American Legion Post 79 Commander Bobby Thornton (left) accepts the 2023 American Legion Riders Family Award and behalf of the Wesson American Legion family for its programming. Two separate presentations were made at the 104th annual Department of Mississippi American Legion Convention in Natchez -- one to Thornton and another to the Auxiliary Unit. The award is based on the past year’s activities of the Legion post, including the variety of events and the spirit of cooperation between the Legion, Sons of the American Legion (SAL), and Auxiliary Unit in serving the Veterans population. The American Legion program focuses on “the Four Pillars” -- Veterans affairs and rehabilitation, national security, Americanism and children and youth. American Legion Post 79 meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 1014 Main Street in Wesson. To learn more about the American Legion, visit its website at www.legion.org or follow American Legion Post 79 on Facebook.

Co-Lin students in the Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate (FBLA) -- previously called Phi Beta Lambda -- walked away with high honors in competition at the the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta. The Co-Lin students were among more than 14,000 students from around the country attending and competing at the national conference, including students from Purdue, Penn State, and many other prestigious universities and colleges. Earning awards at the national competition were: Second place. Emma Grice of McCall Creek, Finance Case Study. Fourth place. Josh McCreary of Brookhaven and Caitlyn Burnes of Wesson, Digital Media. Sixth place. Briar Hamilton of Summit, Emerging Business Issues. Sixth place. Briar Hamilton of Summit, Integrated Marketing. Eighth place. Caitlyn Burns of Wesson, Hospitality Management. Ninth place. Kylie Windmiller of Bogue Chitto, Client Services. Additionally, McCreary placed in the Top 15 for impromptu speaking; Grice and Whitney Howell of Brookhaven placed in the Top 15 for state of the chapter; and Hamilton was named a national scholarship recipient and participated in the state president parade, as he will serve as the 2023-24 president for Mississippi.

Dr. Steven Reed of Southern Eye Care of Clinton recently became the first Mississippian to be elected President-Elect of the American Optometric Association (AOA). Reed has served on the AOA Board of Trustees since 2016 and previously served as the president of the Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA). The election to his latest role, Reed said, is something he hopes to use to advance his organization’s cause and improve the health of Americans. “Our goal as a board is to create and track our strategic plan and objectives. One of our objectives is continually educating the general public on the need for a comprehensive eye examination.” A challenge to that goal, he said, is that many people view their eyes as a separate part of their body. However, from a medical point of view, Reed said the old adage that the “eyes are the windows to the soul” rings true. Through programming from the AOA and its members, as well as lobbying at the state and national level, Reed said he hopes to reinforce the need for annual eye exams and inspire people to take care of their eyes. “At last count, there were more than 270 diseases that display signs and symptoms in the eyes,” he said. “So really, eye examinations should be part of someone’s overall health care. “In the 30 years I’ve been in practice, I’ve diagnosed brain tumors, diabetics, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, and many other diseases,” Reed added. “And that’s what we (the AOA) want people to understand: Eye care is part of your overall health care strategy.” One of the campaigns Reed is helping lead as part of his President-Elect role is called “Eye Deserve More.” The campaign pinpoints members of the public that might neglect their vision. Most recently, the campaign has been focused on gamers, people who spend long hours on either computers or gaming systems, staring at a digital screen. By emphasizing the importance of eye health amid hours of screen time, Reed said AOA metrics show the campaign has been successful in motivating members of the public to get their eyes examined. In addition to promoting overall eye health, Reed said his role as president-elect also encompasses liaison work with other states. As president-elect, Reed serves as a liaison to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. “As liaison trustee, my role is to be a resource on the national level to assist their leadership as needed. This symbiotic relationship strengthens our profession and improves patient care.” Other objectives Reed said he hopes to accomplish during his one-year term as president-elect include enacting a federal law to fight vision insurance plan abuses. “Vision plans in general are really not concerned about patient care,” Reed said. “They’re concerned about their bottom line. The rules we have to follow with many vision plans often end up costing patients more, and limiting their choices. Also, many of them force us to use their labs, causing needless delays in products for patients. We’re hitting this from all angles. Patients deserve better service.” As president-elect, Reed serves as a liaison to several committees within the AOA, including the Sports and Performance Committee, the Federal Relations Committee, the Advocacy Committee, the Political Action Committee, and the Meetings Committee. A graduate of Southern College of Optometry, Reed is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Biochemistry. He is the 2010 and 2016 recipient of MOA’s James P. Brownlee Optometrist of the Year Award. In addition to Southern Eye Care of Clinton, Reed co-owns and operates Southern Eye Care Clinics in Flowood, Forest and Vicksburg and is owner of Family Vision in Magee, Collins, and Prentiss.

The Co-Lin Foundation elected seven new members to its board: Shannon Aker, Susan Buckley Berry, Andrew Calvit, Scott Christensen, Stacy Fells, Jr., Morgan Halford Poore and Tammy Underwood Torrey. Shannon Aker of Brookhaven is a 1984 graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he received a degree in radio and television journalism. He currently is the president of Bank of Brookhaven. Aker is the chairman of the Industrial Development Foundation and the Lincoln County Fellowship of Christian Athletes board, a deacon of First Baptist Church-Brookhaven and a member of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce board, the Brookhaven Tourism Council board and the Brookhaven Servitium Club. He and his wife, Robyn, have two children --Allison McCaffrey and Leslie Franciskato. Susan Buckley Berry of New Hebron is a 1967 Co-Lin graduate, where she received an Associate’s Degree in home economics, and she is a 1969 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Science in home economics and science. Before retirement, she was a teacher at New Hebron Attendance Center and Simpson Academy. Berry is a Women’s Club officer, Student Council sponsor, former Sunday school teacher, 4-H advisor, former president and secretary of the Co-Lin Alumni Association, and a library board member. She and her husband, Mims, have four children --Trey Berry, Andy Berry, Suzanne Berry Williams and Ryan Berry. Andrew Calvit of Natchez received an Associate’s Degree from Co-Lin Natchez, a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi --Natchez and a Master of Business Administration from Alcorn State University. He is retired after a long career at Atmos Energy. Calvit received Outstanding Soldier of the Quarter while in the U.S. Army, and he was named an Unsung Hero. He is a long-time member of the Natchez Rotary Club, which recently honored him by establishing a scholarship at Co-Lin in his honor. He is also a board member for Merit Health Natchez. He returns to the Foundation board after previously serving as a member for 18 years. He and his late wife have two children: Felecia Lyles and Andrea Denise Calvit. Scott Christensen of Brookhaven received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, completed postgraduate studies in health services administration at Xavier University and received a Master of Business Administration from Delta State University. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of King’s Daughters Medical Center. Christensen is the chairman of the Mississippi Hospital Association, a past chairman of the MHA Medicaid Advisory Committee, a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a past member of the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board. He was named a Community Legend by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors. He received the Mississippi CEO award from the Mississippi Business Journal, and he is a co-author of Change for the Delta: A Process for Strategic Planning in a Challenging Market, written for the Healthcare Financial Management Association. He and his wife, Melia, have three children: Marianna, 9, Martin, 6, and Makenna, 5. · . Stacy Fells, Jr of Brookhaven is a 2005 graduate of Co-Lin, a 2014 graduate of Alcorn State University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in interdisciplinary studies and a 2017 graduate of Walden University, where he received a Master’s Degree in higher education administration with an emphasis in leadership for student success. He currently works as workforce navigator for Co-Lin. Fells received the Malinda Clark “Power of the 8” Memorial Award from Region 8. He is the founder/president of the Southern Wildcats Youth Travel Football team, and he is a Lincoln Civic Center Dixie Youth Baseball committee member. He and his wife, Monica, have four children: Jai’Juan, 16, Lee’Land, 12, Grason, 8, and Jaxson, 8. Morgan Halford Poore of Meadville is a 2009 graduate of Co-Lin. She received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Mississippi State University in 2011 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2013. She currently works as an associate attorney at Halford Law Firm and serves as Franklin County board attorney and Roxie municipal board attorney. Poore is a member of Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners, a lay member to the Annual Conference for Meadville United Methodist Church, board attorney for Bude Community Foundation, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce board member, ACT Work Ready Communities county leader, Meadville/Franklin County Lions Club member, American Legion Auxiliary member and a youth leader for Meadville United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Dain, have one child: Dani, 2. Tammy Underwood Torrey of Meadville is a 1980 graduate of Co-Lin, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Delta State University in 1982. She currently works as Vice President of Operations at Franklin Telephone Co., Inc. Torrey is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. S he was honored as Co-Lin Alumna of the Year in 2014 and is a member of the Co-Lin Foundation Hall of Fame. She received the Mid-South Chapter of Independent Telephone Pioneers Wade H. Creekmore Sr. Award of Excellence 2022. She also serves as treasurer for the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League and the Southwest Mississippi Chess Foundation. She returns to the board after previously serving as a member for 18 years. She was married to the late James A. Torrey, Jr, and she has six dear pets: Sally, Pete, Lilly, Coal, Alex and Harris. “I am excited to add these new members to our board,” Angela Furr, executive director of the Co-Lin Foundation, said. “Each one brings a unique skillset and network to the table that I look forward to utilizing in our efforts to support the college.” The Co-Lin Foundation is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization which serves as the fundraising arm of the college. The Foundation is governed by a 25-member board of directors whose goal is to raise private monies to support the mission of the college.

As electricity consumption continues to rise in proportion with the rising temperatures, Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey urges Mississippians to take steps to conserve energy as we continue to endure these extreme temperatures. Today, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) issued a maximum generation emergency alert until 10 p.m. tonight because of loss of generation assets in other parts of the MISO service area and higher than forecasted energy consumption due to the continued extreme temperatures across the MISO footprint. The regional grid operator is asking consumers of all customer classes to practice energy conservation and reduce nonessential electricity use. If conditions persist, MISO will continue to communicate with its member utilities to assess and implement measures that will ensure overall grid stability, including potential localized load modification actions. “While our in-state MISO utility members’, including Entergy Mississippi, LLC, and Cooperative Energy Inc., generator assets are available and their electric generation exceeds in-state consumption, because of our participation in this regional market, we want to do our part to ensure grid stability and energy resource adequacy across the affected area,” Commissioner Bailey said. “The Mississippi Public Service Commission continues to monitor the effects of these extreme temperatures on our state and regional energy grid and appreciates the consuming public’s assistance in the wise consumption of energy use during this time.”

By Bob Garver Having seen the best (“The Dark Knight,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) and worst (“Morbius,” “Fant4stic”) of what the modern superhero genre has to offer, I can report that “Blue Beetle” falls right smack in the middle of the spectrum. It would be easy to write off this movie’s staggering averageness with a wide-brush line like “not a classic, not a disaster,” but I feel the need to stress the degree to which this movie is right on par. It isn’t so much that it’s dull or that I didn’t care about it, because that would be the mark of a bad superhero movie. It’s that the movie manages the curious feat of having just enough of a unique identity for me to recommend it with a bare minimum of passion. Our hero is Jamie Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), a smart, resourceful recent college graduate. He’s happy to be back in his hometown of Palmera City with his family, including his mother Rocio (Elpidia Carillo), father Alberto (Damián Alcázar), sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo), Nana (Adriana Barraza), and crazy uncle Rudy (George Lopez). But he’s less happy to hear that his family has fallen on hard times and is about to lose the house. He vows to help them out financially. A cleaning gig at the home of wealthy industrialist Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) goes badly, but he does make an impression on Victoria’s niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine), who half-heartedly invites him to apply for a job at corporate headquarters the next day. When he gets there, a skittish Jenny tells him to flee with a mysterious box, keep it safe and hidden, and above all, not open it. It’s maybe an hour before he opens the box in front of his family. Inside the box is The Scarab, an alien artifact that immediately attaches itself to Jamie and causes him develop a metallic skin, destroy most of the house, and rocket into outer space. Eventually Jamie figures out that he’s inside a super-suit that is certainly dangerous in his hands, but even more dangerous in the hands of the military or evildoers like Victoria or her mechanized henchman Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo). He seeks out Jenny for help getting the Scarab out of his system, and she takes him to the hidden lair of her long-missing father, who was secretly a low-level superhero called Blue Beetle. Jamie and his family use some of Blue Beetle’s tech and resources, though I don’t believe Jamie ever officially takes on the name himself. Whatever, fans are going to call the Jamie “Blue Beetle” going forward no matter what. Story-wise, it’s not hard to see the inspirations for “Blue Beetle.” The main character gets his powers from a bug at a corporate building like Spider-Man, he’s inside of a metal suit like Iron Man, he has a testy relationship with the symbiote (voiced by Becky G) attached to his body like Venom, some of his powers are imagination-based like Green Lantern, he hides out in an armory beneath a mansion like Batman, and I’m sure I’m missing several others. Maybe Blue Beetle’s real superpower is that he can amalgamate every other superhero movie. And yet, “Blue Beetle” compensates for this lack of originality with a healthy dose of heart. Not too much heart, characters like Jamie and Jenny are likeable enough, but they’re pretty standard as far as superhero leads go. But there is an undeniable charm to the Reyes family, and it’s hard not to be swept up in their chemistry and care for each other. Then again, this movie isn’t much different than dozens of other superhero movies, and it’s not like most of them don’t have likeable characters too. I was going to give this movie a non-recommendation grade of C for being too bland, but then Nana showed up and saved the day. If you see the movie, you’ll understand why I had to bump the grade up to a B- just for her. Grade: B- “Blue Beetle” is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references. Its running time is 127 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

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.

It’s not exactly a terrific ego-booster to forever be ‘the belly’ – the body part that doesn’t clear the fence last, but still, you’re not the tip end of the nose that always goes first, either. Can make a person feel pretty mediocre at times. Whether it’s on the job, in the family, or simply during playtime, seems you are destined to …just be there, doing important belly work but never a leading part of the whole outfit. And don’t even think about being a nose-tip! But being last in line doesn’t always feel too great, either. The part that clears the fence last. From the vantage point of a hind-ender person, life can seem like an endless series of watching others racing ahead of them – seeming to effortlessly and happily clear the fence long before the hind-ender has the chance to sluggishly heave their body up and over. A fence that apparently grows to be one hundred- and five-feet tall … just before the hind-ender gets there. That is how it can feel to them, anyway. So, does there really have to be brains, and bellies, and hind-enders in every organization in this world? Why? Why must there always be those who have the unglamorous designation of Hind-Ender? Simple. A group of people is a living thing, and a living breathing thing always has body parts. Body parts that function to make that organization work. And unfortunately, there is always gonna be a tail, as it is a vital and needed piece of the body puzzle. (Ever actually seen an animal, a bird, a person, or any other living thing on this earth that doesn’t own one?) My advice to the one reading this column, who is sick of always being the last one over the fence? Learn to readjust your thinking about you. Re-evaluate what the family, the company, or the team would be without your participation as the hind-end. Reassess your actual input and the need for it within the organization, and you will very likely see your value. After all, what exactly is a body without a tail? I agree, you will probably never be on the cover of an MVP magazine. Most of us won’t. But folks, being the tip of the nose has its own trials and problems. Tips of noses have to deal with allergies, odors, and risk of frostbite that hind-ends rarely have to face. Yeah, pun intended. Learn to find the value of your position, right where you are. Free yourself to enjoy the good things in your life. Realize that everyone has a job to do in life and it probably is totally different from yours, but they face their own painful, boring, and difficult times. Your Creator hasn’t forgotten you. Nor has He decided you are ‘less than.’ On the contrary, the hind-end has an endless amount of varied and important jobs for the body. Take some time to imagine what life would be like without hind-ends.

Flaky Vaughn with a prized bass. Shirley Paton with white perch from Lake Lincoln The extraordinary heat of this summer, among other things, is driving fish into deeper cool waters, but they’re still biting if you’re fishing at the right time and place say two veteran Lake Lincoln fishermen undiscouraged by new demands of their sport caused by high water temperatures. Luther (Flaky) Vaughn and his buddy Shirley Paton watched Lake Lincoln being built and have been fishing there since it opened in 1984. They say you can catch your fair share of fish when surface waters are cool in the mornings and evenings, but the real secret of successful fishing is what it has always been: patience. You can find 65-year-old Flaky on Lake Lincoln just about every day now that he has retired from logging. He lives close to the Co-Lin campus, is up early and on the lake fishing primarily for bass when the surface waters are cool. “I’m there from about 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.,” he says. “I want bass, but I’ll take the brim, catfish and crappie that populate the lake as well. He fishes off the bridge and piers at the lake with artificial bait. Paton isn’t on the lake as often as his Flaky – maybe once or twice a week. At 77 years old, he mows lawns for people even after his retirement as a manufacturing plant supervisor. His favorite fishing spot is the island in the lake. He also fishes from a boat. Living just around the corner from the lake, he gets there early in the mornings on his fishing days, too. “I fish for anything but bass, he says. “I don’t like the heavy duty lines required for bass fishing. To lure his catch, he uses minnows and worms, which he buys at the Uncle Ray’s bait shop that services Lake Lincoln fishermen. Catching and eating fish is a family affair for Flaky and Paton, and their wives enjoy fishing with them. Flaky does all the cooking at his home, including the preparation of the fish he catches. Paton, on the other hand, says he just eats and lets his wife prepare and cook his catch. Both Flaky and Paton have fished at nearby waterways in Pike and Franklin Counties, but Lake Lincoln is their favorite place. Flaky proudly claims the title “Mr. Lake Lincoln’ given to him by fellow fishermen. On good fishing days, 15 to 20 fishermen, on average, will join Flaky and Paton, says Lake Lincoln maintenance supervisor and acting site manager Randy Chance. Bass, catfish, brim, white perch and striped bass thrive in Lake Lincoln’s waters, which were last stocked in 2008, he says. Ford Creek waters from the Pearl River by way of the Little Bahalia Creek feed Lake Lincoln’s 550 acres, and is the pathway for the 10 to 15 alligators that also make their home there, he adds.

By Kara Kimbrough When you glanced at the headline, you may have thought the tagline would be…”football!” I have a confession to make. Unless it’s Homecoming and I want to see what the court’s gowns look like, I sometimes skip the main event and stay in the tailgate tent. That’s where the real fun happens, at least in the ones I frequent. Besides socializing with friends, partaking of a bounteous spread of one of my favorite food groups – appetizers – is reason enough to brave the south Mississippi heat that lasts until the Thanksgiving to tailgate at my alma mater. This year, I’m going to have to step up my tailgate food game. I’ve been invited to be a full-time member of a tent located in what I consider to be the best location on campus. In case you haven’t guessed by the hint above, it’s at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Located on a spacious corner within throwing distance of the football stadium and next to the street down which the football team, band and cheerleaders make their way during “Eagle Walk,” it’s a prime spot. Lots of friends and alumni either tailgate there or drop in, so my food has to be special this year. One of my stand-by tailgate appetizers is brown sugar Smokies. Little Smokies are wrapped in bacon, coated in brown sugar and baked to an irresistible crunchiness. They travel well, withstand the heat and are easy to pick up and eat. However, they aren’t visually-appealing. I’m looking through my cookbooks and recipes now for new and innovative ideas. If you have any favorite tailgate themes and dishes you’d like to share, please drop me an email. I welcome any and all ideas and recipes. It’s too early to nail down any specific item just yet, as the primary host has deemed each game’s tailgate food will center around a theme. He’s thrown out ideas like Cajun/Creole, Southern-style and grilled favorites. Jambalaya and gumbo, fried chicken, grilled burgers and ribs have been mentioned, but nothing’s yet been set in stone. In the meantime, I’ve been perusing a column I wrote in 2016 on the occasion of Super Bowl 50. It almost killed me, but I managed to create, gather or edit 50 appetizer recipes to publish before the big game. Here are just a few of my favorites from that column to provide inspiration as tailgate…I mean, football season, approaches. Delish Bacon-Onion Dip — Cook 2 thinly sliced yellow onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove onions and cool; fry 6 slices of bacon in same skillet. Chop bacon and cooked onions and combine with a cup of sour cream, 2 chopped scallions and seasoning salt to taste. Spicy Football Spread — With mixer, combine 3, 8-ounce packages softened cream cheese, 3 cups cheddar, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, 1 cup of sour cream, teaspoon of Worcestershire and dash of hot sauce. On plastic wrap, mold mixture into football shape or (or use a lined, medium plastic football dish). Place football on serving dish and cover with chopped toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Old Bay Snack Mix — Toss together party-size bag of regular potato chips, 2 cups each Cheez-Its and Goldfish crackers and mini pretzels, ½ stick melted butter and a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes, stirring once. Vegetable Pockets — Warm 12 pita pockets in the microwave. Snip off the tops and fill with a mixture of hummus, crumbled feta, chopped olives, cucumber, lettuce and tomato. (Can add sliced sandwich meat if you want). Serve with fresh dill dipping sauce. Fresh Dill Sauce — Combine 1 cup each mayo and sour cream, 2 tablespoons dill weed, 2 tablespoons Beau Monde seasoning and 1 teaspoon minced onion. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour before serving. Serve with Healthy Vegetable Pockets, sliced vegetables or crackers. Better Than Store-Bought Pimiento-Cheese Dip — Mix ½ pound each grated cheddar and pepper jack, ¼ cup each mayonnaise and sour cream and 2 tablespoons diced pimientos. Season with hot sauce, onion and garlic powders and mix well; serve with crackers. Touchdown Drumsticks — Combine a cup of jarred picante sauce, ¼ cup of honey, tablespoon of soy sauce and ½ teaspoon grated ginger in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Brush half the mixture on 12 chicken legs (can use chicken tenders) in a foil-covered baking pan; bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn legs and brush with remainder; continue baking 20 minutes or until tender. Serve with picante sauce. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi and a travel agent. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

A flea market oriented to Lake Lincoln State Park visitors and the surrounding community will begin offering a new shopping experience on the Saturday before Labor Day and continue on the first and third Saturdays of every month. Uncle Rays -- an eatery, convenience store, bait shop and RV and boat rentals venue -- is organizing the bi-monthly market on its property at 2574 Sunset Road just outside Wesson across from the entrance to Lake Lincoln State Park, and is seeking vendors for it. “We want about a dozen vendors that will offer a variety of choices to shoppers – fleas, crafts, clothing, jewelry, books, audio-video products, furniture, fresh produce and home-grown and cooked canned foods and condiments and other finds unique to the market,” says Uncle Rays proprietor Charles Fortson, Jr. Uncle Rays will offer hot food and snacks, so no spaces are available for similar sales Vendor spaces will be 12-foot-by-20-foot available for $20 each. The inaugural Uncle Rays Sales Day is Saturday, September 2. Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call or text Chasity Cupstid at 601-643-0195 for information or apply for a vendor space

The sound of helmets and pads after school in a sweltering stew of August heat can only mean one thing – it’s high school football time in central Mississippi. It’s also preseason for the rapid-response team of orthopaedic surgeons and other health care specialists at UMMC’s Friday Night injury Clinic, who help keep area high school football players healthy and hydrated in preparation for the season. “UMMC sports medicine has athletic trainers on site at the local high schools and have worked with the kids all summer,” said Dr. Derrick Burgess, assistant professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. “They’re treating injured athletes and are there for preseason practices to watch for heat exhaustion. They get to know the athletes well during this time. It allows us to treat them better if and when they are injured.” For more than 15 years, UMMC has offered the Friday night clinic for high school football players during and after games when injuries happen. All ranges of injuries, from sprained knees to potentially dangerous impacts to the head and neck, can be addressed in minutes instead of days. Players can be X-rayed and, if needed, receive bracing at the appropriate UMMC facility, including University Physicians Pavilion, where players are checked in, and, when appropriate, the Emergency Department. “The most important thing this clinic gives to athletes and parents is immediate access to care,” Burgess said. “If a player is injured in the second or third quarter, then they’re seeing us in an hour’s time. We’re able to make a diagnosis within hours of the injury and get treatment started, no matter the scope of the injury, and get them back to playing as soon as possible.” UMMC staffs football games for six metro Jackson schools with certified athletic trainers. During the football season, the clinic operates from 9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but if possible, parents and athletic trainers are asked to call ahead at 601-815-4721. Players from outside metro Jackson can also call ahead about arriving by 11:30 and staff will wait for them. The sports medicine team also works with athletic trainers at the high schools to ensure protocols are followed so injured players can return to the field quickly but safely, depending on the specific injury. Those specialists meet during the summer months to have, in essence, a continuing education session to prepare for when the games count in the standings and injuries become likely. “We talk about heat-related illnesses and recognizing possible cervical spine injuries and concussions,” said Jeff Martinez, supervisor or UMMC Sports Medicine. “Then, as practices start up just before the season, three athletic trainers stand in on teams’ morning and afternoon workouts.” Clinic staff must keep a watch on heat-related issues as the season begins even when the sun goes down, as temperatures often stay in the 80s past dusk. “We will see signs of heat-related items like cramping of muscles, most often,” Martinez said. “We have a cold tub available, in case of it. We know if an athlete’s temperature is running 105 degrees on the field, the best treatment isn’t to quickly put them into the ambulance, but to be placed in a cold-water immersion tub. It prevents organ failure and even death. We also know to treat possible spine injuries that might show mild symptoms at first. We’re there a few hours beforehand to do protective padding, taping and bracing so we can better treat them on the field.” The ultimate winner from the prompt attention the clinic provides for student-athletes on the gridiron is the community itself, including parents and coaches. “Parents are more aware of sports injuries now,” Martinez said. “The sooner you’re able to start treating it, the better. Even with ankle sprains, a sports PT can go over basic at-home exercises to deal with them. MRIs can be scheduled by the next Tuesday.” All the preparation during the summer months from clinicians means high school football fans can cheer a bit louder for their teams once jamborees and district games begin. “Athletes want to return to the field as soon as possible after injuries, and the coaches want them back, too,” Burgess said. “So, with us starting treatment immediately, everyone benefits.”