Commissioner Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is currently offering a cost-share program for Mississippi organic producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agent. “This is a great opportunity for farmers that have received the USDA Organic Certification in the past year to help offset some of the costs associated with this certification,” said Commissioner Gipson, “I am glad that we are able to offer this program again for 2020, and I encourage our farmers to take advantage of this opportunity during these unprecedented times.” Funding is available for those that received the certification between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Individual organic operators are eligible for reimbursement of 50 percent of their fiscal year 2020 certification costs up to a maximum of $500 per category of certification. The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program currently recognizes the following categories of certification eligible for reimbursement: crops, wild crops, livestock and handler. To be eligible for reimbursement, the following must be provided to MDAC by applicants: proof of certification issued by a USDA accredited certifying agent, a reimbursement form, an itemized invoice for certification-related expenses, an IRS W-9 form and documentation of the payment in the form of a cancelled check. Applicants must be Mississippi organic producers and handlers located within the State of Mississippi. Funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted. Operations may receive one reimbursement per year. The deadline to submit applications is December 15, 2020. For more information about this program or to obtain an application, visit www.mdac.ms.gov/market-development/national-organic-cost-share-program or contact Susan Lawrence at susan@mdac.ms.gov or (601) 213-7542.

The polls are officially open for today's September 22nd special election runoff for Senate District 15, Senate District 39, House District 37 and House District 66. While polling places close at 7 p.m., any voter in line at 7 p.m. is entitled to cast a ballot. Eligible voters include those in Choctaw, Clay, Copiah, Hinds, Lawrence, Lincoln, Lowndes, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Walthall and Webster Counties. Click here to view a sample ballot. As of Monday, October 12, 2020, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported 1,724 absentee ballots requested and 1,191 absentee ballots received for today's runoff election. All certified results from the 2020 election cycle will be posted on the Elections Results page of our website, sos.ms.gov.  Special Election Day Reminders Polling Place Location: Please contact your county Circuit Clerk’s Office for directions to your polling place. Several counties have changed polling places due to COVID-19. Our office received notification of polling place changes in the following counties: Hinds, Lowndes, Walthall, and Webster. Voter Photo ID: Voters are required to show photo identification at the polls.  A voter without an acceptable form of photo identification is entitled to cast an affidavit ballot.  An affidavit ballot may be counted if the voter provides an acceptable form of photo identification to the Circuit Clerk’s Office within five business days after the election. Click here for more information. Campaigning: It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property. Loitering: The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all people except elections officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers. Camera Phones: Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot. COVID-19: Our office encouraged county officials to provide sanitizing and disinfecting products at each precinct. Voters are encouraged to practice good hygiene and follow CDC guidelines at the polls. For more information about State election laws or other election information, visit Y’all Vote or call the Elections Division at (601) 576-2545.

At a pinning ceremony were Co-Lin's Wesson Campus Practical Nursing Program gradiate (left to right) Umeko Sparkman of McComb, Sina Windham of Brookhaven, Freddye Johnson of Hazlehurst, Sydne Gayten of Brookhaven, Keisha Roberson of Hazlehurst, Shikeitha Quin of McComb, Brooke David of Meadville, Keisha Simmons of Jackson, Candace McKinley of Crystal Springs, Miosha Daniels, Judy James Lyons and KeAriel Caston, all of Brookhaven.

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020-2021 school year. This unprecedented move is part of USDA’s unwavering commitment to ensuring all children across America have access to nutritious food as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. “As our nation recovers and reopens, we want to ensure that children continue to receive the nutritious breakfasts and lunches they count on during the school year wherever they are, and however they are learning,” said Secretary Perdue. “We are grateful for the heroic efforts by our school food service professionals who are consistently serving healthy meals to kids during these trying times, and we know they need maximum flexibility right now. I appreciate President Trump for his unwavering commitment to ensuring kids receive the food they need during this pandemic and for supporting USDA in continuing to provide these unprecedented flexibilities.” “Northeastern School District has implemented the USDA waiver to offer all students free meals utilizing the SSO program. We have been able to offer free meals to all students in attendance and through curbside pick-up for virtual students. I am extremely proud of my staff and their flexibility to do their best to keep school meals as normal as possible during a pandemic. The Child Nutrition Staff have wanted to continue hot meals for students and wanted to offer their favorite meal choices,” said Kimberly Alessandroni, Director of Child Nutrition Services, Northeastern School District. “These waiver extensions are great news for America’s students and the school nutrition professionals working so hard to support them throughout this pandemic," said School Nutrition Association President Reggie Ross, SNS. “Families struggling to make ends meet can be assured that their students will have access to healthy school meals, whether they are learning at home or in school. School meal programs can remain focused on safely meeting nutritional needs of children in their communities without having to worry about burdensome regulations. The School Nutrition Association appreciates USDA’s ongoing efforts to address the many challenges our members have faced while working on the frontlines to feed hungry children.”

Special to Wesson News Social distancing disliked in state. Mississippians are among the worst at adhering to social distancing guidelines to protect themselves from the coronavirus, and the state, as a result, has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections, a new study shows. The state is 44th on adherence to social distancing guidelines, The TOP Agency made the discovery in an analysis of mobility data to determine the number of daily close human interactions that lasted longer the five minutes. The study also showed that residents of former COVID-19 hotspots -- New York, Arizona, Texas, Florida and California -- are now adhering well to social distancing regulations. KDMC great workplace. King's Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven is one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Healthcare, according to Modern Healthcare (MH). The distinction, which KDMC has earned ten time since 2008, is based on an extensive employee survey. MH editor Aurora Aguilar noted that "loyalty and trust between employers and their workers" has become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare employees have seen their colleagues fall ill with the virus and their organizations suffer the economic effects. Grant to save animals. Brookhaven Animal Rescue League (BARL) has received a $4,000 Save Them All grant from Best Animals Friends Society (BAFS) to help save lives of homeless pets in Lincoln, Copiah and Franklin Counties. BARL meets BAFS strict grant guidelines, providing food, shelter, and veterinary services for homeless animals until they are adopted; vaccinating and spaying or neutering all its animals and microchipping dogs. BFAS, which partners with 2,800 animal welfare groups nationwide, has helped reduce the number animals killed in shelters to less than one million (733,000) every year from 17 million. MAC funds BLT. With its theater season curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and planning for its 54th season on hold, Brookhaven Little Theater (BLT), has received a $14,500 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) to advance its mission of exposing the region to high quality performing arts programs. BLT, the longest continuously running community theater in Mississippi, offers a variety of plays, musicals, performing arts classes, camps, workshops, special events and musical festivals. BLT has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise another $25,000 during this challenging financial time. Zoo reopens. The 11-month shutdown of Jackson Zoo for comprehensive infrastructure repairs and to secure its U.S. Department of Agriculture license to exhibit animals has ended, but its hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and only 500 visitors are allowed each day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Jackson is negotiating with St. Louis-based ZoOceanarium Group to take over operations of the facility. Movies return. Regal UA Westbrook Theater in Brookhaven is showing movies again. Tickets are available online. The multiplex theater has implemented new health and safety measures based on Center for Disease Control guidelines and feedback from employees and moviegoers.

Atmos Energy continues to monitor and prepare for Hurricane Delta, urging residents in the path of severe weather to take steps that help ensure personal safety.  “Atmos Energy wants you and your family to be safe in any situation,” said John McDill, Atmos Energy vice president of pipeline safety.  “If your home or business is affected by flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes or a similar event, we want to remind customers to not use natural gas equipment if it is flooded or damaged without first contacting a qualified service person to have it inspected.” If you suspect a natural gas leak or think you smell natural gas inside the home or neighborhood, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy Emergency Number at 1-866-322-8667.  Atmos Energy service technicians are emergency responders and necessary for the safe operation of our system, performing essential services in compliance with social distancing guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of everyone.  Whether it is a storm, flooding, or other severe weather event, please observe these tips to stay safe: During a natural disaster or severe weather event DO NOT turn off natural gas at the meter, even if evacuations are issued. If you smell gas, immediately leave the affected area and from a safe distance call 911 or Atmos Energy’s 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-322-8667. NEVER try to find the source of a gas leak. DO NOT use a mobile phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator. If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are under water, do not try to operate the appliances. Instead, contact Atmos Energy or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection. If a natural gas meter is damaged or a gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-322-8667. Know where your natural gas meter is located. Make sure it’s visible and free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used to clean up after a storm may damage the meter if it is hidden. Natural gas distribution pipelines are mostly underground but can be damaged by uprooted trees and shifted foundations. After a storm, call 811 to have the location of underground utility lines marked, as gas service lines could become tangled. Atmos Energy customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company's customer service number at 1-888-286-6700.  Customers will be restored as quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe. For natural gas safety tips during severe weather, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/weather-safety to learn what to do with your natural gas systems and equipment.

Governor Tate Reeves has declared a State of Emergency in anticipation of damage from Hurricane Delta. Landfall is expected along the Louisiana coast on Friday afternoon as a Major Hurricane.  "I have declared a State of Emergency for Hurricane Delta," said Governor Tate Reeves. "Watch the weather reports and get prepared. We are tracking this closely and operators are getting ready for action. Prep for the worst. Pray for the best. God bless and stay safe." At this time, the heaviest rain and strongest wind is projected to be felt Friday afternoon through midday Saturday across Southwest Mississippi and further north along the Mississippi River. A link to the State of Emergency declaration can be found here. There will be an announcement regarding the upcoming storm at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency on today.

I n recognition of the 5th annual national Energy Efficiency Day on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Mississippi’s Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey is joining regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, universities and individuals in promoting energy efficiency – the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs, cut utility bills and reduce pollution. “On September 22, I signed a proclamation proclaiming today as Mississippi’s 1st annual Energy Efficiency Day,” Commissioner Bailey said. “I encourage citizens to join us in supporting our clean energy goals and moving toward more energy efficiency now and in the future in Mississippi.” Smarter energy use means we don’t have to generate or consume as much energy to meet our needs. Many people don’t realize that Mississippi has already made significant, forward-thinking investments in energy savings measures. We would like to highlight some of those who continue to be proficient in practicing energy efficiency in our state: Mississippi State University is one of many entities who has made incredible efforts to be more energy efficient in Mississippi. The university replaced fluorescent lighting with more efficient LED technology in 22 central-campus buildings. The project improved lighting quality, reduced overall energy consumption and is expected to last more than 15 years. Nissan’s Canton plant has overhauled their paint process to minimize their drying time, cutting energy usage by more than 30%. They also switched to all LED lighting. Just those two changes together save enough energy each year to power 511 homes. Mississippi poultry producers, typically contract producers who can only control the costs of their energy, have used grant money in the past to improve energy efficiency and lower the cost to heat and cool their broiler houses by upgrading to more efficient controls and building components. “There are many ways you can practice energy efficiency in your own home and business,” Commissioner Bailey said. “Reducing the energy used by manufacturers, homes and businesses benefits everyone– especially energy bill-payers. The average household saves almost $500 yearly thanks to efficiency standards that apply to new appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters, alone.” Learn more about the vital benefits of energy efficiency at www.energyefficiencyday.org.

The Mississippi Economic Council's 19th Annual Hobnob Mississippi will have a different look and feel this year. Hobnob Mississippi will be held virtually beginning at 10:30 a.m. live from Trustmark Park in Pearl. As we “Banter at the Ballpark”, attendees will hear from statewide officials, the two candidates for the U.S. Senate race, a panel with leading ladies from around the state, enjoy some baseball pun and much more. To register, sponsor, or for more information visit www.mec.ms. Agenda: Pre-game: Enjoy Live Music as We Prepare to Banter at the Ballpark First Pitch: Let’s Play Ball 1st Inning: Opening Ceremony and Welcome 2nd Inning: Statewide Elected Officials Panel 3rd Inning: Leading Ladies from Around the State Panel 4th Inning: United States Senate Candidate Mike Espy 5th Inning: Discussion with LT. Governor and Speaker of the House 6th Inning: United States Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith 7th Inning: Seventh Inning Stretch 8th Inning: Governor Tate Reeves 9th Inning: Reviewing of the Scorecards and Looking Forward *Times Subject to Change

The Metro Jackson American Heart Association is urging metro residents to still seek help through 911 and hospital emergency rooms when experiencing heart attack, stroke symptoms, or other medical emergencies. “Without question people should go to the ER when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke,” said Arturo Blanco, MD, of St. Dominic’s Family Medicine in Clinton. “A visit to the ER could be the difference between a successful outcome or dying from a heart attack or stroke. Please be assured our healthcare facilities are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Delaying a 911 call can be dangerous — even deadly. Here’s why the coronavirus shouldn’t cause hesitation or doubt during a time emergency help might be needed: Hospitals are following infection control protocols to sanitize, socially distance and keep infected people away from others. In fact, many hospitals have separate emergency rooms, operating rooms, cardiac catherization rooms and ICUs for people with COVID-19 and for those people suspected to have the disease. Patients are often being met by workers in full protective gear as a precaution, and family member access is restricted. Calling 911 immediately is still the best chance of surviving an emergency. Emergency room workers know what to do, even when things seem chaotic. Emergency rooms have made plans to ensure adequate staffing and keep patients and workers safe. This is their specialty and their strong suit; hospital workers are trained in disaster readiness and to get the job done in any situation. Year in and year out, heart disease and stroke are the top two killers worldwide. Someone in the U.S. will have a heart attack and someone else will have a stroke every forty seconds. More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. annually. Hospitals know exactly what to do in these instances to save lives. Fast care is the key to survival. Minutes matter. People with blocked arteries or clots causing heart attacks or strokes need care quickly. The difference between life and death can be measured in minutes. With so little time to work with, and the extra time needed to ensure coronavirus safety measures, calling 911 quickly is more important than ever. “Those experiencing left side chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden syncope, abnormal heart beat, clammy skin, cold sweat, chest pain that radiates to the arm, sudden paralysis, blurred vision, loss of vision or slurred speech must seek immediate attention,” said Blanco. “All of these are common symptoms of heart attack and stroke.” The acronym FAST can help with remembering stroke symptoms: Face drooping Arm weakness Speech slurring or other difficulty Time to call 911. “It is also important to keep and maintain regular checkups,” said Blanco. “Regular checkups will help your physician detect changes in your blood work and perform preventive medicine when needed to keep you healthy.” For more information, visit heart.org.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB), in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), has created a new television channel – MPB Classroom TV. This channel will start airing today and every weekday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. to provide instructional content on television to Pre K-12th grade students. MPB Classroom TV was developed to support and address needs of Mississippi students, teachers and parents as they navigate educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some students, those needs include lack of internet and technology in virtual learning environments causing them to miss instruction. MPB Classroom TV content was developed in collaboration with MDE and includes pre-recorded 25-minute lessons taught by certified teachers that are aligned to the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards. The content will be beneficial to students and adults who are supporting students learning at home. New content will be added as the school year continues. "MDE staff members have been working with MPB over the last few months to develop educational content for this channel, which will reach homes across the state. Resources such as these are critical to ensuring that all students and families have access to high-quality learning, even if they currently don't have access to the internet," said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. To watch MPB Classroom TV, viewers do not need internet at home. The channel is not available on cable and satellite services. To receive and watch this channel, viewers must use an antenna on their TVs. Cable and satellite subscribers will need to purchase a low-cost antenna and change the TV’s input setting. Individuals who already only use antennas will need to rescan their TVs to pick up the new channel. By providing broadcast instruction on the same subjects taught in schools, students can continue to receive direct instruction even while at home. The content will be available beginning Oct. 5 for on-demand viewing on the MPB Classroom TV web page as well as MPB’s YouTube channel under the MPB Classroom TV playlist. “We have created a statewide classroom for Mississippi. It has been a rewarding experience to be in the trenches with MDE teachers and coaches to develop such a great resource for our children,” said MPB Director of Education Tara Wren. “I am hopeful that MPB Classroom TV is a resource parents and teachers depend on to make their lives a little easier during this pandemic when education instruction is so volatile.” The channels for MPB Classroom TV statewide are: WMAH/Biloxi 19.5 WMAE/Booneville 12.5 WMAU/Bude 17.5 WMAO/Greenwood 23.5 WMPN/Jackson 29.5 WMAW/Meridian 14.5 WMAB/Mississippi State 2.5 WMAV/Oxford/Univ. 18.5 For more information, visit education.mpbonline.org.

Special to Wesson News The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded Copiah County a solid waste assistance grant of $48,917 for unauthorized dumpsite cleanup and a solid waste enforcement officer program. The agency also awarded the county a $75,000 two-year waste tire grant to continue the local waste tire collection program for small quantity generators of waste tires. “The Solid Waste Assistance Grants support a variety of useful solid waste management activities for cities and counties, and these grants will assist Copiah County’s efforts in improving its management of solid waste,” said Chris Wells, MDEQ Interim Executive Director. Cities and counties may apply for Solid Waste Assistance Grants through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. In addition to funding programs to prevent and clean up unauthorized dumps and hiring local solid waste enforcement officers, these grants are used by local communities for public education efforts on solid waste disposal and recycling; and to establish programs for the collection of white goods, bulky wastes and recyclables. Funding for waste tire grants is provided by a waste tire account funded from a fee charged on wholesale of every new motor vehicle tire sold in Mississippi. This fee provides the funds to ensure and encourage the proper management and disposal of waste tires. Information about on the grant program and other initiatives is available at www.mdeq.ms.gov/solid-waste-management-programs.