Winter storms test our preparedness and resilience every year. The recent harsh weather left many of us facing power outages, icy roads, and frozen pipes. How did you manage through the storm? Whether you stayed cozy indoors or braved the elements, sharing experiences helps us all learn and prepare better for future storms. This post offers practical tips to help you finish this storm safely and get ready for the next one. How Did You Manage During the Storm? Winter storms can disrupt daily life in many ways. Some common challenges people face include: Power outages lasting hours or days Difficulty traveling due to icy or snow-covered roads Frozen or burst pipes causing water damage Limited access to groceries and supplies Feeling isolated or unsafe in extreme cold Many readers shared stories of creative solutions and community support. For example, some neighbors checked on each other regularly, sharing food and warmth. Others used battery-powered devices and portable chargers to stay connected. If you had to drive, you likely learned the importance of winter tires and emergency kits in your car. Reflecting on your experience can highlight what worked well and what could improve. Did you have enough food and water? Was your heating system reliable? Did you have a plan for emergencies? These questions help identify gaps in preparation. Essential Tips to Finish This Storm Safely If the storm is still ongoing or you are dealing with its aftermath, here are some tips to stay safe and comfortable: Keep Warm Without Power Use extra blankets and wear layers of clothing. Close off unused rooms to conserve heat. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, use it safely with proper ventilation. Avoid using ovens or grills indoors for heat, as they produce dangerous fumes. Stay Informed Use a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to get weather updates. Charge your phone and devices when power is available. Follow local authorities’ advice on road conditions and emergency shelters. Prevent Frozen Pipes Keep cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air circulation. Let faucets drip slightly to keep water moving. If pipes freeze, apply warm towels or use a hairdryer carefully to thaw them. Manage Food and Water Eat perishable food first to avoid spoilage. Use coolers with ice to keep food cold if the refrigerator is off. Have bottled water on hand in case of water supply issues. Drive Only If Necessary Avoid travel unless absolutely needed. If you must drive, inform someone of your route and expected arrival. Carry an emergency kit with blankets, food, water, flashlight, and a shovel. Preparing for the Next Winter Storm Preparation is key to reducing stress and danger during winter storms. Here are some practical steps to take before the next one hits: Build an Emergency Kit Include items such as: Non-perishable food and bottled water for at least three days Flashlights and extra batteries Battery-powered or hand-crank radio First aid supplies Warm clothing and blankets Portable phone chargers Basic tools and a manual can opener Winterize Your Home Insulate pipes and seal drafts around windows and doors. Service your heating system before winter. Keep fire extinguishers accessible. Install carbon monoxide detectors. Plan for Power Outages Consider a backup generator if possible. Know how to manually open electric garage doors. Store extra fuel safely if using generators or heaters. Stay Connected Share your emergency plan with family and neighbors. Identify local warming centers or shelters. Keep a list of emergency contacts handy. Community Support Makes a Difference Winter storms affect entire neighborhoods. Working together can ease the burden: Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Share resources like snow shovels or extra blankets. Organize community groups to clear sidewalks and driveways. Communicate updates and safety information.

By Guest Columnist Shaw Furlow             Recently, I got involved in an “exciting” race to the finish of the season with a couple of friends who snatched victory from the certain jaws of defeat with their Fantasy Football team.  Their league charged a low entry fee, so not a lot of money was in play. But my friends sweated it out during the final game, as if it were life or death.  Amusing to a non playing, casual observer like myself.    So I decided to find out what it was all about.   There are many good reasons for not playing Fantasy Football – and that’s why I           have remained a casual observer.  First of all, following players each week, keeping up with their stats, who’s hurt, who’s not, takes time. Roughly thirty minutes to an hour each a day. Well hold on there sparky!  I’m retired and finding thirty minutes a day means something has to go. Like what?  One of my naps? Hardly. Cut the time I spend throwing the ball with Flint? Not happening.   The second reason I have no interest in playing Fantasy Football:  I watch NFL, MLB, NCAA football, baseball, softball and volleyball. And seasonally, I watch sailing, tennis and curling. I need no further sporting events to take my time.   Yet a quick internet search shows many people disagree with my perspective.  Some 95 million Americans play Fantasy Football, some in multiple leagues. I can’t sit with a group of gentlemen, or ladies in some cases, without listening to the incessant chatter about who got picked up by whose Fantasy team. Broken record. There’s a lot of chest thumping, high fiving and bragging about a team of professional players you assembled but had nothing to do with coaching. I just don’t get it.  But the quick facts are these: four to eight million Fantasy Football leagues with 40 to 80 million teams generating some $30-$37 billion in revenues.  To get 95 million Americans to agree on anything is difficult.  But these stats came from a quick search on the web, and I believe everything I read online.   Fantasy Football is one of many changes that has affected sports fandom in the modern sports world.  Way back in my teaching days at Jackson Preparatory School, I ate lunch every day with the senior high coaches and the principal.  They were graduates of three major universities, some out of state or lesser known universities and a scholar from Delta State.  For twenty minutes there was chest thumping, high fiving and bragging about their college teams or the New Orleans Saints. We knew the players and coaches. We actually hurt when they lost.  In Fantasy Football, you don’t care if the Saints win as long as Olave catches passes and scores touchdowns for your fantasy team.  It makes games you don’t care about important.  If I don’t care about Jacksonville vs the Jets, I’m not watching. I don’t care who the wide out is.  Not so with the 95 million Americans involved in Fantasy Football.   Fantasy Football has changed the nature of professional football fandom as the impacts of the NCAA Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and transfer portal policies and procedures have influenced the nature of college sports fandom.  The Olympics opened the door for NIL, which allows kids who bust their asses playing sports to use their stardom commercially and share in some of the money their schools and coaches are making – the kind of money a school can use to pay the coach du jour $9 million a year. Through the portal, players can transfer to other schools where they can find better opportunities elsewhere with different coaches and to be utilized by other teams.    Basically, I support both, but I think NIL compensation should be limited to $2 million to eliminate the portal stampede to monied schools; and I think portal transfers should be contingent on a freshman staying two years at a school and not playing for just one year before going elsewhere as now required.    College football conference expansion is another change you don’t want me to get started on – i.e., the 16-team Southeastern Conference!  Change happens.  So you Fantasy Football team owners, GMs and coaches, while some of us don’t get it, continue your joust with the windmills. It’s a noble quest.   EDITOR’S NOTE:  Shaw Furlow is a retired Co-Lin band director, former Wesson News  arts columnist and Brookhaven-based promoter of music programs.

Special to Wesson News   Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History The Mother of Mississippi’s conservation tradition, writer Francis (Fannye) Adine Cook, acquired her lifelong passion as a farmer’s daughter who collected wild plants, birds, mammals and amphibians as a child growing up in a Crystal Springs Victorian home on Georgetown Street in the early 1900s. Born July 19, 1889, she was the seventh child of Gilbert and Martha Ellen Cook and would follow a career as a teacher, auditor, researcher and genealogist as well as a writer and conservationist after graduating from the Industrial Institute and College (new Mississippi University for Women) in 1911 and completing graduate studies at George Washington University in Washington, DC. After teaching history and English literature at West Point and Louisville in Mississippi and in Wyoming and Panama, Cook worked as an auditor with the Internal Revenue Service, while researching and preparing specimens for the Smithsonian Institute and becoming concerned about public indifference in Mississippi to protection of natural resources and the state’s inadequate laws and failure to enforce existing ones.  In the 1920s, she returned to travel her home state at her own expense and campaign for a comprehensive state conservation program, speaking at local fairs and to schools, clubs and county supervisors and exhibiting a poster which illustrated the usefulness of birds in combatting harmful insects.  Her efforts led to organization of the Mississippi Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, which became the Game and Fish Commission, and she supervised a state plant and animal survey funded by the federal Works Progress Administration. Cook collected and cataloged Mississippi wildlife, led the effort to restore the state’s natural environment, pushed for public hunting grounds, conservation laws and education, fish and streams, hawks and owls to control rats and mice, song birds, holly, wild crabapples, dogwood and azalea to beautify roadsides and woodlands, and rallied people to appreciate the outdoors. Cook also started writing, perhaps influenced, inspired and encouraged by Eurora Welty whom she got to know when boarding at the Welty home in Jackson, where she kept a stash of deceased birds in her desk for scientific study.  Her numerous articles and several books included Freshwater Fishes of Mississippi  and Snakes of Mississippi .  She became the first director of the Mississippi Wildlife Museum, now the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, where her personal collection of papers is the basis of a 10,000-volume library; and helped organize the Mississippi Ornithological Society. When Cook wasn’t focused on conservation issues, she and her sister, Lena Mae Brignac, documented cemeteries, producing invaluable records, particularly for markers and cemeteries no longer extant. Cook died April 30, 1964, and she is buried at Crystal Springs City Cemetery.  A life-sized bronze statue commemorate her at Railroad Park in downtown Crystal Springs and a 2600-acre urban nature area is named in her honor in Rankin County.

By: Jessica Breazeale It all started with a rescue cat from Hattiesburg. She changed my perspective. I’m so glad she did because I was judgmental until she changed me. I was judgmental of people who had indoor pets. I thought, “How people let their pet inside their home was beyond me”. Pets are never clean enough, constantly shedding their filth, bad for asthmatic people, and trigger PTSD with all the barking. Isn’t that just common sense, a nonnegotiable that pets should be outside where they belong?” I figured most people were scared of dogs, annoyed by cats, and hated the smells that came with pet ownership. I was judgmental until TiDo came along. Yes, I realize our princess has a boy's name, but our son named her TiDo. We don’t know why. I don’t think he was familiar with the Jackson 5. I think Walker just probably made up a name, and it was his birthday present, so it was only right that Walker got to name his cat. TiDo was a quick decision that became a huge blessing in disguise. My sister asked if she could get Walker a cat for his birthday. She said they found an amazing cat at a cat café that needed a home. Well, she caught me at the perfect time as I was busy working and not fully processing the information. At this time, I was also in the middle of a hot flash because I was in the very thick of menopause. I was dealing with extreme emotional changes from the change of life, so I was all over the place mentally, physically, and psychologically. So, when my sister asked, “Can I get Walker a rescue cat from the Hattiesburg cat café for his birthday?” Lo and behold, I said “sure,” which was very uncharacteristic of me. I don’t typically make huge decisions quickly, I never liked indoor pets, and I’ve never liked to be pressured, either. I had been judgmental of indoor pets my whole life. Why on this certain day did everything change? My sister asked if the cat could be an inside pet. I requested the details to which she replied, “She’s already bathed, spayed, and fully vaxxed”. I guess my sister thought she’d sweeten the deal, because she added, “I will buy her litter box, starter litter, starter food, and a carrying backpack to get her there.” The stars must have been aligned just right; I jokingly tell people when recounting this story. The truth is, God sent her to us in a time of need. I really didn’t give it much thought, which had to have been a God-moment to save me from a judgmental mind. I said to my sister, “Yeah, that sounds fine.” I’m laughing out loud as I type this because that is not me at all, but it is the new me. Fast forward two years: TiDo is a beautiful princess. Is she perfect? NO. She can be bad sometimes, tearing up furniture, eating food that she’s not supposed to eat, etc. She has learned the art of persuasion by going to everyone to beg for treats – the reason she is a little plump. TiDo is truly a part of our family. She aspires to be a top-tier salescat when she grows up, as she’s learned how to play on heartstrings to get what she wants. She’s not perfect, but she is amazing. Over the span of my life, we’ve had lots of animals, but they’ve all been outdoor animals who had to fend for themselves. We fed them regularly but had them at arm's length, so, now looking back, they weren’t truly “pets”. I firmly believe God sent TiDo at a very pivotal time in our lives. God knew something was coming down the pipeline, something that we didn’t know, and that we would need this pet to serve as a little bit of therapy. Now, we all have Tito to cuddle with, swap kisses with, play with, take care of, and nurture, and we didn’t know that we were going to need TiDo the way that we do. Thank God! I was judgmental until…I was not judgmental anymore. I think my point is that we go through all these things to learn lessons, and if we’re not really learning our lessons, then what are we doing? We’re wasting our time. I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t think others’ pets will always trigger PTSD or asthma. I now understand the healing, therapeutic side of pet ownership – something I hadn’t understood until now. Meet TiDo, the princess of the house. She lives like royalty, she wants for nothing as she’s waited on hand and foot. She’s spoiled, and I cannot get her to help around the house and do chores. However, her cuddles and therapeutic kisses help lower my blood pressure, and I’ve learned to just squirt her with a water bottle if she tries to scratch up furniture. She’s learning…but so are we! - Not the end. (TiDo is very much in the middle of her story…or just the beginning.) Walker Breazeale and his cat, TiDo. Walker is an only child. These two are truly like brother and sister. Walker Breazeale and his cat, TiDo Click here to download the blog.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Audiences largely left last June’s zombie threequel “28 Years Later” thinking the same thing, “That was a good movie, but what the heck was up with that ending?” They were referring to the last-minute saving of young protagonist Spike (Alfie Williams) from a hoard of Infected by a gang of blonde-wigged, tracksuit-wearing ruffians led by long-missing earlier character Jimmy (Jack O’Connell). The tone of the sequence was one of stylized action, which clashed with the more ominous, meditative horror (short of the obvious Infected attacks) of the rest of the movie. Now, a mere seven months later, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” provides answers as to exactly what the heck was up with that ending. It turns out that the gang, known as The Fingers (because together they form a mighty fist), while they like to take out the Infected, aren’t much kinder to uninfected humans. They’re a cult of serial killers, all stripped of their original names and now called Jimmy, who serve a Satanic deity known as Old Nick. O’Connell’s leader, now going by the name Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, agrees to take in Spike if he can kill a Jimmy in a battle to the death. Spike lives to be inducted, but he lives in terror. Sadly, that’s his one mode through the entire movie. In “28 Years Later,” the character had a great arc where he abandoned his lying father and safe-haven community to get help for his sick mother and then face an uncertain future, but here he’s just scared all the time. Granted, I’d be consistently scared if I had to spend my life around the vicious Fingers, but it’s not much of a “hero’s journey.” The story sometimes breaks from Spike and The Fingers to spend time with Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a character from the last movie who built The Bone Temple, a tall pile of skulls, as a memorial to the dead, and not, as some thought, a collection of weirdo trophies. He subdues an “Alpha Infected,” who he names Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), and takes strides to study him, as there may be something inside his head (psychologically) that may be the key to overcoming not just the Infected, but the 28-year-old infection. Most of the movie is a noticeable step down from “28 Years Later.” Sure, charging Infected and satanic murderers are scary and all, but it’s missing that certain sense of timing and heartfelt touch given to it by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (Nia DaCosta, of the mixed-bag “Candyman” remake, is at the helm this time). That is, until the two stories converge. Once some of The Fingers become convinced that Dr. Kelson is their god Old Nick (thanks to his iodine-coated red skin), Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal has to find a way to keep his own hold on the group. And that’s where the musical number comes in. It’s not Jack O’Connell performing like he did in “Sinners,” but there is a show-stealing musical number and a climax that redeems the entire movie… and then a poorly-kept secret surprise after that. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” can be a slog at times, and by “at times” I mean pretty much the entire first hour. It shouldn’t be a slog, given the high-stakes subject matter, but I could never shake this feeling that I was just watching a lesser version of a world I had spent just enough time in only seven months ago. But then that ending is so explosive that all is forgiven. Supposedly Danny Boyle will be back to direct a fifth movie in this series (my guess is it will be the third with “Years” in the title, to complete the trilogy within the larger continuity), and if he can seamlessly add his sensitive touch to the spectacle of this movie’s most memorable sequence, we’ll have a horror movie for the ages. Grade: B- “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, graphic nudity, language throughout, and brief drug use. Its running time is 109 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

State college public relations officials are doing their part to encourage students to continue their interest in the area of communication at Mississippi's two-and four-year colleges with three $1,250 scholarships.   Students applying for the CPRAM (College Public Relations Association of Mississippi) scholarship must be majoring in one of the following fields of study: public relations, communications, journalism, advertising, mass communications, political communications, crisis management, graphic design or other communication-oriented major.  The scholarships could be awarded to a May 2026 high school graduate, a student entering or enrolled at the state's two-year colleges and to a student entering or enrolled at the state's four-year colleges for the 2026 fall semester. The student must also be enrolled full-time.   Scholarship applicants must be in good standing and present three letters of recommendation from individuals connected to their academic institution. This includes college advisers, high school teacher/official, home-school teacher, etc. Students may be recommended by an active CPRAM member.   The applicants must complete in full the scholarship application and return it to the scholarship committee no later than Feb. 20, 2026. Applicants also must include a 500-word essay entitled, "With all the changes being made in the field of Communications, what skills do I have to keep up with these changes?" Note: The essay must be specific to the applicant's skills.   Students receiving the scholarship can be awarded the scholarship for more than one year, but they must reapply every year. The scholarship committee reserves the right to make its decision based on need, merit and the number of applicants each year.   CPRAM reserves the right to revoke this scholarship if a student withdraws from school during the award year, changes his/her major, fails to maintain a 2.0 GPA or other grave instances of misconduct.   The committee will announce the winner(s) during its annual conference held in May/June. The scholarship will then be awarded for the 2026 fall term.   For more information, contact CPRAM scholarship chairman Steve Diffey at (662) 472-9068 or sdiffey@holmescc.edu .

Send any responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com     A mirror has a tough job.  To show you how fit, skinny or fat your body is. Your clothes have a tougher job, to make your body look good. Your body that is fit, ski…well, no need, you already have yourself categorized.  A washing machine’s job is to clean those dirty clothes you’ve had on your fit, skinny or fat body. The water in your shower or bath is to remove the dirt from your fat, skinny or fit body. A mirror reflects the truth of our usually pretty sad situation. Clothes help us cover up that…um, situation. Washing machines wash those clothes so that they look and smell better. All of those each do the important job designated to it. But it takes a bath or shower to clean the body, the most important thing you own. But about that clean body. It’s simply just a fit, skinny or fat shell that carries the real you around every day. And you can bathe it until it squeaks, but that will still only make it a clean shell. The real YOU is a living spirit inside that shell that you - hopefully- bathe. Want to be convinced of this? Ask three total strangers to allow you to study their bodies for a minute or two. If they give you that permission, instruct each of them to turn in a circle several times for you. Study them carefully and in detail. Even talk to them. Then as you look ONLY at their neck, ask them if they feel happy, sad or rather numb. Then follow your instincts and look in their eyes, not just at their body parts. Ask them the very same question again, whether they are numb, happy or sad.  I am willing to wager that you will be more convinced of their answer when you look straight into their eyes. Why? Because the eyes generally reflect the real emotions of the spirit within.  Shakespeare and Jesus Christ agreed that the eyes are the window to the soul. The eyes are pretty good at exposing what the body is attempting to hide from the world. A person can be doing a great job of acting happy and peaceful around you, but look into those windows and see what’s real. Our eyes tell the whole truth and are usually a dead-giveaway when we are struggling emotionally. Much like the six-year-old who has not yet learned the fine art of not telling the whole truth regarding what goes on in the privacy of your home. “Teacher, Mommy won’t let Daddy sleep in their bedroom anymore.”    Yikes!!!! Folks, you are not your body, you have deeper things to worry about than that. You have a spirit that needs real care. Take care of that body, definitely. But more importantly, take care of your spirit.

Special to Wesson News   Wesson Alderman-at-Large Stanley Martin represented SuperSounds DJ/Karaoke and Super Shots Photo Boot among some 20 businesses and organizations in remote radio interviews before the annual Christmas parade that spotlighted the variety of products and services available in Wesson. Wesson businesses and organization were spotlighted throughout the area in a special radio promotion last month.   A remote from downtown Wesson before the annual Christmas parade aired owners and representatives of local for-profit and not-for-profit organizations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 9 on K106, B92 and WAZA 107.7.    They talked about what they do, their products and services, giving back to the community, particularly during the holiday season, and the importance of shopping local and using Wesson services before going elsewhere.   Participants in the remote paid $100 for their air time.  They included Grace Foam Solutions, SuperSounds DJ/Karaoke & Super Shots Photo Booth, Destiny’s Delights , The Event Room, Copiah Nutrition , Copiah-Lincoln Community College , C&L Treasures , Hispanic Heritage Cleaning , Mossy Oak Properties  Agent Stephen Ashley, Hunter L. Posey Insurance , Mill Town Mall Antiques and Flea Market , Taylor’s Legacy LLC Heating & Air , Fire House BBQ , 51 Diner , Ace Hardware , Shop  ‘n Wash, Sherry Davis, Realtor - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices , Hometown Family Dental , Mill Town Salon & Day Spa, Wesson Friends of the Library, Wesson American Legion Post 79.

With more extreme cold and winter weather possible in the days to come, it’s important to check the safety of your heating equipment. Most importantly, remember to keep clothes, drapes, and anything else combustible at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment, especially space heaters. The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) Fire Services Division and State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) recommend the following heating fire safety tips. Never use space heaters while you sleep or in areas where children may be without adult supervision. Do not leave space heaters on when you are away from home. Always unplug space heaters when they are not in use. The heater should also be equipped with a tip-over shut-off switch. All heating equipment should be UL® approved and cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional before being used each year. Inspect the space heater’s power cord for damage, fraying, or heat. If the cord inspection reveals any of these issues, the heater should be replaced. Proper cleaning is essential and should be done regularly. Never use a stove or oven to heat living spaces. Kerosene is a poor choice for heating, as it emits poisonous fumes. Have chimney flues cleaned and inspected by qualified personnel. Burn only approved materials in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Never burn paper or trash in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Smoke alarms should be placed in every sleeping area and common hallways and on every level of the home. Should a fire break out in the home, have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow and have a designated meeting place for all family members. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and don’t go back inside the home under any circumstances. Below freezing temperatures, ice and snow could damage your roof and plumbing. Severe weather could also mean a high number of insurance claims. “Many insurance policies do not provide coverage for frozen pipes and other damage in homes that are no longer occupied or that are vacant. For example, if you’ve listed your home for sale, moved out, and turned off the heat, then the pipes freeze and burst, the insurance company could deny your claim because you did not take the proper steps to protect the home,” said Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. Avoid an insurance claim by taking action now. Leave your faucet running with a slight drip and open the cabinet doors under your sinks. Look at the trees around your property and cut back branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. Clearing the debris from your gutters will help prevent ice dams by allowing meltwater to drain freely. Evaluate the insulation and ventilation (roof or soffit vents) in your attic, keeping the warm air in your home and out of your attic. Perform maintenance checks on your vehicle. Check the battery, antifreeze and wiper fluid levels. Fill up with gas, pack emergency supplies and keep a windshield scraper on-hand to remove ice.

Special to Wesson News Building on its ongoing commitment to simplifying care, Walmart continues its 2026 health momentum with The Wellness Event — a free, nationwide health and wellness experience taking place Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart stores across the country. Designed to help customers feel informed, supported and energized, the event brings together Walmart’s pharmacy, vision and wellness teams for essential health screenings, guidance and access to affordable or no-cost immunizations*. This year’s event also offers exclusive wellness sample boxes filled with nutrition-forward snacks, supplements and curated items to help customers jump-start and sustain healthier habits throughout 2026.  Walmart has also lowered prices on over 1,000 wellness products. As customers pursue their health goals for the year ahead, Walmart deepens its role as a trusted, community-focused wellness destination. With more than 4,000 stores in areas experiencing medical provider shortages, Walmart’s omnichannel approach – including in-store pharmacies and Vision Centers, a wide assortment of wellness products, online tools, enhanced delivery options and private Health Services rooms – ensures convenient, accessible care wherever customers are. Since 2014, Walmart’s wellness events have delivered more than 5 million free health screenings, underscoring its commitment to supporting healthier communities nationwide. “A fresh year brings fresh motivation, and The Wellness Event is our way of helping customers turn that motivation into meaningful action,” said Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart. “With convenient, trusted care and everyday wellness solutions, we’re committed to meeting people where they are and supporting their health goals in practical, affordable ways.” Earlier this month, Walmart announced  the launch of Better Care Services , which give customers instant access to a curated network of third-party, virtual care providers. Select providers are currently offering a $15 discount on certain telehealth services. These initiatives showcase Walmart’s commitment to simplifying care, trust and wellness in the communities we serve. To make staying on track even simpler, Walmart Pharmacy Delivery brings prescriptions and everyday essentials straight to customers’ doors — reaching more than 95% of U.S. households, with express delivery available in as fast as 30 minutes. What Customers Can Expect on Jan. 24 Free health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and BMI at nearly 4,600 Walmart pharmacies. Complimentary vision screenings at select Vision Center locations. No-cost flu shots* plus affordable immunizations such as RSV, shingles, tetanus, HPV and more. Guidance from trusted Walmart pharmacists, offering nutrition insights, medication support and personalized recommendations. Curated wellness sample boxes featuring nutritious snacks, vitamins, supplements and other essentials to fuel 2026 health journeys.   Event Details Date: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Walmart pharmacies nationwide *$0 co-pay with most insurance coverage. Restrictions apply.

By: Jessica Breazeale Unfortunately, pride shows up in everything we do. We don’t like to admit wrongdoing or the things we aren’t proud of. We don’t like self-reflection. That’s pride.   Pride takes a relationship between two and turns it into a relationship of one. Over time, the proud, fierce roar feels like loneliness. How does pride show up in your workplace ? Maybe you have lots of workplace conflicts. Maybe you give the silent-treatment until someone who owes you an apology gives you one. Maybe these thoughts have turned you bitter, cold and distant. Maybe you show up to work but give terrible customer service because you hate being there and hate people. Maybe you’ve started to make people feel awkward. Pride shows up in the workplace.   How does pride show up in your home ? Maybe you get louder and louder until you feel heard. (This sounds like me while trying to get my teen to do his chores.) Maybe you shun anyone who disagrees with you. Cut off. Period. Maybe you refuse to listen to anyone who believes differently from you. Maybe you are demanding your way to be accepted, and you refuse to be kind or loving. Pride shows up in the home.   How does pride show up at church ? Maybe you see a million things that need to be done. You can easily point them all out, but you never help. You point and bark. But never really get involved. Maybe you can personally identify lots of people who have needs. But rather than helping them…you tell your church to go help. Maybe you’re a bit of a troublemaker…stirring up gossip and drama because it’s a social club to you rather than a holy community. Maybe you sit further and further in the back, show up later and later, attend less and less - until you completely shut yourself off. Maybe you don’t like how someone at church made you feel or the way they worded something, so you kept your distance and avoided them. Maybe you disagree with something, so you hop to the next church. Pride definitely shows up at church.   Can we go deeper  than just eliminating prideful thoughts ? That sounds too self-help, and I’m not so sure self-help talk has ever helped us as a people yet.   How can we say or assume we “follow Jesus” without completely adjusting our lifestyles, thoughts, plans, emotions, desires, etc.?   It’s called “dying to self” – choosing to wake up new every morning, shaking off the old person and old ways, and embracing the new self. Start with a clean slate, forgiving yourself, putting on the mind of Christ, and letting his peace guard your heart and mind. How can we deny ourselves tomorrow morning when we wake up? It doesn’t happen on its own, and it doesn’t happen without real intentional effort all day every day.   As a human myself, all I can offer is something that helps me. I see visuals in my mind that serve as symbolic reminders. The wooden ladder leaning against a window of the  Church of the Holy Sepulcher  in the  Old City of Jerusalem When I think about swallowing the bitter taste of pride, I visualize the ladder at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It’s in the Holy City and called the “Immovable Ladder”. It’s a law that explains nothing from the church can be moved unless all six of its religious denominations agree to prevent disputes. The ladder has not moved for three centuries. This is a symbolic reminder of painful, long-suffering divisions.   Do we think we’re always right, our ways are the best ways , our ideas are the correct  ones, our emotions are always validated, or our beliefs are the accurate views everyone should adhere to? Are we constantly fighting for our rights, demanding to be heard, shunning those who disagree?  Do we get mad, cold, or bitter when someone has a different opinion? Do we shut down when things don’t go our way? Shall we all just take a moment to self-reflect…   Of course, we won’t all agree. It’s what makes us uniquely human. However, mutual love, respect, and kindness are the missing puzzle pieces to seeing beauty in unity and unity in real community.   Different is good. It allows us to display the attributes of God. If everyone thought, said, and acted just like you, would you have any reason to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? While it’s not easy to swallow the bitter taste of pride, it sure makes us feel better and lighter later. Don’t allow your pride to hold you back.   It’s time to “move that ladder”. Your time is too short, and calling is too great to let the differences that God formed with his own holy hands hold us back from the prosperous future we can experience.

by Jack Criss Jack Criss No, this column is not a sales pitch. And a disclaimer: since 1992, I have made the vast majority of my living selling print advertising. But, is print advertising still relevant? In this razzle dazzle day and age of "targeted marketing" through social media, AI and countless digital and cable offerings that promise immediate results and statistics, why would a business or individual still spend money on an old-fashioned print ad? Yes, print advertising has been around for decades -- centuries, in fact -- and there's a reason for that. Print remains one of the most trusted ways for brands to connect with people. Print has never really gone away and I will tell you that it never will. In fact, many marketers who once moved on are finding their way back to the newspaper and magazine industries because of the trust and authority that print has always delivered. For example, local papers are just that: local. Neighbors and potential customers will see ads placed and comment on them if produced well enough: at church, the grocery store, passing on the street, etc. Which leads to another important point about print advertising. I've heard, for example, from skeptical potential advertisers in my sales efforts that, "Well, my ad just won't stand out among all the others." Is that not also the possible case with online advertising?! I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who gets annoyed when, after having searched for a product, I then get bombarded on Facebook, email and even my phone with offers and pitches. That's not effective advertising -- it's harassment. Plus, MAKE your ad stand out. Sales reps and their designer teams can help you word your message succinctly and make it look in such a way that catches the eye and conveys what you want. Plus, you can call them and make changes (as timelines permit) whenever you want. Try that with Facebook or Roku ads and let me know how it works out for you. And it's not an "either/or" proposition between print and digital. It's your business, company or product: you should utilize whatever means you can afford and whatever you think is appropriate. But, print strengthens your complete marketing approach and still delivers measurable value in today’s crowded marketplace precisely because of what it is. When a person picks up a magazine or paper they usually sit down, focus, and read. They pay attention. They're not randomly scrolling like mad -- they're reading. They are looking. And that's when they see your ad. When that's done, a deeper connection to your brand is made even after they've put the publication down. The message in the ad has most likely been absorbed. I can't tell you how many websites I would love to read or subscribe to but don't because of the endless pop-up ads that block my phone or computer. That's not a problem with print. Plus, these days, a lot of print is created locally. People know the folks who work at the paper or magazine and know they're working with fellow community business people and supporters. That also goes a long way to establish trust and credibility. National studies I've read by objective media research firms, indicate that, to my points above, print advertising is regarded as a credible medium because it appears in vetted, professional publications that audiences already trust. I've also read that, according to a 2024 study, 82% of consumers trust print ads the most for purchase decisions. "When your ad appears in a respected publication, it inherits that reputation. Readers view your message as part of the curated content they chose to read," stated one study I read. In a magazine, by the way. Digital ads flicker and fade. Physical ads capture and hold attention significantly longer than digital impressions, creating lasting focus and long-term brand recall. Plus, many people keep their papers and magazines. Maybe not for months or years, but usually at least for a few weeks or months depending on the regularity of the publishing schedule. Print also appeals to the readers' senses and emotions. The weight of a magazine, the feel of textured paper, even the design layout creates a feel and an experience that helps people remember the message more vividly than something they scroll past online. There are no pop-up blockers on a page and you can't press a button or skip an ad, unless you turn a page. And, I can't tell you the times I've gone to offices and seen articles -- and yes, even print ads -- framed and/or matted on the walls. Not a Facebook post, social media image or digital ad. One of my greatest joys as a writer and salesman over the past 35 years is to see an article I wrote or an ad I sold years ago on the wall of an executive's office. It gives me extreme pride. Online articles are shared -- and then deleted. Local newspapers connect advertisers with neighborhood audiences who value community businesses, as I mentioned earlier. And niche or industry magazines put your message in front of passionate readers who value the content, want to support it and, in the process, be seen for their support through advertising. Recently, I received an email from a young, new marketing director for a major, Mississippi-based business that had been a client of mine for some time. She said the company was abandoning all print for digital marketing only. I won't go into specifics, but that's a huge mistake, especially for the market her particular business serves. She'll discover that soon enough and I'm looking forward to when the company comes back to print again, which I'm pretty sure they will. And while I was disappointed in receiving her email, it got me to thinking about why print advertising does indeed still matter. Maybe more than ever in today's disjointed, anxiety-ridden, divided world. Print is the great equalizer that exists to serve and inform communities and markets and, to my mind, act as a voice for the reader, in both editorial content and advertising. I always tell my advertisers that I can't guarantee them sales or response -- no salesperson can really do that. But what I CAN guarantee is that a memorable, well-worded, informative and eye-catching, pleasing print ad will get attention wherever it's placed. And if the client is not happy, they can pick up the phone and call me and I'll help them find a solution. That's true of all print salespeople, here at our company and all others in the industry. Again, try doing that with the national digital players who often lock businesses into contracts that are very hard to get out of once that credit card number is on file. AM I making a sales pitch here? Maybe so. But only by presenting demonstrable facts and what I know to be true having been in this business for many years. Of course, I want more commissions and to sell more ads -- that's obvious. However, in the world of capitalism, I won't succeed unless you, the client, does too. Advertising is not charity in any medium, print or otherwise -- it's a two-way street. But it's a street we in the print world can walk alongside our clients with towards mutual success. Jack Criss is the Executive Editor of the Mississippi Business Journal and the Delta Business Journal in Cleveland, MS.