More than 65,900 participants, including locals at Lake Lincoln State Park who put on their boots and appropriate clothes, hiked 138,722 miles in First Day Hikes on January 1. First Day Hike are a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks, an alliance of the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) to encourage people to get outdoors.  On New Year’s Day, hundreds of free, guided were organized in all 50 states.  Kids and adults across America participated, getting their hearts pumping and enjoying the beauty of a state park. At Lake Lincoln, officials gave local participants free access to the parks trails, waiving the $2.00 entrance fee for the day. First Day Hikes are led by knowledgeable state park staff and volunteers.  The distance and rigor vary from park to park, but all hikes aim to create a fun experience for the whole family.  People are invited to savor the beauty of the state park’s natural resources with the comfort of an experienced guide so they may be inspired to take advantage of these local treasures throughout the year. Guided activities from coast to coast this year included sunrise hikes, hikes on new trails, polar plunges, horseback rides, bike rides, paddles, and much more.  If you joined us for an activity this year, thank you for starting the New Year off on the right foot. In 2023, First Day Hikes was the start of year in which more than 500,000 persons hiked one million miles in state parks throughout the country. America’s State Parks will helps capture the collective strength and importance of the great park systems developed in the 50 states.  NASPD board members represent each region of the country and govern the America’s State Parks alliance. With some 8,565 units and more than 807 million visits, the nation’s state parks contribute more than $20 billion to the economies of communities throughout the country.  Together, they offer 14,672 trails covering 52,603 miles, 221,367 campsites and 8,909 cabins and lodges. Stephen T. Mather, founder of the National Park Service, envisioned that the states and the federal government needed to work together to develop a great national system of parks.  By working together the nation would develop a national system of parks that would be the envy of the world. Thanks to the vision of Mather and his contemporaries, more than a billion visits a year are made to state and national parks annually. “A visit inspires love of country; begets contentment; engenders pride of possession; contains the antidote for national restlessness,” Mather said.  “He is a better citizen with a keener appreciation of the privilege of living here who has toured the nations parks.”

As the forecast calls for extreme winter weather to arrive in the coming days, Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging our employees across our system. Colder weather may impact the amount of natural gas you use. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes may produce a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and conserve energy this winter: Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home. Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object. Call Atmos Energy's Emergency Number, 866.322.8667, if you have concerns about your meter. Make sure external vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment are clear. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas. If you have questions about proper venting, contact a licensed plumber or qualified contractor. Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside. Save money and energy by setting your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home (where safe to do so). If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667. These tips and more are available on our Storm Center page at atmosenergy.com. Although natural gas outages are infrequent, if you experience loss of natural gas service or low gas pressure, contact the Atmos Energy emergency line at 866.322.8667 – agents are ready to assist 24/7. Atmos Energy will communicate regularly with customers and communities before, during, and after extreme weather events. To sign up for text alerts, adjust your notification preferences in the Account Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on our website at atmosenergy.com for continued safety and weather preparedness information.

By Bob Arnold When he looks back over almost six decades of helping folk memorialize the lives of people they want to be remembered into the future, Dave Pace recalls the many conversations with them -- listening to sorrowful and joyful people, speaking seriously or humorously about loved ones or friends they have lost or others who weren’t necessarily close, but rather admired or influential persons whom they wanted to thank.  The variety is awesome. Since he sold his first monument at 14 years old when he worked for his father’s Jackson-based business, Pace has been making recommendations on appropriate memorials and crafting them into long-lasting stonework for a wide spectrum of people and organizations, including the likes of monument builders for rock music legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and Jerry Lee Lewis and less celebrated people like the mother who wanted her son remembered at his gravesite as someone who “loved his mama as much as a fat boy loves cake.” Since 1977, Pace’s venue has been Brookhaven Monument Company, which he operates and manages along with its McComb and Natchez branches. Born in 1955 at Canton, Mississippi, Pace grew up in Jackson’s Manhattan area playing and riding his bike on trails in Parham Bridges Park.  As a teenager, he travelled with the Jackson First Baptist Church youth group on mission trips to Europe and Canada.  He also enjoyed monthly camping trips as part of Jackson Boy Scout Troop 8 in which he earned Scouting’s highest rank as an Eagle.  He also came to the monument business early. “My family got into it in 1956 when a Gluckstadt, Mississippi, cemetery hired my father, who sold sports equipment, including life belt boating straps that could hold down tombstones,” Pace recounts.  “At age 10, I was hanging out the cemetery and cutting the grass there.  By age 14, I was selling monuments for my father, who had gone beyond supplying and working with tombstone strapping at a cemetery to providing the tombstones themselves as a Jackson retailer.” After studying marketing at Mississippi State University from 1973 to 1977, Pace joined the business, which had expanded into Louisiana and throughout Mississippi, including Brookhaven and Mendenhall, where he started working as the manager under his father’s guidance. Led by Pace for more than 40 years, Brookhaven Monument’s workforce has grown from three to 15 persons.  At one time, it had eight Mississippi branches, but now just serves customers at Natchez and McComb locations as well as Brookhaven.  In the process, Pace has earned the respect of his industry peers, who chose him to serve as president of the Monument Builders of North America and invited him to serve on the exclusive 40-member American Institute of Commemorative Arts, where he has consulted on monuments for celebrities and other notable persons. At Brookhaven Monument, Pace has also built a reputation for quality work.  “Mississippi is not a source of durable stone in which you cut letters or images,” he explains.  “We go to the 600 to 700 quarries in the 20 U.S. states where there is useable granite, and others in China, India, Venezuela, Uruguay and Italy.”  The company also employs advanced technology.  “Eighty percent of the work is done by computers,” Pace points out.  “Artificial intelligence generates design from which other computer applications produce stencils used in hand-cutting.” Pace and his wife LilAnn Hollingsworth Pace have four grown children and seven grandchildren.  They split their time between a camp on Lake Saint John at Natchez and a second floor downtown Brookhaven apartment across from the Haven Theater, the home of Brookhaven Little Theater on West Cherokee Street.  Their apartment features an outdoor balcony, indoor brick walls, flooring that survived an historic Brookhaven fire that destroyed a Masonic lodge and a pharmacy and antique doors from a Methodist Church and the Johnson Institute, now Mississippi School of the Arts, where Pace’s uncle served as president. What are your hobbies? I visit cemeteries to see monuments, follow Mississippi State baseball and ride my tri-toon pontoon boat on Lake Saint John, regional rivers and on the Gulf Coast.  I am the longest tenured member of the Brookhaven Lions Club, with a 43-year pin. Are you a reader? I read periodicals and listen to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Tom Clancy fiction and podcasts with conservative political commentary. Do you have a special interest in music. I like Reba McEntyre and 1970s rock.  I liked Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blue Man Group and Three Dog Night in performance. How about movies or theater? Winnie Holzman’s Wicked about the witches of Oz before Dorothy dropped in is a favorite musical. What would you do with the winnings if you won the lottery? I would pay my children’s bills, keep enough to live comfortably, give to the church, endow the Lions Club and scholarships and buy box seats for Mississippi State baseball games. How would you change the world? If people lived according to the Ten Commandments, it would make a huge difference.

By Bob Garver For the first time since the pandemic, January means the release of a terrible horror movie in “Night Swim.” Actually, the pandemic only really affected January horror in 2021. It’s just that with January 2022 bringing us that nifty “Scream” reboot and January 2023 giving the world the instantly-iconic “M3GAN,” I can’t say that the horror in those years was terrible. But now we’re back to January being a dumping ground for pathetic leftovers that couldn’t cut it at Halloween. Following a perfunctory kid-gets-taken opening, we’re introduced to the Waller family. Like many families at the openings of horror movies, they’re looking for a new house. Father Ray (Wyatt Russell) had his baseball career cut short by a case of multiple sclerosis and the family needs a place where they can put down roots while he figures out the next chapter in his life. They decide against a house that suits his medical needs and instead pick one where he falls and injures himself in the backyard pool upon first visiting. I was ready to attack the believability of this decision, but then I remembered that my parents still live in the house where I burned my finger on an active iron on our first walk-through. Some extensive repairs and bad experiences with brown water later, and the pool is ready to go. Ray benefits from it the most as he engages in water therapy. The spring-fed water is helping his body heal remarkably well, and he may even be able to salvage his baseball career. Too bad everyone else isn’t enjoying the pool as much. Mother Eve (Kerry Condon) thinks she sees someone in the pool, but everyone is in bed. Son Elliot (Gavin Warren) hears the voice of the girl from the opening and something grabs his hand while swimming. Daughter Izzy (Amelie Hoeferle) is attacked by a zombie-like creature and is pulled into an alternate dimension below the floor of the pool. So… haunted pool movie. It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea of a haunted swimming pool. I’ve enjoyed plenty of haunted house movies, it doesn’t matter that this one localizes things in the backyard. Plus, a pool has a size advantage on any human villain, as well as any beast smaller than a kaiju. But if the pool is to be considered a character, then it’s a badly-written one. Its motivations and rules are murkier than the sludge stuck in its filter. We supposedly get some answers in a goofy, hurried scene of exposition late in the film, but it’s so nonsensical that the entire sequence could have been cut and I would have respected the movie for its brevity. One of the film’s few critical defenders (in that she gave it a somewhat positive two-and-a-half-star review) is Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com, who says that the pool “eats” people. No wonder she halfway likes the movie, that’s a pleasing justification: the pool needs to eat, that’s why it’s so malevolent. But no, that’s not what the pool is doing. It’s sucking people into an alternate dimension and they can never return home, but I’m not getting “eaten” from that. If the pool is meant to be eating people, then the movie is doing such a bad job of communicating this concept that I feel the need to argue with a professional critic saying that it is. The problems with “Night Swim” go far beyond the pool itself. This is a bland, unoriginal horror movie with dull characters and even duller scares. There’s a scene late in the film where a villain is stalking a protagonist and calls out, “Marco!” After a few forced moments of suspense, the villain pops out and yells, “You’re supposed to say ‘Polo!’” The film thinks that five-word, six-syllable phrase makes for an effective jump scare. That’s this movie’s sense of timing in a nutshell. Even though I don’t think the pool of “Night Swim” eats its victims, I do invite the movie overall to eat me. Grade: D “Night Swim” is rated PG-13 for terror, some violent content and language. Its running time is 98 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has confirmed a second pediatric influenza death in Mississippi for the 2023-2024 flu season. A pediatric death is defined as the death of an individual under 18 years of age. The MSDH does not provide details of the specific age, gender, or location of the death out of respect and privacy for the family. The patient in this case had not received a flu vaccine for the 2023-2034 flu season. “We highly encourage people to get a flu shot. A vaccination won’t necessarily keep you from getting the flu, although it can reduce your risk of infection and is the best protection to keep you from a severe outcome,” said Interim State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Taylor. “With a few months left in this season, we recommend everyone six months of age and older consider a flu and COVID-19 vaccination.” Flu season typically peaks in January through March in Mississippi, and the flu shot usually takes up to two weeks to produce immunity. Flu shots for those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program are available at County Health Departments. Insurance, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are also accepted for children’s flu shots. A list of all VFC providers can be found at www.msdh.ms.gov/vfc. Adults who are underinsured or uninsured and who meet certain high-risk criteria qualify for an adult flu vaccination at MSDH county health department clinics. Flu shots for insured adults are widely available through private physicians, pharmacies, and retail centers. While vaccination is the best protection against flu, there are other things you can do to reduce the spread of flu whether you are vaccinated or not. These measures include: Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Staying at home when you or your children are sick. Washing your hands frequently and keeping them away from your face. Individual flu cases are not reported to MSDH. The agency monitors flu activity through the ILI System, made up of healthcare providers in Mississippi who report the percentage of patients with flu-like symptoms to a statewide database.  Providers participating in the system also submit respiratory samples for flu testing to the MSDH Public Health Laboratory. State health officials use this information to determine the presence and spread of flu throughout the state. For more information on the flu, please visit our website at www.msdh.ms.gov/flu.

Have you ever had a bad day, when everything you touched just soured? Sure, we all have had those kinds of days, nothing new to any of us. And when you had one, didn’t you find that it was difficult to be a sweetheart to everyone around you? After all, living twenty-four hours in the pits doesn’t exactly make you feel like being The Perfect Parent/Spouse/Employee. Probably, more than likely people avoided you like the plague, to evade getting bombarded by the toxic words spewing out of your mouth. And even when you came back to normal, your family and co-workers undoubtedly felt like they needed to throw a white flag into the room before they entered, to see if it turned brown before they risked walking in themselves.  Not a pretty thought, is it? And that is my point. When bad days make you act like the south end of a north-bound donkey, you aren’t just hurting the people around you. You are hurting ‘the you’ that has to live with the long memory of just how badly you behaved. And that is no fun. If by some weird chance you don’t believe me, try this. In your head, create the next twenty-four hours. A full day when you deliberately let your guard down. When you let yourself act and speak like a complete jerk. When you’re unconcerned about your loved one’s hurt feelings as you make cruel fun of them. Carelessly and deliberately damage someone’s reputation by passing along juicy and completely false gossip about them. Yell mercilessly at your kids and watch the stricken look on their faces. For good measure, kick your kitty or puppy three feet ahead of you as you stomp into the bedroom to pick a fight with your spouse. Then, when you have mentally destroyed those twenty-four hours, stop and rethink that daydream. How would you feel if you actually acted it out? Lousy and ashamed, you say? I would agree with you, you jerk. Folks, being the previously mentioned donkey body-part creates two huge permanent problems. For the people around you who were treated so callously, as you would have probably caused them emotional scars. And also for the future you, who has to live with the memories of your shame and embarrassment. Because memories, especially the painful ones, have a very long shelf life. Something about acting like a jerk and a fool has tremendous staying power when it comes to trying to forget. Even when you beg for forgiveness from the very people you hurt, and they graciously give you what you don’t deserve, you can be haunted by a memory that never seems to fade away. Surfacing in your thoughts when you lay awake at night. Or popping up unexpectedly when that loved one is sitting quietly by your side. Not worth it, folks. Bad memories live forever, so do your best to make ones that don’t hurt.

Below freezing temperatures, ice and snow could damage your roof and plumbing. Severe weather could also mean a high number of insurance claims. Avoid claim denials by taking action now. If you plan to be away from home during the next week, leave the heat on, cover outdoor faucets and wrap pipes. 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 Mike Chaney. "Now is the time to reach out to your insurance agent to talk about what your policy covers." The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) recommends these tips ahead of extreme cold weather: To minimize the risk of frozen and cracked pipes, detach garden hoses from your home before freezing weather begins and properly winterize your home and irrigation systems. To protect interior pipes, 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. Use a safe and secure ladder when removing leaves and debris from gutters or contact a professional to assist you. Evaluate the insulation and ventilation (roof or soffit vents) in your attic, keeping the warm air in your home and out of your attic.

By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr. Busy people on tight budgets these days turn to box foods for convenient preparation of meals.  With minimal effort, you can tweak your preparation of these meals to 5-star restaurant level, recalling those grandma used to make. There’s a saying that grandma could cook old shoes and you would want seconds.  That’s what I am talking about when I speak about making box food come alive. Jambalaya, a favorite Southern meal that traces to the 18th Century when Spanish settlers around New Orleans in southern Louisiana tried to recreate Paella with Louisiana ingredients, is an example.  This is how to turn a jambalaya box mix into a meal worthy of music festivals, Mardi Gras parties and quiet weeknight dinners. Ingredients: Family size box of Zatarains Jambalaya, which includes a rice mix with vegetables and spices. 4-5 chicken leg quarters. 1 lb. of your favorite smoked sausage cut. 2 cups of finally chopped onions. 2 tbsp. minced or chopped garlic. 1 cup of chopped bell peppers. ½ cup of uncooked rice (NEVER instant rice). 2 tbsp. of butter (a quarter cup for a moister meal) Directions: 1.       Cover chicken water seasoned with a 1 tbsp. of salt, 1 teasp. of your favorite pepper and a cap of crab boil.  Boil for 45 minutes. 2.       Remove chicken, cool and debone.  Save the flavored broth resulting from boiling the chicken in the seasoned water. 3.       In a 4-6 quart stock pot, sautee the onions, bell peppers and garlic in 2 tbsp. of butter, stirring as needed. 4.       Add 4 ½ cups of the flavored chicken broth on top of the sauteed onions-bell peppers-garlic mix.  Add the box food and extra uncooked rice and simmer on a low-fire for 20-minutes or until the rice is cooked.  Add quarter cup of butter for greater moisture, if desired. 5.       When rice is half done, stir in sausage cuts.  Five minutes before rice is cooked, stir in the chicken. 6.       Monitor rice.  Add water in ½ cup measures as needed until it is fully cooked. Serves at least eight persons. 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.

By Kara Kimbrough As promised, I compiled a list of my “favorites” from 2023 – included are new supermarket products and hidden gem restaurants that deserve a look in 2024. Without further ado, here’s what captured (and held) my attention in the previous year. 1. Yellowstone Coffee, Steak Rub/Seasoning and Chili – First, full disclosure: I’m not an avid viewer of Yellowstone, the modern-day version of “Dallas" with Kevin Costner as patriarch. However, after I received a box of products created as a result of the show’s popularity, I was eager to see if they lived up to the show’s hype. The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Caramel oatmeal light roast and heavy-duty medium roast bunkhouse coffee met my high coffee expectations. The flavorful steak rub and seasoning transformed a good piece of meat into a great one. And while I found the chili to be a little spicy, it’s a product I would purchase in lieu of any other of the canned varieties on the shelf. 2. Rao’s Made for Home Ketchup – I’ve long been a fan of the New York-based Italian restaurant’s pasta sauces, so I was excited to try the chain’s newest venture into the food business. Three varieties are available: Roma Tomato, Arrabbiata and Truffle Ketchup. I’m not a fan of spicy Arrabbiata pasta sauces, so I tried the milder Roma flavor. Flavorful and delicious, it’s now a staple on my grocery list. 3. Garcia’s Donuts in Laurel – Before you state the obvious…yes, I know doughnut shops are a dime a dozen in Mississippi. But hear me out. This is no ordinary doughnut shop. In fact, I haven’t even tried their doughnuts, although they looked absolutely fabulous. I visited the small restaurant located on 16th Avenue near the U.S. 84 intersection to enjoy lunch with a friend who’d been raving about Garcia’s burgers. So, a burger was on my radar and I wasn’t disappointed. I selected the Comeback burger, but there were many others from which to choose, each one unique and equally delicious-looking. Also on the menu are sandwiches, blue plate specials and original creations that aren’t always on the menu. It’s time for a return visit so I can sample Garcia’s newest invention, fried King Cakes filled with every delicious flavor imaginable. Hours of operations are: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; closed on Sunday. 4. Oreo Thins Lemon Cookie – Since I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, I was excited to see a Golden Oreo filled with a citrusy lemon filling. When the craving for a cookie arises, this variety of Oreo’s famous snack more than rises to the challenge. 5. Kettle Brand Unsalted Chips – I’ve long been honest about my love of potato chips, especially the uber-thick, crunchy variety produced by Kettle Brand. However, I almost had a coronary after adding up the sodium content of the chips I was consuming in one sitting. Learning Kettle produces a salt-free variety was exciting, especially since I had no viable plan for giving up my favorite snack. The only drawback is that the salt-free variety is hard to find…Walmart, Kroger…are you listening? 6.Entenmann's Glazed Cookie Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches – I’ve always been a fan of Entenmann’s packaged baked goods, but their newest product blows everything else out of the water. Picture a vanilla doughnut filled with vanilla ice cream topped with a sugary glaze. The fact that each delicious sandwich is only 7 grams of fat is the icing on the cake. 7. Activia Probiotic Dailies Lowfat Probiotic Yogurt Drinks – Being able to grab one of these flavorful drinks after a workout or any time, really, and receive my daily dose of protein, calcium and probiotics (whatever that is) made these small bottles of goodness a lifesaver this year. 8. Woody’s Roadhouse – I know I’m going to get negative feedback for including this Biloxi restaurant (there's also a Gulfport location) on the list instead of mentioning one of hundreds of locally-owned places, but here goes. Meeting a friend at the Biloxi beachfront restaurant was a decision based on convenience, but once we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The menu was filled with a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood choices. Yes, it’s a franchise restaurant, but when the food is delicious, the view is outstanding, it’s easy to access from U.S. 90 and the price is reasonable, I have no problem recommending it as a place to enjoy a meal when visiting the Gulf Coast. 9. Mrs. Butterworth's Epic Cinnabon Pancake Kit – Who doesn’t love a massive Cinnabon cinnamon roll…or a stack of pancakes? Now, you can have the best of both worlds with this crazy-good innovation from Mrs. Butterworth. With a packet of cream cheese frosting and cinnamon-sugar sauce, it’s a win-win for every pancake-lover. 10. St. Pierre Brioche Waffles with Butter – I’ll admit it; I was a skeptic when I saw this package of shelf-stable waffles in the bread aisle. However, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give it a try. I’m not sure how they do it – but the waffles DO taste like they’re homemade or at least, fresh from the freezer, then toaster. With a light sugary coating that does a good job of taking syrup’s place, they’re the perfect on-the-go breakfast (or anytime) snack. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

As colder temperatures are upon us, Central District Public Service Commissioner De’Keither Stamps is urging cities, counties and residents to take proactive measures in ensuring their safety and the safety of their communities. One of the most effective ways to prepare for winter storms is by identifying and eliminating dead trees on private properties. Dead or decaying trees pose a significant risk during severe weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall or high winds. These trees are more susceptible to falling or losing branches, which can cause damage to homes, vehicles, power lines and infrastructure. By removing dead trees, residents can greatly reduce the risk of accidents and property damage during winter storms. Common indicators include bare branches, loose or hanging bark, cracks in the trunk and fungal growth. If any of these signs are present, it is recommended to consult with a professional arborist for further evaluation and guidance on tree removal. “I emphasize the importance of early action and encourage cities, counties and residents to inspect their properties for any signs of dead or dying trees,” Commissioner Stamps said. “Our goal is to prioritize their safety and the safety of others before the onset of winter storms. Together, we can create safer and more resilient communities throughout our state.” For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Commissioner De’Keither Stamps, please contact: (646) 671-2229 or email dekeither.stamps@psc.ms.gov.

The Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) will be holding its annual "Experience MSA Preview Day" on Saturday, January 20th for interested students and their families to tour the school and explore the opportunities for current 10th graders. MSA is an eleventh and twelfth grade visual and performing arts residential, public high school located in Brookhaven, MS.  Students not only meet and exceed the traditional Mississippi high school curriculum, they receive special instruction in visual arts, vocal music, dance, writing/literary arts, filmmaking/media arts and theatre. MSA also has a "Collegiate Academy" program where qualified students can earn their high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time at no cost! Students interested in MSA apply by February 1st of their sophomore year. In addition to MSA students winning awards for their work on the state, regional and national levels, the school consistently has one of the highest ACT averages in the state. MSA is a great school for those students who want to explore the arts in an extraordinary way.  We also fill a special need for students with demonstrated talent that need a collegiate level learning experience in the arts. If the Mississippi School of the Arts interests you, more information can be found online at www.msabrookhaven.org or by calling 601-823-1300. Applications are available online. Application deadline for the class of 2026, is February 1, 2024. We Hope to see YOU at MSA Preview Day, Saturday, January 20th! 355 West Monticello St. Brookhaven, MS Performing Arts – 10 a.m. – 12 Noon Non-Performing Arts 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

After 10 years as Wesson Public Library (WPL) manager, Ann Clark is retiring. Clark, who will leave her job on February 29, says will spend a lot of time practicing her life-long passion -- sewing -- in retirement.  “I do baby stuff,” she says simply. Clark came to WPL after working 16 years at Precious Moments Day Care.  A 1978 graduate of Wesson Co-Lin High School before Wesson Attendance Center, she started her working days in Wesson as a teaching assistant for five years with kindergarteners. She is married to Michael Clark, who is a supervisor at West Lake Plastics in the Copiah County Industrial Park at Gallman. “I have loved working people and helping them use Wesson Public Library resources,” Clark says.  “I will miss it.”