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The Brookhaven Animal Rescue League (BARL) invites the community to take part in two upcoming events that celebrate compassion, connection, and support for animals in need.   On Saturday, February 14, BARL will bring adoptable dogs and cats to Petsense for the store’s Valentine Adoption Paw-ty. The event offers a fun opportunity for potential adopters to meet loving pets looking for forever homes. Activities and details for the Paw-ty can be found on Petsense Brookhaven’s social media platforms.   Later this spring, BARL will host one of its signature fundraising events, Canines, Cats & Corks, on Saturday, April 11, at the Brookhaven (FEMA) Building. The evening will feature a variety of wines and spirits, with more than 50 labels ready for tasting. Mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.   Brookhaven musician and BARL’s favorite piano man, Blake Scafidel, will provide live music at the event. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and prizes will round out the evening. Proceeds from the event support BARL’s ongoing rescue, medical care, and adoption efforts.   “These events reflect the heart of our community,” said Rusty Adcock with BARL. “Whether someone meets their new best friend at Petsense or supports our work through Canines, Cats & Corks, every act of involvement helps us continue caring for animals who rely on BARL and the generosity of our neighbors.”   Tickets for Canines, Cats & Corks are available online at  barl.net/events , from a BARL volunteer, or at Bank of Franklin in Brookhaven. Main tickets are offered, with an option to upgrade to a Luxury Pass for an enhanced tasting experience.   BARL encourages the community to attend, participate, and support these events as part of a shared effort to improve the lives of homeless dogs and cats.   “BARL is here for our community, serving Lincoln, Franklin and Copiah counties. We took in over 1,200 animals last year. We provided food, shelter, veterinary care, or whatever was needed to keep them healthy and comfortable until they were adopted.   In addition, another 740 animals in this area were spayed/neutered due to our discount spay/neuter programs. We also organized rabies vaccination and microchip clinics to provide owners with an avenue to receive discounted services. Due to these clinics, 160 animals were vaccinated against rabies, and 130 animals were microchipped.   Adoption fees do not cover the cost of the animals’ care. BARL does not receive government funding. Without the support of our sponsors, donors and a core group of volunteers doing exhaustive work, BARL would not exist,” said Adcock.   Businesses and individuals looking to support BARL through sponsorships or auction items should contact volunteers Gail Garbo at 601-757-3211 or Julie Montalvo at 601-757-1057. BARL may also be contacted through email at info@barl.net .   BARL's mission is to humanely care for shelter animals while contributing to community activities that reduce pet overpopulation, encourage responsible pet ownership, protect public health and safety, and promote the human-animal bond. BARL is a volunteer-based, 501 c3 charitable animal welfare organization serving Copiah, Franklin and Lincoln counties. BARL provides shelter, food and essential veterinary care to homeless animals while they await adoption. All BARL animals are vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped.  For more information about adopting, donating, or volunteering, contact BARL at 601-757-4367 or info@barl.net .  Donations are tax-deductible and may be mailed to BARL, P.O. Box 3477, Brookhaven, MS  39603. BARL features adoptable animals at www.barl.net and on its Facebook page.

By: Jessica Breazeale The deepest hole on our planet is known as the Kola Borehole in Russia near the Norway border. It was a man-made Soviet drilling experiment to learn drilling depth limits. The Kola Borehole reaches 7.5 miles into the earth. In 1970, Oklahoma held the record for the world’s deepest hole, but the Kola Borehole broke that record in 1979.   It’s fascinating to read on this topic and learn more.   But why did drilling stop? Drilling in this particular spot stopped around 1995 due to lack of funding and because the depths of Earth were much hotter than anticipated causing the drilling equipment to melt.   I get lost in wonder on the…WHY? Why does the Earth get so hot that we can’t explore it?   Could it be God designed it to get too hot so mankind doesn’t ruin the world? Would we be dumb enough to drill a hole all the way to the other side and break our planet? I’m sure we’d justify how drilling to the other side was more a brilliant idea making things more accessible, quicker, good for business, wise to explore, and on and on with the plausible explanations but ultimately the demise of our beautiful planet. I’m sure we’d break  the planet. I’m not going to claim to a geo-physicist, but I think the point I’m trying to make is that we are in desperate need of a God to save us from ourselves. We don’t know all the details to make life-altering decisions. We humans make haphazard quick decisions and rarely see or understand the ripple effect of those.   But GOD…   God saves us from ourselves. He knows all the details, the big and small ones. He put it all into motion and can take it all out of motion.   Could it be that God’s design is meant to keep us from completely destroying what was intended for good?   This visual helps us look within. Personally, when I think about the Kola Borehole, I think about a place too deep, I can’t even get there. I think of God’s grace saving me from depths I dare not visit. In the wise words of the late Brad Arnold of hit band 3 Doors Down, who wrote in his lyrics of “Away From The Sun”:   “Cause now again I've found myself so far down Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place I'm so far down Away from the sun that shines to light the way for me To find my way back into the arms That care about the ones like me I'm so far down, away from the sun again”   For those of you who didn’t listen to 3 Doors Down, they are a platinum-record, multi-grammy-nominated band from Mississippi. Arnold, the band’s lead singer, recently died at 47 after a battle with cancer. He grew up in a Christian home and in the church in Mississippi.   During fame, he wrote “Away From the Sun” from a place of depression and isolation. In the end, he went with peace. See his final video here: 3 Doors Down – Official Website   Can we consider that God made some things too hot  for us so we couldn’t get too far gone to burn ourselves? Digging deep requires a lot. DEEP DIGGING requires time and patience, true and earnest research, discovering truths and not discovering the mysteries…and being okay with that, having faith that the exploration is worth it, the data obtained was necessary, the hard work paid off, and the time spent was priceless.   Arnold didn’t stay in a place of depression and isolation. Metaphorically speaking, was he able to get further than the 7.5 miles and push through the “too hot”. He must have. He spent his final opportunities sharing his faith in God with anyone who would listen.   God is a master architect. As we have deep thoughts today talking about the Kola Borehole and 3 Doors Down, let’s ask ourselves if the depths of our hearts are impenetrable? Maybe we don’t want to let anyone in, get too close, or explore our hearts? We don’t want to get burned so we don’t even bother with the experiment.   If Earth’s orbit moved closer to the sun, we'd all burn. If it moved farther  away from the sun (as Arnold’s song suggests), we'd all freeze. Luckily, we are in a perfect spot. Coincidence? I think not.   Does God want us to stay just far away enough from the heat, so we don’t get burned – emotionally and physically? Maybe he wants to leave just a small enough room in our hearts for wonder and awe that will point us back to Him where we can depend on Him as a dad. What do you think?   Just some deep thoughts to get lost in while rocking out to 3 Doors Down music… See downloadable .pdf

KC Family Pharmacy is merging with Clint’s Pharmacy. Clint’s Pharmacy Owner, Clint Bane, has decided to retire after an outstanding 43-year career as a local pharmacist and pharmacy owner. Clint’s Pharmacy of Brookhaven has served the community for 15 years. Before that, Clint spent his early career at Bane Drugs, his local family pharmacy for 28 years, also located in Brookhaven. Clint’s dad, Clinton Bane, Jr., otherwise lovingly known locally as CE, opened Bane Drugs in 1954. “I learned from my dad many years ago, to always put your patients/customers first, and you will succeed. Thank you, my Brookhaven family, for your business. Come see us at KC Family Pharmacy. We will make your transition easy as pie,” said Clint Bane. KC Family Pharmacy owners are Wesson natives, Carlos and Abby Garcia, along with Alex and Dana Shoemake. Together, they serve communities in Brookhaven (the Shoemakes) and Hazlehurst (the Garcias) with their two pharmacy locations. Both families are happy to share this big news with their patients/customers and the community they dearly love. “All of us at KC Family Pharmacy are grateful and excited to serve the patients of Clint’s Pharmacy. We look forward to welcoming them and providing them with convenient, friendly service,” said Dana Shoemake, pharmacist and one of the KC owners. As part of his retirement, Clint’s Pharmacy will officially merge with KC Family Pharmacy on February 11. This merger allows patients to continue receiving friendly, personal care while honoring Clint Bane’s long and dedicated career. As part of the merger, KC Family Pharmacy is welcoming a new pharmacist to their team. Madisyn Bane, who previously served patients at Clint’s Pharmacy, will now be working with KC Family Pharmacy. This helps ensure a smooth transition and familiar faces for customers. (Pictured: Pharmacist Madisyn Bane and father-in-law, Clint) “I’m honored to come back to work with the mentor who inspired me to become a pharmacist, while also continuing the legacy my father-in-law created as he retires,” said Madisyn Bane. Madisyn is referring to Dana Shoemake, KC Owner. Shoemake was her manager while interning at Wal-Mart. Shoemake spent almost 18 years at Wal-Mart Brookhaven Pharmacy. Shoemake spent her first two years at Walmart as an intern while in pharmacy school and her last ten as manager. “The patients and customers there are what inspired me to set out on my own to become an entrepreneur, opening my own pharmacy,” said Shoemake. Pictured: Johnna Foster, technician Her pharmacy feels very personalized with cute, affordable gifts and snacks and toys. Complimentary gift wrapping is even available. It’s not standard gifts they’re offering inside. Most everything for sale is Mississippi-made products like Scotsman serving platters and cutting boards and Scent Library candles, brands created by Ben and Erin Napier of HGTV’s hit show “Hometown”. “It feels like home to me here,” said Shoemake. “We’re locals, we love our community, and I hope it shows.” It certainly does. The kids enjoy Dip N Dots ice cream. Parents appreciate the convenient drive-through window. The community loves having an urgent/primary care next door. Pictured: Dana Shoemake Patients of both pharmacies do not need to take any action. KC Family Pharmacy and Clint’s Pharmacy are handling all prescription transfers. This includes insurance information, refills, and records. Customers do not need to call or fill out any paperwork. All prescriptions will be transferred automatically, and refills will be ready as usual. One service that patients counted on and loved was Clint’s delivery service, and that won’t change in this merger. KC Family Pharmacy will also be providing delivery within the Brookhaven city limits. KC Family Pharmacy is located next to the old Perkins Hardware, which is 543 Brookway Boulevard, Brookhaven, MS 39601. To celebrate a smooth merger transition, all are invited to KC Family Pharmacy on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Refreshments and giveaways will take place all day to celebrate Clint’s retirement and the future of KC Family Pharmacy. Call KC Family Pharmacy’s Brookhaven location at 601-515-9684. The pharmacy can be found on Facebook, Google, or online at www.kcfamilyrx.com . KC Family Pharmacy looks forward to continuing to serve the community with quality service, compassionate care, delivery services, and an incredible gift shop with complimentary gift wrapping. Pictured L to R: Pharmacists Madisyn Bane, Dana Shoemake, Abby Garcia

By  Misty Strieff Prine How many times do we pray and pray for something and then, in God's time, we receive the answer that we've been praying for...but then something happens. We find ourselves not praying like we once did because we longed so much for that which He answered that we lost sight of the fact that prayer is something that we are supposed to do every day, not just when we need something or when our heart desires something. We must remember that prayer is a privilege not a crutch. When God answers our prayers, whether we have prayed for an answer for one hour or one year, we need to allow that answered prayer to draw us closer to God daily, not just on a convenience basis. God hears every single prayer that is lifted to Him. Not one single prayer is said in vain. Neither should the power of prayer and the consistency and urge to pray be thought of in vain either. We need to pray daily. We also need to pray to God to simply tell Him thank you for our blessings even when they are sometimes hard to see at the time. We need to pray harder when it is the hardest to pray as well. In those moments, when we humble ourselves and pray from a place of deep pain and trouble, is when we will experience God on a level never before experienced. God's word tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." May we never ever EVER take the privilege of prayer for granted. That is our 24/7 support line to the One who thought we were worth dying for. He's a friend that will never leave us and will meet us right where we are, no questions asked. Prayer works. Pray often. It's life's best medicine. **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Did you know that getting stranded on a deserted island has a way of shaking up social hierarchies? I suppose that was a big part of the plot for recent Best Picture Oscar nominee “Triangle of Sadness.” As well as the literary classic “Lord of the Flies.” And it’s represented on television in everything from “Survivor” to “Lost” to “Gilligan’s Island.” And it was at the center of a play I did in high school called “The Admirable Crichton,” where I played a rich snob who gets taken down several pegs. Director Sam Raimi is hoping you’ve somehow avoided all of these precursors, plus others I’m sure I’m forgetting, because only then can you find originality in “Send Help.” Rachel McAdams stars as Linda Liddle, a doormat of an employee in the strategy and planning department of a financial consulting firm. She does great work, but she doesn’t have the best social skills, and her bro-y male colleagues take her work for granted while overlooking her as a person. This is especially true of her boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), who gives a college buddy a promotion over her and is ready to boot her from the office over the smell of her tuna-fish sandwich. But he needs her numbers skills for a conference in Bangkok, so he reluctantly lets her tag along on his private plane. Wouldn’t you know it, the plane goes down and only Linda and an injured Bradley make it to a nearby island. Linda is an adept survivalist, having read many books on the subject. She’s able to build a makeshift shelter, get a fire going, and round up some food and water for the passed-out Bradley, all before he even wakes up. When he does come around, he’s grateful for about ten seconds before chiding Linda for not making more of an effort to get the two of them rescued. She walks off, leaving him to the elements. He soon learns that he can’t survive on his own and has to sheepishly ask her to go back to caring for him. This establishes a pattern that continues for the rest of the movie: he’ll think that the power he wields in the office also applies to the island, and she keeps easily proving him wrong. Eventually she becomes the powerful one, and she insists she’s a better boss than he ever was, but… is she? Or is she destined to become the tyrant that Bradley was on the mainland? Could she even become something worse? It’s hard to imagine Bradley, even at his most piggish, making some of the decisions Linda makes. Speaking of piggishness, Raimi hopes that audiences are too distracted by select scenes of visual spectacle to notice that there’s nothing original about the story. One is a battle between Linda and a supposedly-scary CGI boar. Others include the plane crash, a dream sequence, a physical altercation, and a high-tension confrontation involving a poisonous octopus and a dead rat. I’d chide Raimi for relying too much on his old crutches of extreme violence and body horror, but it’s not like he was doing better with the non-gruesome elements of the movie. Basically, I spent the entirety of “Send Help” doing that “move it along” gesture with my hand because the story was so routine. Bradley was never going to learn his lesson, Linda was only going to get worse, and rescue wouldn’t come until much more blood (and possibly other innards) had been spilled. The film isn’t devoid of properly-built suspense, but it’s nothing that hasn’t been seen in other, better cat-and-mouse horror movies (“Misery,” from the late Rob Reiner, came to mind). Sometimes people like to debate which movies they wish they could have with them on a deserted island. I wouldn’t want “Send Help” even if I didn’t have to waste a pick on it. Grade: C- “Send Help” is rated R for strong/bloody violence and language. Its running time is 113 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com         You remember hearing and seeing the popular phrase, WWJD? ‘What Would Jesus Do.’ If you do, very likely you also remember often seeing the mocking curl of the lip of someone in the vicinity. That sentence  showed up everywhere and soon became trite and overused. And almost guaranteed to irritate anyone nearby. I can even remember hearing certain people as they would laugh and say, “WWJD….oh, yeah sure, me too. And I can give you a few ideas for your WWJD. But you probably ain’t gonna appreciate ‘em.” Because show up it certainly did…everywhere. Remember the wrist bands?? The t-shirts, license plates, coffee cups, plaques, business cards, and pictures that carried that phrase, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Talk  about overkill, and running a good thing straight into the ground. But honestly, was it the phrase that grated on the nerves, or the mouths that spouted it at the drop of a hat? Was it what the sentence stood for, or the hypocrisy it exposed, as people let it drip religiously out of their  mouth – while at the same time their actions did exactly the opposite? Being open and quite honest with you, I have to admit that WWJD wore mighty thin, mighty quickly for me too. Sure, I attempted to not let my feelings show with a mocking curl of my lip, but, I confess, inside it was there. Why? Overkill, from hearing it way too often? Hypocrisy of the speaker? My own feelings of sudden guilt when confronted by such an ‘in your face” reminder of the One who is always hearing and watching me fall flat  on my face too many times? Maybe. Or it could easily have been all of the above. It is mighty difficult to hear “WWJD!!!” fall blithely from the lips of someone who has deliberately, or even unwittingly, cut someone to the quick, and then just five minutes later hear them sweetly use that same phrase  again as they try to encourage their friend. Hear me well. It was not the actual phrase, or the wording of the phrase, or the good intentions behind the creating of that phrase that was so irritating. WWJD is certainly representative of living a life that never hurts anyone or takes advantage of a situation. The meaning of WWJD is wonderful and worthy of attempting to emulate. The problem lies with the fact that most didn’t. Most of the time we just delivered lip service to it as we smiled sweetly, and actually delivered WWTWD. And if you don’t recognize the ‘TW’ substitution, simply turn on  your local news and see it in living color. The World… and folks, it’s not very pretty. And it’s certainly not sweet and loving. Not worth imitating at all. But yet we do. And predictably as the result, we now have what we have. A world that is deeply in turmoil. Anger, hate, revenge rule….AHRR, I guess.

By: Jessica Breazeale Somewhere between Hawaii and the Philippines near the small island of Guam, far below the surface of the water, sits the Mariana Trench, the deepest spot in the ocean. It’s 7 miles deep. What’s down there?  The Trench sits like a crescent-shaped dent in the floor of the Pacific Ocean, extending over 1500 miles long with an average width around 43 miles and a depth of almost 7 miles (or just under 36,201 feet).  Mt. Everest could fit in this spot. At that depth, the weight of all that water above makes the pressure in the Trench around  1000 times higher  than it would be in, say, Miami or New York. Floor vents release bubbles of liquid sulfur and carbon dioxide. Ancient lava that cooled and spread shaped this region of mystery.   Temperatures are just above freezing, and everything is drowning in darkness. Why is it so cold and so dark? Is it proof some things are just simply meant to remain unknown, unexplored, and a beautiful mystery by God’s design?  Thousands of  mollusks  and worms have been discovered by a Chinese submersible in the Mariana Trench, almost six miles below sea level, and it is the deepest colony of animals ever observed to date. Only 3 manned expeditions have ever explored the Mariana Trench. More people have been to the moon and back! To put this into perspective, it’s so deep that no light can penetrate these depths, yet many interesting living things have been discovered and have adapted there.  A plastic bag was found at the bottom of the deepest place on our planet. This idea really brings “garbage to the surface”. For me, this is a reminder that we can’t seem to escape our trash…it follows us into the deepest of places. Our trash problem, in the literal sense and the metaphorical sense, is always lurking in the shadows. The trash can stay on the bottom. The trash can rise to the top. We either clean up the trash or leave it for someone else – or some other generation, to figure out.     The trench is a vast, beautiful, and mysterious place yet to be fully explored. Guess who’s been through all those depths and explored it all? The Creator formed Mariana Trench and knows every detail there.    If God who knows every mystery of those depths and every creature extinct and yet to be discovered, wants to be known to us as a father, then it’s clear He cares immensely for his creation.    How can He form the whole world in all its infinite, beautiful mysteries and yet consider us his most prized possessions?   I realize we don’t always feel like prizes.  You might say “I’m in over my head. I’m too deep in this filth. Nothing can get me outta this deep pit.” God can navigate the deepest, darkest places and show the pathway back. Who knows, it might even be an interesting exploration. Don’t fear the unknown. Explore it! Download here:

Special to Wesson News The Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) Choir hosted “Secrets Beneath the Mask – Murder at Mardi Gras”, a masquerade-themed murder-mystery dinner theatre. The event took place at the college’s Thames Conference Center in Wesson on the evening of January 31 and came alive with the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras.   This event combined mystery and entertainment in a captivating way. The meal was excellent, too. Chef McSweyn outdid himself as usual serving a delicious gumbo.   Teri Bath, Wesson Chamber President gave her review as “engaging and well-rehearsed. Enjoyable for all ages to see.”   The play was written and conceived by Co-Lin acting students Connor Adair of Terry and Pressley Rushing of Brookhaven, with additional edits from alumna Ellie Lambert of Monticello who also played the detective. Anna McKenzie, playing role of the waitress Genevieve   The cast included Wendi Case as the voodoo queen Loretta Laveau, Tanner Davis as the jester, Jeremy Johnson (known as Werm) as business partner Marcel—Johnson is also an instructor and former volunteer assistant soccer coach at Co-Lin, Anna McKenzie as Genevieve, and Jake Rutland from Southwest Community College in the role of Beau Thompson. Jessica Breazeale of Wesson, and instructor at Co-Lin, played Estella Thompson. Lee Moore of Brookhaven played Nurse Camille and Damon and Jessica Pecot, former King and Queen. Adair played the emcee and Rushing played Charlotte.   All proceeds from the event supported the Co-Lin Choir, which is preparing for a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City this May. Attendee dresses in theme for event fun   One interesting fact about the evening was that the cast and choir members offered an alternate ending to the audience. They encouraged donations, and once enough funds were collected, they were able to show that alternate ending, adding an extra layer of fun to the night. $444 was raised to see the alternate ending of seeing the guilty go free.   “The dinner theatre event was such a fun, family-friendly night and a great way to bring the community together. Dr. Bobby Helms’ leadership continues to be a wonderful gift to the community, and the talent displayed by the students was beyond incredible. I’d love to see this become a regular event,” said attendee Brittany Gibson, who works at Southwest Community College. She is an avid local arts supporter and frequently attends Co-Lin art functions.   A huge thank you also goes out to all the silent auction donors, including Brookhaven Med Spa, KC Family Pharmacy, Semone Curole, Southern Imprint, Damon Pecot with Kimball Midwest, J. Allan’s, Jackson Miller Productions, LLC, Donald Pecot, the Co-Lin Choir, Bobby G. Helms, and photographer Lacey Johnson. Cast bows   “It was a well-written script, very entertaining, very talented actors, colorful costumes, beautiful table decorations, and I loved the backdrop and decorations to take pictures,” said attendee Marilyn Britt of Wesson. Approximately 140 attendees participated in the event   Approximately $4,500 was raised from the event. To find out how you can help the choir get to NYC, reach out to Bobby Helms, Co-Lin Choir Director, at bobby.helms@colin.edu .   Attendees participate in the silent auction. Items auctioned off were a condo/beach stay in Panama City Beach, FL; botox treatment; gift baskets; family concerts, tools; and more.

Celebrate Super Bowl LX, Valentine’s with special foods By Kara Kimbrough   Chocolate Covered Strawberries (Photo credit: Kara Kimbrough)    A few years ago, the Super Bowl did American men a favor by landing right in the middle of Valentine’s Day weekend. The excuse that there was “simply no time” to go out for a special Valentine’s meal due to the big game got them off the hook. Fast forward to 2026; Super Bowl LX, or the 60 th  game, falls on Sunday, Feb. 8. Valentine’s Day arrives the following Saturday. However, there are ways to celebrate both special events with simple dishes that are easy to prepare and enjoyed at home with minimal stress on everyone involved.     First, every year a new Super Bowl food trend seems to sweep the internet; this year is no exception. TikTok is filled with thousands of “new” game day recipes and elaborate decorating ideas. A few of my favorites include a “stadium” made of small boxes filled with snacks and dips, highlighted by a “field” containing platters of wings, burgers and pizza slices; a backdrop of gold balloons shaped to resemble gold posts, with a giant football balloon positioned in the center and hundreds of versions of hot and cold dips, pizzas, sliders, wings and more.    My favorite food idea this year is a “wings and things” board filled with a selection of fried chicken tenders and wings, spicy fries, fried pickles, slices of grilled sausages, a bowl of homemade ranch dressing for dipping and here’s the interesting part…halves of grilled cheese sandwiches interspersed throughout the regular game day fare.     Turns out, “Grilled Cheese on Texas Toast” is a relatively new item in the freezer case at Sam’s. Requiring only a few minutes in the microwave (or a little longer in the oven) the end result is a hot, crispy, cheesy addition to the “wings and things” charcuterie board.     It’s fun to try new food trends, but let’s face it, there are some tried-and-true Super Bowl foods that everyone expects to be on the buffet table and for good reason.      It simply wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without everyone’s favorite chips and dips, a mile-high stack of nachos and all the toppings, the afore-mentioned wings and plenty of dipping sauces and depending on your taste, a huge pot of chili, burgers and maybe a pizza or two. Each of these dishes deserves their rightful place of honor on Super Bowl Sunday and for the most part, they’ll be served in most homes or at parties celebrating the game this Sunday.    As for Valentine’s Day, yes, it falls on Saturday, making it convenient for most couples to dine out at a restaurant in honor of the holiday celebrating love and other sentimental emotions. But if one or both members of the couple would prefer a cozy dinner at home, it’s super easy to create a meal that’s almost (notice I said “almost”) as good as anything that can be found at a restaurant.    I’ve compiled a few of my favorite Super Bowl and Valentine’s recipes for you to recreate. If you'd like additional recipes for either special event, drop me an email and I'll send them to you. Enjoy!   Super Bowl LX Wings (Photo credit: Kara Kimbrough)     Super Bowl LX Wings 2 pounds chicken wings: Split into drumettes and flats 1-2 tbsp baking powder (for crispy skin- make sure you’re using baking powder, not baking soda!) 1 cup barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce or hot sauce (1 cup hot sauce mixed with 1 cup melted butter) Seasoning blend: 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chili powder.      Prep wings: Pat the wings completely dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the olive oil (if using), then add the baking powder and spice mixture, tossing thoroughly to coat. For maximum crispness, place seasoned wings on a wire rack over a baking sheet and leave uncovered in refrigerator 1–2 hours (or up to 24 hours).      Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange wings in a single layer on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet that has been lightly brushed with olive oil or sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.      Bake for 40–50 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.     To add sauce: Remove from oven; toss wings in a bowl with preferred sauce, or leave in pan and cover wings with sauce using a small brush, turning to coat both sides.      Return sauced wings to the oven for an additional 5–10 minutes to crisp wings. Steaks for Two Marinate a thick cut of sirloin (or your favorite cut) steak for several hours in the refrigerator with: 1/2 bottle of teriyaki steak sauce Juice of 1 lemon Salt and pepper   Remove from refrigerator and coat the top of each steak with 1-2 tablespoons of butter. Grill or broil to desired level of doneness. Let meat rest before slicing.  Twice-Baked Potatoes      Bake two large baking potatoes. Scoop out inside, leaving a small border of potato around edges. Add to the meat of the potatoes: • Small container of French onion dip • 1-2 tablespoons of butter     Stir and return mixture to potatoes. Top with a sprinkle of bacon pieces and shredded cheese, if desired. Place under the broiler or in microwave for a couple of minutes until butter and cheese are melted; don't overcook. V-Day Chocolate-Covered Strawberries  1-pint fresh strawberries 1 cup milk chocolate chips, white chocolate or dark chocolate chips 1 teaspoon coconut oil       Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Dry strawberries well with paper towels to make sure chocolate adheres perfectly. Heat chocolate chips and coconut oil in microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes on 50%. Stir until smooth. Dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate, making sure the strawberry is covered almost to the stem. Place chocolate covered strawberry onto parchment lined baking sheet and place into the freezer for at least 15 minutes to set. Once chocolate is set, you can dip the bottom half of strawberries in alternating chocolate color or drizzle alternating color over strawberries with a fork. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Note:  For Super Bowl, leave some plain after dipping in dark chocolate. Decorate each with white “football laces” using small icing tubes found in the baking aisle. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

By Charlie Rook It’s   been nothing but positive for both the men and women apart from Cobras soccer this season. The men sit with a record of 10-9, and the ladies with a dominant 14-5. Both teams are currently preparing for a playoff game, the men against Clarkdale, and the ladies against Southeast Lauderdale. On the men’s side the true consistency wasn’t found, with several big wins and several big losses. However the team has now won 2 of their last three as they prepare for an away game against a 14 win Clarkdale team. Wesson has been led by a nine goal season from Melvin Hernandez, but defensively the team will have to hold off Ernesto Pech, who leads Clarkdale with 22 goals, and 19 assists. On the ladies side it’s been a good season since the first game. The Lady Cobras have won 14 games this season, and sit 9-1 in district play. Despite 2 losses in their last 3 games, the team will be looked at as a favorite as they host a Southeast Lauderdale team with just 3 wins. The Cobras will be led by their top goal scorer Ady Rose Dowd, as they look to advance to the next round on February 6th.

Special to Wesson News Photo Credit: Sarah Wanyana The African Children’s Choir is marking over four decades of transforming lives through the power of music, education and hope. The Choir continues to captivate audiences with their heartwarming performances with a show that blends traditional hymns and African cultural sounds, while sharing stories of God’s faithfulness through joyful worship. We have 17 children in the Ugandan choir, aged 8 to 10. Local families host the group in their homes, where they are able to share and learn about new customs, food and culture. There is no charge for admission and our concert is open to the public. Comprised of children ages 8 to 10, all from vulnerable backgrounds across Africa, the African Children’s Choir serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and potential of Africa’s future leaders. Each child in the Choir has faced significant hardship, often with limited access to education. Yet, through the Choir, these children gain life-changing opportunities for education and personal growth, becoming beacons of hope for their communities. “The African Children’s Choir proves just how powerful music can be,” says Choir Manager, Tina Sipp. “These concerts not only provide hope and encouragement to our audiences, but they offer the children life-changing experiences that help shape them into future leaders.” The Choir invites communities to experience their performances and be part of their mission to bring hope through music. No tickets are required, though donations are appreciated to continue the Choir’s impactful work. About The African Children's Choir: The African Children’s Choir is more than just a choir. It’s part of a larger, international, Christian organization called Music for Life, which provides thousands of impoverished children throughout Africa with the education, discipleship, and leadership skills needed to rise above their conditions so they can bring positive, lasting change to their families, communities, and countries. For more information, visit africanchildrenschoir.com The African Children’s Choir : Wednesday, February 11, 2026 || 6:30 PM   Clear Branch Baptist Church   2166 Clear Branch Lane NE   Wesson, MS 39191  (601) 265-2108

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is proud to announce 225 outstanding sophomores named to the 2025-2026 Who's Who at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Students recognized as Who's Who were nominated and selected by a committee of administration, faculty, and staff based on academic success, leadership, scholarship, involvement in extracurricular activities at Co-Lin, and potential for future achievement. Students must be sophomores and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for nomination and selection. Wesson Campus students selected include: Wes son: Abby Burnette, Madison Callender, China Clay, Courtney Clay, Olivia Conway, Maria Hall, Tyler Leggett, John Leist, Allie McNeill, Mara Norwood, Blake Russ Brookhaven: Cornelius Allen Jr., Sierra Arnett,  Brandon Burt, Braelyn Byrd, Conner Cunningham, Afalon Dillon, Gabrielle Evans, Braden Ezell, Melissa Fields, Reagan Fortenberry, Zachary Fries, Jenna Fuller, John Griffin, Gabrielle Kirland, Faith Kyzar, Ava Leggett, Lauran Lewis, Ashton McCullough, Zachary McGehee, Vivian Porter, Bobby Rollins, Preslee Rushing, Clarizza Tate, Nu Ton, David Van Norman, Natalie Womack, Caden Yarborough Crystal Springs: Ellie Barrentine, Bentley Barton, Erin Green, Chloe Holloway, Harper Logan, Madelyn Moore, Olivia Sherwin,  Madison Slay, Paris Sutton, Jarvis Walker Hazlehurst: Brianna Brown, Jessica Castro, Cheyanne Harris,  Diamond Holloway, Elian Ixcajocsales, Jaleel Jackson, and Quentin Jackson, Andrew Matthews, Ray Newell, Christy Washington