Today in Mississippi April 2023 Pearl River Valley

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NATIONAL FOREST ADVENTURES

PICTURE THIS: HOLIDAY GATHERINGS

SEASONAL HERBS FOR SPRING

APRIL 2023 FOR MEMBERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF MISSISSIPPI

A salute to our hardhat heroes

April is one of my favorite months of the year.

This is the designated time to celebrate both the linemen who power our lives and some of our state’s high school juniors who will become future leaders of our state.

First, about those linemen. April is National Linemen Month. Although we have a month where we spotlight our hardhat heroes for the crucial service they provide to members each day, every day is Lineman Appreciation Day at an electric cooperative.

The work they do is dangerous and physically demanding. Linemen work nontraditional hours and outdoors in di cult conditions. The job requires enhanced technical skills, years of training, and hands-on instruction.

The specialized skills, experience, and mental toughness required for the job means all linemen need to be experts who can’t a ord to make errors.

Considered one of the most dangerous jobs in our nation, lineman aren’t the only ones making a sacrifice.

The families of linemen have to stand by as their loved ones head out to work on birthdays and holidays. They work long days and nights, sometimes for days at a time.

Lineman are the heart and soul of our electric co-ops. We thank them for their hard work and dedication to community daily.

So, if you see a lineman out and about in the community, tell them how much you

appreciate what they do. Reach out this month or anytime. Without linemen, there is no power in our lives.

Now about those high school students I mentioned above.

Last month we held Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s 36th Cooperatives Leaders Workshop in Jackson. A group of 82 high school juniors from all over the state gathered to learn leadership skills, meet their elected state lawmakers, and were encouraged to serve their communities through action.

These students, who were sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, represent the future of Mississippi.

We want these students and co-op members to go back to their communities and utilize the leadership skills they learned at the workshop to give back and make a di erence.

I believe they will. Both Mississippi and our local communities will be better places as a result.

We hope you enjoy the April issue.

A state of caring, a people whose compassionate heart finds ways to share this beautiful place we’ve been fortunate to have been born in.

A state of sharing, God’s many blessings.

Thankful are we and thankful we want you to be as you share with us our Mississippi.

Surely, God has blessed our Mississippi and its people who call it home.

Mississippi is... 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 Submit your beautiful digital photo of life in Mississippi to Today in Mississippi, news@ecm.coop
My Opinion
2023 | APRIL 3

Southern Gardening

Outdoors

Mississippi’s national forests make great day trips

Scene Around the ‘Sip

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

OFFICERS

Randy Carroll - President

Ron Barnes - First Vice President

Tim Perkins - Second Vice President

Brian Hughey - 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

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Circulation of this issue: 471,720

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.

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On the cover

The Eudora Welty House and Garden in the historic Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson. Photo by Chad Calcote.

Central Electric Power Association, Coahoma Electric Power Association, Coast Electric Power Association, Delta Electric Power Association, Dixie Electric Power Association, East Mississippi Electric Power Association, 4-County Electric Power Association, Magnolia Electric Power, Monroe County Electric Power Association, Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, North East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, Pontotoc Electric Power Association, Singing River Electric, Southern Pine Electric, Southwest Electric, Tippah Electric Power Association, Twin County Electric Power Association, and Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association.

Vol. 76 No. 4
Hot plants for the spring season
Today
A look at special people and places in Mississippi 8 28 20 28 Picture This Holiday gatherings On the Menu
an herb for every dish
Mississippi Seen
famous fried chicken hits
10 10 20 Local
Feature
NYC
News
15 7
Issue 31 26 4 APRIL | 2023
Legendary author Eudora Welty’s home in Jackson is a literary treasure
In This

Mississippi co-ops win Spotlight awards

Communicators from Mississippi nabbed six 2023 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Spotlight on Excellence awards recently. The Spotlight on Excellence Awards program recognizes a body of outstanding work produced by electric cooperative communicators and marketing professionals from across the country.

Matt Bush, of Southern Pine Electric, won a silver award for the co-op’s 2022 annual report in the Best Annual Report to Members category.

In the Best Wild Card category, Amy Gri n of Cooperative Energy won the gold award for the Cooperative Energy Summit: Learning Experience. Justin Jaggers, with Northcentral Electric, won the silver award for his creation of a virtual reality tool used at career fairs.

Jason Patterson, of Yazoo Valley Electric, won a gold award in the Best Individual Ad category for his “Power in our Team” ad. Northcentral’s Justin Jaggers also won a gold award in the category for his “Don’t Miss a Moment” ad.

The communications sta at Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi — led by Vice President Lydia Walters — won a gold award in the Best Total Communication Program category for their work on rebranding and adding digital components to the Cooperative Youth Leaders events.

Transformer demand

A huge boost in government spending on the nation’s infrastructure is increasing the already overwhelming demand for transformers and other crucial equipment needed by electric cooperatives, experts told local co-op leaders recently at PowerXchange.

The supply chain issues spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic caused production and deliveries to stop or slow down significantly for about 18 months, but challenges have continued in part because demand for transformers, electrical conductor, steel wire, and other material is at an all-time high, said Tim Mills, president and CEO of ERMCO, a manufacturing enterprise owned and operated by Arkansas co-ops.

Pearl River Community College (PRCC) recently broke ground on the Hancock Aviation Aerospace Workforce Academy, adjacent to Stennis International Airport and the Hancock High School Career & Technical Center.

The 36,000-square-foot training center will include a 18,000square-foot hangar to provide skilled workforce development for the aviation and aerospace industries.

“After years of e ort and support across multiple administrations, local, state, and federal partners, we are excited to see construction begin at Stennis International Airport on Pearl River Community College’s Workforce Academy. This institution and training programs will serve our existing and future industries creating opportunities for our regional workforce,” said Blaine LaFontaine, CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.

The academy is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, RESTORE Act grant money, an EDA Disaster Supplemental grant, Gulf Coast Restoration money, and a Coast Electric Power Association grant. The $2,475,000 hangar is also partially funded by a Coast Electric Power Association grant.

The construction of the $9,421,500 academy, which began Feb. 1, is projected to be completed in June 2024 with classes starting August 2024.

“There’s a massive gap between supply and demand,” Mills said. “What changed? Did supply drop or has there been a marked change in demand? The latter, I think, is what’s happening now.”

Demand has been driven up in part by an increase in new housing developments and by billions of dollars in new federal infrastructure spending, which is spurring competition for the same materials, said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and United Utility Supply Cooperative Corp., which is owned by member co-ops in 17 states.

Perry cited demand created by the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, which is making a historic investment in upgrading the nation’s highways, roads, and bridges, deploying broadband service, and funding electric vehicle charging networks that require more transformers and electrical system improvements.

In addition to increased federal spending on infrastructure, the electrification of everything from transportation to heating and air conditioning and water heaters is also increasing the need for transformers and other electrical system equipment, Mills said. A rise in natural disasters is having an impact as well, he said.

The industrial sector can significantly boost output, Mills said, “but the question is, in what time period?”

“Can we get there? Yes. Will it be fast and overnight? I don’t think so.”

NRECA

2023 | APRIL 5 News and Notes

After a dreary winter comes every gardener’s favorite time of year: spring! Here are some hot plants you should try this season. Some varieties are fairly new, while others are making quite a comeback.

APRIL | 2023
Southern Gardening
Petunias such as this Night Sky are the showgirls of spring.

First up are two unique varieties of Buddleia, commonly called butterfly bush. These varieties are perennial and attract loads of butterflies during their long-season blooming. They prefer full sun and are heat tolerant and deer resistant.

Pugster is a dwarf Buddleia variety, perfect for smaller flower beds and containers. This compact beauty grows to only about 2 feet tall and wide. But don’t let the size fool you; the buds are still very large and fragrant. There are five di erent colors of Pugster to choose from.

Grand Cascade is a full-sized Buddleia bush with enormous flower panicles that cascade in a weeping form. By enormous, I mean panicles are 12-14 inches long and 4 inches thick. The bush grows 5-6 feet tall and spreads 7-8 feet wide.

Grand Cascade loves full sun and attracts tons of pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

If it’s a unique vine you’re looking for, look no further than Petrea volubilis, or Queen’s Wreath.

This vigorous vine is considered a tropical, so it must be protected from frost. The draping, lavender flowers resemble wisteria. Unlike wisteria, it blooms profusely multiple times a year. Queen’s Wreath can tolerate full sun to partial shade.

For an eye-catching ground cover or “spiller” in containers, try Lysimachia nummularia Goldilocks, commonly called Creeping Jenny.

This hardy perennial is sure to create a focal point, with its long, chartreuse to golden-colored strands. It prefers part to full sun and well-drained soil. Its unique growing habit, along with its bright foliage, creates a perfect contrast when planted among darker plants.

Arbequina olive trees are wonderful additions to any container, orchard, or landscape. The stunning grey-green foliage is attractive and evergreen.

Olives grow in well-drained soil and flourish in large containers. Turn your patio into an Italian villa using a few large pots with fruit-bearing olives. The black olives can be brined and enjoyed or left on the tree for aesthetic value. It’s important that they receive full sun and very loose soil.

Cold-hardy avocados are extremely popular edible trees. They have beautiful foliage, and who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe avocado? While there are many varieties, opt for one that is considered cold hardy down to 20 degrees. These varieties do best in Mississippi and can be grown similarly to citrus trees, either in the ground or a container.

Some good varieties to try are Lila, Joey, and Fantastic.

Last, but not least, the showgirls of spring are petunias.

The gorgeous Headliner Series is not one to miss. Night Sky looks straight out of a Van Gogh painting. Its deep purple blooms with white splotches makes each one unique. This petunia has a mounding and trailing habit and likes part to full sun.

Pink Sky o ers the same freckled charm in a medium-pink shade. Elevate your beds and containers with these specialty, long-season

2023 | APRIL 7
This Goldilocks variety of Creeping Jenny is a hardy perennial that makes a great focal point. bloomers. Rachel Bond is a Southern Gardening guest columnist and owner of Pine Hills Floral in Pass Christian. Queen’s Wreath is a vigorous, tropical vine that produces draping, lavender flowers multiple times a year.

National forests o er unlimited recreational opportunities

Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, six huge national forests conserve more than 1.2 million acres of Mississippi including some of the most scenic and diverse habitats in the Magnolia State. During the season, many people hunt these forests for deer, turkey, squirrels, and other game, but all of them o er additional outdoors recreational activities.

Combined, these forests contain more than 2,000 acres of lakes and ponds, 650 miles of fishable streams, 265 miles of trails for nonmotorized hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus 90 trail miles for o -road vehicles. Other activities include picnicking, birdwatching, canoeing, swimming, camping, and many other ways to enjoy nature.

8 APRIL | 2023 Outdoors Today
Mississippians can enjoy more than 1.2 million acres in six national forests. Many of these contain streams and rivers that allow great paddling, fishing, and other activities. call 601-965-1600 or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/mississippi For More Information

Bienville National Forest

Named for Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the founder of Natchez, Mobile, and New Orleans, Bienville National Forest covers 178,541 acres of pine and oak forests east of Jackson. The upper reaches the Leaf and Strong Rivers run through the forest. Many people fish at Marathon and Shongelo lakes. Equestrians can ride the Shockaloe Horse Trail.

Delta National Forest

Delta National Forest covers 60,898 acres in the fertile Mississippi Delta region near Rolling Fork. The only primarily bottomland hardwood national forest in the nation, Delta o ers people a glimpse of the once vast swamps formerly along both sides of the Mississippi River floodplain. These hardwoods provide homes to delta fox squirrels.

“In the Mississippi Delta Region, some squirrels are mostly black all over or a rusty red color with a yellowish belly,” explained Rick Hamrick, a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks small game biologist.

De Soto National Forest

Named for the 16th-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, the national forest covers 518,587 acres of mostly pine forests southeast of Hattiesburg. The forest contains two wilderness areas, the Black Creek Wilderness and the Leaf River Wilderness. Black Creek carries the National Wild and Scenic River designation, the only such stream in Mississippi with that designation.

Two National Recreational Trails, the Black Creek Trail and the Tuxachanie Trail, o er hikers more than 60 miles to enjoy.

Holly Springs National Forest

Holly Springs National Forest covers 155,661 acres in two sections near the town of Holly Springs. The land consists mostly of reclaimed agricultural land with rolling hills now covered in pine forests. The property also contains a bottomland hardwood swamp at the confluence of Tubby Creek and the Wolf River near Ashland. Several lakes provide fishing and swimming opportunities. The property also o ers some trails for hikers.

Homochitto National Forest

Named for the Homochitto River, Homochitto National Forest includes 191,839 acres of forests between Natchez and McComb. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps reforested most of the land. Several streams flow through the forest.

Tombigbee National Forest

Named for the Tombigbee River, this national forest includes two sections totaling 67,005 acres southwest of Tupelo. The forest contains at least five Native American mounds built about 900 years ago. The forest regrew from abandoned farmland and contains rolling hills covered in pine and hardwood trees.

These lands belong to all of us. More than 2.6 million people annually take advantage of opportunities to visit their six Mississippi national forests. You could be the next one.

outdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.

2023 | APRIL 9
John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer, broadcaster, photographer, and editor who lives in Alabama. An avid sportsman, he’s written more than 3,300 articles for more than 170 different magazines on a wide variety of outdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.

Scene Around the ‘Sip

10 APRIL | 2023

“It’s like a car show, but for planes.”

That’s how Gateway Christian Academy Principal Gwen Taylor described the school’s annual fundraiser, Wings over Wiggins, when discussing the popular event.

Held each year at Dean Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins, the idea for the fundraiser was hatched by Taylor, air traffic controller Cathy Kaupp, and school board member and air traffic controller Jason Hooper as a fun way to bring awareness to aviation to the community and the state.

“You would be surprised how many people in Wiggins have no idea that we even have an airport,” Kaupp said.

“This is a fundraiser but also education for the community. Kids, big and little, enjoy getting up close to the aircraft, taking photos, and talking to the pilots.”

This year’s event, which is free to the public, is April 15.

Because of the size of the airport runway, the event can only feature small, twin-engine planes.

“We usually have Pipers, Cessnas, Beech, and Diamond aircraft,” Kaupp said.

Pilots from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama fly in for the event and some do fly bys with smoke as they leave.

The event also features a remote-controlled aircraft demonstration by professional showman Mike Sauls and a sky-diving demonstration by All American Sky Divers which does two or three jumps throughout the day.

Past years have seen crowds from 300 people to 700.

The first year of Wings over Wiggins — 2015 — had 15 planes on hand for visitors while recent years have seen 25 planes or more.

Kaupp, who is also a pilot, said her favorite part of the event is not the most obvious.

“I’m a pilot and air traffic controller, so you would think my favorite part would be the planes. That’s my second favorite part. My favorite part is the smiles I see on the faces of children as they look up to watch the planes take off and land. I am a lover of aviation and want to instill that love in the next generation,” Kaupp said.

“It only takes one time sitting in the pilot’s seat of an aircraft to get the ‘aviation bug.’”

What: Wings over Wiggins.

Why: A fundraiser for Gateway Christian Academy (The event is free but food, drinks, commemorative t-shirts, and mugs are sold.)

When: Saturday, April 15. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Dean Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins.

For more info: 228-669-8777 or visit Wings over Wiggins on Facebook.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 1. Select photos will appear in the July 2023 issue. Back Porch Fun Send us photos of you or your family and friends enjoying some time on your back porch. 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. 12 APRIL | 2023 The Stone Shop www.thestoneshop.org 601-799-3185 3936 Highway 43 North Picayune, MS thestoneshop@yahoo.com American Owned and Engineered Cabinetry Ship Anywhere in Mississippi Unbeatable Pricing Largest Collection of Stone and Quartz in Mississippi Cabinets in Stock –No Waiting Formerly Wholesale Only, Now Open to the Public Special Discounts to Builders Dealer Inquiries are Welcome Free Design Consultation ADVERTISE WITH MISSISSIPPI’S LARGEST CIRCULATED PUBLICATION For more info email news@ecm.coop

Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

Centuries

ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!

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(Please print clearly.) 09-09620-001-E15701 Name Address City__________________________________State_______Zip_______________ Email______________________________________________________ Signature 09-09620-001-EI MAIL TO: YES! Please reserve the “1:18-Scale 1958 Chevy Bel Air Impala” Die Cast as described in this announcement. SEND NO MONEY NOW! OPTIONAL (for product & shipping con rmation) EXCLUSIVE CHEVY BEL AIR 1:18-Scale Die Cast Luxurious Styling Beyond Compare OVER 250 PARTS! Own the car that set the pace for style & luxury! Touting its technological advances, smooth ride and great looks, General Motors debuted the 1958 Bel Air Impala as the brand’s top-of-the-line mid-priced model. Luxurious and well-equipped, this stylish sedan set a new standard for both comfort and value! 65th Anniversary Die Cast engineered with OVER 250 components. Now the “1:18-Scale 1958 Chevy Bel Air Impala” Die Cast captures the beauty of the Bel Air in a superior 65th anniversary replica that’s as eye-catching as the original. Built with OVER 250 parts, it’s o ered in factory-matched Tropic Turquoise, a nish available ONLY from Hamilton. Demand could outweigh availability, so we urge your prompt response Reserve it RISK-FREE with our 365-Day Guarantee! Send no money now. Just submit the coupon to reserve this die cast in your name for four payments of $42.49 (plus $22.99 total for shipping and service, and sales tax; see HamiltonCollection.com). We’ll bill only the rst payment prior to shipment. Our 365-Day Guarantee assures your satisfaction or your money back. Reply today! • Exclusive Tropic Turquoise paint scheme • Dual headlamps — a rst for 1958 • Detailed 348-cubic inch big-block V8 engine • Opening hood, doors & trunk • Continental Kit with covered spare • Rubber tires; steerable front wheels Fastest way to order: HamiltonCollection.com/58BelAir Presented by Hamilton, manufactured by Round 2 LLC who holds the license with GM. Subject to product availability and credit approval. Allow 2 to 4 weeks after initial payment for shipment. BIG 1:18-Scale Die Cast Measures 13" Long

ON THE JOB 24/7, 365 days a year

At Pearl River Valley Electric, it takes all employees, working together, to make sure we provide our members with the electricity needed for their daily lives. However, when many of you think of your local cooperative, chances are you get a mental picture of a lineman climbing a pole or in his bucket truck working on the powerlines near your home. It’s these same guys that you rely on to work all hours of the night when those south Mississippi storms come through and cause you to lose power.

Because of their importance to Pearl River Valley Electric members and to everyone across the nation, the second Monday in April has been designated as Nation Lineman Appreciation Day.

This day helps us to recognize our linemen for their long hours worked, in hazardous conditions, away from their families. These guys also willingly travel across the state and even to other areas of the country to assist communities with power restoration when disasters strike. For these reasons, we believe our linemen deserve special recognition. We appreciate our hard-working linemen who often face challenging conditions to maintain more than 6,000 miles of power lines in parts of 12 south Mississippi counties. They safely perform their work to make sure our members receive reliable and a ordable electricity every day. This month we invite you to take a moment to thank a lineman for all they do and for their invaluable service to Pearl River Valley!

COLUMBIA: 601-736-2666 | HATTIESBURG: 601-264-2458 | PURVIS: 601-794-8051 | WIGGINS: 601-928-7277 Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference. • Visit us online at www.PRVEPA.com. PAY BILLS or REPORT OUTAGES: 855-2PRVEPA (855-277-8372)

A group of 82 high school juniors from all over the state gathered in Jackson from March 1 to March 3 for the 36th Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Cooperative Leaders Workshop.

The program instills leadership skills, inspires creative thinking, encourages community service, and introduces students to legislative elected o cials from their communities.

The conference was held at The Westin in downtown Jackson.

The students earned the trip to the workshop following a competitive selection process sponsored by their local electric cooperative.

They will travel to Washington, D.C. in June for a six-day youth leadership tour.

Pearl River Valley Electric students Lana Bishop and Mateo Rouhbakhsh spent the three days in Jackson with other students from around the state. They met with their state lawmakers, toured the state capitol, participated in problem solving activities, and attended speeches by motivational speakers who urged them to serve their communities.

Gov. Tate Reeves and Secretary of State Michael Watson spoke to the students during the workshop.

16 APRIL | 2023
D A C B 2023 | APRIL 17
A. (From left to right) Rep. Doug McLeod, Rep. Kent McCarty, Pearl River Valley Youth leaders Lana Bishop and Mateo Rouhbakhsh, Sen. John A. Polk, and Sen. Joseph Seymour. B. Mateo Rouhbakhsh and Lana Bishop take photos on the first day of the workshop. C. More fun photos with Mateo Rouhbakhsh and Lana Bishop. D. Lana Bishop and Mateo Rouhbakhsh stand in front of the state capitol.

PURSUANT TO MISSISSIPPI HOUSE BILL 366

To: The Members of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED OF THE FOLLOWING:

If you desire to be a candidate for the office of Director in one of the above Districts and if you meet the qualifications of Director as set forth below, then you may obtain an application in the form of a Petition for the candidacy to the Board of Directors at the office of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association (hereinafter the “Association”), 1422 Highway 13 North, Columbia, Mississippi. You must obtain the signatures of at least fifty (50) members of the Association on the Petition for your nomination, and you must deliver the signed Petition to the office of the General Manager of the Association. The Association must receive the signed Petition no later than Friday, May 26, 2023. If your Petition is received by the Association by the above deadline then your Petition will be reviewed to determine compliance with this Notice and the applicable law and By-Laws of the Association. If the Petition is in such compliance, then your nomination will be placed before the members for a vote at the Annual Meeting of the Association to be held on the fourth Saturday in September 2023.

The qualifications for the office of Director of the Association are set out by Mississippi law and in the By-Laws of the Association and are as follows:

• Must be 21 years of age and have no felony convictions.

• Must be a member of the Association, receiving service therefrom at his or her primary residential abode and a resident of the district from which he or she is elected.

• May not be employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise, or a business selling electric energy to the Association, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the Association.

• May not be the incumbent or a candidate for any elective county, city, ward, beat, district, or state public office.

• May not be a close relative of a director or of an employee of the Association as defined in Section 4.14 of the By-Laws.

• For information about the Director At-Large position, see Section 4.02 of the By-Laws.

The District areas are indicated in the map below.

The information contained in this Notice concerning the qualifications of a Director and the means and manner of being nominated by Petition for the office of Director is a general summary only. The complete policy for Director election is available in the Association By-Laws which may be found on the Association’s website at www.prvepa.com In the event of a conflict between the summary set out herein and the actual law and By-Laws, the provisions of the law and the By-Laws shall control.

NOTICE OF THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, AND OF THE QUALIFICATIONS
AND THE
OF QUALIFYING AS, A CANDIDATE
THE OFFICE OF
Election of Directors for District 2, District 5, District 7 and At-Large.
OF,
MANNER
FOR
DIRECTOR OF PEARL RIVER VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION
18 APRIL | 2023

To some, sunglasses are a fashion accessory…

But When Driving, These Sunglasses May Save Your Life!

Drivers’ Alert: Driving can expose you to more dangerous glare than any sunny day at the beach can… do you know how to protect yourself?

Thesun rises and sets at peak travel periods, during the early morning and afternoon rush hours and many drivers find themselves temporarily blinded while driving directly into the glare of the sun. Deadly accidents are regularly caused by such blinding glare with danger arising from reflected light off another vehicle, the pavement, or even from waxed and oily windshields that can make matters worse. Early morning dew can exacerbate this situation. Yet, motorists struggle on despite being blinded by the sun’s glare that can cause countless accidents every year.

Not all sunglasses are created equal. Protecting your eyes is serious business. With all the fancy fashion frames out there it can be easy to overlook what really matters––the lenses. So we did our research and looked to the very best in optic innovation and technology.

Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist. A NASA rocket scientist. Some ordinary sunglasses can obscure your vision by exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays, blue light, and reflective glare. They can also darken useful vision-enhancing light. But now, independent research conducted by scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought forth ground-breaking technology to help protect human eyesight from the harmful effects of

Eagle Eyes®

Lens

Slip on a pair of Eagle Eyes® and everything instantly appears more vivid and sharp. You’ll immediately notice that your eyes are more comfortable and relaxed and you’ll feel no need to squint. The scientifically designed sunglasses are not just fashion accessories—they are necessary to protect your eyes from those harmful rays produced by the sun during peak driving times.

Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that most (74%) of the crashes occurred on clear, sunny days

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A visit to the Eudora Welty House and Garden

It took some convincing.

Eudora Welty, whose humility was as well known as her wit, couldn’t imagine that strangers – long after her death – would want to visit her home and garden in Jackson.

But the visitor’s log – quite fittingly – tells its own story.

There, line after line, are signatures and addresses from across Mississippi, the United States, and the world.

Some are fans of one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th century, who was born 114 years ago, on April 13, 1909, and died July 23, 2001.

But others are like Kellee Strong and Robert Godbey, of Fort Worth, Texas, on vacation recently.

They knew of Welty, but little more.

“I’ve never read her,” Strong said, almost sheepishly. But in the small gift shop in the Visitor Center, they purchased a collection of short stories.

Well acquainted or not, Jessica Russell, director of the Welty House and Garden, said the goal is to “meet guests where they are.”

Last year, about 8,000 people visited, Russell said, a number trending upward as international travel rebounds from the pandemic. Translated into more than 40 languages, Welty’s storytelling has long appealed to a global audience.

Such appeal, however, reaches beyond words.

Welty was an accomplished photographer, gardener, and artist. Her love of theatre and music – and a devotion to family and friends – are also evident throughout the tour.

The 1925 Tudor Revival at 1119 Pinehurst St., open to the public since 2006, was given to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and contents were donated by Welty’s two nieces. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.

The house is one of the most intact literary homes in the country, Russell said.

20 APRIL | 2023

Residing in the house parents Christian and Chestina had built, Welty for 76 years both created memories and drew upon them.

From her upstairs bedroom, she would write. Her first story, “Death of a Traveling Salesman,” was published in 1936. The novel “The Optimist’s Daughter” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973, and the best-selling memoir “One Writer’s Beginnings” was released in 1984. A prolific writer, Welty published more than 40 short stories along with several novels. Her photography was also published.

From the garden painstakingly designed by her mother, she would plant and weed. The garden today is one of only two public botanical gardens in Mississippi, on the American Camellia Society Gulf Coast Camellia Trail and is an American Daffodil Society display garden.

From her expansive side porch, with a glass of bourbon in hand, she would enjoy the company of local friends and neighbors. And from the first floor, she would entertain high-profile friends, including journalists Roger Mudd and Jim Lehrer and writers Willie Morris and Richard Ford.

What she would not do, however, was display her many awards, Russell said. In addition to the Pulitzer, Welty won several O. Henry

Awards, a National Book Critics Circle Award, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They are on exhibit in the Visitor Center – not her home.

Though Welty spent an incredible seven decades at the same address, it was not a planned decision. And while deeply intertwined in community, she traveled extensively, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Graduating at age 16, Welty attended what is now Mississippi University for Women and then the University of Wisconsin. From there, she enrolled as a graduate student at the Columbia University School of Business and embraced life in New York City.

Learning of her father’s leukemia, Welty returned home shortly before his death in 1931. And here she stayed, offering comfort to her mother and younger brothers Edward and Walter, and finding work.

One such job during the Great Depression was as a junior publicity agent with the Works Progress Administration.

“She traveled to every county in the state,” Russell said. Photography was a skill she honed from her father, and her photos, many from rural and remote places, were exhibited and later published.

There’s also a lot of “rural community” in her writing, Russell said, and reflected in her garden.

2023 | APRIL 21
Of course the greatest confluence of all is that which makes up the human memory – the individual human memory. My own is the treasure most dearly regarded by me, in my life and in my work as a writer.
– Eudora Welty, “One Writer’s Beginnings”
Photos by Chad Calcote

Welty kept a pair of clippers in her trunk and raised camellias “tenderly from stolen cuttings,” Russell said. And when she sold a story, she would often use the money to buy camellias.

Most in her garden “stand from some story sold,” Russell said. More than 30 varieties are part of the garden, along with tea and climbing roses, daylilies, daffodils, flowering shrubs, and trees.

Welty, Russell said, “really celebrated all parts of her state” and brought what beauty she could to the garden.

Intended as a labor of love, not a show garden, Welty’s mother designed it to produce a 12-month succession of bloom.

“Chestina conducted her perennial border like a symphony... Besides orchestrating the timing of all these flowers, the designer of a successful perennial border must also choose for height, color, and texture, striving for contrast, harmony, and unity,” writes Susan Haltom, Welty Garden restoration consultant and co-author of “One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place.”

The garden’s restoration, started in the 1990s, offers a “living connection” to Welty, Russell said, and volunteers, called Cereus Weeders (after Welty’s Night-Bloooming Cereus Club), play a pivotal role in its upkeep.

On April 1, the club held its annual heirloom plant sale to benefit the garden.

22 APRIL | 2023

Steven Yates, associate director/marketing director at the University Press of Mississippi, is also an avid photographer and award-winning author.

As such, it was a profound experience “to stand in a space where Welty created and thought, to see the rooms arranged faithfully to a working writer’s habits,” said Yates, the Juniper Prize-winning author of “Some Kind of Love Stories,” the Knickerbocker-winning “Sandy and Wayne: A Novella,” and most recently the novel “The Legend of the Albino Farm.”

Some 5,000 books can be seen throughout the house – a visual, Russell said, that often strikes visitors.

Yates read from his second novel, “The Teeth of the Souls,” a sequel to “Morkan’s Quarry,” at the Eudora Welty House and Museum. The honor, he said, “completed a beautiful circle.”

His name, too, went into the visitor’s log.

“In college, ‘Photographs,’ Eudora Welty’s mighty book, appeared on ‘CBS Sunday Morning.’ A pal and I hurried out and purchased it for a dear, retiring professor of ours in the Ozarks, Robert Henigan at Missouri State.

“Later, Jackson poet and novelist James Whitehead taught me at Arkansas, and I then got a job at University of Arkansas Press, which first published Welty’s student, Ellen Gilchrist.”

Yates said the first time he stepped into her Welty’s study, facing out was a book of Barbara Howes’s poetry, which he had mailed to Welty when he was a publicist at Arkansas.

“A book I had sent her, a book that she had kept. As a writer, every corner of the Eudora Welty House sends a near sacred shiver through me.”

EUDORA WELTY HOUSE AND GARDEN

1119 Pinehurst St., Jackson Reservations are recommended. Email info@eudoraweltyhouse.com or phone 601-353-7762.

House tours: 9, 11 a.m., 1, 3 p.m., Tuesday–Friday 1, 3 p.m. Saturday

Visitor Center and Garden hours (free, self-guided, not house tours): 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 12:30-4 p.m. Saturday

2023 | APRIL 23

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Picture This

26 APRIL | 2023
1. Brooklyn Jenkins with Santa, by Anita Nobles of Petal; Dixie Electric member. 2. Christmas Eve at First United Methodist Church in Gulfport, by Tina Cook of Saucier; Coast Electric member. 3. The McKenzie family, by Coleen McKenzie of Europa; 4-County Electric member. 4. Granddaughters at Christmas, by Paul J. Barron of Hattiesburg; Pearl River Valley Electric member. 5. Christmas time, by Joanne Herrington of Crystal Springs; Southern Pine member. 6. Christmas time, by Kelly Magee of Tylertown; Magnolia Electric member. 7. Christmas Day with Central Electric Lineman Jeremy Shoemaker and his family, by Nikki Shoemaker of Pelahatchie; Central Electric member. 8. Christmas cookies with Mary Parker, by Debbie Scott of Pascagoula; Singing River member. 9. Holiday tradition of playing Spoons, by Sharon Long of Pontotoc; Pontotoc Electric member.
2 3 6 1
10. Christmas 2022 with the Fulton family, by Rhonda Fulton of Louisville; EMEPA member.
4 5 7 8 9
2023 | APRIL 27
11. Grandchildren at Christmas, by Judy McGowen of Bay St. Louis; Coast Electric member. 12. Singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus, by Wanda Cowart of Braxton; Southern Pine member. 13. Christmas, by Susie Schnadelbach of Olive Branch; Northcentral Electric member. 14. Goofing off at Christmas, by Leah White of Byhalia; Northcentral Electric member. 15. Christmas time, by Barbara Fuller of Mendenhall; Southern Pine member. 16. Christmas at Aunt Gwen’s, by Autumn Beeler of Seminary; Southern Pine member. 17. Christmas, by Lexie Montgomery of Stringer; Southern Pine member. 18. Cousins Addy Hobson and Jett Taylor, by Jennifer May of Bruce; Pontotoc Electric member. 19. A Christmas gathering, by Rhoda Young of Purvis; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
12 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20
20. A Davis Thanksgiving, by Rick Davis of Monticello; Southern Pine member.

Seasonal herbs for your favorite meals

Every season has a set of flavors. Fall and winter showcase full-bodied flavors, while the warmer months of spring and summer deliver a fresher and lighter taste best found through seasonal herbs. In celebration of the spring season (looking to the summer), introduce seasonal herbs to your dishes to add a fresher taste to your favorite meals.

Chives

Chives are the onion’s sweeter cousin, with a milder and fresher taste, but don’t stand up well to heat. Use chives to garnish soups and salads. Sprinkle chives over baked or roasted potatoes, stir them into crab cakes, or add them to butter for a tasty spring spread.

Cilantro

Cilantro compliments sweet and savory flavors and can add a fresh twist to drinks, dressings, guacamole, rice, tacos, and smoothies. But, not everyone is a fan, for some cilantro tastes like soap or dirt due to genetics. Be mindful before serving up cilantro to a large crowd.

Dill Basil

Popular in Greek and Italian cuisines, look for crisp and brightly colored leaves when shopping for dill. This feathery fresh green herb adds a fragrant bite to vegetable dips or egg salads. Dill also pairs well with wild-caught salmon, beets, eggs, and yogurt. Many use it for homemade pickles too.

Mint

One of the few herbs perfect for dinner, dessert, and cocktails! Mint has a sweet and spicy scent that is almost universally known and is easy to grow at home. Use fresh mint daily, and add flavor to your favorite tea.

There are over 30 varieties of Basil. The most common found in stores is sweet Basil. Sweet Basil is a versatile spring and summer herb that is best used raw in salads or soups as it does not withstand heat well. Classic basil dishes include Caprese salads and homemade spaghetti sauces, but it is also delicious with fresh strawberries in salads and over-seared salmon.

Parsley

Parsley has a lot of benefits beyond aesthetics. Parsley is high in vitamin K with anti-inflammatory properties. Combine parsley with lemon for a savory and springy seasoning for white fish like cod. Put chopped parsley on everything: grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, pasta, or grain dishes. Don’t toss the stems of any herb! Use stems to boost salads, soups, broths, pestos, and pasta sauces. You paid for the whole bunch. You should get your money’s worth.

28 APRIL | 2023 On the Menu
with Rebecca Turner

Parsley and Lemon Baked Fish Fillets

INGREDIENTS

6 fish fillets or more (Flounder, Cod, Crappie, Tilapia)

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon butter melted

Garnish (optional) fresh parsley

1. Mix together in a bowl or a jar: lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to taste, and chopped parsley. Stir or shake the jar well.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

3. Pour marinade over fish, drizzle the melted butter over the tops and cover the baking sheets with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

4. Bake for about 25 minutes.

5. Serve immediately with a drizzle of any leftover marinade and fresh chopped parsley.

Cilantro Lime Rice

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups basmati rice or white rice

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

2 1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon water

1 teaspoon salt

Finely grated zest of one lime

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 cup lightly packed chopped cilantro

1. Brown the rice: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.

2. Add water, salt, and lime zest to the browned rice. Bring to a rolling boil, and then cover and lower the heat to low and allow to simmer.

3. Cook undisturbed (DO NOT STIR) per rice package instructions, then remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.

4. Pour lime juice over the rice and toss with chopped cilantro.

To maximize flavor:

1. Chop herbs finely to release more oils, enhancing the fragrance.

2. Sprinkle a variety of herbs in or on top of salads, pilafs, or omelets.

3. Toss any vegetable with fresh herbs before or after roasting.

4. Rub meat, fish, or seafood with fresh herbs before cooking.

5. Add herbs to the end of cooking for a more distinct flavor and at the beginning for more blended flavors.

6. Parsley and cilantro are delicate; chop right before use.

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 nononsense 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.

2023 | APRIL 29

Todd Tilghman concert. April 7. Quitman. Tickets are $12 at the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce o ce at 100 Railroad Ave. The concert will be held at the Quitman High School Auditorium, 210 South Jackson Ave. Details: 601-776-5701 or 601-917-7756 for info.

The Barnyard Marketplace Easter Spring Fling. April 8. Poplarville. Lots of Easter themed items, crafts, food trucks, boutiques, jewelry, soaps, oils, face painting, and more. The Easter Bunny will be giving out stu ed Easter eggs to the small children. Bring a camera to take a pic with Hoppy the Bunny. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The PRC Master Gardeners will be teaching a class called, “How to Make Wildflower Seed Balls for the Pollinators.” The class begins at 11:30 a.m. and space is limited to 15, ages 7 to 12. Check in at Master Gardener Booth. The Arc of Pearl River County needs Mardi Gras beads. Drop o is at The Crispy Treat Booth. Brother’s Keeper needs cereal, canned fruit, and pantry items. Drop o at their booth. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 259 Buck Kirkland Rd. Details: 504-234-3579.

Clarke County Farmers Market. April 15. Quitman. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. continuing every third Saturday in each month thru October. Sponsored by the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce. Details: 601-776-570.

Horticulture Education Event – Native plants. April 29. Poplarville. Pearl River County Master Gardeners and 4-H Jr Master Gardeners will host the event at the Poplarville City Park Pollinators Garden at 300 West Clendon St. at 10 a.m. The topic: Why use native plants in your home landscape? Patricia Drackett, director of the Crosby Aboretum and a Mississippi State University associate extension professor of landscape architecture will give the presentation. Details: 601-403-2280.

Barn Sale/Antiques and Collectables. May 5 and 6. Oak Grove. More than 85 collectors with trailer loads of antiques and collectables. Concession stand will have breakfast and lunch. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $2. Price good for both days. Barn Sale auction is May 5 at 5:30 p.m. 4799 Old Highway 11, Purvis, (Oak Grove). Details: 601-818-5886 or 601-794-7462.

Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church Springfest. May 6. Monticello. Vendors still needed. Event will be held rain or shine. Food, auction, entertainment, and shopping. Details: 601-405-4975.

A rummage and bake sale. May 6. Brandon. The event will be held at Nativity Lutheran Church at the corner of Crossgates Boulevard and Old Brandon Road. The event will be held indoors o ering clothing, furniture, household goods, and baked goods. Church proceeds to benefit social ministry outreach programs such as Harbor House, Center for Violence Protection, Stewpot Ministries, Rankin County Human Resource Agency, VA Volunteer Services, and the Mississippi State Hospital. The event is free. Details: 601-825-5125.

Historic Highway 11 Yard Sale. May 18 to 21. Meridian to Bristol, Virginia. Vendor sites available in Meridian, Russell, and Kewanee in Mississippi as well as Cuba, York, and Livingston in Alabama. Visit msantiquealley.com. Details: 601-917-3727.

Cruisin’ the River’s 32nd Pride & Joy Car Show. May 20. Columbus. The event will be held at Lock & Dam East Bank. Registration is open from 8 a.m. to noon with a $20 registration fee per vehicle. First 50 registrations receive a free dash plaque and T-shirt. Awards presented at 1 p.m. Trophies and cash prizes awarded. Spectators get in free. Concessions available. Proceeds support local charities, including Golden Triangle Outdoors and an area nursing home’s Christmas ministry. Details: 662-574-2678 or 662-251-2702.

Harrison County Gem and Mineral Society Show. May 20 and 21. Biloxi. The event will be held at the Joppa Shriners Center at 13280 Shiners Blvd on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 601-947-7245 or go to Facebook com/gulfportgems.

Greater Shelby Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of North Mississippi Meet and Greet. May 20. Olive Branch. The event is an excellent opportunity to meet club members and learn about activities that you can do with your dog. The location is Kimberlin Farms, 8650 Center Hill Rd. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 901 482-2922.

Daylily Open Gardens. May 29. Hattiesburg. The Hattiesburg Area Daylily Society will host open gardens. The event gives the public an opportunity to see large numbers of daylilies growing and blooming in private gardens. The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free. Some gardens sell daylilies. For a list of gardens and directions go to hattiesburgdaylilly.com. Details: 601-466-3826.

Holy Land Tour. Oct. 27 to Nov. 5. Join Ronnie and Beverly Cottingham for their 23rd year to host the trip. Departures from Jackson or New Orleans. Details: 601-770-1447 or email rbcottingham@ bellsouth.net.

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A surprise series of events confined me to the house on several occasions here lately. I usually don’t mind being at home. All of my “play-purdies”are here — old radios and records. Only problem, when you don’t feel good, you don’t feel like playing with them. (I’m much better now BTW.)

A lot of my day-to-day work had to be gathered from the internet since travel was di cult. Mr. D at the Old Country Store in Lorman sent me a text that his “World’s Best Fried Chicken” is about to be introduced in New York City. It will be sold from food trucks. This New York City expansion was put on hold back in 2020 because of COVID-19. But, at last, it is about to become a reality.

too — old dresses, shoes, and medicine on the shelves.

I did a television story about the store back in the early 90s, and asked Mr. Breithaupt if he had ever been tempted to modernize. He told me that a tour bus loaded with visitors from Europe had just left and another from one of the riverboats docked at Natchez was due. He pointed out those buses passed a hundred “modern” stores on the way there. If he changed, they’d pass his store, too.

There is something about the past we find fascinating, and perhaps even comforting. The Old Country Store has it. McFerrin’s Store in Mantachie had the same attraction before it burned down. Gibbs Store in Learned straddles the past and the present with old stu on display and great steaks on the weekend. The Simmons-Wright Company at Kewanee east of Meridian preserves the same feel. I expect there are a bunch more stores just like them.

Arthur Davis (Mr. D) was living in Florida when his son was attending Alcorn State University. One weekend, he drove to Mississippi for a visit, and discovered the cavernous Old Country Store building in Lorman up for sale. He figured he could find a use for that much space situated right on a busy highway — Highway 61 between Port Gibson and Natchez.

It took a try or two before he hit on turning it into a restaurant and serving up his grandmother’s recipe for fried chicken. It didn’t take long for the world to find his bu et and Mr. D serenading the patrons, singing “Grandmama was the cornbread cooking queen, and I’m the chicken cooking king.”

The Old Country Store had already been a tourist destination. For years, Ernie Breithaupt had run it. Not as a restaurant, but as an actual old country store. There were soft drinks, and potato chips, and stu you’d find in any convenience store. But the old stu was still there,

But congratulations to Mr. D on the expansion into the Big Apple. New York City needs to get ready for a treat! And thinking of Mr. D’s chicken is just the incentive I need to recuperate and get back on the road — to Lorman.

2023 | APRIL 31
Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” Walt is also a reporter and 4 p.m. news anchor at WJTV in Jackson. He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com.
Grandmama
was the cornbread cooking queen, and I’m the chicken cooking king.

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