Special to Wesson News   For persistent pain, limited mobility, balance or coordination issues, or assistance in recovering from surgery or an injury, physical therapy just could be more helpful than visiting a medical doctor for a pill, a Brookhaven physical therapist told the Wesson Lions Club.   Richard Barker, who has practiced physical therapy for 35 years and is a partner Brookhaven-based Tri Therapy, said physical therapy addresses the root causes of physical health problems through exercises, stretching and other treatments in contrast to medications that ameliorate symptoms and can produce side effects.   “Some research, for example, associates cholesterol drugs with Alzheimer’s disease, cramps, dehydration and sepsis,” Barker noted. “Expensive orthotics prescribed by doctors for foot pain can drive the price of a pair of shoes to more than $500 and provide only temporary relief.  Physical therapy is about lifestyle changes that provide lasting relief.”   General exercise programs managed by physical therapists  strengthen muscles that tend to be weak and stiff, and in turn, take the stress off overworked muscles and joints, he said.  At the same time, he added, appropriate exercises “make you feel better, energize you and cause no pain.”    “Everyday activities, such as walking, picking up objects, and getting up and down become much easier through exercise routines that improve strength in problem areas,” Barker said.    Although Barker works with all age groups at Tri Therapy, older persons are a major focus individually and through services to clients of assisted living facilities, Barker said.    “Our goal is to help them remain happy, healthy and strong, ensuring their good health by keeping them active through a general exercise program,” he explained  “As you grow older, you shouldn’t try to do what you used to do, but personalized exercises help improve strength, stability and mobility for staying active.”   For seniors, fall prevention is particularly important, Barker said, noting that as people grow old, their balance reactions are more sluggish and less responsive.  One in four people over 65 years old will experience falls, and the complications – for example, broken bones – and death.   Customized arthritis exercises can also improve the quality of life of seniors, relieving pain and fatigue while also preserving their joint structure and function, Barker added.  Osteoarthritis exercises gradually restore a patient’s full range of motion and improve bone density, joint mobility, muscle strength, and overall physical conditioning and help them maintain a healthy weight.   Tri Therapy’s work also concerns mental as well as physical health.   “Elderly and disabled persons, particularly, can lose their connections to others, and, as a result, suffer from depression, turn to drugs for relief and even take their own lives,” Barker said.  “We look for ways to connect them – religious services, games and other activities that bring people together.”   Physical therapists can make important contributions to people who want to lead healthy lives, but not overnight, Barker concluded.   “Waiting is part of physical therapy,” he said.  “Life is a long ride with no shortcuts.”

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com If you have ever watched the old movie “Conagher,” a western based on a rough ‘n tough cowboy with a gigantic sense of right and wrong, then you might well remember the story line’s leading lady. An attractive young widow with two children, left in a lonely shack out in the boonies after the supposed death of her husband. To put food on the table, she finally agreed to make her small home the way station for the stage coach that came thru once a week. Her new job meant that she was paid to provide a hot meal for the stagecoach passengers and also water, feed and a change of horses, before it left for another way station farther down the trail. This arrangement caused her to meet quite a few passengers, coming from quite a few different walks of life. One afternoon a specific passenger alighted from the stagecoach, a lady with…. shall I say, a less than a stellar background. Earlier in life, she had evidently come from back East to find her fortune, and instead found heartache, broken dreams, and poverty. Obviously all alone in the world, she had finally decided that the only path left for her to was keep moving West. To whatever awaited her. Given her own unfortunate current station in life, bells went off in that lady’s head and heart to the tune of “YOU GOT IT ALL, AND I AIN’T GOT NOTHIN’ when she climbed out of that stagecoach and met the young widow. All she could see was a beautiful woman living in her own home on her own land, who also had two beautiful children at her side. But the widow had a completely different perspective of her own life. She lived with a heart aching from losing the love of her life. And a back that ached from being the only adult planting the gardens, chopping wood, cleaning the shack, handwashing their clothes, cooking their meals and caring for the animals. The abject loneliness, and the fear that came with it, plus not knowing what had really happened to her husband, ate at her constantly. The actual truth was far different than the female passenger’s view of her life on that prairie. So typical of us. We look over the fence between us and our neighbor and only see their bright green grass. We immediately begin feeling, “That cow who lives behind that fence has it made, and I have nothing.” Never stopping ourselves in mid-thought long enough to realize a few things. Things like, ‘Where there’s grass there’s usually weeds, I just can’t see them from this angle.’ Things like, ‘I need to take a good look around my own life and recognize the grass, not just the weeds.’ If you aren’t careful, you can be duped into living in envy, always comparing your patch of grass and weeds to your neighbor’s. Not a great way to live the only life you have been given.

Special to Wesson News Seventy-eight Co-Lin athletes have earned spots on 2024-25 All-Academic teams named by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Among the record-setting numbers, Co-Lin’s baseball squad had 19 athletes on three teams and Wolves softball and women’s soccer teams had 13 and 11 respectively. Student-athletes are eligible to earn academic honors by achieving an overall grade point average of 3.60 or higher for the academic year. Student-athletes who held a GPA of 4.0 earned first team selections, second team selections achieved a 3.80-3.99 GPA and third team earned a 3.60-3.79 GPA. Co-Lin student-athletes honored for their academic performance were:  1.        All-Academic First Team. Women's Soccer |  Amelia Bubb (St. George's, Grenada), Olivia Conway (Huddersfield, England), Shannon Land (Glasgow, Scotland) Women's Tennis |  Allie Grace McNeil (Brookhaven), Sophie Sisson (Moss Point), Ann-Clark Van (Jayess) Softball |  Abby Burnette (Brookhaven), Morgan Chisolm (Madison), Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) Men's Tennis |  Mason Brand (Mantee), Nikoloz Gurgenidze (Tbilisi, Georgia) Golf |  Lander Guibert (San Sebastian, Spain), Oscar Toreld (Binnerbäck, Sweden) Football |  Ladainian Davis (Madison), DJ Hill-Smith (Reed, AR) Men's Basketball |  Brick Nkugwa (Kampala, Uganda) Men's Soccer |  Harrison Willsey (Starkville) Baseball |  Gavin Bledsoe (Brandon) 2.       All-Academic Second Team. Baseball |  Tanner Blackwell (Flora), Caleb Brooks (Brandon), Sam Cook (Shubuta), Tucker Jones (Brandon), Jennings Kimbrell (Flowood), Carter Leggett (Laurel), Aiden Philyaw (Enterprise), Jaxon Rayborn (Laurel), Lane Robertson (Columbia), Nash Sturdivant (Brandon), Brady White (Ethel) Women's Soccer |  Reagan Fortenberry (Brookhaven), Alisa Johnson (Leakesville), Madeline Logan (Brandon), Isabella Moore (Starkville), Sara Pinzon (Starkville), Kristina Seymour (Madison), Maelee Thibodeaux (Brookhaven) Softball |  Emma Kate Fimiano (Petal), Carson Hughey (Brookhaven), Addison Lindley (Madison), Stella Roberts (Raymond) Women's Basketball |  Amari Barnes (Tylertown), Tyra Johnson (Morton), Kaylee Johnson (Booneville) Men's Soccer |  Braxton Williams (Flowood), Holloway Willsey (Starkville) Golf |  Harlan Brewer (Wesson), Kolby Cox (Meadville) Men's Tennis  | Jake Bucek (Geelong, Australia), Andrew Lambert (Monticello) Men's Basketball |  Dawson Knox (Brookhaven) Football |  Jackson Easton (Starkville) Women's Tennis |  Gracie Smith (Lucedale) 3.        All-Academic Third Team. Baseball |  Jacob Buffalo (Foxworth), Bradley Hanlon (Monroe, LA), Parker Ishee (Ridgeland), Dee Morgan (Tallulah, LA), Cameron Patterson (Central, LA), Owen Spooner (Stone), Wes White (Flowood) Football |  Ricardo Butler, Jr. (Alligator), Bryce Hooker (Biloxi), Will Loy (Wesson), Mekhi Mayweather (Jackson), Will Pritchard (West Palm Beach, FL), Eli Viniard (Bassfield) Softball |  Olivia Banes (Pelahatchie), Kynlee Madere (Paulina, LA), Keegan McCorkle (Tyronza, AR), Anna Grace Rice (Greenwood), Emily Richarde (Lakeland, TN), Emeri Warren (Sebastopol) Women's Tennis |  Yariange Bello (Caracas Venezuela), Kayleigh Ann Griffin (Houston) Women's Soccer |  Michaela Sannoh (London, England) Men's Basketball |  Prince Ojukwu (Etobicoke, Ontario) Golf |  Max Seidemann (Bruchhausen-Vilsen, Germany) Men's Soccer |  Francisco Miquel (Bogota, Colombia) Women's Basketball |  Angel Wilkinson (Brookhaven)

By: Kara Kimbrough If you’re not a seafood-lover (or even if you are) a dressed ribeye po’boy encased in French bread at Taranto’s in Biloxi’s Woolmarket area is always the perfect choice. It can’t possibly be 10 years since I wrote about the revival of Gulf Coast restaurants on the 10 th  anniversary of the worst natural disaster ever experienced in Mississippi and neighboring states- Hurricane Katrina. I was trying to put a positive spin on the state of the Coast’s culinary scene after interviewing then-Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes in his office and witnessing his optimism about the rebirth of his city and the rest of the Coast. However, as the 20 th  anniversary on Aug. 29 nears, residents as well as tourists and frequent visitors like myself are  still  reminiscing about restaurants that never returned.     My list of “Gulf Coast restaurants I still miss” contains a few locally-owned places and a couple of above-average chains. In no particular order, here are a few of the places that I still remember fondly:   1.        Bombay Bicycle Club – Located across from Biloxi Beach, this lively restaurant may have been better known for its lively “happy hour,” but my friends and I stopped by for dinner after witnessing the annual “Blessing of the Fleet.” I’m not positive, but I think I ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich. I dined there other times, but since I possess photos of our group posing in front of the restaurant, it’s the occasion I most remember.   2.        Landry’s Seafood – I realize it’s part of a Texas-based chain, but there’s no denying that Landry’s food was really, really good. I distinctly remember the shrimp po’boy I ordered while visiting the Coast for a work-related trip. While the Gulfport restaurant was never rebuilt after being destroyed by Katrina, locations still remain throughout Louisiana and Texas; hopefully one day I’ll get the change to visit.   3.        Chappy’s in Long Beach – This popular locally-owned restaurant was a favorite of friends who lived in the area. Every time I visited, a visit to Chappy’s was on the menu. My only memory of Chappy’s is the large platters piled high with mounds of fried and broiled shrimp that everyone at the table shared. I wish I’d sampled one of Chappy’s grilled steaks, something friends still rave about today.   4.    Vrazel’s in Gulfport - Being treated to lunch at this elegant beachfront restaurant by the President of Jitney Jungle Stores, Henry Holman, following a work conference on the remains one of my fondest memories. I’m so glad I had the chance to experience the famous restaurant in 1997, just 8 years before it was decimated by Katrina. Vrazel’s was known for French, Italian, Creole and Cajun dishes. I remember ordering a chilled green salad topped with shrimp remoulade sauce. After perusing an old menu, I’m almost positive my entree was Shrimp Bordelaise – a sumptuous dish of fresh gulf shrimp sautéed in a garlic butter sauce over spaghetti. A small sample of new favorites that emerged post-Katrina include fine dining spot BR Prime in the Beau Rivage; Taranto’s in the Woolmarket area of Biloxi;  Gulfport’s Murky Waters BBQ and in Bay St. Louis, Cuz’s and the Silver Slipper’s Jubilee Buffet. My Coast friends still reminisce about the shrimp and gumbo at Annie’s in Pass Christian; tasty appetizers at Bay St. Louis’ Dock of the Bay and Mary Mahoney’s separate 24-hour Café, which supplied gumbo, beignets and biscuits to the late-night crowd. None of these popular restaurants returned after Katrina. After 20 years, I accept that our beloved Mississippi Gulf Coast will never quite resurrect its pre-Katrina quaintness and charm as well as many restaurants. But fortunately, the area has come back – in some ways, bigger and better than ever. And of course, we'll always have our memories of a spectacular era of Gulf Coast dining. To read my article written on the 10th anniversary of Katrina, simply click on the link or copy/paste into your browser:  https://www.clarionledger.com/story/life/2015/08/25/coast-restaurants-serving-reviving-region/32347803/ . Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to Wesson News   Two new career education electives will be offered on the Wesson High School course menu during the 2025-26 term at Wesson Attendance Center.   Introduction to Engineering , a math or science elective, will explore basic engineering principles, including engineering professionalism, computational and programming skills, communication (graphical, written and oral), problem solving, design analysis, teamwork and project management.  The new course will also provide an overview of engineering as a career path.   Entrepreneurship  will introduce students to elements that will help contribute to success in owning and operating a business. This course will incorporate entrepreneurial skills and trends along with idea generation and validation. Students will gain knowledge in areas such as finance, accounting, marketing, economics, and management as they pertain to owning a business. The course will examine legal concepts, business models, Lean Canvas and business planning.

Special to Wesson News Volunteers – members of Friends of the Library (FOL) and other Wesson Public Library supporters – helped at Summer Reading Program.  Left to right are FOL members Dr. Steven Liverman, Sonya Cowen and Marilyn Britt; Ruth Docter (Liverman daughter), FOL member Terri Bath and Tillie Docter (Liberman daughter). Staff from Copiah County Farm Bureau headlined the final session of the Wesson Public Library Summer Reading Program, with a focus on agriculture and farming.  They brought Lilly Belle, a simulated could be milked as a learning experience.  With the help of Ann Clark, the Reading Program participants in kindergarten through sixth grade also completed a quilt that they crafted through the weekly sessions that started in June and continued into July. The kids were recognized for their reading achievements over the four weeks, including first place winners Hunter Lang, Kennedy Lang, Andy Arnett and Brook Griffity in 3-4, 5, 7 and 10 year old age groups.  Park Place Ice Cream also rewarded the children with special treats.  More than 70 children registered for the program. Copiah County Farm Bureau’s Shelby Burge helps Summer Reading Program participant milk a simulated cow. Copiah County Farm Bureau staff (left to right) are Austin Graham, Shelby Burge, Melissa Morgan with County Agricultural Extension Agent Shelby Bearden, along with Lilly Belle, a simulated cow. Kids relax with ice cream treats. Ann Clark holds up completed quilt – a Summer Reading Program project.  The program participants made the squares and Clark sewed them together to create the quilt. Park Place’s Misty Spndifer supplied ice cream treat.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB            I remember being a big fan of the 1976 “Freaky Friday” with Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris. Granted, I saw it when I was young enough to not know the tropes of the body-swap comedy, but I still have fond memories. I got a few laughs out of the 2003 update with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, and I have some fond memories of watching it with my mom and cousins, though those are more about spending quality time with family. I mostly just squirmed impatiently through new follow-up “Freakier Friday,” and the fondest memory I’ll take away is that Manny Jacinto from “The Good Place” has a prominent role, and I have fond memories of that show.             Over 20 years have passed since teenager Anna (Lohan) switched bodies for a day with her mother Tess (Curtis). The two had some wacky fun before developing newfound respect for one another and coming out of the experience with a stronger bond. Anna has since become a mother herself to teenager Harper (Julia Butters), with grandmother Tess always eager to help, occasionally overstepping boundaries that Anna wishes she’s recognize, while Harper would like both adults to give her some space. At a parent-teacher conference, single mom Anna falls for Eric (Jacinto), the widowed father of Harper’s British classmate Lilly (Sophia Hammons), and the two are soon engaged to be wed, even though the teens can’t stand one another. All four women are in mopey moods the night of Anna’s bachelorette party, where they get readings from psychic Jen (Vanessa Bayer), who sets them on the course to change their hearts, which of course means more body-swap shenanigans.             The next morning, Anna has switched bodies with Harper and Tess has switched with Lilly. Fortunately, not much time is wasted on the shock or acceptance of the arrangement, since Anna and Tess have been through this before. As such, it doesn’t take long for everybody to start going about each other’s days. Anna-as-Harper and Tess-as-Lilly have to go to school, where they have detention as the result of a food fight. But since they figure that they won’t have to worry about getting more detention themselves, they sneak off and eat junk food in bodies with higher metabolism.             It’s Harper-as-Anna and Lilly-as-Tess who get most of the screen time, which is to be expected given the advertising’s focus on Lohan and Curtis. Jokes about Curtis’s senior citizen body, especially when it comes to having to use the bathroom, abound. The girls dislike each other enough to want the wedding to be called off, so they agree to use the body-swap to break up Eric and Anna. This involves dragging Anna’s old boyfriend Jake (Chad Michael Murray) into the couple’s wedding plans, even though he still carries something of a torch for Tess following the first movie. As if that weren’t enough, they get a chance to bond with Ella (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), a pop star managed by Anna, who invites “Anna” to play at one of her shows with her old band Pink Slip. Harper never knew her mom was such an awesome musician and neither girl really understands how much their parents love each other and them. Hijinks in the first half give way to lessons (but also more hijinks) in the second half.               Maybe I wasn’t digging “Freakier Friday” because I’ve seen enough body-swap comedies since the 1976 “Freaky Friday” to know exactly what to expect from these movies. Or maybe it was because I was a male watching a movie with not two, but four female leads and I wasn’t the target audience. Or maybe the movie just isn’t that sharp (I definitely found the food fight to be lazy and unfunny). I laughed at a scant few jokes, but not enough to give the movie a recommendation. I’m glad “Weapons” won the last two weekends at the domestic box office instead of this over-pushed mess. Grade: C- “Freakier Friday” is rated PG for thematic elements, rude humor, language and some suggestive references. Its running time is 110 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

By: Misty Strieff Prine   “I’m glad Jesus never says, “This is the LAST time I’ll put you back together.” – Me praising God! I shudder at the thought of all of the times I’ve been broken to my core and where I’d be if God hadn’t put me back together again and again… and again. Literally, more times than I can even count. Speaking from experience I can tell you three things I personally learned through my brokenness: 1.) Experiencing multiple bouts of brokenness was NECESSARY for my development and growth in Christ. 2.) Each occurrence changed a part of me that I would never want to go back to. It opened my eyes and my heart to God’s AMAZING plan for my life. 3.) The girl writing this to you today is who she is, no thanks to herself, but to Almighty God because I would’ve given up and quit ministry work all together a long time ago. But in singing, writing and loving on people like Jesus does and making sure they are reminded of that love in their darkest days…I FOUND MY PURPOSE. God gave me a very specific set of skills that I never in a MILLION years thought I would have when I was younger, in fact I would have laughed if someone would have told me. I was SOOOO shy! But if you know me now, you couldn’t tell that in the least. If you know me now, you can see for yourself what God can do to someone who thinks they “CAN’T.” Praise God from whom all blessings flow! **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

Pictured: L to R - Julia Miller, communications & alumni relations coordinator, and Angela Furr, Executive Director of Foundation/Alumni Relations, speak with students during Welcome Week Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) has officially started its fall 2025 semester. To kick off the new school year, the campus traditionally holds “Welcome Week” where students can enjoy games, activities, giveaways and more.   Welcome Week is currently underway this week and consists of all kinds of fun such as Picnic With the Pack with DJ Aaron, club interest fair, movie night with popcorn and cotton candy, cornhole, foam party, luau at the Baptist Student Union (BSU, and free Italian ice from the Frosty Flamingo cart sponsored by the band and Colette alumni association, and much more. Students visit the BSU table at the Club Fair   “I attended the campus club fair because I want to get involved with awesome organizations on campus,” said Abbey Berch of Wesson.   Berch is a recent graduate of Wesson Attendance Center and is currently a radiologic technologies major taking prerequisites. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Sigma Kappa Delta English honor society, and the Colettes dance team.   Her future plans are to further her radiology education after Co-Lin by attending the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Pictured: Berch enjoying her free Frosty Flamingo Sojourners, the campus rock band, is holding auditions August 20 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the Stanley Stewart Auditorium and scholarships are available. Interested students are asked to have two songs of contrasting styles prepared to demonstrate. More information about Sojourners,  reach out to chad.austin@colin.edu .   The 2025 season for the Co-Lin Wolf Pack football team will hold its first game at home this year on Thursday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. against Coahoma. See the attached schedule for all game dates and themes. Save the date for homecoming on Thursday, October 23.   Remember, all Co-Lin faculty, staff, and students receive free admission to all home Co-Lin athletic events by showing campus ID at the gate. The community is encouraged to attend. 2025 Co-Lin Football Schedule

Special to Wesson News Wesson has produced its share of athletes over the years, but few have taken their talents as far as Thomas Bryan Strauthers. Born in Wesson on April 6, 1961, Strauthers grew up in nearby Brookhaven, where his strength and determination on the football field quickly set him apart. After starring at Brookhaven High School, he continued his journey just down the road at Jackson State University, becoming a key player for the Tigers’ defensive front. His time at Jackson State cemented his reputation as a force to be reckoned with and prepared him for the next level. In 1983, Strauthers’ small-town roots met the national stage when the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him into the NFL. While he spent time with both the Eagles and the Detroit Lions, his most memorable stretch came with the Minnesota Vikings. Wearing purple and gold, Strauthers anchored the defensive line during the late 1980s, bringing power and consistency to the Vikings’ defense. Over the course of his eight-year professional career, he played in nearly 100 games and recorded 17 sacks, leaving his mark in one of the toughest leagues in sports. Though his career carried him far from Copiah County, Strauthers has never forgotten where it began. His path—from Wesson to Brookhaven, from Jackson State to the NFL—remains a point of pride for many in the community. For young athletes in Wesson, his story is a reminder that determination, hard work, and faith in one’s abilities can carry you from a small Mississippi town all the way to the biggest stages in the country. After retiring from professional football, Strauthers transitioned into business and corporate work, carving out a successful second career. He also remained deeply involved in his faith, serving as an elder at Berean Bible Church in Loganville, Georgia. Family has always been central to his life, and his passion for athletics carried into the next generation. His daughter, Courtney, played women’s basketball at the University of Alabama, continuing the family’s tradition of excellence on the court and field. Today, Strauthers is remembered not only as a tough and dependable NFL lineman but also as a family man and community leader. For Wesson and Brookhaven, his story blends local pride with national recognition, proving once again that small towns can produce individuals who rise to the very top.

By: Kara Kimbrough Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna is the perfect antidote to a chilly winter night when time is short but dinner must still be served. Call me strange, but I don’t despair during the short period of time in which we experience a rare phenomenon: winter. Chilly temperatures and early nightfall provide permission to take our lives down a notch and spend cozy evenings indoors. And the other reason to savor cold weather? Savory, hearty and yes, delicious winter food. What’s not to like about thick soups, chili, jambalaya, red beans and rice and the other heavy foods that are typically too heavy to enjoy when warm weather arrives? And one other reason I don’t abhor cooler weather? Winter's dishes provide warmth and comfort, and who could hate that when the thought of sky-rocketing electrical bills causes us to set the thermostat "just a little" lower than we’d like? Last week, I was excited to discover recipes for new winter dishes. The best part? They contained elements of my favorite things: pasta and soup. Anytime I can partake of either one is a good day…or night. Learning that the recipes could easily be cooked in a Crockpot was the icing on the cake. If, unlike me, you dread winter, remember there’s no better prescription for a gray day than one of these hearty dishes. I’m hoping they’ll chase away the worst case of winter blues and create a meal that will warm body and soul until spring. 4-Ingredient Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna 1 pound ground chuck 1 jar pasta sauce 1 package (25-ounce) frozen cheese ravioli 2 cups mozzarella cheese (or your favorite combination of cheeses) Optional: Seasonings to taste: garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper Brown ground chuck until no longer pink; drain excess grease. Stir in pasta sauce and any seasonings (if adding). In a 4-quart (or larger) lined Crockpot, layer half of ingredients in this order: meat sauce, frozen ravioli, cheese. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until ravioli is tender. Meaty Pasta e Fagioli (Traditional Italian versions of this soup don’t usually include meat, but I added it to mine. If you prefer a meatless version, just omit the meat) 1 pound lean ground chuck 3-4 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups chopped onion 2 cups chopped celery 2 tablespoons minced garlic (adjust amount more or less to your taste) 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 4 cups low-sodium beef broth (add more broth or water if mixture is too heavy at end of cooking) 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 2 cups ditalini pasta (or your favorite shape) (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed Seasonings to taste: dried thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink. Drain grease and set aside. In the same pot, heat olive oil. Cook onion, celery, garlic and black pepper until vegetables are tender, 10 minutes. Stir in beef broth, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with favorite seasonings. Pour into lined Crockpot and cook for low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes prior to end of cooking: stir in cooked beef, pasta and beans; cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until pasta is tender. Increase heat to high if needed to finish cooking pasta. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to Wesson News Wesson ladies in dancercise class. Wesson women are discovering dancercise, where dance meets exercise for fun, calorie-burning and cardio in a class is offered every Tuesday evening for ladies only.             There are 6 pm or 7 pm classes for women of all ages are participating led by Marsha Raiford, Taylor Burke and Jessica Breazeale of Wesson and former Nena Smith teachers.              “Dance, it’s cheaper than therapy,” says Raiford, who is spearheading the efforts.            The dancercise idea was birthed at the Nena Smith surprise 50th anniversary celebration, where former dancers expressed their desire and need for adult dance classes less technical and more fun and providing exercise.   Participants do not have to have any experience in dance or even be good at it. The classes are for fun, fellowship and exercise.             Raiford explains:  “I realized how much joy dance brought me. Taylor (Burke) and I were talking to each other about how much we missed it and enjoyed making up the routines. Hearing others ask for us to start an adult dance class got me to thinking, why not?  At the Wesson Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Mayor Alton Shaw noted that his wife Christy had a room for rent and I went to her to see if we could do an adult dance class there.” The class is $5, which pays for the room rental fees. Classes are held at The Event Room on Spring Street (1014 Spring Street beside Wesson Public Library).             “I’m so excited about the opportunity to fellowship with some wonderful ladies, get a little exercise, and get back to dancing,” says Burke.            Women are invited and encouraged to attend. There is no commitment to join or attend regularly. Simply attend when available.             “You don’t stop dance because you grow old,” says Raiford.  You grow old because you stop dancing.”