Daily Times Leader
WEATHER READY Shelter races to protect puppies ahead of ice storm
With an ice storm sweeping the Southeast this weekend the West PointClay County Animal Shelter turned frantic days into a community rescue mission, placing dozens of vulnerable puppies and small dogs into foster homes to shield them from the freezing...
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Community program celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
West Point celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a community program Monday at 9:45 a.m. at Sage Gymnasium on the Community Counseling Services Administrative Campus. The theme for this year's celebration was Building Bridges, Not...
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‘eVerYOne In THIS rOOM FeeLS SOMeTHInG’
The Clay County Justice Center courtroom fell quiet Wednesday night as Reverend Eddie Longstreet stood before hundreds who had come to mourn. “I want to thank you all for coming and we wanna be on time,” he said. The courtroom had become a sanctuary....
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Fundraisers announced for families of Cedar Bluff victims
Three fundraisers have been organized to aid the families of the six victims slain in Cedar Bluff on Friday Rene Guines-McMillian put together a GoFundMe to benefit Leshanna Guines, whose 7-year-old daughter Mikylia was killed Friday night....
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‘I wanted to be part of something that makes a difference every day’
Many people that grow up in small towns can't wait to experience a bigger city once they are old enough, but others like Alma Morton find their purpose right at home. As a lifelong West Point resident Morton has seen first hand what makes West Point...
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SWORN IN
The West Point Police Department and Chief Michael Edwards, left, introduced two officers, Corporal Quentin Carter and Corporal Quevandas Smith. (Courtesy photo, WPPD)
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Adopt-a-Family marks a successful year
The 2025 Adopt-a-Family program served 85 Clay County families this Christmas season, the most since 2020, according to program coordinator Morgan Garcia, Branch Manager of Renasant Bank. "We would like to thank everyone that helped make this year's...
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“Cash Jam”
Igot to the Black Prairie Blues Museum a while before the Blues Festival began. The Old Memphis Kings and Macon, Ga.'s Cash's Juke Joint were already there, right inside the door. Angel Ocasio Jr. is frontman and guitarist of Cash's Juke Joint. Ocasio...
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Row crops posted large decline in 2025 on prices
STARKVILLE – Most row crop farmers battled elevated production costs which, when coupled with low commodity prices, made profitability challenging in 2025. Will Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service,...
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YOKOHAMA, STRONG HILL GIVE BACK
Yokohama Tire and Strong Hill Missionary Baptist Church both engaged in community service to help Sally Kate Winters Community Services this holiday season. Yokohama held a hygiene drive in partnership with SKW. Strong Hill’s WNL Youth Group collected...
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LIBRARY FUN
Guest reader Kimbry Wedel and the Junior Auxiliary of West Point on Monday helped local children bring snowmen to life through arts and crafts. (Courtesy photos)
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Legislators discuss increasing numbers of Mississippians attaining jobs and education beyond high school
State lawmakers and leaders of Mississippi's public colleges and universities are examining ways to increase the number of adults who complete some form of education after high school, land a job, and earn a living wage. The initial conversations,...
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From local kid to award finalist
If you've been around Starkville long enough there is a good chance you've heard of Danny Smith. You may have even read his name right as you catch up on the latest in local sports. After all, he's been writing in Oktibbeha County for 40 years. Danny...
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Adopted by FUMC
28 year old mom with children ages 21, 17, & 1. The baby needs diapers and the other girls need clothes & bedding
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Third quarter dooms Green Wave in loss to Panthers
STARKVILLE – All season long,West Point has been the dominant team on Friday nights and the Green Wave was feeling right at home at another state championship. As the Green Wave prepared for an unprecedented 10th-straight state championship...
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Community remembers WPPD Lt. Bob Moore
The West Point community is mourning the loss of Lt. Bob Moore, a longtime officer with the West Point Police Department who died over the weekend. The West Point Police Department held a prayer session yesterday morning at the police department in...
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Adopt A FAmily
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Adopted Anonymously Adopted in memory of Willie H Watson and Sally Watson 50 year old male in need of clothes, bedding, and shoes Adopted by FUMC Adopted by FUMC Adopted Anonymously Adopted Anonymously 65 year old...
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THANKFUL HEARTS
The following members of the community extend their deepest gratitude to our community. “Happy Thanksgiving to all and have Bless holidays season from Selectman Binder.” - William Binder - Ward 2 Selectman (West Point) “To the incredible people of...
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‘Participating in your community just makes you a better person’
“Some of my favorite memories include participating in parades my mom planned while she was the Director of the Chamber of Commerce,” said Gray, “We were always a part of all of them.” It was her mother, Louise Campbell, that not only showed her how...
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HONORING HEROES West Point honors four veterans at Tuesday ceremony
West Point honored four local veterans and heard from a decorated military leader during a Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at City Hall, recognizing decades of service spanning the Cold War through Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes,...
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A servant’s heart
Dee Echols may have not been born in West Point, but after 30 years it's safe to say she is a certified local. Echols' path to West Point was really quite simple, she found love. “I worked in Arkansas for 20 years as the executive officer of the Home...
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Gibbs unopposed, District 22 race uncalled
Clay County residents living in House District 22 went to the polls to decide between incumbent Republican Jon Lancaster and challenger Democrat Justin Crosby. A panel of judges ruled earlier this year that five Mississippi House districts violated...
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‘Love builds up’
Chad Bowen may still be fairly new to West Point, but he has already established himself within the community. The Bowen family has been in West Point for just over a year and the community instantly made an impact on them. “We moved here in June...
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Blues Museum to host fifth annual Festival of Trees
The Black Prairie Blues Museum will host its fifth annual Festival of Trees from Nov. 1-6, inviting individuals, businesses and organizations to decorate holiday trees throughout the museum's event space. The festival, which began after COVID-19 as a...
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‘You can be what you want to be’
Dr. Shecoya White is an associate professor at Mississippi State, but she chose West Point as her home. White moved to West Point in August of 2017 and quickly fell in love with not just the people, but the city itself too. “I really enjoy West...
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TWICE AS NICE
West Point High School swimmer Caston McKellar captured the state championship in two events on Saturday. He placed first in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. McKellar broke the state record in the 100 freestyle. With his performance, McKellar...
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A caring heart in West Point
Mrytle Robinson was born and raised in West Point and continues to serve the community today. Robinson is an Activity Director at West Point Community Living Center. Her job can entail a lot of hard work but she does it out of love for her fellow...
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New twists, community flair draw crowd to Una Pink Out
PRAIRIE – Community awareness and support filled the District 4 Park and Rec facility Saturday as the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk drew participants looking to show support for the cause. The free event kicked off at 8 a.m. at the facility,...
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‘Step out on faith’
Dr. Leigh Hawkins is one of West Point's newer residents, but is a lifelong Mississippian. Originally from Natchez, Hawkins has lived all over the state and outside it. She received her bachelors degree from Tougaloo College then went to nearby...
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“Cash Jam”
Igot to the Black Prairie Blues Museum a while before the Blues Festival began. The Old Memphis Kings and Macon, Ga.'s Cash's Juke Joint were already there, right inside the door. Angel Ocasio Jr. is frontman and guitarist of Cash's Juke Joint. Ocasio...
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Bringing vision to life
A campaign is underway to fund a mural on the south wall of the Louise Campbell Arts Center, a project intended to fulfill a longtime dream of the late Campbell, the center's namesake. The West Point Clay County Arts Council (WPCCAC) is currently...
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BURGER MAN SERVES SCHOOL FACULTY
Malik Thomas (The Burger Man) cooked hamburgers for the faculty and staff on Friday during an appreciation luncheon organized by the school’s PTO, Dr. Oswalt, and Ms. Jai Walker. Teachers and staff lined up for the meal, which featured burgers and...
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‘It’s felt like a magnet my whole life’
Rachel Wood is a Staff Accompanist at the Mississippi State University Department of Music but her journey with music started well before her time at MSU. Her love music started at an early age with family members who played instruments followed by...
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Royal Wave The
The West Point Consolidated School District Homecoming Court will be presented on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Hamblin Stadium. The 7th Grade Queen and 9th Grade Princess will be announced before the 7th grade kickoff at 4 p.m. The school community...
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Avent finds joy in family, faith, and “grandma hobbies”
Amber Avent is a Clay County native who grew up in Pheba, MS. She attended Hebron Christian School and got a business degree at Mississippi State University following graduation. She is currently working in a human resources role in Starkville. Amber...
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A look back
The following is a reprint of Kelly Burns’s article printed on September 12, 2001. It details local reactions to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Citizens across West Point reacted with disgust towards the...
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Every Great Team Starts with a
West Point head football coach Brett Morgan flashes a signal to his team during Friday night’s 48-15 win over Starkville. For more on the game, see sports page 6. (Photo by Jeremy Miller, for Daily Times Leader)
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Best series in the Golden trianGle
The West Point Green Wave hosted the Starkville Yellow Jackets in a rain storm during the 2023 season. (Photo by Jason Cleveland, DTL file) This year marks the 100th meeting in the high school football series between Starkville and West Point. The...
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City welcomes another year of PAF
Prairie Arts is here. The Festival is held each year on Labor Day weekend. “We've been working hard this year and can't wait,” Lisa Klutts of the Growth Alliance said. “Prairie Arts brings such a joy to the community and brings us all...
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The show will go on thanks to grant
The Mississippi State University (MSU) Summer Scholars on Stage 2025 program received a grant worth over $4,800 from the 4-County Foundation over the summer to help keep the program and students. The program is held each summer in June and offers a...
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“Through pure and goodly deeds”
Cally Rose Baucom has always called West Point home. She was home educated all the way through school age and started working at a young age. Cally is now a devoted wife and mother to two wonderful boys, who are 2 and under. She is very active in the...
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Starkville native with West Point connection honored with Man of the Year award
Being recognized by the community you've lived in your entire life is a special occasion reserved for very few and one Johnny Blair will never forget. At 90 years old he has been recognized with the “man of the year” award from Blackjack Missionary...
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Local As It Gets: Danny P. Smith
If you've been around Starkville long enough there is a good chance you've heard of Danny P. Smith. You may have even read his name right as you catch up on the latest in local sports. After all, he's been writing in Oktibbeha County for 40...
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Brownlee catches preseason touchdown
It didn't take former West Point High School and East Mississippi Community College football player Jason Brownlee long to show what he could do for the Kansas City Chiefs. In last Saturday's 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the first preseason...
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Mckee: A Story of Hope and Redemption
Preston McKee was born and raised in Pheba, MS and has now called West Point home for almost a year. He attended Hebron growing up and like most kids in Pheba, relished the country life. He and his wife Kristin share three children, two girls and a...
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A LEGENDARY BIRTHDAY
On Monday, the Black Prairie Blues Museum wished a happy birthday to Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. Holmes is a Bluesman born in Betonia known for music described as “gritty,” “hypnotizing,” and “dark.” Holmes is the proprietor of the Blue Front Café in Betonia....
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From our house to yours. Small town man, big time personality
Evan Bailey is a small town man with a big personality. He grew up in Columbus and now calls West Point home. He has been working at Philips Hardware since coming to town, and will soon start with Lewis Electric as an electrician. He went to EMCC to...
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Ex-corrections official alleges widespread medical neglect and mismanagement in Mississippi’s prison system
On an August afternoon in 2023, three inmates at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility evaded the notice of guards and slipped away from their housing unit. They weren't plotting to escape the Rankin County prison. Instead, they were on a...
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H.R. 1 updates farm policy programs
Changes to farm policy programs through an omnibus bill passed by Congress and signed into law July 4 will improve growers' safety nets and increase row crop reference prices. The tax and spending cut legislation H.R. 1 includes updates to the Price...
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The W launches Mississippi’s first graduate program in Culinary and Hospitality Education
Mississippi University for Women will launch a Master of Science in Culinary and Hospitality Education in fall 2025, making it one of the few such programs in the nation and the only one in Mississippi. “This new graduate program reflects The W’s...
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Clay County native finds joy, purpose in service industry
Carley Doss, a Clay County native, spent the last several years making a name for herself in Starkville's restaurant scene with her warm demeanor, strong work ethic and genuine passion for people. Now living in Texas, she carries those same values with...
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University to develop autonomous soaring for federal DARPA Albatross program
The federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has selected Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory to be a prime performer for its groundbreaking Albatross program. The Albatross program seeks to...
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Steven Adams builds legal career and life in the Golden Triangle
Attorney Steven Adams didn't grow up in the Golden Triangle, but over the last decade, he's chosen to build both his professional career and personal life right in the heart of it. Adams, originally from Grenada, came to the region in 2012 to attend...
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WPHS educator participates in Economic Education Summer Institute
Ms. Bush of West Point High School South Campus participated in the Georgia Council on Economic Education Summer Institute, sponsored by Georgia-Pacific, June 23-27. She learned from entrepreneurs with Café Momentum, Waffle House, Georgia Film Academy,...
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Paityn Fulgham: Small town girl who is giving back
Paityn Fulgham grew up in West Point. As a graduate of Hebron Christian School and EMCC, Paityn has retained her love for the West Point Community and its small town vibe. As the daughter of a teacher, she has found great joy in assistant teaching at...
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MSU, Rome’s Pontifical University Antonianum sign MOU as Keenum, university leaders visit Italy
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum and Pontifical University Antonianum Professor Agustin Hernández Vidales, Rector of the university in Rome, Italy, formalized a partnership June 23 establishing the framework for joint academic,...
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Millwood sets sights on exotic animal care
Callie Millwood, a Mississippi Delta native, recently graduated from the Mississippi State University Veterinary Technology Program — one of the most competitive fields within the already rigorous curriculum. “Everything there is competitive,”...
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Record number of MSU students named Fulbright finalists
Four Mississippi State spring graduates are 2025 Fulbright finalists—a record number for the landgrant institution. Julian Dedeaux of Biloxi, Alijah Jones of Greenwood, Lily Langstaff of Southaven and Alyssa Williams of Franklin, Tennessee, were named...
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St. Paul M.B. Church celebrates young disciples during Vacation Bible School
Children, teens and volunteers filled St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church this week as the congregation held its annual Vacation Bible School, focusing on the theme of the "Fruit of the Spirit." The program closed with a special presentation Wednesday...
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GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS PRAYER IN THE PARK
Reita Humphries, left, and Joann House attend the fourth annual Gun Violence Awareness Prayer in the Park on Friday, June 6. Humphries coordinates and hosts the event each year on the first Friday in June to bring the community together in prayer,...
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Harris begins term as selectman with focus on community-first leadership
Newly elected selectman Terell Harris says he's ready to hit the ground running with a platform centered on putting people before politics and a deep commitment to serving all residents of West Point. “I was inspired to run because I believe West...
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First Baptist All-State Choir members to perform
The West Point/Clay County Arts Council will host members of the First Baptist Church All-State Choir for a performance at the Louise Campbell Center for the Arts on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 2 p.m. The students are part of the Mississippi Baptist...
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Moore: A mom making a difference
Anisha Moore grew up in a big family from the White Station community of West Point and graduated from West Point High School. She has a two year old son and is currently pursuing her business management degree and will graduate in 2026. Following...
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RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
West Point High School North Campus celebrated the upcoming retirement of front office staff member Kathy Coggins on Friday. Coggins was honored for the love and warmth she brought to the school. (Photo from West Point Consolidated School District, for...
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Fulgham guided by faith, family, and a whole lot of music
As a lifelong West Point resident, Shelia Fulgham’s roots run deep. She has been working in the West Point City School District since 1997, only taking a break to stay home to raise her four children for seven years. During that time she obtained her...
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4-County/FASTnet celebrates National Nursing Home Week with cookouts for seniors, caregivers
Employees of 4-County Electric Power Association and FASTnet kicked off National Nursing Home Week with a cookout at Dugan Healthcare last week, serving up hamburgers, hotdogs and all the fixings for residents and staff. The effort is part of a...
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Watkins finds purpose through creativity at Sam’s Dream Kreations
Samantha Watkins was inspired to start her business, Sam’s Dream Kreations, by a deep passion for creativity and a desire to turn her talents into something meaningful for her family and the community of West Point. “I wanted to create a space where...
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Area students among spring EMCC grads
than 90 students: Blake Arthur, Jonathan Baker, Bradi Barnes, Ashaunta Bell, Jamen Berk, Joshua Bowman, Alliyah Bradford, Madilyn Bryant, Darius Buford, Sarah Cantrell, Jamiayh Chandler, Keyunna Chandler, Braylan Coleman, Joseph Coleman, Samuel...
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Rankin County supervisor backs the sheriff, calls the victims tortured by Goon Squad officers ‘dopers’ and rapists
When the Rankin County Sheriff'sDepartmentagreed to a $2.5 million settlement after “Goon Squad” officers tortured two Black men, the department's attorney said he hoped it would provide closure for the victims. But at a breakfast Saturday sponsored...
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Clinics forced to increase costs for family planning services like birth control, STI testing
Five Horizons Health Services in Starkville provides sex education and lowcost reproductive health care to Mississippians who might never receive it otherwise – but the federal government is withholding the funds that make the work possible. Title X,...
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Family: Maggie’s true center
For Maggie Gwathney, family is at the heart of everything she does. Maggie graduated from Ole Miss in 2022 with a business degree and shortly after, moved back home to West Point to pursue a career in real estate. She currently works for Mossy Oak...
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Haas kills turkey at 94
On Friday morning, Mossy Oak and West Point patriarch Fox Haas killed a wild turkey from a well-camouflaged golf cart that blended right into the edge of a greened-up field. After a few years of not feeling well enough to get out and hunt in the...
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Kayla Hall
At 32, Kayla Hall is a single mother of two, a dedicated speech-language pathologist, and a testament to resilience and faith. Her journey began in the food service industry, where she spent nearly a decade working hard while dreaming of a better life...
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COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAY
Carolyn Poston and the Progressive Foundation recently organized a community cleanup day in West Point, collecting more than 70 bags of litter. A grant awarded prizes to the top three teams based on the number of volunteers and bags collected: first...
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