Our prayers continue to be for our readers who are facing health challenges. Please remember Mr. William Gray who is hospitalized at Lackey, and Rev. Ed Hightower who is at the Veteran’s facility.
Congratulations to PFC Steven Means who graduated Boot Camp Marine Corp Recruit Depot at Parris Island, NC on January 4th. He successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training. PFC Means, son of Mrs. Ilean Means, is a 2017 graduate of Forest High School and the winner of the 2017 W. L. Slaughter Academic/Athletic Award. We’re proud of PFC Means and wish him well.
The 10:00 a.m. church service at the MS Care Center in Morton was enjoyed by resident Naomi Dean Williams and her visitors, Cynthia Melton, Dorothy Pinkston and friends from Wiggins, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Paige. Rev. Willie Jones shared the good news with residents and Minister Sylvester McKee shared the Word through music and praise.
The Sherman Hill/East Scott School Organization held its first 2019 Planning Session at the Slaughter Library Saturday, February 9th with the following members in attendance and participating in the meeting, Mae William, James Moore, Rita Parker, Charlie Walker, Minnie Lyles, John Rufus Anderson, Josephine McNair, Willie Earl Jones, Steve Denham and Ester Perry.
We enjoyed speaking with Roseann Lynn who sends her greetings and best wishes to Forest residents and big bags of Valentine’s greetings.
Retired Highway Patrolmen R. O. Williams, Louis Younger and Walter Crosby were recognized as the first African Americans to successfully join the MS Highway Safety Patrol in 1972. These three men and one of the plaintiffs, Jerome Mangum, in the 1970 lawsuit filed by Constance Slaughter-Harvey, were recognized at the State Capitol Thursday.
The Scott County JSU Alumni Chapter met February 7th at the Forest Services Center. Members discussed the recruitment of students and the annual Spring Banquet planned for April 5th. Further details will be provided later. Members present were President Maxine Gilmore, Ester Perry, Lisa Darby, Annie Owens, Rose Anderson and Cynthia Melton.
The Cluster Club met February 5th at the MS State Extension Office. Mrs. Dorothy Strong was the host for this February meeting. Other members attending were, President Connie Stewart, Annie Stewart, Desaree Bradford, Cynthia Melton, and new member Connie Wash. Mrs. Anita Webb shared information on upcoming events for 2019.
Members of the St. Michael Martha & Mary Ministry met Tuesday at the St. Michael Parish Hall and shared information concerning St. Agatha and her role in helping the homeless and other vulnerable segments of society. Sisters Pat Clemen, Eileen Hauswald and Obdulia Olivar, Rosa Orellano, and Constance Slaughter-Harvey were present. The next meeting is the second Tuesday in March at 6:00 p.m.
The executive committee of the W. L. Slaughter Subdivision Homeowners Association met Monday at the W. L. Slaughter Library. Members initiated plans for the Clean Up Project and Neighborhood Hospitality Week. Present were president Carl Lamb, secretary Barbara Gray, treasurer Lena Glenn and historian Mae Lizzie Jones. The next meeting is the first Monday in April.
Black History Month will be celebrated by MAP Head Start family on Monday, February 25th at the Forest Services Center. Our readers and other Head Start supporters are invited to participate in this celebration which starts at 9:30 a.m.
The Bettye Mae Jack Middle School family will celebrate Black History Month Monday, February 25th at 9:30. Guest speaker is Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Legacy Board President/Founder and Youth Court Prosecutor.
Bishop Garrigan High School students from Algona, IA visiting Excel during their service trip attended Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Sunday morning. Following Mass, they enjoyed breakfast at the Slaughter Library and then interviewed Constance Slaughter-Harvey at the Legacy Administrative office. They departed for Graceland. Students participating in these activities were Laurel Degen, Emma Thul, Lauren Kenyon, Caroline Bradley, Jordan Hansen, Eric Thul, Sam Vaske, Bryce Garman, Billy Erpelding, and Lucas Hough. Jake Rosenmeyer was the trip coordinator. We applaud these youth for volunteering to help at Excel and We Care Mission in Morton.
Save Our Youth through Community Action stakeholders held their first 2019 luncheon meeting Monday, February 4th at the Slaughter Library. Additional school forums are being scheduled and the areas to be covered include second hand smoke, bullying, and more beauty in your sketches. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. Stakeholders present at the meeting included Shonnette Kelley, Andre’ Hollis. Chief Will Jones, Andrew Crudup, D. L. Bennett, Lt. Jody Matheny, Dorothy Pinkston, Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Roy Pinkston, and Dorothy Strong.
We enjoyed visiting Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell (Mary) Nichols and were pleased to note they are in good spirits. We learned that Mary paints beautiful scenes, portraits and other paintings.
Several program participants in the memorial services for Mrs. Tommie Clark were incorrectly identified, namely, Dr. John Clark was identified as a member of the Hawkins Class of 1967 instead of the class of 1969. Mr. Eddie James Rigsby represented the class of 1967. It was good seeing former Hawkins Choir Director and Biology instructor, Dr. Bobby Cooper.
February babies celebrating their birthdays during the last two weeks in the month are Evany Gray (14), Myoshia Myers and Jimmy Butler (15), Heather Knowles Darby (16), Alexis Gore and Renee Reyes (17), Thomas Colbert, Sheena Evans and Jessie Morgan (18), Letonia Johnson (20), Latrevius “Tre” Pinkston (21), Maryah Ealy (24), Betty Jones, Dorothy Buckley, Richard Stingley, Loretta Brown, Brian Kimble, and Alexus Rasco (28).
Answer to Black History Quiz Teaser # 2019-1: Dr. Mae Jemison, American engineer, physician and NASA astronaut, was the first African American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on September 12, 1992. Born in Decatur, AL, Dr. Jemison is a dancer and holds nine honorary doctorates in science, engineering, letters and the humanities.
Black History Quiz Teaser # 2019-2: Who was the first African American Speaker of the MS House of Representatives and the first Speaker of the House in the country? Hint: There is a street in Jackson named in his honor.
