The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first confirmed pediatric influenza death in Mississippi for the 2021-2022 flu season. Pediatric deaths are defined as deaths of individuals under 18 years of age. Including this reported death, there have been a total of 23 pediatric flu deaths reported in Mississippi since pediatric flu deaths became reportable in the 2008-2009 flu season. "We recommend that all Mississippians get their flu shots every year, but especially now with COVID-19. The flu vaccination can be given at the same time - or any time before or after - the COVID-19 vaccination. There is no minimum amount of time you need to wait between these vaccinations," said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. Flu season typically peaks in January through March in Mississippi, and the flu shot usually takes up to two weeks to produce immunity. Individual flu cases are not reported to MSDH, but the agency monitors flu activity through the ILI System, made up of healthcare providers in Mississippi who report the percentage of patients with flu-like symptoms to a statewide database. Providers participating in the system also submit respiratory samples for flu testing to the MSDH Public Health Laboratory. State health officials use this information to determine the presence and spread of flu throughout the state. "We are starting to see increased flu activity in Mississippi through our surveillance system. It is recommended to get vaccinated now before we reach peak flu activity. Influenza vaccination is especially important for young children, pregnant women, those over 65, and those with underlying health problems," he said. "Flu vaccination is the best way to protect both children and adults from serious complications such as hospitalization, and in many cases, death." Those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program can receive a flu vaccination for $10. Insurance, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is accepted for children’s flu shots. A list of all VFC providers can be found at www.HealthyMS.com/vfc. Adults who are underinsured or uninsured and who meet certain high-risk criteria qualify for an adult flu vaccination at MSDH county health department clinics. Flu shots for insured adults are now widely available through private physicians, pharmacies and retail centers. While vaccination is the best protection against flu, basic infection control measures can also reduce the spread of flu and should be taken whether or not individuals are vaccinated. These measures include covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing, staying at home when you or your children are sick, and washing your hands frequently. Wearing a face covering in public places offers additional protection against the flu. Please call your local county health department to make an appointment for your vaccination. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Thirty-five patrons of local retailers, eateries and other businesses got a little help for holiday shopping, entertaining and other needs as winners in the Wesson Chamber of Commerce (WCC) 2021 Shop Local promotion during October. In the special raffle, shoppers and customers at local businesses between October 1 and November 1 completed entry forms and deposited them in a drawbox from which winners of gift certificates and other prizes were drawn. WCC started the popular promotion last year to help local merchants, eateries and other local consumer-oriented enterprises rebuild their businesses as they rebounded from COVID-19 pandemic economic restrictions. The Chamber gave each participating business $100 to cover the gift certificate purchases of the winners and costs of other prizes, and provided specially-decorated raffle boxes for promotional displays. The Chamber also publicized the promotion on its Facebook page and sent out materials that spotlighted participating businesses and encouraged customers to visit and patronize them. Local businesses presented prizes to lucky winners as follows: Copiah Nutrition -- $100 gift certificate to Ashley Watson. Nan Drane Massage Therapy -- 30-minute massages to JoLynn Butler and Martha Matthews. Copiah Ban -- gift baskets to Paula Smith and Lee Lockhart. Skeetburger Snack Shop -- $10 gift certificates to Sarya Smith, Crystal Stringer, Laiken Thomas and Tyler Fuller; and $20 gift certificates to Keeshia Smith, Madonna Perkins and Chyna Swilley. Nena Smith School of Dance -- free dance lessons for Annie Rose Cuevas and Aurora Veras. Wolf Hollow Golf Course -- $100 gift card to Andrea Brister. Fil-Am Oriental Market & Produce -- $25 cash to Mary Clopton, Donis Smith, Cindy Barnes and Ray Walker. Milltown Mall -- $25 gift certificates to Bridget Cliburn, Joe Carty, Ashley Walker and Caryl Hacker. Salon 51 -- $25 gift certificates to Lois Hawkins, Judy Plaisance, Susan Hennington and Anna Hartgraves. Wesson Ace Hardware -- $100 gift certificate to Ronnie Huggins. Precious Moments Learning Center -- $100 gift certificate to Gregniquia Byrd. Trustmark National Bank -- a Trustmark sports chair to Edward Leggett. Mill Tow Salon and Day Spa -- gift certificate to Betty Zehnder. Dump's BBQ -- gift certificates to Phil Slay, Robert Derrick, Bob O'Neal and Erin Hester. "We were thrilled with the success of this promotion for the second straight year in stimulating business and to encouraging shopping local," said Chamber president Marilyn Britt. "The Chamber launched the promotion last year when the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to cancel the annual Founders Day celebration, which is a focal point for local businesses to both enjoy a one-day sales boost and cultivate ongoing customers. The idea of the drawbox promotion is to help local businesses in a similar way, stimulate the economy and lift the spirits of townspeople still worried about COVID-19."

Stop before you get in your car and drive off to buy your Christmas gifts! Check out Wesson first: Ace Hardware, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Mill Town Mall, Busy B's, Another Time. . . . Another Place, among other local businesses that can not only help you find special items on your shopping list, but you can help as well as they seek to rebuild in an economic climate still under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among 70 vendors housed under the roof of Mill Town Mall on the east side of Highway 51 between Factory and Spring Streets, you can find nearly everything -- and more -- for relatives and friends on your gift list, says proprietor Melissa Meredith. Knives, collectible coins, glassware, jewelry, including handmade items; leather goods, clothing, furniture, pottery. Next door to Mill Town Mall is Fil-Am Produce and Grocery Store where you can find fresh apples, oranges, grapes and bananas to make your own special gift box for the health-minded on your gift list. At Busy B's on the east side of Highway 51 across from the Milltown Mill at Factory Street inside Salon 51, Vera Boyles features a wide array of clothing for infants and toddlers -- dresses, play suits, jumpers and gowns -- and juniors -- pageant and prom dresses. Boyles' Salon 51 also offers gift certificates for her salon services and hair care products, which make good stocking stuffers. Across Highway 51 on the corner of Spring Street at Mill Town Salon and Spa, owner/manager Angie Wade suggests hair care products, gift certificates for manicures, pedicures, massages and hair care services; and special Christmas sweat shirts. Wesson Ace Hardware is across Spring Street from Mill Town Salon and Spa, facing Highway 51. Among a wide array of hardware items, you can find a Flexible Flyer snow sled -- a unique gift to be sure in a Southern town. You can also pick up your Christmas lights there and find various tools and tool sets for home fix-up and DIY. For the people on your gift list who enjoy browsing extensive hardware store inventories, you can purchase gift cards in amounts up to $500. Next door is Ashley's 51 on the west side of Highway 51, where proprietor Jarred Ashley has built an animal feed business in addition to his human food service, ground blinds and turkey calls can be found for hunters on your gift list. Shop 'n Wash, the Ashley family's sister store beside the railroad tracks on the north side of town, a solely a human food venue, with grocery items and various takeout selections, offers pizza gift certificates and Marathon gas cards for stocking stuffers. On the south side of the Mill Town Mall on Spring Street -- Another Time. . . .Another Place -- a Wesson retail institution operated by Janet Currie -- offers an array of quality, relatively low-cost gift possibilities. For this Christmas season, Currie recommends plant arrangements, ornaments, jewelry and decorative items to dress up your home. At Dollar General, also on Spring Street, you can find a gift that will please someone in any of its aisles, although candies, scents, soaps and skin lotions are some of the best gift buys. Around the corner on Church Street at the rear of Another Time. . . .Another Place is Dump's Barbeque, a restaurant stop, where Christmas shoppers can not only order food for parties and dinners, but acquire the secret sauce that gives its smoked meats a distinctly different flavor. Owner Ken Dale Sullivan sells it in pint and quart size mason jars. Buy a gift card for the barbeque lovers on your gift list. Going north on Highway 51, Family Dollar is on the west side of road south of Wesson Baptist Church. There manger Treaz Chonna points out an array of toys for the kids, home items, including glasses and small appliances; Christmas trees, lights and ornaments; and candy. Further north on Highway 51 going out of town is the expansive Steel Outdoors metal fabricating plant, which houses a retail store where you can buy the varied consumer products it sells nationally -- deer feeders, deer blinds, fire pits and cookers and decorative metal items for inside and outside homes. Across Highway 51 from Steel Outdoors is another small eatery, which Ana Mason operates for the health-and- nutrition-conscious. At Copiah Nutrition, you can get an energy boost for continued Christmas shopping, and buy a gift card for someone who will appreciate its healthy meal replacement shakes, energy teas, pre and post workout drinks and high protein snacks. That's just for starters -- some of the more visible Christmas shopping stops in town. But if you ask around, you may find a home-based artisan or craftsperson with interesting gifts. You can even find your Christmas tree a few miles out of town, where Gary Keller grows them and will cut down your choice on his ten-acre property on Highway 51 in Beauregard. Whether its local arts and crafts, collectibles, something different to use, wear or eat and drink, Wesson is often the place to find what is unavailable or not easily found elsewhere. "Out-of-town visitors often think they have made a surprise discovery when they stumble on stores and restaurants in Wesson that residents often take for granted," Mill Town Mall's Meredith says. Research reports show that for every dollar spent at a local business, 3.5 dollars are re-circulated into the local economy, which creates more local jobs. Local businesses are the backbone of a community. When you shop locally, you get to know the people behind the business and you enjoy a connection you would not otherwise have. Local businesses also buy locally themselves. They hire architects, designers, cabinet shops, sign makers and contractors for construction. They use local accountants, insurance brokers, computer consultants, attorneys, advertising agencies help run it. Local businesses give communities their flavor. The combined presence many local businesses makes it different from every other city or town in the world. By supporting those businesses, you help preserve the uniqueness Wesson. Local businesses define our sense of place, and their survival depends on our patronage.

A former teacher who heard God's call to ministry late in life is the new pastoral leader at Decell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wesson. Patti Hardacre, who taught English and literature to junior high school and high school students in Madison County, started serving United Methodist congregations eight years ago as a part-time lay speaker, but felt God was calling her to do more and moved into full-time ministry six years ago as a local licensed minister first at Winona, then Louisville and now Wesson. Hardacre's Decell ministry started on July 1, and she says "it's the best thing that has happened to me since marrying my husband." Methodist pastorates are notoriously short, particularly in small congregations like Decell, where young ministers gain experience and go elsewhere, but the folk at the Wesson church have made known their desire for someone to serve them long-term and Hardacre thinks she may be there well into the future. Although Hardacre likes to preach and has a dynamic style, moving around as she speaks rather gluing herself to the pulpit, she sees herself as a pastor first and foremost. "I love people, meeting them where they are at, showing kindness -- which goes a long way," she explains. Hardacre also says she is mission-oriented and is looking for ways to involve and serve the community as she strives to grow Decell, which has about 27 worshippers on Sunday mornings. At Decell, she is spearheading an outreach program on Tuesdays oriented to Wesson's older population. "It keeps people occupied, those who often are alone and seeking something to do," she explains. "There are crafts, games and opportunities for fellowship. It is outreach and not heavily religious." Hardacre also plans to involve members of her congregation and the wider community in making kits sent worldwide to help people in need -- flood buckets and personal hygiene kits for disaster survivors who need to cleanup homes and care for themselves, and school kits for children who don't have required supplies. To assist people on their spiritual journeys, Hardacre teaches bible studies on Wednesdays (5:30 p.m.) and Thursdays (9 a.m.). She is also encouraging a prayer bottle program in which Decell members pray for persons whose names they draw from special bottles at their homes each day. Regular Sunday worship services at Decell are at 10:45 a.m. following a 9:45 a.m. adult Sunday School. Hardacre is a native of Goodman, Mississippi, where she graduated from Central Holmes Academy and Holmes Community College. She earned a degree in criminal justice at Delta State and holds MA degrees in community counseling and education from Mississippi State (1985) and Belhaven University (1995). Before becoming a teacher, she worked for the Mississippi Department of Human Services in staff development. Hardacre and her husband Paul, a maintenance technician at Nissan, have one daughter and they continue to maintain their residence on a farm at Goodman, where they raise beef cattle, meat-producing sheep and goats and turkeys, chickens and quail. She is at Decell and the church's parsonage on Sunday thru Thursday. Contact her at the church: 601-643-2749.

Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the state. The case is in a fully vaccinated individual who recently traveled to New York. The patient was not hospitalized. Mississippi joins 16 other states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington) in the U.S. that have reported cases of Omicron. “We were prepared for the appearance of this variant in Mississippi, and we need to remember that Delta is still a very active variant of COVID-19 currently in the state, as well,” said MSDH State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. While information on the infection rate and severity of the Omicron variant is still unknown, Dobbs said the best protection at this point is the COVID-19 vaccinations and booster. “Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow the transmission rate, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death,” he said. MSDH is also experiencing a minimal increase in the number of COVID patients in the hospital and a minimal increase of COVID patients in the ICU and on ventilators. Vaccinations for all Mississippians 5 and older can be found from healthcare providers, FQHCs, independent and retail pharmacies, and county health departments. Appointments at county health departments can be scheduled online at covidvaccine.umc.edu, or by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 866-498-4948 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch is hosting the crime victims Christmas Tree Dedication to honor the Crime Victims of Mississippi. Family members, friends, and advocates are invited to attend and place an ornament on the tree in honor of their loved one. Date and Time: Monday, December 6, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Location: Walter Sillers Lobby 550 High Street Jackson, MS 39201 Media Schedule: 3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Media call time and pre-set for video cameras and tripods. 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.: Media call time for print reporters and still photographers. 4:00 p.m.: Opening remarks and program begins RSVP: Please RSVP at your earliest convenience to Susannah Williams at Susannah.Williams@ago.ms.gov. In your email, please include each person you wish to RSVP on behalf of and which outlet you represent. Media Location Directions and Logistics: Press should check-in with Susannah Williams upon entry to the Walter Sillers Building. You will need to present your credentials at that time. *The program will promptly begin at 4 p.m.

Soaring prices have prompted Mississippi to sue the three drug makers that control the U.S. insulin market — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi-Aventis — and the pharmacy benefit managers, such as CVS Caremark, that negotiate prices with those companies. Mississippi is the first state to initiate such a suit. “As the mother of a diabetic, I know the emotional, physical, and financial toll the unacceptable price of insulin has on families,” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch says. “I filed this lawsuit on behalf of every Mississippian who relies on this medication to survive. Even though the cost of producing these drugs has decreased, these companies have raised the reported prices of their diabetes drugs up to 1,000%, in lockstep, and down to the decimal point within a few days of each other. They are making record profits at the expense of diabetics and Mississippi taxpayers, who have been overcharged millions of dollars a year for outrageously inflated diabetes medications.” In 1921, scientists in Canada discovered insulin. After winning the Nobel Prize, they sold the patent for $1 each, saying the hormone for battling diabetes “belongs to the world.” The list price for a vial of insulin has skyrocketed in the U.S. from 75 cents to $250 in a little more than a half-century. Now, many Americans are crossing the border to buy the life-saving medicine for themselves and their families, or ordering it online, because insulin can be up to 10 times cheaper there. Fitch estimates the price for the treatment of Mississippians suffering from diabetes at $3.5 billion a year. Nationally, the direct medical costs top $237 billion. The Mississippi lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages, claims drug makers have been hiking insulin prices and then paying a huge chunk of that to pharmacy business managers in exchange for placing their drugs on lists from which patients pick their medications. Novo Nordisk says the allegations are false: “We are aware of the complaint and disagree with the allegations made against the company. We are vigorously defending ourselves in these matters. We have a longstanding commitment to supporting patients’ access to our medicines.” Denying the allegations, Lilly officials claim their company has taken "numerous steps to ensure people living with diabetes can fill a monthly prescription of Lilly insulin at an affordable cost.” CVS says the allegations are “are built on a false premise and completely without merit,” and places the blame for high insulin prices on pharmaceutical companies: “Nothing in our agreements prevents drug manufacturers from lowering the prices of their insulin products, and we would welcome such an action. Allegations that Caremark plays any role in determining the prices charged by manufacturers for their products are false, and we intend to vigorously defend against this baseless suit.” Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi all provide assistance programs to aid patients who can’t afford insulin. EDITOR'S NOTE: Excerpted from Mississippi Today report.

Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, one of the nation’s leading dual-purpose quarterbacks and one of only two quarterbacks in Division 1 college football to throw for at least 15 touchdowns and run for at least 10 TDs, won the 2021 C Spire Conerly Trophy Tuesday night as the Magnolia state’s top college football player. Corral, a redshirt junior from Ventura, California, was the third leading passer in the SEC with 3,334 yards, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions, including 26 of 34 passes for 234 yards in a thrilling 31-21 victory for the Rebels against Mississippi State in the 94 th annual Battle for the Golden Egg rivalry game. The Ole Miss quarterback topped two other finalists for the award, including Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers and Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Corral also is the 12th leading rusher in the SEC with 597 yards and 11 touchdowns and led the Rebels to their first 10-win regular season in school history. The trophy was presented during a sold-out Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF) awards banquet, which also featured special remarks from CBS NFL football analyst Charles Davis. The award is named after Charlie Conerly, a Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer, college All-American, an NFL rookie of the year and NFL All-Pro who quarterbacked the New York Giants to a world championship. The other seven award nominees from Mississippi’s 10 public universities and colleges were Delta State linebacker Marvin Terry, Alcorn State defensive back Juwan Taylor, Belhaven running back Brad Foley, Millsaps wide receiver Moïse Tezzo, Mississippi College linebacker Jonathan Jones, Mississippi Valley State running back Caleb Johnson and Southern Miss defensive back Malik Shorts. Mississippi State left offensive tackle and redshirt sophomore Charles Cross won the 8th annual Entergy Kent Hull Trophy as Mississippi’s top college offensive lineman in 2021. Cross is the fifth Bulldog to receive the award, which is named for the late Kent Hull, a Mississippi State standout and Buffalo Bills pro football star. All seven previous award winners play or have played in the NFL. Corral is semi-finalist or finalist for virtually every major award in college football this year, including the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien Award. His name has also prominently been mentioned as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He is one of five finalists for the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Previous winners of the C Spire Conerly Trophy include former and current NFL players such as Dak Prescott, Eli Manning, Anthony Dixon, Patrick Willis, Deuce McAllister, Jerious Norwood, Michael Boley, Evan Engram, A. J. Brown, Jeffrey Simmons and last season’s winner, Elijah Moore. Prescott and Manning are the only two-time winners in the award’s 26-year history. C Spire has sponsored the outstanding player awards program for football since 1998. The trophy is awarded to the nominee selected as the top player by news media covering college football in the state. “We’re very pleased with the caliber of players selected as nominees and finalists for the C Spire Conerly Trophy this year,” said Jim Richmond, vice president of Marketing for C Spire. “Our winner is not only a great football player, but an outstanding young man with good character, a leader with a positive attitude and a terrific work ethic.” About C Spire C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire. About The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi’s rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination for sports legends to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, live and dream. The 501(c)(3) organization recognizes excellence in athletics and contributions to sports. For more information about the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, visit msfame.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mssportshofandmuseum or Twitter at www.twitter.com/mssportshof.

Wesson Garden Club members last month received some sage advice from a Co-Lin gardening pro about season-ending gardening tasks. Guest speaker Jacob Prisock, a talented landscape designer, consultant, and Grounds Department Supervisor at Co-Lin, talked about “Putting Your Garden to Rest” and answered various gardening and landscaping in a presentation at the Garden Club's October meeting. At the meeting, Club members also discussed: A bluebird housing project. Houses for bluebirds are being placed along the east side of Highway 51 to welcome these special feathered friends. Beverly Anderson King memorial bench dedication. The event is November 5 for the late Garden Club member and leader. A short memorial dedication service is planned and Co-Lin will provide cookies and punch. The Club is paying for a fresh flower arrangement at the table. The Scarecrow Challenge -- a competition among teams of Garden Club members to create decorative fall displays at businesses and other locations around town (see story elsewhere in this issue). The Club met October 14 at Wesson Baptist Church. On hand were members Sonya Cowen, Debbie Hoaglin, Denise Jackson, Pam McLemore, JoAnn Miller, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jean Ricks, Meghan Shepherd, Debbie Smith, Nancy Sullivan, Dixie Thornton, Cathy Warren and Joy Wesbrooks. Hostesses Pam McLemore, Meghan Shepherd and Cathy Warren served a meal. The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., and The National Clubs, Inc.

Historically, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel holidays in America. This year AAA estimates that 48.3 million people will travel to their Thanksgiving destination by car. They also expect travel numbers to increase by 13 percent from last year. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds motorists to avoid distractions and buckle up. “Thanksgiving travel is expected to increase this year, meaning there will be more motorists on the road with you,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “Motorists should watch their speeds and obey all traffic laws to ensure they make it safely to their holiday destinations.” No matter how many vehicles are on Mississippi highways, drivers should avoid driving distracted. Research shows sending or receiving text messages takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent – at 55 miles per hour – of traveling the length of a football field blind. Drivers who use a hand-held device are four times more likely to get into a serious crash. “It only takes a second for a distraction to cause a wreck,” White said. “Don’t let text messages and phone calls take your attention. They can wait. If it’s urgent, find a safe place to stop or have a passenger assist.” No matter your Thanksgiving destination, safety should be your top priority. MDOT offers these tips for safe driving this Thanksgiving: Plan ahead. The MDOT Traffic mobile app shows real-time road conditions along your travel route. Get plenty of rest before driving. Remember to plan frequent stops if traveling long distances. Buckle up. Seat belt use is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save lives and reduce injuries from a possible crash. Always use caution in work zones. Maintenance workers also want to make it home safely to their families for the holidays. Watch out for wildlife. Cooler temperatures mean deer and other wildlife are more active near highways. Use extra caution if traveling during dusk and dawn. Do not drive impaired. If you do plan to drink, make sure you have a designated driver. MDOT also encourages you to know before you go. Check your destination for any local regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help keep traffic moving, MDOT crews and contractors will limit road construction requiring lane closures beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, November 24, through the morning Monday, November 29. All construction will halt Thursday, November 25. This will provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays to motorists traveling throughout the state during the holiday weekend. “Even though most highway construction will halt across the state, motorists should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place,” said White. “Lane closures are there to protect motorists, and MDOT urges drivers to treat these areas as active work zones.” For more tips on traveling safe this holiday season, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms. For the most current travel and traffic information, visit MDOTTraffic.com, download the free MDOT Traffic app, and like @MississippiDOT on Twitter and Facebook.

More kitchen fires happen on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year, say leaders at American Medical Response (AMR) and Jackson Fire Department (JFD). JFD deputy fire chief Cleotha Sanders, Jr. and AMR operations manager Steve Peacock list 10 tips to prevent kitchen fires: Keep a Class K fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen. Class K extinguishers are made exclusively to put out fires involving cooking oil, grease and fat. For many other kinds of fires, Sanders and Peacock recommend putting a Class ABC extinguisher near the Class K. Know how to use the extinguishers. Learn online by searching for “PASS fire.” Be sure children stay three feet or more from hot appliances. Lock pets from the kitchen with a gate or put them in another room. They can be distracting and cause falls. Move cloth towels and mitts at least three feet from heat sources. It’s smart to use silicone mitts. Never leave the kitchen while the stove is on. Set a timer for each dish. Digital assistants such as Siri and Alexa can track times for multiple dishes. Cooks should wear short-sleeved or close-fitting shirts. Keep the lids for pots and pans handy. A lid can smother many small fires quickly. If a pot or pan has no lid, keep a cookie sheet close by. When you’re not holding the handle of pot or pan, turn the handle toward the back of the stove. Peacock, a paramedic, said, “Cool burned skin with running water. Remove jewelry and burned clothing. Do not put ice on burns. After the burn is cooled, wrap it loosely in a clean bandage. If the burn is larger than the burned person’s handprint or penetrates more than one layer of skin, call 911 immediately.” Chief Sanders said, “Staying safety-minded throughout the holidays will reduce the risk of a tragedy.”

Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet (MMB), based in Madison since 1992, opens its 29th season on December 4 and 5 with the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker,” featuring a cast of over 150 local dancers and guest artists from Ballet Memphis. Attending a performance of the ballet at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center is an annual tradition for many in the metro area. In addition to witnessing the exciting choreography, sparkling costumes, beautiful sets and artistic feats of the production, patrons will have the opportunity to begin a new tradition this year as MMB introduces its Land of Sweets. “The Nutcracker” follows the story of Clara as she attends her family’s Christmas party, where she receives the gift of a nutcracker from the mysterious and magical Herr Drosselmeyer. After the party, Clara’s nutcracker comes to life, battles the evil Mouse King, and takes Clara on a magical journey. Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are awed by the Snow Queen and her corps of Snowflakes in the snowy forest before meeting the Sugarplum Fairy in the land of sweets. There Clara and the Nutcracker Prince enjoy dances or divertissements from around the world presented for their entertainment. Following the 2 p.m. matinee performances of MMB’s “The Nutcracker,” patrons may step into Clara’s slippers and travel to the Land of Sweets. In this immersive experience, guests will have their personal passport stamped as they visit Clara, the Snow Queen, the Dewdrop, the Sugarplum Fairy, and other characters from the ballet. Travel stops will offer character photo opportunities and souvenirs including a miniature nutcracker. The afternoon’s activities will be capped with “Spanish'' hot cocoa and light refreshments from Nothing Bundt Cakes. “The Land of Sweets is sure to please ballet fans of all ages, especially aspiring young dancers. The opportunity for a personal encounter with the dancers seen on stage and an up-close look at the beautiful costumes is not to be missed!” says MMB Guild president Christine Bridges. Emily Garner of Madison will dance the role of Clara this season. Emily is a senior MMB company member and a freshman at Rosa Scott High School. She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Andy Clark and Adams Garner. MMB principal dancer Madeline Page of Madison will dance a number of roles including the Snow Queen and Dewdrop Fairy. Page is a senior at Jackson Prep and the daughter of Audrey and Jeremy Page. Artistic director Jennifer Beasley notes, “As in professional companies, many of the roles in the production, such as the Snow Queen, Dewdrop Fairy and divertissement leads are split cast. A split cast means that more than one dancer performs the role over the course of the production. We have so many strong dancers among our principals, soloists and senior company members. Challenging each dancer with new, varied and appropriately-difficult choreography helps them develop their artistry and technique. Our four performances over the course of Nutcracker weekend will give them all an opportunity to shine.” Sharing the role of Snow Queen with Page is Hallie Young. Young is an MMB soloist and a senior at Northwest Rankin High School. Page shares the role of Dewdrop Fairy with fellow principal dancer Brelyn Binkley. Binkley attends Northwest Rankin High School and is a junior. Young and Binkley also split the role of Mirliton lead. Other soloists and senior company members in the cast are Annalee LeDuff, Hart Maley, Sydney Sanders, Rebecca Trowbridge, Southern Callahan, Brooke Carter, Mari Finseth, Grace Gardner, Sophia Huang, Amelia McCaughan and Emma Raush all of Madison County and Eleanora Ellis, Laurel Larsen and Annalyse Binkley of Rankin County. Joining the local cast are Cecily Khuner, Oscar Fernandez, Joey Dlearo and Dominiq Luckie of Ballet Memphis. Khuner and Fernandez will dance the roles of the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier. Dlearo will appear as the Nutcracker Prince, and Luckie will perform the role of Snow King. Cecily Khuner began her dance training at Berkeley Ballet Theater and then attended San Francisco Ballet School. She joined Ballet Memphis in 2010. Her favorite works/roles with the company include Juliet in Steven McMahon’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Sugar Plum and Dew Drop in “Nutcracker,” George Balanchine’s “Square Dance,” Trey McIntyre’s “The Reassuring Effects of Form and Poetry,” Matthew Neenan’s “Water of the Flowery Mill,” Julia Adam’s “Devil’s Fruit,” Gabrielle Lamb’s “Manifold,” and Helena in Mark Godden’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Cecily is a National YoungArts Foundation award winner for ballet. Oscar Fernandez is from the village of Santillana de Mar of the state of Cantabria, in the North of Spain. He trained in classical, contemporary and Flamenco dance at the Real Conservatorie of Dance Mariemma in Madrid before joining San Francisco Ballet School on scholarship. He joined Ballet San Jose as Corp member in 2014 where he performed in George Balanchine's “Theme and Variations,” Ben Stevenson’s “Cinderella” and Ohad Naharin's “Minus 16” among others. He joined Ballet Memphis in 2016 and performed in Steven McMahon productions, including Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” and the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz,” Cavalier in “Nutcracker,” as well as Spanish, Russian and Arabian. Oscar also has performed in George Balanchine's “Square Dance,” Reggie Wilson's “I Am a Man,” Matthew Neenan's “Water of the Flowery Mill,” and Mark Godden's “Midsummer Night's Dream.” Oscar teaches Adult Ballet and Latin Dance in the Ballet Memphis School. Performances of MMB’s “The Nutcracker” will be at 2 and 7 p.m. on December 4 and 5 at Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the performance are $30-$35. Land of Sweets tickets are $25 and are sold separately. Both are available at msmetroballet.com or by calling 601-853- 4508. An honor company member of Regional Dance America, MMB is a pre-professional, nonprofit ballet company based in Madison. Members of the company and the cast of “The Nutcracker'' are selected by audition from the students of Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy, with locations in Madison and Brandon. Supporters of MMB’s 29th season include the Mississippi Arts Commission; Gertrude C. Ford Foundation; Jackson Optimist Club; Ergon; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi; Eventful; Harper, Rains, Knight and Co.; Hilton Garden Inn Jackson-Madison; Larry and Michael Johnson Family Foundation; and The Pig & Pint. For more information on MMB or MMDA, visit www.msmetroballet.com and follow us on Instagram @msmetroballet and @msmetrodance.