FOR MEMBERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OF MISSISSIPPI
What
LURKS inside PICTURE THIS:
FELINE FRIENDS
OCTOBER
2026
GAMEDAY
GRUB
200 YEARS OF
SALEM CAMPGROUND
REMINDS YOU: When setting up decoys and stands, stay clear of electrical poles and boxes! As hunting season approaches, remember to scan your surroundings before setting up stands, blinds, and decoys. Always maintain a safe distance from power lines and utility boxes.
Respect the safe zone.
hunT sMarT! HunT
a message from your local electric cooperative
My Opinion
A public service announcement for my fellow drivers One of the great things about my job is that it lets me travel all over Mississippi. After 20 years of windshield time, I have gathered a few observations about our driving habits. I offer these remarks purely as a public service. This is not meant to be critical. It is meant to shine a helpful little spotlight on a few issues that could use attention from Mississippi drivers. If any of this offends you, well, bless your heart — you may want to circle back and read it again. First, let us discuss turn signals, also known as “blinkers,” and apparently known in some circles as “optional equipment.” This remarkable little lever sits on the left side of the steering column and allows you to announce, in advance, that you intend to turn or change lanes. Push it up if you are going right, down if you are going left. It is not complicated technology. It is not Bluetooth. It does not require an app. Other drivers cannot read your mind. Please use your turn signal. And for those of you who drive for miles with your turn signal blinking away like a casino sign in Biloxi, let me just say: I appreciate the effort. We’ll work on the follow-through later. Next, we need to address the NASCAR mentality that seems to take over the minute some folks merge onto a Mississippi highway. Now, I like NASCAR. It still hasn’t been quite the same since we lost Dale Sr., but Highway 49 is not Talladega; I-55 is not Daytona, and nobody is handing out trophies at the red light in Canton. Here is the situation: I am driving along and need to get over. There is room, but it would be tight, so being the considerate driver I am, I activate my turn signal — see above. What happens next? The driver in the next lane hits the gas and closes the gap to roughly the width of a church bulletin. Why?
So you can be 20 feet ahead of me at the same red light? I am not taking your land. I just need one lane’s worth of mercy. Please let folks over. It will not cost you anything, and I promise we will all still get to the red light together. Finally, we come to the issue that can test the patience of even the most sanctified among us: slow drivers in the left lane. You know who you are. Window down, elbow out, cruising along like time is unlimited and nobody behind you has a meeting, a doctor’s appointment, or a casserole in the oven. I have heard the explanation that the left lane is smoother. Fine. If it is smoother, then surely it is safe enough for you to go a little faster. And please do not get me started on the dreaded side-by-side formation — two vehicles rolling along at the exact same speed, turning the highway into a moving parade with no floats and no candy. I do not blame the person in the right lane. They are where they belong. But if you are in the left lane, kindly press the gas pedal or move over. There are people behind you with places to go and blood pressure medication that only works so hard. Mississippi is a big, beautiful state with about 3 million residents. There is no reason we cannot travel our roads with a little more courtesy, a little more patience, and a little less “Days of Thunder.” So, when you drive, be considerate. Be courteous. Be safe.
by Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Farming DAYS Farmers: Send us a photo of one of your pieces of farm equipment. Or a photo of you working on the farm. The photos must be high-resolution JPG files of at least 1 MB in size. Please send the photo as an attachment to an email (not in the text portion of the email) and send it to news@ecm.coop. Each entry must be accompanied by photographer or sender’s name, full address, and electric co-op. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Oct. 23. Select photos will appear in the January 2027 issue.
2026 | OCTOBER 3
In This Issue
6
Southern Gardening A butterfly haven
8 Outdoors Today Time for a squirrel hunt
10 Scene Around the ‘Sip
200 years of Salem Methodist Campground
10
15 Local News 20 Feature
It’s Halloween month, so why not visit the state’s most haunted house
OFFICERS Shawn Edmondson - President Brian Clark - First Vice President Jeff Bowman - Second Vice President Frankie Moorman - Secretary/Treasurer Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO EDITORIAL STAFF Lydia Walters - VP, Communications Steven Ward - Editor Alan Burnitt - Creative Director Jill Sowell - Sr. Graphic Designer Whitley Daughtry - Sr. Graphic Designer/Photographer Michelle Hoffman - Sales and Advertising Manager Steve Temple - Social Media Director Kevin Wood - Videographer/Photographer Julienne Sones - Graphic & Animation Specialist Chris Alexander - AVP, Member & Youth Engagement Andy Tuccio - AVP, Media & Creative Solutions EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING – 601-605-8600 For delivery questions or issues, call your local co-op.
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: 459,770
20
Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year.
26 Picture This Feline friends
28 On the Menu 31 28
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi
Vol. 79 No. 9
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. The magazine is published for members of subscribing co-ops. The magazine is a benefit of membership. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Electronic address returns requested.
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A hometown haunted house
On the cover
A room in the McRaven Tour Home on Harrison Street in Vicksburg. Photo by Whitley Daughtry.
4
OCTOBER | 2026
News and Notes
Six engineering majors win ECM scholarships Six college students from around the state recently won college engineering scholarships from the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Foundation. Each of the students were awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The scholarship is sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Foundation. The foundation was created by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi in 2005 to give back to the communities they serve by providing scholarships for engineering students in their junior or senior year of college. Bransen Schultz of Lucedale, an electrical engineering major at Mississippi State University; Bryn Daughtery of Vancleave, an electrical engineering major at Mississippi State University; Gracie Crowe of Iuka, an aerospace engineering major at Mississippi State University; Brayden Rowland of Amory, an electrical engineering major at Mississippi State University; Dalton Thompson of Raleigh, an electrical engineering major at Mississippi State University; and Rye Yeates, a mechanical engineering major at the University of Mississippi won the scholarships. Schultz is working as an apprentice lineman at Singing River Electric. Daughtery is a treasurer at Mississippi Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Crowe will be interning at Northrop
4-County Electric member wins Glenn English scholarship Maggie Martin, a 4-County Electric Power Association member who became the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Council’s national spokesperson, recently won a NRECA scholarship. Martin won a $1,000 scholarship from the Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation. Since 2014, the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to Electric Cooperative Youth Tour alumni. Martin, 19, of Columbus is a biomedical sciences major at Auburn University. In 2024, Martin served as the state’s Youth Leadership Council delegate and then became the council’s national spokesperson in 2025. “The program gave me a community I had been searching for all my life — friends who felt like family and pushed me to grow, all the while making sure I knew that, no matter what, I was cared for and loved. Because of their support, I was able to discover new passions, overcome fears, and step into a version of myself who is consistently ready to take on the next goal,” Martin said. Martin said her dream job is to become a surgeon and to build mental health resources for children in rural communities.
Grumman. Rowland has an internship at Tombigbee EPA. Thompson has an internship at Southern Pine Electric. Yeates is a part-time employee of North East Mississippi Electric. The jobs and internships are part of Mississippi State University’s Co-op engineering program.
Today in Mississippi names advertising manager Today in Mississippi has named Michelle Hoffman as the magazine’s new sales and advertising manager. Hoffman, who has 25 years of experience in advertising sales, previously worked at the Mississippi Business Journal, Journal the Clarion Ledger, and SuperTalk Mississippi Media. “When I joined Today in Mississippi, Mississippi I quickly realized that I had become part of something special. The opportunity to build relationships with electric cooperative and broadband professionals across the state has given me a deeper appreciation for the work they do every day on behalf of their members. I look forward not only to serving our readers and cooperative members, but also to helping businesses and organizations strengthen their visibility and connect with audiences across the state through a trusted and respected publication.” Hoffman said. A Mississippi native, Hoffman was born and raised in Flowood. For more information about how to advertise in Today in Mississippi, email Hoffman at hoffman@ECM.coop.
2026 | OCTOBER 5
Southern Gardening
HOLLANDALE’S WiLDLiFE REFUGE is stunning butterfly garden Hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies are making their seasonal migrations through Mississippi, making the fall an exciting time in the garden. This month, I’m taking you on a special journey through one of the Delta’s hidden treasures, the beautiful Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge Butterfly Garden in Hollandale. Created by the Washington County Master Gardeners, this garden is a welcoming habitat for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and countless other beneficial pollinators. Sharkey/Issaquena Master Gardeners also joined the effort, helping to maintain this special garden and keep it blooming and buzzing for visitors and wildlife alike. The garden is not simply a collection of beautiful flowers. What makes this garden so fascinating is that every plant has been thoughtfully selected to provide nectar, food, shelter, and other resources pollinators need throughout their life cycles. At the back of the garden is a native pawpaw tree. Many people know the pawpaw for its unusual, tropical-tasting fruit, but gardeners recognize it for another important reason. Pawpaw is a host plant for the spectacular zebra swallowtail butterfly. The caterpillars feed on the leaves, making it an important part of the butterfly’s life cycle. 6
OCTOBER | 2026
Mountain mint’s clusters of flowers make it one of the best native perennials you can add to a pollinator garden
Fennel is a familiar culinary herb that is a favorite host for the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly.
Pawpaw grows best in moist, well-drained soil and performs especially well in locations with partial shade to full sun. Young trees appreciate protection from intense afternoon heat, while established trees can tolerate more sunlight when adequate moisture is available. Nearby is a patch of fennel. This familiar culinary herb is a favorite host plant for the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly. If you’ve ever grown fennel, you may have noticed caterpillars munching on its feathery foliage. Those hungry caterpillars are a sign that your garden is doing its job. Fennel prefers full sun and performs best when it receives consistent moisture without remaining soggy. Once established, fennel can tolerate some dry conditions. It can become quite large, so give it room to develop. Growing alongside these plants is mountain mint, one of the best native perennials you can add to a pollinator garden. Their clusters of small white flowers are magnets for butterflies, native bees, beneficial wasps, and a variety of other pollinating insects. On a sunny day, the blooms seem alive with activity, making mountain mint one of the hardest-working plants in this garden. Mountain mint thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and is remarkably adaptable once established. It handles Mississippi’s summer heat and tolerates periods of dry weather, making it a dependable choice for low-maintenance landscapes. Mountain mint spreads by underground stems, so give it enough room to expand or contain it in an area where its spreading habit won’t become a problem.
Caterpillars of the zebra swallowtail butterfly feed on the leaves of pawpaw trees.
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.
2026 | OCTOBER 7
Outdoors Today
Sneak
ATTACK! Gliding through swamps silently
8
OCTOBER | 2026
Sucking mud, palmettos, entangling thorny vines, and other dense vegetation make walking through swamps extremely difficult and noisy. Small children find walking through thick terrain practically impossible. However, hunting from a boat makes an ideal way to involve children or novice sportsmen in hunting. With a canoe, kayak, or other small boat, adults and small children can easily glide along quietly watching for game, such as squirrels. From a small boat, sportsmen can cover large chunks of territory. Frequently, the best mast-producing trees grow along stream shorelines. “Hunting squirrels from boats can be highly productive,” Rick Hamrick, a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks biologist said. “In areas with a lot of thick underbrush, it’s very hard to walk quietly. With a small boat, hunters can slip quietly along a stretch of water and spot squirrels.” In addition, a canoe or kayak can take paddlers into many places inaccessible to vehicles, walking, or larger boats. Even on the most heavily pressured public properties, paddlers can get into numerous places few other people ever see. When hunting with a small child or novice sportsman, let that person sit in the bow of a canoe or kayak ready for action. From the stern, the adult controls the boat and helps spot game. After locating a squirrel, the adult can position the craft to give the child the best shot.
In areas with a lot of thick underbrush, it’s very hard to walk quietly. With a small boat, hunters can slip quietly along a stretch of water and spot squirrels.
Just like hunting on land, move slowly forward along wooded shorelines with hardwood or mixed hardwoods and pines. Scan the trees for activity, such as shaking branches. Periodically, stop paddling and listen. Chattering, leaves rustling, claws scratching on bark, or objects falling could give away a squirrel’s position. When nuts plop into the water, they make quite an audible sound. “Squirrels use the hardwood edges next to streams quite a bit,” Hamrick said. “In many areas, there’s a bit of higher ground right next to the shoreline because of the flooding regime for that stream. Any place that has mature hardwoods and streams would be a good place to hunt squirrels from a small boat.” Navigable waterways belong to the public, but adjacent land could remain private. Therefore, hunt streams that flow through public lands. On some streams, sportsmen can make drift trips. Such streams often flow through vast tracts of virtually inaccessible wilderness. Park one vehicle at a likely
take-out point. Then, drive another vehicle to launch the boat upstream. Drift with the current watching for game along the way. People in paddle craft might spot other game, such as feral hogs or rabbits. In swampy areas and river backwaters, paddlers might jump wood ducks or other waterfowl. People cannot fire at migratory birds from boats under power, but they can hunt ducks from human-powered craft. With swamps, lush forests, and abundant waterways, Mississippi offers sportsmen many places to hunt squirrels. The Mississippi squirrel season runs from Oct. 1 through Feb. 28, 2027, with a daily limit of eight.
For more information
on hunting season dates and bag limits, visit mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/hunting-seasons-and-bag-limits.
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 different magazines on a wide variety of outdoors topics. Contact him at j.felsher@hotmail.com.
2026 | OCTOBER 9
Scene Around the ‘Sip
The call continues: 200 years at Salem Campground
by Nancy Jo Maples For two centuries, the sound of a conch shell has called worshippers to gather beneath the tabernacle at Salem Methodist Campground. It sounds again this October. Fifteen minutes before worship, someone will lift the old shell and blow. Tradition holds it’s the conch shell used by generations before them. Blowing it takes practice. When no experienced horn-blower is available, a bell does the job. This year those calls carry special meaning as Salem celebrates its 200th anniversary continuing a tradition of worship, fellowship, and faith since 1826. Located at 26900 Salem Campground Road, a mile west of Highway 63 near the George-Jackson County line, Salem is the oldest existing Methodist camp meeting in Mississippi. Letters and newspaper accountings from the 1800s document its history. 10
OCTOBER | 2026
Salem’s story is best told by the people who return year after year. Each October, families and friends arrive for a week of preaching, singing, visiting, and spiritual renewal. Some travel miles. Others live nearby. Camp meeting is a family reunion and religious gathering. Twenty-two wooden cabins, called “tents,” surround the tabernacle. Many have remained in the same families for generations. The tents are a permanent version of the shelters used by the campground’s earliest worshippers. Camp meetings grew out of the frontier religious movement of the early 1800s, when Methodist circuit riders traveled on horseback from one settlement to another. Churches were few. Distances were great. When word spread a preacher was coming, families traveled miles to hear him. Families packed their belongings, traveled to the meeting grounds and stayed for days. They slept in tents, cooked over campfires and gathered several times a day for preaching, prayer, and singing.
Between services, they visited. That fellowship was as important as the preaching. In a rural world where neighbors lived miles apart and travel was difficult, camp meeting allowed them to renew friendships, share meals, hear news, and worship together. Two hundred years later, much at Salem remains familiar. However, people no longer arrive by wagon or horseback. Temporary shelters have become wooden cabins. Modern conveniences have replaced campfires. Yet families still gather around tables. Children still play beneath trees. Old friends catch up between services. And gospel songs still drift across the grounds. And when the conch shell sounds, people still worship. Salem’s bicentennial camp meeting begins Sunday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. with Bishop Scott Jones of the Global Methodist Church preaching. The Rev. Wesley Pepper of First Methodist Church in Amory will serve as evangelist. Daily prayer, worship, singing, and children’s activities continue through Sunday, Oct. 11.
Each service will include a “history minute” highlighting Salem’s past, and visitors can take a selfguided tour of significant sites. A 65-page history book is available for $10, telling the story of the campground and tents. A cookbook featuring recipes from each tent is available for $15. Salem’s history lives in family traditions, meals shared, old hymns, and stories told on porches. Generations have come and gone, but the gathering has continued. And after 200 years, just before worship, an old conch shell still sounds the call.
Award-winning journalist Nancy Jo Maples has been writing about Mississippi people and places for four decades. Contact her at nancyjomaples@aol.com. 2026 | OCTOBER 11
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Local voices shape
local solutions
October is National Co-op Month When you hear the word cooperative, what comes to mind? We hope you think of your local electric co-op. Regardless of the services offered, all cooperatives have one thing in common: they’re led by the people they serve — and that simple idea makes a meaningful difference. Cooperatives come in all shapes and sizes, each created to meet a specific need. Credit unions help members save and borrow money. Producer cooperatives, like Ocean Spray and Land O’Lakes, help farmers bring their products to market. Retail cooperatives, like REI and ACE Hardware, are owned by their shoppers or a membership of store owners, while housing cooperatives give residents a voice in managing their communities. And utility cooperatives provide reliable electricity to the communities they serve. Unlike many businesses that answer to outside investors or shareholders, cooperatives are built for their members. Their goal isn’t simply to earn a profit — it’s to provide value, meet unique local needs and strengthen the communities they call home. That’s exactly what makes your electric cooperative different. Our story began when neighbors came together to bring electricity to an area when other utilities wouldn’t. While a lot has changed since then, our purpose has remained steady. We’re still here to provide power and make decisions with our community’s best interests in mind.
Being locally owned means we have the flexibility to focus on what matters most to the communities we serve. That’s why no two electric cooperatives are exactly alike. Every community has different needs, and every cooperative reflects those priorities. For some co-ops, that means expanding programs that help members save energy and money. Others may focus on supporting economic development, investing in new technology, or creating new opportunities for local students. You’ll also find the co-op difference in the little things. It’s the lineworkers restoring power after a storm. The employees answering your questions when you call. The team members volunteering at community events. The board members — your neighbors — who help guide decisions for the future. We’re your neighbor and local energy partner, and we’re committed to serving this community for generations to come. This National Co-op Month, we invite you to join us in celebrating the cooperative difference, because this co-op belongs to you. Cooperatives prove that when people work together, everyone benefits. Your membership is what makes our mission possible — and it’s what keeps us focused on serving the people and communities that matter most. 2026 | OCTOBER
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by Miranda Boutelle
If you live in a home with a forced air furnace, the biggest energy waster may be out of sight. Improve your home’s efficiency and comfort by repairing and sealing ductwork.
Around 20% to 30% of the air you pay to heat or cool is lost through leaks, holes, or poorly installed ductwork in the average home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This results in wasted energy and uncomfortable homes, regardless of the thermostat setting. Properly sealing ducts can reduce wasted energy by delivering conditioned air where you want it inside the home. If you have a room that is cold in winter and hot in summer, the culprit might be a leaky or disconnected duct. Duct sealing also helps with indoor air quality. Leaking return ducts can pull air from the spaces they run through, such as attics and crawl spaces. You don’t want to breathe in dirt, dust, and insulation. If you have gas appliances, such as a gas water heater, dryer, or furnace, leaking return ducts can inadvertently cause backdraft, introducing combustion gases back into the home instead of outdoors where they belong.
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A side-by-side comparison shows where to apply mesh tape and sealant to close gaps around metal ducts.
Prep is important. After inspecting your ductwork, gather products designed for the job based on the type of ducts in your home.
Close air gaps at every joint and seam, using duct-sealing mastic, including under register covers inside your home’s living areas.
Metal ductwork comes in various shapes and sizes, including round and rectangular, and with various options for turns and connections.
You can seal ducts yourself or hire a professional. For a do-ityourself approach, start with a visual inspection to determine your duct type. Most homes have flexible or metal ducts. Metal ductwork comes in various shapes and sizes, including round and rectangular, and with various options for turns and connections. Ducts should be insulated when they run through unconditioned spaces, such as crawl spaces, attics, and garages. If your metal ducts are insulated, you must remove the insulation to properly seal them, then reinsulate. Flexible ducts typically have an inner and outer layer with insulation in between. The inner layer is made of bendable plastic reinforced with wire, like a stretched-out Slinky covered in plastic. The outer layer holds the insulation in place. The inner liner in flexible ducts can become brittle over time, cracking easily and causing leaks. If your inner liner is in bad shape, replace the flexible duct. Check for any obvious disconnections, gaps, extra bends, or sagging ducts. Improve airflow by using short, straight, taut runs. Avoid sags and excess turns. Metal ductwork should be fastened together at each joint using sheet metal screws. Make sure your ducts are properly supported to keep the joints from separating over time.
For flexible ducts, use Panduit straps. These are heavyduty nylon zip ties that offer long-term durability and a tensioning tool specifically designed to tighten them. When it comes to sealing ducts, use products designed for the job. Seal every joint and seam using duct-sealing mastic — a thick paste that can be applied with a paintbrush or gloved hand. When it dries, mastic creates a flexible, airtight seal, eliminating duct leakage. Use mesh tape to bridge larger gaps before applying mastic. Remove register covers inside the home to seal the joints and seams there. You also want a good seal where the duct meets drywall or flooring. In easier-to-reach areas, you can opt to use UL-listed foilbacked tape designed for ductwork. Do not use duct tape. Fluctuations in temperature cause the adhesive to fail. Duct sealing is messy, so make sure to protect yourself and your home. Use drop cloths to protect flooring. Metal tape and the edges of metal ducts are sharp, so put on coated work or garden gloves underneath nitrile or latex disposable gloves. To protect your arms, wear a long-sleeve shirt tucked into your gloves or a long sock with the toes cut out. After air sealing, have an HVAC professional test the airflow during your next annual maintenance visit. If you don’t feel comfortable getting your hands dirty, hire a professional. Most companies that install ductwork or heating and cooling systems can also seal ducts. Sealing your ductwork gives you peace of mind that your home is not wasting energy or introducing unhealthy air into your living space. Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.
2026 | OCTOBER
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refresh
This fall, your cybersecurity habits As the leaves begin to change and we settle into the routines of fall, it’s a good time to take stock of a few things around the house — preparing for cooler weather, checking our heating systems, and getting ready for the months ahead. It’s also a good time to refresh our cybersecurity habits.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but protecting your personal information is something that deserves attention all year long. At your electric co-op, cybersecurity is a critical part of providing safe, reliable electric service. While much of our focus is on protecting the physical systems that operate the electric grid, we also work to protect the systems and information that help us serve you — including online accounts, payment systems, member portals, and outage communications. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming more sophisticated, too. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easier for cyber criminals to create convincing emails, text messages, websites, and even voice messages that can look and sound legitimate. The FBI has warned that generative AI can make fraudulent schemes more believable by eliminating many of the errors that once helped us identify a scam. That matters when it comes to utility scams. A scammer may impersonate your co-op and claim your account is past due, your service is about to be disconnected, or you need to make an immediate payment. The message might even include the co-op logo, use professional-looking language, or direct you to a website that appears legitimate. With AI helping scammers create more convincing communications, simply looking for spelling mistakes or other obvious warning signs may no longer be enough. And these scams are not a small problem. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, making these types of scams the most commonly reported type of fraud. Nearly one in three fraud reports involved an imposter scam. So, what should you do if you receive an unexpected message claiming to be from your co-op? 18 OCTOBER | 2026
If a message creates a sense of urgency or threatens immediate disconnection, take a moment to verify it. Don’t click the link or call the phone number provided in the message. Instead, contact your co-op directly using their trusted methods. You can reach them by phone or by email. You can also take steps to protect your online accounts before a scam occurs. Start with your password. Longer is generally better than simply adding more special characters. Choose a long, unique passphrase that is difficult for others to guess, and don’t reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If the accounts you access online offer multifactor authentication (MFA), consider using it. MFA adds an extra If a message creates a sense of urgency or threatens immediate disconnection, take layer of protection by a moment to verify it. Don’t click the link requiring an additional or call the phone number provided in the way to verify your message. Call your co-op’s official number. identity, such as a code sent to your phone or an authentication app. Most importantly, remember that you don’t have to make a payment simply because someone tells you that you do. We want you to have an opportunity to verify any unexpected request. Your electric cooperative is committed to protecting the systems that help them deliver your electricity and serve members. You can help by protecting your own account, slowing down when something seems urgent and contacting us directly when you’re unsure.
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Spirits in the
material world MISSISSIPPI’S most haunted house by Steven Ward
There’s a house at the end of Harrison Street in Vicksburg filled with stories. Beyond the black gate at the entrance of the property, there’s a brick-lined walking path surrounded by trees, plants, and other greenery that leads to the two-story, 2,400-square-foot house. Once called “a time capsule of the South” by National Geographic magazine, the McRaven Tour Home is a house that represents three distinct time periods of the past. The first portion of the house was built in 1797, — before Mississippi was a state or Vicksburg a city — the second in 1836, and the third portion in 1849. Not just filled with stories from the past, McRaven Tour Home is a place where the past makes itself known in the present. According to the owners, the tour guides who work there, and different visitors throughout the years, McRaven Tour Home is the most haunted house in Mississippi. The home, purchased by current owners Kendra and Dr. Steven Reed in 2015, hosts history tours, haunted tours, and ghost investigations. 20
OCTOBER | 2026
The doorknocker on McRaven’s front door.
Part of a room built by highwayman Andrew Glass in the 1700s. The plaster on the walls was made from blueberry and buttermilk. A doll carriage sits under the staircase.
Photos by Whitley Daughtry The McRaven Tour Home in Vicksburg.
When asked if she believes in ghosts, Kendra Reed answered this way. “There are things here we can’t explain,” she said. Brian Riley, a McRaven tour guide and member of the Mississippi Paranormal Society, was a little more specific. “I think McRaven is the most haunted house in Mississippi because of the number of spirits there, and the activity that has been witnessed over the years. I do know of at least 15 spirits residing on the whole property,” Riley said. One of those spirits could be Andrew Glass, the home’s first resident and a highwayman who robbed people on the Natchez Trace. McRaven was Glass’ hideout. He used blueberry and buttermilk plaster for the walls in his two-room brick structure in the 1700s, Reed said. Glass was later attacked by Spanish soldiers on the Natchez Trace following a robbery. Mortally wounded, he somehow made it back to McRaven where his wife killed him to put him out of his misery, Reed said. The second part of the house was built in 1836 by Sheriff Stephen Howard. Howard added a stairway, a bedroom, a dining room, and a two-story covered porch. Howard’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Howard, died in her bedroom after childbirth. Reed said Mary Elizabeth is the most active spirit in the house.
The parlor with a piano was built by John H. Bobb in 1849. Co-owner Kendra Reed said she once heard the piano start playing with no one near the musical instrument.
McRaven is filled with antiques that match the time period of each of the home’s three distinct periods of architecture.
2026 | OCTOBER 21
She said one of her favorite stories is when a mom and her toddler were visiting and touring the bedroom. The mom put the toddler down for a minute. “The little girl was just learning how to walk. She put her hand in the air, and it was grabbed by an invisible finger. She walked across the room. Then the girl was playing peak-a-boo with someone behind her mom. But there wasn’t anybody behind her mom,” Reed said. As the mother and daughter left the empty room, the girl waved goodbye to someone or something. The third part of the house was built in Greek Revival style by John H. Bobb in 1849. A brick manufacturer and sawmill owner, Bobb built a parlor, master bedroom, men’s changing area, flying wing staircase, and some pillars. Bobb was killed by Union soldiers on May 18, 1864 — exactly one year after Union General Ulyssess S. Grant surrounded the Mississippi city in the Siege of Vicksburg. Later, William Murray lived at McRaven with his daughters. He died in 1911, but his daughters lived in the home for 70 years. During that time, the sisters lived in the house without electricity or running water.
The kids in the neighborhood would call the sisters witches because they would be out on the front porch wearing all black and stirring a cauldron making lye and doing their laundry.
“The kids in the neighborhood would call the sisters witches because they would be out on the front porch wearing all black and stirring a cauldron making lye and doing their laundry,” Reed said. Riley, who leads the ghost investigations at McRaven, said he had a recent encounter with a spirit. “Just the other night when one of my team members from the Mississippi Paranormal Society was there doing some investigating. We had put three EMF (Electromagnetic Field) detectors on the main staircase. We had asked if a spirit that was upstairs wanted to come join us. About 20 seconds later, we witnessed the three EMF detectors light up. The first at the top, the second in the middle, and then the one towards the bottom. Like someone had actually come downstairs,” Riley said. WJTV news anchor, storyteller, and Today in Mississippi columnist Walt Grayson experienced his own weird incidents at McRaven. While at McRaven filming a story, Grayson said he was standing outside the front door and was about to turn the doorknob to go inside when he heard the door latch unlock. “But there was no one in the house,” Grayson said. Another time Grayson was at the house for filming, the lights in the middle bedroom were off after he left. When he got downstairs and outside, he looked up and saw the lights in the room back on. 22
OCTOBER | 2026
Mary Elizabeth Howard died in her bedroom following childbirth in the 1800s. Reed said Mary Eliazbeth Howard is the most active spirit in the house.
Both Grayson and Reed said McRaven’s previous owner — Weyland French — experienced unexplainable occurrences. “All the experiences Weyland had there…if only 1/10th of what supposedly happened there actually happened, McRaven is Mississippi’s most haunted house,” Grayson said. French, who sold the home to the Reeds, was the last person to live in the house. He moved out in 2008. French, a Civil War enthusiast, offered history tours of his home to the public to show them how people lived during the different eras of the house. Reed said French was on his knees picking up a piece of gum from the floor when someone or something stepped on his back. He was alone in the room at the time. Another time, when French’s hands were in a drawer, something slammed the drawer down and smashed his fingers.
Reed said not only is the house haunted, but the city of Vicksburg is as well. The house and the city were a field camp and field hospital during the Civil War,” Reed said. She said her husband was using a metal detector one day outside and came across an amputation pile. “He found a cut femur.” Reed also said she was inside the house once when the piano in the parlor started playing even though there’s wasn’t anyone at the piano. When asked how he responds to people who tell him there’s no such thing as ghosts, Riley said he has two answers for them. “I tell people two things: One is that just because they don’t believe in something doesn’t mean it’s not real. Second, sometimes, when the time is right and I know someone is able to take a joke, I will tell them, ‘Ghosts probably don’t believe in you, either.’”
FOR MORE INFORMATION about McRaven history tours, haunted tours, ghost investigations, and the upcoming Halloween Candlelight event slated for the last two weekends of October, visit mcraventourhome.com or call 601-501-1336.
Seniors get new medical alert device —ADVERTISEMENT—
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. ■
■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.
Seniors born before 1964 get big boost Instantly connects to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button with no contracts, no deposits, and no monthly bills Seniors born before 1964 get new medical alert device Nationwide: Demand for new Medical Alert Device soars 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(Continued on next page)
■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-221-2809 DEPT. FSTH225 today. Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
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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. FSTH225
BORN AFTER 1964: You cannot use the rebate coupon to the right and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-221-9773 EXT. ADFH1026
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
Comes with new cellular embedded technology that works at home or anywhere you go so you are never alone
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Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills
ily members are snapping 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 de-
posits and 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 important, not 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. ■
People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren s ay s ever y s en ior 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-
Five Star Customer Reviews 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
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WE LOVE THE PRODUCT “We bought it outright with no bills ever.” - Rosemary, NY
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Safe anywhere “This little FastHelp device is my guardian angel. I’m so glad my daughter-in-law got it for me.” - Pete, FL
A+ Rating: These are unsolicited consumer feedback from satisfied customers as reported to Universal Physicians.
PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch 911 BOTTOM LINE: Button that instantly You don’t need to connects you to free shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, unlimited nationwide help with no contracts this deal is too good or deposits. It connects to pass up. With the you to the vast availinstant FastHelp able network of cellular rebate, it is a real steal at just $149 and towers for free and saves shipping. There are no seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever. 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.
REBATE COUPON
VALID FOR USE 21 DAYS ONLY Amount of Rebate (AOR)
1P
$150.00 OFF
2Y
RE: FSTH225 DLVY: ML2077R1
1 OF 1
PLEASE USE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER WITH NO TRANSACTION FEE. ALL OTHER PAYMENT FORMS HAVE A THREE PERCENT TRANSACTION FEE. FASTHELP IS COVERED BY A 30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE LESS SHIPPING AND A 1 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. FASTHELP IS A 4G CELLULAR DEVICE. FASTHELP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE 911 CALLS WHEN CELLULAR SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE SUCH AS IN REMOTE AREAS. FASTHELP USES GPS TRIANGULATIONS TO APPROXIMATE YOUR LOCATION WHEN YOUR DEVICE IS TURNED ON. DR. HOWREN IS A COMPENSATED MEDICAL ADVISOR. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. UNIVERSAL PHYSICIANS 7747 SUPREME AVE, NORTH CANTON, OH 44720. P7484 OF24696R-1
Picture This
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1. Kamryn Havard of Lucedale; Singing River Electric member.
5. Lynda Dolden of Ocean Springs; Singing River Electric member.
2. David and Tammie Boteler of Liberty; Magnolia Electric member.
6. Marilyn Wallen of Vancleave; Singing River Electric member.
3. David Goodwin of Columbia; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
7. Brenda T. Butler of Shuqualak; 4-County Electric member.
4. Sonja Leenders of Picayune; Coast Electric member.
8. Cindy Wells of Poplarville; Coast Electric member. 9. Jerry Ruby of Olive Branch; Northcentral Electric member.
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10. Dee Greene of Sumrall; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
16. Audrey Roberts of Raleigh; Southern Pine Electric member.
11. John Karpinsky of Vancleave; Singing River Electric member.
17. Ginger Dunaway of Biloxi; Coast Electric member.
12. Paulette Egler of Lake David; Coast Electric member.
18. Tracy Castaneda of Vancleave; Singing River Electric member.
13. Patrick Griffith of Amory; Monroe County Electric member.
19. Frank Silva of Yazoo City; Yazoo Valley Electric member.
14. Krista Casey of Wiggins; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
20. Patricia T. Muscio of Beaumont; Pearl River Valley Electric member.
15. Stacy LeBlanc of Kiln; Coast Electric member.
21. Loretta Ellis of Braxton; Southern Pine Electric member.
2026 | OCTOBER 27
On the Menu
with Rebecca Turner
Tailgating with a
tasteful twist
Tailgating, an autumn ritual, turns stadium parking lots, campus lawns, backyards, and living rooms into massive parties filled with delicious food and team spirit. Traditionally, a tailgate relies on portable cooking setups and a standard menu of finger foods, including barbecue, burgers, wings, and dips galore. This year, upgrade classic tailgating foods with a flavorful twist. Swap out standard burgers for beef or pulled pork sliders, topped with a tangy or spicy slaw, or stuff burgers with sharp cheddar cheese and jalapeños. Keep finger foods portable, bite-sized, and sturdy enough to eat while standing. Any sandwich can become a skewer by alternating bite-sized ingredients. Scoop crowd-favorite dips like artichoke, BLT, or buffalo chicken in mini bell peppers, or roasted jalapeño halves. Turn meaty platters into single-served dishes. Make walking nachos by offering snack-size chip bags and all the toppings. Guests can open a bag of corn chips, add meat, customize their nacho toppings, and walk away with their snack in hand. 28
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by Rebecca Turner Rebecca Turner is an author, registered dietitian, radio host, television presenter, and board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. She is a lifelong Mississippian and a member of the Central Electric Co-op in Brandon. Find her on social media @RebeccaTurnerTalks or online at RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mini Peppers INGREDIENTS 15 sweet mini bell peppers (various colors), cut in half lengthwise and seeded.
⅓ cup buffalo hot sauce
2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast (or shredded rotisserie chicken)
½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4 ounces cream cheese (softened) ¼ cup sour cream
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Mac and Cheese Bites
¼ cup finely chopped green onions
INGREDIENTS
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups dry elbow macaroni 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, sour cream, buffalo hot sauce, garlic powder, green onions, and half of the shredded cheeses until smooth. Fold in the shredded chicken.
1 cup whole milk 2 ounces cream cheese (softened) 1 large egg, well beaten 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Spoon the chicken mixture generously into each mini pepper half.
¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet and sprinkle the remaining cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling, and the peppers are slightly tender but still hold their shape.
½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ cup panko breadcrumbs tossed with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Serve hot, or bake the night before, let fully cool, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then serve cold.
BBQ Pulled Pork Totchos INGREDIENTS 1 bag (32 ounce) frozen extra-crispy tater tots. 2 cups fully cooked, warm shredded pulled pork. ½ to ¾ cup of your favorite sweet or smoky BBQ sauce. 2 cups shredded cheese 1 cup prepared cold coleslaw (optional for the top) ¼ cup sliced green onions and optional jalapeños
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Spread the frozen tater tots in a single layer on a large-rimmed baking sheet or inside a large cast-iron skillet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through. Pro-Tip: Bake them 5 minutes longer than the package directions say — they need an extra-sturdy crust to hold up to the heavy toppings. Or air-fry or deep-fry them.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 36-count mini muffin tin (or two 24-count pans) with non-stick cooking spray. Tip: Spray thoroughly for easy removal. Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente (about 6 to 7 minutes). Drain well and set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and let it bubble for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly until smooth and simmering. Stir in the cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, 1 cup of the cheddar, and all of the Monterey Jack until a thick, creamy sauce forms. Remove from heat.
Remove the crispy tots from the oven. Immediately sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over the hot potatoes.
Stir the cooked macaroni directly into the hot cheese sauce until every noodle is coated. Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes. Once cooled, stir in the beaten egg until completely uniform.
Toss your warm pulled pork with a few tablespoons of BBQ sauce to keep it moist, then layer it directly over the cheese. Drizzle the remaining BBQ sauce across the meat.
Spoon a generous tablespoon of the mac and cheese into mini muffin cups, pressing down slightly to pack firmly into the tin. Top each with a pinch of the remaining cheddar cheese and sprinkle on the buttery panko breadcrumbs.
Smother the pork with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the breadcrumb tops turn golden brown.
Pop the pan back into the oven (or under the broiler) for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is completely melted, bubbling, and golden brown around the edges. Scatter the sliced green onions and jalapeños over the top. Serve immediately.
Remove from the oven and let the bites sit undisturbed in the pan for 10 minutes. If you try to take them out too early, they will crumble. Run a butter knife around the edges of each well to pop them right out. 2026 | OCTOBER 29
Events Events open to the public will be published free of charge as space allows. Submit details at least two months prior to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Email to news@ecm.coop. Events are subject to change. Barn Sale – Antiques and Collectables. Oct. 17 and 18. Oak Grove. More than 85 collectors with trailer loads of antiques and collectables. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. 4799 Old Highway 11, Purvis. $5 parking per car. Good for both days. Details: 601-818-5886 or 601-794-7462. Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation Trunk-orTreat. Oct. 17. Hernando. Win a prize for best trunk. Food trucks, photo opportunities, birds of prey, creepy crawlies, and scaly friends. Local businesses sign up for free at events@ mswildliferehab.org. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dub Patton Campground at Arkabutla Lake. 3905 Arkabutla Dam Rd. The event is free. Details: 662-292-6133. Ole Tyme Fall Festival at Landrum’s Homestead. Oct. 17. Laurel. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1356 Highway 15 South. Step back in time and take a walking tour of the past to see a working homestead, wagon rides, gem mining, a scavenger hunt, a cake walk, pony rides, wood carving, face painting, blacksmith work, and ole tyme games. Smokehouse will be open. Homemade ice cream will be available. Admission is $15 while children 3 and under get in free. Details: 601-649-2546 or visit landrums.com. Byrd’s Chapel Church Fall Festival. Oct. 24. Carriere. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 26 Byrd’s Chapel Rd. The event will feature a country store, bake sale, craft booths, a raffle, a silent auction, food trucks, and games. Details: 601-799-6606. Greene County Festival. Nov. 7. Leakesville. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greene County Rural Events Center. Festival will include children’s activities, a car show, arts and crafts, live music, food vendors, and a ranch rodeo. Details: 601-770-3017 or 601-394-7029. Zion Hill No. 1 Baptist Church’s Honoring Veterans. Nov. 8. Natchez. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at 349 Lower Woodville Road. The procession of veterans starts at 8 a.m. with a special service dedicated to veterans, along with gifts, door prizes, and brunch. Joe W. Pickett is the pastor. Details: Email zionhill349@yahoo.com or call 601-442-2782 Forrest/Lamar County Forestry Association Annual Meeting. Nov 12. Hattiesburg. Starts at 6 p.m. at the Forrest County Extension Office. Food, networking with forest landowners, door prizes, and an educational opportunity. The event includes dinner. Registration is $20. Registration is due by Nov. 6. Send a check or money order to P.O. Box 191 Purvis, MS 39475. Wild turkey populations and improvements across the state will be discussed. Details: 601-794-3910.
Puckett Methodist Women’s Missions Market Place. Nov. 14. Puckett. The event starts at 8 a.m. and goes to 1 p.m. at Puckett Methodist Church, 6412 Hwy 18 downtown. Proceeds go to fund our Friends in Need campaign to help those with cancer and other medical expenses and to help children on the autism spectrum attend the Center Ridge Outpost summer camp. The event features vendors with handmade items, a rummage sale, raffle items, and a soup lunch café for $5 a bowl. This year will also include a car show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Frozen casseroles and pies will also be sold. Table space is available for $30. Details: 601-214-7834. Landrum’s Homestead Sugar Cane Syrup Making. Nov. 14. Laurel. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1356 Highway 15 South. Watch as syrup is made the oldfashioned way using a mule-powered cane mill and an antique syrup pan, just like in the early days. Guests can also enjoy free biscuits with fresh syrup samples, along with tasty festival favorites like corn dogs, lemonade, and homemade ice cream. Admission: is $12 while children 3 and under get in free. Details: 601-649-2546 or visit landrums.com. Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival. Nov 14 and 15. Gulfport. The festival is at Harrison County Fairgrounds, 15321 County Farm Rd. The event features two full days of Scottish culture, food, music, and athletics including sanctioned Highland athletic competitions on both days as well as three awardwinning bagpipe bands. Two stages will feature Celtic music and dance. There will also be jousting competitions and axe throwing. Visit various clan tents to learn about your heritage. Details:228-380-1642 or email mshighlandsandislands@gmail.com. The 72nd Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Gospel Singing Show. Nov. 21. Laurel. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Grove Baptist Church, 2475 Pleasant Grove Rd. Featuring The Kingsmen Quartet, Tim Frith & the Gospel Echoes, Jason Runnels, and Revelations. Details: 601-906-0677 or 601-720-8870.
43rd Annual Christmas at Landrum’s Homestead. Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. Laurel. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. 1356 Hwy 15 South. Enjoy photos with Santa, live entertainment, a Civil War re-enactment, dulcimers, clogging, wagon rides, pony rides, gem mining, and a gift shop filled with unique treasures. Stroll through acres of dazzling holiday lights, watch skilled artisans like blacksmiths, wood carvers, and chainsaw artists. Treat yourself to holiday favorites such as kettle corn, funnel cakes, homemade ice cream, and more. Admission: is $15 while children 3 and under get in free. Details: 601-649-2546 or visit landrums.com. Cleveland Farm Toy Show. Dec. 4 and 5. Cleveland. 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The show will be held at the Willard Samuels Gymnasium, 700 North Chrisman Ave. Details: 662-588-0677 or cbandrewsfarm@gmail.com. Christmas Lights at Landrum’s Homestead. Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. Laurel. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at1356 Hwy 15 South. Step back in time and experience the magic of Christmas with thousands of lights and candlelit pathways. Beautiful Christmas music, photos with Santa, a marshmallow roast, wagon rides, funnel cakes, beignets and hot chocolate will be available. Admission is $15 while children 3 and under get in free. Details: 601-649-2546 or visit landrums.com. Holy Land Tour. Nov. 28 to Dec. 7. Israel. Join Ronnie and Beverly Cottingham on a 10-day life changing tour of the Holy Land. Details: 601-770-1447 or email rbcottingham@bellsouth.net.
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T O D AY I N M I S S I S S I P P I . C O M 30 OCTOBER | 2026
A haunted house I have known
Somewhere around here I have notes, perhaps whole stories, about haunted houses I have either visited myself or talked to people who have visited. But I can’t find them. Too many stacks of papers, too many rubber-band-wrapped piles of note cards, and too many broken computers shoved under shelves with the idea of reviving them and seeing what’s on them — someday. I plan to write a book about ghosts and haunted houses — someday. I remember the first haunted house I ever visited. I was just a child. I have no idea the occasion or the reason we went. But daddy took a bunch of “us.” I put the word us in quotes because I don’t even remember who the other people were. Maybe it was mama and my older brother and sisters. Knowing daddy, it could have been a church group. Memory of the whole thing is about as dark and dusty as the interior of the house. I don’t even remember getting there and leaving. I just remember being in that big dark room. It was years later, after I got my driver’s license and started roaming all over the Delta, that I even saw the house again. At least I think it was the same house — either the same or one that looked similar. It was the official “Haunted House of Greenville” if it’s the one I’m thinking about. It was on South Main Street, way south out in the country. The house was an old antebellum home with a high set of steps leading up to a broad porch. I never went back inside. I planned to — someday. However, the house burned down and that was the end of that. But back to that first night we visited. I remember a staircase. But I mostly remember it because whoever else was with us
daring each other to go up them. Some got about halfway and ran back down. I also remember a window. Probably more than one window, but daddy was looking out this one specific window and hollered, “There’s a light coming across the field!” It must have been coming fast because I recall a lot of squeals and a rush for the door. And I guess that’s when we left. That’s all I remember. I thought at the time that the light must have been a ghost and that’s why we had to leave so fast — so the ghost wouldn’t get us. Reflecting down through the years, the light could have been a caretaker or watchman coming to run us out of the house. Either way, we left. (Whoever “we” were.) I never thought to ask daddy anything about the old house or why we went. It never was all that important to me back then. Now, the old house is just one of the things that I waited too late to ask about. I guess I figured I’d get around to it — someday.
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.
2026 | OCTOBER 31
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