Meridian Day at the Fair

By Fredie Carmichael

editor@themeridianstar.com

Meridian Day got off to a great start here ... but it also included a slight jab from Lauderdale County Supervisor Ray Boswell to fellow supervisors Craig Hitt and Joe Norwood as Boswell welcomed guests to Meridian Day under the Founder's Square pavilion, according to those standing near the stage.

Boswell introduced Wayman Newell and Hank Florey of districts 2 and 1 respectively, as they stood near the stage. He then mentioned supervisors Craig Hitt and Joe Norwood, two supervisors with whom he's had public disagreements, and said they may be out there "somewhere." To be fair to Boswell, I never saw Hitt or Norwood either, though they could have been there. I also asked other folks and they didn't see them either. It could have been a fair, and very light-hearted, jab. And if you weren't from our area you probably wouldn't have noticed the jab. But everyone I spoke to noticed it ... it was the first thing they said to me.

Outside the pavilion, Meridian residents, elected officials and business people stood and talked with the crowd, passing out fans, lemonade and other goodies with Meridian-based logos. Nearly 1,000 folks gathered near the pavilion as Meridian had its chance to welcome fairgoers.

Before Meridian Day, the morning political speeches were highlighted by U.S. Sen. candidates Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove.

As Musgrove spoke and a throng of boos came from the crowd, the former Mississippi governor responded: "We'll get to the dirty old political tricks in a minute."

"Washington is broke and needs fixing," Musgrove said. "Roger Wicker is entitled to his opinion, but he's not entitled to his own facts."

Wicker, who was also heckled by groups of Musgrove supported, said, sarcastically: "I enjoyed Ronnie's speech; now I fully understand why he beat Haley Barbour."

"Ronnie Musgrove let us down as governor and we gave him his walking papers," Wicker continued.

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