Two quarterbacks, three running backs, two wide receivers, and three defensive players make up the list of nominees for the 2022 C Spire Conerly Trophy. Each college and university in the state with a football program selects one player who they feel best represents their team as the Most Outstanding Player to be nominated for the prestigious award. This year’s winner will become the 27th recipient since the program started in 1996. Named in honor of Ole Miss and NFL star Charlie Conerly, the award is voted on by a panel of media and NFL scouts who cover college football in the state. This year’s nominees are: · Alcorn State University – Jarveon Howard (Running Back) · Belhaven University – Connor Fordham (Linebacker) · Delta State University – Patrick Shegog (Quarterback) · Jackson State University – Shedeur Sanders (Quarterback) · Millsaps College – Moïse Tezzo (Wide Receiver/Kick Returner) · Mississippi College – Marcus Williams (Running Back) · Mississippi State University – Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. (Defensive Back) · Mississippi Valley State University – Ronnie Thomas (Defensive Lineman) · University of Mississippi – Quinshon Judkins (Running Back) · University of Southern Mississippi – Jason Brownlee (Wide Receiver) Overall it has been a very good year for football in the Magnolia state with seven of these schools with records above .500 including undefeated Jackson State and 10-win Delta State. Several of these schools and players this season have received national attention such as Jackson State University hosting ESPN’s College Gameday and clinching a spot in the SWAC Championship, Emmanuel Forbes, Jr. announced as a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist, and Quinshon Judkins in the running as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The 2022 C Spire Conerly winner will be announced during a presentation at the Country Club of Jackson on November 29th featuring special guest host and CBS football analyst, Charles Davis. The evening will also include the announcement of the Kent Hull Trophy presented by Entergy which goes to the top Offensive Lineman of the Year. Tickets for the event are available at the Hall of Fame office or online at www.msfame.com. Last year’s recipient was Matt Corral of Ole Miss and other winners include Elijah Moore, Jeffrey Simmons, A.J. Brown, Evan Engram, Dak Prescott, Patrick Willis, Eli Manning, and Deuce McAllister.

In recognition of one of the state's top producing crops, the Mississippi Farmers Market will host a Sweet Potato Day on Saturday, November 19, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. In addition to the usual variety of farm fresh foods and handcrafted items, shoppers will be treated to a variety of complimentary sweet potato treats, children's activities, specialty food vendors, Vardaman area sweet potato growers and a sweet potato exhibit presented by the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council. The Genuine MS® Store, located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, will also be open to the public. The unique retail operation, which offers an array of products grown, raised, crafted and made in Mississippi, is extending its operating hours. The Genuine MS® Store will now be open every Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Visit www.genuinems.com to shop exclusive online holiday gift options and learn more about the Genuine MS® program. The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information about the Mississippi Farmers Market, visit www.msfarmersmarket.com and follow the Mississippi Farmers Market on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Christmas will be here before you know it and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to spread a little extra holiday joy to Mississippi’s highways this year. MDOT needs your help! Starting today, Wednesday, Nov. 16, you can submit your most clever holiday messages for a chance to see them on the big screen, MDOT’s digital message signs (DMS)! The last day to submit your messages is Wednesday, Nov. 30. “Driver safety is MDOT’s top priority. The DMS boards that you see along Mississippi highways are such a useful tool to help spread MDOT’s message and remind drivers of the importance of safe driving along with some helpful tips,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “MDOT’s 12 Days of Christmas is just another way to engage with the public and spread a little holiday joy.” Traffic safety messages appear on DMS boards along highways and interstates throughout Mississippi. These 12 days of messages will revolve around Christmas-themed movies, songs, and characters. However, any local emergency messages and traffic updates automatically override scheduled messages already on the DMS boards. The winning messages will be displayed starting Wednesday, December 14, and drivers will see a new holiday themed safety message each day with the final one posted on December 25. There is no limit to the number of messages you can submit, but below are some guidelines to remember: The message must relate to traffic safety. Signs can only accommodate three lines and 21 characters per line, including spaces. Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed. No emojis. Some of MDOT’s favorite holiday messages from 2021 include: JINGLE BELL ROCK A SEAT BELT SLOW SLEIGH? JINGLE TO THE RIGHT LANE Follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for details on how to submit your messages.

While out walking we met, greeted, and walked on past a lady who suddenly tripped over the little dog scampering at her feet. Causing her to fall face first on the hard street surface. Hearing the commotion, we quickly returned to find her obviously in pain from landing on her shoulder. It was very evident that she could not be moved safely, so someone from the now-gathered bystanders called 911. When the firemen and EMT with their ambulance arrived, and after assessing the immediate problem, they administered pain meds so she could be moved and loaded into the ambulance, with a minimum amount of discomfort. While waiting for the medications to take effect, Andy asked if she would like him to pray for her, to which she gratefully agreed. Before he could utter his first words of prayer, the two attending firemen/EMTs had already whipped off their caps and stood motionless with their heads bowed. Respect. Not for the man praying, because after all, he was only a man. Not for prayer, it in itself isn’t what demands respect. But for God. The Creator and Healer of everything. The scriptures say in I Corinthians 11:7 for men to remove their head covering when addressing our God. And these firemen, even while standing in the middle of a city street and doing their job, did just that in respect for Him. So here is my observation and my question: I see men in so many churches where we go, who wear a head covering in the form of a ballcap or any other headgear, while in a worship service. And unfortunately, some will actually be on the platform leading worship, still wearing a hat of some kind. Now, if we are in a worship service, aren’t we addressing our God as we praise and worship Him? Why are we seeing this? Either I have sadly misread my Bible, or some males in our current times have chosen to ignore Biblical instruction. Or they have never been told what the Bible says about men and headgear in church. This may seem trivial to some readers, who see this as being picky and critical. Could be. I freely admit that I could be wrong. And you certainly do have the right to believe as you choose, as does anyone. But more important than what you or I believe, what does God say? What does He expect from us? Firemen, while doing their jobs, did it out of respect for their God. But some church-going men while in church – they don’t. Seems to this writer that something sure seems out of kelter here.

By Kara Kimbrough “Getting a turkey, dressing and desserts on the Thanksgiving table is not that hard to do. But some people do get scared, especially when they’re cooking for a crowd and want everything to go perfectly.” Those words, uttered by a Mississippi caterer I interviewed several years ago, described my trepidation and if I’m being totally transparent – sheer terror – as I struggled to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner during what will forever be known as 2020’s pandemic-scarred holidays. Yes, I DID cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner all by myself – turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and bacon and hash brown casserole. Even better, I survived and nobody got ill, so I feel it's only fitting that I share tips to help others maneuver their way around what can be an extremely daunting experience. First, let me explain why I tackled such a task. Thanksgiving 2020 was the first major holiday following the beginning of the coronavirus, which reared its ugly head in March of that year (in case you've blocked it from memory). Since the vaccine had not yet been distributed (yes, I took the initial two vaccines and subsequent boosters and am still alive and thriving), most families, including my own, decided not to gather together for fear of spreading the virus. However, I still felt the need to drop off a few meals to family and friends, even if we were all cowering behind closed doors. And, if I’m going to be totally honest, I was looking forward to making batches of turkey gumbo and turkey and wild rice soup with the remains of the bones and leftover meat. So, I set about trying to find acceptable recipe substitution recipes for my brother’s delicious smoked turkey and my mother’s cornbread dressing, neither of which was headed for any family dinner table in the foreseeable future. The story of how I planned, prepared and cooked several dishes and actually got them on the table would take more space that this column allows. I will say, it wasn’t pretty, especially the sight of the frozen-turkey-that-wouldn’t-defrost floating in a dish pan in my sink for hours. Then there was the second pan of cornbread that was required after the first one overcooked when I got busy on another coking project. So, I’ll simply provide an overview of my ’20 pandemic Thanksgiving meal, with the hopes that one or two tips may provide inspiration: 1. Turkey talk - The USDA recommends thawing turkey in the refrigerator. This is the safest method because the turkey will thaw at a consistent, safe temperature. Allow one day for each 4-5 pounds of weight. If, like me, you run out of time, thaw the turkey in cold water outside the refrigerator, but use caution when doing so. Remove packaging and place the turkey in a large plastic bag to prevent it from becoming waterlogged, then place in a large stockpot or bucket. Make sure the turkey fits inside the pot and can be fully submerged. Fill the pot with cold water - do not use warm or hot water to speed thawing, as this puts the turkey within the “danger zone” of 40-140 degrees for longer than is safe. Weigh the turkey down with a pot or skillet if it floats. Change out the water every 30 minutes. Estimate roughly 30 minutes for every pound of turkey to completely thaw, i.e., a 12-16 pound turkey will take 6-8 hours. A turkey thawed in cold water should be cooked immediately. Make sure the legs move freely, giblets can be removed easily and the cavity is free of ice crystals. 2. Call in the experts - I brined my turkey using Alton Brown of Food Network fame’s recipe. It can easily be found on the internet. And after perusing several cookbooks and the internet, I settled on Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey recipe. Despite the thawing issues, my turkey turned out moist, golden and delicious. However, due to the fact that this was my first turkey and I didn’t possess a load of confidence, I purchased a turkey breast from Honey Baked Ham and served it to family and friends along with other dishes I actually made. Disclaimer” my own meal and subsequent gumbo and soup were delicious and no food poisoning was forthcoming, so in hindsight, I shouldn’t have been concerned. 3. Dressing by any other name still tastes as good - When it came to dressing, I knew my mother’s recipe couldn’t be duplicated. So I settled on a chicken and dressing casserole-type dish in case my turkey failed to yield the required meat for dinner. I needn’t have worried, but I was happy just the same with the different type of dressing. 4. By my side - Mashed potatoes and gravy are not traditionally found on our family Thanksgiving table, or on most Southern menus, but it’s a staple on many Northern tables. I decided to add them and can report it was a nice addition. Other sides included green beans and bacon and hash brown casserole made from my own recipes. 5. A little saucy - Making your own cranberry sauce is so easy and most important, so much better from the canned product. I was able to stir it together while cooking a hash brown casserole, another dish I happen to like; therefore, it made the list. The sauce added the perfect sweet touch to the dinner, because… 6. …I didn’t get around to making dessert (I know, what’s Thanksgiving without dessert?!) However, as I mentioned last week, Marie Callender’s pecan and apple pies are acceptable substitutions to homemade. I followed my own advice and added a slice of each to the meals I dropped off to those on my list. And there you have it…I’m living proof that you CAN cook an entire Thanksgiving meal and live to tell the tale! Next week, I’ll share my top tips and places to try if your plan is to let someone else do the cooking. Homemade Cranberry Sauce 1½ pounds fresh or frozen cranberries 1 orange, zested 3 cinnamon sticks 1½ cups orange juice 1½ cups dark brown sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, orange juice, walnuts and brown sugar. Add enough water to cover, then bring to boil over high heat. Immediately reduce heat, and simmer for about one hour or until sauce has thickened. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Taste for sweetness and adjust with additional sugar if necessary. Continue cooking until you achieve the perfect consistency. Let cool, then refrigerate in a covered container until ready to use. Note: I chopped up 2-3 of the orange slices (finely) and added them to the sauce as it cooked, simply because I love the taste of oranges and cranberries, but this is optional. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Town of Bolton will host its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 10, 2022. The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. This year's theme iş: “Peace on Earth." Please allow this letter to serve as a formal invitation to participate in this festive occasion. We are encouraging all our local elected officials, business owners, churches, local schools, civic and social organizations to participate in this year's parade. The entry fee for the parade is $10 for individuals and $30 for car/horse/motorcycle clubs (up to five participants). The committee is waiving the entry fee for area bands participating in the parade. Below is the official parade application. Please complete the application and submit the entrance fee by Thursday, December 1, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Alfenette Robinson (601-383-2407), Ms. BendaLonne Griffith (601-942-8694), Mr. Eddie Gaines (601-953-8044), Mrs. Rochella Sanders (601-866-7960), Mrs. Jean Butler (601-866-7317), Mrs. Johnie Thompson (601-291-0087) Mrs. Bobbie Hopson (601-866-7505) or Ms. Susie Carter (601-866-7125). ***ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ALLOWED***

By Bob Garver In 2018, “Black Panther” became the biggest hit of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It even made more at the domestic box office than that year’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” Since then, King T’challa (Chadwick Boseman) of the African kingdom of Wakanda died at the hand of Thanos, came back in “Avengers: Endgame,” and then died permanently of an unspecified illness. This of course mirrors Boseman’s real-life death in 2020. The opening of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is dedicated to T’challa (and Boseman’s) passing and the celebration of his life. Yes, the Marvel logo is Boseman-centric, but it opts for a quiet, reverent tone rather than the call to cheer that was Stan Lee’s tribute at the beginning of “Captain Marvel” in 2019. Nothing wrong with either approach, they’re just respectful in different ways. This portion of the film is handled perfectly. The rest of the film is… less perfect. A year after T’challa’s passing, Wakanda is still thriving thanks to the strong leadership of his mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett). A sequence where she makes a stern speech at the United Nations with the help of military leader Okoye (Danai Gurira) is the best post-T’challa scene in the movie and is even garnering Bassett some Oscar talk. There’s still some unease because Wakanda no longer has sovereign hero Black Panther around to protect it. Ramonda would like her daughter Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) to pick up where T’challa left off, but Shuri wants only to bury herself in scientific research so Wakanda can survive without an antiquated superhero. Danger rears its head in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), ruler of the undersea kingdom of Talokan. Talokan is the only other place on Earth with access to vibranium, the element that allows Wakanda to be so technologically-advanced. Namor orders Ramonda and Shuri to assassinate Rari Williams (Dominique Thorne), a teenage scientist with the ability to expose Talokan’s existence to the world. Failure to do so will lead to Talokan declaring war on Wakanda and then on the rest of the world. Namor’s plan doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, as Talokan doesn’t seem to have a terribly strong military once they lose the element of surprise, but for purposes of this movie, Wakanda has to find a way to fend off Namor and the rest of Talokan, with lives of important characters hanging in the balance. Ramonda and Shuri even have to enlist the help of Nakia (Lupita N’yongo), the former lover of T’challa, to help with the effort, because she’s an expert in languages. The mission doesn’t need Nakia nearly as much as the movie needs Oscar-winner N’yongo. And if you think there’s little reason to have her in the movie, wait until you see the flimsy reasoning behind another cameo late in the movie. It pains me to say it, but the forced cameo is where the movie lost me. Or if not there, then definitely a moment in a climactic battle that brings to mind one of the most laughable scenes in a rival superhero franchise. For all its importance in saying goodbye to Chadwick Boseman, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a below-average MCU installment. Wakanda really is one of the greatest worlds within the MCU, which makes it all the more glaring that it’s in danger from the cramped, primitive-looking Talokan. Also, if Wakanda was really going to defend itself without a Black Panther, the protector’s name wouldn’t be right there in the title. We know we’re getting a new Black Panther, no need to spend so much time playing coy. I’m in no hurry to return to Wakanda after this movie. Grade: C “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action and some language. Its running time is 161 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

During the next couple of weeks, Salvation Army locations throughout the region will kick off their annual Red Kettle fundraisers and Christmas assistance programs. These programs will provide local families and individuals in need with food, clothing, and presents under the Christmas tree for their children. “As the need for Salvation Army assistance has continued to increase due to current economic hardships, so has the need for volunteers,” said Major Kevin Stoops, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army, Empire State Division. “Volunteers are the backbone of The Salvation Army – the army behind the Army – and we cannot provide the services we do without volunteers coming along side us as partners in our mission of helping those most in need.” In fact, according to Major Stoops, thousands of volunteers are needed locally to help The Salvation Army in its mission – especially during the next two months. “Whether it’s ringing bells at a Red kettle for a couple of hours, sorting donations of toys and clothing, or helping parents pick out that perfect Christmas present for their child at a Salvation Army toy shop, The Salvation Army has numerous and meaningful ways to serve others during the busy holiday season and beyond,” added Major Stoops. Salvation Army services continue year-round – and so do the volunteer opportunities. All donations collected during Salvation Army fundraisers like the Red Kettle campaign, stay in the community to help local families and individuals. To enquire about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities, call your local Salvation Army, or text “TSAVolunteer” to 51555.

NASA’s Stennis Space Center operated much like a musical symphony at the site’s most versatile testing area – the E Test Complex – 10 years ago with high levels of coordination and a variety of tempos. Over a three-day stretch the week of Nov. 5-9, 2012, test complex operators conducted 27 tests on three different rocket engines/components on three different test stands. The work demonstrated the flexibility of Stennis employees and their desire to fulfill NASA and commercial space company testing needs. “This is not something just anybody can do,” then-NASA E-2/E-3 Test Director Craig Chandler said at the time. The accomplishment involved conducting tests on a Blue Origin engine thrust chamber, a modified steam generator, and a prototype liquid oxygen, liquid methane engine. It also demonstrated the expertise of the Stennis test complex team and the unique capabilities of Stennis’ E Test Complex facilities. The test team expertise and test complex capabilities have continued to grow since that historic week, operating as a valuable resource as NASA focuses on deep space missions to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all and commercial space initiatives grow. “What makes the E Test Complex unique is the pressures and flow rates it is capable of handling,” explained Stennis Chief of Test Operations Maury Vander. The three-stand complex includes seven separate test cells that can support testing with ultra high-pressure gases and cryogenic fluids. The capability includes the delivery of liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and liquid methane at pressures up to 8,500 pounds per square inch (PSI). “There are all sorts of elevated pressures that are not available anywhere else at flow rates like that,” Vander said. “If you have a relatively large engine and are trying to validate a component, it takes high pressure and a high flow rate to do that. That is what really makes the E Test Complex unique, not just for the agency but for the world. There are not many places that can do that.” In addition, the E-3 Test Complex offers its own unique capabilities. With slightly lower pressures, the E-3 facilities require less modifications to begin a project, meaning commercial partners can receive data in a quicker timeframe at Stennis. Since the November 2012 record-setting week, Stennis personnel in the E Test Complex have worked with more and more commercial companies. Companies such as Relativity Space, Blue Origin, Launcher, SpaceX, Ursa Major, and Virgin Orbit have taken advantage of complex capabilities. Some of these are currently testing engines/components in the area with success. SpaceX tested engine components on E-1 and E-2 test stands while developing its Raptor engine for the Starship spacecraft. In April 2021, NASA selected Starship for its human landing system. In 2017, a California-based space company, Relativity Space, began its partnership with Stennis by testing on the E-3 Test Stand. The relationship soon expanded in 2018, allowing Relativity exclusive use of the E-4 Test Complex. Relativity now tests on the E-2 and E-4 stands. Last month, it also announced plans for a major expansion of its rocket and engine test facilities at Stennis. “That’s an example of a company that has a vision and came to Stennis, took advantage of some of our resources and facilities, and are headed toward a launch soon,” Vander said. “They are good example of the value of the E Test Complex.” In addition to the complex being highly adaptable to meet customer needs, chief among the valuable resources at Stennis are the people working to help companies to be successful in their development and test efforts. “It was that way 10 years ago and it is even more that way now,” Vander added. “We are getting more involved in the intimate details of our customers, and they are taking advantage of the resources and people who work here to do things we never thought they would do in the past. Our workforce is getting smarter, and our customers are getting smarter. It all leads to being the best we can be and to increasing the likelihood of success for our customers.” For information about Stennis Space Center, visit: www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/

We are so proud of our Academic Quiz Bowl Team!! They competed in the MAIS Academic Competition at Mississippi College. They won the first round 150-105, and they will be competing in round two on December 6 against MRA. Reagan Lord, Bella Saums, Macie Curtis, Alexis Burt, Sam McCoy and Brayden Bullock

The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Egg Bowl Giveaway, Mrs. Faye Steinwinder, who entered the contest at this year’s Mississippi State Fair. Mrs. Steinwinder, a resident of Florence, said, “I usually have to work on Thanksgiving Day, but when I found out I won tickets to the game, I made arrangements to take off and enjoy the game in person.” Visitors to the 2022 Mississippi State Fair had an opportunity to register for a tailgate grilling package that included a pair of tickets to the Egg Bowl, the traditional rivalry between the Mississippi State University Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi Rebels football teams, as well as a portable grill and accessories. In addition to the Egg Bowl Giveaway, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is partnering with the Mississippi Food Network to sponsor an “Egg Bowl Food Drive Challenge.” Bulldog and Rebel team supporters can drop off canned goods at area Kroger stores in Mississippi to show their team spirit. Canned food collections in Kroger stores in Oxford will be deposited in the University of Mississippi Food Bank, and canned food collections in Kroger stores in Starkville will be deposited in the Mississippi State University Food Bank. Mississippi Egg Marketing Board President Ryn Laster said, “We are excited to partner with The Mississippi Food Network. This is a great way to support your team and help those in need.” Monetary donations can also be made online at www.msfoodnet.org. Visit www.MSEggMarketing.com for great tasting egg dishes brought to you by the Incredible Egg. For more information about the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, contact Jennifer Thompson at msegg@mdac.ms.gov.