I have been thinking the last few weeks what I would ask Santa Claus to bring me if I was a child. There are certainly more options nowadays compared to when I was a kid.
Walk down the aisles at a Best Buy and marvel at the various technological gadgets or Walmart where the toy selection gets bigger every year. It’s mind-boggling.
Some of my most memorable Christmases include receiving an Evel Knievel action figure complete with windup motorcycle and a Six Million Dollar Man action figure with the accompanying rocket ship. I played with those toys for hours and took them with me everywhere.
I received my first baseball glove from Santa when I was about seven or eight. It was a “Pete Rose” model, and that thing never left my side. I even used it as a pillow while I slept. There’s nothing like the smell of a new baseball glove. Santa also brought my brother and I minibikes one year and we rode those things around the Harmontown community until the wheels fell off them.
Receiving packs of football and baseball cards in my stocking on Christmas morning was a treat as well and fortunately I still have most of them. I can’t say the same about the action figures, minibike and baseball glove.
I guess my Christmas wish list in today’s world would include thankfulness for the blessings in my life. My son is getting married this summer and my daughter is a senior at Mississippi State. They are both healthy and happy and that fills my heart with joy.
I am also blessed to work beside my best friend each day. I have been at the Tate Record for eight years now, the last four with our current publisher Stephanie Cunningham Warren.
We share the same goals for the newspaper, and I drive her crazy, but I wouldn’t trade her for anything.
Now that I really think about, here is what my current Christmas wish list would look like:
• Completion of the roundabout at U.S. Highway 51 and West Main Street. I am pretty sure this one is at the top of every Senatobia citizen’s wish list as well.
• For the new pizza place Retro Dough in downtown Senatobia to thrive as much as Woodchucks has since it opened over a year ago. The owners of both businesses are good friends of mine and have invested so much in the rebirth of downtown.
• I hope more “older” rock groups make their way to Tunica and Southaven next year. I saw George Thorogood, Goo Goo Dolls and 38 Special in 2024 and enjoyed every minute of all three shows.
• My wish is for House Representative Trey Lamar to continue his dedication and love for Senatobia and Tate County. Our area is preparing for growth, and we have Trey to thank for that.
• I want Senatobia to become a pedestrian-friendly town. Let’s observe the crosswalks folks and come to a complete halt at stop signs.
• I hope this time next year Northwest Business Park (the former Chromcraft property) in Senatobia is filled with brand new buildings and the industrial park explodes with growth.
• For Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves and Coldwater Mayor Glenn Billingsley to continue doing what they’re doing. I have lived in Tate County for 35 years and appreciate the progress of both towns, but there’s still work to do. I am convinced those two guys are the right men for the job.
• I want Northwest Mississippi Community to continue to grow and flourish. If you haven’t been on campus lately, you are missing out. It’s a beautiful place and I swear it looks better than several four-year college campuses I have visited. President Dr. Michael Heindl is truly a rock star.
• My wish is to discipline myself and scroll past the negative and hateful comments on Facebook, especially on those local “happenings” pages. I swear I would delete the entire app if I didn’t use it to get the occasional school news or discover a neat feature story to write about.
• My final wish is for our loyal Tate Record readers to remain in good health and enjoy a prosperous 2025. We appreciate you trusting us for local news coverage and hope to do an even better job of it next year. Be blessed and safe my friends and fellow citizens.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
