Coffee with Senator Briggs Hopson (05-23-11)
The tenth week of this series starts off with our guest host Robyn Lea stepping outside of the environs of the Highway 61 Coffee House once again. This time we traveled just up the road a bit to the law offices of Teller, Hassell & Hopson to speak with the Mississippi State Senator from District 23, W. Briggs Hopson, III.
The Senator met with us early in the day on Thursday, May 19, 2011 to discuss a number of things with our guest host. Among those things was some frank discussion about the events that took place that led to the preparatory actions taken to protect and inform people about the Great Flood of 2011.
The discussion begins with a little background information about Senator Hopson, including his education, his entry into law practice, his family and his entry into the political ring.
Senator Hopson, who was blessed with a number of good committee appointments in his first term as a state senator, discusses the accomplishments that he is most proud of and those he plans to focus on in the future should he be re-elected to fill the District 23 seat. He also discusses an educational trip that he was able to take part in some time back, a trip that took him to many different places in the world to glean information and experience about the plight of other people. That trip also brought people to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to visit the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. While there those people taking part in the tour learned what worked and what didn't in our response to the disaster.
Near the end of the conversation, Senator Hopson talks about the importance of being prepared for a disaster, from a governmental standpoint, and how important the lessons learned during Katrina have been to the current situation with the flood.
This is one of those interview you won't want to miss, so... grab the pot and pour yourself some strong stuff and get ready to enjoy Coffee with Senator Briggs Hopson.
Coffee with France Beard (06-06-11)
Today we step outside the Highway 61 Coffee House and into ROCA Restaurant for a chance to speak with the brand new Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen, France Beard. This interview was taped yesterday (Sunday, June 5th) right after a luncheon where France was officially introduced to the public.
France is 17 years old and will be a senior at St. Joseph Catholic School when school opens in the fall, and there's a chance that she'll be starting that school year representing the entire United States as Miss America's Outstanding Teen.
France was the overall talent winner at this weekends pageant and was awarded more than $5,000 in scholarship money for her win. She will be preparing for the national competition - to be held at the end of August in Orlando, Florida - for the foreseeable future, but we plan to talk to this young lady quite a few times between now and then.
Grab your favorite cup and prepare yourself to learn a little bit about our newest pageant queen and her platform issue (PAWS: Promoting Animals Worth Saving) as you enjoy Coffee with France Beard.
Coffee with Margaret Moore (11-14-11)
This is a very special edition of Coffee with... There isn't really a host. We aren't at the Highway 61 Coffee House. We're inside the home of a woman who never married because she couldn't ever find a man that would put up with. Margaret Sue Moore clarified that statement by saying that there weren't many men she could find that could put up with her either. But I digress...
I got the chance to spend a large portion of this past Veterans Day with a true Vicksburg legend.
Margaret Moore is 90 years young and served with the Women's Amry Corps (WAC) from 1943 to 1945. A native of Vicksburg, Ms. Moore returned home after WWII and resumed her life. She worked as a sports reporter for the Vicksburg Evening Post before the war. When she returned home she started her voyage into higher education. She got a job teaching here in Warren County and there she remained for 37 years.
Ms. Moore taught history and says that she imagines that her students loved her because she was a bit of a pushover! She also served as the cheerleading coach for several years.
She says that she was always an athletic person and enjoyed tennis and softball before she went off to serve her country in the Philippines and New Zealand. She did get to play a little while she was overseas and she continued those pursuits and picked up the love of bowling when she came home. Ms. Moore was inducted into the Mississippi Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame, which is located in Natchez, in 1982.
She lives in a quaint home, in a quiet neighborhood which can best be described as the Margaret Sue Moore Museum. It's a home that she has lived in all her life. There are lots of items from her days as a WAC displayed throughout her home, including many items that she acquired while she was in the Philippines. She has the fishing rods that she used at Lake Claiborne mounted above her kitchen door. Various diplomas and certificates have been mounted, framed and hung on the walls next to photos of loved ones and other items of interest. She has a shelf dedicated to California Raisins figurines because they're her favorites.
She loves hats and has many of them on display in her home. Everywhere you turn in her home, there's something that will help to tell the story of who this wonderful woman is.
After we filmed the interview and talked for a while more we traveled to the Old Courthouse Museum to visit some more of Ms. Moore's things. There is a display in the Old Courthouse Museum that is full of items that Ms. Moore donated. Her WAC uniform, embroidered with her nickname, Mo, resides there along with her boots, canteen supplies and various other items.
Chris and I have spent the last few years celebrating Veterans Day with the fine folks at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Kosciusko. This year we decided to spend the day a little closer to home. If we had not, I would have never gotten the call from Amanda Harris (one of Ms. Moore's home care providers) and I would have missed out on the opportunity to get to know this beautiful lady. More importantly, I wouldn't have had the chance to introduce her to those of you who are reading this.
I enjoyed every moment of it, I sure hope you do, too!
Coffee with Field Brown, Rhodes Scholar Part 1
There are some things in life that just feel right. Coffee with... is one of those things. There's no fanfare, no big announcement, no hoopla at all... Robyn and I got back to doing what we love and that's having (and filming) great conversations with amazing people.
Today, we return to the old, familiar table (even though the table and chairs are new) at Highway 61 Coffee House, where we are always graciously hosted by Daniel Boone, for a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a young man that we believe you will hear much more about in the future.
Donald Mayfield Brown is a graduate of Vicksburg High School. He is currently a senior at Mississippi State University where he majors in English and philosophy. He also has studied English literature at Christ Church College, Oxford, England. His senior thesis focuses on Ralph Ellison and argues how politically radical novelists were forced to mute their political ideas to become visible and respected. Field is the founder of MSU's creative arts journal and vice president of its philosophy and religion club. He has been elected to six national honor societies and participated on a Mellon fellowship at Stanford. He has also served as a youth counselor and tutor and has been a community activist in Mississippi and Iowa, and has spoken at many national and state conferences on topics in English, philosophy, religion and race.
Now all those things can be learned by Googling his name and clicking on the first link you see. If none of those things makes you think that Field is special, here's one more... Remember that link I just mentioned? It will take you to a page where you can easily see that Field has become a Rhodes Scholar.
That's right. Field Brown, a Vicksburg native who happens to be a product of the Vicksburg-Warren School Distric and is attending a public university in Mississippi has been one of the thirty-two young men and women selected from a field of 857 US applicants to attend Oxford University in England. That's a pretty prestigious title that's been held by some pretty prestigious people, including former US President William Jefferson Clinton.
Field, joined by his loving mother, Cynthia, made his way to Highway 61 Coffee House late last week for a chat with our hostess. We think you'll find a lot of inspiration in this young man's story.
A little more about this 22-year-old marvel. He was raised by his parents, Willie & Cynthia Brown. He's named after his uncle, Don Brown, the director of Warren-Yazoo Mental Health, and his maternal family. His mom is the younger sister of Alderman Michael Mayfield and the daughter of the Reverend Henry Mayfield, Sr.
The interview ran a little long, so we've split it into two parts... Be sure to check back tomorrow when his mom (who was completely unprepared for an on-camera interview) joins in the conversation to discuss some of her thoughts on her son's accomplishments.
And now... (drum roll please)... Nevermind the drum roll... just press PLAY!
Coffee with Mary Beth Wilkerson (09-09-11)
Some of you may be asking who Mary Beth Wilkerson is. She is the new director of the Mississippi Economic Development Authority's Tourism Division. That's a fancy title for the person responsible for making sure people visit our great state.
The reason we're posting this third edition of Coffee with this week that was filmed outside of our home away from home (The Highway 61 Coffee House) is really simple. School is back in and it's football season. That means that many parents are going to be traveling around the state to watch their children play ball, play in the band or cheer from the sidelines. Then there are those who will travel to support the team.
We wanted to clue you in about some of the great things our state has to offer. We get to do a lot of traveling around the Great State of Mississippi and have gotten to do lots of different things and experience the richness of our culture. Whether it's eating catfish on the porch of Taylor Grocery, fishing off a Coffeeville pier with Miss Mississippi, being a part of the unveiling of the Marty Stuart Drive marker in Philadelphia, commemorating Jimmie Rogers with a star on the Mississippi Walk of Fame in Meridian, watching the Alcorn Braves from the 50-yard line in Lorman, talking to the people of the Gulf Coast as they recovered from Hurricane Katrina, or living in the Red Carpet City of the South, we've always been able to find good food, great fun and even better people.
Enjoy what's in your own backyard and become a Mississippi Ambassador - just like our co-host for this edition, Mississippi Legend, Paul Ott Carruth. Find out much more by pressing play and enjoying Coffee with Mary Beth Wilkerson.
Coffee with Dr John Walls (09-23-11)
Dr. John Walls, familiar to many as the retired Assistant Superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District, joined Robyn Lea at the Highway 61 Coffee House recently.
The subject of their conversation was not the fact that Dr. Walls has come out of retirement and is currently working as the Administrative Assistant to Dr. Johnson and Dr. Swinford. The conversation focused on Dr. Walls' position as Past President of the National Alcorn Alumni Association and current President of the Vicksburg-Warren Chapter of the Alcorn Alumni Association, specifically the Mid-Winter Conference, which will be held here in Vicksburg in February of 2012.
There are lots of details about the annual event that John discusses throughout the interview, but you'll have to hit play to learn those details and much more. Get ready for a quick cup of Coffee with Dr. John Walls!
Coffee with Representative Alex Monsour (05-20-11)
Our series of interviews with state and local officials continues as our guest host, Robyn Lea, returns to the Highway 61 Coffee House to share a cup of high-octane goodness with Alex Monsour, the man elected to fill the District 54 seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Rep. Monsour discusses a mélange of subjects ranging from his origins all the way to what effects that we will see due to the Great Flood of 2011. He discusses the development of his interest in politics at an early age, revealing that he was a fan of President Gerald Ford. His roots in conservatism are discussed thoroughly as is his delight in the recent ruling about the coming Mississippi election districts.
Rep. Monsour discusses what his first term in office has been like thus far and discusses his hopes for his political future.
The conversation flows along and winds up at our current point where we are looking at the economics of the flood and how the situation could actually be beneficial to our local economy in the long run.
It's time you sat down and rested for a bit. The Mighty Mississippi has risen as far as it is going to at this point and the waters are flowing away from here. Our sister cities to the south still have some rough days ahead of them but it's time for you to enjoy Coffee with Representative Alex Monsour.
Coffee with John Halpin Caldwell (08-16-11)
Today's edition of Coffee with sees our hostess (Robyn Lea) seated at the Highway 61 Coffee House (which is NOT closing, for all those who may have heard that rumor) across from a very bright and talented young man.
John Halpin Caldwell, son of Harley, grandson of Mae Mae Halpin, is a graduate of Mississippi State University. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting and did his master's work in taxes. He just earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi, that's Ole Miss for those of you looking puzzled out there... Yes... He went to State and Ole Miss.... I know, right?
He's currently selling real estate at Coldwell Banker All Stars while he examines his options - look... with the degrees he's got, he's got options...
He's gearing up for the bar exam in February and is looking at his options on where to go from there.
Take a listen as he explains his life, his options, and most interestingly, which side of the field he'll be sitting on when it comes time for the Egg Bowl.
Enjoy your morning and your first cup of Coffee with John Halpin Caldwell.
Coffee with Dr. Kenya Gaskin (06-14-11)
The guest of honor today is a very good friend of VicksburgDailyNews.com and will be treating some of us in the not too distant future. Dr. Kenya Gaskin owns Gaskin Family Chiropractic, located at 2121 D Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS (next to County Market). Call her at 601-619-7122. You can like Gaskin Chiropractic on facebook or just click her ad on the left hand side at our website to visit GaskinChiro.com.
Kenya joins our hostess, Robyn Lea, at the Highway 61 Coffee House for a candid conversation about her chiropractic practice and lots of other interesting things in her life.
She's a graduate of Vicksburg High School who got her undergraduate degree from Alcorn State University (she's a proud alumnus - to say the least!). She went on to the prestigious Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first chiropractic school in the world, begun by Dr. David Palmer in 1897.
She explains things about her practice that you may not know. She discusses some of the precautions that she takes before accepting a client for chiropractic care... things that all of us need to hear!
Hearing that part of her conversation, it becomes apparent that she is extremely passionate about her work and about the people she treats. It's also apparent that she is proud to be an Alcornite and is very active with the Alumni Association.
There's also a debutante organization that she's heavily involved with. She's an avid reader. She a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. There's just so much...
Fix yourself a cup of your favorite blend and enjoy Coffee with Dr. Kenya Gaskin.
Coffee with Flood Special (05-14-11)
Welcome to this SUPERSIZED SATURDAY EDITION of Coffee with... on VicksburgDailyNews.com
Today we present you with some much needed information about what many are calling The Great Flood of 2011.
VicksburgDailyNews.com's Chris Whittington and State Farm Agent Robyn Lea begin today's edition with some vital information about what and what not to do in flooded areas. We also want to encourage you to call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) if you have been or believe you will be affected by the flood. It is necessary for you to register with FEMA if you want to receive disaster assistance from them. FEMA has no mechanism for tracking down each flood victim, so you need to register. As of press time, the call volume is rather low, so now is the perfect time to call.
Robyn continues the program with an interview with Warren County's District 4 Supervisor, Bill Lauderdale, that was filmed just after Governor Haley Barbour's press conference at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport yesterday.
The Supervisor wanted to stress one serious point... Boating in the backwaters. Not only is it now against the law, thanks to the executive order issued by Governor Haley Barbour, but it is also very dangerous. There are hazards that you cannot see, including high voltage lines covered by water that may still be live. These lines possess a high risk of electrocution.
He also disclosed that Campbell Swamp Road had just been closed and encouraged people who are cut off by road closures to evacuate or to ensure that an alternate route into and out of their property was open so that emergency personnel could get to them if need be. The severity of the flooding in the southern end of the county, which has received much less media coverage than the Kings and Eagle Lake communities, is also discussed.
State Representative Alex Monsour (District 54) is next in the guest line-up as he speaks to his constituency about the flood. He stressed the severity of the flooding and urged people who will be cut off by flood waters to act now to evacuate so that emergency responders' lives are not endangered if a rescue has to be affected. Rep. Monsour also discusses the need for people to contact FEMA to register for disaster assistance. Once again, 1-800-621-FEMA. He closes by encouraging people not to drive through flooded areas, especially if you have children as passengers in your vehicle.
The last guest on deck is Chris Kitchens, the owner of ServPro of Vicksburg and Yazoo, who has some wise words for people returning to their homes after the flood waters recede.
Here's a link to the article on VicksburgDailyNews.com:
Mississippi Roads | And... Action! | MPB
On this Mississippi Roads, we’re in Canton where the film business is booming.
We visit with some homegrown filmmakers in West Point who are making quite a name for themselves. Then we take a look at a production of one of Willie Morris’s favorite works, Good Ole Boy, filmed in Yazoo City way back in 1987. Finally, we revisit some coast filmmakers who continue to garner recognition from their epic re-creation of “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” a project they first started over 30 years ago when they were just teenagers.
Learn more at