The Sasser family has endowed The Tommy and Annette Sasser Scholarship with the Co-Lin Foundation to benefit students majoring in science with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need. Tommy Sasser’s family hosted a lunch to surprise him with the honor at the Thames Center in January. During the announcement his son Stan said they wanted to honor him and his late wife, and they could not think of a better way after his many years of service to the school. “I’m not normally speechless,” Sasser said on acknowledgin the honor. “But that’s what I am – speechless.” Tommy Sasser graduated from Bogue Chitto High School in 1963 and attended Co-Lin before transferring to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He received a master’s degree from Mississippi College with further study at Mississippi State University. Sasser has served on the Co-Lin Board of Trustees for more than 30 years and is a past member of the Co-Lin Foundation Board. He has served as a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto for more than 50 years. He is past president of the Lincoln County Forestry Association, Lincoln County Education Association, the South Central Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and Bogue Chitto Lions Club. He has been active in various other civic organizations. He retired from Lincoln County Schools with 30 years of service, and currently owns and operates Sasser Farms, a 700-acre tree farm in the Bogue Chitto area. Annette Sasser was a 1962 graduate of Bogue Chitto High School. She was a graduate of Co-Lin and the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She retired from Lincoln County Schools with 23 years of service. She served as pianist and a Sunday school teacher at Calvary Baptist Church for 41 years. Tommy and Annette were married for 49 years. She passed away in September 2016. Tommy and Annette are the parents of two sons, Stan (Tara) and Gary Paul (deceased), and have three grandsons, Clint (Katie) Sasser, Ryne (Kaitlyn) Sasser, and Steven (Jennifer) Sasser. He also has a great grandson on the way. Contributions to the Tommy and Annette Sasser Scholarship, or any other scholarship, can be mailed to the Co-Lin Foundation at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191, or made online at https://www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation/give-now/.

You’ve lived long enough to have heard a bunch of tired cliches and old sayings, I know. One of Andy’s favorites from an old friend is this; “Better hold your holt.” His meaning? Hold your holt…holding on for dear life to your faith in God. No matter what you are facing. Especially when you’re going through the really bad stuff in life. ‘Cause that faith may be all you have at that point, and it will be the only thing to see you through. In these unsettled and fearful times today, there may not be a more meaningful phrase. Clinging desperately to the knowledge that He is an all-knowing and all-powerful God, who is patiently working His plan. But here are some other things you need to hold onto, while you’re holding your holt on Him. Real love. Don’t settle for a physical experience or emotional feeling that you will ultimately find is just a cheap substitute. It may help you for a little while, but it is guaranteed to leave you lonely and hurting in the end. Do what is right. Stand up, immovable, for what is good and true, and refuse to change. Edmund Burke, a famous British statesman once said, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Guess we are now seeing living proof. Keep some close relationships. You need to view your family as crucial to you. Embrace and accept any differences between you. (It would a boring world if everyone was just like you or me.) Let them be who they are, even if you don’t understand what in the world they are thinking. Learn how to repair the broken places, as much as possible. Treasure your spouse, your kids, your dear friends. They are what is truly important to you. Everything else you can replace, or do without. Family and friends are not easily replaced, and when you lose them, it costs you dearly. Hold your holt needs to be a set-in-concrete-way-of-life for anyone who is seeking to be grounded and at peace with himself in this world. Don’t give in, don’t give up and don’t give way on your beliefs of what you know to be true and good. “Hold your holt” is a lesson we need to learn in the face of today’s tolerance, compromises and problems. Yeah, it’s gonna get difficult at times. We know that. Just ask your parents, or your grandparents or someone from their generation. They had their share of dark years too. And they would probably tell you that the only way they made it through those gray days was to hang tough, keep loving the people in their life, and keep their faith. I have the feeling that back then there were a lot of people who were smarter than our current tech-age generation – people who learned from experience what was truly important.

Important parts of American history are being brought to Wesson Public Library readers thanks to the American Legion’s recent donations of two books for the library’s permanent collection and special cartoon booklets available to pick up. Commander Bobby Thornton from the Wesson American Legion Post led a group of local Legionnaires in a presentation to Friends of the Library (FOL) of Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for more than 60 Years of Growth, Star-Spangled and ten copies for Our Country’s Flag for distribution. Fellow Wesson Legionnaires Butch White, Deputy Commander, and A.C. Currie; and Dr. Tim Lee from the Monticello Legion and Co-Lin-based veterans advisor, accompanied Thornton to the FOL meeting, where he talked about how the Legion serves its veteran members and families and the wider community. “Supporting local communities where we have posts is a vital aspect of our work,” Thornton said. The two books and the cartoon booklet will appeal to different age groups, he explained. While Our Country’s Flag is designed for young readers in the second to fourth grades, Korea Reborn is an adult book and high school readers will like Star- Spangled. The photos and narrative in Korea Reborn presents a retrospective of the Korean war and its aftermath from the perspective of both U.S. veterans who served in the conflict, and the Koreans who prospered from the freedom left in their wake. Beginning with the events that led up to the war, through the ensuing battlefields across the Korean Peninsula, and ultimately the transformation from a war-torn country into a vibrant, prosperous nation, this book encapsulates why the fight for freedom is worth it. To this day, the people of the Republic of Korea honor those brave veterans who served and sacrificed on their behalf. A reborn Korea is one that has risen from the rubble of war to be an economic world leader and a prized example of how freedom works. In Star-Spangled, Tim Grove goes beyond the Francis Scott Key’s poetic story in the national anthem about the American flag rising high above a fort after a night of intense battle during the War of 1812 Far more than what is sung at ball games, it discusses what the battle was about, whose bombs were bursting, and why rockets were glaring. He talks about who sewed those broad stripes and bright stars, why free black soldiers were fighting on both sides, Francis Scott Key and how did he end up with such a close view. Star-Spangled tells the whole story from the perspectives of different real players -- both American and British -- of this obscure but important battle from American history. The book includes an author’s note, a timeline, a glossary, endnotes, a bibliography and an index. In Our Country’s Flag, cartoons bring to life text which tells a story about four friends inspired in different ways by the special symbol of American freedom and, in the process teaches about the history and evolution of the flag and its meaning, encompassing sacrifices by veterans, national unity and freedom; the Pledge of Allegiance, national anthem and showing it respect.

Co-Lin pitted junior high school students from throughout the area in a competition testing their prowess in mathematics. Seventh grade winners (left to right) were Jonah Rutland, Topeka-Tilton, first place; Parker Ruth King, Loyd Star, second place; Tucker Smith, Brookhaven Academy, third place; Elijah Leggett, West Lincoln, tie fourth place; Tristan Holloway, Wesson Attendance Center, tie fourth place; Logan Gerald, Bogue Chitto, tie fourth place; and Griffin Wilson, Rod Paige Middle School, fifth place. Eighth grade winners (left to right) were Drew King, Loyd Star, first place; Palyn Smith, West Lincoln, second place; Zach Miller, Topeka-Tilton, third place; Tyler Britt, Loyd Star, tie fourth place; Hayden Avants, Bogue Chitto, tie fourth place; Ridge Hamil, fifth place, Brookhaven Academy.

FEMA is urging a wide area of the country to stay alert and start preparing for weather risks from today into the weekend. The National Weather Service is predicting intense and widespread severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes in some areas. Remain alert, keep your cell phone charged and take steps to prepare now to potentially save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes. Severe weather, that could include long-track tornadoes, may occur from Friday afternoon into the overnight hours for a large portion of the Middle Mississippi Valley and the Mid-South. This dangerous weather risk will continue eastward into the Lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley. Anyone living in these areas should take steps now ahead of the storms: Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the free FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to receive real-time emergency alerts from the National Weather Service, and to find a nearby shelter if you evacuate Pay attention to local alerts and warnings and follow any guidance by local officials. Check on neighbors. As you prepare your family and loved ones for a disaster, check on neighbors and folks in your community to see if they are doing the same or help them get started. Older adults may need extra assistance to prepare for the storms. Visit Ready.gov/seniors for more information. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Visit Individuals with Disabilities to learn more. Prepare your property for dangerous weather now by cleaning out any large or loose materials near your property. Remove dead trees, hanging branches and loose objects in your yard or patio that could become a dangerous projectile during severe winds. It's not too late to create a plan with your family. Visit Ready.gov/plan and use the new "Make a Plan" fillable form to walk through all the steps to begin your plan and then easily save an electronic copy, or share with other family members. Many shelters do not take household pets, so remember to create a plan and have supplies available for your pets.

By Mika Hartman Life is life. Some seem to walk around on “easy street”, while others struggle with everything. Some people celebrate 75 years of marriage, while others remarry more than once. Some of us are given a life we didn’t know we wanted, until it is ours. And many will never understand how lucky the ones selected for a Down syndrome journey really are. Recently, I was asked by a super nice man, “How Downs is your kid?” This is clearly a lack of education on the subject. Someone who assumes that there are levels of Down syndrome is someone who hasn’t been around families like mine. You are either born with Down syndrome or you’re not. Autism provides levels based on testing and results. However, Down syndrome is solely based on the extra 21st chromosome that can be detected in utero or after birth. The amazing thing about people with this extra chromosome is that like every person ever born, they have two parents with unique genetic traits. Hudson is still half me and half CJ. Hudson looks just like my other two children at the age he is now, with a few differences because he was born with Down syndrome and they weren’t. Yes, he has delays. Yes, sometimes communicating is more difficult. Yes, Hudson has a different journey than my other two children. Different is beautiful and it is universal. “What sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it's what makes you great.” - Emma Stone Hudson is not and never will be a burden. I pray he never feels like a burden. Only society can plant those seeds with questions like above. If families like mine are carrying the weight of the differences, society could help with the heaviness. Its not Hudson that makes it heavy, it is the constant need for daunting paperwork, overseeing that my sons basic human rights are being met outside of our home, it is having to be five steps ahead of those looking to knock you ten steps back and its always having to prove the disability, even when no diagnosis have changed. Even when the load feels heaviest, I am advocating and I am educating myself and others. I want Mississippi and the world to be better, kinder, more understanding and, mostly, more human to those who deserve our kindness and our help. Sitting here at 47, I know my voice matters. I know needed change can happen, even from stay at home mom with something important to say. You can’t wait on the world, your voice matters now. This is the letter I sent to Lieutenant Governor Hosemann's Family Committee last year: To Whom It May Concern: Thank you for allowing me to provide comments today on such an important issue. My name is Mika Hartman and I reside in Pass Christian, Mississippi. I am a mom to an amazing, sweet, fun loving boy named Hudson. Upon testing, we were told that Hudson would likely be born with Down syndrome. Throughout his short life so far, I’ve noticed several obstacles we’ve had to face to ensure my son is getting the quality of life he needs and deserves. After my sons open heart surgery, we moved back to Mississippi for his best chance at life. Upon my return, I was told that I should have never moved here. That had I called before deciding to move back to Mississippi (now with my child with “special needs”), I would have been told this is NOT a place to bring him. We are a military family, law abiding citizens, taxpayers, hard workers and good people…. And because we have a child with Down syndrome, we shouldn’t reside here? That statement truly broke my heart. I am here today to address some of the ways we can improve the life of individuals with disabilities and Mississippi can continue to the place my son and my family can call home. Any person born or later diagnosed with a disability brings purpose and value to our communities. Our laws and our budgets should reflect all citizens. We have a real responsibility to all Mississippians to rise to the challenge of ensuring equitable care for all citizens. We must improve our education system, healthcare and access to it, inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the community, and training for many professionals (including doctors, law enforcement agents, teachers and more) across the state. For example, there is room for improvement in our restriction and seclusion policy. It states that training for children with disabilities is part of the current plan, and we have no accountability that this training happens or that it is consistent within our state. Currently, individuals with disabilities within the state can make less than the minimum wage, often called subminimum wages. This practice needs to end. As of 2020, there are 2,527 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities waiting to receive critical Home and Community Based Services that they need. We must allocate funding towards HCBS services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Another change that should be implemented is removing the “r” word from our state documents and medical documents, known typically as mental retardation. The way to treat a person with love and dignity is to ensure that we view one another as a person first. My son is not a burden to my family, he is a perfect gift; nor is he a burden to society or to the state. It is my job to see that he gets everything he needs, but it is your job to ensure that the availability of what he needs is within reach. If you ever walked a day in the shoes of a momma advocate, you would understand better the challenges we face. A world that pities us instead of envying us; they have it all wrong. We are willing to teach and we invite you to learn with us. I am working to continue to create change in our state legislature. From police training to ways, to protect nonverbal children better, I hope to be the change in the world my son deserves. Everything I pursue for change is done with love for this life God gave me. Bipartisan changes reflect all the citizens and provide needed policies that benefit all with disabilities. We must work together to get Mississippi on the right track forward. We can do this by protecting Mississippi’s families, removing burdens and barriers, and loving thy neighbors. The weight of the world can be found on the shoulders of a special needs momma; and instead of lightening the load, we often find each stone to be heavier. We need you all to pass policies that help better all our futures, ones that will help move Mississippi forward. Thank you for your consideration. Mika Hartman Whether you have the ability to speak up for those, especially with no voice; or you have a concern for what you’ve seen or experienced: be bold, be loud, help lessen the load when you can. Worry about the unnecessary questions and burdens you might be adding to someones day or life. Worry about the changes that need to be made. Worry about what world you want your kids to grow up in. I have the same concerns for all my children; however, the birth of Hudson has made me stronger and bolder. I feel this. I was created to carry it; but, not everyone can carry it as easily. Worry about them. I do. Don’t worry about Hudson, I have him; he’s good…. He’s actually EXTRA good. EXTRA EXTRA I am hosting a Buddy Cruise Charity Golf Tournament on May 19th in Pass Christian, Ms at The Oaks Golf Club. This tournament is going to be a fun filled day. From prizes, trophies, a chance at a hole-in-one prize, silent auction, raffle prizes and more, we are certain to raise awareness and show the love for and of our Down syndrome community. I will be raising money for Buddy Cruise and sending a local family on the 2023 Buddy Cruise on Royal Caribbean. Even our lunch is being catered by our celebrity entrepreneur, Austin Underwood with Austin’s Underdawgs. Additionally, The Mustard Seed will be here with a pop-up pottery store. Many friends with Down syndrome are participating in our day, from Florida to California, we plan to showcase the “I Can” in our Down syndrome family. To join us, sponsor or donate, please contact me (Mika Hartman): mikacj@yahoo.com or call at 719-822-6497. Or you can register @https://buddycruise.org/Golf/Tournament/14 Don’t miss out on this incredible day of EXTRA good stuff!

Clara Barton Calcote of Wesson has completed service as a page for the Mississippi Senate. Pages generally run errands for officials and Senate staff. Barton is pictured with Lieutenant Governor C. Delbert Hosemann Jr., who sponsored her. Barton is the daughter of Bryan and Sonya Calcote and is home-schooled. “ Working as a senate page was a fun experience,” says Barton. “I witnessed the day-to-day workings of our government and learned a lot about our Capitol’s history. I liked running errands for senators because that took me all over our beautiful Capitol. Everyone I encountered was so friendly and made me feel at home. I was so grateful for this opportunity.”

By Bob Garver Let me begin by saying that I did not go into “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” familiar with the source material. I certainly knew “of” the famous tabletop game and that it takes place in a world of wizards and magic, but I only knew the broadest of strokes. If more education on the game would have helped me enjoy the movie more, then I’m sorry I didn’t do my homework. Then again, I see and enjoy movies based on unfamiliar source material all the time. I’ve never once bought a Marvel comic, and even with the MCU’s more subpar efforts, I usually feel that they do a good job establishing the characters and their worlds. But I spent almost all of “Honor Among Thieves” feeling left in the dust by all the fantasy creatures, spells, and rules. That feeling, combined with derivative characters and unfunny humor, made the movie a slog. We first meet Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) in prison, which explains the “Dungeons” portion of the title. They go to a parole hearing, where Edgin fills us in on backstory as he nervously awaits a specific board member. He used to be a professional peacekeeper until he started turning to light thievery to support his wife and daughter. His wife was killed, so he turned to heavy thievery along with Holga, aspiring sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), and con artist Forge (Hugh Grant). The team did a risky job for witch Sofina (Daisy Head), that led to Edgin and Holga’s capture, though Forge was able to escape, promising to take care of Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). The conclusion of the hearing does admittedly make for a funny gag. Edgin and Holga reunite with Forge, now a powerful lord that basically rules the kingdom. He kept his word about protecting Kira, but has otherwise turned on his old friends, joining forces with Sofina for an upcoming scheme to create an army of the undead. Sofina tries to have Edgin and Holga eliminated, but they escape and start working on a counter-scheme to get Kira back, along with a relic that can bring back Edgin’s wife. Edgin and Holga’s scheme requires more members on the team. Simon can do a scant little magic, which barely rises above the level of parlor tricks. Doric (Sophia Lillis) can transform into any animal, and single-handedly carries the best action sequence of the movie. Xenk (Regè-Jean Page) is a mighty, benevolent warrior that Edgin doesn’t trust. The movie doesn’t want to admit it, but with these three on the team, the movie barely needs Edgin and Holga. Actually, the movie doesn’t need anyone besides Doric. This movie could have been called “Doric & Dragons” and things probably would have been wrapped up much more efficiently. The team goes through adventures where they encounter various creatures and deal with a series of obstacles and enchantments. The film falls into the trap that many fantasies do, where everything is magic, so the rules and stakes aren’t clearly defined. There are several points where the team is faced with a challenge and Edgin will ask, “Is there a spell for that?” We don’t know magic, so the answer is strictly at the mercy of the movie’s writers (or the game’s creators). “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is a perfectly average fantasy movie, dragged below average by bland characters (the ones with useful skills have no personality, and vice versa) and painful humor (especially with Simon, Justice Smith is a specialist at the sort of forced awkwardness that plagues many a movie of this era). It doesn’t make me want to take up the game or see any more movies in this series. We’re getting a new “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie in a few weeks, hopefully that will be a better movie about supposedly-loveable thieves where the self-appointed leader is an unremarkable smooth-talker played by a guy named Chris. Grade: C- “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is rated PG-13 for fantasy action/violence and some language. Its running time is 134 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

By Guest Columnist Rachel Bond After a dreary winter comes every gardener’s favorite time of year: spring. Here are some hot plants you should try this season – some varieties fairly new, and others making a comeback: Two unique varieties of Buddleia, commonly called butterfly bush. They are perennial and attract loads of butterflies during their long-season blooming. They prefer full sun and are heat tolerant and deer resistant. Pugster is a dwarf Buddleia variety, perfect for smaller flower beds and containers. This compact beauty grows to only about two-feet tall and wide. But don’t let the size fool you. The buds are still very large and fragrant. There are five different colors of Pugster. Grand Cascade is a full-sized Buddleia bush with enormous flower panicles that cascade in a weeping form. By enormous, I mean panicles are 12 to 14 inches long and four inches thick. The bush grows five to six feet tall and spreads seven to eight feet wide. Grand Cascade loves full sun and attracts tons of pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. If it’s a unique vine you want, look no further than Petrea volubilis, or Queen’s Wreath. This vigorous vine is considered a tropical, so it must be protected from frost. The draping, lavender flowers resemble wisteria. Unlike wisteria, it blooms profusely multiple times a year. Queen’s Wreath can tolerate full sun to partial shade. For an eye-catching ground cover or “spiller” in containers, try Lysimachia nummularia Goldilocks, commonly called Creeping Jenny. This hardy perennial is sure to create a focal point, with its long, chartreuse to golden-colored strands. It prefers part to full sun and well-drained soil. Its unique growing habit, along with its bright foliage, creates a perfect contrast when planted among darker plants. Arbequina olive trees are wonderful additions to any container, orchard or landscape. The stunning grey-green foliage is attractive and evergreen. Olives grow in well-drained soil and flourish in large containers. Turn your patio into an Italian villa using a few large pots with fruit-bearing olives. The black olives can be brined and enjoyed or left on the tree for aesthetic value. It’s important that they receive full sun and very loose soil. Cold-hardy avocados are extremely popular edible trees. They have beautiful foliage, and who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe avocado? While there are many varieties, opt for one that is considered cold hardy down to 20 degrees. These varieties do best in Mississippi and can be grown similarly to citrus trees, either in the ground or a container. Some good varieties to try are Lila, Joey and Fantastic. Last but not least, the showgirls of spring are petunias.The gorgeous Headliner Series is not one to miss. Night Sky looks straight out of a Van Gogh painting. Its deep purple blooms with white splotches makes each one unique. This petunia has a mounding and trailing habit and likes part to full sun.Pink Sky offers the same freckled charm in a medium-pink shade. Elevate your beds and containers with these specialty, long-season bloomers. EDITOR’S NOTE: Rachel Bond, owner of Pine Hills Floral in Pass Christian, Mississippi, contributes to Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Southern Gardening accessible at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/southern-gardening.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid March is National Optimism Month. Considering the past pandemic and other trials and tribulations in all aspects of life, it can be a challenge to remain optimistic in our attitudes. Everyone falls somewhere on the sliding scale between pessimism and optimism. There are advantages to each, but on the average, optimism is a far better option. Optimism has so many benefits and can enhance your life in numerous ways. You might not consider yourself to be an optimistic person, but that’s not true. You’re simply a regular person lacking an optimistic perspective. With practice, you can change your perspective! With optimism come many tangible benefits to your life: 1. Longevity. Many scientific studies have shown that those with a more positive attitude are more likely to live a long life. What a simple way to enhance your health and your longevity. Be determined to find the bright side of things as you go throughout your day. 2. Happiness. Unsurprisingly, optimistic people tend to be happier, too. If you live with high expectations, your mood will be better than that of someone who lives with low expectations. Since everyone wants to be happy, it only makes sense to give optimism a try. 3. Less stress. When you’re optimistic, you experience lower levels of stress. When you believe that things usually work out fine, they usually do! 4. Solutions. Optimistic people are more focused on solutions than they are on their challenges. This is because they actually believe a solution exists and that they can find it. Pessimistic people, on the other hand, tend to believe that there’s no hope, so they don’t try to find a way out of their predicament. 5. Likeability. Would you rather be around someone who is all doom and gloom, or would you prefer to spend time with someone that believes good things are going to happen? 6. Productivity. Optimistic people are able to accomplish more each day. Why would you work long and hard if you didn’t think things were going to work out for you? The hardest workers are often the most optimistic. 7. Confidence. When you have high expectations, that’s a form of confidence. You believe you’re going to be successful. That’s essentially the definition of confidence. You can’t be pessimistic and have self-confidence at the same time. 8. Persistence. A positive belief about the future is a breeding ground for persistence. People who give up quickly do so because they don’t believe a positive outcome is likely. Would you be more likely or less likely to keep trying if you expected to fail? What if you expected to win? 9. Stable mood. Pessimism is stressful. When you’re stressed, your mood is less stable. The most stable people are also very optimistic about their future and their abilities. 10. Success. If you’re more productive, happier, less stressed, live longer, have more confidence, and are persistent, success is the logical result. 11. Strong relationships. It’s easier to get along with people and to be a good friend and a good partner if you’re optimistic. To whom would you rather be close to, someone positive or someone negative? Is a person born optimistic? Who knows? However, one thing is clear. Anyone can choose to be optimistic. Optimism is a deliberate choice that you can make each day. It’s simple. All you have to do is to try to find the positive perspective. Ask yourself questions that fuel a positive perspective, such as: ● What is great about this situation? ● What can I learn? What can I get out of this? ● What is good in my life right now? Tell yourself that you’re going to have a great day. Look for solutions rather than focus on your challenges. Choose optimism as a way of life. With so many incredible benefits to be gained, why not give optimism a serious effort for a month? You’re going to like the way you feel! 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 Kara Kimbrough Mississippi is known for its rich history, natural beauty and yes, even our unusual city and town names. A few of my favorite names are Soso, Mt. Olive, Biloxi, Arm, Como, Foxworth, D’Lo, Panther Burn and Duck Hill. Another interesting name that hit my radar last year was the small town of Rolling Fork in Sharkey County. When the town’s newspaper, the Deer Creek Pilot, began publishing my column last year, I was intrigued about the origin of both names, but never stopped to do a little research. It wasn’t until the town was decimated by the deadly EF-4 tornado that hit the state March 24. Most of Rolling Fork’s businesses and homes were flattened and many residents lost their lives. Surprisingly, the newspaper office was spared. However, with no electricity in the building, editor/publisher Natalie Perkins was forced to write articles, design and compile the following week’s daily newspaper from her Anguilla home five miles away. To say this was a herculean feat amid the destruction and chaos left by the storm would be an understatement. Perkins managed to publish what can only be described as one of the most notable newspaper editions in the state’s history. Perkins' feat in the face of disaster is preceded in magnitude only by the Biloxi Sun-Herald’s staff managing to publish its Aug. 30, 2005 edition the day after Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of the Gulf Coast. So, to the point of my column. First, I finally took the time to learn the origin of Rolling Fork’s name. It supposedly came when the original founder named the town after a fast-moving – or rolling – part of a fork in the nearby Deer Creek. Simultaneously, I learned where the newspaper got its name. And my second point: besides culture, tradition, history, beauty and quirky names, Mississippi is filled with wonderful, strong, caring people. In addition to Perkins, who single mindedly did whatever it took to publish a newspaper that would serve as a fitting tribute to both the town’s heartache as well as its resilience, hundreds of others descended on Rolling Fork to help in a multitude of ways. Churches, organizations, municipalities and just ordinary Mississippians who cared and wanted to do what they could to help submerged on the small town of Rolling Fork in the days following the storm. Our people are what make Mississippi special, transcending our state’s beauty and uniqueness. To help the Deer Creek Pilot continue to operate in the coming months as the town and surrounding counties recover, the Mississippi Press Association Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, established a Go Fund Me campaign with a goal of $15,000 to cover essential operating costs like printing and delivery. The MPAEF also reestablished its Local Journalism Relief Fund, a campaign dedicated to help local newspapers and employees facing advertising after natural disasters. The fund provided vital support to local media following Katrina. To make a contribution or for more information, contact the MPAEF at 601-981-3060. In honor of our state's resilience, once again, in the face of crisis, I searched for a recipe in an old cookbook simply entitled, "The Mississippi Cookbook." It's a wonderful cookbook from the 1970's filled with tried-and-true recipes from cooks around the state. I found a recipe for hot chicken salad from a Booneville (another great city name) cook, that will translate well to modern-day Mississippi as we deal with fluctuating spring weather. The Mississippi Cookbook's Hot Chicken Salad 2 cups chopped cooked chicken 2 cups chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons grated onions 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons chopped pimento 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 can cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup grated cheese 1-1/2 cups crushed potato chips Mix all ingredients except chips and cheese. Put into a 2-quarter casserole dish. Mix cheese and potato chips and spread over top of mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

With the prospect of sellouts, Brookhaven Little Theater (BLT) has add two showtimes to its schedule of performances of The Wizard of Oz. Between Thursday, April 20, and Sunday, April 30, BLT will stage ten productions of the classic musical adventure fantasy a the Haven Theater in downtown Brookhaven. Audiences will follow the yellow brick road in the delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, which features the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale covers the adventure of young Dorothy Gale on her travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz. Adults, young people and children can enjoy the two-and-one half hour performance starting on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. The other showtimes are: Friday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available from BLT for $30 (premium), $20 (standard) and 15 (limited view). Founded in 1968, BLT is the longest continuously running community theatre in Mississippi. For more than 50 years, it has entertained theatre-goers with an array of musical and dramatic classics, as well as modern Broadway hits. In recent years, the theatre has expanded to include the BLTeen Summer Camp and the Haven Kids Camp, which provide entertainment and educational outreach to teenagers and children, introducing them to the excitement of theatre and the arts. BLT is led and sustained by volunteers who give generously of their time and resources to produce stunning shows and create magical experiences for it audiences. For information about tickets and BLT membership packages, call 601-990-2243 or email tickets@brookhavenlittletheater.com. The historic Haven Theatre, which houses BLT, is at 126 W Cherokee Street, Brookhaven, MS 39601