SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2009 BUSINESS INSIDE Danny Wilks ‘saddles up’ Athletes sign football for area customers. scholarships with PRCC. See page 2A See page 2A “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, VOLUME 107 • NUMBER 14 75 ¢ ESTABLISHED 1882 always perseveres.” — I Corinthians 13:6-7 Local soldiers prepare for deployment to Iraq Guard Member/Family, religious By Lori Watts point of contact, special events, Staff Writer fundraising and school point of contact. The newly-formed Marion At the last meeting, some County Military Support group met committee chairpersons Tuesday for its third organizational volunteered and were appointed. meeting. The executive committee Among them were Rev. O.J. Seals, has been formed with Scarlett First Baptist Church minister of Gafford, Chairman, Jim Cagle, Co- education and former East Chairman, Judy Griffith, Secretary, Columbia pastor as the religious Maurice Dantin, legal advisor and point of contact. Marion County Military Support secretary Judy Griffith and chairperson Scarlett Gafford are Captain Jim Berry, military advisor. Ray Mathews and Cindy Moree, stunned by the immediate action of the fundraising co-chairs as Cindy Moree presents funds The group’s purpose is to both WalMart employee’s were raised to the group. photo by Lori Watts coordinate efforts of the community chosen as co-chairs of the to assist and provide emotional, fundraising committee. They were Moree reported on preliminary guide for activities and functioning. deployed troops. Sgt. Jamie spiritual and physical support to the quick to get to work and, at this plans for more fundraising activities That group had provided flowers to Holmes, representative from the soldiers and families of the E meeting, presented the organization during the coming months. families of deceased soldiers during unit to this meeting, said that the Company 1-155 Combat Armored with $486.27 already raised at a In the discussion that followed the deployment, emergency funds situation in Iraq today would not Battalion as they prepare, conduct benefit lunch by WalMart concerning how the group would be to cover expenses of a spouse of a require as many care package and recover from deployments. The associates. using any money raised, the wounded soldier during his shipments. “While we always goal is to be functioning effectively Gafford said that it was great that executive committee referred to an recovery and a ramp for a wounded appreciate special shipments from when the unit leaves in April. the group could already start to raise organizational blueprint from the soldier prior to his return home in a home, our bigger concern is the Committees for which the group funds to help local families of active state’s most effective and successful wheel chair. emotional and emergency support will need volunteers include duty military service men and county wide military support The Pike County group also used of our families while we are away publicity, yellow ribbon, Adopt-A- women. organization, in Pike County, as its funds to send care packages to the See ‘Soldiers,’ Page 5A GETTING READY FOR CRAZY Judges Sidney Mire, Mark Fite and Anne McCain evaluate the recitation of Cheyenne Stovall in the local finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition at CHS. Student Jack Ly and other members of the participating senior AP English class were present for the finals. photo by Lori Watts Stovall wins South Regional ‘Poetry Out Loud’ contest the National Endowment for the By Lori Watts Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Staff Writer The national competition began in 2005 but this is CHS’s first year to Columbia High School senior participate. Students in Beth Pierce’s Cheyenne Stovall won the South senior Advanced Placement English Regional Poetry Out Loud contest at class each chose one poem to recite Hattiesburg High School, Tuesday. in the preliminary round. Last week, Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition, sponsored by See ‘Poetry,’ Page 2A Art students (clockwise) Donovan Sartin, Chevarres Brown, Aundrea Morgan and Courtney Quinn create a lawn sign for ticket sales publicity for the upcoming Columbia High School WMP reaches Musical. They are students in Ashley Watkins Art II Class. photo by Lori Watts donation goal ‘Crazy for You’ opens in two weeks By Lori Watts By Lori Watts showcase different students in the Other cast members Staff Writer leading roles. Friday night’s cast performing both nights include Staff Writer includes Craig Ellis as Bobby Amy Miller, Anna Morris, West Marion Primary sponsored a Child, Ashley McEntyre as Polly Savannah Bourne, Brittini Eation, blood drive Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 Ticket sales for the 2009 Baker, Ben Watts as Lank Elizabeth Winton, Hannah p.m. in the gymnasium. Donors Columbia High School musical Hawkins, Nicole Holland as Irene Harvey, Keri Robbins, Kerri exceeded the goal of 30 units of production of Crazy for You, Roth, Courtney Carter as Tess, Mobley, Molly Longo, Natalie blood by donating 47 units, begin Monday, Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. Michelle Wenzler as Lottie Child, Bourne, DePaul Foxworth, Ryan according to Alicia Hollis, West at the school office. Tickets Olivia Arinder as Patricia Fodor, Luethje, Colton Pittman, Cody Marion School nurse and purchased in advance are $10. At Alex McLendon as Perkins and King, John Eation, Nathan coordinator of the event. the door the cost will be $12. The Ellen Jo Seals as Patsy. McKenzie, Rashawn Johnson, “We’ve had a good turnout,” Alicia Hollis, left, West Marion performances will be Friday and On Saturday night these roles Adam Williamson, Adam Hollis said, around 5 p.m. “We’ve school nurse and Samantha Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28 at 7:30 are played by Nathan Burkett - Weatherford, Jena Johnson, already reached our goal and are just Graham, blood donor, examine p.m. in the Crystelle Ford Bobby Child, Grace Ann Pierce- Victoria Yoder, Graysen Miller, waiting to see how far we go over.” the t-shirts received by each Auditorium. Polly Baker, Stephen Berry-Lank Kaitlin Austin, Bailey Donors each received a t-shirt for person donating blood. Crazy for You is a musical Hawkins, Abbie Gray-Irene Roth, Montgomery, Brittany Sauls, photo by Lori Watts their generosity of giving blood. comedy written by Ken Ludwig Assata Averett- Tess, Rosemary Teresa Broom and Heather in 1992 to showcase the songs of O’Quin-Lottie Child, Sarah Greenlee. Ira Gershwin and George Treadway-Patricia Fodor, The musical performances Live to love, love to give blood Gershwin. Billed as “The New Meredith Ratcliff-Perkins and don’t only involve the students on Jefferson Middle School teacher can make their way to the school to Gershwin Musical Comedy”, it is Mamie Longo-Patsy. stage but many students Tim Horton’s seventh grade science give. largely based on the songwriting Playing their roles both nights participate in other capacities. class has teamed up with Mississippi A special Valentine’s Day team’s 1930 production, Girl are Seth Norris as Bela Zangler, Students performing as part of the Blood Services to sponsor a blood emphasis will be the theme of the Crazy, but uses songs from Christoph Garner as Moose, Josh orchestra are Aaron McKenzie, drive at the school on Wednesday, drive, “Live to Love, Love to Give- several other productions as well. Nibert as Sam, Jeffrey Reynolds Ashlyn Craft, Buck McDaniel, Feb. 18. From 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 Give Blood.” Each donor will Crazy for You won the 1992 Tony Jr. as Pete, Kevin Buckley as Cody Bass, Hannah Smith, Josh p.m. the MBS Donor Coach will be receive a t-shirt. Award for Best Musical. Billy, Reid Magee as Everett Reynolds, Kierra Collins, Mark in the JMS parking lot accepting the Horton said that he wanted to As is the CHS musical Baker and Alex Bourne as “gift of life” from parents, teachers, urge everyone to make an effort to tradition, each performance will Eugene Fodor. See ‘Crazy,’ Page 2A friends and students - anyone who See ‘Love,’ Page 5A The Columbian-PProgress is now accepting nominations for the CCIITTIIZZEENN OOFF TTHHEE YYEEAARR to be featured in our Profile Special Section in March. To nominate an outstanding citizen to be recognized in the Columbian-Progress special Profile Edition, send a letter of nomination to: Citizen of the Year • The Columbian-Progress • P.O. Box 1171 • Columbia, MS 39429 A letter may be no more than 300 words and must describe why your nominee is worthy of recognition. Please include your Name, address and telephone number. SATURDAY 2A www.columbianprogress.com February 14, 2009 BUSINESS FEATURE DANNY WILKS INSURANCE AGENCY 418 Sumrall Road, Columbia, MS 39429 601-736-9899 Columbia High School Seniors Sidney Riley and Scottie Woodson, seated, signed to play football with By Lori Watts Pearl River Community College. Riley signed as a Staff Writer linebacker, although the 6-1, 210-pounder played runningback for the Wildcats, rushing for more than When Danny Wilks began his own 1,000 yards. Woodson is a 5-11, 160 pound defensive insurance business in October of 2001, back. He had five interceptions and was the team’s a lot of people would say his timing third leading tackler with 78. Standing in back, from wasn’t the best in the world. About a left, are Warnetta Geeston, CHS assistant football month before, terrorists struck the twin coach Phelix Shoemaker, CHS head coach Doug towers in New York in the infamous Norris and Cathy Woodson. photo by Don Hill “911” attacks. “That was not a good combination,” Danny Wilks said. “Insurance Poetry companies were reluctant to join with us, they didn’t realized how they were continued from Page 1A going to be affected by the attacks.