By Bob Arnold The 2024 football season for the Co-Lin Wolves saw the team finish 5-4 overall, 3-3 in its conference South Division play, and the retirement of Head Coach Glenn Davis, with his son Micah Davis moving up from his role as offensive coordinator to take over. Coach Davis says the 2025 Wolves could be “special” with a heavy veteran presence and an extremely talented incoming freshmen and transfer group. With initial 42-3 and 23-13 victories over Coahoma and Holmes, his outlook may be right on spot. "On defense, we are a veteran heavy group, especially in the secondary,” says Coach Davis. “Our linebacker group also features some talented veterans, and the incoming guys have been making impacts so far. Lonnie Smith from Jackson at outside linebacker and Rakeem Davis from Port Gibson at the nose position are two of our veterans who have picked up from where they left off. Archie Chambers from New Orleans has been doing well at one of our linebacker spots for us and we also have five returning guys in our secondary that have stood out too. "Having these guys back on the defensive side really makes us like our odds when the season starts and all of those guys are leaders and want to do good for our team and that has been showing up in these early days of camp. "Offensively, our line is going to be a strength with returning four of our five starters from last season. I think that unit has a chance to be great, and the incoming freshmen have come in and looked impressive. This might be the strongest offensive line unit we have had in my time at Co-Lin. In the receiving corps, we are returning nine guys from last year and a couple of impact guys that we expect big things from are Darnell O'Quinn, Jr., from New Orleans who transferred from Southeastern Louisiana and Jermarj Bell, a freshman from Shelby. This group can run, and they are big. Those two groups really have me excited about our chances offensively this season." Davis says that the Wolves backfield is very talented and that the quarterback battle has been fun to watch so far. He says there is good competition for the quarterback spot among three guys great playmakers – Jaylen Pettway from Jacksonville, FL, Eli Viniard from Bassfield and Kendal Middleton from Magee, who are all about even. “We are just looking for the most consistent one,” Davis says. "At running back, we have Dezmond Ray from Itta Bena, who is a redshirt-sophomore with a lot of experience and has been with us for two seasons. We also have a pair of transfers in Ja'Quan Bentley from Thomastown, GA, who came from West Georgia, Martvious Boswell from Fort Worth, TX, who came from Blinn Community College, and freshman Kendarious Porter from Magee. Davis says the kicking game promises to be an important weapon the Wolves this season, with Ty Jones from Summit, an incoming freshman from North Pike who has a tremendous leg. “I am really excited about seeing what he will do for us on special teams because he has height on his extra points and f ield goals, can kick it four or five yards deep in the endzone on kickoffs, and has done a great job on punts," says Davis. Davis says he is looking for a fierce fight from the opponents that the Wolves will face this year, despite a lot of new faces in the South Division. "Our league is always tough, and it will be competitive despite three new head coaches in the South Division including myself,” he says. “Some teams will have new wrinkles, but I really like our team's chances. We can be pretty good as long as we stay consistent and healthy throughout the season. I know that we will be really good on defense and if our offense can match, we have a chance for a special season." The Wolves schedule is favorable with five home games, including three of the first five games at home while the two road trips are to Hinds and Southwest. "Having that many home games is always a plus because it's always good to have home field advantage, playing in front of a home crowd on a familiar field without having to worry about traveling," Davis pointed out. "It's really exciting having basically seven of our nine games be really close to home for not only our team, but also the fans." Davis cites the factors that could make for a special season: "The first one is staying disciplined throughout the season and getting the guys to do what we as coaches ask. We need the leaders of this team to step up to the plate and lead this team in the right direction. I think we have a really good core group of guys that were voted on by the team as leaders, and I'm excited to see how those guys will step up. I also think that we have a team full of guys that want to make plays and do good on the field, and that should carry over from practice to games." Davis adds that, for him, the team’s success is more than wins: "When our guys come here, we have several objectives for them -- to win, to graduate, and to hopefully sign with a four-year school to further their career. “But in all that, we also want them to grow into better young adults which will help them once their careers are over."

By: Bob Arnold             Back in 2010 in Brookhaven after Brittany Brister received a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license from Co-Lin and was still working as a sales clerk at Sally’s Beauty Supply, she decided on a whim to apply for a part time teller position at Regions Bank where she made the daily deposits for her retail employer.               Regions hired her, and Brister has never looked back over 15 years as a banker.  For the past two years, Brister has served as branch manager at Trustmark Bank in Wesson.  Nurses are people she sees when she has a healthcare need, not part of a work life that consists of overseeing operations at the local Trustmark branch.               Born in New Orleans, Brister spent her early life in Port Charlotte, Florida, near Tampa, before coming to Brookhaven with her parents after she completed first grade.  Her father was a restaurant manager and her mother helped elderly clients as a home sitter.  She has two brothers and a sister.               After attending Brookhaven schools through the fourth grade, she landed at Enterprise Attendance Center in the fifth grade and graduated from high school there in 2007.  Swimming was a passion in her childhood, and she got into basketball and softball in junior high and high school.  On Enterprise High School teams, she played wing positions in basketball and center field in softball.               In 2008 and 2009, Brister studied at Co-Lin, and returned to earn her CNA while selling beauty supplies and before starting her banking career.  She joined Trustmark in Wesson in 2023 after moving up to assistant manager at Regions in Brookhaven.               “At Trustmark, I lead my co-workers in constantly changing environment, and help customers with accounts and loans,” Brister says.  “At Regions, I also sold insurance, but a specialist handles that Trustmark.”               Brister and her husband Blake, who sells transformers for Hitachi, live in Wesson with their two children – Raelynn, 6, and Noah, 3.   What are your hobbies? Outside work, my life is mostly centered around my kids.  I am something of a party planner for them.  Beyond that, I love travel, mostly regionally in Florida and Louisiana.  I am looking forward to visiting Arizona, where my brother lives.  On Sundays, I visit churches with my family, with church home remaining at Harmony for now.   Are you a reader? I mostly read the Bible, and help my little girl as she learns to enjoy reading.   How about music? I don’t play any instruments, but I try to sing gospel and country music.   Movies, theater, television? On television, I watch Criminal Minds and Law & Order .  I also like reality TV.  My kids like Disney movies, and I’ve gotten into them as well.  I am also a fan of the Love Come Softly  movie series.   If you won a lot of money in the lottery, how would you spend it? I’d pay my way out of debt, help my kids, build a compound where I could enjoy life with family and friends and give to others who need assistance.   How would you change the world? People spend too much time on their cell phone.  Technology has its pros as well as cons, but we need to get back to the basics – going outdoors, being with your kids, spending time with family.

Image courtesy of MaxPrep Wesson may not have struck first on Friday night, but once the Cobras found their rhythm, there was little North Pike could do to slow them down. Behind a relentless offensive attack, Wesson rolled to a 44-15 victory, steadily building their lead and shutting the door on any chance of a Jaguars comeback. By the end of the third quarter, the Cobras had stretched the margin to 37-15, effectively sealing the outcome. The spotlight belonged to Damarion Smith, who delivered a performance that will be remembered for some time. Smith racked up 73 receiving yards and scored twice through the air, while also adding a rushing touchdown to his impressive night. His versatility proved to be a key factor in Wesson’s success, keeping the Jaguars defense off balance. The victory keeps Wesson perfect on the season at 2-0, a start built largely on the strength of their offensive firepower. The Cobras are averaging 45 points per game, showing early signs of being one of the more dangerous units in the area. North Pike, on the other hand, dropped to 0-2, still working to find their footing as the season begins to take shape. Both programs will return to their home fields this Friday. Wesson will take on Franklin County at 7 p.m., while North Pike hosts Terry at the same time.

Wesson junior Layton Cloy (from left) seals the edge with senior running back Kievon Brown on his way to open space in Friday night’s 46-8 win over Bogue Chitto (photo by Lisa Michelle Earls). Wesson opened their season in dominant fashion on Friday night, giving their fans a performance worth cheering for in the home opener. The Cobras controlled the game from start to finish, rolling past the Bogue Chitto Bobcats with a decisive 46-8 victory. The win continued a familiar trend, as it marked Wesson’s ninth straight victory over Bogue Chitto. The Cobras’ defense set the tone early and never let up. They pressured the Bobcats’ quarterback throughout the night and came away with two interceptions. Landon Cole hauled in one, while Patrick Shannon not only picked off a pass but also returned it for a touchdown, adding to Wesson’s commanding lead. With momentum on their side, Wesson will turn their attention to a Friday night matchup against North Pike, set for 7:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Bogue Chitto will regroup and look to defend their home field for the first time this season when they face Pisgah, also at 7:00 p.m.

By: Bob Garver Poster Credit IMDB “Caught Stealing” is one of those twisty crime thrillers where it seems like the filmmakers cast as many interesting names as they could and then wrote the movie around using them all. For example, at no point did I feel it was necessary for the film to feature Matt Smith as a character with a 60’s U.K. punk rock aesthetic in this film set in New York in 1998 (itself an inexplicable choice). All the film needed was a neighbor character who’s mixed up with some bad people. But the movie got Smith for the role, and somebody, possibly Smith himself, wanted to see the character played with the crazy getup. The result is a character that is a scene-stealer to be sure, but is the story really helped by all his quirkiness? I don’t think so. If anything, he’s a distraction from the main character, whose journey is supposed to be the focus. Though maybe it’s for the best, because I wasn’t digging the main character and was welcoming all distractions. Austin Butler stars as Hank Thompson, a disgraced former baseball prodigy barely scraping by as a bartender, and an alcoholic one at that. The one good thing in his life is his way-out-of-his-league girlfriend Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz). She’s almost ready to start taking the relationship more seriously, which he wants, but first she needs him to start taking himself more seriously, which he isn’t ready to do. Subconsciously, he’d rather just spend all his time moping around and thinking about how his life would have been better if he hadn’t crashed his car while drunk, thus ending his baseball career. Hank’s neighbor Russ (the aforementioned Smith character) hurriedly puts him in charge of his cat Buddy while he leaves town for a few days. Hank’s proximity to the shady Russ gets him into trouble with some Russian gangsters (Yuri Kolokolnikov and Nikita Kukushkin), which also leads to trouble with a Puerto Rican gangster (Benito Martínez Ocasio aka rapper Bad Bunny), and eventually a pair of really dangerous Hasidic gangsters (Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio). Hank tries with increasing desperation to stay out of trouble with all five gangsters, and at least he can expect some help from hardboiled detective Elise Roman (Regina King). But running from his problems hasn’t worked out for Hank in the past, is it a good idea here, even though for once his predicament isn’t his fault? There’s a good idea for a character arc here with Hank needing to learn to take responsibility for mistakes he’s made in both the recent and distant past. But it was just too hard for me to respect the character after his incredibly stupid decision to go on an alcohol bender the night after losing a kidney, thanks to the Russians. I can understand straying from doctors’ orders to a degree, I’m not exactly an angel myself in that department, and I know every movie hero isn’t going to be strictly by-the-book. But for the character to make a decision that stupid that quickly, sorry, I was done rooting for him. Which was a shame, because the movie is without the delightful Kravitz for a long stretch, leaving the film without a likeable protagonist. I’m giving “Caught Stealing” the mildest of recommendations, because the jokes are just funny enough, the action and suspense just exciting enough, and the overachieving cast just interesting enough for me to praise among an near-equal list of complaints. It’s hard to believe a movie this middling came from usually-ambitious director Darren Aronofsky. Since this movie likes its baseball metaphors, I’ll say that I associate Aronofsky with spectacular hits (“Requiem for a Dream,” “The Wrestler,” “Black Swan”) and the occasional spectacular strikeout (“Noah”), but “Caught Stealing” is an unimpressive single – avoiding an “out,” but just barely. Grade: B- “Caught Stealing” is rated R for strong violent content, pervasive language, some sexuality/nudity and brief drug use. Its running time is 107 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Dr. Stephanie Duguid, the former Dean of Academic Instruction at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, has been busy since her retirement in June of 2023 after 15 years with the college. She is now known as a professional speaker, podcast host, international best-selling author, and leadership development expert who has recently announced the release of her latest book, Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact: A Yearlong Journey to Reflect, Strengthen, and Elevate Your Leadership, now available on Amazon. The edition has already reached Amazon Best Seller status in multiple categories, including adult and continuing education and business leadership. This book reads as an interactive journal designed to help readers take consistent, actionable steps toward authentic leadership growth. With 52 weeks of guided lessons, reflective journaling, affirmations, and exercises, the book provides a roadmap for leaders at all levels to build confidence, strengthen communication, and create lasting influence. Unlike traditional leadership books, Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact is structured as a new approach to leadership development. The book is a yearlong mentorship on paper, offering weekly opportunities to pause, reflect, and apply practical strategies. The framework draws on Dr. Duguid’s signature “Leadership Dance” methodology and her nine-step process to help readers “step up, step in, and step forward” into their full potential as leaders. “Leadership is not about titles or accolades—it’s about the lasting impact you leave on others,” says Dr. Duguid. “This book is about helping people reflect honestly, lead authentically, and take intentional steps toward exponential growth.” This resource is written for women in educational leadership seeking confidence and clarity, leaders navigating challenges such as imposter syndrome or unsupportive work environments, and individuals ready to define their leadership style, align passion with purpose, and grow both personally and professionally. To celebrate the launch, Dr. Duguid is offering exclusive value packages for bulk orders. These packages include access to online courses, goal-setting tools, pre- recorded leadership webinars, and even opportunities for mentorship and live events. Dr. Duguid will be the guest speaker at the Wesson Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on September 15, 2025, at 11:30 AM at the American Legion, where she will have a limited number of books available for sale. Her topic will be “Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact: Communication Connection, Let’s Lead”. A local book signing, open to the public, will take place at Wesson’s Public Library at 1012 Spring Street, Wesson, MS 39191 on September 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Babies. Tiny and adorable. Helplessly trusting you to feed, diaper and love them. They tend to bring out the best in us adults. Ladies find themselves wanting to hold an infant, just to feel it’s solid weight in their arms, and touch the incredible softness of the tender skin. A baby’s smallest whimper makes most females immediately began searching for answers to the problem. Men find babies equally attention-getting. But in different ways, many times. A certain male sense of protectiveness surfaces when they are around a little baby. Most men will go to extreme lengths to provide shelter, safety and food when it comes to little ones in their care. But time marches on. And that sweet face with its pink rosebud mouth will most definitely morph into a teenager’s less-than-sweet-little-face. (Not to mention the mouth.) Those innocent little lips will have learned to spew out hurt and anger, because unfortunately, that is just part of the process of becoming an independent adult. Hormone swings, with mountaintop-to-crater proportions, attack the average teen leaving them reeling with euphoria one minute and blue, anxious thoughts the next. And speaking of mouths. The male teen mouth is the opening to a large cavern called the stomach. A place that has no bottom. Huge amounts of food are consumed in one sitting and thirty minutes later, that teen will have his head inside the refrigerator, yelling “Mom, I’m gonna eat that other pan of lasagna, okay? I’m starving!” And baby girls? They become long-legged, shiny-haired, bathroom-time consuming, extremely weight-conscious teen females. Usually, avid aficionados of any and every kind of makeup known to be invented by mankind. So, you need to be absolutely certain you want kids, before you say “Why, yes, of course I do!” Realize and accept the inevitable.  They are not going to transform from being tiny fluffs of wonderfulness straight into being kind, strong, considerate and emotionally well-balanced young adults who love you and may even want to please you with their life. Babies have to go thru stages of growth before adulthood happens. A seemingly interminable time that involves growing out of their clothes every five minutes, eating whatever stands still, and being incredibly self-centered as they are trying to become ‘me.’ Finally, to emerge hopefully unscathed into young adulthood. Ready to love you, join the working world, marry, and begin that scary journey of being a parent themselves one day. I repeat, be absolutely certain you are ready for this, before you let Mr. Sperm meet Ms. Egg. It’s not for the faint-hearted or the self-centered. A parent must be braced for various seasons of doubting themself as a parent. Of doubting they are a thinking human being. And remember, once the process has begun, there is no turning back, no changing your mind. Sweet lovable babies  will  grow quickly into messy toddlers, who  will  become energetic kids, then mouthy teens, and finally independent young adults. But it does take time and patience. Lots of patience.

Pictured L to R: Lori Smith, Teri Bath, Joslynn Arzate, Clifford Jackson The Wesson Chamber of Commerce recently hosted an advertising info meeting as an educational opportunity for its members. The meeting took place at Copiah Bank Wesson at noon on August 29. Wesson businesses represented at the chamber meeting were Hispanic Heritage Cleaning, Destiny’s Delights, Grace Foam Solutions, Salmon Point Development, Wesson News, and Jessica Breazeale Consulting. The chamber invited guest Lori Smith of Southwest Broadcasting and Brookhaven Broadcasting to discuss local radio opportunities. Pictured L to R: Joslynn Arzate, Clifford Jackson, Angie Delaughter, Kita Jackson “The information I received was very helpful…for example, to learn how radio ads would help your business become more competitive…” said attendee Clifford Jackson, co-owner of Destiny’s Delights. Destiny’s Delights will soon open in the new Lone Pine Shopping Complex at the four-way stop on Main Street. Husband and wife owners Clifford and Kita Jackson both attended chamber’s advertising meeting in preparation for their bakery’s grand opening – the date to be later announced as construction is not completed yet. Chamber members also discussed various newspaper advertising opportunities and digital marketing options. Each attendee received a free gift, a journal and a pen to keep track of marketing and advertising ideas and notes. Pictured L to R: Joslynn Arzate, Clifford Jackson, Teri Bath, Angie Delaughter, Kita Jackson, Jessica Breazeale “I enjoyed the meeting. There is a multitude of advertising opportunities to expose and market businesses in Wesson,” said Teri Bath, chamber director. The next chamber function will be Sept. 15 at 11:30 a.m., a luncheon at the American Legion post on Main Street in Wesson. The guest speaker will be Dr. Stephanie Duguid who will also do a book signing for her newly launched book, “Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact”.

By: Kara Kimbrough A copycat version of the famous Blooming Onion Sauce also doubles as a delicious dip for onion rings, fries and chips. It’s officially football season – time for tailgating, attending watch parties and relaxing at home in front of the television to cheer on our favorite teams. As exciting as the game may be, simultaneously munching favorite snacks is part of the fun. Last weekend as football season kicked off, friends began asking for “new snack ideas” on social media. From the lack of responses, it was evident that very few “new” snack recipes are ever developed. This is especially true of dips, which, as far as I'm concerned, deserve their own food group. I did a little research and learned these are the top 5 most-searched-for and downloaded dip recipes on comprehensive recipe collection, Allrecipes.com :            1.     Buffalo Chicken            2.     Hot Spinach Artichoke            3.     Cold Knorr Spinach            4.     Seven-Layer Taco            5.     BLT While I certainly agree these dips are delicious, they’ve been around for quite a while. I began searching for different recipes and found a few that, while still containing elements of other dips, possessed enough slightly-different ingredients to qualify as a “new snack.” And after sampling each of them, I highly recommend them as football-worthy (or any occasion, really) dip for chips, crackers and vegetables. If you’d like a few more, simply drop me an email and I’ll send them to you. Enjoy football - and dip - season! Million Dollar Dip 8 ounces cream cheese softened ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sour cream 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon granulated garlic ¾ cup shredded cheese cheddar or Colby 7 slices cooked and crumbled bacon ¾ cup smoked almonds, finely chopped or pulsed in food processor 1-½ tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Place cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and garlic in a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Fold in shredded cheese, 6 slices of cooked/crumbled bacon, 1/2 cup of the almonds and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Pour into a serving bowl and top with remaining almonds, parsley and additional slice of cooked/crumbled bacon. Serve with chips, crackers or vegetables. Blooming Onion Sauce and/or Dip ½ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish sauce ½ teaspoon granulated garlic ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1  teaspoon black pepper In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Can be used as a sauce for fries or onion rings or as a dip for chips and crackers. Creamy Pickle Dip 1 cup bread and butter pickles 1 cup dill pickles 8 ounces cream cheese softened ¼ cup ranch dressing mix 1 tablespoon granulated garlic 1 teaspoon dried dill Place pickles in food processor or blender and pulse lightly until finely chopped. Add softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, garlic and dried dill in same bowl; pulse until well combined. Spoon mixture into a serving bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Top with additional chopped pickles for garnish. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

By Guest Writer Brittany Dillard Hurricane Katrina makes landfall - Newspaper headlines from August 29th, 2005. Image courtesy of NASA via public domain satellite imagery. Shoes, check. Uniform, check. School supplies, Check. Booksack, Check. A storm that felt like the end all be all......no comment. One thing almost every grade school student had in common that fourth week in August of 2005 was that we were planning our 2nd week of school, being kids and having fun. No one expected to  run. No one expected what was coming. “Last week I wore these shoes, so next week Imma hop out with these shoes.” I laid them out that Friday night with care. Fashion was on my mind as a 14 year old High School Freshman. Books weren't important until that first threat of a test. Friday I was planning my fit and Saturday I was saying Goodbye. “Stop. Step back and look at the house because it might be the last time you see it as it is,” said Gwen Sanford, my mom. That woke me up. I looked down at my suitcase in my hand, Big eyed with shock, but then I brushed off the alarming feeling. “ We'll be back, we always do.” I reassured myself. I looked at my  brother who was two years younger than me. He seemed to be thinking the same. “For me it wasn't a big deal. I was thinking we were bout to go to Mississippi and cool out and then come back home like we always did. It was just like the yearly vacay to our cousin’s house,” says my brother, Silas Sanford, 33.  Sanford, from Marrero ‘The Westbank of New Orleans’ was 12 years old at the time. We pulled out of the neighborhood, merged onto LAPALCO BLVD, then the Westbank Expressway, then the Crescent City Connection bridge, which at the time was named the Greater New  Orleans bridge. I believe we all took for granted the feeling of a smooth traffic flow until we hit the mighty traffic jam of thousands of other evacuees, which caused us to inch across the bridge for  almost the entire duration of the trip. A trip that usually took 3 and a half hours took us a tedious 11 hours. We left our home August 28th at 10 AM and arrived in Jackson, MS at 11 PM. For hours, when the traffic wasn’t at a standstill, we were going 5 to 10 miles per hour. No birds were in the sky, no wind was blowing, no tree limbs swaying. There was only stillness in the air. We  were watching the weather change. We were watching the water beat up against the bridge. As night was falling and the city was inching away, there was seriousness in the air. A very pronounced  quiet. In those The Big Easy didn't feel like the Big Easy anymore. We were detoured. The usual route we took out of the city was closed, so we didn't know where we were going, we just followed the flow of the traffic. All we knew when we got to the state of Mississippi very late in the day was that we were on Highway 49. We were anxious, worried and more than anything, exhausted. Amongst those thousands of evacuees was Christian Favorite, a teen from the Eastbank. We, unknowingly, would later meet in Richland, MS. Favorite and his family, like us, had no idea where they were headed. Our usual route to MS was closed and they too had to take a detour. We were all traveling up MS HWY 49. “I most definitely felt like it was going to be a turn around trip; like it was just an extended weekend. I don't think anyone thought it would be life altering.” Says Christian Favorite.37, He is from The Upper 9th Ward. He was 17 years old at the time. “I took a weekend bag, lol. I told my brother ‘It's not like we not coming back.’ I fully expected to go back home.” Not everyone evacuated. 16 year old Sonnisha Amos from the 7th ward and her family waited out the storm at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans with her mom, two sisters, cousin, aunt and uncle. “For every hurricane we would get a hotel because our house and our grandmother's house sat high off the ground( was raised). We just thought it would be a normal little bad weather situation  like it normally was when officials say’ hurricane,’" says Amos, now 36. Amos had a grand view of the happenings on the street below her during and after the destruction of the storm. “Before the storm hit I saw people packing, evacuating, after the storm I saw people  looting for fun but also for things they needed. They didn't have power. They didn’t have food. People were doing any and everything to survive. It also made me think about my classmates that  couldn't evacuate.” Amos says one of the most important things she felt was safety. “ I was with family and we were in a safe environment. They provided us with food and they provided my mom with milk and formula for my baby sister. I felt safe and secure.” As soon as we received clearance to re enter the city of New Orleans. That's exactly what we did. We went home. We went to see if this nightmare flooding the news was real or if it was all just a bad dream. A bad joke. The city looked as if it hadn't had any sun for months. Certain streets were closed because of blocked roads from death and devastation. The scenes were horrific. Homes were  completely uprooted or demolished, cars and boats were in trees. In our neighborhood, most houses were still standing but were ruined by flood water. Ours was one of them. The neighborhood  looked defeated. “Our neighborhood had a type of ‘life’ to it. You had certain people you saw every day, people at the corner store, the types of cars going up and down the street... but.. from what I can remember when we returned, is that it felt..dead,” says Sanford. “You come back to your neighborhood thinking it’s going to be the same thing that you left, (people walking up and down the street, cars,) but it was really lifeless and gloomy.” Our house depicted that picture well, fitting in like a piece of the neighborhood puzzle. It looked like it was just a frame, a bookmark, holding a spot for something that once was but now wasn't anymore. “It looked like our house...it looked like our house but lifeless.” Sanford says. We were amongst thousands of New Orleanians trying to pick up the pieces. Heartbroken and heavy and amazed because although devastating it was captivating. We had never seen sights like this before and we knew this was a mark in history. And we were the lucky ones. We were still breathing. “Entering the city you saw the (code) markings on the houses, cars turned over, debris, just disarray,” recalls, Favorite. “ You saw people trying to salvage. Our house was there but there were code markings on it. “What stood out to me was the mold line. It was there...just chillin. The water rose to probably 6’8 on the wall.” There wasn't much Favorite and his family could salvage, but there was 3 interesting pairs of survivors that Christian found. “I had just gotten hired at 6 Flags and with my first check I had bought 3 pairs of shoes. Before the storm I had left my shoes on my bed. When I went back home my mattress and my 3 pairs of shoes had floated to another room but they were still there, untouched in their boxes.. They had survived.” Favorite’s family was able to rebuild their home. His mother still lives there today. We spent 3 months going back home trying to salvage what we could. We were Blessed. Some people had nothing after the storm, while we were able to continuously salvage something almost every week. We could take a part of home back to MS with us. We were saving items and items were saving us. “ It was therapeutic to go home,” Says Gwen Sanford. My mom. “ We left some things in the house on purpose. We had the mindset that ‘ If I didn’t get everything, if I left something there, we’d  still have something at home” After months, mold took over the home and we were no longer able to salvage anything. But we had so much and even more to be thankful for. However, one factor lingered in our minds; The mental toll Katrina had on us weeks, months and even years after. Sanford recalls the initial shock and his struggle with acceptance. “Ok, so we’re never going back. And it took me a while to understand, I was like, wait, so, we’re never going back? Are we going to wait a while to fix up everything or what? But no, we were never  going back to live there. Never see the house again. Never heard from some of the friends I had again. It was like life flipped in one night.” Life did flip in one night. Favorite recalls the day before evacuating the storm as a sunny, chill day with his brothers and sister, playing on the Playstation and playing Spades. Amos reflection the week before and how she was just a normal teen, excited about a new school year, going to block parties and catching the RTA bus with friends from one event to the other. Sanford remembers chilling with neighborhood friends, the girlfriend he had just made and getting the shoes he really wanted, a crispy white pair of Nike Air Force Ones, which, in New Orleans are referred to as ‘G-Nikes’. And I recall my last visit to my favorite mall, pausing at the Cafe Du Monde, eating an order of Beignets in the food court. We were enjoying our youth, making our plans heedlessly through our innocence, and the weather was making its own. If we would have known, doubtlessly, that we would have caught our final bead at Mardi Gras, our final Second Line Sunday, last walk along the River Walk, heard our last drum or horn on Bourbon Streel, took our last stroll on Canal, spent our last dollar at the Jackson Square as New Orleans residents, we would have slowed our step, looked at the sky, breathed in the air and taken it all in. “I kinda took New Orleans for granted.” says Favorite. “I wondered why people made a big fuss and ‘broke their necks’ to get here. Because you know everything that happens in New Orleans is  normal to us. But then you realize, there's no other place like New Orleans. New Orleans is actually super magical. You realize that what's normal to us is magical to other people. Then you become  one of those people on the outside looking in and you’re like ‘Dang, that's a one of a kind type of place.” What we couldn't quite comprehend as children has, overtime, through closure, healing and prayer, become clear to us as adults. There were lessons in Hurricane Katrina. Amos says “Katrina taught us how to survive. If you could survive that and get out of that, you can survive anything. It also taught us that we are some strong individuals. We different. New Orleans is different.” Sanford says “ Nothing lasts forever. Your life can change in the blink of an eye.” Favorite says “ The wind can blow either way, always be prepared and listen to your parents. It definitely taught us to take all experiences as individual experiences. Never let one experience define another. It taught us to take all weather concerns seriously.” Favorite added another lesson: “Even in the most unexpected situations, you can find the best in it.” This speaks true for all four of us. In the past 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, Each of us continued our education, completing High School as scheduled, earning Degrees, starting careers and  businesses. I completed High School in Mississippi and earned my BA in Mass Communications from Belhaven University. I have worked for publications and have also worked in the school system in  Mississippi. I am a proud wife and a proud mother to two sons, ages 9 and 6., My oldest son was born in August 2015, almost to the day of the 10 year anniversary of our evacuation. Sanford completed High School in Mississippi and earned his BA from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. He is a proud father to his 11 year old son. Sanford has a talent and passion for  music. He is a Digital Marketing Manager and Crypto Day Trader. Amos was able to continue her High School education at her school in New Orleans. She also attended High School while living in MS. She earned many Degrees from Jackson State University.  She has worked for the Federal Government for the past 13 years. She is a Credential Specialist. She is a mom to a daughter, an 18 Year old MSU Freshman who will be attending school on a  $30,000 scholarship and was Valedictorian of her 2025 class at her High School. Favorite completed High School then continued into Barber School where he earned his Barbers License. He is a proud co business owner of his barbershop / Salon. It was voted #1 Barbershop/ Salon in 2024 by The Clarion Ledger and made top 3 in 2025. He plays the guitar for youth ministries at his church. He is a father of two, a boy and a girl, ages 6 and 8, and a devoted husband. Gwen Sanford has lived in Richland for the past 20 years .She was an educator in New Orleans and continued her career in Mississippi public schools following hurricane Katrina. She is now retired. She is an outstanding lifelong artist and is currently in the process of publishing her memoir. So why should people care about Hurricane Katrina 20 years later? Amazing things have happened in the lives of the survivors and of the city. There have been many devastating storms and natural disasters since. Well, let's not forget the darkest side of the storm. It is important to remember the terror and unjust treatment some residents went through. It is important to remember how we were labeled and abandoned. Innocent people died on the street  covered up by only a sheet, bodies left wet and bloating. People died in the Superdome, in their homes, in hospitals, in jail, on their rooftops awaiting help. It's important not to forget that we were  labeled as refugees and animals because of the views of some of our countries’ leaders. People trusted the news and therefore did not trust us. We were outcasts in our own country due to bad  leadership and prejudgment. Those innocent lives should never be forgotten, no matter how much time has passed. We will never forget. Those people counted. They will forever matter. Currently, there are several Hurricane Katrina memorials in New Orleans and other affected areas. Favorite, Amos, Sanford and myself reflect on the strength of the city and its impact around the US and the world. We have untamed pride in the city that is a huge part of who we are. Like the city, we are still standing. We celebrate the city’s resilience, the great people, culture And the goodness of God. New Orleans is our heart. Katrina was a scar, but it was just a part of the story. We tend to share a bit of culture everywhere we go. “The culture of the people of New Orleans is so strong that if we go somewhere else, people tend to gravitate toward it because it's new and it's fun, it's lively.” Says Sanford. “For example, I see how it's influenced music in Florida, culture in Houston, culture in Georgia.. There’s a lot of mixture of New Orleans culture in a lot of states and communities that would have never gotten there if  Katrina wouldn’t have happened.” “There was nothing like Katrina.” Says Amos. “It made some people. It made some people think about their life. It's relevant because the city is still standing. It couldn't break the people. The people are still there, the community is still there. The food is still there, the POBOYS is still there. The seafood is still there. It ain't going nowhere. We have been through it… and its a part of us.” -By Brittany Dillard August 2025   Brittany Dillard is from New Orleans LA. She developed a passion for writing at age 9.  She is a graduate of Belhaven University with a degree in Mass Communication. She is a proud mom and wife.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB           This past weekend’s biggest big-screen hit didn’t go straight to the big screen. Animated actioner “KPop Demon Hunters” premiered in June on Netflix, reportedly racking up over 180 million views in its first eight weeks. A special one-weekend-only “Sing-Along” version of the film was released to select theaters this past Saturday and Sunday, taking in an estimated $18 million. A haul like that warrants a review, even though the theatrical “Sing-Along” version is not scheduled to play beyond its specified engagement (plans could always change, of course). This review is based on the Netflix version of the film, which is how it will be available for the foreseeable future. Sorry, but I just can’t take “it gives the sold-out theater a raucous party atmosphere” into account on this one.             The premise is that demons once had run of the Earth, sucking out people’s souls whenever they wanted. A team of fierce Korean warriors found a way to banish the demons to the underworld using their voices, creating a shield called a Honmoon through which most of them could never pass, and the few that could get in could be fought off by the warriors and the people they inspired with their singing. The tradition of singing warriors passed down through the generations with the current incarnation being a KPop girl group called Huntrix.             The members of Huntrix, leader Rumi (Arden Cho), hardened Mira (May Hong), and cutesy Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), split their time between being the biggest popstars in the world and fighting the occasional demons that make it through the Honmoon. With the rise in population and social media in recent years, their music may soon be heard by a wide enough audience to permanently fortify the Honmoon and keep demons away forever. Rumi looks forward to the day when demons are no longer a threat to humanity, because then she won’t have to worry about the world freaking out upon learning that she’s half-demon. Until then, it has to remain her shameful secret, even to her best friends.             Demon leader Gwi-Ma (Lee Byung-hun), having gotten nowhere for centuries by sending up occasional vicious demons to battle the hunters, takes a suggestion from long-suffering musician demon Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) to send up seemingly-benevolent Kpop boy band Saja Boys. The group, led by Jinu himself, is tasked with stealing fans away from Huntrix so Gwi-Ma can greedily feast on their souls. A professional rivalry ensues, eventually evolving into a battle for the universe.              The film is very much setting itself up as the first chapter in a long series. Future installments will no doubt flesh out the backstories of the members of Huntrix, especially Rumi and her half-demon heritage. Normally I’d complain about the film getting too cocky in assuming that there will be future installments, but its success is already established and it was probably a safe bet that a property with this wide-appealing subject matter was going to be a hit anyway.             How was my introduction to “KPop Demon Hunters”? Okay, I guess. The human vs demon action isn’t particularly memorable, and while I know I’m going to get in trouble for saying this, I wasn’t crazy about the songs. It’s not unusual for a good KPop song to turn me into a zombie fanboy before it’s through the first chorus, but something, maybe the wordiness, kept these songs from having that effect on me. But I did like the personalities of the main characters and the way they played off each other and the Saja Boys. Plus there are some good visual gags courtesy of some of the animation team behind those inspired “Spider-verse” movies. I don’t like the property enough to stay with it if its success drops off, but as long as it stays successful, I’ll enjoy its success. Grade: B- “KPop Demon Hunters” is rated PG for action/violence, scary images, thematic elements, some suggestive material and brief language. Its running time is 95 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

By  Misty Strieff Prine Have you ever wanted something so bad, and you get so close to achieving it and then it slips right through your fingers? Going, going...gone. Maybe it's a relationship with a certain someone, a job opportunity that "you think" will better your family, even a move to a different place to start a new life? You see, the things that we "think" are best for us may not be. We can stand before the doors of potential opportunities and knock for years but those doors may never open. Here's the thing. That door may not be ours to open in the first place. God may have a door down the hallway that is our door but He wants us to go through some life experiences first so we will appreciate that door more first OR maybe it has been there all along but we were too busy chasing what we thought was best door for us instead of keeping our mind open as to what God thought was best for us. We all need to get in the habit of being able to break apart from our reality of thinking in order that we may never miss the opportunities God wants us to have that are literally right under our noses. He knows what is best for us...always. Us, not so much. God sees the bigger picture where we only see a small window. If you stand before a door and you knock persistently and no one ever opens the door to let you in, move on down the hallway...it isn't meant to be. God's got better things waiting on you, my friend. I promise. I look back on my life at how different my life used to be. My situation was a little bit different. In my heart I had big dreams, but I knew I was far from capable. I really had no direction or idea of what I wanted in my life because I knew I wasn’t capable. I was so shy, introverted, basically COMPLETELY opposite than what I am right now. I really didn’t have a “door” to knock on.  Little did I know God had prepared multiple doors for me that I hadn’t even walked up to yet. God already had a big set of doors planned for me to walk through that I never in a million years was expecting.  He also did something in my life that I NEVER thought possible. He gave me the ability and the desire to help others and in doing so, He broke down so many barriers that others had put in my life. I was such a broken shell of "me" hurt by those who, by worldly standards, should be the ones who should have lifted you up. I was sheltered and withdrawn and had zero self-confidence. None. He gave me the courage to talk to others, help others, sing for Him, lead congregation in worship, and do what I am doing right now...writing and ministering. So never let this world make you feel like God cannot use YOU! He can!!                 **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.