By Guest Columnist Kathryn Johnson Wolf Den, the ultimate hang out spot, has begun offering food and fun on the Co-Lin for students, faculty and the wider community. After many years of renovation and construction, the building formally housing the campus’s Grill will now hold Co-Lin’s Wolf Den. Vice President of Business Affairs Richard Baker explains the Wolf Den is intended to be a gathering place for students on campus, but it will welcome others looking for the unique atmosphere there. “In the last couple of years students have had no options anywhere to do anything on campus,” Baker points out. “We are trying to remedy that.” The Wolf Den boasts 25 wide screen TVs, 3 gaming stations, a pair of pool tables, a signature smoothie bar, and a high-end rotating lunch menu. Aladdin Foods Nutrition Expert Leah Embry, Manager of the Wolf Den, plans an extensive menu and an impressive lineup of her own signature smoothies and loaded teas. “It is going to be overrun for a few weeks,” Baker predicts. Although the Wolf Den will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., meals will be served at lunch and purchased with either a Co-Lin meal plan or debit card. During opening hours, customers will be able to purchase signature milkshakes, smoothies, loaded teas, and hand dipped ice cream served with a variety of toppings. Pushing for a fun, energetic atmosphere, Baker assures that “I want students and other patrons to know that they can come, they can laugh, they can come as a group, they can enjoy each other, they can enjoy having time together. This is going to be something that people will enjoy and a place where a lot of great memories are made. I think I’m going to look back on my career here and say that this is maybe one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of.” Not only will the Wolf Den provide kiosks and an all-new Order Eat app to increase order efficiency, but it also will incorporate Co-Lin’s first Wolf Bucks that could be used to purchase food on campus. Although Baker plans to allow Wolf Bucks to be earned through a campus group or received from an award, every student on campus received an allotted amount with the opening of the Wolf Den. EDITOR’S NOTE: Kathryn Johnson is a journalism student at Co-Lin and writes for Wolf Tales at the college.

While out walking we met, greeted, and walked on past a lady who suddenly tripped over the little dog scampering at her feet. Causing her to fall face first on the hard street surface. Hearing the commotion, we quickly returned to find her obviously in pain from landing on her shoulder. It was very evident that she could not be moved safely, so someone from the now-gathered bystanders called 911. When the firemen and EMT with their ambulance arrived, and after assessing the immediate problem, they administered pain meds so she could be moved and loaded into the ambulance, with a minimum amount of discomfort. While waiting for the medications to take effect, Andy asked if she would like him to pray for her, to which she gratefully agreed. Before he could utter his first words of prayer, the two attending firemen/EMTs had already whipped off their caps and stood motionless with their heads bowed. Respect. Not for the man praying, because after all, he was only a man. Not for prayer, it in itself isn’t what demands respect. But for God. The Creator and Healer of everything. The scriptures say in I Corinthians 11:7 for men to remove their head covering when addressing our God. And these firemen, even while standing in the middle of a city street and doing their job, did just that in respect for Him. So here is my observation and my question: I see men in so many churches where we go, who wear a head covering in the form of a ballcap or any other headgear, while in a worship service. And unfortunately, some will actually be on the platform leading worship, still wearing a hat of some kind. Now, if we are in a worship service, aren’t we addressing our God as we praise and worship Him? Why are we seeing this? Either I have sadly misread my Bible, or some males in our current times have chosen to ignore Biblical instruction. Or they have never been told what the Bible says about men and headgear in church. This may seem trivial to some readers, who see this as being picky and critical. Could be. I freely admit that I could be wrong. And you certainly do have the right to believe as you choose, as does anyone. But more important than what you or I believe, what does God say? What does He expect from us? Firemen, while doing their jobs, did it out of respect for their God. But some church-going men while in church – they don’t. Seems to this writer that something sure seems out of kelter here.

By guest columnist R. Shaw Furlow One of my favorite stories about Mississippi musicians who blazed a trail for others wasn’t born on the flat delta farmlands, but rather at Laurel in Jones county Mississippi. The story of the Diva of all Divas -- Leontyne Price. Reared in Laurel, she was encouraged by her parents to take piano lessons, and played her first recital at age six. She took dance lessons, and at age nine her mother took her to Jackson to see Marian Anderson sing in concert. Young Price was hooked, and opera became her focus. She studied music education in college and, upon graduation, was awarded a full, four-year scholarship to the famed Juilliard School of Music in New York City. While studying at Juilliard, she also took acting and dance classes, and appeared in many operas. One night, composer Virgil Thompson heard her, and she was offered her first professional role in his opera Four Saints in Three Acts. Soon she was touring the United States as the lead. European tours followed. In 1955 NBC Opera Company broadcast her debut from coast to coast. Based on her success in Four Saints in Three Acts, Price took on one of her first iconic roles -- Bess in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. In 1961, Price started her lengthy relationship with the Metropolitan Opera. appearing 120 times on its stage. She was the first African American to have lead roles at the Metropolitan Opera and other opera houses throughout the world. Contemporary composer Samuel Barber approached Price about the lead role in Anthony and Cleopatra. He had written the role for her, and frequently spent time at her house with new pages. Her performance in it at Lincoln Center was plagued with problems from the onset, with the heavy-handed direction of Franco Zeffirelli, overwhelming sets and acting, which covered the music. Although the opera was not successful, Price’s performance was notable. In 1970, Price curtailed work in operas to concentrate on recitals and recordings. She retired in 1985 after performing in Aida at Lincoln Center. While no longer recording, she has come out of retirement from time to time for special occasions. In September of 2001, she sand at a special concert for the victims of 9/11. With artistic director, James Levine at the piano, the 74 year old diva belted out the gospel song This Little Light of Mine and then God Bless America unaccompanied, ending on a perfect B-flat. Price earned 20 Grammy Awards, with millions of copies of her albums sold. She was the first opera singer to win America’s highest civilian award, The Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Lyndon Johnson. President Ronald Reagan presented her with the Medal of Arts. The governments of France and Italy presented their highest arts awards to her. This just scratches the surface of the life and career of the Mississippi treasure. Once again, from a lowly acorn, a mighty oak grows. That’s it for now friends. Support the arts. EDITOR'S NOTE: Shaw Furlow is a local composer, musician and arts promoter. He produces an internet-based video show -- From the Shadyside -- that spotlights area musical talent and is a consultant to school bands in the region. Bob Arnold is Editor of the Wesson News.

By Kara Kimbrough “Getting a turkey, dressing and desserts on the Thanksgiving table is not that hard to do. But some people do get scared, especially when they’re cooking for a crowd and want everything to go perfectly.” Those words, uttered by a Mississippi caterer I interviewed several years ago, described my trepidation and if I’m being totally transparent – sheer terror – as I struggled to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner during what will forever be known as 2020’s pandemic-scarred holidays. Yes, I DID cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner all by myself – turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and bacon and hash brown casserole. Even better, I survived and nobody got ill, so I feel it's only fitting that I share tips to help others maneuver their way around what can be an extremely daunting experience. First, let me explain why I tackled such a task. Thanksgiving 2020 was the first major holiday following the beginning of the coronavirus, which reared its ugly head in March of that year (in case you've blocked it from memory). Since the vaccine had not yet been distributed (yes, I took the initial two vaccines and subsequent boosters and am still alive and thriving), most families, including my own, decided not to gather together for fear of spreading the virus. However, I still felt the need to drop off a few meals to family and friends, even if we were all cowering behind closed doors. And, if I’m going to be totally honest, I was looking forward to making batches of turkey gumbo and turkey and wild rice soup with the remains of the bones and leftover meat. So, I set about trying to find acceptable recipe substitution recipes for my brother’s delicious smoked turkey and my mother’s cornbread dressing, neither of which was headed for any family dinner table in the foreseeable future. The story of how I planned, prepared and cooked several dishes and actually got them on the table would take more space that this column allows. I will say, it wasn’t pretty, especially the sight of the frozen-turkey-that-wouldn’t-defrost floating in a dish pan in my sink for hours. Then there was the second pan of cornbread that was required after the first one overcooked when I got busy on another coking project. So, I’ll simply provide an overview of my ’20 pandemic Thanksgiving meal, with the hopes that one or two tips may provide inspiration: 1. Turkey talk - The USDA recommends thawing turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. Allow one day for each 4-5 pounds of weight. If, like me, you run out of time, thaw the turkey in cold water outside the refrigerator, but use caution when doing so. Remove packaging and place the turkey in a large plastic bag to prevent it from becoming waterlogged, then place in a large stockpot or bucket. Make sure the turkey fits inside the pot and can be fully submerged. Fill the pot with cold water - do not use warm or hot water to speed thawing, as this puts the turkey within the “danger zone” of 40-140 degrees for longer than is safe. Weigh the turkey down with a pot or skillet if it floats. Change out the water every 30 minutes. Estimate roughly 30 minutes for every pound of turkey to completely thaw, i.e., a 12-16 pound turkey will take 6-8 hours. A turkey thawed in cold water should be cooked immediately. Make sure the legs move freely, giblets can be removed easily and the cavity is free of ice crystals. 2. Call in the experts - I brined my turkey using Alton Brown of Food Network fame’s recipe. It can easily be found on the internet. And after perusing several cookbooks and the internet, I settled on Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey recipe. Despite the thawing issues, my turkey turned out moist, golden and delicious. However, due to the fact that this was my first turkey and I didn’t possess a load of confidence, I purchased a turkey breast from Honey Baked Ham and served it to family and friends along with other dishes I actually made. Disclaimer” my own meal and subsequent gumbo and soup were delicious and no food poisoning was forthcoming, so in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been concerned. 3. Dressing by any other name still tastes as good - When it came to dressing, I knew my mother’s recipe couldn’t be duplicated. So I settled on a chicken and dressing casserole-type dish in case my turkey failed to yield the required meat for dinner. I needn’t have worried, but I was happy just the same with the different type of dressing. 4. By my side - Mashed potatoes and gravy are not traditionally found on our family Thanksgiving table, or on most Southern menus, but it’s a staple on many Northern tables. I decided to add them and can report it was a nice addition. Other sides included green beans and bacon and hash brown casserole made from my own recipes. 5. A little saucy - Making your own cranberry sauce is so easy and most important, so much better from the canned product. I was able to stir it together while cooking a hash brown casserole, another dish I happen to like; therefore, it made the list. The sauce added the perfect sweet touch to the dinner, because… 6. …I didn’t get around to making dessert (I know, what’s Thanksgiving without dessert?!) However, as I mentioned last week, Marie Callender’s pecan and apple pies are acceptable substitutions to homemade. I followed my own advice and added a slice of each to the meals I dropped off to those on my list. And there you have it…I’m living proof that you CAN cook an entire Thanksgiving meal and live to tell the tale! Next week, I’ll share my top tips and places to try if your plan is to let someone else do the cooking. Homemade Cranberry Sauce 1½ pounds fresh or frozen cranberries 1 orange, zested 3 cinnamon sticks 1½ cups orange juice 1½ cups dark brown sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, orange juice, walnuts and brown sugar. Add enough water to cover, then bring to boil over high heat. Immediately reduce heat, and simmer for about one hour or until sauce has thickened. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Taste for sweetness and adjust with additional sugar if necessary. Continue cooking until you achieve the perfect consistency. Let cool, then refrigerate in a covered container until ready to use. Note: I chopped up 2-3 of the orange slices (finely) and added them to the sauce as it cooked, simply because I love the taste of oranges and cranberries, but this is optional. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Wesson Garden Club (WGC)received The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Natchez Trace District 2021-2022 Club of the Year award at the district meeting in Raymond, Mississippi. Carla Stringer, Natchez Trace District Director, also presented the club with an Honor Roll Club certificate of achievement and Certificate of Merit for its Scarecrow Challenge in which the club’s membership teams competed in fall decorating throughout the Wesson area. She also recognized the club for its overall contributions to The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. The Club also received the Youth Gardener Award and Youth Day Camp Award for its Butterbeans Youth Gardeners program. Pictured at the district meeting (left to right) are Debbie Hoaglin, Denise Jackson, Debbie Smith from WGC; Natchez Trace District Director Carla Stringer, Garden Clubs of Mississippi President Pat Young, and Dixie Thornton, Pam Owens, Jean Ricks and Jennifer Peets from WGC. 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.

By Bob Garver In 2018, “Black Panther” became the biggest hit of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It even made more at the domestic box office than that year’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” Since then, King T’challa (Chadwick Boseman) of the African kingdom of Wakanda died at the hand of Thanos, came back in “Avengers: Endgame,” and then died permanently of an unspecified illness. This of course mirrors Boseman’s real-life death in 2020. The opening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is dedicated to T’challa (and Boseman’s) passing and the celebration of his life. Yes, the Marvel logo is Boseman-centric, but it opts for a quiet, reverent tone rather than the call to cheer that was Stan Lee’s tribute at the beginning of “Captain Marvel” in 2019. Nothing wrong with either approach, they’re just respectful in different ways. This portion of the film is handled perfectly. The rest of the film is… less perfect. A year after T’challa’s passing, Wakanda is still thriving thanks to the strong leadership of his mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett). A sequence where she makes a stern speech at the United Nations with the help of military leader Okoye (Danai Gurira) is the best post-T’challa scene in the movie and is even garnering Bassett some Oscar talk. There’s still some unease because Wakanda no longer has sovereign hero Black Panther around to protect it. Ramonda would like her daughter Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) to pick up where T’challa left off, but Shuri wants only to bury herself in scientific research so Wakanda can survive without an antiquated superhero. Danger rears its head in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), ruler of the undersea kingdom of Talokan. Talokan is the only other place on Earth with access to vibranium, the element that allows Wakanda to be so technologically-advanced. Namor orders Ramonda and Shuri to assassinate Rari Williams (Dominique Thorne), a teenage scientist with the ability to expose Talokan’s existence to the world. Failure to do so will lead to Talokan declaring war on Wakanda and then on the rest of the world. Namor’s plan doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, as Talokan doesn’t seem to have a terribly strong military once they lose the element of surprise, but for purposes of this movie, Wakanda has to find a way to fend off Namor and the rest of Talokan, with lives of important characters hanging in the balance. Ramonda and Shuri even have to enlist the help of Nakia (Lupita N’yongo), the former lover of T’challa, to help with the effort, because she’s an expert in languages. The mission doesn’t need Nakia nearly as much as the movie needs Oscar-winner N’yongo. And if you think there’s little reason to have her in the movie, wait until you see the flimsy reasoning behind another cameo late in the movie. It pains me to say it, but the forced cameo is where the movie lost me. Or if not there, then definitely a moment in a climactic battle that brings to mind one of the most laughable scenes in a rival superhero franchise. For all its importance in saying goodbye to Chadwick Boseman, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a below-average MCU installment. Wakanda really is one of the greatest worlds within the MCU, which makes it all the more glaring that it’s in danger from the cramped, primitive-looking Talokan. Also, if Wakanda was really going to defend itself without a Black Panther, the protector’s name wouldn’t be right there in the title. We know we’re getting a new Black Panther, no need to spend so much time playing coy. I’m in no hurry to return to Wakanda after this movie. Grade: C “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action and some language. Its running time is 161 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

During the next couple of weeks, Salvation Army locations throughout the region will kick off their annual Red Kettle fundraisers and Christmas assistance programs. These programs will provide local families and individuals in need with food, clothing, and presents under the Christmas tree for their children. “As the need for Salvation Army assistance has continued to increase due to current economic hardships, so has the need for volunteers,” said Major Kevin Stoops, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army, Empire State Division. “Volunteers are the backbone of The Salvation Army – the army behind the Army – and we cannot provide the services we do without volunteers coming along side us as partners in our mission of helping those most in need.” In fact, according to Major Stoops, thousands of volunteers are needed locally to help The Salvation Army in its mission – especially during the next two months. “Whether it’s ringing bells at a Red kettle for a couple of hours, sorting donations of toys and clothing, or helping parents pick out that perfect Christmas present for their child at a Salvation Army toy shop, The Salvation Army has numerous and meaningful ways to serve others during the busy holiday season and beyond,” added Major Stoops. Salvation Army services continue year-round – and so do the volunteer opportunities. All donations collected during Salvation Army fundraisers like the Red Kettle campaign, stay in the community to help local families and individuals. To enquire about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities, call your local Salvation Army, or text “TSAVolunteer” to 51555.

If you don’t know it’s autumn in Wesson, it’s not the fault of Wesson Garden Club (WSG), which has continued it tradition of decorating the town for the Fall season. Throughout the town, you can find scarecrows and wreaths, flowers, decorative scenes and interior displays that turn Wesson into the likes of a Fall postcard and shout out “fall is here” through the work of WGC members. Fall-colored mums in the club’s downtown planters complement the scarecrows and wreaths its members have scattered through the streets. The Chamber Garden and Fountain Garden Park have been graced by the Fall touches of the club’s members. They have created Fall designs at the Wesson Attendance Center and 51 Diner. In addition, the WGC Educational Committee set up a beautiful fall display in the Wesson Library. Their fall decorations all add up to a backdrop for a festive fall season in Wesson. The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. and Natchez Trace District-Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

NASA’s Stennis Space Center operated much like a musical symphony at the site’s most versatile testing area – the E Test Complex – 10 years ago with high levels of coordination and a variety of tempos. Over a three-day stretch the week of Nov. 5-9, 2012, test complex operators conducted 27 tests on three different rocket engines/components on three different test stands. The work demonstrated the flexibility of Stennis employees and their desire to fulfill NASA and commercial space company testing needs. “This is not something just anybody can do,” then-NASA E-2/E-3 Test Director Craig Chandler said at the time. The accomplishment involved conducting tests on a Blue Origin engine thrust chamber, a modified steam generator, and a prototype liquid oxygen, liquid methane engine. It also demonstrated the expertise of the Stennis test complex team and the unique capabilities of Stennis’ E Test Complex facilities. The test team expertise and test complex capabilities have continued to grow since that historic week, operating as a valuable resource as NASA focuses on deep space missions to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all and commercial space initiatives grow. “What makes the E Test Complex unique is the pressures and flow rates it is capable of handling,” explained Stennis Chief of Test Operations Maury Vander. The three-stand complex includes seven separate test cells that can support testing with ultra high-pressure gases and cryogenic fluids. The capability includes the delivery of liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and liquid methane at pressures up to 8,500 pounds per square inch (PSI). “There are all sorts of elevated pressures that are not available anywhere else at flow rates like that,” Vander said. “If you have a relatively large engine and are trying to validate a component, it takes high pressure and a high flow rate to do that. That is what really makes the E Test Complex unique, not just for the agency but for the world. There are not many places that can do that.” In addition, the E-3 Test Complex offers its own unique capabilities. With slightly lower pressures, the E-3 facilities require less modifications to begin a project, meaning commercial partners can receive data in a quicker timeframe at Stennis. Since the November 2012 record-setting week, Stennis personnel in the E Test Complex have worked with more and more commercial companies. Companies such as Relativity Space, Blue Origin, Launcher, SpaceX, Ursa Major, and Virgin Orbit have taken advantage of complex capabilities. Some of these are currently testing engines/components in the area with success. SpaceX tested engine components on E-1 and E-2 test stands while developing its Raptor engine for the Starship spacecraft. In April 2021, NASA selected Starship for its human landing system. In 2017, a California-based space company, Relativity Space, began its partnership with Stennis by testing on the E-3 Test Stand. The relationship soon expanded in 2018, allowing Relativity exclusive use of the E-4 Test Complex. Relativity now tests on the E-2 and E-4 stands. Last month, it also announced plans for a major expansion of its rocket and engine test facilities at Stennis. “That’s an example of a company that has a vision and came to Stennis, took advantage of some of our resources and facilities, and are headed toward a launch soon,” Vander said. “They are good example of the value of the E Test Complex.” In addition to the complex being highly adaptable to meet customer needs, chief among the valuable resources at Stennis are the people working to help companies to be successful in their development and test efforts. “It was that way 10 years ago and it is even more that way now,” Vander added. “We are getting more involved in the intimate details of our customers, and they are taking advantage of the resources and people who work here to do things we never thought they would do in the past. Our workforce is getting smarter, and our customers are getting smarter. It all leads to being the best we can be and to increasing the likelihood of success for our customers.” For information about Stennis Space Center, visit: www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/

Co-Lin men’s basketball team Lady Wolves hoopsters Co-Lin basketball season has started, and its men’s team is looking to new players on a revamped squad to bounce back from a disappointing season, while the Lady Wolves are looking to the experience of returners form a team that finished 17-9 overall and reached the quarter finals of the Region 23 Tournament to propel them to success. The men feature a roster of 15 players with seven sophomores and eight freshmen, with just two returners -- guard Jemario Hersey (Brookhaven) and forward AJ Warnsley (Byram). Hersey played in all 23 games for the Wolves last season, starting in 14, and averaged 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while Warnsley played in 20 games for the Wolves, starting in 18, and averaged 11.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. "Both of those guys are superior athletes and that's always something that translates well to the game of basketball," says Head Coach David Sanders. "They are guys that can get up and down the floor quick, finish and make plays, and they showed a lot of veteran leadership for us last year, which I think will be important for us this season.” Five sophomores have transferred to the Wolves -- Kaeden Laws (Southaven), Cowandric Samuel (Jackson), Jahvon Smith (Hallandale, FL), Chanse Robinson (Ruston, LA), and Andrew Anderson (Hattiesburg). Incoming freshman include Anterrian Hawkins (Hollandale), Chandler Hodges (Mathiston), Jabez Blaylock (Newton), Dylan Canoville (Plantation, FL) Justin Adams-Johnson (Hazlehurst), Deandre Brisco (Indianola), and Mike Smith (New Albany). "I really like the group of guys that we have coming in this year," Sanders says. "We are going to have a lot of versatility and I think we are going to have a great year even though we have a lot of young guys that are going to have to step and make plays for us this season. "Cowandric played for me at Callaway. He and Kaedan Laws transferred to us from Jones where they were a big part of their success. Chanse Robinson, Jahvon Smith, and Andrew Anderson are all Division I transfers and their college experience will be tremendous for us. Our goal with them is to push them to the forefront and get them to lead our younger guys." Sander calls last year “a learning experience for us as a staff, especially me with it being my first year at the college level and all the challenges we faced.” He noted the Wolves were in a lot of close games and “had chances to win a bunch of those games and we just fell short in those." "I feel very good about our chances against the conference teams this year especially with four players playing in their third year, those being Jemario, AJ, Cowandric, and Kaeden, that will all most likely be starters for us," said Sanders. "This year is a much better feel for us as coaches and the players as we have more experienced players than what we had last year." The 2022-2023 Lady Wolves roster, meanwhile, includes 15 players: Four returning sophomores -- Kiersten Ball (Louisville), Leilani Lewis (Baton Rouge, LA), Tandria Minor (Brandon), and Zykeria Anderson (Edwards), two transfer sophomores -- Brookhaven native Ayanna McNairy from Mississippi Gulf Coast where she played in 37 games, and Summit native Jamey McDaniel coming Holmes where she played in 24 games; and incoming freshmen Lashaunte Payne (Magee), Kaileigh Bilbo (Gulfport), Kayla Howard (Shaw), A'Shante Fleming (Canton), Malaysia Tate (Summerfield, LA), Kyja Willis (Brookhaven), Ceara Myers (Baton Rouge, LA), Breanna Grant-Hall (Wesson), and Kyla Farmer (Conehatta). Head Coach Gwyn Young says he expects the four returning sophomores to pick up where they left off last season, while “hopefully our two transfer sophomores along with the incoming freshmen will mesh well together and push us towards success this season." "To be able to bring players in that have experience is a boost for us,” he adds. “Ayanna comes to us with two years of experience at Gulf Coast, while Jamey comes in after one year at Holmes, where they both contributed for their teams and I am expecting them to do that for us. Any experience that we can bring in helps us, especially when it is conference experience. They both know about the speed and quickness that we will face and have an idea of what the opposing teams will look like along with the level of play they need to bring for us to have success against them." Coach Young, who has high expectations of his incoming freshmen, talks about the steps the Lady Wolves are taking to help them adjust to playing at a new level: "Most of the work goes back to focusing on fundamentals. Coach Alexus Holt, who has returned to Co-Lin as an assistant coach, is doing a lot of individual work that is helping to improve their game. Our sophomores are also helping the freshmen learn about making sure that they are in the right position and that the coaches are helping them to get better and prepare to beat the best team every time we play.” Young thinks Ceara Myers will be a big help for the team, along with Kyla Farmer, who is coming off an injury, and Malaysia Tate, another player who had an injury setback.

By Bob Arnold Stephanie Duguid – the Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin since 2017 -- and her husband Brent settled in Copiah County following Hurricane Katrina in 2006, attracted by its small towns and rural life with grass and trees and to get away from the hustle-bustle and congestion of Phoenix, Arizona, where they had spent most of their career lives. “We discovered the area when we came to Hazlehurst in 2000 to attend the wedding of my college roommate and fell in love with it,” she says. Over the next few years, the Duguids plotted their departure from Phoenix, where they experienced much of its burgeoning growth from a city of one million to 4.5 million between 1997 and 2007. After purchasing some land near Hazlehurst they made their move with a lot of hope about the future, but no jobs or other certainties that more cautious people might have wanted. “When locals asked us about why we relocated, my husband would joke that we were in the witness protection program,” she recalls. Actually, Duguid was first introduced to Mississippi life in the 1990s when she played volleyball on a scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi and earned a BS in Human Performance with an emphasis in athletic training at the Hattiesburg campus. Duguid spent her childhood and youth in Sugar Land, Texas, southwest of Houston, where she grew up on a ranch, rode horses, competed in barrels, poles and goat-riding tying in rodeos, played volleyball and soccer, and was an active student at Clements High School, where she served on the student council and was voted Most Athletic in her senior class. For 25 years, she has been an educator, starting at age 19 as a teaching assistant in college and an American Red Cross First Aid and CPR trainer and focusing on sports medicine throughout her career. After graduating from USM in 1995, she headed for Phoenix and A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences, where she earned an MS in Sports Health Care in 1997 and then started her work life at Northern Arizona University as the assistant athletic trainer in charge of women’s sports from 1997 to 1999. From 2000 to 2007, Duguid taught math, biology, earth science and sports health care in junior high and high school, while earning an MA in education, curriculum and instruction at Ottawa University in Phoenix in 2006. Her mother's death in an automobile accident in 2001 was a life-changing event and prompted her to pursue a Doctor of Education in educational leadership in 20036 at Phoenix-based Argosy University, which she received in 2006. “I had followed in my mom’s footsteps as an educator, and we had discussed my career direction and advancement by studying for a terminal degree,” she explains. An education and career were not the only part of Duguid’s Phoenix life over 12 years. She also met Brent Duguid, now her husband, with whom she packed her bags and headed for southwest Mississippi for a future that has included Co-Lin for both of them and rearing kids as well. Soon after landing here, Duguid connected with the Co-Lin Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPR) Division as a summer adjunct instructor, a former CTE administrator which took note of her career and technical education (CTE) experience in Arizona and hired her as Assistant Dean for the college’s CTE division on its Natchez campus. After a year there from 2007 to 2008, she took over as Division Chair/Instructor in the college’s HPR division on the Wesson campus in 2008, became Assistant Dean of Academic Instruction in 2012 and moved into her current position as Dean of Academic Instruction in 2017. Her husband, meanwhile, worked as a handyman, served in part-time roles as a fifth and seventh grade teacher at Wesson Attendance Center and was an employee at Gatlin Hydraulics before Co-Lin hired him as a Navigator (counselor) for students in its MI-BEST degree advancement program, and subsequently moved him into positions as Assistant Dean of CTE and then Dean of Career Technical, Workforce and Adult Education. In her role at Co-Lin, Duguid is chief academic officer responsible for overall institutional rigor, including faculty credentialing, courses and educational growth opportunities for students, partnerships with other colleges and universities and grant development related to academic programs, including nursing. Beyond Co-Lin, Duguid also is a speaker and consultant on making positive life changes, particularly in support of women educators and leaders, through her own organization – Do Good Enterprises LLC. Follow her on Facebook at Stephanie Rector Duguid or Do Good Leadership What are your hobbies? I enjoy my family, including two boys aged 13 and 14 and a stepdaughter, who is 28 years old. My father, a retired engineer, also moved here recently from Texas, and has become part of the Mississippi family. I play enjoy spending time with the boys and watch movies with them. Are you a reader? I am mostly into professional development books – Jon Gordon, John Maxwell and James Clear, among others. Do you enjoy movies or theater? I watch Hallmark, baseball and Marvel movies on family fun nights and weekends. Do you enjoy any music? I listen to Country and Christian music. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I want to give back to the community. I recently set up a scholarship with the Co-Lin Foundation for students in nursing, education and social work in honor memory of my late mother, a dedicated teacher who died much too early. I would provide opportunities for local individuals to apply for grants to the Town of Wesson for small business startups or community projects. Perhaps converting an old building in which new businesses and organizations could share office space. How would you change the world? That’s what I am trying to do with Do Good Enterprises as a speaker, trainer and coach, helping people to be good, do good, and feel good, while infusing positivity and balance into their lives.

The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Egg Bowl Giveaway, Mrs. Faye Steinwinder, who entered the contest at this year’s Mississippi State Fair. Mrs. Steinwinder, a resident of Florence, said, “I usually have to work on Thanksgiving Day, but when I found out I won tickets to the game, I made arrangements to take off and enjoy the game in person.” Visitors to the 2022 Mississippi State Fair had an opportunity to register for a tailgate grilling package that included a pair of tickets to the Egg Bowl, the traditional rivalry between the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi Rebels football teams, as well as a portable grill and accessories. In addition to the Egg Bowl Giveaway, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is partnering with the Mississippi Food Network to sponsor an “Egg Bowl Food Drive Challenge.” Bulldog and Rebel team supporters can drop off canned goods at area Kroger stores in Mississippi to show their team spirit. Canned food collections in Kroger stores in Oxford will be deposited in the University of Mississippi Food Bank, and canned food collections in Kroger stores in Starkville will be deposited in the Mississippi State University Food Bank. Mississippi Egg Marketing Board President Ryn Laster said, “We are excited to partner with The Mississippi Food Network. This is a great way to support your team and help those in need.” Monetary donations can also be made online at www.msfoodnet.org. Visit www.MSEggMarketing.com for great tasting egg dishes brought to you by the Incredible Egg. For more information about the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, contact Jennifer Thompson at msegg@mdac.ms.gov.