As schools around the state begin a new semester of in-person learning, University of Mississippi Medical Center pediatric experts and leadership from the state’s pediatrician group encourage parents to protect their children from COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. “In the past two weeks, the number of children hospitalized at Children’s of Mississippi because of COVID-19 has tripled,” said Dr. Mary Taylor, Suzan B. Thames Chair and professor of pediatrics. “We know the importance of in-person learning for children and want schools to be open safely. We encourage parents to have their children wear face masks when in school or in public and to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.” Today, 19 children diagnosed with COVID-19 are hospitalized at Children’s of Mississippi, the state’s only hospital specifically for kids and teens. Four of those patients are in intensive care. “Most of our children admitted specifically for COVID-19 are unvaccinated or are younger than 5 years old and don’t qualify for vaccination,” said Dr. April Palmer, professor and chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UMMC. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccination against COVID-19 for children who are eligible. This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized COVID-19 booster shots for those ages 12 to 15. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations are available for children ages 5 to 11 at a lower dose. The vaccine was made available to ages 12 to 15 through an emergency use authorization in May. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be nearly 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 to 11. “Vaccinations have been proven to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19 and making any breakthrough infections less severe,” said Dr. Charlotte Hobbs, professor of pediatric infectious diseases. “It’s important to protect children from becoming infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus since we have fewer monoclonal antibodies options since some of them are not effective against the Omicron variant.” Parents should encourage their children ages 2 and older to wear face masks when in school, day care or in public, said Dr. Anita Henderson, president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician at the Hattiesburg Clinic. Face masks are not recommended for children younger than 2. “With the number of new cases of COVID-19 rising, it’s vital to keep children as safe as possible while they are learning,” Henderson said. “This means wearing face masks for in-person school and day care and vaccinations for children as well as other family members. This is our best chance to prevent COVID-19 infections while keeping schools open.”

Through her years as a commercial artist and teacher and a struggle with cancer, health and nutrition have always been important parts of Ana Mason's life, but it wasn't until she discovered Herbalife products to gain weight after training to run a 5K marathon that she decided to become an independent distributor for the company and make a business of her passions. "Unlike commercial art and teaching, running a business, however, did not come naturally for me, but I've enjoyed meeting new people and building relationships with customers since starting Copiah Nutrition in 2013 in Wesson," Mason says. Today, Mason is helping to shape the health of Wesson residents with her small store where she sells healthy meal replacement shakes, energy teas, pre and post workout drinks and high protein snacks; and offers friendly advice. Mason landed in Mississippi in 2003 after growing up, working in commercial art, rearing two children and becoming a special and general education teacher in San Diego, California. She recalls a childhood playing outside in San Diego's downtown area, where she would ride her bike to visit friends who lived five miles away. Mason graduated from Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley outside San Diego in 1986 and attended Cuyamaca Community College. She moved to Tennessee to live with her father, received an Associate Degree in Commercial Art and Music from Dyersburg State in 1989 and then returned to California to work in commercial art from 1990 to 1992 when a job injury cut her career short. "I married and reared two children, now grown -- Justin Hickey, 31, a Navy CB; and Elizabeth Payne, 29, who is married to a police officer," she relates. "When I volunteered in a kindergarten, a teacher suggested that I start a second career in education. So I went on to earn BS and MS degrees at San Diego State University in 1999 and 2003 and to teach kindergarten and special education in the seventh grade before budget cuts in California schools again cut my career short." Mississippi was Mason's next stop when she took over the Wesson property of the late mother of her father's second wife. "A teaching career opened for me when Mississippi school officials learned about my California experience during the school registration process for my kids," she says. She first taught at Crystal Springs Elementary School (2003-2008) followed by tenures at Hazlehurst Elementary School (2008-09) and Walton Elementary School in Jackson (2010-11). In 2007, doctors told Mason she had uterine cancer, which she fought over the next four years, learning to conquer the stress which triggered it to reoccur. She has been cancer-free since 2011. The Paul Lacoste Boot Camp -- a 12-week gymnasium program that prepares participants for 5K runs throughout intense one hour per day five-day per week workouts -- provided stress-relief during her cancer fight, but caused her to lose the weight that Herbalife products helped her regain, and led her to start Copiah Nutrition in 2013. Mason chose Wesson as the location for her business to be close to her mother, who she brought to Mississippi in 2006 to live with her. What are your hobbies? For the most part, they are on hold because of my business, but I like to work out and enjoy travel. Are you a reader? I focus on leadership development in both reading books and listening to podcasts. I pay particular attention to what Steve Harvey, Jim Rohn and Herbalife founder Mark Hughes have to say. Are you into music? I like Christian music. I am a fan of the group Pentatonix and singer Amy Grant. I listen to Pandora Do you enjoy movies or theater? Sandra Bullock is my favorite actress. I liked her in The Blind Side. Sweet Home Alabama is also one of my favorite movies. I watch sports on television, too. I follow the Tennessee Titans. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I save my money. How would you change the world? I am changing the world, encouraging nutrition, good eating habits and exercise.

With winter here, the weather can change quickly and you may find yourself in difficult conditions. Be prepared for surprises by keeping an emergency winter weather kit in your car. Here are eight items you’ll need to have in your car in case of a winter weather emergency: Windshield scraper Flashlight with extra batteries Jumper cables First aid kit Blankets Cell phone chargers Water/snacks Emergency flares or reflectors For more information on how to prepare for winter weather, visit GoMDOT.com/winter.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s (MDEQ) Office of Geology recently released five geologic maps produced for the National Park Service related to areas along the Natchez Trace Parkway. The 7.5 min. geologic quadrangles for areas of Ridgeland, Pocahontas, Clinton, Raymond, and Widows Creek in Claiborne County were released in December 2021. This work was done as part of an ongoing, three state cooperative project coordinated and funded by the National Park Service to explore and map for the first time the comprehensive geology of the Natchez Trace Parkway corridor. The maps include surface geologic interpretations, map descriptions, and supporting photographs and figures depicting areas of interest. They also provide information on the geology, geography, geomorphology, stratigraphy, natural and cultural history, paleontology, geoarcheology, along with significant geohazards including the Yazoo Clay outcrop belt and the distribution of loess. In addition, the maps are useful for activities such as economic development as well as environmental, municipal, and conservation planning. The maps are available to the public via a free download on MDEQ’s website here. Mapping will continue to be conducted over the next few years resulting in a complete geologic interpretation for the entire Natchez Trace Parkway.

By Bob Garver It has been well-established that “Spider-Man: Far From Home” dominated the box office over the Christmas and New Year weekends, with “Sing 2” putting in a strong showing at #2. After that came a cluster of also-rans, none of which did particularly well critically or commercially. Rather than single one out, I’ve decided to take a look at three in one sitting, starting with the biggest disappointment… “The Matrix Resurrections” Only $30 million over two holiday weekends? For a franchise that held the record for biggest opening weekend for an R-rated movie for over 10 years? The new movie must really be bad to perform this poorly. And yes, it is. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss are back for this shameless cash-grab of a sequel (minus the part where it grabs much cash). Beloved original cast members Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving are not back, their roles recast with Yahya Abdul-Manteen II and Jonathan Groff, respectively. I’m sure the film explained why Morpheus and Agent Smith don’t look the same this time around, but I couldn’t follow it. Just like I couldn’t follow the movie digging up one piece of 20-year-old “Matrix” lore after another. The film makes lots of meta-jokes about how the series should have been left alone, but the soulless studio had to interfere. The trilogy wasn’t exactly perfect the way it was, but this way-too-late revisiting isn’t helping its legacy, and the self-deprecating humor only makes things worse. Grade: C- “The Matrix Resurrections” is rated R for violence and some language. Its running time is 148 minutes. “The King’s Man” I enjoyed 2014’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and even have a soft spot for its 2017 sequel “The Golden Circle.” This prequel gave me much less enjoyment and it will not occupy a soft spot in my heart. Ralph Fiennes stars as Duke Orlando of Oxford, a British aristocrat in the early 20th century that desperately wants to stop the world from going to war, to the point where he will engage in some battles of his own. I guess Fiennes saw the success of his “Schindler’s List” costar Liam Neeson and decided that he too could reinvent himself as an action star in his 50’s. He’s trying, but the rest of the movie lets him down. The other two “Kingsman” movies balanced outlandishness and heart so well, but this one just takes itself too seriously too often, especially in a storyline where Orlando’s son (Harris Dickinson) wants to go off to war. Things are only fun when the villains are onscreen, with Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) being a particular scene-stealer. The film is unsure of what tone it wants, which ironically makes me very sure that it’s an uninteresting mess. Grade: C- “The King’s Man” is rated R for sequences of strong/bloody violence, language, and some sexual innuendo. Its running time is 130 minutes. “American Underdog” The story of Rams great Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi) is seemingly tailor-made to be an inspirational sports movie. We see the quarterback as he rises through high school, ekes out a decent run in college, goes undrafted for the NFL, falls, lasts one day with the Packers, falls, falls, falls, makes a comeback through arena football, and finally makes it into the NFL for a first-year Super Bowl win. But it’s not all about football. We also follow him as he pursues a relationship with his eventual wife Brenda (Anna Paquin). This is a struggle too, as the couple has to deal with financial woes, a special needs child, and a demanding road schedule. But there’s a Brenda Warner credited as an executive producer in the film’s titles, so my guess is that things work out. Simply put, if this is the kind of movie you like, you’ll like this movie. I’m not a sports guy, and some of the conflict seemed forced despite its real-life basis, but I see the appeal. Like its main character, this movie has a big heart, if not much else. Grade: C “American Underdog” is rated PG for some language and thematic elements. Its running time is 112 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu. Read more: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Mississippi’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state. Mississippi’s plan details how the state is using and plans to use ARP ESSER funds to sustain the safe operation of schools and equitably expand opportunity for students who need it most, particularly those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December, with the help of American Rescue Plan funds, nearly all schools are open for full-time, in-person instruction. The Department recently issued a new resource to state and local leaders stressing the importance of full-time, safe, in-person learning and how federal funds can be used to achieve that goal. Earlier this year, the Department distributed two-thirds of the ARP ESSER funds, totaling $81 billion, to 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The remaining third of the funding to states will be made available once state plans are approved. Mississippi is receiving more than $1.6 billion total in ARP ESSER funds, and today’s approval of the state’s plan will result in the release of the final $543 million. Today’s approvals mean a total of 51 ARP ESSER state plans have been approved since June. “I am excited to announce approval of Mississippi’s plan,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “It is heartening to see, reflected in these state plans, the ways in which states are thinking deeply about how to use American Rescue Plan funds to continue to provide critical support to schools and communities. The approval of these plans enables states to receive vital, additional American Rescue Plan funds to help keep schools open for full-time, in-person learning; meet students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs; and address disparities in access to educational opportunity that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The state plans that have been submitted to the Department lay the groundwork for the ways in which an unprecedented infusion of federal resources will be used to address the urgent needs of America’s children and build back better.” “Mississippi has prioritized in-person learning because it is the most effective way to keep students engaged, accelerate learning and address their social and emotional learning needs,” said Dr. Carey Wright, Mississippi state superintendent of education. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for its significant investment of ESSER funds in Mississippi. These funds will enable our schools to innovate learning and build strong and enduring systems of support to meet the current and future needs of our students.” The ARP ESSER state plans approved by the Department, including Mississippi’s, show how states are using Federal pandemic resources to support safe in-person instruction and meet the social, emotional, mental health and academic needs of students — with a focus on the students most impacted by the pandemic. For example: Safely Reopening Schools and Sustaining Safe Operations: The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has encouraged districts to consider how to host vaccination drives on school campuses, in addition to sharing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and guidance on safe in-person instruction with schools and districts in the state. Mississippi schools have also utilized various strategies to increase vaccination rates in the schools and communities. Addressing the Academic Impact of Lost Instructional Time: The MDE will use ARP ESSER funds to support high-dosage tutoring, summer learning and enrichment, and extended day programs through a competitive grant program to address students’ academic, social, emotional and mental health needs that the state is developing. Supporting Physical and Mental Health: The MDE has launched a behavioral telehealth project in response to mental health concerns that may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, staffed by school staff. The MDE is also using ARP funds for a pilot program to deliver mental and behavioral health care to children and increase educator knowledge about behavioral management techniques. Additionally, The MDE has awarded funds to put 25 new medical staff on-site in schools. The distribution of ARP ESSER funds is part of the Department’s broader effort to support students and districts as they work to reengage students impacted by the pandemic, address inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 and build our education system back better than before. In addition to providing $130 billion for K-12 education in the American Rescue Plan to support the safe reopening of K-12 schools and meet the needs of all students, the Biden-Harris Administration also has: Held the Return To School Road Trip, a bus tour that visited schools across five states in five days to celebrate the safe return to school. Announced new mental health resources to provide information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and the social and emotional well-being among children and students. Launched the Return To School Roadmap to provide key resources and supports for students, parents, educators and school communities to build excitement around returning to classrooms this school year and outline how federal funding can support the safe and sustained return to in-person learning. Released three volumes of the COVID-19 Handbook. Hosted a National Safe School Reopening Summit. Prioritized the vaccination of educators, school staff and child care workers. Provided $10 billion in funding for COVID-19 testing for PreK-12 educators, staff and students. Launched a series of Equity Summits focused on addressing inequities that existed before, but were made worse by the pandemic. Released a report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on underserved communities. Developed a Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse elevating hundreds of best practices to support schools’ efforts to reopen safely and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students, educators and communities. In addition to the actions the Biden Administration has taken to reopen schools, the President has proposed critical investments through his Build Back Better Agenda. The Build Back Better legislation will offer universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds and, make education beyond high school more affordable—including offering more trainings and apprenticeships, by increasing the maximum Pell Grant and expanding access to DREAMers. It will also make historic investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and minority-serving institutions.

Eight organizations, including five non-profit social service agencies, will launch a three-week drive to collect winter coats for impoverished individuals and disadvantaged families in Jackson at a news conference at AMR’s offices, 600 Melvin Bender Drive, 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 14. Stewpot Community Services, Good Samaritan Center, Living Independence for Everyone, Deliver Me Senior Support Services and The Salvation Army are participating in the project with Jackson Roller Derby, Jackson Fire Department and AMR. The project is named, “Skates and Sirens: Coats to the Rescue.” Organizers encourage donating any size used coats in good condition or new coats. They also suggest donating winter hats, gloves and scarves. Organizers say there is a strong need for the project in the metro area. Jackson Roller Derby member Jessica Cain said, “Hundreds of people of all ages in and near Jackson lack a good winter coat. Some people without coats are homeless and there are also families with homes who simply don’t have the money for adequate coats. From now until spring, they’ll all suffer in the cold. Please help.” The project ends on January 5. Each of Jackson Fire Department’s 21 stations will serve as collection points between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day. Cleotha Sanders, deputy chief at JFD said, “The holidays are a time of giving. We’re asking the more fortunate among us: Go to your closets, take out good used coats your family no longer wears. Then, bring them to a Jackson fire station between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. any day Or add a new coat to your shopping or return lists and drop it off at any JFD station you pass on your way home.” Each person donating a coat can choose which of the five charitable agencies receives the coat. Donors can also request a receipt for a tax deduction.

Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph issued an emergency order on Thursday, Dec. 30, extending the time for COVID-19 safeguards in all courts and giving individual judges discretion to postpone jury trials scheduled through Jan. 14, 2022. Emergency Administrative Order 25 is the fourth emergency order issued since August which allows judges to postpone jury trials. Judges who preside over drug intervention courts also are authorized to modify scheduling of drug testing and home supervision of participants. The Dec. 30 order leaves in effect other safety provisions reimplemented Aug. 5, including using teleconferencing, videoconferencing and electronic filing to limit in-person contact in courts, and allowing felony plea hearings, felony sentencing hearings and probation violation hearings to be conducted remotely by way of interactive audiovisual equipment. Chief Justice Randolph reemphasized in the most recent order that “all local and state courts—municipal, justice, county, chancery, circuit, and appellate courts—shall remain open to ensure the fulfillment of their constitutional and statutory duties.” Chief Justice Randolph said in the Dec. 30 order, “Unfortunately, circumstances continue to deteriorate. In addition to the Delta variant of COVID-19, our State now faces the Omicron variant, which accounts for more than 60 % of the new reported cases, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. These variants are more contagious and spreading multiple times faster than the original strains. As of December 14, 2021, there were 575 new COVID-19 confirmed infections in Mississippi. Approximately two weeks later, the number of confirmed cases increased more than eightfold, to 4,885 cases. The Mississippi Department of Health reports that number includes over 4,700 persons who were not vaccinated, representing 97 % of the new cases.” A copy of the Dec. 30 order is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=700_571005.pdf&c=92966&a=N&s=2.

Some patients who depend on the Jackson Free Clinic for medical and dental care have no permanent shelter or roof of their own, wandering from place to place. The students who run the clinic have decided to be more like them. “That means getting out of the clinic and leaving our comfort zone,” said JoJo Dodd of Picayune, a fourth-year medical student at UMMC and the clinic’s current chair and chief operations officer. “It means taking our work to them.” To be sure, the Jackson Free Clinic, which has offered physician-supervised free health care to the homeless and the uninsured for two decades, still has a home in Jackson at 925 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; and, certainly, its doors remain open, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday. But for the past year or so, its student volunteers have decided to give the other days of the week a chance, often leaving their “home” in an outreach mission that seems to grow in scope every month, magnifying its impact. “You’ve got a ton of energy with the students,” Dodd said, explaining this burst of movement and enterprise. “It meets a moment where you have, more than ever, people who need access to health care. “The demand for what we do is increasing; we have taken it upon ourselves to meet it and take down whatever barriers we can.” And it all may have started with a shot in the arm. “Getting out the COVID vaccines, taking them to the community, spurred on a big outreach in general,” said Dr. Thais Tonore Walden of Jackson, the clinic’s medical director, who retired two years ago from the Medical Center as professor of family medicine. With vaccines supplied by the Mississippi State Department of Health, the students took them to the Hispanic community first, said Michael Hohl of Oxford, another M4 and the clinic’s chief outreach officer. “You can get a vaccine in virtually every part of town; we’re saturated with vaccines,” he said. “So, we decided to look out for patient populations that are underserved, and we realized that the Hispanic community was experiencing significant vaccine inequity. It is an almost untouched group.” Working with such advocacy groups as the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, the clinic has staged at least a half-dozen vaccine drives throughout the state this year, including one early this month in Forest; there, the students provided about 120 boosters. Led by third-year medical student Alex Fratesi of Leland, JFC’s new, bi-monthly Hispanic Clinic is helping that community find health care more easily. “The lack of access to care, food, transportation, and other social determinants of health that the Latinx community faces in the state is tremendous,” said Leslye Bastos Ortega, project manager, family medicine-minority health at UMMC, who has worked with JFC. “Oftentimes, many are not aware of the available resources and, when they are, they’re faced with language barriers or with misinformation about COVID.” Fearing for their legal or job status, they may be unwilling to reach out to governmental or other institutions, she said. “Many feel criminalized for trying to survive among these communities, which is why it is crucial to have organizations, students, and health professionals continue to address these barriers with empathy and the willingness to assist them.” Of course, the marginalized include those the clinic has served from the beginning: people without homes. For more than a year now, the volunteers have worked with Shower Power, which offers clothing, food and a hot shower to those experiencing homelessness. “We love seeing [the students] come on site,” said Mary Ann Kirby, Shower Power’s director of operations. “They have diagnosed several health situations, one of which was a real crisis with one of our friends who had extremely high blood pressure. “They were in the right place at the right time for her, and they probably saved her from something pretty dramatic later on. We are always grateful for them.” On a blustery December morning in the Jackson’s railroad district around Commerce Street, Jason Blackledge took his seat outdoors at a folding table, lifted the sleeve of his Wendy’s Frosty T-shirt and took a needle to the arm from Michael Hohl. “It’s my second,” Blackledge said, holding up two fingers. Without the teamwork between Shower Power and the Jackson Free Clinic, Blackledge and many others may have never received the first one. Around 1,700 COVID vaccines have done their work this year, thanks to the clinic’s students. During the event in the railroad district, people lined up alongside Commerce Street for their COVID vaccines or boosters and for blood glucose and blood pressure screenings administered by Hohl, Dodd and their medical school classmate, Joseph Cook of Flowood. It was just one of the clinic’s 92 outreach actions so far this year, touching the lives of more than 1,800 people around the state. In Jackson the students have also forged partnerships with Stewpot Community Services, offering, for instance, pop-up psychiatry clinics; and Uber Health, which gives patients free rides wherever the Jackson Free Clinic sets up its vaccination tents and tables. “Since I’ve been involved, we have grown exponentially in all our main areas: care, education and outreach,” said third-year medical student Hali Peterson of Jackson, chief academic officer for the clinic. “And now we are providing medical specialty services that are at the clinic certain times of the month or the year: psychiatry, dermatology, radiology, gynecology, ultrasound. “We are offering one-on-one nutrition counseling, virtually, in a partnership with GRITS – Growing Resilience in the South. Using laptops in the clinic, our patients get free sessions with dieticians. “The Jackson Free Clinic is making an immediate change; I saw this when I was coming into medical school, and that’s why I became involved.” Sunna Savani of Ocean Springs is as involved as anyone, organizing as she did JFC’s newest addition: the social health clinic. It, too, is a species of outreach, putting its patients in touch with other, valuable services beyond the clinic’s doors. “You don’t have to have a lot of health care knowledge to help in the clinic,” said the second-year medical student, “just a passion for patients. And our patients often need somewhere to sleep, something to eat, something warm to wear. “It seemed that we were missing this essential part of patient care, so that’s how the social health clinic started. To begin with, we adapted the screening process at EversCare to our clinic.” Each JFC patient who agrees to a screening is asked questions that identify their needs – for a place to stay, food, transportation, personal hygiene and more. “And then we connect them with resources,” Savani said. “We give them printed handouts and a bunch of phone numbers: ‘Call this number on Monday.’ We help them fill out the forms they need to get to these resources.” To improve their patients’ chances, the social health clinic has added patient navigators, or guides through the health care system. And this clinic-within-a-clinic is open to all student volunteers, no matter their career choice. That means 930 have worked in or for the clinic this year. More than half are medical students, while dental students make up 16 percent of the total. But students from all other five UMMC campus schools have also contributed – pharmacy, health related professions, nursing, graduate studies and population health. “We’re trying to meet needs that a typical brick-and-mortar setup with a sign out front isn’t going to fix,” Dodd said. “I don’t believe a student-run, free clinic should be the answer to these problems. But the problems are there, and students with energy and compassion are refusing to wait until down the road to make a real impact for our neighbors. “We aren’t going to fix the problems, but we can do our part to help.”

With so many more high-caloric food and beverage options available during the holidays, particularly at parties and family gatherings, the temptation to indulge beyond one’s normal intake while celebrating comes too easily. Roxanne Kingston, a registered dietitian (RD) and instructor in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Education and Human Sciences’ School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, says how we view this special time of year can have a big impact on our caloric intake. “There’s lots of enjoyment in getting together with friends and family for the holidays. That enjoyment also comes from consuming foods at parties that might not be in our typical eating pattern,” Kingston said. “However, I believe it is important to remember that just because you indulged at a Christmas party, the rest of your weekend or week, or even holiday season, does not have to be shot. Nobody is putting on 10 pounds from overeating at one holiday party. When that indulgence lasts for weeks is when it becomes a problem.” As a registered dietitian, Kingston is a firm believer in moderate caloric intake. With that in mind, she urges everyone to have a plan when it comes to eating during the holidays. For example, at a holiday party, Kingston suggests limiting “grazing” because it usually leads to consuming a lot more than you realize. Instead, she recommends getting a plate of food so that one can see exactly what they are consuming. This practice increases the likelihood that you will make good choices. She also advises including adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables in your regular meals during the holidays and making sure to get an appropriate amount of protein and fat at each meal to help you stay full longer. Consuming smaller meals with more snacks should also be considered. “It’s not good for your body to go into starvation mode,” she said. “If you wait all day to eat until you attend that holiday get-together, you’re probably going to overeat since you are so hungry. Eating smaller meals and snacks throughout the day can help keep your body fueled and blood glucose levels more consistent.” Kingston also advises not depriving yourself of those favorite foods that are usually only available this time of year, even if you are trying to be mindful of what you eat. “I never recommend totally avoiding certain foods,” Kingston further noted. “There are more calories wrapped up in sauces, casseroles, desserts, and high-fat meats that are typically served during the holiday season. Just watch your portion sizes. If you want a couple of bites of something you know is not good for you, take a couple bites. It’s when you eat the whole pie that it becomes a problem. “Once you have indulged in a few ‘must-have’ dishes during the holiday season, move on to fresh vegetables and fruit, healthy starches, whole grains and lean proteins to help fill you up.” Kingston also warns against “drinking your calories” with holiday drinks or soft drinks, including alcoholic beverages, as they often contain many “hidden” calories. “Typically, no more than one or two alcoholic drinks are recommended,” Kingston said. “There are lots of hidden calories in alcohol, and depending on the drink, you could consume a lot more calories than you realize at a holiday party. “It’s also important to note that only one to two servings of caffeine are recommended per day. Consuming holiday inspired coffees can also rack up the calories.” Taking steps to watch your calories and portion sizes should also be matched with actual, physical steps, Kingston said, by staying active throughout the holidays. “Consistency is important, so don’t let your physical activity wane,” she said. “If you are thinking of changing your lifestyle for the new year by eating healthy and becoming more physically active, why not get a jump start over the holidays?” For those working in the kitchen to make Christmas and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day parties and family meals memorable, Kingston offers a few simple tricks to help make creating holiday dishes healthier without coming up short on flavor. “Anytime you use a recipe that calls for a binder - such as sour cream, cream cheese or mayonnaise - try a reduced fat version to be healthier for your heart,” Kingston advised. “You can also replace regular sugar with some type of sugar substitute, cooking spray to coat pans instead of butter, and applesauce instead of oil. Using vegetables for dips instead of chips or crackers is also a great option.” Kingston offers two of her favorite recipes to help you meet your healthy eating goals during the holidays: Grape Salad Ingredients: 1 lb. Green grapes 1 lb. Red grapes 4 oz. Light cream cheese 1 c. Non-fat plain Greek yogurt 2 tsp. Vanilla extract 3 tbsp. Brown sugar (or brown sugar substitute) ½ c. Chopped pecans (toasted) Instructions: Wash the grapes and remove all the stems. You can half them or keep them whole. Using a mixer, beat together the light cream cheese, non-fat Greek yogurt, vanilla, and brown sugar until it is fully combined. Next, mix in the grapes to the cream cheese mixture. Finally, toast the chopped pecans and fold them into the dish. Reserve a few to garnish the top. Roasted Vegetables Ingredients: 2 c. Sweet potatoes, chopped 2 c. New potatoes, chopped 2 c. Broccoli florets 1 Zucchini, sliced and quartered 1 Yellow squash, sliced and quartered 1 Onion, chopped 2 tbsp. Olive oil 4 cloves Garlic, minced 1 1/2 tsp. Dried Italian seasoning Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray cooking spray on sheet pan. Place chopped sweet potatoes, new potatoes, broccoli, zucchini, squash, and onion in a mixing bowl to toss with olive oil, chopped garlic, and seasonings. Spread in an even layer on the sheet pan, and place into oven to bake for 30 minutes, or until tender. Serve immediately. For information about the USM School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, visit usm.edu/kinesiology-nutrition.

COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to health during the year-end holidays. American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics urge the community to beware: The risk of dying from a sudden, serious heart ailment increases from Thanksgiving to New Year’s and is highest on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day. The medics recommend avoiding “triggers” for cardiac crisis, paying attention to your heart and calling 911 at the first sign of a problem. Emergency medical teams call the increased risk “holiday heart.” While the term was coined in 1978, the first major study on holiday heart was published in 2004 in Circulation, an international journal for heart doctors. In studying 53 million deaths nationwide between 1973 and 2001, researchers found, “The number of cardiac deaths is higher on December 25 than any other day of the year, second highest on December 26 and third highest on January 1.” Those days, there are about five percent more deaths from cardiac crisis compared to other days of the year. Subsequent studies have not overturned the original findings. The risk rises due to holiday stress, skipping medications and dietary mistakes. Cold weather strains the heart, but the spike also occurs in warmer states. Over-exertion is another factor. Drinking large quantities of alcohol, consuming too much salt, large meals and eating more fatty food than usual can also contribute to a holiday heart crisis. Skipping exercise can also be a factor. Steve Peacock, Operations Manager at AMR Central Mississippi, said, “It’s important to recognize an emergency heart problem quickly and call 911 immediately. Particularly during holidays, all too often, a person suffering a cardiac emergency doesn’t tell anyone. Symptoms can include pain in the chest or jaw or down the arm, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness or nausea. Women suffering a heart crisis are more likely than men to feel pain in the arms, back, neck or jaw, stomach pain and extreme tiredness even if they’ve been sitting for a while.” A form of cardiac crisis paramedics often see with holiday heart is called atrial fibrillation or “a-fib.” With a-fib, the heart does not pump blood effectively because the upper and lower chambers of the heart are not beating in synch. Atrial fibrillation can lead to stroke and heart failure. “With atrial fibrillation, heartbeat may feel rapid, racing, bounding, irregular or fluttering. Heartbeat can also feel too slow,” Peacock said. “If symptoms such as these last more than five minutes, call 911.” Unfortunately, many people who experience cardiac symptoms may put off going to the doctor or delay calling 911 because they do not want to disrupt holiday festivities. That delay, Peacock said, can be fatal. MORE About American Medical Response (AMR) American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram. AMR is part of the Global Medical Response family. Global Medical Response, Inc. is the industry-leading air, ground, specialty and residential fire services, and managed medical transportation organization. With more than 38,000 employees, GMR delivers compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services in the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.globalmedicalresponse.com.

Nineteen Mississippi counties have been designated as Hurricane Ida primary natural disaster are by President Biden, allowing the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend emergency credit to produces affected by the disaster to replace equipment and livestock and reorganize their farming operations for refinancing. The primary counties designated include Lincoln, Lawrence, Copiah, Franklin, Amite, Jefferson Davis, Claiborne, Covington, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Simpson, Wayne and Wilkinson; and contiguous, including Adams, Clarke, Forrest, Greene, Hinds, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Percy, Rankin, Smith, Stone and Warren. June 22, 2022, is the deadline for applying for assistance.