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By: Tommie Hart Cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, is one of the most challenging and under-recognized cancers, with limited treatment options and a grim prognosis for many patients. Despite its rarity, the need for awareness and focused research is immense, as early detection and innovative therapies can make a life-saving difference. With February being Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month, it is an opportune time to learn about this disease that affects too many lives. I am writing as someone who is personally impacted by cholangiocarcinoma. In August 2025, my husband, Rev. Mike Hart, and I were informed of a mass in his liver. We must give credit to Dr. Art Kergosien at Brookhaven Internal Medicine. He noticed that my husband’s liver enzymes were a little elevated and sent him for an ultrasound. As aggressive as this cancer is, early detection is essential. At that time, we had no idea just how complicated and difficult his fight would become. He had his biopsy at the start of September and that is when we learned that he had cholangiocarcinoma. It was a difficult thing to accept since he was in good health with no symptoms. Cancer treatment in Mississippi seems to move extremely slow. He was in the middle of October, still not having started treatments, when the symptoms began. His bilirubin started to rise. They could not start his chemotherapy with the elevated bilirubin, so he had to have a procedure called an ERCP to place stents into the bile ducts to help them to work correctly. That procedure caused pancreatitis and resulted in a five-day hospital stay. Unfortunately, those stents did not work and caused more problems and his bilirubin rose to 14.9. He had to have the procedure repeated just two weeks later and the stents changed for longer ones. Since then, there have been countless doctor visits, more hospital stays and more procedures. Things change so quickly with this cancer. Since cancer treatment is limited in Mississippi, we reached out to MD Anderson in Texas and were quickly set up with an oncologist. On our first visit in October with Dr. Xavier, he had blood work, a CT and was admitted to MD Anderson for the stent exchange. Dr. Xavier also started molecular testing on his biopsy sample. After three months of chemotherapy that he received at Jackson Oncology with Dr. Sheehan and coordinated with MDA, he unfortunately showed progression of the cancer. Because of this, he has developed a dangerous portal vein thrombus and has been referred to an oncology radiologist at MD Anderson. We have met with Dr. Grace Li Smith, and he will undergo Proton Beam Therapy at MD Anderson. Mike also has a fistula that complicates the radiation treatment even further. Once the radiation sessions are completed and the radiologist feels he is ready, Mike will then be able to start on the next form of targeted chemotherapy. Luckily, the molecular testing showed that my husband has the FGFR2 FUSION mutation. Only 10-20% of patients have this. Because of that mutation, there is a targeted therapy that works as a small-molecule kinase inhibitor, selectively blocking Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3) that have genetic alterations (fusions, rearrangements) in certain cancers, like cholangiocarcinoma. By inhibiting these faulty receptors, the medication stops the abnormal signals that drive tumor cell proliferation, migration, and survival, ultimately slowing or stopping cancer growth. He will start this treatment soon after radiation and we, as well as the oncologists, are very optimistic. Thankfully, my husband has decent health insurance, and he now has an oncologist and general surgeon in Mississippi and an oncologist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, and oncology surgeon in Texas. This is a trying and complicated health issue that we must traverse. Our new normal. Although this is an extremely dangerous health situation, we hold strong to our faith that God will take care of him. Mike is a resident of Wesson and the pastor of Mallalieu Methodist and New Hebron Methodist churches. They are full of Godly, caring members that have been with us every step of the way. February 19, 2026 , is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day , a global effort to raise awareness of this challenging disease and highlight the need for early detection, better treatments, and increased support for patients and their families. This year, I would like to encourage anyone reading to join us by wearing green on February 19 in honor of cholangiocarcinoma awareness. The simple act of wearing green sends a powerful message of solidarity to those battling this disease, their families, and the medical professionals striving to find a cure. It would also mean so much to our local community, where awareness can lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes for those affected. Cholangiocarcinoma is often diagnosed too late due to vague symptoms and limited public understanding of the disease, but by helping to educate others and inspire action could save lives. You can learn more about cholangiocarcinoma and World Cholangiocarcinoma Day by visiting cholangiocarcinoma.org . Together, we can make a difference!

By Misty Strieff Prine “May I live like the Lotus at ease in the muddy water.” – Unknown.             I have heard of a lotus flower but never knew the meaning...until I researched it today...and I thought it was fitting for this week’s message. A lotus flower is a stunningly beautiful flower that lives amid murky pond waters. Its beauty radiates to those who see it as it sits among the muddy, still pond water. It symbolizes three very important things: purity, beauty and rebirth. One amazing thing about it is that each night, it is observed that the lotus closes its flowers and sinks into the muddy water. Over a three-day period, the lotus slowly emerges from the muddy water and then blooms in the morning until mid-afternoon. This may take on different meanings to different folks, but here is what it means to me. We live amid a dark, gloomy and sinful word. But there is a hope that we have that only comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. He came so that we could have that hope. He knew that we were going to have some very dark days and even darker nights. He knew that, just like the lotus flower, we would close our walls up and easily sink amid the darkness we are surrounded with. He gives us a promise in Psalm 30:5 that reminds us that weeping may endure for the night, but joy is going to come in the morning. Will things get better immediately? Nope. Just like it takes the lotus flower three days to come up out of the muck and the mud, it's going to take some time. You must be patient. But look at what happens to the lotus flower after those days...it comes up beautifully renewed and even more beautiful than when it went down. That happens to us when we allow Jesus to do the mending of our hearts and our lives. Bad decisions bring sin, and sin brings darkness and blotches to our lives. When we ask the Lord to forgive us, He washes our lives as white as snow and we rise to face a new day with an amazing testimony as to what OUR God can do. That beauty, the beauty that only comes from Him, shines amid the darkness in our world. That beauty shines in a way against the muddy muck so that Jesus's touch in our lives is all they see. The difference Jesus makes in our lives is truly amazing. So I pray that we all try to remember that the next time we face muddy waters in this life, so that we can live at peace knowing that the LILLY OF THE VALLEY loves us enough to bring beauty out of the ashes day after day. Our lives are a work in progress. I pray that you cling to the hope that God brings when you know Him. Do you know Him today? I pray so. If not, don't put off that decision any longer. Don't try to take on this world alone. You are literally a sinking ship if you do. Let Him give you the ability to rise up and turn the worst day into something beautiful. **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB “Mercy” was the #1 movie at the box office on a weekend where the weather showed little in the way of mercy to much of the country. Hope you’re all safe out there. As if the weather weren’t enough of a disadvantage, “Mercy” is saddled with one of the stupidest cinematic premises I’ve ever seen. It takes place in a dystopian future where murder trials take the form of “Mercy trials,” suspects being strapped unsupervised to a chair in a tech-filled, but otherwise empty room and given 90 minutes to prove their innocence to an A.I. judge. If they can’t establish a reasonable doubt within the time limit, they’re executed on the spot. To give the suspects a fighting chance, tech is at their disposal to examine the crime scene, check security cameras, call witnesses, look at evidence like strangers’ personal financial records, and so on, all in the name of making the system think that they are less than 92% guilty. But emotional pleas do no good, the way they might with a human jury. Also, there are no lawyers to navigate (some would say “manipulate”) the justice system. No suspect given this kind of trial has ever been found not guilty. Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), a major proponent of the Mercy system, awakens one day to finds himself strapped to a chair for a Mercy trial. On a screen, Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) informs him that he’s the prime suspect in the murder of his wife (Annabelle Wallis). His probability of guilt is deemed to be 96.7%. If he wants to avoid being… the movie never says, but I’m guessing electrocuted, he’d better get cracking on getting that number down below 92%. Oh, and he suffered a brain injury when he was arrested, so he doesn’t remember anything about the morning of the murder – including whether or not he did it. Chris goes about uncovering the truth. He knows that he wasn’t always the best husband, struggling with anger and alcoholism, but he couldn’t have done it… in the emotional sense. In the literal sense, maybe. He doesn’t get much help from friends and family, like his less-angelic-than-he-thought daughter (Kylie Rogers), his sponsor (Chris Sullivan), or his partner (Kali Reis), who are seemingly of the attitude that they want to help him, but the evidence isn’t looking good. He uncovers layers upon layers of secrets: his wife may have been having an affair with a chef (Jeff Pierre), she may have been involved with illegal drug manufacturing with her co-worker (Rafi Gavron), and there may be a conspiracy to unleash untold terror. And he may have to come to the conclusion that the Mercy system itself may not be as perfect as he previously thought. Who would have thought that putting a murder trial in the hands of a judge that can simply be unplugged might have flaws? “Mercy” is one of those movies that wants to warn us about the dangers of A.I., that this is where society is headed if we entrust in it too much. Except no, we’re not. A.I. is indeed creeping its way into all facets of life, including the justice system, and there are dangers that come along with it, but we’re a million miles from this strapped-to-a-chair-with-no-humans-around nonsense. The whole thing is ridiculous. It’s so ridiculous, in fact, that it warrants being seen by people who like ridiculous movies. This movie gets my rare “B-minus-minus” rating, reserved for movies that I would never recommend in the traditional sense, but do make me shake my head and chucklingly say, “You gotta see this.” Grade: B- - “Mercy” is rated PG-13 for violence, bloody images, some strong language, drug content and teen smoking. Its running time is 100 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Hopelessness. That terrible, hollow, empty sense that makes you believe there is absolutely nothing that can change your circumstance. Notice I wrote ‘believe.’ Not just ‘makes you feel.’ You may be someone who has already spent an endless amount of brain juice and time hashing and rehashing, searching for a way out of your dilemma. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. And you have come to the conclusion that nothing can make the final results end in your favor. Fear brought on by circumstances has won the war. And you have found yourself furiously battling against Hopelessness. Until you finally give up struggling against that emotion and just let it carry you into Depression. Depression can change brain chemistry, and make a person  believe  that it is all over for them. Whether that belief is actually warranted, or not. So that person gives up, emotionally lays face down, and just lets life circumstances take over. Circumstances. On and on that list can go. The cancer is spreading. The boss has already delivered your pink slip. The bank let you know last month that they are foreclosing. Your spouse left a note on the table that they have left you permanently. Circumstances like this create breath-taking fear, and often end in feelings of hopelessness and defeat. With no way to win the war. So, what to do? How can people survive such a one-sided battle? Earlier in this column I mentioned, “Whether that belief is actually warranted, or not.” Here is what I mean. The severe emotion of hopelessness can make a person actually see their personal world as having absolutely no good left in it…anywhere. Nothing to rescue them. No way that they can start over, if the worst actually happens. That person can’t perceive that if ‘the worst’ happens, that they can survive and actually begin again. So they give in and give up. And ‘the worst’ wins again. I plead with you, fight with all your might against the emotion of hopelessness. It is like turning down a pitch black, dead-end alley, where there is no way out and a dozen of your worst enemies are coming at you with deadly knives at the ready. Hopelessness leaves you defenseless against depression, and depression takes away your ability to want, to think, to do, to believe in Tomorrow. Yes, I realize that ‘the worst’ happens in people’s lives. That we can live in fear of it coming. But to let hopelessness for all our Tomorrows take control? That is the very worst that can happen to anyone. Believe in tomorrow, even when life is crushing you today. Believe that you can start over if you lose it all. Believe that you can create a new beginning for you. Because, if you let hopelessness take over when those horrible times hit your life, you are already on the losing side without even attempting to defend yourself. Life is hard. Don’t let hopelessness make your life even harder. Believe in your tomorrow. Even in the bad times.

Special to Wesson News   Mississippi lawmakers started their 2026 state legislative session on January 6 and will continue meeting until April 5.    Even after Democrats capitalized on special legislative elections last year, Republicans still control both the State House of Representative and Senate, although their grip has loosened slightly, with the party’s supermajority in the Senate broken after Democrats gained two seats.   Leading the Senate for his seventh session as lieutenant governor is Republican Delbert Hosemann. In the House, Republican Jason White will oversee the chamber for his third session after being elected by his peers in 2024.   Thousands of bills will be filed, with hundreds making it to a floor vote.  Major issues are education, healthcare and reinstituting a ballot initiative.   Education.  In the House, which made waves last session by immediately dropping a massive tax package that went on to be signed by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, education reforms seem to be the next big focus for Speaker White and company.  White wants school choice -- the ability of parents to select where their child receives an education, rather than being confined by the neighborhood in which they live.    Open public-to-public transfers or “portability,” expansion of charter school options, creation of an education savings account program that would allow public dollars to be used for private school tuition and related policies are ways to make this happen.   Critics of school choice argue it could be detrimental to the health of some public school districts that already struggle financially if per-student fund allocations followed pupils who transfer to a different school.  White, however, counters counters that more options for students and their families should make individual districts more competitive in providing the best education possible.   It’s unclear what the appetite for school choice, or at least some form of it, will be in the Senate.  Lt. Gov. Hosemann has said he supports a limited form, such as the portability, but has not publicly been as all-in on school choice as White.   Both White and Hosemann, however, do agree on paying public K-12 teachers more, with Mississippi still lagging behind the national average for teacher pay and experiencing a shortage of teachers, administrators, and school support staff.  Hosemann also wants to tighten the state’s truancy laws, with nearly 28% of students considered “chronically” absent during the 2024-25 school year, meaning they missed 10% or more of classes.  He has floated the idea of having parents testify before a judge as to the reason for their child’s noticeable absences.   Healthcare .  Medicaid expansion is expected to remain on the back burner due to pending changes on the federal level, but several healthcare-related bills are expected to be introduced.  Rep. Sam Creekmore, a Republican from New Albany who chairs the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, says he has received “a lot of public feedback” on the idea of  stipends being issued to mothers during and in the months after pregnancy as Mississippi currently battles the highest infant mortality rate in the U.S.   Creekmore is also expected to introduce a bill to make the state’s health information exchange uniform statewide and another that would mandate health insurance coverage for biomarker testing in cancer. The biomarker technology helps ensure patients get the correct treatment for the cancer they’re battling.   The legislature also plans to move forward with the first year of allocation of tens of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds. Creekmore said the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council has recommended a five-tier plan to the speaker and lieutenant governor that would spread the funds across 122 applicants working to fight the state’s opioid crisis.   Ballot initiative.   It has been more than four years since Mississippi residents have been able to propose new laws or constitutional amendments directly on the ballot for public vote. Sen. Jeremy England, the chair of the Senate Elections Committee,  plans to make another run  at changing that during the upcoming session.   The ballot initiative process was stripped by the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2021 over a technical flaw in the state constitution that required signatures from five congressional districts, even though the state had since been reduced to four congressional districts. The ruling came after citizens rallied to legalize medical marijuana through a grassroots campaign.  In the four sessions since, lawmakers have been unable to restore it due to a lack of widespread interest, disagreements over signature thresholds, and disagreements over potential caveats that would prevent citizens from making changes to certain laws.  England did not disclose many specifics about his bill, but did say it will take into account the evolution of digital marketing and social media campaigns.   Other potential legislation are legalization of mobile sports betting , something the House passed in 2025 before it died in the Senate; a new retirement benefit structure passed in 2025 that  does not force first responders to serve an additional five years  before being able to draw retirement benefits; a  tax rebate program  endorsed by Lt. Gov. Hosemann that would result in taxpayers being handed back 15% of what they paid the state in 2023; helping Jackson revitalize with state help, easing the process of restoring voting rights for individuals who were convicted of certain felonies, shifting control over registered apprenticeship programs to the state instead of the federal government, and distributing BP oil spill money.  Lawmakers have also been  tasked by a federal judge  with redrawing the state’s Supreme Court map, which was deemed to be diluting Black voting power.   EDITOR’S NOTE:  Excerpted from a Super Talk Radio report.

Winter storms test our preparedness and resilience every year. The recent harsh weather left many of us facing power outages, icy roads, and frozen pipes. How did you manage through the storm? Whether you stayed cozy indoors or braved the elements, sharing experiences helps us all learn and prepare better for future storms. This post offers practical tips to help you finish this storm safely and get ready for the next one. How Did You Manage During the Storm? Winter storms can disrupt daily life in many ways. Some common challenges people face include: Power outages lasting hours or days Difficulty traveling due to icy or snow-covered roads Frozen or burst pipes causing water damage Limited access to groceries and supplies Feeling isolated or unsafe in extreme cold Many readers shared stories of creative solutions and community support. For example, some neighbors checked on each other regularly, sharing food and warmth. Others used battery-powered devices and portable chargers to stay connected. If you had to drive, you likely learned the importance of winter tires and emergency kits in your car. Reflecting on your experience can highlight what worked well and what could improve. Did you have enough food and water? Was your heating system reliable? Did you have a plan for emergencies? These questions help identify gaps in preparation. Essential Tips to Finish This Storm Safely If the storm is still ongoing or you are dealing with its aftermath, here are some tips to stay safe and comfortable: Keep Warm Without Power Use extra blankets and wear layers of clothing. Close off unused rooms to conserve heat. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, use it safely with proper ventilation. Avoid using ovens or grills indoors for heat, as they produce dangerous fumes. Stay Informed Use a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to get weather updates. Charge your phone and devices when power is available. Follow local authorities’ advice on road conditions and emergency shelters. Prevent Frozen Pipes Keep cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air circulation. Let faucets drip slightly to keep water moving. If pipes freeze, apply warm towels or use a hairdryer carefully to thaw them. Manage Food and Water Eat perishable food first to avoid spoilage. Use coolers with ice to keep food cold if the refrigerator is off. Have bottled water on hand in case of water supply issues. Drive Only If Necessary Avoid travel unless absolutely needed. If you must drive, inform someone of your route and expected arrival. Carry an emergency kit with blankets, food, water, flashlight, and a shovel. Preparing for the Next Winter Storm Preparation is key to reducing stress and danger during winter storms. Here are some practical steps to take before the next one hits: Build an Emergency Kit Include items such as: Non-perishable food and bottled water for at least three days Flashlights and extra batteries Battery-powered or hand-crank radio First aid supplies Warm clothing and blankets Portable phone chargers Basic tools and a manual can opener Winterize Your Home Insulate pipes and seal drafts around windows and doors. Service your heating system before winter. Keep fire extinguishers accessible. Install carbon monoxide detectors. Plan for Power Outages Consider a backup generator if possible. Know how to manually open electric garage doors. Store extra fuel safely if using generators or heaters. Stay Connected Share your emergency plan with family and neighbors. Identify local warming centers or shelters. Keep a list of emergency contacts handy. Community Support Makes a Difference Winter storms affect entire neighborhoods. Working together can ease the burden: Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Share resources like snow shovels or extra blankets. Organize community groups to clear sidewalks and driveways. Communicate updates and safety information.

By Guest Columnist Shaw Furlow             Recently, I got involved in an “exciting” race to the finish of the season with a couple of friends who snatched victory from the certain jaws of defeat with their Fantasy Football team.  Their league charged a low entry fee, so not a lot of money was in play. But my friends sweated it out during the final game, as if it were life or death.  Amusing to a non playing, casual observer like myself.    So I decided to find out what it was all about.   There are many good reasons for not playing Fantasy Football – and that’s why I           have remained a casual observer.  First of all, following players each week, keeping up with their stats, who’s hurt, who’s not, takes time. Roughly thirty minutes to an hour each a day. Well hold on there sparky!  I’m retired and finding thirty minutes a day means something has to go. Like what?  One of my naps? Hardly. Cut the time I spend throwing the ball with Flint? Not happening.   The second reason I have no interest in playing Fantasy Football:  I watch NFL, MLB, NCAA football, baseball, softball and volleyball. And seasonally, I watch sailing, tennis and curling. I need no further sporting events to take my time.   Yet a quick internet search shows many people disagree with my perspective.  Some 95 million Americans play Fantasy Football, some in multiple leagues. I can’t sit with a group of gentlemen, or ladies in some cases, without listening to the incessant chatter about who got picked up by whose Fantasy team. Broken record. There’s a lot of chest thumping, high fiving and bragging about a team of professional players you assembled but had nothing to do with coaching. I just don’t get it.  But the quick facts are these: four to eight million Fantasy Football leagues with 40 to 80 million teams generating some $30-$37 billion in revenues.  To get 95 million Americans to agree on anything is difficult.  But these stats came from a quick search on the web, and I believe everything I read online.   Fantasy Football is one of many changes that has affected sports fandom in the modern sports world.  Way back in my teaching days at Jackson Preparatory School, I ate lunch every day with the senior high coaches and the principal.  They were graduates of three major universities, some out of state or lesser known universities and a scholar from Delta State.  For twenty minutes there was chest thumping, high fiving and bragging about their college teams or the New Orleans Saints. We knew the players and coaches. We actually hurt when they lost.  In Fantasy Football, you don’t care if the Saints win as long as Olave catches passes and scores touchdowns for your fantasy team.  It makes games you don’t care about important.  If I don’t care about Jacksonville vs the Jets, I’m not watching. I don’t care who the wide out is.  Not so with the 95 million Americans involved in Fantasy Football.   Fantasy Football has changed the nature of professional football fandom as the impacts of the NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and transfer portal policies and procedures have influenced the nature of college sports fandom.  The Olympics opened the door for NIL, which allows kids who bust their asses playing sports to use their stardom commercially and share in some of the money their schools and coaches are making – the kind of money a school can use to pay the coach du jour $9 million a year. Through the portal, players can transfer to other schools where they can find better opportunities elsewhere with different coaches and to be utilized by other teams.    Basically, I support both, but I think NIL compensation should be limited to $2 million to eliminate the portal stampede to monied schools; and I think portal transfers should be contingent on a freshman staying two years at a school and not playing for just one year before going elsewhere as now required.    College football conference expansion is another change you don’t want me to get started on – i.e., the 16-team Southeastern Conference!  Change happens.  So you Fantasy Football team owners, GMs and coaches, while some of us don’t get it, continue your joust with the windmills. It’s a noble quest.   EDITOR’S NOTE:  Shaw Furlow is a retired Co-Lin band director, former Wesson News  arts columnist and Brookhaven-based promoter of music programs.

Special to Wesson News   Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History The Mother of Mississippi’s conservation tradition, writer Francis (Fannye) Adine Cook, acquired her lifelong passion as a farmer’s daughter who collected wild plants, birds, mammals and amphibians as a child growing up in a Crystal Springs Victorian home on Georgetown Street in the early 1900s. Born July 19, 1889, she was the seventh child of Gilbert and Martha Ellen Cook and would follow a career as a teacher, auditor, researcher and genealogist as well as a writer and conservationist after graduating from the Industrial Institute and College (new Mississippi University for Women) in 1911 and completing graduate studies at George Washington University in Washington, DC. After teaching history and English literature at West Point and Louisville in Mississippi and in Wyoming and Panama, Cook worked as an auditor with the Internal Revenue Service, while researching and preparing specimens for the Smithsonian Institute and becoming concerned about public indifference in Mississippi to protection of natural resources and the state’s inadequate laws and failure to enforce existing ones.  In the 1920s, she returned to travel her home state at her own expense and campaign for a comprehensive state conservation program, speaking at local fairs and to schools, clubs and county supervisors and exhibiting a poster which illustrated the usefulness of birds in combatting harmful insects.  Her efforts led to organization of the Mississippi Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, which became the Game and Fish Commission, and she supervised a state plant and animal survey funded by the federal Works Progress Administration. Cook collected and cataloged Mississippi wildlife, led the effort to restore the state’s natural environment, pushed for public hunting grounds, conservation laws and education, fish and streams, hawks and owls to control rats and mice, song birds, holly, wild crabapples, dogwood and azalea to beautify roadsides and woodlands, and rallied people to appreciate the outdoors. Cook also started writing, perhaps influenced, inspired and encouraged by Eurora Welty whom she got to know when boarding at the Welty home in Jackson, where she kept a stash of deceased birds in her desk for scientific study.  Her numerous articles and several books included Freshwater Fishes of Mississippi  and Snakes of Mississippi .  She became the first director of the Mississippi Wildlife Museum, now the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, where her personal collection of papers is the basis of a 10,000-volume library; and helped organize the Mississippi Ornithological Society. When Cook wasn’t focused on conservation issues, she and her sister, Lena Mae Brignac, documented cemeteries, producing invaluable records, particularly for markers and cemeteries no longer extant. Cook died April 30, 1964, and she is buried at Crystal Springs City Cemetery.  A life-sized bronze statue commemorate her at Railroad Park in downtown Crystal Springs and a 2600-acre urban nature area is named in her honor in Rankin County.

By: Jessica Breazeale It all started with a rescue cat from Hattiesburg. She changed my perspective. I’m so glad she did because I was judgmental until she changed me. I was judgmental of people who had indoor pets. I thought, “How people let their pet inside their home was beyond me”. Pets are never clean enough, constantly shedding their filth, bad for asthmatic people, and trigger PTSD with all the barking. Isn’t that just common sense, a nonnegotiable that pets should be outside where they belong?” I figured most people were scared of dogs, annoyed by cats, and hated the smells that came with pet ownership. I was judgmental until TiDo came along. Yes, I realize our princess has a boy's name, but our son named her TiDo. We don’t know why. I don’t think he was familiar with the Jackson 5. I think Walker just probably made up a name, and it was his birthday present, so it was only right that Walker got to name his cat. TiDo was a quick decision that became a huge blessing in disguise. My sister asked if she could get Walker a cat for his birthday. She said they found an amazing cat at a cat café that needed a home. Well, she caught me at the perfect time as I was busy working and not fully processing the information. At this time, I was also in the middle of a hot flash because I was in the very thick of menopause. I was dealing with extreme emotional changes from the change of life, so I was all over the place mentally, physically, and psychologically. So, when my sister asked, “Can I get Walker a rescue cat from the Hattiesburg cat café for his birthday?” Lo and behold, I said “sure,” which was very uncharacteristic of me. I don’t typically make huge decisions quickly, I never liked indoor pets, and I’ve never liked to be pressured, either. I had been judgmental of indoor pets my whole life. Why on this certain day did everything change? My sister asked if the cat could be an inside pet. I requested the details to which she replied, “She’s already bathed, spayed, and fully vaxxed”. I guess my sister thought she’d sweeten the deal, because she added, “I will buy her litter box, starter litter, starter food, and a carrying backpack to get her there.” The stars must have been aligned just right; I jokingly tell people when recounting this story. The truth is, God sent her to us in a time of need. I really didn’t give it much thought, which had to have been a God-moment to save me from a judgmental mind. I said to my sister, “Yeah, that sounds fine.” I’m laughing out loud as I type this because that is not me at all, but it is the new me. Fast forward two years: TiDo is a beautiful princess. Is she perfect? NO. She can be bad sometimes, tearing up furniture, eating food that she’s not supposed to eat, etc. She has learned the art of persuasion by going to everyone to beg for treats – the reason she is a little plump. TiDo is truly a part of our family. She aspires to be a top-tier salescat when she grows up, as she’s learned how to play on heartstrings to get what she wants. She’s not perfect, but she is amazing. Over the span of my life, we’ve had lots of animals, but they’ve all been outdoor animals who had to fend for themselves. We fed them regularly but had them at arm's length, so, now looking back, they weren’t truly “pets”. I firmly believe God sent TiDo at a very pivotal time in our lives. God knew something was coming down the pipeline, something that we didn’t know, and that we would need this pet to serve as a little bit of therapy. Now, we all have Tito to cuddle with, swap kisses with, play with, take care of, and nurture, and we didn’t know that we were going to need TiDo the way that we do. Thank God! I was judgmental until…I was not judgmental anymore. I think my point is that we go through all these things to learn lessons, and if we’re not really learning our lessons, then what are we doing? We’re wasting our time. I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t think others’ pets will always trigger PTSD or asthma. I now understand the healing, therapeutic side of pet ownership – something I hadn’t understood until now. Meet TiDo, the princess of the house. She lives like royalty, she wants for nothing as she’s waited on hand and foot. She’s spoiled, and I cannot get her to help around the house and do chores. However, her cuddles and therapeutic kisses help lower my blood pressure, and I’ve learned to just squirt her with a water bottle if she tries to scratch up furniture. She’s learning…but so are we! - Not the end. (TiDo is very much in the middle of her story…or just the beginning.) Walker Breazeale and his cat, TiDo. Walker is an only child. These two are truly like brother and sister. Walker Breazeale and his cat, TiDo Click here to download the blog.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Audiences largely left last June’s zombie threequel “28 Years Later” thinking the same thing, “That was a good movie, but what the heck was up with that ending?” They were referring to the last-minute saving of young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) from a hoard of Infected by a gang of blonde-wigged, tracksuit-wearing ruffians led by long-missing earlier character Jimmy (Jack O’Connell). The tone of the sequence was one of stylized action, which clashed with the more ominous, meditative horror (short of the obvious Infected attacks) of the rest of the movie. Now, a mere seven months later, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” provides answers as to exactly what the heck was up with that ending. It turns out that the gang, known as The Fingers (because together they form a mighty fist), while they like to take out the Infected, aren’t much kinder to uninfected humans. They’re a cult of serial killers, all stripped of their original names and now called Jimmy, who serve a Satanic deity known as Old Nick. O’Connell’s leader, now going by the name Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, agrees to take in Spike if he can kill a Jimmy in a battle to the death. Spike lives to be inducted, but he lives in terror. Sadly, that’s his one mode through the entire movie. In “28 Years Later,” the character had a great arc where he abandoned his lying father and safe-haven community to get help for his sick mother and then face an uncertain future, but here he’s just scared all the time. Granted, I’d be consistently scared if I had to spend my life around the vicious Fingers, but it’s not much of a “hero’s journey.” The story sometimes breaks from Spike and The Fingers to spend time with Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a character from the last movie who built The Bone Temple, a tall pile of skulls, as a memorial to the dead, and not, as some thought, a collection of weirdo trophies. He subdues an “Alpha Infected,” who he names Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), and takes strides to study him, as there may be something inside his head (psychologically) that may be the key to overcoming not just the Infected, but the 28-year-old infection. Most of the movie is a noticeable step down from “28 Years Later.” Sure, charging Infected and satanic murderers are scary and all, but it’s missing that certain sense of timing and heartfelt touch given to it by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (Nia DaCosta, of the mixed-bag “Candyman” remake, is at the helm this time). That is, until the two stories converge. Once some of The Fingers become convinced that Dr. Kelson is their god Old Nick (thanks to his iodine-coated red skin), Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal has to find a way to keep his own hold on the group. And that’s where the musical number comes in. It’s not Jack O’Connell performing like he did in “Sinners,” but there is a show-stealing musical number and a climax that redeems the entire movie… and then a poorly-kept secret surprise after that. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” can be a slog at times, and by “at times” I mean pretty much the entire first hour. It shouldn’t be a slog, given the high-stakes subject matter, but I could never shake this feeling that I was just watching a lesser version of a world I had spent just enough time in only seven months ago. But then that ending is so explosive that all is forgiven. Supposedly Danny Boyle will be back to direct a fifth movie in this series (my guess is it will be the third with “Years” in the title, to complete the trilogy within the larger continuity), and if he can seamlessly add his sensitive touch to the spectacle of this movie’s most memorable sequence, we’ll have a horror movie for the ages. Grade: B- “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, graphic nudity, language throughout, and brief drug use. Its running time is 109 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

State college public relations officials are doing their part to encourage students to continue their interest in the area of communication at Mississippi's two-and four-year colleges with three $1,250 scholarships.   Students applying for the CPRAM (College Public Relations Association of Mississippi) scholarship must be majoring in one of the following fields of study: public relations, communications, journalism, advertising, mass communications, political communications, crisis management, graphic design or other communication-oriented major.  The scholarships could be awarded to a May 2026 high school graduate, a student entering or enrolled at the state's two-year colleges and to a student entering or enrolled at the state's four-year colleges for the 2026 fall semester. The student must also be enrolled full-time.   Scholarship applicants must be in good standing and present three letters of recommendation from individuals connected to their academic institution. This includes college advisers, high school teacher/official, home-school teacher, etc. Students may be recommended by an active CPRAM member.   The applicants must complete in full the scholarship application and return it to the scholarship committee no later than Feb. 20, 2026. Applicants also must include a 500-word essay entitled, "With all the changes being made in the field of Communications, what skills do I have to keep up with these changes?" Note: The essay must be specific to the applicant's skills.   Students receiving the scholarship can be awarded the scholarship for more than one year, but they must reapply every year. The scholarship committee reserves the right to make its decision based on need, merit and the number of applicants each year.   CPRAM reserves the right to revoke this scholarship if a student withdraws from school during the award year, changes his/her major, fails to maintain a 2.0 GPA or other grave instances of misconduct.   The committee will announce the winner(s) during its annual conference held in May/June. The scholarship will then be awarded for the 2026 fall term.   For more information, contact CPRAM scholarship chairman Steve Diffey at (662) 472-9068 or sdiffey@holmescc.edu .

Send any responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com     A mirror has a tough job.  To show you how fit, skinny or fat your body is. Your clothes have a tougher job, to make your body look good. Your body that is fit, ski…well, no need, you already have yourself categorized.  A washing machine’s job is to clean those dirty clothes you’ve had on your fit, skinny or fat body. The water in your shower or bath is to remove the dirt from your fat, skinny or fit body. A mirror reflects the truth of our usually pretty sad situation. Clothes help us cover up that…um, situation. Washing machines wash those clothes so that they look and smell better. All of those each do the important job designated to it. But it takes a bath or shower to clean the body, the most important thing you own. But about that clean body. It’s simply just a fit, skinny or fat shell that carries the real you around every day. And you can bathe it until it squeaks, but that will still only make it a clean shell. The real YOU is a living spirit inside that shell that you - hopefully- bathe. Want to be convinced of this? Ask three total strangers to allow you to study their bodies for a minute or two. If they give you that permission, instruct each of them to turn in a circle several times for you. Study them carefully and in detail. Even talk to them. Then as you look ONLY at their neck, ask them if they feel happy, sad or rather numb. Then follow your instincts and look in their eyes, not just at their body parts. Ask them the very same question again, whether they are numb, happy or sad.  I am willing to wager that you will be more convinced of their answer when you look straight into their eyes. Why? Because the eyes generally reflect the real emotions of the spirit within.  Shakespeare and Jesus Christ agreed that the eyes are the window to the soul. The eyes are pretty good at exposing what the body is attempting to hide from the world. A person can be doing a great job of acting happy and peaceful around you, but look into those windows and see what’s real. Our eyes tell the whole truth and are usually a dead-giveaway when we are struggling emotionally. Much like the six-year-old who has not yet learned the fine art of not telling the whole truth regarding what goes on in the privacy of your home. “Teacher, Mommy won’t let Daddy sleep in their bedroom anymore.”    Yikes!!!! Folks, you are not your body, you have deeper things to worry about than that. You have a spirit that needs real care. Take care of that body, definitely. But more importantly, take care of your spirit.