Mississippi World War II veteran celebrates 100th birthday
Tupelo restaurants can soon sell beer, light wine earlier
TUPELO — Restaurants in Tupelo can now start serving some alcohol products earlier in the day.
The Tupelo City Council voted last week to allow restaurants to start selling beer and light wine to customers beginning at 8 a.m., The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports. Previously, businesses had to wait until 10 a.m. to begin serving any alcohol products. They are still restricted to 10 a.m. for serving liquor, spirits and non-light wine.
Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan said the proposal was made after he was approached by several local business owners that serve breakfast and wanted to serve alcohol earlier in the morning to accommodate customers who work night shifts.
The 8 a.m. start time for beer and light wine sales will begin Oct. 7.
All other forms of alcohol are regulated by the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control agency. The city must ask for permission to change local regulations surrounding the sale of liquor and other drinks with a higher alcohol content.
The Tupelo City Council have voted to request the ABC and the Mississippi State Tax Commission approve a request to extend the sale hours for other forms of alcoholic beverages to coincide with the same hours as for the hours of beer sales.
Louisiana charter boats now can launch from Mississippi
BILOXI — Louisiana charter captains affected by Hurricane Ida will be able to operate from Mississippi ports through the end of the year.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced the decision Friday in the wake of impacts Ida had on Louisiana’s coast.
Charter captains must hold a Louisiana Charter Boat Fishing Guide License, a Louisiana Mothership License, or a Louisiana Charter Skiff License and follow all Louisiana regulations and requirements associated with those licenses in order to launch and land from Mississippi ports, the department said in a statement last week.
Any passengers fishing onboard the vessels must have the appropriate Louisiana Charter Passenger or Louisiana Charter Skiff license. In order to fish in Mississippi territorial waters, a Mississippi Charter For-Hire License must be purchased, the department added.
For more information about policies and procedures in Mississippi, visit the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources website.
VANCLEAVE — A World War II veteran on the Mississippi Coast celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend.
Talmage Byrd of Vancleave was born in 1921 and joined the U.S. Navy when he was 20 years old. He said he was influenced to become a member of the armed forces after seeing the country devastated by the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, WLOX-TV reports.
His first post was near the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, then he moved on to Astoria, Oregon, where he worked to repair combat-damaged ships. In the 1950’s, Byrd was stationed in Guam.
Byrd’s military service inspired generations of his family to join the armed forces. His son, Larry Byrd, joined the Air Force in 1965, serving more than 20 years maintaining aircraft like B-52’s before retiring in 1986. His grandson, Chris Rowell, served in the Army beginning in 2007 and was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, for 13 months.
Larry Byrd told the television station military service is “like a family tradition.”
“It’s always important to serve your country,” he said. “We’re glad to do it.”
Close friends and family of Talmage Byrd gathered to celebrate his 100th birthday at the Vancleave HUD Community Center on Sunday. Byrd was showing off the military memorabilia in his room. But he said the birthday felt no different than any other.
“To me, it’s just another day,” he said.
His family said even at 100, he still remains active. Nearly every Friday night, he goes out dancing.
“He’s been here so long and hopes he’ll be here a lot longer,” Larry Byrd said.
“He’ll outlive us all,” his grandson, Chris Rowell, joked.
Ex-manager is Mississippi school district’s interim leader
AMORY — A former administrator for a school district in Mississippi has been named to lead the district beginning in October.
The Amory School Board on Monday approved a resolution that appoints Andy Cantrell as interim district superintendent for the period of Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. Cantrell will take over for Superintendent Ken Byars, who is leaving the post Sept. 30 to pursue a job in the private sector in educational consulting, The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported.
“Amory is a special place. This school district is supported by a community that celebrates student success in the classroom, as well as all extracurricular achievements. I was employed in this district for 15 years and witnessed firsthand the gifted employees who live and work here. There is a great deal of talent in those classrooms teaching every day,” Cantrell said. “There is also a top-notch administrative team, as well as a student-centered group of classified employees. In addition, a competitive sports and arts program helps to complete this well-rounded school district. All of these ingredients promote a positive and solid school culture.”
Before leaving the Amory School District in 2014, Cantrell served as director of operations and transportation. He left to serve as director of operations of the Tupelo Public School District where he was named assistant superintendent in 2017. He retired from that post in January 2020.