Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2016

COASTNOTES
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI LIVING
LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR
SHOP
MISSISSIPPI
LOCALLY
South Mississippi Living, the area’s largest and most popular magazine, has always worked to promote
all aspects of our diverse Mississippi Gulf Coast in a positive, professional — and hopefully — entertaining fashion.
In 2016, we will launch a “SML” or “Shop Mississippi Locally” campaign designed to highlight and promote LOCAL businesses and events.
This campaign will focus
on the importance of buying locally versus shopping elsewhere
or on the Internet. We
will emphasize the importance of
supporting local businesses and special events that all combine
to make our local economy strong and vibrant.
Businesses, malls,
restaurants and boutiques of all sizes depend on locals for support to prosper and grow. When we support them, they re-invest those dollars into our local economy and that means more local jobs and more shopping options.
South Mississippi Living will highlight business and services each issue and will urge our readers to support these stores. We will focus on the diverse items and services available in South Mississippi and show you exactly where you can purchase these unique items while keeping more dollars in our local communities.
We fully understand that we all love to travel and visit nearby towns and cities. However, we ask is that when it comes time to shop or grab a delicious meal, you remember “SML” or “Shop Mississippi Locally.”
In the coming months, you’ll see our “SML” stickers and signs on stores from Bay St. Louis to Moss Point as a friendly reminder to make the extra effort to shop locally first!
INTRODUCING NEW OUTDOOR WRITER
JOHNSON
story by Lynn Lofton
photo courtesy of Kyle Johnson
We’d like to introduce South Mississippi Living’s new sports and outdoor writer, Kyle Johnson. The son of Mike Anderson and Karen Sonnier, Johnson grew
up in Gulfport where his family has been the main influence for his involvement in outdoor activities. “My father is one of the best fishermen I know, and I still call him for fishing advice,” Johnson said. “I have had a love for the outdoors since I could walk! My grandfather started taking me fishing at a very young age and that is when my love for fishing started.”
In case there’s any doubt, fishing is Johnson’s favorite outdoor activity, but he loves anything that gets him outside. “The second that I’m on the water
or casting a pole, all my worries are gone,” he says. “I become one with nature and soak in my surroundings. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe; it’s the ultimate high for me.”
Johnson is 29 years of age and is a Staff Sergeant
in the Mississippi Army National Guard and an aircraft electrician for the 1108th TASMG. He’s also a photographer, owner of Operculum Media and writes a fishing blog to help beginner anglers.
He is married to Courtney Johnson and they are the parents of a six-month-old son, Fischer James Johnson.
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • January 2016
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SHOP MS LOCALLY
SHOP MS LOCALLY