FOR MEMBERS OF 4-COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION
A TOWN’S
WORLD WAR II SACRIFICE NOVEMBER 2021
FROM HATTIESBURG
TO THE NFL
NOVEMBER IN THE
OUTDOORS
on the menu
outdoo scene around the ‘sip
Finally . . . a better mobility solution co-op involvement southern gardening than Scooters or Power Chairs. The Zoomer’s versatile design and 1-touch joystick operation brings mobility and independence to those who need it most. If you have mobility issues, or know someone who does, then you’ve experienced the difficulties faced by millions of Americans. Simple tasks like getting from the bedroom to the kitchen can become a time-consuming and potentially dangerous ordeal. You may have tried to solve the problem with a power chair or a scooter but neither is ideal. Power chairs are bulky and look like a medical device. Scooters are either unstable or hard to maneuver. Now, there’s a better alternative . . . the Zoomer. My Zoomer is a delight to ride! It has increased my mobility in my apartment, my opportunities to enjoy the-out-of-doors, and enabled me to visit the homes of my children for longer periods of time. The various speeds of it match my need for safety, it is easy to turn, and I am most pleased with the freedom of movement it gives me. Sincerely, A. Macon, Williamsburg, VA After just one trip around your home in the Zoomer, you’ll marvel at how easy it is to navigate. It is designed to maneuver in tight spaces like doorways, between furniture, and around corners. It can go over thresholds and works great on any kind of floor or carpet. It’s not bulky or cumbersome, so it can roll right up to a table or desk – Zoomer conveniently rolls beneath table or desk
Easy to use joystick control
Sturdy & Lightweight Frame
Joystick Control (adaptable left or right)
Comfortable Seating
Swivel Away Footrest
Powerful Battery/ Dual Motors
12” there’s noneed to transfer to a chair. Its sturdy yet Folds to 12” in seconds lightweight aluminum frame makes it durable and comfortable. Its dual motors power it at up to 3.7 miles per hour and its automatic electromagnetic brakes stop on a dime. The rechargeable battery powers it for up to 8 miles on a single charge. Plus, its exclusive foldable design enables you to transport it easily and even store it in a closet or under a bed when it’s not in use.
Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your lifestyle? Call now and find out how you can have your very own Zoomer.
Now available with sporty two-arm lever steering (Zinger Chair)
Ready to get your own Zoomer? We’d love to talk to you.
1-888-660-0928
Please mention code 115828 when ordering.
The Zoomer and Zinger Chairs are personal electric vehicles and are not medical devices nor wheelchairs. They are not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. They are not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2021 Journey Health and Lifestyle
85032
Call now toll free and order one today!
g
outdoors today picture this my opinion grin ‘n’ bare it
Thanks for all you do November is a month of thanks. Of course, we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday during November, but the month also marks another occasion that inspires gratitude: Veterans Day. Veterans Day is always on Nov. 11 — the day World War I ended. Veterans Day is the date we set aside to honor the men and women of this country who wear the uniform and serve — both past and present. In Mississippi, serving in the U.S. military is a custom that goes back hundreds of years. For some, it’s about family tradition. For others, it’s about patriotism. Although we have a specific day dedicated to it, we know every day is Veterans Day in Mississippi, and for those who served, we are thankful. While November reminds us of the Mississippians who volunteered to serve their country, Today in Mississippi tells the story this month of a small town that sacrificed more than the average community. D’Lo in Simpson County had more men volunteer and fight in World War II per capita than any other city or town in the country. If you haven’t visited the D’Lo World War II memorial in town, you should take some time to make the drive. Speaking of being thankful, we received a letter from a south Louisiana woman thanking Mississippi’s electric cooperatives for sending help to restore power after Hurricane Ida swept through the state in late August. Here’s the letter from Mary Schmidt of Destrehan, Louisiana: “As a victim of Hurricane Ida’s fury, I want to take a moment to let the Mississippi cooperatives know what it feels like on our end when the calvary arrives. Two weeks without power is sustainable
as our hardy resolve is strong, but after 21 days, desperation seeps in. The parade of stately power trucks rolling into the neighborhood brought tears to the eyes and a salute of respect. Mississippi crew members were polite, respectful of our property, and reassuring. Our pole took three days to remove and replace, which included hand digging a 7-foot hole through sand and clay out of an abundance of caution for the underground wiring. We thanked them with endless bottles of water and energy drinks, topped off with evening meals of jambalaya and red beans and rice after each day of grueling work. Linemen have earned a spot at the top of the list of heroes of the storm.” Mutual aid and cooperatives assisting other cooperatives in times of crisis is part of what we do for our members and members in other states. In the case of Hurricane Ida, we had cooperative linemen work to restore power in their own areas before helping other Mississippi cooperatives restore power in their areas. After that, many of our linemen volunteered to go to Louisiana to bring the power back to residents hardest hit by Ida. So, as we sit at the Thanksgiving table this year, let’s remember to thank the military veterans and our cooperative employees who work hard to comfort all of us in times of crisis before they even serve their own families. That is the definition of sacrifice, and for that, Mississippi’s electric cooperatives say thanks.
by Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Mississippi is... It’s where I was born, not sure if it’s where I’ll die. It’s looking up and seeing pine trees shadowing the sky. It’s humidity so thick, It’s “air you can wear” It’s cooling off in a creek, not having a single care. It’s really hot summers, and pretty cool winters It’s going to church on Sunday, then to grandma’s house for dinner. It’s watermelon, tomatoes, shelling peas, and canning corn, it’s rolling down your window to hear the train blow its horn. It’s back roads and four-wheelers and riding in the mud. It’s seeing cows beside the road, just standing, chewing the cud. It’s chicken houses and soybeans as far as the eye can see. It’s sitting on the porch swing, drinking a big glass of sweet iced tea. It’s fried chicken and turnip greens and sweet potato pie. It’s laying in the grass and watching the clouds pass by. It’s riding in the truck bed, wait, we can’t do that anymore, so we buckle everybody in and head to the store. It’s getting a Coke and peanuts and passing it around. It’s getting cotton candy when the fair comes to town. It’s not about the place, no matter what you think. It’s about the people, family, friends, and everyone you meet. So, if you’re passing through from going far or near, come in and sit a spell and y’all come back, ya hear?
by Lindsay Hutson, a resident of Seminary and a member of Southern Pine 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
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 3
in this issue
5 southern gardening Cotton rose is great for a winter landscape
9 scene around the ‘sip A look at special people and places in Mississippi
9
11
outdoors today November is perfect for outdoor activities
12 local news 18 feature
Classic cars and trucks were king at this year’s Cruisin’ the Coast
22
for the love of the game Larry Whigham makes it from Hattiesburg High to the NFL
18
24 on the menu
Serve up gingerbread, potato soup, and pecan Dutch Baby when folks are visiting
27 mississippi seen
A tale of Eudora Welty, Willie Morris, and William Faulkner
24
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Vol. 74 No. 11
OFFICERS Eddie Howard - President Randy Carroll - First Vice President Ron Barnes - Second Vice President Tim Perkins - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Ron Stewart - Senior Vice President Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Chad Calcote - Creative Director/ Manager Elissa Fulton - Communications Specialist Rickey McMillan - Graphic Designer Kevin Wood - Graphic Designer Chris Alexander - Administrative Assistant EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600
Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s electric power associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181
Circulation of this issue: 478,584
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
www.facebook.com/TodayinMississippi www.todayinmississippi.com
On the cover Classic cars and trucks line Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis during the 2021 Cruisin’ the Coast event on the Mississippi Gulf Coast last month. 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 | NOVEMBER 2021
Cotton rose is a Southern pass-along plant that roots very easily without any special equipment.
Gardening in November brings many opportunities to change up the landscape for the cool season. But before we focus on pansies, violas and snapdragons, one of my favorite flowering landscape shrubs is just starting to show off. Cotton rose, known botanically as Hibiscus mutabilis, has begun its display of pretty pink flowers. I love the fact that the flowers — only open for a single day — exhibit color changes throughout that day. The flowers begin to open very pale pink, turning pink and then dark pink to almost red by the end of the day. On a typical day, there are loads of flowers in varying shades of white, pink, and dark pink. But don’t despair over the blooms lasting for Cotton rose has a few other just one day. This shrub common names: Confederate produces literally hundreds of flower rose, cotton rosemallow buds to enjoy. or Dixie rosemallow. The flowers are pretty big, sometimes reaching more than 6 inches across. There are selections that produce single flowers and double flowers. This flowering shrub can be quite large in the South. At my office in Biloxi, our specimens are over 10 feet tall. In areas that get a hard freeze, Cotton roses freeze back to the ground and then come back as a multistem shrub each spring. These plants tolerate a severe pruning to control their growth. Cut them back to about 6 inches in late winter to help maintain them as a smaller stature shrub. Despite cotton rose being a popular choice for Mississippi landscapes and gardens, few are to be found in garden centers. You could always ask a garden center to source plants for you, but you really don’t need to go that far. Cotton rose is a classic, Southern pass-along plant. This shrub roots very easily without any special equipment. Collect pencil-sized branches about 8 inches long, and strip off
most of the leaves. Put these cuttings, leaf end up, in a half-filled bucket. Keep the bucket out of direct sunlight and wait. In about six to eight weeks, some will have sprouted roots and be ready to transplant into a container. If you have a neighbor who has a cotton rose in his or her landscape, ask if you can collect a few cuttings. That’s why it’s called a pass-along plant. I collected about a dozen cuttings recently from our specimens at the Coastal Research and Extension Center. I’ll share the results on Southern Gardener social media. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Cotton rose has a few other common names: Confederate rose, cotton rosemallow or Dixie rosemallow. The reference to cotton makes sense, as the flower buds are round like cotton flower buds, and the wide-lobed foliage also looks like cotton leaves. Additionally, hibiscus, cotton, okra, and cacao are all members of the Malvaceae plant family. But whatever you call it, cotton rose is one flowering shrub that thrives in our Mississippi gardens and landscapes. If you don’t already have one in your yard, find a friend who can share theirs.
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.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 5
113⁄4 111⁄2
Help us invest in the students who are
‘The Future of Ag’ in Mississippi
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT LOSING YOUR RETIREMENT?
107⁄8 103⁄4 101⁄2 103⁄8
Don’t worry, put your money in a safe secure annuity account and get guaranteed you will never lose a penny because of market crashes. Our mission is different than what you’ll hear from most people in this business. (1) Preservation of your principal and (2) Guaranteed you will never lose a penny in a market decline. We always use no-market risk strategies so you can earn market-like returns without market risk.
The Mississippi FFA Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to seek and provide funding for students participating in chapters throughout the state. Our more than 120 local chapters are making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. In effort to build awareness and raise funds, we have launched a drive for a special Mississippi FFA vehicle tag. Before the tags can be produced, we need your help in securing 300 preorders. This requires the completion of an application and payment of $33.00. You can scan the QR code for the application and detailed instructions.
Mississippi FFA Foundation
PO Box 1029 • Raymond, MS 39154
Luter’s Supply
10%
Call Now for my FREE First 115-page book GUARA Year NTEED The “Conservative” Investor
L.D. O’Mire Financial
601-957-3841 or 601-209-3131
Offices in Ridgeland, Gulfport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans We have been in business for over 50 years and A+ rating with Better Business Bureau. Guarantees subject to the claims paying ability of the Insurance Company. Surrender of the contract may be subject to surrender charge or market value adjustment. Product not available in all states. This is a single premium deferred annuity. Interest rates are subject to change. Withdrawal prior to age 59 ½ may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty.
Buy & Take Home Same Day
- Tubs, Showers, Faucets, Sinks & More - 14 Walk-in Bathtubs On Display - World’s Largest Walk-in Bathtub Store
(single location)
601-876-3455 6 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Tylertown, MS
LuterSupply.com 103⁄8 101⁄2 103⁄4
111⁄2 113⁄4
AT E GR IFT! G
DON’T MISS OUT. ORDER TODAY!
Call 1-866-768-6517 or Visit bradfordexchange.com/31191
God Is Near GRANDSON DOG TAG PENDANT
Also Available for Son! Inspirational Message Etched on the Back
Genuine White Sapphire • Solid Stainless Steel & 24K Gold and Steel Gray Ion-plated Accents • Contemporary Etched Cross Design
For Your Grandson—A Message of Faith & Guidance
Your wonderful grandson means the world to you, and that is why it is important to you to share the guiding power of faith with him. Now, there is a stylish and meaningful way to provide a meaningful message of faith and encouragement, along with your forever love, to your grandson—the “God Is Near” Grandson Dog Tag Pendant. Crafted of strong stainless steel, this custom designed pendant features a classic dog tag style with 24K-gold and steel gray ion-plated accent stripes framing a distinctive etched cross. A genuine white sapphire glistens from the center of the cross, a reminder of the strength and guidance of God’s everlasting light. Adding to the meaning, the pendant is etched on the reverse side with the inspirational verse. Comes with a matching 24” stainless steel chain in a jewelry pouch and gift box, along with a Certificate of Authenticity. Also available for Son.
Exceptional Craftsmanship...A Remarkable Value A remarkable value at $89.99*, this dog tag pendant is payable in 3 easy installments of just $30.00, and is backed by our unconditional 120-day guarantee. Send no money now; just mail the Priority Reservation. But don’t miss out! This custom jewelry design is only available from The Bradford Exchange and this is a limitedtime offer. So order yours today! ORDER TODAY AT BRADFORDEXCHANGE.COM/31191
©2021 The Bradford Exchange 01-31191-001-EILLC21
LIMITED-TIME OFFER Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis. So please respond as soon as possible to reserve your pendant.
9333 Milwaukee Avenue, IL 60714-1393 YES. Please reserve the “God is Near” Grandson (or Son) Dog Tag Pendant for me as described in this announcement in the style and quantity indicated below.
Grandson, 01-31191-001 Qty. ______ Son, 01-31190-001 Qty. ______
Logo Addr
Jo Cod
SEND NO MONEY NOW
The Bradford Exchange
❏
❏
Uniquely Designed. Exclusively Yours. PRIORITY RESERVATION
Pric
❏
Signature Mrs. Mr. Ms.
Track Cod
Name (Please Print Clearly)
❏
Address City
Yello Snip State
*Plus a total of $10.98 shipping and service per pendant (see bradfordexchange.com). Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance
❏
Zip
E28331
Respond now to get it for Christmas! Call 1-866-768-6517 or visit bradfordexchange.com/31191
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 7
Shipp Serv
❏
Send us photos of churches. Mississippi is filled with beautiful churches, both old and new. We want to show off our state’s gorgeous church architecture. Send us photos of old, abandoned churches or of newer, active churches. Make sure to send us the name of the church (if you know) and the location (town or city). Photos must be high-resolution JPG files of at least 1 MB in size. Please attach the photo to your email and send it to news@ecm.coop. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer’s name, address and co-op. Submission deadline: Nov. 30. Select photos will appear in the January 2022 issue.
8 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
scene around the ‘sip
a town’s sacrifice by Steven Ward While Mississippians celebrate Veterans Day this month on Nov. 11, remember the story of D’Lo. D’Lo, part of Southern Pine Electric’s service area is a small town in Simpson County that holds a mammoth place in the American history of World War II. According to reports, 150 men from D’Lo volunteered to fight in World War II — close to 40 percent of the town’s population at the time. All of the 150 men came back to the town after the war except for eight residents who wound up making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. D’Lo had more residents per capita fight in World War II than any other town, city or village in the United States. The town’s contribution to the war effort was so profound, Life magazine wrote a story in their July 6, 1942, issue with the headline, “The Young Men of D’Lo Have Gone to Fight.” “Their sense of pride and patriotism is a testament to who we are in the South,” said Tommy Lofton, museum director of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby. Lofton, who interviewed many World War II veterans during his years working for the National World War II Museum, said men and women from the South and, Mississippi in particular, have always outnumbered military volunteers from other states in the wars the U.S. has fought throughout the years. “The men in D’Lo lived in a small, close knit area. Serving in the military is part of what families do down here. Southerners are very territorial about their family land and have traditionally
D’Lo, which prides itself on Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations, will hold its annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the town gazebo near D’Lo Town Hall. Call 601-847-1721 for more information.
fought to defend that land. And that extends to fighting for our country,” Lofton said. Andrew Wiest, a professor of history at The University of Southern Mississippi, said there’s a good reason why many small Southern towns have military museums. “Some of it goes back to The Civil War. There are Mississippians who have had great, great-grandfathers fight in that war and who are members of the National Guard today,” Wiest said. Wiest also said the strong religious and conservative principles of Southerners play a role in volunteering to fight for their country. “There is a concept called ‘muscular Christianity’ in the South. That’s about defending your faith. Remember the song, “onward Christian soldiers…” Right next to the D’Lo Community Center near the middle of town is a granite monument that serves as a memorial to the 150 men who left town in the 1940s to fight in World War II. The names of each resident are on the memorial. “Stories like this are important. We have to remember, because if we don’t, the sacrifices of these Mississippians will be forgotten and lost to history,” Lofton said.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 9
Culotta Insurance & Investments Serving Miss-Lou STATEWIDE Since 1992
1-844-AGENT4U
FIXED INDEXED ANNUITIES MORE GAINS • NO LOSSES • SAFETY Up to 10% IMMEDIATE INTEREST BONUS on Deposits ROLLOVER CD OR 401K TODAY!
Richie Culotta • Cameron Culotta • Zach Dustin
Medicare Supplements Guaranteed Renewable
Great low rates on G and F plans!
Plan G (Female) age: 65 $89.00 70 $95.00 75 $113.00 80 $134.00
Plan G (Male) age: 65 $102.00 70 $109.00 75 $130.00 80 $154.00
Plan F (Female) age: 67 $103.00 70 $110.00 75 $129.00 80 $152.00
Plan F (Male) age: 67 $119.00 70 $126.00 75 $148.00 80 $175.00
FINANCIAL FREEDOM
SAFE RETIREMENT STRATEGIES, MEDICARE SUPPS, LONG-TERM CARE, MEDICAL & LIFE
JEFF REGISTER BUILDINGS & TRUSS www.registerbarns.com
40’x60’x12’ - Installed
Roof only, closed gables. Or, Roof only, open gables. Call for prices.
601-928-5309 or 601-928-5308
30’x40’x10’ - Installed
jregister@registermetals.com
Roof only, open gables. Call for price.
321 Madison Ave., Wiggins, MS 39577
Rates with household discount, most zip codes.
Call today for other great Medicare supplement rates!
HUTTON INSURANCE AGENCY
800-880-2305 P.O. Box 85 Brandon, MS 39043
Not affiliated with any government agency.
SOON Church/Government uniting, suppressing RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, enforcing NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW. Be informed! TBS, Pob 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com
1-888-211-1715
ADVERTISE WITH
Mississippi’s largest circulated publication.
Mississippiʼs electric cooperatives ... serving more than 1.8 million Mississippians
everyday life!
hues, these streams provide a visual If a perfect month for outdoor feast. They also provide fish. Walk activities were selected here in one of these streams, and if not too Mississippi, November would be it. chilly, wade its shallows and cast Fall is in full swing, regaled in its a spinnerbait to dark holes, subfinest, the colors brilliant and sharp merged logs, and sandbar drop-offs. and whispering softly while shoutA bass or sunfish will likely oblige. ing boldly that one year is ending There’s also camping to consider. and a new year is drifting closer. November is superb for this exercise, Sprites of winter flit about, perhaps regardless of the sleeping quarters offering brief courtships with the employed. Amply warm but not hot cold but not yet committed. The during day – at least generally so. chilly morning where exhaled Such conditions lend themselves to breaths form a fleeting fog, the Colored and falling leaves, whether on water or ground, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and gentle touch of a bashful frost are abundant in November. bicycling. There can be, what with that will not persevere much past azure skies and slanting shadows of sunrises and sunsets sunrise. These are potential histrionics of any November. and that broad assortment of woodland colors, some And the proper venue, save during those rainy days impressive photo opportunities. perhaps best suited for a soft chair and good book, is outThe night temperatures justify a campfire. Around this, side. The backyard, along a gentle stream, in the woods folks can gather and socialize. Or if the persuasion among — all such locales — will encourage merriment and a bubindividuals or groups is more philosophical, these, alone bling appreciation for this 11th month. Indeed, November or collectively, can watch and wonder as sparks drift offers tremendous gratuities to those who dress properly upward in an autumn firmament and bring to mind the for the occasion and get into natural settings generally marvels of a spectacular Creation. Few if any other not encompassed by concrete or asphalt. enterprises are more significant than recognizing that Hunting seasons are open and invite any with a propenspectacular Creation. sity for such activity. That No. 1 pursuit among hunters in the Magnolia State, deer hunting, gets a great deal of attention. So too squirrel hunting. And beagles will perform their rendition of a symphony as they chase rabbits. Some opportunities are afforded for upland birds and perhaps waterfowl, the latter a bit restricted to species and requiring some judicial research so that by Tony Kinton the hunter remains inside legal parameters. Fishing is out there as well. Tiny streams — gentle and Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. He lives in clear and in no apparent rush to get anywhere in particuCarthage and is a Central Electric member. Visit www.tonykinton.com lar — are captivating. Lined with a veritable explosion of for more information. NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 11
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Johnny Johnson, President • Mike Banks, Vice President • Marty Crowder, Secretary/Treasurer • Bill Bell • John E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr. • Bruff Sanders • Kenneth Seitz
Giving back is the co-op way As some of you might know, cooperatives across the globe adhere to the same Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all of our decisions — from how we run the co-op, to how we engage with our local communities. Concern for community is the seventh principle, and it is one that all employees of 4-County Electric Power Association value year round. But as we enter the holiday season, concern for community seems especially important. Electric cooperatives have a proud history of giving back. You can see this reflected in your utility bill. Even during the holidays — when many people are lighting their homes with festive decorations, or staying up late entertaining and cooking for family and friends — we are still working to provide you with the most affordable electric service. We help members keep energy use in check by providing energy efficiency tips through the use of employees, our website (www.4county.org), Facebook and this publication, Today in Mississippi. We help you save driving time by providing the option to pay your bill through bank draft, online, with a mobile app, over the phone, using kiosks in the community, or simply mailing your payment in. We also help keep your family safe by providing electrical safety tips — information that is especially important this time of year — through the direction of employees and our media resources. 12 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
The 4-County Foundation, in another example, has given away more than $1.5 million to not-for-profit organizations. So many families go without on a daily basis and struggle to make ends meet. This struggle can be especially hard during the holiday season. As a member, you can participate in our Warm Neighbors program (see “Here’s an idea” on this page for more information). And check out our Toys for Tots boxes this month in the Corporate Center and Starkville office. There are many ways you can give back to the community that go beyond dollar donations. Take some time to go through your closets and find clothes that no longer fit or have lost their use. Bag those items up and take them to your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, or church clothing drive. Volunteer for a local food or toy drive, deliver meals to the sick and the elderly, or simply make a meal for a neighbor in need. No matter how great or small the act, every time we give back, we strengthen our community. So take the time to give back this holiday season. You’ll be glad you did.
by Brian Clark CEO/General Manager
Here’s an idea ‘Warm Neighbors’ gives warm feeling Helping others may give you the warmest feeling you get this chilly winter season. “Warm Neighbors” is a special project that gives 4-County members an avenue to help their neighbors. The “Warm Neighbors” fund was created to assist 4-County members who find themselves in a “one-time” emergency situation, such as an unexpected hospitalization, a job layoff, or the loss of the breadwinner. By paying $1 extra on your 4-County electric bill, you will buy a dollar’s worth of electricity for the home of a neighbor who needs it in the nine-county area served by 4-County. Administered by the Salvation Army, in cooperation with 4-County and area United Way agencies, “Warm Neighbors” funding comes solely from the voluntary contributions of 4-County members. To participate in “Warm Neighbors,” contact 4-County at 1-800-431-1544.
Happy Thanksgiving 4-County offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices will also be closed Thursday, Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 24, in observance of the Christmas holiday. And offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, for the New Year’s holiday. A dispatcher will be on hand at 1-800-431-1544 to handle emergencies.
Toys for Tots makes Christmas shine brighter Employees and members of 4-County Electric Power Association are working to make Christmas better and brighter for area children by taking part in the Toys for Tots program. Toys for Tots, a charitable organization offered through the U.S. Marine Corps, has maintained a partnership with 4-County the last nine holiday seasons. Last year, employees and members dug deep and collected nearly 300 toys for distribution in 4-County’s service area. “This is a great Christmas project,” said 4-County Communications Coordinator Brad Barr. “We’re always excited to team up with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots project. A lot of children identified by Toys for Tots wouldn’t have the same Christmas experience without the help of this charitable organizations and organizations like 4-County.” Toys for Tots drop-off boxes will be located in 4-County offices this month through Dec. 14. Participants in this project are not required to donate toys for children of a specific age or gender. “All we ask is that you drop off a new unwrapped toy in one of the boxes located in the 4-County office nearest you,” Barr explained. Again, the deadline for dropping off toys is Dec. 14. Toys for Tots personnel will pick up the items by the end of that day. Call Brad Barr at 1-800-431-1544 for more information about the Toys for Tots project. (Note: Special arrangements to pick up toy donations can also be made by calling Brad.)
CheckOut by PayGo is the newest (cash only) 4-County Electric Power Association payment solution. The solution is part of the overall PayGo payment platform (for both PrePay and PostPaid bills) that utilize a regular checkout lane at several area retail locations. Here are a few of the participating area retailers: Dollar General, Family Dollar, and CVS. How does it work? • 4-County members have a barcode printed on the back of their bills. Take that barcode to any Dollar General, Family Dollar, or CVS location. • The cashier will scan your printed barcode and you can pay your bill in cash.
• There will be a $1.50 transaction fee. • Once the bill is paid, CheckOut gives the 4-County member real-time verification that his payment has been approved. Simultaneously, 4-County receives immediate verification, and the account is updated. 4-County officials describe the payment option as another way to make life easier for co-op members. For more information, call 1-800-431-1544.
brushes away stroke of fate
by Brad Barr Billy Price was leading an ordinary, paint-by-numbers way of life when a stroke of fate left him with what some considered an unreliable canvas. But the doubters didn’t know Billy. “In this life, you’re always learning,” he said. “Sometimes, you just have to take a big step up the mountain and go for it.” Billy’s picturesque world became a little abstract in 2013. He and his bride of 20 years, Sonya, were riding their Harley Davidson motorcycles when her bike tilted over at a red light. “I tried to pick it up, but I couldn’t. A week earlier, I could,” he remembers. Days later, he began experiencing progressive weakness in his limbs. Area doctors referred him to a specialist. What did they find? Billy’s immune system was eating away at his nerve cells. The culprit is Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare nervous system disease. Even rarer than that, he was diagnosed with a variant, MADSAM, that has progressive tendencies and sometimes doesn’t go into remission. “I didn’t know what to think. My first thought was, ‘Don’t tell me that.’” At one point in his illness, Billy was paralyzed. Today, after multiple surgeries, therapy sessions, and getting the right medications, he is walking and on the move again. Billy is better, but in a new way. Weakness remains in his hands and feet. “Some days are better than others,” he said, at the Price’s country homestead in the Sturgis community. He lives there with his wife, Sonya, and their daughter, Anna Camille. Billy’s son, T.J., and wife, Becca, live out of state. And Billy and Sonya have one granddaughter, Natalie. During his long recovery, Billy watched a lot of television. “I was flat on my back and flipping channels. I came across “The Joy of Painting” show, featuring Bob Ross. I liked it, and I kept watching it.” He discovered a newfound appreciation of art. “I had to do something,” Billy said. He relied on a little country boy engineering and duct-taped a paint brush to his unreliable hand. Using his daughter’s beginner paint sets, he learned to paint. As he got better, his art progressed. Now, he produces resin art – a fluid, mixed media, art form. He uses colors and textures to create one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art. “I just started experimenting, learning through trial and error.” 14 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Billy grew up in the New Hope community, fishing, and gardening. “We didn’t buy a lot of things. We fixed things. Working with my hands isn’t anything new,” he explained. His father, Roger, worked in the industrial sector while his mother, Louise, was an executive in research and development. Billy spent 20 years working for a local industry as a machinist. Today, in a testament of life imitating art, Billy has turned a canvas of uncertainty into something bold and beautiful. Pour House Art, run by Billy and Sonya, continues to grow in popularity. More often than not, the budding 48-year-old artist uses canvas and wood as the foundations for his contrasting creations. There are few steps in his canvas designs. He prepares the resin, adding different paint colors, and pours the mixture over the canvas until he sees what he likes. His wood creations are more involved. Using various forms of wood (because not all wood is created equal), he cuts out pre-determined designs. Billy then sands the wood. Later, he cleans the wood and applies other design techniques. Then, he applies the epoxy or resin, and inlays (colored powder, etc., to fill in the wood’s personal grooves). Simple, right? “Wrong,” Billy said with a smile. “It takes a lot of practice, expertise, and knowledge.” The key to a successful resin and wood piece of art is paying close attention to grain and surface. Some woods react differently to applications than others. The self-taught artist works, mostly, with cedar. “I let the wood show me what it wants to be,” he said. It takes an average of one week to create each distinctive art piece. Sonya describes Pour House Art as physical and emotional therapy for the couple. “We work together to create beautiful art,” she explained. “It’s something we can enjoy together.” When a family faces something that threatens to change your lives, priorities change, Sonya added. “We now stop to smell the roses. We see beauty and art in everything. We try to always stay positive and share beauty when and where we can,” Sonya said. Many of their designs feature crosses, trees, and animals. But, they insist, there is no limit to what you can do. “What you think, in the beginning, may be your biggest screw ups could be your best creations. It just makes my heart swell to do this art,”
Billy stressed. Some of his creations feature the turtle (an unofficial mascot of CIDP). “It’s a reminder to me that as long as I move slowly and take it easy, things will be ok,” he said. The husband-and-wife duo has created hundreds of art pieces. Their distinctive art has won numerous awards, appeared at art shows throughout the southern states and has been sold around the country. “Sonya has always been supportive of me,” Billy said. “She’s my biggest fan.” Each piece of art, Billy said, is a reflection of the artist. “My art is a little piece of me.” Billy’s art continues to be a good work in progress, just like his life, he said. “I’ve been at a point in my life where I couldn’t do anything. Now, I can, and I’m thankful for it.” NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 15
A prescription for
Prayerand Beanie Babies Children facing surgery at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle (BMH-GT) receive a prescription straight from the heart. Apprehension is a common diagnosis for those facing surgery, especially children. The prescription for these young patients? A prayer and a Beanie Baby. “You can see the joy in their eyes when you give them a beanie baby,” said BMH-GT Volunteer Services Coordinator Lisa Bowers. The 4-County Foundation recently awarded a $6,183 grant to BMH-GT’s Auxiliary Program for use in providing volunteer services. The Beanie Baby program at BMHGT is just one of several volunteer service programs. Hospital officials say the grant will help in funding a summer volunteer program for high school students, scholarships, and the Beanie Baby distribution. Barbara Richardson, a 25-year BMHGT volunteer, said the effectiveness of the colorful, stuffed animals is measured in smiles. “It really calms them down. The program is important,” Richardson said. 4-County CEO Brian Clark can speak to the effectiveness of the program. About a year ago, his toddler son, Colton, had a minor surgery. He had a visit from BMH-GT Volunteer Services prior to his procedure. “It spoke to my heart,” Clark said of the program. “He received a prayer, and then they gave him the Beanie Baby. He still sleeps with that Beanie Baby today.” Bowers says the hospital’s 31 volunteers are often the hands and feet for the medical staff. “We’re here to help out the staff and the patients. Volunteers are a big asset,” she said. How helpful is the grant? “Wow,” she said. “It will help enable us to deliver our services.” 4-County believes in helping the communities it serves. That’s why the cooperative launched the 4-County Foundation, a community service program. Since February 2015, participating 4-County members’ utility bills have been rounded 16 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
up to the nearest dollar; a $125.78 bill, for example, becomes $126. Now, that’s an average of only 49 cents per member, per month. That may not seem like much. But when you multiply those contributions by the thousands of member participants, that’s a lot of pennies! To date, the 4-County Foundation has distributed over $1.5 million dollars to service organizations in the Golden Triangle area. For more information on the 4-County Foundation, call 1-800-431-1544.
s
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Beard a growing part of FASTnet Opportunity knocked and 4-County Electric Power Association built a door to offer broadband services to its members. Dillon Beard, lead fiber technician for FASTnet (4-County’s broadband subsidiary), is glad to be on the front end of those construction efforts. “I get to be part of this initial push to build something great,” Dillon said. He has been with FASTnet for about a year. Prior to 4-County, Dillon worked at AT&T as a service technician, and at Columbus Air Force Base where he served on the flight line. A graduate of New Hope High School, Dillon studied forestry at East Mississippi Community College. He and his wife, Lindsey, live in the New Hope community with their son, Jesse, 6. The family attends Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus. In his spare time, Dillon enjoys hunting and fishing, riding the tractor on the family’s 15 rolling acres near his home, and spending time with his family. As a child, he enjoyed working on old cars and riding four-wheelers with his two brothers. He always enjoyed activities relating to STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and math). “I’ve always had an electrical/wiring interest and background,” Dillon said. His parents are longtime employees at Columbus Air Force Base. He and his brothers had an active childhood, Dillon stressed. “We gave my mother every one of her grey hairs,” he said, with a laugh.
Dillon said bringing broadband to 4-County members is more than providing a great product. “This is history,” he said, with a nod of his head. “What we’re doing is going to impact the community, in a very positive way, for a long time. It will change rural Mississippi for the better.” The community response to FASTnet has been very positive, he said. “They’re excited to have it,” he said of the co-op’s broadband services. “They’re so grateful that 4-County has taken this project on.” For those members who haven’t seen FASTnet construction, Dillon had a promising message. “We’re on the way,” Dillon said. “We’re following along with our construction plan and are meeting our schedule.” FASTnet crews have worked in the Lone Oak, Montpelier, Maben, and Brooksville areas. Construction has started in Adaton, and will begin soon in the Oktoc area (in early 2022). Work in other parts of the service area will follow. The product is a good one, Dillon said. “What we’re doing is the latest and greatest in technology,” he said.
4-County & FASTnet welcome new employees Five new employees recently joined the 4-County Electric Power Association and FASTnet teams. Tony Glenn will serve as an Apprentice Lineman 4 on Wyatt Pumphrey’s Corporate Center construction crew. Tony and his wife, Laterrica, live in Brooksville with their three children: Tony Glenn III, Taylor Glenn and Tyler Glenn. Cade Jenkins of Mayhew will serve as an Apprentice Lineman 4 on Justin Murphy’s Corporate Center construction crew. He is a graduate of East Mississippi Community College’s (EMCC) Lineman Training Program, and he earned an Associate’s Degree from EMCC. Sara Bennett will serve as a Customer Service Representative for FASTnet, 4-County’s new broadband subsidiary company.
Tony Glenn
Cade Jenkins
Sara Bennett
She studied accounting at MUW and Lipscomb University. Sara and her husband, Paul, live in Columbus. They have two children: Jaden, 22, and Maddi, 19. Devin Renfroe of Starkville will serve as an Apprentice Lineman 1 on Tim Adkins’ Corporate Center construction crew. He served over seven years at Fayetteville (Tenn.) Public Utilities. Ashley Collins has joined the 4-County team as a Member Accounting Specialist. Ashley and her husband, Buck, live in the New Hope community with their three daughters: Carlee, 19; Camdyn, 13; and Addy, 9. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Mississippi University for Women and a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Human Resources from Herzing University.
Devin Renfroe
Ashley Collins
18 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Photos by Chad Calcote
photos by Chad Calcote
by Steven Ward One of Mississippi’s biggest annual events, Cruisin’ the Coast 2021 celebrated 25 years in October. From Oct. 3 to Oct. 10, cars from all over the country were shown off on the Mississippi Gulf Coast during an event known regionally as, “America’s Largest Block Party.” Car models from 1989 and older were eligible to participate. Woody Bailey, the event’s executive director, told The Sun Herald that the final tally this year was 9,496 registered cars from 45 states and Canada. That number broke the previous record of 8,444 vehicles from 44 states in 2019, Bailey said.
Today in Mississippi spent a couple of days at this year’s Cruisin’ the Coast to capture the sights for readers who might want to check out the event in 2022, which is slated for Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 19
There were 1,771 first time cruisers this year — Craig Grisoli, registration director of the event
20 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Photo by Justin Hardiman
1
3 3
6 6
7 7
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 21
113⁄4 111⁄2 107⁄8 103⁄4 101⁄2 103⁄8
Larry Whigham: Hattiesburg High School head football coach Willie Coats felt sorry for this wormy, 110-pound 10th grader named Larry Whigham back in 1987. Whigham had just broken his collarbone for the eighth time and asked his coach if he would let him hang around the team. “I was afraid I might get in trouble, so I asked, and coach let me manage,” said Whigham. Two years later, he came back for his senior season at 165 pounds and would become a starter at defensive end. Whigham’s final high school season was rewarding, as he and his teammates would make it to the 1989 state championship game before falling to West Point. Some might think with 10 collarbone football injuries over the years that Whigham might want to end his football career on a high note and be satisfied. Whigham had other plans. Coats worked it out for Whigham to attend a tryout at Pearl River Junior College, and the Wildcats signed him. History repeated itself for Whigham as he broke his collarbone in the first scrimmage and missed yet another football season. Even though he was injured, Whigham continued to work to get back onto the field. The next August, he reported to fall practice at 6 feet 2 inches tall, 205 pounds. It turned out that Whigham was trying to impress the new Wildcat coach, who was, who else, but Willie Coats. Coats moved Whigham to the defensive secondary, and Whigham’s football playing career blossomed overnight. During his final season at Pearl River, he intercepted five passes and was selected to play in the Mississippi Junior College AllStar game. Whigham eventually signed with Northeast Louisiana after the All-Star game. “They were a Top 10 team in Division 1-AA and going to the playoffs every year. So, I thought it was the best landing place for me,” said Whigham. His junior year he was a reserve safety, but his senior year he started at cornerback for the Warhawks. “I made the rounds in the college allstar games after my senior year. I was the only person to play in three all-star games that season. I took part in the Blue-Gray 22 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
from Hattiesburg to the NFL
game, East-West Shrine game, and Hula Bowl and also was invited to the NFL Combine.” The story continued for Whigham as Seattle selected him in the fourth round with the 110th pick in the 1994 draft, but the Seahawks cut him after two games. The next call came two weeks later from New England. He made his name as an elite special teams player with the Patriots for seven seasons, and in 1996, his peers named him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Year. His NFL highlights included playing in the 1997 Super Bowl against Green Bay and making the Pro Bowl in both the AFC and NFC. A regular season highlight occurred when he picked off two Dan Marino passes in a game, one for a score. Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe had Marino sign the touchdown ball and presented it to Whigham. Whigham also intercepted Marino in another regular season game. The most special highlight of his New England years was in the 1997 AFC Championship Game when he tackled Jacksonville punter Brian Barker on his own four-yard line, which resulted in a Patriots touchdown. “That was the loudest crowd noise that I think I ever heard,” said Whigham. After seven years in New England, he played his final two years with the Chicago Bears. Whigham has been inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame and also the Pearl River Hall of Fame. Today he is a businessman, living in Houston, Texas with his wife and four children.
by Dale McKee Dale McKee is a Waynesboro native who has been writing sports in Mississippi since 1973. He is a member of Dixie Electric. Contact him at ddmckee18@yahoo.com. 103⁄8 101⁄2 103⁄4
111⁄2 113⁄4
A b T a n L
Nature's Majesty Comes to Light
l!
• 2-in-1 masterwork brilliantly combines sculpture and light
• Acclaimed artist Darrell Bush’s
Stands 1 Foot High!
mesmerizing deer artwork is on the genuine glass lantern
Approved
• Hand-crafted sculptural
Revisions Requested
CHAD Date_____
Approved
Out of the Clearing Accent Light
Revisions Requested
Ex ch Bra an df ge ord Or igi na
rocks, fallen logs and antler. Overlooking it all is a glass lantern with stunning Darrell Bush deer imagery. When the FREE bulb is turned on, the artwork is illuminated to magnificent effect. Bradford Exchange exclusive — order today! Order yours now at just three installments of $43.33 each, for a total of $129.99*, backed by our unconditional guarantee. Send no money now. Return the Reservation Application today!
Where Passion Becomes Art
9345 Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL 60714-1393
Mrs. Mr. Ms.
City
Please Respond Promptly
Email (optional)
me as described in this announcement.
❏
Job Cod
❏
Name (Please Print Clearly)
Address
YES. Please reserve the Out of the Clearing Accent Light for
Logo Addre
Track Cod
SEND NO MONEY NOW
The Bradford Exchange
❏
❏
ORDER TODAY AT BRADFORDEXCHANGE.COM/CLEARING RESERVATION APPLICATION
Pric
State
*Plus a total of $18.99 shipping and service; see bradfordexchange.com Limited-edition presentation restricted to 295 casting days. Please allow 4-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.
Zip
01-23327-001-E98881
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 23
PUBLICATION MUST MATCH CODES TO INSERTION
VERSION #______________
All is still as the golden sun rises over the snowy wilderness. Then, a majestic buck steps into the clearing. His stance is powerful, his eyes and ears alert. Three more whitetails follow behind, their breath visible in the cold morning air, their backs warmed by the sun’s early rays. Now you can experience nature’s nobility up close with the breathtaking Out of the Clearing Accent Light, available only from The Bradford Exchange. Standing one foot high, it features a base that’s a masterwork of sculpture. Hand-painting brings all the details to life — buck,
Approved
©Darrell Bush. Courtesy of MHS Licensing ©2021 The Bradford Exchange All rights reserved 01-23327-001-EIS
RON Date_____
Shown much smaller than its impressive actual size of about 12 in. H x 8 in. W x 61/2 in. D. Includes one FREE energy-efficient bulb for soft illumination.
Revisions Requested
STEVEN Date_____
base with buck, antlers and forest terrain is hand-painted in true-to-nature detail
Yello Snip
❏
Shipp Serv
❏
Molasses gingerbread, pear and pecan Dutch Baby, and easy potato soup with all the fixings
Mola es Gingerbread
Makes one 10-inch ring loaf
Keep the pumpkin spice for this and that. For me, the flavors I crave as soon as there is a dip in the temperature and the fire pit is ablaze are spicy ginger and the old-fashioned sweetness of molasses. This recipe has been passed down for generations in my family. Adding boiling water helps distribute the molasses throughout the batter and gives the leavening agents, baking powder, and baking soda, a head start rising. Butter and oil keep the gingerbread incredibly moist. I find this ring loaf to be even better the next day, making it a perfect “make ahead” when expecting visitors. INGREDIENTS ½ (1 stick) salted butter, melted, and cooled ¼ cup vegetable oil ¾ cup molasses ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar 2 large eggs 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 cup boiling water 24 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10-inch tube pan with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, oil, molasses, brown sugar, and eggs. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir well to combine. Pour the boiling water into the batter and stir very well. Pour batter into the prepared tube pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until the top springs back lightly when touched or a cake tester comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Easy Potato Soup with all the fixings
Serves 4 to 6
Crisp bacon pieces, sharp cheddar cheese, snips of fresh chives, dollops of sour cream, and all of the classic loaded potato toppings are super on top of this easy to put together soup. Everything can be prepped ahead of company’s arrival, and the casual meal leaves the host with plenty of time for visiting. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons salted butter 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion 1/4 cup shredded carrots 1/4 cup chopped celery 4 cups chicken stock 3 Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 -inch pieces 1 bay leaf 1 1/2 cups half and half or heavy cream Salt and ground black pepper, to taste Optional toppings
Pear and Pecan Dutch Baby A Dutch Baby is a poofy pancake made in a hot cast iron skillet that has crispy brown edges and a custard like center. It puffs in the oven while baking like a popover and settles, leaving a perfect indentation to fill with sautéed pears and pecans that have been sweetened with maple syrup. Just mix the batter with a blender, pour into a hot skillet, bake for a bit, and there you go with a stunning breakfast with little effort. Much easier than flipping a bunch of flapjacks. I like to serve some little smoky sausages alongside my Dutch Baby.
Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Do not brown. Add the stock, potatoes, carrots, celery, and bay leaf. Season with a little salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes begin to fall apart. Using a potato masher, press the potatoes to make a slightly chunky soup. Stir thoroughly and add the half and half. Simmer for 15 minutes over low and stirring often. Serve with your favorite baked potato toppings.
INGREDIENTS 2 large eggs 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the topping: 1 tablespoon butter 1 pear thinly sliced 2 tablespoons chopped toasted pecans Dash of ground cinnamon 2/3 cup maple syrup Powdered sugar for dusting If desired
Place the eggs in a blender container or a 4-cup glass measuring cup if using a stick emersion blender. Blend to combine. Add the flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Blend making sure the flour is fully incorporated. Let the batter sit while heating the skillet and oven. Place oven rack in middle position in the oven making sure there is plenty of room above it to rise. I usually just remove the top rack. Place a 9-inch cast iron skillet in the oven. While the batter is resting, heat oven to 425 degrees.
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.
Once the oven and skillet have heated, remove the skillet to the stove top and add the butter. Make sure the skillet gets a nice coat of the butter. Pour the batter into the hot buttered skillet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Prepare the topping as the pancake bakes. In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, add the pears, and cook until tender. Add the pecans, cinnamon, and syrup. Cook until warmed through. Pour into center of pancake when it comes out of the oven. NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 25
mississippi seen
mississippi is...
events
mississippi marketplace The 67th Pre-Thanksgiving Gospel Sing Concert. Nov. 20. South Mendenhall. Featuring The Down on the menu outdoors today Events open to the public will be East Boys, Terry Joe Terrell, Tim Frith and the Gospel Echoes, and The Revelations. New Life Fellowship. published free ofaround charge as space the allows. ‘sip 2167 Highway 49. Details: 601-906-0677. scene picture this Christmas in Columbia. Submit details at least two months prior Nov. 20-Jan. 1. Columbia. Outdoor ice-skating rink my opinion co-op involvement to the event date. Submissions must opens Nov. 20. Tickets $15. Christmas lights will shine include a phone number with area code
Nov. 27 after dark. Rides and booths open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Lightshows and music will continue daily through the season at the top of each evening hour. Parade of Lights on Dec. 4 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Will feature dozens of decorated floats. Uplifting live music for the Light Your World event on Dec. 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Dec. 31, there will be live music and fireworks for New Year’s Eve. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and go until midnight. Downtown Columbia. Details: www.experiencecolumbiams.com.
southern gardening for publication. Email to news@ecm.
coop. Events are subject to change or cancelation due to COVID-19. Please confirm details before traveling.
Whistlestop Weekend. Nov. 5-6. Meridian. Formerly known as the Railfest, Soule Live Steam, and The Carousel Organ Association of America’s Fall Rally. Railroad memorabilia, live steam engines, classic cars, model trains, steam musical organs, blacksmithing, antique machine shop, broom making, and antique print shop operation. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details: 601286-7738. The Annual Holiday Missions Marketplace. Nov. 6. Puckett. Sponsored by UMW of the Puckett United Methodist Church, 6412 Highway 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A rummage sale and vendors will be outside. Come inside and enjoy a homemade soup lunch, a bargain at $5 a bowl. Also shop for the holidays, and holiday casseroles and desserts will be for sale or to order ready for Thanksgiving/Christmas. Past items included: arts and crafts, woodwork/yard art, homemade goods, jewelry, purses, holiday gifts, and more. Proceeds go to help the Center Ridge Outpost, a camp for children with autism. Raffle tickets will be sold for a community basket to support our local mission, “Friends in Need.” Details: 601-214-7834. The 25th Annual Vancleave Arts and Crafts Fair and Book Sale. Nov. 20. Vancleave. More than 50 arts and craft vendors will be present with many great hand-crafted items for Christmas gift giving. Inside the library, the year’s biggest book sale will be happening. All proceeds will go toward the Friends of the Vancleave Library’s projects and programs. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Vancleave Public Library. 12604 Highway 57 in Vancleave, Jackson County. Details: 228-8264143. JGRLS.org.
grin ‘n’ bare it
Stringer Alpaca Festival. Nov. 20. Stringer. Feed the alpacas and learn how their hair is spun into yarn. Arts, crafts, food vendors available. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 383 County Road 155. Details: 716-863-4366. Trees of Christmas at Merrehope. Nov. 21-Dec. 30. Meridian. Two historic homes elaborately decorated including more than 40 trees and festive exhibits. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on four Sundays — Nov. 21, 28 and Dec. 5 and 12. 905 MLK Drive. Details: 601-483-8439. Christmas Lights at Landrum’s Homestead. Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. Laurel. Take a Christmas walking tour of the past with thousands of Christmas lights. There will be Christmas music, Photos with Santa and a tour of the working homestead with more than 85 buildings. Hot chocolate, a marshmallow roast, funnel cakes and the open Smokehouse will be available. Tickets are $10. Children 3 and under are free. 1356 Highway 15 South. Details: 601-649-2546. Landrums.com The Life of Christ. Dec. 3. Monticello. Drive through presentation features volunteers from local churches depicting scenes from the life of Christ from birth to resurrection. A CD with music and scripture accompanies each scene. Atwood Water Park. 1362 E. Broad St. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Details: Email Kelsey Wells at wellskelsey2@gmail.com Lakeside Treasures. Dec. 4. Columbus. Arts and crafts bazaar presented by The Friends of Lake Lowndes. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lake Lowndes State Park. 3319 Lake Lowndes Road. Details: 205-399-1248 or 662-549-0190.
n Use your generator only outdoors, away from open windows, vents and doors. Do not use it in an attached garage. n Never plug your generator directly into your home outlet. Connecting a generator to your home’s wiring requires the professional installation of a power transfer switch. n Read and heed the manufacturer’s instructions and safety warnings.
THINK SAFETY!
26 TODAY | NOVEMBER 2021
Eudora Welty’s home in Jackson, MS
Little by little, we are creeping out from under COVID-19. Families are planning holiday gatherings again. But not like last year when at Thanksgiving and Christmas, Jo and I just sat and looked at each other and the television. We had way too much turkey for just two people. We are even getting to produce new “Mississippi Roads” shows again. Mississippi Public Broadcasting was obligated to adhere to all of the (ever-changing) CDC guidelines. So, to minimize the liability of inadvertently spreading COVID-19, the “Roads” van stayed in the parking lot for over a year. But the vaccine has given us a bit of freedom. So, we shot our newest “Roads” show on location just a few days ago. Our first outing back into the world was at the Eudora Welty House and Garden in Jackson. Since a good deal of what I do requires writing, I always hope to absorb “something” every time I visit where a writer lived. I even sat at Mark Twain’s desk in Virginia City, Nevada where he worked at a newspaper. I don’t know that I’ve ever absorbed very much. I did get a little dusty at Twain’s desk. In Eudora Welty’s house there is a floor to ceiling bookcase filled with books written by people she personally knew. I asked Jessica, our congenial hostess, if Ms. Welty knew William Faulkner. She told me they were well acquainted. Mississippi author Willie Morris told me one time that he was on live television and went on and on for 10 or 15 minutes about meeting Faulkner. Willie was invited into his living room and sat down and visited with the gentleman. Then Willie laughed and turned on that impish look he had when he was up to something and told me he had NEVER met Faulkner. He sat in Faulkner’s driveway one night while two of his buddies dared to go knock
on the door. They got invited in. Willie said he was too scared to approach the literary legend. Willie said he had simply misunderstood the host’s question and suddenly realized the way he answered implied that he had actually met Faulkner. So instead of excusing himself and correcting the answer, he just went on to tell the story the way he would have liked for it to have happened. I did get a tip from Willie about writing stories. He told me to always carry around a few blank note cards. And when something came to mind, jot it down. Anything. What someone said. Something funny that happened back in school. Anything. Then, I’d have some story starters. I did that. But when I went looking for my cards, I couldn’t find them. My only note card story will have to be about how I lost that stack of note cards. Well, we’re heading into winter. If it gets as cold as it did last year, I will have plenty of time to look for those lost cards. And I sure hope “Mississippi Roads” can find some warm, indoors roadside stops in which we can do stories for the next few months. Happy Thanksgiving!
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.
NOVEMBER 2021 | TODAY 27
FOR THE MEMBERS OF