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By Kara Kimbrough Following up on my promise to share new “must try” restaurant dishes, it’s time to move a little further north from the Gulf Coast to the Pine Belt. Filled with close to 20 cities and towns offering a plethora of great restaurants, ranging from family-owned diners to fine dining, it’s hard to narrow down my favorites. However, it must be done and if your eatery didn’t make the list, drop me an email and I’ll include it in future columns. As I mentioned last week, call first before heading out to a new place. With labor and food shortages still causing problems, many restaurants adjust hours at a moment’s notice. 1. Collins…it’s one of those places people sometimes describe with the words, “Oh yeah…I pass by it all the time when I’m traveling on Highway 49.” One of the best reasons for a detour is Deli Diner, a somewhat humble-looking establishment housed in a renovated Sonic frequented by me and high school friends. Fast forward to today, when regional and national publications are describing the fresh, innovative cuisine of the family-owned restaurant. Sandwiches, paninis, burgers and an impressively-long list of salads are on the menu. So far, my favorite pick is the grilled redfish sandwich; running a close second is Deli Diner’s shrimp po’boy. 704 S. Fir Ave., Collins; 601-765-4359. 2. Further west in Columbia, Magnolia Grille is known as one of the best places to dine when in search of a sumptuous Southern buffet, steak dinner or healthy salad bar. And that’s the short list. Each dish is worth a try, but I gravitate to one outstanding dish: Mardi Gras pasta. Pasta is tossed with chicken, shrimp, sausage, peppers and onions and seasonings, then topped with a creamy Cajun sauce. Who needs New Orleans when this dish is on the menu? 115 R A Johnson Dr., Columbia; 601-736-2222. 3. One of valuable perks of working for Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson was discovering restaurants in nearby Brookhaven. A co-worker treated me to lunch at Broma’s Deli on my first day and I’ve been hooked ever since. As a creature of habit, the French Dip sandwich with the restaurant’s famous homemade chips is my regular order. It’s a shame, too, since I’ve never sampled anything else on the menu, including burgers, salads, soups, loaded potatoes and much more. 1203 Hampton Dr., Brookhaven; 601-823-2224. 4. In the eastern part of the Pine Belt, Laurel is quickly becoming the destination of choice for tourists from around the U.S. and even the world. One of my favorite things about Laurel is the transformation of old downtown buildings into shops and restaurants that retain the charm of yesteryear. Lee’s Coffee & Tea, housed in a Sears store from a bygone era, is a charming place to enjoy the aforementioned beverages, order a bountiful breakfast or stop by for lunch. At my Laurel friend’s urging, I ordered founder Aunt Lee’s pimento cheese sandwich. It’s a unique combination of a BLT and homemade pimento cheese. Skeptical at first, I was a quick convert to the unique sandwich. Stop by for this treat and so much more. 409 W. Oak St., Laurel; 601-649-4161. 5. Asking me to pick a favorite at one of Hattiesburg’s hundreds of restaurants in a near-impossible task. I’ll stop short of saying it’s “the best,” but the ‘que at Strick’s BBQ is pretty close. Another hard task is selecting one item as Strick’s star. Strick’s has been a Hattiesburg staple for 42 years so they've had plenty of time to perfect the menu. But, if I have to pick one, Strick's hickory-smoked wings are at the top of the list. 3802 W. 4th St., Hattiesburg; 601-264-2502. Moving further north to share culinary delights in the central part of the state is on tap for next week. Feel free to share your favorite places, along with top menu picks for an outstanding meal. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Mississippi Ag & Outdoor Expo, the State’s largest buying exhibition of everything for agriculture, the outdoors, and hunting and fishing, returns to the Trade Mart in Jackson August 5-7. The Ag and Outdoor Expo will be hosted by The Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks and presented by Southern AgCredit. “This show will highlight the incredible hunting, fishing, agricultural and outdoor spirit of our great state,” said Don Brazil, CEO of The Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to be a part of this show and we look forward to the great time we will have together in August!” Mississippi’s premier outdoor show will fill the 60,000 square foot exhibit floor of the Trade Mart with displays of tractors, implements, power equipment, boats, UTVs, rods, reels, lures, game calls, outdoor clothing and more, all available at special Expo pricing. For the younger members of the family, an archery shoot will be hosted by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The MDWFP Museum of Natural Science will have a special display featuring animals and interactive displays for children. Joining the Expo for a great August weekend of activities at the Fairgrounds will be the exciting Bulls, Bands, and Barrels event, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 at Mississippi Coliseum. Featuring rising country music star, Chase Matthew along with Justin Champagne and Cole Jones, Bulls, Bands and Barrels promises to be an unforgettable experience. World renowned championship cowboy, Chris Shivers will be a featured guest/participant at the event as well. Ag and Outdoor Expo Dates and Ticket Info: Show Hours 12 to 7 p.m. – Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Sunday. Tickets Adults – 13 years & older … $12.00 Kids – 6-12 years old ………. $6.00 Kids – 5 years and under ….. Free

The man had a heart attack. His cardiologist then told him he had to walk at least forty-five minutes daily, the rest of his life. So off he went, just like the mailman – rain, sleet, snow, or burning sun. Walking became a regular part of his days. Then he began to notice discomfort in his foot, which developed into severe disabling pain. He went to the foot doctor, who diagnosed him with plantar fasciitis. She agreed with his cardiologist to keep on hoofing it, as walking would benefit healing the plantar fasciitis, while it also helped protect his heart. So, she sent him to a special shoe store to be fitted with walking shoes that would protect the foot problem area. Sure enough, the shoe doc knew what to do, and fitted him with special ‘Plantar Protect Shoes.’ Daily promenading through the neighborhood continued. Slight groaning and griping included. But then the day came when he began to notice pain somewhere else. Swelling on the outside of his foot. Told his foot therapist, who informed him he was compensating for the plantar pain by walking on the outside of his foot. By trying to protect himself from the original site of pain, he was now causing pain somewhere else. So, he had to purchase a different pair of shoes that will protect from both problems, keep walking, and make certain to ice his foot afterwards. Beginning to sense a pattern here, folks? Layer upon layer? Sounds exactly like some people who have emotional pain in their life. Someone grows up with a less-than-wonderful childhood. This leaves memories that create issues and difficulty living as an adult. Trying to avoid that pain, they find ways to cope. Drinking, drugs, escapism by gambling or compulsive shopping…et cetera. Anything to find a way to deal with the pain and continue living. But that very coping skill can create a problem in itself. So now, there can be addiction, family issues, job loss, financial ruin, or whatever else, in addition to the original problem. Don’t do that. Don’t hurt yourself worse, by trying to handle your hurt. Now, I do recognize that too many times there are no easy pat answers to our physical or emotional pain. Anyone who tells you that there is - can be lying to your face. Aching and hurting are an ongoing part of living, especially the more of life we experience. But it’s smarter to do our dead-level best to notice and deal with the original pain as soon as possible. So hopefully it doesn’t develop into a bigger headache as time goes on. Like that small insignificant spider web on your porch that you ignore today – twenty-four hours later it can be this massive, disgusting, slimy mess that clings to your face and hair when you stumble through it on your way out of the house.

By Mika Hartman Many will already recognize “lagniappe” as a commonly used word; for me, the word has a whole new meaning since Hudson was born. Lagniappe (lan-yap): “Something given as a bonus or EXTRA gift” and the cajun meaning is “a little EXTRA”. Hudson is lagniappe. Our family received lagniappe the day he was born. Down syndrome is lagniappe. This entire journey and those on it with me are lagniappe. I could go on and on. Its the NOLA-call for receiving anything extra, or better yet, receiving something for free. So Hudson’s love is a perfect example of this…. It’s free, it’s extra and it makes the world better. In June, I had the privilege of attending the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in New Orleans… IN PERSON! It was four fun-filled, educational, energizing days of truly connecting with my Down syndrome family. From doctors, research teams, families, new technologies and future research, I learned so much and I am so encouraged. All Down syndrome research has been lacking in funds and support. In a typical year, 80 million would be the most raised to conduct the research done. So this resulted in few studies and certainly none being conducted routinely. To put in perspective, Autism research typically has 200-250 million per year. So the difference is huge, until now. Down syndrome research is expected to hit 150 million this year and we have 8 studies going on now to improve the quality of life and the why the extra chromosome causes more medical needs. I will tell you that I had been asked to participate in a study while living in Colorado. I was pregnant and the research team came daily to my hospital room during my heart failure. I, then and now, would only participate in needed and good research. I would not ever help in early detection of Down syndrome to provide information that would lead to an abortion. But research that is good, inclusive and improves life, I am all in as long as the integrity of the study is only for benefits of the person born or being born with Down syndrome. I am saying this because the research that is being done is good. Research to help prevent or prolong the affects of Alzheimers, studies to learn about sleep apnea and treatments, studies to help medicine and therapies, and so much more. Why research is important: People with Down syndrome have a different “disease spectrum”. The 6 million human beings alive today with Trisomy 21 need bold solutions to many major medical conditions. Autoimmunity, COVID-19, Alzheimer’s, Leukemia, Autism, Seizures, Congenital Heart Defects and more. Research is not a quick process. Most trials in a translational science start in a petri dish to an actual clinical trial in 4 years. Then once effective and safe in clinical trial, it then moves to regulatory approval and medical care. So the more funding, the more that can be in the works for our friends. It takes money, time and willingness to participate. What we have learned: 60% of adults with Down syndrome have been diagnosed with at least one autoimmune condition 50% of people with Down syndrome display hypothyroidism, attributed to autoimmune thyroid disease 25% of people with Down syndrome have been diagnosed with one or more autoimmune skin conditions 10% of adults with Down syndrome have been diagnosed with celiac disease Type 1 diabetes, “Down syndrome arthopathy”, and other, more rare autoimmune conditions are also more common So with this information, the question becomes “Is there a way to stop this autoimmune attack?” I am in no way medical, but this research is easy to understand. When you have an extra copy of a chromosome, especially the 21st chromosome, you can determine that 4 of 6 interferon receptors are encoded on chromosome 21. So basically it creates receptor “overdose”. This leads to “over-reaction” throughout the immune system. Even in the general population, interferon hyperactivity is known risk factor for autoimmunity. Chronic interferon hyperactivity could lead to premature aging and exhaustion of the immune system later in life. Too much of a good thing sometimes is bad… this is an example of that. JAK inhibitors could attenuate the ill effects of interferon receptor overdose. JAK inhibitors are small molecules designed to inhibit the JAK enzymes acting “downstream” of the interferon receptors. They are pills that can be taken daily and are fully reversible because they rapidly clear the body. In the study, 10 participants saw benefits with zero adverse events. 6/6 participants with alopecia aerata experienced hair growth. 2/2 participants with atopic dermatitis saw complete remission. 1/1 participant with psoriasis saw complete remission. 2/5 participants showed improvements in hidradenitis suppurativa. ALL participants showed normalized immune markers. 7/7 participants with clinically significant anti-thyroid autoimmunity displayed decreased levels of autonantibodies. Lastly, significant improvements in one measure of visuomotor function, and anxiety/depression scores. Participants were asked to “track” a path with a pencil. It was shown that the JAK inhibitors taken created less errors in this testing, too. Conclusion: This trial was a success and it has been deemed safe. Skin pathology is clearly improved with alopecia, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis showing the best responses. Other autoimmune conditions, such as thyroid disease, may also benefit from this intervention. Tantalizing preliminary results justify the investigation of potential improvements in neurological function. 7/12 participants are now taking this medication with a prescription. The value and integrity question was raised on the neurological improvement. I believe that anything you can do to provide a better quality of life is good. I value a person because we all play a part in this world. Improving anyones life is good, hence the word improve. If it doesn’t help an individual, this wouldn’t create us to then devalue them. All studies meet an ethics board and they do not take lightly the reasons for the studies and always put the person with great intentions as the top priority. As you can see in this one study alone, it matters. Improving quality of life is the mission and these results did just that. This provides hope for families. Answers are everything on this journey. My job as Hudson mom and advocate is to provide him his best life and the tools to achieve this. Here is an example of a study with new technology: Alzheimers is a very real threat to our community. They have linked Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to early onset Alzheimers. Side note: Children with Down syndrome really should have a sleep study conducted by age 4. Larger tongues and smaller airways can occlude needed oxygen, especially during sleep. And now, with this knowledge of overlap with Alzheimers it's more important than ever. Once diagnosed, many doctors will want to intervene with CPAP machines, teach sleep positions, use oral devices to place tongue in a better position and so forth. This new technology/treatment is called Inspire Upper Airways Stimulation (UAS) therapy. It’s basically a pacemaker for the lungs and tongue. This is the first implantable device for treating OSA. Inspire USA works from inside the body and with the patient’s natural breathing process. A deep breath will send a sensor attached to the tongue to move the tongue to allow the airway to open. I am not medical, so please talk to your doctors about all the details. As a mom, this is named so appropriately: Inspire! I am inspired. Here is an example of new therapy coming: JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation) is a treatment approach based on a combination of developmental and behavioral principles developed by Dr. Connie Kasari at UCLA. JASPER is a play-based intervention that teaches social communication skills to young children with autism. This therapy made its way in to many of my conversations and classes because of the overlap and direct connection to Down syndrome and autism. Hudson is dual diagnosed and this therapy sounds, well, needed. I am a fun and energetic mom, but getting Hudson to be engaged in play can be difficult and with short spans of attention to a task. It seems this therapy is designed to connect these dots and make playing fun for all. As you can see, new tools in my moms toolbox for Hudson are exciting, inspiring and encouraging. These are only a few examples of all I learned. I am so encouraged that we are getting more funding that will benefit my son and the life I pray for daily. A world that accepts him, cheers for him, values his life and plays a role in his successes… all while helping give him the quality of life he deserves. Quality of a persons life is so important and the research being conducted makes this a priority. Research and development should be ongoing, readily available and participation is a must. The more we learn, the more we can provide, ensuring the life of a person with Down syndrome is respected, loved and cared for. The proverbial ball is rolling and new research is coming. Investing either monetarily or by participation is key to keeping this good forward motion rolling as fast as possible. My Hudson loves life and makes the world better. Going to conventions, connecting with families, seeing a small part of the work that is being done was great for my heart. One of my favorite takeaways was seeing the siblings of a brother or sister with Down syndrome being doctors or therapist on the stage who are developing mind-blowing tools because of the love they have. These siblings have firsthand knowledge of this life I have, they have so much love and respect, they want to make the world better, too. Moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and medical teams who love people with Down syndrome, together are lagniappe, too. EXTRA love is free!

By Kara Kimbrough Last-blast-before-school trips and other reasons to hit the road in search of fun and sun caused readers to reach out asking for my favorite dishes around the state. Looking back, I realized the same places and their signature dishes are often on the list. I’m happy to share these tried-and-true places if you want to drop me an email. However, it’s time to branch out and include a few others. The list is so long I have to divide the list, focusing first on the state’s southern region. The remainder of my picks will be shared in future columns. In no particular order, here are a few can’t-miss dishes in the southern part of the state. As with any restaurant these days, it’s best to call before you go to check days and hours of operation. 1. Thorny Oyster in Bay St. Louis is perhaps better known for its fresh, innovative seafood dishes, but it’s the post-dinner peach-blueberry crisp that keeps calling me back. The crisp might sound like an ordinary dish, but when you taste the dish filled with fresh fruit with a brown sugar oat topping with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, you’ll understand why it made the list. 104 N. Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis; 228-688-0401. 2. J’s in Waveland is a humble place tucked into a strip mall, but don’t let the exterior keep you from stopping in. I sampled J’s fried shrimp stuffed potato years ago during a media tour and have been going back for more ever since. Don’t expect gourmet food or fancy surroundings; instead, you’ll get friendly, down-home service from the twin sister servers and delicious, hearty dishes like grilled steaks, pasta and po’boys. 304 US-90, Waveland; 228-467-9176. 3. Burger Burger’s burgers…sounds like alliteration, but it’s actually a great culinary option when seeking an old-school Gulf Coast experience. Don’t expect a normal round bun with a similarly-shaped patty. Instead, expect grilled burger pieces topped with a secret sauce lining a po’boy bun. Make that a very long bun, freshly-baked and delivered straight to the restaurant. Enjoying this unusual treat while sitting on the veranda as ceiling fans twirl overhead and large oak trees provide additional shade creates an unforgettable meal. 1039 E. Howard Ave., Biloxi; 228-432-5183. 4. Downtown Bistro in, as the name suggests, downtown Gulfport, was new on my culinary radar when a friend and I stopped by recently to listen to live music and enjoy a meal. I gravitated to the appetizers on the menu and spotted the grilled cheese, blackberry jam and smoked bacon sandwich. Learning the accomplished chef considers it one of his signature dishes, I anticipated an above-average sandwich. My expectations were raised even higher when I tasted what I can easily call one of the best sandwiches of my life. 1307 25th Ave., Gulfport; 228-284-4531. 5. Finding great pizza on the Gulf Coast is not at hard as you might think. There are many locally-owned pizzerias from which to choose; one of my favorites remains Tony’s Brick Oven Pizzeria. I simply can’t get enough of the gumbo pizza topped with shrimp, crab meat, sausage, tomatoes, okra, cheese and spices. Running a close second is the spicy shrimp pizza. 2417 14th St., Gulfport; 228-868-9877. Next week, I’ll reveal some of my favorite dishes in central Mississippi before traveling to the state’s northern region. Speaking of traveling north, the 30th anniversary of NYC Restaurant Week is in full swing through Aug. 21 for those enjoy dining out – and who doesn’t in the culinary capital of the world? Meals are offered at the set price of $30, $45 or $60 at 600-plus restaurants. If you’re headed to NYC, take the opportunity to sample 60 cuisines in over 80 neighborhoods in the five boroughs during the special promotion. For detailed information, check out: nycgo.com. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

There will be a prayer walk on Sunday, August 7 at 3:00 PM at #HindsCentralAcademy. Come join us to pray for the upcoming school year teachers, students and faculty.

By Bob Garver On more than one level, “DC League of Super-Pets” falls right between “The Secret Life of Pets” and “The Lego Movie.” Like “The Secret Life of Pets,” the movie is an animated comedy that follows domesticated animals whose voices can’t be understood by humans as they learn to make friends for themselves without their coddling owners. And both movies have Kevin Hart, can’t forget that. Like “The Lego Movie,” the cast of characters includes the entire Justice League (and some other fun DC cameos), though they spend the majority of the film’s running time incapacitated. Both films feature funny casting choices for popular characters, which is an invaluable tool for arguing that, say, Will Arnett and Keanu Reeves are both technically part of the Batman canon. The result of the amalgamation is a movie that should be pleasing to both animal lovers and comics nerds. Dwayne Johnson stars as Krypto, dog to Superman (John Krasinski). Krypto also has Kryptonian superpowers, as he stowed away with Superman on that Krypton-escaping rocket when they were both little. Now the two fight crime and save Metropolis side-by-side daily, but Superman’s attentions have been… branching out lately thanks to his relationship with Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). Krypto is afraid of losing his best friend, especially when he learns that Supes plans to ask Lois to marry him. Superman senses that Krypto is about to feel left out of his new life, so he goes to an animal shelter to see about getting Krypto a friend. At the shelter is Ace (Hart), a dog with a tragic backstory that just wants to bust everyone out of the shelter so they can all move to a nice farm upstate. Other animals include pig PB (Vanessa Bayer), squirrel Chip (Diego Luna), turtle Merton (Natasha Lyonne), and hairless guinea pig Lulu (Kate McKinnon). Krypto and Ace don’t like each other, with Krypto looking down on Ace for not having superpowers or an owner, and Ace not liking Krypto for his condescension. Since the characters are voiced by frequent collaborators Johnson and Hart, you can probably guess that they’ll soon be paired up for the rest of the movie. The adventure kicks into gear when Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) tries to defeat Superman with orange Kryptonite. The plan fails because humans can’t use the substance, but animals can. A shard of the stuff falls into the shelter, where Ace and the other animals gain superpowers, while Krypto loses his. Lulu, a former testing animal at LexCorp, is thrilled at the prospect of rejoining her former owner and conquering the world together. It turns out that she’s a lot more competent at taking out the Justice League than Lex ever was. It’s up to Krypto, Ace, and the other shelter animals to save the day, even though Krypto is without his powers and Ace and the others don’t know how to behave heroically. I previously mentioned that “DC League of Super-Pets” fell between “The Secret Life of Pets” and “The Lego Movie” on more than one level. One of those levels is that story elements are mashed together, but another level is quality. I found that this movie had a sharper wit and more likeable characters than the former, but less imagination and more clumsy jokes than the latter. Grade-wise, I felt that those movies were a high C and a low A, respectively, and the average of the two seems just right for this perfectly agreeable movie that doesn’t quite reach the upper echelons of animated filmmaking. Grade: B “DC League of Super-Pets” is rated PG for action, mild violence, language and rude humor. Its running time is 106 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Southern Business Institute is gearing up for its inaugural event, CollabSouth, for the small business community of Jackson. Founders and employees of small businesses are invited to attend this one-day conference on August 26th to hear from experts within their community. Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson will be the keynote speaker. Several other speakers and panelists will discuss topics such as business growth and development, marketing, accounting, human resources, and more. “Small businesses are vital to the state of Mississippi, and we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to set them up for success,” said Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson. “I am honored to be speaking at this event and believe it will be a day packed with opportunities for business owners to learn, grow, and network to ensure they continue to be successful.” During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Susan Woods, Allison Muirhead, and Mary Margaret Gay founded the Southern Business Institute 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 first community-wide event and will include breakout groups and panel discussions to help entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. “During the pandemic, we saw that small businesses took a big hit. We founded the Institute to empower small businesses and provide them with the resources and community necessary to thrive,” said Susan Woods, Co-Founder of Southern Business Institute. “We’re very excited to connect business owners and cultivate this community in Jackson.” CollabSouth will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26th, at the Country Club of Jackson, followed by a cocktail hour for attendees to network with other entrepreneurs. Tickets can be purchased on Southern Business Institute’s website, southernbusinessinstitute.com/collabsouth. Follow Southern Business Institute on Instagram @southernbusinessinstitute to get updates on the event.

Today, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) - through a joint investigation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - is announcing the discovery of an uncommon bacteria (that causes melioidosis) identified in the environment in the United States (US) for the first time. Melioidosis is a rare disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. These bacteria were identified in soil samples from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi (MS). The investigation was conducted because two individuals (cases) of melioidosis - both on the Gulf Coast - became sick two years apart. Soil samples collected around the patients' homes tested positive for the bacteria at the CDC. This indicates that bacteria from the environment was the likely source of infection for both individuals and that the bacteria have been present since 2020. State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers says most cases that occur in the US are because of travel to other countries where the bacteria have been known to normally occur. "Typically, we see these bacteria in countries where the bacteria are endemic or where it normally occurs. Burkholderia pseudomallei normally occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas like Southeast Asia or Central or South America. Because of the identification of this bacteria on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, persons at high risk for severe infection living on the Gulf Coast should take recommended precautions." Melioidosis is an infectious disease and is caused by direct contact with Burkholderia pseudomallei in contaminated soil or water. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, and headache. Infection can lead to pneumonia and blood infections (sepsis). Most healthy people who come into contact with Burkholderia pseudomallei never develop melioidosis. Individuals living on the Gulf Coast who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, or excessive alcohol use may be at risk of severe illness from infection and need to take precautions to protect themselves. Those at risk should: Avoid contact with soil or muddy water - especially after heavy rains. Protect open wounds with waterproof dressing. Wear waterproof boots when gardening, doing yard work or agricultural work - it is critical to prevent infection through the feet and lower legs (after flooding or storms). Wear gloves to protect your hands when working directly with soil. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Andy has always said that his dad, whom I never had the privilege of meeting, was a fairly mild-mannered easy-going guy. Respected and well-liked in his rural community, a boys’ baseball coach, and a church-goer – seems he had a friendly word for everyone. Even when riled, he wasn’t a man to easily lose control of his temper. Like everyone, he did have one, he just usually kept it pretty well under. Except. From listening to the family telling stories of yesteryear, there were two things in life that made that man lose his grip; one was cows and pigs that refused to cooperate when they were being loaded into the chute. And the other that lit his fuse? Hitting his thumb with a badly-aimed hammer blow. From what I understand, a stubborn Bossy The Cow or Pearl The Pig could suddenly become the recipient of very imaginative names not normally given to four-legged animals. And on fence-building days? The air on their farm would take on a whole new shade of blue when his dad splattered his thumb at that task. Then his kids would spend the next half-hour searching for his hammer. Eventually finding it in the neighbor’s pasture. Sound kinda familiar? You may not be a hammer-wielding farmer with bad aim and five kids snickering when you miss. And you may not be the proud owner of panicked pigs and cows that suddenly have their own ideas when it comes to being loaded up and taken to the slaughter house. But. Probably you are the owner of a temper. Whether it reminds people of instantly combustible Fire From Hell Itself, or slow simmering Volcanic Lava, you most likely own one. Seems to be part of being a human being. I have never met anyone yet who absolutely never has a flareup of that ‘thing’ inside of us, that attitude that lets those around us know we are not a happy camper. But maybe, you actually are known worldwide as Calm Calvin or Sweetheart Sara. You are one of those rare species who never shows any anger or disgust, and never disagrees with anyone. Then I would venture to guess you may privately deal with things like tension headaches, upset stomach, sudden diarrhea, or stomach ulcers. Not a good trade-off. Better plan? Learn to express your displeasure, (without a missing hammer) listen to the opposing opinion if there is any, create a workable solution, ask and give forgiveness when needed, and then move on. Life is way-y-y-y-y-y too hard to spend your time holding your emotions in so tightly that you become ill. You will eventually find yourself spending a portion of your time dealing with that illness, instead of just simply living openly and honestly. Learn to feel it, express it, and deal with it. But just remember, everyone else is dealing with difficult emotions and situations too. Let’s cut each other some slack.

By Kara Kimbrough July is almost over, then August lies ahead and before we know it, Labor Day will be here. I bring this up because I indulge in ice cream during the summer months, then stop my addiction cold turkey when Labor Day arrives. Before you say it, yes, I know that residents of Mississippi still eat ice cream after summer’s over. But let’s face it, ice cream – whether it’s homemade using slighter healthier ingredients, or purchased in the supermarket, is not very figure-friendly. In short, it’s filled with fat and calories, requiring a cut-off point in my summer indulgence. At the beginning of the summer, I happily pulled out my ice cream and sorbet maker, anticipating a delightfully-cool treat for dessert. I loaded it with ice cream ingredients, only to hear a sad little whimper when I plugged it in. That may explain its presence on the clearance aisle. Not to be deterred, I searched in vain for a replacement. I combined the ingredients in my mixer and froze the entire thing. The final product was chunky and somewhat rough in texture, but still delicious. Instead of seeking a replacement for my derelict ice cream maker, I decided there was only one sensible thing to do – go to the source…the king…the standard-setter for store-bought ice cream. In case you haven’t guessed by now, yes, I’m referring to Blue Bell. I don’t know how they do it, but their ice cream is quite simply the best I’ve ever tasted. I’ve tried almost every flavor and can report that each one of them lived up to my high ice cream standards. If your ice cream maker is still running and a trip to the supermarket isn’t on the horizon, here are three of my favorite ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt recipes. And remember, if things don’t work out, Blue Bell will be waiting. Frozen Strawberry Yogurt 1 bag (20 ounces) frozen unsweetened strawberries 1 8-ounce container vanilla or strawberry low fat yogurt 1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Allow strawberries to defrost 10 minutes (they need to be soft frozen). Place berries in food processor and pulse until real fine. Add yogurt while processor is running. Add sugar and lemon juice. Serve right out of the processor or place in a container and freeze to serve later. Orange Sherbet 1 liter orange carbonated drink 8-1/2 ounce can crushed pineapple (undrained) 7-ounce can sweetened condensed milk Combine all ingredients and pour in ice cream freezer. After churning for about an hour, pour into a bread pan, cover and place in the freezer for several hours. Peach Ice Cream 3 pints half and half cream 1 pint whipping cream 1 teaspoon almond flavoring 3-4 cups fresh peaches, chopped, or 2 10-ounce packages frozen peaches 1-1/2 cups sugar Mix ingredients and pour in ice cream freezer to process. Makes 1 gallon. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.