TUPELO – In a rare public address, the Tupelo Pole has declared itself a “strong, independent pole that don’t need no flag.”
The Tupelo Pole is a pole standing over 100 feet tall and residing behind the gas station on the corner of Thomas Street and West Main Street in Tupelo, MS. For as long as most residents can remember, the Pole has been there and has never been adorned with anything but the clear blue sky. This is also the first time the Pole has spoken out in recent history.
“This is the first time I’ve known it to talk,” Taquitta Washington says. “I didn’t even know a pole could talk, but here we are.”
The reason for the Pole’s broken silence is unclear, but it is highly speculated that it is due to the recent exposure the Pole has gotten thanks to a local comedian’s satirical “Tupelo Tourism” video wherein the Pole is highlighted as a must-see attraction. As a result, many local residents have taken to voicing their opinions about the Pole’s status — not all of it positive.
“It’s an eyesore,” opines long-time Tupelo resident Dorothy Scruggs. “It just stands there all naked like. It needs a flag, or something — anything really — to make itself presentable to our town. Ain’t nothing Christian about it.”
Not everyone agrees with Scruggs.
“There’s nothing more attractive to me than a Pole that knows what it is and knows what it needs,” says local business owner RJ Morgan. “In this case, it knows what t it doesn’t need, and that’s just as attractive.”
For now, it seems that the Pole will continue to stand as it always has. Tall, strong, independent, and naked.
An attempt was made to reach the Pole for further comment, but it’s too tall and crane rentals are expensive.
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Friday, January 3, 2020. It is the 3rd day of the year. There are 363 days left in the year (don’t forget this is Leap Year!) and 75 left of winter! Valentine’s Day is in 42 days, and Spring starts in 76 days.
HAPPENING TODAY
Today in Tupelo, here are the things going on around town:
The Bancorpsouth Arena will be open for Public Ice Skating today from 1:00 p.m. this afternoon until 9:00 p.m. tonight. Ice Rink Admission price is $12 per person and this includes skate rental.
Miranda Lambert’s Little Red Wagon Tour is partnering with the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society to help them get what they need to take care of all those sweet animals! From now until January 10, 2020, you can bring donations to Steele’s Dive to be entered into a drawing for two free tickets. There will be two drawings held on January 10 for the January 16th concert, meaning that there will be two lucky winners who will receive a free pair of tickets EACH.
* It’s Food Truck Friday at Fairpark, but it’s also soggy and rainy, so we’ll keep updating the food trucks as they post throughout the morning.
If we missed listing an event you know of, let us know!
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag our Facebook page, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having on your Facebook event listing. You can also send us a message on our Facebook page, or shoot us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com and we will help you share it.
Be sure to check out our extended calendar of events as well, for upcoming happenings in the area!
Have a great day and get out there and enjoy Our Tupelo!
* We update all listings periodically as new information becomes available.
We were in Dollar General grabbing a few things back in the summer, when Spawn decided he needed a new backpack. He didn’t really. The one from last year was still in good shape, but a new one had caught his eye.
Spawn: I want this one. Me: This one? Spawn: This one. Me: Baby, are you sure? Spawn: Yeah. Can I have it? Me: … Spawn: Please?
Now, I’m not stingy with my kids, and as long as I have the money, I am not opposed to buying them things within reason, even if it’s not a necessity. But this backpack… It was rainbow sequins. I knew immediately that we were about to be in some murky waters.
Me: Baby, I love this backpack. I think it’s beautiful. You know I love sequins and rainbows. But you know how kids are. Are you SURE? Spawn: I’m not worried about stupid people. There’s no boy colors and girl colors. The rainbow is for everybody. Me: Well I know that. And you know that. But you know how people ARE… So, what are you gonna do if I buy you this new backpack, and then you end up all sideways when someone starts giving you crap about it at school? Spawn: I’ll tell them what I just said. And if they get stupid after that, they can taste the rainbow.
He completely won me over with his impenetrable logic, so we bought the backpack. And things were great for precisely twenty school days.
On the twenty-first day, my son came home in tears.
You see, in the course of those first three weeks of school, proudly wearing his sparkly rainbow sequined backpack, Spawn had become a shining light for his friends who were struggling, but who were also a target for some other children who’ve grown up with hate in their homes. And on this day, he’d reached his limit for brushing things off.
And still, the thing is that he wasn’t even upset for himself mostly. He was far more upset and concerned for his friends who are scared to come out and who have to be so damn careful not to give themselves away, because they can clearly see how tough a time he’s having already. Because he actually gives a damn about people other than himself, his heart is hurting.
My first reaction is straight up Mama Bear Mode. If you hurt my kids, I will cut you. But I know deep in my heart that these kids are only mirroring what they hear at home, and I can’t be there for those kids. But I can be here for mine. Always.
So, I say to my son, “I know this feels yucky, but I want you to always remember that no matter what anyone else says, being gay is not a bad thing or anything to be ashamed of. So it’s like if someone says ‘HA HA HA! You have BLUE EYES!’ You know? It’s like, ‘So? There’s nothing wrong with that. What’s your point?’ Ignorant people are always going to find something to make trouble about. I know it hurts and I know this sucks, but we just have to learn how to turn that around and be bigger than their smallness.”
Spawn returns, “That’s true. But, Momma, it’s also true that making fun of people lowers their self esteem, making it harder for them to make friends, trust people, and even lowers their test scores and is making them not want to come to school at all.”
I can’t tell you the depth of how much I hate that he knows these thing and why. And further, we don’t speak of it out loud on this day, but we’ve talked about it before: The suicide rates for LGB kids are so so high. According to The Trevor Project,
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24.
LGBTQ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost THREE times the rate of their straight peers.
LGBTQ youth are almost FIVE times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to their straight peers.
LGBTQ youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGBTQ peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.
Each episode of LGBTQ victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average.
Together, we decide we can’t sit silently by and mutely try to take the high road on this. We sit down side by side and compose a message to his teacher. I went to the school’s website and filled out their online bullying report. I received a call first thing the next morning. The counselor, thankfully, was very invested in making sure Spawn and his friends were safe, and laid out a plan of action that they intended to take.
Luckily, since then, we have had no further issues, but I won’t fool myself with lies that this will be the end. Not for him, and not for his peers.
If you are the type of person who is still telling your kids — or even indulging by silence in the idea — that there is anything wrong with being gay, then I need for you to understand the harm you’re doing to other people’s kids — and your own.
Most people, I hope, don’t WANT to raise bullies. Most people, I hope, are upset when they find out that their kids are those kids — the ones who pick on others and make other kids’ lives miserable.
But so often, people just don’t understand how their children mirror and internalize the lessons of “otherness” that may be fostered in the home. Whether by a parent ‘slipping’ and saying something harmful, or by the parents not going out of their way to talk about difference and acceptance.
A child’s home environment can do damage far beyond — not just to that kid, but to others around them, and to the world.
All of our children deserve to be safe at school. They deserve the chance to learn in an environment where they’re not constantly singled out, taunted, and assaulted, for ANY reason, but especially for reasons beyond their control.
If you are one of these people, you don’t have to be defensive. We don’t need the excuses, the reasons, the rationales. We don’t need the justifications. We need you to commit to do better. Our kids deserve it.
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Thursday, January 2, 2020. It is the 2nd day of the year. There are 364 days left in the year (don’t forget this is Leap Year!) and 76 left of winter! Valentine’s Day is in 43 days, and Spring starts in 77 days.
HAPPENING TODAY
We hope you are all off to a great start in this new year, and as a reminder, it’s a smart idea to write the entire year on any personal checks or legal documents this year, to prevent confusion and fraud. (Example: 01/02/20 can become 01/02/2019 with a few flicks of the pen, if someone were so inclined.)
Today in Tupelo, here are the things going on around town:
The Bancorpsouth Arena is open for Public Ice Skating today! Ice Rink Admission is $12/per person, and this includes skate rental.
Storyplay at the Lee County Library in Tupelo is today at 9:30am. Storyplay is a storytime program featuring songs, rhymes, activities, and books more suitable for the baby to toddler set. Play will be highlighted and embraced during this program and modifications will be presented to accommodate different abilities and age groups.
The Weight Loss Support Group meeting today has been cancelled, due to unforeseen circumstances. Catch them next month, as they meet on the first Thursday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the NMMC Wellness Center, 1030 S. Madison, Tupelo, MS. Please call (662) 377- SLIM (7546) for further information. Weight Loss Support Group meetings are also available to watch online at www.nmhs.net/weight-loss-support-group.
If we missed listing an event you know of, let us know!
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag our Facebook page, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having on your Facebook event listing. You can also send us a message on our Facebook page, or shoot us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com and we will help you share it.
Be sure to check out our extended calendar of events as well, for upcoming happenings in the area!
Have a great day and get out there and enjoy Our Tupelo!
* We update all listings periodically as new information becomes available.
Address: 3999 North Gloster Street, Tupelo, Mississippi
Rock n Roll Sushi is READY to ROCK and ROLL! That is, rock the house and roll some of the best sushi around!
The name pretty much says it all. The atmosphere is definitely high octane rock and roll with guitars and posters adorning the walls, and TVs set to music videos. Another nice touch was the menus. They look like album covers from the “best of” rock and roll era until you open them up to find the menu inside.
They have a huge menu with plenty of choices. You can choose Hibachi, classic rolls, Specialty rolls, appetizers referred to as “The Opening Act,” and a couple after party desserts.
Although I didn’t order an app, they are definitely on my “to try” list after reading some of the interesting ingredients. Even the ever-popular jalapeño poppers got a boost by combining crabmeat and cream cheese before lightly frying.
What I ordered: Heart Roll $13.95 Stairway To Heaven Brownies $7.95
For my first taste of Rock N Roll Sushi, I ordered the fried Heart Roll. It was Shrimp Tempura, Crabmeat, and cream cheese. Topped with baked crabmeat, seasoned crawfish, thinly sliced jalapeños, spicy mayo, eel sauce, and crunchy flakes. This was an awesome first contact with a new restaurant and menu item! This was a huge amount of food and a full meal for most anyone.
Stairway to Heaven Brownie
To wrap up my first visit, I did indulge in the Stairway to Heaven Brownies. I’ve often said that we all eat with our eyes first, and I definitely had to take in the beauty of these brownies! We’re talking FRIED brownies served with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce… and a cherry on top! This was a mountain of mouthwatering Sweetness!
Looking forward to my next visit to Rock N Roll Sushi in Tupelo. See y’all there!
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Tuesday, December 31, 2019. It is the last day of the year. Happy New Year’s Eve!
Today’s Rundown is sponsored by Kyle Barker at Comcast Business.
Comcast offers services for internet, phone, tv, cloud access, office 365, web security, security cameras, back-up internet and so much more available! For new service, contact your local account executive Kyle Barker at (662) 372-0567.
HAPPENING TODAY
Today is New Year’s Eve, so here in Tupelo, most of the local happenings are geared toward that.
The Bancorpsouth Arena will be open for Public Ice Skating today from 1:00 p.m. this afternoon until 9:00 p.m. tonight. Ice Rink Admission price is $12 per person and this includes skate rental.
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
WOOO! If you’re looking for a party, tonight’s your night!
In Tupelo:
To kick things off, in Downtown Tupelo, we’re going to have a NYE Street Party! This celebration will feature two live music stages, featuring a diverse lineup of incredible bands, special children-friendly events, a Toyota Corolla giveaway, fireworks, and a ball drop to coincide with the countdown to ring in the New Year. There will be something for everyone! Check out the schedule and lineup here.
The Elvis Presley Birthplace will be hosting David Lee to ring in the new year with Dinner, Party Favors, Champagne Toast At Midnight. For tickets, call 518-307-9691, 205-266-2030, or purchase tickets online.
Steele’s Dive will be hosting a Roaring 20s NYE Bash from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.. Dress as a gangster or silent screen star; come as a flapper or come as you are! Admission will be $10 each. Live entertainment will be the Spunk Monkees with Special Guest Misbehavin to keep the party rocking. Steele Magnolia Beard Company will also be on hand, hosting their 1st Annual Beard Contest. Categories Include: Best Full Beard under 6”, Best Full beard 6”+, Longest Beard, Best Partial Beard (Goatee), Best Mustache, Best creative beard (women). A Special Glam Selfie Station will be available for photos, and of course, A Customary Champagne Toast at Midnight!
Mr. Tony’s is hosting Hell’s Heathens from 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. with both inside and outside events. Inside will be a full bar and live music by Hell’s Heathens,Killjay, and Lick The Tip. Outside, there will be on site tattooing provided by the Body Art Bus, a Bonfire, & Grilled food, inside a 2000 sq. ft. Heated Tent with Acoustic Music, and Drinking Games (Beer Pong, Cornhole, ect.) Also provided with a Full Bar & Smoker Friendly. $10 admission.
The Shade Tree will host a Party on the Patio with live music by Tim D. Sheffield, Vinney C., and Madison Grace Rhodes from 8:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.. $15 buys you all the Bud Light Draft you can drink out on the patio!
Woody’s will be hosting a NYE Bash with DJ-E Karaoke and Dance as well as DJ Mike Barnes. The party kicks off at 8 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m., with a champagne toast at midnight.
Old Venice is hosting a NYE Masquerade Ball with Karaoke starting at 7:00 p.m..
FOOD TRUCKS
Tupelo’s Food Trucks can be found today at the following locations:
If we missed listing an event you know of, let us know!
Want us to know about something coming up? Just tag our Facebook page, or you can even mark us co-host on an event you are having on your Facebook event listing. You can also send us a message on our Facebook page, or shoot us an email at submit@ourtupelo.com and we will help you share it.
Be sure to check out our extended calendar of events as well, for upcoming happenings in the area!
Have a great day and get out there and enjoy Our Tupelo!
* We update all listings periodically as new information becomes available.
For a leisurely breakfast, lunch or early dinner, D’ Cracked Egg is now open in Downtown Tupelo! Visit their Facebook page for up to date hours and more. Family-friendly breakfast-focused restaurant. Breakfast favorites will be served all day, along with other grill options. Products: Pancakes, Waffles, Omelettes, Hamburgers, Salads, French Toast, Pizza, and so much more..
For my first visit, it was difficult deciding where to start. I decided on an omelet covered in gravy and cheese with some grilled veggies, sausage, and other goodies in between. The omelet plates come with a choice of biscuits or toast, and side of breakfast meat.
My omelet was not only tasty, but the bacon had just the right amount of crunch and loaded with flavor! Plus, something I’ve never done before…until now, is order extra toast. There was so much thick and creamy gravy that I needed more to sop up every drop!
I also met a couple friends who highly recommend the D’ “Beyond” the Farm Vegan Burger. I was told that it was so good that it would give the meaty version a run for its money!
To finish with a little something sweet, they have a waffle on a stick, dipped in chocolate, then a touch of sprinkles added for color and a little festive flair. See y’all there!!
Location: 101 North Industrial Road, TUPELO, MS In the shopping plaza across from Danvers.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 7AM – 3PM.
Talbot House Bakery & Cafe is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides employment and job readiness to the residents of Talbot House, a transition program for women in early recovery from substance abuse. Their mission is: recovery, community, and purpose. All proceeds support Talbot House Sober Living for Women, a local 501c3 nonprofit organization.
What we ordered: Cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting ($4.25) CinnaPanini with a side of fruit ($5.99)
My CinnaPanini was a mouth-watering house-made cinnamon roll sliced in half, with ham and Swiss, panini pressed and drizzled with their famous maple coffee glaze! This was a delicious combination of sweet, salty, and savory! I highly recommend this if you are deciding on your first menu pick when visiting.
There are plenty of satisfying choices to choose from. My daughter went with the Cinnamon roll with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and ate every bite. So I’d call that a definite thumbs up!
Another tempting treat sitting on the counter for everyone to drool over is their Famous half-pound sea-salted chocolate chip cookies! For my next visit, one of these big bad boys will be mine!
For a nice meal or a short break with some sweet treats, drop by and tell them you read about them here! See y’all there!! 🤠✌️🍰☕️
Bulldog Burger Company is an upscale burger place serving big, juicy handmade burgers on fresh baked buns. Also, appetizers, salads, specialty milkshakes, adult beverages and more. All in a relaxed casual dining atmosphere.
Rumors, curiosity, speculation, and excitement are just a few of the adjectives associated with any new business under construction. But, even more so when it’s revealed as a new restaurant. In this case, the newest location of Bulldog Burger Company.
It’s often been said that some of the finest food in the south is served in former service stations. Where some may see an abandoned local landmark, others see potential, and a dream of bringing it back to life with new purposes that will benefit the community.
The new Bulldog Burger Company building was once home to several local businesses including multiple car dealerships leaving behind loads of character and ambience. Instead of replacing its history, they have enhanced it with raw wood walls, Edison style lighting and many modern amenities like power ports and usb hubs plus wifi.
Beyond the atmosphere, the menu is key to any new restaurant’s popularity. So for my first visit I decided to dig in, ordering an appetizer, burger, fries, a shake, and desert!
What I ordered: Fried Cheese Curds ($6.95) “Good Mornin’ Burger, fries included ($11.95) Coffee Flavored Shake ($4.95) Scarlet’s Donut Bread Pudding ($5.95)
As you can probably tell, I was going with brunch themed selections!
I started out with the Fried Cheese Curds with marinara dipping sauce. Basically fried cheese bites, but nothing basic about their deliciousness. This was enough for two, and plenty to get me rev’ed up for my next course!
The “Good Mornin’ Burger comes with bacon, cheddar cheese, fried egg, potato hash, tomato, Bibb lettuce, mayo, and house made chipotle ketchup. This was a huge burger packed with flavor. Near the end it got a little messy but was delicious down to the last bite!
The fries included with each burger meal are kinda like miniature steak fries cooked just long enough to have a little crunch. This paired very well with my coffee shake. A bite of crunchy, salty fries chased with a sweet shake can be a perfect taste bud sensation in the right combination!
Speaking of drinks, they offer all the usual non alcoholic options, plus an enormous adult beverage selection. Something new I spied on the menu was spiked versions of their creamy milkshakes! Want to give your coffee shake some kick? They can add a little KAHLUA to spice it up. Want to kick your salted caramel shake up a notch? A little Jack Danials will take it to a new level in the spiced Shakes selection!
Picking a dessert was easy since there was only one offered on the menu, Scarlet’s Donut Bread Pudding! Oh my! This is a delicious partnership between a chef driven burger restaurant and Tupelo’s own Scarlet’s Donuts.
Within a few minutes of opening, the main seating area was mostly full, but anticipating this, there are several optional dining areas available from a well-stocked bar area to a huge outdoor patio area with some cover for shade and also an open-air area with Adirondack chairs and beautiful wood grain benches.
Pork Belly Street Tacos
Loaded Street Nachos: Chicken, chorizo, and candied pork belly
Chief operating officer of Eat With Us Group, Bernard Bean, gave me a tour of Bulldog Burger including their dedicated party room which is located on the west side of the patio dining area. They are taking reservations now for holiday parties or any special event. Huge multimedia viewing areas will be available in the entertainment area plus some unique dining options like build a burger bar and more!
Bulldog Burger Company in Tupelo is an exciting new addition to our community’s local attractions and dining destinations. See y’all there!!!
Since a June 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to collect taxes on internet sales, Mississippi’s use tax collections have steadily increased.
Still, state Economist Darrin Webb and Mississippi’s other financial experts are projecting use tax revenue going to the general fund for core state functions such as education, law enforcement and health care will slow or even be less this fiscal year. Through November, or through the first five months of the current fiscal year, use tax collections going to the state general fund are down $3.5 million to $117.7 million, according to information compiled by the staff of the Legislative Budget Committee.
Use tax collections for core functions of state government are down because they are being diverted to local governments, according to the financial experts who give the Legislature projections of how much revenue the state will collect.
“Use tax collections will be reduced from increased diversions for infrastructure needs associated with the special session of 2018,” Webb told legislative leaders and Gov. Phil Bryant in November.
Webb is citing legislation passed during the 2018 session to divert use tax revenue from paying for those core state functions to paying for local needs. During the special session, legislators, hoping to avoid raising the tax on motor fuel to pay for infrastructure needs, voted to phase in the diversion of 35 percent of the use tax revenue from those core state funds to local needs. When fully enacted, the diversion will send about $120 million annually (an amount that will grow over time) from state needs to the local governments.
The use tax is a 7 percent tax levied on items purchased out of state, such as on internet or catalog sales. The primary reason the use tax is growing is that in June 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could levy a sales tax (or use tax) on internet purchases.
The Supreme Court decision was a key because in recent years sales from traditional brick and mortar stores have slowed or even decreased. In recent years, sales tax revenue has slowed while use tax revenue in general has exploded, though, the sales tax collected from retail stores remains Mississippi’s single largest source of revenue.
A late October report by Wells Fargo Securities Economic Group projected, “For the first holiday season ever, non-store retailers will likely surpass grocery and general merchandise stores, accounting for the largest share of holiday spending .”
For the past fiscal year, ending June 30, use tax collections for the state were up 24 percent to $419.6 million while sales tax collections were up 2.6 percent to $3.2 billion. Sales tax collections also are growing at a 2.6 percent rate through November – the first five months of the current fiscal year.
Thus far this fiscal year, use tax collections are up 8.9 percent to $173 million. But a larger portion, is being diverted to pay for local services instead of state services.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
