Photos from troop send-off

Click here to view or purchase photos from the Wednesday morning, July 28 send-off.

Public encouraged to line city streets for troop send-off July 28

The first set of soldiers will leave Senatobia on July 28 and the pubic is encouraged to line the streets during their departure. The soldiers are scheduled to depart the Nat Troutt Readiness Center on Scott Street at 8 a.m. on July 28 and use the following route:

• Scott Street north to Gilmore Street
  
• Turn west onto Gilmore Street proceeding to Heard Street
  
• Turn north onto Heard Street proceeding to East Main Street
  
• Turn east onto East Main Street proceeding to I-55

Event coordinators ask that citizens line up along the entire route except for Scott Street. Spectators are asked to line up on the route all the way up to I-55. Organizers urge spectators to bring signs, flags and any other items to show support for the soldiers.

According to TCEDF Executive Director Janie Mortimer this will be the public's only opportunity to see the troops off. The other troop departures will not be made public, according to Mortimer.

For additional information on the send-off event, contact the TCEDF at 562-8715.

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Items needed for soldier 'goodie bags'

Community leaders want to make sure that local soldiers have the support of the community as they begin mobilization to prepare to be deployed to Iraq.

The Tate County Economic Development Foundation is organizing an effort to fill 170 goodie bags to be distributed to mobilized soldiers from Tate County. The bags are to be given to soldiers during the August 7 farewell send-off party at the Nat Troutt Readiness Center. Following is a list of items that are needed for the bags, according to TCEDF Executive Director Janie Mortimer:

• Bug repellent
  
• Chap stick
  
• Liquid Hand sanitizer
  
• Kool-Aid (individual packets)
  
• Batteries (for electronic games, CD players, etc.)
  
• Crossword puzzle books
  
• Sunblock
  
• Breath mints
  
• Paperback books
  
• Disposable cameras

Mortimer also indicates that they can use any number of DVD movies, used or new.

Time is of the essence, according to Mortimer. "We're trying to get all these donations and don't have much time." All items need to be collected by August 5.

Mortimer says that the TCEDF will also accept monetary contributions to help purchase any items that don't get donated. Checks can be made payable to the Tate County Economic Development Foundation.

Items or donations should be dropped of at the TCEDF office located at 135 North Front Street in Senatobia. For additional information, contact the TCEDF at 562-8715.

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How you can support our troops

There are several ways to support our local troops. Here are just a few:

• The TCEDF is asking for items to fill goodie bags for the troops. Items needed include
  
  
  • Bug repellent
    
  • Chap stick
    
  • Liquid Hand sanitizer
    
  • Kool-Aid (individual packets)
    
  • Batteries (for electronic games, CD players, etc.)
    
  • Crossword puzzle books
    
  • Sunblock
    
  • Breath mints
    
  • Paperback books
    
  • Disposable cameras
  
  Items can be dropped off at the TCEDF office located at 135 North Front Street in Senatobia. For additional information, call 562-8715. The TCEDF will also accpet monetary donations for troop support. Checks can be made out to the Tate County Economic Development Foundation.
  
  
• The public is invited to attend a reception honoring the soldiers on Saturday, August 7 from 1-3 p.m. at the Nat Troutt Readiness Center on Scott Street. The event is hosted by the Tate County Economic Development Foundation.
  
  
• Magnetic patriotic ribbons for vehicles are available locally with all proceeds going to support local troops and their families. Several designs are available and can be purchased at Rapid Cash, located at 109 South Front Street in Senatobia. For more information, call Mackie Dettor at 662-934-1298.
  
  
• Leadership Mississippi is asking for donations to purchase pre-paid telephone cards so that Mississippi National Guard and Army reserve soldiers serving in Kuwait and Iraq can talk to their loved ones back home. The program, called Leadership Mississippi Troop Support, has raised more than $41,000 since October of last year to purchase the cards. They have already purchased and distributed 5,747 cards as of now.
  
  
• Leadership Mississippi now has a new objective -- to raise approximately $3,000 to purchase an additional 1,000 cards that will allow Mississippians overseas to place an international call. They are attempting to raise the funds before July 27. Donations can be made to: Leadership Mississippi Troop Support, M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 23276, Jackson, Miss. 39225-3276, or call 800-748-7626 or 601-969-0022. Donations are tax deductible.

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Local National Guard units to be mobilized

JACKSON- The Mississippi National Guard's 155th Separate Armored Brigade (SAB), headquartered in tupelo, has received mobilization orders under a Presidential Partial Mobilization of Reserved Forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The armored brigade, which is authorized nearly 4,000 soldiers, will mobilize approximately 3,500 personnel at Camp Shelby, Miss. in mid to late August. While at Camp Shelby, the soldiers will in-process, conduct post-mobilization training, and subsequently deploy overseas to the U.S. Central command area of operations.

The 155th SAB is comprised of units in 49 locations throughout the state. Local units include Troop A, 98th Cavalry, Hernando; Detachment 1, Troop A, 98th Cavalry, Holly Springs; Headquarters (HQ), 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor (AR), Senatobia; Detachment 1 HQ, 2nd Battalion, 198th AR, Batesville; Company A, 2nd Battalion, 198th AR, Oxford; and Company C, 2nd Battalion, 198th AR, Sardis.

"These are highly trained soldiers, and I know that they will do an excellent job supporting our national defense," said Governor Haley Barbour, commander-in-chief of the Mississippi National Guard. "Marsha and I wish them well, and we certainly stand by all of them and their families."

Under partial mobilization, reservists can be activated for 24 months, however this authority in no way characterizes how long they will actually be mobilized.

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