Wesson News The Wesson Attendance Center’s (WAC) Cobra PTO is again offering the opportunity for area residents to celebrate their child’s special day, shout out their accomplishments or praise their favorite staff members for all of WAC to see. Those interested can “Rent the Rock” on display at WAC and paint it with a special congratulatory, celebratory or encouraging message. Rock rental is $20 for a 24-hour period and does not include painting services. Parents are responsible for painting the rock or for arranging for someone to paint it. To “Rent the Rock,” visit https://bit.ly/4vYgvhV to reserve the time slot on the date desired for the message to be displayed. The rock can be reserved for 24 hours, beginning at 4 p.m. the day before until 4 p.m. the day of the display. For example, if a child's birthday is September 2, the renter would choose to reserve September 2 on the sign up. The reservation will begin at 4 p.m. on September 1, which is when the renter or designee may begin painting. At 4 p.m. on September 2, the next renter will be allowed to paint the rock. Renters are asked to include a description of what will be painted on the rock on the reservation form. Once a renter reserves the rock online, they are asked to text 601-757-6305 stating they rented the rock and how they intend to pay for the reservation. Payment secures the reservation. Renters must send payment to the PayPal link provided during the reservation process or by cash to the school, clearly marked “Rock Rental” with the renter’s name on it. Payments will be verified upon reservation. Reservations are first-come, first-served. Rock painters will need two cans of spray paint to cover the rock. PTO officials note that any brand or type of spray paint will work and can be found at Walmart, Home Depot or Ace Hardware. Typically, the spray paint dries almost instantly, so painters can begin painting over it as soon as they are finished spraying. For words and art painting, the PTO recommends basic acrylic craft paint, which is available at Walmart and Hobby Lobby. Basic paint brushes are recommended. Helpful items to bring to a rock painting session are grocery bags for trash, paper plates to use as paint palettes, paper towels or baby wipes, a water bottle to rinse brushes and a towel to sit on. Rock painters are asked to clean up all trash before leaving. Painting the rock usually takes an hour or two, depending on the level of detail involved. PTO organizers encourage families to use the time as a memory maker.

By Misty Strieff Prine “Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you.” – Unknown I thought about whether to do this one for a little while and it finally hit me why my attention kept being drawn back to it. Our lives are kind of like onion layers. (Ha...got that from Shrek!) Each layer of our lives will demand different versions of ourselves. Some layers are made of sadness, vulnerability, regret and frustration. However, there will be times where our special, positive and God given layers of empathy and compassion will be required of us in order to help others that can’t quite seem to get past a hardship in their lives. Even in YOUR hardest of moments, God may call you to step up to the plate and put them aside in order to minister to others that, believe it or not, are weaker than you in that moment. The most beautiful layers we all possess are that of love, selflessness and humbleness. May we never lose sight of the blessing we can be to others, even when we are called to set our own difficulties aside and rise above them to help others in need. Our actions and beautiful layers can be life changing. I bet if we all think hard enough, we can remember others that were a blessing to us even when they themselves were facing unimaginable difficulties. What a beautiful blessing it will be in return when we can pay it forward to them! God has an amazing way of turning our blessing others around to pull US out of our sad, vulnerable, regretful and frustrated states. Sometimes helping others is the answer we ourselves need! It’s amazing how blessings and testimonies are born!

Special to Wesson News Pictured (l to r) are Colettes Kimora Peyton, Caroline Strong, Kaden Belcher, Kayla Bourg, Riley Floyd, Addie Carver, Anna Kate Goree, Maranda Bowman, Celeen Brice, Abbey Berch and Allie Beeson Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) has announced its 2026-27 Colettes dance team, and the squad is already turning heads. After a standout showing at Universal Dance Association (UDA) summer camp on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the team proves to be off to a great start. For the first time in program history, every member of the Co-Lin Colettes earned a superior blue ribbon for her individual performance routine at camp, a sweep that team members and coaches say reflects the depth of talent on this year's roster. “UDA camp was truly such an amazing way to start sophomore season! Forever thankful for this team and this wonderful opportunity! I am so excited to begin this year with such wonderful teammates,” said second-year Colette Abbey Berch of Wesson. Leading the squad this season is newly named team captain Kaden Belcher of Brookhaven High. Belcher was awarded the prestigious Taylor Presidential Scholarship during her freshman year at Co-Lin. She has danced for sixteen years and was a member of her home studio's competitive company, where she also worked as a student teacher. Belcher recently was accepted into Co-Lin's nursing program. Asked about her favorite memory from her freshman season with the Colettes, Belcher pointed to performing at halftime of football and basketball games. As she steps into the captain's role, she said she is looking forward to building a close bond with her teammates and leading them to the best of her ability. "We are so lucky to call you our captain. I am forever grateful for you and this wonderful team," said Berch. Joining Belcher on the 2026-27 roster are: Addie Carver, Lawrence County High School Allie Beeson, Wesson Attendance Center Kaden Belcher, Brookhaven High School Abbey Berch, Wesson Attendance Center Kayla Bourg, Parklane Academy Maranda Bowman, Enterprise High School Caroline Strong, Copiah Academy Kimora Peyton, Lawrence County High School Celeen Brice, Wesson Attendance Center Riley Floyd, homeschool Anna Kate Goree, Pisgah High School Colettes’ coach Kennedy Moore teaching at Showstoppers The team is coached by Kennedy Moore of Brookhaven, who also teaches at Showstoppers Dance Studio in Brookhaven. She’s been teaching at Showstoppers since her high school years and took over as hip hop coach for ten years. “I like to tell people I took my first steps in that studio and never left,” said Moore. Moore’s mom opened and directed that studio all of Kenney’s life. Moore has coached the Colettes for six years and was on the team while she was a student at Co-Lin. Moore also works part-time in the campus bookstore. She went on to dance with the Southern Misses at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. “I will say that being the coach at Co-Lin is one the biggest blessings in my life. I absolutely love what I do and love to be able to play a special part in my girls’ first years of college,” said Moore. Former Miss Teen USA 2024 Addie Carver The new team has a star-studded cast. Former Miss Teen USA 2024, Addie Carver, joined the Colettes. Carver, who is majoring in communications, will be a full-time student at Co-Lin and a full-time online student at Mississippi State University. Carver is the daughter of Kristi Carver, marketing director of Copiah County Medical Center and occasional pageant judge. The Colettes will begin appearing at Co-Lin athletic events this fall, with the team set to perform at football and basketball games throughout the season. To stay current on Colettes, follow them on Instagram and on the official Facebook page for the Copiah Lincoln Community College Colettes Dance Team. Kayla Bourg

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Have you ever had the chance to watch quail in the evening when the sun is setting? Those tiny birds make it very clear; they want home. And home to them usually means gathering in a circle of other quail, with their heads toward each other and tails outward. If you sit quietly nearby their chosen roosting place as the day closes down, you can hear a rustling in the air, as quail after quail arrives and settles in for the night. Might be on the ground in a protective circle of family and friends, or sometimes on the perfect branch in a tree with all the other quail in their covey. Guess we could call it ‘going home for the night.’ Finding security in a sense of community and belonging. Quail and most people are a lot alike, they both have 'something within’ that draws them to their special place, that place that they call home. Sure, we humans love to vacation, to go someplace else for a while and enjoy the uniqueness of something different. To get away from stress, or the humdrum of our daily life. But most of us, after being away from home for a period of time, finally find ourselves feeling an itch, a longing, a certain need that draws us back to the place we call home. Even if it’s filled with tension, stress, loneliness or worry, home still has a certain drawing element to it. It's true, we may not like everything or everyone who represents home to us. But still, it is home. Our family and our jobs are a huge part of “home” to us. In fact, those two factors are usually the main reason we find ourselves counting the weeks until our next scheduled get-away. If we don’t enjoy those two important parts of home, then it’s likely we will be one of those people who walk in their living room, set down their suitcase, and grab their calendar. For them, scheduling the next vacation is just part and parcel of arriving home. But still, most people find that by the end of their time away from friends, family, job, and house, they are ready to touch base with home again. At least for a little while. Home gives a feeling of normalcy and foundation in our lives. Sure, there are some of you that disagree with me on this. You are more like one of those fiercely independent, free-flying loner birds like an owl or an eagle. You prefer to sail around in the sky alone, not needing a covey, or a flock of family and friends around them. Home to you means opening the door to a stateroom or your current hotel room, and feeling an immense sense of satisfaction with the freedom in your life. But not many of us are true loners. Most of us have a quail’s homing device in us, that causes a sense of need to touch base with familiar people and places in our life. Quail, or eagle? Either way, just enjoy living.

Special to Wesson News A Crystal Springs man has been sentenced to 43 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges involving child sexual abuse material and methamphetamine. David Yonathan Orozco, 30, was sentenced Monday, Aug. 17, to 43 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, according to Madison and Rankin Counties District Attorney John K. “Bubba” Bramlett. Orozco will also be required to register as a sex offender following his release. The case began Dec. 23, 2025, when officers with the Madison Police Department stopped a vehicle after observing it swerving out of its lane, Bramlett said. Orozco, who was driving and was the only person in the vehicle, consented to a search. Officers discovered what authorities described as a felony amount of methamphetamine. Orozco was arrested, and investigators later obtained a search warrant for his cellphone. During their examination of the phone, investigators discovered hundreds of videos depicting child sexual abuse material, according to the district attorney’s office. Investigators also found messages involving other individuals discussing the exchange of the material and how to locate a child to abuse. Orozco was subsequently indicted on five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to the indictment shortly before his trial was scheduled to begin. The plea was entered without a sentencing recommendation from the state. Bramlett said the case demonstrates how an investigation that began with a traffic stop and drug arrest led authorities to evidence involving the exploitation of children. “Someone who finds pleasure in that type of activity has zero redeemable qualities and should be behind bars where they can't abuse innocent children,” Bramlett said in a statement. Bramlett credited Madison Police Department Investigator Eric Mallery and Assistant District Attorneys Katie Moulds and Ashley Allen for their work investigating and prosecuting the case.

After putting together one of its best seasons in recent years, Wesson will look to continue that success as the Cobras prepare for the 2026 season. Wesson finished last season with a 10-1 record and went undefeated in district play at 4-0. The Cobras captured the Class 2A Region 7 title after moving down from Class 3A, improving from a 7-3 finish the previous season. The Cobras entered the postseason undefeated and continued their run with a playoff victory over Perry Central. Wesson's season eventually came to an end in a close matchup against Mize, falling 28-26. The Cobras finished that game with 457 yards of offense, including 258 through the air and 199 on the ground. Head coach Jeremy Loy has helped build Wesson into a consistent winner. The Cobras have posted winning records in each of the last four seasons, including eight wins in 2023 and seven in 2024 before breaking through with 10 last fall. Wesson will have several opportunities to test itself before region play begins this season. The Cobras travel to Bogue Chitto on Aug. 28 before facing North Pike, Franklin County, Lumberton and Lawrence County. Region play begins Oct. 2 against Enterprise. After coming within two points of extending an undefeated season last fall, the Cobras will enter 2026 looking to once again compete for a region championship and make a deeper postseason run.

Special to Wesson News For the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 79, Department President Sara Black Lassiter installed the new Unit officers. Pictured (l to r) are Sharon Langley, chaplain; Vivian Hoeflich, historian; Laurie Chassion, treasurer; Judy Chester, secretary; Janet Currie, vice president; and Kim Whittington, president. Not pictured is Camille Johnston, sergeant-at-arms. American Legion Post 79 recently held a special meeting recently to install its 2026-27 officers, drawing leadership from across the state to take part in the ceremony. American Legion Department of Mississippi Commander Bernita Barnett was on hand to install the new Post officers. Also present were Sons of the American Legion Detachment of Mississippi Commander Van Alford and Detachment Vice Commander Harry Williams. Alford installed the Sons of the American Legion officers. Unit 79 is proud of its newly elected department officials, which include Vice President Dixie Thornton, President Sara Lassiter and Junior President Mary Murphy Brady. “We are proud of you and know you will do great things for our veterans and military,” said Kim Whittington, Auxiliary president. The evening also included a tribute to the Post’s Mississippi Boys State delegates. Three of the five young men sponsored by Post 79 this year were on hand to share their experiences at Boys State and to thank the Legion for the opportunity. Cathy Stroud and Socks for Heroes provided the catfish, sides and desserts for the meeting. The cooking crew — John Wesley, Joey Chassion, Charles Clark, Olivia, Dixie Hutson Thornton and Laurie Chassion — prepared the meal, with several Auxiliary members helping to serve. “Thank you to all that came and made the evening special,” said Post Commander Bobby Thornton. “For God and Country.”

By Jessica Breazeale Most evenings, you can find me outside, chair tilted back, eyes on the sky. It's my place of peace — the one part of the day where nothing is asking anything of me. And almost every evening, around the same time, the same thing happens: a line of what looks like ducks flies overhead in a perfect V. Every single time, without fail, my brain does the same thing — it flashes straight back to childhood, to The Mighty Ducks, Emilio Estevez wrangling a rag-tag pee-wee hockey team into a flying V on the ice. (If you know, you know.) The newer, reimagined Mighty Ducks show is worth a watch, too. So one evening, watching the real thing overhead instead of the movie version, I finally went down the rabbit hole: why do ducks fly in a perfect V? Turns out, the science is fascinating on its own. But the more I read, the more it became something bigger than science to me. The Science, Quickly Birds flying in formation aren't just showing off. A few things are going on: ● They're drafting off each other. Every flap of a wing creates a little upward current of air trailing behind it. The bird flying slightly behind and to the side catches that lift, which means less work to stay airborne — like drafting behind a cyclist. ● They can actually see each other. The V keeps every bird in view of its neighbors instead of staring at the tail feathers in front of it, which makes it easier to stay coordinated over long distances. ● Nobody stays up front forever. The lead bird gets none of that drafting benefit — it's cutting the wind for everyone else. So they rotate. The hardest position gets passed around instead of parked on one bird. That last one is where this stopped being a science lesson and started being a sermon. Taking Turns Bearing the Hardest Part Here's what stopped me in my tracks: these birds — with brains the size of a walnut — have figured out something we still haven't. They can apparently sense when a member of the flock is carrying too much, and something in them says go take the load off. I've spent eighteen years in ministry. And if there's one pattern I've watched play out over and over, it's pastors doing all the heavy lifting until there's nothing left of them. Nobody rotates in. Nobody says “let me take the front for a while.” We just watch good people burn all the way out, because somewhere along the way we decided the leader carries it alone. Watching a flock of ducks figure out load-sharing instinctively, while I've watched congregation after congregation fail to do it on purpose, is a little humbling. It's also strangely hopeful — if a duck can feel the weight of another duck and move to cover it, surely we can get there too. It's Only “Perfect” From Where I'm Sitting Here's the twist, though. From my chair, looking up, that formation looks flawless. Clean lines, perfect symmetry, like something drawn with a ruler. But it's not. Up close, it's lopsided — one arm of the V almost always longer than the other, birds shifting in and out, adjusting constantly. It only looks perfect because I'm seeing it from three hundred feet below and it's moving fast. That felt a little too familiar too. How many things — churches, families, ministries — look like a perfect V from a distance, when up close it's really just a group of tired creatures doing their best to hold a shape together? Maybe that's not a flaw. Maybe that's just what real community looks like when you're close enough to see it clearly. It's all about perspective. What Happens When We Clip the Wings There's another side worth pondering. People sometimes take a beautiful winged creature like this and try to make it their pet — clip the wings, keep it close, tame the very thing built to fly in formation with a hundred others. I get the instinct. Something is appealing about keeping a beautiful, wild creature safe in a pen, all to yourself. But clip the wings and you don't just take away the flight — you take away the V. A bird built to rotate through the lead, to draft off its neighbors, to read exhaustion in the one beside it, doesn't get stronger in isolation. It just gets smaller. We do this to people too — keep them close, call it protection, and wonder later why they never learned to soar. I can count too many times people who have attempted to clip my wings. It never worked out well. Some creatures are just meant for flight! So What's the Bigger Picture? It's this: even migratory birds can sense heaviness and exhaustion in one another, and something in them moves to take a turn so no one carries more than their share. Somewhere along the way, we lost that instinct — or maybe we never fully had it. But if a duck can feel the weight of another duck and move to cover it, that's not just a nice fact about birds. That's a picture of what community was always supposed to look like: nobody carrying it alone, and nobody expected to. I still don't know if the birds over my house every evening are actually ducks or geese — and at this point, I've decided it doesn't matter. What matters is what they keep teaching me, one ordinary evening at a time: take your turn carrying the weight, don't wait to be asked, and don't clip the wings of the people around you just to keep them close. Let them fly. It rarely looks picture-perfect up close. It's still holding. Downloadable version

By Jessica Breazeale The Wesson Public Library and Wesson Friends of the Library kept young readers busy throughout July with a lineup of hands-on programs as part of this year's Summer Reading Program, "Unearth a Story." The month kicked off July 9 with a paleontology presentation that drew more than sixty attendees. The program was led by Sabrina Cummings, M.S., C.I.G., a conservation biologist and outreach educator with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, who shared insights into fossils, prehistoric life and the science behind paleontology. On July 16, the Mississippi Highway Patrol Mounted Patrol brought an educational program — and four-legged guests — to the library. Participating troopers included MHP Trooper First Class Nigel Williams, MHP Trooper Master Sergeant Stargell Catchings, CTED Staff Sergeant Joshua Robertson and MHP Trooper Kimberly Echols, who were joined by Quarter Horses Tank and Delta and a pony named Elvis. Children, parents and members of the Wesson Friends of the Library turned out to welcome the group. Beyond the presentation, young readers got the chance to sit on and pet the horses, with Trooper Echols and Elvis proving to be a special hit among the children. On another day during the program, Library Assistant Anita Schmidt helped Summer Reading Program participants check out more than 125 library books. The enthusiastic readers left with a fresh stack of titles to carry them through the rest of their summer reading adventures. The Summer Reading Program closed out with a special Awards Day celebratuon honoring contest winners and celebrating America's upcoming 250th birthday. "George and Martha Washington" made an appearance at the library, greeting children and posing for photos amid patriotic decorations, before the celebration continued with treats provided by the Wesson Friends of the Library. Contest winners received gifts that included items such as restaurant gift cards, rocket building kits, book bags and books. Participants could choose to compete as an independent or family reader. The Wesson Public Library's Summer Reading Program is presented annually by the library and the Wesson Friends of the Library, offering local children a summer full of books, learning and community events.

Digital transformation, predictive analytics, and other such terms are no longer just a theory. Especially in the field of HR, they have brought a great revolution. HR teams no longer rely on manual, paper-heavy procedures. Automation has spread across all industries including HR. AI-based HR is a big reality today. HR professionals now need to be technically fluent to keep pace with these changes. Whether it is a performance management software, a learning management system, or an applicant tracking system, AI is embedded in it. For resume screening, AI is being used extensively. Also, for other crucial tasks such as making employee-related predictions through predictive analytics, AI has its use. It is clear that upskilling is necessary for HR professionals. That is possible by pursuing and acquiring tech-integrated HR certifications. Essential Technical Skills You Need to Master Today Generative AI and Practical Prompt Engineering: HR professionals must have knowledge of the use of generative AI tools including large language models. Smartly generate prompts to prepare job descriptions, employee handbooks, and interview frameworks. Gain mastery over prompt frameworks. Talent Acquisition Automation and Sourcing: Candidate pool can be expanded and time-to-hire shortened using automated pre-screening tools, semantic resume parsers, and AI-driven sourcing engines. It is necessary for HR professionals to learn these systems and programs. People Analytics and Predictive Modeling: Understanding, analyzing, and presenting numerical HR data effectively is a key requirement to excel as an HR professional. All modern HR certifications focus on developing what is called quantitative literacy. When an HR leader has a strong grip over numbers, it is easier to optimize budget allocation and organizational design. Ethics, Compliance, and Algorithmic Governance: Even with AI deployment, it is crucial to ensure and sustain regulatory compliance at all times. HR professionals and leaders must be able to identify biased algorithms and avoid issues like data breaches. Tech-integrated HR certifications will help you in developing all these skills. Level Up Your Career with HRAcademia CAIHRP® Certification The Certified AI-Powered HR Professional certification is offered by HRAcademia, offering gold-standard HR certificates. All certifications provided by this platform are accredited by US based organization. There are 12 modules, 36 lectures, and 1 quiz in CAIHRP certification program. The duration is 26 weeks. Professionals working in any domain of HR can enroll and benefit from this certification program. The biggest advantage is that the whole process from enrollment till acquisition of certification is online. The CAIHRP (Certified AI-Powered HR Professional) certification will enhance your knowledge of key AI concepts and application in HR including generative AI tools for HR professionals, AI-powered recruitment & talent acquisition, people analytics and HR data intelligence, AI strategy for HR leaders, and AI-driven employee experience. In short, it is a very comprehensive and might be the only HR certification course designed to make HR professionals efficient in deploying AI within their workspaces. The certificate will cost you $395 and there is an option to pay in 4 interest-free installments. Master AI Tools with the AIHR Certificates Artificial Intelligence for HR Certificate Program is designed and offered by AIHR. Artificial Intelligence for HR is an online self-paced certification program with 32.5 hours of learning, 17 modules, and 20 hands-on projects. In this course, you will learn how to enhance HR practices with generative AI. Building AI agents for HR and designing AI strategy for HR is also covered in this program. You will also learn about AI ethics, data privacy, and security. AIHR is offering this certificate program, 12 months access to learning resources, expert community and support, and 30-day money-back guarantee for $1,125. Along with theory, there are templates, resources, and practical exercises for easier and practical understanding of key AI concepts in HR. The training platform provides all required materials so there is no need of any special software tools. Lead Enterprise Transformation with the SHRM AI Credential The SHRM AI in HR Professional Certificate Program is another option in this regard. Although the course material seems a bit outdated and more inclined towards traditional HR, It is also recognized internationally. The program focuses on teaching learners about the effective implementation of AI tools in real HR scenarios. Learners are also required to complete a capstone project to prove practical fluency. You will also need to maintain 70% attendance. In this course, you will learn about digital transformation in HR. Prompt engineering for real HR tasks using GenAI tools is also a part of this course. Additionally, if you want to acquire proficiency in using AI-first and human-centered design principles to redesign HR workflows, this course is the right fit for you. How to use AI ethically and responsibly will also be taught and discussed during this course. So if you want to develop yourself as an AI-ready HR professional, spend 6-8 weeks on this professional certificate program and prepare yourself for AI-based HR. Break into Tech HR Easily Using the Coursera Specialization There is a 3-course series on Coursera namely Introduction to AI for HR professionals (7 hours duration), Practical AI and prompting for HR professionals (10 hours duration), and AI agents and creator tools for HR professionals (4 hours duration). It is being offered by AI Business School. The AI for HR Specialization will build your AI awareness and enhance your skills in implementing AI tools in daily HR workflows. In order to acquire and refine knowledge of AI enablement, generative AI agents, AI personalization, LLM application, personalized campaigns, and prompt engineering tools, the AI for HR Specialization is a good option. There are hands-on projects included in this certification program. No prior technical expertise is required. Any HR professional can enroll in this learning program. After completing this comprehensive 3-course series, one can hope to expertly lead AI-driven transformation in HR. Launching Your First AI Pilot Project in the Workplace Once any tech-integrated HR certification has been obtained, you must readily apply your learning. You can start with an AI pilot project. Identify any cumbersome, manual HR process in your company and automate it using artificial intelligence. For example, job descriptions might be outdated. Use AI writing assistant to update them. By gaining initial success and presenting measurable positive outcomes to the senior leadership, you can gain approval and confidence to pursue large AI projects in the company.

By Misty Strieff Prine “Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength.” – Unknown. The thought of walking away from something, in my mind, used to always mean defeat. I have struggled with many decisions in my life that ultimately took far too long to make and got even more hurt in the process, just because I didn’t want to look as though I was giving up without a fight. Have you ever been in this same predicament? Well, let me tell you something that I have learned because God opened my eyes through a situation just like this and I learned walking away, as hard as it was, was the best decision for me in my ministry field. I’m here today to tell you what I personally learned from walking away. I experienced unimaginable strength mixed with copious amounts of joy that I had longed for, for way too long. Walking away from something that weighs you down, keeps you upset, drains near about every drop of joy from your life and makes you have the mindset, in my case, to get out of the ministry field all together, is FAR from a sign of weakness y’all, it’s pure strength. You must make sure to do what is best for you, both mentally and spiritually, and for your family’s sake. But before you do, and before you deal with it for far too long as I did, pray fervently about it. Get your prayer warriors involved. Being a doormat feels awful and your life ends up negatively affected when you’re treated unkindly for so long. Do what’s best for you and your mental health and well-being. When you feel too weak to walk away, pray about it and ask God to give you the strength to walk away from that which continually brings you down. When God is ready to give you your answer, you WILL know because His timing will be PERFECT. That literally was the case for my situation. I knew it was nothing but a God thing. You have to take care of yourself. If it keeps you upset, it’s time to step away for a while. When you do, your load becomes instantly lighter. Trust me, I know. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Let go of that which holds you back from being the Christian God has called you to be. He needs you in the ministry field. He needs your head clear. He needs you on a mission!

Special to Wesson News The Co-Lin Foundation recently celebrated raising $2 million in revenue for the first time in its history at their July board meeting. Pictured are Foundation executive director Angela Furr and Co-Lin president Dr. Dewayne Middleton (center) and the Foundation Board of Directors. For the first time in its history, during the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Foundation received more than $2 million in donations. The Foundation’s Board of Directors and college administrators celebrated following a board meeting in mid-July. The new milestone comes after the Foundation reached $1 million in funds raised for the first time two years ago. “Reaching one million in giving for the first time was an incredible achievement for us,” said Angela Furr, who has served as executive director of the Foundation since 2018. “Doubling that total in just two years is a testament to the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our Foundation staff, board members and our whole team at Co-Lin. We are grateful to everyone who has helped make this milestone possible.” This past year’s giving has assisted in unprecedented support for the college. During the year ending June 30, the Foundation awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to students and faculty, more than $450,000 designated to athletics and another $500,000 in other direct support of the college. Furr said she looks forward to seeing the Foundation provide even more support to the college in the coming years. “The sole purpose of the Foundation is to solicit financial support for Co-Lin,” Furr said. “The more we bring in, the more we are able to give back to the college. I am so proud of what we have been able to do in the past few years, and I am looking forward to helping even more as we continue to grow our fundraising efforts.” Co-Lin Foundation Board President Elise Munn echoed Furr’s comments, emphasizing the significance of the milestone and the generosity that made it possible. “This milestone reflects an unprecedented level of support for the Foundation and its mission to expand educational opportunities for all students,” Munn said. “We are so grateful to the generous alumni, community members and corporate partners who helped make this outstanding year possible.” “This remarkable achievement is also a testament to the exceptional leadership of executive director Angela Furr and the dedication of her team, whose tireless work continues to advance the Foundation’s mission,” continued Munn. “On behalf of the Foundation’s board of directors, thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s success. Your generosity will have a lasting impact on the lives of countless students and faculty members for years to come.” Gifts to the Foundation help make it possible for the college to continue creating new programs, providing scholarships to students and making improvements to its campuses. State funding and tuition revenue do not cover all the costs associated with running the college, and the Foundation helps bridge those gaps, said Co-Lin president Dr. Dewayne Middleton. “The Foundation and the generosity of our donors continue to play an essential role in the success of our college,” said Middleton. “Their support helps us respond to the evolving needs of our students and programs by providing scholarships, instructional support for both academic and career-tech programs, and enhancing our technology and campus facilities. With their help, we can provide more opportunities and resources for our students and continue making Co-Lin ‘The Place To Be.’” The Co-Lin Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization which serves as the fundraising arm of the college. The Foundation is governed by a 25-member board of directors, whose goal is to raise private monies to support the mission of the college. To make a tax-deductible gift to Co-Lin, contact the Foundation office at 601-643-8332 or visit colin.edu to give online.