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Special to Wesson News   Wesson Alderman-at-Large Stanley Martin represented SuperSounds DJ/Karaoke and Super Shots Photo Boot among some 20 businesses and organizations in remote radio interviews before the annual Christmas parade that spotlighted the variety of products and services available in Wesson. Wesson businesses and organization were spotlighted throughout the area in a special radio promotion last month.   A remote from downtown Wesson before the annual Christmas parade aired owners and representatives of local for-profit and not-for-profit organizations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 9 on K106, B92 and WAZA 107.7.    They talked about what they do, their products and services, giving back to the community, particularly during the holiday season, and the importance of shopping local and using Wesson services before going elsewhere.   Participants in the remote paid $100 for their air time.  They included Grace Foam Solutions, SuperSounds DJ/Karaoke & Super Shots Photo Booth, Destiny’s Delights , The Event Room, Copiah Nutrition , Copiah-Lincoln Community College , C&L Treasures , Hispanic Heritage Cleaning , Mossy Oak Properties  Agent Stephen Ashley, Hunter L. Posey Insurance , Mill Town Mall Antiques and Flea Market , Taylor’s Legacy LLC Heating & Air , Fire House BBQ , 51 Diner , Ace Hardware , Shop  ‘n Wash, Sherry Davis, Realtor - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices , Hometown Family Dental , Mill Town Salon & Day Spa, Wesson Friends of the Library, Wesson American Legion Post 79.

With more extreme cold and winter weather possible in the days to come, it’s important to check the safety of your heating equipment. Most importantly, remember to keep clothes, drapes, and anything else combustible at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment, especially space heaters. The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) Fire Services Division and State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) recommend the following heating fire safety tips. Never use space heaters while you sleep or in areas where children may be without adult supervision. Do not leave space heaters on when you are away from home. Always unplug space heaters when they are not in use. The heater should also be equipped with a tip-over shut-off switch. All heating equipment should be UL® approved and cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional before being used each year. Inspect the space heater’s power cord for damage, fraying, or heat. If the cord inspection reveals any of these issues, the heater should be replaced. Proper cleaning is essential and should be done regularly. Never use a stove or oven to heat living spaces. Kerosene is a poor choice for heating, as it emits poisonous fumes. Have chimney flues cleaned and inspected by qualified personnel. Burn only approved materials in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. Should a fire break out in the home, have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow and have a designated meeting place for all family members. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and don’t go back inside the home under any circumstances. Below freezing temperatures, ice and snow could damage your roof and plumbing. Severe weather could also mean a high number of insurance claims. “Many insurance policies do not provide coverage for frozen pipes and other damage in homes that are no longer occupied or that are vacant. For example, if you’ve listed your home for sale, moved out, and turned off the heat, then the pipes freeze and burst, the insurance company could deny your claim because you did not take the proper steps to protect the home,” said Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. Avoid an insurance claim by taking action now. Leave your faucet running with a slight drip and open the cabinet doors under your sinks. Look at the trees around your property and cut back branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. Clearing the debris from your gutters will help prevent ice dams by allowing meltwater to drain freely. Evaluate the insulation and ventilation (roof or soffit vents) in your attic, keeping the warm air in your home and out of your attic. Perform maintenance checks on your vehicle. Check the battery, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels. Fill up with gas, pack emergency supplies and keep a windshield scraper on-hand to remove ice.

Special to Wesson News Building on its ongoing commitment to simplifying care, Walmart continues its 2026 health momentum with The Wellness Event — a free, nationwide health and wellness experience taking place Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart stores across the country. Designed to help customers feel informed, supported and energized, the event brings together Walmart’s pharmacy, vision and wellness teams for essential health screenings, guidance and access to affordable or no-cost immunizations*. This year’s event also offers exclusive wellness sample boxes filled with nutrition-forward snacks, supplements and curated items to help customers jump-start and sustain healthier habits throughout 2026.  Walmart has also lowered prices on over 1,000 wellness products. As customers pursue their health goals for the year ahead, Walmart deepens its role as a trusted, community-focused wellness destination. With more than 4,000 stores in areas experiencing medical provider shortages, Walmart’s omnichannel approach – including in-store pharmacies and Vision Centers, a wide assortment of wellness products, online tools, enhanced delivery options and private Health Services rooms – ensures convenient, accessible care wherever customers are. Since 2014, Walmart’s wellness events have delivered more than 5 million free health screenings, underscoring its commitment to supporting healthier communities nationwide. “A fresh year brings fresh motivation, and The Wellness Event is our way of helping customers turn that motivation into meaningful action,” said Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart. “With convenient, trusted care and everyday wellness solutions, we’re committed to meeting people where they are and supporting their health goals in practical, affordable ways.” Earlier this month, Walmart announced  the launch of Better Care Services , which give customers instant access to a curated network of third-party, virtual care providers. Select providers are currently offering a $15 discount on certain telehealth services. These initiatives showcase Walmart’s commitment to simplifying care, trust and wellness in the communities we serve. To make staying on track even simpler, Walmart Pharmacy Delivery brings prescriptions and everyday essentials straight to customers’ doors — reaching more than 95% of U.S. households, with express delivery available in as fast as 30 minutes. What Customers Can Expect on Jan. 24 Free health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and BMI at nearly 4,600 Walmart pharmacies. Complimentary vision screenings at select Vision Center locations. No-cost flu shots* plus affordable immunizations such as RSV, shingles, tetanus, HPV and more. Guidance from trusted Walmart pharmacists, offering nutrition insights, medication support and personalized recommendations. Curated wellness sample boxes featuring nutritious snacks, vitamins, supplements and other essentials to fuel 2026 health journeys.   Event Details Date: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Walmart pharmacies nationwide *$0 co-pay with most insurance coverage. Restrictions apply.

By: Jessica Breazeale Unfortunately, pride shows up in everything we do. We don’t like to admit wrongdoing or the things we aren’t proud of. We don’t like self-reflection. That’s pride.   Pride takes a relationship between two and turns it into a relationship of one. Over time, the proud, fierce roar feels like loneliness. How does pride show up in your workplace ? Maybe you have lots of workplace conflicts. Maybe you give the silent-treatment until someone who owes you an apology gives you one. Maybe these thoughts have turned you bitter, cold and distant. Maybe you show up to work but give terrible customer service because you hate being there and hate people. Maybe you’ve started to make people feel awkward. Pride shows up in the workplace.   How does pride show up in your home ? Maybe you get louder and louder until you feel heard. (This sounds like me while trying to get my teen to do his chores.) Maybe you shun anyone who disagrees with you. Cut off. Period. Maybe you refuse to listen to anyone who believes differently from you. Maybe you are demanding your way to be accepted, and you refuse to be kind or loving. Pride shows up in the home.   How does pride show up at church ? Maybe you see a million things that need to be done. You can easily point them all out, but you never help. You point and bark. But never really get involved. Maybe you can personally identify lots of people who have needs. But rather than helping them…you tell your church to go help. Maybe you’re a bit of a troublemaker…stirring up gossip and drama because it’s a social club to you rather than a holy community. Maybe you sit further and further in the back, show up later and later, attend less and less - until you completely shut yourself off. Maybe you don’t like how someone at church made you feel or the way they worded something, so you kept your distance and avoided them. Maybe you disagree with something, so you hop to the next church. Pride definitely shows up at church.   Can we go deeper  than just eliminating prideful thoughts ? That sounds too self-help, and I’m not so sure self-help talk has ever helped us as a people yet.   How can we say or assume we “follow Jesus” without completely adjusting our lifestyles, thoughts, plans, emotions, desires, etc.?   It’s called “dying to self” – choosing to wake up new every morning, shaking off the old person and old ways, and embracing the new self. Start with a clean slate, forgiving yourself, putting on the mind of Christ, and letting his peace guard your heart and mind. How can we deny ourselves tomorrow morning when we wake up? It doesn’t happen on its own, and it doesn’t happen without real intentional effort all day every day.   As a human myself, all I can offer is something that helps me. I see visuals in my mind that serve as symbolic reminders. The wooden ladder leaning against a window of the  Church of the Holy Sepulcher  in the  Old City of Jerusalem When I think about swallowing the bitter taste of pride, I visualize the ladder at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It’s in the Holy City and called the “Immovable Ladder”. It’s a law that explains nothing from the church can be moved unless all six of its religious denominations agree to prevent disputes. The ladder has not moved for three centuries. This is a symbolic reminder of painful, long-suffering divisions.   Do we think we’re always right, our ways are the best ways , our ideas are the correct  ones, our emotions are always validated, or our beliefs are the accurate views everyone should adhere to? Are we constantly fighting for our rights, demanding to be heard, shunning those who disagree?  Do we get mad, cold, or bitter when someone has a different opinion? Do we shut down when things don’t go our way? Shall we all just take a moment to self-reflect…   Of course, we won’t all agree. It’s what makes us uniquely human. However, mutual love, respect, and kindness are the missing puzzle pieces to seeing beauty in unity and unity in real community.   Different is good. It allows us to display the attributes of God. If everyone thought, said, and acted just like you, would you have any reason to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? While it’s not easy to swallow the bitter taste of pride, it sure makes us feel better and lighter later. Don’t allow your pride to hold you back.   It’s time to “move that ladder”. Your time is too short, and calling is too great to let the differences that God formed with his own holy hands hold us back from the prosperous future we can experience.

by Jack Criss Jack Criss No, this column is not a sales pitch. And a disclaimer: since 1992, I have made the vast majority of my living selling print advertising. But, is print advertising still relevant? In this razzle dazzle day and age of "targeted marketing" through social media, AI and countless digital and cable offerings that promise immediate results and statistics, why would a business or individual still spend money on an old-fashioned print ad? Yes, print advertising has been around for decades -- centuries, in fact -- and there's a reason for that. Print remains one of the most trusted ways for brands to connect with people. Print has never really gone away and I will tell you that it never will. In fact, many marketers who once moved on are finding their way back to the newspaper and magazine industries because of the trust and authority that print has always delivered. For example, local papers are just that: local. Neighbors and potential customers will see ads placed and comment on them if produced well enough: at church, the grocery store, passing on the street, etc. Which leads to another important point about print advertising. I've heard, for example, from skeptical potential advertisers in my sales efforts that, "Well, my ad just won't stand out among all the others." Is that not also the possible case with online advertising?! I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who gets annoyed when, after having searched for a product, I then get bombarded on Facebook, email and even my phone with offers and pitches. That's not effective advertising -- it's harassment. Plus, MAKE your ad stand out. Sales reps and their designer teams can help you word your message succinctly and make it look in such a way that catches the eye and conveys what you want. Plus, you can call them and make changes (as timelines permit) whenever you want. Try that with Facebook or Roku ads and let me know how it works out for you. And it's not an "either/or" proposition between print and digital. It's your business, company or product: you should utilize whatever means you can afford and whatever you think is appropriate. But, print strengthens your complete marketing approach and still delivers measurable value in today’s crowded marketplace precisely because of what it is. When a person picks up a magazine or paper they usually sit down, focus, and read. They pay attention. They're not randomly scrolling like mad -- they're reading. They are looking. And that's when they see your ad. When that's done, a deeper connection to your brand is made even after they've put the publication down. The message in the ad has most likely been absorbed. I can't tell you how many websites I would love to read or subscribe to but don't because of the endless pop-up ads that block my phone or computer. That's not a problem with print. Plus, these days, a lot of print is created locally. People know the folks who work at the paper or magazine and know they're working with fellow community business people and supporters. That also goes a long way to establish trust and credibility. National studies I've read by objective media research firms, indicate that, to my points above, print advertising is regarded as a credible medium because it appears in vetted, professional publications that audiences already trust. I've also read that, according to a 2024 study, 82% of consumers trust print ads the most for purchase decisions. "When your ad appears in a respected publication, it inherits that reputation. Readers view your message as part of the curated content they chose to read," stated one study I read. In a magazine, by the way. Digital ads flicker and fade. Physical ads capture and hold attention significantly longer than digital impressions, creating lasting focus and long-term brand recall. Plus, many people keep their papers and magazines. Maybe not for months or years, but usually at least for a few weeks or months depending on the regularity of the publishing schedule. Print also appeals to the readers' senses and emotions. The weight of a magazine, the feel of textured paper, even the design layout creates a feel and an experience that helps people remember the message more vividly than something they scroll past online. There are no pop-up blockers on a page and you can't press a button or skip an ad, unless you turn a page. And, I can't tell you the times I've gone to offices and seen articles -- and yes, even print ads -- framed and/or matted on the walls. Not a Facebook post, social media image or digital ad. One of my greatest joys as a writer and salesman over the past 35 years is to see an article I wrote or an ad I sold years ago on the wall of an executive's office. It gives me extreme pride. Online articles are shared -- and then deleted. Local newspapers connect advertisers with neighborhood audiences who value community businesses, as I mentioned earlier. And niche or industry magazines put your message in front of passionate readers who value the content, want to support it and, in the process, be seen for their support through advertising. Recently, I received an email from a young, new marketing director for a major, Mississippi-based business that had been a client of mine for some time. She said the company was abandoning all print for digital marketing only. I won't go into specifics, but that's a huge mistake, especially for the market her particular business serves. She'll discover that soon enough and I'm looking forward to when the company comes back to print again, which I'm pretty sure they will. And while I was disappointed in receiving her email, it got me to thinking about why print advertising does indeed still matter. Maybe more than ever in today's disjointed, anxiety-ridden, divided world. Print is the great equalizer that exists to serve and inform communities and markets and, to my mind, act as a voice for the reader, in both editorial content and advertising. I always tell my advertisers that I can't guarantee them sales or response -- no salesperson can really do that. But what I CAN guarantee is that a memorable, well-worded, informative and eye-catching, pleasing print ad will get attention wherever it's placed. And if the client is not happy, they can pick up the phone and call me and I'll help them find a solution. That's true of all print salespeople, here at our company and all others in the industry. Again, try doing that with the national digital players who often lock businesses into contracts that are very hard to get out of once that credit card number is on file. AM I making a sales pitch here? Maybe so. But only by presenting demonstrable facts and what I know to be true having been in this business for many years. Of course, I want more commissions and to sell more ads -- that's obvious. However, in the world of capitalism, I won't succeed unless you, the client, does too. Advertising is not charity in any medium, print or otherwise -- it's a two-way street. But it's a street we in the print world can walk alongside our clients with towards mutual success. Jack Criss is the Executive Editor of the Mississippi Business Journal and the Delta Business Journal in Cleveland, MS.

By Charlie Rook Photo Credit: The Copiah Monitor The Wesson Attendance Center improved to a 6-10 record after claiming a 5 point home win against Enterprise high school. The team has now won 4 out of their last 5, after starting on a 6 game losing streak.  The team continues to improve offensively, scoring over 50 points in every victory this season, a threshold they only hit twice in all of their losses this season. The teams were expecting a close one in a Conference battle, but the home atmosphere ended up being too much for the Yellowjackets to take as they fell to 5-14 on the season.  Wesson’s next game will take place on January 20th, in another home contest, against Loyd Star. Loyd Star come into the contest with a record of 2-11, and provide a great opportunity for Wesson to continue their momentum.

By Misty Strieff Prine “Should you ever find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, jealousy, lies and insecurities…don’t be mad. Remember things could be worse: You could be them.” Unknown. Have you ever found yourself saying, "I just can't understand why people treat people the way they do" and then you get the response "Well, not everyone was raised like you." It's such a sad situation to know that so many people have faced such hard lives. You are not born with bitterness, jealousy, insecurities or the ability to lie. All those emotions are learned and are gained by experiencing tough situations in life. I have not had a bad life by any means, but I have faced extremely tough situations. I am very blessed to have a huge support group in my mom, dad, brother, husband, and children. Unfortunately, today, many have no one to hold their hand physically throughout their toughest of days let alone be there to lend a helping hand and remind them that everything is going to be alright. Sadly, those very people have no one in their inner circle to witness to them about the love of Christ during those dark and lonely valleys they walk through. They have no one that seems to care about them enough to tell them they will pray for them or better yet, pray WITH them. That is why it is so very important to take a deep breath when those people hurt us by showing jealousy, bitterness and resentment and love them through it. Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not. Is it going to be worth it to love them and pray for them no matter how bad they treat you? Absolutely! That is why it is important to remember what it says in 1 Peter 3:19: "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." Being a better person during a tough situation brings forth more blessings than you could ever possibly imagine. The moment that you allow people who have unfortunately been raised in broken homes and have been subjected to repeated broken situations steal your joy and make you start believing that YOU have a bad life...you have done something terribly wrong. You allowed their bad life and tough circumstances to steal your joy that God worked so hard for you to have. We have to be mindful that we don't know what others are facing in their lives and that their negative treatment of others is probably their own cry for help. It just takes a strong person to see through the anger to see the need for love and prayer for that person. We are a walking ministry. People need the Lord more than ever today!

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB             It’s time once again for that magical set of releases on the cinematic calendar: January Horror! Unable to get a Halloween release, unable to compete in blockbuster season, and unable to dominate a random weekend anywhere else on the calendar, January Horror movies are released at a time when their biggest competition is leftover holiday blockbusters and awards-season darlings. Studios are banking on audiences not wanting movies that are popular and… good, so maybe they’ll settle for some cheap thrills. In other words, the month is a dumping ground for bad horror movies. “Primate” is indeed bad enough to belong in January, though I’ll at least allow it the faint compliment that it’s pretty decent “for” January.             The film takes place at a cliffside (meaning somebody is definitely going over that cliff) mansion in Hawaii. College student Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) is coming home to visit her father Adam (Troy Kotsur) and sister Erin (Gia Hunter). Along for the trip are her good friend Kate (Victoria Wyant) and lousy friend Hannah (Jessica Alexander), as well as Kate’s brother Nick (Benjamin Cheng). Lucy isn’t just happy to see the humans in her family, she’s also happy to see Ben, a chimpanzee adopted by her late linguistics-expert mother, who communicates with both sign language (with the deaf Adam) and an electronic pad with an artificial voice.             Adam has to go out of town and Ben has been behaving strangely, so veterinarian Dr. Lambert (Rob Delaney) will have to swing by the house, but other than that, the kids have run of the place for a few days. Hannah might even invite over some party bros (Charlie Mann and Tienne Simon) she met on the plane. There’s just one problem: Ben has been infected with rabies. Everyone in the house is now in danger from the increasingly-unstable chimp. And as we learn from the opening sequence (because of course this is a movie that starts with a horrific scene and then flashes back to “36 Hours Earlier”), it’s mortal danger.             The appeal of the movie lies in its chimpanzee antagonist, and to that end, the film actually fares quite well. Effects that go into Ben reportedly include puppetry, animatronics, motion capture, and a physical performance by actor Miguel Torres Umba. It’s more complex than a Halloween costume, but doesn’t take the shortcut of computer-generated artificiality. I never had any problems with visual phoniness or the uncanny valley, at least no more than with any real-life primate. I really was all set for Ben to be a memorable slasher villain. And then the movie did something with Ben that greatly detracted from all that hard work: it made the character unnaturally smart. I’m not talking about the early scenes of the chimp functioning in the household. I’m talking about how, if the character’s homicidal tendencies are driven by rabies, then he’s a crazed, full-steam-ahead killing machine, and I’m afraid of that. But the film gives Ben the presence of mind to taunt his victims and get creative in his attacks, and it’s just not “rabid” behavior. It’s the behavior of a standard movie slasher, and by the end of the movie, I couldn’t see Ben as anything more than that. I don’t want to dismiss the idea of a killer primate movie entirely, with the threat of an unfamiliar species posing unique dangers. But the movie doesn’t capitalize on that potential, instead offering up dull January Horror fare with a killer that happens to be a chimp and kills that are only impressive when they can only be committed by a chimp. And the lazily-written human characters certainly can’t carry this movie. If the makers of “Primate” liked fleshing out their characters as much as they liked the chimp ripping flesh off of them, there might have been a recommendable movie here. Grade: C “Primate” is rated R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language, and some drug use. Its running time is 89 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to Wesson News Wesson Friends of the Library (FOL) will begin developing a plan of action for its 2026 programs, but already the thinking has begun.   For National Library Week, which will be celebrated April 19-25, the American Library Association, has already identified the theme as “Find Your Joy” towards encouraging exploration of personal interests at libraries.  The week also encompasses Right to Read Day and National Library Workers Day as part of the celebration to recognize the vital role libraries and library workers play in transforming lives, to promote library usage and to support libraries as community hubs.   Charlie and Kennedy Garcia pictured at Wesson Library to pick out some of their favorite books. They love reading and often visit the library with their grandmother, Robin Furr. For the annual Wesson Public Library (WPL) Summer Reading Program in July, WPL Librarian Marilyn Britt is suggesting the 250 th birthday of the nation as the focus of the event, which is oriented to children.  FOL member Dr. Steven Liverman is already researching patriotic books for readings to children in kindergarten and lower grades.  The Library will also highlight patriotic books in special display and feature a parchment paper replica of the United States Constitution in décor with a patriotic theme that makes the nation’s 250 th  birthday celebration understandable to children and adults alike.   Also on the FOL planning agenda:   The second “Babies and Books” outreach to new parents, particularly to moms, in May to start using the library as a resource early for themselves and their child through its development. A reading contest for adults to build library traffic during September. The annual library book sale at Wesson Founders Day in October.

Send any responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com “The chief fault and default position that seems to lead to the decline in the number of husbands and wives.”  A line taken from a song released decades ago, and recently re-released by Brookes & Dunn. Still so true today. The song is talking about Pride - the chief fault of us all. And invariably, the default position that every member of a couple falls back on, when they find themselves in an disagreement. Everybody wants to see themselves as the one who holds the position of ‘being in the right.’  Also known to the successful combatant as “The Winner.” Really? Just because you can yell the loudest or out argue your spouse, or prove that your logic is closer to the truth, you should declare yourself The Winner? Folks, there is a problem with this age-old way of conducting relationships. It is this. For there to be a winner, there has to be a loser.  And being the loser in a battle sets that loser up to feel resentful. And slightly ‘less than.’ And more often than not, angry at the winner. Resentful, ‘less than,’ and angry. Oh yeah, this is an outstanding basis for that couple’s day, or week. Now certainly, if the winner bases their self-worth on the ability to always come out on top in an argument, then that partner walks away from the battle feeling confident and absolutely justified. But the so-called loser of the skirmish? Those feelings of resentment, ‘less than,’ and anger certainly do not make good ingredients for making that person feel growing love for the winner. Negative emotions do not make a loser want to spend time with their partner. To want to please, to comfort, and to laugh with that person. In fact, it is pretty easy to see that insisting on being The Winner is gradually accomplishing the opposite of what you are truly wanting. To be loved, accepted and appreciated. Honestly, is that kind of losing really what you are trying to achieve? Because that is exactly what is happening. So, Winner, I predict that you lose more than you ever realize, when you insist on being right every time. You would be a much smarter and effective victor if you would choose back off the ego-boosting need to win-at-any-cost every skirmish and clash between you and your partner.

Special to Wesson News Copiah Nutrition, a popular local spot known for its nutritious teas and meal replacement shakes, now offers a free weekly Bible study open to the community. Every Tuesday at 11 a.m., anyone can join for biblical study, community and fellowship, with complimentary coffee provided. The business remains open for customers interested in their delicious, healthy drinks, but the Bible study provides a great chance for connection and reflection. Volunteers like Yemy Wolfe, who helps make teas and shakes, rings up customers, and assists with cleaning and organizing, are important to the Copiah Nutrition’s business model of healthy living - mind, body and soul. Pictured at the weekly community bible study are Yemy Wolfe, Sid Smith, and Tessa Young, along with Ana Mason, the owner of Copiah Nutrition.  “We started it last July to bring the community together,” said Mason.  Located at 1088 Beech Street in Wesson, Copiah Nutrition continues to foster community spirit and well-being. “We wanted to deepen our Faith and thought the Bible study would be a great way to build on that. We started with Women Coffee with Jesus Bible study - but when Tessa was speaking to some of her friends, one guy (Sid) asked if he could join. So we changed the name to Coffee with Jesus for men and women,” said Wolfe.  Mason and Wolfe started attending Pine Lake Church in Jackson last year because they have two ASL interpreters, and Yemy is deaf. “She deserves to be included in church. I am learning ASL and enjoy attending with her, said Mason. Additionally, Copiah Nutrition employees and volunteers are excited to take part in the upcoming GOAT (God Over All Things) Free Kids Camp on April 7th and 8th in Wesson Park. For more information, stop by Copiah Nutrition on Tuesdays or visit their social media pages.

By Bob Arnold   Nekitha Jackson, a longtime local cottage baker, just opened a permanent retail location to cook and sell her cakes, cookies and other treats in downtown Wesson. If there was ever a bakery in Wesson, it was so long ago that locals can’t remember it. Destiny Delights, which Jackson calls her business, has moved into the new 6,700 square foot mini shopping and office complex that Salmon Point Development has built on the southwest corner of Church Street and Highway 51. Jackson is renting the smaller 1,000 square foot structure on the property, which will have a total of three commercial spaces. Jackson says she bakes with love as her secret ingredient. Since 2014, she has done the bulk of her baking at her Wesson home on Lott Smith Road and sold her products and baked some of them on site at farmers and other outdoor markets throughout southwest Mississippi. Now she’ll go to work in her own bakery, where three or four workers will also help her serve customers. It’s a status that has been a dream since her childhood -- being known as a baker in her community beyond her home base. The pink and brown colors that she has made a trademark of her business as a tribute to her sister, who died in a car crash, will also be part the new status. As she prepared for her move to the retail location, Jackson reflected on the strength she has received from God, family and friends: “I’m thankful for God’s blessing and guidance. My husband, Clifford Jackson, Sr., has been an unrelenting force, pouring his heart and soul into making this dream a reality. His unwavering commitment, alongside Walter Jackson’s loyal support and Vernie Washington’s valuable insights, has been nothing short of remarkable. To everyone who’s contributed to this process, I express my deepest gratitude – your impact won’t be forgotten. Here’s to the bright future of Destiny’s Delights Coffee Shop and Bakery.” Ron Bath, a former Reno, Nevada, commercial and residential developer who retired to Wesson and transplanted Salmon Point Development here, continues to seek tenants for the 2,100 square foot and 3,600 square foot units in the new Highway 51 complex. Bath found Jackson, who has long been active in community service, on the Wesson Chamber of Commerce board. For many years, Jackson also served as president of the Wesson Attendance Center Parent Teachers Organization.