Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., causing more than 600,000 deaths every year. Early detection and prevention is key and the importance of knowing one’s risk factors begins with making – and keeping -- a yearly checkup appointment with a primary care provider. “A regular annual physical exam allows us to find and prevent diseases before they occur,” says Morgan Miller, MD, family medicine physician at Merit Health Medical Group in Byram. “The results can key us into problems that may be arising and allow us to work with patients on correcting issues before they become a bigger problem, such as reversing high blood pressure before it leads to congestive heart failure.” A vital part of the conversation centers around the importance of knowing the patient’s cardiovascular and stroke risk factors and numbers, including cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, activity level and family history. Symptoms such as fatigue and headaches should also be communicated. Fear has led many people to delay regular checkups and screenings, which would normally be a priority. “The COVID pandemic has definitely had an impact on my patients’ overall health, more so because of the emotional and psychological toll that it has taken,” adds Dr. Miller. “Many of my patients are working toward catching up with their preventive exams.” In terms of heart and cardiovascular disease, other health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, genetics, depression, smoking and kidney disease play a role in worsening heart function. Conversely, consistently practicing good habits, including regular exercise and eating healthy foods also decreases the risk of cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease while improving digestion, mood and mental function. “We as a society need to maintain a good, consistent exercise regimen,” adds Qasim Cheema, MD, interventional cardiologist at Merit Health Medical Group in Jackson. “Exercise is highly underestimated. It improves blood flow through the body and thereby the function of all our other organs. Exercise is free medicine.” Knowing the numbers that indicate the prevalence of heart disease is essential to developing a successful prevention and/or treatment plan. “We know low blood pressure readings are beneficial over time and indicate a decreased risk for a cardiovascular event,” explains Dr. Cheema. “I inform my patients being treated for hypertension to strive for an average blood pressure of 130/80 or lower. And remember, a couple of the most important behaviors that negatively impact the heart are smoking along with excessive alcohol use.” Talk with your physician about your risk factors and develop a prevention plan. If you need a primary care provider or cardiologist, call 844-MSMERIT or visit MyMeritDoctor.com.

Congratulations to Mrs. Yolanda Bell who teaches at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School for being named Teacher of the Year for the Hinds County School District! Mrs. Bell teaches pre-K students at BEEMS and has been with the District for five years.

The State Board of Education (SBE) today voted to approve a $17.6 million grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to create a telehealth delivery system within K-12 schools to provide remote healthcare and healthcare provider access to students. MDE expects UMMC to deliver on-demand urgent care and telebehaviorial health during school hours. UMMC services to students will include urgent care, mental health, remote patient monitoring and specialty consultation healthcare. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to cover the grant. The grant period is from July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30 2024, with a liquidation period ending Dec. 31, 2024. UMMC plans to begin project implementation March 1 of this year. Clinical implementation will begin July 1 in four school districts and will be completed in all districts by July 1, 2023. MDE’s goals for the telehealth services program are to: Provide Mississippi school districts and charter schools that currently have a school nurse on staff or contract with the equipment needed to effectively implement and manage the delivery of telehealth services to students. Improve the overall healthcare outcomes of students in Mississippi by increasing student access to primary, acute and specialty healthcare providers. Expand healthcare offerings to Mississippi students beyond diagnosis and treatment to include services that focus on health maintenance, disease prevention and health education for students, families and school personnel. “Healthy students learn better. Implementing this telehealth program for Mississippi’s K-12 students will better ensure health issues are identified and treated,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “This program can potentially reduce absenteeism, help parents and guardians get quicker access to services for a child and even save lives.” UMMC’s Center for Telehealth, which has more than 200 sites in 73 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, currently implements a comprehensive telehealth program in various settings that address healthcare needs of Mississippians and others. UMMC plans to leverage resources of its Center for Telehealth to: Create a telehealth delivery infrastructure for all eligible schools in Mississippi. This includes need assessment of individual school districts/schools and delivery, setup, maintenance and training of all nursing staff on the required telehealth equipment and clinical workflows for the delivery of telehealth services. Engage stakeholders at all levels to include MDE leadership, school district administration, parents, school nurses, teachers and other staff, local providers and community resources to identify common goals and key performance metrics to measure success of the program for each individual community. Operationalize and implement telehealth delivery services in the following key areas: remote urgent care, remote behavioral health, promotion of dental health via education of school nurses by providers from the UMMC School of Dentistry, and lifestyle coaching of students at risk for developing diabetes. Undertake continuous quality improvement that will include ongoing evaluation of the program in terms of quality outcomes and monitoring process measures such as use and student enrollment.

The State Board of Education (SBE) today voted to approve a $17.6 million grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to create a telehealth delivery system within K-12 schools to provide remote healthcare and healthcare provider access to students. MDE expects UMMC to deliver on-demand urgent care and telebehaviorial health during school hours. UMMC services to students will include urgent care, mental health, remote patient monitoring and specialty consultation healthcare. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funds to cover the grant. The grant period is from July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30 2024, with a liquidation period ending Dec. 31, 2024. UMMC plans to begin project implementation March 1 of this year. Clinical implementation will begin July 1 in four school districts and will be completed in all districts by July 1, 2023. MDE’s goals for the telehealth services program are to: Provide Mississippi school districts and charter schools that currently have a school nurse on staff or contract with the equipment needed to effectively implement and manage the delivery of telehealth services to students. Improve the overall healthcare outcomes of students in Mississippi by increasing student access to primary, acute and specialty healthcare providers. Expand healthcare offerings to Mississippi students beyond diagnosis and treatment to include services that focus on health maintenance, disease prevention and health education for students, families and school personnel. “Healthy students learn better. Implementing this telehealth program for Mississippi’s K-12 students will better ensure health issues are identified and treated,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “This program can potentially reduce absenteeism, help parents and guardians get quicker access to services for a child and even save lives.” UMMC’s Center for Telehealth, which has more than 200 sites in 73 of Mississippi’s 82 counties, currently implements a comprehensive telehealth program in various settings that address healthcare needs of Mississippians and others. UMMC plans to leverage resources of its Center for Telehealth to: Create a telehealth delivery infrastructure for all eligible schools in Mississippi. This includes need assessment of individual school districts/schools and delivery, setup, maintenance and training of all nursing staff on the required telehealth equipment and clinical workflows for the delivery of telehealth services. Engage stakeholders at all levels to include MDE leadership, school district administration, parents, school nurses, teachers and other staff, local providers and community resources to identify common goals and key performance metrics to measure success of the program for each individual community. Operationalize and implement telehealth delivery services in the following key areas: remote urgent care, remote behavioral health, promotion of dental health via education of school nurses by providers from the UMMC School of Dentistry, and lifestyle coaching of students at risk for developing diabetes. Undertake continuous quality improvement that will include ongoing evaluation of the program in terms of quality outcomes and monitoring process measures such as use and student enrollment.

Commissioner Brent Bailey announced today, on behalf of the Commission, the completion of the Public Service Commission’s Public Utility Infrastructure Review Report. The Commission launched a comprehensive review of the Magnolia State’s public utility infrastructure in February 2021 following the extreme winter storms. The report is being released during the one year anniversary week of the historic weather event. “Our jobs as regulators charge us with the responsibility to ensure utilities provide reliable services across a resilient infrastructure network,” Commissioner Bailey said. “New challenges for our utilities statewide were presented during the unprecedented 2021 winter storm event which we felt should be examined. Icy roads, downed vegetation, ice on utility infrastructure and other effects of the long-term, bitterly cold temperatures caused thousands of customers to go without power and/or water for several days.” The Commission sought information regarding the actions being taken to ensure reliable operations of electric, gas, water and telecommunication utilities in anticipation of other future extreme weather events and conditions. The report reflects the responses received from scores of utilities which were compiled and analyzed by resiliency specialists to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each sector and to provide recommendations on improvements. “Mississippi is no stranger to extreme weather events. I commend our utility partners across the state for their continuous work to improve and sustain the resiliency of systems that deliver critical, essential services to Mississippi’s utility customers,” said Commissioner Bailey. “Utilities spend millions and millions of dollars each year to maintain the safety and reliability of utility delivery systems. Those prudent expenditures are what keep the electricity, gas, water and communications flowing in times of extreme weather or other natural events.” The report was prepared by staff members of Del Sol Consulting, Inc. (Del Sol), a disaster recovery consulting firm specializing in expert consultation and staff augmentation to clients facing the daunting tasks of pre-planning for potential natural disasters, and effectively implementing long-term recovery strategies. Del Sol was supported by Royal Engineers and Consultants, LLC, a full-service engineering and consulting firm with significant experience in the management of disaster recovery programs.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) expanded its Licensure Call Center Feb. 1, with longer hours and additional customer service representatives to better assist prospective and current educators. The Licensure Call Center now has 15 representatives available from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays to assist educators seeking information or inquiring about the status of a licensure application. Previously, four representatives took calls from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The MDE began onboarding the new representatives Jan. 5. The State Board of Education (SBE) approved a $1.8 million contract with a staffing agency at the Dec. 16, 2021 board meeting to hire the customer service representatives. The contract term is from Dec. 29, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2024. The MDE is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and ESSER II funds to pay the agency. During peak season, the number of calls received by representatives in the MDE Licensure Call Center ranges between 6,000 to 15,000 calls monthly. The goal of the expanded center is to reduce the impact of the calls. “I am aware of the frustration some educators have experienced when contacting the MDE with licensure inquiries,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Now that the Licensure Call Center has expanded, I anticipate a more efficient process and positive experience for educators.” A self-service, automated and interactive voice response system will become active in the coming weeks to further improve the Licensure Call Center experience. By March 1, all educators will be required to create a four-digit personal identification number (PIN), which they will need to set up in their Educator Licensure Management System (ELMS) account. The PIN is an added security feature that will permit educators to speak to a customer service representative and/or obtain information on their ELMS account through the automated system. The phone number to the Licensure Call Center is (601) 359-3483. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Applications to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program are now available for aspiring educators seeking a graduate degree in elementary and special education. The priority deadline to submit applications is March 15. Any applications submitted after March 15 will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are filled. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and either meet the minimum required passing score on the Praxis Core, have a 21 or higher on the ACT/SAT equivalent; or have a 3.0 GPA (60 hours of coursework) and Praxis Content Knowledge Test acceptable scores. The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted in December 2021 to award more than $9.8 million in grant funds to five university educator preparation programs. Those universities are Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University. The MDE is using American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to cover the grants. Up to 200 individuals can be accepted into this cohort of the MTR program, which seeks to enroll diverse participants. This is an adjustment from the 240 slots previously reported based on university partner eligibility and projections. Tuition and expenses, including testing fees, books and mentor stipends, will be covered for accepted applicants. The MTR program will include training alongside a mentor teacher, testing support, professional development, ongoing assessment and a commitment to teach in a geographical critical shortage school or district serving low-income children, racial/ethnic minorities and children with disabilities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. When applying, applicants will indicate what university program they want to join and select up to four school district options to work in. Confirmed participating school districts are included in the application and will be updated as needed on the MTR website based on each university’s established process for selecting district partners in geographical critical shortage areas. All complete applications will be provided to MTR universities to determine candidate eligibility. Eligible applications will then be provided to each candidate’s top-choice MTR partner school districts, which may then opt to interview applicants either in-person or virtually. After interviews are complete, the MDE will conduct a matching process based on information from MTR applicants, universities and school districts. Applicants will be notified of their possible acceptance into the MTR program by May 2022. MTR is one of the state’s strategies to address the national teacher shortage. An MDE survey to all public school districts in the state from Aug. 21 to Oct. 11, 2021 to assess educator shortage showed there are 3,036 certified teacher vacancies in Mississippi. MDE’s Office of Teaching and Leading has operated MTR since 2018 to increase the number of qualified teachers entering and remaining in the profession. The project is funded by a $4.1 million grant from the Kellogg Foundation. MTR is part of a statewide strategy to expand and diversify the teacher pipeline, so all students have teachers who are well-prepared, appropriately licensed and can serve as role models. For more information on the MTR program, visit mdek12.org/OTL/MTR. A direct link to the application is available here. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) will be on hand today for the official opening of the Utica Institute Museum at Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus. A Bolton native, Congressman Thompson is a 1965 graduate of Hinds Agricultural High School, which was on the Utica Campus until it closed in 2014. The Utica Institute Museum grand opening and ribbon-cutting is at 2 p.m. Thursday. Because of expected rain, the program will be held in the Walter Washington Amphitheater with the ribbon-cutting, tour and reception across the street at the museum. Members of the media are invited to the opening event. Please rsvp to Vergie Morgan at vergie.morgan@hindscc.edu or Cathy Hayden at cchayden@hindscc.edu. Media parking is being provided on Union Drive. Campus Police will direct you.

Descendants of one of the oldest families in the Bolton community recently returned home from several states throughout the USA to celebrate the memories of their deceased ancestors. The West/Burns families came from Arkansas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois , Tennessee, and of course were joined by the Mississippi family members. The celebration was held at the home of the late Cleveland and Maggie West in the Pleasant Hill Community of Bolton. They began on Friday evening with a meet and greet, a wine sampling time, and a sit down dinner. which included a fish fry. Saturday morning began with the journey to the Bolton Cemetery (in the rain) where all nine of their original generation, plus others were buried. They proceeded to tidy up the cemetery then led a solemn ceremony by placing flowers and sharing memories and expressions of love for each deceased member buried there. The visit to the cemetery was the main reason for their coming to the old hometown of their ancestors on this particular day and time. Most amazingly was the fact that each of the deceased ancestors lived to between 90 and 100 years of age (except one) and one family member present at the celebration is currently at age ninety-four. After the memorial celebration they all returned to the Pleasant Hill community where Cleveland and Maggie West and most of the siblings resided for many years. They all sat down to reminisce of precious memories. Later they began preparation for a fun-filled evening which they called “Celebrating Our Ancestors Under the Stars” That celebration went late into the night and for some, all-night. The celebration included a meal of BBB (Best Bolton Barbeque) with all the trimmings, a fashion extravaganza of African attire, line dancing, and a humongous bonfire. Others from the community were invited to join the celebration They shared much love and fellowship even while wearing their masks, and to this date we have not had a report of any outbreak of the virus among the family members, all praises to God. Sunday ended with a family-style brunch and they departed for their various homes. This weekend of fun, fellowship, love and memories will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of the younger West and Burns generation from Bolton, Mississippi. Front Row: Floyd Davis, Shri Green, Felicia Jones, Gladys Johnson, Floyd Burns, Debra Davis and Betty Burns Back Row: Fannie Burns, Shelia Johnson, Edgar Jones, Alicia McKinney and Niehaus McKinney Floyd Davis, Debra Davis, Shri Green, Gladys Johnson, Floyd Burns, Betty Burns, Alicia McKinney, Felicia Jones, Edgar Jones and Niehaus McKinney Front Row: Lynette Thomas, Franchetta Honer, Wendy Thomas, Alvin Evans and Timothy Evans Back Row: Pearlie Evans, Charlette Evans, Poncho Thomas, Ray Evans and Willie Lynum

In today’s prepared foods, microwavable society, making dishes and condiments from scratch and preserving fruits and vegetables is quickly becoming a lost art, especially when it comes to the classics that once graced tables a few short decades ago. Be honest, outside of a restaurant, when is the last time you sat down a Sunday dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade biscuits or rolls and lemon meringue pie? If you’re like many cooks, the answer is “I can’t remember” or even, “never.” After talking to those for whom from-scratch cooking is not just a lost art, but one they’ve never learned, I’ve concluded that there are some procedures that are downright intimidating. The good news is, they don’t have to be. With a little research and determination to learn a new skill regardless of how terrifying it may seem, you can easily master these classic dishes and condiments. I promise, the homemade product resulting from each of these (I’ll explore one almost-lost art in the following weeks) is 100% better than store-bought, frozen and microwaved version. First up: homemade jams and jellies. Talk about enjoying the fruits of your labor…there’s no better (or more delicious) way to accomplish this than by preserving the best of summer and fall’s bounty. I won’t lie, it’s a lengthy process to wash and prepare fruit (I make plum jelly in the summer, muscadine in the fall), cook it down with sugar and pectin, sterilize jars and rings, fill steaming-hot jars with equally hot, bubbling liquid and process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath. But here’s the good news – it’s a skill that’s relatively easy to master and nothing’s more beautiful than a row of jewel-toned jars glistening in the windowsill. Most importantly, the taste of homemade jam is infinitely fresher and much better than the store-bought version. And, it’s the perfect gift for the person that “has everything” and would appreciate a gift from the kitchen. If you’d like my jam and jelly recipes and preparation tips, simply drop me an email and I’ll send them to you. Speaking of lost arts, a dish that’s rarely made anymore but remains a Southern classic is chicken and dumplings. It’s labor-intensive, but like many old-school dishes, simple in terms of ingredients and preparation. I spent an hour or two recently rolling out dough and boiling chicken using an old recipe for chicken and dumplings. I’m sharing the recipe for those of you who still hold fond memories of enjoying a plate of steaming, fragrant chicken and dumplings at your grandmother or mother’s table. Old-School (But Easy) Chicken & Dumplings 3 pounds chicken pieces (I combine chicken breasts and pieces with bones- legs, etc) 2-3 stalks celery stalks, roughly chopped 2 carrots, roughly chopped 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 2 quarts water 2 teaspoons salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pastry board ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 tablespoons Crisco ¾ cup whole buttermilk For stock: Place chicken, celery, and carrots in large Dutch oven or stockpot; add water and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Remove chicken from broth, and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken from broth and discard skin and bone from chicken, then shred into bite-size pieces. Remove boiled vegetables and set aside (you can chop them finer and return to broth at the end if you’d like them in your dumplings, but this is optional). Return broth to a boil over high heat; stir in pepper. For dough: combine flour, baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl; cut in shortening with a pastry blender (or use fingers) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface like a marble pastry board or cutting board; knead lightly 4-5 times. Pat dough down with hand or slightly with a rolling pin, to ½-inch thickness. Pinch off dough in 1 ½-inch pieces and drop into boiling broth. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until desired consistency is reached, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken and if desired, chopped boiled vegetables. Stir together until everything is heated through and combined. Serve hot.

It is ironic that the #1 movie at the domestic box office on Valentine's weekend would be one where all but one relationship ends badly. If you are watching this movie with a partner, be sure to say something like, “Good thing we’re not as screwed up as these people, right?” If your partner can’t answer because they are too busy jotting down notes on how to plan the perfect murder, perhaps your relationship has run its course. Following 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” Kenneth Branagh is back as legendary Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. More importantly, Poirot’s ridiculous mustache is back, complete with its own black-and-white origin story. It’s almost, but not quite worth sitting through some lousy digital de-aging effects on Branagh to understand some of Poirot’s motivations. The bulk of the film takes place, in color, in 1937 Egypt. Poirot is on holiday when he spies old partner Bouc (Tom Bateman). Bouc introduces Poirot to his mother Euphemia (Annette Bening) and his recently-married friends Simon (Armie Hammer) and Linnet Doyle (Gal Gadot). The Doyles request Poirot’s help in ridding them of stalker Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), an obsessed former lover of Simon’s. Poirot can’t do much since Jackie hasn’t committed any crime, but he does suggest that the couple sneak away in secret. Misinterpreting Poirot’s advice, the Doyles rent out a huge ocean liner and take their circle of friends (including Poirot) on a cruise down the Nile where they figure Jackie can’t follow them. Jackie boards the boat at the very next stop. Murder follows. Frustratingly, the prime suspect has an airtight alibi – they were being detained for shooting another passenger at the time. Perhaps it was another member of the party. There’s Linnet’s own jilted former lover Dr. Windlesham (Russell Brand, for once not looking like a pirate despite the movie largely taking place on a ship), her cousin and crooked estate manager Andrew (Ali Fazal), her Communist godmother Marie (Jennifer Saunders) and Marie’s nurse Mrs. Bowers (Dawn French), scheming maid Louise (Rose Leslie), school chum Rosalie (Letitia Wright), and Rosalie’s singer aunt Salome (Sophie Okonedo). Complicating matters is that Rosalie and Salome have stolen Bouc and Poirot’s respective hearts. Which isn’t to say that Bouc and his mother are necessarily off the hook. Some expensive diamonds are missing, that alone could be the motive behind the murder, and absolutely everyone could use the money. The movie meanders in its early stages, no doubt trying to spend as much time as possible with the full cast before someone has to be eliminated. But then we get to the really fun part – Poirot’s fast-paced interrogations. It is here where we get the film’s wittiest dialogue and best chemistry between actors. I’ve heard it said that Hammer and Gadot have no chemistry as a couple, and I think that’s a bit unfair, as public opinion of Hammer is very low right now due to accusations levelled against the actor, and I think people would be disgusted by him in any role, especially one as sensual as this. But it doesn’t take a Poirot-level detective to see that the Simon/Linnet marriage isn’t destined to last – assuming they both live long enough to split up. Director-and-star Branagh is currently in Oscar contention for directing a semiautobiographical film called “Belfast.” It probably won’t make enough money to warrant its own review, but if did, I would give it an A- and name it one of the top two or three films of 2021. I definitely recommend seeing it instead of “Death on the Nile” if it’s an option. This movie probably won’t get nominated for any Oscars, but it at least manages to keep its head above water – the Nile, as it were. Grade: B- “Death on the Nile” is rated PG-13 for violence, some bloody images and sexual material. Its running time is 127 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu. Acting State Conservationist Michael Carr of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced an urban agriculture focused sign-up through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This targeted sign-up is for farmers in Biloxi (Harrison), Brandon (Rankin), Brookhaven (Lincoln), Canton (Madison), Greenville (Washington), Greenwood (Leflore), Gulfport (Harrison), Hattiesburg (Forrest), Jackson (Hinds), Natchez (Adams), Oxford (Lafayette), South Haven (Desoto), Starkville (Oktibbeha), Tupelo (Lee), and Vicksburg (Warren) counties, who are interested in producing local, healthy, sustainable food for their communities. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that helps producers make conservation work for them. NRCS provides agricultural producers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. “Urban farmers in Mississippi are doing some great work connecting consumers to the land that provides their food,” said Carr. “Urban conservation provides local economic and environmental benefits while providing fresh food options to communities that need them most.” NRCS takes applications on a continuous basis, however, interested parties are encouraged to contact their local NRCS service center and apply by March 11, 2022, to be included in this application batching period. While this sign-up is limited in scope, NRCS is looking to expand urban agriculture conservation to other areas of Mississippi in the future. To begin those discussions or sign-up for a conservation program, contact your local NRCS conservationist. Be sure to check the status of your USDA Service Center when you reach out to us. For offices with restrictions on in-person appointments, we are still available by phone, email, and through other digital tools. To learn more about EQIP or other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit Get Started with NRCS or contact your local USDA Service Center. More Information Through conservation programs, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers and landowners make conservation improvements on their land that benefit natural resources, build resiliency, and contribute to the nation’s broader effort to combat the impacts of climate change. More broadly, these efforts build on others across USDA to encourage use of conservation practices. For example, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently provided $59.5 million in premium support for producers who planted cover crops on 12.2 million acres through the new Pandemic Cover Crop Program. Last week, RMA announced a new option for insurance coverage, the Post Application Coverage Endorsement, for producers who “split apply” fertilizer on corn. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity and natural resources including our soil, air, and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including state, local and Tribal governments. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

We’ve all seen it on TV and in the movies: Someone who’s stressed, angry or unhealthy clutches their chest, screws up their face and has a heart attack. But stress, especially during the trying times of a pandemic, also can lead to what some in the medical community refer to as a “brain attack.” It’s a stroke, and if symptoms are ignored or treatment is delayed, a life can be lost. “Anxiety levels are high now in some people,” said Dr. Shreyas Gangadhara, an assistant professor and chief of the Division of Vascular Neurology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Some of my patients who had quit smoking have gone back to it.” Taking steps to manage anxiety and stress, he said, is not only good for overall health, but a key factor in reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease. Stroke is the fifth-highest killer and leading cause of disability in the United States, the American Heart Association says. February is Heart Month, a time to help increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and what you can do to control your risk. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen. That means brain cells begin to quickly die. A stroke is usually caused when an artery is blocked by a blood clot or other debris, or when a blood vessel in the brain is leaking or has burst. If someone is having trouble walking or speaking, has trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying, has paralysis or numbness of the face, arms or legs, or has a headache or problems seeing, think FAST: Face: Can the person smile. Does one side of the face droop? Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one drive downward, or is one arm unable to be lifted? Speech: Is the speech slurred or unusual? Time: Call 911 if any of these signs are occurring. If you’re experiencing one or more of these factors, you’re at added risk: you have high blood pressure or blood cholesterol, are a smoker, are obese, get little exercise, eat a diet high in fat and sodium, are diabetic, have carotid or peripheral artery disease, have sickle cell disease, or have other heart diseases. The American Heart Association offers a stroke quiz that gives a good idea of your risk. “They add up,” Gangadhara said of risk factors. “And when anxiety is uncontrolled, the other things can get out of control.” The best chance doctors have of successfully treating a patient, and hopefully averting a stroke altogether, is to see them early, said Gangadhara, who also directs UMMC’s TeleStroke program and vascular neurology fellowship program. “We can give clot-buster medications up to four and half hours from symptom onset in patients who qualify for it, and in some patients, we can surgically pull the clot out if we see them within 24 hours,” he said. UMMC‘s Stroke Center provides highly coordinated stroke care and is a certified primary stroke center. The center has state-of-the-art technology and facilities, including a six-bed dedicated stroke unit, and a 20-bed neurosciences intensive care unit. The Stroke Center has been honored by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association with their “Get with the Guidelines” Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award. Since the pandemic began, Gangadhara said, “we’ve seen patients aren’t going to the emergency room as much as they would have previously. They hear the ER is full, so they come a week later after their symptoms don’t get better. Or, they come to an ER and are told there’s going to be a long wait, so they leave.” “Sometimes when they come to see me in the clinic, it’s too late to decrease their stroke burden,” he said. “We could have prevented some of the worst effects of stroke.” Take proactive steps to manage your health and stress levels so that your risk is lower, Gangadhara suggests. If you’re smoking, quit. If you haven’t been vaccinated, do so quickly because your stroke risk factors can potentially come into play if you are sickened with the virus, “Go to your primary care doctor. Get your blood pressure checked and under control,” Gangadhara said. “Eat a healthy diet – more veggies and fruits, and less fried foods and fast food,” he said. “Exercise. Go for a walk, or do an exercise you like, a minimum five times a week to get your heart rate up.” To contact a specialist in neurosciences care at UMMC, call (601) 984-5500.