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Advice to a graduating daughter It is hard to believe it has been six years since I first gave advice to your brother. Advice to your sister would follow three years later and now it is your turn. Honestly, there were times when I wondered if this day would come. From open heart surgery at six months to pacemakers at ages 11 and 14, we have been through a lot. I will never forget, after that first surgery, seeing your doctor in the ICU at 3 a.m. in a full tuxedo! He, along with other doctors, had been called in to save your life and it wasn’t until 10 days later, when we were bringing you home, that we would learn how close we had come to losing you. For the past 18 years you have fought through these medical conditions with an attitude that still amazes me. You could have easily gotten down and felt sorry for yourself, but you did not. You always kept a positive attitude, endured what came at you and said, “others are worse off, why should I complain?” Had it been me, I am not sure I could have handled everything with the grace and class that you have displayed. Soon you will graduate high school and be off to college. I know you are excited and ready to be “on your own.” Enjoy these college years. You will look back at them one day and discover they were some of the best times of your life. You will mature into an adult and make friendships that will last a lifetime. Now I could give you the advice that I gave your brother and sister: read your Bible, go to church, choose friends wisely, be home by 2 a.m., never go to a stranger’s room and other such things. But you already know all of this. I believe younger children mature faster because they watch and learn from their older siblings. So, my advice to you is somewhat different. It has been said that the two most important days in your life are the day

you are born and the day you realize why you were born. Go discover your why! There have been so many times these past 18 years when God could have taken you from us. From your mother’s womb until today, there have been countless miracles that have happened to keep you here on earth. For that reason, I must believe that God has a special purpose for you. I am not saying that purpose will lead to fame and fortune. God has many ambassadors that work behind the scenes in anonymity. But you must go and discover what that purpose is and why you have been put on this earth. I find it ironic that your heart, the weakest part of your body, is your biggest asset. I have watched you volunteer and mentor under privileged children, teach Vacation Bible School, keep the nursery in church and give your time so freely to others that were in need. I have often found it hard to believe that a heart so damaged could be so big and so full of love for others. That is a wonderful trait you possess, and I have admired it for many years. Lastly, I want to tell you how proud I am of you. Throughout your life you have conducted yourself in a manner that suggests a maturity far beyond your age. While I am apprehensive about you leaving, I know it has to and needs to happen. You cannot remain my little girl forever. You have too much hope, love and joy to give to a world that badly needs it. But know this, you will always be my baby and I will always love you. — Dad

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

Mississippi is... I think back that, as a child, I learned quickly, how to spell my home state, Mississippi, very swiftly. My sister taught me through a song, a song she knew but was not very long. Mississippi — M I crooked letter, crooked letter I, crooked letter, crooked letter I, humpback, humpback I. Now if you have a problem with spelling Mississippi, you too can learn without a sigh. Mississippi has many fun things to enjoy, shopping, riding 4-wheelers, trips to the zoo, are just a few things that will fill your life with much joy! Especially if grandkids get you up and out for the day. The smiles, the laughter, from these escapades...no words can express what you’d like to say. There is church and church family, church socials celebrating special occasions, not just casually. Decorations galore and food to feed plenty. Most of all giving glory to their Savior, Jesus, for supplying blessings — oh so many. Thoughts often run through my mind of younger days when life was so kind. Bringing memories of days with mom and dad, when trips to a creek made my sister and I so glad. Climbing trees, playing outside in a cool breeze, even picking figs with the sun’s hot glare, are just a few things that remind me of Mississippi so rare. Mississippi — my home state, proud of her and a “10” I would rate. A place God made just for me to flourish, A place I will always love and cherish!

by Barbara Jones, a resident of Ellisville and a member of Dixie 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

MAY 2021 | TODAY 3

in this issue

5 southern gardening Peppers can make gardens pop

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

11 outdoors today It’s bream fishing time

12 local news

Vol. 74 No. 5

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

18 feature

Lightning bugs create magical summer memories

The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

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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: 476,015

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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27 mississippi seen

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Lightning bugs fly at dusk in Wall Doxey State Park near Holly Springs. Photo by Jeff Davis

NEXT IN PICTURE THIS:

How does your

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Share photos of your garden with us. 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. Attach digital photos to email and send to news@ecm.coop. Submission deadline: June 4. Select photos will appear in the July 2021 issue.

4 TODAY | MAY 2021

Dark leaves of make garden splash The heat and drought tolerance of Black Pearl, along with its beautiful foliage and fruit, make it a great choice for Mississippi gardens.

Some of my favorite late-summer annuals are the ornamental peppers. These tough plants have to survive the heat and humidity of our Mississippi summers before they become the stars of my summer landscape. and distinctive dark-black foliage. In the past, I’ve written about these great plants during their The plant is accented by abundant, smallish, dark-purple fruit, peak color in late summer. Their show lasts through the fall as the which mature to bright red. The contrast between the foliage and plants keep producing. the fruit is an eye-catching combination in any garden. This has created some disappointment in faithful readers of Black Pearl is one of my favorites. It has clusters of shiny black, this Southern Gardening column who want to go to the garden round fruit that mature to brilliant center and pick up a few of these red and contrast with the black plants. The problem is you should foliage as the season progresses. plant your ornamental peppers in This plant grows to about 20 inches late spring. When I brag about the tall by 12 inches wide. A great feature show these peppers are putting on, for our Mississippi gardens is Black there are no ornamental pepper Pearl’s heat and drought tolerance. plants available at the time, and I Ornamental peppers prefer to hear about it from these interested grow in consistently moist soil, but gardeners. don’t be overly generous with the This year, I’m being proactive water, as the plants don’t tolerate and encouraging home gardeners waterlogged soil. Fertilize with a to start looking now for ornamental good slow-release fertilizer early in peppers. Then, when I show off the season. Once fruit starts to set, photos of my peppers, you’ll be there is no need to add additional able to walk outside and enjoy your The contrast between dark-black foliage and purple fruit that matures to nutrition. own. It only requires a little garden bright red make the Midnight Fire ornamental pepper an eye-catching selection in any garden. If you’re unable to find ornamental planning. peppers at your local garden center this spring, you’re not out There are lots of different ornamental peppers available in the of luck. Now is a great time to start seeds for ornamental pepspring, offering fruit in all the colors of the rainbow. But some of pers. There are many varieties, like the dark-leaved selections I’ve my favorites — and I will admit I have a lot of favorite plants — discussed, that are available online at many of the popular seed are the ornamental peppers with dark leaves. Here are just a few of my dark-leaved favorites that will brighten catalog companies. any landscape. Purple Flash, which was chosen as a Mississippi Medallion winner for 2010, is an example of the versatility and value of ornamental peppers. This pepper has purple and white variegated by Dr. Gary leaves. When I look at these plants in the early morning light, Bachman I swear I’m seeing various shades of light blue. Purple Flash is one of the showiest, or should I say flashiest, Gary Bachman, Ph.D., Extension/Research Professor of Horticulture at ornamental peppers on the market. the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in A new ornamental pepper variety released in 2018 is Midnight Biloxi. He is also host of “Southern Gardening” radio and TV programs. Fire. This plant has a compact, bushy growth habit and unique He lives in Ocean Springs and is a Singing River Electric member. MAY 2021 | TODAY 5

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Mom, son love working for co-ops by Steven Ward other’s Day is on May 9 this month but it’s unclear if Tracie Russell and her son, Tate Russell, will be able to spend the day together like they have in years past. Spending the day together will depend on the weather and what’s happening in their electric co-op territories. Tracie Russell is a marketing and communications specialist with North East Power in Oxford. Tate Russell is a lineman with Northcentral Electric Cooperative based out of Olive Branch.

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Tracie, 55, has been working at North East Power for 34 years. She has worked in the “new service” department, clocked 10 years as a billing manager and became the cooperative’s communications guru two years ago. Tate, 23, became a lineman at Northcentral about two years ago. Having a parent working at a cooperative definitely had an impact on Tate. “I went to work at Northcentral because growing up I always heard how great of a place it was and I wanted to work there. I can honestly say that I’ve loved every minute of it, and the crew of guys I work with are some of the best I could ask for,” Tate said. “I always saw how much everyone loved their job and how well the co-op treated them. I just thought it was so cool to see the lineman do their jobs and see how everything worked. So, from the time I was young, I knew I wanted to work for the co-op one day.” Tracie echoed Tate’s thoughts about growing up around an electric cooperative. 10 ⁄ 3

101⁄2 103⁄4 107⁄8 111⁄2 3

“He loves the outdoors and had always told me he wanted to work outside. When he was younger, he would come to my office and talk to the engineers and linemen and loved hearing their workday stories,” Tracie said. Tracie and Tate are very close and have leaned on one another for years. “Tate lost his dad when he was 14. We were close before then but grew extremely close after. He calls me regularly to tell me about his day and I love hearing about his job. He loves being a lineman,” Tracie said. Tate said he and his mother have a strong relationship. “She’s my rock. After the passing of my dad, she has been both my father and mother and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better person to do that job. She is most definitely the strongest person that I know,” Tate said. Because Tracie is an advisor to the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Youth Leadership Program, she really wanted her son to participate. “In my 24th year, I was able to take Tate with me to D.C. He loved it because history was his favorite subject in school, after girls, of course!” A typical Mother’s Day for Tracie and Tate includes church, lunch or dinner and a movie. Tracie said her favorite trait in her son is his “caring heart.” “He never wants to hurt anyone’s feelings and would rather be hurt himself. He is also very respectful. I’m so proud of the man he has become,” Tracie said. Tate said his mother is “genuine and caring.” “She always puts others before herself and never thinks twice about it. She always makes sure everyone else is taken care of before herself and she just has the biggest heart,” he said. MAY 2021 | TODAY 7

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

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Mississippi’s maverick gardener by Steven Ward Mississippi gardener and horticulturist Felder Rushing has “But his open attitude, overwhelming enthusiasm, matterlived in Jackson since 1980. of-fact style, and generous spirit gave countless people Known for his books, NPR radio show, magazine articles and confidence in their own abilities,” Rushing said. newspaper columns, Rushing likes to tell stories about his urban Rushing said maverick gardeners can be found all over neighbors and their unique takes on the home garden. Mississippi. But Rushing was actually reared in rural Mississippi — “I have visited and swapped plants and tales with maverick Indianola to be precise. gardeners — who, by the way, aren’t rebels, aren’t pushing back “I am from a small Delta town, raised by four headstrong from anything, they are simply doing their own thing and wishgardening women who had totally ing others would just understand — in every different styles. My ancestors have county; they are in every community across been in what is now Mississippi the state and worldwide,” Rushing said. since the 1700s,” Rushing told Rushing said there’s no difference Today in Mississippi recently during between maverick gardeners in rural parts an interview about his new book. of the state and city suburbs. “Maverick Gardeners: Dr. Dirt and “Folks all over love their lawns, tend their Other Determined Independent flowers, grow their vegetables and herbs, Gardeners” is about nontraditional dig in the dirt the same way. Garden style, gardeners and the bond people including accessories, is a personality thing, across race, culture, language, and not a location,” he said. other social conventions share via “However, there is less pressure outside unique plants and stories. the suburbs to ‘fit in,’ to be like others, so “But it (the book) mostly deals with in small towns and rural areas people are why passionate gardeners do what more likely to express themselves freely,” they do, what makes them tick and Rushing said. where they get their rewards (hint: it When it comes to garden tips, Rushing is is about gathering heirloom plants one of the go-to experts in the Southeast. and lore and sharing with others),” What tip is he asked about the most? Rushing said. “Other than pest control (do any of us For more information, The book features some highly really know how to keep squirrels and visit felderrushing.blog diverse people who have similar overaphids out of our gardens?), I get a lot of the-top garden spirits, including a guerilla gardener who shares questions about pruning and weed control. The most urgent food he grows on a vacant parking lot, a woman whose “grief one right now is whether or not it’s okay to prune crape myrtles garden” over a lost son is accessorized with countless birdwhich is more polarizing than politics!” houses, a colorful Jamaican immigrant and a high“By the way, whether self-appointed tastemakers like end landscape architect, all passionate individuals who love it or not, pruning crapes is perfectly fine as a style; “fist gardening and accessorizing and sharing that with others. pruning” (balls on the ends of branches) is done all over The “Dr. Dirt” in the book’s subtitle was a hardcore gardener Japan, England, even at the headquarters of the American who planted everything he could get his hands on, both flowers Horticulture Society. So, I tell people to mind their own and edibles, and container plants without a lot of horticultural business. It’s a personal decision like which way to pluck know-how or technology or sprays, Rushing said. eyebrows or roll toilet paper,” Rushing said.” He also said “Dr. Dirt” over-accessorized and spray painted everything. MAY 2021 | TODAY 9

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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.

MAY 2021 | TODAY 11

Revisions Requested Approved

STEVEN Date_____

a man trip — a neighbor, his son, my dad and me. We had gathered crickets and grasshoppers and dug worms three days prior. Fishing turned out sluggish. A few were boated, but those constant collections of bull bluegills simply did not materialize. I admit to whining, exasperated at the thought that this could happen and perhaps even expecting the two dads of the quartet to fix it, to unpack some sure cure, to somehow require cooperation from the elements and the conditions and the bream. No luck. Looking back, I see the folly of my thinking. Fishing was poor, but the trip was pleasant. We fished. We had a safe drive. We talked of farming and fishing. That, I now know, was one of my earliest opportunities to deal with contentment. And that opportunity brought rich rewards, profitable even into aging years. So, May is here. The month of bream fishing. The first full moon of this month is the target some say. A new chance is open to each, a chance to hone those fine edges of decency and contentment. And the new chance to catch bream!

Revisions Requested

Bream country! Fish the shallows and cover in May. A big bluegill is good to catch and particularly good fried a golden brown.

Approved

I once wrote and have often said that all I needed to live a decent and contented life was learned on a bream lake. That conclusion is still firm. Yes, I had an abundance of lessons taught and learned otherwise, but within the parameters of decent and contented, a bream lake suffices. During my growing-up years, our family was rather pedestrian. Funds were limited; work was strenuous. A poor-dirt farm demanding. Still, we loved and laughed and had what we needed. Decency and contentment reigned. And we all bream fished — sister, parents and me. Grand were those pre-dawn trips to some oxbow in the Mississippi Delta. Leave home at 2:00 a.m., arrive before daylight, rent a wooden boat and paddles, and bream fish. One day from recall stands out as particularly valuable in lesson learning. My dad and I — sister and mama were fishing from the bank — paddled a ragged boat around a bend and came upon an aging gentleman, his boat tied to a snag and his cane pole in a perpetual bend as he dragged in plate-sized beam. The spot was small, and an additional boat would crowd. I wanted to go in and suggested as much to my dad. He began a back paddle. When I looked puzzled and perhaps even agitated, he simply said, “He was here first. You wouldn’t want somebody to do that to you.” No, I wouldn’t. A lesson in decency, respect if you will, was taught quickly and learned thoroughly. Those bi-annual trips to the Delta were monumental, requiring preparation and dedication from simple folk such as we. And I concluded, erroneously I was to learn, that we should expect and be rewarded with a bountiful catch each time. That was generally the case, a good catch and icebox full of bream. Except one I especially recall. This one was

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Bringing power and energy services to local communities

Public Relations Specialist

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STEPHANIE CHISHOLM

For more information, call 601-947-4211 or 228-497-1313.

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Planning for future growth and reliable service

12 TODAY | MAY 2021

Public Relations Assistant

SRE is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

Planning for improvements and additions to Singing River Electric’s distribution system is essential for maintaining reliable electric service to Brian Hughey our members. The General Manager planning process & CEO starts years in advance to ensure our electric system is ready to handle expected load growth and future extreme temperatures. Singing River Electric’s engineering team develops and implements a Construction Work Plan every four years. This is the key to fulfilling an integral part of our mission — to provide safe and reliable electric service to our members. Planning begins five to six years in advance as our engineers evaluate our existing electrical system. After a projected growth rate is applied to the system, computer models reveal to our engineers any potential deficiencies. This information is what determines the large projects included in our Construction Work Plan. Each year our construction crews implement the plan by safely replacing undersized lines, upgrading transformers and building new substations. In addition to the Construction Work Plan, Singing River Electric must maintain an aggressive right-of-way

AMANDA PARKER

General Manager & CEO

clearing schedule to successfully fulfill our obligations to you, our members. Clearing and re-clearing the rightof-way around our power lines enhances service reliability and assures safety for our members, wildlife and the general public. The re-clearing of trees, limbs and underbrush along our more than 7,000 miles of power lines occurs every four to five years. Singing River Electric will soon take yet another step to improve reliability to our members as our team begins installing a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system. This project requires the use of fiberoptic cable installed along our distribution system to provide real-time information from SRE’s 44 electric substations to our three offices. In addition to providing real-time information, thus minimizing outage response time, the SCADA system also allows the capability to control SRE substations, power distribution and voltage from our office. This system-wide project is being done in conjunction with our fiber-tothe-home internet pilot project and is expected to begin within the next few weeks. With careful planning and skilled employees, Singing River Electric remains committed to providing our members the most reliable electric service at the most economical cost.

@singingriverelectric

Energy Tips

Gabe Robbins Energy Services Representative robbins@singingriver.com

Time for pool maintenance As summer and warm weather approach, it’s time to start planning for days in the pool, and with that, pool maintenance. Skimmers and filters should be cleaned regularly to maximize the efficiency of your pool system. Clogged or dirty filters will cause the pool system to work harder which leads to increased load on the pump and higher energy costs.

If you need to replace your pump, be sure to replace with the same horsepower as your existing unit. Installing a higher rated pump will use more energy and require a larger load to run the pump. Dual speed pumps will operate more efficiently in the low-speed mode; high speed can be used while cleaning or under other conditions. To maximize your energy savings, consider placing your pump(s) on a timer. Most pumps can be operated for eight hours a day to achieve the same results. For additional energy tips, visit singingriver.com/ways-to-save.

ANNUAL MEETING SET FOR JUNE 24 Watch for proxy/notice in the mail

Singing River Electric’s 2021 annual membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 24. At this time, we are planning to hold an in-person meeting; however, that could change if COVID-19 restrictions are changed. Please monitor our website at singingriver.com and our social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

Credential and Election Committee members Phil Busby and Obie Wells supervise in-person voting for director elections at the 2019 SRE Annual Meeting. (Not pictured are C&E committee members Milton Driskell, Linda Eckford and Richard Fleming.)

The membership meeting will be held at our headquarters office located at 11187 Old 63 South in Lucedale. Registration begins at 5:00 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting’s business section will include the cooperative’s financial, management and board reports, as well as the board of directors election. SRE has a 10-person board of directors elected from the membership in three geographic districts. Each year, one director post from each district is up for election. Every three years, District 3 has two director posts open. Directors are elected for a three-year period. Directors are listed along with the geographic district descriptions at singingriver.com/my-coop. Nominations for election to the board of directors are made by petition. Interested members must acquire signatures of 25 SRE members on a form provided by the cooperative. Applicants must complete and return a director candidate packet to the Lucedale office and be certified by the Credentials and Election Committee before being placed on the ballot. The deadline for nomination by petition to be placed on the 2021 Annual Meeting notice was February 26, 2021. This deadline and a notice for nominations was placed in the January 2021 and February 2021 issues of the Today in Mississippi member publication.

This year’s candidates include: District 1, Post 3 — Cary Williams; District 2, Post 3 — Travis Baxter; District 3, Post 3 — Eddie Thornton; and District 3, Post 4 — Mark LaSalle. The slate of nominees was approved by SRE members serving on the Credentials and Election Committee. According to the cooperative bylaws, the candidates’ names will be placed in the nomination for election to a three-year term beginning June 24 at the cooperative’s annual meeting. To conduct business at the annual meeting, a quorum of at least 10% of the membership is necessary. The quorum is derived by adding the number of members present at the meeting, the valid online votes, and the number of valid proxies received. Annual meeting notices and proxies will be mailed on Monday, May 10, to all members. The deadline for voting online and returning proxies is Tuesday, June 15, at close of business. Your participation in director elections counts toward the quorum needed to hold and do business at the meeting. It is crucially important that we receive your online vote or proxy in order to reach our quorum this year. The meeting will comply with current COVID-19 gathering restrictions. Any member may vote in person at the June 24 membership meeting. Members can also vote online or by proxy. Each member is entitled to one vote regardless of the number of accounts in the member’s name. A proxy may be assigned to either another SRE member, including a member of the current board of directors, or appointed to the board as a whole. A member can vote up to 200 assigned proxies at any membership meeting. The presence of a member at the meeting, or in the case of a joint membership, the presence of a spouse shall revoke the proxy. All proxies must be received by SRE’s Lucedale office by close of business on June 15. Members returning their proxy, voting online as well as those who attend the meeting, will qualify to win up to $500 cash. Those attending the annual meeting will be eligible for attendance prizes. T PRESOR ASS FIRST CL GE U.S. POSTA

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FIBER UPDATE SRE Project Engineer Brandon Welford speaks with prospective substation site foundation and rock work contractors. Fiber huts will be built at substations to house routers and other fiber equipment.

“The fiber ring connecting SRE substations and offices will be the backbone of the fiber system,” said Project Engineer Brandon Welford. “We will also have three pilot projects, one each in Greene, George and Jackson counties. Engineering work for the pilot locations is being finalized, and an announcement of the locations and SR Connect website/preregistration portal is coming soon in an issue of the Today in Mississippi magazine.” The fiber ring or backbone will not only support SR Connect’s fiber project but also SRE’s effort to install SCADA or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition technology. Access to SCADA will provide real-time data and allow control of SRE substations, power distribution and voltage in the main dispatch center.

Singing River Connect SRE launches broadband affiliate he fastest fiber-to-the-home internet service is just around the corner for many Singing River Electric members. Welcome to Singing River Connect (SR Connect). After two years of research, including input from our members and feedback from consultants and feasibility studies, we are ready to launch fiber service in southeast Mississippi. As you know, the project will first consist of a 400-mile fiber ring connecting all SRE substations and offices, as well as three fiber-to-the-home pilot projects with potential further broadband expansion. Building a fiber ring and fiber-to-the-home projects takes time to design, construct and deploy. The seven construction phases include make-ready engineering, make-ready construction, fiber construction, splicing, service drop construction, drop splicing and home or business installation. SR Connect is currently completing make-ready engineering and entering into the make-ready construction phase. 14 TODAY | MAY 2021

“SCADA will compliment existing technology in our dispatch centers and allow for more effective communication with our generation and transmission partner, Cooperative Energy.” said General Manager and CEO Brian Hughey. “This addition will result in even faster outage response times for our members.” Keep reading Today in Mississippi magazine for more information and updates on SR Connect and this fiber project.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES OF STATE

Medallion Award The NASS Medallion Award was created to honor individuals, groups and organizations that support the national association’s goals, including service to state government, specifically as it relates to the elections and the duties of the office of the Secretary of State.

inging River Electric Cooperative was awarded the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion Award on Wednesday, April 7, in recognition of SRE employees’ hard work following Hurricane Zeta to ensure polling sites had power in the midst of working to restore electricity to local communities. The electric co-op was hit hard by Hurricane Zeta with 82% or 62,388 of its 75,798 meters without power following the storm on Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, 2020. The co-op worked to replace more than 1,100 power poles, 322 damaged transformers and 21.73 miles of power lines following the storm. “Hurricane Zeta was unique in many ways, including the

intense damage that was concentrated north of our coastal communities and the timing, making landfall just six days prior to a presidential election,” said General Manager and CEO Brian Hughey. “We thank Secretary Michael Watson for working to ensure Singing River Electric linemen and visiting crews had an opportunity to vote in the midst of their long hours working to restore power in southeast Mississippi.” Only five medallions can be awarded by the Secretary of State annually. In addition to Singing River Electric, the award was also presented to Coast Electric Power Association, Mississippi Power Company and Entergy for their efforts restoring power to polling sites following Hurricane Zeta. MAY 2021 | TODAY 15

Singing River Electric energy services representatives met with Cooperative Energy representatives and contractors to discuss the installation of a Level 2 EV charging station at Singing River Federal Credit Union in Lucedale.

Charge me up Bringing Level 2 EV charging stations to South Mississippi

To be SAFE, be AWARE EVERYWHERE.

Electrical safety starts with being aware of electrical hazards. Think safety first and use these tips to stay safe at home, on the job and on the go.

Attention DIYers: There are live wires behind those walls. Use an electrical cable detector to locate them before your drill bit does.

Want more electrical safety tips? Sure you do. Just visit BeAwareEverywhere.com.

Community members will soon have a way to charge electric vehicles (EVs) thanks to a partnership between Singing River Electric, Cooperative Energy and Singing River Federal Credit Union. Plans include a two-vehicle electric charging station located at Singing River Federal Credit Union’s Lucedale branch. “The Lucedale electric vehicle charging station is expected to be complete by late summer, and plans are in the works to provide additional locations in Jackson County,” said Singing River Electric Gautier District Manager Nick DeAngelo. “The planned charging station for George County will be a Level 2 - able to fully charge an EV in just a few hours, or less for a boost charge,” explained DeAngelo. Electric vehicle charging stations range from Level 1, which is a basic or slow charge, a Level 2 and a Level 3 fast charge, which can charge a vehicle fully within minutes. With vehicle manufacturers across the country shifting toward EVs, the advantages are increasing. “Cooperative Energy is committed to promoting electric cars and trucks in Mississippi because of the benefits they provide to our members and communities,” said Sara Peterson, Cooperative Energy corporate communications manager. Programs like this demonstrate a co-op’s commitment to improving access to environmentally-friendly technology for our members. For more information about EVs, visit myelectriccooperative.com and follow our conversations on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Electricity from power lines can “jump” to nearby objects…including you. That’s why you should always stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines.

Before you dig that flowerbed, remember there may be underground lines where you’re about to dig. Call 811 to locate them and your project will turn out just rosey.

Supporting career-focused education SRE NHN Grant beneﬁts George County High School horticulture program NHN Community Grants Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) Community Grants help Singing River Electric merge efforts with the hard work of those within our communities. Since the program’s inception in 2001, $312,178.15 has been awarded to local non-profits in local communities.

George County Career and Technical Education program received a $2,500 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Grant. Funds helped build a pole barn to store horticulture materials, protect soil and equipment and provide a sheltered area for outdoor learning. The horticulture program introduces students to basic plant and soil science and focuses on horticulture structures, plant propagation, pest management, container and field crop production and landscape design. According to instructor Rick McMullan, students enjoy having the working space with a roof and make the best of their outside learning time.

For more information on SRE NHN Community Grants and how to apply, visit singingriver.com/my-community. Grants for up to $2,500 are awarded to nonproﬁts in SRE’s service area three times a year in January, May and September.

May is Electrical Safety Month Whether you are at work or staying connected from home, it is important to always think safety first. Staying clear of downed power lines may be an obvious danger, but there are many other tips including carrying ladders and other equipment horizontally, calling 811 before you dig and checking for live wires behind walls when completing DIY projects. For more information visit our website at beawareeverywhere.com for tips on power line, DIY, severe weather, water and seasonal safety. We also have a section designed especially for students! Download safety guides and have a family meeting to discuss what is most important – protecting you.

MAY 2021 | TODAY 17

by Steven Ward When the light of day slips into night’s darkness during a Mississippi May, it’s time to look for the glimmer and glow of lightning bugs. The middle of the month is the unofficial kick off of lightning bug or firefly season in North America and Mississippi is one of the few locations around the country where you can watch synchronous fireflies do their thing. “As the name suggests, synchronous fireflies are 18 TODAY | MAY 2021

species that blink in unison, which can make a more impressive display. There are only a few species of synchronous fireflies, but we do have one here in Mississippi,” said Mississippi State University entomologist Blake Layton. The impact of synchronous lightning bugs — or “snappy syncs” as some call them — on Jackson resident Claire Graves has been significant.

“I grew up in Ackerman and I’ve been interested in Big dipper lightning bugs are all over the U.S. and are fireflies since I heard about the synchronous fireflies in easy to see in backyards and similar habitats. They are most the Great Smoky Mountains several years ago. When I active right around dusk and for about an hour or so after, learned from Paul and Libby Hartfield — two of the state’s which makes them easy to see, Layton said. The lights are most knowledgeable firefly a mating call. enthusiasts — that Mississippi “Males are flying low over the is home to a different type of lawn so the flightless females synchronous firefly, I was all in,” can see them and respond. I think folks, and especially children, Graves, head of the Office of That makes them easy to see are enamored with fireflies, because they and catch. Both the males and External Affairs at the Missisare some of the first insects we learn about females blink. The males have a sippi Department of Human Services, said. as kids. They are harmless, easy to capture longer lighted period, around a “After observing the snappy quarter of a second, and fly in a and observe, and that ability to produce syncs for a few seasons behind U or J pattern,” Layton said. light is just so amazing. the Mississippi Craft Center Layton said lightning bug in Ridgeland along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, larvae are generalist predators that roam about on the I wanted to find a way to share this special local treaground seeking prey such as earthworms, slugs, snails and sure with more people,” Graves said. other invertebrates. They capture prey by using their manGraves is now hosting snappy synch lightning bug tours dibles to inject them with venom. Fireflies are partly grown at the Mississippi Craft Center. larvae in the winter and complete their development in the Although synchronous fireflies get a lot of attention, they spring and emerge as adults in late spring or summer. are not the most common lightning bugs most of us see “Firefly larvae glow also, but it is more of a continuous throughout the summer, Layton said. glow and not intermittent blinks like the adults. These are “The more common firefly, the one so many of us caught less showy and conspicuous, but if one roams about suitable in jars when we were kids, is the big dipper firefly, or the habitat at night it is possible to see these ‘glowworms’ as they common eastern firefly. When most people think of fireflies, sit still or move over the surface of the soil,” Layton said. this is the species they have in mind,” Layton said. MAY 2021 | TODAY 19

Where to see synchronous fireflies in Mississippi Wall Doxey State Park in Holly Springs Jeff Busby State Park in Choctaw County The boardwalk behind the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland Turkey Creek Water Park near Decatur To see where snappy syncs have been seen in Mississippi in previous years, check out the interactive map available at www.tinyurl.com/mslightningbugs. If you spot snappy syncs this May or June, email the date, location, and a description of what you saw to mslightningbugs@gmail.com to have your sighting added to the map. The Mississippi Craft Center hosts the Snappy Sync Firefly Tours each year on the weekend between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, which is typically the peak point in the two-week snappy sync firefly display period in central Mississippi. This year, tours will be held May 14 to 16, with 32 tour times available. Each 20-minute firefly tour is led by a Mississippi Master

Snappy sync photos by Jeff Davis

Naturalist and takes guests along a section of the historic Natchez Trace Parkway to observe snappy syncs and other native firefly species.

Tickets are available at https://msfireflies.eventbrite.com.

20 TODAY | MAY 2021

Both Layton and Graves agree that lightning bugs are “miracles of nature.” “Their ability to create light without generating enough heat to injure themselves is remarkable,” Layton said. Children have long been fascinated with the magical sight of lightning bugs. “I think folks, and especially children, are enamored with fireflies, because they are some of the first insects we learn about as kids. They are harmless, easy to capture and observe, and that ability to produce light is just so amazing,” Layton said. “Witnessing the beautiful display of thousands of twinkling fireflies flashing together among the pines and hardwoods inspires incredible awe for the simple wonders that surround us every day,” Graves said.

FUN FACTS Best time to observe fireflies is in late spring and summer, beginning around dusk to about an hour after dark. Make sure you don’t use flashlights and keep away from artificial light sources. Light pollution is a primary reason people see less fireflies these days.

Lightning bugs don’t taste good. Don’t cook, bake or grill them. They are bitter and are poisonous to some animals. Sources: Mississippi State University Extension Service and EcoWatch

Fireflies are harmless to humans. Lightning bugs are neither flies nor bugs, they are beetles. They only use their hind wings for flying. Not all lightning bugs have the light. The bugs that don’t produce light are active in the day. They are known as non-bioluminescent fireflies and they use pheromones to attract mates. Lightning bugs are energy efficient: 100 percent of the energy created is emitted through the light. By comparison, an incandescent light bulb emits 10 percent of its energy as light.

MAY 2021 | TODAY 21

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folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. Why take our word for it. You can try the Zinger out for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Call now, and find out how you can try out a Zinger of your very own.

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MAY 2021 | TODAY 23

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Lots of folks associate a slow cook with wintertime soups and stews. I seem to use mine most often in the summer months. Setting it to work in the morning frees up time to enjoy long summer evenings and keeps the oven off and the kitchen cool. 24 TODAY | MAY 2021

These recipes come together so easily I tend to turn to them time and again for parties, picnics and potlucks. They travel well and once cooked turning the heat to warm has them ready to serve without any muss or fuss.

This slightly sweet, savory spiced pork simmers all day and smells divine as it cooks. We like it piled up in a sandwich with some crunchy pickle relish. It is also quite good on warm corn tortillas with diced onion, fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Use your favorite barbeque sauce and a chunky apricot jam. INGREDIENTS ½ cup dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon hot paprika 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 (6-pound) pork Boston Butt or shoulder roast ½ cup apricot jam ½ cup classic barbeque sauce In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, cumin, garlic powder and onion powder. Coat the meat with the mixture. Place the meat in a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 8 hours. Drain the liquid from the slow cooker into a 4-cup glass measuring cup and allow it to settle while shredding the meat. Remove any excess fat and bones from the meat. Return it to the slow cooker. Skim the fat from the reserved juices. Pour 1 cup of the juices over the meat. Toss the jam and barbeque sauce with the shredded meat. Cover and cook on high for 1 more hour and serve.

I keep this quick, crunchy relish in the refrigerator all summer long. It is wonderful on hot dogs and hamburgers and adds zip to pulled pork sandwiches. When cucumbers start coming in and farmers’ markets have them in abundance, I whip up batch after batch. It’s hard to go back to off-the-shelf relish once you try this fresh version. It really does send chicken salad and tuna fish to another level. INGREDIENTS ¼ teaspoon brown mustard seeds ¾ cup distilled white vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar 1⁄8 teaspoon dried dill or ¼ teaspoon fresh dill Pinch of red pepper flakes 2 cups seeded and diced cucumber 1⁄3 cup finely chopped red onion 1⁄3 cup finely chopped orange bell pepper 1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 1 teaspoon water Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to pop. Add the vinegar, sugar, dill and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and let the liquid reduce by half, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the cucumber, onion, and bell pepper. Boil for 2 minutes. Stir in the cornstarch and water. Boil for 1 minute. Transfer the relish to a jar and allow it to cool completely before covering and refrigerating. Relish will keep refrigerated for 2 weeks.

This recipe is so ridiculously simple it seems too good to be true. INGREDIENTS 2 (15-ounce) cans of sliced peaches in heavy syrup ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice blend 1 (16.25-ounce) box white cake mix ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter cut into small pieces Empty the cans of peaches with the syrup into a 4-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle the spice blend over the peaches. Sprinkle the cake mix over the peaches. Sprinkle the butter pieces over the cake mix. Cook on high for 2 hours or until browned.

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.

MAY 2021 | TODAY 25

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Threefoot Festival. May 14 and 15. Meridian. Arts, eats and beats. Children’s Corner and Art Car Parade. Downtown Meridian. Charlie Mars, The Jake Leg Stompers and Afrissippi among others take the stage for live music. May 14 starts at 6 p.m. and May 15 kicks off at 10 a.m. Thacker Mountain Radio Hour will be live on stage at 6 p.m. May 15. Details: 601-693-2787 or threefootfestival.com. Barn Sale – Antiques and Collectibles. May 7 and 8. Oak Grove. More than 70 collectors with trailer loads of antiques and collectibles. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday barn sale auction is at 5 p.m. Concession stand. 4799 Old Highway 11, Purvis. Details: 601-818-5886 or 601-794-7462. 19th Annual Mississippi Antique Alley Yard Sale. May 13 to May 16. Meridian. Part of the U.S. 11 Antique Alley 500-mile yard sale from Meridian to Bristol, Virginia. Roadside sales all along U.S. Highway 11. Details: msantiquealley.com or call 601-917-3727.

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Brandon’s 9th Interactive Civil War Relic Show. June 12 and 13. Brandon City Hall. Vendors, living history, antiques, reenactors, prints, weapons, World War I and II militaria, Native American artifacts, free genealogy research and Mississippi authors, artists and musicians. Admission proceeds benefit the Wounded Warriors of Mississippi. Details: 769-234-2966. timcupit@comcast.net Highway 15 Yard Sale. June 3 to June 6. Semi annual yard sale from Newton to Ackerman along Highway 15. Details: Call Timmy at 601-575-9091.

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Herbert Harper was the undisputed “Mayor of Downtown Hot Coffee.” The parameters of “Downtown” Hot Coffee run from the east side of what used to be Knight’s Store to about 50 yards west of it. That’s where the signs are at least. And Herbert Harper oversaw everything in between. There are some people you like the instant you meet them. Herbert was that way for me. He and his wife Judith ran the old Knight’s Store, renamed J&H Harper Grocery for Herbert and Judith. (Judith was the “Knight” — Herbert just married above himself.) Hot Coffee had been on my “to do” list ever since I started roaming around Mississippi with my camera — finding places that not everybody knew about but needed to. The odd name is the Covington County town’s attraction. Way back, folks traveling to where, Laurel? Ellisville? It varies with the telling. Anyway, after a few hours they were weary and wanted a break. So, the driver of the coach would tell them that they were only, “So many miles from Knight’s Store and a good cup of hot coffee.” After a while it got shortened to “We’re just so many miles away from hot coffee.” And before you knew it, hot coffee, a beverage in a cup, became Hot Coffee, a destination on a map. Harper’s store was an amazement to me. They had pretty much everything a country store should have — from “Co”-Colas to hoop cheese — and of course, a pot of hot coffee. Plus, Herbert put together a museum of old stock he had found in the warehouse room. He displayed high top, button up women’s shoes, old dresses, men’s hats, coal oil lamps and medicine bottles. Herbert even found a stuffed sturgeon someone had caught in the Leaf

River (I think it was the Leaf) and had it on display, too. The oddest thing in his mini museum was an old coffin. The old store used to sell coffins a long time ago. So, Herbert put it on a high shelf with a glove sticking out from under the lid. And when someone would look up at it, Herbert would pull on one end of a fishing line over on his side of the store which tugged on a finger of the glove in the coffin and the glove would wave at them. Needless to say, it was a conversation starter. I miss the J&H Harper Grocery. The store was one of those things that had been there forever, and you just figured it always would be. But time has its own idea about what’s permanent and what’s not. The store closed several years ago. And Herbert himself recently graduated to where things don’t change nearly as quickly as they do in this life. But knowing Herbert, I bet he is already seeing if pranks are allowed. And if they are, watch out for when we get there. No telling what he will have rigged up.

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.

MAY 2021 | TODAY 27

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