Kudos, applauses and cheers for the U.S. Olympics Team for earning 19 Gold, 26 Silver, and 26 Bronze for a total of 71, and placing us First as of August 4th! U.S. Women’s Basketball notched its 58th straight win after defeating Germany 87-68. Noah Lyles earned the title of “world’s fastest man” by defeating Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by 0.005 of a second. Simon Biles continues to excel as the gymnast with the most World medals (25) and most World gold medals (19). She is the female gymnast with the most World all-around titles (5). Let’s keep cheering and rooting for our Team! Way to go!!!!
Please continue to remember our readers who are experiencing health challenges, namely, Dorothy Pinkston, Wells Gray, Robert Loper, Brittany Jones, Robert Jennings, Ken Ormond, Timothy Crudup, Ruby Helen White, McArthur Cotton, Don Bell, Margaret Wodetzki, Gwen Gary, Q. McClendon, Bobby Carter, Gail Lee, Martha Reed, Connie Sorey, Rita Wash, LaToya McClendon, Jo Taylor, Melvin Hodge, Linnie K. Lofton, Deon May, Jr., Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Jamisha Denise Benton, Irene Lyles, Nancy Myers, Travis Ward, Eleanor Longmire, Rubin and Belsy Ruiz, Curtis Derrick, Jordan Crump, Albert Lee Payton, Kenard Bowie, Jr., Connie Lewis Williams, Mary Bobbitt, Rev. Floyd McConnell, Thomas Anderson, Cliff Qualls, Jr., Kristie Ware, Virginia Hannah, LeReece Crimm, Lavell Stewart, Ledora Benton, Henry Patrick, Lucy V. Moore, Sidney Ellis, Sammie Jean Webb, Anderson “Yellow” Stingley, Dorothy Mae Patrick Tigar, London Thompson, Melba Dixon, Mitch and Mary Nichols, Lucille Flex, Laura Jackson, Roseann Lynn, Eunice Slaughter, Viola Morgan, Lillian Gray, Jean Bates, Tomi Reed Smith, Tommy Rankin, Ruby Rhodes, Nicholas Jones, John Norman, Renea Taylor, James Earl Nickson, Juanita Jones, Roosevelt “Shane” Smith, Elijah Ickom, Vernette Owens, Diane Williams, Dashell Earnest, Sherry Holmes, Will Hughes, Billy Jack Evans, Otha Herrington, Douglas Braggs, and other readers who are facing health challenges.
Congratulations to Raleigh Mayor Angela Pickering who received a very special birthday present on her special day of July 31st!!! She received official notification from the MS Municipal League (MML) that she had been appointed to serve on the MML’S 2024-2025 Board of Directors. She made history on February 22, 2022, by becoming the first African American mayor in Raleigh!
We recently learned of the honor received by Forest High School junior Natalie Manning. She placed second place in the State Powerlifting for Girls during the 2023-2024 school year.
Legacy’s 13th Annual Change Agents of Reading Explosion (C.A.R.E.) Camp was held at the Slaughter Library/Legacy Center during the month of July. Legacy Executive Director Constance Burwell facilitated the Camp and shared her reading remediation skills with each of the Camp Scholars daily. These CARE Camps have existed for the past 13 years and bring together Scholars and their parents who have demonstrated excellence in community activities with Legacy in support of their children. The number of families interested surpasses the allotted spots. Care Camp stimulates Scholars’ aptitude for reading, writing, math, leadership skills (critical thinking, social media, job skills, effective communications, public speaking, etc.) The Camp offers a unique opportunity to share positive developments with families in Legacy’s 15-county outreach service area, close the summer learning gap, and establish a lifetime of friendships.
Legacy Scholars participating in and graduating from this July CARE Camp were Erin James, Halle Pace, Laila Harris, Zaniyah Brazzle, Nathaniel James, Brylan Scott, Ja’Zieon Shepherd, Addison Lyles, Av’Anna Lyles, and Intern James Burwell. Parents participating in this CARE experience were Jasmine and De’Angelo Shepherd, Constance and James Burwell, II, Chrissy and Stevie Robinson, Rakethia Coleman and Kendrick Brazzle, Ernestine Reed and W. C. Scott, Joni Pace and Harrell Jones, and Tiffany James. Change Agent volunteer Speakers were Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton (Job Skills), FMSD Board President Charles Longmire (Education and Job Preparation), Rita Parker Johnson (Gardening and Reading), MS Tobacco Free Coalition Program Director Joshua Burns (Dangers of Smoking), Scholar Intern James Burwell, III (Spanish, American Sign Language, Guitar and Drums), Retired Circuit Judge Tomie Green (Education and Career Planning), El Pueblo Case Worker Carolina Bermudez (Importance of Education), FMSD Superintendent Dr. Melanie Nelson (How to Kiss Your Brain with Educational Accomplishments), FMSD Assistant Superintendent Marcus Holbert (Education and Life), Change Agent Rosie Mabry (Good Stewardship), Retired and Legacy Star Teacher Debra Lowery (Importance of a Solid Educational Foundation), FMSD Teacher Assistant, Legacy Star Teacher Kathern Qualls (A Love for Learning), and Attorney Constance Slaughter-Harvey (MS and US Civil Rights Movement). Special thanks to all Volunteer Speakers who shared their time and energy with the CARE Scholars. Thanks to Corshelea for her tutoring assistance in math, Eloise Reed, Reena Battle, and Change Agent Andrew Crudup for their assistance.
Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton made her monthly visit to Lackey Convalescent Home on July 31st. June and July babies were celebrated with gifts; visitors, staff and residents were treated to cake and ice cream; and residents were treated with Bags of Joy Snacks. All gifts and refreshments and Bags of Joy Snacks were donated by Melton. June and July staffers celebrating birthdays were Shirley McGee, Kim Holifield, and Myecia Jones. They too received gifts which were in memory of former resident RN Naomi Dean Williams and her cousin Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter. Melton sends special thanks to staff for their assistance.
The Scott County MHV Leader Training was conducted July 30th with the welcome by Rankin County Agent Natasha Hayne. Other program participants were Kathy Warren, Sig Miles, Yolanda Green, Florence Measells, Rayne Tate Arnold and Carolyn Harrell. Cluster Club members present were Cynthia Slaughter Melton, Dorothy “Dale” Bradford, and Mary Lofton. Members enjoyed a video of the beautiful wedding of Rayne Tate Arnold. Thanks to Elizabeth Easterling and Jason Hurdle for their assistance.
The August Cluster Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 13th at 3:30 at the Downtown MSU Extension Office. Dorothy Bradford is the hostess.
The 13th Anniversary of Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc. will be celebrated Saturday, August 17th at the Forest Services Center from 10-12. Expressions of appreciation will be shared with Change Agents, donors and supporters. Our readers are invited.
Happy Birthday greetings to August babies born from the 11th–18th, namely, Michael Johnson, Raphael Nicks, Denise Owens and Constance Harvey Burwell (11), Marcus Johnson (12), Destiny Foster, Brandon Harris, Kathy Sanders, and Marquavious Bradford (13), Tony Sanders, Johnny Jones, Ethan Hunt and Tammy Longmire (14), Sandra Bates Gallaspy, Shirley Townsend, and Shirley Wilson (16), Jamarius Moore and Jenifer Perez (17) and Linda Russell (18).
Answer to Quiz Teaser #783: In December 1964, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare instructed school districts on several methods to achieve desegregation, namely geographical zoning or freedom of choice. In March 1966, the U.S. Office of Education followed up and asserted that the school boards bore the affirmative duty to desegregate their schools. In theory, “freedom of choice” allowed parents to choose the school their children could attend. It proved to be a very successful way of staving off whole desegregation in Mississippi for most of the 1960’s. Black parents throughout the South began challenging “freedom of choice” in court. Several court cases acknowledged that “freedom of choice” had failed to produce desegregated schools. After several court cases in Mississippi, massive school desegregation came to Mississippi in 1970. The Scott County School District and the Forest Municipal Separate School District were ordered to implement “freedom of choice” in 1964, and again in 1966. Special thanks to School Board Administrative Assistants Jessica Burkes and Vivian McGee for their assistance in reviewing files.
Quiz Teaser #784: What actions were taken by the Forest and Scott County School Boards to comply with the desegregation orders from the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the District Court?
