Town of Walnut Annual Christmas Parade, December 11th at 7pm

Once again, it’s time for the holidays and that means it’s time to make preparations for the Town of Walnut Annual Christmas Parade! The Parade will begin at 7:00pm on the evening of December 11th and we welcome everyone to join with us along the parade route! If you would like to participate in the parade this year, we welcome you to do that, too! Just print the entry form HERE and return to Town Hall along with one new, unopened toy with a minimum value of $10 by Friday, December 8th at 4:00pm. As always, if you have questions, contact Town Hall. We hope to see you at the parade and that we all have a very Merry Christmas!

Property donation made by Richardson Family

The Town of Walnut, in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation, is pleased to announce the acceptance of a very generous property donation on the north side of Highway 72 from the Curtis and Billie Richardson family. To show our immense gratitude, the Town has chosen to name the new development, which will occupy this property, Richardson Sportsplex.

This is the first step of another exciting new journey for our beloved Town and although we recognize that it will take time, patience, and partnership for this project to reach completion, we trust this gift will provide innumerable opportunities and precious memories for the families in our community for generations to come.

Many sincere thanks to the entire Richardson family and glory, honor, and praise to our Creator, from Whom all blessings flow.

14th Annual Walnut Fire House 5K Walk/Run (Saturday, Oct 12, 2019)

It's Fire House 5K time!  Runners and walkers, get your registration forms HERE!  

The Annual WVFD Fire House 5K is one of the area's most anticipated events. USATF-Certified course, shotgun start, awards for top finishers in each age bracket, and dozens of door prizes! It’s sure to be a fun and rewarding event for all ages! All proceeds go directly to support the Walnut Volunteer Fire Department!

Race shirts are guaranteed to the first 150 entries so don't wait. Register TODAY!

Walnut Welcomes Love’s Travel Stop

On December 11th, 2018, Town of Walnut administration, utility personnel, police and volunteer fire department members met with representatives of Love’s Travel Stops as they presented the Town with the initial site plan for their development to be located on Highway 72, just west of the Highway 15 intersection. This project will break ground soon with plans to be in full operation in 2019.

For more information on Love’s Travel Stops, visit their website HERE.

For more information on opportunities in the Town of Walnut, visit our Business and Industry page HERE.

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Walnut Announces Swimming Pool Hours

The Walnut swimming pool is now open to the public.  Hours are Monday-Saturday from noon until 4p.  The pool is open on Sunday from 1p until 5p.  Admission is $4.00 per person.

Looking for a cool way to get some exercise this summer? Swimming is a great way to burn calories, improve cardiovascular fitness and increase muscle tone!

Private parties are welcome.  Please contact Gena Camburn, pool manager, for fees and scheduling at 662-672-3712.

The Well is Expanding!

Members at the Walnut Wellness Center will notice some new features in the next couple of months.  Phase III has been approved and funded, thanks to a grant from BCBS of MS Foundation and our ongoing partnership with Walnut Elementary School.  New flooring will be installed in the two large rooms on the Southeast corner of The Well facility.  The first room will serve as a multipurpose room, capable of hosting wellness initiative meetings, workshops and exercise classes.  It will also be outfitted with three projection systems that provide an interactive gaming experience on the floor!  It is our hope that families will spend more time together developing healthy habits, which in turn improves their quality of life.  Closed-circuit cameras will capture the kids playing and exercising in the multipurpose room so they can be monitored while mom and dad are exercising in the main gym area.  The back room will feature a kitchen/classroom, complete with all the equipment, utensils and prep stations to train people how to prepare and cook healthy meals.  It will host up to six couples at a time.  For more information, please visit the Community page.

Registration Announced for Walnut Municipal Park

Registration for summer tee ball, softball, and baseball will be held at the Community Center on the dates and times listed below.
Friday April 6, 5:00p until 7:00p
Saturday April 7, 8:00a until noon
Monday April 9, 5:00p until 7:00p
Tuesday April 10, 5:00p until 7:00p
Registration fee is $40.00 per child.
Games will begin May 7th.
Tee ball: must be age three by May 1, 2018.
Cut off is age 14 by July 1, 2018.

For more information and updates, visit the WMP facebook page by clicking HERE. 

 

The Well: Walnut's Wellness Center is Open!

We are pleased to announce that the Wellness Center is now open for use and memberships are available.  CLICK HERE for the brochure that explains rates and membership options and discounts.  CLICK HERE to download the registration packet.  (If you fill this out before arrival, it will save you lots of time!)  Open House is scheduled December 16th (10a-2p) to introduce you to this amazing resource.  Meanwhile, if you have specific questions, please email healthywalnut@comcast.net or call City Hall at 662-223-4405.

Many thanks to the Walnut Wellness Committee for diligently pursuing this goal for the past four years and the many additional volunteers who have been working recently to meet the opening date.  Coming soon: a complete list of donors who helped to make this possible and a little background on Walnut's journey to wellness that began in earnest in 2013.  We are Mississippi's Healthiest hometown.

Family Christmas Gift Ideas for 2017

Are you already on overload for Christmas?  We always encourage the community to shop locally...and every item below has a local option!  We have some excellent gift suggestions for you!

1. Give your family time.  That's what they really want!  What better way than to bring everyone to the annual Christmas Parade in downtown Walnut on December 11th?  The parade starts at 7p.  Yes, you can watch it anywhere, but downtown is the place to be!  Better still, engage your whole family, friends, church and/or civic group and build a float!  You'll have lots of quality time working together and experiencing the joys of the season prior to and during the parade.  Click HERE for the poster!

2. How about a tankless gas water heater?  You'll save more than $100 per year by converting to a tankless natural gas system.  They will last about twice as long as a tank because there is no sediment building up to reduce tank life.  You won't be keeping 40 or 50 gallons of water hot all the time...even when you're not home.  And with a tankless system you're not going to run out of hot water even with consecutive showers, clothes and dish washings!

3. The third option is a new key fob.  This isn't just any old fob.  This one provides your family access to the Walnut Wellness Center!  We expect the opening to be in December...perfect for that whole-family Christmas gift!  The gift of health is one of the most sincere and important wishes we convey on those we love.  This option provides a pathway for that to actually happen.  There are obvious and major health benefits to fitness, but also know it can strengthen your mind and lift your spirits.  Weight management, motivation, and social interaction provide added benefit.  You can download the Walnut Wellness Center brochure, which includes a registration form and membership rates for individuals and families.  Please note, discounts are stackable.  A senior who is also a veteran will receive BOTH discounts.  Click HERE to get started!

Giving a family gift is a great way to build relationships and memories.  We recommend all three options!

From Our Friends at Walnut Runs:

Hey guys! It's renewal time! It's been 3 years since we started this group!  What's happened during that period?  We've helped the races in town by our sponsorship and participation.  We helped people find their love of running/walking again (some for the first time!).  Some were so encouraged by you, they started making better choices in other areas to improve their health.  We are proud of you all for your individual accomplishments, and for your consistency when it's hard.  You motivate us to lace up our shoes and get out the door!

CLICK HERE for the renewal form. Please pass it on to people you think might want to join Walnut Runs. Happy running/walking/moving!

Walnut Election Results 06 June 2017

Voters in Walnut today selected those to serve for the next four years.  Mayor Vicki Skinner, who was unopposed in 2017, will continue in her role.  In the race for aldermen, three of five incumbents ran for re-election and easily won their races.  They were challenged by six new candidates.  Voters selected the top five candidates to serve as alderman through 2021.  They are (#votes): Chad Bateman (78), Larry Dollar (75), David Nabors (i, 101), Scott Pulliam (i, 114), and Kevin Winter (i, 105).  The other candidates were Robert Harris (68), Jerry Climer (23), Russell Wells (55) and Dallas Word (28).

The votes cast represented 31.83% of registered voters.  The mayor and board will take the oath of office and begin their new term on 01 July 2017.  We wish them good skills and success in the new term.  May God continue to bless our community!

Wellness Initiative Update

The Wellness Center at 130 Smith Drive is now under renovation for a late summer opening.  Crews are strengthening the building with external fiberglass and concrete board panels and adding several windows to brighten up the place.  Plumbing has been roughed-in for the restroom expansion and new offices are being constructed in the back of the building to accommodate a soon-to-be-announced anchor tenant.  All of the wellness equipment has been delivered and is ready to set up...both inside the facility as well as the outdoor equipment for the three fitness zones that will be constructed around town.  Meanwhile, Walnut's Healthy Heroes closed out the school year by presenting a program for all Walnut Elementary Students on May 5th.  Each month, Walnut PD and FD personnel visit the school to promote healthy choices and exercise.  We especially appreciate WES and our police and fire departments for taking the lead on this portion of the greater wellness initiative.  It is our hope that all of these events, services and resources will greatly improve the quality of life in the Walnut community.

If you or your organization would like to contribute toward completion of the wellness center, please reply to healthywalnut@comcast.net.  Let's get moving!

Municipal Election Details Announced

Walnut candidates historically have chosen to run as independents to save the town added expense of multiple election cycles.  A runoff is scheduled if necessary.  Last day to register to vote in the municipal election is noon, May 6th, 2017.  The election runs from 7a until 7p on Tuesday, June 6th.

Complete details for municipal elections may be viewed on the Mississippi Secretary of State website.  The page also provides guidelines for voting eligibility.  Click HERE to view.

Policy for Reserving Community Center Updated

Fees for the community center rental ($45.00) must be paid in full at the time the building is reserved.  Any cancellation within seven days of the planned event date will result in forfeiture of the fees.  During the holidays, several people "reserved" the facility but did not show up.  Other folks who needed to use the facility were turned away.  We hope this change in policy will benefit everyone.