Mississippi State Fire Marshal's Office K9’s Ralph and Ringo will receive bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Ralph and Ringo’s vests are sponsored by Leah Beale of Oklahoma City, OK and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Leah A. Beale”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 4,789 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations. The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

The Town is moving forward with negotiations to take over historic Wesson Cemetery. If the parties reach an agreement, Wesson Cemetery Association will dissolve and transfer the cemetery property and its funds to the Town. While the negotiations proceed, Wesson Alderman have tabled consideration of the installation of a new gate at the cemetery entrance on Eighth Street by American Iron Works for a total cost of $3,900 of which the Town would pay half under current arrangements with the Cemetery Association.

Co-Lin has inducted five members into the Sports Hall of Fame -- Chris Caughman of Mendenhall, Latoria Holder of Pensacola, Florida, formerly of Lumberton, the late Tim Johnson of Monticello, Matt Mooney of Phoenix, Arizona, formerly of Brookhaven, and Chandler Rogers of Virginia Beach, Virginia, formerly of Brookhaven. Caughman is a 1987 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the basketball team. While at Co-Lin, he and his team won the 1986 Region 23 Championship and went on to compete for a national championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. During his sophomore year, he was a co-captain and starter. The 1986-1987 team was ranked in the top 20 in the nation for most of the year. Caughman received the John Beard Award for Scholastics & Leadership in 1987 and was the leading three-point shooter on the team that year. After Co-Lin, he continued his basketball career at Belhaven College, where he was best defensive player in 1988 and was named to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team, the All-Region 30 team, and was best offensive player in 1989. He led the team in scoring with an average of 15.6 points per game and holds the second highest single season three-point shooting record of all time at Belhaven. He received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1989 from Belhaven. Caughman continued his education at graduate schools of banking at the University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Southern Methodist University, and the Southeast School of Commercial Lending at Vanderbilt University. He started his career as a basketball coach and teacher working at Hillcrest Christian School, East Rankin Academy and Simpson County Academy. He currently works as senior vice president of Peoples Bank and has served as a Mississippi state senator for District 35 since 2016, where he spent the last three years as chairman on the banking committee. He is president of Simpson County Youth Leadership. He is a past president of Simpson County Ducks Unlimited, Magee Lion’s Club, Simpson County Academy, Mendenhall Area Chamber of Commerce and the Simpson County Economic Foundation. He is also a past board member of the Magee Chamber of Commerce and the Co-Lin Foundation. He was named Co-Lin Alumnus of the Year in 2019. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children Cade, Abby and Bryce. Holder is 2010 graduate of Co-Lin, where she was a member of the ladies basketball team. While at Co-Lin, she was nationally ranked both years. She averaged 13.2 points with 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game during her freshman year. In her sophomore year, she averaged 17.3 points with 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. In both years, she was named to the NJCAA All-Region XXIII Team and the MACJC All-State First Team. During the 2008-2009 school year, her team had a record of 26-4 and won the MACJC South Division Championship. They were runners-up at the MACJC State Tournament and at the NJCAA Region XXIII Tournament. During the 2009-2010 school year, her team had a record of 31-2 and won the MACJC South Division Championship and Region XXIII Championship. They were runner-up in the MACJC State Tournament and won seventh place in the NJCAA National Tournament. After Co-Lin, Holder went on to play basketball for Southeastern Louisiana University. She graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and a minor in athletic coaching. She played semi-professional basketball for five years. During the 2013-2014 season, she worked as an assistant coach for the Terry High School women varsity basketball team and as head coach for the women junior varsity basketball team. During that year, the team won district and south state. She currently lives in Pensacola, Florida, where she works for the United States Postal Service. Johnson was a 1982 graduate of Co-Lin, where he played tennis and football. While at Co-Lin, he won a state tennis title in men’s doubles twice and was a runner-up in regionals. After Co-Lin, he played USTA league tennis for many years and won several district championships and two state championship titles in men’s 4.0 tennis. He worked as a manager at Wal-Mart Distribution and then Georgia Pacific for 21 years. Johnson was a member of Bethel Baptist Church. He and his wife, Melissa, had two children -- Jessica Darlene Johnson Channell and Timothy Crawford Johnson; and three grandchildren -- Fisher Gage Channell, Asher James Channell and Beau Crawford Johnson. Johnson died on February 12, 2021. Mooney is a 2002 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the golf team. While at Co-Lin he placed second in the 2002 NJCAA DIII National Tournament, and he was named First Team All American after posting the second lowest score at the national tournament. He was a medalist in the 2002 Hinds Community College Spring Invitational, and he was named to the MACJC All-Tournament Team in 2001. He was president of the Baptist Student Union and Phi Theta Kappa, where he was named Distinguished Academic All-American. He was elected Mr. Co-Lin and to the Co-Lin Hall of Fame. After Co-Lin, he attended Mississippi State University (MSU), where he continued his golf career with the Bulldogs. He served on the SEC Student Athlete Advisory Council and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He graduated from MSU with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. Mooney currently is the senior vice president and director of investments and operations at Parkway Properties in Phoenix, Arizona, where he is responsible for the oversight of operations in the Western U.S. and pursues new investment and development opportunities across the Sunbelt and Mountain West. He also serves as director for the Catch-A-Dream Foundation and is involved with the Urban Land Institute and Phoenix Thunderbirds. He and his wife, Anna, have three children -- Connor, 12, Kathryn, 10, and Cullen, 7. Rogers is a 2012 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the football team. While at Co-Lin, he was a two-year starting quarterback and led his team to the 2012 State Championship. During his time at Co-Lin, he had 320 completions for 4,254 yards and a 60 percent completion rate with 37 touchdowns. He was named to the All State and All Region teams. After Co-Lin, he played football at Arkansas State and graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He currently serves in the U.S. Navy. He and his fiancé, Hanna Qedan plan to marry in October.

By Guest Columnist Anna Coates Copiah County District Attorney Daniela Shorter and Assistant District Attorney Pat Beasley discussed the “Castle Doctrine” at Sheriff Byron Swilley’s quarterly meeting with citizens last month at the Gallman Safe Room. The Sheriff’s meetings provide an opportunity for him to hear citizen concerns and share information. In September, he brought the ADAs. The “Castle Doctrine” holds that persons are legally defending their homes and property against trespassers even if they use deadly force, but ADAs Beasley and Shorter made clear that it is not law and there is no guarantee that a defendant claiming justifiable homicide is not guilty of murder. “You may post your property with ‘no trespassing’ signage, but that does not give you a right to use a weapon to kill trespassers on your property,” ADA Beasley said. ADA Shorter added: “The guidelines are extremely strict in determining whether homicide is justified.” Three questions, they said, apply to the presence and actions of persons claiming justifiable homicide under the “Castle Doctrine” in defending a home, vehicle or business: Do they have a right to be in the place where an incident has happened? Have they caused a violent confrontation as the aggressor or immediate provoker? Are they engaged in unlawful activity in their homes, vehicles or businesses? ADA Beasley summarized: “It is important to realize the consequences of ending someone’s life. Are you yourself in mortal danger, in fear of your life? Or are you mad about theft or damage to your property? Ending a life means you will be arrested and charged, and your case will go to the grand jury. You do not automatically get a pass because you and others feel that you had reasonable cause for your action. The members of the grand jury will consider the evidence and apply the law. Were you reasonably in fear of death, or not? The power to indict or dismiss is solely in the hands of the grand jury after considering the case as presented by the prosecution and the defense.” Attendees raised “what if” questions, but left with a clearer understanding of the “Castle Doctrine.” Sheriff Swilley thanked Shorter and Beasley for their presentation, and reminded the audience to refer to the Copiah County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for breaking news and information. EDITOR’S NOTE: Anna Coates covers Copiah County for Wesson News.

By Kara Kimbrough Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it." Last week, this somewhat-flippant saying came to mind on a couple of occasions. A trip to the Gulf Coast’s mammoth eight-day event, “Cruisin’ the Coast,” and the discovery of innovative recipes courtesy of…don’t judge…TikTok, opened my mind and broadened my horizons to new experiences I’d previously overlooked. First, as much as I love visiting our amazing Gulf Coast, I've pointedly steered clear during the annual extravaganza highlighted by cars and trucks from a bygone era. I’ve never been a car aficionado, as evidenced by the fact that I drive vehicles until the wheels fall off. But a chance to check out a new restaurant (review will be forthcoming) in an historic hotel happened to coincide with Cruisin’. So I headed down, all the while reminding myself to “avoid the old cars” and “stay out of traffic.” Both goals were dashed pretty soon upon arrival. I realized there was no way to steer clear of increased traffic or the more politically-correct term, vintage vehicles. Close to 10,000 cars and trucks of a bygone era were registered in this year’s event. But surprisingly enough, as I zoomed along U.S. 90, I thoroughly enjoyed cruising side by side a fire engine red truck, flashy silver Corvette and a flawlessly restored Model T with a melodic horn. According to event organizers, cruisers from 44 states, Canada and England convened on the Coast to show off their restored vehicles, many worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Most impressive to me (besides the fire engine red truck) were the crowds of friendly and yes, very happy, people gathered in parking lots in every city and town along the Coast. Blue skies, sunshine and balmy breezes enhanced the good-time feeling and camaraderie that flowed between vehicle owners, locals and tourists who’d gathered for no other reason than to admire beautiful vehicles made in every decade since the early 1900's. To say this event has a monumental economic impact on the Coast – and the entire state as well, as Cruisers cross Mississippi from all directions on their way to the Coast – wouldn’t be an exaggeration. After returning from my Cruisin’ adventure, a friend told me about a TikTok recipe I HAD to try. I have a TikTok account, but rarely access it. TikTok has received negative publicity for unsavory content, but there are ways to filter out the “bad stuff.” I have my account set to only allow videos from certain categories (cooking, food, decorating and DIY, to name a few) to appear on my page. Searching for “most popular TikTok recipes” unearthed a wealth of interesting, creative and delicious-looking recipe videos I immediately “pinned,” or saved for a later date. Baked spaghetti - the video/recipe mentioned by my friend – is a glorious combination of melted butter, heavy cream, marinara sauce, ground beef, cheese and pasta. The end result is a mouth-watering dish filled with some of my favorite things. If you’d like the complete recipe, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. The Italian grinder salad sandwich, a “viral” sensation on the internet, was pinned as my #1 video to watch. It’s the perfect combination of salad/sandwich for tailgate parties at football games, for watching football at home or served to a hungry crowd at your dinner table. After making it, I can attest that it’s undeniably delicious and can feed the multitudes. Even better, it proved that TikTok, like Cruisin’ on the Coast, has more than a few redeeming qualities. TikTok Italian Grinder Salad Sandwich Salad ingredients: ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup Italian dressing ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ⅓ cup Pepperoncini peppers ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese 3-4 cups Iceberg lettuce, shredded. Sandwich ingredients: 1 large loaf crusty Italian bread 4 ounces sliced Pepper Jack cheese 4 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese ¼ pound of salami ¼ pound of ham, thinly sliced ¼ pound sliced pepperoni ¼ pound honey roasted turkey breast, thinly sliced 1 medium tomato ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, thinly shaved 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced into rings (optional) Salad Assembly: In a large bowl add the dressing ingredients - everything except lettuce. Stir until combined. Next, add the shredded iceberg lettuce and using tongs, toss until the salad is thoroughly coated with dressing. Refrigerate until later use. Sandwich Assembly: While salad marinates, prep the sandwich by preheating oven or air fryer to 425 degrees. Slice the bread lengthwise and open sides to lay flat. On one side, layer pepper jack cheese and top with slices of salami, ham and pepperoni. On the other half, add sliced turkey and top with mozzarella cheese. Toast for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and bread is toasted. Remove from heat and add sliced tomato on top of the baked deli meats and cheeses; season tomatoes with a little salt and pepper Top the seasoned tomatoes with the salad, grated parmesan and onions, if using. Last, fold the top of the bread over the grinder sandwich and press down to meld all ingredients. If taking to an event, wrap well in wax paper and keep cool until serving. Note: ingredients can be adjusted “up or down” to your taste. And, add other favorite ingredients if you'd like. Everything “works” in this versatile salad/sandwich! Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Growing up in a large family, with very little income, usually doesn’t create a kid who is spoiled by having all the finer things in life. In fact, sometimes it can mean that a child lives without having some of the physical essentials of living – food, water and shelter. Growing up in poverty certainly creates a distinct outlook on life. An adult who lived that way as a child doesn’t take having those essentials for granted. He will work to provide them for himself (unless that adult simply decides “I can’t provide for myself, therefore I won’t really try.”) But that point is not the focus today. Today it’s the opposite - the kid who is indulged with everything he could possibly want. And there are several negative sides to that. Self-centeredness, difficulty accepting they must work, instant self-gratification issues, dissatisfaction with what they have, and lack of empathy for those with less, are some real possibilities. Being a parent who loved my children, I too am acquainted with the temptation to indulge their every whim. After all, the love of your own child makes you want to give them the moon when you can. Your resolve to not give in to their pleas can melt away like milk chocolate left in the sun in July. Oh yes, you really do want your child to eventually become a responsible, others-focused, successful adult. But as you stare into hopeful young eyes as they eagerly beg for so-and-so, somehow your determination to give them only what they need as a child - and not just want - fades into the horizon of “But they want this so badly!” But being a good parent doesn’t just mean loving them, providing the essentials in life, and being there when they need you. It also means saying “No” sometimes. Making yourself look beyond what they are wanting - and you’re wanting to give - and seeing if you are creating a responsible adult later on. Fun stuff? Nope, not really. We parents like to indulge our kids. And denying them all the best toys and experiences really isn’t that enjoyable. Kids are good at pouting, getting mad, and accusing us of abusing them when we withhold unnecessary things. After all, they are just kids, and bad-mouthing seems to be a part of being immature. But we are the adults, we don’t have the luxury of making bad choices and pampering every whim. On the contrary, we hold the responsibility of teaching them to become functioning adults in a few years. And that means letting them learn how to deal with “No. For your own good, my love.” Oh, yes, you will be yelled at and disliked - you can take that to the bank. But years later, you stand a lot better chance of proudly hugging a strong, independent, hard-working adult. One who looks at you with understanding and appreciation of your sacrifice long ago.

By Bob Arnold It’s almost again heaven for area sweet potato connoisseurs. The Wesson Lions Club is now making available the best sweet potatoes grown anywhere in the world to folk throughout the area. The club kicked off it annual sales of the delicious treat late last month with the arrival of a truckload of 400 boxes of Landreth Farms-produced sweet potatoes from the Vardaman area in north central Mississippi -- the "Sweet Potato Capital of the World" – at Co-Lin, where its members picked them up for their customers. For the tenth consecutive year, they offered them at bargain basement prices to raise funds for the local, state, national and global charities their club helps support. In addition to individuals, area restaurants look forward to stocking up on the quality sweet potatoes during the Lions Club's fundraising effort. The club’s goal is to fully distribute them to sweet potato lovers throughout the area by the end of the day of the Wesson Flea Market on Saturday, October 15, when they will be on sale at a Lions Club vendors tent at the annual event. Along with regular sweet potatoes, a few boxes jumbos may also be available this year. Defying current inflationary pressures, the prices will be at the same level they’ve been for 10 years -- $20 per box, or 50 cents per pound. Landreth Farms officials say it's the loamy soil – along with timely early rains – in the Vardaman area that make their potato crops sweet and special. Landreth plants sweet potatoes on 750 acres, among Mississippi farmers, who raise sweet potatoes on more than 18,400 acres across the state. The farm sells commercially to national food stores, such as Kroger and Wal-Mart; and canners, like Gerber; and produces a line of pre-wrapped sweet potatoes for microwave cooking. The annual sweet potato sale is among four major fundraising activities of the Wesson Lions Club. The Club also has an annual pancake breakfast, sells peanuts at Co-Lin football games and collects money on Highway 51 from motorists to support sight charities. It disburses some $10,000 every year to assist deaf and blind persons through the International Lions Club and to support local organizations and causes related to children and youth, veterans, hospice care and other community issues and concerns. For information and to order sweet potatoes, call 601-643-2466 or 501-643-2002.

There have been nine heating-related fire deaths so far in 2022, out of 52 fire deaths statewide. There were 84 fire deaths statewide in 2021. Fifteen of those were heating-related. As cooler temperatures return, you should check the safety of your heating equipment. "Many Mississippians will soon turn on central heat or plug in space heaters for the first time in months," said State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. "Remember to keep clothes, drapes, and anything else combustible at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment, especially space heaters." The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) recommends the following heating fire safety tips: All heating equipment should be UL® approved and cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional prior to being used each year. Inspect the space heater's power cord for damage, fraying or heat. If the cord inspection reveals any of these issues, the heater should be replaced. Proper cleaning is essential and should be done regularly. Never use space heaters while you sleep or in areas where children may be without adult supervision. Do not leave space heaters on when you are away from home. Always unplug space heaters when they are not in use. The heater should also be equipped with a tip over shut-off switch. Never use a stove or oven to heat living spaces. Kerosene is a poor choice for heating as it will give off poisonous fumes. Have chimney flues cleaned and inspected by qualified personnel. Have a spark screen that is age appropriate for all individuals if using a fireplace. Burn only approved materials in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace or wood burning stove. Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. Should a fire break out in the home, have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow and have a designated meeting place for all family members. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and don't go back inside the home under any circumstances.

In support of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 17-21, 2022, the Mississippi Department of Education is sharing information from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind drivers about the importance of school bus safety. In every state, it is illegal to pass a school bus while the school bus stop-arm is extended, and the red lights are flashing. Although the school bus is one of the safest modes of transportation, illegal school bus passing is a deadly risk to bus riders and their caretakers. Drivers should always come to a complete stop when a school bus stop-arm is extended, and the red lights are flashing. Statistically, school buses are the safest way to transport school children. Yet more injuries and fatalities occur outside of or near a school bus because a motorist has failed to obey the stop-arm warning or to follow local traffic laws. From 2011 and 2020, there were 1.6 times more fatalities among pedestrians (183) than occupants of school buses (113) in school-bus-related crashes. A total of 218 school-age children (18 and younger) died in school-bus-related crashes during that period, either as occupants of school buses or other vehicles, or on foot or bike. Of the 218 deaths, 85 were children who were walking. The school bus loading and unloading area is called the "Danger Zone." Specifically, this is any side of the bus where a child may not be seen by the bus driver and, therefore, is in the most danger. These areas include: 10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver may be sitting too high to see a child 10 feet on either side of the bus, where a child may be in the driver's blind spots Behind the school bus Everyone should work together to keep children safe as they wait to ride the bus to and from school. Slow down and obey the signs. For more information about school bus stop safety, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety#the-topic-bus-stop-safety. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

More than 4,800 homes and businesses, including those in Copiah and Lawrence Counties, will gain access to fast fiber internet through a project that will be implemented by TEC, a leading rural broadband internet provider An estimated 570 miles of fiber infrastructure is slated for construction and will connect more than 10,000 people. The project, which also encompasses Newton and Simpson Counties, will be made possible through an estimated $29 million investment by TEC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Program. TEC’s goal is to provide rural communities with a reliable, high-quality, affordable broadband solution. More than ever, high-speed broadband service is essential for home employment, online education, telemedicine, and modern entertainment. In addition, expanded access to Fast Fiber Internet from TEC will change the economic landscape for area businesses, advancing efficient production of goods and services in the four counties that will benefit. "TEC has been dedicated to fostering connection among rural communities for nearly a century," says Lisa Wigington, VP of Strategic Operations. "Technology has certainly changed over that time, but we remain driven to improve our customers' lives through connection. This project is an important part of that commitment." The project will connect residential and business customers to Fast Fiber Internet, providing symmetrical Gigabit speeds and home phone services to communities. One Gig internet connections give the best online experience for streamers, gamers, social media users, and families with multiple users. Those interested in signing up for service should go to www.TEC.com/SignUp to complete a short form. TEC provides economic stability to its local service areas, employing more than 200 people across Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. TEC has invested in, and currently maintains, approximately 1,800 miles of fiber in its rural markets. For nearly a century, TEC has been a forerunner in providing telecommunications services to rural America and was the first company to bring internet options to many rural markets more than 20 years ago. For more information, visit www.TEC.com or social media @TECconnects.

Governor Tate Reeves has declared October 17-22, 2022, Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi. “When it comes to a severe storm, preparation could be the difference between life and death,” said Governor Tate Reeves. I encourage you to dedicate time this week to learn how to better prepare your family in order to keep them safe.” Seventy-six tornadoes touched down in Mississippi in 2021. Mississippi usually sees significant storms during this secondary severe weather season from November through December. In February of 2021, snow and ice hit Mississippi in a way seldom seen, closing down its capital city of Jackson, causing a city-wide boil-water alert, and causing multiple power outages. “Mississippi can see multiple types of extreme weather during the fall and winter months. We urge residents to prepare for the upcoming secondary severe weather season. Prepare by checking insurance policies, building a disaster supply kit, and reviewing emergency plans with your family,” says MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. To promote severe weather preparedness, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is partnering with the National Weather Service and the Mississippi Department of Transportation to highlight different types of hazards and ways to prepare ahead of the upcoming secondary severe weather season. Here is the list of this year’s featured topics: Monday, October 17 Warning Reception Methods Tuesday, October 18 Severe Thunderstorms Wednesday, October 19 Tornado Safety – A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:15 AM weather pending Thursday, October 20 Flash Flooding Friday, October 21 Snow and Ice Saturday, October 22 Mobile Home Safety Each day of the week, MEMA will share messaging on these topics on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Your National Weather Service offices will also share additional severe weather information. Four National Weather Service offices cover Mississippi: Jackson, Memphis, New Orleans, and Mobile. A copy of the Governor's proclamation can be found here. More severe weather preparedness tips can be found on our website: www.msema.org.

By Guest Columnist Gary R. Bachman As we move further into the fall season, I wonder if there is a more fitting and fun fruit than a pumpkin? Pumpkins have become a major part of any autumnal or Halloween decoration. And who can resist a fresh pumpkin pie? I know I can’t! The standard pumpkin color for fall decorating has always been brilliant orange. But why limit yourself to just orange? Pumpkin colors include bright and bold red, yellow, white, blue and multicolored stripes. I’m even seeing bright-yellow pumpkins this year. They can be miniature, flattened, necked, smooth, winged and warty. More and more independent garden centers are offering a wide array of decorative pumpkins (and gourds) for autumnal displays. You know about aesthetic qualities of pumpkins, but do you know: While there are more than 150 different pumpkin species grown around the world, there primarily are only four species grown for autumn display. First are Cucurbita moschata pumpkins, which generally weigh 5 to 10 pounds and are often grown for processing. The Cucurbita mixta species shows tolerance for growing in the Southeast, which is good news for growers and pie bakers in Mississippi. Cucurbita pepo pumpkins are used for carving scary faces and decorating. This species also includes summer squash and zucchini. Have you ever thought of carving that huge zucchini that didn’t get picked in time? Last is Cucurbita maxima, which includes pumpkins grown for size like the ones entered in giant pumpkin contests. The top six pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and California, each of which have at least 90,000 acres in production, according to the Ag Marketing Resource Center. There are many small, specialty pumpkin growers in most states. Illinois grows more than 95% of the nation’s processing pumpkins. Processing pumpkins are tough and aren’t picked by hand. Most growers use mechanical harvesters resembling bulldozers that quickly move through the production fields pushing the pumpkins. In Morton, Illinois, the self-proclaimed Pumpkin Capital of the World, there is an event called Pumpkin Chuckin’, where various catapults and cannons shoot 10-pound pumpkins for distance. To me, most amazing was the Aludium Q36 Pumpkin Modulator air cannon that can shoot a pumpkin up to a mile. Canned pumpkin is an essential ingredient for making any pumpkin pastry, including pumpkin pie. But unless the can says 100% pumpkin, it’s likely a mixture of various pumpkin-like squash that have shorter fibers than many pumpkins, resulting in a smoother product. A Bachman family favorite are homemade, roasted pumpkin seeds. After carving your scary jack-o-lantern, save and thoroughly wash away the stringy tissue from the seeds. It doesn’t matter the type of pumpkin you use, as the seeds of all pumpkins are edible. Toss the cleaned seeds with melted real butter -- this recipe does not work with any make-believe butter substitutes -- sprinkle with sea salt and bake at 300 degrees. Keep a close watch until the seeds are slightly toasty in color. It will be hard to do this, but let the seeds cool before you enjoy them. EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also the host of the popular Southern Gardening television and radio programs.