Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that he is extending the social distancing measures under the Safe Return order, including the statewide mask mandate, and issuing crowd-size limitations on K-12 extracurricular activities in the state's ongoing fight to slow the spread of COVID-19. Continuing to work closely with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and other state health experts on data-driven, measured strategies to limit transmission, the Governor has extend the social distancing measures an additional two weeks until Monday, August 31 at 8:00 AM. Governor Reeves is also amending the Safe Return order, placing an attendance cap on all K-12 extracurricular activities, such as football and band concerts, to no more than two spectators per participant. Each extracurricular event must have a dedicated Safety Officer to ensure all social distancing measures are followed as well. "Sports and these other activities are instrumental in the lives of our young Mississippians. They teach discipline and responsibility in a way that can’t be replicated," said Governor Tate Reeves at his press briefing today. "That said, we are living through a pandemic. One of my greatest concerns heading into this school season has been sports and those other events which cause the community to come out in crowds. Twenty-two players on a field is not going to overwhelm a local hospital. Two thousand people in a small school’s bleachers might." Governor Reeves made the announcements at today's press briefing, which you can view on our Facebook page here. You can view the text version of Executive Order No. 1518 here. Signed versions of all executive orders related to COVID-19 can be found on our website at governorreeves.ms.gov/covid-19.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) team up to promote hurricane preparedness by urging residents to get a plan in place before a hurricane threatens. The peak of hurricane season begins mid-August and ends late October. Ten named storms have already formed since the beginning of the 2020 season, including Hurricane Cristobal which impacted south Mississippi. Hurricanes can be unpredictable, and that’s why preparing for a tropical storm before it forms is vital. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic there are extra steps people should take to keep themselves safe. Residents should plan to pack the necessary items needed for their protection. Face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves and disinfecting wipes should be added to survival kits. Residents should also check their evacuation destinations for any regulations related to the pandemic. For more hurricane safety tips, visit GoMDOT.com/hurricanes and msema.org. Stay updated on road conditions at MDOTtraffic.com, download the MDOT Traffic mobile app and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter along with the hashtag #HurricaneStrong this hurricane season.

by Delbert Hosemann At the end of every session, our office takes an inventory of the legislative changes for which we successfully advocated and the items we need to put back on the to-do list. COVID disrupted some of our plans this year and provided the Legislature with additional appropriation and other responsibilities. Even amidst the pandemic, a number of positive pieces of legislation were passed. In education, we eliminated a major barrier to teacher licensure which will clear the way for hundreds of students to enter teacher education programs in colleges and universities. Now, a student’s GPA in their first two years of courses determines whether they are permitted to begin the process of becoming a teacher, which experts say is the best predictor of success. We addressed problems in our mental health system, providing a coordinator with the authority to review the availability of current services and establish procedures to increase access and raise standards. We also provided additional funding aimed at decreasing hospitalization and focusing on quality community care. In the interest of reorganizing and maximizing efficiency, we abolished two government entities, the Fair Commission and Commission on Marine Resources. We retooled driver’s services to speed up the licensing process by instituting a fee reduction for long wait times. The State Workforce Investment Board was reconstituted, reducing the number of board members, requiring small business representation, and beefing up responsibility and accountability. The state’s new workforce “czar” will be responsible for maximizing the impact of every dollar we spend on training citizens for higher wage jobs. An additional $55 million was dedicated to workforce development. Additionally, we championed various bills addressing COVID including limiting liability for businesses and healthcare entities facing frivolous lawsuits. A small business grant program received $300 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. $200 million was appropriated to distance learning and connectivity for K-12 students; $130 million for hospitals, nonprofits, and various other healthcare entities; $100 million to universities and community colleges; $75 million to expand rural broadband; and $70 million to cities and counties. Although we have more we want to accomplish in the coming years, we built a solid foundation for positive change in the last seven months. All of this is part of the path to our ultimate objective going forward: making Mississippi an even better place for our children and grandchildren.

(updated article, revisions made after print) Special to Wesson News Copiah County School District, including Wesson Attendance Center (WAC), has pushed back the beginning of any traditional in-person classroom instruction for at least another two weeks, during which students will pursue only distance learning options. The current plan calls for all WAC students to start school on this coming Monday, August 17, using distance learning packets and continue with a hybrid of distance learning and in-peron classroom instruction beginning on Monday, August 31. Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) had been scheduled to reopen under the hybrid plan, with all students coming together in classrooms on August 17. But even as Wesson News announced the hybrid plan on its Facebook page this past Monday and in stories in its online and print editions, school officials were telephoning parents to inform them of the initial distance learning alternatives on three days. Students in kindergarten through third grade will go to classrooms Monday through Thursday and pursue distance learning alternatives on Friday with all other students. "The goal is safety for students, faculty and staff,” WAC officials say. When the hybrid plan begins, caution will remain the watchword: • Although Friday will be a distance learning day for all students, WAC will provide additional on-campus support opportunities for some students. "Academic curriculum along with the social and emotional wellbeing of our students will be a priority," WAC officials say. • In seeking to maintain a healthy, safe and clean environment in the re-opening of school, WAC will follow a detailed plan of illness prevention encompassing students, parents, faculty and staff. It covers social distancing in all campus locations, wearing washable cloth masks in accordance with Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and regular hand washing and hand sanitizing, starting on entry each day at the school. WAC will encourage parents to screen their children for possible illness and its faculty and staff to monitor students and refer them to the school nurse if they are symptomatic. Students diagnosed with COVID-19 will not be allowed to come to school until the risk of transmission has passed. • Although Copiah County School District will provide transportation for students as needed, WAC will encourage parents/guardians to bring children to school and pick them up to limit bus use. Students will be required to wear cloth face masks on busses. • Cleaning protocols have been established for custodial and teaching staff, covering disinfecting high-touch surfaces and classrooms. If a confirmed positive COVID-19 case occurs on campus, WAC will carry out a standard disinfection protocol based on CDC and Mississippi Department of Health recommendations.

After investigating data and concerns brought forth by our office, the Mississippi Attorney General's Office (AG) has filed a lawsuit against Centurion Filing Services, LLC, for alleged deceptive solicitations targeting new Mississippi businesses. This action follows countless complaints to our Business Services Division and a cease-and-desist letter from the AG's Office, to which the company has not responded. "This scam has affected more than 2,700 of our small businesses," said Secretary of State Michael Watson. "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to hinder our business community, and no Mississippian should face the additional nightmare of becoming a victim of fraud. I'm proud of my team for working diligently to gather the facts in this case, and I'm thankful for the Attorney General's partnership in bringing justice those who have been impacted." Our office first received reports about Centurion Filing Services, LLC, in February. According to customers, the company, which operates under the fictitious name, MS Certificate Service, targets new businesses by sending a misleading “2020 Certificate of Existence Request Form” through the mail (see image below). The misleading document encourages business owners to pay a $90.50 fee to receive a Mississippi Certificate of Existence. As of today, the scammers have profited between $170,000 and $260,000. Mississippi businesses can receive a Certificate of Good Standing from our website, sos.ms.gov. Online processing costs $25 and the certificate is available immediately after purchase. Businesses may report deceptive or misleading solicitations such as these to our Business Services Division at (601) 359-1633, or the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-281-4418 or consumer@ago.ms.gov. ### The solicitation below is NOT sent or authorized by our office. Registered businesses in Mississippi do not have to respond or send payment to the third party, MS Certificate Service.

Due to the transition to a retail food system via an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is preparing to close 13 food centers. These food centers have low participant usage, or the landlord has chosen not to continue the lease. Twelve food centers, including those located in Rosedale, Ruleville, Okolona, Ackerman, Hollandale, Leland, Raymond, Dekalb, Raleigh, Eupora, Columbus and Southaven are scheduled to close September 30. One food center located in New Albany is scheduled to close December 31. Food centers located in Rosedale, Ruleville, Okolona, Ackerman, Hollandale, Leland, Raymond, Dekalb and Raleigh are being closed due to low participant usage. Food centers located in New Albany, Eupora, Columbus, and Southaven are being closed per landlord request, as these leases are scheduled to expire September 30. “We are continuing to seek alternate locations in Columbus and Southaven,” said Diane Hargrove, Director of the MSDH WIC program. “We are also surveying WIC participants in New Albany and Eupora to determine unique ways to deliver food benefits and ensure access.” The last date for WIC participants to pick up foods at the sites closing September 30 is August 28, and the last date for participants to pick up at the food center closing December 31 is November 25. However, participants are still eligible to pick up at any other food center they have access to in the state. As the WIC program prepares to begin the transition from the use of paper food vouchers at food centers to the use of eWIC cards at retail grocery stores and pharmacies, it’s also working hard to ensure participants still have access to the supplemental foods they qualify for. The eWIC card will be piloted as early as January 2021. “We know this will be a challenge for some of our participants and we are doing everything that we can to supply them nutritious foods the best way that we can during this transition,” said Jameshyia Ballard, WIC Vendor Director. The goal of the WIC program is to provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support and supplemental food for eligible pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to the age of 5. The MSDH WIC program is working to ensure participants have an available food center within 30 miles of each WIC clinic. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

In an effort to ease the stress on parents during back-to-school preparation, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) now offers a convenient way for parents to check their child’s immunizations record online and print out the required Certificate of Immunization Compliance (Form 121) for school registration. MyIR Mobile is an internet-based portal that gives consumers access to their official state immunization records based on information housed in the Mississippi Immunization Information eXchange (MIIX). MyIR Mobile allows users to not only see their own immunization records, but to also add family members to their profiles in order to see if their child is up-to-date or needs their next vaccination. If none are needed, a certified Form 121 can be downloaded and printed. “Prior to this service, parents had to get the Form 121 from their pediatrician or healthcare provider. This always caused a huge rush in the weeks leading up to the beginning of a new school year,” said MSDH Director of Immunization Jennifer Fulcher. “This program will save time and save a trip to the doctor’s office or county health department.” MyIR Mobile requires identity verification through a phone number or email address to keep records safe and secure. Only immunization records of Mississippi residents are accessible through this program. Mississippi is the first state nationwide that currently uses MyIR Mobile. Mississippi state law requires children to be immunized against childhood diseases to enter public or private school, Head Start or daycare. There is also a vaccination requirement for 7th grade entry. MyIR Mobile is available at www.MyIRMobile.com. Immunizations are available at county health departments by appointment. Follow MSDH by email and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Special to Wesson News Co-Lin is making its annual 2020 Job Fair COVID-19 safe and scheduled it for for Thursday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Billy B. Thames Conference Center on the Wesson campus. Serious job seekers are invited to attend this free event by registering at www.colin.edu/jobfair. Local and regional employers will be present and available to speak with job seekers about employment opportunities. Professional attire and resumes are strongly encouraged. “We want the community to take full advantage of this event as employers from all over the region are attending in hopes of filling open positions in their respective companies,” said Workforce Education Director Stephenie Sullivan. “Face-to-face conversation is the best way to meet people and get a feel for company fit, so we have put a lot of effort into making this event as safe and as ‘hands-free’ as possible.” Co-Lin is providing a resume/application exchange system to employers and job seekers that will foster a hands-free environment. Job seekers are asked to create a free Co-Lin Career Coach profile on the internet and then upload a resume to their profile. There is also an option to create a new resume in Career Coach, if needed. Employers will post their job openings to the Co-Lin Career Coach Job Board on the internet. Job seekers may apply to posted jobs from any hand-held device or computer through Co-Lin's Career Coach website. Social distancing and face masks will be required for everyone attending the Job Fair. In order to comply with occupancy restrictions in the conference center, attendees are asked to reserve an arrival time on the job fair website. Learn more about attending employers, event sponsors, social distancing policies, registering for a Co-Lin Career Coach profile, and reserving an arrival time at www.colin.edu/jobfair. Follow the Workforce at Copiah-Lincoln Community College Facebook page for updates and reminders at www.facebook.com/clccworkforce. The Co-Lin Job Fair is a continuing effort by Co-Lin to advance a business-friendly climate by investing in training and employment opportunities for the labor force in the college district and surrounding areas. Through workforce enhancement training funds administered by the Mississippi Community College Board, Co-Lin Workforce Education works to coordinate critical, affordable training to district employers and employees. Over the past three years, an average of 7,384 individuals have received training. Co-Lin firmly believes that economic success is best attained in a cooperative effort by the communities it serves, and surrounding areas benefit when one community succeeds.

You can now buy beer on Sundays in Wesson. A little more than a year after The Wesson Board of Aldermen voted to prohibit sales of beer and light wine on Sundays, they reversed their decision, amending the town ordinance that regulates sales of the beverages. The vote was 3-2, with Mayor Alton Shaw breaking a 2-2 deadlock over the amendment. Alderman Jared Ashley, who operates the Ashley's 51 convenience store, which sells beer, recused himself from the discussion and vote on the issue. "A number of factors influenced the decision," Mayor Shaw said. "Chief among them was the sales tax revenue losses the town is facing in developing its 2021 fiscal year budget in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline in shopping as a result of the closures of Co-Lin and Wesson Attendance Center. After voting against Sunday beer sales last year, several Alderman also said they wanted to revisit the issue in 2020." Ashley affirmed the Mayor's comments, saying "the town's finances are not good right now." The focus on beer and light wine sales in Wesson started in January 2019 when the town's electorate voted 187-78 to authorize it within the Wesson corporate limits. A decision by Lincoln County Chancery Court Judge to allow Wesson to annex a strip of Highway 51 that extended the town's corporate boundary to just three miles north of Brookhaven cleared the way for the vote under a state law that permits municipalities with populations of at least 1,500 to legalize beer and light wine sales if they are within three miles of another municipality in which they are legal. The Board of Aldermen approved an implementing ordinance in February 2019 intended to limit beer and light wine sales to shoppers and restaurant/cafe patrons to Mondays thru Saturdays in Wesson. The language of the law, however, permitted licensed eateries to serve the beverages by the glass on Sundays, and until May customers could legally buy beer and light wine served in glasses in the town's restaurants/cafes. When Mayor Shaw reported the loophole in the ordinance at the Board of Aldermen's April meeting, a debate, including town citizens, on whether or not to adjust the law ensued. In May, the majority of Aldermen voted to adjust the law to reflect the intent of their vote in February to prohibit Sunday sales of beer and light wine anywhere in town. The Sunday beer sales debate at the April and May Aldermen meetings encompassed town residents who cited their religious beliefs in arguing to outlaw Sunday sales, and others who pointed to lost tax revenues, the need to face the reality of a secular society in changing times and "bringing Wesson into the Twenty-first Century." In the vote last year, Aldermen Stephen Ashley, Billy Ellison, Michael King and Larry Hall opposed Sunday sales, with Jarrad Ashley not voting because of conflict-of-interest considerations. Last month, King and Ellison changed their votes, setting up Mayor Shaw's tie-breaking vote and legalization of Sunday beer and light wine sales. The Sunday sales amendment is part of an ordinance that also includes: • Prohibiting sales of beer and light wine within 250 feet of any church, school, funeral home, public library, day care center, public park or kindergarten in a commercial or industrial zone and within 500 feet in other areas; • Limiting sales of beer and light wine to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. in grocery, variety and convenience stores that derive 50 percent or more of gross sales from merchandise other than alcohol and to between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in restaurants and cafes with 50 per cent of gross receipts from prepared food; • Prohibiting (1) service at the curb outside an establishment, to visibly or noticeably intoxicated individuals and to persons of ill repute and (2) licensure of sellers with "lewd, immoral or improper entertainment" and gambling, and that permit loud, boisterous or disorderly conduct; • Requiring (1) establishments that sell beer and light wine to complete a comprehensive application that lists owners or principal officers to assure they are qualified, and pay an annual privilege license tax and (2) restaurants and cafes to obtain a permit or to pay a small fee to allow customers to bring alcoholic beverages, beer or light wine to consume with meals. The tax loss sustained when Newman's liquor store moved to Brookhaven after the city legalized hard liquor and wine sales propelled proponents of beer and light wine sales in Wesson. With hard liquor and wine sales legal throughout Copiah County for some fifty years, authorized Wesson stores have benefited and generated significant tax revenues for the town. Wesson lost close to $4,000 per month of these tax revenues, however, with Newman's relocation. By Bob Arnold

Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) reopened August 17 for all students, but those in grades four through 12 will follow a two-day hybrid schedule with in-person classroom settings only two days a week and distance learning alternatives three days. All students in kindergarten through third grade will attend Monday through Thursday on a four-day hybrid schedule, and pursue distance learning alternatives on Friday with all other students. The reopening was delayed for one week because the Copiah County School District wanted to wait to see if the Governor gave state schools any further direction. "The goal is to get all students on campus every day as soon as safely possible," WAC officials say. In the mean time, caution is the watchword: Although Friday will be a distance learning day for all students, WAC will provide additional on-campus support opportunities for some students." Academic curriculum along with the social and emotional wellbeing of our students will be a priority," WAC officials say. In seeking to maintain a healthy, safe and clean environment in the re-opening of school, WAC is following a detailed plan of illness prevention encompassing students, parents, faculty and staff. It covers social distancing in all campus locations, wearing washable cloth masks in accordance with Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and regular hand washing and hand sanitizing, starting on entry each day at the school. WAC is asking parents to screen their children for possible illness and its faculty and staff to monitor students and refer them to the school nurse if they are symptomatic. Students diagnosed with COVID-19 cannot come to school until the risk of transmission has passed. Although Copiah County School District is providing transportation for students as needed, WAC is encouraging parents/guardians to bring children to school and pick them up to limit bus use. Students must wear cloth face masks on busses. Cleaning protocols have been established for custodial and teaching staff, covering disinfecting high-touch surfaces and classrooms. If a confirmed positive COVID-19 case occurs on campus, WAC will carry out a standard disinfection protocol based on CDC and Mississippi Department of Health recommendations.

By Guest Columnist Dr. Stephanie Duguid During the Covid-19 health pandemic, hand-washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Yes, the power is in your hands to prevent many conditions. Washing hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs throughout an entire community -- at home, school and work. According to Will Sawyer, MD, an international infection prevention expert, true disease prevention encompasses: 1. Not touching the T-zone -- the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, and mouth 2. Regular hand-washing 3. Vaccinations Imagine how great it would be if you or your family were never sick again from a respiratory infection. This can include diseases such as flu, common colds, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, strep, coronavirus, and more. The T-zone is the portal of entry into our body for majority of diseases. ALL respiratory infections. Gastrointestinal diseases.. If you never touch those mucous membranes with a dirty (contaminated) finger, you will not be sick again from a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. The American Medical Association and American Academy of Physicians cite "Four Principles of Hand Awareness" behaviors to ensure you stay well: 1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating 2. Do not cough into your hands 3. Do not sneeze into your hands. 4. Above all, do not put your hands in your eyes, nose, or mouth (T-zone). What actually happens to the surrounding environment when you cough or sneeze? According to "Inside Science," a news site supported by the American Institute of Physics, an average cough forces about 3,000 droplets out of the body at around 50 miles per hour. On a much grander scale, ONE human sneeze releases around 40,000 droplets into the air, which travel at an astounding 200 miles per hour According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on your hands. You can help yourself and others stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during the key times when germs are likely to get on your hands, and can easily spread to others: • Before, during, and after preparing food; • Before eating food; • Before and after caring for someone who is sick; • Before and after treating a cut or wound; • After using the bathroom; • After changing diapers; • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; • After inserting or removing contact lenses; • After shaking hands with others; • After touching an animal, animal food, or animal waste; • After touching garbage; • Whenever your hands look dirty. What is the best way to wash your hands? CDC advises: 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water, warm if available, and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers including your thumb, and under your nails. 3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds (hum the “happy birthday” song twice). 4. Thoroughly rinse your hands under clean, running water. 5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. 6. If possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet (and to open the door in public facilities). Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Note: while alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situation, they do NOT get rid of all types of germs. Only you are responsible for giving yourself the flu or flu-like illnesses. Help to “spread the word, not the germs. 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.

Kreg Garner, a Brandon, Miss. native, will be joining the Co-Lin baseball coaching staff in 2020-21. Garner, a 2013 Northwest Rankin High School graduate, was a standout catcher for the Cougars. The Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen and Second Team All-American continued his career at Pearl River Community College before playing his final two seasons at Belhaven University. Garner graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management in 2018. "I've been really looking forward to an opportunity like this, especially coaching with guys like coach Smith and coach Edmonson," said Garner. "I've known Jack [Edmonson] for a while now, and I've always known Clay [Smith] as I helped with tournaments at Belhaven as a kid while he was coaching there...so I'm excited to be involved with them and help continue to build a great program at Co-Lin." Garner already has two years of collegiate coaching experience as he served as an assistant coach at Meridian Community College for the past two seasons in 2019 and 2020. "I've experienced the community college system as a player and a coach so I know the competition level of this league," said Garner. "That experience helps tremendously from the recruiting aspect as well." Co-Lin's head baseball coach, Clay Smith, had high praise for the former standout catcher saying, "We are very excited to have coach Garner join our staff. He has a great baseball background from his playing experience in high school, the NJCAA, and the NCAA. He is definitely going to help with the development of our current players and the recruitment of new student-athletes." Garner will be specifically coaching Co-Lin's catchers and outfielders, but with a strong knowledge of the game in all areas, he will prove to be an asset in all facets of coaching. "I'm so excited to get out recruiting and getting our guys on campus and practicing," said Garner. "There is a lot of great things happening at Co-Lin...I've seen some potential plans for some incredible facility upgrades which will help grow the program, and I'm really looking forward to helping make Co-Lin a premier baseball program." Garner resides in Wesson.