Oxford- Lafayette Humane Society: Improving One Animals Future At A Time

       Here at Oxford- Lafayette Humane Society in Oxford, Miss. many animals await for a place to call home as animals begin to share more and more of their small cell with new animals arriving every week. With the humane society having 160-170 animals constantly, it has gotten harder to find homes and take care of the overpopulation inside the shelter. 

Walking through, you find four separate sections where the animals are kept. The dogs take up a larger portion of the compound, but there is room for cats, bunnies, and anything else they find.

"One time a man said he saw an ostrich running down Highway 6, it turned out to be an Emu, so he wasn't far off," said Executive Director Jan Peterman.

With only a handful of employees working at the shelter, volunteers are always welcome to help in the aid of animals that they find being homeless.

A new aspect the society here in Oxford hopes to start soon is their very own spay and neuter facility where they do not have to take the animals anywhere else to get treatment, they can do it right here in Oxford. This will also help in speeding up the process of trying to find the animals homes. They have already increased their adoption rate from 30 percent to 87 percent in just three years.

                                                

                

  

Construction From a February Car Crash is Finally Complete on The Square in Oxford Mississippi

On Wednesday April 26th, the construction on the square in front of JCG Apparel, Ajax Diner, and Oxford Grillehouse came to an end, just in time for the popular Double Decker arts festival.

The plywood came down after two months of construction where the area had to be completely remodeled from a car accident back in February. Construction was initially supposed to be completed in early March but due to the fragile state of the buildings, which were constructed nearly 200 years ago, the remodel took longer than anticipated.

Residents and businesses are thankful the city of Oxford was able to repair the damage and that the construction debris is gone.

"Plywood definitely isn't the best look for the front of your business," said JCG manager Mary Katherine Herrington, "We are so glad the mess is finally gone and we can get back to normal".

The businesses affected by the crash had to adjust to having no visible store fronts during the remodel, while also providing alternate entrance methods. Patrons and shoppers on the square had to maneuver around the construction as well and at times walk completely around the area.

Margaret Wood has more on this story. See the video below:

The completion of construction has Oxford buzzing on social media. The affected businesses have shared their excitement via facebook and twitter and residents have shared the great news!

"Be the Bridge": An Ole Miss Group Seeks Racial Unity With Dinner Event

Ole Miss "Be The Bridge" fall semester dinner event.

An Ole Miss ministry on campus, called "Be The Bridge", invited students to attend dinner last Thursday designed to bring about discussion about racial issues. The group is dedicated to seeking racial unity on the Ole Miss campus, while providing a safe place for students of various backgrounds to discuss issues regarding race within the church, society and more.

"Be The Bridge", started by Latasha Morrison, continues grow and has spawned various chapters all over the nation. But, for Ole Miss BSU assistant director Laine Anderson, "Be The Bridge" is especially important for the Ole Miss campus. "I was in my African American Literature class," Anderson said, "and it was the day after the James Meredith statue had been vandalized...and [because I was] I was able to hear unfiltered and raw emotion from my peers about how it really hurt them as African American students on this campus. I had not heard those issues before because while vandalizing the statue affects me, it doesn't affect me in the same way that it might a student of color."

Bernard Blissett has more on the story, which can be viewed below.



Users can follow and interact with the "Be the Bridge" community through Twitter and Instagram as well.

"Be the Bridge" also has a group page on Facebook that users may access through a request.

Oxford, Mississippi Home Break-Ins Increase during the Summer

Home break-ins in Oxford, Mississippi have grown increasingly common in the summer and members of the Ole Miss community have become victims. The Oxford Police Department wants Oxford residents to remain alert as summer approaches.

Courtesy: Google Images

Different home intrusions have occurred in Oxford and they include home invasions, home burglaries and home break-ins. When deciphering between a home invasion and burglary, "The home invasion statute is considered a burglary but it also has an enhancement with the home invasion. When somebody comes in with a weapon and puts the person in immediate fear and danger of life, that's when the home invasion statute comes into play," Oxford Police Lieutenant Chris Case said. Entering a home illegally falls under the home break-in category. You can prevent a home break-in by exercising caution when entering and leaving your home and by reporting suspicious activity.

Kinsey McLaughlin has more on the story, which you can watch below:

I took to social media to see what my Facebook friends had to say about their encounters with home break-ins. Nine home break-in victims' names got commented on my home break-in status but only two people felt comfortable sharing their story. One of them actually had something stolen from their house, which you can read below:

Credit Card Fraud on the Rise at Ole Miss and in Oxford, Mississippi

Courtesy of Google Images

Credit card fraud has grown more common within members of the Oxford, Mississippi and Ole Miss community. Credit card fraud happens daily and affects some card holders in Oxford.

Banks in Oxford must get creative with how they monitor their customers and help to protect them from the fraud. Some banks will move towards an electronic monitoring system that includes text message alerts and online statements. 

Banks urge customers to get smart and protect themselves from the dangers of credit card fraud. "I want to make sure customers are set up for alerts and that they understand how it works," Glinda Daniels, Regions Bank Oxford Branch Manger said. "If they are out and about, they should not give their card over to someone at the bar or at a restaurant. Be really cautious about that." Ways to protect yourself include limiting online shopping and covering the key pad when entering your PIN at a store. 

Mary-Katherine Horton has more on the story, which you can watch below:

I took the issue of credit card fraud to Facebook. My status received a lot of buzz with people who have had their cards compromised. Check it out below:

Ole Miss Relay for Life comes together to fight cancer and inspire hope

Survivors walk the track at Ole Miss'
Relay for Life event

The Ole Miss Chapter of Colleges against Cancer hosted Relay for Life at the OPC Activity Center in Oxford, Mississippi on April 21. Relay for Life is the primary fundraiser for the American Cancer Society that raises money to fund cancer research, and helps make a global impact on cancer.

The Oxford community came together to remember lost loved ones, to honor survivors of all cancers, and to celebrate life. Volunteers selflessly devoted their time and energy to raise cancer awareness and to make Relay for Life of Ole Miss a tremendous success. The event raised over $64,000 for the American Cancer Society. This money will be used to fund cancer research and provide information and services for people with cancer who need them.

"Relay for Life means hope that some day, we will never have to fear cancer."  -Dyanne McCord, Survivor

Mary Clair Kelly has more on the story. Click the video below.

Relay for Life of Ole Miss is buzzing on social media via Facebook and Twitter. Some students try to raise awareness by sharing their personal experiences with cancer, while others share information on the event.

Ole Miss Journalism celebrates diversity and inclusion with "It Starts with ME in Meek"

The committee for the "It Starts
with ME in Meek" campaign

The Meek School of Journalism & New Media at the University of Mississippi wants to raise awareness about issues of diversity and inclusion. The School will host a week of activities based around the theme "It Starts with ME in Meek," scheduled for April 19-25.

The schedule of events includes panels, workshops and even a fashion show. There is also a student competition that highlights stories centered on diversity and inclusion. "The campaign's theme asks students to pause before assuming they understand a person based solely on that person's race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, mental illness or other factors," said Robin Street, senior lecturer in IMC at Ole Miss who is chairing the campaign. "One factor does not define who a person is."

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith will make an appearance during the week. He has more on this story, which you can watch below:



"It Starts with ME in Meek" is also generating some good buzz on the School's Facebook and Twitter pages:

Ole Miss Journalism celebrates diversity and inclusion with "It Starts with ME in Meek"

The committee for the "It Starts
with ME in Meek" campaign

The Meek School of Journalism & New Media at the University of Mississippi wants to raise awareness about issues of diversity and inclusion. The School will host a week of activities based around the theme "It Starts with ME in Meek," scheduled for April 19-25.

The schedule of events includes panels, workshops and even a fashion show. There is also a student competition that highlights stories centered on diversity and inclusion. "The campaign's theme asks students to pause before assuming they understand a person based solely on that person's race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, mental illness or other factors," said Robin Street, senior lecturer in IMC at Ole Miss who is chairing the campaign. "One factor does not define who a person is."

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith will make an appearance during the week. He has more on this story, which you can watch by CLICKING HERE.

"It Starts with ME in Meek" is also generating some good buzz on the School's Facebook and Twitter pages: