Today in Mississippi August 2026 Coast

We need to keep college football special

I have always loved college football. Around here, that does not make me unique. Fall Saturdays in the South have a way of getting into your blood. But for me, it became personal on Feb. 1, 1986, when I signed a grant-in-aid to play football at The University of Southern Mississippi. I did not know it then, but that one signature changed the direction of my life. It opened doors I never could have imagined and helped put me on a path that led me to where I am today.

There was a time when college football seemed full of those stories. A young man would show up on campus with a duffel bag, cleats, and maybe a mama praying he would keep his head on straight. He would learn discipline, grow up, get knocked down, get back up and become part of something bigger than himself. These days, the game is starting to look less like college athletics and more like professional sports with marching bands. Name, image, and likeness — NIL — was supposed to let college athletes benefit from their own success. And honestly, I do not have a problem with that. If Dr. Pepper wants to invite you to Fansville, or Nissan wants you in the Heisman House, good for you. A young athlete who works hard ought to enjoy some reward. But somewhere along the way, what started as compensation for name, image, and likeness began to look an awful lot like plain old pay-for-play.

It has changed the feel of one of America’s greatest traditions. In the name of television ratings and bigger checks, we are swapping Saturday night kickoffs for 11 a.m. television windows.

It’s also harder than ever to keep up with your favorite players. You finally learn a fellow’s number, buy into his story, and start pulling for him, and before you know it, he is off trying his hand at free agency with another school that made a better offer. In today’s world, Reggie Collier, Sammy Winder, and Brett Favre might not have become Southern Miss legends. They might have just been passing through Hattiesburg on the way to greener pastures.

College sports used to be about helping young men and women become better people through education, discipline, and hard life

lessons. I find it interesting that whenever folks talk about “compensation,” the value of a free education often gets left sitting over in the corner by itself. Ask any parent who has sent a child to college, and they will tell you tuition, room, and board are not exactly pocket change.

Now, do not hear me wrong. College football had its problems. Scholarships are one-year deals, not four-year guarantees. I was at Southern Miss during a coaching change, and I had a front-row seat while some of my friends were shown the door. We could not just pack up and leave, but the school could send us packing. So yes, things needed changing. I just fear the pendulum has swung so far the other way it may have knocked a hole in the wall.

I am not sure where all this is headed. Everybody keeps saying something must be done but not much seems to slow down the money race. I can imagine a day when fans simply grow tired of it — especially fans of schools outside the biggest conferences, where the passion is still real, but the checkbook may never be big enough.

As for me, I hope college athletics figures this out before it is too late. There are still plenty of young people out there who need that scholarship, that coach, that team, and that belief that they can become more than they ever thought possible. There are many more Michael Callahans who need a chance to live a dream, earn an education, and be shaped by the game in ways that last long after the final whistle.

That, to me, is what made college football special. And if we are not careful, we may look up one day and realize we sold the best part to the highest bidder.

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

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Catching

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The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi

Vol. 79 No. 8

OFFICERS

Brian Long - President

Shawn Edmondson - First Vice President

Brian Clark - Second Vice President

Je Bowman - Secretary/Treasurer

Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO

EDITORIAL STAFF

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Steven Ward - Editor

Alan Burnitt - Creative Director

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Whitley Daughtry - Sr. Graphic Designer/Photographer

Steve Temple - Social Media Director

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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 o ce. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. The magazine is published for members of subscribing co-ops. The magazine is a bene t of membership.

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Mississippi sports illustration created by Jill Sowell.

Moorman wins leadership award

Pontotoc Electric Power Association General Manager Frankie Moorman was recently named the first recipient of the Russell Hustle Award.

Moorman accepted the award at the Tupelo-based Central Service Association User Education Conference in early July.

The award was presented to Moorman for his leadership during Winter Storm Fern.

During the storm, just under 89% of Pontotoc’s system experienced outages. Moorman went on Facebook daily to give members video updates on power restoration e orts.

The award was named in honor of the late Danny Russell, a retired general manager at the Central Service Association and a board member for North East Mississippi Electric Power Association.

The Central Service Association was formed in 1937 to assist electric utilities with billing and finances.

Co-ops and modern nuclear technology

“Nuclear energy” often conjures images from TV and movies, such as towering cooling structures, glowing green substances, and frantic control rooms. In reality, modern nuclear power plants are far removed from these portrayals.

Today’s nuclear facilities operate more like high-tech industrial campuses that are clean, continuously monitored, extremely secure, and designed with multiple, overlapping layers of safety.

In the United States, nuclear plants are among the most heavily regulated facilities of any kind, with a dense framework of state and federal oversight governing reactor licensing, fuel handling, plant maintenance, material disposal and emergency preparedness to ensure that nuclear plants operate safely and responsibly.

Electric cooperatives are tracking nuclear plant developments in their long-term planning. For co-ops and their consumer-members, nuclear energy can provide reliable, coste ective, carbon-free electricity. Nationwide, generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives, the wholesale power suppliers that provide electricity to your electric co-op, already partially own or contract for output from 16 operating nuclear reactors.

and on rare but high-consequence emergency scenarios. As nuclear facilities modernize, operators are also trained using advanced digital systems that are replacing older, analog equipment. These upgrades improve automation, diagnostics, and situational awareness.

Safety extends far beyond the control room. Organization and discipline define how nuclear plants are designed and run. Facilities have clearly established security perimeters, controlled access points, and rigorous maintenance programs to ensure reliability while protecting workers and surrounding communities. Critical components are housed in reinforced concrete and steel structures and are accessible only to essential personnel.

Reactor technology has also become safer as decades of experience have driven innovation.

Hattiesburg-based Cooperative Energy, which provides power to 11 of Mississippi’s distribution co-ops, owns 10% of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station plant in Claiborne County. Grand Gulf has been in operation for 41 years.

Safe operation of a nuclear plant begins in the control room. Plant operators must pass demanding written and operational examinations administered by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission before they are allowed to work –– and training doesn’t stop once operators are licensed. Personnel are regularly tested on routine plant operations

One of the most significant advances is the increased use of “passive safety” systems, built-in safety features that work automatically. Earlier reactors relied heavily on pumps, motors and operator intervention to perform critical functions like circulating cooling water. While modern designs still include active systems, they also integrate passive features that do not require external power or immediate human action. Instead, natural forces such as gravity, pressure, and convection keep the reactor stable and cooled if disruptions occur. Passive safety increases resilience during grid outages and extreme weather events.

In a time of rapid electric demand growth, nuclear power o ers zero-carbon baseload power, a potentially valuable attribute as fossil fuel plants retire and intermittent renewable resources expand. As the energy landscape shifts, nuclear energy may play an important role for cooperatives seeking dependable, long-term generation options. – NRECA

There’s something about roses in a Southern garden that brings timeless beauty, incredible fragrance, and a touch of romance.

On a warm afternoon, it’s easy to understand why generations of gardeners have treasured roses as their scent drifts through the air and blooms glow in the sunlight. Few plants can match the elegance that roses bring to the landscape.

This month, I’m highlighting three exceptional varieties from Tyler, Texas-based David Austin Roses that truly shine in Southern gardens. David Austin roses are a type of rose bred to combine the romantic, cupped shapes and intense fragrance of historic roses with the repeat-blooming habits, hardiness, and wide color palette of modern roses. Munstead Wood is a rose that will stop you in your tracks.

The blooms are a deep, velvety crimson — almost the color of a fine red wine. Each flower is packed with layers of rich petals that create that classic, old-world rose form gardeners love so much. The color alone makes a dramatic statement, especially when planted against green foliage or paired with lighter flowering plants.

But the beauty of Munstead Wood goes beyond appearance.

The fragrance is absolutely incredible. Like many David Austin roses, it carries a rich, fruity scent that can easily perfume an entire section of the garden. In the South where outdoor living spaces are an important part of the landscape, planting a fragrant rose near a patio, walkway or porch allows you to enjoy that perfume throughout the season.

In our warm, humid climate, Munstead Wood performs best with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation.

Giving roses room to breathe helps reduce disease pressure and keeps the foliage healthier through the long growing season. A good layer of mulch around the base helps conserve moisture and regulates soil temperature during the heat of summer.

Another beautiful variety worth growing is Gabriel Oak.

This rose brings a slightly brighter, glowing deep-pink tone to the garden. The flowers are full, rounded and incredibly elegant, almost looking handcrafted when fully open.

One of the things I appreciate most about Gabriel Oak is its repeatblooming habit. It continues producing flushes of flowers throughout the growing season, giving gardeners months of color and fragrance.

If you’re looking to brighten the garden with cheerful color, The Poet’s Wife is one of the standout yellow roses from David Austin.

The blooms open in a beautifully cupped shape and are a rich, luminous yellow. The flowers have an elegant softness to them that adds warmth wherever they are planted.

Yellow roses can sometimes fade in intense summer heat, but The Poet’s Wife holds its color remarkably well. Its blooms strikingly contrast against dark green foliage, making it a wonderful addition to cottage-style gardens, mixed beds or formal rose plantings.

Like the other David Austin roses, it o ers lovely fragrance along with exceptional beauty.

One reason these David Austin roses are so popular is that they combine the romance and fragrance of old garden roses with the repeat-blooming qualities modern gardeners want. In Southern landscapes, they bring season-long color while adding a sense of timeless tradition.

If you’re ready to add color, fragrance and classic beauty to your landscape, these roses are a wonderful place to start. Each o ers something special that can transform an ordinary garden into an unforgettable one.

by Dr. Eddie Smith

Southern Gardening columnist Dr. Eddie Smith, a gardening specialist and Pearl River County coordinator with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, is an internationally certified arborist, Produce Safety Alliance certified trainer, and one of the developers of the Mississippi Smart Landscapes program that encourages the use of native plants in the landscape.

Anglers can beat the crowds at this very scenic lake

Mississippi anglers don’t need to leave the state to catch big smallmouth bass. A world-class trophy smallmouth lake, Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River runs through parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.

However, Magnolia State sportsmen can fish another lake for giant smallmouth, largemouth and huge spotted bass with considerably less pressure. The northernmost lake on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Bay Springs, covers about 6,700 acres near Tishomingo and connects to Pickwick.

The only lake entirely within Mississippi containing smallmouth bass, Bay Springs averages about 30 feet deep. The deep and clear highland reservoir drops to nearly 100 feet in places.

Although Bay Springs Lake holds some smallmouth bass, including giant ones, it doesn’t produce nearly as many as Pickwick. The lake can deliver some 5- to 7-pound smallmouth, but most people catch smallmouth while fishing for largemouth or spotted bass. The lake holds some massive largemouth and spotted bass.

“Bay Springs is known for its huge spotted bass,” said Roger Stegall, a professional bass angler, guide, and Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Famer (662-423-3869, Fishpickwick.com) from Iuka. “Bay Springs is a good numbers lake for largemouth when people catch it at the right time. It does produce some largemouth in the 8- to 9-pound range every year.”

Many coves dot Bay Springs Lake. Look for abundant submerged standing timber or other structure that provides excellent cover for fish. Shallow stumpy flats make outstanding places to look for largemouth but be careful boating through such areas. Several small finger creeks also flow into the system. Fish the mouths of creeks and coves for all three bass species.

Many red clay points, banks and sheer blu s dominate the largely undeveloped wooded shoreline. Wind and water erosion cause clay chunks, wood and other debris to drop into the lake. When clay pieces, logs, brush, and other objects fall into the water, they create cover that attracts fish.

Spotted bass, largemouth, and possibly smallmouth hunt for prey around these submerged objects. Use electronics to look for fish around such underwater objects. Fish Texas-rigged worms or Carolina rigs or jigs around such sunken structures.

“Bay Springs has many red clay banks, blu s, and grass,” Stegall said. “Most of the red banks will be good places to look for bass, but I like the ones closest to deep water. That gives fish access to deep or shallow water. The bass come out of the deep water to feed in the shallows. Around those red clay banks, I throw jigs and crawfish-colored crankbaits to imitate crawfish.”

People also fish deeper points and drop-o edges. Tempt bass with various baits, such as crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or topwater temptations. Thick weed beds grow in some of the coves. Over the vegetation, run softplastic frogs.

Bay Springs Lake will never compete with Pickwick for giant smallmouth, but this beautiful lake in a very scenic setting o ers an alternative place to fish in northeast Mississippi. It can produce some outstanding action from a variety of fish in the right spot at the right time.

by John N. Felsher

John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer, broadcaster, photographer, and editor who lives in Alabama. An avid sportsman, he’s written more than 3,300 articles for more than 170 di erent magazines on a wide variety of outdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.

with purpose teaching with spirit, Leading

by Steven Ward

Ashley Burdine has high expectations for her math students and her cheerleaders.

“My classroom students and my athletes all know I mean business. When it’s time to work, they know I take it all seriously. I want both my math students and my cheerleaders to leave with more knowledge than they came with. I also want my students to have a passion for math and understand why it is important to have critical thinking skills,” Burdine recently told Today in Mississippi.

Burdine, an Algebra 2 teacher and the head cheerleading coach at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, has been boosting team spirit on the sidelines since she was in the fifth grade.

At 47, Burdine has been involved in Mississippi cheerleading since the time she made the Long Beach Pee Wee Bearcat cheer team.

From then on, Burdine said she was hooked on the sport.

“I cheered at Long Beach Middle School and Long Beach High School. I then went on to cheer at Mississippi State University and at Mississippi College,” Burdine said.

As a freshman in high school, Burdine got a new coach who also happened to be the girls basketball coach at the time, David Mackay.

“He took us on, not knowing much about the sport, but he knew we should become competitive. That is the first year Long Beach attended the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) nationals in Dallas. I fell in love with competition. I was a communication/public relations major at Mississippi State and worked in marketing for a few years. I was asked to judge a local cheer tryout and realized my heart wanted to be back in the sport. At that point, I began working on the alternate route to teaching,” Burdine said.

Burdine’s coaching career began at Northwest Rankin High

Burdine’s coaching career began at Northwest Rankin High School in 2002, where she coached for five years. Her husband’s job had the family relocate to Waco, Texas in 2007. Three years later, Burdine’s family moved back to Mississippi. They settled in Hattiesburg where Burdine was the coach at Oak Grove Middle School from 2011 to 2013. She also coached at The University of Southern Mississippi for one season in 2012. Burdine became the head coach at Oak Grove High School in 2013.

Growing up both swimming and dancing, Burdine said she was drawn to cheerleading because she loved being active.

“In high school, I spent hours in the gym and taught cheer technique classes. I love being on the sidelines at football games, and I also thrive on competition,” Burdine said.

Burdine’s hard work, discipline, and team building has paid o with various state and national championship cheer titles.

Just a few of those titles include winning the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023 Mississippi High School State Championships and the 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026, UCA Division I Varsity Game Day National Championships.

Burdine, who was named the MHSAA Spirit Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season, said the hardest part of her job has been the end of a season.

“We always have such incredible experiences at UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) nationals, and then it’s over so quickly. I often describe it like a breakup. The team spends so much time together, and becomes so close, then it’s just over. The bus ride home from Orlando is such a time of reflection over what the team was able to accomplish and overcome each season,” Burdine said.

The cheer coach also said some people don’t realize that her cheerleaders are true athletes.

“They work 12 months out of the year for so many years, perfecting their skills and rising to the new challenges that come each season.”

Her favorite part of the job? Competing.

“We work all year at putting the best possible routine on the mat, both at the state championship and the national championship.

Seeing the hard work pay o is the highlight of the season. For that two and a half minutes, nothing else in the world matters while I get to watch my girls pour their hearts out on the mat,” Burdine said.

She also said the bonds she makes with her team have meant the world to her.

“Those relationships are so special to me. I’m able to attend weddings, watch them build families, and start their careers. I am always thankful to have been a part of their journey,” Burdine said.

Some of Burdine’s students have gone on to cheer in college at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Alabama, the University of Memphis, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Baylor. Some of those cheerleaders have become collegiate national champions, while others have taught cheerleading at high schools around Mississippi.

Burdine said the best advice she has for future cheerleaders is concentrating on the team.

“There will be sacrifices that need to be made during the season to be the best you can be. This is a team sport, and it takes full commitment to be a good teammate. Putting together a competitive routine is a puzzle, and everyone must understand their role. Each team member provides value and makes a di erence,” she said.

Seniors get new medical alert device

No contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever

FastHelp is the only Medical Alert device that won’t break the bank. That’s because it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free. You don’t need a cell phone or a land line.

And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.

So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the

sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills.

The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device that cuts out the middleman by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hook-up or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you. ■

Seniors born before 1964 get big boost

The phone lines are ringing off the hook. That’s because for seniors born before 1964, it’s a deal too good to pass up.

Starting at precisely 8:30am today the PreStore Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“It’s not like old style help buttons that make you talk to a call center, only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere and everywhere cell service is available whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.

“We’ve never seen anything like it. Con

sumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, today’s instant rebate practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said. FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever. ■

The only device that makes you look important, not old

The problem with medical alert devices is, nobody wants to wear them because it makes them look old. Well, that’s not the case with FastHelp. That’s because it’s the first state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help buttons you wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy, it’s just outdated.

Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless and all alone with no help.

But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid getting sent to a nursing home and get to STAY living in their own home independently.

Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.

That’s why seniors born before 1964 are rushing to cash in the whopping $150 instant rebate before the 21 day deadline ends.

So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1964 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s publication before the 21 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■

HOW TO GET IT

BORN BEFORE 1964:

Use the rebate coupon to the right and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-221-2809 EXT. FSTH209

BORN AFTER 1964:

You cannot use the rebate coupon to the right and must pay $299

Call: 1-800-221-9773

EXT. ADFH0826

Doctor urges seniors to get new medical alert device

Instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever

Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills

People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.

“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their fam ily

Comes with new cellular embedded technology that works at home or anywhere you go so you are never alone

members are snap ping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.

Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems come with monthly bills.

To solve these problems Universal Physicians, a U.S. company, went to work to develop a new, modern, state-of-the-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and

All seniors born before 1964 are getting a $150 rebate and cover just $149 making this deal too good to pass up

Nothing to hook up. You don’t need a land line or cell phone. It’s ready to use right out of the box

BOTTOM LINE:

Hurricane Help

“We had two hurricanes recently. I had no electricity for 6 days. I fell, so I pushed the button, and they came right out and picked me up off the floor. I tell many of my friends they need to get FastHelp!” - Virginia, FL

no monthly bills ever.

“This slick new little device is designed to look incognito to slip in your pocket. Seniors love them, because it actually makes them look im portant, not

Five Star Customer Reviews

LIFESAVER

“When I got my FastHelp I never thought I’d have to use it, but when I fell and broke my hip it saved my life.” - Harold, OH

Very appreciative of having FastHelp “I did have an emergency. Help RESPONDED quickly and came in a few minutes.”Irving, PA

old,” Dr. Howren said. FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select publications. ■

WE LOVE THE PRODUCT

“We bought it outright with no bills ever.” - Rosemary, NY

Safe anywhere

“This little FastHelp device is my guardian angel. I’m so glad my daughterin-law got it for me.” - Pete, FL

A+ Rating: These are unsolicited consumer feedback from satisfied customers as reported to Universal Physicians.

You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. With the instant FastHelp rebate, it is a real steal at just $149 and shipping. There are no monthly bills ever.

PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal a must have. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.

CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1964 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.

WWW.COASTELECTRIC.COOP

Powering your life, connecting your future

Communicators: April Lollar, Merilee Sands and Sarah Belk

A message

Operation Round Up is one of the most meaningful ways Coast Electric members support the communities we serve. Through this voluntary program, members who choose to round up their monthly electric bill help fund grants for local nonprofit organizations that are making a real di erence across our service area.

Grant applications are now available on our website if you visit coastelectric.coop/my-community/operation-roundup. I encourage eligible organizations to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to support projects that strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for our neighbors. When members participate in ORU, even small contributions add up to a powerful investment in the places we call home.

As a member-owner of Coast Electric, your involvement also matters in the governance of our cooperative. Our Annual Meeting will be held in Kiln on Nov. 5, where members can elect board members and learn more about the state of the cooperative. If you can’t attend, registering by proxy still gives you a voice in the future of Coast Electric.

President and CEO by Chris Rhodes

ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION

1 - Return the registration card that was mailed to your home.

2 - Register online through Oct. 29. Visit coastelectric.coop/annual-meeting-registration.

3 - Register at any Coast Electric o ce by Oct. 29.

Registration is open for our 2026 Annual Meeting! We hope to see you at the meeting on Nov. 5, but if you are unable to attend, you can register in one of three ways:

Those who attend the meeting and those who register will be entered for a chance to win up to $1,000 in electricity credits! This year, everyone who registers will also be entered into a drawing to win a Ford F-150 that has been retired from Coast Electric’s fleet. Members do not need to be present to win the truck. We hope to see you all at the meeting!

OPERATION ROUND UP

F eeding the Gulf Coast SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT

Every month, Coast Electric members who participate in Operation Round Up help improve lives across Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties. Through this spotlight series, we’re introducing you to the organizations your generosity supports and the di erence your spare change is making in our community.

This month, we’re proud to highlight Feeding the Gulf Coast, an organization dedicated to helping children and families facing food insecurity.

While thousands of students receive breakfast and lunch during the school week, many don’t have enough food once they leave school on Friday. Feeding the Gulf Coast helps bridge that gap by providing nutritious weekend meals and snacks, ensuring children have reliable access to food until they return to school on Monday.

The new school year is underway and, thanks in part to Operation Round Up grants funded by Coast Electric members, 55 local children

receive weekend meal packs that include two lunches, two snacks and two suppers each week.

“We want to sincerely thank the members of Coast Electric for rounding up,” said Holly Wheeler, grants manager for Feeding the Gulf Coast. “Your generosity is helping feed children in local schools, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Operation Round Up to make a meaningful di erence.”

Director of Community Development Janell Nolan said, “Coast Electric members have made Operation Round Up a powerful force for good across our service area. Their spare change is helping support the life-changing work of nonprofits like Feeding the Gulf Coast, and I hope every member is proud of the incredible di erence they’re making in the lives of others. Together, we’re doing great things.”

Operation Round Up is funded through voluntary contributions of Coast Electric members who round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar. Individually, those contributions may seem small, but together they create lasting change by supporting organizations like Feeding the Gulf Coast and many others working to strengthen our communities.

To learn more about Feeding the Gulf Coast, make a donation or volunteer, visit feedingthegulfcoast.org.

OPERATION ROUND UP OPERATION ROUND UP grant applications

Charitable organizations that serve Hancock, Harrison and/or Pearl River counties could be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 from Coast Electric’s Operation Round Up program. Grant applications are available online only through Aug. 31.

Grants are made possible by generous contributions from Coast Electric members who round their bill up to the nearest dollar each month. These contributions are responsible for funding more than $1 million in grants in our community!

Coast Electric works with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to process and administer grants. Visit https://coastelectric.coop/my-community/operation-roundup/ to apply.

Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi ' s

Youth Tour of D. C.

learn . grow . experience .

A group of 83 rising high school seniors from across Mississippi traveled to Washington, D.C. in June to attend the 2026 NRECA’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The trip was the culmination of the delegates’ participation in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Cooperative Youth Leaders program.

The program instills leadership skills in the delegates, informs them about the electric cooperative form of business, and teaches them about the democratic form of government at both the state and federal levels.

During a February workshop in Jackson, the delegates had the opportunity to meet and hear from state legislators.

While in Washington, D.C., the delegates and adult advisors visited historic sites, monuments, museums, and had an opportunity to learn about the impact electric cooperatives have on their communities.

The delegates met with U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi and took photos with her. The Senator shared with the students about her experiences in the U.S. Congress and her path to get there.

The delegates also had an opportunity to tour Capitol Hill with former U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi. The highlight of the tour was a visit to the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The delegates attended a Washington Nationals pro baseball game and experienced an evening cruise on the Potomac River.

The delegates were chosen by their local electric cooperative.

The Cooperative Youth Leaders program is fully funded — including the trip to D.C. — by the local electric co-ops as a commitment to molding future leaders for Mississippi, so they can impact the state and local communities.

“Touring my nation’s capital has lit a fire in me I cannot put into words. I want to change the world for the better with my ideas and influence.”

Cady

Nov. 4, 984 June 3-6, 999

On a Sunday afternoon, the public address announcer at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium said it all: “Welcome to the game of the week, the game of the month, the game of the year, the game of the decade, the game of the century!” It wasn’t Ole Miss-Mississippi State. No, it was Mississippi Valley State vs. Alcorn State, as the two HBCUs, both with undefeated seasons on the line, took center stage. The game was supposed to have been played the day before at Itta Bena. It was moved to Jackson and played on a Sunday by popular demand. A standing room only crowd of nearly 64,000 attended. Alcorn, coached by the venerable Marino Casem, defeated Valley, which featured Willie Totten throwing to Jerry Rice, 42-28. It was televised in Mississippi and doubled NFL games in ratings that day.

They said he couldn’t do it, but West Point businessman George Bryan did. He brought the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament to rural Clay County and Old Waverly, the course he envisioned and then built. More than 125,000 braved Mississippi heat and humidity to watch in person and millions more watched on TV around the globe. Juli Inkster won the 54th U.S. Women’s Open by five shots to claim the winner’s share of $350,000.

Oct. , 20 4

With Dak Prescott leading the way before a stadium record crowd of nearly 63,000, Mississippi State soundly defeated No. 2 ranked Auburn 38-23 to ascend to a No. 1 ranking for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs would remain No. 1 for six weeks.

June - 2, 2022

In a much-anticipated NCAA Super Regional, Mike Bianco’s Ole Miss baseball team, given up for dead a month earlier, defeated host Southern Miss 10-0 and 5-0 before sweltering, sellout crowds. The two victories served as a springboard to the Rebels’ first national baseball championship.

Oct. 4, 20 4

Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide was ranked No. 1 and led Ole Miss 14-3 at halftime. But the Rebels fired back behind Bo Wallace’s three second half touchdown passes to defeat Bama 23-17, sparking a memorable scene that included the goal posts being paraded to – and then around – the Oxford Square.

SOUTHERN MISS

The University of Southern Mississippi head football coach Blake Anderson may enter the 2026 football season feeling like a contractor that builds houses. Anderson is in the process of going through the di erent stages of building a football program from scratch. Anderson will have to roll up his sleeves and go through the whole house building process from breaking ground to the final walk through.

“We’re 138 out of 138 football teams in terms of returning production. I have never been in a position of basically starting from scratch. We must figure it out — and quickly,” Anderson said at the start of spring football.

Anderson and his new sta worked double overtime during the spring.

“We were having to evaluate players daily but also teach the guys,” Anderson, last year’s Golden Eagles o ensive coordinator, said.

Anderson will have last year’s backup quarterbacks Landry Lyddy and John White (MRA) returning to go with Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton. The three will be competing to succeed last year’s starter Braylon Braxton. Robert Briggs will be asked to step up at running back while Davis Dalton (MRA) and A.J. Little (Noxubee) will be counted on at receiver along with transfer Grant Page. The line will feature Luke Rogers (Brandon), Larry Edwards (Humphrey Co.), Joe Rounds (Grenada), and transfers Jahmir Davis and Broderick Roman.

The defense will be led by linebackers Avery Sledge (MSU/Forrest County AHS) and freshman Caleb Triplett (D’Iberville). The line will feature freshman K.J. Washington (D’Iberville), along with transfers Je ery Rush (Ole Miss/Pascagoula), Nasim Cario, and Kamero Cypien. Champ Lewis, Jyaire Brown, and Landon Sylvie will lead the secondary.

“We will have to prepare to play harder than our opponents. We have a talent deficit, so we will have to out work folks, be in better shape and not let that be an issue,” Anderson said.

ALCORN STATE

There is lots of excitement on the Reservation as Alcorn State enters the 2026 football campaign. The excitement extends from the Braves’ strong finish in 2025 as Alcorn won four of their final five games after starting 1-6.

Alcorn head coach Cedric Thomas enters his third year and feels with the experience returning on both sides of the ball, the Braves are in good shape. “We certainly didn’t get o to a good start last year. I had to make some changes on the o ensive side of the ball. We moved to more of an up-tempo style, and that seemed to fit our personnel better. I really like the wide open and fast-paced o ense, and our players do too. We feel like we are in a good place with last year’s quarterback Jaylon Tolbert, along with several o ensive linemen returning,” Thomas said.

Tolbert passed for over 2,000 yards and threw for 16 touchdowns, and with Jaden Bryant, Cameran Rogers, and Abe Diallo back in the trenches, the o ense should be improved. Mario Blakes (Shaw) is back at receiver while redshirt freshman running back Carl McDonald (Natchez) has the daunting job of trying to replace leading rushers Reggie Davis and Jacorian Sewell from last year’s team.

The strength of the defense should be the secondary and the line. Returning on defense are three special players in safety Tim Jasper and defensive linemen Eric Thomas (Columbus) and Kenneth Andrews (Clinton). “The defense was the story of our spring. They flew to the ball, and they were physical,” Thomas said.

After the season home opener against Miles College on Aug. 29, the Braves will play at Southern Miss on Sept. 5. “I am excited for our players to play at Southern Miss. The in-state atmosphere and competition, with the bands and fans, should be exciting. I would love to play Southern Miss, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State on rotating years. Our players would be seen by NFL teams because the pro scouts would be able to evaluate our players against good competition,” Thomas said.

“I really think this could be a special season if we get everything to gel accordingly. I really like our chances every Saturday.”

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

JACKSON STATE

For the fourth time in five seasons, the Jackson State Tigers made it to the SWAC Championship game. That is the expectation of Jackson State every season, and last year’s bitter taste of losing to Prairie View A&M in the championship game still lingers on Lynch Street.

Quarterback JaCobian Morgan is gone, but that position is in solid hands. Sophomore Jared Lockhart, a 6-foot-5 gunslinger, was 5-0 filling in for Morgan last year. He was CoSWAC Freshman of the Year as he threw for over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. “He is a leader that works hard on and o the field,” JSU head football coach T.C. Taylor said.

Nate Blount (Brandon) had an excellent o season and will be one of the key returners in the backfield. The strong-arm Lockhart will have a talented group to throw to as Amarion Brown (Yazoo City) and Jabari Jones return as deep threats. The o ensive line has been rebuilt led by the huge Quaveon Davis (Louisville), Melvin Collins, (Terry) and transfer Jaekwon Bouldin (Canton/MSU). “O-Line coach Manny Ramirez makes them nasty and physical. That’s the way we like them,” Taylor said.

The defensive secondary was a priority in the spring. Defensive back returners will be K.J. Chisholm, Kam Sallis (Pickens), and Mike Smith as they will team up with transfers Jalen Foster (ULM), Swipe Marshall (WKU), and Khamuri Rogers (Holmes County/ MSU) to anchor the caboose of the defense. The linebacker position is the heart of the defense with Kam Evans (Crawford), Keith Bass, and Micah Gay (Tenn. St.) taking turns punishing the opposing o ense. The defensive line has talent with Stanley Cook returning along with transfers Terrance Hibbler (Holmes Co./MSU), Keshawn Hudson (UCF), and Eastern Michigan transfer Duke Clayton.

“I am excited about the season. The players are a joy to be around and come to the facility ready to work,” Taylor said.

If another SWAC East title is in the cards, wins at Grambling and Alabama State are a must for the Tigers.

Some are born to only play the game of football while others are born to only coach. Terrell Buckley decided he wanted to do both.

After a 14-year NFL career, he began his college coaching journey as an assistant with stops at Florida State, Akron, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Buckley has earned his head coaching stripes as he begins his second season as head coach of Mississippi Valley State University.

“I am from Mississippi, and I have always wanted to be a college head coach,” Buckley said.

Buckley knows that coaching is teaching, and he has first-hand experience learning from several of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He played under one of the winningest college coaches in Bobby Bowden at Florida State. The Pascagoula native also learned when he played in the NFL for another winner in Bill Belichick.

Buckley is looking forward to his second year at Mississippi Valley. He has several talented players to lean on this upcoming season. The talented Josh Brown returns at quarterback while Norman Taylor, one of the best running backs in the SWAC, returns. Talented defensive backs Joey Davis and Jamari Stokes also return.

Buckley needs more players of this caliber to get Valley back to the Jerry Rice, Willie Totten, and Archie Cooley winning ways of the 1980s. “Mississippi has plenty of talented football players, and we will start and end our recruiting here,” Buckley said.

“Winning starts with attitude, accountability, and a high standard.”  Make no mistake, Buckley understands that both on the field and economically, he and Valley have challenges to overcome. “I love a good challenge, and I think I am ready for this,” Buckley said.

Gardens: THEN AND NOW

We’ve had a wet summer this year — especially in the south half of Mississippi. The rains have been so hard, it seemed like one morning we got an inch and a half while I was pouring my coffee. But then it turned sunny for a few days; so out came the garden hoses. The only thing predictable about the weather is you can’t predict what it’s going to do over the long haul. So, always keep up with your umbrella — and hose.

You’d think with a less-than-dry summer we’d have some good-looking gardens. We probably do in many cases. But my agricultural skills so far continue to prove the wisdom of my choice of vocation — anything but a farmer.

I saw a cartoon on Facebook of a man standing in a withered vegetable patch, saying how much his family needed this garden in case of a national emergency. That way, they could survive off the one tomato and three peppers he’d managed to grow.

Back when I was a kid, we had some spectacular gardens. Grandaddy Grayson was the prime gardener. But all of us youngsters were the prime weeders. My older brother Dave said he could never get his hoe to make the same sound that grandaddy’s made chopping weeds. I could never get mine to chop weeds like grandaddy could. Depends on the technique, I guess. And dedication. My friend, chair maker Greg Harkins told me that his business was always best to him when he was best to his business. That probably works with gardens, too. I bet it works with everything else as well.

I have told this story before, but it’s been a few years. After dad retired, he and mom bought the house right across the road from the house where mom grew up in Fulton. My oldest aunt and uncle still lived there. Another aunt and uncle had built a home right

down the road. In between them — in an open area — the three couples always maintained an impressive summer garden.

There was a year with a drought of biblical proportions. (Not uncommon for north Mississippi.) That’s when the oldest aunt began to admonish the others. “There’s sin in the camp.” Now, no doubt it was dry as a bone over all of northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama and adjoining parts of Tennessee. But for her, the reason it was so dry was that one of the six of them (well, five because it wasn’t her) had done some back-sliding, and God was punishing them by taking it out on their garden.

Then, one weekend my aunt and uncle went to Birmingham, and it rained three inches while they were out of town. There was never another word about “sin in the camp” again.

God might smite, but he also has a sense of humor.

Good luck with your garden. Work it with diligence. Keep a hose handy and keep prayed up, just in case.

by Walt Grayson