Lindsey Hired As Main Street’s New Director
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The Water Valley Main Street Association’s new director, Keli Lindsey is pictured with the board of directors. The group includes (front row, from left) Katelynn Dillard, Caitlin Magnuson, Camille Breckenridge, Nicole Folson, Lindsey, Glenda Gordon and Leshon Polk; (back row, from left) Brenda Bradford, Hallie Thomas, Justin McDaniel, Bobby Turnage, Charlie Dyer, Lee McMinn and Karen Turnage (not pictured). Bobby Turnage, McMinn and Thomas are rotating off the board after serving three years. Breckenridge, Gordon, Bradford and Karen Turnage are coming on as new board members.
WATER VALLEY – The Water Valley Main Street Association announced that Keli Lindsey has been hired as the new director and will assume duties in November. The news came during Monday night’s annual meeting that also included a recap of the association’s activities during the last year and the introduction of new board members Glenda Gordon, Karen Turnage, Camille Breckenridge and Brenda Bradford.
Interim director Caitlin Magnuson provided a powerpoint with information about multiple grants the association has received, primarily for streetscape work in Water Valley that will include bump-outs (curb extensions), five crosswalks and improvements at the y-intersection where Main and Central streets connect.
Caitlin Magnuson (left) was recognized as the Water Valley Main Street Board Member of the Year during Monday night’s annual meeting. Outgoing Main Street Board President Hallie Thomas (right) presented the award. Thomas was also honored for her service as board president during the last year.
Magnuson also shared details about Main Street events starting with the cookie stroll held in connection with Christmas in the Valley last year, the Water Valley Wine Down, the Casey Jones Blues Festival and the Art Crawl. Magnuson reported that the association has purchased the Main Street lot where the Pocket Park is located.
“In February Main Street also hosted the Rails to Trail Informational Meeting,” Magnuson continued. “I think it is really exciting that this transitioned from an informational meeting to a fully-formed 501c3 organization, the Yalobusha Greenways Alliance.”
The first mile of the new rail-trail utilizing the former railroad right-of-way in the city is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Awards presented during the meeting included Volunteer of the Year presented to Breckenridge, Partner of the Year presented to the Simmons House Historic Venue And Inn, and Board Member of the Year presented to Magnuson. Outgoing board president Hallie Thomas was also honored for her service.
Magnuson credited the vibrant year to former director Alyssa Benedict.
“She really put us on the pathway to getting all of this done,” Magnuson added.
Benedict stepped down in August to accept a full-time job in Oxford after serving as the Water Valley Main Street Director for almost three years.
Charlie Dyer will serve as the new board president. He reported that the agenda for the remainder of the year will be getting Lindsey on board and allocating $161,000 in grant funding the association received from ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) for projects including the streetscape work.
