By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr. With cooler temperatures, soups become a staple at Southern meals. Chicken soup makes both a hardy meal and appetizer great any time of the year. Ingredients: 1. 1 whole chicken 2. 2 bunches of broccoli 3. 1 cup chopped carrots 4. 1 cup of finely chopped onions 5. 2 tbsp. chopped garlic 6. 1 tsp. salt 7. 2 large cans condensed cream of chicken soup 8. 1 tsp red pepper Directions: 1. In large stock pot, boil chicken over medium to high heat until tender for 45 minutes in water with red pepper added. 2. Remove chicken, cool, debone and chop.. 3. While chicken is cooling, drain broth into separate bowl. Return 1 quart to stock pot. 4. Add onions, garlic and carrots. 5. Cut tops off broccoli and add to mix in stock pot with tsp. of salt. 6. Bring mixture to boil, reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. 7. Add 2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and stir well on low heat to totally dissolve it in stock pot mix. 8. Depending on desired consistency of soup, add more chicken broth to dilute. 9. Add chicken to mix. 10. Cook 10 minutes on low heat, stirring regularly. 11. Check consistency of soup, stirring regularly, and adding broth as desired. Serve with a happy face, and two to four crackers. Serves four to six for a meal. 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.

Eighty-four low-income older Mississippians and nursing students will benefit from two grants awarded to Co-Lin. With $466,977 in federal funds from the Center for Workforce Inclusion, the college will provide in-demand skills training through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP to low-income adults age 55 and older in Copiah, Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, Walthall, Pike, Amite, Adams, Claiborne, Simpson, Smith and Wilkinson Counties who are seeking jobs. With another $73,000 from the Mississippi Allied Health College and Career Navigator Grant Program funded by American Rescue Plan Act will allow the college to provide assistance through navigators who will provide assistance to nursing students on financial aid and services related to mental health, transportation, childcare, healthcare and housing.

"Falling back to Standard Time early Sunday morning remains a good reminder to check your smoke alarms and change batteries," said Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. "There were 71 fire deaths in 2022. In 34 of those fires, there were no working smoke alarms in the home." Create an escape plan and make sure everyone knows where to meet outside of the home, in case of fire. One suggestion for families is to have children draw an escape plan with their parents or guardians. The drawing should show how everyone will get out of the house. There should be multiple exits. The drawing should also include where they will meet outside the home. Once done drawing, talk about the plan together as a family. Also, remember to: Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn't respond properly when tested. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. Should a fire break out in the home, have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow and have a designated meeting place for all family members. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and don't go back inside the home under any circumstances.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host the 2023 Harvest Festival November 7-11 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day. Admission is $8 per person for ages 3 and up. “I encourage the public to take advantage of this beautiful fall weather and attend the annual Harvest Fest at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “This unique event teaches generations about the importance of agriculture and its historic relevance to our state. Visitors can experience the traditional operations of days gone by at the cotton gin, sawmill and blacksmith shop, as well as children’s activities, ag exhibitions and so much more.” In addition to all the usual exhibits, live demonstrations throughout the museum grounds will give visitors a glimpse of Mississippi’s past and show the impact agriculture has made within our state. Displays inside the Heritage Center gallery allow visitors to see how agriculture has changed throughout the years from the methods and equipment used in farming with horses and mules to the invention of tractors. The model train exhibit, featuring three gauges of model trains depicting life along the rails in Mississippi, is a must see. And the Children’s Barnyard features cows, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys and horses. Train, carousel and wagon rides will be available each day for $1 per rider. Saturday only, see a special display of antique tractors and hit-and-miss engines. Concessions will be available for purchase each day of the event and visitors are encouraged to stop by the General Store for snacks and souvenirs, along with many new items. Complimentary biscuits will be given to everyone participating in the festivities while supplies last. For more details on the annual Harvest Festival, visit www.msagmuseum.org/harvest-fest. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Lot of medications out there to fix problems. And a lot of them are aimed directly at anxiety. Am I here to poke fun at people for feeling anxiety? To tell you that it is your problem and you can fix it yourself? To ‘Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps’, or to ‘Put on your big girl panties.’ Or maybe this one; ‘Fake it ‘til you make it.’ How about; ‘It’s all in how you decide to look at life. So just make up your mind to change your thinking.’ No way, stupid I am not. But I do happen to be intelligent enough to realize that our long-term mental or emotional state has a lot to do with our current anxiety levels. No doubt about that. Here’s why. Childhood sets us up. Negative childhoods influence us as adults… period. If there was no training back then to have the confident attitude of, “Yep, I gotta a problem right now, but I know I can handle it until it’s gone” - that creates a problem. The learned self-assurance and confidence that helps to ward off anxiety and worry as adults can easily be missing. And evidently that happened a lot back when we were all playing in the dirt, riding bikes, or feeding imaginary milk to our little dollies. Because there are prescriptions by the armload for medicating anxiety problems away. And folks, the pharmaceutical companies do not just manufacture a drug for the fun of it. There has to be a huge need for it. The cost of bringing a drug to the United States market is not small, and for some odd reason they insist that they be able to pay the costs involved and also make a profit. But experience with anti-anxiety meds has taught that there are problems with the ‘Just pop a pill and make it all go away’ mentality. Problems that make the initial worry a simple walk in the park. Oh, sure, you swallow that little pill, and that huge anxiety ball that lives 24/7 in your chest will float away. But depend on your ‘Sweet Little Friend’ long enough, and you can easily find yourself living with three ‘Big Ugly Enemies.’ 1) Over time, your body will demand more friends to give you the same effect. 2) Your body can easily become actually dependent upon the chemicals in that pill. 3) The problem that is creating your anxiety doesn’t dissolve when that anti-anxiety pill dissolves in your stomach. We need a better, healthier, and permanent solution. Here it is: Isaiah 41:10 in the Bible. Read it, believe it, learn to quote it to yourself when the panic attacks hit every few minutes. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Try it for yourself.

Mississippi adults will continue to be offered science-based vaccine information by the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service with help from a national grant. MSU Extension received the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) grant to provide adult vaccine education in Mississippi. MSU was one of 37 institutions chosen for this award. The EXCITE grant program is a nationwide local response by U.S. Cooperative Extension made possible through an interagency agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Through strategic partnerships, the project aims to instill greater confidence in land-grant universities -- of which MSU is one -- to provide effective immunization education. The MSU grant will fund an 18-month educational campaign, characterized by community engagement and close collaboration with public health partners. Holli Seitz, an MSU associate professor of communication, said the effort is a cross-college collaboration between MSU Extension and the MSU Department of Communication, the Social Science Research Center, and the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. “We will work to build partnerships with pharmacies and churches in Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties to reach older adults with information about recommended vaccines,” Seitz said. “Through this initiative, we will also be able to build public health capacity within Extension by offering an opportunity for a group of Extension agents to pursue additional training in public health.” The project’s goal is to improve access to and acceptance of immunizations among rural adult populations. All adult immunizations will be covered, with special emphasis on vaccines for pneumococcal disease, shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. To learn more about this effort, visit https://extension.org/national-programs-services/excite.

By Kara Kimbrough Famous chefs and culinary experts never cease to inspire me...but not for the obvious reasons. Julia Child’s response to a reporter’s question asking if she ever ate fast food was golden. “I order fast food occasionally – everybody does when they’re on the road. A burger has protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.” Hearing Food Network star Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, state on national television this week that she was “over” cooking elaborate dishes was equally inspirational. Her words caused me to try a shortcut lemon treat that looked too easy to be good. “When the pandemic was over, I thought I’d start cooking large meals again,” Drummond said as she stirred together three easy oven-baked pasta dishes on the Today Show. “It hasn’t happened.” Drummond’s recipes, which can be found on the show’s website, were short on ingredients and preparation time. As a result, I tried a recipe containing only four ingredients that appeared, from all photos, to be every bit as delicious as “Oprah’s Favorite Lemon Cake,” a recipe I’d made once and loved but shelved due to the long ingredient list. I have a hard time distinguishing between cakes and quick breads made in small loaf pans simply because, once sliced, most are very similar in taste and appearance. The major difference? Most quick breads have less sugar and fat than cakes, but they can still be moist and delicious if the right ingredients are used. Another plus is the fact that stirring everything together in one pan and baking it in a loaf pan instead of a heavy Bundt or other cake pan appears to take less time. I may think, “I don’t have time to bake a cake…but in mere minutes, I can bake a lemon loaf or my favorite cherry bread. Wrapped in clear cellophane and decorated with festive ribbon, it’s the perfect Christmas “happy” - or treat to enjoy with a cup of morning coffee any time of year. Call them whatever you desire…small cakes, loaves or quick breads…if you’ve stopped baking because of the time involved in cake-baking, these recipes will have you back in (and better yet, out of) the kitchen in no time. Crazy-Easy Lemon Loaf 3 extra-large eggs 11.25 ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup self-rising flour 1 medium lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zest of lemon Icing: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons milk Splash of lemon juice or flavoring (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper; leave paper hanging over long sides. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add in flour and mix until incorporated. Then, add in lemon zest and juice and whisk together until smooth. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely (about an hour) before adding the icing to the top. Icing: To a medium bowl add all icing ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Top loaf evenly with the icing. Grate a little more lemon zest on top of icing for decoration. Blueberry-Lemon Quick Bread 2 lemons, zested and juiced 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries Sugar for sprinkling Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 1/2 – x – 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and line with a sheet of parchment paper; leave paper hanging over the long sides of the pan. Rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers in a bowl until fragrant. Whisk in oil and vanilla for 30 seconds. Whisk in eggs, one at a time; then the lemon juice and sour cream. Sprinkle baking powder and salt into bowl, one at a time, vigorously whisking after each. Fold in the flour just until a few streaks remain. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Fold in 1 cup of the berries. Pour the batter into the pan, smooth the top, then arrange the remaining 1/2 cup of berries over the top of the loaf, pressing down gently. Lightly sprinkle with sugar and bake for 60-70 minutes, rotating at 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, then lift the cake out by the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a rack. Let cool to room temperature before slicing and serving. Christmas (Or Anytime) Cherry Bread 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup of buttermilk ¼ cup juice from 10-ounce jar of maraschino cherries (reserve the cherries for the end) 1/2 cup each white and brown sugar ¼ cup softened butter 2 eggs 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon each - salt and baking soda Cup of chopped walnuts, lightly toasted Add everything except cherries to mixing bowl. Beat well, scrape sides of bowl and beat again. Add chopped cherries and mix well. Bake in a greased and floured bread pan in a 350-degree oven for 60-70 minutes. Cool on rack, then invert onto a serving dish. Glaze: just mix a cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon or two of milk and a teaspoon of almond extract. Beat and add milk until you get the consistency you like. Drizzle over warm bread. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Mika Hartman When you try something new, there can be hesitation. Like riding a bike. It’s exciting, but when your dad lets go and you likely will fall. You get up and try again. The reward of independently riding is worth the risk. Some days give me that feeling of riding a bike, like, I got this. Other days, I am learning something new. And sometimes I feel like we are on autopilot and out of nowhere, I have to grab the handlebars again. Hear this part loudly: This applies to every child. Period. Children with Down syndrome have a third copy of the 21st chromosome. There are three types of Down syndrome. People often can’t tell the difference between each type without looking at the chromosomes because the physical features and behaviors are similar. Below are definitions provided by the CDC website for “Facts About Down Syndrome”. • Trisomy 21: About 95% of people with Down syndrome have Trisomy 21. With this type of Down syndrome, every cell in the body contains 3 individual copies of the 21st chromosome instead of the typical 2 copies. • Translocation Down syndrome: This type accounts for a tiny percentage of people with Down syndrome (about 3%). This happens when an extra part or a whole extra 21st chromosome is present, but it is joined or “trans-located” to a different chromosome rather than being a separate 21st chromosome. • Mosaic Down syndrome: This type affects about 2% of the people with Down syndrome. Mosaic means a varying pattern. For children with mosaic Down syndrome, some of their cells have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, but other cells have the typical two copies of 21st chromosome. Children born with mosaic Down syndrome may have the same features as other children with Down syndrome. However, they could have fewer features of the condition due to the presence of some (or many) cells with a typical number of chromosomes (CDC,2023). I was recently asked (again) if you can have levels of Down syndrome. The answer is no. You either have an extra copy of the 21st chromosome or you do not. You can have a different type, but that would be determined in genetics testing and not based on a feeling. Hudson was tested and fell under the 95% of those born with Down syndrome, Basic Trisomy 21. The third copy of the 21st chromosome was present in every cell of his body. It is hard not to compare your child to other children, but I truly advise you to not do this. As a beautiful community that prides ourselves on kindness, to think your child is exceeding compared to other children with Down syndrome is the opposite of the message that we work so hard to share. Our children are on individual journeys, each child is perfectly made, and the time it takes them to move their bar is an individual goal determined on an individual basis. I often feel as if we don’t fit in with our community of children with Down syndrome because of Hudson’s dual diagnose with Autism. And we don’t fit in with those who alone have Autism, either. However, Hudson is perfect. He accomplishes many goals made and he’s on a path that we call “Hudson-time”. If I spent time comparing, this journey might get heavy. He can’t do what his peers are doing today, but that doest mean he won’t. I actually believe he will do big things. While Hudson isn’t riding a two-wheeled bike yet, he does stumble and he gets back up and tries again. We expect this from him. The independence he gains daily is worth the risk. What is Down syndrome to me? I know my son has an extra chromosome. I am sure you can see it, too. Down syndrome is a diagnosis that I wish I had been praying for; that someone would show us a life full of new beautiful firsts by just changing our lenses. If you have known someone with Down syndrome, you know what I mean. Down syndrome is love. I do wish Hudson didn’t need so many doctor appointments, surgeries or need to live in a bubble to keep him safe; but his resilience has shown me so much about him AND so much about me. We are blessed. We are strong. We are love. Hudson’s light and his laughter are so charming. They’re contagious. They’re infectious. Hudson gets to take the time he needs to live the life he wants. I am happy to be on this journey with him. Risks can come with benefits and some risks are worth taking. Don’t compare our children to typical children and certainly don’t compare our children to one another. All children are charming individuals, but it’s undeniable that children with Down syndrome are EXTRA charming. References CDC, 2023, “Facts About Down Syndrome.” https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html

The scars from a large-scale civil war some three decades ago that claimed thousands of lives among Hutu and Tutsi peoples in Rwanda continue to make missionary work, and winning the trust of those you want to help a challenge in the country, Co-Lin Baptist Student Union (BSU) Director Jed Moak told Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) members at their monthly luncheon. Moak and his wife Heather worked with prostitutes in Rwanda through the Hagari mission before he returned to his alma mater and the student ministry at BSU. Over two years, they led Bible studies for the organization. At the ILR luncheon, Moak talked about their service in Rwanda and life in the country, which borders Kenya and Uganda to the south in East Africa. “Hagari walks alongside families in extreme poverty – especially those vulnerable to survival sex work – by focusing on education, health, discipleship and financial empowerment to disrupt the cycle of poverty,” Moak said. He highlighted Hagari’s Student Partnership project – a part of its empowerment ministry -- through which donors can invest in sponsoring Rwanda students, who have to pay to go to school. A $75 per month partnership provides school fees, materials, uniforms, meals on school days and health insurance for students and their families. Moak described Rwanda as a landlocked country of hills and valleys – sometimes called “land of a thousand hills” -- with a trade-based economy in which lack of transportation retards commerce and fosters poverty. It is one quarter the size of Mississippi with twice the population, which is mostly situated in Kigali, the capital city. On the equator, it is a warm country with temperature extremes from lows in the 70s to highs in the 90s, where mosquitos and malaria are problems. A culture of prostitution has flourished there in the midst of the poverty with young women orphaned by the civil war. “Our ministry was about rescuing, redeeming, educating and empowering – helping families in this poverty culture get out of the lives in which they are entrapped, demonstrating to them that another life was possible, teaching them how to live anew with the help of Christ and supporting them as they built new lives.” Moak is now in his second year directing the ministry at Co-Lin’s Baptist Student Union, which provides a hangout venue for students, counseling, Bible studies and worship experiences, including a Monday evening service at 6:30 p.m. and chapel on Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.

Wesson-based Socks for Heroes (SFH), which seeks to show appreciation for the service of military veterans through holiday gifts, is teaming up with Co-Lin’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) to make sure it can bring its seasonal cheer again this year. During September and October, ILR, which provides a program of luncheons, travel and continuing education for retired persons, will be collecting gift items for residents of veterans homes, which SFH volunteers deliver on visits to them during November and December. ILR has asked its members to acquire and donate regular and gift socks, furry socks for ladies, Christmas cards, blankets, word search books with high lighters to help on crossword puzzles, small notebooks, pullover caps, dominoes, pens, card games, along other clothing, personal care and practical items and knick knacks. Last year, ILR partnered with area churches to collect gift items and pack them in holiday gift shoeboxes for overseas missions. “This year, we want to direct the gifts to folk near our homes,” says ILR Co-Lin Coordinator Erin Johnson. ILR members join some 30 individual volunteers, support of Strong Hope Baptist Church members and assistance from participants in groups who need community service hours, such as Mississippi Scholars and the Wesson Attendance Center Beta Club. “They help collect donations, attend Christmas ceremonies at veterans homes and bag the gifts that are part of our Christmas packages,” says SFH founder Cathy Stroud from Wesson. “Most of them are drawn to Socks for Heroes because they have relatives who served in the military." SFH teams visit veterans homes at Collins, Kosciusko and Jackson in Mississippi; Reserve Jackson Monroe, Bossier City and Jennings in Louisiana; and two others in Arkansas. In addition to the small individual gifts and cards given to residents of the homes, bigger gifts, such as television sets, are given to the homes for group use “The gifts are important, but the one-on-one holiday visits with veterans may be more important to bringing joy and cheer to the homes,” Stroud says. SFH started “Veterans Appreciation Days” when COVID-19 curbed visits to home, and they have continued. “Rather going to veterans, we invite them to come to us at designated locations to pick up free “thank you” bags,” Stroud explains. A porch conversation between Wesson's Stroud and her sister and a separate discussion with a friend about Christmas gifts were the beginnings of SFH. Stroud, her sister and friend agreed gifts were unimportant for them, and they would like to find a way to help people in need through their Christmas giving. The concept of the unique Wesson-based charity took shape after Stroud’s husband Marty told her about fish fries Walmart, his employer, held at Veterans Administration homes, and a moving experience he had with a young disabled veteran at one event. "We aren't about collecting money and sending it to the Veterans Administration Jackson," Stroud says. “We’re about providing direct personal assistance through gifts that show appreciation.” Before COVID 19 interrupted its service, SFH collected upwards of 15,000 pairs of socks, 800 blankets and other items for the 11 veterans homes in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. SFH has 501(c) 3 not-for-profit status and is rebuilding a fundraising program that had traditionally included a fishing tournament for youth at Lake Hazle, a 5K run/walk at Hazlehurst, and an annual veterans appreciation fair -- all cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ole Brook Futbol Club went undefeated in the U12 division in the MS Crossroads Tournament at Jackson Futbol Club on October 28-29, 2023. The team won an exciting championship game in a tie-breaker shootout with Konner Minton of Wesson kicking the winning shootout goal. Ole Brook Futbol Club is made up of boys from Pike, Lincoln, and Copiah counties. Back Row (from left to right): Rhyder Martin, Easton Bynum, Brantley Smith, Carlos Vasquez, Gage Windham, Konner Minton, Preston Kennedy, Phillip Murray, Griffin Newell, and Dawson Deshotel. Front Row (from left to right): Greyson Deshotel and Santana Silvan. Coaches: Richard Bynum and Santana Silvan, Sr.

Mississippi has seen a consistent rise in the number of families accepting public assistance for child care since lawmakers banned abortion in almost all circumstances, with the sharpest increase coming after a child support policy change in May, the state human services director reports. The department counted 31,532 families receiving those vouchers as of this month, up from 24,500 last October. After the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion ruling, a Mississippi law went into effect banning abortion only if the woman’s life is in danger or if a pregnancy is caused by a rape that has been reported to law enforcement. Voucher enrollment further accelerated in May after Governor. Tate Reeves, approved a recommendation from a council of early childhood administrators to do away with a 19-year-old policy that had forced single parents and guardians to seek child support from the other parent to be eligible for assistance through the Child Care Payment Program, which offers help to low-income parents.