Brookhaven man cherishes ability to talk and eat after overcoming voice/swallowing disorders at Methodist Rehab By Susan Christensen Health and Research News Service Alone, paralyzed and unable to utter a word. Dezron Wesley of Brookhaven awoke to that reality after a third stroke sent him to a Jackson hospital on April 8. Because of COVID-19, his wife, LaTonya Wesley, couldn’t be by his side during the hospitalization. And the 48-year-old said it was frightening to be isolated and incommunicado. “I was at someone’s mercy,” he said. “He told me how scary it was to wake up and not be able to talk or say what he needed,” said Taylor Miller, his speech therapist while at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. “People don’t think about how important speech is,” Wesley said. “I’d rather lose both arms and legs than not be able to talk. It’s more important to me than mobility.” Wesley arrived at Methodist Rehab on April 24, and it was his second time to undergo stroke therapy there. He’s more susceptible to multiple strokes due to Moyamoya Disease, a rare, cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. Wesley could talk after his first stroke, so he admits he didn’t fully value speech therapy during his first admission. And it seemed he might still be in that mindset during his initial sessions with Miller. “The first thing I understood him say was: ‘I hate speech therapy,’” Miller said. In the rehab medicine setting, speech therapy addresses everything from swallowing issues to problems thinking, remembering and focusing. And Wesley thought tasks to address his cognitive issues were particularly tedious. This time, though, he proved to be an enthusiastic patient. He knew how much he needed the help. “When he first came, he was extremely weak, completely unintelligible, and could not produce any voice,” Miller said. “He also had the worst swallow I’ve ever seen.” Wesley had dysphagia, a swallowing disorder that’s a frequent companion to stroke or brain injury. Unlike people with a normal swallow, he could no longer sense when food was going into his airway. Without the cue to cough, he was at risk of aspirating food or liquids into his lungs and developing an infection. He had to rely on a feeding tube for nourishment. Using VitalStim—a device that employs neuromuscular electrical stimulation—Miller was able to re-educate and strengthen Wesley’s throat muscles. That therapy coupled with exercise and swallow maneuvers freed Wesley from the feeding tube. “In three weeks, he went from pureed food to chopped meat, then to a regular diet,” Miller said. Soon, he was filling up on favorites like fried chicken and Chinese food. “My wife was like: Where are you putting all that?’” he said. As happy as he was to eat again—he’d lost over 20 pounds post-stroke—Wesley was more invested in regaining his voice. Miller said he had significant damage to a few of his cranial nerves which severely impacted his speech (as well as swallowing). One was damage to his tenth cranial nerve, known as the Vagus nerve. Symptoms include difficulty speaking, a voice that is hoarse or wheezy, and trouble swallowing. He also suffered from dysarthria, a motor speech disorder related to the nerve damage caused by his stroke. “He had a difficult time forming words,” Miller said. “Everything sounded muffled, mumbled and strung together.” Muscles in the face, lips, tongue and throat are all involved in talking, and Miller used a variety of strategies to strengthen and improve their coordination during Wesley’s therapy sessions. For instance, using a device called the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument, Wesley did sets of what amounted to tongue pushups. “Taylor has done her part and given me the tools I need,” he said. “I don’t know what I would have done without the techniques she has shown me. I am doing a lot better.” It helped that Wesley made good on his goal to be “a willing participant.” “He has been an absolute delight and made significant improvements,” Miller said. “He has come a long way.” As he left MRC on June 9, Wesley had plans to continue therapy on an outpatient basis. The third stroke also left him paralyzed on his right side, and he hopes to recover enough to resume walking. He also is determined to avoid another stroke, which he realizes will be a challenge because of Moyamoya. Wesley said he felt defeated after his first stroke. “I was a wreck. I thought it was the end of the world.” But his strategy now is to take every opportunity he can to get better. “I’m alive … so I have to make the best of it.”

This story was originally published by Mississippi Today on MississippiToday.org Lawmakers voted on Sunday to remove the Mississippi state flag, the last in the nation featuring the Confederate battle emblem, more than 126 years after it was adopted. The House and Senate passed a bill on Sunday that will immediately remove the state flag, and Gov. Tate Reeves said he would sign the bill into law. A nine-person commission will be appointed to develop a single new design by September, and Mississippi voters will approve or reject that design on the November 2020 ballot. In the meantime, Mississippi will have no official state flag. The historic vote brought tears to the eyes of many lawmakers. Cheers echoed in the halls of the Mississippi State Capitol shortly after the final votes were cast, and many Mississippians who visited the building to witness the moment openly wept. “We are better today than we were yesterday,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, who authored the bill that passed on Sunday. “Today, the future has taken root in the present. Today, we and the rest of the nation can look on our state with new eyes, with pride and hope. “We are not betraying our heritage,” Gunn continued. “We are fulfilling it.” The flag, long a point of political contention in Mississippi, was seen by many as a symbol of hate. In 2001, Mississippi voters decided nearly 2-to-1 to keep the divisive emblem on the state flag, solidifying its place on the official state banner for nearly two decades. For years, supporters of changing the flag have not been able to garner the simple majority needed to change the controversial banner through the normal legislative process. But the violent death of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests that reached Mississippi and shined new light on the state flag. And in recent weeks, immense pressure mounted from religious, business, civic, university, sports and other leaders to remove the Confederate emblem from the flag. A growing list of businesses, cities, counties and other groups either stopped flying the flag or asked leaders to change it. Religious leaders spoken out, saying changing the flag was a “moral issue.”  The NCAA, SEC, and Conference USA this month took action to ban postseason play in Mississippi until the flag was changed. “As an African American man born in 1958, I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez and House Democratic leader. “All the things I heard from those men at the podium – that none of us went up to speak about because we’ve been saying it for years – but all those things they talked about, we’ve been feeling for years.” Johnson began crying and paused for a moment before continuing: “What it means to me is it isn’t just words. They began to understand and feel the same thing I’ve been feeling for 61 years of my life.” Johnson said Mississippi needs help with many problems, such as poverty and poor health care, but the nation and world “have been reluctant” to work with Mississippi and that removing the flag with a Confederate emblem will help. “Now that this is gone, they will begin to look and see who the real Mississippi is, and see that we are more than what that flag represents,” Johnson said. The Senate debate on Sunday lasted about two hours, with several senators arguing that the issue should go to voters instead of being made by lawmakers. Several senators rebutted that argument before passing the bill. “I think the Mississippi Senate and me personally, we want Mississippi to have a heart and a soul,” said Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann after the vote. “Today she had one.” The House approved the bill by a vote of 92-23 on Sunday, with eight more House members voting to approve the final bill than they did on a procedural vote on Saturday. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 37-14, with one more Senate member voting to approve than on Saturday. “For 100 plus years, we have been living under this flag,” said Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood. “We watered this land with our tears and made it rich with our bones, so it’s only fair that we have a symbol that represents us and (does) not remind us of what has happened to us.” The debate over the state flag captured the close attention of Mississippians for weeks. By the final vote in the Senate on Sunday, the news reverberated across the state. Many prominent Mississippians expressed their appreciation. “Removal of the Confederate battle flag from our state flag is long overdue,” former Gov. William Winter said in a statement. “I congratulate the Mississippi Legislature on their decisive action today removing this divisive symbol. Along with many committed Mississippians, I have fought for decades to change the flag, most notably during the flag referendum 20 years ago. “I’m delighted by this positive move,” Winter continued. “I’m especially grateful at age 97 to witness this step forward by the state I love.” Now attention will turn to the next steps in the process of developing a new state flag. The new design “will not include the Confederate battle flag but shall include the words ‘In God We Trust’,” the bill passed on Sunday reads. Should voters reject that design in November, the commission would present a new option during the 2021 legislative session, according to the resolution. Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Philip Gunn will appoint three people each to the commission. The governor’s three appointees must be representatives from the Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Hosemann and Gunn face no specific commission appointment requirements. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History will have up to 15 days after Reeves signs the bill into law to officially retire the current state flag. “All eyes are on Mississippi, and today, we have made an historic decision,” said Sen. Angela Turner Ford, chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus. “… Today we mark a transition for Mississippi, a day where we can be proud to move forward to adopt a symbol that is inclusive, a symbol that all of us can rally behind … We’ve made a decision to move forward, and I hope Mississippians are proud of that decision.”

JACKSON, Miss. – (June 26, 2020) Registration for the 2020 Farm Bureau Classic remains open through July 4th for participants to support the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum and the annual fundraiser taking place virtually this year. Participants are able to choose a 5k Run or a 5k Walk and complete the race in their own time at any location they choose. Results may be submitted through RunSignUp.com beginning Sunday, June 28, 2020. “We are incredibly proud of and grateful for the support we have received so far for this event through the changes we’ve had to make for 2020. With the continued support of Farm Bureau, Raymond James, Fleet Feet, C Spire and over 400 participants already committed to running with us virtually, we know the spirit of the Watermelon Classic will be strong across our city and state this next week even as we can’t spend the holiday together this year.” said Andrea Patterson, Race Director and Director of Community Relations and Marketing for the Museum. Registration is open on www.msfame.com/2020watermelon and the RunSignUp platform. Registration is $25 and includes an official 2020 t-shirt, a finisher’s award and a virtual event bag with coupons and promotions from supporting businesses. After registering, participants will receive more detailed information regarding the event. They will have the opportunity to complete the 5k Run or 5k Walk at any time in any place and submit their results by July 5th. Registration closes on July 4th, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame has partnered with the Parks and Recreations Departments of the City of Madison, City of Ridgeland and City of Flowood as well as the District at Eastover to provide participants with route options to run or walk their 5k during the next week. Runners and walkers can find signage and routes available at Strawberry Patch Park in Madison, the Ridgeland Multi-Use Trail at Rice Road, the Flowood Trail in front of the YMCA, and the loop around the District at Eastover. We are asking participants to please consider using these options or running in your own parks or neighborhoods and not using the traditional race course around the Museum. Participants are also encouraged to join other runners and walkers on social media using the hashtag #2020WatermelonClassic to post pictures and videos of their trainings, runs, walks, and watermelon celebrations. There is an option to print your own race bib to wear, use a virtual finish line graphic, submit pictures for a costume contest, and many more ways to stay connected to other participants. For more questions about the event or to support the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, please visit msfame.com or call our offices at 601-982-8264. About The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame exists to promote, preserve and protect Mississippi’s rich sports heritage for this and generations to come. The Museum serves as a destination for sports legends to live forever through interactive displays and exhibits where visitors can play, live and dream. The 501(c)(3) organization recognizes excellence in athletics and contributions to sports. For more information about the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, visit msfame.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mssportshofandmuseum or Twitter at www.twitter.com/mssportshof.

Governor Tate Reeves’s request for federal public assistance for FEMA disaster 4538 has been approved. Marion, Issaquena and Sharkey counties are now eligible for  public assistance following the February 10-18, 2020 Pearl River flood event and severe weather. The following counties are a part of the disaster declaration: Attala, Carroll, Claiborne, Clay, Copiah, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Leflore, Warren, Wilkinson and Yazoo. The purpose of the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to support communities’ recovery from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure. Local governments, states, tribes, territories and certain private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

Bitcoin is a digital currency in a decentralized network. All balances and transactions are safe in the network because of cryptography. In this modern-day and age, there are already certain merchants who have accepted this form of virtual currency as payment for their products and services. Characteristics of bitcoin Apart from being decentralized without a single institution controlling it, bitcoin also has a limited supply. The reason behind this is that this cryptocurrency is tightly controlled by an underlying complex algorithm that creates it until it reaches about 21 million. Bitcoin transactions are also immutable, inhibiting the possibility that it can be reversed. How does bitcoin work? In order to send and receive bitcoin, individuals and businesses first need to create an electronic wallet. Every bitcoin transaction gets recorded in a public ledger which is referred to as the blockchain. Through this digital ledger, the history of the transactions can be reviewed. Bitcoin Mining In bitcoin mining, the miners need to need to solve complex puzzles in order for them to add a block on the blockchain. Once they do, the miners are able to create bitcoins. This is the same process that is performed to verify transactions in the blockchain. However, you need to set up powerful computers to mine bitcoins because the puzzles you need to solve get more and more complex. This provides a safety net from having too many bitcoins from being generated. Bitcoin Trading For non-miners, they can get their hands on bitcoin through trading. To be able to trade, you need to create an account and deposit money to an online exchange that connects buyers and sellers of the cryptocurrency. In the article “Bitcoin Profit Review” found in https://cryptoevent.io/review/bitcoin-profit/, the experts behind Crypto Event provide a good insight into one of the trading software that you can use to buy and sell bitcoin. Once you have funds in your account, you can already proceed with trading much like you would in the stock market. Advantages of using bitcoin One of the primary advantages of using bitcoin is user autonomy wherein you tend to have more control over how you want to spend your money. With bitcoin, you no longer need to deal with any intermediary authority. The transactions using bitcoin are also discreet and are much less likely to be linked to any personal identity. It is also convenient to pay with bitcoins because your electronic wallet can be made available on your smartphones. This eliminates the need for you to travel to a bank or a store to buy a product or subscribe to a service. Unlike other online transactions, your personal information is unnecessary to complete bitcoin transactions. To wrap things up, you can expect to see more and more people and businesses using bitcoin in the future because it is one of the safest ways to transact online. You can also try and mine your own bitcoin, or explore trading it in an attempt to generate a positive revenue in the end. The important thing is to keep on researching and exploring this cryptocurrency that is very much promising.

Jackson, Miss. — The below is attributable to Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann: “I rise before you today to discuss the flag of our State. This discussion is not prompted by fear of loss of economic development, although virtually every economic developer in our State has indicated opportunities and employment of our citizens will be adversely affected.  Further, it is not prompted by the impending loss of student athletes’ ability to compete for championships, although that has occurred.  Further, I recognize many of our citizens are proud of their individual ancestors, some of whom fought in battle 150 years ago.  I am one of those citizens. While important, these issues are not controlling. What is compelling to me is the future of our children and grandchildren.  They will learn together, they will work together, and they will worship together.  Those who wish to fly our flag should not be typecast in any fashion.  Similarly, those who are offended by our flag are sincere in their beliefs.  The physical acknowledgements of our history are our guideposts and buoys which helps us to avoid reefs in the future.  Destruction of history fails to change it and, over time, opens us to repeat it. However, now we must look to a flag for our collective future to be flown over our collective assets.  I, like the majority of Mississippians, am open to changing our current flag. In my mind, our flag should bear the Seal of the Great State of Mississippi and state “In God We Trust.”  I am open to bringing all citizens together to determine a banner for our future. Some distrust the will of the citizens and fear the public dialogue which comes with a ballot.  I am not one of those people.  Changes in our hearts and minds arise from conversation, and in our Republic by the finality of the ballot box. However, the Legislature in 1894 selected the current flag and the Legislature should address it today.  Failing to do so only harms us and postpones the inevitable.”

Cardio, the ever-giving health improver many of us dread even thinking about. Whether it's running, walking, sprinting, hiking, spinning, rowing, or swimming, cardio can balance out those bad diet choices and low-activity days we all have at least a few times during the week. With the addition of quarantine to our daily lives, the question of "should I go to the gym today?" simply fades to the back of our minds, leaving us with zero guilt as we sit on the couch and polish off a pint of ice cream. "Well, I can't go to the gym anyway so there's nothing I can do." I hear this thought in the back of my head every day that I avoid any activity or outside exercise, yet it's abundantly clear that I can simply go outside for a walk or run, regardless of the status of my gym. Why is it that we all hate to workout, yet when we finish, we feel better than ever? "I'm so happy I did that." I also always say to myself when I muster up the energy to get in some type of movement for the day. It's funny the way our brain plays tricks on us; when we should do something it usually feels like a struggle to get it done, but when we actually do it, looking in hindsight at the back and forth in our minds just seems silly. This applies to many things, and getting in a good rowing session is not an exception. The mental battle of getting in your workout is not much different when you have a home gym, I have learned. The designated space for activity and cardio is right at your fingertips, yet the voice in your head is still anchoring you to the couch and giving your mind countless reasons as to why you shouldn't just get up and get moving. What's all the fuss? Once we get into a routine, it's not even a thought in our minds. Through experience, I've found that the best thing you can do is simply force yourself to get in some cardio until it becomes a habit that's part of your daily routine. At this point, getting off and on that rowing machine is less of an internal struggle and more of a stress reliever than anything else. The reasons we love a rowing machine for your home gym is simple: it's a fast way to get your heart rate up, helps with your cardiovascular health, is entertaining, and is a full-body workout all at the same time. Whether you have 45 minutes to get on your rower or 10, the mental benefits are still there, too. A rowing machine is a great addition to your home gym, not only because of the health benefits but also because it doesn't take up too much space. Whether your fitness goal is losing weight, gaining upper body muscle, lower body muscle, or just maintaining your current shape, the rower will aid you in reaching that goal. There are a few different types of rowing machines and their differences lie in the type of resistance system the machine has. There are 3 different resistance options on rowing machines: air, water, and magnetic resistance. Air resistance is what you'll find on the cheapest options, as it feels the least smooth and is not as natural as the water resistance. The water resistance works by real water in your tank that the flywheel rows through, giving you that natural momentum as if you were actually rowing in the water. Magnetic resistance machines, like the RW200 rower is great because it is very quiet and smooth. This is a big selling point and comes with the top of the line models on the market. No need to worry, though, because you will be able to find a trusty rowing machine at every price range. The differences lie in how long it will last, the smooth feel, and its stability.

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi experienced the greatest improvement in education, ranking 39th in the country, a substantial upturn from the previous ranking of 44 in 2019, according to new data released in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual KIDS COUNT® 2020 Data Book. Gains in high school graduation and 4th grade literacy contributed to the rise in achievement. High school students are also more likely to graduate on time. Fourth graders not proficient in reading improved from the previous year, dropping from 73 percent to 68 percent. “This exciting news is the direct results of leaders, teachers, parents and students working collaboratively to lift academic performance in the state and open the doors of opportunity for students. It also reinforces the success of our national performance in 4th grade math and reading,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. Linda Southward, director of the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, notes that “for Mississippi to continue to make improvements, we must first assure that children and families have the services needed now and after the COVID-19 pandemic.” She further notes that it is “more critical than ever for each child to have computers and access to broadband internet connectivity — this is one example of how Mississippi can build upon the successes in education, along with quality early care and education and more Pre-K classrooms.”  Southward stated that “Mississippians are overwhelmingly supportive of giving our children a strong start, but we know it will take everyone working together, across systems and agencies along with public-private partnerships to make positive differences for Mississippi’s children and their families.” Mississippi ranked 49th nationally for overall child well-being, according to the new report that uses data from health, education, economic well-being and family and community. This is Mississippi’s first decrease in the overall ranking over the past three years. The report is based on the latest data available for the indicators used, all prior to 2020.  This data does not reflect current conditions amidst the COVID-19 crisis. The Casey Foundation has plans to issue a special report in December focused on data from the pandemic. The 2020 KIDS COUNT® Data Book is available at www.aecf.org. Additional information is available at www.aecf.org/databook, which also contains the most recent national, state and local data on hundreds of indicators of child well-being. Journalists interested in creating maps, graphs and rankings in stories about the Data Book can use the KIDS COUNT Data Center at datacenter.kidscount.org.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) held up its sustained record of improved student achievement over the past six years – particularly the state’s record-low dropout rate – in response to the Office of the State Auditor’s (OSA) performance audit for the MDE Office of Dropout Prevention. State law established the office in 2006, though no specific state funds are targeted for the office. The OSA report made no mention of the MDE’s broader, updated strategy to improve student achievement and how it successfully raised student outcomes. “This audit completely ignores the progress made in performance by schools, districts, and students across Mississippi,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “This project was described as a performance audit, but there are no performance metrics included in the report.” The OSA audit cited the MDE for not adhering to the 2006 law because it no longer operates a stand-alone dropout prevention office, disregarding the fact that the MDE’s Office of Secondary Education leads agency-wide dropout prevention efforts. Those efforts are embedded throughout the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) Strategic Plan. Since the Strategic Plan was adopted in 2014, the MDE has spearheaded initiatives that pushed the state’s graduation rate to an all-time high of 85%, up from 74.5% in 2014; reduced the state’s dropout rate to an historic low of 9.7%, a decrease from 13.9% in 2014; and significantly improved student achievement from pre-K through grade 12. The audit also erroneously cites the MDE for using inapplicable graduation rate data when reporting to SBE and the public. The MDE calculates the four-year graduation rate in accordance with the definition established in Section 8101(25) of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. “Given the tremendous progress Mississippi students, teachers and schools have made over the past six years, it is disheartening to read a report that focuses on outdated procedures that have not been effective,” Wright said. “The State Board of Education Strategic Plan has modernized the state’s approach to education, which has resulted in historic and sustained student achievement across Mississippi. The nation now considers Mississippi a leader in education because our students are making faster progress than nearly every other state.” Read the MDE’s complete response to the OSA audit. Read the 2018-19 Superintendent’s Annual Report for details about student achievement reaching an all-time high.

Whenever music sampling is mentioned, many people have questions. In this article, we will answer the four most important music sampling questions. By the end of the reading, you will feel confident that you have some important information that can help you use music samples successfully. What is music sampling? Music sampling is picking a small part of someone else’s music and using it in your song. It can take many forms and not just picking up some of the artist's beats. Good sampling can take other forms, including picking vocals and other aspects of the music. You don't have to do sampling yourself. You can look for music sampling companies for help. Some will provide an extensive collection of different music (mash-ups) that you can use. The https://samplified.us/ team reckons that today's music writing has gone a notch higher. It relies heavily on high-technology tools and equipment making it essential for any established artist to guard his or her work through tight copyright laws. In that case, sampling is, therefore, difficult to do when you don't have the necessary information. They recommend that artists who want to use sampled music should only work with professional companies that know how to handle the legal and professional aspects of sampled work. Is music sampling legal? This is one of the most important questions that people ask. First, most people believe that sampled music is stolen. They will be quick to label the user as lazy and a thief. Secondly, they think that it can be done without repercussions of some sort of backlash. This is far from it. Music sampling is a professional form of art. It requires that the person who is sampling the music must contact the copyright owner. This is not just the usual chitchat. It is an official correspondence with an explicit request to use the work. The copyright owner will give the terms and conditions of use, making a legally binding agreement. Any other approach to music sampling is illegal and should be resisted. Every artist deserves the right to enjoy the fruits of his or her labor. Taking that right away is unethical. It does not matter how small the sample is. Reach out to the artists and make a deal. Some artists will not demand much money. Others will not even request anything in return. It does not matter if you are using the sample for commercial purposes or not. Make sure you have permission. Why do artists sample music? There are thousands of reasons why people sample music in their work. First, people do so to remember, pay tribute, or promote the original artists. Famous artists such as Michael Jackson left a legacy and a host of musicians who want to emulate his work. They will pay tribute and homage to his work through various forms, including mimicking his style, content development, and even sampling. Secondly, good music will last for a long time. Replicating good music gives fans a variety and improves the existing range of songs from famous artists. Sampling helps artists achieve this critical goal. They can keep the music alive for longer, bring variety to it, and improve on it. Thirdly, think of a song such as a 'Thriller.' Remaking it using modern technology will probably give it even much more appeal. However, sampling is limited to only small bits of the song. It does not erode the original by redoing it but rather by offering glimpses of the original in today’s world. If sampling is done well, it can even do better than the original because it freshens the memories of the original’s work while winning a new fan base. How do you start music sampling? As noted above, the idea is to understand what you want. Once you have identified the samples that you want to use for your music, you can now reach out to a sampling agency for help. If you have direct communication with the artists you want to use his or her music, you can reach out directly. However, you still need professional music sampling to ensure that you are sampling something that your audience will love. If you are starting, you can sample free music available online. Some of the sites that offer free sampled music include the library of congress and SimpleSwap. You can be sure that you will not find high-quality samples there. Seeking professional sampling ensures that you get precisely what you want. You can sample various genres of music, too. A good music sample should add value to your music. You should also be able to add value to it to give it the intended appeal.

Wesson Attendance Center selected spotlighted four outstanding students as 2020 Valedictorian and Salutatorians: Riley Virginia Smith (Valedictorian) and Anna Claire Crow, Shelbi Leann Maxwell and Catherine Grace Wilson as Salutatorians. Smith is the daughter of Marion and Donna Smith. She was the recipient of the Lincoln County Sale of Champions 2020 Scholarship and Co-Lin Leadership Scholarship. Smith is a member of Lincoln County 4-H in which she participates in livestock projects and shooting sports. She has been selected to compete in the 2020 MS 4-H Skill-a-thon Invitational, is a member of the ACT Platinum Club at Wesson, is a dual-enrollment student at Copiah Lincoln Community College and has been inducted into the college's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honors Society. Smith attends Sylvarena Baptist Church. She plans are to attend Co-Lin, major in Agribusiness and further her education at Mississippi State University. Crow is the daughter of Bradley and Becca Crow and Stan and Claire Rasberry. She was chosen by the student body to be the 2019 Homecoming Queen. Crow is an editor of the yearbook staff, is serving as secretary of her senior class, and is a member of the varsity softball teams, the cheer team, and the golf team. She is a dual-enrollment student at Co-Lin and has been inducted into college's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. Crow is a member of the ACT Silver Club and the Senior Beta Club. She is a member of Little Bahala Baptist Church and is a Junior Ambassador for the Wesson Chamber of Commerce. Crow plans to attend Southwest Mississippi Community College on a softball scholarship, major in Accounting, and further her education at the Mississippi State University. Maxwell is the daughter of Jason and Michelle Berch. She was chosen as Miss Wesson, Senior Class Favorite, Most Athletic, and Senior Most Beautiful. Maxwell is a Superintendent’s honor roll student, a member of the Senior Beta Club and is a dual-enrollment student at Co-Lin, where she has been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. She is on the varsity softball, basketball, cheer and Cross County teams. Maxwell is a member of the ACT Gold Club, Co-President of the Student Council, a Junior Ambassador for the Wesson Chamber of Commerce and a member of Decell Memorial United Methodist Church. She plans to attend Co-Lin Community College on a softball scholarship and major in nursing. Wilson is the daughter of Albert and Deona Wilson. She was chosen as Most Popular by her classmates and as the Lindy Callahan Scholarship Nominee for Wesson. Wilson is a member of the varsity softball and the cheer teams, was a student council officer for three years and is currently serving as Co-President. She is editor of the yearbook staff, serving as vice-president of her senior class and is a member of the Senior Beta Club and the ACT Gold Club. Wilson is a dual-enrollment student at Co-Lin, where she has been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society; is a member of Wesson Baptist Church and serving as a Junior Ambassador for the Wesson Chamber of Commerce. Wilson plans to attend Co-Lin on a softball scholarship, major in Accounting and further her education at Mississippi State University. In accepting their honors, the four scholars left behind some words of wisdom in special speeches: · Smith said in her Valedictorian speech: “Walt Disney once said ‘All our dreams can come true, if we just have the courage to pursue them.’” · Crow said in her Salutatorian speech: “Winnie the Pooh once said ‘How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’” · Maxwell said in her Salutatorian speech: “I believe the trials we have overcome prove that the Class of 2020 can weather any storm.” · Wilson said in her Salutatorian speech: “We are strong, we are resilient, and we are ready.”

Wesson High School (WHS) senior Ashton Roberson and Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) teacher Rod Martin are WAC 2020 STAR student and teacher. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors graduating high school students for academic performance and the teachers they select as exemplary. In Mississippi, the Mississippi Economic Council provides the program leadership with sponsors from the business and educational communities. This year, selection of STAR students was based on their ACT college entrance examination scores. Roberson is the son of Joey and Barbie Roberson and Leigh Hartsook. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Summit, Mississippi. He played football, has been a French horn player in the WHS Mighty Cobra Band, and participated in Academic Team competition. Roberson is a member of the Senior Beta Club and takes classes at Co-Lin as a dual enrolled student. His classmates voted him Most Likely to Succeed and he was selected as Senior Most Handsome. He is in the Platinum ACT Club. Roberson is graduating with High Honors and has a full scholarship to Mississippi State University. He will begin his studies in engineering in the fall with early admissions to the Bagley College of Engineering. Rod Martin, Roberson's choice for STAR Teacher, called him "an exceptional student with a bright future.” Martin has been teaching for the past 23 years. For sixteen of those years, he has taught at Wesson Attendance Center. With primary certifications in English and history, Martin has taught in grades seven through twelve at the school. In addition, he has served as the coach for the Wesson tennis team for eight years and has sponsored the academic team for all 16 years. Martin's proudest honor as a teacher, he says, are his five selections as a STAR Teacher by students at Wesson -- an honor he designates as the highest a teacher can receive. "Wesson has so many outstanding educators who equally deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication to helping their students learn, so to be chosen from among those worthy ranks by a student of the highest caliber is really something special and never to be taken lightly," he points out. "Students as intellectually and musically gifted as Ashton are exceedingly rare and a joy to teach, so I am absolutely humbled to have been his choice for STAR Teacher. He is an amazing young man with incredible potential and a terrific support system in place, so we all expect great things from him in the future as well." Martin is married to the former Penny King, also a teacher at WAC. He resides in the Strong Hope community, is the father of Jessa Martin Greer (24) and Noah Martin (21). He is an active member of Strong Hope Baptist Church, where he serves as video/presentation coordinator and pastoral sidekick.