On Wednesday, August 5, 1942, just after 1:00 p.m., a Greyhound bus on a routine New Orleans to Jackson run was hit by a southbound passenger train on the Illinois Central Railroad line. The bus, loaded with fifty-two passengers, had just completed its scheduled stop in Crystal Springs and headed toward Hwy. 51 on the way to Jackson. The passengers included a number of United States Army Air Corps cadets and at least one newly married couple. Although there have been many accidents involving trains and passenger vehicles through the years, the severity of this particular wreck is still remembered in Crystal Springs. Crystal Springs, located in Copiah County, was organized in the 1820s and named for a number of clear springs in the area. In 1858, the town, such as it was, moved about one and a half miles west of the original site to take advantage of the railroad (at the time known as the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern). As with many communities in Mississippi, the town prospered with the coming of the railroad. By the 1870s, Crystal Springs started shipping vegetables via the railroad to markets across the country, especially tomatoes, earning Crystal Springs the nickname “Tomatopolis of the World.” Today, Crystal Springs hosts an annual tomato festival to celebrate the town’s commercial agricultural heritage. On the fateful day of the accident, the railroad which had brought prosperity to the town instead delivered death and destruction. On that day, the Greyhound bus had stopped at the railroad crossing to wait for a northbound freight train to clear the intersection. Once the last car of the freight train had passed, the bus driver proceeded to cross the tracks, unaware that a fast-moving, south-bound passenger train was bearing down the second set of tracks. That train was an Illinois Central Railroad special troop train. Although the driver attempted to avoid the collision, the train slammed into the rear of the bus. The force of the impact tore away the rear engine and the roof of the bus. Witnesses later told the Highway Patrol that the bus was lifted off the ground and carried for some distance before overturning, and came to rest upside down with the front facing back toward the tracks. To make matters worse, the accident happened to fall on the first day of school, and first reports were that the train hit a school bus, causing a near-panic in town. Once the rumors were dispelled, the townspeople began the task of clearing away the debris and caring for the wounded, many of whom were taken to hospitals in Jackson. The bus was carrying an equal number of cadets and civilians (26 each). Casualties also included some who were standing along the tracks waiting for the trains to pass, including Thelma Boatman Dodds of Osyka, Mississippi, who was killed when the bus overturned on the sidewalk where she was standing. Mrs. Dodds, by all accounts, had been trying to warn the driver of the danger. The little town of Osyka suffered two casualties that day – Mrs. Zellie Cutrer was also killed in the accident.* Mrs. Fannie Johnson Smith (right) of Crystal Springs was on her way to Jackson to visit relatives. Her niece and nephew, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Patterson of Jackson, had been visiting her in Crystal Springs. Both were seriously injured in the crash. Mrs. Smith, 44, was buried at the Old Crystal Springs Cemetery. All told, the accident claimed the lives of fifteen passengers and injured thirty-two others. Among those who died or were injured were citizens of eighteen different states, including Mississippi. The United States Army Air Corps cadets were going to Jackson en route to a new training post at the Greenville Army Flying School. Among the cadets killed was Richard H. M. Shinebarger of Erin, New York. Shinebarger married his wife Wilma just a month before, on the Fourth of July, in Ocala, Florida. After graduation from his high school, where he was the valedictorian, Richard enrolled in the Alfred University School of Ceramics, still considered the top school of ceramic arts in the country. Richard left in his junior year to join the Air Corps. His wife Wilma was a 1941 graduate of the Arnot-Ogden Hospital School of Nursing in Elmira, N.Y. before meeting Richard. Both were 21 years old. Geddie Roy ("Bill") Smathers, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, (left) was also killed in the wreck. Smathers, aged 20, had worked as a bookkeeper at the American Trust Company in Charlotte before enlisting in the Army Air Corps. His father, Geddie Roy Smathers, Sr., a veteran of the First World War, was left behind to mourn the death of his son. Smathers died at Baptist Hospital in Jackson. The tragic accident in Crystal Springs made national headlines (including the front page of the New York Times), even though events worldwide demanded constant attention. In short time, of course, the horrors of World War II overshadowed the bus wreck in Mississippi and was mostly forgotten except by those who lost loved ones in the crash. The people of Crystal Springs, however, have not forgotten the dead and in 2008 erected a state historical marker at the site of the accident.

Powerball jackpot grows to $76 million; Mississippi Match 5 reaches $194,000 While the temperatures are dropping, jackpots are getting hotter, including the $376 million on the line in the Mega Millions® drawing Friday. The Powerball® jackpot has climbed to $76 million for the Saturday drawing. The jackpot for tonight’s Mississippi Match 5 drawing is $194,000. Week of Winners Winners steadily streamed into headquarters this week to collect their prizes. For more winner information, check out the helpful link on our website: https://www.mslotteryhome.com/players/winners/. $5,000 and $2,600: A Natchez man won on two Cash 4 tickets purchased from Corner Mart on Lower Woodville Road, Natchez. $5,000: A Columbus woman won on a Cash 4 ticket purchased from Sprint Mart #4101 on Alabama Street, Columbus. $5,000: A Laurel woman won on a Cash 4 ticket purchased from Fast Stop 7 on Hwy. 15 N., Laurel. $5,000: A Jackson woman won on a Cash 4 ticket purchased from Shell Grab N Go on Hwy. 18 W., Jackson. $2,600: A Jackson man won on a Cash 4 ticket purchased from Lakeland Red Apple Texaco on Lakeland Heights Blvd., Flowood. $2,600: A Hattiesburg man won a Cash 4 ticket purchased from Maggie’s Beer House on W. Florence Street., Hattiesburg. $2,500: A Meridian woman won on a Cash 4 ticket purchased from King City on Hwy. 39 N., Meridian. $1,500: A Ridgeland man won on a Mega Millions ticket with Megaplier purchased from Shucker’s Piano & Oyster Bar on Conestoga Road, Ridgeland. $1,000: A Carriere woman won on a $10 50X the Cash scratch-off game purchased from TJ’s Country Mart on Hwy. 43 N., Picayune. $1,000: A Jackson woman won on a $10 Platinum 7s scratch-off game purchased from Bay Springs Red Apple Truck Stop on Hwy. 18 W., Bay Springs. $1,000: A Tupelo man won on a $10 Platinum 7s scratch-off game purchased from M & H Quick Stop on S. Eason Blvd., Tupelo. $1,000: An Oxford woman won on a $10 $200,000 Fortune scratch-off game purchased from Blue Springs Grocery & Grill on Hwy. 9 S., Blue Springs. $1,000: A Laurel man won on a $10 50X the Cash scratch-off game purchased from Rapad Express III on Hwy. 15 N., Laurel. $1,000: A Moss Point man won on a $20 $500,000 Bonus Multiplier scratch-off game purchased from Murphy Oil #867 on Denny Avenue., Pascagoula. $1,000: A Brandon player won on a $5 Gold Rush scratch-off game purchased from Spillway Chevron on Spillway Road, Brandon. $1,000: A Clay County woman won on a Mega Millions ticket with Megaplier purchased from Spring Mart #4125 on S. Montgomery Street, Starkville. $1,000: A Simpson County woman won on a $5 Elvis scratch-off game purchased from BlueSky #637 on I-55 North Northside Drive, Jackson. $1,000: A Lowndes County man won on a $3 Bingo scratch-off game purchased from Sprint Mart #4107 on Lehmberg Road, Columbus. $1,000: A Meridian man won on a Mega Millions ticket with Megaplier purchased from King City on Hwy. 39 N., Meridian. $800: A Jackson woman won on a Mega Millions ticket with Megaplier purchased from Sprint Mart #105 on Springridge Road, Clinton. New Year, New Look The Mississippi Lottery will unveil a new look to its website Monday, Jan. 24. Featuring easier to access highlights for draw results, draw schedules, 2nd Chance information and much more, the new facelift is sure to be a jackpot of information!

By Bob Garver “Redeeming Love” is a cross between a Christian movie, a mushy romance, and a demented exploitation film. This might sound like an intriguing combination, but the genres do not go well together, nor do they result in an entertaining train wreck. On top of my many, many complaints about this movie, it cannot be forgotten that it is a poorly-paced slog that has no business taking up 134 minutes of your time. Really, it has no business taking up one minute of your time, let alone 134. Set in the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, the film follows “Angel” (Abigail Cowan) as she is saved from a life of prostitution by humble farmer Michael (Tom Lewis). I’ll start with him. This is a character that can only exist as a protagonist in a work of fiction. To be sure, there are many men in the real world that are kind, compassionate, respectful, generous, patient, and refuse to take advantage of women even though they have ample opportunity to do so. But this is a guy that pays a prostitute double just to flirt. “Angel” runs away from him at least three times during the movie, and the official reason is that she thinks he’s too good to be true or she isn’t worthy of him, but I suspect that on an unofficial level she sees that he’s perfect and perfect is boring. Moving on to “Angel,” she’s lived a tragic life and she isn’t ready for an abrupt turn into wholesomeness. And this movie loves to revel in just how tragic that life has been. Several scenes depict “Angel” being beaten, raped, and otherwise abused, going back to when she was a child. There’s even an especially sick twist reminiscent of “Oldboy.” I know there’s an argument to be made that we need to see the darkness so it means more when she finally sees the light, but this movie is so dark for so long that the light barely registers when it does come. Speaking of “the light,” this movie is based on a story from the Bible, but it must be one of those icky ones for hardcore scholars and not the kind that come up in general-audience Sunday services – the kind that come up in those internet articles with titles like, “The 5 Sickest Stories You’ll Ever Hear (Are Straight Out Of The Bible).” The movie has Christian-based financial backing, and while I can’t say that it just pays the bare minimum of lip service to the Christian market in order to get that backing (looking at you, “American Underdog”), it sure could be doing a lot more to be palatable to its target audience of people who want something more uplifting. A huge pet peeve of mine is when movies censor themselves just enough to get a PG-13 rating instead of the R that the subject matter warrants. “Redeeming Love” is one of the most egregious examples of this practice that I have ever seen. It’s not just that there’s sex and violence in this movie, but it’s a heinous brand of sex and violence. But the hair is long enough that the necessary body parts are covered and the camera cuts away from prolonged beatings so we just hear punches and crying. In the ridiculous current system, that makes the movie clean enough to play to the same crowd as the Marvel movies. I’ll spare it from an F grade because it does a decent enough job recreating the time period, but this is the singular most unpleasant time I’ve had at the movies in years. Grade: D- “Redeeming Love” is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual content, partial nudity, and strong violent content. Its running time is 134 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Some Mississippians know they’re at risk of heart disease due to family history, but others might wonder if their chronic conditions make them prone to cardiovascular problems – or if good health can be deceiving. A quick and easy cardiology screening can reveal answers to all of those questions, experts at the University of Mississippi Medical Center say. For the first time, they are offering the screenings UMMC’s Grants Ferry clinic in Flowood, giving patients peace of mind and the information they need for personalized treatment going forward. Those screened at the 1010 Lakeland Place clinic have three options, depending on need and choice of pricing, said Amanda Howell, a registered diagnostic sonographer and lead technician on the testing. All three tiers assess risk for heart disease and build off each other, with the first tier including a coronary artery calcium scan, or CAC, to calculate a calcium-level score; bloodwork to check cholesterol levels; a glucose test to determine blood sugar levels; and blood pressure checks for the presence of hypertension. If testing shows a patient has risk factors for heart disease, they may be referred to a cardiologist or given the option of a second tier of testing that includes all first-tier testing plus an electrocardiogram to check for irregular heartbeat and a body mass index evaluation. Third-tier testing adds on an ultrasound of the patient’s carotid arteries in the neck to identify any stenosis or plaque buildup and to track blood flow to the brain. The third tier also includes an ankle brachial index test, which compares the blood pressure in the upper and lower limbs to check for stiff peripheral arteries, an indicator of cardiovascular disease; and a scan of the abdominal aorta to look for aneurysms. Additional testing is available for smokers or those with a history of smoking. Screenings also include a heart risk questionnaire with queries on past heart attack or stroke, incidences of chest pain or shortness of breath, and other symptoms and risk factors. The testing is competitively priced, with tier one costing $85; tier two, $99; and tier three, $150. The goal is for screenings to take about 15-20 minutes for the first tier and under an hour for the second and third tiers. “We will help guide you if you need help figuring what tier is best for you,” Howell said. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics, heart disease is second only to cancer, the CDC says. Symptoms vary widely from patient to patient, but can include chests pain, tightness and pressure; shortness of breath; pain, numbness, weakness and coldness in the legs or arms; and pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back. Especially dangerous is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, Deere said. It’s caused by high levels of” bad” cholesterol in the blood, leading to plaque buildup on the walls of arteries. Over time, that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Some people aren’t diagnosed until they’ve had a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. That means screening can make a huge difference in someone’s cardiovascular health. Located in Jackson, UMMC encompasses seven health science schools, including medicine, nursing, health related professions, dentistry, pharmacy, graduate studies and population health. The Medical Center’s health care enterprise includes the state’s only Level I trauma center, only children’s hospital, and only organ and bone marrow transplant program. The Medical Center also is home to a Telehealth Center of Excellence, one of two in the nation. Patients can call 601-815-4321 now to make an appointment, said Alli Pitre, program administrator at UMMC’s University Heart and lead project manager for the screening program.

Co-Lin has achieved national Silver recognition in the latest American Heart Association 2021 Workplace Health Achievement Index for taking significant steps to build a culture of health and well-being for their workforce. The college is one of more than 450 organizations nationwide that completed the Index assessment this year, evaluating the time period of July 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Of the organizations that completed the Index assessment, nearly all earned gold (43%), silver (31%) or bronze (19%) status. The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives for all, created the Index with its CEO Roundtable, a leadership collaborative of more than 45 members from some of America’s largest companies. The Index is a web-based scorecard that evaluates the overall quality and comprehensiveness of an organization's workplace health program through a combination of best practices and a snapshot of its aggregate employee heart health. Studies show, healthy employees are more productive and use less sick time, and organizations who create a culture of health in the workplace can improve employee retention and organizational reputation. “We are proud to achieve this recognition from the American Heart Association for prioritizing the health and well-being of our employees,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “Our institution remains committed to supporting the physical and mental well-being of our faculty and staff and promoting professional and personal growth.” In the new year, the American Heart Association will introduce a reimagined Index, the Workforce Well-Being Scorecard. Building on the legacy of the Workplace Health Achievement Index, the new Scorecard will provide organizations with a way to measure the total health and well-being of their workforce, including the importance of the mental well-being of employees. Participating organizations will receive specific, evidence-informed tools and services to help build and maximize effective cultures of workforce health and well-being. For more information, visit www.heart.org/WHSrecognitions.

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted today to allow school districts to use hybrid scheduling if needed to minimize the current spread of COVID-19. The hybrid scheduling option is available immediately and will extend through March 11, 2022. Hybrid scheduling enables districts to reduce the number of students in schools each day by scheduling a portion of students to learn online. Hybrid scheduling can only be used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The SBE based its decision on COVID-19 infection data from the Mississippi State Department of Health. The SBE may consider extending the option beyond March 11 if data show it is needed. “The Mississippi Department of Education asked the State Board to temporarily allow hybrid scheduling to give school districts that needed it an additional strategy to help educate students safely,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. Before the start of the 2021-22 school year, the SBE set requirements for districts that choose to offer a virtual learning option and established standards for schoolwide virtual learning days. Under the SBE policies, districts that offer a virtual option for individual students must adopt local board-approved policies that include the criteria for students to participate in virtual learning, requirements for equipment, connectivity, attendance and student conduct, and assurances of equal access and non-discrimination and the delivery of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. Districts are still required to provide a minimum of 180 days of instruction and must ensure any virtual learning days include actual teaching for a minimum of 330 minutes, as state law requires. To assist with virtual learning, the Legislature provided $200 million in 2020 through the Mississippi Connects program, which provided every public-school student with a computer device to learn. The Mississippi Connects program includes professional development and support from digital learning instructional coaches, who help teachers, schools and districts effectively use educational technology and improve student outcomes statewide. More information: www.mdek12.org/guidance2021-22 Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Today, the 57th Annual Dixie National Livestock Show officially gets underway at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, beginning with the Dixie National Horse and Mule Color Bonanza Show. “We are excited to kick-off the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo presented by our title sponsor Southern AgCredit,” says Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “Over the next month, thousands of people will be making their way to the Mississippi State Fairgrounds for the many events and shows taking place. Having the Dixie National Rodeo take place over two weekends will give rodeo fans more opportunities to experience the ‘Greatest Show on Dirt.’ This year will include all the usual fan-favorites, such as the Dixie National Rodeo Parade and the Junior Sale of Champions, as well as the first-ever Spring Edition of the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo and Dixie National Rodeo Days.” The Dixie National Livestock Show will kick-off with the Dixie National Horse and Mule Color Bonanza Show, taking place Thursday, January 20, through Sunday, January 23, in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The show begins at 8:00 a.m. each day and features mules of different colors and sizes, long-eared donkeys, along with Pinto, Palomino, and American Ranch horses. The Junior Round-Up Livestock Shows run Tuesday, February 1, through Wednesday, February 9, and will conclude with the Junior Sale of Champions on Thursday, February 10. Open livestock shows begin Saturday, February 12, and conclude Tuesday, February 15. The Dixie National Quarter Horse Show taking place Tuesday, February 15, through Sunday, February 20, will conclude the livestock and equine shows. The Dixie National Rodeo takes place Friday, February 11, through Sunday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 16, through Saturday, February 19, in the Coliseum with performances by Dylan Scott, Joe Nichols, The Gatlin Brothers, Justin Moore, Neal McCoy, Gary Allan and The Bellamy Brothers. Tickets can be purchased at the Coliseum Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com/dixie-national-rodeo-tickets/artist/848320. This year’s Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo will include several new events. The Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks will hold the Spring Edition of the Mississippi Ag and Outdoor Expo in the Mississippi Trade Mart during the first weekend of the Dixie National Rodeo, February 11-13. The all-new Dixie National Rodeo Days will take place the second weekend of the rodeo, February 16-19 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., in the Mississippi Trade Mart. During Rodeo Days, rodeo fans can shop and learn about all things agriculture and rodeo. For more information on the rodeo, concerts and schedules, download the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo mobile app, visit www.dixienational.org, “like” the Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo page on Facebook, or call 601-961-4000.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is announcing that the 3rd grade reading assessment, which helps determine promotion to the 4th grade, will be administered from April 4-22 across the state. The Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA) enacted in 2013 was created to help ensure kindergarten through 3rd-grade students develop good reading skills. The law was amended in 2016 and requires all Mississippi 3rd grade public school students to score at level 3 or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program English Language Arts (MAAP-ELA) test to qualify to be promoted to 4th grade. Exemptions apply to certain students with disabilities, students learning English or students who have been previously retained. Third-graders will be given up to three attempts to pass the assessment. If a student fails the first test, a retest will be given May 9-13. If a student fails the retest, a second retest will be given June 20-July 8. Schools and districts will offer intervention to students who fail the tests. The MDE has shared various resources with school districts and teachers to better ensure students are prepared for the assessment. In fall 2021, MDE held eight regional family literacy meetings. Additional MDE resources available to parents and guardians include: StrongReaders.com/third grade – The 3rd grade section of MDE’s Strong Readers, Strong Leaders website is full of fun activities families and students can use to improve reading. Topics cover vocabulary, comprehension, working with sounds, working with letters and sounds and reading accurately to understand. 3rd Grade Reading Assessment Flyer, which contains information about testing dates, format, results, the importance of passing the assessment and how families can support reading development at home. www.mdek12.org/literacy - Additional guidance, resources and information about the LBPA may be found online by visiting the Literacy section of MDE’s website. Social media – MDE will share tips on its Facebook and Twitter platforms in the coming weeks. In 2019, 74.5% of 3rd graders passed the assessment on the first attempt. By the third attempt, a total of 85.6% passed. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) suspended administering the assessment for the 2019-20 school year due to the state of emergency Gov. Tate Reeves declared in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The 3rd grade reading assessment was administered once in the 2020-21 school year, however; due to the state of emergency, the SBE waived the passing requirement. The state of emergency expired Nov. 20, 2021. The LBPA takes a comprehensive approach to helping teachers and school leaders effectively teach reading and implement an ongoing system to monitor student progress. The law enables MDE to deploy literacy coaches to schools where data show students struggle the most with reading. Coaches work directly with teachers and administrators to help them become more effective teachers of reading. Currently, 56 literacy coaches serve 95 schools and 51 districts. Mississippi’s K-3rd grade students are screened three times annually to determine their reading levels. Based on those results, teachers can focus on a student’s needed improvement skills. Parents are also made aware of their child’s results and can check with their child’s teachers for helpful strategies specific to their child’s needs. “Mississippi’s K-3 teachers, administrators and school leaders have worked hard to assess and prepare 3rd graders to meet reading standards even during the pandemic,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “MDE encourages parents to utilize resources from MDE and from their child’s teacher and school to equip students to succeed.” Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

By Speaker of the House Philip Gunn I believe there is nothing more significant your legislature can do to help you financially than to let you keep more of your hard-earned money. This allows you to better provide for your family, increase your quality of life, give more to your church and community, and increase the economic prosperity of our State. That is why I proudly co-authored the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act of 2022, which passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 107-4. This bill is now headed to the State Senate. Under this bill: 1) your car tag taxes will immediately be cut in half; 2) your grocery taxes will eventually be reduced from 7% to 4%, and 3) your state income tax will eventually be completely eliminated. NOW is the time for tax relief. State revenues have never been higher. Through December 2021, general fund revenue collections are up more than $1 billion. We have over $1 billion in the Capital Expense Fund. We have $556 million in the Rainy Day Fund. We are better positioned now more than ever to provide tax relief. If we don’t do it now, we all know what will happen – this money will get spent. That is not the direction that this State needs to go. NOW is the time to give the taxpayers back some of THEIR money! The Legislative Budget Office (LBO) has estimated that the House Plan will provide a net tax cut of about $250 million in FY 2023 and $665 million in FY 2024. At full implementation, the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act will provide over $2 billion in tax relief to Mississippians. It will be the most significant tax cut in our state’s history. Of course, some of this lost revenue will need to be replaced. We accomplish that with a plan that uses a combination of both growth and a slight increase in the general sales tax only from 7% to 8.5% - but rest assured that this slight increase in the sales tax will not create any hardship on any family. (Note – this slight sales tax increase does NOT apply to cars or trucks.) You will always keep more money in your pocket by eliminating your income tax and reducing your car tags tax and grocery tax than you will ever spend by increasing the sales tax by 1.5 pennies. Why is that? Because the overwhelming majority of what you spend your money on is not subject to a sales tax. There is no sales tax on your mortgage; your home utilities, medicine, gasoline, insurance, grocery tax, and car tag tax are all being reduced. Those expenses will not go up in cost by increasing the sales tax. Only about one-fourth of what you spend is subject to a sales tax. To reiterate, you will never spend more by raising the sales tax 1.5 pennies than you will get back by eliminating your income tax and reducing your car tag and grocery tax. The math proves this. For example, taxpayers receive an immediate exemption from taxation for their first $40,000 of income under this bill ($40,000 per taxpayer, $80,000 per married couple). That puts roughly $1,300 back into that taxpayer’s pocket immediately ($2,600 per married couple). If the sales tax goes up 1.5 pennies, that person would have to spend $86,000 before they use up that $1,300. And here is the kicker – they would have to spend $86,000 on stuff subject to the sales tax. As stated above, most of what you spend your money on is not subject to a sales tax; therefore, you would have to spend $86,000 on stuff subject to the 1.5 sales tax increase before you use up the $1,300 you get to keep by eliminating your income tax. You will never do it. After seven years, the exemption rises to $100,000 per taxpayer, $200,000 per married couple. That puts about $4,300 ($8,600 per married couple) back into the pocket of taxpayers at that income level. That taxpayer would have to spend $285,000 before using up the $4,300. Again, they will never do it. You will always have more money by eliminating your income tax and reducing your grocery tax and car tag tax than you will ever spend by increasing the sales tax by 1.5 pennies. Do not be deceived by those legislators or other state leaders who want to pull the wool over your eyes and tell you that they will not vote for this bill because it increases the sales tax by only 1.5 pennies. That makes for an easy sound bite, but it is also an easy cop-out. Most of all, it is simply not supported by the math above, which proves they are not being honest with you. Even if you are retired and don’t pay income tax, you will still benefit under this plan. Also, do not be deceived by those who want to use words such as “tax reduction,” “tax reform,” “tax cut,” or some other derivative like this. This is an attempt on their part to “check a box” and make you think that they have provided you with some sort of tax relief when they have done nothing for you. Do not let your legislator get away with this. The Mississippi Tax Freedom Act provides tax ELIMINATION! Any plan proposed that does not offer tax elimination is simply an attempt to pull the wool over your eyes, check a box, and make you think you got tax relief when in reality, you did not. Again, the math bears this out. For example, one plan being discussed simply eliminates the 4% tax bracket. That only puts $200 a year into your pocket – about $16 per month. That tiny amount is not going to transform anybody’s life. But under our plan, your entire income tax burden is eliminated. That is transformative tax relief! That will change lives. That will provide more money for you to provide better for your family, raise your children, give more to your church and community. The time is NOW for tax relief. The House has overwhelmingly passed this bill 107-4 with bipartisan support. The financial relief you stand to gain under this bill now rests in the hands of your State Senator. We are hopeful they will adopt this plan, so that you can finally get the tax relief you deserve.

By Bob Garver I love the original Wes Craven “Scream” from 1996. Not only do I count it among my favorite horror movies of all-time, it’s also one of my favorite comedies. The Ghostface mask worn by the film’s killers has given me plenty of sleepless nights, and I consider some of its jump scares to be among the best in cinema history. Then there’s all the reflexive humor about the characters being trapped in a horror movie and needing to follow certain “rules” to stay alive. Add in some likeable, memorable characters (I even have a soft spot for Rose McGowen’s Tatum, though some fans can’t see past a bad decision that leads to her death), and you’ve got a true modern classic. I didn’t much care for the sequels, though. The subsequent films could never come up with characters, jokes, or kills that could match the magic of the original. But now there is a “re-quel” version of “Scream” is in theaters, and it comes the closest to re-capturing my love for the 1996 film. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the original “Scream” was the death of the heavily-promoted Drew Barrymore in the opening scene in the film. In the 2022 “Scream,” the biggest surprise comes just after the opening scene, where Tara (Jenny Ortega) is attacked by Ghostface. I came to really care about the character in an awfully short time, with her making selfless decisions and admiring horror movies that aren’t all about blood and guts. The return of Ghostface brings Tara’s sister and new main character Sam (Melissa Barrera) back to the town of Woodsboro. Sam is the daughter of Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), one of the killers from the original film. She’s allowed her parentage to ruin her life, and she expresses her frustration in a surprisingly emotional sequence for a series largely associated with gore and smart-aleck humor. She arrives with her well-meaning boyfriend Richie (Jack Quaid) in tow, and quickly acclimates herself with Tara’s circle of friends, including Amber (Mikey Madison), Chad (Mason Gooding), Mindy (Jasmine Savoy Brown), Liv (Sonia Ben Ammar), and the groaningly-named Wes (Dylan Minnette). Sam, and to a lesser degree Tara, are great new characters, but most of the others fall flat. Amber says that Liv is “too boring” to be the killer at one point, and from the audience I heckled, “that could be any of you.” These movies lend themselves well to heckling. Fortunately, the film knows that we aren’t really here for the new kids. It’s not long before we get the return of series stalwarts Dewey (David Arquette), Gale (Courtney Cox), and original main character Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). They can be in the movie, but the movie can’t be “about” them, so sayeth the rules of the re-quel. All the pieces are in place for a great slasher, and while I can’t say I agree with all the moves they make, the movie does a lot right. There are some fun detours, like Dewey riding in a car with a determined Sam and thinking he might have better chances against Ghostface. But the movie can’t quite stick the landing in the third act, with too much attention given to uninteresting characters and the identity of killer(s) maybe chosen at random by dartboard for all the sense it makes. Still, this is a worthy successor to the 1996 film, which is more than I can say for the three preceding sequels. It is the first “Scream” not to be directed by the late Wes Craven (it is credited to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) and it seems they understand the series better now than he did in later installments. Grade: B “Scream” is rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, and some sexual references. Its running time is 114 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health will host a Drive Thru Community Baby Shower from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., January 22, 2022 at Word and Worship Church. Word and Worship Church is located at 6286 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, MS. Free baby items will be distributed to new and expectant mothers while supplies last. For more information, contact Asia McCoy at amccoy@advancingminorityhealth.org.

In case you missed it..... Special December wreath-laying ceremonies honored veterans buried in Wesson Cemetery. Wesson-based Socks For Heroes organized the event among 2,100 nationwide sponsored by Wreaths Across America, which was founded to continue and expand an annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.Nearly two million veteran wreaths are placed on headstones at participating cemeteries around the country to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and teach the value of freedom. With the aid of Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and a number of other individuals and organizations, Morrill arranged for wreaths to be placed at Arlington in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors with each passing year. Volunteers from local American Legion and VFW Posts and members of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. helped make wreaths. A photo of gravestones at Arlington, adorned with wreaths and covered in snow, circulated around the internet, and starting in 2005, thousands of other locations emulated the wreath-laying ceremonies. The Arlington wreath-laying is still held annually, on the second or third Saturday of December. The annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities along the way.