PICAYUNE —
The Fred Cruse III Foundation is announcing its Third Annual Bike Drive for elementary school children of Pearl River County.
The foundation is carrying on a tradition in honor of its namesake, Fred Cruse III, by continuing a mission which was near and dear to his heart. For over 20 years, Cruse III, and his wife Diane made sure that elementary school children had bicycles.
A native of Marks, Miss., Cruse III, was the owner of Fred’s Westside Pharmacy in Picayune, which his family continues to run today. He was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, Past President of the Picayune Diamond Club and Past President of PYAA. An alumnus of the University of Mississippi, he was a booster of the Ole Miss Baseball Team. He was also a booster of all Picayune sports, academic clubs and supported the band. He was awarded the Key to the City of Picayune in 2008. Cruse III, passed away on Friday, November 19, 2010.
Jerry Bounds was a good friend of Cruse III, who discovered his secret when he noticed an invoice for several bicycles, while he was visiting at the pharmacy, and asked him about it one day.
“He was not too happy that I saw the invoice and abruptly told me he had things to do and it was time for me to go,” said Bounds. “Shortly after he passed away, I approached Diane about continuing his mission through a foundation named in his honor. It was the least we, as his friends, could do.”
His widow, Diane, says, “Fred believed that every child should have a bike. He was always into education and athletics with children. He believed that riding a bike was an independent activity that children could do and build strong healthy bodies.
“Another reason he felt so strongly about it, I believe, is that he grew up in a small town where the kids all rode bikes everywhere. He could not imagine a child being deprived of one for financial reasons. He didn’t want credit or to embarrass anyone so we did this anonymously for all of those years.”
Local elementary school principals will soon be turning lists of needy children over to the foundation so that they can purchase proper bicycle sizes before Christmas. With this is mind, the foundation is now accepting donations and asks that they be given in the form of either cash, check or Wal-Mart gift cards as they have an arrangement at Wal-Mart and get special pricing on bikes.
All donations can either be dropped off or mailed to Fred’s Westside Pharmacy located at 207 Kirkwood Street, Picayune, MS 39466. For more information call Diane Cruse at 601-798-8888.
Lifestyles
Related Photos
-
Gordon and Diane Cruse are shown holding a portrait of Fred Cruse III. Jodi Marze
Fred Cruse III Foundation continues 22 year tradition
- Lifestyles
-
- 2013 Partners for Pearl River County By Jodi Marze The 10th class of Partners for Pearl River County celebrated its graduation at First Baptist Church on Friday, May 10, in the Fellowship Hall. The graduating class included: Jason Bounds, Nacole Dillon, Christy Goss, John Huck, Jeff McClain, Teenia Perry, Paul Reese, Brooke Rester, Eric Stafne, Richelle Stafne, Kristin Thibodeaux, Pat Tidmore, and Jim Walker. The staff is comprised of: Jo Woods, Tricia Knight, Shirley Wiltshire, Marilyn Bailey, Rod Lincoln and Scott Langlois (Program Chairman).
-
Tami Harris takes state
Local business owner and community volunteer Tami Harris has won the coveted title of 2012 Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs-Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs (MFWC) Club Woman of the Year for the state of Mississippi. A member of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune, Harris is one of only three club members, along with Darlene Adams and Leslie Lincoln, to take the state title.
-
Arboretum Paths
Last week, students participating in the 2013 Mississippi Master Naturalist Program visited the Crosby Arboretum for an all-day training. The session was part of 40 hours of field and classroom instruction they will receive, educating them about natural resource management and environmental stewardship, and is a part of their preparation to become Certified Mississippi Master Naturalists.
- Chamber Ribbon Cutting Children's International Medical Group held a grand opening and Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at their first Mississippi location, located in Picayune.
-
Historic City Hall Dedication Friday
Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. the New City Hall will be dedicated on Goodyear Boulevard. This event will coincide with the 75th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Old Historic City Hall building.
- PRC Community Band presents: An American Legacy The Pearl River County Community Band, under the direction of Johnny Baker, will present “An American Legacy: An afternoon of American music for concert bands,” on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium.
-
Arboretum Paths
On their recent tour, fifth grade students from Lamar Christian School in Purvis encountered a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, ranging from crawfish to inchworms, to writhing masses of spiny, newly-emerged caterpillars. There is no such thing as a “typical” walk around the Arboretum’s Pond Journey and Pitcher Plant Bog. Every venture reveals something new to every group of visitors.
-
Beebe returns to Main Street
“I was excited when the Picayune Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors asked me to return as manager to the local Main Street program. Also, extremely grateful to Picayune City Manager Jim Luke, Mayor Ed Pinero and city council for their blessings and approval to relocate our office,” says Beebe. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.’ I have to say, I had a blast working on committees, projects and events with the most dedicated staff and group of volunteers in Pearl River County from March 2005 to May 2010. I look forward to getting new committees in place and working with ‘seasoned’ volunteers as well as new volunteers who share the same passion and desire to keep Picayune moving forward.”
-
15th Annual Rotary Fishing Rodeo held in McNeill
“We are all fortunate to play a small part in the joy we see in their faces when they get a bite on their line and see the fish they catch. My wife, Sharon, and I hosted it last year on our anniversary and we would not have had it any other way. It was a perfect day.”
— Rotarian Tony Paternostro -
Picayune Main Street relocates to Intermodal
Picayune Main Street, Inc. has relocated to the Intermodal Transportation and Tourism Center at 200 Hwy 11 South. With the change in location the organization is also shifting focus back to the four points of the Main Street Approach according to President Bill Edwards.
- More Lifestyles Headlines
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
