• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Archives
     By  Staff Reports Published 
    2:38 am Friday, June 18, 2004

    Hotels, restaurants prepare for games

    By By Erin Hilsabeck / staff writer
    June 18, 2004
    As thousands of out-of-towners flood into Meridian for the 13th Annual State Games of Mississippi, most need a place to stay and a good meal to eat.
    Some also look for places to shop or simply spend time between events.
    Meridian businesses are used to the crowds brought in by the Olympics-style State Games. Some say they even anticipate the yearly event as a way to bolster sales and profits.
    Joiner, who has been in the hotel business for 30 years, said there will be some vacancies in a few hotels and motels in Meridian this weekend.
    Two hotels that are completely booked are the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn, said their sales and marketing director Lisa Lampton.
    Many teams and towns who attend the games every year will reserve rooms for next summer before they leave Meridian this year, said David Hamilton, owner of Best Western.
    Hamilton and Lampton said most travelers will arrive this afternoon, in time for the 7:30 p.m. opening ceremony at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium.
    Local hotels aren't the only businesses prepping for the State Games crowd.
    Restaurant employees also have been preparing for weeks for visitors who might be looking for a post-game meal.
    Schawana Law, manager of McAlisters Gourmet Deli, is planning on a bigger crowd because of the restaurant's proximity to State Games events.
    At least 7,000 athletes and spectators are expected to attend this year's games, said April Luke, director of the State Games.
    She said Mississippi State University has conducted two economic impact studies on the games.
    In 1998, during the one-weekend event, people spent $3.8 million dollars at Meridian businesses.
    In 2002, over two weekends, the games brought in $5.5 million, Luke said.
    Mississippi State will do another study in 2006, and Luke said she hopes she'll see another increase and further impact.
    Joiner said he would be disappointed if the games ever moved away from Meridian.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    Belgreen Bulldogs, Sports
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 18, 2025
    BELGREEN -- Jemma Moore has been named to the AHSAA First Team All-State for softball, becoming just the ninth player in school history to earn the di...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Ex-day care worker found guilty of manslaughter
    Main, News, Russellville, ...
    Ex-day care worker found guilty of manslaughter
    Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
    June 18, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE — Gasps of relief and joy came from family members of Autumn Wells when Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Brian P. Hamilton read the ve...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    News, Russellville, Russellville Golden Tigers
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 18, 2025
    R U S S E L L V I L L E -- Teaching for Diane Maddox has never been just about grammar rules or reading comprehension, but rather about connection, cr...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    High School Sports, Red Bay Tigers, Sports
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    By A. Stacy Long For the FCT 
    June 18, 2025
    REDBAY--TyReynolds hasn’t picked out the spot yet, but promises it will be a place of prominence, a semi-shrine for one item that shaped so much of hi...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}{"newsletter":"Newsletter"}
    Man faces drug trafficking charge
    Main, News, Phil Campbell
    Man faces drug trafficking charge
    Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
    June 18, 2025
    PHIL CAMPBELL — A resident is facing multiple drug charges, including drug trafficking, after law enforcement confiscated eight firearms and at least ...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Russellville Library kicks off summer with ‘Color Our World’
    News, Russellville
    Russellville Library kicks off summer with ‘Color Our World’
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 18, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE -- The public library launched its 2025 summer reading program, “Color Our World,” with a fun-filled kickoff event on Friday. Children re...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Fostering a need: Donation of $1,260 helps needy Franklin County children
    Columnists, News, Opinion
    HERE AND NOW
    Fostering a need: Donation of $1,260 helps needy Franklin County children
    June 18, 2025
    Foster children often enter care with few, if any, belongings. In Franklin County right now, there are 75 children in foster care. And with the backto...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Most snakes are more friend than foe
    Lifestyles
    Most snakes are more friend than foe
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 18, 2025
    SPRUCE PINE -- When naturalist Joel Pounders sees his four-year-old grandson, Koda McNutt, holding a smooth earth snake (harmless and fully grown at j...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ❮ ❯
    Latest Local News
    Ex-day care worker found guilty of manslaughter
    Ex-day care worker found guilty of manslaughter
    RUSSELLVILLE — Gasps of relief and joy came from family members of Autumn Wells when Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Brian P. Hamilton read the ve...
    June 18, 2025
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    R U S S E L L V I L L E -- Teaching for Diane Maddox has never been just about grammar rules or reading comprehension, but rather about connection, cr...
    June 18, 2025
    Man faces drug trafficking charge
    Man faces drug trafficking charge
    PHIL CAMPBELL — A resident is facing multiple drug charges, including drug trafficking, after law enforcement confiscated eight firearms and at least ...
    June 18, 2025
    Russellville Library kicks off summer with ‘Color Our World’
    Russellville Library kicks off summer with ‘Color Our World’
    RUSSELLVILLE -- The public library launched its 2025 summer reading program, “Color Our World,” with a fun-filled kickoff event on Friday. Children re...
    June 18, 2025
    Fostering a need: Donation of $1,260 helps needy Franklin County children
    Fostering a need: Donation of $1,260 helps needy Franklin County children
    Foster children often enter care with few, if any, belongings. In Franklin County right now, there are 75 children in foster care. And with the backto...
    June 18, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Land Transactions
    May 13 • James K Barlow, Christina Garcia, Amanda Conrad, Clara Lane Conrad and Brenda Denise Ray to Ellis and Michelle Wooten, survivorship • Makensy...
    June 18, 2025
    Evening at the Roxy with Great Pretenders returns July 17
    Local talent will take center stage at the Historic Roxy Theatre on July 17 during the annual “Evening at the Roxy with the Great Pretenders.” The sho...
    June 18, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    June 20-21 – Phil Campbell Festival: The Phil Campbell Festival takes placeJune20-21atMemorial Park downtown. Friday kicks off the entertainment with ...
    June 18, 2025
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    PHIL CAMPBELL — Students at Phil Campbell High School recently had an unforgettable learning experience — one that lifted their studies to new heights...
    June 18, 2025
    Confronting the escalating threat of antisemitism
    Confronting the escalating threat of antisemitism
    Oct. 7, 2023, didn’t happen in a vacuum. The effects of the deadliest terrorist attack in Israel’s history reverberated across the globe, and this evi...
    June 18, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    BELGREEN -- Jemma Moore has been named to the AHSAA First Team All-State for softball, becoming just the ninth player in school history to earn the di...
    June 18, 2025
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    R U S S E L L V I L L E -- Teaching for Diane Maddox has never been just about grammar rules or reading comprehension, but rather about connection, cr...
    June 18, 2025
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    REDBAY--TyReynolds hasn’t picked out the spot yet, but promises it will be a place of prominence, a semi-shrine for one item that shaped so much of hi...
    June 18, 2025
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    PHIL CAMPBELL — Students at Phil Campbell High School recently had an unforgettable learning experience — one that lifted their studies to new heights...
    June 18, 2025
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Let us share your photos. Information should include the names of all people in the photo, the name of the photographer, and a brief explanation of th...
    June 11, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © , Franklin County Times