From left, Annie Hammond, Georgia Thompson, AZ Toney, Mary Ann Hathorn and Dianne Hayden.

Marion County resident AZ Toney celebrated his 97^th birthday surrounded by family and friends Saturday at Doskey’s Family Restaurant in Columbia. Toney served in World War II, worked at Orleans Furniture Company and currently enjoys gardening. He is a lifelong Marion County resident and is of sound body and mind. “I think he is in better shape than I am,” said his daughter Mary Ann Hathorn of Lake Charles, La. Asked how it felt to turn 97, AZ Toney said, “fine.” His wife of 60 years, Gertrude, passed away over a year ago. Kwanza Toney of Hattiesburg said he grew up without a dad and AZ was like a father to him. Az’s four daughters, Mary Ann Hathorn, Dianne Hayden, Georgia Thompson and Annie Hammond, organized the party for their dad. Party goers sang gospel songs, gave short speeches in honor of Toney and ate food from the delicious buffet at Doskey’s.

Family and friends gathered at Doskey's Family Restaurant in Columbia to celebrate Az Toney's 97th birthday.

Pam Blanden sings a gospel song at the party.

AZ Toney sits at the head of the table.

The sign at Doskey's wishes AZ Toney happy birthday.

Michael Brown of Columbia holds one of the decoy bombs he made.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Columbia resident Michael Brown can transform household items, such as kitchen timers and cell phones, into devices that kill.

Fortunately, Brown has only used his knowledge of bomb making to benefit the human race. “I work for the good guys,” he said.

Brown, owner of Columbia-based Nitro Exchange Inc., became interested in bombs when he joined the Air Force after graduating vocational school as an industrial electrician. Being a young man at the time, the danger of working with bombs appealed to Brown, and he also liked the idea that he was “doing something that actually mattered” by working in explosive ordinance disposal.

“Most things in the military involve destroying something,” he said. “In explosive ordinance disposal you can actually save lives on a massive scale. One person can change the outcome of huge events.”

His Columbia company builds fake bombs that are used as training aides, and he takes pride in the fact that his decoy explosives look and feel like the real thing. American companies that provide training to bomb squads overseas get their decoy explosives from Brown. SWAT teams, the Department of State as well as cities, counties and states have also purchased fake bombs from Brown for a “real world” training experience.

He said his most “harrowing” bomb experience occurred in the military in Germany. A suspected stolen vehicle was on his base with a suitcase under the gas tank, and “all things indicated it was probably an IED (improvised explosive device).” Brown was chosen to work on the situation, and the suspect suitcase was so large that if it was a bomb it could have “taken out a large portion of the area,” he said.

Brown made this fake bomb that has a timer.

While inspecting the situation, the Autobahn had to be shut down, but in the end it turned out that there was no bomb. However, when it comes to inspecting a potential bomb, one must assume it is the real thing, he said.

Working with bombs is the most rewarding career, Brown said, because it involves saving lives, but not everyone is cut out for the field. He noted that bomb squad orientation videos show burned faces, “entrails hanging out and chunks of meat.” Bomb work can involve working in claustrophobic situations while wearing a chemical suit.

In his career, Brown had dealt with more than 100 bombs, and he remembers a car bomb that killed two soldiers at his Air Force base in Germany. In fact, he was almost injured as shrapnel from the explosion just missed him.

Despite the destruction that bombs can cause, explosives are necessary for mining and dam building, Brown said, noting, “We couldn’t live without explosives.”

In the Air Force he was stationed in Germany for three years and trained fellow bomb squad members in disarming nuclear, biological, conventional and chemical explosives. “I had a real flair for it,” said Brown. Brown helped clean up an old World War II land mine factory in Illinois and was also an instructor for the Department of State in Baton Rouge, La. teaching foreign police agents how to be bomb squad technicians. He built fake bombs that U.S. allied countries, such as Bangladesh, Trinidad, Greece and Tanzania, used in training.

He laughs when he thinks of the bombs on movies, saying, “That’s Hollywood. That’s not real.”

Columbia novelist Brandi Perry holds a copy of her new book, "A Whisper on the Bayou."

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A Columbia novelist has just had her second book, “A Whisper on the Bayou,” published.

Author Brandi Perry’s new novel is set in South Louisiana and is a “high school drama with a bad twist,” she said. The plot deals with a schizophrenic high school senior who kills another student in a fit of jealousy, said Perry in an interview with the Marion County Informer at the Second Street Bean coffee shop in Columbia this afternoon.

The killer, Melanie Prejean, cannot distinguish between reality and fiction and is haunted by the murder victim, Isabelle Russo. Perry said she would like to see the novel turned into a movie.

Perry set the book in the fictional Cajun town of Channing Bayou, saying South Louisiana is a “mysterious” locale with unique food, music and language. Places in the 214-page psychological thriller are inspired by real locations, such as a restaurant Perry once dined at in Houma, La. She conducted research into Louisiana law for the novel by consulting friends who used to be attorneys, she said.

The book’s publisher, Publish America of Baltimore, Md., has said “Whispers on the Bayou” could be one of the top 10 books of the fall, said Perry, adding she has a seven-year contract with the company.

This is Perry’s second novel, having released “Wayward Justice” last November. “Wayward Justice,” Perry said, is a story about government corruption and a district attorney who must get a “capital murder conviction to be ushered into the state Attorney General’s Office seat,” Perry said.

Perry said she thinks “A Whisper on the Bayou” is a better book than “Wayward Justice,” saying, “I grew up a lot after writing the first one. I don’t think I can be considered an amateur writer anymore.”

The new book has more detail and people who read it should feel like they are “right there” in the action, she said.

Perry started writing seriously after undergoing emergency brain surgery in April 2009. She was homebound and unable to use her legs so she started writing “Wayward Justice” as “therapy,” she said. Perry believes the brain surgery was the Lord’s way of opening the door for her to be a novelist.

Prior to the surgery she only wrote poetry and short stories, and now she has ideas for 25 more novels and 125 children books and she would like to write about historical events in Marion County.

On days when she does not feel like writing, Perry commits time to her T-shirt company, For a Rainy Day. The shirts have inspirational sayings and are sold in boutiques in the Southeast, she said.

Perry is a Marion County native, 1998 graduate of Columbia High School and 2003 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned degrees in coaching and sports administration, history and English and a minor in political science.

She is happy to call Marion County home, saying she enjoys going to Wal-Mart and seeing people she knows and watching sunsets and sunrises on the Pearl River. Perry is now working on her third novel, which is a love story titled “Best Seat in the House.”

Second Street Bean is hosting a book release party for “A Whisper on the Bayou” Aug. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. In the meantime, anyone who wants a copy of the book can call Perry at (601) 731-0022 or e-mail her at writerbrandiperry@yahoo.com.

Marion County resident Michael Mitchell, left, on the set of one of his movies.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A Marion County filmmaker is making a name for himself in the movie industry and could put Columbia on the silver screen.

Michael Mitchell of Kokomo is currently directing and producing his next film called “Scarecrow’s Last Dance” that will be filmed in Mississippi and Washington State, and he has some heavy hitters in the movie business backing the project.

This is not Mitchell’s first foray into filmmaking, having produced his first movie three years ago at Pearl River Community College where he was a student studying business, marketing and film. He is now the owner of Kokomo-based Light Productions and works at Wal-Mart to make money for his film projects.

Mitchell, left, works with an actor.

“Scarecrow’s Last Dance” is about the power of love, said Mitchell, noting that the plot deals with a band of thugs kidnapping a husband and wife and taking them out in the woods to torture and kill them. After the husband is killed he comes back to gain retribution.

One of Mitchell’s colleagues, Evan Marquisee from Costa Rica, wrote the screenplay, and Mitchell expects that some of the movie will be shot around Columbia and Hattiesburg when production begins in September. It will cost around $5,000 to produce “Scarecrow’s Last Dance,” Mitchell said, adding that the film will probably be released next summer.

According to Mitchell, Lance Nichols, who was in the blockbuster film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and is also on the HBO series “Treme,” will play Mr. Granger, the leader of band of thugs. The lead role of the husband is played by Erik Williams of Missouri.

Filmmaker Michael Mitchell

The producer of “Scarecrow’s Last Dance” is Josh Hodgins, who was the creator of the FOX TV show “Jackson Horn” and worked with R.W. Goodwin, the creator of X-Files. Brandon Russell, director of photography on “Scarecrow’s Last Dance,” worked on “Volcano” and “Anaconda,” said Mitchell. “Scarecrow’s Last Dance” has already been offered theatrical distribution and is a sci-fi/thriller, Mitchell added.

Several roles in the film have yet to be cast, including the lead female part and the band of thugs. Anyone interested in being considered for the roles should submit an application online at the Light Productions Web site, www.lightfilmsproduction.webs.com.

Mitchell, who has lived in Marion County since he was 5-years-old, said he hopes to draw local acting talent in future films he shoots here. Another movie he is making, “The Cigarette,” will star Columbia native Amanda Bishop, who will portray a 22-year-old fifth-year community college student with a dead-end job.

An advantage to shooting movies in a rural area like Marion County is that there is no traffic to contend with when trying to film scenes, said Mitchell. But there are also drawbacks such as a lack of production equipment that would be available in Hollywood, said Mitchell, who attended West Marion High School but graduated home school.

Mitchell made contacts in the film industry by traveling to New Orleans and Baton Rouge to volunteer on movies productions by helping with set design and other jobs. One of the first contacts he made in the industry was New Orleans casting director Jeremy Evan Kerr. While working on his film thesis project at PRCC, Mitchell e-mailed Kerr for advice.

New Orleans, which Mitchell said is No. 3 in the country for movie making, has been a great asset for him, and he has now been a part of about 40 productions in one way or another.

Since he was a child watching TV programs such as the “Cosby Show,” Mitchell has had an interest in film. He just finished shooting a movie called “Man in the Maze” in Alabama that he said is scheduled to be released in theatres this fall in the United States, Nepal and India. On that movie Mitchell served as the first assistant director, screenwriter and second unit director.

He also recently finished a film called “Recupero” which he wrote, directed and produced. Mitchell said the film is scheduled to be released on DVD next summer and stars Ashton Leigh and Shaun Grant, who was in the film “Blood Out” with Val Kilmer.

First-time author Claude Gooch of the Cheraw community in Marion County holds his novel, "Carlos."

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

Anxiety and depression are roadblocks for some, but for first-time author Claude Gooch of the Cheraw community in Marion County, those ailments were a source of inspiration.

Gooch’s self-published book, “Carlos,” is about a man who battles depression and anxiety after he is laid off from his job. The power of prayer, family and medication help the protagonist get through the tough times.

Gooch was inspired to write the book by his own struggles with anxiety and depression and hopes the novel will lead others who are facing similar troubles to seek help. Many times people suffering from emotional disorders are reluctant to seek help through counseling or medication in fear of being stigmatized, Gooch said. There is nothing to be ashamed of when seeking help for depression and anxiety, Gooch said, adding that he takes mediation and receives therapy.

Gooch said he wrote the book because, “I had a lot to tell about my problems and feel I can help someone else.”

People battling depression and anxiety need to seek help before it’s too late, he said, noting that much of the book is inspired by his life, but names have been changed.

In the book, Carlos tries to get work at the local sawmill but is repeatedly turned down due to his high blood pressure, and his unemployment check is not enough to provide for his son. The stress of the situation begins causing Carlos to hear voices that encourage him to act violently.

The sawmill job may be somewhat autobiographical since Gooch worked at Georgia Pacific in Goss for 17 years prior to becoming disabled about six years ago with knee problems.

The situation begins to improve as the family prays and Carlos begins responding well to medication, but then things take a turn for the worst again when his son Dennis gets in trouble over drugs. Carlos commits himself to trying to save his son, and the story is about how a family sticks together through the tough times.

Gooch said his only hobby is writing, and he is working on a new book that is due out this winter tentatively titled “The Evil Husband.” The book is about a man who is abusive to his wife and child when he drinks.

Gooch, 50 , is a graduate of West Marion High School and attended Jackson State University. He is married with three children and enjoys reading books about the Methodist denomination. It feels good to have written a book of his own: “I feel like I accomplished something I set out to do,” he said.

The 142-page book was published by AuthorHouse and can be purchased at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or authorhouse.com.

Pine Belt Graphics employee Rob McClain praises retiring supervisor Frances Hayes at a reception Thursday afternoon.

By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A retirement reception was held Thursday afternoon at Pine Belt Mental Health in Columbia for Frances Hayes who spent 17 years training developmentally disabled adults.

Hayes of Columbia taught those with disabilities job skills so they could enter the workforce and become self sufficient and productive members of society.

Hayes was a supervisor at Pine Belt Graphics, which is located on Main Street in Columbia and serves as a workforce training center for adults with developmental disabilities. The screen shop prints 80,000 to 90,000 T-shirts a year with a labor force made up of 31 Pine Belt Mental Health Care clients.

At the reception, several of the clients expressed how much they love and appreciate Hayes for what she has done for them. Rob McClain, one of the clients, said Hayes taught him that if he can’t say anything nice to not say anything at all. Kyle Hutchins, another one of the disabled clients, also thanked Hayes for teaching him workplace skills.

In the graphics shop, the clients learn a variety of tasks including how to print a T-shirt as well as fold and bag the garments. In her 17 years Hayes has seen many of the clients go on in life to obtain full-time jobs as a result of the skills they learned in the print shop.

Pine Belt Graphics employee Kyle Hutchins shares some nice words with Hayes.

Pine Belt Mental Health opened the graphics shop in 1991, and the clients who work there earn a wage.

Hayes of Columbia said she is retiring to take care of her mother. About 40 attended the reception in her honor at the Pine Belt Office on Lafayette Street in Columbia this afternoon. Several of her fellow employees spoke of her great contribution to the program, and one called her the “heart and soul” of the operation. She was also praised for her care, compassion and dedication to the clients.

She was named the third recipient of the Lynne Blackledge Lifetime Achievement Award. Hayes says she has many fond memories working with the clients and said even though she is leaving the job, she is not leaving her family.