McComb, MS

McComb, Mississippi: "McComb Railroad Brick Memorial Dedication"

On Saturday, April 5, 2008, a couple of hundred people gathered at the McComb Depot Pavilion to honor those who served on the Illinois Central Railroad.

The master of ceremonies was Larry Carruth. McComb Mayor Zachary Patterson welcomed the crowd, and prayer was led by retired porter the Reverend Leon Moore. Donald Chase, president of the Railroad Retirees Club, gave a history of the brick memorial. Next, Al Andrews, a real estate developer, spoke fondly of his days growing up in McComb as part of a railroad family. He recounted how his father was always talking about going "up north" to Gwin, the "end of the road" for the railroad men from these parts. Of course, Andrews always believed Gwin was located somewhere way up north, until he realized in his late teens that it was just somewhere between Yazoo City and Greenwood (Tchula, actually)!

This reminds me of a tale I heard recently about my father-in-law, the engineer Bob DeCoux. One time he was spending the night in Gwin, and it was so cold they were given electric blankets to help them make it through the night. Well, before he went to sleep, Bob, being really tired, plugged in what he thought was the blanket. Well, he slept through the night, but it wasn't restful-he woke up freezing next to a melted coffee pot he had plugged in instead of the electric blanket! Hey, why don't you share your old railroad stories here? Maybe we can put a book together someday!

After the brick memorial ceremony a reception was held in the Pike Room next to the railroad museum. The museum is open Monday through Friday, noon until 4 PM. Please visit the McComb City Railroad Depot Museum website.

*** To see more photos relating to this event (and all my photo albums), please visit www.photoworks.com/members/tmorgan100. (Click on "View all" to see albums not pictured on the first page. Note: Photos can be viewed as a slide show, but in full-screen mode descriptions which may be under some of the photos are not visible--you may need to scroll down to read the descriptions.) Feel free to add comments on the photo site!

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***Comments are welcome and encouraged--please click on the "Comments" link below!

***To buy or sell land or residential or commercial real estate in Southwest Mississippi, contact me! http://www.swmsre.com/ Thank you for visiting!

McComb, Pike County, MS: American Cancer Society Relay for Life 2008.

No replay of last year's torrential rainout! The weather on Friday, May 9, 2008, was wonderful throughout the night. Clear skies and a light breeze helped to make this year's Relay for Life event at the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center's wooded walking track a great success! Over $121,000 has been raised by scores of vendors and community sponsors. The event began with a survivor's reception at the Mississippi Cancer Institute in McComb. During the opening ceremonies were announcements by event organizer Chastity Burnette, prayer by cancer survivor Jennifer Lindsey, national anthem by Shelby Price, the cancer survivor's ceremony and lap (169 survivors had registered), the caregivers' lap, the kids' lap with music by the Kennedy Elementary choir, and then the team lap.

Next on the agenda were the ever-popular Cutest Baby Contest sponsored by the Mississippi Cancer Institute), great entertainment by Elvis Presley (Jimmy C. Hutchins), and the exciting Pig Race (new for this year in McComb). In this event sponsors raced battery-operated pigs they had dressed and creatively named. "Handlers" had to wear a pig nose during the race. Pigs got one snout's length advantage for every $25 above the minimum $100 required to enter the race. Wal-Mart's porker came out the winner!

Later in the evening and into the early morning were the Relay Star talent contest, the luminary ceremony, karaoke, team activities and games, including Dizzy Bat, Mummy Wrap, Mystery Eating Contest, and other entertainment. The 12-hour event wrapped up around 4 AM Saturday morning. For more information, visit cancer.org and relay for life.org.

Congratulations to the following winners of some of this year's awards:

Best Tent Site--Super D
Best T-Shirt--McComb OB
Best Team Spirit--Eva Gordon Elementary
AM Challenge--Biflex/Genco
Sunrise Award--McComb Market

***Photo uploading for the ActiveRain site is not working at this time. When it is fixed, I will post a few photos here. To see all 103 photos of this event (and all my photo albums), please visit www.photoworks.com/members/tmorgan100. (Click on "View all" to see albums not pictured on the first page. Note: Photos can be viewed as a slide show, but in full-screen mode descriptions which may be under some of the photos are not visible--you may need to scroll down to read the descriptions.)

***Did you know?! You can now subscribe to my blog! (Enter your email address in the subscribe field in the right column, below the pictures of recent visitors.)

***Comments are welcome and encouraged--please click on the "Comments" link below!

***To buy or sell land or residential or commercial real estate in Southwest Mississippi, give me a call! http://www.swmsre.com/ Thank you for visiting!

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, McComb School District hosted "Arts Alive '08," a five-hour-long celebration of music and the arts. Moved from the McComb Depot Pavilion to the MHS gym due to a threat of rain, the event proved to attract a great crowd, and everyone had a lot of fun! Artwork from students of all grades was displayed in the basketball gym's bleachers. There was face painting, pottery and jewelry, and lots of food from tents lining Virginia Avenue between the gym and the football field.

Performance by "Sharpay" and "Ryan" from the smash MHS production of "High School Musical."

There were performances galore-Denman Junior High's Quest class performed a skit, and the Denman Dramatic Tigers and dance team, along with MHS drama students, displayed their acting skills. Music filled the air all day long, with performances by the Higgins Middle School and Denman bands, the MHS band and pep band, and the Otken and Kennedy Elementary choirs. A special performance by the phenomenal jazz group Ezra and Seven* from Jackson, MS, with MHS band director Robert Lamkin on trombone, got the crowd on its feet and dancing!

Robert Lamkin, left, with Ezra Brown.

Emcee Fern Crossley interviewing Superintendent Therese Palmertree.

***I've posted just a few of the pictures here. To see more pictures of this and other area events, please visit www.photoworks.com/members/tmorgan100. (Click on "View all" to see albums not pictured on the first page. Note: Photos can be viewed as a slide show, but in full-screen mode descriptions which are under some of the photos are not visible--you may need to scroll down to read the descriptions.)

***Did you know?! You can now subscribe to my blog! (Enter your email address in the subscribe field in the right column, below the pictures of recent visitors.)

***To buy or sell residential or commercial real estate in Southwest Mississippi, call on me--Tom Morgan. http://www.swmsre.com/ Thank you for visiting!

I saw my first hummingbird of the season a few minutes ago! I had read in the paper about a month ago where the first one was sighted in this area, and at that time I got my feeders out. I intended to put them up, but it seemed like I always had to do something ahead of that, and so they sat on the kitchen table for weeks, just waiting! Well, finally I set them out yesterday, and behold, this evening a hummer is feeding!

Photo from stock.xchng

McComb, Pike County, MS "Home Builders Association of SW MS 2008 Home and Garden Show"

On April 5, 2008, the Home Builders Association of Southwest Mississippi put on its annual home and garden show at the National Guard Armory in McComb. About forty vendors from all over the area came and displayed their wares. It was a great time to meet people and learn about all the different home-related businesses in our area.

Adam Pittman of Columbia Block and Brick

Stan and Beth McMorris, Mc Square Builders

Mike Bowers of Mike Bowers Construction

Micah and Ginger Chaney,The Fireplace Connection, http://msfireplaceconnection.com

Sorry I didn't get everyone there--maybe next time! I've posted just a few of the pictures here. *To see more pictures of this and other area events, please visit www.photoworks.com/members/tmorgan100. (Click on "View all" to see albums not pictured on the first page.) These photos are of lower resolution for Internet posting. If you would like a higher resolution photo for printing, please let me know.
*To buy or sell real estate in Southwest Mississippi, call on me--Tom Morgan. http://www.swmsre.com/ Thank you for visiting!