By Guest Columnist Nelson Santa Ana When we go searching for something that is lost or valuable, we call it a quest. The word “quest,” itself, makes a search sound important and noble. The Quest for the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant, or Amelia Earhardt’s Spirit of St. Louis are the types of adventures about which books and movies are written. In spite of how fancy it sounds, we have all been on quests. Some are aggravating and not very noteworthy, like the quest for the missing sunglasses I eventually found on top of my head. Some are short and very intense, like the time my one-year-old son slipped out of his stroller in a parking lot while I was tying a Christmas tree to the roof of my car. In this space, however, we are going to encounter a quest that took place 2000 years ago. In the process, we will realize that we are on a quest as well. Not a quest for a lost object, but a quest for a lost truth. A quest of faith. The background to this quest centers around Jesus of Nazareth. Where we pick up the story, Jesus has been accused of crimes He did not commit, condemned as a criminal worthy of death, flogged mercilessly, crucified, murdered, and laid in a tomb for three days. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him.” (Mark 16:1-6, CSB) Here we see three women who followed Jesus went on a quest to see his grave and tend to his body. That’s pretty close to the modern day equivalent of going to place flowers on a loved one’s grave. But, on the way, something dawned on them. The stone that keeps the tomb sealed was very heavy. In the ancient Near East, a tomb would be carved into the side of a hill and a small trench would be dug in front of the entrance of the tomb. At this point, a large stone that covered the entirety of the entrance would be rolled into the trench. So a heavy stone had to be rolled upwards in order to get in the tomb. The women quickly realized they couldn’t move this stone on their own. Their quest to see Jesus was in danger. How could they possibly move an obstacle that was larger than themselves? Everyone all over the world, like these women, is on a quest as well. Our quest is to seek to know the reality of spirituality and there are all different kinds of beliefs. Between atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians and many other religions, there is a plethora of options for what to believe. But ultimately, no matter which group you would place yourself in, all of us are seeking to do the same thing. Not seeking after God, but seeking to fill a void in our lives. Blaise Pascal, a Seventeenth Century philosopher, said we are all on this quest because we all have a God-shaped hole in our hearts that we strive to fill. Everyone seeks to fill this void with different things in an attempt to perform some sort of self-surgery to close our holes. It’s like doing a 750-piece puzzle and not having the last piece. It’s frustrating and incomplete. Thus we try to fill that hole with different things. We try money as if we can buy our way to fulfillment. We try power as if controlling others will fulfill us. We try fame as if a brief spotlight on our lives will lead to inner satisfaction. We try knowledge as if understanding the world will help eradicate the pain caused by it. We try addictive behavior as if temporarily numbing the emptiness will make it go away. Eventually, though, rather than filling the void, these become more obstacles to overcome. And all along, none of these puzzle pieces actually fit. So what does this missing puzzle piece look like? In the women’s quest for Jesus, they see an angel who tells them they are looking for the wrong thing. They were seeking a crucified, dead, and buried Jesus. That’s often where our personal quests get off track. There are so many misconceptions about Jesus. For some he’s a legend, though history clearly vouches for his existence. For many he’s just a good prophet or teacher, but that doesn’t really make sense because He called Himself the Son of God. If He willingly deceived people, then that makes him a liar and not good. If you look at the Biblical account about Jesus, C.S. Lewis, in the book Mere Christianity, points out that there are only three viable options for who He is. He could be a liar because when he claimed to be the Son of God, he knew it wasn’t true. The problem with this is if Jesus was a liar, then surely his disciples would have known it. He taught the most radical, God-following messages and claimed to be without sin. His disciples did everything with Him for three years. They would have seen the inconsistencies. Yet they were willing to die for Him! Sometimes people are willing to die for a cause, but how often are people willing to die for a cause they know isn’t true? Another option is that Jesus was a lunatic. That when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he actually believed it was true. The problem with this theory is that He consistently taught the same things over 3 years, consistently exhibited normal social behavior, and none of his opponents seriously accused him of being insane. You don’t put a lunatic to death for what he says, you disregard him. The final option and the consistent message of the Bible takes us back to the tomb. “He Has Risen!” Jesus is the Risen Lord. The truth of Jesus is that He was dead, but now He is alive! This is the message of Easter. He took our sins, suffered our death, and was buried in our place. But sin could not control Him, death could not defeat Him, and the grave could not contain Him! He is Alive! Now you may ask, what does this have to do with me? Remember that God-shaped hole in our hearts? Listen to what Jesus says about Himself. “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10, CSB). Jesus is what fills the void in our lives. He is the missing puzzle piece. Only He brings fulfillment, completeness, and satisfaction. Only Jesus! I wonder, do you know Him today?

Wesson's new $300,000 police headquarters will be ready for occupancy at the beginning of next year if not sooner, reports Wesson Public Works Director Brad Turner. The design of the building and its construction is an in-house town project directed by Turner. Turner drafted the specs for the building, and he and the Wesson public works crew, including Joe Glasper and Jonathan Hutt will do the construction. Turner presented formal plans for the building rendered by town consultant Joann Miller and a timetable for the construction project at the February Aldermen's meeting. "We'll do the work when we aren't responding to Wesson's water, sewage and public works needs," Turner said. Excavation work has been completed on the Spring Street property southwest of the public library where the new police headquarters building will stand and work on the foundation will start with dry weather. Materials are being bid out and bricks, lumber, roof trusses and metal reinforcements are already on site for construction. "We could finish up sooner, but we expect the building to be ready at least at the beginning of 2022.," Turner says. The Mississippi State Legislature provided funding for the facility in its 2019 bond bill.

A member of the Co-Lin staff is a recipient of the 2021 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award. Dr. Tim Lea has been recognized for his sustained quality service as an ESGR volunteer, highlighting his patriotism, good citizenship, and public service, at times achieved through great personal sacrifice, that has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of ESGR and the defense of the Nation. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Lea for the important work that he does on behalf of Co-Lin,” Co-Lin President Dr. Jane Hulon Sims said. Dr. Lea volunteers on the Mississippi ESGR Executive Committee as Training Director and has directly aided in multiple programs and activities from employer recognition events to presentations during local Guard and Reserve unit drills. He is the Veteran Services Director at Co-Lin The James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award is the highest award given to a Committee volunteer for sustained quality service as a volunteer over a substantial period of years. Those receiving the Roche award are ESGR volunteers nominated by their respective ESGR State Committee Chairs for their exceptional contributions to ESGR’s mission over a sustained period of time. ESGR is unique as a government organization in relying on nearly 3,500 volunteers across 54 state committees to carry out local engagement with Guard and Reserve service members and employers, and to conduct informal mediation between civilian employers and service members when issues arise related to military service. The Roche award is named for James M. Roche, who served several years as the ESGR National Chair after retiring as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at General Motors Corporation, and other senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, Jack Eckerd Corporation and the New York Stock Exchange. Roche once said: "Anybody who achieves a top position in an organization owes a debt of some kind. If you have a talent and you have your health, you should help others."

The annual Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) Black History Month celebration -- a spectacular show featuring song, dance, inspiration readings and speeches along with a traditional students post display focused on African America heroes and leaders surrounding the audience on the walls of WAC's old gymnasium -- has gone virtual in deference to the COVID-19 pandemic. Albert Brown, a WAC English and drama and theater teacher, and his students have created a video production that, while losing some of the impact of live in-person audience interaction, extends the reach of the celebration to audiences that may have missed it in the past and continues to provide enjoyment and inspiration over time. Mississippi winter storms delayed production of the video when they closed down WAC for a week in late February, but gave students the opportunity to create it and others to observe its making at the time of the usual celebratory show. "The CD production includes video clips of student speakers, musical selections, a step-team dance performance, and, of course, the hard work of my students as the centerpiece of the production," Brown reports "The Traveler and the Path" thematically frames this year's virtual celebration. Instead of creating posters documenting their research into African Americans, Brown's students this year produced a project board based on their gained research and submitted a video to share it with the connections they made to their topics. "Our students looked down the line and identified the pathways they would like to pursue regarding careers and life choices," Brown explained. "With their pathways identified, they were challenged to research contributing African American who helped pave the way for others with similar career interests. They make connections to their intended work and the inspiring African Americans that helped strengthen the fields before them." View the WAC virtual Black History Month celebration at https://www.copiah.ms/Domain/99#calendar2856/20210227/month

Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her team began the process of distributing hundreds of thousands of FDA-approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including N-95 respirators, surgical masks, and disposable gloves statewide. The Attorney General’s Office came into possession of these items as a result of a plea agreement in a price gouging case on the Coast. “Taking advantage of our neighbors in need during a crisis to turn an extra profit is wrong,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “We are turning this PPE back to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us during this pandemic – health centers, law enforcement, and fire departments.” In March 2020, following multiple complaints of price gouging, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office began an investigation into Gulf Coast Pharmaceuticals Plus, LLC. United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, Robert Walker, signed a search and seizure warrant for the GCPP premises, and the following items were inventoried and seized: 6,576 N-95 respirators 8,950 KN-95 respirators 365,225 Surgical masks · 26,300 Shoe covers · 77,200 Gloves · 230 Lab coats/ coveralls · 4,332 Gowns/ scrubs/ scrub caps 300 Disposable scrub caps 163 Face shields/goggles It was uncovered that Gulf Coast Pharmaceuticals Plus, LLC, under the direction and supervision of owner Kenneth Ritchey, was intentionally and feloniously price gouging medical facilities by excessively marking up and selling PPE that was in short supply at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, including Mississippi’s G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center. Kenneth Ritchey pled guilty to one count of price gouging and was ordered to pay nearly $60,000 in restitution to the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Administration Hospital, a maximum fine of $5,000, and all court costs. Ritchey also surrendered all PPE seized by law enforcement personnel to the Attorney General’s Office. In mid-January, representatives of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office contacted first responders, emergency management entities, health officials, and law enforcement associations asking organizations to complete a PPE request form, and all 189 unique organizations that submitted a request are receiving PPE. The AGO is no longer accepting PPE requests. All available PPE has been allocated and distribution will continue to occur over the next month.

The deadline to complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) in order to qualify for the HELP Grant is March 31, 2021. Applicants will then have through April 30 to submit supporting documents, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students should apply online at www.msfinancialaid.org or link directly from the FAFSA. "Students have demonstrated their resilience and persistence this last year," said Jennifer Rogers, Director of Student Financial Aid. "It is important for students to finish strong, stay on track with their plans for college, and continue pursuing the resources needed to help pay for it." The HELP Grant pays up to full tuition for students attending Mississippi public colleges and universities. Students attending a private institution will receive an award amount equal to the average award of a student attending a comparable public institution. To qualify for the HELP Grant, students must: Complete the MAAPP by March 31 Apply for the first time within two years of high school graduation Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 Score a minimum of 20 on the national ACT (or an equivalent score on the SAT) Take the required IHL College Prep Curriculum in high school Meet income requirements and be Pell eligible, as determined by completion of the FAFSA, and Provide supporting documentation by April 30 More information about HELP is available at www.msfinancialaid.org/help. Students who need assistance with their online applications are encouraged to submit questions via email to sfa@mississippi.edu, call1-800-327-2980 (toll-free in MS), and check their MAAPP Dashboard for updates. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the services offered free of charge by the non-profit Get2College, including help with the FAFSA or MAAPP. Visit www.get2college.org or call 601.321.5533 to make a virtual appointment with a counselor. The deadline to complete MAAPP to qualify for MTAG or MESG is September 15.

Only a few more days! Have you got some green to bling your cart with? If not, we have extra, so come join us! Did someone say parade? How about at cart cruise?!?! We may be overly excited about the Spring Market at Wisteria Inn Bed & Breakfast this upcoming weekend, so we’re throwing in some extra “loot” to make sure you don’t miss it. Decorate your golf cart or side by side, bring some loot to throw, and join us for a cruise downtown this coming Saturday. Line up behind FBC at noon (please already be decked out). See you there!

The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) today celebrated as Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the Down Syndrome Information Act, legislation that would require doctors to provide accurate and up-to-date educational information to parents of children newly diagnosed with Down syndrome. The legislation passed with wide bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. The bill is commonly known as “Hudson’s Law,” named after Hudson Hartman, a two-year-old Mississippian who has Down syndrome. Last year, Hudson and his mom Mika were key lobbyists for the Life Equality Act, legislation to ban discrimination abortions based on race, sex, disability, or genetic makeup. Governor Reeves signed the Life Equality Act into law last summer. “We thank Governor Reeves for signing Hudson’s Law and for his strong pro-life leadership in Mississippi,” said SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel. “This law goes hand in hand with the Life Equality Act and will serve as an important check to ensure that doctors are empowering parents of children who have Down syndrome with accurate information and resources. Parents deserve to know that 99% of people with Down syndrome live happy and fulfilled lives. No child should be deprived of the right to be born, especially due to a disability – this is no less than modern-day eugenics. “We are grateful to State Senator Jeremy England and State Representative Jansen Owen for championing this legislation. Their leadership on behalf of Mississippi’s most vulnerable will save lives.” Polling conducted earlier this year found that 70% of Americans, including 56% of those who identify as pro-choice, 59% of Democrats, and 70% of Independents, oppose abortion based on the expectation that an unborn child may have Down syndrome. SBA List is a network of 900,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.

I am passionate growing plants in containers. Everything in my coastal Mississippi landscape and garden grows in some form of container. Growing in containers gives me the sense of control I want in the garden. I use a variety of containers: black nursery pots in sizes up to 25 gallons; various sizes of terra cotta (I love the way these will patina through years of use); salad tables (yes, these are containers); and, of course, my beloved commercially available self-watering container garden systems. Container gardening is easy. But gardeners need to know that it is different than growing plants in the ground. First and foremost, growing in containers requires using the correct “soil,” which isn’t soil at all. In fact, there’s no soil in the correct container mix, which are composed of organic components -- peat moss, coir fiber or bark -- and inorganic components like vermiculite and perlite. I like to use commercial bagged container mixes that have been engineered for optimum physical characteristics and great plant performance. They are found under a variety of trade names, but each of these is similar in its basic recipe. One bit of mis-advice that runs rampant on the Internet is to add gravel or other materials to the bottoms of your containers to increase drainage. It just doesn’t work. You’ll have to trust me on this because the science behind why it doesn’t work is lengthy and involves polar attraction between molecules and overcoming the force of gravity. Proper watering is important. Since a container is effectively self-contained, you must consistently water based on the particular requirements of the plants you are growing. Never just apply a splash of water on the container. Keep watering until you see water flow from the holes in the bottom of the container. Depending on location, such as a porch or patio, you may need a saucer under the container to catch the drainage. Fertilization is another important consideration. Many of the commercial container mixes have some added fertilizer, which is beneficial in getting plants off to a good start, but it is not nearly enough to sustain satisfactory growth through the entire season. I always feed my container plants with controlled-release fertilizer at planting, and I supplementally feed with water-soluble fertilizer through the growing season. One of the fun aspects of growing in containers is picking out the container itself. The selection of containers becomes limitless. You can go old school like I do and use classic terra cotta. There’s also a large selection of glazed ceramics that would fit into any design scheme. These containers can be very heavy, so you may decide to look for containers made out of foam-like materials that look every bit like their heavier cousins. I also like to grow in the basic, black plastic pots, which is probably a carry-over from my nursery and greenhouse background. While very functional, the black plastic container is very dull. Painting is an easy way to jazz up and accessorize these basic containers. I like to use the textured spray paints that result in a stone-like appearance. Container gardening is a fun way to enjoy your garden and landscape. EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also the host of the popular Southern Gardening television and radio programs.

Federal COVID-19 stimulus money is for people to spend as the choose to help boost the economy and not for long-term care facilities or related to Medicaid benefits. “Stimulus money belongs to the recipient and should not go to the nursing home or other facility where they are staying,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “While my office has not received complaints about this, there have been complaints in other states. Mississippians should know stimulus checks do not count as income and should not be given to facilities to pay for services.” Long-term care residents should decide for themselves, or with a trusted family member, how to spend their stimulus money. The money also does not change what Medical Assistance a person may receive based on income. The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) also warns that scammers are trying to cash in on COVID-19 vaccines, citing these signs of fraud: · You are asked to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine. · You are asked to pay to put your name on a list to receive the vaccine or asked to pay to get early access to the vaccine. · You receive unsolicited emails, phone calls and text messages. Scammers may pretend to be vaccine centers or insurance companies to steal your information. · You are asked to visit a fake vaccine website. Scammers use phony sites to steal your information and money. When in doubt about anything vaccine-related, call your state or local health department. If you have a COVID-19 or insurance-related question or complaint, call the Mississippi Insurance Department Consumer Services division at 601-359-2453 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov.

Retail is a tough business. There are trends to be followed and merchandise that has to be kept current. Advertising, employees. It all adds up. I know very little about the inner workings, but I do know online sells have hurt mom and pop stores. This is particularly true in the music business. The two largest guitar makers, Gibson and Fender, made decisions to sell only to big box and very large stores, leaving stores like Brookhaven Music and Sound to find either lesser lines or used equipment. There are great instruments made by the smaller companies, but if you want a Fender, you want a Fender. So in February 2019, Tyler Bridge closed the area's last music store. He fought the good fight and outlasted most, but the end was inevitable. Yet there were profitable parts of the business and on Monday after the Saturday Bridge closed his store, Tony Norton and Gregory Smith, who had worked at the Bridge store teaching guitar lessons, repairing guitars and renting band instruments, moved down Railroad Ave and opened a new business -- Downtown Music Academy (DMA). Bridge moved around the corner and opened Brookhaven Sound Studios, where he records everything from radio commercials, cheerleader and dance line cuts to full albums for bands. On March 2, Norton and Smith celebrated their second year of operation. What began on a wing and a prayer has become a thriving business filling a very specific void. DMA's Norton and Smith looked around town and noticed there were private teachers for every student activity: martial arts, dance and gymnastics. High school athletes could get all the private help they needed to improve their skills. What was missing was a comprehensive program for students interested in music. DMA now has nine faculty and over one hundred students that range from pre-teens to older adults, says Smith, who runs the lessons side of the business. It has teachers for piano, violin, guitar, wind instruments, and percussion. “We’ve had quite a growth spell with students recently,” he adds. One of the real surprises at DMA is the amount of repairs Norton has on his desk. “There are a lot of guitars in this area that need attention,” he points out. Not only does he repair guitars but all string instruments, including mandolins, banjos, both electric and acoustic guitars. Norton’s reputation has grown quickly, and now he has artists from all over the area who allow him work on their gear. Norton also handles the band instrument rental program. Bridge operated what is now Brookhaven Sound Studios in the back of the defunct Brookhaven Music and Sound, he has moved it up front in its new location on Cherokee Street, and he is staying busier than ever. His facility includes a very professional setup with a control room, isolation booth and a large room for full bands. That large room also serves as the rehearsal hall for the Bridge Band, which he continues to lead. Among five recent projects, Bridge is working with two new artists on their first recordings and others on follow up albums. Avery Landrum, 19, originally from St Francisville, Louisiana, and now living in Brookhaven, is working on her first serious record with Bridge -- an EP with five original songs. Landrum, who has been performing solo since she was 13 years old, is a well seasoned veteran at a young age. “She’s really talented, her songs are good and she knows what she wants,” says Bridge. "That's not always the case." Landrum recorded a few songs when she was 16, but this is her first full project with Bridge. “I met Tyler in Natchez at the songwriters night at Natchez Brewery." she relates. "He asked me to drop by the studio and we just hit it off. We think a lot alike creatively and I know he’ll be able to produce the sounds I want for my songs. He’s super easy to work with.” That’s it for now. Be safe. Wear your mask. As the pandemic takes a downward turn, outdoor music festivals will return. Brookstock and Overbrook Song Writers Festival are on the calendar for late summer. Performers are looking forward to getting back in front of you, the audience. Take the shot and let’s get back to some semblance of normalcy. Support the arts and the artists, my friends. EDITOR'S NOTE:Shaw Furlow is a local composer, musician and arts promoter. He produces an internet-based video show -- From the Shadyside -- that spotlights area musical talent and is a consultant to school bands in the region.

Two winter storms cause a week-ling shutdown in Wesson last month, with icy roads that prevented people from leaving their homes, and fallen trees and limbs that downed power lines, knocking out electricity to most of the town's 2,000 residents and businesses and drastically reducing pressure to make water service virtually useless to customers. "The town was pretty much shut down from Monday, February 15, until Saturday, February 20, when the sun came out and temperatures rose into the 50s from freezing throughout most of the week," Wesson Public Works Director Brad Turner reported. The first storm came with heavy sleet and snow mixtures on late Sunday night and early Monday morning, February 14 and 15, and continued into Tuesday morning, leaving a one-inch pretty, but troublesome white blanket on the Wesson landscape, impassible primary and secondary roadways and scattered power outages. Additional ice, snow and sleet starting Wednesday afternoon, February 17, put additional strain on the already ice-packed roads, and caused more power outages as ice-covered trees, limbs and power lines collapsed under the weight. By Thursday morning, most Wesson residents and businesses had lost power and the town's water system could not meet consumption demands. Co-Lin and Wesson Attendance Center cancelled classes. The U.S. Post Office suspended services. COVID-19 vaccination sites in the area shut down. King's Daughters Medical Center's clinics were closed. Low water pressure impacted restaurant operations. Jackson Airport closed, along with large stretches of interstates and highways. Perhaps the most dramatic storm-related incident locally occurred on Mt. Zion Road Wednesday evening after an accident closed Interstate 55, and truckers and motorists who exited onto the roadway could not climb an ice-covered hill into Wesson and towards Highway 51. An 18-wheel tractor trailer jack-knifed, dozens of cars slid off the road into ditches and motorists abandoned vehicles. Co-Lin provided temporary housing to drivers and their passengers on Wednesday night until they could reclaim their vehicles Thursday following work by recovery crews on the road. Wesson Public Works Department Director Brad Turner said he and his crew, including Joe Glasper and Jonathon Hutt, handled fallen limbs and trees on roads without outside assistance with the town's backhoe and chain saw. "Our biggest challenge were recurring debris problems on Highway 51," he noted. The water pressure problems revolved around loss of electricity and multiple leaks at homes and businesses, including running water from faucets to prevent pipes from freezing, Turner said. "We had no water line breaks," he reported. As February ended, Turner and his crew further helped life return to normal, clearing debris from yards of Wesson residents whose homes needed major cleanup following the storms. Jackson-based National Weather Service meteorologist Logan Poole attributed the storms to "unusually dense arctic air" -- the bottom of three layers, which also included a very cold upper layer and a mass of warmer air at the center. Poole said the Arctic air originated in Northwest Canada and was 30 to 50 degrees colder than normal.