By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Jokes linking football and religion, especially Christianity, are common. “One gets Americans to sit attentively for hours every Sunday, the other is religion.” “Christian athletes always thank God when they win, never blame Him when they lose.” And of course, “WW(FSDJ)D? - What Would (Football Star Du Jour) Do?” With “Him,” it’s like writer/director Justin Tipping went and made a whole movie out of these jokes. But there’s a big problem: the movie isn’t supposed to be a comedy, it’s supposed to be a horror movie. Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) is a promising young quarterback coming off a successful college run, ready to turn pro. Speculation abounds that he could someday by the Greatest Of All-Time, though the current G.O.A.T., the reclusive Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) is still active and winning. One night, Cade is attacked by an assailant in a goat mask (this movie loves its goat/G.O.A.T. jokes) and his career is derailed. He has one hope of recovering in time to be drafted by a pro team: complete an intense weeklong training session led by Isaiah himself at his mysterious estate. It probably goes without saying that the training sessions are absolutely brutal on Cade’s body, especially considering the recent attack. But Cade has been told his whole life that great men make sacrifices, including Isaiah, who has been his hero since childhood. He’s not exactly expecting perfectionist Isaiah to be merciful, but his mentor’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, with psychological torment like injuring a training partner over his own mistakes and holding him at gunpoint. Eventually, the question becomes: how much is Cade willing to sacrifice? He’s already sacrificed years of his life, what’s a few more? He’s already sacrificed his body to the point where a single concussion could end his career if not his life, but professional players take those kinds of risks all the time. How about his family? They’re a high priority, but is gridiron greatness an even higher one? What about his very soul? Yeah, this is going to come down to a battle for his soul. Religious imagery and parallels abound. Isaiah himself is a figure of worship, as zealous fans live in makeshift camps outside his house. Some of them reject Cade as some sort of false prophet, even though he’s supposed to be a welcome guest. When Cade first meets Isaiah, the latter is making a homemade football in a clear reference to Jesus’s carpentry. Isaiah’s wife Elsie (Julia Fox) covers sins and temptations of the flesh. Cade may have, in a way, been sacrificed by his own father in the past. Oh, and Isaiah plays for a team called the San Antonio Saviors. The bluntness of all the religious parallels would be funny if the movie didn’t take itself so seriously. But it keeps insisting that it is first and foremost a horror movie, and it just can’t compete on that level. The editing is too choppy to make for a suspenseful atmosphere or effective jump scares. Violent impacts, both blunt and sharp, are unconvincing. And there is nothing scary about all the goat costumes. Not only is this movie not as scary as the successful blending of horror and comedy that was “Scream,” it’s not as scary as Wayans’ “Scream” parody “Scary Movie.” Speaking of blending horror and comedy, “Him” is produced by successful sketch comedian- turned-extremely-successful-horror-filmmaker Jordan Peele. Peele and Tipping certainly have some overlap in storytelling styles, at least on paper, but Tipping can’t be legitimately scary to save his life. The few comedic scenes fare a little bit better, especially in the finale. The highlight of the movie is the Wayans performance, which surprisingly works on a level not of horror or comedy, but tragedy. I wanted a good horror movie and I would have settled for a decent comedy, but “Him” is like a cross between a fumble and an off-key hymn. Grade: C- “Him” is rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual material, nudity, and some drug use. Its running time is 96 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

By Kara Kimbrough   Spicy-Butter Spaghetti is the perfect quick and easy pasta meal, especially when the butter is made ahead and refrigerated. All that’s left is to add cooked pasta and make an easy cream sauce   Covered in red sauce (or gravy, as Italians lovingly call it); paired with sauteed vegetables, shrimp and more red sauce for a delicious Shrimp Creole; stirred together with chopped vegetables and pepperoni and doused in a vinaigrette dressing for a zesty pasta salad and perhaps my favorite method, topped with meatballs and more of the “gravy” to make a bountiful spaghetti and meatballs meal. I love these pasta dishes equally, as well as quite a few more. Therefore, I’m totally loving the emergence of ingenious pasta recipes and preparation ideas currently “trending” on the internet.    First, “buttery noodles” has become a popular side dish or in some cases, main entrée for those seeking a quick meal. It’s probably the simplest pasta dish of all time…first, boil a pound of pasta in any shape, although wide noodles work best. Melt a stick of butter in a heavy skillet and pour cooked, drained pasta into the skillet. Stir well to combine, then add Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.      This week, I read an article featuring public television chef, cookbook author and restaurant owner Lida Bastianich, whose Italian restaurant Becco I’ve visited in New York City. Becco’s famous pasta trio, which includes three different homemade pastas nightly and its famous bechamel and Bolognese sauce lasagna are also on my pasta favorites list. When asked her favorite dish, I was surprised to learn that it’s the simple dish of Spaghettini with Oil and Garlic, also known as Aglio e Olio.      And my favorite new pasta trend of the week? Discovering the recipe for Spicy-Butter Spaghetti. It's a relatively simple recipe that takes pasta to new heights courtesy of a buttery, spicy butter concoction. For a heartier meal, add cooked, chopped chicken, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto or other favorite proteins. The spicy butter can even be used on other things besides pasta to add extra flavor, including cooked meat, vegetables and bread.      Until I make it back to NYC for another delicious Becco meal, I’ll cope by visiting as many Italian restaurants as possible (email me for a list of my favorites) and making Bastianich’s to-go dish and Spicy Butter Pasta.     Borrowing a line from my Italian friends: “Buon Appetito!” Spicy-Butter Spaghetti: Spicy-Butter: 1/2 cup salted butter, softened 2 tablespoons brown or grainy mustard 2 teaspoons chives, more for garnish 4 teaspoons fresh thyme 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 pinch cayenne pepper, more or less to taste1 pinch red chili flakes, more or less to taste   Remainder: 1 pound spaghetti 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt 1  pinch red pepper flakes, more or less to taste Additions: cooked, chopped chicken, shrimp, vegetables or other favorite protein, if desired Combine butter, brown mustard, chives, thyme, lemon juice, paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne and red chili flakes in a bowl and mix with a spatula until fully combined. Scrape the mixed butter together and form a mound. For best results, to allow the flavors to meld, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight. At the very least, chill for at least 30 minutes. Cook spaghetti in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain spaghetti. Set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add cream, lemon juice, garlic salt and red pepper flakes, and heat until steaming, about 5 minutes. Stir in spaghetti, and add reserved pasta water as needed to thin sauce. Add cooked chicken, shrimp or other favorite protein, if desired, and mix well to combine. Season to taste with chives and pepper flakes, if desired, and serve hot. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

Crystal Springs, Mississippi, will soon host The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The exhibit, which honors the more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives during the Vietnam War, will be on display from Thursday, November 13, through Sunday, November 16, 2025. The event will take place at the Old Rogel Building on the corner of Highway 27 and 51 in Crystal Springs. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the three-quarter scale replica of the memorial wall, which stretches 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Accompanying the wall is a mobile education center that provides additional insight into the history and impact of the Vietnam War. Educational group tours will be available on November 13 and 14, giving students and community groups a meaningful opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War, its veterans, and the memorial’s significance. Educational tours are 46-60 minutes. Contact Cathy Stroud to book a tour by emailing her at   cathyrstroud@gmail.com .  Local organizers are encouraging residents, schools, veterans, and families to attend the event. They emphasize that The Wall That Heals is not only a tribute to those who lost their lives but also a place of healing for veterans, their loved ones, and communities across the nation. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day during its stay in Crystal Springs, and admission is free. This historic event is made possible through the generous support of sponsors. Platinum Sponsors are Hitachi and WGK Engineers and Surveyors. The Regiment Sponsor is Element Wealth Management. Stars and Stripes Sponsors are Tiffany and Dustin Shaver and Kathleen and Larry Bouman. Community Sponsors include Knight of Columbus and St. Paul II Council #17364. Hosted by the City of Crystal Springs and Mississippi Patriots and a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Founders of The Wall  More info at www.thewallthathealsCS2025.org

By Bob Arnold Institute for Learning in Retirement travel in the coming months encompasses three day trips and a tour of San Antonio, Texas, with three of five lodging nights there.    ILR members take their first day trip on Tuesday, September 16, to Touch of Glass Mosaic at Crystal Springs where will they will learn about crafting glass mosaic art pieces in a private class.   The Crystal Springs trip also includes time for shopping in the downtown area and lunch at Brando’s that is not covered in the $40 cost.   The two other day trips are October 8 on Senior American Day at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson and to the Governor’s Mansion on December 15, both at a cost of $30, with registration deadlines of September 24 and October 11 respectively.   The Senior American Day trip includes a performance by Ronnie McDowell, breakfast, tour of vendors at the fairgrounds and shopping at the Mississippi Trade Mart.  Lunch is not included in the cost.   After touring the Christmas-decorated Governor’s Mansion, there will be time for shopping at Renaissance at Colony Park and lunch, which is not included in the cost, at Mama Hamil’s.   The San Antonio tour includes a guided tour of the city, a cruise at its famous river walk district, a visit to the Alamo and IMAX presentation of “Alamo. . .The Price of Freedom,” visit to the White Museum and San Antonio Missions and tour of the LBJ Ranch.  The cost is $659 for a double occupancy room and $859 for single occupancy.  Reservation deadline is September 24.   Contact Erin Johnson at erin.johnson@colin.edu  or 601-643-8702.

Faye Thomas June 25, 1932 - September 16, 2025 93 Years of Age Faye Thomas, 93, of Hazlehurst, MS was born June 25, 1932 to Alfred Thomas and Maggie Bell Richmond Thomas. Faye an educator passed September 16, 2025 at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, MS. Services: Public Visitation: Westhaven Funeral Home Chapel 19068 Highway 51, Hazlehurst, MS 39083 Sep 22, 2025/ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Family & Friends Hour Westhaven Funeral Home Chapel 19068 Highway 51, Hazlehurst, MS 39083 September 22, 2025/ 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Celebration Services Greater Damascus Church of Christ Holiness USA 1013 Damascus Circle, Hazlehurst, MS 39083 September 23, 2025/ 11:00 AM Interment Hazlehurst City Cemetery N. Williams Street, Hazlehurst, MS 39083 September 23, 2025/ 1:00 PM To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Faye Thomas, please visit https://www.articobits.com/obituaries/westhaven-memorial-funeral-home-inc/faye-thomas-obituary

Special to Wesson News Wesson Cobras vs. Lumberton Panthers The Wesson Cobras continued their strong start to the season on Friday, securing a win over Lumberton by forfeit and improving their record to 4-0. While the game was not contested on the field, the result adds to a string of impressive performances that have marked Wesson’s early season. The Cobras have averaged 32.8 points per game through their first four contests, demonstrating a balanced offense capable of scoring in a variety of ways. Prior to Friday, Wesson had put up decisive wins over Franklin County, North Pike, and Bogue Chitto, showcasing both depth and consistency on both sides of the ball. The Cobras’ ability to maintain focus and execute their game plan has been a key factor in their undefeated record. For Lumberton, the forfeit counts as a loss, dropping the Panthers to 1-3, and gives the team a chance to regroup before their next scheduled game. Looking ahead, Wesson will hit the road to face Lawrence County at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The Cougars have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 44 points per game, which could give Wesson the opportunity to showcase its high-powered offense once again. Fans should expect a competitive game, with the Cobras aiming to extend their unbeaten streak. Lumberton will have a longer break before returning to action. Their next game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on October 3, when they host Perry Central. The extra prep time could provide the Panthers with the chance to make adjustments and strengthen both their offense and defense as they look to bounce back from their early-season setbacks.

By Misty Strieff Prine “It’s okay to begin your story today. Those mistakes you’ve made along the way are lessons, not failures. You were meant to get back up and find a way that resonates with you. There is no expiration date to reinventing yourself.” – Unknown Failing at things in life is just part of the process of living. Say this out loud:” I am not the sum of my failures. I’m a better version of myself because of them.” We are not like a gallon of milk that expires and runs out of date, having no purpose and can be poured out and thrown away. We don’t have an appointed “expiration” date that we must shoot for to become a better person. We can start today. We can take baby steps and let that failure resonate JUST enough to pull the lesson from it but not letting it define us. Did you catch that? Remember the failure but in a way that will improve who you are as a child of God! We serve a God of second, third...multiple chances. Don’t give up when you fail at something. Lean not on your own understanding but instead lean on His and let Him show you what you did wrong and how you can do better next time. Don’t let others remind of your failures either. That’s not their place. They need to be worrying about sweeping under their own doormats before they start trying to sweep under yours. I see failures as lessons. Lessons that are meant to be applied at different stages of our lives that are to come. God is teaching us now what He knows we need to be prepared for that is yet to come. We just have to LOOK for the lesson within the mess that we so often get ourselves caught up in. If we don’t have the mindset to LOOK, we may miss it altogether. We have to adopt that mindset. He has a purpose for the pain, the rough times and the struggles. So take heart, God is on your side and He will never leave you. You just keep in mind all those lessons He’s teaching you. He’s got big plans for you. They are coming! Be ready! **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

The Wesson Cobras will celebrate Homecoming on Friday night, September 19. Homecoming Queen Sydnee Westrope and her court will be presented in pre-game festivities beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. The Cobras will then take on the Lumberton Panthers in action with a kickoff of 7 p.m. Wesson High School's 2025 Homecoming Court includes (l to r), front row: Attendants for Mr. and Miss Wesson Macy White and Jace Johnson, and Attendants for the Queen John Knight and Allie Peyton Warren; middle row: High School Football Maid Macy Loy, Mr. and Miss Wesson High School Ty Turner and Mary Margaret Woods, 2025 Homecoming Queen Sydnee Westrope, and Senior Class Maids Blair Boyd and Dakiyah Butler; third row: Freshman Class Maid Halle Short, Sophomore Class Maid Ady Rose Dowd, Junior Class Maid Jaycee Heard, Junior Class Maid Presley Bridges, Sophomore Class Maid Bella Sills and Freshman Class MaidCaroline Smith; and back row: Seventh Grade Maid Maya Cline, Eighth Grade Maid Lexie Ryan, Junior High Football Maid Lilli Jackson, Eighth Grade Maid Lyla Formby and Seventh Grade Maid Evelyn Westrope.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB NOTE:  Many theaters have this Japanese animated film available in both “Subbed” and “Dubbed” versions. This review is based on the “Subbed” version – Japanese spoken with English subtitles, with the Japanese voice cast credited. Ah, “Demon Slayer,” the anime franchise that comes out with a new movie about once every two years with seasons’ worth of television between the movies. I don’t keep up with the series, which admittedly puts me outside the film’s target audience of its existing fanbase. If you do follow “Demon Slayer,” you’ll almost certainly get more out of “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” than I did, since you won’t spend half the movie asking who most of the characters are and how much is supposed to be known about them. If you’ve never seen “Demon Slayer” before, “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” is not a good entry point. I at least knew about main hero Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), he of the green-and-black checkered kimono, as well as a few side characters like the pig-masked warrior Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and Tanjiro’s formerly demon-infected sister Nezuko (Akari Kito), who is sidelined in this movie with an injury anyway. But aside from that, I was lost. Fortunately, it turned out that I didn’t need to care about as many characters as the advertising would have it seem – several presumably-popular characters are in the movie for just a few seconds – but I didn’t know that and I was overwhelmed with the prospect of having to keep track of everyone. The movie sees most of the Demon Slayer army battling demons in the Infinity Castle, a sort of cityscape/maze designed by top demon Muzan. It’s the kind of setting you’d see in “Inception” or “Doctor Strange.” Some of the demons are mindless henchmen designed to keep the Slayers busy, but there are some formidable disciples in the mix. For example, butterfly-themed Slayer Shinobu (Saori Hayami) faces off against cult-leading demon Doma (Mamoru Miyano), who killed her sister. Twin “Thunder Breathers” attempt to settle their sibling rivalry once and for all when Slayer Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono) battles demon Kaigaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya). And, in what could be considered the movie’s “main event,” Tanjiro and his mentor Giyu (Takahiro Sakurai) team up to take on regenerative demon Azaka (Akira Ishida). Just when I thought that Azaka made for a dull antagonist, the movie went into his tragic backstory, which turned out to be the highlight of the entire film. The weakest element of the movie is once again the fighting. I’m not saying that there’s no creativity to the moves and styles these characters use, I’m saying that the impact of these moves and styles don’t seem to matter much. This franchise has a style where it seems like every fifth move results in a huge explosion that should kill one, if not both of the fighters. But then it will usually turn out that both fighters survived, and then they take a few breaths and start fighting again – even in instances where the characters are physically incapable of breathing. The lack of lasting impact makes the fight scenes seem surprisingly low-stakes. I wasn’t won over by my third experience with “Demon Slayer.” I was too far behind on lore to care about most of the characters, and the action, while often impressive from a technical standpoint, was largely frustrating. This frustration was compounded by the film’s nearly three-hour runtime. That’s an awfully long time to devote to basically three fights, even with flashbacks and the Infinity Castle framing device. If you’ve liked “Demon Slayer” in the past, don’t let me stop you from seeing “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” but I wouldn’t advise trying to become a new fan with this movie. Grade: C- “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiban – Infinity Castle” is rated R for bloody violence throughout. Its running time is 155 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com If we were all childhood siblings and behaving the way we fellow citizens are acting and reacting, Mom already would have taken away every last one of our toys and privileges, restricted our food to vegetables and water only for a couple of months, and wore out our sorry tails with the bread board. And Dad? We would be praying for Mom's punishment to be the only penalty to come our way. Almost nothing would be off- limits to that angry man, who would be furiously determined to teach us a lesson. One that we kids would NEVER be able to forget. How dare we treat our fellow humans with such careless and cruel inhumanity? There are no societal issues, no belief systems, no "But, but, but, but you don’t understand, I been disrespected!"   that gives any person or any group a reason or right to murder someone. Since when did our country fall into such disgrace? Oh yes, all of us could see the rapid descent we’ve been on the last twenty years. Like we are on a runaway mountain train with nothing to stop it as it flies further down the tracks. But lately? Our train is no longer on a rapid descent, and it’s not even in a free fall. It is being pushed from behind by a two-hundred-ton locomotive engine, straight into hellish acts that defy belief. We have recently witnessed the brutal cold blooded killing of a young man, which in itself is horrendous. And even before that happened, we had already seen way too much brutality and lawlessness in our country.  But now we are having supposedly grown adults actually celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk! Openly, gloatingly, and with angry malice. Simply because they did not agree with his views of God, our country, or his opinions on how to live life. What has happened in the hearts of people in the USA??? What has happened to civility? What about holding fast to your own opinions, and at the same time, courteously letting another have theirs? Without insisting- by physical force if necessary- that EVERYONE accept and agree with your view, opinions and behavior? Folks, it’s way past time this is stopped. We have no Mom and Dad to step in and make us all wish we had shut our mouths, and stopped all the viciousness. I wish there was. But we are on our own. And it is time to put a stop to this horrible treatment of each other. Or we will be looking at the Father God stepping in to put a stop to it all. And that ain't gonna be pretty. Yes, I realize that at this point, there are probably some of you that resent my reference to our Creator, the Father God, because you do not believe in Him.  Again, I repeat, that is your right to disagree with my beliefs. But it not all right for you, or me, to incite violence in order to force each other to accept our opinion. Enough is enough.

Special to Wesson News   The “God Over All Things” (GOAT) Kids Camp hosted by Ricky and Jessica Breazeale is Tuesday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 1, at Wesson Municipal Park.   The Breazeales host the free sports-themed kids camp twice a year.    About a 100 campers ages five years old and up are expected for the sports, activities and dinner, and to learn about God and serving him on the camp days from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Breazeales say.   For the two-day event, Goat Camp Ministries is seeking food donations -- chips, drinks, water, cookies -- and volunteers, including individuals to help as needed, camp counselors and people with special skills from sports groups and civic organizations.  Other important camp needs include guest speakers or teachers, activity providers, and, of course, parents to bring their kids and people to spread the word about the fun and learning.   For information, contact Ricky Breazeale at Grace Foam Solutions ( admin@gracefoamsolutions.com ).

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is celebrating a major milestone as enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester has surpassed 3,000 students for the first time since 2019. There is a total of 3,018 students currently enrolled across the college's three campuses and online programs. Enrollment at Co-Lin has been steadily increasing since the spring of 2023, marking a period of consistent growth. College leaders attribute this success to the dedication of Co-Lin's students, the commitment of faculty and staff, and the support and vision of the administrative team and Board of Trustees. "The continued success of our college is a direct reflection of the people who make up the Co-Lin family," said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. "We are proud of our students, grateful to our faculty and staff, and thankful for the leadership and support of our Board of Trustees. Most importantly, we are honored by each student who has chosen Co-Lin as the place to further their education." Known as The Place To Be , Co-Lin serves students across southwest and central Mississippi by offering academic, career-technical, workforce, and adult education programs with a vibrant student life experience. For more information about Copiah-Lincoln Community College or to schedule a personalized campus tour, visit www.colin.edu .