Superintendent’s List All A’s First Grade: Abigail Taylor Brooks, Emilie Elizabeth Caballero, Colton Nickoles Craft, Liam Brady Hamilton, Gourney Quade Hunley, Charles Ray Jordan, Lucas Corey June, Lakenn Faith Luke, Timothy Peck Newman, Bristol Lee Rorie, Hayden Skye Ryan, Jayce Dean Taylor, London Paris Wallace, Taylor Price Warren, Kaden Wayne Westrope, Maleigh RaeAnn Williams. Second Grade: Paris Marie Beasley, Derren Jess Brister, Jr., Bently Easton Burns, Madelynn Faye Coleman, Leighton Alaine Hall, Laken Dakota Hogan, Abigail Grace Holloway, Makinley Ann Johnson, Reagan Nicole Johnson, Griffin Reed Newell, Jamiah J’ream Robinson, Whitman Joseph Lloyd Rogers, Huntley Ty Rushing, Israel Kate Scopel, Ella Walker Shelton, Braxton Thomas Shoemake, James Brantley Smith. Third Grade: Joshua Cottrell Armistad, Annistyn Pyper Byrd, Jude Anakin Carr, Katie Grace Garcia, Laney Brooke Hamilton, Amy Joyce Hill-Ramirez, Leah Grace Norman, Karaily FaithRussell, Molli Ann Shannon, Lily-Ann Faith Sykes, Alexander Hayes Touchstone, Kendall Claire Turner, Molly Grace Waltman, Evelyn Jayne Westrope, Aubree Rose Williams, Jeremy Tyree Williams, Addilee Denise Windom. Fourth Grade: Jaiyana Minyon Barlow, Haley Lane Bates, Avalyna Carol Becerra, Lyla Joan Formby, Levi Thomas Highfill, Jackson Daniel James, Addison Ruth Lee, Bailey Marie Lee, Mae Reeves Logan, Makenzee Miller, Rylan Bo Morgan, Haydn Alan Rushing, William Laikin Tarver, Rushten Keith Williams. Fifth Grade: Braeleigh Addison Barnett, Emory Lee Britt, Aubrey Tatum Carraway, Jaxton R P Hunley, Evan Scott Lambright, Lindsey Layne Lockhart, Tucker Elliott Martin, Meredith Kate McKenzie, Thomas Brody Ponder, Brooks Alexander Shoemake, Caroline Rose Smith. Sixth Grade: Kenslie Jerldine Carter, Kayla Rhea Clingan, Adalynn Rayne Coleman, Sean Ethan Cooper, Adyson Rose Dowd, Ellisa Eden Hall, Kathryn Elaine Hewitt,Brandon Michael Hutt, Michaella Noble, Slade Easton Oberschmidt, Tiffany Marie Rials, Phypher Lyn Roberts, Addison Brylee Rorie, Allie Dawn Ryan, Madelyn Elaine Sanders, Allyson Blair Selman, Isabella Grace Sills, Kimberly Silvan Martinez. Seventh Grade: Flint Enoch Ahlberg, William Nolan Barlow, Micqueal Antonisha Berry, Lucas Paul Bowlin, Presley Ann Bridges, Riley Beth Bush, Jaycee Kelly Heard, Zechariah Caleb Holloway,Wesley Nathaniel Loy, Alice Van-Anh Luong, Mackenzie Claire Mire, Elizabeth Claire Moulder, Judah Cole Scopel, Jacey Mikayla Shannon, Jaide Leeanne Shoop, Laci Lynn Sykes, Madyson Brooke Westrope,Molly Nicole Westrope, Blayten Wayne Windom. Eighth Grade: Jaxon Valor Barlow, Blair Mitchell Boyd, Trinity Rain Breland, Dakiyah Kristian Butler, Abigail Marina Cameron, John Michael Cooper, Brendon Robert Duguid, Lacy Morgan Erwin, Maria McKenzie Hall, Noah Nelson Marion Howell, Alana Caroline Hux, Nevaeh Cheyenne Leggett-Moak,Macy Rebecca Loy, Tripp Radford Martin, Brynden Joanna Rogers, Kylie Morgan Rorie, Gustavo Ruiz-Garcia, Samuel Cade Scopel,Baylor Lane Smith, Ty Rustyn Turner, Sydnee Layne Westrope, Mary Margaret Woods. Ninth Grade: Joycelyn Makayla Elizabeth Barner, Lilly Kate Channell, Taylor Nicole Davis, Allison Paige Hamilton, Gracyn Jewell Martin, Aubree Lee Smith, Avery Anna Watts. Tenth Grade: Rachel Charleigh Anderson, Ja’niyah La’shae Byther, Hannah Chesley Cameron, Evangeline Sinclaire Cook, Brandon Davis Ebarb, Cloe Nicole Elkins, Alan Tin Luong, Cameron Elizabeth Miller, Abby Nicole Mooney, Mara Grace Norwood, Mallory Elise Sanders, Hailey Nicole Walker, Julianna Rose Wilson, Karen Itzel Zarate Lopez. Eleventh Grade: Grayson Cole Coates, Madalynn Grace McManus. Twelfth Grade: Kimberly Nicole Ayers, Brett Daniel Boutwell, Kamryn Michelle Bridges, Ja’Kyle Pauvion Brown, Alayna Farrar Everett, Turner Daniel Green, Logan Conly Hux, Zoe Elizabeth Johnson, Kayla Elaine McElveen, Samuel Thomas McInnis, Vivian Ann McRee, Nyla Jemia Ross, Braden Gage Smith, Kyla Lane Smith, Mary Grace Sullivan, Amber Lynn Westbrook, Candace Alayna Westrope. Principal’s List – All A’s & B’s First Grade: Alora Rafat Anter, Kade D’wayne Banks, Eli Hunter Carr, Karson James Clay, Cooper Michael King, James Henry Logan, Bentley Hicks Luke, Avery Quinn McManus, Sarah Elliot Oberschmidt, Graycee Nevaeh Orgeron, Jake Ryder Riddell, Klaylon Tucker Layne Russell, Ezekiel Gou Hou Scopel, Nevaeh Nicole-Rayne Tate, Gannon Owen O’Bryant Tompkins, Mattie Gracie Weeks. Second Grade: Edwin Lee Baker, Madalyn Rose Benton, Jayce Donnell Coleman, Bryant Price Collins, Braylee Michelle Davis, Matilda Rivers Dugas, Kolton Wade Ferguson, Asher Rhodes Formby, Caleb Chase Granger, Cole Russell Harris, Emma Grace Howard, Georgia Rose Jackson, Hadley Rayne McManus, Kori Catherine Peets, Brantly Wayne Strickland, Antonio Terrell Walker, Jr., Alexa Natalee-Carol Westmoreland. Third Grade: Kace Mitchell Allen, Ambernae Unique Armstrong, Zada Michelle Ashley, Jonathan Tyler Beckerson, Whisper Grace Breland, Breeze Adam Brewer, Taylor Rae’ Brown, Maya Elizabeth Cline, Dusti Bleue Coleman, Fenix Lawton Costilow, Luis Gustavo Flores-De La Cruz, Aiden Andrew Gemelli, Zacari Janae Giles, Charleigh Bree Howell, Harper Elise Johnson, Jayce Dylan Lawrence, Mark Kypton Lofton, Konner Earl Minton, Hyram Cash Newman, Jaxon Kade Newman, Sadie Bao Nhi Nguyen, Matthew Dewayne Shannon, Mary Travis Smith, Keagan Timothy-Dale Stevens, Grayson Kendall Westmorland, William Cole Windham, Sydney Alette Yaskovic. Fourth Grade: Mason Reed Brister, Ja’thai Danielle Burrows, Case Henry Cliburn, Janella Sophia Coleman, Annie Rose Lynne Cuevas, Jess Riles Cameron Douglas, Parker James Elliott, Glory Ra’elasha Freeman, James Darnell Harvey, II, Brennan Delaney Holder, James Dalton Jackson, Lillian Grace Jackson, Michael Daniel Johnson, Jon Carter Morris, Ellison Kate Powell, Lexie Catherine Ryan, Canaan Lee Scopel, Kaylee Elizabeth Sills, Vivian Louise Smith, Kaiden Drew Talley, Karleigh Isabella Wallace, Braylen Jeremiah Watson, Jayden Latrell Williams. Fifth Grade: Carson Alexander Barrington, Walker Jake Breazeale, Brenton Austin Brewer, Celena Jade Brewer, Andrew Tyler Brooks, Jazmyn Tacari Brown, Kaia Jade Denson, Angel Olivia Derouen, London Larae Dickerson, Mikelyn Anne Douglas, Jaicee Rayne Durr, Bennett Lane Ebarb, Christina Louise Elkins, Ryker Jace Gladden, Addison Mackinzie Guillory, Jacob Lea Hogan, Weston Emory Hughes, Grant Young Hynum, Makyia Natori Jackson, Sarah Grace Logan, Robert Malcolm Lowery, III, Braxton Wyatt McManus, Jayden Alden Miller, Tyler Lane Morris, Preston Wayne Morse, Anna Linley Newell, Anne Houston Peets, Adalyn Claire Prestridge, Joseph Isaac Purviance, Jason Wyatt Runnels, Isabella Nicole Shoop, Halle Elaine Short, Hayden Ryan Tucker, Collin Blake Watts, Bronson Reid Westrope, Chastin Zion Wilson. Sixth Grade: Hayden Michael Barnes, Matthew Ayden Branch, Kristis Keaton Brewer, Anna Frances Caballero, Ashley Marie Chamblee, Payton Calynn Cloy, Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Isaiah Jordan Cook, Charles Patrick Culpepper, Logan Xavier Darce, Elijah Criten Dollar, Laina Brooke Hart, Tristan Gaige Holloway, Braydon Seth McNair, Ripken Dean Powell, Grady Bennett Smith, Brandon Alston Thomas, Laiken Mikell Thomas, Joshua Blake Warren, Maddox Hudson Weeks, Canderous Paul White, Nancy Zarate Lopez. Seventh Grade: Christopher Brayden Arbaugh, Stacie Nicole Berch, Braiden Edmond Bowman, Caylie Klaire Britt, Madelynn Rene’ Brooks, Carson Reed Butler, Layton Wayne Cloy, Jordyn Paige Marie Coleman, Anna Claire Crabtree, Kali Nicole Denson, Layton Allen Earls, Austin Matthew Hamilton, Steven Zepplin Laiche, Levi Ervin Lockhart, Lillian Rachel Love, Jayden Cordae Lyles, Ethan Daniel Martin, Billy Lane McManus, Taylor Brooke Murray, Jocie Grace Parsons, Bryant Parker Robbins, Bently Kirsten Roberson, Dawson Blaine Selman, Charley Ann Shelton, Carley Clayton Smith, Hunter Dewayne Smith, Kevin Terrell Smith, Kayla Faith Sullivan, Anye Lashai Tanner, Laynee Brooke Thaxton, Gavin Lee Upton, Lane Carter Wilson, Ava Grayce Woodson, Matthew Ridge Yeager. Eighth Grade: Jackson Stephen Barlow, Charles Tate Brister, Brandon Parker Brooks, Ke’mari Jaquan Brown, Jace Walker Curtis, Lexi Lang Ferguson, Delaney Lynn Hutt, John-Brayden James, Jakyiah Telia Johns, O’mari Os’qua Johnson, Starlynn Ann Leonard, Willow Margaret Love, Marshunti Quintayvea Martin, Katherine Blair Mathis, Lilly Meghan Elise Moore, Ruston Dayne Newman, Katherine Rae Norwood, Lexi Grace Prestridge, William Nick Raiford, Sullivan Mckenzie Roberts, Maddisen Faith Staats, Aiden Keith Wallace, Whitney Paige Westrope, Caeden Blake Williams, Jack Henry Wilson. Ninth Grade: Mason Aubrey Ashley, Larsen Kambry Carpenter, Myles Rue Elkins, Shana Leatrice Givens, Wyatt Layne Hughes, Mary Gwyn Hynum, Austin Elijah Johnson, Benjamin Conner McKenzie, Hunter Blaylock Meredith, Eric Roland Merrill, Kalana Marie Nhem, Maggie Grace Runnels, Tiara Emily Tronstad, William Cotton Westbrook, Emileigh Hayden Woodson. Tenth Grade: Aidan Ameer Brice, Paris Juanita Byrd, Shelia Samantha Casanova, Breelynn Layne Cloy, Linda Grace Dunn, Jahnasia Lashaye Harris, C’ryah Diana Haynes, Alexius Haiden Holder, Taylor Dawn June, Tarayvia Debray Miller, Matthew Gaven Mitchell, Kaylee Layne Prine, Maedyn Rylee Ross, Corley Marie Sandifer, Paul Weslie Smith, Zevante Jequan Stapleton, Bailey Ray Walker, Melody Lynn Waltman, Christopher Michael Watson. Eleventh Grade: Orrin Tyler Ainsworth, Kalyn Nicole Benton, Harlan Landon Brewer, Akiria Monet Brown, Caleb Alexander Carty, Marley Grace Channell, Jaylynn Brooke Cloy, Jessie Grace Cole, Lena Grace Coleman, Kayleigh Alexis Freeman, Kiara Daes’shana Haynes, Ethan James Laird, William Rush Loy, Alexander Duc Luong, Lucas Andrew McRee, Hannah Leann Meredith, Slayd Haze Oswalt, Taylor Kay Papizan, Sadie Michelle Sandifer, Gabriel Brennon Selman, Jayonce’ Alzatia’ Stewart, Allyson Faith Sullivan, Caleb Wallace Sutton, Emma Kate Thaxton. Twelfth Grade: Alexis Adrianna Ashley, Carson Welter Barlow, Anyel Ta’karia Butler, JaKayla Keandra Butler, Chloe Cheyenne Clark-Neese, Tyler Steven Coghlan, Adam Malcolm Curtis, Destini Talayeh Jones, Antonio Pierre Merrill, Macie Marie Moore, Dalton Daniel Orgeron, Shakera Candies Sanders, Suzanna Grace Smith, Troy Emory Thigpen, Malliyah Torchandra Walker Clay, Christopher Lane Westrope, Adam Jon Wolfe, Zackary Barlow Woods. Honor Roll – All B’s Third Grade: Liam Albert Hughes Fourth Grade: Gary Branson Clingan, Colson Drake Lee. Fifth Grade: Leyton Myles Ainsworth, Ryleigh Elizabeth Jeffreys, Hartley Victoria Walker. Sixth Grade: Taylor Grace Traxler, Mallory Grace Wilkinson.

Fireworks are a fun way to make any celebration a spectacular event. But fireworks are not safe for children and can cause serious harm including devastating burns and other injuries. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend public fireworks displays organized by trained professionals. Here are a few tips to stay safe around fireworks. The Hard Facts About Fireworks More than 3,000 children under the age of 15 are sent to the emergency room each year in the United States because of fireworks. Sparklers, which are commonly given to children during holidays and heat up to 1,200 degrees account for one-third of the injuries to children under five. Top Tips for Fireworks Safety If possible, attend public firework displays. Leave lighting fireworks to the professionals. Give children glowsticks instead of sparklers. Sparklers can heat up to more than 1,200 degrees and are dangerous for young children. Keep fireworks away from children. Make sure children stay are a safe distance away from a lit firework.

The Mississippi Board of Education (SBE) today selected the search firm, McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, to lead the search for the next state superintendent of education. The firm will conduct a national search beginning July 1 for applicants who meet SBE requirements. The SBE anticipates interviewing the top candidates in October. The new superintendent is expected to start in the position in January 2023. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Wesson Garden Club youth gardeners -- Butterbeans -- held their final meeting of the school year last month at the Wesson Municipal Park. The third- through-sixth graders enjoyed ice cream and snow cones at Park Place Ice Cream, and Kris Sullivan read her recently published book -- Truly Too Green -- to them. The Butterbeans presented to Wesson Public Library's Ann Clark a book, We are The Gardeners.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) encourages firework safety this Independence Day whether at home or at a firework show. “The SFMO performs pyrotechnic inspections for shows that are performed on state owned properties,” said State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. “It’s up to you to set your own safety standards when shooting fireworks at home. That means using common sense, never pointing fireworks at another person, and disposing of fireworks in water to prevent fire.” Pyrotechnics companies must apply for a permit for shows on state-owned property. Once received, the SFMO verifies all information pertaining to insurance, technicians, and local public safety information. Deputies must be on site for the firing of the display and clean up. Fireworks were involved in more than 15,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospitals in 2020, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC also reports a 50 percent increase in deaths and injuries compared to 2019. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal suggests you follow these safety tips: • Observe local laws. o Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. o Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. • Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. • Never point or throw fireworks at another person. • Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. • Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. • Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. • Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. • Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. • Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. • Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. • Never give fireworks to small children. • Never carry fireworks in your pocket. • Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

By Guest Columnist Stephanie Duguid June marks Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. The goal is to get involved and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Everyone who has a brain is at risk to develop Alzheimer’s, a disease that is often misunderstood, according to www.alz.org, a web site information source. Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top ten in the United States that does not currently have a way to prevent, cure, or even slow its progression. As we all become more aware of the seriousness of this disease, the more likely we will take action to stop it. Alzheimer’s is fatal, not a part of normal aging and is more than memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, which is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain that leads to problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is ultimately fatal. Experts agree that in most cases, it probably develops because of complex interactions among multiple factors, including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and coexisting medication. You cannot control some risk factors like age and genes, while others, such as high blood pressure and lack of exercise, can be controlled. As of 2021, Alzheimer’s is sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and is responsible for one in three deaths of people 65 or older. Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops the disease, with nearly 55 million people worldwide recently diagnosed. However, only one in four people with Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, so many are living with the disease and do not know it. The disease kills more than breast cancer and prostate combined. Since 2000, deaths from heart disease decreased 14%, while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased 145%. In fact, in 2020, COVID-19 contributed to a 17% increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to more than 16 million, according to www.alz.org. So, what can you do to help reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s? First, you can focus on the six pillars of a brain-healthy and adopt an Alzheimer’s prevention lifestyle: 1. Regular Exercise 2. Healthy diet 3. Mental stimulation 4. Quality Sleep 5. Stress management 6. An active social life As you age, it is also important to recognize the warning signs. More than 80% of Americans know little or are not familiar with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which can be an early stage of Alzheimer’s. Early detection can improve access to medical and support services. It also provides an opportunity to make any legal, financial, and care plans while you can. And finally, it may reduce health care costs by delaying placement in a care facility. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 10 key warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease that are key: 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life; 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems; 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks; 4. Confusion with time or place; 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships; 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing; 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; 8. Decreased or poor judgment; 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities; 10. Changes in mood and personality. Now is the time to get involved, learn more, to help spread awareness about Alzheimer’s and to be an advocate for those affected. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association for more information at alz.org or at 1.800-272-3900. 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 As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, here’s a word of caution: stock up now on your favorite prepared mustard, especially if hot dogs or burgers are on the menu. According to reports, mustard seeds are in short supply, a situation that’s certain to raise prices. The all-American spicy yellow condiment may even go MIA on store shelves. Now for the good news: Fourth of July 2022 will be a hot one BUT there are ways to stay cool and enjoy a delicious Independence Day feast. My #1 stay cook no-bake tip is one I recently mentioned– use your slow cooker to prepare as much of the food as possible. Second, delegate the grilling to someone who doesn’t mind roasting (and I’m not referring to meat) outside over a hot grill. Also, prepare as many cold salads and desserts as possible to reduce the amount of oven time. Nothing heats up an already-steamy kitchen more than an oven, at least in my opinion. And last, if burgers are on the menu (and why shouldn’t they be if someone else is grilling them?) jump on the charcuterie board craze and prepare a Fourth of July burger board similar to the one I created. Here are several recipes to make to ensure your Independence Day spread is easy to prepare, cool to eat and courtesy of the burger board, Pinterest and Instagram-worth. Happy Fourth of July! Tangy Mississippi Iced Tea 1-6-ounce can frozen lemonade, thawed 5 cups water 1 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extract (reduce amounts if you desire) 1 tablespoon instant tea mix Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or until hot. Chill and serve over ice. (can be served hot straight from the slow cooker if you want a hot drink). Slow Cooker Short Ribs ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon each salt and ground black pepper (can use Mrs. Dash) 4-5 pounds boneless beef short ribs or 6-7 pounds bone-in beef short ribs Sauce: 1 large onion, chopped 2 cups beef broth ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup brown sugar (more to taste) ½ cup each chili sauce and ketchup 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon chili powder Combine flour, salt and pepper in a Ziploc bag, add short ribs a few at time and shake to coat each one. Brown ribs, in batches, in a hot skillet coated with vegetable oil or butter. Transfer to slow cooker. Reserve skillet drippings. Combine sauce ingredients in skillet, scraping in drippings, until mixture comes to a boil. Pour over ribs, cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours. Memphis-Style Cole Slaw (This mayo-free slaw is perfect for dining outdoors) Grate and mix together: 1 head cabbage Carrots and onion (quantity depends on your taste; I usually use ½ of an onion and 2-3 carrots) Dressing: 1 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup canola oil (or light oil of your choice) 1 cup sugar 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Salt & pepper Tabasco sauce (to your taste) Mix dressing and pour over cabbage mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight if possible or at least several hours. Drain liquid in a colander and serve. Best Burger Sauce 1/2 cup mayonnaise ¾ tablespoons ketchup or chili sauce (whatever you have; chili sauce makes a tangier sauce) 2 tablespoons dill pickle or sweet relish 1 teaspoon each apple cider vinegar and sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt Add mayonnaise, ketchup or chili sauce, relish, vinegar. sugar, and salt in a small bowl and mix to combine. Use a food processor if you prefer a smoother version. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Keeps (covered) up to a week. Recipe doubles and triples easily. Sweet Baby Ray’s Slow-Cooked Beans For a Crowd 3 28-ounce cans baked beans, drained 1 pound of fried ground round, drained 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce 1 cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon each Worcestershire sauce and prepared yellow mustard Pour ingredients in a slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3-1/2 hours. (Reduce ingredients in half for a smaller batch) Patriotic Mixed Berry Cobbler Batter: 1 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Berries: 16 ounces frozen raspberries (I use strawberries, but only in combination with a firmer berry) 16 ounces frozen blueberries ¾ cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch, whisked into ¾ cup water Create the batter by combining flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, milk and oil. Fold the liquid mixture into dry ingredients until combined. Spray the crock of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray and then pour batter into the bottom. Place all berries in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Pour berry mixture over the batter in slow cooker. Set the cooker to high, cover and cook for 2 hours. Remove cover and let cool in cooker at least 15 minutes, to thicken before serving. (Great served topped with -or over- vanilla ice cream!) Cobbler recipe from Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes by Quail Ridge Press. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Blackened old banana peels, egg shells, used coffee grounds, moldy grapes and dried-up orange skins. The diet of champions. Loaded with antioxidants and nutrition, and guaranteed to make the body healthier. And so appealing to the eye. Just makes you drool at the very thought of loading your plate, right? Well, ummm. Most people – not so much. “Are you crazy?!” Ask any teen if they want a heaping helping of this delightfully healthy food, and you will most likely get blasted with their particular version of that statement, along with a disgusted roll of their eyes. Can’t blame ‘em. If you were to hand me a snack of any of those things, my own answer wouldn’t be much sweeter. But take a look at this garbage from another point of view. Ants will notify the queen of their colony, “Hey, Your Highness, we just came across a whole smorgasbord of really good stuff! You want us to form a line to begin transporting it all back to your storage bins?” That army of ants will cart away every tiny crumb that is loose. (And given a chance, they will remove your entire pantry.) They don’t view our garbage leftovers as trash, but as a real treasure trove. Because, the truth is, that garbage is healthy stuff! Put it in a blender with water and puree the fire out of that mess until you have a disgusting brown liquid. Mix it into your garden soil, where you are going to plant your vegetables. Then later on, watch your plants stand and salute you for having the forethought to give them some of the nutrition they need to grow big and healthy – before they were even planted. Same thing happens with us humans. What we know as painful events in our lives – things we view as horrible garbage - is the very things that our Creator and Maintainer is using to feed us and grow us into mature, useful adults. But just like if we were handed a plate of unedible food, our reaction to the bad things that happen is usually, “Are you crazy?!! This is horrible stuff! I hate what’s happening, and this can’t be good for me.” But those among us who are gardeners know what a good dose of ugly, organic food can do for a growing young plant. And so does God. You might just call Him the Master Gardener, who knows exactly what each of us needs in our life to make us grow up emotionally. He is very aware that a steady diet of ‘the good life’ will make us self-centered, undependable, and immature. So, out comes the Creator’s blender to create a hodgepodge of the needed heartaches that makes us more like Him in the end. Loving, mature and caring. I don’t care for the taste of that awful liquid He doles out any more than you. But it does do the job.

On the recommendation of Police Chief Chad O'Quinn, the Wesson Board of Alderman has added four beefed up its law enforcement personnel with the addition of four officers: Garrett Starkey, who is returning to the force as a full-time officer; Robbie Douglas, also a former WPD officer who is coming back in a part-time position; Blake Wallace, who is joining WPD part-time; James Norwood, a new full-time officer in training who will be attending the Mississippi Police Academy. In other actions at its May meeting, Wesson Aldermen approved travel of Mayor Alton Shaw, Aldermen and Town Clerk Angela Hester to the Mississippi Municipal League Conference June 27-29 at Biloxi and Police Chief Chad O'Quinn and Officer Tim Stevens to the Mississippi Police Chiefs Conference June 13-17 at Biloxi.

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office has launched a new tool for law enforcement and courts statewide to use in reporting and updating incidents of domestic violence. MSDVR (Mississippi Domestic Violence Reporting) is a single statewide repository for domestic violence reports, utilizing existing report platforms to make integration for law enforcement as seamless as possible. The system utilizes the same platform as the Department of Public Safety’s eCrash system and was created by the same developers, the University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety (AL CAPS). It also includes geolocating to easily save accurate location information; injury diagrams to mark size, type, and location of injuries, as well as a function for uploading photographs; fields for utilizing the Lethality Assessment Protocol to ensure the safety of victims.

Hawkins & Adcock Property Wesson Chamber Garden Granger Property In May, Wesson Garden Club recognized landscaping efforts of Mrs. Lois Hawkins and Beth and Rusty Adcock at 1029 Main Street, the Wesson Chamber of Commerce garden at Highway 51 and Main Street and Casey and Cynthia Granger at 1029 Beauregard Road in its Yard of the Month town residential, organizational and rural residential categories. Floral baskets at Church St & Hwy 51 Floral baskets at Factory St & Hwy 51 The Club also spotlighted its floral basket displays at the corners of Church Street and Highway 51 and Factory Street and Highway 51 for Spring Design. 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 that 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 Bob Garver A biopic of Elvis Presley is an absolutely perfect fit for director Baz Luhrmann. The filmmaker is known for a garish visual style that, while not “ugly” per se (and in fact can be quite beautiful if seen with the right eyes), always screams “excessive.” He captured the spirit of flashy rebelliousness in the party scenes in “The Great Gatsby” in 2013 and turned the “Moulin Rouge!” into a paradise of hedonism in 2001. Elvis, or at least his onstage persona, was all about exploiting rebelliousness and hedonism, and looking like the most ambitious kind of eyesore in the process. It’s a shame that Elvis and Luhrmann were professionals in different eras, because one wonders what they could have created if they had worked together. As it is, we have to settle for Luhrmann simply creating this lengthy tribute to Elvis. All the expected pieces of the music biopic are covered here. We follow Elvis (Austin Butler) from his well-meaning early days on the carnival circuit to a successful tour where he picks up some bad habits to superstardom and cockiness to a humbling decline to a roaring comeback to misplaced complacency to the utter destruction of his life. Rise and fall, rise and fall, tragic end. The closest thing I’d say this movie has to an “insight” about Elvis is a scene where he confesses that he fears that he won’t be remembered. His fame has been well-established at this point, and if he were thinking more clearly, he couldn’t possibly mean what he’s saying, but still, it’s a powerful reminder that everyone thinks like this sometimes. The story is told from the point of view of Elvis’s manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Really, all three parts of that name should be in quotation marks with what a phony this guy is. Every stereotype about the greedy, manipulative, criminal manager is on full display with Parker. Come to think of it, Parker himself probably did a lot to helm that stereotype. The movie adds face-fattening makeup and a Dutch accent stolen from “Austin Powers in Goldmember” to make the character even more repulsive. It actually makes sense that he would technically be the main character in this movie. Not because everyone is the hero in their own story, that’s to be expected, but because it’s so on-brand for him to take something of Elvis’s and make it all about him. The music in the movie has its hit-or-miss moments. Butler is better at capturing Elvis’s dance magic and stage presence than his singing voice (then again, was it ever really about the singing?). But there are some memorable performances, made all the more memorable by the funny facial expressions made by screaming female extras. Sometimes the Elvis songs are remixed with hip hop, which works a few times, but probably should have been done more sparingly. I’ve been told that, like many biopics, this movie makes Elvis out to be a better person than he actually was. Apparently he did more drugs, was more of a sexual deviant, had a worse attitude, and his integration of Black mannerisms into his act was less “drawing inspiration” and more “cultural appropriation.” True, you’re just as naïve as the young version of the character if you think he was an angel perverted by cynical forces. But at the same time, you can’t expect a PG-13 movie that celebrates Elvis’s style and showmanship to paint him in too harsh of a light, even though Colonel Tom no doubt made a mint off of paintings that did just that. Come for the superficial visual style, stay for the superficial visual style. “Elvis” doesn’t need to work as a deep movie to deliver on the flair it promises. Grade: B- “Elvis” is rated PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material and smoking. Its running time is an appropriately over-indulgent 159 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.