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The future is bright I’m here to tell you that our future is in good hands. I say that because, here at the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, we recently got a glimpse of some potential future leaders up close. Our annual ECM Youth Leadership Workshop returned in 2022 following a year that we had to skip the program because of COVID-19. From March 2 to March 4, 66 high school juniors from all over Mississippi gathered in Jackson to participate in team-building exercises, meet their legislators, tour the state Capitol, and hear words of encouragement from governmental leaders and motivational speakers. The students, who represented and were sponsored by their electric cooperatives, were chosen for the workshop with assistance from high school guidance counselors and a selection process involving the cooperative community. The juniors also earned an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June for a six-day tour to meet other student leaders from all over the country, to watch leaders in a national setting, and to see the sites in the U.S. Capitol. Right now, it’s unclear how exactly our 66 students will apply the lessons learned at the workshop. Some might choose a career in
public service; others may start businesses, while others might just use their leadership skills to give back to their local communities. However they choose to utilize their special skills, Mississippi will be better off in the years to come because of their contributions. These sons and daughters of Mississippi will work hard to ensure a bright future for our state. This month’s magazine also celebrates linemen — the first responders of the electric cooperatives. April 11 is National Lineworkers Appreciation Day. Whether restoring power after a major storm or maintaining critical infrastructure to our electric system, lineworkers truly are the heart of everything we do. Please join me April 11 to thank our lineworkers. If you are on social media, use #thankalineworker to show your support for these men and women who power our lives.
Mississippi is... My Daddy is Ole Man River, so mighty, my Mama is a Southern Belle, so tidy. My head wears a Tennessee bonnet, my mockingbird sings a proud sonnet. I have a mirror-twin named Alabama, and a neighbor friend named Louisiana. My cousin, Arkansas, is to my Northwest. I tour pilgrimages in a hooped dress. My feet wade the shores of the Gulf Coast. I’m known as the Hospitality Host.
by Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
My ears like B.B.’s Delta blues, and my Elvis’ gospel songs soothe. My nose inhales Azaleas in bloom, but Magnolia is my favorite perfume. My eyes have seen some hard time living, but my heart has seen some cheerful giving.
by Lynda O’Quinn, a resident of Natchez and a member of Southwest Electric
What’s Mississippi to you? What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your brief thoughts to Today in Mississippi, news@ecm.coop or mail to P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158
Elyon Ministries leads the students in team-building exercises.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 3
in this issue
5
southern gardening Add spikes of vertical color to your garden
6 scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places in Mississippi
9
6
outdoors today How to build the perfect fire
14 local news 20 feature
Sea Wolves fans never forgot their cherished hockey team, and now – thanks to social media – they’ve made a comeback
20
26
picture this Cute kiddos
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Vol. 75 No. 4
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 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 Steve Temple - Social Media Director Mickey Jones - Administrative Assistant 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: 470,044
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
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28 on the menu
www.todayinmississippi.com
Spring is the time for strawberries
31
31 mississippi seen Cemeteries are for the living
On the cover Ethan Gay, 9, takes a ride on his skateboard. Photo taken by Mandy Gay, Ethan’s mom. Residents of Moselle, the Gays are members of Dixie Electric. The photo was submitted as part of this month’s Picture This feature.
We want to see your graduates! Send us past or present photos of your children or grandchildren on Graduation Day. High school or college. Make sure to let us know their names. 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: May 31. Select photos will appear in the July 2022 issue.
4 TODAY | APRIL 2022
There are some great foliage plants such as these Cordyline Red Star selections that bring vertical interest to landscapes.
On this bright, sunny morning, even though it was 30 when I got out of bed, I know for a fact that spring is almost here. That means it’s time to get serious about what I’m going to plant in my home garden and landscape this year. For sure, I’m going to take advantage of various flowering annuals and use them to create colorful carpets. I have my favorites, from spreading annual vinca to the heat-tolerant purslane to the colorful ornamental sweet potato vines. I think seeing horizontal mats of floral color can be as relaxing as looking out on a calm pond.
One way to add excitement to a garden is to break up the mats of horizontal color with vertical plants such as these Mystic Spires salvias.
As enjoyable as the floral carpets can be, to have a really great planting bed, you need some excitement. That’s where adding spikes of vertical color comes in. These vertical plants break up the mats of horizontal color, and vertical lines add excitement and interest. But, as enjoyable as the floral carpets can be, to have a really great planting bed, you need some excitement. That’s where adding spikes of vertical color comes in. These vertical plants break up the mats of horizontal color, and vertical lines add excitement and interest. My first choice for vertical color is salvia, and not just any salvia. I would pick either Mystic Spires or Indigo Spires salvia. Indigo Spires is vigorous and produces 12 to 15 inch long, twisting spikes of dark-violet flowers. These plants have an open growth habit and can reach 4 feet tall. These are nonstop bloomers, especially when you deadhead the flower spikes as they begin to fade. Mystic Spires, also a nonstop bloomer, has a more dense, bushy growth habit. These plants grow 18 to 30 inches tall. Another of my favorite warm-season annuals that produces vertical flower spikes is Angelonia.
Angelonia was chosen as a Mississippi Medallion Plant twice: Serena in 2007 and Serenita in 2016. Serena Angelonias come in four colors and reach only 10 to 12 inches tall, but they spread 12 to 14 inches wide. Flower colors include blue, pink, violet, and white. Serenita Angelonia has a more compact growth habit compared to its bigger cousin, Serena. These plants grow to 1 foot by 1 foot. They are tough, low-maintenance plants in the landscape or in containers, as they are heat-, drought-, deer- and rabbit-resistant. Always plant Angelonia selections in well-drained garden soils. Never plant them in any soils resembling the tight clay, cement-like soils commonly found across Serena Angelonias come in four colors and Mississippi. These compact- reach 10 to 12 inches tall. They thrive in ed soils have very little well-drained garden soils. air space. Foliage plants also serve to break up horizontal color. There are several great options, but one of the best, in my opinion, is Red Star cordyline. The purple-red leaves are sword-like, reaching straight up to about 3 feet tall. For the best color development, plant Red Star cordyline in full sun and water consistently. All these plants work well in containers or landscape beds. Even though temperatures are still low, I’m seeing warm-season plants starting to arrive at garden centers. So, get out in your landscape and start planning. If you see that perfect plant, don’t hesitate to make it yours.
by Dr. Gary Bachman 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.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 5
scene around the ‘sip
25 YEARS offood, art,and
music
in Oxford To Oxford, the Double Decker Arts Festival is a reunion weekend for friends and families from all over to celebrate all the good things that Oxford has to offer, music, food, and the arts.
6 TODAY | APRIL 2022
by Steven Ward The first Double Decker Arts Festival had humble beginnings in 1996 with the bed of an old pickup truck serving as a stage for music while hosting a handful of art and food vendors in Oxford. Today, the free event is centered around the historic Courthouse Square, and, in recent years, has boasted a crowd of more than 65,000 people. Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Double Decker Arts Festival returns April 22 and 23 celebrating its 25th year. “Originally inspired by the Double Decker bus that Oxford imported from England in 1994, the festival showcases Oxford as a town that supports the arts and has grown to be one of the champion events in the region,” said Lee Ann Stubbs, coordinator of the festival. The festival will kick-off on Friday with art demonstrations around the Square and music in the evening. Saturday is an all-day affair featuring over 140 art vendors and more than 20 local food vendors while a generous mix of touring musicians take to the stage. Just some of the musicians playing the festival include, legendary R&B and gospel singer Mavis Staples, New Orleans brass band funkster Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, blues guitarist Samantha Fish, country vocalist Brett Young, and alternative rockers The Revivalists. The festival’s 2022 presenting sponsor is the University of Mississippi Museum. The Ole Miss Student Activities Association is sponsoring the stage. Other sponsors include NE Sparc, the internet fiber subsidiary of North East Mississippi Electric Power Association.
Stubbs said a few changes are in store this year. “This year we will have a larger headliner take the stage Friday night. In the past, we’ve had music on Friday night, but this year, Brett Young will be here, which is a larger act than we have had normally on Friday nights,” Stubbs said. Stubbs also said it’s possible there won’t be any Double Decker bus rides and tours this year. “In Oxford, we have four Double Decker buses, but, at the moment, we do not have any that are currently in working condition. We are hopeful that we will have at least one bus running by the festival, but either way, the iconic bus will be on the festival grounds for photo opportunities.” In 2015, the festival started choosing a local artist to feature as the festival’s offical artist. Their festival art is printed on t-shirts and posters. This year’s festival artist is Hannah McCormick who attended school at the University of Mississippi and has lived in Oxford for more than 15 years. Her artwork was selected for the
2020 festival, which was canceled due to COVID-19. Festival organizers decided to carry over her art for this year’s festival. Stubbs said her favorite part of the Double Decker festival is the live music. “This will be my seventh festival to plan from start to finish, and my favorite part of the day is when the last act goes on stage,” Stubbs said. “I generally go backstage during this act and look out from the stage into the crowd. Seeing the large crowd and everyone there having fun and enjoying the music and festival gives me complete satisfaction knowing that I helped bring all these people here. It’s a great way to see it go from start to finish.” The festival has always meant something special to the city of Oxford. “To Oxford, the Double Decker Arts Festival is a reunion weekend for friends and families from all over to celebrate all the good things that Oxford has to offer, music, food, and the arts,” Stubbs said.
For more information, visit doubledeckerfestival.com or call 662-232-2477.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 7
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The perfect Jack London’s short story, “To Build a Fire” is perhaps the most The first step in preparation is to have good wood. Hardwood poignant tale ever written recommending preparation and the such as oak is preferable; poplar burns easily and generates admineed to follow good advice. The Man had disregarded such sound rable heat. But, poplar burns quickly. Whatever chosen should be advice from the Old Man at Sulphur Creek and left there alone to seasoned and dry. Damp wood, whether sap-filled or rain-soaked, reach Henderson Creek Camp. Friends waited there. In the telling, will make life miserable. And how you prepare — build, if you will — London counts down degrees, beginning with 50 and ending that fire from the very beginning is key. with 75 below. Unquestionably a I once came across instructions on life-threatening situation. building a smokeless fire. I don’t know As you likely know, The Man found that any wood will be entirely smokehimself freezing. His attempts at fire less, but after many years of following starting were misguided at best, and this tactic, I can say with authority that the entire affair ended in disaster. the method is much improved in the London says of him, “He was not smoke department. And it begins with much of a thinker.” the proper wood as mentioned above. Hopefully none of us will be caught You will need it in varying diameters or in life-or-death struggles where fire splits. Split wood burns more easily than would have saved the day. Even so, a solid round stick. fire starting is a skill that everyone Begin with a bottom tier, three splits The anatomy of a smokeless fire. Bottom to top: bigger splits on are my choice. Place them parallel but should know. Modern ingredients bottom, smaller as the tiers rise. Fat pine is a good beginning such as lighters and ferro rods make not jammed together. Move to the next for the top kindling. Light the kindling and enjoy a pleasant fire. the chore quite simple but are no tier with smaller splits and do the same good unless one or both of these are with the one trying to start except these will be across the ones below. Use enough to span that fire. I have a lighter, a ferro rod, and an old-fashioned combo of approximately the length of that bottom tier. And a third tier, smaller flint and steel (along with char cloth) with me always while in the splits than the second, these stacked in the same direction as the woods and fields. bottom tier. And so on, three or four tiers. All that remains is some That all aside and an emergency not present, fire starting is still a fat pine chips or other easily-ignited kindling on top, maybe even a valid and often-used skill. For instance, camping season is underlittle of this dropped between the top two tiers. Light that kindling way. Few things say camping more eloquently than an enchanting and a smokeless fire will be your reward. campfire. But that fire must be, in addition to safe and controlled, one that is pleasant, welcoming, not a smoky mess that foils the occasion. There are ways to mitigate smoke and create a fire that is inviting rather than repulsive.
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.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 9
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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
If you were asked to associate an image or a person with Southwest Electric, we bet you would picture a lineworker. Some of the most visible employees of the cooperative, lineworkers work tirelessly to ensure our community receives uninterrupted power 24/7. “Lineworker” is listed as one of the top 25 most dangerous jobs in the United States. This is understandable as they perform detailed tasks near high-voltage power lines regardless of the time of day. Having to brave stormy weather and other challenging conditions, lineworkers must climb 40 to 60 feet in the air, often carrying heavy equipment to get the job done. Being a lineworker is not a glamorous or easy profession. It takes years of specialized training, ongoing education, dedication, and equally important, a sense of service and commitment. How else can you explain the willingness to leave the comfort of your home to tackle a challenging job in difficult conditions, when most are sheltering comfortably at home? This dedication and sense of service to the community is truly what sets them apart. That’s why we set aside the second Monday in April to celebrate and recognize the men and women who work around the clock to keep the lights on.
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Southwest Electric
While lineworkers may be the most visible employees at Southwest Electric, it’s important to note that there is a team of highly skilled professionals working behind the scenes. Engineers provide ongoing expertise and guidance on the operations side of the cooperative. Member Services Representatives are always available to take your calls and questions. Our information technology (IT) experts are continuously monitoring our system to help safeguard sensitive data. Mechanics work constantly to keep our fleet serviced and on the road. Right-of-Way Operators work diligently to keep trees trimmed back from our 4,200 miles of line, and these are just a few of the folks who work together to ensure we can deliver the service and reliability you expect and deserve. Without them, our lineworkers wouldn’t be able to bring the power to our community. Our dedicated and beloved lineworkers are proud to represent Southwest Electric, and they deserve all the appreciation and accolades that come their way on Lineworker Appreciation Day. On April 11, and any time you see a lineworker, we hope you’ll join us in thanking them for their exceptional service. We also hope you’ll remember that you have a dedicated team of professionals working behind the scenes at the cooperative whose commitment to service runs just as deep.
LINEWORKER APPRECIATION DAY We thank lineworkers for their courage and commitment to powering our community.
A group of 66 high school juniors from all over the state gathered in Jackson from March 2 to March 4 for the 35th Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Youth Leadership Workshop. The program instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, encourages community service and introduces students to legislative elected officials from their communities. The conference was held at The Westin in downtown Jackson. The students earned a trip to the workshop following a competitive selection process sponsored by their local electric cooperative. They will
A
travel to Washington, D.C. in June for a six-day youth leadership tour. Connor Gibson, representing Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, was selected as the 2022 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) member. A student at Oak Grove High School, Gibson will serve a oneyear term as Mississippi’s YLC member beginning June 1. As a council member, Gibson will travel to Biloxi to attend the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Annual Meeting in September. In addition, he will also attend the NRECA Annual Meeting in Nashville in March 2023. After completion of his duties, Gibson will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
B
A. (From left to right) Southwest Electric Youth Leadership students Adrian Marshall of Natchez High School, Ann Patin of Wilkinson County Christian Academy and Lawrence Jones of Natchez Early College Academy take photos on the first day of the workshop. B. Lawrence Jones, Ann Patin and Adrian Marshall stand in front of the State Capitol. APRIL 2022 | TODAY 15
ESPN writer Wright Thompson (center) checks out a desk built by friend Ben Napier (right) while a television crew and representatives of the Department of English capture the moment. Napier, an Ole Miss alumnus and HGTV star, built the desk from wood collected on campus and donated it to the university’s creative writing program. Photo by Randy Sherrell
for HGTV star and alumnus Ben Napier by Edwin B. Smith Alumni give back to their alma maters in many ways, including contributing their time, money, and expertise. That includes HGTV star and University of Mississippi alumnus Ben Napier, who has found unique ways to give back to the university through his skills and craftsmanship. Ben and his wife and co-star, Erin Napier, have made many trips back to campus in recent years to speak to different classes and groups and to lend their support for fundraising efforts for the university. Last year,
Hussain Ahmed, a student in the university’s master’s program in creative writing, tries out the desk made by Ben Napier from wood collected on the Ole Miss campus. Photo by Randy Sherrell
they delivered a handcrafted desk to the Department of English, with a special touch of it being built using materials from campus. “A friend of mine reached out to me explaining that he had gotten his hands on some wood from the campus at Ole Miss,” said Napier, a 2007 UM graduate from Laurel. “There were two slabs of oak and the slab of cedar from Rowan Oak. “My original thought was to mill the slab down and build a bookcase, but eventually I decided to leave it whole and build a desk.” Host of the popular HGTV series “Home Town,” Napier had planned on building the desk, photographing it, auctioning it off and giving the profits to the university’s creative writing program. But after he pitched the idea of featuring ESPN writer Wright Thompson on an episode of “Home Town: Ben’s Workshop,” the craftsman knew the desk needed to be gifted to the university. The desk is not the first piece Napier has made for the university. Last summer, McCormick’s bar and grill in The Inn at Ole Miss received
16 TODAY | APRIL 2022
the finishing touch with the installation of a bar top handcrafted by Napier. “I drew up the plans for the desk weeks before we actually built it,” Napier said. “I wanted the desk base to have a somewhat modern silhouette. I didn’t want it to distract the eye away from the beautiful cedar top. “That being said, we used some really beautiful oak that was left over from the bar top we built for McCormick’s. It took us a couple of days to build out the base, but the majority of the work on the top had to be done on camera.” The desk is in the Hannah-Ford Room on the second floor of Bondurant Hall, which is a classroom and meeting space for the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program. “The producers of the show approached me to My original thought was see if we would accept the to mill the slab down and donated desk, and if we build a bookcase, but had a good place to put it,” said Matt Bondurant, eventually I decided to leave associate professor of it whole and build a desk. English and director of the Ole Miss creative writing program. “Ben wanted to donate it to the MFA/creative writing program at UM because of his love of literature, writing, etc., and his fond memories of being an English minor.” “Napier’s donation is a welcome addition to the department,” said Caroline Wigginton, chair and associate professor of English. “We are honored to have Ben Napier’s beautifully crafted desk,” Wigginton said. “Its presence in the department represents our community’s literary heritage and also our creative writers’ talent for adapting the materials of the past to imagine a vivid and sustainable future.” Ben and Erin Napier live and restore homes in their hometown of Laurel. Embracing their passion for renovating historic homes, the couple has become well-known for their “Home Town” TV series and how home-buying families benefit from Erin’s imaginative hand sketches and Ben’s custom handiwork showcasing local reclaimed materials.
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU.
365 days a year.
Lineworker Appreciation Day April 11, 2022
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 17
The Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families by Megan Burkes and Haley Taylor Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor at The University of Southern Mississippi is the new home of the Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families, a space commensurate with the honor of which our nearly 1,700 military students are so deserving. Named in honor of lead benefactor and USM alumnus, Joe Quinlan, and the center’s founding director, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond, the 5,500-square-foot facility will further allow Southern Miss to holistically care for and meet the needs and interests of the military student community. Quinlan-Hammond Hall features study spaces for small groups or individual work, a student lounge and study, a conference room and other meeting areas and staff office space. “We welcome our military students home,” said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. “We hope each student will agree Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor is the ideal space for them, where the center’s dedicated staff can continue to support and assist them navigate their way through the collegiate experience. As one of the nation’s top military friendly institutions, it is our honor to do so.” “This facility is more than brick and mortar — it has a heartbeat. Quinlan-Hammond Hall of Honor reflects the tremendous sacrifice our military students and their families have made for our freedoms,” said Hammond. “It is a significant campus landmark, a safe haven, and a springboard to the future for our students.” This building project was 100% privately funded. Cumulatively, Southern Miss alumni and friends contributed more than $3.1 million for construction. Designed by USM alumnus, veteran and owner of
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Spring Architecture and Engineering, Rich Bekesh, along with architects Derek Ray and Susan Colgan, the space is centered around a vertical ingress angled like a salute. The space acknowledges and welcomes veterans, service members and their dependents each time they enter. Embedded bricks and other design elements will reveal the stars and stripes of the American flag, the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the seal of each branch of the United States Military, and memorabilia and murals to all who enter. Before being moved to its new site, the center was located on Morningside Drive on the west side of the Hattiesburg campus. USM is nationally recognized as third in the nation for providing services and support to military students by Military Times and maintains designations in other prestigious publications. Center staff provide counsel as military students move through the admission process, on to graduation and career placement. Military students can learn and grow in an environment dedicated to their unique perspectives while pursuing their academic and professional development interests at Southern Miss. Founded in 1959, the USM Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to serving the university community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. Megan Burkes is the chief communication officer of the USM Foundation. Hayley Taylor is the manager for communications of the USM Foundation.
can save money, help environment by Susan Collins-Smith As spring approaches, gardeners may be thinking about starting a compost pile. This practice of recycling organic materials around the home can save money and help the environment. About 30% of materials going into landfills are yard wastes, including grass clippings and leaves. The U.S. Composting Council estimates 67% of all materials, including paper materials, entering landfills can be composted. “There’s a reason gardeners call compost black gold,” said Gary Bachman, horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “You can use compost as a soil amendment, as mulch around your plants or both. When used as a soil amendment, compost adds texture and improves soil’s moisture-holding capacity. Compost also returns essential nutrients to the soil. “Thrifty gardeners will appreciate that compost is free. No more buying bags of soil conditioners and amendments,” he added. Compost, a partially broken-down form of organic waste, becomes dark and crumbly when ready to use. It makes a perfect soil conditioner that helps soils maintain proper moisture content, reduces soil compaction, increases earthworms and beneficial microorganisms, and provides a slow release of nutrients into the soil.
Size A compost pile must be at lease 3 feet wide by 3 feet high to properly decompose. Piles can be larger. For households with large amounts of organic waste, three piles allow compost to be available year-round if managed to be in various stages of decomposition.
Bin Type Containers are not necessary. Piles can be place directly on the ground. However, different types of containers can be made with items on hand or purchased ready-made. Structures should allow for airflow throughout the entire pile and should be open on one side for easy access.
Placement Place the pile in a shady, well-drained area of the property. Be aware tree roots may grow into the pile, making it difficult to turn and dig in the pile.
About Composting • Compost forms when materials heat up as microorganisms break down the materials. The process can take from six months to two years to complete depending on several factors.
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Carbon and nitrogen feed the composting process, and the proper ratio of items containing each is needed for compost to form.
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Small materials break down faster. Shred or rip up paper. Chip tree limbs and branches.
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Turn the pile with a pitchfork at least twice a month to supply oxygen and speed up the process.
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Keep it moist, but not wet. Check the pile when turning it. If it is dry, dampen it.
Items that can be composted • Eggshells • Bark • Paper • Corn cobs • Vegetable and fruit scraps • Cardboard • Sawdust • Coffee grounds and filters • Tea bags • Hair and fur • Fireplace ashes (These should be limited.) • Fish scraps (These may initially have an odor and could attract animals.)
Items that cannot be composted • Diseased or insect-infested plant material • Coal or charcoal ash • Dairy products • Meat scraps or bones • Fats, grease, lard, and oil • Pet wastes, including dog and cat feces and soiled cat litter • Black walnut leaves or branches • Yard waste treated with chemical pesticides • Sawdust or wood shavings treated with preservatives APRIL 2022 | TODAY 19
by Matt Caputo
When veteran minor-league hockey player, Joe Pace Jr., told Barry Soskin, the owner of the team he played for in Port Huron, Michigan, that he was thinking of moving South and easing out of the pro game, his boss asked him if he and his wife had ever considered relocating to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
is back in Photos by Tom Rogers
20 TODAY | APRIL 2022
Soskin explained to Pace that he was eyeing Biloxi as an expansion location for the Federal Prospects Hockey League, an independent entry-level circuit where he already owned two clubs and where Pace had roamed as a player/coach for a decade. “We didn’t know Biloxi was on the coast or anything. I never played here against the Sea Wolves or the Surge,” Pace says. “We Googled it, looked up the community, researched the school districts, and when we saw where it was on the map, that interested us.” With Pace and his family relocated to the “Playground of the South,” Soskin had a professional hockey “lifer” on the ground. While the last pro hockey team to play at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, the Mississippi Surge, went out of business in May 2014, true fans always held out hope for a return of their beloved Mississippi Sea Wolves, part of the NHL-affiliated ECHL, tenants of the coliseum for 10 seasons between 1996-2009 and champions in 1999. The Sea Wolves are back in Biloxi with the 2022-23 season starting in October. Pace is the team’s chief operating officer and season tickets went on sale in March. “Barry wanted a lease right away to (start playing last) October, the coliseum wanted us to test the market,” says Pace, who has played in over 450 Federal League games. “We signed a lease for the exhibition games, we moved down, and the first thing I did was get in touch with the people running the Bring Back Our Sea Wolves Facebook page.” In 2022, it’s no wonder that social media played a role in bringing the Sea Wolves back to life after 13 years. In minor league sports, it’s often the passion of the fans that endures longer than the clubs themselves. It’s not unusual for fans of defunct teams to maintain Facebook pages where they can trade stories, photos, and memories of the good old days.
Sea Wolves vs. River Dragons The crowd during the National Anthem at the Dec. 30, 2021, game at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. There were 8,646 Sea Wolves fans at full capacity that day. Photo by Tammy Morosko
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 21
Josh Law, a Long Beach resident, grew up cheering for the so the stars aligned,” Pace says. “We researched the copyrights Biloxi teams and now works for the new team part time in marketing. and trademark, and the Sea Wolves name was available, “It’s something you’d never expect to be such a huge part of so we secured the name early and went from there.” my life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Law says. “It’s become my What is now the official Facebook page of the Mississippi Sea favorite sport. I was three years old the night we won the Kelly Cup Wolves evolved out of a fan page that was created by Alexander (ECHL championship), I was at the Davis, a Vancleave native, and game with my mom and dad. I was fan since 2001, to support a blog a superfan.” he produced about the Surge. It’s something you’d never expect to be Damages caused to the coliseOriginally called “Surge Nation,” um by Hurricane Katrina forced the such a huge part of my life on the Mississippi Davis rarely posted on it between team to suspend operations for the 2012 and 2014 but started using it Gulf Coast. It’s become my favorite sport, 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. to rally remaining Sea Wolves fans I was three years old the night we won The Sea Wolves returned to action and connect with new ones. In in the 2007-08 season, but the June 2021, Davis’ page had about the Kelly Cup. I was at the game with my hiatus hampered their attendance 3,900 followers and over 4,200 at mom and dad. I was a superfan. numbers, and the team folded the time of the new owners’ first in 2009. The Surge took the Sea Wolves’ place at the coliseum, press conference in July 2021. Today, the Sea Wolves page has but the rebrand in the lower-level Southern Professional Hockey well over 12,000 followers. League didn’t resonate and that team halted operations in 2014. “Before social media, fans created their own websites. The Sea Knowing that many locals wanted the Sea Wolves back and Wolves had two or three unofficial websites with game photoghaving a direct line of communication to them made filling the raphy and message boards,” Davis says. “The power of having a coliseum for a series featuring existing FPHL teams much easier. place to connect with fans and keep the Sea Wolves memories “The tribute page for the original ECHL team had 4,000 followers, alive certainly helped bring hockey back.”
The 2022-2023 season begins in late October/ early November and runs through April.
22 TODAY | APRIL 2022
Pace had previously helped Soskin host FPHL neutral site “I couldn’t be more excited to have hockey back, I’ve only been games to test the viability of other markets, but never while watching on TV for years.” living on-site in the perspective city and never with the robust Soskin’s teams, the Carolina Thunderbirds of Winston-Salem, social media presence that was preexisting in Biloxi. Soskin and North Carolina and the Port Huron Prowlers played as the home Pace borrowed staff from the visiting FPHL teams, from teams team against the Columbus River Dragons in Georgia. Soskin’s in other leagues and relied on fan volunteers to staff the three clubs quickly earned the hearts of the locals. “Thousands of fans really stuck to cheering for the events in 2021. home team,” Davis says. “By Despite being held on the third game, the number two Thursdays and one of Sea Wolves chants almost Friday in December – and became annoying.” not on any Saturdays – the neutral site games left little While the FPHL is a lower level than past Biloxi teams, the doubt that hockey would be welcomed back in Biloxi. 2021 games were a great showcase for the new Sea Wolves. Each game drew larger Pace, still not retired, managed crowds than the previous to get into an old-fashioned one. About 4,300 tickets hockey fight in front of his were sold for the Dec. 2 new hometown fans that has game, 7,200 for Dec. 17, garnered over 5 million views and 8,646 on Dec. 30, on Facebook. “You can go to good for a sellout. “All the modern technolyour first-ever game and get autographs and pictures with ogy brings new fans,” says the players,” Pace says. “Game John “Stumpy” Evangeends, the players are in the lista, a Hurley resident lobby or ice skating with the who played parts of six From left to right: Mississippi Sea Wolves Chief Operations Officer Joe Pace; fans, something fans don’t get seasons with the original his wife, Allie Pace; Sea Wolves staffers Jerod Campbell and Kory DuMond. Photo by Tammy Morosko club between 1999-2005. at the highest level.” Matt Caputo is a writer from Queens, New York, with bylines in The New York Times, Connecticut Magazine, and The Hockey News. A student in Western Connecticut State University’s creative writing MFA program, he’s at work on a book about minor league hockey.
Call 228-999-8333 or visit the Sea Wolves offices at 4063 Ginger Drive, Suite D in D’Iberville to buy tickets. Visit mississippiseawolves.com for more information. APRIL 2022 | TODAY 23
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tdoors today picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it
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1. Caitlin Wood’s sons running on the coast, by Caitlin Wood of Biloxi; Coast Electric member.
6. Allison feeding the birds, by Pat Lemmermann of Ocean Springs; Singing River Electric member.
2. Avery Jordan, by Kristi Jernigan of Louisville; East Mississippi EPA member.
7. King C. Henry, by Mattie Corker of Columbia; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
3. From left: Jake, Molly, Matthew (held by Molly), Finn, Killian, Melody, and Oliver, by Patty Jackson of Wesson; Southern Pine Electric member. 4. Owen Bailey, by Willa Russell of Meridian; East Mississippi EPA member. 5. Jenna Kate Stanley holding Emma Kate (the goat), by Robert Thames of Sumrall; Southern Pine Electric member.
26 TODAY | APRIL 2022
8. Jake Hood looking things over, by Ella Hood of Eupora; Natchez Trace EPA member. 9. Easton and Harper Satcher play in the bubbles, by Barbara Bishop of Meridian; East Mississippi EPA member. 10. Emma with her pony Poppy, by Ida Macuick of Waveland; Coast Electric member.
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11. Eli and Micah Smith, by Charles Smith of Sturgis; 4-County Electric member. 12. Andrew Thomas Newman, by Cassie Buford of Vancleave; Singing River Electric member. 13. Louise Brown’s granddaughter, by Louise Brown of Perkinston; Pearl River Valley Electric member. 14. Kennedy Reynolds (right) and Kelsey Reynolds, by Rosena Profice of Natchez; Southwest Electric member. 15. Leigh Guess, by Cassandra Mobley of Florence; Southern Pine Electric member. 16. Jackson Garner, by Morgan Garner of Poplarville; Coast Electric member.
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17. Wyatt Andres, by Mike Andres of Ocean Springs; Singing River Electric member. 18. Ava Presley, by Theresa Crosby of Hazlehurst; Southern Pine Electric member. 19. Shelby Fraiser, by Jewel Waters of Brandon; Central EPA member. 20. Witt Vaughan, by Tish Vaughan of McCarley; Delta Electric member. 21. Bradley and Nathan Rogers, by Kashea Rogers of Brandon; Central EPA member. 22. Asher Dailey and his dog Maize, by Tayler Dailey of Decatur; Southern Pine Electric member.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 27
with Rebecca Turner
Shakes, salad and sweets: Spectacular spring strawberries Nothing shouts spring has arrived like biting into a sweet, juicy locally harvested strawberry. Mississippi strawberries get harvested from mid-March to the end of April, and folks flock to markets and roadside stands for a plump basket or flat. But most strawberry enthusiasts don’t realize the mysteries and legends surrounding the plant. Even the USDA isn’t sure how the strawberry got named. Some believe it originated from how strawberry vines spread about the ground and perhaps morphed into straw. Others believe it has to do with the berries being ready for harvesting around the same time as the straw. Thus, strawberries. Regardless, people’s love for the delicate, heart-shaped berry has appeared in stories, literature, and paintings throughout the ages. The Greeks and Romans believed the strawberry to be a wild plant. The berries’ bright red color and sweet taste have symbolized purity, passion, and healing. Venus, the Goddess of Love, was often
28 TODAY | APRIL 2022
associated with strawberries because of its heart shape and red color. It’s easy to fall in love with the health-promoting benefits of strawberries. Modern-day science confirms that strawberries are brimming with antioxidants like vitamin C and anthocyanins, which provide its gorgeous color. Strawberries, by nature, are a low-calorie food. A cup of fresh strawberries provides around 50 calories serving up immune-boosting vitamin C and bone-building vitamin K. They also provide a generous dose of fiber, folic acid, manganese, and potassium. Strawberries typically last about a week, but you can extend that with a few extra steps at home. Wait until you are ready to eat your berries before washing them. Store fresh berries in the refrigerator in an air-tight lid lined with paper towels to help wick away the moisture, keeping your produce fresher.
Strawberry Milkshake Strawberry Spinach Salad INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
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16 ounce fresh spinach + mixed greens 16 ounces fresh strawberries - stems removed, sliced ½ cup crumbled cheese (goat cheese, gorgonzola, blue cheese, or feta) ½ cup chopped pecans Favorite balsamic vinegar Salt/pepper - to taste
cup of milk teaspoon vanilla cups strawberries hulled cups vanilla ice cream
To hull strawberries, wash, pat dry, and cut off the end, and use a straw to remove the center (hull). Combine all ingredients in a blender, except milk, and blend well. Add milk to create the desired consistency. You may not need any milk, you may only use a ¼ cup or the whole cup. If you add too much milk, just add more ice cream to thicken it back up.
Combine spinach, salad greens, sliced strawberries, cheese, and pecans. Toss with your favorite dressing and serve or, if you prefer, plate salads, and serve dressing on the side.
Strawberry Upside Down Cake INGREDIENTS For the topping:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2 tablespoons butter ¼ cup brown sugar 1 cup fresh ripe sliced strawberries
For the batter:
You are going to need a bundt pan or a 9-inch round baking pan. Give the desired cake pan a good coat of nonstick spray.
1 box strawberry cake mix 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated white sugar ¾ teaspoon salt 1 1⁄3 cup water 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extra 1 cup sour cream 4 large egg whites
In a small pot (or in the microwave) melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the brown sugar to the butter and mix the two together. Spread the topping you made evenly over the bottom of your cake pan and place your sliced strawberries on top of the topping. In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, flour, sugar, and salt. Add remaining ingredients and beat with a hand mixer until well blended.
Pour the cake batter carefully into the pan without moving the fruit on the bottom. Fill the cake pan ¾ way full. (If you use a 9-inch round pan, there’s a chance you’ll have leftover batter. Make cupcakes, or make an additional smaller cake, just double the topping steps.) Place the cake into a 350 degree preheated oven and bake for 30 - 35 minutes. Check the cake with a toothpick inserted in the center to see if it comes out clean to make sure the cake is baked through. Remove the cake from the oven to a wire rack to cool for five or ten minutes. When it’s cooled for 5 or 10 minutes place a serving plate over the top of the pan. Flip the cake over onto the plate and remove the pan. Let the cake cool down completely before cutting and serving it.
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.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 29
mississippi seen
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mississippi marketplace onopenthe menu outdoors today Events to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Submit details at least two months prior to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject to change. scene around the ‘sip picture this A rummage and bake sale. May 7. Brandon. The through preaching and song. Chairs will be sanitized The 2022 Columbus Spring Pilgrimage. event will be held at Nativity Lutheran Church, at the daily for your safety. 6:30 p.m. 30 Circle J Drive. March 24 through April 16. Columbus. Put together my opinion corner of Crossgates Boulevard and Old Brandon co-op involvement Details: 601-374-1092 or 601-374-1090. by The Preservation Society of Columbus. The daily home tours show off some of the most historically significant private homes in America with a comprehensive view of the architectural periods of the homes that tells part of Columbus’ storied history. The tours feature nationally recognized, multicultural, interactive, interpretive, educational programs for all ages. Proceeds fund preservation, research, and programming of the Preservation Society of Columbus, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Details: 662-368-2503 or preservecolumbus.com.
Collective Conversations with Constance’s Annual Spring Tea. April 16. Biloxi. The Bay Breeze Event Center, Keesler Air Force Base. Details: Barbara Bolton at 601-325-6630.
southern gardening
Maker Faire Meridian. April 2 and 3. Meridian. A free hands-on show-and-tell event showcasing invention and creativity for and by all ages. Indoors and outdoors demonstrations and exhibits at Soule Steam Works in the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum. Details: makerfairemeridian.com or 601-693-9905. The 16th Waynesboro Whistle Stop Festival. April 9. Waynesboro. The event features space jumps, pony rides, arts and crafts booths, food booths, the Barney and Marie Skipper Memorial Car Show, children’s train rides, carnival rides, and live entertainment. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown Waynesboro. Details: 601-735-2268. The Hope Resurrected Gospel Tent Crusade. April 11-16. Laurel. Christ Only Ministries, Inc. of Mississippi asks that you bring the family out to hear local preachers and singers who will bring a message
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The Gulf Coast Military Collectors & Antique Arms Show. April 29 and 30. Biloxi. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 29 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30. Historic artifacts from all wars bought, sold, and exhibited. War souvenirs, weapons, swords, daggers, bayonets, flags, uniforms, medals, helmets, badges, insignia, and field gear. The Joppa Shriner’s Center, 13280 Shriner’s Blvd. Details: 228-224-1120 or 228-392-9345 or email terrell.hamilton@gmail.com. The World of Marty Stuart. May 7. Jackson. The exhibit will debut at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, coinciding with the inaugural Mississippi Makers Fest, a music, food, and arts festival on the museum grounds. The World of Marty Stuart explores Stuart’s life and his legacy of collecting country music’s stories. The exhibit includes hundreds of items never shown before in Mississippi, including Marty’s first guitar, original handwritten Hank Williams manuscripts, guitars from Merle Haggard and Pops Staples, costumes from Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, personal items from Johnny Cash, including his first black performance suit, and much more. 222 North St. No. 1206. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Details: 601-576-6934.
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We had another impromptu family reMy grandaddy Cummings has possibly union a few weeks ago. Another funeral. the most fascinating grave marker in Oak Only time we can get together anymore, Grove. He worked in wood all his life as it seems. My brother-in-law passed away. a timber man and sawmiller. One day, he He and my sister had lived in North Carfound a petrified tree stump in a creek botolina for decades. But he was brought tom and hauled it back up to the house. He back to Mississippi to be buried next to told grandmother that since he had worked her in the same cemetery where at least in wood all his life, it would be fitting to six generations of my family are buried. have the wood stump as his grave marker. There are a few things I remember Grandmother replied, “If that’s the case, vividly from my early childhood about just take the door off the oven and use going to grandma’s house at Fulton. The it for me when I die.” Dr. Pepper sign coming into town. I’d see On our way back home, Miz Jo and I it and know we were there. Grandma’s mused over the idea of picking a spot for house itself, of course. And Oak Grove ourselves and being buried at Oak Grove. Cemetery at Ratliff. More precisely, Oak Britt Curtiss, overseer of the graveyard, said Grove is a graveyard. A “cemetery” is a there are two plots right next to my mom detached place for burials. A “graveyard” and dad. But Jo said it’s a long way up there According to our beliefs, those is associated with a church — Oak Grove from where we live for the family to come who have passed on aren’t Methodist, in this case, even though most visit. But we have left kin folks buried behind of my family were Baptist. in many places from which the family has there, anyway. We console Anyway, Oak Grove is where we moved on. At least we’d be buried with a lot ourselves by visiting them. And buried my brother-in-law. His funeral was of other family. in turn, we want to be buried just the latest in a life-long series of carBut Jo is still thinking it over. Right now, where people can come visit us. avans out to Oak Grove. As a child, every she likes the new cemetery near our house time we went to grandmother’s all of us on Highway 25. I told her, odds are, we would drive out to visit the family graves. We’re kin to about half of wouldn’t have family stay here forever, either. She said, “Maybe not. the people buried there. But that cemetery is between our house and Walmart. So, I’d know My affection for cemeteries comes from all those visits when I was you’d drive past me a couple of times a day, at least.” a child. I learned that family attachments go way beyond this life and cemeteries are for the living, not the dead. According to our beliefs, those who have passed on aren’t there, anyway. We console ourselves by visiting them. And in turn, we want to be buried where people can come visit us. There is a little house over the grave of one of our distant relatives by Walt Grayson from the 1800s. She was afraid of storms, and her husband promised that it would never rain on her grave. He built a little house over Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting her when she died. Possibly the only time her grave ever got wet television and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That was when the 2014 tornado destroyed the little grave house. Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” Walt is also a reporter and 4 The Cemetery Association reproduced it precisely, even milling p.m. news anchor at WJTV in Jackson. He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com. lumber to exactly match the original boards.
APRIL 2022 | TODAY 31
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