by lturnage
1. May 2013 07:57
Johnnie Billington (Video)
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch
Vol 9 No 5,
Wed May 1, 2013
This issue is a memoriam for “Mr. Johnnie” Johnnie Billington 1935 - 2013
Master blues musician, who dedicated his life to teaching children the music of the Delta, passed away on April 1, 2013. His inspiration led directly to the formation of the Mighty Quapaw Apprenticeship Program. When I first came to Clarksdale in 1991 Mr. Johnnie took me under his wing and through several years of instruction he alternately fostered, cajoled and then finally tricked me into learning blues keyboard (I had originally asked him to learn guitar!) My blues career died a decade later after a tenure with the Wesley Jefferson Band and a long stint with Tater the Music Maker. But Mr. Johnnie endowed me with a life-long commitment to keep important skills and traditions alive through the youngsters of the community. “If you know something of value,” Mr. Johnnie often taught, “you’d better share it. Otherwise it will die when you die…” That simple thought has sustained me through many bumps on the road of working with disadvantaged youth. Mr. Johnnie’s example led me to form the Mighty Quapaw Apprenticeship Program for Mississippi Delta youth to learn the skills of carving canoes and then paddle them on the big river. The program is all about self-knowledge, leadership, team-skills, and learning to overcome the challenges of becoming adults in a confusing and difficult world. In Mr. Johnnie words, its all about “helping a boy become a young man, and a girl become a young woman.” I am forever grateful to Mr. Johnnie’s unbending ethics and keen sense of leadership. Its not necessarily the kind of leadership that leads you to fame & fortune, but definitely the kind that leads you to a thoughtful and passionate life. His lessons were often difficult to accept. But ultimately they have led me and many others to become better individuals and citizens. Although he sometimes seemed short on compassion, his never-ending mantra was “Love is what its all about…” One of his favorite songs to perform was Bobby Blue Bland’s “I’ll Take Care of You.” He often introduced the song specifically for children, addressing the youth in his band or in the audience with the admonition to love and care for your parents. He named his last homesite, located in Lambert along the meandering Possum Bayou, “The H&H Ranch,” which stands for “Health and Happiness.” Long live Mr. Johnnie’s teachings! They surely live on through his his talented apprentices turned professional blues musicians: Arthneice Jones “the Gas Man,” Anthony “Big A” Sherrard, Lee Williams, “Big T” Terry Williams, Billy Gibson, and many, many others. They also live on in unexpected directions like the Mighty Quapaws. In honor and respect of Mr. Johnnie, may his gift of Health and Happiness reach you wherever you are!
- John Ruskey, Lower Mississippi River Dispatch
by cpoland
11. April 2013 10:54
Whether you enjoy hiking, camping, playing golf, a nice walk on the beach or maybe the well-kept secret of playing disc golf we have it all in Mississippi.
The disc is like a Frisbee; only instead of tossing it to a person you try to toss it into a basket. Everyone is trying it. It’s the latest craze to hit the sporting world. They even have a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). Members of that association are going to set up a course here at Pearl River County Welcome Center. The course will be set up on Sunday, April 28th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. If you want to have some fun, come on out and join us.
by lturnage
9. April 2013 04:49
 |
More than 75 colorful buildings dating back to the turn of the 20th century line this magnolia-and-oak-filled square. They've made it onto the National Register of Historic Places, as has the commanding 1857 Greek Revival courthouse. (The Gallery, across Liberty Street from the courthouse, still has a drawer marked "Opium" from 100 years ago, when it was a pharmacy.) The town's southern charms lure visitors, most notably during the Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show held each May and October. www.cantontourism.com |
| |
|
by lturnage
8. April 2013 05:11
Maybe it's our freshly shucked corn, vine ripened tomatoes, plump blueberries, juicy watermelons, and a kaleidoscope of peppers, peas, and potatoes. It could be the sweet and savory local honey, or dairy products that are so abundant across the state. Fresh baked bread, or a jar of tangy pickles will add to your dining pleasure. Mississippi's Certified Farmers Markets provide fresh fruits and vegetables sold in a facility where you can be sure that the food you are buying is safe; a place where you know how the food was grown and where it was grown. To locate a Certified Farmers Market near you, visit
www.msfarmersmarket.org
Mississippi, it's where freshness grows.
by pbrown
4. April 2013 08:47
Pike County Welcome Center I-55 North 3 miles from Osyka, Ms will celebrate Confederate Heritage Month starting April 12, 2013 from 10:00 am -1: 00 pm the Daughters of Confederacy will greet tourist dressed in their Civil War period of attire. They will be serving cookies as they talk to the tourists.
April 13-14, 2013 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm the Stockdale Rangers and the Sons of Confederacy will set up tents, cook on site, display weapons, and dress in Civil War period of attire.
by cpoland
4. April 2013 07:12
The Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library & Cultural Center at 900 Goodyear Boulevard here in Picayune, MS will be having their Friends’ Annual Book Sale from April 29th – May 4th, 2013. The Book Sale will be open from 9am – 5pm even on the days the main library is closed. If you are a friend of the library on Sunday, April 28, 2013, they are having a “Friends Only Pre-Sale” from 2 – 4 pm. So if you still enjoy curling up with a good book; come and stock up on as many as you can carry.
by cpoland
4. April 2013 06:59
Picayune On Stage Presents: "The Ladies of Harmony" Dinner Theater
Date: April 12, 2013 - April 13, 2013
Event Description: "The Ladies of Harmony" Dinner Theater at Hide Away Lake Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.
Event Location: Dinner Theater at Hide Away Lake
Date/Time Information: Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. show at 8:00 p.m.
Contact Information:
Hide Away Residents Reservations: 601-798-1484, Non Residents: Call 601-799-1714
Fees/Admission: $33.00 gratuity and tax included Show at 8:00 p.m.
Picayune On Stage Presents: "The Ladies of Harmony"
Date: April 19, 2013 – April 20, 2013
Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Date: April 21, 2013
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Event Description: Picayune On Stage Presents "The Ladies of Harmony"
Event Location: 322 West Canal, Picayune, MS 39466
Date/Time Information: 8:00 p.m.
Contact Information 601-749-5551
Fees/Admission
Adults $ 10.00, Seniors $ 8.00, Students $ 5.00
by cpoland
4. April 2013 06:58
The Crosby Arboretum Strawberries and Cream Festival
Date: April 7, 2013 Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
http://www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu/
Bring the family, and join us to celebrate the history of the old
Strawberry farm on the lovely Pinecote Pavilion. Ice cream,
fresh strawberries and Picayune Frog Lemonade will be served.
Admission is free and open to the public
d8ec1e6b-180d-49bc-a739-d2ef465114df|0|.0
Tags:
by cpoland
4. April 2013 06:53
The Crosby Arboretum Strawberries and Cream Festival
Date: April 7, 2013 Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
http://www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu/
Bring the family, and join us to celebrate the history of the old Strawberry farm on the lovely Pinecote Pavilion. Ice cream, fresh strawberries and Picayune Frog Lemonade will be served. Admission is free and open to the public.
fb9e701f-c89b-4e33-9a58-78f3957997e9|0|.0
Tags:
Food
by cpoland
4. April 2013 06:48
Pancake Breakfast donations to support Relay for Life
Date: April 6, 2013 Time: 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Event Location Applebee's Memorial Blvd. Picayune, MS
Contact Information
Mary Byrd, 1620 Goodyear Blvd, Suite C, 601.476.4496
Fees/Admission $5.00
Come and Enjoy a Delicious Pancake Breakfast
You’re Donations Supports Relay for Life
Sponsored by Firemen's Federal Credit Union
f370956c-a15c-48d3-af22-d3f58c8f9149|0|.0
Tags:
Food