PARTY IN THE 38801
On April 28, three neighborhoods in Tupelo will commemorate the anniversary of the tornado that tore through the city, according to the Daily Journal.
Each neighborhood will host separate events for the citizens to celebrate the progress Tupelo has made since the disaster. Following the individual celebrations of each neighborhood, the town will place luminaries together along the streets to highlight the unity of the community. The displays of the luminaries will be the culmination of the separate events. The displays will be found on Joyner Avenue and Clayton Avenue among other neighborhood streets. Sherry Elmore, president of the Bel Air Neighborhood Association, agreed that the evening will be one that focuses on the unity of Tupelo’s community.
“The tornado brought all of the neighbors together, and that’s what we really want to celebrate. After the tornado, people were running from one house to another just checking on everyone,” Elmore said. “The neighborhood association really started working together a lot more.”
It’s rumored that Katy Perry, James Franco, Liam Hemsworth and Zac Efron will make appearances since they love North Mississippi so much. Be there or be square.
POPPING PILLS AND CHASING THRILLS
Pharmacist John A. McKinney of Moss Point, Mississippi, pled guilty this week to one count of conspiracy in illegally distributing prescription drugs.
McKinney was accused of selling painkillers online to customers who did not previously receive medical evaluations in-person, according to the Clarion Ledger. The name of the online company was eCareMD, which pled guilty for distributing Fioricet, a drug intended to treat tension headaches.
The online pharmacy allowed customers to choose a drug and the quantity they wished for then asked the costumer to fill out a questionnaire regarding their medical symptoms. That information was used to produce an electronic prescription that was then sent to a pharmacy of the customer’s choice. McKinney will forfeit the company’s software along with the profit it made from the illicit sales. McKinney might need to prescribe Fioricet for himself from the tension headaches that will ensue from this pharmaceutical fiasco.
DIRTY HARRIS
The Commercial Appeal reported that on Thursday, March 12, Willie Harris and Henry Graddy, among others, were honored in the Mississippi House of Representatives for their roles in creating Hollywood’s Black Stuntmen’s Association.
Harris, of Lexington, was a part of a famous scene in the movie “Dirty Harry,” in which he took a bullet from Clint Eastwood then stared down the barrel of his gun. Many years ago, Harris, along with 21 other men, launched the Black Stuntmen’s Association, which created immense opportunity for African Americans in film. Fourteen of the original 22 members are still living, and eight of those 14 were able to attend the ceremony. Harris knows of the impact he and the association made, saying, “We changed Hollywood. We busted down the doors for a lot of black people in the movie industry.”
In Harris’s famous scene, Clint Eastwood delivers a line in which his character says, “… you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ … Well, do ya, punk?”
I think at this point if Harris were asked that question he would be able to answer that with a resounding yes, he most certainly does feel lucky. Congratulations to Harris and the other members on their incredible achievements.
STOP, DROP AND ROLL
Bryer Floyd, an 8-year-old from Booneville, has always wanted to be a fireman. Floyd is fighting a life-threatening disease, but the Make A Wish Foundation and the Tupelo Fire Department worked together to make his wish come true this Saturday.
The Daily Journal reported that Floyd rode on a fire truck, was sworn in as a fireman, was given his own uniform, participated in a rescue operation and then helped put out a fire before accepting a key to the city.
Floyd was born with a hole in his diaphragm and unformed lungs. He was given a 1 percent chance of surviving and has spent a large portion of his life in the hospital undergoing a dozen surgeries.
Floyd’s mother Melinda Floyd said, “Knowing what he has been through, this is the best feeling in the world.”
Northeast Mississippi came together to make this boy’s dream come true. And Bryer’s favorite part?
He said it himself, “Putting out the fire was my favorite part. I like the uniform.”
