Okay, let’s just accept it. Christmastime is a confusing mixture of Bible stories, family traditions, myths, and fun Santa Claus tales. Especially for kids like little Luke. The six-year-old boy bounced happily into the kitchen where his mom was putting lunch on the table. He proudly handed her the picture that he had drawn in Sunday School that morning. Waited confidently for the inevitable praise that his pictures always drew from her. He grinned as his dad came in from the living room and looked over her shoulder at their son’s handiwork. Mom and dad dutifully studied the paper with great interest, and then she cautiously began questioning the fledgling young artist. “Umm, tell me, Luke, all about what I am seeing here.” The boy began excitedly explaining and pointing, “This is Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus!” “Well, yes, we can certainly see that,” replied Dad, “but I’m not sure I understand what they are…riding on?” With a decidedly expressive eye roll, Luke answered, “That’s the jet plane, Dad, ya, know…for their flight to Egypt.” Mom quickly bit back her giggle, quickly glanced over her shoulder at her husband, and then in a choked voice asked quietly, “So -uh, tell me, who is the extra-large guy in the other seat on the plane?” Luke heaved a huge sigh, as if their lack of Biblical knowledge was getting on his nerves, “Oh, Mom, that’s Round John Virgin, who’s always with the Mother and Child – like it says in the song, remember?” Oh well, maybe his young mind had not exactly got all the details straight, but after all, there is a lot to take in and try to understand about this particular event, even for us so-called adults. Like, where does the little drummer boy that night fit in to all this? How did a tiny baby sleep through that drum solo? Why do all these pretty city girls go back home for a small-town Christmas and invariably fall in love with the very same boy they dumped a few years ago? Just how many Santa Clauses and Angel Trees can there possibly be? How is Christ’s birth honored by racking up huge totals on credit cards to buy gifts for people? Rather confusing, if you were to ask me. So, for my sake, let’s keep it simple and back to basics. Jesus came to be born as a tiny baby. He was God’s Greatest Gift to the whole world, because that baby was born to grow up to die and pay the penalty for our sins. That means Christmas is the time we celebrate God’s loving gift. Scripture says, “Thanks to God for His unspeakable gift.” It’s not at all confusing when we keep it simple and stick to the facts. Otherwise, like little Luke, we are apt to draw our picture of Christmas just a little bit off center. Merry Christmas, everyone!

The Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) announced today that it has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant from the Pittman Family Foundation. The Pittman brothers, Bob and Tom, were raised in Brookhaven and graduated from Brookhaven High School. Bob went on to be a visionary in the world of technology, arts, and entertainment as the CEO and co-founder of MTV: Music Television; the former President and Chief Operating Officer of America Online, Inc. (AOL); is co-founder, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia; and served as Chairman of the Board of the New York Public Theater and as a board member of the New York City Ballet. Tom was President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, has chaired the Mississippi Association of Grantmakers, serves on Entergy Mississippi’s advisory board and as a Director of Mississippi Today. He was a charter board member for the DeSoto Arts Council. The matching grant calls on donors to match 1:1 by December 2023, with the goal of building a substantial base of support to enhance the programming of the school. The Pittmans’ hope is that the donation will encourage others to financially support the state’s only residential art school, which is celebrating its 20th year of operations this year. MSA is one of only a handful of residential high school art schools in the country, and has contributed to the growth of the Brookhaven downtown area through more than 50 performances, events, and guest artists residencies annually. “Brookhaven gave us many opportunities and a supportive environment for growing up during our critical high school years,” said Bob and Tom Pittman. “We appreciate the creativity and vibrancy that the Mississippi School of Arts has brought to downtown Brookhaven, and the uplifting influences that its students have on the community.” The grant from the Pittman Family Foundation will help MSA prepare its students, who come from across the state of Mississippi, to be productive citizens in society through career readiness, and will also allow MSA to continue and expand this valuable program. Dr. Suzanne Hirsch, MSA’s Executive Director, said, “MSA creates artists who are confident in their own voices. Through this support, we will enhance our offerings that prepare these young artists to contribute to the rich artistic legacy for which Mississippi is known. Through career readiness seminars, guest artist residencies, and college preparatory programming, our students will leave high school ready for the arts industry as well as the workforce.” Students are provided a multitude of opportunities to build a future for themselves through MSA programming. MSA consistently ranks in the top 3 ACT scores in the state and is presently #2. The accomplishments of these students, not only on the ACT but also in the national and state recognition they receive in their art areas, translates into scholarship money for college; more than 80% of MSA graduates receive scholarships for college. Hirsch attributes the high ACT scores and scholarship offers to several factors, including the total staff commitment and the emphasis MSA puts into preparation for the ACT, college, and career through its arts training, rigorous academic programs, and Junior/Senior Seminar classes. To make a contribution toward the match, visit the school store at www.msabrookhaven.org and make a donation! You can also mail a check payable to the MSA Foundation at PO Box 229, Brookhaven, MS 39602-0229. Thank you for supporting the future of the arts in our state!

Fifteen Co-Lin Workforce Education students have completed the evening Emergency Medical Technician basic course. After 144 hours of textbook training, participants must observe for 12 hours in an emergency room and participate in five ambulance runs. Upon successful completion of this extensive training, students are prepared to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification required for individuals to receive a state license to practice. Enrollment is now open for the next Wesson Campus EMT session, which begins on January 17, 2023. The registration deadline is January 12. Additional information about registration is available at www.colin.edu/emt or by calling 601.643.8707.

By Kara Kimbrough Christmas is a few days away, but don’t panic. There’s still time to find the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for family and friends who enjoy cooking, entertaining and exploring new food trends. It’s probably too late to order online, so you’re spared my “shop local” spiel! Most of the items are ones I purchased in 2022 or they've gotten glowing recommendations from friends. Even better, they can be purchased at most in-state retailers and department stores. The majority sell for less than $100, making them the perfect gift for any budget. 1. GraniteStone Cookware – After years of faithful service from a set of Cuisinart cookware, it was time for an upgrade, especially large skillets whose surfaces were flaking. A little research led me to GraniteStone, a relatively inexpensive line of hard-anodized, non-stick cookware. The primary selling point for me, besides reported healthier cooking, is they're dishwasher-safe - no more pans soaking in the sink. I put the sturdy black skillets (other colors are blue and green) to the test and love their versatility. I’m planning to splurge on the 10-piece cookware set that is…wait for it…stackable! This feature alone should be a game-changer in terms of cabinet space. 2. Ninja® Coffee Maker – One of my best purchases of 2022 was a Ninja Coffee Maker. Like all Ninja products, it’s compact, reliable and related to this product, makes great coffee. There’s even a tea-making component when my electric kettle (see #3) is not readily available. I anticipate this model lasting awhile, but I’m already checking out more advanced models, including the Dual Brew Specialty Coffee System. It’s K-Pod compatible and comes with the ability to make cappuccino and other specialty drinks. 3. Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Programmable Kettle – An inexpensive electric kettle has served me well for a couple of years, but after seeing this cordless model, it’s time for an upgrade. Besides boiling water at lightning speed, the one-touch controls on the handle provide six different preset heat settings, which allows for steeping tea at just the right temperature depending on the variety. 4. Ninja® Foodi™ 8-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven Countertop Convection Oven – If you’re in need of a full-size oven, I recommend Frigidaire’s combination convection, air fryer and regular function oven. After purchasing this amazing oven in 2022, I couldn’t be happier with its triple functionality. If you don’t need a new oven but love to air fry, friends swear by the Ninja Foodi countertop oven, which provides more space than many single air fryers. 5. For stocking stuffers or gifts at a lower price point, a couple I like and that are readily available include: * The Pioneer Woman’s “Sweet Rose” 8- Piece Plastic Food Storage Container Variety Set – in my opinion, the folksy design resembles vintage Tupperware with a modern twist. * Rachael Ray’s 2-piece ceramic oval au gratin set – the perfect tableware set if you’re cooking for two or a small group. 6. Bamboo charcuterie board - Last, besides my Ninja coffee maker, my favorite kitchen purchase this year was a relatively inexpensive paddle-shaped charcuterie board. I purchased the board for that specific purchase, but it’s since become a multi-purpose kitchen tool. In addition to showcasing food, it often serves as a cutting board and heat-safe pad for hot dishes. At the end of the day, I add candles and other décor depending on my mood and the holiday, creating an instant kitchen décor piece. For the “person who has everything,” turn to your kitchen. A gift of homemade food channels your creative side and demonstrates thoughtfulness. These cookies are easy to make, travel well in a festive Christmas tin and will last for several days. Next week I'll share my favorite supermarket products and restaurant meals of 2022. Until then, Merry Christmas, everyone! Easy Crescent Cookies 1 cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup white sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons water 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup finely chopped almonds ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup powdered sugar, or more as needed Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and water. Add flour, almonds, and salt; beat on low speed until dough is just combined. Cover and chill for 1 to 3 hours. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Shape chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart onto unlined cookie sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove cookies from the sheets and transfer to wire racks to cool, 20 to 30 minutes. Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll cooled cookies in powdered sugar to coat. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Two Wesson authors – Co-Lin Dean of Academic Instruction Stephanie Duguid and her son Dalton, a Wesson Attendance Center student – can help put food on your table, get your life in order and build better relationships through effective communication in three new books they have penned. In Recipes from a Texas Angel in Heaven and Texas Angel, the elder Duguid shares some 800 family recipes that her deceased mother collected and essential life lessons she learned from her mother. In My Grandpa and Baseball: How I Came to Love the Game of Baseball, the younger Duguid discusses his conversations with his grandfather in Arizona, which centered largely on baseball, but also encompassed a wide array of small talk that illustrate relationship-building communication between people. The recipes and life lessons books honor Margie Rector who died 20 years ago in an automobile accident. “Mom had collected the recipes over the years and entrusted them to a friend, who turned them over to me,” her daughter explains. “The irony is I don’t cook, but I compiled the recipes into book form and am selling it to support a scholarship in her honor that I have established at Co-Lin to help students studying education, nursing and social work. Mom was a strong, confident woman who taught government, economics and leadership in Texas schools for more than 40 years.” In Texas Angel, Margie Rector’s daughter further honors her mother, sharing memories of growing up as her child in Texas along with five essential life lessons she garnered during those years – Be Present, Know Your Why, Introspection and Reflection, Find the Good and Be a Servant Leader. She promises a sequel in the near future. The writing process he saw in his mother’s work on her two books inspired Dalton. In his book, the younger Duguid tells about his relationship with his grandfather in person and in daily telephone calls after the COVID-19 pandemic halted their get-togethers in Mississippi. Dalton presents his story in snippets followed by questions that encourage readers to think about their own conversations and communication with other persons. The three Duguid books are available at amazon.com. Search for Stephanie Duguid.

Christmas trees enhance the color and cheer of the holiday. Exercise care in picking them, placing them, lighting them and disposing of them will assure they don't become safety hazards, says Wesson Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ken Carraway. He offers this advice: 1. Picking the tree Choose an artificial tree that is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant. Make sure live trees have fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. 2. Placing the tree Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1" - 2" from the base of the trunk. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit. Add water to the tree stand daily. 3. Lighting the tree Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of LED strands to connect. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree. Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. 4. After Christmas Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

By Bob Arnold Wesson-based Socks for Heroes (SFH) has resumed its visits to veterans homes to bring holiday cheer to their residents. The group, which seeks to show appreciation for the service of military veterans, through gifts of clothing, personal care and small practical items, blankets, games and knickknacks, had been stymied by the effects of the COVID 19 in recent years. It struggled to raise funds, and its visits to veterans homes in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas during the holiday season were restricted, including delivery of individual gift packages to residents and larger items, such as television sets, for the facilities to provide for their populations as a whole. Today, fundraising is improving, and visits are allowed again, although a few homes still restrict them. Last week and early this week, SFH teams visited homes at Collins, Kosciusko and Jackson in Mississippi and Reserve Jackson, Monroe and Bossier City and Jennings in Louisiana. Veterans at the homes received individual gift bags, including non-slip socks, toboggan hats, gloves, word search guidebooks and pens, and the facilities received supplies of body wash and shampoo, blankets and diabetic socks to share with their residents as needed. Residents also receive signed greetings cards that demonstrate they are remembered. “The gifts are important, but the one-on-one holiday visits with veterans may be more important to bringing joy and cheer to the homes,” SFH’s Cathy Stroud says. Participating in the visits were Stroud, Jean King, Carolyn Butler, Barbara Ashley, Billy Thomas, Katie Hall, Guy Nix, Patricia Lake, Mamie Dubose, Jean Errington and Sharon Langley. With resumption of the veterans home visits, SFH is not discontinuing the “Veterans Appreciation Days,” which it started last year as an alternative when it couldn’t go to the homes. “Rather going to veterans, we invite them to come to us at designated locations to pick up free “thank you” bags,” Stroud explains. “It was popular last year. So we are continuing it.” SFH is scheduling “Veterans Appreciation Days” at Wesson, Georgetown and Brookhaven. Gifts or funds to purchase items for the “thank you” bags can be donated at the Wesson American Legion hall, Georgetown City Hall and Wand’s Feed Store in Brookhaven. SFH started in a porch conversation between Wesson's Stroud had with her sister and in a separate discussion with a friend about Christmas gifts. The three women agreed gifts were unimportant for them, and they would like to find a way to help people in need through their Christmas giving. After Stroud’s husband Marty told her about fish fries Walmart, his employer, held at Veterans Administration homes, and meeting a young disabled veteran whose special needs moved him, she formulated the concept of the unique Wesson-based charity. "We aren't about collecting money and sending it to the Veterans Administration Jackson," Stroud says. “We’re about providing direct personal assistance through gifts that show appreciation.” In 2012, Stroud visited the home for veterans at Collins, Mississippi, where she learned to her surprise that socks were the primary need of residents and that they would also appreciate gloves, hats, notebooks, pens and playing cards. "We have just kept growing since then," Stroud says. In recent years before COVID 19, SFH collected upwards of 15,000 pairs of socks, 800 blankets and other items for the four veterans homes in Mississippi, five in Louisiana and two in Arkansas. "We have some 30 individual volunteers, support of Strong Hope Baptist Church members and assistance from participants in groups who need community service hours, such as Mississippi Scholars and the Wesson Attendance Center Beta Club, Stroud reports. “They help collect donations, attend Christmas ceremonies at veterans homes and bag the gifts that are part of our Christmas packages. Most of them are drawn to Socks for Heroes because they have relatives who served in the military." SFH has 501(c) 3 not-for-profit status and is rebuilding a fundraising program that had traditionally included a fishing tournament for youth at Lake Hazle, a 5K run/walk at Hazlehurst, and an annual veterans appreciation fair -- all cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fruitcakes may be among the least-liked Christmas gifts, but Charles Fortson, the proprietor of Uncle Ray’s – the bait shop, convenience store and eatery – across from the entrance to Lake Lincoln State Park on Sunset Road is a rare fruitcake lover. Next year, Fortson will be joining the Wesson News as a guest columnist covering food with monthly recipe suggestions. He may even offer one for fruitcakes.

By Bob Garver Back in 2009, director James Cameron gave the world “Avatar.” The film about a human going undercover as a member of the Na’vi race on the planet of Pandora only to side with the Na’vi against his greedy fellow humans brought the movie blockbuster to new heights. It was the first movie to gross over $2 billion at the worldwide box office. In fact, it currently sits atop the chart of all-time worldwide grossers, as long as one factors in four subsequent re-releases. Creatively, critics and audiences alike were blown away by the film’s look, made with groundbreaking CGI, and the film won Oscars for its Visual Effects, Art Direction, and Cinematography. But there was some grumbling about the story, with unfavorable comparisons to “Dances with Wolves,” among other sources. Over time, those quibbles have only magnified as the luster of the look has faded away while the story remains the same. Now after 13 years there’s a chance to return to Pandora with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” but is it a trip worth taking? Was the original even a trip worth taking? My answer is a resounding “Yes!” – it was then, and it is now. The new film follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), now fully a Na’vi, and the family he has started with wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). They have two teenage sons (James Flatters and Britain Dalton), a biological daughter (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss) and an adopted daughter (Sigourney Weaver) whose mother was the late Dr. Grace Augustine (Weaver) from the first film. Actually, they might as well have five kids, because a leftover human named Spider (Jack Champion) follows them around everywhere. The family’s life on Pandora is going great until humanity returns. No longer content to take the planet’s natural resources, this time the humans want a new place to live since they’ve made an irrevocable mess of Earth. Apparently asking the Na’vi nicely to share the planet is out of the question, so the humans’ mission is to neutralize the natives. Leading the charge is the Na’vi avatar of Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the villain from the first movie. Apparently he made a backup of himself before his human body was killed. The movie basically asks, “Do you want Stephen Lang back as the villain or not?” I do, so I’ll forgive the convoluted explanation. Jake knows he’ll be targeted by Quaritch and the humans, so he and his family decide that they can no longer live in their ancestral home. They bid farewell to the tree tribe and go to live with a reef tribe. They aren’t exactly welcomed by the new tribe’s leaders (Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet), but they are at least allowed to stay, even though they are all treated like outcasts. Still, it’s only a matter of time before they are hunted down by the humans with the help of a captive Spider, Quaritch’s biological son. The story is strictly secondary in “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The real star is once again the breathtaking visuals, this time with an emphasis on sea creatures and underwater plant life, though there’s plenty of eye candy on land as well. After years of filmmakers getting complacent with sometimes-shoddy CGI effects, it’s nice to see Cameron bring them back to their full potential. The film is sure to win technical Oscars again, and it might be able to play in the big categories as well (it’s already nominated for Best Picture – Drama and Best Director at the Golden Globes). The script is… fine, with an emphasis on long-term storytelling, i.e. mysteries go unsolved in this movie so they can come into play in a sequel down the line. We’re going to be getting several more “Avatar” movies in the coming years, and I look forward to seeing if the franchise can redefine the blockbuster all over again. Grade: A- “Avatar: The Way of Water” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity and some strong language. Its running time is 192 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Bob Arnold More than 30 years ago, Gary Keller saw a sales notice for a house and land off Highway 51 in Beauregard just north of Wesson when he was shopping at Ashley’s 51. Keller, who was moving into the area to work at a Hazlehurst saw mill after working at ones in Vicksburg and Baton Rouge, bought the 10-acre property for the house, but found it covered with trees the former owner sold for Christmas. “I never intended to sell Christmas trees, but people started showing up during the holiday season, returning to buy trees,” Keller says. “They were good people. They brought their kids with them. I enjoyed chatting with them. Bad people don’t shop for Christmas trees. I couldn’t say no to them, and sold them the trees they wanted.” Thirty-three years later, Keller continues to sell Christmas trees to area residents and people who travel from other places in Mississippi and Louisiana to purchase them. “They are returning customers and the grown kids of old customers,” he says. “Mayor Shaw from Wesson and his family come every year.” Keller is again selling the trees for $5 a foot – the price he has maintained for many years now. “It’s not about the money,” says Keller. “It’s more like a hobby than a business. I like doing the work, which is pretty light, and meeting customers.” Retired from his most recent job as a lab technician at Whitfield Hospital, Keller’s hobby is now his full-time work. He acquires seedlings that a North Carolina supplier starts from small twigs that have fallen from bigger trees, plants them in January on two acres of his property, mows and maintains it to prevent weeds from snuffing out the life of his young trees, trims the growing trees to shape them in the early summer and just before Thanksgiving and then sell his trees between Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Keller’s tree service includes cutting down the trees his customers select. His wife Deborah helps as required. This year, Keller expects to sell 100-plus trees, and late-buying offshore oil workers and their families will keep him busy right up to the very end of his selling season. Keller grows 31 rows with about 1,000 trees ranging from the new ones about a foot high started from the twigs to 20-foot trees that organizations, such as churches and businesses, purchase. The trees, he says, grow about one-foot each year. Typically, customers select six-foot trees, although smaller four-foot trees for tabletops are popular, too. Keller, however, recalls a time when it was not uncommon for customers to purchase 15-foot trees. A former lumber inspector in the mills where he worked, Keller has grown a variety of trees on his property, but has zeroed in on Carolina Blue Sapphires, Eastern Red Cedars, which are native to Mississippi, and Leyland Cypresses. "They are pretty trees," he says. "The sapphires have a lemon citrus smell. The cedars, of course, have their unique smell. The cypresses are a favorite of people with allergies because they have no smell. The trees I grow do not need a lot of work. They resist drought, insects and disease. I once grew Virginia Pine trees, but they require insecticides and pesticides, and people now prefer trees that are organically grown. They also dried out, and I would have to apply green paint to them to look good.” Good people and the joy Keller finds in caring for his trees are keeping him going for yet another season.

There is a popular TV show that had a character named Ziva David for quite a while. From Israel, and having learned English along with many other languages, she was often confused by our American slang. Therefore, Miss David was well known for her quirky misquotes. One simple change in the wording of a timeless phrase gave a whole new meaning to what she was attempting to say, and often left her listener in stitches or in confusion. As you can see in these examples, what she said was often just close enough to the real saying to be oddly true in meaning, yet misspoken enough to make the listener feel compelled to correct her. Ziva: “This is going to be like looking for a needle in a needle stack.” McGee: “Hay. Haystack.” Ziva: “He's chomping out McGee.” Tony: “Chewing, Ziva, chewing.” Ziva: “The Pentagon is rock walling me.” Tony: “She means stonewalling. Little quirk she has.” Funny stuff, sure. But the show’s writers had an advantage over people in real life situations; they created the problem, and then they had the liberty to correct the confusion - right then and there. Us flesh and blood people? All too often, we are blissfully ignorant of the havoc we create and just bumble blissfully on along. No ‘do-overs.’ Nor do we have someone with us to explain what we mean. Often leaving a wave of irritation and pain in our wake. For example; Hanging out in the break room at work with a co-worker, you make a smart-aleck remark, just trying to get a laugh from the other guy. But abruptly, the air cools by about forty-one degrees and he is glaring your way, like you’re a piece of filthy gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe. So now you’re now confused and miffed, not having a clue what happened to the conversation. But Suddenly-Sour-Sam came from a different background growing up, and what you said stomped all over his feelings and his sense of dignity. Not that he will own up to the truth and tell you the problem. Nor will you be brave and open enough to brazenly ask what in the heck went wrong. So, it is very likely that both will just turn away and return to work, believing the worst about the other. This happens not only in the workplace, but among family members also. We simply are great at misinterpreting the meaning of what the other person said. What is spoken flippantly by a light-hearted sibling can be taken the wrong way by the brother who is slogging through a horrible week. Sharp words get spoken, and a heated argument begins. Family feuds are birthed on such episodes as this. Called miscommunication. Misunderstanding what the other person meant by what they said. Which results in hurt feelings, and issues that all too often are never sufficiently cleared up. Ziva gets by with a lot. We do not.

By Bob Arnold Just down the road outside of town, the decorative lighting that sustains the Christmas spirit in Wesson streets and yards and on its houses and commercial buildings reaches an unparalleled level in a synchronized light show along nearly a quarter mile stretch of road with myriad displays depicting the varied themes of the season. Among Christmas light shows in Mississippi, and even across the nation, Santa’s Runway ranks among the most impressive with a 100,000-plus static and synchronized lights installed by David Parks, an outage scheduler at Entergy’s Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, on his 43-acre property in southwestern Copiah County near the Claiborne County border 25 miles from Wesson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, and Port Gibson. The 2022 Santa’s Runway show started on November 25 and runs through Christmas day. Hours are 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. daily. More than 100 carloads of holiday season visitors come to Santa’s Runway to marvel at the array of multi-colored flashing and static lights and scenes of Santa and his elves and the nativity on the road that winds past Parks’ house, utility buildings, yard and fields. As they drive by the lights and scenes, they tune their car radios to a low-power FM station (106.3) Parks maintains to accompany the display with Christmas music. New this year is the Candy Land light display added near the Leaping Stars display added in 2016, An area called the Tree Farm added in 2018 was moved and expanded, more wood cutouts were added to Elf Land and the Mega Tree and Joy of the Toy areas are bigger. Snowman's Hill (2021), Wall of Snowflakes (2019) and Letter to Santa (2020) are popular displays added in recent years. Santa’s Runway started inauspiciously more than 30 years ago when Parks ran a string of outdoor Christmas lights along the front of his house then at Port Gibson. “The youngins liked the outdoor lights,” Parks explains simply. And then there was some friendly competition from a friend who tried year after year to outdo him with light displays. At the beginning of October, with the help of his wife Kelly, Parks unpacks the elements of Santa’s Runway, stored neatly in a 28-foot x 18-foot x 8-foot space. They work through November to set up the display that includes some 55,000 stationary lights and more 250 channels (electrical circuits) to control flashing lights. The Parks design their display and create the musical accompaniment for it on two computers in their home office. Another small computer monitors and controls Santa’s Runway. During the month-long display, the Parks electric bill only increases by $200. In recent years, the Parks have enhanced energy-savings by switching from incandescent to LED lights. “You don’t have to be an electrical engineer to do it,” says Parks. He and Kelly have find help on the internet and through books. An array of vendors source lighting and new and used electrical equipment. They also connect with other outdoor lighting hobbyists online and face-to-face at conventions to share ideas and learn about ways to improve Santa’s Runway. Santa’s Way doesn’t charge visitors, but the Parks suggest you might want to contribute to Socks for Heroes, the Wesson-based charity that helps military veterans and facilities that care for them. Santa’s Runway provide a collection point for needed items. For more information, contact Cathy Stroud at 601-695-4140 or socksforheroes@yahoo.com or learn more about the organization on Facebook at fb.me.socksforheroes.ms. Visit https://goo.gl/maps/6cFMjnkqeFxfyCcE8 for directions. Santa's Runway is off Highway 547 in southwest Copiah County on 1028 Parks Drive Pattison, MS 39144.Watch for the sign.