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FOR MEMBERS OF SOUTHERN PINE ELECTRIC

PICTURE THIS:

PICAYUNE’S

ECOLOGICAL PARADISE JANUARY 2022

MISSISSIPPI IN THE

GREAT DEPRESSION

A TALE OF TWO

PO’ BOYS

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picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it

Working for us, year after year

Welcome to 2022. I hope you and your family had a great holiday season and are ready for the new year. January at Today in Mississippi is the time we put together our legislative issue. We like the issue to coincide with the beginning of the new year’s legislative session, which begins in early January. Our legislators — the duly elected public servants that we send to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the state capitol in Jackson — are the folks who represent us at the highest levels of government. Because they represent you and me, and their jobs are so important to our communities, we want to make sure you know who they are. Turn to the local pages in the middle of the magazine to see the names and photos of your lawmakers. Never forget: our legislators are our friends and advocates. They work and ﬁght for us. Our government relations team stays in close contact with them while they monitor state and national legislation that affects the electric power industry. Not coincidentally, lawmakers, representation and democracy are at the heart of our January cover story. We interviewed Meridian author Richelle Putnam about her new book, “Images of America: Mississippi in the Great Depression.” In the early 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mississippi politicians such as U.S. Sen. Pat Harrison and U.S. Rep. John Rankin worked to bring power to rural Mississippi — an action that

transformed our way of life. That electric cooperative history is part of our Great Depression cover story and a reminder that legislators in Jackson and Washington, D.C. continue to play a crucial and vital role in our daily lives and the future of electric cooperatives and the power industry. On a different note, some of you should be on the lookout this month for a reader survey. We periodically seek ofﬁcial feedback on the magazine — what you like, what you don’t, and how we can do better. This year, the survey is going out to a set of readers — picked at random electronically — by mail and email. I hope you take a few minutes to respond to the survey, so we can make sure Today in Mississippi remains one of your favorite publications. Also, this issue will be the last for longtime Today in Mississippi and Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi graphic artist Rickey McMillian. Rickey has worked with us for 21 years. Rickey is leaving us for a well-deserved retirement. We will miss his professionalism, hard work, and good humor. Thanks again for reading, being part of our electric cooperative community, and we wish everyone a terriﬁc 2022.

by Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Riding off into the sunset Longtime Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Graphic Designer Rickey McMillan has moved on to the next phase of his life. Following 21 years of professional and exemplary service, Rickey has retired. A key player in the creativity and hard work that makes Today in Mississippi a special statewide publication, to say Rickey will be missed by the co-op community is an understatement. Ron Stewart, senior vice president of communications, has worked with Rickey for his entire time at ECM and known him ever longer. “He’s more of a friend than a co-worker. I’ve known Rickey since childhood as we were involved in the same church in the 1970s. We lost touch, so I was happy to get reconnected when he applied for a job in 2000,” Ron said. “He’s very talented and has been a dedicated and loyal employee. He totally understands the cooperative network and served as an outstanding member of our electric cooperative family. He played a vital role in the success of Today in Mississippi and his willingness to put in extra time and effort to help us meet deadlines has demonstrated his commitment to excellence. Thanks for being such a valuable member to our team.” Following stints as the marketing director of the Metro Center Mall in Jackson, advertising manager at Gayfers, and fashion illustrator at McRae’s, Rickey came to the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi to work as a graphic artist in 2000. A stellar graphic artist and editorial page and advertisement designer, Rickey’s skills stretched into the world of video. In 2014, Rickey won two separate awards for his work on a 75th anniversary video for Singing River Electric. One of those awards came from the Southern Public Relations Federation and the other from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi. Rickey said he’s going to miss working at ECM because of the people. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it really is like a family here. I’m going to miss being with everybody. But I just think it’s time,” Rickey said. Rickey’s retirement will include time spent playing guitar (which he’s done since he was 13), ﬁshing and watercolor painting. Rickey is also looking forward to spending more time with his family. Rickey is married to Harriet McMillan. The couple has three children: Rachel, Daniel, and Rebecca as well as one 16-year-old grandson, Andrew. “This never felt like work. I always enjoyed the job and I will miss it,” Rickey said.

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 3

in this issue

5 southern gardening It’s time for winter vegetables

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

9 outdoors today Everyone has a beginning, and an ending

12 local news 16 feature

A look at the Great Depression in Mississippi and the origin of co-ops

22 22

picture this Readers sent us photos of Mississippi churches

24 on the menu

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Vol. 75 No. 1

OFFICERS Eddie Howard - President Randy Carroll - First Vice President Ron Barnes - Second Vice President Tim Perkins - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Ron Stewart - Senior Vice President Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Rickey McMillan - Graphic Designer Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Alan Burnitt - Graphic Designer Courtney Warren - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Member Services Coordinator EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600

Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s electric power associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181

Circulation of this issue: 491,080

Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year. Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published 12 times a year by Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Inc., P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Phone 601-605-8600. Periodical postage paid at Ridgeland, MS, and additional office. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to: Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300

A tale of two shrimp po’ boys

27 mississippi seen

www.facebook.com/TodayinMississippi www.todayinmississippi.com

Pearl Harbor history in Mississippi

On the cover 27

Ora Baptist Church in Collins. This submitted photo was part of this month’s Picture This feature, Places of Worship. The photo was taken by Southern Pine Electric member Rhonda Wade of Collins.

READER SURVEY NOTICE Today in Mississippi is conducting a readership survey this month, so please be aware that you may receive the survey in the mail or by email. The survey gives you an opportunity to give us feedback on the job we’re doing. It’s always our goal to deliver a quality publication ﬁlled with content that is timely, informative and — most of all — of interest to you!

4 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

Plant cole crops now for This red cabbage is in the same family as broccoli, kale, and other cole crops. It grows in winter gardens after summer crops succumb to freezing weather.

I never have to worry about my plants having wet feet. Even though I still have tomatoes and peppers producing While we want good soil drainage, we can’t let the plants dry in my home garden, I know these summer vegetables are on out. These plants need consistent soil moisture to be productive. borrowed time. It’s the time of year to appreciate the great We’re likely to have droughty weather during the winter months cool-season vegetables we can grow. in Mississippi. In my Ocean Springs garden, we received less than From broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and collards to cabbage and 2 inches of rain in November. Brussels sprouts, these vegetables are commonly called crucifWinter cold can rapidly deplete soil moisture. Apply mulch erous or cole crops. I think they are delicious, especially after to help retain moisture, but be prepared to water as needed. a freeze takes out my tomatoes and peppers. And here’s a heads up: After The variety of shapes, sizes, and watering, don’t leave the hose colors within this group of attached to the spigot. Freezing vegetables is amazing. But what is temperatures can burst pipes even more amazing is that these pretty quickly. vegetables are all closely related For best growth of cruciferous genetically. In fact, they have a vegetables, do not neglect common ancestor. fertilizing the plants. Wild cabbage is a little plant These vegetables are heavy from the region around the feeders all through the winter Mediterranean. Because of its crop season. I like to add slownutritious foliage, farmers grew release fertilizer at transplanting and domesticated selected plants to get the plants off to a great based on their desired traits. Broccoli performs well in winter gardens. It is part of the Brassica oleracea family start. Then I use a water-soluble Over many, many thousands domesticated for what are actually flowers. fertilizer on a monthly schedule of years, we have developed to keep the plants healthy and growing strong. leafy versions — kale and collards; buds — cabbage and Brussels Now is the time to pick up some transplants at your favorite sprouts; and flowers — broccoli and cauliflower. independent garden center. Follow these tips to enjoy nutritious As a group, they’re known botanically as Brassica oleracea, and and tasty vegetables all through the winter gardening season. each has its own varietal designation: broccoli, B. oleracea var. italica; cauliflower, B. oleracea var. botrytis; kale, B. oleracea var. sabellica; collards, B. oleracea var. viridis; cabbage, B. oleracea var. capitata; and Brussels sprouts, B. oleracea var. gemmifera. Because these vegetables are so closely related, they have similar growing needs and conditions. by Dr. Gary The first is they don’t like wet feet. Like so many of our landBachman scape and garden plants in Mississippi, good soil drainage is a must. Raised beds are a great choice for good drainage, and Gary Bachman, Ph.D., Extension/Research Professor of Horticulture at adding composted materials creates an optimum planting bed. the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in I really like growing these plants in containers because of the Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern Gardening” radio and TV programs. He lives in Ocean Springs and is a Singing River Electric member. superior growing media available that allows for good drainage. JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 5

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scene around the ‘sip

Crosby Arboretum: An ecological paradise in our backyard by Steven Ward There are so many places to visit and “see the sights” in Mississippi that, sometimes, both tourists and locals need a reminder of all the hidden gems just waiting for discovery or rediscovery. One of those gems sits on 64 acres in Picayune near Interstate 59. The Crosby Arboretum is a public garden owned by Mississippi State University and operated by the MSU Extension Service and is a unit of the Coastal Research and Extension Center. The site offers both recreational and educational opportunities and is dedicated to educating the public about their environment as well as serving as a scientific and educational organization that documents and shares information about nature to the public. The Arboretum manages acreage in seven associated natural areas and supports over 300 species of plants. The Crosby site functions as a celebration of local native flora. The Arboretum’s mission is to preserve, protect, and display plants native to the Pearl River Drainage Basin ecosystem. The American Society of Landscape Architects awarded the site an ASLA award in 1991 calling it the “first fully realized ecological garden in the U.S.” “Many times we’ve heard our visitors say, ‘I’ve always known you were here, but I never stopped in.’ Or, ‘I wish I had come 20 years ago, so I could have been enjoying it all this time.’ Visits to the Arboretum are much like peeling back the layers of an onion. No two days are alike. New creatures, blooms, and experiences are always waiting for you just around the

bend in the path,” Arboretum Director Pat Drackett said. One of the highlights of the site is the award-winning Pinecote Pavilion designed by architect E. Fay Jones of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The structure received an Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects in 1990 and was recognized by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as a Mississippi Landmark. Some of the more recent visitor draws at the Arboretum include, The Gum Pond Bridge, a bridge spanning the headwaters inlet of the site’s gum pond and The Rosen Memorial Pavilion, accessed by a crisscrossing boardwalk that extends from the bulkhead of a new pond overlook. A visit to the Arboretum means moving through exhibits on the pathways, or “landscape journeys.” Visitors to the public garden who walk the three-mile trail system will travel through three main exhibits: a woodland exhibit, an aquatic exhibit, and a Savanna exhibit. Along the pathways, interpretive signage focuses on various coastal ecosystems and their values, and native plant communities and the species within them. “My favorite area is the south pitcher plant bog, where changes are dynamic, plant populations, patterns, and textures are continually shifting due to ﬂuctuations in moisture and are never the same from year to year,” Drackett said. Drackett said the bog changes in color constantly. “The bog will change from the blackened landscape following a prescribed ﬁre, to the yellow pitcher plant blooms in early spring to the pinks and yellows of delicate spring ephemeral blossoms and orange and purple milkweeds,” Drackett said. “This constant change is the reason behind the stories we hear about the magic experienced in visitors’ journeys — each walk brings unexpected and delightful discoveries.”

Visit crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu or call 601-799-2311 for more information. JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 7

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AN END The old year just ended; the new year just began. All entities restricted to this temporal existence have a similar cycle — beginnings that eventually lead to endings. This realization prompts some measure of contemplation should we afford our thoughts the opportunity of mining the depths and looking into shadowed corners that may too often be neglected in favor of comfort. I recently found myself on such an expedition. The episode was my annual October woodcock hunt in Vermont. This is a challenging regimen and one closely monitored. Three birds Spur (left) sleeps on his master’s leg. Finn daily, not much bounclaimed his favorite chair! Photo courtesy of Bob Rose. ty for the effort some might say, but to go, do, and see firsthand changes the perspective. It really is about the totality of experience. My first hunt, close to a decade past, found me in the presence of a new acquaintance, Bob Rose. He was at that time a pilot for American Airlines and chose his schedules to keep October open. That was woodcock-hunting month. He is now retired. Bob employs Old Hemlock Setters as his chosen canine companions. The history of this breed is far too expansive for a treatise of this length, so I shall refrain. But one important element is that on that first hunt, Bob had a new dog, a dog that was just beginning his second season. Fionn Mac Cumhail, his registered name and the Old Irish pronounciation. Finn McCool in modern English. He answers to Finn.

Finn was a true marvel. A gentleman. A professional. A dog with perfect discipline and demeanor. I was mesmerized. And that remains the case even now. Finn is 11, not finished yet, but closer to the end than to the beginning. On this most recent trip, Bob had added another Old Hemlock. Hotspur. He answers to Spur. He is 11 months old. And the makings are there. Spur is destined to the same levels of greatness as Finn has already achieved. This first season Spur still fumbled with the occasional puppy blunder, but not much. I watched and participated in three days of pure wonderment. And during that watching and participating, I found myself mining those depths. I concluded I was more like Finn than I was like Spur. I am not finished, but I am definitely closer to the end than the beginning. I considered my admiration for Finn and felt a peculiar bond with him, we two on the same path of winding down. I celebrated with Spur, young, ready, and excited as I once was — just beginning an exhilarating life. And, in all this thinking, I came to some point of resignation. Things would end, some more quickly than others. Regardless, life had been a spectacular experience. Finn knows that; Spur will know that. And I now give a nod of appreciation to both in the varying steps of their journeys.

by Tony Kinton Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives in Carthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com for more information.

Autumn in Vermont is spectacular. Colors, even in their brilliance, suggest an end. Spring will bring new life.

NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 9 JANUARY 2022

Next in Picture This:

We want to see your children! Send us photos of your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. Make sure to let us know their names and how they are related to you. The photos must be high-resolution JPG ﬁles of at least 1 MB in size. Please attach the photo to your email and send it to news@ecm.coop. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer’s name, address, and co-op.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Feb. 25. Select photos will appear in the April 2022 issue.

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COOPERATIVE DAY OF SERVICE Every January, America honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who lived a life of service dedicated to equal rights for all Americans. Dr. King’s legacy of service lives on today. He once said, “Everyone can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” This rings true; all of us can help others. All we have to do is have the desire and initiative to serve. Dr. King’s words have guided so many over the years, and he lived a life that is a true example of a man with a servant’s heart. With his life and inspiring words in mind, Southern Pine is once again joining other cooperatives across our state for a Cooperative Day of Service. As a cooperative, Southern Pine serves our members throughout the year through food drives, working with our schools, community events, and other ways.

On Jan. 14, we will continue our service by working on various local community projects throughout our service territory. Cooperative Day of Service, in honor of Dr. King, will make a difference in the lives of Mississippians across the state as we, and our sister co-ops, join forces to make an even bigger impact. However, the work doesn’t stop after one day. Southern Pine operates under the “Seven Cooperative Principles” guidelines, just as our sister co-ops do. One of these guiding principles is “Concern for Community,” and we at Southern Pine genuinely care about our community and the needs of our members. The employees and directors of Southern Pine want our home to be the best possible version of itself. That’s why we are dedicated to improving our community and the lives of our members. As long as Southern Pine is here to bring the power, we will also be here to serve the needs of our community.

by Chris K. Rhodes President / CEO Southern Pine Electric

VETERANS DAY NOVEMBER 11

TEXT MESSAGING FOR OUTAGES Text JOIN to 1-800-231-5240 to subscribe

12 TODAY| NOVEMBER 2021

12 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

Thank you to those who have served our natio to preserve the freedom we hold so dear.

2021 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING PRIZE WINNERS Jimmy Lucas Wardell Camper Monte Randall Charles E. Rogillio Sr. Gladys Ramona Peterson

$ 250.00 In Electricity $ 500.00 In Electricity $ 750.00 In Electricity $ 1000.00 In Electricity Truck

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Happy Thanksgiving from Southern Pine! WWW.SOUTHERNPINE.COOP | 1-800-231-5240 JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 13

COOPERATIVE UNIVERSITY Southern Pine’s Cooperative University, held in December, was a fun-filled d y for 30 high school juniors representing 19 local schools. These future leaders were nominated by their high school counselors to attend because they demonstrated leadership abilities in their schools. Students participated in interactive leadership activities, learned about electric cooperatives, electric vehicles, learned from Southern Pine linemen, and toured dispatch. Two students were selected to attend a three-day confer-

14 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

ence in Jackson with students from across Mississippi. During the meeting, students will get to meet local legislators and state government officials In June, these young leaders and representatives from other cooperatives will head to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong Youth Leadership Tour. Students will tour the city as well as monuments and other sights. In addition, they will have an opportunity to meet with national leaders.

EVERYONE HAS A REASON TO WORK SAFELY Reaching one million hours worked without a lost-time incident in January 2020 only strengthened Southern Pine’s commitment to safety. As always, safety is our No. 1 priority. We reinforce that commitment through our cooperative-wide safety program, continuous safety protocol meetings, and providing employees with the personal protective equipment they need. At the beginning of 2021, Southern Pine launched the “What’s Your One?” safety campaign to remind all employees of their reasons to be safe in their workplace. The campaign focuses on what matters the most to us and guides our decisions every day, allowing us to return home to our “one.” Whether it is God, a spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, pets, or anything else — everyone has that one important reason to stay safe and return home.

Safety awareness does not just start when our employees walk through the doors of Southern Pine. Safety awareness is crucial at home, on the roadways, during playtime with sports and hobbies, and every other aspect of our lives. We want all our employees and members to always keep safety in the forefront of their minds. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have focused on safety in all-new ways. Because we value the health and safety of our members and our employees, we established precautions for all employees. We strive to follow all policies and procedures to keep you and our employees safe. In upcoming issues of Today in Mississippi, we will continue to share with our members about the importance of safety and the emphasis we place on safe practices at Southern Pine.

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 15

Southern Pine Electric salutes Mississippi’s senators and representatives who represent our state in Washington, D.C. and at our state capitol in Jackson. We appreciate their dedication and willingness to serve in the spirit of public service to help shape the future of our state.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SENATORS

SENATE

REPRESENTATIVES

Sen. Josh Harkins

ROGER WICKER United States Senator

TRENT KELLY Congressional First District

BENNIE G. THOMPSON Congressional Second District

District 20: Rankin County

Sen. Juan Barnett

CINDY HYDE-SMITH United States Senator

MICHAEL GUEST Congressional Third District

@MYSOUTHERNPINE

We use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to post information on how to become more energy efficient, safety tips and to inform members about special events throughout the year. During weather-related events, these sites provide storm preparation details and outage information. However, social media is not the most efficient means to report an outage, as it is not monitored 24-7.

16 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

STEVEN PALAZZO Congressional Fourth District

District 34: Forrest, Jasper, and Jones counties

Sen. Dean Kirby District 30: Rankin County

Sen. Chris Caughman

Sen. Tyler McCaughn District 31: Lauderdale, Newton, and Scott counties

Sen. Albert Butler Sr.

District 35: Copiah, Rankin, and Simpson counties

District 36: Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, and Jefferson counties

Sen. Joey Fillingane

Sen. John A. Polk

SIGN UP FOR MYPOWER TODAY MyPower is an online tool that allows members to check energy use, view previous bills and set a monthly electricity-use budget. The site also provides an easyto-use method for reporting an outage and allows you to email questions or comments to Southern Pine. To sign up for MyPower, visit southernpine.coop and click on the MyPower icon in the center of the home page.

Sen. Jason Barrett

District 39: Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln, and Walthall counties

District 41: Covington, Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, and Smith counties

District 44: Lamar and Pearl River counties

THANK YOU

Sen. Chris Johnson District 45: Forrest and Perry counties

for a job well done to all our representatives and senators who represent constituents residing in our service area!

NOW AVAILABLE

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The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi offers an easy-to-use mobile app of Mississippi’s state and federal elected officials. Look for “Mississippi Legislative Roster” in the Apple App Store. An Android version is also available through Google Play.

It’s easy to know your elected officials. ONLINE VERSION AVAILABLE AT WWW.ECM.COOP

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Brent Powell District 59: Rankin County

Rep. Gregory Holloway Sr.

Rep. Fred Shanks District 60: Rankin County

Rep. Price Wallace

Rep. Gene Newman District 61: Rankin County

Rep. Randy Rushing

District 76: Claiborne, Copiah, and Hinds counties

District 77: Rankin and Simpson counties

District 78: Leake, Newton, and Scott counties

Rep. Joseph “Bubba” Tubb

Rep. Robin Robinson

Rep. Donnie Scoggin

Rep. Tom Weathersby District 62: Copiah, Rankin, and Simpson counties

Rep. Mark Tullos District 79: Jasper and Smith counties

District 88: Jasper and Jones counties

District 89: Jones County

District 90: Covington, Jefferson Davis, and Simpson counties

Rep. Bob Evans

Rep. Becky Currie

Rep. Missy McGee

Rep. Larry Byrd

District 92: Copiah, Lawrence, and Lincoln counties

District 102: Forrest and Lamar counties

Rep. Tom Miles

District 74: Rankin County

District 75: Rankin and Scott counties

Rep. Omeria Scott

Rep. Billy Adam Calvert

District 80: Clarke, Jasper, and Jones counties

District 83: Lauderdale County

Rep. Noah Sanford

District 87: Forrest and Lamar counties

District 91: Copiah, Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, and Simpson counties

Rep. Lee Yancey

District 104: Forrest County

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 17

The Farm Security Administration (FSA) was a progressive and controversial agency advocating government planning and economic intervention to improve living conditions in rural America. The FSA sponsored this “Know your Farmer” tour. Shown here are participants stopping at the home of a tenant purchase borrower in Lowndes County.

Until the Great Depression, soil erosion was not a national concern. However, the connection between the eroded land and impoverished people came into focus and New Deal programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration created jobs that included natural resource projects like the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, which permitted work on erosion control. The red clay hills of Alabama and Mississippi had the worst erosion.

Looking back: The Great by Steven Ward Electric power in rural Mississippi is the direct result of reading about the Greatest Generation and flourished while federal and state politicians working to stop suffering and writing my biography, “The Inspiring Life of Eudora Welty” and hunger during the Great Depression. my regional non-fiction book, “Lauderdale County, Mississippi: President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order A Brief History,” both of which featured the Great Depression on May 11, 1935, that created The era,” Putnam said recently. Rural Electrification Administration “So many New Deal projects still as part of the Emergency Relief exist in and around my Meridian Without electricity, perishable food Appropriation Act. community, such as the Meridian spoiled, and sanitation suffered. Urban Federal Building, the Meridian High The Great Depression tested the areas enjoyed electric lights, washing resolve of Mississippi’s population School Stadium, and Ross Collins machines, and refrigerators, but rural and people who lived all over the U.S. Vocational School (Ross Collins Career The nation’s reaction and fortitude to Mississippians struggled through grueling and Technical Center). persevere during the mass disaster “Entering the Depression, Mississippi days with only sunlight and kerosene was the catalyst for what is known had already suffered greatly from in their primitive environment. today as, “The Greatest Generation.” the 1927 flood. Extreme soil erosion How the people of Mississippi and the nation responded to resulted from soil depletion due to massive cotton cultivation the Great Depression was something that fascinated Meridiand the cutting of the state’s once-grand forests for financial an author Richelle Putnam and led to her new book, “Images gain. The 1930 Mississippi Valley drought added to an already of America: Mississippi in the Great Depression” (Arcadia), a tragic situation. Through research, I realized the many and more than 200-page history with 70 photos from that era. much-needed contributions of Roosevelt’s New Deal “In America, it brought forth the Greatest Generation to Programs that provided jobs and targeted solutions to which we often refer when reminiscing perseverance, strength, the consequences of financial greed and the neglect of and triumph over adversity. My initial interest built from natural resource conservation,” Putnam said. 18 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

Here, the owner scoops pine resin from a settling vat and then pours it into barrels for shipment to various locations. However, for many lumber companies selling stumps from cutover lands, like Crosby Lumber and Manufacturing Company, the Naval Stores Conservation Program drastically reduced the buyers to few or none. In 1937, Crosby built a plant in Picayune, and Crosby Naval Stores grew to 600 tons of stumps a day, the third-largest in the United States.

The sharecropping system in Mississippi was the subject of many Farm Security Administration images. Photographs detailed city street scenes, extravagant brick, and rustic wooden churches, cotton picking in the Delta fields, payday at plantation commissaries, and the lives of poor whites and black sharecroppers and their families.

Depression in Mississippi America’s rural population was at its most disadvantaged Electrification Administration, which offered loans to during the Great Depression. Only 10% of rural Americans had rural farmers and community leaders to provide power electricity, and the number was 1% in Mississippi. in rural areas. “Without electricity, perishable food spoiled, and sanitation Today, the TVA and, in south Mississippi, Cooperative suffered. Urban areas enjoyed electric lights, washing maEnergy generate and deliver power to the state’s 25 elecchines, and refrigerators, but tric cooperatives. Cooperative rural Mississippians struggled Energy, formally known as the through grueling days with only South Mississippi Electric Power sunlight and kerosene in their Association, formed in 1941. primitive environment. They lit Two key Mississippi movers their lanterns before sunrise, and and shakers behind bringing when darkness fell to begin and power to rural Mississippi were finish their labor,” Putnam said. U.S. Sen. Pat Harrison from the Although the need for rural Gulf Coast and U.S. Rep. John electrification was evident, Rankin of Tupelo. private investors and compa“Sen. Harrison and Rep. Known by his colleagues as “The Old Fox,” referring to backroom nies didn’t want the task and Rankin advocated heartily for persuasive power and strategic maneuverings, U.S. Sen. Pat Harrison of expense of running lines into electric power distribution in Mississippi helped shape much of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s rural Mississippi without reaping New Deal legislation. Mississippi. They would also a profit. And rural residents didn’t make enough money to welcome President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor to do it themselves, even with pooling their money. Mississippi to tour New Deal projects, like the new homesteads The Roosevelt administration created the Tennessee Valley and the TVA, which began rural electrification in Mississippi. Authority (TVA), a federal electric company and the Rural JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 19

Due to Mississippi U.S. Rep. John Rankin’s position in Congress, Tupelo became the ﬁrst municipality to purchase TVA power and ofﬁcially became the “First TVA City” in 1934. Pictured here left to right: U.S. Sen. George W. Norris and Rankin photographed at the White House in 1935.

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In 1936, the state of Mississippi established the Rural Electrification Authority of Mississippi and passed the Electric Power Association Act, a law that created electric cooperatives. That law was updated in 2016. Mississippi was among the first states in the nation to pass adequate laws for forming electric cooperatives, according to the definitive state electric cooperative history, “Rural Electrification in Mississippi 1934-1970” by Winnie Ellis Phillips. Alcorn County Electric Power Association in Corinth was the nation’s first rural electric cooperative. Rural power wasn’t the only cooperative effort from Roosevelt’s New Deal. Credit unions came about as the result of The Federal Credit Union Act of 1934. Putnam said each Great Depression photo in the book tells a different story. “The images are so diverse. Each tells its personal story. However, the historical narrative expands when the combined photos and captions encompass the more extraordinary story of the Great Depression in Mississippi,” Putnam said. The research, writing, and acquiring the photos took Putnam over a year. “Thanks to other New Deal Programs, photographers employed by the Farm Security Administration and the Works Progress Administration, which included Mississippi’s Eudora Welty, took around 80,000 photos of life during the Great Depression. The Library of Congress, where these photos are archived, provided most of the images in the book,” Putnam said.

Two months after the approval of the TVA Act by President Roosevelt in May of 1933, U.S. Rep John Rankin of Mississippi, TVA Chairman David Lilienthal, and the Tupelo Journal reported that implementation of public power in northeast Mississippi was a distinct possibility as early as the fall of 1933. TVA, the prime investor in nuclear power and the principal user of coal, was the leading producer of electric power in the country. On February 7, 1934, Tupelo became the ﬁrst municipality in the U.S. to receive TVA power.

Other Great Depression-era improvements to Mississippi included action by Gov. Mike Connor, who initiated measures to improve the treatment of inmates at Parchman Prison in the Delta. Women also played an active role. The Natchez Garden Club successfully spurred tourism by starting the state’s first pilgrimage in 1932. Mississippians found employment through the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, which stimulated economic development through new and add-on construction in urban and rural areas and the construction of nine state parks. When asked if there were any lessons learned or to be learned by Mississippi from the Great Depression, Putnam said the power and influence of Roosevelt and the New Deal was immense. “There was political, social, economic, and cultural cooperation for the common good of all Americans and, of course, Mississippians. President Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms in office and is still considered one of America’s most influential and beloved presidents. We can argue all day about the pros and cons of his administration’s New Deal. However, the fact remains that the American people, including over 90% of Mississippians, voted him into office more than any other president in American history,” she said.

Visit arcadiapublishing.com for more information about the book. Author Richelle Putnam JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 21

tdoors today picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it

1. Brooklyn Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood by Angela Jones of Laurel; Dixie Electric member.

5. Old Advance Church in Lamar County by Sandy Lindsey of Sumrall; Pearl River Valley Electric member.

2 . First Christian Church in Columbus by Jean Bailey of Columbus; 4-County Electric member.

6. The Village Chapel at Landrum’s Homestead in Laurel by Evelyn King of McComb; Magnolia Electric Power member.

3. Evangel Temple Church in Meridian by Jason Dyess of Meridian; EMEPA member.

7. Antioch Baptist Church in Kemper County by Barbara Bishop of Meridian; EMEPA member.

4. First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo by Robbyn Rogers of Tupelo; Tombigbee member.

8. First Baptist Church in Starkville by Jay Reed of Starkville; 4-County Electric member.

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9. Lockhart Methodist Church in Lauderdale by Melinda Goff of Lauderdale; EMEPA member.

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10. Presbyterian Church in Toccopola by Sherry Sledge of Pontotoc; Pontotoc Electric member.

15. French Camp Presbyterian Church in French Camp by Larry Littlejohn of French Camp; 4-County Electric member.

11. Albans Church in Bovine by Denise Jackson of Wesson; Southern Pine Electric member.

16. St. Pierre’s Episcopal Church in Gautier by Scott Lenoir of Gautier; Singing River Electric member.

12. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Raymond by Margaret Wilson of Byhalia; Northcentral Electric Cooperative member.

17. Christ Church in Christ Hill by Teresa Lott of Perkinston; Pearl River Valley Electric member.

13. China Grove Church in Kokomo by Renee Timmons of Kokomo; Pearl River Valley Electric member.

18. Gillsburg Baptist Church in Gillsburg by Donna Williams of Osyka; Magnolia Electric Power member.

14. Bethel Black Jack Baptist Church in Vaughan by David Shipp of Midway; Yazoo Valley Electric member.

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 23

Delta Delicious Serves two This is the po’ boy I turn to when I want a quick, saucy seafood sandwich. This is not to be confused with the pour on pulled pork barbecue sauce. This is a garlic and Worcestershire buttery sauce with fresh thyme and smoked paprika. It soaks down into the crisp bread and gives the shrimp a lemony, glistening sheen. Roll

INGREDIENTS 2 (8-inch) po’ boy loaves sliced lengthwise 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, divided 2 cloves ﬁnely chopped garlic 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves Pinch dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Salt and cracked black pepper 1 pound medium (41/50) peeled, deveined shrimp

24 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

up your sleeves and toast-up some extra bread just for sopping up any sauce that is left in the skillet. I sometimes make this BBQ shrimp and toss it with angel hair pasta or ricotta ravioli with a side salad for a fast dinner.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread cut side of bread with mayonnaise and toast until brown and crisp. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add 4 tablespoons of the butter. When the butter has melted add the garlic, Worcestershire, lemon juice, pepper sauce, thyme, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook and

stir for 1 minute. Add the shrimp and increase the heat to high. Cook stirring occasionally for 4 minutes until the shrimp are pink and very slightly curled. Remove from heat. Stir in the remaining butter until melted. Fill each po’ boy with shrimp and a big spoonful of the buttery sauce.

Martha Hall Foose, the author of “Screen Doors & Sweet Tea: Recipes and Tales of a Southern Cook,” won the James Beard Award for American Cooking. Her latest collaboration is “A Good Meal is Hard to Find: Storied Recipes from the Deep South” with Amy C. Evans. Martha makes her home in the Mississippi Delta with her husband and son. She is a member of Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association.

Serves four I love a big po’ boy on a Saturday for lunch. By frying the onion rings before the shrimp, the oil gets seasoned and gives the shrimp a special savory fl vor. I like to use a blend of flou , cornstarch, and seafood breading mix to coat the shrimp and onion rings. The flour oats them well. The cornstarch gives extra crunch, and the seafood seasoning adds some southern-style cornmeal fl vor without any grittiness.

INGREDIENTS 2 large, sweet onions (Vidalia or Walla Walla) cut into rings 2 cups all-purpose flou 3/4 cup corn starch 3/4 cup fish fry seafood breading mix (I like Louisiana or Zatarain’s brands made with corn flour) 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning blend 1 cup yellow mustard 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (I like Crystal) 2 pounds large (31/35) peeled, deveined shrimp 1 quart oil for frying 4 (8-inch) French bread loaves or po’boy rolls sliced lengthwise 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup cocktail sauce 1/2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce 1/2 cup shredded cabbage

Using a combination of prepared yellow mustard and eggs to act as a “glue” to hold the coating in place works wonderfully well. The mustard does not impart a strong fl vor because the vinegar and water in the mustard evaporates when fried. I like a combo of shredded iceberg and fresh cabbage to provide a fresh crunch.

Soak onion rings in a large bowl of ice water for 30 minutes. Drain the onions. Carefully remove the thin membrane from the inner wall or each piece of onion. Pat onions dry with paper towel. Return the onion rings to the bowl.

Coat onion rings with flour mixtu e. Shake off any excess coating. Fry onion rings until golden brown. Remove to drain on paper lined sheet pan. Pour any leftover mustard mixture from the onions into the remaining mustard mixture.

In a medium shallow bowl, combine the flou , cornstarch, breading mix, and Creole seasoning and set aside.

Working in batches, take the shrimp from the mustard mixture allowing excess to drip off and coat with the flour mixtu e pressing the shrimp into the mixture to coat.

In a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, egg, and hot sauce. Pour 1 cup of the mustard mixture over the onions. Toss to coat. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the flour mixture over the rings and toss to coat. Toss occasionally to keep the onions coated. Add the shrimp to the remaining mustard mixture and toss to coat. Heat oil to 400 degrees. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with crumpled brown paper sacks. Working in small batches, take onion rings from mustard mixture allowing extra to drip back into remaining onions.

Fry the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly curled and golden brown. Drain on paper lined sheet pan. Spread the cut sides of each piece of bread very lightly with mayonnaise. Toast in oven cut side up until crusty and browned. Spread bottom of each cut side with cocktail sauce. Top with shrimp, lettuce, and cabbage. Spread each top with mayonnaise and stack the sandwiches. Serve with onion rings.

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 25

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mississippi marketplace The Inspirations in concert. Jan. 21. Petal. First Baptist Church of Runnelstown today will host the onEvents the menu outdoors open to the public will be group at 7 p.m. A love offering will be received. Mississippi’s published free of charge as space allows. 9211 Highway 42. Details: 601-583-3733. scene the ‘sip picture this Submit details ataround least two months prior to Lowest 2nd Annual Melodies of Bluegrass Festival. the event date. Submissions must include a Feb. 25-26. Morton. Bands include: Patchwork my opinionLife Insurance co-op involvement phone number with area code for publication. String Band, Catahoula Drive, The Pilgrim Family, Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject

Fair River Station, Tyler Carroll and Pineridge Bluegrass, Southern Gentlemen, and The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. Show starts at 1 p.m. daily. Roosevelt State Park, 2149 MS 13. Details: 601-604-4234 or 601-527-9127.

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26 TODAY | JANUARY 2022

A piece of Pearl Harbor history at home So, after the first of January, how long did it take before you wrote the correct year on your papers at school? Or finally put the right date on a check the first time? Year-long habits are hard to break. It’s funny the snippets you remember from childhood. Daddy had a brother who lived with us off and on. I don’t remember much about him. But I vividly recall one day he grabbed a page of the kitchen calendar and announced he was going to make it into a new month and ripped it off. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Can you do that? Does changing the calendar make time change? Or does the passing of time change the calendar? Later, when I’d recall this episode, I figured it was probably the first of the month, anyway. I think all of his verbosity was an attempt to put one over on a little kid — that he had some superpower over time and the cosmos. Maybe it was even a subconscious rebellion over the inevitability of the passing of time. But he wanted to make it look like it was his idea. Like he controlled it instead of the other way around. Another byproduct of time passing is museums. You don’t put new stuff in a museum. It has to age and take on the patina and esteem that only the passing of time can give it. We were shooting another “Mississippi Roads” show the other day at the Laurel Veterans Memorial Museum. There are exhibits there from the Civil War all the way through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, and more. One of the artifacts they have is an actual piece of the superstructure from the USS Arizona that was sunk in the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 (80 years ago last month) that culminated in bringing the United States into World War II. When the Arizona Memorial was constructed in the 1960s, some of the superstructure

was removed from the ship, and the Navy donated some pieces of it to qualiﬁed veteran’s organizations. One of those pieces is in Mississippi. The wooden case in which it is housed is sort of a museum piece itself. The case was built by Ben Napier from wood removed from the deck of the USS Missouri, as well as Piney Woods pine from Mississippi. You will recall Ben and his wife Erin host the HGTV show “Home Town” featuring the fantastic renovations they have been doing with the homes and buildings in Laurel. I suppose that’s another by-product of time passing — renovations. If time stood still, we wouldn’t need to remodel what deteriorated over time. But we might end up like “The Chronicles of Narnia,” where it was always winter but never Christmas. So, since it is going to happen anyway, enjoy the passing of time. Remember the things you choose to and impress your grandkids by making the month change every now and again.

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.” Walt is also a reporter and 4 p.m. news anchor at WJTV in Jackson. He lives in Brandon and is a Central Electric member. Contact him at walt@waltgrayson.com.

JANUARY 2022 | TODAY 27

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