OURNEWSVOLUME VI/ISSUE I I August 2011 Today! Meet 12 Men Who Impact Correll Buckhalter: Growing on the Gridiron INSIDE OURNEWSToday OURNEWS Today Volume VI/Issue II OURNEWS Writers Robotics Associate Publisher Presents “Men Who Impact!” Program Sonya M. Posey, Esq. Inspires Mt. CPA/Finance Officer Tara Burcham is Coordinator of Public Relations Roderick Posey, Ph.D. for The University of Southern Mississippi College of Olive Youth Managing Editor Science and Technology and a Ph.D. candidate in the p. 13 Nelle Speights School of Mass Communications and Journalism. She Associate Editors is a native of Bonner Springs, Kansas. Sichana Jean, LMSW Burcham brings to our attention the work of Dr. Mi- Health Cheryl Jenkins, Ph.D. chael Garrett, the founder of Homes of Hope for Chil- dren. Read more about Dr. Garrett inside. To learn Advocate Kim M. LeDuff, Ph.D. how you can help make a difference or contribute to Tells Women, Proofreader Homes of Hope for Children visit www.hohfc.org. Pamela Patterson “It’s Okay to Sichana Jean is a licensed social worker with Beth- Couriers and Distributors NFL Player’s any Christian Services. The lead writer, Jean has been Touch Claudia Bivins, Larry Buckley, writing for OURNEWS for three years. Jean recently Hometown Holds Willie Dampier, Dorothy Parker, Yourself! received Wesley Hospital’s Strong Woman Award. “Correll Real Life Outreach, p. 16 Lee Earl Wheeler Look inside for more details! Buckhalter Photographers Cheryl Jenkins, is a professor with The University of Messiah Banks Southern Mississippi’s Department of Mass Commu- Day” Cassandra Phares nications. She is a native of Laurel, MS. Jenkins pres- p. 15 Iris Raeshaun ents to readers one of Laurel’s most respected iconic Cover Photography figures, pharmacist Larry Thomas. Casandra Phares Kim LeDuff, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor with Layout & Design The University of Southern Mississippi’s Department Miney’s Girl of Mass Communications. She is a native of New Or- leans, LA. LeDuff uncovers one of the Pine Belt’s OURNEWS Today is published bi- most intriguing businessmen monthly. All submissions should be sent to Iris Publishing, which reserves the right to edit submitted material for “It’s no secret to clarity and space and/or reject submis- sions according to its appropriateness. long life,” Written consent must be granted to anyone who wishes to reprint or repro- says duce materials from this publication. centenarian, Subscription rates are $15 for six issues and $25 for 12 issues. Submit story p. 17 ideas, letters and comments to: OURNEWS Today Post Office Box 18726 The Empty Nest Hattiesburg, MS 39404 Experience: Telephone: 601-543-9120 Email: [email protected] When A Child Tara Burcham Sichana Jean, LMSW Leaves Home p. 20 Meet Men Who Impact p. 21 Cheryl Jenkins, Ph.D. Kim LeDuff, Ph.D. Clarence Magee Iris Raeshaun, Publisher Professional Performances & Achievements NOLA Hosts Another Spectacular EMF Steve Harvey Fails to Disappoint For the 17th consecutive year, New Orleans Trying to has hosted the Essence Music Festival, one of lighten the the nation’s most popular and exciting cultur- tone of his al reunions. Last July, NOLA’s Superdome fury when was the market place for three days and two he called out nights of entertainment and empowerment. BET, Harvey As always, the fun loving wisecracking, in- joked that your-face author and comedian Steve Harvey he’d just lost delivered the jokes – and the truth – in his any opportu- Hattiesburg PRAM Community Action Chair exclusive style. nity for future Iris Raeshaun presents Thomas Brown, Vice During an one-on-one interview with re- employment Steve Harvey President of Magnolia Federal Bank of Bay porter Soledad O’Brien, who blushed and with BET. Springs with a $200 donation for tornado turned red when Harvey gave her the eye Being almost out of the tight spot, Harvey victims. Healther Brown, at left, is the HOPE and said, “God is working on me but I still stepped back in it when he said that the black Fund Coordinator. got some player in me!” From discussing race is in danger of losing its black boys. his fear of helicopters and roller coasters to “If we don’t do something about our young PRAM Makes Donations For touring with gospel artist Kirk Franklin, Har- black boys today, we are going to lose them. Disaster Victims vey turned dare devil when he spoke against Quit blaming Obama for everything!” Harvey BET’s programming he considers as negative The Public Relations Association of Mis- said loudly. “You hear people talking about and against songwriters authorship of and sissippi donated $200 to the Magnolia State Obama needs to come here and do such and record companies’ distribution of criminally Hope Fund, to help Jasper and Smith county such. No! We need to do it. The only thing and sexually explicit lyrics that are degrad- tornado victims recover. The donations were that is going to straighten out a young boy in ing, especially of black women. raised from members during an organization See NOLA on Page 33 meeting. “Because of Hurricane Katrina, we know how difficult and how long recovery can take,” says Iris Raeshaun, PRAM Commu- nity Action Chairperson. “Our city and state received kindness following Katrina and we want. to show that same compassion.” Chapter leaders wanted to make its dona- tion to an organization intimately tied with its community and aware of the specific needs of the community and its residents. “We chose to partner with the HOPE Fund because of its tenure, accountability, and knowledge,” says Raeshaun. “Like any other donors, we want our contribution to reach those who are in need and not get lost in bu- reaucracy or tied up in administrative costs.” The PRAM also gave a cash donation to the Salvation Army of Hattiesburg. OURNEWS Today 6 • 8.2011 WCU Students Accepted to Med School Seven William Carey University students have been accepted into medical school this spring. These stu- dents are Carl Wayne Dowden of Decatur, Jayce D’Nealian Miskel of Hattiesburg, Joshua Joseph Cousin of Purvis, Jenisus Marie Guin of Hattiesburg, Joel Ashley Moore of Hattiesburg, Field Austin Davis of Gloster and Judd Micah Reynolds of New Augusta. Three of the students have received, cumulatively, nearly a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships. Dowden, a psychology major and biology minor who completed his degree in three years, received the Rob- ert M. Hearing Support Foundation Scholarship, which Jayce Miskel of Hattiesburg, Jenisus Guin of Hattiesburg, Dr. Tommy King, presi- grants $40,000 over four years. The Hearing Founda- dent of WCU, and Carl Wayne Dowden of Decatur pose for a photo after the WCU tion is the namesake of the late Mississippi business students were recognized for being accepted into medical school. Miskel received leader and philanthropist, and scholarships from the the Bryan Barksdale, M.D., Medical Scholarship worth $174,000 for four years, and foundation benefit students attending various graduate Dowden received the Robert M. Hearing Support Foundation Scholarship, which level institutions in Mississippi. Dowden, along with grants $40,000 over four years. Miskel, Guin, and Dowden are three of the seven fellow classmate Joel Moore, who was also accepted students from WCU who will enter medical school in fall 2011. into medical school this fall, participated in a medi- cal and evangelical mission trip to the Philippines last summer with the Nehemiah Teams. Miskel, also a psychology major and biology minor, received the Bryan Barksdale, M.D., Medical Schol- arship, worth $174,000, which covers all tuition and living expenses for four years of medical school. The scholarship was originally made possible by a $2 mil- lion gift from James and Sally Barksdale to encourage highly qualified medical students to stay in Mississippi for their medical training. Cousin, a biology major and chemistry minor grad- uating with a 4.0 Grade Point Average, received the Ottie B. Schillig Memorial Scholarship worth $5,000 per academic year for four years. The Schillig Me- morial Scholarship was established from Miss Ottie Schillig’s trust fund, and is given to students in good academic standing who intend to practice medicine in small Mississippi towns and communities. Cousin has volunteered at Forrest General Hospital over the past year and received the Senior Biology Award at WCU Honors Day 2011 Lucas Receives Award from Accrediting Body OURNEWS Today 7 • 8.2011 HHS Forensics Wins 2nd National Championship In May, Hattiesburg High School Forensics captured the national championship in Duo Inter- pretation at the 2011 National Individual Events Tournament of Champions held on the campus of St. Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas. Jay- len Eashmond, HHS Student Body President and Aaron Watson bested competitors from across the nation representing 76 schools securing the department’s second national championship in as many years. Kendell Waldrop and Tia Brown finished as quarter-finalist in the same event. Aaron Watson also advanced to the quarter-fi- nal round of Humorous Interpretation. Kendell Waldrop finished in second place at the Jaylen Eashmond and Aaron Watson with Kristen Dupard, Dramatic Interp Champion national championship tournament in Storytell- also from Mississippi/Ridgeland HS. Photo credit: S. Waldrop ing. Brenda McGeehe, Denver East HS, Denver, CO, edged out Waldrop by one speaker point to claim the national title. Tiger Rogers Selected as Youngest Honoree in Jazz Foundation’s History Saxophonist Gerald Albright to headline awards program Rogers plays regu- larly at various venues, The Mississippi Jazz Foundation has chosen including Olga’s Fine five honoree for the 2011 Night of Musical Dining every Thursday Artistry. Featuring Mississippi musicians. and Jackson’s Down- The annual event will be held on December town Café’ at noon on 9, 2011 at the Historic Alamo Theatre on Far- Fridays.