Oxford December 22, 2016

POSTAL CUSTOMER

There will not be a Sunday Oxford Citizen paper this week Volume 3 | Issue 71

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oxfordcitizen.com

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Inside 3 News

Medieval Europe Comes to Oxford Elementary

4 News

CHANING GREEN

A little girl names off her Christmas list for Santa Friday night at LHS during Cookies with Santa, a fundraiser set up to benefit the school’s Drama Department.

Cookies with Santa LHS Drama Department holds festive fundraiser

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Friday night, the Lafayette Drama Department held a special night of milk, cookies, Santa and story books This is the first year that the drama club has held this kind of fundraiser.

LHS sophomore August André has been involved with the drama club since he

was a sixth grader. The idea for the “We just thought, ‘Hey, who doesn’t like Christmas,’” André said at the event, where he was dressed as an elf. “Pretty much everyone in drama club has little brother’s and sisters, so we have a market for it. We’re in a small town that doesn’t really have a big mall where things like this are normally done, so we decided to put this together.”

State Superintendent visits Oxford Middle School

17 Sports

The drama club then spent about a week getting the fundraiser together.

Money being raised from the event is going toward funding transportation for the club as they compete in Ocean Springs next month. They will be performing “Twelve Angry Jurors,” adapted from Reginald Rose’s classic drama, TURN TO COOKIES PAGE 6

Lafayette, Oxford had plenty of talent in 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

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City Board holds last meeting of 2016

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Tuesday night’s City Board meeting began with Mayor Pat Patterson formally announcing his decision to not run for reelection in next year’s mayoral race.

Patterson has served in the city for 16 years, eight as a member of the Board of Alderman and eight as mayor, by the time he leaves office.

He said that he felt it was time for him to step down and let someone else take over.

The topic given the most discussion regarded a planning dispute where an amendment was being requested for Oxford Commons PUD Phase I, Tract C, Part 2, Lots 16 and 17. This refers to the area on Sisk Avenue across from Wendy’s where a subdivision has been created. Within that subdivision, Thomas Crowson has purchased lots #16

and #17 and wishes to combine the two “to create a bigger lot that will better fit the use they have approved on the property.” The issue is that the property has already been zoned in 2006 before development began, and in order to make changes, Crowson needs approval.

His point of contention focused on a particular part of Mississippi Law #17-1-234 that says Crowson, in order to make his case, must present an accurate description of the area that is to be “vacated or altered and the names of the persons to be adversely affected thereby or directly interested therein.”

Crowson made the argument that there is no exact definition of affected persons.

In order to get the approval required to combine lot #16 and #17, Crowson would have to present “written approval from all nearby owners who will be ad-

versely affected or directly interested.” Because he failed to do so, the Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Alderman vote to deny his request. After hearing from different people involved in the situation, the board chose to go with the Planning Commission’s recommendation and deny Crowson’s request.

The rest of the items primarily consisted of typical house cleaning measures that required board approval. These include declaring the surplus of one lawnmower from the building and Ground Department and four heaters from the Old Armory Building, both of which will be sold on www.govdeals.org.

This is the last time the City Board will conviene before the new year. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Abundant Truth Salt and Light hosts new food pantry in Taylor

BY KATHRYN WINTER STAFF WRITER

The Abundant Truth Salt and Light Ministries kicked off its initiative to become the third food pantry to serve the Lafayette Oxford University area on December 3.

Every month on the third Saturday, they will hold collection days. The food pantry will be located in Taylor.

According to Fe e d i n g A m e r i c a . o r g , nearly twenty one percent of Mississippi families suffer from food insecurity.

“Many people are fed because others are thinking about it because of the holidays, but when the holidays are over the need is greater. The rest of the year donations will fade, so it’s important to keep the food pantry going year round,” Edy Dingus, of Americorps Vista and United Way Oxford said.

January 21 the Abundant Truth Salt and Light ministries will be collecting donations outside of Larson’s and Kroger in Oxford.

Arlanda Washington and her husband, Reverend Shelby Washington Sr., planned the opening of the food pantry for many months.

“Families in need can only find two hot meals a week in Lafayette County and they can find free groceries often less than that.

I hope ATSL food pantry will provide a necessary

service for those who have exhausted other resources,” Washington said.

Washington and her husband prepared free plate lunches to anyone in need of a hot meal. However, too few people came.

“We asked ourselves how we could reach more people,” Washington said.

“At that moment we decided to start the ATSL food pantry. A pantry can provide more meals for longer.” The Washington’s purchased a deep freezer and pulled together enough space and shelving. “We have the capacity, now we need awareness. We want to extend the call to the greater community.”

The Washington’s want to get as much as possible in the food pantry before they open.

“Anyone can come at anytime and get food and receive fellowship. Families from all over the county, anyone can come if they need help in supplementing their food services,” Washington said. “We offered free meals in the goal of reaching those in community that were dealing with substance abuse. We got them in there to give them a meal, show encouragement and let them know someone in the community could actually help them. In the midst of starting the pantry, we have been building relationships with other churches, we’ve all been

fellowshipping.

The pantry really is a leadership where others can come together.

Any church or organization that would like to sponsor the pantry for a month and wants to get their congregation involved is welcome. We would like for different organizations and churches to sponsor a month out of the year.”

The Washington’s have also volunteered to transport food to people who are homebound.

“We would like to have the sustainability to have quarterly drives to resupply and restock. We’ve also been discussing the goal of adding other things as well like personal hygiene items, diapers, etc. We want to work up to this in the future,” Washington said. “There is such a great need for so many thingsthis is part of the Oxford and Taylor community, not just Oxford. It’s the season of giving and what better way is there to feed the spirit than feed a family in need?”

Volunteers are also needed for the third Saturday of the month collections-putting boxes together, checking expiration dates, and working two-hour shifts. Anyone looking to get involved or volunteering can contact shlwash@aol.com, edydingus@gmail.com, or call 662-380-3587. Abundant Truth Salt and Light Ministries drop off is located at 485 CR 303 in Taylor.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

CHANING GREEN

Brave knights compete in a game of chess at Oxford Elementary School’s Medieval Feast that was held at the school Thursday night.

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The event was organized by Insights teacher Theresa Bates for her students who have been learning about Medieval Europe for the past five weeks. The event featured live music, food, jousting and more.

Medieval Europe Comes to Oxford Elementary

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Oxford Elementary School second grade Insights teacher Theresa Bates, her students and their families immersed themselves in Medieval Europe Thursday with a night of feasting and festivities.

The night of festivities featured the brave knight Sir Chicken Nugget, jousting, chess, live music, costumes and more. Several chess tables were set up where the students could test their skills against parents and peers in a game that was actually played during the Middle Ages.

Using an online sign up sheet, Bates invited parents to bring some food.

Some of the feast was focused on different meats, which was a huge part of the medieval diet. How-

ever, there was a wide variety of dishes available.

Many parents brought different kinds of salads as well as desserts.

After the feast, Sir Chicken Nugget held a special demonstration in the gymnasium. A spinning target was set up students were give the opportunity to run and try to hit the target with a joust. Sir Chicken Nugget also had a classical trebuchet set up and used it to besiege a small castle set up on the opposite end of the gymnasium, using tennis balls as fodder. The trebuchet also provided an opportunity for the kids to learn about the functions of a simple machine.

Mockingbird Music performed period-accurate music for the event.

Bates coordinated the event with the help of parents to round off her five-

week unit on the Middle Ages. The students spent the last five weeks learning about the different aspects of medieval life.

Last year was the first time they held the Medieval Feast at night. In previous years, they held the event during the day, and just did several of them. By doing them at night, it allows for the families to come and participate, which Bates sees as one of the most important parts of the entire event.

“I think it’s just nice for all of us to come together as a community of people and learners,” she said.

“All of the kids don’t really get to see each other, so it gives them a chance to do that. When you’re a gifted student, it can be difficult.

These kids have very different emotional and social needs than most

students. It can be hard for them to relate to other students. It’s nice for them to be surrounded by peers they can communicate with on their level.”

Bates has been teaching at Oxford Elementary since 2007. Several of her students are the younger siblings of former stu-

dents, so she got to see many of her students from years past at the event, which she really enjoyed.

Bates has four groups of kids that come from different homerooms at the school. She sees each group about an hour a day.

They had around 100 chairs set up for kids and

adults at the feast, and ended up needing even more by the end of the night. Last year, the Medieval Feast brought in about 75 people and that this year’s improvement was really nice to see. chaning.green@journalinc.com Tiwtter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OBITUARIES OZIE THWEATT Mrs. Ozie Lee Cromwell Thweatt, 94, passed away Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford.

The funeral service was held on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Stoney Moorhead and Rev. Don Locke officiating. Burial followed in Pine Flat Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Thweatt’s memory may be made to Pine Flat Cemetery Fund, c/o Kenny Tidwell, 287 CR 323, Taylor, MS 38673 or South Oxford Methodist Church, 2920 S. Lamar, Oxford, MS 38655.

RUBERT BRUNER

Rubert Dean Bruner, 68, passed away Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 at his home in Oxford.

Visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 at Oxford-University United Methodist Church with funeral services following in the church sanctuary. Rev. Warren Black and Rev. Eddie Rester officiated. Interment will be in the Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Coleman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to Oxford-University United Methodist Church, 424 South 10th St., Oxford, MS 38655.

BRIEFING Christmas on the Square Community Church of Oxford will hold a Christmas Eve service Saturday starting at 5 p.m. It will be located on the Square right next to city hall. This service is open for anyone in the community, not just church members. For more information, visit www.communityoxford.com.

No paper Sunday The Oxford Citizen will not be publishing a newspaper on Sunday in observance of Christmas. The paper will resume production on Thursday, Dec. 29.

CHANING GREEN

State Superintendent Carey Wright walks through Oxford Middle School Monday morning with Oxford Superintendent Brian Harvey, OMS Principal Audra Rester and MDE officials.

State Superintendent visits Oxford Middle School

BY EMMA CRAWFORD KENT DAILY JOURNAL

Students, teachers and administrators of the Oxford School District were personally congratulated for their success by state superintendent of education Carey Wright this week.

The Oxford School District was one of only two Northeast Mississippi districts to receive an “A” rating for 2016. The district also boasts the highest test scores in the state on the Mississippi Assessment Program (MAP), the state test students took during the 2015-16 school year.

Wright visited Oxford Middle School on Monday morning.

Students who showed the greatest amount of growth on the MAP and those who had the highest scores were also recognized.

For LaTonya Robinson, principal at Della Davidson Elementary School, Wright’s visit was especially meaningful.

Della Davidson students showed the most growth in the district on the MAP. Her students’ success, she said, is a direct reflection of the quality of teachers at Della Davidson.

“It speaks to the willingness and the knowledge of the teachers,” Robinson said. “I’m proud of my teachers and my students. I’m like a proud momma.”

Brian Harvey, superintendent of Oxford Schools, said he felt

Wright and other representative of the Mississippi Department of Education were at Oxford Middle School Monday morning to congratulate the district on their recent A rating and the fact that they scored the highest in the state as a part of the Mississippi Assessment Program. honored that the district was labeled an “A,” and noted that he was especially proud of the growth students across the district showed on state tests, which contributed to the high rating.

“It’s a tremendous day for our community, our students and our schools,” Harvey said. “It’s all because of the hard work of these students and teachers.”

The Oxford School District is one of 14 districts in the state that was rated an “A” in 2016. There are 148 school districts total in Mis-

sissippi.

Of those 14 districts, Oxford’s students outscored students across the state on the MAP. “To be one of 14 is significant in itself, but to be number one is even more significant,”Wright said.

Wright attributed the district’s success to educators’ use of data to drive instruction along with the district’s community support and breadth of extracurricular opportunities for student engagement.

Wright said she was also impressed with the culture at Oxford Schools.

“The one thing you have here is a culture of high expectations,” Wright said.

Wright has visited 16 high-performing school districts across the state recently as part of the Mississippi Department of Education’s “Celebration of Excellence” tour. emma.crawford@journalinc.com Twitter: @emcrawfordkent

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

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Mayor Patterson decides against another term

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

After 16 years of serving in the city government of Oxford, Mayor Pat Patterson has officially announced that he will not be running for re-election in 2017.

Patterson spent eight years serving on the City Board of Oxford before running for mayor, a position he will have served in for eight years by the time he steps down in 2017.

He first chose to run for mayor when former mayor Richard Howorth was getting ready to step down at the end of his second term.

Patterson was still an alderman at the time and said he thought that he had something to offer the town, so he threw his name in the hat to see if the people agreed.

“Well, I kind of think it was a natural progression,” Patterson told the Citizen when asked why he first decided to run. “I had been on the board eight years and Richard was stepping down.

I just felt like I had something to offer, and people agreed with me.”

At the beginning of Tuesday night’s City Board meeting, the mayor told everyone that while he has enjoyed and appreciated his time with the city, he feels like it is time for someone else to take the helm.

“I would say it’s time to move on,” he told the crowd. “Eight years on the board of alderman and eight years as mayor has been enough. I love this community, but I think it’s time to find someone new.”

“I’ve really debated it for a couple of months, but I think that’s enough,” the mayor told the Citizen Tuesday, commenting on how long he’s worked in city government. “I’m not a huge term limits man, but I think eight years in both places is enough, I really do. I’m not retiring, I’m going to be finding something else to do.”

Patterson is involved with different business in town

including University Sporting Goods, Three Men Moving Company as well as several real estate ventures around town. He said he doesn’t know what the future will hold or exactly what he will be doing upon leaving office, but he is looking forward to the next adventure, whatever that may be.

“This town has been good to me,” Patterson told the Citizen. “I think there’s a flight of good young people in this town who would be good for this position. I’ve been blessed. I got to be the mayor of the town I love.

This is my family. It’s my passion. I love the town, the people and the university. I have been honored and humbled to be allowed to serve.”

Be sure to pick up a copy of next Thursday’s Oxford Citizen for more on Mayor Patterson and his time with the City of Oxford. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

COURTESY

Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson decided last week not to seek another term in office.

OXFORD CITIZEN

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CHANING GREEN

The event featured a storybook station where members of the drama club read Christmasthemed storybooks to children who attended.

Cookies FROM 1

“Twelve Angry Men.” Tickets for the event cost either $6 or $12. For the $6 ticket, kids could come and meet Santa, have milk and cookies, story time, and walk away with a toy. The $12 price includes a photo and picture frame to take home.

In addition to pictures

with Santa, there was an arts and crafts table set up where kids got the opportunity to build a special picture frame to house their new picture. There was a milk and cookies table set up as well as a storybook station where kids could sit down and be read to by one of the students in drama.

For the competition, the drama department will have a total of 50 min-

utes on stage. This includes setting up and striking scenes as well performing the actual play. They have shortened the production to 35 minutes, allowing them a collective total of 15 minutes before and after the performance to deal with the set.

“I love being artistic, it’s just the kind of person I am,” André said. “I also love talking to people, and

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Parents and children also had the option of building their own picture frame to house their picture with Santa.There was a special arts and crafts table set up and members of the drama club helped children decorate the frames. viewing plays and movies.

To be able to put something on for everyone to be able to enjoy, it’s amazing. Plus, who doesn’t like costumes? That’s half the fun right there.”

Deborah Martin is entering her sixth year as the faculty advisor for the drama department. She’s taught music at the high school for nearly two decades now and is also a sixth grade gifted teacher.

She said that she has been blown away by the support of everyone. She said that though the primary goal of the night was to raise enough money for the trip, she wanted to make sure the drama club uses this opportunity to put themselves out there and become more involved in the community.

“This is our very first year trying this and it’s been great,” Martin said.

“Since we’re just now figuring out, I didn’t care if we just had 30 kids come through, this is just a great thing for us to do. We’re also trying to make ourselves more well known in the community. We want to show people that we’re here and that the theatre department has really grown.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

MudHead

2500 UNIVERSITY AVE., OXFORD - 662-380-5073 5005 CLIFF GOOKIN BLVD., TUPELO - 662-844-0308

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

2313 West Jackson Avenue Oxford, MS 662-638-3120

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

A Tree's Christmas WRITTEN BY JACQUELINE L. HARRINGTON

Matilda waited ever so patiently in the cold of the winter forest. She stood very still and very tall and waited. Jenny soon would come marching through and Matilda was certain to grab her attention this year. You see, Matilda is a Christmas tree, or at least she hoped to be. Matilda had tried for years now, with little success, to catch Jenny's eye as she and Father wandered this very forest in search of a Christmas tree. Not just any tree, but as Jenny often reminded Father as they walked among the evergreens, it had to be the perfect Christmas tree.

Matilda shook a bit of heavy snow from her branches, revealing a coat of green luster which had brought about oohs and aahs from the other trees through the long fall and into winter. She was sure to be chosen this year, what with all the maturing she'd done since last Christmas. "Jenny has to notice me, she just has to!"

Matilda repeated anxiously.

Jenny's galoshes made swishing noises as she trampled through the forest, the snow giving way to her still small boot prints.

"Hurry, Father! I have to find the perfect one! I want to show Mother what a wonderful tree I've chosen for our Christmas this year! And I know it's ever so close. I can just feel it!"

"What you're feeling my darling Jenny," Father called back,"is the bitter cold. Choose quickly my dear, choose quickly!"

"Oh, Father, I'm never really cold when I'm surrounded by all these trees.

Why, they seem to embrace me and keep me from the blustery winds."

"Really, Jenny, how you do think of the oddest things," Father kidded as he patted Jenny's hat.

Matilda listened as Jenny and Father made their way ever so closer to her. "She must chose me, she must!" Matilda reassured herself, still listening for Jenny's voice.

Silence.

"Why can't I hear them

any longer? Oh no, they've gone and passed me by and I'll never be chosen!"

Matilda began to tremble, her limbs shaking off the last flakes of the mid-December snows.

"Father! Father, I've found it! I've found the most perfect Christmas tree!"

Matilda was so startled by this sudden outburst, that she began to shake and shiver and bow with the bitter winds.

"Father, it looks as though it's alive, moving about as though it can hear the church bells ringing in the distance, even dancing, I'd dare say!"

"Oh my, Jenny! Yes, I see what you mean. She appears to be keeping rhythm with the festive music playing in the shops."

"She, Father? Why did you call her she?"

"Well, I'd say anything as lovely as this could only be a she," Father explained to Jenny as he circled round Matilda, taking in all of her features at once. "She appears to be the perfect height." Father went on, "She is most certainly the perfect size, and well, I'd say you've found the perfect tree indeed, my Jenny. I'll have Mr. Manley come this very afternoon and chop her down. Now, let us hurry home. I'm quite sure Mrs. Wentz will be waiting there with hot cocoa and fresh baked cookies just for you."

"You start home without me, Father. I want to have a moment or two alone with her."

"As you wish. I'll not be too far ahead, my dear," Father answered.

Jenny stood alone now, staring up at Matilda. "You are a most beautiful tree and I do hope you'll be happy in our parlor. It is, after all, very warm and quite cozy this time of year. I'll see you soon, Christmas tree!" Jenny called over her scarfed shoulder as she stepped one foot then the other into Father's larger shoe prints.

"There you are my darling. Let's make haste, I'm frozen!"

Matilda did not move,

she couldn't. She too, was frozen....with fear. "Did Father say chop her down?

Oh dear me!"

"There, there, Matilda.

It's going to be alright," Mother Molly reached out her aging limb and stroked Matilda.

"I thought you wanted Miss Jenny to choose you.

Don't you wish to be a Christmas tree?"

"I do, Mother Molly.

Well, I mean, I did."

"How else did you think you were to be taken from our home here in the forest to Miss Jenny's home in town?"

"I, I don't know. I never thought any farther than simply being chosen."

"I see," Mother Molly said, shaking her top branches about as though she was trying to come to a fitting answer.

"Whatever am I to do? I don't want to be chchopped down," Matilda hardly said the words before she began to weep.

"Now, now Matilda," Mother Molly whispered, "We'll think of something."

Matilda's crying softened as she settled down to think. Mother Molly knew she too, must think of something and fast. Mr. Manley was to be here soon enough to chop Matilda down.

And Mother Molly, being one of the oldest and quite possibly the wisest tree here in the forest, knew all too well that once Matilda was chopped down, she would never be able to return to her home again.

She would, in all likelihood, be split into firewood after the holiday season had passed. The minutes and hours ticked by and Matilda had, by now, cried herself into a deep sleep.

In town, Mr. Manley was drinking the last drops of his hot cocoa before heading out to the tool shed to ready his sturdy ax. Every year since Miss Jenny had learned to walk, she had been the one to chose the family's Christmas tree, and Mr. Manley had been the very one to chop it down and haul it over the hillside to Jenny's home in TURN TO TREE PAGE 10

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OXFORD CITIZEN

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town. Yet, every year it pained him to do so. Now don't misunderstand, Mr. Manley has loved and cared for the family and the grounds for many, many years. But he never had been able to make peace with himself over chopping down a tree, simply to be decorated for the season and then chopped further into firewood to heat an already cozy home.

"Just ain't right, if you was to be askin' me," Mr. Manley would mumble in a thick Irish accent.

But, no one ever asked.

Mother Molly spent the better part of the morning thinking, plotting, planning, until the thing to do seemed as far away as Spring.

Mr. Manley trekked up the hillside overlooking the shops and homes below and rested only when he had found the very tree that Miss Jenny had marked with the red silk ribbon from her hair.

"Ahhh, a beauty she is indeed," he said to no one as he sank into a nook at Matilda's base, letting his ax fall to rest at his side. It was only then that he twisted off the lid to his thermos and poured the hot cocoa inside. "I'll be restin' here a spell, takin' in the sights and sounds and smells of the season.

This tree of Miss Jenny's won't be goin' anywhere 'til I chop her down," Mr. Manley sighed at the thought of this as he took yet another sip from the thermos lid.

"Psss. Psss,"Mr. Manley stopped sipping and listened. "Psss. Over here," Mother Molly whispered.

Mr. Manley jumped to his feet, spilling the remaining drops of cocoa onto the frozen ground, which Matilda rather enjoyed, being that she had not felt even the slightest bit of warmth since the earlier October frost set in.

"Me ears must be playin' a trick. Who's there? Who said that?"

"I did. Over here," Mother Molly answered, bending as best her old trunk would allow. Mr. Manley stumbled backward at the very sight of her.

"But, trees, they don't

talk!" he exclaimed in utter disbelief. "Of course we do, Mr. Manley. I just have, my dear."

"How do you know me name?"

"Why, you've been coming into my forest for a good many years and I suppose I must have heard Father and Miss Jenny talk of you."

"And what is it you'll be wantin' of me today?" Mr. Manley asked with all the curiosity of a child. "We'll have to whisper so as not to wake Matilda."

"Who's this Matilda?"

"That is Matilda," Mother Molly declared, pointing to the tree where Mr. Manley had been resting and sipping his hot cocoa. "Miss Jenny has chosen Matilda as this year's Christmas tree, but she hadn't thought ahead to being chopped down in order to fill this rather honorable position.

"I see," Mr. Manley said, rubbing his full beard, as he often did when faced with such decisions.

Mother Molly continued, "Whatever are we to do? Matilda is frightened so, and I too, am afraid that I haven't come up with a single idea."

"I'll be bettin', if we was to put our minds to workin' on this together, we'd thrash out a plan.

Just you wait a wee little while and see." Mr. Manley again sank into the nook at Matilda's roots, taking care not to wake her. But every idea that came to him was quickly dismissed by reason. "No, no, that won't work neither," he said as he tumbled the thoughts about in his head. "If only me Matilda didn't have to be chopped down to be a Christmas tree for the family. That's it! By jolly, I've got it!" Mr. Manley shouted, causing such a commotion as to wake Matilda.

"What's going on here?" she demanded, suddenly noticing Mr. Manley. "Oh no! Mother Molly. he's here to chop me down!"

"Hush now child. Mr. Manley is a friend and he's here to help. "With Matilda quieted, Mr. Manley was able to tell them his plan. "Miss Jenny wants Matilda here to spend a few weeks with her and her family, a Christmas guest you could say. And I'll bet a

days wages that Father has enough firewood to be lastin two winters. So, I can hardly see a reason not to oblige."

"What? I thought you were here to help me!"

"Ahhh, I am, Matilda, you haven't let me finish."

"Go ahead then Mr. Manley, do tell," Mother Molly urged him.

"Tis me job to see that the tree Miss Jenny chose is brought to the family home and I mean to do just that. Listen ever so closely. I'm gonna need everyone's help if I'm to save Matilda. Here's what I'll be needin' you all to do. I'll be wantin' for every tree in the forest to think your warmest thoughts.

Go on with you now."

Mother Molly began thinking of her childhood and how much she loved growing up here. Matilda thought of summer afternoons spent in the warm sun. And other trees thought back to the sounds of children's laughter as they played in the springs and creeks nearby. Before anyone knew when or how it had happened, their warm thoughts began to melt the snow around them.

"Keep up the good works and I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail!" Mr. Manley shouted, hurrying off to Jenny's house.

"You heard the man.

Your warmest thoughts.

Matilda's counting on us!"

Mother Molly said, leading the others.

Matilda had yet another warm thought as she began to realize how much she was loved by everyone in the forest.

And now, she couldn't recall why she had wanted so dearly to be a Christmas tree.

The sound of an engine roared as Mr. Manley made his way towards the trees, Jenny's ribbon still serving as a marker. After circling around and backing the truck straight towards Matilda, Mr. Manley clambered out of his seat and into the cold crisp air. "Great! I see me plan is workin indeed."

"I still do not see how any of this is helping, Mr Manley," Mother Molly called down to him as he busied himself with one thing then another.

"Look around me fair lady. Your warm thoughts

are meltin' the snow, and what tis snow but water.

The water is softenin' the frozen ground around Matilda," Mr Manley went about explaining as he hooked one end of a rather large chain to the truck's hitch and then gently wrapped the remaining links around Matilda's trunk. Matilda remained quite still and kept up her warm thoughts.

"I'll be goin' as slow as I can. Matilda, I need you to relax. You'll be free sooner than you can say Christmas Tree."

"Ahh, now I see," Mother Molly smiled as the plan took shape.

With the chain safely secured, Mr. Manley patted Matilda before climbing back inside the warm truck. "Now you just relax Matilda, this won't hurt you a bit." The engine revved and the truck lunged forward, pulling Matilda free of the once frozen ground, roots and all. Matilda fell rather clumsily into the back of the pick-up truck and could feel the cold crisp air of winter blowing all about her roots for the first time. A shiver went up her trunk. "Brrrr, is it cold!" she exclaimed, more than a little bewildered by her present circumstance.

"Oh Matilda! You're free!

And without a single mark on your lovely trunk!"

Mother Molly could not have been happier.

"All we have to do now is get you to Miss Jenny's before you go and freeze," Mr. Manley waved goodbye to the forest of trees, "I'll have her back in a few weeks. Don't you worry none now."

Everyone watched as the truck and Matilda disappeared over the hill.

Matilda bumped and bustled about as the lights of nearby shops flickered past. "Not far now," Mr. Manley called out into the late afternoon.

"We've made it,." Mr. Manley reassured Matilda, and then, suspecting Father would require an explanation, excused himself and quickly made his way to the back door and further on into the parlor where the family sat nestled around the fireplace.

"Oh! Mr. Manley, did you get it? Did you get the

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

lovely tree I chose?" Jenny asked, leaping to her stocking bare feet.

"I did indeed, Miss Jenny. She's right outside in the bed of me old pickup."

"May I go and see her Mother? May I?" "You may, my darling.

Put your coat and gloves on," Mother reminded as the young girl vanished.

Jenny, in her excitement, had hardly the time to put her coat on proper before she had reached the outer door. Once outside, she made her way ever so thoughtfully around the truck, admiring the perfect tree.

"You're even more beautiful than I remember. I can hardly wait for Mr. Manley to bring you inside. The parlor is so very warm and festive this time of year. I just know you're going to make the perfect Christmas tree!"

"Ma'am. Sir," Mr. Manley began, wringing his hat with his calloused hands as he spoke. "I'll be wantin' to talk with you about the tree."

"Do, go on then," Father urged."I had it figured that this year I'd try somethin' a wee bit different. Perhaps show a kindness to the forest. I took it upon meself to pull up Miss Jenny's tree, roots and the lot, rather than choppin' her down. Seems to me we've got plenty of firewood to keep you folks warmed through two seasons. I figured it a waste to split her for wood. I'd hoped, if you'll both be agreein', to plant her back in her proper home once Christmas is over and done with. That way, the young tree will be able to grow and mature among her kind. In the forest, that tis."

Father puffed on his pipe as Mother started yet another spool of yarn on her crochet hooks, "I think it's a splendid idea for certain Mr. Manley.

What do you think, Mother?'' he asked as he set the pipe to rest between his teeth once more.

"I think it's lovely, just lovely of you to think of such things at all Mr. Manley," Mother answered in a soft voice.

"Then it be settled. Now, where is it you'll be wantin' her set up this year, ma'am?"

Outside, Jenny too, took notice of the roots of the tree hanging ever so slightly about the truck bed. "I do wonder why Mr. Manley chose to do such a thing," she wondered aloud as she traced Matilda's roots with her mittened fingers.

Matilda soon stood tall in her place of honor just off the parlor entry. The fire warming her as she had never felt before.

Mother and Jenny trapesed about, placing first one ornament then another. A string of lights was draped with care.

Candy canes of every color soon hung from nearly every limb, and tiny glass balls with ribbon bows lined her branches from tree top to trunk bottom. A hand knitted skirt wrapped snugly around Matilda's roots. A train that whistled a Christmas tune, made its way over tracks which circled the young tree. Father would be the one to set the lighted angel in her place of distinction, as he had done every year that Mother could recall.

"Jenny my darling, I must say," Mother exclaimed, standing aside and admiring their work.

"This is, by far, the loveliest Christmas tree yet!

And to think, when the holiday is through, you'll be able to visit with her whenever your heart desires."

"Whatever do you mean, Mother?" Jenny asked with growing curiosity.

"Why, didn't Mr. Manley tell you the news? He plans to replant your tree, so she can grow up in the forest where she belongs.

Father and I think it's what's best for her. After all, trees need a Christmas too, and what better gift to give her than to return her to her family?"

Jenny couldn't help smiling as she curled up on the rug beside Matilda and fell fast asleep, dreaming of Christmas morning with her perfect tree and all the wonderful things yet to come.

Matilda, too, drifted off to sleep, thankful to be chosen as this year's tree.And thankful still that she, like Jenny, would have many, many more Christmases to come.

The End

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

PAGE 11

LHS student council spreads Christmas cheer

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

The Lafayette County High School Student Council did more than just learn about giving back this holiday season. Under the supervision of faculty advisor Gail Caldwell, the student council was able to raise a $1,000 to benefit fellow students this holiday season.

Students raised money by selling paper ornaments to hang on Christmas tree posters placed on the doors of teachers. Each ornament cost $0.25 or $1 for five. Students can vote for their favorite teacher by buying ornaments, and, at the end of the fundraiser, the three teachers with the most ornaments stuck on their tree get a small prize. With ornament sales and some donations from teachers wanting to get involved, the student council raised nearly $1,000.

Student council members were given the grades, sizes, needs and interests of 13 of their fellow students. Counselors and the school nurse, who Caldwell said best knows the needs of individual students and families, chose these students. With their parents’ consent, were put on the list to receive gifts.

LHS STUDENT COUNCIL

The Lafayette County High School Student Council held a fundraiser to benefit fellow students in need. They raised nearly $1,000 to spend on a shopping spree on gifts for 13 students in the district who needed a little help this holiday season.

Caldwell said there were about five other students who people volunteered to shop for kids as well, separate from the student council. Last Thursday, Caldwell took student council members to Walmart. With the guidance of the cards, the kids were able to pick out items for the student they were assigned. They got back to school, wrapped the gifts and got them ready for pick

up.

In the nearly seven years that Caldwell has overseen this fundraiser through the student council, this is the most money they have ever raised and the most students they have been able to help. In addition to the money the student council brought in, a few local citizens pitched in to help.

One person bought several pairs of

$0 $0 $0 $0

shoes to contribute to the cause, while others volunteered to shop for some of the students. There was a little money left over from the initial $1,000 and that went toward buying groceries for the families.

These food donations were combined with a food drive held by the FFA and the families were given several” food items to help out with this year’s Christmas dinner.

“This is the most we’ve ever done,” Caldwell said. “When we started out, we had maybe six or seven families. This year, it just worked out. There were all these kids and so many of them needed blue jeans and so many of them needed jackets. We went to JCPenny for the jeans and jackets and they worked with us really well.

We let the kids shop for some of the more fun stuff.”

Caldwell said that her student council members look forward to this fundraiser and field trip ever year.

“For my student council kids, this is probably their favorite thing we do,” she said. “They love getting out and shopping for others. For me, it’s just being able to help those families that really have a need.

Our counselors have checked them out, and we know there is a great need out there. Some of these kids, we seem them every day and we know there’s a need there. We want everybody to have the kind of Christmas we’re able to provide for our own kids. We just want to share the joy.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 13

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 14

Eileen Saunders Nicole Cain Wright Danny Flowers Polina Wheeler Kaye Ladd 662.816.7294 - Oxford 662.617.5744 - Oxford Managing Broker, Oxford 662.404.0816 - Oxford 662.401.4632 - Oxford

Will Troxler 662.231.6362 - Tupelo

Jessica Dozier 662.231.5320 - Tupelo

James R. Hunter, Sr. Deborah Tierce 662.790.5331 - Tupelo 662.871.8658 - Tupelo

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Stan Abel 662.816.9363 - Oxford

Blake Thompson 662.801.7014 - Oxford

Jennifer Harrelson 662.871.3574 - Tupelo

Amanda Miller 662.213.2764 - Tupelo

Mark Prince 662.871.1971 - Tupelo

Jessica Harris Associate Broker

Chris Hill 662.871.8590 - Tupelo

Kevin Knight 662.401.2913 - Tupelo

Technology Director

Wade Magill

Janet Suggs 662.346.3489 - Tupelo

Sheli McClellan 662.266.2212 - Tupelo

Brenda Spencer 662.231.8909 - Tupelo

Brad Franks 662.871.7344 - Tupelo

Megan Robinson 662.322.7132 - Tupelo

Todd Jordan 662.231.9181 - Tupelo

Debbie Russell

Monte Smith 662.871.2833 - Tupelo

Merisa Baker 662.488.5720 Tupelo

Tina O’Quinn 662.791.4456 - Tupelo

Sadie Smith 662.678.3033 Tupelo

Mary Ann Elmore Accounting

Leslie Card Administrative Assistant

Dennis Cox 662.419.2175 - Tupelo

Jennifer Brown Annette Newborn Judy Simpson Office Manager/Relocation 662.509.2704 - Tupelo 662.871.9123 - Tupelo

Chanda Cossitt 662.871.7222 - Tupelo

Michelle McAuley 662.401.0015 - Tupelo

Sue Golmon 662.346.1388 - Tupelo

Brandon Speck 662.401.8046 - Tupelo

Property Manager

Director

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

PAGE 15

Caroline Felker Weesie Biedenharn Paula Crum 662.801.0878 - Oxford 662.638.5332 - Oxford 662.701.7789 - Oxford

Sanders Edmonson Shaun Hudson 662.889.8046 - Oxford 901.870.4626 - Oxford

Vic Sullivan 662.228.6025 - Oxford

Betty Wiseman 662.234.4573 - Oxford

Kim Wood 662.316.3812- Tupelo

Linda Swinney 662.401.1196 - Tupelo

Listing Director

Lisa Grant

Angela Mohr 662.213.9007 - Tupelo

Casee Becker 662.871.9056 - Tupelo

Martin Mesecke 662.715.1111 - Tupelo

Ron Smith 662.205.6221 - Tupelo

DeDe Lewis 662.681.6997 - Tupelo

Melissa Knotts 662.825.0416 - Tupelo

Brandon Allred 662.401.1217- Tupelo

Keith Henley 662.213.5599 - Tupelo

Jan Phillips 662.231.6558 - Tupelo

Anita Nunnelee 662.488.1755 - Tupelo

Whitney George 662.567.2573 Tupelo

Susan Griffin 662.542.6315 - Tupelo

Hunter Richardson 662.397.5717 - Tupelo

Meredith Martin 662.401.0811 - Tupelo

Sean Hettinger 330.603.5405 - Tupelo

Kayla Tabler 662.687.2551 - Tupelo

Jenny Decker 662.871.7653 - Tupelo

April Haynes 662.706.3248 - Tupelo

Tommy Morgan

Tiffany Franks 662.871-7366 - Tupelo

Gail Wilemon

Cathy Ward

Blake Trehern 662.687.4455 - Tupelo

Jaz Buchanan 662.523.5840 - Tupelo

Amanda May 662.213.6268 - Tupelo

Elliot Long 662.551.6151 - Tupelo

Administrative Assistant

Broker/Owner

Wendy Parker

Closing Coordinator

Receptionist

Frances Dempsey Carol Horne 662.321.2204 - Tupelo 662.422.9337 - Tupelo

PAGE 16

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

PAGE 17

John Davis Sports Editor

OPC is headed in an exciting new direction

O

xford's Park Commission is headed in a new and exciting direction. In a lot of ways, 2017 will be the start of an adventure that will help shape the way we all look at the OPC. The moments that are created in the future should have a lasting impact, and remembered by many for years to come.

Seth Gaines, the Executive Director of the Oxford Park Commission, has done his best to infuse his experience gained in Tupelo into the way things have worked here.

There are a number of projects on the horizon for the OPC, and in order for those things to be promoted and understood the right way, the message has to be precise and uniform. And with technology the way it is now, the message has be frequent.

A new way of promoting the numerous attributes of the OPC is set to take place.

And I will be along for the ride. Through the newly created position of Community Relations Director, the OPC will be able to better serve Oxford/Lafayette county residents and those that use its services.

The new position will incorporate interaction with via social media, print media, website management, and other methods of media.

“This is a new position for the OPC, and one that we are proud to put in place. The implementation of a Community Relations Director shows that we are anxious to grow the programs offered by the Oxford Park Commission for the citizens of Oxford/Lafayette county,” Gaines said.

“John Davis brings a wealth of knowledge of the community and about the services offered by the Oxford Park Commission.

John has spent over 20 years in this community and the public can look to him to promote and market our sports and activities.”

For me, it's an honor to be chosen by Gaines, and the board, for this new position. It's one that should only benefit. In order to stay on top of programs and sports the OPC offers, data and feedback are very vital.

Improved communication will be a key to that. The OPC has a bright future, and the community needs to take an active part in the success. This is something we should all have an impact on, and it's up to all of us to take the OPC to an even greater level.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

JOEY BRENT

This year's All-Citizen football team features players from both Lafayette and Oxford that also proved to be some of the state's best.

All-Citizen Football LHS-OHS had plenty of talent in 2016

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Some of the state's best high school players in 2016 resided at Lafayette and Oxford. The Commodores won the MHSAA Class 4A state championship with a 13-2 record. Following a 0-2 start, LHS couldn't be beat the rest of the season.

Oxford won eight games under the direction of Chris Cutcliffe in his first season, and advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs. Both teams had players selected to play in the annual Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic as well as the Bernard Blackwell All-Star game. Lafayette and Oxford also had almost two handful of players on the Mississippi Association of Coaches AllState teams.

This year's All-Citizen football teams consists of the best players the Commodores and Chargers each had to offer.

Lafayette was represented by seniors Tyler Williams (wide receiver/cornerback), Dillon Woods (linebacker/wide receiver), Tay Tay Owens (safety/wide receiver), Xavier Martin (free safety), Will Ard (quarterback), Kyler Campbell (linebacker), Amani Johnson (defensive end), Doug Tanner (nose guard), Cory Williams (defensive end), Hunter Chance (offensive line), Ke'untae Booker (offensive line), Matt Toles (offensive line) and Luke Gossett (center). Juniors included Jamarcus Quarles (running back), William Woodall (defensive tackle), Robbie Langley (kicker) and BJ Curry (linebacker) and

sophomores Drew Dabney (punter) and Brandon Turnage (cornerback/wide receiver).

"It's an amazing group of talented young men. I think what I'm most excited about when I look back at that group is, and not that they were a talented group of players because they are, but our overall character of our team and the backbone of our program is in that group," Fair said. "It's just exciting to me to see good, young men get rewarded like that."

Even three weeks after the season ended, Fair wished that the team could still be on the field because of how well they got along.

"We were really playing well together and you could just see the guys depending on each other out there in the games," Fair said. "They had tremendous attitudes and we really peaked at the right time once we hit the playoffs. It was fun to watch. I would love to keep playing for that reason, but also I would like to keep playing because our locker room was so tight. It's just an amazing family atmosphere down there. They got along so well with our coaches and our coaches got along well with our players. It was really a family, and you to hate see that come to an end."

Curry ended up leading the Commodores in tackles with 158, with 18 of those going for a loss. It was his first year to be a starter, and Curry appreciated all the help he got along the way from the likes of Woods and Williams.

“They were an inspiration, to go out

there and play with them. It all fell into place, like a well oiled machine,” Curry said, who was one of just three starters on defense not a senior. “I couldn't mess up getting the reads because they had been there before. I had to step in and help out so that we could win the games.”

Curry, Woodall and Turnage returning to the Commodores in 2017 allow for an easier rebuild for defensive coordinator Ben Ashley.

“I think me being back at linebacker next year, I will be able to help the younger guys coming in just like William and Brandon will do Ard finished the season with 1,915 yards and 19 touchdowns. He completed 63 percent of his pass attempts and only had four interceptions.

Quarles led Lafayette in rushing with 2,140 yards and 19 touchdowns. He had 10 games in which he ran for 100 or more yards. Tyler Williams led Lafayette in receptions with 38 for 795 yards and nine touchdowns. Woods had 20 catches for 317 yards and four touchdowns, while Turnage had 23 catches for 381 yards and three scores. Turnage also tied for the team lead with seven interceptions.

Woods had 130 stops on the year. Martin finished with 91 and seven interceptions.

Cory Williams had 135 tackles, while Johnson, Tanner and Campbell had 111,110 and 109 tackles. Cory Williams led Lafayette with 11 sacks, while Woodall, Tanner, Campbell, Woods, Curry and Johnson had at least three TURN TO TALENT PAGE 13

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 18

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

JOEY BRENT

Oxford ninth grader Morgan O'Connor is all business on the soccer field. She has already broken the single-season goals scored record with all of January left to add to the total.

Steady Leader Oxford's O'Connor lives for soccer, tough moments

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

There isn't a whole lot of talk to go along with Morgan O'Connor's game on the soccer field. The Oxford High standout, who has already set the single-season goals scored mark, lets her fantastic ability do the talking for her.

O'Connor may still be a ninth grader, but after a full year playing on the varsity level, she feels a little different on the pitch.

“I might have more of a voice. I didn't talk very much last year,” said O'Connor, who has 31 goals to her credit already this year.

In order to score the amount of goals that she has this year, and last, O'Connor credited her teammates.

“There are a lot of crosses coming in to me.

It's not just me scoring,” she said adding that the goals scored record was never something she worried about.

This season, the thing that drives O'Connor the most, is her mother, and all of the tragedies from this year. O'Connor's mother is battling brain cancer, and she was set to start a new treatment to help eradicate the disease.

It would seem to others that O'Connor could be distracted, but soccer serves as a guiding light in many ways.

“She would want me play hard, and that's what I'm going to do,” she said adding that her mother was diagnosed the day before school started in August. “She's been to two of our home games. I like her

being there even if she can't always be there. I just play for her. She's always with me.”

The Lady Chargers are off to a fantastic start, the best in school history, at 9-0. Matches with West Lauderdale and Madison Central were cancelled this past weekend due to weather, and those were going to be used as measuring sticks as to how good the team really is heading into the second half of the season. Still, the Lady Chargers are ranked No. 9 in the nation in the latest Maxpreps.com poll.

Oxford has won five of its last six matches via shutouts, while the team is averaging just over 6 goals per contest. O'Connor said the team was “pretty special” and that she liked playing with older kids.

“It's a lot easier. (A second straight title) is our goal. We have to work for it, we just can't take it for granted,” O'Connor said adding that teams are really playing the Lady Chargers hard this season after they won the 5A title last February. “This team is fun. It's a little different than last year. Our center midfielders were very vocal so it got a little quieter and more of us had to start talking. We have a good center back and one of us had to step up.”

O'Connor felt like Addison Mills had stepped up on defense and helped solidify the back line.

“She's very good in playing the right ball and knowing when to play it,” O'Connor said.

The thing that Oxford coach Hunter Crane likes about O'Connor is her

ability to deal with pressure as well, or better, than she deals with opposing defenses.

“What's interesting about Morgan is she plays tough and full speed. It doesn't matter who we are playing, she's like that the entire time,” Crane said.

“If the pressure is on her, then she lives for that moment. I've looked at her at halftime, last year at Germantown, and then again in the state championship game against West Harrison and I told her that I needed a goal from her.

And I needed it right now.

Obviously she was able to deliver in both of those games. I think she has that competitive fire about her that just makes her want the pressure to be on her.

She's really good at handling that and that's interesting to see from a ninth

grader.”

Even in practice, on days where the team is taking it more easy than not, O'Connor is all business, Crane said.

“She will actually look over at me and say 'We're kind of goofing off a little bit,'” Crane said. “I tell her 'I know, we're supposed to have a little fun today.'

She is just all business all the time. She will send me e-mails saying we have to go shoot on a Sunday afternoon when everyone else is at home with their families. She is always looking to get better and that's one of the special things about her.”

Oxford's next game is on the road against division foe Saltillo on Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 19

Mr. Hustler

Bianco has channeled his competitive drive through OHS hoops

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

When you grow up with three other brothers, playing basketball in the driveway is just a part of what you do. Sports has been a big part of Drew Bianco's upbringing, and even though baseball is the sport that will help fund his education, basketball is near, and dear, to his heart. For the record, Bianco is a hustler on the hardwood. He is always flying around, diving after loose balls, and going up for rebounds against players taller than he is. In the game against Lafayette last week, Bianco went over the Commodores on the bench and into the wall at the base of the stands. He entered the week averaging eight rebounds per contest, and just over six points per game.

“I'm not the top scorer by any means or not even close to it but my dad and my mom raised me to play hard in anything you do,” Bianco said. “They don't care how successful as long as you play hard. I know I'm not the best basketball player, but I use my athletic ability to be the best player I can be out there boxing out people or going for the loose ball, that's how I try to play. I'm out to help the team win.”

Basketball isn't new to Bianco, even though he hasn't played in two seasons as he concentrated on baseball and football.

He started playing basketball at a young age and ended up participating in Upward basketball as well as playing for years in the Oxford Park Commission and then with O Hoops with former Oxford assistant Grant Goolsby. He was injured in football during his sophomore season, and before that injury, Bianco had in his head to play all three sports.

“You only go through high school one time. I'll never get to play these sports again, so I decided to go out with as many sports as you can and have fun,” Bianco said. “When I

BILL BARKSDALE

Oxford junior Drew Bianco does all the little things for the Chargers on the court. He was averaging almost 10 rebounds per game despite being under 6 feet tall. got hurt from football, I knew that I was definitely playing basketball. It hurt watching them in football this year. I wanted to be out there and help them win.”

Returning to basketball has been very enjoyable for the junior, who played with the Chargers all the way through middle school. Back then, Bianco could shoot the ball a little bit, and he was one of the main scorers for the Chargers.

“I could shoot it a little bit but then I quit to focus on baseball and so I was out two years without playing and you kind of lose a little bit of it,” Bianco said. “Like in baseball, if you're not hitting everyday, you lose your swing. If you're not shooting everyday, you loose stuff like that. Coach (Tyler) Reed and Coach (Drew) Tyler both worked with me this summer on my shot and driving to the hole and going hard and trying to get to the foul

line. I think every week, I'm getting better and better with that.”

Tyler said as the games have come and gone on the schedule, Bianco has gotten better and better at his role, but also realized that he has the ability to score, too.

“He can hit the scoring column on the stat book.

We know what he brings to the court, but at the same time, he's kind of smoothing out his rough edges,” Tyler said. “Before we know it, we've got a Drew Bianco baseball-basketball player. The thing about it is when he joined us this past summer, it was like he had never left since his ninth grade basketball year as far as his camaraderie with the team.

Drew would have played three sports if he could have physically. With his shoulder injury in football, it really allowed him to channel his competitiveness really towards two sports. It actually simplified where he can put his

focus but it multiplied his energy and competitiveness that you get from a Bianco.”

The goal for Bianco is to help the Chargers win a ring in both basketball, and baseball, in 2017. He has already helped the baseball team win two titles. The basketball team is a close-knit family like the baseball team has been, and Bianco compared Joiner and Williams to the great leaders of last year's baseball team in Grae Kessinger and Jason Barber.

“I think we have a good shot. We have two of the top scorers in basketball in the state and the way we're playing right now, I don't think anybody can beat us,” Bianco said.

“Jarkel and Terry are our leaders. They've gone to Jackson and they know how it feels to be put out.

They've helped us out a lot. I think that's one thing I do bring. I know how to win and I like to call myself a winner, so I bring that to

team. Baseball the last two years was one of the best times of my life. You just get so close to everybody with the bus rides. It's not just winning the games, it's hanging out with the guys. It's the same with basketball. Every practice is fun. It's a different group of guys, no doubt about it, but I get to hang out more with Hiram and Jarkel, guys I don't normally get to hang out with.”

Bianco felt at the start of the season, there were people outside of the area that were “sleeping” on what the Chargers could accomplish.

“I don't think they realized how good Terry and Jarkel would be together.

They were pretty much our only guys returning but after the first seven games, we know we can score and we've played some pretty good defense,” Bianco said. “I think we can make it pretty far. We'll see once we start playing some people in division.”

The Bianco family is very supportive of their son. Mike Bianco actually has a chance to attend all his home games compared to baseball, which conflicts with his Ole Miss baseball schedule.

“He doesn't get to come to a lot of our baseball games and when he does, he doesn't show a lot of emotion. Basketball, he becomes more of a dad.

He enjoys it. He's yelling and cheering and in baseball, he's more of the coaching type, just sitting back and watching,” said Drew Bianco, who grew up rooting for the Rebels and players like Jarvis Summers and Marshall Henderson. “I remember my dad taking us to the games at the Tad Pad and we would run around the stadium. We thought it was the coolest thing to see people dunking. I liked how Jarvis was the man but he didn't act like it.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 20

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Leading the Way Buford keys things on the court for Lafayette's Lady Commodores

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

It still hasn't hit Shaniyah Buford that she is a senior. The Lafayette combo guard has been playing for the Lady Commodores for years now.

She's had two head coaches during her career and she has been a leader to many.

The Lady Commodores have played well as a team so far this season, and Buford likes how everyone has come together and gotten better and better.

“That's all you can really expect is to get better and better each day,” Buford said. “I'm in the gym more than I usually am, working with my dad on my shot.

That and working on defense because that's what is going to get us to a championship.”

This year's team is much more experienced compared to last season, and last year's team advanced to play at Jackson State in the MHSAA Class 4A state tournament.

“I think we take things more seriously now an I think everyone understands of the importance of everyone playing their role on the team,” said Buford, who leads the team with 16.9 points per game.

“It's my job to keep everyone going and make sure that we're playing as a team.”

Extra work is nothing new for Buford, who has been going to the gym at a

Talent FROM 17

each.

Oxford is represented by seniors DQ Thomas (linebacker), Devin Rockette (cornerback), Nick Sisk (defensive tackle), Colton Skidmore (center), Giles Lamar (long snapper) and juniors Hiram Wadlington (running back) and Quentin Wilfawn (linebacker).

Chris Cutcliffe said every team always has certain guys on the field that the scheme is based around

church in Abbeville with her father following practice at school to get her shot better. She's been doing that since the summer and her shot has improved.

“You can see the change in my shot the last couple of games. You can see that on the defensive end as well,” Buford said adding that her father has helped keep her elbow tucked in.

“Coach (Shayne) Linzy told me about it and he started working on it with me but my dad really got on me hard. I listen to both of them.”

For the record, Buford is a soft-spoken leader now, but she is aware that when she gets to college, she's going to have to be more vocal. As for college, Buford is still deciding on where she wants to go, and that final decision will come after the season is over.

“I'm going to leave my options open. Delta State, Northwest, East Mississippi, Northeast, Mississippi Gulf Coast, are the schools that have been looking at me,” Buford said. “Whatever God allows, I'm just being patient.”

Defense and communication are the two things that the Lady Commodores have to do well in order for them to come back from Jackson with a state championship.

“Coach is real big on communication, and talking on defense,” she

The thing that Linzy likes about Buford's game the most are the assists she is getting this year compared to last.

“I think they have almost doubled and she is really being a positive example of how you play team ball,” Linzy said about Buford, who is averaging 4.6 assists per contest. “I think the other girls are seeing that and there are still times where they're not expecting her to pass it and she's making that pass. It's showing that she is more interested in winning than anything else.”

As for her shot improving, Linzy recalled her father coming in one Sunday and that Buford's stroke was analyzed for about two hours.

“I told him what I was seeing and he told me what he thought he was seeing and we kind of combined that and told Shaniyah what we were all seeing,” Linzy said. “The shooting has gotten better.

She was missing shots that she normally makes, which was a little bit disturbing at first. These drills kind of got her confidence back. And not that I think she lacked for confidence, but she needed to make those shots that she norBILL BARKSDALE Lafayette guard Shaniyah Buford is the top scorer for a team that started the season with nine mally made. She had been missing those in games straight wins. and she needed to get back “I just think about that into a rhythm of hitting added. “Our coach has are winding up play before given us the tools, we just Division 2-4A play begins. game against Ripley a cou- shots she normally hits.” have to use them and exe- Buford said she enjoys ple of years ago here. That playing against Byhalia game has never left my cute.” john.davis@journalinc.com mind,” Buford said.

The Lady Commodores and Ripley the most.

Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

and these were the players that he relied on.

“You certainly hope that your best players are your best leaders and can make the players around them better,” Cutcliffe said. “Our core group of guys did a great job of that throughout the year.”

Wilfawn could make a return to the 2017 All-Citizen team, and Cutcliffe acknowledge him being a big part of the future.

“Whether he can match his season of last year or not I don't know but I know he will be back as an out-

standing leader,” Cutcliffe said. “He is already working hard and working extra all the time, doing everything he can to be in that position. You certainly rely on guys like that, with that kind of experience, to come back and play great. There is that saying that on good teams, coaches are the leaders. On great teams, the players are the ones leading. We are certainly hoping that guys own that role and we're going to try and support in that and give them every opportunity to do so.”

Wilfawn knows he has to

step up and be a leader with so many talented seniors now departed.

“These seniors set an example and everyone who keeps coming up, we have to keep filling those shoes,” Wilfawn said. “These seniors could change the game at any play. DQ had some pick 6s, Devin had some pick 6s, they just changed the game. Coming up, we have to do the same thing and lead by example.”

Wilfawn said he wasn't happy with himself unless he had at least 10 tackles a game, and that he didn't

play as well as he could if he didn't have that number.

“I pushed myself to be the best I could be. It was a great season and I see some things I can work on for next year,” Wilfawn said. “I know what kind of player I can be and that makes the standards for myself even higher. I'm going to keep working to meet those standards.”

Wadlington led Oxford's rushing attack with 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He also caught 31 passes for 234 yards. Thomas had 115 tackles, which was sec-

ond to Wilfawn, who totaled 171 stops. Thomas also had five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three caused fumbles and 11 pass breakups. Wilfawn caused seven fumbles and had two interceptions, as well as two blocked field goals. Sisk made 62 tackles, and tied for the team lead in sacks with three. Rockette had 45 tackles, two interceptions and 16 pass breakups. He also blocked a field goal.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

PAGE 21

Tennis has gone well at Merdian for Lafayette's Hollis

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

With another fall season now under his belt, Nathan Hollis was looking forward to the spring tennis season at Meridian Community College. The former Lafayette High standout was hoping to playing both doubles and singles for the Eagles, who were ranked No. 11 in the nation this past fall.

“I feel like I'm 100 percent a better tennis player. Coach (Wanda) McPhail has improved my game 100 percent, in every aspect,” Hollis said. “I think it's everything, overall. She does a great job of keeping us in shape and working on your fundamentals.

She also gives you a lot of confidence. She just doesn't work on one aspect of your game, she works on all of it together.”

Meridian had “five or six” matches this fall and Hollis played in all of those, in some form or fashion. The spring season begins Jan. 30 and it goes all the way through April.

Meridian has won four MACJC state championships in the last 12 years, and nine Region XXIII championships. Hollis talked about last spring being so successful with state and region titles being won.

Hollis was reunited in Meridian this year with former Oxford High standouts Will Swindoll and Callan Shinall.

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“It was cool to connect back to Oxford and see some guys that I haven't seen in a while,” he said. “I played with them when I was younger in some of the team tennis that we did. After that we didn't really play much together. It was cool to meet back up and see how much they had improved and catch up.”

Over the summer is where Hollis worked on improving his game, and gaining confidence to get to the spot he wants to be in.

“We still have a lot of really good players and a solid team and we'll see if it all pays off in the spring,” Hollis said who was planning to train over the Christmas break. “I want to get into the spot that I want and play as well as I plan on doing.”

The classes that Hollis took weren't easy, but he said the instructors were helpful because they understand the demands placed on the athletes.

“They really try to help because they want us to do well. I was able to pull out a really good gpa this fall and both spring and fall last year I have been able to pull out really good gpa's,” Hollis said. “All I can say is that it's been an extremely positive experience and it was a great opportunity to get it, and I'm glad I took it.”

COURTESY OF NATHAN HOLLIS

Former Lafayette High tennis standout is playing well for coach Wanda McPhail at Meridian Community College.

john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

SUCCESSFUL MISSISSIPPI DEER HUNTS

COURTESY ROSS BJORK

Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork recently harvested a 14-point buck that scored 186. He COURTESY OF ADAM QUICK Oxford resident Adam Quick harvested a 10-point buck in Tallahatchie County recently. shot the deer using a 30.06 rifle.

Citizen

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 23

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OXFORD CITIZEN

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