New high-dosage tutoring services in math and English Language Arts will be available to students in grades 3-12, educators and families at 121 school districts, which includes four charter schools, that recently opted in to receive the services at no cost. In February, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced plans to use $10.7 million of its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to purchase tutoring services from PAPER, a company that provides on-demand educational support. PAPER was selected through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. To see a complete list of Mississippi school districts and charter schools that opted in as of March 9, visit Districts with High-Dosage Tutoring. The tutoring services will be live, online and available 24/7 with a live person. Teachers and administrators will have access to real-time data through a data dashboard to assign activities, monitor student progress and schedule one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions during the school day. Parents may also schedule tutorial services for their child(ren) after school hours and on the weekend. These services will also be available for English learners and students with special needs. MDE sought high-dosage tutoring services, which is a strategy to close achievement gaps, to mitigate any impact COVID-19 and school closures had on learning and instruction and as a way to accelerate student learning. “Besides giving educators more tools to manage instruction and gauge students’ needs and progress, these tutoring services allow parents and students to get help with homework from a tutor any time of the day,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Whether it’s writing an essay or solving math problems, students can get immediate assistance to complete and better understand assignments.” Online training and support sessions for teachers, administrators, parents and students in participating districts will start in the coming weeks. All districts will begin receiving personalized training by the end of the month. ESSER III funds cover costs of the tutoring services until Sept. 30, 2024. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Award-winning singer/songwriter and Copiah-Lincoln Community College graduate Kyle Graves has charted in the iTunes U.S. Singer/Songwriter Top 40 with his debut release, “The Autumn Sessions.” The record was released on March 8 and peaked at #26, surpassing Paul Simon’s “Graceland” and coming in just below Joni Mitchell’s “Hits” album. “Seeing it chart anywhere near some of those greats was very surprising,” Graves said. “Their music is much more known than mine, and it’s both amazing and a great honor to say that I’m in the charts with them.” Following his 2021 Josie Music Award win for Rock Song of the Year with local band Four Way Stop, Graves has chosen to showcase his versatility with a five-track EP of original acoustic folk songs. “I had been doing a lot of acoustic shows, so I figured it would be fun to make a record that reflected that,” Graves explains. “I was a little nervous about it since it would only be me on there—literally, only me. That leaves room for a lot of mistakes to be accentuated. But I learned that the lack of perfection really can make a song, and [the EP] was easier to make than I was expecting.” Discussing the inspiration for his music, Graves credits his fiancée, Autumn Hendrix, a graphic design major who also provided the cover design for the record. “She really inspired me to write more,” Graves says, “and the themes of seasons and time just simply happened. I view this record as a gift to her.” Graves is currently touring across the state, both solo and with Four Way Stop, and is scheduled to graduate the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in May.

Daylight Saving Time happens Sunday morning and is a good reminder to test smoke alarms and talk to your family about what to do if there is a fire. “Even though most clocks will update automatically this Sunday, use the time change as a reminder to test smoke alarms and replace batteries,” said State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. “Create an escape plan and make sure everyone knows where to meet outside of the home, in case of fire.” At last check, there have been 23 fire deaths in 2022. In 12 of those fires, there were no working smoke alarms in the home. If you cannot afford smoke alarms, check with your local fire department. They may be able to install alarms for free. The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends the following safety tips: Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. o Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. o A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. o Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet from the stove. Create an escape plan and make sure all family members know where to meet once out of the home.

Everyone dreads that moment when you need to call 9-1-1. Here at the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance, our mission is to improve the health status of Mississippians. A big part of that begins pre-hospital with emergency medical services. Our Alliance is keenly aware of the challenges that face first responders and are working to help advocate for them. Emergency medical response, including ambulance service, is in its own state of emergency. The Covid-19 pandemic and its variants continue to wreak havoc on healthcare systems across the globe. It is not widely known that COVID has exacerbated certain severe challenges that have plagued Mississippi’s EMS first responders and ambulance for decades. Those challenges include a massive shortage of EMS personnel, rising medical costs and inadequate reimbursement. News media often report on staffing woes in hospitals. Because hospitals are full and lack sufficient staff, ambulance crews often must wait lengthy periods with their patients on their stretchers before they can transfer care to the hospital staff. Every minute an ambulance crew waits for a hospital bed is a minute the crew cannot respond to other 911 calls. In 2020, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) conducted a survey to evaluate the impact Covid was having on EMS agencies. According to the report, 67% of respondents reported an increase in offload times, which ultimately limits the number of ambulances available to respond to 9-1-1 medical emergencies. Low pay and burnout lead some EMS personnel to change fields; low pay and burnout also hamper recruitment of new caregivers. The American Ambulance Association reports the EMS personnel shortage is a national crisis with a turnover rate of more than 30% per year. Currently Mississippi has an EMS job vacancy rate of 15-40% based on the agency you query. Rising medical costs and inadequate reimbursement also impede agencies providing emergency medical service. Compensation from Medicare, Medicaid and even some private insurance has long fallen short of covering virtually every EMS agency’s costs. Some EMS agencies may have to close. The National Rural Health Association says about a third of rural EMS agencies in the U.S. are in immediate jeopardy of closing because they can't cover their costs. EMS agencies cannot and do not ask for insurance prior to providing 911 service. Further, insurers (private and public) choose how much they pay EMS agencies; they set the rates for EMS agencies’ lifeblood. Our elected leaders are currently in the thick of the 2022 Legislative Session at the State Capitol. We are fortunate to have several key political leaders in the state fighting for EMS.On their agenda is the question of not only how to allocate and spend federal funds to address the impact from pandemic but also to find other innovative ways of shoring up ambulance response around the state. My hope is their colleagues will remember: Ambulance service providers are critical to the healthcare safety net for all citizens. As our Legislature navigates the session, I hope they remember the challenges facing community-based EMS responders and help find solutions to overcome our challenges.

By Kara Kimbrough Recent columns about dishes that many are scared to make reminded me of my one-time apple strudel obsession. It was quite harmless, at least in my opinion, and yielded quite a few strudels for the enjoyment of family and friends. I had to give it up when I began obsessing about my inability to create the “perfect” crust or to smoothly roll a heavy mass of filling inside a tender, butter-laden crust. And to be honest, recipients of my strudels probably got a little tired of them. It’s been a while since I made one, so it may be time for another. If you’d like to learn how, here are a few easy steps. Here’s how my strudel obsession began. An assignment from my food editor to interview the organizers of Germanfest, an annual festival hosted by St. Joseph Catholic Church, provided an opportunity to interview the church’s expert bakers. As part of the interview, I was allowed to watch as they made hundreds of strudels prior to the festival. I quickly learned that as simple as the process appeared to be, there are some hard and fast rules that must be followed for the strudel to come together. First, it’s important to work with firm, chilled dough. Dough must be made the day before, covered and chilled in the refrigerator overnight. As a result, there’s a firm dough to work with when the rolling process begins. Tip: I use a marble rolling pin and place it in the freezer a few hours before rolling dough. This helps keep the dough cool as it warms up in the kitchen. Another technique used by the church’s bakers is using a pastry cloth to assist in rolling the dough. The thin cloth is made of a utility fabric called unbleached drill, similar to light canvas. It can be found in the kitchen gadgets aisle next to rolling pins. If you’re a crafty person, you can make your own by purchasing the fabric in the craft section and hemming the edges. To begin the process, sprinkle flour directly onto the cloth and spread it over the surface with your fingers. Then, place the dough on the floured cloth and grab your rolling pin. The floured cloth creates a smooth, non-stick surface for rolling dough for strudels, pie crusts, cobblers and anything else that needs straightening before baking. Now, to the somewhat tricky rolling process. Spread the filling, leaving a border of dough around the edges. Starting at the far end, grab the cloth by the edges and flip the top edge of the dough over the filling. Repeat lifting and folding once, leaving sides open. Then, tuck in sides of the dough to enclose the filling. Continue lifting and folding until the dough is completely rolled into a flat log. Just like that, you have a perfect strudel! Learning the secret to strudel rolling from the church ladies, including the importance of a pastry cloth, helped alleviate any trepidation I had about the process. Reliving past strudel-making sessions has revived my longing for one, so I’m adding it to the list of this weekend’s activities. It’s a little time-confusing, so I don’t recommend starting the project on a busy night when other things demand your attention. After an initial learning curve, you’ll soon be turning out delicious, flaky cherry, cream cheese, apricot or my favorite, apple, strudels as good as any found at Germanfest. Germanfest Apple Strudel Pastry: ¼ pound margarine, softened ¼ pound butter, softened 8 ounces sour cream 2-1/2 cups flour Dash of salt *Filling: 1 cup applesauce 3 apples, peeled, cored and sliced ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup white sugar 1 teaspoon apple pie spice 4 tablespoons flour ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped pecans To make pastry: Mix the margarine and butter in a bowl and add sour cream. Mix the flour and salt. Add to sour cream mixture and mix well. Wrap in Saran wrap and then foil. Refrigerate overnight. To make filling: Mix ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until thick, about 5 minutes. Cool. To create the strudel: Divide chilled dough into four parts and roll each part out on a floured pastry cloth to make a 12 x 15 -inch rectangle. Spread each rectangle with ¼ of the filling. Roll as for jelly rolls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Slice while warm. *If you’d like the recipe for other fruit fillings, drop me an email and I’ll send them to you. Recipe adapted slightly from Recipes & Remembrances II by St. Joseph Catholic Church. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Today, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) announces that State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH, will resign from his position at the end of July 2022. Dobbs began his career at MSDH in 2008, and has held numerous roles including District Health Officer, State Epidemiologist, and Deputy State Health Officer. His passion has always been infectious disease treatment, and he has served in various roles related to that field, such as medical director for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, clinical consultant for the Southeastern National TB Center, and infectious disease consultant for several hospitals throughout Mississippi. “I feel like the time is right for me to return to the clinical side of medicine, particularly the communicable disease treatment of patients,” said Dobbs. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at MSDH, particularly working with this dedicated health staff and advancing the field of health equity in Mississippi.” Dobbs said he also would like to step back into the academic world. He has held numerous faculty positions at colleges and universities throughout the Southeast, including at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and he would love to teach and train healthcare professionals about public health and infectious disease. State Board of Health Chairman Thad Waites, MD, MACC, says the Board has always fully supported Dr. Dobbs in his role as Mississippi’s State Health Officer but understands his desire to return to the clinical side of medicine. “I speak for all of us when I say that we have truly appreciated his professionalism, sterling personality, and stellar leadership throughout his tenure, but especially during COVID. He has been a wonderful asset to Mississippi,” said Waites. Daniel P. Edney, MD, FACP, has been named Deputy State Health Officer. Edney is a long-time resident of Vicksburg, and a graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical School where he graduated summa cum laude and with other honors. Edney is also a member of the American Medical Association and the Mississippi State Medical Association where he serves as Past President. He has served as Chief Medical Officer at MSDH for the past year and worked closely with Dobbs during COVID providing outreach and guidance to other physicians. The Board will take up the issue of interim State Health Officer in one of its upcoming meetings. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Copiah County Sheriff Byron Swilley hosted the first of four Chat with the Sheriff meetings at meet-and-greet breakfast last month at the Safe Room in Gallman. More than 50 enjoyed fellowship and breakfast, engaging with Sheriff Swilley and members of his staff, along with Representative Greg Holloway, and Mayors Sally Garland of Crystal Springs and Kenneth Ramsey of Hazlehurst. Hazlehurst High School Student Government Association members served sausage biscuits, donuts and orange juice, compliments of Burger King in Hazlehurst and State Farm in Crystal Springs. The quarterly Chat with the Sheriff meetings provide a venue in which members of the public can raise concerns and offer suggestions. The gatherings introduce the faces associated with the names of law enforcement personnel who answer calls and provide assistance and depend on public assistance many times for vital clues that drive their successful work. The next breakfast chat event will be scheduled in the spring.

By guest columnist R. Shaw Furlow & Bob Arnold If you’re riding south toward Brookhaven from Wesson on Highway 51 you’ll soon notice some construction on the east side of the road. Trees removed, access roads and, eventually, what could be the capstone of the Co-Lin campus -- a new Educational Performing Arts and Athletic Center (EPAAC). The $30 Million complex designed to host basketball games, other athletic events and arts shows, has been in the dreaming and hoping stages, and is now moving into the planning stage and, before too long, into the construction stage. It will include a 1,500-seat performing arts theatre and a 2,000-seat athletic arena with shared ticketing, concessions, and restrooms along with a shared lobby area combining two impressive structures. “The addition of the EPAAC facility will be monumental for Co-Lin,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “There is no other facility of this kind in our region of the state. We want to see our students, our employees, and our citizens have the opportunity to utilize this type of unique and impressive facility. It is just as exciting to think about the economic development impact that the EPAAC facility will have on Southwest Mississippi.” This will be a facility on par with the Bologna Center at Delta State and the Ford Center at Ole Miss, and will require a building manager and technical expertise as the project moves along. The auditorium will be at least two levels, and maybe three, and will have the capability to fly in scenery. There will be classrooms and meeting rooms. While not in the current plans, a walking bridge from the front of the main Co-Lin campus over the railroad track may be built. “We’ve made sure the architects know the back of the building has to be as pretty as the front," said Hulon Sims. "We’ll have two nice entrances. But for now, the main entrance will be from highway 51." $30 million is a lot of money. Where is it coming from? “We have a plan,” Hulon Sims said. “We call it braided funding." It’s a formula that draws money from different sources, including grants, gifts, alumni and others sources. The college will seek funding from federal grants, local/state support, corporate sponsorships. An aggressive fundraising campaign is already underway. I am very optimistic. This has been long-time needed. It will be a great facility for the area. Hopefully we will host basketball tournaments as well as known performers, band and choir concerts, and other regional athletic and arts events.” Co-Lin and the Mississippi School of the Arts have expanded their partnership for the project development. MSA has an excellent black box theatre, but it needs a full-sized area for larger productions, and the EPACC will provide that, increasing educational and performance space for both Co-Lin and MSA. “The Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) is excited to expand our partnership with Co-Lin for the EPAAC project," said MSA Executive Director Dr. Susanne Hirsch. "We [MSA] are landlocked and do not have the capability to build a proscenium theatre, which is an integral part of the performing arts. The performing arts center at Co-Lin will enable us to have larger productions and provide an educational opportunity to industry standards better preparing our students for their artistic careers. Students will gain the ability to function in all aspects of the theatre with the EPAAC included in our curriculum. We also hope to partner with Co-Lin to bring guest artists and performances to our area, which is a largely underserved part of the state." Who knows. Maybe we’ll see productions by Co-Lin students again. This facility will also create new economic development opportunities within Co-Lin’s seven-country district and the region of Southwest Mississippi, as the EPAAC welcomes performing groups, traveling theatre productions and athletic events. Area economic developers foresee current lodging and restaurant businesses enjoying increased traffic and new ones opening. Back to the $30 million. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to give to the building funds. I am proud that the Co-Lin Colette and Band Alumni Chapter was the first organization to donate $5,000 to the project. Hopefully, other band and choral alumni will follow suit. Construction is scheduled for 2023, with the opening in the fall of 2024. I’ve ended each of my columns with the same sentence, and it is more apropos now more than ever: Support the arts ( and sports) by being a part of the braided financing for EPAAC. “A project of this size does not happen overnight,” said Hulon Sims. “We are sensitive to the fact that our community needs a place to host things like graduation ceremonies, award ceremonies, band clinics, dance recitals, and pageants. We look forward to the future with the EPAAC for both our students and employees and the citizens of our community.” If you’d like to support the EPAAC project, contact the Co-Lin Foundation at 601-643-8332. EDITOR'S NOTE: Shaw Furlow is a local composer, musician and arts promoter. He produces an internet-based video show -- From the Shadyside -- that spotlights area musical talent and is a consultant to school bands in the region. Bob Arnold is Editor of the Wesson News.

Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is launching MS AgWorks, a new online employment portal dedicated to connecting Mississippi farmers and ranchers with potential employees. “Now more than ever, we are experiencing shortages in supply chains, transportation of products and labor force,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Our agency is committed to supporting Mississippi’s agriculture community, and MS AgWorks is a new tool that will assist in bridging the gap between agribusinesses and farms needing employees and those seeking jobs. I encourage all Mississippians looking for work and our employers in the ag industry to take advantage of this new opportunity.” As Mississippi’s largest industry, agriculture is responsible for employing nearly 20% of the state’s workforce. Workers are in high demand in every aspect of the industry, from loggers, truck drivers, orchard workers and farm hands to salesmen, teachers, business managers and front desk cashiers, technicians, mechanics, welders, and more. MS AgWorks is an online marketing portal that connects those seeking employment with a range of job opportunities at various agribusinesses and farms across the state of Mississippi. Job postings will include internships, full time positions and temporary worker positions. The MS AgWorks website can be accessed at www.mdac.ms.gov/ms-agworks where anyone looking for work can upload their application materials, and any business or farm that has an employee opening can post jobs. MDAC staff will make the connection between employer and applicant so that further communication and interviews can be scheduled. For more information on the new MS AgWorks online employment portal, contact Gayle Clark at gayle@mdac.ms.gov or 601-359-1139. Visit www.mdac.ms.gov to learn more about the various programs offered by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

The first thing I noticed about Robert Pattinson’s take on Batman in “The Batman” was his walk. I don’t think there’s ever been so much emphasis put on his walk. When I picture Batman moving, I think of him swooping on a rope, or maybe running in place like he and Robin did in the opening to their 1966 TV show. But the whole “intimidating walk” thing is unique to this version. It’s emblematic of it, really. It’s well-shot and grounded, for people who like to take their comic book movies seriously. But at the same time, do we really need a take on Batman that’s this realistic? It’s a guy in a ridiculous costume up against one of the most colorful rogues galleries in all of entertainment. Can’t he be allowed to have fun and do some swooping? Other characters are lacking in fun as well. The Penguin (Colin Farrell – unrecognizable under an undeniably-great makeup job) is just a balding gangster with a nickname. The Riddler (Paul Dano) is a Zodiac knockoff with a little Jigsaw thrown in, though not the part with the creepy puppet. Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) embraces her gimmick the most, taking in several stray furballs and often utilizing her long fingernails, I mean, claws. Strangely the Big Bad for much of the movie is not-even-nicknamed gangster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). He’s destined to be the person another villain kills on their way to the top (think Jack Palance in the 1989 “Batman”), but he’s given a lot of backstory and screentime for a character that isn’t going to sell any tickets. The story sees Batman and Lt. Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) trying to stop serial killer Riddler, who is systematically knocking off public officials in Gotham City and promising to reveal a conspiracy that will shake the city to its core. Frankly I think the citizens of Gotham would be more shocked if it turned out their public officials weren’t corrupt, but sure, let’s say the average Gothamite isn’t cynical. Finding The Riddler means finding the next victim, which forces Batman and Gordon to uncover the conspiracy for themselves, which means finding out exactly what business the victims had with various gangsters. It turns out the gangsters had business with someone close to home, which gives Andy Serkis as Alfred the butler a chance to shine. Catwoman has business with one victim and one gangster, so she’s a wild card. The story is pretty taut until we learn that one of the villains has a secret bonus scheme that really drags out the final act of the movie. I get that the movie wanted to end on a certain note for Batman, but it takes a long, convoluted way of getting there. A big question (not a riddle, a question) surrounding this movie is how well Robert Pattinson fits into the role of Batman. He’s fine. Physically, he’s a bit on the lanky side, and he does himself no favors in scenes where he wears eye shadow outside of his batsuit, which reminds snickering audience members of his fame during the late-2000’s Guyliner era. But I never once got the impression that he was cast strictly for his star power, no matter how much sense it makes for a former vampire to play a bat. I know it seems like I found fault with “The Batman” at every turn, but I really didn’t. I especially loved how the cramped Gotham City seems so much like New York City that it feels like this movie could be taking place downtown right now. Or a nearby turnpike, in the case of a car chase that serves as the best action sequence in the movie. Maybe it’s because I love the Batman universe so much that every misstep in this movie seems so glaring. And for some reason, Batman takes a lot of steps in this movie. Grade: C “The Batman” is rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material. Its running time is 175 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) hosted its annual Tourism Day at the Capitol today with special guests Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and statewide tourism professionals to share the tourism industry’s nearly $7 billion impact on the state economy and highlight ongoing recovery efforts. Governor Tate Reeves noted, “I’m proud to celebrate the members of the Mississippi Tourism Association for their hard work sharing the wonderful experience Mississippi offers visitors and for the multi-billion-dollar impact they have on Mississippi’s economy. Showcasing Mississippi’s beauty, bringing more visitors into our state, and supporting the business owners who are the backbone of our state’s economy is truly invaluable work!” In 2021, Mississippi welcomed 23.4 million visitors, who spent $6.7 billion in local economies and generated $677 million in state and local taxes. Visitors spent 19% more in 2021 than they did in 2020, which can be attributed to both the legislature’s swift and strategic creation of tourism recovery funding in 2020 and Gov. Reeves’ commitment to an open economy. “Mississippi has so much to offer our visitors. We have beautiful natural resources and a rich cultural history that has contributed a lot to our nation,” said Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. “Tourism provides the conduit to share this legacy with the world in a positive way, which is important for Mississippi’s economic future. We are committed to investing in tourism recovery and working closely with industry leaders to continue to grow the almost $7 billion annual impact tourism has on our state.” According to Tourism Economics in Sept. 2021, Mississippi was number one in the nation for tourism recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the state experienced less loss than other states. Economic analysts are also forecasting the tourism industry will not fully recover until 2026. Mississippi’s tourism industry supported more than 100,000 jobs prior to the pandemic, and the steady influx of visitors over the past year has helped the state recover many lost jobs in 2020. “As the fourth-largest industry in our state, tourism is Mississippi’s greatest tool to showcase all that our beautiful and diverse state has to offer,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. “We know that travel and tourism will be crucial to our state’s recovery. Tourism is a multi-billion-dollar economic driver for the state, which is why we have invested in the industry’s ability to generate revenue for our state and local communities by sharing our unique brand of Mississippi hospitality with visitors. Mississippi has been a nationwide leader in tourism recovery, and we are proud to be a part of ensuring that we not only continue to recover, but that we come back stronger and better than ever.” MTA organized the event, which gathered tourism partners from destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, hotels, gaming, restaurants, attractions, and other hospitality sectors to celebrate tourism and discuss key recovery issues affecting Mississippi communities and small businesses. MTA also emphasized the importance of its tourism partners and their leadership as the industry works to recover steep financial losses. Restaurateur Robert St. John shared his passion and vision for the hospitality industry, noting the value of working together to share Mississippi’s story. Northeast Mississippi Community College Hospitality major Tres Jones of Alcorn County joined the group to highlight the industry’s educational and career opportunities. “We are thrilled to celebrate the significant impact tourism has on Mississippi’s economy,” said MTA Executive Director Danielle Morgan. “Despite ongoing challenges tourism has faced as the hardest-hit industry by the pandemic, MTA is proud of the accomplishments of our members and state leaders to ensure that tourism not only recovers but continues to grow for the benefit of our state and local communities. We are committed to continued advocacy and building partnerships to transform Mississippi’s economy.” MTA’s membership is led by board of directors, and VisitHattiesburg Executive Director Marlo Dorsey is currently serving as the association’s president. “Today, we know we still have significant work to do to fully recover from the economic losses of COVID-19 and to reach our goal of 30 million annual visitors in Mississippi. However, today we also pause to convey our sincere gratitude to our state leaders for placing their confidence in us and investing in tourism recovery. Together, we have faced great adversity, but we have also made great strides in strengthening the future of our great state through tourism,” said Dorsey. MTA and Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association will be co-hosting a ticketed event from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at The South to honor legislators and tourism industry supporters. Entertainment will be provided by Mississippi native and Academy of Country Music nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist, Charlie Worsham. One of Nashville's most respected and beloved artists, Worsham released his new EP, Sugarcane, in 2021 on Warner Music Nashville. Produced by Jay Joyce, Sugarcane is an emotional homecoming for Worsham. In addition to his own work, Worsham is a frequent collaborator, having recently worked with Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban among several others. Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council. The goal of this Council, comprised of youth leaders from around the state, is to provide students interested in the agriculture industry an experience that cultivates leadership and career development while developing the potential workforce for Mississippi. Any public, private or homeschool students can apply to become a member of the Agriculture Youth Council, and final applicants will be chosen by representatives at MDAC. “This will be our second year to continue the all-new Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This past year was a huge success. We had 12 students who were given the opportunity to hear from several leaders around the state and tour a variety of businesses and ag-related venues, including our own Mississippi State Fairgrounds, where over 100 diverse events are held annually. I got to watch these youth develop leadership, advocacy and career skills through industry exposure and experiential learning. So, I want to invite any youth leaders who are interested in the agriculture industry to apply. As before, we will choose 12-15 students as members to serve on the Council for one year.” Eligibility Requirements: Must be a 12th grade student during the 2022-2023 school year. Current 11th graders in the 2021-2022 school year may apply to serve during the upcoming school year. Any public, private or homeschool students may apply. Students must exhibit an interest, passion and/or experiences in agriculture. Applications can be found online at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/YouthCouncil/. All applications are due by Friday, April 1, 2022. Semifinalists will be notified by April 15, 2022. Final interviews will be held virtually, and 12-15 youth leaders will be announced by Friday, May 13, 2022. For more information about the Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council, visit www.mdac.ms.gov or contact Gayle Crowder Clark at gayle@mdac.ms.gov or Emily Stovall at emilys@mdac.ms.gov.

Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council. The goal of this Council, comprised of youth leaders from around the state, is to provide students interested in the agriculture industry an experience that cultivates leadership and career development while developing the potential workforce for Mississippi. Any public, private or homeschool students can apply to become a member of the Agriculture Youth Council, and final applicants will be chosen by representatives at MDAC. “This will be our second year to continue the all-new Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This past year was a huge success. We had 12 students who were given the opportunity to hear from several leaders around the state and tour a variety of businesses and ag-related venues, including our own Mississippi State Fairgrounds, where over 100 diverse events are held annually. I got to watch these youth develop leadership, advocacy and career skills through industry exposure and experiential learning. So, I want to invite any youth leaders who are interested in the agriculture industry to apply. As before, we will choose 12-15 students as members to serve on the Council for one year.” Eligibility Requirements: Must be a 12th grade student during the 2022-2023 school year. Current 11th graders in the 2021-2022 school year may apply to serve during the upcoming school year. Any public, private or homeschool students may apply. Students must exhibit an interest, passion and/or experiences in agriculture. Applications can be found online at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/YouthCouncil/. All applications are due by Friday, April 1, 2022. Semifinalists will be notified by April 15, 2022. Final interviews will be held virtually, and 12-15 youth leaders will be announced by Friday, May 13, 2022. For more information about the Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council, visit www.mdac.ms.gov or contact Gayle Crowder Clark at gayle@mdac.ms.gov or Emily Stovall at emilys@mdac.ms.gov.