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BARTON....PG 9

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Vol 21, No. 8 • December 2021

News You Can Use

662-643-6842

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These best friends are also twin sisters

Tiyonia and Kenyonia Rogers

By Lucy Weber Tiyonia and Kenyonia Rogers are best friends forever, and they have been since before they were born Nov. 18, 2004. The twins, daughters of Glenda Rogers and the late Timothy Rogers, are juniors at Corinth High School where they play basketball. The two are fraternal, not identical twins, but that doesn't mean people can tell Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS

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who's who. "Even with being fraternal, people still have trouble telling us apart," Tiyonia said. "Yes, for us to be fraternal twins, people have the hardest time telling us apart," echoed Kenyonia. While they may look alike, dress the same, talk at the same time, act similarly, there is one big way to tell which is Tiyonia and which is Kenyonia. "What makes us different 38835 from each other is most definitely our personalities," Kenyonia said, with agreement from her sister. "I'm more friendly in a way. She is more the 'I'm going to tell you how it is, whether you like it or not'."

Each one can't imagine going through life without being a twin. "Being a twin means to me that you have a wombmate from the beginning," Tiyonia said. "She's a diary, a journal, a backbone, a built-in best friend, just all of these things that are so great to have. We are so close, my

literal best friend." Kenyonia agrees 100 percent. "What it means to me to be a twin, is that I literally have a lifetime best friend. She has been my best friend since the womb. The best thing about my sister is that she is very caring, honest, loving and the sweetest person ever." Sisters share a bond, but for these twins, the bonds of love and support are so very strong. "Life is so much fun being a twin," Kenyonia said. "You have somebody to tell all your problems to knowing she will never tell anyone." Tiyonia also appreciates her sister's support. "OMG, she is so supportive." When arguments do arise between the two, it's always about clothes. The two dress alike 24/7. "We have always dressed alike since we were babies," Tiyonia said. "My daddy always made a big deal about it but, since he's passed, we just have continued to do it." Kenyonia said deciding the outfit for the day can be a difficult choice. "We are always arguing about what we are going to wear." Looking ahead, the twins share a plan for their futures, college and career. They both want to become pediatric nurses "because we absolutely love kids," Tiyonia said. "First, we are going to do our two years at Northeast Community College and, then we see TWINS....pg 4

CNAs bring skills and compassion Certified nursing assistants, better known as CNAs, are the unsung heroes of the medical profession. They can be found in hospitals, nursing homes or assisted living centers and on private duty in homes. Wherever they work, they bring their skilled training to tend to the sick, the dying, the elderly and anyone in need. For patients, their CNA is the most familiar face in their medical care. The Community News Flash would like to thank all of the certified nursing assistants out there who take care of our mothers, fathers, grandparents, children and other loved ones.Look for more features on certified nursing assistants in upcoming additions.

December 2021

The Community News Flash

Editor’s Corner

Jerry W. Porter CEO/Publisher PO Box 1292, Corinth, MS 38835-1292 Cell: 662-643-6842 Email: read.newsflash@gmail.com

It is finally here! The magical season of carols, cheer, lights, and love has arrived. And I have to say, Christmas is a much needed distraction from all the uncertainty in our world. I find uncertain things unsettling. But Christmas is certain, as is its namesake. And that’s comforting. I enjoy the “Happy Holiday” greetings and/or salutations from strangers. I marvel at how the lights on the houses glow with all the colors of the rainbow. And you can’t beat the holiday scents found roaming the halls of shops and homes. I’ll avoid talking about how much I enjoy the tasty treats that accompany this holiday. I overdid it at Thanksgiving. I’m going to cut back. Next year, of course. But I digress. Children will soon wake from their short night of slumber and run to find what Santa left

Like Riding a Bike them under the tree. Many will find one of Santa’s most popular items among young children, a bicycle. I recently had a conversation about bicycles. I’m not talking about the bicycles you will find scattered around yards. We talked about our “spiritual bicycles.” Most bicycles come with training wheels, extra wheels which help maintain balance for children as they learn to ride. Our spirituality is like learning to balance when we are young. We don’t comprehend spirituality. We are taught the word, but we don’t quite understand. We have our training wheels-our parents, our preacher, and Sunday School teachers. And when we finally learn to balance, the training wheels are no longer needed, as long as you maintain that balance. What helps us maintain our spiritual balance? And why do we need it? I mean once we learn to balance, once we have a solid spirituality, do we need to maintain it? Of course. For example, are all roads straight? Certainly not. There are many curves-sharp ones at that-on a road and in life. Life throws you curves all the time. Sometimes, my curves are more like circles. It’s easy to lose our spiritual balance during these trying times in our lives. So what do you do when you come upon a curve on your bicycle. You simply adjust the handlebars and your balance and take the curve smoothly. Events and people my test our spirituality, we must adjust accordingly.

But what happens when we fall off our bikes as children? The same thing that happens when we fall away from our spirituality. We get up, and get right back on. Inevitably, we all experience things in life that make us question our spirituality, and maybe even our faith, but it’s important we learn from that fall. It’s important we grow from it. We must also realize that a bicycle is a tool. It serves a purpose. It takes us places. Our spirituality functions in the same way. It takes us places we otherwise couldn’t go. It provides us with different scenery and gives us fresh air. And sometimes, that’s all we really need to keep us going. Just like riding a bike will strengthen your legs, focusing on and growing your spirituality can strengthen it. Spirituality is also like riding a bike in that it will always be with you. The saying, “It’s like riding a bike,” applies here. You may get distracted by life, you may neglect your spirituality, but it will always be with you, just like the skill to ride a bike is. Once you get back on, you may wobble a bit, but your ability will still be there, if the training wheels did their job. As you prepare to gather with friends this Christmas, remember the bicycle you rode as a child, remember those who served as your training wheels. Remember the gifts and the excitement. And remember as long as you have Christ, you’re never alone. From The Community Newsflash, I hope you have a

The Community News Flash is published monthly by Porter Publishing, Inc., with all rights reserved – © 2001 Reproduction or use without permission of editorial on graphic contents in any manner is prohibited by law. This newspaper is designed to exhibit the positive by publishing only positive and uplifting personal profiles. The annual subscription rate is Twenty four dollars and forty eight cents ($26.00). Information is gathered from sources considered to be reliable and accurate. Thoughts expressed in letters to the editor and commentaries are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Community News Flash staff. Equal Opportunity. It is policy of the newspaper. 1. To employ people on the basis of their qualification and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap. 2. To not knowingly accept any advertisement, which implies and preferences limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap.

magical Christmas filled with love, hope, family and friends. I’m already behind on my holiday preparations. I guess I

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Notable Quote If you don't fall down now and again, it just means the training wheels are working. — Josh Stern

December 2021

The Community News Flash

DECEMBER BIBLE TRIVIA 1. Who suggested that stones could be turned to bread? 2. Who used a stone for a pillow? 3. What enemies of Joshua were pelted by stones from the Lord? 4. In what humiliating way was Abimelech murdered?

St. Rest Missionary Baptist Church 10638 Hwy 45 South Guys, TN. 38339 Rev./Dr. Advence Pittman, Jr., Pastor (731) 239-8070 Sunday Service 11:00 am

5. Who had a vision of an angel casting an enormous stone into the sea? 6. Who erected a large pillar of stone and called it Ebenezer? 7. What shepherd boy went into battle with a bag of stones? 8. Who built an altar of stone that was consumed by fired from heaven? 9. What patriarch and his father-in-law heaped up stones as a sign of their covenant together? 10. Who sat on a stone while Amalekites fought the Israelites? 11. Who had a dream about a giant statue struck by a stone? 12. Which disciple was called a rock? 13. In Revelation, what did the Spirit promise to the churches that would overcome? Send in your answers to the following Bible Trivia Questions and take a chance at winning a complimentary bible from the Community News Flash. Random drawing will be held monthly

Patterson Memorial Chapel 125 South Franklin Street Corinth, MS 38834 662-286-2200 Office

November Answers 1. Moses (Exodus 3:5) 2. John The Baptist (Matthew 3:11) 3. Abram told this to the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:23) 4. Ruth (4:7) 5. Edom -"Over Edom will I cast out my shoe" (Psalm 60:8) 6. Passover (Exodus 12:11) 7. Refusing to marry the widow of his deceased brother (Deuteronomy 25:9) 8. The shoes of the Hebrews who left Egypt, since they lasted for 40 years (Deuteronomy 29:5) 9. The disciples (Matthew 10:10) 10. The people of Gibeon (Joshua 9:5) 11. The Egyptian Sea (Isaiah 11:15) 12. Isaiah (20:2) 13. Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:10) 14. Ezekiel (24:17) 15. Amos (2:6) 16. Song of Solomon 17. Joshua (5:15) 18.The father of Prodigal Son (Luke 15:22) 19. Peter (Acts 12:8) 20. Isaiah (9:5)

December 2021

The Community News Flash

5 Ways to Protect Your Holiday Budget (StatePoint) It may be the season of cheer, but for many, the holidays are rife with anxiety about expenses. A recent survey shows that staying on budget is Americans’ top concern this holiday season, followed by incurring long-term debt, shipping costs and being charged late or hidden fees. Here are five tips to protect your holiday budget:

1. Set a spending cap with friends and family. Americans plan to spend $998 on gifts this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. ‘Tis the season for giving, but make sure you don’t overspend. Know your budget up front and communicate that with loved ones. Another idea to limit spending is to put everyone’s name into a hat. Each person draws one name and buys a gift for just the person they selected. You can add a bit of intrigue by keeping the identity of your TWINS....from page 1 recipient a secret until you open gifts! are planning to either go to Ole Miss or 2. Take advantage of deal days. Timing Tennessee State University," Kenyonia said, is everything for getting the best prices. with Tiyonia throwing in Jackson State as Do your homework in advance to pay siganother option. The two plan to own a pedinificantly less and wait for big sales days, atric clinic together in Nashville or Atlanta. such as Super Saturday before Christmas, which is great for last-minute Fun facts about twins gifts. 3. Purchase gift cards with 40% of twins invent their own languages. peace of mind. Gift cards are a Identical twins have different fingerprints. popular, convenient gift, but Twins can have completely different skin tone. some would-be buyers may hesitate to purchase them out Twins start interacting in the womb at 14 weeks. of fear that the business may Identical twins can develop different diseases. end up closing, especially It is possible for twins to have different dads.

P. O. Box 1292, Corinth MS. 38835

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those still struggling during the ongoing pandemic. Erie Insurance is taking away that concern with gift card reimbursement coverage, which is provided to certain eligible homeowners at no additional charge. The coverage provides reimbursement for up to $250 per gift card at local businesses within 100 miles of a customer’s home if the business permanently closes within a year after purchase. Reimbursement coverage is limited to $500 per policy period. 4. Track when products are discounted

with a browser extension. Do you want the best deals but don’t have the time to spend searching for them? There are extensions you can download on web browsers that will compare prices and even apply the best coupon codes at checkout. 5. Use credit card rewards. You’ve earned those points throughout the year and now is a great time to cash them in. The simplest way to use points is for gift cards, as it’s one of the top requested gifts and there are many categories to choose from, including restaurants, clothing and grocery stores. Another option is to take advantage of the money saved from a statement credit to cover the expense of Briana and Tae Buchanan holiday gifts. Being mindful of your spending now can help you have a lowstress holiday season and start the new year off on the right foot.

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December 2021

File of Life Can Save Lives Have you heard of the File of Life? I hadn’t, until a reader pointed it out to me. The File of Life can literally be a lifesaver in a medical emergency. A File of Life is a card that contains your medical and contact information in case of an emergency where you can’t speak for yourself. The card comes with a red plastic pocket that attaches by magnet to the refrigerator door and lists your name, emergency contact information, any allergies, current medications and dosages, any general health problems and your insurance information. If something happens and emergency help is required, valuable time can be lost while your hospital records are located or your contact person is found. Worse, you could inadvertently be given the wrong treatment — for example, a drug that you’re allergic to or an overdose of something you’re already taking — by those who are trying to save your life. All across the country, towns and counties are handing out File of Life information and instructing emergency medical responders to look for it at your refrigerator door before they begin treating you. Some areas also use a front-door sticker to alert emergency personnel that you have a File of Life card. Does your community use the File of Life? Check its Web site (www.folife.org) for more information. Besides the refrigerator file, there’s a miniature one for your wallet. Ask about the File of Life at the local senior center, or even call the Fire Department non-emergency number to ask. If they’re not aware of this valuable source for emergency information, give them the phone number for File of Life: 1-800-814-1788. Many communities buy them and give the cards to seniors free of charge. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

The Community News Flash

Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Prevention DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Why isn’t the cervical cancer vaccine given to women in their 30s and 40s? Also, please discuss Pap smears and the new and better Pap smear. Why is it better? — Anon. ANSWER: Gardasil, the new vaccine for prevention of papillomavirus infection — the cause of cervical cancer — is not as likely to be effective in preventing cervical cancer in women already infected with the papillomavirus. It works best before exposure to the virus. Therefore, the principal target is younger women, between the ages of 9 and 26, with girls of 11 and 12 being the ones chosen to be the concentrated focus of immunization. More studies are needed to ascertain the vaccine’s effectiveness in older women and in men. Doctor George Papanicolaou deserves the credit for saving the lives of an uncountable number of women through his work in devising the Pap smear for detection of cervical cancer. The standard Pap smear is still an excellent way to detect what was once a very common cancer. All women who have been sexually active for three years or who have turned 21 — whichever comes first — are strongly urged to begin having Pap smears. The “new” Pap smear is a new technique in processing cells taken from the cervix. (The cervix is the necklike projection of the uterus; it juts into the vagina.) The technique is called liquid-based cytology, “cytology” being the microscopic study of cells. The

sample cervical cells are suspended in liquid and then spun in a centrifuge. The cells collect at the bottom of the centrifuge tube and are more plentiful than cells put directly on a slide after obtaining them from the cervix. The sensitivity of this test — its ability to detect abnormal cervical cells — is increased over the standard test. That’s not to say that the standard test is not good or reliable. The booklet on cervical cancer and Pap smears provides details on both subjects. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 1102W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My mom, 86, is fine in most respects, but she makes too much saliva. It drips out of her mouth when she eats. She’s a very fastidious woman, and this bothers her to no end. She has to use a napkin after every bite. Is there a medicine that can turn off the flow? — C.N. ANSWER: First, find out if your mother is making too much saliva or if she’s having a swallowing problem. Swallowing problems require a different solution. Medicines can dry the mouth. They often have such unpleasant side effects that people don’t like to use them. The scopolamine skin patch can dry the mouth. It’s a prescription medicine, and the doctor has to judge whether it’s safe for her. In extreme cases of too much saliva, an ear, nose and throat doctor can tie off some or many of the ducts that lead from the salivary glands to the mouth. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. © 2007 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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The Community News Flash

December 2021

MONEY

How to Break Your Family’s Money Talk Taboo (StatePoint) Do you and your family regularly discuss money matters or do you shy away from the subject? Experts note that money talk taboos are common among American families and that this needs to change. “For many families, money is a topic we don’t openly discuss. But by avoiding these discussions, we’re inhibiting information flow around the best use of money,” says Michael Liersch, head of Advice and Planning for Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division. Liersch, who is a behavioral scientist and currently leads a team at Wells Fargo & Company responsible for developing research-based methods to help advisors and clients collaborate around money decisions, is hosting a new podcast. “About Money” focuses on breaking the money talk taboo and offers practical advice for having productive conversations about financial decision-making. According to Liersch, here are a few ways some families view conversations around money: • It’s just gauche. It can make people feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or bad, so don’t do it. • It can disrupt harmony and spur arguments because ultimately, it’s airing dirty laundry, revisiting bad decisions or revealing serious personality conflicts around spending, saving and investing. • It can reveal different reference points. For example, someone with more money can make those with less feel bad about themselves. • It can make those without a lot of knowledge feel exposed by what they don’t know and those with a lot of knowledge feel like a know-it-all.

Whatever your family’s reasons for dodging dollars and cents around the dinner table, Liersch offers these tips for starting the conversation: 1. Write down your responses to the following questions. What’s the number one thing you want money to do for you? Do you feel you have enough -just enough, more than enough, or not enough -- to get that job done? What’s holding you back from getting the job done? What could you do to make sure that it does? Who do you need to talk to or what resources do you need? 2. Store these answers in a secure, handy location. 3. Have conversations with those that may be impacted by the conclusions reached, such as your partner, children and parents, and then collaborate with them on next steps. 4. Set aside time regularly to focus on this information and to take incremental steps toward making your money work for you. For more insights, download the 10-episode “About Money” podcast on Spotify by visiting conversations.wf.com. To learn more, visit lifescapes.wellsfargoadvisors.com. “No one is born with the knowledge of how to use money. It’s an abstract concept -- like

language. And like language, if you wait too long to learn it, you’ll never master becoming a native speaker,” says Liersch. “Today, as I sit around the kitchen table with my family, all topics are fair game, including those money-related topics that used to be taboo.” This advertisement was provided by Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management. Investment and Insurance Products are: • Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency • Not a deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate • Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested Wealth & Investment Management offers financial products and services through bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. Bank products and services are available through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Brokerage products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors, a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, separate registered broker-dealer and nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

700 Taylor Street

December 2021

The Community News Flash

God puts CNAs in right place at right time low traveling CNAs worked hard to provide the needed assistance. By Lucy Weber "It is a nice facility with friendly people who showed us nice hospiIt takes a special person to care for others, even more so to provide those medical tality and welcomed us as traveling CNAs," she said. "That facility skills on the road, away from home, for weeks at a time. was in need of our help. We came in working double shifts, 3 p.m. to Sarah Hartfield is one of the many of God's angels during 7 a.m. for a month but God took care of the residents." this almost two years of dealing with Covid 19 to take on that CNAs provide hands-on skills, and that was obvious after Covid responsibility. first hit, Hartfield said. Hartfield is a traveling certified nursing assistant who "We care and take care of patients in long-term care travels to different places on assignments to facilities and during the pandemic I was working in work with patients in need. Contracts can last Kentucky. It was bad and also sad because I worked four to six weeks sometimes or even up to 13 on that front line of caring for patients who had weeks away from home. The Pascagoula resiCovid 19," she said. dent recently finished a month-long job in Iuka, Hartfield said she believes in the God-given working at Tishomingo Manor with two other skills she provides and that knowledge brought traveling CNAs. peace when dealing with the unknown pandem"Sometimes you meet other travelers on your ic at first. "I didn't think for a moment I can't do journey doing the same thing," she said, which this." makes the journey more enjoyable. "I love what I do as a traveling CNA. You go The work is usually long and tiring, but where there are needs for your love and compasrewarding at the same time. Hartfield said God sion. It's a gift from God," she said. "We don't makes sure that she meets good people in her get recognized or get the pay we deserve when othtravels who ensure that she's in the right place at ers get it, but we keep on doing our best and giving the right time. our best." "I know God had a plan. God places you in "Being a traveling CNA or caregiver is all tied places to let you know he hasn't forgotten you together as God's angels out doing His work," she said. and He never will," Hartfield said. Hartfield is now back home in Pascagoula, working Hartfield said she enjoyed her work at one-on-one with a patient. Tishomingo Manor and believes that she and her felRegina Jones, Sarah Hartfield and Janice Lumpkins

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The Community News Flash

Caring for others is a job for trained CNAs By Lucy Weber With her big heart, Janonia Crayton loves caring for others. For Crayton, a certified nursing assistant, it's all about those in her care at Whitfield Nursing Home in Corinth. "It's my residents, taking care of people who can't take care of themselves," she said. "I love being there for them. I try to put a smile on their faces," the mother of two said. Crayton got into nursing 10 years ago inspired by her grandmother. "The love I had for her is why I'm in nursing. We took care of her at home instead of putting her in a nursing home." After two and a half years at the nursing home that only has about 25 residents, Crayton said she has a special relationship with each one. "You get to know every one of them. They're my babies so I try to do right by them. "Some of them don't have anybody else. I love to joke around with them. Residents say I always have a smile on my face." Always a people person, Crayton said she appreciates that she can spend one-on-one time with every resident even though she only works parttime on the afternoon-evening shift. "It's being there for them." Crayton said she is grateful that she got her CNA certificate through Northeast Community College in 2001. Certified nursing assistants have a special role in patients' health care, she said. "We

know the residents better. We tell the other nurses what's going with our residents." A giving person, Crayton also works full time as an assistant working with special needs students at Corinth Middle School. In that job, she is able to share her CNA skills. The Corinth native has two daughters, ages 11 and 16. Despite a busy schedule with two jobs, Crayton said she makes sure to keep her weekends free for spending time with her daughters. They like to travel to Tupelo and Memphis for different activities. The three of them like to shop, bowl, go to the movies and skate. After seeing her mother's love for helping others, Crayton's oldest daughter said she wants to become a pediatrician. Crayton said she would like to continue in her nursing education. "I'm considering going back to school to become Janonia Crayton an LPN and ultimately a registered nurse."

December 2021

The Community News Flash

Barton offers compassion to patients in need

By Lucy Weber Christy Barton brings comfort and peace to patients facing difficult journeys. As a certified nursing assistant, Barton is on the front lines working with patients facing the end of life in hospice. Out of her 20 years as a CNA, she chose to work in hospice care about 11 years ago because "working at the nursing home wasn't enough." "In hospice we do a lot more care work with the patient one-on-one," said the mother of three. "I try to uplift them. We take care of them. We prepare them for death. Before I took this job, people asked if I could handle death. If I'm going to die one day, I want to face it." Barton said her mother died at age 42, and after working in hospice care she signed her father up for hospice a month before he died. Working for Legacy Hospice, Barton travels to patients' homes, about five to six a day spending time with them, tending to them and working with their families. Barton can bring smiles and laughter to the patients and families if she thinks that

patients, and once or twice a year I want is what they need. "Some days, I will to quit because someone has died." bring it. I have their whole family "When you see a patient who laughing. I say 'Let me tell you doesn't have anybody with them, something about my family.' I tell you'll go that extra mile for them." them all kinds of crazy stories Working in hospice has emphasized about me and my siblings and Barton's outlook on life that she shares crack them up. with her patients: "Life is too short. "I like to make them You need to focus on God and laugh because the situalive life to the fullest." tion can be depressing." "I tell patients I know someWith other patients, one who hasn't lived their she said laughter is life," she said. "They don't not the answer. know I'm talking about my "Some I have to be son. In a way, my son premore respectful. pared me for this job. I've They never see been where they're at, the my funny side. daughter, the mother." When I walk in, I Barton's oldest son is can tell what kind of 25 and has special conversation they needs. He has been need." blind since age 8 and Barton said she sucsuffers from a rare conceeds the majority of the dition that has left him nontime in not taking her verbal and now in a wheelwork home. "I learned that chair at home. "I have at the nursing home, but Christy Barton always treated him like I get attached to my

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his brothers," she said, referring to her 21year-old in college in Illinois and her 16year-old. History of CNAs •The first certified nursing assistants worked during World War I. •The American Red Cross established the first CNA organization, which was known as the Volunteer Nurses' Aide Service. •National Nursing Assistants week has been celebrated during the month of June since 1977. •The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987 encouraged the hiring of CNAs in Medicaid and Medicare-approved medical facilities all across the country. •By becoming a certified nursing assistant, you will have a much better chance of being accepted into an LPN, LVN or RN program. •Some LPN and LVN programs require students to possess CNA certification.

December 2021

The Community News Flash

The Corinth Boys & Girls Club presented a Celebration of Thanks Meal on Thanksgiving meal for the members and the community.

Steve Hill

Stacy Brooks

Quimora & Qenyour Green and Nicole Barton

Javarious Short and Kai Stafford

Franswar & Jasmica Wade

Janice Luster

Tony Dixon & Willie B. Spears

Mildred Gibson & Jacob Scruggs

Jonathan McGee

K.J. & Kera Edgeston and Marissa Stafford

Javian Young

December 2021

The Community News Flash

NEWS FLASH

Kids Zone

December 2021

The Community News Flash

Holiday Gifts From the Kitchen

Whether the economy is up or down, gifts from the kitchen are easy and inexpensive to make, and are always welcome during the holidays. Sachets and potpourri make beautiful and aromatic Christmas gifts. Sachets can made of a variety of herbs or potpourri and are simple to make. The bath sachets may be placed directly into the tub or tied to the faucet so that the hot water passes through the herbal mixture as the bath is drawn. Sachet bags also may be placed inside clothes drawers, tucked into the corners of couches or armchairs, or placed inside of closets. Any number of creative

combinations may be used to make potpourri. Spices, flowers, essential oils, your favorite perfume, dried herbs and citrus peels all make a wonderful potpourri. Using a fixative -- such as tincture of benzoin, styrax, orris root or muskene -- will extend the life of the perfume and ingredients. Most fixatives can be purchased at craft stores. Remember, gifts from the heart are part of the true meaning of Christmas. These easy-to-make recipes for bath sachets, potpourri and rubbing lotion will be fragrant reminders long after the holiday season is over. BATH SACHETS 2 cups dried herbs (lavender, sage, rosemary, pennyroyal, lemon verbena, camomile, thyme or mint -alone or in any combination) 8 (4-inch) squares of

cheesecloth or cotton (8 small handkerchiefs work well) 8 (12-inch) lengths of ribbon or lace Place the herbs in a plastic bag. Roll a rolling pin back and forth over the herbs until they are slightly crushed. Place 1/4 cup of the dried herbs in the center of the cloth square. Gather the square in a pouf and knot a piece of ribbon or lace around the neck of the pouf

to secure the herbs. Make ribbon or lace into a bow, leaving the ends long enough to tie the bath sachet to a faucet. Makes 8 bath sachets. ROSE PETAL POTPOURRI 3 cups dried rose petals 2 cups dried lavender 1 cup dried lemon verbena 1 tablespoon dried lemon peel 1 tablespoon allspice 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon cloves

1 1/2 tablespoons orris root In a large jar, combine the rose petals and lavender. In a medium bowl, mix together the lemon verbena, lemon peel, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and orris root. Pour the lemon mixture into the jar containing the rose petals and lavender. Cover jar tightly and shake ingredients. Let potpourri stand for 3 to 4 weeks, shaking mixture frequently to combine the scents. Makes 6 cups. HERBAL RUBBING LOTION This is refreshing herbal lotion is a wonderful pickme-up for sore muscles and tired minds at the end of a long day. The herbs also give the rubbing alcohol a pleasant fragrance. The herbs may be obtained from nurseries or grocery stores.

1 cup fresh lavender leaves 1/4 cup lemon verbena 1/4 cup mint leaves 1/4 cup rosemary sprigs 2 cups unscented rubbing alcohol Place the herbs in a plastic bag. Roll a rolling pin back and forth over the herbs until they are slightly crushed. Place herbs in a glass jar that has been sterilized by boiling. Add the rubbing alcohol. Cover tightly and label the jar NOT TO BE USED INTERNALLY. Set aside in a cool, dry place for 5 to 7 days. Strain the alcohol through several layers of cheesecloth into pretty jars or bottles. Cap tightly and label bottles or jars, NOT TO BE USED INTERNALLY. Makes 2 cups rubbing lotion.

December 2021

The Community News Flash

By Samantha Weaver

• On sale in December: Candles, after-holiday sales on decorations and gift wrap. Also, smart shoppers are on the lookout for loss leaders — items that are marked below cost in order to get you into the store to buy higherpriced items. If you have the willpower, you can save a bunch of money in December. • “Whenever I have overnight guests for the holidays, I get a lot of compliments on the small touches I make for them, such as a mini coffeemaker in the room, and a guest basket with toiletries and such. But the one thing that every single person raves about is the white-noise machine by the bed. It’s essential for me, and my guests just love it!” — Happy Hanukkah from Florida • “If you have a picture frame that just won’t stay straight, cut the eraser tip off a pencil and glue the flat (not the domed) side to the back of your frame at the bottom. Use one on either corner for stubborn frames. Then rehang. The erasers keep the frame from slipping to either side. It works great.” — R.I. in California • “We make a large poster-board tracker for holiday events and appointments. We hang it on the inside of the front door. It’s basically a large monthly calendar, but it helps the whole family stay on the same page about our schedule, and having it right at the door forces us all to look at it many times a day.” — B.T. in Oregon • If you have a table that’s wobbly because of an uneven leg, and you are a wine drinker, you are in luck. Take one wine cork, cut it in small slices and glue the slices to the uneven leg until the table no longer wobbles. Easy! Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or e-mail JoAnn at heresatip@yahoo.com.

• In Japan in 2000, a survey was conducted to determine what the Japanese people thought was their best invention of 20th century. With their history of technological innovation, you might think they would come up with something robotic, or perhaps one of the numerous Japanese cars that now cruise on roads all over the world. But you’d be wrong. The respondents decided that Japan’s best invention of the past 100 years was ramen noodles — and starving college students probably wouldn’t disagree. Runners-up in the survey were karaoke and the Sony Walkman. • Our nation’s first president, George Washington, received an annual salary of $25,000. • It was author Cecilia Bartholomew who made the following observation about the practice of her craft: “Writers have two main problems. One is writer’s block, when the words won’t come at all, and the other is logorrhea, when the words come so fast that they can hardly get in the wastebasket in time.” • It’s been reported that country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson believes he’s had numerous previous lives, including at least one as a Native American. • If you’re planning a trip to Seattle next summer, try to go in early July so you can catch the annual Milk Carton Derby. Yep, I said Milk Carton Derby. Every year, participants design and build boats entirely out of milk cartons, then race them on Green Lake, competing for $10,000 in prizes. • If you’ve ever worn a tuxedo, you know what a cummerbund is, but you probably don’t know the origin of the word. It comes from a Hindi word meaning “waistband.” *** Thought for the Day: “No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather.” — Michael Pritchard

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December 2021

The Community News Flash

Facing Financial Hardship? Tips to Avoid Foreclosure (StatePoint) Life’s unexpected challenges can make meeting monthly mortgage payments difficult. The good news? Help is available to avoid foreclosure. Indeed, Freddie Mac has completed more than 255,000 foreclosure prevention actions in 2021, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Whether you’re currently behind on payments or foresee trouble ahead, Freddie Mac advises taking the following steps as quickly as possible to get back on track: Assess Your Situation Whether it’s due to unemployment, illness, natural disaster or other reasons, identifying the cause of your financial hardship and anticipating its duration are important. These factors can help determine the best solution for you. (A shortterm hardship is over within 12 months. A long-term hardship extends beyond 12 months.) Contact Your Servicer Your servicer — the company where you send mortgage payments — is your best resource throughout the process. They will provide you with the available mortgage relief options based on your particular situation, which typically begins with being placed in a temporary forbearance program. Remember, your servicer is there to help. If you think you’re going to have trouble paying your mortgage, don’t wait. Call them immediately! And if you’re already behind on your mortgage or currently in a workout option, respond to their outreach efforts to keep an open dialogue going throughout the process. Know Your Options No matter where you stand, there are solutions. Here are some to consider: • Forbearance is an agreement between you and your loan servicer that either pauses or reduces monthly mortgage payments for a limited time. Consider forbearance if you’re currently unable to make payments but think you’ll be able to resume soon. • With payment deferral, missed mortgage payments move to the end of your loan term, but your monthly mortgage payment amount stays the same. Consider payment deferral if your hardship is resolved but you’re unable to repay missed mortgage payments as a lump sum or by increasing monthly payments. Freddie Mac Flex Modification, for example, provides up to a 20% mortgage pay-

Christmas Fruit Drops

by Healthy Exchanges (c) Ridofranz / iStock via Getty Images Plus

ment reduction that permanently changes one or more of the original terms of your mortgage, such as the interest rate and mortgage term. Ask your loan servicer whether this may be an option for you. • A repayment plan increases mortgage payments for a short period to make up for missed payments. Plans must be longer than one month but no longer than 12 months. Consider this option if you can afford your regular monthly payment, plus a little more, for a short period. • With partial reinstatement, you pay a portion of missed mortgage payments as a lump sum. To pay off the rest, your loan servicer works with you to create a repayment plan. • With full reinstatement, you pay the total owed mortgage payments as a lump sum, making your mortgage current. This is a good choice if you can afford it. • Refinancing your mortgage lowers your interest rate or replaces an adjustable-rate mortgage with a more affordable fixed-rate mortgage. This is a good choice if you’re current on payments but would benefit from reduced payments in the future. This year, more than 600,000 homeowners with a Freddie Mac-backed mortgage refinanced into a more affordable loan. • COVID-19 relief is offered by many loan servicers to those struggling due to the pandemic. • Of course, if homeownership is no longer affordable or desirable, there are options too. Short sale and deed-in-lieu, for example, can help you exit your home without facing the costs associated with foreclosure. For more homeowner resources, visit My Home by Freddie Mac at myhome.freddiemac.com. If you’re struggling to make mortgage payments, take action quickly. Doing so can help you prevent foreclosure and stay in your home.

Bacon and Potato Deluxe Looking for a dish to take to a holiday potluck. This one is sure to be a winner on any buffet. 1/4 cup chopped green onion 4 eggs, beaten, or equivalent in egg substitute 3 cups frozen loose-packed shredded hash brown potatoes 1/4 cup Oscar Mayer or Hormel Real Bacon Bits 3/4 cup shredded Kraft 2 Percent Milk Sharp Cheddar cheese 1/3 cup Land O Lakes Fat-Free Half & Half 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 8-by8-inch baking dish with butter-flavored cooking spray. Cook onion in a small skillet sprayed with butter-flavored cooking spray over medium heat until onion is tender, stirring often. In a large bowl, combine eggs, potatoes, bacon bits, Cheddar cheese, half and half and black pepper. Add onion. Mix well to combine. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Place baking dish on a wire rack and let set for 5 minutes. Divide into 6 servings. HINT: Mr. Dell’s shredded potatoes work great, or raw shredded potatoes, rinsed and patted dry, may be used in place of frozen potatoes. • Each serving equals: 208 calories, 12g fat, 11g protein, 14g carb., 241mg sodium, 156mg calcium, 1g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Meat, 1 Starch; Carb Choices: 1. Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexchanges.com or call toll-free at 1-800-766-8961 for more information about its “common folk” healthy recipes.

The perfect holiday sweets for an old-fashioned swap with friends. COOK: 10 minutes MAKES: 6 dozen cookies 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 large eggs 2 cups toasted rice cereal 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped 1/2 cups red candied cherries, coarsely chopped 1/2 cups green candied cherries, coarsely chopped 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease large cookie sheet. 2. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugars until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Beat in vanilla, then eggs, 1 at a time. At low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until blended, occasionally scraping bowl. With spoon, stir in cereal, walnuts, cherries and 1 cup chocolate chips. 3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons, 1 inch apart, onto cookie sheet. Bake cookies 10 to 11 minutes or until golden. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. 4. Place remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips in small microwave-safebowl; heat in microwave on Medium (50 percent power) about 2 minutes or until chocolate melts, stirring once. Stir until smooth. Place cookies on waxed paper; drizzle with melted chocolate. When chocolate is set, store cookies, with waxed paper between layers, in tightly covered container at room temperature up to 1 week, or in freezer up to 3 months. • Each serving: 100 calories, 6g total fat (2g saturated), 17 mg cholesterol,80 mg sodium, 12g carb., 1g protein.

1. ANIMAL KINGDOM: By what other name are a cat’s whiskers known? 2. GEOGRAPHY: Where can the Acropolis be found? 3. HISTORY: What was the Intifada? 4. MEDICINE: What is scoliosis? 5. MUSIC: In what century did the Gregorian chant arise? 6. MOVIES: What was the name of Gary Cooper’s character in “High Noon”? 7. ANIMAL ENTERTAINERS: What kind of horse was Trigger, Roy Roger’s trusty steed? 8. SCIENCE: What metal is liquid at room temperature? 9. ANATOMY: Where is the medulla oblongata located? 10. LITERATURE: Who created the “Tom Swift” series of novels? Answers 1. Vibrissae 2. Athens 3. Palestinian uprising of 1987 4. Curvature of the spine 5. Late ninth century 6. Will Kane 7. Golden palomino 8. Mercury 9. Lower part of the brain stem 10. Edward Stratemeyer

1. Who was the last Texas Ranger to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award? 2. Name the player who caught the most major-league games in 2007. 3. Entering 2007, who was the head coach the last time Alabama won the Southeastern Conference Championship in football? 4. When was the last time before 2006 that the NBA Finals featured two teams playing in the finals for the first time? 5. Three players each tallied their 600th career goal during the 2006-07 NHL season. Name them. 6. Name the final four men’s soccer teams in the 2006 World Cup. 7. How many gold medals did the U.S. win in boxing at the 2004 Olympics? Answers 1. First baseman Mike Hargrove in 1974. 2. Russell Martin caught 145 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007. 3. Mike DuBose in 1999. 4. It was 1971, when the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Baltimore Bullets, 4-0. 5. Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic and Brendan Shanahan. 6. France, Germany, Italy and Portugal, with Italy the champion. 7. One — Andre Ward won the light heavyweight gold medal.

December 2021

The Community News Flash

Struggling to Pay Rent? What You Can Do to Stay in Your Home

(StatePoint) Millions of Americans who have faced income loss and illness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are struggling to meet basic expenses, including rent. Recent statistics show that more than 15 million people nationwide live in households that are behind on their rental payments. As federal rental protection ends, these individuals and families are at risk of eviction, according to the Aspen Institute. “The economic fallout from the pandemic is causing housing instability for far too many renters, including people of color disproportionately affected by this crisis,” says Eileen Fitzgerald, head of housing affordability philanthropy with Wells Fargo. Struggling to pay rent? Fitzgerald offers four actions to take: 1. Talk to your landlord. If you can’t pay rent on time, see if your landlord can work out a payment plan, accept a partial payment or push the due date back a few days. 2. Seek emergency assistance. Those unable to pay rent or utilities may be able to access rental assistance through the U.S. Department

of Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. To find assistance in your area, visit home.treasury.gov and search “rental assistance.” 3. Get legal help. If you’re worried about eviction, talk with a lawyer experienced in eviction processes in your state. Many organizations offer free or low-cost legal counsel to fight eviction. To find links to trusted legal assistance in your area, visit americanbar.org and search for “free legal help.” 4. Contact a housing counselor. Housing counselors don’t just work with homeowners. They can help renters in need of assistance, too. During the pandemic, housing counselors have helped renters access emergency rental assistance, understand options for rental relief and eviction protection, as well as have advised on debt management and other money matters. Find a housing counselor by visiting hud.gov/findacounselor. Help for Renters As part of its efforts to help people stay in their homes, Wells Fargo is supporting initiatives nationwide that mitigate evictions. Earlier in 2021, Wells

Fargo gave a $4 million grant to The National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Housing Partnership Network to launch the Renter Advantage program. Renter Advantage enables credit counselors and nonprofit rental property owners to work directly with renters to preserve their housing status and stabilize their financial situation. Through the program, credit counselors provide renters in need of assistance with trusted guidance, including enrolling them in plans to address sustainable rent repayment, debt management and improving long-term financial health. Legal representation can make all the difference. A Harvard study shows that twothirds of tenants with legal representation are more likely to avoid an eviction judgment and remain in their home. Harvard researchers also found an estimated 90% of landlords have legal representation, while only 10% of tenants do, putting tenants at a significant disadvantage. This is why Wells Fargo has provided more than $8 million in grants to legal assistance organizations helping keep people housed. People of color, particularly Black and Hispanic tenants, represent 80% of people at risk of eviction, according to the Aspen Institute. Wells Fargo grants are helping close the housing equity gap. “As the pandemic continues to take its toll on Americans’ physical and economic health, connecting people at risk of eviction with resources and options is critical,” says Fitzgerald. “Having a safe, affordable place to call home helps lay the foundation for wellness, dignity, and economic opportunity.”

The Community News Flash

December 2021

HOLIDAY SEASON

5 Tips to Prep Your Home for Holiday Guests

(StatePoint) Cooler temperatures, outings to the Christmas tree farm, game nights and holiday feasts. Now that the holiday season is here, it’s time to prep your home for seasonal fun! Whether you’re hosting a big or small group of family and friends this holiday season, decorating and decluttering around the house can make party prep easier and more enjoyable for everyone. With that in mind, here are some top tips to create functional and stylish spaces that are easy to keep clean and tidy throughout the festivities. Delightful décor. Make any room feel warm and welcoming with EasyLiner Removable Adhesive Shelf Liner by Duck Brand. Decorating with laminate is an affordable way to add pops of color to a kitchen backsplash, reading nook or old side table. Choose a print that matches your style and easily stick the laminate to smooth, flat surfaces for a fresh new look that will wow your guests. Mudroom without messy floors. Preparing an area near your entryway for bags and shoes is a must when expecting visitors. If you have a bench with storage, add machine-washable liner to the cubby to keep shelves clean and dry. Placing liner by the entrance of your home will also offer extra space to store muddy or wet shoes and stop salt and snow from tracking in the house. When guests leave, toss the

liner in the wash and reuse. Spotless spaces for kids. All holiday gatherings need a space for kids to have fun and play together. While setting up for arts and crafts, line the table with a clear, textured liner to prevent crayons, markers or glue from damaging surfaces. When it’s time to clean up, simply wipe the liner or toss it in the dishwasher. Get your guest room ready. If you have family staying overnight, it’s time to get your guest room in shape. Dress up drawers and closet shelves with Smooth Top EasyLiner. The grip bottom will keep the liner and items in place. Trendy patterns will elevate your home décor and guests will appreciate how clean and homey the space feels during their stay. Bathroom basics. Once you’re done prepping the guest room, don’t forget about the guest bathroom. Keep styling stations and the bath clean and tidy with shelf liner and a bath mat. Duck Brand offers a variety of cushioned, machinewashable bath and shower mats for extra comfort and safety. The Clorox mat is also designed to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the mat. Making these small updates around the house now will keep your most-used spaces clean and tidy to ensure family and friends are comfortable and happy over the holidays.