New Albany Magazine 2020: Summer Edition

New Albany magazine

2020 SUMMER EDITION

HealtH worker spotligHt • Camp Creek Natives • BNa BaNk servesNew CommuNity • summer fasHioN treNds Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 1

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The New Albany Gazette publishes several magazines throughout the year that promote our community, businesses and residents. We offer our readers a variety of coverage in real estate, sports, medical guides, community, gardening, special events and much more.

New Albany magazine

2020 Spring SportS preview

2020 SUMMER EDITION

2020

Medical Directory CBD Oil: What’s the Fuss?

Importance of Heart Worm Prevention 5 Ways to Make 2020 Your Healthiest Year Ever

Screening Pap Smears Vital to Women Oral Health Critical to Overall Health ...And More!

Gazette New Albany

new AlbAny | eASt Union | ingomAr | myrtle | weSt Union

The New Albany Gazette

HealtH worker spotligHt • Camp Creek Natives • BNa BaNk serves CommuNity • summer fasHioN treNds

SCHOOL CALENDAR

MISSISSIPPI

HOMES

2019 - 2020

JUNE 2020

This handy calendar includes important dates for New Albany and Union County Schools throughout the year.

FRee See LiStingS on Page 4

PROPERTIES

PONTOTOC RIDGE REALTY, LTD.

49 S. Main St., Pontotoc, MS Phone: 662-489-2848 | Fax: 662-489-1417

2020 Union County Visitor’s Guide

Gazette New Albany

VISIT • STAY • SHOP • EAT 1

Contact Justine Stewart to find out how she can help get your advertising message out today in one of our many products.

662-266-0500 justine.stewart@journalinc.com 130 West Bankhead Street, New Albany, MS 38652 4 New Albany Magazine/ (662)5346321 New Albany Gazette | P.O. Box 300

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New Albany magazine

Volume 10, Issue 1

Inside 11 Q and A On the Front Lines

A spotlight on folks who are working to keep us safe during the current pandemic.

By David Johnson

and Nancy Kidd

A look at a local family’s effort to promote native plants.

By Galen Holley

55 Home & Garden A Whimsical Wonderland

32 RECIPES Sweet Summer Treats

Local cooks offer some delightful dishes to tempt the palate.

Compiled By Josh Mitchell

and David Johnson

41

Cultivating Life from the Roots Up

Home and Garden

A visit to the Duckworths’ Certified Backyard Habitat for winged creatures.

By Justine Ward Stewart

74 Spotlight Cornerstone of the Community

We feature BNA Bank and its service

88 LOOKING BACK

l

to New Albany and Union County over the last 124 years

By Josh Mitchell

74 Home & Garden A Family Affair

Three families, connected by blood, share a love for gardening.

By David Johnson

90 SCENE Who’s who at area events

We have eight pages of photographs highlighting New Albany social events.

By David Johnson

89 Organizations

47 AT HOME A Love project

McClintons continue restoration of historic home.

By David Johnson

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New Albany magazine

From the publisher

This publication marks our return to offering our readers a summer edition of the New Albany Magazine and we trust that you will enjoy it.

Our stories include a home feature on the residence of the McClintons while we also take a look at our front line heroes in the health care profession during the coronavirus pandemic in a Q & A. There is also a Fashion section with many pages of the hottest trends to wear during the dog days of summer.

We have a Food section that features many recipes that will help you keep your cool during the hottest part of the summer. You will surely want to try them and share with your family.

We have three stories that deal with a wide variety of gardening, from a certified backyard habitat/butterfly garden to a locally-owned greenhouse that specializes in native plants and flowers while another story features three families that work together to share their love of gardening.

Our business feature focuses on our very own hometown community bank, BNA Bank, and their 124 years of service to New Albany and Union County which has now spread across county lines into Lee County.

We also have included many photos of our local folks attending multiple events throughout the year which has always been a favorite section for our readership.

Finally, we close out this issue of the New Albany Magazine with a “Looking Back� page from days gone by and we have included a listing of local groups that you might be interested in or better yet, want to join.

Associate Publisher LISA BRYANT General Manager DENNIS CLAYTON Editor JOSH MITCHELL Reporter DAVID JOHNSON Contributing Writers Josh Mitchell David Johnson Ashlyn Saxon Lisa James Linda Mitchell Justine Ward Stewart Galen Holley Graphic Artist Sonny Harrison Office Manager Brenda Leggett

Advertising Justine Ward Stewart Contributing Photographers Josh Mitchell David Johnson Ashlyn Saxon Nancy Kidd Linda Mitchell Galen Holley Lisa James Justine Ward Stewart

Published by

New Albany Gazette

To Build Community and Improve the Quality of Life in Union County

130 West Bankhead St. New Albany, Mississippi 38652 662-534-6321 newalbanygazette.com A Journal Publishing Company product

60 FASHION Hottest Trends of the Season

We feature some of the stylish clothing and jewelry New Albany retailers have to offer.

By Justine Ward Stewart

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 7

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New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 9

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On the

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n the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers and emergency responders are working hard every day to keep the residents of Union County healthy and safe.

We feature nine people in our community who have dedicated their lives to this cause. They represent the best of us.

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Teresa

Lyons Teresa Lyons is a Registered Therapist at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.

Lyons, a Union County native, is married to Randy Lyons and together they have two children, Morgan Stepp and Ashley Johnson.

She has been a registered therapist for 13 years.

“Being a registered therapist has a lot of different areas in which you can work, from home care to critical care,” Lyons said. “I’ve worked in all areas. I chose this career because I have a love for critical patients that need alot of attention. I definitely feel God put me where I need to be.”

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. Making a difference in someone’s life.

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proud is:

would it be and why:

A.Raising my two daughters, Ashley and Morgan. Also going back to college.

A. I think 40. It seemed everything in life became clear and I figured out

Q. My favorite TV shows are:

smart at this age.

what

I should have changed. You get

A. Wheel of Fortune and the Andy Griffith Show.

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?:

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would:

A. Don’t get me dirty.

A. Travel.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. Housewife.

Q. The person in the area I most admire is: A. Mary Foley.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is:

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. I would go to Target and I would grab some of everything - household items, grocery items and clothes.

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. The best part of my day is going home, knowing I made a difference in a person’s care. For them to tell me “Thank you,” it makes me smile and proud. It makes it all worth it!

A. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson).

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by:

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am:

A. Opening a homeless shelter - a big one.

A. OCD.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me

what was important and looked back at

Q. If I could be one age forever, what

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Brad

Scott Dr. Ronald Bradley Scott, one of the physicians at Creekmore Clinic, was born in Tupelo, but has called New Albany and Union County home for many years now.

His wife, Lyndie, is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Creekmore Clinic as well. Together, they have four children, Molly, Maggie, Julianna and Harrison.

Dr. Scott received medical school degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine in 2000 and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee in 2003. He has served as a doctor at Creekmore Clinic for 17 years.

“I chose this career path because of the opportunity to help others and improve the community in which I live,” Dr. Scott said.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. The opportunity to help others

enjoy life and have a healthy family.

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Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by:

A. Michael Jordan

A. Increasing activities for youth in our community.

Q. Most people don’t know this about me but I am:

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

A. A huge sports fan - Ole Miss and a graduate of West Union.

A. Being a father to my four children.

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why:

Q. My favorite TV shows are: A. Chicago Med, Chicago Police and Chicago Fire.

A. Fourty-five, so I could enjoy my family and children (since I was 40 when Harrison was born)

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would:

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?:

A. Travel the world

A. Slow down and stay in your lane.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a:

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab:

A. Pediatric cardiologist.

Q. The person in the area I admire most is: A. My wife, Lyndie.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is:

A. Apple Store - Ipad Pro, Apple Watch and MacBook Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. Going home to my wife and kids.

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Kim

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Hardin Kim Hardin is an Oncology Nurse Practitioner in the Cancer Center at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.

Hardin is the wife of Scott Hardin and together they have two children, Katlyn and Madison.

Hardin has received an associate of science degree in nursing, a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science in nursing. She has worked as a registered nurse for 35 years and a nurse practitioner for 30 years.

“I always felt drawn to healthcare and have loved people and science,” Hardin said regarding her reasoning for choosing her career.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. Being able to help people at their most vulnerable point in their lives.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. Ensuring access to healthcare for everyone.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me

proud is:

A. Work with Agape Free Clinic every month.

Q. My favorite TV shows are: A. Downton Abbey on PBS, Hallmark movies, Hometown on HGTV and Call the Midwife on PBS. Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would: A. Travel to England, Ireland, Scotland and France.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. Physician or medical technologist.

Q. The person in the area I most admire is:

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?: A. Thirty-seven. It was the year I was diagnosed with cancer. When I realized what is truly most important in life.

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?: A. Slow down!

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. Van Atkins. Enough said...

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. Sitting on my front porch early in the morning, drinking coffee with my husband.

A. James Speck, MD. Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is: A. Joyce Meyer.

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am: A. A dairy farmer’s wife and my daughter makes cheese.

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Chris

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Weaver Chris Weaver has served as a physical therapist assistant at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County for 12 years.

Weaver is married to Carla Weaver and together, they have two children, Chanapon and Paxton.

A native of Corinth, Chris Weaver received a bachelor of science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Mississippi and an associate science degree in physical therapist assistant technology from Wallace State Community College.

Weaver said he chose his current career path because he is a people person. “[I] enjoy serving/helping people to live their lives with the greatest quality possible,” he said.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. Helping people achieve their goals

of living a more fulfilled life through greater independence and decreased pain.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. Creating more playgrounds for children with special needs and

building geriatric community centers that provided supervision during the day to help out struggling families and caregivers.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

not been able to shower.

anything that is sci-fi related.

that it is the simple things in life that

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?:

happy to get a shower.

He was so It reminded me

we take for granted that means the world to others.

Q. My favorite TV shows are: A. All-American and the Masked Singer.

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would: A. Take a trip to Australia, Ireland, and Scotland and take every guided and unguided tour I could. Those are my bucket list trips.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. Dentist, physical therapist or Christian singer.

Q. The person in the area I most admire is: A. My wife, Carla. She is the perfect

example of what a true partner should be.

She loves our children; is a great

role model for our family; and works

hard to help me provide for the family.

She is quick to listen and provides great advice. She is always able to make the best out of all situations.

Whether it is going on vacation with our boys, going to work together, or going through a tragedy, there is no one I would rather have with me than her.

completed our second adoption and our family was complete.

I had two 4 and 6,

handsome boys at the ages of

as well as, a beautiful wife to share the joy with.

I was old enough to pass

my experiences and wisdom along to my

boys, but young enough to keep up with the high energy of our youngest son.

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?: A. Does he love me anymore? I used

to get washed and cleaned every two weeks, but now that he has two sons that has changed. please!

Please wash me,

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. I would go to a jewelry store and grab all the men’s watches for me and as much estate jewelry for my wife that

I could carry. I love unique

watches and my wife adores estate jewelry.

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. Spending time with my wife and kids after I get home from work.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is: A. Queen Elizabeth

A. I was able to help a geriatric patient

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am:

to wear a cervical immobilizer and had

A. A sci-fi nerd. I will watch almost

in the hospital take a shower that had

A. 37 yrs old. It was the year that we

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Christy

Evans Christy Evans is an Assistant Lab Technician at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County.

She is married to Dexter Evans.

Evans received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Blue Mountain College and an associate of applied science degree in office systems and microcomputer technology.

She has worked in her current position for 11 years.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people,” Evans said.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. Being able to help those who need

help and treat them with compassion as if it were me and my family.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by:

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A. I graduated college while caring for ailing parents.

Q. My favorite TV shows are:

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?:

A. Fixer Upper, Home Town and Chicago Med.

A. How long will you drive me before you clean me?

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would:

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?:

A. Restore abandoned homes and make them available for the less fortunate and of course travel.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. Nurse or office administrator.

Q. The person in the area I most admire is:

A. Probably Hobby Lobby and anything I can put in the cart. I just love that store.

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. Relaxing after work and all

household chores have been finished.

A. All healthcare workers.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is: A. Oprah Winfrey.

A. Building a homeless shelter that

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am:

get back to some type of normalcy.

A. Terrified of heights

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?:

provides the resources to help them

things such as bills.

A. 16. No worries about adulting

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Anna

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Farias Anna Farias, a Tupelo native, has been employed in the Admissions office of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County for nine years.

She received a high school degree and some college education and has two cats.

“Everyone in my family has worked in health care and it felt right to follow suit,” Farias said.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. Being able to help and explain things to my patients.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. Building an animal shelter and helping the local reserve.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

recent hardships and prove to myself that

I can make it.

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am:

Q. My favorite TV shows are:

A. Movie Collector

A. Doctor Who and Boardwalk Empire.

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?:

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would :

A. 30. I really saw the person I could be that year.

A. I would travel in a van along the east coast.

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?:

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a:

A. Please remember to change the oil.

A. Journalist Q. The person in the area I most admire is: A. My boss, Rhonda Chittom. She is a wonderful leader and person.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is: A. Dario Argento. He’s an Italian film director that has made some of my

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. Would a tattoo shop count? But seriously, probably Ikea. I need all the home stuff.

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. Right when I get to work. I say good morning and have my coffee. Also getting home and going to see my cats.

favorite films and really paved the way for the thriller genres.

A. Being able to move past some

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Justin

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Howard Justin Howard has served on the City of New Albany Fire Department for 12 years and as an EMT since 2007.

He is married to Kristen Howard and together they two children, Kali Jo Mercer and Jon Kanin Foster.

Howard received an associate degree in fire science, an EMT Basic certification and is a career certified firefighter.

He said he chose his career path because each day he gets to experience something new.

“There is never really a dull moment in the life of Fire/EMS,” Howard said.

“The plus side is you get to help protect life and property of your community.”

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. The chance to try and make a difference in someone’s life. We

usually deal first hand with people that are possibly having the worst day of their lives.

We try to do everything we can to help the person in need.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. I would try to implement more youth programs. The youth will always be our future and I think we should try to reach out and give them many

opportunities to give them a head start to a successful future.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

A. I finished my degree while working full time. I didn’t think it would be possible but it worked out.

Q. My favorite TV shows are:

at work.

I don’t see how she does it

sometimes.

Q. The person alive today I most would like to meet is:

A. I don’t really have a “favorite”. I watch a lot of series on Netflix, so anything that will keep my attention.

A. “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson. He

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would:

be cool to hang out with him for a day.

A. Take my family traveling would be number 1. I’d probably try to catch up on some lost sleep also!

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a:

just seems to be a positive inspired human being.

I look at his posts on

social media and it seems like it would

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am: A. I play the drums. I’ve always been a fan of all kinds of music, so one day I bought a drum set and taught myself how to play.

A. I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. I was usually a “straight A” kid and I could have gone to college to do whatever I chose. I went on a fire call with a

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?:

to help out because they were short

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?:

local volunteer fire department just staffed.

I had no idea that I would end up being a Career Firefighter/EMT. Funny how life changes.

Q. The person in the area I most admire is: A. I can’t just narrow this one down to 1 person, but I would say the leadership that I’ve been under at the New Albany Fire Department. Steve Coker (recently retired fire chief), Mark Whiteside (deputy chief), and Mark Sides (captain). They strive to make us better individuals and give us many training opportunities to better ourselves.

I also have to give a shout

out to my wife because she keeps our household running when

I’m away

A. 21. Seems like I was never tired at that age.

A. It would probably tell me to slow down.

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. Bass Pro Shops. Guns, boats, fishing rods....this could go on for days.

Q. What is the best part of your day?: A. The best part of my day is when I

get to come home to my family to see that everyone is happy, healthy, and taken care of.

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Dianne

Hall Dianne Hall has been employed in Environmental Services at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County for nine and a half years.

She is married to Perry Hall and together they have two daughters, Jody Wade and Lesley Caldwell, as well as three grandchildren.

She has a high school diploma from West Union Attendance Center.

Hall said she chose her career path because her sister was working in the department at the hospital.

“She told me how much she liked it in EVS,” Hall said.

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. I love working with the nurses on my floor and meeting the patients.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. Making sure everyone that needed help with food, healthcare and housing could get it.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

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A. Having my two daughters.

would it be and why?:

Q. My favorite TV shows are:

A. 40. Not too young and not too old.

I would have some life experience.

A. 911, Chicago P.D. and Prodigal Son. Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would: A. Travel. I have always wanted to go see Africa.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. I got married in the 11th grade, so I went to work at Stratford-Futorian Company, where Perry worked after I graduated high school.

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?: A. I play the radio too loud and I can’t sing!

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?: A. Walton’s greenhouse, flowers Q. What is the best part of your day?:

Q. The person in the area I most admire is:

A. When I’m off, getting up early and riding on my four-wheeler in the woods and around the pasture. When I’m at work, I come in early to check my

A. Dr. Thompson

first.

floor to see what needs my attention

I love what I do here.

Q. the person alive today I most would like to meet is: A. Keanu Reeves Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I am: A. A collector of rocks, all shapes and sizes.

Q. If I could be one age forever, what

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Bethany

ront Lines

Roberts Bethany Joy Roberts is a Licensed Practical Nurse at Internal Medicine and Pediatric Clinic in New Albany.

She is married to Jeff Roberts and together they have three children, Kaleb, Graham and Bekka.

She graduated from Falkner High School with honors and then received a Licensed Practical Nursing degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College.

She has been an LPN for 14 years.

“I have always wanted to be a nurse” Roberts said. “Even as a child, that is what my heart desired to do.”

THE QUIZ Q. The most rewarding thing about a career in the medical or medicalrelated field is: A. The most rewarding thing about my nursing career is being able to actually help a patient and talk/

discuss what is actually going on with them.

Listening to them and helping

them sort through their problems and issues.

Q. If I had the money, I would improve our community by: A. If I had the money I would improve our community by doing more free clinics to allow those without insurance to come and get taken care of.

This would include giving them

medications for free and even offering food if needed.

Q. Something I’ve done that made me proud is:

like to meet is:

A. My proudest and greatest moment was when I led my son, Graham, to Christ.

incredible singer and lifts my spirits by

Q. My favorite TV shows are: A. Grey’s Anatomy, 911 and Station 19. I am not into TV shows that much….. but movies I could watch over and over again.

Q. Given a month off and lots of resources, I would: A. Take my family to Grand Canyon, New York, Australia, and Hawaii! Yes I would make all that work.

Q. When I was in high school, I thought I would be a: A. Nurse. Always have. When asked in 1st grade what I wanted to be the teacher wrote nurse because I haven’t wanted to be anything else!

Q. The person in the area I most admire is:

A. Lauren Daigle. She is such an the words of her song.

I would love

to sit and listen to her story and oh maybe a song or two!

Q. Most people don’t know this about me, but I: A. Own over 500 plus movies. I am a

fanatic and love all different types of movies.

Q. If I could be one age forever, what would it be and why?: A. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be one age forever. I want to age because I don’t want those around me to age and I have to watch them age! I want to age and grow old and watch my children grow older and mature. want to age so husband.

I I can grow old with my

Q. If your car could talk, what would it say about you?: A. Hmm, probably slow down ha!

A. My mother, Betty Cook. She is one of the Godliest ladies I know. She raised me (which was no easy feat)

Q. If you could have a 5-minute shopping spree, where would you go and what would you grab?:

Godly lady through it all. She loves me unconditionally. She is also one of the strongest ladies I know. She has

A. I am a mother, so my shopping spree would be Walmart to get food and essentials!

so many years but doesn’t complain

Q. What is the best part of your day?:

and held true to the standards of a

suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for about all of her pain.

I adore her, I am proud of her, and I love her.

Q. The person alive today I most would

A. This is an easy question. I love going home to my husband and children!

They give the best hugs NA and

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 29

Martin Crotts, PharmD Owner/Pharmacist in Charge

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1757 Highway 178 West Suite B, Myrtle, MS 38650 Phone: 662-988-7030 | Fax: 662-988-7014

30 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

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New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 31

RECIPES

Sweet Summer Treats Compiled by Josh Mitchell and David Johnson Photos by Josh Mitchell, Julie Swain and Linda Mitchell For New Albany Magazine

Looking for some delicious desserts to tempt your palate during the hot summer months? We offer the following samples from some local cooks to do just that!

Julie Swain Peach & Blueberry Slab Pie 1 pie crust (use either 1 refrigerated pie crust or see recipe below) 2 tablespoons all purpose flour One-third cup plus 1 ½ teaspoon granulated sugar (separated) 3 peaches, halved, pitted & sliced 2 tablespoons orange juice One-fourth cup fresh blueberries 1 egg 1 tablespoon water 1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl combine flour and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Add peaches and orange juice; gently toss to coat. Set aside.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll pie crust to a 12x10 inch rectangle. Transfer to parchment paper. For scalloped edges, use a 2 inch round cutter to gently press circles around edge of dough, without cutting all the way through. Using a knife, cut around the outside half of each circle and remove the scraps.

3. Arrange peach slices in rows down the center of the crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Spoon liquid over peaches and top with blueberries.

4. Using parchment paper, lift and fold edges of pastry up over peaches, pleating as necessary.

5. In a small bowl, combine egg and water. Brush over pastry. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 ½ teaspoon granulated sugar.

6. Bake 25 minutes. Cool.

7. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

32 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Make 6 servings.

Pie Crust 1 Âź cup all purpose flour One-fourth teaspoon salt One-third cup shortening

4 - 5 tablespoons cold water 1. Stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are peasize.

2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over the flour mixture and start to

combine with a fork.

Repeat until all the dough is moistened.

Form dough into a ball.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 33

Brenda Fortune Cream-Filled Chocolate Cake 1 1 1 1 1

Box Swiss Chocolate Cake Mix 8oz Cream Cheese (room temperature) 8oz Cool Whip Box Confectioners Sugar to 2 cans Duncan Hines Homestyle Milk Chocolate Frosting

Mix and bake cake mix according to directions on box Let cake cool completely before filling Filling: Mix cream cheese until creamy, add Cool Whip and mix in confectioners sugar, blend until creamy When cake has cooled, slice each layer in half using string (I use a knife).

Spread 1/3 of the cream filling between each of the three layers. Top layer for frosting.

At this point cake may be frozen before frosting. I usually do this because the icing goes on better with a cold cake.

Frost top and sides with milk chocolate frosting.

34 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Linda Mitchell

Pineapple Delight Recipe

on page

38

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 35

Nutty Chocolate Candy Recipe

on page

38

and

Chocolate Turtles

36 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Cake Recipe

on page

38

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 37

Pineapple Delight A quick and easy dessert that shows off summer delightfully.

Ingredients: Pineapple with top intact Angel food cake (recipe below or substitute a bought one) 1 cup Strawberries ½ cup Blueberries 1 Banana ¼ cup coconut (optional) Mint leaves (optional) Directions Cut pineapple in half vertically, leaving the top on each half. Scoop out inside of pineapple halves and cut into bite size pieces. Wash strawberries and blueberries. Cut large strawberries in half. May leave the smaller strawberries whole.

Peel and slice bananas. Slice cake into bite size pieces. Fill the pineapple halves with cake squares and top with fruit. Garnish with coconut and mint leaves.

Light

and

Fluffy Angel Food Cake

1 3/4 cups sugar 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons cake flour (lower protein and less gluten so you get a lighter, fluffier texture) ¼ teaspoon salt 12 egg whites at room temperature 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Mix together flour, ¾ cup sugar, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium low speed until foamy. Slowly add the remaining one cup of sugar a little at a time, beating on medium high. Add the vanilla. Continue to beat until egg whites form stiff peaks, about 5-7 minutes.

Carefully fold in the dry ingredients. Spread the batter into an ungreased tube pan. (A greased pan prevents the cake from rising properly.) Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool upside down on a wire rack for a couple of hours and then gently tap the pan on the counter for the cake to release. You may want to run a thin knife around the edges to release.

This cake is great served by itself with only a light dusting of confectioner’s sugar. Enjoy!

Nutty Chocolate Candy

and

Chocolate Turtles

2 (16 oz) jars of nuts - I use peanuts, walnuts, or mixed nuts (I chop the mixed nuts) 1 (12 oz) package chocolate chips – I use semi-sweet most often, but any kind will work 1 (4-oz) German Chocolate bar, broken into pieces (you may substitute another type chocolate bar) 3 pounds (2 planks) white almond bark, broken into pieces (Optional) 1 package caramel candy or Rolos candy (do not add this to the crockpot) Directions 1. Place the ingredients into a 4 or 5quart Crockpot in the order listed. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Do not remove lid. Turn off and cool slightly. Remove lid and stir until mixed well. Drop by teaspoonful onto waxed or parchment paper. A silicone mat will work as well.

38 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

2. For Chocolate Turtles, place the Caramel or Rolos candies on the paper first and then spoon the chocolate mixture over the candy.

3. Allow the candy to cool thoroughly. This makes about 150 pieces of candy.

4. Once the candy cools, I divide and place it in a container to give away or store in an air-tight container to enjoy. You can store it in the fridge but it disappears within a few days at my house, so save that refrigerator room and leave it on the counter.

The crockpot is perfect for creating a delicious batch of perfectly melted, velvety chocolate every time and it is super easy. Remember to set the crockpot to Low or the chocolate may burn. I love using my slow cooker for this homemade candy recipe and I usually make half nutty chocolate and half chocolate turtles. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Strawberry Cake • 3 cups (370g) cake flour • 1 Tbsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 cup (8 oz) unsalted butter, softened • 1 3/4 cup (390g) granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 2 large egg yolks • 1 1/4 cups milk (anything but skim) • 2 tsp vanilla extract • ½ cup miniature chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans Set pans aside. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whip together butter and sugar. Mix in eggs and egg yolks one a time adding in vanilla with last egg yolk. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture at a time (to the butter/egg mixture) alternating with 1/2 of the milk and mixing on low speed until combined. Gently stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter among prepared baking pans. Bake in preheated oven 25 - 30 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

Cool in pan about 5 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely (transferring them to gallon size resealable bags after about 25 minutes of cooling keeps them from drying out.)

Strawberry Frosting

• 3 cups heavy cream • 1 cup (125g) powdered sugar, divided • 8 oz cream cheese, softened • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 1/2 lbs strawberries, hulled and sliced into pieces slightly under 1/2-inch • Sliced strawberries for decorating (optional) Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add 1/3 cup powdered sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. In separate bowl, whip cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Mix in remaining 2/3 cup powdered sugar and vanilla Add strawberries and mix until uniform in color. Add whipped cream and fold into mixture. Frost over cooled cake. NA

ITALIAN & SOUTHERN HOME COOKING 100 East Bankhead Street • New Albany, MS 38652 662-598-2122

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AT NEW ALBANY

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Dr. Michael L. Weeden, OD Dr. Kelli Mullen, OD

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Accepting all major medical insurances and many vision plan insurances.

Call and our staff will be able to discuss your insurance needs.

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40 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

HOME & GARDEN

Cultivating Southern life from the roots up Story and Photos by Galen Holley For New Albany Magazine

T

he old adage “bloom where you’re planted,” isn’t a cliché for Robert and Nanette Ballard; it’s a passion for the South, its people, and the ecosystem that makes it beautiful.

“When you’re surrounded by native plants, you feel something special, you feel connected to the earth,” said Nanette Ballard. “It feels like coming home.”

Native plants are those indigenous to our region, according New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 41

to Ballard, like Black-Eyed Susan, better known as a Love-Me-Not, as well as Cardinal Flower, great for attracting humming birds, or Coreopsis, Mississippi’s official, state wildflower, which looks like blooming sunshine.

The Ballards and their son Andrew operate Camp Creek Native Plants in New Albany.

Their greenhouse is a tour through the blooming flora of northeast Mississippi. The concept is to showcase the beauty and sensibility of local plant species and to encourage folks to incorporate them into their yards. The Ballards want landowners to understand the place of these plants in the landscape of Southern life.

“Native plants are survivors,” said Nanette.

“They have the genetic makeup to flourish here.”

Robert Ballard loved plants and gardening since he was a boy, so studying ornamental horticulture at Mississippi State University was a natural fit. Something bothered him, though.

“We always want what we don’t have,” said Ballard. “A lot of our study was focused on exotics, plants used in landscaping but not native to our region. It started me thinking.”

Walking in the woods Ballard had a Newtonian, apple-on-the-head insight. He tripped and fell, and found himself face-to-face with Cardamine Concatenata, better known as 42 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Cutleaf Toothwort, a local plant whose jagged leaves resemble the teeth on an old-time crosscut saw.

“I looked in field guides to find it, and I started peeling back the layers on native plant species,” said Ballard. “From that day on, I was all in.”

For years Ballard sweated buckets planting Stargazer Lilies, Birds of Paradise, and countless other pretty but somewhat foreign plants to beautify people’s yards. As he researched plants native to north Mississippi, he discovered a world he hadn’t considered. It was flowered with Golden Alexander, which looks like a pineapple starburst, as well as rosy red Disco Belle Hibiscus, fanning out like a girl coquettishly twirling her skirts at a cotillion. He saw Purple Coneflower, one of the lazier, more languid cousins in the Daisy family.

The plants were no less beautiful than those plucked from overseas destinations yet more sensible in the local ecosystem, Ballard said.

In 2018 Ballard started raising his own plants. He recruited people who knew their stuff.

“We consider what’s ecologically friendly, and what makes sense in this environment,” said Patrick Crider, who oversees the greenhouse. Crider has a law

degree but prefers to have his hands in the dirt rather than shuffling legal briefs.

Pipevine resembles worrisome Kudzu, but it feeds lovely Swallowtail butterflies, Crider said.

“This vine can create a tourist attraction and something beautiful, natural, and uniquely regional,” said Crider.

Many of the Ballards’ plants have chew marks from insects. Not to worry, Robert said.

“Some plants are natural hosts and designed to provide food for certain insects,” Robert said. “Left alone the insects won’t destroy the plant. Insects take only what they need and move on. It’s a system of checks-and-balances. Plants will adapt and grow back. Infestation is a manmade problem.”

That’s Ballard’s circle-of-life philosophy about balance in the ecosystem. Killing the worms that eat the plants will throw something off balance and nature will ultimately suffer. Using chemicals to sustain foreign, exotic plants in the South makes little sense, according to Ballard.

Cultivating native species and letting nature take its course is the sensible alternative.

Growing native plants has attracted species of insect life she’d never seen, Nanette said.

“I’ve seen bees and butterflies and all these wonderful creatures that are part of our local environment,” she said.

It fits with nature’s plan, Robert added.

“The ideal situation is to create a pollination thoroughfare, from one yard to the next,” said Robert. “It really wouldn’t take much effort.”

The Ballards do local landscape work as well as sell plants online. New Albany’s welcome station on the Tanglefoot Trail showcases their handiwork, featuring Black-Eyed Susan, Gaura, and a formidable looking yet simultaneously attractive green plant named Rattlesnake Master. The Ballards also bring plants to farmers’ markets, including in Oxford and Hernando. Local sourcing, regional plants, and easy-to-use techniques are the keys to their business model.

It’s rather simple, according to Nanette.

“Creation is perfect,” she said.

Robert agreed.

“Even if you don’t buy anything, just come and look around,” he said. “See ecology in action.”

Visit the Ballards at their greenhouse at 921 Sam T. Barkley Dr. Also call (662) 316-1017, or visit their website at Campcreeknativeplants.com. NA

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 43

QUALITY EYE CARE, QUALITY EYE WEAR

Mary Margaret’s Bakery & Confections - Cakes - Petit Fours - Cupcakes

- Cookies - Casseroles - Dips

- and more!

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Windshield Doctor Auto Glass Experts

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New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 45

AT HOME

A love project 46 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 47

McClintons continue restoration of historic home

T

Story by David Johnson Photos by David Johnson and Ashlyn Saxon For New Albany Magazine

he Queen Anne cottage-style home located at 309 Apple Street is filled with 105 years of history and current owners Mark and Kaylyn McClinton continue efforts to restore it to its glory.

Mark McClinton, a native of New Albany, met his wife, Kaylyn, while at Mississippi College School of Law. Originally from San Diego, Kaylyn’s mother is from Mississippi and, it turns out, she has familial ties to New Albany.

The couple got married shortly after law school and went on to work for Jim Hood’s campaign for reelection to attorney general in 2015. After the election, they worked in the

48 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

The ceremony laying the courthouse cornerstone

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 49

attorney general’s office for four and a half years before resigning after last year’s election. The McClintons then went to work for YoungWilliams, an Oxford law firm that specializes in child support enforcement on behalf of Department of Human Services.

On approach to the house, visitors will notice its lovely yard and garden, in which the McClintons have put much time and effort over the past four years.

“All you could see behind you was English Ivy,” Mark McClinton said. “It was all overgrowth. This garden is all four years in the making.”

The previous owner, the McClintons said, owned the house for only a year, during which time most of the work on the house was structural.

“They reinforced the foundation, put a new roof on and painted the house,” Kaylyn McClinton said. “The roof was six months old when we bought it.”

The McClintons said they started the gardening project because they wanted a hobby that they could share.

“It was also suggested to me by my grandparents,” Mark McClinton said. “My grandfather is a retired Circuit judge and

was a district attorney before that. He would work these long weeks and that’s what they would do on the weekends.

It was their project together. It was something they could look back on.”

The couple said they first had to enrich the soil because they were unsuccessful in growing their garden in the first year.

“We spent a lot of time with trial and error,” Kaylyn McClinton said. “Every year we buy things and sometimes they make it, sometimes they don’t.”

Mark McClinton said his wife designed the whole garden, which is inspired by her time studying abroad.

“I studied in France and went to England and Ireland and I loved their gardens and flowers,” Kaylyn McClinton said. “Everything was so lush. Being from San Diego, I was never able to [grow a garden] because of the dry conditions. So when we got this house, we thought maybe we can try this.”

“She would have an idea of having this plant here, this plant there,” Mark McClinton said. “With the exception of maintenance, I just dig holes. I’m the labor.”

Their garden includes beautiful

50 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

plants like English roses, David Austen roses, lavender, Rosemary, Foxgloves, Hollyhock, Lamb’s ear, verbina, hydrangeas and more. The pair said they’ve also learned a lot about how to keep insects from killing their garden without using harmful pesticides.

While the home is likely a Queen Anne, the dormer and square columns that support the wraparound porch are later alterations in the Craftsman style.

The McClintons said they have researched to find original photographs of the house, as well as an original deed from the first owners, but so far have come up empty-handed.

“It does not exist, at least in county records or with the historical society,” Mark McClinton said. “We’re still trying on that. There are still some older folks around who can tell you or may remember somebody that was around with stories of it.”

They have established from previous owners’ accounts that the house was built in 1915. The original owner sold the house to the Lamar family and Dr. Wayne T. Lamar of Oxford grew up in it.

The house has also been owned by Scott

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 51

and Laura Dunnam, who remodeled much of the inside of it, as well as others.

Upon entering through the main door all elements of living, dining and entertainment quickly come into view.

Directly in front, a wooden staircase leads up to the second story which contains the master bedroom and bath.

To the immediate right, a formal living room greets the eye, surrounded by three large, open windows with glass original to the house. A wooden fireplace inlayed with soft-white tiling gives the area a comforting feel.

From the living room, you’re drawn into a foyer and small dining room area that fits underneath the stairs. Continuing on, you’ll find a modern kitchen to the left and a smaller entertainment area in front.

The McClintons said that every owner of this house has made their own updates to the house and they are no exception, even if it is actually a restoration project.

“We’re big historical house dorks now,” Kaylyn McClinton said. “We kept a lot of the original stuff. We love this house.” NA 52 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Mark and Kaylyn McClinton

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Voted Best Taco & Best Mexican Restaurant Readers Choice Awards BEST OF THE BEST IN UNION COUNTY Awarded to:

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El Agave

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Best Taco

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Presented for:

Congratulations from the readers of the

Presented for:

Congratulations from the readers of the

New Albany Gazette

New Albany Gazette

Lisa Bryant, General Manager

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662-539-7011

54 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

HOME & GARDEN

A Whimsical Wonderland for Winged Creatures Story and Photos by Justine Ward Stewart For New Albany Magazine

J

ust a short drive outside the city limits of New Albany headed toward Myrtle in the Beulah Community you can find one of the few “open gardens” in our county, appropriately named “Bottle Tree Gardens” by the owners and caretakers, Robbie and Glen Duckworth. This is an intriguing garden escape beginning in the meadow and continuing through the woods on a carefully marked pathway New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 55

56 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

named “Happy Trails”.

As you arrive on the property you will notice the apiary alert flag warning those spraying to use caution, because the area is home to a multitude of Italian Honey Bees and their hives. This area of the property has beautifully painted hives and is surrounded by a meadow of wildflowers giving it the name “Little Meadow Apiary”.

The meadow and garden areas are home to more than flowers and bees though, there are at least 8 different birds that have nested here: bluebird, titmouse, crow, brown thrush, phoebe, cardinal, chickadee, and wren. And as you tour the property you can certainly see why they would feel at home here. There are over 40 beautifully decorated birdhouses along the garden fence along with other inviting places to nest all along the garden and trail.

Another fun find as you enter the wooded path is an Inukshuk, which is a structure of rough stones stacked in the form of a human figure, traditionally used by the Inuit people as a landmark or commemorative sign marking danger, direction, or a great accomplishment. Mrs. Duckworth says hers marks all three.

All along the wooded path and throughout the property you will notice uniquely decorated outdoor features such as the bottle trees, antique potting shed, bee room, and even the chicken house filled with Silver Spangled Hamburg chickens each with fun names such as Larry Bird, Cluck Norris, and Loretta Hen. The Duckworth property is a Certified Backyard Habitat, Butterfly Garden, and Monarch Waystation, and Robbie herself is a Certified Master Gardener, who is always striving to add new and relaxing things to her garden oasis here in Union County. Robbie says that as an open garden it’s always available to visitors with advance notice to the owners.

As a child Robbie enjoyed the outdoors, nature, and animals, and attributes the time she spent with her stepdad working with bees as one of the reasons she now enjoys caring for Little Meadow Apiary and harvesting and selling the wonderful honey they produce. NA New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 57

2

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FASHION

Hottest Trends of the Season Rompers, dresses, comfy tees with shorts, sweaters with flare leg jeans.

This season’s fashion trends have something for everyone whether you are going casual or dressing up for an evening on the town, and these beauties had a great time modeling some of these fresh new looks.

Story and Photos by Justine Ward Stewart Photos by Ashlyn Saxon For New Albany Magazine 60 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Layla Stewart and Shelby Hudspeth are both wearing fun styled dresses and showing us what a night out looks like. Layla is wearing “In the Moment,” a black lace dress from Vintage Rose, and completing the look with earrings, necklace, and bracelet from Jane Marie at Between Sisters. Shelby is wearing “Walking on Sunshine,” a little blue dress from Vintage Rose, and completing the look with a “Triple Play” necklace from Southern Traditions.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 61

Bridget Franks and Anna Grace Warren are both wearing classic dressy rompers with matching bralettes. Bridget is wearing a pink jumpsuit called “Still IntoYou” and a coordinating navy bralette rightfully named “Moody Blue” from Vintage Rose, with a necklace by “Ashlyn and Rose” and bracelets by “Jane Marie” from Between Sisters.

Anna Grace is dressed in the black jumpsuit style “Worth the Wait,” matched with the snazzy red bralette, “Red Stars,” also from Vintage Rose, and paired with “Kendra Scott” jewelry from Main Street Linen. And both girls are wearing coordinating “Kork-Ease” brand fashion sandals from Main Street Linen.

62 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Next, we have Megan Johnston and Laura Preston Ranager modeling trendy casual outfits from Between Sisters and Two Doors Down. Megan is wearing a two-toned “Grace and Emma” top, “Mud Pie” jeans, “Ashlyn and Rose” necklace and “Jane Marie” bracelets all from Between Sisters. Laura Preston is wearing the loose-fitting black top and snake skin printed shorts which are from the “Grace and Emma” line of clothing and topped off with the bulldog themed “Lillian Parks Jewelry” all from Two Doors Down.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 63

Now, for more of a casual look we have groups of girls in shorts, jeans, and button-up dresses showing what New Albany’s up-town casual look can be. Anna Grace Warren is pictured in a “Grey State” tee and “Liverpool” jean shorts, and “Chocolat Blu” loafers. Bridget Franks is wearing the green “Uncle Frank” dress and “Chocolate Blu” wedges, and Shelby Hudspeth is casually dressed in the “Liverpool” tee and linen tie shorts all from Main Street Linen. All of these girls are also completing their looks with assorted earrings, “Triple Play” necklaces and “Earth Grace” bracelets from Southern Traditions!

64 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Continuing with the summer dress and romper theme, Megan Johnston is dressed in a spaghetti-strap blue cloud dress, and Laura Preston Ranager is wearing a powder-blue ruffle dress sporting fanciful summer looks, while Natalie Bullard Floyd in the striped pant set, and Layla Stewart in the soft-yellow jumpsuit, are showing off more of the sophisticatedlooking romper styles that are dominating the fashion world this summer. All four of these outfits and jewelry are found at Merle Norman.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 65

Everyone loves a great pair of jeans! White jeans are all the rage this season combined with the right top to totally change the feel of the outfit! Anna Grace Warren and Layla Stewart are first up.

Anna Grace is wearing an orange acid-wash tee with white flair jeans and Layla is wearing a lacy tie-dye green top combined with white jeans and both are wearing fashion jewelry to complete the look, all from Merle Norman.

66 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Bridget Franks and Laura Preston Ranger are changing the looks up even more by adding a sweater or sleeveless tee with jeans to show diversity. Megan Johnston is sporting a maxi dress with bralette for yet another fun but casual edge. Bridget is in the American Flag beach sweater with white skinny jeans, Megan is in the coral maxi dress with taupe bralette, and Laura Preston is in the pink tank and black flair jeans. These styles can be found at Merle Norman.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 67

The short romper and wrap dress also make a truly classic look for this season. Justine Ward Stewart and her daughter Layla share how these styles can be worn. Justine is wearing the beige short romper with floral embroidery, “Entro” brand found at Sweet Paradise, while Layla is wearing a light-blue and brown snake-print wrap dress, “L Love” found at Jumpin Jax Boutique.

68 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Both ladies are wearing jewelry found at Southern Traditions. Justine is wearing bracelets, necklace, and earrings from the “Michelle McDonnell” collection and a beautiful silver and peridot ring.

Layla is pictured with a “Triple Play” necklace and an “Earth Grace Circle of Life” bracelet, as well as “What’s Hot” earrings.

A special thank you to Southern Traditions, Between Sisters, Vintage Rose, Two Doors Down, Merle Norman, Sweet Paradise, Main Street Linen and Jumpin Jax for partnering with New Albany Magazine to produce this feature.

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 69

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SPOTLIGHT

74 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Cornerstone of the Community

BNA Bank has 124 years of service to New Albany, Union County Story by Josh Mitchell Photos courtesy of BNA Bank For New Albany Magazine

W

hen it comes to community involvement in New Albany it is hard to find a bigger player than BNA Bank.

The 124-year-old bank is one of the oldest businesses in town and has invested in the community in many ways.

“We’re truly a community bank,” said BNA President Mike

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 75

The 2020 officers of BNA Bank.

Staten.

The Sportsplex, Tanglefoot Trail, Union County Heritage Museum and Magnolia Civic Center are a few of the causes BNA Bank has helped out with over the years.

“That’s one of our mainstays is investment in the community,” said BNA Bank CEO Bo Collins.

He noted that BNA Bank has been a major player in the Tanglefoot Trail and was the “first Gold sponsor.” It contributed $50,000 toward the trail.

In addition, BNA Bank was an original charter sponsor for the Union County Heritage Museum.

Likewise, the bank gave the first seed money for what is now BNA Bank Park.

The park includes baseball fields as well as the tennis and soccer complex.

The bank contributed $500,000 when the Sportsplex was undergoing a major expansion which included the new tennis complex and soccer fields.

“That’s when we got the naming rights,” Collins said.

The lighting for one of the first baseball fields was paid for by BNA Bank, which has also helped purchase scoreboards at local schools.

BNA Bank owns the Magnolia Conference Center building and provides it for the city’s use. The bank also supports the Union County Development Association and the New Albany Main

76 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Street Association.

Helping out schools is another way the bank has been involved over the years.

It has helped purchase high school lab equipment and has also supported area colleges, such as Northeast, Rust College and Blue Mountain.

The UNITE community endowment (Union County New Albany Initiative to Excel) is another program BNA bank has helped out with. The endowment provides grants for various community needs.

“We started the seed money on that years ago,” Collins said.

The bank has a long history of not just contributing money but manhours as well.

BNA Bank has also offered a college

scholarship program for more than 25 years.

Another way BNA Bank has been involved in helping the community is by purchasing bonds that have gone toward improving schools and the city of New Albany, said BNA Bank CFO Bob Spencer. BNA Bank often offers the lowest interest rate for bond purchases because it wants to benefit the community.

“That’s huge; that’s for infrastructure,” Collins said.

For instance, BNA Bank recently purchased the bonds to renovate the former Fred’s building, which will be the future home of the New Albany Police

Department and Light, Gas and Water.

The list of causes that BNA Bank has helped over the years goes on and on. The Boy Scouts, United Way, the Boys and Girls Club and the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund have also received assistance from BNA Bank.

“All and all we try to be good Samaritans,” Collins said.

Spencer noted that BNA Bank also devotes much time to a special needs assistance program involving the Federal Home Loan Bank in Dallas. The program offers about $70,000 in grants annually to elderly and disabled people who need to make home repairs but can’t afford to.

“It’s kind of an emergency need,”

Spencer said.

People apply through BNA Bank for the money. Bank staff spends much time helping the people with the paperwork so it can be submitted to the Federal Home Loan Bank.

“It really helps low-income people with repairs whether it’s a roof leak or whatever,” Collins said. “These people can’t afford that, and it’s needed repairs.”

About 12 families in the county benefited from the program this year.

The Paycheck Protection Program offered during the coronavirus pandemic is another program BNA Bank was heavily involved in. Bank staff worked hard on the program, and well over 400

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 77

78 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

loans totaling more than $26 million were extended to small businesses.

“Our employees were really enthusiastic about that program,” Collins said, adding that staff really wanted to help the small businesses. “Lots of people volunteered and chipped in. That’s hopefully helping a lot of businesses stay in business.”

Collins said the bank is proud to be able to help the community in so many ways. It is great that the bank has been profitable enough to be able to contribute to the community, he added. The bank does not exist to simply put money into the shareholders’ pockets, he said.

“We’re here to use it in good ways,” Collins noted.

A successful bank and a successful community usually go hand in hand, he said. Everything is so “interwoven,” he added. For instance, if businesses and industries are successful, people have good jobs and can afford to buy a home.

The bank is glad to loan them the money for a house or car because they have a paycheck, and everyone benefits.

“If your community grows, your bank grows with it and vice versa,” said Collins.

Community features such as the Sportsplex, Civic Center, museum and Tanglefoot Trail improve the quality of life in the community.

“We’re able to reinvest in the community, and it pays dividends for everybody,” said Spencer.

The bank has made a “significant” impact on the community over the years, said Collins.

A corporate bank may have a home office somewhere else, but “we live here,” said Staten. “We’re going to be dealing with our customers and their needs.”

Staten said he thinks it benefits the bank and the community to work hand in hand.

“It just makes a great place to work when you know that you can be a part of something like that,” Staten said.

BNA Bank, which is a recipient of the CREATE Foundation’s McLean Award for Philanthropy, has a “genuine interest in wanting to make it a better place to live,” Spencer said.

“It’s because we want to do it,” said Spencer, adding that it’s not about getting the bank’s name on something.

For instance, the bank does not get any publicity for helping out with the special

Historic photo of the Bank of New Albany.

needs assistance program but does it anyway because it helps people who are truly in need.

“It’s just helping some people who need help,” said Spencer. “We’ve just got people who have it in their hearts to help.”

Collins also noted that BNA Bank is a Community Development Financial Institution. That means the bank is involved in helping low-income areas.

“We have that distinction,” Collins said.

Being a CDFI is based on how much the bank is investing in the community, not just financially.

The Tallahatchie River Run, which takes place during riverfest, is a BNA Bank event and is coordinated

by Amanda Kent, the bank’s VP of marketing. Bank employees volunteer their time at the run, and the hospital also helps out.

BNA Bank has about 105 employees and has three branches in New Albany as well as a mortgage center. There is also a branch in Myrtle and two in the Tupelo area.

“Union County’s our home base, no doubt about it. Always will be,” said Collins.

The bank’s market area is generally described as Union, Lee and Lafayette counties and all the counties that touch them.

“In the banking world these days, you’ve got to grow,” said Collins. “We’re a goodsized bank. From a community bank standpoint, we’re a large community bank.

We cannot deny ourselves growth. That’s going to be important in the decades for survival, and we’ve been on a path of growth and we intend to be here.”

Collins, who has been with BNA Bank for 47 years, said he feels “blessed” to work there. The bank has a good board of directors and is a family atmosphere, he added.

BNA Bank has just over $600 million in assets and around 800 shareholders, most of which are local.

“You’ve got a lot of people in this community that own part of this bank,” said Spencer.

He added, “New Albany has been good to our bank. We’re in a good location. We’ve benefitted from New Albany, and I think that’s why we like to give back.” NA

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 79

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HOME & GARDEN

82 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

A Family Affair New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 83

Three families share common interest in gardening Story by David Johnson Photos courtesy of Patrick and Lisa James For New Albany Magazine

W

hen Bill and Martha Gault purchased 76 acres of land with a small catfish lake outside of New Albany in 1999, they fell in love with the area and decided they would build their retirement home here. They had each lived in New Albany

84 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

during their teenage years, so coming back to North Mississippi after 30 plus years in Memphis just felt right. They envisioned their two grown children relocating to the area and retiring here as well….and they did. Their daughter Lisa and her husband, Pat James, retired and moved here from Richmond, Virginia and built a home on the land in 2006; their son, Don and his wife, Jo Ann, retired from their jobs in Memphis, and built their home here in 2017. Besides being kin to each other, all three families have a huge common interest: a deep passion for growing things outdoors.

Martha comes from a long line of gardeners and gives her grandmother and moth-er credit for instilling and inspiring her love of growing plants and gardening. Martha’s grandmother took a more natural, relaxed approached to gardening with her entire front yard containing every kind of flower you can imagine, from peonies and verbena, to roses. There was no grass in her front yard, just flowers with nat-ural borders and pathways. Her mother, however, took a more formal approach with bricked beds containing evergreen shrubs as a foundation, accented with an-nuals for color. Martha’s yard is a combination of both styles. “When I go out-side, I want to see something blooming everywhere I look”, Martha explained when asked what brings her joy. She added, “I want everything to be neat, trimmed and tidy, too.”

Martha moved plants from her Memphis home, and has for the last 21 years add-ed a wide variety of plants, trees, and bushes to her yard. Flower beds border her entire home and there are many placed throughout the yard. Most of her plants are “pass along”, and Martha can recall the person she acquired the plant from or share a story about the plant. Her favorites are camellias, Japanese maples, vitex and viburnum bushes, amaryllis, and her Chinese Fringe Tree. A showpiece in her yard each Spring is the beautiful yellow bloom from her favorite peony, Bartzella. She also has lilies and irises and a few other plants that came from her mother’s, grandmother’s and mother-in law’s yards.

Martha loves to create beautiful spaces by combining her plants with concrete statuary, bottle trees, gazing balls, ceramic urns, and birdbaths. Her New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 85

yard contains a large pergola with an adjoining fireplace and a swing for relaxing. There are al-so iron doors and other iron items that have been repurposed to serve as trellis and focal points. She says, “Walking with friends and looking at everything throughout the yard gives me great satisfaction and pleasure. It’s like taking a mini-vacation without ever leaving home.”

Bill always produced a large vegetable

garden each year, with tomatoes, peas, squash, and cantaloupe. There are fig, pear, and Japanese persimmon trees on the property, as well as blueberry and blackberry bushes, along with plenty of muscadine and scuppernong vines. Bill passed away in February of this year, but his love of the land lives on in every bush he planted.

Their daughter, Lisa and her husband, Pat pride themselves in their summer

86 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

tomato crop. In 2013, Pat built a high tunnel to extend his growing season.

Each January, tomato seeds are planted indoors and later, by end of February, are transplanted into the ground of the high tunnel. They also grow corn and other vegeta-bles and are regular vendors at the Biscuits and Jam Farmers’ Market.

“I’m originally from Pennsylvania and knew nothing about Southern gardening when I moved here. Luckily, a lot of local

farmers and the Union County Extension Service have taught me well”, Pat said.

“We are also very fortunate to co-op six beehives from Red Belly Bee Farm to keep our gardens pollinated.” Lisa’s father, Bill, en-couraged her to grow muscadines, scuppernongs, blueberries, figs, and persimmons just like he had in his yard. “My dad reiterated on many occasions how im-portant it is to grow something you can eat. He wasn’t so keen on all the flowers we would bring home to plant,” laughed Lisa. “He would always say, “If you can’t eat it, why grow it.”

The James’ yard has been 14 years of a lot of hard work in the making. Pat often tells people, with a smile, that he “didn’t really retire, he just changed bosses.” Like her mother’s yard, it is full of a variety of ornamental and native plants and trees, and an assortment of perennials. Lisa’s favorite plants are a white calla lily given to her by a friend who brought it to the area from Washington State, as well as varieties of Baptisia, blackberry lilies, old fashioned

verbena, and salvias. Like her mother, Lisa loves making beautiful areas in her yard by combining plants with containers, benches and garden statuary.

In the few short years since son, Don and his wife, Jo Ann, built a home next to his parent’s house, they have dramatically transformed the once-barren hay field into a perfectly manicured showplace.

The house is surrounded by brick flower beds filled with varieties of shrubbery and perennials, and splashes of annuals for constant color. This year they added a daylily bed with over 24 select lilies which were sent to Jo Ann from a friend in Eastern Tennessee. Jo Ann also enjoys the beautiful blooms of the amaryllis she moved from her Memphis yard and those she has added to her collection since then. In her front flower bed, she has a stunning pink and white perennial hibiscus she is very fond of, and her back deck is home to a wide variety of succulents growing in pots. She and Don also enjoy vegetable gardening, and have one of the healthiest, tidiest, weed

free gardens in Union County. Don had a great teacher, his father, Bill, who reinforced to him the importance of making straight rows and middles when planting a garden. They also credit their success to regular watering, hoeing and checking their plants each day to see what their needs are. “It takes a lot of effort to keep all three yards looking like a state park,” Don says with a chuckle. “There is not a day that we wake up with nothing to do.”

No, there is rarely a day off for these three families. Unless the weather is really bad, you can usually find, at minimum, one person outside working at any time among the three families. “The more you have, the more there is to take care of and to do,” explains Don, “but with all of us living next to each other - each with a common desire to work hard and make our yards and gardens the best they can be – anything is possible.”

It really is “all in the family” with this busy bunch. NA

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 87

LOOKING BACK

Courtesy of Union County Heritage Museum

T

his photograph, likely taken in the 1970s, displays the store front of the Tastee-Freez, formerly located on East Bankhead Street near DC Tire Town.

88 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Organizations

4-H CLUB OF NEW ALBANY Gina Wills 662-534-1916 gina@ext.msstate.edu

AMERICAN LEGION POTTER-HENRY-LOWREY POST 72 Mike Bennett 662-317-0216 michaelcbennett@bellsouth.net AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 72 Connie Kelly 662-316-1135 conniedkelly@bellsouth.net BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-UNION COUNTY AUXILIARY Reba Dunson 662-538-2101 reba.dunson@bmhcc.org BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF NEW ALBANY Marquel Conner 662-534-2150 mconner@bgcnms.org DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ISHTEHOTOPAH CHAPTER Sheri Smith 662-534-5515 jfsmith00@hotmail.com

DOGWOOD HILLS GARDEN CLUB Linda Pannell 662-534-7500 FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Anita Buster 662-534-5124 arbuster@gmail.com GIDEON Paul Anderson 662-316-3513

HISTORIC NORTH SIDE DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB Marci Lindsey 662-587-4758 hndgardenclub@gmail.com JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF NEW ALBANY Sarah Beth Bagwell sarabethlewis@yahoo.com JUNTA CLUB Jill Shaw 662-538-2065 KAPPA KAPPA IOTA SIGMA CHAPTER Anita Buster 662-534-5124 arbuster@gmail.com KIWANIS CLUB OF NEW ALBANY Morgan Akins 662-266-3775 www.newalbanykiwanis. org NEW ALBANY BALLET CO. (662)539-6010 Justine Ward Stewart, Director NEW ALBANY CIVITAN CLUB Butch Cobb 662-316-2717 chcobb@wildblue.net NEW ALBANY GARDEN CLUB Tanya Coombs 662-539-1035 tanya.coombs@gmail.com NEW ALBANY LIONS CLUB D’Ann Tanner 662-316-1761 NEW ALBANY MAIN

STREET ASSOCIATION Billye Jean Stroud 662-534-3438

NEW ALBANY MOTHER’S CLUB Belinda Russell 662-534-2689 belindarussell59@gmail. com

NEW ALBANY ROTARY CLUB Colt Doom cdoom@bnabank.com NEW CENTURY CLUB Lynn Madden 662-534-8122 frankorlynn@maxxsouth. net PILOT CLUB OF NEW ALBANY Brittany Willard 662-316-0274 SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Larry Dykes 662-231-3421 larryd3275@yahoo.com TALLAHATCHIE ARTS COUNCIL Karen Tuck -601-741-0967 tallahatchiearts@gmail. com TALLAHATCHIE RIVER PLAYERS Evelyn Mason 662-317-9275 www.tallahatchieriverplayers.com TRAIL LIFE Scott Kirkland 662-317-0213 UNION COUNTY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 662-534-4354.

www.ucda-newalbany.com UNION COUNTY GOOD SAMARITAN CENTER Peggy Hitt 662-534-0931 unioncogoodsc@yahoo. com UNION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Jill Smith 662-538-0014 www.ucheritagemuseum. com UNION COUNTY HOMEMAKER VOLUNTEERS Marietta Collins 662-316-3354.

UNION COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL Nancy Meacham 662-534-1930. uclc@yahoo.com UNION COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS Brenda Robertson 662-538-1388 UNION COUNTY MUSEUM GUILD Lynn Madden 662-538-0014. www.ucheritagemuseum. com UNION COUNTY RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Anna Quinn 662-534-3238 kennethanna@bellsouth. net UNITE Collett Cross 662-316-0808. cbcross@bellsouth.net

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 89

SCENE

SNOWFLAKE BALL Sponsored by the Pilot Club of New Albany Held Feb. 29, 2020 at New Albany Elementary School

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Tori and Tim Pickens 90 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Madison and Bradley Roberts

(In no order) Chad Hamm, Morgan Pierce, Laurakay Pierce, Joshua Pierce, Nathan Page and Anna Page

Zoe and Rob Anderson

Riley and Brandon Taylor

Justin and Belle Williams

Michael Moody and Delilah Roberts New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 91

Caroline and Boston Stout

Savannah and James Sullivan

Madison Thompson and Andrew Douglass

Dixie and Dustin Smith 92 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Brooklyn and Jason Blakey

David and Adalyn Hill

Cade Huffman, Chloe Cobb and Bella Fernando

David and Bella Rakestraw

Aneyma and Marcus Robinson New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 93

Chris and Lexi McCord and Marty and Leah Merritt

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Landon and Rebecca Vansil

Steven and Aubrey Churchill 94 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Takeyah and Ma’leyah Shackleford

Jorge and Natalie Interiano and Layken and Allen Williams

Alvin Harris and Kharie King Bradley and Ivy Littlejohn New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 95

Tim Hall and Taylor Tucker and Randy Mears and Alexia Williams

Curt and Julianna Langley Paul, Avie, Emmie and Sylvie Bryan

Adam and Mattie Aldridge 96 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Andrew and Victoria Parker

Mac and Trulea Bennett and Adeline and Chad Bailey

Elizabeth, Geoffrey, Lucy, Sara Jane (front ) and Caroline King Sadie Ellis and Kevin Rackley

New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 97

New Albany magazine

New Albany magazine

2020 SUMMER EDITION

HOLIDAY EDITION Be on the lookout for the 2020 holiday edition of the New Albany Magazine. It will feature interesting stories about the people of New Albany.

Contact Justine Stewart to advertise in this or any New Albany Gazette product.

HealtH worker spotligHt • Camp Creek Natives • BNa BaNk serves CommuNity • summer fasHioN treNds

(662)266-0500 justine.stewart@journalinc.com

Coming this December 98 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette

Hall’s Furniture WareHouse

Same aS caSh financing & Same day delivery available

Ben Hall, oWner 211 West BankHead street, neW alBany, Ms 38652

(662)598-2077

HallsFurnitureWareHouse.coM New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette 99

100 New Albany Magazine/ New Albany Gazette