Area News
Welcome Home: Mt. Olivet Celebrates 150 Years of Faith
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Little country church invites community to celebrate a century and a half of worship, fellowship and memories For 150 years, families have traveled the country roads leading to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church for Sunday worship, homecomings, weddings, revivals and times of prayer. Next Sunday, those same roads will once again bring…
Read MoreA Smile, A Helping Hand and a Heart for God
CITIZEN OF THE MONTH Citizen of the Month: Tina Adcox has spent nearly 30 years serving the people of Morton By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit Spend just a few minutes talking with Tina Adcox, and you’ll quickly discover she has a heart for people. Whether she’s helping someone buy their first home, start a…
Read MoreCommunity Honors Legacy of Bettye Mae Jack With Street Sign Dedication
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Under the blazing sun and the heat of a humid Mississippi day, community members gathered Saturday to honor the legacy of Bettye Mae Jack, a pioneering educator whose dedication to children and education left an unforgettable mark on Morton and Scott County. Friends, former students and longtime residents came together for…
Read MoreWatermelon, Family and Small-Town Hospitality: Mize Festival Celebrates 48 Years of Tradition
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit There are some places that just seem to slow life down for a little while. Where strangers wave, children laugh with sticky watermelon juice running down their chins, and neighbors work side by side to welcome thousands of visitors as if they were family. That’s exactly what people will find…
Read MoreA Heart for Service, A Love for Family
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit Some people wear many hats in life, but for Lt. Shawn Dennis, the titles he values most aren’t the ones stitched across a uniform. Ask the 34-year-old firefighter what he hopes people remember about him, and his answer comes without hesitation. “I want to be remembered for being a…
Read MoreCreativity Takes Center Stage at MCLC Mini Create Camp
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit For many children, summer is all about sleeping a little later, spending time with friends and finding something fun to do. This July, the Morton Community and Learning Center hopes to add a little creativity to that summer fun with its upcoming Mini Create Camp. The three-day camp will be…
Read More“A Familiar Face in a New Role: Chad Harrison Begins Journey as Scott County Superintendent”
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit In 1995, Chad Harrison walked into a Scott County classroom as a teacher and coach. More than 30 years later, that same commitment to students and education has led him to the superintendent’s office. Following the retirement of Superintendent Alan Lumpkin, effective June 30, 2026, Harrison will begin serving as…
Read MoreGray Shares Passion for Bringing JROTC to Scott County Schools
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit Despite a rainy Tuesday afternoon, members of the Morton Lions Club gathered June 23 to hear a presentation from Lt. Col. (Ret.) Albert Gray, who spoke about a subject that has become one of his greatest passions — bringing a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program to the Scott…
Read MoreA Vision, A Calling and a Camp Built on Faith
By Cheryl Owens Mississippi Spirit For nearly four decades, David and Lori Lynne Cooke have walked side by side through marriage, ministry and a calling they believe was ordained by God long before Timber Creek Camp ever existed. Today, Timber Creek Camp, located in Scott County between Morton and Homewood, has become a place where…
Read MoreA Father’s Day Blessing
To quote the late evangelist Billy Graham, “A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” When I first wrote these words several years ago, my father, Albert “Hack” McMullen, was still with us. Today, Father’s Day feels different. Daddy is no…
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