By Bob Garver   Poster credit IMDB               From its ridiculous opening scene, there is little denying that “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is one of the stupidest movies of 2025. Its only real competition comes from Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake thinking that its Dwarfs were fit for human eyesight. And it’s not even the fun kind of stupid horror movie. It was never really on the table for this to be a “good” horror movie like “Sinners,” but it could have at least been an interesting flavor of stupid. The potential for such flavor is at least present in the opening scene, but the movie squanders even that prospect fairly quickly.             In the opening scene, set in 1982, morose young Charlotte (Audrey Lynn Marie) eschews every other entertaining aspect of children’s pizza emporium Freddy Fazbear’s to wait for her favorite animatronic character. She turns her attention long enough to notice a boy being abducted (as would later become common at Freddy’s) and tries to alert parents at nearby tables, but none will listen to her. If her warnings had caused a deadly panic, then maybe that could have been a plausible foundation for a horror movie, but no, the movie seriously has all the adults just blow off a girl who is screaming about witnessing a child abduction. She has no choice but to try to rescue the boy herself, which costs her her life. She dies onstage as her aforementioned favorite animatronic – the Marionette – a character not in the first movie because it did not carry over to the subsequent Freddy’s franchise location where that movie was set, appears to take her soul.             In the present day, first-movie protagonist Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is trying to move on with his life. He’s got a good thing going, now with uncontested custody of his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio) and a budding relationship with cop friend Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). But Vanessa is still haunted by dreams of her villainous father William (Matthew Lillard, only used for a cameo for the sake of a cameo) and Abby is being bullied by her loathsome science teacher (Wayne Knight). Plus Abby just has to be obsessed with her old “friends” at Freddy’s, which leads to Mike giving her a radio that lets her talk to the possessed robots. It turns out that the radio lets her talk to the “wrong” possessed robots, as in the ones at the old Freddy’s location, which includes The Marionette, now possessed by Charlotte.             Charlotte, who can possess the Marionette animatronic, but also humans, including a viral ghost chaser (McKenna Grace, actually quite scary on the few occasions that the movie lets her be) is on a mission to rid the world of adults. Not just the adults that ignored her in 1982 – all adults. Some manipulation of Abby and boom, Charlotte now has a whole fleet of Freddy’s robots at her disposal. Characters jockey for control of the robots, who are descending on a town-wide celebration of the  Freddy’s legacy. The movie looks like it’s ready for a big festival showdown around crowds of people for its climax and then… it ends.             Is it an unwelcome spoiler to say that the movie ends with only one robot at the festival and more on the way? Maybe so, but it was an unwelcome spoiling of my moviegoing experience for the movie to end where it did. And the sequel-bait ending is only one of the movie’s problems. The pacing is horrendous, the acting is stiff, cheap jump scares are way overused, the robots can supposedly sneak up on people despite being giant metal monstrosities, we’re expected to keep track of which robots are under whose control despite there being multiple versions of the same robots, and Matthew Lillard doesn’t share any screentime with fellow “Scream” killer Skeet Ulrich (as Charlotte’s father) despite the movie’s advertising heavily implying a reunion. With very little time left to lose its lead, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is the worst movie of 2025. Grade: D “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is rated PG-13 for violent content, terror and some language. Its running time is 104 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com    Simply kick and scream and pout until God makes everything good for you again. Maybe that way of dealing with your problems seems like a good idea to you. After all, you have been told repeatedly all your life that He is a good and loving God, who always wants the best for you. So, it must stand to reason that if you let Him know in clear unmistakable terms that you are unhappy, He will have to fix what’s wrong. Right? You can’t possibly win that showdown. In fact, it simply guarantees that He will be standing firmer on His position. Here’s why. Yes, He is good and loving. But He is also wise and all-knowing. And He knows that if you continue living life as you have – self-centered, angry and hateful, or any other hurtful way, you will cause yourself to suffer all your life. And everyone who has to interact with you. Angry hurting people are blind and uncaring when it comes to everybody else.  I don’t know of anyone, including this writer, who realizes they need to change when everything is rosy in their life. That is why He allows us to hurt. That is why many times He will allow you to live in pain until you realize the changes He is trying to make in you. For your sake. Kinda like the wise parents who refuse to give in to their toddler’s kicking and screaming tantrum on the floor at Walmart. Sure, it’s pretty embarrassing to be the adult in charge of a three-year-old who has decided that getting his favorite toy warrants a full blown, kick-a-hole-in-the floor screaming fit until you give in and put it in your basket. But a smart and caring adult will stand their ground and refuse to give in to manipulation. For the child’s sake. Make no mistake, tantrums simply do not get you what you want, period. From God or other people. Yes, it might happen, short term. But that is only the result of you using manipulation. And the results of that kind of living never give you what you are truly needing. Because you have not had to make any changes inside. And therefore, you will find yourself wanting more and more. And having to throw more tantrums. And ending up losing relationships because of it. That is why tantrums cause you to lose more than you could ever gain. You are better off trying to figure out what God is wanting from you. And letting Him make those changes He knows you are needing. Because learning to not throw tantrums is not the only part of learning to accept the painful parts of living.  Allowing your Creator to shape you as He sees fit is another huge chunk in learning to function as a real adult. Sure, complaining, griping and refusing to accept changes is a part of our human nature. Just not a smart part.

Ray Heard April 7, 1929 - December 2, 2025 96 Years of Age Mr. Ray Heard, age 96, went to heaven on December 2. 2025.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Frankie Ruth Aldridge Heard.  Together they spent most of their lives serving their community, family, and even strangers who became friends. Mr. Heard was born in Phoenix, MS, later moving to Oil City and graduating from Anding High School in Bentonia.  He attended Mississippi College where he was a pitcher on the baseball team.  After serving in the US Army from 1953 – 1955, he returned to Bolton, MS, married, and went to work for Sperry Vickers, where he worked for 33 years.  However, his real work joy came from his side job of raising cows and gardens on his small farm in Bolton.  Born in 1929, he learned to hunt, and loved to hunt anything just to be outdoors.   His favorite was quail hunting in the days when quail were more abundant.  Some of his community service included serving as a Deacon at the Bolton Baptist Church for 58 years, and many of those years he also taught youth Sunday school classes.  His love of baseball (big Atlanta Braves fan) led him to coach the Bolton Little League teams for 16 years.  His traveling with Frankie was focused on anything and everything their grandchildren were involved in. Along with Frankie, he is preceded in death by his parents, Verona and Chester Heard; and sisters, Miriam Watts, Barbara Patterson, and Audrey Faye Heard.  Survivors include, son, Steven (Lisa), grandson, Austin (Deanne) and great grandchildren, Jackson and Callie, grandson, Brandon (Chelsea) and great grandchildren, Paxton and Beckham; son, Michael (Kate), grandson, Andrew (Mimi) and great grandchildren, Carson and Shields, grandson, Sykes (Laura), great grandson, Saunders, and another on the way! Visitation will be at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton, MS on Monday, December 8, 2025 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, and funeral service in the chapel there at 12:00 pm; followed by burial in Bolton Cemetery in Bolton, MS. Memorials may be made to the Bolton Baptist Church or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Ray Heard , please click here to visit our sympathy store .

By: Bob Garver   Poster credit IMDB               2016 was a great year for animation. Disney gave the world a new musical masterwork in “Moana.” Pixar had its biggest hit up to that point in “Finding Dory.” Even underdog Laika came out with cult classic “Kubo and the Two Strings.” But the winner of the Best Animated Feature Oscar that year wasn’t any of those films (“Finding Dory” wasn’t even nominated), it was another Disney movie, “Zootopia.” It wasn’t a terribly controversial choice either, with critics and audiences alike praising the film for its more-thoughtful-than-usual look at race relations, symbolized as relations between various species of animals, though usually taking the form of predators vs. prey. The film was so successful, funny, and poignant that at time I advised Disney to add a whole Zootopia section to their Animal Kingdom theme park. To date, the property has only gotten a single attraction – a 3D movie in the park’s Tree of Life – but it’s in a key location. Anyway, here’s a look at the less-poignant sequel.             Following the events of the first “Zootopia,” bunny police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) was hailed as a hero, along with her unlikely ally, former con-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Now the two are both officially cops, and partnered together as a mismatched-on-paper duo that Judy is determined to turn into the superstars of the station. She decides that the best way for the team to make its mark is to bust a smuggling operation without consulting buffalo police chief Bogo (Idris Elba) or even Nick. Poor communication turns the desired bust into, well, a bust, and Judy and Nick soon find themselves at the bottom of the department’s figurative food chain.             Nick wants to wait patiently to get out of the (again, figurative) doghouse, but Judy wants to turn things around immediately, so she doubles down and drags Nick into another unauthorized mission, this time to protect the theft of a book that details how the weather accommodates all the animals in Zootopia. The book belongs to the powerful Lynxley family (of lynxes, naturally), and patriarch Milton (David Strathairn) has graciously decided to display the book at a fancy gala, where Judy interacts with his son Pawbert (Andy Samberg), the most charmingly awkward runt of a family since Hans from “Frozen.”             The book does indeed get stolen by Gary (Ke Huy Quan), a venomous snake. This is a big deal for the city, as for all its supposed inclusivity, reptiles, especially snakes, have been banished from Zootopia for the last century. Judy and Nick naturally want to stop Gary, but there’s more to the story than a simple book theft. If Gary can just use the book for its intended purpose, he can end the reptile ban and make life better for himself, his family, and his whole class of animals. But the city at large, including the Lynxleys and stallion mayor Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), are more interested in protecting the accepted truth than the actual one. Judy and Nick have to rely on unconventional resources like beaver conspiracy theorist Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), all while questioning if they really belong as partners after all.             “Zootopia 2” is a fine movie, if missing some of the magic of the first. A few too many gags take the form of terrible puns or played-out schtick, but there are more than enough funny jokes to balance them out. What really dinged the film for me was the idea of the acceptance of the reptilian race hinging on a single piece of information. The Zootopia of the first movie was too complex to rely on outdated concepts like “banishment.” Prejudice, sure, maybe mistreatment, but not black-and-white banishment. Oversimplified shortcuts like these are why this film can’t measure up to its predecessor. Then again, the worldbuilding is still creative and the chemistry among the cast still sharp. It’s a movie that I’m happy to recommend, but as with last year’s “Moana 2,” that happiness is somewhat dulled by remembering the heights that the franchise reached before. Grade: B- “Zootopia 2” is rated PG for action/violence and rude humor. Its running time is 108 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to The Bolton News The Annie Thompson Jeffers Library in Bolton brought neighbors together on December 2 for its annual holiday cookie swap, turning a quiet Tuesday afternoon into a warm celebration of community spirit. Guests arrived with plates of homemade cookies, each one representing a family tradition or a favorite seasonal recipe. The library’s meeting space quickly filled with the scent of sugar, spice and fresh-baked treats, creating an atmosphere that felt both festive and familiar. Participants took time to share the stories behind their creations, swapping more than just cookies as conversations moved from baking tips to holiday plans. Laughter carried through the room while children drifted from table to table, selecting cookies with the kind of careful delight that only the season can bring. Library staff ensured that everyone felt welcome, offering refreshments and creating a relaxed environment where visitors could linger and enjoy the company. The event highlighted the library’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community connections, using simple traditions to bring people together. By the end of the afternoon, trays were empty, recipe cards were exchanged and guests left with a sense of warmth that extended far beyond the cookies they carried home. The holiday cookie swap once again proved to be a cherished gathering that added a touch of sweetness to Bolton’s festive season. Click here for photo album .

Special to The Bolton News The Mississippi Outreach Foundation, Inc. is extending an open invitation to its 32nd Annual 90-Above Senior Citizens Basket Giveaway, a longstanding tradition dedicated to honoring some of the community’s most treasured residents. The event will be held Saturday, December 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mt. Olive M.B. Church Family Life Center, located at 6449 W. Northside Drive in Bolton. For more than three decades, the foundation has gathered families, supporters and senior citizens to celebrate longevity, resilience and community spirit. The 90-Above initiative focuses specifically on individuals aged 90 and older, offering them carefully prepared baskets as a gesture of appreciation. Organizers describe the event as a time of fellowship and gratitude, designed to uplift elders who have shaped the community through decades of wisdom and perseverance. This annual gathering continues to grow in significance, serving as both a celebration and a reminder of the importance of honoring seniors in tangible and meaningful ways. The Mississippi Outreach Foundation remains committed to ensuring that those in their nineties and beyond feel recognized, supported and valued. Anyone seeking additional details may contact Mrs. Addie Green at addiegreen2652@gmail.com  or by phone at 601-262-8808 or 601-866-7870. Those who wish to support the 90-Above citizens may contribute through Cash App at $mfoinc or by mailing a check payable to Mississippi Outreach Foundation, Inc. to P.O. Box 449, Bolton, MS 39041.

Special to The Bolton News Bolton is preparing for a heartwarming celebration of the Christmas season on December 21, offering the community two meaningful opportunities to come together. The afternoon will begin at 3:30 PM at Bolton Baptist Church, where participants will gather before heading out for house-to-house Christmas caroling. This tradition has long been cherished in small towns, and organizers hope to revive the joy of sharing music, encouraging words, and holiday cheer directly with neighbors. Groups will visit homes throughout the community, spreading goodwill and reminding residents of the simple connections that make the season special. Families, children, and individuals of all ages are welcome to take part, whether they choose to sing along or simply walk with the group and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Those who prefer a more relaxed celebration will have an inviting alternative later in the day. Bolton Baptist Church will open its doors at 5:00 PM for a Christmas Cantata, featuring a program of seasonal music that reflects the message of hope and unity central to the holiday. The cantata will provide a peaceful setting for reflection and fellowship, and attendees can enjoy hot chocolate as they settle in for the performance. The church extends a warm invitation to everyone in the community, encouraging residents to participate in either or both events. Whether through joyful singing on neighborhood streets or shared moments inside the sanctuary, the day aims to bring Bolton together in gratitude, celebration, and the true spirit of Christmas.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit: IMDB Previously, in “Wicked” Aspiring witches, green-skinned outcast Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and pink-and-popular Glinda (Ariana Grande), started off as enemies at school, but then became friends. They decided to go their separate ways after discovering a plan by the nefarious Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) to blame and punish animals for problems in the Land of Oz. The Wizard and henchwoman Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) tried to have Elphaba captured and silenced because she learned that The Wizard had no real magical power. Fortunately, Elphaba did have magical powers and escaped the Emerald City on a broomstick, though The Wizard and Morrible quickly spread rumors throughout Oz that she was a Wicked Witch. When we rejoin “Wicked,” Elphaba is still on the run, helping out animals when she can and trying to think of a way to expose The Wizard as a fraud. Her disabled sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) is now governor of Munchkinland, with reluctant boyfriend Boq (Ethan Slater) as her favorite servant. Love interest Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey, recently named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive) is captain of The Wizard’s guards, tasked with hunting down Elphaba, but secretly determined to assist his old flame. As for Glinda, she’s been made a “Good Witch” by The Wizard and Morrible, a sort of magical superhero to balance out the Wickedness of Elphaba, at least in the public’s eyes. She isn’t exactly Wicked herself, but she has been seduced into complicity by the perks and popularity that come with the position. She even unwittingly gives Morrible the idea to do the most Wicked deed of all. If last year’s “Wicked” served as a sort of prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” then “Wicked: For Good” serves as a sort of parallel piece. It’s not an even split – there’s plenty of prequel-y stuff here too, but a never-fully-seen Dorothy shows up at about the halfway mark, and we see what was happening offscreen while that literary and cinematic classic unfolded. It all leads up to a devastating splash from a bucket of water that ties into the Munchkinland celebration from the beginning of the first movie. Frankly, all the “running parallel to ‘The Wizard of Oz’” stuff is a huge detriment to both the stage and screen versions of “Wicked.” Characters’ attitudes, motivations, and loyalties turn on a dime just to accommodate the way those characters behaved in the more familiar story. Then there’s the huge plot hole of characters interacting in these movies despite ostensibly meeting one another for the first time during Dorothy’s walk down the Yellow Brick Road (a certain brainless wonder should have received more recognition than he was ever given). The whole practice makes the story a mess, though the movie is only following the stage musical’s lead, while admirably tightening up a detail or two. Another area where the new film tries to fix a deficiency with the stage show is with its musical numbers. The stage version is so front-loaded with memorable songs that disappointingly little is saved for the second half. The film knows that audiences won’t stand for such a dull second installment, so it has added two new songs: Elphaba’s attempt to rally her animal friends with the familiar adage that “There’s No Place Like Home,” and Glinda taking a long hard look in the mirror (or rather, somewhat-reflective sphere) in “The Girl in the Bubble.” They’re admirable efforts, but neither is as memorable as the stage show’s “No Good Deed” or the titular “For Good,” themselves paling in comparison to the best songs from the first movie. “Wicked: For Good” is a relative step down from “Wicked,” but it justifies its existence better than fans feared it would when it was first announced that the adaptation would be split into two movies. And it’s still a grand, ambitious, passionately-performed spectacle. I can say that the underwhelming second half of the stage musical has been changed for the better, and because it’s been shown some much-needed love, it has been changed “For Good.” Grade: B- “Wicked: For Good” is rated PG for action/violence, some suggestive material and thematic material. Its running time is 137 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Grandma Gertie is more than ready for Thanksgiving Day to arrive. For the first time in seventeen years, she is going to have her entire family home for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone has painstakingly arranged their holiday schedules to be able be together at Grandma’s house. Excited-beyond-measure cannot even begin to describe her emotions. For the last two months she has planned for her big day. The lists of things to do and to buy have been endless. No expense spared. Nothing will be too good for this year’s grand family event. Because all her kids and their spouses, grandkids, and great-grands are going to come piling into her house for the biggest, best-est meal she has ever put together.  The big day has finally arrived and she has been up and going since five in the morning. So much to do, and so little time! Pre-dinner snacks to assemble, enormous turkey to bake, to be stuffed with her favorite homemade dressing, fresh vegetables to prepare, several salads, pies and cakes to bake, and all kinds of drinks to get chilled. After all, she has no idea what everyone favorite beverage is, so she has bought every kind she could find.  But non-alcoholic, of course. Anyone who knows Gertie is aware that she is a staunch advocate for everyone being sober. But nobody really knows why. All they know is that  “Ya don’t drink  anywhere  around Grandma! She will call you out in a heartbeat, if she gets even a whiff of alcohol on your breath. You will be hauled out by your ear if she catches you.”  The whole family firmly believes that Grandma really does have ESP and a nose that would do credit to a bloodhound. No, none of the family knows that as a teenager and a young adult, Gertie was a drinker. And not just a dabbler in the art. She was a falling-down-spend-my-last-penny-last-one-to-leave-the-party drinker. Until she finally realized life was passing her by, and she had the courage to get sober and stay there. Until today. Today Gertie has decided to celebrate.  “I’ll just have a tiny sip from that big bottle I bought for cooking today.   After all, it’s been seventeen years since we’ve all been together!” Uh-huh.  When the family began arriving, Grandma was in her cups, and then some.  They all noticed that Grandma was awfully cheerful and talkative. And weaving quite a bit as she brought all the food out of the kitchen. Exchanging meaningful glances, the family joined together at the dining table and waited for the oldest to ask the blessing. The huge feast was passed around the table.  Turkey stuffed with mashed potatoes that had a heavy dose of salt. Cranberry salad that tasted suspiciously of soy sauce. Fresh vegetables that were sauteed, and accidentally refrigerated. Ice cream left melting on the kitchen cabinet. Drinks mostly room temperature. No ice.  But the family had reason to be thankful anyway, cause at least Grandma Gertie was happy. So very singingly, sloppily, happy.  Make it a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

A stage photo of a large group of women and girls dressed in colorful traditional attire, posing together in front of a backdrop that reads “Jackson Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav.” This image shows cultural richness, youth involvement, and unity. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Jackson, Mississippi, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a three-day Rajat Jayanti Mahotsav filled with devotion, culture, and community spirit. The milestone marked a quarter century of spiritual guidance, cultural preservation, and charitable service for the Indian Hindu American community across the State of Mississippi. Over the last quarter century, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Jackson, MS has become a spiritual home for hundreds of families. As part of a network of more than 140 mandirs across North America, it has introduced the community to Indian art and culture, unity, compassion, and the values of selfless service. Day 1: Kirtan Aradhana – November 21 The celebration began on November 21 with a devotional Kirtan Aradhana in the presence of visiting swamis. Talented BAPS youths, children, and swamis presented a creative musical program featuring traditional classical compositions. Mississippi State Senator Sollie Norwood addressed the gathering greeting the celebration. Day 2: Women’s Kalash Yatra & Cultural Program – November 22 On November 22, more than 200 women participated in procession carrying kalash (ceremonial pots) atop their heads marking the start of the auspicious events, followed by an afternoon cultural program. The message of dedication was beautifully conveyed through dance, drama, and thematic performances by the participants. The mandir’s campus was alive with the vibrant colors of saris and traditional Indian American ou6its as hundreds of men and women from across Mississippi, and neighboring states gathered for a cultural program in the evening. With participants ranging in age from 2 to 50, the program with theme of Family Values was well accepted. Cultural Program was well attended by Shad White, Mississippi State Auditor, Harvey Johnson, Former Mayor of Jackson, Otha Brown, Police Chief of Canton - all acknowledging the mandir’s significant role in fostering community ties and cultural preservation. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jackson, welcomed a diverse array of community leaders and officials, JP Bhudhraja- President of SitaRam Mandir, Manish Patel-President of Gujarati Samaj of Mississippi, Deepak Patel from Ahmedabad Mitra Mandal and many more, each representing the rich tapestry of support the mandir has woven over the past quarter century. Their collective presence underscored the mandir’s role as a cornerstone of cultural and spiritual life, not just for the local Hindu community, but for all those who cherish unity, devotion, and service. Throughout the day were graced by several proclamations, including from the Governor of Mississippi, Lt. Governor of Mississippi, state representatives, Mayor of Jackson. The stage featured beautifully adorned murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitan and Swami in white and gold, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jackson and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current inspirer. Exhibitions highlighted the many activities undertaken by devotees in honor of the Rajat Jayanti. Through dramas, narratives, and videos, the audience reflected on the Mandir’s history, the challenges overcome by early devotees in Mississippi, and the community service initiatives carried out over the years. BAPS North America Lead Swami, Yagnavallabh Swami spoke on the Mandir’s impact on devotees and the broader community, sharing the history of its growth in Jackson. BAPS Southwest America Lead Swami, Swetmuni Swami added personal experiences from his past visits, emphasizing the Mandir’s role in promoting values and unity. A special video presented stories from devotees on how the Mandir has supported and shaped their personal lives. Some of the youth and devotees who are part of BAPS Jackson like when Nia Brahmbhatt age 16 mentioned “To me Mandir means family” when asked to describe what mandir means. Avani Patel said “when I come to Mandir, I feel in different world and experience Peace”     Blood Drive and Food Drive on this occasion  Community Service: Food & Blood Drives To commemorate the 25th anniversary, BAPS Charities organized multiple service initiatives: Food Collection Drive: Collected 25 lbs of packed food cans/cereals and will be delivered to the Mississippi Food Bank. Blood Donation Drive: Conducted with the Mississippi Blood Services at the Mandir premises, with 17 devotees donating 17 pints of blood.   A nighttime shot of the BAPS mandir beautifully lit in vivid colors—greens, purples, yellows—while fireworks burst overhead. It gives a very festive, grand, and celebratory feel, perfect for highlighting the 25th anniversary milestone. Arti, Celebration & Fireworks A samuh arti was performed with all attendees. The evening concluded with a grand fireworks display. Attendees expressed deep inspiration and pride in supporting the hardworking, compassionate, and dedicated Mandir community. The celebration served as a hear-felt tribute to the legacy of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj .     A large indoor gathering with participants in bright traditional costumes walking down the center aisle. Youth doing performances on stage. The audience—families, devotees, and swamis—are watching and applauding. The hall looks full, showing strong community participation . Day 3: Mahapuja, Annakut & Spiritual Assembly – November 23 The final day was begun with a Mahapuja, a Vedic ceremony conducted by swamis, further deepening the spiritual experience for all in attendance. In the afternoon, a traditional Annakut offering was artistically arranged before Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the Mandir. Devotees offered prayers and darshan before attending the concluding spiritual assembly, where Swamiji delivered a discourse on peace, harmony, and the importance of passing cultural and spiritual values to the next generation. About BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (B.A.P.S) is a volunteer-driven spiritual organization committed to fostering individual growth through Hindu values of faith, service, and harmony. It enriches society with the devoted efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers from diverse professional and social backgrounds, contributing millions of volunteer hours annually. Under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS nurtures Hindu traditions through its over 120 mandirs in North America and over 5,000 centers worldwide. Through these communities, it champions holistic personal growth, promotes social progress, and encourages diversity by embracing all. For more details, visit www.baps.org . About Mahant Swami Maharaj His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble, and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insigh6ul spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

Thelma Louise Thompson August 11, 1947 - November 22, 2025 78 years of age Ms. Thelma Louise Thompson was born on August 11, 1947 to the late Ms. Ida Mae Hill and the late Mr. Jessie James Thompson in Edwards, Hinds County, Mississippi.  She departed this life on Saturday, November 22, 2025.    Visitation & Service Information: Visitation Friday, November 28, 2025 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Funeral Service Saturday, November 29, 2025 1:30 PM (Central Time) Rose Hill M. B. Church 9542 Hwy 22, Bolton, MS Interment Saturday, November 29, 2025 Rose Hill M. B. Church Cemetery 9542 Hwy 22, Bolton, MS 39041 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thelma Louise Thompson, please visit our flower store .

Ms. Ceolia Graves March 7, 1940 - November 19, 2025 85 Years of Age Ms. Ceolia Graves passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at home in Clinton, Mississippi. She was born on March 7, 1940 in Bolton, Mississippi to the late Cleveland "Buddy" Graves and the late Sarah Howard Graves. Services: Viewing: Friday, November 28, 2025/ 1:00 - 6:00 pm Bolton Funeral Home 205 Bolton Brownsville Rd, Bolton, MS Visitation With Family: Friday, November 28, 2025/ 5:00 - 6:00 PM Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Funeral Service: Saturday, November 29, 2025/ 11:00 AM Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church 7565 Bolton Brownsville Road, Bolton, MS Interment: Saturday, November 29, 2025 Hill of Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery 1079 Annie Fortner Rd, Bolton, MS To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ceolia Graves, please visit our flower store .