Bluffs & Bayous Sept/Oct 2025

Live

Presents the 40 th Anniversary

Summit Fall Festival

October 11, 2025

8 am to 4 pm at Robb St.

Alfa Insurance Brantley Hughes Agency

Amazing Flowers & Gifts

Boggs & Associates Public Accountants

Buzy Beez Bookstore

Cardinal Hardware

Country Home Antiques & Gifts

Covington’s Hardware

District 51/Beauty Bar 51

Jimmie’s Boutique

Berkshire, Hathaway Home Services

Dixie Packaging

Exhaust Pro Tire & Lube

The Barn Bar & Grill Country Store

First Bank

First Fruits Farm

Fortinberry Physical Therapy

Downtown summit

Summit Partnership Members

Glory Group, LLC

Gulf South Art Gallery

Holmes Stationers - Gifts & Bridal

Socially Susan

La Mariposa Mercedes Cafe

The Laurel House Bed & Breakfast

Scoop’s Italian Ice

Shelter Insurance Chad Reed Agency

Melton’s Septic Service

Be You Boutique

The Strip Beauty Studio

Oak Hill Estate

Double Raven Designs

Summit Social

Ruby Clay

Pisgah Potters

Friends of Summit

Rustic Charm Vendor Gallery

Southwest Animal Hospital

Southwest Vendors Upscale Market Statewide Pools

Summit Express Pharmacy

Summit Garden Club

Summit Mercantile

Summit Rotary Club

Unique Treasures Vendors Mall

Vintage Girls and That Guy

Wicker Building Supply

Wizard’s Electronics

Le Pointe Steakhouse & Cajun Restaurant

The Happy Easel Art Studio

Scott Video & Photography

Leslie Brewer Family Dentistry

Carolyn Boone

Matt Codding

Brenda Coleman

Keyon Daniels

Matt and Sara Doman

Cecelia Brister

Tara and Anthony Dupree

Nan Felder

Erin and Ron Fortinberry

Steve Gunnel

Cristy Holloway

Gina and Paul Smith

Glory Group, LLC

Dale Hart

Rhonda Hart

Ken Johnston

Becky Kennedy

Carol Ann McMorris

Meredith McMorris

Janice Wicker

Nickie and Teresa White

Joni Wilkinson

Debbie Wilson

Gisele and Charlie Zappala

our team

CHERYL FOGGO RINEHART Publisher/Editor/Sales

JEAN NOSSER BIGLANE Copy Editor

BONNIE DICKERSON Design Director

MELANIE SOJOURNER Sales

SIM MOSBY

from the PUBLISHER

“Clearly, this time of the year is one of my favorites with the beginning of football, numerous festivals, and Halloween on the horizon. The days become a bit shorter, and sometimes we may be blessed with cooler temperatures as we transition with the changing of the seasons. We move from lingering, idle days to academic structure and those sports that are entwined with academia.”

This reflection is as true today as when I wrote it three years ago. Sitting in an air-conditioned office in HOT August, sorting through many fall images, and researching fall events and football schedules all bring the excitement of the season into full focus and anticipation.

This issue is packed with wonderful articles, recipes, parties, celebrations, and college football schedules, as well as our local NFL Saints’ schedule. “Fall Hometown Festivals” in our Along and Beyond section highlights some of the beloved annual festivals in our area, and our Up and Coming lists many other festivals and fall events that celebrate the season.

Our 25th Anniversary Feature is from our 2018 October issue’s Something Scrumptious featuring Becky Junkin’s G’s Fare for delightful pumpkin recipes. We introduce a new columnist, Sim Mosby, in our new Financial Finds section with his article, “A

225 John R. Junkin Drive Natchez, MS 39120 601.442.6847

bluffsmag@gmail.com bbupandcoming@gmail.com bluffsbayous.com

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 not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to ensure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

Financial Plan (or Life Plan): Who Needs One?” In Cecilia Evans’s Something Scrumptious, she introduces us to Quincy Vidrine, LSU AgCenter Nutrition Agent and a Natchoosian by choice, with her Fall Brunch recipes for this season’s entertaining.

Additionally, contributor Keith John Paul Horcasitas entertains us in All Outdoors with his “Clark’s Creek Memories,” delightful adventures in Woodville, Mississippi. Also, we are pleased to feature “Uplifting Gertrude’s Garden with Service, Support and Stewardship” by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority from McComb, Mississippi. The details of their community service are both refreshing and inspiring. Of course, you’ll not want to miss this issue’s timely focus on the beautiful, red flowers that pop up out of nowhere in early September. Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard from the LSU AgCenter explores the traits of this flower’s many species. Sam Gwin’s column, Legal Notes, is of timely interest as well, as he broaches the topic of America’s borders with his analysis, “The Border The Border The Border.”

May these two months bring you a full calendar of fun, football, food, festivals, and must-have moments for good reads. We have compiled for you an exciting and intriguing read as your go-to fall guide, spotlighting the positives, the pluses, and the potentials in life along and beyond the Mississippi

LISA WHITTINGTON Photographer

SAM GWIN Contributor

BILL PERKINS Photographer

CECILIA HOPKINS STEVENS Contributor

DR.HEATHER KIRK-BALLARD Contributor

Contributor

Spring Graduation Tea for Orr

On April 12, 2025, Ainsley Elizabeth Orr was honored with a Spring Graduation Tea hosted by family and friends at the home of Tim and Nay Thornhill in Brookhaven, Mississippi. As guests celebrated with Ainsley, they mingled through the spacious, oak-filled lawn while enjoying hot tea and a mock bubbly bar. Sweet and savory treats were served to attendees as they brunched outdoors on a sprawling wooden banquet table. The morning was filled with laughter and excitement as Ainsley, daughter of Troy and Brenda Orr, began to prepare for graduation and her next journey.

Photography by Betsy Guerry

Addie Myers, Ainsley Orr, and Amelia Furr Addie Myers and Ainsley Orr

Anna Beth Hodge, Parker Aglin, Addie Myers, Ainsley Orr, Sofie Orr, and Amelia Furr

Annaston Poole, Ainsley Orr, and Camille Calcote  Annaston Poole, Ava Calcote, Easter Bunny, and Ann Elise Duncan Bailey Parks and Ainsley Orr

Brenda Orr, Liz Brown, Ainsley Orr, and Nay Thornhill

WELCOME UROLOGIST

King’s Daughters Medical Center and Brookhaven Urology are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Cole Craighead to their medical staff Dr Craighead specializes in general urology, kidney stones, men’s and women’s urological health and diagnosing and treating urologic cancers. Dr Craighead and the staff at Brookhaven Urology are here to serve your needs.

Call 601.833.5713 to make your appointment today!

BROOKHAVEN UROLOGY, P.A. Jeffrey G. Clark, MD | Cole S. Craighead, MD | Joel D. Duff, MD

www.kdmc.org | 425 Hwy 51 N. Brookhaven, MS 39601

mindful

A Financial Plan (or Life Plan): Who Needs One?

The Simple Answer—Virtually Everyone!

Many people believe they have a financial plan while others don’t think they need one at all. For those of you who have a plan in place, that’s great—but take the time to review it. For those without one, it’s time to get started.

Financial planning isn’t just for the wealthy or those nearing retirement; it’s a valuable process for everyone. Most people are juggling multiple financial responsibilities from mortgages and education costs to retirement savings and daily expenses. A clear strategy is key to balancing these demands and securing your future. A financial plan offers direction, clarity, and confidence about your future regardless of your stage in life— whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, a young couple, a business owner, or someone approaching retirement.

Understanding who needs financial planning and why it’s so important can help individuals take control of their money and align it with their life goals. While all financial plans are unique, they typically include the following components, among others, with a brief description of each:

Estate Planning:

This is the process of arranging for the management and transfer of your assets and property both during your lifetime and after your death. It’s about determining who receives your assets, planning for potential incapacity, minimizing taxes, protecting your loved ones, and providing peace of mind.

Family Disaster Planning:

This involves preparing for unexpected life changes or disasters. It includes creating contingency plans and building financial savings to help you and your family weather any problems that may arise.

Tax Planning:

This is the strategic management of your finances and investments to legally reduce your tax liability and maximize your wealth

Investment Planning:

This strategic process focuses on defining your financial goals and allocating resources to achieve them through investments.

Retirement Planning:

This is the process of strategically preparing for your financial future after you stop working or significantly reduce your workload.

Insurance Planning:

This part of financial management is focused on strategically choosing and maintaining insurance policies to protect yourself, your family, assets, and business from unforeseen financial burdens and losses.

Education Planning:

This is the process of systematically defining educational goals and developing strategies to achieve them. It includes various financial methods for saving and preparing for education costs, as well as exploring education assistance programs.

To better illustrate the importance of financial planning, let’s consider a couple of scenarios.

Imagine a young couple with children. Both parents have employer-provided benefits; but a sudden, untimely event could leave their children without the financial resources they need. This couple requires a plan to ensure their children are provided for in a manner they see fit. This may involve seeking legal guidance and securing additional insurance, among other things, to protect their family's future.

Now, consider an elderly couple who have enjoyed a great and rewarding life. They may not fully realize the extent of the wealth they've accumulated over the years. They need a plan to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes. This planning could also help them minimize potential estate taxes, if applicable, ensuring their legacy is passed on efficiently.

All areas of financial planning have implications and may involve more than one advisor. The common thread across all these planning groups is that they provide you with a sense of control and clarity. Life is inherently unpredictable; unforeseen events like job loss, illness, economic downturns, or unexpected expenses can happen at any time. Having a robust financial plan allows you to proactively prepare for these possibilities, ensuring they do not derail your long-term goals. Ultimately, a structured approach to your finances helps to reduce stress by replacing uncertainty with a clear path forward. Instead of merely reacting to financial challenges as they arise, you are empowered to make proactive, informed decisions that support your future. Another important reason for financial planning is that it maximizes opportunities. Without a plan, people often miss out on significant tax advantages, potential investment growth, or valuable employer benefits simply because they are unaware of them. A plan also encourages accountability—it provides a framework to track your progress and make necessary adjustments as your life circumstances change. It's a living document that evolves with you, not a static, one-time project.

Financial planning is a lifelong process that benefits anyone with financial goals, responsibilities, or aspirations—which, in truth, is everyone. From young professionals just starting out, to families managing multiple priorities, to retirees protecting their nest egg, a financial plan provides the guidance needed to make the most of your resources. It helps you navigate life’s uncertainties, seize opportunities, and work toward a future where your financial decisions align with your values and dreams. In a world where financial pressures are constant and money-related stress is common, having a plan is not just smart—it's essential for achieving true financial well-being. Don’t let life’s challenges dictate your financial future. Be proactive, not reactive.

ARTICLE | Sim M. Mosby

Sim M. Mosby, CPA/PFS, a member of Gillon Christian Mosby PLLC, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Mississippi and Louisiana, and an Accredited Personal Financial Specialist as designated by the AICPA.

IT’S TIME TO THRIVE

There’s never been a better time to choose good health.

At Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care, we can help you live well. Our providers take the time to identify your health risks and can help you prioritize good health. Regular checkups and age-appropriate screenings are important to be healthy now – and to stay well in the future.

And because it is about your time – we offer online scheduling and same-day appointments to make it easier than ever to get an appointment.

Make a choice to thrive. It’s time now. Find an appointment at NatchezPrimaryCare.com or call 601-779-8857.

TOGETHER WE GROW

UMB not only lends money which strengthens the local economy, we generously sponsor and donate to local civic organizations, community events, and much, much more. When you bank local, you are investing in the communities in which you live and work, and UMB has been a strong community minded bank for 51 years!

Kenzie Sims, FNP-C Family Medicine

Welcoming new patients

Kenzie Sims, FNP-C, is employed by Natchez Clinic Company, LLC, d/b/a Merit Health Medical Group.

Surprise 75th Birthday Celebration

The Mississippi Team Hope Walk was held on May 17, 2025, at Flowood Nature Park in Flowood , Mississippi. Team Hope Walks are fundraising events for the Huntington's Disease Society of America. HDSA helps the local Huntington's Disease families; and the money raised at these events goes to research grants, education days, and HD Centers of Excellence, one of which is located in Flowood. This year the goal was $18,065, and so far the organization has $17,440 of that goal. Team Turner won for the team with the most donations, and Ja'Nae Doyle won for the individual with the most donations. The walk next year will be May 16, 2026, at the Flowood Nature Park just a few miles away from Mississippi Center of Excellence. Photography by Bill Perkins

Shelley Barron and Hilda Harrigill

Lance and Mary Parker Harris

Paige Jackson, Jackson Brister, Lance Harris, Mary Parker Harris, Hollis Harris, and Hayden Harris

Jane and Doug Smith

Davey Ratliff and Kate Armstrong

Paige Jackson, Heather Sabatini, and Mary Parker Harris

Kathy and Bill Phillips

Theresia Smith, Linda Derrick, Jane Coleman, and Sheila Day

Sandra Rushing, Norman Ratliff, and Stephanie Reynaud

Ashley Davis and Davey Ratliff

Heather Sabatini and Ally Crosby

Kathleen "Kat" Jordan and Kail Jordan

Mike Lofton and Linde McAdams

Dan Smith and Mary Parker Harris

Steve and Lissi Smith

Bobby Faye Lea and Jennifer Townsend

Kathleen "Kat" Jordan and Ally Crosby

Paige Jackson, Sarah Barrett, Patrick Barrett, and Jane Smith

Ann White, Jackie Boone, and Linde McAdams

Natalie Ybarra and Cathy Ditcharo

Betty Ann Perkins and Paige Jackson

Natalie Womack and Norman Ratliff

Lance Harris, Norman Ratliff, and Mary Parker Harris

Paige Jackson and Natalie Womack

Doug Smith and Betty Ann Perkins

Paige Jackson, Jane Smith, Ann White, and Heather Sabatini

Kathleen "Kat" Jordan, Norman Ratliff, and Kail Jordan

Uplifting Gertrude’s Garden with Service, Support, and Stewardship

The Phi Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, continues to exemplify the sorority’s mission of “Service to All Mankind” through its impactful partnership with Gertrude’s Garden, a vibrant community wellness space in McComb, Mississippi.

For more than a year, chapter members have dedicated themselves to the growth and vitality of Gertrude’s Garden. Through volunteer service, donations, and strategic partnerships, the chapter has helped transform the garden into a flourishing space for education, nutrition, and community connection.

Cultivating Wellness throughVolunteerism

Phi Mu Omega Chapter members have committed handson service to Gertrude’s Garden by helping with planting, harvesting, garden bed construction, and regular maintenance. Their efforts ensure that local families have access to fresh produce, gardening education, and a safe space to gather and grow.

Their presence was particularly meaningful during the Juneteenth Celebration held at Gertrude’s Garden where chapter volunteers hosted food demonstration stations and offered healthy tasting experiences for families. Their support helped highlight the value of nutrition and food access during a culturally significant community gathering.

Recognizing

Mental Health through Gardening

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the Phi Mu Omega Chapter hosted a special event—“The Benefits of Gardening for Mental Health”—on May 17, 2025, in Gertrude’s Garden. This interactive workshop provided participants with tools to reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and use gardening as a pathway to healing and mindfulness. The event drew community members of all ages and underscored the chapter’s commitment to holistic wellness.

Natali Moore of Williamson Nursery in Summit, MS, explaining the benefits of gardening to mental healthiness

Valued Community Partnerships

Phi Mu Omega Chapter is grateful for its growing partnerships that support this meaningful work. These include the following: Williamson Nursery; the Pike County Extension Office and 4-H; Gertrude’s Garden owner, Mr. Kevin Brown; and The Alcorn State University Extension Program.

In alignment with the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Margeria Smith, Alcorn State University Extension Associate and Licensed Drone Pilot, shared that The Alcorn State University Extension Program is a premier “Extension Center of Excellence” for limited-resource audiences. The program is “a proactive, responsive, and collaborative learning organization committed to the growth and development of people through life-long learning.” Its mission is to improve the quality of life of limited-resource audiences through education in a time of dynamic change.

Rooted in Purpose

Gertrude’s Garden continues to thrive as a space where education, community, and wellness meet. Phi Mu Omega Chapter remains deeply committed to supporting its ongoing success—one seed, one lesson, and one act of service at a time.

As they look ahead to future collaborations and events,

ARTICLE | Phi Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

PHOTOS | Scott Video and Photography, LLC

Sorority members, local elected officials, and garden owner at the Juneteenth Celebration: Tabitha Felder Isaac, Tammy Witherspoon, Quordiniah Lockley, Juanita Steptoe, Justin Lofton (community member), Geralyn Putnam, Betty Wilson-McSwain, Kevin Brown, and Sheanda Davis

Magnolia, MS, Mayor Tammy Witherspoon and McComb, MS, Mayor Quordiniah Lockley at the Juneteenth Celebration

Margeria Smith, Alcorn State University Extension Associate / Licensed Drone Pilot, explaining gardening support offered through the Alcorn State University Extension Program

Sorority members plant trees on Arbor Day with community members. Lorraine Gayden, Cynthia Magee, Alfonda Renee Westbrook, Melanie Sudduth, Valerie Turner, Janice Samuels (community member), Betty Wilson-McSwain, Juanita Steptoe, and Kevin Brown

June Rodrigue Celebrates 100th Birthday

June Gertrude Donewar Rodrigue of McComb, Mississippi, celebrated her 100th Birthday on June 13, 2025. The celebration day began with Mass at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church with Fr. Suresh presiding. Parishoners served as acolyte, lectors, gift bearers, Eucharistic ministers, and musicians. Afterwards, a delicious lunch was held in Liguori Hall where five of her seven children were able to attend and June was presented with a Certificate of Achievement and a crown. Entertainment included a reading of her biography by Gail Spinnato, guitar music by Steve Cox, line dancing with the St. Andrew’s Family Line Dancers, a comedy skit directed by Andy Spinnato, and several games of BINGO. All agreed—“We want to be just like June when we grow up!”

June Rodrigue

Fr. Suresh

June Rodrigue with Clare Rodrigue crowning her mother

June Rodrigue and Fr. Suresh

Brody Koehler, Gisele Zappala, and Jane Pettigrew

June Rodrigue with St. Andrews Family Line Dancers of McComb

June Rodrigue and her dancing friends

Family members during the skit “I’ve Come to Collect the Rent!”

Fr. Suresh, June Rodrigue, and family members

Ray Pettigrew and David Callen

A Flower for Hurricane Season

Surprise! There was a hurricane, and these lilies might be telling you about the weather.

Have you ever noticed the beautiful red flowers that just seem to pop up out of nowhere in late summer, usually in August and September? Their bloom just so happens to coincide with hurricane season, and that is how they earned their name hurricane lily.

If you are looking for great texture, showy single blooms, and fall color, this is the bulb for you. These flowers make great cut flowers because of their large, unique bloom on a single, long stem. Ranging in colors from red to white to yellow, they make a gorgeous addition to your landscape.

Hurricane lily (Lycoris species) flowers arise from bulbs just like other members of the amaryllis family. The plant is also commonly referred to as spider lily and resurrection lily in addition to many other names, such as magic lily and naked lady, each a particular species.

Spider lilies prefer rich, well-drained, and slightly alkaline soils. In fall or early spring, when the bulbs are available, plant the bulbs 12 inches apart with the pointed end up and their necks just above the soil surface. If bulbs are planted too deeply, they may not flower. So don’t bury the top of the bulb. Each cluster of flowers lasts about two weeks or longer if they are protected from wind and sun. Each bulb can produce oneto-four flower stems, and bulbs do not typically all flower at once. With subsequent rain, sequential flowering occurs.

Red spider lily (Lycoris radiata) is a classic Southern garden plant. Red spider lilies have been cultivated since early recorded history in China, Korea, and Nepal, making their way to Japan and then to the United States in the early 1800s. Since then, it has been naturalized and is now considered an heirloom plant in the southern United States where it is commonly passed on to fellow gardeners.

Red spider lily produces four-to-six orange-red flowers on long stamens that curl upward. Flowers emerge first, followed by foliage later in the fall with continued growth throughout the winter. This flower gets its name from the plants that have narrow, strap-like petals with extremely long stamens that give the spider-like appearance. This variety does best in partial shade and does not tolerate direct sunlight. However, too much shade can prevent them from blooming. This common variety does not produce seeds, helping it grow faster and resulting in large clumps of bulbs that can be divided every three-to-five years after leaves die back and bulbs go into dormancy in late spring or early summer.

White spider lily (Lycoris albiflora) has white flowers in clusters of six-to-eight blooms on 12-to-18-inch-tall stalks with long, curved stamens, making it an excellent cut flower. Leaves emerge in fall and die down in spring.

purple-pink flowers bloom on 18-inch-tall stalks that pop out of the ground, making it another great cut flower specimen for the garden.

Golden spider lily (Lycoris aurea) produces yellow clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers on stems 18-to-24 or more inches tall; and leaves with a blue tint emerge in fall, growing up to 24 inches tall and producing a larger plant than the red spider lily.

Surprise lily (Lycoris haywardii) is one of the few spring-leafing hurricane lilies; and according to Gary Knox, Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Nursery Crops at the University of Florida, it was first discovered in Winter Park, Florida, in 1948 in a shipment of Chinese plants to Dr. Wyndham Hayward.

Surprise lily develops leaves in early spring that die down in early summer. The trumpet-shaped flowers are magentapink with bright blue tips at the ends of petals; and unlike other lilies, it blooms in July—earlier than other varieties.

Hurricane lilies are relatively resistant to diseases and pests. Deer and squirrels do not eat them because of the toxic chemicals they produce. In Japan, spider lilies are used as a planting around rice paddies and houses to keep pests and mice away. Keep this in mind if you have small children. The flowers draw in birds, bees, and butterflies to drink the nectar.

Over the years, if you notice a decrease in blooms, you likely have an issue of overcrowding. Divide and separate bulbs every three-or-five years to keep them from crowding. Carefully dig bulb clumps in late spring or early summer when they are dormant after leaves have begun to fade.

Replant the bulbs in a new place or share them with friends and neighbors. Disturbed bulbs may not bloom in the next season because lilies do not like having their roots disturbed. Newly planted bulbs may not bloom in the first season.

Old homesteads in the Southeast may have hurricane lilies growing from old plantings. Bulbs may be challenging to find. Look for them during summer and fall in garden centers and nurseries.

Popping up year after year just after the heavy rains of hurricanes, these gorgeous flowers just might surprise you.

ARTICLE & PHOTOS

Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard

Heather Kirk-Ballard currently works at the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, AgCenter Louisiana State University. Heather does research in Forestry, Agricultural Plant Science, and Horticulture.

Celebrate the Blooms

On Saturday morning, June 28, 2025, in downtown Natchez, Mississippi, the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) announced their 2025 award-winning honorees during the annual Sallie Junkin Ballard “Keep Natchez Blooming” Awards Ceremony. The Celebrate the Blooms Bash was held from 10:00 A.M. until noon at Smoot’s Grocery during the Downtown Natchez Farmers Market. Natchez celebrates the summer splendor of over 10,000 crepe myrtle trees in full bloom throughout June and July.

Norma West, Mayor Dan Gibson, David and Betty Paradise, Alderman Curtis Moroney, and Leah Hunter, Executive Director of DNA

Chesney Doyle and Patti White

Elizabeth Greer

Hannah Royal, Leah Hunter, and Chesney Doyle

Mary Williams, Leah Hunter, and Walter Tipton

Norma West, Felicia Bridgewater-Irving (Alderwoman, Ward 4), Leah Hunter, Rev. Birdon Mitchell of Zion AME Church, and Chesney Doyle

Chesney Doyle, John West, Norma West, Leah Hunter, Rev. Birdon Mitchell, Debra Mitchell, Connie Whitney, and Herman Ransom. Standing in the back is Troy Johnson.

Leah Hunter, Phebe Winters, and Pokey O’Beirne

Norma West, Leah Hunter, Carlee Reed, and Elizabeth Greer

The Border, The Border, The Border

I am going to attempt to shed some legal light on what virtually all political polls say was the top political issue in American politics in the 2024 Presidential Election: Immigration.

Finding truthful and accurate information on the legal side of this “hot tamale” is quite the feat in and of itself for this simple perplexity—Whom do you trust to give accurate information? The national media? That’s like saying, “If it’s on the internet, it must be true!”! Yeah, right! Actually, I found, what I believe is legitimate information, in Forbes Magazine, which I have always found reliable. Furthermore, it’s a preTrump article that lays out the U.S. Supreme Court’s history of rulings on immigration; and they actually go back to the 1800s.

But first, did you know that the United States Constitution is completely silent when it comes to the issues of immigration and deportation? Congress has passed federal laws dealing with immigration; but as you will see, the Supreme Court is charged with interpreting those laws; and unfortunately, they are all over the board in their rulings.

Let’s ask the first obvious question otherwise known as the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Can the President of the United States just deport illegal aliens from the soils of the United States without due process, i.e., a hearing?

To see if there is an answer, we must go back into court history and the Fortune Magazine article that reports as follows:

“The United States Supreme Court first ruled on an immigration issue in 1889 in a case known as Chae Chan Ping vs. United States involving Chinese immigrants who were apparently undocumented while working on railroad projects and other things. There was an ongoing federal deportation of the Chinese citizens. The Supreme Court ruled that there could be almost immediate expulsion of the foreign Chinese regardless of the fact that they had previously been told they could stay.”

But here is the kicker and direct language from the case that I researched. The Supreme Court stated: “The power of the government to exclude foreigners from the country whenever in its judgment the public interests require such exclusion has been asserted in repeated instances, and never denied by the executive or legislative departments.” That seems to give Presidents of the United States carte blanche in their authority to boot out any illegal immigrant they choose.

Then, there was another case in 1954 styled Calvan vs. Press, wherein Harry Truman kicked out an American GI’s war bride who happened to be German. The U.S. Court of Appeals again stated that the President, in enforcing congressional

law, has the authority to determine the right of an immigrant to remain in the United States, but the President must follow congressional law.

One thing for certain that all agree with is that the judiciary branch of government has no right to determine which immigrants can stay and which have to leave. That issue was decided in 1999 in a case styled INS vs. Aguirre-Aguirre when the United States Supreme Court chastised the 9th Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for questioning the President’s power in deporting Colombian students accused of violent political protests. Of course, Bill Clinton was the President; and we had a left-of-center Supreme Court.

These cases seem to deal with matters of chaos, i.e., war or violence. The issue becomes more muted when the matter is those immigrants who are here for a better living.

Right now, there is no debate that the President has the absolute right to keep illegal immigration from first occurring if he chooses by stopping them at the borders. In May, my wife and I drove to Arizona for a vacation; and when we got to El Paso, Texas, where I-10 rides right along the Rio Grande River, there next to the river bank were parked military tanks. As we know, immigration through the southern border has closed almost completely. I view this as very positive. You may disagree.

But can the President remove illegal immigrants for minimal cause as we sit here right now? He seems to be doing it. I looked up the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 which gives the President broad powers to deport. Some liberal journalists and legal scholars say this can only occur during wartime; however, in 1798 the United States was not at war as the American Revolution ended in 1781 and the War of 1812 was 14 years away.

The exact language of the Alien Act states in Section 1, in part, the following: “That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of this Act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States . . . .”

Can’t get much plainer than that, although one federal district judge has already ruled you can’t believe your lying eyes! Yeah, right!

ARTICLE | Sam Gwin

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, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

Fall

NATCHOOSIAN (Nat-CHOOZ-E-uhn)—One who by choice makes Natchez, Mississippi, the place of residence. Quincy Vidrine and husband Mark fit this definition perfectly having moved to the bluff city of Natchez in 2021, bringing with them a love of great food and a fondness for entertainment. They quickly made friends in their downtown neighborhood and began to share their Louisiana culinary heritage.

Growing up in Avoyelles Parish, Quincy Vidrine learned cooking basics from her grandmother, sharing, “My Maw Maw Julia was a firecracker! She loved to cook and garden and can. She taught me to make gumbo—my favorite—and rice and gravy which is a close second.”

That early introduction to cooking kindled a fire in Quincy and inspired her to attend culinary school at the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. Upon receiving that degree, she went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Family & Consumer Sciences and a Master of Education from Northwestern State University. She worked for several years as a professional chef and caterer in Central Louisiana and had the opportunity to cook for icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

In 2005, Quincy transitioned to work with the LSU AgCenter as a Nutrition Agent for Grant and LaSalle Parishes where her duties included hosting a cooking segment on KALB News Channel 5. In 2021 with the move to the MissLou, Quincy began the next phase of her LSU AgCenter career by serving as area nutrition agent for Franklin and Caldwell parishes and as the Nutrition & Community Health Regional Coordinator for Northeast Louisiana. She has been with the LSU AgCenter teaching nutrition, food safety, and cooking skills, and implementing healthy communities for 20 years.

Quincy and Mark enjoy entertaining in their Victorian home where hosting brunch on their glassed-in porch or in their brick courtyard is especially lovely in the fall. She shares with us a special brunch menu she created to honor her son, Logan, and his fiancée, Reagan.

“My son, Logan, is engaged to be married to a wonderful young lady from Texas,” Quincy explained. “I wanted to create a special brunch menu to introduce her family to a few Louisiana delights but with a twist. As I planned the menu, Eggs Benedict immediately came to mind. But what could I top it with besides the standard ham and poached egg combo? It dawned on me that I had never had Eggs Benedict with olive salad or with any other protein aside

Brunch

from traditional ham. This is where Muffaletta Eggs Benedict was born—a French bread base topped with the traditional poached egg and hollandaise but layered with cheese, Italian deli meats, and New Orleans olive salad.”

Quincy and Mark worked in tandem to prepare and serve the brunch for their Texas guests as she recalled, “When it was time for brunch, things got a complicated. Putting the main dish together was a little stressful; but my husband, Mark, who was also in charge of the sautéed asparagus, just jumped in to assist in building the Eggs Benedict. I loaded each plate with the muffaletta base and poached egg, and then Mark added the asparagus to the plate and gave it all a good smear of the hollandaise. He also added a little cayenne on top "for color" and fresh-cracked black pepper if the guest wanted it. It all fell together perfectly. Reagan is sometimes concerned that our food is ‘too spicy’ for her family's taste, but the cleaned plates demonstrated that our guests were, indeed, pleased!”

For Quincy and Mark, sharing their table with guests is sharing love; and this sharing is evident in Quincy’s fond recollections of the brunch: “So many accolades, smiles, and family stories were shared that morning around our table. I found myself with tears in my eyes as it occurred to me—These people are my family now, and I cannot wait to cook for them again! This is what makes me happy— feeding people. My family, mostly. Anyone who knows me understands that it doesn't take long to be invited into my family. Especially if you like to eat and talk about food while you eat!”

Quincy also uses her culinary training to host children’s cooking classes at her home in Natchez where she transfers her love of cooking to another generation just as her Maw Maw Julia did with her. “The twinkle in the kids’ eyes when they crack an egg for the first time, the excitement and thrill when they press ‘start’ on the blender or food processor— you can't beat it!” she said, and added, “These are things they will remember for the rest of their lives. It's amazing to be a part of that. We recently made a kiddie version of Baked Alaska, and when they were handed the torch to toast the meringue—I've never seen that much excitement and enthusiasm in the kitchen—EVER!”

Enjoy these brunch recipes that are perfect for fall entertaining. Pair with a fruit salad and a sparkling fruit drink for an unforgettable meal.

ARTICLE | Cecilia Stevens Cecilia Stevens (B.A. LSU and M.ED. Louisiana Tech) resides in Concordia Parish, works for the LSU AgCenter, and is the parent of two adult children.

Muffaletta Eggs Benedict

1 loaf crusty French bread, cut into thin slices (12 slices total)

1½ cups Italian Olive Salad Mix

¼ to ½ pound of ham, thinly sliced

¼ to ½ pound Genoa salami, thinly sliced

¼ to ½ pound Mortadella (Italian Bologna)

6 slices provolone cheese

6 poached eggs (recipe herewith) Hollandaise sauce (recipe herewith)

Place 6 French bread slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon Italian olive mixture onto each piece of bread. Spread well and make sure you get plenty of the oil/herb mixture on each piece.

Place a couple of pieces of ham, salami, and Mortadella on each piece of bread. Add a slice of provolone to each. Top with remaining French bread pieces. You can brush a little more oil with herbs from the olive mixture on top of each piece if you like.

Toast in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to serving plates and top each muffaletta base with 1 poached egg. (You may use 2 eggs if they are small). Add a generous drizzle of hollandaise and serve! You may omit the second piece of French bread, if you like and still have an amazing muffaletta base!

Refrigerate unused portions in a covered container. Keeps for 24 hours in refrigerator.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Perfectly Poached Eggs

6 medium or large eggs

Salt and pepper to taste

Fill a medium saucepan (5-6 quarts) with about 3-4 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce heat until barely simmering (between 180-190F).

Crack the egg into a small, fine-mesh sieve set over a small bowl. Carefully swirl the egg around the sieve, letting any loose watery egg whites strain through. (This reduces the wispy pieces or little "tails" when cooking.)

Transfer the strained egg into a ramekin.

Tilt the edge of the ramekin into the simmering water and gently slide the egg out into the water. Slowly and gently stir the water along the pot’s edge in a clockwise motion for 10 seconds with a wooden spoon. (This helps to shape the egg more perfectly while it begins to set.)

Cook for 3-4 minutes. You can test for doneness by lifting out the egg with a slotted spoon and gently pressing your finger on the yolk. Return to water if you prefer a firmer yolk.

Scoop out the egg with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to remove any excess water before serving.

Serve immediately while still warm. Promptly cover and refrigerate any unused portions.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3-4 minutes per egg

Fool-proof Hollandaise Sauce

6 egg yolks

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup unsalted butter, melted

Prep an emulsion blender; and add the egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and cayenne pepper to the emulsion cup or to a small but deep mixing container. A food processor may be used instead of an emulsion blender.

Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add butter and melt the butter completely.

Place the emulsion blender in the ingredients and begin to blend. While the blender is still going, start pouring the melted butter into the container. Continue to blend until all the butter is incorporated. Use immediately.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Sautéed Asparagus

1 pound fresh asparagus

1/3 cup water or chicken stock

2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves minced garlic

½ teaspoon salt

Black pepper, to taste

Wash and dry asparagus spears and line them up on a cutting board. Trim the woody ends and discard them.

Place the asparagus in a large skillet. Add water or stock.

Cover with a lid and steam over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until tender but not overly soft. Remove the asparagus spears, set them on paper towels to dry, and then discard liquid remaining in the skillet.

Return the skillet to a medium heat. Add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic. Sauté for about 20 seconds making sure not to brown the garlic or it will become bitter.

Add the asparagus spears back along with the salt and ground black pepper; then toss the spears in the garlic butter. Serve at once.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

With September comes fall y’all, and that means fall’s festival season is here and now! Check out this array of festivals in our area.

Iron Horse Festival

September 17-20 McComb, MS

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the 31st Annual Iron Horse Festival and Concert! This four-day event brings together the best of music, cars, carnival thrills, and family fun for a weekend you won’t want to miss. We are especially thrilled to have added nationally recognized artists—Jamal Roberts, Keke Wyatt, and MaKenzie Thomas—as a line-up for Saturday evening’s concert which does require the purchase of a ticket and will take place indoors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Mill Venue.

The festivities will kick off with a Carnival and Fair hosted by festival partner Mitchell Bros. and Sons Amusements. Feel the adrenaline rush for all ages with rides from classic carousels to heart-pounding thrill rides.

For more information: McComb Main Street Association Facebook: ironhorsemccomb

10th Annual Walker Percy Festival

September 19-20 • St. Francisville, LA

Good food, craft beer and bourbon, live music, and a great time talking about books and Southern culture under the live oaks—That's what the Tenth Annual Walker Percy Weekend has to offer. Intellectually serious but delivered with a glass of bourbon and a grin, the annual festival invites fans of Southern literature to pursue appreciation of Percy’s thought and writing while attending presentations by renowned scholars, panel discussions, participatory book clubs, and spirited social and culinary events inspired by the author’s most famous works. Events take place at locations around St. Francisville’s historic district.

For more information and tickets: walkerpercyweekend.org

Vicksburg Hipstoric Art Festival

September 26-28 • Vicksburg, MS

A new signature event for the arts in Mississippi! Acclaimed artists from around the country give collectors the opportunity to purchase unique pieces right in the heart of beautiful downtown Vicksburg.

For more information: visitvicksburg.com/events/ annual-events-festivals/vicksburghipstoric-art-festival/

Ole Brook Festival

October 4 & 5 •

Brookhaven,

MS

The 51st Annual Ole Brook Festival, a tradition since 1974, is Mississippi’s premier family festival in beautiful downtown Brookhaven, Mississippi. This year, the event begins with a kick-off on Friday night from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday is the main event from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a day full of fun, food, and entertainment! The festival includes over 200 arts-and-crafts vendors, a KidZone with giant inflatables, and amusements with live entertainment on the main stage throughout the event. The event is free to the public with free parking.

The annual Ole Brook Festival Car Show of vintage and antique cars is also part of the festival. The event is hosted by the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

Facebook: OleBrookFest

Cathedral School Fall Festival

October 4 & 5 • Natchez, MS

Family fun is at an all-time high at the Cathedral School Fall Festival, one of the longest-running festivals in our area, serving our school for over 100+ years! Our annual tradition continues this year on Saturday and Sunday including a petting zoo, cakewalk, mechanical bull, inflatable basketball, midway games, face painting, concessions, and much more! Adult Night kicks off Saturday night including live music and a paddle wheel with lots of great items to bid on that have been generously donated by our awesome Miss-Lou Community! The fun continues on Sunday with delicious fried chicken lunch and Bingo! Come on out and celebrate this fun weekend in support of Cathedral Catholic School and discover our amazing school community and small town draw!

Facebook: CathedralFallFest

40th Summit Fall Festival

October 11 • Summit, MS

The 40th Summit Fall Festival, produced by The Summit Partnership, will be held the second Saturday in October from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This traditional event offers booths with antiques and collectibles, crafts and flea market exhibitors, and 14 food vendors, and is filled with entertainment and family fun. The event will take place at 800 Robb Street in downtown Summit. An additional activity will be a pancake breakfast in the kids’ area.

Pumpkin Patch Festival

October 11-31 • Natchez, MS

Downtown Natchez will transform into a hub of fall fun as the Pumpkin Patch Festival returns October 11–31, bringing pumpkins, photo ops, crafts, and a full calendar of family-friendly events to the heart of the city.

Organized by the Downtown Natchez Alliance, the festival will once again be held in the courtyard of the Biglane Building at the corner of South Pearl and Main Streets. For three weeks through Halloween Day, everyone is invited to visit the patch and to eat, drink, and be scary and merry in famously historic Downtown Natchez.

For more information: natchezdna.org/ pumpkin-patch-festival/

Balloon Festival

October 16-19 • Natchez, MS

The Natchez Balloon Festival, established in 1986, is a weekend of hot-air balloons and outstanding live music that has become the largest and most successful festival in Southwest Mississippi. The festival site is located in historic downtown Natchez on the grounds of the columned mansion Rosalie overlooking the Mississippi River. There are carnival rides on the bluff as well as arts and crafts booths and food and drink vendors at the event site.

Music begins Thursday afternoon, October 16, presenting Live at Five, a free event around the Natchez Bandstand at the River Bluff Park. Friday Events: early morning balloon flight; festival site gates open 4:00 p.m.; Balloon Glow at festival site 6:45 p.m.; Fireworks 7:45 p.m.; and music line-up Velcro Pygmies at 8:00 p.m. Saturday Events: early morning balloon flight; festival site gates open 11:00 a,m.; music line-up Candace Bush Band 12:30 p.m., Laine Hardy 2 p.m.; afternoon balloon flight; and the day’s remaining music line-up of Vasti Jackson 3:45 p.m., Mother’s Finest 5:30 p.m., and Galectic Ft. Jelly Joseph at 7:15 p.m. Sunday Events: early morning balloon flight; festival site gates open 11:00 a.m.; music line-ups The Vagabonds 12:30 p.m., The B3 2 p.m., Kudzu Kings 3:30 p.m.; and an afternoon balloon flight.

Homochitto River Festival

October 25

Meadville, MS

Mississippi is known as “The Birthplace of America’s Music” and the 2025 Homochitto River Festival is going to further show us that this title is perfect for the state! All of the entertainment acts this year are from Mississippi! Some have taken their music nationally and internationally; however, all are from Mississippi.

I-Do Barbeque Honoring Hays and Strickland

On July 19, 2025, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Hays, parents of bride-to-be Savannah Hays, hosted a wedding shower at their lovely home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Friends and family gathered on the backyard patio to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Savannah and Blake Strickland with a charming wedding shower themed "I-Do BBQ.”

The event began with a dramatic and patriotic Black Hawk helicopter flyover, piloted by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jacque Madere of the Louisiana Army National Guard. Barbecue smoke and classic country music filled the air as everyone enjoyed a hearty Southern spread including hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and all the classic fixings with a variety of beverages. A special treat for the bride and groom was a home-made family recipe of Bread Pudding.

Blake and Savannah's shower was more than just a party—it was a heartfelt gathering of two families becoming one. The couple was showered with love and a few playful toasts as they opened thoughtful gifts and shared laughter with loved ones celebrating their journey toward "I do."

The daughter of Jrean and Gene Hays, Savannah is a Clinical Research Coordinator II at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The son of Tammy and Randy Strickland of Osyka, Mississippi, Blake is a Senior Production Specialist at Honeywell in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The couple will exchange vows on October 10, 2025, at The Greenery in Amite, Louisiana, and honeymoon in Italy.

Black Hawk helicopter flyover piloted by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jacque Madere of the Louisiana Army National Guard

Wayne Anderson, Sandy Smith, Sheree Strickland, Tiffany Lala, and Colton and Allison Smith

Blake Strickland, Savannah Hays, Sheryl Schoen, Corey Adams with Crews, Brittany Adams, and Michael Schoen

Blake Strickland and Savannah Hays

Randy and Tammy Strickland, Blake Strickland, Savannah Hays, and Jrean and Gene Hays

Brittany Adams with Crews, Kaitlyn Gervais with Leo, and Kaila Melancon with Jaxon Grandmother Margaret Melancon and Savannah Hays

Karen Montero, Donna Watkins, Blake Strickland, Savannah Hays, Jrean Hays, Walter Passero, and Felicia Willis

Gift in Memory of Blake Strickland's Grandparents Lewis and Jean Wallace

Tiffany Lala, Brandi Smith, Lenea Madere, Blaine Gleber, Savannah Hays, Blake Strickland, Ben Gleber, Malcolm Cook, Otis Biggs, and Josh Smith (kneeling)

Tammy Strickland, Tiffany Lala, Brandi Smith, Savannah Hays, Blaine Gleber, Lenea Madere, and Jrean Hays

LE BROOK FESTIVAL

Spring District Meeting for Natchez Trace District Garden Club

On June 4, 2025, the Natchez Trace District Garden Club, a member of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., held its Spring District Meeting at the Thames Center on the campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College hosted by the Wesson Garden Club in Wesson, Mississippi. A delicious lunch was prepared by Chris McSweyn, Chef for Co-Lin. He served Porches Chocolate Cobbler and Bread Pudding which was a hit with the attendees. Sassy Mauldin, President of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, presided over the meeting; and Dr. Shaun Broderic presented the program "Research Highlights from MSU's Truck Crops Experiment Station."

The Natchez Trace District promoted a "Helping the Community" project by collecting items to be distributed in the Tylertown, Mississippi, area to help residents recover from the flooding in April. At the fall district meeting, members will collect school supplies for this same area. The garden clubs of the Natchez Trace District present at this meeting were Brandon Garden Club, Chautauqua Garden Club, McComb Garden Club, Natchez Garden Club, Northbay-Madison Garden Club, Pelahatchie Petals Garden Club, Raymond Garden Cub, Richland-Florence Garden Club, Spring Lake Garden Club, and Wesson Garden Club.

Dixie Thornton

Claudette Holden, Diane Chappell, Ruby Whitehead, and Sandra Gilbert

Glenna Morgan and Marty Vinson

Sherri Carty, Nan Harris, and Dr. Shaun Broderick

Sherri Carty, Nan Harris, and Dixie Thornton

Bonnie George and Judy Logue

Members of the Natchez Trace District Garden Club

Centerpieces handmade by Jennifer Peets

Charla Jordan and Celia Williamson

Brandon Garden Club

Jearleen Holly

— Something Scrumptious — All kinds of Pumpkin Goodies

In celebration of Bluffs & Bayous’ 25th Anniversary year of life along and beyond the Mississippi, we revisit this article written by Becky Junkin and published in our October 2019 issue. A Natchez native, Becky grew up here where she married her husband, Gerry, with him raised their four children, and lived for decades before moving to Alabama. Known as a phenomenal cook, hostess, and entertainer, she often orchestrated elegant and festive events at their historic home; and generously shared her recipes with our readers in her column, G’s Fare.

“G, it smells like pumpkins!” This was Weezie’s way of expressing that the cooking we were doing smelled like fall. We indoctrinate our children early in this family to love everything pumpkin. Much to the horror of our husbands, the girls and I begin to pull out the pumpkin décor on Labor Day, and it stays up until time to decorate for Christmas. When the twins lived in Pennsylvania, they really celebrated fall up there; and we all became addicted to pumpkin fever. We have pumpkin plates, pillows, real and artificial pumpkins, and towels. In fact, if you name it, we have it.

Spicy Pumpkin Rolls

Rolls:

6 eggs (separated)

½ cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup pumpkin

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

Salt

2 jelly roll pans

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat egg whites; set aside. Mix other ingredients, and then fold the egg whites into the batter. Spread the batter evenly between two jelly roll pans. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool. (To remove cake from pan, you can carefully roll the warm cake up like a jelly roll, using a towel, and then unroll to spread the icing.) Makes two rolls

When it comes to pumpkin spice anything, we buy it and love to use it in all kinds of pumpkin goodies. It doesn’t seem to matter if our family members are not quite as enthralled with the flavor as we are. Even though we have gone pumpkin crazy, we still try to keep it healthy. Unfortunately, not all the recipes are healthy, but I can guarantee that they are good. I hope that you all enjoy pumpkin season as much as we do and enjoy cooking together the following recipes.

Bon Appétit!

Icing:

4 cups confectioner sugar

2 8-ounce cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup chopped nuts

Prepare icing by mixing together all ingredients. Spread icing over each cake, sprinkle each with powdered sugar, and roll up jelly-roll style.

This was my very favorite and is Whole 30 and Paleo. I used the meat substitute crumbles, and no one could tell the difference. I changed the recipe by adding zucchini, yellow squash, jalapeño, and pumpkin cubed (found in frozen foods) and then roasted them in the oven oat 400 degrees.

No-Bean Pumpkin Chili

2 tablespoons 21 Seasoning Salute

⅓ cup chili powder

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt and pepper

1 teaspoon turmeric

3 pounds lean ground beef

2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil, if needed

2 large onions, chopped

1 large bell pepper, chopped

Roast the additions (noted in box below) in oven at 400 degrees, and add towards end of the chili’s cook time. If you add too early, they cook down completely.

In a small bowl stir together the first 5 seasoning ingredients. (21 Seasoning Salute is from Trader Joe’s, and Costco has an almost identical blend called Organic NoSalt.)

In a large 4-6 quart pot or Dutch oven, heated over medium high heat, brown the ground beef in two batches, seasoning each half with a generous spoonful of the spice blend. Remove the first batch to a plate; brown the second batch of meat, and then scoop the second batch of meat onto the plate also. Don’t worry about cooking the meat through at this point—just get a good browned sear on it.

If the meat was very lean, add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot. If the meat was not as lean, drain off all but about two tablespoons of the grease; and don’t use any additional oil.

Stir about ¾ of the chopped onions, the bell peppers and the jalapeños into the hot oil in the pot. Season with

G’s Additions to Main Recipe:

1 squash cut in chunks

1 zucchini cut in chunks

1 purple onion cut in chunks

1 jalapeño cut in half and de-seeded

1 bag of frozen pumpkin

2 jalapeños, seeded and diced

3 large garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 cups pumpkin puree

2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes

a generous spoonful of the seasoning, and some salt and pepper; and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and starting to brown. Stir in the garlic and cumin; and let cook for about 30 seconds until very fragrant before adding back in the meat (along with any juices that have accumulated on the plate), the crushed tomatoes, and the pumpkin.

Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to make sure you get up any good bits on the bottom, and add in the rest of the seasoning mixture. Stir well until combined, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for as long as you can.

Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper as needed; for a spicy taste, add chipotle chili powder (or crushed red pepper flakes).

Stir in the remaining chopped onions just before serving or sprinkle onto the top of each bowl for a nice fresh bite.

From Pintrest at sweet Anna’s

Tailgate Central! Markets

Pumpkin French toast with Whipped Pumpkin Butter

4 eggs

⅔ cup milk (whole, low-fat, or skim)

½ cup pumpkin puree

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon brown sugar (for added sweetness)

12 slices Texas toast, French bread, challah, or croissant halves

Whipped Pumpkin Butter:

½ cup (1 stick), salted or unsalted butter, room temperature

⅓ cup pumpkin puree

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Set a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add a small amount of butter, and melt.

In a rectangular baking dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. If you like your French toast on the sweeter side, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the mixture.

Dip the bread into the mixture, flip sides, and then place in the hot skillet. Cook until each side is golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve hot with whipped pumpkin butter, maple syrup, and toasted nuts (optional)

To make the pumpkin butter, in a small mixing bowl, add the softened butter; and beat with a hand mixer for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup or honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat for an additional minute or until fluffy. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Easy Crescent Roll

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

1 can Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

½ cup pumpkin puree

4 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

1½ cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk (more if you like a thin frosting)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Unroll crescent roll dough into one large rectangle. Firmly press perforations to seal.

Spread pumpkin puree evenly over the dough. Evenly sprinkle brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice over the pumpkin puree.

Starting on the short side of the rectangle, roll the dough up into a log. Cut the roll into about 8 or 9 pieces, and place into a baking dish. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until turning lightly golden at the edges. Let it cool in pan for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Whisk in the butter, vanilla, and milk. If the frosting is still too thick, add a little more milk and whisk until smooth.

all Outdoors

Clark's Creek Memories

One of our favorite summer adventure road-trip destinations with our three children is only about an hour to reach from Baton Rouge—It’s Clark's Creek Nature Trail in Woodville, Mississippi.

It is neat to take old Highway 61 North to reach this treasure trove of outdoor scenery, including a plethora of waterfalls just north of Louisiana in the upper Tunica Hills region. And these hills are certainly higher than Audubon Park’s "Monkey Hill," which we N'awlins natives used to know as the highest point in the Crescent City’s Uptown.

I first found out about this wonderful getaway about 25 years ago when our daughter, Maria-Therese, was involved with the Girl Scouts. During one of the girls' weekend campouts, dads were invited to join a hike along a trail at Clark's Creek near Camp Marydale. We couldn't believe how treacherous the trails were as we made our way descending the narrow and winding paths that lead to the waterfalls.

As you disembark past Pond Store near the Clark's Creek entrance, it suddenly hits you that this is eventually going to involve a steep walk as you begin to take a steady, downsloping trek on a very narrow path. Those trees on each side provide a hopeful safeguard to stop someone from possibly falling and taking a long, dangerous slide. Unfortunately, due to the severe difficulty of the terrain, it appears that there are no optional ADA paths available.

On previous trips with our sons, Andrew and John Paul, we would leave little nickel or penny markers slid into the spaces between the wood on the steps that are provided for those unable to safely navigate the slippery, uneven tracks that appear every so often. It was fun to find one of these coins on a subsequent trip as an indication that we had been there.

On one of these trips, my wife, Maria, joined the boys and me and quickly found out that she needed something to help guide her along the paths. Let's just say that she validated Newton's law of gravity after some rather abrupt,

unintended, and unsuccessful imitations of a Michael Jackson Moonwalk, actually "Slip Slidin' Away" to her backside as Paul Simon would have noted!

At some point along the trek, visitors have the chance to bypass the designated paths and descend to the ground level where, at times, they wade through some low water and a vast assortment of all kinds of rock formations—some rather large. Maria was unable to join us at that level, but did meet us at the first of many wonderful waterfalls that ranged in height from 10 to 30 feet. What a sight to see so close to Baton Rouge!

On hot summer trips to this Southern wonder, Andrew, his buddy, and I would take some great swims in the little ponds below the waterfalls and enjoy the cool water flowing on our heads. A few times, we did spot some snakes; but they were mostly the non-venomous type. John Paul and I also had some fun trips there during a spring trip; the water temp was so cool and refreshing.

Obviously, many others have come to know how great a getaway Clark's Creek is. Due to the remoteness of the area, it was usually nice not to be disturbed by phone calls—but that was before texting and GPS!

After a fun-filled time, however, you always have to be prepared for the workout in store for you with the steep incline on the way out of the trails. I usually had to rely on motivational talk or chasing games to distract the kids from voicing complaints about their uphill struggles and from repeating that infamous summer travel question: "Are we there yet?"

Be sure to put Clark's Creek on your late-summer-intofall plans this year or note them on your calendar for 2026. A great short road trip, it is inexpensive—You'll only pay for parking—and you can actually bring your own food (unlike most parks!). Most importantly, you possibly could be out of cell phone and/or online reach!

ARTICLE | Keith John Paul Horcasitas

For more information on Clark's Creek, visit the Mississippi Wildlife , Fisheries , Parks website at mdwfp.com.

Lee Smith, CFP™, Stephanie Smith, Emily P. Maxwell, CFP™, John C. Bergeron

2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

Editor’s note: The following football schedules were up to date at press time. Please consult respective college and NFL websites for any changes should they occur.

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Aug. 30 ........................@ Florida State

Sept. 6 .......................................vs ULM

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Aug. 30 .......................vs Alabama A&M

Sept. 7 ......vs Arkansas St. (Little Rock)

AUBURN TIGERS

Aug. 29 .................................vs Baylor

Sept. 6 ..............................vs Ball State

Sept. 13 ............................vs Wisconsin

Sept. 27 ................................@ Georgia

Oct. 4 ...............................vs Vanderbilt

Oct. 11 ..................................@ Missouri

Oct. 18 ..............................vs Tennessee

Oct. 25 .......................@ South Carolina

Nov. 8 .........................................vs LSU

Nov. 15 ..............................vs Oklahoma

Nov. 22 ...........................vs East Illinois

Nov. 29 ..................................@ Auburn

FLORIDA GATORS

Aug. 30 ..........................................vs LIU

Sept. 6 ...........................vs South Florida

Sept. 13 ..........................................@ LSU

Sept. 13 .................................@ Ole Miss

Sept. 20 ..................@ Univ. of Memphis

Sept. 27 ..........................vs Notre Dame

Oct. 11 ................................@Tennessee

Oct. 18 .............................vs Texas A&M

Oct. 25 ...................................vs Auburn

Nov. 1 ...............................vs Miss. State

Nov. 15 ..........................................@ LSU

Nov. 22 .......................................@ Texas Nov. 29 .................................vs Missouri

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Aug. 30 ..................................vs Marshall

Sept. 6 ..............................vs Austin Peay

Sept. 13.................... vs South Alabama

Sept. 20 ............................@ Oklahoma

Sept. 27 .............................@ Texas A&M

Oct. 11 ....................................vs Georgia

Oct. 18 .................................vs Missouri

Oct. 25 .................................@ Arkansas

Nov. 1 ..................................vs Kentucky

Nov. 8 ................................@ Vanderbilt

Nov. 22 ....................................vs Mercer

Nov. 30 ................................vs Alabama

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Aug. 30......................vs Toledo Rockets

Sept. 6..................................vs Ole Miss

Sept. 20 ......................................@ Miami

Oct. 4........................................... vs Texas

Oct. 11 ..................................@ Texas A&M

Oct. 18 ................................vs Miss. State

Nov. 1 ....................Georgia (Jacksonville)

Nov. 8 .....................................@ Kentucky

Nov. 15 ....................................@ Ole Miss

Nov. 22 ................................vs Tennessee

Nov. 29 ...........................vs Florida State

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

Aug. 30 ............vs Virginia Tech (Atlanta)

Sept. 6 ................vs South Carolina State

Sept. 13 ................................vs Vanderbilt

Sept. 20 ..................................@ Missouri

Sept. 27 ..................................vs Kentucky

Oct. 11 .............................................@ LSU

Oct. 18 ..................................vs Oklahoma

Oct. 25 ....................................vs Alabama

Nov. 1 ......................................@ Ole Miss

Nov. 15 ................................@ Texas A&M

Nov. 22 ......................vs Coastal Carolina

Nov. 29 ...................................vs Clemson

Sept. 13 ...............................@ Tennessee

Sept. 27 .................................vs Alabama

Oct. 4 ....................................vs Kentucky

Oct. 11 .......................................@ Auburn

Oct. 18.................................... vs Ole Miss

Nov. 1................. vs Florida (Jacksonville)

Nov. 8................................. @ Miss. State

Nov. 15 ........................................vs Texas

Nov. 22 .................................vs Charlotte

Nov. 28 ...........................@ Georgia Tech

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Aug. 30 .......................@ Southern Miss.

Sept. 6 ..........................vs Arizona State

Sept. 13 ...........................vs Alcorn State

Sept. 20 ....................vs Northern Illinois

Sept. 27 ...............................vs Tennessee

Oct. 4 ..................................@ Texas A&M

Oct. 18 .......................................@ Florida

Oct. 25 .........................................vs Texas

Nov. 1 ....................................@ Arkansas

Nov. 8 ......................................vs Georgia

Nov. 15 ...................................@ Missouri

Nov. 28................................... vs Ole Miss

Sept. 13 ..................vs Eastern Michigan

Sept. 27 ......................@ South Carolina

Oct. 4 ....................................@ Georgia

Oct. 18 ......................................vs Texas

Oct. 25 ..............................vs Tennessee

Nov. 1 .....................................@ Auburn

Nov. 8 ....................................vs Florida

Nov. 15 .....................vs Tennessee Tech

Nov. 22 ..............................@ Vanderbilt

Nov. 29 ..............................@ Louisville

MISSOURI TIGERS

Aug. 28 ..................vs Central Arkansas

Sept. 6 ....................................vs Kansas

Sept. 13 ........................................vs ULL

Sept. 20 .....................vs South Carolina

Oct. 11 ..................................vs Alabama

Oct. 18 ....................................@ Auburn

Oct. 25 ...............................@ Vanderbilt

Nov. 8 ...............................vs Texas A&M

Nov. 15 .............................vs Miss. State

Nov. 22 ..............................@ Oklahoma

Nov. 29 ................................@ Arkansas

LSU TIGERS

Aug. 30 ..................................@ Clemson

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Aug. 30 .................vs Syracuse (Atlanta)

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Aug. 30 .......................................vs UTSA

Sept. 6......................... vs Louisiana Tech

Sept. 13 .....................................vs Florida

Sept. 20................... vs Southeastern LA

Sept. 27 ..................................@ Ole Miss

Oct. 11 ...........................vs South Carolina

Oct. 18................................. @ Vanderbilt

Oct. 25 ................................vs Texas A&M

Nov. 8 ....................................@ Alabama

Nov. 15................................... vs Arkansas

Nov. 22 ...................vs Western Kentucky

Nov. 29 .................................@ Oklahoma

Sept. 6 ........................................vs ETSU

Sept. 13 ..................................vs Georgia

Sept. 6 ................................vs Utah State

Sept. 13 .............................@ Notre Dame

Sept. 20 .......................................vs UAB

Sept. 27 .............................@ Miss. State

Oct. 11 ..................................vs Arkansas

Oct. 18 ..................................@ Alabama

Oct. 25 ..................................@ Kentucky

Nov. 1 .................................vs Oklahoma

Nov. 22 ....................................@ Florida

Nov. 29 ..............................vs Vanderbilt

COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL GAMES !

Dec. 6 • ACC Championship – Charlotte, SC

Dec. 6 • SEC Championship – Atlanta, GA

Dec. 6 • SWAC Championship – TBA

Sept. 27..................................... vs Auburn

Oct. 4 .......................vs Mississippi State

Oct. 11 ........................................vs Florida

Oct. 18 ...................................@ Arkansas

Oct. 25 ............................................@ LSU

Nov. 8 .....................................@ Missouri

Nov. 15 ..........................vs South Carolina

Nov. 22 ....................................vs Samford

Nov. 28 ........................................@ Texas

Dec. 5 • Sun Belt Championship – Home Stadium of Divisional Winner

Jan. 19 • NCAA National Championship – Atlanta, GA

OLE MISS REBELS

Aug. 30 .........................vs Georgia State

Sept. 6 ...................................@ Kentucky

Sept. 13 .................................vs Arkansas

Sept. 20..................................... vs Tulane

Sept. 27 ..........................................vs LSU

Oct. 11 .....................vs Washington State

Oct. 18 ......................................@ Georgia

Oct. 25 .................................@ Oklahoma

Nov. 1 ...........................vs South Carolina

Nov. 8 ................................vs The Citadel

Nov. 15 .......................................vs Florida

Nov. 28 ...............................@ Miss. State

VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Aug. 30.............. vs Charleston Southern

Sept. 6 ............................@ Virginia Tech

Sept. 13......................... @ South Carolina

Sept. 20 .........................vs Georgia State

Sept. 27 ...............................vs Utah State

Oct. 4 .....................................@ Alabama

Oct. 18 ............................................vs LSU

Oct. 25 ....................................vs Missouri

Nov. 1 ...........................................@ Texas

Nov. 8 .......................................vs Auburn

Nov. 22 ..................................vs Kentucky

Nov. 29 ................................@ Tennessee

COPIAH LINCOLN WOLFPACK

Aug. 28 ................................vs Coahoma

Sept. 4 .....................................vs Holmes

Sept. 11 ........................................@ Hinds

Sept. 18 ..........................vs Jones College

Sept. 25 .......................................@ SMCC

Oct. 9 ..................................vs Pearl River

Oct. 18 ............................@ Gulf Coast CC

Oct. 23 ..............................vs East Central

Oct. 30 .................................@ Northeast

ALCORN STATE BRAVES

Aug. 28 ...............@ Northwestern State

Sept. 6 .........................@ Alabama A&M

BELHAVEN BLAZERS

Sept. 4 ....................................vs Millsaps

DELTA STATE STATESMEN

Aug. 28........... vs Univ. Central Missouri

Sept. 6 ............vs North Greenville Univ.

Sept. 13 .............................@ Miss. State

Sept. 27 .....................................vs UAPB

Oct. 4 .....................vs Prairie View A&M

Oct. 11 .............................vs Lincoln (CA)

Oct. 18 ............................vs Florida A&M

Nov. 1 ........................@ Texas Southern

Nov. 8 ...............vs Southern University

Nov. 15 ....................vs Grambling State

Nov. 22 ................@ Jackson State Univ.

GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS

Aug. 30 .................................vs Langston

Sept. 6 .......................vs Ohio State Univ.

Sept. 13 ..............vs Kentucky State Univ.

Sept. 20 .....................vs East Texas A&M

Sept. 27 ...................vs Prairie View A&M

Oct. 11 ................vs Texas Southern Univ.

Oct. 18 ........@ Univ. Arkansas Pine Bluff

Oct. 25 ..................vs Jackson State Univ.

Nov. 1 ............................vs Alabama A&M

Nov. 8 ..........vs Bethune-Cookman Univ.

Nov. 15 ....................@ Alcorn State Univ.

Nov. 29 .........................vs Southern Univ.

SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI BEARS

Aug. 28 ...................................@ Holmes

Sept. 4 ...............................vs Northeast

Sept. 11 ..............................vs Pearl River

Sept. 20 .....................@ Miss. Gulf Coast

Sept. 25 .....................................vs Co-Lin

Oct. 9 .................................@ Northwest

Oct. 16 ........................................@ Hinds

Oct. 25 .......................................vs Jones

Oct. 30............................ @ East Central

Sept. 13 ...............................@ Trinity (TX)

Sept. 20....................... vs UW-River Falls

Oct. 4 .......................................vs Brevard

Oct. 11 .........@ North Carolina Wesleyan

Oct. 18 ..............................vs Greensboro

Oct. 25 .................................vs Methodist

Nov. 1 ......................@ Southern Virginia

Nov. 8 ..................................@ LaGrange

Nov. 15 .............................@ Huntingdon

HINDS COMMUNITY EAGLES

Aug. 28 ..........................@ Itawamba CC

Sept. 4 ............................@ East Miss. CC

Sept. 11 ...................vs Copiah-Lincoln CC

Sept. 18..........................vs Miss. Delta CC

Sept. 25 .......................@ East Central CC

Oct. 9 ..............................@ Jones College

Oct. 16 ..........................................vs SMCC

Oct. 23 ...........................@ Pearl River CC

Oct. 30 ..................vs Miss. Gulf Coast CC

LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS

Aug. 30 ................................@ McNeese

Sept. 6 .................................@ Langston

Sept. 13 ....................vs Wayland Baptist

Sept. 20................... @ Hardin-Simmons

Sept. 27 ........@ Oklahoma Panhandle St.

Oct. 4......................... vs Fort Lauderdale

Oct. 11 ........................@ Texas Wesleyan

Oct. 18 ......................................vs Nelson

Oct. 25 ..........................vs Texas College

Nov. 8 .....................vs Arkansas Baptist

Nov. 15........................................ @ QUAZ

Sept. 13 ......................@ UNC Pembroke

Sept. 20 ..............@ Fort Valley St. Univ.

Sept. 27 ....................vs Erskine College

Oct. 4 ........................@ Barton College

Oct. 18 .......................vs Ferrum College

Nov. 1 ....................vs Univ. West Florida

Nov. 8 ................vs Valdosta State Univ.

HOLMES COMMUNITY BULLDOGS

Aug. 8 .......................................vs SMCC

Sept. 4 ..................@ Copiah-Lincoln CC

Sept. 11 ...........................@ Coahoma CC

Sept. 18 .....................................vs NMCC

Sept. 27 ........................@ Jones College

Oct. 9 ...........................@ Miss. Delta CC

Oct. 16 ...........................vs Itawamba CC

Oct. 23 ................vs Northwest Miss. CC

Oct. 30 ..........................@ East Miss. CC

LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS

Aug. 30 ........................vs Southeastern

Sept. 6 .........................................@ LSU

Sept. 13 .................vs New Mexico State

Sept. 20 .....................vs Southern Miss.

Sept. 27 ......................................@ UTEP

Oct. 9 .......................@ Kennesaw State

Oct. 21 ........................................vs WKU

Oct. 31 ..........................vs Sam Houston

Nov. 8 .................................@ Delaware

Nov. 15................. @ Washington State

Nov. 22................................... vs Liberty

Nov. 29 ......................@ Missouri State

MILLSAPS MAJORS

Sept. 4 .........................@ Belhaven Univ.

Sept. 13 ..................vs Centenary College

NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY DEMONS

Aug. 28 ..........................vs Alcorn State

Sept. 6 ...............................@ Minnesota

JACKSON STATE TIGERS

Aug. 30 .................................vs Hampton

Sept. 6 .........................@ Southern Miss.

Sept. 20 .....................@ Hendrix College

Oct. 4 ...........................@ Centre College

Oct. 11 .........................@ Rhodes College

Oct. 18 .....................vs Maryville College

Oct. 25........................... @ Berry College

Nov. 1 ..................vs Southwestern Univ.

Nov. 8 ..............................@ Trinity Univ.

Nov. 15 ..................................vs Sewanee

TULANE GREEN WAVE

Aug. 30 ...............vs Northwestern Univ.

Sept. 6 ..............@ Univ. South Alabama

Sept. 13 ..............................vs Duke Univ.

Sept. 13 ...............................@ Cincinnati

Sept. 20 ..................@ Prairie View A&M

Oct. 4 .........................vs East Texas A&M

Oct. 11 .....................@ Houston Christian

Oct. 25........................................ vs Lamar

Nov. 1 .....................................@ McNeese

Nov. 8 ............................................vs UIW

Nov. 15 .....................................@ Nicholls

Nov. 20 ....................vs Stephen F. Austin

UNIV OF LA @ LAFAYETTE RAGIN’ CAJUNS

Aug. 30 ........................................vs Rice

Sept. 7 ..................................vs McNeese

Sept. 13 ..................................@ Missouri

Sept. 13 .................................vs Tuskegee

Sept. 27 ........................@ Southern Univ.

Oct. 4 ...........................vs Alabama A&M

Oct. 11 ..........................vs Alabama State

Oct. 19 .............................vs Florida A&M

Oct. 25 ......................vs Grambling State

Nov. 1 ...............................@ Florida A&M

Nov. 8 ......................@ Miss. Valley State

Nov. 15 ..................vs Bethune-Cookman

Nov. 22............................ vs Alcorn State

UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS GOLDEN EAGLES

Aug. 30 .............................@ Miss. State

Sept. 6 ..........................vs Jackson State

Sept. 13 .................vs Appalachian State

Sept. 20 .................................@ Ole Miss

Sept. 27 ..............................@ Univ. Tulsa

Oct. 9 ....................vs East Carolina Univ.

Oct. 18 ........................................vs Army

Oct. 30 .......................................@ UTSA

Nov. 7 ..........................@ Univ. Memphis

Nov. 15 .............vs Florida Atlantic Univ.

Nov. 22 ...........................@ Temple Univ.

Nov. 29 ................................vs Charlotte

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Sept. 20 ...................@ Eastern Michigan

Sept. 28 .................................vs Marshall

Oct. 11 .........................@ James Madison

Oct. 18......................... vs Southern Miss.

Oct. 25 ..........................................@ Troy

Nov. 1 .........................@ South Alabama

Nov. 8 ...............................vs Texas State

Nov. 20 .......................@ Arkansas State

Nov. 29 .........................................vs ULM

Sept. 7..................... vs Arizona Cardinals

Sept. 14 ...............vs San Francisco 49ers

Sept. 21 ...................@ Seattle Seahawks

Sept. 29 ...........................@ Buffalo Bills

Oct. 5......................... vs New York Giants

Oct. 12 ..............vs New England Patriots

Sept. 20 .................vs Jacksonville State

Oct. 9...................... @ Georgia Southern

Oct. 18 ..........................................@ ULL

Oct. 25 ........................................vs ULM

Nov. 8 ........................@ Arkansas State

Nov. 15............................. vs Texas State

Nov. 22 .....................@ South Alabama

Nov. 29 ........................................vs Troy

Nov. 9 .....................@ Carolina Panthers

Nov. 23 .......................vs Atlanta Falcons

Nov. 30 .......................@ Miami Dolphins

Oct. 19 ...........................@ Chicago Bears

Oct. 26........... vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nov. 2..................... @ Los Angeles Rams

Dec. 7 .............@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dec. 14 ....................vs Carolina Panthers

Dec. 21 ...........................vs New York Jets

Dec. 28 ....................@ Tennessee Titans

Jan. 4 ..........................vs Atlanta Falcons

LOUISIANA

louisianatravel.com

A great site for everything Louisiana

ALEXANDRIA / PINEVILLE

alexandriapinevillela.com rapidessymphony.org riveroaksartscenter.com lagniappetheatre.com themuseum.org

Every Tuesday

Alexandria Farmers Market 2727 Jackson St. 3 pm

September 20

Mozart’s Don Givanni Rapides Symphony Orchestra Coughlin–Saunders Performing Arts Center 7:30 pm

October 4

Kent Plantation House Fall Herb Day / Arts & Crafts Festival Yard Sale 8 am–1 pm

October 18

Southern Forest Heritage Museum’s 5th Annual Fall Festival 10 am–7 pm

October 18

Something Wicked Rapides Symphony Orchestra Coughlin–Saunders Performing Arts Center 7:30 pm

BATON ROUGE visitbatonrouge.com lsumoa.org rivercenterarena: baton-rouge. tickets-center.com batonrougeballet.org Red Stick Farmers Market Breada.com brso.org lasm.org

Every Saturday Red Stick Farmers Market & Arts Market Corner 5th & Main Sts. 8 am–Noon

Every Friday in September Live After Five

Town Square@ Galvez Plaza 5–8 pm / Free

September 13–14

Oldies But Goodies Fest WB Convention & Visitors Bureau Noon–4 pm

September 13–14

9th Annual A Taste of the Deep South Festival

EBRPL Main Library htjday.com

September 25

Farm Fete

501 Main St. 6 pm

Throughout October Fifolet Halloween Festival 1031consortium.com

October 4

Corn Maze at Burden LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens 9 am–4:30 pm

October 5

30th Annual SugarFest West Baton Rouge Museum 11 am–4 pm

October 25 Fall Fest Capitol Park Museum 5–9 pm

FERRIDAY concordialibrary.org deltamusicmuseum.com

Throughout September/October Concordia Parish Library Various programs concordialibrary.org

MONROE / WEST MONROE monroe-westmonroe.org

September 4–7

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Strauss Theatre Center strausstc.com

September 13

The River Market

316 South Grand Street 9 am–1 pm

September 26–October 5

Ark-La-Miss Fair

Ike Hamilton Exposition Center FB: Ark-La-Miss Fair

September 26 & October 31

Ouachita Live Alley Park Downtown 7–9 pm / Free

October 25

Family Fun Fest Kirou Park 2–6 pm Ouachitagreen.org

October 25

Boo at the Zoo Monroe Zoo Monroezoo.org/boo/

NEW ORLEANS

neworleansonline.com

neworleanscvb.com ogdenmuseum.org nola.org newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu nobt.org neworleansfilmsociety.org neworleanscitypark.com neworleanszombierun.com FB: nolajazzmuseum/live theatreneworleans.org

October 3–5

Gretna Fest Revel on the River gretnafest.com

October 10–12

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival Lafayette Square jazzandheritage.org

October 10–11, 17–18, 24–26

Oktoberfest

1700 Moss St. Fri. 4–11 pm / Sat. 1–11 pm oktoberfestnola.com

October 17–19

NOLA FUNK FEST

Spanish Plaza 1 Poydras St. neworleans.com/event/

October 25

Krewe of Boo Halloween Parade Downtown 6:30 pm Neworleans.com/event/

ST. FRANCISVILLE

audubonstatehistoricsite. wordpress.com explorewestfeliciana.com/ events stfrancisvillefestivals.com

Every Thursday

St. Francisville Farmers Market 9961 Wilcox St. 9 am–1 pm

Every Sunday in October Angola Prison Rodeo & Craft Show angolarodeo.com

September 19

Walker Percy Weekend walkerpercyweekend.org

September 25

Kick-off to Fall: Craft Beer Fete Myrtles Courtyard Visitstfrancisvillela.com/event/

October 4

Cocktails and Conversations Afton Villa 4–6:30 pm aftonvillagardens.com

October 17

Southern Garden Symposium thesoutherngardensymposium.org

October 23

Witches Ride Downtown / Parker Park witchesridesf.com

October 25–26

Yellow Leaf Arts Festival Parker Park 10 am–5 pm

October 30

Town Trick-or-Treat Downtown Noon

November 1

Music on the Mount

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church felicianacatholic.org

VIDALIA cityofvidaliala.com vidaliaconventioncenter.com

October 17–19

Riverfront Flea Market & Carnival

Vidalia Riverfront / Free Fri: Noon–10 pm Sat: 8 am–8 pm Sun: 9 am–2 pm vidaliaconventioncenter.com

MISSISSIPPI

visitmississippi.org hikinginmississippi.com

BROOKHAVEN

FB: VisitBrookhavenMS visitbrookhavenms.com brookhavenrecreation.com brookhavenlittletheatre.com llf.lib.ms.us

September 6

Fall Concert Series

AA’KEELA & THE BEATS Railroad Park / Downtown 7–9 pm / Free

September 20

Save the Light Alzheimer’s Benefit Lunch/Silent Auction/Games Brookhaven Recreation Dept. 10 am / $10 FB: Knights of Remembrance

September 26–28

Wildlife Expo

Lincoln Civic Center Fri: 5–9 pm / Sat: 10 am–7 pm  Sun: 10 am–5 pm golincolnms.co

October 4–5

51st Ole Brook Festival Downtown FB: Ole Brook Festival

October 18

Fall Concert Series

Keys vs Strings Railroad Park / Downtown 7–9 pm

JACKSON

dulinghall.com

msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com jacksonfreepress.com/ calendarmsnla.org balletms.com msmetroballet.com operams.org downtown-jackson.com newstagetheatre.com

September 13

Mississippi Book Festival

MS State Capitol Downtown / Free 9 am–5 pm

September 19–21

Holiday Market

MS Trade Mart Fri: 9 am–8 pm Sat: 9 am–5 pm Sun: 11 am–4 pm

October 2-13

Mississippi State Fair Mississippi State Fairgrounds msstatefair.com

October 3–5

Vintage Market Days

Clyde Muse Center Pearl, MS

October 8–11, 15–18, 22–25

Pumpkin Adventure

MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum 9 am–Noon / Sat. 9 am–3 pm $12 601.432.4500

October 17–18

Oktoberfest Fertile Ground Beer Co. 800 Manship St. fertilegroundbeer.com

October 25

BankPlus Red Beans & BBQ Festival

Belhaven Town Center 11 am–4 pm stewpot.org/beansandbbqfest

November 5–8

Mistletoe Marketplace

MS Trade Mart mistletoemarketplace.com

McCOMB pikeinfo.com

mccombarts.com mcrrmuseum.com FB: McComb Farmers Market

Every 4th Friday through October 24

Family Night Market Downtown / Bo Diddley Pavilion 7–10 pm

September 9

An Evening with the Arts The Palace Theater 7–9 pm / $60

September 17–20 Iron Horse Festival tinyurl.com/Ironhorse2025

October 9–12

The Haunting of Hill House Pike County Little Theatre FB: Pike County Little Theatre

October 25

Uptown McComb Fall Festival 10 am–6 pm pikeinfo.com

October 25

4th Annual Breast Cancer Walk City Hall to Bo Diddley Pavilion 9 am 601.810.7693

November 6–8

Mistletoe Magic pikeinfo.com

MEADVILLE

September 6

Fossil Road Show

Meadville Methodist Church 9 am–3 pm Free / 601.384.6548

October 25

Homochitto River Festival Downtown homochittoriverfestival.org

NATCHEZ

Live Music Events Calendar visitnatchez.org/full-eventcalendar visitnatchez.org natchezpilgrimage.com

natchezgardenclub.org natchezlittletheatre.com natchezfestivalofmusic.com FB Downtown Natchez Farmers Market

Saturdays

Natchez Farmers Market

Downtown 300 N. Broadway 8:30 am–Noon

September 12

In Conversation with Geraldine Brooks Natchez Reads The Grand Hotel 6:30 pm 601.597.5741

September 18

Christmas in Natchez Annual Cocktail Party & Fundraiser

Monmouth Historic Inn

5:30–7:30 pm $60 / $100

September 25–October 18 Fall Pilgrimage visitnatchez.org

September 25–October 5

Misery

Natchez Little Theatre 601.442.2233

September 27

Oktoberfest Natchez Brewery 11 am–9 pm

September 28

Hats & Gloves with Tea on The Mississippi Natchez Grand Hotel 3–5 pm / 504.975.3593

October 3–4

7th Annual Bikers Weekend on the Bluff $10 visitnatchez.org

October 10–11

Junkin’ on the River natchezdna.org/junkin-on-theriver

October 11

Miss-Lou Makers Market 107 South Broadway 9 am–4 pm

visitridgeland.com madisonthecity.com craftsmensguildofms.org mscrafts.org calendar up & coming

October 11–31

Downtown Natchez

Pumpkin Patch Festival natchezdna.org/pumpkin -patch-festival/ Fundraiser

Monmouth Historic Inn

5:30–7:30 pm

$60 / $100

October 17–19

40th Annual Natchez Balloon Festival

Rosalie Bicentennial Garden natchezballoonfestival.com

October 17–18

Merry Market

Natchez Convention Center Fri: 11 am–7 pm, Sat: 9 am–5 pm

October 18

Balloon Race Brunch Grounds of Magnolia Hall 215 South Pearl 10 am–Noon Cash bar / Music $25 / $15 natchezgardenclub.org

October 23–25

Y’all Means All – The Weekend! Downtown YallMeansAllNatchez.org

October 23–26

Natchez Open Golf Championship Duncan Park Natchez Golf Club natchezgolfclub.comg

November 6–8

Angels on the Bluff Natchez City Cemetery tix.com/ticket-sales/natchez citycemetery/663

November 9

“Honoring Veterans”

Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church  349 Lower Woodville Road 7:30 am Registration  8:00 am Processions of Veterans  Gift bags, door prizes, special service, and brunch 601.443.1560

RIDGELAND/MADISON

Tuesdays Farmers Market

Main St. @ Caboose 3:30–6:30 pm

VICKSBURG visitvicksburg.com vicksburgartassociation.org vicksburgtheatreguild.com downtownvicksburg.org

September 12–21

Puffs or: Seven Increasingl Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic Vicksburg Theatre Guild show@tix.com/e-vtg.com 5 pm

October 4

43th Old Court House Fall Flea Market

1008 Cherry St. 8 am–4 pm 601.636.0741

October 4

Key City Oktoberfest Key City Brewing Company Downtown Noon

October 4

200 Bicentennial Fall Family Fair Key City Park 9 am FB: Fall Family Fair

October 16–18 "Voices From The Hills” Cedar Hill Cemetery Begin @ SCHC 2 & 5 pm FB: Cedar Hill Cemetery Assoc.

October 18–19

Twilight Air Show 179 VTR Airport Road 1 – 9 pm southernheritageair.org

October 25–26

Night at the Museum The Old Court House Museum 7:30 and 3 pm 601.636.0741

November 5 A Southern

Duff Green Mansion visitvicksburg.org

Thursday, October 16th Thursday, October 16th

Live at Five: Natchez Bandstand

Live at Five: Natchez Bandstand