The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is working with multiple counties to assess damage after severe weather, tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding impacted the state on March 22, 2022. Currently, two injuries (Holmes, Copiah) have been reported due to yesterday’s storms. Multiple fallen trees/limbs were reported across the state, impacting roads and creating power outages. For a look at current outages, click here. As assessments continue today, 12 counties are reporting damage to homes. We anticipate that number to change through the damage assessment process. Those counties are: Adams Attala Clay Copiah Hinds Holmes Jefferson Kemper Madison Smith Warren Yazoo We encourage residents that sustained damage to their homes to report it to their counties using MEMA’s self-report tool. As a reminder, this is not an application for financial assistance but information-gathering purposes. MEMA is providing tarps and UAS (drone) assistance to requesting counties. For residents who are currently without power, remember: Keep freezers and refrigerators closed Only use generators outdoors and away from windows Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges Have alternate plans to refrigerate medicines or use power-dependent medical devices

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will open a Call Center for those citizens needing assistance following the severe weather on March 22. The Call Center will be open for business starting today March 23, 2022 at 1:00 PM. If assistance is needed call 1-888-445-6362 Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sundays Closed

The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit National Tour Will Make a Stop in Jackson and Madison. Wreaths Across America (WAA) and Jackson Regents Council Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) as Hosts, are proud to announce a local stop for the WAA Mobile Education Exhibit (MEE) nationwide tour. The MEE started its tour at the WAA Headquarters in Maine and will be in Jackson on Friday, March 25, 2022, for a scheduled private event at Jackson Academy, 4908 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Mississippi beginning with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 8:15 a.m. to include recognition of our Vietnam Veterans. The WAA/MEE will make another local stop on Saturday, March 26, 2022, for a scheduled event both free and open to the public at Liberty Park, 810 Madison Avenue, Madison, Mississippi. The hours of the event are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and at 1 p.m. recognition of Vietnam Veterans. “The goal of the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit is to bring community together and teach patriotism while remembering the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “Over the last two years we feel this exhibit has taken on even more meaning by providing the opportunity for people to safely participate in something that is both educational and inspiring, while supporting and giving back to the communities it visits.” The MEE achieves this goal by bringing the local community, veterans, active-duty military, and their families together through interactive exhibits, short films, and shared stories. The exhibit serves as a mobile museum, educating visitors about the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes as well as to serve as an official ‘welcome home’ station for our nation’s Vietnam Veterans. Learn more Wreaths Across America's Mobile Education Exhibit - YouTube and to donate or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/ Magnolia State/MS0068. All veterans, active-duty military, their families, and the local community members are invited and encouraged to visit, take a tour, and speak with WAA representatives and volunteers. They can also share more about the national nonprofit, and the work its volunteers do to support our heroes and their communities year-round. The public tours for the MEE are free and open to the public with social distancing, sanitation, and safety procedures in place to protect the health of all visitors in accordance with the CDCs recommendation for large gatherings stemming from concerns surrounding the pandemic. Members of the media, dignitaries, veterans, and other interested groups are urged to come, ask questions, share stories and experience this one-of-a-kind exhibit. Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing wreaths on veteran’s headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. However, in 2021, the organization placed more than 2.4 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths at more than 3,100 participating locations nationwide. Throughout the calendar year you can tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio, (http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio) 24/7, to learn more about the mission and those who support it across the country, as well as the hundreds of local charitable efforts nationwide that are funded through the Group Sponsorship Program. You can sponsor a veteran’s wreath anytime for $15 at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Each sponsorship goes toward a live, balsam wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest at noon on Saturday, December 17, 2022, as part of National Wreaths across America Day. Go to https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/search?searchType=location find a local participating cemetery near you to support go to and type in your town and/or state.

The vote on the conference report for HB 530 was 118 to 4. See the House vote. It now awaits Gov. Reeves' signature, the final step in this historic move to bring Mississippi teacher pay closer to the Southeastern average. The bill provides a $2,000 raise for assistant teachers and higher salaries for certified teachers at all experience levels and classifications, including: Minimum starting pay of $41,500 Average salary increase of $5,140 Annual step increases of $400 (A), $525 (AA), $550 (AAA), $600 (AAAA) Larger step increases at years 5, 10, 15, and 20: $1,200 (A) $1,250 (AA) $1,300 (AAA) $1,350 (AAAA) $2,500 increase at year 25 for all classifications The full pay raise will take effect July 1, 2022. See the new salary schedule.

by Kara Kimbrough Spring is finally here, which means it’s time to get back in touch with Mother Earth. More specifically, I’m referring to the transition from heavy soups and stews to lighter fare like salads. Often mischaracterized as boring “diet food,” salads are one of the healthiest, tastiest and yet most apologized-for meals on the planet. For example, does the phrase, “It’s just a salad…” sound familiar? It’s an often-uttered sentence many give when describing what they consider an uninteresting meal. But it really doesn’t have to be like that, especially when you take things up a notch with homemade dressings and the addition of unusual ingredients with plenty of crunch, color and taste. Full disclosure: I’m not a health nut. My love for pasta and other assorted carbs is well documented but incorporating at least “something green daily” in my diet has become a priority. This occurred after I read an article from a gerontologist listing this simple tip as one of the ways to prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia. Adding a green salad is not that hard to do, especially in the evening when the thought of a heavy meal can be oft putting. And if it will help – even a little – to ward off diseases on the mind – I’m all in. One thing that has made salad-making easier and even more fun is purchasing a new salad spinner. I splurged on a fancier model than the previous one I owned and let me just say, it’s taken salad-making to a new level. Purchased in the kitchen tools aisle at Kroger, the *model I purchased is the epitome of multi-purpose. First, soaking the lettuce and whatever vegetables I plan to add (carrots, celery, peppers, etc.) to remove all traces of dirt and grime is easy courtesy of the extra-large acrylic bowl. Next, the built-in strainer makes it easy to drain everything before spinning to remove excess water. Letting the vegetables chill in the strainer is the last step before creating a large salad. And last, tossing leftover lettuce and vegetables back into the large bowl with a built-in lid ensures that tomorrow’s salad with be crisp and fresh, alleviating the necessity of finding another storage bowl. OK, now that we’ve mastered how to prepare a healthy salad, what’s the best way to dress it up a little? I was shocked to learn my favorite name-brand Italian dressing is packed with sodium, so finding one that offered the same tangy flavor without the additives was imperative. I tweaked a homemade dressing recipe to include more of my favorite ingredients, resulting in a healthier substitute to the name-brand option. If you’d like the recipe, drop me an email and I’ll send it to you. Last, I don’t want to leave the impression that a green salad is the only option in this food category. Spring meals require lighter side dishes as well. Nothing’s better than salads made with pasta, potatoes, chopped vegetables like corn and tomatoes with a light dressing, to name just a few. Here’s a recipe for an old-school New York deli favorite that’s withstood the test of time – specifically, 100 years or more since the family-owned delicatessen opened its doors. It can be prepared with or without meat, but any way you serve it, it'll be the star of your spring table. Delicatessen-Style German Potato Salad ½ cup apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar ½ tablespoons salt 1 cup water ½ pound meat: corned beef, ham, cooked bacon or salami (or your favorite) Vegetable oil Pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons yellow mustard 1/2 cup chopped pickles (can substitute chopped lettuce or cabbage) 3 pounds cooked red potatoes, peeled and sliced Make a vinegar base by heating the vinegar in a small pan over medium heat with the sugar and salt. When the sugar is dissolved, add the water. Set aside. Put the meat in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade and chop or grind the meat. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart pan with a little vegetable oil and a pinch or two of black pepper. Add the mustard, chopped pickles and potatoes. Then stir in the vinegar base. Dressing can be doubled or tripled if you prefer a moister salad. Refrigerate before serving. *My favorite salad spinner is a 5-quart OXO Good Grips Acrylic model. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will host the second annual Mississippi Mudbug Festival on Wednesday, April 27, through Sunday, May 1. “We are excited to host the Mississippi Mudbug Festival again right here in Jackson,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, and our Fairgrounds staff has worked hard to bring this popular festival back again and make it better than ever. We will have musical performances, fair rides and a crawfish boil like no other. I invite the public to come out with their families and friends to enjoy this new statewide tradition with southern-style crawfish and first-rate entertainment.” The Festival will include live entertainment featuring Blue Oyster Cult, Laine Hardy, Bobby Rush, Tip Tops, Shake the Bucket, Hannah Everhart and Sullivan’s Hollow; crawfish cooking and eating contests; amusement rides provided by North American Midway Entertainment with daily ride specials; and crawfish plates provided by The Back Porch restaurant. Admission at the gate is free and parking is $10 per car. Rides will begin when gates open each day and over 20 great fair rides will be offered. Coupon ride prices will be $1.50 per coupon, $25 for 22 coupons and $60 for 50 coupons, or the public can enjoy all rides for one low wristband price of $25. Advanced ride wristbands can be purchased online for $20 athttps://tickets.authentigate.ca/store/#/NAME/658. The Tails and Ales area will be open daily with crawfish and beverages available for purchase. Crawfish will be provided by The Back Porch and sold for $15 per plate. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area will be $10 on Saturday, April 30. Entry to the Mudbug Music Area will be $5 on Friday, April 29, and Sunday, May 1. The Schedule for the 2022 Mississippi Mudbug Festival is as follows: Activities & Events for Wednesday, April 27, 2022 5:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 5:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 10:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Thursday, April 28, 2022 2:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 5:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 5:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Free admission. 7:00 p.m. – Tip Tops performance 10:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Friday, April 29, 2022 2:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 4:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 4:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $5. 6:00 p.m. – Shake the Bucket performance featuring Hannah Everhart 8:00 p.m. – Laine Hardy performance 11:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Saturday, April 30, 2022 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 12:00 p.m. – Crawfish and beverages will be available for purchase inside the Tails and Ales Courtyard. Free admission. 2:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $10. 4:00 p.m. – Crawfish Eating Contest will begin 5:30 p.m. – Sullivan’s Hollow performance 8:00 p.m. – Blue Oyster Cult performance 11:00 p.m. – Gates and Mudbug Music Area close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Activities & Events for Sunday, May 1, 2022 12:00 p.m. – Gates and Rides open 12:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area opens. Entry will be $5. 1:00 p.m. – Battle of the Crawfish begins 3:00 p.m. – Bobby Rush performance 7:00 p.m. – Mudbug Music Area closes 8:00 p.m. – Gates close Ride Specials: Ride-A-Thon – Attendees can enjoy over 20 great rides for one low wristband price of $25 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information about the Mississippi Mudbug Festival, visit www.msmudbugfestival.com online and follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds page on Facebook.

On Feb. 3, 1943, the troopship USAT Dorchester was hit by an enemy torpedo and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic. Of the 902 young men on board, only 230 survived, and they owed their lives to the courage and leadership exhibited by the heroic Four Chaplains, who, in sacrificing their lives, left a unique legacy of brotherhood. This service is a tribute to those courageous chaplains and the 672 brave young men who lost their lives on the fateful night. Further, this ceremony honors all those who have served, and whose courage and faith have sustained our country. We have a responsibility to teach our children and youth about these great events and great sacrifices, for they are our future. They must know and understand what selfless service on behalf of others can accomplish. At Post 79's February Meeting, Chaplain Albert Weeks presented a program to honor the memory of the four Chaplains. PRAYER: God of our fathers and our God, we thank you for the unity that the Dorchester chaplains, these four men of God, demonstrated in life and in death. Unity that is not uniformity. Unity that strengthens within each of us every worthy loyalty of faith and practice. Unity that transcends all our differences and makes us one in loyalty to our country and our fellowmen, and to You, our God. Grant us now Your abiding presence, and may we remain faithful to the spirit of our Four Chaplains who, having learned to live and serve together, in death were not divided. Amen. At 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1943, the bell on USAT Dorchester rang twice and never was sounded again. The troopship was torpedoed by an enemy submarine, and 672 young men died as it sank to the bottom. Among them were four men of God: a rabbi, a Roman Catholic priest, a Methodist minister, and a Dutch Reformed minister. All were Army chaplains. These four chaplains gave their life jackets to save four soldiers and, in so doing, gave up their only means of survival. They were last seen on the deck of the Dorchester with their arms linked and their heads bowed in prayer as they went to their watery graves in the North Atlantic. Each chaplain received the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross posthumously, and in 1960, a special Medal for Heroism was presented to their next of kin – an award intended to have the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor. At this time, a candle will be lit for each of the Four Chaplains: “I light this candle in memory of Chaplain George L. Fox …” George Fox was the oldest of the Four Chaplains. In Vermont, he was called “the little minister,” because he was 5’7”. Lying about his age in 1917, he enlisted in the Army as a medical corps assistant. He received the Silver Star for rescuing a wounded soldier from a battlefield filled with poison gas, although he wore no gas mask himself, and the Croix de Guerre for outstanding bravery in an artillery barrage that left him with a broken spine. After the war, he became a successful accountant. He was happily married with two children when he heard God’s call to the ministry. Fox went back to school and later was ordained as a Methodist minister. When war came, he once again enlisted, telling his wife, “I’ve got to go. I know from experience what our boys are about to face. They need me.” Before he boarded Dorchester; he wrote a letter to his daughter. “I want you to know,” he wrote, “how proud I am that your marks in school are so high – but always remember that kindness and charity and courtesy are much more important.” “I light this candle in memory of Chaplain Alexander D. Goode …” Growing up in Washington, D.C., Alexander Goode was an outstanding athlete and scholar. Following in his father’s footsteps, this young man – known for his laughter and love of life – became a rabbi. Even as he pursued his studies, he found time to serve in the National Guard. The return of the body of the Unknown Soldier to Arlington National Cemetery had a profound effect on Goode. He attended the ceremonies, choosing to walk the 15 miles there and 15 miles back rather than take a car or a bus because he thought it showed more respect. Goode married his childhood sweetheart and they had a daughter. He was serving a synagogue in York, Pa., when World War II broke out. One day, Mrs. Goode received a telegram from her husband that read, “Having a wonderful experience,” and she knew that her husband had found companions with whom he could share his faith and good humor. “I light this candle in memory of Chaplain Clark V. Poling …” Clark Poling was the youngest of the Four Chaplains and the seventh generation in an unbroken line of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church. When World War II broke out, he was anxious to go, but not as a chaplain. “I’m not going to hide behind the church in some safe office out of the firing line,” he told his father. The elder Poling replied, “Don’t you know that chaplains have the highest mortality rate of all? As a chaplain you’ll have the best chance in the world to be killed. You just can’t carry a gun to kill anyone yourself.” So the young man left his pastorate in Schenectady, N.Y., and became an Army chaplain. Just before he sailed; Poling asked his father to pray for him – “not for my safe return. That wouldn’t be fair. Just pray that I shall do my duty ... and have the strength, courage, and understanding of men. Just pray that I shall be adequate.” Indeed, he taught his men to not harbor personal hatred for the Germans and the Japanese. Hate the system that made your brother evil, he said. It is the system we must destroy. “I light this candle in memory of Chaplain John P. Washington …” John Washington grew up in the toughest section of Newark, N.J., poor, scrappy and determined. One of nine children born to an Irish immigrant family, he was blessed with a sunny disposition and a love for music. He also loved a good fight and was a member of the South 12th Street gang when he was called to the priesthood. He played ball with the boys of the parish, organized sports teams and, when the war broke out, went with his “boys” into the Army. Raised in song and prayer to comfort those around him, Washington’s beautiful voice could be heard above the cries of the dying in his final moments on Feb. 3, 1943.

By: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson On March 22, we celebrate National Ag Day and recognize the contributions of agriculture that provide food, fuel, fiber, and shelter to our communities. In Mississippi, agriculture - the state’s largest industry - makes an enormous impact on our economy. In 2021, the farm-gate value of agricultural commodities produced in Mississippi was $8.3 billion, which set an all-time high record. With 34,700 farms in the state covering 10.4 million acres, the agriculture industry employs nearly one-fifth of our workforce. Farmers and ranchers work tirelessly year-round to provide a safe, abundant and affordable food supply along with countless other products that we use in our daily lives. We see and consume the fruits of their labor (sometimes literally fruits) at the grocery store, farmers markets, and restaurants. Sometimes we take for granted the abundant, affordable food; but, in a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, we are reminded of farmers’ invaluable contribution to society. When society shut down, our farmers kept working so we could keep eating. As stewards of the land, farmers and ranchers are true conservationists. Our connection to and respect of the land, often passed down over generations, is not only sentimental and moral, but also essential to making a living. For many in agriculture, the land represents the biggest capital investment of the business. By adopting new agricultural technologies such as precision agriculture and seed technologies, farmers better safeguard their land, make better profits, and increase yields while using with fewer inputs, including water. With fewer acres available for food production, increasing yields has led to each American farmer feeding 165 people rather than just 25 people in the 1960s. Successfully producing the food supply is more than just planting seeds and harvesting a crop. Farmers battle uncertain weather, fluctuating market prices, inflation and rising input costs, and many other challenges. We’re blessed in the United States to be net exporters of food. We will have plenty of food in Mississippi. But even so, Mississippians and all Americans will experience cost increases as agricultural inputs including fuel and fertilizer increase in price due to inflation, greater demand, and port closures. We all need Washington to pursue policies to make America energy independent again, address inflation, and retreat from environmental regulations and decisions that only increase costs to farmers while lowering food productivity during this global crisis. As we recognize National Ag Day, and Ag Day in Mississippi with the proclamation by Governor Tate Reeves, we remember that food security is national security. American agriculture fuels the economy and feeds our families, and I encourage all our government officials in Washington and Mississippi to join with me to pursue policies that facilitate agriculture and reject laws and restrictions that hurt the freedom to farm.

Opera Mississippi presents “The Magic of Opera” on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. at the Belhaven University Center for the Arts (835 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS). Enjoyable for the whole family, the show will feature superb professional singers from around the United States, the Opera Mississippi Orchestra, dancers from Ballet Mississippi, aerial silk artist Tjaden Cox, and acrobatic artist Daniella Jack from Cirque de la Symphonie. “We are incredibly excited to offer this truly extraordinary and ‘magical’ event!” says Artistic Director, Jay Dean. “We are delighted to welcome such incredible talent to our stage!” Audiences will recognize many return singers from Opera Mississippi’s Diamond Anniversary Celebration hosted at the Yacht Club in June 2021: Patrick McNally, baritone; Tjaden Cox, soprano and aerialist; Maryann Kyle, soprano; Bridget Capell, mezzo-soprano; Stacey Trenteseaux, soprano; and Hosea Griffith, bass-baritone. Also joining the stellar cast for this performance are Tony Offerle, bass-baritone, and Eric Botto, tenor. “The Magic of Opera” will feature some of the most powerful, emotional, and magical music ever written. Our vocal artists, dancers, and acrobats will light up the stage with many recognizable pieces by Mozart, Rossini, Dvorak, Puccini, Bizet, Leoncavallo, Johann Strauss, Gounod, and more. Former Artistic Director of Opera Mississippi, stage director, and operatic tenor Carroll Freeman is also collaborating on the event. Freeman comments, “The musical magic of opera in Mississippi has been graciously perpetuated by Opera Mississippi’s long and illustrious legacy. It is a joy for me to return to Opera Mississippi, which I led and loved two decades ago!” Advanced tickets may be ordered online at operams.org: $40 for standard admission, $10 for children 12 and under. Remaining tickets will be on sale at the door for $45 standard, $12 children. Other ticket specials include: the “4 for 2” special (2 complimentary tickets with purchase of 2 online tickets)–-visit www.operams.org/the-magic-of-opera and enter code “MAGIC” at checkout or call our opera office at 601-960-2300. Also, music students and university/college music faculty members who present their valid school ID at the door can get 2 tickets for the price of 1. Don’t miss other upcoming Opera Mississippi performances including “Over the Rainbow: A Tribute to Judy Garland” on May 16th and “Lady Sings the Blues: A Tribute to Billie Holiday” on June 20th. Join us and experience the music, the magic, and the moment! For more information on tickets to this and the entire Opera Mississippi season, visit operams.org or call 601.960.2300. Enjoyable for the whole family! - Jay Dean, Artistic Director BELHAVEN COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL: While policies are subject to change before the event, currently masks are required to be worn indoors by both vaccinated and unvaccinated Belhaven guests and students. Belhaven University follows the mandates of the city, state, or national government and adjusts their safety policy as those requirements are updated. Proof of a full course COVID-19 vaccination, with their final dose at least fourteen days prior to the event or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the prior 72 hours may be required for entry. Belhaven has developed these protections in consultation with medical advisors and built on the recommendations of the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and other top-level medical experts. Please review Belhaven University’s current COVID-19 policy by visiting www.belhaven.edu/coronavirus. ABOUT OPERA MISSISSIPPI Opera Mississippi was founded in 1945, is a founding member of Opera America, and the ninth-oldest continuously-operating opera company in the United States. Our mission is to entertain, educate, and enlighten Mississippi audiences through world-class opera, musical theatre, and popular music experiences; educational outreach; and emerging artist opportunities reflecting community connection and culture while preserving the art form of opera. We create meaningful and impactful musical experiences through season concerts, the John Alexander National Vocal Competition, and free community outreach events. Our projects are sponsored in part by the Mississippi Arts Commission, VisitMississippi, and the National Endowment for the Arts. We are proud to be an integral part of the remarkable artistic heritage that shapes our state, bringing world-class artists and national acclaim to Mississippi. PURCHASE TICKETS

Rachel Shumaker reflects on the many successes of the past nine months since being crowned the state’s inaugural Miss Mississippi Volunteer in July 2021. Serving as the official spokesperson for the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s safe driving campaign titled D.R.I.V.E., Rachel has reached more than 5,000 Mississippians in 35 presentations, traveling over 18,000 miles – a feat which she considers a success for the state as a whole. “I set to work in July with the hope that my work could help bring down Mississippi’s historically-high teen driving fatality statistics,” Shumaker said. “My job is to help young people make the connection between their goals and dreams and how dangerous, yet preventable driving behaviors could be the very things that stop them from getting what they desire out of life.” Her presentations focus on the “Fatal Four” of driving – distracted driving, impaired driving, seatbelt usage, and speeding. She provides both information and instruction to help teens break bad driving habits and build good ones. “Rachel’s energy, enthusiasm, and genuine concern for the safety of Mississippi teen drivers are evident in her presentations,” said Colonel Randy Ginn, Director of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. “In partnering with our Public Affairs Officers, Rachel has done far more than we could have anticipated to educate and encourage our youth to drive safely and responsibly.” In addition to her work, Shumaker has spent time preparing to compete at the nation’s first-ever Miss Volunteer America Scholarship Pageant May 4-7 in Jackson, Tenn., where 47 states will be represented. Among a range of opportunities for personal and career development, winning scholarship dollars, and collaborating with corporate and non-profit partners, Miss Volunteer America will travel the country promoting the organization's five main pillars – Scholarships, Education, Responsibility, Volunteerism, and Empowerment (SERVE). Her talent presentation will be a fiery piano performance of Ernesto Lecuona’s classic, “Malagueña,” and she will also compete in the phases of private interview, talent, fitness and wellness, and evening gown. “There’s something to be said for preparing for so many different phases of competition and working to be my best at each one,” Shumaker said. “It has certainly instilled in me the values of self-motivation, discipline, and consistency.” Tickets to view the national pageant can be purchased at www.etix.com. Shumaker is a 2021 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Mississippi State University, where she earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Communication/Public Relations with a minor in Pre-Law and will begin pursuing her Juris Doctorate this fall. Her individual platform, I Am Titanium, was inspired by her personal struggles with scoliosis and spinal fusion surgery. Its mission is empowering people to overcome their limitations by providing them with the financial, physical, and emotional tools to become stronger. It places a special focus on fundraising for children’s hospitals and providing comfort to those facing medical challenges. To date, she has raised over $12,000 and dedicated more than 1,050 hours. The Miss Mississippi Volunteer Pageant is the official state franchise of the Miss Volunteer America Pageant, a nationwide, non-profit, service-oriented scholarship program based in Tennessee that seeks to empower young women across the country through educational scholarships and extraordinary opportunities. The next Miss Mississippi Volunteer will be crowned on July 9, 2022, in Tupelo. For more information about Miss Mississippi Volunteer, please contact Executive Director Steve Stockton at missmississippivolunteer@gmail.com or visit missmississippivolunteer.com.

Congratulations to our newest organization as part our our American Legion Post 79 Family. We have 22 Charter Members of our Sons of the American (SAL) Squadron 79. A Special Thanks to SAL MS Department Commander Mark Herrington and 1st Vice Commander Terry Earl Tartavoulle for being present and presenting our SAL Charter for Squadron 79. Left to right: Tony Wesley, Marty Stroud, Post Finance Officer John Wesley(Dual Member), District 7 Cdr Jimmy Smith (Dual Member), Jase Alexander (Dual Member), Post Cdr Bobby Thornton (Dual Member), Walker Breazeale holding SAL Charter, Mark Herrington, and SAL Vice Commander Terry Earl Tartavoulle.

by Delbert Hosemann Let me be very clear: failing to appropriate the one-time $1.8 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for infrastructure and recovery projects is not a rational option for our state. Yet, last week members of the state House of Representatives made public comments hinging the allocation of these one-time dollars on the passage of unrelated legislation. Meanwhile, the citizens and communities who elected us are in limbo, waiting for this critical funding to increase the number of available hospital ICU beds, extend broadband service to rural areas, support child protective services, and boost our economy through workforce development and tourism. As importantly, our cities, counties, and rural water associations are depending on millions of dollars in ARPA funds to rehabilitate our aged water and sewer systems across the state—a healthcare, economic development, and quality of life issue. A water catastrophe which must be addressed looms over Jackson, but serious problems stretch much further than the Capital City. DeSoto County is at risk of being cut off from the Memphis sewer system. A dozen water systems in Mississippi have been citied for maximum contaminant levels, the highest-level EPA violation. Four of the state’s larger cities, including Jackson, are under federal consent decrees related to the pollution levels in their sewer and wastewater systems. While December 31, 2024, the date the funds must be obligated, seems far into the future, economic and political uncertainties require us to act now. For example, leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives recently included a measure to claw back unallocated ARPA funds in an initial version of the appropriations bill. The language was taken out in a later draft but should serve as a cautionary tale not to drag our feet. Record-level inflation may be an even bigger problem. Every day we fail to spend these funds, the cost of construction goes up and the value of our ARPA funds go down. Finally, our state is one of four which have not begun obligating their funds. If we wait another year to appropriate ARPA, we have less time to complete the jobs and we have fewer available contractors, subcontractors, and civil engineers. All states will all be competing for the same labor pool and we will be the last to start. The Senate hit the ground running in January, having already met with stakeholders, held public hearings, and developed an initial ARPA plan before the Session started. This is because the clock is ticking. Mississippi does not have time to wait.