Malakoff-Henderson County Now

Around Malakoff: Plenty of hummingbirds

By Loretta Humble

I am besieged by hummingbirds. It is wonderful.

Still nursing my toe after surgery, I have been forced to stop and pay attention to things around me. This is probably good for me, as my daughter Liz has long contended I have Attention Deficit Disorder — that I can’t or won’t stay focused, but flit from thing to thing. Kind of like these hummingbirds.

Obviously, these guys are not setting me a good example, but they sure are fun to watch. I’m sitting in my recliner with my laptop in my lap and keeping a close eye on them. In past years, I’ve only been able to attract one or two, but this year I’ve hit the jackpot. They won’t be still and let me count them, but I know that sometimes there are bound to be at least two dozen of the little boogers buzzing around at one time, bumping one another. Then they will disappear. Then a crowd will reappear. I thought these were the same birds coming back, but now I have been made aware I may be seeing whole new crowds—they are migrating, after all.

They are consuming at least a quart of my homemade nectar a day from my three feeders. I need more feeders, and soon will need more sugar.

I understand I’m not the only person with lots of hummingbirds this year, and I’m told because the drought has dried all the flowers, the birds are actually hungry.

I’m pretty sure this time of year other birds can find plenty to eat by themselves, especially if they like grasshoppers, Continue reading “Around Malakoff: Plenty of hummingbirds”

Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrates homecoming

Descendants of Abe Johnson, members of Johnson Chapel, and local area churches pose for the camera.

By Delanda S. Johnson/Johnson Chapel AME

Last Sunday, Aug. 25, Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrated its Church Homecoming. The church was established in 1897 in the Cedar Creek bottom under a brush arbor on the Abe Johnson’s farm.

Throughout its existence, the church has gone through many disasters. In 1926, the church was divided because of high water and bad roads. Johnson Chapel members remain in the same church building. Others established a church in Trinidad that’s known today as Mt. Vernon AME Church for convenience.

In 1938, the Johnson Chapel members tore down the church and built a small church in Malakoff with kerosene lamps for lighting.

In 1944-45, Rev. S. V. Johnson was assigned as Pastor. Since he was a carpenter, he began to rebuild the church and modern conveniences were added. In 1969, the church was destroyed by fire in which Rev. J. R. Roberts was pastor and services were held at New Hope CME Church in Malakoff. Continue reading “Johnson Chapel AME Church celebrates homecoming”

Around Malakoff: More awards for CLNH

By Loretta Humble

Bear with me folks; it’s time for my semi-annual brag-on-my-own-company column. And could you blame me? Cedar Lake Nursing Home once more got singled out by Medicare and US News and World Report as one of the best nursing homes in the country, with another five-star rating. That’s big, folks. Last year we were the only one in something like a 10-county area. This year several more got five stars. South Place in Athens did, and so did Mabank Nursing Home. But we are the only ones anywhere around here who have got this award two years in a row.

And, if I may say so, we deserve it. Cedar Lake Nursing Home is a wonderful place. The people who work here are the best. It has been our pride and joy for 46 years now. But I guess we’ve been taking it for granted a little bit, because we totally forgot to celebrate our 46th anniversary last week. The reason Sonny remembered it—after the fact—is because one of our favorite former nurses (who now works at Beau’s nursing home) reminded Sonny she was born Continue reading “Around Malakoff: More awards for CLNH”

Long Cove says it creates 200 jobs; $36 million in construction

Long Cove press release

Long Cove, a new residential community on Cedar Creek Lake, is pleased to announce that its development activity has generated more than 200 jobs, the vast majority of which are filled by Henderson County residents. Most of these new jobs have been construction related. Even though this can provide people with a way out of unemployment, the last people you may find on a construction site are young people, as 64% of millennials said they wouldn’t work in construction even if they had the opportunity to earn a large sum of money. With this not being a job of choice for this generation, at least it will open doors for other workers. The developer and the community’s new property owners are investing a combined $36 million in construction at Long Cove, including infrastructure projects, community amenities, and single-family homes. Long Cove’s development activity is planned to continue for many years, and the resulting job creation is anticipated to remain steady for the foreseeable future.

In addition to employing Henderson County residents, Long Cove is also generating significant additional economic activity as its new residents begin to patronize local businesses and new properties are added to the county tax rolls. Long Cove expects to ultimately grow to approximately 400 properties total, which will generate substantial long-term economic activity in Henderson County. Because Long Cove is largely a second-home community that owns and maintains its roads and other infrastructure, its economic contribution to the local area in the form of new tax revenue will far outweigh the minimal costs it will require from the county and other local service providers.

“We are grateful for the support that Henderson County and our neighboring communities have provided throughout our current phases of development,” said Long Cove President Christopher Kelsey. “We are particularly pleased to create so many local jobs for our community, and we are dedicated to employing local vendors whenever possible to meet our construction and ongoing staffing needs.” Continue reading “Long Cove says it creates 200 jobs; $36 million in construction”

Malakoff ISD provides free breakfast to all students

Malakoff ISD press release

Eating breakfast at school is one of the smartest ways your child can begin the day. Often students simply don’t have enough time in the morning to eat breakfast at home and go to class without eating anything at all. A hungry child just cannot concentrate on learning. Research proves breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In most studies, children who eat breakfast improved their grades. Teachers observed increased attentiveness, motivation, self- discipline and concentration in students who participate in the School Breakfast program. Studies have found that children who ate breakfast make fewer mistakes and better grades.

Malakoff ISD Food and Nutrition Director Tanya Berry is proud to announce that all of Malakoff ISD students will receive a breakfast at no charge starting the 2013-14 school year. Continue reading “Malakoff ISD provides free breakfast to all students”