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Those small red flowers -- poppies -- many Americans wear to honor military service personnel on Memorial Day have a long history: · After World War I, they flourished in Europe, blooming above the battle graves because the ground soil had been churned and dug up. The dormant seeds had been beneath the ground and needed cultivation to make them grow. · In 1918, Moina Michael popularized the idea of wearing a poppy flower in memory war dead, inspired by "In Flanders Fields," a poem by Lt. Col. John McCrae. . . . .the blood of heroes never dies But lends a luster to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Field · Michael later started a campaign to adopt the poppy as the national symbol of sacrifice. · The American Legion family passes out paper poppies on Memorial Day and throughout the year to raise funds for veterans. · Poppies have a long history of being used to honor the dead, having roots in Greek and Roman mythology.

Wesson native and resident George Mercier celebrated his 103rd birthday last month with the help of friends locally and the Mississippi State House of Representatives. As he watched from his front porch on the evening of his birthday, May 8, locals driving by honked the horns of their vehicles and waved to acknowledge the special occasion. Becky Currie, the District 92 member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, presented a special proclamation from the legislative body signed by her and Philip Gunn, the House Speaker, that commended and congratulated him on the occasion of his birthday for his "life and heroism" as a "World War II veteran and United States Navy Lieutenant Commander." Timothy George Mercier was born in Wesson on May 8, 1917, and graduated from Wesson High School, Co-Lin, and Louisiana State University where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. The special legislative proclamation called him "an individual of wise counsel," citing his relationships as "a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend and veteran" to the people his life has touched. The proclamation described how after initially going to work for Baton Rouge-base Ethyl Corporation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, attended Naval Officers' Training School and served in the South Pacific to provide assistance and ordinance for ships and air craft and later with the Bureau of Ordinance of the Navy Department in Washington, DC. For 73 years before her death in 2019, Mercier was married to the former Dorothy Ragland. She returned with Mercier to his native Wesson in 1972 after he retired following a twenty-year career with Ethyl Corporation for which he worked in Baton Rouge and Houston. Over that span of time, they had five children -- three of them now adult seniors themselves: Tim, 69, Anne, 67, Laurie, 64, Patricia, 57, and Chet, 55. Mercier and his wife were active and faithful members of Wesson Presbyterian Church.

Co-Lin's Workforce Education program, through a partnership with ed2go, is offering 10 free workplace skills online courses until June 30 that cover topics including customer service, management, internet marketing, communications, and job searching. The public is invited to take advantage of these ed2go courses that can be completed on student schedules from anywhere with internet access. The Co-Lin Workforce Education’s partnership with ed2go, a Cengage company which is the industry leader in online learning, has greatly expanded the college’s educational offerings to diverse learners. Ed2go develops innovative, relevant courses that align with job market demands. Its catalog features a range of courses from career and certification training to personal and professional development, with a focus on teaching transferable skills. The non-college credit courses covering hundreds of topics may be utilized to develop new or upgrade existing skills. Additionally, other courses are available for teacher continuing education credits. They all utilize an intuitive, fully online model designed to meet the needs of adult learners. “This partnership is a natural fit,” Workforce Center Director Stephenie Sullivan says. “We understand the value of career training in today’s ever-changing job market and are providing a flexible option to do so. Ed2go has a proven background that helps us best meet the learning needs in our district.” The Co-Lin training classes valued between $95 and $115 contain 24 hours of material. Those interested may view the comprehensive list and register at www.colin.edu/freeworkplaceskills. “We believe that having the right skills and knowing how to utilize them is vital for both job seekers and those who are employed," says Sullivan. "These classes include a mix of skills for today’s changing job market." Ed2go believes that anyone, anywhere can learn. Started in 1997, it provides high quality education the fastest way possible — online. By partnering with academic institutions such as Co-Lin, it reaches life-longer learners in all 50 states and in more than 16 countries. Visit www.ed2go.com/colin for more info. Co-Lin's Workforce Education program offers affordable, short-term, non-credit, workforce training classes that provide new or enhanced skills needed to enter a new field or re-enter with upgraded skills. For more information, contact Celeste Williamson at celeste.williamson@colin.edu or visit www.colin.edu/freeworkplaceskills.

There was a time not that long ago when homes chooling wasn’t legal in all 50 states. Today it is, but government regulations vary by state – making it harder to homes chool and more burdensome in certain states. By most measures, Mississippi has parent friendly home school regulations, only requiring parents to fill out an attendance form with their local school district. But the government doesn’t regulate curriculum, testing, or schedules. Bills occasionally pop up in the legislature to mandate curriculum, as a bill from Rep. John Hines did this year, or to restrict various freedoms. There are also annual bills to lower the age of compulsory education. But for the most part there is a truce if you will. Tim Tebow bills to allow home schoolers to participate in athletics or extracurricular activities of their local school districts (where you still pay taxes) never see the light of day, but fortunately, neither do the government mandates. Yet. Today, about 15,000-20,000 students in Mississippi are home schooled. But we are seeing national movement from academic elites to rein in home schooling freedom. Why? Because every child is currently being home schooled as government schools throughout the country shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. What if just 10 percent of these families decided to continue homeschooling next year? It would represent a massive shift in the education landscape and result in fewer tax dollars going to the government schools that would be serving fewer students. Though it was recently scrapped, Harvard University – where the attacks on homeschooling are originating – planned an anti-homeschooling conference for June that would focus on the “problems of educational deprivation and child maltreatment” of homeschooling. They claim child abuse or lack of a proper education as their concern and thesis, but the greater push is twofold: the belief that government controls every child and a bigotry toward people who are religious, the original reason many chose to home school. Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Bartholet has called for a “presumptive ban on homeschooling” saying it violates a children’s right to “meaningful education.” That’s certainly debatable considering the percentage of American students in government schools who are proficient in reading and math (hint: it’s not many). But she also argues that parents should get permission from the government to home school. Meaning, the burden of proof shifts to the parents and they have to make their case with the government on why they should be allowed to remove their children from government school. Essentially, you must beg the crown for this right. Your child is basically a product of the state in Bartholet’s view, and the view of many other elites. You are only allowed to do certain things. Everything else comes from the state. That obviously isn’t true. And the Supreme Court even struck that argument a century ago. The other part of the disdain for parents who want freedom for their children is because many of those parents do so for religious reasons. Many homeschooling families “are driven by conservative Christian beliefs” and “some of these parents are extreme religious ideologues.” One could argue that anyone who believes in God is an “extreme religious ideologue” in the mind of Bartholet. Or at least believes in God…and tries to follow His word. The truth is for many, the ability to teach your children about the Bible isn’t the reason you homeschool, just another in a long line of reasons. A child isn’t a creature of the state. Parents have the right to raise and educate their children as they seem fit. Homeschooling has long been, and will continue to be, looked at with disdain from elites. Fortunately, neither they, nor the government, control your child. This is an important topic in our world today. Why are we seeing these attacks, what does the future of education look like, and how can we protect Mississippi’s parent-friendly home school laws? EDITOR'S NOTE: Brett Kittredge is Director of Marketing & Communications for Mississippi Center for Public Policy. For information, call (601) 969-1300.

The Co-Lin Blue Wave Show Band has named Kennedy Moore of Brookhaven director of the Colettes. Moore is no stranger to Co-Lin, having danced with the Colettes for two years, and serving as Head Colette her sophomore year. “We are so excited that Kennedy is joining the Blue Wave Show Band staff as Colette director,” said Co-Lin Director of Bands Juanita Proffitt. “She will graduate from USM later this year, works at Showstoppers Studio of Dance, and was an outstanding Head Colette at Co-Lin. She will carry on the Colettes tradition of excellence while bringing new dance innovations to our team.” Moore has 19 years of dance performance, theatre performance, choreography, and teaching experience. This includes 14 years of competitive dance in regional and national competitions with Showstoppers Studio of Dance, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Parade, halftime performance at the 2014 Sugar Bowl, and the University of Southern Mississippi Southern Misses dance team. Moore has performed and choreographed in the Brookhaven Little Theater’s production of “Newsies the Musical,” “Little Mermaid the Musical,” “Matilda the Musical,” and “Frozen Jr.,” as well as regional large teen tap line and large hip-hop productions. She has trained with numerous dance professionals at conventions and master classes. “Co-Lin gave me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people as a member of the Blue Wave Show Band,” said Moore. “I am so excited to be able to come back and work with a team that I care so much about and look forward to giving these girls some of the best years of their life.” Moore currently teaches all hip-hop classes from first grade through high school at Showstoppers Studio of Dance and assists with jazz, tap, ballet, and contemporary classes. Moore also serves as a choreographer for Copiah Academy dance team. A graduate of Brookhaven High School, she graduated from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and will graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi in December.

Wesson Aldermen have authorized the town to initiate a process that could potentially lead to a bond bill agreement with a bank to assure necessary funds in case of a revenue shortfall stemming from the loss of sales tax monies due the impact of COVID-19 pandemic economic restrictions, shutdowns and other mitigation measures. In Wesson, many businesses, including Ace Hardware, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Shop 'N Wash, Ashley's 51 and the East End Market, stayed open as sources of essential supplies, while cosmetologists, the Mill Town Mall, Another Time. . . Another Place and the Carpenter Shop shut down, and restaurants severely curtailed operations. The biggest economic impact probably related to the loss of customers by open businesses as a result of the drastically curtailed activities of Co-Lin and Wesson Attendance Center. Mayor Alton Shaw concedes the economic impact of the pandemic measures is not known, but he and the Board of Aldermen decided they wanted to prepare for a significant decline in tax revenues returned to the town by the state. With the action by the Aldermen at their May meeting, town officials will explore with bankers terms of a bond bill in the $80,000 range that would be repayable over ten years. The town would be able to tap the funds to meet emergency revenue needs, but do so only if required.

The former Wesson Presbyterian Church has been gifted to Co-Lin by George T. Mercier, Jr., who served as an elder of the church and clerk of the session for the past 45 years. The Wesson Presbyterian Church was founded in 1871 by Captain William Oliver, a businessman from New Orleans who had moved to Wesson to manage the Mississippi Mills. The construction of the church was completed in 1878, and it held its first worship service on March 24 of that year. “My mother and father were married here and I was baptized here, so we have a long relationship with the church,” Mercier said while celebrating his 103rd birthday on May 8 in the church sanctuary with his son, G.T. Mercier III and members of the college’s staff and Board of Trustees. Throughout the years, the church has seen a rise and decline in attendance and membership, and during the summer of 2019, the congregation agreed that it could no longer maintain the church. “Soon after that decision, I was given permission to pursue a potential buyer and Co-Lin became our first choice due to its proximity to the church, the sanctuary could be used as a chapel, and having the church placed on the National Register of Historic Places would be a prestigious landmark for the college and the community of Wesson,” Mercier said. On March 15, the Wesson Presbyterian Church officially closed its doors as a church and will now function as a part of Co-Lin. After the church elders and congregation approved the transfer of the property to the college, the gift was unanimously accepted by the Co-Lin Board of Trustees. “We have a long history between the college and the town of Wesson – a history that we appreciate and hold with tremendous value," Co-Lin president Dr. Jane Hulon said. "We’re going to take this gift and nurture it for some really special things in the future for both the town and for the college. We’re so grateful that the Mercier family looked to Co-Lin and entrusted us with such an important landmark of Wesson.” In addition to the donation of the church building and property, George Mercier, Jr. and his son G.T. Mercier III established the Dorothy Ragland Mercier Memorial Fund with the Co-Lin Foundation in memory of Mrs. Mercier, who passed away in December. The fund will be used for the improvement, maintenance, and ongoing expenses of the chapel. “My wife will always be remembered as a wonderful Christian who served the Church in many capacities -- teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, leading the women’s Bible study group, as well as hosting various community organizations in the church annex,” Mercier said. “I knew Mrs. Mercier through the Wesson Garden Club and thought the world of her,” Hulon said. “What a wonderful tribute and way to honor her life. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity.” “The Co-Lin Foundation (CLF) is grateful to the Merciers for the gift to be used to enhance and maintain the chapel,” executive director of CLF Angela Furr said. “We are honored to celebrate Mrs. Mercier’s legacy.” Contributions to the Dorothy Ragland Mercier Memorial Fund can be mailed to the Co-Lin Foundation at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191, or made online at www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation/give-now/.

The former Wesson Volunteer Fire Department Chief, who orchestrated the Wesson Flea Market for many years, has died. Kenneth Furr, 91, a loving husband father, grandfather, great grandfather and beloved friend, passed away May 6, and his life was celebrated at a private graveside service at Wesson Cemetery on May 9. As a young man, Furr left college following the sudden death of his father to come home to run the family business and to help his mother with two younger siblings. He was a vital, active, contributing citizen of Wesson his entire life. Decell Memorial United Methodist Church was his church. There he was a member of the choir and served as music director for many years. Even when he had to sit on the front pew because he was no longer able to get into the choir loft, he still led the choir and congregation in song. Furr operated the Gulf Service Station on Highway 51 in Wesson for more than 70 years following the death of his father. The station became the gathering place of an informal town's mens group, which discussed local issues and events most every day One of the founder of the Wesson Volunteer Fire Department, he served as its fire chief for many years. In addition to fighting fires for the department, he organized the Wesson Christmas parade and children’s time with Santa Claus following the parade and the Wesson Flea Market -- the fire department's major fundraiser, which he continued to bring together for many years even after retiring from the fire department An active member of Wesson Lion’s Club, he served as its president, led its singing at meetings, and was the “Tail Twister,” collecting fines from those members not wearing pins to demonstrate their pride in participating in the club. Furr was multi-talented. He was an avid gardener with a greenhouse, which gave him a head start every year in growing his flowers and vegetables. He had a beautiful rose garden, and many of those roses found their way into his church. In his woodworking shop, Furr made tables, chairs, benches and other pieces, which he gave away. Furr also loved photography, and took his camera with him everywhere to take pictures of unsuspecting individuals. He turned much of his photography into slide presentations, which he shared with church and Lions Club members, and others. Furr is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Margaret, daughters Amy and Barbara, grandson Blake and wife Nikkie and great grandchildren Lola and Barrett. SIDEBAR Back in the late 1990s, the Wesson Board of Alderman appropriately named the town's volunteer fire station "Kenneth Furr Fire Station." Furr, along with his buddy Wadell Pettigrew, were Wesson's first fire fighters in 1945, and when fires broke out, responded in an old T Model Ford fire truck, assisted by fellow townsmen, who helped drag the hose. They learned fire fighting as necessity demanded. Their first real fire truck was a 1942 Dodge army surplus that had been given to Co-Lin by the government. An organized fire department with sixteen volunteers started in 1968, with Furr continuing in the role of Chief, in which he had served for 23 years up until then. In the early days, Wesson firemen were called to duty by a siren that could be heard throughout the town. Later, each fireman's home phone was equipped with a distinct ring set off from the police department. Today, each fireman is equipped with a 911 pager. Even after retiring as Fire Chief, Furr long organized the fundraising projects that financed equipment for the fire department, the Wesson Christmas parade, the children's Christmas party and safety programs at schools and churches. The major fundraiser over the years has been the Wesson Flea Market, which Furr helped build into the big event it has become.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is working with Secretary of State Michael Watson to remind residents to participate in the 2020 census. Overhead signs along Mississippi highways will display census-focused messages to encourage every Mississippian to take part in the count. Results from the census affect how much federal funding communities receive and helps provide information for community planning and development. It also impacts funding for emergency resources, education and roads and bridges. The census is conducted every 10 years, and the data collected will be used to make decisions for the next decade. A few of the messages include: YOUR MISSION FILL OUT THE CENSUS AND BUCKLE UP SAFE DRIVING AND THE CENSUS GOOD FOR MISSISSIPPI ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS COUNT ON YOU #CENSUS2020 MDOT will continue to run these messages on Mississippi highways until the 2020 U.S. Census deadline on October 31. For more information on how to fill out the census, visit 2020census.gov.

Additional theatres to follow later in June; All locations operational in July Memphis-based Malco Theatres has set Monday, June 15, 2020 as the targeted re-opening date for an initial round of locations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. The Renaissance Cinema Grill (Ridgeland, MS), Olive Branch Cinema Grill (Olive Branch, MS), Desoto Cinema Grill (Southaven, MS), Tupelo Commons Cinema Grill (Tupelo, MS), Smyrna Cinema (Smyrna, TN) and Owensboro Cinema Grill (Owensboro, KY) theatres are part of the initial reopening phase, with additional locations scheduled to rollout each week thereafter through July 16, 2020.  The goal is for the full circuit to be operational in mid-July to coincide with the release of Warner Bros. highly anticipated film, Tenet.  All locations have been closed since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Malco is very excited to re-open theatres and welcome our customers back,” said David Tashie, President & COO. “We have been diligently working on implementing new measures and protocols to ensure the safety of our guests and employees, and we cannot wait for everyone to enjoy a night out experiencing movies on the big screen again.” Malco’s reopening protocols can be viewed at www.malco.com. Current plans are to offer new indie releases The King of Staten Island and The High Note, plus a lineup of perennial classics like Jaws, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Madagascar and Indiana Jones. Additional films include recent pre-Covid releases such as Trolls: World Tour, I Still Believe and The Invisible Man.  Starting July 1, Russell Crowe’s new film Unhinged opens, followed by Christopher Nolen’s Tenet on July 17.  Disney’s Mulan and Paramount Pictures Spongebob: Sponge on the Run are scheduled to open July 24 and July 31, respectively. Online advance tickets for June 15 will be available starting June 12, 2020 via Malco.com, the Malco app, Fandango and Atom Tickets.

We all want to make extra cash and the forex markets provide the best platforms to make fast, legit money. However, forex trading can be a nightmare if you do not choose the right tools and broker. If you aspire to become a successful forex trader, there are certain things you should know. Read on to learn everything you need to know about forex trading. Is the Forex Broker Fully Licensed? Is the forex trading platform real or is it a scam? This is the main question on every prospective investor’s mind before they begin forex trading. Likewise, you should make sure that your chosen forex broker is legit before you start trading. There are many things to consider when you want to learn about forex trading. As the expert forex advisors at https://www.regionvavid.org/forex explain, there are hundreds of online forex brokers out there so you should try to choose the best for your goals and needs. You can do this by going through reviews of different companies that offer forex trading services. Scams are also common in forex trading and many people lose money to unscrupulous forex brokers. It is essential that you verify if the forex broker is legally allowed to operate in your country before you pay the initial deposit to start trading. It is also essential to try to identify forex trading platforms that are popular in your country to avoid losing money to scammers. Legit forex brokers often provide verifiable contact details on their official websites. If you are serious about currency trading, you should properly do your homework first. Familiarize Yourself with the Forex Trading Platform Making money through currency trading is not as simple as some people may be tempted to believe. Before you open the actual account that you will use for your daily transactions, you should familiarize yourself with how the platform operates. You can do this by starting with a demo account where you will learn the different features of the trading program you choose. A demo account is free and it offers you tutorials designed to help you find your feet and get started with forex trading the right way. However, a demo account is short-lived, so you should try to utilize the opportunity to the fullest to grasp the basic trading concepts before you begin to trade. On top of that, check if the forex broker you chose has a customer support team that is ready to assist with whatever you may need. Many trading platforms are open seven days a week, so you can trade any time you want. Read Reviews of Different Forex Brokers You can also get more information about the forex trading platform by reading different reviews about its operations. This helps give you insight into its operations so that you can make an informed decision if it is the right fit. Customer comments are also insightful since they give you an idea of what to expect before you spend your hard-earned money. Just like gambling, earning money from currency trading is not guaranteed. In other words, before you commit yourself to forex trading, you should know that it is not a get-rich-quick scheme; anything can happen. Currency Pairs and Platform Cost You should also understand the currency pairs available on a particular forex trading platform before you join. In the same vein, you must also check if the forex broker offers a flexible payment method that suits your needs. The other thing that you should know pertaining to the affordability of the product. Some programs are relatively cheap, while others are expensive. Reliable Internet Connection To succeed in forex trading, you must have a reliable internet connection and there are no two ways about it. Furthermore, you need to check if the forex trading program is compatible with your browser. For instance, you can check if the program is easy to install on your device as well as to use it. Expect to get different programs from different forex brokers. Forex trading is both exciting and convenient, as it enables you to earn extra money from the comfort of your home. However, it is not an easy feat; you cannot expect to earn lots of money just like that. To be successful in forex trading, you should be committed to the process and take the time to understand all the things you should know before going all-in into trading. It is essential to choose the right trading platform if you are interested in making money through forex trading. You also need to know how the program you choose operates so you can achieve your goals.

JACKSON, Miss. – One of the keys to treating COVID-19 could be in the blood on those who have already recovered from the potentially deadly viral infection. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is leading a clinical trial where hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 will receive plasma from people that have recovered. Dr. Gailen Marshall, R. Faser Triplett Sr. M.D. Chair of Allergy and Immunology at UMMC, is leading the study. During an infection, the human body makes antibodies that work to neutralize the effect of the invading bacteria or virus, he said. These antibodies stay in the person’s blood plasma after they have beat the infection. “The majority of people infected with this novel coronavirus recover fully, and these individuals will almost always possess a robust antibody response,” he said. “Our trial seeks to learn if people with severe COVID-19 could benefit from an infusion of these antibodies.” UMMC needs two kinds of research volunteers for this study: current hospitalized COVID-19 patients and people who have recovered. For the latter group, Marshall and his colleagues will screen volunteers with a documented COVID-19 diagnosis – “people who received a nasal swab test and tested positive for the virus,” he said. To screen potential plasma donors, a research nurse will draw a small blood sample in order to measure COVID-19 specific antibodies and determine if they are present at a high enough concentration. If a volunteer meets all of the study participation requirements, they will be asked to donate plasma at Mississippi Blood Services for the study. Plasma can be banked for one year, Marshall said, which is good news because there will likely be new COVID-19 infections in Mississippi for several months. UMMC’s trial is one of dozens worldwide testing the safety and efficacy of plasma in treating COVID-19. Physicians have used convalescent plasma and its antibodies for more than a century to prevent and treat infectious diseases including influenza, diphtheria and measles before vaccines were available. This technique, which passes passive immunity to the patient, can cause a positive immune response relatively quickly, Marshall said. Marshall notes that the current COVID-19 patients who receive the plasma will also continue to receive the standard of care for the disease. This includes hospitalization and, if needed, supplemental oxygen or ventilation to manage severe disease. However, there are no Food and Drug and Administration-approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19. Clinical research is necessary to remedy this, Marshall said. “We know that COVID-19 is likely to return in some form or another,” he said. “The purpose of clinical trials like this one is to help us prepare so that we can have more knowledge, treat people more quickly, prevent severe disease and decrease the number of deaths during a future outbreak.” For more information about this clinical trial, contact Lynn Oakes at (601) 496-7837 or loakes1@umc.edu. To learn more about other COVID-19-related clinical trials at UMMC, visit https://umc.edu/clinicaltrials/.