BREAKING NEWS 1-Officials break ground for shooting range
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and Winchester CEO Tom O’Keefe (third and fourth from left respectively) were among those on hand Tuesday for the ceremonial groundbreaking for McIvor Creek Shooting facility at Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area. Others helping to break ground were: (from left) MDWFP Foundation member Chris Gouras, MDWFP Executive Director Dr. Sam Polles, Bryant, O’Keefe, Foundation Member John Taylor, Winchester VP Brett Flaugher, MDWFP Commissioner Billy Deviney and Panola County Board of Supervisor President Cole Flint. The Panolian photo by Rupert Howell
By Rupert Howell
It was all smiles at Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area Tuesday morning as Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, Winchester CEO Tom O’Keefe, officials with MDWFP and their foundation gathered with local leaders, Winchester and MDWFP employees for a ceremonial groundbreaking of what some say will be a shooting facility like no other in the state or area.
The $2.8 million project will occupy approximately 300 of the WMA’s 4,000 acres and include a 15-station sporting clay range, two skeet trap ranges, five-stand sporting clay range, two rifle ranges (100-yards and 300-yards), a pistol range and three dimensional archery range.
The Clarion-Ledger reported Billy Redd, President and CEO of the Foundation for MDWFP, the project is the result of partnering between the foundation, Winchester Ammunition, MDWFP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Shooting range specialist Captain Scottie Jones with MDWFP said earlier approximately five people would be needed to manage the ranges.
O’Keefe said the facility will be the, “World’s most impressive shooting sports facility,” while noting his company is the main sponsor and the facility is located, “A stone’s throw away from our 1,300-employee facility in Oxford.”
And Winchester was very noticeable during Tuesday’s event with employees, banners, giant blowups and goodie bags all bearing the Winchester brand.
During his comments Governor Phil Bryant, stated the Oxford Winchester facility makes, “The finest ammunition in the world, much of which goes to our fighting forces and law enforcement.”
Bryant told listeners shooting sports was a $1.4 billion industry while praising Winchester for locating jobs in Mississippi and also, “The help (you give us) by going further and donating to this wonderful project.”
“My dream is no child in Mississippi that would enjoy the great outdoors would be forbidden to do so. . . God has given us this great gift to enjoy, preserve and protect.”
Among the locals recognized during Tuesday’s event was Captain Jones who worked with local officials during planning stages and Chuck Nix, son of the late Charles Ray Nix for whom the WMA is named, and Peyton Self of Oxford and Coach Bob Tyler of Water Valley, local members of the MDWFP Foundation.
