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Invest in a more connected home as it repays handsomely in the long run. Smart homes use technological advancements to make home management easier. It sounds like science fiction but smart-home technology is a reality nowadays. There are several home technologies you can invest in to make your home better and more efficient. For instance, you can use a thermostat to turn on the lights, open garage doors, or set the ideal indoor temperature. With all the advances in home technologies to choose from, below are the vital ones worth investing in. Smart Thermostats When it comes to the home technologies you wanna invest in, like the thermostat, you also need to know how they work, sometimes that’s essential for making your decision. The HVAC system is the single biggest energy consumer and waster in a home. This happens mostly when you fail to turn off your HVAC system while heading to work or going someplace for an extended time. A smart thermostat saves you energy besides the cooling and heating costs. Smart thermostats are compatible with various HVAC systems and you can tie it to your home WiFi to enable you to control everything from your smartphone or computer. You can change the smart thermostat settings, home temperature and track the home energy usage from your mobile device. Invest in a smart thermostat to make your life easier and save approximately 23% of your annual energy cost. Water Softener Invest in salt-based water softeners which turn hard water into soft-water effectively. This is important as it reduces scale buildup and extends the lifespan of your plumbing system and home appliances. Plus, the smart technology lowers the repair and maintenance costs of your appliances and plumbing systems. In addition, you benefit from healthier-looking skin and hair. Also, you experience less staining on your glassware, sinks, fixtures, and toilets among others. The water softener gives you soft water that lathers easily with detergents and soaps. Smart Sprinklers Not everyone has installed an underground sprinkler system. Invest in a smart sprinkler system as it adapts well to weather changes and your watering schedules automatically and accordingly. The technology saves you money on water bills as it won’t sprinkle water on your lawn, garden, or landscape when it rains. The sprinklers are easy to control using a voice command and an app. You can set your sprinkling schedule based on the yard condition to save water and keep the landscape and lawn looking green and healthy. Smart Entry Systems This home technology helps you protect your home. For instance, doorbells and smart locks come in handy as they increase your home security. Only you can unlock or lock the door remotely instead of giving your keys to the cleaning person or dog walker. Simply let them in using the smart lock and close up when they leave. You can use this home technology to control your garage doors. The smart garage hub alerts you when the garage is open or in use and you can close or open it remotely. The smart doorbell live streams who are at the door and have two-way communication you can use to speak to the person at the doorway whether a visitor or package delivery. The smart technology prevents theft and boosts your home security. You can program them to unlock or lock your door with your smartphone even over distances. It can also open your door when you are in close proximity using your smartphone. Smart Power It’s hard to tell how much power you use on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. However, with the smart power, you can peek at your power consumption and know your daily, weekly, or monthly usage. Smart power helps you track the appliances using more power both during sleep cycles and when in use. You can connect it to your WiFi to allow you to monitor and know your energy expenses at home or your business. Some smart power models allow you to shut off appliances remotely. If you are away and forgot to turn off particular appliances when you left home, you can simply use the smart power app on your smartphone to cut off power to that appliance. This ensures your home is safe and doesn’t accidentally burn it down because of forgetfulness. The smart power also controls the home like a musical instrument. It’s time you improve your energy usage by enhancing your security and some extra convenience. Conclusion Home technologies are innovations and inventions that make the home experience better. The technologies like water softeners ensure your frequent silting, plumbing system problems and maintenance or repair issues with home appliances are in the past. It’s good to invest in home technologies for extra convenience and improved home security.

MASS webinar focuses on restart of sports activities in Mississippi schools JACKSON ― As school districts prepare to restart sports activities, the safety and well-being of students, athletes, fans and communities remains the top priority in all decisions involving athletics in Mississippi. That message was clearly articulated by Mississippi High School Athletic Association Executive Director Don Hinton during the latest webinar hosted by the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents. Addressing a total of 367 participants — a webinar record for MASS, Hinton shared highlights about return-to-play measures for summer athletics and activities recently approved by the MHSAA Executive Committee. The policy states that school athletics and related programs can begin summer practices, workouts and related activities on June 1, pending Gov. Tate Reeves’ upcoming announcement about the reopening of all Mississippi school facilities. The webinar is part of MASS’ ongoing commitment to assist members as school districts begin the reopening process in the wake of closures tied to coronavirus concerns. “Providing accurate information to school leaders is a critical priority, especially as they continue dealing with challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Dr. Phillip Burchfield, executive director of MASS. “Our weekly webinar series, ‘The Pandemic Puzzle: Solving It One Piece at a Time,’ has been an effective strategy to help schools prioritize health precautions while managing a safe transition to traditional schedules and activities.” Additional guidelines discussed by Hinton include: Athletic coaches and activity directors must confirm with their school and/or district administrators that a specific school facility is open and available for use. Athletic and associated competitions among MHSAA member or non-member teams are cancelled until school resumes in the fall. Hundreds Join MASS Webinar for ‘Return to Play’ School Sports Update Page Two All practices, workouts, skill development, weightlifting, conditioning and rehearsals are considered voluntary for student athletes and activities participants. Participation in and travel to summer programs and team camps are not allowed. On-campus summer programs and camps should adhere to national, state and local COVID-19 health recommendations. The COVID-19 Return to Activity Guidelines document is available at https://www.misshsaa.com/. The Mississippi Association of School Superintendents and the Alliance of Educational Leaders of Mississippi is a non-profit association whose membership is made up of 139 public school superintendents and more than 2,000 public school administrators.  Its mission is to provide resources, advocacy, leadership, policy information, training, support, renewal, and public relations services that improve the quality of public education. Learn more at www.superintendents.ms.

Jackson – Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is reporting a cluster of COVID-19 infections related to a recent funeral in Northeast Mississippi. The funeral and after-service gathering were held on May 17, 2020, in the city of Baldwyn (located in Lee and Prentiss counties) and were attended by approximately 100 people. To date, at least 7 COVID-19 cases in Mississippi and at least two cases in out-of-state residents have been identified in individuals who attended the event. Several other potential cases are under investigation. Individuals who attended the graveside service on May 17 at 1 p.m. and the after-service gathering from 2-6:30 p.m. are advised to monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath.) If symptoms develop, they should immediately isolate themselves and contact their healthcare provider. Gatherings of individuals, including funerals, weddings or other events, pose a risk of spreading the virus if appropriate precautions are not in place. Cloth masks and social distancing of 6 feet or greater are recommended in public settings, especially in group settings, and gatherings should be limited to groups of 20 outdoors and groups of 10 indoors. For more information on the latest COVID-19 guidance and case updates visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/covid-19. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi rates will drop from June through September, some of the hottest months of the year when energy use is often high. The typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month will pay $9.71 less, or less than $98. That is approximately 25 percent below the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “With the economic hit Mississippians have taken from the COVID-19 fall-out, this is welcome news for our customers,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. “We know residential energy use is up due to many people being home when they ordinarily wouldn’t be, so this reduction should help offset that.” Electric rates rise and fall year-to-year based on many factors. In this case, it is due to an over-recovery of fuel costs. Like all utilities, Entergy estimates its fuel costs each year. If the company collects more than it spends for fuel costs, it refunds the money back to customers through lower rates. If the company under-collects fuel costs, rates go up to cover the difference. Entergy passes fuel costs on to the customer with no profit to the company. “Low rates help our state attract large employers to Mississippi,” Fisackerly added. “We’ll need that as we work to rebuild our state’s economy.” Other reasons for Entergy Mississippi’s current low rates include: low natural gas prices; the company’s purchase of more efficient, low-cost natural gas power plants; upgrading Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in recent years to get 13 percent more low-cost nuclear power from the same plant; joining MISO, which gives the company access to power from many sources around the country and creates a more competitive market, and streamlining the company to make our operations more cost efficient. Bills are a combination of rates and usage. To further lower bills, customers can use less electricity by being more energy-efficient. For tips on how to lower usage, visit Entergy’s Save Me Money Web page. For help with bill payment or other needs related to COVID-19, visit Entergy’s customer resource page . To help small businesses, Entergy Mississippi has created a hub of resources to connect owners to information, tools and opportunities that could help them during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are at entergy.com/covid-19/mssmbiz/. Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 450,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees.

Eligible Students Asked to Submit an Essay on ‘Why I Want to Become a Teacher’ Voyager Sopris Learning, a division of Cambium Learning Group, Inc., today announced the launch of the 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship contest for graduating high school seniors in Mississippi and Alabama who will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education. To be eligible, students this fall must plan to attend a college or university in the same state where they graduated from high school. The graduating seniors are asked to submit a 500-word essay on why they want to become a teacher. Two winners will be selected, one from each state, and they will each earn a $1,000 scholarship. The contest is open now and closes July 21 with the winners to be announced Aug. 3. As part of the essay submission, students are asked to include information about a teacher who helped them advance to where they are today, as well as a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor. Originality and creativity are among the review criteria the judging panel will use to base their decisions. The 2020 Aspiring Teacher Scholarship is sponsored by LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), Voyager Sopris Learning’s landmark professional learning series on the science of reading. Both Mississippi and Alabama use LETRS as a key part of their statewide literacy initiatives. For more information and the application, eligible students should visit: Mississippi: https://www.voyagersopris.com/info/ms-scholarship/ Alabama: https://www.voyagersopris.com/info/al-scholarship/ For more information about Voyager Sopris Learning, visit www.voyagersopris.com.

France is well-renowned across the world for its excellent food, wine and cheese. When I’m pushed for just seven dishes to recommend, I decided to let public opinion decide for me. I decided to go for some of the most well-known and long-renowned. I’ve selected a soup, some main meals and of course something from the dessert menu to whet your appetite! CREPES I mentioned popularity earlier on. If you go to France, you will be hard-pressed to find any town that does not have its own creperie! You’ll be able to obtain crepes from sweet vendors and restaurants alike. Would you like to make these at home? Crepes are a fairly common French dish, very easy to make at home, which would also be a very French way to make them. So what are they? Crepes are very thin pancakes you can have with a variety of toppings. They can be sweet or savoury. They were once just eaten with sugar and in fact you can still have them with sugar and lemon. Does rose petal whipped cream appeal to you, or maybe chestnut cream? Children will love chocolate spread or jam on the top. The adults will enjoy the traditional accompanying drink of Cider. Alternatively try it with lightly grated orange peel and liquor. Some people enjoyed crepes with sweet cream cheese, beer chocolate and cinnamon or orange ricotta. Alternatively try cinnamon with marscapone . Some crepes have a fuller content, like spinach with chicken and basil, or steak with mushrooms and spinach. SOUPE A L’OIGNON This is onion soup as you no doubt guessed, and it carries a beautiful fragrance while it’s cooking. Like many of France’s most famous meals, it began as a poor man’s dish. It dates back to Roman times and it achieved great popularity in the eighteenth century. Your key ingredients are beef stock, crunchy croutons and melted cheese to pour over the top. During the onion carmelising process you can also add sherry or brandy. Children are not always keen on alcoholic ingredients in their meals, but adults will love them!. BOEUF BOURGUIGNON Most people have heard of this one. It is literally ‘Bourguignon Beef’. It’s a typical dish to find in Burgundy and can be consumed with lots of French red wine. It’s basically a stew that is slow-cooked. You use braised beef cuts together with seasoned root vegetables, mushrooms and red wine. It’s nice with mashed potatoes, toasted farro risotto or even polenta. COQ AU VIN Yes- you’ve probably heard of this one too! Its title literally means ‘rooster in wine’. It was originally devised for cooking the tough meat of an old bird, but the dish has improved since then! Historically it is said to date back to a Gallic victory over Julius Caesar. The dish contains off the bone chicken or capon, but you can have pork or bacon (lardons) if you prefer. Add the usual French ingredients of mushrooms, onions and garlic and then a touch of brandy for that extra taste. It takes a long time to cook, so it’s not something you’d want to make when you get home from work with a hungry stomach. There is an ‘instant’ pot version, however, which actually takes 55 minutes to cook. CASOULET This is another slow-cooked dish. It’s made with pork or duck confit which is stewed with white beans. For alternative meat, why not try sausage, goose, partridge or mutton. It’s great when you can use the same recipe but change the overall flavour by varying the meat. In France they sell it in jars and cans. RATATOUILLE Once again it began as a poor man’s dish, and it is actually still quite cheap to make. It’s a course stew. You basically shallow fry vegetables (including eggplant), and then put them in a casserole dish and bake them. It’s a vegetarian/vegan dish that can contain tomatoes, courgettes, leafy green herbs and bell pepper. Enjoy it with red wine (no surprises there!) and crusty bread. TARTE TATIN The dessert is basically a caramelized apple pie. You cook the apples in sugar and butter together with pastry. Legend has it that it was discovered by the Tatin sisters. There is said to have been an accident when taking the item out of the oven. To further explain — it’s an ‘upside-down cake’ that you reverse after cooking! I hope you’re hungry now! The French create great food whether it’s a starting soup, main course, dessert or local wine. Many ingredients are common in French dishes, as they like to use locally available items. There’s so much variety here, from using different meats to changing the topping on your crepe. You’re on a great journey and these signature dishes are a great place to start.

If you find yourself as being compassionate and caring, you might have a personality that is perfect for a career in the field of medicine or healthcare. Nursing is one of the most demanding career fields but is one of the most fulfilling and admirable jobs out there. There are many paths you can take to reach your goals of becoming a nurse, so it is important to take the necessary steps and be prepared on your way to working as a nurse. Step 1- Understanding your passion Before you even get started on any other steps on your way to becoming a nurse, you need to first know if this is the right career for you. Nurses, at their very core, are caregivers and must have a passion to help people. The job won’t always be glamorous, will oftentimes be messy, and frequently feel as though you are underappreciated. It may all be too much and cause you to second guess your career choices. This is where the passion for your work will push you to continue to do good things for those in your community. If you have that care and passion for people, then you are looking at the right path. Step 2- Research career paths Once you know that this is going to be a career for you, you will then have to begin to do your research. You need to look at all the career and job options while evaluating what works best for you. Not all paths will lead in the same direction and that is okay. If you want to become an RN, or Registered Nurse, or LPN, a Licensed Practical Nurse, you will have to commit to several years of studying and practicing. Understandably, this is not the path for everyone. For those that do not have the time or money to dedicate to a more traditional path, but still want to help and provide health care, you can pursue a career as a Home Health Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant. The online resources at HeyScrubs.com provide all the information to prepare for the career you are interested in that include a lot of helpful details regarding the best classes, programs, and schools. Not everyone has the same life path, it is never too late to work in health care and there are many programs, classes, and jobs that you can find fits your life. Step 3- Find the school or classes that are right for you Once you have decided on which path to take to pursue your passion of becoming a nurse, you need to look into different schools and classes. This will factor in many things that consider your lifestyle, what you can handle in terms of school workloads, and your end goal for your job and career. Certain schools and programs may even provide work placements and better opportunities to advance further and faster in your career field so include that in your research when considering your desired program. Additionally, it is also wise to look into bursaries, and financial help and aid as some programs will provide such support. Step 4- Knowing the requirements Before committing to any program, or class, understand what requirements are needed. Similar to job applications, certain courses require students to have the right qualifications. Make sure that you have these qualifications, and if not, you should take the time to fulfill these needs. If you are deciding on a career in nursing, this is a major commitment and such a commitment should be met with the right preparations. Step 5- Completing your courses Once you’ve gotten into the course, program, or school of your choice, it is up to you to complete that program. These courses will range in terms of how long you will be studying depending on which path you chose. But no matter, you will have a lot of work and studying ahead of you, so it is important to be persistent and focused. Your passion and care for people will only take you so far, your ability to learn and perform will determine your success and ability to move forward. All the information and practices will be vital to your future and for your career. If you have ever considered working as a nurse, you probably have the traits of working with people and caring for others. There are many other things to consider, but you are not alone. There are many resources out there to help you on your way. Keep in mind some things to know before you pursue your passion but being better equipped and prepared will help you reach your goals easier.

Modern life is so busy, isn’t it? It’s so easy to be rushing towards our destination that we forget to savour the journey. The more this is true for us, the more likely we are to let important things slip, like our health. None of us are getting any younger, so we simply cannot afford to ignore it. I will now shine a light on a few things, to provide some helpful suggestions. A Healthy Diet Plan your meals at least a week in advance. If you don’t plan, you’ll be left to raiding the fridge for whatever is there, be it good or bad for you. Avoid processed meals because whilst they are easy to cook, they are high in fat, carbs and sugar. Routine is so important in your daily life. Keep family mealtimes at the table. Don’t disappear elsewhere and eat whatever you want whenever you want. If you’re staring at TV or your phone, you won’t monitor your snacking properly. Fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you. Choose high fibrous fruits like pears, and eat green vegetables. They are vitamin-filled and boost your immune system. For a healthy amount of protein in your diet, have eggs, nuts and chicken. It’s great to have additional vitamins, particularly if you are e.g. vegetarian or coeliac. I came across this helpful website which contains articles including what to take during the cold season. Vitamin D helps you have healthy bones, magnesium helps with sleep and iron increases energy and assists red blood cell production. Water is essential to keep you hydrated. Avoid drinks with additives and sweeteners. If you opt for tea or coffee with milk, this will have implications for your weight, not to mention the effect caffeine has on your body. Did you know? Hot cocoa can boost your mood virtually immediately! Our diets are so important for optimising our health. Chew gum. You might think it’s a bad image, but it might stop you from snacking in between meals. If you DO need a snack, have a healthy alternative like a smoothie. If you’re on a diet, why not join a Facebook group so you no longer need to feel that you’re going it alone. Avenues like this don’t even have to cost you anything. As regards alcohol, the best thing you can do is abstain. If you really must drink it, have a couple of drinks a day but at least two weekdays where you don’t have it. Regular Exercise Many people have an inaccurate body image, but it is important to be the right size and shape for us. This makes it all the more important to get and stay healthy. Do you have two and a half hours’ exercise during the week? Do you make sure it’s enough to raise your heart rate? It’s important we keep our bodies moving. They are like batteries - with a ‘use it or lose’ mode. If you are stuck indoors and can’t get to the gym, do you have stairs you can go up and down? Do you take short journeys by car when you could have walked? Neuroscientists say that changing our environment (e.g. going outdoors) helps recalibrate our brains from the familiar. It’s like a re-set mode. On the other side, it’s important we maintain a daily routine. Continue to have the same 7-9 hours’ sleep your body needs. If you can’t go outdoors, open the windows. The air is actually cleaner outside than it is inside your house. A lot of the battle with exercise is that it’s a grind for people who don’t like sport. If you can make it fun the motivation will be much stronger. Make exercise part of your family time, when you all laugh and catch up on your lives. Buy a dog - then you’ll HAVE to take it for a walk, rain or shine! Wear an activity tracker on your wrist, like a Fitbit. It will help you know how far you walked today, and look at your weekly stats to check for improvement or consistency. Preventive Medical Check-ups Don’t miss your annual health check-ups, no matter how busy you are. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Find out what your Body Mass Index is. Keep up to date with any annual vaccinations. Beware of playing music with headphones. If it’s too loud it can damage your hearing - there is a rising generation that is about to discover this! Avoid smoking or get help coming off. I hope this whistle-stop tour has been of interest to you. More importantly, I hope I have raised awareness and put some keys into your hand. We are all busy people but we are powerful people: we can be in charge of our lives. We can be strategic, rather than victims of a fast food society with its obesity and health issues.

There’s a good reason why they are called holiday homes and owning one will undeniably add to your comforts. It could be that you are at that age where you just want to settle down and concentrate your efforts on raising a family in a posh environment or that you’re just tired of those regular trips to the Bahamas and you want to bring the Bahamas to you. These are just among the reasons why most people invest in holiday homes. But the thing is, buying a holiday home is not as easy as it may sound. When buying a holiday home, you’ll be making a worthwhile investment decision that can make you money on the long haul as you can rent it out during the months or weeks that you’ll not be using it such as enlisting your holiday home to Airbnb. But first, you’ll need to find the perfect home that suits your needs. You’ll need to get your head around various choices when shopping around. To narrow down your search, below is a complete buyer’s guide to holiday homes. 1. Types of Holiday Homes Before going for just any holiday home, it’s important that you first decide on the type of holiday home that you want. Over the past few decades, holiday homes have continued to grow in popularity. This is because compared to conventional and traditional homes, holiday homes provide a lot of benefits in terms of space, privacy, comfort, and facilities. After reading this property guide, you’ll be in a better position to decide on the type of property you want depending on your needs and budget. Whether you want a holiday home in a quaint and serene environment or an isolated suburb, there's always something for everyone. To cut the long story short, below are different types of holiday homes, they include: Cottages – Cottages are perfectly designed for families and have everything that you may need for a family setup. Beachside holiday homes – Now, these are what you’d call the perfect holiday homes. They’ll provide you with a magnificent view of the sea/ocean as they are characterized by large sliding glass windows and doors. Grand country mansions and castles – These also fall in the category y of holiday homes. These will be the perfect investments for rental purposes. You can turn a castle into an ideal accommodation for families on holidays and business retreats. 2. Choosing the Perfect Location for Holiday Homes If you’re considering buying a holiday home, then you must prioritize whether you want the home as a lifestyle investment or for commercial use and in both cases, location is key. For starters, proximity to amenities is a key factor that you’ll need to consider when choosing the perfect location. These can include shops, restaurants, bars, and pubs. Additionally, you may also opt for holiday homes built near tourist attraction sites such as beaches, scenic parks, or golf courses. But all this will depend on your preferences and inclinations because there are people who’ll prefer that woodland ramble environment and natural beautiful isles of the countryside. 3. The Must-Have Holiday Home Essentials When it comes to buying the perfect holiday home, it’s important to factor in your needs. It’s very easy to get caught up in unnecessary jargons that can affect you in the long run. Ideally, ensure that the holiday home has the essential facilities and features that you and your family needs such as good heating, water, electricity, and fast internet connection. You’ll need to ensure that there are enough bathrooms, a lounging area, a balcony lounge, patio, an ideal kitchen, and a modern living area. It doesn’t hurt to have other luxuries added such as a kids' playground or a swimming pool. 4. Legal Considerations There are legal requirements that you’ll need to factor in when buying a holiday home. This is arguably the less exciting part and one that is often overlooked. This includes holiday home rules and regulations for both private and rental investments. For starters, owning a holiday home is a huge investment which means higher stamp duties. In addition to this, you’ll need to comply with various obligations such as those that concern potentially hazardous facilities such as Jacuzzis, swimming pools, and fire safety. Other legal aspects that you’ll need to consider before buying a holiday home include the planning rates, insurance, and tax liabilities. Whether buying or renting, it’s important to have your solicitor draw these considerations for you. This way, you’ll have everything checked out before making a mistake that could end up costing you more. 5. Financing Your choice of a holiday home will be determined by the budget you’ve set aside for the purchase. Being a huge investment, you may need to consider a mortgage. In addition to this there will be other ongoing costs that will need to be factored in such as the annual site fees, electricity, gas, insurance, and the general maintenance of the home. You may choose to subsidize the cost of holiday home ownership by renting it out whenever it’s not in use. Now, whether it’s a slice of the seaside or a scenic mountain view that will complete your dream of owning a holiday home, the above pointers will help you to decide on what, how, and where to buy the perfect home.

When it comes to our homes we can often be rather particular with how we decorate, and who’s to blame you? We spend a long time saving up for a deposit followed by years or repayments, so ensuring we are living somewhere we love is really important. Remodelling your house is something loads of homeowners think about and often write it into their long term plan for the house but when it comes down to it are we looking at it in the right way? Have we done everything in our power to make sure nothing is going to go wrong? Here are some things you need to look at before starting any work on your much-loved home. Paperwork Firstly, we need to think about the relevant paperwork that is needed to start any building work. The last thing you want to happen when renovating or remodelling your house is for the authorities to come and start asking you questions about the permits you didn’t realise were a necessity. If that does happen you will be taking down and reversing all of the work you’ve completed so far. If you’re planning on remodelling then I would thoroughly suggest reading up on everything needed to legally complete the build. You might want to consider this helpful article to get yourself started and put you in a good position to start your build. Having all the permits in place will not only allow a quick and easy renovation but it will also provide a safe one. Don’t try and get any work done without the required paperwork, it will go against you further down the line and can end up wasting valuable time and effort. Planning Something that most likely will be linked in with the paperwork section is your plan, to be successful with remodelling your house you’ll have to be meticulous in the planning stage. You hear of horror stories where people discover old electric cables that were never decommissioned and that is something you have to put up with when renovating old houses but if you’re prepared then it will be a much easier job to complete. Get the plans for your house and decide what you want to do, this is something many people don’t think about until it’s too late and they are rushed into making large decisions that usually require some time. Make sure you’ve set everything you want out first, for example, if you want more space in your front room then make sure you’ve stated that and looked how and where you can create more space. Something else to think about is your schedule, make sure to have a tight schedule and follow it as closely as you can, this will save you time which will save you money. Contingency Plan It’s important to plan for every eventuality and whilst you may have planned every section of your housing remodel, have you accounted for anything that might go wrong? Set aside some money for that scenario and try not to touch it unless something unforeseen happens. Professionals Something you should be thinking of before starting any work is what you can do yourself and if there is anything you will need to hire a professional for. Certain jobs require qualified professionals to complete to ensure the safety and functionality of the work, for example, if you’re moving things around in your bathroom then having a plumber is essential. The last thing you want is to start moving pipes around without extensive knowledge as it could and most probably will create more work. Cut your losses and hire someone to do it the first time around, it will save money and ensure you’re sticking to your schedule. Electrics is another area where hiring a professional is essential, any work done to your electrics will need to be signed off by a qualified electrician for your renovation to pass guidelines. Don’t Decorate Until You’re Finished Impatience is something we are all unfortunately blessed with and we should all learn to try and control it. Don’t decorate anything in your house until all the work is complete, the place will be dirty for quite some time and builder's dust is a type that you’ll wish to never encounter again. Make it livable if you need to, but putting down your expensive carpet or sofa will guarantee it will be ruined, stay patient and decorate when everything is complete. Remodeling your house is an exciting project and one that can add huge amounts of value to your property, as long as it has been completed to a professional standard. Plan everything first and things will be as simple as you make them. When it comes to your budget try to forecast that you will spend more money than you would like to and things won’t be a surprise when you near that number, being prepared for every eventuality is key when renovating, but at the end of it your much-loved house will be your dream home.

Videographer Editor and Documentarian Steve Collins, of SVCC Productions, from Hazlehurst MS, has won a prestigious "Award of Recognition" from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The award was given for Steve Collins' exciting documentary feature, The Boy With The Pop Bottle On His Head, which is a great film that brings a 50 year old Mississippi mystery to life. It is an unbelievable, yet true, story of a strange 12 year old boy who appeared out of nowhere in Hazlehurst, MS from parts unknown wearing a glass coke bottle on his head and predicted the historic and deadly tornado of 1969, that not even the meteorologists saw coming. "Something Bad Is Gonna Happen In This Town" the little boy proclaimed to anyone who would listen. Despite constant threats, beatings and all sorts of torturous acts against him, the bottle remarkably would never fall from his head! But that was just the beginning! You won't BELIEVE what else he did! Talented ten year old youth model, actor, singer and business owner Terrance LaMont Smith Jr. from Jackson, MS portrays the "Boy" in which many people says Smith has similar features. The film was shot on location in many parts of Hazlehurst and several scenes in Crystal Springs, Ms. It is supported with many interviews from local people and neighboring cities who interacted with the boy. The documentary also feature some of the 1960's civil rights struggles in Hazlehurst, endless photo of the tornado damage and newspaper articles of that time period.. I thank God Almighty for IndieFest for recognizing my work and presenting me with an outstanding award Collins says. My main achievement was to not only just tell this 50 year old story that some people thought to be a myth, but also find out who this little boy was, where he came from and is he still alive today. I hope the world see this documentary and I hope it have a huge impact on the state of Mississippi. I hope it will encourage the city of Hazlehurst MS to erect a monument to commemorate the lives lost in the January 23 tornado of 1969 and perhaps even a statue of The Boy With The Pop Bottle On His Head. The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about the IndieFEST and a list of recent winners can be found at www.theindiefest.com. In winning an IndieFEST Film Award, Steve Collins and SVCC Productions joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including Liam Neeson as the narrator of Love Thy Nature, A Path Appears Documentary featuring George Clooney and Blake Lively, Radical Grace executive produced by Susan Sarandon, a searing expose Davids and Goliath by Peabody winner Leon Lee, and Touched with Fire starring Katie Holmes.  Rick Prickett, who chairs The IndieFEST Film Awards, had this to say about the latest winners, “The IndieFEST is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The IndieFEST helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of The IndieFEST Film Awards is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.” For more information call Steve Collins (601)894-3392 or (601)613-7413, Please take a short moment to watch the official trailer about the documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6TPG_detI Also visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheBoyWithThePopBottleOnHisHead/?ref=bookmarks Other links: WAPT 16 News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyNQuoDuwms Clarion Ledger https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2019/01/23/hazlehurst-tornado-boy-prophet-warned-deadly-event-50-years-ago/2515035002/ Mid-South Black Film Festival Best Documentary https://www.midsouthblackfilm.com/awards-prizes

Asthma and Allergy Awareness month is a fitting time to focus on conditions that affect one out of every five Americans and how to mitigate them. An estimated 50 million American suffer from allergies, which are the most frequently reported chronic condition in children and account for more than 17 million outpatient office visits. Allergies are characterized by an overreaction of the human immune system to a foreign substance that is eaten, breathed into the lungs, injected or touched. This immune overreaction can result in symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and scratch throat. An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, but usually appears in the nose, eyes, lungs, lining of the stomach, sinuses, throat and skin. In severe cases, it can also result in rashes, hives, lower blood pressure, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and even death. Some allergy problems may not need treatment. Others can be controlled with the occasional use of an over-the-counter medication. However, sometimes allergies can interfere with dayto-day activities or decrease quality of life of those who are affected. Although there is no cure for allergies, they can be managed with proper prevention and treatment. Allergic reactions are triggered indoors and outdoors by common substances, such as plant pollen, molds, household dust, cockroaches, pets, industrial chemicals, foods, medicines, feathers, second hand smoke and insect stings. There are skin allergies, food and drug allergies and latex allergies. If you have chronic allergies or frequent symptoms, you may benefit from visiting an allergist. You should see an allergist when: • Your allergies are causing symptoms such as chronic sinus infections, nasal congestion or difficulty breathing; • You experience allergy symptoms several months out of the year; • Over the counter medications do not control your symptoms; • Your symptoms are interfering with your ability to carry on day-to-day activities. A visit might include: • Allergy testing • Prevention education • Medication prescriptions • Immunotherapy (allergy shots) Asthma is a serious allergic reaction characterized by inflammation of the air passages, resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lung. Symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma is a chronic disorder, and there is no cure for it. But it can be managed. Asthma tends to occur within families and tends to be initiated by a variety of “triggers,” such as allergens, exercise, viral respiratory infections, respiratory irritants, second-hand smoke and aspirin. More Americans than ever are suffering from asthma -- one of the country’s most common and costly diseases. Every day: • 44,000 people have an asthma attack. • 36,000 kids miss school due to asthma. • 27,000 adults miss word due to asthma. • 4,700 people visit the emergency room due to asthma. • 1,200 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma. • Nine die due to asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children, with almost five million sufferers under the age of 18. Asthma is more common in adult women than adult men, more common in male children than female children, and more common among children than adults. In Mississippi, 9.7 percent of the population has been diagnosed with asthma as of 2018. See an asthma or allergy physician specialist to receive the best treatment possible. Learn everything you can about asthma. Learn what triggers your (or your child’s) symptoms and avoid them as best you can. Recognize the signs of an oncoming episode. Provide preventive care, so that you or your child have the least amount of difficulty with symptoms. Learn self-management skills. EDITOR'S NOTE: Stephanie Duguid is Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin. She is also an athletic trainer and nutrition specialist and has been teaching courses related to those two areas as well as practicing what she preaches for more than twenty years.