers to help with the event which is held each Thursday, Friday and Saturday night during the Christmas season.
“We are also taking memorials which can be purchased by calling the chamber office,” Shoemake said.
This year’s display will be open November 24-December 31 on Thursday-Saturday nights from 5-9 p.m.
For more information contact the Covington County Chamber of Commerce at 601-765-6012.

The Collins Police Department has received a DUI Enforcement Grant along with an Intox 8000 to help combat driver’s under the influence.  The grant will provide extra officer on the streets at no cost to the taxpayers.  Drivers will see Collins Police checkpoints and extra patrol during the Labor Day holiday.
“We would like to thank Mississippi Office of Highway Safety Officer Director Penny Corn and her staff and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz and his staff for allowing this to take place,” said Police Chief Joey Ponder.
The Intox 8000 is a breathalizer machine that will be utilized at the police station to determine alcohol levels.

The City of Collins will soon get a green space on Main Street.
The Board of Aldermen voted to purchase a piece of property that once housed the Collins Cleaners and the old Bill Dent Law Office building.  The cleaners is falling in and had been declared unsafe by Public Works Director Bob Shoemake.
Mayor V.O. Smith explained his ideas for the 30’x90’ property.
“We began revitalizing our downtown in 2003 with new lighting, sidewalks and landscaping,” he said. “Several years later we received a grant to renovate the depot on the east end of town, and we’ve said we need a green area on Main Street.”
Plans for the project include two entrances built from the antique bricks from the buildings.
“We want to create two arches like we have at the Robertson Park,” Smith said.
Smith explained that in addition to the arches, the park will include restrooms, a small concession stand, a small stage with an arbor for concerts, tables and chairs with umbrellas and a fountain in the center.
“It will be a place that can be used for Santa Claus during our Christmas events, and it will be a place where we can have special events going on during Okatoma Festival.  It’s going to be a spot we have needed on Main Street.”
Smith said he would like to have the space finished by the Christmas season.
“I think it’s going to be a big asset for Collins,” he said.  “Wherever I go, people always brag on Main Street in Collins.  It’s important to keep it looking nice.”
Smith said he estimates the project to cost about $25,000-$30,000.
“We are going to use the money we receive off the city’s rental property at the industrial park for this project,” he said.  “We have several hundred thousand dollars from that rental property so it wont be taxpayer funds that are used.”
The park will include lighting and landscaping.
“It will be another area along Main Street we can be proud of,” said Smith.

Residents in Covington County are coming together to help the flood victims in Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi.
Organized by the Collins Fire Department, residents are invited to drop off supplies to help with clean-up and recovery.
Supplies may be dropped off at the Collins Fire Department, Seminary Town Hall, Rex’s Resolutions in Collins, Boswell Regional Center in Magee and Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg..
“We will be accepting supplies throughout this week and next,” said Fire Chief John Pope.
The chief is planning two deliveries to the impacted area.
“The first will be sometime the end of this week, and we will probably go back the early part of next week,” Pope said.
The Seminary Police Department has joined the effort and will be a drop off point for supplies.  SPD will be collecting supplies each morning and afternoon during school drop off and pick up at the Seminary Baptist Church House of Hope which is located on the corner of Main Street and Cherry Avenue.
Donations will also be collected during Friday night’s Seminary High School football game.
“The House of Hope will be open Friday night to take in supplies,” said Seminary Police Chief Michael Kelly.
Donations that are being accepted include bottled water, canned and other non-perishable foot items, personal hygiene items and toiletries, baby supplies, pet food, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, blankets and other essential items.
Cleaning supplies are in high demand right now in the aftermath of the flood, Pope said.
“They are really looking for mops, brooms, buckets, disinfecting wipes, bleach rubber gloves, work gloves, storage containers and garbage bags,” he noted.
For Pope, helping flood victims is personal.
“I worked down there at LSU for years,” he said, “and I wanted to help.  As for the Collins Fire Department, it has always been our mission to do the most good we can.  We had a  lot of help from a lot of different places during Hurricane Katrina, and it’s our turn to offer help to others.”
For more information on how to help, contact the Collins Fire Department at 601-765-5110 or the Seminary Police Department at 601-722-3205.