Today in Mississippi July 2020 Pearl River Valley

FOR MEMBERS OF PEARL RIVER VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Escaping WISH YOU

WERE HERE J U LY 2 0 2 0

WOMEN

IN COUNTRY MUSIC

VAN GOGH, MONET

AND DEGAS

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outdoo scene around the ‘sip co-op involvement

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2 TODAY | JULY 2020

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FAST HELP IS COV ERED BY A 30-DAY MONE Y BACK GUA R A N T EE LES S SHIPPING A ND A 1 Y E A R LIMIT ED WA RR A N T Y. FAST HELP WILL NOT BE A BLE TO M A K E 911 CA L L S W H EN CEL LU L A R SERV ICE IS NOT AVA IL A BL E. FA ST H EL P IS A 3G GSM DE V ICE. W E S UGG EST T EST ING CEL LU L A R CON N ECT ION BEFOR E U SE. SEE OW NERS M A N UA L. SERV ICE M AY NOT BE AVA IL A BL E IN R EMOT E OR H IG H DEN SI T Y A R E A S. FA ST H EL P W IL L U SE G PS T RI A NG U L AT ION S TO A PPROX IM AT E YOU R LOC AT I O N W H E N YO U R D E V I C E I S T U R N E D O N . O H R E S I D E N T S A D D S A L E S TA X . U N I V E R S A L P H Y S I C I A N S 7 747 S U P R E M E AV E, N O R T H C A N TO N , O H 4 472 0.

g

outdoors today picture this my opinion

Island life

grin ‘n’ bare it

Thanks to HGTV I have lost 25 pounds!

If that sounds a bit confusing, please allow me to explain.

First, HGTV has a show called “Caribbean Life.” The show is fairly simple, people of all ages and walks of life decide that they are going to move to the Caribbean. They pick an island, meet with a realtor and explain what they want and what their budget is. Then, the realtor shows them three pieces of property and at the end you get to see if they bought anything. The show can be entertaining and the guests unrealistic.

But then I had a thought. What is the first thing someone must do in order to retire…. LIVE TO RETIREMENT AGE! Over the last year, I had really let myself go. I was approaching 350 pounds, had ceased all exercise activity and was beginning to have some health issues. All of a sudden, I had a vision of my wife sitting on a Caribbean island, feet in the sand, a local beverage in her hand and someone else sitting next to her. Well, the thought of my wife in the Caribbean with someone else, that was ALL the motivation I needed.

I started walking, working out and Couple: “We want an open floor plan, watching what I ate. Heck, even my 2 to 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a pool, a youngest child, Victoria, got involved. view and it must be ocean front.”

She started finding and cooking CaribbeRealtor: “Ok, and what’s your budget?” an-style dishes for supper every night.

I now have lunch at the table in my Couple: “$150,000. $200,000 max.” office, eating carrot sticks and Greek Realtor: (sits quietly while keeping a yogurt, while surfing on my iPad looking straight face, trying not to laugh while for places in the Caribbean. Doesn’t make thinking, “Oh my gosh, how did I get the food taste any better, I’m just disstuck with these goofy people.”) tracted. I have even planned my retireThe premise of the show is that anyone ment days. Mondays, Wednesdays and can live a Caribbean lifestyle, though not Fridays are golf in the morning days with afternoons at the beach. Tuesdays and all Caribbean lifestyles are equal. During Thursdays are for morning fishing and afthe COVID-19 lockdown, my wife and ternoon snorkeling. Saturdays, I will take I started watching old episodes of the the wife snorkeling in the morning with a show (there are 19). By the time we got packed lunch that we eat on a secluded halfway through the third season, my beach, followed by more snorkeling in the wife looked at me and said, “We can do afternoon. Sundays will be a day of rest. that.” “Do what?” I asked. “Retire to the Will we make it to the Caribbean, who Caribbean,” she answered. I sat there with knows?

But at least we have a dream and a straight face, trying not to laugh while I’m trying hard to be around to see it. thinking, ‘who have I married.’

The countdown has begun, 10 years, Midway through season four we had 9 months and 23 days. a giant map of the Caribbean, a subscripI’ll send you a postcard. tion to International Living magazine and numerous articles and stats about the various islands. We even had the beginning of a “list” of what we needed.

by Michael The island had to have an airport, with Callahan quick and easy flights back home.

Executive Vice President/CEO I needed at least one 18-hole golf course Electric Cooperatives on the island. of Mississippi

Mississippi is...

It is the memory of hearing my daddy’s voice, and the sound of his laughter.

It is the memory of hearing my grandparents letting the chickens out for the day.

It is the memory of the sounds of family and friends gathering to bale hay or work in the garden.

It is the memory of the sounds of the cows coming in from the field to be milked.

It is the memory of the sounds of the family working together to gather and preserve food for the upcoming year.

It is the memory of the sounds of kids and tired loved ones as they swam and bathed in the creek at the end of a long day.

It is the memory of the sounds of frogs singing to bring on the rain.

It’s the memory of the sound of a line being cast while Daddy and I fished in the Tangipahoa River.

It is the memory of a cherished family friend telling stories and bringing everyone joy.

It is the memory of the sound of the church bells ringing, signaling the call to worship.

It is the memory of the sound of God’s children raising their voices to him in praise in that wonderful old church on the hill.

It is the memory of the sounds of friends and families gathering together for Sunday dinner after church.

It is the memory of the sound of a whippoorwill singing his song in the still night air.

Mississippi is music to my ears that brings a smile to my face, joy to my heart and peace to my soul.

by Mary Varnado Fouliard A native of the Mt. Zion community between Progress and Osyka.

What’s Mississippi to you?

What do you treasure most about life in our state?

Send your brief thoughts to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158 or to news@ecm.coop

JULY 2020 | TODAY 3

in this issue

5 southern gardening

With flowers, it’s all about the colors

7 scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places around Mississippi

5

11

outdoors today The power of smell and memories

12 local news

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Vol. 73 No. 6

OFFICERS Keith Hayward - President Kevin Bonds - First Vice President Eddie Howard - Second Vice President Randy Carroll - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Ron Stewart - Senior VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Elissa Fulton - Communications Specialist Rickey McMillan - Graphic Designer Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Administrative Assistant EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600

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The Lee Tartt Nature Preserve is a tribute to conservation and a fallen hero

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scene around the ‘sip co-op involvement southern gardening

One of the landscape views many gardeners ignore is the horizontal plane. Plants that create mats or carpets create a lot of interest and serve an important role in landscapes and gardens.

Let’s look at a few of my colorful carpet favorites. In my opinion, vinca is one of those perfect landscape plants.

It produces loads of color and handles the high heat and dry conditions of our Mississippi summers.

One group of vinca I always recommend is the Cora vinca.

These vincas have dark-green foliage that has a leathery look and texture, making the perfect background to show off a heavy production of colorful flowers.

Upright Cora grows to about 14 inches tall with a wider spread, and it has colors of white, lavender, violet, strawberry and red.

I like Cora Cascade vinca because of its heavy production of colorful flowers. Cora Cascade produces good-branching plants that spread up to 36 inches wide. It has a trailing growth habit perfect for displaying its big, showy flowers that come in colors of cherry, lilac, peach blush, polka dot and strawberry.

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picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it

Purslane is another plant that is perfect for carpeting many places in your garden. Purslane forms a dense mat of droughtresistant color. It also does great in small patches. Purslane is a tough summer plant for our Mississippi heat, and it has become one of my flowering favorites.

The selections Yellow Pazazz and Tangerine Pazazz have a spreading habit that forms a carpet of succulent foliage and bright flowers. Purslane Fairy Tale Cinderella is covered with 1-inch, yellow-petalled flowers with pinkish-orange puffball centers.

Ornamental sweet potatoes are perfect for laying a gorgeous carpet of vivid and attractive leaves. They are vigorous plants that produce thick mats of color.

The Sweet Caroline series offers a wide selection of heartshaped and cut-leaf foliage in a variety of colors for the landscape. Foliage colors include purple, red, bronze and light green.

Sweet Caroline selections Raven and Bewitched have dramatic black foliage.

Since ornamental sweet potatoes can be vigorous, they may become unruly and overrun other plants. Simply prune back to keep them in bounds. Ornamental sweet potatoes perform best with consistent moisture. Be sure to water during dry periods to help maintain good plant health.

Not all colorful flower carpets are horizontal. Tangerine Beauty cross vine is perfect to create a vertical carpet of color scrambling up and over an arbor or fence. It is simply covered in flowers.

Tangerine Beauty cross vine is the well-behaved cousin to its rambunctious relative, trumpet creeper. The flower buds are a pinkish red and open into funnel-shaped orange, salmon and yellow flowers. The flowers bloom on old wood, so prune immediately after flowering if needed.

There’s nothing like creating a floral carpet of color to create landscape interest. Now’s the time to be planting colorful, summer-season plants that will grow into a beautiful garden mat of color.

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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.

JULY 2020 | TODAY 5

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events

mississippi marketplace on the menu outdoors today scene around the ‘sip picture this

my opinion Grammy museum exhibit celebrates

co-op involvement

southern gardening

grin ‘n’ bare it

by Steven Ward Both popular and critically acclaimed, young singer-songwriters Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Amanda Shires and Kelsea Ballerini will one day become country music legends.

But the power and talent of women in country music is nothing new. The Carter Family, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells and Mississippiborn Tammy Wynette are legends today that all played an instrumental role in filling in the pages of the history of country music.

Right now through Dec. 13, the Grammy Museum Mississippi in Cleveland is featuring a historic exhibit — “Stronger Together: The Power of Women in Country Music.”

The exhibit is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield Mississippi.

“The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the history of women in country music, from the early years and postWorld War II, to the emergence of Nashville as a country music mecca,” Grammy Museum Mississippi Executive Director Emily Havens said.

“Women have played such an integral role in the development and longevity of country music, and we are thrilled to celebrate some of these trailblazing female artists with our new exhibit,” Havens said.

The exhibit features artifacts from such celebrated female country artists as Maybelle and Sara Carter, Rosanne Cash, Caylee Hammack, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Patsy Montana, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, Margo Price, Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and Mississippi natives Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes.

Some of the artifacts featured are Taylor Swift’s vintage dress worn in her music video for “Mean,” performance outfits from Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild that were worn during the Dolly Parton tribute at the 61st Grammy

Awards and Maren Morris’ gown worn on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.

The exhibit also features photos, handwritten lyrics and instruments donated by the artists.

Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash lent one of her two Martin OM-28M acoustic guitars to the exhibit.

“I mean I was over the moon when they (the Grammy Museum) asked me to be part of the exhibit. It’s a great honor. And that guitar, my signature Martin, I see it as an extension of me,” Cash told Today in Mississippi. Cash has owned two of the signature guitars since 2008.

Although Cash said she doesn’t think about performers and musicians in terms of their gender, she said the exhibit helps to feature a greater array of great artists and performers to the public.

“I don’t like subgroups. I don’t think of women as a subgroup of country music but it’s always good to draw attention to legitimate musicians.

Cash said she has had younger songwritRosanne Cash ers reach out to her — including Shires, now a friend — and she did the same when she was first starting out.

“Emmylou (Harris) was a mentor. Just the way she handled herself. I gleaned a lot from Emmylou. She was a great role model for me,” Cash said.

Havens, citing feedback from visitors, said some of the favorite exhibit artifacts include Cash’s guitar and Dolly Parton’s outfits and banjo.

Havens said it’s hard for her to pick out her own favorite part of the exhibit.

“The entire exhibit is incredible, but if I had to pick just one, I would pick Faith Hill’s Grammy Award,” Havens said. “It is such an honor to have it displayed in this exhibit.”

The exhibit, which began in November, will run through Dec. 13, 2020.

Regular hours: TUES - SAT: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM SUNDAY: 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM Call 662-441-0100 or visit www.grammymuseummd.org for more information.

The museum is planning to reopen on July 9.

JULY 2020 | TODAY 7

Van Gogh, Monet and Degas: C E L E B R AT I N G T H E W E S T E R N C A N O N

Édouard Manet (1832–1883), On the Beach, Boulogne-sur-Mer, 1868. Oil on canvas. Photo: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

by Steven Ward “This is the first exhibition in a long time of such renowned Mississippians have a rare opportunity this year to see iconic French and Dutch artists in Mississippi. Many pieces from the paintings and sculptures created by seminal French artists of collection have never been on view the 19th and 20th centuries. The in the state previously,” said Betsy Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) Bradley, director of the Mississippi in Jackson is hosting Van Gogh, Museum of Art. Monet, Degas, and Their Times: The collection features more The Mellon Collection of French than 74 paintings and sculptures — Art from the Virginia Museum of both monumental and intimately Fine Arts. scaled.

The exhibit showcases major “This is the first traveling exschools of French art including hibition of the Mellon Collection Romanticism, Impressionism and Cubism spanning 150 years. This since Mrs. Mellon’s bequest to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in exhibition features artwork from 2014,” said Roger Ward, the mumodern French masters that are well known in the United States seum’s deputy director of art and programs. and the world, including Edgar Bradley said visitors can expect Degas, Eugène Delacroix, Edouard a trip to France through time and Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe the eyes of some of the most Morisot, Pablo Picasso, Henri important artists in history.

Rousseau and Vincent van Gogh.

“Since travel continues to be The pieces all come from Paul Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pensive (LaSongeuse), 1875. Oil on paper on canvas. limited, MMA is excited to transand Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Photo by Katherine Wetzel port visitors to Paris and the Mellon, among the most philanFrench countryside with this exhibition. Through equestrian thropic art collecting couples of the last century. The Mellons’ paintings, views of Parish urban cityscapes and landscapes of personal interests, commitment to modernism and prescient the French countryside, visitors will have a sense France in the collection strategies are evident in the grouping.

19th and 20th centuries, Bradley said.

This exhibition was organized by the Virginia Fine Arts Bradley’s favorite piece in the exhibit is by Monet.

Museum. Its presentation in Jackson is sponsored by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation.

SOME PIECES INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBITION: 8 TODAY | JULY 2020

• Vincent van Gogh, “Daisies” • Claude Monet, “Field of Poppies” • Pierre Bonnard, “The Dining Room” • Paul Gauguin, “Still Life with Oysters”

• Edward Degas, “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” • Vincent van Gogh, “The Wheat Field Behind St. Paul’s Hospital, St. Remy

“My favorite piece in the collection is Monet’s Field of Poppies, one of the world’s most famous paintings. The vibrant colors entice you to jump right in and stroll through the field. You can really imagine yourself enjoying the beautiful weather,” Bradley said.

Entrance to the museum is free but the admission to the exhibit is $15 per person, $13 for advance purchase, $13 for seniors and groups of 10 or more and $10 for college students with school ID. The exhibit is free for museum members, children 5 and under and K-12 students on Tuesdays and Thursdays thanks to Field Co-operative Associations, Inc. and BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi.

The museum recently announced its plans to reopen after temporarily closing due to COVID-19. The MMA is slated to open in stages beginning July 1 with an initial members-only period and then is scheduled to open to the general public on July 8. The Van Gogh exhbition has been extended through Jan. 10, 2021. First responders and essential workers will be allowed free admission throughtout the exhbit. Bradley said the health of museum visitors will remain a top priority.

Edgar Degas, At the Milliner, ca. Oil on canvas. Photo by Travis Fullerton

Visit msmuseumart.org for more information.

Edgar Degas, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, model executed ca. 1880 (cast in 1922). Bronze, cloth skirt with tutu and satin hair ribbon. Photo: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

JULY 2020 | TODAY 9

mississippi seen events

m

on the menu

scene around the ‘s co-op involvement

southern gardening

een

mississippi is...

mississippi marketplace u outdoors today d the ‘sip picture this my opinion ement

rdening

grin ‘n’ bare it waters earlier that spring. It was the refreshing aroma of the river’s Oh, for an onomatopoeia related to smells. These words are trickle over aging oaks that had fallen prey to a gnawing widespread for their intended use regarding sounds, but the current on the off-side of that flow. It was concept as it pertains to smells is somethe occasional breath of honeysuckle what limited. wafting on a morning breeze. It was the You know that word, onomatopoeia. smell of excitement and tranquility and Perhaps you recall it from a long-ago expectation. It was the smell of peace.

English or literature or writing class.

And there are many other sensory sigFormed from two Greek words — onnals from my seven decades of growing oma, which means name, and poiein, and processing and filing away. Some of which means to make — onomatopoeia these courted a singular sense; others is basically a word that, when used in Water and woods combine to provide a wide assortment of aromas. came through combinations of two or speaking or writing, mimics the sound more. The green, stinging smell of sage being described: bang, clang, splash, from downslope, this seeping through swoosh. Clever devices for adding spice nostrils begging additional oxygen in the to communication, these words with the High Country. The odiferous stimulation of hard-to-pronounce designation are. an autumn wood, fresh from a pre-dawn It is reasonable to conclude that any splattering of cool rain. The drone of or all five senses can often be related a small-farm tractor, its turning-plow and play a role in recall. Something we releasing from captivity those rejuvenattaste may trigger memory of something ing aromas of freshly disturbed dirt. we saw, and so on. It was such an occurThe fluffed feel and clean fragrance of rence that spurred the thought for this Slough water has a pungent but pleasant odor. It is one sure to maintain a hold in memory. hand-picked cotton bathed in sunshine column. Just recently, a cardinal singing and piled high on a ragged wagon. is what I heard, but the smell of a specific setting from childhood And there was my mom’s rattling about the kitchen and her came to mind. It is in the description of this smell that I badly soft humming that always permeated the secret period between need a proper and handy onomatopoeia. sleep and waking and that scent of biscuits baking before a day My dad and I were paddling a battered wooden boat up a of farm chores that hold a permanent place inside memory. These section of the Pearl River, this section generally known as the Old sounded and smelled like security. Like home.

Straight. Actually, my dad was paddling; I was piddling. Impeding more than assisting I would guess, but my dad was gracious. I heard a bird. I had definitely heard this sound countless times before, but the urge to know what it was had never pricked me. “Red bird,” he said when I asked. Obviously, the cardinal, but it was red bird to him — all his life. And as influential as that identification was, it was the smell of the Old Straight that clung tenaciously

by Tony Kinton to my remembering. It is still there, more than 60 years from that paddling, piddling sunrise river trip.

Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives How do I describe that smell? Pungent, but certainly not unin Carthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com for more information. pleasant. It was decaying leaves and slough mud drying from high

JULY 2020 | TODAY 11

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In addition, upgrading from an existing electric furnace or conventional air conditioner to a 15 SEER or higher heat pump qualifies for a rebate of $400.

The Comfort Advantage program can help make your energy decisions a breeze. We also offer free building consultations and HVAC load calculations. For more information, contact Scott Arinder, member services representative, at 601-731-7809.

The program now offers the following benefits for new homes:

Key requirements of the Comfort Advantage Program:

• Comfort Advantage homes qualify for up to 150 feet of free underground service.

1. Flex duct work will be limited to runs of 8 feet or less.

2. Ducts in unconditioned space must be wrapped with R-6 or higher insulation.

3. Wall insulation must have an R-value of 13 or greater.

4. Attic insulation must have an R-value of 38 or greater.

5. A Comfort Advantage home must have double pane insulated windows with a U-value and an SHGC-value of .60 or less.

6. A Comfort Advantage Plus home must have double pane insulated windows with a U-value and an SHGC-value of .40 or less.

7. Comfort Advantage homes must have a heat pump of 14 SEER or better.

8. Comfort Advantage Plus home must have a heat pump of 15 SEER or better.

(Homes with geothermal heat pumps automatically qualify for the program.)

• Comfort Advantage Plus homes qualify for up to 150 feet of free underground service and a rebate of $500.

• Geothermal heat pump installations qualify for an additional $500 rebate.

• Natural gas instantaneous water heaters may now be used in Comfort Advantage homes (electric instantaneous water heaters do not qualify).

Note: Electric instantaneous water heaters will not qualify for either program.

12 TODAY | JULY 2020

Tools to help you understand your energy use Pearl River Valley Electric offers a variety of options for you to understand your electric use. Over the years, we have published a wide variety of brochures and booklets that offer energy savings tips that are available in our offices and online on our website, www.PRVEPA.com.

Some of the most useful information available is the ability to view your home’s daily and hourly electrical use at any time.

This information is available on our website and through our app. Members can access this information by clicking the “Pay My Bill” or “Manage My Account” tabs and following the steps at the member portal.

Members can also access this information by downloading our app in their app store. Simply search for “PRVEPA” and follow the steps.

Through the member portal online or through our app,

members can view the amount of kilowatt hours recorded by their meter for any period of time, so they can compare one month with another. There is also a feature that adds the daily temperatures to each chart, so members can see the weather factors that impact their electric use.

“Information is the key to understanding your monthly bill,” said Scott Arinder, member services representative. “When someone receives their bill and they think it is too high, they may have forgotten about a stretch of hot days in the billing period, or that they had a house full of visitors. When we show them how they used electricity throughout the month, they are able to think back and understand how their daily patterns of electricity use affect their bill,” Arinder said.

Higher temperatures this summer will mean higher utility bills for many Mississippians. But there are ways to control your costs and still survive the heat.

About half of your energy use goes to cooling your home in the summer and heating it in the winter.

Children who are out of school and staying at home can also boost your energy use because televisions are on longer, video games are being played or computers are being used more. Also,

with more people going into and out of the home, cool air is lost, and the air conditioner must work harder to keep the temperature at a comfortable level.

You can spend a lot of money making your home more energy efficient by adding insulation, replacing windows and installing EnergyStar appliances. However, there are also some easy, inexpensive steps you can take to control your energy use.

Here are a few:

• Replace any light bulb that burns more than one hour per day with its equivalent LED bulb.

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Computers and monitors should be turned off when not in use.

• TVs, stereos and radios should be turned off when no one is watching or listening to them.

• Use a slow cooker instead of simmering foods on the stove.

• Only run the dishwasher when it’s fully loaded and use the air-dry cycle.

• Set the thermostat to 78 degrees or as close to that temperature that you can and still feel comfortable. Every degree higher saves about 12%.

• Unplug chargers for phone and laptop batteries when not in use.

• Lock your windows to get a better seal so you won’t lose cool air.

• Unplug unused refrigerators or freezers.

• Change your air filter regularly so your air conditioner won’t have to work so hard.

• Use the microwave for cooking when possible.

Visit our website, www.PRVEPA.com, for more energy-efficiency tips that can help you keep your utility bills lower this summer.

All Pearl River Valley Electric Offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Friday, July 3. Dispatchers will be available, and crews will be on call. Report outages by calling 855-2PRVEPA. JULY 2020 | TODAY 13

SURVEY OF

HELPS REVEAL 2020 LOSSES The lower Delta backwater flood that began in 2019 continues unabated into 2020, racking up thousands of dollars in losses per individual in the affected areas. This photo was taken July 27, 2019, in Issaquena County.

by Bonnie A. Coblentz That means the economic impact numbers of the backwater A sharper focus on the economic impact of the lower Delta fl ood that began in 2019 are growing with each month the flood backwater fl ood of 2019 helps predict the implications of conFile photos by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson persists. tinued flooding this year.

The study of the 2019 backwater flood calculated an Mississippi State University Extension Service researchers increased cost of $3,217 per resident due to extra commuting compiled data on the overlooked costs of the backwater flood that affected the Yazoo Mississippi Delta in 2019. They surveyed distance and time, plus an average loss of $5,183 per worker in missed time on the job. residents in the five affected Sandy Havard, Extension counties in an attempt to quantiagent in Warren County, comfy losses. mented on the ongoing struggle “These findings show a terrible with flooding in areas such as cost, which can be repeated each the highly populated area around time the area floods,” said Nicolas Eagle Lake.

Quintana-Ashwell, an economist “A lot of people still live there, at the National Center for Alluvial and if they did go back to their Aquifer Research and a researchhome, they had to get a permit er with the Mississippi Agriculto rebuild, and the house had to tural and Forestry Experiment be at a certain elevation,” said Station who is based at the MSU Mississippi State University Extension Service agent Emily Carter has been Havard, who is involved with Delta Research and Extension heavily involved with residents affected by the ongoing flood. the Warren County Long Term Center in Stoneville.

Recovery Committee. “That helped a lot in that area when the At its peak in May 2019, the Backwater Flood of 2019 flooded backwater flood came again this year. But some of those who 548,000 acres, damaged hundreds of homes and closed three moved away because of the flood in 2019 have not been able to highways. The affected area includes all or part of Warren, Yamove back because they don’t have the money to rebuild.” zoo, Issaquena, Sharkey and Humphreys counties, and flooding Emily Carter, Extension coordinator for Sharkey and Issaqueimpacted an estimated 20,000 people.

“We found a $42,160 self-assessed loss per household in costs na counties, said the intangible losses to the flood are harder to associated with the flood not covered by insurance or any assis- measure.

“Many people who had to move out of their homes for most tance programs,” Quintana-Ashwell said. “Additionally, 69% of of 2019 were just completing renovations and getting back into workers reported a reduction in work productivity due to stress their homes when they were displaced again this year,” Carter and fatigue associated with the flood.”

The flood measured and quantified in 2019 continues in many said. “That caused a sense of hopelessness in some residents, but it also has drawn our community closer together as neighplaces, so its economic impact is still growing. As of early May bor helps neighbor.”

2020, water accumulations in portions of the state’s Delta reThis sense of caring is combined with resilience. gion were again causing rivers to overflow, spilling over into an “Many families in the south Delta have been here for estimated 200,000 acres of farmland. generations, and they will stay here, persevering through the “Several thousand acres have been under water for over a hard times like their ancestors,” Carter said. year and a half in places,” said Ben Lawrence, an agronomist with the MSU Extension Service. “In the areas affected by the continuous flooding, people are reliving 2019, which would have Bonnie A. Coblentz is a writer and editor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. been unimaginable for two years in a row.”

14 TODAY | JULY 2020

Our entire shipbuilding team has worked tirelessly to ensure that all of our efforts have been aligned to implement all Flight III changes successfully on this ship. With this lift, we are one step closer to delivering the U.S. Navy the most technologically advanced destroyer in the fleet.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division achieved a substantial milestone recently with the successful lift of the aft deckhouse onto guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125).

The 320-ton aft deckhouse includes radar equipment rooms, main engine intake and exhaust compartments, electric shop, and staterooms, according to an Ingalls news release.

“Our team has kept this first Flight III ship ahead of schedule by working collaboratively and using lessons learned from our long history of building destroyers,” Ben Barnett, Ingalls DDG 125 program manager, said in the release.

“Our entire shipbuilding team has worked tirelessly to ensure that all of our efforts have been aligned to implement all Flight III changes successfully on this ship. With this lift, we are one step closer to delivering the U.S. Navy the most technologically advanced destroyer in the fleet.”

DDG 125 is the fifth of five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers HII was awarded in June 2013 and is the first Flight III ship, which adds enhanced radar capability and other technological

upgrades. The five-ship contract, part of a multi-year procurement in the DDG 51 program, allows Ingalls to build ships more efficiently by buying bulk material and moving the skilled workforce from ship-to-ship.

The ship is named for Jack. H Lucas, a longtime resident of Hattiesburg, who was the youngest Marine and the youngest service member in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor.

DDG 125 is co-sponsored by Ruby Lucas, widow of the ship’s namesake.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States’ military strategy.

The guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles.

The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

JULY 2020 | TODAY 15

16 TODAY | JULY 2020

of more

in season ahead

by Derrill Holly Government meteorologists say atmospheric conditions are ripe for an above-normal season of storm activity in the Atlantic Basin and predict 13 to 19 named storms with sustained winds exceeding 39 mph. Six to 10 of those storms could reach hurricane strength of at least 74 mph, and three to six could pack sustained winds of 111 mph, achieving major hurricane status.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual forecast May 21.

Co-op mutual aid coordinators meet each year in Biloxi to discuss last year’s storm season and how responses can be improved, said Gerald Gordon, vice president of safety and loss control for the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi.

“These individuals represent 25-35 states and thousands of cooperative employees that are ready to respond to the call for assistance,” Gordon said.

“He added that each request for help goes to statewide organizations and is then fulfilled by assisting states.

“Now is the time to get prepared,” warned Gerry Bell, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

NOAA and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies released a report this spring linking warming earth surface temperatures to increasing tropical storm intensity. The study, covering a 39-year period ending in 2017, suggested a worldwide shift toward more tropical weather systems that achieve major hurricane intensity.

While the global rate of storm severity increase was about 8% per decade, “the greatest changes are found in the North Atlantic, where the probability of major hurricane exceedance increases by 49% per decade,” the report states.

NOAA forecast greater potential of hurricanerelated havoc to occur well inland from where a system makes landfall, even as storms are downgraded below hurricane strength and winds subside.

“A slow-moving tropical storm can produce 9 to 15 inches of rain over a large area,” said Bell.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are encouraging coastal residents to act now to prepare for potential hurricane evacuations because of concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s always a challenge meeting shelter needs during and after a major hurricane,” said Carlos Castillo, FEMA acting deputy administrator for resilience.

“Social distancing and other CDC guidance to keep you safe from COVID-19 may impact the disaster preparedness plan you had in place, including what is in your go-kit, evacuation routes, shelters and more.”

In April, meteorologists from Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project predicted above-normal storm activity as well for 2020.

The preseason CSU forecast of 16 named storms included eight reaching hurricane strength and four expected to achieve major hurricane status.

Derrill Holly is a staff writer for NRECA. JULY 2020 | TODAY 17

LE E TART T NATU RE PRES E RVE:

A Heros Outdoor Refuge NOT FAR FROM THE SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN GRENADA , THERE’ S AN URBAN FOREST ON 30 0 ACRES ON THE BANKS OF THE YALOBU SHA RIVER .

by Steven Ward Local artist Robin Whitfield, who landed in Grenada in 1996 to paint murals for a public school, had never spent time in a swamp before walking from her home studio to the urban forest.

“It captivated me from day one. I would explore the area every day, slowly learning the names and relationships of the plants and animals there,” Whitfield said.

She “fell head over heels for this special and magical place” and became an Audubon Master Naturalist soon after.

Today, Whitfield is the director of the Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, the name of the acreage which was previously called the Chakchiuma Swamp Natural Area.

The preserve is a bottomland hardwood forest featuring a series of interconnected oxbow lakes known as the Chakchiuma Swamp.

The city-owned property’s westbound boundary is Highway 51 and the northern boundary is Highway 332 leading to the 18 TODAY | JULY 2020

Grenada Lake dam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers floodplain property known as the Haserway Wetland Area.

The preserve provides a constant feast of caterpillars for birds year around. Notable summer birds are the prothonotary warbler, summer tanager, white-eyed and yellow-throated vireo, northern parula, yellow billed cuckoo and snowy egret.

Notable winter birds are the hermit thrush, wood duck, brown creeper, red crowned kinglet and yellow-bellied sapsucker. The year around residents include barred owl, red shouldered hawk, northern cardinal, turkey vulture and woodpeckers — pileated, red bellied and downy, Whitfield added. The caterpillars fill the preserve with butterflies and moths notably zebra swallowtail whose host plant is pawpaw, gulf fritillary whose host plant is passion vine and luna moth whose host plant is sweetgum.

“The oxbow lakes are cut off from the river keeping them cool and clear most of the year,” Whitfield said. And it wouldn’t be a swamp without turtles, frogs, fish and reptiles. photo by Marianne Todd

A

magical P L A C E

The preserve currently has duty, he liked to hand fish short walking trails in three in the Yalobusha River, locations, an observation deck overlooking the swamp according to his brother, Keith Tartt. and oxbow lake access for paddlers. Whitfield’s volunteer When he was on duty, he worked as a special agent for group, Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp, is working with arthe Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. A perfect shot, Keith chitects to create a masterplan that will feature a handicap Tartt said, his brother was also a member of the Mississippi accessible interpretive trail, three Department of Public Safety SWAT miles of walking trails, boardteam. The 44-year-old law enforcewalks through the wetlands and ment officer was shot and killed in grasslands, quiet nature viewing It captivated me from day one. February 2016 when he and other benches, a natural children’s play I would explore the area every authorities responded to a domestic area and a classroom size pavilion. day, slowly learning the names dispute at a home near Iuka in Whitfield said visitors come to Tishomingo County. and relationships of the plants the preserve for many reasons but An armed man was holding his and animals there. the swamp itself seems to be the wife and 10-year-old daughter in a main attraction. Guests sit on the observation house and he refused to come out after more deck or float in a kayak. They fish, paddle, than six hours of hostage negotiations, according take photographs, paint, go birding and set up to reporting by the Associated Press. picnics in the preserve.

Tartt was one of four officers that went inside The preserve was named after James Lee when the man and police officers started shooting Tartt, who was passionate about the outdoors. at each other. Lee Tartt was shot and killed that A Grenada native, he grew up on a farm and day. The other three officers were injured. loved hunting and fishing. When he was off Continued on next page

JAMES

Lee T A R T T

Conservation

The woman and her daughter escaped the home alive. The armed man holding them there was shot and killed by police during the standoff.

How the preserve became named after Lee Tartt, involves someone who remains anonymous to this day.

The Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp wanted to save the acreage from inclusion in a citywide timber harvest. An anonymous donor loaned the group $300,000 to win the bid in the timber sale purchasing all of the trees in the 300 acres, Whitfield said. He then offered half of it back as a matching donor so every time someone donates, 50 cents is added to every $1. The deal paved the way to a 60-year lease of the property with the city.

Keith Tartt said one of the conditions of the deal by the donor was to name the preserve after his brother. The preserve was named after Lee Tartt in 2018.

When asked what Lee would have thought about the naming of the preserve, Keith Tartt recalled his younger brother’s personality.

“I’m sure he would have been proud. But Lee was a very humble person. He was a quiet guy. He liked to be in the background. He didn’t toot his own horn,” Keith Tartt said.

After Lee Tartt died, his brother was going through his things and came across a box. Inside were all kinds of law enforcement awards he never told anyone about.“He won the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Agent of the Year award twice. Once posthumously. He won an award of valor twice

20 TODAY | JULY 2020

too, once also posthumously,” Keith Tartt said.

Keith Tartt, a member of the nature preserve’s board of directors, said he hopes that the future of the swamp area becomes part of city plans for downtown Grenada’s revival.

“It’s all part of a bigger vision and this would add a nature presence which would be vital for the community,” Keith Tartt said.

Whitfield said the mission of the nature preserve is “conservation through creativity, curiosity and community connection.”

“Through all that we have experienced as an organization and with observations of nature our motto is ‘everything is connected.’ Events, workshops, partnerships and conservation workdays are how we fulfill our mission,” Whitfield said.

Whitfield said she finds a few minutes or a few hours to spend at the preserve every day.

“I never tire of seeing what’s different from the day before and making new connections. I have never been disappointed in a visit and have always left with abundant gifts, Whitfield said. “While wandering around I think things like ‘wow!

There’s my favorite flower!’ or ‘that is the most amazing tree I have ever seen!’ or ‘Does it get any more peaceful than this moment?’ Considering I have these thoughts everyday about totally different things, the only conclusion I can draw is that my favorite part of the preserve is simply having the privilege of being there in that moment.”

Visit www.friends-of-cs.org or call 662-230-0368 or email friendsofcsna@gmail.com for more information.

ssissippi marketplace outdoors today p picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it

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1. Two Mississippi River bridges in Natchez, by Kelsey Bass of Smithdale; Magnolia Electric Power member.

7. Bay St. Louis train bridge and harbor, by Joe Swaykos of Pass Christian; Coast Electric member.

2. Early morning turkey hunt at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge,

by Grant Hartman of Collinsville; East Mississippi EPA member.

8. Waveland beach, by Heather Atwood of Tylertown; Magnolia Electric Power member.

3. Roosevelt State Park, by Melissa Loper of Brandon; Central EPA member.

9. Mississippi Coast Lighthouse, by Rhonda Drummond of Greenwood; Delta Electric member.

4. Watching the birds and waves in Biloxi, by Rashonda Waldrop of Purvis; Pearl River Valley EPA member.

5. Gulf Islands seashore, by Rebekah Pope of Ocean Springs; Singing River Electric member.

6. Flint Creek Water Park in Wiggins, by Teri Trotter of Byram; Southern Pine Electric member.

22 TODAY | JULY 2020

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10. A full moon at Cat Island, by Carol Terrrell of Ruleville; Delta Electric member.

11. Sunset at Biloxi beach, by April Ray of Decatur; Southern Pine Electric member.

12. On the Fair River in Lawrence County, by Tim Lea of Monticello; Southern Pine Electric member

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13. Possum Walk Trail in Logtown, by Cathy Boyet of Pearlington; Coast Electric member.

19. Sunset over Mississippi River at Natchez, by Kathy Tourne of Carriere; Coast Electric member.

14. The banks of Bear Creek at Tishomingo State Park, by Jason Heavner of Oxford; North East EPA member.

20. Swimming at home in Carriere, by Lisa Treuting of Carriere; Coast Electric member.

15. Horn Island on the Gulf of Mexico, by Debbie Scott of Pascagoula; Singing River Electric member.

21. Gulf Coast, by Trish Little of Magee; Southern Pine Electric member.

16. Kayaking on the lake at Little Black Creek in Lumberton, by Teresa Adams of Picayune; Coast Electric member..

17. Sunrise in Biloxi, by Alan Hofstetter of Gautier; Singing River Electric member.

18. Rocky Springs along the Natchez Trace Parkway, by Perla Ruby Arellano of West Point; 4-County Electric member.

22. Horn Island camping trip, by Amanda Norris of New Augusta; Pearl River Valley EPA member.

23. Arlo Wilkinson having fun at Middlefork Creek in Franklin County,

by Daisy Arnold of Meadville; Southwest Electric member.

JULY 2020 | TODAY 23

mississippi seen

mississippi is...

events

mississippi marketplace on the menu outdoors today scene around the ‘sip picture this my opinion co-op involvement southern gardening

grin ‘n’ bare it

with Rebecca Turner

July 4th celebrates the birth of American independence.

Traditional festivities range from fireworks, parades, concerts and cookouts. This summer will be anything but conventional as our communities continue to work together to socially distance and slow the spread of COVID-19. Our outdoor gatherings may be more intimate, but that doesn’t mean barbeques are off-limits. Enjoying a wholesome meal cooked outside at home can boost your physical and mental health.

Incorporate these simple tips to enjoy a fun, flavorful, and nutritious patio meal.

Your Mississippi farmers and fishers need you now more than ever, so be sure to think local when you shop for lean proteins. Processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and some red meats are high in saturated fats and sodium, which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Make the switch to leaner cuts of beef such as the eye of round, sirloin, or skirt steak. Choose 80 to 95% lean ground beef or turkey for burgers. Make your ground meat budget and nutrition go further by adding in black beans, kernel corn, or finely grated zucchini or carrots to patties, meatloaves, spaghetti and tacos.

A cookout isn’t complete without side dishes. You can focus on our patriotic colors, red, white and blue, during July, 24 TODAY | JULY 2020

and be surprised by the variety of foods and the wealth of nutrition each color offers. Mississippi gardens are brimming with red produce like beets, radishes, peppers, onions, potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes. Red fruits include cherries, raspberries, apples, strawberries and watermelons. Bring white produce to the table with cauliflower, garlic, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, turnips, white corn and white beans. Using the color blue loosely, and including those that are purplish-colored, too, gives you more options like blackberries, blueberries, eggplants, figs, grapes, plums, potatoes and raisins.

Upgrade your side dish recipes to include more hearthealthy ingredients. Remove or reduce saturated fats by substituting plain Greek yogurt for mayonnaise. Instead of sugary baked beans, try white corn and bean salad or a tri-colored potato salad. Choose a variety of seasonal vegetables marinated with herbs and olive oil. Grill whole carrots, or make vegetable kebabs using cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and onions brushed with a vinaigrette dressing.

A fresh fruit salad or Smith County watermelon is a refreshing way to add something sweet to any meal.

Get outside, light the grill, and enjoy a meal fit for a celebration.

INGREDIENTS ¼ cup blueberries, fresh ½ cup cauliflower florets, halved ½ cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup feta cheese crumbles (optional) spinach leaves 2 tablespoons, dressing of choice Using a wide-mouth mason jar, assemble your salad. Add the desired dressing to the bottom. Sturdy vegetables like cauliflower and tomatoes go in first. Next, add a layer of spinach, followed by chickpeas and feta crumbles — another handful of spinach, followed by blueberries. Fill the mason jar to the top with spinach. When ready to eat, shake the mason jar to cover the content with the dressing. Eat from the jar or transfer to a plate. Make several ahead of time for the week.

INGREDIENTS 3 pounds (about 4 cups) small red, white and purple potatoes, halved 1 tablespoon dried parsley (3 tablespoons fresh) 1 teaspoon dried dill (1 tablespoon fresh) ¼ cup chopped red onion ¼ cup white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons stone ground mustard ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper (or to taste) Place halved red and white potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring potatoes to a full boil and boil for 13-15 minutes or until potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork.

Drain potatoes, pat dry with a paper towel and transfer to a large bowl.

To avoid purple or blue potatoes from bleeding onto the others, boil separately, using the same instructions for the red and white potatoes.

While cooked red, white and blue potatoes are cooling in a large bowl, form the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together parsley, dill, onions, vinegar, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper.

Pour dressing over slightly warm potatoes and gently toss to cover.

Serve potato salad warm, room temperature, or chilled. *Look for the tri-colored baby potatoes or purchase 1 pound bags of each. This recipe still works well with single colored potatoes, too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Turner is an author, registered dietitian, radio host, television presenter and a certified specialist in sports dietetics with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A lifelong Mississippian, she lives in Brandon and has spent the last decade offering no-nonsense nutrition guidance that allows you to enjoy good health and good food. Her book, “Mind Over Fork,” challenges the way you think, not the way you eat. Find her on social media @RebeccaTurnerNutrition and online at www.RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.

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mississippi marketplace The 30th Bruce Sawmill Festival, July 10Many planned summer events were canceled because of the COVID-19 crisis, so we have onDowntown the menu outdoors today 11, Bruce.

Bruce Square. The had far fewer events to feature in this space as a result. As more areas of Mississippi open back up and groups and organizations feel comfortable about holding public events, we event features a 5K run/walk, arts and intend to include those details here. So,this if you have an upcoming event for August and scene around the picture crafts, food vendors, and a car, tractor, and ‘sip September, please email the details to news@ecm.coop. motorcycle show. Live entertainment on theco-op Cannon Motors entertainment stage my opinion involvement starts Friday at 6 p.m. and starts back at 9 a.m. Saturday and runs through to Saturday night with the headliner band, The Jason Miller Band. Details: 662-983-2222.

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The 42nd Mississippi Watermelon Festival, July 17-18, Mize. Proceeds go to the Mize Volunteer Fire Department. Country singer Colt Ford performs Saturday at 8 p.m. Gates open Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8:30 a.m. See display advertisement on Page 5. Details: 601-517-3510.

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They would let us climb up on the roof of the house the night of July 4th to watch the fireworks over Lake Ferguson from the Greenville waterfront so we wouldn’t have to go down there. We lived a mile or so away, as the crow flies. Getting to go up on the roof was an adventure for us kids.

The big fireworks show was the culmination of the 4th. It started off pretty much like any other summer morning. Help mama, take out the garbage, watch my little brother. But the day set itself apart after lunch. An ice cream freezer or two (depending on whether we had company or not) would come out and the ice around the drum was salted. By midafternoon, the cranks started getting harder to turn; a sure sign that the cream inside was just about right.

Then someone would start hauling out the watermelons that had been chilling in wash tubs since midmorning. There is no sound like a ripe watermelon being stabbed with a butcher knife and then splitting open. And there is no smell like the instant sweetness in the air that follows.

Fireworks for us didn’t have to wait until dark. We’d pop our own firecrackers any time. As a matter of fact, it didn’t wait until the 4th. We would have already been popping them for days in advance.

Supper might be hamburgers or hot dogs. And then we’d hear the first “boom” from the waterfront and scamper to the roof.

Some of the rockets didn’t fly too high and we’d just see a flash in the sky like heat lightning from where they had exploded below the tree line. But some of them would climb and climb and climb and then pop into a big dandelion seed puff of light way up there.

Why is that so exciting to see when you are young? And then all too soon came the fireworks. The whole sky would light up with explosions all over at once. We could hear the faint car horns of approval from the waterfront all the way to our roof.

We carried some of that over into adulthood. While the “old folks” were still here we’d go to mama and daddy’s for the 4th, sometimes. Usually we’d all congregate at an aunt and uncle’s house down the street. There would still be ice cream — with an electric freezer by then — and watermelon. We could hear fireworks all over, from the kids in a nearby neighborhood, mostly.

And then after dark, the big “boom” of the serious rockets over the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway a mile or so away from where mom and dad had moved after all of us left home.

This year? I’ll swing on the front porch after dark and listen to the small snaps and pops in the neighborhoods around. And wait for the big “boom” from the Barnett Reservoir — a mile or so away.

Happy 4th everybody.

by Walt Grayson Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com.

JULY 2020 | TODAY 27

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