The Wesson News   The Wesson Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a meet and greet event under the pavilion beside Wesson Library. The meeting was for members and prospective members to network by providing a forum to speak.   New Chamber President Teri Bath hosted the event, along with Vice President Gerri Lynn Porter; Treasurer Tim Sutton; Secretary Nekitha Jackson; and board members Pam Stamps, Kristy Carney and Janet Currie. Lenzie Chambers, the owner of the new Firehouse BBQ restaurant in town, catered the event. Attendees raved over his pulled pork, special sauce, potato salad and banana pudding.   Bath shared plans for a new development, a shopping center that will have a coffee shop and more. The land has been purchased and is in the process of being cleared; construction will begin soon.   Wesson Librarian Marilyn Britt shared ideas for bringing in more revenue for Wesson. Chamber members exhibited their love and passion for the town as they discussed ideas and plans.   “I just think we’re missing out on sales,” said Britt. “I just think we are missing out on making our town look really nice…for us to take advantage of that time of year.”   “It would help if people didn’t put their junk out in front of their businesses,” said Bath.   Mayor Alton Shaw addressed the concern by announcing that a new town code enforcer has been hired and will start soon.   “He will start the first of the month [October] and will focus on getting things cleaned up,” said Shaw.   “This is great, I tell you,” said Bath. “We have great leaders. These things need to be addressed. Growth comes with good leadership.” Ron and Teri Bath moved to Wesson two years ago from Reno. They own Salmon Point Real Estate and are passionate developers looking to be part of “bringing Wesson into the 22nd century,” as Bath said in the meeting.   Britt mentioned an opportunity for businesses is the Wesson Christmas parade. Joslynne Arzate of Hispanic Heritage suggested adding entertainment downtown. Mayor Shaw’s wife, Christi Shaw, owner of C & L Treasures, suggested utilizing the small stage behind the fountain by Milltown Salon and Spa and C&L Treasures.   Attendees agreed that Wesson is filled with amazing businesses and business owners who are always looking for ways to grow their businesses and the town of Wesson. Many said that Wesson can truly be called “the small town with a big heart,” and part of the reason for that is a Chamber filled with people with the best interest of Wesson at heart.   It's widely said, "Without vision, the people perish.” Those in attendance agreed that is truly not a concern with the town of Wesson, which is filled with leaders who have a vision for growth in every way possible.    Wesson business owners who have dreams and plans to grow the town are encouraged to join the Chamber and get involved. The next chamber meeting will be November 19 at Firehouse BBQ. Those who wish to stay updated on plans and events are encouraged to follow the Chamber's Facebook page.

Send any responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Ever created your own mess, and then had to try for a couple of days to find a way out of it? Ending up stressed out, and physically exhausted. Exhaustion then causes you to be mentally hazy, so you don’t think clearly enough to be able to solve your problem.  And don't forget to throw your burned-out emotional state on to that cold pile of ashes that used to be your hard work. Open confession is supposed to be good for the soul, ‘they’ say. Guess I’ll see in a minute or two, after writing this. I have no earthly idea who ‘they’ supposedly is, but if I don’t feel any better by the time I have finished writing this column, I definitely want to lease a vicious hunting dog and find ‘they.’  Maybe after tying ‘they’ to a fencepost and forcing ‘they’ to listen to this tale of woe, I would then actually feel better. My problem started spectacularly at 11:30 last night, as I lay in bed, bug-eyed, jittery, and sleepless. Way too late I remembered that I shouldn’t have eaten those Southwest Spring Rolls in the restaurant earlier that evening. There’s not a Southwest Spring Roll alive in my corner of this state that doesn’t have a liberal sprinkling of preservatives hidden in it. I KNOW that. And I also know I am one of those favored few who suffer twelve hours of sleeplessness after eating those dreaded additives. Fast forward to the next morning… after all, is there anyone reading this who wants to hear about an entire night of staring at the ceiling? I was to be a guest musician in a church four hours from my home that morning, so I had taken my laptop to use in the service. It all went great. I thoroughly enjoyed the people, and loved participating in worship with them. After our goodbyes, we loaded up my various paraphernalia, and drove the four hours back home. At this point, really tired and fuzzy-headed from being too long without sleep, but emotionally still functioning. Until… Three hours later, I suddenly realize I had left my laptop on the sound technician’s station of that church. The same laptop that I use to write this weekly column. The laptop that holds my previously written, perfectly edited article, ready to send to the newspapers this week. At that point, my emotionally-put-together disappeared. I am now writing on my phone, frantically scrambling to replace my previously mentioned said column. But even after it’s finished, I realize that I’ll still need to somehow attach this column to an email for one hundred twenty+ newspaper editors. But all their email addresses are stored in…you guessed it. ‘Nuff said. We all have them. Those days you just crave to hurl something breakable, stick out your lower lip in a gigantic pout, and yell, “Lord, I quit. I’m telling ya’, I QUIT .” Better get a good night’s sleep before doing that.

Circuit clerk offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon for in-person absentee voting this Saturday, October 26, 2024. The last day to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, November 2, 2024, on which circuit clerk offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 5 (Election Day) and received by county circuit clerk offices by November 13. To track your absentee ballot or locate your circuit clerk's contact information, visit the  My Election Day online portal . To learn more about absentee voting requirements, visit the Secretary of State's Absentee Voting Information webpage .   Campaign Finance Deadline Pre-election campaign finance reports for all judicial candidates and political action committees which have received contributions or made expenditures in support or opposition of judicial candidates are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Reports may be submitted via: Email : CampaignFinance@sos.ms.gov  or Shelby.Scoggins@sos.ms.gov In person:  401 Mississippi Street, Jackson, MS 39201 or 1141 Bayview Avenue, Suite 120, Biloxi, MS 39530 Mail : P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136 (Please note that mailed-in reports must actually be received by the required date and the postmarked date will not be considered). Fax:  (601) 576-2545   UOCAVA Voter Registration Deadline (including First Responders) To be eligible to vote in the upcoming General Election, circuit clerks' offices must be in actual receipt of a completed Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) from any UOCAVA voter by Saturday, October 26. For more information regarding how to cast a UOCAVA ballot, please contact your county election officials or email UOCAVA@sos.ms.gov .   For questions, please contact our Elections Division at ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov , call the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786, or visit  YallVote.ms .

We are approaching what is historically the respiratory virus season. The Mississippi State Department of Health encourages everyone to get appropriate updated vaccinations to avoid severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death. The rates of respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID tend to increase during the fall and winter months as more people gather indoors. All individuals 6 months of age and older are recommended to get updated flu and COVID vaccines each season. Protection against RSV is recommended for babies and older adults.   Thanks to the wide availability of effective vaccines, the risk of severe illness from both the flu and COVID were cut nearly by half in fall 2023. More than 98% of the U.S. population now has some protective immunity against COVID. The first immunization against RSV for older adults, pregnant women and young children also became available last fall.   Vaccinations are currently available through primary care physicians, clinics and pharmacies around the state. Your healthcare provider can determine the number and type of doses for your age to provide the best protection.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations this year to bring a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of respiratory viral illnesses: Staying up to date with vaccinations to protect against serious illness, hospitalization and death. This includes flu, COVID-19 and RSV if eligible. Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces. Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors.   Stay up to date on news and updates on the MSDH Healthy Mobile App, on our website   www.msdh.ms.gov . ,  and on social media facebook.com/healthyms , twitter.com/msdh and Instagram.com/ healthy.ms

By Kara Kimbrough      It started out as a 24-hour trip solely to tour the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. While the museum was undoubtedly the highlight of a whirlwind visit to the Big Easy (more about the must-see museum in next week’s column) I can’t stop thinking about a visit to Galatoire’s, one of New Orleans’ most iconic restaurants.    Just as I remembered from my last visit many years ago, the restaurant, a prominent fixture in New Orleans’ culinary scene since 1905, served up a level of impeccable service, class, dignity and ambiance rarely found in today’s “meals to go” environment.      Even better, while you won't find fast food prices on Galatoire's menu, I found the cost of dinner to be more than reasonable considering rising food prices and the necessity of trained chefs and professional waitstaff to create the ultimate dining experience.     Another element that had not changed since I last visited was the  well-appointed first floor dining room highlighted by high ceilings and mirrored walls surrounding white clothed tables. Additionally, gentlemen in jackets (required in the evening) and ladies dressed for an evening out provided the perfect elegant touch that clearly illustrated Galatoire's quest for a memorable evening. It was refreshing to see that Galatoire’s had not changed with the times and diminished its standards.     Yes, the atmosphere was just as I remembered (and that rarely happens) but it was the food that cemented the evening as one I’ll remember, just as I did the meal from years ago.    First, starting with an ice-cold dish of shrimp remoulade set a high standard for the meal to come. An ice-cold dish of chopped lettuce, gigantic boiled shrimp and spicy remoulade sauce proved to be one of the best appetizers I’ve ever tasted. Clean, simple and fresh…it simply doesn’t get any better.    Next, I switched from cold to hot courtesy of a delicious, steaming bowl of seafood gumbo topped with a serving of fragrant steamed rice was filled with fresh shrimp, oysters, shellfish stock and okra in a light brown roux.    Selecting an entrée from among a long list of seafood, steak and chicken dishes was difficult. In the end, I couldn’t pass up the restaurant’s famous shrimp Creole.    Galatoire’s version of one of my favorite dishes was filled with shrimp, stewed tomatoes, creole seasoning and steamed rice. Cooked to perfection with a slight “kick,” I knew I’d made the right choice for dinner after the first spoonful.   My only regret after a wonderful evening at Galatoire’s? After watching dessert after delicious dessert being served to nearby diners, I simply wasn’t able to indulge in a slice of decadent pecan pie after dinner.    I definitely won’t let years go by before making a return visit to this iconic, outstanding restaurant that has withstood the test of time. If for nothing else, I simply must try a slice of Galatoire's pecan pie.      Next week, I’ll share more about my quick but action-packed 24 hours in New Orleans, including the best place to stay when touring the amazing National World War II Museum. In the meantime, I’ll share a recipe that a friend claims is straight from Galatoire’s kitchen. Just like any trip to the Big Easy, it will not disappoint. Galatoire’s Shrimp Remoulade 4 stalks celery, coarsely chopped 4 green onions, chopped 1 small onion, chopped ¾ cup Italian flat leaf parsley ½ cup red wine vinegar ½ cup ketchup ½ cup tomato puree ½ cup Creole mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 ⅛ cups vegetable oil 2 teaspoons paprika 2 pounds large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined 12 lettuce leaves      In the container of a food processor, combine the celery, green onions, onion and parsley. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the vinegar, ketchup, tomato puree, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Process until well blended, stopping to scrape down the sides a couple of times. With the food processor running, drizzle the oil in a steady stream, processing until blended. Stir in paprika. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.     When ready to serve, stir the sauce, then pour over the shrimp and toss to coat. Serve on top of lettuce leaves.  Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com . Shrimp Creole Seafood Gumbo

By: Taylor McKay Hathorn Eudora Welty is all-too often eclipsed by her male contemporaries when people list their favorite Mississippi writers: Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, John Grisham. Miss Welty, however, is in a league all her own and is in a class above the rest, and her Pulitzer Prize-winning The Optimist’s Daughter is essential reading for any Mississippian.   The Optimist’s Daughter relates the tale of the Mount Salus (yes, Clintonians, Mount Salus!) native Laurel McKelva and the ways that her life has been shaped and complicated by being the optimist’s daughter. Her father, the storied Judge McKelva, turned an optimistic (and blind, in more ways than one) eye to the dying sufferings of Laurel’s late mother and to the antics of his young new wife; and, when he passes away, Laurel is forced to confront the ways her father’s optimism, her mother’s illness, and her own husband’s death have changed her – and the person those events have left behind in their wake.   It’s a distinctly Mississippi narrative: the book is littered with the “bless your heart” gossips that populate small towns, the sense of being known by those gossips without necessarily being understood by them. But it’s Eudora Welty’s writing, however, that sings the loudest of Mississippi, as she elevates the unsung details of rural life: the feel of Yazoo clay giving beneath your fingers, the creak of old floorboards, and the smell of the food brought by well-meaning neighbors who know your name as well as they know their own. For a Mississippian – native or transplanted – reading The Optimist’s Daughter is like coming home. Once you finish the novel, there’s ample fodder for extending it beyond its scant 180 pages: you can listen to the 1986 audiobook – read by Eudora Welty herself – before visiting the Eudora Welty House and Gardens at 1119 Pinehurst Drive in the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. If you visit in the spring or summer, it is likely that Miss Welty’s back garden is will be in full bloom with the warmer weather.   Once you leave the house where the writer grew up and spent nearly all of her adult life, you can stop by the Belhaven Corner Market to pay a visit to the mural on the wall of the store that faces Fortification Street – the same storefront where Eudora Welty shopped for groceries amongst her neighbors until her death in 2001.   There are also bite-sized versions of Miss Welty’s work available for free online, if you still have a taste for her Southern tales: “Where Is The Voice Coming From,” Welty’s lament and indictment of the Evers assassination that happened less than five miles from her lush back garden, is available for free online at The New Yorker , and the Raymond-based Thaxton Studios is currently producing a documentary on the life of the Mississippi writer, slated for release in fall 2024.

As of Monday, October 21, 2024, the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS) reported a total of  86,525   absentee ballots  requested ,  84,636 absentee ballots  sent , and  67,802 absentee ballots  received   in the state of Mississippi for the 2024 November General Election. As a reminder, the  requested  total reflects the number of Mississippi voters who have requested an absentee ballot through their local Circuit Clerk's Office. The  sent  total reflects the number of absentee ballots sent to voters from Circuit Clerk Offices. The  received  total reflects the number of completed absentee ballots returned to Circuit Clerk Offices. Click  here  to view the absentee report. ADDITIONAL REMINDERS A sample ballot may be accessed on the  SOS website . Mississippians who have requested an absentee ballot may track their ballot utilizing the  My Election Day ballot tracker . The in-person absentee voting deadline is Saturday, November 2. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 5). The Resolution Board can begin processing absentee ballots at the opening of the polls on Election Day (7 a.m.). County election officials can tabulate ballots at the closing of the polls on Election Day (7 p.m.). For questions regarding absentee voting, please contact our Elections Division at  ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov , call the Elections Hotline at 1-800-829-6786, or visit  YallVote.ms .

This week, October 20-26, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and the Mississippi State Department of Health is spreading awareness about the dangers of the toxic metal and imploring parents to get their children and homes tested.   Between 2017 and 2021, 845 Mississippi children tested positive for elevated blood lead levels. Medicaid recipients were more than twice as likely to test positive, reflecting the increased risk of living in older homes. Children can be exposed to lead from several sources but are at higher risk ifs they live in older homes that contain lead in pipes and mini-blinds or have peeling paint. Other sources of lead include: Soil and dust Tap water Electrical cords Keys Garden hoses and outside water faucets Lead-based paint Batteries and metal jewelry Lead poisoning may occur without symptoms, so your child may be at risk long before you see any symptoms, which include learning problems, growth failure, behavior disorders, unexplained seizures, irritability, developmental delay and hearing loss. "Because the effects of lead exposure are irreversible, primary prevention of lead exposure before it starts is crucial," said Crystal Veazey, Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program director. "Get your child tested. Get your home tested. Get the facts." To reduce lead exposure in your children, MSDH recommends the following: Know when your home was built. Lead-based paint was used in many homes built before 1978. Have your home checked for lead before you remodel. Do not scrape or sand lead-based paint. Don't let children eat paint chips, dust or dirt; keep them away from windowsills, steps and porches in old homes. If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint. Clean floors, window frames, windowsills and other surfaces weekly. Wash children's hands, toys, pacifiers and bottles often. Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead dust. Make sure children get a diet high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C and frequent meals. To learn more about the risks of lead or to arrange a screening, contact your primary care provider or the Mississippi Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program at (601) 576-7447 or visit our website Lead Poisoning Prevention - Mississippi State Department of Health   Stay up to date on news and updates anytime by downloading the free MSDH Healthy Mobile App, visiting our website   www.msdh.ms.gov    and on social media:   facebook.com/HealthyMS ,  twitter.com/msdh  and  Instagram.com/healthy.ms

Special to Wesson News The Co-Lin Blue Wave Band and Colette Alumni Chapter held its annual meeting on Homecoming in the Thames Center and presented the chapter’s annual awards. Allison Dann was given the Stanley Stewart Outstanding Young Alumni award.  Dann is a 2012 graduate of Co-Lin, where she was a trumpet player in the Blue Wave Show Band. After Co-Lin, Dann received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the Mississippi University for Women and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in human resources. She is currently enrolled in Mississippi State University's community college leadership program and serves as the coordinator of housing and student life at Co-Lin. She is a Cub Scout den leader for Family Pack 1248, assists with the Overbrook Festival and helps with several fundraisers held at Magnolia Blues BBQ. The 2024 Band & Colette Hall of Fame inductee is Buddy Gibbons.  Gibbons is a 1990 graduate of Co-Lin, where he was a member of the Blue Wave Show Band, the Sojourners and the choir. After Co-Lin, he received a Bachelor of Science in social science from the University of Alabama. With over 250,000 placements on network television, Gibbons is known as a highly respected and sought-after musician. His work has garnered him endorsement deals with a variety of musical instrument, professional audio and consumer products manufacturers, and his social media presence appears on NextBigSound.com as a "viral" content provider.  Gibbons has recently composed music for networks such as CBS, NBC, Fox Sports, Animal Planet, Hulu and Netflix. He was also commissioned by the Los Angeles Dodgers to create the team theme song and stadium intro music for all Dodgers home games, television broadcasts and web presence. For the past several years, he has been hosting a high-level internet show called "The Groove Diner," in which he interviews some of the most successful and famous musicians and actors in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Natalie Gibbons, have one child, named Walker.

Special to Wesson News Painter Dawn Marks started the learning experiences for Institute for Leaning in Retirement (ILR) members this month (October 8) in a fall semester packed with two other workshops on cooking and Christmas wreath-making, ongoing chair yoga classes, monthly luncheons that started September 10, travel opportunities, and a game day last month for ILR bingo players.   A membership organization for persons aged fifty and older who are retired or semi-retired, ILR seeks to provide learning opportunities that are both fun and serious for senior adults, who define and pursue their own informal educational goals at their own pace, according to their own choices and talents.  Members, who come from wide-ranging backgrounds and bring varied experiences to the organization, design its program.  Co-Lin, as the ILR sponsor, provides staff and management for the organization, which is fully funded by member dues.   At the initial workshop, Marks brought paints and planks from cypress timbers with the border lines of an autumn scene and helped participants create a painting they could be proud to hang in their homes.   Marks offers her classes through Original Cypress, a small home-based company she operates with her husband, Mike.  Original Cypress began almost twenty years ago, selling Marks’ cypress works with Louisiana motifs, such as pelicans and swamp scenes, to gifts and crafts stores.  While Marks continues to paint her own works to sell, teaching others to paint has become the main thrust of Original Cypress.  She teaches, on average, five classes a week.   Michael Tristan Peavey, Jr., the Lincoln County Agricultural Extension Service (AES) Agent, spoke about the work of AES at the September ILR luncheon.  At the second luncheon on October 3, ILR members enjoyed a meal at the Anderson Building on the Co-Lin campus, prepared and served by the college’s culinary students, and heard special presentations made by several ILR members in a “Get to Know You” program.   The ILR travel season started October 16 with a day trip to Mary Landrum Pyron’s Hatmaker workshop at Crystal Springs.  The owner of ML Provisions discussed and demonstrated the hat-making skills she learned over five years in Wyoming and hosted a light lunch.   Other workshops, luncheons and travel experiences in the weeks ahead include: October 29 .  Cooking workshop .  Co-Lin’s executive chef will show participants how to prepare a luncheon that they will enjoy eating as part of the experience.   $25.  11 a.m.  Co-Lin Thames Center on Co-Lin campus.   November 7 .  Day trip to Angels on the Bluff at Natchez, Mississippi .  Trip includes meal at Old Country Store, Lorman, Mississippi; guided tour of historic Windsor and ghost town (Rodney), tour of Angels on the Bluff Cemetery.  $163.    November 12 .  Luncheon.   Veteran’s Day program with keynote speaker Andrew Adcock, LTC, LG, MSARNG, Commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and guest speaker Craig Weaver, COL JROTC Senior Army Instructor, Lawrence County.  Lawrence County JROTC Presentation of the Colors.  Patriotic music by members of the Co-Lin Choir.  $14.  Thames Center on Co-Lin campus .   November 19 .  Wreath-Making workshop .  Conducted by Heather Bonds of Hetty Bug’s Flowers.  $25. Thames Center on Co-Lin campus.  11 a.m.   December 3-6 .  Jingle Jangle Christmas in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee .  Three nights’ accommodation at Pigeon Forge with daily breakfast and three dinners, including Dolly Parton’s Stampede Christmas Dinner Show and Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Dinner Feud; Hometown Guided Tour; Smith Morning Variety Show; Skyland Ranch Festival of Lights; and visits at The Island and Old Mill Square.  $890 triple, $980 double and $1,220 single.   December 10 .  Christmas luncheon .  Traditional Christmas luncheon with Steve Russell playing Christmas carols on the piano for sing-along.  Thames Center on the Co-Lin campus.  $14. Throughout the semester, every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Cheryl Myers will continue to coach a chair yoga class for ILR members. For information, contact ILR Coordinator Erin Johnson at  erin.johnson@colin.edu  or 601-643-8702.  Visit the ILR Facebook page at Facebook@ILRCoLin.

By Bob Garver               Here’s a movie that certainly surpassed expectations. The low-budget “Terrifier” franchise is not usually one that makes big bucks. The first film from 2016 made less than $1 million. The second, in the glorious year for horror that was 2022, was lucky to pass $10 million. Now comes a third entry that not only made more than the other two movies combined in its opening weekend with $18 million, it took the #1 spot at the domestic box office. It’s not hard to see what happened here: “Terrifier 3” was sent out to capitalize on the evil clown momentum started last weekend by “Joker: Folie à Deux.” It wasn’t supposed to beat the huge blockbuster, just ride its coattails to a decent, maybe second-place showing. But audiences kicked that giant letdown to the curb (all the way to #3, behind the third weekend of “The Wild Robot”) and decided that they wanted a movie that does evil clowns right. Well, maybe “right” is the wrong word, but the villainous Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is closer to what I expect from an evil clown than the mopey Arthur Fleck. The new film sees the previously-killed Art resurrected via literal rebirth courtesy of his disciple, Final Girl of the first movie Vic (Samantha Scaffidi). The two slip into a suicide-induced hibernation for five years, with their awakening coinciding with the release from a mental hospital of Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera), the Final Girl of the second movie. All poor Sienna wants to do is live a peaceful life with her uncle (Bryce Johnson), aunt (Margaret Anne Florence), and cousin (Antonella Rose), as well as keep in healthy contact with her brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam), away at college. But she and Art are destined to keep fighting until one slays the other for good, so peacefulness is out the window. The film actually spends quite a bit of time on Sienna and her mental health, and I have mixed feelings on this aspect. On one hand, it’s admirable that the film wants to have some substance related to its protagonist to prove that this series is about more than a clown and his creative kills. On the other hand, it maybe overcorrects and gives Sienna too much healthy time before things inevitably fall apart. It’s a perfectly fine performance by LaVera, but she’s not the one people are here to see. Indeed it is Art the Clown and his joyful streak of terror that are selling the tickets. And oh does this movie deliver on the gore it promises and more. Art has never met a weapon he doesn’t love or a person he’s not eager to kill. He even breaks the unwritten slasher rule of not using guns or explosives - as long as people can die from it, he’ll use it. Unique to this movie is that it takes place around Christmas, so he dons a Santa suit and pulls weapons out of a sack of “toys.” He’s particularly fond of a tank of liquid nitrogen. Because it isn’t enough that he has to outdo The Joker, he also has to make a better Mr. Freeze. “Terrifier 3” is strictly for people that already know they like slasher movies. It takes a sick sense of humor to appreciate a movie like this, and frankly it also requires knowledge of the first two movies. I recommend the “Kill Count” videos on the “Dead Meat” YouTube channel as pre-film tutorials, and even those may prove to be too much for some people (including my mom… long story). My favorite moment at my screening was when the audience sat in a stunned silence after a scene of staggering violence, and someone broke said silence with a well-timed obscenity. I appreciate the plucky underdog charm of these movies to a degree, but I’m not ready to say that they actually count as good movies.   Grade: C   “Terrifier 3” is not rated by the MPAA, likely because it is too violent to qualify for an R rating. Its running time is 125 minutes.   Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Wesson News   Tristian Peavey speaks to the LIR program The LIR program is a Co-Lin program The Institute for Learning in Retirement program at Co-Lin Wesson recently held its September luncheon. The group’s guest speaker was Tristan Peavey, extension agent at MSU Extension Service.   Peavey, a Brookhaven native and a graduate of Brookhaven High School and Mississippi State University, spoke on agriculture and national resources. He has worked in extension for five years across Mississippi and has been the Ag and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Lincoln County for two years. He's also the son of Brookhaven's general surgeon, Dr. Michael Peavey, M.D.   Peavey addressed general questions about extension services such as agent roles, agriculture, local business natural resources, management, pasture and hay management, plants and home landscape, integrated pest management, pond management, local programming, farmers market, dairy day, master gardeners, private applicators training, cattlemen, and the county forestry association.