Mike Robinson is presenting “The History of Ford’s Well” on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at the Batesville Library. This is sponsored by the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Society (PAN-GENS). Mike is a gifted historian and storyteller, so it should be a great program.
I am excited this week to attend the Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit. Last year, it was in McComb and this year Yazoo City is hosting. It was the best event I attended last year for networking with other people working in Mississippi small towns and for idea sharing. I expect to walk away this year inspired about the work we are doing in Oakland and how other towns are carrying out their ideas. Maybe next year, we will be on the agenda because we have great momentum.
Mayor Stephanie Patterson has been assigned by the president of the Mississippi Municipal League to the powerful MML Legislative Committee. This will give Oakland an even stronger voice.
If you are interested in starting a business in Oakland, let me know. I’m not in the real estate business, but people tell me when they have properties for sale. I can definitely play matchmaker!
Friends of Cossar State Park are hosting a huge car show on Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. There is a 50/50 raffle plus concessions and more. The Friends group is vital to the success of this great state park. They help clean up, spruce up and sponsor activities and events.
One of the most difficult but rewarding promises I have ever had to fulfill was walking the path with a wonderful friend who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I had promised her that she wouldn’t be alone when the time came for her to leave this life. I was able to keep that promise and walked for many months with her. She gave me special items that she treasured along the way, but the greatest treasure was being with her.
Earlier this year, she gave me another gift long after she had left us. An endowed fund in my name was established at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi for use with projects in the Oakland area. The fund is endowed (meaning it begins to earn interest and up to 5% of the fund can be used each year for projects), but it needs to grow! If you’d like to make a tax-deductible contribution to Oakland projects, contact Stacye Trout at strout@cfnm.org or 662-449-5002.
There is an interesting connection between our Ross family and the Trouts. The house that my mother lives in was originally built by Laura McPherson Trout’s parents. Cal Trout is the grandson of Laura, and Stacye is his wife. They came and celebrated with us in 2022 when the house was 100 years old. Several of the Trout children were born in the house. The Ross family bought it from them in 1950.
It was great visiting with my classmate, Patrice Swearengen O’Brien, and her husband, Lamar, when they stopped by to say “Happy Birthday” to my mom, Margaret Ross. Patrice is an accomplished and award-winning landowner and tree farmer. I knew she had been named Tree Farmer of the Year in Mississippi a few years ago, but Lamar told me she had also won a national award for work as a landowner. Patrice tried to play it down, but Lamar and I are both impressed!
We rounded out Mother’s 93rd birthday with a surprise on Monday morning after a birthday trip week before last and a party this past Sunday. Her five children had been working behind her back (and that is hard to do, by the way!) to have brick columns installed (with gates to come) at the entrance of the Oakland Cemetery. Mother has served as historian and much more with the Oakland Cemetery Board, so it is near and dear to her heart. The columns and gate will be a lasting tribute to our dad, Richard Haraway Ross, Sr., and her. This was the 100th anniversary of Daddy’s birth year, so it seemed a good time to do this. It really does spruce up the entrance.
Stay tuned! Watch for more exciting news from Oakland next week. Let me know if you have news to share at oaklandareachamber@gmail.com.
