By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB “By Any Means” is a movie about two disparate FBI employees that can’t decide if it wants to be a “Buddy Cop” movie or not. The pair are mismatched, but are they “comically” mismatched? The pair banter, is there enough banter to qualify for the “Buddy Cop” label? There’s action, but is the action too violent and intense for a term as casual as “Buddy Cop”? The result is an uneven tone that makes the movie too dark for matinee action fans and too ridiculous for true-crime aficionados. The movie takes place in 1966, primarily in Mississippi. Local agent Wayne Strider (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) is eager to prove that he, as a Black man, can handle more than a desk job. He also wants to help in the investigation into the murder of civil rights activist and personal friend Vernon Dahmer (Giancarlo Esposito). His boss (David Strathairn) notices that Black neighbors of Dahmer are unwilling to talk to white agents, but maybe they’ll cooperate with Strider. The agent is given a special off-the-books assignment that requires some investigating, though he is mostly in the service of informant Gregory Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg), a New York mobster known for uncondoned methods of getting answers. For different reasons, neither Strider nor Scarpa is particularly welcome in Klan-infested 1960’s Mississippi, though it’s not like they’re conducting the investigation to make friends. Scarpa has certainly shown up to be one half of a pair of Buddy Cops. Everything from his hair to his sunglasses to his drinking and womanizing, indicates that he is the “wild” one of the team. And that’s just his first impression. He’s also got a mean mouth, a short fuse, and an itchy trigger finger. The man starts putting up a body count much earlier than Strider expected. He’s not much more merciful in his interrogations, with the investigation rarely moving forward without information soaked in blood. Then again, at least he’s getting the information, which Strider would never be able to get going by the book. Strider and Scarpa settle into a rapport, though Scarpa is casually racist and says he doesn’t care about the investigation outside of his specific assignment. Strider eventually learns to give verbal abuse as good as he gets. He even teaches Scarpa an epithet for white people that he doesn’t already know. I found it hard to believe that Scarpa wasn’t familiar with the term, or at least be able to easily guess its meaning from context. His ignorance in this scene is about as embarrassing for the movie as Dr. Don in “Green Book” being befuddled by fried chicken. When it comes to the investigation, there’s no learning from each other, Scarpa 100% brings Strider over to his side of using violence to get what he wants. And there is a lot of violence. Interrogation scenes see suspects begging Scarpa to kill them, but he won’t end their suffering that easily. Granted, these men are always perpetrators of horrific violence themselves, which just means that all “action” sequences in this movie are a rough watch. I get the point of making the violence in “By Any Means” so ugly, there are no winners in a hate-based war. I also get the point of making the character of Scarpa so unlikeable (provided it does the real-life Scarpa justice), sometimes assets to justice have to come from the dregs of society. But did this movie have to take so many cues from lighter Buddy Cop movies, as if it couldn’t sell itself as something heavier? And did it have to whiff so badly on its few attempts at levity? The film takes itself both too seriously and not seriously enough, working occasionally, but not consistently. It never quite finds the means to elicit laughs “or” screams. Grade: C “By Any Means” is rated R for violence/bloody images and pervasive language. Its running time is 107 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com The funeral director was scheduled to bury the body of a man who had been married to five former wives, and had a current fiancée when he died. A fiancée that the ex-wives did not know existed. In this town, when a person passed away and had no specific pastor they wanted to conduct their funeral, that director was accustomed to calling upon a local Baptist pastor to perform the ceremony. That local pastor was my own husband. The day before the funeral, every ex-wife - in chronological order, no less – marched herself into the director’s office. They each proceeded to explain to him that having a Baptist pastor to officiate the service was impossible, and why. Seems the deceased, who bore the well-used title of husband (and lousy dad to his own children) was prone to being a member of whatever church denomination served his purposes at the current time. Each ex-wife demanded a minister from a different denomination. It was all finally capped off with the fiancée declaring, “I know for certain that my fiancée has always been an atheist, and no minister of any kind will be conducting his funeral.” The director kindly told each of them, “I am confident that this Baptist pastor will conduct a service that will be pleasing to you.” At the funeral, the uncertain atmosphere became even more tense when the funeral service had to be delayed for an hour, due to the tardiness of the current fiancée. Whom until today, please remember, none of the wives even knew existed. But my husband finally conducted the service, with each of the five wives having an older lady sitting next to her. Arms crossed, unsmiling, eyes emotionless, and very determined to make certain her daughter’s ex-husband was dead and buried. Later when the burial service was finally concluded, my husband spoke to each family member as he always did, and headed towards his car. But. Unbeknownst to him, the fiancée had slipped over to quietly whisper to the funeral director that she wanted to address the crowd. Wanting to please the family, as he always attempted to do for every funeral, Mr. Carson raised his voice over the hum of the group and announced that the fiancée had requested to be allowed to address the assembled mourners. My husband stopped midstride, immediately feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand at attention. There was no ignoring the growing tension and anger in the air from the five ex-wives and irate mothers. As the fiancée spoke in glowing terms of the deceased, my pastor/husband kept whispering to Mr. Carson, “This isn’t gonna end well, Joe! You need to cut her off and put an end to this!” But before Joe could move to interrupt, the fiancée exclaimed, “No man could have been sweeter to my two little girls. They loved him so much!” Fourth of July fireworks among a few. Ice cold blizzard conditions among some of the others. Joe and my husband? These two smarter-than-the-average-bear guys took shelter. Who could blame them?

The wide-ranging program for the 83rd National Folk Festival’s Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage was announced today at a press conference inside the House Chamber at the Old Capitol Museum. This is the event’s second year of a three-year residency, scheduled to take place November 13-15, 2026, in Downtown Jackson. On hand for today’s announcement were Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Executive Director David Lewis, and Director of the Two Mississippi Museums Michael Morris. Also participating were Shaquita Chapman, Community Engagement & Strategic Communications Coordinator, National Folk Festival; and Blaine Waide, Executive Director, National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). To provide a preview of the rich and varied program that will be on offer in November, three participants in this year’s program were also featured at the press conference: Rising Stars Fife & Drum, keepers of a singular African American fife and drum legacy; quilters from Mississippi Cultural Crossroads; and Geno Lee with the Big Apple Inn.” The Mississippi Folklife Area & Stage is a special component of the National Folk Festival, celebrating and showcasing the traditions held deeply in the state's diverse communities. With a different theme each year, the Folklife Area shines a spotlight on the distinctive music, rituals, crafts, occupations, foodways, and other traditions at the heart of Mississippi's cultural heritage, expressing both the state’s deep history and its evolving character. From the Gulf Coast to the Delta and the Prairie to the Hill Country, this area presents the best traditional musicians, artisans, and foods in Mississippi, in curated programs that celebrate the state’s rich, varied, and unique culture. Performances, demonstrations, displays, exhibits, and narrative presentations explore a wide range of topics, including the traditions of its Native peoples, the cultural legacies of families who have called the state home for generations, and the expressions of the newest Mississippi residents whose cultural roots are in far-flung places around the globe. Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story For 250 years, Mississippi culture has flowed continually outward to shape the nation. The state's folk traditions speak to the heart of America, particularly when it comes to food and music. From church hymns to juke joints, and kitchen tables to gameday tailgates, Mississippi's traditions are meant to be shared and continually remade. Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story, a special program curated by the Mississippi Arts Commission, honors the state's contributions to the nation's artistic and cultural excellence. It celebrates artists, musicians, cooks, friends, and families who carry the past forward and communities where creativity is a shared act. Here, traditions remind us that Mississippi's cultural soul does not simply belong to one state but enriches the entire nation. “America’s rich palette and sounds are rooted right here in Mississippi,” said David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. “With southern soul and a side of comeback sauce, we continue our celebration of America’s 250th with a focus on the music and flavors Mississippi has cultivated for generations. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what Mississippi has brought to the table this year.” "The Folklife Area is always a vital part of the National Folk Festival experience, but that’s especially true this year, " said NCTA Executive Director Blaine Waide. "Mississippi Flavor is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on the state’s contributions, not just as the ‘birthplace of America’s music,’ but as the source of so much of our nation’s artistic and cultural legacy.” Mississippi Flavor: At the Crossroads of the American Story will feature: Alan Sibley & the Magnolia Ramblers of Ackerman, combining classic bluegrass standards, original gospel sounds, and classic instrumental licks in a style that harkens back to the music’s founding generation. Annie & the Caldwells of West Point, blending fiery gospel sounds with the slow-burn groove of soul, making this family band a longtime favorite on the gospel circuit in Mississippi’s Golden Triangle, and of late, across the world Big Apple Inn of Jackson, a community staple for nearly 80 years, serving up classic southern soul food like their famous pig ear sandwiches. Cedric Burnside of Holly Springs, an innovator and torch bearer for the spellbinding Hill Country blues tradition, bridging the music’s legacy and future, transmitting deeply held blues stories in a fresh, contemporary voice. Chimneyville Weavers & Spinners Guild of Jackson, sharing the time-honored practice of creating textiles by hand using tools that predate modern technology. Eddie Cotton, Jr. of Clinton, a master of soul blues moving audiences, body and spirit, with blistering guitar work, stirring vocals, and a hard-driving style rooted in the church of his youth. Eden Brent of Greenville, a blues pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and educator carrying forward the rich sounds of Mississippi Delta blues and boogie-woogie piano. Edna Nicole & Rev. Slim of Clarksdale, performing their mix of Delta blues, gospel, soul, and funk that draws inspiration from the community and people around them. Hollywood Luck of Jackson, a hip hop artist, producer, and songwriter, celebrating the creativity and energy of southern hip hop. Jarita Frazier-King of Natchez, sharing her signature twist on traditional southern soul food and Creole classics. Jemero Carter & Kingdomology of Oxford, playing a compelling mix of traditional, contemporary, and trap gospel—creating music that celebrates the continuing evolution of a signature southern sound. The Church of the Living God, “Home of the Sacred Steel Players,” of Tupelo, offering a rare opportunity to experience the distinctive sacred steel musical tradition of the Church of the Living God, Jewell Dominion. Lady Trucker of Holly Springs, a cousin of Jessie Mae Hemphill, performing the blues and gospel of her roots, celebrating the rich musical traditions of North Mississippi’s Hill Country. Las Delicias of Leland, demonstrating their award-winning version of a distinctive Mississippi staple, Delta tamales. Leda & Annie Issac of Choctaw, sharing their knowledge of traditional Choctaw culinary traditions that have been practiced in Mississippi for millennia. Los Preeminentes of Greenwood, a family band that has transported Northern Mexico’s classic norteño sounds to the Delta. Melony Armstrong of Tupelo, showcasing her skills as an expert hairbraider and sharing her craft with festivalgoers of all ages. Mississippi Cultural Crossroads of Port Gibson, sharing the rich quilting traditions of the region, including string quilts and their newest collaborative quilt celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum of Cleveland, showcasing the rich and vibrant customs brought to the Delta by Chinese immigrants, from grocery stores to wok demonstrations, chopstick tutorials, and mahjong.Palmer Robbins of Jackson, demonstrating traditional blacksmithing techniques. Peter Sherman of Natchez, a bowl hewer, showcasing a form of woodworking using an adze, a seldom-seen, historic woodworking tool. Rising Stars Fife & Drum of Coldwater, infusing the centuries-old African American fife and drum tradition with a new energy and youthful spirit, keeping the flame of her grandfather Otha Turner’s legacy. Shane Sekul of Ocean Springs, demonstrating boatbuilding and boat restoration by sharing the time-honored skills that serve Mississippi boatbuilders of past and present. Southern Boyz Grabbling of Olive Branch, sharing the uniquely southern practice of catfish grabbling, also known as noodling. Bringing the tailgating traditions of a Saturday college gameday to the festival, with tailgaters from Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi. More artists may be added at a later date. Several of these artists, along with others who have been previously announced, will also participate in pop-up street performances, providing festivalgoers a unique way to interact and engage with festival performers. Schedule and festival site details, including performance times, will be announced in the fall. Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as six outdoor performance venues throughout Downtown Jackson. Over 15 people of different backgrounds—and with a deep knowledge of music and art forms—came together from across Mississippi to serve as the local Festival Programming Advisory Committee. This committee’s role is to consider—and help the NCTA select—the artists who will perform at the National Folk Festival each year. This year marks the second year of the festival’s three-year residency in Jackson, Mississippi, and will prominently feature National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship recipients, our nation’s highest honor for the traditional arts, in a special program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The 83rd National Folk Festival is also participating this year in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape. To learn more about these artists and their stories, please visit nationalfolkfestival.com/artists. The National Folk Festival will feature individual artists on its Facebook page (facebook.com/NFFJackson) and Instagram (instagram.com/NFFJackson) throughout the summer. The 83rd National Folk Festival will prominently feature National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship recipients, our nation’s highest honor for the traditional arts, in a special program celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The festival is also participating in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape. The National Folk Festival is a partnership of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Jackson, Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the National Park Service. The festival is FREE to the public. The 83rd National Folk Festival, presented by Ergon / Alliant, is also sponsored by Amazon, AT&T, Atmos, BankPlus, Barbour Hurst, Capital Area Tourism Association, Cathead Distillery, City of Flowood, Clarion Ledger / LocalIQ, Comcast, C Spire, Entergy, Explore Louisiana, Explore Ridgeland, Fertile Ground, the Foundation for Mississippi History, Hal & Mal’s, Hinds County Economic Development Authority, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, iHeart Radio, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Kellogg Foundation, Levitt Foundation, the MAX, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the Mellon Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Neel-Schaffer, Nissan Foundation, Phil Hardin Foundation, Regions Bank, Renasant Bank, South Arts, Southern Beverage, StateStreet Group, Trustmark Bank, Visit Vicksburg, VitalCore Health Strategies, Volunteer Mississippi, Westin Jackson, Where Y’At Magazine, and WJTV. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years. For festival media inquiries, please contact Allison Ford, allison@ivpr.com, or Sydney Griffin, sydney@ivpr.com.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB The big drawback to getting in an advance review of “Coyote vs. Acme” last week is that “Insidious: Out of the Further” is even less relevant this week. The horror film toppled from second place to fourth at the domestic box office, behind even the seventh weekend of “The Odyssey,” while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continues to dominate at #1. Fortunately, that drawback is offset by the knowledge that the film was never worth much attention anyway. If there’s one horror franchise that loves its jump scares, it’s “Insidious.” The 2010 original sold itself with a trailer that included a jump scare after it had supposedly concluded - not “at” the last moment, like a lot of horror trailers, but “after” the last moment, when the audience thinks they have a beat to rest. The film itself had a gnarly jump scare too, with its infamous red demon appearing in a drably-colored, but well-lighted scene with multiple characters in the daytime, also a setting where viewers think they can lower their guard. But that film also boasted performances by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne and an originality to its world. “Insidious: Out of the Further” is the sixth installment in the franchise, it doesn’t boast greats like Wilson and Byrne, and fans very much know what to expect from these films at this point. We open with a sequence where nine-year-old Gemma (Charli Penton) comes home to a mother (Laura Gordon) who manages a few loving platitudes, but is clearly out of sorts. The mother attacks the child before locking herself in a bathroom, which doesn’t end well. In the present day, adult Gemma (Amelia Eve) is a single mother determined to be better to her own daughter, Maya (Island Austin). She’s present for her at the beginning and end of every school day and talks to her as much as possible about every subject except her late, presumedly-mentally-ill grandmother. This being an “Insidious” film, it’s not long before strange things start happening: old toys reappear after being missing for decades, suspicious people are seen around the neighborhood, and Gemma starts having scary dreams that may or may not be dreams. Things ramp up. Dentist Gemma has an unsettling appointment with one of the new neighbors (disappointing scares in the rest of the movie aside, people uncomfortable with dentistry “will” be freaked out by this sequence). She gets unreasonably lost in a coffee-table-sized blanket fort and barely escapes with her life. Her cop boyfriend Nick (Brendon Parea) doesn’t believe her when she says she’s in danger. Franchise mainstay Dr. Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) does, but she can only be so much help considering she’s been dead for over ten years. Eventually Gemma learns that all the scares are because her bloodline has ties to the purgatory-like realm known as The Further and that she and Maya are being targeted by cult leader Cyrus Lam (Sam Spruell), who is supposed to give off main-villain energy, but is somehow less scary-looking than any of his followers. Like many horror movies, “Insidious: Out of the Further” is at its scariest in its early stages when we don’t know what’s going to pop out. We know that “something” is going to pop out, which itself depletes the scare, but we don’t know what and how. Once the veil has been pulled back on the villains and their motives, the film can’t be scary or exciting to save its life. Even a returning familiar face (other than Lin Shaye’s) couldn’t get a reaction out of my theater. And the non-horror action wasn’t pulling me in. I’m sure the actors are doing their best, but there’s not much interesting about the umpteenth horror setup with a parent, a kid, and generational trauma. After this film, I ask that the “Insidious” franchise go away and stay even Further away than before. Grade: C- “Insidious: Out of the Further” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images, terror and some strong language. Its running time is 106 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com So. You are a parent of a five-foot five-inch, sixteen-year-old son. A son whose dream is to be a professional basketball player. Who lives and breathes the game of basketball. He eats his breakfast with his ball tucked under one arm. And sleeps with it nestled on the pillow next to him at night. Except for the game of roundball, there’s not much else that commands him time and attention. Not even the pretty girls at school, who endlessly flirt and coax him to spend time with them. Your lovable, dedicated, basketball-consumed child is either practicing his dribbling, working on his outside shot, or engrossed in the latest news of his favorite NBA team. There is not a statistic on any of the team’s players that he doesn’t have committed to memory. They’ve not played a game this year that he hasn’t watched, eyes sparkling, muscles twitching, and mouth almost drooling. This kid is eaten alive with basketball. The promise of the daily practice times under the watchful eyes of his high school basketball coach drives him to endure those dull teachers in his classes. Until he finally gets to escape the drudgery and head to his home – the gym. You realized it a few years ago. Your house is really not his home – it’s only the place where he can eat, sleep and tune into the latest basketball news. Home to him is a smelly, drafty, echoing cavern - otherwise known as his school’s basketball gymnasium. But to listen to him talk, it should be called Heaven. His team mates should be addressed as almost angels. And according to him, bowing your head reverently when you speak of his coach, the awesome Coach Cameron, should be a given. Your son is driven and extremely determined to live his goal in life. To play in the NBA. At five foot five inches tall in his basketball shoes. And absolutely nothing can dissuade the boy. No amount of reasoning from his not-extremely-tall dad and mom. Nor the endless kidding and almost cruel mockery from his brother. His mind is set in concrete. He believes he can make this happen. That if he eats enough healthy food, exercises, and prays to God for growth, that his body will eventually be tall enough to play in the NBA. What do you say? What do you do to make him realize the truth of his situation, and move on to a more attainable goal? Listen to me closely. NOT A THING. Don’t discourage, don’t ridicule, don’t logically rationalize. Instead, encourage him to aim high in life. Give him all the support and love a teenager needs from his parents. Show him that you believe in him. That is your job as his mom and dad. Believe me, if his long-held vision doesn’t pan out, the world is very eager and capable of dousing every flicker and flame of hope he holds. He certainly doesn’t need his loved ones doing the same thing to him.

Special to The Bolton News The Annie T. Jeffers Library will host an educational program Sept. 22 focusing on the dangers of driving under the influence and the risks associated with combining alcohol and prescription medications. The DUI and Alcohol Safety program will begin at 10 a.m. at the library, 110 W. Madison St. in Bolton. Andre Nathaniel, a prevention specialist with Jackson State University, will lead the program and provide information aimed at helping participants better understand how alcohol can affect judgment, coordination and the ability to drive safely. The presentation also will address the potential dangers of consuming alcohol while taking prescription medications. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can increase side effects and create potentially serious health and safety risks. The program is designed to promote awareness and encourage residents to make informed, responsible decisions regarding alcohol use, medications and driving. The event is open to community members interested in learning more about DUI prevention and alcohol safety. For more information about the Sept. 22 program, contact the Annie T. Jeffers Library at 601-866-4247.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IDMDB The dialogue-free Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons are my favorite of the Looney Tunes. No jokes centered around annoying accents or speech impediments, just pure physical comedy about a hapless carnivore and his Ahab-like obsession with catching and eating a skinny flightless bird. Although the cartoons are ridiculous, they follow strict rules, outlined by creator Chuck Jones. Rules include the action always having to take place in the American Southwest and the Road Runner always having to stay on the road. Oh, and the coyote can only use devices provided by the unseen Acme Corporation. These devices’ failure, along with the coyote’s own ineptitude, must always be the cause of the villain’s downfall, which usually takes the form of an actual fall from a great height. New live-action/animation hybrid “Coyote vs. Acme” sees the coyote finally have enough of the technology giant’s faulty products. He enlists Albuquerque attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte), a lawyer so unambitious that he rarely settles for more than three figures, to sue the corporate behemoth for decades of defectiveness. I would have suggested a different small-time lawyer from Albuquerque, but I guess this isn’t a universe where they can just Call Saul. Even with his loyal niece Paige (Lana Condor) supporting him as an intern, the deck is stacked against Avery. Acme has a powerful legal team led by undefeated hotshot Buddy Crane (John Cena). His accident-prone client is unsympathetic, especially since as a cartoon, he can’t sustain lasting injuries, putting in doubt how much damage the backfiring products have really done. Also, the key witness is going to have to be the only other being in the vicinity when the products failed: The Road Runner himself. How will Avery ever get the bird to testify on behalf of an enemy that has always tried – and is, in fact, still trying – to eat him? Avery and Wile E. do have one thing on their side: the truth. Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn has indeed been exploiting cartoon characters via defective products for years. There’s a complex conspiracy in play, and other Looney Tunes characters are part of it. Daffy Duck was a product tester driven insane by unsafe working conditions. Tweety Bird is being forced to work as an Acme spy against his will. An animated version of Peter Lorre was a scientist silenced for knowing too much. As for the mysterious whistleblower secretly leaking information to Avery… let’s just say the movie’s setting of Albuquerque is where he should take a left turn. It’s hard to talk about “Coyote vs. Acme” without mentioning the rough road the movie had to its release. To make a long story short, Warner Bros. Discovery kept the completed film from release for three years so it could take a tax write-off. The film might never have been released at all had distributor Ketchup Entertainment not bought the rights for $50 million. That Warner Bros. Discovery tried to deny the public any completed film with years of effort behind it is disgraceful, but that it was this gem of a movie is downright dethpicable. “Coyote vs. Acme” is the best Looney Tunes-related output in decades. The classic physical comedy is so sharp, it’s like the characters spent every day since the last Chuck Jones-directed short in 1963 training for this movie. It also hits some surprisingly strong emotional beats about Coyote and Road Runner needing each other as nemeses. I can’t say it always works as a legal thriller, and some of the logic gets murky as mediums are blurred, but overall this movie is a lot of fun. I hope it makes a lot of money for Ketchup Entertainment and shames Warner Bros. Discovery for treating it – and Looney Tunes fans in general – so poorly. Grade: B “Coyote vs. Acme” is rated PG for cartoon violence and some language. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com CoffeeTime: “WAITING CAN BE DISASTROUS” Would you knowingly hesitate to find shelter until you saw a huge tornado was only thirty feet from you? Would you wait until your three-year-old was bitten in the face by a rattlesnake, to finally take it away from him? How about your house mortgage? Would you carelessly refuse to make a payment for twelve solid months, even though you certainly had the funds? I seriously doubt if most people reading this column would answer, “Why, absolutely! Why get in a hurry? I just deal with the consequences when stuff like that happens in my life. No big deal, really.” Silly and stupid, right? Right. But that is the principle behind how many people live, when it comes to dealing with the hard things in life…relationships. Let me cite some examples. An elderly bitter mother is getting very close to leaving this earth, but yet, the painful angry words that were screamed years ago between her and her son are left hanging between them…until it’s too late. And the consequences will be very real and devastating. Unresolved anger and bitterness won’t do a thing to Mom after her death, but Junior will have to live with anger eating at his gut for the rest of his life. A woman has always been envious of her older sister’s ability to accomplish everything she attempted. So younger sister decides in their teen years to deal with her feelings by making fun of Sis. Nothing sacred, everything open for ridicule. The results in their relationship? Predictable. Years pass, and any conversation between the two ladies consist of hurt feelings, anger, and bitter arguments. And even twenty years later, their husbands and children struggle to acknowledge each other. Both sisters’ kids believe their cousins are self-centered idiots, and wouldn’t pour a cup of water on them if they were on fire. Unfortunately, both grown women consistently refuse to discuss their problem. Still holding onto their grudge, and probably will even when one of them is long dead and cold in the grave. And the cousins will probably never be given the chance to realize why they despise each other. I’ll be blunt. Don’t be stubborn and stupid. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Do your best to understand why you feel the way you do. And then do something about it. Go talk to that relative, or that used-to-be-friend, or that enemy. Go ask them to sit down with you and finally figure out what happened. Acknowledge your own hurt at their words back when it all happened. Apologize for your part in it. And fix it. Because I promise you, one of these days, it’s going to be too late. Too late to say I’m sorry for it all. Too late to send flowers or a loving note that can mend your broken relationship. And you will be left holding the proverbial bag. A bag full of anger and regret and confusion.

By Misty Strieff Prine “Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you.” – Unknown I thought about whether to do this one for a little while and it finally hit me why my attention kept being drawn back to it. Our lives are kind of like onion layers. (Ha...got that from Shrek!) Each layer of our lives will demand different versions of ourselves. Some layers are made of sadness, vulnerability, regret and frustration. However, there will be times where our special, positive and God given layers of empathy and compassion will be required of us in order to help others that can’t quite seem to get past a hardship in their lives. Even in YOUR hardest of moments, God may call you to step up to the plate and put them aside in order to minister to others that, believe it or not, are weaker than you in that moment. The most beautiful layers we all possess are that of love, selflessness and humbleness. May we never lose sight of the blessing we can be to others, even when we are called to set our own difficulties aside and rise above them to help others in need. Our actions and beautiful layers can be life changing. I bet if we all think hard enough, we can remember others that were a blessing to us even when they themselves were facing unimaginable difficulties. What a beautiful blessing it will be in return when we can pay it forward to them! God has an amazing way of turning our blessing others around to pull US out of our sad, vulnerable, regretful and frustrated states. Sometimes helping others is the answer we ourselves need! It’s amazing how blessings and testimonies are born!

Special to The Bolton News (Photo from JSU Athletics) Jackson State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson is leaving JSU to take on a new leadership role at Texas Southern University. Robinson has accepted the position of vice president and director of athletics at Texas Southern University, ending a tenure at Jackson State marked by conference championships, academic accomplishments and increased national attention for the university’s athletic programs. Jackson State congratulated Robinson on the move and recognized his contributions to the university. “Under Ashley’s leadership, Jackson State Athletics achieved competitive and academic success and gained national visibility,” JSU President Denise Jones Gregory said. “From multiple conference championships to the 2025–26 Dr. James Frank Commissioner’s Cup, the results speak for themselves. As Mississippi’s most decorated athletics director, he has built on tradition and blazed new trails.” Gregory also thanked Robinson for his work on behalf of Jackson State’s student-athletes. “We are grateful for his service, his leadership and the opportunities he has helped create for our student-athletes,” Gregory said. “We wish Ashley and his family continued success in this next chapter.” Robinson’s tenure included numerous achievements across Jackson State’s athletic programs, culminating with the university earning the 2025–26 Dr. James Frank Commissioner’s Cup. The award recognizes overall athletic excellence within the Southwestern Athletic Conference. As Jackson State begins its search for new athletics leadership, Gregory has selected Associate Vice President and Senior Woman Administrator Alyse Wells-Kilbert to serve as interim vice president and director of athletics. Wells-Kilbert’s appointment is pending approval by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Have you ever had the chance to watch quail in the evening when the sun is setting? Those tiny birds make it very clear; they want home. And home to them usually means gathering in a circle of other quail, with their heads toward each other and tails outward. If you sit quietly nearby their chosen roosting place as the day closes down, you can hear a rustling in the air, as quail after quail arrives and settles in for the night. Might be on the ground in a protective circle of family and friends, or sometimes on the perfect branch in a tree with all the other quail in their covey. Guess we could call it ‘going home for the night.’ Finding security in a sense of community and belonging. Quail and most people are a lot alike, they both have 'something within’ that draws them to their special place, that place that they call home. Sure, we humans love to vacation, to go someplace else for a while and enjoy the uniqueness of something different. To get away from stress, or the humdrum of our daily life. But most of us, after being away from home for a period of time, finally find ourselves feeling an itch, a longing, a certain need that draws us back to the place we call home. Even if it’s filled with tension, stress, loneliness or worry, home still has a certain drawing element to it. It's true, we may not like everything or everyone who represents home to us. But still, it is home. Our family and our jobs are a huge part of “home” to us. In fact, those two factors are usually the main reason we find ourselves counting the weeks until our next scheduled get-away. If we don’t enjoy those two important parts of home, then it’s likely we will be one of those people who walk in their living room, set down their suitcase, and grab their calendar. For them, scheduling the next vacation is just part and parcel of arriving home. But still, most people find that by the end of their time away from friends, family, job, and house, they are ready to touch base with home again. At least for a little while. Home gives a feeling of normalcy and foundation in our lives. Sure, there are some of you that disagree with me on this. You are more like one of those fiercely independent, free-flying loner birds like an owl or an eagle. You prefer to sail around in the sky alone, not needing a covey, or a flock of family and friends around them. Home to you means opening the door to a stateroom or your current hotel room, and feeling an immense sense of satisfaction with the freedom in your life. But not many of us are true loners. Most of us have a quail’s homing device in us, that causes a sense of need to touch base with familiar people and places in our life. Quail, or eagle? Either way, just enjoy living.

Special to The Bolton News Brenda Faye Barber DuPree May 12, 1958 - August 13, 2026 68 Years of age Brenda Faye Barber DuPree was born on May 12, 1958, to Mary Barber and John Williams. She departed this life on August 13, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents. Brenda will be fondly remembered for her joyful spirit and her love of having a good time. Known as the life of the party, she brought laughter, energy, and happiness wherever she went. Her warm and lively presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Though her earthly journey has ended, the joy and memories Brenda shared will remain in the hearts of her family and friends. Funeral Arrangements: Viewing: Friday, August 21, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Funeral Service: Saturday, August 22, 11:00 AM Mt. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 6398 Airplane Road, Bolton, MS Additional viewing will take place one hour prior to the start of the funeral service Interment: Mt. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.