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The South Reporter - Thursday, November 22, 2012 - Section 1 - Page 14Hunting season begins at Fitch FarmsBy SUE WATSONStaff WriterCool weather is comingand that means hunting seasonat Fitch Farms-GalenaPlantation and All Ages fieldtrials.Hunting season begins togear up in October butNovember 1 is the absolutelatest day to start bird hunting,according to SonnyJackson, who is helping overseethe hunts this fall.Drawing for the brace scheduleis set for December 8.Field trials begin December10, he said.“What we provide is avery unique hunting experience,”said W.O. Fitch,owner of the 8,000-acre plantationwhere the field trialstake place.The experience involvesmule-pulled wagon, championshipbird dogs, professionalbird-dog trainers and handlers,hunting guides, lodging,and three meals a day,he said. Bird stock is thebobwhite quail.The atmosphere remindsone of a step back in timewhen horseback riding,mule-drawn wagons and justplain walking were the transportationof the day. Life wasunhurried, food wasSouthern cooking, and firewoodwas the source ofwarmth on a winter day.Field trails are open forpublic participation for thosewho want to ride along orenjoy meals at the lodge.Trap shooting is also availablefor hunters or thosewho want to practice for ahunt.“People are invited tocome out and ride and followthe dogs,” Jackson said.Professional dog trainerswill be competing for a cashprize and first, second andthird place. A Derby class isalso held to allow trainers torun their younger dogs.The Fitch Farms-GalenaAll Age Championship Trialsis a qualifying trial for thenational championship fieldPhoto by Sue WatsonSonny Jackson, W.O. Fitch and Randy Downs pose with Galena’sGang Buck.trials in Grand Junction,Tenn., at Ames Plantation inFebruary. Fitch was theowner of a national champion,Hitch Hiker, trained byRandy Downs. Hunting seasonat Fitch Farms extendsto the end of March.Facilities are used in theoff-season as off-site regular,corporate business meetings.“We provide the lodging,facilities and food,” Fitchsaid.Fitch Farms is a step backin time for people who enjoyhunting and being outdoorsin nature.“It is unique; there's noother place like it,” Jacksonsaid.For more informationabout hunts, contact FitchFarms at 662-551-2280 or callJackson at 901-487-8054.Fitch’s background“When I grew up we hadbird dogs, mules and allthat,” Fitch said. “I was in theservice in 1951 flying fighterplanes in the Korean War.After exiting the service Iworked for a major corporationand ended up with amajor Fortune 500 company.”It was good ole-fashionanger that caused Fitch toditch his job on Wall Streetand come back home withhis wife and two little girls.He said his superiors madehim mad, forcing to dothings he did not believe in.He decided he knew enoughabout the business to starthis own in Mississippi.He built a big chain ofloan and insurance offices onhis first go around and wasquite successful. Then hedecided to sell out and spentsome time in England certifyingfive hunting clubs thatwere over 500 years old on25,000 acres. He then cameback to Holly Springs andstarted his second financecompany, which is locatedentirely in Mississippi with19 offices.In 1955, Fitch, who isfrom the Waterford area,inherited 600 acres of landon the road from an uncle.Not intending to, he began togradually buy up land as itbecame available whileprices were low.“I kept buying and landprices got higher and I said,enough is enough,” he said.The line where enoughwas enough was when heheld 8,000 acres of farmlandin the rolling hills offHighway 4 West.Fitch stocked his pastureswith Texas Longhorns, redAngus and Santa Gertrudiscows. He bought the SantaGertrudis cattle from KingRanch in South Texas, thelargest ranch in the world.Also pastured are buffalo,donkeys, and about 35 horses,he said.“The donkeys multiplylike rabbits and you can’tgive them away,” he saidwith a laugh.Fitch was injured in theservice when the plane hewas flying lost power after itwas catapulted off the USSPhillipine Sea light carrier.The planes were built tocounteract the JapaneseZeros, during World War II,he said.He injured his back whenthe plane hit the water.“They said I would neverwalk again, but I did,” Fitchsaid. “I went back to fleet andflew another six to eightmonths.”It is his love of the landthat keeps him going.“I love to make thingsgrow and all that,” he said.“That’s what has kept mehere.”Holly Springs policerespond to 106 callsHolly Springs police officersresponded to 106 callslast week, according to chiefWilliam Hollowell.Calls included – disturbances,11; alarms, 24; larcenies,2; assaults, 3; burglaries,1; accidents, 6; assists to agencies,2; 911 hang-ups, 3; autotheft, 1; domestics, 7; funeralescorts, 2; checkups on shutins,2; auto burglaries, 1; shotsfired, 2; run-away, 1; and 38miscellaneous calls. The dogcatcher responded to ninecalls.Officers took the followingreports:Monday, Nov. 12• sexual assault in the 100block of West WoodwardAvenue. Charges were filed.Tuesday, Nov. 13• petit larceny in the 100block of Martin Street.• shoplifting in the 900block of Mackie Drive.• assault on a correctionalofficer in the 800 block ofWest Street. Charges werefiled.• domestic violence/simpleassault in the 500 block ofSanders Avenue. Chargeswere filed.Thursday, Nov. 15• domestic violence/aggravatedassault inthe 200 block of SlaydenStreet. An arrest was made.• residential burglary inthe 200 block of WestChulahoma.Friday, Nov. 16• assault when two subjectwere served court summonsesin the 500 block of CraftStreet.• auto burglary in the 400block of Gresham Cove.• petit larceny in the 100block of Rust Avenue.• domestic violence/simpleassault in the 400 block ofWest College Avenue. Anarrest was made.Saturday, Nov. 17• domestic violence/simpleassault in the 300 block ofEast Valley Avenue. An arrestwas made.• credit card fraud in the900 block of Mackie Drive.• burglary/malicious mischiefin the 800 block of 178East.Sunday, Nov. 18• petit larceny in the 700block of Highway 7 South.Officers made two felonyarrests.Quinton McLemore, 22, ofthe 2700 block of SlaydenStreet, was arrested andcharged with domestic violence/aggravatedassault,Hollowell said.Keifer L. Bolden, 21, of the4000 block of Highway 7North, was arrested andcharged with felony maliciousmischief and domestic violence/simpleassault,Hollowell said.Officers reported the followingcitations – speeding, 1;careless driving, 1; recklessdriving, 1; no/expired tag, 2;and loud music.The following misdemeanorarrests were made byHolly Springs police officers -contempt of court, 6; DUI, 1;driving while license suspended/noproof of liability insurance,1; simple assault, 1;shoplifting, 1; disorderly conduct,1; public drunk, 1; anddomestic violence/simpleassault, 2.Town of Byhalia police officersrespond to accidents, burglariesThe Byhalia Police Department responded to 36 calls duringthe past week.Chief Gary Looney released the following report – alarmcalls, 5; miscellaneous, 11; escorts, 6; assists, 2; motor vehicleaccidents, 3; burglaries, 2; medical, 6; and DUI, 1.Byhalia police oficers made seven arrests last week andwrote 12 citations.Carlisle’sBig Star186 W. College Avenue - Holly Springs, MSFreshGroundBeefKing CottonHot Dogs &Bologna12 oz.pkg.89 ¢Best ChoiceWhippedToppingBest ChoiceFlour5 lb.bagNovember 23-27FreshChickenWings$1 69$9 99lb.King CottonBacon3 lb.36 oz.pkg.box59 ¢ 2 forBest ChoiceOil$1 29 6 Double $4 495 lb.bag$7 99 $ 4 99Angel SoftRoll8 oz.TissueWilliamsSausage Patties$5Best ChoiceEggsLargeDozen48 oz.2/ $ 3