TTupelo— The Jack Reed Sr. Community Leadership award will be presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in helping improve the quality of life in his or her community and Northeast Mississippi.
Recipients will have demonstrated vision, integrity, and a commitment to excellence over an extended period of time.
The recipient of this award will be given the opportunity to recommend the disbursements of funds available from the Jack Reed Sr. Community Leadership Endowment Fund established by a special dividend from the Journal Inc.
Funds may be dispersed to one or more charitable organizations impacting the quality of life in Northeast Mississippi.
The CREATE Foundation Executive Committee will select the recipient. The award will be presented at the State of the Region Meeting in May.
The 2018 winner was Mike Staten from New Albany, and Nettie Davis from Tupelo was recognized in 2019.
Deadline for nominations is March 6.
To nominate an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in helping improve the quality of life in his or her community and Northeast Mississippi, click the red button below!
As a Tupelo native, I grew up on both the east and west sides of this great city.
As a young teen, I enjoyed those Saturday outings at the J.C. Penney Mall, where my friends and I would saunter in and out of the shops while dreaming of the day when we would be able to afford those beautiful clothes which so elegantly hung on the ladies made of plastic.
The highlight of the day came when we would pull the crumpled dollars from our pockets and head over to the Orange Bowl, where giant slices of cheese pizza were waiting to be dressed with mustard. We would sit on those bar stools and devour what resembled a tiny island.
If we were particularly rich, we would opt to pool our money and gather at Pasquale’s. We would sit at a tiny round table in a dimly lit dining room pretending to be career ladies gathering for a special lunch meeting.
Throughout junior high and high school, food continued to draw my friends and family together.
The only Mexican restaurant Tupelo during that time period was Taco Hut. I will always have fond memories of that glorious cheese dip and those crunchy tacos.
Vanelli’s was still located on South Gloster, in a building that appeared to have seen it’s better days, but was always bursting at the seams as patrons sought their chance to eat the best Greek/Italian food in town.
In recent years, Tupelo has come into its own, with locally owned restaurants.
Places like K.O.K., Forklift, Romie’s, Blue Canoe, Park Heights, Vanelli’s Bistro, Nautical Whimsey, and Cafe 212 (just to name a few) would challenge any big city eatery.
Tupelo has a plethora of multicultural cuisine sure to please the most adventurous of palates, while Connie’s and Danver’s serve as old family friends.
Oh, have I mentioned our food trucks?! We have food trucks! And some new franchises blossoming here as well: Fox’s Den Pizza, Jimmy John’s, Zaxby’s, and many more.
And then, there are wannabes like me, a home cook trained by her mother. Deep South Delicacies, my new venture, focuses on home cooking and treats from a time almost forgotten. Fried pies are my favorite as well as my specialty. Our slogan is “food that taste like your best memories.”
Food surrounds great memories and Tupelo is the perfect place to make new ones.
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Saturday, February 22, 2020. It is the 53rd day of the year. There are 313 days left in the year and 32 days left of winter! Spring starts in 33 days.
Our Tupelo has a FAMILY FOUR-PACK of tickets to see the WWE Wrestlemania show at the Bancorpsouth Arena on March 28 to give away to our followers here at OurTupelo! For rules and how to enter, just click the green button below!
We also have a pair of tickets to give away to see Championship Wrestling featuring WWE’s Jerry the King Lawler at Tupelo Con coming up on Saturday, March 7th, for our followers! For rules and how to enter, just click the orange button above!
Today in Tupelo, here are the things going on around town:
Join Barnes & Noble for Storytime at Barnes Crossing every Saturday at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. for an exciting story, crafts, and snacks in the children’s department!
Memory’s Magical Dresses will be set up at the Mall at Barnes Crossing to give away (for free) prom dresses and tuxedos for local students in need. They will be at the Charlotte Russe location inside the mall from 10am until 3pm. Students need only present their school ID, a progress report or report card as proof of attendance to qualify.
World of Customs Auto Show will be at the Tupelo Furniture Market this weekend, in buildings 4 & 5. Show times are Saturday, February 22nd, from 9am-10pm; and Sunday, February 23rd, from 10am-5pm.
TCT Off Broadway will be performing ‘Night Mother tonight at 7:30 p.m. The one night only event includes food, drink and a performance of the multi-award winning show. Tickets are $30 and only 100 will be sold.
The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will demonstrate pioneer era crafts and skills at the Parkway Visitor Center, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. The demonstrations will show the challenges faced and creative solutions developed by those pioneers who lived in the area from the 1700s to around 1840. The public is invited to participate in pioneer lifestyle activities that often include crafting baskets, spinning, weaving, leather working, making corn-husk dolls, and other traditional craft demonstrations. Mountain dulcimer demonstrations are usually offered throughout the day. Children are invited to dress up in pioneer clothes and participate in craft activities. This program is free to the public. The visitor center is located at milepost 266 on the Natchez Trace Parkway, near Tupelo, Mississippi. For additional information, please call (800) 305-7417.
THS Performing Arts Center will be hosting the Miss Grand Tennessee/Miss Supranational Tennessee pageant today at 5 p.m.
The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will be performing a Concerto for Hope, featuring Ryan Anthony, Trumpet, and John Schuesselin, Trumpet, this evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn will have Love or Something Like It, a musical revue of love and anti-love songs, performed by Big Tony & The Gentrys (Anthony Hopper, Clark Richey, Amye Gousset, Leah Petty, Barney Davis, Amy Davis, Paul Langley) along with special guests Marty Hurt and Toni Johnson. Showtime is 7 pm. Admission is $15.
The Historic Elkin Theatrein Aberdeen invites you to this weekend’s show! Regular admission is $5 each, and all concessions are $1 each. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the movie starts at 7 pm. Admissions and concessions are cash only. Showing this weekend: 1917 (Rated R)
In Columbus, the Columbus Arts Council presents their Main Gallery Exhibit, Frank McGuigan and Joy Phillips, open at 9 a.m. for the entire month of February.
Friends, just so you know, Spring ain’t here yet, and our grandkids are selling stuff again for school! This time it’s candy!
Do y’all remember selling stuff for school? Seems like we were always selling something! I remember selling those little seed packs! That was fun!
I don’t remember selling candy bars except one time! Seems I had a lot of candy bars that went missing, and the money didn’t match the right amount! And I found a bunch of candy wrappers under one of my brothers beds! Ain’t saying who, but Emory sure did like chocolate bars!
I guess they didn’t trust me with candy after that!
I remember everybody sold something, and in the words of our famous bus driver Mr. Billy Spradling, Mantachie kids might not learn everything, but they’re gonna make some of the best dang door-to-door salesmen in the state!
Yesterday, Eli came in with a big old box of candy bars to sell! I thought I would have some fun with that, so I kept asking him about the candy. He said they were a dollar a bar!
I asked could I get one any cheaper because I was his Papaw, but he said, “Nope, it’s just a dollar a bar!”
Even Addi Grace, his sister, got to asking could she get one for free, and he said “No, still a dollar a bar!”
Then I asked him, “Eli, if the prettiest girl in school asked could she have a hug and a kiss from you for a candy bar, what would you do?”
He smiled and said, “Oh yeah, she could get a hug and a kiss from me — but if she wants a candy bar, she better have a dollar!”
TUPELO — In a stunning display of hypocrisy writ large, a local woman had many people scratching their heads this week when only seconds after propagating the importance of shopping local, she proceeded to complain that Tupelo still doesn’t have a Target.
49-year-old Patricia McVey claims everyone blew her words out of proportion.
“I don’t understand why people are so confused. If we bring a Target here to Tupelo then it will be local, so we’ll be shopping local. It makes perfect sense.”
Despite her gross misunderstanding of what shopping local means, there are some who agree with her.
“She ain’t wrong,” says Karen Burroughs. “I’m in a book club with Trish, and she’s always got good ideas. She was the one who suggested we read the Twilight Saga. Team Jacob, by the way. And now we’re reading Fifty Shades, also at her recommendation. I trust her book choices, and I trust her understanding of basic economics.”
McVey was asked what she could get at Target that she couldn’t get at one of Tupelo’s two Walmarts.
“I got this shirt at the Southaven Target. It says ‘Someone Please Call Nine Wine Wine.’ It’s like it was made just for me. They sell it at Walmart too, but buying it from Target makes me look like a fun wine mom; buying it from Walmart would really affirm my alcoholism.”
McVey’s attitude is a sobering reminder of many Tupelo residents’ lukewarm habit of exhorting the patronization of local businesses while simultaneously calling for the ingress of a behemoth retail corporation that will further divest money from local retailers.
“I’ll always support local businesses,” McVey confesses, “but I’ll also always look at an empty field and think that would be a good place for a Target.”
Good morning Tupelo! Today is Friday, February 21, 2020. It is the 52nd day of the year. There are 314 days left in the year and 33 days left of winter! Spring starts in 34 days. Don’t forget Tupelo’s Mardi Gras street party is coming up this weekend on Saturday the 22nd!
HAPPENING TODAY
Today in Tupelo, here are the things going on around town:
Our Tupelo has a FAMILY FOUR-PACK of tickets to see the WWE Wrestlemania show at the Bancorpsouth Arena on March 28 to give away to our followers here at OurTupelo! For rules and how to enter, just click the green button below!
We also have a pair of tickets to give away to see Championship Wrestling featuring WWE’s Jerry the King Lawler at Tupelo Con coming up on Saturday, March 7th, for our followers! For rules and how to enter, just click the orange button below!
Reed’s Gumtree Bookstore has Story Time every Friday at 10:30 a.m.
Wet Paint in Tupelo will be having a Kids’ Night Out tonight at 6 p.m.. The cost is $25 per child (age 5+ only), and will include pizza, popcorn, drinks and a dessert. They will be watching Disney’s Brother Bear and painting brand new to Wet Paint: bear party animals!
World of Customs Auto Show will be at the Tupelo Furniture Market this weekend, in buildings 4 & 5. Show times are Friday, February 21st, from 5pm-10pm; Saturday, February 22nd, from 9am-10pm; and Sunday, February 23rd, from 10am-5pm.
The Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn will have Love or Something Like It, a musical revue of love and anti-love songs, performed by Big Tony & The Gentrys (Anthony Hopper, Clark Richey, Amye Gousset, Leah Petty, Barney Davis, Amy Davis, Paul Langley) along with special guests Marty Hurt and Toni Johnson. Performances are set for February 21 & 22, beginning each night at 7 pm. Admission is $15.
In Columbus, the Columbus Arts Council presents their Main Gallery Exhibit, Frank McGuigan and Joy Phillips, open at 9 a.m. for the entire month of February.
There are very few brunch staples that I don’t enjoy, but one of my favorites is The Mimosa. If you don’t know what that is, let me just explain: Traditionally, it’s orange juice and champagne. And it is delicious. In more modern times, we’ve learned that sparkling wine works just as well and is just as delicious.
Ingredients
Since there are only two ingredients, let’s talk about those ingredients. For the orange juice, brand is inconsequential, but what you want to look for is quality. Stay away from juices with pulp. (You do not want a Mimosa with pulp, ok, just trust me. The carbonation from the sparkling wine or champagne will make the pulp float to the top and it is not smooth or pretty.) You also want to avoid made from concentrate, and orange “juices” that are just orange flavored drinks.
One of the oldest running brunch jokes about mimosas is “See, it’s orange juice. It’s HEALTHY, okay?!”
Now. Onward to the alcohol! Your best bet is to look for Cava, which comes from Spain, or any another sparkling wine in the $10 and up range. A dry Prosecco is a great option, as are Moscatos, if you like yours a little bit on the sweeter side. (I personally prefer Castello del Poggio, which is an Italian moscato, and it usually runs around $12 for a bottle.)
Mix Ratio For Mimosas
The classic mimosa recipe calls for equal parts sparkling wine/champagne to orange juice (i.e. half and half). But as with any mixed drink, obviously the answer is dealer’s choice. If you prefer more of one and less of the other, you really can’t go wrong either way.
One important thing to note, though, is that when you are making mimosas, you should always add the sparkling wine or champagne first, and then top with orange juice. There are two reasons for this. The first and most important is that doing it in this order preserves the bubbles. You WANT the bubbles, obviously. The bubbles are much easier to control when you add the orange juice to the sparkling wine, instead of vice versa. Secondly, doing it this way allows the cocktail to mix together on its own so it won’t make a sticky mess at the top of the glass from the carbonation.
Another important note: Do. Not. Stir. If you stir your Mimosa, this will cause the wine to become flat. And we want bubbles, remember?
Variations
The Poinsettia is made the same, except with cranberry juice instead of OJ.
The Lemosa is made with lemonade instead of OJ.
The Vermosa (or The Crisp) is made with apple cider or apple juice instead of OJ.
The Soleil is made with pineapple juice instead of OJ.
The Megmos is made with grapefruit juice instead of OJ.
Adding a splash of grenadine to your Mimosa will give it a lovely sunrise gradation, and also make it a bit sweeter.
To make a Virgin Mimosa (i.e. non-alcoholic), simply swap out the wine or champagne for a sparkling grape juice or even a sparkling water (like Perrier or La Croix) in a pinch.
Big Lots has long been a favorite haunt of mine. They carry a lot of things you just cannot find in the other chain stores, and it is usually not as crowded. That’s a win-win in my personal book. Recently, they have started carrying gluten-free products. This alone is enough to make me forfeit my usual Walmart or Kroger jaunt. You see, my daughter cannot eat gluten; it’s not just a ‘fad’ for her — she is terribly allergic to it. So for her, I am always in search of gluten-free products.
As anyone who suffers from Celiac Disease (or loves someone who has it) knows, gluten-free products that actually taste good were once a rarity, to put it mildly. Thankfully, though, things are changing, and now gluten-free no longer has to be taste-free.
In fact, some of the more recent purchases I have made are quite tasty; delicious, in fact. Kroger and Walmart do carry a few meager GF products, but they can be quite expensive, to say the least. So, I’m giving a BIG thank you to BIG Lots!
First on the list of GF goodies is the Brownie Brittle! OH MY! It is SO good that even folks who aren’t GF will love them! These go fast, so be sure to pick up more than one bag!
Snyder’s has long been one of my favorite snack companies. Now I really love them because they have created a GF line of snack products. In the past, GF crackers, to me, seemed hard and stale. Snyder’s Wholey Cheese Crispy Crackers are flavorful and delicious, and their Honey Mustard Pretzel Sticks are fabulous! Shout out to Snyder’s!
Also topping the GF snack list at Big Lots is Moon Cheese. They are uniquely different, but really good. The Boom Chicka Pop Dark Chocolate Kettle Corn just makes me so happy. Lance GF Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers taste just like regular peanut butter and crackers, and I found a bag of yummy Sweet Potato Chips sitting right next to them!
You have to search for these products as most of them are not situated next to each other on the shelf. But for gluten-free folks, it’s worth the time and effort. Most of the products cost less than $3.00, which for GF is an amazing price. Big Lots has nifty finds at a thrifty price. That’s my kind of shopping!
Big Lots in Tupelo can be found at 2605 Main Street.
Friday and Saturday 3pm – 12pm, Sunday 11am – 9pm.
Back in the day, in a galaxy far, far, away…or at my age it seems that way, I’d meet with friends after school for a game of pool or foosball and a bite to eat. Ahhhh…good times!
Although my fond memories are of a distance past, the folks at Club 3six3 in Mantachie decided to recreate the fun atmosphere and favorite foods for a new generation to enjoy.
Their menu has plenty of choices to choose from including burgers, chicken, steak, salads, cold plates, bbq, loaded taters, and more. But… a couple of my favs are the fried pickleo’s and old fashion Dough Burger!
For my first visit, I ordered fries, pickeleo’s, a cheeseburger, and a dough burger.
The Dough Burger is prepared with Angus Beef, a mixture of Mom’s special seasonings, and your choice of toppings. Of course, in my opinion, you gotta go with the traditional mustard, pickle, and onion. Sooo good!
Their burgers are also prepared with real Angus beef and your choice of topping to make it your own. You can go with a single with minimal additions or trick it out with double patties, cheese, and a few veggies for good measure.
Club 3six3 not only provides some fine eats, but also a well equipped game room and party room! When you enter the building, you’ll first notice several dining tables and corner lounging area lined with pillows and tv’s for extra entertainment while enjoying a meal.
Venture inside a little further, and you’ll pass a dedicated party room for birthdays and special occasions, then a huge game room with all the classics. There are activities ranging from pool, foosball, ping pong, and table hockey, to board games available for all ages to enjoy.
Club 3six3 also found some funky cool seating for a laid back lounging experience. For only five bucks you can play unlimited games or for FREE on Sundays!
Club 3six3 is a hidden gem that brings back fond memories for us older folks, while making new ones for the younger generation. A place where good times, good food, and good vibes are always on the menu. See y’all there!
Do you smudge? Know what it is? That’s okay, most people are a little confused about it. Having a slight Native American heritage, I am drawn to all things natural. So, it is with great happiness, I introduce you to the ancient art of smudging.
Basically, when you smudge, you burn dried sage that has been bundled together and tied, to clear the air. The Native Americans used it to clear their air of bad vibes or bad energy. But, in recent years, scientists at the National Botanical Research Institute in India have proven that the art of smudging actually kills germs by an amazing 94 percent! Not only that, the room they smudged stayed disinfected for over 24 hours. In one particular test, the room smudged stayed clear of seven strains of illness-causing bacteria for up to 30 days. That’s a lot of bad juju kept away, y’all!
Smudge sticks are also used as a spiritual tool. When I smudge my house, I pray as I go! I pray that those who live here and those who visit will be blessed. I pray for the safety of my home and those in it, for peace, and that anyone entering will be kept free from harm and illness. It really is a spiritual process for me; a cleansing of heart and mind and home.
You do not have to pray while you smudge in order for it to kill bacteria, but hey, why would I not? There’s power in it, baby!
With all of the viruses lurking around, smudging may just become your number one defense in the war against these nasties. I have been practicing the art of smudging since my sister and I visited Santa Fe. There, you can buy locally made sage sticks in most any store; it’s the same with Colorado. Yes, you can order them online, but personally, I would only order them online from one particular place, for I know the quality of their sage sticks. Never would I order from anyplace else.
Anything ordered from Taos Herb Company is top-notch. They have an array of different sage sticks. Taos Herb offers a Smudge Stick Sampler if you are unsure what scent you prefer. I love the white sage sticks. I have a few that are entwined with rose petals and some made with sage and cedar. These are my favorites! If you can find Pinon and Sage, get some! I do love the smell of Pinon wood; it takes me immediately back to the streets and rolling landscape of beautiful Santa Fe. The lavender and sage is also fabulous! If you do not want to order online, give them a call. They have a great and knowledgeable staff who will steer you in the right direction. Their direct phone number is 575-758-1991.
Feel free to Google the art of smudging. You will find lots of useful information on it, and you may even want to order the entire setup containing the book, smudge pot, and feather. I will warn you though. When you smudge, you are literally ‘playing with fire.’ Be very careful!
Basically, all you have to do is light the smudge stick, blow it out, and let the smoky sage work it’s magic. Make sure none of the sparks from the sage stick fall on your carpet or area rugs, don’t get it too close to any fabric, especially bedspreads and curtains, and don’t be silly and put it too close to your nose! It’s fire, folks! And…just one of the many reasons I elect to pray while I smudge!
When I finish smudging, I put the burning tip into a ceramic bowl or little bucket of sand and snuff it out. Once I have given the cinders ample time to go out, I store my sage stick in a ziplock bag. They last a long time and will see you through many cold seasons.
Let me know if you currently smudge, or if you have recently ordered sage sticks from Taos Herb. I would be interested to hear how it goes!
And for the record, I do NOT want to hear of any houses that have been burned down due to smudging! Safety first! Always!
Now. Onward to the alcohol! Your best bet is to look for Cava, which comes from Spain, or any another sparkling wine in the $10 and up range. A dry Prosecco is a great option, as are Moscatos, if you like yours a little bit on the sweeter side. (I personally prefer Castello del Poggio, which is an Italian moscato, and it usually runs around $12 for a bottle.)
