Volunteer Mississippi, The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, invites nominations for the Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards. This award is the highest honor Volunteer Mississippi gives to volunteers. The GIVE Awards celebrate the exemplary service of Mississippi's most dedicated citizens. This award program presented by Volunteer Mississippi, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, recognizes and honors the valuable contributions of some of Mississippi's extraordinary citizens while inspiring others to follow their example. “As First Lady and Honorary Chair for the Commission for Volunteer Service, I look forward to partnering with Volunteer Mississippi to honor these outstanding Mississippi volunteers,” said First Lady Elee Reeves. “Mississippi is comprised of selfless individuals who are committed to bettering our communities and lending a helping hand to our neighbors in need.” Members of the public can nominate a volunteer by visiting volunteermississippi.org/GIVE. Nominations will be accepted until Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. “There are countless Mississippi volunteers who are worthy of these special GIVE Awards,” said Monica Ritchie, executive director at Volunteer Mississippi. “I encourage organizations, families, friends, students, educators, veterans, and colleagues to nominate any person with a passion for volunteerism who is making a difference in their community.” The story of volunteerism in Mississippi is about service as a way of life. It’s about leadership in our schools, workplaces, and communities. It’s about results. Statewide volunteers and national service members are getting things done and making a difference for our children, our seniors, our veterans, and military families. More information about Volunteer Mississippi and all its programs can be found at volunteermississippi.org. In partnership with the Governor's Office, GIVE Awards will be presented at a special luncheon ceremony to be held Tuesday, April 18, 2023, kicking off celebrations for National Volunteer Week. To nominate a volunteer, visit volunteermississippi.org/GIVE. Find all Volunteer Mississippi news releases at volunteermississippi.org/news.

For the fifth time, the Precision Machining Technology program at Co-Lin has been awarded a grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. The $10,000 grant will fund scholarships for students in the precision machining program on the college’s Wesson Campus. “The Gene Haas Foundation has been so generous to our program over the years, and we are very grateful for their support,” said Program Coordinator Bo Johnson. “Haas is a strong partner that continues to show its support for students in manufacturing.” The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999 by Gene Haas, founder and owner of Haas Automation, Inc., to support the needs of the local community, through grants. The foundation donates millions of dollars every year to manufacturing education and the community, with the total donations since its inception to more than $100 million. The largest machine tool builder in the western world, Haas Automation manufactures a complete line of CNC vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes and rotary products. For more information about Co-Lin’s Career-Tech programs, call 601.643.8324.

Susan Lee at Wesson Attendance Center guided Journey Class students in a recycle sculpture contest sponsored by Wesson Garden Club. Lexie Ryan created a Banana Spider (pictured) and Ja’thai Burrows fashioned a Fantasy Animal. The students are also members of the Wesson Garden Club’s Youth Gardeners, the Butterbeans. The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., Natchez Trace District-Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

Years ago, as elementary students at a tiny country school, our bus driver took us to school in his huge station wagon. That meant we kids got to talk with him for an entire hour – both ways. Good-natured and chatty, he would entertain us as he drove. True stories, gigantic whoppers, or funny gossip, it was all fair game to that man. One such story went much like this. “I’ve always obeyed the laws. Even as a teenager. I remember driving along one day, and a policeman pulled me over. I asked him why. He proceeded to tell me I was illegally driving down the middle of the highway. I informed him that I was simply taking up my half of the road, the other half was still completely free for the other driver to use.” Funny stuff to us kids. Then there was the story of the much older sister who purchased a lusciously ripe watermelon and brought it with her when she came to visit her younger siblings still living at home. Serving it, she made certain she kept her own portion out of the seedless center as she cut it up in equal portions. Hearing the yells of protest from the others, she calmly told them, “My piece is the exact same size as yours.” Not funny stuff to those kids. Both stories sound just a little self-serving to you? Me, too. And yet, every day we are seeing that same kind of skewed reasoning in neighborhoods around us. “I own my house and land, therefore I can do with it exactly as I please. I don’t care how my neighbors feel about it. I know my rights.” Problem is, that person who is exercising his rights could be causing great consternation and problems for his neighbors. Neighbors who now feel that their rights as citizens and homeowners are being infringed upon. Eventually, we have the beginnings of a neighborhood brouhaha. Because I know of very few people who truly feel that their own rights mean less than their neighbors. So now, both sides are protesting vehemently that they are offended and their rights are being trampled. Where does it end? How does it get solved in a way that truly satisfies everyone? Probably never does. Our courts can end the dispute by giving a verdict, but that doesn’t mean everyone walks away happy campers – or peaceful neighbors. Predictably, someone will feel offended and cheated. Better way? From the beginning, do what the Scriptures tell us to do in Philippians 2:3-4; “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Interpreted: If we would all treat our neighbors as though they are just as important as ourself, the whole bunch of us can get along a lot easier. Play nice with each other.

The campus of Wesson Attendance Center has new landscapers on its grounds. A class of Journey students at WAC are planning and planting a flowerbed on the elementary playground. The Wesson Garden Club is assisting in leading the class taught by Susan Lee, but the students are doing the work. Their mission is simple: learning. How better to learn about nature and growing plants. The students (left to right) are Liam Hamilton, Zymiria Crawford, Riley Berch, Abby Brooks, Peck Newman and Cooper King.

By Kara Kimbrough “After extensive efforts, we regretfully announce that Ronzoni Pastina is being discontinued.” The Jan. 3 announcement from the long-time pasta manufacturer sent shock waves through America. Headlines like, "Pastini fans are devastated!" and "Mourning continues for pastini" dominated the internet and air waves for days. Despite being a pasta lover, I’ve never tasted pastina. A little research reminded me why it's never been on my must-try list. Pastini actually means “little pasta.” I like pasta that's thick and hearty, strong enough to hold up to the covering of sauce, melted butter or whatever's on hand. Most pastina is 1/16th of an inch; much too small for my taste. But according to many, especially legions of Italians who grew up on the comfort food and are understandably upset, pastini is delicious when cooked in chicken broth or used as a thickener for numerous soups. Despite the outcry, pastina isn’t totally disappearing from store shelves. Other brands, including gourmet pasta manufacturers, will supposedly be offering it. It just won't be Ronzoni, a brand most U.S. supermarket chains regularly stock. The continuous discussion about pastini brought to mine other memorable pasta meals. I won’t repeat a recent column in which I listed some of my favorite pasta meals in Mississippi (email me if you’d like a refresher) but suffice to say, a state known more for fried chicken, biscuits and sweet tea actually contains a decent share of restaurants offering above-average Italian cuisine. State loyalty aside, the best pasta meals of my life were enjoyed in New York City, a place filled with family-owned restaurants dating back decades as well as nationally-renowned eateries that serve outstanding Italian cuisine. Dining at Carmine’s was one of the highlights of recent trips, followed closely behind pre-theater meals at Sardi’s, a NYC stalwart frequented by celebrities since 1927 and Becco, famed chef Lidia Bastianich's restaurant. Carmine's spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmesan, Becco’s sinfonia di paste, a trio of penne alla vodka with sautéed shrimp, artichoke ravioli and tagiolini with fresh tomato sauce and Sardi’s’ cannelloni still linger in my mind. Sadly, my schedule (and post-Christmas budget) didn't allow for another NYC trip to take advantage of the annual Winter Outing. Going on now through Feb. 13, restaurants, hotels and attractions offer promotions and special rates not found any other time of the year. If, unlike me, you can arrange a quick trip, reservations for all programs are bookable at nycgo.com/winterouting. OK, enough daydreaming about unforgettable pasta meals up north. It is possible to create delicious Italian dinners in your own kitchen. Before you begin, however, invest in an inexpensive Microwave Pasta Boat, sold at most supermarkets and online. Using this quick method of boiling pasta has truly been life-changing for me; so much so that I invested in an extra one as backup. And second, while most jarred sauce is more than acceptable, consider making your own if time allows. Stocking my freezer with a supply this summer when fresh tomatoes were available has proven to be one of my top accomplishments of 2022. If you’d like my easy recipe, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. Here is one favorite pasta dishes – it’s a favorite not just for the taste and the fact that it contains most of my favorite ingredients, but because it can be completed in less than 30 minutes. It’ll just have to suffice until I can afford an airline ticket to NYC. Until then…enjoy! Skillet Shrimp Scampi 1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled, cleaned and butterflied 1 stick butter, divided 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ¼ cup of chicken or vegetable broth ¼ cup water 6 Roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1 bunch green onions, chopped Juice of 2 lemons Salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 12-ounce package angel hair pasta, cooked Parmesan cheese, grated Tablespoon of chopped chives Melt ½ of the stick of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add shrimp and stir until they are pink, 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Melt remaining half- stick of butter in the skillet and sprinkle with flour; stir until smooth. Add broth and lemon juice; stir until smooth. Add chopped tomatoes, green onions and return shrimp to the pan. Cook until heated through. Season with salt and crushed red pepper to taste and serve over pasta. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and chives (optional). Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Results from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 2022-23 Educator Shortage survey show there are 515 fewer vacancies among teachers, administrators and school support staff across the state compared to the 2021-22 school year. MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading conducted the first such survey in 2021-22, which reflected 5,503 vacancies. The vacancies for 2022-23 are 4,988. The survey was conducted Aug. 18, 2022 – Nov. 14, 2022, and had 100% participation from school districts. Though teacher vacancies decreased in the majority of subject areas, they did increase in the following categories: pre-K; high school science, chemistry, physics, math, geometry, career/technical education, heath/physical education and gifted. Teacher vacancies increased in the northeast part of the state, while slight to significant declines were noted elsewhere. Vacancies declined among school administrators (principal and assistant principal) and K-12 licensed educators in library/media, counselor and speech/language positions. The highest overall vacancies were among K-12 support staff for teacher assistants and school bus drivers. The MDE is evaluating the survey results, along with results from its October 2022 Teacher Retention survey, to bolster and develop strategies to mitigate vacancies and strengthen the educator workforce statewide. MDE’s Mississippi Teacher Residency program, which is currently accepting applications for cohort five, has proven to be a pathway of professional advancement for teacher assistants and some school bus drivers. Other strategies consist of improving professional development by removing barriers to educator licensure, including access, receipt and renewal of licenses. MDE will continue to assess opportunities to expand access to its Performance-Based Licensure program per district request. To see the Educator Shortage survey results and aligned strategies as presented to the State Board of Education during the Jan. 19 Board meeting, watch the meeting’s livestream here. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

By Bob Garver It never found enough of an audience to warrant a review from me, but I really liked “Searching” back in 2018. I would have given it a grade of B, maybe an A- if I was willing to look past some outstanding questions. The taut mystery-thriller followed a father’s search for his missing daughter, with footage consisting entirely of whatever was showing on the father’s computer screen - everything from photos and simple webpages to complex chats and video calls. The performances were heartfelt, the story took some interesting twists and turns, the eventual villain was smart and believable, and the ending made sense. Now comes sequel-of-sorts “Missing,” another disappearance mystery featuring the same screen-based style. The performances are once again heartfelt and the story takes some interesting twists and turns, and… that’s about the extent of my compliments. June (Storm Reid) is a teenager whose mother Grace (Nia Long) goes on vacation for a week. She’s not thrilled that her mom is going on an extended trip to Columbia with her lame new boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung), but whatever, party time! But once the party’s over and June goes to pick her mother up at the airport, things go awry. Neither Grace nor Kevin steps off the flight. Unable to reach either of them by any means, June soon files a missing persons report, but is frustrated by the FBI’s slow progress. She decides to track down her mother herself from her home in Los Angeles. June has the advantages of being smart and computer-savvy, but she’s at a disadvantage because she doesn’t speak Spanish and can’t be physically present in Columbia. She hires local errand-runner Javi (Joaqium de Almeida) to do some investigating. He can’t get security footage from the hotel, but he does find out that Kevin bought a padlock from a local hardware store. What was Kevin doing buying a padlock? Is this relative stranger in any way trustworthy? Will June ever see her mother alive again? There are many, many steps between answering the first question and the last. For a while, “Missing” is just as compelling as “Searching.” The performances from Reid and de Almeida are just as urgent and desperate as the ones from John Cho and Debra Messing in the first film. The story takes a similarly twisty path, though it rarely swerves into the unbelievable until the final act. And then, in a single dramatic reveal around the 90% mark, the movie falls apart. Obviously, I want to avoid spoilers, but I will say that there is a villain in play, and this villain is just awful. It’s a terrible performance that doesn’t match the tone of the rest of the movie, and at no point did I believe that this character was smart enough to mastermind the plan that they had apparently been pulling off perfectly until that point. “Missing” is yet another promising recent thriller that can’t quite stick the landing. I also wasn’t crazy about M3GAN turning into a bland killing machine or “The Menu” not taking more time to play with its “food” (by which I mean victims). I don’t want to take away from what this movie does right, which is a lot, but the viewing experience just plummets in the span of one clumsy shot. I still recommend the movie overall, as I’ve recommended plenty of mystery movies with great characters and setups that don’t always pay off with pleasing logic. Heck, I’ve counted 1985’s “Clue” among my all-time favorite movies, and that one has three disheartening endings. As for this movie, try to catch it soon, or you’ll be “Missing” out on a pretty good time. Grade: B- “Missing” is rated PG-13 for some strong violence, language, teen drinking, and thematic material. Its running time is 111 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

With the recent collapses, bankruptcies, and global settlements of cryptocurrency platforms, the Secretary of State's Office wants to remind Mississippi investors to be informed of the risks of investing in largely unregulated products such as cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, making them much more risky for most investors looking to meet long-term savings or retirement goals. The North American Securities Administrators Association determined that investments tied to cryptocurrencies and digital assets are the top threat to investors in 2022 and 2023. Funds held on cryptocurrency trading platforms do not have the same protections as those held in banks, credits unions, and securities accounts and operate without other regulatory safeguards. In conjunction with other states' securities regulators, the Secretary of State’s Securities Division is actively researching and investigating companies and business models involving cryptocurrency and the applicability of securities laws the agency is charged with enforcing. Tips for Investors: Understand what you are investing in. Many digital asset investments are speculative in nature and you should research the company prior to investing. Check the terms and conditions for the account agreement to make sure you understand your rights. This includes determining how easy it is to sell the investment if you want to get your money out. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. For a list of tools that will help you invest wisely, visit the Secretary of State’s website. To speak with someone in the Securities Division, call (601) 359-1334.

Featured in Only In Your State If you love flea markets, you’ve got to visit Mill Town Mall Antiques and Flea Market. With dozens of vendors and thousands of square feet of merchandise, it’s one of the largest flea markets in the state. Even better, it’s indoors, so you can visit anytime – rain or shine. Take a look: This is Mill Town Mall Antiques and Flea Market. It’s located in downtown Wesson, MS and is housed in the old Wesson Cotton Mill building. The two-story shop features 15,000-square feet of shopping space, making it one of Mississippi’s largest indoor flea markets. Since opening, it’s been featured in several publications, which says a lot considering its small town locale. A great place to search for secondhand treasures, Mill Town Mall carries a wide selection of merchandise. The huge assortment can be attributed to the 70 vendors that call Mill Town Mall home. Items big and small fill the store. Hard-to-find antiques, collectables, glassware, and furniture are just a few of the things you’ll find among the massive array of goods. In addition to an incredible selection of vintage items and collectables, there are plenty of new items, like Corsicana bedding. With such a wide array of merchandise, you never know what you’ll find at Mill Town Mall, making each visit a true treasure hunt. Ready to check out Mill Town Mall for yourself? Mill Town Mall is located at 2058 Highway 51, Wesson, MS 39191. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call (601) 643-1446. You can also visit the mall’s website or Facebook page. So, ever been to this incredible shop? Tell us in the comments section.

The 58th Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo is underway at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson invites the public to attend the multiple livestock and equine shows scheduled to take place over the next month, many of which are free to attend. The upcoming Dixie National Horse and Mule Color Bonanza Show begins this Thursday, January 19, and runs through Sunday, January 22, in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The show starts at 8:00 a.m. each day. It features mules of different colors and sizes, and long-eared donkeys, along with Pinto, Palomino, American Ranch and other horses. This is one of the largest mule shows in the nation and attracts participants from multiple states this side of the Rocky Mountains. A limited number of Lainey Wilson concert-only tickets will go on sale this Friday, January 20, at the Mississippi Coliseum Ticket Office. The February 15 performance of the Dixie National Rodeo featuring Lainey Wilson sold out, but a limited number of tickets to the concert will be made available to the public beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday for $30 plus fees. The limit is four tickets per customer. On February 15, doors will open for concert-only ticket holders at 8:00 p.m. Once the rodeo competition is complete, all concert-only ticket holders will be allowed direct access to the arena floor for the Lainey Wilson concert. The Dixie National Rodeo takes place Friday, February 10, through Sunday, February 12, and Wednesday, February 15, through Saturday, February 18, in the Mississippi Coliseum. Dixie National Rodeo performances are as follows: Friday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m. – Randy Houser Saturday, February 11, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Chancey Williams Sunday, February 12, at 2:00 p.m. – Mark Chesnutt Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. – Lainey Wilson Thursday, February 16, at 7:00 p.m. – Diamond Rio Friday, February 17, at 7:00 p.m. – Casey Donahew Saturday, February 18, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Chris Lane Tickets to the Dixie National Rodeo can be purchased at the Coliseum Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. The 2023 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo will run through February 19, 2023. In addition to the rodeo, this six-week event features multiple equine and livestock shows, the Sale of Junior Champions, the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo, Rodeo Days Expo, the Dixie National Steakhouse and the Dixie National Parade. For more information, download the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo mobile app, visit www.dixienational.org and follow the Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo page on Facebook.

Louis Bizot of Wesson on the 2023 Choctaw Baseball roster. With baseball season less than a month away, Mississippi College head coach Jeremy Haworth has finalized the 2023 slate. The Choctaw ledger is loaded with top 25 opponents, including outings against the top three programs in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Preseason Poll and four in the publication's top 25. "We are excited about this upcoming season," said Haworth. "We have a very strong non-conference schedule this year to go along with a demanding GSC schedule. We have some tough tests early that involve the defending national champions and historic, eight-time national champion." MC travels to Tigersville, S.C., the second weekend of the season to face the defending Division II National Champion and preseason No. 1, North Greenville University, in a weekend series that starts on Friday, Feb. 10. No. 3 University of Tampa, an eight-time champion, makes a trip to the Magnolia State. The perennial power hosted the Blue and Gold last season in a weekend series and return the favor on Friday, Mar. 3, for a three-game series at Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field. The Choctaw and No. 2 Southern Arkansas University are set for home-and-home affairs this season. MC hosts the Muleriders on Tuesday, Feb. 28 before returning the trip to Magnolia, Ark., on Tuesday, Apr. 18. The final preseason top 25 squad listed on the book is No. 11 Lee University. The Blue and Gold make the trip to Cleveland, Tenn., for a three-game, Gulf South Conference series on Friday, Mar. 24. The series with the Flames marks one of 10 conference series on the schedule this season. MC opens conference play on Friday, Feb. 17 at Valdosta State University, which is tabbed No. 39 in the preseason ranking. Other notable contests on the docket this season are a home-and-home, midweek series with Henderson State University (Feb. 14, Mar. 14), and GSC weekend series against the University of Montevallo (Apr. 21-22), the University of West Florida (Mar. 17-18) and in-state foe, Delta State University (Apr. 28-29), to wrap up the regular season. Mississippi College opens the season against the University of Arkansas at Monticello. First pitch of the three-game series is Friday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. The series finale, doubleheader is Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. Mississippi College, affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is a private, co-educational, Christian university of liberal arts and sciences serving more than 4,100 students from approximately 35 states and more then three dozen countries. Founded in 1826, MC is the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi, one of the largest private universities in the state, and America's second-oldest Baptist college. MC offers 84 areas of undergraduate study, 45 degree programs in graduate studies, more than 10 certificate programs, two educational doctoral degrees, a doctor of jurisprudence, and a doctor of professional counseling. MC seeks to be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.