Naaman the Syrian (2 King 5:2-3

Whether it’s in a big city or a small town, being mayor is a prestigious honor. Along with the glory comes plenty of hard work. Part-time or full-time, mayors do so much more than show up to board meetings once or twice a month and cut ribbons at business openings.

It takes a special person to step up and lead their community. Amayor will field phone calls at all hours, deal with town emergencies and always work to improve the overall quality of life of the community they and their voters love to live in.

The Community News Flash is proud to introduce you to area mayors in the series Meet the Mayor.

Meet the Mayor: Farmington’s top official works till the job is done

By Lucy Weber

Reece Wallin enjoys leading his local government from the mayor’s seat in Farmington City Hall.

Wallin, elected to his first political office in 2020, is already planning to run for reelection in 2024. His goal for small Alcorn County community is to see the town grow in both population and business in the coming years.

“I didn’t realize that there was so much involved” in being mayor, he said. “It has been a learning process. Coming from a corporate background, I have learned that government is so much different. It is rewarding, though, to interact with citizens and to address their needs.”

While the elected post is considered a part-time one, Wallin said his hours are “however long it takes to get the job done.”

Since taking office, the mayor said interest in the operation of city government continues to rise as more and more residents attend the board members on the third Tuesday of each month where Wallin and the five aldermen, all elected at-large, discuss and make decisions in the best interest of the 2,155 residents.

Wallin entered the mayor’s race after two citizens, who knew him and his background, asked him to run. “I started talking with other citizens and all said it was time for a change, so I gave it a shot and won.”

Wallin’s business background comes in handy in dealing with the operation of the town.

Agraduate of David Lipscomb University with a degree in accounting, Wallin earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Belmont University. Wallin worked in the manufacturing, human services and construction industries with positions including controller, chief financial officer and Information technologies director in jobs that took him and his family around the globe.

He grew up in Gary, Indiana, where his father worked in the steel mills. Before Wallin’s junior year in high school, the family moved to Farmington where his parents owned 200 acres.

Wallin and his wife Rebecca retired home to Farmington in 2014. The couple has been married for 45 years. Rebecca is the daughter of the former Tom’s Peanut distributor Billy McEwen. They are the proud parents of son Daniel, who has a communications type business and lives in Nashville, and daughter Emily, a veterinarian in Dahlonega, Georgia.

So far in his term, Wallin said he and the Board of Aldermen have been busy. “We have expanded the size of our town with the annexation of 240 homes. We are in the process of finalizing the construction of restrooms in our city park. Two new businesses have opened in our town with another to be opened very soon.”

Farmington’s elected officials are also dealing with several major issues. “One is the American Rescue Plan, money we received from the federal government, and the ARPA matching grant money that the Mississippi Legislature is dealing with and the (other issue) is medical marijuana legislation. Also, our sewer system requires a lot of attention. A priority is to upgrade our existing sewer system along with expansion of the system.”

Farmington has five fulltime employees and eight parttime employees, who work in the Police Department. “Farmington has one of the best volunteer Fire Departments in the state of Mississippi. There are currently 48 volunteer firemen,” the mayor said.

Farmington is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, Wallin said. “It’s a quiet community and the people are friendly. We have a great citizenry.”

The town is known for its history concerning the Civil War. “The battle of Farmington occurred on May 9, 1862. The town was unincorporated at that time. Farmington was re-incorporated in 1997,” Wallin said.

Mayor Chris Wallin thinks that it’s the right time to live in Farmington

This a call for all civic groups, church members and concerned citizen to come out and participate in the community wide clean up day. I’m asking all pastors to galvanize their members to participate in this gallant effort. Plans have been set for Saturday, April 23rd from 8 am-12 noon. We will meet at the corner of Meigg St and Crater St. Please join us in this cleanup effort.

Mayor Chris Wallin

Helping Schools and Students RecoverFrom Pandemic Challenges

(c) Lucy Lambriex / Getty Images

(StatePoint) Over the past two years, public schools have faced continual disruptions brought about by COVID-19. Experts say that federal relief funds have given the nation a one-time opportunity to learn from the experience and to focus recovery efforts and resources on delivering highquality instruction and support for students in ways that will accelerate their learning and meet their social and emotional needs.

“The federal government has provided $189 billion in resources for states and localities targeted at education recovery. If unchecked and unsupported, states risk bending to the pressure of forces more concerned with political expediency and ideology than sound policy that helps students,” says Jim Cowen, executive director of the Collaborative for Student Success. “Parents, educators, administrators and policymakers deserve credible information about effective policies and practices that are using these funds to accelerate student learning.”

According to Cowen, this is why the Collaborative for Student Success, in partnership with The Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) and the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, launched EduRecoveryHub.org, a one-stop resource that showcases emerging practices in schools supported with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding (ESSER) and other federal recovery funds that can be replicated nationwide.

From improving school facilities to easing teacher shortages, the site provides insights into the smart investments that best ensure schools recover stronger and every student benefits. Parents and families can use this site to advocate for their students and point to good ideas that meet specific needs as they talk to teachers, principals, and school board members. Educators and district staff can learn from their colleagues about ways in which they are overcoming the lingering challenges of the pandemic. The site also allows policymakers to reference and compare state-bystate recovery information and access expert analysis from diverse viewpoints. Apanel of national and state-based organizations and experts serving or representing parents, school and district leaders, classroom educators, and the civil rights community review and comment on specific practices they support.

“As difficult as pandemic learning has been, our research has shown many bright spots: schools and educators who have gone above and beyond by making powerful connections with students, finding creative ways to deliver personalized learning, and working with community partners to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn,” says Robin Lake, director of CRPE. “But many of these efforts are ad hoc. The unprecedented federal investment will allow school systems to implement effective approaches -- if they pay attention to what we know has worked.”

“The federal investment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for school districts to help students re-engage in school, get back on track in reading and math, and earn sufficient credits to graduate ready for college or a career,” says Chad Aldeman, policy director of Edunomics Lab. “In the wake of the pandemic, we are seeing districts use funds in new ways to address challenges and improve student outcomes. These savvy, nimble investments may catch on in other communities and help propel students forward.”

Interactive and easy-to-use, theEduRecoveryHubis updated frequently. Individuals or organizations can reference these evolving resources or share their own examples of innovative programs in education by visiting edurecoveryhub.org.

From innovative ways to address student mental health needs to work being done to accelerate academic learning, spotlighting education recovery efforts across America can spark progress and improvements in other communities.

Are you sick of sandwiches, chips and baby carrots? The healthy and resourceful ideas below can spice up your lunchbox, require minimal preparation time and will help you look forward to your noon meal again.

Pasta Noodles

Cook up a batch of noodles the night before and store them in the refrigerator, or use leftover pasta noodles, and you have the beginnings of a tasty cold salad for lunch. Fill one-half of a bowl-sized portable container with cold noodles. Add bite-sized cooked meats or fish, or throw in some beans or nuts. Chop a tomato, some mushrooms, peas, black olives, onions, spinach, celery, carrots, asparagus -- anything you find appealing and have on hand. Grapes, raisins, strawberries and apples can be added, too. For more flavor, add cheese, an herb blend, some light mayonnaise, olive oil and lemon juice, or your favorite dressing.

Rice

Rice is a healthful and filling grain. Choose brown rice to add the health benefits of whole grain to your meal. Line a tortilla, lettuce or cabbage leaf, or a sheet of nori (seaweed) with cold, cooked rice. Then add your favorite filling, such as tuna, cheese, nuts, sliced vegetables, citrus fruits or whatever your taste buds dictate! Add a sauce if you like such as salsa, light sour cream or soy sauce. Roll up your treat and slice it into 1- to 2-inch sections for a noontime treat -- either heated or cold.

Dips

Everyone loves dipping foods, so make your lunch a festive dipping occasion! Pack foods that are long and thin: sliced peppers, carrots or celery; asparagus, beans or pea pods; pretzels, bread sticks or cheese strips; or apple, orange or pear slices. Peanut butter, light cream cheese, yogurt, soy sauce, salsa, tomato sauce and salad dressings make great dips and can quickly be poured into a small container for lunch on the go. If you have more time, try crafting your own dips. Canned pumpkin can be blended with light cream cheese with a little maple syrup for a sweet dip. Chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and tahini (sesame paste) pureed together make a nice hummus base to which you can add spices for more flavor. Minced garlic, chopped basil, Parmesan cheese and olive oil make a hearty pesto; add ground nuts for more texture.

Don't forget safety! If you're packing your lunch to take with you, keep your foods at a safe, cold temperature. Put your water bottle in the freezer the night before, and pack the bottle close to the perishable foods in your lunch pack. That way you can enjoy ice-cold water with your lunch.

My recipe for Protein-Packed Pasta Salad is a great way to use leftover pasta and vegetables. It's also an interesting way to incorporate alternative sources of protein into your diet in the form of lentils. It's delicious hot or cold and makes lunch a luscious affair!

PROTEIN-PACKED PASTASALAD

Lentils are often used as a meat substitute throughout North Africa and the Middle and Far East, and provide the protein in this nourishing salad. Lentils come in three main varieties and colors: French brown, Egyptian red and yellow lentils. Lentils are easy to cook, but canned varieties also work well in this salad. 2 cups (about 6 ounces) spaghetti or small, whole-wheat shell macaroni 1 (15-ounce) can lentils, drained

6 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 3/4 cup chopped broccoli, green beans or asparagus 1/4 cup chopped red or green bell pep-

per

1/2 purple onion, diced 1 stalk celery, diced 1/2 large carrot, sliced into rounds 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pep-

per

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup Light Italian salad dressing 3 cups Romaine lettuce, torn 1. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain pasta and set aside.2. Drain the lentils. In a large mixing bowl, combine lentils, pasta, tomatoes, broccoli (or green vegetable of choice), bell pepper, onion, celery, carrots, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Toss to mix. 3. Pour Italian salad dressing over pasta mixture. Toss to coat. Cover and chill for 2 hours to allow the flavors to combine. Serve on a bed of Romaine lettuce. Makes 4 servings.