The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has released the most recent school and district chronic absence data, which shows that 28% of Mississippi students were absent 18 days or more during the 2021-22 school year. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% (18 days) of the school year for any reason, which includes excused and unexcused absences and suspensions. Chronic absence differs from Average Daily Attendance (ADA), which is the average number of enrolled students who attend school each day. A school’s ADA often masks issues surrounding the number of students who are chronically absent. During the 2021-22 school year, 128,275 Mississippi public school students were chronically absent, which is an increase of 33,186 students from 2020-21. The rates increased steadily for all K-12 grades in 2021-22. The chronic absenteeism rate in K-5 elementary schools was highest for kindergarten at 28.4%. The chronic absenteeism rate in middle school was highest in grade 8 at 29.6% and highest in high school in grade 12 at 45.3%. MDE began reporting chronic absence data in 2016, and the 28% overall rate is the highest to date. While it is important to identify and mitigate all factors that led to excessive absences, the COVID-19 pandemic did contribute to the increased statewide and national rates. Chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind academically and less likely to graduate from high school. Addressing chronic absenteeism and developing good attendance habits will take the collective effort of schools, attendance officers, families and communities. The MDE will relaunch a statewide attendance awareness campaign in June. The campaign is designed to challenge students and school districts to reduce individual absences to no more than five absences in a school year and was initially launched in September 2018. Mississippi’s campaign is part of a national movement to reduce chronic absenteeism. Before the pandemic, Mississippi’s chronic absenteeism rate fell to 13% in 2018-19. “Higher than normal chronic absenteeism numbers are not unique to Mississippi following the pandemic,” said Dr. Robert Taylor, state superintendent of education. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that MDE and all educational stakeholders develop and implement strategies to get students back in school and on track to achieve academic and career success.” To see Mississippi’s 2021-22 chronic absenteeism report, which includes the highest and lowest rates among schools and districts, go to mdek12.org/OPR/Reporting/Reports. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

First responders and medical professionals without specialized obstetrics training – including emergency room doctors and nurses – are leaning how to handle pregnancy and delivery complications like hypertension and hemorrhage through the STORK training program created by doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) who recognized that in a rural state with dwindling options for obstetrical care, women are likely to deliver outside of dedicated labor and delivery wards, and to need care from people who don’t see pregnant patients every day. The STORK Program’s half-day training includes lectures and simulations to change that dynamic. STORK stands for Stabilizing OB and Neonatal Patients, Training for OB/Neonatal Emergencies, Outcome Improvements, Resource Sharing, and Kind Care for Vulnerable Families. The training is funded with a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and is run by MCES, a division of UMMC that houses critical care transport services – including helicopter teams – and the state’s communications system for hospitals and first responders, Mississippi MED-COM. So far, about 150 people from around the state – a mix of registered nurses, physicians, medical residents, firefighters and paramedics – have completed the training. More than 18 trainings are on the calendar.

By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr In our hustle-bustle world of instant gratification, slow-cooked meals in crockpots, ironically, may be the answer for people on the go. There’s nothing like coming home after work to a savory chicken dinner that recalls the meals grandma used to cook in simpler days, My “Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot” features spices I like, but you can add your favorites instead. Toss in some vegetables and potatoes, too, for a more complete meal. Ingredients: 2 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 1 tsp onion powder 1tsp thyme ½ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ¼ tsp black pepper 1 yellow onion, chopped 2 stalks of celery, chopped 1 large chicken Directions: Combine all the spices in a small bowl. Place the chopped onion and celery in the bottom of the crock pot. Remove any parts from inside the chicken. Rub the seasonings all over the chicken. I like to rub some of the seasonings under the skin covering the breasts. This allows the flavors to really seep into the meat. Place the prepared chicken in the crock pot on top of the onions breast side up. Cook on high for four to five hours or on low for eight to ten hours. Enjoy the wonderful world of slow cooking. EDITOR’S NOTE: Charles Fortson, Jr., is proprietor-chef at Uncle Ray’s across from Lake Lincoln State Park. He makes lunches and dinners to take out or for table service, while also operating a convenience store and bait shop at his Sunset Road location. Follow his cooking tips on Uncle Ray’s Facebook page or call 601-643-0174 to check on his daily specials.

Ever had the experience of wishing you were just… a little bit different you? Maybe a thousand or so various times in your life? Then in that respect, you are like a lot of people. Because that is a trait that most members of this two-legged species have in common. Wishing we were just a little different than we are. You watch someone so at ease with others and find yourself wistfully thinking, “I wish I could be that at home around people.” But you’re the kind of personality that feels a little awkward socially. When forced into a situation where extended interaction using witty small talk is almost a must, you find yourself looking for an escape. Preferably a business-related phone call that forces you to have to leave, or at the least, a sudden attack of appendicitis that calls for an emergency exit. Anything will suffice, if it can get you out of there. Or, maybe you are that gregarious charmer who is good friends with everyone on the block, but deep down you envy the guy whose phone always rings when someone needs truly trusted advice. The one that the neighborhood always wants as their leader when serious situations arise. Wanting to be different than you are. Pretty common occurrence. The beloved, committed, gentle caregiver envies the naturally attention-grabbing entertainer of the group. The tranquil peace-maker longs for the outspoken ability of the strong, leadership type. The scatter-brained life of the party privately would like to be more of a calm, efficient person – that someone who has all the bills paid three weeks ahead of time, whose future seems spot-on, whose kids are all well-adjusted and happy, and whose spouse obviously believes in sky-high pedestals. On and on it goes. Why do we do that? I believe that many times our own value is pretty hazy to us. So easy to spot the strong suit of someone around us who can easily do what we struggle to accomplish. Much harder to look at ourself and enjoy who we are – warts and all. And that is the problem. We see all of ourself, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And unfortunately, we have the tendency to highlight the ugly. While we are busy contrasting ourself to the attractive traits in people who are naturally and effortlessly what we are…ummm…not. My answer to this problem in life? Accept that your Creator made you just who He wanted you to be – warts and all. But also know that He will be working to refine you with the passing of time. Quiet? Learn to embrace it, because others envy you your outer calm. Kinda instinctively bossy and not very charming? Admit it, and decide to use it for good. Basically energetic, noisy, and irrepressible? Accept it, and vow to control and define how you use those traits. Learn to be the best YOU there is, because we need you.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) will begin accepting a new round of applications for its Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) starting, Wednesday, February 1. The application period will remain open until Wednesday, February 15. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period. In Mississippi alone, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Through the WHCP, MDAC provides “smart” wild hog traps to landowners and managers for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry lands in Mississippi. MDAC provides the training necessary to use the “smart” traps and technical guidance regarding the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs on private lands. “The next trapping period will coincide with the upcoming crop planting season. I urge farmers that have experienced historical agricultural loss from wild hogs to submit an application,” said Commissioner Gipson. “We want to work with farmers and their neighbors to prevent crop loss by supplying the correct trapping equipment and technical guidance on how to successfully trap wild hogs.” Applications must be completed and submitted online at www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Submitted applications will be evaluated based on the number of acres available for trapping, historical agricultural losses caused by wild hogs on the property and current trapping efforts on the property. A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage (i.e., adjoining land managers of small parcels should work together to submit one application). Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 – 1,000 acres is recommended, depending on landscape and land use. Visit www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp for program guidelines, applications and additional information. Submit questions regarding the WHCP to Chris McDonald at chris@mdac.ms.gov.

By Mika Hartman What makes a person valuable? It is not about money, that would make you wealthy. It’s about being helpful and useful. A valuable person will have a positive energy and they will be someone who attracts others by being trustworthy and dependable. Having a positive look on life and circumstance will always have a warmth we all crave. What I didn’t say is that being valuable is being perfect. It’s not. The common valuable traits are: Integrity, loyalty, compassion, kindness, honesty, humility, spirituality and selflessness. Reread that. The common valuable traits are: Integrity, loyalty, compassion, kindness, honesty, humility, spirituality and selflessness. Not anywhere in this list does it say a word about genetics. Actually, our friends with Down syndrome, I believe, are born with an extra helping of all the valuable traits listed above. Why don’t more see their value? Let me share with you some of my friends who make this world a better place. They all share these valuable traits and all were born with an extra chromosome. These amazing people are daily spreading love and kindness; through determination and pure heart, they are breaking barriers for my son’s future. From running million dollar companies to literally being an Iron Man Champion, there is no mountain an extra chromosome can stop them from climbing. I will start with one of my personal faves, John Cronin. John owns John’s Crazy Socks. From crazy socks to weekly dance parties, John approaches each day with an unstoppable spirit and love for life. He has a Facebook show where he literally spreads kindness. John is running the largest online sock store and he hires people with disabilities to work with him. He has a wonderful family beside him, but make no mistake, John is the boss. Check his company out: johnscrazysocks.com. John rocks! Austin Underwood is another fave! He owns Austin’s Underdawgs, a hot dawg food truck, and he created his own Austin’s Underdawgs Dawg Sauce. I have a bottle and this sauce is amazing. Austin attended Eastern New Mexico University designed for people with limited abilities and earned Prep Chef at the University. His love for food and his determination led him to owning his own business and now his love has him traveling around in the Dawgmobile. Austin estimates that he has sold more than 50,000 hot dawgs. Please congratulate Austin on his upcoming marriage to his love, Jenny. Breaking all glass ceilings. Check out his business @austinsunderdawgs.com. Go Austin! Mississippi's own, Morgan Tibbens, owns and operates DaBombs by Morgan. Bath bombs, bath salts and soap are handmade with extra love. Morgan and her mom, Denise, travel all over to bring these fabulous bath bombs to areas near you. You can even buy everything online @dabombbymorgantibbens.com. I have met Morgan. Her smile will melt you and she shows up to work. In her spare time, she travels all over to find all Elvis impersonators and show her love for the King of Rock & Roll. Morgan's business was created when she was having a hard time getting accepted to college, that she needed to work on her social skills, per the school. Well Mississippi State, she is running a successful business and spreading kindness all over our state. Morgan has value. I have dangerously ordered too many cookies from Collettey’s Cookies (not really, you can’t order too many). Collette Divitto had a hard time finding a job, so she created one. Collette’s love for baking lead her opening a cookie business. Her perfect response to her unintentional fame is, “why are people so surprised”. Collette’s signature cookie is the best cookie I have ever eaten: The Amazing Cookie (Chocolate Chip Cinnamon). Collette is in a new series on Peacock and Crave called Born For Business. She ships all over and has gluten-free options, too. Visit her @colletteys.com. You don’t need an occasion, order today. Collettey and her cookies are the sweetest. One of our favorite things to show support is to wear yellow and blue. If you are wanting to wear it, too, check out 21 Pineapples. Nate created this business to show off his love for his life and his super fun personality in shirts. The 21 is for the extra copy of the 21st chromosome and the pineapple represents friendship and a welcoming hospitality. Together, 21 Pineapples represents Down syndrome friendship while the pineapple truly wears a fun crown… it is perfect. I think my favorite shirt is the “Try Not To Suck” shirt, but they are all fantastic. Check out some cool duds @21pineapples.com. Nate will have you looking almost as cool as he does. At the age of 21, YES 21, Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an ironman triathlon. His accomplishment earned him the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance as part of the 2021 ESPY Awards. Chris is now 24 and still breaking barriers. He says his mission is “to honor God by being the best me I can be so I can be an example to others”. He recognizes that we ALL have GOD-GIVEN abilities. Chris asks: What wouldn’t you do if you knew you could not fail? With this determined heart, he created the 1% Better book that is inspiring and actionable. He has already inspired a movement in our Down syndrome community, but has a message we all could learn from. Charlotte Woodward was the first person with Down syndrome to receive a heart transplant in the United States. Her team saw her personal value. Yes, you read that right, it wasn’t until 2012 that a US doctor made the decision to give a life saving transplant to a person with Down syndrome. Charlotte asked this, “Many people with Down syndrome in society aren’t considered to be candidates for an organ transplant, and that begs the question, whose lives are valuable?”… And for this she works tirelessly to bring needed change to our whole country. Many states have adopted laws to protect individuals with Down syndrome, including Mississippi, but having it be a federal law of our land is Charlotte’s mission. Charlotte holds an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College and recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from George Mason University with a bachelors degree in sociology with a concentration in inequality and social change. She is a staff member with NDSS. I have been on big calls with this lovely woman and her heart is mega huge! Charlotte, you amaze me! David DeSantis, Zach Gottsagen and Lily Moore have all been in my home… on my big screen! These amazing friends have amazing acting abilities. From laughing to crying, you’ll experience all the emotions when watching their movies. I have met both David and Zach and they both impressed me with there ability to articulate and communicate how to follow your dreams. They both are motivational speakers and they both encourage people to live life to the fullest and go after the life you want. I know one day we will not say “the actor with Down syndrome”, just “actor” will do! Zach Gottsagen was the first Academy Awards presenter with Down syndrome in 2020. The message is powerful: Follow your dreams! They do every day. Truthfully, all I am listing (and more) are my favorites. Each individual inspires me just like Hudson does. I will finish with my friend, Sophie Slack. I am good friends with her family. Sophie lives in West Virginia and loves building robots and competes in robotic competitions. She writes computer programs and Sophie loves being creative. Her parents were told not to expect much from their first born. Actually, the amount of negative comments they received pains me. Each and every negative comment has been proven wrong or false. This beautiful person loves life, people, learning and educating others; Sophie is a self-advocate. From law changes to being the face of the West Virginia ABLE Accounts, she is making a valuable difference in the world. Sophie is almost 19 and is a powerhouse. You are super cool, Sophie! Movies to check out: Peanut Butter Falcon Where Hope Grows Color My World With Love Honestly, I could go on and on. From Kayla McKeon, Sofia Jirau, David Egan, Sofia Sanchez, Blake Pyron, and many others breaking barriers, each of you amaze and inspire me. And to the rising advocates, like Caleb Prewitt, Sara Nye, and Mississippi’s own Josh Williams, you are making the world change for the better. Remember only you can set your limits. Keep going, I am cheering for you all. Don’t misunderstand me, you do not have to do big things or have your name in lights to have value. Each person can decide what they were born to do; I think we can all agree that a diagnosis should never limit a person. Period. Encouraging people and cheering for them, even if they have challenges, is something we all need. Actually, if a person has a harder time accomplishing goals, shouldn't they be the ones we cheer louder for? If you'll read this closely, you'll see that many of my friends above were not given a chance, they created their opportunities; and they nailed it. It is my job to provide Hudson with all the tools he needs to live his best life; building pizza boxes or running for President of the USA, he gets to choose. A seat at the table is all that is needed. It’s likely that he will not be a brain surgeon or an astronaut; however, he will have integrity, loyalty, compassion, kindness, honesty, humility, spirituality and selflessness… Hudson is EXTRA valuable. I can’t wait to see what he chooses. I will be cheering the loudest.

By Kara Kimbrough The countdown is on to Super Bowl LVII, scheduled for Feb. 12 in Arizona. If you’re a die-hard football fan, you’ll undoubtedly agree it’s the most important NFL game of the year. If you couldn't care less about the game, Super Bowl Sunday is still a great opportunity to indulge on one of my favorite food groups – appetizers, of course...the saltier and more sauce-doused, the better. From Little Smokies to sliders to chips and dips, I love ‘em all. Speaking of dips, here’s my tip of the day: Kroger brand dips are simply amazing. With flavors like Cajun-style crab, smoked salmon, French onion, ranch and Monterey jack queso, they’re priced right and taste delicious. But back to SB LVII. Whether you're hosting a party, will be a guest at one or plan to watch the “to be determined” teams from the comfort of your recliner, here are a few of my favorite football appetizers and decorating ideas. More will follow before the big game arrives. 1. Game-Winning Wings – More wings are bought and consumed during Super Bowl weekend than at any other time of the year. For easy Crockpot wings, whisk together 1/3 cup each of soy sauce, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar with a ¼ cup of honey, teaspoon each of ginger powder and ground pepper and ½ teaspoon of onion powder. Place three pounds of chicken wings in a slow cooker and stir in the soy sauce mixture, coating well. Cook on high heat for about two hours, adding a little honey barbecue sauce as needed to keep wings from sticking. Just before serving, line a baking sheet with foil and place cooked wings on the baking sheet under an oven broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until caramelized and slightly charred. Serve with dipping sauce. 2. One Sauce Fits All –In a food processor or blender, add a cup of sour cream, small bottle of blue cheese dressing, teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce and a sprinkle of seasoning salt. Add a dash of hot sauce if you like it hot. Process about two minutes, then chill for an hour and serve with wings or tenders. 3. Ball Bling - Purchase an inexpensive football (can be kid’s size or a Nerf football) and spray with gold glitter paint or hot-glue gold ornaments from the craft store all over the ball. Paint or glue the numbers “57” on the ball. Elevate the blinged-out ball by placing it on top of a stackable cake plate covered with a gold cloth or your favorite team’s colors. When guests arrive, have them write down their guess on the final score. Whoever gets closest to the score wins the football as a souvenir of Super Bowl LVII. 4. Ultimate Game Day Sliders – Mix one pound of ground beef with a packet of ranch dressing mix and form into small patties. Place on foil-lined baking sheet and bake in 400-degree oven for 20 minutes, flipping once. Five minutes before removing from oven, top each slider with Cheddar cheese and finish baking. Place patties in mini slider buns or King’s Hawaiian rolls, then add a Super Bowl cupcake toothpick (most supermarkets or party stores will have them) to each one to keep sliders together. Serve with burger condiments, grilled onions, pickles and dipping sauces. 5. Personal Pigs in Blankets - Put cocktail sausages or regular hot dogs on a wooden craft or Popsicle stick. Using crescent rolls or puff pastry, wrap thin dough strips around the sausage or hot dog, Brush with butter and bake in 350-degree oven for 12-15 minutes until browned. Serve with Dijon mustard and dipping sauces. 6. Super Bowl Snack Mix - Pop eight cups of popcorn. In a large bowl, mix popcorn with one cup each of peanuts and mini pretzels, a stick of melted butter, and half teaspoon each of cinnamon and salt. Bake on foil-lined baking sheet in 350-degree oven for 20 minutes; let cool. When cooled, mix in colored M&Ms. (I found Broncos-orange M&Ms at a party store). Recipe doubles easily. 7. “Don’t Forget the Vegetarians” Dip – Finely chop a cup of fresh vegetables - red or yellow bell peppers or fresh tomatoes, then add to 16 ounces of sour cream or Greek yogurt. Stir in a packet of ranch dressing mix and top with a quarter cup of chopped green olives. Serve with sliced vegetables. 8. Baked Muffalettas – Slice a large loaf of French bread lengthwise, then pile sandwiches fixings on the bottom layer: salami, ham, Swiss cheese and provolone cheese, repeating layers. Top with Italian olive salad mix, then wrap bread in foil and place on baking sheet in 350-degree oven. Bake about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. 9. Football Tablescape, Part II – Decorate your main food table with a green and white “football” cloth purchased from a party store, or use a green tablecloth (I found one at Goodwill). Cover with white streamers to resemble lines on a football field. Or, cover your table with a cloth in your favorite team’s colors. Tip: I shop at closeout stores or Goodwill before special events to look for gently-used cloths to decorate my tables. 10. Spicy Football Spread – With mixer, combine three 8-ounce packages of softened cream cheese, three cups Cheddar, cup of grated Romano cheese, cup of sour cream, teaspoon of Worcestershire and dash of hot sauce. Place mixture on piece of plastic wrap and use hands to mold mixture into football shape or place in medium-size plastic football dish covered with plastic wrap to mold into football shape. Place football on serving dish and cover with toasted pecans and dried cranberries that have been chopped in food processor. Serve with chips or crackers. Stay tuned next week for even more Super Bowl recipes and ideas. In the meantime, practice your app-making skills on one of my favorite dips. If you can’t find Kroger’s version, mine is the next best thing. Super Bowl LVII Smoked Salmon Dip 16-ounce can salmon, drained and chopped (or equal amount of frozen salmon, defrosted) 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened ¼ cup milk 2 teaspoons lemon juice Several drops liquid smoke, to taste 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1/8 teaspoon seasoning salt Dill weed, to taste Stir together salmon with cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, liquid smoke, pepper and seasoning salt. Add dill and serve with crackers or chips. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Mississippi State University congratulates 4,174 students who were named to the fall 2022 President's List. Students on the President's List achieved a 3.80 or better grade-point average, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C. Anna Crow, of Wesson, MS William Hulon, of Wesson, MS William McInnis, of Wesson, MS Katie McSweyn, of Wesson, MS Danna Roses, of Wesson, MS Jerri Smith, of Wesson, MS Olivia Springfield, of Wesson, MS Jacob Watson, of Wesson, MS Catherine Wilson, of Wesson, MS Melody Ashley, of Wesson, MS Jack Lowery, of Wesson, MS Sam Mcinnis, of Wesson, MS Maley Moak, of Wesson, MS Morgan Moak, of Wesson, MS Brent Cade, of Wesson, MS Brooke Cade, of Wesson, MS To be named to the Deans' List at Mississippi State, a student must have achieved a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of course work with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C. 2,445 students were named to the fall 2022 Deans' List at Mississippi State University. The following local students are included in this honor: Savannah Madison, of Wesson, MS Keegan Smith, of Wesson, MS Robert Watson, of Wesson, MS Riley Smith, of Wesson, MS Gregory Smith, of Wesson, MS Some names of students may not appear on this list as a result of student requests for privacy from publication through the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. About Mississippi State University Mississippi State University is a national STEM-focused, doctoral degree-granting, land-grant university offering a wide range of educational experiences for learning and growth to a diverse student body of approximately 23,000 students. Among the National Science Foundation's Top 100 research universities, MSU provides access and opportunity to students from all 50 states and 86 countries. MSU is committed to its comprehensive research university mission, addressing complex local and global issues with innovative ideas and solutions.

By Bob Garver At the Wesson American Legion Hall last month, Alton Ricks talked about U.S. military veterans who sacrificed their lives before local volunteers laid wreaths on their graves at Wesson Cemetery as part of a national program recognizing more than two million deceased veterans in 2,100 cemeteries throughout the country. Wesson-based Socks for Heroes (SFH) coordinated the Wreaths Across America (WAA) event, which, along, with the others, is designed to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach children the value of freedom -- "taking time out to recognize the people who made the ultimate sacrifice," says SFH’s Cathy Stroud. Maine businessman Morrill Worcester started annual the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992 when his organization -- Worcester Wreath in Maine -- found itself with a surplus of wreaths nearing the end of the holiday season. Remembering a moving boyhood experience at Arlington National Cemetery, Worcester seized on it as an opportunity to honor the country’s veterans. The first event implemented with help many government officials, businesses and volunteers became an annual tradition that continued quietly each year until 2005, when a photo of gravestones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet. The event drew national attention and expanded to thousands of other locations where the Arlington ceremonies were emulated.

By Bob Garver Without a lot of new mainstream releases stepping up to the plate this past weekend, there was room for a surprise hit. Enter “Pathaan,” an action movie from India that racked up nearly $6 million at the domestic box office despite playing on fewer than 700 screens. My guess is that many theater owners are going to look at the film’s over-$8,000-per-screen average and decide that they want a piece of that action. So even if “Pathaan” isn’t playing in your market already, it may be coming soon. Shah Rukh Khan stars as Pathaan, one of the greatest secret agents in all of India. He has recently resurfaced after being missing for two years. The first half of the film is largely devoted to what happened before he went missing, and frankly the flashback goes on so long that it’s easy to forget that it’s even a flashback. Two years ago, Pathaan was on a mission to stop a terrorist named Jim (John Abraham), himself given flashbacks to explain his motivation. While on the mission, Pathaan met up with Rubai (Deepika Padukone), an agent from a rival agency that also saw the threat that Jim presented. A few flip-flops later, and Pathaan found himself in a Russian prison and disavowed by India. Fortunately, he had a brother named Tiger (Salman Khan) from another arm of the apparently-very-popular YRF Spy Universe to help bust him out and disappear for two years. Now Rubai has been conspicuously seen on a security camera in Paris. If she’s back, then so is Pathaan. The joint resurfacing means that Jim’s three-year (yes, three-year) plan is close to fruition, and the whole world is in danger, especially India. Fortunately, they’ve got an agent the caliber of Pathaan on the case, but is he back at full capacity? A shootout, chase, and daring helicopter escape in the hideout of a weapons dealer indicates that yes, he is. The story of “Pathaan” is nothing special, the sort of thing you’d see in a typical James Bond or “Mission: Impossible” movie (critics have pointed out that the virus-heavy plot strongly resembles the second film in the latter franchise). But the headline here isn’t the just-okay spy movie that the movie is on paper, it’s the blockbuster you’ll get if you see the movie in theaters. So much of this movie is a feast for the eyes and ears. For the eyes, you’ve got the aforementioned hideout sequence, an abduction sequence involving trucks and helicopters, a heist sequence with a precarious helicopter-assisted landing, an ill-fated train transfer, and plenty of other inventive goodies. And that’s nothing compared to what your ears will get. This movie loves its gunshots and explosions, and the music is exciting and catchy. When I say “the music,” I don’t just mean the score (though the score is most definitely included), I’m talking about two intoxicating musical numbers, one right in the middle of the film. Let’s see Tom Cruise try that. He might, he was in “Rock of Ages,” but I seriously doubt that even he’s fearless enough to interrupt an action movie like that. As for the one at the end, when was the last time you saw James Bond save the world then sing his own theme song to celebrate? “Pathaan” is sure to lead to an increased presence of Indian action movies on the global stage, especially from this YRF Spy Universe. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them, as apparently they’re hard at work thinking up ways to top the craziness of this movie. The scripts could stand to be tighter, but otherwise they should keep up the good work. Don’t be thrown by the subtitles and cultural differences, the action and beauty of “Pathaan” make for a party in any language. Grade: B “Pathaan” is not rated by the MPAA, but it would be approximately a PG-13 (bordering on R at times) for violence. Its running time is 146 minutes.

Wesson Aldermen voted to give all town employees at least a three percent pay hike, with three receiving bigger raises: Town Clerk Angela Hester. $5,500. Chief of Police Chad O’Quinn. $2,000. Public Works and Water Department Director Brad Tuner. $2,000. In Police Department personnel changes, the Aldermen approved the hiring of Ryan Everette on a part time basis, moved Officer Tillman from full time to part time and accepted the resignation of Officer Kelsie Evans. In other actions, the Aldermen approved: A five-year contract with Terry Services to service the Old School Community Center HVAC system. A support contract with BBI Software for the upcoming year. Purchase of five hand-held radios for the Police Department for $8,900 from Jackson Communications funded by a Homeland Security grant. Expenditure of $350 for a virtual training program that will be used by the Police Department. A study by the Police Department of a youth police explorers program.

The Workforce Education Division of Co-Lin has received a $1.2 million grant from AccelerateMS and in-kind donations from Georgia Pacific (GP) to support and expand training programs. The AccelerateMS monies will be used for industrial welding, commercial truck driving and electrical lineman training. Training and equipment will be upgraded at current locations and introduced at new locations, including the college’s Natchez Campus and Simpson County Center. GP’s donations encompass transmitters, piping, meters and programmable logic controllers to monitor, troubleshoot and calibrate processes such as flow, pressure, level and temperature for Co-Lin’s Automation and Control Technology program to ensure students are well-prepared to enter the workplace. Co-Lin offers the two-year Automation & Control program on all three of its campuses and trains students for employment as automated manufacturing systems technicians in maintenance diagnostics, engineering, or production in an automation environment. Recent graduates of the program are now earning competitive salaries and benefits working for companies such as Walmart Distribution, Nissan North America in Canton, Mississippi, Entergy, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, International Paper, Sanderson Farms, among others. “We are very grateful for the generous donation that allows us to purchase modern industrial instruments and equipment that are vital components in many processing and manufacturing industries,” says Mandy Case, program coordinator of Automation & Control Technology. For industrial welding training on the Wesson campus and at the Simpson Center geared to meeting the regional demand for welders, the AccelerateMS funding will allow the college to invest in welding simulators so students have limitless skill repetition opportunities, can diversify their skills and safely learn their trade as they gain knowledge across many different areas of industrial welding, such as ship fitting, pipe fitting, industrial maintenance, and heavy equipment repair. The immediate feedback provided by the learning technology will allow students and their instructors to quickly see their mistakes and customize individual training experiences to address skill needs. The success of the recently implemented Workforce Education Electrical Lineman program on the Wesson campus has validated the program’s expansion plans, and the AccelerateMS special project award will provide for much needed equipment for the current location and allow Co-Lin to establish additional sites for the lineman school. District industry partners have asked the college to offer the program in the Natchez and Simpson County areas to duplicate the successful training and placing graduates in job. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security reports 357 openings for heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers and industrial truck/tractor operators annually for which Co-Lin has expanded commercial truck driving training that has graduated 11 students on its Wesson campus and at its Simpson County Center. AccelerateMS funding will allow additions to the truck driving fleet and enable Co-Lin to offer training and testing on both automatic and standard transmission vehicles at its class locations. “The backing from AccelerateMS will allow our truck driving program to diversify its fleet, which is critical in providing training for the commercial vehicles that our industry partners are now deploying,” says Luke Laird, Co-Lin Workforce Center Director. “This award will substantially benefit the skill and talent pipeline in these high demand fields within our ecosystem.” “We make every effort to meet the skill needs requested by our business partners and take seriously the needs of the labor force in the Co-Lin district,” Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, Co-Lin president, adds. “We are extremely grateful to receive this funding from AccelerateMS to take our workforce education training programs and student skills to the next level.” AccelerateMS is the leading office for workforce development strategy and delivery in Mississippi.