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retires after 32 years of ECM service Following more than three decades of service for the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, longtime Senior Vice President of Communications Ron Stewart has retired. Under Stewart’s leadership, one of his most ambitious accomplishments was transforming ECM’s flagship monthly publication, Today in Mississippi, from a tabloid newspaper to a magazine. With a print circulation of close to half a million readers, Today in Mississippi has the largest print circulation of any publication in the state. “Mark Bridges, retired Support Services manager, and I always had the goal to create a magazine. We had to wait for a while because it wasn’t economically feasible at first,” Ron said. The magazine format was launched with the September 2019 issue following two years of prep work. The magazine was just a part of Ron’s responsibilities. Working with the state’s electric co-op leaders and communicators to serve their members was the key part of his job. “The most important task was always placing the focus on the members of our local electric cooperatives. Our team was always committed to that, whether we were assisting with communications for TV, radio, signs, brochures, billboards, or the magazine. It was always about promoting the services offered along with the priorities, philosophies of the co-ops to its membership,” Ron said. ECM Chief Executive Officer Michael Callahan said Ron didn’t just work for the cooperatives, but that he truly believed in the cooperative business model and the seven cooperative principles. “Ron was a dedicated employee who worked until the job was done and gave it all he had and more. He understands that it was the state association’s job to provide ‘service’ to our member cooperatives, and service was what he did,” Michael said. Michael also called Ron “a true southern gentleman.” “Always eager to help and hardly ever a cross word left his lips. Ron was a man that feared the Lord and lived his life accordingly, and was dedicated to his wife and family. I will miss Ron and so will the cooperative community, not just in Mississippi, but all over the country.” Lydia Walters, who spent years working with Ron when she was a communicator with Dixie Electric, is now ECM’s vice president of communications. “For more than 25 years, I have had the pleasure of working with Ron on numerous projects. He has always been supportive and encouraging,” Lydia said. “Ron came to the co-ops when corporate communication was in its infancy. He exceled at advancing Today in Mississippi in his early career and developing the newspaper into a magazine in his later years. His work and dedication will be missed by the cooperative family, specifically the cooperative communicators.”
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Ron, who was born in Wheeling, West Virginia but raised in Jackson, worked with cooperatives for 47 years. Before going to work at ECM in 1990, Ron worked for MFC Services, an agriculture cooperative, starting in 1974. Ron, who had a background in graphic design, was the cooperative’s director of marketing. When Ron started at ECM in 1990, he first came on as the director of administrative services. He was then asked to take the helm of the communications department. When Ron came to ECM, he also took over the association’s Youth Leadership Program. The program provides high school students with leadership training and the opportunity to learn about electric cooperatives and the role they play in members’ quality of life. The program includes cooperative universities at the co-op sites, an annual workshop in Jackson, where the students meet Mississippi lawmakers, and a yearly tour to Washington, D.C. to visit the nation’s capital and to meet other youth cooperative leaders from around the country. Ron said the Youth Leadership Program was his favorite part of the job. “That was the most rewarding part of my work. I’ve always been passionate about investing in our young people. The positive impact you can make on a young person’s life is very important to me,” Ron said. Affectionately called “Daddy Ron” by the youth leadership students throughout the years, Ron was their parent for a week in Washington, D.C. “I would treat them like my own son or daughter,” Ron said. Over the years, Ron has also volunteered his time to work with other youth groups and student organizations. He presently serves on the foundation boards for 4-H, the Future Farmers of America, and the Distributive Education Club of America. Now that he has retired, Ron said he plans to spend more time with his six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Ron lost his wife, Barbara, in 2019. The couple were married for 37 years. Ron, the son of a Baptist preacher, said he is also looking forward to dedicating more time to the ministries of his church, First Ridgeland Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon. Ron said he’s going to miss ECM. “I express my appreciation to our cooperatives and my ECM team for supporting me throughout my career. I’m going to miss all the relationships here and across the state. I made a lot of friendships over the years,” Ron said. “This job has been an important part of my life. It’s been fun and rewarding, and if I had it to do all over again, I would take the same path. God has truly blessed me.”
FEBRUARY 2022 | TODAY 3
1/20/22 8:58 AM
in this issue
5 southern gardening Planning a 2022 gardening season
7 scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places in Mississippi
7
9
outdoors today February means hunting with beagles
10 local news 16 feature
Kay and Nolan Mettetal had a special marriage and a love that still endures
19
for the love of the game Paul Elias has fished forever
16
20 on the menu
Potatoes are healthier than you may think
23 mississippi seen
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Vol. 75 No. 2
OFFICERS Eddie Howard - President Randy Carroll - First Vice President Ron Barnes - Second Vice President Tim Perkins - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Ron Stewart - Senior Vice President Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Alan Burnitt - Graphic Designer Courtney Warren - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Member Services Coordinator EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600
Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s electric power associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181
Circulation of this issue: 457,638
Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year. Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published 12 times a year by Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Inc., P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Phone 601-605-8600. Periodical postage paid at Ridgeland, MS, and additional office. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to: Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300
www.facebook.com/TodayinMississippi www.todayinmississippi.com
A Yazoo City landmark worth saving
On the cover 20
Kay Mettatal stands in front of her Sardis home holding a portrait of herself and husband Nolan. Photo by Chad Calcote.
And we think you’re going to love ours. So let’s work together: As electric cooperatives, we were built by the communities we serve—and by members just like you. 4 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2022
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Winter is the perfect time to plan the 2022 garden. Shop early for needed items to ensure having adequate garden supplies.
As I was thinking over the holidays about how my 2022 home garden will look, I was still harvesting heirloom tomatoes and various peppers from my 2021 garden. Can you imagine collecting fresh tomatoes and peppers on Christmas Day, let alone on New Year’s Day? But that all came to an end when temperatures dropped from 78 to 35 with a 27-degree wind chill just after the new year. Now, I can get back to my 2022 garden planning. While putting together my landscape strategy for this year, I was thinking about the garden in general and what ideas many gardeners forget about. So, here are a few thoughts to get started in 2022. The recent cold weather generated a bunch of questions, primarily on how to protect landscape and garden plants. I’ll address this again before the winter is over, but I want to caution against overreacting to potential cold injury. Be patient after a cold snap, as there is plenty of time to remove cold-damaged plants before the warm weather of spring. Be prepared. Have a game plan in mind for what you want to accomplish in your garden this year. Over the last two years, the garden industry has been stretched to the limit by the 20 million new gardening practitioners.
Plants and other garden essentials have been in short supply for procrastinating gardeners. In the past, there were always end-of-season sales as garden centers needed to move out last year’s stock to make room for the new. Those days are gone. If you know you’ll need fertilizer and potting mix this spring, go out and start collecting those supplies now. If you wait to buy as you need them through the garden season, you are probably going to find empty spots on the shelves. Another tip that I find useful is using plant tags. I start each garden season wishing I could remember everything I’m planting, but I never do. Plant tags and labels are a must in my home garden. They can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Through the year, I always take out plants and replace them with plants that have new colors and functions. I like to keep track of what I’ve planted and when. Now, I keep that information in resealable bags labeled by season, so I can easily track my seasonal plantings through the years. I’m looking forward to growing, sharing, and visiting fabulous gardens with family and friends in 2022. Happy New Gardening Year.
by Dr. Gary Bachman Mississippi’s widely variable weather means plants may bloom one day and freeze the next. Patiently wait to remove cold-damaged plants.
Gary Bachman, Ph.D., Extension/Research Professor of Horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern Gardening” radio and TV programs. He lives in Ocean Springs and is a Singing River Electric member.
FEBRUARY 2022 | TODAY 5
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Next in Picture This:
We want to see your children! Send us photos of your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. Make sure to let us know their names and how they are related to you. The photos must be high-resolution JPG files of at least 1 MB in size. Please attach the photo to your email and send it to news@ecm.coop. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer’s name, address, and co-op.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Feb. 25. Select photos will appear in the April 2022 issue.
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6 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2022
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scene around the ‘sip
Mississippi’s 1980s pizza restaurant museum by Steven Ward Some people collect stamps. Others like to acquire antique furniture, comic books, or baseball cards. Damon Breland collects animatronic bands and memorabilia from 1980s-era pizza restaurants. You read that right. The 43-year-old Walthall County resident and Magnolia Electric member has turned an old country convenience store into a museum of sorts — a place where other 1980s kids can step back in time to experience the nostalgic thrill of trading arcade tickets for stuffed toys. Smitty’s Super Service Station on Highway 48 East in Sandy Hook is Breland’s tribute to his 1980s youth and a site for his out-of-control pizza restaurant memorabilia collection. “I began my collection in 2001. It started out with lots of small trinkets, dolls, t-shirts, records — things that you would have gotten for redeeming your tickets from the arcade. My mom even found a couple of the plush stuffed dolls that were mine from childhood,” Breland said. Breland’s collection took a turn to the extreme in 2003 when he won an entire set of the animatronic Rock-afire Explosion band characters from the 1980s pizza chain, Showbiz Pizza Place. “I got them directly from Creative Engineering, the company that produced them in the 80s. From 2003 until 2005 they sat in my father’s garage while I worked on repairing them. During that time, I never envisioned more than having them setup in a large room or garage. The idea for a museum was still several more years away.”
The project took Breland another two years to complete including refurbishment of the characters and their installation on a proper stage. Over the years, the collection expanded. In 2015, Breland garnered a set of old Chuck E Cheese animatronics including a vintage Pizza Time Theater balcony stage. In 2019, Breland added an arcade. Breland said his love of pizza restaurant memorabilia harkens back to a simpler time and place. “As a child growing up in the 80s, I got to go to Pizza Time Theater — that’s what Chuck E Cheese was called back then — and Showbiz Pizza Place as a reward for good grades in school. I vividly remember going to locations in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. In the 80s there were no cell phones or computers, and home game consoles were just starting,” Breland said. “So, to go to one of these restaurants was like a family trip. Where else other than say Disney could you go to see shows by animatronics and full arcades with games, skee ball, and other kiddie delights? It was a nice escape.” Breland may be full of “useless animatronic pizza restaurant knowledge,” but he said he doesn’t consider his hobby strange or weird. “Everyone loves something. It’s all part of our Americana history.” “I would say that it helps foster a sense of community — that when you build your interests into something that helps draw in other ‘weirdos’ and gives everyone who shares the interest a sense of belonging and that they’re not alone in their quirky obsessions. It can be a very obscure niche kind of thing, but if it brings others happiness, it’s not weird by any means,” he said.
The public can visit Smitty’s via appointment in advance. Visit smittyssuperservice.com/contact.html or email billybob@smittyssuperservice.com for more information. FEBRUARY 2022 | TODAY 7
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When beagles bawl, chop, and squeal on a brisk morning — frost glinting from winter woodlots and fallow fields — the world is changed, somehow made more pleasant and agreeable for those who hear. There is music. Not as scripted as a Dvorak symphony perhaps, but musical just the same. Beagle music is visceral, sometimes plaintive, and sometimes jubilant. Regardless of its timbre, this music impacts anyone who chooses to listen. I learned the thrill of beagle choruses early on, a result of my dad getting me a pair of litter mates, Herman and Homer. We chased rabbits regularly until I entered college. The rabbit business slowed significantly at that juncture in time, and eventually my dogs were gone. Pleasant memories were all that remained, and these can still bring quiet tears to my eyes. Those beagles were instrumental in my growing up. Rabbit hunting and beagle employment are generally rather social affairs. Occasionally only one or two hunters and a like number of dogs, but more often an expansive gathering of both entities is required. Old and young; fathers and mothers and children and grandchildren make up the human participants. Sires and dams and pups of multiple generations represent the beagles. They are all there for the thrill, the comradery, and the music. I no longer have beagles. Age might be the reason, but most probably a busy schedule in the writing business and life in general, even if I am old, is the culprit. Demands such as regular travel would be unfair to the little hounds. They were born to hunt rabbits, and sequestering them into
some confines other than that would be most unkind. But I must go a time or two each year. Beg an outing from locals who have beagles, I do. And I tote a shotgun, a little 28 these days. A handful of shells go along as well, but I find myself, more often than not, stuffing those same shells, unfired, back into their original container when I get home. Seems I take my enjoyment from past memories and present surroundings of that day with fellow hunters, dog, and human. Old and young are involved in both categories. I also entertain, during those begged hunts, the poignant recognition that some hunters, canines, or Homo sapiens are on their first excursion while others are on their last. A sobering reality but reality just the same, and a reality I have come to embrace more easily in recent years than in years past. Beagle music seems to sooth the discomfiture of such contemplation. Have you missed a beagle symphony this year? If so, February still offers potential for the experience.
by Tony Kinton Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives in Carthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com for more information.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 9 FEBRUARY 2022
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Adams • Amite • Claiborne • Copiah • Franklin Hinds • Jefferson • Lincoln • Wilkinson Southwest Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
P.O. Box 5 • 18671 Highway 61 • Lorman, MS 39096 | 601-437-3611 | 800-287-8564 | Fax: 601-437-8736 | Email: info@swepa.coop southwestelectric.coop
Southwest Electric
SWElectricCoop
sw_electric_coop
Southwest Electric
Rising Costs Result in Rate Adjustment for 2022 Southwest Electric was incorporated in 1937 as a Member-owned cooperative to serve the rural residents of nine counties in southwest Mississippi. Our mission has always been to provide electricity at the lowest cost possible consistent with sound economic and management policies. We routinely evaluate our rates taking into account the cost to provide electricity and maintain our system. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors has approved a small rate adjustment effective March 1, 2022. The cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity used will increase one-half of a cent. cent The daily service charge will increase eight cents. Outdoor lighting costs will also increase. The cost of outdoor lighting has remained the same for the last 24 years. The rising costs of service are the result of inflation, higher prices for fuel used to generate electricity, increased transmission costs and the rise in materials and supplies.
PRICE INCREASES DURING 2021 Gallon of Gas ...... $2.17 to $3.29 Tire ...... $225 to $265 35’ Pole ...... $155 to $175
For more information, please call or visit our website at southwestelectric.coop/residential-rates.
40’ Pole ...... $200 to $220
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Tip
Remember to replace your air filter monthly, even during winter.
10 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2022
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t Electric
Need assistance to pay your bill?
MEMBERS
Members Paying It Forward Southwest Electric is proud to join hundreds of other cooperatives around the country in offering our own energy assistance program. Our Members Paying It Forward program enables Members to round up their bill and help support other Members over the age of 50 needing assistance to pay their electric utility bills. Our employees and Directors are also Paying It Forward by donating to the program. To date, $14,709.20 from this program has helped 41 qualifying Members between the ages of 52 to 85. To round up your bills and start Paying It Forward, please visit our website, email or call us.
Hinds County Human Resource Agency hchra.org • 601-923-3950 AJFC Community Action Agency, Inc. ajfccaa.org 601-442-8681
Email: memberspayingitforward@swepa.coop southwestelectric.coop Phone: 800-287-8564
Southwest Mississippi Opportunity, Inc. swmocaa.org 601-888-4211
EMPLOYEE
Catholic Charities catholiccharitiesjackson.org 601-442-4579
Spotlight
James Bateaste
Amanda Cranfi Cranfield
Right-of-Way Operator
Billing Supervisor
James, affectionately known as Smiley, started his career at Southwest Electric in October 2007. For 14 years, he has worked in the Rightof-Way Department, which is tasked with trimming trees away from our 4,200 miles of power lines. He works on the bucket truck crew cutting and clearing trees that may fall and interrupt electric service. Smiley lives in Crosby. He has one son and two daughters.
Amanda became an employee at Southwest Electric in January 2008 as a Member Services Representative. In November 2010, she transferred to the Billing Department and was recently promoted to Billing Supervisor. She ensures accuracy of the billing information and cycles, monitors data from the automated meter reading system and maintains Members’ capital credit data and payments. Amanda and her husband, Will, live in Lorman. They have one daughter. FEBRUARY 2022 | TODAY 11
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by Mitchell Diggs The Professional Grounds Management Society has recognized the University of Mississippi’s director of landscape services for his efforts to develop and launch educational offerings for the society and for his work to increase the society’s membership. Jeff McManus received the society’s Award of Distinguished Service at the 2021 School of Grounds Management Conference & GIE+Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. The PGMS was established in 1911 as a professional society focused on education and professional advancement. “Jeff McManus truly exemplifies the outstanding service that this Jeff has helped me understand award recogniz- the true meaning of leadership es,” said Mark through the example he sets in Feist, the socicultivating people and, in my ety’s immediate case, cultivating friendship. past president. “I have served with Jeff for many years on committees, the board and under his leadership as PGMS president. “In addition to his busy position as director of landscape services and his roles as an author and professional speaker, Jeff is still able to dedicate time to serving as chair of the PGMS Webinar Task Force producing bimonthly webinar content. Jeff also serves as chair for a subset of the Education Committee, developing education offerings for the PGMS School of Grounds Management. “Jeff has helped me understand the true meaning of leadership through the example he sets in cultivating people and, in my case, cultivating friendship.” McManus, who also oversees airport and golf course operations at Ole Miss, joined the university in 2000. Under his leadership, the university has won the Grand Award in the PGMS’s Green Star Awards twice, in 2002 and 2013, and has been named among the nation’s most beautiful campuses by several other organizations. He oversees a staff of 32 full-time employees, who maintain more than 1,000 acres on the central campus in Oxford. Staff members plant an average of 20,000 seasonal color plants, 10,000 tulip bulbs and 10,000 daffodils annually, as well as more than 200 new trees. Being honored for the team’s work is greatly appreciated but
being recognized for education and people-building is special, McManus said. “Over the last 21 years, Ole Miss has been a landscape industry leader both in campus beautification as well as people development,” he said. “The Department of Landscape Services tries to emulate the leadership style from Robert Khayat by leading by example. “His passion for excellence, having pride of ownership and having a winner’s mindset has inspired our daily hard-work ethic. Our staff does an amazing job adapting to and overcoming the challenges they face when working in nature at a major university.” A certified arborist and acclaimed leadership speaker, McManus also has authored several books, including “Growing Weeders into Leaders” (Morgan James Publishing, 2017), “Pruning Like a Pro” (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015) and the forthcoming “Cultivate: A Landscape Leaders’ Guide to Empowering Teams.” The university is blessed to have leadership that supports excellence across campus, he said. “Chancellor Glenn Boyce and Steven Holley, our vice chancellor for administration and finance, show tremendous support to our department by cultivating greatness on the Ole Miss campus,” McManus said. Mitchell Diggs is the University of Mississippi’s assistant director of strategic communications.
12 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2022
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A portrait of the opera singer Daisy C. Newman is on display at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. The large image is part of the museum’s “Black Butterfly” exhibit, which was set to open in February. “This artifact is a significant contribution to our collection,” Bobby Dennis, executive director of the museum, said in a news release.
Newman performed as a soprano soloist. One of her most popular performances was as Cio-Cio San in “Madame Butterfly.” She also worked as a music teacher. “The story of Ms. Newman’s life not only gives us a glimpse of her, but a look at the character of the citizens of Natchez,” Dennis explained. “Education, hard work, and perseverance help us defeat all odds and achieve those things that make a difference in our community and country.” The museum’s acquirement of Newman’s portrait was made possible by her sister, Dorothy Hills, according to Dennis. “Mrs. Hills wanted us to have it,” he said, adding it was on display at Newman’s memorial service, which was held on Aug. 15, 2021, at the Natchez Convention Center.
Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture: www.visitnapac.com
“I knew Ms. Newman. She was a native of Natchez. Her talent and accolades went far beyond Mississippi. Her acclaim was international.” Newman died on Feb. 10, 2021, at the age of 74. In addition to having worked with legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein and conductor Robert Shaw, among other greats, Newman sang on five continents. Dennis said her life story holds a special place in Natchez’s history. Newman was born on Jan. 5, 1947, in Natchez. She was the daughter of David Newman Sr. and Hattie Bivens. The young singer graduated from Sadie V. Thompson High School in 1965 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Cleveland State University. She also studied at Oberlin Music Conservatory and Oglebay Opera Institute.
On Dec. 15, 2021, the portrait arrived at the museum. It was presented by Philip West, former mayor of Natchez; Mary White, co-founder of Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture; and Jimmy Ware, president of Natchez Business and Civic League. “The museum is very grateful to Mrs. Dorothy Hills for entrusting us to let the world see this story through the eyes of those who have known her sister, Daisy Newman,” Dennis said. Visitors from the American Duchess riverboat happened to be present during the presentation. “They became very excited as they felt elated to be addressed by Mr. West, the first black mayor of Natchez since reconstruction,” said Dennis. “It truly was a visit with history.” Newman has been described as “an exceptional woman who was dedicated to uplifting the lives of those she encountered,” according to her April 2021 obituary published by the California digital news site, Berkeleyside. Visit www.visitnapac.com for more information about the exhibit and the museum. FEBRUARY 2022 | TODAY 13
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to save energy when working from home
by Abby Berry Today, more Americans are working from home than ever before. More time spent at home means more energy used throughout the day. If you’re punching the clock from home, there are small steps you can take to reduce your energy use and save on electric bills. Here are five easy ways to save energy when working from home. Working from home doesn’t have to take a toll on your energy bills, and whether you’re working remotely or not, these practical tips can help everyone reduce their energy use. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.
Use a smart power strip. Plugging in your most-used devices, like computers, monitors and routers, to a smart power strip ensures these devices aren’t drawing power when they’re not in use. Smart power strips also give you the option to select which devices should stay in “always on” mode.
Unplug your least-used equipment. If your home office includes equipment like printers and scanners, you’re probably not using these electronics every day. In this case, go ahead and unplug your least-used electronics and devices, since many of these draw energy even when they’re not being used.
Choose ENERGY STAR®-certified office equipment. If you’re looking to purchase new equipment for your workspace, look for the ENERGY STAR® label to ensure you’re getting the most energy efficient features. Computers, monitors, imaging equipment and other office electronics that receive the ENERGY STAR® rating include power management features to make saving energy easy, and most are designed to run cooler and last longer.
Flip the switch and use natural light instead. It’s still chilly out there, so take advantage of natural light and additional warmth from the sun. When you’re working during the day, open blinds, curtains, and other window coverings to let natural light in — and don’t forget to turn off the lights to reduce energy use!
Lower the thermostat.
When you’re working during the day, open blinds, curtains, and other window coverings to let natural light into your workspace.
Home heating makes up a significant portion of your energy bills. Turn the thermostat down a couple degrees during the day to reduce energy use and save money. The Department of Energy recommends setting the thermostat to 68 degrees or cooler during winter months. You’re more likely to stay focused and alert when it’s cooler in your home, so all the more reason to mind the thermostat.
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requires planning, patience by Susan Collins-Smith People interested in beekeeping should take time to answer some important questions and develop a plan before beginning this hobby. One of the best ways people can learn about the hobby is to join a beekeeping group, said Jeff Harris, Mississippi State University Extension Service bee specialist. “Local beekeeping clubs often have members with many years of beekeeping experience, and they are absolutely a great way for you to learn about the hobby before you begin,” Harris said. “They give great advice about any of the Honeybees can vary widely major issues new beekeepers may face, invite in their level of defensiveness, or their tendency to sting knowledgeable speakers in response to a perceived to their meetings and threat. Word of mouth among often offer hands-on demonstrations with live beekeeprs is a good way to beehives,” he said. find the gentlest bees. Beekeeping can be done in cities and rural areas, but Harris recommends checking local ordinances and laws before beginning, no matter the location, because rules vary. “Even if there are no laws restricting beekeeping, all new beekeepers need to consider where they want to keep their bees,” Harris said. “The most problematic issues can be with neighbors in urban and suburban settings who fear your bees. Honeybees can be safely kept in these areas, but careful consideration about how best to protect your neighbors, and therefore, future problems with you, should be a priority.”
Keep hives in an area that are shielded from view, such as behind trees or shrubbery. Make sure they are kept away from pets and high traffic areas, such as where children play. Place hives near ample food supply and easy access to water. Provide water sources close to the hive, such as shallow pools or dishes filled with pea gravel and water. Consider installing a drip irrigation line to keep the water sources filled. Buy gentle bee stock, and work bees during quiet periods when nearby neighbors are indoors and when pets and childr “Honeybees can vary widely in their level of defensiveness, or their tendency to sting in response to a perceived threat,” Harris said. “Word of mouth among beekeepers is a good way to find the gentlest bees.” Labor is not a huge concern for hobbyists with only a few hives. Hives are worked at least once every one to two weeks during the active, spring growing season, once a month during summer and winter, and again every one to two weeks in the autumn growing season. Cost is another factor to consider. Start-up costs can run between $450 and $550. People should expect to spend between $300 and $400 to purchase all the woodenware that houses the hive. A starter bee colony with one queen and 10,000 worker bees costs about $150. Michael Scheel, a member of the Southwest Mississippi Beekeepers Association who got into beekeeping as a hobby after finding his late father-in-law’s equipment, said beginners should expect a learning curve. “I read and researched methodically, but I still struggled in the beginning,” said Scheel, who now has 70 hives and plans to expand to a total of 150 by the end of 2022 to supplement his income in retirement. Scheel said experienced beekeepers make up the most important learning resource. Susan Collins-Smith is a writer for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
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Photos by Chad Calcote
A
M I S S I S S I P P I
by Steven Ward This is a love story about Kay and Nolan Mettetal. South Panola High School sweethearts, the couple got married when he was 19 and she was 16. She called him “pop.” He called her “momma.” Nolan worked as a pharmacist for 24 years before retiring at 45. He later became a state senator and, after 16 years, was then elected to Mississippi’s House of Representatives. The thing about Nolan and Kay — affectionately called “Ms. Kay” by almost everyone who knew them — is that they were always together. Always.
When Nolan was in Jackson for a legislative session, Ms. Kay was there. She would answer his phones, help with paperwork, run errands, and assist constituents. When a lawmaker or lobbyist asked Nolan to go to dinner, he only agreed to do it if Ms. Kay could go along. “He would tell people, ‘I will go to dinner with you, but my wife has to come. She’s a part of me,’” Ms. Kay, 73, said recently at the couple’s longtime home in Sardis. The Mettetals built apartments and rental houses at one point in their lives. If Nolan was on the roof with a hammer, Ms. Kay was up top with him.
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“We did everything together,” Ms. Kay said. Marlin Williams, manager of member services at North Nolan, 75, passed away on Dec. 28, 2020, after battling East Mississippi Electric Power Association, was a Mettetal COVID-19. The couple were just three months away from family friend. their 56th wedding anniversary. “There is so much to share about their life in public service “He was my everything,” but of even more importance — Ms. Kay said. I always admired the way they Their love story was something were a team and power couple,” to witness. Williams said. There is so much to share about their “I never saw them not together,” “When I think of Mr. Nolan serving life in public service but of even more said former Mississippi Governor in the Mississippi Legislature — most importance – I always admired the way Phil Bryant. of my memories have Ms. Kay right they were a team and power couple. “It’s like they were one. It was by his side. She helped him, encourWhen I think of Mr. Nolan serving in the remarkable and unique.” aged him, and loved him. It was Mississippi Legislature – most of my Bryant said it was extremely non-stop, and it was genuine. They memories have Ms. Kay right by his side. were rarely without the other one rare to see a spouse at legislative sessions. by their side. I can still see his smile “In some ways, Ms. Kay was the first lady of the when she walked into the room.” Legislature. She helped everyone there, not just Nolan,” February was one of Nolan’s favorite times of year. Bryant said.
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“He loved Valentine’s Day. When we worked at the pharmacy, he loved watching the men come in scrambling to buy things for their wives and girlfriends — cards, boxes of candy,” Ms. Kay said. Nolan loved red roses and always made sure Ms. Kay had red roses on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Valentine’s Day also meant dinners with Bryant and his wife Deborah. “There was a group of couples from one of the committees Nolan was on, and we would go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day at Shapley’s. Back then, Phil Bryant was the lieutenant governor. In those days, Phil used to say, ‘when I’m governor we are going to have these dinners at the mansion,’” Ms. Kay said. Bryant said he remembers those dinners fondly. “That’s true. We called that the ‘Sweetheart Dinner.’ And I would make sure each woman got one red rose. We moved it to the mansion and had it there for my eight years. It was so special and one of my favorite memories from that time,” Bryant said. After Nolan died, Ms. Kay had 56 red roses placed on his casket, she said. Nolan got sick in December 2020 and went to the hospital two days before Christmas Eve. Ms. Kay said she didn’t want to leave her husband in the hospital by himself. Nolan didn’t want her to leave either. The doctors told her she couldn’t stay with Nolan because she didn’t have COVID-19.
“The doctor told me I had to go home, but he said to keep testing every day. When I tested positive, I could go to the hospital to be by his side,” Ms. Kay said. Ms. Kay tested every day in hopes of testing positive for COVID-19 so she could be with Nolan. She did eventually test positive and went to the hospital. Ms. Kay and the couple’s two adult children were at the hospital and by Nolan’s side just before he passed away. “He opened his eyes and saw us right before,” Ms. Kay said. Williams said the couple’s relationship was inspirational. “When I think of a genuine and inspirational relationship — they will always come to mind. I am forever grateful for the example they were for so many of us,” Williams said. Ms. Kay misses her constant companion every day. Life is not the same, she said. She said she misses the couple’s morning walks around Lake Sardis near their home. She misses watching the hummingbirds together at their gazebo. Nolan loved Ole Miss football and spending time with his five grandchildren. But those were not his favorite hobbies. “My son, Cary, said his daddy’s biggest hobby was ‘loving my mother,’” Ms. Kay said.
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Paul Elias was born to fish, and that is what he has done forever. Elias discovered fishing at an early age and has enjoyed the sport for the past 71 years. His dad loved fishing and introduced Elias to the sport. When Elias was 9 years old, his dad had an accident that essentially crippled him for the rest of his life. His fishing knowledge went to a different level when an older neighbor, Charlie Reddoch, took notice of the youngster’s love for fishing. Reddoch stopped Elias one day after seeing the lad riding down Fifth Avenue in Laurel displaying his successful fishing day on his bicycle handlebars. The two formed a forever friendship that day. “He taught me a lot. He took me hunting and fishing, and he really gave me an appreciation of the outdoors,” Elias said. Another fortuitous event shaped Elias’ fishing future when he learned a valuable fishing tip one day at his uncle’s pond in Richton. “I was reeling in a blue gill. A bass swam up from under a log and ate my blue gill. It did not take me long to figure out that if I put a blue gill on a hook, I would catch bass.” “My life’s dream was to fish professionally,” said Elias from his home on Lake Eddins in Pachuta. “I went to USM, and the only thing I could think about was getting out, getting a job, and getting a boat.” Following graduation from Southern Mississippi, the first thing he did was take a job offshore. The reason was simple: he needed a down payment to buy a boat. The Bass Fishing Hall of Famer began his pro career in the 1976 Bassmaster Florida Invitational on the St. Johns River. Since that first event, he has earned over $1.5 million in tournament winnings and has added to his checking account with numerous fishing endorsements. Elias won his first tournament in 1979 at Lake Gaston in Virginia and won his last one in 2011 at Lake Guntersville in Alabama. In Guntersville, he introduced the fishing world to the famous Alabama Rig lure. His famous Kneeling & Reeling Style, where he puts the
rod tip under the water’s surface while crankbait fishing to get extra depth out of the lure, came at the 1982 Classic on the Alabama River in Montgomery. In 2008 in the Elite Series event at Falcon Lake on the Texas-Mexico border, he set the all-time record for a 4-/5-day event with a total weight of 132 pounds, 8 ounces. Elias has won nine tournaments, including the Super Bowl of Bass fishing and the 1982 Bassmaster Classic. He has qualified for 16 Bassmaster Classic events and finished in the Top 10 eight times. He won six B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) events and has posted 56 Top 10 finishes during his career. It was not easy to turn professional, when at the young age of 25 he began his part time fishing career. “Trying to work another job and still take time to pre-fish tournaments and then take three days to fish for the cash prizes was grueling, but in the same sense, I loved what I was doing,” Elias said. Elias had choices to make when he decided to go full-time on the B.A.S.S. Tour after winning the 1982 Bassmaster Classic. He looks back now with few regrets. Even after two shoulder operations, Elias can still cast, but now he understands that his opponents in tournaments are the fish themselves rather than human competitors. Today, Elias trolls around Lake Eddins giving fishing lessons along with taking part in the MLF Bass Pro Tour that began three years ago. Visit pauleliasfishinglessons.com for more information.
My life’s dream was to fish professionally.
by Dale McKee Dale McKee is a Waynesboro native who has been writing sports in Mississippi since 1973. He is a member of Dixie Electric. Contact him at ddmckee18@yahoo.com.
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with Rebecca Turner
Everyone knows that sweet potatoes are the darling of Mississippi agriculture. And rightfully so, they are grown local, nutritious, versatile in the kitchen, and downright delicious. But they aren’t the only potato that should get praised. The idea that sweet potatoes are superior for your health to other potatoes is one of the most arbitrary food rules considering most are virtually identical, nutritionally speaking. What’s worse is many people have removed all potatoes from their plates thanks to fad diets, misinformation, and gimmicky marketing. For the love of potatoes, it’s time to set the record straight. Did you know that russet potatoes are lower in sugar and offer more protein, vitamin B6, iron, and slightly more potassium than sweet potatoes? On the contrary, sweet potatoes provide more fiber, vitamins A and C, and calcium per serving. Calorie- and carb-wise, both sweet and russet potatoes are about equal. But the world of potatoes isn’t as simple as orange and white. There are over 200 types of potatoes that include reds, yellows, and purple varieties, along with fingerlings and petite pota-
toes. All potatoes provide the body and brain fuel it needs to tackle each day. The bottom line, potatoes are nutrient-dense vegetables and can be a part of a health-promoting diet. The best part of potatoes is they are easy to prepare and go well with most cuisines, making them a convenient addition to weeknight meals. And let’s be honest, most Mississippians like their taters deep-fried, smothered, and covered in butter, bacon, and cheese, which is the real reason they’ve never helped you reach your health goals. When you remove the high-calorie toppings and prepare potatoes with only a few healthy ingredients, you get lots of flavor and nutrients without any guilt. You can bake, roast, grill, boil, air fry, or even microwave potatoes to perfection! All you need is your spud and heat of choice, olive oil, and a little salt. Get creative in the kitchen, or give these easy and nutritious potato recipes a try. Leave the debates about potatoes to things that truly matter, like whether or not you should leave the skin on when making mashed potatoes.
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Crispy Smashed Potatoes INGREDIENTS 1 pound small potatoes (red or yellow) 2 teaspoons of salt 2 tablespoons olive oil Pepper
Broccoli and Cheddar Twice-Baked Potatoes INGREDIENTS 4 medium russet potatoes, washed well and dried 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened ½ cup sour cream ¼ cup milk ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper ¾ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder 1 cup cooked broccoli, chopped 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. Wash and clean potatoes, trimming them of any imperfections. In a medium pot, cover potatoes with cold water and add salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender enough to slide off a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and let potatoes cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over the potatoes. Use a potato masher or flat-bottomed glass sprayed with cooking spray to smash each potato. Be careful not to press too hard to smush, just smash. Drizzle remaining oil over the top so potatoes are well-coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake until golden and crispy, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook potatoes in the oven or microwave. Once done, set to the side to cool. Slice cooked potatoes in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the potato pulp and place it into a large bowl, being careful to leave the skins intact. Use a knife to score around the halved potato before using a spoon to gently scoop out. Rub the outsides of the potato skins with a little olive oil. Place the skins on the baking sheet and set aside. Add the butter to the potato pulp and mash — using an electric mixer or a potato masher — until fairly smooth; add sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder and mash till smooth. Fold in cooked broccoli and 1 cup of the cheese. Divide the filling evenly among the potato shells then sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through. Serve at once!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Turner is an author, registered dietitian, radio host, television presenter and a certified specialist in sports dietetics with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A lifelong Mississippian, she lives in Brandon and has spent the last decade offering no-nonsense nutrition guidance that allows you to enjoy good health and good food. Her book, “Mind Over Fork,” challenges the way you think, not the way you eat. Find her on social media @RebeccaTurnerNutrition and online at www.RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.
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mississippi seen
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mississippi marketplace includes a 10x12 foot table with three running model on the outdoors today trains on a landscape including Columbia’s Main Street Events open tomenu the public will be Mississippi’s and the Marion County Courthouse. Video interviews published free of charge as space allows. of former railroad employees and accounts of the Red scene the ‘sip picture this Submit details at around least two months prior to Bluff train derailment into the Pearl River. Kids can Lowest the event date. Submissions must include a enjoy a “Young Engineer’s” play area and the movie, “The Polar Express.” The museum is FREE opinion and includes my co-op phone number withinvolvement area code for publication. Life Insurance Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject
additional exhibits of military, sports, rodeo, farming, logging, arrowheads, Civil War, and Civil Rights. Museum hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 200 Second St. No. 3. Details: 601-731-3999.
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to change or cancelation due to COVID-19. Please confirm details before traveling.
Cupid Shuffle. Feb. 12. Bay Springs. 5k run and 2-mile walk. $30 entry fee. Registration at 7 a.m. Race begins at 8 a.m. Smith Park. Register at www.southernracetiming.com Details: 601-344-9096 2nd Annual Melodies of Bluegrass Festival. Feb. 25-26. Morton. Bands include: Patchwork String Band, Catahoula Drive, The Pilgrim Family, Fair River Station, Tyler Carroll and Pineridge Bluegrass, Southern Gentlemen, and The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. Show starts at 1 p.m. daily. Roosevelt State Park, 2149 MS 13. Details: 601-6044234 or 601-527-9127. Marion County Model Train and Railroad History Exhibit. Now through March 26. Columbia. The exhibit
Rates
grin ‘n’ bare it
The 29th Annual Spring Arts Festival. March 26 and 27. Ocean Springs. Presented by The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau. Fast becoming a mini–Peter Anderson Festival, this event will feature artists, and crafters in various media including painting, pottery, jewelry, plants and more. Festival activities include artists’ demonstrations, entertaining lectures and more. This year’s herb of the year is pansey. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown Ocean Springs. The annual festival showcasing more than 150 artists, crafters, and plant vendors is co-coordinated by the Ocean Springs Art Association and Ocean Springs Fresh Market. Details: 228-875-4424 or visit oceanspringschamber.com.
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22 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2022
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Downtown Yazoo City after the 1904 fire.
We watched Willie Morris’ “My Dog Skip” on Netflix the other night. Canton played the part of Yazoo City in the movie. Yazoo City is where the young Willie Morris came of age with the help of his pet, “Skipper.” One of the central events was staged in Jackson’s Greenwood Cemetery where young Willie must spend the night at the witch’s grave as initiation into the inner circle of his group of friends. To make the ordeal more frightening, one of the kids tells Willie how the witch was killed a century earlier and vowed revenge on Yazoo City, promising to come back in 20 years and burn the place to the ground.
The Oakes Home in Yazoo City. Call the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League for information on helping restore it. 662-746-7984.
Well, in May of 1904 Yazoo City did almost burn to the ground. To this day some people still blame the witch for the fire. Others say it was started by another youngster named “Willie” (not Morris — this Willie was way before his time) who played with matches. Yazoo City grew back better than ever because of the determination of the people who lived there. One of those people was Augustus J. Oakes. He was the son of John and Mary Oakes who had moved to Yazoo City from South Carolina in the 1850s after John, who was born free, purchased his wife Mary and her two children from slavery. They settled in a small, wood-framed house on top of a hill that overlooked downtown.
Augustus (known at Gus, sometimes A.J.) early-on saw the value of education and became the principal of two schools before opening a private school for African American children in Yazoo City. By 1900, Oakes had changed careers from education to construction. He even opened a lumber yard. And then came the devastating fire of 1904. Much of the material used to rebuild Yazoo City was bought through the Oakes lumber yard. In following years, the Oakes home was remodeled several times and grew from its humble beginnings into an elaborate, two-story structure. Oakes never forgot his commitment to education, however. And when Yazoo City issued bonds to build a school for African American children, Oakes bought them all. The Oakes home stayed in the family until 1989 when descendants donated it to the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League. At that time, they refurbished the home and opened it for tours and used it as a community center for many years. But now the old home needs help again. A grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History fixed some foundation problems. But interior restoration still needs to be done. In honor of Black History Month, consider a donation to the Oakes Home in Yazoo City. It is a monument to a family buying their freedom, becoming an integral part of the community, establishing themselves in education and construction, and giving back to the community after the community had depended on them after the fire. This is history that transcends the ages and the races.
by Walt Grayson Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” Walt is also a reporter and 4 p.m. news anchor at WJTV in Jackson. He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com.
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Card when you order a qualifying service (premium customer qualification only).
All calls with InfinityDISH are monitored and recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. Offer for new and qualifying former customers only. Important Terms and Conditions: Qualification: Advertised price requires credit qualification and 24-month commitment. Upfront activation and/or receiver
All calls with InfinityDISH monitored recorded for quality and2-Year trainingCommitment: purposes. Offer new andfeequalifying customers Terms and Conditions: Qualification: requires qualification 24-month package, commitment. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees mayare apply based onand credit qualification. Offer assurance ends 4/13/22. Early for termination of $20/mo.former remaining appliesonly. if youImportant cancel early. Included in 2-year price guaranteeAdvertised at $69.99 price advertised price:credit America’s Top 120and programming upgrade local fees channels, may apply qualification. OfferDVRends 2-Yearin 2-year Commitment: Early termination of Programming $20/mo. remaining you cancel early. $94.99 Included 2-year priceforguarantee at $69.99 advertised America’s Top 120 programming HD based service on fees,credit and Hopper Duo Smart for 14/13/22. TV. Included price guarantee for additionalfeecost: packageapplies upgradesif ($84.99 for AT120+, for in AT200, $104.99 AT250), monthly fees for upgradedprice: or additional receivers ($5-$7 per additionalpackage, local channels, HD service and Hopper Duo may SmartbeDVR for 1 Regional TV. Included in 2-year price guarantee for additional cost: Programming packageand upgrades ($84.99 AT120+, for inAT200, for AT250),or monthly for(and upgraded receivers ($5-$7 peraddadditional TV, receivers with fees, additional functionality $10-$15). Sports: RSN Surcharge up to $3/mo. applies to AT120+ and higher packages varies based on for location. NOT$94.99 included 2-year$104.99 price guarantee advertisedfees price subjectortoadditional change): Taxes & surcharges, TV, receivers with additional functionality maychannels), be $10-$15). Sports: RSN Surcharge up toAll$3/mo. applies to AT120+ features, and higher andand varies based and on location. NOT included 2-year advertised subject to change): Taxes & surcharges, on programming (including premium DISHRegional Protect, and transactional fees. Other: packages, programming, andpackages functionality all prices fees not included in pricein lock are price subjectguarantee to changeorwithout notice.price After(and 6 mos., if selected, you will be billed $9.99/ addon programming (including Protect, transactional fees.everyday Other: prices All packages, programming, functionality andmonthly all pricesfees andmay feesapply. not included in price lock are installation subject to only. change without notice.speeds, After prices, 6 mos.,and if selected, be billed $9.99/ mo. for DISH Protectpremium Plus unlesschannels), you call toDISH cancel. After and 2 years, then-current for all services apply. Forfeatures, businessand customers, additional Free standard professional Internet: Internet providers you varywill by customer address. Call Plus for details. by DISH and will be billed separately. Mastercard® mustForbebusiness requestedcustomers, through your DISH Representative timeapply. of purchase. $100 Mastercard® Prepaid card requires You will speeds, receive aprices, claim and voucher within vary 3-4 weeks mo. for DISH Protect unless Internet you callnot to provided cancel. After 2 years, then-current everyday prices for allPrepaid servicescard apply. additional monthly feesatmay Free standard professional installation only. activation. Internet: Internet providers by customer and for thedetails. voucherInternet must benotreturned within 60 days. Mastercard® Prepaid card will arrivePrepaid in approximately 6-8 requested weeks. InfinityDISH charges $49.99 atnon-refundable processing fee which is Prepaid subject to at any time without notice. Indiana C.P.Dvoucher Reg. No.-20-08756 address. Call provided by DISH and Your will be billed separately. Mastercard® card must be through your DISHa one-time Representative time of purchase. $100 Mastercard® cardchange requires activation. You will receive a claim within 3-4 weeks and the voucher must be returned within 60 days. Your Mastercard® Prepaid card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.99 non-refundable processing fee which is subject to change at any time without notice. Indiana C.P.D Reg. No.-20-08756
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