Central Hinds Academy recently held induction ceremonies for their National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society. Recent Central Hinds Academy Science National Honor Society inductees include (l to r), front row: Samantha McWilliams, Bella Saums and Carter Smith; and back row: Kolton Price, Ryan Etheridge, Keith Purvis and Christian Saums. Recent Central Hinds Academy National Honor Society inductees include (l to r), front row: Chloe Dyar, Piper Lloyd, Laurel Freeman, Sam McCoy, Nobile Germany, Brayden Bullock, Tucker Gray, Rivers Johns, Alli Beth Scott, Brady Clark, Dalton Barnes, Raymond Vickers and Luke Smith; middle row: Kolton Price, Ryan Etheridge, Keith Purvis and Christian Saums; and back row: Dawson Oakes and Justin Cook.

By Bob Garver Even among the crowded 2010’s box office, “Jurassic World” managed to be one of the most successful franchises of the decade, after “Stars Wars” and the MCU. This despite my worries that “Jurassic Park” fandom ended after the disastrous third film in 2001. The first two films of the new trilogy made a combined $1 billion at the domestic box office, proving that there is indeed still a place in moviegoers’ hearts for man-eating dinosaurs. Now comes conclusion “Jurassic World Dominion,” which is opening in the 2020’s where almost everything underperforms. But this movie is entertaining enough that I don’t see why it can’t be an exception. The movie picks up four years after teenage clone Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) let a cache of dinosaurs out of her grandfather’s compound and into the world. She now lives in an isolated cabin with former dino-keeper Owen (Chris Pratt) and redemption-seeking former exploiter Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard). She needs to be kept hidden away from bad people who want her clone DNA, but she wants to go on adventures and live life. She needs rescuing roughly one minute after striking out on her own, as she gets kidnapped trying to rescue a raptor, also captured for its DNA. The world is under attack in this movie, not so much from the original freed dinosaurs, but from dino/locust hybrids that are eating all the planet’s crops. That is, all the crops that aren’t protected by the BioSyn corporation, led by long-cast-aside original “Jurassic Park” baddie Lewis Dodgson (now played by Campbell Scott). It doesn't take Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) long to figure out that the company is up to something shady, and she enlists the help of old friend Alan Grant (Sam Neill) to infiltrate its research facility/dinosaur sanctuary and gather evidence of wrongdoing. The mission should go smoothly, since they have a man on the inside: Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) works for BioSyn, not-so-subtly trying to destroy the company from the inside out. Breaking away from the tour led by Ramsay (Mamoudou Athie) is easy enough, but the rest soon goes haywire in true “Jurassic” fashion. Owen and Claire, for their part, track Maisie to Malta, where they infiltrate a shadowy dinosaur black market, complete with exotic steaks and people gambling on dino-fights. They’re too late to retrieve the child, but they enlist the help of helicopter pilot Kayla (DeWanda Wise), who can give them a ride to, where else, BioSyn, where Maisie is being held by Dodgson and Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong), the latter of whom is having an uncharacteristic attack of conscience. First they have to get out of Malta, which involves one of the true urban-set action sequences of these movies, as they must navigate a treacherous urban grid Jason Bourne-style, evading dinosaurs that are being electronically manipulated into attacking them. The whole thing ends up at BioSyn, where the characters meet up (they all know each other because they’ve read each other’s books and articles, that’s all the introduction they need) and have to navigate a dinosaur-filled compound together. These movies have a way of always coming down to the characters having to survive in a dinosaur-filled compound, and at this point the movie is really not unique from any of the others. But at least we get the relatively-creative chase scene in Malta, and I’m more inclined to root for the established Dern, Neill, and Goldblum characters than the Pratt, Howard, and Sermon ones that never caught on. I’m not seeing a lot of love for “Jurassic World Dominion” from other critics, and I can understand why, with some clunky dialogue and overly-familiar action after Malta. But this movie was able to hold my interest just enough that I’m willing to give it a recommendation. Given the disappointing nature of the rest of this trilogy, “Jurassic World Dominion” is about as good a conclusion as we could have hoped to get. Grade: B- “Jurassic World Dominion” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action, some violence and language. Its running time is 146 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The SR1 Beginner Farmer Program, funded through the USDA, will begin on Friday, June 17th. The kickoff event will be at the Mississippi Ag and Forestry Museum in Jackson. Two sessions are scheduled, a morning and evening session, for participants to attend whichever one they choose. The media is also invited to attend. Each session will feature different speakers as well as the Beginner Farmer program leaders. SR1 sought 70 people for the Beginner Farmer program, but close to 150 people have signed up. SR1 has expanded the program to include everyone who registered. WHAT: Kickoff event to begin the Beginner Farmer Program. WHERE: The Sparkman Auditorium located at the Mississippi Ag and Forestry Museum 1150 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216 WHEN: Friday, June 17th, 10:00am-12:00pm or 6:00-8:00pm WHO: Participants registered for the Beginner Farmer Program and anyone seeking information on the program. The event will feature several prominent speakers from the farming and agriculture industry. Featured speakers include: Dr. Shecoya White, Assistant Professor in Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Mississippi State University Mr. Charles (Chuck) Lea, USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service, Mississippi Outreach Coordinator Mrs. Carolyn Jones, Executive Director and Community Leader Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance, Okolona, Mississippi Loutrina Staley, Ph.D., Soil Scientist on the SHI Leadership Team, Huntsville, Alabama Full biographies and photographs of the featured speakers are below. WHY: The C.O.O.L.™ Farming Project is designed to educate and train beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers to plan, launch, and/or sustain independent organic farm businesses. Prior farming experience is not required! The program is available at no cost to the participants. According to the 2019 Organic Survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Statistic Service, Mississippi only has 29 organic certified farms. This ranks near the lowest in the nation in organic farming. None of Mississippi’s 29 organic farms are owned by Blacks, Latinx, and Indigenous farmers. The C.O.O.L.™ Farming project seeks to change this. Beginner Farmers and Ranchers in the program will work with an experienced team to gain knowledge and experience to prepare and launch a farm, plus learn how to sustain a farming business. In addition to the organic farming practices, participants will also learn business management and financial management concepts for successful farming. The C.O.O.L.™ Farming Project is a three year program. ### Panelists for morning session: Dr. Shecoya White Assistant Professor in Food Microbiology and Food Safety, Mississippi State University Dr. Shecoya White, is an Assistant Professor specializing in Food Microbiology and Food Safety at Mississippi State University. She earned her B.S. and M.S. from Tuskegee University in Animal and Poultry Sciences. After that she pursued her doctorate degree in Toxicology with an emphasis in Microbial Food Safety at Iowa State University. She then took her talents to the food industry to work for ConAgra Foods (previously headquartered in Omaha, NE) followed by Evonik (Blair, NE), with a combined experience of almost 10 years. As a scientific contributor, her exposure to different food/feed products and projects in the burgeoning food industry have increased within the academic setting. She now uses both her academic and valuable food industry experience to teach and train the next generation of Food Safety and Agriculture advocates. Her program highlights community engagement and service particularly by working with small produce farmers in the state of Mississippi. As a Produce Safety Alliance Trainer, she helps small produce farmers become compliant with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Mr. Charles (Chuck) Lea USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service – Mississippi Outreach Coordinator Chuck Lea is the State Outreach Reach/Civil Rights Coordinator for Mississippi NRCS. He currently serves as the chairman of the MS Civil Rights/EEO committee. Mr. Lea is also the NRCS representative for the Accessibility Review Team that’s responsible for conducting handicap accessibility reviews for all lease properties in the state each year. Lastly Mr. Lea oversees the reviewing, ranking and administration of cooperative outreach agreements received through the National Funding Opportunity that NRCS announces each year on Grants.gov for the state of Mississippi. Chuck started his NRCS career in January of 1999 as soil conservation technician in Neshoba County, Mississippi. From there Mr. Lea moved into the 5-7-9 soil conservationist’s series and progressed to the District Conservationist (DC) level in 2005 and managed the Winston Co field office. As a DC Mr. Lea made stops along the way in Attala, Choctaw, Humphreys, Holmes, Washington, Sharkey and Issaquena counties until August of 2016 when Mr. Lea was promoted to the State Outreach/Civil Rights Coordinator position which he is currently serving in. Mr. Lea has two children and one granddaughter and is a member of Vertical Church in Madison MS. Mrs. Carolyn Jones Executive Director & Community Leader Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance Okolona, MS Carolyn Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance, (MMFA). A community based non-profit organization established by a group of Black farmers who saw a need within their community to come together to preserve their community and legacy of the Black farmer. Carolyn currently works with new and beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, veteran farmers and ranchers and local communities on issues of sustainability & diversification; environmentally friendly farming; land retention; succession planning/heirs’ property management; financial management; marketing and community growth and development. Carolyn received a BS degree in Paralegal Studies from Mississippi University for Women and has over twenty (20) years’ experience as a Corporate Paralegal. Although she has worked in corporate America, her love has always been in farming and community development. She and her husband (Chris) are veterans’ farmers and have been engaged in farming since 1976. They currently operate a 200-acre beef cattle farm in Northeast Mississippi. In her work with MMFA she has been very vocal and outspoken in her quest to ensure that Black farmers and their communities have the same opportunities as other farmers and their communities. She has served on various committees advocating for equity and inclusion for Black farmers. Under Carolyn’s leadership in December 2016 MMFA opened the North Mississippi Agri-Business Center, commonly referred to as “The Market.” The Market is centrally located at the crossroads of three (3) counties in Northeast Mississippi. The center serves as a community hub for local farmers and other community members. It also serves as an agricultural training center and demonstration farm. During the summer months the center serves as a farmers’ market, providing local farmers and growers a place to sell their produce. The uniqueness of the center is that it embodies the “Whole Community” by providing Community Membership, Community Respect, Community Fulfillment and Community Pride. At the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic the center partnered with fifty-three (53) churches and communities centers in over 10 counties in North Mississippi to provide over 100,000 boxes of food to those in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The Market currently serves as a Food Hub to provide food to limited income families through a partnership with Mid-South Food Bank. Some of MMFA partners include: 1862 and 1890 Land Grant Institutions, USDA, local 4-H clubs, churches, schools, elected officials, local industries, and other federal, state, and local organizations. Carolyn is also working to alleviate health disparities within the Black community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of a Community Health Care organization that coordinates with local health care providers and community leaders to provide Covid-19 vaccination to under-served communities. Keynote Speaker for Evening Session: Loutrina Staley, Ph.D. Soil Scientist Dr. Loutrina Staley is a Soil Scientist on the SHI Leadership Team, where she develops grant proposals, manages stakeholder relations, and communicates project results to end-users. She is also the Director of the Institute’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program, Internship Program, and Minority Farmer Recruitment to engender greater diversity in the Agricultural sciences and make the institute's farmer education programs more equitable. Prior to coming to SHI, Dr. Staley conducted research on the efficacy of plant botanicals and fatty acids used as antimicrobials against food-borne pathogens in the Department of Agriculture and Food Science at Alabama A&M University. She worked as a Licensed Commodity Grader (Poultry/Shell Egg) for USDA-Agriculture Marketing Service for 6 years and as an Advance Science teacher in Decatur, Alabama for 2 years where she implemented an innovative STEM program on Agriculture and Food Science. Dr. Staley is a member of the Soil Science Society of America and serves on the National Advisory Council for NCORE (National Conference on Race and Ethnicity), University of Oklahoma. She received her B.S. in Horticultural Science from Andrews University, M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Tuskegee University, and Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science with an emphasis on Food Safety from Alabama A&M University. Dr. Staley resides in Huntsville, Alabama where she farms 3 acres of market vegetables to help feed her community.

On June 25, 2022, the 1st annual Central MS Logging Expo will be held at T.O.'s Plaza located at 111 Mount Moriah Road, Edwards, MS. Gates will open at 7 AM. There will be 3 sessions with the first beginning at 9 AM, second one at 1 PM and the last at 3 PM. There will be a $10 admission fee and a live band will perform. Hot food and cold beverages will be available along with snow cones and ice cream.

Wills for Magnolia State First Responders is hosting an event for first responders and their spouses on Saturday, July 16, at Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy (MLEOTA) located at 3791 Highway 468 West in Pearl. Appointments are necessary, and space is limited. The deadline to schedule an appointment is June 30, 2022. Wills for Magnolia State First Responders is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that brings together volunteer attorneys and paralegals to provide wills and advanced healthcare directives for first responders and their spouses free of charge. First responders and their spouses will check in at their allotted time, where they will meet with a paralegal to go over their initial questionnaire. Documents will then be drafted onsite by a paralegal and reviewed by an attorney. The attorney will then meet with each first responder and spouse privately to go over their documents. All documents are signed and notarized onsite. Each first responder and spouse will receive their original documents – no copies are retained by WFFRMS. These documents include a basic will and advanced healthcare directive. All first responders and their spouses must sign up for a time slot to participate and fill out an initial questionnaire. To sign up, visit WFFRMSJuly2022.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Kristy Hogan at 601-519-0334.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host the 2022 Mississippi Pickle Fest this Saturday, June 11, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for ages 3 and up. “I want to invite the public to come out to the annual Mississippi Pickle Fest at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “This family-friendly event is a great outing that the whole family will enjoy. Along with the usual attractions, like our old-fashioned General Store, visitors can expect games, children’s activities and pickle-related contests happening throughout the day.” In addition to the various exhibits and educational demonstrations offered on the grounds, visitors will enjoy live music, food and craft vendors, two water slides, a dunking booth, obstacle course, dry combo bounce house and jousting arena. Competitions such as the Pickle Eating Contest and Pickle Jar Packing Contest will take place during this event. The Children’s Barnyard and Small Town, Miss., will also be open. This event is sponsored by the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum Foundation, Chick-fil-a Byram, Southern Beverage, Cathead Distillery and Visit Jackson. For more information about the 2022 Mississippi Pickle Fest, contact Justin Nipper at justin@mdac.ms.gov or 601-432-4500. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601- 432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

No statewide issues were reported to our office during the June 7th primary and general elections. However, we received a handful of reports regarding precincts opening late due to miscommunication amongst election officials. Call volume to our Election Hotline remained steady throughout the day, with most calls relating to voter registration status or polling place locations. Additionally, we are pleased to report our Cybersecurity team detected no abnormal activity on our websites or the Statewide Election Management System (SEMS). "It's essential for my team and me to be active participants in the ongoing mission of safe and secure elections, which is why we placed state observers in more than 60 counties on Election Day," said Secretary Michael Watson. "As I traveled to precincts in all four congressional districts, I was pleased to see our laws being followed and applied by friendly poll workers. Thank you again to all who helped make Election Day a success." As of today, SEMS reported a total of 9,546 absentee ballots requested and 8,362 absentee ballots received for the June 7th Primary Election. Circuit Clerk Offices must be in receipt of all mail-in absentee ballots by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14th. Absentee ballots returned by mail must have been postmarked on or before Election Day in order to count. Any voter who cast an affidavit ballot on Election Day because the voter did not have an acceptable form of photo ID must visit their local Circuit Clerk's Office by Tuesday, June 14th, to show an acceptable form of photo identification. Voters can receive a free Mississippi Voter ID card by filling out an application at their local Circuit Clerk's Office. State executive committees have until June 17th to send certified results to our office. As always, certified results will be posted on the Elections Results tab of our website. Should certified election results prompt a runoff election, the date of the Primary Runoff Election will be Tuesday, June 28th.

Husband has had a horrible time at work that day. Feeling kicked around, unappreciated and definitely out of sorts, he pulls into the driveway, only to find that his three-year-old has left her tricycle blocking the garage door… again. He leverages his tired body out of the car and lumbers slowly into the house, ready to snap the head from the first person he sees. Wife is loading the dishwasher when he walks in the kitchen, her tension headache consuming her attention. Their six-month-old sick baby is screaming in her arms, the pot of spaghetti is boiling over on the stove behind her, the seven-year-old twins are fighting loudly, and she accidentally left the handle of the dirty mop in his way to trip over. Not exactly the calming scenario he was needing at that point. Tired, discouraged husband erupts in anger and frustration. And the harried and exhausted wife, who has also put in a hard day at work and arrived home just an hour before him, responds in kind. Can we say World War, with the twins disappearing up the stairs to play the role of Switzerland? Who is at fault? A hurting husband and dad? A depressed, tired wife and mother? More importantly, which of them is going to make the first move towards apologizing and trying to see the situation from the other person’s point of view? And worse, what happens when nobody decides to try to be the bigger person? Well, Switzerland decides to eat spaghetti up in their bedroom. The sick six-month-old feels the tension, and that causes her to fret even louder. The three-year-old reacts to the negativity surrounding her and acts out the fear she feels building within. And husband and wife add another layer of resentment and anger to the wall that lately has been building between them. If no adult in this situation suddenly realizes what is happening, and puts an abrupt halt to it all by putting their gun back in the holster, then the problem is probably only going to escalate in intensity. And when that kind of scenario happens often enough in a marriage, then those two pseudo-grownups will eventually begin to wonder if being in this union is worth it. “I am so sick of this! And my kids? Shoot, they’re acting out worse than ever before. Probably because all we ever do is fight around them. They’ll be a lot better off if one of us just gets the heck out of here. After all, they’re just kids, and everybody knows kids are flexible and adaptable. They would be just fine.” Yeah, right. That’s why we have so many depressed and angry kids who are being reared in single family homes. Kids who are either having to adjust to being shuffled back and forth between Mom and Dad’s houses, or have to live without the benefit of one of their parents in their life.

In District 2, longtime Congressman Bennie Thompson won the Democratic primary, getting 96% of the vote over challenger Jerry Kerner. Thompson, of Bolton, has been serving as District 2’s congressman since 1993 – and is currently the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and the January 6th Commission. The GOP nominee for District 2 will be decided in a runoff on June 28th.

The Mississippi Farmers Market is extending its operating hours ahead of the annual Summer Kick-Off event. Starting Thursday, June 9, the market will be open each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. throughout the summer. This is in addition to its year-round operating hours of Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. While seasonal items last, shoppers can expect to find a variety of produce and herbs at the Mississippi Farmers Market every Thursday this summer. In addition to produce, shoppers will find a variety of beef, pork, and lamb cuts; dairy products such as milk and cheeses; eggs; honey; tea; coffee; jams and jellies; breads and other baked goods; sauces and dressings; canned foods; flowers and plants; and much more on Saturdays. In conjunction with its extended summertime hours, the Mississippi Farmers Market will host the annual Summer Kick-Off on Saturday, June 18, starting at 8:00 a.m. Shoppers will be treated to complimentary popcorn, children’s activities including face painting and games, vendor giveaways, musical entertainment, and specialty cold drink refreshers, gelati desserts and snack foods available for purchase from the Fizz Pop Soda Shop. The City Limits Café and Genuine MS® Store, both located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, will also be open to the public. The Café serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every weekday; it is also open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. The Genuine MS® Store is open Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. For more information about the Mississippi Farmers Market, visit www.msfarmersmarket.com or follow the Mississippi Farmers Market on Facebook.

The Annie T. Jeffers Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is back with in-person programs for 2022. For those looking for exciting activities and programs to help their preschooler, child or teen keep reading and learning this summer, the 2022 Summer Reading Program is only a click away. Adults are welcome to sign up and participate, as well. On June 8, children can join Ms. Keidra Hooks and Mr. Rex McAllister of Mississippi Public Broadcasting as they read Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoof, a book about a seal who lives in a zoo, but wants to see what’s outside the zoo. Mr. Johnson, the zookeeper, lets Sammy the Seal out of his cage so he can explore the city. He wanders the streets and observes people, jumps into a man’s bathtub, and eventually ends up in an elementary school classroom. After the story, participants can enjoy interactive ocean activities, including brown bag puppets of seals, hippos, and elephants for children to make and take home to enjoy. Prizes will be awarded! On June 9, from 10 until 11 a.m., children can enjoy learning along with Myrtle the Turtle, as she discovers the harm plastic pollution causes to sea life and the importance of recycling. Fun coloring sheets and activities will be given to everyone in attendance. On June 13, from 10 until 11 a.m., The Helmet Program will be presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. This program is intended to teach young children the importance of wearing a helmet while riding bikes, as well as skating and riding scooters. Children will learn the importance of using a helmet when riding in the street, along the ocean, riverfront, ponds, or on the playground. On June 16, from 10 until 10:40 a.m., the Bayou Town Mobile Classroom will be in Bolton. This event will be held at City Hall rather than the library. The Environmental Education and Outreach Mobile Classroom K-2 is a 42-minute mobile classroom that introduces water quality stewardship to kindergarten through second grade audiences through puppetry, participation, music and theater. The Environmental Education and Outreach Mobile Classroom 3-5 is a 40-minute mobile classroom that engages third through fifth grade students in an interactive water quality unit study demonstrating how the properties of water cause it to be the most powerful force for spreading non-point source pollution. Students learn how pollution impacts their local waterways while learning better habits to improve water quality. These programs are sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. On June 21, from 10 until 11 a.m., children and come out and meet Sammy Soil. Can plants grow on other planets? Come meet Sammy Soil and find out! Children can join Mrs. Wyvette from Hinds County Soil and Water Conservation and Sammy Soil to learn about fruits and vegetables, as well as get seeds to plant and enjoy. On June 22, from 10 until 11 a.m., the Teeth of the Sea Dental Program will be presented, and attendees can enjoy summer treats at the beach. Children can learn about protecting their smile this summer with Ms. Lenita Simpson of the Mississippi State Department of Health. She will read Clark the Shark: Tooth Trouble by Bruce Hale and provide interactive activities, games and prizes for all in attendance. On July 6, from 10 until 11 a.m., Storytime with Senator John Horhn will be held. He will read two stories and act out the stories by changing his voice to match the story. He went to some acting classes before he became a senator, and he will tell the students about the Capitol and his job. On July 14, from 10 until 11 a.m., for the final activity of the summer, Charles “Mr. Smarty Pants” King will present “Oceans of Possibilities” with his elephant mascots and tell children about drugs, education, school and obedience. Afterward, there will be an awards program at the park, with snacks provided by The Friends of the Library. On July 26, at 10 a.m., patrons will be treated to an extra bonus. Mrs. Nicole Smith from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will bring reptiles and small animals from the museum. She will talk to children about the animals, as well as bring pictures of turtles and all types of reptiles. Young and old alike are encouraged to attend. For additional information on any of the programs, contact the Annie T. Jeffers Library at 601-866-4247. The library is located 111 West Madison Street in Bolton.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s not officially summer yet but that hasn’t stopped temperatures from breaking into the 90s on more than one recent occasion. I don’t know about you, but surviving a tortuous Mississippi summer requires an extra dose of self-care. And yes, that extends to the kitchen and my meal choices. After all, what could be better for our souls than a frosty dish of strawberry, peach or the gold standard, homemade vanilla ice cream? Yet the delicious cream & other innocent-looking ingredients pass through the lips and go directly to the hips. It doesn't get any better than a thick BLT composed of slices of crispy fried bacon and Mississippi-grown tomatoes. But who can enjoy this treat to the fullest without thick slices of bread coated with mayonnaise to add just the perfect touch? Delicious, yes. Figure-friendly...no. And then there's fried chicken. It's the one dish and accompanying cooking method Southerners love and fear the most. And that's a shame, because frying is like a best friend that can always be counted on in the kitchen. Case in point: Is there anything less appealing than a pale, cold and slippery chicken breast? But dip a floured piece into a skillet of bubbling oil and it's miraculously transformed into a golden work of art. Despite its Southern roots and my love of fried chicken, I can’t deny that it’s probably not the healthiest food choice. So, I began searching for a way to enjoy some of my favorite fried foods without all the guilt. An enlightened version of fried chicken was just the ticket to enjoy a Southern meal without all the fat, calories and yes, guilt. Buttermilk provided the tenderness normally provided by frying, while a dose of crushed cornflakes added to bread crumbs created a crispy coating and that all-important crunch similar to regular fried chicken. I haven’t totally changed my ways. But I look at it like this: cutting back on fried chicken opens the door for even more bowls of homemade ice cream in Summer 2022. Fried (OK, It’s Actually Baked) Chicken 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup Smart Balance margarine, melted (more for coating) 2 cups crushed cornflakes 1 1/2 cups plain dried bread crumbs 2 tablespoons seasoning of your choice, such as Italian or Cajun 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper Rinse chicken and pat dry; salt and pepper each piece and place in a marinating dish. Mix together buttermilk, lemon juice and lemon zest. Pour over chicken, cover and marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a large baking dish with Smart Balance. In a shallow bowl, combine crushed cornflakes, bread crumbs, seasoning and paprika. Roll chicken in the mixture, pressing well to coat each piece. Place chicken in the prepared dish and drizzle lightly with melted Smart Balance. Bake for 20 minutes. Drizzle chicken again with Smart Balance and rotate the pan. Bake for 20 more minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.