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News in Meridian, MS

The Meridian Star · Meridian, MS

Railfest returns to Meridian Railroad Museum

The Meridian Railroad Museum once again hosted its annual Railfest event Saturday. The museum’s largest annual sponsored event, Railfest brings enthusiasts from around the region to celebrate rail history and enjoy railroad memorabilia. The event featured a model train show and the opportunity to purchase model trains as well as railroad history. The event also included tours of the Louisiana & Arkansas passenger coach which was originally built by Pulman in 1911 and nicknamed Miss Alva. Railroad history is significant to Meridian as its founding followed it being the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and the Vicksburg and Montgomery Railroad. The rails brought growth and prosperity to the city especially during Meridian’s golden age from the 1890 to 1930, where over a 100 trains would come in and out of Meridian everyday and the population boomed. Many of the city’s historic monuments date from this period.

The Meridian Star · Meridian, MS

MCC to honor veterans with Nov. 11 program, Military Week activities

Meridian Community College will honor the nation’s veterans with a Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in McCain Theater, highlighting a week of activities recognizing military service and sacrifice. Navy Capt. Nathan K. Moore, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Meridian, will be the featured speaker. MCC President Tom Huebner will introduce Moore. Capt. Moore serves as the air station’s 28th commanding officer. A 2001 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has held leadership positions at sea and ashore, including commanding officer of Helicopter Training Squadron 28 and navigator aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. Before arriving in Meridian, he served at NATO’s Allied Maritime Command, supporting major joint exercises. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree from the Naval War College.

Gadsden Messenger · Meridian, MS

Arts Corner: Jax State presents the classic American drama Our Town

By Brett Buckner Jacksonville State University’s Department of Theatre and Film will bring Thornton Wilder’s classic American drama, Our Town, to the stage beginning Nov. 13. At first glance, Our Town is a simple story about neighboring families — the Gibbs and the Webbs — navigating the everyday joys and heartbreaks of life in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, between 1901 and 1913. The enduring appeal of Our Town comes from its ordinariness, according to Kalem Steele, a sophomore theatre performance major. Steele plays George Gibbs, half of the young couple whose relationship is at the heart of the story. “It’s so normal it becomes spectacular,” he said. “It fits everyone and everything, and I think that’s one of the biggest things working for it. There’s always something to keep you engaged and connected to these characters, but there’s nothing fancy about it.

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Picayune Item · Pearl River, MS

Nearby: Pearl River, MS

PRCC Shelby Speights Award of Leadership, Courage and Valor awarded to leader both on and off the playing field

Pearl River Community College recognized Moses Cummings of Purvis as the first recipient of the Shelby Speights Award of Leadership, Courage and Valor. The award is in honor of PRCC alum Speights who was one of several students who left the classroom for the battlefield during World War II. Speights, a graduate of Purvis High School, enlisted in the United States Army and requested to be transferred to the frontlines. Approximately 70 days later, Sergeant Speights had earned five Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, five battle stars, and a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant. He participated in the invasion efforts in Italy and Southern France. He exemplified how a person’s greatest legacy can be found in what they are willing to sacrifice for others. The Shelby Speights Award of Leadership, Courage and Valor was created to honor individuals who exemplify the qualities that defined Speights’ service.