Oakland News 6/11/26
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June 13, marks the last day for Mississippians w/ losses from Winter Storm Fern to receive in-person
assistance applying for disaster recovery resources. MEMA/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are operating through June 13 to assist people with applying. According to information I received from Mississippi Main St. FEMA’s deadline is June 10; SBA’s physical deadline is also June 10, but we have a 60-day grace period. You can go to any center, but here are three near Yalobusha County: Lafayette County Multipurpose Arena in Oxford, Batesville Enterprise Center, and Tallahatchie Co. Safe Room in Charleston. All are open daily Monday-Friday and until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. FEMA’s Customer service line is 800-621-3362. SBA’s Customer Service is 800-659-2955.
Finally! News out of Jackson that George P. Cossar State Park in Oakland and Wall Doxey State Park in Holly Springs are reopening! Reservations are now open for both parks. For Cossar, these are for stays beginning on June 11. These were the last two parks still closed following Ice Storm Fern. Guests will once again be able to enjoy camping, lodging, and day-use facilities. Jones Creek Campground (sites 48-92) will remain closed at this time. They will also participate in Fourth of July weekend festivities as Mississippi State Parks celebrates America’s 250th birthday.
Parents interested in enrolling their children in a new Montessori Pre-School and individuals interested in teaching opportunities are invited to attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, July 7, at 6:00 p.m. at the Oakland Chamber Building, 304 Holly Street, Oakland. The meeting will introduce plans for the proposed Oakland Montessori Pre-School, which will serve three- and four-year-old children and help address a longstanding need for early childhood education opportunities in the Oakland area. Leading the discussion will be Brooke Fly Spears, a highly respected Montessori educator and trainer with more than 15 years of classroom experience.
Oakland will celebrate America’s250 with a July 3rd Happy Birthday America Party at the James Riley Swearengen Walking Track and Park from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Patriotic music, birthday cupcakes, watermelon, as well as our rain-delayed Memorial Walk for those who died in service to our country will take place. Bring a chair and enjoy our birthday party!
The Oakland Area Lions Club inducted five new members this past week. New members include Linda Ross Aldy, Timothy Booker, Sr., Felecia Parker, Stephanie Patterson and Melvin Sayles. The club is doing some amazing work throughout the area. If you have an interest, please contact President LaTonya Richardson Sayles at [email protected]. In addition to President Sayles, officers include Cassaundra Pipkin as Secretary, Mack Parker as Treasurer, A.J. Parker and Audrenna Richardson as Tail Twister/Lion Tamer.
The Mississippi Legislature is part-time, but they have full-time work going on. I am following several of the six House Select Committees appointed by Mississippi House Speaker Jason White to study various issues and develop policy recommendations before the 2027 Legislative Session. The Select Committee on Consolidation is one of those. It is co-chaired by Rep. Rob Roberson of Starkville, Chairman of the House Education Committee, and Rep. Donnie Scoggin of Ellisville, Chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee. The committee held its first meeting this past week. Based on reports from Magnolia Tribune, Mississippi Today, and Mississippi Professional Educators, it appears the Committee is going to focus on K-12 districts with lowest rankings and the 27 districts with 1,000 or less students.
Roberson said he thought the “sweet spot” for enrollment should be at least 2,000 students. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans suggested the legislature develop a 10-year plan. There was also a good bit of discussion on the importance of effective school boards and board members.
Numbers on the Water Valley and Coffeeville School District websites indicate less than 2,000 combined.
I understand the argument for larger school districts, but losing a school in your community is slow death for that town. Oakland and many other smaller towns stand as testament. I think that should be considered as this committee continues its work. They will also be addressing community colleges and universities.
The Oakland Friends of the Library is holding a “My America” art contest as a part of Oakland’s America250 Mississippi and Mississippi Humanities grant. The contest runs June 1-September 1. Art should be no larger than poster size and there are categories for Youth-Adult with prizes in each category. The art should reflect what America feels like to you. Drop your submissions off at the Oakland Library on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.
Churches and faith-based organizations put Sat., Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on your calendars for an area wide Community Connections meeting. This is designed especially for church and lay leaders and hosted by the Oakland Area Chamber. More details to come!
Let me know if you have news to include. Contact me via email at [email protected].
The Visitor Education Center at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery is hosting Puppet Theatre Thursdays during June and July. This program is open to the public and focuses on Pre-K thorough elementary grades at 2 p.m. each Thursday. These programs feature “Toby the Turtle” who introduces youth to the creatures that live around the water with him. He will also explain about the fish that live below the water’s surface and in the aquarium.
