No more college tuition for Lee County (MS) high school graduates…

…who attend Itawamba Community College.

A college education is now an option for every high school graduate, over 650 students, in Lee County. The Lee County Mississippi Board of Supervisors and CREATE Foundation have established the Lee County/Marchbanks Helping Hand Tuition Guarantee Program… The program, which is the first county sponsored program of its kind in the State of Mississippi, is designed to guarantee fully paid tuition for four regular semesters of instruction for Lee County residents attending Itawamba Community College. Graduating seniors will receive tuition assistance, if needed, to close the gap between available federal, state, and private grants and scholarships. The purpose of the program is to improve educational attainment levels in Lee County, thus strengthening community and economic development.

Click here to read more about the program.

Restaurant Review: Giardina’s, Greenwood, Mississippi

When I told a colleague that I would be having dinner at Giardina’s at The Alluvian in Greenwood the response was, “Phil, I know you’re a seafood person, but the best filet I’ve ever had was at Giardiana’s. Better than (names of famous steakhouses).” I took the bait (pun intended) and had the filet. It was as described, so I have no hesitation in recommending it. Three others in our group had filets and two had seafood. All said the food was among the best ever put in their mouths. My hat is off to our server, who knew the wine list by heart, but was not shy about making recommendations after I described what I looking for to go with that filet. All-in-all, it was a superb dining experience in a rather unique setting. Did I mention the private booths, each with a curtain-draped doorway?

Our pre-dinner reception in the lobby of The Alluvian was something more like an after-work setting in a Memphis or New York hotel. At 5:30 p.m. the locals began arriving and mixed hospitably with the hotel guests. The “Billy Joel” sound of Danny Abraham on the piano and a bartender who wasn’t challenged by any drink request makes this venue one not to miss when in the Mississippi Delta.

Highly recommend.