By: Frank Corder, Magnolia Tribune The last day to vote in-person absentee is March 29, while mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before April 1st. Absentee voting is now available for the April 1st Municipal Primary Elections. The vast majority of Mississippi’s nearly 300 cities and towns will be electing mayors, boards of aldermen, city councils and other local officials this year. Those voters in the Republican or Democratic primaries who will be unable to vote in-person on the Primary Election Day can now visit their local city clerk’s office to vote in-person absentee or contact the office to request a mail-in ballot. For those who cannot visit their municipal clerk’s office during the work week, Saturday in-person absentee voting dates for the Municipal Primary Election are Saturday, March 22 and Saturday, March 29 from 8:00 a.m. until noon. The last day to vote in-person absentee is March 29, while mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before April 1st. According to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office, to be eligible to vote in the Municipal Primary Election, all Mississippians must complete voter registration by March 3, 2025. All mail-in voter registrations must be postmarked by March 3, 2025. The candidates that win their respective primary elections will move on to the June 3rd General Election. New municipal terms begin July 1st.

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com You are a caregiver. That very much over-stressed, over-worked and under-appreciated person who along with probably many others, holds the anonymous title of  WORLD’S MOST PATIENT PERSON . There are likely very few families among our population who have not experienced the sudden disruption, and even heartbreak, when a person among you goes down physically, mentally or emotionally. No longer able to function in their normal day-to-day fashion for a while, they need help. And very often, that help comes from a household member who willingly – or not – rearranges their own routine to accommodate the ill-fitting and very unexpected role of untrained caregiver. The word  stressful  doesn’t even begin to cover this new scenario. Not only are they suddenly pressed into filling a job that includes nurse, encourager, housekeeper, cook, counselor of the depressed and angry, and dodger of the occasionally flying shoe, but they also have to somehow keep up with all their own regular jobs and activities. Because so often, their own daily workload goes on, even though they are now knee-deep in caregiving. And if a caregiver happens to be one of those people who has never had to be responsible for the myriads of jobs included in keeping a home smoothly operating - because they were the bacon-bringer, while the now-incapacitated was the bacon-fryer?  Then this new role is so much harder for them. Not only are they suddenly enduring on-the-job training while having to master new skills, but are probably being taught by a hurting, cranky, and impatient teacher. I can almost hear the group sigh being exhaled among all you temporary caregivers out there. Frustrated and tired group that you are. Wondering if you can make it all the way to the end of your imprisonment. The rest of us hear you, and we can see the tired lines on your faces. We notice when some of you instinctively flinch at the sound of a little bell tinkled somewhere nearby. We can almost hear your thoughts, “Wonder how long it will be, before I no longer dread that awful sound in the distance?” Can anybody see the phrase ‘marital stress’ written on the horizon? A smidgen of advice for all you heroes of the hurting household. A warm soaking bath or relaxing shower while your charge is sleeping. Running shoes kept by the door for a ten-minute respite. A great friend, who will listen without judging. A cup of your favorite hot beverage while sitting at least a few minutes all alone. Sleeping pills if needed – you do have to rest. An anti-anxiety pill once in a while for you and your patient can help when the tension gets as thick as fog in the house. Develop the daily habit of praying for your patient, and for your own patience. And my last piece of valuable insight; develop lightning-fast reactions. Helps when dodging. If you know you know.

Special to Wesson News   Five computer workshops led by Margaret Britt are highlighting of the adult learning programs scheduled during the spring semester in  Co-Lin’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR).   Workshops focusing on the basics of computers and the Microsoft Word application started last month (Monday, January 27) and continued on Mondays, February 3 and 10 (Introduction to Computer Part 2 and Word Basics Part 1), with Word Basics Part 2 and PowerPoint Part 1 and Part 2 scheduled on Mondays, February 17 and 24 and March 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Co-Lin Thames Center.   ILR, a Co-Lin-sponsored membership organization, provides continuing education experiences for retired and semi-retired older adults.  In ILR, participants define their own informal educational goals and pursue them at their own pace, based on their own choices and talents.  Members, who design the group's program, come from wide ranging backgrounds and bring varied experiences to the organization.  Co-Lin staff administers ILR and the college provides facilities for the organization, which is fully funded by member dues.   Through May, the ILR spring semester also features weekly chair yoga classes, three luncheon programs, one day trip and a three-day/two-night trip to Waco, Texas and six additional workshops, including painting and golf lessons.   Every Wednesday. Cheryl Myers will lead one-hour chair yoga classes.  $10 per class.  10:30 a.m.  Thames Center. Contact Cheryl Myers at (601)-757-2133.   February 13. Luncheon prepared and served by the college’s culinary students.  Presentation by Mississippi Health Ambassadors.  $10.  11 a.m.  Anderson Building on Co-Lin campus.   February 20.  Day trip to Farmer’s Table Cooking School at Livingston, Mississippi. $100.  Cooking classes provide a unique, memorable and hands-on experience, which connects participants with the school’s eat local philosophy as they work alongside the chef to prepare a delicious meal.  Take-home recipes are provided to participants.   February 27.    Co-Lin art instructor Carisa Mitchell leads painting class.  $45.  5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Smith Building (Room 112).   March 5. Cooking demo led by Co-Lin Chef Chris McSweyn.  Participants will learn cooking secrets as McSweyn prepares a meal for them.  $25.  Co-Lin Thames Center. March 12 & 19. Golf Lesson for Beginners taught by Co-Lin Golf Coach De’Jone “D” Lee at Wolf Hollow Golf Course.  Maximum of five persons per group lesson.  $20 per person.  If March 19 group lesson fills up, there will be a March 12 class.   March 18. Luncheon prepared by Co-Lin Chef Chris McSweyn.  Presentation by Bobby Freeman on cyber security.  $14.  11 a.m.  Co-Lin Thames Center   April 3.  Fentanyl and Narcan:  Saving Lives Through Awareness and Action.  Workshop conducted by Ashley Washington, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist.  10:30 a.m.  Co-Lin Thames Center.   April 10. Luncheon prepared and served by the college’s culinary students.  Musical entertainment presented by Co-Lin student William Stephens.  $10.  11 a.m.  Anderson Building on Co-Lin campus.   April 14.  Managing Medications and Preventing Medication Misuse. Workshop conducted by Ashley Washington, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist.  10:30 a.m.  Co-Lin Thames Center.   April 22.                                                                                                                            Dowsing Graves.  A membership-led workshop with Janet Wallace will visit local cemeteries for a demonstration.   Time:  TBA.   May 6-8. Discover Waco, a three-day, two-night trip to Waco, Texas, with visits to Magnolia Markets & Silos, Dr. Pepper Museum, Balcones Distillery (whiskey tour and tasting), The Brasserie Restaurant@Hotel 1928, Waco Mammoth National Monument & Museum, Homestead Craft Village, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum and Brazos Landing.  Triple package $795, double package $870 and single package $1,080.   May 15. Brunch prepared by Co-Lin Chef Chris McSweyn to close out ILR second semester program.  $14.  Thames Center.              For information, contact Co-Lin Program Coordinator and Events Coordinator Erin Johnson at (601)-643-8702 and erin.johnson@colin.edu .                                                                                                                                                                   SIDEBAR The Institute for Learning in Retirement is a member-driven organization.  Its 2018-2020 officers are George Huffman, president; Sarah Lloyd, vice president; Joy Wesbrooks, secretary; Lanell Strait, associate secretary; Ketti Breaux, treasurer; Bettie Bulliard, immediate past president; members-at-large Jackie Abrams and Mary Jane James.

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 chuck1 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 .

By Bob Arnold             After 10 years, Randy Chance has left Lake Lincoln State Park to begin a new life in retirement.               Chance, who grew up in the Lake Lincoln area and watched the park evolve from the start of its construction in 1979, joined the staff at the facility, which had become part of the state park system in 1996, to help address its maintenance issues in 2014.  He leaves the park as Grounds Supervisor Team Leader (“all I have to do is look in a mirror to see my team,” he jokes) responsible for cleaning its physical facilities, general maintenance, electrical and plumbing systems, delimbing and other landscaping, among other needs.                As part of a logging family, Chance’s work life started at a tender age during the summers, but while he was cutting down trees for the family business between 11 and 19 years old, he also found time to play baseball on the field he remembers was on the current location of the Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) gymnasium and earn the Eagle rank in the Wesson Boy Scout Troop guided by then Co-Lin basketball Coach Alton Ricks.    He went to elementary school through the eighth grade in the initial building on the site of what became WAC after the addition of the ninth through twelfth grade facility.  He graduated from the high school housed at Co-Lin in 1979.             After high school, Chance stayed around the area for a few years – first as a carpenter for Troy Pitts at the former Timberlane camp grounds and the company doing construction at the new Lake Lincoln Park next door, then as a delivery man for Georgetown Furniture.  Soon, however, he was off to the offshore oil fields and living in Leesville, Louisiana, and moving on to do oil exploration as a seismograph operation for Jackson-based GFS from Lafayette, Louisiana.  With Goss Fire Protection headquartered in Forest, Mississippi, from 1984-1996, Chance was dispatched throughout the continental United States to install sprinkler fire protection systems in airplane hangars.                In 1996, Chance returned to his boyhood home on Mission Hill Road and started working with his mother, who was the recipient of 20 sewing machines from the retiring owner of T’s Apparel at Crystal Springs, to produce and sell their own line of t-shirts.  “We changed the name of the company to Chance Apparel and made specialty t-shirts for organizations and events such as the New Orleans Jazz Festival,” he says.  “Mom did the sewing with employees as needed, and I was a cutter, boxer and shipper.”               Chance worked as he was able at the apparel manufacturer, but devoted most of his time to his ailing father from 2006 to 2014, hunting and fishing with him and caring for him as .needed.  After his father died, Lake Lincoln State Park hired him.   In his retirement, Chance will continue to live where he grew up -- a house built by his parents, Gerald and Bonnie Chance, on ten acres of 100 acres in which he now shares ownership with his brother Greg Chance, also a retiree, and his sister Pam Stamps, a Brookhaven accountant.  At age five, Chance came to the old home on Mission Hill Road next to the Baptist Church, which shares the name of the back country byway.  There he is planning a future in which he enjoys his hunting and fishing pastimes and “working on stuff,” including the old house and his truck.

Special to Wesson News   Flo Hampton Scott Holt, an author from Crystal Springs, was named for well-known Southern newspaper writer Flo Field, and wrote poetry and short stories.    Known as Flo Field Hampton before her marriages, The Saturday Evening Post  and Versecraft  published her poems, and her short stories won prizes throughout Mississippi.  She received recognition for two stories -- “That Passing Laughter” in 1962 and “Ghost with Southern Accents” in 1969.   A member of the Magnolia Chapter DAR, Hampton enjoyed giving presentations to organizations about her books and telling stories of interest.  Mississippi College for Women (MUW), where she studied English and history, honored her at its centennial tribute among other notable women alumni, including Eudora Welty. Hampton also studied at the University of Chicago, George Peabody College for Teachers and the University of Colorado and became head of the English department at Jackson’s Central High School, where she taught Eudora Welty, encouraged her writing and worked with nationally known composer Harry L. Alford and Welty on “Mosquito,” a musical piece for which she wrote the words.  During summer months, she also taught at Millsaps College.   In 1928, Hampton married Charles Christopher Scott, a lawyer who helped found Southern Building and Loan Association, forerunner of the First Federal Savings and Loan, where he was CEO at his death in 1982.  In 1977, then Flo Hampton Scott married Ben Ford Holt, an auditor with Shell Oil Company.   Hampton was born in 1905 to William Judson and Mary Cornelia (Mollie) Miller Hampton and died as Flo Hampton Scott Holt in 1998 at 99 years old.   EDITOR’S NOTE:  Reprinted from A Shared History: Copiah County, Mississippi 1823-1823 , including articles written by Paul C. Cartwright, Tricia Nelson and Gene Horton compiled and edited by Paul C. Cartwright.

As the forecast calls for extreme winter weather to arrive in parts of Mississippi, Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging its employees across the system. Colder weather may impact the amount of natural gas you use. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes may produce a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and conserve energy this winter: Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home. Protect natural gas meters.  Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to help keep the meter working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object. Call Atmos Energy's Emergency Number, 866.322.8667, if you have concerns about your meter. Make sure external vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment are clear.  Blocked vents can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas. If you have questions about proper venting, contact a licensed plumber or qualified contractor. Minimize the risk of frozen pipes.  Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside. Save money and energy  by setting your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home (where safe to do so). These tips and more are available on our  Storm Center  page at  atmosenergy.com . Although natural gas outages are infrequent, if you experience loss of natural gas service or low gas pressure, contact the Atmos Energy emergency line at 866.322.8667 – agents are ready to assist 24/7. Atmos Energy will communicate regularly with customers and communities before, during, and after extreme weather events. To sign up for text alerts, adjust your notification preferences in the Account Center. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and on our website at atmosenergy.com  for continued safety and weather preparedness information. Smell gas, act fast! If you suspect a natural gas leak, leave the area immediately! From a safe distance call 911 and Atmos Energy's 24-hour toll-free emergency number at 866.322.8667.

On Saturday, March 1, the BetterMan Mississippi conference, a first of its kind hosted by  local Christian leaders, will be held at the Jackson Convention Center.   BetterMan is a national movement launched by Robert Lewis, author of “Raising a Modern Day Knight” and “Men’s Fraternity.” It presents a common vision for manhood that has impacted over 750,000 men in every state.   Generations of men want to be good men; they want to be God’s man, but they don’t know how. No one has shown them – no one has given them an example. BetterMan is filling that void.   “Godly men have generational impacts. They forge the paths ahead not just for one generation and one legacy but for multiple generations and multiple legacies,” said Brian Crawford of Mission Mississippi.   In addition to Lewis, other conference speakers include Reginald Buckley, pastor of Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Chip Henderson, Pastor of Pinelake Church, Bartholomew Orr, Pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, and Kyle Reno, Pastor of Crossgates Church.   “We’re believing it’s a moment that will spark a movement among men in the state of Mississippi that will not stop with our state. You don’t want to miss it. Come be a part of it,” said Kyle Reno of Crossgates.   The conference is 9am until 4pm. It is free and includes lunch, but you must register. To register or for more information about BetterMan Mississippi go to BetterManMs.com

By Misty Strieff Prine “I don’t have time” is the grown-up version of “The dog ate my homework” – Unknown                 Guilty as charged. Well, aren’t we all? I’ll be the first to admit that giving the excuse that “I don’t have time” rolls out of my mouth way more than it should. Life is so incredibly overwhelming at times that it feels as though the walls are caving in on you. Truth is, we all are guilty of procrastination at its finest. If God grants us the time, we must make time. Sadly, sometimes we get in such a habit of this, that we put things ahead of the important people in our lives thinking we have all of the time in the world when, in all actuality, we are not guaranteed the next breath we take. We are blessed with so many wonderful people in our lives and yet we often put them last and put insignificant things ahead of them. Life is too short. We need to focus on the important people in our lives because they may not always be there. Always make time for them. Take time with your children, your spouses and significant others. The Lord tells us to “BE STILL” for a reason. First and foremost, we need to remember that He is God and HE is in control of our chaotic situations that may be going on in our lives. We don’t have to handle them alone. Then when we realize that we stop and look around and see how blessed we are to have the things we have. How blessed we are to have those we love around us. You realize then the little things you miss each day while you are running around stressed out. Your family is precious. God gave you so much to be thankful for. Don’t let the enemy of “stress and anxiety” steal your joy. God gave you too much to be thankful for that is right under your nose! Other stuff can wait. Life doesn’t. Make sure to tell your loved ones just how much you love them. You never know if you’ll get that chance again.                 **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

By Bob Garver             For whatever reason, the studios decided that what America wanted this Valentine’s season wasn’t romantic comedies or sweeping dramas, but violent R-rated fare with varying degrees of love and relationship theming. Frankly none of these movies are going to be big commercial hits, with “Dog Man” still ruling the box office this past weekend and “Captain America: Brave New World” sure to dominate Valentine’s Day itself. That’s why I’m smooshing these movies all together here, because they have a way of cancelling each other out. For example, even though the lot includes my favorite film of 2025 so far, it also includes my least favorite. Which brings me to…   Poster Credit IMDB “Love Hurts”             Ke Huy Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a suburban realtor with a dark past. He used to be an enforcer for his crime-boss brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu), but quit when he couldn’t kill loose-end lawyer Rose (Ariana DeBose). He let Rose live on the condition that she disappear and let Knuckles think she was dead, but now she’s tired of hiding. She wants to take Knuckles down for good and she wants Marvin to help her do it. Should Marvin leave his agreeable new life behind? Do he and Rose even have what it takes to defeat Knuckles and his army of henchmen and hitmen?             The film is a storytelling mess, with a convoluted storyline about stolen money distracting from Marvin’s key arc. Supporting players, most of them hitmen, try to steal scenes by being quirky, but they’re just annoying time-wasters (although Quan’s “Goonies” co-star Sean Astin has a juicy scene as his best friend). Exposition is dumped in awkward narration. The choppy action scenes are even more awkward. This is a movie that wants to be nothing more than a series of fights, has no idea how to put a story around them, and then doesn’t even get the fights right. Grade: D “Love Hurts” is rated R for strong/bloody violence and language throughout. Its running time is 83 minutes. Poster Credit IMDB “Heart Eyes”             “Heart Eyes” stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as a pair of bickering co-workers who, by the law of romantic comedies, are destined to fall in love on Valentine’s Day. Problem is, this is no rom-com, this is a slasher movie with a killer whose fetish is killing loving couples. Our leads run afoul of the killer, even though they’re not really a couple, though they might end up as one through this shared experience… if they manage to live, of course.             The movie has two charismatic leads and some genuinely funny, twisted jokes. But its constant need to subvert cliches becomes predictable after a while (“what will ruin the sweet moment this time?”) and it really falls apart toward the end when it starts playing its horror straight. There are some fun ideas in play here, but not enough for me to say that I love this movie. Grade: C “Heart Eyes” is rated R for strong violence and gore, language and some sexual content. Its running time is 97 minutes.   Poster Credit IMDB “Companion”             “Companion” stars Sophie Thatcher as Iris, a woman being taken by her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) to a remote mansion in the woods to meet his friends. She tries to fit in for Josh’s sake, but his friends seem weirdly standoffish. One of them assaults her and an even more brutal act of violence follows. In the aftermath, we learn that the seemingly mild-mannered Josh has been more… “controlling” of Iris than previously thought.             The film is an equally funny and sick series of cat-and-mouse games between the two leads. Thatcher, between this and last year’s trapping “Heretic,” can now officially call herself a Scream Queen. But it’s Jack Quaid who steals the movie. This role is going to make it hard for him to get a date for a while. I’m not saying that he isn’t handsome, but there’s an unmistakable brand of inner ugliness in play. See this movie with a date and you’ll both have fun squirming. Grade: B “Companion” is rated R for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout. Its running time is 97 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Recently sidelined, I know how a hobbled old milk cow looks at life, or what a horse tethered to the fence feels. Imprisoned, caged, confined. Stuck in one place with absolutely no say in the matter. And it is not fun. Reading is a favorite pastime of mine, that is true, but enough is quickly enough. And TV? I would rather be hogtied, starved and tossed into a roomful of squalling, fever-ridden sick toddlers than to have to watch daytime tv shows. At least I would feel compassion for those poor little tikes. Daytime soap operas, with their endless, ridiculous dramas leaves me wanting to drown every last one of those so-called actors in a puddle of stinking mud. Used to being on my own two feet, independent and doing as I please, I am now tied to a recliner with my foot in the air for most of the day. And this hobbled horse, who ordinarily walks miles each day, is not happy. And an unhappy hobbled horse is a disgruntled horse. And a disgruntled horse (with an ankle that hurts) is probably not the easiest of animals to be around. You might even find those around me privately using the words, “crabby, irritable and cranky.” Shocking, I know. But there it is. Lest you be doubting my word about feeling out of sorts, kindly reread the first two paragraphs. Trust me, folks. If you find yourself walking on older sidewalks that have caved to the pressure of growing tree roots wanting more space for themselves, BEWARE. Meek sidewalks get shoved around by aggressive tree roots, letting themselves get heaved upward and out of the way. Then those passive acting sidewalks become stumbling blocks for the oblivious walker. Who then becomes a cranky victim having to sit for days - foot up, with an ice bag as company. Getting to walk a little each day, but only with a heavy, monstrously ugly, black boot in tow threatening to upend your balance and fall, which could damage your other ankle. But now, a word of advice to the unfortunate people who have to live in the same home as grouchy victims. To those suddenly-pressed-into-service caregivers I write the following: First of all, know that all bad things will eventually come to an end, one way or another. Secondly, keep your running shoes handy. Just knowing that a quick temporary escape from Irritable Irma surely will help you make it thru. And third, don’t take personally what is thrown your way. Be it complaints from a viperous tongue, an occasional flying shoe, or a glare that could easily take down a belligerent barracuda. Lastly, attempt to listen patiently as possible to the victim as they rehearse their litany of grievances. Remember, this is their way of expressing their frustration at being imprisoned in a chair. Then go use your running shoes.

Special to Wesson News   Mary Berry, Co-Lin Simpson County Center student, is one of 210 Phi Theta Kappa members named a 2024 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.   The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Nearly 1,500 applications were received.   Berry is a sophomore at Co-Lin majoring in psychology from Silver Creek, Mississippi.. She is an active member of the Beta Xi Psi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at the college’s Simpson County Center. After Co-Lin, Berry plans to attend Mississippi State University and work towards a Master’s degree in psychology with plans to become a child psychologist specializing in children with PTSD. A total of $210,000 will be awarded this year through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The  Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation  provides $200,000 in funding for the scholarships, with $25,000 set aside for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, which provides multiple Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships earmarked for international students.   “The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”   The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion but also give students the opportunity to engage in Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.   “Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”   Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.3 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at  ptk.org