Copiah County Economic Development District (CCEDD) Executive Director Arthur Lee (Pokey) Evans, Jr., says the COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed business, but there's still a lot of business to be had locally and companies are looking to capitalize on opportunities in the area even as people seek to avoid contact with the virus. "I see it as a consumer, shopping locally," says Evans. "Local retail stores are teeming with customers who have curtailed travel, but still want and need to do business. If people are learning about where they can shop locally and continue to utilize local sources that create jobs and generate tax revenues to boost the economy of our villages, towns and cities, it's a very good thing coming out of the pandemic circumstances." Evans is seeing it on the job, too, which he sees as "making sure that the people of Copiah County have jobs and can put food on the table for their families," in the final analysis. He won't talk about it much, but Evans is currently involved in trying to convince a new employer to establish operations in Copiah County. "The Mississippi Development Authority introduced us along with several other economic developers to a company, which we are pursuing," Evans relates. "It's competitive, but businesses are looking for opportunities." Evans is a little more talkative about another company that has purchased the long-deserted facility near the Hazlehurst South Interstate 55 exit where Cherry Bark once produced hardwood flooring. Encore Group LLC, an offshore oilfield food catering service based in Houma, Louisiana, is planning to open Duct Fab, a subsidiary company, to fabricate commercial and residential air conditioning ductwork at the site. "We're renovating the facility and doing strategic planning around the expansion beyond our oilfield-focused operations," says Encore's Myron Lopez. "We're looking to open possibly in mid-March." A wood pellet manufacturer that planned to open operations in Copiah County a few years ago continues to await favorable market conditions, but remains positive about its opportunity, Evans reports. Overall, Evans says, Copiah County businesses have weathered the pandemic storm well, with no major layoffs or troubles. "It has pretty much been business as usual," he says. "Premier Transportation had some initial problems, but its trucks are moving again." Steel Outdoors in Wesson is also expanding its product line. During 2021, CCEDD will be using an updated, more user-friendly web site (www.copiahworks.com) as its major economic development marketing tool. "The web is the initial point-of-contact with potential new businesses in economic development," notes Evans. "Rarely do site visits occur until you are well in the process." In selling Copiah County to business, the CCEDD web site emphasizes: A workforce that is willing and ready to serve employers; A location near key markets with rail, interstate, air and nearby water access; Government officials who understand business needs, provide incentives, and facilitate location; Available land that is well-priced CCEDD offices are now located at the Robert Johnson Blues Museum on Marion Avenue at Crystal Springs. Contact Evans at 601-421-1249.

By Guest Columnist Gary R. Bachman During the COVID-19 pandemic, huge numbers of people have discovered the joys and benefits of gardening, but they will need to become intentional gardeners to assure continuing enjoyment in their gardens, planning what they will grow and buying the right seeds and plants at the right place. I’m in my 2021 garden planning mode right now, and along with many other intentional gardeners, I have my mind on seeds. The intentional gardener needs to begin the new year by purchasing seeds, but be aware that the source is important. When I want to buy seeds for my home landscape, I like to shop the local, independent garden centers. Their seed racks are always a highlight of my gardening year. If you do any kind of gardening, you know that impulse buying without knowing where the plant is going to be placed is part of the game. But being an intentional gardener means you must control these impulses. Now the thing about the display racks of seeds is that the selection is generally limited to reliable garden standbys. This is the place to buy those standard seeds. But these garden center displays can’t offer the numerous specialty varieties because of the sheer numbers available. That’s where the garden catalogs fit in. You can find exactly the variety you want, including the new selections you’ve read about. Be sure to order from reputable companies. My recommendation is to choose those that provide great products and even better customer service. I strongly recommend buying seeds directly from reputable businesses with a proven history of selling high-quality products, rather than major online retailers or auction sites. You don’t know where the seeds are coming from. Sure, I could and sometimes do go to the big box or home improvement stores, but there is a huge difference between plant material bought from these sources and independent garden centers. You can count on working with a knowledgeable staff. Many independents pride themselves for having experience with local and regional plant selections and growing information. Don’t hesitate to ask questions because they’ll have answers and suggestions for you to be successful. These professionals are happy to give you personal assistance with your plant purchases. Many independent garden centers are associated with design and build or landscape maintenance divisions. They can offer a high level of services available besides the basic plant material. The plant selections at independent garden centers are usually more extensive than those found at other outlets. And if they don’t have what you’re looking for, many will try to source it for you. Independent garden centers typically work with an assortment of wholesale growers. Having a grower network like this can really be a benefit to the home gardener. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated quarantines threatened the independent garden centers as businesses. In Mississippi, we were extremely fortunate that gardens centers were deemed essential and could remain open. Independent garden centers rely on the customer base of the home gardener, as sales of consumer horticulture products account for 100% of their revenue. These sales are less than 5% of revenue for the big box stores. I want to encourage all of us to be intentional and support our local independent garden centers this year. 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.

There is a vaccine and there will be fun things to in the area. Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's (BLCC) Katie Nations says a full calendar of events will bring tourists and area residents to Brookhaven and Lincoln County during the spring, summer, fall and winter, and boost the local economy in the process. "BLCC is taking all state and local mandates under strict consideration and is thoughtfully planning the events to ensure the safety of the community," Nations says. Downtown Jazzed Up, the Brookhaven's annual Mardi Gras celebration, has been recreated as an art walk with COVID-19 precautions in mind and will kick-start the year of fun on February 20. The fun calendar also features: Goin' to Town Car Show sponsored by Fielder's Pro Shop and presented by BLCC. March 6. Owners showcased some 276 vehicles last year, and the Show is expected to be bigger and better. Participants can pre-register for $10 or pay $15 on the day of the event. Contact T-Tommy at 601-833-8620 or BLCC at 601-833-1411. Spring Fair at Lincoln County Civic Center. April 1-4. Spring Movie Series. Downtown Brookhaven. TBA. The tenth annual Girls Night Out provides a shopping experience geared to area women in which participating vendors offer deals, door prizes and promotions. June 24. Lincoln County Wildlife and Outdoor Expo at Lincoln County Civic Center. August 20-21. Summer Concert Series. Downtown Brookhaven. TBA. Fall Fair at Lincoln County Civic Center. September 9-12. The forty-eighth Ole Brook Festival -- a big day-long party in with live music; arts, crafts and food vendors; an antique car show and designated kids zone with inflatables and games. October 1-2. Brookhaven Christmas Open House. November 6. Christmas Parade. December 2. The Brookstock music festival is also expected to return in July. Over three days with intimate sessions and a big grand finale concert, it brings together established and upcoming local artists and returning musicians who started their careers in the area to perform oldies and today's sound -- their own compositions and the music of others in country and rock genres. Look for 5K/10K runs throughout the year, farmers markets in the summer and fall, the Brookhaven Exchange Club Fair in the summer and the Overbrook Songwriters Festival in the fall as well. All events are subject to change due to COVID-10 restraints and/or inclement weather. Find updates and get the latest news at visitbrookhavenms.com or call 601-833-1411 for information.

The Copiah County Board of Supervisors is receiving $135,800 for airport improvements from $3 million in funding for multimodal transportation projects awarded by the Mississippi Transportation Commission (MTC) throughout the Central District. The commission approved the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to award grants to regional and municipal airports, ports, railroads and public transit systems throughout the Central Mississippi District. In all, MTC disbursed 18 grants. The largest grants went to the City of Jackson ($480,000) Ports of Rosedale ($450,000) and Greenville ($400,000), the City of Greenville ($368,663), Hinds Community College ($342,285), Meridian Airport Authority ($250,000) and Jackson Municipal Airport Authority ($158,466). “In keeping with the heart of MDOT’s mission, I am committed to continuing the support of our strategic multimodal investments in the diverse resources that are essential for the safe, effective and efficient intermodal transportation network in our rural and urban communities,” said Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District. Funding for these multimodal grants comes from the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Fund. Money from this fund is allocated specifically to support multimodal grants each year. Grant applications, which include project details and funds requested, are reviewed and approved by a multimodal committee specific to each separate mode of transportation. For more information on MDOT's multimodal resources and other grants, visit GoMDOT.com.

by Bob Arnold Conventional wisdom says the COVID-19 pandemic has tanked the economy, but don't tell that to Stephanie Sullivan, Workforce Education director at Co-Lin, or the economic developers with whom she works. Sullivan, who is focused on producing Co-Lin's 2021 Pathways Job, points to the enormous need for employees that organizations in the college's district encompassing Adams, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln and Simpson have indicated. "There seem to be more jobs than workers," she says. "Economic activity in the area is very robust," observes Sullivan. "Smaller businesses, such as restaurants, which made the 'pandemic pivot' are capitalizing on opportunities to do things differently, attracting customers who want to shop and buy safely. Employers from outside the area are looking for opportunities to build in our green space. Some in bigger places are seeking alternatives in smaller hubs, while others in quieter area are looking for busier spots." In the immediate area, Copiah and Lincoln Counties are welcoming new employers and gearing up marketing efforts to sell their assets to more organizations looking for a quality workforce, good location and an overall business-friendly environment (see stories elsewhere in this issue), and Sullivan is also seeing similar activity throughout the Co-Lin district. Building partnerships and relationships with businesses and other employers is the ground of Co-Lin economic development activity and their growing engagement with the Workforce Education division of the college reflects current economic activity, Sullivan says. As many as sixty organizations could be coming to the Job Fair, and they are seriously hunting for workers even in the midst of COVID-19, she reports. So Co-Lin is designing this year's event for an economy in which employers are ready to hire workers and job-seekers want to do more than casually meet people and learn about organizations, she adds "We're asking both participating employers and job-seekers to utilize Handshake, an online matchmaking service that connects hiring organizations and potential hirees," Sullivan says. "Both employers and job-seekers complete profiles and then utilize the service to engage. Prospective employees can discover jobs and internships, receive direct messages from employers about jobs and events, connect with employees at organizations and get an inside look at employers and jobs. It is our hope that before the Job Fair, connections can be made and appointments set for serious conversations." The event is an important part of Co-Lin's economic development mission geared to preparing a skilled labor force in its district, including traditional classroom work leading to Career Tech degrees for regular students, short-term certificate programs for workers, ongoing activities to connect with employers and meet their workforce needs, partnering with economic developers and local government officials who recruit industrial and commercial employers. In the past year, Co-Lin started training the skilled workers for the new Keystone Electrical Manufacturing plant that just opened in Brookhaven. Following a year in which federal dollars geared to pandemic relief and recovery supported free training in a wide variety of areas, including preparation for emergency medical technicians, nurses, medical and legal assistants and welders, Co-Lin will introduce a lineman training course for Southwest, Entergy and Magnolia electrical systems. The 16 week course covers poll climbing and rescue and basic electricity, and awards nine certifications. This year, Co-Lin will also roll out a class for entrepreneurs throughout the district following its debut last year at Brookhaven Country Club. Designed for persons with a business concept that is in its formative stages or has matured, the class covers business and financial planning and other preliminary steps before going to a bank for a loan. Co-Lin partners with the federal Small Business Administration's Small Business Development Center in producing the 12-hour course delivered in four sessions. Four to six courses will be scheduled over the next 12 months. Also on the training menu for the coming year are courses on flying drones and commercial driving. Co-Lin's support of the ACT Work Ready program continues In all seven Co-Lin district counties, emerging, existing and transitional workforces have been certified as Work Ready as a result of performance by employees and job seekers on the WorkKeys Assessment administered by the college. "We're now focused on maintaining the Work Ready status of the counties and helping economic developers and employers use data generated by the testing," Sullivan says.

Because area roads and bridges could be slippery on Tuesday morning, paramedics at American Medical Response (AMR) urge motorists to follow this advice when driving on ice or slush: · If you don’t have to drive, please stay home. Ask yourself, “Am I skilled at driving on icy roads?” If you’re not, stay home. · If you must drive, slow down well below speed limits. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination. · Allow more space between you and other vehicles. · Seeing well and being seen are crucial to avoiding crashes. Before starting your trip, remove all ice and snow from your car’s windshields, windows, mirrors, headlights and tail-lights. Defog your windshields thoroughly. Turn on your low-beam lights. · Be sure your tires, brakes, battery, windshield wipers and other safety gear are good for icy driving on ice or snow. Don’t let your fuel run low. · Drive on interstates and divided four-lane roads when possible. Two-way traffic leads to more head-on collisions. · When driving on ice and snow, brake only if you must. Do not “pump” anti-lock brakes. Just step on the pedal once, slowly, gradually, and steadily. With conventional brakes, gently pump the brake pedal with your heel on the floorboard and your toe on the pedal. · Slow down before you cross bridges and patches of ice and before you go down hills. Some ice is invisible. It’s called “black ice” because it looks as though the pavement ahead is normal. Black ice often results from precipitation refreezing after a thaw. · If you skid, take your foot off the gas pedal and shift quickly into neutral. Turn your steering wheel in the direction the rear wheels are skidding. For example, if the tail of your vehicle starts to skid to your right, turn your steering wheel to the right until the vehicle straightens out. Shift back into drive and gently accelerate. · If you crash, pull all the way off the road. Turn your flashers on. Get out on the passenger side, because there is greater risk of other drivers skidding into the driver side. Stand on the passenger side. · No matter how short the trip, buckle up everyone in your vehicle. · Dress warmly, in case of a breakdown or a crash. · In your trunk, carry a couple of burlap bags or short wooden planks and a shovel to help with traction if you get stuck. · Put in some pop-top canned food, energy bars or other food that’s easy to open plus extra clothing and a blanket. Be sure your cell phone keeps a good charge.

Paramedics at American Medical Response (AMR) have issued advice to prevent falls and getting hit by vehicles when walking in slippery conditions: · Wear shoes or boots that fit well and have good non-slip tread. · Watch the path ahead. · Bend your knees a little and slow down. · Wear gloves or mittens so you don’t have to put your hands in your pockets. If your hands are out of your pockets, you can use your arms to balance yourself and, if needed, to soften a fall. · Hold onto railings and stable objects, particularly when going up or down stairs. · If at all possible, don’t step out on stairs or steps before clearing them of ice. · Don’t carry more than you can handle easily. Heavy loads can impair your balance. · If you must walk in the road, walk facing the traffic and walk close to the curb. · Wear bright clothing so drivers can easily see you. · Ice can prevent cars from stopping at stop signs and traffic lights. Before stepping into the street, make sure all approaching vehicles have in fact stopped. · Ear muffs, hats and scarves can make it hard to hear nearby vehicles. Stay warm AND alert.

With an arctic front expected to bring snow and ice to parts of Mississippi, AMR paramedics remind us: Plunging temperatures and wind chill are a direct threat to life and limb, especially for elders, small children, the chronically-ill, substance-abusers and individuals who stay out in the cold for long periods. AMR medics have advice for avoiding, recognizing and treating two deadly cold-induced conditions, hypothermia and frostbite. Both conditions can and do happen in the southern United States. The risk is high for someone who is outdoors, gets wet, stays wet and has extensive exposure to severe wind chill. Hypothermia can also occur indoors such as in homes without heat. To avoid hypothermia and frostbite, AMR medics say: · Wear at least three layers of clothing, even indoors. Layering the clothes conserves more body heat than one thick garment. The layer closest to the body should be thin, made of polyester or similar material. The first thin layer should pull moisture from your skin. The next layers should be bulkier, providing more insulation. Wool is a sound choice unless you are at risk of getting the wool soaked. Newer materials such as polyester pile are also recommended. For the outdoors, the top layer should resist rain, sleet or snow and have zippers for venting body heat when you get warm. · Wear a stocking cap or a hood that covers all of the face except the eyes, nostrils and mouth. The Wilderness Medicine Society has reported that a shivering person loses a high percentage of body heat through the scalp. · Wear mittens, not gloves; mittens keep hands warmer than gloves. · Immediately remove clothing that gets wet and layer on another dry outfit. · Keep at least one room in the home at a comfortable temperature. Close the doors to rooms that are not in use and cover heating vents in those rooms. Jam towels or blankets under the bottom of doors to conserve heat. Closing curtains cuts heat loss through windows. · In cold weather, friends of elders should check on them frequently, as age weakens the body’s ability to sense and adapt to temperature changes. Hypothermia is dangerously low cooling of the body’s internal temperature. Hypothermia victims go through stages of shivering, numbness, confusion, drowsiness and, eventually, they become unconscious. Unless emergency aid is provided, death soon follows. First aid for hypothermia includes removing the person from the cold setting, if possible. If the patient is outdoors, shield him or her from wind. Give CPR if needed. Remove wet clothes and wrap the patient in warm materials. If – and only if – the victim is alert, give warm non-alcoholic drinks. Never give anything by mouth to someone who is less than fully alert. Treat the patient gently. Frostbite is the actual freezing of a body part, most often the fingers, toes, ears or nose. The part often feels hard and waxy and may be discolored. First aid for frostbite includes removing the person from the cold setting. Handle the affected part gently to protect it from further injury. Do not rub the frostbitten part. Do not allow the victim to try to use the part, such as walking on frostbitten toes. Wrap the part in a dry, sterile dressing. Never put ice on frostbite. Re-warm the frostbitten body part only if hospital care is remote or unavailable. After re-warming, never let the part re-freeze. When hypothermia or frostbite may have struck, call 911 immediately for trained, equipped help from your local ambulance service.

Freezing temperatures and lingering moisture are causing icy conditions on roads and bridges as Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) crews continue to respond to winter weather in Mississippi. The majority of the impacts are north of Interstate 20 along Instate 55. In north Mississippi, a line of freezing rain caused black ice to form early Friday morning in some areas. MDOT crews continue to monitor conditions and are treating bridges with salt and slag to lower the freezing point of water and increase traction. Currently, ice is being reported on bridges in the following counties: Bolivar Coahoma DeSoto Holmes Lafayette Leflore Marshall Panola Quitman Tallahatchie Tunica Warren Yalobusha Yazoo All highways remain open and passable, but motorists should avoid travel if possible in affected areas. For motorists who must drive in winter weather conditions, MDOT offers these safe driving tips. Remember, ice will form on bridges and overpasses quicker than the road. Slow down; should winter weather conditions become present, black ice can form. Allow more space between the vehicles around you. Brake early and gently to avoid skidding, and never slam on the brakes. Avoid distractions, such as talking or texting on a cell phone. Stay alert. Looking ahead, winter weather conditions are expected to continue Sunday and Monday. Crews will be pretreating highways throughout north and central Mississippi in the Friday and Saturday. For real-time road conditions on Mississippi’s highways and bridges, visit MDOTtraffic.com and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

Bitterly cold temperatures are settling in for the next several days. Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging its employees across the system. Atmos Energy offers these safety tips: Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home. Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object. Safely remove snow from vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas. Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside. If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667: https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/recognizing-leak Atmos Energy encourages customers needing solutions to keep up with their monthly natural gas expenses to contact Atmos Energy’s customer service team at 888.286.6700 or visit the account center at https://www.atmosenergy.com/accountcenter/logon/login.html For more ways to save energy and money, please visit www.atmosenergy.com/energytips. For additional information about carbon monoxide safety, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/carbon-monoxide-safety.

In Mississippi, February 15 through 19 is designated as Severe Weather Preparedness Week, but it looks like Mississippi will need to prepare beforehand. Over the next several days, winter weather is expected to bring everything from ice and snow to the northern part of the state to freezing rain to the southern part. All of Entergy Mississippi’s 45-county service area is expected to experience dangerously cold temperatures. Extreme winter weather can cause power outages and downed power lines, but the company is prepared. Entergy Mississippi employees plan and train year-round, ready to respond and restore power when severe weather strikes. Our perpetual cycle of planning, preparation and training ensures we are Operation Storm Ready for every weather situation. “We continually watch the weather and put our plan in action as soon as a severe weather threat emerges,” said Lea Turnipseed, Entergy Mississippi vice president of customer service. “These storms can be deadly. We encourage customers to form a storm-preparedness plan before severe weather appears. Waiting until a storm arrives may be too late.” Prepare for extreme winter weather and the soon-to-come spring storms in advance by assembling an emergency kit of basic supplies. Make sure your family knows what to do and where to go if disaster strikes. Entergy can help you prepare with these tips on how to make a plan and a kit. Keep an emergency kit at home, but also keep one in your vehicle so you are prepared for the weather outside, as well, should you become stranded during an emergency. After stocking up, ensure that you have several ways of getting severe weather warnings: Install a smart phone app that will alert you to severe weather in the area or sign up for emergency alerts on your smart phone. Have a weather radio with a loud alarm that will wake you when severe weather threatens at night. Know how to communicate with Entergy Mississippi if you need help after a storm hits. There are several ways to report outages or downed power lines: Download the free app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app. Sign up for text alerts by texting REG to 36778 and have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code). Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage. You can also report an outage online as a guest. Visit the Entergy Storm Center website and our View Outages page. Call us at 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243). “While we work hard to prevent disruptions, unpredictable and powerful storms can still cause power outages,” said Turnipseed. “Being prepared and having everything you need in one location, including a way to notify us, can help you weather the storm with greater peace of mind while we work to safely restore your service.” Cold weather can also affect bills. Heating systems have to work harder to keep your home or business warm, thus using more electricity. Also, leaky doors or windows can let cold air in. Follow these tips to minimize the impact of cold weather on your energy bill: Set the temperature at 68 degrees for optimum energy efficiency and comfort. Every degree higher than this can raise your bill as much as 3 percent, so a winter setting of 78 degrees could increase your bill by 30 percent. Do not waste money heating rooms you don’t use often. Close the vents to direct the air to the rooms you use the most. Put weather stripping around doors or windows, or place a rolled-up towel at the bottom of exterior doors to block cold air that can seep in. For more simple, low-cost tips to help you save energy and money on your power bill, visit entergymississippi/savememoney.

Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) crews are preparing for potential winter weather conditions as a cold front moves through Mississippi. “With a winter event, MDOT bases its response from information issued by the National Weather Service (NWS),” Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT executive director. “Crews in areas that could potentially be affected by winter weather will be monitoring local forecasts and riding the highways treating problem areas.” Current weather reports from NWS show potential for consistent rain fall Wednesday and Thursday across portions of north Mississippi. Overnight, temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. Overpasses and elevated surfaces could freeze. MDOT crews have prepared equipment by installing salt spreaders on trucks and making sure all response vehicles are fueled and running properly. Crews have stocked salt, sand and asphalt slag piles. Overnight, crews will be riding the highways to treat problem areas as they are found. “Initially, we treat the roadway with salt as temperatures drop and icy conditions occur,” McGrath said. “Depending on the temperature drop and precipitation mix, we also combine the salt with slag for increased traction.” A second round of winter weather is currently forecast for Sunday and Monday. Crews will be working over the holiday weekend in preparation. To assist the traveling public in preparing for potential winter weather conditions, MDOT offers these safe driving tips. Remember, ice will form on bridges and overpasses quicker than the road. Slow down; should winter weather conditions become present, black ice can form. Allow more space between the vehicles around you. Brake early and gently to avoid skidding, and never slam on the brakes. Avoid distractions, such as talking or texting on a cell phone. Stay alert. “MDOT will be monitoring the weather so the appropriate response efforts can be activated,” McGrath said. “The best thing you can do to stay safe is pay attention to local weather forecasts and advisories, and alerts from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and local law enforcement. Everyone should stay off the roads if they become unsafe for travel due to winter weather conditions.” For more information and tips on how to prepare for winter weather conditions, visit GoMDOT.com/winter. For real-time road conditions on Mississippi’s highways and bridges, visit MDOTtraffic.com and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.