ABERDEEN – For Auto Networx owner Deryl Clayton, working on automobiles is in his bloodline. His father was a mechanic who used to race cars, his grandfather was a mechanic, and his mother, JoAnn McKinney, even knows how to handle general roadside service.

AMORY – A vacant corner of the Park Hotel is now a pleasant office housing First American National Bank, Amory’s latest lending institution headed by Ivan Bryant.

Kelly Martin, community development director of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, recently graduated from TVA’s Valley Workforce Institute. The Valley Workforce Institute, developed and sponsored by TVA Economic Development, is designed to assist economic developers in understanding and…

ABERDEEN – Divaz Gift Boutique owner Latrina Bean-Davis has been enjoying her busiest year yet and with Mother’s Day, graduation season and Father’s Day quickly approaching, she is not slowing down any time soon.

AMORY – Between April 24 and 29, Hardees sold 561 Big Roast Beef sandwiches, marking not only the sandwich’s return to the menu after a decade but also the Amory location leading 31 stores in its sales.

AMORY – Nathan and LeeAnn Blake assumed ownership of the Windshield Surgeon at the beginning of the year from their neighbor, Robbie Huffman, who built the business with her late husband, Jim, in 1986.

ABERDEEN – Latoya Ware, general manager for Wendy’s, has been selected as one of the Top 200 general managers for 2018 by The Wendy’s Company. This distinction places Ware in the top three percent of all Wendy’s restaurant general mangers throughout the United States and Canada.

ABERDEEN – R.G. Buxton will celebrate his 99th birthday April 9, and the store he opened shortly after World War II, Buxton’s Jewelry Store, turned 71 in November. His namesake and legacy are associated with Aberdeen Main Street, and the lessons he passed along to his daughter, Bonnie Conner…

ABERDEEN – It hasn’t even been three weeks since North Side Ice Cream Shoppe and Sweet Delights opened, and its owner, Dana Ford, said the response has been phenomenal. Offering several flavors of snowcones and ice cream, banana splits, brownies, hot fudge cakes and its signature Blue Bell N…

AMORY – Barry Jones heads up Amory Tire and Rubber, a three-generation family business that has been an Amory staple for 70 years. Bill’s Hamburgers is the business in town that’s older, according to Jones.

ABERDEEN – Curley Payne said people drive by his restaurant sometimes, thinking it’s a church. Even though there’s no preaching inside, Sundays are reserved for southern favorites to feed people’s souls and gospel music.

AMORY – Statistically speaking, Monroe County will never locate an automobile manufacturer, according to industrial site consultant John Longshore. Serving as keynote speaker of Feb. 28’s Monroe County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, he stressed for local leaders to think about the bigge…

AMORY – Patrick Garth helps clients get in shape at a classic old church alongside Main Street repurposed into a boutique gymnasium. His two-prong business, Patrick Garth Fitness, addresses not only fitness but nutrition. He and his wife, Penny, operate a catering service that provides healt…

ABERDEEN – Dr. Mark Breland is the type a person who likes to continually learn. He is a graduate of St. Andrews Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Ole Miss and the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The Monroe County Career and Technical Center invited local workforce representatives to visit classes in action Feb. 15 through its business and industry day as students learned skills in demand. The mission of the day was to bring potential employers and workforce representatives together …

AMORY – In any professional setting, networking is key. Through a revamped format and a keynote speaker well-versed in industrial site selection, the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting Feb. 28 will hone in on bringing together like-minded professionals.

AMORY – French’s Learning and Development Center is a fun, spacious place for children originally based as a home business by Joel and Annie French 21 years ago. Located in west Amory, the couple’s granddaughter, Rashmi Poole, has continued the business as director for the past three years.

AMORY – More jobs and pizza options are coming this spring as Little Caesars will locate alongside Highway 278 in the space previously occupied by Daylight Donuts. Monroe County’s first location of the franchise pizza restaurant is the latest of owner, Jason Ellis of Saltillo.

ABERDEEN – Although three of Cadence Bank’s five 40-year employees have retired in recent years, having that many seasoned employees is a rarity in the small-town banking world, according to branch president Tim Alford.

NETTLETON – Billy Pender can think back to his first vehicle, a 1969 Pontiac GTO, with a smile. He can also conjure up old stories about when teenagers used to drag race across the old Town Creek bridge to see who had the fastest car.

NETTLETON – In January 2016 the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and HomeStretch President Skipper Holliman began talks of how to acquire property for an expansion to meet an increased customer demand.

AMORY – Rosemary Rimer and her daughter offer expert pet grooming for small- to average-size pets to a loyal set of clientele at their little shop just off of 5th Ave. North. Rosemary’s Pet Grooming is tucked away only a block off of Main Street in a charming little shop that looks like a do…

ABERDEEN – Since the early 1970s, furniture stores started by the late Charles Larry Baggett have undergone the test of time. From floral print’s popularity back then to people’s pickiness from browsing online, B&B Furniture manager and Charles’ son, Keith, said so much about the busines…

AMORY – A couple of friends working different occupations but sharing talents in graphic arts are pooling their abilities to offer multi-line services ranging from signage, screen printing and more at HMB Graphics, LLC.

AMORY – Mississippi Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley touted his Hire Mississippi program to elected officials, contractors and utility representatives Jan. 14 during an appearance at the Old Armory.

AMORY – Brown Eyes Bakery owner and Amory native Shanon Hyatt grew up in western Lee County. She was previously a real estate paralegal with a hobby for baking, which ultimately led to a career change.

SMITHVILLE – Revelation Outdoors offers guns, ammo, knives, grills, hunting supplies and anything else avid outdoorsmen and marksmen love. The business opened last fall, and its owner, Jimmy Dozier, already has plans to expand this year with an adjoining restaurant.

ABERDEEN – First Federal Savings & Loan recently had a major renovation, opening up its space, adding modern themes and moving away from having a teller row look. The renovation was the business’ first since the mid ‘90s, and the one before then was completed in 1973.

AMORY – Kent and Nicky Collins have more than 20 years’ worth of experience providing painting and decorating services for residential and commercial clients in Amory and Monroe County. The couple launched Amory Paint Depot in 2007.

ABERDEEN – From selling clothing in her mom’s living room to moving her business to a downtown storefront and onto pop-up shops, fashion shows, and social media platforms, the past few years have been a wild ride for Charlee’s Angels owner Latoya Straughter and her twin sister, Latasha Campbell.

AMORY – Attorney Sarah Cline Stevens heads up a legal team specializing in all issues pertaining to elder care. She has practiced law for eight years and established her own law office in 2016. She is a legal advocate for elders and their families.

NETTLETON – Hawkins Tire Center owner Will Hawkins has a well-versed background. He has played college baseball and football at Millsaps, partnered with college friends for an apparel company, taught and coached at Nettleton and done farm work. Years before all of that, though, there were tires.

AMORY – El Rey manager Roman Martinez and his crew offer authentic Mexican dining and a lively atmosphere. The restaurant is complete with eye-popping art work and peppy Latino tunes.

ABERDEEN – Since 1993, Flora Outlaw has seen changes in style from Sunday attire to more casual clothing. With October commemorating her 25th year of business with Flora’s Collections, she’s still on the front-end of the latest fashion trends.

ABERDEEN – Since going into business in 1996, John Finn has diversified. What started out as selling lawnmowers and weedeaters soon expanded to offering U-Haul and storage units rentals. September marked a milestone as he received his 20-year certificate from U-Haul.

AMORY – Angie Bowen of Uptown Kids has been involved in child care since she was a child. Her two daughters, who help with the business, have grown up with the same mission at heart, and her mother, Virginia Hunt, is a volunteer. Bowen and Hunt originally kept children individually at their …

AMORY – Two neighboring businesses decided to combine forces under one roof when the opportunity for a new location came available along Highway 278. Tim Gideon has operated a tire service center for four years, while Keith Flurry and Richard McAfee repaired vehicles across the parking lot a…

LACKEY – After working at a Caterpillar plant for years, Ivan Greenwood saved enough money to start a new career; he was just unsure if he would do it by buying a dump truck, a limousine or a wrecker.

AMORY – Nearly 30 people gathered to welcome Amory Main Street Director Alyssa Benedict and express thanks to former director Traci Huguley as part of the organization’s annual meeting Sept. 25 at the Vinegar Bend Pocket Park.

AMORY – Husband and wife team Chris and Lorie Crenshaw have combined fashion, storage and automobile rentals under one roof through their businesses, Southern Crossing Outfitters, Amory Auto and BoxBob Storage.

Farm Bureau’s presence in Aberdeen and Amory dates back to a time close to the end of World War II. After more than 70 years, it still has a strong reputation of offering insurance and meeting needs in the agriculture industry.

AMORY – Corner Flowers and Gifts is a wonderland of flowers and décor, with seasonal displays to make every visit different. Much of the inventory is made locally.