The Four County Farmer's Market opened June 7, and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8 a.m. until the produce is gone. The market is located in what was the Doss Building across from Hawkeye Glove on Highway 182.

The market is open to producers within a 65-mile radius of Eupora wishing to sell their produce. Some of the produce sold by producers may be purchased from other Mississippi producers and resold in the market.

A fee of $5 per day or $25 per year is charged to producers wishing to sell in the farmer's market. For more information, you can contact the Webster County Development Council at 258-7835 or Bobby Files at 258-7454.

Movies Under the Stars

Back by popular demand, Eupora Arts Inc. is sponsoring the Movies Under the Stars. These free movies are being shown on Friday nights at 8:45 on the corner of Fox and Dunn Avenue. All you will need to bring is a comfortable chair. Snacks and drinks will be for sale by Eupora Arts. Remaining show listings are:

€ June 30: "Dreamer" with Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning (rescheduled from last week because of rain)

€ July 7: "To Kill a Mockingbird" with Gregory Peck, Mary Badham and Phillip Alford

€ July 21: "E.T." with Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas

In the event of rain or bad weather, the shows will be canceled.

Buy Local a Must

Based on 2003 estimates of retail sales Webster County is losing approximately $39,753,000 to other counties. When you consider that Eupora, Mantee, Mathiston and Walthall depend heavily on sales tax revenue to operate, just imagine what they would be able to do if that $39,753,000 was spent in Webster County.

In the last year, the sales tax revenue in some of our municipalities has risen slightly and that has been because of the start-up of new businesses in the county. Efforts are under way to bring more retail businesses to the county. As these new businesses are brought in we need to support them by buying locally whenever possible.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This is the question that Nick Walters, state director for USDA Rural Development, put to our elected officials. He was referring to the county and municipalities, and their need for a strategic plan and goals for the future. By having goals set it makes it easier to go after the funding needed.

Plans are under way to develop a strategic plan for each of the municipalities in the county. Meetings have been scheduled for Eupora and Mathiston, and will soon be scheduled for Mantee and Walthall. I know the elected officials in each of these municipalities would appreciate your input as they prepare to work on their strategic plans.

Recognition Banquet a Success

May 15 the WCDC had its first Recognition Banquet with 108 in attendance. Blake Wilson, executive director for the Mississippi Economic Council, was the featured speaker and he pointed out that our sense of community here in the state of Mississippi is our greatest weapon.

He challenged those present to develop a Texas-style attitude about Mississippi. Mississippi is a new and emerging economic state posed for greatness that starts in the rural parts of the state. We also need to develop that same attitude about Webster County.

Those recognized at the banquet were:

€ Outstanding Big Business - Plymouth Tube

€ Outstanding Small Business - Dewberry Insurance

€ Volunteer of the Year - Stephanie Stewart

€ Teacher of the Year Eupora K-6 - Betty Collum

€ Teacher of the Year East Webster K-6 - Karen Tabb

€ Teacher of the Year Eupora 7-12 - Susan Edwards

€ Teacher of the Year East Webster 7-12 - Jason Taylor

€ Teacher of the Year Webster County Career & Technology Center - Janice Gardner

€ Young Farmer of the Year - Clint Tindall

€ Conservationist of the Year - David Hood

€ Entrepreneur of the Year - Joyce Pittman

€ Entrepreneur of the Year - Mike Maddox

€ Lifetime Achievement - Earlean Bowen

Invitation to Join

If you have not joined the Webster County Development Council, there is no time like the present! The Webster County Development Council is for anyone interested in being a part of making a difference in Webster County. If you would like to become a member, you can contact me at 258-7835 or drop by my office in the Depot in Eupora. Dues are as follows: individual - $50, business with 1-10 employees - $100, business with 11-75 employees - $200, business with more than 75 employees - $300, civic organizations and churches - $100.

WCDC Meeting

Be sure and mark your calendar for the upcoming WCDC meeting scheduled for Monday, July 17 at 7 p.m. in the Depot.

Editor's note:Cynthia Wilson is executive director of the Webster County Development Council.