The Webster Progress-Times

Cody McKee has a lot of numbers by his name. But it’s not his height, weight, or batting average that made the difference when Blue Mountain College head baseball coach Curt Fowler decided to offer the East Webster standout a scholarship.

“Just watching him and the way he handled himself and the way he handled adversity made me know he would be a perfect fit for us,” Fowler said. “He is a great defensive catcher and can swing the bat a little, but there is even more than that to him. He just never gives up on a play and never takes a play off.”

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound McKee hit .339 and drove in 15 runs for the Wolverines this past season, but East Webster head coach Wes Johnson said what he can do behind the plate alone makes him a college prospect.

“He’s just built for catcher,” Johnson said. “He’s stocky and has a great arm. He was a very good defensive second baseman for us, but we needed him behind the plate. He can flat throw it. He’s hard to steal on and doesn’t’ mind throwing behind the runners.”

Johnson said early on that McKee’s competitive nature actually hurt him a little until he matured and learned how to play under control.

“He is very passionate about the game and what he does,” Johnson said. “He really worked hard on all aspects of his game and has turned himself into a good baseball player and a real leader.

“The biggest thing about him is that he is going to work hard, you can count on that,” he said.

“I realized I needed to provide some senior leadership,” McKee said. “Early in the season it just kind of clicked for me and I began to understand what Coach Johnson was telling me.”

While he can play other positions, McKee says being behind the plate suits him and his personality best.

“When you are catching you have to be the quarterback and right in the middle of everything,” he said. “I am very active and like to have the game in front of me.”

Aggression is part of McKee’s game, something that was nurtured by his time on the football field at East Webster.

“I was a linebacker and I just loved it,” McKee said. “If I could find a way to play them both I probably would have, but baseball is where my future lies and I’m looking forward to it.”

When deciding where to go to school next year, McKee said something just clicked with him about Blue Mountain.

“It just seemed right for me,” he said. “I just knew that was the place I was supposed to be.”

Fowler said McKee will be one of four catchers on the roster for Blue Mountain this season, along with a senior, a junior college transfer and a fellow freshman. BMC is a four-year NAIA school that is moving to the Southern States Conference this year and will be competing against the likes of Belhaven, William Carey and Auburn-Montgomery.

“We like to call it the SEC of the NAIA,” Fowler said with a chuckle. “It’s the big leagues.”

Fowler said McKee’s skills were obvious, but it was the intangibles that sold him on the EW standout.

“You are looking for people who love the game and are willing to come to a smaller school and work hard to get better and to be a part of a team,” Fowler said. “We are looking for special guys and Cody is one of those.”

Cody McKee, seated, recently signed to play baseball for Blue Mountain College. Pictured are, from left, BMC coach Curt Fowler, East Webster coach Wes Johnson, East Webster athletic director Doug Wilson, and Cody’s parents, Heather and Patrick McKee. (Photo courtesy Beth Hendrix/EWHS).

For the WPT

Beverly Smith from the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee Wildlife Refuge presented the first of a three-part series titled “Dig into Reading” at the summer reading program at the Maben Public Library on June 11.

Smith had on display two turtle shells, which she explained were protection for turtles. She told the group that turtles live near water and wet areas; if the areas become too dry they will dig down into the mud as much as three feet. This will not keep them safe from wild hogs that will dig down that far to eat them.

She briefly touched on the fact that terrapins can close their shells completely, plus some turtles, but not all of them, can close their shells too. This is for their protection.

One question from the audience was what characteristics make an animal a reptile: have scales, are cold-blooded, most have four legs and lay amniotic eggs on land.

Joke: Why do turtles cross the road? To get to the Shell station.

Females may cross highways to find a place to lay their eggs.

A slider is the most common turtle we have around here; these are the ones that you see sunning up on logs. They have extremely long claws and strong legs, which help them get up on the logs.

Her next “digger” was the armadillo, which wandered here from Mexico, another illegal alien. The armadillos that we have do not roll into the ball for protection. An amazing fact about them is that they have four identical babies at a time — a complete DNA match. They scare easily. If you sneak up behind them and yell, they will jump straight up. BOO!

Smith strongly cautioned the children and the adults as well; do not handle armadillos: they are carriers of leprosy.

She also cautioned everyone that just because a baby animal is alone does not necessarily mean that it is abandoned. The mother is probably near and you do not want to mess with a momma and her babies.

Armadillos are bad to dig under foundations looking for grubs, beetles and termites.

Next for everyone’s amazement, Smith had a stuffed woodchuck, just like Punxsutawney Phil. No one knew what it was. They are not from this area. They have extremely long claws for digging burrows; they can destroy a lawn. They are vegetable and fruit eaters, surprisingly enough, they drink little water.

Smith had a skull that the children guessed and guessed trying to come up with its identity. Finally, it was revealed: it was a domesticated pig. She also had its bigger cousin the feral (wild) pig. She told the group that pigs have tusks and 44 teeth. The tusks continue to grow as the pig ages; they can grow up to 8 or 9 inches. Both sets grow upward.

Feral hogs can weigh as much as 750 pounds. She explained that our domesticated hogs were crossed with the Russian boars, which obviously is a much larger hog. Pigs do not sweat so they wallow in wet places to cool off.

The big surprise was the black stuffed head of a pig. WOW. It was big. The children got to touch it and feel the long hair along its backbone, which can rise like hackles. They can hear pretty well, but don’t see very well. These hogs will fight for their territory or for their mate. The gestation period of hogs is from 170 to 175 days; in warm climates, they will have babies all year long.

Smith says since the hog did not have a name, they children could suggest a name: Bad Boy, Blackie and Tuff-Stuff, etc.

She then had everyone go wash their hands after handling any of the display items.

The last part of the program was the drawing for prizes: The registration prizes went to Taylor Pruitt and Jactavias Guyton. This prize was a drink from Sonic.

The children that brought their book log for reading the most books went to Hayden Thompson and Mallory Burton, who both read 20 books. This prize was free meal at Appleby’s in Starkville.

All children present were allowed to select a prize from the “goody” box.

Next week the program is titled “Tops and Bottoms,” mostly about vegetables that grow in the ground and have to be dug up. Pam Awad, who is from the MSU Extension Office, will present the program.

The Summer Reading Program starts promptly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Maben Public Library.

Smith shows the children the stuffed head of a wild pig

Webster Progress-Times

When it comes to softball, Allie Steadman likes to keep everything in front of her.

That’s why the rising senior at Eupora High School enjoys being behind the plate more than any other position.

While Steadman has certainly put together a solid resume as a top-flight catcher during her high school career, she has also proven over and over that she swings a mean bat as well.

Her performance during during last Saturday’s Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Fast-Pitch Softball games only added to that reputation. She ripped a homer and a single to lead the North to a 9-7 win over the South in the 1A/2A/3A game played at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, winning MVP honors for the North team in the process.

While Steadman didn’t stride to the plate in the third inning looking to hit a homer, she certainly was intending to be aggressive.

“I knew she was throwing first-pitch strikes so I just jumped on it and it happened,” Steadman said. “It was a line drive straight to centerfield that just kept going. I was just running to first and looked up and everybody was celebrating.”

Steadman’s dreams of playing college softball were fueled even more by the all-star games this weekend.

“I just enjoyed it all — staying in the dorms, eating at the cafeteria, playing on the college field,” she said. “Getting to the college level is one of my goals.”

Steadman behind the plate.

Speeding, 24; suspended driver’s license, three; suspended driver’s license-implied consent, two; no driver’s license (expired), one; disregard for traffic device, one; seatbelt violation, one; expired tag, one; no tag, two; no insurance, five; no helmet, two; careless driving, two;

hit-and-run accidents, two; DUI-1st (refusal), one; DUI-2nd (0.14 percent BAC), one; DUI-3rd (0.15 percent BAC), one; possession of alcohol, two; disorderly conduct, one; dog violation, three; malicious mischief, one; operating business without a permit, one; petit larceny, two;

stolen firearms, two; property damage, one; simple assault, four; domestic violence, two; domestic abuse protection order (temporary), one; aggravated domestic violence and attempted sexual battery.

The EPD investigated seven traffic accidents, and made these felony and misdemeanor arrests:

Felony Arrests

Robert Wayne Baker: DUI-3rd, suspended DL-implied consent, no helmet and possession of alcohol.

Markita White: three counts of uttering forgery.

Misdemeanor Arrests

Traci Nicole Clark: contempt warrant.

James Kerry England: disorderly conduct and seatbelt violation.

William Timito Jennings: DUI-2nd, suspended DL-implied consent, no insurance and possession of alcohol.

Lonnie L. Johnson: DUI-1st, suspended DL, no tag, careless driving and no helmet.

Daryl Redd: contempt warrant.

Tiffany Wofford: suspended DL and no insurance.

Other Agency

Latoya Shea Morton: for Grenada SO.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An arrest does not mean the accused is guilty. U.S. citizens are presumed innocent until they are proved guilty in court.

Webster Progress-Times

Three local players will be a part of the District 4 All-Star team that will take part in the State Games of Mississippi Baseball Tournament at Meridian Community College’s Scaggs Field on June 19-23.

There are 18 players on the District 4 team, including Tyler Doss of East Webster and Eupora High School standouts Trey Pittman and Rusty Johnson.

Pittman plays first, while Johnson is an infielder and pitcher and Doss pitches and plays third as well as the outfield.

While a champion of the eight-team, double-elimination event will be crowned, the biggest part of the tournament is that it allows rising juniors and seniors to be seen by college coaches and professional scouts. There is a showcase on Saturday where the players work out for the scouts and coaches.

Actual game play begins on Thursday.

Other area players joining the Webster County trio on the squad are Stewart Ball of Nanih Waiya and Dalton Hudspeth, M.J. Harrington and Dylan Nicholson of Louisville High School. Noxapater’s Casey Orr is one of the coaches for the team.

Ball and Hudspeth are both catchers for the team, while Harrington and Nicholson are both middle infielders, with Nicholson seeing time on the mound as well.

“It looks like we are going to have a lot of pitching,” Orr said. “There are a lot of kids I am not familiar with because only Stewart Ball was the only 1A player selected. But there is a lot of talent on the team. There are six players from New Hope and they are loaded. A lot of the kids are familiar with each other, and that will help.”

The Webster Progress-Times

The Eupora Board of Aldermen has accepted housing contractor bids for two houses involved in the city’s Homeowner Rehabilitation Grant.

The city has received a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to demolish three substandard houses and build new ones for the homeowners. The board opened bids for the three houses involved on May 13 and took them under advisement to await recommendations from the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District.

Upon the recommendation of District Planner George Crawford on June 3, aldermen accepted low bids from two contractors for demolition and reconstruction: $98,794 from K&T Construction of Durant for Linda Joliff’s house at 335 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and $107,380.40 from Gladney Construction of Eupora for Denise Perkins’ house at 120 W. Clark St.

All contractor bids for one of the houses, that of Alma Ford at 278 Dunlap, were rejected because they were over the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development limit and budget. That project has been readvertised and bids will be opened at 5:30 p.m. July 1.

Other Business

In other business , consultant Dianne Dyar presented her monthly business development report to the board last week.

Dyar said she has continued interviews with residents, merchants and area Main Street Mississippi directors, adding that the Main Street program appears to be the most viable structure for Eupora. She will present her final report in July.

Additionally, the Board of Aldermen voted to: • add $50 to the amount that was previously budgeted to clean up public property on Adams Avenue.

In April, the board authorized the mayor to spend up to $300 to clean up property that, according to the minutes, included a bothersome hedge along the fence line on the city right-of-way on Adams Avenue. The owner agreed to pay 75 percent if the city paid 25 percent to clean it up. Mayor Tommy Lott said the area has been cleaned up and looks much better.

• erect a sign at the sidewalk entrance for the handicapped at West Roane Avenue and Marie Lane reading “Handicapped Ramp Do Not Block.” The sign is now in place.

• approve the addition of Jay Howard Hurdle as a backup public defender.

• approve attendance of some Eupora Fire Department members at a three-day training conference in Vicksburg.

• authorize Stone Adams Financial Partners to apply for a $50,000 USDA Rural Development grant on the city’s behalf to conduct a market feasibility study for the former Garan Manufacturing property on Highway 9 South. Dan Burchfield (at-large) said the grant, which requires no local match, would also benefit all of Webster County because the entire county could use results of the survey.

• revise the city water ordinance as adopted Nov. 4, 1980, to reflect that water bills will be mailed on the 15th of each month or the next business day.

Angela Kay Smith, DOB 01-22-77, WF; SO7: suspended DL.

Angela Kay Smith, DOB 01-22-77, WF; Maben 1: uttering forgery.

Charles Ray Hunt, DOB 08-24-80, BM; Eupora 3: shoplifting.

June 5

Lewis Bright, DOB 05-16-69, WM; MDOC: court.

Paige Philley, DOB 02-11-81, WF; SO1: bond surrender.

Melissa Williams, DOB 01-06-81, BF; MDOC 144: hold for Eupora PD-failure to pay and for MDOC.

June 6

Thomas Hodnett, DOB 02-04-91, WM; SO3: simple assault.

Kenneth Douglas, DOB 02-22-60, WM; SO1: hold for questioning.

Michael T. Simpson, DOB 01-15-70, BM; Mathiston 2: suspended DL, no insurance and no seatbelt.

Robert Wofford, DOB 09-12-87, BM; E11: disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and warrant for domestic violence.

Robert Wofford, DOB 09-12-87, BM; DHS: failure to pay child support.

June 7

Kenneth Douglas, DOB 02-22-60, WM; SO5: grand larceny.

Cherry McCelland, DOB 11-27-62, WF; SO5: warrant for Starkville PD.

Henry E. Woods, DOB 08-18-65, BM; SO12: suspended DL.

June 9

David Wakeman, DOB 11-25-55, WM; G33: DUI-1st and no inspection sticker.

June 10

Jeryl Hill, DOB 05-17-62, BM; MDOC 133: probation violation.

These arrests were obtained from the public docket at the Webster County Jail. An arrest does not mean the accused is guilty. U.S. citizens are presumed innocent until they are proved guilty in court.

Music Festival

The Chickasaw County Instrumental Music Festival will be June 15 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at Joe Brigance Memorial Park in Houston. For more information call 1-800-931-8120. Bring your lawn chairs.

Mathiston Summer

Reading Program

The 2013 Summer Reading Program is every Monday in June at the Mathiston Public Library from 1-2:30 p.m.

The theme is “Dig into Reading.” For more information call 263-4772.

Summer Reading

Program at WCL

The Summer Reading Program at Webster County Library will be June 18 with Heather Harper and Mandy Salley in charge of the program.  They will have stories and activities centered around archaeology and digging.

On June 25, Ms. Bonnie and the library staff will be reading about pirates and digging for treasures.

These programs are on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. for children ages 3-10 .

Cowboy Kids

in the Kitchen

The Webster County Extension Office will offer “Cowboy Kids in the Kitchen” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 20 at Eupora First United Methodist Church’s Kid’s Kingdom building on Holman Street. Call 258-3971 to register.

Mister & Miss

Independence

Beauty Pageant

The Mister & Miss Independence Beauty Pageant will be June 29 at Eupora High School’s Latham Auditorium.

The pageant is open to girls 0-18 and boys 0-10.

Registration deadline is June 21. The registration fee is $30; photogenic, $10. Registration forms may be obtained online by going to the EHS homepage: www.webstercountyschools.org/subsite/ehs

1983-85 EHS

class reunion

Anyone interested in information on a class reunion being held

the summer of 2014 for the classmates that graduated from Eupora High

School (or would have graduated) in 1983, 1984 and 1985 should contact

Laura Morgan at 601-594-2684 or lmorgan61766@gmail.com.

Gore Reunion

The 33st annual Gore Family Reunion will be June 29 at the Springhill School House located on Highway 404.

Registration will begin at 10 a.m., including review of family memorabilia and genealogy. Please bring any pictures and information you would like to display and share.

The Gore Brothers Jazz Trio from Houston will provide music starting at 11 a.m. and lunch will be at noon [cost $10].

After lunch a genealogy presentation of the Gore family history will be presented by Keith Gore Wiseman, son of Bettie Gore Wiseman and grandson of Will Abe “Red” Gore of Walthall.

Ezekiel Fletcher Gore, ancestor of many of the Gores, was the Methodist pastor of Greensboro from 1865-69.

Everyone is invited to attend this reunion.

Schaefer Reunion

J.D. Schaefer, Tom Schaefer and Lorene Schaefer Cummins invite all descended family, all extended family and all family friends of the Peter Joseph Schaefer family to an old-fashioned family reunion at the old home place of Antley Joe Schaefer and Thera Doshie Goines Schaefer Burns in Ticky Bend.

Family reunion dinner will be 1 p.m. July 6; a fish fry is planned. Bring a dish/dessert/beverage and a lawn chair if possible. Make plans to stay and visit family and friends the entire day. Bring any family history you may have.

EHS Class of

1968 reunion

The Eupora High School Class of 1968 will celebrate its 45th class reunion on Aug. 3 at the Eupora Country Club.

The agenda includes a tour of EHS at 4 p.m., social hour at the country club at 5 and dinner at 6:30. All classmates are encouraged to attend this fun-filled day.

Mathiston Library

Story Hour

The Mathiston Public Library has Story Hour and activities for children of all ages every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Story Hour is directed by Jill Carroll.

AA meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous meets Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 5-6 p.m. at North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora in the Education Conference Room.

Bingo at VFW

Bingo is every Saturday at 6 p.m. at VFW Post 3806 in Eupora.