Karly Sindy, a software developer and Asheville resident, said the North Carolina DMV won’t permit her to use her FART license plate on her truck anymore — but she still has other plans for it.
Karly Sindy
A North Carolina woman who pleaded with the Division of Motor Vehicles to keep her custom license plate lost the battle — but may have won the war, she said.
Karly Sindy, a resident of Asheville, received a letter from the DMV on Feb. 24 saying someone had complained to the agency about her license plate, which says FART. In the letter, the DMV said Sindy had 30 days to submit an appeal to the DMV explaining the significance of the plate to her or risk having the plate revoked and replaced with a non-customized one, The News & Observer reported.
Sindy turned to Reddit for help, and one user suggested that she tell the DMV that the letters were simply an acronym for an outdoor activities club, Friends of Asheville Recreational Trails.
She created a website for the club, and eager prospective members told her they were genuinely interested in joining. Soon, the club was born, and it held its first meeting on Feb. 24.
Sindy submitted a letter to the DMV asking them to reconsider revoking the plate on March 3.
But on March 11, the DMV doubled down on its decision. Sindy told McClatchy News via email that the agency gave her a phone call, saying she could no longer use the plate on her truck.
But the agency also told her she could still “keep it for official club business,” she said in a tweet.
Sindy added in another tweet that the club “may have lost the battle, but I think we won the war.”
Around the time Sindy got the initial DMV letter, she told McClatchy News that she was pleasantly surprised by the level of excitement and support she witnessed for the FART club — one person brought a cardboard sign with the club’s name on it, others took photos with the plate, and two representatives of Friends of the Smokies gave Sindy a year-long membership to the wildlife organization as a thank-you for her support.
Since then, FART has only grown in popularity — the club has a schedule of upcoming events, a newsletter and official merchandise, including stickers and T-shirts. Sindy was even invited to tell her story on an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on March 3.
Sindy submitted her appeal to the DMV the same day.
“I’d like to start off by pointing out that acronyms are an excellent way to gain attention and unify around succinct causes that mean a lot to all of us,” Sindy wrote. “Whether that be UNC, WNC, NCSU, NCDOT, these short collections of letters have a meaning and help establish identity.”
“F.A.R.T. shares information about our vast network of trails through different social media outlets, and helps connect citizens who care deeply for the continued preservation of this land to be enjoyed by all,” the letter continued.
The DMV first told McClatchy News on Feb. 25 that the “personalized text in question has been on our do not issue list for some time and was mistakenly approved in our Special Plate Unit,” and that the “plate has been recalled.” However, at the time, Sindy said she hadn’t received any official communication from the agency.
After learning she can use the plate for the club, Sindy shared a TikTok video, featuring a montage of FART-related pictures and the song “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John.
“The F.A.R.T. will linger!!” a text box in the video says.
And despite the news, the club plans to continue meeting, Sindy said in the video.
“The FART club is gonna be alive and well,” Sindy said. “Thanks everybody for the fun, and let’s be kind to each other, and I’ll see you on the trail.”
According to the club’s website, upcoming events include a meeting on March 13 to “come hike, play disc golf, or just hang out,” as well as a social event at a local brewery “once we receive the response from the DMV.”
The North Carolina DMV did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Vandana Ravikumar is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter. She grew up in northern Nevada and studied journalism and political science at Arizona State University. Previously, she reported for USA Today, The Dallas Morning News, and Arizona PBS.
If you have an online business, you’re probably eager to scale it as soon as possible and as quickly as possible. Scaling is simply a term referring to your business’s growth; over time, the goal is to attract more customers, achieve a bigger footprint, and eventually become more competitively dominant. As a result, you’ll make more money and have more influence.
That sounds great, right?
The problem is, scaling and online business can go wrong in many different ways. If you want to scale a business effectively and reliably, there are some important strategies you’re going to need to follow.
The Pitfalls of Scaling Your Online Business the Right Way
Let’s start by reviewing some of the biggest pitfalls of scaling. Growing a business from its early startup stages isn’t guaranteed to be successful. It’s also not guaranteed to be a net positive for your organization; in fact, many businesses end up collapsing because they scaled inefficiently or in a way that was detrimental to them.
Here are some of the biggest obstacles in your way.
Overspending. The one you probably thought of first was overspending. To achieve growth, you often must invest in your own business; otherwise, you’ll be exclusively relying on passive and unpredictable routes of growth, like depending on word-of-mouth advertising. Instead, you’ll dump your money into your marketing and advertising strategies, step up your research and development, and even hire new people to help you achieve your business goals. This isn’t a bad thing – far from it – but it can quickly exhaust you of your resources if you aren’t careful. Your spending needs to be targeted and deliberate, and it needs to be focused on the strategies and developments most likely to help your business succeed.
Poor targeting. The best business decisions are driven by data. All businesses take this to heart. Instead, some businesses target new audiences and new routes for expansion based solely on a whim. Even if they do rely on data, they don’t do enough due diligence to make their targeting effective. Again, you are scaling needs to be targeted and focused; if it’s based on a whim, or if it’s not backed up by sufficient data, you’re going to end up rudderless.
Loss of centralization/brand voice/culture. This is more of an abstract problem that businesses can face, and it’s certainly not a death sentence, but in combination with other detrimental factors, it can erode the integrity of your business. Businesses are at their most powerful when they are centralized; this means having a strong, cohesive brand, a consistent internal organizational culture, and focused direction even across different locations and branches. If you expand it too quickly, or with too many people, or in too many areas, it becomes practically unfeasible to retain this centralization. Instead, you’ll end up having to contend with a fragmented and inconsistent version of what your brand used to be.
Bad customer experiences. For many reasons, expanding too quickly can ultimately lead to bad customer experiences. Your customers may not be able to get the products they want, they may struggle to navigate a confusing customer service department as it begins to grow, or they may lose confidence that this brand is everything they used to think it was. As a result, digital businesses that scale too quickly and up alienate the very customers that let them too early success in the first place.
The good news is, none of these pitfalls are guaranteed to happen. In fact, most of them are totally avoidable.
Scaling Your Online Business Better
These are some of the most important strategies you’ll need to use if you want to scale your online business better.
Use multiple different strategies. Marketing and advertising are the primary channels through which a business scales. These are the areas where you’ll have the opportunity to introduce your brand to new customers and bring them into the fold. If you want to get more consistent results and reduce your risk, it’s important to use multiple strategies simultaneously; think of it as a way of diversifying your marketing portfolio. For example, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is highly reliable for generating traffic, but it can also become expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing or if you don’t counterbalance it with other organic strategies. Adding in some content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) could be exactly what you need to see better overall results.
Start with one new market. Don’t go crazy with your expansion. Instead, focus on one new market or one new expansion opportunity. It allows you to grow in a much more controlled and reliable way.
Spend cautiously. Entrepreneurs often get overzealous when spending money on anything meant to serve the scaling mission. Instead, scrutinize every dollar that leaves your organization. If you spend cautiously, you’ll be smarter with the investments you make.
Develop a plan to counter your competition. Competent competitors can and will stand in your way. That’s why it’s so important to develop a specific plan to counter each of your major competitors. Get to know them, including their biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses – and develop strategic angles that allow you to counter them. Can you undercut their prices? Can you easily beat their shipping speeds?
Expand staff only when necessary. It’s tempting to hire new people as quickly as possible when you’re eager to expand. But this is usually a recipe for disaster. Not only will you be quickly multiplying your spending on one of the most expensive categories of spending for your business – you’ll also be bringing new people into an organizational culture that’s at its most fragile. Instead, commit to only expanding your staffing when necessary.
Get professional insights. Don’t trust your gut when it comes to important decisions dictating the future of your business. Before making any major decisions, get some professional insights and see if the experts in this area agree with your initial analysis. You could do this by talking to a consultant, discussing things with your partners, or even reading a book on the subject.
Exercise caution when outsourcing. Contractors and third-party firms can be excellent resources to keep your business operational as it reaches new customers and serves new needs. However, they may not be aligned with your organization’s goals and they can often present as many problems as they solve. It’s important to exercise caution when outsourcing and interview all your prospective candidates thoroughly before bringing them on board.
Be ready to drop strategies that aren’t working. In the course of scaling a business, you’re going to encounter some tactics and angles that simply don’t work. Instead of doubling down on them and hoping to make back some of the money you lost, be willing to drop them. Cut your losses before sunk cost fallacy begins corrupting your decision-making.
Double down on your most effective tactics. Conversely, pay attention to the strategies that seem to be paying off the most. Why are they so effective? Can you make them even more effective? In most cases, the best approach is to dump even more money into these strategies and expand their influence.
Keep a close eye on ROI. It’s important to measure everything related to your marketing and expansion, and do so objectively. This way, you’ll have a reliable way to distinguish between effective and ineffective strategies – and you’ll have definitive proof that your scaling efforts are working the way you intend.
Conclusion
Following these strategies won’t guarantee that you scale your business quickly, efficiently, and productively. But they are a reliable foundation.
Scaling is always going to be a risky endeavor, but a necessary one if you want your business to achieve its full potential.
Remain patient, do your due diligence, and be willing to change direction when necessary, and you’ll be in a much better position than most scaling entrepreneurs.
Image Credit: Cottonbro from Pexels; Thank you!
Timothy Carter
Chief Revenue Officer
Timothy Carter is the Chief Revenue Officer of the Seattle digital marketing agency SEO.co, DEV.co & PPC.co. He has spent more than 20 years in the world of SEO and digital marketing leading, building and scaling sales operations, helping companies increase revenue efficiency and drive growth from websites and sales teams. When he’s not working, Tim enjoys playing a few rounds of disc golf, running, and spending time with his wife and family on the beach — preferably in Hawaii with a cup of Kona coffee. Follow him on Twitter @TimothyCarter
Neighbors For Kids (NFK) has made another major capital improvement to their 7,600 square foot youth facility in Depoe Bay, which was constructed and moved into in 2010. In late February, NFK went from the original bare concrete floor to a new hardwood gym floor using a beautiful beech wood material. This has significantly improved the multi-use area of the facility.
The indoor gym is used daily for physical activities, sports, games, play time, and it works as a cafeteria for healthy meals and nap time for the preschool age children. This area will be used in the off-hours by the U.S. Coast Guard and local fire department, and it also serves as a venue for special events. The gym is now a safer space and the high-quality flooring will benefit the community for many years to come.
A special thanks to Scott Wales who laid the new gym floor over the course of seven days. Wales is the athletic floor division manager at New Dimension Hardwood Floors in Eugene. The idea of a different gym floor came up when Wales briefly toured the facility in 2019. Wales approached the owner of New Dimension, Kurt Vollstedt, in December 2021 and he was in full support of this project.
Wales went to high school at Waldport High School in the 90s and was a latch-key youth himself. Donating a week of his time, Wales applied the skills and expertise from his career, giving back to the community, creating something special and long-lasting for youth on the coast.
NFK’s executive director, Toby Winn, originally met Wales while playing in a disc golf tournament at the Wilder Disc Golf Course located in Newport. This unique project quickly gained momentum and generous funding from donors for the costs of materials. Other contributions came from Cascade Pacific Flooring Distributors – Eugene location, Bona Finishes, and volunteer Mark Scheid. It is a clear example of networking and social capital building. NFK’s staff, board members and the families they serve are grateful and very thankful to everyone who contributed.
Although there were challenges during the pandemic, NFK’s Kids Zone programs have built back slowly and safely since February 2021, offering the preschool, after school and summer programs. Staff look forward to supporting the needs of children and families in Lincoln County. For more information or to make a charitable contribution, please send an email to frontdesk.nfk@gmail.com or call 541-765-8990. NFK’s facility is located at: 634 SE Hwy 101 in Depoe Bay.
Defiance County commissioners discussed the possibility of financially supporting a new disc golf course in Defiance during their Thursday meeting.
The 18-hole course is being built by volunteers on the campus of Defiance College, and could become functional in several weeks, according to Jay Hanson of the Jacket Woods Disc Golf Course Committee. But final installations will have to wait until after Defiance College’s graduation ceremony in May.
He said his organization is putting together a course capable of hosting tournaments.
Permission was given by the college to proceed last November, Hanson noted, while 23 volunteers have been helping build it. Another volunteer work day is scheduled for March 19.
Help also will be — or has been — received from Boy Scout Troop 70 and Defiance Master Gardeners, he said.
Commissioner Mick Pocratsky suggested that his colleagues would consider providing funds for phase 4, perhaps from the county’s hotel/motel tax. Commissioners occasionally use this money for tourist-related activities or related infrastructure.
According to Hanson, the course’s estimated construction cost — undertaken in four phases — is $70,000-$75,000 with $58,600 collected through fundraising. The final phase would cost between $6,800-$15,000, he said.
As for the course’s difficulty, Hanson informed commissioners that it will be challenging.
“We’ve purposefully maximized the enjoyment of the game … by having the course be as complex as it can,” Hanson explained. “You don’t want to make it too easy … .”
He said no disc golf clubs exist in Defiance, but others have been formed in Archbold, Bryan and Wauseon. Hanson is hoping for the establishment of high-school level clubs here in the future.
Also Thursday, commissioners met with E-911 Director Matt Hanenkrath and Sheriff Doug Engel to discuss the construction of a new communications tower at the county fairgrounds in Hicksville for the MARCs radio system used by law enforcement.
Engel told The Crescent-News that the tower would provide better communications coverage in Hicksville and surrounding areas.
He noted that the estimated cost is $600,000 to $1 million, and asked if commissioners could offset this with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. The county will receive $7.39 million in ARPA money from the federal government.
Commissioners did not grant Engel’s request, but would front the project cost and require the sheriff’s office to pay back the money over time.
The sheriff’s office will hire a project manager who will handle the bidding, according to Engel.
In other business Thursday, commissioners received a monthly update from Ron Cereghin, the county’s maintenance supervisor.
A disc golf course is coming to Deerfield Park in Albany, the city’s public parks department announced this week.
Invented in the early 1900s, disc golf mixes elements of golf and Frisbee. The game has players toss discs at a series of targets on a nine- to 18-hole course, with the goal of hitting them with the fewest number of throws.
The sport’s first professional match was held in Bladworth, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1927. It’s now played in 40 countries worldwide today, including the U.S.
Albany is home to a range of disc golf courses. They include an 18-hole course in Bryant Park, which includes a mix of open field and woods holes. Nearby in Linn County, Waterloo Park also boasts a par 54-course etched with dense brambles and brier patches.
According to Albany Parks Director Kim Lyddane, a new disc golf course for is coming to Deerfield Park, courtesy of the Disc Golf Club of Albany.
Lyddane told the Albany City Council on Wednesday, March 9 the nine-hole course is intended for beginners and will go up in April. The course is paid for by the Disc Golf Club, which fundraised for the 18-hole course in Bryant Park and the Timber Linn nine-hole course.
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No permanent materials will be going into the ground, Lyddane said, and the course will be taken down in early fall ahead of the rainy season.
“This will be a really great opportunity for us to test it out and see if this is the type of activity that is going to be enjoyed and appreciated,” Lyddane said.
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Lyddane said she anticipates the course won’t be a nuisance for the homes neighboring the 10-acre park and should not threaten any power lines.
“It’s a really cool idea,” Albany City Councilor Marilyn Smith said. “I can see my fellow dog walkers out there, perhaps having to retrieve a few [discs].”
No action was required of the City Council to approve the disc golf course on Wednesday, according to Lyddane.
The Albany City Council is scheduled to meet for its next regular session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 online.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited to more clearly identify Waterloo Park as a Linn County park.
Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce.
The New Martinsville Rotary met for their regular meeting on Wednesday March 2, at Quinets Restaurant in downtown New Martinsville, with Magnolia seniors Faith Yoho and Brendan Mirandy in atendance as the Rotary Students of the month for March. Rotarian Neil Marshall introduced both students and read their Bio’s.
Faith Yoho is the daughter of Lisa Kocher and Sean Yoho of New Martinsville. She is a 4.0 student and is ranked eigth in her class. Faith is a member of the National Honor Society and holds the office of Viice President. She is also a member of the Science National Honor Society, MuAlpha Theta, Student Council (homeroom representative), Thespian Troupe #531 (President).
She has been in the following plays and musicals, Fiddler on the Roof, And Then They Come To Me, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Sound of Music. She is also involved with Peer Tutoring.
Her Athletic achievements include Varsity golf co-captain junior year, and captain her senior year. MOVL girls champion 2020, Honeywell tournament 17 plus, third place. WV Girls state golf tournament 2020.
Her community activities include United Methodist Church, 2021 Clendenin Homecoming Teen, and New Martinsville Food Drive. Her Hobbies are reading, listening to music, golf, acting, singing, spending time with friends and family.
Faith plans to attend colllege, she is considering College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, and Wheeling University. She plans to major in business. She has received the Moose Lodge Scholarship.
Brendan is the son of Patrick and Holly Mirandy of New Martinsville. He carries a 4.0 G.P.A. He is a member of the OVAC Academic Team, captain of Magnolia’s Football team, a member of the Blue Eagles Baseball team, and is on the Magnolia high school Principal’s list. Has received the Academic Excellence Award, the Certificate for Faithful Attendance, Varsity letter in football and baseball.
Brendan spoke to the jr. football team, shoveled snow and cuts grass as community activities. He enjoys fishing, hunting, disc golf, and golf. He plans to attend WVU but is not completely decided. He is eligible for the Promise and Merit scholarships.
The Rotary led by President John Mensore and Rotarian Larry Balock had discussion on the upcoming 2022 Rise Against Hunger event to be held on March 19, 2022, at St. Jude’s in Glen Dale. Moundsville, New Martinsville, and Wheeling Rotary Clubs will join together to pack 20,000 meals in one day to help fight Global food insecurity. Contact any member of the New Martinsville Rotary if you are interested in helping with this event.
ASHEVILLE – Two new apartment developments totaling more than 440 units cleared needed reviews by the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment March 9, but a third project seeking to build 252 more in Arden was again delayed.
Hominy Creek Apartments can now move forward with building 216 units on less than 25 acres at the former WNC Pallet Company, as can McIntosh Apartments, which will construct 228 new apartments on more than 23 acres on McIntosh Road across from IC Imagine charter school.
But Crescent Hill Apartments, seeking to build 252 units on almost 25 acres in Arden was moved back again, after attorney Brian Gulden, representing developer Southwood Realty, noted that only three members of the board present March 9 had been presiding at the previous hearings, dating to December.
James LeBaube of Fountain Inn throws in a putt on the Disc Golf Course he is designing at Laurens County Park.
Disc golfers across the Upstate will soon have another destination to play a full round of the sport, which is growing in popularity among amateurs and getting more notoriety at the professional level.
Lauren’s County Park has been the home to a 9-hole course designed by Laurens County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Andy Howard, but last year Howard put a plan in place to expand the course to 18 holes. Since then, he has gotten help from avid disc golfer James LeBaube, a Fountain Inn resident who has expanded the course to 18 holes with plans for a second competition-level 18 holes be added on the same property, adjacent to the Laurens County Airport.
LeBaube said he has been involved in the sport for 21 years and is volunteering his time to design the courses in the hopes of growing the sport in Laurens County and the Upstate. Putting a tournament-level 18-hole course at the county park could bring big things to the county, LeBaube said.
The current course is still under construction, but the baskets are up and players are finding their way around it without the signage and tee boxes that are being added as construction continues by Howard and his crews.
“For this course, we wanted it to be a course that is really fair – challenging for new players but not so difficult that they won’t come back,” he said. “Every hole is birdie-able. You need skills to do it, of course, but you will get rewarded for good shots.”
James LeBaube on hole No. 1 at the 18-hole disc golf course he is designing at Laurens County Park.
The second 18-hole course, which has yet to be started, will be geared more toward the serious player. LeBaube said he would like for it to be a tournament-level course.
And that is the thought Howard has had since he began work on the 9-hole course. As a project, building a disc-golf course can be relatively inexpensive, especially for Howard who has demonstrated a penchant for penny pinching while running parks and recreation for the county.
But he said he thinks the rewards could be great if Laurens County could become a disc golf destination for amateur and professional tournaments.
“That’s the whole idea,” Howard said.
The game itself has grown exponentially thanks to online tournament coverage of the Professional Disc Golf Tour (PDGT) that has helped raise its profile. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people seeking outdoor-related activity flocked to the game as well.
The 18-hole course taking shape now at Laurens County Park will be called “The Patriot Course,” a nod to the county’s role during the Revolutionary War. Several battles and skirmishes took place in Laurens County, including the Battle of Musgrove Mill near Clinton.
That, too, was Howard’s idea. Each of the holes will also be named as another way to highlight the Revolutionary War and celebrate its upcoming sesquicentennial.
Though both courses will require a hike through the woods, the second course will also have its own identity, and LeBaube said having two adjacent courses should lure disc golfers to the area.
“Disc golfers divide their time up a lot of times by being able to play one course and then being able to walk to another course and play a round rather than driving another 20 minutes to another course and playing there,” LeBaube said.
He should know. LeBaube said he has played in six World Championships and over 150 sanctioned tournaments over the course of his career. He won eight Masters Division championships for ages 40-plus last year.
While he has worked with and helped form disc golf organizations in Orlando, Florida before moving to Fountain Inn, LeBaube is getting his feet wet as a course designer. He says it’s labor of love.
“There’s a lot of other course designers out there, and this is not my job. This is my hobby,” he said. “This is something I love to do. This is my way of giving back. I’m giving back to the community.”
Are you looking for your next road trip stop? Mere minutes from Memphis and made up of Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven, and Walls, DeSoto County, Mississippi, has SO much to see and do. With outdoor activities like biking and disc golf, cultural sites along the Mississippi Blues Trail, plenty of shopping — and, of course, award-winning barbecue — the communities within DeSoto County offer something for everyone. Whether you’re planning a girls’ trip, couple’s getaway, or a family vacation, here’s everything this Southern gem has to offer!
WHERE TO SHOP
Tanger Outlets
5205 Airways Blvd., Southaven, MS 38671 • (662) 349-1701 Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As the first outlet mall in the Memphis metro area, Tanger Outlets offers everything from accessories and jewelry to apparel and footwear. The mall includes designer brands like Levi’s, Tory Burch, Coach, GUESS, and more. (SB Tip: Click HERE to check out which stores are offering special discounts.)
With more than 70 stores, Tanger Outlets is one of DeSoto County‘s premier shopping destinations.
Side Alley Gifts & Cafe
2438 Hwy. 51 S., Hernando, MS 38632 • (662) 469-9279 Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday
Voted “DeSoto County’s best gift shop” two years in a row, Side Alley Gifts & Cafe is a favorite among locals. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, you can find goodies like drink bombs, BrüMates, local art, home decor, and more.
Aiden + Ollie
5627 Getwell Rd., Southaven, MS 38672 • (662) 253-8803 Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday
Aiden + Ollie is a locally-owned children’s boutique located in the Shops of Deerchase. Opened in 2017 by Kelly Parrish, the store sells clothes for premature babies and children up to size eight in addition to toys and books. You can buy clothing from brands like cuddle+kind, Livie & Luca, Miki Miette, and Posh Peanut.
Janie Rose Boutique
5627 Getwell Rd., Ste. A5, Southaven, MS 38672 • (662) 510-5577 Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday
Also located in the Shops of Deerchase, Janie Rose Boutique is your one-stop shop for stylish clothing from popular brands. Whether you’re in the market for a spring dress or romper, on-trend jeans, or a new pair of shoes, Janie Rose offers items from Free People, Karlie, Daydreamer, Kut from the Kloth, Endless Rose, and more.
Pink Coconut Boutique
5142 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (662) 892-8175 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
For more fashionable women’s clothing, Pink Coconut Boutique is the perfect go-to stop. You can shop in-store, online, or via Instagram for items like blouses, athleisure wear, accessories, and shoes.
Wooden Door Home Interiors
7105 Hwy. 305 North, Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (662) 892-2862 Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Sunday
If you’re looking to give your home a spring refresh, pay a visit to Wooden Door Home Interiors. The furniture store includes goodies for all the rooms in your home, including lamps, dinnerware, tables, and couches. Be sure to keep an eye on the store’s Facebook page for a glimpse of the items they have available!
Silo Square
Getwell Road, Southaven, MS 38672 • (662) 429-2332
Silo Square is a 228-acre multi-use development offering single-family homes, luxury loft apartments, high-end retail, restaurants, and a farmers’ market. Be sure to stop by Beans & Leaves for a cup of joe or City Hall Cheesecake for a sweet treat. Standout retail spots include Magnolia House, Stella Ivy Boutique, and Ultimate Gifts. This is a fantastic spot to spend an afternoon!
An afternoon of shopping at Silo Square is sure to leave you feeling hungry. Stop by City Hall Cheesecake for a treat!
Magnolia House is one of many retail shops in Silo Square. The lifestyle store offers everything from women’s clothing to home accessories and baby items.
WHAT TO DO
Mississippi Blues Trail
If you’re looking for a fun and educational activity, visit Walls, Horn Lake, Hernando, or Nesbit to check out a few iconic markers along the Mississippi Blues Trail. The signs include information about blues music pioneers like the Dickinson family, Lizzie Douglas (aka “Memphis Minnie”), Big Walter Horton, and Joe Callicott.
Live Entertainment
If live music and sporting events are more your speed, the Landers Center in Southaven is the place to be. The arena hosts a variety of family-friendly events, including musicals, flea markets, Memphis Hustle basketball games, Memphis Americans soccer matches, concerts, and more. You can view upcoming events at landerscenter.com.
Outdoor Fun
DeSoto County also offers plenty of chances to enjoy the great outdoors. Snowden Grove Park in Southaven offers mini-golf and tennis, while Horn Lake’s Latimer Lakes Park is the perfect place to enjoy a round of disc golf. Hernando DeSoto River Park in Walls is another great green space, offering opportunities for biking, fishing, or a family picnic. Additionally, Hernando’s Cedar Hill Farm offers seasonal brunches and dinners in the spring in addition to outdoor Easter egg hunts. For ADA-accessible trails, a fishing pier, campgrounds, playgrounds, and 30,000 acres of land for public hunting, pay a visit to Arkabutla Lake.
Bike along the Mississippi River at Hernando DeSoto River Park, which boasts DeSoto County’s only access to the river.
WHERE TO EAT
Mississippi Ale House
9211 Old Hwy. 78, Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (662) 420-7538 Hours: Monday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Described as “a beer bar for craft beer lovers,” Mississippi Ale House is the perfect spot to unwind after a day full of fun. While the bar is a beer-only establishment, they allow patrons to bring their own food. The hotspot also hosts Trivia on Tuesday, pint nights on Thursday, and live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. (SB Tip: Pair your beer with food from OB Pizza Co. or SideStreet Burgers, which are both connected to Mississippi Ale House!)
Grab a brew, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere at Mississippi Ale House.
OB Pizza Co.
9215 MS-178, Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (662) 932-2999 Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
OB Pizza Co. offers a range of simple, classic, and creative pizzas. The restaurant also serves Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, chicken wings, spaghetti, cheesy bread, and more.
SideStreet Burgers
9199 MS-178, Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (901) 596-4749 Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
What began as a one-man show in 2012 has turned into a DeSoto County staple. In addition to delicious burgers, SideStreet Burgers is known for its tacos, po’boys, sandwiches, and salads. Be sure to stop by when the weather is warm, as the local hotspot also offers outdoor seating.
Backwater
9203 MS-178, Olive Branch, MS 38654 • (901) 932-8683 Hours: Thursday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Sunday through Wednesday
Formerly known as Backwater Cider Company, this local brewery was home to Mississippi’s first and only hard cider company. The hotspot reopened in 2020 as Backwater in Old Towne Olive Branch and now offers beer, cyser (a type of mead), and session mead in addition to its classic cider.
Buon Cibo
2631 McIngvale Rd., Hernando, MS 38632 • (662) 469-9481 Hours: Tuesday through Thursday + Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday
Buon Cibo is a casual eatery in Hernando, offering everything from specialty pizzas to sandwiches and salads. Featured menu items include the meatloaf sandwich, smoked brisket pizza, and shrimp po’boys.
Memphis Barbecue Co.
709 Desoto Cove, Horn Lake, MS 38637 • (662) 536-3762 Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Owned by seven-time World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest winner Melissa Cookston, Memphis Barbecue Co. serves up award-winning ribs, pulled-pork sandwiches, and barbecue shrimp and grits.
A trip to DeSoto County is incomplete without getting your fix of authentic barbecue!
Velvet Cream
2290 Hwy. 51 S., Hernando, MS 38632 • (662) 429-6540 Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As the oldest, longest-operating restaurant in DeSoto County, Velvet Cream is an old-school walk-up window and drive-thru restaurant offering ice cream, burgers, and shakes. They are known for their spicy fries, fried cheese cubes, and fried mushrooms. (SB Tip: DeSoto County is home to plenty of other ice cream shops, too, including area 51 ice cream, Happy Ice Cream, Frutanas, and DeSoto Snow & Creamery!)
Ready to start planning your road trip? Check out visitdesotocounty.com for more information.
This article is sponsored by Visit DeSoto County. All photography provided.
The need of a field for a growing Porterville baseball club and the availability of recreational facilities in the community has come to a head.
A number of individuals who use Zalud Park have raised concerns about a portion of the park being leased to the Porterville Angels Baseball Club, PABC. Those who have raised concerns stress they have no issue with PABC seeking Zalud Park to meet its needs.
But they say the agreement the club and the city has reached that was approved by the Porterville City Council as part of its consent calendar still raises issues when it comes to access to what’s supposed to be a public park. The agreement between PABC and the city provides PABC exclusive use of the ball field it has developed at Zalud Park for three years.
Those involved in PABC and players in the club spent considerable time over the past few months to develop a ball field at the park. PABC held its opening day for the ball field on Sunday.
But there are individuals who use the park who say the field is cutting off much of the public’s access and ability to use what’s supposed to be a public park.
Those who have been most affected by the ball park are disc golf players who try to use the nine-hole disc golf course at Zalud Park. The ball field encroaches on several holes disc golf players try to use at the park and there have been individuals climbing the fence of the ball field to retrieve frisbees. There have also been individuals climbing the fence to retrieve softballs and baseballs as well.
The city also entered into an agreement in the recent past for Porterville Little League to use a 50/70 field at Zalud Park in which the bases were a distance of 70 feet and the distance of the pitching mound to home plate was 50 feet. Porterville Little League eventually stopped its use of the field.
Those who have raised concerns about the agreement with PABC said it’s one thing to allow an organization such as Little League use of the park but it’s not appropriate for a portion of a public park to be leased to a private organization such as PABC.
In the past there have been two ball fields at Zalud Park, a north and south field. But recent use of what’s now the current Porterville Little League and PABC have significantly encroached on the north field, effectively leaving the PABC field as the only one at Zalud Park.
Another group that has been affected by the PABC field is a Senior Softball Group in the community who uses Zalud Park. But Porterville City Parks and Leisure Services Director Donnie Moore said representatives from disc golf and the senior softball club were consulted and they raised no concerns.
“After speaking with representatives of the two most consistent user groups of the northern section of the park, the senior softball group and disc golfers, neither had any issues,” Moore said.
More added with input of disc golfers a few disc golf holes on the north side of the park are being considered to be relocated farther away from the PABC field. The City of Porterville also offers a nine-hole disc golf course at Murry Park and there’s a disc golf course at Bartlett Park as well.
Moore said disc golf holes may also be added to the city’s property on Henry Street just to the north of Murry Park when that property becomes an extension of Murry Park.
Moore said PABC has had as many as four Little League teams that played 50/70. It’s been suggested PABC could use one of the two softball fields at the Porterville Sports Complex.
But Moore said that’s not an option as those fields “are easily the most reserved fields in the city’s reservation system with multiple youth and adult softball and baseball leagues playing there throughout the year.”
Moore said a baseball field at the Sports Complex in the future is a possibility. The city has also received a $7.8 million grant for the development of a recreation center and park at Fourth and Henderson. Moore said that facility will help deal with the needs that are placed on such parks in the community as Zalud Park.
But those who have expressed concern state they’re concerned with precedent that has been set by leasing a portion of a public park to a private organization.
Mark Wright, who plays tennis at Zalud Park, notes the tennis courts at Zalud Park are the city’s only public tennis courts. “Maybe I can lease the tennis courts,” Wright said.
Wright, though, also said he really had no problem with PABC. “I can’t be upset with them,” he said. He added if the club’s able to enter into an agreement with the city, “then kudos to them.”
He also said he was involved in traveling baseball clubs as well and understands how difficult it is to find fields. He admitted if the clubs he was involved in could have done what PABC did, “we might have done it.” But he added, “I don’t think that would have made it right.”
He went on to say it’s not appropriate to lease “one acre in the middle of the park in the middle of the city” that’s supposed to be for the public to a private organization.
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