Tag Archives: Hinds County

Clinton High tailgate

I can’t say if I ever attended a high school tailgate. At my alma mater, Cleveland Heights High School, I never attended a tailgate. In fact, I don’t remember us having any while I was a student. What I always looked forward to was attending games just to hear our great marching band and dance (in the stands, of course) during halftime. It wasn’t until college in Atlanta where I realized the importance of tailgating events. Food, copious amounts of beverages (alcoholic and non), people for miles it seemed, and hanging out with friends.

When I was assigned to cover the tailgate at Clinton High School yesterday, I was kind of excited! I parked in the visitor lot where only five cars sat because it was less than two hours until kickoff and over 100 Arrows fans were in process of tailgating. As I walked around, so many people offered food! I had to get my reporting out of the way before I enjoyed a little home-cooking. Here are some of the best parts of the tailgate in this photo gallery. Enjoy.

Clarion-Ledger article with video: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013308240006

Is new kitchen equipment helping lower obesity rates?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that obesity rates among low-income preschoolers in Mississippi are going down, some good news my colleague LaReeca Rucker shared today on her Mississippi Style Blog. Obesity rates declined between 2008 and 2011 in 19 of 43 states and territories studied, including Mississippi.

What I believe is helping decrease those rates is improving the access low-income families have to healthier food options like community gardens, farmers markets and co-ops. Another example is various school districts using grant funds to replace kitchen equipment with appliances that prepare healthier meals for students. The Clinton and Hinds County school districts come to mind.

Last academic year, the Clinton district added new kitchen equipment to schools, including the new Northside and Eastside elementary schools that were featured on the Rachael Ray cooking contest episode featuring First Lady Michelle Obama. During the episode, cafeteria cooks whipped up steamed veggies, hummus and other light, healthy fare.

In Hinds County, Utica and Carver elementary schools are serving healthy, popular meals thanks to a Nutrition Integrity 2012-13 grant from the Mississippi Department of Education. The schools removed existing deep fat fryers and replaced them with state-of-the-art oven steamers that cook foods with less fat. The baked and steamed foods are crisp on the outside, moist on the inside, and school nutrition directors say the children enjoy them just as much.

This initiative only influences more physical education activities like walking clubs or fitness challenges, and I’ve seen these programs at schools all over the Jackson metro area. You know the saying that this generation will have a lower life expectancy than its parents? This news could change your outlook.

From the city of Byram Public Works: Water Service to be turned off in Gary Road area

(From the Facebook page operated by Byram residents…)

WATER SERVICE WILL BE “OFF” TOMORROW, 8/3/2013 IN THE GARY ROAD AREA

The City of Jackson will be doing a tie in of the water line at Wagonwheel Drive/Gary Road Saturday, August 3. The water will be off for 6-8 hours while they, COJ, are doing the work. It is a ‘STRONG” POSSIBILITY” that “ALL” subdivisions could be effected and will not have water service Saturday, August 3.

THIS WORK IS IN NO WAY RELATED TO THE GARY ROAD PROJECT, but is being done to accommodate the Safe Routes to School project being done by HINDS COUNTY. This project will provide sidewalks in this area.

Tammie Roberson
Public Works Director
City of Byram
P. O. Box 720222
601-372-7791

2013 Hinds County Spelling Bee winner

Clinton Junior High School hosted the Hinds County Spelling Bee this morning and 46 students from throughout Hinds County participated. The first place winner was Desiree Roby, a student of Christian Home Educators Connection. Second place winner was Edison Brown of Northwest Jackson Middle School. Desiree will go on to represent Hinds County in the Mississippi Spelling Bee in March.

Pictured at left are Edison Brown (left) and Desiree Roby, the 2012 winner of the spelling bee. Roby will participate in the statewide spelling bee, to be held at Mississippi Public Broadcasting on March 19. MPB will air the event live. The Mississippi Regional Spelling Bee is hosted by the Mississippi Association of Educators. The state winner will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held the week of May 26-June 1. For a complete list of participants, click here: HindsSpellingbeeprogram

Photos by Sandi Beason, Clinton Public Schools and Brian Albert Broom, The Clarion-Ledger

The second photo is from the 2012 spelling bee with second place winner Neziah Igwebuike and winner Desiree Roby.

The second photo is from the 2012 spelling bee with second place winner Neziah Igwebuike and winner Desiree Roby.

HindsSpellingBee