This is the third installment in a four-part series.

July 2

Sweet Tea Festival set for this weekend -- The weekend of July 4 is almost here and with it comes the Sweet Tea Festival. Scheduled for July 3-5 in the downtown Fulton area, the charity event, the proceeds from which will go to benefit Itawamba County's afterschool program, A Way Out, is set to pack as much family-based entertainment as can possibly fit in three days' time.

IAHS adopts athletic budget, cuts expenses -- According to Itawamba Agricultural High School's new athletic department budget, an estimated total of $100,035 will be spent on the school's various sporting programs during the 2008-2009 school year. The problem is, IAHS Principal Trae Wiygul only expects the combined programs to bring in $83,000, and that's being generous.

July 9

County's assessed value expected to decrease by $1.2M -- For the first time since 1992, the county's assessed value is projected to drop. At an appearance before the board of supervisors, county tax assessor Johnny Riley explained the total assessed value will more than likely decrease this year to $121.3 million for 2008, down from $122.5 million in 2007.

This expected loss is anticipated to result in the decrease in value of a county mill. Riley told the board that, at the county's current mill rate of 51.6 mills, the board could expect to see a loss of $928 per mill for a total of loss $47,884 in millage.

Mantachie swears in new Municipal Court judge -- A new judge is sitting behind the bench in Mantachie's courtroom -- one that's eager to pick up his gavel and get started. With his left hand on the Bible and his right in the air, Kirk Tharp of Mooreville swore to uphold the duties as the town's Municipal Court judge during a ceremony held prior to the meeting of the town's board of aldermen.

July 16

County principals talk graduation -- All three high school principals agree, consolidating Itawamba County's graduation ceremonies was a good move.

"I look at it from the broad perspective of what's best for our students and the unity of Itawamba County," said Tremont High School Principal Eddie Moore. "I just think it will bring forth unity ... I think, when you weigh the pros and cons as we [principals] did, you'll see that the pros far outweigh the cons."

The Itawamba County School Board voted to hold all three high school graduations at the ICC Davis Event Center on Saturday, May 23.

Sweet Tea Festival 'a big success' -- For a first time event, Itawamba County's Sweet Tea Festival to benefit A Way Out was a big success, according to project coordinator Shaune Holiday.

Although the final financial tallies for the Fourth of July weekend event weren't available at press time, Holiday said early figures reveal the fundraising festival to have been a modest, but satisfying, success.

Holiday added that the money will be used to purchase supplies for the program, building upkeep and salaries for the program heads.

July 23

Hickory Hill temporarily suspends operations -- More than 200 workers at Hickory Hill Furniture in Fulton are on a "day-to-day basis" one employee said after the parent company told them it was shutting down its operations temporarily.

A representative of Norwalk Furniture, the Ohio-based parent company, told Hickory Hill employees they were restructuring their business and talking to their lender and that no new orders would be taken. According to one employee, who wished to remain anonymous, workers were called together by Charlie Williamson, plant manager. Williamson told them he had been called and told about the company's financial problems. Employees were sent home at that time and told to call back on Monday to see about returning to work. When they called on Monday, they were told to call back on Tuesday.

July 30

Rumored Hickory Hill closing leads to unemployment spike -- Itawamba County's unemployment office received a surge of applicants last week as more than 170 employees of the Hickory Hill Furniture plant in Fulton filed for unemployment.

Those applying for unemployment represented the majority of the more than 200 Hickory Hill employees who were recently told that the furniture plant would be temporarily suspending its operations. The flux of people was so staggering that Itawamba County's unemployment office, WIN Job Services, temporarily relocated itself to the Itawamba County Development Council office to carry the load.

August 6

Hickory Hill back in business -- Hickory Hill is back in business. Norwalk Furniture Corporation, the Ohio-based parent company of Hickory Hill Furniture in Fulton, announced last night its plans to enter into an agreement with both the City of Fulton and Itawamba County for the $2 million purchase of the plant. If the deal goes through, the city and county would then lease the land, plant and all of its equipment back to Norwalk.

This move will allow the more than 250 Hickory Hill employees whose jobs have been in question since the plant ceased operations early last week to breath a collective sigh of relief.

Landowners fight board -- Before the Toyota Boshoku plant opens, it may come to fisticuffs between the Itawamba County Board of Supervisors and several local landowners.

Following a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion with three county landowners during the board's bi-monthly meeting, supervisors voted to pursue the right of eminent domain to seize an approximately half-acre's worth of land in west Itawamba County. This plot of land, a soybean field, is currently planned to be used to connect an eight-inch sewer line from the town of Mantachie to the Toyota Boshoku plant in Dorsey.

August 13

Hickory Hill employees back at work --"We're all pretty happy to be back," plant manager Charlie Williamson said has he walked through the Hickory Hill building.

The day before, on Aug. 5, Williamson attended a brief meeting of the Itawamba County Board of Supervisors, Fulton Board of Aldermen, the ICDC and area leaders where details regarding the joint venture to save Hickory Hill were discussed. The purpose of the meeting was to make public some of the details of the $2 million deal between the City of Fulton and Itawamba County and Norwalk Furniture, the parent company of Hickory Hill, that will save 257 jobs.

August 20

Woman charged with shooting her husband -- Bond has been set for a Golden woman charged with the alleged murder of her husband. Penny Hall, 29, of 8514 Fairview Banner Road, Golden, is currently being held in the Itawamba County Jail on a $500,000 bond issued Monday by Justice Court Judge Gerald Wallace. Hall was arrested Saturday, Aug. 16, and charged with the alleged shooting of her husband, Wayne Hall, 35. Her arraignment date is currently set for Nov. 19.

ICC enrollment up this fall -- Itawamba Community College is certainly packing them in. According to preliminary registration reports, the local community college will see a spike in enrollment for the 2008 fall semester -- up 500 students from last year. This number includes students registered for day classes on both the Fulton and Tupelo campuses, as well as online courses. ICC has been experiencing an increased enrollment across the past five years, especially in its online courses.

August 27

Jail kitchen to start cooking in October -- Kenneth Knight stepped inside the jail's new kitchen, crossed his arms and looked around. His visage was set in firmsatisfaction.

"I live in Itawamba County, and I know we have some generous folks here, but the amount of support we've gotten from the community is beyond what we expected it to be. I've been really surprised," the Itawamba County jail administrator said. "We're really pleased with the way everything has gone."

Glancing around the open room, it's hard for the eyes not to fall upon some donated item. Most every piece of equipment sitting in the kitchen came to the jail free of charge.

Toyota vehicle change will have no major effect on Dorsey plant -- Although Toyota is in the process of re-configuring its Blue Springs plant to manufacture the company's hybrid car, Prius, rather than the previously announced Highlander, plans haven't changed much for Dorsey's Toyota Boshoku plant ... yet.

September 3

Mantachie Fest set for Sept. 20 --Each year around September, the air in Mantachie begins to buzz with anticipation.

In its 21 years of existence, Mantachie Fest has become an indispensible part of the community, and one of the very features that defines Mantachie.

Behind the scenes of the festival lies the very spirit that makes the little town special. Without a doubt, Mantachie is stronger because of Mantachie Fest and the people who plan and work it every day.

September 10

Hickory Hill grinds to a halt; 250 employees out of work -- It was a sad scene, and one all too familiar. In August, more than 200 Hickory Hill employees filed for unemployment with Win following the plant's ceasing of operations. Just weeks after the plant's reopening, many of those same people are filing again after the plant reclosed.

With this second ceasing of operations, ICDC executive director Greg Deakle is less optimistic about the future of the furniture company, but still hopeful. Deakle said the primary goal for both the city and county remains saving the local branch's jobs in any way they can. According to Deakle, about 70 percent of Hickory Hill's workers were Itawamba County residents, making up approximately $4.5 million in payroll no longer generated within the county.

September 17

Panic at the pump -- Lines of cars filled Itawamba County gas stations after the average price of gas jumped from $3.51 to $3.81 in a matter of hours on Friday.

According to one employee of Shell in Fulton, who was watching as more than 30 vehicles waited for their turns at the pump, prices were rumored to rise as high as $4.50 to $5 per gallon during the weekend. Although the $5 gallon proved to be untrue for Itawamba County, gas prices did soar across the state, as fears of Texas gas refineries closing due to the approach of Hurricane Ike spread.

September 24

Itawamba County announces guaranteed tuition program-- All of Itawamba County's 2009 seniors were gathered in the Davis Event Center Thursday to hear the announcement that they would be getting a free ride to community college as part of Itawamba County Guaranteed Tuition Program.

Similar to programs currently underway in Lee and Monroe County, the ICGTP will provide every student who graduates within the county money to cover two years' worth of tuition at Itawamba Community College. The program is being sponsored by a public-private coalition that has committed to $500,000 across the next 10 years. Contributing to this fund are the city of Fulton and Itawamba County Board of Supervisors, each pledged to $10,000 a year; and numerous private donors, many of whom were on stage at the event.