Just Among Friends
The Green Bay Packers have added a Philadelphia native and MSU alum to their team roster! Congratulations to Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin, who signed with Green Bay last week!
He is a 2024 graduate of Mississippi State University who played for the MSU Bulldogs football team during his college career after being a member of the Philadelphia High School Tornadoes team. I am looking forward to watching him play in my living room next season!
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The Rankin County School Board welcomed a new member last Wednesday when Tommy McCarver was sworn in by Judge John Emfinger. Tommy's wife is the former Terri Cox from Philadelphia. Judge Emfinger is a friend of the McCarver family.
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Registration for baseball, softball, and T-ball teams is open until Feb. 7 at the City Hall from 8-5.
Fees for the season: Baseball & softball ages 6-13 $90; T Ball ages 4-5 $60. The timeline for the season: Practice begins in early March; Games will begin in mid-April and last for 4-6 weeks, games will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, depending upon the number of teams in each group.
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Congratulations to Champion Lady Rocket Kyli Truss, who was chosen to play in the North/South All-Star Game. The Mississippi Association of Coaches selects outstanding players from various girls teams to play in this annual event. She is a student at Neshoba Central High School.
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Neshoba Central Middle School 8th grade students who received Rocket Awards for the 2nd Nine Weeks. The students are Sydney White, Kayzlynn Robinson, Tristan Dertiager, Adalyn Smith. Kyleigh Harrington, Lamara Wright, Hailey McKinney, Joseph Pham, Trey Scarbrough, Lillian Chrest, Dakota Curtis, Kenley Kirkland, Raygan Gibson, Jade Jones, Rashad Deville, and Kelly Thomas. Congratulations!
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In December, Julia Cole visited her daughter, Jennifer, in Sicily, where she has lived for the last seven years. She lives in a community called Sant'Agata li Battiati just north of Catania (a city about the size of New Orleans). This visit was one intended to reflect, heal, and enjoy time with Jennifer following Sellers’ death. She also made many new friends among the people in the community.
She enjoyed local life as Jennifer lives it daily with visits to her favorite butcher who delights when she enters as well as her favorite bakery and wine shops with friendly shouts and hugs.. The Catania Fish Market was another unique experience, a rite of passage for any visitor to the city. The centuries-old market evokes vibes of an Arab bazaar, filled with exotic scents and a cacophony of sounds.
Jennifer and Julia visited several of the many coastal villages near Catania, including one with the ruins of an ancient Norman castle built with volcanic stone in 1076. There were places to visit along the coast, dotted with villages with charming restaurants. Shopping was a delight, especially for beautiful leather goods.
Mount Etna, the enormous active volcano in the northeastern corner of Sicily, is known as one of the best wine-producing areas in Sicily. They were treated to a wine-tasting experience at the Biondi family Vineyard and Winery on Etna.
Christmas morning, the two shed tears while they remembered many blessed Christmases in the past. They joined Flavia Mammana's family(Jennifer's Auburn roommate's family) for Christmas day at San Gregorio Magno, where they enjoyed an afternoon of great food and fellowship.