Special to Wesson News Wesson Kindergarten student A'layrion Jackson recites "Black Boy Affirmation" Wesson Attendance Center celebrated its 19 th  annual celebration of Black History Month with a program on Friday, February 20 at 6 pm in the school's gymnasium. The program was sponsored by WAC staff members, Albert Brown, Dr. Kendra Armistad, and Tomeka Brice. This year's program had a theme, "Black Voices: Honoring the Past, Equipping the Present, and Inspiring the Future." WAC Gospel Ensemble Co bra Steppers Step Team The year's program featured performances by the WAC Gospel Ensemble, with solo performances by Charlene Hooks, DaKiyah Butler, and Celeen Brice. A Step Showcase was performed by the WAC Cobra Steppers, and poetic recitations and monologues were performed by students from the pre-kindergarten level all the way through the twelfth-grade. There was also over 800 pieces of student work displayed to showcase the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. Dr. Christopher S. King brings his message to the crowd This year's keynote speaker was Copiah County's own, Dr. Christopher S. King. Dr. King has a doctorate degree in Theology. He is a three-time Bronze Star recipient of foreign wars and served three tours in Desert Storm. He is a retired fireman with over 20 years' experience. He is the founder and president of The Power of One Outreach Ministry and is the author of a book entitled  The Work is Plentiful, but the Positive Male Role Models are Few."  Dr. King addressed the audience, especially the youth, with positive words and encouragement on living life each day knowing your worth and that there is no one better than you. Wesson Attendance Center, Tommy Clopton, presents Dr. King with recognition for being keynote speaker

By Bob Arnold Brookhaven new base for international contractor. In an economy characterized by uncertainty in which employers are passing on location and expansion decisions, a major international construction and maintenance firm that serves downstream and midstream oil and gas companies, manufacturers and electric utilities throughout the world has established an operations base in the area that has created more than 70 jobs.   Baton Rouge-based MMR Group purchased Brookhaven-Lincoln County Economic Development Alliance’s (BLCEDA) 50,000 square foot spec industrial building in the Linbrook Business Park at Brookhaven in May, has been customizing it to meet its particular business needs and ramping up operations there at the same time.  It is one of 30 MMR Group offices and locations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, where more than 5,000 employees serve clients across four continents in 36 countries.   The fifth largest electrical contractor and 16 th  largest specialty contractor in the nation, MMR Group’s work encompasses instrument and technical services, electrical construction, power distribution, panel and modular control buildings, telecommunication and security systems, commissioning and startup, power development, maintenance, mission critical construction and power engineering and design.  Since 1991, it has performed more than $6 billion in electrical and instrumentation services.   “In the near future the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce (BLCCC) will recognize this new addition to the area economy in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony,” BLCCC and BLCEDA Executive Director Garrick Combs reports.   For Combs, the MMR Group’s decision to locate in the area affirms two BLCEDA economic development strategies:     Spec buildings.   The centerpiece of BLCEDA efforts to attract industrial companies in recent years has been empty industrial buildings into which companies can take over, fashion according to their specialized needs and readily start operating.  Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) has recognized the unique BLCC-BLCEDA economic development model as an effective way to lure employers that want to deploy workers and machinery to get products to market as quickly as possible without a long wait to construct manufacturing facilities.     Economic sector focus.   BLCEDA focuses on attracting industrial companies unfettered by economic uncertainties that delay their decisions about locating new facilities or expanding existing ones.  “The best recruiting prospects are in the utility, logistics and forestry and timber sectors of the economy that are relatively unaffected by tariffs and supply chain disruptions unlike manufacturers – particularly the automotive industry in Mississippi -- and their materials suppliers, particularly of metals and plastics,” says Combs.   Looking to the year ahead, Combs says BLCEDA will be engaged in  planning conversations with new people who have not previously been involved in Brookhaven and Lincoln County economic development.  “Brookhaven has a new Mayor and Board of Aldermen members,” he notes.  “We will review and evaluate strategies that have brought us to where we are, build on them and move forward.”   One lingering industrial project on the agenda is Southwest Electric’s (SE) district headquarters, a 16 million investment for a dispatch office, IT services, a full warehouse, mechanic shop, a truck staging area and laydown yard to house emergency storm crews to better serve its 25,000 members in Lincoln, Copiah, Franklin, Amite, Adams, Hinds, Jefferson and Wilkinson Counties, increase overall system reliability and create more than 100 jobs in the process   Last year, SE purchased land for the facility on Highway 550 near Loyd Star instead of property, which had some wetlands issues, near Brookway Boulevard for which it had an option.  “The purchase on Highway 550 confirmed SE’s commitment to a Lincoln County facility, but when groundbreaking will occur remains a question,” says Combs.  “All in all, it was a good move for SE and BLCEDA, which can use the land formerly under option for something else.”   Grocery shopping for locals remains a question, too.  Although Combs’ work doesn’t encompass retail projects, he says grocery store chains no longer call him to ask about opportunities in the area as they did after the closures of two Piggly Wiggly stores in Brookhaven.  Brookhaven, Lincoln County and surrounding area shoppers now can buy food and other grocery items at three major stores – Walmart, Sullivans and Aldi’s.   A specialized organization paid by the BLCCC tourism committee with funds it receives from a two percent sales tax assessed Brookhaven hotels and motels seeks retail businesses, Combs notes.  The committee also uses the tax monies to build retail traffic and stimulate sales at existing stores through social media and special events – in the process, generating convincing data for retail organizations looking for new markets.    All and all, Combs says the area economy is healthy with sales tax revenues up, the unemployment rate below five percent and now a new major international construction and maintenance organization based in Brookhaven.  He looks forward to an exciting year.

Pictured: Breazeale presenting Martin with award Wesson-based company Jessica Breazeale Consulting (JBC) recently named Chloe Martin of Hurley as the JBC “Student of the Year”. Martin received the award at the Pine Belt chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) at its recent monthly meeting. Martin’s entire family made the trek from Moss Point to celebrate with her. The award came with a $500 scholarship and a membership to PRAM who recognizes her academic excellence, leadership and commitment to advancing the public relations profession. The award was given to Martin by JBC Owner, Jessica Breazeale of Wesson, at the Ogletree Alumni House on the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus. “It’s always been a bucket list item for me to give back to my profession by mentoring students and providing scholarship assistance. This is the first year for the scholarship, and I plan to continue for four more years,” said Breazeale. Breazeale’s consulting company started in 2017 with some freelance projects for clients who needed marketing help with websites and social media. It grew into full-time work with clients across the United States. She has served on the PRAM board of directors for eight years and currently chairs professional development - and serves as a state representative. “I have one employee, a college student who is a PR major, and I strategically hired a college student because I am a teacher at heart. I love teaching, mentoring, helping younger people develop their professional PR skills, “said Breazeale. “Anyone can do marketing. Not everyone does strategic marketing.” Breazeale holds an accreditation in public relations (APR), a special designation showing professional expertise, dedication to the field, progressive industry practices, and high ethical standards. She was the chapter’s 2023 PR Practitioner of the Year. Recipients are selected by an anonymous committee of public relations practitioners. Applicants must come from the Pine Belt region and be communication majors. Applicants submit an application packet, relevant work samples, a résumé, and two letters of recommendation from a professor and/or professional who can verify the student’s qualifications. “Chloe demonstrates outstanding academic excellence and achievements in public relations education. Her graduate coursework consistently reflects intellectual rigor, strong analytical thinking and a sophisticated understanding of public relations as a strategic management function,” said Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin, newly inducted community action chair for Pine Belt PRAM. Martin is a graduate student currently working on her master’s degree. She has served in multiple leadership positions in the Public Relations Student Society of America and other organizations, including the Communication Graduate Association and No Longer Bound at Mississippi State University. She has also completed internships at both True Story Public Relations and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, among other significant accomplishments. “I cannot express my gratitude for receiving this award,” Martin said. “I am so excited that these wonderful professionals see potential in me, and I could not be more excited to see what opportunities come next.” The Pine Belt PRAM Chapter supports public relations professionals and students across the region through professional development, networking and recognition programs. The Student of the Year Award honors a student who demonstrates excellence in public relations studies and involvement. Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at USM’s Alumni House at noon. Students majoring in any communications-related field or professionals working in any communications-related positions are free to join. To join or more information, email kelsey.hester@fvrecycling.com . More info: Jessica Breazeale, APR State Representative; Professional Development Chair PRAM WEBSITE: Pine Belt PRAM – Taking PRide in Promoting the Pine Belt

By Misty Strieff Prine This is probably one of the most profound statements I’ve read in a long time. Think about it for a second. Here you have a person dangling a fishing line. (The Instigator) This person usually has no place in the argument to begin with and just wants to stir things up. At the end of his fishing line is a lure. (The Culprit) It gets yanked back and forth and jumps up and down, all at the hand of the fisherman. Think of that lure as the person that spews snide comment after comment, wanting you to open your mouth and take the bait. If you have a weak moment, run toward that “lure” and you open your mouth, you (The Gullible One) have a 100% chance of getting caught up in an argument with that person. You will more than likely say some things out of anger that you will one day regret...ones that could have been 100% avoided if you just kept your mouth shut. In the midst of every argument you have three people...the instigator that probably is sitting back watching the show, the culprit who needs to quit egging things on to begin with and then you have the gullible one that just cannot keep their mouth shut and takes the bite...the argument ensues and a rivalry is born. Think about it. If the fish had just kept its mouth shut and swam on by, the instigator and the culprit would have eventually just been left dangling their ill intentions and would realize they didn’t have the power over the fish they thought they had. VICTORY goes to the fish! There will be people whose mission in life is to get you to open your mouth and ruin the good you stand for. They will wallow in the fact that you failed and let your anger get the best of you. (Your testimony and witness will be tarnished by those who hear about it or see it.) That’s why you must rise and be better than them. There is so much peace and satisfaction when you can say, “Not today, devil. Not today.” Turn the tables now. If you are the Culprit in the situation, you need to check yourself. Why are you letting other people influence your opinion of a person or situation? You are your own person, and God gave you the ability of thinking for yourself. If someone instigates you, it is probably THEM that has envy in their heart for that person (or fish) that they are trying to turn you against them. Stand up and do the right thing and YOU avoid the instigator. It’s time for you to be the better person. Now this part is for the instigator. If you have beef with someone, you need to pray about it. Pray HARD. Don’t get anyone else involved in your anger towards another person. You need to get your heart right and forgive that person. Learn to turn the other cheek and be the better person. Sometimes the pot just does not need to be stirred and needs to be left alone. If we all do our part, arguments, resentment will exist few and far between in our lives. Love and hate cannot exist in the same spot. I don’t care what anyone says. They just CAN’T. You need to kick anything other than love out of your heart and do your part in keeping things neutral and calm. Trust me, anger and bitterness will fester if you let it. Love will grow by leaps and bounds if you do your part to let it.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB “Wuthering Heights” is based on a classic novel by Emily Brontë. I’ve never read the novel, which is probably for the best. Reports of the movie differing from the novel are actually quite relieving to me. They’re relieving in the sense that I do not have to lose respect for people who like the novel, which I would do if this movie were any indication of its quality. I’m fine with not judging a book by its movie, especially when the movie is this terrible. Young Catherine Earnshaw (Charlotte Mellington) grows up in the Wuthering Heights estate in 18 th -century England, under the care of her rich, cruel, drunken father (Martin Clunes). Servants include same-aged companion Nelly (Vy Nguyen) and rescued street urchin Heathcliff (Owen Cooper). Cathy initially sees Heathcliff as her “toy,” but eventually comes to see him as a friend. As the two get older and Cathy turns into Margot Robbie and Heathcliff turns into Jacob Elordi, they both begin to think that they might become more than friends. It’s hard for me to buy Robbie, who played Leonardo DiCaprio’s wife in “The Wolf of Wall Street” back in 2013, as someone who is just now going through a sexual awakening, but sure, Cathy and Heathcliff are in love, but neither of them will admit it or make the first move. The problem with such a relationship would be the financial aspect. Cathy’s father has gambled away the family’s fortune, leaving them both “near-poverty,” and Heathcliff, as a servant, has practically nothing. Cathy confides in Nelly (now played by Hong Chau), with Heathcliff overhearing, that she needs to marry someone with money, like wealthy neighbor Edgar (Shazad Latif). She goes on to admit that she’d rather marry the broke Heathcliff, but he misses that part. Heathcliff abandons Wuthering Heights the next day and Cathy goes on to marry Edgar. At first, Cathy loves all the material trappings of her marriage (this portion of the film does some impressive things with the “wealth porn” element, with fine foods and flowers everywhere), but she just can’t bring herself to reciprocate Edgar’s love. A pregnancy makes her feel even more trapped. Soon after, Heathcliff returns, a wealthy man. He and Cathy could be together if it weren’t for that pesky lifetime commitment she made. Their workaround is to have an affair. When Cathy wants to cut things off (due to her pregnancy, not fidelity), Heathcliff gets revenge by marrying Edgar’s naïve ward Isabella (Alison Oliver) and treating her horribly. This is supposed to entice Cathy to come back to him… somehow. Can Cathy and Heathcliff’s game of sexual chess end well for either of them? That’s the question I think we’re supposed to be asking. I was much more concerned about how things would end for well-meaning pawns Edgar and Isabella. Cathy and Heathcliff turn each other into monsters by the end, and not in a tragic, understandable way – more like they’re locked in a contest to see who can be the bigger spoiled brat. Cathy grew up a spoiled brat, but Heathcliff watched her and learned from the best. Speaking of “brat,” I liked the snippets of Charli XCX songs that played throughout the film, usually in scenes of heavy fog that seemed to match the singer’s breathy voice. Maybe she should have played Cathy. “Wuthering Heights” is a movie about two people who deserve each other. At first, this can be said with positive connotations that slowly turn to negative. Because there are so many erotic scenes with the main characters in fancy costumes, this movie is supposedly “romantic.” I’m worried about what young romantics will take away from this movie, considering how many of them came out of last year’s “Nosferatu” with a crush on Count Orlok. I walked away from this film wanting both main characters to fall from a height – Wuthering or otherwise. Grade: C- “Wuthering Heights” is rated R for sexual content, some violent content, and language. Its running time is 136 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

The 13th Annual Princess Ball brought a fun evening out and quality time for daddies and daughters on Saturday, Feb. 7 at Co-Lin’s Thames Center.  The event is an annual fundraiser for student scholarships hosted by the Blue Wave Band and Colette alumni chapter.  The ball had two sessions, 4:30 and 6:30 evening times. Refreshments were served. Namebrand  Photography had portraits set up for an additional fee. DJ Stanley Martin of Wesson, Owner of Super Sounds DJ/Karaoke, managed the music. The Colettes served drinks and hosted daddy/daughter limbo fun. Band members worked parking and set up/clean-up crew. Dalton & Haisley Rushing of Wesson Mallory Fisk of Wesson  Justin Smith and Emma Rae of Wesson Logan Carr of Wesson dancing with daughter Remi and Mallory Fisk dancing with her dad

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Old and slow-moving, nevertheless, Grace faithfully carried her blind rider on the snow-covered, lonely, and seemingly endless journey. There was no real visibility, due to the heavy clouds that hid the moon and stars.  But even if the moon had been as bright as the sun during that long night, the old man with his sightless eyes still would not have seen a thing. If left up to him, He could easily have wandered around endlessly, trying  to find the right path to his log cabin. Yet Grace instinctively knew. She had a horse’s unerring sense of direction, and she knew which path would take her rider home. Grace evaded a lot of dead ends that lead nowhere that night. And that horse also sidestepped dangerous holes in the ground that could have easily caused the old man riding on her back to plunge to the ground.  Hazardous ledges and crevices were all cautiously avoided, which undoubtedly made for a much longer and arduous journey, but also saved her rider from possible harm or death. Finally, the scent of the burning logs in the fire place of his old cabin scented the frozen air as horse and rider drew closer to the old homestead. Grace ambled slowly up to the ancient barn, then stopped and nickered  softly. The old man slowly raised his heavy head, and breathed a deep sigh of relief as he sensed that only steps away, his beloved daughter waited patiently just inside the door of his old house. In just a few more  minutes, love, warmth, security, and safety would wrap their arms around his shaking old body. Barely able to move, he stiffly leaned forward over the frost-covered mane of Grace and gratefully patted her neck,  murmuring his thanks and undying love for his faithful old horse. Reminds me of another faithful bearer of an equally blind and helpless rider. Only this faithful companion thru a long, dark and cold journey is not a horse named Grace. It is Grace. And that blind and helpless rider is every man, woman and child who has ever lived on this danger-ridden and evil-minded earth. Because when it comes to finally entering our Home in heaven, without the help of  Grace, it is impossible. The grace of our God is the only way we are able to eventually enter those gates. There are way too many pitfalls, dangerously wrong paths, and pure evil stalking us through our dark nights for  us to ever find our road home…without Grace. Always there for us. Always knowing the right road that we need to take. Always guiding us toward it. Faithful, perfect-sighted, older than time itself… Grace.

Special to Wesson News Pictured L to R: Owner Marla Weeks, Corley Sandifer of Wesson (esthetician who specializes in lashes), Skylar McDaniel of McComb (specializing in hair and nails) Stylists from Knockout Salon & Spa recently went to Dallas to learn the newest techniques and updates for Japanese Head Spa, a new service offered at 506 Highway 51 in Brookhaven.  “We can’t wait to start implementing all this new knowledge and upgraded experiences for you all. We truly had the best time together,” said Marlana Weeks of Brookhaven, salon and spa owner. “2026 is going to be our best year yet — I can feel it!” Japanese Head Spa is a rejuvenating ritual inspired by traditional Japanese scalp care. It’s more than a wash but is explained as a therapeutic experience for the scalp and mind.  Japanese Head Spa has numerous health benefits such as deep scalp cleansing, hair growth stimulation, stress relief & relaxation, scalp health improvement, mental clarity, and hair shine and softness.  Knockout will host a Little Girl’s Spa Party on Feb. 28 at 10 am. The event is $30 gives little girls the opportunity to enjoy a mini facial, mani/pedi, hair tinsel, hair wash and style, makeup, personalized gifts and more. To secure a spot, text  (601) 967-2624.  For all your beauty needs — whether it’s hair, a simple shampoo & style, spray tans, facials, nails, or permanent makeup, visit Knockout Salon & Spa. They will pamper you from head to toe!

By Bob Arnold          Steel Outdoors, a Wesson-based metal fabricator, is going back to its original  product emphasis under a new CEO after a two-year struggle to survive against increasing competition.         Brandon McLemore, son of Steel Outdoors founder Dwayne McLemore, is charting the company’s new course taking the corporate leadership reins from his father, who is now pursuing a career in the ministry.         The elder McLemore started Steel Outdoors in 2007 in a backyard truck trailer with his wife Pam, fabricating a product line oriented to hunters and outdoors enthusiasts, expanded into design and production of customized metal items for industrial companies and then moved into the housing market with metal roofing, siding and purlins.         From its initial operation, Steel Outdoors moved its facility to a 10,000 square foot utility building, and, in 2018, to a 55,000 square foot manufacturing and office building on Highway 51 in Wesson, where it envisioned growing its workforce to 50 to meet the needs of housing contractors.           “We never realized that lofty vision,” says Brandon McLemore.  “Housing contractors  varied in quality and reliability.  It was not a good market for us.  At the same time, fifteen metal fabricators now compete for our business compared to a handful when we started.  Two years ago, we cut the business to skin and bones, dropping our housing products line and reducing the workforce.  We now utilize half our 50,000 square foot building and lease the other half to another company.”         The new CEO, however, thinks the hard times are in the past, and foresees the workforce growing to 10 to 12, up from currently six employees.         He is now emphasizing the niche outdoors products his father started producing almost 20 years ago when he formulated the company’s slogan:  “100% American-made Steel Products made by hunters for hunters.”  Among its current products are shooting targets, feeders, deer hunting houses, special cut outs, hand rails and gates.          “We’re also still producing customized products for industry, designing and crafting metal products that provide solutions to problems such as safety guards and other parts for conveyors and pipelines,” says the younger McLemore.         He has made the company’s website shopper-friendly, and the first recent $3,000 online purchase seems to confirm that ecommerce is a sound marketing strategy.         Brandon McLemore quit Co-Lin to come to work for Steel Outdoors in 2009.  “I found college studies boring and wanted to work with my hands,” he explains.  When his father said he wanted to retire from the company, he readily volunteered to take it over.  “I had swept floors, done grinding and welding and started designing products.”  McLemore’s wife Jordan is the corporate secretary, and they have two sons, Bailen, 9, and Mathis, 7,  whom they homeschool at the company.

Special to Wesson News The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) has been made aware of contractors acting as unlicensed public adjusters by filing claims on behalf of insureds. This practice is illegal in the State of Mississippi. Any contractor caught filing claims for insureds without a signed contract and proper licensure as a public adjuster will be referred to the Attorney General and/or Board of Contractors for legal action. If you are aware of illegal activity or need other storm-related assistance, contact the MID Consumer Services Division by phone at 1-800-562-2957 or 601-359-2453.  You can also email  consumer@mid.ms.gov Keep the following tips in mind when hiring contractors: Check if a contractor is licensed with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors,  https://www.msboc.us/   Be cautious of door-to-door or phone solicitations, especially after storms. These contractors often rely on high-pressure sales tactics and unlicensed labor. Never pay in full before work is completed. Don't feel pressured to sign or decide immediately—take time to review all documents. If materials must be purchased upfront, pay the supplier directly. Request at least three references and proof of required licenses, permits, insurance, and bonding.  Record the contractor's license plate and driver's license number. If you were impacted by Winter Storm Fern, file an insurance claim as soon as possible. Your policy may require that you make the notification within a certain time period. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company. Ask what documents, forms, and data you will need to file a claim. Keep a record of all conversations with insurance companies, creditors or relief agencies. Once you begin working with an adjuster, ask them for an itemized explanation of the claim settlement offer. Be patient and assist claims adjusters assigned to your case. Small losses may be settled quickly; extensive claims will take longer. Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs covered by your insurance policy.

By Bob Arnold   Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce will speak at Wesson Chamber of Commerce banquet. Wesson is a growing, expanding affordable marketplace for Copiah County, and Wesson Chamber of Commerce’s (WCC) economic development activities support it by helping to make it a great place to live, raise kids and stay if you don’t want to leave, WCC President Teri Bath says.   Over the past three years since Bath assumed the leadership role in the organization, WCC’s membership has ballooned to 39 from ten, with monthly luncheons at varied venues about town that provide a setting for the discussion of local issues and to hear speakers who share information about topics ranging from budget and accounting practices to fraud protection and getting the most out of smart phone.   The Chamber’s next membership meeting on Monday, February 16, at the American Legion lodge will feature BankPlus security executive Dayle Alsbury.   Other WCC activities include:   Taco Tuesday launched this past years is a weekly outdoors event when the weather is good where locals can munch on tasty Mexican food made by vendors and connect with folk with products to sell and information to share.  Billed as a farmers’ market for growers on two to 80 acres to sell their produce, it’s also designed as a business incubator where artisans and other small home-based product and service providers can begin to build their businesses into organizations ready for permanent brick and mortar locations.  Wesson Lions Club and Decell Memorial United Methodist Church have also used the event to talk about their work in the community. In its early days, Taco Tuesdays has been regularly accommodating six vendors, including two area farmers who have been selling cabbage broccoli, collards and tomatoes and a vendor with natural health products, says Bath. Vendors pay a $20 fee that helps support WCC, seven percent tax on their sales that WCC collects for the Mississippi Department of Revenue.   While Taco Tuesdays is about nurturing Wesson business, WCC’s annual banquet , which is April 7 at the Co-Lin Thames Center, honors business and the wider Wesson community with an array of awards:  Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Not-for-profit Organization of the Year, Police Officer and Fire Fighter of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Educators of the Year (at Co-Lin and Wesson Attendance Center).  At the event, Grace Foam Solutions , an expanding business, Steel Outdoors , a business in transition with a new chief executive, two   other metal fabricators  within a five-mile radius of town, Destiny Delights , a home business that moved to a permanent commercial location where it will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 7, as organizations that will be celebrated as part of making Wesson an economic hub, Bath says. Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson will be guest speaker at the WCC April banquet.   Founders’ Day , on May 2 this year, is a WCC celebration of the Wesson community.  Vendors will be selling food, arts and crafts, fleas and other products.  Sharon Langley’s dancers will perform.  Proud dog owners will proudly show what their pets can do in the second annual Doggie Palooza, with more than the 10 performing in the event last year.  Fireworks will conclude the day.  It all will take place for the second year in and around the municipal park, where both kids and adults can frolic in the safety they didn’t enjoy when celebrants had to dodge Highway 51 traffic.   Bath praises the other WCC Board of Directors for their leadership:  Gerri Lynn Porter, vice president; Nikita Jackson, secretary; Pam Stamps, treasurer; Kristi Carney from Copiah Medical Center, Misti Sandifer from Taylor Legacy and Park Place Concessions, Rosie Twiner from Co-Lin and Stanley Martin from the Wesson Board of Aldermen.

Special to Wesson News The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Choir will perform in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at  the internationally renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on Monday, May 25, 2026, marking a distinguished milestone in the history of the college’s choral program. Under the direction of Dr. Bobby G. Helms, Director of Choral Activities, the ensemble will present the world premiere of To Truly Love , a multi-movement composition by Sherry Blevins and Raphael Fusco. The performance will feature choirs from Mississippi and Texas in collaboration with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. Reflecting on the invitation, Dr. Helms stated, “The opportunity to conduct at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and to conduct a world premiere makes the occasion especially meaningful. It is both humbling and inspiring to stand in a venue that holds such a profound and distinguished musical legacy. I am deeply honored to share this experience with our Co-Lin students, alumni, faculty, and fellow choral ensembles from Mississippi and Texas.” The concert is presented by MidAmerica Productions and will also feature distinguished performing arts organizations, including the Mississippi Boychoir, Presbyterian Christian School of Hattiesburg, and First Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas. For more than four decades, MidAmerica Productions has presented conductors, soloists, and choral and orchestral ensembles from across the United States and internationally at New York City’s most prestigious venues. These include Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, as well as Alice Tully Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. The organization has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the advancement of contemporary music, presenting more than 100 world premieres, 40 United States premieres, and 125 New York premieres. This Carnegie Hall engagement represents a significant honor for Copiah-Lincoln Community College and underscores the excellence and continued growth of its choral program. Anyone wishing to donate to help make this trip and performance possible can contact Bobby G. Helms at bobby.helms@colin.edu .