Cinco de Mayo HUGE Success

The Dance of the Old Men was one of the highlights of the evening.

May 5 is celebrated across the country as Cinco de Mayo. Brownsville added a twist to the celebration with its first Cinco de Mayo Heritage Celebration Thursday, May 5. Not only did we celebrate our Hispanic friends, but all of our heritages. The southside of the court square was blocked and crowds were estimated at 500-800 attendees who came out to enjoy the music and food. 

Winning artwork was displayed at the event.

Local school children were invited to participate in an art contest and over 100 entries were received. Winners were chosen in each school and ribbons were given out at the event. The winners are:

Anderson Early Childhood Center

1st - Ava Zelinski, age 6

2nd - Latia Hines, age 6

3rd  (tie) - Annie Thornton, age 6

3rd (tie) - Molly Nichols, age 6

Haywood Elementary School

1st - Elizabeth Kirby, 2^nd grade

2nd - Shantia Blakely, 2^nd grade

3rd - Vanessa Sadaval, 1^st grade

Sunny Hill School

1st - Eli Scifres, 6^th grade

2nd - Madie Taylor, 6^th grade

3rd - Victoria Shetler, 5^th grade

Haywood High School

1st - Anania Snipes, age 18

2nd (tie) - Josh Johnson, age 16

2nd (tie) - Derrick Wilson, age 16

3rd - Derick Cunningham, age 18

Hannah Company performs for the crowds.

Attendance was estimated at 500 - 800 people throughout the night. The event was from 6-9 p.m.

Jupiter Stone was the evenings headliner.

Clifton Smith and the Diverse Five also performed for the crowds. Smith is this year's Haywood's Got Talent winner.

Plans are already underway for next year's event. Special thanks to all the sponsors, the Brownsville Business Association and especially Vicky Cooper who worked hard to pull it all together.

JCIL Fishing Rodeo and Free Fishing Day June 11

The Jackson Center for Independent Living will sponsor its annual Fishing Rodeo June 11 at Oneal Lake on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. This is held each year in conjunction with Tennessee’s Free Fishing Day; a day when residents and non-residents regardless of age can fish without a license in Tennessee’s public waters.

The event begins at 8 a.m. until noon, and will include fishing, kid’s crafts and lunch. Prizes and awards will be presented. Bring your own fishing poles, rod and reel, etc. or one will be provided for you. Bait will also be provided. You do not have to be disabled to participate in this fishing rodeo. Everyone is invited.

This is the seventh year for the event, according to Beth James, executive director of the Jackson program. “Each year approximately 30-40 children have participated,” says James. “This year we’d like to see this number increase while also helping to make the community more aware of the services we provide.”

JCIL was established in 1996 and is part of a world wide network of non-profit organizations operated by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. JCIL serves an eight county region including Haywood County.

For more information about the event, contact Beth James at 731-668-2211. You can also learn more about JCIL by visiting its website: www.i-cil.com.

Levy sworn in as Chancery Court Clerk & Master

Sarah Levy is sworn in as Chancery Court Clerk & Master by chancellor George Ellis. Levy's husband, David, holds the  Bible during the ceremony.

Sarah Levy was sworn in as Chancery Court Clerk and Master of Haywood County Sunday, May 1, 2011. Levy will replace retiring Clerk Judy Hardister. Chancellor George Ellis conducted the ceremony that also included swearing in the Deputy Clerk, Rochelle Futrell. The ceremony took place at the newly opened Justice Center on Dupree. Bonnie Gordon, also a Deputy Clerk, was sworn in on Monday.

Levy has been a resident of Haywood County since 1994. She is married to David Levy and they have a son, Jacob. The Levy's own Willow Oaks Flower Farm in Brownsville. Levy holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. She was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1990 and the Tennessee Bar in 1994. She has served as Asst. Attorney General in Arkansas and Asst. District Attorney in Tennessee.

Haywood High School Class of 2011 Graduation Programs

Haywood High School

Class of 2011

Awards Program

Friday, May 20, 2011

7:00 p.m.

“Doc” Crowder Chapman Memorial Gymnasium

Graduates and Parents Coffee

Saturday, May 21, 2011

8:00 a.m.

Cafeteria

Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 21, 2011

10:00 a.m.

John B. Hooper Memorial Stadium

L.Z. Hurley Memorial Field

For more about Haywood County Schools, visit www.haywoodschools.com

Haywood County Schools Completion Ceremonies

Anderson Early Childhood Center

Kindergarten

May 20, 2011

8:30 a.m.              Becraft, Carver, Deming, Henderson, Hooser, Warren

9:45 a.m.              Allen, Brown, Evans, Key, Stokely

11:00 a.m.           Harwell, Lewis, Madere, White, Williams

Haywood Elementary School

2^nd Grade

May 16, 2011

6:00 p.m.

East Side Elementary School

4^th Grade

May 17, 2011

6:00 P.M.

Sunny Hill Elementary School

6^th Grade

May 18, 2011

6:00 p.m.

Haywood Junior High School

8^th Grade

May 19, 2011

6:00

All K-6 students are expected to attend school the following week.  Wednesday, May 25 is an inservice day for teachers, and students do not attend school.  Thursday, May 26 is a half day for all students.

Blues Fest Returns to Brownsville

Blind Red Rooster will perform live at the Exit 56 Blues Fest Saturday, May 28, beginning at 7 p.m. Members of the group from Northwest Tennessee are Smokin' Joe Watts, Rick Casey, Coby Watts and Rob Kingrey.

Brownsville will once again celebrate its blues heritage during the Exit 56 Blues Fest Saturday, May 28, at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. Festivities will include an arts and crafts show, quilt exhibit, book signing, cruise-in and live music. The day long event will run from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Artisans will showcase their wares from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Items for sale will include sunglasses, handmade ribbons and bows, aprons, boutique dresses, flower arrangements, jewelry, handbags, wood products, quilts and more.

Heirloom and more modern quilts will be on display inside the Center as part of the “Heritage Quilts of West Tennessee” special exhibit sponsored by Pat’s Fabrics of Brownsville. Also on exhibit will be the winning art projects of the Haywood County School children for the recent Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

Author Pamela Whinnery will be present from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., to sign copies of her latest cookbook “Country Goodness Recipes of Tennessee Celebrities.” The recipe collection includes recipes from Elvis, Trace Adkins, President Andrew Jackson and more.

Beginning at 5 p.m., local and area artist will perform from the porch of the Sleepy John Estes home, located on the grounds of the Center. Memphis musicians Graham Perry and Kevin Kilgore, members of the group Tucson Simpson will perform at 5 p.m. Brownsville’s own Clifton Smith will take the stage at 6:30; and Union City Blues band Blind Red Rooster will perform at 7 p.m.

Car and motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to cruise-in for any or all of the festivities.

Festival admission and concerts are free and everyone is invited to attend and enjoy a day celebrating the Brownsville blues. The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is located off of Interstate 40 at Exit 56, behind McDonald’s. For more information, contact the Center at 731-779-9000 or visit www.westtnheritage.com.

Mickey Utley to kick-off summer concert series

This Sunday, May 22, Brownsville’s own Mickey Utley will kick-off a summer of live performances from the porch of the Sleepy John Estes home at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. The summer concert series, called “Concert on the Porch,” will feature local and regional talents each month leading up to the Hatchie Fall Fest in October.

Utley will take the stage (porch) at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, when he will introduce his newest release, “I’m Feelin’ You.” The concerts are free and everyone is invited. Utley will be signing autographs and posing for pictures immediately following the concert. A special exhibit will also be on display inside the Center showcasing items donated by Utley.

Other performers scheduled to make an appearance on “The Porch” this summer are: Hannah Company, Jupiter Stone, David Smith, His Voice, Diverse Five, Wildwood Express, David Evans, Elmo Lee Thomas and more.

For a complete schedule and more information, contact the Center at 731-779-9000, or visit the website: www.westtnheritage.com.

Hopson to sign new book at Delta Heritage Center

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, in Brownsville, Tenn., will host authors and book signing for I Do…Every Day, Words of Wisdom for Newlyweds and Not so Newlyweds, Saturday May 14, from 2 - 4 p.m.

I Do…Every Day, Words of Wisdom for Newlyweds and Not so Newlyweds, is the newest book of devotions from Haywood County native Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson. This time she has teamed up with her husband, Roger, and they’re on a mission to help newlyweds and couples revitalize marriage as the treasure God intended.

In the 31 reflections released May 1 from Abingdon Press, the Hopsons offer straight talk, ask tough questions that may cause a little blushing (don’t worry, nothing X-rated), and tell stories that will touch readers where they live, inspiring them to be equal partners, friends and lovers. It is for anyone who has ever said “I do,” “I will,” or “I messed up” and even those who are getting ready to walk down the aisle.

This is Hopson’s fifth book and it joins her popular titles, Wiggle Tales, a collection of her columns from the Brownsville States Graphic, an account of media coverage of voter registration in Haywood County, Times of Challenge and Controversy, and her two books of devotions for women, Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days and Mondays, and Too Many Irons in the Fire and They’re All Smoking!

Hopson is the daughter of Mrs. Alvis M. Bond of Stanton and the late John A. Bond Jr., Emma and Carey Bowles. She is assistant general secretary for the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Black College Fund. This is her first writing venture with her husband, a United Methodist minister who serves as executive assistant to the Nashville Area bishop. They live in Lebanon, Tenn.

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center is a tourist information center and three regional museums located at Interstate 40 and Exit 56, behind McDonald’s, in Brownsville, Tenn. For more information, call 731-779-9000, or visit website: www.westtnheritage.com.

Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson and Roger A. Hopson