The Strange Corner team discusses their recent experience at the Natchez Trace Witch Dance trail. Keep watching for more updates about this and future episodes!
The Rundown 3/24/2020
Good Friday morning, Tupelo and beyond. It’s Monday, March 24th and it’s the 84th day of the year We are officially in Spring season! That’s something to celebrate in this most uncertain time. Here’s today’s quote of the day.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Vivian Greene
Instead of sharing events, we’re now sharing resources to help you get through #socialdistancing. These resources will range from where to find free meals for your children through the week to virtual museum tours, learning resources, and other activities to do at home with the family. If you have any resources not listed that you would like to share with #OurTupelo drop your links in the comment section of this post.
Find the latest local Covid-19 updates directly from the Mississippi State Department of Health right here on their website.
Click the following links to read Mayor Shelton’s Executive Orders on the Emergency Proclamation declared by the Mayor and the City of Tupelo on Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Shelter in Place Moratorium on Utility Disconnections/Evictions
Details on Essential/Nonessential Businesses
Senior Hours at Local Grocery Stores
- Todd’s Big Star will re-open today from 10 am -12 pm for their Seniors Only Shopping Hours. Regular shopping hours will resume from 12 pm – 8 pm. Starting today, Todd’s will follow these new hours every Tuesday and Thursday while following normal business hours of 7 am – 8 pm on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Deli is open for takeout.
- Food Giant of North Mississippi’s Senior Hour will be daily during the first hour they are open at 7 am.
- Dollar General also offers their first hour of business to seniors and those at a higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus. Most locations open at 8 am, some open at 7 am. Check with your location to confirm their hours.
Beginning Monday, March 23rd, most if not all area school districts including but not limited to Tupelo Public School District, Lee County School District, Alcorn County School District, New Albany School District, Union County School District, Nettleton School District, and Monroe County School District. You can read the MDE’s complete list and meal pickup locations here.
Parents, welcome to homeschooling! Check out your school district’s online resources below. We will add to this list as more resources are made available.
Union County Schools is conducting a survey to determine the needs of students to get access to online learning. Find it here.
Hatley Schools will be giving out instructional practice packets on Wednesday, March 25th from 10:30 to 5:30. Please pull up next to the cafeteria to pick up your child’s packet. Get more info here.
Free Online Learning and Reading Resources
Virtual Tours and Other At-Home Activities
Check out this list of 25 things to do at home during social distancing.
Check out ways to keep your kids entertained plus find more online learning sources here.
The Breakfast Song
Today we celebrate the introverts. The Mayor shuts down an auction, The Churches are sparring again and my wife can’t stay out of the grocery store. On a happy note you’ll find that the Breakfast Song foretold everything going today!
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/j-shay/support
When Your Honey-Dos Turn Into Don’ts
Just an update! Yesterday, Pam left me a list of things to do around home. Here is what happened!
I went down to the shop to get something, and while I was down there, I happened to notice my fishing boat: It had dust on it!
I decided to hook it up to the pickup and take it to the car wash. While on the way to the car wash, I got to thinking, “Why not just take it to the river and wash it off? Save a handful of quarters and just run the motor a little bit!”
So that’s what I did!
While motoring around on the river, I found a fishing reel! Imagine that!! I was just having a big ole time!
Then I hear my cell phone ring.
“Hello? Yeah, getting it done!”
Pam says, “What is that sound? Sounds like a weed eater?”
And I’m thinking “What sound is she hearing? Oh! No! It’s the boat motor!”
So I had to think fast!
“Oh yeah, that’s what it is! Weed eating like crazy! Yep that’s me! Oh boy just got a bite! I mean, just got a big bite out of that list you gave me! Uh Huh, Love you too! Bye!”
Well the good thing is we got fish for supper!
Hope she gets in before dark so she can dress em!
I don’t like to have to stand out there with a flashlight, especially in the rain. It gives me out!
And life goes on, on Thompson Hill.
Coronavirus Thwarts Local Man’s Lifelong Dream Of Yelling “Free Bird!” At Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert
TUPELO- Tupelo resident Mel Faggard was not please when he arrived at the BancorpSouth Arena Friday night to see Lynyrd Skynyrd just to find out the the concert wasn’t happening.
“I rolled in honking my custom Dixie horn expecting to be greeted by drunk good ole boys waving Feddy flags,” remembers Faggard, “but instead I was met with silence.”
The Skynyrd show, originally scheduled for March 20, has been postponed until October 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Faggard did not get the memo.
“I ain’t got Facebook, so I didn’t know nothing about the Crayola virus.”
Faggard says that he is not just upset about the concert, but is more upset about its significance.
“Everyone calls me ‘Free Bird’. It’s my nickname. It’s because I yell ‘Free Bird’ at everything. Concerts, movies, plays, ball games, weddings, funerals. Heck, I yell it every Sunday at church. It’s kind of my thing. It gets a laugh almost about a quarter of the time. But if you can believe it, I’ve never yelled it at a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert.”
This would not have been Faggard’s first Skynyrd show.
“I’ve seen Skynyrd a few times. But every time I’ve always been too hoarse to yell ‘Free Bird!’ because I was yelling it at something else the night before,” Faggard laments. “One time I tried to see how long I could hold one out while I was waiting for the Crosstown train. The next night was the Skynyrd show, and my throat hurt so bad I couldn’t speak a word. I coulda kicked my own butt. It’s been my lifelong dream to yell ‘Free Bird’ at an actual Lynyrd Skynyrd show.”
Faggard had been taking measures to ensure his voice was ready for the concert.
“I’ve been social-isolating so that I’m not tempted to speak to anyone, much less yell “Free Bird!” I even missed the birth of my child last month because I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist. It’s that important to me,” says a tearful Faggard, “but now I’ve lost my chance.”
Faggard is now keeping vigil in the BancorpSouth Arena parking lot, lit cigarette in mouth, playing air guitar as “Free Bird” blasts from his truck’s cracked factory speakers.
The Rundown – Saturday March 21st.
Good Saturday Morning Tupelo! This is Joshua and I’m here to hit you with something a little bit different this weekend. Yes, that’s right we are going to forget the format and try something new.
We are all pretty much stuck at home so instead of telling you what is happening where, lets talk about what you can do from home.
First of all, if you can…Stay there! Yes cabin fever gets you pretty quick, but the system (retail, food, even traffic) is stressed.
If you must go out, remember the rule of 3. What you put out comes back times 3, so release kindness and joy upon those you deal with. Not only are they worried and stressed just like you, they are working too. Nurses, retail folks, officers of the law, they all have to keep on trucking. And don’t forget those truckers.
If you were nerdy enough over the last few years, you likely have a good collection of board games. I recommend the Co-op game Pandemic, where you all work together to stop a massive set of illnesses. That way you feel like you are fighting the real one too. One of the great things about co-op games is that its either you all win, or you all loose.
Disney+, Amazon Prime TV, and several other are releasing in theater or very recently in theater movies directly to streaming, making movie night a bit more exciting. I know Frozen 2, The Invisible Man(2020), and in the next week or so Sonic the Hedgehog are or will be live. But be prepared for potential network slowdowns if you are in the more rural areas as more people online are eating up the bandwidth.
My family has taken to cooking more together. And watching cooking videos on YouTube. Check out this on on preparing great meals with just Top Ramen and a few extra ingredients.
Now, not to toot our own horn too much, but we also have a great selection of Podcasts and Webshows right on our website at OurTupelo.com. We’ve got true crime, comedy, and paranormal so far, and will be adding more soon.
Do you have any tips or tricks for quarantine? Please share them with us on Social Media.
Thanks everyone, and have an awesome day.
TIME For A RESET
I sent out a message this past week wanting to know what would make podcast more interesting. With some direction from all of my friends on Facebook this episode is a reset. It covers everything from what’s going on today and hopefully my kids get to go back to school before next year!
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/j-shay/support
The Rundown 3/19/2020
Good morning, Tupelo and beyond! Today is March 19th and it’s the 78th day of the year 2020. It’s Thursday and it’s time for your quote of the day.
“And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.”
The Beatles
Check back each day for a new quote to help you get through the day. I chose a lyric to share today because music brings me great comfort during anxious times. As the spread of COVID-19 continues and fear grows, remember that light always overcomes darkness and sooner or later, we will overcome this pandemic, too.
Seasonal allergy sufferers, keep your antihistamines handy. It’s another medium-high day of pollen with the count dropping slightly to an 8.
Normally, this is where we would take a look at what’s happening today in your neck of the woods! However, due to guidelines from the CDC and urging from the nation’s President and our Governor, all events where 10 or more would gather are canceled. With that being said, there is just one event that is still on the books for today. We expect this to be the story for the rest of the week and likely next week as well, so we will use the Rundown as a way to keep you informed of the latest information and news regarding the coronavirus.
Today in Tupelo…
- The Hunger Coalition is offering free lunches for students at multiple locations today. The first lunch will be served at Chandler’s Temple CME Church at 11 am. The second meal can be picked up in the parking lot of the North Green Street Boys and Girls Club at 11:30 am. Another lunch will be given out at 12 pm at Tupelo Trace Apartments. The last meal will be given out at 12:30 pm at the Haven Acres Boys and Girls Club.
- Several housing complexes are being served meals through the Hunger Coalition and local churches. Contact Jason Martin for more information: jason@unitedwaynems.org or 662-432-1894. Check out the list below.
- Hilldale Apartments – Calvary Baptist ChurchKirkwood Apartments – The Orchard
- Tupelo Housing N. Green – St. James Catholic Church, Hope Church, and Green Street Church of Christ
- Tupelo Housing Lawhon – Harrisburg Baptist Church
- Haven Acres – Hope Church
- Verona – Chandler’s Temple CME, Harrisburg Baptist Church
- Richey Apartments Mooreville – Auburn Baptist
- The Salvation Army will be providing grab n go lunches until further notice. All social services are expected to continue as usual.
- The St. Luke Food Pantry, located at 2653 S. Eason Blvd. will be open on Thursday, March 19th.
- Clients should not arrive before 7:30 a.m.
- We will stop accepting clients at 12:00 p.m.
- Clients stay in their vehicles. Keep windows rolled up.
- Have vehicle prepared to place food in the trunk or rear of the vehicle
- Have your photo ID ready to show
- Future distribution days are unknown and could be halted because of COVID-19
- This service is open to residents of Lee County
- Jimmy John’s and Renasant Bank are asking for $4 donations to help provide sandwich lunches to feed area children. You can drop your donation off at the Jimmy John’s location on South Gloster.
- Dollar General is reserving its first hour of business each day for seniors and people at a higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus. Most Dollar General locations open at 8 am, but some open an hour earlier at 7 am. Check with your closest DG to confirm their opening hour.
Other Happenings Near Tupelo Today
- First Baptist Church of New Albany is continuing to provide meals for students and others in need. You can contact them at (662) 534-5812 for more information.
- Lee County Meals on Wheels will continue delivery services.
- First Baptist Church of Shannon will be giving out blessing bags to any school-aged child in need from 9 am – 12 pm today in front of Shannon High School.
- Sherman Church of Christ will be giving free breakfast and lunches to students today until Friday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
- Alcorn School District will be providing pickup meals for students in need from 9 am – 11 am outside each school’s cafeteria. If the meals cannot be picked up, contact your school’s office and delivery arrangements will be made.
- All area Food Giant locations will dedicate their first hour of business to seniors and those at a higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19. Most locations open at 7 am, however, some open at 6 am. Contact your local Food Giant to confirm their location’s opening times.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT IN TUPELO
Chance Stanley and Chance Moore are scheduled to perform live at Steele’s Dive tonight from 7 pm to 10 pm.
We’re here to keep YOU in the know, and we don’t want to miss a thing!
You can notify us about a missing listing or an upcoming event you want us to know about by:
- Tagging our Facebook page on a post
- Marking us as a co-host on your Facebook event
- Sending a direct message on our Facebook page
- Or by shooting us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com
For a more in-depth look at what’s coming up in our area, check out our extended calendar of events!
That’s a wrap for today, y’all! Have a fantastic day!
The Rundown 3/18/2020
Good morning, Tupelo and beyond! Today is March 18th and it’s the 77th day of the year 2020. It’s Wednesday and here’s your #WednesdayWisdom quote of the day.
“May “Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.”
— Unknown
Check back each day for a new quote to help get you through your day. Now, onto other news and happenings. As we all know, we are in a strange time for everyone around the world, not just America. But as America shutters the doors of schools, churches, certain government facilities, and even restaurants and retail stores in some parts of the country, we are still doing what Americans do best–coming together in a time of a need. Which is a pretty amazing thing considering the #1 thing we’re supposed to do is distance ourselves from one another. The young and healthy are banding together to serve the sick and elderly so they don’t have to go out in public and risk exposure. Our medical workers and first responders are carrying on business as usual, working the front lines as they always do. Be sure to thank the next doctor, NP, nurse, EMT, police officer, firefighter, respiratory therapists, and all health and first response professionals who are putting their own wellness on the line while working to keep everyone safe and healthy. Likewise, be kind to your grocery, retail, and restaurant employees who are also working to keep us fed, clothed, and sanitized during this time. Let’s continue to show comradery to one another and brighten each other’s day, even at a distance.
Seasonal allergy sufferers, get ready for another sneezy day. The pollen count climbs us to a medium-high of 9.1 so take your precautions if you plan to work outside in the garden today.
Normally, this is where we would take a look at what’s happening today in your neck of the woods! However, due to guidelines from the CDC and urging from the nation’s President and our Governor, all events where 10 or more would gather are canceled. With that being said, there is just one event that is still on the books for today. We expect this to be the story for the rest of the week and likely next week as well, so we will use the Rundown as a way to keep you informed of the latest information and news regarding the coronavirus.
Today in Tupelo…
- The Hunger Coalition is offering free lunches for students at two different times and locations today. The first lunch will be served in the parking lot of the North Green Street Boys and Girls Club at 11:30 am. The second meal will be given out at 12:30 pm at the Haven Acres Boys and Girls Club.
- Several housing complexes are being served meals through the Hunger Coalition and local churches. Contact Jason Martin for more information: jason@unitedwaynems.org or 662-432-1894. Check out the list below.
- Hilldale Apartments – Calvary Baptist ChurchKirkwood Apartments – The Orchard
- Tupelo Housing N. Green – St. James Catholic Church, Hope Church, and Green Street Church of Christ
- Tupelo Housing Lawhon – Harrisburg Baptist Church
- Haven Acres – Hope Church
- Verona – Chandler’s Temple CME, Harrisburg Baptist Church
- Richey Apartments Mooreville – Auburn Baptist
- The Salvation Army will be providing grab n go lunches until further notice. All social services are expected to continue as usual.
Other Happenings Near Tupelo Today
- First Baptist Church of New Albany is serving 500 sack lunches for any student at any elementary, middle, or high school in New Albany. These free lunches will be given out between 11 am and 1 pm at the Union County Courthouse or FBC’s Family Life Center.
- Lee County Meals on Wheels will continue delivery services.
- Ellistown Baptist Church will provide meals for East Union Students from 8 pm – 5 pm.
- Sherman Church of Christ will be giving free breakfast and lunches to students today until Friday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
- First Baptist Church of Ripley will continue their pickup lunches for students between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. Families who need lunches for the rest of the week can come back between 5 pm and 7 pm to pick them up.
- Alcorn School District will be providing pickup meals for students in need from 9 am – 11 am outside each school’s cafeteria. If the meals cannot be picked up, contact your school’s office and delivery arrangements will be made.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT IN TUPELO
Cody Weaver is scheduled to perform live at Steele’s Dive tonight from 7 pm to 10 pm.
We’re here to keep YOU in the know, and we don’t want to miss a thing!
You can notify us about a missing listing or an upcoming event you want us to know about by:
- Tagging our Facebook page on a post
- Marking us as a co-host on your Facebook event
- Sending a direct message on our Facebook page
- Or by shooting us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com
For a more in-depth look at what’s coming up in our area, check out our extended calendar of events!
That’s a wrap for today, y’all! Have a fantastic day!