images tupelo, ms: 2008-09

EXCITEMENT IN STORERegional mall attracts shoppers from three states

SEEING DOUBLEImpersonators pay tribute to Elvis

IN STORERegional mall attractsshoppers from three states

SEEING DOUBLEImpersonators pay tribute to Elvi

The Wheels Are Turning

Toyota suppliers make the move to Mississippi

SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

2008-09 | IMAGESTUPELO.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES

OF TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

TM

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2008-09 EDITION | VOLUME 7TM

OF TUPELO MISSISSIPPI

TMTTM

ON THE COVER Photo by Jeff AdkinsThe Community Development Foundation building

14 LIGHTING UP LIVESDay-Brite Capri Omega has been illuminating our world since 1923.

18 THE WHEELS ARE TURNINGSeveral Toyota suppliers are making the move to Mississippi.

22 EXCITEMENT IN STOREThe Mall at Barnes Crossing is expanding its presence in Tupelo.

26 HONORING THE KINGThe church where Elvis Presley grew up is now a part of the Elvis Presley Birthplace.

29 SEEING DOUBLEElvis sightings increase dramatically during the annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.

30 TRY THE EGGPLANT NAPOLEONDowntown Tupelo’s many restaurants will tempt your taste buds.

34 TENDER CARE FOR TINY PATIENTSNorth Mississippi Medical Center’s Women’s Hospital expands its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

38 A VISION FOR SUCCESSHawkeye Industries is one of the state’s most successful small businesses.

CONTENTS

FEATURES

TUPELO IMAGESTUPELO.COM 3

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This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE


TM

OF TUPELO MISSISSIPPI

TMTMTMTT

DEPARTMENTS

10 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Tupelo culture

42 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Tupelo

48 Photo Essay

83 Arts & Culture

85 Sports & Recreation

90 Health & Wellness

91 Education

93 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

TUPELO BUSINESS 56 Truckin’ Right Along

Truck Center Inc. has a track record of nearly 50 years of service.

60 A Bridge to HopeNorth Mississippi Hematology & Oncology Associates offer quality medical care for patients.

64 The Heart of Health CareCardiology Associates of North Mississippi doesn’t miss a beat.

68 Biz Briefs

72 Chamber Report

75 Economic Profi le


61

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SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past content by section or search for specifi c articles by subject.

INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.

EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.

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LIVE LINKSHot links allow users to quickly link to other sites

for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.

SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FINDAn easy-to-use search function allows you to fi nd specifi c articles or browse content by subject.

A VIRTUAL TOOLBELTTools allow you to customize the look and function of the magazine on your desktop as well as print individual pages or save the magazine for offl ine reading.

MORE OF THE SAMEAnd that’s a good thing. Inside, you’ll fi nd the same award-winning photography and compelling content as in the printed magazine.

SHARE WITH A FRIENDE-mail individual stories using the pop-up text window.

LIVE LINKSHot links allow use

uickly link to otheor additional informati

and an ad index allows easily locate local adven the magazine.

LHq

Virtual Magazine

EXCITEMENIN STORERegional mall attracshoppers from three

SEEING DOUBImpersonators pay t

The Wheels Are Turning

Toyota suppliers make the move to Mississippi

SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUND

2008-09 | IMAGESTUPELO.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES


TM

Turn the pages of our

imagestupelo.com

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Follow the signs ...

... to an easier home buying or selling experience.

Backed by specialized training and state-of-the-art resources, CENTURY 21© Sales Professionals are here to help make every aspect of your buying or selling a home easier and more successful.

Stop by a local office at 1720 McCullough Blvd. or call us at (662) 842-7878.

Sue Gardner Realty

©2008 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21® is a trademark licensed to Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is independently owned and operated. C21Ad72

www.suegardnerrealty.com

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Figgie Pudding

If you need a special

dessert, keep IV’s

Restaurant in mind.

The Tupelo dining spot

offers 28 bread pudding

flavors that are available by

the pan. A small pan serves

15 to 20 people and sells

for $20, and the large pan

serves 30 to 40 people

and sells for $40.

Some of the bread

pudding flavors at IV’s

include apple cinnamon,

banana almond, blueberry

white chocolate, honey

walnut, fig, peach, peanut

butter and jelly, pear, raisin

and very berry.

Well, Well, WellThings are going swimmingly for the senior

citizens who enjoy the water aerobic classes at the NMMC Wellness Center.

But besides those classes, the North Mississippi Medical Center features exercise equipment and classes, a day spa, nutrition courses, saunas and a just-for-kids program. The center prides itself on developing lifestyle plans for individual members, with both temporary and yearly memberships.

The facility is considered the most comprehensive health and fitness complex in Lee County.

The Long & Winding Road

Ahh, no traffic lights or

commercial vehicles.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a

444-mile road that stretches from

Natchez, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.

The only visitors center on the long

and winding road is in Tupelo at

milepost 266. The visitors center

is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The Natchez Trace Parkway

sees more than 14 million travelers

each year and was designated an

All-American Road in 1995. The

parkway features nearly 800

species of plants, 200 species of

birds and 60 types of mammals. SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit imagestupelo.com and search “Natchez Trace Parkway.”

10 IMAGESTUPELO.COM TUPELO

Almanac

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Fast Facts Approximately 80,000 people tour

the Elvis Presley Birthplace attraction each year.

The Gum Tree Museum of Art is housed in a Beaux Arts-style building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 1864 Battle of Tupelo was among the bloodiest Civil War battles in Mississippi.

Fishing is abundant in the Tupelo area, with popular spots such as Pickwick Lake, Enid Lake, Grenada Lake and Sardis Lake.

Toyota is building a $1.3 billion facility in Blue Springs that will manufacture its popular Prius Hybrid.

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Tupelo, visit imagestupelo.com.

Coffee and Quiche

Hot spots for gourmet

coffee are abundant in

downtown Tupelo.

One such place is

Joe Joe’s Espresso on

East Main Street. Besides

caffeine concoctions, the

shop also serves breakfast

items, soup and sandwiches

and is open Monday through

Saturday until 7 p.m.

Another popular destination

for customers is Café 212 &

Coffee 212 on West Main

Street. Breakfast items include

Danish pastries, bagels and

yogurt, and lunch features

salads, sandwiches and quiche.

Suppertime in the SouthDinner is solved whenever the Taste of Tupelo arrives in town.

The Community Development Foundation sponsors the Taste on a

night in January as part of its annual Business-to-Business Connection

Expo. CDF hosts the two-day expo for all its members, and the Taste

of Tupelo on the first night is a fun way to begin the overall event.

A total of 2,300 people attended the second-annual Taste of Tupelo

in January 2008, and 23 area restaurants participated by offering up

special dishes. The Taste of Tupelo and the Business-to-Business

Connection Expo take place at BancorpSouth Arena.


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Future I-22

TupeloAt A GlancePOPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE)Tupelo: 35,930

Lee County: 80,349

LOCATIONTupelo is in northeast Mississippi,

90 miles from Memphis, Tenn.,

and 165 miles from Jackson, Miss.

BEGINNINGSTupelo was incorporated as a city

in 1870, and its development was

closely tied to the boom of the

railroad industry.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONCommunity Development Foundation

300 W. Main St.

Tupelo, MS 38802

Phone: (662) 842-4521

Fax: (662) 841-0693

www.cdfms.org

Tupelo

Howdy, DudieWhen was the last time you ate a Dudie burger?

There is actually only one weekend each year

when the public can have a Dudie Dough Burger,

and that’s during the Dudie Burger Festival in May

(where some 1,400 burgers are sold). The famous

burgers are a mix of meat, flour and water and

were first made during World War II, when many

items were being rationed.

In 1947, resident Truman “Dudie” Christian

converted an old Memphis streetcar into his

Dudies Diner joint at the corner of South Gloster

and Carnation streets. The retired streetcar is now

parked at the Oren Dunn City Museum, which

sponsors the annual Dudie Burger Festival.

Winnie, Tigger and RooOh, go ahead and bother with Winnie the Pooh.BancorpSouth Arena will host a Disney Live!

Winnie the Pooh concert Sept. 26, 2008, with tickets priced from $14 to $45.

The BancorpSouth facility also has five meeting rooms that can accommodate almost any event. One of the rooms can seat 1,900 people for banquets.

The arena also hosts everything from basketball to rodeos and includes a full-size professional ice-hockey rink. The arena seats 10,000 for concerts and 8,000 for sporting events.

NAA

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SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Tupelo at imagestupelo.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.


Almanac

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DAY-BRITE CAPRI OMEGA

BRIGHTENS THE WORLD AROUND USLives

UpLighting


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O ne of the many things we take for granted each day is light. Not the daylight that starts our mornings,

but the light that illuminates our offices, our homes and our nights.

Day-Brite Capri Omega knows all about lights. The Tupelo-based company has been making lighting fixtures since 1923.

Founded in St. Louis as the Day-Brite Reflector Co., the business was one of the first companies to embrace the fluorescent lamp, which was new tech-nology at the time.

“Actually, the city leaders of Tupelo recruited companies like Day-Brite because farming jobs were on the decline,” explains Terry Spencer, director

of marketing for Day-Brite. “The fathers of Tupelo at the time [1947] saw that for Tupelo to grow and thrive, they needed to broaden its economic base.”

It was, so to speak, a bright idea. Today, the company employs about

700 people – 500 production workers and 200 salaried professionals – at its Tupelo headquarters location, according to Scott Williamson, human resources manager at Day-Brite.

The company’s three-word moniker, Day-Brite Capri Omega, combines its three brand names, which are jointly marketed.

Day-Brite products include fluorescent and HID (high-intensity discharge) fix-tures for exterior f lood lighting and illumination of huge industrial spaces.

The ubiquitous red-and-white or green-and-white EXIT lights also are Day-Brite products. Capri and Omega specialize in recessed downlighting, which are the circular fixtures in ceilings. Omega also offers a line of decorative wall sconces and pendants that drop down from the ceiling, and the Capri product line includes track lighting.

“We primarily provide lighting products for commercial and industrial environments; to a lesser degree, residential,” Spencer explains. “About 50 percent of what we do is f luorescent, recessed products, while 26 percent falls into what we call the downlighting, recessed-can market.”

While 85 to 90 percent of DCO’s

A colorful display demonstrates how the human eye sees light at Tupelo’s Day-Brite Capri Omega Lighting Institute. Left: An interactive model demonstrates how light is distributed by different materials with different finishes.

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALDPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS



customers are in the United States, Spencer says the company’s interna-tional clientele is a growing market. That’s particularly true since Royal Philips Electronics purchased The Genlyte Group – DCO’s parent company – in January 2008.

“Phillips is the global leader in lighting, and they have tons of new lamp and ballast technology, partic-ularly in the LED environment,” Spencer says. “We do not make lamps; we make light fixtures. The best way to get that new technology to the marketplace is through new installation. We take their lamp technology and develop lighting products around it.”

DCO’s ingenuity is on display at the company’s new Lighting Institute, a 5,000-square-foot educational facility that opened in May 2007 within the Tupelo plant.

“Lighting education has always been a key for us,” Spencer says. “We’ve never really had a state-of-the-art facility that allowed us to teach good lighting principles both to our customers and end users. Now we do.”

Architects, engineers and other pro-

fes sionals who attend institute sessions receive continuing education units. Classes cover energy-efficient design, sustainability and aesthetics, and subjects such as lighting for retail spaces, offices, educational facilities and industrial spaces.

The $2 million DCO Lighting Institute features two classrooms. In the mock-up room, the ceiling can be raised and lowered to simulate the look of an actual installation. In the technology class-room, DCO products are showcased side-by-side for comparison.

“We can show how different lights perform differently and can achieve different results, depending on what type of environment you live in or your business is in,” Spencer explains.

The institute itself is a model of energy efficiency and is certified as a LEED facility. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council and recognizes buildings designed to conserve energy and water, lower operating costs and reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Now that’s enlightened.

Some of the color booths and demonstration office spaces (left and bottom right) at the Day-Brite Capri Omega Lighting Institute compare different lighting sources. Bottom left: Terry Spencer, director of marketing for Day-Brite Capri Omega, says lighting education is key for the company. Bottom center: Brandi Sears, director of specification marketing, stands in a display designed to show how light affects different types of surfaces.



SEVERAL TOYOTA SUPPLIERS ARE MAKING THE MOVE TO MISSISSIPPI

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD

The Toyota Prius, which will be built in Blue Springs, is the world’s first hybrid model combining a gas engine and electric motor.

TurningThe WHEELS Are

Y ou gotta love it when a plan comes together. In Tupelo, the plan was first to lure a major automotive manufacturer to the area and then to

attract a legion of its suppliers. That strategy is working like a charm.

The proof came in July 2007, when Toyota Auto Body Co. announced its intention to build a $200 million manufacturing facility in Lee County and create about 400 jobs.

The company will operate in the state as Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Inc., supplying parts for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, the eighth North American assembly plant for the Japanese auto giant.

Under construction in nearby Blue Springs, the $1.3 billion facility will employ about 2,000 workers and will begin rolling out Toyota’s


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SEE MORE ONLINE | For more information, visit the archives and search for “Toyota.”

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

Sake, rice and salt were some of the items on hand

for the prayer during the “first column standing” ceremony.



APMM CHOOSES TUPELO

136Number of acres at Baldwyn site

500,000Number of square feet at the new plant

400Number of jobs at APMM

$200millionPrice tag on APMM facility

popular Prius vehicle in 2010.“That’s one reason everybody works so hard

to recruit an auto assembly plant, because of the benefit of all the ancillary suppliers that locate with it,” says David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Tupelo-based Community Development Foundation, a nonprofit member organization that was instrumental in attracting Toyota to the state. “We’re just delighted that this plant is drawing so much attention from its supplier community and hope that it continues for many years to come.”

APMM chose a 136-acre site in Baldwyn, about 25 minutes from Blue Springs, for its new 500,000-square-foot facility, where the Prius front and rear bumpers, instrument panels, and body component parts will be manufactured.

The Mississippi operation represents the first U.S. location for the company, which is 56 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp. It also represents

the company’s first collaboration on the Prius model in North America, although it has been the assembler of Toyota Prius, minivans and SUVs.

APMM broke ground Dec. 10, 2007, in Baldwyn’s Harry A. Martin North Lee Industrial Complex, and the company has options on another 200 acres. The location will serve as Toyota Auto Body’s North American headquarters.

Yasuhiko Isohata, project general manager of Toyota Auto Body’s global production planning division, says the company decided to build in Mississippi for cost and time efficiency.

“Another reason is that the state of Mississippi offered incentives, and the CDF provided strong support that is a great help for us,” Isohata says.

The general manager also praises the Tupelo area’s transportation logistics, particularly its easy-to-access highway system. The APMM site is just a stone’s throw from four-lane U.S. Highway 45.

Akitsugo Ishiguro, right, president of Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Inc., attends a “first column standing” ceremony to celebrate the start of the plant’s construction. The auto supplier will provide parts for the Prius assembly plant. A crane raises a large steel column during the “first column standing” ceremony for the APMM plant.

The Numbers



Auto Parts Manufacturing Mississippi Inc., will supply front and rear bumpers, instrument panels and body component parts for the Toyota Prius, above, which will be manufactured in nearby Blue Springs starting in 2010.

The new APMM plant will be environmentally friendly, a model of energy efficiency, Isohata says. The company is working during construction to retain as much of the natural vegetation as pos-sible and plans to plant trees throughout the site.

“We will introduce the most advanced injection machines with the highest energy efficiency,” Isohata says.

The company also plans to employ noise-reduction technology and sophisticated recycling policies.

The economic effects of Toyota’s decision to build its massive Blue Springs facility already are radiating across North Mississippi.

In August 2007, Toyota Boshoku American, another supplier, announced its intention to build an $80 million plant near the Dorsey community in Itawamba County. The 500 workers there will produce Prius seats, door panels and carpet.




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S hoppers (and readers) take note: Barnes & Noble is opening at The Mall at Barnes Crossing.

The retail book giant will unveil its newest store in Tupelo in September 2008, featuring

a café that serves Starbucks coffee and Cheesecake Factory desserts.

Another new store drawing customers is Dick’s Sporting Goods, which opened in May. Dick’s, Belk, J.C. Penney, Sears and Barnes & Noble will anchor the popular shopping destination, located at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 78/Interstate 22 and U.S. Hwy. 45.

“We are the No. 2 mall in sales volume in all of Mississippi, with 12 million visitors shopping here each year,” says Jeff Snyder, general manager of The Mall at Barnes Crossing. “We are regarded as a super-regional mall because we draw people from a 75-mile radius.”

Snyder says the shopping complex is popular with consumers from northwest Alabama, Hardin and McNairy counties in southern Tennessee and cities

MALL AT BARNES CROSSING EXPANDS TO ACCOMMODATE AREA SHOPPERS

STORE

The Mall at Barnes Crossing has recently been renovated, adding stores such as Barnes & Noble and Dick’s Sporting Goods to its already strong lineup of retail shops. Left: The mall’s colorful carousel is a popular attraction for children.

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

EXCITEMENT IN



Dick’s Sporting Goods is one of the mall’s newest stores. Right and top left: Colorful bead necklaces and decorative stars attract customers to Earthbound Trading Co. Top right: The mall draws customers from around the region.



north of U.S. Hwy. 82 in northeastern Mississippi.“We bring a lot of people into Tupelo and Lee County to

spend money,” he says.And to stay modern, the 900,000-square-foot shopping

complex has been undergoing a $13 mil-lion renovation since the fall of 2007.

“We have redone our nine-res tau-rant food court with upgrades such as all-new seats, a fresh paint color scheme, along with some fancy signage,” Snyder says. “In addition, our center court area now features a large play area for kids. Another improvement that nobody will actually notice is a $2 million upgrade to our entire heating and air conditioning system.”

The mall originally opened in 1990, at a time when Tupelo truly needed a large shopping center. Its lack of a retail venue back then was

costing the city and Lee County $50 million a year because customers

were doing their shopping in other markets.“Tupelo residents were traveling to Memphis,

Birmingham or Jackson, Miss., to do their shopping at big-name, nationally known stores, so these days we keep improving our merchant mix so that customers will continue to shop with us,” says Cindy Childs, The Mall at Barnes

Crossing marketing director. “Our goal is to keep upgrading and diversifying our list of retailers so that customers can count on us for a good shopping experience whenever they visit.”

Besides its five anchors, The Mall at Barnes Crossing has stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Foot Locker, Gap, Radio Shack and Victoria’s Secret. It also houses restaurants such as Back Yard Burgers, Chick-fil-A and Ruby Tuesday, and boasts a Cinemark Movies 8.

“We have a fine store lineup in a safe environment where people can

feel at ease whenever they shop,” Childs says. “An enjoyable experience – that’s what shopping at The Mall at Barnes Crossing is all about.”

“We have a fi ne store lineup in a safe environment where

people can feel at ease whenever

they shop.”CINDY CHILDS

MARKETING DIRECTORTHE MALL AT BARNES CROSSING


Shoppers will find lots to buy at The Mall at Barnes Crossing. The mall has recently undergone a $13 million renovation.


SEE MORE ONLINE | There’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on at the Elvis Presley Birthplace. For more, check out our exclusive video at imagestupelo.com.

the Ki Honoring


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A sk anyone in Tupelo, and they’ll tell you the most fascinating site in the city is the Elvis Presley Birthplace.

“It’s our most famous attraction – people come from all over the world to see where Elvis came from,” says Linda Elliff, director of sales for the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s a one-of-a-kind place, and we’re very proud of it. The Elvis Presley Birthplace, museum, park and all the sites from his life in Tupelo mean a lot to the tourism industry here.”

More than 80,000 Presley fans trek to Tupelo each year to walk through the modest, two-room house where the King of Rock ’n’ Roll was born on Jan. 8, 1935, and to visit the adjacent museum, gift shop, park and chapel. In August 2008, Presley’s home church will become part of the attraction.

“We have purchased the church Elvis attended in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and we moved it to our property in January,” says Dick Guyton, executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation.

Previously located on Berry Street in East Tupelo, the First Assembly of God Church played an integral role in Presley’s early life. It was where he sang regularly and learned to play chords on the guitar.

“From stories we have heard and interviews with his fellow church members, we know the church had quite an impact on his life and vastly influenced his musical career,” Guyton says.

The church, which has been a private home for the past 42 years, is being stripped down to reveal original fixtures from Presley’s time and restored to its 1930s condition.

“While it was still a church, the building had partially burned, and that part had never been repaired when it was made into a dwelling place,” Guyton says. “We had to demolish the inside to restore it. There’s about 50 percent of the original f looring left, a third of the inside paneling and about 50 percent of the outside walls.”

The restoration is being done at an estimated cost of $750,000 and is being funded by ticket sales, gift shop purchases and a donation from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

The project was completed in time for the annual Elvis

CHURCH RESTORATION ADDS NEW DIMENSION TO ELVIS PRESLEY BIRTHPLACE EXPERIENCE

Elvis impersonator Bill J. Brooks of Mantachie, Miss., poses for a portrait in front of a sign welcoming visitors to Tupelo. Brooks has been an impersonator since 1978.

STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINSng


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The Fountain of Life traces Elvis Presley’s life. Above left: A car similar to the 1939 green Plymouth that Presley owned is on display at the attraction. Above right: Visitors can see the two-room house where Elvis was born.


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Seeing Double

If you happened to be in downtown Tupelo in

June 2007 and thought you saw Elvis, it wasn’t

your imagination. In fact, you probably saw dozens

of Elvis impersonators.

That’s because the first-ever Ultimate Elvis

Tribute Artist Contest was held during the

10th-annual Tupelo Elvis Festival in 2007, with 35

contestants decked out as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.

“The first year was really great,” says Debbie

Brangenberg, festival director for the Tupelo

Elvis Festival. “Attendance for the weekend

was 9,200. We had contestants from 15 states

and five foreign countries.”

Contestants were judged on vocals, appearance,

performance, stage presence and overall tribute to

Elvis. The first-place prize package included the

opportunity to compete in the Elvis Presley

Enterprises-sponsored Ultimate Elvis Tribute

Artist Qualifying Rounds in Memphis, a cash prize,

lodging for seven nights in Memphis during Elvis

Week, a guitar from Tupelo Hardware Co. (where

Elvis got his first guitar), a commemorative plaque

and a library-size bronze statue of Elvis identical to

the life-size statue at the Elvis Presley Birthplace.

Brandon Bennett of Ponchatoula, La., won first

place and went on to make the top 10 finalists at

the Memphis competition in August 2007.

The second annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute

Artist Contest returned to Tupelo in June 2008.

“We feature different things each year,”

Brangenberg says. “This year featured the 2007

Tupelo winner and the 2007 Ultimate Tribute

Artist Winner from Elvis Presley Enterprises.”

Legendary artists who played with Elvis also

appeared at the festival in 2008, including D.J.

Fontana, Elvis’ drummer for 14 years; The Stamps

Quartet, the gospel group Elvis worked with; and

Sweet Inspirations, who sang backup for Elvis.

For information on the 2009 festival, visit

www.tupeloelvisfestival.com. – Jessica Mozo

Brandon Bennett of Louisiana represented Tupelo at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis and was one of the top 10 finalists in the competition.

The First Assembly of God Church building has been restored and is now a part of the Elvis Presley Birthplace.

Presley Birthplace Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 9, 2008, when visitors were able to walk out of the memorial chapel, where Presley’s gospel music is played, directly into the church, where he learned to sing gospel music.

“It was a great experience for the fans,” Guyton says. “We had multimedia presentations going in the church that showed how the congregation worshipped in the 1930s.”

The church restoration is one of several enhancements made to the Elvis Presley Birthplace in recent years. In 2002, a statue of 13-year-old Presley clutching a guitar was unveiled and dedicated to his fans worldwide. And in 2006, the Elvis Presley Museum was completely renovated to include a new exhibit containing Tupelo artifacts, large photomurals and graphics, and two audiovisual presentations that bring Presley’s childhood in Tupelo to life.

“The museum renovation they did completes the story because it shows people what it was like for Elvis growing up here,” Elliff says. “The church restoration will be an added bonus for visitors to see what it was like to go to church in a rural town in the ’30s and ’40s. It gives an inside look at how Elvis was influenced musically.”


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SEE MORE ONLINE | To learn more about Tupelo’s dining scene, visit imagestupelo.com and search “food.”


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T he best-selling dish at Boon-docks Grill is the eggplant Napoleon. Executive chef Brock Robbins says the entrée’s Creole

f lavor has made it a favorite of many customers who visit the popular down-town Tupelo restaurant.

“The dish features pan-fried eggplant and sautéed shrimp with red bell peppers and a spicy cream sauce,” Robbins says. “We have a lot of Creole cuisine menu items that include a mixture of Cajun spices with the flavors of the Caribbean.

We’re putting together new recipes all the time here at Boondocks. It’s a lot of fun being the chef.”

Another popular dish at the restau-rant is the filet of beef Escobar, which is an 8-ounce steak with a chili and cocoa rub served with sweet potatoes and sautéed asparagus.

“If you want some good food that also makes you feel good,” Robbins says, “give us a try.”

Downtown Tupelo is lucky to have a number of excellent restaurants that

DOWNTOWN TUPELO DINING SPOTS WILL SATISFY YOUR HUNGER PANGS

Napoleon

The popular eggplant Napoleon at Boondocks Grill combines sauteed shrimp, smoked pork tasso and roasted red bell peppers, which are stacked on pan-fried eggplant and topped with a spicy Cajun cream sauce.

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Try theEggplant



The spinach, strawberry and goat cheese salad is a good choice at The Bistro on Main. Right: Park Heights Restaurant in downtown Tupelo offers a creative assortment of specialties, including lamb, pork tenderloin and sea bass.

offer a variety of menu choices. For example, The Bistro on Main

features continental and European cuisine in an upscale-casual setting. Besides its many lunch and dinner selections, Bistro offers specialty pastries and Italian-style coffee.

Meanwhile, there are other down-town spots such as Benjamin’s on Main that serves contemporary Cajun cooking, while Stables Bar & Grill offers several kinds of sandwiches and grilled burgers. Other district eateries include Café 212, Joe Joe’s Espresso and Todd’s Downtown Deli.

Then there is Park Heights Restau-rant, which opened in downtown Tupelo in May 2000 but moved to the Fairpark section of the city in 2007.

“We wanted to grow our restaurant a bit, from the 80 people we could seat downtown to the 140 customers we can now accommodate at our new place,” says Blair Hughes, one of the owners of

the family-run Park Heights Restaurant. “The Fairpark area is a new community being developed in Tupelo, and we thought that our fine-dining, American cuisine restaurant would be a perfect fit for this new development.”

Hughes says a couple of the more popular dishes at Park Heights are the seared sea bass with coconut rice, and the tasty crab cakes.

“Our chef, Greg Huerkamp, has been with us for five years and is simply amazing in the kitchen,” Hughes says. “He does seasonal changes and weekly special dishes and is just very talented with the menu.”

Hughes says her family also operates Fairpark Grill, Sweet Peppers Deli and a couple of other Tupelo restaurants.

“This city has a wide array of foods to choose from,” she says. “It’s an exciting experience dining out in Tupelo these days.”



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W elcoming a new baby into the family is a joyful experience, but when complications arise, it can also be extremely worrisome. Nobody knows that better than the doctors and nurses at North Mississippi Medical

Center’s Women’s Hospital. So to help comfort families whose newborns need a little extra care, the

hospital is expanding and improving its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.“We currently have a 22-bed unit, and those beds are in three large

rooms – it’s more ward-style care,” says Ellen Friloux, administrator for Women’s and Children’s Services at NMMC. “So you can imagine it’s not optimal for parent privacy and bonding with their new babies. We’re moving toward semi-private rooms where each family will have their own private space.”

The new facility, slated to open in spring 2009, is being added atop the Women’s Hospital in the form of a whole new second floor. It is designed to accommodate 34 newborns with the f lexibility to accommodate 50. The NICU will have space for 18 premature or critically ill newborns, while an Intermediate Care Nursery will hold

STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

NMMC Women’s Hospital is the area’s premier facility for obstetrical, gynecological, neonatal intensive care and routine newborn services for families.

NMMC WOMEN’S HOSPITAL EXPANDS NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

PatientsTinyfor

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up to 16 less-fragile babies. Both the NICU and Intermediate Care Nursery will also

have a four-bed ward for babies who need to be in isolation or to accommodate triplets or quadruplets.

Regular rooms will hold two newborns and will feature a nurse’s workstation between the two beds. The workstation will be behind glass walls to give nurses a full view of each patient while ensuring a peaceful environment for the babies.

“The new NICU will occupy the entire second floor, and we will have public education space and classrooms on the first f loor,” Friloux says. “It will enhance our philosophy of family-centered care. We will even have a family room where families can do laundry, watch television or have a snack.”

The family area will also offer showers, locker facilities, computers with Internet access and a play area for siblings.

To make sure families feel comfortable caring for their newborns after leaving the hospital, a Discharge Preparation Room will be available for parents needing special instructions before taking their newborns home.

Parents will be able to spend up to three nights in a homelike environment, where they can take care of the baby on their own with staff members nearby if needed.

Dr. Bryan Darling serves as medical director of the NICU and helped plan the expansion.

“Our goal in this expansion is to provide a more family-centered and developmentally appropriate environment for fragile premature and full-term infants in North Mississippi,” Darling says. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide space in each room for parents to spend the night with their babies, and there will be significant improvements in light, sound and temperature control that will enhance developmental outcomes.”

The NICU expansion is just one of the ways NMMC’s Women’s Hospital has made the childbirth experience more enjoyable in recent years.

“Four years ago, we expanded our labor and delivery department,” Friloux says. “It has homelike finishes, like wood flooring, cherry furnishings, nice drapes, a recliner for dad and nice bedspreads, which all make the rooms more inviting.”

The hospital’s postpartum rooms have also gotten a facelift.“They have nice pictures on the walls, pretty drapes like

you’d have in your own home and nicer furnishings,” Friloux says. “It makes a much more comfortable environment for our families with new babies.”

Eleven-year-old Alex Coggins, left, and Kaleb Coggins, 5, anxiously await the arrival of their newborn brother. Right: North Mississippi Medical Center’s Women’s Hospital offers cozy birthing rooms and many homelike touches.



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602 F7 A Vision for Success.indd 38 8/8/08 2:43:44 PM

A laser cuts the profile of flat sheet-metal parts before they are formed at Hawkeye Industries Inc., a full-service sheet-metal components manufacturer in Tupelo.

W hen he failed to persuade his employer to invest in top-of-the-line technology in 1995, Bryan Hawkins did what any fledgling entrepreneur might: He quit a good job and

invested in the technology himself.In Hawkins’ case, that decision has paid off handsomely.

His Hawkeye Industries Inc. has enjoyed phenomenal growth in the past 13 years, supplying the commercial HVAC and lighting industries with custom precision metal products, manufactured on the latest high-tech equipment.

“We try to stay with the latest, greatest technology all the time,” says Hawkins, of what sets his company apart from others in the field. “I liken it to buying your first vehicle. If you buy a Mercedes, it sure hurts your pocketbook that first time. But the vehicle holds its value. Our equipment is the Mercedes of equipment.”

Since opening his business in 1995 with two machines and two employees, Hawkins has expanded to a 59,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with 28 employees. Based in Tupelo, Hawkeye is known as one of the state’s most successful small businesses, with customers around the world.

“We specialize in smaller lot sizes and production, stuff where technology really shows its wares by reducing setup

STRUGGLING ECONOMY IS NO HURDLE FOR HAWKEYE INDUSTRIES

STORY BY LAURA HILLPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

ssTUPELO IMAGESTUPELO.COM 39


Bryan Hawkins’ company, Hawkeye Industries Inc., has been recognized as one of Mississippi’s fastest-growing companies. The firm supplies the commercial HVAC and lighting industries with custom precision metal products.

time and allowing us to make very precise parts in small quantities,” Hawkins says. “We don’t specialize in volume. We’re more ‘gotta-have-it-right-now,’ and ‘we’re building a new prototype.’ ”

Hawkins was born in Tupelo and attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford on a full ROTC scholarship. He spent four years on active duty in the Army, piloting attack helicopters, and then returned to his hometown, where he and wife Brenda are raising a family.

Hawkins earned a master’s degree, learned the engineering business and served in sales and management for other companies before his “leap of faith” into his own business.

He has twice been named Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration and has received numerous other kudos over the years. Still, Hawkins says his team at Hawkeye Industries is the secret to the company’s success.

“Success is a one-word definition: relationships,” Hawkins says. “When you have the level of technology we have and support it with people who love to see technology work, it

creates an environment for customers where you are not just a supplier, you’re someone who can make them even better than they are.”

He is also duly proud of Hawkeye’s certification by the International Standards Organization and its participation in the highly selective Safety and Health Achievement and Recognition Program conducted by the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

One of the greatest challenges to Hawkeye’s success, oddly enough, has been controlling growth, which, he says, “can start controlling you so that you go into a reactionary mode rather than a proactive mode.”

For the time being, the national economy has eased that particular challenge. But, while Hawkeye’s growth has slowed – Hawkins predicts the company’s revenues will be down somewhat from 2007’s $7.2 million – he remains bullish on the future.

“I’m an optimist – my glass is always half full,” says Hawkins. “You look for those little glimmers of opportunity and take them.”



The Numbers

A GROWING COMPANY

$2 millionHawkeye’s annual investment in technology

11Number of machines that operate 24 hours a day at Hawkeye Industries

59,000 Number of square feet in Hawkeye Industries’ manufacturing facility



Vaz Vanelli unveiled what he pro claims “the eighth wonder of Tupelo” just outside his Vanelli’s Greek & Italian

Restaurant in north Tupelo.“It’s actually ‘Papa’s Pavilion,’ ” he says of the cedar-roofed

dining and party area that was added to the res taurant’s patio in 2008. “It comes to a point, so when you go underneath and look up, it’s like a Swiss chalet,” Vanelli says of the new structure.

The restaurant was founded in 1975 by Demetrios Kapenekas, aka “Papa,” a native of Athens, Greece. The late Kapenekas grew up around food. His father owned a restaurant and hotel in Athens during the 1920s and ’30s.

Now son Vaz Vanelli is in charge of the restaurant and entertainment venue located at 1302 N. Gloster St.

In addition to the patio and pavilion, the restaurant has 10,000 square feet under roof, made up of three dining rooms and Papa’s Place lounge.

Offerings such as toasted ravioli, fried calamari, pizzas and Athenian lasagna are just a few examples from “a menu that is an Americanized blend of Greek and Italian cuisine,” Vanelli says.

In addition, there are appetizers, sand wiches, salads, chicken wings and a large selection of classic Italian favorites.

Vanelli’s also offers live enter tain ment, from concerts to comedy, and the eatery showcases all of the big sports games on direct television.

The new pavilion allows Vanelli to expand his varied entertainment offerings.

What are Tupelo’s wonders one through seven? “Well, start at Elvis’ birthplace and work your way down,”

Vanelli says with a laugh.Vanelli’s is open daily for lunch and dinner.For more information, visit www.vanellis.com.

My Big, Fat Greek MealDINERS WILL FIND SATISFYING FARE AND GREAT MUSIC AT VANELLI’S RESTAURANT

Diners enjoy eating outdoors at Vanelli’s Greek & Italian Restaurant, a mainstay in Tupelo since 1975. The restaurant, located at 1302 N. Gloster St., also offers a wide variety of nightly entertainment at Papa’s Place lounge.

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Oliver’s notorious escapades have made him a popular attraction at the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo.

Real Monkey Businessamong the largest herds east of the Mississippi.

“The owner wants to take it [the Buffalo Park and Zoo] to the next level,” says Kohler, praising the aims of Tupelo businessman Dan Franklin, who opened the facility in 2001.

Kohler’s goals include improving the park, building new exhibits and bringing in new animals.

“I want to do more for guest relations to make the visitor experience better,” he adds.

For example, Kohler wants to improve the zoo’s Monster Bison Bus tours, which take visitors into the preserve, where the buffalo, camels, water buffalo, giraffes and other creatures roam.

Kohler also is working on adding new activities and programs that would appeal to families, such as the horse and pony rides the zoo currently offers.

“I think the park is going to take off even more than it has,” he says.

It’s hard to blend in when you are a monkey on the lam in Mississippi.

But Oliver, the slippery, white-faced capuchin escape artist, has managed to leave the confines of the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo not once, but twice in recent months.

He escaped once six years ago, but 2007’s back-to-back breakouts garnered headlines far and wide.

Zoo manager Brian Kohler, who came to the park from the zoo in Jackson, Miss., was determined to keep Oliver

from repeating his Great Escapes.“That’s why I’m here,” Kohler says

of his new position, which started in January 2008.

Oliver has become something of a marketing tool, with the zoo capitalizing by selling Oliver’s Great Escape T-shirts.

“People from all over come visit and ask about him all the time,” Kohler says.

But Kohler’s hardly just monkeying around. He’s more interested in talking about the future of the 175-acre park that draws its name from its 52 buffalo,

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Highway 45 North • Tupelo • 844-6255 • www.barnescrossing.com

Pamper yourself, shop for a friend ... or with a friend. Whether it’s hip

or conservative, The Mall at Barnes Crossing is the place to fit your

lifestyle. Shop, get a bite to eat or head to the latest movie. With over

90 stores and specialty shops, The Mall at Barnes Crossing features the

largest selection in the region.

JCPENNEY • BELK • SEARS

DICK’S SPORTING GOODS • BARNES & NOBLE


The Tupelo Automobile Museum features 120,000 square feet of

automotive displays.

Car Crazy

If there’s anything that could make Allen McDaniel glad he’s no longer a

history teacher, it’s the fact that he’s able to spend his days inside the Tupelo Automobile Museum.

“Oh, I loved teaching,” says the former eighth-grade American history teacher. “I’d get my check at the end of the month, and I’d say ‘I can’t believe they pay me for having so much fun.’ Working here is on the same scale with teaching.”

McDaniel says it’s a privilege to be curator of the 120,000-square-foot facility, located right off U.S. Hwy. 45.

The museum showcases the col-lection of the late Frank Spain, a successful local businessman who gathered more than 100 antique, classic and collectible cars and put them on display, chronologically.

“Our oldest car is an 1886 Benz, but it’s a reproduction,” McDaniel says. “The newest is a 1994 Dodge Viper with 12 miles on it.

There is excitement in his voice when he talks about perhaps the rarest of the collection: a 1948 Tucker.

“There were only 51 of these made, and none of them were ever sold. Tucker went bankrupt, and the cars went to the creditors,” McDaniel recalls.

The car and its maker, Preston Tucker, were immortalized in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

McDaniel’s enthusiasm for the car experience is spread far and wide at the annual Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise, which draws classic car enthusiasts from around the country every May.

“Some come probably 700 or 800 miles,” he says of the event for which he’s the volunteer coordinator.

It’s a weekend of swapping car tales, enjoying drive-in movies and, true to native son Elvis Presley, vintage rock ’n’ roll music.

SEE MORE ONLINE | Take a look at some of the classic cars at the Tupelo Automobile Museum in our exclusive video at imagestupelo.com.


Building Tupelo and Lee County

Since 1941

2020 McCullough Blvd.Tupelo, MS 38801

(662) 842-3240

The Largest IndustrialContractor in the South


The Gum Tree Museum of Art is a popular place to see works of art.

Fishing for Artists

Tina Lutz – aka “Tina Fish” – insists on one thing, repeatedly, while talking

about the Gum Tree Museum of Art.“We are free of charge to the general

public,” she says of the museum located in the circa-1905 Peoples Bank and Trust Co. building in downtown Tupelo.

“It’s really important that the public knows we are here and that they come in to see the quality artwork.”

In the 14 years Lutz has been running the museum, the space has been decorated by the works of Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mississippi masters and Tupelo schoolchildren.

“We do this to emphasize the impor-tance of the arts in the schools,” she explains.

It is in those schools that Lutz is often called “Miss Fish,” because she uses the aquatic moniker as her studio name.

“It’s really corny,” she admits. “I’m a Pisces. I’m a water rat.”

She also focuses on fish in her own artwork, such as the painted fish chair that won the purchase prize in the Gum Tree Festival 14 years ago, earning her recognition and indirectly leading her from the life of an artist in Laurel, Miss., to museum operator and art educator.

“People know me as Tina Fish,” she says. “The little people know me as Miss Fish, the crazy art lady with the crazy fish life.”

She laughs at herself, but the fact that people know her by her studio name is evidence of the impact she has had since taking over operations in the Beaux Arts-style building that’s listed on the National Historic Register.

From educational programs to fine art, Lutz/Fish is dedicated to providing a platform or an easel to anyone who is interested in art.

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Dripping With Summertime Fun Olivia Scott, 6, and other children enjoy a dip in the water fountain located in the Fairpark District in downtown Tupelo, which is the most ambitious downtown development project the city has ever undertaken.

Denise Gillespie’s voice bubbles when talking about Toyota’s impact on

Itawamba Community College.“It’s an exciting time in Tupelo,”

says Gillespie, who is the workforce director for the local community college.

It’s a big job to provide workforce and industrial training for area com-panies’ needs.

But when Toyota came calling, investing in the plant that’s under construction in Blue Springs, her role, as well as that of the community college, changed dramatically.

She became project manager for Toyota startup training for the Mississippi Corridor Consortium, an alliance of Itawamba, Northwest Mississippi, Northeast Mississippi and East Mississippi community colleges.

“These four community colleges formed a partnership to be able to

provide services should we have an occurrence like this,” she says.

That occurrence – the establishment of an automotive plant that will start producing Prius Hybrids in late 2010 – has sparked growth and development at Itawamba and its partners.

And, thanks to funding by Toyota, the community colleges’ career and technical programs are being modified to provide the training as part of regular degree work.

“They pay us to provide the training, and we invest it into the colleges’ programs,” she says.

The end result is that the consortium’s colleges will be graduating workers who already are trained for the industry well into the future.

“We also are providing the same type of training for [Toyota’s] suppliers,” she adds. – Stories by Tim Ghianni

Gearing Up for Change

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Itawamba Community College is gearing up for Toyota’s arrival.



It’s a city with a small-town feel and a progressive attitude. It’s a city that honors its history

while moving confidently into the 21st century. It’s a city with a quality of life that’s second to none.

Tupelo is a place to call home.From Elvis Presley’s birthplace

and the Natchez Trace Parkway to the upcoming Toyota auto manufacturing plant and the Fairpark District, Tupelo appeals to both visitor and resident alike.

With a motto that boasts, “Our Talent Is Hospitality,” it’s easy to see why this Mississippi city is prospering.

Besides the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s first home, travelers will find a regional mall, automobile museum, buffalo park and zoo, scenic lakes for fishing and restaurants that range from upscale Southern to Greek.

Add to that a pro-business environment, a calendar of exciting events and a dose of genuine friendliness, and Tupelo reigns as one of the South’s favorite destinations to visit and live.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

THIS MISSISSIPPI CITY THRIVES ON SUCCESS

A Place toCall Home


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Photo Essay


TRUCK CENTER INC. HAS A TRACK RECORD OF NEARLY 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

T upelo’s Truck Center Inc. has been putting drivers on the road since co-founder Chuck Imbler greeted his first customer in 1960. Now in its 48th year, the company has proven that it’s here for the long haul.

“We provide transportation solutions to customers,” says company president Chuck Imbler Jr. “If trucks were to stop running, the country would shut down overnight.”

That sense of urgency has helped establish Truck Center

Inc. as a leader in the region’s truck sales and service industry. Now located on International Drive, the second-generation business is a dealer for IC buses, Ford and International Trucks.

“We try to provide the best truck for each need,” Imbler says. “Anybody can sell customers a truck, but you’ve got to sell them a truck that will do the job best.”

Customers of Truck Center Inc. can find a wide range of new and used vehicles, from over-the-road tractors and vans

STORY BY MELANIE HILL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Truckin’ Right Along


602 Biz Section.indd 56 8/8/08 2:39:38 PM

A selection of international trucks are on sale at Tupelo Truck Center Inc., which has been in business nearly 50 years.


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to dump and utility trucks. As the largest truck dealer in North Mississippi, the

company has received the Circle of Excellence Award from International Trucks 28 years running – more than any other North American dealer. Truck Center Inc. also was voted the Southeast IC School Bus Dealer for 2007.

While vehicle sales account for much of the Truck Center’s business, the company also operates two maintenance shifts that provide parts and service from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

“We’re in the service business,” Imbler says. “ Whether it’s a concrete truck or a bread truck, it’s got to roll at a certain time, and companies don’t make money if trucks aren’t running.”

Imbler says Truck Center Inc. stocks nearly $800,000 in current parts inventory for many makes and models, with parts available 24 hours a day through the International Parts Distribution System.

Customers also find rentals and leasing through onsite sister company Idealease of Tupelo and are pleased to discover a 10-bay body shop, 18-bay maintenance area staffed by ASE-certified technicians, quick-lube bay and an onsite frame machine and paint booth. The company also is a fully licensed insurance agency.

“We’re pretty much across-the-board in trying to take care of customers’ needs,” Imbler says.

That commitment has spilled over into the Tupelo community as well. Since 1970, Truck Center Inc. has provided Santa Claus and his f loat for the city’s Christmas parade. Imbler and his father, Chuck Imbler Sr., also participate in many of the city’s civic organizations.

“Tupelo’s been good to us and has allowed us to give back a lot,” Imbler says. “You reap what you sow, and when you’re involved in the community, you make it a better place to live for everyone.”

Chuck Imbler Jr., left, and his father, Chuck Imbler, stand in front of one of the massive International trucks that they sell at the Truck Center Inc., which is the largest truck dealership in North Mississippi.




Business



A cancer diagnosis is often an uphill battle for patients, but the physicians and staff at North Mississippi Hematology & Oncology Associates have been arming themselves against the deadly

disease for nearly 30 years. Since 1979, Tupelo’s HOA has provided patients in North

Mississippi, Northwest Alabama and Southwest Tennessee the

highest quality treatments for blood disorders, as well as clinical trials not frequently offered in this region.

In 2007, the group relocated from the North Mississippi Medical Center campus to a state-of-the-art facility on South Gloster Street.

Now known as Hematology and Oncology Associates at BridgePoint, the 51,000-square-foot facility welcomes 300

CANCER CENTER OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE FOR PATIENTS

HO EA Bridge to

New chemotherapy bays and a soothing waterfall and pond, left, are some of the modern features of the North Mississippi Hematology & Oncology Associates state-of-the-art facility on South Gloster Street in Tupelo.



oncology patients a day. “Because our new facility was designed around patients’

needs, we wanted to give it a name that related to a patient’s journey through treatment,” says the groups’ co-founder, Dr. Charles Montgomery. “As physicians, we also wanted to acknowledge how patients often rely on us for guidance and support as they navigate the challenges of fighting cancer.”

Situated on 9 acres and accompanied by a $10 million price tag, the modern clinic includes five waiting areas, 17 private patient rooms and 42 chemotherapy bays. Patients also enjoy the convenience of an in-house pharmacy, while a glass-front lobby, 10-foot-deep saltwater aquarium and open-air courtyard provide a tranquil escape between treatments.

Staffed by six physicians, two nurse practitioners and more than 50 employees, the facility offers patients specialized treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, biological response modifiers and various supportive therapies. HOA also operates satellite facilities in nearby Columbus and Corinth, Miss.

“As our practice has developed, we have grown with the

changes,” Montgomery says. “We opened our satellite facilities as a way to take care of our patients close to home. We added research early on because cancer treatment is constantly changing, and our research department continues to grow with it. As new innovative therapies are being developed every day, we want to continue to be a frontline participant.”

HOA’s expanded research facility allows for greater involvement in clinical trials, which keeps the group’s physicians in the know on up-and-coming treatment options.

In the past five years, Hematology and Oncology Associates has worked with numerous pharmaceutical groups on cutting-edge research, including Genentech, Pfizer, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Ortho Biotech and Johnson & Johnson.

“We’re trying to put cancer out of business and ultimately push ourselves out of a job,” says Dr. Christopher Croot, who, along with Drs. Julian Hill, Andrew Kellum, David Morris, Charles Montgomery and Brian Walker comprise HOA’s physician team. “We want to continually expand and add services that will help our patients and their families deal with the overall cancer experience.”

A 10-foot-deep saltwater aquarium entertains visitors to the North Mississippi Hematology & Oncology Associates building.


Business



CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI DON’T MISS A BEAT

F or more than two decades, the physicians of Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi have brought unbeatable care

to the heart of this growing community. The group that originated with Inter-

nal Medicine Associates of Tupelo now consists of 17 highly trained physicians that care for patients in 23 counties in northeast Mississippi and neighboring counties in Tennessee and Alabama.

“Our practice is the most compre-hensive, offering advanced techniques in cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology and electrophysiology,” says cardiologist David H. Irwin Jr., M.D., who joined CANM’s experienced physician team in 1986.

Originally based in the Heart Institute in the East Tower of North Mississippi Medical Center, CANM’s visionary physicians soon found themselves in

need of more space and opened an outpatient facility at Gloster Creek Village. Patient volume soon created demand for additional offices in nearby Starkville, Columbus and Oxford, Miss. Each of the group’s four clinics operate certified, fully staffed echocardiography and nuclear cardiology laboratories.

“We are a full-service practice and do more cardiac procedures than anyone in the state, due to our own expertise

Dr. Jack Foster examines an image of the heart at Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi. Right: Dr. Jack Foster, left, Julie Bruce, R.N., and CT technologist Karon Crowley prepare a patient for a CT scan at the medical center.

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plus the expertise of the cardiovascular surgeons at North Mississippi Medical Center,” Irwin says. “In addition, our research program is a national and world leader in enrollment of patients.”

Setting the bar in cardiac care is nothing new for the group. In 1981, CANM’s physicians brought cardiac catheterization to Tupelo and, in 1999, recruited Tupelo’s first electrophysiologist. CANM also introduced Tupelo’s first cer tified echocardiography lab and nuclear lab in an outpatient setting.

Among the practice’s latest offerings is the industry’s first 64-slice CT scanner, introduced in the Tupelo office in 2007. The remarkable technique pro-vides noninvasive, 3-D imaging of the coronary arteries and other heart structures, allowing for greater accuracy in diagnosis.

That commitment to excellence and – above all – their patients has helped distinguish CANM’s physicians, each

with a specific area of training. Together, they make up a comprehensive team

designed to diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiac conditions.

“We are truly a ‘group practice,’ ” Irwin says. “Not all physicians have to do the same thing, so individuals can focus on highly specialized areas. In many ways, we operate an ‘assembly line’ approach to cardiology.”

While the years have brought about tremendous changes in people, places and technology, Irwin says CANM’s physician team has remained true to its original commitment to “do the right thing.”

“We continue to focus on the needs of the patient and their primary physicians and recognize that we are a part of the service industry,” he says. “And we recognize and respect that we are a part of the contin-

uum of care from rural clinic or hospitals to the main campus in Tupelo.”

“Our practice is the most comprehensive,

offering advance techniques in cardiac

imaging, interventional cardiology and

electrophysiology.”DR. DAVID H. IRWIN JR.

CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI

Dr. Amit Gupta is one of the many cardiologists at CANM, which performs the most cardiac procedures in the state.


Business


CREAM DE LA CREAMBob Schwartz likes to think that once

you taste gelato, you won’t ever forget it. As co-owner of Southern Ice Café

in the Shoppes at Barnes Crossing, Schwartz knows the hypnotic power the Italian ice cream can hold.

“Once you’ve tasted gelato, it’s something you’ll always remember,” says Schwartz, who opened Southern Ice Café in spring 2008 with his wife, Kathleen Kennedy.

Southern Ice is the first restaurant in Tupelo to offer gelato, Schwartz says, but he and Kennedy have more to offer than just this sweet treat. Southern Ice also serves homemade sandwiches, soups and salads, along with gourmet coffee and pastries.

Customers can also enjoy free Wi-Fi, a wide-screen TV and a wide range of books that line one of the walls.

“We wanted to create an environment where people can get a good sandwich and sit and talk, read or just relax,” Schwartz says.

“Once you’ve tasted gelato, it’s something you’ll always remember.”

BOB SCHWARTZ

CO-OWNER SOUTHERN ICE CAFÉ

HEAVENLY SANDWICHESTwo words can describe why Heavenly

Ham has been such a success since it opened in Tupelo some 13 years ago: box lunches.

“About 70-75 percent of our business is delivery or takeout,” explains Chauncey Godwin, who opened Heavenly Ham at 499 Gloster Creek Village in 1995. “We get orders from a lot of companies or organizations for our box lunches during meetings. They’re convenient, they’re

priced right and they taste good.”Godwin says his store is especially

busy with ham and turkey orders during the holidays but has recently been catering more functions.

“When we first opened, we would see a spike in business at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter,” he says, “and then for the rest of the year, we’d hold on for dear life. But we do good business year-round now.”

Heavenly Ham, which has seating for 24, serves 14 signature sandwiches as well as those that are made-to-order.

BOWLED OVERIt truly is a family affair at Tupelo’s

Midnite Pottery.“Everybody pitches in,” says Dean

Webb, who has owned the pottery studio for more than 10 years with his sister, Jennifer Hankins.

“My wife works here, and my son and daughter help out. Jennifer’s twin sons work some here, and our mom is here part-time. It’s a family business.”


Business | Biz Briefs


Midnite Pottery’s owners are active in the community. Above: Southern Ice Café sells tasty gelato.

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499 Gloster Creek Village • Tupelo, MS 38801(662) 844-4888 • Fax: (662) 844-3006 • www.heavenlyham.com

Catering from 10 to 1,000C


P.O. Box 12771126 N. Eason Blvd.

Tupelo, MS 38802-1277Phone: (662) 842-3333

Fax: (662) 842-3664

QUALITY SERVICE SINCE 1995

SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES SERVED INCLUDE:• Banking (ATM machine components)• Commercial lighting• Metal office furniture• Power tools• Commercial HVAC• Heavy equipment• Motion furniture• Commercial refrigeration• Fitness equipment

CERTIFIED: ISO 9001:2000OSHA RECOGNIZED


Webb and his sister opened Midnite Pottery in an old horse stable in 1997, and soon moved to its current location at 2004 N. Gloster St.

“We’re like the Jeffersons,” Webb says, referring to the family from the popular former television show. “We moved on up.”

The business is also active in giving back to the community, particularly through the annual Empty Bowls cam-paign that is sponsored by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.

Midnite Pottery donates a couple of hundred bowls each year to the Salvation Army’s annual luncheon to raise money to provide meals for the needy.

GEM OF A BUSINESSAmong the reasons for the longevity

of Way-Fil Jewelry is the determination of its owners.

That was certainly evident after the business suffered a fire in 2005, and the owners had to rebuild at its current location at 1125 W. Main St.

“We never really shut down,” says Patti Thompson, owner of Way-Fil Jewelry, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2008. “That first day after the fire, we sold out of a table we had set up in front of the store.”

Thompson says the main reason Way-Fil has enjoyed such a long life is the attention the owners give to its customers.

“We take care of our customers,” she says. “That sounds like a cliché, but it really is true. We care for the people who come to see us.”

Thompson, who bought the business in 1985 from original owners Wayne Hunter and Filmore McGuire, (thus the name Way-Fil) is a certified gemologist who handles jewelry design, repair and appraisals.

DRIVEN TO SUCCESSWith 50 years of experience, Frankie

Blackmon has become a fixture in the automotive industry.

In addition, he’s also a fixture in the Tupelo community.

“Anytime you can give back to the com-munity, it means a lot,” says Blackmon, owner of Blackmon Automotive at Barnes Crossing who began his career in 1958 selling parts at a Chevrolet dealership in Meridian. “I think it’s very important to support the people that support your business.”

It was his work in the community –

along with, of course, his unbeatable service as a car dealer – that earned Blackmon a Quality Dealer Award by Time magazine in 2005. It was an honor given to only 65 of more than 19,500 eligible dealers nationwide.

Blackmon first came to Tupelo when he purchased a Chevrolet dealership in 1985.

His son, Dwayne Blackmon, is general manager of the dealership, and his daughter, Brenda Smith, works there as well. Blackmon’s son-in-law, Jeff Smith, runs his dealership in Corinth.

– John McBryde


Business | Biz Briefs

Daniel H. Kellum, DDS • Thomas N. Kellum, DDS

Kellum Dental Clinic, P.A.505 Robins StreetTupelo, MS 38804(662) 842-5080www.kellumdental.com

FAMILY DENT IS TRY


I n October of 1948, 88 Tupelo busi-nessmen met in the Blue Room of the Hotel Tupelo with a single goal

in mind: to bring together various econ-omic and community forces under one umbrella to work together for the greater good of Tupelo and Lee County.

That group became the Community Development Foundation, which today has more than 1,100 members and a reputation to envy.

“The CDF has gained a national and international reputation,” says CDF President and CEO David Rumbarger. “For our small town of 35,000, in a small county of 75,000, to have the largest manufacturing workforce in the state is quite a feat.”

That workforce is just one of the reasons that Tupelo/Lee County has been one of the Top Ten Most Active Micropolitan Areas for New and Expanding Industries in Site Selection magazine for three years running. Site Selection also named the CDF as one of the Top 10 Economic Development Groups in the Nation.

So what’s the secret behind all this success?

“People call it the Tupelo Spirit,” Rumbarger says. “It’s really enlightened leadership. We’ve got a board of over 60 members, and each time they meet, they check their own hats at the door to look at the community good. That’s the unique and different thing.

“Most committees sit down and look at problems and look at someone to blame,” he continues. “But here, people say, ‘What can I do to help? Where do we want to go?’ That self lessness is the basis of the Tupelo Spirit.”

Over the past six decades, that Tupelo Spirit has helped bring many new businesses to the area. In fact, there are now more than 200 types of industries in Lee County.

Some, such as tires and furniture, are traditional industries for the region, while others are new here.

For example, Auto Parts Manufact-uring Mississippi, a tier-one supplier to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, is building its first-ever North American

headquarters in Lee County to work in tandem with the new Toyota manu-facturing facility in Blue Springs.

And recently, N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, a customer service call center, opened in Tupelo, while Circadence Corp., a high-tech defense contractor, located its advanced research and development facility here.

Another of the CDF’s biggest accom-plishments has been the creation of nine industrial parks located through-out the county to house all of the new businesses.

Assisting with site location, facilitating cooperation among agencies and devel-oping a top-notch workforce are all ways that CDF members have helped to make Tupelo and Lee County the place that new businesses call home.

The men who formed the CDF 60 years ago would surely be pleased to see the countless ways that their vision has been realized but, after all, with the Tupelo Spirit at work, anything is possible.

– Kimberly Daly

Sixty Years of Tupelo SpiritCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION MAKES ITS MARK ON THIS SOUTHERN CITY

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Left to right: Community Development Foundation Jack Reed Jr., past chairman; David Rumbarger, president; and Mitch Waycaster, chairman; are spearheading the Community Development Foundation in its 60th anniversary year.


Business | Chamber Report


2008-2009 Board of DirectorsMike ArmourChris BerrymanDavid BrevardMark BurlesonTillmon CalvertGary CarnathanMike ClayborneV. M. ClevelandScott CochranDavid ColeDavid CopenhaverBilly CrewsOrmella CummingsByron FellowsJim FitzgeraldTom FoyChauncey GodwinLloyd GrayRubye Del HardenLisa HawkinsJohn HeerDavid HensonDick HillShane HooperDavid IrwinTommie Lee IvyTerry JudyZell LongJohn LovornRandy McCoyRobin McGrawHughes MilamGuy MitchellBuzzy MizeChuck MoffattMabel MurphreeEd NeellyAlan NunneleeLarry OtisMary PaceGreg PirkleJack Reed, Jr.Scott ReedEddie RicheyCathy RobertsonTom RobinsonChris RogersDavid RumbargerMike ScottBobby SmithTerry SmithJeff SnyderJane SpainKyle StewardLee TuckerPatty TuckerMitch WaycasterMary WernerTim WestonMarkel Whittington



602 Econ Profile.indd 74 8/8/08 2:41:16 PM

TUPELO

BUSINESS CLIMATETupelo is on the cutting edge of regional public power supply.

The low-cost, reliable power continues to fuel new industrial growth,

which creates more jobs and improves Tupelo’s quality of life.

DISTANCE TO OTHER CITIES

Atlanta, 299 miles

Chicago, 578 miles

Dallas, 569 miles

Jackson, Miss., 165 miles

Memphis, Tenn., 90 miles

Nashville, Tenn., 239 miles

Birmingham, Ala., 135 miles

TRANSPORTATION

Airport

Tupelo Regional Airport

(662) 841-6570

Rail

Burlington Northern Santa Fe

Railway, (662) 844-6422

Kansas City Southern

(662) 842-2417

Waterways

Nearest navigable –

Tennessee-Tombigbee

Channel depth 300 feet

Port facility

TAXES

Residential

(owner-occupied), 10%

Industrial/Commercial

(real or personal property)

15%

Corporate income tax

3-5%

Retail sales tax

7.25%

Individual income tax

3-5%

Gasoline tax

18 cents per gallon

Average Millage Rate

City, 27.41

County, 25.52

Municipal School District

54.50

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Employees

North Mississippi Medical Center 4,286

Lane Furniture Industries 2,080

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. 1,520

Tupelo Public School District 1,200

JESCO Inc. 1,000

Wal-Mart, Sam’s 979

BancorpSouth 800

Lee County Schools 751

Tecumseh Products Co. 670

H.M. Richards Inc. 670

Day-Brite Capri Omega 650

City of Tupelo 575

Toyota Auto Body 400

Renasant Bank 390

Lee County employees 339

GROSS RETAIL SALES

Type January 2008 January 2007 Difference

Automotive $157,241,045 $158,779,429 ($1,538,385)

Contracting $86,177,489 $69,809,109 $16,368,380

Food $169,875,492 $158,450,171 $11,425,321

Furniture $38,621,876 $37,411,088 $1,210,788

General merchandise $231,503,997 $232,115,746 ($1,538,384)

Lumber & building materials $96,739,097 $100,360,998 ($3,621,901)

Machinery, equipment, and supply $56,403,106 $52,837,743 $3,565,363

Miscellaneous services $47,026,526 $42,981,331 $4,045,195

Miscellaneous retail $95,332,602 $102,617,856 ($7,285,254)

Public utilities $56,822,307 $52,428,933 $4,393,374

Recreation $3,161,642 $3,443,197 ($281,555)

Wholesale $11,276,826 $10,180,711 $1,096,115

Totals $1,050,182,005 $1,021,416,312 $28,765,693


Business | Economic Profile



Montessori children are unusually adaptable. They have learned to work independently and in groups. These children are problem-solvers who can make choices and manage their time well.

These children exchange ideas and discuss their work freely with others. Good communication skills ease the way in new settings.

Montessori programs help children develop good self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.

1955 Mount Vernon Rd. • Tupelo, MS 38804 • (662) 840-9917

Tupelo’s Only American Montessori Society Affiliate

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AVAILABLE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES

Harry A. Martin North

Lee Industrial Complex

503 acres

Turner Industrial Park

195 acres

Tupelo Lee Industrial

Park South

142 acres

Airport Industrial Park

136 acres

Tupelo Industrial Center

42 acres

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

(2007)

Lee County

Labor force

39,480

Employed

37,030

Unemployed

2,240

Unemployment rate

6.1%

MAJOR COUNTY RESOURCES

Mineral produced, lime

Timber type, pine

Major agricultural products,

soybeans, dairy, cattle,

forestry and other row crops

TUPELO/LEE COUNTY STATS

Average price single

family home, $115,800

Annual property tax based

on a $90,000 home would

be less than $950 in the city

and $720 in the county

Percentage, bachelor’s

degree or higher, 28.5%

Households, 26,903

OCCUPATION AND INDUSTRY (2000)

Employed civilian population 16 years and over 16,382 100%

Occupation Number Employed Percentage

Construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations 770 4.7%

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations 71 0.4%

Management, professional, and related occupations 5,676 34.6%

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 3,285 20.1%

Sales and office occupations 4,795 29.3%

Service occupations 1,785 10.9%

Industry Number Employed Percentage

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 80 0.5%

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 1,161 7.1%

Construction 646 3.9%

Educational, health and social services 3,457 21.1%

Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing 1,144 7.0%

Information 365 2.2%

Manufacturing 3,937 24.0%

Other services (except public administration) 703 4.3%

Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services 952 5.8%

Public administration 480 2.9%

Retail trade 2,286 14.0%

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 472 2.9%

Wholesale trade 699 4.3%

Class of Worker Number Employed Percentage

Government workers 1,759 10.7%

Private wage and salary workers 13,735 83.8%

Self-employed workers in own (not incorporated) business 853 5.2%

Unpaid family workers 35 0.2%




Home ownership

50.5%

Median household

income (2007)

$43,312

Per capita income (2007)

$28,685

Median home value,

owner-occupied

$85,500

COST OF LIVING

Percentage of City Composite

Index National Average

Tupelo

Composite Index, 89.1%

National Average, 10.9%

Gulfport-Biloxi



Huntsville, Ala.



Jackson, Tenn.



Paducah, Ky.



National Average is 100%

(Third Quarter, 2007)

86.9%

Source: ACCRA

INCENTIVES

Lee County Plus Plan: This

plan is designed to help local

industries remain competitive

in today’s global environment.

The plan offers property tax

exemptions, international

trade zone advantages,

Freeport warehousing,

inventory tax exemptions

and capital investment

advancements. This plan

is for industries establishing

a single calendar year capital

investment of $500,000 and/

or at least 25 full time jobs


EVERYTHING IN JANITORIAL, PAPER & PACKAGING SUPPLIES

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www.newellpaper.com

W H O L E S A L E M E R C H A N T S

B & B Concrete Co., Inc.130 N. Industrial Rd. • Tupelo(662) 842-6312

Rock Solid“Serving North Mississippi”



Paul B. Farabaugh, M.D.C. Stephen Farmer II, M.D.Jonathan R. Kalish, M.D.Wm. Hughes Milam, M.D.

J. Timothy Posey, M.D.Sally Lawson, CUNP

North Mississippi Medical Center • East Tower • 4th Floor, Suite BTupelo, Mississippi 38802 • (662) 377-7279

www.urologypa.com

No Referral Necessary

of Urology, P.A.

Testing and treatment for both female and male urinary incontinence

Video urodynamics • Biofeedback

Training and exercises • Female sexual health


with wages exceeding 125%

of the state average wage.

Greater Mississippi Foreign

Trade Zone: As a member of

the Greater Mississippi Foreign

Trade Zone, Tupelo/Lee

County provides FTZ benefits

such as relief from inverted

federal tariffs, federal duty

referral, direct delivery,

weekly entry and a reduction

in federal merchandise

processing fees and

personal property taxes.

Electrical Use Credit: The

Tennessee Valley Authority

offers a Growth Credit

Incentive on new and

expanded electrical power

loads over 100kw. This

incentive is applicable to

years one through eight.

Applications for this

incentive can be made

with the local TVA

power distributor.

Other local incentives:

Time permitting, application

will be made for Community

Development Block Grant

(CDBG) assistance to

extend utilities to the

property line if any road

improvements are required.

Site survey and warranty

deed are provided

at no cost to the client.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Community Development Foundation300 W. Main St.

Tupelo, MS 38804

Phone: (662) 842-4521

Fax: (662) 841-0693

www.cdfms.org

Sources:

www.cdfms.org, www.census.org, www.census.gov, 2002 Economic Census Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Mississippi State Tax Commission



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LITHOTRIPSY AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK

Minimally Invasive Treatments for IncontinenceUrodynamics • Erectile Dysfunction • Infertility

Laser Surgery • LaparoscopyMicrowave Prostate Therapy • No Scalpel Vasectomy

Cryotherapy for Prostate and KidneyFull Range of Urologic Procedures

C. Stephen Farmer II, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Paul B. Farabaugh, M.D., F.A.C.S. • Jonathan R. Kalish, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Wm. Hughes Milam, M.D., F.A.C.S.

J. Timothy Posey, M.D. • Sally Lawson, CUNP

UROLOGY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION830 S. Gloster St. • East Tower • Fourth FloorTupelo, MS 38801 • (662) 377-7100 • www.urologypa.com



ClassicFinishes

COMPUTER COLOR MATCHING

We sell the best.

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P.O. Box 3236Tupelo, MS 38801

(662) 842-0366Fax: (662) 842-0811

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602 Arts.indd 82 8/8/08 2:39:33 PM

For nearly 100 years, people have been entertained inside the historic Lyric Theatre.

The downtown landmark hosted live theatrical productions from 1912 to the early 1930s, and then it was converted into a movie house during the Depression. The Lyric stayed that way for 50 years until 1984, when the Tupelo Community Theatre purchased the historic building for $100,000.

“It took every penny we had, but we made a good purchase in ’84 because the theater building today is supposedly worth more than $2 million,” says Tom Booth, executive director of the Tupelo Community Theatre, which stages its performances at the Lyric Theatre. “The building was never shut down for any long period of time during its long history, so it has never had a chance to get run down. It is quite a place.”

The Lyric is an art deco structure with its original marquee. Booth estimates

that nearly $2 million in renovation costs has gone into the historic theater over the past few years.

“Since 2001, the Tupelo Community Theatre has been a part of a Mississippi Arts Commission grant program called ‘Building for the Arts,’ which helps cities make improvements to their art venues,” he says. “We recently received $400,000 from the commission to make improve-ments to our auditorium, which included upgrading all of the 464 seats on the main floor and balcony.”

TCT also just completed a $500,000 renovation to its f lyloft.

“The flyloft is a space about 60 feet above the stage where we can raise and lower curtains, drop in set pieces, use control wires that f ly actors above the stage and so forth,” Booth explains. “When we decided to tackle the flyloft renovation, the Lyric still had its original pulleys and ropes from 1912 that needed big men to pull them. It wasn’t very

safe and efficient, but we now have one of the most professional f lylofts in the theater industry.”

Tupelo Community Theatre was founded in 1969 and offers an annual, f ive-show season that runs from September through May. There are more than 1,100 season ticket holders who sup port the theater, and many of the sched uled shows are musicals and comedies.

“We are a talented organization that has won several awards from the Mississippi Theatre Association, including the 2007-2008 Best Production Award for our version of the play entitled Doubt,” Booth says. “TCT also gives back to the community with youth workshops, educational events, college scholarships and much more. We enjoy being in Tupelo, and invite all Tupelo and Lee County citizens to come out and see a play during our 2008-2009 season.”

– Kevin Litwin

Takin’ It to the StageLYRIC THEATRE CONTINUES TO ATTRACT AUDIENCES FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES

Tupelo Community Theatre’s production of Annie is one of the many musicals and comedies on tap each year.

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Arts & Culture

602 Arts.indd 83 8/8/08 2:39:34 PM


219 North Madison St.

Tupelo, MS 38804(662) 841-9027

www.li.lib.ms.us

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Main Street

Walgreens

Gloster Street

LEE COUNTYLIBRARY219 North Madison

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Your Free Wi-Fi Access Hotspot!

2270 W. Main St. • (662) 844-40113929 N. Gloster St. • 840-8401

Sams – 3833 N. Gloster • 840-6459Tupelo, MS • www.wal-mart.com

Save money. Live better.

602 Sports.indd 84 8/8/08 2:45:00 PM

It’s official: Ballard Park in Tupelo is now the largest city-owned athletic complex in all of Mississippi.The complex earned that distinction

in May 2008, when nine lighted baseball diamonds were added to the existing 53-acre sports facility. Prior to the baseball diamonds, Ballard Park was already home to 16 lighted soccer fields.

“The nine diamonds are all for youth baseball, from coach-pitch (8- to 9-year-olds) up through 14-year-olds,” says Don Lewis, director of the Tupelo Department of Parks and Recreation. “Then for younger kids who play T-ball, they will continue playing on the soccer fields that are part of the Ballard Park complex.”

Lewis says the vision for nine youth baseball diamonds began in 2006, when city officials decided to consolidate all playing fields into one location.

“For the past 20 years, kids have been playing on a multitude of fields all over Tupelo,” he says. “That was often a problem for parents who had two or more boys who played baseball at different fields, with the parents often having to choose which child to watch on a given night. That isn’t a problem anymore with all games played at Ballard Park.”

Lewis adds that the city of Tupelo also wanted to enter the market for hosting multiteam youth baseball tour-naments, which always provide big economic boosts to a community.

“We can now attract 40 or 50 teams to Tupelo for a given weekend tour-nament, plus Ballard Park could easily host high-profile, statewide or regional events,” he says. “We have already hosted soccer tournaments at Ballard Park that attracted about 75 teams, so scheduling big baseball tournaments is the next obvious move for us. Ballard Park is a nice showpiece for the city of Tupelo.”

The nine baseball diamonds were added to the athletic complex at a cost of $4.8 million, but Lewis says the tab could have easily topped $6 million.

“We got a lot of help from city departments, individual and corporate

sponsors, the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Tupelo Baseball Association,” he says. “The city tried to save money wherever it could. For example, Tupelo Water & Light installed all the energy-efficient lights to save money, and Tupelo Public Works helped in several of the construction phases. Many people in the community helped to make this facility a first-class base-ball destination.”

Lewis says the city is now looking at selling the overall naming rights to

the complex to help further offset the construction costs.

“The baseball/soccer facility is known as Ballard Park for now, but probably not for much longer,” he says. “We hope that a corporate citizen steps up and purchases the rights to have their name forever affixed to this beautiful athletic complex.” – Kevin Litwin

Hitting a Home RunBALLARD PARK ATHLETIC COMPLEX ADDS BASEBALL DIAMONDS TO ITS ROSTER

Nine lighted baseball diamonds were added to Ballard Park in May 2008.

SEE MORE ONLINE | To learn more about Ballard Park, visit imagestupelo.com and search for “sports and recreation.”


Sports & Recreation

602 Sports.indd 85 8/8/08 2:45:02 PM


Sanders Clinicfor Women

(662) 844-8754 • 1041 S. Madison St. • Tupelo, MS 38801

C.K. White, M.D.Johnny F. Miles, M.D.

Mark A. Ray, M.D.Clay B. Hudson, M.D.

Kristen Y. Turner, M.D.

Gynecology • InfertilityRoutine & high risk obstetrics

Gynecologic SurgeryLaser Surgery Laparoscopic & Hystroscopic SurgeryRoutine & High-Risk Obstetric CareInfertility Evaluation & TreatmentBone Density Evaluation

“Offering Comprehensive Health Care for Women in Every Season of Life.”

606 Brunson Dr. • Tupelo

(662) 840-4010

New patients welcome

Office hours by appointment only.

Board Certified PhysiciansGREGG A. WILLIS, M.D. TERRY Y. MCMILLIN, M.D.

Certified Nurse PractitionerMALINDA INGRAM, C.N.P.

602 Health.indd 86 8/8/08 2:43:59 PM


Treating Digestive Diseases for Patients in North Mississippi

Digestive Health Specialists, P.A.

Colon Cancer ScreeningHeartburn/GERD

Irritable Bowel SyndromeCrohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis

Hepatitis and Liver DiseasesPancreas and

Biliary DiseasesNutrition

Clinical Research

Stephen T. Amann, M.D.

John B. Averette, M.D.

Barney J. Guyton, M.D.

Roger L. Huey, M.D.

Noel K. Hunt, M.D.

Samuel C. Pace, M.D.

John O. Phillips, M.D.

Ernest Q. Williams, M.D.

Carah W. Edgeworth, CFNP

W. Carl Kellum Jr., M.D.1952-2006

589 Garfield Street, Suite 201 • Tupelo, MS 38801

(662) 680-5565 • (877) 942-7876

*Charles W. Wikle, DDS *J. Leland Chrisman, DDS

*F. Scott Bauer, DMD*William F. West, DMD, MDS. Bradford Roberts, DMD

*Diplomates, American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

1043 S. Madison, Ext.Tupelo, MS 38801(662) 842-8200

We offer a full range of oral & maxillofacial

surgery services including:

Dental implantsWisdom teeth

ExtractionsIntravenous anesthesia

602 Health.indd 87 8/8/08 2:44:00 PM


602 Health.indd 88 8/8/08 2:44:01 PM


I like my new pearls, but I LOVE

my new smile!

1763 Cliff Gookin Blvd. Tupelo, MS 38801(662) 842-2802Fax: (662) 842-3371www.drlamberth.com

General dentistry including cosmetic dentistry, complex crown and bridge and orthodontics.

1542 Medical Park Cir.Tupelo, MS 38801(662) 844-4711

2301 S. Lamar Blvd. Suite 130Oxford, MS 38655

(662) 236-2900

NEPHROLOGY &HYPERTENSIONASSOCIATES LTD.

Thomas D. Wooldridge, M.D.

J. Martin Lee Jr., M.D.

Tzonko V. Milev, M.D.

Kenneth M. Kellum, M.D.

Morris R. Hamilton, M.D.

Christopher D. Miller, M.D.

Jeannie Pence, CANP

TOLL-FREE (866) 344-4711

602 Health.indd 89 8/8/08 2:44:01 PM

Five years ago, Mark Stevens was living a life like many successful men his age. Now, he’s living a life most men dream of – and helping others get healthy in the process.

Stevens is co-owner, with Susan and Kirk Presley, of Tupelo’s Anytime Fitness club, as well as other franchise locations in North Mississippi and North Alabama.

As the name implies, Anytime Fitness clubs are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – a distinction that has made the Hastings, Minn.-based company one of the world’s leading fitness franchises.

Entrepreneur magazine has dubbed it the fastest-growing franchise in the country and one of the top 70 franchises in the world.

What makes his company stand out, Stevens says, is convenience coupled with state-of-the art equipment in smaller, scrupulously clean and well-maintained facilities.

“What also sets us apart is that we try very hard to build a culture that’s very accepting of people,” Stevens says. “Big clubs are generally occupied by people already fit, or body builders. We are for normal people who want to maintain good health or who are out of shape, needing and wanting to improve their fitness and health, maybe lose a few pounds so they look better.”

The company is so devoted to keeping that comfort level for non-jocks that they intentionally limit the amount of body-building equipment in their clubs to encourage serious weightlifters to work out elsewhere.

Anytime Fitness clubs are staffed during the day but are not staffed at night, making them far more economical to run, Stevens says. Members work out after hours in a locked facility and wear alarm necklaces in case accidents or emergencies occur – something that has never happened at Stevens’ clubs.

Among the club’s late-night customers are medical personnel, restaurant staff and other shift workers – some 40 or so most nights between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. – who enjoy “time to wind down on the way home.”

Despite the lack of staff, the clubs are not just bare-bones rooms. Besides top-of-the-line equipment, Tupelo’s club offers showers, tanning, drink machines, a group exercise room, classes and a child-care area. It boasts more than 1,000 members (AF clubs average 700-800 members) and is one of the most successful franchises in the company.

Stevens himself was a physically fit young father and Texas businessman when he discovered the Anytime Fitness Web site while looking for a way off the corporate treadmill. Blessed with material success, he says, he was tired of putting in long hours that kept him from his family.

“I was working 50 or 60 hours a week for a software development company and was a weekend dad,” says Stevens, who with his wife, Kristie, has four children. “The Anytime Fitness concept allows me to have a lifestyle where I don’t have to be tied to my business. In a typical small business, if an employee doesn’t show up, you’re in trouble. Having no staff allows me the flexibility to be with our family more.” – Laura Hill

Working Out Any Time of DayTUPELO FITNESS FACILITY IS OPEN 24/7 FOR ITS GROWING CUSTOMER BASE

Wilson Coleman works out at Anytime Fitness, part of a national chain of fitness centers open 24/7.

JE

FF

AD

KIN

S


Health & Wellness

602 Health.indd 90 8/8/08 2:44:03 PM

When you’re 13 years old, the prospect of earning $13 an hour is exciting. Think of the flat-screen televisions, hot cars and cool clothes that kind of

money can buy. Or maybe not.Courtesy of the Mississippi Scholars Program, Tupelo

eighth-graders are learning that money may not go as far as they think – all the more reason to stay in school, take tougher courses and prepare for a more lucrative work life.

“We want to make children aware of the different opportunities that await them if they complete higher-rigor courses and not just the minimum to get out of high school,” says Todd Beadles, director of workforce development at the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo, which shepherds the Mississippi Scholars program locally.

The state program, part of a national State Scholars Initiative, was launched in 2003. Since then, more than 5,000 Mississippi high school students have earned the Mississippi Scholars distinction by successfully completing a beefed-up course of study.

In Lee County, Beadles says, more than 200 students in the past three years have graduated with the distinction, earning special medallions and certificates, recognition on their transcripts and, in 2007, Best Buy gift cards.

Beadles and other business professionals in the area present special PowerPoint programs in local schools, demonstrating how better education boosts earnings. Students learn what employers expect from them, what a transcript looks like and how more difficult coursework pays off.

Looking at a line-by-line budget that includes rent, taxes,

food, auto expenses, clothing, etc., the students soon learn that getting rich on $13 an hour is a fantasy.

“Kids think it’s a fortune, and that they could have every-thing they want,” Beadles adds. “They are f labbergasted, to be honest, to see how little money that is and how quickly it goes.”

In Tupelo, members of the Community Development Foundation’s Tupelo Young Professionals group have been important volunteers in the program, sharing the scholars’ presentation and their own experiences.

While the Mississippi Scholars program is primarily aimed at college-bound students, Beadles casts his net a bit wider in Tupelo, encouraging those who will join the working world right after high school to stay in school and work harder while they’re there.

“We want to reach out to a broader variety of students,” he says. “We’ve gotten to a point, with Toyota coming into the region, for example, where we need to advocate skilled trades, jobs that make good money and very good careers for people.”

Curbing the state’s 26.6 percent high school dropout rate was the subject of two Graduation Destination summits in January and February 2008, hosted by America’s Promise Alliance.

Held in Jackson, Miss., high school students and then adults discussed how to cut the dropout rate in half in the next seven years.

Mississippi Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds says there’s no doubt that high school dropouts suffer econ-omically, but the state suffers, too.

“As a state, we pay a heavy price in terms of lost tax revenue, lost economic development and increased dependence on social services,” he says. – Laura Hill

Turning Students Into ScholarsKEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL IS THE AIM OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Since 2003, more than 5,000 Mississippi high school students have earned the Mississippi Scholars distinction.


Education

602 Education.indd 91 8/8/08 2:41:25 PM

602 Comm Profile.indd 92 8/8/08 2:40:49 PM

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

TUPELO

SNAPSHOTTupelo boasts a state-of-the-art medical center, a community

college that rivals most in the state, a growing industrial base

and thriving downtown, perfect for budding entrepreneurs.

TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

City – Mayor/Council

County – Board of Supervisors

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Cancer Center, 377-4077

North Mississippi Medical

Center (650 beds)

377-3000

Women’s Hospital

377-4800

UTILITIES

Cable

Comcast, 842-5625

Natural Gas

Atmos Energy, 842-2441

(Supplier: So. Natural Gas)

Electricity

Tupelo Water and Light

841-6470

(Supplier: Tennessee

Valley Authority)

Tombigbee Electric

Power Association

842-7635

Telephone

AT&T

(800) 757-6500

Water & Sewer

Tupelo Water & Light

841-6470

CLIMATE

Average Annual Temperature

62 F

January Average

40 F

July Average

81 F

Average Rainfall

51.9 inches

MEDIA

Newspapers

Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (daily)

842-2611

Lee County Courier (weekly)

840-8819

Television

WCBI (CBS)

WKDH (ABC)

WLOV (FOX)

WTVA (NBC)

ATTRACTIONS

BancorpSouth Arena

841-6573;

tickets, 841-6528

Brice’s Crossroads365-3969

Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, 841-1245

Elvis Presley Lake and Campground, 840-5172

Gum Tree Museum of Art844-2787

Oren Dunn City Museum 841-6438

Lee County Agri-Center 566-5600

Natchez Trace Parkway 680-4025 or (800) 305-7417

Tupelo Automobile Museum 842-4242

Tupelo Ballet

844-1928 or 844-4352

Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo

844-8709

The area code for Tupelo is 662 . IMAGESTUPELO.COM 93

Community Profile

Metal FinishesZinc Plating

Phosphate & Oil

Power Coat Stripping

Metal Finishing

Chemical ProductsFlow & Carpet CareGreases & LubricantsIndustrial CleanersInsecticides/PesticidesBiodegradable Cleaner

Serving: Hotels, Health Care, Restaurants, Homes, Military, Automotive & More

(662) 840-6060 • www.ritekem.com



Do

gwo

od

D

evelopm

ent C

om

pany

Community Development is our focus in Saltillo.

Residential & commercial development, sales & leasing

Experience the growth!

General offices in the Town Creek District(662) 869-5150

www.dogwooddevelopmentcompany.com

Town Creek Plantation

The GroveNan Harston

Gardens

Over 100 classic automobiles from the 1880s-1990s!

Hours:March-OctoberTues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m.November-FebruaryTues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m.Closed:Mondays, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

1 Otis Blvd.Tupelo, MS 38804(662) 842-4242

www.tupeloauto.com


Tupelo National Battlefield

(Natchez Trace Parkway)

680-4027

Tupelo Veterans Museum

844-1515

Private John Allen National

Fish Hatchery, 842-1341

Tupelo Community Theatre

844-1935

Tupelo Symphony Orchestra

842-8433

Tombigbee State Park

842-7669

Tours – Tupelo Convention

& Visitors Bureau

(800) 533-0611

EDUCATION

Type Number Students

Elementary Schools (K-3) 7 3,200

Intermediate Schools (4-6) 3 1,150

Junior High (7-8) 1 1,110

High School (9-12) 1 1,145

Private Schools (K-12) 5 760

Vocational-Technical 1 590

TUPELO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTwww.tupeloschools.com • 841-8850

Elementary Schools

Carver Elementary 841-8870

Church Street Elementary 841-8880

Joyner Elementary 841-8900

Lawhon Elementary 841-8910

Lawndale Elementary 841-8890

Milam Elementary 841-8920

Parkway Elementary 844-6303

Pierce Street Elementary 841-8940

Rankin Elementary 841-8950

Thomas Street Elementary 841-8960

Middle SchoolTupelo Middle School 840-8780

High SchoolTupelo High School 841-8970

Higher EducationUniversity of Mississippi – Tupelo Branch 844-5622

Mississippi University for Women – School of Nursing 844-0284

Itawamba Community College – Tupelo Branch 620-5000

Private Schools

Children’s House the Montessori SchoolGrades: Pre-K – K 2225 W. Main St. 842-0220

Lakeview Baptist AcademyGrades: PK - 12830 Shumacola Trail 842-4005

Montessori School of TupeloGrades: Pre-K – K (18 months – K)1955 Mount Vernon Rd. 840-9917

Tupelo Christian Academy (ACSI)Grades: K – 121801 E. Main St.www.tcmm.org 791-7731

Tupelo Christian Preparatory SchoolGrades: PK4 – 125440 Endville Rd.www.tcps.net 844-8604

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Animal Control, 841-6500

Chancery Clerk, 841-9100

Circuit Clerk

(Voter Registration)

841-9024

County Administrator

841-9130

Downtown Main

Street Association

841-6598

Driver’s License, 844-2408

Emergency, 911

Lee County Board

of Supervisors, 841-9110

Lee County Library

841-9027

Mayor’s Office, 841-6513

GENDER BREAKDOWN

47%53%

Male

Female


Community Profile


ACTION! ADVENTURE!

AT IMAGESTUPELO.COM

THE MOVIETHE MOVIEImages of TupeloImages of Tupelo

STARTS TODAY!

WORLD WIDE WEBSHOWTIMES VALIDMONDAY-SUNDAY 24/7

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN TUPELO IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

““TUPELO LIKE IT’S TUPELO LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN NEVER BEEN SEEN

BEFORE!BEFORE!””

““IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!””


Parks & Recreation

841-6440

Public Works

841-6457

Sheriff’s Department

841-9040

Tax Assessor

(homestead exemption)

841-9031

Tax Collector (car tags)

841-9034

Tupelo Fire Department

(nonemergency)

841-6439

Tupelo Police Department

(nonemergency)

841-6491

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

(2000 Census)

Percentage of age group

High school graduate

or higher

25 to 34 years

87.0%

35 to 44 years

86.1%

45 to 64 years, 84.8%

65 years and over, 62.2%

Bachelor’s degree

or higher

25 to 34 years, 28.9%

35 to 44 years, 29.8%

45 to 64 years, 29.3%

65 years and over, 15.7%

HOUSING STATISTICS

(2000 Census)

Median value

$92,800

Number with a mortgage

904

Not mortgaged, 239

Median contract rent

$363

Median gross rent

$454

FAMILY INCOME STATISTICS (2000 CENSUS)

Income Number Percentage

Less than $10,000 657 7.1%

$10,000 to $14,999 469 5.1%

$15,000 to $24,999 933 10.1%

$25,000 to $34,999 1,169 12.7%

$35,000 to $49,999 1,521 16.5%

$50,000 to $74,999 2,082 22.6%

$75,000 to $99,999 1,217 13.2%

$100,000 to $149,999 641 6.9%

$150,000 to $199,999 189 2.0%

$200,000 or more 351 3.8%


Community Profile

A CERTIFIED MISSISSIPPI RETIREMENT CITY

Retire in the place where you belong

TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

Tupelo Retirement Living(800) 488-0739 • [email protected]/retire/tupelo.htm

• Clean, Friendly & Safe Neighborhoods• Nine Lively Festivals• Wildlife, Fishing & Parks• Golf, Recreation & Walking Trails• Largest Non-Metropolitan Full-Service Hospital in the Nation• Continuing Education• Cultural Amenities• Affordable Housing• Low Cost of Living, 12.7% Below National Average• Great Shopping & Restaurants• Places of Worship & Civic Organizations• Convenient Airline Connections & Good Highways• Retirement Income is Exempt from State Taxes

YO U R D O L L A R S G O FA R T H E R …

Where a warm welcome waits for you!

TUPELO RETIREMENT

LIVING – BASK

IN THE WARMTH!



Looking for ways to save money

on gas and help the environment?

The EPA wants to share some

smart driving tips that could give

you more miles per gallon of gas

and reduce air pollution. Tips

like making sure your tires are

properly infl ated and replacing

your air fi lter regularly. And

where possible, accelerate and

brake slowly. Be aware of your

speed ... did you know that for

every 5 miles you go over 65 mph,

you’re spending about 20 cents

more per gallon of gas? If you’re

shopping for a new car, choose

the cleanest, most effi cient

vehicle that meets your needs. If

we each adopt just one of these

tips, we’d get more miles for our

money and it would be a little

easier to smell the fl owers. For

more tips and to compare cleaner,

more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS

“SINCE 1952”

Clay Short, Barry Replogle, Ellen Short(662) 842-8283(800) 731-8873

402 N. Gloster • Tupelo, MS

www.TRIrealestate.net

Commercial Sales, Leasing & Development

Residential & Commercial Rentals


RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

1,400 acres of city parkland,

including 18 beautiful city

parks and 13 walking tracks

Eight state parks and four

national forests within an

hour’s drive

Tupelo’s Sportsplex

houses 16 professionally

lighted soccer fields at

Ballard Park.

There are 12 professionally

lighted baseball fields and

seven softball fields in Tupelo.

Headquarters for the Natchez

Trace Parkway

HOUSEHOLD INCOME STATISTICS (2000 CENSUS)

Income Number Percentage

Less than $10,000 1,536 11.4%

$10,000 to $14,999 958 7.1%

$15,000 to $24,999 1,671 12.4%

$25,000 to $34,999 1,907 4.1%

$35,000 to $49,999 2,221 16.5%

$50,000 to $74,999 2,470 18.3%

$75,000 to $99,999 1,418 10.5%

$100,000 to $149,999 736 5.5%

$150,000 to $199,999 211 1.6%

$200,000 or more 367 2.7%

POPULATION PROFILE

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Other Black Caucasian

69.4%

28.3%

2.3%

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Community Development Foundation300 W. Main St.

Tupelo, MS 38802

Phone: 842-4521

Fax: 841-0693

www.cdfms.org

Tupelo Convention & Visitors BureauP.O. Drawer 47

Tupelo, MS 38802

Phone: (800) 533-0611

Fax: 841-6521

www.tupelo.net

Sources:www.cdfms.org, www.worldclimate.com, www.tupelo.net, www.census.gov


Community Profile



©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions

answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

Get downtown! For unique shopping, urban living,

fine dining and cool events.

www.tupelomainstreet.com www.tupeloelvisfestival.com

Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association108 S. Broadway • Tupelo, MS 38804 • (662) 841-6598

DiningCarry OutCatering (any size group)

840-8800203 Commerce St.

Across from Tupelo Coliseum

LLC

™

We Roast ... You Boast!

Mon., Tue., Wed.:

10:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Thur., Fri., Sat.:

10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

MARTINREA FABCOAUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURES

323 CDF Blvd. • Shannon, MS 38868

An automotive supplier of structural assemblies, proudly supports the

Community Development Foundation and Tupelo area community.

Compliments of:

“Specializing in meeting your needs”

Willow tree angels • Mississippi hand potteryTapestries • Home decor

Goodie baskets • And much more!

602 Comm Profile.indd 100 8/11/08 8:32:23 AM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January

TUPELO GIGANTIC FLEA MARKET

Tupelo Furniture Market Building

842-4442

February

JUNIOR AUXILIARY CHARITY BALL

March



842-4442

April

AZALEA FESTIVAL

Veterans Park



842-4442

WINE DOWN MAIN STREET

Broadway Street

Downtown Tupelo

841-6598

May

BLUE SUEDE CRUISE

BancorpSouth Arena

534-2683

CELLULAR SOUTH GUMTREE FESTIVALCOURTHOUSE SQUARE

844-ARTS

DOWNTOWN TUPELO FARMER’S MARKET

South Spring Street

841-6598

DUDIE BURGER FESTIVAL

Oren Dunn City Museum

841-6438

TUPELO FILM FESTIVAL

Lyric Theatre

841-6521

TUPELO GIGANTIC FLEA MARKETTupelo Furniture Market Building

842-4442

TUPELO HOG ROASTTupelo VFW Post

365-7659

June

DOWNTOWN TUPELO FARMER’S MARKETSouth Spring Street

841-6598

ELVIS PRESLEY FESTIVALFront Street – Downtown Tupelo

841-6598

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONBallard Park

TUPELO GIGANTIC FLEA MARKETTupelo Furniture Market

Building

842-4442

July

ALL-AMERICA CITY PICNICBallard Park

841-6440


841-6598


842-4442

August


841-6598

PCA SANCTIONED CHAMPIONSHIP RODEOTupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo

844-8709

TUPELO FURNITURE MARKETTupelo Furniture

Market Buildings

842-4442

September

DOWNTOWN TUPELO FARMER’S MARKETSouth Spring Street, 841-6598

NORTH MISSISSIPPI STATE FAIRLee County Agri-Center,

566-5600


842-4442

TUPELO MARATHON AND 14.2 MILER Start/Finish at Tupelo

Furniture Market Building

WHITE BUFFALO POW WOWTupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo

844-8709


Community Profile


October

CELEBRATION VILLAGE

Tupelo Furniture Market

Building 5

844-2111

DOWNTOWN TUPELO FARMER’S MARKET

South Spring Street

841-6598

FALL CHILI FEST

Broadway Street

Downtown Tupelo

841-6598


Tupelo Furniture

Market Building

842-4442

November

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FLEA MARKET & CRAFTS SHOW

Tupelo Furniture Market

842-4442


Tupelo Furniture

Market Building

842-4442

December

ANNUAL GALA

Gum Tree Museum of Art

844-ARTS (2787)

THE NUTCRACKER BALLET

Middle School

Civic Auditorium

841-8850

REED’S TUPELO CHRISTMAS PARADE

Downtown Tupelo

841-6598


Tupelo Furniture

Market Building

842-4442


Community Profile

Leading the way, and turning the lights on as we go.

NESCO puts power into your project.

Since 1965, Nesco has provided innovative solutionsin power and lighting for thousands of projects. A true Mississippi company, staying true to our region with the best inventory, the best service and the most professional expertise in the state.

2344 S. Green St. • Tupelo(662) 840-4750 • www.nescoelectric.com

Also Amory • Columbus • Oxford • Corinth • Starkvilleand The Lighting Gallery, Tupelo


MANAGING EDITOR SUSAN CHAPPELL

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SARAH B. GILLIAM

ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS KIMBERLY DALY,

SHARON H. FITZGERALD, TIM GHIANNI, LAURA HILL,

MELANIE HILL, JOHN McBRYDE, JESSICA MOZO

DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE

DATA MANAGERS RANETTA SMITH

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER ANDREA G. JOINER

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, KYLE KEENER, JESSE KNISH

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.

MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER

GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ERICA HINES,

JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON,

MARCUS SNYDER, CANDICE SWEET

WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITORS/BUSINESS

MAURICE FLIESS, BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK,

DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Images of Tupelo is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is

distributed through the Community Development Foundation and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Community Development Foundation

300 W. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38802Phone: (662) 842-4521 • Fax: (662) 841-0693

E-mail: [email protected]

VISIT IMAGES OF TUPELO ONLINE AT IMAGESTUPELO.COM

©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Community Development Foundation

OF TUPELO

TM


Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com

B&B Concrete www.bbconcrete.com

Bancorp South www.bancorp.com

BBQ by Jim LLC

BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi www.bcbsms.com

Cellular South www.cellularsouth.com

Century 21 – Sue Gardner www.suegardnerrealty.com

Classic Finishes

Coldwell Banker – Tommy Morgan Inc. Realtors www.tmhomes.com

Comcast www.comcast.com

Community Development Foundation www.cdfms.org

Cook Coggin Engineers Inc. www.cookcoggin.com

Cooper Tires www.coopertire.com

Create Foundation www.createfoundation.com

Crye-Leike, Realtors www.crye-leike.com

Day-Brite Lighting www.dcolighting.com

DB’s Floral Designs N’ More

Digestive Health Specialists

Dogwood Development Company www.dogwooddevelopmentcompany.com

Eat With Us www.eatwithus.com

Engineering Solutions Inc. www.esi-ms.com

Hawkeye Industries Inc. www.hawkeye.ws

Heavenly Ham www.heavenlyham.com

Heritage Obstetrics & Gynecology

Hilton Garden Inn/Bancorp South Conference Center www.hiltongardeninn.com

Hunter Douglas www.hunterdouglas.com

Itawamba Community College www.iccms.edu

J. Guyton Group www.jguytongroup.com

Jesco Inc. www.jescoinc.net

Johnson Bailey Henderson McNeil Architects www.jbhm.com

Kellum Dental Clinic www.kellumdental.com

Lee County Library www.li.lib.ms.us

Lighting Gallery by Nesco www.nescoelectric.com

Main Street Association www.tupelomainstreet.com

Martin Rea www.martinrea.com

McCarty Company www.mccartycompany.com

Mitchell McNutt & Sams PA www.mitchellmcnutt.com

Montessori School of Tupelo www.montessori-tupelo.org

Nephrology & Hypertension Associates LTD

Newell Paper Company www.newellpaper.com

North Mississippi Hematology & Oncology

North Mississippi Medical Center www.nmhs.net

North Mississippi Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates PA

Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates

Premier Dental Care www.premierdentalcareonline.com

Pryor & Morrow Architects www.pryor-morrow.com

Regions Bank www.regions.com

Renasant Bank www.renasant.com

Rite-Kem www.ritekem.com

Robinson & Associates www.robinson-advertising.com

Sanders Clinic for Women

Tennessee Valley Authority www.tva.gov

The Continence Center www.urologypa.com

The Cotton Bolt www.magnoliaco.com

The Mall at Barnes Crossing www.barnescrossing.com

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi www.toyota.com

TRI Inc. Realtors www.trirealestate.net

Tupelo Auto Museum www.tupeloauto.com

Tupelo Church of God www.tupelocog.org

Tupelo Retirement Living www.ci.tupelo.ms.us

University of Mississippi Tupelo www.olemiss.edu/tupelo

Urology Professional Association www.urologypa.com

Wal-Mart Super Center www.walmart.com

WCBI-TV-DT www.wcbi.com

Woman’s Clinic

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Complete conference and meeting facilities

On-site culinary experts

Over 10,000 sq. ft. of fl exible space

Everything. Right where you need it.®

Located in the heart of historic downtown Tupelo, The Hilton Garden Inn is the fi rst choice for comfortable accommodations, memorable meals and successful events.

Hotel FacilitiesFull-service Great

American Grill® restaurant

Indoor pool and whirlpool

24-hour fi tness center and Stay Fit Kit®

Complimentary newspaper

Pavilion Pantry convenience market

Fully equipped business center

Complimentary HSIA throughout hotel

Banquet and meeting space

Guest Room FeaturesMicrowave, mini-refrigerator and coffee brewer

Large work desk with Herman Miller Mirra® ergonomic desk chair

Remote printing to the business center

Phillips® 26” inch HD fl at-screen television

Innovative MP3 compatible clock/radio

Hairdryer, iron and ironing board

Two telephones with voice mail and data ports

Hilton Garden Inn Tupelo363 E. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38804(662) 718-5500 • Fax: (662) 718-5550

www.tupelo.hgi.com

You’ve Got to

Start Meeting

Like This.

387 E. Main St. • Tupelo, MS 38804

(662) 718-5555 • Fax: (662) 718-5560

www.tupelomeetings.com


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