Brig Aylward - Aba Farms

Aylward marks the fourth generation of his family to farm

Brig Aylward has been working on his family’s farming operation outside of Pace at what is referred to as Mound City, since he can remember.  However, he has only been farming on his own since 2006. “The past two years have been challenging,” said Aylward. “However, it has been rewarding and I have learned pretty quickly that each year is a new year in that you have to adapt to what is taking place in the ag industry in regard to that year’s commodity prices and inputs.”

The story of the Aylward family begins in Illinois where Brig’s great-grandfather decided that there was a better business life down in Mississippi farming cotton. Around 1918, his great-grandfather moved to Bolivar County and acquired some land outside of Pace.
“He moved here first by himself and left his family back in Illinois until he could get established,” said Aylward. “He later moved his family to Greenville just after the 1927 Flood.

Nelson Taxidermy - Mounting Quality

Cleveland native Jim Nelson showcases his unique art

When Jim Nelson was a young hunter, he was fortunate enough to take a number of deer that were worth mounting. But he had one problem. He didn’t have enough money to pay a taxidermist to mount his trophies. As luck would have it, he had a good relationship with his mother-in-law, Maurine Bruce, and she gave him a skill he has made a career out of.

In 1973, Nelson began a taxidermy business that would allow him to prepare his own trophies and unknowingly turned it into a full time job. At first, Nelson was a marketing manager in the meat department for Lewis Grocery Company. When he was not working, he began mounting different game, from bass to deer.

In 1988, Nelson bought Stribling Grocery where he is located today. They shut the store operation down in 1994 and strictly dealt with taxidermy. Nelson said, “The first deer head I mounted for money was Billy Joe Waldrup’s. I charged him $100. I tried to get him to let me redo it. It looks pretty bad.”

Crosstie Cometh, Celebrating 40 years

By Michael Simmons
The Cleveland Current Managing Editor

In six days, thousands of people are expected to swarm the lawn of the Bolivar County Courthouse in Cleveland to celebrate the 40th Annual Crosstie Arts and Jazz Festival. The Saturday festival will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. “We’re really excited about this year’s event,” Mary McKay Lasker, festival director, said. “This year we will be trying to highlight the past 39 overall winners and subsequently display all of that artwork at the Bologna Performing Arts Center the following week.”

Lasker said that the council purchases the overall winner and stores it, although a couple of pieces did not survive over the years.

“We’ve added so much this year and expect a big turnout,” she continued. “We’re expanding our children’s area — in fact doubling it.” Onstage entertainment for the children will consist of Mr. Nick the Magician, Mr. Watermelon Head, storytellers, “The Community Drumming Experience,” and the A.W. James Elementary Kristal Bell Choir. Also inside the children’s area, there will be a number of activities to keep the youngsters occupied. This includes a train, sand area, scavenger hunt, fun run, book giveaway, face painting and much more.

Feastivities Catering Co., Satisfying the Deltas taste buds

Charlie Capps III
The Cleveland Current Contributing Writer

Elizibeth Heiskell has a career you can dine for. As chef and owner of Feastivities Catering Co. in Cleveland. In 2002, she opened up the full line catering company that handles just about any occasion for her clients. Cocktail parties for 50-80 people are the most common job.

Heiskell said, I prefer to handle every aspect of a party so I can create a seamless social gathering. She came in the back door of the catering business and it was not her intention to work out this way.

When she was in high school, she worked for a catering company owned by Karen Carrier, the owner of premiere restaurants in Memphis, Tenn. This job continued as Heiskell attended college at Memphis State University. In 1999, Heiskell and a friend set out and began a company called Instead of Flowers. She said, Our husbands called it Instead of a Job. When babies were born, someone died or anything like that, they would send a warm meal instead of flowers. Their business became hugely popular.