Back in 2021, Co-Lin’s Workforce Education Division discovered and responded to a major regional industry gap that had emerged with growing emphasis on broadband internet technology and the sudden demand for it in the COVID-19 pandemic: the need for trained fiber splicers critical to building a fiber optic broadband infrastructure. Access to broadband enables people more affordable and efficient access to basic services such as health care, education, and government services, and the sudden onset of COVID-19 made it an important need when work-from-home, and school-from-home sharply increased and broadband technology became not just an added benefit to the home, but a requirement for residential internet and wi-fi. While many have returned to the workplace and classroom, the demand for high-speed broadband connectivity continues to increase. In the Magnolia State, the Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM) was created to expand broadband infrastructure and make increasing accessibility of high a top priority. Co-Lin applied for funds and launched a first-of-its-kind training program to meet the demand for fiber splicing techs. This year, the college graduated six students from the program, will start a new session September 11 on the Wesson campus with a September 1 registration deadline. Workforce Center Director and Fiber Splicing Instructor Luke Laird assumed responsibility for the implementation of the program midway through the process as he took leadership within the workforce department. The process involved overcoming several challenges such as supply chain shortages, curriculum selection, and curriculum training for certified instructor status. After researching industry recognized programs, Co-Lin selected CORNING Fiber Broadband Technician (CFBT) See the Light® curriculum, which is recognized by industry training certification organizations such as BICSI, Electronics Technicians Association (ETA International), Fiber Optic Association (FOA), and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers/ international Society of Broadband Experts. The Co-Lin fiber splicing technician program consists of 144 hours of training, in which students first receive comprehensive fiber optic theory and hands-on training designed for those with no industry experience. This program expands the CORNING Fiber Broadband Technician Course. First, a foundation of fiber optic basics is established consisting of but not limited to infrastructure, cable types, hardware and closures, placement, fiber optic fusion splicing, testing, and troubleshooting. Then the Co-Lin program incorporates course work for the CFBT certification, OSHA-10 safety, forklift operator’s card, and CPR/First Aid certification. “The students from our program are uniquely positioned to lead the way for trained and certified fiber splicing employees,” says Laird. “The state is waiting for a funding rollout that would allow for contractors to begin the broadband network buildout. At that time, employers will be looking for certified techs, and these students are ready to lead the charge.” Information is available on the website www.colin.edu/fibersplicing or by calling 601.643.8707. Enrollment requirements include scoring a 16 or higher on the ACT or a silver level or greater on the National Career Readiness Certificate.

By Douglas Carswell “Woke” radicals love to undermine America at every opportunity. They try to rewrite history in order to demoralize and disorientate the United States. Cultural Marxism is able to thrive in that vacuum where there was once good civics education. If we want to defeat the radicals, both on and off campus, there are six things we should ensure every American child understands. 1. America is built on liberty. Liberty is what makes America special. This country was started in 1776 because people living in 13 former British colonies had had enough of being bossed about by a British king. America today might have its fair share of busybody politicians and bureaucrats, but the default setting in this country is to distrust anyone claiming authority over others, from George III to Dr. Fauci. Americans also dislike being told what to think, and particularly having their children told what to think: an extraordinary 3.7 million American schoolchildren are now homeschooled. 2. The US Constitution created the best system of government in the world. America might only be 240-something years old, but the US Constitution is now the oldest written Constitution in the world (with the exception of tiny San Marino). For context, France, which had its revolution at about the same time as America, is now on its fifth constitution. (Incidentally, how's that working out?) It might be fashionable for CNN pundits to proclaim that American democracy is in crisis, but it is nonsense. If and when Americans adhere to what the Founders actually wrote, the system works. The document they drafted, which fuses English ideas about natural rights with recently rediscovered insights from republican Rome, has withstood the test of time – and the challenge from would-be tyrants. 3. America is a force for good. No country is perfect, and America has had its fair share of blunders. But overall, America has been a force for good in the world. All previous great powers used their might to establish empires. Far from subjugating people, the United States used her strength to set people free, insisting the European powers dismantle their empires. On three occasions – World War I, World War II and the Cold War - the United States has intervened to save the free world. Can you imagine what the world today would be like if on any of those occasions, the other side had won? 4. Americans are amazingly inventive. From the first flight of the Kitty Hawk to the advent of the iPhone, there is one country that has proved extraordinarily inventive; the United States. Take a look at the everyday household objects around you as you read this. The light bulb. The microwave oven. The refrigerator. Toothpaste. All are American inventions. Innovation depends on being able to try out new things. It means freedom to fail. America is inventive because she is free. 5. Judeo-Christian ideals have shaped America. Religion has been remarkably important in shaping America. Yes, I know that the Founders kept religion and government separate. That was not because they thought religion unimportant but in fact the opposite. The Founders wanted to avoid the oppression of smaller religious groups, as had happened in Europe. When George Washington became President, he wrote an extraordinary letter to the Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. In it, he made it clear that they had a right to follow their faith. No one needed anyone else’s approval to worship as they pleased. America’s emphasis on individualism is, I suspect, a reflection of Judeo-Christian thinking. 6. Americans have so much to be thankful for. “Woke” ideology encourages grievance and resentment, rather than gratitude. This is why the “woke” seldom seem happy. Gratitude is an essential ingredient for happiness – and if you want to “pursue happiness” won’t get very far without appreciating the good things that you have. It is not a coincidence that one of the most important days in the American calendar is called “Thanksgiving”. Initially, a day to show gratitude for getting the harvest in, today Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate being American. Simply being an American means you have so much to be thankful for. Douglas Carswell is the President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

By Kara Kimbrough Receiving emails from readers asking for restaurant recommendations is a regular occurrence. Requests with questions like, "What are the best seafood restaurants on the Gulf Coast," or "While visiting the Jackson area, where should I go for steak?" I'm happy to oblige these requests but one particular request is not so easily answered: "Which restaurants serve the best homemade desserts?" There's a simple reason I consider this request more challenging: the number of restaurants making desserts from scratch is quickly dwindling. In my opinion, that's a sad fact. Don't get me wrong; I don't consider a restaurant's dessert menu to be the determining factor in whether or not I consider it worthy of a visit - or a recommendation. But it's disappointing to realize many resaurants rely on food service companies to supply pre-fabricated pies, cakes, cobblers and other desserts. A few decades ago, this practice was unheard of, but today it's become the norm. However, don't get the idea that homemade desserts are extinct in Mississippi restaurants. Some continue to make their own sweet treats; a few that come to mind include: 1. Mary Mahoney's Bread Pudding - I'm not usually a fan of this dessert, but was a quick convert after trying the famous Biloxi eatery's equally notable bread pudding. Filled with delicious flavors, the top is browned to give the dish a slightly crunchy coating instead of the mushy texture of so many versions. 2. Crystal Grill's Lemon Icebox Pie - Named People Magazine's "Best Pie of Mississippi," I first heard about the famous dessert while interviewing Mississippi native and Iron Chef champion Cat Cora. According to Cora, one of her first stops when visiting her home state is Greenwood to sample a large piece of the mile-high pie. I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my culinary bucket list. 3. Mammy's Cupboard Coconut Pie - A delicious Southern meal at this iconic Natchez restaurant was highighted by a huge slice of coconut pie topped with what seemed to be several inches of fluffy meringue. To say it was one of the best slices of pie of my life wouldn't be an exaggeration. 4. Weidmann's Black Bottom Pie - It's been a few years since I visited the state's oldest restaurant in Meridian, but I have no doubts that slices of its self-proclaimed "world famous black bottom pie" is still selling like hotcakes. For obvious reasons, the recipe is a top secret, but a vintage recipe calls for a crust of crushed gingersnaps, layers of creamy custard and chocolate and a crown of meringue topped with chocolate shavings. The modern-day version looks similar to the description and tastes even better than you can imagine. 5. 10 South Rooftop's Vanilla Creme Brulee - Without question, the view of the Mighty Mississippi is amazing from this Vicksburg eatery's outside deck, especially at sunset. But once the sun goes down, order dinner topped off by this equally outstanding dessert. One of my favorite custard esserts is taken to a new level with the infusion of vanilla topped with the familiar crispy sugar top. So yes, there are a respectful number of restaurant desserts scattered throughout Mississippi. And no, I didn't name them all above. If you'd like a more complete list, drop me an email and I'll send you additional picks. Restaurants aside, there's nothing better than a homemade dessert made by your loving hands in your own kitchen. To get you started, I'm including Mary Mahoney's famous recipe as well as one of my grandmother's favorite "Sunday lunch" pies. Keeping a fresh pound cake under the silver dome was one of her life goals, but she was equally fond of pies. This recipe for "Million Dollar Pie," which she always called "Fruit Cocktail Pie," was one of her go-tos when time was short, but a delicious dessert was the only way to top off a bountiful meal. Mary Mahoney's Bread Pudding 6 slices day-old bread 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons, plus 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 4 eggs 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Break bread in small pieces in baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over bread and add raisins and melted butter. Toast lightly the bread mixture in a 350-degree oven. Then add mixture of eggs, sugar, milk and vanilla extract, after mixing well. Bake about 30 minutes or until solid. Traditionally served with rum sauce. Serves about 8. Emma Lee's Fruit Cocktail Pie 1 can sweetened condensed milk 8-ounce cream cheese 8-ounce carton Cool Whip 1 cup coconut flakes 1 15-ounce can fruit cocktail, drained 1 cup chopped pecans Small can crushed pineapple, drained 2 pie shells, baked according to package directions Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until blended. Pour into baked pie shells and refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Pies freeze well. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

As Co-Lin’s ninth president settles into his new job, which he started on July 1, Dr. Dewayne Middleton is viewing his work on minimizing problems and maximizing opportunities at Co-Lin through one lens: students first. “I am excited about the direction of Co-Lin, and believe valuing students is how we continue to move forward,” he told the Wesson Lions Club. Student focus, he explains, is about maintaining Co-Lin’s great academic and career education programs supported by great teachers reflected in the highest graduation rate among Mississippi colleges, recruiting and retaining students by being highly visible in communicating what the college does, advancing partnerships with business and industry and other colleges and universities to assure job and educational opportunities for students and treating all the college’s. people – students, faculty and staff – right. Within this context, Middleton says his immediate priorities are maintaining institutional accreditation, upgrading facilities and recruiting new students: “Accreditation is basic and is my first priority in the coming months,” Middleton says. “A Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission team will visit Co-Lin in October 2024 to review all our programs, and we want to make sure it results in a 10-year report that reaffirms the college’s accreditation. We’ve begun that process.”” Middleton also says he wants to focus on upgrading facilities that are in disrepair or dated, similar to upgrades to athletic facilities on the Wesson campus over the past few years. Although the emphasis will be on existing buildings, he would like to see construction of new dormitories to meet demands of students on waiting lists for rooms on campus. He also wants a new gymnasium to replace the Mullens gym, which has numerous problems with the structure – a phase one of the proposed athletic arena-arts complex on the Wesson campus, a project with a price tag that worries him. The new Co-Lin president also wants to stimulate enrollment growth. “We’re appealing to a ‘show-me’ generation today,” he observes. “We’ve got to make sure people know about our programs and understand what we offer.” “I feel extremely honored and grateful to have been selected by the board of trustees to lead this incredible institution as president,” says Middleton. “Co-Lin has been part of my life for nearly 30 years, first as a student-athlete here and then the place I was fortunate to build my career.” He holds an associate degree from Co-Lin, where he played on the Wolf Pack men’s basketball team, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in coaching and sports administration, a master’s degree from Alcorn State University in secondary education, and a doctorate from Mississippi State University in community college leadership. At Co-Lin, he served as Executive Vice President before moving into the Presidency, and also was Vice President of Co-Lin’s Simpson County Center, Dean of Student Services at the Simpson County Center, an academic advisor/instructor, the Upward Bound coordinator, and assistant men’s and women’s basketball coach. Middleton serves on the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACSCOC) Substantive Change Committee Review Team, the SACSCOC On-Site Committee Review Team and the Mississippi Community College Board Review Team for OCR and ADA Compliance. He is a member of the Mississippi ACT Council, Southeastern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Academic Officers, Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Student Affairs Association and Mississippi Scholars Steering Committee. He says meeting his wife Sirkersia was the most important thing that has happened to him at Co-Lin. They have two daughters -- Mikaylin and Soumya who attended Co-Lin -- and a son, Kendal, who plans to attend Co-Lin.

Wesson Mayor Alton Shaw, Town Clerk Angela Hester, Public Works Director Brad Turner and Aldermen joined similar officials from across the state at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi for three days of information-sharing, training and networking at the Mississippi Municipal League’s (MML) 92nd Annual Conference. Since 1931, MML has been the official non-profit private organization of Mississippi cities and towns that lobbies the state and federal legislatures, provides education for municipal elected officials and technical support, represents 293 municipalities with public and private entities, and is a networking media for municipal members. It was established in 1931. At this year’s conference, titled “Get in the Game: A Playbook for Municipal MVPs,” the League celebrated 92 years of service to Mississippi's cities and towns. An estimated 2,500 municipal elected officials, municipal employees, state agency representatives, legislators, exhibitors, and others attended the annual event. Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker, elected by MML membership as the organization’s second vice president in 2021, rotated into its top leadership post this year as president, following in the footsteps of previous Mayors of the town, Ed Morgan and Johnny Dupree. ascended to its presidency this year added a new title to his resume this week: President. . “Leading this organization is not a role I take lightly,” Barker said. “We’re at a critical time in our state where cities and residents need vocal leaders who will work hard on their behalf. With the unprecedented availability of federal and state-based infrastructure funds and a strong need for continued legislative support, I look forward to working with our executive team to move our state forward.” At the event, state and federal agencies provided speakers for the educational sessions, including the Attorney General's office, State Auditor's office, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Planning and Development Districts and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, among others. They covered state law updates, grant opportunities. medical marijuana, municipal liability issues, community and economic development, infrastructure funding, disaster recovery, and water and sewer issues. Attendees also heard stump speeches of candidates running for Mississippi 's governor and lieutenant governor and other statewide offices. Of special interest to Wesson officials were presentations on federal funds related to wastewater infrastructure and Mississippi rural water. More than 200 municipal officials, including Wesson Aldermen Mike King and Larry Harry, graduated from MML’s Certified Municipal Official program, 2023 Municipal Excellence Awards were presented, a new members of the 2023 Municipal Hall of Fame were inducted in a special ceremony and an expo show showcased more than 150 businesses, state agencies, and other organizations. Also at the conference, Town Clerk Hester was named an executive trustee representing the Central Central District for the Mississippi Municipal Clerks and Collectors Association and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation honored the Town of Wesson as a “Healthy Hometown,” and awarded it a $100,000 grant. SIDEBAR Wesson Police Chief Chad O’Quinn also attended the annual conference of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP), which coincided with the MML conference at Biloxi. It is MACP’s primary educational conference, providing Chiefs and upper-level law enforcement executives the opportunity to receive required twenty hours of instruction. Wide-ranging speakers included Child Protective Services Commissioner Andrea Sanders, Dr. Mark Whitman on burnout, Norm Comeaux on State and Federal Supreme Court rulings, Medical Marijuana program directors Pat Dally and Angie Calhoun, Michael Warren on 21st Century police training and Kennedy Meaders on de-escalation. A special session explored current FBI-CJIS capabilities. At a trade show, attendees interacted with vendors of various types of equipment and technology available for law enforcement today. There was also plenty of time for social interaction between Chiefs in an information-sharing format designed to exchange ideas and talk of common problems/solutions.

Physical pain. Turns your life upside down while it lasts. Instead of concentrating on having fun or getting your job done, a person experiencing pain suddenly finds themself with a new goal. Getting rid of it – now. Aspirin, painkillers, bedrest, anything, - you name it, we want it. But let’s look at those who live with chronic pain – the kind that their doctor has been unable to help so far, and not much hope that it will be taken away soon. When you talk to sufferers of chronic pain, you find that there seem to be a few characteristics that are part and parcel of the whole experience. Like feelings of impatience, resentment, envy, bitterness, hopelessness and eventually, depression. Not exactly the stuff of dreams for anyone. Slogging thru life with the burden of pain, and then adding on that emotional baggage…it is no wonder they can have a tough time with just coping. But when that person decides to just keep going, no matter the odds, as time passes they can find that there have been a few upsides, after all. They learn as they look back over the years that they have been offered the chance to experience some positive personality changes. If they have allowed it, chronic pain can do some personal work like little else can. Hopefully they will recognize themselves as being a little more compassionate for others who are physically hurting in some way. Kindness and caring will usually be the offshoots of that compassion. For example, nothing like suffering with a migraine to enable a person to feel for another’s blinding headache. Most chronic sufferers will find they develop more patience and long-suffering. After all, what choice have they had in the matter? They have had to learn to just deal with their problem. Sulking and/or throwing a fit doesn’t change anything. Another positive change in their personality will probably be more courage. An individual can’t live with inescapable pain without developing determination and resolve to make it thru and do what has to be done, no matter what. Chronic pain will also bring out a person’s creativity. No one else but you can find the tiny ways to help yourself that bring about a smidgen of physical relief. A certain pillow placed at just the right angle, a particular writer or tv show that has a way of capturing your attention and taking you out of your pain-filled world for a little while, an ice-pack or hot pack tucked into a particular spot for a few minutes. These kinds of things are discovered only by the sufferer themselves. Real need sparks real creativity over time. Sufferers of chronic physical pain, take a look back in time. If you have allowed living with pain to change you for the better, you can be proud of yourself. You have made positive contributions to the lives of other people in ways you never even realized.

A 20-year-old Lincoln County woman who will begin studies at Co-Lin in the fall semester is the college’s first recipient and one of the first recipients in Mississippi of a unique scholarship established by the state legislature to assist students who spent time in the foster care system. Christina Freeman has been awarded $1,750 for her tuition, fees and other expenses at Co-Lin during the fall semester through the “Fostering Access & Inspiring True Hope Scholarship” spearheaded by Mississippi Representative Bill Kinkade in the 2022 state legislative session. The faith scholarship to promote faith and hope among those who come out of foster care pays up to the full cost of attending Mississippi colleges to former foster youth. Until she went to a teacher with her story when she was 12 years old, Freeman had what she describes as an “awful childhood,” sexually abused regularly by her father and abandoned by her mother to his desires. Living with a brother at the time, she says “I got tired of the abuse, and had to tell somebody.” She had thought about running away over the years, but “there was no place to go,” she says. Freeman, now a resident of the Doll’s House, a Brookhaven mission home where women find healing from the wounds and scars of their past, still has a hard time telling her story, which also encompasses almost seven years in Mississippi Child Protective Services (CPS) after law enforcement authorities removed her from her family situation. Those years included institutional and foster care that were a band aid, but did not address deep-rooted spiritual and mental health problems with which the Doll’s House is helping her. When Freeman aged out of CPS at 18 years old, her case worker convinced Johnnie and Stephanie Turner, who run the Doll’s House program, to provide her its transitional housing alternative, which can only accommodate 12 persons at a time. “I didn’t think we could help her, but agreed to try if she could qualify for the Co-Lin high school Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) program,” says Stephanie. “Christina not only qualified on the assessment test for the program, but blew it out of the water with her scores.” June 27, when she received her GED, was a landmark day for Freeman, but landmarks have characterized everyday life for her since coming to the Doll’s House. “Christina has overcome lot of mental and physical issues and challenges,” Stephanie relates. “Healthcare institutions cared for her by doping her with mind-calming drugs and sedatives, from which we weaned her so she could function normally. Rarely did she smile when she came here, but she always wears a pretty grin on her face now. She is also learning to own her story and to share it with others.” And, of course, there’s the scholarship that will fund her studies in office business technology at Co-Lin. Her first class will mark another major landmark day. Ask Freeman about the Doll’s House, where she lives communally with other women also seeking to overcome problems that brought them there – domestic abuse, incarceration, addiction, homelessness, among others, she responds simply: “Amazing!” The Turners came to Brookhaven ten years ago after service in the Jackson area with Baptist missions for children and youth to start the Doll’s House as a stepping stone for formerly incarcerated women returning to society. Within five years, it was clear their program could help a broad array of women in transition in different circumstances who require healing and empowerment. Its population now also includes children whom the Doll’s House is trying to reunify with their mothers after they were taken away. Their program emphasizes eight healing steps: personal development, vocational training, substance abuse counseling, interpersonal skills, personal and spiritual development, building community involvement, leisure activities and independent living skills. As a Christian mission, a foundational component of the work, the Turners say, is introducing Doll’s House women to Jesus. “When they know Jesus, it is easier to help them see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Stephanie says. The Doll’s House, she adds, finds scriptural guidance in Matthew 25:34-40 where Jesus commends those who gave him meat and drink when he hungered and was thirsty, took him in as a stranger, clothed and visited him when he was naked and sick, and came to him when he was in prison. For information on the Doll’s House and making donations for its work, contact Darlene Slater Rehabilitation Center for Women, P.O Box 3172, Brookhaven, Mississippi 39603. Telephone: 601-291-8757 (Stephanie Turner) and 601-519-3546 (Johnnie Turner).

By Bob Arnold It hardly seems possible, but Aubrey Cary Currie, Jr (known as “AC” to his many friends around and about Wesson) didn’t come to town until 1998 after his retirement after a long career with Entergy at Mississippi Power & Light (MPL). AC, who just celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday, came with his wife Janet, bringing her back to where she grew up, and her aging mother. While Janet continued a career as a gifts shop proprietor, AC involved himself in the community through Wesson Baptist Church, Wesson Chamber of Commerce and Keep Copiah County Beautiful, and, in the process, became known as a “go-to guy” who has been a source of Christian wisdom for young men and peers alike and can fix mechanical things when they break down. Folk say it seems like he has been around forever. But there were many stops along the way. Born in Sanitorium, Mississippi, so called because of the tuberculosis institution there, he spent his early life in Simpson County in the Mendenhall-Magee area before moving with his family to the Jackson area, where he attended school, graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1957 following Barr Elementary, Liberty Grove Elementary and Baily Junior High School. Back in the World War II years, Jackson was a pleasant place, where you could walk to a school bus and bike around town safely, Currie recalls. Living just outside the city, he also had a taste of country and grew up on a tractor, helping to tend to the needs of the property, while leading a liberated life as a latch key kid with working parents who didn’t have to worry about him in those days. In high school, he played football and competed in track. He drove a school bus to make money, and started developing an interest in mechanics with a motor scooter, 1929 Model A Ford and 1936 Plymouth. Sometimes he resorted to unconventional fix-its to keep his vehicles running – like pouring oatmeal into a car radiator to gum up its leaks. But two years on active duty in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Robert H McCard as a Boiler Tender 3rd Class Petty Officer after joining the Naval Reserve and going to boot camp when he was 17 years old before his high school graduation sharpened his technical skills for a 35-year career “making electricity.” In 1960 after trying to study with students much younger than he at Hinds Community College, Currie applied for work on MPL line crews, inspired by one of them he saw on the job. For three and a half years, he worked with a line crew in Jackson, and then another year with an underground crew that serviced transformers and pumps. After one year as a meter reader in Jackson, he became an apprentice instrument mechanic at the Rex Brown Steam Electric Station (SES) in the city, transferring to a similar job at the Vicksburg Baxter Wilson SES where he stayed 33 years until his retirement in 1995, and also worked as an instrument mechanic, instrument and control technician, instrument and control supervisor and electrical maintenance supervisor for instrument controls. Throughout his career, Currie added to his skills set in varied self-study courses: communication engineering (Cooks School of Electronics), electronic technology (Cleveland Institute of Electronics), electronic analog control (Bailey Meter Company), system maintenance (Harris), steam turbine generators (Westinghouse), system engineering (C.E. Taylor Controls), hardware system maintenance (C.E. Taylor Controls), boiler performance analysis (Babcock & Wilcox), electrical system maintenance and testing (South West Engineering), DC, AC, digital and electronic circuitry and semi-conductor devices (Electec, Inc. and AP&L competency-based training at Hinds Community College) and auto computer assisted design (Co-Lin). As important as education and career advancement were to Currie in his work at MPL, he also credits a supervisor there for helping him hone his spiritual life. “I don’t remember his name now,” says Currie. “We called him Deacon. He brought me to Jesus through teaching and the example he set loving his neighbors and not judging others. I still try to follow his example.” Since retiring, Entergy and other organizations have called on Currie for his expertise in control technology at power plants. Following Hurricane Katrina, he worked nine months for Entergy to solve critical problems at its Sterlington SES at Perryville, Mississippi. He has also assisted in upgrading control technologies at Electro-Mech’s Navajo Generating Station Scrubber Project and Quality Technical Services at the Geral Andrus and Attala SESs. Currie lives with his wife in the Wesson home in which she grew up, which together they refinish, fix and remodel as an ongoing project. In 2002, the Wesson Chamber of Commerce presented its Leadership Award to Currie in recognition of his contributions to the community, including service as Deacon at Wesson Baptist Church, board member of Wesson Chamber of Commerce, board member of Copiah County Beautiful and chairman of its litter committee. Currie is the father of two grown sons from an earlier marriage – Andrew in Boulder, CO, retired from an internet company, and Bruce, a Brookhaven physical therapist married to Representative Beckie Currie, a member of the Mississippi legislature. What are your hobbies? Fixing and remodeling our homes have been a major part of the life Janet and I lived in Vicksburg and Wesson over the years. I’ve also tried watchmaking and tree farming. I am active in church. Since 1974 when a huge round, flat Unidentified Flying Object touched down at Bovina, Mississippi, and terrified me and my dog, UFOs have been a major interest of mine. Neighbors had strange stories about being captured and taken aboard a ship. I think there’s something to the stories, and visitations of extraterrestrials Are you a reader? I have read a lot of technical books. Getting organized is something I want to do well, and I have purchased a lot of books on the subject that remain unread. Do you follow movies or theater? I watch a lot of political stuff on the news television channels, but am not into much else. What would you do with the winnings if you won the lottery? I can’t complain about personal needs. I’d give away money to churches and charities. How would you change the world? We live in a world with a lot of lost souls, who need the salvation of our Heavenly Father, to love and not judge their neighbors.

Wellness Day at Walmart offers opportunities for families to prioritize their health ahead of a new school year with free screenings and affordable immunizations on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Customers can receive free glucose, cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure screenings as well as affordable immunizations like flu, HPV, tetanus, hepatitis and more, at Walmart pharmacies nationwide. Walmart is collaborating with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to educate communities about preventing Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. According to the ACS, Mississippi ranks last of all states for first dose of HPV vaccine for 9–12-year-olds (56.2%). ACS volunteers will be on hand at more than 20 Walmart stores in Mississippi to distribute educational materials on HPV as part of Wellness Day. Walmart and the ACS will continue working together to educate communities nationwide around HPV prevention. More than 4,600 Walmart pharmacies will host Walmart Wellness Day events, featuring the following health resources, administered by qualified pharmacy and Vision Center teams: Free health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings at select locations Affordable immunizations, including flu, COVID-19, HPV, pneumonia, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chicken pox/shingles), whooping cough (TDAP), Hep A & B and more No cost to patient COVID-19 vaccines Wellness resources and the opportunity to talk with pharmacists Walmart Wellness Day offers families a chance to get to know their numbers, chat with pharmacists, get ahead of the upcoming flu season and learn more about ways to maintain healthy lifestyles. “As families enter a new school year, there’s a peace of mind that comes with a quick health screening or immunization,” said Kevin Host, Walmart’s senior vice president of pharmacy. “Walmart is known for being a back-to-school destination, and Wellness Day at our pharmacies brings an added layer of convenience and community to that process. We’re thrilled to be part of this fun, exciting season and look forward to connecting with our customers and patients.” “Part of the Wellness Day experience includes browsing, and even sampling, some of the wide-ranging, innovative items we offer over the counter,” said Silvia Azrai Kawas, executive vice president, consumables. “We know the new school year is top of mind for families, and our growing assortment reflects creative ways we ensure affordable, high-quality options are available. I’m thrilled to share our new offerings in OTC Health and Wellness with our customers to help them save money and live better.” Since 2014, Walmart pharmacies have hosted Walmart Wellness Days, contributing more than 5 million free health screenings for customers. More than 4,000 Walmart stores are in medically underserved areas. To find a free event in your neighborhood, visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub.

By Bob Garver It’s around the two-thirds mark in “Meg 2: The Trench” that we learn that some of the film’s minor aquatic monsters (not the Megalodons or “Megs” of the title) have developed the ability to walk, and attack, on land. It’s a mistake to bury such a huge twist this late in the movie. That the human characters aren’t safe on land is a movie in and of itself. Make it the selling point of the third movie. Better yet, make it the selling point of this movie, because nothing about the first two-thirds was working anyway. Jason Statham is back as diving expert Jonas Taylor. He has some job with an undersea research station, but even within the movie, everyone knows he’s only here to do action hero stuff. Working for billionaire Driscoll (Sienna Guillory), Jonas goes on a mission in the titular Mariana Trench with his brother-in-law Jiuming (Wu Jing), possible love interest Rigas (Melissanthi Mahut), some warm bodies not worth your attachment, and just for laughs, his stowaway stepdaughter Meiying (Shuya Sophia Cai). Watching from the station are returning characters Mac (Cliff Curtis) and DJ (Page Kennedy), as well as new character Jess (Skyler Samuels). When we learn that there’s a saboteur among them, guess who’s catching my gaze. Megalodons wreck the team’s vessels, so they have to use special suits to walk to a mysterious fully-built facility they’ve stumbled across in the middle of the over-1,500-mile Trench. There’s no getting around it, the underwater scenes in this movie are terrible. The characters are in thick suits and you can’t tell who’s who, the dialogue is garbled, everything is poorly lit (though these characters make the ridiculous decision to all use their limited light supplies at the same time instead of one person at the front of the group using theirs while the rest follow), and the jump scares are cheap. I know this movie wants to be brainless fun, but it’s a lot less fun when things are this murky and miserable. The facility turns out to be the headquarters for an illegal mining operation, with mercenary Montes (Sergo Peris-Mencheta) not wanting our heroes interfering with his boss’s efforts. The characters at the research station aren’t safe from the evil humans either, and for a while this movie just turns into an ocean-based action movie with no Megs in the mix. Things get temporarily sorted out just in time for the characters to realize that three Megs and a host of other Trench creatures are about to attack the hedonistic human population of Fun Island. Here's where “Meg 2: The Trench” has its opportunity to have fun. The Megs and company make snacks out of mercenaries and particularly unlikeable tourists. The heroes use everything at their disposal to stop them, including helicopters, jetskis, Jason Statham being Jason Statham, and of course, lots and lots of explosives. For roughly the last 30 minutes, the film achieves the “guilty pleasure” status it so desperately wants, too bad it takes an 86-minute slog to get there. Aside from all the specific, mostly pacing-based issues I have with “Meg 2: The Trench,” my biggest complaint is that the movie generally seems to be aspiring to nothing more than “so bad it’s good” appeal. It’s debatable if it even pulls that tone off well (I say it doesn’t), but there are so many straightforward “good” movies out right now that we don’t need this. “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” are both in the middle of historic runs, while the delightful “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” could use a boost in ticket sales. Don’t divert your time, money, or energy to “Meg 2: The Trench” unless you truly feel that enough resources have gone to movies that are good on purpose. Grade: C- “Meg 2: The Trench” is rated PG-13 for action/violence, some bloody images, language and brief suggestive material. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Fall looks to be a busy time for the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League (BARL), as the charitable organization hosts two fundraising events to benefit shelter animals. The fourth annual Barks & Bids Online Auction is planned for Sunday, September 24 – Sunday, October 1. BARL’s online auction always offers a wide variety of unique items donated by businesses and individuals. The Canines, Cats and Corks fundraiser presented by Brookway Wine and Spirits is scheduled for Thursday, September 28 at the Brookhaven Building. The wine tasting event will feature a generous selection of wine and spirits brands. Live music, specialty gift drawings and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be part of the merriment. Tickets for Canines, Cats and Corks (CCC) can be purchased online at barl.net/events. An exciting add-on for CCC ticket holders is the opportunity to purchase a Luxury Tasting and Learning Pass. Luxury-brand labels of wines, whiskeys, bourbons, and other spirits will be available for sampling and savoring. To add a little bubbly to the evening, corks will be popped as a tasting flight of champagnes featuring Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, plus others will be offered as part of the Luxury Tasting and Learning Pass. The pass is available for purchase through the link on your CCC ticket receipt. BARL President, Rusty Adcock said, “These two events are key to BARL’s budget. We help well over 1,100 animals each year. BARL provides the animals with food, shelter, veterinary care, and anything they need to keep them healthy and comfortable until they find homes. Many come in starved and with skin conditions requiring extra nutrition and numerous medicated dips and medications. All of this adds up and adoption fees do not cover the cost of the animals’ care. Fundraising is a reality for us. BARL does not receive government funding. Without the support of our donors and a core group of volunteers doing exhaustive work, BARL would not exist.” BARL volunteers are currently contacting businesses and individuals about sponsorship of events and donations of auction items. Anyone interested in being part of an event should call BARL volunteers, Gail Garbo at 601-757-3211 or Julie Montalvo at 601-757-1057. BARL's mission is to humanely care for shelter animals while contributing to community activities that reduce pet overpopulation, encourage responsible pet ownership, protect public health and safety, and promote the human-animal bond. BARL is a volunteer-based, nonprofit 501 c3 charitable animal welfare organization serving Copiah, Franklin and Lincoln counties. BARL provides food, shelter and veterinary services for homeless animals until they are adopted. All BARL animals are vaccinated and spayed/neutered. Dogs are also micro-chipped. Individuals with questions about adopting, contributing, or volunteering should call BARL at 601-757-4367 or email info@barl.net. Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to BARL, P.O. Box 3477, Brookhaven, MS 39603. BARL features many of its adoptable animals online at www.barl.net or on their Facebook page.

After three years and a multi-agency collaborative effort, the rural health initiative between Co-Lin and Franklin County Memorial Hospital has ended, leaving behind new local patients and a future health care workforce that will provide benefits for years to come. The Delta Regional Community Healthcare Consortium was formed to provide healthcare-related programs and services in the Mississippi Delta region to support job training for healthcare professionals, to deliver health education programs for residents, and to help in the expansion of healthcare services in Mississippi’s rural communities. It includes Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Extension (CAVS-E), Co-Lin, Hinds Community College, and North Central Planning and Development District (NCPDD). The initiative was made possible with the support of a grant awarded by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The strategies and activities of this project helped improve the quality of care and patient safety, increased the strength, effectiveness, and sustainability of healthcare providers and their services and narrowed the gap in healthcare in this region. The objectives of the project in the Delta Regional Authority area were all met or exceeded: aiding rural and economically distressed hospitals, healthcare facilities, communities, patients and their family members, introducing e-connectivity to rural areas to improve the quality of life, supporting the rural workforce, harnessing technological innovation, and promoting economic development in the region. The result of the initiative includes training of 42 healthcare workers, 300 patients, and 150 individuals (family members of patients) which has reduced barriers to healthcare access and improved patient health outcomes in Franklin County. Co-Lin executed its part of the project by utilizing funds in several target areas. A partnership with Franklin County Memorial Hospital (FCMH) was established with plans to purchase telehealth equipment and devices and train healthcare professionals and patients in the service area on the use of the telehealth services. Patients diagnosed with two or more chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, within the FCMH Clinic System were outfitted with a Bluetooth toolkit -- an Apple iPad Tablet with Bluetooth connectivity that featured a forehead non-touch thermometer, pulse oximeter, wrist style blood pressure monitor, gluco-monitoring bundle and a body composition scale. Franklin Co. Memorial Hospital Clinic System healthcare professionals, patients, and the patients’ family members were trained on the use of telehealth equipment/medical devices. While technology can be intimidating, every effort was made to assist users. Co-Lin filmed short instructional videos on the use of the equipment which were loaded onto the iPads. Additionally, employees at the local ambulance service, Rural Rapid Response, were trained on the telehealth equipment issued to the patients, which prepared ambulance crews to access the equipment for needed medical information, if needed for pre-hospital treatment. The purpose of providing training across multiple agencies was to improve the overall care of patients in multiple environments. The benefits of the telehealth kits are three-fold: Bluetooth devices provide technological innovation in the critical area of healthcare to people that would not otherwise be able to afford it. Every routine check-up attended via a telehealth clinic visit from home decreases the potential for vulnerable patients to be exposed to illnesses. Finally, these tools allow patients to check routine vitals and safely upload the data into a medical chart through telehealth e-connectivity without leaving home. Family Medical Group family nurse practitioner Deanna Ballard said “I love knowing that my patients have quality equipment at home to monitor their vital signs. It is great to be able to see what their results are between clinic visits. This helps me accurately diagnose chronic issues and prescribe appropriate medications.” Front-line emergency medical personnel were also among grant targeted groups and were offered educational opportunities. Co-Lin offered stipends to enrollees in basic and advanced emergency medical technicians (EMTs) programs with funds from the grant which diminished the student’s program related expenses. These entry-level courses educated and trained students on basic assessment to advanced life-support skills needed for pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care and prepared them to take the EMT national registry exam. Professional development opportunities were also offered to those needing to update their certification. Through the grant, Co-Lin has also invested in future first responders by installing a production studio to develop virtual training and curriculum for hybrid EMT certification and recertification opportunities. Virtual training for emergency medical technicians and paramedics will allow individuals to re-certify or further their education without disrupting their work schedule. These investments in the emergency medical workforce have provided worthwhile results. Twelve students secured jobs with an average starting salary of $13.50 an hour, and ten students obtained certification through the advanced EMT program which resulted in retaining their jobs and receiving raises of approximately $2.00 an hour. “We are thankful to have had the opportunity to work with our grant partners on this project,” said Co-Lin Workforce Center Director Luke Laird. “The opportunities and services that it afforded the communities that we serve are invaluable. This grant has helped to cultivate advancements in patient monitoring and emergency services which not only realized immediate benefits but will continue to yield results in the future.”