d ec e m b e r 2 0 0 9 | ACC E N T S O U T H M I S S I S S I P P I | V O L . 1, N O.

CONTENTS features

12 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

by Louis A. Galiano
Pearl River County Community Band is a
16 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
TELLING THE TRUTH
by Valerie Wells
dream come true for founder Student Daydriana Rankin stands up for
Hattiesburg High

14 ARTISTRY IN WOOD
by Jamie O’Quinn
World famous chainsaw artist leaves his
18 SINGING TO THE LORD
by Robyn Jackson
South Mississippi’s Carlow Choir gains
mark in Sandersville international exposure

PHOTOGRAPHY ABOVE
ACCENT ON THE COVER
S O U T H M I S S I S S I P P I
DECEMBER 2009
Old-Fashioned Santa Lighting Mason Park, Laurel, MS
For 12 years, The Committee to Light Mason Park
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY
has replaced bulbs and strung lights to create a
PHOTOEXPRESS special place for the residents of Laurel to
celebrate the Christmas season. The lights turn
on around 4:30 p.m. and go off around 10:30 each
Celebrate an Old Fashioned Christmas night until Jan. 1.
SPECIAL HOLIDAY SECTION | CARLOW CHOIR| CHAINSAW ART| NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION |DISPATCHES FROM MY SOUTH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARRY BEARD

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 CONTENTS
d ec e m b e r 2 0 0 9 | ACC E N T S O U T H M I S S I S S I P P I

32 SPECIAL HOLIDAY SECTION

23 THE FIRST ANNUAL NEW

HAVEN REAL LIFE NATIVITY
A Short Story by Anthony Thaxton

32 HOLIDAY GLITZ
Brookhaven retail shops decorate
in style

34 TAKE BACK CHRISTMAS

by James Welch

36 MAKING A LIST, CHECKING

IT TWICE
Try these Christmas gift ideas

38 10 QUESTIONS WITH ROBERT

ST. JOHN
Dispatches from My South

41 READ ANY GOOD BOOKS

LATELY?
Add these Mississippi-centric
books to your Christmas list

42 GLASS HOUSES
Artist Donna Woods’ hand-paint-
42 ed Christmas ornaments

46 VICTORIAN LIGHTS
Luminaries light up downtown
Hattiesburg historic neighbor-
hood

48 CROWD-PLEASING RECIPES
PREPARED BY AREA CHEFS

50 COOKBOOK LADIES PROVIDE

TIPS FOR HOLIDAY COOKING

in every issue
10 Editor’s Notes

50 56 Life in South Mississippi

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