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FOR MEMBERS OF SOUTHERN PINE ELECTRIC

2020 YOUTH

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Our history and future leaders show us the way Mississippi is a state bursting with rich stories of its history – some tales well known and others waiting still to be revealed. Stories about our state’s history are some of our favorites to feature in Today in Mississippi. Readers have told us over the years that stories about our history are some of their favorites as well. Telling those stories are a tradition we intend to carry on well into the future. This month our main feature delves into the Mississippi history of a place and a small group of people who are trying to preserve a landmark in that location. Rodney, a tiny Jefferson County community in Southwest Electric’s territory, has been a popular tourist destination because of its reputation as a “ghost town.” I’m not sure there’s any actual spectral presence in Rodney, but the picturesque locale is a spot with two ancient churches, houses built decades ago and a cemetery that all tell stories about the people who populated the once busy and booming Mississippi River port town. The Rodney History and Preservation Society is a nonprofit group that is trying to restore the 200-year-old Rodney Presbyterian Church. The group’s reasons for trying to save

the church is one of the cornerstones of why history is so important to all of us. Our February issue is also special because, for most of our electric cooperatives, we have highlighted the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s 2020 Youth Leadership Class. These future student leaders, like many of us, will never forget the year that caused different kinds of challenges and disappointments. The students were forced to cope with the cancellation of the group’s annual trip to Washington D.C. for health reasons. The good news is the 2020 crop of youth leaders stepped up to the challenge and persevered – a strong and crucial trait in any leader We congratulate all of our youth leaders this year and look forward to discovering how you will change the world in your future endeavors. The Class of 2020 has convinced me of this: I can assure our members that the future looks bright and we are going to be in good hands as the years progress!

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

Mississippi is... “A Reason to Sing!” As I gaze out my window Watch the leaves fall to the ground, My ears perk up with “Joyful” As I hear the familiar sounds! It’s the sound of the geese honking The cows mooing in the fields, The hummingbirds fluttering The sights and sounds that nature yields! I drive along the country road Take my pups out for a ride, We breathe in all the beauty That Mother Nature does provide! Flowering trees along the roadside Bales of hay lined up so neatly, The sounds of children playing Their voices resound so sweetly! When I add it all together The true pleasures that it brings, Each day in Mississippi Is one reason my heart sings!

by Kathleen Busch, a resident of Poplarville and a member of Coast Electric

What’s Mississippi to you? What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your brief thoughts to Today in Mississippi, news@ecm.coop or mail to P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158

in this issue

5 southern gardening The art of intentional gardening

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

11 outdoors today History of a hickory tree

12 local news 18 feature

Saving a church in the “ghost town” of Rodney

24 on the menu

Valentine’s Day sweets can be healthy

27 mississippi seen Sunrises and sunsets

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Vol. 74 No. 2

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

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: 473,638

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

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On the cover Church cover: The 200-year-old Rodney Presbyterian Church. Photo by Chad Calcote. Youth tour cover: Members of ECM’s 2020 Youth Leadership Class. Note: The photos were shot in February 2020 before the COVID-10 pandemic began.

FELINEFriends Share photos of you and your cat or just your cat.

Photos must be high-resolution JPG files of at least 1 MB in size. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer’s name, address and co-op. Also, the cat’s name. Attach digital photos to email and send to news@ecm.coop Deadline: March 5. Select photos will appear in the April 2021 issue.

4 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

Resolve to be an intentional gardener It’s February but it’s still enough of a new year to say Happy New Year! Boy, oh boy, what a number COVID laid on us in 2020. It was clearly demonstrated how ill-prepared we are for disruptions in many supply chains. Who can forget the short supplies of toilet paper, and who has not put away a couple of extra rolls just in case? One positive COVID outcome that occurred in 2020 — if it’s OK to say COVID and positive in the same sentence — was the tremendous increase and interest in consumer horticulture. But even this caused shortages of many gardening and horticultural essentials, from seeds to transplants, and from hoses to fertilizers. These shortages occurred because no one could have predicted the demand. Now I’m not complaining. My goal as a Mississippi State University Extension Service consumer horticulture specialist is to promote the home garden and landscape and create excitement in them. So, I’ll take any help I can to get more people gardening and receiving the benefits from it. As I look at the 2021 gardening year that has already started, I would like to see home gardeners become intentional gardeners. Now this is different than simply having good intentions for the garden. Calling ourselves gardeners implies that we have good intentions of having a successful garden. But in reality, good intentions don’t mean much. For example, I meant to pull some pesky weeds, but the latest episode of “The Mandalorian” was just released. That’s such a 2020 COVID excuse. I’m talking about gardening with a purpose. This does not mean you have to have a huge garden. Being an intentional gardener has nothing to do with the size of your garden. Whether your garden is 10,000-square feet or a set of

containers on the porch or patio, intentional gardeners act on their intentions to have a successful gardening experience. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about and planning what you would like to accomplish this year in your garden and landscape. Like me, you may already be receiving a pile of gardening and seed catalogs, as this is the traditional garden-planning time of year. These catalogs are great resources to help plan an intentional garden. Many good gardening intentions are made while thumbing through catalogs and creating a mental wish list for a glorious garden. The beautiful images of flowers and gorgeous fruits and vegetables are like a siren’s song — so alluring — but it is important to avoid going overboard. Unrealistic expectations for the coming garden harvest can happen to even the most experienced Extension consumer horticulture specialist. (In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m talking about myself here.) Over the next several Southern Gardening columns, I’m going to discuss becoming an intentional gardener. I will share tips to give us the power to fight the garden’s siren song. So, here’s to having our best intentional gardens possible in 2021.

by Dr. Gary Bachman Gary Bachman, Ph.D., Extension/Research Professor of Horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern Gardening” radio and TV programs. He lives in Ocean Springs and is a Singing River Electric member.

FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 5

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scene around the ‘sip

by Elissa Fulton Growing up on a catfish farm in Yazoo City, Chat Phillips has affection for entrepreneurship and his rural roots. He attended a small boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee before attending the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. As part of his liberal arts education, he was required to take a foreign language. He chose Japanese and picked it up rather easily before studying abroad in Japan. It was his first time out of the United States, and after traveling more than 30 hours to his destination in the northern mountains of Japan, in a climate very much like a summer in Mississippi without air conditioning, he was exhausted and hot. His host family immediately offered him a cold beverage which, for their culture, parallels sweet tea for Mississippians. The drink, made from a barley seed and blended into a tea called mugicha, was unlike anything he had ever had. When Phillips graduated, he moved back to Mississippi and began working in economic development in Tupelo. Phillips met his wife, Stevie, in Tupelo before the newlyweds moved to Jackson and Chat begin working for a state agency, and then moved into the private sector. With his career, he’s made many trips back to Japan. Because mugicha is not common in the states, when he would visit, he always drank his favorite beverage and would pack his suitcase with it before he returned. “This drink couldn’t be found in Mississippi and I missed it so much, I just started buying raw grains and roasting it for myself,” he said. Because of the health benefits, Chat and Stevie started making it for their friends and families as an alternative to caffeinated teas and coffee. It wasn’t long before the young couple decided since it wasn’t available locally, and they were already providing it for many people they knew, they might just have a business opportunity that could combine Chat’s love of mugicha and the Japanese culture. It was then that

Inaka Tea Company was born. “We just started experimenting, and as far as we know, we are the first U.S. company to brew and bottle it,” said Chat. “And I believe we are the first company in the world to brew and blend it with flavors.” Inaka Tea Company offers three flavors: original, mint and ginger. Chat and Stevie had to build the supply chain from scratch. They researched and visited with more than 30 grain roasters and finally one of them agreed to take a chance. They worked on perfecting the product for more than six months. In addition to being a unique product, the tea has great health benefits. There are many antioxidants and helps to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol, with calming agents such as melatonin and tryptophan. The company name and logo are also quite inspiring and took time to perfect. “Inaka is a Japanese word that means countryside, hometown or place of origin,” said Chat. “The reason I chose that name was because one, the first time I had it I was literally in the countryside of Japan, but two, I wanted to appreciate our roots as a company and a family.” Chat said he grew up on a farm in Mississippi and the couple intends to stay in Mississippi. “I wanted those two things together as our brand.” The company was set to launch in the spring of 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic halted those plans. Though the Phillips admit that launching a business in the middle of a pandemic has not been ideal, the Mississippi-based Corner Market in Hattiesburg took a chance on Chat’s dream and is now carrying the product in three Hattiesburg stores and three Jackson stores. They are expecting a statewide launch in the near future. For more information about Inaka Tea Company visit inakatea.com. FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 7

8 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

scene around the ‘sip

Youth students continue to lead in challenging times by Elissa Fulton and had a photo session and breakfast with their state legisFor 34 years, Mississippi’s electric cooperatives have been lators before touring the Mississippi State Capitol. Along with supporting young students through the Youth Leadership legislators, Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Program. This program includes a year-long selection process Secretary of State Michael Watson all attended the workshop at local cooperatives to select the participants for a leadership and encouraged these students to follow their dreams. workshop in Jackson in February, and a week-long tour of Unfortunately, as with many other Washington, D.C. in June each year. events this past year, the 2020 Youth The program is supported locally by Tour of Washington, D.C., was canceled. electric cooperatives, statewide through When the global coronavirus pandemic the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi began, our cooperative advisors felt and nationally through the National Rural certain we would be able to continue Electric Cooperative Association. Since the with a local program later in the year. 1960s, the program has inspired leadership As the COVID-19 virus showed no signs qualities, introduced first-hand knowledge of slowing down, a decision was made of state and national politics and encourto cancel the remaining 2020 activities. aged relationships that many of these The safety of the students has and will students will foster throughout their lives. Curry Black accepts the overall Youth Leadership Award from Ron Stewart, senior vice president of the always be a priority. The students are selected based upon Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi. The organizers of this program have their academic achievements, participating in student organizations and volunteerism Curry Black receives worked tirelessly to offer a comparable solution for these students by providin their schools, churches and communischolarships ing scholarships. Though we believe ties and participation in local cooperative Curry Black, representing East Mississippi scholarships can in no way replace the activities and/or interviews. Electric Power Association, was selected as the opportunity of seeing our nation’s capMississippi’s students are recognized 2020 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) member. ital, experiencing politics firsthand and He is the son of Lori and Stefan Black of Louiseach year in Today in Mississippi in the ville and attends Winston Academy. As a YLC making lifelong relationships, the CEOs, April issue following the workshop in student, Curry was awarded the $1,000 Youth board directors and program directors of Jackson, and again in the August issue Leadership Award and scholarship, as well as the participating cooperatives hope that after the summer tour, where they appear additional scholarships from EMEPA and ECM. Black’s future goals are to attend law school, this scholarship will aid in these student’s on the cover of the magazine. become involved in politics and eventually future educational goals. “Our 2020 students possess the qualibecome President of the United States. We The classes of 2020 and 2021 have ties that define great leadership and have congratulate Black on his accomplishments! undergone many disappointments as a vision for the future,” said Ron Stewart, their senior years have been disrupted by this global crisis. ECM senior vice president. “They are energetic young people The resiliency that we have seen in these students has been who lead by example and are willing to step forward to make both remarkable and encouraging. They have found ways to a difference, even while facing difficult challenges. They are connect with each other safely, to continue with their studies problem solvers and, with great enthusiasm, are dedicated to and to follow rules set in place by leading officials. All of these working together to achieve success.” qualities have shown an insurmountable desire to succeed. There were 87 students from the Class of 2020 who participated in the annual Youth Leadership Workshop in Jackson Feb. These students have overcome much in this past year and been 27 – March 1, 2020. They participated in team-building exercises, challenged in ways that few have in the past. We are excited to see what their futures will hold. heard speeches from motivational speakers and public officials FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 9

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on the menu

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mississippi is...

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FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 11

Revisions Requested Approved

STEVEN Date_____ Revisions Requested Approved

Hunting comrade Neal Brown found the old hickory This past season I elected that proud hickory. Neal told me of its fate, for he had already visited its position on the long before I, several years in fact. The tree stood proudly bluff. I went anyway. The situation was dire. Lightning we just at the edge of an east-west ridge overlooking a tanassumed. I felt a pang of grief. Even considered clearing gled hollow through which a deer trail wended its serpensome debris from the tree’s base and employing it one tine route annually. It, this trail, was generally considered a last time, but outsized limbs far overhead had begun sure thing. Neal introduced it to me. cracking and falling. Too risky. I moved He had also found a similar-sized over to the side of that bastion of hope oak that held an identical station on a and grand memories. A sentinel that had north-south ridge a few hundred yards seen far more nature and cold and hot to the west of that hickory. Same sitand howling wind and rainstorms than I uation: a sure thing. Cradle quietly in had or ever would. Now a mere skeleton, the embrace of either tree’s behemoth waiting for one final crash that would roots long enough and sit still; deer leave it in decay. will trickle along respective ridges or But it had not been wasted. It had hollows. provided in grand form for the wild things We came to identify these two and for two hunters who would miss efficacious locales by truly clever and its grandeur. And 30 yards away stood creative titles: the Big Oak and the another, smaller and younger and growing Big Hickory! They became our into its own destiny as a colossal guardian most-visited sites when deer hunting, and resting place for any visitor. It likely and who got which when depended was the offspring of that once-proud upon who spoke first. A coin toss hickory. I nodded respect for both, regret would settle the matter if we claimed for the old and celebration for the new. the same simultaneously. We are The once-proud hickory that hosted two hunters I hope to visit next December. friends and fellow hunters after all. for 20 years is now a ghostly figure, but a new Both trees had been kind to each of one is growing nearby. us, so there was no cause for squabble. Beside that big oak six years back, I took my last buck while using my beloved wooden bow. Shoulders and neck, strategic players in the game of old age, preclude me from doing so again. I have since been unable to convince by Tony Kinton myself to gravitate toward wheels and cables, so that chapter is closed. Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives in And three years ago, Neal took a particularly fine Carthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com for more information. specimen from that same spot while using his big Sharps rifle and black-powder cartridges. If a ledger had been kept and consulted, results would show similar success and balanced accounts for both hunters and both trees during two decades.

CHAD Date_____

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BRINGING THE POWER WWW.SOU THERN PIN E.COOP | P.O. BOX 60 | 1349 1 H WY. 28 | TAYLO R SVIL L E, MS 39 16 8 | 800.231 .524 0

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN 2021 By February, that giving spirit we experience during the holiday season tends to fade. Dreary winter days bring most of our thoughts inward, and usually, we begin focusing on ourselves rather than others. Donations of time and money dwindle at charitable organizations helping those in need, but the needs do not go away. There are still people struggling, people who need help and people hurting for so many different reasons. When 2020 ended, we all breathed a sigh of relief, and for good reason. It was a year with challenges like no other. Some of the challenges of 2020 are still very much present in the lives of many members. While we experienced difficulties and trials, I was so proud to see how we pulled together to help our neighbors in need. My hope for 2021 is that we remember the good things that came out of 2020 — the service to others, the compassionate care we witnessed and the helping hands when needed most. Southern Pine Electric and cooperatives across America, have always been there to help our friends and neighbors. When tornadoes ravaged our system, it was our sister cooperatives who were there to lend a helping hand. When they experienced severe damage from hurricanes, we were there for them. Neighbors helping neighbors is the cooperative difference and is at the heart of Southern Pine. I believe it’s at the heart of our membership as well. We all witnessed first-hand how our members came together to assist their neighbors in need during 2020. People rallied around

tornado survivors to help with the cleanup. They made sure that hungry people were fed and supported their communities when needs arose. Our employees, just like our members, serve our communities in so many ways — whether it’s coaching little league, serving as volunteer firefighters, assisting at schools or volunteering through churches and civic organizations. The point is, Southern Pine will always be here for our community, and I know our members are just as invested in giving back as we are. While it’s difficult to quantify the impact that volunteering can have, I know it makes a tremendous difference in our members’ lives and makes the world a better place. Simple things like checking on an elderly neighbor mean so much. You don’t need special skills or talents, just a desire to help. So, this year do what you can because we can all do something. Let’s keep the giving spirit going throughout the year and the blessings will flow to those who need them the most!

by Chris K. Rhodes President / CEO Southern Pine Electric

2020 FACTS & FIGURES SOLD 1.7+BILLION KILOWATT-HOURS AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL METER USED 1,087 KILOWATT-HOURS PER MONTH 68,911 TOTAL ACTIVE ACCOUNTS 10,494 MILES OF LINE 12 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

(AS OF 2019)

G R

BRYCE DUPREE AND JERED SMITH 2020 Youth Tour Scholars

Southern Pine Electric proudly sponsors two high school juniors each year to attend the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Youth Leadership Conference in Jackson. There they met their legislators and toured the capitol. Typically followed by the Youth Tour, held in Washington, D.C., the juniors are joined by students from across the country. But this year’s plans changed. Due to the pandemic, the tour was canceled. In place of the Youth Tour, Southern Pine Electric was proud to present these two students with a cash scholarship for use in their future educational pursuits. Bryce Dupree and Jered Smith were among 25 other students who attended Cooperative University held at Southern Pine Electric’s headquarters. These young men were selected through an application and interview process. They possess the qualities and characteristics to be future leaders of our membership area and our state. Bryce Dupree, son of Allison Lewis, lives in Bay Springs and is a senior at Raleigh High School. He is a member of the Beta Club, History Club, Future Farmers of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Raleigh High School

Mathletics, the tennis team, and has served as junior class president. Bryce plans to attend Jones College in the fall, then transfer to the University of Mississippi to pursue a business degree and, ultimately, a law degree. Bryce’s goal is to become a lobbyist, preferably for Mississippi’s electric cooperatives. Jered Smith, son of Jerry and Phyllis Smith, lives in Magee and is a senior at Simpson County Academy. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, SCA Baseball team and SCA track team. Jered was accepted into Boys State, the Lion’s Club Leadership Conference and the Apex Leadership Conference. They all were canceled due to COVID-19. He is the founder and CEO of Season of Service, a volunteer and community service organization. Jered has a long history of helping others, and this organization serves as a vehicle to help those in need. He plans to attend The University of Southern Mississippi in the fall, where he will major in business and finance. Congratulations, Bryce, and Jered. We look forward to seeing what you accomplish, and we know you both have bright futures ahead. FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 13

Newton District: Everyday Folks with a Common Goal, Serving Others

The Newton District Team

by Jamie Baucum “Welcome to Southern Pine; how can we help you?” This is a familiar greeting you’ll hear in Newton when you call or come into the office. Pleasant greetings and a friendly smile are how we treat our members. Our employees all value excellent member service, and we work hard to prove it. In the late ‘80s, growth within Southern Pine Electric’s 11-county service territory led us down a path for much-needed change. Reliability and service have and always will be a part of our mission in meeting our member-owners’ demands. To continue reliable service into the future, expansion was needed, and that brought the addition of three district offices. In 1993, the Newton district office opened. The Newton office is much like the others, each having a fully functional facility with the means and personnel available to carry out our mission. We provide service to 9,500 members located in Newton, Scott, Jasper, Clarke and Smith counties within our service territory. Covering approximately 1,200 square miles geographically while maintaining 1,500 miles of energized line within those boundaries is no simple task. It is a challenge we take on daily and a challenge we are eager to meet. Employees that are well-trained, dedicated and willing to serve are just a few of the attributes needed to carry out our mission. Within our district, operations, member services and engineering, personnel serve our members locally. Several of the current 26 employees at Newton were employed at Southern Pine before the district’s addition. As new employees were added, many seasoned employees spent time training and mentoring new ones to ensure cooperative values were passed 14 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

on. What drives those values? Our employees have a vested interest in the communities in which we work and live. You can find them serving on water department boards, insurance boards, volunteer fire departments or simply providing for those that need a helping hand. We are everyday folks with the common goal of serving others. Today is no different; as generations move on, encouraging those values remains the same. We believe in a culture that promotes teamwork and doing what it takes to provide for our members, regardless of position or title. A strong work ethic is not a learned skill but rather an inherited characteristic passed on from ones that know what it takes to get the job done. One thing is for sure, you will never hear, “it is not my job.” Many here wear multiple hats and respond where needed to answer the call. One of the best analogies for teamwork came from a foreman from years ago. It was related to a bicycle wheel and what supports it. Each wheel has spokes, and the support each offers determines the strength of the wheel. Without the spokes, the wheel would become weak and eventually lead to its demise. While simple in nature, it puts into perspective the abilities and support needed from each person to carry out our mission. Although we need districts due to our extensive service territory, that does not mean we hesitate in crossing district lines. All employees of Southern Pine Electric work together to combine our efforts when the need arises. By doing so, we can continue to provide safe, reliable service that our members depend on daily. Jamie Baucum is the Newton District Manager.

MEET SOUTHERN PINE EMPLOYEE:

RICHELLE SMITH Outside of Southern Pine, her other passion is working for Avon. Richelle attends about 22 festivals or flea markets each year in Mississippi and Alabama. Through this work she has earned trips and loves to travel. Richelle has visited 46 states, the Bahamas and Mexico and is planning a trip to the Dominican Republic. Originally from Jackson, Richelle lived in Meridian for a while and now lives in Newton. She is the mother of three children, Jakoby, Breanna and Thomas, and has two grandchildren. “I am most thankful for my family,” Richelle said. “I love to smile and help people, but if you ask my kids, I’m a ‘meanie’ to them,” she said with a laugh. Richelle is no “meanie” here at Southern Pine Electric as any of the members she has served will attest.

Spreading Smiles in Newton If smiles are truly contagious, then Richelle Smith is doing her part to spread them. Always with a welcoming smile on her face, Richelle has served the members of Southern Pine Electric for over 20 years in the Newton District as a member service representative. Richelle loves helping “her” members and she loves talking. “My favorite thing to do is just talk to people, get to know them, and see how I can help them have a better day,” Richelle said. After such a long time of helping members, Richelle said she really knows some of our members now and considers them friends. “I have regulars who come in every month or call me, and I worry when I don’t hear from them or see them. If they miss a month coming in, I get worried and must check on them,” she added. Ginger McMillan, Newton district office supervisor, said, “When you mention Richelle’s name the first thing that comes to mind is ‘people person.’ Richelle loves being around people and talking with them and I feel that our members pick up on that. She does all she can every day to help our members and always with a smile on her face.” She truly enjoys meeting new people and gets excited about coming to work. Richelle said that while a lot of people dread getting up and going to work each day, she gets really excited about it. She said, many days, she wakes up and says, “Yes! It’s a workday and I get to talk to people.” “The Newton team is like a family, we know each other, and we spend so much of our time together,” Richelle said. FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 15

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

HENRY AND MARGARET BOOTH – EDUCATORS TO CATTLE FARMERS

Henry and Margaret Booth have contributed more than we will ever know to Mississippi. They are both retired educators who together have worked with thousands of students over the years. Margaret, a graduate of USM who went on to earn a Henry, Brandon, and Margaret Booth master’s degree at MSU, was a business and computer technology instructor. Henry, a Mississippi State graduate, was a government and economics educator but is most known for his career as a high school basketball coach. He always loved basketball and played throughout high school in Goodman. He received a scholarship to Holmes Community College, then Mississippi State. During his coaching career, he led the Durant High School basketball team to a state championship in 1993, highlighting his basketball career. Now, he spends his days on his other passion. In addition to teaching and coaching, they have been in the cattle business for over 22 years and own Booth Farms. “This is the only thing for me that can replace basketball, and because I’m my own boss, I can make my own schedule and still go to the games,” Henry said. Henry started out by helping his best friend, Lemuel Nichols, on his farm. “I didn’t know anything about 16 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

the cattle business when I started, but my best friend taught me,” said Henry. He also learned a lot from other cattle farmers through the Cattlemen’s Association. “The Cattlemen’s Association was very welcoming,” he said. After 22 years, Henry has developed a distinguished career in cattle farming. He has been named Newton County Farmer of the Year, Mississippi Farmer of the Year and National Minority Farmer of the Year. In addition to working the farm, Henry serves on the East Central Community College Board of Trustees, the Board of Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Board of the Cattlemen and Forestry Association of Newton County. “I never needed a calendar until I retired,” Henry said with a laugh. Henry and Margaret have one son, Brandon, 18, who will likely follow his parents’ footsteps and attend Mississippi State University. They are such ardent state supporters that their bull is named Dak Prescott. The Booth family lives on a beautiful, 100-acre property in Lawrence, right outside of Newton. They are members of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where Henry serves as a deacon.

MEET YOUR DIRECTOR:

FOUNTAINE MCNAIR

“You have to stay educated and knowledgeable, so you don’t become complacent.” Southern Pine Electric was blessed in June 2016 when Fountaine McNair became an at-large director on the board. Well-known and respected throughout a large portion of the co-op’s territory, Fountaine serves as division president for Priority One Bank, having steadily climbed the ranks over 23 years to the position. Married to his longtime sweetheart, Sonya, they have one son, Brennon, who they both consider to be their greatest blessing. Within a short time of meeting Fountaine, you will know that he is family oriented, a man of strong faith and a hard worker. People who know him know that these attributes were passed down from his parents. “Coach” McNair taught school and coached at Raleigh High School in Smith County for many years and left a long string of accomplishments throughout his career. His mom owned a daycare center in Covington County. With ties to Simpson, Smith, and Covington counties, Fountaine became well-known by many people through working in the area and helping others over the decades. With a mischievous smile and a quick wit, he shared a story with us that he said Sonya might not appreciate him telling. Reserved by nature, she was employed at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center in Picayune. The first time he asked her out, she said no, flat-out, with no explanation. Never one to give up, he worked harder and longer, and bought an awesome sports car that he showed up in the second time he asked her out. This time, she said yes. Though Sonya is quick to deny it, he says that the only reason she agreed the second time he asked was because of the car. Whatever the reason, he lucked out when she said yes, and they have been happily married for 24 years.

Fountaine talks openly and honestly about the learning curve involved for the board, the new CEO and employees as all adjust to a new management style. He goes on to say a difficult weather year, with horrendous storms, caused budget concerns and a renewed awareness of the co-op’s aging infrastructure. Facing these challenges, and more, he believes that it is more important than ever that each director focuses on education, legislative issues and devotes a substantial amount of time to understanding the needs and requirements of our members. His definition of education includes knowing the current market, closely monitoring economic development opportunities that can help our members, the co-op and our state move forward. “You have to stay educated and knowledgeable, so you don’t become complacent,” he said. Complacency has no place in a board room and the work does not stop when you leave the meeting. Providing electric service to our members is a 24/7 job and each board member must understand that work completely, said Fountaine. Though there are apparent challenges with a cooperative the size of Southern Pine, there are also numerous things that set it apart from any other type business. From the moment he entered the board room, there was a closeness between the directors and management, he said. Everyone is willing to share their knowledge and help each other, both within and out of the board room. Work, family and church keep him busy but when he does have free time, he enjoys fishing. It is apparent from the expression on his face that his greatest devotion of time and energy is watching Brennon grow into a godly young man. A great baseball player, he and Sonya dread the day when he packs up and moves to South Alabama to pursue a baseball career. We hope they find a little comfort in knowing that his Southern Pine family will be rooting and cheering him on as he begins this exciting season of his life. .

FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 17

Photos by Chad Calcote

by Steven Ward “People either get Rodney or they don’t.” That’s how Angel Puckett recently described the allure of the tiny Mississippi River-area community in Jefferson County that was once a bustling port town. Today, known by tourists and most Mississippi residents as a “ghost town,” Rodney, Mississippi is home to about 8 residents. But it wasn’t always that way. Various histories of the area report that the town was three legislative votes away from becoming the state capital due to its status as a boomtown and important shipping point along the Mississippi River. Puckett, a United States Post Office mail carrier who lives in nearby Lorman, lived in Rodney for 30 years beginning in 1980. Even back then, when there were about 100 residents, Puckett remembered people calling Rodney a “ghost town.” Continual flooding from the nearby river forced younger families over the years to move away from Rodney, she said. But Puckett loved living there and that love for the community has carried over into a mission with others with

connections there to preserve a large part of Rodney’s history. Puckett is the president of the Rodney History and Preservation Society, a 501 c3 nonprofit group formed in 2018 to save and restore the community’s 200-year-old Rodney Presbyterian Church. The society now owns the church. “We want to save one of the few remaining buildings in what was almost the state capital. It’s one of the finest examples of federal style architecture in Mississippi and has stood proud for nearly two hundred years,” Puckett said. Right now, construction work is underway to restore the church’s south wall. The church, a two-story gable-roof brick structure with stepped gable ends and an interior-end bell tower, was built in 1832 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The church is also designated a Mississippi Landmark. That classification requires that Puckett’s group rebuild and restore the church with the approval of the Mississippi Department of History and Archives. Following the restoration of the south wall, the group plans on addressing the structural weaknesses of the bell tower. FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 19

VERSION #______________ RON Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested STEVEN Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested CHAD Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested ELISSA Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested CHRIS Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested ARTIST ___________ Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested

Saving a church to preserve a link to history

Throughout the time since the group was formed, fundraising and some state money has been utilized to restore the church, Puckett said. “Jefferson County has a rich history and Rodney is basically in our backyard here in Lorman,” said Kevin Bonds, CEO of Southwest Electric. “We applaud the efforts of the Rodney History and Preservation Society to restore the church building and keep the history of this area alive.” Located along a wooden bluff east of the church is the Rodney Cemetery. Although it’s not owned by the society or part of the group’s official restoration efforts, the group and other volunteers have assisted members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in graveyard clean ups. The SCV had asked for help in the cemetery with work which included fixing and cleaning broken markers and cutting markers out of canebrake. The volunteer work at the cemetery is part of the society’s love for Rodney. Puckett said the group is made up of members with various connections to Rodney including some past residents. Mary Pallon of Pine, Arizona is one of those society board members with an important connection.

Rodney Masonic Lodge

A replica of a Civil War-era cannon ball shot fired into the front of Rodney Presbyterian Church

Visit rodneyhistory.org for more information about Rodney or to make a restoration donation.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Society president Angel Puckett

“My grandfather, The Rev. Allen Washington Duck, was the last assigned pastor to Rodney Presbyterian Church, Pallon said. Duck and his wife lived in nearby Red Lick in the late 1920s and served the church once a month. “He loved Rodney. The church paid him $200 to come at least one Sunday a month. He served the church in Red Lick and a church in Hermanville at the same time. He first served Rodney via horse and buggy,” Pallon said. Pallon’s grandfather was part of a Presbyterian effort in the 1950’s to help preserve Rodney Presbyterian. The church was sold in the 1960’s due to only a handful of members, she said. Pallon said she’s trying to continue the effort her grandfather started. “The church is a concrete link to a vibrant, rich, wild history of Old Southwest Mississippi. Rodney Presbyterian is the only distinct building left in Rodney, of the original town,” Pallon said. “Rodney Presbyterian serves to inspire us to understand its history to future generations. Why? Because a historical perspective helps all to navigate in the present and in the future.”

ion.

Saluting the men and women who power our lives

The men and women who work at Mississippi’s electric cooperatives are special employees who operate the many moving parts of providing power to our members on a daily basis. Although their diligence is apparent year in and year out, 2020 was a different year than most. The past year was one defined by excessive weather challenges and a global pandemic that changed how cooperatives – and the world – conducted business. Back to back hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico hit Mississippi and other southeastern states and knocked out power far and wide. Mississippi linemen, always on call and prepared to deploy whenever needed, went out in adverse conditions in their home state as well as others in the region to restore power to residents and businesses in need. Tornadoes in Mississippi wreaked havoc this year throughout the state causing long hours and extra personnel to get electricity back to our members. But it wasn’t just our linemen who answered the call to help our members and members of other cooperatives nearby. Office personnel put on chef hats

to cook or arrange food for lineman and support staff. Cooperative communicators were dispatched to the field to shoot photos for social media to keep members up to date with the latest information. The more than 2,950 employees who work for Mississippi’s electric cooperatives went above and beyond to meet the challenges of 2020 to ensure our members had power restored in a safe and timely manner. We salute the employees of Mississippi’s electric cooperatives for their dedication this past year and commitment for years to come.

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Tish

Richie Culotta • Cameron Culotta • Zach Dustin

Jackson Harrison Hancock

with Rebecca Turner

Sweets for your sweet during heart month Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and whether you’re single or taken, it is an excellent opportunity to think about hearts, but not just the candy kind. Since 1964 the president has annually declared February American Heart Month as a reminder to get families, friends and communities involved in reinforcing the importance of heart health. You have heard these heart-healthy tips before — engage in regular exercise, adopt a diet lower in salt, limit saturated fats found in red meat and dairy, and avoid trans fat used in margarine and self-stable baked and snack foods. Focus on eating fats found in olive oils, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish that protect the heart. You can often substitute meat with Mississippi farm-raised catfish or Mississippi seafood. Eat a variety of vegetables, especially those rich in color — darkgreen, red, and orange. Frozen fruits or vegetables and 24 TODAY | FEBRUARY 2021

those canned in water or reduced-sodium are nutritious options, too. There is still room for sweet treats while taking care of your precious heart. At least 70 percent cocoa, dark chocolate is high in flavonoids associated with a lower heart disease risk. You can enjoy 1 to 2 ounces a day to reap the heart benefits. Keep dark chocolate nibs in your pantry to add to oatmeal, yogurt, muffins, pancakes, or trail mixes. With any dessert, portion control matters more than trying to substitute all the calories away. Try frozen raspberries coated in yogurt and covered in dark chocolate for a healthy, bite-size treat. Create a cake in a mug for a perfectly portioned, quick to make, sweet treat. When you have leftover cake or more time in the kitchen, give cake-pops a try for a twist to single-serve indulgences.

Chocolate Covered Raspberries INGREDIENTS 1 container fresh raspberries 1 container vanilla yogurt 1 12-ounce bag dark chocolate chips 2 teaspoons olive oil

1. Rinse fresh raspberries and pat them dry with a paper towel. Allow them to fully dry before moving on. 2. Cover a small baking sheet with parchment paper. 3. Use a fork, toothpick, or clean fingers to dip each berry into the yogurt to coat. Place each yogurt covered berry onto the parchment. Once all the berries are coated, place in the freezer for 60 minutes until it’s hard.. 4. Once the yogurt has hardened, melt chocolate chips with olive oil in the microwave on 30 second intervals, until melted and thin enough to dip or drizzle. If your chocolate gets thick, add an extra teaspoon of olive oil and reheat for 15-30 seconds. 5. Dip each yogurt covered berry into the melted chocolate and place back on the parchment lined sheet. Continue with remaining berries until they’re all coated. Place back in the freezer until chocolate has set and enjoy. Berries will last two to three weeks in the freezer. For the best results, take them out of the freezer and let them sit for 3-5 minutes before enjoying. Substitute raspberries for any fresh berry or cherry.

Microwave Mug Cake

INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons self-rising flour 1 ½ tablespoons no-calorie sweetener (or table sugar) 2 teaspoons cocoa powder 1⁄8 cup of baking powder Pinch of salt 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon oil 1 drop of vanilla extract

1. Combine the flour, sweetener, cocoa powder and salt in the mug. Whisk gently until no lumps remain. If you don’t have self-rising flour, use all purpose flour plus 1/8 cup baking powder. 2. Stir in the milk, olive oil and vanilla until smooth. 3. Pop in the microwave on high for 30-35 seconds. Don’t over cook! The cake will continue to cook as it sets and cools. 4. Cool 3-5 minutes. Make it your own and serve with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, topped with berries, or go wild and add a drizzle of chocolate sauce!

Basic Cake Pops

INGREDIENTS Cake prepared (use your favorite boxed cake mix, homemade cake, leftover cake or store bought cake) 2-5 spoonfuls of frosting (pick your preferred store bought flavor or make it from scratch) 2 bags of chocolate candy melts Cake pop sticks Sprinkles Styrofoam block 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Add prepared cake to a large bowl and crumble it until it resembles fine crumbs. 3. Add in frosting a small spoonful at a time. Use your hands to incorporate the frosting. You want the cake to be moist and hold a ball shape, but not too mushy. Less is more. 4. Scoop out a small amount to roll into a tight ball and place on a plate. If you have a mini ice cream scoop, that works great. 5. Repeat until all the cake mixture has been rolled into balls. 6. Melt 2-4 ounces of the chocolate melts in the microwave. 7. Dip the tip of the cake pop sticks into the melted chocolate and insert into the cake balls about half-way and place on parchment paper. 8. Freeze for about 20 minutes and prepare all of your decorating supplies. 9. Melt the remaining chocolate in a large cup (not bowl). You need enough chocolate to submerge the cake ball. 10. Remove cake balls from the freezer. 11. Dip cake balls carefully into the chocolate until covered. 12. Let the excess chocolate drip off. Swirl and tap. 13. Add desired sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. It will harden fast. 14. Stick the decorated cake pop into a styrofoam block to finish setting. (game changer for having attractive cake pops) 15. Place the pops into the freezer to speed up setting time. 16. Store in a cool area in a single layer, and in an airtight container. You can make them beautifully delicious gifts by covering them with a clear bag and tying them with festive string.

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

FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 25

mississippi seen

mississippi is...

events

mississippi marketplace on the menu outdoors today Many planned events were canceled Electric power associations... because of the COVID-19 crisis, so we scene around the ‘sip picture this your quality of life partner have had far fewer events to feature in this space as a result. As more areas mypower opinion of Mississippi open back up and groups co-op involvement Mississippi’s electric associations have and will continue and organizations feel comfortable about holding public events, we intend to include those details here. So, if you have an upcoming event for March or April, please email the details to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject to change or cancellation due to COVID-19. Please confirm details before traveling.

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Greater Vision in concert. Feb. 18. Petal. Concert begins at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Runnelstown. A love offering will be received. Details: 601-583-3733. “Why I Live at the P.O.” Feb. 26-28 and March 5-7. Laurel. Comedy based on a Eudora Welty story about the postmistress of a tiny Mississippi post office. Laurel Little Theatre’s downtown Arabian Theatre. 408 5th Ave. The reservation line opens Feb. 19. Details: 601-428-0140.

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FACTS & FIGURES 802,739 Total meters served 691,540 Residential meters EPAs serve 50% of the electric meters in Mississippi Investor owned - 40% Municipal systems - 10% EPAs serve approximately 85% of the state’s land mass 95,731 - Miles of distribution lines 8.4 - Average number of members per mile of line 2,981 - Total number of employees

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February is when we began to notice the days are getting longer. Odd that the shortest month of the year is when we see that we are starting to climb out of winter. Not that we don’t have plenty of cold weather still ahead of us. And the sunset has perceptibly moved farther northward than it was in December. Driving into Jackson on Lakeland Drive, there is a hilltop east of the airport where you get a pretty good view of the city. In the winter, it seems like the sun sets all the way on the left side of my car’s windshield. But in the middle of summer, it has moved all the way to the right side. That seems like a wild shift to me. I know the earth is tilted on its axis 23 and a half degrees off center, which gives us our seasons and allows the setting sun to pick out a slightly different spot every afternoon. But I can’t comprehend how that small of a tilt can move the sunset that far from left to right, at its extremes. But I’m satisfied that someone, somewhere knows why, so I don’t have to worry about it. I’ve been on my way home many times covering a story somewhere in the state and pulled over to get a shot of the sunset. We have some astounding sunsets in Mississippi. I put together a couple of minutes of sunset shots and set them to music and ran them as my television feature story one day. After the newscast, the producer saw me in the hall and commented on my “sunrises.” Then she thought for about a half a second and realized who she was talking to and said, “Wait. I guess those would have been sunsets if you took them, wouldn’t it?” Not that I haven’t seen sunrises, too. But in practical terms,

I’m usually on the road in the late afternoons, not mornings. I’m guessing she meant it as a reflection of my energy level. If you want to see beautiful sunsets in Mississippi, you don’t have to go any farther that your yard. After a summer thunderstorm, the sun can turn creation purple, green or bright orange, depending on how light hits the thunderhead. During winter, the high wispy cirrus clouds get bent in all sorts of directions by jet stream winds. The dropping sun paints them pink to purple as it sets. The coast has great sunsets. Any bluff along the Mississippi River provides a ringside seat to a sunset. So does the levee, to a degree. The high hill in Jeff Busby Park on the Natchez Trace has a relatively unobstructed view of the west. East too, if you ever want to catch a sunrise there. Sunrises and sunsets. As much as they are alike, no two are exactly the same. They are just like us — unique in their own special way.

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

FEBRUARY 2021 | TODAY 27

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