The risk of dying from a sudden, serious heart ailment increases from Thanksgiving to New Year’s and is highest on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day, say paramedics at AMR. The medics recommend avoiding “triggers” for cardiac crisis, paying attention to your heart and calling 911 at the first sign of a problem. Emergency medical teams call the increased risk “holiday heart.” While the term was coined in 1978, the first major study on holiday heart was published in 2004 in Circulation, an international journal for heart doctors. In studying 53 million deaths nationwide between 1973 and 2001, researchers found, “The number of cardiac deaths is higher on December 25 than any other day of the year, second highest on December 26 and third highest on January 1.” Those days, there are about five percent more deaths from cardiac crisis compared to other days of the year. Studies since the first research have confirmed the original findings. The risk rises due to holiday stress, skipping medications and dietary mistakes. Cold weather strains the heart, but the spike also occurs in warmer states. Over-exertion is another factor. Drinking large quantities of alcohol can also contribute to a holiday heart crisis. A form of cardiac crisis paramedics often see with “holiday heart” is called atrial fibrillation or a-fib. With a-fib, the heart does not pump blood effectively because the upper and lower chambers of the heart are not beating in synch. Atrial fibrillation can lead to stroke and heart failure. Too much salt, large meals and eating more fatty food than usual can also contribute to holiday cardiac crises. Skipping exercise may be another factor. Ryan Wilson, operations manager at AMR Central Mississippi, said, “It’s important to recognize an emergency heart problem quickly and call 911 immediately. Particularly during holidays, all too often, a person suffering a cardiac emergency doesn’t tell anyone. Symptoms can include pain in the chest or jaw or down the arm, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness or nausea. Women suffering a heart crisis are more likely than men to feel pain in the arms, back, neck or jaw, stomach pain and extreme tiredness even if they’ve been sitting for a while.” “With atrial fibrillation, heartbeat may feel rapid, racing, bounding, irregular or fluttering. Heartbeat can also feel too slow,” Wilson said. “If symptoms such as these last more than five minutes, call 911.” “This time of year many people who feel such symptoms put off going to the doctor and even delay calling 911 because they do not want to disrupt holiday festivities. That delay can be fatal,” he said. Wilson said ambulance services and hospital emergency departments expect an uptick in emergency heart patients during the year-end holidays. “There’s a term we sometimes use in our field to describe a heart crisis on December 25 or 26. It’s ‘Christmas coronary,’” Wilson said.

Draping electric icicles around the eaves, hanging wreaths and placing the angel atop a tall tree are only three parts of holiday decorating which often require a ladder. Of course, what goes up must eventually come down. American Medical Response (AMR) reminds central Mississippi residents that falls from ladders can cripple or kill, and even short stepladders pose a hazard. The National Safety Council and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported several thousand people per year in the U.S. are injured in falls from ladders. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that men and the elderly are at higher risk of injury from falling. According to AMR spokesman Jim Pollard, “Elders are more likely to fall from ladders because their vision and balance may have changed and elders who fall often require longer rehabilitation.” Men, he added, are more likely to be overconfident about using ladders and more inclined to take risks using them. People who fall from ladders can suffer head injuries and break hips, arms and legs, Pollard said. According to the Home Safety Council, misuse of the ladder is the main cause of injuries due to falling off a ladder. In a recent study, the Council found more than half of those injured placed the ladder on uneven ground. Nearly half reached farther than they should. Almost 40 percent fell after dark. More than a third fell after standing on the top two ladder steps. More than 20 percent drank alcohol while using the ladder. “Most folks use ladders infrequently so they lack experience and skill with them,” Pollard said. “We’re most likely to use ladders during year-end holidays and spring fix-up. With the year-end holidays, we face twice the risk because we have to take down all the decorations we put up. We all need to be mindful of the risk of ladder falls.” Pollard gave this advice to prevent ladder injuries: Before climbing a ladder, think about your current health. If you have lost strength or it is harder to keep your balance, stay off the ladder. If your instincts warn you to beware of climbing ladders, stay off them. Avoid using a ladder outdoors after dark. Keep your ladders in good condition. Check ladders for cracks or weak spots. Be sure rungs are sturdy and locking devices work properly. The feet of the ladder must rest on a surface that is firm, level, dry and not slippery. When leaning a ladder against a wall, move the bottom of the ladder away from the wall one fourth of the height of the ladder. Do not lean ladders against gutters or other weaker parts of a building that may break away. It is safer to use ladders with built-in stand-off bars that hold the ladder off gutters and other soft parts of a structure. If you’re using power equipment with cords, be absolutely sure the cords are in good condition. Metal ladders will carry an electrical jot if a frayed cord is touching the ladder when the tool is running. Wear shoes that are dry and have enough tread to prevent slipping. Never use a ladder in front of a door someone may open. Insist that another person hold the ladder the whole time someone is on it. Ladders are a two-person tool. Follow the manufacturer’s warnings on weight limits. Keep both feet on the same rung while you are working. It’s safer to maintain three points of contact with the ladder at all times. Do not stand on either of the top two rungs. Do not reach or lean so far in any direction that you cannot keep both feet flat on the rung where you are standing. Instead of reaching too far, climb down, move the ladder closer to the spot you need to reach, climb back up and reach safely. Keep your tools on a belt or in your pockets or hand them to your “spotter” so both hands will be free when you’re going up or down the ladder. Do not use ladders when you have drunk alcohol. Do not use ladders outside on days with stiff winds. Remember: Climbing onto the roof from a ladder is especially dangerous.

The Band and Colette chapter of the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Alumni Association iducted Becky Yarbrough of New Hebron into its Hall of Fame and honored Robert D. Bush of Hattiesburg, formerly of Pinola, as the Stanley Stewart Outstanding Young Alumni: Yarbrough is a 1967 graduate of Co-Lin, where she majored in music education. She was a member of the College Choir, Girl’s Ensemble and the Colettes. During her time as a Colette, she performed with the Blue Wave Show Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. After Co-Lin, Yarbrough attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a bachelor’s degree in music education, with an emphasis in vocal. She taught music in Lawrence County schools for much of her career, including serving as band director at New Hebron High School. After retiring in 1997, she began a band program at Simpson County Academy (SCA) and taught both elementary music and high school choral music. When she retired in 2001 from SCA, she had accumulated 30 years in the classroom. Yarbrough was selected in 2000/2001 for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Women, and she received the E.M. Graham Award for Community Leadership by the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, she was named grand marshal of the New Hebron Christmas Parade. She is past president of the Band and Colette Alumni Chapter and the New Hebron Activity Club. She presently is a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Professional Teacher’s Organization. She is a lifelong member of New Hebron Baptist Church, where she has directed adult choir, children’s choir and handbell choir. She has served as the church organist for more than 50 years. She and her husband, James (’72), have four children: Miles Riley, Christi Riley Chavis (’89), Josh Yarbrough (’96) and Jason Yarbrough (attended). Bush is a 2008 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the Blue Wave Show Band. After Co-Lin, Bush joined the Mississippi Army National Guard as a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter Crewchief/Mechanic with Alpha Co, 1-185th Assault Helicopter Battalion. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom from 2010 to 2011. In 2015, he transferred to the 41st Army Band, where he currently serves as percussion section leader and team leader for the unit. They perform for schools from kindergarten classes to colleges and universities across the state promoting the Mississippi National Guard, Army Bands and Army Music. Bush has been awarded the Air Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with M Device, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Action Badge and Aviation Wings. Bush received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi, with an emphasis in instrumental in 2017. He was involved with the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra, Symphonic Winds and many smaller musical and theater ensembles. He currently serves as assistant band director for 6th through 12th grades at South Jones High School, where his focus is on percussion and sound engineering for the marching band. While there, he has helped the band program win back-to-back 5A State Marching Championships (2019-2021), the 2019 Winter Guard International Open Class Winds Grand Championship and the 2021 Bands of America Class A Regional Championship. The band has also received all superior ratings for concert band during this time. Bush is engaged to Emily Gruzinskas, and they plan to marry in May 2023.

Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) Instructor Chief Shannon Sandridge demonstrates in the attached video the dangers of frying a turkey that is not fully thawed, with too much oil, at a temperature that was too high. Instructor Chief Sandridge demonstrates the three most common mishaps when it comes to operating an outdoor turkey fryer. At the 1:10 minute mark, you see what happens when you: Overfill the pot with too much oil Overheat or not monitor the temperature of the oil Use a frozen turkey Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “There have been 3 fire deaths because of unattended cooking so far in 2022,” said Insurance Commissioner & State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. “Let’s keep that number from going up over the few days. A staggering number of kitchen fires start every year on Thanksgiving, due to improper frying of turkeys – all of which could be easily avoided.” Make your home safer by installing multiple smoke alarms. If you need smoke alarms, ask your local fire department. Other tips from Instructor Chief Sandridge: Operate on a hard flat surface Keep children and pets away Completely thaw and pat dry turkey Protect your hand and slowly lower in the oil Keep the oil at 375 Degrees Fahrenheit Mississippi State Fire Academy (MSFA) Instructor Chief Shannon Sandridge demonstrates in the attached video the dangers of frying a turkey that is not fully thawed, with too much oil, at a temperature that was too high. Turkey Fry Demonstration Video

By Bob Garver Like the cozy restaurant setting of “The Menu,” the theater at my screening of the film this past Friday was sparsely populated. But though the attendance was small in number, there was an unusual sense of kinship in the air. Laughs and groans could be attributed to individual audience members, as well as occasional biting comments (including one of my own, after the movie), and I think we all got a sense of what made one another tick. One thing was for certain: like the characters in the movie, we were all in this intense experience together. The film follows audience surrogate Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) as she journeys with her date Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) to a private island that boasts the upscale restaurant Hawthorne. Other diners include a food critic (Janet McTeer), a movie star (John Leguizamo), and other affluent types. The group is greeted by no-nonsense maître d’ Elsa (Hong Chau), who leads them into the dining room, where they meet world-renowned chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Slowik will be in charge of everything this evening, from the food to the entertainment. Both may be suited more to his tastes then the guests’. Opinions are mixed on a first course that includes a rock and a second course of absent bread. Everybody is uncomfortable with a third course of incriminating tortillas and a story of violence from Slowik’s past. The real game-changer comes with the fourth course, which includes a demonstration of violence rather than a story. Slowik’s intentions soon become clear: he and the staff of Hawthorne are going to kill everyone, including themselves and all the customers. But first, he’s going to break his elitist guests’ spirits, “play with his food” as it were, though I will shoot down a popular theory and say that his plan does not involve cannibalism. Simply put, Julian Slowik is the most memorable movie villain of the year – maybe of the last several years. Fiennes imbues the character with menace, wit, humor, and most of all, charisma. He has an entire kitchen staff under his thumb, and seemingly an entire restaurant full of victims as well. Nobody besides Margot makes a whole-hearted attempt to escape. Nobody even needs to be tied down. Heck, nobody even complains when they’re billed before dessert. It could be argued that the patrons know they’re no match for the large henchmen stationed at the exits, or that they realize that they deserve what they’re getting, but I think it has more to do with them all wondering with morbid curiosity what’s coming next from Slowik’s kitchen of surprises. That’s why the rushed ending was such a disappointment for me. I was hoping Slowik’s plan for the characters’ fates would be a little more… individually catered. While Fiennes does give the standout performance in “The Menu,” I don’t want to short-change Taylor-Joy and Hoult. Margot doesn’t fit in with the crazed staff or the snooty guests and Slowik’s one imperfection is that he himself doesn’t know what to do with this fellow member of the service industry. As for Tyler, he’s more excited about being allowed to dine under Slowik’s roof than with the beautiful woman sitting across from him. In a movie where half the characters are trying to commit murder, he’s somehow the most detestable for his simple condescension. The characters’ eccentricities, mind games, and dark humor all come together to make “The Menu” one of the best films of the year. Not bad for a movie whose entire point is that cheeseburgers are a joy and an honor to serve. Grade: B “The Menu” is rated R for strong/disturbing violent content, language throughout and some sexual references. Its running time is 107 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Mississippi small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture companies and private nonprofit organizations affected by the Jackson Water Crisis in six counties, including Copiah, can apply for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Applicants in the declared disaster area encompassing Hinds, Claiborne, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren and Yazoo Counties as well as Copiah are eligible. “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by the Jackson Water Crisis,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.” “Needless to say, safe drinking water is a necessity, and the loss of this essential resource has resulted in devasting economic impacts on the people and businesses of Jackson and surrounding communities,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, in the Office of Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Those that have suffered economic losses should find comfort that the SBA is now ready to move rapidly to provide federal disaster assistance.” “For eligible applicants, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster,” said SBA’s Mississippi District Director Janita R. Stewart. Interest rates for the loans are 3.04 percent for businesses and 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations, with terms up to thirty years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Applicants may use online the online Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s under SBA declaration # 17621, not for the COVID-19 incident. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications may be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is June 14, 2023.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of outbreaks of influenza (flu). The flu is a contagious respiratory illness cause by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people – elderly persons, young children, and people with certain health conditions -- are at high risk for serious flu complications. The flu usually starts suddenly and may include these symptoms: Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone will have a fever) Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue (tiredness) Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, persons might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their mouths, eyes or possibly their noses. Some of the complications caused by flu include pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, asthma or diabetes. You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. The CDC recommends that everyone age six months or older should receive the flu vaccination. Although the shots are not 100 percent effective in preventing infection, they are the best way to protect against the virus and related complications. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against flu virus infection for the entire season. Flu vaccines will not protect against illnesses caused by other viruses, such as the common cold. Although the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, good health habits can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your mouth and nose. Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep. Be physically active. Manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. EDITOR'S NOTE: Stephanie Duguid is Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin. She is also an athletic trainer and nutrition specialist and has been teaching courses related to those two areas as well as practicing what she preaches for more than twenty years.

Grand Jury Set To Hear Felony Animal Cruelty Charges In Defense of Animals, the international animal protection organization operating Hope Animal Sanctuary and Justice for Animals Campaign in Mississippi, commends Crystal Springs Municipal Judge Jeff Varas who today bound over Daniel Berthelette to a grand jury to face felony animal cruelty charges for dragging his neighbor’s dog to death. On Sept. 14, the Crystal Springs Police Department (CSPD) arrested Daniel Berthelette for wrapping a wire around his neighbor’s dog’s neck, George, attaching it to his truck, and dragging George to death. Witnesses to the merciless crime reported the description of the truck and driver to the CSPD. Witness Chris Wright testified that he saw Berthelette driving in front of him, pulling a trailer. He stated he could see something from the back of the trailer, and there appeared to be ears. Wright drove up further. Berthelette had stopped and was trying to unravel the bailing wire around the dog, who looked up at Wright and moaned. Berthelette couldn’t get the wire loose, and when Wright asked what he was doing, he got no answer. Wright got something from his truck to cut this dog loose, but Berthelette got back in his truck and exclaimed, “I hate that fucking dog” and drove off. Berthelette then attempted to dispose of George’s body in a city dumpster. City employees stopped him and later identified him to law enforcement and presented in court. In Defense of Animals contacted George’s guardians, the Bush family, to assist them in gaining justice for the horrendous killing of their companion and best buddy to the son. Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner, attended court in support of justice and the Bush family mourning the loss of George. Crystal Springs Mayor Sally Garland, who personally launched an investigation with Public Works Director Russell Brewer to successfully identify the perpetrator, was delighted to see Stanley present in court. “We are a small city, we want word to get out and make the perpetrator famous. We are thankful In Defense of Animals is involved because we just don’t have that kind of network or resources. I have heard of Doll Stanley and I knew that In Defense of Animals does very good work. We need justice, so when I saw her there, I felt relieved because I knew something’s going to be done,” said Garland. .“We are mortified and our hearts are broken over the very idea that someone could tie a wire around a dog’s neck and drag him. No one should think that they can ever drag a dog and get away with it.” Stanley communicated with Mayor Garland and City Prosecutor John Brock Campbell that it was likely that Berthelette was mistakenly charged under the Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011. However, the law was amended in 2020, but has not yet been updated in Miss. code books. Aggravated cruelty to a dog or a cat is a felony under § 97-41-16. Maliciously injuring dogs or cats. “The details of George’s grisly death are heartbreaking — he must have suffered terribly,” said Stanley. “We are grateful to Crystal Springs Mayor Garland, City Prosecutor Campbell, Public Works Director Brewer, and Crystal Springs Police Department for tracking down the perpetrator and recognizing the serious nature of this incident. People who harm animals are dangerous to the entire community. I intend to see justice for George, his family, and all animals of Mississippi.” “If you have animals, please watch over them carefully because abusers are out there. Please do everything in your power to protect them from harm, as you do with the rest of your family,” added Stanley. In Defense of Animals will follow this case with the Bush family as they recover from their cruel loss. It is paramount that individuals who harm any sentient creature be recognized for their crime against society and prevented from harming other animals and vulnerable humans in the future.

The Mississippi State University Alumni Association is honoring eight prominent Bulldogs as the university’s 2022 Alumni Fellows. This year’s class will assemble on campus Nov. 3-5 to network with MSU students, faculty and staff, sharing professional experiences and career guidance in university classrooms and informally. The fellows also will be recognized at the MSU vs. Auburn football game. Established in 1989, the program annually seeks to bring alumni of distinction back to their alma mater to showcase their achievements and engage and inspire current students. “The Alumni Association is proud to bring dedicated alumni from each of the university’s eight academic colleges back to our campus to share their stories, and to mentor and enrich the lives of our students,” said Jeff Davis, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. “We have had many outstanding graduates among our Alumni Fellows through the years. This annual experience strengthens the Fellows’ connections with MSU and better positions them to serve as strong alumni leaders for current and future members of the Bulldog family.” The 2022 fellows, who carry the title for life, are among the university’s more than 158,000 living alumni worldwide. The honorees include (by college): College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ted H. Kendall IV of Bolton is a fifth-generation farmer and second-generation Bulldog who earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1982. After graduation, he returned home to begin his career in the family business, where he serves as president and co-owner of The Gaddis Farms, a family-owned, diversified row-crop, beef cattle, wildlife management and timber farming operation in Hinds County. Throughout his career, Kendall has invested his time and resources in a variety of areas that help advance Mississippi’s agricultural industry. An entrepreneur, community leader, farmer and advocate, Kendall has held and continues to serve in numerous leadership positions, including vice president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, delegate and chairman for the state of Mississippi on the National Cotton Council and member of the boards of directors for both Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. and Merchants and Planters Bank, among others. He also served as chairman of the USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee for Mississippi and is currently serving as vice chairman of the board of directors for the Mississippi Food Network. College of Architecture, Art and Design Ben Jenkins of Dallas, Texas, is the founder and design director of two Texas-based businesses—OneFastBuffalo graphic design and brand strategy agency, and sporting goods company Warstic Sports, Inc. A former student athlete who played as a shortstop and outfielder for the Diamond Dawgs, Jenkins credits MSU with helping him to further his art career. He took several classes in graphic design while earning a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. After graduating in 1996, Jenkins played minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies for several seasons and later enrolled in graduate school at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He began producing work as a freelance artist, which eventually led to the 1999 establishment of OneFastBuffalo. In 2010, he founded Warstic Sports, Inc., which began with a focus on designing better baseball bats. Warstic bats were approved for use in Major League Baseball in 2016, and the company is now a multi-sport product development enterprise. College of Arts and Sciences Myna Dickerson Sowell of Spring Hill, Tennessee, received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 1991 and has since remained very engaged with Theatre MSU and the Department of Communication. As a student, Sowell learned vital skills such as classical work, technical skills and communication methods, participated in seven productions with the theater program and was a member of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. Her lifelong love for theater, bolstered by her MSU education, led Sowell to a meaningful career as a standardized patient at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment, where she helps train medical students in interpersonal communications through practice in talking to and treating their patients. College of Business Cynthia Cooper of Brandon is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, best-selling author and advocate. She previously served as the chief audit executive and vice president of internal audit at WorldCom. In 2002, she was named among TIME Magazine’s Persons of the Year for her role in uncovering and reporting fraud at WorldCom, at that time the largest corporate fraud case in U.S. history. Cooper went on to serve for over two years as vice president of internal audit with MCI, WorldCom’s successor, helping the company move forward and successfully emerge from bankruptcy. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions, including being the first woman inducted into the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Business Hall of Fame and an inaugural inductee of the Institute of Internal Auditors American Hall of Distinguished Audit Practitioners. Cooper is a Certified Fraud Examiner who received a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy degree from MSU in 1986 before going on to pursue her Master of Professional Accountancy degree at the University of Alabama. At MSU, she currently serves on the College of Business advisory board and has been instrumental in helping the college add the NASBA Center for Public Trust Certificate in Ethical Leadership to the curriculum. She began her career in public accounting and currently serves as CEO of CooperGroup LLC in Jackson. College of Education John Correro of Starkville has dedicated more than 60 years to Mississippi State through his years as a student and Bulldog football player, his distinguished career at the university and his continued service as a loyal alumnus. As a student at MSU, Correro served as secretary and treasurer of the campus M-Club and later became president. He also was named Mr. MSU and lettered in football for three years. He graduated in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and physical education, and later earned a master’s degree in educational administration with a minor in counseling. While working on his master’s, the Greenwood native served as a graduate assistant and assistant freshman football coach for the Bulldogs. In 1964, he moved to Natchez, where he accepted a teaching position and also served as an assistant football coach at Natchez-Adams County High School. He later was promoted to athletics director and head football coach before returning to Starkville to serve as MSU Alumni Association field secretary. In 1975, Correro was promoted to associate director and later executive director, a position he held from 1994 until his retirement in 2005. A former sideline reporter for MSU football’s radio broadcasts from 1979 to 2016, Correro was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. James Worth Bagley College of Engineering Frederick V. “Fred” Buie of Brookhaven is a two-time Mississippi State graduate who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering in 1978 and 1991, respectively. He began his career with the General Electric Co., where he held project engineering and production management positions in the motors, aircraft instruments and lighting departments. Buie also served in the consulting business and as a manufacturing methods engineer for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Co. In 1998, he purchased Des Moines, Iowa-based Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Co. The company, which Buie led as president for more than two decades, manufactures protection and control relay panels, medium voltage switchgear, and turnkey control centers used in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, and serves the electric utility industry throughout the nation. In 2020, Buie returned to his native Brookhaven, where he retired following the sale of Keystone to a former competitor. At MSU, he serves on the foundation’s board of directors and the Engineering Advisory Board and was previously honored by the Bagley College as a Distinguished Fellow in 2008. College of Forest Resources Zack Parisa of Piedmont, California, graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s in forestry in 2006. He then went to graduate school at Yale University and earned a master’s degree in forest science in 2009. The following year, he co-founded National Capital Exchange, a California data-driven carbon market company, for which he continues to serve as CEO. Over the last decade, Parisa has developed and pioneered precision forestry tools that have revolutionized the way forests are now measured, valued and managed. NCX also has worked with other large companies such as Microsoft to create Basemap—the first high resolution forest inventory in the U.S.—creating a map of over 92 billion trees that now underpins the NCX market. In 2021, NCX created the largest forest carbon project in the contiguous U.S. and was named on the 2021 Environment and Energy Leader 100 list. Parisa was a candidate for the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius award from the University of California Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. College of Veterinary Medicine Rance M. Gamblin, DVM of Akron, Ohio, is a Jackson native who enrolled at MSU in the fall of 1985 as a member of the first class of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Early Entry Program. He received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 1988, followed by his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. After graduating, Gamblin completed a rotating small animal internship at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then served as a research associate in experimental radiation therapy before relocating to begin a clinical oncology/hematology residency at Ohio State University. Upon completion and passing certification examinations in 1997, Gamblin became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s Specialty of Oncology. For the last 25 years, Gamblin has been a clinical veterinary oncologist in private practice as well as a partner/co-owner of Akron, Ohio’s Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital—one of the oldest 24/7 emergency and referral veterinary hospitals in the U.S. More information on the 2022 class of MSU Alumni Fellows and the alumni association can be found at www.alumni.msstate.edu/alumnifellows. MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

Two quarterbacks, three running backs, two wide receivers, and three defensive players make up the list of nominees for the 2022 C Spire Conerly Trophy. Each college and university in the state with a football program selects one player who they feel best represents their team as the Most Outstanding Player to be nominated for the prestigious award. This year’s winner will become the 27th recipient since the program started in 1996. Named in honor of Ole Miss and NFL star Charlie Conerly, the award is voted on by a panel of media and NFL scouts who cover college football in the state. This year’s nominees are: · Alcorn State University – Jarveon Howard (Running Back) · Belhaven University – Connor Fordham (Linebacker) · Delta State University – Patrick Shegog (Quarterback) · Jackson State University – Shedeur Sanders (Quarterback) · Millsaps College – Moïse Tezzo (Wide Receiver/Kick Returner) · Mississippi College – Marcus Williams (Running Back) · Mississippi State University – Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. (Defensive Back) · Mississippi Valley State University – Ronnie Thomas (Defensive Lineman) · University of Mississippi – Quinshon Judkins (Running Back) · University of Southern Mississippi – Jason Brownlee (Wide Receiver) Overall it has been a very good year for football in the Magnolia state with seven of these schools with records above .500 including undefeated Jackson State and 10-win Delta State. Several of these schools and players this season have received national attention such as Jackson State University hosting ESPN’s College Gameday and clinching a spot in the SWAC Championship, Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. announced as a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, and Quinshon Judkins in the running as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The 2022 C Spire Conerly winner will be announced during a presentation at the Country Club of Jackson on November 29th featuring special guest host and CBS football analyst, Charles Davis. The evening will also include the announcement of the Kent Hull Trophy presented by Entergy which goes to the top Offensive Lineman of the Year. Tickets for the event are available at the Hall of Fame office or online at www.msfame.com. Last year’s recipient was Matt Corral of Ole Miss and other winners include Elijah Moore, Jeffrey Simmons, A.J. Brown, Evan Engram, Dak Prescott, Patrick Willis, Eli Manning, and Deuce McAllister.

In recognition of one of the state's top producing crops, the Mississippi Farmers Market will host a Sweet Potato Day on Saturday, November 19, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. In addition to the usual variety of farm fresh foods and handcrafted items, shoppers will be treated to a variety of complimentary sweet potato treats, children's activities, specialty food vendors, Vardaman area sweet potato growers and a sweet potato exhibit presented by the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council. The Genuine MS® Store, located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, will also be open to the public. The unique retail operation, which offers an array of products grown, raised, crafted and made in Mississippi, is extending its operating hours. The Genuine MS® Store will now be open every Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Visit www.genuinems.com to shop exclusive online holiday gift options and learn more about the Genuine MS® program. The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information about the Mississippi Farmers Market, visit www.msfarmersmarket.com and follow the Mississippi Farmers Market on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Christmas will be here before you know it and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to spread a little extra holiday joy to Mississippi’s highways this year. MDOT needs your help! Starting today, Wednesday, Nov. 16, you can submit your most clever holiday messages for a chance to see them on the big screen, MDOT’s digital message signs (DMS)! The last day to submit your messages is Wednesday, Nov. 30. “Driver safety is MDOT’s top priority. The DMS boards that you see along Mississippi highways are such a useful tool to help spread MDOT’s message and remind drivers of the importance of safe driving along with some helpful tips,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “MDOT’s 12 Days of Christmas is just another way to engage with the public and spread a little holiday joy.” Traffic safety messages appear on DMS boards along highways and interstates throughout Mississippi. These 12 days of messages will revolve around Christmas-themed movies, songs, and characters. However, any local emergency messages and traffic updates automatically override scheduled messages already on the DMS boards. The winning messages will be displayed starting Wednesday, December 14, and drivers will see a new holiday themed safety message each day with the final one posted on December 25. There is no limit to the number of messages you can submit, but below are some guidelines to remember: The message must relate to traffic safety. Signs can only accommodate three lines and 21 characters per line, including spaces. Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed. No emojis. Some of MDOT’s favorite holiday messages from 2021 include: JINGLE BELL ROCK A SEAT BELT SLOW SLEIGH? JINGLE TO THE RIGHT LANE Follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for details on how to submit your messages.