If you are in the habit of consulting only yourself, trusting your own instincts and believing that you will know in your heart what to do when the time comes, then you have a big problem. In Proverbs 28:26, the Bible says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” Translated into plain 2024 English? “You can’t trust your heart to always tell you the truth. It lies.” So, if we can’t believe in our self completely, then when it is time to make a decision, who or what are we supposed to trust to help us? Just what exactly is your ‘heart’ anyway? What is ‘walk wisely?’ And why would your own self lie to yourself? And why should you trust the Bible to give you perfect advice? Good questions. We all have been taught to ‘trust our gut instincts.’  To ask ourself, “What is my heart telling me to do?” Even if you walk into a counselor’s office and ask for help, you will find that counselor has been trained to ask you questions that will help you to realize where your real problem lies, so that you can find solutions yourself. And that is helpful, after all, most of the time we don’t even have a clue what is really bugging us. Remember the adage, “The problem is not the problem?” That is absolutely true in most cases. But, yet, the Bible does make a point that we dare not ignore. (After all, the Bible is the written word of our Creator - does anyone really dare tell Him, “Butt out, You don’t have a clue what I am trying to do with my life.”) So, how do we balance (A) Getting to truly know ourselves, with (B) Believing what the Creator is telling us? My answers. The heart? The ‘heart’ is the seat of your emotions, and both your Creator and Satan have access to it. That is the reason you dare not trust your emotions completely. Walking wisely? That means following what your Creator has taught in His written word. Because Satan doesn’t have the power to corrupt what the Bible says.  Counseling? Find a friend/pastor/counselor who knows the heart does lie, but the Bible doesn’t. And then start talking, and listening. When you have decisions to make, listen closely to your emotions, but don’t be governed by them. They can easily lie to you. It’s better to kick your emotions over to the curb, run everything through the filter of God’s Word, and don’t be afraid to consult good counselors in your life. Way too often people believe their lying heart will put them on the right path. And then they end up on a side road, bogged down in a muddy mess. Because the heart may be right - or it just may be wrong.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 2022-23 Superintendent’s Annual Report cites “Marathon Achievement” within the state’s public school system during the past decade. The report singled out these highlights: Mississippi Academic Assessment Program scores for 2022-23 show student achievement hit an all-time high, with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced reaching 52.6% in mathematics, 46.7% in English Language Arts (ELA), 59.4% in science and 71.4% in U.S. History. The initial pass rate on the third-grade reading assessment increased to an all-time high of 76.3% since the passing score was raised in 2019. Graduation rate reached an all-time high of 88.9%. Chronic absenteeism decreased to 23.9%. The number of Mississippi students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams reached a record high of 12,044 public-school students taking 16,983 AP exams, with a record high of 5,860 exams earning a qualifying score. 5,346 students earned an industry certification in a Career and Technical Education program. MDE’s coaching staff has expanded from 29 literacy coaches in 2013–14 to a team of 122 coaches supporting teachers and school leaders in the areas of early childhood education, literacy, special education, mathematics, digital learning and school improvement. Mississippi school and district accountability A-F grades for 2022–23 showed 91% of districts and 87% of schools earned a grade of C or higher. 61 schools earned the Military Star School designation. Three schools were named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Mississippi received the 2023 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation. View the report online at mdek12.org/superintendent2023.  Find all MDE news at mdek12.org/news.

By Kara Kimbrough There’s a good chance you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day or maybe the weekend following the day when a special meal of some kind is required with your significant other. Even if it’s too late to make a restaurant reservation, there are still a few options left to create a special meal. First, if you’re on a strict budget, you can always go to Sonic (yes, you read that right). Supposedly Reba McIntire’s post that Sonic’s #1 Cheeseburger would be her last meal on earth if given the chance caused the chain to create a special Sweetheart Meal at a reduced price for this week. Included are a cheeseburger, tater tots and strawberry shake. McIntire has even announced she and her boyfriend will celebrate Valentine’s Day at the fast-food place. I’m not sure if I believe that, but it does make for a great story. If a fast-food burger and fried tots is not your idea of a special meal, there are still quite a few options from which to choose to create a memorable dinner, even at this late date. If you’re newly-married, do what one of my friends did and recreate a romantic dinner enjoyed during your honeymoon. When all else fails, throw a juicy steak on the grill, bake a potato (a fancy one) and pick up a heart-shaped cake from the local bakery or supermarket. Not only it is easy to pull off a special dinner in no time, but there’s less stress and usually a significant cost savings over dining out on one of the most expensive nights (or weekends) of the year. Here are three of my favorite “special occasion” recipes for a steak dinner that won’t disappoint…and who knows, it may become the requested meal of your special person when Valentine’s Day rolls around next year. Valentine’s Night Steaks for Two Marinate two thick cuts of sirloin (or your favorite cut) steak for several hours (or shorter if you wait until last minute) in the refrigerator with: 1 medium bottle of teriyaki steak sauce Juice of 2-3 lemons Salt and pepper to taste Remove from refrigerator and top with 1-2 tablespoons of butter. Grill or broil to desired level of doneness. Let meat rest before slicing. Recipe doubles easily. Twice-Baked Potatoes for Two Bake two large baking potatoes. Scoop out inside, leaving a small border of potato around edges. Add to the potato filling: Small container of French Onion Dip 1-2 tablespoons of butter 2 tablespoons of bacon bits ¼-1/2 cup shredded cheese Stir well and return to potato skins; top with cheese. Place under the broiler for a few minutes until insides are heated through; don't overcook. Air Fryer Mini Chocolate Pudding Cakes 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons milk 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Topping: 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa Whipped topping, optional Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla until smooth. Spoon into 2 lightly greased 4-ounce ramekins. Combine brown sugar and cocoa; sprinkle over batter. Place ramekins on tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, with whipped topping if desired. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

More than 1,400 Mississippians used the Life Insurance Policy Locator to find lost life insurance policies valued at more than $41 million in 2023. The Life Insurance Policy Locator is a free tool, maintained by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Since it’s inception in 2016, the program has found more than $94 million for Mississippians. “I think Valentine’s Day is a good reminder to show your loved ones that you care by purchasing life insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “Life insurance protects your family financially.” Each year, millions of dollars in life insurance benefits go unclaimed by beneficiaries who can’t find their loved ones’ policies or in some cases may not even know the policies exist. That’s where the Life Insurance Policy Locator comes in. To locate a lost policy, go to https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/#/welcome or if you need assistance in locating a lost policy, you can contact the Mississippi Insurance Department at 601-359-2453 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov

By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr. Baked beans are a versatile dish that can make a complete meal or be served as a side with almost anything. According to chef and food historian Walter Staib, baked beans had their roots as a Native peoples dish in the Americas long before the dish became known to Western culture.  In the northeast of America, various Native American peoples, including the Iroquois, the Narragansett and the Penobscot mixed beans, maple sugar, and bear fat in earthenware pots placed in pits called "bean holes" in hot rocks to cook slowly over a long period.  British colonists in New England were the first westerners to adopt the dish from the Native peoples, and were quick to embrace it largely because the dish was reminiscent of pease porridge and because the dish used ingredients native to the New World. Ingredients:                                                                                                                                  2 large cans of original Bush Baked Beans. 1 lb. of hamburger meat. 2 tbsp of minced garlic 1 cup of finally chopped onions. 1 1/2 cups of sweet Ray’s BBQ Sauce 1/2 cups of finely chopped bell peppers. 1 tbsp of brown sugar. 1 tbsp of mustard. Directions: 1.       Place hamburger meat in large skillet, brown with your favorite seasoning (I like Louisiana Seasoning). 2.       Add onions, garlic and bell peppers to meat and cook until meat is done and onions are clear. 3.       Drain excess grease and pour the prepared meat-seasoning mixture into deep medium aluminum cooking pan. 4.       Thoroughly mix the 2 cans of baked beans, mustard, BBQ sauce and brown sugar with the cooked seasoned hamburger. 5.       Cook in oven at 250 degrees for one hour to marinate everything together.  For an award-winning flavor, place the cooking pan on a smoker instead of in an oven and smoke for 1 hour. You can serve immediately or refrigerate for up to seven days before your meal.  Happy cooking! EDITOR’S NOTE:  Charles Fortson, Jr., is proprietor-chef at Uncle Ray’s across from Lake Lincoln State Park.  He makes lunches and dinners to take out or for table service, while also operating a convenience store and bait shop at his Sunset Road location.  Follow his cooking tips on Uncle Ray’s Facebook page or call 601-643-0174 to check on his daily specials.

A combination of labor market deregulation, inward investment and tax cuts seems to be transforming Mississippi for the better.  Our state is no longer a place that people leave, but somewhere people move to in search of new opportunities.  What can we do to ensure that more people in Mississippi take full advantage of those job opportunities? It is not enough to merely talk about opportunities.  With 80,000 job vacancies right here, right now, there are opportunities to work all around us.  The issue is why some folk aren’t taking the opportunities that are there.  Some have suggested that we hire more career counsellors in high schools.  I am certain that career counsellors do a wonderful job, but if that is the only policy solution, I suspect labor force participation will remain low.  If we are going to increase workforce participation, we need to ask difficult questions about welfare.  Does welfare create disincentives against work? Mississippi has a population of 2.95 million.  Approximately one in five (19 percent) live below the poverty line (calculated as the minimum income needed to get by with the bare essentials.) The way in which the myriad of assistance programs impacts the half a million plus people below the poverty line matters, and needs to be properly understood if we are to improve workforce participation. Welfare programs can have unintended consequences, and one of them is the creation of so-called ‘benefit cliffs’.  A benefit cliff is what happens when someone loses benefits if their income increases, but the benefits they lose outweigh the additional income gained. Given the maximum income thresholds allowed, we know, for example, that if someone’s monthly income went from $400 a month to $410 a month, they would no longer qualify for some Temporary Assistance programs. If your income rose above $1,215 a month, you could lose the right to claim Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  When your income per person goes over $19,392 a year, you may no longer qualify for Medicaid (although the ‘cliff’ cut-off is not always as abrupt as is sometimes supposed).  Take into account the different benefit cliffs, and you could have a powerful range of disincentives. Even if a person was notionally better off when holding down a 35 hour week job, the time and effort it would take for a relatively modest increase in income might leave some feeling having a job was not worth it. It has been suggested that benefits do not create a problem of ‘cliffs’, but of straight forward dependency.  They point out, for example, that those on food stamps are not those hovering on the edge of the labor market, but full-time welfare dependents.  There may be some truth in that, too. So, what is the solution? The answer to benefit ‘cliffs’ is not to increase welfare payments in order to remove disincentives, but to institute more stringent work requirements for those on welfare programs. In Arkansas under Sarah Huckabee Sanders, anyone that fails to accept a suitable job within five days of being offered one, or who fails to show up for job interviews without notice, can now lose their benefits. If we are serious about increasing workforce participation, we may well need to implement something similar. Douglas Carswell is the President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

Co-Lin graduated 153 students in its fall 2023 class.  The graduates, who received degrees or certificates, listed with their home towns were: Agricola, Mississippi: Kaden Alexis Garner. Anchorage, Alaska: Hannah Ruth Warren. Ball, Louisiana: Amery Lewis Edwards. Batesville, Mississippi:  Tajavious Alvonte Cotton. Beulah, Mississippi: Shamyira Moena Huff. Bogue Chitto, Mississippi: Jacob Shown Lester, Kylee Parker Posey and Samuel Grady Redd. Bolton, Missississippi: Kevontay S. Wells. Brandon, Mississippi: Madison Alyse Crain and Macayla Nicole Douglas. Braxton, Mississippi: Makaylin E. Cuellar. Brookhaven, Mississippi : Samuel Dawson Edwards, Cameron Lee Emfinger, Naya Nicole Fleming, Tyler Rayburn Fortenberry, Kaytlin Renee Humphreys, Myuhnna Johnson, Abby Kate Magee, Serena Trinette McClung, Dakeidra Antreal Mitchell, Trinity Nykeisha Watson and Piedro J. Wilson. Bude, Mississippi: Serencia Martin. Byram, Mississippi: Ariyah C. King and Zavion Patrick Shaw. Centreville, Mississippi: Quentis Rochelle Griffin. Clinton, Mississippi: Octavia Jnay Adams and William Eric Ivester. Collins, Mississippi: Kaden M. Dukes and Haley Elizabeth Williamson. Columbus, Mississippi: Elijah Short. Crystal Springs, Mississippi: Johnnie Darcea Daniels and Chandler Isaac Parker. Fayette, Mississippi: Zaria Dejorion Monroe, De’Arbony D. Parker and Zakyeria M. Thomas. Ferriday, Louisiana: James Tillman Jacobs. Florence, Mississippi: Daniel Joseph Conville and Madison Holt. Georgetown, Mississippi: Amaria Amya Collins, T’myah Nimyjanee Denson and Mikyla Harper. Gloster, Mississippi: Keundra Shantrice Anderson and Alana Antoinae Wilson. Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Kenya N. Wilson. Hazlehurst, Mississippi: Kimberly Nicole Ayers, Patricia Kaye Claiborne, Justeena Grace Sandifer and Angela Burch Shannon. Houma, Louisiana: Oryan James. Jackson, Mississippi: Ladainian Davis, Sharman Holmes and Mekhi Omiyo Mayweather. Jayess, Mississippi: Halle Claire Harvey and Jaslynn Lashay White. Jonesville, Louisiana: Herman Kendell Seltzer. La Vergne, Tennessee: Adrian Huey. Laurel, Mississippi: Carlos Lorenzo Martin. Liberty, Mississippi: Hailey B. Etheridge. Lorman, Mississippi: Lafaith Cherie Evans and Jordan D. Lowe. Mabank, Texas: Billy Jay Pullen. Madison, Mississippi: Thomas Ladd Dyess. Magee, Mississippi: Jamaal Rashad Dinkins, Dakota Cortez Lofton, Marley Belle Lott, Lydia Denyce McGee and Lauren Elizabeth Teater.  McComb, Mississippi: Araial Samone Campbell and Samuel F. Reese. Mendenhall, Mississippi: Julia Alyssa Allbritton, Jaylen Kejuan Hicks, Marya Yolanda Hobbs, William Roland Kindrex, Meredith Riley Mangum, Loren Alesha Mauldin, Justin Lane Russell, Mykel Lee Thornton and Dvonshay Quintoria Wilson. Mize, Mississippi: Madison Haleigh Frith and Brittany Nicole Layton. Monticello, Mississippi: Lynsie Blair Thompson. Mount Olive, Mississippi: Blaine Adams Coker. Natchez, Mississippi: Lagarian Raynard Bridgewater, Rameria Denise Burks, Kimberly Keshaun Chatmon, Jonathan Ricardo Cook, Abbie Alexandra Dill, Nicholas Scout Earls, Hannah Elisabeth Edwards, Chelsey Alexandria Ellis, Tirrany Lashea Gurley, Elene Grace Harrigill, Janeisha Hunt, Jaimya Zakia Jenkins, Shanice L. Kennedy, Hunter Nycole Knight, Mallory Anne Lees, Mary Shantia Moore, Deontae Lee Edward Owens, Jerilyn Shanta Owens, Anjelica Symone Proby, Tiffany Chantel Smith, Destiny Chance Turner, Marquita Danielle Wallace, Jaylon Terrelle West and Peyton Warren Wilson. New Orleans, Louisiana: Jahron Manning.  O Oakvale, Mississippi: Janiya Mikayle Johnson. Pereira, Colombia: Manuel Lopez Wolff. Pinola, Mississippi: James Thomas Bryant and Jonathan Scott Easterling.  Prentiss, Mississippi: Abigail Lora Burkett and Lashonda Graves Richland, Mississippi: Benjamin Jesus Hernandez and Angela Rene Ryan. Ridgecrest, Louisiana: Rayven E. Johnson. Ridgeland, Mississippi: Richard Lee Mays. Roxie, Mississippi: Sherrell Amara Doss, Daeldrew J. Stampley and Zorria E. Wilson. Ruth, Mississippi: Laith Xavier Elrai, Caleb Joseph Moree and Alexis Leonna Pittman. Sardis, Mississippi: Brandon Lee Wallace. Silver Creek, Mississippi: Rileigh Laidyn Martin. Snellville, Georgia: Dakota Thomas. Sontag, Mississippi: Halle Jordan Alexander, Summit, Mississippi: Kimberly Mae Coon and Faith Danielle Dickerson. Sumrall, Mississippi: Ayla Rose Alford and Caden Blake Dedeaux. Taylorsville, Mississippi: Dedric L. Hicks. Vicksburg, Mississippi: Brandon Michael Gilliam. Vidalia, Louisiana: Christopher Ryan Harper, Lewaylon Amald Lloyd, Brittany Nicole Straha and Kelsee Rose White. Walker, Louisiana: Sadie Elizabeth Smith. Waterproof, Louisiana: Dyniasti Roeshael Roby. Waveland, Mississippi: Kurtai Fantasia Mitchell. Wesson, Mississippi: Chloee Grace Aaron, Benson Brown Armstrong, Jakyle Pauvion Brown, Akeem Ahmad Harried, Kayla Brooke Oberschmidt, Lacey Caroline Smith, Suzanna Grace Smith, Rayanna Lynn West and Candace Alayna Westrope. Woodville, Mississippi: Latoya M. Carter.  Yazoo City, Mississippi: Christopher Alexander Burnett.

By Bob Garver As much as I enjoyed the fun, exciting trailers for “Argylle” that made excellent use of the film’s eclectic cast, there was one element that told me the movie was in serious trouble. Amongst shots of the cat belonging to spy novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), onscreen text insisted that, “Once you know the secret, don’t let the cat out of the bag.” In other words, there’s a big twist in this movie. It’s not worrying that this spy movie has a big twist, given the genre it would be weird if it didn’t. It’s worrying that the movie needs to advertise itself like that, putting so much emphasis on the twist that it can’t possibly live up to the hype. Aside from the fact that announcing the twist ahead of time kills the element of surprise, the film is also basically saying that what you see in early stages is untrustworthy, since the twist is going to turn everything on its head eventually. Sure enough, the twist is laughable and killed the investment I had in the movie up to that point. I won’t go into spoilers, but nothing made me regret my questioning of the advertising tactics. Elly Conway writes spy novels about Agent Argylle (Henry Cavill). Other characters include his sidekick (John Cena), his techie (Ariana DeBose), and his nemesis (Dua Lipa). The trailers made no secret that these characters are all fictional(ish), but they did exaggerate how much the four actors are in the movie. Elly soon finds out, via real spy Aiden (Sam Rockwell), that what she has written corresponds to actual events in the world of international espianoge. She has written about things that have actually happened, and may be able to write about things that are going to happen. Some powerful people want to know what Elly’s going to write next, including Aiden’s boss (Samuel L. Jackson) and evil agency-runner Ritter (Bryan Cranston). Even Elly’s mother (Catherine O’Hara) is dying to know, but that’s probably just gentle motherly goading, or is it? Either way, this is a lousy time for Elly to develop a sudden case of writer’s block. The confusing nature of the movie’s reality makes for a confused tone, which makes for confused actors and confused performances. Cranston, in particular, doesn’t seem to know when to play things straight or over the top, so he settles for an off-putting middle ground. Howard, to her credit, is giving a proper blockbuster performance, it’s just a shame this movie is doing so poorly that it will never achieve blockbuster status. I liked some of the action scenes. The hot opener, set within the world of Argylle, is quite crisp. Two late-in-the-movie shootouts, one with bright colors, one covered in black, indicate that this movie isn’t entirely ruined by its script. But those sequences are maybe 19 combined minutes in a movie with a 139-minute runtime. The other two hours are devoted to a convoluted story that made me squirm with impatience. Not to get to a big reveal, mind you, just for the movie to be over. There’s a better movie out right now where the protagonist is an author and the action occasionally blends their writing with reality. “American Fiction” is enjoying a nice little bump at the box office thanks to its recent Best Picture Oscar nomination. That movie follows a Black writer (Jeffrey Wright) who, in the margins between drama in his personal life, sarcastically submits a racially-degrading manuscript that turns into a surprise bestseller. The jokes about well-meaning-but-insensitive white people get stale eventually, but it’s still a much smarter and more engaging movie than “Argylle.” “Argylle”: C- “American Fiction”: B- “Argylle” is rated PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language. Its running time is 139 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Adams County Master Gardeners have established a new annual scholarship to benefit a student at the Natchez Campus of Co-Lin. The first scholarship will be awarded in fall 2024 to a sophomore who is a resident of Adams County or Concordia Parish with a minimum 2.5 GPA, with preference given for a science major. Those on hand for the presentation were (from left) Karen O’Neal, treasurer; Jason Jones, Adams County Extension Agent; Tevah Cardneaux, president; Anne Gray, reporter; Joanne King, vice president; Mimi Puddister, secretary; and Angela Furr, executive director of the Co-Lin Foundation. Contributions to the Adams County Master Gardeners Scholarship, or any other scholarship, can be mailed to the Co-Lin Foundation at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191, or made online at https://www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation/give-now.

You probably woke that fateful morning, assuming everything would probably run along on the accustomed track. Never dreaming – or nightmaring – that particular day would be so much different than you expected. After all, even with all of life’s up and downs, usually a person can know what to reasonably expect. You eat, sleep, communicate with loved ones, work your job and attempt to find pleasure in hobbies or with your friends as much as possible.  Oh sure, there are the really bad times. Everybody knows those come along, and you just muddle through them the best you can. But basically, life runs along fairly consistently. Notice I didn’t write that it runs wonderfully. Yours may be boring you of out your skull. Or you may have a life that has a lot of heartache and turmoil threading through it on a consistent basis. But still, it’s yours and you pretty much know what to expect. But then, the horrible day happened. At some point an explosion erupted in your life that changed everything. Someone deliberately told vicious future-destroying lies about you, and now you may be living with a badly damaged reputation. Or, someone looked you in the eye and smiled while they quietly worked to ruin your life. Maybe you have actually suffered at the hands of an enemy who had your death in mind – and nearly accomplished their goal. In any case, now you are left with the results of the horrible pain. And trying to find a way to do one of two options: A) Feed your anger and find a way to get revenge, even if it takes the rest of your life. B) Or, find a way out of the pain and anger, and go on to live a successful and happy life. The first choice has you constantly reliving your hurt, and that is exactly what they want. But folks, that person who deliberately hurt you isn’t worth two minutes spent concentrating on their memory. That is time subtracted from simply enjoying your life. The other option is by far the best one. It’s great revenge. Remember, their goal was to hurt you badly, and destroy who and what you are. So, finding ways to laugh while you go on successfully with your life is great revenge. Because they lose. Despite everything that was done to you, you found a way to win. Even if it means living with permanent damage done to your dreams, finding a way to enjoy your life is still the better choice over spending your time plotting a way to exact revenge. That will only cause you more obsessive, bitter hurt. Means they win. Commit to letting go, and let God exact His revenge. Because He promises He will. Whether He uses our country’s justice system or through an act of God Himself – that is His business. But He WILL give you revenge - one way or another.

Governor Reeves declared February 11-17, 2024, Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi. Last year, Mississippi had 61 confirmed tornadoes, including one EF-4 and two EF-3 tornadoes that touched down during the March 24th outbreak. That storm system moved across the state, claiming the lives of 22 Mississippians. “We have seen just how important it is to prepare for severe weather and how having a plan before a disaster can be lifesaving,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “I encourage all Mississippians to review their severe weather preparedness plan, especially as we approach Spring.” “So many lives were lost last year due to severe weather. All families should have a plan of action when severe weather warnings are issued. It’s important for everyone to have multiple ways to receive alerts and have a pre-identified safe place to go,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. “I encourage all Mississippians to use this week to prepare for the upcoming spring severe weather season.” Topics for Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week: The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service to highlight different types of severe weather and ways to prepare for the upcoming spring severe weather season. MEMA urges all Mississippians to have a disaster supply kit stocked with food and water year-round. Knowing a safe place to seek shelter when severe weather is in your area is also essential. Each day of Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week, MEMA will use informational graphics, videos, and engaging content on these topics. Keep up with Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Week by visiting MEMA’s Facebook and Twitter pages and MEMA’s YouTube page. Your local National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile. MEMA’s Disaster Guide also has additional severe weather preparedness tips: click here.

Easthaven Baptist Church will host the 2024 Night to Shine, a global prom night experience for people with special needs who are at least 14 years old. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and community donors, Night to Shine events are held simultaneously by host churches around the world on the same night, creating a truly unified and special moment for all those involved.  The Brookhaven Night to Shine will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Easthaven Baptist Church. “Easthaven is excited to be a part of this worldwide movement that God is using as a catalyst to change how cultures embrace people with disabilities and to rally the church worldwide to honor their local community of people with special needs, ensuring they know they are valued and loved,” says planning volunteer Celeste Williamson. This will be the first year for the Brookhaven area event. Night to Shine is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Each guest will be assigned a volunteer buddy to escort them through the evening. While each event is a little different, some activities include a red-carpet entrance complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi, hair and makeup stations, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, dancing, karaoke, gifts, a respite room for parents and caregivers, a sensory room, and a crowning ceremony where every honored guest receives a crown or tiara. Over the years, Night to Shine, through hundreds of churches from 56 different countries, has provided over half a million guest experiences. 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Night to Shine. “I’m so excited that we will celebrate 10 years of Night to Shine this coming year,” says Tim Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation.  “All around the world, people with special needs are going to be cheered for on the red carpet, dance the night away with their friends, be crowned a king or a queen of the prom.   Most importantly, they’re going to hear that they are loved by the God of this universe. We continue to be in awe of all God has done over the past nine years, but we believe He has even more in store. Every town, every village, every nation needs Night to Shine because we want every person with special needs to know that they are one of one, created in love, by love and for love.” Easthaven Baptist Pastor Hal Kitchings adds "we are so excited to bring the Night to Shine experience to Brookhaven. This event is a beautiful reminder that all of us are worthy of love, respect, and a special night out. We can't wait to celebrate with our honored guests and their caregivers and show them the love of Christ." In addition to the prom for the honored guests, there will also be a special dinner and activities planned for the caregivers of honored guest. “Caregivers play a vital role in the lives of their loved ones, and this dinner will provide them with a well-deserved while their loved-one is cared for at the prom,” says Williamson. To register to attend or for more information, visit www.easthaven.net/nighttoshine or contact the church office at (601) 833-2597. Williamson reports the local NTS organizers are seeking support of local businesses in sponsoring the event.  Sponsorships can be arranged at  www.easthaven.net/nighttoshine or by contacting nighttoshine@easthaven.net. Information about the worldwide Night to Shine movement and the Tim Tebow Foundation, visit: www.timtebowfoundation.org/night-to-shine. Easthaven Baptist Church is welcoming community of faith located in Brookhaven on Highway 84 East. Easthaven offers a variety of ministries for all ages, including Sunday School, Bible studies, youth and college groups, music, and a thriving preschool/childcare.  The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.  It provides outreach in Orphan Care + Prevention, Special Needs, Profound Medical Needs, and Anti- Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation.