The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is assisting the Mississippi Crisis Foundation in distributing 2,592 food boxes to the public at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson, on Wednesday, April 21, at 9:00 a.m. as part of the USDA sponsored Farmers to Families Food Box Program. “The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is proud to partner with the Mississippi Crisis Foundation on this endeavor,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “A lot of our citizens are still struggling with health and loss of work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re glad to be able to assist Mississippi families in need on the State Fairgrounds.” M. Palazola Produce Co. of Memphis, Tenn., will provide the 2,592 food boxes, containing meat, milk, cheese, yogurt, potatoes and apples. In addition, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. of Jackson is donating 6,480 dozen eggs. Those receiving a food box will also collect two and a half dozen eggs. The public can start arriving at 9:00 a.m. and must remain in their vehicles with the windows up. MDAC volunteers will wear masks and gloves at all times and when instructed, the public will be allowed to open their car trunks for placement of their food box. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the Farmers to Families Food Box Program under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Through this, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service partners with national, regional and local suppliers, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of restaurants, hotels and other food service businesses, to purchase up to $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products. Suppliers then package these products into family-sized boxes and transport them to food banks, community and faith-based organizations and other non-profits serving Americans in need. The Mississippi State Fairgrounds is located at 1207 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS 39202. The public must enter through Gate 1 on Jefferson Street and exit through Gate 6 on Greymont Street. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box to learn more about the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Wesson Public Library is coming home. The nearly year-long rehabilitation and renovation of the library building on Spring Street across from City Hall is complete and books and equipment are being moved back into the old home with expanded spaced a new look from a temporary home at the Old School Community Center. "The facility should be ready to reopen by the end of the month," says Wesson Mayor Alton Shaw. The cost of the project, including planning and construction, was $443,801 with additional $128,801 awarded by the Mississippi Development Authority for the work after it was derailed when initial bids exceeded the original $315,000 provided by an MDA grant to the town. The total grant monies were provided through Americans with Disability Act (ADA) funding. Following receipt of the initial bids, the town asked MDA for the additional funds which were awarded in a supplemental grant. The public library renovation work encompassed: . A new facade . Remodeled interior . An additional 1,000 square feet of space . New shelving . Accessibility compliant with ADA standards

Wesson golfers and others may soon be able to drive their golf carts on public streets to the Wolf Hollow course at Co-Lin or to other town venues. In the weeks ahead, Mayor Alton Shaw reports that town Aldermen will be considering an ordinance to drafted in accordance with a new state law to allow local drivers to use golf carts and other low-speed vehicles on town streets. During the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers approved and the Governor signed an act to authorize the governing of authorities of municipalities to allow the operation of golf carts and low-speed vehicles on certain public roads and streets within the municipality. The act requires individuals operating a golf cart of low-speed vehicle to have a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit and proof of financial responsibility. It also requires registration of golf carts and low-speed vehicles used on public roads. The act does not pertain to ATVs, Mayor Shaw emphasized. Over the years, several Mississippi municipalities have passed ordinances friendly to golf carts in the absence of any concrete state laws. Among them are Bay St. Louis, Clinton, Diamondhead, Long Beach, Ocean Springs, Pass Christian, Pascagoula and Waveland. The Ocean Springs ordinance allows golf carts to drive on public roads alongside cars, provided the carts include a variety of safety features and stick to roads with a maximum speed limit of 30 MPH. The required safety features include headlights, taillights, brake lights, rear-view mirror, seat belts, turn signals, windshield, parking brake, and side reflectors. The Clinton ordinance specifies where the golf carts may be driven, prohibiting them on freeways, limited access roads, principal arterial streets and some minor arterial streets. Drivers must operate the vehicles on the outside lanes of multilane streets and roads and they must have a valid driver's license and insurance. Vehicles on the roads from dusk to dawn must have working headlights and tail lights. "We have been approached by owners of golf carts and low-speed vehicles who want to use them on Wesson's public roads," Mayor Shaw explained. "We are responding."

Following the completion of Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, the State of Mississippi has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance following the February 11-19, 2021 Winter Storm. During this event, multiple rounds of wintry precipitation impacted that state resulting in dangerous road conditions, widespread power outages and damage to public infrastructure. At this time, 31 counties and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians met their thresholds with an estimated total of approximately $25 million worth of damage. The counties included in the request for Public Assistance are: Adams, Attala, Choctaw, Claiborne, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Tallahatchie, Walthall, Warren, Winston, Yazoo. The purpose of the Public Assistance Program is to support local governments and certain nonprofits to recover from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and the restoration of public infrastructure. The request must be approved by the president for federal assistance to become available to local and county governments as well as certain nonprofits. Some counties could be added to this declaration request at a later date if the damage threshold is met following damage assessments.

April is recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. Child abuse or maltreatment should not be overlooked or taken lightly. Abuse can be seen in many forms such as physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. Recognizing and reporting any signs of possible abuse could greatly help a child in need, possibly save his or her life. Knowing the signs are vital so you can help! “Many adults do not realize they can report abuse. We must continue to educate the public on how to report abuse if they suspect it,” said Sabreniee Wright, Director of Canopy Children’s Solutions South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center (SMCAC). Below are 10 signs of abuse or neglect: 1. Unexplained injuries 2. Changes in behavior 3. Returning to earlier behaviors 4. Fear of going home 5. Changes in eating 6. Changes in sleeping 7. Changes in school performance and attendance 8. Lack of personal care or hygiene 9. Risk-taking behaviors 10. Inappropriate sexual behaviors Once you know the signs and suspect that abuse may be present, it’s important to report the maltreatment. Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. A report is not the same as making an accusation. Filing a report will simply provide an opportunity for assessments and investigations. Do not hesitate to report, you may be the only chance a child has for help. Reach out to the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-222-8000 to file a report. If you see or suspect a child is in immediate danger, please dial 911. When preparing to file a report, have the following information available: The victim’s name, address or location, school information, approximate age, race and gender. A description of the situation and marks or bruises that may be present. The person responsible for victim’s care, alleged perpetrator name(s), and witnesses to the situation. Any other relevant information that would expedite an investigation such as: manufacturing of drugs in the home, possession of weapons, or domestic violence. How Canopy South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center Can Help? Canopy SMCAC offers forensic interviewing to children when there are allegations of abuse, neglect, or violence. Without the SMCAC, a child experiencing abuse has to tell his or her story over and over again: to the police, a doctor, a social worker, an investigator, and a counselor. This places an incredible amount of undue stress on a child who is already traumatized. “The SMCAC gives children a place where they can come and tell their story a single time. Following the interview process, the SMCAC brings together many services and resources under one roof in order to protect the child and effectively prosecute the abuser,” said Wright. “As a result, fewer children fall through the cracks of the judicial system, and more criminals are prosecuted.” “The children trust us which is so important. I always keep that at the forefront,” continued Wright. “It’s important to keep the child at the center of the investigation.” Children are resilient and are able to overcome their past experiences. The SMCAC wants every child to have a future regardless of their past. It’s our aim to make sure we provide resources to achieve a better future for children. ABOUT CANOPY CHILDREN’S SOLUTIONS For more than 100 years, Canopy has provided innovative solutions to many of Mississippi’s most vulnerable youth through a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health, educational, and social service solutions. Learn more at mycanopy.org or call 800.388.6247. ABOUT CANOPY’S SOUTH MISSISSIPPI CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: SMCAC provides forensic interviews and healing services for children involved in allegations of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or who may have witnessed a violent crime. Staff works closely with a multidisciplinary team including law enforcement and local prosecutors to help bring families justice and closure.

Babyscripts, a leading virtual care obstetrics platform, has teamed up with The Mississippi Public Health Institute on an initiative to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce maternal health inequities by offering remote patient monitoring programs to OB-GYN practices to help care for their patients. The initiative will offer eligible Mississippi providers use of the Babyscripts platform, which provides remote patient monitoring to address maternal mental health, hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. Remote monitoring of pregnant mothers can help prevent adverse maternal outcomes, and lead to reductions in overall healthcare costs and improved outcomes for both mom and baby. Pregnant patients at participating health systems will have access to the Babyscripts myJourney app, which delivers gestational age-appropriate educational content, email campaigns, satisfaction surveys, appointment reminders, and weight monitoring; evidence-based guidelines approved by the patient’s obstetrician in the form of daily nutritional, medical and lifestyle action items; and real-time updates from their providers about changes in policies or services during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The events of this year drew much-need attention to the needs of pregnant moms, especially low-income and minority women,” said Tennille Collins, R.E.A.C.H. program manager at MSPHI. “We must expand access to high-quality and tech-enabled care to all. This collaboration is a huge step in the right direction.” “Black moms and babies in Mississippi face disproportionately high adverse birth rates compared to their peers,” said Juan Pablo Segura, co-founder and President of Babyscripts. “Technology has the potential to be an equalizer, and cost should never be a barrier to getting these tools into the hands of moms. This partnership with MSPHI will ensure that moms in the state of Mississippi don’t have to make a choice for better pregnancies.” This collaboration reflects a collective commitment by MSPHI and Babyscripts to target and reduce systemic racial and ethnic inequities in both maternal and infant outcomes in Mississippi. Infants born preterm or with low birthweight are at an increased risk for experiencing physical disabilities and developmental impairments throughout their lives. According to America’s Health Rankings, the rate of Mississippi’s low birth weight infants (defined as less than 5 pounds 8 ounces) has been on the rise, now accounting for 12.1% of its births, leaving the state ranked last of 50 states. Additionally, the state’s preterm birth rates have been increasing for five years, making up 14.6% of its current births, and the state’s Black women have a 43% higher rate than all other women. About BabyscriptsBabyscripts is delivering a new model for prenatal and postpartum care that is transforming the way expectant mothers use technology to work with their healthcare providers. We’ve spent the last six years delivering the most-implemented mobile clinical solution for remote monitoring in pregnancy, with the mission to eliminate maternal mortality and improve access to care for all mothers. Babyscripts was named to the 2020 Digital Health 150, CB Insights’ annual ranking of the 150 most promising private digital health companies in the world. For more information on our virtual care solution and to request a demo, visit www.babyscripts.com.

A Wesson student at the Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) has received awards in the 2021 Scholastic Writing Competition. Diego Mendez, an MSA junior from Wesson, is among the talented young artists receiving American Voices Nominations, Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions who will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the Eudora Welty House in Jackson, Mississippi. Mendez received four Silver Keys and one Honorable Mention. In total, MSA students received one American Voices Nomination, 11 Gold Keys, 39 Silver Keys, 28 Honorable Mention awards and four Silver and 3 Honorable Mention awards for their Senior Portfolios. Students from all over Mississippi competed in the Mississippi Regional in critical essays, dramatic scripts, flash fiction, humor, journalism, novel writing, personal essays and memoirs, poetry, science fiction and fantasy and short stories; and for seniors only, writing portfolios. The submissions are juried by artists in the field. Among the thousands of writings submitted, only a small percentage will go to the national level. Jurors look for works that exemplify the core values of the awards program -- originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. American Voices (which are the top five in the competition) and Gold Key recipients will advance to the national competition. MSA is a public statewide eleventh and twelfth grade residential high school located in Brookhaven, MS on the Historic Whitworth College campus. MSA is for those students who want to explore the arts in an extraordinary way and fills a special need for students with demonstrated talent that need a collegiate level learning experience in the arts that is not widely available across Mississippi. Tenth graders who are interested in visual arts, dance, theatre, vocal music, literary arts or filmmaking must apply online by April 16. The process for admission to MSA includes an on-line application, a virtual audition and interview. Accepted students attend their Junior and Senior years of high school at MSA. The school will be holding Round 2 Auditions for its 2021-22 school year in all areas. All auditions will be virtual. Applications are available at www.msabrookhaven.org. MSA students consistently win awards for their work on the state, regional and national levels, they hold the #2 highest ACT average in the state, and enjoy an array of college scholarship opportunities. For additional information and an application, visit www.msabrookhaven.org or email admissions@msabrookhaven.org.

As Mississippi's 2021 Legislative Session comes to a close, advocates spanning many issues are reflecting on what did and did not make it past the finish line this year. Among the most prevalent topics emerged several policies that improve health equity in Mississippi. Following last week’s Sine Die, the American Heart Association highlighted the policy progress made in 2021. The organization focused its advocacy work this year on policies that would support funding for SNAP incentive programs and improve water access in schools. Expanding SNAP Incentives The American Heart Association supported House Bill 115, by Representative Becky Currie (R-Brookhaven) and Representative Price Wallace (R-Mendenhall), as well as Senate Bill 2163, by Senator Nicole Boyd (R-Oxford). Although the House bill did not move, the Senate version got traction thanks to a bipartisan group of senators -- SNAP Incentives passed out of the Senate Public Health Committee as well as on the Senator floor. Unfortunately, this legislation did not survive when transferred to the House. The American Heart Association considered the policy’s attention and movement this year a win and will continue to work with lawmakers to expand SNAP Incentives next legislative session. “Food insecurity is a very serious issue in Mississippi,” said Justin Martin, executive director of Tupelo/Lee County Hunger Coalition and an American Heart Association Advocate. “It sees no color, gender or age. I work daily so that all Mississippians can have the food they need to have a quality life.” Water Access in Schools The American Heart Association also worked with lawmakers to help make water bottle refill stations the new normal in public schools, aiming to improve access to free, clean drinking water for Mississippi students. “Water is critical to a child’s overall health,” said Jennifer Godwin, school nurse for the Lamar County School District and advocate for the American Heart Association. “But for many Mississippi children, drinking water is not a part of their day, nor is it available to them. And a passing sip in the hallway is not enough.” The American Heart Association supported the Water Access in Schools Bill, House Bill 925, sponsored by Representative Kent McCarty (R-Hattiesburg) and a group of bi-partisan co-sponsors. Though the bill did not pass this year, the American Heart Association said it was encouraged to see the topic getting attention in the Legislature. “My mother has worked in public education for nearly 30 years and seeing her passion for the success of her students has made a huge impact on me,” McCarty said. “She has seen first-hand the struggle of students striving to keep up while dehydrated or undernourished. This is a basic need that all children should have access to, especially in the space where their ability to pay attention impacts their education outcomes.” “Both of these health equity policies had such strong early success,” added Kathryn Rehner-Sullivan, Mississippi government relations director for the American Heart Association. “We were hopeful we’d see them through to the finish line this year. But we are grateful to our bill sponsors who worked so hard to advance health in Mississippi through these efforts. We look forward to continuing this work with our legislative champions.” To learn more and get involved, visit yourethecure.org/myheart_myvoice.

The Mississippi Legislature made significant investments in public education during the 2021 legislative session including a statewide teacher pay raise and millions allocated for Mississippi State Board of Education priorities including early childhood education, instructional coaches, teacher supply funds and the Mississippi Student Information System (MSIS). Mississippi teachers early in their careers will receive a $1,100 raise in the new school year and all other teachers and teachers’ assistants will receive a $1,000 pay increase. Funds for the state’s Early Learning Collaboratives doubled to $16 million, which will serve approximately 6,000 pre-K children. Lawmakers funded new instructional coaches, allocating $5 million for math coaches and $1.5 million for early childhood education coaches. The new coaches will bolster Mississippi’s team of Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA)-funded literacy coaches, who help teachers statewide become more effective teachers of reading. Since the passage of the LBPA in 2013, Mississippi has become the No. 1 state in the nation for gains in reading. Other public education allocations include $20 million for the teacher supply fund, up from $12 million the previous year, and $7.6 million to modernize MSIS. Teacher supply funds go directly to teachers to buy classroom materials. Funding for MSIS, created in the 1990s, will update the system for the modern technological era. “Students and teachers statewide will benefit from these new investments that advance the State Board of Education’s goals,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “The state has put in place proven strategies that have significantly improved student achievement, and these investments will help students and teachers build upon their successes.” The State Board Strategic Plan prioritize access to high-quality early childhood education, data-driven decision making, student growth and achievement, all students having effective teachers, leaders and schools, and all students graduating prepared for college and career “Mississippi students and teachers deserve all the support the state is able to provide so they can continue making historic gains,” said House Education Committee Chairman Richard Bennett. The legislature also allocated $1 million to help districts pay for advanced learning assessments including Advanced Placement and the ACT WorkKeys, and $1 million for career and technical education grants to districts. “Our additional investments in public education will support teachers and have a direct impact on student learning in the classroom,” said Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis DeBar.

As Opera Mississippi's 75th Anniversary Virtual Season comes to a close, they have truly saved the best for last on what has been a unique but powerful season. On Sunday, April 18, at 2 p.m.,, the Opera Mississippi Guild presents Opera Virtuale, a virtual fundraising concert of performers from all around the nation. Filled with music from both opera and musical theatre, from classical to present day, this concert has something for everyone and has been an exciting project for everyone involved. The event will be hosted at youtube.com/operams. Hosted by well-known Mississippi TV personality Walt Grayson, the virtual concert promises wonderful music and the opportunity for patrons to donate to the guild to ensure that Mississippi and the Southeast has an opera company for another 75 years. Artistic Director, Jay Dean said, “Knowing that this year’s Opera Guild Gala had to be virtual, we reached out to singers across the nation and asked them to contribute their time to our gala. We were able to put together fourteen music videos of everything from classical opera arias to great tunes from musical theatre. We are particularly thankful to the opera program at the University of Mobile for providing some very well-done music videos that you will find very interesting. You will see everything from live night club performances to a Steven Sondheim song being sung from a hospital bed. Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused all of us to reach inside ourselves and come up with new ways to express our artistic creativity. This gala program is a perfect example of how we can take a situation that will not allow us to do anything in person and use our creative skills to make a really interesting virtual product.” "The Opera Mississippi Guild functions as the arm that assists Opera Mississippi through an annual gala," said Atchley. "Guild members pay $75 annually to participate by providing lodging for out-of-town performers and organizing volunteers to help with each season's performances. Guild members gain access to all social events, so it is a great way to meet new friends while giving back to the community." Anna Dean, Opera Mississippi's Development and Outreach Director, is very excited for this year’s event as it allows a wider audience to see what the company does and for even more people to become members of the guild or supporters of Opera Mississippi. “There are several ways you can support Opera Mississippi for our annual Guild gala concert this year. First, Become a member! You can easily join our Opera Mississippi Guild by going to www.operams.org/the-guild and select "Join Now" Second, Attend our Diamond Anniversary Celebration on June 17 at the Jackson Yacht Club to get to know the Opera Mississippi Family! Ticket information will soon be available at www.operams.org/diamond-anniversarygala-concert. Third, follow us on Facebook at Opera Mississippi and on instagram @operamississippi. Finally, most definitely, become a donor at www.operams.org/sponsordonor-levels.” For more information about upcoming interviews and performances or to donate or become a member, visit www.operams.org.

Children can get outdoors and explore nature at MDWFP’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS) day camps this summer. Age-appropriate camps are offered for children entering first through 12th grades. The camps, which will observe safe COVID Protocols, begin on June 1 and have limited spaces for each session. For more information, visit the MMNS website or call (601) 576-6000. Click here to register: https://www.ms.gov/mdwfp/camp_registration

The hunting of doves in late summer has been a southern tradition for generations. Dove hunting offers an early opportunity for wing shooting as well as a great social atmosphere for friends and family to spend time in the field. An action-packed dove hunt is also a great way to introduce kids to hunting and to make memories they will cherish for years to come. While a great dove hunt surely involves some amount of luck, hard work and preparedness can help shift the odds of having a productive field in your favor. Here are a few tips that will help you impress your hunting party and avoid wasting time and money. Select the Right Location Most hunters know it is a good strategy to plant their dove field near a water source with habitat for perching and roosting nearby. However, many hunters select areas based solely on these factors and fail to consider the soils under their feet. High preference plantings like sunflowers, milo, and corn need highly productive soils with good moisture holding capacity. Excessively well-drained soils may be better suited to browntop millet or even broadcast wheat per state regulations. Use an online resource, such as Web Soil Survey, or contact your local private lands biologist (www.mdwfp.com/privatelands) to help select the best site for planting. When planting sunflowers or corn, larger fields (greater than 10 acres) are often necessary to offset losses of matured seed crops from predation by other birds and mammals. Additionally, young sunflowers are susceptible to browsing by white-tailed deer. In areas with high deer density, it might be wise to plant larger fields of sunflowers or to select other plantings such as browntop millet, sesame, or buckwheat. Plant at the Right Time Doves will not come to a field out of loyalty. They are there to gather food from agronomic crops, for the most part. To ensure seeds are available for doves, establish crops so that they will fully mature at least two weeks before hunting. For instance, hunters planting peredovik sunflowers (110-day maturity) for an opening day hunt should plant no later than mid-April. For hunters wishing to provide new food sources as the hunting season progresses, plantings can be spaced throughout the recommended planting “window” of dates to provide areas with varying times of seed maturity. Using a variety of crops with different maturation periods can also accomplish this staggering of seed development through time. Summon Your Inner Farmer For many hunters, their primary exposure to farming is planting winter plots for deer. Winter food plots can be forgiving, in that the goal is to produce forage over a long period. Successful dove plantings need to produce seed at a precise time. Managing for this type of seed production is exceedingly difficult, just ask a row-crop farmer. Highly productive crops like sunflowers, milo, and corn require precise planting, soil amendments, and weed control. Most experienced hunters establish these crops using a well-calibrated planter and conventional seedbed preparation; though a no-till seed drill is also a great option. The goal is to manage the density and spacing of plants to maximize seed production. Planting in rows also facilitates nitrogen fertilization using injection after the planting has established. Weed control is also critical to maintain the bare ground that doves need to forage. There are several weed control options for sunflowers, milo, and corn including row cultivation, pre- and postemergence herbicides, or some combination of mechanical and chemical weed control. Given that row cultivation requires specialized equipment, the best method is often a combination of pre- and postemergence herbicide applications. For best results with sunflowers apply a tank mix of 4 ounces of Spartan® and 1.3 pints of Dual Magnum® per acre at the time of planting (conventional tillage or no-till). Once the sunflowers are established, grass weeds may become a problem. If this occurs, apply 8-10 ounces per acre of Select over the top of the established sunflowers. For postemergence applications, add a non-ionic surfactant to the tank at a rate of 1 quart per 100 gallons of solution to improve herbicide uptake. When using herbicides it is important to follow the recommendations on the herbicide label. Preparing the Field for Hunting Dove field managers should begin manipulating portions of their standing crops 10-14 days prior to hunting to begin attracting doves to the site. The goal of manipulations should be to provide loose, scattered seeds (most commonly by mowing) on top of relatively clean ground so doves can easily access them. A single planting can have lasting benefits by continually manipulating new areas throughout the season. If grasses or weeds begin to develop after manipulations, an additional herbicide application may be necessary to maintain bare ground. Light disking in narrow strips can also be effective for creating bare ground next to managed food sources. Dove hunting is a great way to enjoy Mississippi’s great natural resources. To learn more about dove plantings or other habitat management issues, please visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/privatelands. For answers to specific questions you might have about your field, call us at (601) 432-2199.