By Guest Columnist Bonnie Coblentz Using digital resources to buy products from individuals can be as easy as making online purchases from major sellers, but consumers need to ensure financial security. In combination with online marketplaces, Mississippians, increasingly, exchange money electronically peer-to-peer -- or "P2P." “Peer-to-peer apps like Venmo, Cash App and Zelle are meant to transfer money between people who trust each other,” says Becky Smith, director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service Center of Economic Education and Financial Literacy. “They are not meant to buy or sell goods and services from strangers. Once the payment is made, the money is gone.” Some of the apps require users to link a bank account or credit or debit card. Others simply require users to create an account, and users do not have to link the account to an existing financial instrument. Smith says that in 2021, more than four out of five U.S. consumers used some form of digital payment rather than cash or checks. “It is projected that contactless payments will continue to increase in popularity as more merchants adopt the technology and consumers become more educated about their safety,” she adds. “Because most mobile payments are tied to bank accounts or paid with credit cards or prepaid cards, these transactions rely on the same underlying financial system infrastructure and offer the same consumer protections as traditional credit cards and debit cards,” she explains. “Protections against unauthorized usage now also exist for funds stored directly on a mobile app or wallet or peer-to-peer app.” Mobile payments have significant safety features built into them, including such things as tokenization, encryption and biometric identification. Tokenization means a token or code is assigned to each transaction, rather than a card number. Bio-identification includes facial recognition software that is standard of many mobile devices. You still need to watch out for scammers and thieves, however. “A scam becoming popular is when strangers agree to a sale via a P2P app, and the seller hands over the item being sold once the funds are electronically transferred,” Smith says. “Later, the financial app recognizes it was a commercial transaction and voids it for violating the app’s use policy. The seller has already given away the item, but the buyer cannot be found." At the same time, the old axiom “caveat emptor” -- buyer beware -- also applies as much as ever today as ever. “See if the seller has reviews and make sure there are no complaint or scam alerts associated with that person or online business,” Smith advises. “Check to see if the seller has an actual physical address and a correct phone number, and determine shipping information before you buy. Avoid individuals and businesses that only accept gift cards, cryptocurrency or money transfers through a third party.” Security concerns aside, another danger of digital transactions is the ease of spending money. It can lead to spending more than is wise. “Being able to hold cash connects us to it more than going cashless, so consumers tend to spend less when the money is in their hand,” Smith points out. “No matter how you spend the money, keep track of your expenditures and keep them in check.” MSU Extension has a variety of publications on financial matters, including P1738, “Steps to Successful Money Management,” available at http://extension.msstate.edu/publications. EDITOR'S NOTE: Bonnie Coblentz writes for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Op-ed by Dr. Rick Gilbrech, Director, NASA's Stennis Space Center On Aug. 29, over 100,000 visitors are expected to dot Florida’s Space Coast to watch the maiden launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I mission. The flight is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions, providing a foundation for human deep space exploration and demonstrating NASA’s commitment and capability to extending human presence to the Moon and eventually Mars. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, establish long-term lunar science and exploration capabilities, and inspire the next generation of explorers – the Artemis Generation. As the public views this historic launch in-person and via livestreams around the world, all of Mississippi can be proud of the frontline work conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center to help make the moment possible. Each one of the four RS-25 engines that will help launch Artemis I was fired and proven flightworthy on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis. The center also tested the engines in unison during the full-duration, 500-second Green Run test of the Artemis I SLS core stage. For Green Run, Stennis installed the 212-foot-tall core stage on the historic B-2 Test Stand and conducted a series of tests of its integrated systems. The Green Run campaign culminated with a hot fire of the stage and its four RS-25 engines – just as during an actual launch – in March 2021. It represented the most powerful test conducted at Stennis in more than 50 years and demonstrated to all that SLS and Artemis I were ready to fly. It also continued Stennis’ historic support in helping to power this nation’s human space exploration efforts. The center tested Saturn V stages that carried humans to the Moon during the Apollo Program. It also tested every main engine that powered 135 missions during the Space Shuttle Program. As Stennis director, I feel blessed to lead such a talented and dedicated team. I am extremely proud of our workforce and the center’s continuing role in this new chapter of space exploration, which truly has been a national effort. In fact, Artemis I features contributions from all 50 states across America and will bring along commercial and international partners as it inspires the next generation of explorers. At Stennis alone, more than 120 companies, large and small, in 28 states, including the District of Columbia, contributed to our Green Run testing of the Artemis I core stage in some way. The mission also marks an exciting return of a spacecraft built for humans – the Orion spacecraft – to the Moon as we check out systems without crew before astronauts fly on Artemis II. This is a critical first step in NASA’s journey to return astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color, to the Moon’s surface and to establish a sustainable lunar presence as we prepare for crewed missions to Mars. At Stennis, we enjoy witnessing the “shake, rattle, and roar” of rocket engine tests. We also eagerly anticipate the upcoming roar of the fully integrated SLS, the most powerful rocket in the world and the only rocket capable of sending humans into deep space. With Artemis I and subsequent missions, we will do what has never been done before and ensure the U.S. maintains its leadership in exploration. I began my journey with NASA when Neil Armstrong put the first human footprints on the Moon in 1969 and have been hooked ever since. Since that day when I was all of seven years old, I have dreamed of experiencing another Moon landing during my NASA career. No longer is a return to the Moon a distant dream. That moment is now. The Artemis Generation has arrived. To watch the Artemis I launch, visit: Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) - YouTube For information about NASA Stennis Space Center, visit: www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/

Mississippi’s top college football player will be announced during the C Spire Conerly Trophy Presentation in Jackson, Mississippi following the conclusion of the regular football season. While a full season of surprises awaits Magnolia State football fans, the Preseason Watch List for the 2022 C Spire Conerly Trophy features a few familiar names. Last year’s winner, Ole Miss Quarterback Matt Corral, has gone on to the NFL, but five of the 2021 nominees return to their respective schools for another year of action and a shot at winning the coveted prize. The prestigious C Spire Conerly Trophy is awarded to the top college football player in the state at the end of the regular football season . C Spire has been the presenting title sponsor of the C Spire Conerly Trophy since its inception in 1996 and is proud to continue to recognize the outstanding college football student athletes in Mississippi. Previous winners of the C Spire Conerly Trophy have gone on to successful NFL careers including Eli Manning, Jerious Norwood, Dak Prescott, and Evan Engram. Two former recipients, Deuce McAllister and Patrick Willis, have been enshrined in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. The following is a list of standout players from each football-playing university or college in the state to keep an eye on this season: Alcorn State University: Coach Fred McNair hopes to return to SWAC domination this year and will depend in part on CJ Bolar (WR), Claudin Cherelus (LB), and Niko Duffey (RB). Belhaven University: Kolbe Blunt (RB), Connor Fordham (LB), and Kendrioun Boatman (OL) are expected to play a major role for Blazer’s Head Coach Blaine McCorkle this season. Delta State University: The Statesmen will be led into the season with Cole Kirk (QB) at the helm of the offense. On the defensive side of the ball, Tim Williams (DE) is expected to be a top producer for Coach Todd Cooley. Jackson State University: Sophomore Shedeur Sanders (QB) will return to lead the Tiger offense after a record-setting freshman year earned him a spot as a 2021 C Spire Conerly finalist. He will be joined by two-way player Travis Hunter (WR/CB), the top-rated high school player in the nation last season. Millsaps College: Coach Issac Carter’s team returns Moïse Tezzo (WR), last year’s nominee from Millsaps. Tezzo, a senior out of Texas, also returns kicks for the Majors. Mississippi College: The Choctaws are expected to have a healthy ball carrier in Cole Fagan (RB), a senior transfer from the Air Force Academy. Blane Cannon (OL) will be opening holes for Fagan; and Nick Walker (DB), a transfer from Illinois, is expected to be a top defender. Mississippi State University: Will Rogers (QB) was one of the top contenders for this award last season, and head coach Mike Leach is expecting great things from his junior signal caller. Leading the “Air Raid” offense, Rogers passed for 3,722 yards and 29 touchdowns. Nathan Pickering (DT) should be an anchor on the other side of the ball for the Bulldogs. Mississippi Valley State University: Memphis native Caleb Johnson (RB) represented MVSU at the 2021 C Spire Conerly and can be found on several Preseason 1st Team Lists and Player Watch Lists for the SWAC this season. Other names to watch for this team include Ronnie Thomas (DL), Jalen Bell (DL), and Caleb Brunson (DB). University of Mississippi: The quarterback competition for the Rebels is still underway with junior Kinkead Dent joining sophomores Luke Altmyer and Jaxson Dart in the battle. Zach Evans (RB) and Jonathan Mingo (WR) are also names to watch. University of Southern Mississippi: Coach Will Hall begins his second year leading the Golden Eagles with several potential standouts including last year’s C Spire Conerly nominee Malik Shorts (DB). Other notables are Ty Keyes (QB), Frank Gore, Jr. (RB) and Tylan Knight (DB), a transfer from Ole Miss. About C Spire C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire. About The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi’s rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination for sports legends to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, live and dream. The 501(c)(3) organization recognizes excellence in athletics and contributions to sports. For more information about the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, visit msfame.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mssportshofandmuseum or Twitter at www.twitter.com/mssportshof.

Mrs. Johnson took her little boy with her when she stopped by her neighbor’s home to deliver a casserole for the grieving widow. Mr. Cline had died suddenly and the community was rallying to aid and comfort his grieving wife. Getting ready to leave after a short visit with all the neighbors gathered there, Mrs. Johnson couldn’t locate her five-year-old, Davey. She quietly began to search through all the rooms of the large home. But to no avail, that boy had completely disappeared. Mystified and a little anxious, she finally noticed a short hallway leading off the large foyer. Knowing this might be the answer to the missing Davey, she walked down the hall towards a closed double door. But as she drew closer, she heard the unmistakable sounds of quiet, desperate, feminine sobbing. Realizing this must be the private bedroom of the lonely widow, she turned to quietly retreat back to the kitchen. But then a very familiar small voice coming faintly from behind that door stopped her in her tracks. With horror she realized that her rambunctious friendly little son had disturbed the privacy of the widow, tucked away in her bedroom to grieve alone. Embarrassed at his intrusion, she turned back and eased the door open, intending to apologize profusely, grab her wayward child, and beat a quick retreat. But as she looked into the room, she saw her son sitting motionless on the edge of the bed where Mrs. Cline lay, eyes closed, sobbing her heart out. Davey was holding the limp hand of the widow as silent tears slid down his own cheeks. Her son finally looked up and spied Mom frantically motioning him to come away from the bed and out into the hallway. She walked him rapidly back to the living room, said all her goodbyes, and left. When she finally had Davey in the car, mom turned and asked what in the world possessed him to disturb Mrs. Cline in her bedroom. Davey turned sad innocent eyes up to his mom’s, and said in a very subdued voice, “I was just looking around the house to have sumpin’ to do. But when I found that door and I opened it, there was Mrs. Cline, just layin’ there crying. Everybody needs somebody to cry with when they hurt, Mom. I was just helpin’ her cry.” Out of the mouth of babes. Everyone needs someone to care when they hurt. Words aren’t always necessary, and sometimes truly unneeded. But to share their pain and grieve with them? To just be there, share a warm hug, do a chore that you know you can do for them…those acts of thoughtfulness are always welcome to a person who has lost a part of their world. Don’t be afraid to give love and care. And many times, it is best done - not just said.

The cheer squad and football, baseball and golf teams at Co-Lin have added new coaches to their staffs. Cory Boyd has joined the cheer squad as an assistant coach. Former lady Wolves basketball standout Alexus Holt has returned to the team’s coaching staff an assistant coach. Matt Gordon is joining the football coaching staff as defensive coordinator and Darius Buck will work with the team’s cornerbacks as a new assistant. Chase Stewart has joined the baseball Wolves as a pitching coach and Dejoné Lee will coach the college’s golfers. Boyd is a graduate of Co-Lin, playing football for the Wolves in the 1999-2000 before becoming a cheerleader in 2000-2001. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he was a cheerleader from 2001-2004 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Coaching and Sports Administration. He has over a decade of experience as a cheer coach, including most recently at Gym of Dreams in Brookhaven where he is the athletic director and head coach. Boyd has 150 regional and national elite competitive cheer titles to his credit as a coach as well as 12 high school state titles and a Top-15 finish at The World’s Championship Competition. Holt, a native of Epps, Louisiana, played for the Lady Wolves from 2016-2018 as a two-year starter who averaged 12.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game. At Grambling State University, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration. At Grambling, Holt was named a First Team All-SWAC performer and made the SWAC All-Tournament team while playing in all 30 games. She averaged 36.6 minutes per game and led the team in points per game at 17 while also averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 2.0 steals per game. Holt also shot nearly 41 percent from the floor and 74.2 percent from the foul line and was named to the BOXTOROW All-American Team. She was also named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-Louisiana Second Team after her final season at Grambling. Gordon comes to Co-Lin from Tyler (Texas) Junior College where he has been defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach since January 2017 after 12 years at Henderson State University with similar responsibilities. Gordon has coached 20 all-conference selections throughout his career, including three-time All-American Devon Hughes, who led the nation in passes defended for three straight seasons. He also spent the 2004 season coaching at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, as the defensive secondary coach and prior to that spent two season at Cisco (Texas) Junior College as linebackers coach, defensive line coach, and strength and conditioning coach. The Charlottesville, Virginia, native graduated from Concord University and Tarleton State where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in sports management/physical education and a Master’s Degree in physical education. He played football at Concord, was an All-Conference linebacker, recorded 16 career sacks, and received an invitation to play in the college All-Star game. He also attended Fork Union Military Academy and graduated from Western Albermarle High School where he was a first team All-Conference football and lacrosse player. Gordon and his wife Josie are the parents of three children -- Micah, 8; Jadelyn, 5; and Bo, 18 months. Buck comes to Co-Lin after spending a two-year stint at Clark Atlanta University as the defensive coordinator. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Albany State University where he coached cornerbacks and the punt return team from 2017-2019. Under his leadership, the punt return team finished third in the country in blocks in 2018, and the defense was ranked Top 15 against the pass in 2017. Buck also has experience at the University of South Alabama as a graduate assistant from 2015-2017 where he assisted with defensive backs as well as special teams. Buck started his career coaching at Jones County Junior College where he spent two years (2013-2015) coaching nickel backs and assisting with special teams. He was also part of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) staff of the year in 2013 while at Jones. He is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi and played at Murray State University. Buck graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Exercise Science in 2012, and earned his Master’s Degree in Health Education from the University of South Alabama in 2017. Lee comes to Co-Lin after finishing her playing career at Blue Mountain College this past May. She is a native of South Africa and graduated from Curro Bankenveld in Witbank, South Africa, in 2016. Lee then attended Blue Mountain from 2017-2022 earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She has experience as a golf instructor at Edwin Compton Golf Academy in Witbank and worked at the Bankenveld Golf Club. Lee is married to former Wolf Pack golfer Will Lee. Stewart comes to Co-Lin after spending the last year as an assistant coach at Petal High School where he worked primarily with pitchers, outfielders, and strength and conditioning among other duties. He spent two years at Clinton High School as the pitching coach and worked exclusively in developing a throwing program along with rehab protocols for the players. He was also assistant baseball coach and cross country head coach at Wayne County High School. A native of Laurel, Mississippi, and a 2010 graduate of West Jones where he played baseball, Stewart went to Jones County Junior College where he was a member of the 2011 National Runner-up baseball Bobcats. He finished his academic career at the University of Southern Mississippi, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2015.

By Bob Arnold Head Co-Lin Football Coach Glenn Davis has high expectation for his team for the coming season after finishing 3-6 overall and 3-3 in Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) South Division play last year. “I think that we have a good mixture of experience coming back including some third-year guys on both sides of the ball that will help us,” says Davis. “Those guys are going to be big for us in terms of experience and maturity. They’ll have now played in a lot of football games for us, and I think that helps us to have good expectations for our team.” The Wolves will have to rebuild their defensive secondary for the upcoming season as the unit saw the most sophomores graduated. “We have Ques McNeal (Ackerman) back after a great freshman year, and I expect his sophomore year to be even better,” says Davis. “Jamal Pye (Byhalia) gives us some experience in the linebacking corps, while Nate White (Orlando, Florida) and Kadarius Miller (Magnolia) give us some experience up front on the defensive line. We also have some young guys that we have signed that will really help us on defense.” The offense will have more experience than the defense. “In the offensive line we have a good mixture of guys, including William McCollum (Jackson) and Tristan Marchioni (Biloxi) who are returning with playing time from last year, along with Josh Trask (Natchez) who started every game at guard for us,” says Davis. “We are going to be bigger on the offensive line than we have been the last few years and I really like the mobility mixed with the size of our guys. “Running back wise, Kyjuan Herndon (Jacksonville, Florida) is a transfer who will be in the mix along with returners Bobby Shanklin, Jr. (Macon) and Antonio Luckett (Carthage), as well as Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) who we signed back in the spring. At the receiver position, we have Tyquan Henderson (Canton) back, and that is big for us. Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, Florida) and O’Ryan James (Houma, Louisiana) are two transfers that we think will produce for us, along with Raheem Roberts (Bogalusa, Louisiana). I think we are more athletic, and we have more speed at the position. We also have some talented freshmen in Carlos Martin (Laurel), Tyron Henderson (Decatur) and Cade Dedeaux (Sumrall), and I really like what I am seeing from them so far. “At quarterback, I think we are further along than what we were a year ago, as Colton Gardner (Madison) has picked up and grasped things quicker and is working hard this summer for us. I really like what I have seen from DeVon Tott (Mandeville, Louisiana) and Tyler Fortenberry (Brookhaven). Harold Rhodes (Silver Creek) is back at tight end, which is a big boost for us because we are a little thin at that position, and I think that he will be much improved from last year.” “Corey Case (Brookhaven) will be handling both kicking and punting duties for us on special teams. He was a good kicker and punter in high school, and I expect him to be able to handle those duties for us.” The Wolves will be road tested early in the year, as three of the first four games are on the road including the first two at East Mississippi and Mississippi Delta on September 1 and 8 respectively. The team then returns home to start South Division play against Jones on September 15, and then hits the road again to face off against rival Southwest Mississippi on September 22. The Wolves return home to face off against Coahoma on September 29 to close out the first month of play. Co-Lin then stays at home and hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast for Homecoming on October 6, then has back-to-back road games against Pearl River and East Central on October 13 and 20. The Wolves will return home to close out the regular season hosting Hinds on October 27. “We must find a way to win those close games, which got away from us last year especially against Gulf Coast and Hinds,” Davis says. “I think with the maturity that our returners have developed along with a full season of experience under their belts, it will help us in pulling out those close games and help us achieve our goals for the season.”

Josh Day, who played two seasons with the Co-Lin, was a 15th round pick – number 438 overall – by the Arizona Diamondback in the 2022 Major League draft. The Natchez native had a breakout freshman season in 2018-19 playing in 41 games for the Wolves, with 44 hits in 132 at-bats for a batting average of .333, including 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs. He 31 also had RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and 43 runs scored; an on-base percentage of .485, a .523 slugging percentage and an .867 fielding percentage. In his sophomore year at Co-Lin, he played in all 15 games for the Wolves in a season cut short of the COVID-19 pandemic, and had 12 hits in 45 at-bat, including one double and three home runs with 11 RBIs, one stolen base, and 16 runs scored. Day finished his Co-Lin career with a .316 batting average, .463 on-base percentage, and .514 slugging percentage. After Co-Lin, Day continued his college career at the University of Missouri, playing two seasons for the Tigers. Day had a stellar 2022 season for the team, shining at the top of the lineup in which he batted .340 with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 29 RBIs. He also had an on-base percentage of .435 and led the team in runs scored with 50. Day finished his career at Mizzou with a .296 average, 102 hits, including 14 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs along with 50 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 66 runs scored in 93 games played. Day also had a career on-base percentage of .402 and a .420 slugging percentage.

Co-Lin is reached beyond its student populations to the wider community in two unique ways last month. Through a "Connect at the Library" event, the college library brought seniors and retirees together for a half day to learn about its services and have some fun together at the same time. Aladdin Campus Dining, the college's food service, staged a dinner theater production at the Thames Center. The get-together for seniors was one of two summer outreach events to community populations planned by Co-Lin Director of Libraries and Learning Resources Dr. Jacqueline Quinn. Quinn's plans also call for a Connect at the Library event for children, and possibly a community book club. Seniors and retirees gathered gather from 9 a.m. until noon at the Co-Lin library for the program, which featured Stephanie Duguid, Co-Lin Dean of Academic Instruction as guest speaker, arts and crafts, a sharing time and refreshments. With a meal, including an fried green tomatoes appetizer, steak dinner and dessert, the Detective Comedy Dinner Theater treated diners to a murder mystery which they competed to solve. Aladdin Executive Chef Christ McSweyn says plans call for bringing the theater company back for future performances. More than 60 persons attended the initial performance at the Thames Center for “When Cletus Met Elizabeth. ”The dinner theater is part of an aggressive community outreach effort by McSweyn that also includes Sunday brunch buffets once a month, movie nights and other special events with meals.

By Kara Kimbrough Finishing up my list of some – note the keyword some – of the state’s best dishes served at my (and friends’) favorite restaurants, a trip to the northern region of the state is in order. Filled with miles of scenic countryside highlighted by stunning Delta sunrises and sunsets, quaint downtown areas and bustling cities, historic homes and active college towns, the area is one everyone needs to explore at some point in life. Besides all the aforementioned qualities, there are wonderful restaurants found in almost every city and town. Here are a few to check out: A trip to Greenwood is never complete without a stop by the famed Crystal Grill, one of the state’s oldest restaurants. Since 1933, the family-owned eatery has been drawing locals as well as celebrities and national journalists. Everything on the menu is worth a try, but two of the most requested items are stuffed shrimp and for dessert, a slice of lemon pie with mile-high meringue. If you’re near Greenwood, you may as well drive a little further west and stop by Doe’s Eat Place in Greenville. Besides a storied past dating back several decades, Doe’s serves, quite simply, one of the best (and largest) steaks you’ll ever taste in your life. My cut of choice is the ribeye, which covers the entire plate and is large enough for 2-3 meals. With a side of Doe’s famous salad and tamales served in a rustic wood-frame building, it’s an experience unlike any other. Other locations can be found inside Biloxi’s Margaritaville and in Ridgeland. Travel east and drop by Starkville, filled with popular restaurants like The Little Dooey. Another can’t-miss spot is Harvey’s, a staple in the college town’s culinary scene. Harvey’s is known as a great place to enjoy a steak and according to friends, the prime rib is simply the best they’ve ever tasted. Other locations are found in Tupelo and Columbus. A little further north is Batesville, where one of the most creatively named restaurants ever, The Kennel Club Steakhouse awaits. Peruse the menu of the restaurant and you’ll find equally interesting categories like The Temptations (appetizers), Beach Boy salads and Rat Pack entrees. Favorite dishes of area chamber executives include the chargrilled oysters, French onion soup and grilled steaks with peppercorn sauce. In nearby Oxford, a plethora of restaurants ranging from breakfast and comfort food spots to fine dining establishments await. One that stands out, probably due to my love of all things Italian, is Tarasque Cucina. It’s hard to choose just one dish, so I’ll mention two: pappardelle bolognese and linguini with shrimp in cream. With a side Caesar salad fit for the gods, you won’t go wrong with either entree. Last, but certainly not least in taste are the steaks at The Como Steakhouse. It's been discovered by national food writers and others from outside the state, so it’s only right Mississippi residents see what all the fuss is about. If you’ve never visited the small town just north of Sardis, it’s time to stop in and visit its namesake steakhouse. If I missed one of your favorites in this or preceding lists, drop me an email and tell me all about it. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Baptist Student Union ministry at Copiah-Lincoln Community College has welcomed a new leader in Jedd Moak. The Brookhaven native takes the helm after the longtime ministry of Bruce Brady, who retired after the past academic year. A graduate of Co-Lin and Mississippi State University, Moak previously worked with the BSU at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for five years (four as assistant, one as full-time director), before spending two years in Rwanda, Africa, as a missionary with his wife Heather. “Brother Bruce left a rich legacy of ministry here at the BSU that I am excited to take the reins and continue with,” Moak said. “I am beyond excited to serve college students here at Co-Lin this fall.” “I love Co-Lin. It was vital to my college career and it really helped me a lot. It helped me emerge into adulthood through my experiences here,” Moak said. “I love college students. I love working with them. I think it’s one of the best age groups because they’re learning a lot, defining who they are going to be as adults. So when the position came open, I applied.” The BSU center is “the tan building across from the nursing building in front of the commuter parking lot,” Moak said. It is open 8:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Worship is Monday nights at 6:15 p.m. and Bible studies take place throughout the week. Retreats, mission trips and other special events will be scheduled throughout each semester. The building has study rooms, a prayer room, a complete kitchen and an activities area. “The BSU is a registered student organization on the college campus,” the director said. “We exist because we want to the students to know Christ and to make Christ known. It is a student-led organization. I’m here to direct and help the student leaders to be able to reach their peers.” The BSU is important to Moak for another reason, too — it’s where he met his wife. Originally from Clinton, Heather was a student at Hinds Community College when Moak was at Co-Lin, and the two met through a BSU event. “We’ve been married for six-and-a-half years now,” he said. “I want the students, campus faculty and administration, and the churches in the area to know the BSU is a mission center for the community college. We want to be able to serve the students and campus well,” Moak said. “It’s not just for Baptists, and obviously we couldn’t do it without support. We rely on the support of churches and individuals. If anyone feels like they would like to support us in any way, reach out. Just drop by the BSU. We want you to get involved.”

By Bob Garver NOTE: This movie is available in both an English-dubbed version and a Japanese version with English subtitles. This review is based on The English-dubbed version. Here we are with another anime movie based on a property that is entirely unfamiliar to me. Actually, that’s not true – I’ve at least heard of “Dragon Ball” (though this is the first time I haven’t seen a “Z” attached) and I know its main character is named Goku. That’s more than I can say for recent big-screen versions of “Demon Slayer” and “Jujutsu Kaisen,” but I know it isn’t much help. Just remember that everything that follows is from the perspective of someone who is very late to the “Dragon Ball” party. The film largely follows characters that are descended from supposedly familiar players. Evil tycoon Magenta, the son of previous villain Commander Red, teams up with Dr. Hedo, the brilliant-but-arrogant grandson of evil scientist Dr. Gero, to reform the defunct Red Ribbon Army and create androids that can take over the world. Hedo creates formidable fighters Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 as a sort of warm-up. The two think they’re superheroes working for the good guys, hence the film’s title. But Hedo’s real assignment is to perfect Cell Max, a massive being capable of unimaginable destruction. I hate it when villains seek to cause irreparable damage to the planet in the name of ruling it – do they really want to take over a massive crater? – but clearly Magenta is set on going in this direction. Opposing the new evil alliance is Piccolo, a humanoid alien and former adversary of Goku, now an honorable fighter that previously trained Goku’s son Gohan and is currently training Gohan’s daughter Pan. Piccolo wants Gohan to join the fight against the new Red Ribbon Army, but Gohan may have gone soft since settling down with his family. Perhaps Piccolo can reach out to some old friends for help. Or maybe he can use wishes from a Dragon Ball to make himself more powerful. Wait, that’s what the Dragon Balls do, grant wishes three at a time? Quick, somebody use a Dragon Ball to make the bad guys evaporate or something. Someone comments that Piccolo has too much pride to use a Dragon Ball wish like that, but what’s everyone else’s excuse? Actually, the wasting of two Dragon Ball wishes is probably the funniest scene in the movie. By the way, there’s a subplot about Goku and friends Vegeta and Broly on a planet controlled by Beerus, the God of Destruction. All Goku and company do is spar with one another and all Beerus does is feast and nap. There’s a tease that they’ll get involved in the battle on Earth, but nothing ever comes of it. The sequence only serves as a poor excuse to get Goku in the movie and it’s a huge waste of time. Unnecessary cameos aside, a lot of character-driven scenes in this movie work. I found it easy to get wrapped up in Piccolo and his frustration in trying to find assistance, Dr. Hedo and his drive to continue his research by any means necessary, and Gohan and his reluctant return to heroism. Even the Gamma androids have more personality and a stricter moral code than it would seem at first glance. As with many animes, “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” can’t stick the landing with the climactic battle. Cell Max is a big, dumb, hollow character, and Magenta before him was an unremarkable megalomaniac, save for how remarkably hard it was to take him seriously. Death blows are dealt about four times and usually turn out to be fake-outs, forcing the already-overlong battle to continue. Still, there’s a lot to like about “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero,” even if you’re new to the series, though I’m sure fans will find even more of value. Grade: B- “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” is rated PG-13 for some action/violence and smoking. Its running time is 100 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Wesson Garden Club (WGC) helped the town participate in a national celebration of gardening. From the public library to Fountain Park to local businesses, the Club touched a wide spectrum of the community during National Garden Week in promoting the joys and benefits of gardening. Its wide-ranging projects during the celebration included: An educational setup on the benefits of gardening at Wesson public library. Decorating Fountain Park in the downtown area with butterfly sculptures made by Steel Outdoors. Wesson Alderman interrupted their June meeting to help Club members dedicate the whimsical sculptures that uniquely honor frequent garden visitors and one of nature's special joys which adds color to the world. Gifts of gardening books for Wesson Public Library to make available to the public and spread gardening know-how and appreciation of its rewards and benefits. Gifts of flowers to local businesses to symbolize the importance of nature even in commercial life. Gardening in America traces to 1565 when Spaniards brought plants from their native country and novelties from the West Indies to their new homes in St. Augustine, Florida. In 1607, English colonists carried seeds from their old homes to their new settlement in Virginia, where they also cultivated crops grown by Native Americans, such as tobacco, corn, beans, and squash. Between 1619 and 1865, African American slaves in the U.S. found time to cultivate garden plots, even as they attended to the crops of their owners, providing additional food to the enslaved community and sometimes being able to sell their yields for profit. John Bartram of Philadelphia, who established a botanic garden in 1728 -- the oldest one of its kind surviving in North America, is an important figure in American gardening. Considered the greatest naturalist in the world, he traded seeds and plants with Peter Collinson, a London merchant, and botanist; introduced 150 North American plant species to Europe and earned the title of "Royal Botanist" to King George III for his reputation in international trade and Botany. National Garden Clubs (NGC), established in 1891 with branches in 19 states, spotlights gardening and its programs during National Garden Week every year. The organization of local groups, including WGC, helps communities through gardening projects and educational programs, produces “The National Gardener" quarterly and provides college scholarships and grants for youth clubs planting pollinator gardens.