A Great Youth Deer Hunt

Leaving Christmas Rd and the end to another great hunt in the outdoors!

The youth hunters great harvest!

Yearling suckling it's Mama.

Deer in field behind me.

The field in front of my stand where most of the deer came out.

The beautiful field behind me.

The young hunters posing for a picture on the gator with Camo!

Thomas with Paul who took him on his first deer hunt.

A proud Thomas with his first deer...a doe. This was his lucky day because he harvested another doe that evening. Congratulations Thomas and to all the young hunters at the deer camp who harvested a deer!

I got to the deer camp of the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club around 8:00 and had not been there no more than 15 minutes when Paul and Thomas came in with a nice doe that Thomas had harvested. It was the beginning of a day of hunting that turned out to be the best Youth Hunt that I had ever witnessed. After everyone came in from the morning hunt the kids were all excited telling their stories and later they enjoyed the day riding around on 4-wheelers and gators till it was time to go back out and hunt some more. Spencer, Rex's son, took me to the Arrowhead Stand and we jumped deer that were already in the field. He saw that I got up in the tripod and got situated and he hunted two stands down from me. I had an excellent stand to take pictures of deer, if they walked out again....and they walked again....15 of them! They were behind me, they were in front of me. It was the most exciting day that I have had in a very long time. It was very nice, cold and windy day. At one point, I had two yearlings to come out in front of me and were eating when all of a sudden I saw Mama deer come into the field. As soon as she walked in a few steps, one of the yearlings bounced over to her and started suckling. I could not believe it and was able to take two pictures before she kicked him out of the way! When I got back to the camp their were 7 deer that had been harvested. It was the most memorable day for all the young hunters/adults and will be a day we all will never forget while hunting in our great wild outdoors!

Family from Santa Fe

John Gregory playing soccer Friday night after a rain.

Laura with Kitty Obama.

Three generations - Bob with his son Greg and his son John Gregory.

A cute picture I took of then while I was standing on backside of stand.

Karen at her Dad's deer stand.

Bob with his daughter, Karen and ex-wife Camilla. They drove a car from Santa Fe, NM to Vicksburg for John (who will turn 15 on Christmas Eve) a car (gift) from his Aunt Jackie. We had a really nice visit and they are flying back to NM this afternoon. This is a sweetthing!

Youth Hunt in MS Delta!

Looking forward to helping out with the Youth Hunt at the Deer Camp in the Delta and sitting on The Arrowhead Stand this afternoon to see if I can take some pictures of deer. I hope I don't encounter the mysterious ghost light that Mark saw...I think Rex is trying to scared me!

Sports Arena

Our granddaughter, Laura Phillips, has been in gymnastics at Gymsouth for a good while now and this was her latest accomplishment while competing at the Latin Fest meet in Flowood recently. Level 5's Monica Hughey placed second all around, Megan Rigby was second on vault and floor, and Tana Starned placed second on vault and third on floor. Level 6's Olivia Jennings finished third in the all around. Prep-op Mary Kalusche placed third all around and Laura Phillips was third on the beam. Team members are, front row from left, Monica Hughey, Megan Rigby and Tana Starnes. Middle row, from left, Olivia Jennings, Reann Jones and Maggie Waites. Back row, from left, Laura Phillips and Mary Kalusche. Jenny Albritton is also on the team. Congrats to Laura...we are proud of you! Grandpa Bob and Gran Gran

A Cute Lil' Pumpkin

Emma and Dad getting ready to go Trick or Treating....

My youngest daughter, Suzi, and her daughter, Emma, who is dressed up as a lil' pumpkin for Halloween past. My daughter sent me these pictures yesterday via my oldest daughter's B'day card. This is Emma's first real Halloween since she is walking now. Suzi is scheduled for another knee surgery today. I wish I could be with her in Virginia, but the other grandmother will be there to help take care of Emma while she recovers. I guess she is taking after her mother who also has had two knee surgeries...it must run in the family. Wishing you a speedy recovery Suzi...Love you, Mom

An Autumn Tree

My classmate (Class of 1959) and neighbor, Ina, called me the other day and said I needed to go by and take a picture of a tree one block over from me. She described how pretty it was. I grab my camera and got this shot. Actually, I only shot the base of it because the top part, the leaves were almost gone. The bottom part was still full and vibrant. The fall colors around Vicksburg are at their peak. Today, we are having a lot of rain and winds up to 25 miles per hour, so leaves are falling everywhere in our great outdoors!

Happy 45th Birthday Teri

My oldest daughter, Theresa "Teri", is 45 years old today. This is her Senior Class picture taken back in 1981, having graduated from St. Aloysius High School. She has a daughter now, Sonya Michelle (24). Teri lives in Magee, MS and is a nurse working in a nursing home there. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and many more to come. I love you very, very much...MOM

A Veterans Day Tribute

Classmate, Class of 1959, Theresa Martin Kitowski's only son and child was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on August 12, 2007. Charles B. Kitowski III, was living in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch but was born in Gulfport, MS. He was assigned to the 345th Psychological Operations Company, 2nd Phychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC. He worked in the finance department at Southwest Airlines in Dallas before deploying to Afghanistan. He earned several military awards, including the Marksmanship Qualification Badge and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He is survived by his parents, Chuck and Theresa Kitowski, of Katy, Texas. The family requested that they wanted the Patriot Guard Riders with them on their sons last journey.

They released this statement:

"There is no good time for a tragedy, and when the world loses a young person, our hearts and souls weep more intensely. The Kitowski family is sincerely touched by the concern and interest all have taken in Charles' life. We are proud of our son's life, his accomplishments and his career.

"We would like to thank his friends, work colleagues, and his fellow soldiers at the 345th Psychological Operations Company, for their sincere expressions of sympathy during this very difficult time.

"Your support is appreciated as we mourn the loss of our son who was a caring son and a selfless soldier.

"Charles died doing what he felt duty-bound to do. Please remember his life, his happy memories, his favorite expressions or advice he ever offered. "Keep our family and friends close in your heart and prayers.

Thank you."

(Also, killed with Kitowski were Sgt. lst Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 32 of Madill, OK and Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers, Jr. 27 of Herndon, VA), May they all rest in peace!

An Asset for Vicksburg

All Saints’ Episcopal School on Confederate Avenue (Katie Carter*The Vicksburg Post)

It was announced in The Vicksburg Post yesterday that a service organization, AmeriCorps, which will be the fifth in the United States, is coming to Vicksburg. It will be housed in the 100-year-old All Saints' Episcopal School which closed its doors as a religious boarding school in 2006.

The Episcopal Diocese of MS, which co-owns the school with the Episcopal Dioceses of Louisiana, Arkansas and Western Louisiana, has leased the 40-acre complex to AmeriCorps, a government service program.

The Vicksburg campus will be the fifth in the country; the other four are in Denver, Sacramento, Perry Point, MD, and Vinton, Iowa.

This is a big win for Vicksburg and was a result of a lot of work that was done with the city government of Vicksburg helping the Diocese to lay the plan for AmeriCorps to come in and use the facility for their volunteers.

It comprises of nine buildings, including the dormitories - three formerly used for girls and two for boys.

The oldest building on campus, Green Hall, houses the administrative offices and all classrooms, as well as the dining hall and library.

The campus also includes a chapel and a residence that previously housed the rector, a skateboarding court, a swimming pool, two tennis courts, two soccer fields, a disc golf course, a sand volleyball course and a gym that houses weight equipment, a basketball court and a rock-climbing wall. This is a win win situation for Vicksburg! Charming, Just Charming!

A NAMI Mississippi Walk

Kneeling, B. J. Friley and Christopher Graves. Standing, myself, Marian Phillips, Brenda Graves, Mary Pope, Doris Pickens (Brenda's Mother) and Carla Fleming.

Photo taken by Ann.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) hosted it's annual walk at the LeFleur's Bluff State Park in Jackson, MS, yesterday. Team members of Vicksburg NAMI our support group, walked the two mile fundraiser for mental illness in our capital city. I have been involved for awhile in this organization, mainly to become informed, to find support and to get involved in order to bring awareness to mental illness. It was a beautiful day for a walk in the park and was a very good turnout for a worthy cause. Everyone received a free t-shirt and after the walk, a lot of door prizes were given out. I was fortunate to win a beautiful peace plant from Frank's Flower Shop in Greenwood, MS. This is a sweetthing!

B.J. standing by the NAMI banner in the park.

...and we're off for our walk.

Some ladies walking with their new NAMI t-shirts on.

I spotted a deer in the woods - on B.J.'s jacket from Korea!

A beautiful scene in the park...

Can you believe a swamp in downtown Jackson!

Getting ready to call out the many door prizes that were donated.

A great day to go fishing in Mayes Lake at the campground in the park.

Battling Breast Cancer

Taken from The Vicksburg Post....

Turnage Carr of Carthage stands under a 14-foot bra to talk about his wife, who died from breast cancer.

3,174 bras cross the bridge for bucks....

A size 52J brassiere donated by the original Sweet Potato Queen and author, Jill Conner Browne, hangs on the U.S. 80 Bridge Thursday.

For nearly a year after his wife died following a four-year struggle with breast cancer, Turnage Carr could not find the strength to go through his wife’s dresser drawers or closet and part with her clothes.

“It just hurt too much,” said Carr, of Carthage.

But while listening to the radio last week, Carr heard about a project in Vicksburg called Bras for Breast Cancer — which aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer and provide money to the American Cancer Society by stretching donated bras across the 1.6-mile span of the U.S. 80 bridge over the Mississippi River.

When he got home, Carr went through the dresser of his late wife, Dolores, collected her bras and drove them 100 miles to Vicksburg.

On Thursday morning, Carr joined cancer survivors and others who have lost loved ones to breast cancer in stringing 3,174 bras across the bridge. Riverwalk Casino, which opened last week, had pledged to donate $1 for every bra collected over the past month at more than a dozen sites in Vicksburg and Jackson. However, due to a private matching donation from an anonymous Riverwalk executive, the casino donated a total of $6,348 to the American Cancer Society.

“We were incredibly amazed at how well this idea was received and are so grateful to be the recipient of this donation,” said Kelly Lindsay, American Cancer Society director of marketing. “This money will help us further our fight against breast cancer by doing research and providing education about prevention and early detection. It will also help us with our advocacy efforts and fund patient support programs.”

Some of the bras were hung on the bridge Wednesday, and the span was completed Thursday morning around 10. By noon, they were all removed. About 500 of the bras were donated to the Mountain of Faith Ministries’ Woman’s Restoration Shelter in Vicksburg, which provides assistance to homeless women and children. Some of the bras will also be used in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the official grand opening of Riverwalk, which is set for Dec. 11-13.

“I had never heard of anything like this, but when I saw all those bras stretched across the bridge it just touched my soul,” said Tina Hayward, executive director of the shelter.

A check for $431.37 was also presented to the American Cancer Society from Repeat Street thrift store in Ridgeland.

Ginny Tzotzolas, Riverwalk marketing director, said the casino had originally set out to collect 1,000 bras, and was so impressed by the public support that it’s hoping to string bras across the bridge annually to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The Bras for Breast Cancer event was spearheaded by radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications — which owns several stations in Jackson, but none in Vicksburg. Herman Smith, superintendent of the U.S. 80 bridge, said he fully supports the event.

“I know there were a lot of people against this; putting up personal items across the bridge, but breast cancer is a personal issue. I support it 100 percent,” said Smith, whose mother died in 1989 after a five-year battle with breast cancer.

A train travels east on the U.S. 80 Bridge as more than 3,000 bras line the rail. (Meredith Spencer*The Vicksburg Post)

Achievement

Bras For Breast Cancer Awareness

This is the only picture I could find on the ceremony. Looks like it was taken from the WLBT Channel 3 chopper. Hopefully, tomorrow our paper will have a better picture. This info taken from WLBT site.

An unusual sight across the Mississippi River this morning.

More than three thousand donated bras were linked together and stretched across the old Highway 80 bridge in Vicksburg, all for a good cause.

For each bra donated, the Riverwalk Casino Hotel is donating one-dollar to the American Cancer Society. That money will be used to help in the fight against breast cancer.

The goal was to have enough bras to stretch across the 1 point 6 mile wide river, but there were more than enough to go well into Louisiana!

Organizers hope the effort raises awareness and encourages more women to get earlier screenings for breast cancer.

2,800 Bras Over The MS River???

Riverwalk Casino Hotel and American Cancer Society strung over 2800 bras over the Mississippi River as a "Grand Finale" to their "Bras for Breast Cancer" fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society. The bras were collected from dozens of area businesses.

Staff and volunteers worked towards assembling what may be over 1.5 miles of bras. Were there enough bras? Will there be enough time? That mystery was revealed this morning when the Bras for Breast Cancer stringing and dedication ceremony started at 7:00 a.m. with presentation at 9:00 a.m. It's took place on site of the old Hwy 80 Bridge which is located next to the Mississippi Welcome Center just off Washington Street in Vicksburg. For each bra collected, Riverwalk Casino donated $1 to the American Cancer Society.

An anonymous donor from within Riverwalk Casino pledged to personally match the donation made by Riverwalk Casino. Thus doubling the amount raised for the American Cancer Society. Also, Repeat Street in Ridgeland made a donation to the American Cancer Society which could push the total even higher. Immediately following the presentations pink balloon were released.

Survivors, friends, family and media were all invited to take part in the ceremony and witness this "one of a kind" event. Providing live coverage from the event was radio stations Miss 103, Q105.1 and was televised by WLBT-TV of Jackson.

So what happens to all those bras? Riverwalk Casino is donating a significant portion of the bras collected to the Mountain of Faith Women's Shelter in Vicksburg. This shelter provides assistance to homeless women and children.

I really hated to have missed the ceremony and hope to have a picture up soon of the event. I went by to take a picture at the bridge with the bras, but they had taken then down. So I'm posting some pictures I took while at the overlook on the MS River today in my hometown of Vicksburg in our great outdoors!

Into The Night

The Delta Queen makes its way south between the Mississippi River bridges just before midnight Monday as a train travels east on the Hwy 80 bridge. Marty Kittrell - The Vicksburg Post

A group gathers at City Front Monday afternoon for a tribute celebration for the Delta Queen, docked to the right, west, of the American Queen. Marty Kittrell . The Vicksburg Post

Queen steams into uncharted future....

The authentic Mississippi River steamboat that kept the packet era alive in Vicksburg left City Front at midnight, steaming into an uncertain future.

On what may be its final passage downriver to New Orleans, the Delta Queen stopped for a celebration and tribute, attended by Mayor Leyens and about 75 people - young, old and in-between - with cameras, lawn chairs and dogs on leashes.

"People come to Mississippi to see the river and to see the boats going up and down the river," Leyens said from the deck of the American Queen, which is escorting the Delta Queen. "The tourism associated with these vessels had been very important to Vicksburg.

"The Delta Queen is the last authentic steam-powered passenger paddle boat in existence," said Bill Wiemuth, the boat's resident historian, in an interview aboard the Delta Queen. "Steam is the only thing that moves this boat, and that's not very different from the way it's been for two centuries here on the river."

Under the 1966 Safety of Life at Seas Act (SOLAS), the Delta Queen may still make day trips - but had not overnight passengers when it left Vicksburg, perhaps for the last time. Wiemuth said crew members remain hopeful that Congress will still manage to pass an 11th hour measure to keep the boat operating, though with the change in ownership a disruption of spring and summer cruises is probably inevitable.

The Delta Queen was originally scheduled to leave with the American Queen at 6 p.m. Monday, but because the larger vessel had blocked the city's view of the Delta Queen during the day, the crew revised the schedule and kept the steamboat in Vicksburg until midnight.

"But even if an exemption is passed by the new Congress in January, with brochures to be printed and other marketing decisions, it would still be feasible to offer a fall cruise schedule," he said.

"We wanted you to get a good look at her before she sailed down the river and around the bend, possibly into the pages of history," Wiemuth told the crowd, just before the calliope was heard offering its final tribute to Vicksburg, with "You Are My Sunshine." (Click here for Video)

Ian's First Birthday

Proud parents, Jamie and Victoria

.....had enough!!!

....midway

....before

His new reversible hunting hat to wear when he goes hunting with his Great Gran Gran (hat stayed on all of 2 seconds).

His first birthday present to open was from his Great Gran Gran and Grandpa Bob.

His very own cake to dig into.

Ian's Birthday cake - theme was "BOB THE BUILDER"

Today (Election Day), is my great grandson, Ian, first birthday. It was celebrated this past Sunday at his great grandparents home south of Vicksburg. He had so many friends and family members to show up and celebrate this wonderful occasion. Above is some cute pictures I got of him on his special day! His parents told us that he had fallen down right before the party and got a bruise but did not seem to bother him at all.

His birthday invitation card read:

Ian is turning One

which means there's a lot of work to be done....

Come party with us at Lee's Construction Site, Sunday November 2...

It will be dynamite!!!

Your shift begins at 2:00 pm

and will last until 3:30 pm

Don't Forget Your Hard Hats!!!

A Moment in History

Celebrating the military park are, from right, Landman Teller, president of the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign; John Nau III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; Dirk Kempthorne, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Mary Bomar, director of the National Park Service; and Monika Mayr, superintendent of the VNMP.

Last week a dozen new historical tablets were unveiled at the Vicksburg National Military Park by federal dignitaries and county musician Trace Adkins at a ceremony celebrating a $142,000 National Park Grant made possible because a local nonprofit group raised half the total cost.

Adkins kicked off the ceremony by singing the national anthem, which was followed by remarks from keynote speakers Mary Bomar, Director of the National Park Service, and Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the U. S. Department of the Interior. Both had high praise for VNMP and its superintendent, Monika Mayr, and congratulated the nonprofit Friends group for raising $71,000 toward replacing the markers and refurbishing monuments and memorials.

"Twenty-thousand men were killed or wounded here. These brave soldier - on both sides of the line - deserve to be honored and deserve to have their stories told. In telling their stories, we are telling the story of our nation, and this project ensure their stories will be told " said Kempthorne.

For Adkins, who traveled to Vicksburg from his home outside Nashville, the ceremony had a personal connection. A native of Springhill, LA, Adkins recalled a bit of his family history, specifically his great-grandfather, Henry T. Morgan, who fought with the 31st Louisiana Volunteer Infantry during the Siege of Vicksburg and was captured along with the garrison when the city surrendered to the Union on July 4, 1863. One of the tablets Adkins help unveil was that honoring the 31st Louisiana Volunteer Infantry.

"This is hallowed ground, and we should never forget the sacrifices made here. Don't take it for granted," Adkins said, directing his comments to students in attendance. "You have the opportunity to come here, but you also have the responsibility to make sure it's always here for kids like you to come visit."

The Vicksburg National Military Park has nearly 1,400 tablets, monuments and historical markers in the park and throughout the city. It features the largest national cemetery for those who fought in the Civil War, and is one of 391 parks managed by the National Park Service.

John Nau III shares a laugh with country music singer Trace Adkins and Mary Bomar.

Dogwood Tree With Berries

I took this picture the other day of a Dogwood Tree that lends over in our front yard from next door. The red berries are so bright and with the sun casting a nice glow, I thought it really made for a nice photo. (This picture was published in The Vicksburg Post, Sunday, November 16, 2008).

This will make you smile! :)

On the Hunt

McKayla Daves, daughter of Johnny and Connie Daves of Newellton, Louisiana, shot her first deer a day after her sixth birthday and just an hour before the youth season closed on October 26. She was hunting on Daves Gator Farm property near Tensas Parish with her father and brothers, Coty and Cole, and shot the spike buck at bout 40 yards with her 9mm Rockriver Arms rifle. "It was a great birthday present for her, and she couldn't have been happier," her father said. Congrats to McKayla in our great outdoors. Charming, Just Charming!