Condolences to the Conner family on the loss of their mother, Kathryn Conner Spruill. They were our next door, down-the-road neighbors for years. They moved to Calhoun City in the late 60s but kept their land in Oakland. Two of the children now live on the Oakland property.
Also, our sympathy to Rosemary Irby on the loss of her daughter, Robin. It is a tough, tough thing to deal with the loss of a child, no matter how old. Rosemary is the founder and runs the Facebook page for those who grew up in and around Oakland or live here now. She does an amazing job of keeping up with things for us and keeping us together.
The legislative timeline is marching fast now. With good fortune, the session should end near the end of March or early April. On their timeline, they are supposed to adjourn “sine die” on April 5, but sometimes they beat that. We are pushing for funding for a new fire truck for the Town of Oakland. Oakland Volunteer Fire Department responds to an outsized number of calls for the size town due to the proximity to Interstate 55 and Cossar State Park, among other things. It also supports the surrounding volunteer fire departments when they need more help, as they do for us.
The traffic count at the Oakland I-55 exchange, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation traffic count map, is 20,000 vehicles daily. There are another 2,100 coming through Oakland on Highway 32 to and from the east and 3,700 to and from the west, with an additional 900 between Oakland and Coffeeville. Before the closures on Highway 51, the traffic count was at 1,500. Right now, Highway 51 is closed to both the north and south of Oakland for bridge work. Part of 32 is being diverted through the town for bridge work. Investors and developers and, hopefully, legislators take note of these numbers.
We are surrounded by Cossar State Park on the 6,100-acre Enid Lake; the Holly Springs National Forest, which is 21,000 acres between Oakland and Coffeeville; the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery at Enid; and the Jamie Whitten Plant Materials Center, which is a 360-acre research center at Tillatoba serving Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkan-sas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.
We are quite the attractive location. One of the senators who was advising me on tourism issues made a comment that has stuck with me and encourages me on days when I wish things were moving faster and smoother: “Natchez would kill for your location.” In spite of its location, people flock to Natchez! Of course, they have unique history and river location, but I totally understand what the senator was saying!
I look forward to being a part of the Mississippi Main Street gathering at the Capitol this week to share with legislators the work going on in our towns and cities throughout the state. Main Street is a national organization with state organizations across the country. The Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive of Oakland being a member of this organization and I am fortunate to serve as the representative to Main Street.
You truly never know who you will run into at the Capitol on any given day. I was showing a W friend around the Capitol last week. The building was full of students and any number of organizations and business groups who come to try to convince legislators to support their issues. I heard someone in a small group of students who were on the fourth floor of the House side of the Capitol say “Coffeeville” and my ears perked up!
There was a group touring from Coffeeville High School. I told them I had graduated from CHS and asked who was there from Oakland. It seemed that at least half the group was Oakland, so I asked if we could get an Oakland photo together. The teacher with them pointed out one young man in the group who is interested in getting into politics. I explained that I was a lobbyist for the Town of Oakland. I look forward to seeing these young people get involved in our community!
We had a houseful of Ross relatives over the past weekend as we celebrated birthdays. Little Thomas Smith of Cleveland, Bradley Ross of Oakland, and I had birthdays within days of each other, so we used that as an excuse to throw a party! Martha Ross Smith, with her husband Ronnie, came from Florida with two of the grandchildren, Beckham and Saylor, while her son Jace and his wife Jamie and their three, Mae Whitley, Thomas and Caroline, came from Cleveland. Richard and his three, Maddie, Kade and Garrett, came from Grenada along with Lindsey and Kash from Coffeeville. Rich and Jennifer and Jennifer’s brother Erik were there. The house was full of Margaret Ross’ great-grandchildren, grandchildren, and children. I don’t think we even bothered to count. Cousin Bradley and I share the same birthday so we are birthday twins!
Regardless of your thoughts on social media, I’m here to tell you that Facebook birthdays are like nothing else! Thank you to all the people from all the different corners of my life who took the time to send me birthday greetings. I have not stopped long enough to thank each one, but I’m working on it! It is a blessing to have another year. I hope to do good with each day I’m given.
Don’t forget! May 2 is the Yalo-Ribbon Festival in Oakland featuring Danica Hart, formerly of Chapel Hart. If you are vendor, contact Sue Donohue Smith at execdir.oaklandareachamber @gmail.com or 662-852-1110 to reserve your space.
