Special to The Star
To celebrate the fruition of Dr. Martin L. King Jr.'s famously prophetic "I Have a Dream" speech, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration Committee will honor the person who most exemplifies the character of Dr. King – Barack Obama, the first African American elected to the position of president of the United States of America.
A Pre-Inaugural Gala will be held Saturday at the Gathering Place on Front St. The gala will center around a White House state dinner theme.
"There is White House memorabilia and table décor, and the menu has been adapted from a White House cookbook written by Chef Rene` Verdon," said Sharon White, gala coordinator.
Featured White House dishes include Cornish Hen Helene and Cherries Jubilee.
It has been more than 40 years since King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Hence the 2009 theme for the annual celebration is "The Audacity of Hope to Make the Dream Come True – 1968-2008." Rolling Fork's Mayor Butch Walker will deliver excerpts from both Dr. King and President elect Obama’s speeches.
The gala will begin with a program to honor the president-elect, as well as members of the community. Proceeds from the event will go toward scholarships and education programs for local youth. Tickets to the formal gala are currently on sale and may be purchased from any committee member. Special prices are available for seniors 70 years and older.
"This is an effort to honor our seniors who have lived through the struggles of our past," Smith said.
The King celebration will continue on Jan. 19 with the 10th annual King Day event in downtown Meridian.
Founded 10 years ago by Dr. Linda Wilson Jones, a committee of 10 volunteers were formed to organize the parade and Dumont Plaza presentation. Since then, the success of the event has increased and become a community activity anticipated each year. The parade has hosted bands from around the state, including Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South, Mississippi Valley State University's Mean Grean Marching Machine and Alcorn State University's Sounds of Dyn-o-mite; floats from across state lines and organizations ranging from churches to motorcycle groups.
Jones will be the keynote speaker for the 2009 celebration. The parade starts at noon and the program at Dumont Plaza begins at 1:30 p.m.
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Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe. -
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Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in. -
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Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.
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Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot. -
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
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