Britt Property Dollar General Property Douglas Property In September, Wesson Garden Club recognized the landscaping efforts of David and Gwen Douglas at 1005 Pear Street, Hillry and Mistry Britt at 1058 Bufkin Lane and Dollar General at 1058 Spring Street in its Yard of the Month town and rural residential and organizational categories. The Yard of the Month awards that recognize maintenance principles and elements of landscape design seek to encourage ongoing beautification and cleanliness of the Wesson area and cultivate a citizenry which values and protects natural resources and assumes responsibility for enhancing the environment. The Garden Club's Yard of the Month awards honor landscapes during the spring, summer and fall.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid Are you health literate? In the report Healthy People, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified health literacy as an important component of health communication, medical product safety, and oral health. Health literacy is defined in Healthy People 2010 as "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions." If you are health literate, you can take care of your health as a part of everyday life, not just when you visit a doctor, clinic or hospital. Even people who read well and are comfortable using numbers can face health literacy issues when: They aren’t familiar with medical terms or how their bodies work. They have to interpret statistics and evaluate risks and benefits that affect their health and safety. They are diagnosed with a serious illness and are scared and confused. They have health conditions that require complicated self-care. They are voting on an issue affecting the community’s health and relying on unfamiliar technical information. Health literacy can help us prevent health problems, protect our health, and better manage health problems when they arise. At some point in our lives, we all need to be able to find, understand, and use health information and services. Health literacy includes the ability to understand instructions on prescription drug bottles, appointment slips, medical education brochures, doctor's directions, and consent forms; and the ability to negotiate complex health-care systems. Health literacy varies by context and setting and is not necessarily related to years of education or general reading ability. With the move towards a more "consumer-centric" health-care system as part of an overall effort to improve the quality of health care and to reduce health-care costs, individuals need to take an even more active role in health-care-related decisions. To do this, people need strong health-information skills, including being able to: Evaluate information for credibility and quality, Analyze relative risks and benefits, Calculate dosages, and Locate health information. Oral language skills are important as well. Patients need to articulate their health concerns and describe their symptoms accurately. They need to ask pertinent questions, and they need to understand spoken medical advice or treatment directions. In an age of shared responsibility between physician and patient for health care, patients need strong decision-making skills. With the development of the internet as a source of health information, health literacy may also include the ability to search for and evaluate Web sites. In Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, the Institute of Medicine reports 90 million people in the United States have difficulty understanding and using health information. As a result, patients often take medicines on erratic schedules, miss follow-up appointments, and do not understand instructions such as "take on an empty stomach." Vulnerable populations include: The elderly (age 65+). Two thirds of U.S. adults age 60 and over have inadequate or marginal health literacy skills, and 81% of patients age 60 and older at a public hospital could not read or understand basic materials such as prescription labels. Minority populations. Immigrant populations. Low-income populations. Approximately half of Medicare/Medicaid recipients read below the fifth-grade level People with chronic mental and/or physical health conditions. The relationship between literacy and health is complex. Literacy impacts health knowledge, health status, and access to health services. 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.

By Kara Kimbrough The following two sentences by Andrew Zimmern, acclaimed TV chef and creator of many other culinary-related endeavors caused me to backtrack and reread it: “I don't think there is a more soul satisfying meal than Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes smothered in homemade beef gravy. I like to brown the meatballs in butter first, before finishing them in the oven with a little chicken stock so they stay nice and moist.” Come on…if that doesn’t immediately conjure up a vision of a plate of comfort food at its finest, nothing will. I met or at least, attended an event at which Zimmern was hosting on the Gulf Coast several years ago. All I remember is that he and his film crew set up a seafood boil on the beach as I and a group of journalists watched as he was filmed for a TV special. Afterwards, we were invited to sit under a tent and dine on the dinner he created. I think fried crabs were involved, but I can't be sure. After that one brush with the famous chef, I haven’t followed his career closely, but his statement about meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy grabbed and held my attention. Zimmern’s lengthy recipe for the meal included instructions on how to make savory beef gravy. I didn’t make the dishes, which included chicken and beef broth. However, but it did send me in another direction and that was to make my own healthy broths. This is not a new idea. I’ve often hesitated to use the cartons of chicken and beef broth sold in the supermarket due to the high sodium content of both. Not to mention, the numerous questions that always popped in my mind, mainly about the way the broths were collected in the first place. I’m sure (or at least hope) this isn’t the case, but visions of vats of broth filled with assorted chicken and cow bones always danced in my head as I pour the commercialized broth in soups, stews and other dishes requiring the addition of broth. I found several recipes for homemade broth – most of them rather lengthy. I settled on a happy medium by reducing some of the ingredients and using only those that could be recycled into other dishes. To make chicken broth, I boiled several chicken breasts (recipes call for chicken pieces with bones, but I chose not to use those) in a large stockpot along with stalks of celery, chunks of white onion and a few carrots. After seasoning the water with whole peppercorns, dried thyme and rosemary, I let it boil for 3-4 hours (you can boil longer) until the chicken was done and the vegetables were tender. Using a few cups of the broth, the now-cooked chopped chicken and vegetables and the addition of egg noodles, I had the makings of a satisfying chicken noodle soup. Even better, there was plenty of leftover chicken broth to freeze in individuals bags for later use. Beef broth was a little trickier, as most recipes call for “meaty stock bones cut to expose marrow.” My queasy stomach didn’t like the sound of that, so I substituted short ribs, which I boiled, also for 3-4 hours, with the same ingredients used for chicken broth. To season the broth, I used oregano, parsley and thyme. A rick beef stew was the end result of this endeavor. Making your own broth might seem a little extreme, but knowing the sodium content is much lower than anything you can buy in the supermarket easily makes up for the time spent making it. Plus, when you can recycle the ingredients into a hearty meal – and dispel and visions of bones and marrow – I promise it’s worth the effort. Easy Crockpot Beef Stew 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into small pieces ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt (substitute Mrs. Dash if you’d like) ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 ½ cups beef broth (make it yourself if you have time!) 4 regular carrots, roughly chopped or 8-10 baby carrots 3 medium potatoes, diced or half-bag of country-style hash browns (not shredded) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon minced garlic 1 bay leaf Use slow cooker liner or spray bottom with non-stick spray. Place meat in slow cooker, then mix flour, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Coat meat with flour/seasoning mixture. Add broth, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and bay leave; stir to combine. If you didn’t boil beef and vegetables to make stock, cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. If you did use the ingredients beforehand to make stock, the beef and vegetables are already cooked, so only cook on high around 1-2 hours, checking often to see if meat is completely tender and ready to eat. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Shaun Broderick, who has been working in the horticulture industry for more than twenty-two years, highlighted the September meeting of the Wesson Garden Club (WGC) as guest speaker. Broderick shared how to control and recognize invasive plants in our landscapes with the WGC members, who enjoyed taking a fun test on invasive plants, asked questions and brought plant samples from their yards for Mr. Broderick to identify. Broderick studied plant genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology at Brigham Young University and Ohio State University, and now oversees the trial garden at the Mississippi State University Truck Crops Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, where he is working on plant genetics and breeding projects. Attending the WGC meeting at the American Legion building were Marilyn Britt, Sherri Carty, Sonya Cowen, Sherry Davis, Rebecca Harrison, Cherry Head, Debbie Hoaglin, Denise Jackson, Camille Johnston, Pam McLemore, Ashley Munn, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Joy Phillips, Jean Ricks, Meghan Shepherd, Debbie Smith, Lisa Smith, Dixie Thornton, Brittney Warren, and Joy Wesbrooks. Refreshments provided by Hostesses, Marilyn Britt, Sonya Cowen, Rebecca Harrison and Joy Phillips were served at a table decorated for the fall season. 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.

Mary Hopson August Clark Mary Hopson and August Clark were September Wesson Public Library books giveaway winners. Hopson received the adult category prize book -- James Patterson by James Patterson and Clark received Bug in a Rug by Russell Puter and David Semple, the children/youth category prize. Friends of the Library (FOL) funds the prize books awarded in drawings every month. The goal is bringing people to the library to learn how it can meet their needs. In September, FOL started another library promotion program – “Fall for Books” in which the library will track book check-outs by patrons during September, October and early November, tally the traffic and award the top library user on November 15. The details of the new program have changed since they were announced last month. Instead of selecting two winners of $25 gifts certificates for menu items at Dump’s Barbeque, one winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to use at any business in the Wesson area. FOL is a support organization that conducts fundraisers for the library and assists in its programming through advice and counsel, volunteers, and donations.

Mississippi maintained its historic gains in 4th grade reading on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), while scores nationally dropped in all four NAEP subjects and grades. The 2022 NAEP results provide the first national measure of student learning since the start of the pandemic. Known as the Nation’s Report Card, NAEP measures student performance in 4th and 8th grade reading and math in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The 2022 results show Mississippi 4th graders scored at the national average in both reading and math. Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged 4th graders achieved higher scores in reading and math than their peers nationally and in the South. This achievement holds steady among black, white and Hispanic students living in poverty. “The 2022 NAEP scores prove the resilience of Mississippi students and the ability of Mississippi educators to provide high-quality instruction despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said Dr. Kim Benton, state superintendent of education, interim. “While our state’s scores are encouraging, they also underscore the need to press forward to ensure all students achieve proficiency. In particular, we have more work to do in 8th grade reading and math to bring student performance up to the national average and then continue to improve.” In 8th grade, Mississippi scores dropped three points in reading and eight points in math, which matches the decline nationally in both subjects. Mississippi 4th graders dropped seven points in math, which is statistically equivalent to the five-point decline nationally. While pandemic disruptions are believed to have affected this year’s national decline on NAEP, scores have been falling over the past decade in most states. Despite this national trend, Mississippi is a leader among the few states that have shown improvements on one or more NAEP assessments over the past decade. Specifically: Mississippi achieved significant gains in 4th grade reading and math since 2011. Along with Washington D.C., Mississippi is the only state or jurisdiction that improved over a 10-year period in two of the four core NAEP subjects. Mississippi is one of only two states with improved 4th grade math scores over a decade and one of only three states with gains in 4th grade reading. In 8th grade, Mississippi scores remained flat in reading and math over the past decade while the average scores nationally dropped in both subjects. In short, over the past 10 years, Mississippi has improved significantly in reading and math in 4th grade and held steady in both subjects in 8th grade while scores nationally in both grades and subjects have declined. In 2019, Mississippi achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for NAEP gains when 4th grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpaced the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading held steady. Student achievement has increased significantly since 2013 after the statewide implementation of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, higher academic standards with aligned assessments, a strong accountability system, and a significant investment in professional development for educators. Pre-pandemic, student achievement steadily increased from the first administration of the state’s Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) in 2016 until 2019, when the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached a record high. After a decline in MAAP scores in 2021, student achievement rebounded in 2022 to pre-pandemic levels.

As of Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of 17,693 absentee ballots requested, 16,884 absentee ballots sent, and 10,186 absentee ballots received in the state of Mississippi for the 2022 General Election. Click here to view county reports. As a reminder, the requested total reflects the number of Mississippi voters who have requested an absentee ballot through their local Circuit Clerk's Office. The sent total reflects the number of absentee ballots sent to voters from Circuit Clerk Offices. The received total reflects the number of completed absentee ballots returned to Circuit Clerk Offices. Additional Reminders All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 8) and received within five business days of Election Day in order to count. The Resolution Board can begin processing absentee ballots at the opening of the polls on Election Day (7 a.m.). County election officials can tabulate ballots at the closing of the polls on Election Day (7 p.m.). Our office will not announce unofficial election results. As always, we will only announce and post certified election results submitted to our office by the counties. Counties have ten (10) calendar days from Election Day to file certified results with our office. All certified election results from the 2022 Election Cycle will be posted here on our website. Counties may announce unofficial totals as the results come in from each precinct on Election Day and as absentee ballots are tallied on Election Night. While these results are generally reliable, it is important to remember any results reported the night of the Election are not considered official, certified election results. For questions regarding absentee voting, please contact our Elections Division at ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, call the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786, or visit YallVote.ms.

By Bob Garver It makes perfect sense to cast Dwayne Johnson as a superhero. Actually, it might make too much sense. Like, it’s a little too on-the-nose. Here’s a guy that is tremendously built and athletically gifted, with a seemingly unlimited arsenal of charisma, money, and fame. Heck, the guy spent years convincing arenas full of people that he could hurt his wrestling opponents just by taking off his elbow pad, doing a silly little dance, bouncing off the ropes, and falling on them elbow-first. He practically has superpowers already. So “Black Adam” has to do something special in the script department to make this movie stand out from every other Dwayne Johnson actioner. The good news is that it does. The bad news is that what it does do differently, it doesn’t do very well. In a nutshell, Teth-Adam (he isn’t called “Black” Adam until late in the movie) is an ancient warrior from the kingdom of Kahndaq, imbued with powers from the same council of wizards responsible for Shazam in the DC Extended Universe. Entombed for 5,000 years, he is awakened by Dr. Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi), under life-threatening orders from henchmen of the evil Ishmael Gregor (Marwan Kenzari). In his disoriented state, Adam doesn’t know who he can trust, but it sure isn’t the goons pointing weapons at him. He sets about on a killing spree, taking out immediate threats, then their reinforcements, then those people’s reinforcements, and so on until he’s a threat on a global scale. Adam soon attracts the attention of the Justice Society of America. A team led by Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) is dispatched to Kahndaq to neutralize the threat, even though they have little understanding of who they’re up against or how to deal with him. Other members of the team include the brainy Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), mammoth Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and prophetic Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan). The JSA assume they’re the white knights to Adam’s…blackness, but he operates more in a world of gray, and so do they, even if they don’t want to admit it. The real threat comes from Ishmael, who means to harm Tomaz’s son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui) if he doesn’t get what he wants. Perhaps a team-up is in order? Adam, like most superheroes, comes with a ton of emotional baggage, largely related to his son Hurut (Jalon Christian/Uli Latukefu). The movie spends an exhausting amount of time on Adam and Hurut’s backstory, and even more time on unnecessary characters. Cyclone and Atom Smasher are only in this movie to fill out the JSA’s numbers and provide some unwelcome comic relief. Johnson alone is all the comedic talent this movie needs. The same can be said for Dr. Tomaz’s electrician brother Karim (Mohammed Amer). I’ll let Amon skate (literally), but the movie could have toned down the character’s 90’s-style obnoxiousness and fanboy tendencies. Adam’s distinguishing characteristic is that he’s eager to kill people, a trait usually seen from “heroes” on the fringes of the big franchises and not from main members of the Avengers or Justice League (it is implied that the latter is in Adam’s future). For a character this homicidal to work, the movie really needs R-rated violence, not PG-13 toothlessness. I know it would cost this movie its teenage audience to go with an R rating, but fans can sniff out a neutered R-rated property a mile away, and the results are often disastrous. Johnson carrying a superhero movie makes for a surefire hit, but did it have to be this plodding, overstuffed, sterilized, frankly uninteresting take on “Black Adam”? Grade: C-

Voting machines that cast ballots for the wrong candidate or can be sabotaged by internet hackers. Abuse of absentee voting. Voting by non-citizens or even dead people. These allegations were among those made in the wake of the contentious 2020 Presidential election, but they are unlikely to happen in Mississippi, Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield told members of Institute for Retirement in Learning (ILR) at a brunch last month. Bairfield pointed to key components of the Mississippi election system that assure fair and free elections: The Mississippi Secretary of State must confirm that a new voter-registration applicant is an American citizen by cross-referencing two databases: the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s driver’s license and identification system and the federal Systematic Alien Verification For Entitlements database, also known as SAVE. Individuals voting at the polls or in person by absentee ballot are required to show a photo ID. Acceptable ids include a driver’s license, a photo ID issued by a branch, department or entity of the State of Mississippi; a United States passport, a government employee ID card, a firearms license, a student photo ID issued by an accredited Mississippi university, college or community/junior college; A United States military ID, tribal photo ID, any other photo ID issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government or any State government, a Mississippi Voter Identification Card. A voter may use an expired photo as long as it is an acceptable form of photo ID and not more than ten years old. The expired ID must contain the name and photograph of the voter, and have been validly issued by the federal or a state government. Exempt from the photo ID requirements are voters who cast absentee ballots by mail, fax or email, voters with religious objections to being photographed, any registered voter who resides at a state-licensed care facility and who votes in person at a polling place located in that state-licensed care facility. Over half of the state’s voting population is already using voting machines that generate voter-verifiable paper ballots, not just an electronic vote, and are not capable of connecting to the internet. By 2024, all the Mississippi counties will be using them. Ballots are electronically scanned, with virtually no errors occurring because poll workers and vote counters touch them. Only voters who will be out of town, working during the election, are over 65 years old, working at polls, away at college or physically unable to go to a polling place can cast absentee ballots. Most state voters cast absentee ballots in person, but those who are temporarily away from their homes (for work or school), overseas, in the miliary, over 65 years old or temporarily or permanently physically disabled can cast mail-absentee ballots. Email absentee voting is also an option for persons who are in the military or overseas. Only about ten per cent of absentee ballots are cast by mail, fax or email. There is no early voting in Mississippi. State and local officials, by and large, do not oppose it, but logistical and staffing requirements associated with early voting have made it impractical. Mississippi requires three poll workers at all its voting places. A state system notifies counties when voters need to be removed from rolls because of deaths, and local election commissioners continue to be responsible for voter roll maintenance. Bairfield noted voter registration is open through October 10 at the Lincoln County Circuit Clerk’s office or online at www.sos.ms.gov/voter-id/register. Absentee voting has begun and will continue until the election in November, he said.

Dr. Michael Anthony Henderson of Williamston, Michigan, originally of Brookhaven, is Co-Lin’s 2022 Alumnus of the Year. Henderson is a 1978 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was elected by his peers to the college’s Hall of Fame. He was also chosen as campus favorite and served on the Student Government Association. He was selected for Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges and served as co-chair of the President’s Council, charter president of Alpha Omega, secretary of the Men’s Resident Council and photographer for the Wolf Tales and the Trillium. He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the marching band, concert orchestra, jazz band, and the Christian Fellowship Club. He credits his time at Co-Lin as critical in preparing him to enter medical school at Michigan State University. One of his most influential instructors was Dr. Phyllis Lanier, an outstanding chemistry professor who challenged and inspired countless numbers of students to reach their potential. After Co-Lin, Henderson attended the Millsaps College, where he received a Bachelor of Science in general chemistry. He taught Latin for one year in the Brookhaven School District before attending Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internship with Detroit Osteopathic Hospital before entering its residency program in 1987. He then went on to complete a fellowship in medical imaging at Michigan State University’s Department of Radiology. Most of his career has been practicing in small community hospitals, a choice Henderson made because people within those communities have often been overlooked. Henderson says it is important to have someone present that can recognize a need to refer that patient to a tertiary care facility in a timely manner. He is a fellow of the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, serving as a member of the board of directors, as section leader for the Gastrointestinal Section, and as a member of the Radiology Case of the Week committee. He has also previously served as a member of the membership committee. Additionally, he is board certified by the National Board of Osteopathic Medicine. Henderson also serves on the board of directors at Peckham, Inc., and is a past board member for the Capital Area Humane Society. He continues to be involved with Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he is the co-chair of Strategic Enrollment Planning for Diversity, a member of the admissions interview team, and a clinical associate professor in radiology. His professional memberships include the American Osteopathic College of Radiology, the American College of Radiology, the American Osteopathic Association, The Radiological Society of North America, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Mid-Michigan Radiology Society and the Gifted and Talented Advisory Board of Ingham County (emeritus). He and his wife, Susan, have two children, David Rastall and Thomas Rastall.

The Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts is seeking bilingual speakers to interpret courtroom proceedings. An Ethics and Skill Building Seminar will be held Nov. 2-4 at the Gartin Justice Building, 450 High Street in Jackson. The registration deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. The registration form is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/aoc/courtinterpreter/forms/2022Registration%20Form.pdf. The $125 registration fee includes the seminar, snacks on Wednesday afternoon and a box lunch on Thursday and Friday. The seminar will introduce bilingual speakers to requirements for court interpreting. Participation in a court interpreter orientation seminar is the first step in the program which will train, test and certify individuals who wish to serve as interpreters in Mississippi courtrooms. Candidates to become interpreters must already be fluent in English and a second language, and must develop an understanding of court proceedings. The seminar will provide an introduction to court proceedings. The program will introduce participants to the role of the court foreign language interpreter, ethical requirements, modes of interpretation and credentialing requirements. Participants should arrive by noon on Wednesday, Nov. 2 to sign in. The Nov. 2 presentation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Class on Thursday, Nov. 3 will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Friday, Nov. 4 class will be from 9 a.m. to noon. AOC will administer the written exam for interested participants on Friday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. Additional fees are required. Participants may wait to take the exam. The AOC developed the Mississippi Court Interpreter Credentialing Program to assist state courts in their endeavors to provide equal access to justice for people of limited English proficiency (LEP). AOC provides all state courts with a roster of foreign language interpreters who have demonstrated proficiency in interpretation of court proceedings. Deenie Miller, who joined AOC in July, is AOC’s first full-time Language Access Coordinator. She is in charge of educating judges, court staff and attorneys about requirements for providing court interpreters for people of limited English proficiency as well as recruiting, training and certifying language interpreters. Miller said, “When a person of limited English proficiency is involved in a legal proceeding, it is imperative that they be provided a qualified court interpreter. A court interpreter is not only for an LEP to understand the proceedings, but also so a judge can effectively administer justice.” Data from the National Center for Immigration Studies shows that from 1980 to 2018, the population of people who speak a language other than English at home grew by 140 percent in Mississippi. Miller said that 3.8 percent of Mississippi’s population is people of limited English proficiency. For more information, please contact Deenie Miller at 601-359-4469 or deenie.miller@courts.ms.gov.

As the leaves begin to change color and we enjoy the many traditions of autumn, it can be easy to overlook the fact that winter is right around the corner. Atmos Energy reminds natural gas customers that now is the time to prepare for cold weather by performing household safety checks and implementing energy-saving measures, so you can stay warm while managing your winter heating bills. If you need natural gas service reconnected, contact us now to schedule an appointment before cold weather arrives. Atmos Energy is available at 888.286.6700 – Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time – or visit us online at www.atmosenergy.com During the appointment, you may choose to have an Atmos Energy technician enter your home or business to relight gas appliances that are accessible and are in a safe working condition. However, this is not a substitute for routine or manufacturer-recommended safety inspections and maintenance of your appliances and gas piping. Your gas piping and appliances are your responsibility and should be inspected periodically. A responsible adult 18 or older must be present during the appointment. Now is also a great opportunity to perform routine household safety checks like inspecting your home’s natural gas piping and appliances and ensuring smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are in working condition. Maintain Your Natural Gas Lines Customers are responsible for the maintenance and service of natural gas appliances and natural gas lines from the meter into their homes in all states we serve, except in Kansas. Customer-owned natural gas lines include all piping that goes from your natural gas meter to the appliances on your property. This also includes a pool or spa heater, barbeque, or other natural gas appliances. Monitor for Carbon Monoxide Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas emitted when fuel is burned in cars, trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, natural gas ranges, or furnaces, and it can be poisonous to humans if it builds up indoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends replacing your CO detector every five years and installing a battery-operated or battery backup CO detector in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home. The CDC also advises buying a detector with a digital readout to best detect the highest level of carbon monoxide concentration. This winter, as energy prices are elevated across the board, financial assistance is available to help customers manage costs: Budget Billing is a great tool to help manage your budget because your natural gas bill will be more predictable every month. In the winter, your bill can rise unexpectedly as the weather gets colder. However, with Budget Billing your costs are spread more evenly throughout the year, so you are not surprised by high winter bills. Visit www.atmosenergy.com/budgetbilling to learn more. Installment plans are available that spread out payments of your balance over time – with no charges or fees to do so. Call 888.286.6700 or visit www.atmosenergy.com/AccountCenter to establish a plan that meets your needs. We also offer an online tool that compares your current bill with a previous bill so you can better understand how the weather, billing days, and charges impact your bill. Log in to the Account Center and select “Billing and Usage” to use the bill comparison tool. If you need help paying your natural gas bill, financial assistance is available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program as well as Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth funds through local assistance agencies. Visit atmosenergy.com/assistance to find an energy assistance agency near you. Colder weather directly impacts the amount of natural gas that is consumed and your monthly bill. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes can make a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Plus, you will lower your home's carbon emissions when you use less energy. Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. Water heating accounts for as much as 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. Change or clean your heating and air conditioning unit filter regularly and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Your equipment will use less energy if it ‘breathes’ more easily. Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that are not in use. Reduce your shower and bath time. Showering and bathing can account for 40 percent of your home's hot water use. Operate your clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when fully loaded. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Leaving the damper open is like keeping a window wide open – warm air goes right up the chimney! If you have a pool, do not use the pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing. Atmos Energy offers rebates for high-efficiency natural gas appliances, energy-saving devices, and weatherization upgrades for customers in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Texas. Visit www.atmosenergy.com/rebates for details. For home safety tips and to learn more about customer-owned natural gas piping, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/home-safety, and for more energy-saving tips visit www.atmosenergy.com/energytips.