DeSoto's Best 2013

desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 B1desoto’s best

It is with great pleasure that we at the DeSoto Times-Tribune present “DeSo-to’s Best of 2013.”

Thousands of DeSoto Countians and Mid-Southerners living and working in our community cast their ballots in more than 196 categories.

In this issue, you will find the re-sults of the contest, with the three top choices of voters in the DeSoto County region.

Many thanks go out to our loyal, trusted readers who took the time to fill out a ballot, and to the numerous businesses and civic organizations for encouraging their members and fans to participate.

For nearly half a decade, the DeSo-to’s Best competition, has highlighted the very best that this dynamic and growing county has to offer.

On the following pages, readers will have the opportunity to sample a smorgasbord of great dining and shop-ping establishments as well as excel-

lent venues for entertainment, arts and services within our region.

We feel blessed to have been a part of this community for the past 175 years.

Enjoy!

Dick Mathauer, PublisherThe DeSoto Times-Tribune/CLICK Magazine

B2 desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 desoto’s best

Food & Drinks1.) Chef 1. John Woods 2. Melissa Cookston 3. Josh Belenchia

2.) Bar 1. Fillin Station 2. Boiling Point 3. Wadford’s

3.) Deli/Sub Shop 1. Lenny’s (Hernando) 2. Subway (Goodman Rd.) 3. Newk’s (Getwell Rd.)

4.) Meat & 3 1. Dales 2. Abbay’s 3. Cafe 51

5.) Frozen Treat 1. Orange Leaf 2. Yo Sweetz 3. Gracie Bleu

6.) Patio 1. Maria’s Cantina 2. Boiling Point 3. Fillin Station

7.) To Hear Live Music 1. Boiling Point 2. Huey’s 3. Fillin Station

8.) Cheap Date 1. Boiling Point 2. Velvet Cream 3. Huey’s

9.) Kid Friendly Restaurant

1. Lost Pizza Co. 2. Buon Cibo 3. O’Charley’s

10.) Burger 1. Huey’s 2. Wimpy’s 3. Buon Cibo

11.) BBQ 1. Memphis BBQ 2. Old Style BBQ 3. Tops

12.) Ribs 1. Memphis BBQ 2. Old Style BBQ 3. Interstate BBQ

13.) Pulled Pork 1. Memphis BBQ 2. Tops 3. Old Style BBQ

14.) Taco 1. Swanky’s 2. Mi Pueblo 3. Maria’s Cantina

15.) Pizza 1. Lost Pizza Co. 2. Memphis Pizza Cafe 3. Buon Cibo

16.) Dessert 1. City Hall Cheesecake 2. Lady Bugg Bakery 3. Orange Leaf

17.) Cupcake 1. Ann Olivia’s

2. Sweet Boutique 3. Lady Bugg

18.) Wedding Cake 1. The Cake Lady 2. Lady Bugg Bakery 3. Brown Baguette 19.) Bakery 1. Lady Bugg Bakery 2. The Cake Lady 3. Brown Baguette 20.) Caterer 1. John Woods 2. Memphis BBQ 3. Old Style BBQ

21.) New Restaurant 1. Swanky’s 2. AC’s Steakhouse 3. Haru

22.) Restaurant Overall 1. Boiling Point 2. Memphis BBQ 3. Mesquite Chophouse

23.) Sushi 1. Osaka 2. Kyoto 3. Nagoya 24.) Japanese 1. Osaka 2. Kyoto 3. Sekisui 25.) Chinese 1. Hunan 2. Shanghai House

3. Mr. Chen’s

26.) Italian 1. Avellino’s 2. Lonnie Tant’s 3. Olive Garden

27.) Mexican 1. Mi Pueblo 2. Casa Mexicana 3. Rancho Grande

28.) Seafood 1. Boiling Point 2. Wadford’s 3. Fins and Feathers

29.) Breakfast 1. Taco Felix 2. Boiling Point 3.WaffleHouse

30.) Lunch 1.Buon Cibo 2. Blue Daze 3. Fillin Station

31.) Dinner 1. Blue Daze 2. Mesquite Chop House 3. Boiling Point

32.) Brunch 1. Blue Daze 2. Mesquite Chop House 3. Boiling Point

33.) Coffee Shop 1. Starbucks 2. Dunkin Donuts

3. Fill Your Belly

34.) Cheap Eats 1. Velvet Cream 2. Taco Bell 3. McDonalds

35.) Fried Chicken 1. Gus’s 2. Zaxby’s 3. KFC

36.)Catfish 1. Boiling Point 2.CatfishCountry 3. Dales

37.) Steak 1. Mesquite Chop House 2. Wadford’s 3. Texas Roadhouse

38.) Wings 1. Mr. P’s 2. Wings ‘n Things 3. Lost Pizza Co.

39.) Sports Bar 1. Fillin Station (East) 2. Fillin Station 3. Fox and Hound

40.) Margarita 1. Maria’s Cantina 2. Mi Pueblo 3. La Siesta

41.) Martini 1. Wadford’s 2. Mesquite Chop House

3. Windy City

42.) Bloody Mary 1. Fillin Station 2. Mesquite Chop House 3. Wadford’s

43.) Liquor Store 1. Grapevine 2. Cork and Barrel 3. D’Vine Wine & Spirits 44.) Wine Selection 1. Grapevine 2. D’Vine 3. Cork and Barrel 45.) Beer Selection 1. Boiling Point 2. Fox and Hound 3. Lost Pizza Co.46.) Buffet 1. Boiling Point 2. Grand Buffet 3. Hunan

47.) Bartender 1. Animal (FSG) 2. Michael Combes 3. LIzzie Eason (FSG-East)

48.) Waiter/Waitress 1. Kelsy LeBlanc 2. Hector (Casa Mexicana) 3. Diane Champlain

49.) Hostess 1. Nicole Lane 2. Ariella Mallet 3. Brittany Mangum

Greetings...

Photo by Robert Long

Blue Daze Bistro co-owner Kelly Pouliot celebrates the first-place win in the DeSoto’s Best Dinner category along with head chef Jesse Bateman and Raquel Terry.

ROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

SOUTHAVEN —Whether it’s shaken or stirred, swizzled or served on the rocks, Fillin Station Grille is the place to have your spirits lifted.

The restaurant was voted “Best Bar,” “Best Sports Bar,” and captured the “Best Bartender” nod for the second year in a row in the annual DeSoto’s Best competition sponsored by the DeSoto Times-Tribune.

So, what’s the secret ingre-dient to being the best bar-tender in DeSoto County?

Just call it “animal magne-tism.”

Or more succinctly, just call that special quality, “Animal’s Magic.”

The man resembling a friendly pirate in the white, red and blue bandana, earring and piercings with the wide grin and mascara underneath his eyelashes is simply known as “Animal.”

“Animal has been with me since the beginning,” Fillin Station Grille owner Steve Beene said. “We’re proud that he won best bartender this year. KiKi, our bartender who still works for us part-time, won it last year.”

Animal said he just takes the win in stride.

“I think being a people per-son and providing fast service has a lot to do with it,” Animal said. “You’ve got to love what you do. I talk with people and get to know them.”

Animal said bartending takes a special quality in a person. By far, Animal said he loves Fillin Station customers the best.

“I’ve bartended from Pitts-burgh to South Beach Miami to good old Mississippi and I enjoy this the most,” Animal said.

Unique employees and a unique setting is what makes Fillin Station a tourism draw to Southaven, according to Beene.

“I think it’s the uniqueness of what it is that we do,” Beene said. “We have well-trained employees who have been with us for a long time.”

Beene, a Louisiana native, said it’s the freshness of the food and the fast, friendly ser-vice of wait staff and servers that keep customers coming back time and time again.

Beene, who serves as chairman of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, serves as a board member on the 4Rivers Food Hub, an effort to connect gro-cers and restaurants with fresh produce from local farmers.

“Everything that we serve is fresh and handmade,” Beene said. “We support the 4Rivers Food Hub that has been estab-lished. We use fresh produce from the local farmers.”

Beene said in addition to thick, juicy burgers and tasty fried catfish and other similar fare, the restaurant also offers healthier dishes liked grilled fish.


HERNANDO – The win-ning entry in the DeSoto’s Best Dinner Award is no lon-ger a secret.

Voters in that category have cast their winning ballot for the spicy, deletable dishes served up by Blue Daze Bis-tro head chef Jesse Bateman.

Blue Daze Bistro uses only the freshest ingredients in preparation of its gourmet fare.

Bateman is known for his spicy Chilean sea bass along with tasty Southern dishes.

“It’s such an honor,” Blue Daze Bistro co-owner Kelly Pouliot said as she gathered Bateman and other employ-ees into the restaurant’s small kitchen to announce the

award. “We are so excited.”The Massachusetts native

said she had a passion for cooking and wanted to infuse with her business venture with a certain pizazz. Pouliot and co-owner Heather Har-rison said they found just the right place.

“Heather and I looked into several restaurants before finding just the right one in June of 2010,” Pouliot said.

That special restaurant was formerly known as the Blue House, which the business partners bought from Lisa Brauchler, whose catering business Thyme To Eat was also formerly located in the small blue house on Com-merce Street.

The little blue house for-merly housed a barbershop

before being completely remodeled. The business was renamed Blue Daze Bistro.

The restaurant is part of several new businesses along bustling Commerce Street.

LadyBugg Bakery, which re-located from Memphis to Commerce Street, is situated next door.

Pouliot and Harrison added an outdoor deck and music to lend a festive air to the night-life along Commerce Street.

“We fell in love with Her-nando,” Pouliot said. “Every-thing is made in-house and is fresh,” Pouliot said. “We buy local when we can and shop the farmer’s market.”

Robert Lee Long: [email protected] or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252


“Animal,” Fillin Station Grille’s celebrated bartender chats with a customer.

The Fillin Station Grille — the best — bar none

Nothing blue about ‘Best Dinner’ award


#1#1

BEST PIZZA

#3 BEST BEER SELECTION

KID FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

THANK YOU DESOTO COUNTY!

PHONE: (662) 892-86845960 GETWELL RD. SOUTHAVEN

: @GETLOSTPIZZA: LOST PIZZA CO. OF SOUTHAVEN

Boiling Point tops in music, fun, foodBOB BAKKENStaff Writer

SOUTHAVEN — Saying the Boiling Point Seafood and Oyster Bar in Southaven is known for its delicious seafood is just the start of why it’s one of DeSoto’s Best in a number of categories, including “Best Restaurant Overall,” “Best Catfish,” “Best Live Music” and a fun place to take a “Cheap Date.”

Located near the Landers Center at Church Road West and Pepper Chase Drive, the Boiling Point has been a well-known

spot for a great meal, a wide selection of brews, and an enjoy-able time.

“We were very humbled and excited to win,” said Boiling Point co-owner Christina Wilhite. “It was an honor to be cho-sen in so many categories.”

One needs to look at the Boiling Point’s menu to see the full breadth of the restaurant’s offerings. While seafood re-mains the signature theme, you’ll find steaks, sandwiches, pastas, gumbos, soups and salads.

“We constantly strive to produce the best quality foods along with the highest levels of service possible,” Wilhite

said. The Boiling Point has added a breakfast menu to its food

offerings. Add a wide selection of items in the lunch buffet, live

music and an ever-changing selection of the best brews avail-able in the area, you’ll easily discover why the Boiling Point remains one of DeSoto’s Best.

“Just being worthy of being nominated in so many catego-ries is an honor,” Wilhite said. “We truly thank the commu-nity and our supporters.”

Photo by Bob Bakken

Among the many features at the Boiling Point in Southaven is the wide variety of beers, which are changed on a continuing basis so as to offer the best brews available from all over.

boilingpointthe

seafood & oyster bar



Avellino’s would like to thank all our friends and customers that took time to vote for us this year!

We appreciate each and every opportunity to serve you!

Thank you for your continued support!DINE-IN, DELIVERY, CARRY-OUT, AND CATERING AVAILABLE

775 Goodman Rd. E #7 | Southaven, MS 662-349-9968 | avellinos.net


Huey’s Southaven

7090 Malco Blvd. Southaven 38671

(662) 349-7097

Thanks Desoto for voting us Best Burger!

www.hueyburger.com


Thank Youfor voting usDeSoto's Best!#1 Frozen Dessert

#3 Favorite Dessert

5847 Getwell Road, Southaven

Celebrate! Let's

Buy One CupGet One Free

Exp. 03/22/2014

Come in and try our new

dishes today!

desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 B9desoto’s bestShopping opportunities abound in state’s fastest growing countyJanie Rose Boutique prime example

BOB BAKKENStaff Writer

Shopping opportuni-ties abound in DeSoto County, ranging from distinctive, unique bou-tiques to large nationally-recognized department stores.

The flair and piz-zaz that shoppers in the state’s fastest growing county like to flaunt is re-flective in several smaller boutiques that dot the retail landscape.

It’s often been said that “Life’s Too Short To Wear Boring Clothes.”

Janie Rose Boutique, with locations in Her-nando and Southaven is just one example.

Many fashion fanatics have found that to be the case, so that is why Janie Rose Boutique in Her-

nando and Southaven is another of DeSoto’s Best.

It’s a distinction Jes-sica Russell of Janie Rose Boutique is thankful for.

“We definitely feel very blessed,” Russell said. “We want to always give the credit to God that we have been so successful over the past seven years.”

Russell said Janie Rose Boutique makes every effort to offer items that you won’t find at other franchise stores.

“I think that we strive to be different, that’s our number one goal,” Rus-sell said. “We don’t want to be like anybody else. We listen to the girls at work here and what we like and the market, we just pick out what we want and we just want to be completely different

than anybody else.”That fashion sense

make Janie Rose a spe-cial place to shop, from clothes, to handbags and accessories. Shoppers can also check out the store’s Facebook page, where special offers also make it another of DeSoto’s Best.

Being the best makes Janie Rose Boutique unique, a label Russell said the store is happy to wear.

“A lot of the brands that we have, we’re the only ones in the area that are able to carry them,” Russell said. “We’ve been able to carry some of our brands for seven years, so they are exclu-sive to us and we really try and get a variety of items.”

Photo by Bob Bakken

Janie Rose Boutique prides itself as a store that offers items you won’t find at other stores, where being different makes it a special place to shop.

SHOPPING & SERVICES50.) Real Estate Agent 1. Sabra Cable 2. Mike Anderson 3. Brian Couch

51.) Attorney 1. Kelly Smith 2. Leanne Rutherford 3. Stan Little 52.) Insurance Agent 1. Ryan England 2. Sam Lauderdale 3. Barry Bouchillon

53.) Web Design 1. Dream Design 2. Nova Giant 3. DeSoto Technology Group

54.) Computer Repair 1. PC Doctor 2. Midsouth PC Repair 3. Joey Pope 55.) Dry Cleaner 1. Blue Ribbon 2. A OK Cleaners 3. Value Cleaners

56.) Accounting Firm 1. Williams, Pitts, & Beard 2.Griffith 3. McIngvale CPA

57.) Check Cashing 1. Quick Cash 2. Cash Cow 3. Kwik Cash

58.) Mobile Phone Provider 1. AT&T 2. C Spire 3. Verizon

59.) Landscaping 1. McConnell Curb Appeal 2. Quality Landscape 3. Leader Lawn

60.) Lawn Service 1. Green King 2. Lawn Doctor 3. Sinn’s Lawncare

61.) Tree Service 1. Addison Tree Care 2. Woodland Trees 3. Lunz Tree Service

62.) Cleaning Service 1. Cleaning Crew 2. Heavenly Sunshine 3. Help Me Rhonda

63.) Flooring & Carpet Installation 1. Floor Depot 2. Hernando Flooring 3. Olive Branch Carpet

64.) Storage Company 1. Hamilton 2. Outback 3. Magnolia

65.) Photographer 1. Jessica Rowell 2. Jay Nichols 3. Magnolia 66.) Day Care 1. Faith Preschool Academy 2. Happy Times 3. Kids R Kids

67.) Pet Boutique/Grooming 1. Groomingdales 2. Dog Groomers of Hernando 3. Pearly Pets 68.) Architect 1. Urbanarc 2. Aerc 3. Marvin Johnson

69.) Handyman 1.Todd Davis 2. Guy Smith 3. Pat Smith

70.) Plumber 1. Tim Mote 2. Mitch Wright 3. Action Plumbing 71.)Builder 1. Dream Home Con-struction 2. Mike Lance 3.JoeWhitfield 72.) Electrician 1.WhitfieldElectric 2. David Zuk 3. Herndon Electric 73.) House Painter 1. Bubba Short 2. David Cody 3. Goodman Painting

74.) Car Wash 1. Car Wash USA 2. Boomerang 3. Kangeroo

75.) Florist 1. Hernando Flower Shop 2. Olive Branch Florist 3. Busy Bee

76.) Printer 1. Madison Signs 2. Dream Design Studios 3. Nova Giant

77.) Bank 1. Bancorp South 2. Bank Plus 3. Regions

78.) Veterinarian 1. County Seat 2. Cat & Cow 3. Elmore Road

79.) Hotel 1. Whispering Woods Hotel & Conference Center 2. Holiday Inn 3. Drury Inn

80.) Funeral Services 1. Hernando Funeral Home 2. Brantley Funeral Home (Olive Branch) 3. Twin Oaks 81.) Heating and Air 1. Mitch Wright 2. Gray’s Heating and Air 3. Eldridge 82.) Bed and Breakfast 1. Bonne Terre 2. Fountain South Inn 3. Magnolia

83.) Pool Service 1. Splash Pools 2. Butler Pools 3. MIke Bellows 84.) Pharmacy 1. Funderburks 2. Olive Drugs 3. Medicine Shop

85.) Investment Broker 1. Milton David (Ed-

ward Jones) 2. Brant Ray 3. Chas Emerson

86.) Rental/Party Supply 1. American Tent 2. Classic Party Rent-als 3. Party Works 87.) Trophy/Plaque Engraving 1. Tri-State Trophy 2. Olive Branch Trophy 3. Smith and Brantley

88.) Tattoo Parlor 1. Sick Side 2. Sacred Art 3. Illusion Ink

89.) Finance Company 1. Regions 2. Wells Fargo 3. Bancorp South

90.) Mortgage Company 1. Fairway Mortgage 2. Wells Fargo 3. Community Mort-gage

91.) Auto Dealer 1. Country Ford 2. Homer Skelton 3. Jimmy Gray 92.) Auto Dealer (Internet Sales) 1. Cornerstone 2. Country Ford 3. Jimmy Gray

93.) Oil Change 1. Gateway (Hernando) 2. Country Ford 3. Ultimate Tire

94.) Auto Shop 1. Gateway (Hernando) 2. Millenium 3. Southaven Car Care

95.) Tire Store 1. Gateway (Hernando) 2. Ultimate Tire 3. Magnolia Tire

96.) Used Auto Dealer 1. Landers 2. Jimmy Gray 3. Homer Skelton 97.) Brake Shop 1. Value Brakes

2. Magnolia Tire 3. Ultimate Tire 98.)MufflerShop 1.DeltaMuffler 2. Meineke 3. Darby’s 99.) Transmission Shop 1. Coleman Taylor 2. Spencer Lee’s 3. A Quality

100.) Towing Service 1. Lazer 2.Griffith 3. Choice Towing

101.) Motorcycle/ATV Dealer 1. Southern Thunder Harley 2. DeSoto Honda 3. Southaven Kawasaki 102.) Farm Equipment Provider 1. John Deere 2. Tractor Supply 3. Stateline Turf and Tractor

103.) Collision Center 1. Millenium 2. DeSoto Collision 3. Bill Fowler

104.) Children’s Apparel 1. Jack Anna Beanstalk 2. Litle Feet 3. Carter’s

105.) Ladies’ Apparel 1. Pink Coconut 2. Janie Rose 3. Stella Ivy

106.) Candles 1. Courtyard 2. Paisley Pineapple 3. Ultimate Gifts 107.) Home Decor 1. House to Home 2. Home Decor Outlet 3. Paisley Pineapple 108.) Gift Shop 1. Paisley Pineapple 2. Ultimate Gifts 3. Blue Olive 109.) Art 1. Paisley Pineapple 2. Stella Ivy

110.) Handbags 1. Janie Rose 2. Pink Coconut 3. Purple Pickle 111.) Appliance Store 1. Hernando Appliance 2. Lowe’s 3. Best Buy

112.) Formal Wear 1. Lola B 2. Center Stage 3. Men’s Warehouse

113.) Shoes 1. Janie Rose 2. Pink Coconut 3. Dillards

114.) Boots 1. Cowboy Corner 2. Frontier Western 3. Janie Rose

115.) Costume Jewelry 1. Janie Rose 2. Pink Coconut 3. Paisley Pineapple

116.) Fine Jewelry 1. Custom Jewelers 2. Kay’s 3. Master Jewelers

117.) Bridal Registry 1. Square Cupboard 2. Bed Bath & Beyond 3. Dillards

118.) Holiday Decor 1. Purple Pickle 2. Blue Olive 3. Accents on the Square

119.) Tableware 1. Square Cupboard 2. Dillard’s 3. Ultimate Gifts 120.) Lamps 1. Magnolia LIghting 2. Blue Olive 3. Kirkland’s

121.) Antiques 1. Hernando Antiques 2. Southaven Antiques 3. Tin Roof Market

122.) Accessories 1. Janie Rose


Thank You, DeSoto County,

for voting

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122.) Accessories 1. Janie Rose 2. Pink Coconut 3. Paisley Pineapple

123.) Flooring & Carpet 1. Floor Depot 2. Hernando Flooring 3. Olive Branch Carpet

124.) Apartment Complex 1. Civic Center Apart-ments 2. Hamiltons 3. Sutton Place

125.) Elementary School 1. Hernando Elementary 2. Lewisburg Elementary 3. DeSoto Central

126.) Middle School 1. Hernando Middle 2. Lewisburg Middle 3. Southaven Middle

127.) High School 1. Hernando High School 2. DeSoto Central High School 3. Lewisburg High School

128.) Library 1. Hernando Public LIbrary 2. Olive Branch 3. Southaven Public Library

129.) Teacher 1. Felisha Powers, HES 2. William Bentley, DCHS 3. Guy Smith, DCHS

130.) Coach 1. Ron Wilson (DeSoto Central) 2. Tyler Brewer, LCHS 3. Jamey Jones, LCMS

131.) Riverkings Player******* 1. Dan McWhinney 2. Todd Hosmer 3. Matt Whitehead

132.) Church Leader 1. Patrick Conrad 2. Trevor Davis 3. James Lewis

133.) Community Role Model 1. Chip Johnson 2. Jean Barlow 3. Bill Beavers

134.) Mayor 1. Chip Johnson 2. Darren Musselwhite 3. Scott Phillips

135.) Police Chief 1. Tom Long 2. Mike Riley 3. Darryl Whaley

136.) Principal 1. Cory Uselton 2. Andy Orr

137.) Chamber of Commerce 1. Hernando 2. Southaven 3. Olive Branch

138.) Radio Station 1. 95.3 The Rebel 2. KLove

3. Kix 106

139.) Company/Corporation 1. Wells Fargo 2. Dream Design Studios 3. Hernando Flower Shop

140.) Retirement Community 1. Wesley Meadows 2. Silver Creek 3. LifePointe Village

141.) Golf Course 1. Wedgewood 2. North Creek 3. Cherokee Valley

142.) Place to Hold an Event 1. Spitfi re Acres 2. Snowden House 3. Landers Center

143.) Charity Event 1. Crystal Ball 2. Catfi sh & Khakis 3. Mudbug Bash

144.) Local Festival 1. Springfest 2. A’ Fair 3. Water Tower Festival

145.) Place to Worship 1. Life Fellowship 2. Colonial Hills 3. Heartland Church

146.) Kid’s Birthday Entertainment 1. Bounz 2. Little Artsy 3. Cedar Hill Farm

147.) Farmers’ Market

1. Hernando 2. Olive Branch

148.) Martial Arts 1. Blann’s 2. DeSoto Taekwondo 3. Hernando Taekwon-do

149.) Charity 1. House of Grace 2. Palmer Home 3. St. Jude

150.) Place to Hold a Wedding Reception 1. Snowden House 2. Bonne Terre 3. Spitfi re Acres

151.) Non-profi t 1. Palmer Home 2. House of Grace 3. Apelah

152.) DeSoto County Attraction 1. Snowden Grove 2. Cedar Hill Farm 3. DeSoto Museum

153.) Family Health Care 1. DeSoto Family Medi-cal 2. Hernando Family Medical 3. Meacham

154.) Cardiologist 1. Dr. Dharmesh Patel 2. Dr. Todd Edwards 3. Dr. Stacey Smith

155.) Nephrologist 1. Dr. Julio Ruiz (Mid-South Nephrology)

2. Jacinto Hernandez 3. Dr. YiJia

156.) Gynecology 1. Dr. Elaine Thompson 2. Dr. Jenny Lamb 3. Dr. Robert Donato

157.) Gastroenterologist 1. Dr. William Hardin 2. Dr. Eric Ormseth 3. Dr. Geza Remak

158.) Orthodontist 1. Dr. Jessica Cox 2. Dr. Richard Williams 3. Dr. Bryant Hirsberg

159.) Pediatrician 1. Dr. Harry Phillips 2. Dr. Manoj Narayan 3. Dr. Dorothy Butler

160.) Urologist1. Dr. Robert Hollabaugh

2. Dr. Mark Greenberger 3. Dr. Conrad Pearson

161.) Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolar-yngology) 1. Dr. Jeff Cunningham 2. Dr. Louis Channin 3. Dr. Greene Colvin

162.) Oncologist 1. Dr. Jason Chandler (West Clinic) 2. Dr. Conia Benn 3. Dr. Stephen Besh

163.) Optometrist 1. Dr. David Parker 2. Dr. Heather Dowdy 3. Dr. Alan Smith

164.) Dentist 1. Dr. Jason Parolli 2. Dr. Robert Seymour 3. Dr. Tommy Cox

165.) Chiropractor 1. Dr. Brian Henry 2. Dr. David Bakeris 3. Dr. Brad Thompson

166.) Podiatrist 1. Dr. Michael Lyons 2. Dr. Brian Shwer 3. Dr. Carla Martin

167.) Orthopedist 1. Dr. Clairborne Christian

2. Dr. David Richardson (Campbell’s Clinic) 3. Dr. Gregory Dabov

168.) Physical Therapy 1. Dano Napoli 2. Advanced Physical Therapy 3. Campbell Clinic

169.) Opthamologist 1. Dr. William Farmer (Rayner Clinic) 2. Dr. Allen Shaefer 3. Dr. Blake Booth

170.) Spray Tan 1. Sunblast 2. Jamazin 3. Tan-n-Go

171.) Tanning Salon 1. Palm Beach Tan 2. Tan-n-Go 3. Super Tans

SHOPPING & SERVICES

And Thank YOU for Voting DAC Fitness “Best Fitness Club”

DAC Fitness would like to thank the best members any business could have and all of DeSoto County for choosing DAC as the Best Fitness Club in the area, along with voting our own Lucy Gordon and Tina McMurry as “Bests” in their categories. We promise to continue to exceed your expectations and deliver the best workouts and programs - the best RESULTS - to our members! Not a DAC Member? Come try us out for 14 days. Visit daclife.com to receive your trial membership.

daclife.com

Best Yoga ClassLucy Gordon

Best Health Club

Best Spin ClassTina McMurry

Spinnin’ and Chillin’Congrats to Tina and Lucy!



SHOPPING & SERVICES172.) Spa 1. Goulds 2. Bloom 3. Indulgence

173.) Gym/Fitness Center 1. DAC Fitness 2. Edge Fitness 3. Jane’s Gym

174.) Personal Trainer 1. Johnny Loper 2. Mike Morris 3. Kareem Vance 175.) Zumba Class 1. Paige Anderson 2. Sarah Baker 3. Brooke Wilson

176.) Yoga Class 1. DAC Fitness 2. Stars in Motion 3. Jane’s Gym

177.) Spin Class 1. Tim McMurry 2. Jane’s Gym 3. Lindsey Rowsey

178.) Hair Salon 1. Studio West 2. Belle Ross 3. Adore 179.) Hair Stylist 1. Jamie Pino 2. Megan Price 3. Laura West

180.) Manicure/Pedicure 1. Bloom 2. Goulds 3. Lilly’s Nails

181.) Cosmetics 1. Merle Norman 2. Darlene’s Perma-nent Make-up 3. Ulta

182.) Museum 1. DeSoto County Museum 2. DeSoto Arts Coun-cil

183.) Dance School 1. Stars in Motion 2. Center Stage Dance 3. LRP Studios

184.) Local Band 1. Kid Ego 2. Twin Soul 3. Aquanet

185.) Bartender 1. Animal 2. Michael Combes 3. Lizzie Eglon186.) Theater Company 1. DeSoto Family Theater 2. Kudzu 3. Ballet DeSoto

187.) Actor/Actress 1. McGhee Monteith 2. Caiden Britt 3. Olivia Holt

188.) Author 1. John Grisham 2. Keisha Langston 189.) Facebook Page 1. Janie Rose 2. Pink Coconut

Boutique 3. J. Cox Orthodon-tist

190.) Twitter Account 1. Janie Rose Bou-tique 2. PInk Coconut Boutique 3. J. Cox Orthodon-tist 191.) Website 1. Janie Rose Bou-tique 2. Pink Coconut 3. J. Cox Orthodon-tist

192.) Thing DeSoto County Needs Most 1. Water Park 2. Whole Foods 3. Theme Park 193.) Disc Jockey 1. DeSoto County DJ’s 2. Lance Moore 3. Mike Anderson

194.) Taxidermist 1. Hunter Williams 2. Butch Langford 3. Banded Duck

195.) Banker 1. Greg Guy 2. Maggie Reynolds 3. Gregg Goff

196.) Credit Card Processor 1. Transactions First 2. Heartland 3. Bancorp South

Voted Best Salon in DeSoto County2012 & 2013

DeSoto Times-Tribune


Now at two locations in Hernando and Southaven, AnnOlivia’s Sweet Shop has been voted “DeSoto’s Best Cupcake,” the creamy, deli-cious confections that have made the business famous.

Stacey and Bill Renzel-man said their cupcakes, which originally started out as a side item on the menu, became a hit shortly after AnnOlivia’s opened in 2009.

“We opened to start doing custom cakes and we started putting the cupcakes with our lunch platter,” Stacey Renzelman said. “We got so busy with the cupcakes because everybody loved them.”

Renzelman said there is a great amount of tender, lov-ing care placed into every cupcake.

“We have love and pas-sion for what we do,” Renzelman said. “We do what we do through God’s grace.”

Renzelman estimates that since 2009, AnnOlivia’s has made between 600,000 and 700,000 cupcakes.

“We have fed thousands of people,’ Renzelman said as she whipped out a platter

of glitter-topped cupcakes. “Not only have we served cupcakes in DeSoto County, but we have catered events in Memphis and we are the exclusive merchants for Mistletoe Marketplace in Jackson.

“Our shop in Southaven has only been open about a month,” Renzelman added. “We are super excited. It has really taken off.”

AnnOlivia’s Sweet Shop is located in the former L’oven cupcake eatery adja-cent to DeSoto Central High School on Getwell Road.

“We have more than 100 cupcakes that we can create now and almost all of them can be turned into a cake.”

AnnOlivia’s serves break-fast, lunch and dinner and provides take-out and cater-ing.

AnnOlivia’s Sweet Shop is special in more ways than one, having been christened such for variations on all three of their children’s names.

The business is located at 1139 Holly Springs Road in Hernando and at 5627 Getwell Road in Southaven.

desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 C1desoto’s best

Hernando Farmers’ Market ‘Best Market’ROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

DESOTO COUNTY — The Hernando’s Farmers’ Market was named “DeSo-to’s Best Farmers’ Market,” adding to its long list of hon-ors and accolades which in-clude Mississippi’s top-rated market and the fifth best mar-ket in the entire nation.

“It just has a great pres-ence on the historic Square in Hernando,” Gia Matheny, community development director for the City of Her-nando, said upon learning of the DeSoto’s Best selection. “We love all our vendors,”

Matheny said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have the farmers’ market that we have.”

The Hernando Farm-ers’ Market is getting rave reviews in national publica-tions, like the New York Times Sunday Magazine and the American Farmland Trust, in addition to state and regional publications.

Nationally, the farmers’ market was voted the favorite farmers’ market in Missis-sippi by the American Farm-land Trust online contest.

The Hernando Farmers’ Market has been named the recipient of the Health Cham-

pion Award by the DeSoto County Health Council.

The Hernando Farmers’ Market was also named as a major catalyst for Missis-sippi’s Healthiest Hometown designation, due in part to the healthy fresh foods sold at the market.

The Mississippi Depart-ment of Agriculture and Commerce has certified the market for the past four years.

Leigh Wills, manager of the Hernando Farmers’ Market, said it’s the vendors who make the market a true success.

“It’s the people, the sense

of community in the City of Hernando that has made the Hernando Farmers’ Market so successful,” Wills. “It’s the producers I enjoy the most. We love our artisans because they provide a nice flair but it’s the vendors who provide good food and a great price. It’s the people who enjoy working the land and feel a closeness to the earth.”

Robert Lee Long: [email protected] or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252 Photo by Robert Long

Hernando Farmers’ Market customers wait in line to buy fresh produce from area growers and and producers at the state’s No. 1 Farmers’ Market.

Chef John Woods was readers ‘First Choice’ROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

John Woods is as well known for his world famous catfish as he is for preparing innovative culinary dishes for events at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Embassy.

Woods was personally voted “Best Chef” and “Best Caterer” in the annual DeSoto’s Best contest.

“I’m extremely thrilled about it,” Woods said. “We have a lot of supporters here in DeSoto County, and that means a lot.”

Woods got his start in the catering business when his busi-ness ventures needed an added boost.

“Almost 20 years ago, I had a small deli that was successful for about two hours a day,” Woods said. “It wasn’t paying the bills. I decided to convert the deli over to a catfish restaurant. That took off like a rocket and gave me some national and even interna-tional attention. I’ve cooked for the Smithsonian and the U.S. Embassy. It’s been quite a jour-ney. I’ve made culinary contacts all over the world.”

Despite Woods’ journey across the globe, the road always leads home to DeSoto County and Horn Lake.

Woods said his love for DeSoto County and the people of the state’s fastest growing county have led him to cater

scores of non-profit events, most at little cost or reduced prices.

“I feel like I need to give back to the community which has given so much to us,” Woods said.

For Woods, who helped to co-found the annual “Taste of DeSoto” in 2004 along with Tom and Cyndi Pittman, giving back to the community is like icing on the proverbial cake.

“I guess Taste of DeSoto is special to me,” Woods said. “It’s a great event which highlights what a lot of restaurants have to offer and it provides funds for a great cause.”

Woods said the goal is to raise more than $100,000 to provide a scholarship for deserving culi-nary students at Northwest Mis-sissippi Community College.

These past two weeks, Woods has been working with students from Northwest Mississippi Community College in helping them to prepare for culinary competition in Jackson.

“I’ve had these students over in my kitchen for the past two weeks,” Woods said. “If they place in the competition, they’ll go to nationals in Washington D.C. It’s an exciting thing to be involved with all these projects.”

The special ingredients needed in the making of a great chef are simple, according to Woods, who has operated First Choice Catering, his catering

business in Horn Lake, for the past 20 years.

“I feel like becoming a great chef is an innate sense of what’s right,” Woods said. “You have to feel it. I tell all of my students to put down those measuring cups. You need to develop a feel for what is right.”

Woods said his latest adven-ture is writing and compiling his first published cookbook.

“It deals exclusively with cat-fish,” Woods said, adding that he hopes it will be a best seller.


AnnOlivia’s Sweet Shop says voters’ choice sweet!


Stacey and Bill Renzelman display a tasty assortment of cupcakes and other pastries which are a staple of their confectionary.


John Woods, voted DeSo-to’s Best caterer, is a leg-endary chef on the North American continent.

Johnson named Best MayorROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

The voters have spoken and if there was a county-wide election for mayor, Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson could claim the honor hands down.

Johnson was voted “DeSoto’s Best Mayor” in this year’s “DeSoto’s Best” competition after the counting of thousands of votes in the newspaper’s annual contest.

The 47-year-old Johnson has also made a name for himself nationally, being in-vited to the White House as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” fitness campaign.

It was largely due to John-son’s leadership that the

City of Hernando was voted “Mississippi’s Healthiest Hometown” and the state’s first-ever “Playful City USA,” along with other honors such as the “Preserve America” designation and an “Enhanced Community,” which is a certi-fied Green community.

Johnson, first elected as an alderman in 2001, was elected mayor in 2005.

Since that time, Johnson, along with aldermen, created the city’s first-ever parks department where there was none before, and aggressively used grants to fund programs and park improvements city wide.

“When I go places and to other cities, I am proud to say that I represent the City

of Hernando,” Johnson said. “People nationally know who we are. There have been quite a few accolades that we have been given, and the citizens certainly deserve a lot of the credit.”

Johnson said being accessi-ble to the public is the key to much of the city’s successes.

“Our being in touch with the citizens is important,” Johnson said. “I would think that the people of Hernando understand that we’re not always going to agree on 100 percent of everything. But myself and the Board are al-ways listening to all sides.”

Johnson said as a grow-ing city, Hernando has been forced to be innovative in making infrastructure im-

provements such as new parks and facilities.

The city’s number of parks has grown substantially dur-ing Johnson’s administration.

“The people, for years, have been saying that they have been wanting a bike-able and a walkable commu-nity,” Johnson said. “Now, we have to be innovative. Other than Walls, we are the lowest taxed city in DeSoto County. With low taxes, we have been able to see that happen through our Parks and Recreation Department. The citizens have been able to help fund things that the city doesn’t have the money to fund. We have great citizens and that’s what makes my job so easy.” Mayor Chip Johnson

C2 desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 desoto’s best

BOB BAKKENStaff Writer

When your vehicle needs service or when the tires need to be replaced, where you have the work done is just as important as what you have done.

Drivers in DeSoto County have learned that quality service on their vehicle is just as important as quality products and the Gate-way Tire Center at 2100 McIngvale Road in Hernando is a place where they can find both.

Store Manager Allen Anthony said cus-tomer trust is valued by Gateway Tire Cen-ter.

“We’ve got some great customers that

support us, and it’s really encouraging,” An-thony said.

Gateway Tire Center offers complete au-tomobile service and has trained employees who use their experience and background to provide the best possible service. “We try to give our best customer service possible and that means a lot. It keeps people coming back,” Anthony said.

Many repair shops can replace tires or change oil, but Anthony said it’s the extra touch and attention to detail that makes his location one of “DeSoto’s Best.”

“We don’t do anything much different than other places do,” Anthony said. “I just think it’s just how we do it.”


SOUTHAVEN — Per-sonal service, dependability, not to mention tough, good-looking pickups, sleek, luxu-rious sedans, hybrids with cutting edge technology and a convenient Mid-South loca-tion have combined to make Country Ford “DeSoto’s Best” automotive dealership.

It’s a package that owner Glenn Mitchell says has en-abled Country Ford to stand the test of time.

“We’ve been here 21 years at this location,” Mitchell said, adding that Country Ford customers are loyal.

This past year, the Country Ford dealership celebrated its grand re-opening in the wake of extensive remodeling.

“We completely remodeled the whole front of the busi-ness,” Mitchell said. “We got new furniture in our show-room and new equipment.”

Yet, Mitchell said it is his employees, from the sales staff to the automotive tech-nicians, who make all the difference in customer satis-faction.

“I think most of our sales-men have been here for a long, long time,” Mitch-ell said. “It’s our people. They are deeply involved in the community and with charities. It’s the people who make the difference.”

Mitchell said he’s excited about the upcoming 2015

models, in addition to best-selling models introduced in 2013 and 2014.

“The F-150 is the best selling vehicle in the world,” Mitchell said, adding that Ford’s best-selling pickup has held that honor for the past 38 years straight.

The Ford Fusion hybrid is a stylish, vehicle that “han-dles well and looks great,” according to Mitchell.

“We have the new F-150 coming online as well as some other vehicles I can’t talk about,” Mitchell said.

The Country Ford dealer-ship is located at 95 East Goodman Road in South-aven.



THANK YOU DESOTO COUNTY!

Voted 2013 DeSoto’s BestPlace to Hold an Event!

Make some magic here!

Photo by Mike Lee

Country Ford holds grand re-openingMayor Darren Musselwhite and Country Ford owner Glen Mitchell, were on hand among many other dignitar-ies for Country Ford’s grand re-opening ceremonies in July of 2013.

Country Ford named DeSoto’s Best dealership

Gateway Tire Center, Hernando

Photo by Bob Bakken

Gateway Tire in Hernando provides top-flight automobile service, including tire sales and installation. The excellent level of service and repair makes Gateway Tire in Hernando another of DeSoto’s Best.


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It’s no surprise that DeSoto’s Best Library is the Hernando Public Library, headquarters of the fi ve-county First Regional Library System.

‘We have in Hernando a really great library,” interim First Regional Library direc-tor Judy Card said. “I think our entire library system is the best in Mississippi.”

Hernando Public Library Director Heather Lawson echoed those remarks and thanked patrons for casting their ballots for the Hernando Public Library as the coun-ty’s best library.

“Clearly, fi rst of all we want to thank the patrons who voted for us,” Lawson said. “A library is only as good as the community it serves, and Hernando citi-zens are outstanding users of this library. Also, the other requirement for a good library is a staff that is cour-teous and dedicated to help patrons of all ages, and the staff here certainly meets that requirement.”

This past summer alone, more than 900 individuals

signed up for the Hernando Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.

“We like the families com-ing through, with the mamas and daddies and their chil-dren,” Lawson said.

The Hernando Public Li-brary was one of the fi rst in Mississippi to make e-books widely available to patrons.

In 1989, the library played host to novelist John Grish-am’s fi rst-ever public library autograph signing. A private reception was also held nearby for the best-selling novelist who remarked that “a town is only as good as its library.”

The Hernando Public Li-brary has more than 70,000 volumes, which includes books, periodicals, maga-zines, e-book titles and vid-eos.

“This library system has managed to stay on the cut-ting edge,” Card said, adding that literacy programs, chil-dren’s programs and scores of non-profi t groups utilize the library on a daily basis.



CONGRATULATIONSDR. ELAINE THOMPSON & JENNIFER LAMB, FNP

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Dr. Elaine Thompson was voted #1 and Jennifer Lamb, FNP was voted #2

for Desoto County’s best OB/GYN physician by the DeSoto Times Tribune readers.

mogamd.com | 662-349-5554

DeSoto’s Best Library a real page-turner

Photo by Bob Bakken

DAC Fitness in Southaven is known as DeSoto County’s premier health and fi tness facility. DAC Fitness offers a wide range of programs to help each member achieve their own health goals.

DAC Fitness is a prime fi tness centerBOB BAKKENStaff Writer

Assuring that DeSoto County remains a healthy place to live, work and play makes DAC Fitness, on Goodman Road in South-aven, another of DeSoto’s Best.

DAC Fitness is the pre-mier fi tness center in DeSoto County, where members come to work out, take ex-ercise classes, swim, play tennis, and generally come together.

“I think there’s something about DAC that is different from other health clubs,” said Marketing Director Marya Green. “I think it’s the fact that we personally get to know each one of our

members. We’re more like a community center than we are a health club and as big as it is, it’s still a small, very supportive group of people who we have here.”

Green said DAC Fitness is pleased to be known as one of DeSoto’s Best and believes the nomination tells the center they are accom-plishing what they try to do on a daily basis.

“Our motto is,’The best part of every member’s day,’” Green said. “That is what we live and breathe, so that re-iterates to us that, for a large percentage of DeSoto County, we’re the best part of their day.”

DAC Fitness knows

health goals are not achieved without sup-port and teamwork from dedicated trainers who want their members to reach their goals of better health. Green said it’s the training depart-ment that sets DAC Fitness apart.

“Our owner, Robert Creech, has a vision that if you buy a membership here, you will get results,” Green said. “He believes you can’t do it on your own. He’s made his layered train-ing program affordable for every level of fi tness, every budget, and every time schedule. That’s his vision and he has made that come to life here.”


David Brown, media and public relations specialist for the First Regional Library System, interacts with Heather Lawson, director of the Hernando Public Library, voted “DeSoto’s Best Library.”

desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 D1desoto’s best

Silver lining in store for Wesley Meadows residentsROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

There’s a silver lining to living longer, and Wesley Meadows residents say it’s definitely a plus living in one of the state-of-the-art retire-ment communities in North-western Mississippi.

“We have close to 100 resi-dents from across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas,” said Jamie Cliett, director of marketing for Wesley Mead-ows Retirement Community in Hernando. “We are now in our 17th year.”

Cliett said residents are

more like neighbors at the sprawling retirement com-munity located off McIngvale Road in Hernando.

“It’s definitely a home for our residents,” Cliett said. “It’s not an institution. We set this up for it to be their home.”

Wesley Meadows Retire-ment community is affiliated with Methodist Senior Ser-vices, a nonprofit organization which has 12 locations across the state of Mississippi.

Each day is filled with fun-filled activities and events, according to Cliett.

That could mean donning a

hula skirt for a Hawaiian luau or dressing up for Halloween.

“We have daily activities for our residents, which in-clude art and Bible classes, field trips to museums, galler-ies and the the theater.”

Cliett said the designation of “Best Retirement Com-munity” is quite an honor for Wesley Meadows Retirement Community.

“We are so excited,” Cliett said.


Dano Napoli, MPT, owner of Napoli Physical Therapy in Hernando, said helping to make people feel better and be more ambulatory is one of his chief goals as a therapist.

Napoli Physical Therapy has leg up on competitionROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

Napoli Physical Therapy literally has a leg up on the competition thanks to a staff dedicated to attending to the physical therapy needs of its patients.

Napoli Physical Therapy was voted DeSoto’s “Best Physical Therapy” in the DeSoto’s Best competition.

“I think physical therapy is such a personal business,” said Dano Napoli, MPT,

owner of Napoli Physical Therapy, 2631 McIngvale Road, Suite 130, in Her-nando. “We spend an hour at a time with each of our patients who come in two or three times a week.”

Napoli said patients range from six to 98.

“We also have active military and their families,” Napoli said. “We do anything to help our patients, whether its bone, joint or muscular related.”

The staff at Napoli Physi-

cal Therapy share that vision.“What sets us apart is that

we evaluate and treat the pa-tient immediately,” Tammy Stratton, manager of Na-poli Physical Therapy, said. “Every patient that comes in is made to feel like family.”

Napoli Physical Therapy will be celebrating its fourth anniversary in April.


Courtesy Photo

Members of Wesley Meadows Retirement Community in Hernando celebrate the retirement community’s recent selection as the “DeSoto’s Best Retirement Community.”

Johnny Loper, DeSoto’s Best personal trainerROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

OLIVE BRANCH — Personal trainer and owner Johnny Loper has a personal mantra which he shares with his clients.

Loper, owner of Jay-Lo Fitness in Olive Branch, was named the “DeSoto’s Best Personal Trainer” for 2013.

Weight loss and personal fitness is a daily challenge, but those individuals dedi-cated to achieving their goals will succeed, according to Loper.

“Focus on where you are going...not where you are,” Loper said. “Speak life to your circumstances, situa-tions and challenges. Hold the vision of a brilliant future

and what you are creating. Challenging circumstances will try to shape and mold you. Stand firm - you will come through this even stron-ger and more powerful than before.”

Loper said positive energy and a good, strong attitude towards life and embracing all of its wonder and excite-ment will feed and nourish the spirit.

“Dedicate your energy to doing positive things that feed your spirit, your soul and your mind,” Loper said.”Remember that you hold the key to shape your life and your future. There is power in you to blaze a new trail and to pursue your great-ness. You have something

special.”Beginning March 1, lucky

clients of Loper at Jay-Lo Fitness in Olive Branch will receive exclusive private personal training in a private 60-minute session.

Clients of Loper’s have 24-hour, seven-days-a-week gym access.

Classes offered include spinning, pilots, yoga and Zumba.

Jay-Lo Fitness is located at 7139 Commerce Drive in Olive Branch.

For more information call (901) 619-5662 or (901) 605-7093.


Johnny Loper

D2 desototimestribune.com • Saturday, February 22, 2014 desoto’s best

Studio West catersto chic customersROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

SOUTHAVEN — Studio West Salon in South-aven caters to customers riding the wave of the latest chic hairstyles, according to owner Laura West.

It’s just another reason why Studio West was named the “Best Hair Salon” in DeSoto County.

“We have the ability to listen to our customers and be creative,” Studio West owner Laura West said. “We style everyone from babies to grand-mas.”

West opened the hair salon in April of 2013 at 476 Church Road East at Elmore Road.

A full-service salon, Studio West offers weaves, cuts, color and all the latest styles and techniques.

“We are up to date on all the latest hairstyles,” West said.

West said she was proud that her hair salon was voted “Best Hair Salon” in 2012.

“We are very excited about our selection by the voters of DeSoto’s Best in the DeSoto Times-Tribune,” West said. “It’s quite an honor.”



Laura West and her team of stylists cater to the sophisticated tastes of their clients at the Studio West Salon on Church Road.

Cleaning Crewmakes a clean sweep of competitorsROBERT LEE LONGCommunity Editor

HERNANDO — Michelle Ford said any business needs to have a sparkling reputation to survive, and her business, Cleaning Crew, has been helping to sweep past the compe-tition.

Cleaning Crew was the big winner in the “Best Cleaning Services” category in DeSoto’s Best.

“We go in each home and clean people’s homes the way we would expect someone to clean our homes,” Ford said.

Cleaning Crew, which has been in operation for the past seven years, is based in a small aluminum storefront build-ing near the Illinois Central/Canadian National railroad tracks on Commerce Street in Hernando.

Ford’s employees are sub-contracted employees who can be dispatched around the Mid-South for any cleaning detail, large or small.

“We’ve kept the same staff over the years so they know what to expect and our customers know what to expect,” Ford said. “I guess that we’ve just always believed that treating people right is the way to conduct a good busi-ness.”

Cleaning Crew is open Monday through Friday, in order to give employees time off with their families, according to Ford.

“We work longer hours during the week to accommodate our customers,” Ford said. “We have appointments as early as six in the morning and as late as five in the afternoon.”

Ford said Cleaning Crew has a diversified business.“We do residential and commercial and new construc-

tion,” Ford said. “We work for several builders in the greater Mid-South area. We can also bring in more people if we have bigger jobs. We provide the same great service to jobs, large or small.”

Robert Lee Long: [email protected] or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252Photo by Robert Long

Michelle Ford founded Cleaning Crew based on a philosophy of superior service and sparkling integrity.


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© Copyright 2014 Bankplus. Member FDIC.

Congratulations to

Greg Guy on being named

Best Banker in DeSoto County

Congratulations to

Greg Guy on being named

Best Banker in DeSoto County

Greg is one of our finest. So we’re proud, but not surprised, that he has been chosen for this honor. Greg is a pillar of the community, serving on many local boards including The House of Grace Domestic Violence Shelter, Mississippi Young Bankers Association, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Tri-State Save-A-Life, American Heart Association and more. Greg has been recognized by many for his service contributions — like the DeSoto Economic Development Council, DeSoto County Tax Advisory Committee, Management Committee for the City of Southaven, Palmer Home for Children and the Down Syndrome Association of the Mid-South. We take our hats off to Greg.


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Expect MoreDedication

Thank you to the readers of the Desoto Times Tribune for selecting Regions as the Best

Finance Company in this area. We appreciate

this honor and are working hard to be the best

bank possible for you.

© 2014 Regions Bank.

regions.com

DeSoto County Branches:

Olive Branch 8975 E. Goodman Road | Olive Branch, MS 38654 | 662.895.2945

Airways Southaven Branch 7100 Airways Blvd. | Southaven, MS 38671 | 662.349.8480

Goodman Road Branch 969 Goodman Road E. | Southaven, MS 38671 | 662.342.8490

Northwest Drive Branch 8819 Northwest Drive | Southaven, MS 38671 | 662.393.8383

Bullfrog Corner Branch 1463 Goodman Road | Horn Lake, MS 38637 | 662.342.8390


Thank you for voting us “Best Bank”.

Strong communities help to make

strong banks, and we’re proud to

be right where you are.

Visit our Branch Locator at BancorpSouth.com to find a location near you. Download our Mobile App, and take us with you wherever you go!

BXS_DesotoBestBank_Jan2014.indd 1 1/31/14 4:13 PM


Thank You, DeSoto County!

Voted Best Mortgage Company

224 West Commerce St.Hernando, MS 38632

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is #1 Again!

CLEANING CREW

Thanks to our loyal customers and friendsfor your support!

DeSoto Family Theatre is leading the way to the arts


DeSoto Family Theatre, founded more than 14 years ago, has made a name for itself in the Mid-South with quality family-friendly the-ater, not to mention staging such ambitious projects as Le Miserables and the Sound of Music, among other produc-tions.

“DFT was originally founded as DeSoto Youth Theatre in 2000 to provide our area youth with the op-portunity to pursue theatre arts at the local level,” ac-

cording to Donna Wieronski, one of the co-founders of DFT. “We changed our name to DeSoto Family Theatre to better refl ect the fact that our productions are designed to be appropriate for the entire family.”

“Even though our name has changed, our commitment is the same,” Wieronksi said. “Area youth are cast in our productions, as are moms, dads, and grandparents. We have entire families who act, sing, dance or contribute back-stage and in other capacities.”

Launched under the leader-ship of the late Cindy Lip-

scomb, Donna Wieronski, Jeff Smith and Laura Moore, Mary Austin Monteith and many others, DeSoto Youth Theatre evolved into DeSoto Family Theatre, harnessing the rich talent of so many individuals.

Acting and dance classes, voice lessons and other clinics and summer programs helped to propel DeSoto Family The-atre as a leader in the artistic community.

DFT lives by its mission statement as an organization which is dedicated to “creating an artistic process that strives to enrich the lives of individu-als, families, and the commu-

nity by creating a working and performing environment that incorporates God-honoring principles and is positive, up-lifting and wholesome.”

“DFT seeks to be known as an organization that provides entertainment appropriate for the entire family in DeSoto County and the surrounding community while offering op-portunities for participation and education in the art of the-atre,” Wieronski said.

Each year, DFT conducts Summer Theatre Camps for children and youth. The camps are structured to de-velop appreciation and talent

for theatre arts, teamwork and presentation skills.

“Even though not all chil-dren may pursue theater arts as a career, we strongly believe the confi dence gained and skills learned will impact them for the rest of their lives,” Wi-eronksi said.

For Jesse Anne Lipscomb, the friendships she has made in the theater will last a life-time.

“We have all gotten so close,” Jesse Anne said. “Especially since I started so young. I did my fi rst pro-duction when I was fi ve. I couldn’t read all my lines yet.

It has been so great to literally grow up on stage with people who support you and want you to make good choices.”

Jesse Anne said the dif-ference with DeSoto Family Theatre and other community theaters, by design, is the focus on faith and family.

“Some places that you go (in the theater world) are defi -nitely different,” Jesse Anne said. “I don’t think every theater takes the time to instill in you the values that DeSoto Family Theatre does. This theater makes it a wonderful experience for you, whether you are fi ve or 50.”


Cast members of the Allie Awarding-winning “Annie Get Your Gun” rehearse a scene in the DeSoto Family Theatre production of the famous musical.


391 Southcrest Circle, Suite 200 Southaven, MS 38671 901-271-1000 www.sterncardio.com

STERN CARDIOVASCULAR

FOUNDATION is so proud of Dr. Patel

for being voted “Best Cardiologist” two

years in a row!

Dr. Patel would like to thank his patients

for all of their support.

Dr. Darmesh Patel

DeSoto's Best 2013

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