Terry Headlight News

Last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning will be remembered as a dark time for the town of Terry. I returned for my All Saints’ memorial service during which the Bishop of Mississippi spoke. That service was in Jackson, and, upon returning to Terry, I saw many, many fire trucks behind the Terry Town Hall and around the home which formerly belonged to Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Moreland. I decided to drive around the block and then drove south on Canton St., which was nearly blocked by vehicles on the right side and by one single white pick-up truck on the left side. I managed to squeeze through the narrow way and saw that there was evidently a fire but that the house was standing.

Then, sometime in the early morning, the fire reignited, and the Moreland house burned to the ground. I had seen this house for all my life, even before the time that we moved into the Herrington house across the street. I am not sure what year this house had been built, but it was one of the oldest houses in our town. So many school children walked past this house on the way to the Terry school. Many other people had viewed this house because it was located on the former Highway 51, which was the way between Jackson and Ponchatoula. There was a concrete bench in the west side of the yard which was cracked, said to be the result of a Halloween prank. The house, following the deaths of both Mr. and Mrs. Moreland and their daughter Ethelee Moreland Quinn, had been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Robin Kritchbaum and, later after their transfer to another state, by the attorney Bear Atwood and college instructor Sheila Hailey. These were good neighbors to my family, and we all regret that this fire has destroyed the house. Neither Bear and Sheila was at home at the time of this destructive fire.

This column is being written the night prior to the big Mississippi elections of 2023. Hopefully, the tomorrow will be a safe and orderly day. We hope that no run-off elections here in Hinds County will be required. Here is a prayer by the founder of my church, John Wesley, to be prayed after an election:

Prayer following election

“Holy God, We come to you today in prayer, full of emotions. Election season always seem to bring that out in us — Worry and hope, fear and frustration. The list could go on. So today we bow our heads and ask for guidance. Open our ears to hear the groans of creation. Open our eyes to see the needs of others. Open our hearts to make room for empathy. Give us the wisdom to navigate challenging conversations. Give us the patience to disagree with grace. Give us the compassion to make decisions for the greater good. And when all else fails, bring us back to love. Bring our hearts and our hands, Our dreams and our hopes, Our anger and our frustration, Our hurt and our fear, All back to love. With hope we pray, With hope we are sustained. Amen.” - From A Sanctified Art by John Wesley

Some recently celebrated birthdays include these: Nov. 8- Gay Price, Rep. Bo Brown; Nov. 9- Father Darin Hyer; Nov. 10- Jennifer Riley Collins; Nov. 11- Brenda Harper, Mike Broadwater; Nov. 12- Sarabeth May Welch, Rodney Faubian; Nov. 13- Lauren Porter.

This Sunday, the 12th, will be the 24th Sunday after Pentecost. Scriptures for this Sunday include Joshua 24:1 - 3a, 14 - 25 (review of Israel’s history; the covenant renewal), Psalm 70 (a call for deliverance), Psalm 78: 1 - 7 (lessons from Israel’s past), Wisdom of Solomon 6:12 - 20, Amos 5:18-24 (the day of the Lord), 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the comfort of Christ’s coming) and Matthew 25:1-13 (the parable of the ten virgins).

Last weekend was one of the two weekends of the year during which clocks should be changed in observance of standard time replacing daylight savings time. I hope that all clocks were changed accordingly and that no one was late to any appointments (especially the beginning of church services). Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 20 of next year at 2AM.

The 1st Saturday of Nov. was Sadie Hawkins Day. Sadie Hawkins Day is a unique holiday celebrated in some parts of the United States. It is named after a fictional character named Sadie Hawkins, whom cartoonist Al Capp created in his famous comic strip “Li’l Abner.” The origins of Sadie Hawkins Day can be traced back to the comic strip storyline published in 1937. In the story, Sadie Hawkins is a young woman who lives in the fictional town of Dogpatch. She was portrayed as very shy and introverted, making it difficult to find a romantic partner. In an effort to help Sadie find a husband, her father, Hekzebiah Hawkins, organized a foot race. The race was open to all the eligible bachelors in town, and Sadie would chase after them. The twist was that if Sadie caught a bachelor, he would be obligated to marry her. Over time, Sadie Hawkins Day has evolved into a day where women take the initiative to ask men out on dates or propose marriage. It is often seen as a reversal of traditional gender roles, where women are typically expected to wait for men to make the first move.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Terry High School basketball team will compete in “the jump challenge” at Madison Central High School. The ninth-grade basketball team will play Warren Central High School on November 13th; on the same day, the soccer team will play Franklin County High School. On Nov.14th, the basketball team will play Meridian High School (Lauderdale County), and the soccer team is scheduled on the calendar to play 3 different high schools - Morton High School (Scott County), Raymond High School (Hinds County) and West Jones High School. The 9th-grade basketball team will play Ridgeland High School (Madison County), and the soccer team will play Raymond High School (both on Nov. 16th). Crystal Springs High School from Copiah County will play Terry High School in basketball on Nov. 17th. On Nov. 20th, the boys basketball team will compete in the “River City Challenge.” The school’s Thanksgiving holidays will begin on Nov. 20th and continue throughout that week, although the sporting competitions will continue that week.

Sales tax collections for the various municipalities comparing the amounts from July of last year with those of July of this year. The amount for Terry was down for this year. In July of 2022, we collected $26,971.38, but this year the July collection amount was $18,275.01. Other towns or cities which had a decrease from last year to this year in July were Brookhaven, Fayette, Hazlehurst, Magee and Port Gibson.

Unfortunately, 1 of our best police officers in Terry, Officer Cornelius Lindsey, has resigned.

Because Tues-day, Nov. 7 was an election day, the Terry Board of Alders moved its meeting date (which also fell on that date) to Thursday, Nov. 9.

The Ella Bess Austin Library in Terry has been busy with fall projects! On Tuesday, October 10th, the child patrons of Terry and the Kaleidoscope of Learning enjoyed playing games including horseshoes, a candy toss and a pumpkin walk. Prizes were awarded. Participants were served popcorn, mini-corndogs, French fried potatoes, juice or water, and Jello-O.

The Mississippi Department of Health hosted another monthly community health club meeting. The discussion included information and a presentation about breast cancer. Patrons were served healthy snacks which were previously purchased with grant funds given to the library for a healthy food initiative.

The library staff, led by branch manager Corey Tyler, is in the process of starting up our tutoring program again with the help of many volunteers. This will be primarily focusing on English and Math for elementary school children. Our library in Terry is a safe place where children may come in order to obtain help with homework assignments. Other patrons are assisted by the library staff also.

Here is an updated prayer list for November: Judge Lee Agnew, April Allday, Bear Atwood, James and Gayla Garrett Bailey, Bo Baughn, Laverna Linton Broome, Maggie (Mrs. Stanley) Brown, Curley Champion, Harold and Judy Wilson Crowder, Hal Dixon, Nell Taylor Eley, Preston Grace, Sheila Hailey, Ina Grace Housley, Frank Jackson, the family of Connie Lewis Jones, Lillie Rene Hales Jones, Steve Jones, Jackie McGuffie, Patti McMaster Jones, Keith Morrison, Rachel Patterson, Mary Lou Peoples, Wayne Peoples, Charles Earl Shack, Elsie Mae Whitehead Shack, Barbara Sills, Ken Slay, Rev. Britt Williamson and family, Larry Wilson, Jerry Witherington, Glenn Yarbrough, all pastors and evangelists, all churches, all elected officials (especially the newly elected ones), and all police officers.

The G.A. (Girls Auxiliary) of the First Baptist Church on Raymond Street is collecting rolls of paper towels to be delivered to Ronald McDonald House on November 15th. On this local trip, the members of the group will be learning about missions and what they can do right here in Hinds County.

In continuing the sharing of hymns of Thanksgiving, harvest, and support for this country and democracy this month, I share a spirited hymn written by the Scottish-born poet, hymn-writer, and editor James Montgomery (1771 - 1854).

“The God of harvest praise, In loud thanksgivings, raise Hand, heart, and voice; The valleys laugh and sing, Forests and mountains ring, The plains their tribute bring, The streams rejoice. “Of food for man and beast, Jehovah spreads a feast, Above, beneath: Ye herds and flocks, draw near, Fowls, ye are welcome here; His goodness crowns the year For all that breathe. “Garden and orchard ground, Autumnal fruits have crowned, The vintage glows: Here plenty pours her horn; There the full tide of corn, Swayed by the breath of morn, The land o’erflows. “The wind, the rain, the sun, Their genial work have done; Wouldst thou be fed? Man, to thy labor bow, Thrust in the sickle now, Reap where thou once didst plough, God sends thee bread. “Thy few seeds scattered wide, His hand hath multiplied; Here thou may’st find Christ’s miracle renewed; With self-producing food, He feeds a multitude— He feeds mankind. “The God of harvest praise; Hands, hearts, and voices raise With one accord; From field to garner throng, Bearing your sheaves along; And in your harvest song, Bless ye the Lord. “Yea, bless His holy name, And your souls’ thanks proclaim Through all the earth: To glory in your lot Is comely—but be not His benefits forgot Amidst your mirth.”

As you are thanked each week for your readership, you are again thanked. You have read the oldest newspaper in the county, and, unlike so many publications, it may be read weekly. Your submissions, corrections, and additions are always welcomed, and this writer may be reached at terryj1@bellsouth. (Pray for PEACE, people everywhere!)