Extroverts. You likely wake up and crave to “just be around somebody today.” You need that in-the-same-room-with-me feeling that only real human bodies can give. Extended alone time gives you a lonely, ‘left out of the loop’ emotion within. Pure happiness for some extroverts? A video blasting away, friends talking in that same room, with food and drink available to all. Introverts. Almost the opposite needs in their life. Rather sit on a bed of angry ants with a book in hand, than have to endure crowded noisy rooms for a long time. They just need to simply be alone. For at least a little while, please! Unfortunately, as life seems to like to play cruel jokes on us, these polar opposites seem to attract and marry. And then they can end up spending years glaring at each other with one thought on their brains, “What in the heck happened to you?! I thought you knew me and what I wanted in life.” And if some open and honest conversation doesn’t begin, and real soon, a wall begins to build. And I ain’t talking about a fortress that protects their union. This wall between them gets thicker and stronger with every misunderstanding. Too many times completely blocking communication and finally causing the plaintive feeling, “I don’t really know why, but I just don’t care for my spouse any more. I think I need out.” So spouses, start talking before that bad ending. But first, begin with real soul-searching for what you are needing in your marriage, and then blurt it out to your spouse. Who does the same for you. Sounds scarey? I imagine it does. Especially if you have never done that before – just opening up and letting your true feelings fall out your mouth and into the ears of the one who has the power to hurt you. But that is exactly what needs to happen, so that the extrovert spouse can finally understand why their introvert spouse rarely agrees to have the whole gang over for a fun evening. Why natural introverts invariably find a quiet hidey hole in a side room when they are forced to suffer thru someone else’s party. And why their spouse dreads hearing the words, “Just stay home tonight and watch TV with me. For one lousy night, can’tcha?!” Folks, if you find yourself in some of this, do your relationship a big favor. Get honest, and tell your partner what you are feeling. Then listen. And try to understand their point of view. And then, gasp!! start working on a compromise that will work for both of you. Neither of you are wrong. In your need of alone time, or in your need for people. You are just made differently by your Creator. And remember, He never makes any mistakes when He creates a person. Or as the famous singer, Ethel Waters, once said, “God don’t make no junk.”

A former football coach, who led his Alabama high school team to playoffs for the first time in five years during the 2021 season, has joined Co-Lin as its Workforce Education Center Director. Luke L. Laird brings a unique background that melds corporate and public school work experiences to a job that involves designing and implementing training programs to provide a skilled labor force for business and not-for-profit employers who work with Co-Lin in partnership to advance the economy and benefit students entering the labor force, existing workers and job-seekers. The Enterprise native says he is excited "to come back home" and "give back to the community" by contributing to its economic development in building a quality labor force that serves companies and organizations already operating in the area and is a magnet for new ones. Among other things, as he settles into his new job, Laird is looking to create a fiber splicing class similar to one he developed at AT&T to equip current and aspiring telecommunications workers in the area with new skills companies want their employees to have. Laird also sees potential in new training geared to an auto industry that economic forecasters say is evolving in Southeastern states, including Mississippi, and will someday be bigger than Detroit's. A 1995 graduate of Enterprise High School, Laird earned Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees in business management at Southwest Community College (1997) and the University of Phoenix (2005) and worked as a Farm Bureau insurance agent in Lamar and Lincoln Counties before starting a 20-year career with Bell South and AT&T that encompassed positions as an outside technician (2000), network training specialist (2001-2004), network manager (2004-2005), safety manager (2005-2008) and senior manager for technical network process and quality (2008-2019). Among his career accomplishments at stops in McComb and Jackson, Laird developed a process to actively update curriculum, was promoted to an industrial engineer after moving a crew ranked 33 out of 35 into the top five, and designed and implemented a training program that improved motor vehicle incident results from the last place to first in the country. After AT&T acquired Bell South, it transferred Laird to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he developed and deployed management systems and controls throughout the AT&T footprint as a project manager and saved the company $200 million over ten years. In 2019,when AT&T asked Laird to take a new job at San Antonio, Texas, he took an early retirement from the company and joined the Hale County, Alabama, school system as a physical science teacher and football coach. Last year, he taught physical education and coached the football and softball teams at Hale County High School before beginning the latest chapter in his career story at Co-Lin. Now that he is back home, Laird says he expects to settle down again in Enterprise with his wife Jessica, his high school sweetheart whom he has known since the fifth grade. They have two grown sons -- Logan, 25, who is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama; and Ty, 23, a construction worker.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s a proven fact: most Southern men are happiest when warm weather arrives and they can spend quality time over a hot bed of coals. Grilling is the true southern way to cook meat - it's outdoors, it’s casual and it delivers great food. Even Southern ladies consider grilling one of, if not the best way to entertain during a hot Mississippi spring and summer. Main reason? Grilling requires very little kitchen work on their part and it's the perfect way to keep cool. Best of all, everyone wants to be a part of the grilling action, often gathering around the grill-meister as the griller performs his (or her) magic with the meat of choice. There’s no denying the lure of the coals, especially to an outdoor chef like my friend John, who has received his fair share of accolades for expertly grilled ribs, steaks and pork shoulders. John (I’ll omit his last name to keep from upsetting his Memphis in May grilling team, who closely guard their secrets) claims his grilling skills have evolved through years of perfecting his craft, not to mention a dry rub made with 16 different “secret” herbs and spices. The group of grillers annually participate in barbecuing competitions around the state, precursors to the famous Memphis event. While the group regularly takes first place and overall championship awards for their ribs and pork shoulders in Mississippi, they have never placed in Memphis. However, this fact doesn’t deter them from continuing to try their luck each May. And there’s a good reason way: they simply enjoy being part of the excitement and look forward to meeting other grilling team at the event that draws some of the nation’s top grillers. Here are a few tips from John and a national grilling expert, just in time for the start of grilling season and arrival of Memorial Day weekend: Go old school – John admits that gas grills are easier and quicker to operate, but the group prefers a charcoal grill with “about 700 square inches” of cooking surface. They are also particular about charcoal, using Kingsford brand along with an electric starter and chimney. Don’t skimp on quality – When it comes down to a perfect steak or rack of ribs, it’s all about the quality. The first rule is to select a good grade or cut of meat, as there’s “no sauce or rub that will disguise a lower grade of meat.” Sometimes, it’s worth it to drive a little extra to purchase good meat that’s on sale. Start out with the best possible meat, season it well and most likely you will end up with a great meal from the grill. Another grilling guru, Steven Raichlen, who wrote The Barbecue Bible, a comprehensive cookbook containing over 500 recipes for the grill, classified grilling as “live fire, high heat and direct cooking. Barbecuing is long, slow heat, indirect cooking, and lots of smoke. The beautiful thing about grilling is that it's outdoors and it's public,” Raichlen said. Below are more abbreviated excerpts from Raichlen's 10 commandments of perfect grilling: 1. Be organized: Gather everything you need for grilling: food, marinade, basting sauce, seasonings, equipment grill-side before you start. 2. Gauge your fuel-When using charcoal, light enough to form a bed of glowing coals three inches larger on all sides than the surface area of the food. With gas grill, make sure tank is at least one-third full. 3. Preheat the grill - High heat - at least 500 degrees - is key to great grilling. When using charcoal, hold your hand about six inches above the grate. After 3 seconds, the force of the heat should force you to snatch your hand away. When using a gas grill, preheat to high for 10-15 minutes. 4. Know when to baste - Oil, vinegar, citrus and yogurt bastes can be brushed on meat throughout cooking time. (If you baste with a marinade you used for raw meat or seafood, do not apply it during the last three minutes of cooking.) Apply sugar-based barbecue sauce toward the end of cooking time because it burns easily. 5. Keep it covered - When cooking larger cuts, such as prime rib, keep the grill tightly covered; every time you lift the lid, you add five to 10 minutes to the cooking time. The steakhouse burger recipe allows you to "see" and control what's in your burgers instead of relying on the supermarket. Next week I'll share some of my favorite homemade grilling sauces and toppings, as well as a couple of never-fail dip recipes. Tasty Steakhouse Burger 1-pound boneless chuck roast, round or short ribs 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground white pepper 4 hamburger buns Swiss cheese slices 2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise 2-3 tablespoons ketchup 2-3 tablespoons pickle relish Lettuce leaves Tomato slices Preheat the grill to medium-high. Chop beef into 1-inch cubes, place on a plate, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Place half the beef in a food processor or blender. Pulse (do not continuously run the food processor) about 15 times. Season the meat with half the Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and pulse an additional 10-12 times, until meat is finely chopped but not overly fine. Remove and repeat process with remaining beef. Divide into four equal portions and shape into four patties. Place the patties on the grill and cook until brown and cooked to your liking. Place a slice of cheese on each burger during last two minutes of cooking. Place ketchup, mayonnaise and relish in a cleaned food processor or blender and pulse to combine. Spread on the buns, then add the burgers with lettuce and tomatoes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Mallory Sanders was brilliant in the pitcher's circle on Tuesday, as Sanders threw a no-hitter to lead Wesson Cobras Varsity past Franklin County Lady Dawgs Varsity 10-1. Wesson Cobras Varsity secured the victory thanks to six runs in the first inning. The offensive onslaught came from singles by Kyla Smith and Lexie Freeman, a walk by Kayla Mckleven, and an error on a ball put in play by Marley Channel. Wesson Cobras Varsity opened up scoring in the first inning, when Smith singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run. Sanders was on the rubber for Wesson Cobras Varsity. The fireballer surrendered one run on zero hits over seven innings, striking out 14. Karlee Wallace toed the rubber for Franklin County Lady Dawgs Varsity. The pitcher allowed ten hits and ten runs over seven innings, striking out three. Wesson Cobras Varsity collected ten hits. Lexie Guess and Smith all managed multiple hits for Wesson Cobras Varsity. Guess went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Wesson Cobras Varsity in hits. Sadye Scott went 0-for-2 at the plate as Scott led the team with one run batted in.

Prepare, but don’t panic. That’s the advice of experts at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and its pediatric arm, Children’s of Mississippi, concerning shortages of baby formula shortages nationally. Supply chain issues and a recall are reasons why formula is harder to find. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Association warned families about a formula recall after Abbott Nutrition recalled powdered formula manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. The recall was sparked by an investigation for cronobacter sakazakii contamination. This can be serious or fatal for infants. "At this time of immense shortage and recalls, we encourage mothers who are medically able to breastfeed to do so, and for those who are unable to, please follow your pediatrician’s recommended alternatives,” said Dr. Mobolaji Famuyide, chief of UMMC’s Division of Newborn Medicine and professor of pediatrics. “Above all, the safety of our children is primal.” Dr. Anita Henderson, president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician at the Hattiesburg Clinic, said the AAP has been in touch with the Mississippi Department of Health and its WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program about the issue. “We encourage parents to contact their local WIC office if they are having trouble finding formula,” Henderson said. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents buy only a 10-day to two-week supply of formula to avoid hoarding. If favorite stores and supermarkets are short on baby formula, look in other stores and pharmacies. Store-brand formulas are generally a safe substitute, she said. “If you are not sure, please reach out to your pediatrician.” Shiloh Lancaster, a dietitian in the neonatal intensive care unit inside the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi, agrees. “Parents should discuss changing formulas or appropriate alternatives to formulas with their pediatrician or pediatric specialist, especially if an infant is on a specialized formula,” she said. Lancaster also suggests trying to purchase formula directly from manufacturers. “The major manufacturers have established service line and websites to assist in finding formula in your area.” The AAP warns parents against watering down formula as this can lead to slowed growth, nutritional and electrolyte imbalances and other serious health conditions. In extreme situations, electrolyte imbalances could lead to seizures and death. Babies younger than a year should not consume cow’s milk, toddler formulas, or milk substitutes such as almond milk or oat milk. Homemade formula recipes are dangerous, experts say, so don’t try making formula at home. Parents shouldn’t buy imported baby formula online, either, as these may have not been approved by the FDA. UMMC and Children’s of Mississippi are “currently adequately stocked for most formulas for our patients, Lancaster said. “We have certainly been impacted by the formula recall, and our stock of hypoallergenic and specialty formulas is limited.” Because of supply limitations, formula samples are not being given to providers or parents to reserve stock for hospital inpatients. “The dietitians and staff here at UMMC are keeping an eye on the supply issue and continue to provide support to help parents and providers navigate the shortage,” Lancaster said.

A smattering of superlative individual performances in shooting competitions from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Las Vegas, Nevada, and improved overall team scores highlight the Mississippi College archery team's spring season. With only one archer scheduled to leave the squad - Ryan Ivey, a graduating senior, has been accepted into the initial class at the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Wichita - John McDonald, MC archery head coach, said the best is yet to come for his Blue and Gold archers. "MC Archery has a bright future," McDonald said. The squad gained valuable experience in tournaments on the road and in Mississippi, competed against top collegiate and amateur performers in open divisions, and shared team-bonding experiences while traveling. Several of his archers took home individual awards. The spring season kicked off Jan. 15 with the 2022 Mississippi Indoor Classic at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Archery Center in Jackson. Despite competing in an open division against archers with a wide range of abilities, MC's Emilia Miceli took first place and Anna Carraway captured second place in the Women's Bowhunter Division. "The Mississippi Indoor Classic allowed us to compete with archers of a very high caliber, making our archers push themselves further and become better prepared for the upcoming events," McDonald said. "They performed well. There was a 'shoot-down' at the end of the classic, and it came down to two of our archers (Miceli and Carraway) shooting against each other. "It was a very good experience for our students." The Mississippi event served as a tune-up for the Lancaster Archery Classic in Pennsylvania, the largest indoor archery tournament on the East Coast. Six MC students were among about 2,000 archers that withstood extremely cold temperatures - the thermostat dropped to 7 degrees at one point - in one of the worst blizzards to hit New England in many years. Despite the weather outside, Miceli and Carraway repeated their earlier performance, finishing in first and second place, respectively, in the Collegiate Women's Bowhunter category. "They both scored well," McDonald said. "Emilia started off slowly, but after a correction with her arrows, made a great comeback with a very strong finish. Anna had a steady, consistent performance. "As a whole, the team performed down the line as I expected. They performed well." The archers took time from the event to experience aspects of Pennsylvania's Amish culture. They watched locals ride in horse-drawn carriages and maneuver bicycles without pedals, and observed how families lived without electricity in their homes - although it was widely available in barns to keep the livestock warm and cozy. Ivey was among the Blue and Gold archers selected to compete in the Lancaster tournament. The avid hunter said he had been pleased with his progress throughout his time at MC. "I'm happy with the improvement I've seen," said Ivey, who played soccer at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit before transferring to MC before his junior year. "The coaches have helped me to improve my shooting ability as an archer. At Lancaster, I shot the best I've shot in my two years at MC." Ivey's participation on the archery team served as a welcome respite from a grueling academic load that saw him gain acceptance into medical school. Until then, he had planned to continue shooting for MC as a graduate student. "I'm a very driven person. and I have goals I want to accomplish, no matter what it takes," he said. "Archery takes a lot more patience than most sports. Day to day, your performance can change, which can lead to aggravation. "It's taught me you have to rely on others - you can't just advise yourself. In medicine, there are several specialties, and you have to work with others to accomplish your goal." He said the shared experiences in MC Archery - like competing in the Lancaster tournament and the trip to Amish country - helped create a supportive environment among team members. "Having somebody on the team to relate to and talk to about daily life, having someone you can lean on and support, brought a sense of community I needed as a transfer student," said Ivey, whose high-water mark as an MC archer took place in last fall's USA Archery Collegiate 3D National Tournament in Foley, Alabama, where he hit 16 targets. He said participating on the archery team has had practical benefits, too. "It's helped me fix what's wrong with my hunting bow, fixed my form, and taught me to be patient. As a team, I think we're improving. All of us are getting our scores up competitively. A good number of our teammates are doing it - not just a few standouts. I feel like our team is on its way." After the Lancaster tournament, a different group of eight Blue and Gold archers competed in the Vegas $hoot in Nevada from Feb. 3-6. Billed as "the largest and most prestigious indoor archery tournament in the world," about 4,000 archers from all levels competed in the open tournament. "It was a stiff, international competition that featured several shooters from other countries," McDonald said. "Our archers shot right along where they had been shooting in practices. By the end of the tournament, they were all shooting back up to par." While none of MC's archers made the podium in that tournament, McDonald said several did turn in noteworthy performances. Among those were Ann Mabry Dean, who spent much of the shoot in third place until faltering late and finishing fifth; Abigail Veidmark, who proved to be a threat throughout the competition; Dalton Moore, who made a strong comeback from a slow start, shooting 294/300 on the last day; and Jack Thomas Spears and Ben Spears, who each scored well. "While we didn't have anybody to place, some archers did very well in their flights," McDonald said. Top 10 finishers in their respective divisions at the Vegas $hoot included: Veidmark, tenth, Female Compound; Jack Thomas Spears, fifth, Male Bowhunter; Lexie Harris, seventh, Female Barebow; Dean, fifth, Female Bunter; and Zeke Harris, seventh, Male Bowhunter. Between practices, the archers enjoyed another bonding opportunity, taking a sightseeing tour of the Grand Canyon. The MC Archery team saved its best performance for the Mississippi Indoor State Championship at the MDWF Archery Center on March 5. Blue-and-gold archers swept the Women's Bowhunter Division, with Miceli finishing in first place, Carraway in second, and Dean in third. Lexie Harris took first place in the Women's Barebow Division, while Abigail Vanmark finished first in the Women's Compound Division. Jack Thomas Spears took first and Zeke Griffin second in the Men's Bowhunter Division, and Dalton Moore placed third in the Men's Compound Division. Reed Ricks (Men's Bowhunter Division), Ivey, and Ben Spears (Men's Compound Division) also turned in Top Five performances. McDonald said the experience his archers have gained this year will serve them well in the future. "We had a second-place finish in the national 3D tournament last fall, and the first- and second-place finish in the national indoor tournament at Lancaster made for a good year," McDonald said. "We had a relatively young team this year, and they've held their own well. "I'm looking forward to seeing them progress next year." Mississippi College, affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is a private, co-educational, Christian university of liberal arts and sciences serving more than 4,100 students from approximately 35 states and more then three dozen countries. Founded in 1826, MC is the oldest institution of higher learning in Mississippi, one of the largest private universities in the state, and America's second-oldest Baptist college. MC offers 84 areas of undergraduate study, 45 degree programs in graduate studies, more than 10 certificate programs, two educational doctoral degrees, a doctor of jurisprudence, and a doctor of professional counseling. MC seeks to be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.

You actually did it. You won the election. Or in the last second, you sunk the shot that won the game. Or your business was named in the top ten in your category this year for growth. Maybe, you actually got ol’ Ms. Fussbudget to laugh during English class. Or just maybe, you lost the weight that has plagued you for so long. Whatever it was that you did – own it. It came from you, it was your own success. No one else can claim that they did what was clearly your accomplishment. There is no need for you to hang your head and deny that you succeeded. No need for you to declare that it was really someone else. Yes absolutely, thank those who helped you or guided you, and give them the acknowledgement that they deserve. But never back away from realizing and accepting that it could not have happened apart from your own decisions, desire, and work. Feels good, doesn’t it? To hold your head high and give yourself a pat on the back for succeeding. To accept that you “did good.” That you are not aways making a mistake or not trying hard enough to be a winner. In doing so, you are setting yourself up to see yourself in a good light – and that does make a person feel good. It will probably make you want to try even harder to win the next time. But let me flip that proverbial pancake to the other side. You made a major mistake, or you gave up trying and just walked away without a word. No one else is to blame. And there isn’t a valid excuse for what occurred…. simply that you are wrong. And a really big error was the result. You. Just. Goofed. What then? Accept it, own it. It was your mistake, not someone else around you. To attempt to lay blame on anyone else accomplishes a lot…and none of it good. Namely, you won’t learn to take responsibility for your own problems, and secondly, that person you are blaming will resent you for a long time. Doesn’t do much for your relationship. Another fact to consider; those around you who already know the real truth - or they find out later – will see you differently, and not in a good way. (And the Bible says the truth will always come out sooner or later. Numbers 32:23) It’s best to just honestly examine what happened– openly and clearly. Look closely at your own actions, motivations and conversations. If what you find makes you squirm, then own it. Sure, there is usually always someone’s behavior you can factor in to make you feel better about it all. But that doesn’t change what you did. Just own it, and try to make amends the best you can. And then forgive yourself. NOTHING good comes from living in guilt and shame. Because, we usually behave according to how we feel about ourself.

By Bob Garver The animated comedy “The Bad Guys” has very quietly been the #1 movie at the domestic box office for the past two weekends. The film follows a group of supposedly unlikeable animals as they do bad, do bad while they pretend to want to do good, then grapple with the decision whether or not to actually do good. Spoiler Alert for this family movie: they do not unanimously decide to remain bad. The leader is the Big Bad Wolf (Sam Rockwell), his best friend is Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), the rest of the team is Miss Tarantula (Awkwafina), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson). At the start of the movie, they lead a life of crime since no one is willing to give them a chance in life, what with the scariness and portrayals as villains and such. Seriously, the world is afraid of “these” animals? These are the most family-friendly versions of these animals imaginable. I’ve been unnerved around some of the fakest snakes you’ll ever see, and I wasn’t for a second scared of the snake in this movie. The Beast from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” could be legitimately terrifying at times, so his arc about having to overcome his image made sense. To have the characters be so adorable so early just makes the film so… over-sanitized. The Bad Guys get busted trying to rob a gala honoring saintly guinea pig Dr. Marmalade (Richard Ayode). Wolf makes a scene of bemoaning how he and his crew deserve a chance to prove they can be good. The fox governor (Zazie Beetz) relents and agrees to let them be potentially reformed by Dr. Marmalade. Wolf insists to his friends that this is all part of a long con to avoid prison and rob the next gala, but secretly he got a taste of being good when he helped out an old lady with a rubbery face just before the robbery, and he found that he liked it. Maybe the goodness should continue. Maybe the others will like goodness if they try it. Thus begins a journey of twists and turns, where we’re supposed to question who’s conning who and who’s on what side. I’ve seen enough of these movies that even if I couldn’t predict the story beat for beat, I was pretty much right about predicting where everyone would end up. Also, I correctly predicted most of the beats along the way. It's not hard to see where this movie draws its inspiration. Subverting fairy tales, that’s “Shrek.” Elaborate heists with smooth-talking explanations, that’s the “Ocean’s” movies. The villains reforming brings to mind that 2010 one-two punch of “Despicable Me” and “Megamind.” And you may as well throw in a layer of “Zootopia” while you’re at it. Okay, one thing caught me off-guard: the very first scene in the movie. I hadn’t been expecting an extended tribute to a certain favorite movie of mine. The scene features Wolf and Snake bantering in a coffee shop, and Snake is wearing an awfully familiar-looking Hawaiian shirt. That movie also had a character named Wolf, played there by Harvey Keitel. Adults will find little to surprise them about “The Bad Guys,” and even kids have probably been taken on this ride a few times before. But the characters are undeniably given a great deal of charm by the voice cast, and a lot of the jokes still land, even if they too are overly familiar at times. This isn’t a movie that you need to take your kids to see right away, but if you want to take your kids to a movie for the sake of taking them to a movie, sure, this is fine. Grade: B- “The Bad Guys” is rated PG for action and rude humor. It running time is 100 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Office of Governor Tate Reeves is encouraging college students with an interest in state government to apply for the Governor’s Office Internship Program. The internships are designed to provide insight to college students, who want to learn more about the executive branch of state government. Students will experience and assist in the operations of the Governor’s Office and the legislative process. Additionally, the program offers an opportunity to gain practical real-world experience within the Governor’s Office which can allow college students to earn academic credit as established by their school. Subject to the available academic schedule for each intern, the general days/hours of the intern are within 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For additional information, please contact intern coordinator Mammie Maberry at 601-359-3150 or mammie.crowley@govreeves.ms.gov .

Three Co-Lin art students won awards at the Mississippi Community College Student Art Competition at Jones College in Ellisville. Winners pictured from left are Gabby Ladd of Monticello (first place in Ceramics and honorable mention in Digital Art), Colton Miller of Liberty (first place in Printmaking, second place in Digital Art, honorable mention in drawing and honorable mention in 2D Design), and Alissa Ladnier of Jayess (third place in 3D Design). Based on enrollment numbers, Co-Lin was allowed to send 10 works for competition. Out of the 10 pieces, seven of them received awards

The Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) Foundation has established the Vicki Land Memorial Scholarship honoring the lifework of beloved community member and artist Vicki Arrington Land. MSA is a statewide residential school located in Brookhaven that provides advanced programs of study in music, theatre, visual arts, dance, literary arts, and media arts for artistically gifted eleventh and twelfth grade students. Vicki Arrington Land was a well-respected art teacher and innovator for many years. She was born and raised in Brookhaven Mississippi. She obtained a Fine Arts degree from Louisiana Tech University. After teaching on the secondary level in Shreveport, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown in 1977, where she continued to teach art at Brookhaven High School. As the success of the program grew, she was able to introduce four levels of art into the education program for the very first time in the history of the High School. After retiring, Land continued to be an advocate for art education and taught students and adults out of her studio. She was also very active in producing her own work in watercolor and pottery which was sold both privately and in local shops around Brookhaven. Her students have carried on her legacy through the years. Many of them have become successful artists, teachers, architects and advocates for art education. Until 2020, she served as an adjudicator for visual art applicants at the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA). Her legacy also continues through her daughter Brandy Land Johnson, who is an established artist and teacher in the Brookhaven community. In order to honor ‘Mrs. Vicki’, the Land family established this scholarship to encourage and support students who desire to continue Mrs. Land’s love and passion for the arts by pursuing a future in Art Education. MSA Executive Director Dr. Suzanne Hirsch, said: “There have been many students who were accepted into MSA because of the work of Mrs. Vicki. Her ability to identify the potential of future artists has enabled MSA to have many wonderful students over the years. We are so blessed to have known Mrs. Vicki and had her as a part of the MSA Family as an adjudicator. She was such a light for the art community in Brookhaven and for Mississippi.” The Vicki Land Memorial Scholarship will provide a scholarship each year for the next ten years, to a deserving Mississippi School of the Arts Visual Arts graduate pursuing a degree in Art Education.

Governor Tate Reeves today announced the expansion of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which focuses on finding adoptive homes for children within the Mississippi foster care system. Governor Reeves also ceremoniously signed HB 1313, which creates the “State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (or Faith) Scholarship Program.” This legislation provides a million dollars for foster children in Mississippi to pursue postsecondary education. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is generously providing 1.7 million dollars and their training and support program to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. This unique public-private partnership will fund ten experienced adoption professionals to serve children and youth – including teenagers, special needs children, and siblings – who are at risk of aging out of foster care without a family. To date, the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program has found adoptive homes for more than 12,000 children across the United States, including 125 youth right here in Mississippi. “There are still too many Mississippi kids who need a loving family and a forever home, especially older teens who remain in foster care. We’ll continue to do everything we can to support children in foster care, find them loving homes, and give them the opportunity to succeed,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “We have a responsibility to ensure those children growing up in foster care have the opportunity to turn their struggles into strengths.” Governor Reeves ceremoniously signed the legislation during a ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion. The event was livestreamed and can be watched here.