Special to Wesson News   With the help of other Wesson businesses and residents, Grace-Foam Solutions spotlighted its services and, in the process, helped boost commerce throughout the town in a unique grand opening and ribbon-cutting.    For its special ceremony and celebration on Friday, December 6, the company solicited community involvement, inviting businesses, organizations and residents to not only attend the event, but call attention to their work and contributions to the town through donations that could be used as special gifts for everyone on hand.   Gift tags were made for the donations, which included, among other things, meals, baked good, gift certificates, professional consultations, products, business services.  They were hung on a Christmas tree for those in attendance to pick one that revealed a gift.   The idea was to turn a grand opening focused on one new business into a fun event that promoted other local businesses, service providers and individuals and motivated people to buy from them or use them. Grace Foam Solutions on Highway 51, operates out what local folk still call  the“old Sunflower Grocery store” and housed a Halloween season haunted house that brought visitors to town for several years.   The company, which distributes spray-foam insulation products of Largo, Indiana -based Central Urethane  is the business dream of Ricky Breazeale, who settled in Wesson nine years ago with his wife Jessica, a local native, and Brent Duguid, who came here with his wife Stephanie 16 years ago when she was hired for an executive position at Co-Lin and later himself became Dean of the college’s Career, Technical and Workforce Education (CTE) division.   GFS company currently distributes its foam product in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee through contractors who install them.  It has two other locations in Boonville and Hattiesburg.  Brezeale started the company in September 2023 and Duguid came on board as a delivery driver in January 2024 to become part owner Brezeale named the company to reflect his values and provide the basis for its motto, beliefs and vision, and Duguid concurred.   “Since we are children of God and covered by His Grace, we get the opportunity to share this message of Grace with customers, vendors and the entire community,” says Brazeale.  “This isn’t just a business, but a ministry, too,” said Breazeale.

Henry Hydrick, 9, of Crystal Springs with the 9-point buck he killed on Nov. 29 in Edwards, Miss. It went on to score 166 2/8. Joey Hydrick told his 9-year-old son, Henry, that his deer-hunting career has likely already reached its high-water mark. The two were standing at the end of a food plot near Edwards in Hinds County the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 29, admiring a 247-pound, 9-point, 166-inch buck that Henry had dropped at 160 yards with his Savage 7mm-08 – a buck no one who hunted the property knew even existed. “The first thing I said was, I told him, he may never get another chance at a buck like that one again,” said Joey Hydrick, who actually took a bigger buck, a 168-inch trophy, in 2018 in the Delta. “Dad was more excited than me,” said Henry Hydrick, a third-grade student at Copiah Academy in his hometown of Crystal Springs.  Then, I thought about what I had killed: the buck of a lifetime.” And one that no one knew about. “We were hunting on a friend’s place that I’ve been hunting on and off for the last 20 years,” Joey Hydrick said. “We had no idea this deer was in there. We just decided to go to a food plot that not many people hunt. It was a right place, right time thing. “They don’t have any (trail) cameras on this place. There was a guy who hunted there who said he had a couple of pictures from the previous year of a deer he thought might be this one. But nobody really had any idea he was in there.” Does show up first The father and son were hunting that afternoon from what was basically a ground blind. Joey had found some burlap on the hunting camp back porch and went with a friend and wrapped it around the four posts of a box blind, then stuck a couple of chairs under the box. Joey and Henry were sitting there, looking over the food plot, which was planted in wheat. Joey Hydrick had already ranged the food plot with his rangefinder; the far end was 180 yards away. At 4:30, three does and a yearling emerged from the woods and headed into the food plot. That’s when Henry – whose 11-year-old brother had already killed his first buck on opening day – got what his father described as an itchy trigger finger. He shot one of them, the doe running only 40 or 50 yards before falling. “At about 4:55, the three does that had been with the first one came back out, then four more came out,” Joey Hydrick said. “They were coming right toward us, 30 yards, when the lead doe saw the burlap and started stomping her foot and blowing, and she ran to the other end of the food plot and took three of them with her.” The other three stayed put, Henry saying they “acted like they thought the other deer were crazy.” Biggest buck on the property Joey told his son that if the three does left the food plot, they would go and retrieve his dead doe, but a couple of minutes later, the Hydricks could hear horns rattling from the woods at the far end of the food plot, three different collisions. Then, the buck stepped out, and he was obviously a shooter for any hunter – young or old. “As soon as I saw him, I told Henry to put his ear muffs on,” Joey Hydrick said. “He had his nose down and was bumping those does. I was grunting, trying to get him to stop, but Henry just dropped him right in the food plot.” Shooting a 139-grain Hornaday SST, Henry’s shot took the buck behind the shoulder as it was quartering slightly away. It dropped immediately. The Buck’s Stats Henry’s deer, the largest ever taken on the property, boasted a stunning rack with 25 6/8-inch and 25 2/8-inch main beams, a 21 2/8-inch inside spread, and tines measuring up to 11 inches. The buck was later measured for a local big buck contest, further cementing Henry’s achievement. A Community Triumph Word of the hunt spread quickly, with Joey proudly showing off the rack to friends and neighbors. “(Henry) is the big man on campus now,” Joey said. “Photos really don’t do it justice. You have to see it up close and put your hands on it.” For Henry, the experience was about more than the trophy—it was about sharing an unforgettable moment with his dad. As Joey put it, “It’s a memory we’ll both carry forever.”

Send any responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com   To paraphrase a comedian from years ago, “D’ya know what makes me sick?” No? Well, I can gladly tell you. And there will be no referring to the cost of eating, or heating the house, or driving across the street nowadays. Although I certainly could.   The topic eating my lunch today; Having friends that I love… and they can’t stand each other.   I enjoy church on Sunday morning, singing, praying, and then listening to a minister explain a part of the Bible in a way that is understandable. (Understandable, preachers, get that? Understandable!) Then eventually bundling myself up against the weather outside, saying goodbye to friends standing nearby, and racing my car headlong to my warm home.    I do not enjoy having friends or loved ones at church being at odds with each other and each expecting me to side with them. I do not enjoy being the center of the proverbial wishbone.   How in this world can otherwise normal, patient, God-fearing adults seemingly overnight become self-serving, egocentric, “It’s my way or the highway” kind of people? I might understand it easier, if the persons involved in this struggle were known to be constantly neurotic and narcissistic. But to suddenly devolve into angry and hurtful church-goers, simply because somebody didn’t agree with their point of view on an issue? And to complicate matters, both sides usually have good and sincere points in their favor. Both have valid reasons to believe they are the only ones in the right. And both are certainly not shy in letting any listener hear those talking points.  Stand still long enough in one place nearby, and you are bound to receive an earful.    But there is a problem, and it always the root problem for the entire issue. They talk to anyone else who will listen, but they are not talking and listening to each other.  How can they possibly expect to come to an understanding of the other’s POV, and settle on a compromise, if they refuse to sit down and listen to each other explain their beliefs and opinions?    Ignoring each other while standing in the very same crowded room does little to promote a loving and kind atmosphere for others, believe me. And it’s really difficult for the mutual friend who gets caught in the crossfire - otherwise known as being the middle of the wishbone.   Many church goers caught in this wishbone dilemma finally just make a decision. To avoid all the controversy, they simply stay home in their house robe, turn the channel to catch a TV preacher, grab a cup of hot-something and settle into their favorite chair for a thirty-minute sermon. Oh yes, that works for that person, but does little for the health and well-being of the local church.    Sincere and opinionated persons in the congregation, do us all a favor, please? Pick up the phone, and call your adversary to make a specific date and time to sit down and listen .

By Kara Kimbrough Super Moise Cranberry Orange Loaf is a perfect accompaniment to coffee and hot tea or as a last-minute dessert.      I get it – Christmas is here (or perhaps already come and gone if you’re reading this later in the week) and baking any more cakes, pies, cookies or related sweet treats just isn’t in your plans. However, if you have a few days off between now and New Year’s, you’ll need something to snack on while leisurely drinking your morning (or afternoon) coffee or when guests drop by unexpectedly. There’s nothing easier to pull together than these two quick breads that you literally cannot mess up.    One of my go-to quick breads that easily doubles as a dessert or as mentioned, a late morning breakfast or afternoon snack, is cherry bread. I’ve given loaves of the fragrant bread as presents and dropped them off when a friend was sick or in need of an extra dessert.    I added a new quick bread to the lineup this year after I purchased a bag of fresh cranberries for a Christmas recipe and began searching for ways to use the remaining berries. Just like the cherry bread, this one is impossible to mess up. Ingredients can simply be dumped in a bowl, mixed together and poured into a loaf pan.     Try one – or both – recipes to enjoy with your coffee as the last remaining days of 2024 fade into the sunset.     Happy New Year! Super Moist Cranberry Orange Loaf 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 1 ¾ cups white sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda ½ cup unsalted butter, melted 2 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained ¾ cup milk ¾ cup sour cream 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon orange extract 1 tablespoon white sugar      Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a large loaf pan. Whisk flour, 1 3/4 cups sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add melted butter; stir until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1/4 cup each cranberries and mandarin oranges; stir remaining into flour mixture.      Beat milk, sour cream, eggs, and extracts in a separate bowl until smooth; gradually stir into flour mixture until batter is thoroughly incorporated. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Scatter reserved 1/4 cup each cranberries and mandarin oranges on top of batter; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.      Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until center of bread springs back when touched, 35 to 40 minutes more. Fail-Proof Cherry Bread 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour  1 cup of buttermilk ¼ cup juice from 10-ounce jar of maraschino cherries (reserve the cherries for the end)  1/2 cup each white and brown sugar  ¼ cup softened butter 2 eggs 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon each - salt and baking soda  Cup of chopped walnuts, lightly toasted       Add everything except cherries to mixing bowl. Beat well, scrape sides of bowl and beat again. Add chopped cherries and mix well. Bake in a greased and floured bread pan in a 350-degree oven for 60-70 minutes. Cool on rack, then invert onto a serving dish.      Glaze: mix a cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon or two of milk and a teaspoon of almond extract. Beat and add milk until you get the consistency you like. Drizzle over warm bread. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to Wesson News   From left, third alternate Riley Thornton of Brookhaven, first alternate Brianna Brown of Hazlehurst, Co-Lin’s Most Beautiful Reagan Newman of Wesson, second alternate Rebekah Girault of Crystal Springs, and fourth alternate Skyler Sojourner of Georgetown. Co-Lin’s annual Trillium Beauty Pageant saw 17 young women competing for the title of Co-Lin’s Most Beautiful, with. Reagan Newman of Wesson crowned, first alternate Brianna Brown of Hazlehurst, second alternate Rebekah Girault of Crystal Springs, third alternate Riley Thornton of Brookhaven, and fourth alternate Skyler Sojourner of Georgetown. Newman is the daughter of Cliff and Tammy Newman of Wesson. She is a sophomore at Co-Lin majoring in architecture. She serves as Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa, communications leader for the Baptist Student Union, and is a Co-Lin Colette. She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and serves as a Trailblazer. Newman was recently elected as Miss Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She graduated from Brookhaven Academy where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame and was selected as Miss Brookhaven Academy. Brown is the daughter of Derek and Tracy Brown of Hazlehurst. She is a freshman majoring in respiratory therapy. She serves as Vice President of the Student Government Association and is a member of the Trailblazers, Alpha Omega Science Club, and CARES Club. She is on the Blue Wave Show Band Color Guard and is actively involved with the Baptist Student Union. She is a graduate of Brookhaven High School. Girault is the daughter of Johnny and Susie Girault of Hazlehurst and Jarrett and Nita Moore of Crystal Springs. She is a freshman at Co-Lin majoring in business and is a member of the Co-Lin Cheerleading squad. She is a graduate of Copiah Academy. Thornton is the daughter of Chris and Autumn Thornton of Brookhaven. She is a freshman at Co-Lin majoring in nursing. She is a Co-Lin Cheerleader and a Trailblazer. Thornton is a member of the Alpha Omega Science Club and is active in the Baptist Student Union. She is a graduate of Loyd Star Attendance Center. Sojourner is the daughter of Ben and Shellie Sojourner of Georgetown. She is a freshman majoring in nursing. She is a member of the Co-Lin Colettes dance team, the Alpha Omega Science Club, the Trailblazers, and is an active member of the Baptist Student Union. She is a graduate of Copiah Academy. Other contestants selected in the Top 10 were Ellie Barrentine of Crystal Springs, Abigail Blue of Wesson, Makiah Jones of Hazlehurst, Gracie Williams of Bogue Chitto, and Natalie Womack of Brookhaven.

Special to Wesson News Men’s basketball team. Lady Wolves Coaches of both the Co-Lin men and women basketball teams are expecting them to improve in 2024-25 play. In 2023-24, the men finished 16-11 overall record and 8-6 in the Mississippi Association of Community College Conference (MACCC) action. While the Wolves qualified for the Region 23 Tournament, their season ended with a first-round loss, 70-65, to Baton Rouge. The Lady Wolves meanwhile finished 13-13 overall and 5-9 in MACCC play and just missed the Region 23 tournament in their first year under head coach Dr. Britta Stephens. In the new season, men’s coach David Sanders says his group is still growing and adjusting to new challenges.  Stephens says she is excited about this upcoming year and what this year's squad brings to the court. "Right now, we are a little up and down as a team,” explains  Sanders. “I think we have a really good team with a great group of freshmen along with some sophomores that we are expecting to step up and play in big minutes for us.  The Wolves roster features 15 players with six returning sophomores, including Antonio Oatis (Hattiesburg), Jayden Jackson (Camden), Courterius Scott (Jackson), Corey Brown (Roxie), Dakotah Hillard (Hazlehurst), and Fred Gray, Jr., (Belzoni). “I think the biggest thing for us will be getting guard Courterius Scott back from an injury, says Sanders  "This is a good group of guys and I think they are great students.  Basketball wise, this group didn't get to play a whole lot of minutes last season at times outside of Courterius, Jayden, and Dakotah which will give us some experience for this season.” The nine incoming freshmen for the Wolves are Brick Nkugwa (Kampala, Uganda), Prince Ojukwu (Etobicoke, Ontario), Demarion Terry (Edwards), Javian Watkins (Jackson), Deven Bates (Jackson), Chris Stephens, Jr., (Byram), Dawson Know (Brookhaven), Zach Thompson (Hattiesburg), and Keisean Shields (Atoka, OK). "Prince has already picked up a couple of Division I offers, and he is going to be a player that will push for starters minutes,” says Sanders.  “Brick is going to be a big x-factor for us when we can get him rolling. He is struggling a little bit in the preseason, but he is a great athlete and really tough, so we have to find ways to get him on the floor." "With freshmen it's all about managing those ups and downs and getting them to be steady throughout the game no matter what. These guys want to make every play and when they don't, we must be able to pick them up and keep them focused despite a mistake. I see a lot of these guys having a really great season on the court and they are good students, too." Coach Sanders said one big factor that will lead the Wolves back to another conference championship season is leadership. "Leadership is going to be the biggest thing for this team,” he says.  “Looking back at our championship season that is what sticks out to me is that we had a group of guys that really trusted each other and had ultimate leadership with those veteran players.”   Sanders also said that he believes this team can be successful in the postseason if they can do one simple thing.  "We have to match the other teams intensity," says Sanders. "I think that's one thing that I see that has separated the teams that win in the postseason from the others is coming out and wanting it more while having a group of guys focusing on that one game at a time mindset.” This season's Lady Wolves’ squad features 12 players with only two returners from last season, those being guards Kiersten Haynes (Clinton) and Angel "Cookie" Wilkinson (Brookhaven). While the ten new faces feature nine incoming freshmen including Maddison Mitchell (Baton Rouge, LA), Eymani Key (Lafayette, LA), Zariah Hatten (Taylorsville), Jamyria Robinson (St. Martin), Tyra Johnson (Morton), Kaylee Johnson (Booneville), Kamaiyah Pruitt (Pass Christian), Amari Barnes (Tylertown), and Kylinn Bell (Choctaw) along with transfer sophomore Chrystance Walters (Pearl) who comes to Co-Lin after spending one season at Coahoma. "We are a totally new team this season," says Stephens. "It is nice to have those two returners with us. Them having the experience of playing a full season is huge for us because they understand what it takes to compete at this level.   "I think at the point position we will have a constant rotation that features Maddison Mitchell and Kylinn Bell.   Kaylee Johnson and Amari Barnes are two that have played very well this preseason and we can feature them at the wing or as an undersized post position with their versatility.  Tyra Johnson might be the quietest person on our team, but during our scrimmage at Southwest it was like a light bulb went off and when she turns it on, she has a chance to be really good.  “Chrystance Walters is a post that is a big 6'2" player and she has worked extremely hard on her fitness and conditioning, and we have already seen how that is paying off for us in her ability to finish around the rim.   Zariah Hatten, Jay Robinson, and Kam Pruitt are three of our undersized post players that I am expecting big things out of this season. Those three are going to be matchup nightmares for our opponents because of their ability to put the ball on the floor from that post position.    Eymani Key is an athletic scoring wing, and she has a chance to be really special when everything is clicking for her." Stephens says fans should expect to see a lot of similarities from last year's team but there will be some differences as well. “This year's team will play a very similar style of basketball to what we played last year," she says. "Where this team is different is in their versatility. We have so many players that can play a wide range of positions which I love about this team.  I think defensively we will be able to play a variety of styles and will be able to change throughout the game as we need to. I think this year's team plays hard and one thing I think this team does better is shooting the ball.” Another difference this year:  Stephens and her team expect to see post season play. "We want to be in a position to try and host this season and that is why we're focusing on learning and growing during the games before conference play starts,” Stephens says. "We want to be playing our best basketball throughout the conference play portion of the schedule once we get back from our break while continuing to grow and learn, and then we want to be able to get into the region tournament and make a run at it."

Elves tell Santa about MS driver behavior Because no one logs more travel miles on Christmas Eve than Santa Claus, the Big Guy simply insists on being well prepared. That's why earlier this month, at Santa's request, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) cleared St. Nick and his reindeer for all modes of travel in the state on Christmas Eve and awarded him an official Certificate of Travel Clearance.   MDOT staff thoroughly inspected Santa's extra wide sleigh load, ensuring it met all safety requirements. Permits were issued for his sack of toys surpassing posted weight limits, and Rudolph's nose so bright met, but did not exceed, the illumination threshold. All takeoffs and landings to and from the homes of good children have been approved, and exceptions were granted for any last-minute "Nice List" additions. "Santa knows the importance of being prepared no matter how you choose to travel, and he's a staunch, yet jolly, safety advocate to boot," said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. "Before Santa Claus comes to your town, make sure your elf-size family members always travel in car seats, wear your seatbelt and check it twice, and remember, he sees you when you're speeding, and he knows when you've been texting. Take it from Kris Kringle: Put safety first so everyone can have a Merry Christmas."  While at MDOT, Santa received reports on Mississippi drivers' conduct from elves Darryl and Cheryl. Sadly, elven intel suggests some of the state's motorists may receive a lump of coal this year. However, St. Nick insisted that with a few behavior adjustments and a sprinkle of Christmas spirit, even the most egregious drivers may be able to change their fate. Darryl and Cheryl also gifted Santa a reflective vest for extra safety and visibility along state highways.  Currently, conditions appear favorable for sleigh flight on Christmas Eve. Motorists are advised to drive slow and be alert for sleighs, reindeer and their white-tailed cousins after dark on Christmas Eve. Blitzened driving is strictly prohibited.   Stay updated with live traffic information by downloading the MDOT Traffic mobile app, visiting MDOTtraffic.com  and following @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter. Sleigh traffic version in beta.

By Anthony Warren Federal officials are investigating after a man died while working on a Mississippi middle school roofing project. On Friday, authorities say Eduardo Cruz Moran was killed after he fell through the gymnasium roof at Crystal Springs Middle School. Moran, 31, was working for a private company brought on to repair or replace the facility’s roof. No students were present at the time of the incident. Students and faculty had already been let out for Christmas break. “We had gotten out of school about 1:45 that day. That was an early day for us,” Cpt. Gerome LeFlore said. “We’re grateful no kids or staff were here when it occurred.” LeFlore is the director of safety for the Copiah County School District. He confirmed to WLBT that officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were investigating the matter and had already spoken with company representatives. “They came down. They had some interviews with the company that I wasn’t a part of... They did look at the scene. They took some photographs,” he said. “We’re waiting on their report.” LeFlore wouldn’t provide the name of the company. He said the firm is from out of state and that it was chosen through the bidding process. “These were contractors. They don’t work for Copiah County Schools. They were doing work for Copiah County Schools, but they don’t necessarily work for Copiah County,” he said. Deputy Copiah County Coroner Judy Evans said Moran was living with family in Irving, Texas when he came to Mississippi to help with the project. His family there was notified on Friday. Moran’s parents still live in Mexico, Evans said. LeFlore confirmed Moran was not an American citizen but did not know if he was able to work in the United States. Meanwhile, he said the district did not oversee day-to-day operations at the construction site, and that an engineer also was not in place to oversee the work. “Once the job is contracted out, the district doesn’t play a part in that,” he said. “The contractor that’s coming in, the only thing they have to do with the Copiah County Schools is they’re doing the work.” LeFlore said OSHA had given some recommendations to the company, and that it was putting those recommendations in place. Crews were continuing work on the roof Monday when WLBT was at the scene. One worker appeared to put on a safety harness after we arrived. The repairs are expected to be completed before students and faculty return to school in January. Counselors will be on staff to answer any questions students might have about the incident.

Special to Wesson News Pictured (left to right) are Cathy Stroud of Wesson (Auxiliary), Margaret Glass of Brookhaven (Exchange Club president), Nyanna Mapp of Collins (VA activities director), Sara Lassiter of Ruth (Auxiliary), and Kim Whittington of Wesson (Auxiliary). Wesson American Legion Auxiliary unit #79 teamed up with the Brookhaven Exchange Club to donate and present a popcorn machine to the Veteran's Affairs (VA) Home at Collins.   On visits to the VA home, auxiliary members had asked residents what they need or want, and they consistenly asked for a popcorn maker.    "I'm glad we were able to provide something that requested,” Auxiliary member Cathy Stroud said It makes my heart happy."   An Auxiliary team delivered the donation last month. "There are lots of other groups that have needs,” Auxiliary president Kim Whittington observed.  “We are trying to meet those needs as best as we can, one at a time.  Ask us how to get involved."

By Misty Strieff Prine “If you look for me at Christmas you won’t need a special star. I’m no longer just in Bethlehem, I’m right there where you are. You may not be aware of Me amid the celebrations. You’ll have to look beyond the stores and all the decorations. But if you take a moment from your list of things to do and listen to your heart, you’ll find I’m waiting there for you. You’re the one I want to be with, you’re the reason that I came, and you’ll find Me in the stillness as I’m whispering your name. Love, Jesus.” – Author Unknown. I came across this poem today that I thought was full of such beautiful reminders of Christ and why we distinguish this time of year as "CHRISTmas." Many years ago, when Christ's first coming was recorded, it talked about how that beautiful, bright star, like none other, shone in the sky that told everyone that saw it, that something special had happened in Bethlehem. It pointed the wisemen straight to the Christ child who was lying in a humble stable, far from being fit for a King, to which they found him lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Now, fast forward to today. We don't need a special star to find Jesus. He is no longer in Bethlehem's stable, but in our hearts. This Christmas, we need to search for Him, just as the Wisemen did. Not by direction from a star but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the hustle and bustle of the season that is upon us, we need to slow things down a bit and pause our hectic schedules. We need to remember the true meaning of CHRISTmas and why Christ's name is IN the name itself. He is the reason we have hope for a secured future, but it only comes by accepting Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. Because of us, God sent His one and only Son to this earth that we may come to know Him as our personal Savior and Lord. The way He came defined humbleness and to receive Him into our hearts today, requires great humbleness on or part. We must set our selfishness aside, admit that we are lost without Him, that we can do NOTHING on our own, and that Jesus is the one and ONLY answer to every problem, every weakness...EVERYTHING. He is the King, He is Majesty, He is mighty to save, and He is the Great I Am. So, this Christmas, may we pause a moment and give Him our undivided attention. He gives us His. He is there the minute we ask. He is no longer a stranger to the world. He is the King! He is our refuge, our strength, our victory! Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and I pray God’s blessings upon you and your family this Christmas season. **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way. I’d love to see you there!

By Bob Garver Poster Credit IMDB In between the blockbusters of the Thanksgiving season and the blockbusters of the Christmas season comes “Kraven the Hunter,” a movie that was never going to be a blockbuster in any season. Sergei “Kraven” Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is another one of those Spider-Man villains that’s getting his own movie because Sony still has a piece of the “Spider-Man” franchise and they think fans will mistake it for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is owned by Disney. “Venom,” “Morbius,” and “Madame Web” are all part of the same branch. Supposedly there are (or at least “were”) plans for a big Avengers-style crossover down the line, but these movies keep bombing so badly that fans don’t care if they continue. Kraven’s origin is that he and his brother Dmitri (Fred Hechinger) were brought up by their imposing Russian gangster father Nikolai (Russell Crowe), who was big on hunting metaphors. After their mother died under mysterious circumstances, Nikolai took the boys on a hunting trip, where Sergei was mauled by a lion. He nearly died, but aspiring voodoo priestess Calypso (eventually played by Ariana DeBose) gave him a magical potion that not only restored his health, but gave him the ability to communicate with animals. Now Kraven is a hunter like his father, but instead of animals, he hunts people. Sometimes this just means tracking people down to talk to them (like Calypso, who’s now a lawyer), but usually it means killing bad guys. Kraven spends most of the movie trying to protect Dmitri, whether it’s from their father’s control or from a rival gangster known as The Rhino (Alessandro Nivola). The Rhino employs an assassin called The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott), whose gimmick is that he can disappear while he counts to three, then pop out somewhere unexpected, usually to kill someone. The moment I met this character, I knew his downfall was going to come in a scene where he disappears for a two-count, then something “surprising” keeps him from reaching three. The movie could have done without the dull Foreigner, since it already has a pretty good surefire villain in The Rhino and a complicated villain in Nikolai. For that matter, the protagonists aren’t bad either. I can actually see Taylor-Johnson, Hechinger, DeBose, Nivola, and Crowe making an effort here. I can see Taylor-Johnson turning Kraven into a cool character under different circumstances. I got a few chuckles out of Nivola’s scenery-chewing. But this isn’t a movie that knows how to capitalize on the talent in its ranks. This is a movie that is here to slap together a few smoldering shots for publicity stills, a few action scenes for trailers, and call it a day. Taylor-Johnson is fine when he’s giving a performance, but not when “Kraven” is unconvincingly hopping around a supposed maximum-security prison. Nivola gives his character some engaging personality, but it’s hard to notice when he’s become an ugly (not terrifying, just ugly) CGI Rhino. “Kraven the Hunter” is just another in a long line of Spider-Man-adjacent bombs. There’s only one way I see these Sony also-rans having any kind of future: Disney needs to buy them for a song and bring them over for the crossover with the one character that can make them interesting. I’m not talking about Spider-Man, I’m talking about Deadpool! Don’t laugh (or do, I don’t care), he’s helped the public regain interest in the likes of Elektra, Chris Evans’ Human Torch, even himself after his awful 2009 debut. He’s on a roll and I’d love a movie that’s 20% superhero adventure and 80% jokes at the expense of how badly these characters flopped in their own movies. And yes, this movie is a such a flop. Grade: C- “Kraven the Hunter” is rated R for strong bloody violence, and language. Its running time is 127 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to Wesson News Baked Ziti Make-ahead and freezer meals can be a lifesaver during the holiday season. This recipe is almost fool-proof, and it can be scaled up or down, if you’d like to have leftovers to freeze for later. It’s also a good one to make the night (or a couple of nights) before and have ready to pop into the oven when you get home from work. If freezing a batch, be sure to let it thaw thoroughly in the fridge for a day before baking. Toss some garlic bread (or even some not-as-fresh hamburger or hot dog buns spread with butter and garlic powder) into the oven for the last few minutes of baking, and use a bag of salad mix as a quick side, and dinner will be ready in no time!   Ingredients 16 oz. ziti pasta 1 package (4) Italian sausage links, casing removed 2 lbs. ground beef 1 large onion, diced 1 Tblsp. minced garlic 2 Tblsp. dried Italian seasoning 1 large jar spaghetti sauce 1 small container ricotta cheese 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese 2 Tblsp. garlic salt 2 cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese   Directions   1. Boil ziti until just slightly past al dente stage, then drain. 2. Toss ziti with 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce (while noodles are still hot) and set aside. 3. Brown sausage and ground beef with onion and garlic in large skillet, until cooked through and tender. Break/chop meat into small pieces while cooking. 4. If there is more than 1-2 tablespoons of grease in the skillet, drain the meat, then return it to the skillet. 5. Add Italian seasoning and remaining spaghetti sauce to meat mixture skillet and mix. 6. Mix ricotta with garlic salt and Parmesan cheese, then stir in 1/2 cup o fthe mozzarella cheese. 6. Put a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 10” x 15” (3 qt) casserole dish. 7. Layer the ziti noodles on top of the meat in the dish. 8. Top the ziti noodles with half of the remaining meat mixture. 9. Dollop the ricotta mixture over the top of the ziti, spreading it out gently to cover as much of the ziti as possible. 10. Top the ricotta mixture with remaining meat sauce, then cover the entire top with mozzarella.       11. Bake, covered with foil, at 325 degrees for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes