Due to the potential for severe weather on Wednesday, Governor Tate Reeves will hold a ceremonial signing on Thursday, March 31, for House Bill 530 which will give Mississippi teachers the largest pay raise in state history. This major investment into Mississippi education will place average teacher salaries in our state ahead of the National and Southeastern averages. WHO: Governor Tate Reeves Dr. Carey Wright, State Superintendent of Education, Mississippi Department of Education Charlotte Seals, Superintendent, Madison County School District WHEN: March 31, 2022 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time WHERE: Madison Central High School Library 1417 Highland Colony Parkway Madison, MS 39110 Zoom video conferencing will be enabled to allow media to attend and ask questions virtually. If you plan to attend in-person or virtually, please RSVP here. A Zoom link will be provided to members of the media who RSVP. To ensure proper seating and set up, please RSVP by emailing shelby.wilcher@govreeves.ms.gov or calling 601-527-1044 by 10:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, March 31.

New Music Awards has announced that Tommy Rice has won the 2022 New Music Award for Country New Group of the Year. “I am beyond happy, and so blessed to accept this award,” Rice exclaimed. “Every song I write, I pray over it and ask God for his direction. I want listeners to feel in my lyrics what real love is like. The best years of my life were the 21 years God blessed me with my wife, Deborah.” Tommy gives all the credit to God first! Through him Rice’s prayers were answered when he met Paul Loggins with Loggins Promotions. “One could not be more blessed! Paul and his staff work relentlessly night and day to help make my music a success. Paul and his staff are so kind and encouraging,” says Rice. Clay Mansell and Mansell Media have also partnered with Rice to help promote his music and book. “Clay and his staff have worked so hard for me, I couldn’t ask for more.” Tommy would also like to thank his ENT Attorney, Jay Long for being a dear friend and being right by his side. “But to my voters, YOU made this possible! I have no words strong enough to express how much I appreciate all your votes. Tears fill my eyes! I wish there was a way I could hug each and every one who voted to make this dream possible.” Tommy discovered his passion as a songwriter and author after losing his wife, Deborah, to an aggressive form of brain cancer. Throughout her battle, they kept God at the forefront, as they always did together. Three years later, God called her home. He joined a grief recovery class where he was asked to write a short story of their fight with cancer. His short story became his first song. Since beginning his song writing journey, Tommy has written a total of 172 songs, 54 of which have been recorded! He compliments his music and his knowledge by writing a book about the struggles of love and life all while continuing his path to mend a broken heart. With accolades for the 2022 NMA Award for Country New Group of the Year, he PROMISES to work day and night to make you proud. For more information: Website: www.tommyricemusic.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/tommyricemusic Instagram: www.instagram.com/tommyricemusic YouTube: Tommy Rice - YouTube For additional information, please contact: Tommy Rice 601-750-5511 TommyRice601@yahoo.com

A message from Barry Moss, Vice President of Operations, Merit Health Health care is always changing, brought on by scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, government regulation and reform. But there is one constant: physicians still shoulder the ultimate responsibility for a patient’s care whether it be in the emergency room, on the operating table or in a clinic. From the days of Hippocrates, doctors held the fate of their fellow human beings in their hands — and certainly in their hearts. It’s why we pause on National Doctors’ Day each year to thank the men and women who made the decision to travel down that long road to becoming a physician. We at Merit Health are grateful for the more than 200 physicians who work in our hospitals, offices and clinics. We celebrate and honor their commitment to their field, their patients and their community. Be it a primary care doctor fresh out of residency or a veteran surgeon who continues to hone skills by adopting the latest technology, we thank you. It is easy to marvel at the almost miraculous life-saving tools that medicine employs. And just as easy to become frustrated with medicine when chronic disease, terminal illness and horrific accidents win the battle over the doctor’s most drastic life-saving measures. Lest we forget that the physician — the healer, the comforter, the saver of lives — is a human. The same doctor who was triumphant in making a diagnosis in a perplexing case has to deliver the grim prognosis to the patient and his family. The pediatrician who is treating a severely injured or ill child has to go home to tuck in their own little ones. The longtime family doctor who has watched a patient evolve from a vibrant and active lifestyle to an aging, weakened state may be facing the same dilemma with their own elderly parent. On March 30, we take time to thank our doctors — newcomer and veteran, primary care and specialist — for their unwavering care to the lives we at Merit Health touch each year. We acknowledge their lives outside the hospital though we realize that their chosen career path often makes it difficult to separate the two worlds. We appreciate the obstetrician who ventures out in the middle of the night to bring a new life into this world. We thank the emergency room physicians, hospitalists and intensivists for the personal sacrifices they make by staffing our facilities on weekends and holidays. We are grateful to those doctors who answer emergency calls from our hospital staff and patients while out for dinner with their spouses or during a child’s birthday party. The physicians who serve our hospital and numerous clinics all have their own stories to tell, tales of heroic measures inside our walls and in their community. They are all part of the Merit Health family of physicians who work with us and the other members of our health care team of professionals to provide our region with outstanding medical care. We are fortunate to have these men and women. On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, we acknowledge and celebrate their contributions, sacrifices, skills and unwavering concern for our community.

The Mississippi Senate today approved a new legislative redistricting map which secures 36 strong Republican seats moving into the 2023 election cycle. Four of the Senate’s 52 seats which elected Democrats in the past 10 years now solidly favor conservatives. Redistricting is required by law every 10 years after U.S. Census numbers are released. The Mississippi Senate’s map was last redrawn in 2012. “We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Dean Kirby and members of the committee in the redistricting process on the Senate side. The outcome of his hard work is a fair Senate map providing a conservative majority reflective of the Mississippi citizenry,” Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann said. The Senate side of the Joint Committee on Legislative Reapportionment includes 10 members, seven of which are Republicans. This is the same political make-up in the Senate as the 2012 committee appointed by the previous Lieutenant Governor. In August, the committee held nine public hearings all over the state. Senator Kirby coordinated the process of drawing the new Senate map over the next several months. The proposed Senate map can be viewed here. For more information on Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.

By Kara Kimbrough Spring, wonderful spring...the official start of vacation season. Before you pack the car or book a flight, consider an alternate plan. Don't wreck the budget with a long sojourn to an expensive out-of-state resort area filled with pricey restaurants. Instead, look no further than our own Gulf Coast. Besides festivals held almost every weekend, beach walking, shopping, casino hopping, sightseeing and shopping – another great reason to head south is the plethora of authentic Coast restaurants. I regularly receive emails from readers asking for restaurant recommendations and favorite things to do while visiting our state’s crown jewel. Always on the list are the Mississippi Aquarium, riverboat and schooner cruises and walking over the Biloxi Bay and Bay St. Louis bridges. Food picks range from elaborate fine-dining establishments to local family-owned restaurants. Note: many restaurants are closed early in the week, so check websites or call for hours of operation before heading south. First things first, though: The Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau website contains a wealth of information on lodging, RV parks and campgrounds. Also included is a list of things to do, including attending weekly festivals, many centered around local cuisine. Find out more at www.gulfcoast.org. Here's a small sample of some of my favorite restaurants (email me if you'd like more choices): 1. Once you arrive at the beach, choose from among several above-average restaurants on or near the beach. One of my favorites is Shaggy’s in Biloxi. Don't let the brightly-covered exterior fool you. Shaggy's serves surprisingly good seafood, sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes. An outdoor patio overlooking the beach is a bonus. 2. No trip to the Coast is complete without a stop at the Beau Rivage. Even if you’re not an overnight guest, walking through the Beau is a treat - and it's free. Filled with thousands of flowers, shopping opportunities and a range of dining spots, the Beau is always on my itinerary. If you’re hungry, the daily buffet, Terrace Café and Roasted Bean for coffee and a snack won’t disappoint. However, if your budget allows (check the menu before you book), schedule a special dinner at BR Prime. The well-appointed restaurant's outstanding steaks, seafood and ambiance are worth every penny. 3. Many tourists and residents head over the bridge to Ocean Springs and drop into The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint for barbecue. It’s a loud, rustic place; in short, probably not the best choice for those seeking a quiet, refined dining experience. However, The Shed’s smoked ribs and brisket more than compensate for the noise level. 4. My favorite ‘que restaurant (and in my Top 5 of all Coast restaurants in general) is Murky Waters BBQ in downtown Gulfport. The casual dining restaurant’s smoky ribs, wings and burnt ends are among the best I’ve ever tasted. Even the sides are delicious, a rarity in an eatery where meat is the star. There are newer locations in Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis and Hattiesburg, but the original remains my favorite. 5. Last, if you haven’t visited Mary Mahoney’s, it’s an oversight that needs correcting. The classic Biloxi restaurant has weathered three hurricanes and is still serving its famous gumbo, bread pudding and a multitude of seafood dishes. It’s a little pricey (lunch is less expensive) but the food is always consistent. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy exploring the building lined with photos of famous diners, including a U.S. President or two. The structure dates to the 1700’s when the Coast was discovered. The oak tree in the courtyard is supposedly even older, originating, some say, thousands of years ago. In next week’s column, I’ll take you over the bridge to explore the many dining options and attractions in Bay St. Louis.

Warfare in Ukraine may seem far away from Copiah County, but modern life in a computer-dominated virtual environment is vulnerable to cyber attack, and the threat increases with tensions wherever they are. While there is no information to suggest a specific credible cyber threat against the U.S. homeland, it is the responsibility of everyone who depends on modern technology at home or in the office to prepare, says Copiah County Emergency Services Director Randle Drane. Russia, he notes, has significant offensive cyber capabilities, and the potential for the Russian government to consider escalating its destabilizing actions in ways that may impact others outside of Ukraine is real. Drane's advice: It is particularly important to be especially watchful for phishing and social engineering attempts at work and home. Messages that ask for personal information, ask you to take immediate action, or make suspicious offers may be attempts at phishing or cyber-attack. Do not open emails from unknown senders. Instead, reply to an email before clicking links even if the sender looks legitimate. If an email address changes from what is in the received email, it is not legitimate. Keep software applications and operating systems up to date. The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) recommends all organizations adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting their most critical assets. The CISA Shields Up alert is available at: https://www.cisa.gov/shields-up. Drane also points to general personal and professional preparedness actions everyone should take no matter what the potential emergency: Have basic food and emergency preparedness supplies available. Have some cash on hand in case ATMs or credit card readers are unavailable. Do not allow your vehicles to get low on fuel. Ensure that you have a family emergency plan. Store important documents on the cloud.

By Bob Garver “The Lost City” is the kind of movie that looks like it was a lot more fun for the actors to film than it is for the audience to watch. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum got to spend time in each other’s company, goofing around in a comedy in the jungle that was probably closer to a nice beach than the movie makes it seem. That fun should have translated to me enjoying the actors’ company right along with them, but it’s more like being subjected to lengthy footage of a friend’s vacation rather than the immersive experience that this movie wanted to be. Recently-widowed romance novelist Loretta Sage (Bullock) goes on a book tour to promote her latest novel, a lazily-assembled tome that combines her barely-addressed expertise in ancient history with the kind of trashy romance that sells paperbacks. She’s forced to share the stage with Alan Caprison (Tatum), her cover model and public face of protagonist Dash McMahon, brought in to play to audiences that don’t share Loretta’s passion for dead languages. The two don’t like each other, with her thinking he’s nothing more than a handsome face and him thinking she needs to lighten up. But wait, there is one person that shares Loretta’s interest in the historical aspects of her novel. Unfortunately, it’s someone worse than all the airheaded Dash fans combined. Eccentric billionaire Abigail Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe) notices that the book contains allusions to an actual dead language, one that could lead him to a legitimate lost city full of treasure. He abducts Loretta and flies her to his private island, where he’s confident the city is hidden, to do more translations. Alan witnesses the abduction and decides to rescue Loretta himself to prove that he’s not brainless. He enlists adventurous friend Jack Trainer (Brad Pitt) and the two go to the island. Trainer easily rescues Loretta from Fairfax’s clutches, but the getaway… doesn’t go so well. By which I mean that we are subjected to one of the most gruesome scenes of violence I’ve ever seen in a PG-13 movie. Even most R-rated action movies have nothing on what we get here. All the relative innocuousness of the movie is gone in a flash for a scene that nobody is going to remember fondly. Loretta and Alan spend the rest of the movie trying to get off the island and evade Fairfax, with a possibility that they could find the lost city for themselves. Along the way they squabble and bond and take turns saving each other. It’s not hard to draw the conclusion that they’ll wind up together in the end. There’s also a subplot about Loretta’s publisher Beth (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) launching a simultaneous rescue effort, but it could have been cut entirely (my vote says in favor of more of Radcliffe as the scene-stealing villain) and it would barely affect the rest of the movie. For an adventure-comedy, “The Lost City” only works in its dramatic scenes. Loretta’s grieving, Alan’s empathy for Dash fans, and Beth’s desperation are the best things about this movie. It certainly doesn’t work on the level of adventure (Loretta is stuck wearing a sequined jumpsuit so the movie can insert an obvious stunt double, and the less said about a leech attack the better) or comedy (once again, I get the impression that the directors were too afraid to tell the big-name actors that their improvised dialogue wasn’t funny). I was all ready to embrace this movie because theaters haven’t had a potential blockbuster since “The Batman” three weeks ago, but this is not a blockbuster of an effort. Grade: C- “The Lost City” is rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images, suggestive material, partial nudity and language. Its running time is 112 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is hosting two day camps this summer for students around the state. Any child entering first through the sixth grade is eligible to register. “I’m excited to announce the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is hosting summer camps this June and July for our younger students,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “I encourage parents to take advantage of this opportunity to allow their children to learn the importance of agriculture and farmstead living in a fun and stimulating environment.” The ‘Grow a Farm’ camp is for students entering first through third grade and will be held on Monday, June 27, through Thursday, June 30, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. Over these four days, campers will learn about the various aspects of designing and managing farmland, such as the importance of water quality, soil stability and both crop and livestock management. The registration fee is $125 per student. The ‘Field to Market’ camp is for students entering fourth through the sixth grade and will be held on Monday, July 18, through Thursday, July 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. Over these four days, campers will discover creative ways to run a successful farm, including how to sell products at a farmers market. The registration fee is $125 per student. Breakfast and lunch will not be included; students are encouraged to bring a lunch. Availability is limited, so contact the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum to secure your child’s entry as soon as possible. For more information about the summer day camps, contact Rachel Bone at rachel@mdac.ms.gov or 601-432-4500. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

A group of former Jackson Mets players and staff will be holding a reunion in Jackson on April 1st and 2nd. The late Bill Hetrick along with Kerry Kendall-Hrabstock planned the event for 2020 but had to postpone due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of the former players have also been involved in the planning. Some of the former players that are tentatively planning to attend include Barry Lyons, Calvin Schiraldi, Billy Beane, Darryl Strawberry, Randy Myers, DeWayne Vaughn and two-time Texas League manager of the year, Sam Perlozzo. Over 40 players and staff will be attending. Friday, April 1st players will participate in a golf outing and that evening there will be a dinner held at the Jackson Hilton. Saturday morning the group will gather at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum to greet fans and friends from the time they spent with the Double A team of the New York Mets. Doors will open at 10am and the meet and greet will go until noon. Regular museum admission will be charged. The Public is invited to attend the Saturday morning gathering. There will be players from the Mets tenure in Jackson which ran from 1975 through 1990.During that time the Mets were one of the top producers of talent in the Minor Leagues. Over 100 players during that time played in the major leagues.

Athletes from Bogue Chitto, Brookhaven Academy, Loyd Star and Wesson have signed on with Co-Lin to continue their sports careers. Eli Cupit, who played center for the Bogue Chitto Bobcat gridders, is headed to Co-Lin as a Wolfpack snapper, although his high school sports involvement encompassed powerlifting and baseball as well. Meanwhile Brookhaven Academy gridders Corey Case and Tyler Fortenberry and baseball standout Trenton Tarver bring multiple athletic talents to help Co-Lin. In Case, Co-Lin picks up a new all-round kicking specialist who is recognized for his performance as a punter and field goal and point-after-touchdown kicker on the football field. Fortenberry, a quarterback who also played basketball and baseball at BA, follows his older brother Trey, a tight end, to the Co-Lin Wolfpack. Tarver is a catcher/infielder, who also will bring a power bat to Co-Lin in baseball. Loyd Star's Riley Easterling, an infielder, should also help Co-Lin's run production in baseball with a strong bat. Wesson's Collin McGowen, a linebacker, should bolster Co-Lin in football on the defensive side.

After securing unanimous support in the Mississippi House and Senate, Gov. Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1486, Tuesday, March 22. The bill revises Mississippi’s commercial driver’s license qualification standards requiring the Commission of Public Safety to implement test waivers for currently serving military members and military veterans who have established training and experience operating heavy military vehicles. “This legislation offers streamlined job opportunities to our Soldiers and Airmen serving in the Mississippi National Guard. It allows our service members to use their military training and experience to advance their civilian career. This is a great news story for our service members and our military families,” said Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi. Lt. Col. Lawrence Austin, director of operations at Camp McCain Training Center in Grenada, was initially contacted by Will White, MS Freight Company in Grenada, seeking to employ up to 20 new employees to his company. He knew the trained professionals of the Mississippi National Guard would be the perfect fit to enhance his team of drivers and mechanics. After the job announcement closed, Lt. Col. Austin found that no Soldiers applied because they did not have the required CDL, even though they were qualified military transportation specialists. Lt. Col. Austin researched the requirements to obtain a CDL in Mississippi, reaching out to Rep. Karl Oliver, who serves on the Mississippi Committee of Military Affairs, and Col. Allen McDaniel, executive director of the National Guard Association of Mississippi, for assistance. Together they drafted a proposal that ultimately became House Bill 1486. Mississippi’s Commercial Driver’s license, or CDL, qualification standards are found in Miss. Code §63-1-208. Those standards include certain testing requirements. House Bill 1486 amends those standards adding waivers to some of its testing. These waivers are limited in application to service members and veterans who received training during their military career, reducing the time and cost of obtaining the license, and serve as an incentive to service members stationed in Mississippi to continue their military service and become a part of Mississippi’s transportation industry. “This is a great day for Mississippi veterans and our brave men and women serving in the military. Our nation needs approximately 80,000 truck drivers just to keep up with current transportation needs,” said Gov. Reeves. “This bill offers more job opportunities for military service members, provides a resolution for our transportation demands, and strengthens our supply chain.” The guidance for establishing the qualification standards for a CDL is found in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulations. States are required to follow these regulations when enacting their qualification standards for issuance of CDLs. Within these regulations, the FMCSA established certain waivers which recognize the value of the training received by military members serving in certain military occupational specialties. Several organizations have worked diligently to research and draft this bill for consideration – including the Department of Public Safety, Mississippi National Guard, the National Guard Association of Mississippi, the Mississippi Trucking Association, and Mississippi Veterans Affairs. Their accomplishments were made possible through the support of our legislative officials and the direct involvement and support of Gov. Reeves. “We applaud our Mississippi Legislature and Gov. Reeves on their constant support of our Mississippi National Guard,” said retired Col. Bill Murphy, current president of the National Guard Association of Mississippi. The Mississippi National Guard engaged several platforms to inform and educate trained service members on the new opportunities the legislation offers. This united effort will harness the value of military training and translate military expertise to careers in the civilian workforce. Programs such as the Mississippi National Guard Outreach Services, Employment Outreach, Work for Warriors Program, and Education Office have already begun the process of assisting our military service members to connect them with industry partners in their local areas for civilian job opportunities. “Programs like this are made possible by our communities recognizing the training and skills that our service members bring to the workforce,” said Sarah Frey, director of the Work for Warriors Program, Mississippi National Guard. “We hope to be a conduit for our industry and community partners for resources and military engagement in order to better identify, understand, and utilize the military talent across the state.” According to the Mississippi National Guard Education Officer, Maj. Heath Morgigno, approximately 450 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have completed the required transportation training and are serving in military transportation jobs that would make them eligible to obtain a Mississippi CDL under House Bill 1486. For the driving skills test waiver, a service member must be or must have been assigned a position that requires them to operate heavy military vehicles. This waiver will be available to members with at least 2 years of safe vehicle operation. The knowledge test waiver will be available to those service members with one these specialties: Army – Motor Transport Operator (88M), Patriot Launching Station Operator (14T), Petroleum Supply Specialist (92F) Air Force – Ground Transportation Specialist (2T1), Fuels Specialist (2F0), Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator (3E2) Marine Corps – Motor Vehicle Operator (3531) Navy – Equipment Operator (EO) Service members will need to provide official documentation of their military-skills specialty designation to qualify for the waiver. In addition to the driving skills and knowledge tests, the bill directs the Commission to provide waivers for certain endorsement tests. By providing appropriate documentation, service members will be able to take advantage of test waivers for the hazardous materials, tanker vehicle, and passenger vehicle endorsements. Military service members obtaining their CDL through these waivers will not be required to obtain a commercial driver learner’s permit. In addition, service members will not be required to meet the requirements of the FMCSA’s Entry Level Drivers Training (ELDT) regulations. The Administration will determine the military training, testing, and procedures meet or exceed the requirements of the ELDT rule. Members of the Mississippi National Guard, Reserve, and Active-Duty branches of service will be included in the military service members who qualify for the waivers. The waivers will also be available to separated service members for up to one year following their departure from service. The Department of Public Safety will be adopting rules and regulations necessary to implement these test waivers as soon as practical after July 1, 2022, but no later than July 1, 2023. More updates will be provided as the rules and regulations are implemented. The Mississippi National Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve with honor and integrity in diverse missions throughout our state and nation. We are Always Ready and Always There. * A special thanks to Lt. Col. Lawrence Austin for providing the above cited information on the details of the new law.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency continues to work with affected counties due to severe weather on March 22, 2022. At the time of this release, the National Weather Service Jackson has confirmed five tornadoes. Four EF-1 tornadoes and one EF-3 tornado were found across their coverage area: Clay/Monroe County, Damascus (Kemper County), Edwards (Hinds County), North-Central Hinds, and West Ridgeland (Madison County). The NWS continues to survey damaged areas. MEMA continues to assist counties in conducting damage assessments. Fourteen counties have reported some sort of damage in their area. Nine counties have provided preliminary damage numbers to MEMA. These numbers are subject to change through the validation process: Adams Attala Clay – 39 Homes; 27 Farms/ Businesses Copiah – 2 Homes; 1 Business George Hinds – 43 Homes; 3 Businesses Holmes – 11 Homes; 5 Businesses Jefferson – 1 Home Kemper – 18 Homes Lauderdale Madison Smith – 1 Home Warren – 15 Homes Yazoo – 12 Homes The MEMA Call Center remains open to assist residents in need of resources: 1-800-445-6362 Hours of Operation Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sundays: Closed