Parents can partner with Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) and help meet the needs of students through an active Parent Teachers Organization (PTO). The first meeting of the group is Tuesday, August 3, in connection with an open house, Meet the Teacher and seventh grade orientation events. It will look at planned work for the 2021-22 school term. Over the year, the PTO works with WAC in providing funding support and materials for school projects and to meet special needs in the classroom and for individual students. The annual Red Ribbon Festival in October is its big fundraiser. The PTO also sells school t-shirts and holds bake sales.

July 4 is designated as a “Free Fishing Day” statewide in Mississippi. Anglers will be able to fish without a license on any public waters. However, daily permits will be required to fish any State Fishing Lake or State Park lake. For more information about fishing and boating in Mississippi visit www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating.

Gov. Tate Reeves today announced the creation of the Governor’s Office of Military Affairs, within the Mississippi Development Authority, to better coordinate our military and national security efforts in and around the state. This office will align and integrate the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security priorities, aerospace investments, and university research to capitalize and secure the competitive advantages of the Mississippi National Security Economy. Along with the creation of this office, Reeves appointed Paul Jerrod “PJ” Waldrop as the director of the Governor’s Office of Military Affairs. Waldrop has an extensive background in policy and advised multiple U.S. Senators on appropriations and legislative issues. Waldrop previously served as a staffer to former U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Most recently, Waldrop served as deputy chief of staff and state director to former U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), who was a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. “PJ will play a critical role as director of the Governor’s Office of Military Affairs as we work to strengthen our relationships within the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, military services, defense industry, and other critical partners. I am confident PJ has the experience and relationships necessary to ensure this important office will be a huge success for our state,” said Reeves.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) introduces “The Extra Mile” podcast. This podcast is aimed at taking Mississippi’s traveling public behind the scenes of transportation infrastructure in the state. “There is so much that happens here at MDOT, especially behind the scenes, that many people never hear about; our agency has so many moving parts, from project planning and bidding, intermodal, traffic control, our digital messaging signs, and they all work together in different ways to keep the traveling public safe and moving,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White. “We believe this podcast will answer many transportation questions and help Mississippians better understand how MDOT works.” “The Extra Mile” focuses on ongoing projects happening throughout the state, MDOT’s role in severe weather, travel resources available for the public, technology’s role in transportation, work zone safety and much more. There will also be interviews with MDOT employees and leaders, and transportation infrastructure stakeholders outside of the agency. MDOT Executive Director Brad White is the first guest on the podcast. You can subscribe and download “The Extra Mile” wherever podcasts can be found. For more information on “The Extra Mile” click here.

The Mississippi Farmers Market is extending its operating hours! Starting this Thursday, July 1, the market will be open each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. throughout the summer, in addition to its year-round operating hours of Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. “We are opening the Mississippi Farmers Market on Thursdays, in addition to our Saturday market, to give the public the opportunity to purchase Mississippi grown and raised products during the week,” said Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson. “We will also be hosting SuperTalk Mississippi's Rebecca Turner as the next guest speaker of our ‘Farmers Market Feature’ series on Thursday, July 1, beginning at 11:30 a.m. So come out and enjoy a fresh, homecooked meal, shop Genuine MS products and hear from one of radio’s greatest personalities.” Learn more at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/msMarkets/uploads/474.pdf.

Wesson PD has glow in the dark bracelets we are giving away. The theme is together, we are making our community a safer, more caring place to live. If you would like to stop by and grab a couple for yourself, child, or a grandchild, please do !!

The Co-Lin Foundation inducted 12 new members into its Hall of Fame. Those inducted for the 2019 class pictured on left with Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims (left) were from left: Mary Jane James of McCall Creek, Deborah and Steven Ammann of Mendenhall, Don Underwood of Brookhaven, and Gene Haas representing the Foundation. Not pictured was the Foundation for the Mid South representative. Those inducted for the 2020 class pictured on right with Dr. Jane Hulon Sims (left) were from left: Camille Johnston representing the Wesson Presbyterian Church, Bill and Martha Salters of Natchez, Phillip and Lacey Wheeler of Meadville, Catti Beals representing Second Chance Mississippi, and Dennis Ammann representing Peoples Bank. Not pictured were George T. Mercier of Wesson and G.T. Mercier III of Houston, Texas.

Alex Mooney of Wesson was one of nineteen graduates from the Co-Lin 2021 Associate Degree Nursing program. Graduates were honored during a ceremony held recently in Rea Auditorium on the college’s Wesson Campus. Mooney is a graduate of Wesson Attendance Center.

If you need help of any kind, Randy Davis is the man to whom many locals turn. Ask Davis about the work he has done throughout his life as a teacher, volunteer in Southern Baptist missions and the Wesson and state Lions Club or as a pastor, Davis answers simply: "I like helping people." Davis, who grew up four miles from Wesson in Lincoln County, attended school for the most part in Wesson, but graduated from Loyd Star High School in 1972 after Wesson High School left Co-Lin to become part of the Copiah County School District. Davis remembers watching the construction of Interstate 55 as a kid a quarter mile from his house. His father operated a nearby Shell service station, where he worked when he was ten years old. He had three brothers and three sisters, played Little League baseball and was in his high school band. After graduating from high school, he studied biology and mathematics at Co-Lin, where he also met and married the former Suzanne Cliett form Hazlehurst, who has accompanied him throughout his life, including to his next stop at Delta State University, where he completed his undergraduate and in mathematics education. He started his career as a helper as a math teacher at Yazoo City High School from 1976-78, and then came back to Wesson, where he taught high school math for 24 years, along the way earning a Master's Degree in Education at the University of Southern Mississippi before retiring in 2002 to pursue the professional ministry. "I was active in Wesson Baptist Church (WBC) and had worked in voluntary missions during the summers when I taught school," Davis says. "The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. had a profound impact on me, and I made a deeper commitment to ministry. God showed me what was really important and called me to step up." As a Deacon at WBC, Davis taught Sunday school and was involved in men's ministry. In the summer of 1974, he worked with backyard Bible clubs, vacation Bible schools, puppet ministries and families in the Northwest. He worked at the Green Meadows Church at New Kingstown, Rhode Island, in the summers of 1975 and 1976, where he not only worked in the wider ministry of the church, but became a Boston Red Sox fan as well. He also with the Southern Baptist Nailbenders volunteers to help build church buildings for congregations who lacked funds for construction workers. Davis landed in a professional pastorate in Hazlehurst at Damascus Baptist Church in 2003, where he worked for 17 years before retiring last year. From 2008-18, he also taught math part time at the Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven. Another part of Davis' helping life started in 1981, when he joined Wesson Lions Club, which supports varied charities throughout the area, while working with its state, national and international organizations on its own specialty services, which have traditional revolved around care for the sight-impaired. "'We serve' is our slogan," Davis says. He is now starting his third term as president of the local club. He first served as Wesson Lions Club president in 1986 and again in the early years of the new millennium. At the state level, Davis has also served as Lions zone chairperson, Vice District Governor and District Governor. Davis and his wife Suzanne have three grown children -- Jon, 43, who serves with the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, parish Sheriff; Katie Willis, 40, a housewife who home schools her children and Elizabeth Davis, 37, who works for an eye doctor in Chattanooga. They have four grandchildren -- Symon Davis, 18, Maxx Davis, 15, Cassandra Willis, 14, and Tara Willis, 11. What are your hobbies? You could consider the Lions Club a hobby, although I consider it a calling. I listen to music, read, have been a Boston Red Sox fan since 1975. Suzanne and I enjoy day trips to historical places and spots of interest. What do you read? I am into non-fiction Christian writers -- Max Lucado and Rick Warren. What kind of music do you like? I like the music of the 60s, 70s and 80s. I am also frustrated guitarist, who couldn't make my fingers move the right way. So played percussion instruments in high school and college bands -- bass drums, cowbells, cymbals, anything. Do you enjoy movies or theater? I have done a little acting -- dinner theater, Brookhaven Little Theater. I played in Inherit the Wind and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. In enjoy comedies with George Clooney and Mel Gibson, Sci-Fi and Marvel movies. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I would pay my debts, give to the church and non-profits and travel. How would you change the world? I would invite people to join the Lions Club to focus on others and not themselves.

David Sanders has been named head men’s basketball coach at Co-Lin. Sanders, who has spent the last eight years building Callaway High School into a basketball powerhouse, replaces Kenny Bizot, who is leaving to become the athletic director at Mississippi College in Clinton. “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome David to the Co-Lin family,” said Co-Lin Athletic Director Bryan Nobile. “David has won at the highest level of Mississippi high school basketball. We are looking for someone with energy, drive and leadership to guide our student-athletes. I look forward to Coach Sanders getting to Wesson and starting work.” Sanders compiled a 182-40 record during his eight years at Callaway High School, including three state championship wins (2020, 2015, 2014). During his time at Callaway, more than 30 seniors have received scholarships to play collegiate basketball. “As an experienced head coach, David Sanders brings leadership, excitement and competitiveness to Co-Lin,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims. “I am thrilled to welcome Coach Sanders and his family to Co-Lin.” “I am extremely humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to lead Co-Lin as head basketball coach,” said Sanders. “This is the fulfillment of a dream that has been 14 years in the making. My family and I can't wait to get started on this wonderful new journey.” Prior to being named the head coach at Callaway, Sanders had head coaching stints at Northwest Rankin High School and Northwest Rankin Middle School. He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Provine High School. Sanders is a graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi. Sanders is currently working on another Master’s degree in coaching education from Ohio University. He was named the Clarion-Ledger’s Coach of the Year in 2019-2020 and 2014-2015 and was named Metro Coach of the Year in 2013-2014. Three of his Callaway teams have been nationally ranked by USA Today. Sanders is a member of the Mississippi Association of Coaches and the Mississippi Professional Educators. A three-year letterman at The University of Mississippi, Sanders was a starter on the Sweet Sixteen that finished ninth in the country in 2000-2001. He received numerous awards at Ole Miss including Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player. Sanders played three seasons abroad with the Icelandic, Swiss and Turkish Leagues. During his high school career, Sanders was recognized with several awards including Mississippi’s Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-State, and All-Metro Player of the Year. “My desire is to be the premier junior college in the state and a top program nationally,” Sanders added. “The only way to accomplish that is to roll our sleeves up and go to work. Failure is not an option.” Sanders and his wife, Dr. Tekla Sanders, are the parents of four children -- David, 13; Luke, 12; Noah, 10; and Clara, 9.

Wesson Garden Club has recognized the April landscaping efforts of Albert and Denona Wilson at 1113 Milltowne Drive, Tim and Stephanie Sutton at 1035 A.D. Whitt Drive, Copiah Bank at 2048 Highway 51 and Jimmie and Eunice Clark at 1002 Clark Lane in city residential, rural residential, organizational and spring design award categories. The awards, based on maintenance principles and elements of landscape design, seek to encourage ongoing beautification and cleanliness of the Wesson area and cultivate a citizenry that values and protects natural resources and assumes responsibility for enhancing the environment. The Garden Club's Yard of the Month awards honor landscapes during the spring, summer and fall.

Any Mississippi youth aged 14 to 26 years old who has spent at least one day in foster care after their 14th birthday is eligible for federal COVID Pandemic Assistance Funds available now through the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. Foster youth and former foster youth in Mississippi can receive funds to help with housing, education, transportation, utility bills, groceries and other emergency assistance needs. Youth can receive up to $12,000 in federal money for education/tuition/room & board expenses and up to $4,000 in transportation assistance including help in buying a car or getting a driver’s license. Money is also available for technology purchases. Youth may apply for the federal money by: • Calling: 769-823-4608 or 601-502-7429 • Emailing: youth@mdcps.ms.gov • Applying online: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d02aa4f305ad4c3ebff 65884455de4ba • Website for more info: www.mdcps.ms.gov Mississippi’s $3.3 million share of the federal pandemic relief funds is part of a $400 million national appropriation in the “Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act” approved by Congress earlier in 2021. In announcing the funds, the federal Children’s Bureau said the money will address the “critical financial needs of youth and young adults who are or were formerly in foster care.” “Because many of these young people, since discharged from foster care, lack access to stable housing, income and other resources that may be available to youth and young adults in intact families, the funding and flexibilities provided by the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act are critical to ensuring youth are protected and supported,” the Children’s Bureau announced. Pandemic assistance money can be used for YOUTH’s expenses including: • Room and board/housing • Driving and Transportation Assistance - including help in purchasing an automobile • Living expenses - including rent, groceries, utilities • Technology - including cell phones, tablets, laptops and internet service • Medical expenses not already covered by other health insurance or Medicaid • Education - including tuition, books, room/board and other school-related costs The Act also allows former foster youth (up to 22 years old) who are no longer in state custody to choose to re-enter foster care. Also, current foster youth do not have to leave foster care once they reach a certain age, under the Act’s time-limited provisions. Youth do not have to be in foster care to receive the pandemic financial assistance, however. MDCPS is automatically awarding base amount stipends to current and former foster youth. These funds do not require a youth to apply for support and do not disqualify a youth from seeking additional financial support/relief. These funds are currently being distributed to almost 1,000 youth currently in foster care in Mississippi or who recently exited from Mississippi’s foster care system: • $600 - for youth ages 14 and 15, currently in foster care in Mississippi • $1,200 - for youth ages 16 and up, currently in foster care in Mississippi • $1,200 - for youth up to age 26 who aged out of foster care in Mississippi since January 2020 “Funding under this program can be used as an opportunity to support young people’s resilience and to create opportunities for economic, social and educational success,” said Marcus Davenport, MDCPS director of permanency.