Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann is proposing several policy measures in the 2025 Legislative Session to tackle Mississippi’s high chronic absenteeism rate in public schools across the state. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 18 days of the school year, or 10 percent, for any reason including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Mississippi’s chronic absenteeism rate for the 2022-23 school year was 23.9 percent. While the rate has begun to trend down since the pandemic, and is lower than some other states, it is still more than 10 percentage points above the state’s 13 percent rate during the 2018-2019 school year. “If students are not in the classroom, they are not learning. We need to drill down into this data and see where our biggest opportunities for driving up the rate are, particularly regarding unexcused absences,” Hosemann said. Among other solutions, Hosemann said he is interested in exploring: Restricting the use of cellphones in public schools, which has been shown in recent years to severely impact student mental health, particularly during classroom instruction. Some other states and school districts in Mississippi have already implemented policies banning or restricting the use of cellphones in schools; Moving school attendance officers from the Mississippi Department of Education to district-level supervision to encourage better personal relationships between the district, officers, students, and the wider community; Increasing school attendance officer salaries. School attendance officers start at $24,528.29 in Mississippi; and Encouraging low-performing schools, which often have high chronic absenteeism rates, to consider moving to a modified calendar. A modified calendar more evenly disperses school days throughout the year, provides more short breaks during the school year, and shortens the summer, when students often experience learning loss. Several bills were introduced in the 2024 Legislative Session addressing school attendance officers with the Mississippi Department of Education’s support, but they ultimately did not pass. In the early fall when school resumes, Hosemann plans to visit schools in different regions of the state which have lower and higher chronic absenteeism rates to hear about on-the-ground challenges and other possible solutions to the problem. Hosemann has also asked the K-12 and Postsecondary Mental Health Task Force, created by Senate Bill 2727, to examine this issue in the context of child and adolescent mental health and its impact on school attendance and academic performance. To learn more about Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.

By: Kara Kimbrough I’m not sure how – or when – it happened, but 2024 is more than halfway done. Before more time elapses, here are the items that have made cooking, eating and traveling a little more memorable in the first six months. 1.      The first one is actually a combination food/travel find: A road trip of any length must include snacks. A new favorite is Ritz Toasted Chips in honey barbecue flavor (there’s also sweet habanero for those who prefer a hot bite). It’s taken a while for Ritz to embrace the toasted craze, but when they did, the results were delicious. 2.      Breyers CarbSmart Creamy Almond Vanilla Frozen Dairy Dessert Bars – Breyers has always “done ice cream right,” but they’ve surpassed themselves with this frozen treat. Thankfully, I don’t have to limit carbs for health reasons, but it never hurts to cut back when a product is, unlike most carb-free pastas, actually edible. After buying these for a friend with dietary restrictions, I tried them for myself. I discovered they’re not just edible, but good. After a “real” pasta dinner, enjoying one of these cool treats allowed me to have dessert, guilt-free. 3.      Traveling can be stressful, especially with the added worry of getting sick while away from home. Thankfully, I’m rarely sick on the road, but that didn’t stop me from taking preventative measures during a recent trip to Texas. Biovanta’s Immunity Defense Lozenges and Throat Spray are drug-free, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines that provide a safe and effective way to prevent illness and if needed, treat colds and a cough. I can’t positively say that’s why I survived two packed flights, continuous people exposure and non-circulating hotel room air without a sign of illness… but it definitely didn’t hurt. 4.      Selecting my next travel destination was made a little easier by a unique blanket that doubled as the perfect cozy throw this winter. A soft, 58”x 50 blanket made of fleece and microfiber fleece features the intricate art and history of mapmaking from Xplorer Maps, the travel destination for hand-drawn story maps and accessories. Blankets and other products feature a wide variety of colorful, realistic maps, including the National Parks, famous domestic and international travel destinations, many U.S. states and my favorite, a complete U.S. map depicting each state and the item for which it is most famous. Check out these amazing products at: www.xplorermaps.com. 5.      A not-so-fun aspect of traveling is having to downsize liquid items to three ounces. Even if you’re checking a bag in addition to carrying one or two onboard, who has space for full-size containers of favorite health and beauty products? OK, I DO make an exception for my full-size can of John Frieda Hairspray. However, Mychelle facial creams and a genius cleansing stick, all of which are sold in travel and full-size containers, elevated my beauty products carry-on game. Additionally, aluminum-free Crystal Sea Salt + Sage Deodorant became such a favorite due to its sturdy container and ability to do the job without leaving a streaky mess. I use it on a daily basis, not just when traveling. Many Biovanta products are sold at area drugstores; I found Mychelle products at Whole Foods in Jackson. Check out their respective websites for more details. 6.      Yoplait Protein Strawberry Yogurt – Consuming an adequate amount of protein has always been challenging, but this product has helped improve my daily intake. Besides the fact that it contains only three grams of sugar and leaves no bitter aftertaste, one small container is filled with 15 grams, or 30% of my recommended daily intake. Another game-changer in the daily aisle. 7.      Screamin' Sicilian Multi-Meat Pizza Bowl – As stated above, I’m not that concerned about cutting carbs…but that doesn’t necessarily mean I should throw ALL caution to the wind. When I first saw these flavorful bowls in the freezer case, I grabbed one solely due to the enticing package photo. After preparing it, I discovered the bowls contain “almost” everything you’d find on a pizza – meats, cheeses, vegetables and tomato sauce; the only thing missing is a carb-filled crust. With a 31gram serving count, I’ve never felt so good about enjoying my favorite pizza toppings. 8.      Packing cubes – I realize I’m late to the package cube game. I can now share they’ve been a game-changer in my packing organization. Being able to pack and grab each day’s outfit and accompanying items in one compact bag has greatly reduced the time I spend departing a hotel room every morning. After reading reviews and checking out several brands, I purchased Miami Carryon 12-piece from QVC due to its variety of sizes and shapes. 9.      And my favorite “new” travel destination of 2024? I say “new” because Mississippi’s natural, unspoiled beauty can never be surpassed and New York City, even in drizzly January, continues to hold my heart captive…but Grapevine, Texas is a recent addition to my “favorite places to visit" list. Located just outside Dallas and here’s the best part, only 10 minutes from DFW Airport, the “Christmas Capital of Texas” resembles a Hallmark movie town on steroids. There’s so much to love about this city with a small-town feel. I’ll share more details in next week’s column. 10.  Speaking of New York City, I’m still hoping I’ll manage to squeeze in a trip this summer. Reading about the free and low-cost things to do right now on NYC Tourism & Conventions’ website kicked my interest into high gear. NYC is packed with activities that include festivals, bazaars, outdoor concerts and plays, sporting events and of course, Independence Day activities galore, ranging from Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest to Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. If you’re a foodie, visiting during Restaurant Week, scheduled for July 22–August 18 is a great idea. Hundreds of restaurants citywide will be offering prix-fixe menus and other specials rarely offered in NYC. To learn more about Summer 2024 in NYC’s five boroughs, visit the website at: www.nyctourism.com. Last, my favorite recipe (thus far) in 2024 is this easy homemade granola. Just like almost every supermarket product, cereal prices have skyrocketed in recent months. A bowl of granola, chopped apples and nuts and almond milk is a favorite meal. However, I can’t justify paying $4 or more for a half-full bag of oats and grains. This recipe is so easy and economical to make for meals and snacks that I highly doubt I’ll go back to the commercially-made version. Enjoy the rest of 2024  - stay tuned for more favorites at the end of the year! Easy Homemade Granola 4 cups Old-Fashioned Oats (not Quick Cook variety) 1 cup slivered almonds or chopped pecans (whatever you prefer) 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/2 cup melted coconut oil 1/3 cup maple syrup 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (or shredded) 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit (cranberries or other favorite flavors) or semisweet chocolate chips (whatever you prefer) 1/2 cup chia seeds (optional) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, almonds, cinnamon and sea salt until evenly combined. In a separate measuring cup, stir together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract until combined. Pour the coconut oil mixture into the oats mixture, and stir until evenly combined. Spread the granola out evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Then remove from the oven, add the coconut, and give the mixture a good stir.  Bake for 5 more minutes, until the granola is lightly toasted and golden. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire baking rack.  Let cool until the granola reaches room temperature.  Then stir in the dried fruit, chocolate chips or any other optional add-ins you prefer. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Special to Wesson News Twenty-five Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) seniors graduated with highest honors, high honors and honors at the end of 2023-2024 term. Four students earned the distinction of graduating with highest honors by with Grade Point Averages (GPAs) between 4.0 and 5.0: Julianna Rose Wilson Ja’Niyah La’Shae Byther Alan Tin Luong Gracyn Jewell Martin Fourteen seniors achieved high honors with GPAs between 3.5 and 3.99: Rachel Charleigh Anderson Ethan Stanley Bonsall Aidan Ameer Brice Hannah Chesley Cameron Sheila Samantha Casanova Breelyn Layne Cloy Brandon Davis Ebarb Cloe Nicole Elkins Cameron Elizabeth Miller Abby Nicole Mooney Kaylee Layne Prine Mallory Elise Sanders Hailey Nicole Walker Karen Itzel Zarate-Lopez Seven earned the honors distinction with GPAs between 3.2 and 3.49: Paris Juanita Byrd Evangeline Sinclaire Cook Jahnasia Lashaye Harris Taylor Dawn June Mara Grace Norwood Corley Marie Sandifer Melody Lynn Waltman

By Guest Columnist Dr. Stephanie Duguid The foot, ankle, and lower extremities are vitally essential, but often overlooked areas of our bodies, according to Dr. Renita T. Parker, a distinguished podiatrist from Memorial Hospital on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A podiatrist specializes in the health of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities, addressing many issues that can impact your overall health. One of the severe complications of diabetes is the increased need for surgeries to remove toes, feet or legs.  Alarmingly, in 2021, 38.4 million people of all ages had diabetes, with 38.1 million being adults. Many adults experience various issues with their lower legs, including pain, swelling, tingling, numbness and cramps. These symptoms should not be ignored, as they can indicate more serious underlying conditions. The Ankle Brachial Index is a simple test that podiatrists use to check the sufficiency of blood flow to the lower extremities. Podiatrists also assess nerve integrity to ensure the proper function of the toes. Regular self-evaluation of your feet is not just good practice; it’s a necessity. Wounds, sores, swelling, nail changes, and anatomical changes like bunions, hammer toe, numbness, tingling, or chronic swelling should not be taken lightly.  Even seemingly minor foot or leg issues could be a sign of a more serious problem, especially if you have a history of chronic diseases, smoking habits, diabetes, or heart issues. It is crucial to consult your physician and see a lower extremity specialist, such as a podiatrist, to determine the appropriate next steps. Ignoring foot or leg issues, even minor ones can be detrimental. Depending on your health history, chronic diseases, smoking habits, diabetes, or heart issues, these symptoms could signify a more serious problem. It is crucial to consult your physician and see a lower extremity specialist, such as a podiatrist, to determine the appropriate next steps. Did you know these foot facts? 1. A human foot and ankle are strong, mechanical structures containing 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. 2. There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. 3. Women are four times more likely to have foot problems than men are, mostly due to footwear. 4. A 2 ½ inch high heel can increase the load on the forefoot by 75%. 5. Many people have one foot larger than the other, so it’s best to fit the larger one while standing. 6. The American Podiatric Medical Association says the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps daily. 7. Standing in one spot is far more tiring than walking because the demands are made on the same few muscles for a longer length of time. 8. Podiatric physicians are four times less likely to use costly services than other physicians. When should you see a Podiatrist?  Foot or leg pain should never be ignored. Prioritizing the health of your lower extremities is a crucial step toward maintaining your overall well-being. Stay vigilant, stay healthy, and remember to take care of your feet -- they support you every step of the way. And if you are ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. EDITOR'S NOTE:  Dr. Stephanie Duguid is owner of Do Good ProHealth (CPR Classes) and Do Good Leadership (motivational speaking, and leadership and success coaching).

By: Mika Hartman Recently, CJ took us on a beautiful vacation. We love cruising for many reasons, so we boarded the newest ship The Icon of the Seas.  Traveling with Hudson presents many challenges, but we know his life needs to be more than doctors appointments and therapy. Huddy is six and he’s been on six cruises. This isn’t meant to brag or be boastful, but to say that we have found a way that our family travels well and we go. Cruising may not be for everyone; for us, we have all of Hudson’s needed medical equipment close by in our room and we can have fun in any time increments that he’s up to. Our room is definitely used and we approach the bigger stuff in a “divide and conquer” way. Something for all. Hudson always grows on our adventures. He comes back with a more confident stride in his step. He takes more bites of food. He tries new things. We may still have the routine of his needs to meet that can’t be missed, but he deserves to live and to be challenged. I won’t endorse this ship; many hits and misses for a family like mine. I look through different lenses than most and you’d likely go “coo coo for cocoa puffs” over this floating city. I really wish they’d hire a special needs parent when making final decisions. I am not saying that they need to make the entire ship ADA friendly, but more simple considerations would have made it better for all and wouldn’t negatively change the experience for anyone. The staff was amazing and very helpful and we made several new friends onboard, too. Oh, and the crepes! Unlimited crepes are always a great idea. This cruise was the most “divide and conquer” one we’ve taken. Our daughter, Henley, is only home for a couple more years; so, vacations like this and summer freedoms are winding down with her. The goal of “just right” was met; however, CJ and I didn’t really get to do a lot together. He instead surprised me with something I've never dreamed of, a rare diamond ring. As I walked through the jewelry store on the ship, I was instantly drawn to the yellow diamonds. I looked at all of the displays and kept eyeing the yellow ones. I assumed it was because of my love for Hudson and Down syndrome, in general. Both blue and yellow have become a regular part of my wardrobe; awareness to acceptance is the mission. “Let me try that one on, please”, I told the lady behind the counter. With this gorgeous bauble on my finger, she started sharing the reason it is so rare. Only 1 carat in 10,000 carats mined are this intense canary yellow diamond. Wait, what? That’s my Hudson. A beautiful diamond that is rare, and still a perfect diamond. Extra valuable. Extra unique. Creates extra happiness and joy. Different, but brilliant. “Diamonds need not explain how radiant they are, they just keep shining. Whoever shall admire their brilliance, will find their way to them.” ~Unknown So, CJ bought it for me. It was meant to be. If you think about a diamond, it’s a piece of coal that never gave up. Any person born with Down syndrome has been coal from the start. My favorite fact about Down syndrome is this: 20% of eggs with a 21st chromosome survives the first cell division. Of that 20%, only 20% survive to fertilization. Of that 20%, only 20% actually survive the first cell division following fertilization. These children are miracles who have fought to live every step of the way. And they each “shine bright like a diamond” and they are “EXTRA rare”.

Daughdrill McSweyn Cupit Wesson Garden Club has recognized three local for the landscaping and gardening.  Dr. Roy and Gerry Daughdrill (1012 West Street) have received Wesson Garden Club’s special summer award for their gardens that feature a variety of day lilies.  Allen and Celial McSweyn received WGC’s May Special Design award for landscaping at 1193 Highway 51, and the Club honored the yard work of Paxton and Hannah Cupit  at 1015 Lowery Road with its Rural Yard of the Month award. The WGC awards program recognizes maintenance principles and elements of landscape design practiced by town organizations and residents towards encouraging ongoing beautification and cleanliness of the Wesson area and cultivating a citizenry that values and protects natural resources and assumes responsibility for enhancing the environment. The Garden Club's Yard of the Month awards honor properties in organizational, town residential and rural residential (limited to Wesson School District) categories during the spring, summer and fall.

Special to Wesson News Four junior students at Brookhaven-based Mississippi School of the Arts (MSA) have secured designation for 2024 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Achievement Awards. They are Ava Buckley, Eydi Kitchens, Julia Landry and Kendra Quarterman. The NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing is a school-based writing program established in 1957 to encourage high school students to write and to recognize some of the best student writers in the nation. Only students who are juniors may participate. Schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, Canada, and American schools abroad are eligible to nominate students for the writing program. This year, schools nominated 633 students.  From the United States, students were nominated from 44 states, as well as Guam and Washington, D.C. Internationally, teachers nominated students from Canada, Greece, Jordan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Two to three independent judges evaluated each submission holistically on content, purpose, audience, tone, word choice, organization, development, and style. For more information about the NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing, including past winners, see http://www.ncte.org/awards/achievement-awards-in-writing. NCTE is the nation’s most comprehensive literacy organization, supporting more than 25,000 teachers across the preK–college spectrum. Through the expertise of its members, NCTE has led every major improvement in the teaching and learning of English and the and the language arts since 1911.

By: Bob Garver Watching “The Bikeriders,” the word “inauthentic” kept driving through my mind. For example, I wasn’t buying pretty-boy Austin Butler as a tough biker. There is a planet where Butler can come off as intimidating and that planet is called Arrakis. Here on Earth, he looks like a clean-cut actor making a calculated decision to take on a grungy role to make people notice his range, but it’s backfiring because it is so transparent. And it’s even worse for the actors that I regarded as tough guys going into this movie. Based on other performances they’ve turned in, Michael Shannon, Damon Herriman, and Boyd Holbrook all seem like good choices for a rough-and-tumble biker pic. But here they’re buried under so much bad makeup and unconvincing acting choices that it will actually be harder for me to take them seriously the next time they try to look dangerous in a good movie. The movie follows a Chicago biker gang called The Vandals from the mid-60’s to the early 70’s. The main character is actually Kathy (Jodie Comer), the wife of longstanding member Benny (Butler), who is relaying stories about the gang to a reporter (the ever-frail-looking Mike Faist, fortunately not cast as a biker). Comer is a British actress doing a Midwestern accent that I think impressed friends in acting workshops with how different it was from her natural voice. I have no doubt that the accent took effort and caused strain and discomfort and I hate to say it was all in vain, but I’m sorry, it just comes off like she’s seen “Fargo” too many times. Speaking of laughable accents, Tom Hardy is in this movie as Johnny, the gang’s leader. His Chicago accent wasn’t too distracting at first, and it even looked for a while like he might get out of this movie with some dignity intact. But then I remembered that this was the same voice he used for Al Capone in that awful direct-to-VOD biopic back in 2020 that I only reviewed because it was gaining notoriety for being terrible. I think he leans more heavily into the accent as the character gets older, either that or I was unconsciously very forgiving in his early scenes because by the end the accent is grating. There’s not much of a through-line to the narrative, just stories about the gang being tough. When some bar patrons injure Benny, Johnny and the gang burn down the bar and treat getting revenge on the perpetrators as an afterthought. Benny and Kathy struggle with his decision to stay in the gang, with Benny heavily implying that he’ll choose the gang over her if he she makes him choose. The movie goes out of its way to establish an aspiring gang member (Toby Wallace) as a character without ever really tying him to The Vandals, a surefire sign that his role here is to kill somebody important. I can’t say that I went into “The Bikeriders” as a fan of biker culture. I can say that after seeing the movie, I’m even less of a fan. The unintentional message of the movie is that bikers are either every bit the stereotypical lowlifes they’re made out to be, or they think they’re above the lowlife stereotype, except they’re not. Real-life bikers that aren’t lowlifes should be unhappy with this movie, both because it’s a negative depiction of their lifestyle and because the ones doing the depicting are bad at their jobs. Grade: D “The Bikeriders” is rated R for language throughout, violence, some drug use and brief sexuality. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

A Christian school’s relocation from Jackson to the Morrison Heights Mission Campus in Clinton opens new horizons, as Providence Christian Academy (formerly Kaleidoscope Heights) finds a more suitable space and fills a niche in the community’s education choices, school and church leaders say. The academy, accredited by the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, is one of the few Christian schools in the state that primarily serves children with special learning needs. The move folds the private nonprofit K-12 Christian academy into a family-oriented neighborhood setting — a vast improvement over its current office building surroundings, which offer little access to outdoor recreation, Head of School Becky DeWett said. The move also represents another key community mission for Morrison Heights Baptist Church, whose former campus in Clinton’s Easthaven subdivision is now the meeting base for three churches, and home to a day care facility and a food pantry. “We see it as a mission opportunity to our community, and also to the school,” said Morrison Heights Associate Pastor of Missions Tim Rowan. The school will partner with the Hispanic church, Iglecia HIspana de Clinton, in one building’s use, and occupy other areas exclusively. “I think it’s going to be transformational,” academy teacher Tabatha Tucker said of the move. She praised the uplifting, supportive environment the school provides for students, including her own son and daughter. “It opens up a way for every student to get an education they deserve, in a Christian environment that helps encourage them, and strengthens their faith.” The academy was founded as Kaleidoscope Heights three years ago, in the wake of the state welfare scandal that embroiled New Summit School owners and led to their school’s closure. Kaleidoscope Heights formed to fill the educational void for children with learning disabilities. The newly named Providence Christian Academy continues to serve a diverse range of students with specialized learning needs — children with dyslexia or anxiety and those on the autism spectrum, for instance — who can benefit from the school’s smaller class sizes and more individualized instruction. Its Christian founding principles emphasize the full embrace of its mission. “We are all created in the image of God and God does not make mistakes,” said DeWett, a Clinton native who served as a missionary based in Ukraine for nearly 30 years and returned home when war broke out. She has been with the school for two of its three years in existence. “We try to help our students understand that they may have a difficulty to overcome, but they’re still image bearers of Christ. … We don’t just teach the minds. We teach the hearts, the minds and the souls. We believe in the well-rounded student, in every aspect.” The school’s name change honors the providence of God. “We’re guided by divine care, prudent preparation, community belonging,” DeWett said, echoing the school’s purpose as a place “where faith meets wisdom.” Providing options to meet individual learning needs, along with opportunities to earn a degree or complete a track toward possible employment, is a real ministry to families searching for the appropriate education for their children, Rowan said. “And, it’s a great opportunity to get to know these families and invite them into our church, to be able to meet other needs that they may have as well.” The new location’s more affordable rent offers another bright outlook. “We’re going to be able to invest in some more state-of-the-art training and state-of-the-art equipment — things that our kids are going to need in the long run.” DeWett said. The academy has 54 students and 15 staff members now, with the goal for a student body of 65 next fall. “In time, maybe next year, we’ll have more space and can expand more,” DeWett said. Class sizes never exceed 12 students. “We adapt and make allowances for different students. We meet them where they are, and take them beyond.” The school will begin its move to Clinton as early as late May, and start classes there in mid-August. Fall enrollment is now open. The 7th through 12th grades classes are near capacity with limited openings, with greater availability in the elementary levels, DeWett said. Call 769-233-8813 or email providenceacademyclinton@gmail.com for more information. The school welcomes partnerships, sponsorships and donations from local businesses, particularly for scholarships. “We have many students that are far below the poverty line, that struggle to pay our tuition, which is not exorbitant,” DeWett said. “We have parents that have three and four jobs, because they believe that their child needs to be here. We would love to look at them and say, ‘Look, we’ve covered half of your tuition, give up two of those jobs and be with your child.’ … We want to minister to the family, and the child. “The Clinton community needs to know that we’re there and we’re ready to help families and students to prosper.”

By Guest Columnist Eddie Smith Daylilies are one of my favorite plants. I have more than 200 daylilies growing in my gardens, and I continue to plant more each year. The only thing I don’t like about daylilies is that each individual flower lasts only for a day -- hence the name “daylily.” But the fact that the plants produce multiple blooms over several weeks provides an extended period of color. Originally, daylilies came in just yellow, orange and red. However, today’s cultivars boast a breathtaking array of colors, including near-whites, pastels, vibrant yellows, oranges, pinks, vivid reds, deep crimsons, purples, nearly true blues and intricate blends. Daylilies are hardy and easy to care for. They prefer full sun to partial shade and can thrive in a variety of soil types, although well-drained soil is ideal. They work well in perennial borders, mixed flower beds and as a ground cover on slopes. Daylilies are drought-tolerant once established. A couple of weeks ago, I visited Rolling Oaks Daylilies in Picayune where I admired hundreds of beautiful selections in full bloom across the property. I must admit the number of blooming daylilies was overwhelming, and the beautiful blooms came in so many colors, shapes and sizes. Owner Kay Cline showed me some of her favorites growing in the gardens. Hydra, an unusually formed, vibrant yellow-green double daylily had impressive, 8.5-inch blooms adorned with teeth-like edges. This variety is relatively tall, often reaching 32-48 inches. Foliage consists of long, arching, grass-like leaves that form a dense clump. Another of her favorites was Cross Bones, which featured delicate ruffled edges in a striking orchid-purple hue with a yellow-green throat. The color patterns were breathtaking, making it a true eye-catcher in the garden. The 7-inch flowers of Cross Bones were held high above the foliage on sturdy stems reaching 32 inches tall, making them quite prominent in the garden. This daylily produces 26-30 buds and is known for its extended blooming period. Daylilies with ruffled and toothed petals have always been among my top picks. Buddy’s Kayla is a prime example that stood out as a rockstar. Its black-purple blooms with green throats and white-toothed edges were mesmerizing. It’s important to note that daylilies do not grow from bulbs but from bare roots. These roots store essential nutrients and energy, enabling the plants to endure harsh conditions and regrow each year. For optimal growth, plant daylilies in full sun in moist but well-drained soil. In hot climates, dark-colored cultivars benefit from afternoon shade to maintain their vibrant colors. When planted in the right conditions, daylilies can bloom year after year with minimal care. Their resilience and stunning beauty make them delightful additions to gardens. I hope daylilies become one of your favorite plants, too. EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Eddie Smith is a gardening specialist and Pearl River County coordinator with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.  He is also host of the popular Southern Gardening television program.  Locate Southern Gardening products online at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/southern-gardening.]

Losing is not for the faint-hearted. It takes its toll on your mind, your emotions, and your body, no doubt about it. It literally takes a champion at heart to lose, because you have to have a lot of courage to face the battering of your self-esteem. And your finances. And your heart. If you’re currently in the middle of losing, or have ever been the loser, I have a few things to say to you. First of all, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger on a dead horse in the desert. You are not the only one stranded in that hot dry sand right now, and there are millions who have already stood where you stand. And millions more who will. The stark fact is that we all face loss at one time or another. You probably won’t appreciate this next statement, if you are in the middle of your loss right now. But here it is. Your loss is not the most important fact, no matter how lousy it is making you feel about your life. What is a more important fact that you know? You will survive! And you will actually gain from that loss! Because it will teach you that you have courage, the gravel in your gut, to take such a knockout blow and still be alive in spite of it all. Realizing that you are courageous and a survivor is vital. Life doesn’t play fair, and for you to know that “I survived disaster once, so I know I can do it again,” is a self-knowledge that will serve you well the next time Life decides to try to kick in your teeth. You will hurt, yes, but you will also know that pain doesn’t have to kill you. Eventually you will be able to pick yourself up, and start over. The word that describes that, folks? Courage. And that very same courage that it takes to fail and begin again is part of our DNA as American citizens. Untold losses and failures happened in the lives of our courageous fore-fathers who built this country, one pain-filled step at a time. They survived, and so can we. They eventually thrived and built a great nation. And so can we. If we stay true to what our forefathers taught us - to just keep working, trusting, and surviving the pain of loss. And that leads to the last thing. Remember, the Creator is on your side. But He has a plan for your life, and it includes winning and also losing at times. Winning feels great, but losing builds courage and character. That’s undoubtedly why He planned each life with wins and losses built into it. He never wants us to stay like toddlers, who don’t have the ability to mature and withstand heartache. Our Creator wants us to grow strong and courageous. Scary stuff, so develop the courage to lose.

By Guest Cooking Columnist Charles Fortson, Jr Dry beans -- baby limas or black eye peas -- are an American staple food.  Coooked right, they make great side dishes, particularly with fried pork loin or chops.  They also can be meals in themselves.  Uncle Ray’s recipe turns any kind of dry beans into the perfect dish. Ingredients: 2 lbs. of your favorite dry beans 2 medium-size onions chopped 1 tsp. of salt ½ tsp. of pepper ½ tsp. of basil 1 tsp. of rosemary 1 lb. of your favorite smoked sausage 2 pieces of smoked turkey neck or your favorite smoked meat or ½ tsp. of liquid smoke 2 tbsp. of chopped garlic Directions: 1.       Fill eight-quart pot with hot water half way. 2.       Place beans in the pot, making sure they are covered by the hot water, and soak them for three hours. 3.       Combine smoked meat, salt, pepper, basil, rosemary, garlic and onions with beans. 4.       With lid on cooking pot, bring the beans-meat-seasoning mix to a boil. 5.       Cook for three hours on reduced heat, stirring regularly.  Make sure water covers beans at all times, adding more as needed. 6.       After two hours, taste test and add salt and pepper as needed. EDITOR’S NOTE:  Charles Fortson, Jr., is proprietor-chef at Uncle Ray’s across from Lake Lincoln State Park.  He makes lunches and dinners to take out or for table service, while also operating a convenience store and bait shop at his Sunset Road location.  Follow his cooking tips on Uncle Ray’s Facebook page or call 601-643-0174 to check on his daily specials.