Strengths And Weaknesses Of Pontotoc

Pontotoc as a Client
Pontotoc County is known as the “Land of Hanging Grapes” and was originally inhabited by the Chickasaw Indians. It was founded in 1836 by General McMackin, who purchased the land from the Chickasaw Indians on February 9, 1936 for $1,000.00. Since its founding, Pontotoc community has grown tremendously. Pontotoc was declared township in 1836 and its first courthouse was built in 1840. However, the original courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1900. Pontotoc boomed in the next century with electricity being introduced in 1935 and the current library dedicated in 1976 (The Mississippi Genealogy and History Network, 2013). Pontotoc continues to grow and prosper; however, like all communities, Pontotoc has both strengths and weaknesses.
Pontotoc offers many amenities and attractions and is continuing to grow and evolve. The Town Square Museum, which is in the local Post Office, is filled with an arrowhead display, paintings by local artists, and a Chickasaw Indian exhibit. The historical landmark, known as the Lochinvar Mansion, offers tours throughout the year (The Mississippi Genealogy and History

Network, 2009-2013). According to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Lochinvar Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and is currently privately owned (The Mississippi Genealogy and History Network, 2013). Pontotoc hosts the annual Bodock Festival in September, where vendors set up on the streets and the community gathers to listen to live music and fellowship. Pontotoc offers a public library with computer and internet access and book resources. Another opportunity for recreation and activity in Pontotoc includes the recent addition of the Tanglefoot Trail in 2013. The trail is an abandoned 43.6 mile railroad corridor that winds through the counties of Union, Pontotoc, and Chickasaw (Tanglefoot Trail GM&O Rails-to-Trails Recreational District, 2015). The trail was first traveled by Native Americans and later by early explorers, such as Hernando de Soto and Meriweather Lewis (Tanglefoot Trail GM&O Rails-to-Trails Recreational District, 2015). The trail provides recreation to walk and bike while providing a scenic view of nature of three different counties.
Other attractions include fitness facilities that promote wellness, including North Mississippi Medical Center Wellness Center, The Power House Gym, and Elite Fitness, which in addition offers martial arts classes. Pontotoc offers tennis courts, a running track, Park and Recreation services, indoor skating rink, and Howard-Stafford Park (City-Data.com, 2015). Howard-Stafford Park contains a lake with fishing, boating, and campground amenities (The Mississippi Genealogy and History Network, 2013). With these attractions, Pontotoc remains family friendly while increasing revenue with local tourism.
With many churches around the town and county, it appears the residents of Pontotoc have a strong belief in God and Christian values. Pontotoc residents are equally represented with various religions and practices. The Southern Baptist Convention and United Methodist are the two leading affiliate religions in Pontotoc with Baptist at 83.1% and Methodist at 9.8% (City-Data.com, 2015). The different races are represented in Pontotoc with Caucasian at 59.8%, Hispanic at 25.1%, and African-American at 14.4% (City-Data.com, 2015).
The police and sheriff’s department are easily found in town, as well as two fire departments to serve the community. The Mississippi Highway Department just recently finished Highway 76, which is a four lane highway that extends to Tupelo and Oxford, making the commute more accessible to citizens of Pontotoc. Pontotoc offers a well-rounded pool of occupations, with the most common industry being manufacturing at 25% (City-Data.com, 2015). Pontotoc County has three school districts. Two county schools, North and South Pontotoc, and Pontotoc City school system. The schools are accredited, well-staffed, and offer many extracurricular activities. Some of these activities include band, football, baseball, softball, tennis, and weightlifting. Pontotoc City School District has a board of education comprised of board members and committees. They have a mission statement and have put together policies that aid the school system to succeed. An A Classification was awarded to them by the MS Department of Education (Mississippi Department of Education, 2014).
Pontotoc is a growing community in which the population consists of 5,625 residents (City-Data.com, 2015). In order for Pontotoc residents to function as a society, they have many needs that must be met. These needs include better health care options, increased revenue, enhanced education, and more recreational activities for families. Presently, Pontotoc is limited in what it has to offer. Due to the lack of availability of jobs in Pontotoc, residents must travel to neighboring communities for employment (City-Data.com, 2015). While the residents are in these neighboring communities, it leads one to assume they will purchase items, such as gasoline, groceries, and other items. As with most things, no revenue equals no progress. Several people within the community will argue that Pontotoc has not grown in years. However, this is easily proven wrong with the windshield assessment. It is clear to observers that the city has new businesses, new roads, and new forms of recreation. Some residents tend to compare Pontotoc with neighboring communities. Combined with the high amounts of unemployment and the small number of residents, it is difficult to compare Pontotoc to other neighboring cities like Tupelo and Oxford.
Fourteen percent of Pontotoc residents currently live at or below the poverty level (City-Data.com, 2015). The estimated median household income in 2012 was $39,986, and unemployment percentages were below the state average at 7.5 percent in December 2014 (City-Data.com, 2015). There are available resources for less fortunate residents in the community, including the Salvation Army and a local food pantry. In Mississippi, schools provide free or reduced lunches to families with children whose gross income is less than 185% of poverty levels, receive food stamp benefits, or receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (Mississippi Office of Healthy Schools, 2008). Currently there are 66.2% of children obtaining free lunches at school (City-Data.com, 2015). Unemployment rates prove to be in direct correlation with higher poverty rates. This combination may be improved with the introduction of more businesses and jobs.
Lack of education is in direct correlation to higher poverty rates throughout the city. Currently in Pontotoc, there is an 18.8% high school drop-out rate (City-Data.com, 2015). Only 78.4% of students will graduate, and fewer than 12% of those will earn a bachelor’s degree (City-Data.com, 2015). Residents without sufficient education will struggle to find a job to support a family. Although Pontotoc does not offer a community college or university, with the development of online classes, the residents of Pontotoc have the ability to receive the same education as others in well-known college towns.
When observing the town of Pontotoc, it is easy at times to see this is a city that needs a more advanced health system. Pontotoc has acute care facilities that are very useful for residents with problems such as sinus infections, colds, and influenza. However, the real question is where do residents go for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer? The leading causes of death in Pontotoc are heart disease, cancer, accidents, stroke, and diabetes (City-Data.com, 2015). For residents with chronic health problems, Pontotoc does not offer clinics that specialize in these certain areas of medicine. Not all diseases, like diabetes, can be physically seen in Pontotoc. Patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, do not get the care that may be necessary due to lack of resources. However, it is easy to look around and see high amounts of obese citizens living in Pontotoc. The state of Mississippi is the leading state in obesity rates (City-Data.com, 2015). It is obvious that some residents of Pontotoc need specialized treatment. Unfortunately, Pontotoc does not offer this specialized care.
The younger generation is also affected by the lack of specialized health systems, children specifically. For the younger population, there is no pediatrician in Pontotoc readily available with exception to the acute care facilities. Most parents take their children to a pediatrician to get specialized care. Mental health services for children and adolescents are available at Millcreek of Pontotoc, offering specially designed mental health care services. The women of Pontotoc are also affected by the lack of health services offered. Young women looking to begin a family have issues concerning the lack of an Obstetrical and Gynecological physician in the Pontotoc area. To receive these services, one must travel approximately thirty miles to the nearest Obstetrical and Gynecological physician.
Pontotoc has avenues for accessing health care available including medical clinics and a small hospital with an Emergency Department and an inpatient swing-bed/rehab unit. The Emergency Department is available in the event of emergencies; however, it is known as a band-aid station for many local residents. In the event of acute conditions, the Emergency Department is adequate; however it is not equipped for severe trauma or critical patients. Most are transferred to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, depending on the level of care needed.
Nursing diagnoses are important in assisting with interventions and assisting with clinical decisions in health care. Nursing diagnoses are not medical diagnoses; however they do help communities and patients to have more positive outcomes. Two appropriate nursing diagnoses for Pontotoc would be Imbalanced Nutrition: More than body requirements and Ineffective Health Maintenance due to the obesity rates in the city. Obesity leads to other related problems that may require more specialized care. This type of specialized care is typically not available in Pontotoc. Obesity affects all systems, including skin, psychological, pulmonary, and metabolic. It offers difficulty with resuscitation, drug absorption, and intravenous therapies (Camden, 2009). The implementation of Healthy People 2020 “provides the foundation for a national health promotion and disease-prevention strategy built on the two goals of increasing the quality and years of healthy life and eliminating health disparities” (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2014, p. 402). With the assistance of public health and the implementation of Healthy People 2020, conditions such as diabetes and coronary artery disease can be greatly reduced and controlled. This may eliminate the need for these nursing diagnoses.
The development of certain practices has been proven to help decrease the mortality rates for chronic diseases. Teaching and implementing healthier eating practices, smoking cessation, and increasing physical activity are interventions and goals that will help to decrease obesity rates among the community (Davis, Flores, & Culross, 2007). Community health nurses can implement these practices by starting with the future generation. In other words, begin teaching healthy choice classes and encourage physical activity to the younger generation. The sedentary lifestyle of today’s adults often promotes the increasing amounts of obesity, as well as other chronic conditions. Offering free exercise classes for adults and decreased rates for gym memberships may help lead the way to a healthier lifestyle.
Educational needs should be a priority with families in the community.

The drop-out rate for Pontotoc is increasingly high and is a direct correlation with the poverty levels in the area. Less education leads to lower paying jobs. The goal of decreasing the poverty levels in Pontotoc should begin with an increased graduation rate. Offering free after school tutoring and mentoring programs would help benefit the residents who have a lower education level. Many times, the children will mimic the parents attitudes and behaviors. Teaching the parents that education is a priority and encouraging students in their pursuit of an education will benefit the community, thus increasing possible secondary education. Offering multiple community scholarships that encourage an involvement in the community may also offer incentives to college

educations.
In conclusion, the community of Pontotoc offers many strengths and areas for improvements. The windshield assessment proves that Pontotoc does not suffer from weaknesses; however it proves that there are multiple opportunities for growth and enhancement. The implementation of many new ideas and different practices will only allow Pontotoc to improve. The knowledge gained during the windshield assessment shows that obesity and poverty are at the forefront of problems in Pontotoc. It also has revealed that specialized medical services are important in the growth and well-being of the community and its residents. Pontotoc community is a great place to live and raise children. As a whole, the residents of Pontotoc offer differing views of the community and differing opinions on how to enhance growth and quality of life. However, with the implementation of obtainable goals, Pontotoc can only improve for future generations.