Don’t Forget To Vote Tuesday
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Oakland News
By Linda Aldy
I made it home from my international travels safe and sound and very tired! Then, I turned around and headed to New Orleans with my 9-year-old granddaughter to see the Broadway touring production of “The Lion King” at the historic Saenger Theatre. My sister Martha brought her oldest granddaughter up from Florida and we had a great adventure. While we were enjoying the production in New Orleans, our mother and sister Janet headed to the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts in Senatobia to see “The Music Man” along with niece Meagan Harrell Ross and great-niece Madi Mea Ross. My granddaughter had just been in her school’s play of “Seussical the Musical” on Thursday morning and my grandson played the King of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” on Thursday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. I have squeezed a lot of plays into a short window this past week! I have tickets this week to New Stage in Jackson for “Slippin Through the Cracks, the Bobby Rush Musical.” I may be setting some sort of record!
Melinda Clark and Leigh Clark Vance of Grenada visited with mother and sister Carol last week. Carol and Melinda were classmates and mother worked with their mother, Elmira Clark, for several years in Grenada at Dr. Townes’ office, I believe it was.
Our sympathy to Gail Hudson Caldwell in the loss of her brother Ricky.
The Friends of Oakland Library have been busy! They worked to secure matching funds for a grant from the Pilcrow Foundation and learned that they are being awarded the grant to purchase more children’s books. Additionally, the Kim family of Glenview, Illinois, made a contribution in honor of mother for her recent birthday and those funds are going to be used to purchase additional large-print books.
Beginning on Oct. 27 and through Oct. 30, the Visitor Education Center (VEC) at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery is accepting family-friendly entries for the 2026 Pumpkin Carving Contest! Winners will be named at the Halloween at the Hatchery on Sat., Oct. 31. Visitors will select the winners in four categories: No. 1 Overall, Most Challenging, Most Creative and Best American Flag Design. For more information, call the VEC at 662-563-8068 or visit www.MDWFP.com.
There are lots of Halloween activities going on! Cossar State Park will host its Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 at the gate. Oakland’s Beautification Committee and the Town of Oakland are hosting Trunk or Treat on Sat., from 2 to 4 p.m. in downtown Oakland. Wear your costumes! Halloween at the Hatchery runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery. If you come in costume, you’ll get a free bag of fish food! There will be face painting, Ghostly Gyotaku, Fish Skeleton Scavenger Hunts and more! All activities are free with the price of admission to the fish hatchery. Admission is $2.50 for adults ages 18 to 59, and $2 for youth ages 3-17 and adults age 60 and older.
Attention teachers and homeschoolers! The Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center (VEC) will once again serve as the host site for the Wildlife Forever 2027 Fish Art and Creative Writing Competition. The competition invites youth in grades K–12 to showcase their creativity and passion for conservation. Each entry must include: a completed entry form (Grades K–12), an original artwork submission (Grades K–12) and a creative writing submission (Grades 4–12). The creative writing submission is optional for 2027.
The deadline to apply is February 28, 2027. First place winners will receive a free field trip for 35 students to MDWFP’s Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery VEC. Winners will be announced on the MDWFP website and will advance to Wildlife Forever’s national competition. This competition is hosted in conjunction with the annual youth wildlife art contest sponsored by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, Parks, Marine Foundation. For full guidelines and submission details, visit: www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/wildlife-forever-art-and-essay-competition.
Don’t forget that daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1. We move the time back an hour and supposedly gain an hour of sleep. If you have a baby or an inside pet, you know your clock may change but the chances of you getting that extra hour of sleep are probably not good.
On Nov. 3, we have the responsibility and privilege as citizens of this state and this nation to cast a vote to decide who will represent and serve us in numerous elected positions. While Mississippi does not have “early voting,” there are numerous options that allow you to cast an in-person absentee ballot. There is a complete list available from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office, but if you must be out of town on Election Day or have a disability, are over 65 or are required to be at work during the hours the polls are open, you may be eligible. Visit the circuit clerk’s office. Be sure to bring your photo ID. The deadline for voting absentee in person is Saturday, Oct. 31, at noon.
Share your news with me. You can text or leave a message at 601-853-3942. Email me at oaklandareachamber@gmail.com.
