Today in Mississippi March 2017

News for members of Electric Cooperatives in Mississippi

JEFF BALDOCK’S

Night Vision page 4

Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)

6 Road trip to Rodney’s historic church

13 Silver City’s

favorite Yankee

14 Church cookbook

mixes old with new

2

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

THE TRACTOR THAT STARTED IT ALL. IS CHANGING IT ALL.

Metal Hood, Fenders & Oper Operator ator Platform Platform

New Deluxe Seat** & TTilt ilt Steering Wheel

New Swift-Tach Swift-T wift-TTaach Loader** & Swift-Connect Bac Backhoe khoe

New Grille Guard Guard & Front Hitc Hitchh

New Dash Panel & Display

ALL-NEW KUBOT KUBOTA TA T A BX80 SERIES Long-Term -T Term erm Financing Low-Rate, Long-T Going On Now!

6Y Year e ear

arranty* Limited Powertrain Power train W Warranty

kubota.com

*Only terms terms and conditions of Kubota’s *Only terms, Warranty Kubota’s standard standard Limited Warranty Warranty apply. apply. For warranty warranty ter ms, see Kubota’s Kubota’s Limited W arranty at www.kubota.com www.kubota.com or authorized Kubota Dealers.

Dealers. **Only available available on certain models. Optional equipment may be shown. shown.

© Kubota T Tractor ractor Corporation, 2017

March 2017

Mississippi agriculture benefits all Mississippians ven if you are not involved in farming, it’s likely that you see benefits from Mississippi’s agricultural sector.

Agriculture dominates our state’s economy. The estimated value of Mississippi commodities reached $7.6 billion in 2016, an increase of 1.8 percent from the previous year, according to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Poultry remains the state’s largest agricultural commodity, with an estimated value of $2.9 billion in 2016, an increase of 8 percent since 2015.

Rounding out Mississippi’s top five commodities are forestry at $1.41 billion, soybeans at $1.01 billion, cotton at $442 million and corn, $436 million.

These figures reflect only the value of the products; agriculture’s total economic impact in the state is far greater. Consider that: • Producers buy seeds, livestock feed, chemicals, equipment, vehicles, machinery, fuel and energy from local businesses and utilities.

• Mississippi companies provide agricultural support services such as metal fabrication, building construction, insect control, aerial spraying, processing, grain storage, banking, insurance and accounting.

• Agriculture employs Mississippians in all aspects of production and processing. Workers are needed to operate equipment, run cotton gins and mills, cut timber, drive trucks, repair vehicles and machinery, and help bring products to market in other ways.

But what happens when farmers are paid less for their commodities than it costs to produce them?

What can they do to mitigate the impact of flooding, drought or other weather disasters on their productivity? Farmers who can pare down their expenses are more likely to survive such challenges.

As a member of an electric cooperative, you may be surprised to know that you are a beneficiary of farmers’ long-ago efforts to control expenses and boost productivity. Back in the 1930s, Mississippi farmers were sick and tired of breaking their back for meager yields. Advancements in farm productivity were being hampered because farmers had no electricity to power pumps, motors, lights, refrigeration,

E

On the cover Singing River Electric member Jeff Baldock, of Hurley, became serious about fine photography when he retired two years ago. One of his goals is to photograph old downtown districts in Mississippi at night. His expanding portfolio includes these images of downtown Wiggins (top photo) and Yazoo City.

Learn more about his “Downtown at Night” photo series on page 4.

OFFICERS Tim Smith - President Barry Rowland - First Vice President Randy Smith - Second Vice President Keith Hayward - Secretary/Treasurer

EDITORIAL STAFF Michael Callahan - CEO Ron Stewart - Sr. VP, Communications Mark Bridges - Manager, Support Services Debbie H. Stringer - Editor Elissa Fulton - Communications Specialist Rickey McMillan - Graphics Specialist Linda Hutcherson - Administrative Assistant

JOIN TODAY IN MISSISSIPPI

ON FACEBOOK Vol. 70 No. 3 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: National Country Market, 800-626-1181 Circulation of this issue: 435,649 Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year

Today in Mississippi

I

Our Homeplace

milking machines and other farm equipment and household appliances. Rural Mississippians were still pumping water and milking cows by hand, just as their forefathers had done.

Electric service was available then to residents of towns and cities, but not rural America. The existing investor-owned utilities were committed to generating profits for their stockholders, and there was no profit to be made in building lines to electrify rural farms.

The outlook for farmers brightened considerably in 1935 when the newly creatMy Opinion ed Rural Electrification Michael Callahan Administration (REA) Executive Vice President/CEO began offering low-cost Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi loans for extending electric service into rural areas.

Farmers formed local electric cooperatives, secured loans from REA and then built their own electric utilities, literally from the ground up.

These not-for-profit electric cooperatives quickly proved they could deliver a sorely needed service at the lowest rates possible—just as they do today.

Most aspects of farming have changed dramatically since the 1930s, but the mission of the local electric cooperative holds to providing affordable, reliable electric service to its members.

Today your electric cooperative is part of a statewide network of 26 electric cooperatives serving a total of 1.8 million Mississippians.

As the nation observes National Ag Day on March 21, this is an especially good time to express our gratitude to Mississippi’s agricultural community—not only for its contributions to the state’s economy but also for its leadership in laying the foundation for today’s electric cooperatives.

Today in Mississippi

I

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published 11 times a year (Jan.-Nov.) 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 address changes to: Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300

Visit us online at www.todayinmississippi.com

The Foster-Smith Log Cabin is nearly as old as the state of Mississippi itself.

John Foster built the cabin in 1825, about eight years after statehood, in Copiah County. The cabin was moved in 1997 to Brookhaven’s Railroad Park, located downtown on South Whitworth Avenue.

Mississippi is having love and compassion for others. When I was growing up in the 60s, our church was the hub of the community. We had homecoming dinners on the ground under the old oak trees. The preachers were fed at the homes of church members during revivals. Funerals saddened our Leake County community. Food was taken to the homes of the grieving families. My grandma had a small store and she sent hoop cheese, bread, sugar, tea and a can of coffee. Mississippi is the hospitality state, and we grew up knowing that.

—Carolyn Robinson, Lawrence Late one afternoon, when the sun is going down, I take a stroll down the street of a quiet Mississippi town.

Cats are sleeping, dogs are barking, men are mowing, women walking.

A car parked here, a truck parked there, and children playing everywhere.

A smell of cooking in the air, and Grandma in her rocking chair.

Magnolia trees their blooms displayed, a flower bed along the way.

Roses growing on a wall, trees standing straight and tall.

The wind blows among the leaves gently swaying in the breeze.

On I walk, as the day grows dim; the day is spent, night closing in.

There is the church, also the steeple to sound the chimes for all the people.

As we walk the street each day, the love of God we must display.

Our life a picture book to me; God is alive! He lives in me.

—Carrie Powell, Jones County

What’s Mississippi to you?

What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your thoughts to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158, or to news@ecm.coop. Please keep your comments brief. Submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity.

3

4

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

By Debbie Stringer Jeff Baldock’s photographs bring to light something that many never see: the beauty of an old downtown after sunset.

Mississippi’s historic main streets take on a different character at night when the streets are empty. In Baldock’s pictures, street lamps emit starbursts of light, old buildings glow with color, and twilight paints the sky. Trees cast moon shadows on pavement still glistening from a late-afternoon rain.

“I’ve had so many people tell me they did not realize that their town was that beautiful at night. In fact, I have one picture I took in Pascagoula that looks like a street scene in Paris,” said Baldock, a member of Singing River Electric who lives in Hurley.

On location, Baldock uses long exposures and tiny lens apertures to achieve a sharp focus that appears infinite. Back home, he uses photo editing software to merge three different exposures of a subject and create a single image. The technique, known as high dynamic range (HDR) photography, produces pictures filled with light—even though they were made in darkness.

Jeff Baldock’s

Baldock is a relative newcomer to fine photography. He joined the Mississippi Gulf Coast Photography Club and bought his first professional-quality digi-

dent worked for a DuPont company before retiring.

“I was stopping in places like Moss Point, taking pictures on the way to

“I’ve had so many people tell me they did not realize that their town was that beautiful at night.”

—Jeff Baldock

tal SLR about three years ago.

“I was retiring and I wanted something fun to do,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about fancy cameras, and I’m not trained in photography. Everything I know I learned from YouTube videos and talking with my peers.”

The long-time Mississippi Coast resi-

work. I always had a camera on my office desk and would shoot after work too.

“Once a month I’d drive all the way to Bay St. Louis on the coast and shoot my way back across toward Pascagoula.”

One day, he set out for a hunting trip to Winston County. “I took the back

way, up Highway 63, and ended up in Waynesboro. And it was like a light went off. I shot their downtown and thought, this is a really cool thing to do.”

Baldock posted those daytime photos on Facebook and the response took him by surprise. “Next thing I knew, I had 200 new Facebook friends.” And some requests to purchase prints.

Baldock used Google Earth to find street-level views of more downtowns in the state. “It all had to do with the old buildings. I really wanted to capture the beauty of those,” he said.

“My qualification is, if there are more than four or five buildings in a row that are old, I’m going to try to shoot them.”

Baldock calls his project “Downtown at Night.” Of the 112 Mississippi downtowns he selected to include, he has photographed 75.

Upon arriving in a town on his list, Baldock scouts the downtown area for any historic “jewels.”

“There are three things I look for: old movie theaters, barber shops and soda fountains.”

If the lights are on inside an old store,

March 2017

he might shoot the interior through the window, holding the camera close to the glass to avoid reflections.

Baldock’s project demands plenty of

“There are three things I look for: old movie theaters, barber shops and soda fountains.”

—Jeff Baldock

patience, the ability to work through the night at times and even a bit of bravery.

“It can get a little hairy at times, if you’re the only person on the street and all the sudden someone comes walking up to you.... Many times people just come up and want to talk, and I’ll share my pictures and show them what I’m doing.”

Patrolling police officers are relieved to learn he’s not up to any mischief.

One of the advantages of shooting in the dark is the lack of traffic—most of the time. He has found, however, that teens like to cruise around courthouse squares at night, the glare of their headlights reflecting off store windows. “I was having to shoot between cars, and that’s hard to do with a 30-second exposure,” Baldock said.

“Another thing I found out not too long ago is you don’t shoot on Wednesday nights. A lot of small churches have moved into some of these buildings in the downtown areas, and they have services on Wednesdays—and so you have a lot of cars.”

Last year, Baldock traveled some 19,000 miles for work associated with his photography. He and his wife, Margaret, use their camper as his “base of operations” while he works.

Next on this photographer’s to-do list are visits to towns along the Great River Road, from Natchez into the Mississippi Delta, most of which will be new to him.

“It’s such an experience to go into a town you’ve never been to before. I passed Laurel how many times and never got off the interstate.”

Making the most of his visits, Baldock also photographs courthouses, old

Using a high-quality digital camera and photo-editing software, Jeff Baldock produces images with remarkable sharpness, color and detail. These nighttime street scenes were made in Columbia, far left; Wiggins, right; and Pascagoula, below. The interior photo, above, is Borroum’s Drug Store in Corinth, as seen through the store’s window at night. Vintage soda fountains like Borroum’s are one of Baldock’s favorite subjects.

train depots, trains and anything else that catches his eye while waiting for the sun to go down.

Baldock sells framed prints of his work at festivals, in a few galleries and through his Creative Visions Facebook page. This spring, he will exhibit at six festivals in the coast area. He hopes to eventually sell exclusively through major art galleries.

An exhibit of Baldock’s Gulf Coast photographs will open March 2 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, in Biloxi.

The exhibit will hang through May 30.

See Jeff Baldock’s work at his Creative Visions Facebook page, JBaldock74. His website is JeffBaldock.ZenFolio.com.

For information on the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum exhibit, call 228-435-6320.

I

Today in Mississippi

I

5

6

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

Rodney church escaped war but not aging ow that spring is almost here it’s time to take some road trips to see the world coming alive again after the harsh winter we had that one weekend back in January. Well, maybe it was cold more than just one weekend, but not much more.

I started seeing those early signs of spring that I associate with the first part of March popping out in February while on a road trip to the old Mississippi River Port town of Rodney to get some fresh shots of the Rodney Presbyterian Church.

The woods were putting on that slight haze of color as sprouts peeked out through winter limbs. Even azaleas were blooming before Valentine’s Day. My destination, the old church in Rodney, was dedicated in 1832. Back then Rodney had two banks, nearly two dozen stores and about 500 people living there.

Although it was a thriving port on the Mississippi River, Rodney stayed relatively unscathed during the Civil War unlike its neighbor, Vicksburg, some 40 or so miles to the north—with at least one notable exception: There is a cannonball lodged in the front wall of the Presbyterian church.

The scar shows where the church building took a hit from a Union gunboat as it shelled the town in an attempt to free some of its sailors, who had gone ashore one Sunday morning to worship at the church. They were captured by Confederates who had gotten wind the sailors were there.

Although thriving then, the town started dwindling shortly after the war when the river suddenly changed course and kicked west of Rodney about two miles.

As the river moved away so did the people, to the extent that the church stopped

N

having regular services by 1922.

Now, I have been taking pictures of the old Presbyterian Church at Rodney for over 25 years. It was one of my early destinations when I started doing Mississippi my own stories Seen at WLBT. Back

by Walt Grayson then the church had just undergone several years of renovation and was to be dedicated the following Sunday. It was pristine. New shutters, interior cleaned and remodeled.

But now, for over a quarter century, I’ve watched the building slowly slip back into old age. The new paint weathered.

The shutters rotted and fell away. Cracks appeared in the brickwork that had never been noticed before. The doors, once locked and secured, grew so flimsy that they would hardly close, much less lock.

Individuals and groups have come along through the years to keep the grass mowed, clean up, replace windowpanes and try to secure the church.

But in spite of all the efforts, the inevitable aging of the building has outpaced the energy and especially the funds of the volunteers. Now a dire situation has begun to happen; one of the brick walls is forming a buckle at the bottom. And reinforcing a buckling brick wall is way above the restoration-pay-grade of any of the volunteers who are keeping the building alive right now.

Legislation has been introduced for a bond issue that would benefit the Rodney Foundation with enough funds to shore

Fixed Indexed Annuities

10% Interest Bonus on all Deposits!

SAFETY with Fixed Rates or Market Gains. (No Losses) (IRA, ROTH, CD, NQ, 401K and Pension Rollovers)

A+

Since 1992

Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television, and the author of two “Looking

FULMER’S

Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” Contact Grayson at walt@waltgrayson.com.

Medicare Supplements Low Rates!

E.Insurance F. Hutton Agency

(Female age 65, “Plan F” = $111.19 )

P. O. Box 5277, Brandon, MS 39047

1-800-463-4348

E. F. Hutton nor its agents are affiliated with the Federal Medicare Program.

HOMESTEADERS GATHERING & TRADE DAYS

Registration and fee are required for the classes.

Contact us at 601-964-8222 or fulmersgeneral@gmail.com for more information.

Culotta Insurance & Investments

Mississippi • STATEWIDE • Louisiana

up the building and also do some face lifting. Hopefully, other farsighted plans can be made to save the old church.

Rodney Presbyterian Church is a great road trip destination right now. And tourism is a vast part of the economics in that part of the state, from Natchez up Highway 61 into the Delta. But nobody is going to be very interested in going to see where something used to be.

Friday & Saturday, April 21 & 22, at Fulmer’s Farmstead, Richton, MS $25 before Workshops begin Friday at 9 a.m.

Trade Days April 1 and continue Saturday morning. booths available • Canning on the farm • Old-time biscuit making • Blacksmith • Alpaca weaving projects Buy, sell or trade: $40 after • Work horse class antiques, collectibles, April 1

Featuring up to

1-844-AGENT4U

The Rodney Presbyterian Church is one of a small handful of original buildings still standing from the heyday of a Mississippi river port town. Rodney was nearly as important as the better-known towns that flank it, Natchez and Vicksburg. Most of the town has vanished. Attempts are being made to save the church. Photo: Walt Grayson

Richie Culotta

garage sale items, equipment, household items, chickens and small livestock, and more

Find us on Facebook : Fulmer’s General Store

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

“ Our Mueller custom building is the place we call home.�

Mueller custom buildings make beautiful living spaces. Our strong, engineered exteriors provide flexibility for you to design a completely customized interior, while supporting large spans and open floor plans. Create your own unique space to call JQOG )KXG WU C ECNN QT FTQR D[ VQFC[ CPF Ć’PF QWV OQTG CDQWV EWUVQO OGVCN DWKNFKPIU HTQO /WGNNGT * *Some exterior structures, such as carport & porches, were added post-engineering and not designed by Mueller. Please check local building codes before ordering.

www.muellerinc.com | 877-2-MUELLER (877-268-3553)

I

7

HISTORY

8 I Today in Mississippi I March 2017

A JOURNEY INTO

here is something especially captivating about southwest Mississippi—a peculiar essence, a whisper from the past, the bluffs and hardwoods and stream lowlands and romance.

Then there is the Mighty River. It twists and roils and delineates its border path separating states. At times placid; at times angry. But always fascinating. It is a thing of legend, luring anyone who is filled with fantasy and wanderlust to come near, to stand and watch and dream and contemplate. I never see it without considering Mark Twain as a youngster doing likewise from the edges of his small world and questioning where those waters came from and where they are going.

A great many true gems make the region their home. There is Natchez, naturally, a destinaby Tony Kinton tion that demands exploration. And there is the landscape, accentuated by those mysterious hills and hollows. There are Indian mounds and historical markers and Grant’s March and the terminus of that ancient route known as the Natchez Trace. All quite marvelous.

Go north from Natchez on Highway 61 a little more than half-way to Vicksburg and there is Port Gibson, an absolute must for visitors to the area.

And not far northwest of there is Grand Gulf, once a wealthy town that fell on hard times, including storms, a Yellow Fever epidemic, a terrific steamboat explosion and fire, and whims of monstrous currents from the Mississippi River. And then the war. But even today, the area is inviting. This invitation centers particularly on Grand Gulf Military Park.

The park is rife with history. Four miles upstream and across the Big River is the spot from which Gen. Grant planned to launch his invasion of

T

Outdoors Today

Mississippi. Grand Gulf, though crippled by this time, was strategic. Supplies for Confederate support were transported via the Big Black River, the juncture of that stream and the Mississippi only a short distance up from Grand Gulf.

Confederate forces under the command of Gen. Bowen had established strong stations in the bluffs some 800 yards from the mouth of Big Black and 100 feet above the river. These must be taken if Grant were to execute his plan.

The heart of Bowen’s efforts is where Grand Gulf Military Park now stands.

The centerpiece of this park is the museum, located right at the entrance and also housing the primary office. But there is much more. Buildings of various persuasions are there. The sites of forts Cobun and Wade, the structures no longer standing, are clearly visible, rifle pits and passage ways evident.

Emplacements that held field pieces and were constructed by Confederate soldiers are there. Sheds behind the museum contain a vast assortment of period equipment: carriages, wagons, fire-fighting implements, tack, tools. The list is long. Even the original jail from Grand Gulf is there.

Perhaps morbid in a sense but truly remarkable in another is the Grand Gulf Cemetery, stationed high atop a ridge toward the back of the park. Mixed with the obvious loss portrayed by such a facility is the artistry of it all. Unlike modern cemeteries, this one speaks of a time long past. This cemetery is a place for study and thought. Quiet and tucked among cedars and oaks, it is a spot for remembering.

And not far away from there is an observation tower. Not for the faint of heart, it is built with many decks connected by countless stairs that eventually

reach the top. The view from there, however, can be spectacular.

Then there are campgrounds, two Jim Baker prepares for one of the many living history programs scheduled each year at to be specific. Grand Gulf Park. At top, the park’s restored Spanish House was built in the late 1790s. The One is the Grand Gulf Cemetery, center, is a haunting and intriguing spot. Photos: Tony Kinton lower, the other the upper. As the names suggest, there; it is safe to walk there. My one is at the bottom of the bluff near the favorite, bicycling, is the perfect way to park’s entrance, and the other is on the make the half-mile run. But however you bluff above it all. The regular amenities go there, go at sunset. You should be are available for travel trailers, fifth greeted by a haunting and uncommon wheels and motor homes. And a tent portrait painted by nature itself. Those will work as well. sunsets are exquisite.

All the locales highlighted to this For more information about Grand point are worthy venues, but should I be Gulf Military Park and its offerings, go forced to choose only one as the brightto www.grandgulfpark.state.ms.us, or call est jewel at Grand Gulf Park, my reflec- 601-473-5911. That call will put you in tive nature points again to the river. touch with a staff member there, and Leave the park gate, cross the main road, each is helpful and knowledgeable. and there you will find a park road that leads directly to that big stream. You can Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors actually stand on the banks of the writer for 30 years. His newest book, Mississippi River, a task not so easily “Rambling Through Pleasant Memories,” is accomplished along most stretches of now available. Order from Amazon.com or Kinton’s website: www.tonykinton.com.

Big Muddy. It is permissible to drive

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Providing an outlet for our future.

Some 1.8 million Mississippians depend on member-owned electric cooperatives to help power their pursuit of a better quality of life at home and on the job. By providing reliable, affordable service and fast emergency response, we have become powerful partners for members in business, agriculture, industry, education and healthcare.

We work to empower Mississippians the cooperative way.

a quality of life partner www.ecm.com • P.O. Box 3300 Ridgeland, Mississippi 39158 • 601-605-8600

I

9

10 I Today in Mississippi I March 2017

Twin County Electric Power Association

For after-hours outages, call

The power of 866-897-7250 working together

Isabell Austin decides to retire–at age 90 Humphreys County farm where she has

By Debbie Stringer grown up with nine sisters and six At age 61, when some folks begin brothers. counting down to retirement, Isabell “You know, back then when children Austin took on a new job at Twin got to 6 years old, they worked. And I County Electric Power Association. learned to work,” she recalled.

For 29 years, Mrs. Austin worked a Young Isabell’s farm duties included few hours in the mornings or evenings to keep the electric cooperative’s Belzoni caring for her family’s cows, hogs and branch office clean and tidy. Cleaning chickens, and milking the cows. up after linemen with muddy boots was Then there was the washing and ironnot always easy, but Mrs. Austin said she ing, a household chore she shared with a enjoyed her job and its flexible schedule.

In some ways she’s still a farm In January, at age 90, she girl, whose face lights up when retired.

Long before coming to Twin asked about her garden.

County, Mrs. Austin raised 10 children. Through the years, she worked as a housekeeper and once oper- younger sister—without the help of elecated a children’s day-care service in her tricity. (Mrs. Austin was about 12 years home. old when farmers organized Twin CounShe married twice and lived for a ty in 1938 to obtain electric service for time in Chicago before returning to the rural south Delta.)

Daybreak plantaMrs. Austin confessed she actualtion, the ly enjoyed using a washboard to scrub clothes clean. “I loved that, but I never wanted to iron,” she said.

At home in Belzoni, Isabell Austin has taken up quilting once again now that she is retired from Twin County Electric Power Association. Mrs. Austin worked at the cooperative’s Belzoni branch office for 29 years—beginning at age 61.

In those days, doing the laundry meant carrying pails of water, drawn by a hand pump, to an iron wash pot set over a fire in the yard. The wet clothes were scrubbed on the washboard, boiled in the iron pot, rinsed in cool water, scrubbed again if needed and hung to dry.

Mrs. Austin learned to cook by helping her mother. “I never saw her use a recipe,” she said. Neither did her mother use measuring cups or spoons when baking; instead, she would bake a small

sample of the batter in the wood-fired oven to see if it needed more sugar or flour.

Mrs. Austin still enjoys cooking and baking today, for herself and family gatherings at her house. Among her favorites are chocolate cake and corn bread.

In some ways she’s still a farm girl, whose face lights up when asked about her garden. “I’d rather be there than in the house,” she said.

This year, she likely will plant butter-

March 2017

beans, peas, okra, squash and tomatoes.

Gardening provides her not only with healthy food but also a physical activity she has enjoyed since her youth on the farm.

“I think that farming is the best job we can have, because in some other jobs you just sit a little too long, or you may stand.

But a farming job keeps you moving.

“I think it’s even better for our brains. On the farm, you’ve got one thing to think about while you’re doing it,” she said, referring to the multi-tasking demands of some workplaces.

In retirement, Mrs. Austin can devote all her attention to what she loves the most: gardening and family (including 15 grandchildren).

Her Twin County co-workers honored her with a farewell luncheon held on Jan. 6.

“Isabell was a faithful and dedicated employee of Twin County. She was an inspiration to all of us. We wish her much happiness in her retirement,” said Brian Cochran, Belzoni office manager.

I

Today in Mississippi

What if a power line falls on your vehicle?

• If you are in a traffic or farm accident that results in power lines touching your vehicle, stay inside the vehicle and call 911.

• DO NOT touch the line for any reason!

• If you must leave the vehicle to escape a fire or other life-threatening situation, jump clear of the vehicle and land on both feet.

• If you come upon the scene of such an accident, do not approach the vehicle that is touching power lines. Call 911.

• Never drive over downed power lines.

Twin County Electric Power Association Hollandale headquarters: 662-827-2262 Belzoni: 662-247-1909 • Greenville: 662-334-9543 Rolling Fork: 662-873-4233

To report after-hours outages, call 866-897-7250.

The dark side of springtime Springtime brings warm days and pretty flowers, but also severe thunderstorms.

Strong winds, lightning and tornadoes can bring down power lines, creating a safety hazard until Twin County Electric Power Association crews can repair the damage.

If you see a dangling or downed power line, stay far away from it. Even if your electric service is off, contact with a power line can cause serious injury.

Call Twin County immediately to report the problem.

Never touch a power line!

Twin County Electric Power Association

I

11

“My friends all hate their cell phones… I love mine!”

Here’s why.

s o N ac t r nt Co

B Bu ig tt ge on r s

12 I Today in Mississippi I March 2017

FREE Car Charge r

Say good-bye to everything you hate about cell phones. Say hello to the Jitterbug Flip.

“Cell phones have gotten so small, I can barely dial mine.” Not the Jitterbug® Flip.

It features a large keypad for easier dialing.

It even has a larger display and a powerful, hearing aid-compatible speaker, so it’s easy to see and conversations are clear.

“I had to get my son to program it.” Your Jitterbug Flip set-up process is simple. We’ll even program it with your favorite numbers.

“What if I don’t remember a number?”

Friendly, helpful Personal Operators are available 24 hours a day and will even greet you by name when you call.

“I’d like a cell phone to use in an emergency.” Now you can turn your phone into a personal safety device when you select a Health & Safety Package. With 5Star® Service, in any uncertain or unsafe situation, simply press the 5Star button to speak immediately with a highly-trained Urgent Response Agent who will confirm your location, evaluate your situation and get you the help you need, 24/7.

“My cell phone company wants to lock me in a two-year contract!” Not with the Jitterbug Flip.

There are no contracts to sign and no cancellation fees.

Order now and receive a FREE Car Charger – a $25 value for your Jitterbug Flip. Call now!

Monthly Plan

$14.99/mo*

$19.99/mo*

Monthly Minutes

200

600

Operator Assistance

24/7

24/7

Long Distance Calls

No add’l charge

No add’l charge

Voice Dial

FREE

FREE

Nationwide Coverage

YES

YES

30 days

30 days

Friendly Return Policy1

Health & Safety Packages available as low as $19.99/month*.

More minute plans available. Ask your Jitterbug expert for details.

“Many phones have features that are rarely needed and hard to use!” The Jitterbug Flip contains easy-to-use features that are meaningful to you. A built-in camera makes it easy and fun for you to capture and share your favorite memories. And a flashlight with a built-in magnifier helps you see in dimly lit areas, the Jitterbug Flip has all the features you need.

5Star Enabled

12:45P Mon Mar 06

Enough talk. Isn’t it time you found out more about the cell phone that’s changing all the rules? Call now, Jitterbug product experts are standing by.

Available in Red and Graphite.

Call toll-free to get your

Jitterbug Flip Cell Phone Please mention promotional code 105607.

1-888-824-0558

www.JitterbugDirect.com

47666

We proudly accept the following credit cards:

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc. Your invoices will come from GreatCall. Plans and Services require purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time setup fee of $35. *Monthly fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. Coverage is not available everywhere. 5Star or 9-1-1 calls can only be made when cellular service is available. 5Star Service will be able to track an approximate location when your device is turned on, but we cannot guarantee an exact location. 1We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone and the activation fee (or setup fee) if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will be deducted from your refund for each minute over 30 minutes. You will be charged a $10 restocking fee. The shipping charges are not refundable. There are no additional fees to call GreatCall’s U.S.-based customer service. However, for calls to a GreatCall Operator in which a service is completed, you will be charged 99 cents per call, and minutes will be deducted from your monthly rate plan balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator. Jitterbug, GreatCall, and 5Star are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. ©2017 GreatCall, Inc. ©2017 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

I

13

Jack Reed lived his dream few mornings ago when Mr. Roy brought me my morning coffee, he had that special sparkle in his eyes. Before I could speak, he said, “Well, it’s about time for baseball spring training camps to crank up. As a teenager I’d already have my glove dusted off. I’m sure our old friend Jack Reed feels the excitement too.”

Roy is always excited about something, even if it’s work around the house.

“I have never been interested in baseball unless MSU has a good team,” I said and rubbed my eyes. “I don’t see you watching a major league game anymore, even the World Series.”

“You’re right,” he said, “but when I was a teenager in the 50s and later as a young adult in the late 50s and early 60s, baseball was truly America’s favorite sport. Most people picked a team and pulled for them, even though they didn’t get to see them play in person.

“Both my parents liked baseball, so every other Sunday afternoon during the summer we drove to Mobile and watched the Mobile Bears play. They were a Brooklyn Dodgers farm club, so I

A

liked the Dodgers. We all liked the Chicago Cubs because our own Claude Passeau was their star pitcher.

“Most of us boys followed our favorite team daily and we could tell you a player’s batting average or pitcher’s record. But whether you liked baseball or not, the one team that everyone knew something about was the New York Yankees. They had a lineup of players that was awesome. I can still remember Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Clete Boyer, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Grin ‘n’ Elston Howard Bare It and so many

by Kay Grafe more. And their star of stars was Mickey Mantle. Remember the summer of 1962? I had to go to New York City on business, and that weekend I went to Yankee Stadium to watch a game. What a thrill.”

“Our friend Jack Reed played for the Yankees, didn’t he?” I asked.

“He sure did, and with that same group of great players I just mentioned.

Jack truly appreciated that experience; he told me that he had been blessed to live his dream. When he was a young boy growing up in rural Mississippi he said the St. Louis Cardinals were his favorite team, and he would dream for hours about one day playing major league baseball.”

Mr. Roy explained that Jack grew up in Silver City, Miss., and still lives there.

For his high school education his parents sent him to Gulf Coast Military School in Gulfport. There he starred in football, baseball and track. He had always planned to go to college at Mississippi State.

After graduation State offered him a baseball scholarship, but coach Swayze told him he could play baseball and football at Ole Miss, so he became a Rebel and played both sports.

In fact, Jack is only one of four people ever to play in a major college football bowl game (the 1953 Sugar Bowl) and a World Series contest (in 1961).

In 1953 at the end of his junior year, he signed a contract with the New York Yankees and played for six different

Yankee minor league clubs before being called up to the major league in 1961.

During his three-year major league career, he was used by the Yankees primarily as a backup and relief player for Mickey Mantle. Mantle’s legs began giving him trouble, so he would normally be pulled out of a game in the seventh or eigth inning. Jack played in 222 games during the seasons of 1961-1963, and earned two World Series rings.

“He only hit one home run during his major league career, but it was a memorable one,” Mr. Roy said. “In the longest game the Yankees had ever played, in the 22nd inning Jack hit a two-run home run that won the game.

The game played against the Detroit Tigers lasted seven hours.”

I held out my cup to Mr. Roy. He took it and said, “Be right back.”

Roy began talking again coming up the stairs. “I enjoy discussing baseball with Jack and he always has a story to tell me. After a meeting in Hattiesburg last year he told me about a series in Chicago. The day they were flying back to New York on a charter flight the team had the morning off before a 3:30 flight.

Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford asked Jack to go with them to a local country club to play a round of golf. They borrowed clubs and started playing.

“He said at 3:00 they were still on the course, and Jack started worrying about the plane leaving without him.

Then Jack said it dawned on him they might leave him but they won’t leave Mantle. And sure enough, when they got to the airport the plane was waiting on the runway.”

“Some people are privileged to live their dreams; Jack Reed was one of them,” I said. “Jack and his wife, Lou, returned home after baseball.”

You will know when you get there because the welcome sign says, “Silver City, Miss.—Birthplace and Home of Jack Reed, New York Yankees 19611963.”

You won’t miss the sign, but the town’s so small you may miss it!

Kay Grafe is the author of “Oh My Gosh, Virginia.” To order, send name, address, phone number and $16.95, plus $3.50 S&H to Kay Grafe, 2142 Fig Farm Road, Lucedale, MS 39452.

14

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

MISSISSIPPI

Cooks RECIPES FROM:

‘One Hundred Years of Good Cooking’ A small group of worshippers organized Unity Baptist Church in 1913. Throughout the church’s 103-year history, countless home-cooked dishes have been served under its roof, and recipes shared.

In observance of its 100th anniversary, Unity Baptist Church published a cookbook, “One Hundred Years of Good Cooking.” Many of the recipes have been passed from one generation to the next and now adapted to modern cooking techniques and tastes.

Recipes from some of the original church families include Fried Field Corn, Sesame Shrimp Salad, Cracklin Corn Bread, Apple Pound Cake and Lemon Ice Box Pie. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, we share a few recipes here that call for green ingredients (and that sound delicious).

The church uses proceeds from cookbook sales to purchase equipment for its playground and kitchen.

The spiral-bound softcover cookbook includes 208 pages of recipes, photographs and church history. Price is $15. To order, send check to Susan Turner, 1566 Bradley Road, Leakesville, MS 39451.

Arroz Con Pollo (Rice with Chicken) 3 ½-lb. chicken, cut into pieces ½ cup vegetable oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 cups canned tomatoes ½ cup tomato paste ½ cup water ½ tsp. salt

2 bay leaves 1 cup long-grain rice ½ Tbsp. vinegar ½ lb. fresh mushrooms, sautéed in 2 Tbsp. oil* 1 can canned peas, drained, liquid reserved 1 dozen small stuffed olives Parsley for garnish

In a large skillet, brown chicken pieces in hot oil for about 15 minutes; add onion, bell pepper and garlic during the last 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, water, salt and bay leaves. Cover and cook slowly for 1 hour. Add rice to chicken mixture. Cover and cook 20 minutes, stirring once. Add vinegar, mushrooms, olives, peas and reserved pea liquid. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves. To serve, on a large platter arrange chicken pieces in the center. Make a border with the rice mixture. Garnish with bits of parsley. * May substitute 1 small can mushrooms, well drained and sautéed a few minutes in 2 tablespoons butter or margarine.

Amish Broccoli Bake 1 (10 ¾-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup 1 cup mayonnaise ½ cup chopped onion ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. black pepper

2 (10-oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 (6-oz.) box herb stuffing mix ¼ cup (½ stick) butter, melted, divided

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine soup, mayonnaise, onion, salt and pepper; mix well. Place half the broccoli into the casserole dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese and half the stuffing mix. Pour half the butter and half the soup mixture over stuffing. Repeat layers once. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until hot in center.

Fried Green Tomatoes or Squash 3 cups self-rising flour 2 Tbsp. Creole seasoning 1 cup buttermilk ½ cup milk

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Vegetable oil 5 large green tomatoes or squash, sliced ½ inch thick

Combine flour and Creole seasoning in a bowl. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, milk and Worcestershire sauce. Pour oil 1 inch deep in skillet over mediumhigh heat. Dredge sliced tomatoes or squash in flour mixture, dip in milk, then dredge in flour again. Fry slices until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Key Lime Cupcakes 1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist lemon cake mix 1 (4-serving size) box lime-flavored gelatin ¾ cup water 1⁄3 cup Key lime juice, fresh or bottled 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs 2 to 3 drops green food coloring, optional

Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 2 to 2 ½ Tbsp. Key lime juice Frosting: 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened ¼ cup butter or margarine, softened 1 tsp. vanilla extract 3 ½ cups powdered sugar Grated lime peel, optional

Preheat oven to 350 F (325 F for dark or nonstick pan). Place a paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In a large bowl, beat cupcake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ full. Bake 19 to 24 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cooling rack. With toothpick or wooden skewer, pierce tops of cupcakes in several places.

Glaze: In a small bowl, mix 1 cup powdered sugar and enough of the lime juice to make a smooth glaze thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle and spread glaze over cupcakes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Frosting: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. On low speed, beat in vanilla and powdered sugar; beat on medium speed until fluffy. Frost cupcakes, mounding and swirling frosting in center.

Garnish with lime peel. Store covered in refrigerator.

Egg Salad Wraps 4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 2 Tbsp. chopped pickles (dill, sweet or bread-and-butter) 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill weed 2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion 3 Tbsp. light mayonnaise

¼ tsp. salt 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas 2 cups shredded lettuce 1 tomato, finely chopped Alfalfa sprouts, optional

In a large bowl, combine eggs, pickles, dill weed, onion, mayonnaise and salt.

Spread mixture evenly on each tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomato and sprouts. Fold in sides of each wrap and roll up from one end. Cut each wrap in half crosswise.

Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

I

15

Choices abound in roses for the home garden had an opportunity to attend the Gulf District American Rose Society MidWinter Workshop in Gonzales, La., in early February. It was a fantastic event that allowed me to meet lots of new people and catch up with a few old garden friends.

I also learned that I have had the same experiences and developed the same misperceptions that many home gardeners have with garden roses.

As young homeowners—just for perspective, this story occurred 40 years ago—my wife and I started growing hybrid tea roses in South Carolina. We loved having the fresh-cut stems, but we did not love the maintenance and pest management. So, we stopped growing garden roses. This attitude persisted even after I became the Southern Gardener.

But then Knockout roses came along, and I started to come back around.

After spending a couple of days with genuine rose enthusiasts, I’m thinking about adding a few roses to my Ocean Springs landscape. Just choosing the selections to add to my landscape will be a daunting task, as the number of selections on the market is quite broad.

I’m not going to make specific rec-

I

Roses are a beautiful addition to home landscapes, and certain modern varieties offer reliable performance without requiring expert care. Photo: MSU Extension/Gary Bachman

ommendations today, but I do want to give you some information about groups of roses for the home gardener to consider.

One group the rosarians were raving about is the David Austin English rose. I

GARDENERS!

HUGE DR TILLER SALE! ®

Models Star tint g at jus

$ 39 9

99

DIRECT PRICING • FREE SHIPPING! All-New 2017 DR® Tiller line-up includes Rear- and Front-Tine models, Mini-Tillers, and more—all at BIG, Pre-Season Savings!

was amazed at how lush the blooms are and how each one was packed with what seemed like over 100 petals per flower.

Each flower also had an incredible fragrance.

David Austin roses are a result of an intensive breeding program that crossed fantastic old garden roses with more modern selections. The result is a group of roses that display great growth characteristics with more reliable repeat flower-

LIFETIME INCOME! Grow your nest egg at

6% GUARANTEED! PLUS, Tow-Behind Tillers for garden tractor owners!

FREE SHIPPING 6 MONTH TRIAL SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Call or go online for details.

CALL for Sale Prices and FREE Catalog!

TOLL FREE

888-213-2085 DRrototiller.com

95434X © 2017

Stop and get

LIFETIME INCOME now or anytime.

L.D. O’Mire Financial Services

601-957-3841 601-209-3131

ing and a wider range of colors more commonly found in modern roses. I will have at least one David Austin rose in my landscape this year.

I also learned at the workshop that efforts to breed disease resistance into beautiful garden roses come with a tradeoff. This breeding often causes the rose to lose its fragrance.

At Kordes Roses, the breeders’ top priorities are disease resistance and fragrance. I was fascinated seeing all the complex flower styles and gorgeous colors they offer. I will have at least one Kordes rose in my landscape this year.

If you are a gardening novice unsure about planting garden roses, the easiest way to enjoy Southern them is to plant Gardening Knockout roses.

by Dr. Gary Bachman Knockouts are shrub-type roses that are highly disease resistant. They produce flower clusters nonstop in huge numbers. Flower colors range from red to pink and yellow, but I like the red best.

This plant has multiseason interest.

Its foliage in the spring and summer is a dark, glossy green, and fall brings on a deep, maroon-purple show. Always plant in a location that receives at least five hours of full sun a day, with morning sun being the most beneficial.

Once you have a little success growing Knockouts, I’m sure you’ll have garden roses in your landscape next year.

Dr. Gary Bachman is an associate Extension and 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.

16

I

Marketplace

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

Mississippi

FOR SALE

MISCELLANEOUS

SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial sawmill equipment for woodlot and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. Call for a free list or to sell your equipment, 800-459-2148; www.sawmillexchange.com.

PLAY GOSPEL SONGS by Ear! $12.95. “Learn Gospel Music” - chording, runs, fills - $12.95. Both $24.

Davidsons, 6727MS Metcalf, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66204. 913-262-4982.

VACATION RENTALS

FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon Church and Government uniting, will supress “Religious Liberty” enforcing a “National Sunday Law,” leading to the “Mark of the Beast.” Be informed/Be forewarned! Need mailing address: TBSM, Box 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771 the biblesaystruth@yahoo.com, 1-888-211-1715.

PIGEON FORGE, TN Cabins, peaceful, convenient location, owner rates, 251-649-3344, 251-649-4049; www.hideawayprop.com.

SMOKIES. TOWNSEND, TN 2 BR, 2 BATH Log Home, Jacuzzi, Fireplace, wrap-around porch, charcoal grill.

865-320-4216; For rental details and pictures E-mail: tncabin.lonnie@yahoo.com.

KILL LAKE WEEDS

Proven AQUACIDE PELLETS

Marble size pellets. Work at any depth.

Before

After

10 lb. bag treats up to 4,000 sq.ft. $86.00.

50 lb. bag treats up to 20,000 sq.ft. $327.00.

FREE SHIPPING! Certified and approved for use by state agencies.

State permit may be required.

Registered with the Federal E. P. A.

800-328-9350

KillLakeWeeds.com Order online today, or request free information.

Our 62nd year

AQUACIDE CO.

PO Box 10748, DEPT 32C White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748

Type or print your ad clearly. Be sure to include your telephone number. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the next month’s issue. Rate is $2.50 per word, 10-word minimum. Mail payment with your ad to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300. Have any questions?

Phone 601-605-8600 or email advertising@epaofms.com.

FARM BARNS

Hattiesburg, MS • 1-601-296-0550 Our Prices Include Labor & Metal Sides Also Available in Wood Sides

Garage with hardy siding and concrete slab, any size.

www.farmbarnsinc.com

We will build any size barn.

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

I

17

A free, interactive legislative app for Mississippi.

Our easy-to-use mobile app provides information on Mississippi’s state and federal elected officials. Look for “Mississippi 2017 Legislative Roster� in the Apple AppStore. An Android version is also available through Google Play.

‘Picture This’ explores country roads Mobile Home Owners: ROOF KING

Country roads take us home in our next “Picture This� reader photo feature.

Send us your photos of scenic rural roadways (paved or not) anywhere in Mississippi.

Selected photos will appear in the April issue of Today in Mississippi.

Hurry! Deadline for submissions is March 17.

Submission guidelines Mobile Home Super Insulated Roof Over Systems.

40 Year Warranty. Factory Direct from

ROOF KING 1-800-276-0176 www.roofking.net

SINCE 1982

• Submit as many photos as you like, but select only photos in super-sharp focus. • Photos must relate to the given theme. • Photos must be the original work of an amateur photographer (of any age). • Photos eligible for publication may be either color or black and white, print or digital. • Digital photos should be high-resolution JPG files. Please do not use photoediting software to adjust colors or tones. (We prefer to do it ourselves, if necessary, according to our printer’s standards.) • Please do not send a photo with the

FFiin nanc

18-35 HP

0% iin ng Ava ailla able le* *WAC

JOYSTICK OR TWINSTICK STEERING 42� - 72� Cutting Width

FROM THIS TO this

In 60 S Seconds d

L

E

1-8 800-627-7276 -627-727 76 www ww.marrbros.com w.marrbros.com marrbro ros.co om

date appearing on the image. • Photos must be accompanied by identifying information: photographer’s name, address, phone and electric power association (if applicable). Include the name(s) of any recognizable people or places in the picture. • Be sure to include the name of the town or county where your country road is located. • Prints will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

We cannot, however, guarantee their safe return through the mail.

How to submit photos Attach digital photos to your email message and send to news@ecm.coop. If submitting more than one photo, please attach all photos to only one email message, if possible.

Or, mail prints or a photo CD to Picture This, Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300.

Question? Contact Debbie Stringer, editor, at 601-605-8610 or email news@ecm.coop.

Photographers whose photos are selected for publication are eligible for a $200 cash prize, to be awarded in a random drawing in December.

18

I

Today in Mississippi

I

March 2017

Events MISSISSIPPI

Want more than 450,000 readers to know about your special event? Submit details at least two months prior to the event date.

Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Mail to Mississippi Events, Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300; fax to 601-605-8601; or send to news@ecm.coop. Events open to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Please note that events are subject to change. We recommend calling to confirm details before traveling.

Kids Market Consignment Sale, March 24, Hattiesburg. Used and new items for children. Cloverleaf Mall. Details: 601-467-5429; KidsMarketMS.com.

Watoto Children’s Choir “Signs & Wonders” Concert, March 4, Jackson.

Worship songs sharing stories of the children; 6 p.m. Free admission. Wells United Methodist Church. Also performing elsewhere in the state. Details: Watoto.com/choir.

Gospel Bluegrass Concert, March 4, Fulton.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent, Dailey & Vincent; 4 p.m. Admission.

Itawamba Community College. Details: 662862-8039; iccms.edu.

B&S Consignment, March 7-9, Brookhaven.

Infant–adult clothing, shoes, toys, home decor, furniture. Free admission. Lincoln Civic Center. Details: BnSConsignment.com.

Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus Spring Performances, March 9, Gulfport and April 8, Pascagoula. Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Gulfport; 3 p.m. First United Methodist Church, Pascagoula; 7 p.m. Free admission. Details: 228-324-9292; ed.cake@yahoo.com.

Audubon Naturalist Program, March 10 May 19, Holly Springs. Each Friday for 10 weeks; 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission. Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. Details: 662-2521155; strawberryplains.audubon.org.

44th Annual Gospel Singing Jubilee, March 11, Magee. Featuring Singing Echoes, Terry Joe Terrell, Tim Frith and Gospel Echoes, and others; 6:30 p.m. Admission. South Shady Grove Church of God. Details: 601-906-0677, 601-720-8870.

Possum Town Quilt Guild Meeting, March 11, Columbus. Anyone interested in quilt making or quilts welcomed. Meets second Saturday monthly. Rosenweig Art Center.

Details: 662-251-4263; PossumTownQuilters.blogspot.com.

Grillin’ on the Green, March 11, Biloxi.

Biloxi Town Green. BBQ cook-off, children’s play area, arts/crafts, entertainment; 10 a.m.5 p.m. Parade 2 p.m. Details: 228-435-6339; MainStreetBiloxi.com.

Sheep to Shawl Fiber Arts Demos, March

18, Ridgeland. Live sheep shearing, handspinning, hands-on loom weaving, vendors, more; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free admission. Mississippi Craft Center. Details: 601-373-2495; cvillewsg.com.

Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival: “Happy St. Perennial @ Our Bicentennial,” March 18, Jackson. Grand marshals: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Downtown. Details: HalsStPaddysParade.com.

Big Pop Gun Show, March 18-19, Laurel.

Fairgrounds. Details: 601-498-4235; BigPopGunShows.com.

Family Camp Out, March 18-19, Pascagoula.

Tent set-up begins at noon; dinner, breakfast, campfire, storytelling, outdoor movie, beach activities, more. Rainout date March 25-26.

Admission. Beach Park. Details: 228-938-2356.

Twice As Nice Childrens Consignment Sale, March 22-25, D’Iberville. Children, infants and maternity. Civic Center. Details: 850-341-1676; 2AsNiceKidsResale.com.

Schooling Horse Show, March 25, Gulfport.

English, Wester, Dressage. Bienvenue Acres.

Details: 228-357-0431; bienvenueacres.com.

Sixth Annual Viking Half Marathon and 5K, March 25, Greenwood. Half marathon begins 8 a.m., 5K at 8:30 a.m. in historic Cotton Row District. Details: 662-453-4152; VikingHalfMarathon.racesonline.com.

11th Annual Charles Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Music Festival, March 30- April 1, Starkville. Performances by Jeff Barnhart, Brian

SOUTHEASTERN RED DEER FARMS

If you like deer hunting & the outdoors, then you will love raising Red Deer!

Holland, Dan Levinson’s Roof Garden Jass Band. Admission. Mitchell Memorial Library, MSU McComas Hall Auditorium. Details: 662325-6634; library.msstate.edu/templeton/festival.

Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” March 3031, April 1-2, Laurel. Drama about 1690s Salem witch trials. Admission. Laurel Little Theatre. Details: 601-428-0140; LaurelLittleTheatre.com.

The Collingsworth Family in Concert, March 31, Yazoo City. Admission; 7 p.m.

Parkview Church of God. Details: 662-7464298; ParkviewChurchYC.com.

“Whispers in the Cedars” Cemetery Tour, March 31- April 1, Port Gibson. Details: 601437-5103; EmmaCrisler@bellsouth.net.

Hill Fire’s “Of Life and Lemons,” March 31 April 2, Winona. Montgomery County Arts Council production of an original folklife play.

Comedy, drama, music. Admission.

Performing Arts Center. Details: 662-3100199; HillFire.org.

Picking 35 Through the Heart of Mississippi, April 1, Attala/Leake counties.

Yard sales for 50 miles along Miss. 35, from Carmack to Walnut Grove; 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Details: 601-267-9231.

Shiloh Arts and Crafts Show, April 1, Pelahatchie. Featuring select Miss. craftsmen; Shiloh Museum; 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Free admission. Shiloh United Methodist Church. Details: 601-213-7528.

Art in the Pass, April 1-2, Pass Christian.

Juried arts/crafts show, seafood cooking demos, food, marine festival, hands-on activities, more. War Memorial Park. Free admission. Details: 228-452-3315; ArtInThePass.com.

Two Rivers Bluegrass Festival, Heritage & Forestry Expo, April 1-8, Leakesville. Live

music, RV hook-ups, special events, vendors.

Admission. Greene County Rural Events Center. Details: 601-758-4976, 601-408-5965.

Sacred Harp Singing, April 2, Bruce. A cappella congregational singing of early American hymns in four-part harmony; 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Free admission. Bethel Primitive Baptist Church. Details: 601-5024634.

Right 2 Ride, April 2, Pascagoula. Awareness bicycle ride for all abilities; 8, 21, 40, 83 miles.

Admission. Starts at River Park. Details: 228938-2356; CityofPascagoula.com.

Vancleave Quilting Bees Quilt Show, April 7-8, Vancleave. Refreshments, door prizes.

Free admission. Vancleave Public Library.

Details: snfox@cableone.net.

Smokin’ on the Tracks BBQ Cook-off, April 7-8, Summit. Barbecue contest, entertainment, 5K run, car/motorcycle show. Details: 601-248-2509; SmokinOnTheTracks.com.

Whistle Stop Festival, April 8, Waynesboro.

Arts/crafts, 5K run, mechanical bull ride, jumps, pony rides, classic car/motorcycle show, children’s train rides, more. Details: 866-735-2268; Facebook.

Quilter’s Trunk Show, April 8, Columbus.

Various designs and genres presented by Chantay Rhone of Cotton Treasures quilting shop; 1-3 p.m. Free admission. Rosenweig Arts Center Theatre. Details: 662-251-4263.

McComb Garden Club Flower Show: “A Salute in Flowers,” April 10, McComb.

Patriotic standard flower show; 2-5 p.m. Free admission. Robbin and Jeff Daughdrill home, 619 Third St. Details: 601-303-7193.

Shape Note Singing Workshop, April 12, Florence. Learn to sing Early American hymns in four-part harmony; second Wednesday monthly; 6-8 p.m. Free. Details: 601-9531094.

Medicare Supplement Insurance

THINK SAFETY!

Low Rates for Plan F Male (Non Tobacco)

Female (Non Tobacco)

Age

Mo.Prem.

Age

Mo.Prem.

65 70 75 80

$121.00 $135.00 $157.00 $182.00

65 70 75 80

$105.00 $117.00 $137.00 $158.00

Rates vary slightly by zip code.

Not affiliated with any government agency

HAMILTON INSURANCE AGENCY A small amount of land needed.

Raising red deer is fun & profitable.

Red deer are ready to be delivered to your farm now.

Call: Willie Strickland, Southeastern Red Deer Farms, 601-736-5057.

Don’t forget to unplug

Extension Cords

Call

Extension cords are meant to be used temporarily, not as permanent plugs.

They’re not sturdy enough for prolonged use.

6045 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211

A safety message from your local Electric Power Association

800-336-9861

March 2017

I

Today in Mississippi

I

SUPER COUPON • SAE and Customer Rating Metric

We have invested millions of dollars in our own state-of-the-art quality test labs and millions more in our factories, so our tools will go toe-to-toe with the top professional brands. And we can sell them for a fraction of the price because we cut out the middle man and pass the savings on to you. It’s just that simple! Come visit one of our 750+ Stores Nationwide.

SAVE $330

SAVE 33%

OFF 3/8" x 50 FT. HEAVY DUTY RUBBER AIR HOSE

Customer Rating

ITEM 61939/62884 62890 shown

# 1 SELLING

$1 999 $

99

4 2499 $7 $29.98

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating

ITEM 63069/61369 shown

$

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

ITEM 60390 5107 shown

SAVE 50%

SAVE 67%

3/8" x 14 FT. GRADE 43 TOWING CHAIN

Not for overhead lifting.

ITEM 60658/97711 shown

SUPER COUPON

$1999

SUPER COUPON

$2999

Customer Rating

$

399

99

$ • 5400 lb. capacity

SAVE $653

ITEM 60388 69514 shown

ITEM 61609/67831 shown

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

99

219

26", 16 DRAWER ROLLER CABINET

• 1060 lb. capacity • 14,600 cu. in. of storage

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

G WATTS 4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNINERA S GEN TOR CC) GAS29/63 6.5 HP (212 6967 080/63079 shown 6/697 ITEM

SUPERT QUIE

3089 ITEM 69675/69728/63090/6ONLY CALIFORNIA

SAVE $149

$89

1114

99

• 70 dB noise level

comp at

Wheel kit sold separately.

$119.99

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 4 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase l coupon must be Origina ble. purchases after 30 days s last. Non-transfera customer per day. per Offer good while supplie coupon one h 7/5/17. Limit presented. Valid throug

$

• Lift range: 1500 LB. CAPACITY 5-1/2" to 17" MOTORCYCLE LIFT

comp at $299.99 Customer Rating

750+ Stores Nationwide

•

SUPER COUPON

$

89

99

comp at

$99.99 LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

99

$289

comp at

33999 $439

SUPER COUPON

$899

SAVE 68%

$

1299

comp at

$28.83

LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON Customer Rating T T Cu NKE NKE BLA BLA VINGG MOVIN 80"MO 72" x80"

ITEM 69505/62418 66537 shown

SAVE 66% SUPER COUPON

$599

Customer Rating

POWDER-FREE SAVE NITRILE GLOVES 62% PACK OF 100 Item 68498 shown YOUR CHOICE

HarborFreight.com

ITEM 62340/62546 63104/96289 shown

8

$ 99

comp at

$17.97

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 7 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase days 30 l coupon must be after ses Origina purcha s last. Non-transferable. er per day. custom per Offer good while supplie coupon h 7/5/17. Limit one presented. Valid throug

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

$6999 $599

99

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 5 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase must be purchases after 30 days ansferable. Original coupon Non-tr last. s per day. er supplie custom per Offer good while h 7/5/17. Limit one coupon presented. Valid throug

ITEM 60536/61632 shown

SUPER COUPON

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 4 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase l coupon must be Origina ble. purchases after 30 days s last. Non-transfera customer per day. per Offer good while supplie coupon one h 7/5/17. Limit presented. Valid throug

SUPER COUPON

comp at

comp at

$34.99

LIMIT 6 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

99

Customer Rating

1500 WATT DUAL TEMPERATURE HEAT GUN (572°/1112°)

Customer Rating

ITEM 62291 67090 shown

99 $ 9 $299 36 $952.99

99

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

8

$ 99

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $30

Customer Rating

99

SUPER COUPON

2 TON FOLDABLE SHOP CRANE

• Includes Ram, Hook and Chain

$4

7

SIZE MED LG X-LG

• 1000 lb. capacity

SUPER COUPON

5 mil thickness Customer Rating

LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

• 800-423-2567

MOVER'S DOLLY ITEM 60497/93888 shown 61899/62399/63095/63096 63098/63097

SAVE 59%

ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359

comp at

$ 99 $15.99 •

11999

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

$

$

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 5 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase ble. Original coupon mustday. purchases after 30 days ansfera Non-tr last. s er per Offer good while supplie one coupon per custom Limit .

7/5/17 h presented. Valid throug

ITEM 69594/69955 42292 shown

10 TON HYDRAULIC LOG SPLITTER

$60.95

LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SUPER COUPON

SAVE $ $120

AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER

SUPER COUPON

99

9 $999

$389.99

SUPER COUPON

• Pair of Arbor Plates Included

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SAVE $30

comp at

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

Customer Rating

$59.98

$179

39

comp at

comp at

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

5999 $98.62

SAVE 85%

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

16" x 30" TWO SHELF STEEL SERVICE CART

$

comp at

$283.50

SUPER COUPON • 220 lb. capacity

$39

99

SAVE $290

SAVE 59%

YOUR CHOICE

comp at

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

ITEM 60363/69730 ITEM 68121/69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY

B. PANCAKE ITEM 95275 shown 60637/61615

comp at

Customer Rating

6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINES

Customer Rating

A. HOT DOG

$16999 SUPER COUPON $ 99 99 199 $19999 $149 $369.99

$139.99

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 69269/97080 shown

B

SAVE $220

SUPER COUPON

compat

7999

. Cannot or by calling 800-423-2567 stores, HarborFreight.com 30 days from original LIMIT 7 - Good at our nt or coupon or prior purchases after ansferable. Original while supplies last. Non-tr be used with other discou per day. good er Offer . custom per receipt purchase with original ted. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon coupon must be presen

3 GALLON, 100 PSI OILLESS AIR COMPRESSORS

A

$141.88

10 FT. x 17 FT. 20 TON

$5999

comp at

SUPER COUPON

GARAGE SHOP PRESS SAVE PORTABLE ITEM 62859 $113 63055/62860 shown ITEM 32879

SUPER COUPON

$999 $ 1399 $29.97

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON • Weighs 74 lbs.

.com or by calling our stores, HarborFreight or prior LIMIT 5 - Good at be used with other discount or coupon receipt. with original 800-423-2567. Cannot from original purchase l coupon must be Origina ble. purchases after 30 days ansfera s last. Non-tr per customer per day.

Offer good while supplie coupon one Limit . h 7/5/17 presented. Valid throug

60603 shown

SAVE $80

SUPER COUPON

LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one FREE GIFT Coupon per customer per day.

comp at

™

SAVE 66%

• 16 ft. lit, 22 ft. long

88499

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 62533/68353 shown

Customer Rating

comp at

Customer Rating

SOLAR ROPE LIGHT

4

g ITEM 69227/62116 Customer Ratin 62584/68048 shown

$

SUPER COUPON

VALUE

ID PUMP® SAVE RAP VY DUTY $66 3 TON HEA STEEL FLOOR JACK

SUPER COUPON

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

$ 97

JACKS IN AMERICA

SUPER COUPON

comp at

ADJUSTABLE STEEL WELDING TABLE

4

comp at $ 99 $9.99

ITEM 63599/69052 shown 69111/62522/62573

Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, StormCat, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17.

SUPER COUPON

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

$399

3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT NINE LED ALUMINUM FLASHLIGHT

ANY SINGLE ITEM

$16999 $18499 $499.99

WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF WELDING WIRE AND ACCESSORIES

SUPER COUPON

WITH ANY PURCHASE

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 61888 68885 shown

SAVE 60%

FREE 20%

SUPER COUPON

170 AMP MIG/FLUX CORED WELDER

ITEM 63015 61328/62843 47902 shown

SUPER COUPON

SUPER COUPON

How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices?

40 PIECE 1/4" AND 3/8" DRIVE SOCKET SET

$799

9

$ 99

comp at

$19.97

Customer Rating LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.

Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 7/5/17. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store

item or a "comp at" advertised should be associate.

19