Yalobusha Historical Society Minutes – Oct. 21, 2011
Emily-Jo Wiggins of the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center.
The Yalobusha Historical Society met Oct. 21, 2011 in the former Presbyterian Church in Coffeeville. There were thirty-five members and guests present. The opening prayer was spoken by Ralph Litten. Mike Worsham welcomed everyone. Joy Tippit thanked members and friends of rhe YHS for making their General Store a success. Ann Mills won the hoop of cheese donated by Spains. Loretta Crawford won the painting donated by Amy McMinnm and George Miller Jr. won the baby quilt donated by Pat Brooks.
Julia Fernandez introduced the guest speaker, Emily-Jo Wiggins of the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center.
Located on Enid Lake at Exit 233 east off I-55, the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center is a unique facility for local residents and visitors to the lake. The presentation on the 20th gave the audience the opportunity to experience a walkthrough of the Center, gave a brief look into the Hatchery’s operations, and gave an extensive description of the Center’s past and future programs.
Many of Mississippi’s native plant species cover the landscape at the entrance, and a 10,000 gallon aquarium is located at the center of the facility, featuring many of the different species raised at the Hatchery as well as other Mississippi native freshwater species found in local lakes. Fish species include familiar catches like the largemouth bass and less well-known Mississippi natives like the Gulf Coast Walleye. Visitors have the opportunity to feed catfish in the Rodeo Pond or koi carp in the two 80-foot raceways, which is a great experience for the entire family! The Education Center also displays renowned Mississippians’ work including Joe Mac Hudspeth’s photographs and Don Jacob’s murals.
Discussed at the presentation were the programs offered by the Education Center throughout the year. Free with the price of admission, programs are scheduled for a variety of ages and interests. These include The History of Enid Lake presented by Mike Robison, USACE supervisory ranger at Enid Lake and the Crappie Jig-Tying Program by local fishing expert Gwin Jackson. Other programs include a Pond Management Seminar and lessons in Fish Identification. In addition to these, programs for the youth include Camp Fish, a four day long day-camp, and our Spring Fishing Rodeo, which attracted over 300 young anglers this past May! The Education Center also hosts an annual Halloween pumpkin program and scavenger hunt as well as an annual Christmas bird feeder program. Added to the list of events are traveling exhibits and displays by famous artists like the Water Valley Imagination Station students!
Although, some will be repeated next year, there will be new programs planned for 2012. To date over six thousand people have enjoyed the NMFH Visitor Education Center this year. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more, but the Education Center is always opened for self-guided tours. This November thru February the Center will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays but opened throughout the week 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. If you have any questions call the Center at (662) 563 – 8068 or check the NMFH web site at http://home.mdwfp.com/NMFH/ for admission, hours of operation, and a calendar of events.
The nest meeting of the YHS will be Nov. 17, 2011. The guest speaker, Bob Tyler, will speak on Mississippi Recreation.
Attending: Alma Moorman, Tom Moorman, Bettie Litten, Lawrence Litten, Granville Vaughn, Carl Vick, Mae Vick, Susan Roach Wiggins, Erin Wiggins, Rachel Wiggins, Julia Fernandez, Joy Herron, Joy Tippit, Bob Tyler, Debby Hughes Betty Miller, Francine Pinnix, Thelma Roberts, Kay McCulley, Bobbie Hutchins, Jimmy Pinnix, Dave Hovey, Helen Jones, Kathryn Tierce, Betty Porter, Ann Harland Russell, Sarah H. Williams, Opal Wright, Bob Lippincott, Sue Fly, James Person, John Moorman, Dot Criss, Bobby Hutchins, Mike Worsham
Submitted by: Joy Tippit
