Storm coming in at the Ross Barnett Reservoir (Photo Credit: Darkhorse Press) A man from Copiah County lost his life after going out on the Ross Barnett Reservoir during severe weather Tuesday (April 22) morning. WLBT says Reservoir Police Chief Carlos Dipuma shared that a witness saw the man put his boat in the water as a storm was moving in. At around 10 a.m., police got a call about a boat that was unmanned in the Goshen Springs area. Officers found the empty boat near a ramp. While looking for the missing person, one officer found a man’s body in the water. He was wearing clothes that matched what the witness said. Police think he may have been hit by lightning. Several groups helped at the scene, including the Rankin County Emergency Operations Center and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks . Officials are working with Copiah County authorities to notify the man’s next of kin. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.

Kate Norwood, 2025-2026 Wesson Founder's Day Queen Kate Norwood has been named Wesson Founder's Day Queen 2025-2026. Norwood is the daughter of Brian and Babs Norwood of Wesson.  Norwood is a current junior at Wesson High. She plans to attend Co-Lin and then Mississippi State to pursue criminal psychology.  She has served as class secretary her sophomore and junior years. She's been involved with Beta Club and the yearbook staff. Norwood has been on the tennis team since her eighth-grade year and was a junior high cheerleader.  Norwood has been on the honor roll each year. She had the highest average in web design, gold club for ACT score, outstanding achievement in multiple classes and will be attending Girls State this summer. She enjoys reading, traveling, learning new things like crochet, listening to different types of music, going to church, and spending time with friends. She attends Easthaven Baptist Church and is a youth team leader.  When asked, "what is your favorite class and why?" Norwood said, "History...I love history and have some of my favorite and funniest memories in there. And psychology because it's so interesting." L to R: Norwood and Sen. Andy Berry, district 35 representing Copiah, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence and Simpson counties Norwood has served as a page with Sen. Andy Berry. She's a member of Junior Auxiliary of Copiah County and the Crown Club. Her goals are to travel to Greece,  travel whenever possible to new places, go to college, do well in her classes, and "find a cool job".  "I love Wesson and enjoy showing people what an awesome town we have," said Norwood.  Congratulations are in order for Kate Norwood, Wesson's new Founder's Day Queen. She will be crowned at the event on May 3 at 11:00 a.m. on stage in Wesson Park as we bid farewell to our past queen, Abbey Berch.  Norwood will be crowned by Jessica Bueto Breazeale, the first Founder's Day Queen named 25 years ago.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Let me give my personal baseline right here at the beginning, and then jump headlong from that starting point. God is the giver of life. He has a plan for every life He creates. And He says it is a good plan. Although, God says life is worth living, it is absolutely true that at times, it can seem to get almost unbearable. A person can suffer so much that eventually they begin to doubt whether staying alive is worth it. Hopelessness and anger can spur thoughts like, “If God is as loving as preachers like to say that He is, why has He let life be this way for me?”  They can then walk even further down that dark path; “Is there really even a God out there? And if there is, my hopeless life is definite proof that He doesn’t watch or even care about people suffering.” Craving release from their emotional or physical pain, somewhere in the midst of all that agony, they begin to entertain thoughts of taking their life. After all, if they are a believer in an eternity with the God who created them, they feel they would be much better off with Him. And if they are not a believer, they simply want The End of everything for themselves. “Not existing at all has to be better than this hell I am enduring.” But a desperate person is blinded to two real truths; No one is able to see around the corner into the future.  Life circumstances can, and often do change.  Plus, there is no way to know or understand what God has in mind using their present pain. Only later can they realize what He was accomplishing. Another truth; Suicide leaves in its wake unanswered questions, unresolved issues and hurting people . Suicide is an escape for one, but a permanent pit for those who loved them. But at this point, I offer a plea; Do not judge that person who chose to commit suicide . God alone is worthy to be their judge, not you or me. We do not know nor understand the tremendous pain that caused their decision.  Please realize there must have been enormous depression involved. We need to remember that they felt absolutely hopeless and alone. Lastly, if someone admits to you that they are thinking of suicide, there are a few important things you can do; Offer to listen without condemning or criticizing them. Acknowledge you do not have all the answers, but passionately repeat that you do care about them. Offer to help them find a qualified counselor.  If they convince you by their words and behavior that they are definitely in trouble, ask if they have a plan in place. Seek gently for details about actually carrying it out. Many who have given up on life getting any better will have spent some time seriously strategizing how they are going to die. Call 988 if you are convinced the person is truly in danger.

Special to Wesson News   Pictured (left to right) are Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton, William Winter Scholars Nicole Donald, Allison Hamilton, Krista Brengettsy, Cheryl Hunt, Janie Blakeney, and Natchez Campus Vice President Dr. Pernell Goodwin.   Five outstanding faculty members and students were selected to represent Copiah-Lincoln Community College as William Winter Scholars at the 36th annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration (NLCC) held March 27-29, in Natchez.   Honorees included Co-Lin English Instructor Cheryl Hunt and student Krista Brengettsy of Natchez from the Natchez Campus; English Instructor Nicole Donald and student Allison Hamilton of Wesson from the Wesson Campus, and Humanities Instructor Janie Blakeney from the Simpson County Center.   Each William Winter Scholar was chosen by his or her college, university, or community college as the Humanities Division's most outstanding student, faculty member, or professional. This award allowed winners to attend the NLCC free of charge. The annual award also carries with it prestige and public acknowledgment of how highly each scholar is regarded by his or her institution.

By: Kara Kimbrough Tiramisu dip is the perfect appetizer when paired with ladyfingers or sugar cookies for dipping.  It’s spring, which means summer is on the horizon. As soon as warm weather arrives, pool parties, cookouts and other social events offer the perfect opportunity to serve chips, crackers, sliced vegetables – well, almost anything, r4ally, with a big bowl or two of dip. I’ve never met a dip I didn’t like and I don’t see that changing. Even better, a dip with the name of my favorite snack cracker – Chicken in a Bisket, of course – has arrived on the scene, promising to bring just as much enjoyment as its namesake cracker. Some of my favorite dips are French onion, Tzatziki (Mediterranean), baked crabmeat, spinach and artichoke, hummus, smoked salmon and cream cheese, caramelized onion, olive tapenade, loaded baked potato…I could go on, but you get the idea…I love a good dip. Even though I possess an arsenal of delicious dip recipes, I’m always open to adding more. Besides this week’s find of the Chicken in a Bisket dip, I tried one reminiscent of my favorite New Orleans sandwich, a muffaletta. Filled with the same meats and cheeses, it’s a little bit of N’Awlins on a cracker. And last, boring fruit dip will be replaced this summer with exciting tiramisu dip, a takeoff of the decadent dessert by the same name. Pair it with sliced apples, ladyfingers or sugar cookies for a simple, yet memorable appetizer or even a light dessert. Chicken in a Bisket-Inspired Dip 1 cup mayonnaise 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened 1 5-ounce can of chicken meat (packed in water,) drained or 1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded 1 tablespoon dried chives 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce Chicken in a Biskit Crackers for serving Beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in mayo, chicken, chives, and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Serve with Chicken in a Biskit crackers N’Awlins Favorite Sandwich Dip 1 8-ounces cream cheese, softened ½ cup mayonnaise, (add more to taste for a creamier dip 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon garlic salt 2 slices Genoa salami, chopped fine 2 slices cooked ham, chopped fine 2 slices pepperoni, chopped fine 1 cup Boscoli Family Italian Olive Salad 1 cup  shredded provolone cheese ¼ cup shredded Parmesan 1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers (optional, or to use as garnish) Large plain round bread Crackers for serving In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt; stir well to combine. Add meats, cheeses and Italian salad (and peppers, if desired). Leaving a 1-inch border, cut out center of bread and scoop out the center to make a bread bowl. Tear or cut scooped out bread into 1" pieces. Place bread bowl and bread pieces on a baking sheet. Fill bread bowl with dip. Bake dip, removing bread pieces if they start to get too dark, until warmed through, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve with crackers. Tiramisu Dip 8-ounce cream cheese, softened 8-ounce Greek yogurt or sour cream 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, plus a little extra for sprinkling 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder Final additions: 1 pint of whipping or double cream 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar ½ tsp vanilla extract In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder and espresso powder until smooth. Finally, whip the heavy cream with the remaining confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Fold most of it (leaving a small amount for topping) into the cheese mixture. Spoon into a serving dish and dust top with cocoa powder. Serve with sliced fruit, ladyfingers or other favorite cookies for dipping.

Special to Wesson News                        A 5K Run/Walk, musicians, vendors with an array of arts and crafts; snacks, refreshments and meals; the crowning of a new Queen, and fireworks will highlight the Wesson Founders’ Day celebration on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.               The Wesson Chamber of Commerce is the primary sponsor of the event with additional support committed so far by Copiah Bank and Salmon Point Development.               The center activity will move from Highway 51 this year to the municipal park.                  The festivities start on Friday evening with gospel music in the municipal park at 5 p.m.    Walkers and runners will start a 5K Fun Run a 8 a.m. at the municipal park with signs along the way directing them through Wesson and the Co-Lin campus and ending at their starting point. Overall Run/Walk winners and those finishing first, second and third place in four age categories -- under 20, 21-35, 36-50 and 51 and over -- will be recognized.  Last year, more than 60 adults and youth participated and larger numbers are expected this year.                On Saturday, the Chamber will Crown a new Founder’s Day Queen and celebrate the reign of the outgoing 2024-25 Queen, who has represented the Chamber at various events throughout the year.                 Throughout the day, soloists and bands now being lined up by Chamber President Teri Bath will take the Spring Street stage with an assortment of gospel, rock and country music, dance and crowd-pleasing performances to the celebration.  Shoppers will browse vendor booths and bargain for clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts.  An abundance of food, snacks and drinks will be available to satisfy the hunger needs of visitors.  There will be dancing in the park from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., when a fireworks display concludes the day.   More specifics about the 5K Run/Walk and other events will be shared in the coming weeks on the Wesson Chamber Happenings Facebook page.

Photo from Camp Kamassa What began as a dream to create a safe, inclusive space for Mississippi’s most resilient children has finally become a reality. Camp Kamassa , located in Crystal Springs, is officially open — offering children with special needs a place to laugh, connect, and experience the joy of camp life. The camp is the brainchild of Mary Kitchens , who, years ago, recognized the lack of recreational opportunities available to children with disabilities in Mississippi. Determined to fill that gap, Kitchens launched a nonprofit organization in 2008 and began laying the groundwork for what would become Camp Kamassa. In 2013, 326 acres of land were acquired in Copiah County, and through a unique partnership with the U.S. military, construction began on the state’s first fully accessible camp of its kind. On April 5 , Camp Kamassa officially celebrated its grand opening, marking a major milestone for the state’s special needs community. Unlike traditional campgrounds, every detail of Camp Kamassa was intentionally designed to accommodate children with a wide range of physical, developmental, and medical challenges. “This campus has been thought through. It’s consolidated. It’s flat. It has wide sidewalks,” said Camp Director Andrew Vincent . “The cabins have extra space inside just to be able to maneuver. All of the bathrooms are handicap accessible. Every facility we have is handicap accessible.” Camp Kamassa goes even further by addressing the medical needs of children with chronic illnesses. The campus includes a state-of-the-art infirmary , staffed with trained medical professionals who can administer on-site treatments. “For our campers who live with a chronic illness, they will have the ability to have their treatments done at the camp and not have to go back to the children’s hospital or a clinic,” Vincent explained. “With the medical teams that will be there with the campers, they can actually have dialysis done. They can have chemo treatments done right there at Camp Kamassa.” The camp will welcome its first group of campers in mid-May , opening its doors to a future where all children — regardless of their needs — have a place to play, grow, and belong. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit https://campkamassa.com/all-disabilities-special-needs/ .

A 22-year-old man is deceased following a high-speed drag racing incident near County Line Road Sunday evening. According to the Copiah County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of street racing near the intersection of Highway 51 and County Line Road, but no vehicles were located at the time. Shortly after, Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers observed two cars lining up to race in the same area. As a trooper attempted to stop them, one of the drivers fled. The suspect, identified as Jayden Bridges of Copiah County, led officers down Rhymes Road at a high rate of speed. He lost control of his 2007 black Dodge Charger and struck a tree. Bridges was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. "This is a tragic reminder of how dangerous illegal street racing can be," said Trooper Marcus Allen with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. "One moment of recklessness cost a young man his life." The trooper involved in the pursuit sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Local residents say the area has become a known spot for racing after dark. “I’ve seen cars speeding down here late at night more times than I can count,” said Brenda Carter, who lives near Rhymes Road. “It was only a matter of time before something like this happened.” Authorities say the incident remains under investigation.

Special to Wesson News Mississippi has the lowest ranking in the nation for women’s health and care during pregnancy. Many factors make it hard for mothers and their babies to stay healthy. The state also has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some STIs, like syphilis, can pass from a mother to her baby and cause serious health problems. Because of this, there are important health issues for parents and newborns in Mississippi. To help, the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities connects pregnant women and new mothers to resources and services throughout the state. Expectant mothers who have questions about prenatal care or #syphilis testing, are encouraged to contact the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute at 601815-MEWI (6394). The team is ready to help with information and support needed for a healthy pregnancy and a happy baby. Dedicated to the prevention & awareness on the impact of Syphilis on Mississippians, with a focus on educating university & college students across the state. Contact 601-815-MEWI (6394)

Special to Wesson News   Fentanyl is the scariest drug among the array of choices of substance abusers, according to an authority who works with communities to curb its use.   “Doctors administer fentanyl in a relatively safe form to relieve pain, but the illicit form that can be manufactured in homes and drug dealers mix with other drugs to increase their addictive power is deadly,” Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Ashley Washington told attendees at a Co-Lin Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) workshop.   Washington, who works for the Region 8 Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Treatment program, said fentanyl, which is a 50 times more powerful addictive drug that heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, is responsible for 60 percent of drug overdose deaths – some 250,000 in 2024.   When inhaled, she explained, it attaches opiate receptors in the brain, slows breathing and heart rate, producing a deep relaxed and euphoric state.   “Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal,” Washington said.  “To get an idea of how small an amount that is, consider a small packet the sweetens your coffee or tea contains 1,000 milligrams of sugar.”   Because of the small amount needed, drug dealers can easily mix it with other drugs, such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine to keep their addict customer coming back for more, or even contaminate patches, IVs and pills, Washington added.  “It’s easy to consume and hard to detect,” she pointed out.   Withdrawal from fentanyl is intense and painful, affecting the user both physically and mentally, Washington said.   Washington said safe, healthy homes should keep Narcan kits in the medicine cabinets as a norm like first aid kits.  Narcan, administered by injection or as a nasal spray, is fentanyl antidote that can save someone who has overdosed – all too often a youth who is experimenting with drugs.

By Bob Garver Poster Credit IMDB             After a mere two weekends, “A Minecraft Movie” has claimed the top spot of the 2025 domestic box office. It’s not shocking that this franchise piece beat out January fare, but since then we’ve had an MCU entry and this movie just blew right past it. And I have to ask: Why? Okay, I know why. It’s because the video game is popular. But bad movies based on popular video games flop all the time, why is this one in particular bucking the trend? Does the video game just have that big of a fanbase that they can turn it into a hit where so many similar attempts have failed? Or did fans and non-fans alike see the advertising for this movie and think that there might be a good movie here? I’m inclined to believe it’s the former, because I did not see any version of the advertising that made the movie seem like anything more than the hackery that it is.             Jack Black stars as Steve, a lifelong fan of mining who stumbles across a portal to another dimension called the Overworld. The new setting allows Steve to arrange the environment however he wants using the building blocks at his disposal, most of which are literal blocks, as in cubes. But he runs afoul of local pig-like villain Malgosha (Rachel House), who wants to shut down creativity at all costs. She has Steve arrested, but he hands off the portal-orb to his dog Dennis for hiding on Earth so it can’t fall into the wrong hands. The orb falls into what may or may not be the wrong hands.             The orb falls into the hands of fledgling arcade owner Garrett “The Garbageman” Garrison (Jason Momoa), who buys Steve’s abandoned things at a storage unit sale. He, along with a creative child he’s mentoring named Henry (Sebastian Hansen), are sucked into the Overworld, along with Henry’s adult sister (Emma Myers) and the siblings’ real estate agent (Danielle Brooks). The movie has no idea to do with three of these characters, they’re just there to pad out the cast beyond Black and Momoa, who are basically playing the same burnout-with-rock-n-roll-energy anyway.             A conditionally-released Steve teaches the newcomers how to survive in the Overworld, which includes introducing them to all sorts of bells and whistles that I’m sure are familiar to fans of the game. They also have to go on a quest to find their way home, which includes fending off zombies, pig armies, and even a monster riding a chicken for a literal chicken fight. A better movie would probably have the heroes try to make friends with the different races, but here they’re just enemies to either kill, evade, or knock aside while trying to attain a larger goal for themselves.             This movie is a mess. The jokes aren’t funny, the action isn’t interesting, and the writers were apparently all working on different movies. How else to explain the sincere tone of the Natalie-raising-Henry storyline or the painful tangent where an Overworld villager stumbles into the real world and begins dating Henry’s vice-principal (Jennifer Coolidge)? And none of it makes me want to play the “Minecraft” game. I’m not much of a video game person anyway (which yes, means I’m not the movie’s target audience, though I seriously doubt knowledge of the game would have endeared me to these underdeveloped characters), but a good adaptation knows how to cultivate new fans of the source material. As glad as I am that people are going to the movies, it baffles me that their choice is “A Minecraft Movie.” Grade: D “A Minecraft Movie” is rated PG for violence/action, language, suggestive/rude humor and some scary images. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com Most people with a beating heart want to be loved. Oh yes, I am certain that psychiatrists would be quick to point out there is a certain tiny percentage of humans who feel no love and have no need to be loved. But overwhelmingly, most of us crave the feeling of warm acceptance, or being valued for simply who we are, and nothing else. But there is another “ I- need-it - and-I-will-get-it-no-matter-what”   that has surfaced in recent years. Driving a large segment to do and say things that in former generations would have been unthinkable. To what am I referring? People demanding respect from others. Countless song lyrics mandating respect from the world-at-large have clogged the airwaves. Speakers holding microphones are droning on endlessly about ‘their rights.’ A never-ending stream of lawyers, representing the self-declared downtrodden who feel their rights have been trampled, are holding forth in our country’s courtrooms, demanding their due. Every one of these are looking for that feeling of respect that will make them feel vindicated and worthy. And whether that validation comes in the form of financial compensation (always acceptable, of course) an abject public apology, a better position within the company where they work, or all the above combined, compensation for not feeling respected is being demanded. And sometimes, even coerced. In many instances, this demand is not even workplace or relationship based. It is internal - based solely upon the need that  everyone  around them accept and extol their choices. Whether those around them personally accept and feel like extolling those personal choices or not. Wanting and needing respect from others is a natural for us humans. We were made with an in-born desire to be recognized and valued for who we are and what we contribute. Nothing wrong in my eyes in desiring the respect of others. But here is my problem with today’s demand for respect. A person has to be respect-able. The kind of person whom the people around you are quite willing and able to hold in high regard. Forcing respect to come from others won’t happen. No matter how much you try to decree it into being – you cannot force people to respect you. Some examples; People will have trouble respecting you as a great spouse, if they know that you have been in fact cheating on your husband/wife. If you abuse defenseless children, you deserve absolutely no one’s respect. You probably will not be extolled as Employee Of The Month at your company if you are lazy on the job. And you certainly won’t be publicly lauded and applauded for lying and stealing, and then blaming someone else when you get caught. You cannot command or demand respect from anyone, when your behavior is trashy and despicable.   YOU HAVE TO EARN RESPECT! Having people’s respect isn’t your God-given right as a human being. Respect for you and your behavior is given when you respect yourself enough to realize who you can, and should be. And set about to be that person, someone who is respect-able.