CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS

Grand Marshals

We are so pleased and proud to announce that this year's Grand Marshals for the Holiday Parade are Melba and Tommy Darras!

The parade committee met to decide on this year's honoree, and the Darras's are the first name that came up! It was immediately unanimous and the meeting was over!

Melba and Tommy typify all that is good about Grenada - Melba with her southern charm and grace and Tommy with his gusto for life.

The Darras's have fed and educated Mississippians and out-of-staters for many years at the Central Cafe, Lakeshore Lodge, Holiday Inn, and Darras's Restaurant in Grenada, and the Governor's Mansion in Jackson.

I can't tell you how many times people from out of town and out of state will tell me, on finding out that I am from Grenada, that they used to make a point to go through Grenada at mealtime so they could eat at with the Darras's.

Melba educated everyone who would pay attention on the fine art of fine dining and grand manners. If you ate with Melba and Tommy and didn't learn the proper way to dine and experience elegant foods, then it's your own fault!

The list of dignitaries that they have fed in grand style includes presidents and former presidents, literary greats and nationally know artists (and lots of Grenadians who can still taste Tommy's wonderful catfish dishes and crabmeat dishes and Greek dishes and egg soup and ...).

Thank you Melba and Tommy for all that you have meant to Grenada and to Mississippi! You are true examples of "the way life should be."

The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, and we know that you will want to be there to help us honor two of Grenada's finest citizens. This year's Parade begins at Pecan Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard and ends up on the Square downtown.

Congratulations, Melba and Tommy!

Southland Oil Company

Jimmy Nunn and his wife April bought Southland Oil Company in March of this year and are doing a bang-up job running it. They carry all types of bulk petroleum products - diesel, gasoline, motor oil, and hydraulic oil for residential and commercial use. They will also deliver! "Service is our promise to you" is their motto and they have certainly lived up to it in just the few short months they have been in business. Give them a call at 226-1494 or drop by and see them at 299 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Thanks for being one of our new Chamber members Jimmy and April!

Hunt Construction

Bill Hunt is the owner, manager and chief cook and bottle washer at new chamber member Hunt Management and Construction, Inc. Office Manager Dyna Taylor does a good job of keeping up with Bill, and it is a big job since Bill is involved in the construction of churches, nursing homes, schools and lots of other commercial buildings. Bill began this business in 1989 and is known far and wide for being fair and honest. You can't be successful in the construction business unless you are both, and Bill is the very definition of successful! Give him a call at 227-1047 or drop by and see him at 6 Green Street in downtown Grenada.

Airport Grocery and Deli

W.C. "Houston" Melton and his wife Aleta bought this grocery about three years ago and are really having a great time running it! They are very ably assisted by Jennifer Festerdand and Janet Melton who are well known and loved by their customers. Houston and Aleta serve plate lunches, deli-style sandwiches and buffet style pizza each day, except Sunday. They have two trucks who deliver food to plants in the community and also run the cafeteria at Grenada Manufacturing. They have convenience store type items in the store and some fishing supplies. They are located at 2054 Highway 322, convenient to the airport and the lake. Run by and eat lunch Monday through Saturday. Give them a call at 226-0165 to see what's on the menu!

Thought for the Day

"The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour." Japanese proverb.