Search Results

Special to Wesson News   Wesson Garden Club members (left to right) Sherri Carty, Debbie Hoaglin, Jennifer Peets, Pam Owens, Debbie Smith and Lisa Smith visited Meridian for a day of festive activities. They toured Merrehope, an antebellum home built in 1858 and decorated with over 70 Christmas trees, enjoyed lunch at Weismann's, the state's oldest restaurant and visited The MAX, a museum showcasing the significant contributions of Mississippians to American arts and culture. With cold weather giving to way warmer temperatures, Wesson Garden Club (WGC) turned its attention again to nurturing plants last month.   Following the club’s short winter break, it reconvened on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, with Ron Bath as the guest speaker focusing on designing a site-specific landscape.   Attending the meeting were Terri Bath, Marilyn Britt, Sherri Carty, Sonya Cowen, Sherry Davis, Robin Furr, Cherry Head, Debbie Hoaglin, Rhonda Ishee, Carrie Northam, June Owens, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Joy Phillips, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, Lisa Smith, Pollyanna Smith, Stanley Stewart, and Dixie Thornton with special guests Jo Jones, Kate Norwood, and Lauren Westrope in addition to Ron Bath.   President Sherri Carty convened the meeting, opening with an inspirational quote.  Jean Ricks led the group in a Collect followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.    Marilyn Britt and Cherry Head of the Yard of the Month Committee presented The Magnolia Award to Jo Jones.    Debbe Hoaglin presented the gardening tip of the month – a reminder that it is time to prune trees and shrubs, with roses pruned at least 2/3 of a shrub.   Delicious refreshments were prepared by Sherry Davis, Carrie Northam, Jean Ricks, and Beverly Tarver.    After a time of socializing, club members created pine cone bird feeders, spreading peanut butter on them with a bird seed covering.  On Tuesday, February 17, Garden Club members Sherri Carty, Debbie Hoaglin and Pam Owens, along with Joe Carty and Anna Bell, a canine companion, met at the Boswell Regional Center in Wesson on to hang the pine cone bird feeders in the trees around the building.  When Boswell residents sit on their porches, they enjoy watching the birds enjoy their treats. On February 23, the Wesson Garden Club brought together its third and fourth grade youth gardeners -- the Butterbeans -- at the Wesson Public Library for a captivating educational experience centered on bee education and honey production. J.C. Curole discussed apiculture and participants sampled honey crafted by Curole.    WGC members Sherri Carty, Pam Owens, Jennifer Peets, Debbie Smith and Lisa Smith were assisted at the event by Wesson Attendance Center Beta Club members. Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. and Natchez Trace District-Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc.

By Misty Strieff Prine “If only we freely forgave with as much strength as we grip grudges.” – Rachel Wojo Grudges, they are nasty little things. What is a grudge anyway? A grudge is a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury. Ahhhh. Yep, that would be pretty accurate. I want you to think about a grudge for a moment you may be carrying around. We all have at least one that we carry around or have carried around at some point in time. You may not think you have one but it may resurface when you see someone that hurt you and that rush of hurt comes sweeping over you all over again. First of all, we are human. We are weak and vulnerable and when someone hurts us so deeply, that hurt lingers. We may not intend on doing so, but it’s easy to hold a grudge because we hold on to hurt and it is so very hard to overcome. It sometimes takes years to even remotely get to a point of forgiveness. Each time you come close to being a peace with forgiveness, something happens, and you may be pushed further and further away from forgiving that person. The enemy knows when God is moving in your heart. I struggled and still do with this in my life at different times. I’m human after all. But I realized something over the years. As a Christian, I felt like I failed so badly at forgiveness for the longest time. I had forgiven so many yet in some situations I was constantly surrounded by those who hurt me the most. It seemed like an impossible situation to be in. Was I going to completely fail this test? God taught me something. Each person required a different level and approach of forgiveness. Some people knew how much pain they inflicted, at least to some level, and others had no idea just how bad they did hurt me. Both will never understand how they changed my life for the better though. I like to think instead that through difficult situations and through the power of forgiveness, God empowers us to become better people and in that lies a powerful testimony to everyone that sees that healing begin. In doing so, we begin to see that behind every individual that harbors ill will towards us and treats us poorly is a person who is facing difficult situations in their own lives and we often become the target of that difficulty. Understanding that concept and seeing others, even those who hurt us, through the Lord's eyes and knowing that because He is willing to forgive them just as He is us, enables us to understand and appreciate forgiving our enemies a lot more. Difficult people and situations in our lives can either do one of two things. It can weaken us or it can make us stronger. We choose the outcome. Let our choice be one that glorifies God!

Special to Wesson News   In the 2024-25 season under Coach Tripp Case, both the Co-Lin men’s and women’s tennis  team earned a national tournament appearances, but fell in the Region 23 Tournament Quarterfinals.  Although the strength of the top doubles pairing in the Mississippi Association Community of Colleges Conference (MACCC) got the men there, they dropped a close match against Northeast and the women lost to Meridian to end their seasons. In the men, Case has returning group of sophomores and the women will be depending on freshmen. The men, he says, “are super competitive, and they have worked hard to close the gap, chase each other, and up the level of our play this season" and the women will gain experience “especially in the beginning of the season with some tough matches” that “will pay off big for us in the later part of our season." The men’s roster features eight players split evenly between sophomores and freshmen. The four sophomores are  Jake Bucek  (Geelong, Australia),  Nikoloz Gurgenidze  (Tbilisi, Georgia),  Mason Brand  (Mantee), and  Jax Leggett  (Bogue Chitto). " Jake Bucek  was a player that at one point was Top 10 in the nation at doubles and is close to breaking the Top 30 in singles and he has made a lot of improvement to his already impressive game. I'm excited to see how much he will grow this season," says Case. " Jax Leggett  is a player that came in clutch for us last season and stepped up to the plate when we lost  Nikoloz Gurgenidze  to an injury and he did not disappoint. I'm excited to see how those two along with Niko and  Mason Brand  continue to grow and take things to the next level for us." The four freshmen for the Wolves are  Lane Breland  (Perkinston),  Warren Lucio  (Tupelo),  James Rooks  (Jackson), and  Nick Tozer  (Belrose, Australia). " James Rooks  is a player that I think will have a high spot in our lineup this season. He's done a great job of getting used to the pace of college tennis and his experience in tournaments has been invaluable for his success. He plays with great technique, and I have high hopes for him," says Case. " Lane Breland  is a player that developed a lot of chemistry with  Jax Leggett  in doubles over the fall and we saw them have success in the ITA Regional Tournament. I like what I'm seeing from him in the doubles games.  Nick Tozer  and  Warren Lucio  have also been showing a lot of growth, and we like what we have seen from them especially Nick who just came here at the start of the spring semester." The Lady Wolves roster features nine players with two returning sophomores and seven incoming freshmen. The two returners are  Georgina Labusch  (Verl, Germany) and Allie Grace McNeil (Brookhaven) and Case said their experience will be valuable for this season. The seven freshmen include  Clara Barton Calcote  (Wesson),  Domenica Gruezo  (Quito, Ecuador),  Ruri Takeuchi  (Chiba, Japan),  Allie Neal  (Mathiston), and  Ady Locke ,  Macy McDaniel , and  Ella Thompson  all of Brookhaven. "I think that this group makes our team stronger as a whole especially in key spots," says Case. "Ruri had a great fall, and I think she has a chance to be one of the best players in our conference. I look forward to seeing how good she can be for us. Domenica is gritty and laser focused on the court and I think that will benefit her in some of the hard matches throughout the season." " Ady Locke  is another player that is very gritty and had a great fall that I think has helped her build her confidence," adds Case. " Clara Barton Calcote ,  Ella Thompson ,  Allie Neal , and  Macy McDaniel  all showed some impressive growth throughout the fall too and I'm excited to see how that helps them in this season." Case is excited about the potential of both men’s and women’s doubles pairings "Jake and Niko have been playing really well together since the fall, and they had a lot of success especially at ITA while Nick figures to be in one of those pairings too.” he points out.  “Nick has one of the cleanest one-handed backhands I've ever seen, and he reminds me a lot of Arne Sohmer when he was here. There's still a battle for a lot of those spots because  Warren Lucio  is a player that's in his first year competing, but he has really upped his level throughout the fall and training for the spring."             The good news for the women is that they have a lot of pairings that are working, but the bad news is that they have to make some tough decisions on those pairings soon,  Case says: "Ruri and Georgina both played well together this fall and made it to the semifinals of the ITA Regional Tournament, but Domenica has played well with both of them since she got here after the winter break while  Ady Locke  has placed herself in at one of the doubles pairings too. The decision will really come down to chemistry in the end and what pairings give us the best chance to win." Case says the men “have a very good chance” at competing for top spots in the conference and national tournament.  He says success for the women comes down to a few simple things:  "I think it will take a solid group effort because we believe that we have the talent to finish in the top three of the conference and being able to perform when we have to.  I believe that this group will step up and be ready for the pressure and get us back to the national tournament this season."

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB The 2020’s haven’t been kind to once-great animation giant Pixar, at least with its original titles. “Onward” had its box office cut down by the pandemic. Three straight movies had to forgo theatrical releases and go straight to Disney+. “Lightyear” was the first movie from the studio that I couldn’t bring myself to recommend. That movie, along with passable-but-middling efforts “Elemental” and “Elio” were all unable to win a single weekend at the domestic box office. Yes, “Inside Out 2” made more money domestically than any movie in the last three years, but that was an established property. Pixar needs an original hit to pull itself out of its rut, and I’m happy to report that “Hoppers” is just the movie to do it. The story follows outspoken college student and animal-lover Mabel (Piper Curda) as she tries to save the glade near her home from getting bulldozed at the behest of Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm) to make room for a new highway. She’d have a better case if there were any animals making their home in the glade, but she’s sure that if the land can be protected, the animals will come. What she really needs is to move a beaver into the area that can dam up a stream and create a water supply for an ecosystem’s worth of animals. But finding a beaver turns out to be harder than she thought. The only one she can find is one that willingly gets into a car, rides to the university, and goes into the office of Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy). It turns out that the beaver “is” Dr. Sam. The professor has created a machine that allows a human mind to enter a robotic animal body. This allows them to observe and study animals without their human-sized bodies causing a distraction. Think of it as the technology from “Avatar,” Mabel certainly does. Of course, Dr. Sam created the “hopping” technology for observational purposes only, and of course, Mabel disobeys all instructions and goes hopping as a beaver herself on a mission to save the glade. Mabel struggles to adapt to animal culture at first, especially the animals-have-to-eat-other-animals aspect. But she soon makes the acquaintance of King George (Bobby Moynihan), the beaver leader of a system of animals at a nearby pond and the character that I imagine will best lend himself to merchandising going forward. King George teaches her about “Pond Rules,” where everybody is friends, everybody helps out, and eating for sustenance isn’t personal. He sees the good in everybody, from the smallest creatures to dangerous predators to humans like Mayor Jerry. Mabel fulfills her mission and helps King George take back the glade for the animals. But then Mayor Jerry retaliates, and she hadn’t counted on escalation. King George summons a whole council of animal monarchs to decide whether to fight more ferociously, and the Insect Queen (Meryl Streep) wants to take it a step further and squish Mayor Jerry for good. Mabel didn’t want to take things “that” far, but soon things are out of control. Can she, in her fake beaver guise, diffuse an entire war between animals and humans? In some respects, mostly storytelling, “Hoppers” isn’t a huge step forward. Disney/Pixar characters get themselves in too deep over lies all the time, so this is par for the course in this era. And I did cringe at some of the jokes, especially ones that lean too heavily on modern slang. But this is what Disney and Pixar do best: adorable animals, clever gags, fun performances, and heartfelt emotional beats. I imagine that kids will love it and adults will like it. I liked it enough to say that I hope Pixar makes a well-deserved comeback with it, but I also hope that they have even bigger hits with more ambitious projects going forward. Grade: B “Hoppers” is rated PG for action/peril, some scary images, and mild language. Its running time is 104 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to Wesson News Mary Murphy Brady An eleventh grade homeschool student is urging Mississippi lawmakers to heed the recent “State of Tobacco Control” report of the American Lung Association on the impact of federal cuts to tobacco prevention efforts. The report graded each state and Washington, D.C., on five areas proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including efforts to end the sale of flavored tobacco products. Mississippi received an F for a lack of progress in this area. “I know all too well what tobacco use can do to a family,” says Wesson’s Mary Murphy Brady. “My grandmother was the 2025 American Lung Association Lung Force Hero and shared my grandfather’s story of tobacco and lung cancer. After his passing, I became an advocate working to prevent tobacco use and vaping, especially among teens.” Brady says more than 2.25 million middle and high school students use tobacco products, and 90% of them use flavored products. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes are the most common tobacco product among kids, with nicotine pouches ranking second. Both products are available in many flavors that appeal to youth. In Mississippi, 18.5% of high school students use at least one tobacco product, according to the “State of Tobacco Control” report. “As a youth advocate for stronger tobacco control policies, I urge Mississippi lawmakers to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products to protect the health and safety of our youngest residents,” says Brady. Brady encourages the community to learn more and take action at Lung.org/sotc .

Special to Wesson News A frame of surveillance video shows the Toyota SUV that was involved in the hit-and-run that killed Sam Easterling. Photo courtesy Hazlehurst Police Dept. Authorities with the Hazlehurst Police Department are asking for the public’s help as they continue investigating a deadly hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a local man earlier this month. According to investigators, 69-year-old Sam Easterling was struck by a vehicle while walking along Caldwell Drive at approximately 11 p.m. on March 8. The driver involved in the crash did not stop and left the scene. Police recently released surveillance video that shows what investigators believe to be a small gray Toyota SUV striking Easterling and continuing down the road without slowing down. Officials say the vehicle likely sustained damage to the front end as a result of the collision. Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the vehicle or who has information about the crash or the identity of the driver to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hazlehurst Police Department at 601-894-1101 or call Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477 (TIPS). Tips can remain anonymous. Officials say a tip that leads to an arrest and conviction could result in a reward of up to $2,500. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the driver involved and bring closure to Easterling’s family.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Ten-year-old Billy and his dad were going to eat at Billy’s favorite buffet-style restaurant. It was the boy’s birthday, and Dad had indulgently told him that he could have anything he wanted, as much as he wanted. Big mistake. Billy grabbed a plate and headed straight for the prime rib, steaks, roasts, and seafood bar. Without even a side glance at all the salads, vegetables, and fruits. As he began piling his plate with meats only, his dad stopped him with a warning. “Son, you don’t want to do that. If you eat all that meat, you’re gonna have a beauty of a stomach ache later. You need to have a few vegetables on there.” Confidently, Billy replied, “Nah, I’m good,” and continued building the second layer of his ‘Ode To The Love Of Meat’  on his plate. When he finally reached the dessert bar, he reached for a second large plate and proceeded to load it with every kind of chocolate dessert available. This time Dad spoke firmly, “Absolutely not, Billy! If you ate all that, you would be terribly sick tonight.” Glancing briefly at his dad, Billy’s voice took on an arrogant tone, “You  said I could have whatever I wanted to eat, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do!” Dad was now faced with difficult choices. Indulge a short-sighted birthday promise he had made that would definitely have consequences, or stick to his guns and enforce what he knew was best for his son. Let Billy indulge to his heart’s content and learn an important lesson in life about self-control, or stop the idiocy beforehand. The life lesson in over-eating won out. Shaking his head, Dad sighed and told Billy, “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t try to warn you, son.” Can you imagine yourself as Billy, and your Creator as the father who loves to indulge you…but only to a point. That point being when you insist on being really stupid.  For example, when you decide to buy a brand-new car with sky-high monthly payments. When you leave your marriage because you’ve become infatuated with a co-worker. Or when you decide to quit your job, ignore your debts, and take a few years to just indulge your love of travel. How does He make the difficult choices between letting you take the fun road, or forcing you to consider your ways and do some growing up? No doubt about it. With God, the fun road isn’t the first consideration. Helping you to learn to take the high road, that’s His focus. And God has perfect focus. He never forces you to do His will, He will let you learn at your own pace and make your own mistakes. But trust me, He will be trying to teach you the life lessons you need. And most of the time, it’s gonna hurt.

Locals are starting an American Legion Baseball Team for 14-17-year-olds. The tryout date is scheduled for May 2 at 10 a.m. at Copiah Academy. The games will be a true high school feel and atmosphere. Players will be exposed to junior and senior collegiate coaches. Interested players must reside in the state, but must still attend all practices and games. Players may be come from homeschools or high schools. American Legion Baseball is a national institution that had a modest beginning in 1925. The baseball program thrived through a world war, several national tragedies, and times of great prosperity and great despair. Community service has always been a core value of The American Legion and its 2 million members. The league still stands behind the traditional values upon which it was founded. American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health and active citizenship.  “American Legion Baseball has held a reputation as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Countless ALB alumni have gone on to play college and professional baseball, with 82 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Bobby Thornton, American Legion Drane-Prine Post 79 Commander. “The men and women of the American Legion Post 79 are strong supporters of children and youth in our community.” American Legion Basebll is a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. American Legion Baseball has been, and continues to be, a steppingstone to manhood for millions of young men who have gone on to serve their country or community, raise families, or play the sport at the highest level. Breazeale Hood Coaching the team will be Ricky Breazeale of Wesson, owner of Grace Foam Solutions, and Brandon Hood of Crystal Springs, owner of Brando's and newly acquired Wynndale Steakhouse. Johnson The team will receive regular input from Copiah County native and Mississippi State College World Series winning pitcher, Preston Johnson, a former Baltimore Orioles pitcher. "After the age of 14, travel baseball opportunities are scarce in our state. This gives our kids the ability to get high-quality reps over the summer while focusing on development and exposure to college opportunities" said Breazeale who played ball at William Carey, Jones College and Belhaven College. The newly formed team will represent American Legion Post 79 Drane Prine in Wesson. American Legion Baseball is widely recognized as one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Today, the program registers teams in all 50 states plus Canada. “Over the years, summer baseball programs have been moved to only the younger children and not the high school and junior high school students. American Legion Baseball will meet that need and provide teenage boys the opportunity to play and compete at the next level, said Thornton. “The Veterans of Post 79 in Wesson are proud to be involved and help sponsor the Legion Baseball Team.” Players will adhere to the American Legion Code of Sportsmanship. “I will: Keep The Rules;  Keep Faith With My Teammates; Keep My Temper; Keep Myself Fit; Keep A Stout Heart In Defeat; Keep My Pride Under In Victory; Keep A Sound Soul; A Clean Mind And A Healthy Body" This site is dedicated to providing information about the program to the managers, coaches, and players.” Most games will be in June on Fridays and Saturdays. If you are interested, please email goatministry@gmail.com.

By Jessica Breazeale On average, around 236,000 people die every year from drowning globally, according to the CDC. People are literally drowning in ponds, lakes, oceans, and swimming pools, and it’s the 3 rd  leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. That averages out to about 650 deaths per day worldwide. In the United States, it’s about 12 per day. Over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with children under the age of five at highest risk. What can we do for drowning prevention? As a seasoned swimmer and swim teacher, I find regular swimming lessons the best method for water confidence. The more time you spend in the water and the more lessons you receive, the safer you’ll feel. It’s also important that parents do not take their eyes off their children…not even for a moment. The worst nightmare can happen when preoccupied by a phone, a conversation, a trip to the car, alcohol or substance use, and many other distractions.  But in a metaphorical sense, people drown in other  ways. For example, in the U.S., about 574,314 people filed for bankruptcy last year, an 11% increase from the previous year, according to the United States Courts website.   Bankruptcy filings are still on the rise due to consumer debt like high interest rates, medical expenses, inflation, lower wages, etc. People are drowning in debt.   Over 70% of individuals in Mississippi needing treatment for substance abuse do not receive it. Mississippi  has experienced a dramatic surge in drug-related fatalities, with overdose deaths increasing by 127% from 2012 to 2023, reaching 702 deaths annually. The state faces a severe opioid crisis driven primarily by fentanyl. People are drowning in drug addiction. According to the American Addiction Centers (from a 2023 U.S. National Survey), 16.7% or 48.5 million Americans (aged 12 and older) met the criteria for substance use disorder (SUD) within the past 12 months. 1 in 6 people with SUD struggle with both alcohol and drug addiction, and over 21 million adults are navigating co-occurring  mental health  and substance challenges. Additionally, about 1.65 million inpatient mental health hospitalizations occurred in the U.S. in a recent year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Worldwide, about 8.4 million people are admitted to mental health facilities each year, which is about 23,000 admissions per day globally, based on estimates from the World Health Organization. People are drowning in depression and other mental illnesses. People are drowning in water , debt , drugs , mental health , and a slew of other things we didn’t mention like anger, grief, hatred, etc. But I know something that will not drown you—and that  something is the living  water . As it says in John 4:14 (Amplified Bible): “But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water, gushing up to eternal life.” The living water won’t drown you. It’s a reassurance so old that it’s an Old Testament promise from Isaiah 43:2. This promise of God's presence and protection during life's trials says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah’s statement was probably rooted in the Exodus event of the Israelites crossing through the parted Red Sea, but the promise still rings true for us today…if we let it. God didn’t REMOVE the Red Sea. He PARTED it. You’ll have trials. That’s what it means to be alive and human. But if you allow the living water to show you a path through, there will be one waiting for you. Don’t sink . SWIM !    Downloadable version

Special to Wesson News Copiah-Lincoln Community College has been awarded a major FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to construct a new, large-scale safe room facility. The $16,294,746 grant will be used for Phase II of construction on a nearly 35,000-square-foot standalone, multipurpose safe room on the Wesson Campus of Co-Lin. An additional $175,000 administrative grant was awarded for the project, bringing the total FEMA investment in the project to just over $18 million, which includes a nearly $1.6 million planning and design grant awarded in 2024. "We've been through enough severe storms in Mississippi to understand the value of safe rooms. I'm pleased with these FEMA hazard mitigation grants to create more safe spaces in our state," said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over FEMA. Co-Lin's new multi-use facility will accommodate more than 2,000 occupants. In addition to serving as a safe room for the community, the facility will include a gymnasium to house the college's basketball and volleyball programs. "The safety of our students, employees, and community is always a top priority for Co-Lin," said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. "This project will provide a secure shelter during severe weather while also creating a first-class facility for our student-athletes and campus community. We are especially grateful to U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her continued leadership and strong support of Co-Lin, the community college system, and the people of Mississippi. Her commitment to strengthening our institutions and investing in projects like this makes a meaningful difference for our students and communities. We also extend our sincere appreciation to FEMA and our federal delegation for supporting a project that will serve our college and the surrounding community for generations. In addition, we greatly appreciate the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for its assistance and support in helping make this important project a reality."

Special to Wesson News A new sweet spot has officially opened its doors in downtown Wesson. Destiny’s Delights  celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting today with a festive event that drew community leaders, local business owners, friends, family, and customers to mark the special occasion. The celebration took place at the bakery’s new location in the recently built shopping center—the white buildings at the four-way stop in downtown Wesson, located at 2037 Highway 51 . Guests enjoyed prize giveaways, free samples, and a welcoming atmosphere as the community gathered to support the new business. One of the most touching moments of the event was a balloon release held in honor of the celebration and in memory of two women who inspired the business. The tribute recognized Kita’s mother, who first taught her how to bake, as well as the late Destiny, Kita’s sister-in-law, for whom the bakery is lovingly named. The moment served as both a celebration of the new venture and a heartfelt remembrance of the family legacy behind it. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by Wesson Mayor Alton Shaw , members of Town Hall staff, representatives from the Wesson Chamber of Commerce, and Founder’s Day Queen Kate Norwood . Also present were Alderman Mike King , representatives from the Copiah Monitor , fellow Wesson business owners, and many supporters from the community. With the official opening now complete, Destiny’s Delights is ready to welcome customers looking for homemade baked goods and sweet treats in the heart of Wesson. For store hours, updates, and more information, visit the Destiny’s Delights  Facebook page.

Horace E. "Sonny" Smith May 15, 1946 - October 1, 2025 79 years of age Horace “Sonny” E. Smith, Jr., passed away on October 1, 2025, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Columbia, Tennessee. He was born on May 15, 1946, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, to the late Horace E. Smith, Sr. and Mildred McCardle Turnbo. Sonny graduated from Copiah Lincoln High School where he played Basketball, Football and was on the Track Team. He was voted Mr. Copiah Lincoln High School his senior year and was class officer his Sophomore and Junior years. He attended Co-Lin Junior College where he played basketball. Then he attended University of Mississippi. Sonny was known for his incredible work ethic. He began working in the pipeline industry at the young age of 18. He became an Industrial Radiographer and remained dedicated to that line of work for most of his life. For a time, he also owned and operated a woodyard so he could stay closer to his wife and children, a testament to the deep love he had for his family. For many years he owned or worked for a Limosine Service, which lead to some pretty interesting stories traveling across Tennessee. He always wanted to provide for others. Outside of work, Sonny found joy on the water. He loved fishing and boating, and when his children were young, the family spent nearly every weekend out on their skiboat, creating cherished memories together. During the evenings, he could often be found engrossed in Westerns or World War II documentaries. Weekends he enjoyed watching football especially if Ole Miss was playing. If he was outside you were likely to see him wearing his baseball cap and Rayban's. In his later years he enjoyed tomato sandwiches and biscuits with sausage gravy. He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Karen Jo Smith; his children, Samantha (Lee) Brooks of Fayetteville Arkansas, Lance (Monica) Smith of Midlothian Texas, Brett (Kerry) Smith of Norcross Georgia, Brandi (Tyler) Hirsch of Brentwood TN, and Benjamin Jay (Mackenzie) Smith of Spring Hill TN; grandchildren, Lauren (Craig) Lawrence, Zane Brooks, US Airman Mason Smith, Gaven Smith, Tristan Hirsch, Hailey Hirsch, Quade Smith, Hannah (Kevin) Valencia, and Nick Smith; great-grandchildren, Roan Lawrence, Giovanni Valencia, and Alessio Valencia; siblings, Elaine Hollier, Steve (Donna) Smith, William (Wilma) Turnbo, and Lynn Turnbo Holliday; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace E. Smith, Sr. and Mildred McCardle Turnbo, and his brother, Jimmy E. Smith all from Wesson MS. A celebration of Sonny’s life will be held on March 21, 2026 1pm-3pm at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Wesson, MS. The Smith family would like to thank Life Care Rehabilitation Center for the care and love given to Sonny in his final weeks and the caring staff at Brookdale Assisted Living who became like family to him.