March 2014

INVITATION Oxford MARCH 2014

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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#1 RE/MAX Team in Mississippi

Oxford, MS

Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924 Markccleary@gmail.com Lauren West Cleary (205) 492-1943 mslaurenwest@gmail.com

The place you want to be!

Phases 1, 2 & 3 SOLD OUT

Brand new.

A stroll to the square.

Oxford’s Newest Family Development In Town! $275,000-$425,000

Finishes include granite slab counters, wood floors, crown molding, stainless steel appliances and a metal roof.

3 or 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bathrooms. Come pick your lot and choose your finishes today!

4 acre park, bike/walk path to the square, close knit community association & a community swimming pool coming!

Brand new construction!

Come check out these private community lake lots. Features include granite counter tops in kitchen and bath, stainless steel appliances, hand scraped floors, fireplace, crown molding, walk-in closets, and two car garages. Three lots to choose from with multiple floor plans for you to customize. Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills, just 5 minutes from downtown Oxford!

Steeplechase is back! $349,000 - $1.5million++ All lots at Least 1.5 acres. Come pick your lot & floor plan today or build a custom home. Strict architecture covenants and community lake.

Aspen Loop

1416 Van Buren

115 Breckenridge

70 Old Taylor

Fallsgrove

107 N. 13th

• 2 Bed 2.5 Bath • Granite & Stainless Kitchen • Wood Flooring Throughout

• On Square • Viking Kitchen • Two Car Garage

• 3 Bed 2 Bath One Level • Vaulted Ceilings • 1.5 miles from Campus

• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath • Custom Interior Finishes • Covered Back Porch

• 3 Bed 3 Bath • Gas Fireplace • Private Fenced Yard & Patio

• Condo on Square • Private Roof Top Terrace • Garage Parking

Reduced Price $129,000

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$649,000

INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Reduced Price $168,000

$215,900

$220,000

$550,000

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Spring, a time for renewal, new life.... why not welcome the season in a new home!

NG

I PEND 401 Bickerstaff #10

3Bed/3Bath You will not get closer to the Ole Miss campus in such a well planned condominium!

104 Oxmoor Ridge

408 Andalusia

3Bed/3/5Bath Craftsman cottage with beautiful spaces indoors and out.

4Bed/3.5Bath Attention to all details!

This charming home has everything you want with maintenance-free living.

612 Centerpointe

13 CR (Levee Road)

708 Ridgewood Manor

Cross Creek

4 Bed/ 2.5 Bath Southern charm at it’s best!

Close to parks, schools, and downtown!

One of Oxford’s best kept secrets! Very conveniently located and several great new plans to be built to your liking.

300 Winner’s Circle

313 Fox hollow cove

NG

I PEND

520 N. 14th Street 4Bed/4Bath

4Bed/4.5Bath In the heart of the Historic Beautiful Craftsman style District of Downtown Oxford! home in popular Northpointe You will not believe the charm Subdivision. Inviting and character this home fireplace with exposed brick has to offer. and open entertaining plan.

3Bed/1.5Bath Charming cottage located on a tree covered lot with a convenient location.

Great investment property!

4Bed/3.5Bath Steeplechase is the location of this soon to be constructed dream home.

4Bed/3Bath Taylor-Greene is the location for this well-planned home.

So many great features!

Wellsgate

G

IN D N E P 2202 Longspur Pointe

810 Brentwood Cove

4Bed/3.5Bath Grandiose southern estate home located in Wellsgate subdivision. This home has it all!

Mature Crepe Myrtles line the entrance to this private estate home complete with a pool!

stonebridge

236 St. Andrews Circle

3Bed/2Bath Such a well planned community of carefree living.

Units are selling as quickly as they are built.

You have waited for this address! Absolutely wonderful neighborhood!

1605 Jackson Ave #4 4 Bed/3.5 Bath Just a minutes’ walk to the SQUARE!!

420 Deer Run

5Bed/3Bath Space galore! This home was built by the builder for his family to reside-well done!

Jamey Leggitt

Cell: 662-832-7620 Visit jameyleggitt.com jamey@kessingerrealestate.com

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Brighton Village

3BR/3.5BA-1725 S.F. and 2BR/2.5BA-1325 S.F. PLANS STARTING IN THE $150’S. HARDWOOD/GRANITE THROUGHOUT/CUSTOM CABINETS/ STAINLESS APPLIANCES/POOL-CLOSE TO CAMPUS!

ROSEMONT

4BR/3.5BA PLANS ON THE GOLF COURSE STARTING IN THE $350’S. SOME OF THE AMENITIES INCLUDE HUGE KITCHENS/WET BAR/ INDOOR OUTDOOR FIREPLACE WITH A COVERED PATIO/ DECORATIVE BOX BEAMS/BRICK ACCENT WALL/PINE CEILING IN THE KITCHEN/HUGE MASTER BATH

The Gables

4BR/3.5BA 2400 S.F. PLANS STARTING IN THE LOW $200’S. CITY SCHOOLS/PAINTED BRICK/STONE/ 10FT CEILINGS& 8FT DOORS/GRANITE COUNTER TOPS/ STAINLESS APPLIANCES/WOOD FLOORS/COVERED PATIOS

Provence Park

NEW 3BR/3.5BA PLANS STARTING IN THE HIGH $200’S! PROVENCE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE GROVE AND THE SQUARE! HARDWOOD/GRANITE/STAINLESS APPLIANCES/ 10FT CEILINGS/GARAGES

Matt McGraw

The Lakes

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LAKE FRONT HOMES STARTING IN THE LOW $200’S. BREATHTAKING VIEWS! CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLAN! INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

662-801-5170 matt@kessingerrealestate.com www.condosinoxford.com

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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IN THIS ISSUE MARCH 2014

INVITATION Oxford MARCH 2014

Change

Seeds of

COVER ILLUSTRATED BY LAURIE FISHER

FEATURES 48 A Family Affair Officiating the Super Bowl was a great professional accomplishment for NFL back judge Steve Freeman and a fun trip for his family.

66 Weather Warriors Members of the North Mississippi Storm Chasers and Spotters team track storms and tornados to help keep others safe.

80 Night Moves Guided nighttime feral-hog hunting is a popular hobby and a way to protect crops.

86 Lucky #22 Marshall Henderson, Deuce McAllister and Dexter McCluster all sport the double deuces.

48 EVENTS

30 Seeds of Change

New businesses and subdivisions are sprouting up all over town, and Oxford is beginning to look different. But is the growth helping the city blossom or grow like a weed?

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

22 25 40 44 52 54 57 60 62 70 72 74 76 78

Taste of Oxford Empty Bowls Valentine’s Day Celebrations A Red Carpet Affair FIRST Tech Robotics Challenge Thad Cochran Fundraiser Oxford Film Festival Yappy Hour MLK Day of Service Bramlett Elementary PTA Event Cake: A Story Piece Art Crawl Pre-Party National Signing Day Music of the South Concert

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74 ANNOUNCEMENT 21 Butts & Dorris

DEPARTMENTS 14 16 18 42 88 91 96

Letter From the Publisher March Contributors What’s Happening Pets of the Month In Season: Crawfish Out and About I Am Oxford: Sparky Reardon March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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LETTER FROM

the publisher

O

xford is a wonderful town. Our city often receives regional and national attention for being a great place to live and work. That really hit home for me in July when my mother, Sally Malone, moved here from Little Rock, Ark. She is just one of many people who have moved to Oxford recently.

As a result, growth in and around Oxford is a fact. As the University of Mississippi continues to grow and business and industries look to hire skilled workers, they don’t have to look far to find young, energetic, talented people who are willing to work hard and want to stay in, or return to, Oxford.

Just drive out from the Courthouse Square and look around. Our city’s growth is happening in every direction.

The widening of Jackson Avenue, which began in the late 1990s, is a cornerstone of Oxford’s growth. The project was lengthy and completed in four phases. In the early stages of the Jackson Avenue project, some residents were outraged that so many trees would be removed in order to widen the busy thoroughfare and allow for the current location of Walmart. As bulldozers began knocking down trees along the path, a few citizens chained themselves to trees in protest. Today, it seems construction is everywhere.

Trees are cut down daily, and few seem to notice.

This month, Invitation Oxford takes an in-depth look at growth and change in and around Oxford. What will the future Oxford look like? How rapid is growth occurring, and what are city leaders doing to prepare the city for continued growth? Learn the answers to those questions and much more in our cover story, Seeds of Change, on page 30.

Along with growth comes responsibility. Communities that experience rapid growth need a vision. It’s important to have a plan that outlines how to manage growth so the flavor and feeling of the city will not change dramatically. As the population grows, traffic increases, new homes are built, and new businesses and industry choose to locate in Oxford, it is important that our city leaders understand their decisions today will affect our community for generations to come.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Cindy Semmes MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Thompson ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Emily Welly EDITORIAL DESIGN Emily R. Suber, Hallie M. Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Sheena Hagemann, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Mary Moreton, Moni Simpson AD DESIGN Rebecca Bailey, Zach Fields, Paul Gandy CONTRIBUTORS Melanie Addington, Joey Brent, Leslie Brooks, Meaghin Burke, Melanie Crownover, Michael Ikeda-Chandler, Elizabeth Ferrell, Laurie Fisher, Caroline Beffa Franks, Ann-Marie Herod, Mabus Photography, Megan Marascalco, Jennifer Wilson, Ann-Marie Wyatt OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITORS Linda Jansen, Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney, Brian Hilliard ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationoxford.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 776, Oxford, MS 38655 or visit invitationoxford.com to pay online.

To request a photographer at your event, to obtain a copy of an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Emily at emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION MARCH Oxford

CONTRIBUTORS

Melanie Addington Melanie Addington has lived in Oxford since 2002. In her real-world job, she eats pizza and plays on Facebook as social media director/writer/video producer for PMQ Pizza Magazine. She has worked with the Oxford Film Festival since 2006 and serves as the development director. She also directs, writes and produces films. She is on the board of the Mississippi Film and Video Alliance and helps with OxFilm.

Laurie Fisher Laurie G. Fisher has a bachelor’s degree in illustration from the Memphis College of Art and a master’s degree in painting from the University of Mississippi. She has been contributing illustrations to Invitation Oxford for the past two years. She lives in New Orleans where she is a college art instructor, the editorial assistant for a New Orleans art and design magazine and a freelance illustrator. Recent projects include the publication of her children’s book Where Do They Go On Game Day? The Story of the Squirrels Who Live in The Grove.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Jennifer Wilson Jennifer Wilson is originally from Fulton, Miss., and now lives in Oxford. She is a University of Mississippi alumna with a graduate degree in journalism. She is a freelance writer and the business manager of Epicure Day Spa. Although she has never hunted and gets upset when she hits a butterfly with her car, she thoroughly enjoyed learning about the sport of night hog hunting for this month’s issue.

Shop • Dine • Visit Mississippi

Catering Good Eats

NEW ALBANY,

Small and large events across North Mississippi Weddings • Rehearsal Dinners 662-534-3250 New Albany, MS

Michael Ikeda-Chandler Artist and illustrator Michael Ikeda-Chandler was born in Washington state and has a degree from the University of Mississippi. He is an avid recycler and coffee drinker. He illustrated this month’s feature Lucky #22.

Looking for a unique and spacious location for that special event...

Come and celebrate with us!

662-539-1378 1114 West Bankhead St. New Albany, MS March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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what’s happening March

A sampling of important, fun and interesting events in our area. For more events, visit facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Dirty Guv’nahs March 20 at the Lyric

SPECIAL EVENTS March 3 “Do You Have a Green Thumb or Carpal Tunnel?” Seminar HumanTech Inc. CEO and ergonomist M. Franz Schneider gives a seminar on maximizing productivity in the workplace by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort and demonstrates how the principles can be applied at home and in the garden. Free and open to the public.

3:30-5 p.m., Oxford Conference Center

March 13-15 American Society of Landscape Architects Twin States Conference The Alabama and Mississippi chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects host their conference in Oxford. Visit website for events that are open to the public.

The Inn at Ole Miss, twinstatesconference.com

March 21-22 Oxford WeeCycle Sale WeeCycle is a seasonal children’s consignment sale offering gently-used children’s clothing, toys, furniture and gear. Local artists and vendors also sell products and services for children and parents.

8 a.m.-5 p.m., March 21 1-5 p.m., March 22 Oxford Conference Center, oxfordweecycle.com

March 26-28 Oxford Conference for the Book and Southern Literary Conference The event, organized by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, brings together fiction and nonfiction writers, journalists, artists, poets, publishers, teachers, students and literacy advocates for literary discussion.

University of Mississippi oxfordconferenceforthebook.com

BOOKS, MUSIC, ART, FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT March 6, 20 and 27 Thacker Mountain Radio

Thacker Mountain Radio is a live show of music and literary readings performed in an old-time radio-hour style.

6 p.m., Off Square Books, thackermountain.com

March 12 Donald Link Guest Dinner at City Grocery New Orleans chef Donald Link celebrates the release of his new cookbook, Down South: Bourbon, Pork, Gulf Shrimp & Second Helpings of Everything, with a special dinner. Signed copies of the cookbook will be available at Square Books after the meal. $70 with wine pairings or $60 without pairings. Reservations encouraged.

City Grocery, 662-232-8080

March 10-14 Spring Break Art Camp Children ages 4-10 can explore different media and techniques. Mornings include a Great Art Challenge and snack. Afternoons include a movie and more arts projects.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. full-day option, $150 for YAC members and $160 for non-members.

9 a.m.-noon half-day options available, $90 for YAC members and $100 for non-members.

The Powerhouse, oxfordarts.com

March 15 Peking Acrobats Watch Chinese acrobats perform daring maneuvers and execute precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics.

7 p.m., the Ford Center, fordcenter.org

March 18

The B.T.C . Old-Fashioned Grocery Cookbook: Recipes and Stories From a Southern Revival Book Signing Alexe van Beuren and Dixie Grimes of Water Valley’s B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery sign their debut cookbook.

5 p.m., Off Square Books

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

March 19

Lifesaving Labradors: Stories From Families With Diabetic Alert Dogs Book Signing In this new book, edited by University of Mississippi English Professor Ben McClelland, readers glimpse how the canines of Wildrose Kennel are helping save lives.

5 p.m., Off Square Books

March 19 Elton John Concert Sir Elton John and his Band perform.

8 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo, bcsarena.com

March 20 The Dirty Guv’nahs Concert The six-piece rock ‘n’ roll collective from Knoxville, Tenn., play from their new album, Hearts on Fire.

8 p.m., the Lyric

March 21 Roseanne Cash Concert Singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash performs from her new album, The River and the Thread.

7 p.m., the Ford Center, fordcenter.org

March 25 UM Museum Mini Masters These drop-in workshops for children ages 2-5 and a parent/guardian are offered on alternating Tuesdays at the Powerhouse and the University Museum. African Instruments will be the inspiration for art created on the 25th. Cost, $5.

3:45-4:30 p.m., UM Museum museum.olemiss.edu/mini-masters

FUNDRAISERS/COMMUNITY Now Through March 22 UM Big Event Day of Service

During the University of Mississippi Big Event on March 22, Ole Miss students participate in a day of service to the community. These service projects may include painting, yard work, washing windows, cleaning and assisting the elderly. Projects are not necessarily need based. The goal is to build relationships between students and community members. Both student volunteers and those who would like to register service projects should visit dos.orgsync.com/org/bigevent.

March 4 IHOP Pancake Day Benefiting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Enjoy a free short stack of pancakes at IHOP and make a donation to Children’s Miracle Network to benefit Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

7 a.m., IHOP, 2152 Jackson Ave. W.

March 29 Oxford University School 10th-Annual Auction: Wish Upon a Star The event, featuring live and silent auctions, food and music, raises money for OUS. Tickets, $25.

7 p.m., Oxford University School, 200 OUS Drive ouschool.org or 662-234-2200

CVM Salon is a Davines concept salon specializing in hair cuts, color and perfect tress extensions.

Mandy Miller, the technician and owner of CVM, has spent the last seven years in Orange County, California as a stylist. Mandy is excited to introduce Davines to Mississippi. Davines is a color and product line from Parma, Italy. CVM is the exclusive carrier of Davines in Mississippi.

1105 Van Buren Avenue • Oxford, MS 38655 • (714) 944-9119 March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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1829 Jackson East 4 units already sold

Come experience the feel of Old Oxford in a new way!

A welcoming community of condominiums, nestled just off the downtown square in Oxford. Each unit is beautifully finished with antique heart pine floors, antique brick entries and hearths, as well as a great accent wall.

Custom cabinets and solid granite counter-tops in the kitchen and baths add to the over all feel of these well appointed units. Each of the ten units offers a spacious open plan downstairs and three bedrooms and baths upstairs.

RONNIE LEGGITT CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

Kathy Leggitt, Realtor

Cell: 662.801.8360 Kleggitt@oxfordhomes.com 1923 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Come see Sew Smocking Cute at The Mustard Seed Also available online at www.Sewsmockingcute.com Hours: 10-6:00 Mon-Sat

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

662.281.8004

1737 University Ave. • Oxford, MS

&

KRISTEN MIZE BUTTS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ONE PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRISTOPHER JOHN DORRIS

rs. Larry Robert Butts of Oxford, Miss., is pleased to announce the engagement of her daughter, Kristen Mize Butts, to Christopher John Dorris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Theo Anthony Dorris of Germantown, Tenn.

The bride-elect is the daughter of the late Mr. Larry Robert Butts of Oxford. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Katherine Huggins Butts, the late Mr. David Olan Butts, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dulon Mize, all of Oxford.

Mr. Dorris is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Theo Dorris of Jackson, Tenn., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Earl Willis Butler Jr. of Savannah, Tenn.

Ms. Butts attended the University of Mississippi. She lives in Denver, Colo., where she is employed with Camden Property Trust Group.

Mr. Dorris graduated from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He lives in Denver where he works for the Denver Police Department.

The couple will exchange vows March 29, 2014, at the Paris-Yates Chapel in Oxford. A reception will follow at the Inn at Ole Miss.

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events St. Jude Taste of Oxford View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The seventh-annual St. Jude Taste of Oxford was held Feb. 12 at the Library Sports Bar. The event benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. The event included live and silent auctions, music and food.

Abby and Eli Manning

David and Katie Naron with Alex and Jennifer Powell

Leighton Mason, Jenny Rayner and Timeka Davis

Susan and Jimmy Brown

Scott Hinshelwood, Shelby Anderson and Kevin Nienhuis

Clay Erwin, Leigh Solomon and Ernie Williams

Rachael Holman, Sydney Hedberg and Catherine Holman

Beth Chamblee and Brynnen Quick Kerri Harrison and Peppar Garvin Brett and Katie Soldevila

Elizabeth Stephens and Patton Ford

Alice & Company Salon Hair & Nails

1729 University Avenue • 662.234.3896

Scan for beauty tips & salon specials 662.234.3896 1729 University Ave. www.AliceandCompanySalon.com

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Amanda Hill and Lisa Smith

Brent Sanders, Courtney Cedotal with Jagruti and Chan Patel

Corey Addy with Ashley and Pearson Windham

Woody Sample and Gayle Henry

Ann Marie Shivers and Elizabeth Heiskell

Carole Haney and Jane Thomas Rogers

Suzanne and Tate Thigpen

Ashley Elliott and April Ross

Justin and Haley Eifling

Stephen Pannel and Dee Wages

Guy and Stacy Shoaf

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Living in Oxford is like being on vacation year round..

THE EDGAR BUILDING 428 N. LAMAR, STE 102 • OXFORD, MS

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Let Sample & Poole make buying your new home a reality!

JULIE SAMPLE, BROKER • 662.234.0808

WWW.VACATIONOXFORD.COM

events Empty Bowls

photographed by Leslie Brooks CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The 11th-annual Empty Bowls fundraiser was held Feb. 13 at Oxford-University United Methodist Church. Attendees enjoyed soup served in collector’s bowls made by the University of Mississippi Mud Daubers. The lunch benefited The Pantry.

Jenny Barnes and Carmen Mattox

John McCustion with Mary and Geoff Knight

Leslie Hamm and Shirley Easley with Ava Montgomery, Jane and Oby Cross

Summer Carmack and Kelly Psonak

Loralee and Stephen O’Neal

Linda Britt, Tess Hill and Charis Clark

ERIC THWEATT CONSTRUCTION

662.202.5020 Let 2014 be the year you build your DREAM HOUSE! March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Empty Bowls

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Christie Perkins and Cindy Holley with Jan and Rick Davis

Jennifer McClure and Ashley Guinn Taylor

Jenny Arnold, Kathy Wood, Norma Wooten and Toula Kakales

Bill Gurley and Dr. Jean Gispen

Building Your Dreams Into

Reality!

662-801-4111 228-591-6091

kellyandassociatesinc@gmail.com • www.kellyandassociatesinc.com INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Rhea and Robyn Tannehill

Suzanne Winters, Dina Reeves, Tina Barkley, Barbara Magee and Angela Doles Chris and Ron Dale with Gabrielle Chiniche

Timeka Davis, Jenny Noe, Janeka Rice, Ann Thomas and Dean Huckaby

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Lizzy Wicks, Meredith Oliver and David McCandless

Jay and Sheila Cochran

Julie Walton and Ann O’Dell

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Oxford University School

From broken ground to a complete state of the art facility, OUS is building on 30 years of excellence to provide quality education in a nurturing environment for the children of this community.

Oxford University School • 662-234-2200 • www.ouschool.org 200 OUS DRIVE • Oxford, ms 38655

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

THE GREEN DOOR COMPANY A 12,000 sq ft furniture showroom with one-of-a-kind CUSTOM BUILT PIECES and many upholstery choices.

Now featuring the Magnolia Collection Unique, hand crafted pieces created from repurposed wood from the Ole Miss campus and around Oxford. www.thegreendoorms.com

Tues-Sat 10am-5pm • 662-380-5074 1501 Molly Barr Road at N. Lamar intersection March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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by Melanie Addington

illustrated by Laurie Fisher

with additional reporting by

excluding architectural renderings

Elizabeth Ferrell

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Oxford is growing. New businesses and subdivisions are sprouting up in every direction, and the city is beginning to look different.

OXFORD IS CHANGING. The town still has the charm of the Square, and it’s hard not to run into someone you know while grocery shopping. But the numbers tell the story of change. Oxford has grown 3.9 percent in the last four years, and that rate is projected to slow just 2.6 percent over the next five years.

Oxford’s population jumped from 14,439 in 2003 to 19,876 in 2013. That is a growth of 5,437 people in 10 years. Lafayette County’s population also grew during that time, from 38,741 to 49,591, according to the 2010 U.S. Census reports.

The city’s projected population for 2018 is 22,265, and the county is expected to grow to 55,155, according to U.S. Census reports.

While that may not seem like a lot of people to big-city natives, Oxford’s population has doubled since 1990. With a growing population comes growing residential and commercial sprawl.

For Oxford, that sprawl is pretty much everywhere around the city center. Growth has occurred in every direction – north, south, east and west.

In 2013, 2,225 building permits were issued, for a value of more than $80 million. The new growth includes: two hotels under construction (the Marriott on Ed Perry Boulevard and Courtyard Marriott on Jackson Avenue); a new bowling alley next to Oxford Malco Commons; and several new commercial sites.

By contrast, Oxford issued only $5 million worth of permits in 1989.

“It seems that there may be a shift starting from housing to commercial retail,” Assistant City Planner Katrina Hourin said. “We are seeing an increase in retail site plans. There is a bunch coming down the pipeline. Stay tuned.”

To the east is the new Oxford High School and plans for a growing Oxford Com-

Emma J Salon Specializing In

Hair & Nails

380-5056 2625 W Oxford Loop Suite C Oxford, MS

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A rendering of the new Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. The new facility, located between Old Taylor Road and South Lamar Boulevard, is under construction. There is not yet a road to the site. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2017 or early 2018.

mons (which will consist of residential neighborhoods the Preserve and the Heights, and office and commercial retail space in the Village). To the south is a $300 million hospital under construction. To the west and north are growing commercial and residential areas.

In January alone, the city received building permit applications for six houses, one hotel, two public works buildings, one grocery store, six home renovations and three renovations of commercial businesses.

“I think the growth we’ve seen is solid. I’m not worried about a bubble,” Mayor Pat Patterson said. “From 2005 to 2008 we had a bubble in top-end condos, in the $850,000 to $1 million price range, and that took some time to absorb. And we’re still absorbing it. But if you have a house with an asking price of $250,000, it will probably sell the day you put it on the market.”

LOCAL SCHOOLS NEED MORE SPACE For Oxford School District Superintendent Brian Harvey, the challenge for the past few years has been in predicting growth as the enrollment numbers climb. And as they grow, so does the district’s need for space.

“It’s changed in the last 25 to 30 years. Since the 1970s we’ve grown in all directions,” Harvey said.

He noted that Oxford grew even during the Great Recession.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

“The housing market slowed, but it didn’t stop,” Harvey said. “We gained students from people moving in. The university allows enrollment to be steady during bad times.”

Harvey said Lafayette County’s birth statistics help educators project what kindergarten classes will be like in five years.

Over the past two or three years, numbers have increased, with Oxford city schools going from enrolling 58 percent of the births in kindergarten, to now enrolling 65 to 67 percent of the county’s births – or about 30 to 40 new students.

“Growth comes when you graduate 182 kids, but then you bring in 305 kids in kindergarten,” he said. “This year’s 10th grade class is the first to have over 300 to graduate.”

Ward 1 Alderman Jay Hughes said the new Oxford High School has created the challenge of increased traffic.

“In this same area we also saw the old theater renovated and reopened by Malco and await the completion of a bowling alley and family event center next door,” Hughes said. “Further projects in 2013 included the opening of a major rental development along Molly Bar Road, and the new O.U.T. transit building on McElroy Drive. The exciting part in our area of Oxford is the creation of new homes that are planned for Oxford Commons, along with a new access road from Sisk Avenue to Highway 30.”

UNIVERSITY GROWTH Much of Oxford’s growth over the past 20 to 25 years stems from the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss, with its steadily growing enrollment, is not the town’s only source of growth, but to a large degree it drives Oxford’s economic engine.

The student population in 2010 was 11,405. Today, enrollment is 18,423 with enrollment for fall expected to be 22,300.

More than 5,300 students live on campus, and the rest live in the city or county. Ole Miss has about 4,100 employees on the campus.

The university is its own municipality and has its own police and water department. But it is tied to the city around it. Fire and ambulance service is provided by the city and county.

University spokesperson Sharon Morris said the university works closely with the local government to address growth.

“The university’s government affairs representative interacts with local and county government to address any resources/issues that impact the campus,” Morris said in an email.

While Trezevant can’t say which ones because of non-disclosure agreements, he said they include “many national merchants not yet in Oxford,” but that none of them is Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Fresh Market, and he wants to put that rumor to rest.

Trezevant added that when his company tried to bring Dollar General, Chili’s and other national chains to Oxford when they built Walmart, it was difficult. Today, he said, more people say yes to Oxford.

“The amount of interest we have is extraordinary,” Trezevant said.

“Just about everybody we are contacting wants in, so we have an opportunity to be select – more select than we normally are.”

LOTS OF REASONS OXFORD ATTRACTS PEOPLE The university is just one reason people move to Oxford. New houses are needed because many in the medical, technical and construction fields are also finding a space of their own in Oxford.

Since 2010, Oxford has added 488 new housing units for a total of 11,304. Houses in Oxford built since 2005 make up almost 15 percent of all the homes in Oxford. In 1939, Oxford had only 376 homes. Since the 1970s more than 1,000 units have been built each decade.

“We’ve had 2,000 jobs added in the last 10 years,” Patterson said.

“Of course, a lot of that is regional, people driving in from Water Valley.

But the university is not the only growth factor.”

Former mayor Richard Howorth, who served from 2001 to 2009, watches the growth from his three downtown bookstores.

“In 1983 there were just three large employers. Now there are seven, with Ole Miss and the new hospital, which is about to grow again, and Winchester, which took us from 150 to 1,000 new jobs,” he said. “There’s FNC, which is a great entrepreneurial story, with two-thirds of its 500 employees here in Oxford. Their average salary is $60,000. So they’re a large employer, and they pay well.”

Blake Tartt III, president and CEO of New Regional Planning in Houston, Texas, and a 1984 Ole Miss graduate, is developing Starbucks and Mattress Mart on West Jackson Avenue, as well as the recently opened cycling and Pilates studio PureRyde, in the Vieux Carré building on the Square. He also plans to develop a café-style restaurant and a women’s clothing store.

John Trezevant, president of Trezevant Corporation, said that he knew when his company built the Walmart center 12 years ago that Oxford’s population was set to double by 2020. Instead, the growth has been even faster in its pace than expected.

“With the innovation of the university and the city leadership, I think Oxford is going to double again by about 2030,” Trezevant said.

Trezevant recently announced a new $35 million project to open in fall 2015. Phase two of the Oxford Galleria is set to bring 225,000 square feet of national merchants to town.

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Above, the site plan for a new shopping center on Highway 7 South near the Windsor Falls subdivision. The Oxford Planning Commission voted in February to approve the rezoning of about 25 acres from single family residential to general businesses. The Oxford Board of Alderman will hold a public hearing about the rezoning March 4. While the plans are still preliminary, the shopping center could include banks, convenience and grocery stores and restaurants.

Right, the site plan for phase two of the Oxford Galleria shopping center on West Jackson Avenue. The existing phase one is the home of Belk department store and other retailers.

Not pictured, Highland Court, a new shopping center located on the old Cannon Motors site that will consist of 42,000 square feet of retail space, is also being developed on West Jackson Avenue.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

CAR CONGESTION Parking on the Square poses a big challenge for Oxford planners.

The city formed a parking committee last year that discussed paid Square parking and a garage. The first step was a move to add additional parking in a lot behind Vieux Carré and to create three-hour time limits on spaces on the Square from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The board of aldermen voted in January to install parking meters in 300 spots on the Square. The parking meters are expected to be in place this summer.

Mayor Patterson noted that in addition to problems parking on the Square, there are traffic challenges that extend beyond downtown.

“We need roads, and we need them right now,” Patterson said.

“But our tax base is not that big. We only have around 19,000 people without the school. And there are no more federal funding dollars earmarked for transportation.”

Construction of the $300 million Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi is underway, and it needs roads.

Hospital executives said construction is on target for completion in late 2017.

The new hospital, on a 160-acre site south of Highway 6 and west of South Lamar Boulevard, will include 217 beds, about the same as the current facility, but will be more state-of-the-art. Roads are being developed to the property, and a retention pond is being built behind Harland Drive that includes a 100-foot buffer zone for the road that will go past the neighborhood.

The hospital will have a closed loop and will be accessible from Highway 6 and a new road being built out from Azalea Drive near the current hospital.

At a recent planning commission meeting, resident Milly West questioned more growth on the east side of town at the Oxford Commons.

“I heard enough of the proposal of the Oxford Commons development to make me question the finished product,” West said by email.

“The forest is already cut, but I can’t imagine 500 houses, still with no access to the south (this was also brought up by the commission), and in the proposal, I did not get any guarantees of green space, a park (Avent’s Park is packed every nice day), or sidewalks. I want Oxford to set the bar high for sustainability and livability and to keep its unique beauty and attractiveness. Trees are a big part of Oxford, but the developments lately seem to disregard the necessity of trees in favor of more buildings.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE When Howorth took office as mayor in 2001, the city of Oxford had not undergone a comprehensive plan in around 30 years. Much of the groundwork for a comprehensive plan was accomplished by his administration as part of the Vision 2020 project, a community growth plan. The objectives and strategies laid out by the Vision 2020 team served as a foundation for the 2004 comprehensive plan, helping city planners decide how to prioritize for transportation, zoning and budget allocation.

“And that led to a major annexation of 4 square miles,” Howorth said. “Oxford was, and probably still is, the densest municipality per square mile in the state.”

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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A rendering of the Village at Oxford Commons. The new development, which will include 500 single-family homes (in neighborhoods named the Preserve and the Heights), blends residential, commercial, entertainment and community spaces. Oxford Commons will be located at Highway 7 and Sisk Avenue.

The household density in Oxford is 566 people per square mile, compared to 63.5 people per square mile for Mississippi.

“If you don’t pass [a comprehensive plan], when you try to zone or change or rezone, the people who are against it think you’re doing it arbitrarily. So a comprehensive plan is the most important thing,” Howorth said.

City administrators have little control over the pace of growth.

“It’s going to come, or it’s not. You have to be ready for it when it comes, so it doesn’t get messy,” he said.

Ward 2 Alderman Robyn Tannehill said that growth in her area has included construction or redevelopment of homes on Garfield, at the Cottages at Hooper Hill on South Lamar, in the Rosemont subdivision in Grand Oaks, around the Oxford Country Club and of the new Oxford University School on Industrial Road.

“There are numerous developments in the planning stages within Ward 2, including a residential and commercial development on South 16th Street; Jackson Row, a multi-use commercial property on Jackson Avenue; as well as the four-laning of Highway 7 South and the expansion

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

of FNC,” Tannehill said. “I believe that we will see development spreading south once the highway is four-laned.”

The Mississippi Department of Transportation has said that the four-laning of Highway 7 could begin as late as 2020.

Tannehill said that Oxford is growing fast and said that the goal for the board of aldermen is to be proactive instead of reactive.

“While the Vision 2020 plan was a good start, the year 2014 confirms that we have not followed it as to roads, for whatever reason,” said Hughes, the Ward 1 alderman. “My goal would be to continue on the goal of having new major roads, which will allow greater access around the city and clear congestion on Jackson Avenue, Sisk Avenue and Anderson Road.”

Hughes said that more important than focusing on roads is finding a replacement for retiring City Planner Tim Akers, who is stepping down April 30. Akers was hired in 2005.

“In my opinion, this position is the most critical in Oxford, as his replacement will play a key role in the direction of Oxford’s growth for the next 20 years,” Hughes said.

FACT OR FICTION? Is Oxford getting a Whole Foods? Is Marshall’s opening?

Invitation Oxford asked Oxford Assistant City Planner Katrina Hourin and City Building Official Randy Barber to comment on what’s coming soon and what’s not happening at all.

• Ann Taylor Loft: Fact. Opening soon in the Oxford Galleria (next to Hibbett Sports).

• Starbucks/Mattress Mart: Fact. It’s under construction on West Jackson Avenue on the former Burger King site.

• Panera Bread Co.: Fact. It’s under construction on West Jackson Avenue in the former location of the Shell gas station.

• Marshall’s: Probably. “I saw the sign. That’s all I know,” Hourin said.

• Kroger Marketplace: Hourin said that it is rumored. The city received a building permit application for a grocery store in January, but it is for an existing structure, not a new one.

• Whole Foods Market: Fiction, according to Hourin and Trezevant • Water Park: Fiction, according to Barber • Kohl’s: Fiction, according to Hourin • Waffle House: Fiction. No plans have been filed with the city, according to Barber.

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

37

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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Valentine’s Day Celebrations View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Oxford Newcomers Valentine’s Party

Romance Is in the Air

The Oxford Newcomers Club held a Valentine’s Day party Feb. 13 at the Chamber of Commerce. The group assists newly relocated retirees and other new residents.

University of Mississippi music students performed the Romance Is in the Air: Tunes From Broadway, Jazz and Popular Music concert Feb. 7 in Nutt Auditorium.

Dr. Henry Clarke, Winn Hutchcraft and Joe Gauvin

Gina O’Connor, Vanessa Moore and Bonnie Siebert Matt Moore, Nelson Coile, DJ Fitzgerald and Jennifer Campbell

Toni Coleman, Hugh Ross and Ruth Roberts

Phil and Stacy Harrison with Kay and Jim Lowe

John McMeen, Kyle Davis and Thomas Ardrey

Betty Bridge, Ann Gauvin, Dianne Fergusson and Cathy Ross

Dave Dyke, Denny Siebert and Alex Balducci

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Winn Hutchcraft and Carol Burrows

Jeff Gooding, M.V. Patel and Dr. Wayne Terry Lamar

Carmen Taylor, Carli Reeder and Briana Raif

Marilyn Bullion, Joyce Sidorfsky and Carolyn Ross

photographed by Leslie Brooks and Joe Worthem

Valentine’s Day Dance at The Mill A Valentine’s Day dance was held Feb. 14 at The Mill at Plein Air in Taylor, Miss. The band Solid Gold played hits from the 1960s and 1970s.

Susan and Don Mason

Leon and Libby McCullough with Johnny Miller and Roberta Mayfield

Jane Pekala, Jo Claire Swayze, Doug Yance and Melinda Bennett

Lance and Amanda Reed with Tiffany and Todd Gililland

June Goza with Clifton and Barrie Van Cleave and Duke Goza

Dave Wheelock and Mary Harrington

Leighton Wilkie McCool and Curtis Wilkie Melissa, Angela and John Marshall Alexander

Diane Falkner, Julia Aubrey and Brad Robinson

Josh and Patsy Bogen, Charlie and Jo Anne Swayze, Robert and Margaret Johnson with Mickey McCarley

Ellen Mitchell, Sissy Ferraglio and Martha Botts

Mickey and Bryant McCarley with Nancy Wilkie March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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PETS of the Month photographed by Judy Beth Morris

Visit Oreo, Billy, Bubba, Belle, Harold and other animals that need a home at the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society at 413 McElroy Drive. Adoption is the best way to help homeless animals. Learn more at oxfordpets.com.

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photographed by Ann-Marie Herod

events A Red Carpet Affair View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The Ole Miss Black Student Union and other campus multicultural organizations hosted A Red Carpet Affair Feb. 13 at the Inn at Ole Miss ballroom. The event, held in honor of Black History Month, recognized African-American achievement on campus.

Kala Walker, Jasmine Stasher, Jada Walker and Bria Williams

Chandler Scott, Jay Strickland, Jordan Garmon, Terrill Mont- Mardaesha Cox, LaNaesha Cox, Valarie Ross, Alexus Cleaves and gomery and Chad Knight Lizzie Earl

Joshua Tucker, Ja’Meisha Gibson, Gabrielle Mykytyn, Nick Dugon and Matthew Spann

Cameron W. Jenkins, Alison Green and Jeremy Thompson

Cedric Garron, Lauren Wright and Cortez Moss

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Aaron Golden, Corbin Divinity, Jeremy Coleman and Ferrand Jenkins

Ferrand Jenkins, Ashley Saulsberry, Addison Mickens, Tim Abram and Jaquand Wells

Kells Johnson, Toya Anderson and Kearee Jackson

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March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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A Family Affair Officiating the Super Bowl was a great professional accomplishment for NFL back judge Steve Freeman and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for his family.

by Sonia Thompson

photographs courtesy of the Freeman family

Clockwise from top left: The Freemans’ daughter-in-law Ashley Freeman with her Super Bowl ticket. Bo Freeman at MetLife Stadium. Son Brad with his wife Tatum and their children Grace, 9, and Luke, 12. Watching his father officiate the Super Bowl was especially meaningful for Brad, who is an official in the Southeastern Conference. “I wanted Brad to experience it,” Steve Freeman said. “And maybe one day he can bring me to the Super Bowl.” The family made passes with Team Pabs, an affectionate term for Steve, printed on them.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

NFL OFFICIAL AND OXFORD RESIDENT Steve Freeman has been a part of professional football for 26 years, first as a player with the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings and now as a back judge, but before last month, Freeman had never been to a Super Bowl.

“Reaching the Super Bowl is a pinnacle that everyone wants to get to,” Freeman said.

“The average fan does not realize how hard it is to get to the Super Bowl. Our grading system [for officials] is difficult. At the beginning of the year, let’s say you start off with 100 points.

At the end of the year the guys with the fewest deductions get to go to the game. We’re graded on every single play of every single game. It’s a great feeling and a great accomplishment.”

But that’s only part of what made the Feb. 2 Super Bowl XLVIII in New York so special to Freeman.

“I always told my family that if I ever work a Super Bowl, then I would take them. It just happened to be this year, in the most expensive city you can go to,” he said, laughing.

Freeman’s wife, Bo, said being together with their three children, their spouses and two of their grandchildren was a highlight.

“We got to call all our kids and say, ‘We’re taking you to the Super Bowl!’” she said. “The best thing was knowing that you could call them and get to say that. It was fun to tell them, and fun to plan it, and fun to experience it all together.”

Other highlights of the trip included visits to New York landmarks including FAO Schwarz toy store; ice-skating in Central Park; a walk through Times Square’s Super Bowl Boulevard, which was set up especially for the big game; and a Thursday pregame dinner for NFL officials and their families at New Jersey’s Maritime Parc restaurant with panoramic views of New York.

“You were looking at the Statue of Liberty on one side and Manhattan on the other,” Freeman said. “It was all lit up and so were where the Twin Towers were. It was a special time.”

The most special day, of course, was Sunday.

“The whole family met in our room, and we had a devotional. Then, we wanted to be in our seats early,” Bo said. “I kind of teared up when I saw Steve come out [onto the field]. It’s been a journey. We were all very, very proud of him and happy for him.”

From top: Grace and Luke in New York’s Times Square. Brad, Grace, Bo, Ashley and Luke Freeman and daughter Carlee Freeman Denton at the Thursday pregame dinner for NFL officials and their families at the Maritime Parc restaurant.

Ashley and Ty Freeman outside MetLife Stadium. Steve Freeman is shown on the MetLife Stadium Jumbotron.

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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The much-anticipated Home & Garden magazine, available May 1, is the only combined Invitation Oxford and Invitation Tupelo issue of the year.

To reserve your advertising space in this issue, contact Cindy at (662) 701-8070.

All advertising must be reserved by April 8.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events FIRST Tech Challenge View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Challenge was held Feb. 8 at the Jackson Avenue Center. The competition was between teams of students in grades 7-12 who designed, built and programmed robots.

Autumn Murphy, Stevie Kanter and Kaylia Carroll

Sherry and Paul Stewart

Bill and Emily Lehr

Nathan Rogers, Will Gaines and Chandler Holliday

Tammy Cline, Maddie Carter, Louise Neveles and Kristy Cline

Linda Franklin and Takisha Whittington

Michael Long, Walt Holifield and Jeff Lanum

Penney Thurtell and Patty Allen

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran Fundraiser View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

A fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran was held Jan. 23 at the home of Molissia and Dr. Walker Swaney. Cochran, who has served six terms as a U.S. senator, will face State Sen. Chris McDaniel in the Republican primary election in June.

Britt Buchanan and Sarah Bracy Penn

Dr. Walker Swaney, Donna Ruth Roberts, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and Molissia Swaney

Tori Nunnelee, Jim Greenlee and Diane Hawks

Robert and Mary Cates Williams

Patsy and Guff Abbott

Gus Maples, Tim Wolverton and Pearce Crosland

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

DEPENDABLE. CHRISTIAN. CARE. www.ProvAssistedLiving.com

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events Oxford Film Festival

photographed by Leslie Brooks CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The 11th-Annual Oxford Film Festival kicked off Feb. 6 at Thacker Mountain Radio at the Lyric Theatre. The event included a showing of the festival’s community film, Killer Kudzu. Films were also shown through Feb. 9 at Malco Theaters.

Carolyn Freiwald and Cathy Janasie with Kari and Walt Davis

Laura Jean Hocking and Chris McCoy

George Ducker and Kelley Baker

Anita Modak-Truran and Edwin Komen

Michael Bruno and Cindy L. Abel

Jessica Wolfson, Sam Douglas and Daniel McHugh

Rachel Thomas and Kay Kay DeRossette

John and Marty Dunbar

Jake Fussell, Sarah Ann Mockbee and Jessica Wolfson

Your home for sweet treats!

127 Lakewood Drive, Batesville, MS 38606 662.563.9900 March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

57

photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Oxford Film Festival

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Dana Echt, Shelby Grady and Gavin Fields

Emily Cooley and Ashley Fly

Rosie McDavid and Molly Fergusson

Lisa and Bobby Towery with Mary Margaret Andrews

Wendy Goldberg and Abigail Meisel

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Alan Arrivee and Matthew Graves

Detra Payne and Michelle Emanuel

Ace Atkins and Stella Connell

Johnny McPhail, Karen Kohlhaas and Tommaso Spinelli

Stephen and Mary Allyn Hedges

Courtney and Jacob Hall

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Joe Worthem

events Yappy Hour

View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Yappy Hour was held Jan. 28 at Frank and Marlee’s. The event, which raises money for the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, is held the last Tuesday of each month at various venues.

Robin Edge (holding Skipper), Janet McCarty and Lynn Woo with Stella

Kayla Russell and Riki Roederer with Cricket

Leslie Ferguson and Pam Simpson with Moe and Beans

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Janet McCarty and Brandall Atkinson

Susan and Patrick Bradley with Oscar

Denver Bridwell and Mary Todd with Betty and Loretta Lynn

Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m .

373 Hwy. 51 North • Batesville, MS 38606 • 662.563.4684

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Volunteers gathered Jan. 20 at the Jackson Avenue Center for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The event included a mentor breakfast, service fair, poster contest and community service projects.

Austin Ivy, Cortez Adams, C. J. Cole, Thaddeus Moss, Christopher Buford and Jordan Lucas

Cynthia Parham, Mary Patton Jarrett, Cora Booker and Ora CampBell

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Carey Dowling and Jenna Grem

Vashae Swope and Efia Mentuhotep

Coulter Ward, Sarah Ball and Abdul Hamid

photographed by Leslie Brooks

Darryail Whittington and Angie Rankin

Jackie Vaugh, Randon Hill and Jelen Hill

Tyrus McCarty and Alvin O. Chambliss Jr.

Tevin Bradley, Tonell Jones and Courtney Jones

Martiuges Cathey and Tondra Pryor

Edna Dickens, Tirranny Nettles and Murlean Pegues

Sandra McCarty and Valeria Ross

Mary L. Johnson, Elsie Pugh and Berlinda Campbell

Allie and Sammie Holman

Gabriel Lee and Caleb Thomason

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by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem

Rather than running for cover when dangerous weather strikes, Jeff Mote and Cory Burt, members of the North Mississippi Storm Chasers and Spotters team, track storms and tornados to help keep others safe.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

J

eff Mote (pictured far left) and Cory Burt (left) seek out bad weather rather than try to avoid it. Storms have always fascinated them.

When he was just 16, Mote witnessed a waterspout (similar to a tornado, but over a body of water), while living on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. He was about one mile away, and boating on the water, when he spotted the dangerous columnar vortex forming.

“That was nowhere near an intentional spotting for me. I spent as much attention trying to get back to the dock as watching the spout,” Mote said. “I knew just enough about storms to get my buddies headed in the right direction to get away. It was the first time I was able to use that storm sense to help, and I never forgot it.”

Two years later, Mote experienced his first close encounter with a Mississippi tornado when the one that hit the industrial park of Oxford missed him by just two miles.

“I was watching that one on radar when I

realized I was in its path. You could hear the roar outside, and it came that close to dropping down on my house. I thought it was over,” he said.

The close calls inspired Mote to put his interest to good use. He passed the Spotter Network certification exam online, which earned him a personal radar blip on the commonly used weather program RadarScope. That radar blip allowed other weather enthusiasts to track Mote’s path while he was following storms.

North Mississippi Storm Chasers and Spotters (NMSCAS) noticed his solo work on RadarScope and invited him to go semi-pro last year.

The New Albany-based NMSCAS aims to deliver up-to-the-second weather news and updates from north Mississippi, Memphis and northwest Alabama, letting citizens know when they need to take shelter or where tornados have been spotted. The group connects nearby chasers, who pursue storms to warn people in its path of dangerous patterns, and spotters, who tail storms closer to home primarily to

report damage.

The invitation was special to Mote. Few chasers get the call to join the selective NMSCAS team in the name of safety. He took the offer seriously, putting in time to learn more about radar training, how to properly take photos of weather and how to report a badweather location accurately through the group’s ongoing online training.

Mote’s NMSCAS colleague Burt has a similar story. Although he’s never been out chasing tornadoes, Burt grew up idolizing The Weather Channel anchor Jim Cantore.

Burt became serious about using his weather knowledge to help others because of what he witnessed after Hurricane Katrina.

“I was back home in Philadelphia [Miss.] when she hit. Even though we were four hours north of landfall, we were without power for two weeks and had a whole lot of damage,” Burt said.

Now both men report storm damage, such as downed limbs or power lines, flooding

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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and property damage, to the Red Cross while relaying weather trends such as excessive winds or cloud rotation to the National Weather Service and WTVA news. Even minor weather changes, such as temperature spikes, fog and frost are noteworthy when it isn’t tornado season.

The main difference between the two Oxford area spotters is that Mote will still tail signs of dangerous weather farther than 60 miles outside of town as a non-NMSCAS chaser when he’s not working for the team.

But now when he goes on a chase, Mote

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

“It was the first time I was able to use that storm sense to help, and I never forgot it.”

– Jeff Mote, storm tracker

is careful to employ the group’s strict code of safety. He always has a driver to navigate, he lets the RadarScope watchers know his location, and he stays at least two miles away from tornados to allow for escape using a premeditated route.

Mote soon hopes to be promoted to chaser with the group, an opportunity reserved for members with at least one year as an NMSCAS spotter under their belts. The title of chaser is such a highly regulated honor that only 10 of the 30 current NMSCAS team members hold it.

Although Mote and Burt have discussed

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what it would be like to join forces on a storm chase one day, the chances of that venture are slim.

“I have a new wife, twin girls and a baby girl due in July, so I had to promise to remain a spotter when I started doing this,” Burt said.

“That’s okay. They have the chases on live stream and radar for us to make sure they’re not heading into anything they can’t see, and I like being able to stay close to home to text and post to keep people nearby informed. I’ve seen what happens when people ignore a severe weather warning or don’t know what’s coming.”

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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photographed by Joe Worthem

events Bramlett Elementary PTA Event View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Sue Mitchell, tutor to football player Michael Oher, spoke Jan. 28 to Bramlett Elementary School PTA members. Mitchell was portrayed by Kathy Bates as ‘Miss Sue’ in the movie The Blind Side.

Mandi Tosh and Tara Luber

Tamara Hillmer, Sue Mitchell and Suzanne Ryals

Emily Carol Alef, Donna Palmertree, Julie Kelly and Tammy Rubenstein

Lyndsey Wade, Ashleigh Polancich and Emily Keener

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Jack and Jaime Jones with Elisabeth Turner, Ava Jones and Cecile Alderson

Shannon Ferguson, Lauren Roady and Kyle Still

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events Cake: A Story Piece View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

University of Mississippi Professor of Theatre Dex Edwards premiered his one-man show, Cake: A Story Piece, Jan. 24-26 as part of the department’s Faculty New Works Series. The show culminated with Edwards sharing the cake he baked on stage with the audience.

Devren Bryant, Taylor Dunn, Atarius Armstrong and Caroline Taylor Godwin

Dex Edwards and Kate Prendergast

Patrick Hudson and Donnie McGee

Susan Hayman and Rene Pulliam

Caroline Taylor Godwin, Amy Hornsby and Chantry Belk

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Don and Lyn Kartiganer

Pam and Bill Lawhead with Dolores Duffy

Ashton Dawes and Clara Turnage

photographed by Joe Worthem

Hubert Spears, Ann O’Dell and Jack Barbera

Tyrus Daniels and Kerston Jumper

Kaitlyn Barnes and Nathan Ford

Drew Wheeler, Taylor Dunn and Will Frierson March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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events Oxford Art Crawl Pre-Crawl Party View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The first Oxford Art Crawl of the season kicked off with a pre-crawl party Jan. 28 at Meek Gallery. The art crawl included stops at the Powerhouse, the University of Mississippi art department’s Gallery 130, Southside Gallery, the University Museum and Bouré.

Charles Ellis, Wesley Edwards, Lauren Freeland, Jacqueline Tynes and Mitchell Moore

Victoria Burgos and Jeffery Peavy

Benny Melton, Wayne Andrews and Stacey Rathert

Clara Kinney, Lucus Jackson, Kristiana Chenier

Phil McCausland and Emily Crawford

Thomas Ardrey, Eric Johnson, Justin Wadkins, Terrell Hall, John McMeen and Kyle Davis

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Mark and Sarah Loftin

photographed by Joe Worthem

Anne Turan and Randy Weeks

Leah and Dr. Steven Wooten

Sarah Beth Wiley Smith, Audrey Sollie and Will Jordan

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events National Signing Day View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

The University of Mississippi Quarterback Club held a National Signing Day party Feb. 5 at the Oxford Conference Center. New players include offensive guard Roderick Taylor, safety C.J. Hampton, wide receiver Markell Pack and defensive tackle Breeland Speaks.

John and Neal Sumner with Sam Owen and Charles Sherman

Jared and Kristi Bounds with Amy and Adam Hill

Matt Insell and Ron Ross

Kasey Clyde and Susan Vance

Dave Richardson and Keith Carter

Allen Kirk and Janet Pounders with Deanna and Ron Denney Norris Howell and Tommy Murphey

Doug and Debbie Wheeler with Joe Durastanti, Phil Harrison, Jim Lowe and Denny and Bonnie Siebert

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

Celeste Ellis and Jane Hendrix

Bill and Amy Barry with Jane and Lantz Foster

(back row) James Potts, Ken French, Tom Smith and Ken McNeil; (front row) Sandy and Ron Brooks with Rosie and Steven Vassallo

photographed by Joe Worthem

Mike Slaughter, Bill Howard and David Adams

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photographed by Leslie Brooks

events Music of the South Concert Series View more event photos @ facebook.com/invitationoxford.

Jazz musician and keyboard player John “JoJo” Herman performed Feb. 12 at the Ford Center Studio Theater. The show was part of the University of Mississippi Center for the Study of Southern Culture’s Music of the South Concert Series.

Lisa Taylor, Adam Morgan, Stuart Hederman and Serena Stewart

Kevin, Anne Grayson, and Chase Clanton

Brandi Dykes, Kelly Mils and Michael Knapek

Elsie, Yerger and August Andre

Hannah and Michael Moseley with Heather and Jonathan Miller

Emily, Elliot, and Danny Lee

Becca Walton, Rebecca Lauck Cleary, Peter Cleary and Frank Kossen

Bobby Jenkins and Austin Roberson

Peter Patterson ad Kim McLellan

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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Guided nighttime feral-hog hunting is becoming a popular hobby, but it’s more than just exciting; it also helps protect crops.

by Jennifer Wilson photographed by Joe Worthem

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Josh Gregory, owner of TGC Outdoors, leads guided nighttime hog hunts.

O

n a freezing winter night, five men moved silently through a field under the cover of total darkness. They each carried military-grade generation 3 night vision firearms, equipped with thermal optics and sound suppressors. After only 10 minutes of searching, the group closed in on their prey.

Shots were fired, and 20 wild hogs ran for cover, but not before several were successfully taken down by the hunters.

“It’s like being in a video game,” said Josh Gregory, experienced hog hunter and owner of the Abbeville-based firearms and accessories retailer, TGC Outdoors. “You are walking around in the darkness with your night vision, along with all your buddies in cool gear, sneaking up on something that big, and you know you have the edge over your prey. It’s a huge power rush.”

Gregory, who enjoys hunting all types of game, is quick to point out that no other type of prey is as exciting to hunt as feral hogs. Fun is high on his list of reasons for going after these animals, but there is also a more serious reason

for killing wild hogs – they routinely destroy the fields of local farmers.

“Many of the farmers around here I’ve talked to have lost up to $50,000 to $60,000 per year because of them,” Gregory said.

Largely because of the devastation wild hogs cause to crops, they have been classified as a “nuisance animal” in the state of Mississippi, and several farmers allow Gregory and others like him to hunt their land to kill as many of them as possible.

“Hogs can have two to three litters a year, with 6 to 10 piglets per litter, so one pig turns into 30 pigs in one year. It is a lot of work to keep them under control. They are taking over the area,” Gregory said.

University of Mississippi alumnus Nate Casburn is one farmer who has experienced the nuisance of wild hogs. After graduating from college, Casburn moved back to his father’s home in nearby Sumner, Miss., to help manage almost 1,600 acres of farmland. While his family’s farm has not yet developed a terrible hog problem, several of his neighbors’ crops have March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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“[Wild hogs] are a huge problem around here...but it is also a ridiculous amount of fun to stalk an animal that huge and tough and just take it out.”

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

– Hunter Burchfield, hog hunter

been destroyed by the animals.

“One neighbor’s farm was overrun with hogs, so he asked me to take care of it,” Casburn said. “A group of about 15 of us got together and just had a blast getting rid of ’em.”

Casburn’s friend Hunter Burchfield has also been hired to help control a farmer’s wild hog problem in Alligator, Miss.

“They are a huge problem around here, so I was doing him a favor, but it is also a ridiculous amount of fun to stalk an animal that huge and tough and just take it out,” Burchfield said.

While it is a necessity for farmers like Casburn to hunt hogs, he, Burchfield and Gregory all agree that enjoyment is one of the main reasons why they participate in the sport.

“When you deer hunt, you spend a lot of time scouting and finding that one buck. You take one shot. That’s the action. When you hunt wild hogs, you find up to 20 at a time and everyone shoots all at once. It is likely you will take down one or several pigs. It’s actionpacked,” Gregory said.

Although there is plenty of action in seeing large groups of hogs, Gregory swears it is not a dangerous sport. The hogs they hunt in local fields are not near their homes, so they do not try to defend themselves.

“Even if they run at you, it is because they are trying to escape, not attack, so you just get out of the way,” he said.

Gregory and his friend Chad Ramsey, a local contractor, had been night-hunting feral hogs for years, and they were having so much fun doing it that they decided to start leading guided night hunts in the spring of 2013.

“We used to do it on our own, but then we figured if we did guided hunts, it would give us an excuse to go out more, while bringing in

some income to cover the extreme costs of the materials,” Gregory said.

For their hunts, Gregory and one other experienced hunter take two to three people at a time to the land of a Lafayette or Marshall county farmer who has asked for his help. The group starts at nightfall and hunts for up to four hours.

“Sometimes we find them within 10 minutes, but that doesn’t mean it is time to go home. I’ll say, ‘Look, we already told our wives we’d be out all night. Let’s go find some more,’” he said, laughing.

Gregory currently owns more than $40,000 worth of gear for the hunts, and he is steadily adding to that number. The guided hunts he offers through TGC Outdoors help cover those costs.

“I enjoy it and get more out of it when I watch someone else kill their first pig than if I just kill another one. Who knows how many I’ve killed? It’s more fun to get someone their first pig and capture those great pictures for them to hold onto,” Gregory said.

The largest pigs, which can grow upwards of 400 pounds, are not always ideal for eating because they are often tough and have a strange taste, according to Gregory and Casburn. Yet the smaller hogs (around 30 or 40 pounds) are perfect to take home and “barbecue up whole,” said Gregory. Other popular ways to enjoy the hogs include making bacon, sausage, smoked shoulders, ribs and pork tenderloin dishes.

To experience an ideal nighttime hog hunt, Gregory recommends going during the late fall/early winter, or during spring planting season. Also, avoid going during a full moon.

“Hunting during a full moon with night vision is like walking around in daylight, which can be awesome, but then the pigs can see, too.

On no-moon nights, you can get within 20 yards of them, and at that distance it is pretty hard to miss,” he said.

No matter when you go, Gregory said that nighttime wild hog hunting is always exciting.

“You don’t have to be an amazing shot or have a lot of experience. Even if the pigs aren’t cooperating, you’ll have a good time.”

Hunting gear, including a night scope and sound suppressors, helps hunters kill wild hogs.

For more information on TGC Outdoors’ guided night hog hunts, call 662-281-9933.

Current cost is $200 per hunter.

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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illustrated by Michael Ikeda-Chandler

THE NUMBER 22 ISN’T FAMOUS. Most people don’t know, for example, that there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet or that 22 is the atomic number of titanium. BUT REBEL FANS RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER AS LUCKY. Former University of Mississippi football players Deuce McAllister, who went on to play for the New Orleans Saints, and Dexter McCluster, now a Kansas City Chief, as well as current Ole Miss basketball standout Marshall Henderson, all sport the magic double deuces. Here’s why.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

“I chose 22 because of my father. He wore it in high school and college, as did I at Largo [High School in Florida] and Ole Miss. One of my goals was to carry on the family number to the next level, so when I got to the NFL and the Chiefs had 22 open, it was an easy decision.

It’s brought me good luck so far. Hopefully it continues.”

MARSHALL HENDERSON

“It was my dad’s number, and I’ve always been number 22. Plus, it has always been fun to throw up the deuces [peace sign].”

COURTESY OF OLE MISS ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

DEXTER MCCLUSTER

COURTESY OF OLE MISS ATHLETICS

DEUCE MCALLISTER

“I wore the number 22 because I couldn’t get number 2, which I had worn all of my high school career. Ronnie Heard, who was a senior, had it, and I had to choose another number, so I chose 22 and tried to make it famous.”

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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IN SEASON Crawfish recipe by Amanda Jane Brown photographed by Paul Gandy

S

pring in the South brings with it two things that blogger Amanda Brown looks forward to each year: muchanticipated warmer weather and crawfish season.

“My husband and I lived in the New Orleans area for several years, where we fell in love with Cajun food, and crawfish was definitely a staple,” Brown said.

Brown recommends thinking beyond the basic crawfish boil by combining the flavors of Cajun country and the Deep South. One of her favorite dishes is cheesy crawfish grits because they are simple and versatile.

“They make the perfect special breakfast, brunch or elegant main course for a luncheon,” she said. “The dish even works as the star of a dinner party, paired with a nice salad and bread.”

Crawfish Cheese Grits Preheat oven to 350°F. 1 cup regular grits (quick-cooking grits, not instant) 4½ cups chicken broth 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, divided 2 Tablespoons butter 4 green onions, finely chopped 1 pound crawfish tail meat 1 (10-ounce) can original Rotel tomatoes 1/4 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning ½ teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Cook grits according to package directions, using chicken broth in place of water. (Using ½ cup extra broth will ensure creamy grits).

Stir together cooked grits, 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, and 3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Sauté green onions in butter for about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine grits, green onion mixture, crawfish, Rotel tomatoes, garlic powder, Creole seasoning, salt and pepper. Adjust seasonings to your taste.

Pour into a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes.

Serves 6.

Recipe is easily doubled and baked in 9x13 baking dish.

Visit amandajanebrown.com and invitationoxford.com for more of Brown’s recipes.

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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INVITATION OXFORD | March 2014

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out and about

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 92

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1. Gary Carter, Lake Elliott and Carolyn Carter at the Emeritus Senior Living Roaring ’20s party on Jan 17. 2. Karen Vanwinkle, Pat Smith, Sandra Enfinger, Effie Burt and Lori Hannah at the Emeritus Roaring ’20s party. 3. Alysha Fowler and Micaela Melendez at the Newk’s 10th-anniversary celebration on Feb. 4.

4. Robert Wilson and Beverly Butts with Tommy and LuAnn Smith at the Newk’s 10th anniversary party. 5. Danille Schonbaum, Patricia Holmberg and Madeleine Schonbaum at the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival, held Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at the Powerhouse. 6. Janna Low and Ann Proffer at the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival.

7. Buddy and Barbara Chain at a senior citizens cell phone technology workshop, held Feb. 7 at the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. 8. Visit Oxford staff members presented members of the Lovepacks board of directors with a $5,000 check Feb. 20. The money was raised during Oxford Restaurant Week, a weeklong celebration of local food and charities, held Jan. 26-Feb. 1.

March 2014 | INVITATION OXFORD

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out and about

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9. Dianna McKinion with Ashley, Cooper and Harrison Luke, Sarah Kathryn Dossett and Sherie Holland at the Studio Whimzy birthday bash on Jan. 31. 10. Michael Williamson and Philip McLane at the celebration and launch of Steve Vassallo’s Premier Properties Jan. 30 at the Powerhouse.

11. Julia Blackmon and Andie Cooper at the Premier Properties launch.

12. Marjorie Selvidge and Steve Vassallo at the Premier Properties launch.

13. Molly Meisenheimer, Jan McCarthy and Barbara Worsham at the Shell Plastic Surgery talk on laser and plastic surgery procedures on Feb. 10. 14. Julie Wilson and Dawn Larson at Shell Plastic Surgery. 15. Anna and Avery Langley at the Della Davidson Elementary School Book Fair and Family Carnival on Feb. 13. 16. Lakendra and Clarissa Corothers at the book fair. 17. Webb, Carole, Addison and Ardner Murphey at the book fair. 18. Bart Critser and Sylvester Wadum at the book fair.

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I AM OXFORD Sparky Reardon interviewed by Meaghin Burke

photographed by Paul Gandy

Dr. Thomas J. “Sparky” Reardon, dean of students at the University of Mississippi, is retiring from Ole Miss after 37 years.

Q: What are some of your proudest moments?

A: I think the Rock the Debate Festival in 2008 was truly one of the most fun, proud moments that I have had. Working on the development of the Ole Miss Creed was great. When you go back further than that, when I was with Student Activities, I thought Shrimp and Beer was great. So I’ve matured with the times. I’ve been so blessed to see so many different students and so many great things come to the university.

Q: How do you balance being an effective administrator and a friend to the students?

A: Somebody told me early on that I could be friendly with students but not be friends with them. And I’m so glad I disregarded that advice. A friend is somebody who obligates you to be everything that you can be but allows you the freedom to be yourself. I think that being a friend with the students might have made it harder for them and for me in terms of coming to conclusions about disciplinary matters, career advice, risk management, but I hope there was always an understanding that we cared about each other.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: My prayer is that I’m as happy in retirement as I was working. I’m going to spend a lot of time doing things in Oxford that I really haven’t had time to do. I’m active at St. John’s; I want to try and do some more stuff there. I want to get involved more in some community service activities. I want to start playing golf again. Reading. Fishing. I have an offer from a friend to get into the Community Garden with them. You know, just doing things that I’ve envied other people doing.

Q: What are you going to miss?

A: Move-in day and commencement. Those two events frame everything. And I’m probably going to miss everything in between.

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