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picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it
We already know
No one needs to tell us how wonderful Mississippi is because we already know. We already know our state is the birthplace of rock and roll, country music, and the blues. We already know that some of the country’s most respected and award-winning writers hail from the state that gave us William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Richard Wright. We already know that Mississippi is home to some of the best food in the Deep South and, for that matter, the world. Most of all, we already know that Mississippi is a place filled with some of the kindest and most giving people in our country. Even though some people who have never stepped foot in our great state like to tear us down because of the mistakes of the past, it’s nice to be reminded that there are others who see Mississippi as we do. Our cover story this month is about a man from far away who now calls Mississippi home. He now knows, just like we do. Joe Dera was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Clifton, New Jersey. After retiring from 40 years in public relations, Dera and his girlfriend moved to Yazoo County from Pennsylvania. Once you read our story, you’ll see that Dera’s career in public relations was not your average office job.
Dera is a member of Yazoo Valley Electric, and like all our electric cooperative members all over Mississippi, he is part of a special community. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles that set electric cooperatives apart from other electric utilities is Concern for Community. Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by our members. That means cooperatives do a lot more than provide safe and affordable power for our members. Whether its co-op employees volunteering in local schools or making donations of time and money to a food bank, cooperatives are not just invested in communities, they are an integral part of them. Dera has been a cooperative member since 2016, so this is a little late — welcome to Mississippi and welcome to our co-op community. We hope you enjoy the March issue.
Mississippi is... It’s where I’m from. Born in Laurel, Jones County. Raised on a dead-end dirt road. Waded most every branch of water, climbed most every tree around home. It’s where I am. Clarke County near Quitman. Home now. Beautiful country around here. Wonderful people around here.
by Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
It’s where I’ll be. My wife and I have been blessed to visit all 50 states, and Washington D.C. Also, Canada and Mexico. Love it all. But no other place like Mississippi. Yes, it’s where I’ll be.
by The Rev. Michael Boutwell, a resident of Quitman and a member of East Mississippi Electric Power Association
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
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 3
in this issue
5
southern gardening Getting ready for summer gardening
7 scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places in Mississippi
9
5
outdoors today Time to talk turkey on the hunting trail
10 local news 16 feature
PR agent to the stars Joe Dera retires to Yazoo County
16
20 on the menu
Yummy deep dish pizza and chocolate cookies
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Vol. 75 No. 3
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 Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Alan Burnitt - Graphic Designer Courtney Warren - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Member Services Coordinator Steve Temple - Social Media Director 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: 480,459
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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Here kitty, kitty
On the cover Retired public relations guru Joe Dera enjoys time with his seven rescue dogs in the front of his Bentonia home. Photo by Chad Calcote.
And we think you’re going to love ours. So let’s work together: As electric cooperatives, we were built by the communities we serve—and by members just like you. 4 TODAY | MARCH 2022
Make raised beds now for Although daffodils are starting to show their tops through the bare ground, watching them emerge does not give gardeners much to do during the winter months. But this time spent waiting for spring’s arrival is the perfect opportunity to get ready for the growing season. A project every gardener will benefit from is building a raised bed. A raised bed is simply a landscape or garden bed that is higher than the surrounding grade. These beds are useful for both vegetables and flowers. Gardening in a raised beds is one way to intensively cultivate a small area. It is also a good starting place for new gardeners who may be inGardening in a raised beds is timidated by the time and one way to intensively cultivate work involved in creating a garden from scratch. a small area. It is also a good There are many benestarting place for new gardeners fits of using raised beds. who may be intimidated by Plants require less time the time and work involved in and space to produce a creating a garden from scratch. crop. Research suggests that this is primarily due to the much-improved drainage a raised bed offers compared to in-ground gardening. Weed control is also easier. Gardeners themselves also benefit. Those with sore backs or bad knees will find that bringing the garden up a little closer means less bend and fewer aches and pains. Using raised beds also allows the gardener to reach into the bed from both sides. First, decide where to place your raised bed, as the amount of sunlight it receives affects what can be successfully grown. Most vegetables prefer full sun all day, but they can get by with at least six hours a day of morning sun. Also consider where your raised bed will be in relation to the water faucet. Successful gardens must have easy access to irrigation. It is not hard to construct your own raised bed. The first rule is that a raised bed should never be more than 4 feet wide. That means you have to reach only 2 feet into the bed from either side, and you never set foot in the bed itself. Raised beds are usually about 1 foot deep. You can make the raised beds as long or as short as you like to fit your growing needs and garden space. Some lumber yards now offer treated wood that is garden friendly. If you don’t want to use treated lumber, cedar and redwood have natural resistance to decay. These woods are more expensive but will last much longer than untreated pine.
Build sides out of any hardscape material, such as lumber, galvanized metal, stones, or bricks. Sides keep the growing mix where it belongs and your garden looking tidy. Fill raised beds with a container growing mix that stays light and fluffy. Don’t use regular ground soil. A raised bed is just a very large container, so use a mix that drains well. To calculate the volume of growing mix you need, just multiply the length by width by depth in feet. So, for a 4-by-8-foot raised bed, multiply 8 times 4 times 1, which equals 32 cubic feet of growing mix. Bagged, premixed potting soil or soilless mixes are readily available from garden supply stores. They are quick and easy but are also the most expensive. You can make your own with the same great results using equal volumes of peat moss, compost, and pine bark. To make measuring easier, remember that a 5-gallon bucket holds two-thirds of a cubic foot.
Using hardscape materials, such as treated lumber to build sides, keeps raised-bed gardens looking tidy.
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.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 5
We
Trees, Too.
e know everyone in our community enjoys beauty and shade trees provide. But trees d power lines can be a dangerous mix We Trees, Too. hout regular trimming during the We know everyone in our community enjoys owing season. the beauty and shade trees provide. But trees If power you see usbeout in themix and lines can a dangerous without regular trimming during the community trimming, growing season. remember the many If you see us out in the benefits it brings: community trimming, remember the many • Keeps power lines clear benefits it brings: of tree limbs • Keeps power lines clear • Helps us of restore tree limbspower outages more • Helps usquickly restore power outages more quickly • Keeps crews and • Keeps crews and members of our members of our community safe safe community • Reduces unexpected • Reduces unexpected for repairs costs forcosts repairs Trimming improves service reliability for you, the members serve. imming improves service we reliability r you, the members we serve.
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comes to life in Moss Point by Steven Ward There are 41 educational facilities operated nationwide by the National Audubon Society, and one of them is located on 10 acres in downtown Moss Point. The Pascagoula River Audubon Center is situated on Rhodes Bayou on a historic site where a trolly ran during the late 1800s and early 1900s, said Susan Stachowski, the center’s manager.
The center is described as an educational gateway to exploring nature and bayou habitats by offering educational programming for school groups. The center also features local nature themes, a step back in time with the historic trolley ticket booth and Scout Hut, and hands-on learning opportunities. Visitors can discover the outdoors on the nature trails, bayou pier, bird feeders, critter tanks, an art gallery, and renting kayaks. In 1974, more than 35,000 acres of land along the Pascagoula was preserved for the public. The landmark preservation, spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy, has protected a unique ecosystem, and grown to the current 70,000 acres that keep the largest free-flowing river in the contiguous United States one of the wildest. Wildlife abounds in the Pascagoula River — including some species that are endemic or found nowhere else on the planet. Stachowski said the sounds of nature at the center are her favorite part of what the area offers. “I enjoy being outside at the center listening to the sounds of nature. Squirrels jumping through the trees, birds of all types calling and the sounds of the fish jumping in the water. It is amazing that I-10 and Hwy 613 are visible from the center, but it feels like we are in the
middle of nowhere,” Stachowski said. She said guests tell her that they enjoy bird watching, seeing owls and cardinals nesting, and native plants blooming. Stachowski described the center as an outdoor laboratory where conservation education comes to life. Although the center is owned by the National Audubon Society, it is designed to be financially self-sustaining. Revenue sources come from renting the grounds and buildings for weddings, receptions, parties, and corporate events, I enjoy being outside at the center listening to the sounds Stachowski said. “The center also of nature... squirrels jumping has a gift shop that through the trees, birds of all features nature-based types calling and the sounds of items that are unique the fish jumping in the water. to the area, and we rent kayaks and a pedal boat for enjoyment on the bayou and river. Our art gallery provides local artists a place to exhibit work and offers guests the opportunity to purchase,” Stachowski said. Other than those revenue streams, the center depends on donations from area business, industry, and residents. Donations start as low as $30 for memberships and go up to $25,000 for corporate sponsorships.
Volunteers are a vital part of the center’s success, she said. “We have volunteers who simply provide minnows to feed the snakes, water plants, work with customer service, assist with lawn care and maintenance, assist with educational field trips and some who work festivals and special events. We are always looking for new volunteers,” Stachowski said.
Visit pascagoula.audubon.org or call 228-475-0825 for more information about the center. MARCH 2022 | TODAY 7
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Common speculation is that Benjamin Franklin wanted to proclaim the wild turkey as America’s national bird. This assumption, invalid though it was, resulted from a letter Franklin wrote extolling the virtues of the turkey and the shortcomings of the eagle. The turkey never officially gained the endorsement of Franklin, but the story has long been circulated and erroneously concluded as fact. The national bird, we all know, is the bald eagle.
Since turkeys are ground nesters, they are vulnerable to predation and spring flooding.
There is substance aplenty to place the wild turkey in a position of high regard. Franklin thought the bird courageous. Many, both yesteryear and today, consider the wild turkey a particularly delightful entity to bake or fry or handle in several other avenues of meal making. All these factors are correct, but there is even more to the wild turkey. Some may say he is gaudy, an accurate assessment. Puffed up and strutting on a spring morning, a gobbler is regal while at the same time a touch pretentious. His displays are exercises of grandiosity, of juvenile yet noble behavior, and presentation. He fans and pirouettes and drums and walks in a stiff-legged fashion comprised of short spurts of forward movement, this accompanied by that drumming and fan flaring and pirouetting. A turkey is also a gobbler. The wildest of sounds, save perhaps the bugle of a bull elk
or the dark-night rumble of a lion. Gobbling is wildness in audio. And the wild turkey is… well, wild. Whether housed in a hen or gobbler, that wildness is the leading force of the turkey’s survival. An old saw among hunters is that a deer thinks every hunter is a stump, and a turkey thinks every stump is a hunter. That is not far from the truth. Swat a mosquito or blink an eye at the wrong moment and the game is over. Turkeys can vacate real estate at near 20 mph on foot; and airborne, maybe 50. But they are not immune to all calamities. Obviously, hunters take turkeys, but this is a small percentage of mortality. The real damage comes in the form of habitat loss, predation, and spring flooding. Turkeys are, after all, ground nesters, and this affords a strong hand of destruction to those last three entities just mentioned. Still, turkey populations are strong throughout their range and are regulated with reasonable guidelines that assure turkey numbers remain solid. I still hunt turkeys from time to time. Not as often as in past years, but I generally go. Whether I shoot or not is immaterial. But having an encounter and conversation with a gobbler is much appreciated. The price of admission for this is to get in the spring woods before daylight and listen intently. Some visitors may not choose that expenditure. But those who don’t are missing a grand adventure in proximity of wild things. So, with shotgun or not, get out and enjoy the drama. It is a glorious performance.
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.
A grand spring spectacle. Nothing compares to the courting displays of gobblers.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 9 MARCH 2022
BRINGING THE POWER WWW. SOU THE RNP IN E.COOP | P.O. BOX 60 | 1349 1 H WY. 28 | TAYLO R SVIL L E, MS 39 168 | 800.231 .524 0
Help Us Bring the Power of Communication At Southern Pine, we always strive to improve our operational efficiency to provide the most reliable electric service possible for our members. We rely on data for nearly every aspect of our operations, which is why we need your help. Accurate information enables us to improve member service and enhance communications for reporting and repairing outages. It also allows co-op members to receive information about other important programs, events, and activities. By ensuring we have your most accurate and complete contact information, we can continue to provide the high level of service you expect and deserve. Up-to-date contact information can sometimes speed up power restoration during an outage. For example, the phone number you provide links your service address to our outage management system. So, when you call or text to report an outage, our system recognizes your phone number and matches it with your account location. Accurate information helps our outage management system predict the location and possible cause of an outage, making it easier for our crews to correct the problem. While we always do our best to maintain service, we must occasionally plan outages to update, repair or replace equipment. We can provide advance notice when we have a scheduled outage if we have your current information. Many of you are long-time members, and, likely, your account information hasn’t been updated for some time. With most members using cell phones these days, we need your cell phone numbers to send and receive outage information by text. At Southern Pine, we know your privacy is important, and we will never share this information with any third parties. Please take a moment to review your contact information, and if it needs to be updated, visit www.southernpine.coop or contact a member service representative at 800-231-5240. By doing so, you will be helping us improve service and efficiency for you and all members of Southern Pine.
10 TODAY | MARCH 2022
DID YOU GET OUR TEXT? If not, text JOIN to 1-800-231-5240.
We are excited to offer this new service, which will be the easiest and fastest way to report outages when they occur. We encourage you to visit the link below to find out more about the new service and how it can work for you. www.southernpine.coop/howtouse
WWW.SOUTHERNPINE.COOP | 1-800-231-5240
by Chris K. Rhodes President/CEO Southern Pine Electric
Teaching Future Generations Electrical Safety At Southern Pine, safety is always our priority and that doesn’t end with our employees and members. Safety for our future generations of employees is crucial. That’s why Safety Coordinator Jamie Arender travels around our service area conducting safety demonstrations to children and young adults. Whether future linemen, like this group from Covington County Vocational-Technical Center, or
future members, our goal is always to help keep them safe. These young men may work for Southern Pine, another cooperative, or another electric provider, and wherever they go we want them to know that Southern Pine wants them to always work safely. For more information about safety demonstrations, please email jarender@southernpine.coop.
CREATED WITH YOU IN MIND Check out our new website design at www.southernpine.coop and see for yourself! You were first on our minds when creating the new, member-friendly design. The site is loaded with features to make your experience as quick and easy as possible, while ensuring that important member information is easily accessible. As always, we value your opinion, so let us know what you think at voice@southernpine.coop.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 11
Southern Pine Participates in Cooperative Day of Service Southern Pine Electric employees honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in Cooperative Day of Service on Friday, Jan. 14. Over 50 employees volunteered to assist Piney Woods School, Keep Simpson County Beautiful, Southern Pines Animal Shelter, area nursing homes, and Hope Recovery in Magee. At Piney Woods School, employees pulled up a tile floor, installed new toilets, installed a new water heater, and completed general cleaning projects. They also worked with the students to clean up the rock garden. The Hope Recovery team completed demo work, hauling, installation, and painting projects. Several others worked with Keep Simpson County Beautiful to clean up and beautify the area by planting bulbs along the roadway.
The employees of Southern Pine also collected pet food and supplies ahead of Cooperative Day of Service, and a team of employees delivered the supplies to Southern Pine Animal Shelter in Hattiesburg. Finally, several employees delivered socks and personal care items to area nursing homes. “Cooperative Day of Service, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., serves as a reminder that we should all do all we can to help our communities, and we’re honored to be a part of this day,” said Chris K. Rhodes, president and CEO of Southern Pine Electric. “Our employees are accustomed to serving others and always jump at the chance to help. They’ve certainly made a tremendous impact today.”
12 TODAY | MARCH 2022
Step Up and Help Build Our Future
by Jalen Derricks Southern Pine student ambassador Going through life, we hear people talk about tomorrow. We hear about and see people planning the future. But what is the future? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines future as something “that is to be” or “of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense expressive of time yet to come.” So, what does the future hold and what will it look like many years The future holds the lives down the line? While no one truly of our younger and future knows the answer to this, some generations. What is done people think they have an idea. Some people have dreams of what today impacts our future. it will look like, some people have doubts, and some people have hope. Many people put a lot of thought into the future, but how many are working towards a bright future? The future holds the lives of our younger and future generations. What is done today impacts our future. It is time that we get involved in businesses and industries that affect us. This is especially important in our co-ops because they serve us, the member-owners, and we have a voice. The decisions they make in today’s time will affect our lives later. So, to my generation, let’s start now in building OUR future. So again, let’s step up, use our voices, get involved, and build OUR future.
About Jalen Derricks Jalen, Southern Pine’s 2022 Student Ambassador, works closely with the Southern Pine communications team and will represent Southern Pine at community events throughout the Southern Pine territory. In addition, he assists with a variety of communications projects, including web design, social media management, writing and editing, and graphic design. A junior at Scott Central High School in Forest, Jalen plans to major in journalism in college. He has a strong interest in creating and has his own business where he designs and makes various promotional products. Jalen also designs and edits websites and has experience in photography and videography. Jalen is also the junior class president at Scott Central, serves as yearbook photographer and editor, is band president, and is active in several other organizations. He is the son of Chris and Syreeta Derricks of Forest.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 13
Electricity turns dark into light, makes hot foods cold and cold foods hot, washes the dishes, and searches the internet. It is essential to our everyday lives, so much so that we rarely think about it. But behind the scenes, interesting things are happening.
Here are three interesting facts about electricity that cause even some experts to scratch and shake their heads.
Electricity must be used after it’s generated. The electricity you use in your home needs to be used after it’s generated. It’s true. Electricity produced from power plants, solar panels, wind turbines and hydro dams in the U.S. needs to be perfectly timed for when you decide to cook dinner, wash clothes or watch TV. The national grid of power generators, wires, and substations are an incredibly complex network that makes electricity flow smoothly. A vast and intricate system of devices controls that power flow in a precisely balanced way. It’s one reason utility operators must be strategic when adding renewable energy to the nation’s fuel mix — a coal or natural gas plant can ramp generation up or down fairly quickly to meet changing energy demand. But solar energy and wind power depend more on the whims of Mother Nature, which adds an extra degree of difficulty to power management.
14 TODAY | MARCH 2022
Power out? Blame a squirrel. While severe weather causes most outages, if it’s nice out and your electricity goes off, it could be caused by a squirrel. We all know to play it safe around electricity, but squirrels don’t. They scamper and chew around transformers, substations and utility poles where they can disrupt high-voltage equipment, shutting down power for you and me. But it’s not just squirrels. Snakes, birds, and other critters can find their way into dangerous places. There’s no official recordkeeping of wildlife-caused power outages, but estimates run as high as 20%. Electric utilities are constantly devising new ways to keep wildlife away from dangerous electrical equipment — the resulting power disruptions are inconvenient for us energy consumers, and always fatal for the squirrel.
Highways could charge electric vehicles in the future. If researchers have their way, electric vehicles wouldn’t need to plug in — they could charge while they’re being driven. “Wireless dynamic charging” projects are underway around the world. The idea is similar to wireless chargers you can buy for your home electronics, the kind you can set near a charger rather than actually plugging in the smart phone or other device. Charging cars while they’re driving along the freeway is of course a lot more ambitious. But some developers predict that within five years, in addition to today’s special high-occupancy-vehicle lanes for rush-hour traffic in large cities, there could be stretches of vehicle-charging lanes. Electricity is such a basic part of our everyday life, so it’s easy to forget about it. But every now and then it’s good to think about all its benefits and mysteries.
Services to Make Your Life Easier My Power There are not many options that offer you the ability to save money these days. However, Southern Pine’s My Power provides you with the tools to make wise, energy-efficient decisions that will impact your power bill. My Power gives you the opportunity to view your billing history, daily kilowatt-hour use, and past bills. In addition, My Power makes it easy to report outages, pay your bill, and sign up for paperless billing. To sign up for My Power, visit southernpine.coop and click on the My Power icon on the home page. You will need your Southern Pine account number and the service address. Once you enter the information and complete the process, you will receive an email with a link to continue the registration process and choose a password. Please check your spam and junk mail folders. If you do not receive an email, please contact us at 1-800-231-5240 or info@southernpine.coop.
Automatic Bank Draft Payments Southern Pine Electric’s Bank Draft program is the most convenient way to pay your power bill and it gives you the security of knowing your power bill will be paid on time. There are many benefits to the program.
Automatic Bank Draft Payments
• Receive a $25 bill credit the first time you sign up for bank draft. • Avoid late fees — By using bank draft, you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay your bill. • No more stamps — Eliminate postage costs and save time by never having to mail a payment. • Keep your money longer — The bank draft program allows money to stay in your checking account until midnight on the final due date. This allows your money to work for you longer, and it provides plenty of time to make those last-minute deposits.
Levelized Payment Plan
Levelized Payment Plan The levelized payment plan is a service for residential members that allows payments of approximately the same amount on your electric bill each month. With this plan, the amount you pay each month is based on an average of your actual monthly consumption for a one-year period. To qualify you must meet the following criteria: • Residential member or tax-free status • Meter must have at least 12 months of billing history at current place of residence with no tampering, no disconnects, and no returned checks during that time • The account must be current The levelized amounts must be paid prior to the delinquent date to avoid removal from the plan. Accounts removed from this plan may re-enroll only after 12 months of good payment history. Members are responsible for all amounts due when their participation in the program ends.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 15
Photos by Chad Calcote
JOE DERA TRADES BIG TIME FOR BENTONIA by Steven Ward
Joe Dera is happily living out his retirement in an antebellum home in Bentonia with his girlfriend and their seven rescue dogs. “I love Mississippi. I wish I would have done this 10 years ago,” Dera, 71, said while sitting in the dining room of his residence purchased in 2016 and powered by Yazoo Valley Electric. 16 TODAY | MARCH 2022
Dera’s retirement is well earned. For 40 years, Dera worked in public relations as a publicist for some of the biggest acts in popular music. For more than half of that time — 23 years — Dera worked with Paul McCartney. “It’s funny because I was never really a big Beatles fan. I was always a Stones guy,” Dera said. “Somebody asked me how I worked for him (McCartney) for so long. Because it was a job. It was just work for me.” Although Dera’s work relationship with the former Beatle was his longest with one client, McCartney was one of many superstar artists he did public relations for. During various times in his career, Dera worked with The Who, Robert Palmer, The Bee Gees, David Bowie, ZZ Top, Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison, Clint Black, Barry Manilow, Peter Frampton, and UB40. Dera’s story is one that begins internationally, moves to New Jersey and New York City where he garners an opportunity to work in the music industry, before landing in Mississippi for his later years.
It’s funny because I was never really a big Beatles fan. I was always a Stones guy. Somebody asked me how I worked for him (McCartney) for so long. Because it was a job. It was just work for me. Dera was born in the Netherlands before his family emigrated to the U.S. with the help of an American soldier who became close to Dera’s father. The family moved to Clifton, New Jersey, which gave Dera close proximity to New York City, home to much of the music industry at the time. Dera, who loved music, had no grand plan to go into public relations. “It just sort of happened. I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time,” Dera said. Dera started writing record reviews in college, partially, to get free music from the record companies in New York City. During that time, Dera went to concerts in the city all the time, including a memorable night in 1969 seeing Led Zeppelin at Carnegie Hall after buying a ticket for $3.50. Dera then started hanging out at a small public relations company called The Wartoke Concern. He got his foot in the door by, at first, offering to help out for free. That work turned into a paying job later. That experience led to an opportunity to work at Track Records, a company owned by Pete Townshend of The Who, where he worked for $300 a week and helped promote the band’s classic album, “Who’s Next” in 1971. The Track Records work led to two other stints in publicity — doing PR and auditioning bands at the Mercer Arts Center, an off, off Broadway theater in Greenwich Village, and working at Levinson Associates Public Relations.
From left, legendary guitar maker Les Paul, Paul McCartney, and Joe Dera.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 17
In April 1976, Dera was offered a job at the New York City offices of Rogers & Cowan, one of the biggest entertainment public relations firms in the world. As the new guy, one of his first assignments included working as an unofficial personal assistant to Paul McCartney, buying McCartney and his wife, Linda, vegetarian food, and handling travel logistics for the family. “That was a time when McCartney wasn’t touring. So they sent me, the new guy,” Dera said. The relationship with McCartney led to 23 years together. McCartney was one of Dera’s first clients when he launched his own public relations firm in 1989, Dera, Roslan & Campion, Inc.
Other projects Dera worked on while at Rogers & Cowan include doing publicity for The Bee Gees and their “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack; Peter Frampton’s “Frampton Comes Alive” album; and promoting David Bowie’s massive “Serious Moonlight” tour of the U.S. in 1983. “We took Ticketmaster out of the loop, so people lined up around the block for tickets to the Madison Square Garden show,” Dera said. After that, David Bowie wound up on the cover of Time magazine.
From top left, David Bowie speaking at a 1983 press conference; a drumhead signed by Ringo Starr; a frame filled with VIP passes to shows by artists Dera worked with; Dera standing on his home’s staircase; Paul and Linda McCartney holding Dera’s son, Sam; and Dera with Ringo Starr.
18 TODAY | MARCH 2022
Later in life, Dera met a Mississippi woman when they were both living in Pennsylvania. Dera started dating Suzy Case, who is from Madison, when she was working as a forensic psychologist in 2007. The pair visited Mississippi often to spend time with Case’s family, who still lives in Madison. Dera retired in 2011, and the couple decided to buy a house in Mississippi. The couple purchased their home, which was prefabricated in St. Louis in 1857 then moved to Yazoo County. “I’m a sucker for old houses,” Dera said. Dera said life in Mississippi is wonderful. “I love the climate. I love the people. We’ve made great friends, and we are committed to giving back in some way,” Dera said.
Dera and girlfriend Suzy Case.
One of the ways Dera gives back is doing free publicity for his Mississippi friends. One of those friends is David Raines, owner, chef, and operator of The Flora Butcher, a high-end specialty meat shop and the Flora restaurant, Dave’s Triple B: Barbecue, Beer & Blues. Raines practices the local farm-to-table philosophy with his shop and restaurant. A Michelin-trained chef originally from Monroe, Louisiana, Raines has worked all over the world including stints at Emeril Lagassee’s NOLA in New Orleans and Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dera met Raines after he spotted a sign in Flora for the upcoming opening of The Flora Butcher. “I was on the side of the shop, and Joe walked up, introduced himself, and said he was new to the area,” Raines said. Dera told Raines he needed a press agent. “I was just trying to pay it forward,” Dera said. Dera said Raines is helping revitalize downtown Flora with his businesses, which is soon to include a third venture, a wine shop. “I don’t consider this (publicity for Raines) work. If I like somebody, it’s not working,” Dera said.
Dera with Chef David Raines, owner and operator of The Flora Butcher and Dave’s Triple B restaurant.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 19
This chewy, cheesy pizza is a cross between Detroit-style pan pizza and focaccia. Now, if it’s the weekend, and I think I can scoot through without a trip to the grocery, I’ll whip-up a batch of this dough and pile whatever is around on top. (I highly recommend warming a big square of this pizza then topping it with a cracked egg and running it under the broil for a dynamite breakfast.) Reversing the order of toppings by putting the cheese directly on top of the dough and then adding toppings and then, if desired,
INGREDIENTS 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 package (4 ounce) instant yeast (Rapid Rise) 2 teaspoons sugar 2 cups warm water 2 tablespoons kosher salt 4 tablespoons olive oil Assorted toppings In the bowl of a heavy duty stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast, and sugar. Attach the dough hook and add the water. Mix on low speed for 2 minutes or until dough begins to form a shaggy dough. Turn off the mixer and cover bowl with a damp tea towel or cling wrap. Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the covering and mix dough on medium-low, sprinkling the salt over the dough. Increase speed to medium and mix for 10 minutes occasionally pulling the dough off the hook.
spooning a few light stripes of sauce over the toppings gives these pizzas a wonderfully crisp, almost fried crust. Aside from the classic pepperoni and such, I like to top mine with some “Delta-style” toppings like crawfish tails, venison sausage, barbequed pulled pork, smoked brisket, even tablespoons of pimento cheese. Mix and match, add sauce, or just go full on cheesy. This dough can be made by hand by following the same steps and times.
Pour two tablespoons of olive oil into two 9 x 13-inch metal baking pans. Tilt the pans around to get oil all over the bottom and slightly up the sides of the pans. Cut dough into two equal pieces and place a hunk of dough in each pan. Press dough to form a thick rectangle and cover with a damp towel or cling wrap. Place in a draft-free warm
spot. (I put mine in the closet with our hot water heater.) Let dough rise undisturbed for 2 hours. Press, stretch, and pull dough to cover the bottom of each pan. The dough may shrink back a bit. Cover again and let dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Once again, press the dough, dimpling the surface to cover the bottoms of each pan. Heat oven to 500 degrees and arrange an oven rack in the lowest position. Top each pizza with shredded or sliced mozzarella cheese making sure to sprinkle cheese all the way to the edges of the pans. Add toppings. Bake pizzas 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly or beginning to turn dark brown around the edges. When pizzas are out of the oven, run a sharp knife around the edges to loosen the cheesy crust. Let pizzas cool for 5 minutes and enjoy.
Makes two 9 x 13-inch-deep dish pizzas 20 TODAY | MARCH 2022
These are so easy and impressive! With the help of some old friends on all sorts of apps (that I’m not sure how to use) I cobbled together a close approximation to a cookie served at a beloved deli that closed years ago. I coupled those leads with an inspiration from what’s going on with peanut butter cups these days. The classic incorporates toasted pecans and chocolate chips. I tried batches with mixtures of crushed saltine crackers, pretzels, kettle cooked potato chips, and honey roasted peanuts. These cookies are deeply chocolatey with a salty crunch, chewy chocolate, and meringue crisp crust. Yum!
INGREDIENTS 3 cups powdered sugar 1⁄3 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 3 eggs (6 tablespoons egg whites) ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. In a large bowl, sift together the powdered sugar, cocoa, and flour. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt together for 2 minutes at medium speed. Reduce speed to low and add the dry ingredients a little at a time until all incorporated. Stir in additions. Scoop eight scant ¼ cup portions of dough onto prepared pans. Bake 15 to 20 minutes on the middle rack of the oven. The cookies will be crisp with trenches of chewy chocolate. Allow to cool before removing from pan.
Makes 8 large cookies
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.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 21
mississippi seen
mississippi is...
events
mississippi marketplace Events open to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Submit details at least on the outdoors two months prior to menu the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with today area code for Mississippi’s publication. Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject to change. scene around the ‘sip picture this The 29th Annual Spring Arts Festival. The 53rd Annual Gospel Singing Jubilee. Lowest March 26 and 27. Ocean Springs. Presented by March 19. Magee. Featuring the Freemans, The Ocean Springs Chamber ofmy Commerce-Main Terryco-op Joe Terrell, Tim Frith and The Gospel Echoes, opinionLife Insurance involvement Street-Tourism Bureau. Fast becoming a mini–Peter Revelations, and Messiah’s Men. The show starts at 6:30 pm at the Magee High School Auditorium. 501 Choctaw St. Details: 601-906-0677.
Anderson Festival, this event will feature artists, and
The 2022 Columbus Spring Pilgrimage. March 24 through April 16. Columbus. Put together by The Preservation Society of Columbus. The daily home tours show off some of the most historically significant private homes in America with a comprehensive view of the architectural periods of the homes that tells part of Columbus’ storied history. The tours feature nationally recognized, multicultural, interactive, interpretive, educational programs for all ages. Proceeds fund preservation, research, and programming of the Preservation Society of Columbus, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Details: 662-368-2503 or preservecolumbus.com.
artists’ demonstrations, entertaining lectures and more. This year’s herb of the year is pansey. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Downtown Ocean Springs. The annual festival showcasing more than 150 artists, crafters, and plant vendors is co-coordinated by the Ocean Springs Art Association and Ocean Springs Fresh Market. Details: 228-875-4424 or visit oceanspringschamber.com.
Rates
in various media including painting, pottery, southern gardeningcrafters ‘n’include bare it jewelry, plants and more.grin Festival activities
Marion County Model Train and Railroad History Exhibit. Now through March 26. Columbia. The exhibit includes a 10x12 foot table with three running model trains on a landscape including Columbia’s Main Street and the Marion County Courthouse. Video interviews of former railroad employees and accounts of the Red Bluff train derailment into the Pearl River. Kids can enjoy a “Young Engineer’s” play area and the movie, “The Polar Express.” The museum is FREE and includes additional exhibits of military, sports, rodeo, farming, logging, arrowheads, Civil War, and Civil Rights. Museum hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 200 Second St. No. 3. Details: 601-731-3999.
Maker Faire Meridian. April 2 and 3. Meridian. A free hands-on show-and-tell event showcasing invention and creativity for and by all ages. Indoors and outdoors demonstrations and exhibits at Soule Steam Works in the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum. Details: makerfairemeridian.com or 601-693-9905. The Gulf Coast Military Collectors & Antique Arms Show. April 29 and 30. Biloxi. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 29 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30. Historic artifacts from all wars bought, sold, and exhibited. War souvenirs, weapons, swords, daggers, bayonets, flags, uniforms, medals, helmets, badges, insignia, and field gear. The Joppa Shriner’s Center, 13280 Shriner’s Blvd. Details: 228-224-1120 or 228-392-9345 or email terrell.hamilton@gmail.com.
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22 TODAY | MARCH 2022
About this time last year, I was asked to be the host of the annual Volunteer Mississippi GIVE Awards. Pretty much every kind of meeting or ceremony at that time was done virtually. So, my “hosting” consisted of reading a script off the teleprompter at Mississippi Public Broadcasting while they recorded it and put it online later. I never met the winners. Nor did any of us get the usual banquet meal that normally accompanies such affairs. I was impressed by all the recipients’ stories. By far the most unusual awardee was Bob Reese of Starkville. He was selected to receive an award for a service he provides — rescuing cats. Reese rescues cats that have inadvertently climbed a tree without an exit strategy. All cats can climb. But not all cats can UN-climb. Sometimes cats are stuck up there for days without food or water. Bob says it is not true that every cat will eventually come down on its own. Some may die of starvation, dehydration, or exposure. So, someone must go up to haul them down. Bob became a cat rescuer after his pet made a venture up a tree. He tried to find a cat rescue service but couldn’t. So, he did what all of us do when we are faced with a daunting task. He pulled up a YouTube video. Bob, being way more adventurous than I am, then rigged up some ropes and a harness. He hoisted himself high up into the branches and gathered his wandering pet into a waiting pillowcase and lowered himself and the cat safely back to the ground. But, as it sometimes happens after one has accomplished a one-of-akind task, Bob Reese wanted to do it again. And again. And again, and again. Now, several hundred cats later, Bob is still harnessing up in his now professional climbing gear, pulling himself up the rope into the dizzying tops of oaks and pines, and helping someone’s frightened feline back down to terra firma. Bob doesn’t charge for his services but asks the people he has helped to donate to a nearby animal shelter. He has raised thousands of dollars in the process. Bob says he will travel up to three hours from home to perform his service. He has been all over north Mississippi, Alabama, and into Tennessee climbing to nose-bleed heights, grappling with uncooperative pets, and returning them to grateful owners.
I, on the other hand, still prefer to stand on the ground under the tree with a bowl of cat food in hand, looking up and calling, “Here kitty, kitty.” Just a quick postscript. Since last year, Bob has moved to Huntsville, Alabama. (He wanted to be near his grandkids.) But he still rescues cats. He has allowed me to put his phone number in this article. If he can’t come help you, he knows other cat rescuers in Mississippi who can. But try, “here kitty, kitty” first. Bob can be reached at 662-418-0479.
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.
MARCH 2022 | TODAY 23
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