By Kara Kimbrough I've always loved the Mississippi Gulf Coast for its unending natural beauty stretching as far as the eye can see…among hundreds of other attributes, of course. But there's a feature remains one of the primary reasons I visit as often as possible. It’s the fact that just when I think I’ve seen and explored everything, something different and amazing appears that proves to be a fitting addition to my "favorites list." A recent trip yielded three new finds I’m happy to pass on. First, checking into the stately white-pillared Hotel Pass Christian shaded by leafy oaks feels like stepping into a bygone era, albeit one with modern amenities. When it comes to location, it’s hard to beat a view of the Pass Christian beach, which I’ve always considered one of the most scenic. The picturesque hotel has the good fortune of being situated within walking distance to the beach, restaurants and shops. A lazy bicycle ride to the coffee shop in the morning is also doable; now that it occurs to me, I’m sad I didn’t think of it during my visit. Besides it’s location, Hotel Pass Christian has much more to offer. The spacious 10-bedroom boutique hotel is quiet, private and here’s one of the best parts: features open-air balconies equipped with ceiling fans and comfortable seating when decompression time is needed. Despite forgetting the bike ride, enjoyed both morning and evening quiet time on the balcony enveloped by cool water breezes as the sun rose and later set on the horizon. I didn’t quite make the sunrise, but an early morning coffee on the balcony provided an equally memorable experience. A self check-in suite on the third room afforded optimal views and included a spacious, well-appointed living room (also with a balcony) included a modern wet bar area complete with a refrigerator. A comfortable bedroom leading out to the balcony provided everything needed for a soothing night’s sleep. The adjoining bath offered a walk-in shower, separate tub and vanity area and quickly eradicated past negative hotel experiences involving tiny, cramped spaces. Besides the view, ambience, convenience, location, cleanliness and comfort served up by this unique destination, one of the most surprising aspects of my stay was peace and quiet and for lack of a better description, “hustle and bustle” found at even the most elite full-service hotels. To say that a stay at this hotel is laidback and relaxing is almost under a dire understatement. There’s no crowd, no rushing to and from and despite its close proximity to a busy restaurant and nearby highway, there is simply no noise to speak of. In fact, the quiet was almost deafening as I drifted off to sleep in the large, comfortable guest bed. If spa services are desired, an on-site area offering a variety of treatments can be reserved prior to your stay. While it resembled the photos I’d seen, Hotel Pass Christian surpassed my expectations and, here’s the best part, turned out to be one of those “things I never knew about but now love” about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Two more places deserve a mention on the list. Although they’re located in the same building in Waveland, they’re distinct and wonderful in their own way. Located in Waveland, Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is housed in a historic building that formerly served as a school and civic center. Like my old high school built in a bygone era, the beautiful brick building contains castle-like features, including distinct merions along the top. Sadly, the sturdy brick structure was the only building left standing on Waveland’s primary street after Hurricane Katrina decimated the town in 2005. In honor of its historical significance and the resilience of both residents and the building, the structure was restored to its original beauty and today serves as a memorial of the disaster that changed the Gulf Coast forever. The small museum located throughout the old school halls and classrooms features permanent and temporary exhibitions with interactive displays and most interesting to me, a diverse collection of memorabilia from the entire Gulf Coast, including framed artifacts, newspapers and photos. After exploring the museum, stop by the in-house bakery and small restaurant for a delicious meal topped by highly-acclaimed desserts and pastries. Sugar Pop Baking Co. and its owner Renee Loranger gained national recognition after she won Food Network’s Halloween Baking Competition. Open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sugar Pop offers a limited, rotating food and beverage menu that usually includes two lunch specials with options like a smash burger and gourmet sandwiches. The day my friends and I visited, we were lucky enough to find the gigantic smashburger on the lunch menu. Despite the name, this juicy, flavorful burger made with a homemade Brioche bun, special burger sauce and a variety of chopped vegetables was anything but “smashed.” In fact, it was so gargantuan we ended up using a knife and fork…again, a new Coast experience! After lunch, a stop by the bakery cases yielded delicious and creative cakes, cupcakes, pastries and other delicacies that can be enjoyed in the cozy dining area or boxed up for the trip home. Speaking of pastries, I’ve written about my regret for not trying the funnel cakes at Silver Slipper’s Jubilee Buffet located nearby in Bay St. Louis. I can now say I’ve sampled them and they’re much more delicious than anything I remember eating as a child at the State Fair. If you haven’t visited the Gulf Coast recently, this summer is the perfect time to go. If it includes one or all of the experiences I enjoyed, you’ll easily a memorable trip. Feel free to email me if you’d like more information on any of them, including the fabulous Hotel Pass Christian. If You Go: Hotel Pass Christian 116 W. Scenic Drive, Pass Christian, MS 39571 Phone: 228-222-2062 For reservations: www.hotelpasschristian.com Ground Zero Hurricane Museum and Sugar Pop Baking Co. 335 Coleman Ave., Waveland, MS 39576 For information or hours of operation: Museum: 228-467-9012 www.wavelandgroundzero.com Sugar Pop: 228-467-9990 www.sugarpopbakingco.com Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco.com. Sugar Pop Baking Co. serves up delicious lunches and pastries in an historic setting. (Photos courtesy of Sugar Pop Baking Co.)

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) encourages firework safety this Independence Day. The SFMO performs pyrotechnic inspections for shows that are performed on state owned properties. Pyrotechnics companies must apply for a permit for shows.  Once received, the SFMO verifies all information pertaining to insurance, technicians, and local public safety information. Deputies must be on site for the firing of the display and clean up. “It’s up to you to implement your own safety standards when shooting fireworks at home,” said State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. “That means using common sense, never pointing fireworks at another person, and disposing of fireworks in water to prevent fire.” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 9,700 people were treated for firework injuries at ERs in 2023. There were eight deaths. There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. To avoid injury, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal suggests you follow these safety tips: •        Observe local laws. o   Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. o   Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. •        Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. •        Never point or throw fireworks at another person. •        Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. •        Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. •        Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. •        Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. •        Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. •        Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. •        Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. •        Never give fireworks to small children. •        Never carry fireworks in your pocket. •        Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

Special to Wesson News Ben McKenzie, 17 year-old member of Wesson Boy Scout Troop 125 and resident of Brookhaven, has earned the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) highest advancement award -- the Eagle Scout Award. McKenzie is one of only approximately four percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle rank. Eagle candidates must earn 21 merit badges and successfully complete a community, church, or school service project.  In his service project, McKenzie partnered with BillionGraves.com to photograph, GPS locate, and catalog to a national database all the graves in the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Wesson. When he was seven years old, McKenzie joined Wesson Cub Scout Pack 125 and later earned its highest award -- Arrow of Light. In 2017, he crossed over to Wesson Boy Scout Troop 125 and started the journey to Eagle. In 2019, he was elected by his peers to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Society. McKenzie currently serves as Chaplain Aide and Senior Patrol Leader for the Wesson Troop.  He is a dedicated member of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Wesson and is active in First Priority, FCA, band, soccer, and tennis at Wesson Attendance Center, where he is also Junior Class President. He is the son of Wayne and Heather McKenzie of Brookhaven. The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations.  The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and develops personal fitness. For more than a century, the BSA has helped build future U.S. leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong  values with fun. The Boy Scouts of America believes, and through over a century of experience, knows that helping youth is a key to building a more conscientious, responsible and productive society.

By Bob Arnold After a more than five-decades career encompassing engineering at radio and television stations, service management for a communication technology company, owning and operating his own businesses and an avocation as a musician, you would think Chuck Wallace might be ready for retirement.  But the 21-year Bogue Chitto resident, now in his 70s, says “I plan to keep on running as long as I am healthy, just like my father who lived to be 100.” Wallace grew up in Baton Rouge, where his father was a chemist at Exxon, played horns in bands beginning in junior high school and competed in high school swimming events. After graduating from Baton Rouge High School in 1968, he went to Louisiana State University (LSU) on a band scholarship but left his music studies when he discovered a new love as a broadcast engineer at a small radio station.  In 1969, he started an eight-year stint in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving six months on active duty before heading to Southern Mississippi University at Hattiesburg to study Radio, Television and Film. As a licensed broadcast engineer, Wallace worked at WDAM-TV at Hattiesburg from 1973 to 1978 and moved on to Motorola Communications at Jackson from 1979-1981 as a service manager focused on the company’s two-way radio systems used by emergency responders, but by the mid 1980s knew he wanted to work for himself. “I wanted to be my own boss, run my own business and not work for someone,” Wallace recalls.  He started the first of what would be a number of entrepreneurial businesses over more than 40 years -- a company that restored damaged properties. A few years later, Wallace started acquiring Service Master franchises throughout Mississippi and Louisiana that restored properties damaged by water or fire. Following the acquisition of a Service Master franchise at Brookhaven in 2003, he resettled in Bogue Chitto where he had inherited a non-working farm and, with his wife Susan, whom he married in 1977, has lived for 21 years and raised three sons -- Charley, a 43 year-old Hattiesburg entrepreneur; Andrew, a 40 year old Santa Rosa, California, businessman; and Patrick, a 36-year old Madison, Mississippi, roofer. In subsequent years, Wallace acquired or started businesses that complemented his Service Master work -- a company that swept up debris on damaged property and another that replaced damaged flooring. Wallace describes his entrepreneurial focus as “looking for opportunities to help people freshen up their properties in an affordable manner.” In 2020, he started American Stripes that seal coats old asphalt surfaces -- driveways, parking lots, walkways, etc. -- with liquid tar and affixes stripes to the surfaces to delineate spaces for parking and other uses or for design purposes.  Over the years, he had seen the technology employed in commercial and residential applications and was impressed by it. Today, Wallace operates American Stripes and his wife and lady friends continue to maintain the work of the Service Master franchises. Wallace’s businesses have taken him a long way from his passion for music and playing horns, but that remain a serious avocation. He plays the trombone with Ransakk, a McComb-based eight-piece classic rock band that can often be found at the Brookhaven Moose Lodge, restaurants at Natchez and Jackson, private parties and festivals. If his gigs with a rock band are a bit unconventional for someone his age, he also specializes in providing ceremonial military amenities for veterans funerals that branches of the armed services can no longer adequately supply because of personnel shortages.  Wallace will show up in a uniform, help fold the flag with the funeral home director to present to relatives of a deceased veteran and play “Taps” on his trumpet. He decided to fill the void eight years ago after learning that the military services could not send personnel to do the job -- either they weren’t available or adequately trained.  “Since then, I’ve participated in more than 300 funeral services for veterans,” Wallace recounts.  “The work became critically important during the COVID 19 pandemic, when the military could not provide anyone for the task. I wear a real uniform of the Mississippi State Guard because former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant commissioned me a First Lieutenant in the State Guard for the special purpose of serving at veterans funerals.”  Wallace draws on his experience as a 12 year old Troop Bugler in the Boy Scouts in which he had also earned the Eagle rank. What are your hobbies? I used to hunt, fish and play golf -- expensive hobbies on which I am saving money in focusing on my music with my a trombone in a rock band and playing ta “Taps” at veterans funerals. Do you have a special interest in music outside your hobbies? Classic rock is my musical genre, and my favorite band, popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but still going strong, is Chicago with its horn section. How about movies or theater? I like the classic movies with the unforgettable lines that I love to quote in my everyday conversations with people.  My favorite movies are Forest Gump and Dirty Harry, and my favorite actor is Clint Eastwood. Are you a reader? I don’t do much reading beyond technical brochures.  I married a reading teacher.  So I leave literature to my wife. What would you do with the winnings if you won the lottery? I would buy lunches for new friends and customers. How would you change the world? Smile, and encourage others to do the same in line with the musical advice offered by Chicago in “Make Me Smile.”

Scarlett Hart will become new Director of Communications and Special Assistant to the President effective July 1, 2024. Hart has been employed at the college since 2016 where she has served as Assistant Director of Public Relations and Marketing and Special Assistant to the President. “Mrs. Scarlett Hart has been an invaluable member of our team for the past 8 years, consistently demonstrating exceptional communication skills, leadership qualities, and has a keen understanding of the vision of the college,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. “She exemplifies dedication and professionalism and her innovative approach to communications will help strengthen the communications department. Additionally, she will continue to assist me with executive level tasks while maintaining strong relationships with our partners in the communities we serve. We are looking forward to her continued success and the positive impact she will have on our college in her new role.” As Director of Communications, Hart will oversee all areas of college communications including public relations, sports information, and marketing affairs for the college’s three campuses and serve as the official spokesperson for the college in public relations matters. She will manage all media relations, press writing, college social media, photography, videography, advertising, college publications, and serve as webmaster of the official college website and Trillium Yearbook advisor. As Special Assistant to the President, Hart will continue to work directly with the President concerning legislative affairs and legislative priorities, special projects, event planning, and cultivating internal and external relationships to move the college’s initiatives forward. Hart earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree in community development from Delta State University.  She is a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy and the Leadership Co-Lin program. She is a member of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) where her marketing campaigns and photography have earned numerous awards, including the Grand Award for Digital Media Campaigns. Hart was named Co-Lin’s Outstanding Staff Member of the Year in 2022. She and her husband Matthew have three daughters, Nora, 5, and three-year old twins Mamie Frances and Myla Wren. They are members of First Baptist Church of Brookhaven.

By Bob Garver Back in 2015, Disney and Pixar introduced us to 11-year-old Riley and the squabbling emotions inside her prepubescent head. To make a long story short, Joy (Amy Poehler) tried to retain dominance over the girl, but Sadness (Phyllis Smith) kept creeping her way in. The struggle led to both emotions getting kicked out of Riley’s conscience. Following an adventure through the girl’s psyche, both emotions made their way back and Joy realized that she had to share Riley with other emotions, even unpleasant ones, in order for her to get the most out of life. In this new movie, Riley’s five core emotions want to retain dominance over the girl, but new emotions creep their way in. This leads to a struggle where the old emotions get kicked out of Riley’s conscience. They’ll have to go on an adventure through the girl’s psyche to make their way back and hopefully obliterate the new emotions. Or maybe they’ll learn to share and the message will be exactly the same as in the first movie. For the record, I wasn’t a big fan of the first movie. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was okay, and it kept the streak of at-least-passable Pixar alive until “Lightyear” two years ago. But setting up this elaborate world of personified emotions led to countless questions that the movie wasn’t prepared to answer, and without answering those questions, it didn’t make sense. Sometimes the nonsense played to its advantage, like a deus ex machina toward the end involving stackable crushes. Other times it hurt the movie, like leaving me wondering if these characters even had lives that were at stake, and what might happen to Riley if those lives were lost. The new movie raises more new questions than it answers, but this time I’m a little more comfortable knowing that the movie is prepared to answer some questions and not others. For the new movie, Riley (Kensington Tallman) is going to hockey camp with her best friends Grace (Grace Lu) and Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green). Joy is looking forward to guiding her, along with core emotions Sadness, Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Liza Lapira), and Fear (Tony Hale). But Riley hits puberty the night before the camp, ushering in new emotions Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos). Anxiety proves useful in a few social situations, but clashes with Joy when the latter wants Riley to stay loyal to her old friends, as opposed to endearing herself to the more popular Val (Lilimar). The new emotions banish the old emotions to the back of Riley’s mind until she can be completely reworked. My problem with the movie, other than that the story progression is pretty much the same as the first movie, is once again at the literal level. I can understand a kid with conflicting emotions, but what happens when a kid is missing five of them, as is the case here? If Riley is being controlled by the four new emotions, what’s making her competent at hockey? And why do the filmmakers think that Anxiety doesn’t manifest until puberty? What are young kids famous for saying on car trips? “Arewethereyet? Arewethereyet?” That’s Anxiety, guys. Of course, just as the “Inside Out” movies teach audiences to take the bad with the good, I must remember to take the good with the bad. And there is a lot of good here. The animation is as colorful and delightful as ever, the emotional moments had me feeling for the characters, and the humor consistently hits. My favorite gags involve cartoon characters stuck in the back of Riley’s mind. Video game character Lance (Yong Yea) is another helpful crush of Riley’s, Pouchy (James Austin Johnson) is a little too happy to provide explosives, and Bloofy (Ron Funches) is a fourth-wall breaker with no fourth wall to break (you can practically hear the Disney writers saying, “Take that, Nickelodeon!”). These characters, more than the emotions, were the highlight of this passable Pixar affair. Grade: B- “Inside Out 2” is rated PG for some thematic elements. Its running time is 96 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The city of Hazlehurst and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi will receive a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile to install a new playground with accessible, state-of-the-art equipment in the heart of the city, providing a safe and fun place for children. T-Mobile's Hometown Grants Give Back to 300 Communities Across 47 States - T-Mobile Newsroom "We are honored T-Mobile has selected our project of installing a new playground for funding.  These funds will assist us in securing state-of-the art playground equipment and doing the groundwork necessary for the playground.  We deeply appreciate T-Mobile's efforts to impact and revitalize small communities such as Hazlehurst and we look forward to delivering results worthy of the award." ~Carol Burger, Board Chair, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi (MS) “The Hazlehurst Area Chamber of Commerce is so pleased that T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant Program has selected our community and the Boys and Girls Club Hazlehurst Unit as the recipient of this $50,000 grant that will provide much needed funding for a new playground!! A playground is the foundation of imagination and necessary for childhood social and educational development. These children will benefit so much from this generous grant!” ~Lisa Purser, Executive Director, Hazlehurst Area Chamber of Commerce (MS) “The City of Hazlehurst is very pleased that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi’s Hazlehurst Unit has been chosen to receive the $50,000 grant from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant Program. This investment in our community will reap benefits for families for generations to come. We look forward to seeing all the positive results of this project.” ~Kenneth Ramsey, Mayor, City of Hazlehurst (MS) The Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi will hold a special project reveal and check presentation on Tuesday, July 2 at 10 AM at 132 West Green Street in Hazlehurst. Hazlehurst is one of two Mississippi towns awarded T-Mobile Hometown Grants today. Greenville, MS received a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant for their own local restoration projects. Since the Hometown Grant program launched in 2021, nine cities and towns in Mississippi, including, Corinth, Hattiesburg, Laurel, McComb and Oxford have received grants totaling nearly $500,000. Hometown Grants is T-Mobile's way of giving people who live in small towns and rural communities a chance to transform the places they call home. Through community development initiatives across infrastructure, education, technology, environment and more, T-Mobile aims to create a stronger and more resilient future for communities nationwide.

Thirty-four Wesson Attendance Center seniors met State of Mississippi and Copiah County School District requirements for 2023-2024 high school graduation from Wesson Attendance Center (WAC).  WAC graduates are: Bryan Burnell Castro-Alonso Landan Neal Beasley Melissa Marie Bradford Alyssia Rosalee Bramel Logan David Branch Alicia Renee Carson Kaleb Jermaine Chase Jr Louis Robert Daugherty Linda Grace Dunn Isabella Dawn Fuller Connor Ian Hamilton C’ryah Diana Haynes Alexius Haiden Holder Joseph Triton Howington Abbygail Kathryn Huggins Quentin Hood Jackson Madison Leeann Kirton Me’leyjah Charlique Lyons Jayla Lashay Martin Mackenzie Grace Martin Tarayvia Debray Miller Matthew Gaven Mitchell Maedyn Rylee Ross Preston Morris Selman Sawyer Guage Shoop Breanna Jena’e Smith Brenda Nicole Smith Da’Marcus Kyshun Smith Kimora Tiara Smith Paul Weslie Smith Zevante Jequan Stapleton Bailey Ray Walker Christopher Michael Watson Stevie Rayne Westrope

By: Courtney Ingle, Magnolia Tribune If there’s a better meal than a plate of fried catfish with turnip greens, slaw, and hushpuppies, then Mississippi folks haven’t gotten the memo yet. There is just something so special, so warm, so Mississippi about heading down to the fish house for deliciously breaded and fried catfish, either fileted or whole, with all the fixins’. A fish house, historically, is a business located on the water’s edge to process and sell the fishermen’s catches. But in Mississippi, “the fish house” is a Mecca, where loyal followers of Mississippi farm-raised catfish make their weekly pilgrimage for the Thursday night all-you-can-eat fried catfish special. And for many, that pilgrimage takes them to the award-winning Shivers Creek Fish House. Shivers Creek Fish House got its start at the Simpson County location. “We’ve got a Pinola address, but we’re in the Shivers community,” said Shivers Creek owner Dustin Malley. “That’s our original location, and we’re also on Highway 27 in Crystal Springs.” Folks who visit the Crystal Springs location know the building well. For years, it was the home of Sudie’s Fish House. There’s also the Shivers Creek Express location in Star with the ability to cater statewide. People who are dedicated Shivers Creek fans keep coming back for more of their favorites. “I’m pretty picky about catfish, and I’ve never had it taste too muddy or fishy from there. The filets are always thin and crispy,” said Dana Shivers (no relation; the restaurant is named after the community). When asked about her favorite, Brenda McAlpin of McLaurin said, “Definitely (their) turnip greens and the catfish is good, too.” Mississippi food made the Mississippi Way Malley said that Shivers Creek Fish House uses as many Mississippi-based products as possible. “We have Mississippi Farm-Raised catfish, which is never frozen,” said Malley. “And we use Mississippi Gulf Coast seafood as well. We get our oysters delivered on Wednesday and served on Thursday. We serve as fresh as possible.” Malley said what sets his food apart is the care they take to make the best food possible. “We make everything from scratch. All of our sauces are made from scratch. Our potatoes are fresh potatoes, hand cut. There’s nothing left that’s frozen on the menu,” said Malley.“ Everything is made from scratch and freshly made in-house with quality ingredients.” Shivers Creek Fish House has amassed an impressive collection of awards for its catfish and seafood, garnering attention from all over the state. They’ve won Mississippi Magazine’s Best of Mississippi Best Catfish for the past three years,  and in 2021, Shivers Creek Fish House won WLBT’s Catfish Clash. Shivers Creek Fish House is a recognized spot on the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish 100% American Catfish Trail and the Mississippi Seafood Trail.They’ve even hit the Mississippi Magazine “M List” for Top Five Most Kid-Friendly Restuarant in Mississippi. “That one was special because it’s not like we do anything really unique,” said Malley. “We just address the kids like we’d address the adults and treat everyone with hospitality.” The hospitality is as prized as the Mississippi farm-raised catfish. When you’re sitting down for dinner at one of Shivers Creek’s locations, you’re sitting in an environment that feels like you’re being served dinner with your family. Hospitality and high quality keep people coming back for more each and every time the doors open. Giving the community more than catfish Though Shivers Creek Fish House is known for its hospitality and exceptional dishes, the restaurant is building a budding reputation as a major benefactor in the state. A quick scroll through the restaurant’s Facebook page doesn’t just feature pictures of the food, but of the dozens of community outreach and benefits Shivers Creek has participated in. Malley, who also serves as a volunteer firefighter in Star, said he’s constantly looking for ways to give back to the community, such as a recent fundraiser for the Star Volunteer Fire Department. “We’ve also done benefits for people in the community, and we’ve participated in fundraisers, like for Camp Kamassa,” said Malley. Camp Kamassa is a camp for children and adults with special needs being built in Crystal Springs. According to the website, It will be operational in the summer of 2025. Malley said that he tries to source locally made products with a cause to benefit those small business owners. The restaurant owner added that buying these local products gives the fish house a sense of pride and excellence. “We have great products in the community, like the coffee from Clockwork Coffee Company (a local coffee roaster in Pinola),” said Malley. “ We could get any regular coffee from U. S. Foods or Cisco, and we might get it half the price, but it’s not as good. We don’t know where it came from. We don’t know where that money’s going. We don’t know how they made it, but nobody’s proud of the product. There’s not a brand to stand behind it. These local business owners make great products, and they are proud of them and stand behind them.” Shivers Creek Fish House carries bags of coffee and brews them for order within the restaurant. By supporting Clockwork Coffee Company, Malley is supporting the roaster’s cause. The Doyals originally started their business to help fund therapy for their son with autism. The fish house is also a supporter of Extra Table, a partnership of programs, restaurants, businesses, and charities that was started by Robert St. John in 2009 to stock local food pantries with healthy, shelf-stable foods. When you’re piling your plate high with Shivers Creek catfish, you’re eating catfish for a cause. The cause cancels calories, does it not? For award-winning catfish with high-quality, Mississippi-based products and a level of friendliness that gave The Hospitality State her name, visit Shivers Creek Fish House at the Pinola, Crystal Springs, or Express location. Find out more at ShiversCreek.com.

Don’t kid yourself. You ain’t ever gonna be that strong, that good, or that important! To anyone in your world. No matter how hard you try, or how great you believe that you are. In fact, that attitude can cause you to wear yourself out trying to be the Grand Man In The Cape. And at the same, you just might be coming across as the pompous know-it-all who- thinks-he-can-do-it-all to those around you. Superheroes are just….not. Sure, in the comic strips they can have it all, be it all, while they are doing it all. But I’m pretty sure none of you have ever seen a comic book that was based on your own fantastic looks, your unbelievable strength, and your x-ray repelling body. To say nothing of your genius mind, your amazing capacity for empathy, and your problem-solving abilities. Face it. It’s not worth it. Stop trying to be everything to everyone, in every situation. Take a step back for a while to figure out who you really are. What skills and talents you possess. What areas of life truly interest you. Then break away from the stuff that feels like prison to you. Work? You can change career-direction. Sure, it may mean more education thru night classes, and even a step sideways in finances. But totally worth it. Committee memberships? Bow out gracefully and quickly. Too many church duties? No sane pastor alive would refuse to understand when you explain your predicament. Social obligations? Don’t even get it a second thought of regret when you apologetically remove yourself from the calendar. As I am writing this, the only things that I can think that should hold you with absolutely unbending bands of commitments are your family and your Creator. My point is this. Find you. Then start a rework, tailored to who you really are and what you want to do. Don’t be the person who wakes up one morning and realizes that according to average life span records, you are about ten years from not being around. And what you’ve actually wanted from life is still a tiny speck in the distance. Sure, you did a lot of good stuff. Praiseworthy stuff. Superman stuff. But was it really what God put you here on earth to do? Or were you simply doing what you felt needed to be done? Like I used to tell frustrated and hurting counselees when I was licensed to work in that capacity. “If you keep doing ‘so-n-so,’ simply because it needs to be done, then no one else has to step up and do it. Yes, you’re doing it, and probably doing it very well. But if that is not your calling, just a responsibility you have taken upon yourself, then you may be standing in the way of someone else who needs that work.” Don’t wait too long, Superman or Superwoman. There will come a time when it’s too late.

Mississippi, known as the birthplace of blues music, has produced a remarkable array of talented and influential musicians. From soulful crooners to powerful gospel singers, the Magnolia State has been home to some of the most iconic voices in American music history.  From the gritty, raw emotion of the blues to the uplifting melodies of gospel music, they have captured the hearts of audiences around the world: Lance Bass, born in Laurel, Mississippi, is renowned as one-fifth of the iconic boy band NSYNC, which dominated the late 90s and early 2000s music scene. His silky smooth voice, boyish charm, and charismatic stage presence propelled NSYNC to global stardom, earning them legions of devoted fans worldwide. Bass, with his distinct vocal range and infectious energy, contributed significantly to the group’s chart-topping hits such as “Bye Bye Bye” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.” Charlie Pride, hailing from Sledge, Mississippi, stands tall as one of the most revered and groundbreaking figures in country music history. Pride’s rich baritone voice and heartfelt delivery captivated audiences worldwide, churning out hits like “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” and “Mountain of Love,” earning him numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and inductions into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sam Cooke, a towering figure in the realm of soul music, remains an eternal icon among Mississippi’s most celebrated vocalists. Born in Clarksdale in 1931, Cooke’s velvety voice and profound songwriting prowess carved an indelible mark on the music industry, fusing gospel with rhythm and blues.  His breakout single “You Send Me” catapulted him to stardom in 1957, marking the beginning of a meteoric rise, with an array of timeless hits, including “Cupid,” “Chain Gang,” and the civil rights anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Cooke’s life was cut short in 1964, but his impact endures and continues to resonate across the globe. Conway Twitty, a legendary figure in country music, emerges as one of Mississippi’s most cherished and influential singers. Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Friars Point in 1933, Twitty’s journey from Mississippi cotton fields to Nashville stardom is a quintessential American success story. With his distinctive baritone voice and heartfelt lyrics, he captivated with hits like “Hello Darlin’,” “It’s Only Make Believe,” and “Tight Fittin’ Jeans.” His unparalleled ability to convey raw emotion through song made him a beloved figure among fans worldwide.  Although Twitty passed away in 1993, his legacy endures through his timeless music. Bobbie Gentry stands as one of Mississippi’s most enigmatic and captivating musical talents, renowned for her soulful voice, evocative storytelling, and pioneering blend of country, pop, and folk music. Born Roberta Lee Streeter in Chickasaw County in 1944, Gentry burst onto the music scene in 1967 with her iconic smash hit “Ode to Billie Joe,” a haunting narrative ballad that captivated listeners worldwide with its mysterious storyline and her rich, sultry vocals. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gentry continued to dazzle audiences with her distinctive blend of country and pop, delivering a string of hits including “Fancy,” “Okolona River Bottom Band,” and “Mississippi Delta.” Her unparalleled songwriting prowess and mesmerizing stage presence solidified her status as one of the era’s most revered performers. Tammy Wynette, affectionately known as the “First Lady of Country Music,” stands as one of Mississippi’s most beloved and influential singers. Born Virginia Wynette Pugh in Itawamba County in 1942, Wynette’s journeyed from rural Mississippi to Nashville stardom with a distinctive Southern twang and emotionally resonant lyrics that captured the hearts of millions in timeless classics like “Stand by Your Man,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” and “Golden Ring” drawing from her tumultuous personal experiences.  Her powerful voice and unapologetic vulnerability made her an icon among fans worldwide, earning her numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Her collaborations with fellow country legends like George Jones and Billy Sherrill further solidified her status as a trailblazer within the genre. Faith Hill, a Mississippi-born powerhouse, ascended from humble beginnings to become one of the most iconic figures in country music. Born Audrey Faith Perry in Ridgeland in 1967, Hill’s journey to stardom is marked by exceptional vocal talent, and innate ability to connect with audiences on a profound level.  Her debut album, “Take Me as I Am,” spawned multiple chart-topping singles, including “Wild One” and “Piece of My Heart.” Hits like “This Kiss,” “Breathe,” and “There You’ll Be” that showcased her versatility as an artist and solidified her status as one of the most influential voices in contemporary country music.  Her marriage to fellow country superstar Tim McGraw has become legendary in its own right, with the couple often collaborating on stage and in the studio to create magic together. Jimmie Rodgers, often hailed as the “Father of Country Music,” stands as a towering figure in Mississippi’s musical heritage and a seminal influence on the country music genre as a whole.  Born in Meridian in 1897, Rodgers’ pioneering blend of blues, folk, and yodeling techniques revolutionized the sound of country music and paved the way for generations of artists to come. Early recordings, including the timeless classics “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” and “Blue Yodel No. 2 (My Lovin’ Gal Lucille), and a string of hits in the 1930s, including “Waiting for a Train,” “In the Jailhouse Now,” and “Mule Skinner Blues” earned him widespread acclaim and adoration from fans and fellow musicians alike.  Despite his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1933 at the age of just 35, Rodgers’ influence on the country music genre endures to this day. B.B. King, born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in 1925, stands as one of the most iconic and influential figures in the history of the blues. His profound impact on music, culture, and the world at large earned him the title “The King of Blues.”  King’s musical journey began in the Mississippi Delta, where he honed his craft as a guitarist and vocalist, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of blues, gospel, and jazz that surrounded him. In the 1950s and 1960s, King’s career soared to new heights with a string of hits including “Every Day I Have the Blues,” “The Thrill Is Gone,” and “Sweet Little Angel.” His electrifying live performances, marked by his signature Gibson guitar “Lucille” and impassioned vocals, captivated audiences around the world. Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock and Roll, was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Elvis would rise to become one of the most iconic and influential figures in the history of popular music with revolutionary fusion of blues, gospel, country, and rhythm and blues.  His electrifying performances, gyrating hips, and charismatic stage presence captivated audiences earned him legions of devoted fans and the title “The King.”  In the mid-1950s, Elvis exploded onto the music scene with a string of hits including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” and “Love Me Tender.”

By Kara Kimbrough Newsflash:  Fourth of July 2024 will be a hot one. Since it's a couple of weeks away, I haven’t yet seen the weather report. But I just know it will be hot - maybe because I’ve suffered through numerous steamy hot holidays. But don’t ditch your celebration plans just yet. There are ways to keep your cool when preparing food for your Independence Day feast, regardless of its size. Scratch the plan for outdoor grilling and stay cool indoors by preparing minimal-baked dishes. My keep-your-cool tips include using the Crock-pot to prepare barbecue chicken, ribs and baked beans. Secondly, picking up a prepared salad from the supermarket. After all, who wants to boil potatoes or pasta in this heat? To make a festive flag cake, turning on the oven for about 45 minutes – just long enough to bake the cake base using vanilla or white cake mix (you can make it from scratch if you’re feeling industrious) shouldn’t heat up the kitchen too terribly bad. Top it off with an easy cream cheese frosting and sliced strawberries and blueberries. Or, follow my lead and mix and little confectioner’s sugar into plain ol’ Cool Whip. Just like that, you have a frosting that’s so good you won’t care that it’s semi-homemade. If you'd like the recipe for slow-cooked ribs and my easy-to-make flag cake (or need any additional Independence Day recipes), drop me an email and I’ll send them to you. Happy Independence Day, America! Firecracker Crockpot Barbecued Chicken 4-6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless 1 bottle of favorite barbecue sauce 1/4 cup vinegar 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon garlic powder Mix barbecue sauce with vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar and garlic powder. Place chicken in crockpot. Pour sauce mixture over chicken. Cook on low 4-6 hours, stirring and flipping chicken periodically. Festive 4th Baked Beans 8 ounces bacon (half of a 16 ounce package) 55-ounce can of favorite baked beans 1 cup diced yellow onion 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoon yellow mustard 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Slice the raw bacon into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook on the stove top in a skillet until halfway browned, drain. Add to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3-1/2 hours. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.