Emily Jo Wiggins Featured In National Magazine
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Oakland News
By Linda Aldy
Congratulations to Pat E. Mullen Parker, daughter of Joy Mullen, for being recognized recently as the Secondary Art Teacher of the Year in Mississippi. Pat teaches in the Tupelo Public School District. The award was presented in Jackson by the Mississippi Art Education Association.
Congratulations also to Emily Jo Wiggins who will have photos and a short write-up in the Nov./Dec. 2025 issue of “Legacy Magazine,” a national publication for interpreters. Emily Jo oversees the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery at Enid Lake. She chose to highlight the very successful special needs fishing days. A similar article has appeared in Mississippi Outdoors.
Emily Jo also recently exhibited for the first time in the Oxford Artists Guild where she was awarded an honorable mention in the two-dimensional category for her entry entitled “Mirror Mirror.”
The Friends of the Oakland Library hosted an Appreciation Reception this past Saturday to honor presenters, members and community supporters and organizations who have gone “above and beyond” to support the library. In addition to presentations to the honorees, Mayor Stephanie Patterson spoke on the importance of the Oakland Library and her continued support. Friends President Cassaundra Pipkins presented the awards and said there was a real sense of pride and accomplishment in the work the volunteers have done and that they walked out with a “hefty dose of Hope.”
Congratulations to Amanda Goodwin and Amos Marble on their marriage! Wishing you many happy years together.
The Ole Miss Athletic Department put together a great video to say goodbye to the “Tad Pad.” They had the last basketball game there this past weekend. The Ross family and friends spent many, many hours there as sister Carol Ross played her college basketball games there and then became head coach of the Rebels, and all their home games were played there. I am really sad to see it go and wish they had come up with a way to repurpose it instead of demolishing it.
My sisters Janet, Martha and I went to Natchez recently to attend their annual Angels on the Bluff. The event is a fundraiser for the historic Natchez City Cemetery, founded in 1822. It’s a candlelit walking tour of the cemetery. During the event, actors portray the “angels,” or notable people who contributed to the area’s history and tell their life stories. It was very interesting history and the actors were quite good in their roles. They have six shows per night for three nights and have been doing this for roughly 25 years.
If you haven’t put together your Thanksgiving menu and made assignments as to who is bringing what (and who is cleaning the kitchen), you’d better get on it! Might as well look at the Christmas menus as well. Apparently, it is practically the next day if retail stores are any indication. Christmas decorations went up before Halloween in some stores.
Speaking of Christmas, put these Oakland area events on your calendar. A Twilight Children’s Christmas Tea with Santa is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6 on Oak Street in downtown. Weather backup is at the Chamber Building at 304 Holly St. All children are invited. The annual tree lighting is at 5:30 p.m. at the town Christmas tree at the Oakland Public Library. This year we have Victorian carolers joining us from the Southaven/Olive Branch area. The Oakland Christmas Parade is the following weekend on Saturday, December 13. The parade begins at 3:30 p.m. If you want to be in the parade, contact Marzet Bland at 662-647-7750, Vera Walls-Tellis at 662-709-0440 or Sharonda Jones at 662-589-0040. These ladies, plus Francesca Suggs-Scott, Tyrone Jenkins and Polly Foxx, are working hard to bring the best parade ever!
Mayor Stephanie Patterson announced the Town of Oakland Text Alerts system last week. If you want to stay connected and get alerts, simply text OaklandMS to 91896. This will enable you to get updates, reminders and important information directly to your phone.
