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Sunday EDITION

Volume 3 | Issue 12

oxfordcitizen.com

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Inside 3 News

Destination Oxford draws in car enthusiasts from all over.

7 Business

JOHN DAVIS

Oxford High held its annual graduation ceremony Friday night at Tad Smith Coliseum.The Class of 2016 had over 200 earn a diploma, with many earning academic honors or distinction.

Hail and Farewell

Oxford Candle Company a big hit locally.

13 Sports

OHS says goodbye to largest ever graduating class

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Friday night in front a crowd numbering well over 2,500 packed into in the Tad Smith Coliseum, Oxford High School said goodbye to its largest ever graduating class.

The 2016 class of Oxford High School is composed of 237 students. Not only is it the largest class the school has ever seen, but they also have the won the most football games and competed for more championship titles, both academically and athletically, than any other class before them. Collectively, the class has been awarded over $4 million in scholarships to universities and colleges around the country.

Superintendent Brian Harvey helped to kick off the ceremony by walking through a history of this year’s graduating class.

Harvey reminisced about the students first days at Bramlett Elementary School where many of them began kindergarten over 13 years ago. He spoke of different teachers, tests and the fact that this

bunch was the first group of kids to attend the then newly constructed Della Davidson Elementary School. The switch to the new high school and being among the first students to be issued computers by the district were also topics Harvey touched on with a smile and a chuckle as he looked out across the rows and rows of graduates draped in blue.

After Harvey, valedictorian Kayla Owens took the stage and gave a speech centered on words of wisdom. Her primary advice was to not take life too seriously. Owens wanted everyone in her class to know that while it is important to work hard, it is also important to know that no one ever looked back on their life and wished for less fun. Owens said that we’re meant to make mistakes and learn from them, that life is boring if “you’re not occasionally finding a way to screw it up somehow.” She also wanted everyone to know that it is okay to ask for help, even if it is something as simple as operating a washing machine or something as difficult as advanced schoolwork.

Salutatorian James Cutler was the next

person to step up to the podium where he praised everyone that helped shape him into who he had become. He gave the highest praise to his teachers, particularly Mr. James Reedy and baseball coach Chris Baughman. Cutler went own to congratulate and recognize many of his peers. He rounded out the speech by telling his fellow graduates that, no matter where they go, “the only way to beat the best is to work harder than the best.”

Historian Sariya Khan lead her speech off by saying when they first asked her to deliver one, she was speechless. This was met with a good bit of laughter from the crowd. The bulk of Kahn’s speech centered on four items, each representing a different year in the class of 2016’s high school career. The first, representing their freshman year, were the bright yellow lanyards they were required to wear, something that made them stand out when all they wanted to do was blend in.

The second, representing their sophomore year, was a key, the one thing that TURN TO FAREWELL PAGE 4

Ole Miss issues information on NCAA investigation.

17 Sports

Sherman pleased with recent camp turnout, skills taught.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

OHS, Della Davidson put into soft lockdown Wednesday morning CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Around 11 a.m. this past Wednesday Oxford Police Department officials instructed Della Davidson Elementary School and Oxford High School to enter a precautionary safety protocol known as a soft lockdown for about half an hour while officers chased two suspects on foot.

The incident began at the Hampton Inn on Sisk Avenue, just a few hundred yards from Della Davidson and right down the road from OHS. According to an em-

ployee at the hotel, a man came to the front desk to check out of a room where he and two companions were staying. Among the man’s payment was a $100 bill the employee believed to be counterfeit. The employee then asked a co–worker to take the bill to a bank in order to be sure.

Once the bank confirmed that the note was indeed a forgery, the hotel immediately contacted the police.

When police arrived, one of the occupants of the room was in a vehicle outside the hotel and was quickly apprehended. The other two occupants fled

the hotel on foot and officers gave chase.

It was at this time that the resource officers at both Della Davidson and OHS were alerted and then proceeded to instruct both schools to enter a preventative safety protocol known as a soft lockdown. In such a protocol, students are not required to take cover in classrooms and instruction and other school functions are continued, but no one is permitted in or out of the building. This is to ensure that all students are accounted for and protected from any possible danger that could be happening

outside of the school.

Oxford School District Superintendent Brian Harvey was visiting Della Davidson at the time of the incident. He said that a resource officer notified him that it was time to enter the school into a soft lockdown as a precautionary measure and an announcement was made over the school’s intercom system.

“All we could tell everyone was that we were on lockdown,” Harvey said.

“We didn’t provide any other details because we didn’t really know any other details. It wasn’t something that was initiated on the

school level. It wasn’t a situation where a school person reported something. It was completely done by law enforcement. I’m glad they did it. They did a great job with it.”

Major Sheridan Maiden sent the following statement to the Citizen via email: “Wednesday, at approximately 11:01 hour, officers from the Oxford Police Department were investigating a subject who was believed to be passing counterfeit money at a local hotel,” the statement reads.

“While doing so, two subjects involved in the inci-

dent began trying to elude the officers by going through a wooden area near a subdivision and Della Davidson Elementary School. As a precautionary measure, the school was placed on lockdown until officers could determine what was going on. After a short foot chase, three subjects were apprehended and the lockdown was lifted. At no time was the school in any kind of danger nor did any of the individuals come upon school property.” chaning.green@journalilnc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

We want to hear from you Let us know how we’re doing. Call us at (662) 801-9607, write to us at P.O. Box 1176, Oxford, MS 38655, email us at mail@oxfordcitizen.com or visit us online at oxfordcitizen.com.

COURTESY OF THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL

Virginia Summer,Vice President of Philanthropy for the Mississippi Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi, presents Sarah McLellan, Executive Director of the Lafayette County Literacy Council, with a donation of over $6,300 to use towards their literacy programs on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

Ole Miss Pi Beta Phi donates to Lafayette County Literacy Council The Mississippi Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi at Ole Miss presented the Lafayette County Literacy Council with a donation of over $6,300 to use towards their literacy programs last month.

“We are so fortunate to have a nonprofit which also aims to raise money and awareness for childhood literacy right here in Oxford,” said Virginia Summer, Vice President of Philanthropy of Pi Beta Phi Mississippi Beta. “The Lafayette County Literacy

Council has not only given our girls a greater opportunity to expand on our philanthropy, but also has given our girls the chance to touch the lives and be touched by the lives of the children right here in Oxford through the gift of literacy.”

The donation came from the the Pi Beta Phi Foundation’s Local Impact Grant Program, where undergraduate chapters can nominate local nonprofit organizations to receive gifted funds and the Foun-

dation will provide a matching donation. The Mississippi Beta chapter at Ole Miss and the Pi Beta Phi Foundation contributed over $3,100 each towards the Lafayette County Literacy Council.

Throughout the year, Pi Beta Phi members have also volunteered at LCLC events and programs.

For more information on the Lafayette County Literacy Council and their programs, visit the website http://lafayetteliteracy.org.

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

PAGE 3

Destination Oxford draws in car enthusiasts from all over

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

If you saw several cars or trucks from the 1940s or even the ‘50s driving around Oxford this weekend, don’t worry, you weren’t alone. Vintage vehicles were the focal point of Destination Oxford, a cruise and car show organized by Jason Plunk. This was the first year for the two-day event, sponsored

by Belk Ford, but Plunk wants it to grow and continue for years to come.

“It took a lot of planning and bouncing ideas off lots of car guys and girls, people that like to go to shows,” said Plunk, who was entering two vehicles in the show. “We talked about what works and what doesn’t and what people like and what they don’t. It was easy in that everyone I dealt with has been super nice. They loved the idea.

The police chief, the officer who helped me plan the parade route, everything. I had no brick walls whatsoever. And I’m thankful for that.”

Late last year is when Plunk got the idea for the show. His idea started to become a reality in January.

He gave a lot of credit to Richard Belk, the owner of Belk Ford, for jumping on board right away from a sponsorship standpoint.

“As soon as I put it up on social media, within a day Richard reached out to me.

He was on vacation but he reached out to me and said he wanted in,” Plunk said.

“He was instrumental. He was the first sponsor and to get it going, it really takes money. I had to get an illustrator to draw my bus then I had to get it to a graphic designer to get it drawn electronically and then Tshirt designs. Belk was the seed money to get it started and we really have appreciated their help.”

The decision to have the show the weekend leading into Memorial Day came from Plunk’s days as a bar owner.

“I just remember how slow Memorial Day was and how everyone just stayed at home. I used that as marketing when I went to sit down with the mayor.

This is tourism dollars and another reason for people to come to Oxford on a his-

JOEY BRENT

Classic cars were on display at the Oxford Conference Center as part of the first Destination Oxford Cruise and Car Show sponsored by Belk Ford. torically slow weekend,” Plunk said. “(Mayor Pat Patterson) liked the idea of a cruise. It’s a big deal to take the cars and go around the Square in a parade. The timing was right. It’s not June hot yet. And we’re far enough out of the spring to where a shower doesn’t pop up every 15 minutes.”

There were cash prizes totaling $2,000 awarded, as well as trophies. Plunk said that Cruisn’ the Coast, the largest similar event in the state, inspired Plunk. He said that event was also family oriented.

“Who doesn’t like to look at an old car?” he added.

“It’s history. It’s something a father and son or a father and daughter can do and in some cases, a grandfather and a grand son can do together.”

The Oxford Conference Center was the host site of the event. There are 300 parking spots there, and each vehicle took up two spots in order for people to

walk around them. The goal was to get 100 cars in the first year, with an increase from there in the future. It cost $25 to enter a vehicle. Plunk got a number of people to volunteer, saying that a lot of people wanted a car show in Oxford. The last one that Plunk remembered locally involved the University of Mississippi as a class project back in 2008.

“I went to that one and it went off well. This is just another idea on how to do a car show,” Plunk said.

All of the vehicles in this year’s event were produced in 1971 or before. That was the biggest question Plunk got about the show.

“I was born in 1971 and that was the number that I picked for the first year.

Next year, I see the need to expand that,” Plunk said. “I don’t know exactly what. In hindsight, there are some very important cars from the ‘70s. If someone showed up in a Bandit

Trans Am, they couldn’t be in because it’s a ‘78 so we are going to expand the years to accommodate if the need is there. I didn’t want to get too big too quick but we are going to grow.”

Plunk talked with a man from Gulfport who brought up a car on a trailer and left

it a month ago at his son’s house.

“He and his wife are driving up for the weekend, getting the car out and coming to the show. It’s just another reason to come to Oxford,” Plunk said. “I don’t have to tell you how many people love Oxford and these are the type of people

you want. They’re going to come and mom is going to buy something on the Square and daddy is going to have a nice dinner. It’s a tourist attraction. And you can’t beat the cost. Looking is free.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

OBITUARIES CURTIS EUGENE KNIGHT Curtis Eugene Knight passed away peacefully at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi May 27, 2016. A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, May 29 at Coleman Funeral Home, located at 601 Commerce Parkway in Oxford, from 2 until 5 p.m. Knight was the co-creator of Oxford Cares, the organization that helped the victims of the tornado that hit Holly Springs last Decemember.

In lieu of flowers and food, please make donations to the Mississippi Children's Home, P.O. Box 1078, Jackson, MS 39215. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com

JOHN DAVIS

Oxford students look on as speeches are given.

Zach Cousar picks up his diploma during Friday night's ceremony.

THOMAS MATTHEW STEPHENS Thomas Matthew Stephens, 76, died Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at his home in Oxford. Funeral arrangements with Coleman Funeral Home are incomplete at this time.

BRIEFING Bozarts Gallery hosts opening reception Bozarts Gallery in Water Valley will host an opening reception Saturday evening, June 11, for "Home Economics", an art exhibition featuring the work of Andi Bedsworth, Pati D'Amico, Katherine Strause, and Brad Cushman.

In addition, the work of Beth Long will be shown on the spotlight wall. The reception will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the gallery located on Main Street.

According to Bozarts owner Annette Trefzer, the show looks back with nostalgia and humor at the science of cooking and cleaning as institutionalized in schools and vo-tech colleges in the 1950s. "But," she added, "it also speaks to renewed contemporary interest in homegrown and homemade products."

Oxford celebrated its largest class in school history.

Farewell FROM PAGE 1

TGC Outdoors celebrates Memorial Day The grand re-opening of shooting ranges at TGC Outdoors will take place on Memorial Day. The expanded ranges will include free firearm rentals and free access to to the range for all shooters. Crawfish will be provided by Delta Steak Company, while door prizes will be given away. The day begins at 10 a.m., and runs until 4 p.m.

TGC is located at 662 Highway 7 North.

Oxford students had a lot of fun prior to the start of Friday's ceremony.

Memorial Day service at UM The University of Mississippi is hosting the American Legion's Boys State program. The group is holding a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. The event will take place at the flagpole in front of the Lyceum. State House of Representative Jay Hughes is scheduled to speak at the event. UM is scheduled to host the event again in 2017 and 2018 and as many as 400 delegates will stay on campus and learn to perform the duties of state and local governments.

Historian Sariya Khan takes a selfie on stage with her classmates.

It was all smiles, and thumbs up, for OHS students heading out to the floor at Tad Smith Coliseum.

opened the many doors in the newly constructed Oxford High School that they had to move to during that year. The third item was a stress ball. Junior year is a stressful time, Kahn said. The last item was a watch. Senior year is a countdown, she said, and the countdown has ended. They had arrived.

Even under the threat of being escorted out of the ceremony, proud parents and loved ones could not contain their excitement as their seniors walked across the stage Friday night. After all the names had been called and diplomas distributed, loved ones flooded the court to take photos and hug their high school graduates.

This was also the first class of OHS graduates that Principal Bradley Roberson has presided over in his position.

He expressed his pride in each of the students that walked across the stage that evening and summed up the experience by reintegrating one word: exciting.

“It was exciting to see all the culmination of the hard work these students put in day in and day out,” Rober-

son said. “It’s exciting because we’re now moving them on to the next steps of their lives.

We’re excited to see what’s to come.”

Harvey’s welcome speech touched on the many achievements that the 2016 class has earned over the years, both in academics and athletics.

Roberson said that he could not have asked for a better group of kids to work with this year.

“We have a very bright group of young people in this class,” the principal said. “We have over 30 students in this class that have a 30 or greater on the ACT. This group has a bright future that we’re looking forward to seeing. There are some leaders of our city, state and country in that group. I truly believe that because I see how they manage themselves and the leadership skills they posses each and every day.”

The majority of those graduating, Roberson said, would be attending the University of Mississippi in the fall, and he and the rest of the OHS Charger family are looking forward to see where life takes each and every one of them. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

PAGE 5

Business launches online resource to help families of elderly drivers BYCHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

“Mom, Dad, I don’t think you should be driving anymore.”

According to Vice President and General Manager of the Mid-South branch Home Instead Senior Care Ken Cope, this is the beginning of a conversation more Americans are struggling with now more than ever.

This spring, Home Instead has launched www.letstalkaboutdriving.com, a free online resource that connects people with the proper tools and knowledge to sit down with their senior loved ones and have this discussion.

Home Instead Senior Care is a global company and is the largest of its kind in the world. Their Mid-South branch is based in Memphis and has served hundreds of homes in the Oxford area.

Home Instead sends trained professionals to homes in order to help older adults with things like grocery shopping, housework, medication management and personal care needs.

Old age comes with a va-

riety of ailments and difficulties, many of which are unforeseen. Conversations arise that people do not anticipate having, and because of that, the conversations do not happen at all sometimes. This is a problem, according to Cope, and the reason behind his company developing the website.

Cope said that in his line of work, he hears many stories of people taking keys away from their aging parents. Understandably, it does not always go well.

People often jump straight to taking away the keys of their loved one, Cope said, without even having a discussion about it.

“Driving is independence for a majority of seniors,” Cope said. “It would be just like someone coming to you or me and saying, ‘I’m gonna take your keys.’ We would react with a lot of different emotions, probably anger, frustration and loneliness. It’s no different with seniors.”

The website contains videos, articles, planners and community forums.

Users of the website can

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.LETSTALKABOUTDRIVING.COM

Home Instead Senior Care has launched a free online resource to help people begin the conversation of safe driving for elderly loved ones. read the articles and watch the videos to learn about the warning signs of when a loved one might be losing the ability to drive, conversation starters, ideas on how to make the transition easier and much more. The community forums exist as platform for people to share their personal experiences and advice in order to en-

courage and console others who are currently or will soon be experiencing the same thing.

“The main things I want people to know is that the resource is there and don’t be scared to use the resource to reach out to your senior loved ones,” Cope said.

“We’re intimidated to do so, but this survey shows that

we shouldn’t be intimidated to talk to them about it.”

The survey Cope referenced recently determined that the majority of seniors are willing to have a conversation about the subject. It is the loved ones of those seniors who are often afraid to speak to their parents or grandparents about the issue. Cope said one of

major reasons behind developing this website was to open the lines of communication between seniors and those around them.

This website is a small portion of a larger series of websites Home Instead owns under the domain www.caregiverstress.com.

The purpose of this parent website is to make sure people have the tools to take care of themselves, while also taking care of aging loved ones.

“We know families are struggling,” Cope said when asked why his company felt inclined to provide these free resources. “The senior population is growing, with Baby Boomers reaching senior age now, we realize that it is only going to become more important as family members try to take care of their senior loved ones. When we provide these free resources, it gives families hope that they can continue their lives and take care of their loved ones as well.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

Bellhops moving company seeks to hire Oxford-area college students CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Bellhops is an innovative moving company with a business model that works to benefit everyone involved in the process. The service has been available in Oxford since 2013 and has made moving simpler for dozens of residents, while also putting cash in the pockets local students.

The functionality of Bellhops has often been compared to that of Uber. They contract only with university students and require an .edu email address in order to sign on with the company. Students working for the company will receive a notification on their smartphone through the Bellhops app detailing where and when there will be a move taking place in Oxford. The jobs are given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. Students accept the job, show up to an address and proceed to help with the move. Just fewer than 100 students in the Oxford area have signed up as workers with the service.

These students are put through an interview process and thoroughly vetted before being hired onto the service. Each student receives $13-$15 per hour of work.

Brandon Zunino is an IMC student at Ole Miss and will be entering his senior year in the fall. Bellhops employs Zunino as their campus manager. It is his job to help recruit more workers and make sure everything runs smoothly on a local level. He had originally become aware of the business via social media and signed up to work as a

COURTESY OF BELLHOPS

Bellhops, a moving company that operates similarly to ridesharing service Uber, is looking to hire local students in expectation of busy summer moving season. mover. At the time, he was looking to work for a moving company and Bellhops had a nice pay, plus he was

able to make his own schedule. Zunino found the entire business model extremely appealing and

signed up immediately. He has so far completed around 60 moves with Bellhops and was promoted to campus manager just recently.

“I’d say the flexibility and the pay,” Zunino said when asked what he enjoyed most about being a part of the company. “There are many times where you’re lucky enough to have very satisfied customers tip you.

I love that when you walk away and see the customer is beyond satisfied and you’re satisfied. I feel like everyone just appreciates it and reaps the rewards of it.”

The idea for Bellhops came when the founders were students at the Auburn University. The two co-founders noticed that

parents were not having the best time moving their kids in and out of the dorms every summer. They knew plenty of able-bodied college students who would be happy to help and earn a little extra cash. When it first began, the company was called Campus Bellhops, and the two co-founders just connected their friends with parents who were willing to pay for the labor of moving their kids in and out of the dorms. The company dropped the “Campus” part of their title and expanded the market to include entire college towns.

Bellhops is currently located in about 90 cities nationwide and are expanding everyday.

Alexis Ferrell used Bell-

hops last week to help empty a rental property she owns in Oxford. Ferrell currently resides in Nashville and recently sold the rental home in Oxford. She needed the contents of the home put into a moving truck she had previously rented, which was then taken to her family in Southwest Tennessee. She set up the move and Bellhops sent her the names, photos and information of the two college students that would be transferring items from the house to the truck for her.

“We ended up using them for five hours, which was really nice,” Ferrell said.

“We originally only scheduled them for four hours, but the guys were like, ‘Hey, we’ll stay as long as we need to.’ They were awesome.

They showed up 10 minutes early. It was really cool to get the email with pictures of the guys that were going to be there and it also told a little bit about them.

They were super helpful and really wanted to take care of us and make sure we got the job done.”

People using the service usually pay about $165 for a small to medium-sized move. That price varies depending on the situation, but Bellhops provides a free quote on their website.

Moves need to be scheduled 24 hours in advance and can be rescheduled or canceled at any time at no charge.

Bellhops is currently looking to expand its Oxford workforce. In the past year, the company has seen a growth of 170 percent in the Oxford area alone.

“Looking at our growth numbers from 2014-2015 and looking at what our workforce has been, we’re completely expecting that kind of growth again in 2016,” Bellhops Communication Director David Martin said. “During the busy moving season, which starts in June, we’re going to need a lot more students on the platform just to meet the jobs that we’re anticipating.”

Applications can be found online by going to www.getbellhops.com and clicking on “Being a bellhop.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

PAGE 7

Oxford Candle Company a big hit locally

BY KATHRYN WINTER STAFF WRITER

In 2013, Chad Brown was making furniture to sell at a booth in an antique store.

He then got the idea to start selling homemade candles inside of pottery pieces, along with his furniture.

The candles sold well and his business was born overnight into what is now known as the Oxford Candle Company. Brown, his family, and Vera (also a local pottery maker) hand make all the pottery pieces before pouring in the soybean wax for the candle.

The wicks are made of 100 percent cotton, and all of the products Brown uses are made in the U.S. Oxford Candle Company mixes their own glazes from different recipes they have created. They also make their own molds for signature stamps found on their candles. Some of the designs include: crosses, angels, states animals and cotton bolls. The most recent candles have crabs and mermaids on them for summer.

“After the candle has burned down and the wick has been removed, customers can use the pottery piece for chips and dip, ice cream, or whatever they please,” Brown said. “The pottery containers are microwave, dishwasher, oven and food safe. They are fully functional even after the candle is gone.”

Oxford Candle Co. also just started selling room sprays, and refill kits for their containers. The company does not sell online, as of right now they are wholesale only. The candles are carried locally at Something Southern, but they are also carried in different gift shops throughout the state.

The company is growing and expanding, and the candles are also carried in Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and most recently Indiana. Some of their signature scents include: Kudzu, Southern Drawl, Lemon Grass and Seaside Escape.

Savannah is their best selling scent.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAD BROWN/ FOUNDER OF OXFORD CANDLE COMPANY.

All candles are made from soy wax, and the wicks are eco Brown's candles are unique in that they are made in pottery bowls-which are fully functionfriendly made from cotton. Brown only uses products made or ing pieces after the candle has burned. All pottery pieces are oven, microwave, dishwasher grown in the U.S.A, and the soybeans he uses are actually and food safe. from a food quality soybean farm.

The unique candles come with different stamps, sizes and scents. Brown picked scents that are all reminiscent of the South like: Kudzu, Southern Drawl, Savannah, and Lemongrass Oxford Candle Co. added four room sprays this spring to their collection. Refill kits were also to name a few. debut this spring.

“Right now these are some of our best selling Spring and Summer time scents, but of course around the Fall and Winter seasons our biggest scents are Pumpkin Spice, Snickerdoodle, and Apple Cinnamon,” Brown said. “We carefully hand select each fragrance and recreate the alluring scents of the south, from the warm breezes of the Gulf Coast to the rolling hills of Kudzu blossoms in July.”

The next step for Oxford Candle Co. is getting its own storefront in Oxford. Brown doesn’t know if they will ever sell their candles online, as he believes in supporting local business.

“I want people to actually have to physically get in their car and drive to pur-

chase our candles from local gift shops,” he said.

“This is what keeps small local shops in business, rather than feeding huge corporations.”

Since his candle company doesn’t operate online and is mainly word of mouth, Brown got picked up by different states from attending Mississippi Market in Jackson.

“MS Market is a whole sale show, strictly for retailers, and that’s how other stores found out about us.

The first market we attended we did really well, we picked up 30 stores and then the next year that number doubled,” Brown said. “We started off small and it blew up overnight after we went to market. My wife was having panic at-

tacks about how we were going to fill all of those orders. This business is a lot of hard work and a lot of long hours. It hasn’t always been easy. You know you’ve made it as a company when businesses are reordering your product. 95 percent of our orders are reorders. If businesses aren’t reordering your product, then you need to change it up.”

While Brown no longer makes furniture, he also owns Coontown Pottery, which is exclusively sold in Something Southern and Lovie’s in Hattiesburg. He quickly discovered how big pottery is in Mississippi.

“Being a handmade product and rooted in the South, I think that’s where we want to stay and we want to offer it locally

more,” he said. “The fall goal is to have our own retail location and cut back on the wholesale. I’d like to have a store that just sells Mississippi made pottery.”

Some candle lighting tips from Brown include never burning a candle unattended.

“If you have a ceiling fan blowing and it blows the flame around, you never know, something could catch on fire. When first lighting a candle, always let it burn until you have a full melt pool. Make sure when you light it that you have plenty of time, because if you blow it out prematurely, it will never burn all the way to the edge of the jar or container. Always trim the wick, definitely trim it even if it’s black be-

cause if you don’t it will soot. Trimming it helps the flame burn cleaner and it won’t smoke. Sometimes if you don’t trim the wick, it will turn the whole container black.”

Oxford Candle Co. uses eco friendly candlewicks, along with soy beans that are food quality and grown in the U.S. Soon the company will be introducing another pottery container, a larger sized one. They will also be making a jar line of candles for people who want a longer lasting fragrance.

“We were shocked at how much interest there was in a product that was locally made here in Mississippi.

People in the South really appreciate local made buyers,” he said.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

Destination Oxford car show Destination Oxford, a two-day cruise and car show sponsored by Belk Ford, featured a number of vintage cars that were put on display at the Oxford Conference Center. Jason Plunk organized the event, and he entered two vehicles in the show that he wants to continue for years to come.

PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

‘69 Mach I - owned by Jimmie Neil and Tommy Garrett.

Jason Plunk’s 1970 Ford Galaxy.

‘57 Chevy BelAir.

‘40 Chevrolet Special Deluxe owned by George Lynch.

Bubba Mize owns this ‘31 Chevy Truck.

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

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AND THE

AROUND SQUARE BEYOND JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

NCAA case against OM shows a lot of time, money wasted

O

le Miss released its response to the NCAA and the allegations that organization brought forward regarding football, women’s basketball and the track program Friday morning. Located twice in the 154-page document was the figure $1.5 million. That is the amount the university estimates it will have spent on the case, in defense of the allegations. Let that number sink in because there are more to come.

The NCAA’s allegations to the university, dated January 22, 2016, outline a total of just over $15,000 in improper benefits. Let that number sink in as well. From 2010, until 2015, the NCAA was able to uncover and outline $15,000 worth of improper benefits. Ole Miss has spent $1.5 million, or close to it, and hundreds and hundreds of hours of time trying to get to the bottom of it all.

What all that means to me is a considerable waste of resources, money and time. It’s another example of why the NCAA, as an overall organization, needs to be erased.

Disbanded. Or at the very least, re-organized.

My question is how much money did the NCAA spend on travel and expenses to come up with $15,000 worth of benefits being used inappropriately? One would think several thousand. Don’t get me wrong, if you make mistakes, you have to pay for it based on the rules. The root issue here are the rules, the bylaws that are outlined in all these reports. Hot flash to the NCAA, the fans don’t care or understand your laws. What the fans that pack Vaught-Hemingway Stadium want to see on a Saturday afternoon is a good game. And preferably a win. You think people who pay $1,600 for four season tickets care if a player’s family got an extra $800 at the airport or not?

You think the vast majority of those same ticket holders care if Laremy Tunsil or CJ Hampton are driving around with a loaner Nissan Titan or Dodge Challenger? Most people would say “It’s not my car. It’s not my issue. I just want to see a win over Alabama for the first time in my life.”

The whole problem with an NCAA investiTURN TO OLE MISS PAGE 15

ADAM ROBISON | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

Ole Miss issued a letter, signed by athletics director Ross Bjork and Chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter, Friday as part of its response to an NCAA investigation.

Ole Miss issues information on NCAA investigation

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

An NCAA investigation into three different sports at Ole Miss that started almost four years took a big step into the light Friday morning. Ole Miss released the 52-page notice of allegations from the NCAA as well as its 154-page response. The Notice of Allegations or NOA was sent to Ole Miss on Jan. 22. Ole Miss had 90 days to respond, but then asked for a 30-day delay in April.

The release included a timeline and a list of self-imposed sanctions by the university.

In total, 28 allegations were included, spanning women’s basketball (seven), football (13) and track and field (eight).

The NCAA reported 20 were “primarily discovered and/or self-reported by the institution.”

“For 27 of the 28 allegations, we agree that a violation of NCAA rules occurred; however, for several of those allegations we do not agree on all of the facts,” the school wrote in a letter to the Ole Miss family that was signed by athletics director Ross Bjork and Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter. “For five of those 27 violations, we believe the violation should be classified differently.”

The violations alleged are listed as “Level II” or “Level III.” Ole Miss contends some of the violations should be classified as Level III. Current Ole Miss assistant coaches Chris Kiffin, Derrick Nix and Maurice Harris were named in the notice, as well

as former assistants Chris Vaughn and David Saunders. Both Vaughn and Saunders worked under Houston Nutt in 2010. Saunders, who has been attached to allegations at Louisiana-Lafayette, is the current head football coach at Pearl River Community College.

The track and basketball violations date back to the tenures of former coaches Brian O’Neal and Adrian Wiggins, respectively.

Regarding football, the 13 allegations range from complementary vehicle use, free lodging and impermissible benefits to recruits including meals and transportation, to personalized recruiting videos and interfering with ACT testing at Wayne County High School. The NCAA alleges Saunders and Vaughn instructed three recruits who were taking the ACT at Wayne County not to answer questions they did not know how to answer. The NCAA also alleges they arranged for ACT testing supervisor to complete/alter exam answer sheets.

SELF-IMPOSED PENALTIES Included in Ole Miss’ self-imposed sanctions are the loss of 11 total scholarships over four years, starting with the most recent recruiting class.

Other self-imposed penalties include: In football, disassociation of one organization and four individuals for at least three years; additional rules education for involvement of staff which included Kiffin and Harris; recruiting suspension for two assistant coaches; reductions of recruiting evaluation oppor-

tunities, initial and unofficial visits as well as a monetary fine of $159,325.

In women’s basketball, the staff was terminated, including staff members and head coach. Ole Miss imposed a postseason ban for 2012-13, reduced the number of scholarships it can give out, reduced official visits, which are paid to recruits and families, and reduced the days and calls to recruits. Ole Miss also put the signing of of two-year college transfers on probation.

In track and field, Ole Miss and O’Neal mutually agreed upon a resignation.

There were additional rules education with incoming staff members placed, as well a reduction of official visits and offcampus recruiting days.

Ole Miss expected the NCAA investigation to be behind it heading into the summer but during the NFL draft last month, Laremy Tunsil brought the spotlight back on the university when alleged text messages between the star offensive tackle and assistant athletic director for football operations John Miller surfaced on social media. The texts appeared to show Tunsil asking Miller for funds so his mother could pay her $305 electric bill.

After being selected 13th overall by the Miami Dolphins, Tunsil was asked about the texts by reporters and acknowledged he accepted money from coaches. Tunsil was suspended for the first seven games of the 2016 season for “impermissible benefits.”

Ole Miss has not officially commented TURN TO INVESTIGATION PAGE 16

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Jacob Wilcher helps Kossuth win title before heading to Ole Miss

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Jacob Wilcher had one goal before he could officially start his career as an Ole Miss Rebel. The Kossuth senior wanted to lead the Aggies to the MHSAA Class 3A state title in baseball.

Mission accomplished.

Wilcher, who will play outfield when he arrives in Oxford, got to celebrate with his teammates last week at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

Kossuth defeated St. Andrews to win the title, with Wilcher collecting a triple and scoring a run in the 7-1 victory.

There is a deep connection between Wilcher and the rest of the Ole Miss signees, who can start playing for the Rebels in 2017.

Some of those signees include Oxford’s Thomas Dillard, Grae Kessinger, Houston Roth and Jason Barber.

“We’re really close. We played travel ball against each other or with each other our whole lives growing up,” Wilcher said, who first met the four Chargers as a member of Dulin’s Dodgers. “I’m probably clos-

est to Grae or Houston. We talked a whole lot in Oklahoma this past summer.

Both are good guys.”

This season was a fantastic one for Wilcher, who finished with a batting average of .529. He finished with eight home runs and 37 RBIs for the Aggies, who finished with 31 wins overall.

“I guess it was a pretty good year,” Wilcher said with a smile. “I started out in the infield. The travel ball coaches told me I was pretty fast, so they tried me in the outfield. I got out there, and I like it out there.”

The key to being a good outfielder, Wilcher said, was getting a good jump on the ball, and then hitting the cutoff man on throws.

Coach Cliff Godwin, who is now the head coach at East Carolina, started recruiting Wilcher to Ole Miss.

Carl Lafferty and Mike Clement took over his recruiting all the way until he signed with the Rebels last November.

“I love them. They’re really good coaches and Ole Miss is just a great place to be,” he said. “I like Coach (Mike) Bianco. He’s helped a lot, he’s a good coach.”

JOHN DAVIS

Jacob Wilcher, an Ole Miss signee in baseball, just helped lead the Aggies to the MHSAA Class 3A state championship.

Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi State all pursued Wilcher during his career at Kossuth. He added that Ole Miss was always the place he wanted to go.

Wilcher was set to play in an All-Star game and then

report to Ole Miss in July in time for the second summer term.

“I’m excited. I can’t wait,” he said.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CHARGER BASKETBALL CAMP

JOHN DAVIS

The annual Oxford Charger basketball camp will be held this coming week at the Turner Center at Ole Miss.

OLE MISS SPORTS ROUNDUPS Three Rebels qualify for NCAA track championships

and 2011.

Two other Rebel women came agonizingly close to punching their tickets on Friday.

Sophomore Raven SaunJACKSONVILLE, Florida – ders finished 13th in the Three more Rebels punched discus (170-10) to place their ticket to Eugene on Fri- one spot out of a berth to the national meet. She still day, the middle day of the had a chance to qualify in NCAA East Preliminary at Hodges Stadium on the Uni- the shot put. She entered as versity of North Florida cam- the No. 1 seed in the event and holds the Ole Miss and pus.Sophomore MJ Erb, SEC all-time record with a senior Holland Sherrer and sophomore Lindsey Murray throw of 61-6.25 earlier this season. all claimed berths to the June 8-11 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Hansson, Oregon, by placing top 12 Hartono lose among the 48 entries in their respective events in in NCAA Jacksonville.

Championships Two-thirds of the way through the meet, Ole Miss TULSA, Okla. — An outhas qualified a total of four standing year for Ole Miss athletes through to Eugene men’s tennis sophomore and has another 15 men Gustav Hansson came to an and women competing for end Friday, in the round of bids on Saturday.

16 at the NCAA Singles Erb, a native of Farming- Championships, with a tight ton, New York, earned his 6-4, 6-4 loss to No. 1 first NCAA Championships ranked Mikael Torpegaard. berth by running the fourthTorpegaard, the 2015 Big fastest time in the 3,000Ten Freshman of the Year, meter steeplechase. His came into Friday’s third personal best of 8 minutes, round with just two losses 39.11 seconds moves him this spring. Hansson served up to No. 2 in school history. first to start the match and He is the first Rebel to adTorpegaard broke. He won a vance to the national meet no-ad point on his serve in in the steeplechase since the second game to go up Barnabas and Martin Kirui in 2-0 and went on to take the 2010. set 6-4.

Facing the possibility of In the second set, Hansrunning his last race in a son fell behind an early Rebel uniform, Sherrer was break again, but broke back determined to advance for for 2-2. Torpegaard won anthe second-straight season. other no-ad point in the fifth He lowered his career-best game to take a 3-2 lead and time in the 800 to 1:47.13, led 4-3, before Hansson which was sixth-fastest of broke back for 4-4. Howthe 24 quarterfinalists. The ever, Torpegaard broke Deerfield, New Jersey, naagain and served out the tive maintains his position at match.

No. 4 on the Ole Miss 800 One day after becoming charts. Fellow senior the 12th All-American in Ole Dameon Morgan also ran a Miss women’s tennis hisquality race, but he finished tory, sophomore Arianne 16th with a time of 1:48.89 Hartono ended her run in to conclude his Rebel cathe NCAA Singles Champireer. onship with a 6-4, 6-1 loss For the women, Murray to the No. 2 seed, Danielle punched her ticket to EuCollins of Virginia, in the gene by placing eighth in round of 16. the pole vault with a clearAt 1-1 in the first set, ance of 13 feet, 11.25 Collins broke Hartono, but inches. She tied with nine Hartono broke right back for other vaulters at that height 2-2. The two traded breaks, and earned eighth place due but at 4-4, Collins got the to number of misses. The final break and served out Harrisburg, Illinois, native the set 6-4. becomes the second Hartono was broken to woman in school history to start the second frame, and advance to the NCAA OutCollins, who won the NCAA door Championships in the title in 2014, raced through pole vault. Neal Tisher made the set 6-0 to advance to the national meet in 2010 the quarterfinals.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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Ole Miss FROM PAGE 13

gation is the amount of time it takes to figure you don’t have much in the first place.

Schools bend over backwards to “cooperate” with the NCAA. It’s supposed to help. Whether it does or doesn’t depends on the penalty that comes down.

Ole Miss got rid of its former women’s basketball staff.

And the players who were involved in that academic situation. The school also has no more ties to track coach Brian O’Neal and it has levied penalties in football.

Eleven scholarships reduced over three, four years is more than a slap on the hand. It’s not death penalty stuff like some fan bases would like to see, but it’s not getting off scot-free either. Again, it doesn’t seem like the penalties fit the benefit.

Academic fraud, to me, is the worst part of these allegations. David Saunders and Chris Vaughn both have been dealt with by the NCAA, as they should have. They knew better. Their reputations are tarnished as a result of this all. Saunders at least has a job

in the business at Pearl River Community College. He needs to work hard in order to keep it because it will be tough to move anywhere else after all this.

So Ole Miss has spent time and a lot of money to deal with an investigation that took years to really shake out all the way. All of us already knew Tunsil was suspended for seven games. We all knew O’Neal was no longer coaching and that Matt Insell was brought in to repair the damage done by the previous women’s basketball staff.

Everything is out in the open, in black and white. It will be there for anyone and everyone to read. Almost three hours of my Friday was spent looking at it all. That still didn’t cover everything, but it was enough for me to realize how trivial some of these things can become.

Free lodging and meals were some of the issues the NCAA had with the OM coaching staff. Sorry, but allowing a recruit to eat breakfast at Hugh Freeze’s home needs to be re-evaluated. Like tomorrow.

Ole Miss, based on the information provided in the response, dealt with the issues in a professional and pro-ac-

PAGE 15

tive manner. There have been schools in the past that have waited for the NCAA to rule before imposing sanctions. Again, whether that matters to the NCAA or not remains to be seen. Sometimes schools go a little overboard in the self imposing area.

A possible bowl ban is the thing that remains to be decided on. Ole Miss said no to sanctioning postseason. The NCAA may. Based on the allegations, a bowl ban would be excessive, to me. Still, it’s impossible to predict what the NCAA is going to do.

That’s the other part of the discussion. This stuff is confusing for a reason. It’s the reason we all scratch our head at some of the things outlined.

One thing learned out of all these documents was the fact that Ole Miss went on probation in football in 1959.

The fine was $1,000 and probation lasted a year. Another example of why things were so much simpler back then and just how far out of whack “amateur” athletics really is currently.

LAUREN WOOD | BUY AT PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze is having to deal with the loss of scholarships over the next three years as part of the NCAA investigation that was reveled in more detail Friday.

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

OHS graduate excited about his return to lead Chargers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

For the first time in over 15 years, Charley Sabatier will get to call Oxford home again. The Oxford High graduate was recently hired to teach, and to coach the Chargers in soccer. The University of Mississippi graduate is returning to the area from Virginia, the state he has called home shortly after earning his degree in physics.

After working for the federal government, Sabatier ultimately moved into teaching.

“I ended up getting a master’s degree in education at George Mason to get my teaching certificate,” Sabatier said about his start.

“I taught physics and was an assistant at a large school, Mount Vernon, in Fairfax County for six years. Then I took a break from coaching for a few years and for three years, I’ve been in the central office. I’m a guidance specialist there that supports teachers with special development in high school science.”

The opportunity to teach physics at OHS was the first thing Sabatier noticed rather than the opening for boys soccer coach.

“After applying, I saw that the coaching position was open. My happiest days in Virginia have been teaching physics and high school soccer, so I was excited that both of those things were available

Northeast Mississippi rules in high school baseball

BY GENE PHELPS DAILY JOURNAL

Northeast Mississippi high school baseball took a powerful Thomas Dillard cut last week and knocked one out of the ballpark.

The five MHSAA championships won at Trustmark Park – (1A) Tupelo Christian Prep, (2A) East Union, (3A) Kossuth, (4A) Houston and (5A) Oxford, with the power-hitting Dillard – were the most recorded by this region’s teams in the state’s 66year postseason history. Daily Journal-area teams have won 51 state baseball titles since 1950.

The previous best area showing came in 1999 when (1A) Hamilton, (2A) Booneville and (3A) Amory brought home titles.

Since the 2000 season and prior to this year, NEMiss teams had won 16 state championships ... and never more than two in a season. In six of those seasons, the region was shut out.

TCPS, East Union and Houston were all first-time champions. Oxford, ranked No. 1 in the preseason nationally, won its second straight. Kossuth has now won three titles – under three coaches – in the last four

years. The Aggies lost in the state semifinals in 2015.

Kossuth’s first-year coach, Josh Dowdy, has now won two state championships. He led Bruce to a 2A state crown in 2012.

“It was exciting this year,” said Dowdy, whose Aggies beat St. Andrew’s. “All the coaches were rooting for each other to get a North sweep.”

Madison Central defeated George County to capture the 6A gold glove and give the North a 6-0 record against the South.

Dowdy believes the balance of power in the state has changed. Teams from the Pine Belt have dominated in recent years – Hattiesburg, Oak Grove, Petal, Purvis, Richton, Sumrall.

“In our division (1-3A), I think Mooreville would have beaten St. Andrew’s. I think our No. 3 team, Alcorn Central, would of had a shot at beating them,” Dowdy said. “Ripley was an outstanding team and they didn’t get to play. I felt like Pine Grove could have played for a (1A) state championship this year, but they ran into TCPS. “High school baseball in North Mississippi is probably the strongest it’s been.”

Investigation FROM PAGE 13

on Tunsil’s comments, but multiple reports say the money was part of the NCAA’s Student Assistance Fund, which is supposed to help athletes with emergencies.

gene.phelps@journalinc.com Twitter: @genephelps

at Oxford,” he said before talking specifically about soccer strategy.

“One thing I’m big on is soccer is a game of thinking. There are no timeouts. The ball never stops unless it goes out of play. We need players to be able to analyze situations and make decisions and do that collectively. That’s my ultimate goal. I love physics. It’s about thinking. I love soccer because it’s like the chess of sports. Just putting them into those situations and getting them to analyze what options we could have and how we need to be three steps ahead to support teammates in accomplishing our mission.”

Movement without the ball, to Sabatier, is even more important

than movement with the ball, he said.

“That’s how you create space or opportunities for things to happen,” he added. “One thing I’m big on is that I’m a teacher first and these kids are students first. It’s a privilege for us to play this sport, and for me to coach this sport. You have to take care of school first.

I’m big on academics and I’m big on students making sure they’re taking care of what goes on in the classroom first. I also expect them to be excellent both on and off the field. Developing character and integrity as young men is my second focus because I don’t want them getting involved in things that are going to keep them from

playing.”

Sabatier will be in town to visit his parents in June, and help celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. He plans to spend a week in town, ironing out some things, and then make his move in July.

“I’m with Adam Trobaugh, who is the assistant coach and we have a schedule of summer matches that we will be participating in and Adam will be managing that and I will be supporting him from Virginia as best I can,” Sabatier said.

“So he will be running the show this summer with my support and guidance.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OLE MISS SPORTS BRIEFS Tailor added to women’s hoops staff

OM’s Engles named

Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Matt Insell announced the addition of Amit Tailor to the coaching staff. Tailor comes to Oxford and Ole Miss from Santa Clara University where he served as the men’s video coordinator.

“I couldn’t be happier to have Amit joining our program,” Insell said. “He has a vast amount of experience in film and analytic breakdown which is something we are looking forward to using to push our program to the next level. On top of that, Amit is a perfect fit for our staff and is someone that I am very thankful to have joining the Rebel Nation.”

Prior to his appointment at Ole Miss, Tailor was the men’s basketball video coordinator for the Broncos for the 2015-16 season. He did extensive film breakdown and statistical analysis for the men’s team Tailor has extensive experience with advanced statistical data, beginning at the University of Florida where he was an assistant video coordinator from 2013 through 2015. USA Basketball brought on Tailor to work with its U19 and Pan AM teams in 2015 after serving as a member of the U18 Men’s National Team support staff in 2014. Tailor also served as a support staff member during the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon in April. Tailor has also worked in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls.

The Rebels will next hit the hardwood in August when they travel to Costa Rica from Aug. 1-10. Ole Miss will play three exhibition games during its time south of the border.

Ole Miss All-American and SEC champion runner Craig Engels was named to the 2016 Academic All-District 6 team for men’s track & field/cross country, as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

By making the 11-person All-District squad, Engels is now eligible to be voted for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

On the track, Engels has excelled in his two seasons as a Rebel. He most recently won the 2016 SEC outdoor 1,500 meters, becoming the first Ole Miss athlete to be league champion in that event.

The Pfafftown, North Carolina, native was a USTFCCCA first team All-American this March after helping Ole Miss place third in the distance medley relay at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, the school’s highest national finish ever in the event. He’s also a twotime SEC champion in the DMR. Last year, he was a second team outdoor AllAmerican in the 800.

In his brief Ole Miss career, Engels owns the outdoor school record in the 1,500 meters (3 minutes:38.82 seconds) and ranks top five in the indoor 800 (1:47.75), outdoor 800 (1:46.13) and indoor mile (4:01.19). Among NCAA athletes in 2016, he is No. 3 in the 1,500 and No. 19 in the 800 (1:47.06).

In the classroom, Engels maintains a 3.60 grade point average as a general studies major pursuing minors in business administration, environmental studies and theatre. He was a 2015

In Ole Miss’ letter released Friday, it stated, “On the first day of the 2016 NFL Draft, new information came to light involving a former football student-athlete.

That very night, the University and NCAA began a joint review to determine whether bylaws have been violated, and we hope this

All-District 6

review will be concluded soon. To ensure fairness to all parties and pursuant to COI procedure, we have asked the COI to remove the hearing from this summer’s docket until this review can be completed and closed.”

The next step is for the school to appear before the Committee

on Infractions later this summer. The committee will then eiMiss’ ther accept Ole recommendations or add additional penalties.

Ole Miss says it spent $1.5 million on outside council as a result of the investigation. Since September, 2012, the university said it has

USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree in cross country and made the 2015 Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Ole Miss volleyball hosting camps As the official start of summer approaches, Ole Miss volleyball announced three sessions of summer camp for the month of July.

The first session (July 9-10) is a position camp for ages 14-18. It’s intended for players who want to improve in key areas that are specific to their game.

Players will spend time in position-specific training, team training and competition sessions. Individual techniques and game tactics will be covered in a competitive environment.

Designed with the younger player in mind the Lil Rebel Day Camp July 11-14 is open to boys and girls ages 8-13. Campers will learn the basic fundamentals, using drills and games that allow players to learn, while feeling the excitement of being successful volleyball players.

For those players who want to improve in key areas, volleyball offers the Ole Miss Skills Camp July 14-18. Players will spend time in position-specific training, team training and competition sessions.

Due to the renovation of the Gillom Sports Center and limited court space, each of the 2016 camps will be limited to 50 participants.

Interested participants can find more information on the volleyball camps and register online at www.abcsportscamps.com/rebelvolleyball. conducted over 265 interviews with student-athletes, coaches, boosters and other witnesses. Over 10,000 pages of material was collected and analyzed, and then turned over to the NCAA. John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

PAGE 17

Sherman pleased with recent camp turnout, skills taught

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

John Sherman wanted to hold a basketball skills camp last summer at Lafayette. His one-year wait ended up being a benefit as 67 youth turned out for the first camp hosted by a coach of the Commodores in several years.

Some of the kids that signed up and attended were as young as kindergarten.

“Not knowing what the interest would be since it wasn’t familiar with them, I didn’t know how it would be. The response started out slow, but it built up steam the week leading into the camp,” Sherman said adding the number exceeded his initial expectations. “When I got 20 applications, I ended up having to get more and it went from 20 to 30 and 30 to 40. I gave each camper a basketball. I didn’t want to pre order a bunch of basketballs and then having them in the closest. So I

waited until the last possible date to order. I made one order and then I didn’t think that was going to be enough even though it was about 20 over what had signed up. Thank goodness I placed that other order and every ball was needed.”

Lafayette players helped Sherman instruct during the three-day camp. He was pleased to see them interacting with the kids, saying the results were two fold.

“I was really proud of my team because I saw some great teaching going on and I mean teaching, not just crowd control or running them through a drill,” Sherman said. “I looked over and I saw third graders chinning the basketball off of a rebound with their elbows out and extended just like the high school players were taught. I’m watching kids do a stop, reverse pivot and do it right.

“They stopped and showed them how to do it right. I’m seeing kids doing form shooting. It was really encouraging to see that,”

JOHN DAVIS

Almost 70 youth took part in the Lafayette High basketball camp hosted by head coach John Sherman and his Commodores.

Sherman added. “There were some youngsters and their attention span wasn’t very long. So your players get to witness what I get to witness everyday and that’s trying to teach them things about the game. And to not only have to teach them that, but they have to keep

their attention. They found themselves in the role I’m in everyday. That’s great for your program.”

The Commodores also got to brush up on some fundamentals and even some light conditioning as they head into June when they start to play some

summer league contests.

“We will be playing games in a little over a week. When you stop to teach something, that just enhances the importance of how you should do it,” Sherman said. “I tell them all the time that I became a better shooter after I taught

shooting. You can’t just tell a kid to shoot the ball, you have to teach them. You have to show them the proper form and how the ball is held. And elbow placement and eyes on the target. So when I had to start teaching shooting, I had to practice what I preached. Hopefully they will practice what they preach this week.”

The goal is continue the camp each summer, Sherman said.

“We made it fun for the kids. I come from camp experience of having a spirited camp where the kids are yelling chants and just getting them fired up,” he added. “I’ve had a history of going to camps like that so kids get a kick out of it.

Hopefully they would have had a good experience and they’re going to go back and tell their friends and next year we certainly hope it grows from that standpoint.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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