SUMNER — On Nov. 14 on the square here, residents of Tallahatchie County and beyond will have the opportunity to support their community with the grand opening of the new 2nd District Tallahatchie County Courthouse and the fall Book Walk.
Over the past year, the National Park Foundation has supported the construction of a new courthouse to serve the needs of the community.
The building will be completed this month, so the existing courthouse, where the trial for Emmett Till’s murder was held, can transition to a full-time historic site as part of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument unit of the National Park Service.
The grand opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with remarks from dignitaries followed by a tour of the facility. It will be an opportunity for attendees to learn about the addition to the local community and to hear about the journey of working to tell Emmett’s story so it wouldn’t be forgotten.
The square will also hold the fifth annual Book Walk from 12 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 14.
This year’s Book Walk will include read-alongs, art activities, book giveaways, and a DJ providing music.
Families with children 12 and under are invited to attend, but the event is free and open to the public of all ages.
Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC) Community Engagement Associate Venita Halbert was the driving force behind the Book Walk, first held in 2022.
She recognized that the only libraries in Tallahatchie County were at the local schools, which could be miles away for some residents. Halbert helped coordinate participation from schools, authors and partner organizations in an effort to promote reading and literacy among children.
To that end, the Book Walk has featured read-alouds, free books and interactions with local businesses so young people could know their community better.
“The goal for this day is to show our community what all our work has been for and to engage with them through literacy and fun,” said Halbert.
“This work has been going on since I was a little girl, and to now see [founder of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission] Jerome G. Little’s dream come to fruition and produce so many opportunities for our county is awesome,” she continued.
“This was not done by ETIC alone; this was done with partnerships, consistency, dedication and trust. I’m personally proud to see the growth and very excited to see what our work can continue to do.”
According to Halbert, the Book Walk has grown each year, and her ultimate hope is for it to become an event on par with the Mississippi Book Festival, bringing people together in celebration of reading and literacy.
