Merit Health welcomes B. Judson Colley III, MD, MPH, cardiac electrophysiology (EP) specialist to our medical staff. An electrophysiologist specializes in the study of the heart’s electrical system or activity used to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias may be harmless, while others are more serious and require lifestyle changes and intervention. Dr. Colley works with an experienced team of nurses and nurse practitioners to provide evaluation and treatment using advanced health care technology and techniques such as medication therapy, catheter based procedures and surgery for the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. “As our community grows, we are proud to add Dr. Colley to our team. We are very excited we will now be able to offer this critical and highly specialized care right here in our community,” said Sam Dean, CEO, Merit Health River Oaks. “Our patients will greatly benefit from Dr. Colley’s experience. He has honed his valuable skills through many years of training, practice and research and we are thrilled to have his expertise added to our heart program.” Dr. Colley serves the Southeast with medical practices in Birmingham, AL, and Flowood, MS. He completed medical school and an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, followed by a cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Colley is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine/Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and has been in practice since 2007, serving roles as both a physician provider and administrative director in the cardiovascular service line. Dr. Colley’s expertise in cardiac rhythm disorders includes atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, supraventricular tachycardia, and cardiac rhythm devices. He has also participated in many groundbreaking research trials. Dr. Colley’s Mississippi clinic is located at 1040 River Oaks Drive, Suite 301, Flowood, MS 39232. For more information about heart rhythm disorders or to make an appointment, call 601-203-6202 or visit MyMeritDoctor.com. About Merit Health Merit Health offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/3DVq3zt. Merit Health serves the healthcare needs of residents of Mississippi through its 9 affiliated hospitals. The healthcare system offers a wide array of services including orthopedics, cardiology, women’s health, emergency departments and broad diagnostic medical and surgical services. The network has more than 1,800 licensed beds, more than 2,500 physicians on the combined active medical staffs, more than 3,000 employees, and more than 40,000 admissions and more than 250,000 emergency department visits each year.

The boy sure had learned some choice words, no doubt about it. In the school room, on the playground, and at home, he kept getting into trouble on a regular basis for his rather colorful way of expressing his thoughts and feelings. Making it worse, his friends often pushed his buttons to make him angry enough to sound off in no uncertain terms. His parents and teachers at school had corrected, disciplined, and even punished him for using words that would make a sailor feel at home – seemingly to no avail. But gradually, consequences for his behavior began to really hurt. Finally realizing those punishments were only going to get worse, he knew he had to make the effort to hold his tongue. So the work began. Torn between obedience and habit sometimes he slipped up, but he was honestly trying to reform. All was going fairly well, until the day ‘SHE did it.’ A young tormentor in his classroom, who had gotten bored with his better behavior, decided that she needed to get him into trouble. So, she set about making fun of his appearance, his grades, and even his family. With every insult, his angry face turned red with the effort to hold his temper, and his hands clenched into little fists while he kicked at the wall nearby. But still, he held out and never said a word. Finally, exasperated at failing to get him to yell words that used to fall from his lips like fire, she got up in his face and laughed, “Aw, c’mon, aren’t you gonna say sumpin’ bad?!” To which he glared and replied through clenched teeth, “Nope, and you can’t make me. But if you could hear me thinkin’, I’d shore ‘nuff get a whuppin’!! Controlling your thinking and your tongue. Hard to do most of the time. In James 3:8, Scripture says, “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Ouch. But even worse, the tongue only obeys what the mind is thinking! No one’s tongue just decides to begin flapping on its own. Your thoughts control exactly what comes out of your mouth. Talk about being caught with your pants down! There are verses that encourage thought control, because thoughts are what truly shape our daily lives. “As a man thinks in his heart, so he can become.” Want a happier life? Focus on things that are good, true, and kind. But stinkin’ thinkin’ is a real problem for most people. And we don’t even realize that is what we are doing. Try this. Monitor your thoughts. Stop every once in a while, and look back on what has been occupying your mind. Then examine your emotions. If you are like most of us, you have been letting your mind replay heartache, criticism, negativity, or anger. And now you are battling a bad mood or depression. Stinkin’ thinkin’ does hurt.

The Southern Business Institute will host CollabSouth on Friday, August 26th at the Country Club of Jackson. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend this one-day conference to hear from experts and collaborate with their community. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is the keynote speaker. Several other speakers and panelists will discuss topics such as business growth and development, marketing, accounting, human resources, and more. “These events are invaluable to our Mississippi business community,” said Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson. “As elected officials, it’s important for us to have opportunities like these to hear from business leaders and learn how we can better support them and/or get out of the way. More importantly, it fosters a collaborative environment to strengthen relationships and expand available resources.” The Southern Business Institute was founded in 2020 as a collaborative membership group for small businesses in the South to help align business interests, empower business owners, and share resources. CollabSouth will be the Institute’s first event in bringing this community together. Throughout the day, there will be breakout groups and panel discussions to help entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. It will be a wonderful event for people launching their own businesses. “We’re so excited to welcome this community to CollabSouth on August 26th,” said Susan Woods, Co-Founder of Southern Business Institute. “It’s going to be a great day for collaboration and growth for independent businesses.” CollabSouth is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26th, at the Country Club of Jackson. It includes a lunch and cocktail hour for attendees to network with other entrepreneurs. Learn more at southernbusinessinstitute.com/collabsouth. Follow Southern Business Institute on Instagram @southernbusinessinstitute and Facebook to get updates.

Due to a power outage, there will be no school today at BEEMS.

The Mississippi Book Festival is back in full-force this weekend with its first in-person event since 2019. The festival is free to everyone and as festival Executive Director Ellen Daniels observed, “Where else can you find 170 of the nation’s best authors in one location, plus have the opportunity to hear from them, visit with them, and have them sign your books? At the Mississippi Book Festival, of course!” The one-day festival draws book lovers from across the South and includes activities for all ages. Centered each August in the air-conditioned spaces of the Mississippi State Capitol Building and nearby Galloway Church, the festival also transforms the shaded lawn and surrounding streets into a bustling scene complete with food vendors, booksellers, and family fun. The signature feature of the event is its showcase of acclaimed and talented authors of every genre — bestselling novelists, honored historians, celebrated children’s book authors, prize-winning journalists, and so many more. Visitors can find these authors in dozens of discussion panels, one-on-one conversations, and book signing opportunities, throughout the day. Stellar Lineup on Saturday, August 20, 2022 Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan, as the guest of the Eudora Welty Foundation, will speak candidly on her latest novel The Candy House. National Book Award-winners Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell will be in conversation with Margaret McMullan about their collaboration with Congressman John Lewis on the graphic novel RUN: Book One. National Book Award-winner Ellen Gilchrist, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, and Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch, III, will each have one-on-one conversations with noteworthy moderators. Jackson’s-own Kiese Laymon will join Pulitzer Prize-winner Alice Walker in conversation, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Color Purple. Star of HGTV’s Home Town Erin Napier, Newberry Medal-winner Matt de la Peña, and New York Times bestseller Candice Millard will each visit with readers about their latest books. Another Times bestseller, Angie Thomas, will join a star-studded group of her collaborators on the book Blackout. Four of the state’s best poets will headline a discussion of their new poetry collections, while authors on subjects ranging from political journalism to World War II to civil rights to American history will be on hand to explore these topics. Harrison Scott Key will moderate three talented and hilarious writers on the “Humor & Hope” panel while Steve Yarbrough will be back with his new novel. For young readers, the book festival has a compelling line-up of young adult, middle grade, and picture book authors to meet. "We are excited to have everyone back together to celebrate the love of reading, books, and authors," said Executive Director Ellen Daniels. “Staff and supporters have worked for a year to make this a wonderful experience for book lovers of all ages. We hope that everyone will come out and make new festival memories." The Mississippi Book Festival is free and open to the public. There’s plenty of free and secure parking. For more information on this year’s festival, visit msbookfestival.com. You can also connect with the Mississippi Book Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

By Bob Garver I had to take a week off from the column three weeks ago when “Nope” opened at #1 at the domestic box office. While I’m not sorry that I gave all my attention to a wedding that weekend (shoutout to my Uncle John and new aunt Amy!), it is a shame that this movie didn’t get a review until now. The film follows O.J. (Daniel Kaluuya) and Em Haywood (Keke Palmer), sibling owners of a Hollywood horse ranch. The ranch has been in the Haywood family for generations, but has been going through some tough times ever since the death of patriarch Otis (Keith David). O.J. knows how to handle the horses, but isn’t socially graceful with the Hollywood people that hire the trained animals. Em is more fluent in the ways of Hollywood, but doesn’t know the first thing about horses. The pair’s skills are supposed to compliment each other, but right now they’re just failing on both fronts. There’s an offer on the table from Jupe (Steven Yeun), a former child star with a traumatic past and a tacky amusement park, to buy the ranch, but O.J. is not ready to sign away his birthright. As if the ranch didn’t have enough problems, something is scaring the horses at night and causing them to run off. It must be neighbor kids having a goof, right. No, it’s something from the sky. Commercial aircraft? No, that doesn’t check out. Rational explanations fall away one by one until the movie confirms that it’s a flying saucer. The Haywoods are bowled over by the sudden realization that mankind is not alone in the universe and immediately wonder how they can make money off of it. Their plan is to obtain exclusive footage of the flying saucer, difficult because the spacecraft knocks out all electronics in the area. Tech guy Angel (Brandon Perea) tries to be of assistance, but what they really need is the calmness and professionalism of cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott). Antlers and the vessel quickly develop an Ahab/Moby Dick relationship, and his interest in self-preservation slowly dissipates as he becomes more reckless in trying to get the perfect shot. Additional obstacles include the saucer’s tendency to hide behind a cloud (the same cloud every time), opponents such as Jupe wanting to be the first to exploit the spectacle of the saucer, and the saucer’s ability to abduct and digest anything and anyone it wants. Luckily O.J. figures out that if the saucer can eat, it can be trained, which plays to his experience working with horses. Kaluuya gives the best performance in the movie during a sequence where all seems lost, yet he needs to keep his cool. There’s the charismatic actor that won an Oscar for “Judas and the Black Messiah” two years ago. But the other performances aren’t particularly memorable, and by the end of the movie, I was just thinking about how selfish and stupid everybody was for not seeking more help for this deadly situation where lives had already been lost. “Nope” is the third horror outing for writer/director Jordan Peele. It’s a solid effort, if maybe a step down from his previous two films. I daresay Peele’s career is paralleling that of another horror visionary from two decades ago. Back in 1999, M. Night Shyamalan released the monumental “Sixth Sense” to amazing box office numbers and a rare Best Picture Oscar nomination for a horror movie… just like Peele did with “Get Out” in 2017. In 2000, Shyamalan released a respectable-but-less-successful follow-up that started with the letter U in “Unbreakable”… just like Peele did with “Us” in 2019. And in 2002, Shyamalan released the alien-invasion thriller “Signs”… and “Nope” certainly has a lot in common with that movie. Peele had better be careful, Shyamalan’s fourth horror movie was “The Village,” the film where critics really started to say that the former wunderkind had lost his touch. Grade: B- “Nope” is rated R for language throughout and some violence/bloody images. Its running time is 130 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Today, Commissioner Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is offering a cost-share program for Mississippi organic producers and handlers receiving certification or continuation of certification by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accredited certifying agent. Funding is available for those that received the certification between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022. Individual organic operators are eligible for reimbursement of 50 percent of their fiscal year 2022 certification costs up to a maximum of $500 per certification scope. The National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program currently recognizes the following certification scopes eligible for reimbursement: crops, wild crops, livestock and handling such as processing. The following must be provided to MDAC by applicants in order to be eligible for reimbursement: proof of valid certification issued by a USDA accredited certifying agent, a reimbursement application form, an itemized receipt that identifies allowable costs paid within the qualification period, and an IRS W-9 form. Applicants must be Mississippi organic producers and handlers located within the state. Funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted. Operations may receive one reimbursement per year. The deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. For more information about this program or to obtain an application, visit www.mdac.ms.gov/market-development/national-organic-cost-share-program or contact Susan Lawrence at susan@mdac.ms.gov or 601-213-7542.

By Mika Hartman Hudson Hartman To Help Kick Off Down Syndrome Awareness Month In Unique Annual National Down Syndrome Society Video Presentation Hudson Jag Hartman of Pass Christian, Mississippi, will appear in the bright lights of Broadway on Saturday, September 17, as part of the annual National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Times Square Video presentation. The one- hour video of roughly 500 photographs includes children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states. These collective images promote the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Down syndrome in a very visible way. The photo of Hudson was selected from more than 2,400 entries in the NDSS worldwide call for photos. [His/Her/Their] photo will be shown on two JumboTron screens in the heart of Times Square, thanks to the support of ClearChannel Outdoor. The two screens are located above Dos Caminos restaurant in Father Duffy Square. The presentation will be live streamed on the NDSS Facebook page from 9:30-10:30am ET on September 17. Hudson is pictured rocking his World Down Syndrome Day shirt. This Kelly and Kelso shirt features Hudson in animation design, too. So 2X Huddy will be in NYC Lights! The Times Square Video presentation will be followed by the New York City Buddy Walk® in Central Park. The flagship Buddy Walk has taken place in New York City since 1995 as part of the National Buddy Walk Program. Buddy Walk events are held in hundreds of cities across the country, as well as select international locations. For more information about the New York City Buddy Walk on September 17 or the National Buddy Walk Program please visit www.ndss.org. About NDSS The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. NDSS envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities. Founded in 1979, NDSS supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy, and Community Engagement. Within these focus areas NDSS engages in various activities, events, and programs on topics that are critical to our community such as federal and state advocacy and public policy, health and wellness, education, and employment. NDSS creates resources to support individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers across the lifespan and hosts awareness and engagement events throughout the country including the National Buddy Walk® Program, the Times Square Video presentation and New York City Buddy Walk®, Racing for 3.21 on World Down Syndrome Day, Run for 3.21, DC Golf Outing, the annual NDSS Gala & Auction, and various other events. Visit www.ndss.org for more information about NDSS. About the National Buddy Walk® Program Since 1995, the National Buddy Walk Program has been the premier Down syndrome awareness, advocacy, and peer-to-peer fundraising program in the world. It was created by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for local and national incentives to support the Down syndrome community. Today, roughly 150 Buddy Walk events take place in cities across the country and in select international locations. To learn more and find a Buddy Walk near you, visit www.buddywalk.org.

By Kara Kimbrough Deciding to list some of my favorite restaurant dishes around the state was a little concerning. After all, everyone’s tastes are different and what may appeal to me may not be everyone’s idea of heaven on a plate. However, response was positive after the first two installments of can’t-miss dishes on the Gulf Coast and in the Pine Belt, so I’m ready to move on to the Jackson Metro Area. There’s no way I can list them all, but here are a few on my and others’ top places to enjoy a meal or dessert. My first pick is 100% nostalgia-based…I’ve written about Scrooge’s being one of the first restaurants I frequented after moving to Jackson after college. There’s something comforting about knowing the same Scrooge-Burger is still available (the location has changed, but I can get past that) for me whenever the urge to revisit the past arises. Topped with bacon, sauteed onions, mushroom gravy and chili, the massive burger quickly sends me back to a simpler time. Even better, the Scrooge-Burger is as good as the one I remember. Scrooge’s Restaurant & Pub, 5829 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson. 601-206-1211. Another Jackson landmark that has changed locations, but still serves up classic Italian dishes is Cerami’s. Since opening near the Reservoir in 1977, Cerami’s now holds court in Flowood, offering the familiar salad wagon and many of the same dishes, including my favorite, old-school spaghetti and meatballs. Cerami’s, 5417 Lakeland Dr., Flowood. 601-919-2829. If you read my column with any regularity, it’s pretty obvious I frequent Italian restaurants quite often and will choose a pasta meal before almost any other. One of my favorite places to indulge in my favorite cuisine is Biaggi’s in Ridgeland. The menu contains a multitude of delights, but my favorite has to be baked ziti al forno. It’s a delectable dish of pasta, shrimp, grilled chicken, caramelized onions, crispy pancetta, Italian cheese blend and lobster cream sauce. Biaggi’s, 970 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland. 601-354-6600. You can actually indulge in this next treat in either Flowood or Madison – whichever one you choose, the deliciousness translates from one county to the next. Blue-plate specials draw diners from far and near, but it’s a thick slice of caramel cake that attracts me anytime I’m near either of these locations. Along with a hot cup of coffee in a thick Primos mug, it’s the perfect ending to any meal or anytime snack. Primos Café, 2323 Lakeland Dr., Unit A, Flowood. 601-936-3701. Also 250 Baptist Dr., Madison. 601-853-3350. If you’re in Madison and have worked up an appetite, a trip to Mama Hamil’s Southern Cooking & BBQ might be in order. Everyone raves about the massive buffet and sumptuous barbecue, but it’s Mama Hamil’s potato salad that brings me by. Picking up a container to go is never a bad idea anytime a special event is on the horizon. I can make the copycat version, but it’s not the same as the original. Mama Hamil’s, 751 Hwy. 51, Madison. 601-856-4407. Next week, I’ll venture further north to list some Delta delicacies, along with college town favorites. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson With inflation at its highest levels since 1981 and drivers getting squeezed at the pump by high gas prices, consumers are not just paying more for goods and services, they’re also paying more attention. We see that at the Department of Agriculture and Commerce as our consumer protection inspectors receive more requests for investigations at stores, and our petroleum inspectors field more complaints about questionable fuel. We want customers to get what they pay for, and we want businesses to succeed. Both of those depend on a fair market and that’s just good business. The state legislature designated MDAC’s Consumer Protection Division to enforce retail food safety and sanitation laws in grocery and convenience stores, to ensure businesses adhere to weights and measure standards, to require compliance with food labeling requirements, and to verify UPC bar codes so customers are charged at the register the same as the price on the shelf. MDAC inspectors routinely examine meat market sanitation, ensure food is stored at proper temperatures, confirm the availability of hot water and soap in restrooms, monitor stores for insects and rodents, and seek to keep spoiled or expired meat off the shelves. In the 2022 fiscal year, the Consumer Protection Division conducted 4,517 total inspections of businesses which included 5,842 retail scale inspections; 4,517 retail food sanitation inspections; 34,827 items for net weight; 2,762 disposition of garbage inspections; and 1,354 UPC price verification inspections. MDAC performs these inspections routinely. As consumers feel the cost pressure of inflation, they are more aware of the prices on the shelves. When prices go up, complaints – especially about prices at the register not matching prices on the shelves (UPC) – go up as well. Once we receive a complaint, the inspector investigates and, if a violation is found, works to get the business into compliance. If the complaint is not a violation, the inspection serves as an educational opportunity for the business and the customer. The same goes for our Petroleum Products Inspection Division which regulates 2.3 billion gallons of fuel consumed from Mississippi locations a year. All retail motor fuel – including gasoline, ethanol blended fuel, diesel, biodiesel, and kerosene – fall under this division which has samples analyzed at the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory. The Mississippi State Chemical Lab checks for octane number, alcohol content, diesel flash point, biodiesel content, and whether water is present in the fuel. On site, inspectors check calibration as well as confirm signage to ensure the proper price is displayed and the proper fuel matches the advertised claim. The Petroleum Products Inspection Division conducts annual inspections of all fuel pumps (Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers) in the state. Last fiscal year, that included 57,745 registered devices at 2,657 stations. In addition to the routine inspections, there were 223 consumer complaints all of which were investigated within 24 hours. About 32 percent of the complaints required corrective action for noncompliance. Between the routine inspections and consumer complaints, the Department enforced 997 “stop sales.” While the Department of Agriculture and Commerce cannot do anything about the price of gas, we can make sure you get what you pay for, and the product is what it claims. As gas prices go up, complaints increase, but the violation rate stays about the same. I suspect you’re keeping an eye on costs, too. If you’re in a retail grocery store and see a discrepancy between the cost on the shelf and the price at the register, or notice spoiled or unsanitary food, please reach out to the MDAC Consumer Protection Division at 601-359-1148. Likewise, if you have problems at the pump and suspect you’re not getting the right fuel, the correct amount of fuel, there is water in the fuel, or you’re being charged incorrectly, please contact the Petroleum Products Inspection Division at 601-359-1101. Most businesses in Mississippi in violation of our fair market laws do so inadvertently. They want to treat their customers – their neighbors – fairly, and, when we point out noncompliance, they work quickly to remedy the situation. So, be sure to look for the “seal of approval” on all scales and pumps where you shop. You, our inspectors and Mississippi businesses working together can continue the fair standards that make our free market work.

Ever wonder why goofballs walk this earth? You know them, not a serious thought in their head for more than fifty-eight seconds at a time. They believe that life is a playground, and they need to enjoy each and every ride that exists. And taking on a serious role, where they have to act the part of the heavy? “Not happening, dude! That’s not the way I roll!” But we absolutely love having them in our lives, anyway. They have the ability to bring light and laughter wherever they go. Why are they here? When there is so much at stake? When children are being abused, nations are being plundered, and countless people are losing everything they have worked for years to acquire. What is their contribution to help this hurting world? Well, first of all, ain’t none of our business why God decided to make that particular version of His creation. I do believe He knows what He is doing, and He can make sense of it all. But, if I had to hazard a guess, and believe me it is only a guess, it would be this: What if everyone on earth were exactly like you or me in personality? Oh my. Just the thought makes me cringe. What if all of us were absent-minded, or serious to a fault, or perfectionists that drive everyone to want to drink, or legalists, or complainers, or any other personality we see. We would quickly drive each other up the wall, or life would get very boring, and a lot of work would never get done. We need each other. Warts and all. Every kind of person is essential to our life on earth. (Well, excepting homicidal sociopaths, I refuse to believe those kinds of traits are essential.) There is the Sanguine – who rarely meets a stranger. Fun and outgoing, but can be impulsive and spontaneous at the worst possible time. The Melancholy – a creative type, but also prone to worry and angst. Then the Phlegmatic – agreeable, steady minded, considerate, warm, but with a tendency be a wee bit dramatic. And the Choleric – brave and ambitious, but also can be bossy, deceitful, irritable and a tad violent. The Supine – sweet and quiet, but gets their feelings hurt very easily. And then there is all the rest of us, a mixture and blend of these major temperaments. Together we are a big ol’ melting pot of people, with every trait, ability, strength, fault and need you can imagine. Every person is needed. Just the way the Creator intended, I have to believe. So, what do you do when the one next to you is being irritating? Just sigh, hold your tongue and take a moment to try to imagine everyone approaching life just like you. (That’s enough to make you work a little harder to appreciate that co-worker whose stomping on your last nerve.)

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will close all lanes of Interstate 20 westbound/Interstate 55 southbound at State Street in Jackson on Saturday, August 13, starting at 4:30 a.m. to perform a maintenance repair on a roadway dip. The closure is anticipated to last approximately 48 hours. During the closure, I-20 westbound/I-55 southbound traffic will be directed to I-55 northbound and I-220 southbound to detour around the closure. Local traffic should consider an alternate route on local roads during the closure. Although safe for travel, severe rain and flooding has caused the road failure to continue dipping. After shutting down the interstate, MDOT maintenance forces will work around the clock to level up the roadway with milling and asphalt placement. “We knew there was a possibility that continued heavy rainfall and flooding, coupled with all of the Yazoo clay, moisture and wet soil underneath the roadway, could result in further dipping of the interstate at this location,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “This project is mandatory maintenance in preparation for the permanent repair.” MDOT crews will also perform other critical work that is necessary at the closure location. This includes replacing sections of guardrail in the area that have been recently damaged. In addition to the guardrail repair, district bridge crews are going to perform bridge inspections along the closed stretch of interstate. “This is one of the most heavily traveled roads in our state and we understand this closure will inconvenience traffic throughout the Jackson-metro area, however it is needed to keep this roadway safe and passable,” said White. “I appreciate our district crews maximizing this closure by working around the clock to complete other critical work items in addition to leveling up the dip in the interstate, such as the guardrail replacement and bridge inspections. These operations would have taken place later this year, each resulting in closures of the interstate.” This stretch of interstate sees well over 100,000 vehicles daily. During the closure, motorists should plan an alternate route ahead of time and allow extra travel time this weekend. The public is reminded to be alert for roadside crews placing signs before, during and after the closure. During the closure, MDOT will update the public regularly on the progress and expected duration of the repair and closure. Motorists can stay updated on this project and others by visiting MDOTtraffic.com, downloading the free MDOT Traffic app, or following @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter. For information about how to navigate highway work zones safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.