Mary & Bill Watkins

For many of us in Jackson , Mississippi , our beloved best friends are inside pets. We may be okay with that. But, for many potential homebuyers, it may be a huge turn off. One of the biggest reasons potential buyers are turned off is the inconvenience of the pets when viewing the property.

Many sellers have to be called first before anyone can come to view the property so they can clean up any mess and put the pets away. And, many buyers automatically think this is a less appealing home. In today's market, you don't want anything prohibiting a showing of your home. Buyers will be very quick to move along and not give your home a second thought, no matter how great the home is.

The smell and mess a pet can make is another reason buyers are turned off. There are a lot of non-pet owners out there, and many will be looking at your home. The first thing that comes to mind for non-pet owners and even some pet owners is will they be able to get the smell of your pet out of the home.

Here are some things to ask yourself before you put your home on the market.

~ Does your home smell like your pet? Many of us who own pets can't smell our pets like others can. It's kind of like someone who smokes. Non-smokers can smell it from a mile away, while the actual smoker can't smell it. Big dogs tend to have bad smells. Litter boxes are another bad odor that is very offensive to many. Also, some exotic pets have very offensive odors.

~ Are there stains on your carpet? If you have an indoor pet, then there is usually a stain somewhere on your carpet. It will do you good to hire a professional carpet cleaner to remove all the stains or just replace the carpet. If you choose to change the carpet, don't forget to change the pad underneath. Many homeowners try to save money by leaving the pad. The pad is what actually holds the pets odor. It's very inexpensive to replace, so just do it. You'll thank yourself later for it.

~ Will your pets be in the home when buyers come to view it? If at all possible, ask a friend or realitive to pet sit for you while your home is on the market. No one likes to see cats climbing all over anything, dogs trying to jump on them, or birds screeching in the other room. Here's one of the biggest turn off's I've ever faced. I went in to view a home one day that had a dog. There was a note on the door to let us know there was a dog inside. I went in anyway, only to discover there were training pads all over the house that the dog had used several times. The mess was also on the carpet. And to top it off, the dog was full grown. So, you can easily see how this situation will be a deal breaker for many.

Taking some simple steps to get the pet out of the home and get the odor out as well will go a long way in a home sale.

The Mississippi state fair is back in town, in Jackson, Mississippi. And, this year's state fair has over 60 rides to choose from, which may seem overwhelming for many eager fair lovers. So, North American Midway Entertainment has listed some of the most popular and fun rides that you may want to visit first.

The Crazy Mouse Spinning Roller Coaster made the top of the list. This fun roller coaster is made up of 1,200 feet of track that turns and dips in ways that make riders want to come back for more. You actually get to spin on this roller coaster.

You will find that the Mega Drop is the tallest ride at the fair, a 130 foot vertical drop. This ride is definitely not for the faint of heart. Some call it the tower of power. The ride lifts you 130 feet in the air, and hovers you high in the air for a few second before it plunges you to the ground.

On the Fireball, you can spin 360 degrees. For a cooler ride, you can hit the White Water Flume, but you are sure to get really wet. For those with a need for speed, you will find the Remix II and Himalaya are very fast rides. They are both sure to get your blood flowing. And, of course there's always the Ferris Wheel that will leisurely take you 85 feet in the air for great views of the Fairgrounds and surrounding areas.

For smaller kids, there is the famous Merry Go Round, along with the Wacky Worm Rollercoaster, and Rockin' Tug, which are all located in Kiddy Land.

The fair is open everyday until October 12^th. There will be special events days throughout the week such as Ride-A-Thon, Family Nights and Kids Day. Ride-A-Thon will be Friday, Oct. 10 from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. For $20.00 you can ride unlimited rides. Family Night will be Tuesday Oct. 12 from noon until 11 p.m. and Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. For $25.00 you can ride unlimited rides. Kids Day will be Friday, Oct. 10 from noon until 6 p.m. Ride for one less coupon all day.

The fair also has competitive exhibits, live bands, talent competitions, senior day, fair talent day, the fetch club, game and craft booths, and the Mississippi trade mart. You can also get in the fair everyday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and enjoy lunch.

It's a great place to go and have fun. We hope you get to try and enjoy all the rides there.

Garaywa is Clinton, Mississippi's best kept secret. Even as you step through the gates, you'll find yourself immersed in tranquility. Spanish moss draped trees sway in the wind and wooden park benches hold the promise of relaxation, rest, or pray. Camp Garaywa truly completes the community of Clinton. It spreads out over 50 acres that's connected to the Countrywood subdivision and is owned by the Women's Missionary Union of Mississippi.

Even though Camp Garaywa sits in the midst of the city and doesn't look like much from the outside, it's a like stepping into another world, once you pass through the gates. Many campers that utilize the camp are Southern Baptists, but the camp is open to all dominations which you will find throughout the area.

The camp started out as a dream of Edwina Robinson. At the time, the area was nothing more than cow pasture land, owned by Mississippi College. Edwina traveled around the state speaking to several Baptist churches about her dream. In turn, they would donate some lumber or a box of nails. Soon, with much help from volunteers, her dream became a reality when it opened in May 1947.

The name Garaywa came from a youth group leader from Blue Mountain, the winner of the camp naming contest. The group leader combined the initials of the of the groups the camp was going to serve. GA for Girls Auxiliary, RA for Royal Ambassadors and YMA for Young Women's Auxiliary. And you have it - GARAYWA.

Camp facilities include 20 cabins, a dining hall, an activities building, a lodge with 30 hotel rooms, an auditorium, a guest house with 6 rooms and 28 beds, the Patterson Place, a conference room with kitchen, a prayer garden, crafts pavilions, picnic areas, a gazebo, swimming pools, nature trails and rope courses.

During the summer, the camp is used as a Girls Auxiliary camp for ages 4-6. The rest of the year, the camp is open to everyone. So, next time you're in Clinton, Mississippi, be sure to visit Camp Carawya for an experience you'll never forget.

Real estate agents have become more useful over the years for buyers and sellers. Some Realtors have buyers and sellers contact them to ask questions like - "Where's the best restaurant in town?", "What painter would you recommend?", "What are the latest home improvement trends?" and so forth.

When you find a really good, dedicated real estate agent, you will soon learn they are full of such useful information. Dedicated Realtors will be able to answer any question you may have about real estate and much more. They will also have a website with links to several useful people, businesses, and places for the homeowner. On the Realtors website, you should be able to easily find selling tips, buying tips, community information, school information, mortgage calculators, online applications, and their updated available properties.

You should also be able to find useful tools for moving and relocating, your home and its taxes, home improvement advice, consumer tips, health and safety tips around the house, gardening ideas, and tons of other useful information.

Realtors with this much useful information available to you are sure to do a great job at finding your next home or selling your home. An informative Realtor is someone you can count on to get the job done.

While many large cities and counties around the country are lowering their proposed 2009 budget, Hinds County is raising theirs. The current budget is $51.5 million. The new budget will be $56.7 million.

This is really good news for many residents in Hinds County. The proposed budget will include a $300 a month raise for over 280 county employees, and $1.7 million in raises for over 470 Sheriff's Department employees.

The proposed budget will also include a $1.85 million dollar tax rate decrease. One million is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Property owners are expected to pay more this year since property values have increased.

Many cities around the nation are still seeing low property values. So, increased property values are good news for Hinds County residents. This goes to show that Hinds County is still a great place to call home.