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Northwest president thanks Ranger Bluegrass Festival title sponsor

Senatobia, MS (08/21/2018) — Northwest Mississippi Community College President, Dr. Michael Heindl recently visited with Bobby Dunlap, CEO of Dunlap and Kyle, Inc. to thank him for the title sponsorship of the upcoming Oct. 13 Ranger Bluegrass Festival, which will be held at the Northwest Farm in Senatobia. Dunlap and Kyle is the parent company of Gateway Tire, who is the title sponsor.

Heindl commended Dunlap, not only for the sponsorship of the festival but also for his long legacy of support. "Because of the support of Mr. Dunlap and this fine company, the Gateway Tire Scholarship Endowment was able to fund $25,000 in scholarships in this year alone. The endowment exceeds $450,000, but the entire legacy of contributions totals over $675,000. Mr. Dunlap is making a lasting investment in the citizens of this area through their education at Northwest and for this we are truly grateful," Heindl said.

Commemorative t-shirts were presented to Dunlap and several of the Dunlap and Kyle staff members.

The festival will be held at the Northwest Farm on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. The event is a one-day music festival featuring nationally-recognized, award-winning bluegrass bands. The primary goal of this event is to raise funds for scholarships to benefit Northwest students, while sharing an appreciation of bluegrass music and culture.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children/students (ages 6-17) and $30 for a family pass. Festival activities include six performing bands and musicians on the main stage, a bluegrass competition, bluegrass jamming and parking lot picking, a free children's activity area, food trucks, demonstrations and more.

Slated to appear at the festival are Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, Missy Raines and the New Hip, Barefoot Movement, Xaris Waltman, Alice Hasen and Andy Ratliff.

For more information about the festival, visit our event page at the Northwest Rangers Facebook page or www.rangerbluegrassfestival.com.

Pictured: Northwest Mississippi Community College President, Dr. Michael Heindl, (center, left) thanks Bobby Dunlap, CEO of Dunlap and Kyle, Inc. (center, right) for his title sponsorship of the college's upcoming Ranger Bluegrass Festival presented by Gateway Tire. The festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Northwest Farm. Staff of Dunlap and Kyle, the parent company of Gateway Tire, who are helping to celebrate the Ranger Bluegrass Festival are (l-r) Donna Sanders, Britni Goad, Sherry Cook, Meg Aldridge, Jodi Smith, Debbie Risner, Natalie Wright, Cheryle Harrison, Trina Appleton and Carol Baker. Dunlap and his staff received commemorative t-shirts. (Photo submitted)

Media Attachments

Northwest Mississippi Community College

LaJuan Tallo, Assistant Director of Communications, 662-560-5283, ltallo@northwestms.edu

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