You can tell you’re from the South, like me, and haven’t traveled much from here, like me, if:

January 18, 2009

By Ebony Horton

You can tell you’re from the South, like me, and haven’t traveled much from here, like me, if:
When you first hear you’re going to the “Mall” to watch the inauguration in D.C. on a Jumbotron and you wonder if there’s a TJ Maxx inside.
People tell you to dress warm for WDC and you say “Okay, do you think this corduroy jacket will do the trick?“
When people say pack light and you think a few t-shirts and jeans, a couple pair of shoes and a thermos.
You think a 14-hour bus ride sounds like an adventure versus a drag.
There’s NO WAY you’re leaving your group, and you’re grown but asking someone “Who’s the chaperone?“
I’ll add more as revelations of my cluelessness - or ignorance - come. Can you think of any others?

Here goes! But not without you in mind

January 17, 2009

By Ebony Horton

As most of you have probably heard by now, a photographer and I are headed to cover one of the most historic events of this era! Like my Ozark/Dale County folks already know, I’d like to have your thoughts.
Our coverage for the trip will be about local residents going, why they’re going, their experiences on the way, and the eternal influence this might have on their lives.
From locally organized parties in Virginia to inaugural events - ALL DAY - in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, we plan to be there.
Is there anything in particular you would like to see covered, or anything you’d like to know about our trip?
And don’t forget to follow along with us at this Web site, in the paper, on the blog and at http://www.Twitter.com for the best local coverage of inauguration events.

Woman who sang National Anthem at CC rally from Ozark

January 12, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Once you write an article and see it in print, every now and then you regret not adding enough or putting too much.
I had a case of “not adding enough” in my CC Rally article that printed Sunday when I mentioned some of the celebrities who came there Saturday, but I failed to mention one from Ozark who sang the National Anthem - Latoya McMoore.
She’s been described as a Jada Pinckett-Smith look-a-like. Her voice - my goodness - it had to be something to lead off the rally with the National Anthem. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard folks scream as much as they did during the nation’s song.
According to Latoya’s family and Wikipedia (which we don’t use as a source in news but I guess I could in the Web world - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voices_(singing_group)), Latoya was part of the group “The Voices” with famous twins Tia and Tamara Mowry (“Sister Sister”), Monique Wilson and Latoya’s sister, LaPetra.
I’ve written a story about her mother, Bertha, before after she, Latoya and other community people organized a feeding to help less fortunate in the community.
I plan on profiling Latoya next month in an article on local artists.
Do any of you know of others?

Alleged trespassers get stuck in mud

January 08, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Food for thought: if you’re going to illegally mudsling, don’t get stuck.
Such was the case on Willow Oaks Drive in Ozark. According to an Ozark Police Department report, four people were seen stuck in the mud on a Ford truck after allegedly mud riding on private property.
Officers noticed the people after a report of possible criminal trespassing in the area, according to the report.
No arrests were made, according to the report.

Ozark arrests

January 06, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Ozark Police charged the following with driving under the influence between Friday, Jan. 2, and Monday, Jan. 5. None of them have been convicted:

Anton Hinton, 24, of Honeysuckle Lane
Denoris Jiles, 38, of Willa Street
Charlie McKinnon, 55, of Mixon School Road
Starr Webb, 27, of Smith Avenue