By Jesse Wright and Cassandra Favre
Picayune Item

An orange and black muscle car smashed into a metal bench and a plate glass window of a store in the 200 block of West Canal at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday evening after the Blues and Heritage Festival wrapped up.
The car had been on display as one of the Boulevard Cruisers, and it was among the last to leave the West Canal lineup. Prior to the accident, the driver revved the engine then peeled out, fishtailed and then hit the building.
At 9:37 p.m., officers with the Picayune Police Department received a call that a business had been hit by a vehicle at 120 A West Canal St., Picayune Police Department Captain James Bolton said.
The driver, identified as 69-year-old Steve Stockstill, took off from his parking spot in his 1969 Chevy Camaro, accelerated too quickly, lost control of the vehicle and ran into the front of the business, Bolton said.
There were no injuries and one wall and window of the business was damaged, Bolton said.
Stockstill was issued a citation for reckless driving. There will be no additional investigation, Bolton said.
Despite the accident, Picayune Main Street board member and owner of Bre’s Clothing and Accessories, Ashley Breland, said the event was a success, garnered a bigger turnout than last year and funds raised from the silent auction were “fabulous.”
The merchants stayed open late and out-of-towners practiced retail therapy in historic downtown Picayune, Breland said. Several blocks of West Canal were closed so visitors could enjoy leisurely shopping and culinary dishes from Southern Char Steakhouse.
“Everyone had a blast,” Breland said. “Remedy was awesome and Vince Vance is always the entertainer. People love him and he put on a fabulous show.”
Breland said funds from the silent auction will be put toward beautification efforts in downtown Picayune.
“It was a big success and we are looking forward to our next event, the Fall Street Festival on Nov. 7 and 8,” Breland said.
Picayune Main Street Director Reba Beebe said the this year’s event drew the largest crowd ever and that locals enjoyed rocking and rolling to Vince Vance, the Valiants and the Valienettes, teenage band Remedy and Al “Carnival Time” Johnson.
“Vince Vance has a lot of fans in this area who look forward to his next event,” Beebe said. “The members of the band Remedy are all talented teenagers who will continue to grow and we would enjoy seeing them return for another event. Al “Carnival Time” Johnson thrilled the crowd with “I Found My Thrill on Blueberry Hill” and his own song, “Carnival Time.”
For more information about upcoming events follow Picayune Main Street on Facebook and www.picayunemainstreet.com.