Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is launching MS AgWorks, a new online employment portal dedicated to connecting Mississippi farmers and ranchers with potential employees. “Now more than ever, we are experiencing shortages in supply chains, transportation of products and labor force,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Our agency is committed to supporting Mississippi’s agriculture community, and MS AgWorks is a new tool that will assist in bridging the gap between agribusinesses and farms needing employees and those seeking jobs. I encourage all Mississippians looking for work and our employers in the ag industry to take advantage of this new opportunity.” As Mississippi’s largest industry, agriculture is responsible for employing nearly 20% of the state’s workforce. Workers are in high demand in every aspect of the industry, from loggers, truck drivers, orchard workers and farm hands to salesmen, teachers, business managers and front desk cashiers, technicians, mechanics, welders, and more. MS AgWorks is an online marketing portal that connects those seeking employment with a range of job opportunities at various agribusinesses and farms across the state of Mississippi. Job postings will include internships, full time positions and temporary worker positions. The MS AgWorks website can be accessed at www.mdac.ms.gov/ms-agworks where anyone looking for work can upload their application materials, and any business or farm that has an employee opening can post jobs. MDAC staff will make the connection between employer and applicant so that further communication and interviews can be scheduled. For more information on the new MS AgWorks online employment portal, contact Gayle Clark at gayle@mdac.ms.gov or 601-359-1139. Visit www.mdac.ms.gov to learn more about the various programs offered by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Everyone dreads that moment when you need to call 9-1-1. Here at the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance, our mission is to improve the health status of Mississippians. A big part of that begins pre-hospital with emergency medical services. Our Alliance is keenly aware of the challenges that face first responders and are working to help advocate for them. Emergency medical response, including ambulance service, is in its own state of emergency. The Covid-19 pandemic and its variants continue to wreak havoc on healthcare systems across the globe. It is not widely known that COVID has exacerbated certain severe challenges that have plagued Mississippi’s EMS first responders and ambulance for decades. Those challenges include a massive shortage of EMS personnel, rising medical costs and inadequate reimbursement. News media often report on staffing woes in hospitals. Because hospitals are full and lack sufficient staff, ambulance crews often must wait lengthy periods with their patients on their stretchers before they can transfer care to the hospital staff. Every minute an ambulance crew waits for a hospital bed is a minute the crew cannot respond to other 911 calls. In 2020, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) conducted a survey to evaluate the impact Covid was having on EMS agencies. According to the report, 67% of respondents reported an increase in offload times, which ultimately limits the number of ambulances available to respond to 9-1-1 medical emergencies. Low pay and burnout lead some EMS personnel to change fields; low pay and burnout also hamper recruitment of new caregivers. The American Ambulance Association reports the EMS personnel shortage is a national crisis with a turnover rate of more than 30% per year. Currently Mississippi has an EMS job vacancy rate of 15-40% based on the agency you query. Rising medical costs and inadequate reimbursement also impede agencies providing emergency medical service. Compensation from Medicare, Medicaid and even some private insurance has long fallen short of covering virtually every EMS agency’s costs. Some EMS agencies may have to close. The National Rural Health Association says about a third of rural EMS agencies in the U.S. are in immediate jeopardy of closing because they can't cover their costs. EMS agencies cannot and do not ask for insurance prior to providing 911 service. Further, insurers (private and public) choose how much they pay EMS agencies; they set the rates for EMS agencies’ lifeblood. Our elected leaders are currently in the thick of the 2022 Legislative Session at the State Capitol. We are fortunate to have several key political leaders in the state fighting for EMS. On their agenda is the question of not only how to allocate and spend federal funds to address the impact from pandemic but also to find other innovative ways of shoring up ambulance response around the state. My hope is their colleagues will remember: Ambulance service providers are critical to the healthcare safety net for all citizens. As our Legislature navigates the session, I hope they remember the challenges facing community-based EMS responders and help find solutions to overcome our challenges.

The first thing I noticed about Robert Pattinson’s take on Batman in “The Batman” was his walk. I don’t think there’s ever been so much emphasis put on his walk. When I picture Batman moving, I think of him swooping on a rope, or maybe running in place like he and Robin did in the opening to their 1966 TV show. But the whole “intimidating walk” thing is unique to this version. It’s emblematic of it, really. It’s well-shot and grounded, for people who like to take their comic book movies seriously. But at the same time, do we really need a take on Batman that’s this realistic? It’s a guy in a ridiculous costume up against one of the most colorful rogues galleries in all of entertainment. Can’t he be allowed to have fun and do some swooping? Other characters are lacking in fun as well. The Penguin (Colin Farrell – unrecognizable under an undeniably-great makeup job) is just a balding gangster with a nickname. The Riddler (Paul Dano) is a Zodiac knockoff with a little Jigsaw thrown in, though not the part with the creepy puppet. Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz) embraces her gimmick the most, taking in several stray furballs and often utilizing her long fingernails, I mean, claws. Strangely the Big Bad for much of the movie is not-even-nicknamed gangster Carmine Falcone (John Turturro). He’s destined to be the person another villain kills on their way to the top (think Jack Palance in the 1989 “Batman”), but he’s given a lot of backstory and screentime for a character that isn’t going to sell any tickets. The story sees Batman and Lt. Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) trying to stop serial killer Riddler, who is systematically knocking off public officials in Gotham City and promising to reveal a conspiracy that will shake the city to its core. Frankly I think the citizens of Gotham would be more shocked if it turned out their public officials weren’t corrupt, but sure, let’s say the average Gothamite isn’t cynical. Finding The Riddler means finding the next victim, which forces Batman and Gordon to uncover the conspiracy for themselves, which means finding out exactly what business the victims had with various gangsters. It turns out the gangsters had business with someone close to home, which gives Andy Serkis as Alfred the butler a chance to shine. Catwoman has business with one victim and one gangster, so she’s a wild card. The story is pretty taut until we learn that one of the villains has a secret bonus scheme that really drags out the final act of the movie. I get that the movie wanted to end on a certain note for Batman, but it takes a long, convoluted way of getting there. A big question (not a riddle, a question) surrounding this movie is how well Robert Pattinson fits into the role of Batman. He’s fine. Physically, he’s a bit on the lanky side, and he does himself no favors in scenes where he wears eye shadow outside of his batsuit, which reminds snickering audience members of his fame during the late-2000’s Guyliner era. But I never once got the impression that he was cast strictly for his star power, no matter how much sense it makes for a former vampire to play a bat. I know it seems like I found fault with “The Batman” at every turn, but I really didn’t. I especially loved how the cramped Gotham City seems so much like New York City that it feels like this movie could be taking place downtown right now. Or a nearby turnpike, in the case of a car chase that serves as the best action sequence in the movie. Maybe it’s because I love the Batman universe so much that every misstep in this movie seems so glaring. And for some reason, Batman takes a lot of steps in this movie. Grade: C “The Batman” is rated PG-13 for strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material. Its running time is 175 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

When searching online for information about houses of worship in our area, Shirley Burns noticed that some information is missing or difficult to find. A directory of local churches is something The Bolton News would like to provide on its website, boltonms.com. Shirley has begun work on this project, and seeks the assistance of the community in completing it. The partially completed work in progress can be viewed at [i’ll give you a bit.ly shortened link to insert here, after Lisa publishes the page]. The information we are seeking for each church is as follows: • Church name, • phone number, • address, • pastor’s name, • the year the church was established, • website address (if there is one), • link to Facebook page (if there is one), • and the answer to the question “Is the church currently holding in-person services?” If you can provide some or all of this information for a church that is located in the Bolton area, please contact Shirley Burns at 601-925-6083 or send an email message to susalyn@theclintoncourier.net. Thank you.

#RangerNation, help us congratulate our 2022 4A State Champions Raymond High School Rangers!!!! On Thursday night, the Raymond Rangers beat the Clarksdale Wildcats to win the 2022 4A Boys State Championship at the MS Coliseum. The Rangers led 14-11 to start the second quarter before taking over the game. They never lost that lead and went on to win by a score of 67-46.

The Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) hosted its annual Tourism Day at the Capitol today with special guests Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and statewide tourism professionals to share the tourism industry’s nearly $7 billion impact on the state economy and highlight ongoing recovery efforts. Governor Tate Reeves noted, “I’m proud to celebrate the members of the Mississippi Tourism Association for their hard work sharing the wonderful experience Mississippi offers visitors and for the multi-billion-dollar impact they have on Mississippi’s economy. Showcasing Mississippi’s beauty, bringing more visitors into our state, and supporting the business owners who are the backbone of our state’s economy is truly invaluable work!” In 2021, Mississippi welcomed 23.4 million visitors, who spent $6.7 billion in local economies and generated $677 million in state and local taxes. Visitors spent 19% more in 2021 than they did in 2020, which can be attributed to both the legislature’s swift and strategic creation of tourism recovery funding in 2020 and Gov. Reeves’ commitment to an open economy. “Mississippi has so much to offer our visitors. We have beautiful natural resources and a rich cultural history that has contributed a lot to our nation,” said Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. “Tourism provides the conduit to share this legacy with the world in a positive way, which is important for Mississippi’s economic future. We are committed to investing in tourism recovery and working closely with industry leaders to continue to grow the almost $7 billion annual impact tourism has on our state.” According to Tourism Economics in Sept. 2021, Mississippi was number one in the nation for tourism recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the state experienced less loss than other states. Economic analysts are also forecasting the tourism industry will not fully recover until 2026. Mississippi’s tourism industry supported more than 100,000 jobs prior to the pandemic, and the steady influx of visitors over the past year has helped the state recover many lost jobs in 2020. “As the fourth-largest industry in our state, tourism is Mississippi’s greatest tool to showcase all that our beautiful and diverse state has to offer,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. “We know that travel and tourism will be crucial to our state’s recovery. Tourism is a multi-billion-dollar economic driver for the state, which is why we have invested in the industry’s ability to generate revenue for our state and local communities by sharing our unique brand of Mississippi hospitality with visitors. Mississippi has been a nationwide leader in tourism recovery, and we are proud to be a part of ensuring that we not only continue to recover, but that we come back stronger and better than ever.” MTA organized the event, which gathered tourism partners from destination marketing organizations, chambers of commerce, hotels, gaming, restaurants, attractions, and other hospitality sectors to celebrate tourism and discuss key recovery issues affecting Mississippi communities and small businesses. MTA also emphasized the importance of its tourism partners and their leadership as the industry works to recover steep financial losses. Restaurateur Robert St. John shared his passion and vision for the hospitality industry, noting the value of working together to share Mississippi’s story. Northeast Mississippi Community College Hospitality major Tres Jones of Alcorn County joined the group to highlight the industry’s educational and career opportunities. “We are thrilled to celebrate the significant impact tourism has on Mississippi’s economy,” said MTA Executive Director Danielle Morgan. “Despite ongoing challenges tourism has faced as the hardest-hit industry by the pandemic, MTA is proud of the accomplishments of our members and state leaders to ensure that tourism not only recovers but continues to grow for the benefit of our state and local communities. We are committed to continued advocacy and building partnerships to transform Mississippi’s economy.” MTA’s membership is led by board of directors, and VisitHattiesburg Executive Director Marlo Dorsey is currently serving as the association’s president. “Today, we know we still have significant work to do to fully recover from the economic losses of COVID-19 and to reach our goal of 30 million annual visitors in Mississippi. However, today we also pause to convey our sincere gratitude to our state leaders for placing their confidence in us and investing in tourism recovery. Together, we have faced great adversity, but we have also made great strides in strengthening the future of our great state through tourism,” said Dorsey. MTA and Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association will be co-hosting a ticketed event from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at The South to honor legislators and tourism industry supporters. Entertainment will be provided by Mississippi native and Academy of Country Music nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist, Charlie Worsham. One of Nashville's most respected and beloved artists, Worsham released his new EP, Sugarcane, in 2021 on Warner Music Nashville. Produced by Jay Joyce, Sugarcane is an emotional homecoming for Worsham. In addition to his own work, Worsham is a frequent collaborator, having recently worked with Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Brandy Clark, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Kacey Musgraves, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban among several others.

Central Hinds Academy has announced Students of the Month for January. Pictured, left to right: 7th grade - Fischer Uzzle 8th Grade - Sarah McCoy 9th Grade - Kathryn Strong 10th Grade - Tucker Gray 11th Grade - Carter Smith 12th Grade - Owen Harris Photo courtesy of Central Hinds Academy

The Metro Master Gardeners will hold their annual plant sale at Mynelle Gardens (4736 Clinton Boulevard, Jackson, MS 39209) on Saturday, April 30, 2022. The plant sale begins at 8:00 a.m. and will end at noon. In accordance with CDC coronavirus guidelines, all shoppers are asked to wear facemasks and observe social distancing (minimum 6 feet). Cash or checks are welcome (no credit cards). Members of the Metro Master Gardeners come from all over the Jackson metropolitan area. The Master Gardeners have propagated a wide variety of native and naturalized heirloom plants, perennials, shrubs and trees that are perfectly suited to our southern soils and climate. Many of these heirloom plants have come from project and demonstration gardens located throughout the metro Jackson area. Shoppers will find a wide variety of plants at unbeatable prices! Master Gardeners are a volunteer branch of the Mississippi State University Extension Service that advises and educates the public on gardening and horticulture issues. Members of the Metro Master Gardeners will be on hand at the plant sale to answer gardening questions. After finalizing their plant purchases, shoppers are invited to enjoy a free stroll through Mynelle Gardens. Proceeds from the plant sale go to support gardening projects located at Mynelle Gardens, the Doctor’s Herb Garden at the Agriculture & Forestry Museum, the Oaks Home on Jefferson Street, Greenwood Cemetery, Clinton Visitors Center, and various demonstration, educational and scholarship projects in the metro Jackson area. If you need additional information, would like to schedule an interview with Master Gardeners, or capture them in action at Mynelle Gardens, please contact Laura Lillard at 601-613-5223 or sadiecat17@comcast.net. “Like” Metro Master Gardeners on Facebook for updates.

Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council. The goal of this Council, comprised of youth leaders from around the state, is to provide students interested in the agriculture industry an experience that cultivates leadership and career development while developing the potential workforce for Mississippi. Any public, private or homeschool students can apply to become a member of the Agriculture Youth Council, and final applicants will be chosen by representatives at MDAC. “This will be our second year to continue the all-new Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This past year was a huge success. We had 12 students who were given the opportunity to hear from several leaders around the state and tour a variety of businesses and ag-related venues, including our own Mississippi State Fairgrounds, where over 100 diverse events are held annually. I got to watch these youth develop leadership, advocacy and career skills through industry exposure and experiential learning. So, I want to invite any youth leaders who are interested in the agriculture industry to apply. As before, we will choose 12-15 students as members to serve on the Council for one year.” Eligibility Requirements: Must be a 12th grade student during the 2022-2023 school year. Current 11th graders in the 2021-2022 school year may apply to serve during the upcoming school year. Any public, private or homeschool students may apply. Students must exhibit an interest, passion and/or experiences in agriculture. Applications can be found online at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/YouthCouncil/. All applications are due by Friday, April 1, 2022. Semifinalists will be notified by April 15, 2022. Final interviews will be held virtually, and 12-15 youth leaders will be announced by Friday, May 13, 2022. For more information about the Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council, visit www.mdac.ms.gov or contact Gayle Crowder Clark at gayle@mdac.ms.gov or Emily Stovall at emilys@mdac.ms.gov.

FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program is open to help family members who’ve lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. There have been over 11,000 COVID-19 related deaths in Mississippi; 7,008 Mississippians have applied for funeral assistance. FEMA reports over $31 million in funeral assistance paid out to Mississippians who’ve lost loved ones due to the virus. To apply, applicants must call 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585 Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time There is no online registration portal to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. Required documents to apply include: Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia. If the death certificate was issued between January 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This signed statement must provide an additional explanation or causal pathway linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19. If the death certificate occurred on or after May 17, 2020, the death certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19. There are multiple records of documentation needed to apply. To see the necessary documentation to apply, click here. Although there is currently no deadline to apply for this assistance, beginning in April, FEMA will place applications that have remained incomplete for 365 days in a suspended status. Suspended applicants can reactivate their application without appeal by submitting the required documents to FEMA. Eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance expenses typically include, but are not limited to: Funeral Services Cremation Internment Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual Transfer of remains Casket or Urn Burial plot or cremation niche Marker or headstone Clergy or officiant services Arrangement of the funeral ceremony Use of funeral home equipment or staff Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates Additional expenses mandated by an applicable local or state government laws or ordinances

WHAT: The Mississippi Economic Council will hold its rescheduled MEC Capital Day on Thursday, March 3. MEC Capital Day is MEC’s largest legislative event, and will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart. MEC Capital Day will feature highlights of legislative accomplishments, messages from key statewide leaders, and a look ahead at what’s to come. WHEN: Thursday, March 3 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. WHERE: Mississippi Trade Mart WHO: Speakers will include: • Governor Tate Reeves (via video message) • Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann • Speaker of the House Philip Gunn • Secretary of State Michael Watson • Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney • Senate President Pro Tem Dean Kirby • Speaker Pro Tem Jason White • And more! Note: Due to restrictions from COVID-19, all sessions will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart. The Mississippi Capitol is open to the public. Individuals attending MEC Capital Day are encouraged to stop by the Capitol to connect with their legislators. CONTACT: Will Caves, IOM Communications & Public Relations Manager Mississippi Economic Council Cell: (601) 624-0572 wcaves@msmec.com

Before you dismiss homemade jelly and jam-making due to lack of spare time or the ease of picking up a ready-made jar in the supermarket, please keep reading. I believe I can convince you to partake of this centuries-old tradition and live to tell about it. First, believe me when I say the enhanced flavor of fruit jelly made from three ingredients: the freshest berries, sugar and pectin (versus a long list of unpronounceable additives and preservatives) is undeniably better than anything you’ll purchase in the supermarket. There’s nothing like opening a steaming hot biscuit and adding a large spoonful of fresh, preservative-free jelly. The same goes for toast, the perfect foil for a layer of jewel-colored layer of jam or jelly. Full disclosure: making my own jams and jellies is something I vowed as a child I’d never do. This promise to myself was made while watching my grandmother and mother labor over pots of bubbling liquid before pouring it into steaming jars in the middle of a hot Mississippi summer. Fast forward to today and I truly enjoy preserving the best of summer’s bounty and presenting gifts of pickles, tomato sauce and jelly from my kitchen. Thanks to the freezer, it’s something you can do all year long after making the required juice and freezing it. Last spring, I drove to Foxworth in Marion County when a complete stranger advertised "free mayhaws" online to anyone who wanted to pick them. Sadly, most of the berries had fallen onto the ground and been picked over by birds by the time I arrived. But it's a clear illustration of the lengths to which I'll go to find fresh berries. I'm still on the lookout, so if you know where mayhaws can be purchased (or picked for free) this spring, please drop me an email. Learning berries can be frozen whole allowed me to make a batch of muscadine jelly from thawed berries last week. A friend gifted them to me last fall but I couldn’t find time to devote to jelly-making. Instead, I popped them into the freezer. A few months later, I honestly couldn't detect a difference in the taste of the frozen berries and those straight from the vine. Besides the benefits of making a product whose ingredients you can control, there's something undeniably Southern about keeping alive a culinary art from the past. And, there’s the joy of looking into your pantry and seeing the bounty of summer preserved for the winter. As mentioned, jewel-toned jars of jelly were the fruits of last weekend’s labor. This weekend, it’s time to move on to pound cake. It’s another Southern classic that often intimidates novice bakers who quell at the thought of correctly mixing, stirring and baking a heavy batter that’s known to be temperamental. I’ll admit to experiencing doubts I’d ever be able to create a foolproof pound cake that didn’t fall flat or taste strange due to any number of things that can go wrong during the mixing process, ranging from stale baking powder to lumpy butter. But my courage increased after a cooking instructor stated, “It’s only flour, milk and butter – the simplest of ingredients. If it fails, throw it away and start another one.” So, I’ll leave you with two pieces of advice: scout out fresh berries in coming months as they become available and try your hand at jelly-making. Email me if you'd like my recipes. And secondly, try my 5-Flavors Pound Cake, an old-school recipe given to me by a hospital chef that always draws rave reviews. If it fails, “throw it away and start another one.” Five Flavors-Pound Cake Cake: 2 sticks butter 3 cups sugar 1 cup milk 5 eggs, beaten 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon baking powder Glaze: 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 teaspoon each of vanilla, lemon, rum, coconut and butter flavoring Cream butter, shortening and sugar in mixer. Add eggs one at a time. In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder. To mixer, add dry ingredients and milk alternately. Bake in a greased and floured tube pan for 1-1/2 hours at 300 degrees. To make glaze: combine flavorings, sugar and water in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted. Pour over hot cake while it’s still in the pan. Let set until cake is cool. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkrprco@yahoo.com.