Bluffs & Bayous June 2016

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F RO M T H E E D I TO R

I

have always been thankful that I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where fresh vegetables are grown each summer. I cannot tell you how disappointing a storebought tomato is after being accustomed to the acidic bliss of a “Big Boyâ€? fresh from the Guido garden. Whether enjoying those hearty tomatoes on a crispy BLT and having the juice literally dripping from your elbows, or listening to the crackle and pop of frying okra, eggplant, and zucchini, I can attest that IUHVK LV GHĂ€QLWHO\ EHVW Now that I have my own home, I’ve decided to give the gardening world a whirl. Besides a pretty extensive herb garGHQ Ă€OOHG ZLWK IUHVK IHQQHO URVHPDU\ EDVLO DQG VXFK , DP giving tomatoes and spinach a shot. I will admit that I have the help of my well-versed mother on the gardening front, so I am enjoying watching my three tomato plants grow, bloom, and create those delicious tomatoes. I can hardly wait until I get to slice one up with a little salt and pepper!

So, good luck to all of your green thumbs this summer along and beyond the Mississippi.

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BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI Page 8 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

June 2016

FEATURES Natchez 300: Health and Wellness Along and Beyond the Mississippi pages 36 - 37

It’s Time to Change the Game pages 40 - 41

A Long Road Back to Health and Happiness pages 42 - 45

Keeping Our City Beautiful pages 48 - 50

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June 2016

F AV O R I T E S

Events

Louisiana Up & Coming! ............................................................................................... 60-63 Mississippi Up & Coming!.............................................................................................. 65-71

All Outdoors Time to Kill.....................................................................................................................14-15

G’s Fare Take a Hike .....................................................................................................................18-21

Take a Hike pages 18 - 21

In the Garden The Variety of Basil ....................................................................................................... 32-33

Legal Notes Becoming the Bank ....................................................................................................... 28-29

Southern Sampler Treadmills and Buffalo Gnats ....................................................................................... 72-73

The Social Scene GOP Presidential Candidates Town Hall Meeting........................................................ 12-13 Royal Tea Party for Pages ................................................................................................... 16 Birthday Party for Mims................................................................................................ 22-23 Annual Lebanese Dinner ................................................................................................... 24 Reception for Featured Artist Taylor ................................................................................. 26 Annual Monarch Luncheon ............................................................................................... 35

Becoming the Bank pages 28 - 29

Birthday Party for Cotton.............................................................................................. 54-57 Children’s Advocacy Center of Mississippi Awards ............................................................ 59

Weddings Engagement Party for Netterville and Whetstone ........................................................ 30-31 Engagement Party for Eckman and Brown .................................................................. 52-53 Bridal Tea for Ryan ....................................................................................................... 58-59

ON THE COVER Challenging us to lead healthier lives, summertime calls for lighter meals, fresh produce, and lemon-flavored desserts.

Photography by Jennie Guido and Artistic Design by T.G. McCary

The Variety of Basil pages 32 - 33 Page 10 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

PUBLISHER Cheryl Foggo Rinehart MANAGING EDITOR CONSULTING EDITOR Jennie Guido Jean Nosser Biglane GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jan Ratcliff Anita Schilling STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Tim McCary Van O’Gwin Bill Perkins Cheryl Rinehart Lisa Adams Whittington SALES STAFF Jennie Guido Cheryl Rinehart Donna Sessions JoAnna Sproles CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Gary R. Bachman Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin Becky Junkin Ross McGehee Anita Schilling Jennifer J. Whittier Alma Womack

Cheryl Rinehart

Jean Biglane

Van O’Gwin

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin

Jennie Guido

Jan Ratcliff

Anita Schilling

Tim McCary

Bill Perkins

Donna Sessions

JoAnna Sproles

Becky Junkin

Ross McGehee

Lisa Adams Whittington

Jennifer J. Whittier

Alma Womack

Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHà HFW WKH YLHZV RI WKH SXEOLVKHU QRU GR WKH\ FRQVWLWXWH DQ HQGRUVHPHQW RI SURGXFWV RU VHUYLFHV KHUHLQ :H UHVHUYH WKH ULJKW WR UHIXVH DQ\ DGYHUWLVHment. Bluffs & Bayous strives to insure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

OFFICE 423 Main Street, Suite 7 | Natchez, MS 39120 | 601-442-6847 bluf fsmag@gmail.com | bluf fs.editor@gmail.com bbupandcoming@gmail.com www.bluf fsbayous.com

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THE social SCENE BROOKHAVEN, MS

GOP Presidential Candidates Town Hall Meeting he Lincoln County Republican Women’s Club hosted a membership drive and town hall meeting at Ole Towne Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi, on February 4, 2016. State campaign chairmen for the Republican presidential candidates addressed the crowd. Guest speakers included Charlie Ross for Jeb Bush, Daniel Ashford for Ben Carson, Keith Plunkett for Ted Cruz, Andy Taggart for John Kasich, Arnie Hederman for Marco Rubio, and Mitch Tyner for Donald Trump. A reception was held afterwards for the public to ask questions regarding the candidates’ platforms and discuss Mississippi’s upcoming Presidential Primary Election. Photography by Bill Perkins

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1 Daniel Ashford, Mitch Tyner, Andy Taggart, Cindy Moore, Senator Sally Doty, Arnie Hederman, and Keith Plunkett 2 Patsy Yates 3 Loree Coleman and Sally Doty 4 Michelle and Representative Vince Mangold with Leah Smith 5 Ty Austin and Cindy Moore 6 Tammy and Alli Livingston 7 Bill Perkins and Jennifer Whittier 8 Leah Smith, Dustin Bairfield, and Senator Sally Doty 9 John Roberts, Dustin Bairfield, Andy Taggart, and Cindy Moore 10 Robert Byrd and Hunter Foster 11 Whitney and Betty Ann Perkins 12 Betty Ann Perkins and Kelly Vaughn 13 Shirley Estes and Joe Cox 14 Juliana Mills and Harley Smith 15 Nicole and Blake Pickering

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THE social SCENE

BROOKHAVEN, MS

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16 Julianna Mills and Macey Lea 17 Keith Plunkett, Andy Taggart, Charlie Ross, Arnie Hederman, Daniel Ashford, and Mitch Tyner 18 Bernie Reed and Kelly Vaughn 19 Cindy Moore and Daniel Ashford 20 David Holland and Terry Cutler 21 Beverly Britt and Lola Case 22 Karen Sullivan and Dustin Bairfield 23 Anna Giust and Rusty Yates

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ALL OUTDOORS

BY

Time to Kill R

alph was at his wits end. He’d found himself in a position of doing the right thing; but becoming so frustrated and incredulous at the lack of cooperation by the other folks, he had to make a decision. And when Ralph makes a decision, he ain’t going back.

It would be helpful to note that Ralph is very time conscious. When he tells you that he will be somewhere at a given time, KH¡V XVXDOO\ ÀYH PLQXWHV HDUO\ ,I KH¡V JRing to be late, you will get a phone call.

And when he’s on the job, he’s on the job.

No fooling around. He gave me three reasons for his decision.

It was around 2009 when a landowner south of Vicksburg called Ralph and asked if he could install a septic tank at a hunting camp. No problem. Ralph had some equipment close by; and all he had to do was “walk� it the mile over to the camp, dig a hole, drop in a tank, and leave. The call was made at 8 a.m., it was an hour’s drive from town to the camp with the septic tank, and the track hoe and dozer would need about that long to walk to the camp.

What could go wrong?

I’ve personally learned never to ask that TXHVWLRQ EHFDXVH \RX ZLOO VRRQ ÀQG RXW

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The equipment got to the camp, dug the hole for the tank, and waited. And waited.

And waited some more. Finally at 1 p.m., JW, who was helping Ralph, said, “The heck with this� and got in his truck to leave. (Actually, he said something a little more strident; but this is family oriented.)

Ralph followed him out. A half-mile down the road, they met the landowner’s sons with the tank, turned around, and went back for the installation.

Back at the camp, one son immediately exited the truck and went inside to watch 79 7KH RWKHU VRQ KHOSHG à LS WKH WDQN LQWR the hole where it was discovered that he GLGQ¡W KDYH WKH FRUUHFW ÀWWLQJV WR LQVWDOO LW JW was not turning around anymore. He was gone. Ralph reluctantly followed.

The next year, one of their hunting buddies arrived at the camp long after dark, unloaded his four-wheeler, and drove it around to the back of the camp right off into the unmarked hole that held the septic tank. It was still unhooked, by the way. An hour later, he went looking for his dog; and he was in the hole.

It was fall of 2010, and the same landowner asked Ralph for his assistance planting some food plots for his family to deer

Ross McGehee

hunt on. On Saturday morning, Ralph got three tractors, a disk, a do-all, and a seeder together, along with operators, trucks, and all the other support equipment, and proceeded to the jobsite. He was there at 8 a.m. The seed was supposed to be there but.... So they sat on the truck tailgate, swinging their legs, until the landowner’s son and grandson drove up at 11:45. “Y’all want something to eat?â€? That was not such a strange question, but what followed was, “Well, we’re going back to town to get the seed and thought we could get you something if you wanted.â€? Now, they were already 15 miles from town, a town that they had just left, going right SDVW DOO WKH VHHG VXSSOLHUV DQG LQ Ă€YH minutes, the stores would close. Ralph was speechless. One of the operators said, “My little girl is seven years old, and she knows better than that!â€? They started planting food plots at 2 p.m.

It was springtime in 2011, and the river was going to break all records with its rise.

The same landowner had a camp that was not going to fare well with the high water.

The presence of water in a camp is one thing to deal with, but current from the river is a whole ‘nuther matter. And his camp was going to get some current! That—and it was DERXW Ă€YH IHHW RII WKH JURXQG MXVW VLWWLQJ RQ some cinderblock supports. So once again, Ralph was summoned to come up with a way to save the building from collapse.

He got a construction crew on a Saturday; and they gathered up cables, concrete, shovels, drills, picks, and beer.

They headed to the camp with a boat in tow, and the landowner had a boat along.

The plan was to take in as many men, along with shovels, as the boats could carry. They would dig some deep holes on the upstream side of the building, way out in the yard, pour them full of conFUHWH DQG WLH WKHP RII WR WKH à RRU MRLVWV Landowner’s son would drop them off and commence running back to the truck, loading up all the Quickcrete he felt was safe, and bring it back. It was going to take several trips.

Well, he made a trip without incident.

Went back and didn’t come back. The crew waited, and waited, got really worried because he was their ride out, and waited some more. Finally, an hour and a half later, he pulled into view. “Man, where you been? We got worried!�

Believe it or not, his response was, ´:H IRXQG D ´UXQRXWµ DQG VWRSSHG WR ÀVK for a while.” Ralph should have loaded the crew right then; but to his credit, he ÀQLVKHG WKH MRE Ralph “spooled it up” after that. He was just too busy when he got their calls, and I can’t say that I blame him. These guys, the landowner’s son and the like, just have time to kill; and they expect that everyone else does, too. Or they have no regard for anyone else’s time. Either way, they don’t call Ralph! He ain’t going back.

Columnist Ross McGehee, a lifelong resident of Natchez, Mississippi, owns a diversified and far-flung farm operation.

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THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Royal Tea Party for Pages

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n Saturday, February 27, 2016, a Royal Tea Party was held in honor of Natchez Garden Club Page Harper Carter and Pilgrimage Garden Club Page Caroline Carlton. The party was held at Ellicott Hall in downtown Natchez, Mississippi. Guests of the pages enjoyed painting teacup planters, decorating cupcakes, and sampling a delectable spread.

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4 1 Front—Harper Carter, Caroline Carlton, Anita Marie Jordan, and Jane Carby; middle—Lyla Woods, Aven Adcock, Kate Carlton, Gianna Tuccio, Ali Lambuth, Adeline Burget, and Maggie Smith; back—Emily Carol Loy, Ella Grace Helfin, Anna Leigh Jordan, Karly Rushing, Emory Kate Lewis, Alli Haile, Riley Lofton, and Sela Adcock 2 Caroline Carlton and Anita Marie Jordan 3 Gianna Tuccio and Paige Carter 4 Alli Haile, Emory Kate Lewis, and Aven Adcock 5 Anna Leigh Jordan 6 Ella Grace Heflin and Emily Carol Loy 7 Heather Lewis and Kristin Jordan 8 Caroline Carlton and Harper Carter 9 Lynn Janette, Marcie Carlton, and Dr. Carmen Adcock 10 10 Mary Collins, Paige, and Harper Carter 11 Caroline Carlton and Mary Collins Carter 12 Ali Lambuth and Adeline Burget 13 Punkie Carlton with Harper Carter and Caroline Carlton 14 Karly Rushing and Harper Carter 15 Anna Leigh Jordan and 13 Sela Adcock

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G’S FARE

BY

Becky Junkin

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AND COURTESY OF

Jennie Guido Becky Junkin

Take a Hike I

t’s the joyous month of June and time for family vacations. This is the month we usually try a new spot along the beautiful beaches of Alabama and Florida.

Last June, my son, David, and I decided to do something different—very different— as part of our family vacation.

We had hiked some of the Smokey Mountains and Appalachian Trail, and we decided that in summer 2015 we were going to be healthy and physical, and feel fantastic at the end of our vacation and, therefore, continue our hike through the Appalachians. I even had visions of completing the 2,200-mile trail through fourteen states in sections.

He knew of a little place in North Carolina where the Appalachian Trail went right through the center, and we could hike DOO DORQJ WKH WUDLO 7KH ÀUVW VHYHUDO GD\V were great; we hiked different trails; and HDFK WLPH RXW ZH ZRXOG UDLVH WKH GLIÀFXOW\ OHYHO HQGLQJ )ULGD\ ZLWK WKH PRVW GLIÀFXOW Page 18 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

hike. The trails were very easy to follow, for there were two-inch-by-six-inch blazes marking the trail along the way. This all sounded very sensible to me at the time.

When we returned each day, we cooked quick meals in the oven or hot dogs over WKH JULOO IRU WKH JUDQGV )ULGD\ ÀQDOO\ came, and I was a little nervous. I had nevHU ZDONHG ÀIWHHQ PLOHV PXFK OHVV ÀIWHHQ miles of strenuous mountain trails; but they convinced me I could do it. We began at 7:30 a.m.; and much to my surprise, the trail began straight up (about three miles VWUDLJKW XS WR EH H[DFW 7KH ÀUVW PLOH I thought I would die; the second mile, I knew I was going to die; and the last mile, I wished I would die! After about two hours, the hike actually became a lot easier; and by the end, I don’t know why, but it didn’t really bother me. (I think I had lost all sense of feeling.)

At mile twelve, we had an option to quit or continue on; but, of course, fools that we

DUH ZH FRQWLQXHG RQ 7KH ODVW ÀYH DQG D half miles were very rough with torrential UDLQV DQG ZH WKRXJKW ZH ZRXOG QHYHU ÀQish. At last, we reached the end of the trail; but unfortunately, that was not the end of our hike. We had about three or four more miles before we reached our destination.

Finally, at 6:00 p.m., we reached the restaurant where we were to meet my husband, daughter-in-law, and grands. We were very tired, very sore, and very, very wet; but we all had a sense of accomplishment that we had walked over seventeen miles. David later told us our trek that day usually was a two-day hike, and we did it in one day to prove to some guy in a store that we could.

I left with my mind made up that, if I didn’t do the complete trail, I at least would do every state. That leaves me about 2,145 miles or twelve states. I think I had better start planning my vacations, or I will never check this off my bucket list. Happy trails!

Both of the following recipes are from the January issue of Southern Living and would be perfect for any vacation.

Sue Purvis made the chicken recipe but added more carrots. She said it was not only delicious but also quick and easy, especially the clean-up. The salmon recipe is now a favorite of Marcia and Carl Passman, and she claims that its cleanup also is super quick.

ONE PAN CHICKEN WITH CARROTS AND POTATOES 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 pounds) 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper [LHZWVVU Ă„ULS` JOVWWLK MYLZO YVZLmary V\UJL WHJRHNL Ă„UNLYSPUN WV[H[VLZ halved 8 ounces small carrots, with tops 1 large sweet onion, cut into 8 wedges Vegetable cooking spray Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub chicken thighs evenly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir together salt, pepper, and rosemary in a small bowl. Sprinkle chicken thighs evenly with 3 teaspoons of the salt mixture. Stir together potatoes, carrots, and onions in a large bowl. Drizzle with remaining olive oil, and sprinkle with remaining salt mixture; toss to coat.

Spread potato mixture in an even layer in a lightly greased (with cooking spray), heavy-duty aluminum-foil-lined sheet pan. Place chicken thighs 2 to 3 inches apart on potato mixture. Bake for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 170 degrees.

ONE PAN HONEY AND SOY-GLAZED SALMON 4 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon seasoned rice wine vinegar 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper 1 pound fresh medium asparagus 8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed 1 small orange, cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper V\UJL MYLZO ZHSTVU Ă„SSL[Z Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Preheat broiler with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Whisk together honey and next 4 inNYLKPLU[Z PU H ZTHSS IV^S :UHW VɈ HUK KPZJHYK [V\NO LUKZ VM HZWHYHN\Z 7SHJL HZWHYHN\Z green beans, and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; and toss to coat. Place salmon in center of a heavy-duty aluminum-foil-lined sheet pan. Brush salmon with about 2 tablespoons honey mixture. Spread asparagus mixture around salmon. Broil for 4 minutes; remove from oven, and brush salmon with about 2 tablespoons of the honey mixture. Return to oven, and broil 4 minutes more. Remove from oven, and brush salmon with remaining honey mixture. Return to oven, and broil 2 minutes more. Serve immediately.

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This recipe is from one of my all-time favorite recipes created by my daughter-in-law and her sister for their mother one Mother’s Day. I would love one of these with family recipes (hint, hint girls). You can always buy lemon curd at the grocery store or specialty food store to make this simple. It is not quite as good but is much quicker.

LEMON CURD TRIFLE WITH FRESH BERRIES 6 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar 4 lemons, zested and juiced 1 stick unsalted butter, cut in chunks 1 pint fresh strawberries, stemmed and halved lengthwise 1 pint fresh blueberries 1 pint fresh black berries 2 cups sweetened whipped cream 1 prepared sour cream pound cake, sliced 1/2 cup Lemoncello or Grand Marnier liqueur (optional) Fresh mint leaves for garnish

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Bring a pot of water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Combine the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a metal or glass heat-resistant bowl; and whisk until smooth. Set the bowl over the water, without letting the bottom touch; and continue to whisk.

Keep working out that arm, and whisk it vigorously for a good 10 minutes until the curd has doubled in volume and is very thick and yellow. Don’t let it boil. Remove the bowl from the heat; and whisk in the butter, a couple of chunks at a time, until melted. Refrigerate \U[PS [OL J\Z[HYK PZ JVSK HUK ÄYT Put the berries in a mixing bowl and toss them together so they are evenly distributed. Fold the whipped cream into the chilled SLTVU J\YK [V SPNO[LU P[ \W PU[V H TV\ZZL 3PUL H NSHZZ [YPÅL IV^S ^P[O WPLJLZ VM WV\UK JHRL [V Ä[ +YPaaSL VY IY\ZO [OL JHRL ^P[O [OL Lemoncello, spoon a layer of the lemon curd over the cake, and then a layer of the mixed berries. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are used; the last layer looks best if it is the berries. Chill before serving. Garnish with fresh mint.

Several years ago my daughter-in-law, Stacey, along with her mother and sister, attended Paula Dean’s cooking class in Savannah. One of Stacey’s favorite recipes is the Watermelon Salad, and emerging summertime is the perfect time of year for this cool and refreshing fruit.

WATERMELON SALAD WITH MINT LEAVES 1 5-pound watermelon 1 Vidalia or other sweet onion 1/4 cup red wine vinegar Salt and pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 6 whole mint sprigs Mix all ingredients together with the watermelon cut into bite-size pieces.

We always cook hot dogs for the children and usually have more than half the bag of buns left over. This is the perfect way to use those buns and not throw them out the last day of suggested use since they stay fresh the whole vacation. This recipe is from the Newellton Garden Club Cookbook.

HOT DOG BREAD STICKS 2 packages of hot dog buns 1 large bottle Wishbone Italian Dressing 1 small can Parmesan cheese Split buns and spread with dressing.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut each half in half lengthwise. Bake in 200-degree oven for 2 hours or longer. These will keep well in a covered container for a long time.

Becky Junkin, mother of four and grandmother of eight, is a lifelong Natchez resident, a retired elePHQWDU\ WHDFKHU RI WZHQW\ IRXU \HDUV DQG FHUWLĂ€HG Pilates instructor.

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THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Birthday Party for Mims

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amily and friends celebrated Robert Mims’ ninety-fifth birthday Saturday, February 20, 2016, at his business, Robert Mims & Sons Jewelers, in downtown Natchez, Mississippi. Mims, born in Jackson, Mississippi, has been an active jeweler in Natchez since moving there in 1952. Photography by Bill Perkins

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1 Bob Mims, Lane Smith, Nancy Mims McLeod, Avery Tye Smith, Boo Mims, and Sawyer Kate Dollar 2 Boo Mims and Sawyer Tate Dollar 3 Bob Mims, Cynthia Parker Brumfield, and Richard Parker 4 Becky Blanton and Diane Holland Henderson with Mims, Meagan, and Robbie McLeod 5 Kathy Barnes, Victoria Allen, and Robbie McLeod 6 Tye Mims, Matt Barnes, Ginger Mims, and Kathy Barnes 7 Genny Harrison, Bill Wrape, and Bob Mims 8 Avery Tye Smith, Katherine McLeod Smith, Meagan McLeod, Fletcher Mims, Nancy Mims McLeod, and Whitney and Sawyer Kate Dollar

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9 Barbara Rodriguez, Bob Mims, and Richard Parker 10 Bill Wrape, Genny Harrison, and Tye Mims 11 Fletcher and Bob Mims 12 Helen Smith and Nancy Mims McLeod 13 Faye Piazza and Bill Perkins 14 Fletcher Mims and Avery Tye Smith 15 Robbie McLeod and Lane Smith 16 Ginger Mims and Victoria Allen

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THE social SCENE VICKSBURG, MS

Annual Lebanese Dinner

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t. George Antiochian Orthodox Church held its fifty-fifth annual Lebanese dinner February 29, 2016. The Vicksburg, Mississippi, community enjoyed a feast featuring traditional fare, such as kibbee and stuffed cabbage rolls, as well as a variety of desserts for sale.

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1 Martha Smith, Marge Schoen, Fran Allen, and Jan and Bob Brasfield 2 Renee and Mike Turner 3 Misty Jabour, Megan Holland, and Courtney Tuminello 4 Mark, Judy and Anne Elizabeth Buys 5 Sue and Melissa McLain 6 Kimball Bufkin and Carol Duncan 7 Jan Whatley, Harold Whatley, and Marlene Morris

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Janet and A. C. Currie Suzanne Hull and Haylee Nix Grace and Jim Westbrook Margaret Thames, Stacey Massey, and Kevin Mahoney

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THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MS

Reception for Featured Artist Taylor

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rtsNatchez hosted a “featured artist” reception during Second Saturday in downtown Natchez, Mississippi, on March 12, 2016, in the ArtsNatchez Gallery. The featured artist of the month was Tom Taylor who exhibited his current collection of oil photographs. Guests visited with Taylor, enjoyed spirits and hors d’oeuvres, and viewed the different artists’ exhibits.

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1 Sandy and Tom Taylor, Jerry Dixon, and Phillipp and Hanel Isabelle 2 Cappy Stahlman and Sandy Taylor 3 Kay and Ron Jenkins with Connie Burns 4 Kim and Kathleen King with Ginny Mackey Graham

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7 5 Cappy Stahlman, Sandy and Tom Taylor with Louise and Ben Ledbetter 6 Kimmy and Jon Purple 7 Judy and Randy Busick

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LEGAL NOTES

BY

Becoming the Bank I

f you have looked around lately, you may have noticed how much real estate there is for sale. I have talked with several area realtors and learned very few homes and land are selling in the Southwest Mississippi area.

Today, the government has imposed pretty strict regulations that sometimes prohibit a would-be borrower from qualifying for a loan to purchase property.

While interest rates are still very low, a lot of people simply do not qualify to borrow the money; and thus, a good bit of real estate just sits on the market.

2QH VROXWLRQ WR WKH Ă€QDQFLDO KXUGOH LV WKH FRQFHSW RI RZQHU Ă€QDQFLQJ 6LPSO\ put, the land or homeowner can act as a bank with interest rates sometimes better WKDQ WKDW RI &HUWLĂ€FDWHV RI 'HSRVLW 2ZQHU Ă€QDQFLQJ ZLOO QRW ZRUN LI IRU H[ample, the property owner has an outstanding mortgage of the property. Virtually all mortgages have what is called a “due on saleâ€? clause. This means that, if the property owner sells his home or land while there is a mortgage, the mortgage holder has the right to accelerate the entire indebtedness and call the loan in immediately. This means that the property owner must pay off Page 28 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

the complete balance due on the mortgage.

However, assuming a real estate owner owns a home that is debt free and the buyer wishes to buy the home but cannot secure ÀQDQFLQJ WKHQ RZQHU ÀQDQFLQJ LV D JUHDW deal for both parties.

There are two ways to effectuate the sale and purchase of a property with owner ÀQDQFLQJ 7KH ÀUVW LV DQ RXWULJKW VDOH LQ which the seller signs a deed to the buyer; and the buyer, in turn, provides the seller with a deed of trust or mortgage and signs a promissory note to the seller. In most norPDO RZQHU ÀQDQFLQJ VFHQDULRV WKH EX\HU will put down anywhere from 10% to 25% RI WKH SXUFKDVH SULFH DQG WKH EDODQFH LV Ànanced usually at the current rates of anywhere from 4% to 6%.

The length of the term of the mortgage can be for as long as the seller wishes or the buyer can afford. Obviously, a longer agreement equals a lesser amount of monthly payments; but more interest will be paid over the long haul. I have seen RZQHU ÀQDQFLQJ JR DQ\ZKHUH IURP ÀYH WR WZHQW\ ÀYH \HDUV If the buyer defaults on the loan, the seller would conduct a standard self-help foreclosure; but he or she should always

Lucien C. Gwin III

consult an attorney when doing this. If the foreclosure goes through, the seller is allowed to keep all monies paid to him by the buyer, gets the home or land back, and may also seek the payment of any attorneys’ fees that he had to cover through the foreclosure process. :KHQ , DGYLVH FOLHQWV RQ RZQHU Ă€QDQFing, I prefer that the seller or buyer use the deed/deed of trust approach. It is easier and cheaper to put together, and the law in Mississippi is very well established for this W\SH RI Ă€QDQFLDO DUUDQJHPHQW 7KH VHFRQG ZD\ WR HIIHFWXDWH RZQHU Ă€nancing of real estate is with an “installment sales contract.â€? This method is a contract between the seller and buyer of real property whereby the same general terms are contained in the sale contract.

The sale price is agreed to, and generally the buyer puts in the same requisite down payment of 10% to 25% and the remainLQJ EDODQFH LV ÀQDQFHG DW UDWHV DQ\ZKHUH from 4% to 6% and anywhere from 5 to 25 years.

The big difference here is that the title to the property is not transferred into the buyer’s name until after the purchase price has been paid in full. With the title not transferring, the buyer can realize a more expensive proposition. First, if the buyer does not own the property but only has a contract to purchase the property, then he does not qualify for homestead exemptions on his property taxes. This is normally a substantial savings, especially over a period of several years. Also, the buyer under an installment sales contract generally cannot qualify for a homeowners policy and would instead qualify for a renters policy which sometimes can be more expensive.

In both, the mortgage and the installPHQW VDOHV FRQWUDFW IRUPV RI ÀQDQFLQJ the buyer is responsible for keeping up and paying the property taxes and insurance on the property.

One potential pitfall of the installment sales contract method is that, after the buyer has paid off all amounts, he still has to ÀQG WKH VHOOHU LQ RUGHU IRU WKH VHOOHU WR JLYH him a deed of ownership for the property.

I have seen more than once a situation in which the seller has died and the buyer had to deal with the seller’s estate (which can be tricky) in order to get a deed executed and delivered.

My Take: , WKLQN RZQHU ÀQDQFLQJ LV D JRRG RStion for sellers and buyers when a bank FDQQRW RIIHU LPPHGLDWH ÀQDQFLQJ LQ FDVK If the seller can afford to sit on his property for several years, he can realize more interest income than a savings account. $GGLWLRQDOO\ RZQHU ÀQDQFLQJ LV XVXDOO\ D very safe investment for both sides.

Lucien C. “Sam� Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspects of the law at the firm of Gwin, Lewis, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 29

THE wedding SCENE WOODVILLE, MS

Engagement Party for Netterville and Whetstone

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n engagement party took place on February 27, 2016, at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Bob Lewis in Woodville, Mississippi, in honor of the upcoming marriage of Mary Claire Netterville and Hayden Whetstone.

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1 Hayden Whetstone and Mary Claire Netterville 2 Justin Bellue, Hayden Whetstone, Mary Claire Netterville, and Kamrie Baggett 3 Lill Tanner, Hayden Whetstone, Mary Claire Netterville, and Joe and Gin Brian 4 Seth and Leighton Netterville with Bob Lewis 5 Justin Bellue, Jennings Field, Cody Jenkins, Ben Lewis, and Hayden Holden 6 Raven Lewis and Ida Whetstone 7 Randy, Laura Ann, and Hayden Whetstone with Mary Claire, Jan, and Charlie Netterville 8 Hayden Holden, Edine Seal, Hayden Whetstone, and Mary Claire Netterville 9 Caurie and Chris Norris, Matthew Netterville, Hayden Whetstone, and Mary Claire and Lindsey Netterville 10 Hayden Whetsone, Tommie Jo Blackmon, and Mary Claire Netterville 11 Brooke Warrington, Lill Tanner, Emily Lewis, Kathleen Rouprich, Frances Daniel, Carly Mingee, and Amanda Cavin 12 Raven Lewis, Jan Netterville, Lili Lewis, Gena Sessions, and Edine Seal

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12

THEwedding SCENE

WOODVILLE, MS

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13 Justin Bellue, Hayden Whetstone, and Josh Prince 14 Jennie Netterville, Ann Fairly Barnett, Jackie Gledhill, Mary Claire Netterville, Hayden Whetstone, and Claudia Estes 15 Lill Tanner and Mary Claire Netterville 16 Virginia Whetstone, Mary Claire and Leighton Netterville, and Kamrie Baggett 17 Jan Netterville, Hayden Whetstone, and Mary Claire and Charlie Netterville 18 Laura Ann Whetstone with Casey and Kayla Howard 19 Charlie Netterville, Dr. Jennings Owens, and Andy Lewis 20 Hayden Whetstone, Mary Claire Netterville, Hayden Holden, and Taylor Wilkinson

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 31

IN THE GARDEN

BY

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

The Variety of Basil I

f there is an herb that my wife and I love to grow, it has to be basil. There is nothing better for the hot months because it is gorgeous in any landscape and really delicious for fresh summer meals.

Many gardeners only think of this herb as being the sweet Italian basil. For the beginning gardener, that variety is most likely the basil of choice. It is versatile in the kitchen and pretty nonthreatening for the novice. But for experienced gardeners, the world of basil is seemingly endless. There is a wide range of basils to explore for the more adventurous. There are many leaf sizHV WH[WXUHV DQG EHOLHYH LW RU QRW à RZHUV Cinnamon, licorice, lemon, and lime—you can’t imagine all the different aromas.

I start to miss the fresh garden lettuce on hamburgers and sandwiches when we get Page 32 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

into the summer months. One of my absolute favorite basils has to be the lettuce-leaf YDULHW\ ZLWK LWV UXIĂ HG OHDYHV WKDW DUH DV ELJ as my hand. A single leaf adds a new twist to the standard sandwich.

Compared to other garden herbs, basil is a tough landscape plant. As a testament, 3XUSOH 5XIĂ HV ZDV QDPHG D 0LVVLVVLSSL Medallion winner. The deep-purple leaves are very fragrant. Uses include fresh garnish or color in salads.

A variety I like is Dark Opal. This is a beautiful selection that has a variable, mottled, dark-purple appearance; no two plants are the same. Dark Opal was an All-America Selection in 1962 and is still a winner.

Thai basil varieties like Queenette and the heirloom Cardinal—with their beautiful,

Basil is delicious for summer meals and easy to grow. Its variety of shapes and sizes makes the plant an excellent addition to the perennial garden, shrub border or container garden.

bright-green foliage that contrasts with dark-purple stems—have delicious and exRWLF FLQQDPRQ DQG OLFRULFH à DYRUV DQG DURmas. Siam Queen is a Thai basil with beautiIXO à RZHUV WKDW EHJLQ DV WLJKW SXUSOH EXQFKes. These make good cuttings when collectHG DV WKH ZKLWH à RZHUV VWDUW WR HPHUJH 7KH à RZHUV ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR RSHQ LQ WKH YDVH DQG will stay fresh for at least a week.

Basil thrives when grown in raised beds planted in well-drained soil, but the roots need consistent moisture. Water deeply each week and use a good-quality mulch to help conserve soil moisture and keep

the soil cooler. We like to grow our basil in subirrigated Earthboxes. Growing in containers is a superb option when you have limited space. Placing containers on the porch or patio keeps them near your outdoor living area and makes them handy for fresh summer recipes.

Regardless of the variety of basil you want to grow, the plant can be as pretty as D FROHXV LQ WKH Ă RZHUEHG %DVLO LV LQFUHGLbly easy to grow; and the variety of shapes and sizes makes it an excellent addition to the perennial garden, shrub border, or container garden. Basil can be tucked into unused garden corners, displayed among YHJHWDEOHV HGJHG DORQJ D Ă RZHU JDUGHQ or grown in mixed containers where its handsome foliage contrasts with bouquets RI FRORUIXO Ă RZHUV My wife and I like to enjoy our fresh basil all summer long and miss it once

6LDP 4XHHQ LV D 7KDL EDVLO ZLWK SXUSOH Ă RZHUV DQG D OLFRULFH DURPD DQG Ă DYRU

the temperatures start falling in autumn.

Here’s a tip for saving the summer harvest to use in the winter months. Using a food processor, take your extra basil and combine with olive oil. Place about half a cup in a freezer bag, press the bag out à DW DQG VWRUH LW LQ WKH IUHH]HU ,W GRHVQ¡W take up much room and can make any recipe extra special.

A word of caution is needed here. The garden centers will have the basic basils.

To become a basil explorer, you will need to become a basil grower. The catalogs are full of amazing varieties to try.

Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 33

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THE social SCENE

1 First row—Kathie Blankenstein, Susannah Heatherly, Mary Kathryn Carpenter, and Pepper Taylor; second row—Abagail Washington, Aimee Guido, Anne MacNeil, and Marsha Colson; third row—Courtney Taylor, Vidal Blankenstein, Jennifer Slover, and Ann Paradise; fourth row—Daye Dearing, Anne Stowers, Laura Burns, Megan Guido, and Paige Carter 2 Pepper Taylor, Ann Paradise, Jennifer Slover, Julia Rachel Kuehnle, and Mary Kathryn Carpenter 3 Pepper Taylor, Julia Rachel Kuehnle, and Aimee Guido 4 Emily and Mary Kathryn Carpenter with Pepper and Kay Taylor 5 Kay and Pepper Taylor 6 Emily Carpenter and Kay Taylor

NATCHEZ, MS

Annual Monarch Luncheon very year, the past Historic Natchez Tableaux queens of both the Natchez Garden Club and Pilgrimage Garden Club gather to honor the two new queens representing each club during Spring Pilgrimage in the Historic Natchez Tableaux, NGC Queen Pepper Taylor and PGC Queen Mary Kathryn Carpenter. This year, the Society for the Preservation and Maintenance of Aged Monarchs luncheon was held at Magnolia Hall in downtown Natchez, Mississippi, on March 19, 2016. The monarchs enjoyed a champagne bar during a cocktail hour followed by a spring-themed fare for lunch and an array of homemade pies for dessert.

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A

city where so much of the outdoors surrounds you with beauty, Natchez is KRPH WR PDQ\ SODFHV DQG DYHQXHV IRU ÀWQHVV DQG KHDOWK\ OLYLQJ :KHWKHU \RX are a runner or like to take strolls along the scenic bluff, there is something for everyone trying to lead a healthier life.

1. The Natchez Trails 2. Climbing Silver Street 3. Fat Mama’s Running Club 4. The Natchez Trace Parkway 5. The walking trails of Duncan Park 6. Biking with Rock ‘n Roll 7. Yoga at St. Mary’s Family Life Center *ROĂ€QJ DW 'XQFDQ 3DUN 9. Swimming at the Senior Citizen’s Center 10. The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians 11. Walking tours with Tourology 12. Alcorn State University’s Farmer’s Market 13. Yoga at Satya Yoga Wellness Center

14. Tennis at Duncan Park 15. Adult Swimming at the pool on Ellicott Hill 16. Bike rentals from Everyday Adventures 17. Pilates with Becky Junkin 18. Open Air Tours throughout Downtown Natchez 19. Ranger-guided tours of Downtown Natchez 20. Southern Carriage Tours 21. Walking tour of Natchez City Cemetery 22. Jefferson Military College *ROĂ€QJ DW %HDX 3UH 24. Walking in the Natchez Mall 25. Kayaking along the Mississippi River

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 37

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 39

It’s Time to Change the Game story by Anita Schilling

F

or some of us, weight loss is an ongoing battle. Up and down the scales go as you move from fat pants to skinny jeans and back again, hitting all points in between. Weight loss depends on your mindset; you have to be ready to make that commitment one more time. When you reach my senior age, it really is about health and lowering some of those critical numbers like blood pressure or cholesterol. To keep track of all the details, it’s time to change the game!

As a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, not currently in compliant status, I’ve played their game many times since reaching my then lifetime goal in 1975. I’ve followed the original food exchange system and later counted points. Through the years, I’ve learned that the key with all their plans is to plan your meals, track

Page 40 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

or journal your food, and understand serving sizes. Tracking meant writing down everything and the quantity eaten in a daily journal preferably before you eat it so you are accountable and stay within the allotted rule of the day.

Weight Watchers worked for me for years through childbearing age and later when working a desk job, that is, until I lost motivation in the game even though they do a wonderful job of changing it up with new research every couple of years. It’s a bit pricey, too, as are all the well-known weight-loss programs (Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, etc.). What I did notice a few years ago was that Weight Watchers (and the others) all seemed to have web-based presences, and then smart-phone apps. You can participate online in a virtual community and never attend an actual meeting!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get healthy. Our lives have changed with the advent of smart phones, so we might as well put that technology to work to achieve our goals. If you’re older or technologically challenged and have a smart phone, then stick with me. You can up your game with friends and family, in person or online, with helpful, free apps.

While I don’t follow Weight Watchers these days, I still track my food when I’m in “losing-weight� mode. These days I use a free app called My Fitness Pal to journal on my iPhone or iPad, available for iPhone (also known as iOS for Apple’s operating system) or Android (Google operating system). It has a phenomenal database of over six million foods and restaurants; and you can add your own recipes, which is a real plus.

We also know that exercise or physical activity is another key factor in losing weight or getting healthier. If you have one of the PDQ\ ÀWQHVV RU DFWLYLW\ WUDFNHUV ZKLFK FRXQWV \RXU VWHSV RU DFWLYity minutes, you have options to challenge folks for daily or weekly HYHQWV ZKLFK PDNH JHWWLQJ ÀW D VRFLDO JDPH My tracker is a Fitbit, a great birthday gift from my kids, which comes with its own Fitbit app for iOS, Android, and Windows phones. Besides steps, it measures your sleep quality, water intake, general movement every hour, and other exercise. It works well in conjunction with My Fitness Pal as your caloric intake and output also show up. Jawbone is another popular activity tracker which also has an app called UP Moves by Jawbone (iOS and Android). If you don’t have an activity tracker, you can use an app called Steps (iOS) or other pedometer counters like Moves or Noom Walk (iOS or Android). Of course, for it to be somewhat accurate you do need to have your phone on you!

Exercise can be divided by cardio (aerobic) or strength training (mostly anaerobic or muscle building). I’m not a runner though I have walked two half-marathons so most of my cardio is bicycle riding or walking. For those activities I usually turn on Runkeeper or Map My Run/Map My Walk, which keeps up with my pace and my route via GPS. You can select music, set goals for training, and keep a record of your activity. Some of the apps mentioned also have a “professional� level for which you can pay either a one-time fee or a monthly charge, which usually makes them ad-free.

Maybe you’ve tried a free, ad-supported app long enough to know you’ll use it; then, you might want to pay the fee to be ad-free. If \RX¡UH VWDUWLQJ D QHZ ÀWQHVV JRDO WR PRYH RII \RXU FRXFK WR EHFRPH a runner, I’d suggest trying the Couch to 5K app. My other favorite cardio is ZumbaŽ dancing so my Fitbit is smart enough to know I’ve done an aerobic workout and logs it as such. How cool is that!

6RPHWLPHV FKDQJLQJ XS WKH JDPH PHDQV ÀQGLQJ WKH SHUIHFW SHUVRQDO WUDLQHU WR ERRVW \RXU ÀWQHVV WR WKH QH[W OHYHO 1RZ DQ DFWXDO trainer does cost. I needed a kick-start last year, and I was lucky HQRXJK WR ÀQG P\ SHUIHFW WUDLQHU :H ZRUNHG WRJHWKHU WKUHH WLPHV a week for about six months, and then she moved. If you’re not as IRUWXQDWH WR ÀQG RU DIIRUG \RXU SHUIHFW WUDLQHU \RX PLJKW ZDQW WR try some of the free personal trainer apps. These are quite helpful in achieving the strength training side of exercise.

I’ve recently downloaded Sworkit (short for Simply Work It), ZKLFK FDQ EH FXVWRPL]HG WR ÀW \RXU JRDOV ZKHWKHU LW EH \RJD strength, stretching, or cardio; and for whatever length of time you need. If you’re into weight lifting, Strong Lifts 5x5 has good ratings. A Tabata workout is a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout method that needs a timer to do properly. By using Interval Timer (iOS) or HIIT Interval Timer (Android) you can customize for simple or complex interval routines.

Before my perfect trainer left for her world tour, she introduced me to my next and current game, Whole Life Challenge (WLC), which does have an app of the same name (iPhone only, Android app coming for Sept challenge) and costs $49 or less if you’ve participated before or hit the early discount. The challenge lasts eight weeks, you join a team to play against worldwide teams online, and focus on accountability by daily scoring on each of the seven key areas of health and well-being: Nutrition, Exercise, Mobility, Sleep, +\GUDWLRQ /LIHVW\OH 3UDFWLFHV DQG 5Hà HFWLRQ There are three challenges a year, and this is my third chalOHQJH :KLOH , GHÀQLWHO\ VOLS XS EHWZHHQ FKDOOHQJHV , GR ZRUN WRward improving my choices each time, so that some of them stick in the in-between times. Life is all about balance and improvement, not perfection!

Since the WLC game covers all areas of health, I’ve found a few more apps to test in the next round. Mobility/stretching with an occasional lifestyle practice of meditation are key topics so I’ve looked for a good Yoga app—maybe Yoga Wakeup (iOS) or Daily Yoga (iOS and Android). To stay in touch with my buddies in health, I may start a Group Me text group so my regular text feed stays clutter free; it’s available for both iOS and Android. And an occasional lifestyle practice includes happiness so I’m looking into Happify (iOS and Android) as a way to reach that goal. Oh, if you want to keep up with health records or communicate with your doctor, Healow is an option for both iOS and Android.

Smart phones have changed society and our lives. Make them ZRUN IRU \RX ZLWK IUHH KHDOWK DQG Ă&#x20AC;WQHVV DSSV <RX PLJKW MXVW XS your game to move to the next level. Let the games begin!

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 41

A Long Road Back to Health and Happiness f you have ever shopped at Wal-Mart in Brookhaven, Mississippi, you would probably remember being greeted by Ms. Ann Freeman, a lovely middleaged woman, stylishly dressed, each RXWÀW FRPSOHPHQWHG E\ D FRORUIXO VFDUI or pin, and always wearing a sweet, heartfelt smile. She never failed to welcome customers as though they were her life-long friends.

Ann knew so many people in the community because of the years she had worked in the Lincoln County school system, and those relationships carried over to her job at Wal-Mart.

Her genuine sweetness endeared her to the hundreds of patrons who walked past her daily. Ann’s hugs were given freely and often, and her smile was able to wipe away even the foulest moods of the busy, hurried customers as they slowed down, if just for a moment, to respond to her warm greeting.

On a cool November day four years ago, Ann’s day began as any other day, but her life was about to make an abrupt change—a spiral of events to alter the very core of her existence, and challenges like none she had ever faced before. As Ann stood at her usual spot that morning, greeting her customers in her usual way,

I

something very unusual happened: her body began to struggle to stand upright, and a feeling of weakness overcame her. She stumbled and collapsed, having suffered a massive stroke. Her co-workers rushed to her side.

She remembers being in a dreamlike state, able to hear voices and to see faces, but all in slow motion; and she was unable to speak or move. The paramedics arrived, and Ann was rushed to Kings’ Daughters Medical Center.

Doctors and nurses surrounded her and swiftly began a regimen of lifesaving measures. Her family was called, and her three sisters rushed to the hospital. They were certain their dear sister was dying. Moments later, Ann was air lifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Having no concept of time at that point, she still is unsure how long the doctors worked to save her life. She was told later that her heart had indeed stopped beating, but the medical staff never gave up on her. They continued to do everything possible to keep her alive.

by Jennifer Jackson Whittier

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 43

Freeman, pictured with her IHOORZ FRZRUNHUV Ă&#x20AC;QGV MR\ in the little things in life.

Ann recalls nothing of the for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healing hand noise and bustle of the emerto bring her comfort and gency room and the efforts strength. So many came being made to save her. and prayed; and along However, there is one memwith those prayers of her ory that she clings to and dear aunts, uncles, siscredits for providing her the ters, and mother, came a strength to grasp onto the life powerful will to live. that was slipping away: Ann As the weeks passed, vividly recalls her hand bethe progress that the docing held by her beloved Aunt tors and Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family had Willie Ethel and how that speprayed for so desperately cial touch gave her strength. began to become a realNo words passed between the ity. Each day was a strugtwo of them; no words were gle; each movement was necessary. The love that each a harsh reminder of how had for the other transcended far she had to go to reach Thankful for her support system, Freeman is very close to her sister Jackie Abrams. mere syllables. her goal of being whole Her Aunt Willie Ethelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s again. Still, the hope of loving hand held Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throughout the days and nights of her unregaining the skills of speech and movement, which so many take consciousness and gently released it only when Ann began to move for granted, was alive and strong; and her faith never faltered.

KHU Ă&#x20AC;QJHUV DV VKH UHJDLQHG FRQVFLRXVQHVV $QQ KDV QR GRXEW WKDW The daily challenges of physical and speech therapy seemed she had experienced a glance at death because the hand that had endless and sometimes even hopeless, yet Ann continued to work lovingly held hers for so many days belonged to her precious aunt and to improve. The love of her family and her community gave who had been called to Heaven eighteen years before. Ann felt an her strength, and at times her determination amazed even herself. indescribable peace, and she was prepared to die if that was Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s As the weeks passed, Ann became stronger. Through prayer, she will. She feels certain, as she remembers the experience, that her had conquered what would have caused any ordinary person to aunt was with her to give her the strength to survive when her own throw up her hands in defeat; but Ann Freeman is not ordinary, and body failed her. she is living proof of that today. However, her remarkable recovery Conscious, but unable to move or speak, Ann began to pray has not been without its obstacles. in the solitude of her own mind. Her sisters continued to comfort Two years ago, when Ann went for a routine examination, she her and never left her side. Her mother was far too ill herself to was once again faced with a life-altering diagnosis. The physician stay at the hospital for any extended period of time, but other famhad noticed something suspicious on her MRI and told her not to ily members remained with her around the clock. Ann remembers leave the hospital that day. She was diagnosed with breast and ovarthe pain and how the uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks. ian cancer, and surgery was imminent. She had suspected for many Continuously, friends and loved ones surrounded her and prayed months that the disease was growing in her body, but her desire Page 44 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

to take care of other family members outweighed her own physical wellbeing. After surgery, Ann spent ten days in the hospital and was then released to spend several more weeks in recovery. Thankfully, no chemotherapy was required. All her life she had taken care of others; it was now time to take care of herself and begin to heal, to rest, and to enjoy the life that had almost slipped WKURXJK KHU Ă&#x20AC;QJHUV Ann continues physical and speech therapy, and she knows she still has a long way to go, but she feels blessed beyond words at the progress she has made. She is able to drive now, and she enjoys being able to shop and visit with friends. Reading is still GLIĂ&#x20AC;FXOW IRU KHU DQG VKH KDV EHHQ XQDEOH WR write poetry, her favorite pastime, but she has faith that she will be able to write again soon. She feels blessed to have had the love and prayers of her family and credits her recovery to the strength she drew from their constant presence.

As my time with Ann drew to a close, I asked her if she considered herself a miracle. Her answer was as humble as the precious woman who uttered the answer: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indeed! I can smile; and when I smile, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a miracle.â&#x20AC;? Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health continues to improve, and she continues to be thankful for each small step toward recovery. ,W¡V QRW XQFRPPRQ WR Ă&#x20AC;QG KHU DW :DO 0DUW shopping, talking with friends, still giving hugsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and always with a smile.

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 45

On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Page 46 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

On the River k On the River k On the River k On the River

Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Natchez k vidalia k Ferriday k Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 47

Clad in matching green t-shirts, hundreds if not thousands of locals met on the Natchez bluff to begin the work on cleaning up the community.

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Keeping Our City Beautiful story and photography by Jennie Guido

W

ith health and wellness such important parts of our everyday lives, we are mindful that keeping our communities clean and thriving becomes a factor in helping us stay healthy, too. Recently in Adams County, Stephanie Hutchins and Lacy Jester of Southwest Distributors, members of Keep Mississippi Beautiful and Keep Adams County Beautiful, and many others joined forces for a clean-up day throughout the city of Natchez. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The April Second Great American Cleanup Day took place in Natchez because our community was chosen to be the site in Mississippi for the 2016 launch of Keep America Beautifulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Great American Cleanup,â&#x20AC;? Hutchins shared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lacy Jester of Keep Natchez/ Adams County Beautiful submitted a proposal detailing why our community should be chosen; and among the strongest selling points, were that our local program is in good standing with the requirements for both Keep Mississippi Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful, and 2016 is the year of our Tricentennial Celebration. Being chosen for the kickRII VLWH LV TXLWH DQ KRQRU DQG EULQJV Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLDO DLG IRU RXU EHDXWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ SURMects as well as volunteers from across

the state drawing from our partnerships with Keep Mississippi %HDXWLIXO¡V VWDWH %RDUG RI 'LUHFWRUV $IĂ&#x20AC;OLDWH 1HWZRUN DQG WKH Mississippi Department of Transportation.â&#x20AC;?

The mission of Keep Mississippi Beautiful is to bring people, local businesses, and others together in order to improve the â&#x20AC;&#x153;quality of lifeâ&#x20AC;? throughout the cities and towns of the state. Hutchins explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keep Mississippi Beautiful/People Against Litter came into being as a result of legislation passed in 1988, which mandated that statewide litter prevention and education programs be develRSHG .HHS 0LVVLVVLSSL %HDXWLIXO LV D QRQ SURĂ&#x20AC;W RUJDQL]DWLRQ ZKLFK is structured by and operates in adherence to the rules and guidelines of the national organization, Keep America Beautiful.â&#x20AC;?

So, on April 2, 2016, groups and individuals from all over the city and county gathered on the Natchez bluff to kick off the event and clean up the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Selling Natchez and Adams County was an easy job because of the close ties we maintain with the people who regularly particiSDWH LQ RXU EHDXWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWLRQ DQG OLWWHU SUHvention efforts, as well as those individuals who are managing the events in our Tricentennial Celebration,â&#x20AC;? Hutchins added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We invited all of those people; and in a matter of minutes, we detailed Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 49

Mississippiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Transportation Commissioner, Tom King; Stephanie Hutchins; First Lady Deborah Bryant; and Elaine Gemmel work to beautify the iconic Collande overlooking Natchezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mississippi River.

Ă&#x20AC;YH SURMHFWV ZKLFK VSRWOLJKWHG DUHDV RI JUHDW LQWHUHVW DQG accessibility to our permanent residents and to our tourists; and each of the plans would leave a lasting impact on our area.â&#x20AC;?

The projects on the day of the clean-up were replantLQJ WKH Ă RZHU EHGV LQVLGH WKH &RORQQDGH EHKLQG WKH Visitors Center to put the area on its way to becoming a Tricentennial Park; landscaping around each of the three â&#x20AC;&#x153;Welcome to Natchezâ&#x20AC;? signs that the Rotary Club doQDWHG VHYHUDO \HDUV DJR FOHDULQJ RXW DQG SXWWLQJ WKH Ă&#x20AC;Qishing touches on the Community Alliance project river observation deck on the Natchez Trails area beneath Broadway Street; arranging for a major litter and debris pickup from the Forks in the Road all the way to the bluff, covering both St. Catherine Street and Main Street; and SURYLGLQJ ZLOGĂ RZHU VHHGV IRU WKH FKLOGUHQ WR GLVWULEXWH as a way of introducing Keep Mississippi Beautifulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new SURJUDP ´:LOGĂ RZHU 7UDLOV RI 0LVVLVVLSSL Âľ â&#x20AC;&#x153;The focus of the day,â&#x20AC;? Hutchins explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;was a concentrated, joint effort of the entire community and to accomplish several tasks that will enhance the quality of life in our community help bond us through hard work, fellowship, and love for our home. Each of the groups that headed the major projects already knew exactly how to handle the work which needed to be done. The City of Natchez Page 50 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Working to plant knock-out roses during the clean up, Supervisor David Carter helps Kelin Hendricks, CVB Director Jennifer Combs, and Lynsey Smith dig holes in the beds.

Public Works Department did the heavy prep work, making all of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;game dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; projects easier. Our local Master Gardeners took on the planting at the Colonnade. Members of Keep Natchez/Adams County Beautiful, employees from Southwest Distributors, and Rotary Club members took on the Welcome signs areas. Community Alliance members and several volunteers helped with the work around the deck. Monroe Sago led a large contingent of YROXQWHHUV ZKR FRPSOHWHG WKH OLWWHU SLFNXS DQG Ă RZHU seed packets were provided by Keep Mississippi Beautiful and distributed at registration that morning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were extremely blessed to have a beautiful day during which to work; attendance and hands-on efforts by the First Lady of Mississippi, Deborah Bryant, and her staff; and amazing documentary work by Walt Grayson, who aired great footage of our day on WLBT, which brought statewide recognition to Natchez and Adams County. Part of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;take awayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for programs like the Great American Cleanup is to create awareness of taking care of our community and our environment, showing how much fun a community working together can have and inspiring all of our citizens to take better care of the area they call home.â&#x20AC;?

For more information on Keep Mississippi Beautiful, visit www.keepmsbeautiful.com.

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 51

THE wedding SCENE MCCOMB, MS

Engagement Party for Eckman and Brown

1

n Saturday, April 9, 2016, friends of Kasie Beth Eckman and David Brown hosted a party at the home of Stephanie and Jonathan McDaniel in McComb, Mississippi, in honor of their engagement. Hosts included Lindsey and Tom Abdalla, Brandon Andrews, Christina Brumfield, Mike Noriko, Emiko Faust, Beverly and Beau Greene, Jeni and Cliff Greene, Stacie and Mark Greene, Page Greene, Ryan Hall, Margaret and John Hart, Hillary and Mark Mathis, Theresa and Ralph Price, Blake Robinson, and Meredith and Kennon Singley. Guests enjoyed delicious cuisine catered by Jolimar Summit and classic sounds of the evening provided by a local favorite. The couple will be married in September of this year.

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3 1 Kasie Beth Eckman and David Brown 2 Kasie Beth Eckman and Brandon Andrews 3 Kasie Beth Eckman and Tina Brumfield 4 Christina Brumfield, Amber Brown King, Emiko Faust, Kasie Beth Eckman, Maggie Smith, Page Greene, and Elise Brock Reeves 5 Ryan Hall, Christina Brumfield, Elise Brock Reeves, Tina Brumfield, and Lindsey and Tom Abdalla

THEwedding SCENE

MCCOMB, MS

6

6 Back—Mark, Cliff, and Jeni Greene, Tom Abdalla, Kennon Singley, Ryan Hall, Beau Greene, Christina Brumfield, Joe Hemleben, and Mike Faust; front— Brandon Andrews, Meredith Singley, Lindsey Abdalla, Page Greene, Kasie Beth Eckman, Beverly Greene, David Brown, Margaret Hart, Stephanie McDaniel, Theresa Price, and Emiko and Noriko Faust 7 Zachary, Randy, Judy, and Kasie Beth Eckman with David and Carla Brown, Amber Brown King, and John Brown 8 David Brown and Amber Brown King 9 David Brown and Mark Randall

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 53

THE social SCENE VICKSBURG, MS

Birthday Party for Cotton celebration to mark the milestone of Gordon Cottonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th birthday was held at The Old Courthouse Museum in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Saturday, April 2, 2016. Cotton is a well-known personality in the region, being an avid historian, former curator of the museum for over 30 years, and Vicksburg & Warren County Historical Society board member. He also taught history for eight years, and he remains active working at the museum weekly.

His retreat home has been a cabin at Mountain View, Arkansas, where he has many friends including The Leatherwoods, who performed at the celebration. Guests attended not only from Arkansas and nearby states but also from as far away as Oregon, Kentucky, New York, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Indiana. Photography by Bill Perkins

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8 1 Gloria Christianson and Gordon Cotton 2 Virginia Monsour, Ron and Jimee Hollister, and Martin Blough 3 Julia and Nicholas Blake with Bubba Bolm 4 Coley Parker with Brandy and Charlie Kate Morgan 5 Brenda Davis, Clinton Bagley, and Mike Chaney 6 Olivia Foshee with Grady and Lauchlin Fields 7 Clare Bishop 8 Jenny and Mike Gatlin

Page 54 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE social SCENE

VICKSBURG, MS

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13 9 10 11 12 13

Ian and Easty Brown Brenda and P. K. Roberts Randy and Sue Bowling Katy and Jim Watt Bill and Laura Fancher

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 55

THE social SCENE VICKSBURG, MS

14 Deborah Betts 15 Carol and Bertram HayesDavis with Tracey Glomstad 16 Presley and Patrick Parker 17 James and Dorothy Horn 18 Trina Johnson and Gordon Cotton 19 Gordon Cotton and Princella Nowell 20 Gordon Cotton and Isla Tullos 21 Lauchlin Fields and Gordon Cotton 22 Paula Shaw and Gordon Cotton 23 Addison, Bess, Annslee, Emily, and Jeff Averett 24 Pam Setser and Gordon Cotton 25 Brenda Roberts and Bill Perkins

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Page 56 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE social SCENE

VICKSBURG, MS

26 Jim and Mary Elsa Hocker, Carol and Bob Burnham, and Rob Patrick

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 57

THE wedding SCENE BROOKHAVEN, MS

Bridal Tea for Ryan Bridal Tea for Emily Ryan was held at Woodleigh, the home of Betty Ann Perkins, in Brookhaven, Mississippi, the afternoon of Sunday, April 10, 2016. Emily Ryan and Will McCeath were married at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven on May 21, 2016. Photography by Bill Perkins

A

1 Will McBeath and Emily Ryan 2 Katie Lagrone and Morgan Newsome with Emily and Kathy Ryan 3 Jordan Parker, Emily Ryan, and Haley Flumm 4 Betty Ann Perkins with Emily and Nell Ryan 5 Debbie Lagrone, Amy Howell, and Becky Jackson 6 Robin Laird, Betty Ann Perkins, and Ann Griffith 7 Kay Calcote and Phyllis Spearman 8 Racine Reardon and Betty Ann Perkins 9 Tammy Flumm and Kathy Ryan 10 Rachel Williams and Katie Lagrone 11 Holly Alford and Diane Ryan 12 Brenda McBeath with Rachel and Caroline Williams 13 Marion and Kellie Patti 14 Angie Tyner 15 Christel Van Dan 16 Lisa Case, Margaret Alice Lampton, and Katie Beth Case

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15

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THEwedding SCENE

BROOKHAVEN, MS

17 Betty Ann Perkins, Barbara Shedd, Shirley Estes, Diane Herring, Sue Carroll Trantham, Racine Reardon, Linda Kergosien, Kathleen Smith, Linda Campbell, Linda Davis, Sheryl May, Betsy Smith, and Pat Smith 18 Rachel Williams, Margaret Alice Lampton, Katie Beth Case, Emily Ryan, Katie Lagrone, and Jordan Parker 19 Ann Linton, Jeanette Richardson, Sylvia Keene, Brenda McBeath, and Nell Ryan 20 Kathy Ryan, Jean Phillips, and Stephanie Gatlin

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THE social SCENE JACKSON, MS

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi Awards onoring those who stand up to help child victims, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi announced Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and Nucor Steel Jackson as the 2016 Champions for Children award recipients.

The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi began giving the Champions of Children awards in 2012 when the board of directors wanted a way to publicly thank and honor individuals who have risen to the challenge of helping child victims.

H

Kevin VanDeVen, Ruth Wilkinson, Karla Tye, and Jim Hood

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 59

JUNE Louisiana Up & Coming! www.louisianatravel.com ALEXANDRIA June 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW )80& 3DUNLQJ /RW 3 – 6 pm www.alexandriapineville.com June 11 ZOO Day $OH[DQGULD =RR 9 am – 4 pm / Free www.alexandriapineville.com June 11 %LNH )HVW 'RZQWRZQ $OH[DQGULD 2 pm www.alexandriapineville.com

Page 60 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Louisiana Up & Coming! JUNE June 18 -XQWHHQWK &KLOGUHQ·V )XQ LQ WKH 3DUN )UDQN 2 +XQWHU 3DUN Willow Glen Rd. Noon – 4 pm / Free BATON ROUGE 7KURXJKRXW -XQH www.visitbatonrouge.org FERRIDAY June 9, 16, 23, & 30 6XPPHU 5HDGLQJ 3URJUDP &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ Preschool: 9:30 am Elementary: 10:15 am Teens: 11:15 am Free June 9 7KH .LQGHUV /,9( &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 10:15 am / Free June 16 +DPSVWHDG 7KHDWUH SUHVHQWV $ODGGLQ &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 10:15 am / Free June 28 0DJLFLDQ *OHQ *KLUDUGL &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 2 pm / Free -$&.621 www.felicianatourism.org 67 )5$1&,69,//( June 3 *DUGHQ 7RXU )ULGD\V 5RVHGRZQ 10 am (225)635-3332 June 3 – 5 :DONHU 3HUF\ :HHNHQG 7KURXJKRXW 6W )UDQFLVYLOOH 225-635-6330 www.walkerpercyweekend.org

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 61

JUNE Louisiana Up & Coming!

June 4 $IWHU WKH %DWWOH $XGXERQ 6WDWH +LVWRULF 6LWH 10 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 pm (225)635-3739 June 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 7KH 'D\ WKH :DU 6WRSSHG 5RVHGRZQ 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 pm (225)635-3332 June 19 &XUDWRU·V 7RXU RI WKH 0XVHXP $XGXERQ 6WDWH +LVWRULF 6LWH 10 am, Noon, & 2 pm (225)635-3739 June 26 'UHVVLQJ WKH 3DUW )DVKLRQV RI $XGXERQ 6WDWH +LVWRULF 6LWH Noon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 pm (225)635-3739

Page 62 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Louisiana Up & Coming! JUNE 9,'$/,$ June 7, 14, 21, & 28 6XPPHU 5HDGLQJ 3URJUDP &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ Pre School: 9:30 am Elementary: 10:15 am Teens: 11:15 am Free June 9 7KH .LQGHUV /,9( &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 2 pm / Free June 16 +DPSVWHDG 7KHDWUH SUHVHQWV $ODGGLQ &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 2 pm / Free June 28 0DJLFLDQ *OHQ *KLUDUGL &RQFRUGLD 3DULVK /LEUDU\ 10:15 am / Free

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 63

Page 64 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! JUNE www.visitmississippi.org %522.+$9(1 June 3, 10, 17, & 24 )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW 5DLOURDG 3DUN 7 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Noon & 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 pm (601)835-3460 June 4 .LQJ·V 'DXJKWHUV )RXQGDWLRQ *ROI 7RXUQDPHQW %URRNKDYHQ &RXQWU\ &OXE Registration: 7:15 am 4-man scramble www.kdmc.org June 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26 +DLUVSUD\ -U %URRNKDYHQ /LWWOH 7KHDWUH 7:30 pm / 2 pm (601)669-1878 www.brookhavenlittletheatre.com

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 65

JUNE Mississippi Up & Coming!

June 30 7KH 0RYLH 0DUJDULWDV *LUOV 1LJKW 2XW $IWHU 3DUW\ %URRNKDYHQ /LWWOH 7KHDWUH 9 pm (601)669-1878 www.brookhavenlittletheatre.com -$&.621 7KURXJKRXW -XQH www.visitjackson.com 7KURXJKRXW -XQH /LYH 0XVLF &RQFHUWV 'XOLQJ +DOO www.dulinghall.com 7KURXJKRXW -XQH $UW (YHQWV DW 0LVVLVVLSSL 0XVHXP RI $UW www.msmuseumart.org

Page 66 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! JUNE 7KURXJK -XQH The Robber Bridegroom 1HZ 6WDJH 7KHDWUH 7:30 pm $28 / Seniors: $22 www.newstagetheatre.com June 2 – 30 )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW 'RZQWRZQ -DFNVRQ 929 High St. Every Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 8 am – 2 pm www.mdac.ms.gov June 18 -XQHWHHQWK -DFNVRQ )HVWLYDO %DWWOHÀHOG 3DUN 1 – 7 pm (601)942-7182 June 24 2nd $QQXDO 06 &UDIW %HHU )HVWLYDO 'XOLQJ +DOO 5 – 9 pm Advance: $30 / Gate: $35

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 67

JUNE Mississippi Up & Coming!

0&&20% June 9 &KDPEHU )LVK )U\ )HUQZRRG &RXQWU\ &OXE 6 pm Member: $25 / Non-members: $35 June 13 – 17 6XPPHU &DPS IRU .LGV &HQWUDO 3DUN $FWLYLW\ %XLOGLQJ lisa_pruden03@hotmail.com 1$7&+(= 7KURXJKRXW -XQH 1DWFKH] 7ULFHQWHQQLDO (YHQWV www.natchezms300.com 7KURXJKRXW -XQH /LYH 0XVLF (YHQW &DOHQGDU www.visitnatchez.org/full-event-calendar 7KURXJK -XQH 6PLWKVRQLDQ 0XVHXP RQ 0DLQ ´+RPHWRZQ 7HDPV +RZ 6SRUWV 6KDSH $PHULFDµ +LVWRULF 1DWFKH] )RXQGDWLRQ Free (601)442-2500 June 2 'HWHFWLYH 'LQQHU 7KHDWUH 'RZQ WKH 'UDLQ 7KH 3LORW +RXVH 5HVWDXUDQW Cocktails: 6 pm / Show: 7 pm $50 (601)442-9976 June 3 – 5 38WK $QQXDO 1DWFKH] &RPPXQLW\ &DQFHU 7HQQLV 7RXUQDPHQW 'XQFDQ 3DUN $35 (601)597-4711 / shogue@callon.com June 4 1$&+6 3LH 3DUW\ )XQGUDLVHU /DQVGRZQH 17 Marshall Road 6 - 8 pm / $25 (601)660-5268 / suscallon@yahoo.com

Page 68 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

Mississippi Up & Coming! JUNE June 12 7HD 7RPEVWRQHV &HPHWHU\ 7RXU %HJLQ DW 9LVLWRU·V &HQWHU 2:30 – 5:30 pm (601)442-4446 June 20 – 24 6XPPHU 0XVLF &DPS 6HQLRU &LWL]HQV &HQWHU 3 – 10 year olds / $75 (601)807-8281 / kmacking@bellsouth.net June 23 – 26 7KH /LWWOH 0HUPDLG 1DWFKH] /LWWOH 7KHDWUH 7:30 pm / 2 pm $20 www.natchezlittletheatre.org SIBLEY June 3 6LEOH\ =\GHFR )HVWLYDO %HQ &RUQHU 3ODQWDWLRQ (601)392-1030 / www.sibleyfestival.com

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 69

JUNE Mississippi Up & Coming!

9,&.6%85* 7KURXJKRXW -XQH www.visitvicksburg.com 7KURXJKRXW -XQH 6RXWKHUQ &XOWXUDO +HULWDJH )RXQGDWLRQ info@southernculture.org www.southernculture.org 7KURXJKRXW -XQH )DUPHU·V 0DUNHW 'RZQWRZQ 9LFNVEXUJ Corner of Jackson & Washington St. Wed: 3 – 6 pm / Sat: 8 – 11 am (601)801-3513 www.vicksburgfarmersmarket.org

Page 70 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

June 2 – 4 0LVV 0LVVLVVLSSL 2XWVWDQGLQJ 7HHQ 3DJHDQW 9LFNVEXUJ &LW\ $XGLWRULXP 8 pm www.missmississippipageant.com

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Mississippi Up & Coming! JUNE June 22 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25 0LVV 0LVVLVVLSSL 3DJHDQW 9LFNVEXUJ &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU 8 pm (601)638-6746 www.missmississippipageant.com June 25 0LVV 0LVVLVVLSSL $ZDUGV %DOO /DG\ /XFN $UHQD 5RRP 10:45 pm / $20 (601)638-6746 :$6+,1*721 June 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July 22 3LRQHHU ([SORUH )URQWLHU 6XUYLYDO &DPSV +LVWRULF -HIIHUVRQ &ROOHJH (601)442-2901 / www.mdah.state.ms.us

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Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 71

SOUTHERN SAMPLER

BY

Alma M. Womack

Treadmills and Buffalo Gnats

I

always wondered why people would buy a machine to walk on when they had all outdoors available to them to walk to their heartsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; content. And then, instead of walking on it, they would use it for hanging clothes or storing boxes or some such.

Last August, I ordered one for myself to use at night or on rainy days when I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get outside and walk to the mailbox (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s half a mile each way, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t laugh.). It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long for me to become disenchanted with the machine.

For one thing, it made my back hurt worse than it does when , KDYH WR SDFN Ă&#x20AC;IW\ SRXQG VDFNV RI IHHG ,W PDGH D UDFNHW DQG , couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear the movie I had on to take my mind off this endless walking business. If I turned the television up louder, the dogs would start barking at all the racket. It was the pain of the day.

I will still use it if forced into the activity, but I mostly just do my walking outside. The dogs follow along, routing varmints and varlets along the way; and all is peaceful. My little boys think the treadmill is great fun and always want a turn on it when they come.

They think the controls are telling them that they are running one hundred miles an hour, so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t argue. Let them enjoy the thing and get some use out of it.

Our area has been invaded by buffalo gnats, those nasty little creatures that swarm all over you and bite ferociously, leaving lumps on faces, necks, and arms. We have all tried whatever the latest â&#x20AC;&#x153;kill sprayâ&#x20AC;? is for the things; and admittedly, some sprays do work better than others. Humans are not singled out for the torture from these tiny varmints, for they attack every living body around.

The gnats are especially rough on chickens, which really have no way of defending themselves, as other animals do. The chicken Page 72 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

houses and pens have to be sprayed to keep down the plague that these gnats bring. This leads me to a good story.

Larry Crouch also has chickens; and when he sprayed his pen earlier in April, he offered to spray mine, too, since he had plenty of the liquid in his sprayer unused. I agreed, he sprayed, and the chickens got some relief. Then, he came up with a better idea: he would spray the areas with a mixture of crude oil, thinned by gasoline; for the gnats were absolutely repulsed by this spray. +H VSUD\HG KLV FKLFNHQ KRXVH Ă&#x20AC;UVW DQG KDG VXFK JRRG UHVXOWV that he offered to spray mine. Anything to help the suffering chickens, I thought; so I agreed to this new mixture. He sprayed the laying room, the roost, and some of the outside walls; then he went his merry way with my thanks for helping the chickens.

That afternoon, when I went to tend to the chickens and gather the eggs, I got the shock of my day. When I saw the walls of this F\SUHVV OXPEHU DJHG E\ WLPH DQG FKLFNHQV P\ Ă&#x20AC;UVW WKRXJKW ZDV â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helter Skelter!â&#x20AC;? The walls looked like Charles Manson and his tribe had decorated it as they did the Sharon Tate house, long ago.

The liquid had been a bit too thick; and instead of an overall light covering, there were wiggly lines everywhere, inside, outside, upside down. My sweet little chicken house was now a house of horrorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no gnats mind you, but a sight I shall never forget. And it was my fault, for I had agreed to it.

I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rest that night, thinking about my beloved wood, covered in oily squiggles. Finally, to put my mind at ease, I had to remind myself that this was a chicken house, not my house or greenhouse or little red barn, but the chicken house where sweet, but artistically challenged chickens laid eggs and slept.

They wouldn’t mind as long as the gnats left them alone.

The next morning, Larry checked in to see how the solution had worked, and I told him about Helter Skelter. No problem for Larry—he would just dilute the mixture with more gasoline, thinning the crude oil even more, and re-spray the wood so that it would all eventually soak in, making a nice covering for the wood; his chicken house was proof that it worked.

6RPHWKLQJ GHÀQLWHO\ KDG WR EH GRQH VR once again, I agreed. His idea was sound, and the squiggles began to soak in and disappear with the new application. The laying room became a bit darker and a bit smelly, but non-squiggly. I am assured that, in six months or so, it will look closer to its original state.

To end this tale, the chickens are still laying, the gnats have subsided, and I have lived through yet another crisis down here on beautiful, if still too high, Black River.

Columnist Alma Womack lives on Smithland Plantation on Black River, south of Jonesville, Louisiana. In addition to her duties as maitresse des maison, she is the keeper of the lawn, the lane and the pecan orchard at Smithland.

Bluffs & Bayous { June 2016 { Page 73

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-81( -81( Judie Aitken Art Exhibition 601.446.6502 | mdah.state.ms.us/new/visit/ grand-village-of-natchez-indians/

JUNE 10 Civil Rights Commemoration of Ben Chester White 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com

Smithsonian Museum on Main Street “Hometown Teams – How Sports Shape America” Exhibition 601.442.2500 | natchez.org

-81( Alcorn Tricentennial Health Fair & 5K 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com

-81( 0LVVLVVLSSL )LUHÀJKWHUV DQG )LUH &KLHIV Associations 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.org

Miss Mississippi United States 865.617.6887 | missmsunitedstates.com JUNE 11 Second Saturday 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com

JUNE 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 American Queen Docks 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com

Natchez Photography Tour 601.660.7300 | tourology.net

-81( Sibley Zydeco Festival 601.392.1030 | sibleyfestival.net

JUNE 12 Tea & Tombstones Cemeteries Tour 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com

-81( 38th Annual Natchez Community Cancer Tennis Tournament 601.597.4711

-81( Discovery Week Summer Camp 601.446.6502 | mdah.state.ms.us/new/visit/ grand-village-of-natchez-indians/

JUNE 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 Natchez Walking Tour 601.660.7300 | tourology.net JUNE 6, 13, 20, 27 Natchez Legends & Lore 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com -81( Pioneer, Explore and Frontier Survival Camps 601.442.2901 | http://mdah.state.ms.us/new/ visit/historic-jefferson-college/ JUNE 9 Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.com

Page 76 { June 2016 { Bluffs & Bayous

-81( Natchez Open Golf Tournament 601.442.5955 | natchezgolf.com JUNE 14 Flag Day Celebration 601.445.4611 | natchezchamber.com -81( Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc. 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.org JUNE 18 Juneteenth Celebration 800.647.6724 | natchezms300.com JUNE 19 Father’s Day Brunch 601.446.8500 | dunleith.com -81( Little Discovery Week Summer Camp 601.446.6502 | mdah.state.ms.us/new/visit/ grand-village-of-natchez-indians/ -81( MS Economic Development Council 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.org -81( Natchez Little Theatre’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid 877.440.2233 | natchezlittletheatre.org -81( Louisiana Claims Association 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.org -81( -8/< Sadie V. Thompson Era Reunion 601.442.5880 | natchezconventioncenter.org