Wesson Town Clerk Angela Hester has returned to her job at Wesson Town Hall after honing her skills and equipping herself with new knowledge at the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) annual conference last month. Town Clerk Angela Hester joined other municipal clerks from around the world at the IIMC conference held May 14-17 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. IIMC, which is the premier membership organization of Municipal Clerks that has been dedicated to improving their professionalism since 1947, recently designated Hester a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), and she has started work on becoming a Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) through the 15,000-member group that encompasses officials from towns, small municipalities and large urban jurisdictions. “The conference was an intense educational experience and I was able to network with other municipal clerks from throughout the world,” Hester says. IIMC calls municipal clerks “the gateway to city hall” whom elected officials “count on to make sure public meetings, public records, elections and special projects operate smoothly.” The group’s annual conference seeks to provide a vehicle for its members to receive background and knowledge needed to help them deal with current problems and assure that municipal government is served by informed public officials. In Minneapolis, delegates heard keynote speakers on “Strategic Communication: 'LIFE' Skills for Leaders,” and “GET YOUR SHIFT TOGETHER: How to Think, Laugh & Enjoy Your Way to Success in Business & in Life.” Other Education highlights included four Athenian Dialogues, six Academy Sessions and a bevy of concurrent sessions, including “4 Unspoken Communication Secrets Every Municipal Clerk Needs to Know,” “How to Master the Whiners and Make Them Winners,” “Civility CPR,” “Federal Resources for Elected Officials,” “Election Security in Time of Disturbance,” “Right Sizing the Clerk’s Office,” “Digital Government: Bringing Your Municipality into the 21st Century” and “Understanding Modern Discrimination and Diversity in Municipal Affairs.”

According to Atmos Energy, a “search engine phishing” scheme has been revealed. When customers search for “Atmos” online, the online cybercriminals are using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to place fake websites as the top search result. Company representatives indicated that telephone scams are also on the rise. “The most effective way to combat this recent increase in scam attempts is through education, awareness and extreme caution anytime someone contacts you about a utility bill payment,” said Bobby Morgan, Atmos Energy vice president of public affairs. “In addition to online and telephone scams, beware of impostors demanding payment at your door. Always ask for an employee’s identification badge which displays name, photograph, and Atmos Energy logo. Our employees will not collect payments in person. If you suspect an impostor, call our customer service number at 888.286.6700 to verify the employee’s identity and contact local authorities.” The energy company provides gas services to over 269,000 residents in Mississippi. If someone clicks on one of the “spoofed” scam websites, it could look very similar to a real Atmos Energy webpage. However, it will feature a fake customer service number and other false information about the company. If a customer receives a phone call from Atmos that seems suspect, know that Atmos Energy will never ask for payment using a prepaid debit card, gift card, cryptocurrency, or unauthorized third-party payment or mobile application. They will also never call before 7:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Customers should only pay their bill through a logged in online account or other authorized methods. If you have concerns regarding the legitimacy of a call, hang up and call Atmos Energy customer service at 888.286.6700. For more information on how to protect yourself from scammers, do the following: Visit the Atmos Energy website at atmosenergy.com/scams. Visit the Utilities United Against Scams website at www.utilitiesunited.org. Visit the Federal Trade Commission website at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ Follow Utilities United Against Scams on Twitter and Facebook, and join the conversation by using #StopScams.

Town folk celebrated Wesson last month shopping, listening to music and dancing at the annual Founders’ Day festivities. A 5K Run/Walk race started events on the evening of May 5. Events the next day included crowning of a new queen, who will assist the Chamber of Commerce with their activities over the next 12 months; and a parade and fireworks that fired the spirit of the crowds.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) encourages firework safety this Independence Day whether at home or at a firework show. “Use common sense when shooting fireworks at home,” said State Fire Marshal and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “Never point fireworks at another person and dispose of fireworks in water to prevent fire.” You should also: • Observe local laws. o Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. o Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. • Read and follow the directions on each firework. • Never point or throw fireworks at another person. • Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. • Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. • Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. • Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. • Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. • Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. • Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. • Never give fireworks to small children. • Never carry fireworks in your pocket. • Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers. The SFMO performs pyrotechnic inspections for shows performed on state-owned properties, like state parks. Pyrotechnics companies must apply for a permit for shows on state-owned property. Once received, the SFMO verifies all information pertaining to insurance, technicians, and local public safety information. Deputies must be on site for the firing of the display and clean up.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid It is difficult to pronounce, but it’s also difficult to live with it. The disease is Alzheimer’s. I have had personal experience with this disease. My stepmother passed away in April from Alzheimer’s. This disease is a challenge, not only for the person affected with it, but also for the caretaker, who was my dad! I saw firsthand the challenges, the frustrations, his incredible patience, and the sadness. Alzheimer’s is a disease that robs individuals of their identities. Ii is the most common form of what we call dementia. Dementia is the name for brain disorders that effect memory, behavior, and the ability to make decisions. Alzheimer’s also destroys brain cells, causing the loss of brain-related functions. There is memory loss, change in behavior related to personality change and loss of body functions, and there is no cure. If you want to think, “memory loss is a natural part of aging,” understand that Alzheimer’s does not cause occasional memory loss. Would you be okay with forgetting the route to your house altogether? Or the name of your best friend or children? And think about the effect it has on behavior and body functions. Those with the disease may not connect with those they love. They can lose their abilities to walk, talk, think, and even eat. While it is a disease that primarily affects older adults, young people aren’t safe. Studies show it can affect the elderly and young people down to age thirty. None of us are safe from this crippling disease. Although its end is not yet in sight, we can help ease the pain of people with Alzheimer’s. Encourage them to: 1. Eat healthy. Alzheimer’s causes inflammation in the brain and other factors stopping brain cells from communicating. Healthy eating can reduce inflammation and protect the brain. Providing healthy meals with vegetables and fish can help people with Alzheimer’s. 2. Exercise. Physical exercise can stimulate the brain’s ability to maintain connections. Help individuals with Alzheimer’s get moderate levels of exercise daily. A short walk or more, depending on the person’s ability. This can help reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s. 3. To be mentally active. As the saying goes, if you don’t use your brain, you’ll lose it. Help individuals with Alzheimer’s keep their brains active. It could be through constant communication with them. Help them engage in organizational tasks and increase their social interactions. Studies show that cognitive abilities improve in people who are mentally stimulated. You can help Alzheimer’s patients reduce their decline by: 1. Maintaining a daily routine for them. What feels familiar improves the mood of Alzheimer’s patients. Create routines that considers their preferences. Help them engage in activities that have meaning for them. Consider when they feel freshest. As you create familiar routines, they’ll know what to expect. When they engage in activities that interest them, they are happier. 2. Being patient with them. You’ll need a lot of patience in dealing with people with Alzheimer’s. They may struggle with tasks and get frustrated, taking it out on you. They may also seem confused a lot, and will have difficulty remembering things that were once simpler to them. Don’t lose your temper or argue with them if they seem unreasonable. Don’t rush to fill in the blanks if they forget something. Instead, take your time to guide them if they get confused. They are going through a difficult time. Your patience will ease this a little. 3. Helping them connect. People with Alzheimer’s have a hard time expressing themselves. Show them you’re willing to communicate with them despite this difficulty. Call them by their name and look into their eyes when talking to them. A gentle touch to guide them helps them feel your affection. Though they may struggle to speak, don’t talk to them like a baby. Alzheimer’s disease is a tough reality we must face. While it saddens us, you can gain joy in helping them and making the disease more bearable for those affected. EDITOR'S NOTE: Stephanie Duguid is Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin. She is also an athletic trainer and nutrition specialist and has been teaching courses related to those two areas as well as practicing what she preaches for more than twenty years.

By Bob Arnold Mary Tillman Smith, an African American folk artist born in Brookhaven around 1904 or 1905, started painting to decorate her yard in Martinsville community near Hazlehurst and was discovered by curator and collector William Arnette who promoted her work. The third of 13 children, she lived most of her life in Copiah County, growing up in a hard working sharecropper family that grew tomoatoes, cabbages and beans, which they wrapped, packed and shipped. Her father was able eventually to purchase a house and land. A speech impairment made it difficult for people to understand her, and she made it only through the fifth grade in school, which in itself was something of an accomplishment since even African Americans without disabilities rarely made it beyond the eighth grade. Excluded by schoolmates from activities, she found an outlet in drawing. In her teens, Smith left home for a short marriage of a few months to Gus Williams, and then settled down in Wesson, where she did cooking and cleaning for a white family, and had another short-lived marriage with John Smith. a sharecropper who had been shortchanged by $1,000 in a year-end settlement with a landowner. Smith had discovered the problem and made it known to the landowner who told her husband to get rid of his wife. Smith moved to Hazlehurst, where she had a son (Sheridan L. “Jay Bird” Major). She did not marry her son’s father, but he provided her land and a house, where she started her career in art to decorate her property. She used discarded materials collected from a nearby dump as her canvasses. She painted folkart pictures of people and animals, sometimes accompanied by religious sayings or self-reflections, on used tin scraps and wood. She used strong colors with animating dots and dashes. It was said she sometimes wore clothing to compliment the message of a piece. She filled her yard with her expressions, and constructed out buildings, a table, benches and a make-shift studio. She lined her fence and and space within with colorful folkart paintings and thoughtful sayings. In 1987, Arnette tried to convince the state to preserve her yard as an important cultural site, but was rebuffed because “Smith was an eccentric whose art did not fall under any folklore category.” Nevertheless, her work has been featured in solo shows in the U.S. and Europe, and her pieces are owned by all the major galleries, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Several universities have her pieces, including Tuft University, Willamette University and the University of Mississippi. Her works have been, and continue to be, showcased in group shows. Smith’s health declined around 1990 and she painted less frequently. She died penniless in 1995, and her artwork has been removed from her old Martinsville property. EDITOR’S NOTE: Throughout the 2023 Copiah County Bicentennial year, Wesson News will feature sketches of past and present visual artists, musicians, authors and photographers who are natives of the county. They will be excerpted from Tricia Nelson’s reporting in A Shared History: Copiah County, Mississippi 1823-2023 edited and compiled by Paul C. Cartwright and available through Cartwright for $25 plus $5 for shipping at 3 Waverly Circle, Hattiesburg, MS 39402. Nelson is a Crystal Springs writer who contributes to the Copiah County Monitor.

By Kara Kimbrough What’s not to love about the Fourth of July? It’s filled with patriotism, picnics, fireworks, family gatherings, watermelon (make that Smith County watermelons if you’re from south Mississippi), barbecues, homemade ice cream and much more. And there’s only one color scheme: red, white and blue. It’s the perfect low maintenance holiday. Think about it. Christmas is all over the place with its dizzying array of multi-colored themes and endless food choices. Thanksgiving is all about the turkey and getting the dressing “just right.” But July 4th can - and should be – simple. As long as there’s a flag flying somewhere on the premises and an assortment of grilled meats and appropriate sides are on the table, it’s the epitome of no fuss/no muss. I’ll admit I haven’t always adhered to the “simplicity is best” rule when planning my next patriotic themed tablescape or dessert. I’ve created centerpieces of gigantic Mason jars filled with sand from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulfport AND Destin beaches) to hold American flags and pinwheels; miniature Mason jars containing cupcake slices, whipped cream and berries; last year’s burger bar on a 2x4 plank and of course, my annual simple-but-elegant flag cake. This year’s Fourth of July meal will center around two racks of barbecued ribs grilled and sold by a local fire department. Proceeds will fund a scholarship for a firefighter who was also my friend. He was recently killed while crossing a busy highway to assist a wreck victim. If you’d like to know more about the fund, drop me an email and I’ll fil you in on this worthy cause. Other Fourth food will include grilled burgers with all the trimmings, baked beans, some type of cold side – either Cole slaw, potato or pasta salad- and an appetizer to stave off hunger pains while the burgers are grilling. Sliders are not what I’d call fancy or even new in most circles. But I’d never thought of placing cocktail sausages inside the top of slider buns, followed by toppings of favorite chopped vegetables and sauces. I did a test run and can attest, they’re as delicious as they are cute. Back by popular demand, I’m including the recipe for Patriotic Cupcakes in a Jar. Like charcuterie boards, the trend of using Mason jars as vessels for all manner of foods doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. Guests can take their jar home as a souvenir of Fourth of July ’23, especially if you take the time to write their name on the jar in gold or silver ink and tie a patriotic ribbon around the rim. Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Fourth of July Mini Dog Sliders 1/2 cup sour cream 1 cup mild or medium salsa 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 24 Cocktail Smokies 12 King’s Hawaiian slider rolls Feta cheese Pickle relish Other favorite toppings Combine sour cream and salsa in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted. Add the Cocktail Smokies and cook until heated through, stirring, about 5-6 minutes. Slice vertically through each slider bun, about halfway through so it resembles a top-split hot dog bun, and place two Smokies lengthwise in each. Top with sauce, feta cheese and relish. Can also add other favorite toppings like mustard, chopped onions, etc. Patriotic Cupcakes in a Jar For the cupcakes: 1 box of your favorite cake flavor- I used Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme (you can make them from scratch, but because the cakes soak up icing and juice from the berries, the cakes are very moist) Makes 24-30 medium cupcakes Assortment of berries: sliced strawberries, blueberries, blackberries For the cream cheese frosting: 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 2 sticks butter, softened 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 cups sifted powdered sugar Prepare cupcake batter according to package directions. Spray cupcake tins with cooking spray and fill each indention ½ full with the batter. Bake according to directions, then once they are cool, slice each cupcake in half lengthwise (not from the top). When finished, you will have a stack of tops and a stack of bottoms. Place one cupcake bottom in a jar, then add icing to a piping bag or Ziploc bag with the tip cut off and add a layer of icing over the bottom cupcake. Add a sprinkle of berries to the icing, then place on top of the cupcake on the layer of frosting and berries. Gently flatten the top part of the cupcake inside the jar and top with another layer of icing. If there’s room, add a few more berries to the top. Cover with lids and decorate with stickers, ribbon or whatever you’d like. Supplies you will need: A dozen or more 8-ounce glass jars with lids and rings Pastry bag and decorative tips or large Ziploc bag Round stickers (many websites have downloadable links to jar stickers; you can also use large white address labels and cut then into circles, then decorate) Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com

In 2003, the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Foundation was established to support the MDWFP’s ongoing efforts to protect and conserve our fish and wildlife resources. The Foundation plays a crucial role in enhancing conservation efforts, expanding hunting and fishing opportunities, promoting shooting sports programs, and preserving our state's abundant natural resources. Today, we invite you to join us in supporting these efforts, by participating in the Foundation's Conservation Raffle. This exciting event provides you with a chance to win extraordinary prizes, while at the same time actively contributing to the conservation and enhancement of our State’s fish and wildlife resources. The funds raised through the raffle will directly benefit MDWFP's mission, to conserve Mississippi’s wildlife and fisheries resources, and enhance our state parks to provide quality outdoor recreational opportunities. Visit the raffle website today to explore the incredible prizes and join us in preserving Mississippi's natural resources and hunting heritage. By supporting the Foundation's Conservation Raffle, you become an integral part of securing a brighter future for generations to come. The raffle closes on July 30th! Website: https://mwfp.foundationraffle.com/

Basketball day camps for girls and boys in the first through sixth grade started Co-Lin’s camping season for children and youth last month, and a theater camp being held this week will present a performance of Legally Blonde the Musical on Saturday, June 17. Into July, the college is offering 11 athletic camps and five non-athletic learning camps on the Wesson campus, a “College 4 Kids” program with an assortment of learning experiences at its Simpson County Center and eight camping choices, including tennis lessons, in the “Kids College” on its Natchez campus. At the basketball day camps on May 25 and May 26 and a football youth camp for children and youth five years old to 13 years held last week on June 5 and 6, Co-Lin coaches taught campers, regardless of their abilities, sound fundamentals of the sports in a pleasant learning environment at Wesson. This week (June 12-15), children and youth four years old to 14 years old are participating in a similar soccer camp, and other camps will focus on baseball and softball fundamentals. Last week on June 8 at Stone Stadium on the Wesson campus, a 7 on 7 Football Camp provided participants a taste of competition in a unique version of football that emphasizes passing and route-running. Teams with seven players vied against each other in at least five games, including an elimination tournament, on a 40-yard field on which they were allowed only two first downs when they had possession of the ball. The players wore no pads because there was no tackling, but were downed when touched below their necks. Upcoming athletic camps are: June 15. Soccer teams, most of them from local schools, will play in a 7 v 7 tournament on Wesson campus fields. Seven players are on each team, which compete under rules different from regular soccer towards honing their skills and building their understanding of the sport. $250 registration fee per team. Offensive and defensive football linemen from area schools will practice fundamentals of their positions and scrimmage against each other at OL/DL Camp at Stone Stadium. Registration is at Pitts Field House on the Wesson campus starting at 8:30 a.m. The fee is $60. Participants should bring their own helmets, athletic gear and cleats. Contact Coach Fleming at 601-551-4290 for information. June 19-21. Baseball Kids Summer Camp is June 19-21 from 9 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. at Wesson’s Sullivan Field for children six years old to 12 years old ($100 registration fee). July 14. Second 7 v 7 soccer tournament on Wesson campus fields for teams. $250 registration fee. July 24-27. Second soccer fundamentals camp for children and youth four years old to 14 years old. $150 registration fee. Non-athletes started their camps this week: On the Wesson campus, a Programming and Robotics Camp is meeting June 12 to 15 to educate campers ages 11 to 13 on logic and the fundamentals of programming for online gaming and robotics. The Co-Lin Theater Department is working with children in the fourth through 12th grades June 12 to 17 to present a performance of Legally Blonde the Musical at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, that will be directed and choreographed by Co-Lin staffers Bobby G. Helms and Wendi Case. “College 4 Kids” for seven year old to ten year old children is also meeting June 12 to 15 at Co-Lin’s Simpson County Center, mixing outdoor fun with studies focused on the earth and science, robotics and engineering and agriculture and farm safety. “Little Picassos,” an introduction to basic art techniques for children in grades one to four, is also meeting June 12 to 15 to begin “Kids College” on the Co-Lin Natchez campus. Classes also begin in tennis for children in the first to third grade, “Tasty Treats” (learning to design, dipping and selling delightful snacks) for youth in sixth to eighth grade and “Custom Treasures” (learning to make bracelets and iPhone bands with beads, charms, watch connectors and other materials) for children in fourth to sixth grade. Upcoming camps on the Wesson campus are: July 10, 11 & 12. Pee Wee Cheer Camp (July 10 & 11) led by Co-Lin cheerleaders teaches dance, cheers, chants and jumps based on grade and ability to children from four years old to nine years old. Campers will perform for parents at end of camp. 9 a.m.-12 noon. $60 fee. “Drum Days’ teaches marching percussion (July 10 & 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and drum set (July 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.), with instruction from Buddy Gibbons, whose projects include ESPN, NBC, Fox Sports, Super Bowl 52 and Los Angeles Dodgers, for youth in the nineth grade and above. Fee is $50. Registration deadline is July 6. For information, contact Chad Austin at 601-543-8387 or chad.austin@colin.edu. July 13-14. Color Guard Camp for youth in eighth grade and above who participate in color guards or aspire to be part of them at their schools. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fee is $40. Registration deadline is July 6. Contact Cody McElwain at 601-643-8431 or cody.mcelwain@colin.edu. Other camps at the Natchez Kids College are: June 19-22. “Crafty Kids” on drawing, painting and sculpting for fifth to seventh graders. $65 fee. Tennis for fourth to sixth graders. $70 fee. “Tasty Treats” for fifth to seventh graders. $80 fee. “Custom Treasurers” for seventh and eighth graders. $70 fee. July 10-13. “We’ve Go Spirit” on dance for children in second grade to fifth grade. $60 fee. Tennis for seventh and eighth graders. $70 fee. “Tasty Treats” for sixth to eighth graders. $80 fee. July 10-20. “Big Apple Performers” on the art of theater for fifth to eighth graders. $85 fee. July 17-20. “Cheer Squad” on body positions, chant, twists, flexibility and tumbling skills for cheerleading geared to fourth to sixth graders. $60 fee. Tennis for second to fifth graders. $70 fee. “Tasty Treats” for fifth to seventh graders. $80 fee. July 17-20. “Crafty Crochet” for fifth to seventh graders. $65 fee For information, call 601-643-5101 (Wesson campus), 601-422-9111 (Natchez campus) and 601-849-5149 (Simpson County Center).

More than 3,100 students graduated from the University of Mississippi in May 2023. Undergraduate and graduate candidates received degrees from the College of Liberal Arts, General Studies and schools of Accountancy, Applied Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Journalism and New Media, Law and Pharmacy. Nelson Newman, of Wesson, MS, who majored in Political Science, is one of those students. Caitlyn Silvan, of Wesson, MS, who majored in Political Science, is one of those students. Elizabeth Shirley, of Wesson, MS, who majored in Accountancy, is one of those students. Kathryn Legg, of Wesson, MS, who majored in Marketing, is one of those students. "Our May 2023 class of graduates are distinguished by incredible achievements, character and resilience," said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. "They accomplished so much during their years at Ole Miss, and we can't wait to see all the ways they will pursue their passions and reach their full potential on their paths to a bright future." May 2023 graduates were invited to walk across the stage at the University of Mississippi's 170th Commencement exercises, which were held by individual colleges and schools May 10-14. The university-wide morning convocation took place on Saturday, May 13 in the Grove, with UM alumna Stephanie Hickman, president and CEO of Trice Construction Co., giving the keynote address. The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. Its 16 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and an Honors College acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. Recognized among the nation's most beautiful, Ole Miss' main campus is in Oxford, which is routinely acknowledged as one of the country's best college towns.

Wesson Garden Club (WGC) and American Legion Drane-Prine Post 79 members honored and remembered armed forces veterans in two special wreath-laying ceremonies on the eve of Memorial Day. Garden Club members joined Legionnaires and Auxiliary members in front of Wesson Legion Hall for a Legion Memorial Day ceremony at which World War II veteran Alton Ricks and Auxiliary member Melnee Frazier placed at memorial wreath at the Post’s outdoor flag pole to remember POW/MIAs and fallen war veterans. Following the Legion ceremony, guests, veterans and city officials joined Wesson Legionnaires and Garden Club members at the Blue Star Memorial on the east side of Highway 51 at Church Street for a second wreath laying ceremony led by the Garden Club. Legion Post Commander Bobby Thornton, Auxiliary member Kim Whittington and WGC President Dixie Thornton placed the memorial wreath at the Blue Star Marker. At the Legion ceremony, Commander Thornton noted people will place flags at the graves of fallen armed forces heroes, and urged them to say the veterans’ names out loud and a prayer in remembrance of that brave soul. The Memorial Day holiday is “a powerful reminder of the high cost of freedom that millions of Americans have paid since our country was founded,” Thornton said. “It’s a sacred opportunity to honor the sacrifices of our sons and daughters who didn’t make it home. “As we celebrate their legacy, let’s continue to keep their memories alive and marvel at their shared fundamental qualities. They embodied courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and great personal integrity – all the values needed to serve a cause larger than themselves.” WGC President Dixie Thornton said National Garden Clubs Inc. started the Blue Star Highway marker program to honor veterans in 1945. “Our Blue Star Highway marker, placed by the Wesson Garden Club, stands proudly on this corner of our town reminding all who pass of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces defending our great nation,” she said. At the marker with the wreath-laying, WGC members and veterans lead a ceremony of remembrance celebrating “the many brave men and women who gave their all to our country,” “the price of freedom and the many soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors whose lives were lost to protect it” and “the families who lost a loved one in service to our country.” Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc, National Garden Clubs Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., and Natchez Trace District Garden Clubs of Mississippi.

In the 20 years since their inception, Choose Life Mississippi has raised $4 million to protect unborn children. 166,510 car tags have been sold to people across the state who share the same dream. This achievement is monumental and one that Choose Life Mississippi does not take for granted. Every tag sold has been instrumental in the fight for unborn lives in Mississippi. June 24, 2023 marks the first year anniversary of the Dobbs Decision, a Mississippi case that overturned Roe vs. Wade. “Now that Mississippi has laws to protect our unborn babies and the last abortion clinic is finally closed, women need our help more than ever,” says President and Founder Terri Herring. “Pregnancy Resource Centers are a crucial resource for women facing unplanned pregnancies.” Choose Life Mississippi was launched in 2003. The goal was simple: to save the lives of unborn children by supporting their mothers during their pregnancies and beyond. Choose Life Mississippi achieves this goal through the sale of “Choose Life” tags. Funds provide vital resources to pregnancy centers across the state and provide the support that women need to become the mothers they hope to be. There are over 30 pregnancy care centers in the state of Mississippi. These centers meet the physical, emotional and medical needs of women in need by providing free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and compassionate, sound advice about pregnancy and parenting. They also provide adoption counseling. Supporting women has always been a goal central to Choose Life’s mission, but now more than ever, it is imperative that women are offered guidance, resources and quality care early in pregnancy. You can be a part of the solution by purchasing a “Choose Life” tag or the new “Adoption Tag” to provide funding for these centers. For more information go to ChooseLifeMS.org.