WHAT: The Mississippi Economic Council will hold its rescheduled MEC Capital Day on Thursday, March 3. MEC Capital Day is MEC’s largest legislative event, and will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart. MEC Capital Day will feature highlights of legislative accomplishments, messages from key statewide leaders, and a look ahead at what’s to come. WHEN: Thursday, March 3 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. WHERE: Mississippi Trade Mart WHO: Speakers will include: • Governor Tate Reeves (via video message) • Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann • Speaker of the House Philip Gunn • Secretary of State Michael Watson • Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney • Senate President Pro Tem Dean Kirby • Speaker Pro Tem Jason White • And more! Note: Due to restrictions from COVID-19, all sessions will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart. The Mississippi Capitol is open to the public. Individuals attending MEC Capital Day are encouraged to stop by the Capitol to connect with their legislators. CONTACT: Will Caves, IOM Communications & Public Relations Manager Mississippi Economic Council Cell: (601) 624-0572 wcaves@msmec.com

Co-Lin and Southwest Mississippi Community College (SMCC) are planning to bring together economic development leaders throughout Southwest Mississippi sometime next month to begin partnering on planning and implementing strategies to grow the region's economy and advance overall community development. Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims announced the initiative at the culmination of an economic development summit hosted by her college and SMCC at the Thames Center on the Co-Lin campus in October. Resurgence of COVID-19, however, slowed the organizing process of consortium. Co-Lin's Kenny Goza, who is spearheading the college's involvement in the consortium, says the colleges will invite 20 to 30 local economic developers, business and community leaders and elected officials from Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Simpson, Walthall and Wilkinson Counties to an initial consortium organizing meeting and start strategic planning around a SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) analysis. "In Southwest Mississippi, we need to cultivate a mindset that what is good for one is good for all -- that it's not about one of us, but all of us," Goza says. He points out that the most effective community and economic development is happening regionally on the Gulf Coast, in the Hinds-Madison Counties area, around DeSoto County and in the Golden Triangle area around Tupelo. "The idea is that there is strength in numbers and we can leverage an 11-county voice to recruit new business, support business expansion and create jobs," says Goza. "Perhaps participants can identify a super site and jointly market it to businesses that will contribute to the economy of all 11 counties." Goza points to the Golden Triangle-Tupelo model of cooperative community development which was launched 30 years ago and created a foundation. "State agencies are excited about what is happening in Southwest Mississippi, particularly two community colleges working together to facilitate economic and community development in an 11-county region," Goza says. In announcing the Co-Lin's partnership with SMCC and its President Steven Bishop, Hulon Sims declared that "it was time to act" and go beyond talk. "If not now, when?" she implored.

Before you dismiss homemade jelly and jam-making due to lack of spare time or the ease of picking up a ready-made jar in the supermarket, please keep reading. I believe I can convince you to partake of this centuries-old tradition and live to tell about it. First, believe me when I say the enhanced flavor of fruit jelly made from three ingredients: the freshest berries, sugar and pectin (versus a long list of unpronounceable additives and preservatives) is undeniably better than anything you’ll purchase in the supermarket. There’s nothing like opening a steaming hot biscuit and adding a large spoonful of fresh, preservative-free jelly. The same goes for toast, the perfect foil for a layer of jewel-colored layer of jam or jelly. Full disclosure: making my own jams and jellies is something I vowed as a child I’d never do. This promise to myself was made while watching my grandmother and mother labor over pots of bubbling liquid before pouring it into steaming jars in the middle of a hot Mississippi summer. Fast forward to today and I truly enjoy preserving the best of summer’s bounty and presenting gifts of pickles, tomato sauce and jelly from my kitchen. Thanks to the freezer, it’s something you can do all year long after making the required juice and freezing it. Last spring, I drove to Foxworth in Marion County when a complete stranger advertised "free mayhaws" online to anyone who wanted to pick them. Sadly, most of the berries had fallen onto the ground and been picked over by birds by the time I arrived. But it's a clear illustration of the lengths to which I'll go to find fresh berries. I'm still on the lookout, so if you know where mayhaws can be purchased (or picked for free) this spring, please drop me an email. Learning berries can be frozen whole allowed me to make a batch of muscadine jelly from thawed berries last week. A friend gifted them to me last fall but I couldn’t find time to devote to jelly-making. Instead, I popped them into the freezer. A few months later, I honestly couldn't detect a difference in the taste of the frozen berries and those straight from the vine. Besides the benefits of making a product whose ingredients you can control, there's something undeniably Southern about keeping alive a culinary art from the past. And, there’s the joy of looking into your pantry and seeing the bounty of summer preserved for the winter. As mentioned, jewel-toned jars of jelly were the fruits of last weekend’s labor. This weekend, it’s time to move on to pound cake. It’s another Southern classic that often intimidates novice bakers who quell at the thought of correctly mixing, stirring and baking a heavy batter that’s known to be temperamental. I’ll admit to experiencing doubts I’d ever be able to create a foolproof pound cake that didn’t fall flat or taste strange due to any number of things that can go wrong during the mixing process, ranging from stale baking powder to lumpy butter. But my courage increased after a cooking instructor stated, “It’s only flour, milk and butter – the simplest of ingredients. If it fails, throw it away and start another one.” So, I’ll leave you with two pieces of advice: scout out fresh berries in coming months as they become available and try your hand at jelly-making. Email me if you'd like my recipes. And secondly, try my 5-Flavors Pound Cake, an old-school recipe given to me by a hospital chef that always draws rave reviews. If it fails, “throw it away and start another one.” Five Flavors-Pound Cake Cake: 2 sticks butter 3 cups sugar 1 cup milk 5 eggs, beaten 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon baking powder Glaze: 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 teaspoon each of vanilla, lemon, rum, coconut and butter flavoring Cream butter, shortening and sugar in mixer. Add eggs one at a time. In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder. To mixer, add dry ingredients and milk alternately. Bake in a greased and floured tube pan for 1-1/2 hours at 300 degrees. To make glaze: combine flavorings, sugar and water in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted. Pour over hot cake while it’s still in the pan. Let set until cake is cool. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkrprco@yahoo.com.

It is said that actors should never work with children or animals or they’ll be upstaged. This is most definitely true of star/co-director Channing Tatum in “Dog.” But the good news is that the dog is so great that there’s plenty of room for Tatum to shine under his canine co-star. There’s no shame in Tatum being #2 to this dog, just like there’s no shame in “Dog” being #2 to “Uncharted” at the domestic box office for the second weekend in a row. That movie had over $100 million more in its budget, plus a ton of other advantages. Though if I had my way, “Dog” would be the better performer of the two. Tatum stars (well, he’s the human star) as Briggs, a broken-down former Army Ranger. He suffers from PTSD, he never sees his daughter, he works a dead-end job in fast food, and he can’t even bother to get his military ID updated. He’s one recommendation away from a job that pays $200K a year, but he’s not going to get that recommendation given his array of injuries and mess of a personal life. On top of everything, a fellow Ranger named Rodriguez just died under particularly saddening circumstances. Briggs is made an offer: transport Rodriguez’s partner Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, from Washington to the funeral in Arizona and he’ll get the recommendation he needs. The challenge is that Lulu also has PTSD and is super-needy and aggressive. She’s so out of control that immediately following the funeral Briggs is to take her to another base to have her put to sleep. He isn’t crazy about either part of the assignment, but the reward is too great to pass up. And so the pathetic mangy mess of a creature goes on a lengthy road trip with Lulu in tow. Briggs is so irresponsible that his first stop is a gun range – with a dog with PTSD that can clearly hear gunfire from the car. Lulu destroys her cage and chews up much of the vehicle. Briggs is shocked by this behavior, but he should really only be shocked that he was issued such a lousy cage by people who know the animal’s capabilities. Other adventures include a kidnapping by a pair of hippies (Kevin Nash and Jane Adams), a disastrous attempt to pick up women in Portland, an unsuccessful visit with Briggs’ daughter, a successful visit with Lulu’s brother, a stormy night spent watching “Grey’s Anatomy” in a tool shed, and a problematic attempt to score a free hotel room in San Francisco by pretending to be a blind man and his service animal. The pair probably could have gotten special treatment just by both being Army veterans, but Briggs has to be greedy. In the aftermath of this scene, I couldn’t help but wonder if someone could take Lulu to the funeral while Briggs deservedly rots in jail for fraud (though maybe not for a hate crime – long story), but this is a movie about dual redemption, so man and beast will either make it to the funeral together or not at all. I’m no dog person, and I strongly disapprove of some of Briggs’ choices throughout the journey, but I was surprised by how much I liked this movie overall. The tone varies wildly, but that’s because the characters are so wild (come would say “reckless”) that the subject matter can change in an instant. As a result, the movie has both light and heavy scenes that it pulls off very well without forced transitions. I mentioned earlier that neither Tatum nor the film’s box office should be ashamed of being #2. I believe I’ll give “Dog” the #2 letter grade. Grade: B “Dog” is rated PG-13 for language, thematic elements, drug content, and some suggestive material. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman on Wednesday to discuss critical issues impacting agriculture and commerce in the state of Mississippi. “I was glad to meet with our EPA Regional Administrator Daniel Blackman,” said Commissioner Gipson. “We were able to discuss several topics directly related to Mississippi farmers, ranchers and landowners which included the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project, ‘waters of the United States’ and pesticide regulations. I look forward to continuing the working relationship between the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the EPA.” Commissioner Gipson was joined by EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman, EPA Region 4 Agriculture Advisor Susan Park, MDAC’s Bureau of Plant Industry Director Laura Vollor, and MDAC’s Federal and Environmental Affairs Director Chris McDonald. For more information and agricultural updates around the state, visit www.mdac.ms.gov and follow the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Copiah County businesses to be more cautious in exercising their plans, but record low unemployment and soaring tax collections are confirming the opinion of local economic developer Arthur Lee (Pokey) Evans, Jr. that it has complemented his work as well as complicated it. During 2021, Copiah County did not see the location of any major new employers, but its unemployment rate tumbled to 3.4 per cent and sales and property tax collections increased. Evans, Executive Director of Copiah County Economic Development District (CCEDD), attributes the good news to what he calls "economic localization" driven by COVID-19. "Local retail stores are teeming with customers who have curtailed travel, but still want and need to do business," Evans points out. "People have learned they can shop locally and continue to utilize local sources that create jobs and generate tax revenues to boost the economy of our villages, towns and cities." In a year characterized by business caution and a sluggish business recruiting environment, CCEDD also completed work focused on getting old large industrial buildings that were lying idle returned to the Copiah Country tax rolls, with businesses either moving forward with operations or ready to begin operations when the status of COVID-19 and other opportunities are favorable. The new owner of the old Katon industrial building at Lake Hazel hasn't moved forward on turning the site into a magnet for AAU sporting events. Nor has Duct Fab, a subsidiary of Encore Group LLC in Houma, Louisiana, yet launched its planned commercial and residential air conditioning ductwork production at a long-deserted facility near the Hazlehurst South Interstate 55 exit where Cherry Bark once made hardwood flooring. Manufacturing wood pellet fuel at the old Universal building in the industrial park at Gallman also remains stalled as the owners look for financing. A venue for events -- receptions, weddings, birthdays -- is planned at the old Candy Factory on North Jackson Street in Crystal Springs and health-related services are expected to start up at an old Marion Street site in Crystal Springs. Perhaps the most dramatic use of a once idle industrial building has been the ongoing expansion of Steel Outdoors' custom metal fabricating business at the former API building in Wesson, a 55,000 square foot facility on Highway 51. The manufacturer, which purchased the building in 2019, recently announced introduction of a new metal building products line that will nearly double its workforce to some 50 employees. Beyond the new business that he expects to emerge at the old industrial buildings, Evans says several other Copiah County companies are drawing up expansion plans that could be unveiled in 2022. He also points to an upsurge in the county's housing and building industry, which he attributes to relocations from urban areas to the more rural areas of Copiah County "Overall, I can't cry about very much," Evans says. "There haven't been a lot of negatives. We're making the most of what we have and I am proud to be part of a team that gets what economic development is all about." Evans says CCEDD tells its economic development story to the business community through a web site and Facebook page, emphasizing: A workforce that is willing and ready to serve employers; A location near key markets with rail, interstate, air and nearby water access; Government officials who understand business needs, provide incentives, and facilitate location; Copiah Lincoln Community College as a leader in workforce development; Available land that is well-priced. CCEDD offices located at the Robert Johnson Blues Museum on Marion Avenue at Crystal Springs is an asset as well, Evans adds "We use tourist visits as an opportunity to talk about Copiah County as a good place to do business," he explains. At CCEDD, Evans is assisted by Brenda Harper. Five board members appointed by each Copiah County supervisor oversee their work. The board members are James Mitchell of Copiah Bank; Michael Hutchison of Trustmark Bank; Jerry Hood, a business leader; Chris Palmer, retired Crystal Springs police officer; and Jimbob Brock, a builder. Contact Evans for information at 601-421-1249.

Organizations across Mississippi are advocating for the Mississippi Legislature to extend postpartum healthcare coverage to save the lives of Mississippi mothers. Forty-eight organizations are calling on the House Medicaid Committee Chair, Rep. Joey Hood (R-Ackerman) to take up Senate Bill 2033, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) to extend Medicaid postpartum care from 60 days to one year after giving birth and to allocate the funds necessary to give mothers lifesaving care during a critical time in their lives and the lives of their families. Organizations asking lawmakers to support policies to improve maternal health include: The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects, The American Heart Association, The Mississippi Kidney Foundation, ACLU Mississippi, Coastal Family Health Center, Mississippi State Conference of NAACP, One Voice, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, Magnolia Medical Foundation, SPLC Action Fund, Six Dimensions, LLC, Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Women for Progress, Black Women Vote Coalition, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Mississippi Urban League, and Mississippi Section, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, S.T.A.N.D Coalition Founding Organizations: Alpha Kapp Alpha, Beta Delta Omega, Inc., American Association of University Women: MS, Jackson, Starkville, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Mary Church Terrell Literary Club, Nation Council of Negro Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Rho Lambda Omega, Jackson Chapter Links, Inc, Jackson Chapter of Black Social Workers, MS Federation of Democratic Women, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Jackson Alumnae, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc Central MS, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Beta Delta Omega, Inc., LeFleur Bluff Chapter, Links Inc. and the S.T.A.N.D Advisory Resource groups: Children’s Defense Fund, Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, Commission on the Status of Women, MSU, Parents for Public Schools, MS Association for Justice, MS Center for Educational Innovation, MS Association of Community & Junior Colleges, MS Association of Black School Educators, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Clinics, and Hinds County Federation of Democratic Women, and the R.E.C.H Foundation, Mississippi Center for Justice, and the National Association of Social Workers Mississippi Chapter. These organizations will bring attention to this issue through a virtual town hall, free and open to the public, on February 24, 2022, from 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. “The Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects is dedicated to reproductive justice and a mother’s right to a healthy, happy start for herself and her children. We fully support the passing of Senate Bill 2033. Supporting this measure ensures Black women we so deeply care for and fight alongside are receiving the protection and nurture they deserve,” said, Natalie A. Collier, founder, and president of the Lighthouse | Black Girl Projects. “Mothers across our state are dying during and after childbirth at an alarming rate,” said Angela Grayson, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator with The Lighthouse | Black Girls Projects. “Nearly 70 percent of pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Access to medical care is imperative to improve health outcomes for moms, and I am glad we’re bringing this reality to the forefront of policy discussions this session.” Health experts recommend extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months post delivery because continuous access to healthcare reduces the prevalence of pregnancy-related deaths. In Mississippi, 86% of maternal deaths occur postpartum. The national maternal death rate is 17.4 per 100,000 births. However, Black women in Mississippi are experiencing maternal death at a much greater rate: 51.9 per 100,0000 births. Health issues facing new mothers include blood clots, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and many other preventable conditions with access to continuous healthcare available. “Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of death up to six months postpartum. With 61% of all births in Mississippi covered by Medicaid, not having access to continuous healthcare more than 60 days after delivery for mothers is very literally life and death,” said Kathryn Rehner-Sullivan, Mississippi government relations director for the American Heart Association. “Senator Blackwell’s bill will provide mothers with the care they need to live long healthy lives.” “Access to health care is important in all stages of pregnancy, but especially in the 4th trimester and beyond” said Jackson resident and Black Women Vote Coalition member Dr. Pam Scott “As a social worker and a mother, I know firsthand that health care can help with post-partum depression and decrease the risk of neglect and potential abuse. Senate Bill 2033 would expand health care access for mothers, giving them the opportunity to live long, healthy lives for themselves and their families.” If you are interested in joining the virtual town hall on February 24, 2022, at 11:30a.m., the event is free and open to the public. You can register for the virtual town hall at https://fcgworks.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GbNYeqXYSG-S_V1GDtM6zw

FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program is open to help family members who’ve lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. There have been over 11,000 COVID-19 related deaths in Mississippi; 7,008 Mississippians have applied for funeral assistance. FEMA reports over $31 million in funeral assistance paid out to Mississippians who’ve lost loved ones due to the virus. To apply, applicants must call 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585 Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time There is no online registration portal to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. Required documents to apply include: Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia. If the death certificate was issued between January 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This signed statement must provide an additional explanation or causal pathway linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19. If the death certificate occurred on or after May 17, 2020, the death certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19. There are multiple records of documentation needed to apply. To see the necessary documentation to apply, click here. Although there is currently no deadline to apply for this assistance, beginning in April, FEMA will place applications that have remained incomplete for 365 days in a suspended status. Suspended applicants can reactivate their application without appeal by submitting the required documents to FEMA. Eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance expenses typically include, but are not limited to: Funeral Services Cremation Internment Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual Transfer of remains Casket or Urn Burial plot or cremation niche Marker or headstone Clergy or officiant services Arrangement of the funeral ceremony Use of funeral home equipment or staff Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates Additional expenses mandated by an applicable local or state government laws or ordinances

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson reported that the 57th Annual Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo was a record-breaking success. The Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest livestock event of its kind east of the Mississippi River, brings in millions of dollars to the state and local economy. This year’s Dixie National successes included record ticket sales for the Dixie National Rodeo, record livestock sales at the Sale of Junior Sale of Champions, and the completion of a new water well serving the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. “The 2022 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo was marked with much success. I am pleased that rodeo fans purchased a record amount in tickets. We also had the largest ever Sale of Junior Champions, which benefits the 4-H and FFA youth. Additionally, the Dixie National Parade was bigger than ever, with spectators lining the streets by the thousands,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Newly added attractions such as the Spring Edition of the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo held by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; Dixie National Rodeo Days; and the Dixie National Corral enhanced the overall experience of those that attended.” The 2022 Dixie National Rodeo schedule was extended to take place over two weekends giving rodeo fans more opportunities to experience the fun-filled family event. Ticket sales were at an all-time high, as fans gathered to watch as nearly 800 cowboys and cowgirls from across the U.S. and Canada competed for the more than $200,000 purse that was up for grabs. For over 40 years, the Mississippi Fairgrounds has partnered with Harper & Morgan Rodeo to bring the annual Dixie National Rodeo to spectators from around the country. Scotty Lovelace, CEO and Owner of Harper & Morgan Rodeo said, “The Dixie National Rodeo was a huge success! The refurbishment of the Coliseum and grounds, the new Trade Mart, the rodeo suites, the updated signage and the date change to two weekends, all contributed to the Commissioner and Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company seeing our vision come to fruition. I would personally like to thank the staff of both the Mississippi Ag Department and the Mississippi Coliseum, along with Harper & Morgan Rodeo company’s personnel for all their dedication and hard work. A huge thank you to all of our partners and sponsors, from the largest to the smallest, in particular Southern AgCredit, Mississippi Ag and Ram Rodeo. The Dixie National fans are the best and their support resulted in record breaking attendance at the 2022 Dixie National Rodeo.” This year 1,538 Mississippi 4-H and FFA youth exhibited 2,262 head of livestock during the Dixie National Junior Livestock Round-up. Forty-six of the animals were sold during the Sale of Junior Champions grossing a total of $448,500. This set a new record sale total over the 53-year history of the Sale. Additionally, the Sale of Champions Promotion Committee awarded 39 scholarships totaling $61,500, bringing the total scholarship money awarded since 1993 to nearly $1.1 million. The open livestock shows were also a success this year. A record number of participants from across the U.S. showed over 1,100 head of livestock. One year ago, a one-hundred-year ice storm occurred during the 2021 Dixie National leaving no water on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds for thousands of livestock and visitors. Shortly following, the Fairgrounds began drilling a water well to avoid this issue in the future. The well, which serves the State Fairgrounds, was completed in February. This kind of project typically takes two to three years from concept to completion, but less than a year after approval the twelve-inch valve was opened on the new fully-operational deep well water system supplying fresh well water across the State Fairgrounds. “We drilled the well, made improvements and additions to our water distribution system, put in a water treatment process and pressurized tank, and added additional and expanded electrical infrastructure which will include a backup generator. As a result, this year’s Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo had fresh, reliable water with greater pressure than the same event one year ago. According to our well operator, we pumped an estimated half a million gallons of well water in a period of ten days during the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo,” said Commissioner Gipson. Much work goes into planning and coordinating the month-long event, which includes a variety of livestock and equine shows along with the Dixie National Rodeo. The Dixie National Rodeo was recently named a Top 5 Medium Indoor Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and was broadcast nationally on the Cowboy Channel. “I am proud of the success of the 2022 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. None of this would have been possible without the support of our many sponsors including our Title Sponsor Southern AgCredit, Harper Morgan Rodeo, and our loyal fan base and supporters. Coordination of an event of this magnitude and caliber takes much planning and work. The Mississippi State Fairgrounds staff, led by Director Michael Lasseter, is to be commended for working the long hours it takes to ensure all of the details came together. I want to thank everyone who made this year’s record breaking Dixie National a success,” said Commissioner Gipson. The dates for the 58th Dixie National Rodeo will be held February 10-18, 2023. For additional information as it becomes available, visit www.dixienational.org and follow the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Following last week’s column on chicken and dumplings and other old-school dishes and kitchen skills, I was surprised to hear from so many who had never tried most of the kitchen skills everyone should “learn or at least attempt.” Many that responded were quick to tell me they “can” make dumplings, just not old-school ones made with flour, buttermilk and Crisco. Popular substitutions included sliced tortillas, canned biscuits and the frozen variety from the supermarket. These do count and can be quite good, but I hope skeptics will at least attempt to make the old-fashioned variety using what I consider to be an easy, tried-and-true recipe. Believe me when I say I’m not attempting to portray myself as a fearless cook, game for any kitchen challenge. During the height of the pandemic, a scaled-down Thanksgiving celebration created the need to cook the first turkey I’d even attempted. Using Ina Garten’s recipe, I produced a golden-brown turkey that was actually edible. Admittedly, I experienced a few anxious hours, primarily when trying to get the large bird defrosted and oven-ready while worrying about salmonella. I have a funny story about giving the turkey a water bath in a dish pan placed in my bathtub, but I’ll save that for a later date. The point is, even when you’ve never tried something, the result can be confidence-inducing and yes, edible. One often-intimidating item I left off last week’s list is fried chicken. For some reason, the thought of producing perfectly fried chicken in a skillet of bubbling oil is oft putting for many. It wasn’t until the hit movie, The Help, produced a cooking class in 2012 utilizing the recipes used by the food stylist that I attempted to learn to fry chicken. I adopted an attitude of complete confidence as I stood next to other class members as we dipped coated chicken pieces into cast-iron skillets filled with hot oil. Keeping a close eye on the instructor, I dipped, turned and ultimately removed crispy chicken pieces from my skillet and onto dinner plates bearing homemade mac and cheese, greens and the best biscuits I’d ever made (or tasted) in my life. The biscuit recipe is a bit lengthy to print, but if you’d like it, just drop me an email and I’ll send it to you along with any of the other recipes. In the meantime, get out your cast iron skillet (or purchase one) and fry some chicken. As one of my cooking class members joked the night we all mastered the skill: “Unless you know how to fry chicken, are you really even a Mississippian?” * Minny’s Fried Chicken 1 (3- to 4-pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces (or use your favorite chicken parts, i.e., equal pounds of breasts, legs, thighs, etc.) 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 cups buttermilk 1 cup self-rising flour Vegetable oil Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, then place pieces in a zip-top plastic bag and add buttermilk. Seal bag and chill at least two hours. Remove chicken from buttermilk (do not reuse buttermilk; discard) and dredge chicken in flour to coat. Pour oil to a depth of 1 ½ inches in a deep skillet or Dutch oven and using a cooking thermometer, make sure oil is heated to at least 350 degrees. Turning with tongs every couple of minutes, fry chicken on both sides. Adjust heat to maintain a steady temperature of 300-325 degrees, until skin is deep golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chicken registers 165 degrees. (Cooking takes about 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for legs, thighs and breasts.) Place a cooling rack inside a rimmed sheet pan and transfer chicken pieces to rack to drain. Serve hot. *Recipe varies a little from the book and from the movie The Help. Crisco was used instead of oil, so feel free to use that if you prefer. Also, Minny placed chicken and spices in a paper bag to coat.

The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced Senate Bill 3167 today, which would provide a boost of $300 million to the state’s Emergency Road and Bridge Repair (ERBR) Program. “Right now, we have millions of dollars in federal relief funds flowing through our economy. There is no better way to spend one-time money than to put it in the ground,” Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann said. “Our cities, counties and constituents have asked us to dedicate our resources to better maintaining our infrastructure. We are listening and hope to send this legislation to the Governor posthaste.” Enacted in 2018, the ERBR Program is administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation upon the advice of an advisory board made up of industry and local government leaders. The program was initially funded with $250 million in bonds. The Legislature appropriated an additional $89 million during the 2021 Legislative Session. The third round of funding in Senate Bill 3167, which is expected to be taken up on the Senate floor on Wednesday, would come from the Capital Expense Fund. “Now is the time to invest in our state. Safe and reliable roads and bridges are a key economic driver. They help our children get to school and our goods get to market,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson, who authored the bill. “We can take a bold step this Session by dedicating significant resources to projects in our communities which will make a difference for our children and grandchildren.” Senate Transportation Chairwoman Jenifer Branning agreed. “The ERBR Program provides a way to address our infrastructure needs using neutral criteria, prioritizing the most critical projects in the state,” said Branning, who has advocated for additional funding to the program for the past year. “When infrastructure funding is well-planned out, it’s generational. This bill is instrumental in achieving the ERBR Program’s original goals.” For more information about Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., causing more than 600,000 deaths every year. Early detection and prevention is key and the importance of knowing one’s risk factors begins with making – and keeping -- a yearly checkup appointment with a primary care provider. “A regular annual physical exam allows us to find and prevent diseases before they occur,” says Morgan Miller, MD, family medicine physician at Merit Health Medical Group in Byram. “The results can key us into problems that may be arising and allow us to work with patients on correcting issues before they become a bigger problem, such as reversing high blood pressure before it leads to congestive heart failure.” A vital part of the conversation centers around the importance of knowing the patient’s cardiovascular and stroke risk factors and numbers, including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, activity level and family history. Symptoms such as fatigue and headaches should also be communicated. Fear has led many people to delay regular checkups and screenings, which would normally be a priority. “The COVID pandemic has definitely had an impact on my patients’ overall health, more so because of the emotional and psychological toll that it has taken,” adds Dr. Miller. “Many of my patients are working toward catching up with their preventive exams.” In terms of heart and cardiovascular disease, other health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, genetics, depression, smoking and kidney disease play a role in worsening heart function. Conversely, consistently practicing good habits, including regular exercise and eating healthy foods also decreases the risk of cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease while improving digestion, mood and mental function. “We as a society need to maintain a good, consistent exercise regimen,” adds Qasim Cheema, MD, interventional cardiologist at Merit Health Medical Group in Jackson. “Exercise is highly underestimated. It improves blood flow through the body and thereby the function of all our other organs. Exercise is free medicine.” Knowing the numbers that indicate the prevalence of heart disease is essential to developing a successful prevention and/or treatment plan. “We know low blood pressure readings are beneficial over time and indicate a decreased risk for a cardiovascular event,” explains Dr. Cheema. “I inform my patients being treated for hypertension to strive for an average blood pressure of 130/80 or lower. And remember, a couple of the most important behaviors that negatively impact the heart are smoking along with excessive alcohol use.” Talk with your physician about your risk factors and develop a prevention plan. If you need a primary care provider or cardiologist, call 844-MSMERIT or visit MyMeritDoctor.com.