Hubert Greer has received Wesson Garden Club's Magnolia Award. Greer accepted the prestigious award, which is presented annually, at the club's first meeting of 2021 held at American Legion Post 75. The meeting also featured a special Valentine’s Day program presented by Nancy Sullivan, Debbie Smith and Dixie Thornton who demonstrated simple, but adorable Valentine’s creations and basic flower arranging. The club's Magnolia Award each year recognizes and honors home gardeners with the most outstanding landscaped yard and their love of gardening. A certificate presented to Greer said he "is receiving this prestigious award because of his diligent efforts and for consistently maintaining a well-groomed yard, curb appeal, originality in landscape design, use of native and seasonal plant material and creativity throughout his entire landscape." The club's Yard of the Month Committee -- Sonja Cowen, Joy Phillips and Marilyn Britt -- chooses award recipients. They stressed the importance of "consistency" as a basis for the award and noted Greer's "dedication and love of gardening brings credit upon himself, the Town of Wesson and the Wesson Garden Club." The award recipient must have been recognized for a Yard of the Month during the year. Attendees at the meeting were Marilyn Britt, Sonya Cowen, Robin Furr, Debbie Hoaglin, Denise Jackson, Beverly King, Mandy King, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Jean Ricks, Joy Phillips, Debbie Smith, Lisa Smith, Nikki Smith, Nancy Sullivan and Dixie Thornton. Hostesses were Beverly King, Mandy King and Pam Owens. The Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc. and The National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Wesson Trustmark manager Marilyn Britt, also a bank vice president, will serve as president of the Wesson Chamber of Commerce during 2021, her second round as leader of the organization. The Chamber's other officers for the year are local real estate executive Stephen Ashley, vice president; Co-Lin administrator Deemie Letchworth, secretary; and Copiah County citizen leader and activist Nora Berch, treasurer. The Chamber 2021 board members are Dr.Stephanie Duguid, Dr. Brent Duguid, Phillip Knight, Kayla Williams, Ken Sullivan and Dr. Steven Liverman.

Continuing the tradition of bringing the world of opera to students, Opera Mississippi is proud to present this year’s outreach program, available online for access both in the classroom and at home. Produced in partnership with the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company (SOMTC) at The University of Southern Mississippi, Billy Goats Gruff debuted March 12, 2021 on Opera Mississippi’s website, msopera.org. This fun, 30-minute children’s opera allows audiences the opportunity to watch a classic fairytale story come alive, with an available version incorporating the use of American Sign Language for the hearing impaired, it also uses puppets to teach a powerful lesson. Featuring the music of Mozart, Donizetti, and Rossini, composer John Davies' operatic adaptation of the classic fairy tale, The Billy Goats Gruff, takes a familiar story and adds a strong anti-bullying message that promotes the power of kindness. “Elementary school teachers, school administrative leadership, and especially parents should consider this opportunity in letting their students and children see and hear this amusing story,” said Jay Dean, Artistic Director of Opera Mississippi. “This opera, which has been graciously sponsored by the Robert M. Hearin Foundation, allows young children the opportunity to hear both classic tunes known around the world as well as learning a powerful lesson about bullying.” Harlan Mapp, the production’s director and producer, is hopeful that because this year’s opera is virtual, it can reach even more students than in years past. “These student outreach productions are very important, not only to help students hear this worldly music, but also to learn these important lessons that stay with us for the rest of our lives” said Mapp. Billy Goats Gruff is available for viewing now at operams.org. For more information on this concert and the rest of the Opera Mississippi season, visit operams.org or call 601.960.2300

Continuing the tradition of bringing the world of opera to students, Opera Mississippi is proud to present this year’s outreach program, available online for access both in the classroom and at home. Produced in partnership with the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company (SOMTC) at The University of Southern Mississippi, Billy Goats Gruff debuts today, March 12, 2021 on Opera Mississippi’s website, msopera.org. This fun, 30-minute children’s opera allows audiences the opportunity to watch a classic fairytale story come alive, with an available version incorporating the use of American Sign Language for the hearing impaired, it also uses puppets to teach a powerful lesson. Featuring the music of Mozart, Donizetti, and Rossini, composer John Davies' operatic adaptation of the classic fairy tale, The Billy Goats Gruff, takes a familiar story and adds a strong anti-bullying message that promotes the power of kindness. “Elementary school teachers, school administrative leadership, and especially parents should consider this opportunity in letting their students and children see and hear this amusing story,” said Jay Dean, Artistic Director of Opera Mississippi. “This opera, which has been graciously sponsored by the William Herin Foundation, allows young children the opportunity to hear both classic tunes known around the world as well as learning a powerful lesson about bullying.” Harlan Mapp, SOMTC production manager, is hopeful that because this year’s opera is virtual, it can reach even more students than in years past. “These student outreach productions are very important, not only to help students hear this worldly music, but also to learn these important lessons that stay with us for the rest of our lives” said Mapp. Billy Goats Gruff is available for viewing now at operams.org. For more information on this concert and the rest of the Opera Mississippi season, visit operams.org or call 601.960.2300 ABOUT OPERA MISSISSIPPI Celebrating their 75th Anniversary, the Mississippi Opera Association, founded in 1945, is a founding member of the national Opera America organization, the ninth oldest continuously operating opera company in the United States, and Mississippi’s only professional opera company. Among the remarkable singers that have graced Opera Mississippi stage, are internationally known Beverly Sills, Monserrat Caballe, Robert Merrill, James McCracken, Roberta Peters, Jan Peerce, Richard Tucker, Normal Treigle, John Alexander, Renée Fleming and many others. Opera Mississippi’s mission is to provide the community and state with the most dynamic musical stage productions possible. In addition, activities include a variety of educational and community outreach programs including educational performances to students and a variety of other performances for citizens of all ages, including pop, jazz, country, and musical theatre cabarets. The annual John Alexander National Vocal Competition, the only nationally advertised music competition in the state, is designed to recognize and award outstanding vocalists in both opera and musical theatre. Opera Mississippi is proud to be an integral part of the remarkable artistic heritage that shapes the state, and each year thousands of Mississippians and visitors attend and benefit from our quality performances.

The race for Alderman-at-large involving three candidates will bring excitement to the Wesson municipal election on June 8 in which incumbent Mayor Alton Shaw and four Ward Aldermen will run unopposed. "Everyone needs to get out and vote," affirms Wesson Town Clerk Angela Hester. "Not only will there be closely contested Alderman-at-large race, but municipal elections are important because local officials make the decisions related to the things closest to our day-to-day lives." Incumbent Stephen Ashley will face former Alderman Van Graham and Mark Douglas in the contentious Alderman-at-large race. In addition to Shaw, Aldermen Larry Hall (Ward 1), Jarrad Ashley (Ward 2), Billy Ellison (Ward 3) and Michael King (Ward 4) are running in the unopposed races. Because Wesson municipal candidates run as independents, they vie only in a general election with no preliminary primary election. City Hall, rather than the American Legion Hall, will be the polling place for the election since it will be held for selecting municipal officials only. The poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wesson residents who will be at least 18 years old before June 8 can register to vote at City Hall or with Copiah County Circuit Clerk Edna Stevens through May 10 if they are not already registered or need to change their registrations. Wesson City Hall is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be open Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for voter registration. Applications for absentee ballots will be available at City Hall on April 8. At their February meeting, Wesson Aldermen named three commissioners to oversee the election: Alena Hughes, Chad Sills and Sabrina Brown.

As Mississippians spring forward this Sunday, State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney reminds everyone to test their smoke alarms. “There were 69 fire deaths in 2020,” Chaney said. “In 41 of those fires, there were no working smoke alarms in the home. If you cannot afford smoke alarms, call your local fire department. They may be able to install alarms for free.” The Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends the following safety tips: Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. o Large homes may need extra smoke alarms . o A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. o Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet from the stove. Create an escape plan and make sure all family members know where to meet outside of the home. Once outside, never go back into a burning building. Go to the Mississippi Insurance Department website for more smoke alarm and fire safety tips: http://www.mid.ms.gov/preparedness/fire.aspx

Mississippi high school students achieved a record-breaking graduation rate of 87.7% in 2019-20, surpassing the most recent national rate of 85%. School- and district-level graduation rates can be found in the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) report released today, District Graduation and Dropout Rates for the 2021 Accountability System. Highlighted achievements from 2019-20 include: The statewide drop-out rate fell to an historic low of 8.8%, a decrease from 13.9% in 2014. The graduation rate for students with disabilities reached an all-time high of 55.4%, more than double the rate of 23.2% in 2014. The 2019-20 graduation report supports the significant academic gains Mississippi students have been making since the state fully implemented higher academic standards in 2014. “Mississippi students are recognized nationally for the tremendous academic growth they have achieved in recent years,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “I am incredibly proud of our state’s teachers, school leaders and parents, who have committed themselves to ensuring students complete high school prepared for college, postsecondary training, the military and the workforce.” High school students now have the opportunity to earn an endorsement with their high school diploma. Starting in their freshman year, students choose whether they want to work toward a traditional diploma, or take additional classes to earn an academic, distinguished academic or career and technical education endorsement. Students can earn more than one endorsement. Each diploma option prepares students to be successful after graduation, whether that be in the workforce, a career and technical training program, the military or college. Students who earn an academic or distinguished academic diploma endorsement from a public high school automatically qualify for admission into any of the state’s public universities.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has released ACT results for the spring 2020 statewide administration of the ACT to all public high school juniors. The average score for juniors increased from 17.6 in 2019 to 17.7 in 2020. The percentage of juniors meeting the benchmark scores for all four tested ACT subjects increased from 9% the previous two years to 10%. Scores for Mississippi public school students who graduated in 2020 decreased from 18.1 to 17.9, and the percentage of students meeting all four benchmarks remained flat at 10%. The national average ACT score for all students in the class of 2020, which includes public and private school students, was 20.6, down from 20.7 in 2019. ACT scores nationwide have dropped in recent years as the population of students taking the test has broadened. The ACT is designed to predict how well students will perform in college, and colleges use standardized tests like the ACT to compare students across schools and states. ACT research shows students who take four or more years of English and three or more years each of math, social studies and natural science typically outperform their peers who report taking fewer courses in these subjects. “Taking certain courses in high school substantially increases students’ readiness for college-level work and workforce training programs,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Families are encouraged to work with high school counselors to ensure students are taking courses that will prepare them for their goals after graduation.” The MDE provides districts with training related to analyzing ACT data, evaluating course taking patterns and designing ACT preparation courses. All school districts are now required to offer two specialized classes, the Essentials for College Literacy and the Essentials for College Math, to seniors who are on the cusp of meeting the ACT benchmark scores. All students who earn a grade of 80% or higher in these courses are entitled to enter credit-bearing college courses, without remediation, at all Mississippi public universities and community colleges.

The Mississippi Development Authority is accepting applications through March 31, 2021. Advancements in the energy and agriculture sectors help make lives more comfortable, flavorful and efficient, but shepherding the advancements from the idea stage to the marketplace takes hard work and resources. The Mississippi Development Authority is seeking to help entrepreneurs in these sectors through the Mississippi Virtual-Quad grant program. Teams of high school and college students, university or community college faculty, for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations, public-sector employees, or any combination of these individuals, are invited to apply for five $5,000 stage-one venture development grants. Recipients of stage-one grants will also participate in a 10-week technology accelerator program and will be eligible to pitch their venture to compete for grants in stage two. Applications are available online. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021. “The Mississippi Virtual-Quad Grant Program is a great example of public and private entities coming together to support the state’s next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., Commissioner of Higher Education. “The resources provided through the program will help these innovators advance their ideas to the next level and we appreciate the leadership provided by the Mississippi Development Authority and the participation of our fellow members in the consortium.” Supported by the EPIC Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy, V-Quad’s goal is to build an innovative, virtual incubator network to support Mississippi’s entrepreneurs working on energy- and agriculture-related technologies. The program is public-private partnership that brings together Mississippi’s research universities, industry, government, and non-profits into a cohesive, tech-based entrepreneurial network. The program includes a consortium with the Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Development Authority, Innovate Mississippi, and the four research universities, including Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. “Energy and agriculture are vital sectors to Mississippi’s economy and future growth,” said John Rounsaville, executive director of MDA. “These grants will help foster that growth and support entrepreneurs with new or expanding businesses. This program also encourages partnerships with MDA, Innovate Mississippi and our research universities.” Resources available to teams participating in the program include access to business and technical mentoring, researchers and subject matter experts, laboratory space at the state’s research universities, and the ability to connect with local and national energy and agricultural entrepreneurial networks. Focused on “Inclusive Innovation,” the program is seeking applications from a diverse range of individuals. Minority and rural entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to apply. Teams working on innovations to improve any facet of the energy or agriculture supply chain are invited to apply. Advances in other sectors that impact energy or agriculture, including information and communication technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, unmanned aerial and terrestrial vehicles may be explored. Projects may also focus on using digitalization to improve the energy and agriculture infrastructure. These may include energy storage, transmission and distribution, distributed generation, solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass, bluetech, process safety, security, energy efficiency, marine energy, crop yields, crop and animal health, process monitoring, personnel training, farm devices, geospatial applications, and innovative financing for these technologies.

MDCPS Commissioner Andrea A. Sanders received unanimous Senate confirmation today to lead Mississippi’s child welfare agency in achieving its mission to protect the state’s most vulnerable children. Acting upon a February 24 advise and consent recommendation from the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, the full Mississippi Senate confirmed Sanders as the third commissioner for the 1,500-employee Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, established in 2016 by the Mississippi Legislature. “The MDCPS team performs critical work every day that directly and significantly impacts the lives of vulnerable Mississippi children and their families,” said Sanders. “We must get this work right; there is too much at stake for us not to achieve our mission. We are intentionally building a state of hope for the children and families of Mississippi. They deserve nothing less than the absolute best we can provide.” In October 2020, Gov. Tate Reeves appointed Sanders to her current post. “Commissioner Sanders is the right person at the right time for MDCPS,” said Gov. Tate Reeves. “Her organizational leadership experience combined with her personal and professional commitment to compassionate service delivery, accountability, professionalism and empathy are what the agency needs to ensure safe children and strong families across our state.” Sanders holds a law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law and a Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University. Before assuming her current MDCPS responsibilities on November 9, 2020, Sanders served as General Counsel and Principal Deputy Executive Director for the Mississippi Department of Human Services where she also served on the Senior Leadership Team and held administrative responsibility for the state's subsidized childcare program. She brings additional experience as an attorney in private practice, for the judiciary, as a clinical therapist with families, children and adolescents, and as a hospital administrator in both the public and private sectors.

Attorney General Lynn Fitch reached a settlement with Centurion Filing Services, LLC, which conducts business as MS Certificate Service. “It’s hard enough to start a business without someone misleading you, especially in a pandemic,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I stand by my commitment to protect Mississippi consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices that seek to scam them out of their hard-earned money.” The consent judgment resolves allegations that Centurion Filing Services, LLC violated the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act. The company sent solicitations to new business owners, containing elements meant to make the correspondence look like an official State form, charging a fee to obtain a Certificate of Existence from the Mississippi Secretary of State. The solicitation charged these new businesses over three times the actual cost of a certificate, which are not even necessary for the businesses targeted by Centurion. Nearly 6,000 businesses have been affected and have lost as much as $374,125, total. Under the terms of the agreement, Centurion must: • Stop using the solicitation that the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office deemed deceptive and use a format approved by the State, and • Refund any customers who believe they were misled by the solicitation letter. Any consumer who paid Centurion for a Certificate of Existence using this form and believes they were a victim of this scam may request a refund of $62.50 by contacting: Centurion at mscs@certificatefilingservice.com or The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office at centurion@ago.ms.gov. You must request your refund within 3 years of making the payment to Centurion. Any consumers who have questions may call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 601-973-4938.

Walmart pharmacies. including those at Brookhaven and Hazlehurst, will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines in Mississippi through the U.S. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Eligible customers can schedule a vaccine appointment via the Walmart website once appointments are available, making it convenient to get vaccinated while allocation lasts. Vaccines will be available to those who meet the current phase of vaccine eligibility in Mississippi, which can be found at the Mississippi State Department of Health website. More than 1,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies in 22 states are receiving federal vaccine allocations, with an emphasis on locations that reach customers in underserved communities with limited access to healthcare. While initial vaccine supply is limited, Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacists and technicians stand ready to help expand vaccine access across the country. In consultation with Center for Disease Control (CDC) and states, Walmart took into account the population density, customer demographics, infection rates and availability of local healthcare resources among other factors to identify many of the participating locations, including pharmacies located in a Medically Underserved Areas, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration. “Ninety percent of the country lives within ten miles of a Walmart," said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Executive Vice President, Health & Wellness. "We’re committed to helping people live better – and healthier lives – in Mississippi and we take that role very seriously. We want to help the country re-open, but we can only achieve that through widespread COVID-19 vaccination. We’re proud to work together with the federal government, states, communities, customers and associates to expand access to the vaccine and reach that goal.” Walmart is partnering with the CDC and states to move as quickly as possible to help administer vaccines to eligible populations in participating states. For a list of stores in each state administering the vaccine under the federal agreement, visit www.corporate.walmart.com/covid-vaccine. In addition to the 22 states where Walmart will support the vaccination efforts as part of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, the retailer is also currently administering vaccinations under the jurisdiction allocation in 11 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Vaccine supply and eligibility will vary based on state and local guidelines. In addition to appointments, the scheduler will provide a digital reminder when it is time to return for the second vaccine, which is why customers are asked to create a profile, helping to ensure customers receive the second dose of the vaccine in the timeframe required. Appointments will be available seven days a week, but exact timing will vary based on local availability of the vaccine. Walmart pharmacies will continue to support states and the federal government to help increase the accessibility and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. To stay up to date on how Walmart is supporting the vaccine rollout, visit https://corporate.walmart.com/covid-vaccine.