By Guest Columnist Mika Hartman As a parent, we fear so many things while raising our children. We understand the underlying risks in most of our daily adventures. We all do our best to teach our children to be safe in a world where bad and danger exists; it comes with the parental roles: protect, teach, nurture, love and support. When your child has a disability or multiple disabilities, the fear grows. A nonvocal and/or nonverbal child, for example, can’t always share needed information to locate a family, and they can’t yell “help.” They may not even understand that help is needed. When a child or an adult with a cognitive disability is lost or wanders too far, even if verbal and/or vocal, they may not be able to share needed information. Children and adults with special needs, especially those with Down syndrome or autism, have a high risk of wandering or elopement, sometimes referred to as bolting, particularly if a dual diagnosis of both Down syndrome and autism exists together. Hudson has been dual diagnosed with both. Half of children with autism are wanderers. Noise levels can be triggering, and the child may try to get away from it. It could be that they see something, and they are determined to get closer. No matter the reason, half of children with autism can easily become lost. Hudson is a runner - really a bolter - and a seeker of water. He is also nonverbal. When a child becomes lost, the risk of severe danger is great: drowning, running into a busy street, unable to hydrate, weather elements, and/or possible encounters with strangers or animals. If you live in areas with snakes, that’s a risk, too. Every second matters. As Hudson’s mom, it is my job to be as prepared as possible. Our home is safe, and we have alarms and locks on every door. Our neighbors know Hudson. I take new photos almost daily. I work with him on swimming, but I’m unsure how he would be without me there. Even with all of these measures in place at home, they don’t apply in public spaces or even at friends’ homes. Daily living and travel bring new levels of fear. Many families use GPS trackers to provide a sense of peace over their runners, but even GPS trackers in shoes won’t work if different shoes - or no shoes - are worn. Some use bracelets, but kids with sensory issues may not be able to tolerate wearing them. Recently, Kayla, a seventeen-year-old in Pennsylvania, was dropped at school by her special needs bus… and the school was closed due to a smell reported the day before. Kayla was missing for over eight hours. Kayla even went in convenience stores, and surveillance cameras reveal that no help was offered. She was found in downtown Pittsburgh in cold temperatures, but she was reported to be okay. Yesterday, I was sent an article about a four-year-old with autism who went missing on January 12. Phenix was missing for more than twenty-four hours. He was found because of over one hundred volunteers who wouldn’t stop looking. The public knowing was everything in this search. I have a friend here locally who has several locks on their doors at home, but her son still gets out and has been found several miles from home, multiple times. She has locks high up, but he gets a chair or a broom handle. She has GPS trackers, but he has to be wearing his belt or shoes. Her constant fear is heavy. At dinner the other evening, a stranger shared that his best friend’s son always gets away at Cruising the Coast. He knows several people and always finds a face that can help. What if he didn’t? There are 100,000 faces. However, he loves going and should be able to have fun. It is such a balance; that is why we - all families like mine - weigh the risk-benefit in everything we do. Sadly, a buddy up north was found drowned in a pond. He was at his grandfather’s house, and no alarms told them he went outside. When they realized a back glass door was slimly open, they ran to find him. It was a family Christmas gathering a few years ago. Over and over, this happens often. Seventy to ninety percent of tragic deaths are caused by drowning when a special needs child wanders away. If you see us out, you’ll often see Hudson in his wheelchair. He can walk really well, but it is for his protection in public places. He doesn’t really walk; he runs. He does not look back to see if you’re with him. He won’t turn to his name being called. He is fast, and he loves water. I know I am repeating myself, but it is important that you know many of our loved ones with Down syndrome, autism or who are dual diagnosed are very similar in their love of water! I share all of this, and I could share hundreds of stories, to say that there is something we can do to help families like mine. It is called a “Purple Alert.” You know about the “Amber,” the “Silver,” and even the “Blue;” now, it’s time to add the “Purple.” Florida already has the “Purple Alert,” and it is written like this: Purple: For adults with mental or cognitive disabilities. I want to take Mississippi’s “Purple Alert” to the next level: as both a single alert or one that can be in combination with “Amber” or “Silver.” I have proudly teamed up with District 56 Representative Clay Mansell to author House Bill 873 to add this “Purple Alert” to our alert system here in the great state of Mississippi. Ours simply states: “Purple Alert: Establish an additional means to aid in the search of persons with cognitive disabilities.” When time matters, information received is everything. Cognitive disabilities affect newborns to elders, and this alert should be used to provide law enforcement and the public with needed vital information in the quickest manner. Saving our loved ones from the tragic outcomes comes down to time… and not much of it. These are all very hard conversations, but a “Purple Alert” is easy. It’s not reinventing the wheel; it’s adding a needed color to the wheel to provide information to help if needed. Pennsylvania is trying to get this alert now, after what happened to Kayla. We should not wait for something to happen, because it already happens daily; you just don’t know about it. Mississippi is a wonderful and safe home for all, and this simple change will bring some relief for families - and it could save lives. This addition is a beautiful step to protecting our citizens, being a voice for those with no voice and protecting those who cannot understand the dangers out there. Please join me in getting the “Purple Alert” added to our Mississippi Alert System; we can easily add in protections like this to make Mississippi the gold standard for our loved ones and neighbors with cognitive disabilities. Call your local legislators, and ask them to say “Yes!”

By the end of the month, nurse practitioners Kayla Thurman and Amber Martin plan to open a Brookhaven pediatric clinic -- Ole Brook Kids -- to treat fevers, coughs, acute illnesses, minor injuries and simple wounds. Dr. Darren Scoggin of Jackson will be their physician partner.  The clinic will be at 301-C U.S. 51 South.  For the last five years, Thurman and Martin have shared a small office space and worked closely together.  Martin and Thurman have 24 years and 11 years of pediatric experience respectively.

By Bob Garver It was a good idea for “Bob Marley: One Love” to open on Valentine’s Day. Not just because there hadn’t been a decent box office performer in weeks (and even “Mean Girls and “The Beekeeper” were only mild hits) and the market was ripe for a takeover. Not just because the holiday weekend needed a blockbuster and “Madame Web” wasn’t up to the task. But because the movie had “Love” in its title, it could dominate the couples’ scene on Wednesday and ride that insurmountable lead to winning the weekend. The result was a domestic take of over $50 million, enough to already make it the 2nd-biggest movie of the year, behind only “Mean Girls,” which it will probably overtake before the week is out. The film can be associated with a brilliant commercial decision, but not so much its creative ones. The film mostly follows reggae legend Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) in the late 1970’s. He’s already nationally famous when the film begins, as he sets to bravely play a controversial peace concert in Jamaica. Assassins storm his home and shoot Bob, his wife Rita (Lashana Lynch), and his friend Don (Anthony Welsh). All three survive and Bob plays the concert, but he decides that the violence-ridden country is not safe for him and his family anymore. He sends Rita and their children to America while he lies low in London. After years of exile and loneliness, Bob releases his album “Exodus,” which gains him worldwide fame and brings reggae music to the mainstream. Although he’s always advocated for peace, Rita believes the message has gotten lost in the commercial success and he needs to do something more meaningful. Seeing that she’s right, and faced with his own mortality from a rare form of skin cancer, Bob returns to Jamaica to perform another peace concert, this time to unanimous adulation. For months I was dreading this movie because of a line in the trailer. One of the members of Bob’s band asks where he wants to “start,” and Bob, very thoughtfully says, “From the beginning.” The cheesiness of that line told me that this was going to be a painfully by-the-numbers biopic, and on a lot of counts, it is. But to people as alienated by that line as I was, I will say that the scene comes midway through the film, so it does not get the film off on as bad a note as I thought it would. In fact, we see very little of “the beginning,” aside from a few flashbacks, dream sequences, and text screens. There are a distracting number of text screens, as if there’s going to be a test later. The film can be dry at times, but it’s never quite as bad as homework. “Bob Marley: One Love” falls into most of the familiar traps of the music biopic, with the singer’s marital troubles and health problems showing up right where you’d expect them. At least the protagonist is an endearing figure and Ben-Adir is giving a charismatic performance. It’s hard not to get swept up in the magic of Bob Marley at times. But then again, that’s a pretty low bar for a movie like this to clear. Of all the music biopics you can watch in theaters or at home, “Bob Marley: One Love” is… one of them. Netflix-exclusive Best Picture Oscar nominee “Maestro,” where Bradley Cooper plays conductor Leonard Bernstein, on the other hand… is also “one of them,” honestly. Cooper as director takes a few more creative risks with his film, but both of these movies are eye-rolling Oscar bait. “Maestro” landed among the nominees because it was released right at the end of the year, no doubt it would have been forgotten if it had opened in February like “Bob Marley: One Love.” I expect to have forgotten about both movies once one’s box office cools down and the other’s awards run fizzles out. “Bob Marley: One Love”: C- “Maestro”: C “Bob Marley: One Love” is rated PG-13 for marijuana use and smoking throughout, some violence and brief strong language. Its running time is 107 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

When Arthur Lee (Pokey) Evans, Copiah County Economic Development District (CCEDD) executive director, sees the county’s unemployment rate is only 2.8 percent, it validates the way he approaches his job. “My number one priority is making sure all industrial properties -- land and buildings -- are being used, and I appreciate anything -- both and big and small employment opportunities,” he says. Last year, his efforts helped bring All Star Mill Works, a cabinetry and woodworking company operated by Bill and Kathy Price, to the facilities Sheldon Laboratory left several years ago.  “They are now building a business there and creating jobs in the process,” affirms Evans. On “what may seem like a small scale to some onlookers,” retail and fast food restaurants opened at several locations throughout Copiah County as well, Evans points out.  “Dollar General opened new stores at four places, providing convenience that eliminates travel for shoppers along with dozens of jobs in varied shifts for workers,” Evans says. Going into 2024, which is a Presidential election year and thus often a slow time for economic developers, he continues to work with a prospective employer which started looking at Copiah County locations last year, and is fielding a large number of inquiries from businesses interested in coming to the county that “make me optimistic that there are more good things to come in the weeks and months ahead.” An attractive unused location that could entice an employer is a former car dealership, Evans says. At the same time, existing businesses remain a strong economic asset: Premier Transport, a regional distribution center; Sanderson Farms poultry hatchery and feed plant, Entergy, Mississippi’s primary electricity provider, DG Food poultry processing and foods, ABB, Inc., industrial controls and electrical transformers; Westlake Chemical chemical and vinyl manufacturing, Metaline Products, Inc., industrial metal fabrication, design, prototyping and finishing; CCI Industries, pipeline construction; Copiah Lumber Products, Inc., Fab-Tek Industry, McNeely Plastics, Jones Lumber Company, Steel Outdoors, residential and commercial metal fabrication and customize buildings. In the coming months, Evans says he expects to step on the marketing accelerator with funds from government and private business to fuel new outdoor advertising and digital and radio promotions to highlight the advantages of Copiah County for prospective employers.  In marketing Copiah County through personal one-on-one meetings, a website and expanding use of other media, the message emphasizes: A workforce that is willing and ready to serve employers thanks local schools and a community college that focus on preparing workers.  Career coaches, retired persons with workforce experience, counsel students in schools, introducing them to the business world through field trips and other activities, guiding them in making career decisions and identifying training opportunities, among other things.  Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a leader in workforce development with ongoing and specialized as-needed training for local companies and their employees. A location near key markets with rail, interstate, air and nearby water access. Government officials who understand business needs, provide incentives, and facilitate in locating offices buildings. Available land and building that are well-priced. Evans says CCEDD economic development work is a team effort and praises his office colleague Brenda Harper, the organization’s board and the Copiah County Supervisors for their support and assistance in telling the county’s story. Contact Evans for information at 601-421-1249.

Does it seem to you that God is always saying “No” or “Don’t do that” or “Thou shalt not?”  If you think that, you are not alone. Many people feel the same way. Seems as if all He wants to do is stop them from enjoying life. And it also seems to them that if they do ignore His “I said No,” and go ahead with a little fun, He is always nearby to drop a fifty-pound anvil on their head. No wonder people make fun of those who insist that “God is loving, just look in the Bible and you can plainly read that He is!” So, which is He – the Chief Anvil Deliverer or Loving Father? People say that their experiences teach that He’s harsh and cruel. The Bible teaches that He’s the total opposite of that.  So how to explain it? Let me use this: God is the one who created sex and gave it to us. And yet, the Bible plainly states, “Do not indulge in sex outside of marriage.” Another one of those “Thou shalt not have any fun” that nobody understands or likes. Why in the world did He create something fun, give it to us, and then tell us, “Don’t you dare do this.” Today, sex outside of marriage is totally accepted and very much expected. Ask any teen or young adult. It’s extremely difficult to be the young person in the crowd who is known to be ‘just plain weird.’ Virgins are the brunt of jokes everywhere. And when this kind of bullying is combined with most everyone’s natural need to fit in - plus the lure of sex itself - the pressure to go along is almost unbearable. But let’s play Paul Harvey with the rest of the story. Way too many times. Teen girl has sex. Gets pregnant. Mom and Dad disapprove and kick her to the curb. The baby’s daddy wants nothing to do with this new responsibility. So now she has to find a way - on her own – to finish school, provide for herself financially, raise a baby alone, and try to make a decent life. All too often, she feels she has to take the only road available. She moves in with a loser, who uses her until he’s sick of her and boots her out. Then she is on her own again. Maybe pregnant, and now with a toddler by the hand. And the downward spiral continues on. And I haven’t even addressed the toll it takes on that girl’s self-esteem. Easy to see why God said, “DON’T HAVE SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE!”  Life is hard enough when a committed young married couple has a baby, and together they are trying to financially survive on meager salaries. But being in the situation of that teen girl? Almost impossible. And God knew that. That’s why He says “No.”

The Respiratory Care Technology program on Co-Lin’s Natchez Campus continues has earned accreditation for another 10 years of accreditation. The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), based in Tennessee, awarded Co-Lin’s program the maximum years of accreditation allowed. Each year, CoARC reviews annual reports and assessments to determine ongoing compliance with CoARC accreditation standards and policies and procedures. Co-Lin was found to have met all standards and procedures. “Co-Lin is honored to have the Respiratory Care Technology program reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care,” said Dr. Tiffany Perryman, Co-Lin Director of Institutional Effectiveness. “This distinction demonstrates Co-Lin’s ongoing dedication to high-quality instruction, continuous improvement, and our strong focus on our students and programs.” Respiratory Program Director Courtney Nichols added there is still a great need for respiratory therapists in the Miss-Lou.  “Almost all of the healthcare facilities in our area and beyond are hiring respiratory therapists,” said Nichols. “All of us at Co-Lin are proud to be part of meeting this need by training students to be knowledgeable and compassionate members of the healthcare team.” Respiratory Care Practitioners are responsible for initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation along with the setup and monitoring of life support systems. They provide treatment for heart and lung disorders by administering inhalation treatments, oxygen, and drugs under the direction of a physician. “We offer a challenging program, and our students must be committed to giving their best in order to be successful,” said Nichols. “If students are willing to put in the work, there are plenty of jobs waiting with high-paying salaries after only two years in our program. We are ready to help students reach their career goals here at Co-Lin.” Graduates of the Respiratory Care Technology Program receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree, and are then qualified to take the National Board for Respiratory Care examinations for Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). The deadline to apply for the August 2024 class is April 26, 2024.  Applicants must have at least an 18 on the ACT.  Learn more about the program and get an application at www.colin.edu/RCT.

By Kara Kimbrough Super Bowl 58 has come and gone, quickly replaced last week with Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras hype. But that didn’t stop me from putting into practice some really good tips I picked up at a Super Bowl gathering I attended. Since they’re ones that can be utilized all year, not just during the biggest sporting event of the year, I decided to pass them on to you. It may be too late to recycle this year’s leftovers, but keep these in mind for Super Bowl 59 or this summer’s celebrations: 1.    Leftover dip doesn’t have to be thrown out. Many flavors can be recycled into ingredients for other dishes the following week. Just a small example of the ideas from the dip expert at our party: Use leftover French onion dip as the topping for baked potatoes, fajitas or tacos Need a marinade for chicken before baking or frying? Coat chicken with any sour cream-based dip (after all, it’s similar in nature to buttermilk, a common coating) and marinade for tender, delicious chicken. Plenty of queso left over? Use it to make any cheese-based soup or include in a casserole that calls for cheese in the filling or as a topping Vegetable or Greek dips make the perfect salad dressing, potato salad or slaw. Dilute with lemon juice or vinegar if needed 2.    Chicken wings are always a staple at any Super Bowl party, but despite their popularity, there are usually leftovers. After pulling/shredding the leftover meat, use it to make: *Chicken parmesan over pasta * Chicken taco soup * Chicken fried rice * Chicken quesadillas 3. And last, every Super Bowl party has the requisite vegetable tray that rarely gets eaten. Take all those leftover celery sticks, carrots and broccoli, chop them up and add to salads, soups or place in Ziploc bags and freeze them for the next time you make a recipe that calls for chopped vegetables. One of the best tips I received at the Super Bowl party was from a friend who brought two dishes she said were “inspired” by favorite restaurant appetizers and entrees. I’ve already made my personal favorite, potato skins. I followed my friend’s advice, made a large batch and placed most of them in the freezer. When a craving emerges for the crunchy baked potatoes topped with cheese and bacon, along with sour cream once they emerge from the oven, all I have to do is pull a bag from the freezer. The team I was pulling for didn’t win the Super Bowl, but I left with plenty of useful advice and recipes that “inspired” me much more than anything that took place on the football field. Crispy Loaded Baked Potato Skins 8 medium baking potatoes Tablespoon of vegetable oil Tablespoon of butter, divided Tablespoon each: salt and pepper Cup of shredded Cheddar cheese 8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped Cup of sour cream 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash potatoes thoroughly, then price potatoes with a fork, rub oil over surface and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in 13x9 baking pan and bake for one hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and cut small slice off bottom so potatoes will lay flat. Scoop out middle of potato skins, reserving for another use. Place potato halves back in baking pan, skin sides up, and brush with melted butter. Bake 20-25 minutes until crisp. Turn potatoes over and top with equal amounts of cheese and bacon. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top with sour cream and chives. (To freeze, place in Ziploc bags after baking and freeze for up to 3 months.) Famous Fast Food Restaurant’s Chili 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds ground beef 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 3 (14 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles 1 cup water 2 (1.25 ounce) packages chili seasoning (such as McCormick® Mild Chili Seasoning Mix) 1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans, undrained (optional) 1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained (optional) Salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon white vinegar, or more to taste Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Press ground beef into the hot oil to form one large patty; let the bottom brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir and break browned beef into crumbles. Continue to cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes longer. Stir celery, onion, and bell pepper into beef and cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and water. Break apart large chunks of stewed tomatoes. Stir in chili seasoning. Stir in kidney and pinto beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour. Mix vinegar into chili just before serving. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Abbey Berch of Wesson recently served as a page for the Mississippi House of Representatives.  Pages generally run errands for officials and House staff. Berch, 16, is the daughter of Amanda and Brandon Berch, and she is a junior at Wesson Attendance Center. She was sponsored for the week by Representative Becky Currie (R – Brookhaven). When asked about her week at the Capitol, Berch said, “I really loved getting to serve as a page in the Mississippi House of Representatives. I am so grateful to my representative, Becky Currie, for this wonderful opportunity. I cannot wait to come back next year!”

Dr. Sharolyn Magee of Collins is Co-Lin’s new Dean of Career and Technical Education. Dr. Magee has been employed in the Career-Technical division of the college since 2018 where she has been Assistant Dean of Career and Technical Education, serving as the work-based learning coordinator, appeals officer, interim director of adult education, assessment coordinator for national certifications and ACT residual testing administrator, on curriculum re-write committees for more than a dozen programs and five successful re-accreditation committee and as a National Technical Honor Society advisor. "Dr. Magee is truly passionate about Career-Technical Education and supporting our students and faculty members here at Co-Lin," said Dr. Dewayne Middleton, Co-Lin President. "I have no doubt that Dr. Magee will go above and beyond to ensure our students leave here ready to be excellent employees in the workforce." As Dean of Career and Technical Education, she will oversee all Career and Technical Education programs and faculty on all three Co-Lin campuses, as well as the Adult Education program on each campus.  In addition, the dean recommends initiation or termination of Career-Tech programs for the college district, maintains strong partnerships between the Mississippi Community College Board and the Mississippi Department of Education, and is responsible for all annual assessments and reporting. "Dr. Magee's wealth of experience and expertise in career and technical education, coupled with her collaborative spirit in working with community partners, uniquely positions her as the ideal choice for the dean's role,” said Jackie Martin, Co-Lin Vice President of the Wesson Campus. “As a seasoned career-technical educator and administrator, she brings invaluable insights to foster an environment conducive to the success of our graduates. Her commitment to education is evident, especially in her recent role overseeing the adult education department. She is dedicated to the college and actively encourages all our students to achieve success.” Dr. Magee earned a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, and a master’s degree in secondary education, a specialist degree in instructional leadership, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from William Carey University.  She is a member of the Association for Career & Technical Education, the Mississippi Association for Career and Technical Education Officers Associate, and is a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and the Mississippi Community College Board Leadership Academy.

The Mississippi Music Teachers Association was awarded a $4,250 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission. This grant is a portion of the more than $1.75 million in grants the Commission awarded in Fiscal Year 2024 and was used to support the 69th annual MMTA State Conference which was held October 1-2, 2023, at Mississippi State University in Starkville, as well as the upcoming MMTA Collegiate Competitions, which will be held March 2, 2024, at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. “With the additional funds provided to MAC this fiscal year, we are able to fund 37 more grants that are providing an economic impact for Mississippi communities, the arts, and education throughout the state,” said David Lewis, executive director for the Mississippi Arts Commission. “We are grateful for the support from the Mississippi Legislature and elected officials who helped prioritize the arts in Mississippi.” Mississippi Music Teachers Association is a non-profit, statewide organization whose purpose is to promote music education and professional development of music teachers, music students, and all people of Mississippi.  MMTA’s annual conference provides Mississippians a venue to come together to experience performances, workshops, and newly composed music, in addition to competitions to develop both student and teacher skills.  All performances and competitions held at the annual conference and March competitions are free and open to the public. MAC’s annual grant funds come from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi State Legislature. Awards were made in 104 Mississippi House of Representatives districts and 60 state Senate districts. The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assisting artists and arts organizations, promoting arts education, and celebrating Mississippi’s cultural heritage. MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and other private sources. For more information, visit www.arts.ms.gov. For information about the Mississippi Arts Commission, please contact Ellie Banks, Communications Director, 601-359-6546 or ebanks@arts.ms.gov.

After 41 years of service in the court system, Ed Patten of Hazlehurst traded his judicial robe for a paint brush, retiring as 20-year chancellor of the 15th Chancery District covering Copiah and Lincoln Counties to become an accomplished watercolorist. Born in South Carolina, he settled with his family in Dexter, Mississippi, in Walthall County after his father retired from the military, earned a degree in pharmacy from the University of Mississippi in 1975 following studies at Pearl River Community College, and graduated from law school in 1977 after deciding he didn’t want to be a pharmacist after all.  He came with his wife Jacqui to Hazlehurst in 1978, where he joined the Armstrong and Hoffman law firm and was elected to the 15th Chancery District in 1998 where he still handles mediations and has senior status judging as a painter in his retirement. Fellow artist and Chancellor John Grant in Rankin County, a talented oil painter himself, sparked Patten’s interest in painting when he showed him some of his works, and his sister encouraged him to study botanical drawing and watercolor adult enrichment classes at Millsaps College to give him something to do while recovering from knee replacement surgery.  Although starting to paint at square one with no idea about what he was doing, he found he had a knack for it and has continued to turn to it as an escape from other concerns, fully immersing himself in the art and the planning and thinking required. Patten prefers watercolors because of the way they flow and not having complete control of the outcome.  His subjects include people and animals, especially birds.  He won first and third places in watercolor in a Brookhaven Regional Arts Guild competition a few years ago, and has painted hundreds of works, including countless commissioned pieces, and others he has donated to charities. EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2023 Copiah County Bicentennial year has ended, but Wesson News continues to feature sketches of past and present visual artists, musicians, authors and photographers who are natives of the county excerpted from Tricia Nelson’s reporting in A Shared History:  Copiah County, Mississippi 1823-2023 edited and compiled by Paul C. Cartwright and available through Cartwright for $25 plus $5 for shipping at 3 Waverly Circle, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.  Nelson is a Crystal Springs writer who contributes to the Copiah County Monitor.

By Bob Garver I had high hopes for “Lisa Frankenstein,” whose trailers promised a lead performance from Kathryn Newton (of the gleefully twisted body-switch horror-comedy “Freaky”) and a sick sense of humor that might actually be jarring in a fun way. Then I learned the truth: the movie still stars Kathryn Newton, but it’s rated PG-13. Ugh, what’s with all these movies going for the wrong ratings lately? The R-rated “Anyone But You” didn’t need all that crudeness, it should have aimed for the PG-13 crowd. The PG-13 “Argylle” celebrates blowing away bad guys way too much for anything other than an R to make sense. “Lisa Frankenstein” doesn’t have nearly as high a body count as “Argylle” (in fact, I think some deaths may technically have to be subtracted), but when there’s a body, it counts. “Filming around” certain scenes of sex and violence just makes the movie seem… neutered. I’m especially referring to a scene with an actual neutering. Lisa (Newton), a teenager in 1989, doesn’t fit in. She doesn’t have any friends, save for her unrequited crush Michael (Henry Eikenberry) and well-meaning-but-airheaded stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano). She suffered the horrific loss of her mother a few years ago, and her father married the awful Janet (Carla Gugino), which makes home life miserable. She spends most of her free time between home and school at an abandoned cemetery. Her favorite gravestone features a bust of a handsome young man, and she jokingly wishes that she could join him. Some higher power takes this wish literally, and a magical lightning strike later, a reanimated corpse (Cole Sprouse) is breaking into Lisa’s house. Lisa takes on “The Creature” as a pet project. She helps him wash off centuries of soil, lets him sleep in her closet, and gives him clothes to wear (you better believe there’s a montage of him trying on outfits). He’s still very much suffering the effects of being dead, including missing certain body parts, but he helps her out too, listening to her talk about her problems, playing her songs on the piano (the best scene in the movie is a musical number), and vanquishing her enemies. Lisa has to hide The Creature and their shared misdeeds, and she knows that their relationship can’t last much longer, but maybe it can last just long enough for her to get with Michael? She still wants the heartthrob whose heart can actually throb. I was onboard with “Lisa Frankenstein” for a good chunk of its runtime. The jokes were hitting more than they missed, and I was drawn in by Newton’s performance. Then the serious violence kicked in and Lisa lost her relatability. I feel like the filmmakers misunderstood the praise for Newton in “Freaky.” Yes, she was great as both an awkward teenager and a psychotic serial killer, but those were two different characters. Lisa is an unholy mashup of the two, and while I can certainly understand the complexity of a goody-two-shoes discovering she has a dark side, Lisa goes so dark that she validates everyone who wrote her off as an ostracism-worthy weirdo in the first place. With its focus on the relationship between a healthy, articulate woman and a lumbering, inarticulate Creature, “Lisa Frankenstein” actually reminds me more of 2013’s “Warm Bodies” than any version of “Frankenstein” I’ve seen. If you want a movie where a science project with a tenuous relationship with their creator runs amok and falls in love, go see “Poor Things,” a nominee for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards. There’s a movie that isn’t afraid of an R rating, and it just comes off as more – this phrase seems particularly appropriate – comfortable in its body. “Lisa Frankenstein”: C “Poor Things”: B “Lisa Frankenstein” is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, sexual content, language, sexual assault, teen drinking and drug content. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.