U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Sign-up begins on Monday, September 15. Livestock producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance. Qualifying Disaster Events To streamline program delivery, FSA has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp . For losses in counties not listed as eligible, livestock producers can apply for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements. Acceptable documentation includes: Photographs documenting impact to livestock, land, or property Insurance documentation Emergency declaration reports News articles National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm event database records Other FSA disaster program participation records Other documentation determined acceptable by the FSA county committee Livestock and Producer Eligibility    For ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW, FSA is using covered livestock criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep. Wildfire assistance is available on non-federally managed land to participants who did not receive assistance through LFP or the ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire program delivered to producers in July of this year. When producers submit their application, they must provide documentation to support eligible livestock inventories as of the beginning date of the qualifying disaster event. Livestock producers can receive assistance for one or both years, 2023 and 2024, and for multiple qualifying disaster events, if applicable. However, producers cannot exceed three months of assistance per producer, physical location county, and program year. Payment Calculation Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP. ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire will not be eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. Eligible producers may submit form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000. Supplemental Disaster Assistance Timeline USDA is fully committed to expediting remaining disaster assistance provided by the American Relief Act, 2025. On May 7, we launched our 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page where the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline can be tracked. The page is updated regularly and accessible through  fsa.usda.gov . Contact your local FSA county office for more information.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Jokes linking football and religion, especially Christianity, are common. “One gets Americans to sit attentively for hours every Sunday, the other is religion.” “Christian athletes always thank God when they win, never blame Him when they lose.” And of course, “WW(FSDJ)D? - What Would (Football Star Du Jour) Do?” With “Him,” it’s like writer/director Justin Tipping went and made a whole movie out of these jokes. But there’s a big problem: the movie isn’t supposed to be a comedy, it’s supposed to be a horror movie. Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) is a promising young quarterback coming off a successful college run, ready to turn pro. Speculation abounds that he could someday by the Greatest Of All-Time, though the current G.O.A.T., the reclusive Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) is still active and winning. One night, Cade is attacked by an assailant in a goat mask (this movie loves its goat/G.O.A.T. jokes) and his career is derailed. He has one hope of recovering in time to be drafted by a pro team: complete an intense weeklong training session led by Isaiah himself at his mysterious estate. It probably goes without saying that the training sessions are absolutely brutal on Cade’s body, especially considering the recent attack. But Cade has been told his whole life that great men make sacrifices, including Isaiah, who has been his hero since childhood. He’s not exactly expecting perfectionist Isaiah to be merciful, but his mentor’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, with psychological torment like injuring a training partner over his own mistakes and holding him at gunpoint. Eventually, the question becomes: how much is Cade willing to sacrifice? He’s already sacrificed years of his life, what’s a few more? He’s already sacrificed his body to the point where a single concussion could end his career if not his life, but professional players take those kinds of risks all the time. How about his family? They’re a high priority, but is gridiron greatness an even higher one? What about his very soul? Yeah, this is going to come down to a battle for his soul. Religious imagery and parallels abound. Isaiah himself is a figure of worship, as zealous fans live in makeshift camps outside his house. Some of them reject Cade as some sort of false prophet, even though he’s supposed to be a welcome guest. When Cade first meets Isaiah, the latter is making a homemade football in a clear reference to Jesus’s carpentry. Isaiah’s wife Elsie (Julia Fox) covers sins and temptations of the flesh. Cade may have, in a way, been sacrificed by his own father in the past. Oh, and Isaiah plays for a team called the San Antonio Saviors. The bluntness of all the religious parallels would be funny if the movie didn’t take itself so seriously. But it keeps insisting that it is first and foremost a horror movie, and it just can’t compete on that level. The editing is too choppy to make for a suspenseful atmosphere or effective jump scares. Violent impacts, both blunt and sharp, are unconvincing. And there is nothing scary about all the goat costumes. Not only is this movie not as scary as the successful blending of horror and comedy that was “Scream,” it’s not as scary as Wayans’ “Scream” parody “Scary Movie.” Speaking of blending horror and comedy, “Him” is produced by successful sketch comedian- turned-extremely-successful-horror-filmmaker Jordan Peele. Peele and Tipping certainly have some overlap in storytelling styles, at least on paper, but Tipping can’t be legitimately scary to save his life. The few comedic scenes fare a little bit better, especially in the finale. The highlight of the movie is the Wayans performance, which surprisingly works on a level not of horror or comedy, but tragedy. I wanted a good horror movie and I would have settled for a decent comedy, but “Him” is like a cross between a fumble and an off-key hymn. Grade: C- “Him” is rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual material, nudity, and some drug use. Its running time is 96 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

By Kara Kimbrough   Spicy-Butter Spaghetti is the perfect quick and easy pasta meal, especially when the butter is made ahead and refrigerated. All that’s left is to add cooked pasta and make an easy cream sauce   Covered in red sauce (or gravy, as Italians lovingly call it); paired with sauteed vegetables, shrimp and more red sauce for a delicious Shrimp Creole; stirred together with chopped vegetables and pepperoni and doused in a vinaigrette dressing for a zesty pasta salad and perhaps my favorite method, topped with meatballs and more of the “gravy” to make a bountiful spaghetti and meatballs meal. I love these pasta dishes equally, as well as quite a few more. Therefore, I’m totally loving the emergence of ingenious pasta recipes and preparation ideas currently “trending” on the internet.    First, “buttery noodles” has become a popular side dish or in some cases, main entrée for those seeking a quick meal. It’s probably the simplest pasta dish of all time…first, boil a pound of pasta in any shape, although wide noodles work best. Melt a stick of butter in a heavy skillet and pour cooked, drained pasta into the skillet. Stir well to combine, then add Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.      This week, I read an article featuring public television chef, cookbook author and restaurant owner Lida Bastianich, whose Italian restaurant Becco I’ve visited in New York City. Becco’s famous pasta trio, which includes three different homemade pastas nightly and its famous bechamel and Bolognese sauce lasagna are also on my pasta favorites list. When asked her favorite dish, I was surprised to learn that it’s the simple dish of Spaghettini with Oil and Garlic, also known as Aglio e Olio.      And my favorite new pasta trend of the week? Discovering the recipe for Spicy-Butter Spaghetti. It's a relatively simple recipe that takes pasta to new heights courtesy of a buttery, spicy butter concoction. For a heartier meal, add cooked, chopped chicken, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto or other favorite proteins. The spicy butter can even be used on other things besides pasta to add extra flavor, including cooked meat, vegetables and bread.      Until I make it back to NYC for another delicious Becco meal, I’ll cope by visiting as many Italian restaurants as possible (email me for a list of my favorites) and making Bastianich’s to-go dish and Spicy Butter Pasta.     Borrowing a line from my Italian friends: “Buon Appetito!” Spicy-Butter Spaghetti: Spicy-Butter: 1/2 cup salted butter, softened 2 tablespoons brown or grainy mustard 2 teaspoons chives, more for garnish 4 teaspoons fresh thyme 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 pinch cayenne pepper, more or less to taste1 pinch red chili flakes, more or less to taste   Remainder: 1 pound spaghetti 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt 1  pinch red pepper flakes, more or less to taste Additions: cooked, chopped chicken, shrimp, vegetables or other favorite protein, if desired Combine butter, brown mustard, chives, thyme, lemon juice, paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne and red chili flakes in a bowl and mix with a spatula until fully combined. Scrape the mixed butter together and form a mound. For best results, to allow the flavors to meld, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight. At the very least, chill for at least 30 minutes. Cook spaghetti in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain spaghetti. Set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add cream, lemon juice, garlic salt and red pepper flakes, and heat until steaming, about 5 minutes. Stir in spaghetti, and add reserved pasta water as needed to thin sauce. Add cooked chicken, shrimp or other favorite protein, if desired, and mix well to combine. Season to taste with chives and pepper flakes, if desired, and serve hot. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

Special to The Bolton News St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, located at 209 E Madison St, Bolton, MS 39041, will once again open its doors for the Second Sundays at St. Mary’s series, welcoming the community on Sunday, October 12, at 3 p.m. This month’s program, Songs Your Mama Taught You: A Harvest Hymn Fest,  promises an afternoon filled with familiar melodies and heartfelt tradition. At the center of this special service will be the church’s treasured 1902 Estey Artist Reed organ, an instrument with deep meaning and history. The organ was donated to St. Mary’s to the glory of God and in loving memory of Vera and Andy Anderson by their son, James Anderson of Bolton, who serves as the church’s Fine Arts Director. Its timeless sound continues to fill the sanctuary with warmth and reverence. Leading the music will be organist extraordinaire Sid Champion, whose artistry brings the instrument’s voice to life. With his skill and passion, the program will highlight the beauty of hymns that have been passed down through generations, reminding attendees of the songs once sung at home, in church pews, and around family gatherings. The Songs Your Mama Taught You  Harvest Hymn Fest offers more than music—it invites reflection on the faith, love, and traditions that shape community life. Each note carries both nostalgia and renewal, connecting past and present through the shared experience of song. St. Mary’s welcomes all who wish to attend and be part of this uplifting afternoon. The program promises to be a celebration of memory, music, and the enduring spirit of worship that continues to resonate within the walls of the historic church. The church is located at 209 E Madison St, Bolton, MS 39041

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB NOTE:  Many theaters have this Japanese animated film available in both “Subbed” and “Dubbed” versions. This review is based on the “Subbed” version – Japanese spoken with English subtitles, with the Japanese voice cast credited. Ah, “Demon Slayer,” the anime franchise that comes out with a new movie about once every two years with seasons’ worth of television between the movies. I don’t keep up with the series, which admittedly puts me outside the film’s target audience of its existing fanbase. If you do follow “Demon Slayer,” you’ll almost certainly get more out of “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” than I did, since you won’t spend half the movie asking who most of the characters are and how much is supposed to be known about them. If you’ve never seen “Demon Slayer” before, “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” is not a good entry point. I at least knew about main hero Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), he of the green-and-black checkered kimono, as well as a few side characters like the pig-masked warrior Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and Tanjiro’s formerly demon-infected sister Nezuko (Akari Kito), who is sidelined in this movie with an injury anyway. But aside from that, I was lost. Fortunately, it turned out that I didn’t need to care about as many characters as the advertising would have it seem – several presumably-popular characters are in the movie for just a few seconds – but I didn’t know that and I was overwhelmed with the prospect of having to keep track of everyone. The movie sees most of the Demon Slayer army battling demons in the Infinity Castle, a sort of cityscape/maze designed by top demon Muzan. It’s the kind of setting you’d see in “Inception” or “Doctor Strange.” Some of the demons are mindless henchmen designed to keep the Slayers busy, but there are some formidable disciples in the mix. For example, butterfly-themed Slayer Shinobu (Saori Hayami) faces off against cult-leading demon Doma (Mamoru Miyano), who killed her sister. Twin “Thunder Breathers” attempt to settle their sibling rivalry once and for all when Slayer Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono) battles demon Kaigaku (Yoshimasa Hosoya). And, in what could be considered the movie’s “main event,” Tanjiro and his mentor Giyu (Takahiro Sakurai) team up to take on regenerative demon Azaka (Akira Ishida). Just when I thought that Azaka made for a dull antagonist, the movie went into his tragic backstory, which turned out to be the highlight of the entire film. The weakest element of the movie is once again the fighting. I’m not saying that there’s no creativity to the moves and styles these characters use, I’m saying that the impact of these moves and styles don’t seem to matter much. This franchise has a style where it seems like every fifth move results in a huge explosion that should kill one, if not both of the fighters. But then it will usually turn out that both fighters survived, and then they take a few breaths and start fighting again – even in instances where the characters are physically incapable of breathing. The lack of lasting impact makes the fight scenes seem surprisingly low-stakes. I wasn’t won over by my third experience with “Demon Slayer.” I was too far behind on lore to care about most of the characters, and the action, while often impressive from a technical standpoint, was largely frustrating. This frustration was compounded by the film’s nearly three-hour runtime. That’s an awfully long time to devote to basically three fights, even with flashbacks and the Infinity Castle framing device. If you’ve liked “Demon Slayer” in the past, don’t let me stop you from seeing “Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” but I wouldn’t advise trying to become a new fan with this movie. Grade: C- “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiban – Infinity Castle” is rated R for bloody violence throughout. Its running time is 155 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com If we were all childhood siblings and behaving the way we fellow citizens are acting and reacting, Mom already would have taken away every last one of our toys and privileges, restricted our food to vegetables and water only for a couple of months, and wore out our sorry tails with the bread board. And Dad? We would be praying for Mom's punishment to be the only penalty to come our way. Almost nothing would be off- limits to that angry man, who would be furiously determined to teach us a lesson. One that we kids would NEVER be able to forget. How dare we treat our fellow humans with such careless and cruel inhumanity? There are no societal issues, no belief systems, no "But, but, but, but you don’t understand, I been disrespected!"   that gives any person or any group a reason or right to murder someone. Since when did our country fall into such disgrace? Oh yes, all of us could see the rapid descent we’ve been on the last twenty years. Like we are on a runaway mountain train with nothing to stop it as it flies further down the tracks. But lately? Our train is no longer on a rapid descent, and it’s not even in a free fall. It is being pushed from behind by a two-hundred-ton locomotive engine, straight into hellish acts that defy belief. We have recently witnessed the brutal cold blooded killing of a young man, which in itself is horrendous. And even before that happened, we had already seen way too much brutality and lawlessness in our country.  But now we are having supposedly grown adults actually   celebrating  the murder of Charlie Kirk! Openly, gloatingly, and with angry malice. Simply because they did not agree with his views of God, our country, or his opinions on how to live life. What has happened in the hearts of people in the USA??? What has happened to civility? What about holding fast to your own opinions, and at the same time, courteously letting another have theirs? Without insisting- by physical force if necessary- that EVERYONE accept and agree with your view, opinions and behavior? Folks, it’s way past time this is stopped. We have no Mom and Dad to step in and make us all wish we had shut our mouths, and stopped all the viciousness. I wish there was. But we are on our own. And it is time to put a stop to this horrible treatment of each other. Or we will be looking at the Father God stepping in to put a stop to it all. And that ain't gonna be pretty. Yes, I realize that at this point, there are probably some of you that resent my reference to our Creator, the Father God, because you do not believe in Him.  Again, I repeat, that is your right to disagree with my beliefs. But it not all right for you, or me, to incite violence in order to force each other to accept our opinion. Enough is enough.

By Kara Kimbrough   Old-Fashioned Seafood Gumbo is a classic dish that almost everyone loves. If you’d like the recipe, email me and I’ll send it to you.     Visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast on the 20 th  anniversary of Hurricane Katrina proved to be an emotional journey. Highlights were moving commemorative ceremonies and candlelight vigils; riveting documentaries and personal stories from those who lost everything but never considered not rebuilding. I discovered a hidden gem hotel as well as restaurants serving delicious Coastal cuisine.     First and foremost, I found a new home at The Inn at Long Beach. It’s a well-appointed gulf front property I’ve passed hundreds of times but never slowed down enough to notice. That changed a photo of the hotel’s pool facing the gulf surfaced in an online Gulf Coast discussion. Surrounded by majestic Live Oaks with a view of the beach and gulf, the scene transported me back to my childhood and the gulf front hotel at which we always stayed. The Inn at Long Beach’s crown jewel – a beachfront pool surrounded by majestic Live Oaks, transported me back to the “old Coast “days.           I can still picture my grandfather sitting out under the oak trees beside the pool of Gulfport’s Sahara Hotel enjoying the early morning breeze wafting in from the gulf just across Highway 90. The Sahara was destroyed in Katrina and I’ve never again seen another hotel pool surrounded by Live Oaks fronting the beach.     I messaged the hotel to share my reminisces and how a simple photo in 2025 had transported me back to a simpler time on the Coast and in my life. The owner graciously invited me to experience the hotel for myself, despite the busy Labor Day weekend ahead.    The thought of seeing the pool similar to the Sahara’s was foremost in my mind when I drove up to The Inn, located just a few miles from Gulfport. Upon entering the property, I realized I was in for an enjoyable stay. In short, The Inn is that it actually does live up to its name: guests actually feel as if they’re staying in a private inn instead of an impersonal cookie cutter hotel.    As I entered the spacious, well-appointed lobby, I was greeted warmly, much like one would greet a friend entering their home. And the best part: I was offered homemade cookies and directed to help myself to beverages at the well-equipped coffee bar before heading up to my room.     Many hotel lobbies can seem impersonal and somewhat cold, but The Inn’s large, yet cozy lobby is tastefully decorated with comfortable furnishings, artwork, fresh flowers and large windows offering scenic views of the shimmering pool, Live Oaks and the beach and gulf. I immediately felt at home, perhaps because the décor resembles just that – warm touches of a home rather than a hotel.      That comforting feeling of being “at home” continued when I arrived at my spotlessly-clean, modern, yet cozy gulf front room. Once again, tasteful décor in soothing neutral shades instantly caused me to decompress. Equipped with a spacious bath, coffee bar and mini fridge and free Wi-Fi, each guest room offers everything necessary for a relaxing, comfortable stay. A ground floor fitness center and complimentary bike rentals are available for those looking for an active getaway.    As a glowing sun descended below the gulf, I would have been perfectly content to relax by the pool and enjoy evening breezes as they wafted in from the water. However, I had dinner plans with friends and made the short drive over the bridge to Bay St. Louis (more on dinner below).     The following day, I was directed to the breakfast buffet offered adjacent to the lobby. I’ve enjoyed numerous complimentary hotel breakfast in my lifetime, but this one far exceeded all the others in variety, quantity and taste.    Freshly-made biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage, grits and eggs and hot oatmeal with a variety of toppings are offered in the hot foods area. Guests can also request made-to-order pancakes, either plain or with specialty options like blueberry, lemon ricotta and other ingredients. Also offered are cereal, fresh fruit, a variety of pastries, freshly-squeezed orange juice and specialty teas and coffees.    Guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast at cozy tables spread throughout the lobby and adjacent elevated dining area while enjoying a view of the pool just steps away.    Lounging by the pool or taking a leisurely bike ride through Long Beach, both crossed my mind, but I had scheduled events to attend. Following a busy morning of ceremonies, it was time for lunch.         Stopping by Harbor View Café in Long Beach for a repeat meal after dining there during a media tour had been on my agenda for some time. After such a bounteous breakfast at The Inn, I didn’t feel I could explore the menu as I’d planned, but decided to stop by for a quick bite.     Located near U.S. 90 overlooking the Long Beach Harbor (hence the name), Harbor View Cafe offers outdoor dining on wraparound porches for waterfront dining as well as plenty of indoor seating. The restaurant serves a variety of delicious appetizers, seafood dishes, salads, po’boys, steaks and desserts.    I ordered shrimp remoulade, consisting of Cajun boiled shrimp tossed in house-made remoulade sauce served over mixed greens, cucumbers and tomatoes. It was the perfect light, yet utterly delicious meal.    Speaking of shrimp, the evening before I joined friends at Cuz’s Oyster Bay in Bay St. Louis. A jumbo shrimp po’boy paired with delicately-fried onion rings with a delicious remoulade dipping sauce proved to be the perfect dinner at one of my new favorite restaurants.    Yes, being on the Coast 20 years after so much despair and destruction was an emotional experience, but one that resulted in valuable “finds” that I will definitely revisit.       The Inn, which I highly recommend for those looking for a more relaxed, quiet and personalized experience with easy beachfront access, was the undisputed highlight of my trip. Additionally, revisiting two restaurants and experiencing an above-average breakfast buffet that exceeded expectations, was the absolute icing on the cake of a memorable weekend.    Last, a Coast friend shared her family’s tried-and-true recipe for seafood gumbo; a recipe handed down by her grandmother and used by generations of Creole cooks. It’s a little lengthy, so drop me an email if you’d like to try it and I’ll send it to you. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com

Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School is inviting families and community members to an evening of discussion and school spirit with its upcoming Ranger RoundTable and Title I Meeting on Thursday, September 18. The event will be held at 9700 I-20 Frontage Road in Bolton, beginning with a PTO meeting from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., followed by the Title I and RoundTable session from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The program is designed to give parents an opportunity to connect with school leaders, learn more about important initiatives, and share input that will help guide the success of students throughout the year. Title I discussions will provide valuable information about the resources and support available to families, while the RoundTable portion will encourage open conversation between the school and its stakeholders. Adding a touch of fun to the evening, attendees are encouraged to show their Ranger pride by wearing boots and cowboy or cowgirl hats. The theme not only highlights the school’s spirit but also creates a welcoming atmosphere for everyone in attendance. BEEMS leadership stresses the importance of strong parent and community involvement in shaping the educational experience. This event highlights the school’s continued dedication to building partnerships and providing every student with the resources and support necessary for success. The school looks forward to welcoming families for an evening of information, engagement, and school pride.

(Photo credit MS Public Broadcasting) Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) will premiere  Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers , a powerful new documentary exploring the life, impact, and enduring legacy of civil rights icon Medgar Evers. The film debuts on MPB Television at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 18. An MPB original production, Everlasting features in-depth interviews with Evers’ family, including his wife Myrlie Evers-Williams, daughter Reena Evers-Everette, and colleagues who worked alongside him during the Civil Rights Movement. “This project honors Medgar Evers not only as a pivotal figure in the fight for civil rights, but also as a husband, father, and deeply committed Mississippian,” said MPB Chief Content Officer Taiwo Gaynor. “We are proud to bring his story to new generations and shine a light on his enduring legacy.” In addition to the broadcast, MPB will launch a companion podcast series, Everlasting: The Legacy Podcast, releasing weekly beginning September 18. The podcast, hosted by Rita Brent, will feature extended interviews from the documentary, along with archive clips, and in-depth conversations with special guests. Everlasting  and additional digital video content will also be available to stream at  mpbonline.org  after the documentary airs on television. Educational resources including lesson plans, and curriculum guides, will be made free to educators and available at   www.mpbonline.org . MPB invites educators from around the state to register for the professional development seminar on October 9, 2025 from 8:30am – 4 p.m. Everlasting: Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers  is part of MPB’s continued mission to preserve Mississippi’s stories, elevate local voices, and educate future generations through powerful, meaningful content. For more information about the documentary, podcast, digital series, or educational materials, visit  www.mpbonline.org .

Special to The Bolton News/Alfenette Robinson Bolton is preparing for its annual holiday celebration with the Christmas Parade scheduled for Saturday, December 13, beginning at 10 a.m. This year’s theme, “Christmas in Bolton,” promises to bring festive cheer to the streets as residents and visitors alike gather to celebrate the season and embrace the town’s holiday traditions. Leading the parade as Grand Marshal is Rev. Jonathan Poe, pastor of Bolton Baptist Church, who will guide the procession through the heart of the town. A variety of local organizations are expected to participate, including schools, churches, civic groups, and businesses. Floats adorned with lights, creative decorations, and holiday-themed performances will fill the streets, capturing the joyful spirit of the season. Families are also encouraged to join with decorated vehicles, wagons, and costumes, adding to the community-wide celebration. The parade route will wind through downtown Bolton, allowing spectators to enjoy a full view of the procession. Attendees can expect music, holiday cheer, and plenty of photo opportunities, making it a perfect outing for families and friends. Bolton’s Christmas Parade is more than a display of lights and decorations—it’s a celebration of community, tradition, and the joy of the holiday season. Residents are encouraged to line the streets early, bring chairs or blankets, and enjoy the sights and sounds as the town transforms into a winter wonderland. This year’s event promises to be a memorable highlight of the season, offering a welcoming environment where families, friends, and neighbors can come together to celebrate the holidays. Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB             A few days before I saw “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” a friend of mine asked me about my plans for the weekend. I told her that I planned to see the film, and I was excited. When she asked me why I was excited to see yet another entry in the generally-middling “Conjuring” series, I blurted out, “They make such a cute couple!” “They” of course being Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, respectively. These fictionalized tales of their cases sell themselves on demon- and possession-related horror, not charming family dynamics. Yet whether by design, by accident, or by default, the Warrens as characters are what this series does best.             Take the opening scene, set in 1964. Ed and a pregnant Lorraine investigate the usual demonic element in the basement of an antiques shop. Lorraine insists on snooping around alone, with minimal light, and of course jump scares abound. The demonic presence causes Lorraine to go into labor early, and Ed rushes her to the hospital to give birth in a room without electricity. It looks like the baby doesn’t survive, and the darkened room is full of tears. I’m not talking about the delivery room with the parents and doctors – I’m talking about the theater full of moviegoers. This scene, its characters, and its actors have been so engaging that the audience has become way more invested than they should in a movie that a few minutes earlier was easily dismissible as schlocky horror. And then the baby survives, and at my screening it made for one of the most deafening crowd reactions I’ve ever heard. Yes, I rolled my eyes a little, since daughter Judy Warren has been a character in other, later-set “Conjuring” movies, so I could guess how the scene was going to play out, but also yes, the cheering was infectious and it was an undeniable mark of a sequence well-done.             The rest of the film takes place in 1986, after the movie “Ghostbusters” has come out, and the Warrens are seen as jokes living in semi-retirement. Judy (Mia Tomlinson) is ready to take her next step in life, introducing her parents to her boyfriend Tony (Ben Hardy). Ed and Lorraine, like most parents, are conflicted about letting their baby go, but also know that she can’t be their baby forever. Tony, for his part, is sweet and dedicated, if occasionally awkward. I seriously thought about recommending this movie to my horror-averse mother just for the family scenes. But I couldn’t, because darker subject matter has to butt its way in. Unlike most parents, Ed and Lorraine also have to worry about lingering traces of demon possession in their daughter, which they aren’t eager to foist upon the unsuspecting Tony.             To add to the drama at home, the Warrens are desperately needed in small-town Pennsylvania. A family recently came into possession of the world’s creepiest mirror – the same artifact that caused problems for the Warrens in the opening scene – and are now being unsurprisingly haunted. Cue every cheap spiritual horror trope like unexplained bumping sounds and things moving when they shouldn’t, as well as every cliché surrounding old heroes taking on one last mission. Judy and Tony are willing to help for the first time ever, but Tony doesn’t know the first thing about demons and Judy may be compromised as an instrument of the mirror-demon.             “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is a tale of two conflicting tones. The loving, charming, occasionally-eccentric Warren family make for delightful “straight” scenes, but they aren’t going to sell tickets without some kind of supernatural payoff. The horror scenes, while necessary for the movie’s appeal, are often drab and even more often the result of stupidity (I know demon possession is a hard pill for non-believers to swallow, but still…). I’m swayed enough by the Warren family to give the movie a mild recommendation, but only because the main characters all make for cute couples. Grade: B- “The Conjuring: Last Rites” is rated R for bloody/violent content and terror. Its running time is 135 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Fighting fair. Not a spouse’s favorite saying when they are currently in the middle of “Who’s Gonna Win This Time” with their dreaded enemy of the moment. Face it, any married human female whose spine isn’t yellow jello, wants to come out of the latest skirmish with a feeling of “Huh! Oh, yeah, I just showed him! He’s gonna learn sooner or later that he can’t walk all over me, even if he’s does have three doctoral degrees and bulging muscles that make him look like a balloon gone berserk.” And the Intelligent Balloon? There is no way on this green earth that he’s going to allow himself to feel “less than,” by having to acknowledge defeat by that simple slip of a weakling, “who half the time can’t even open a new jar of peanut butter without my help.” Not a thought will enter either of their little minds about “I need to be careful what I say and how I say it. The last thing I need to do is wound the sensitive ego of my spouse.” Nope, when the battle lines are drawn, that sharp sword known as the tongue suddenly comes into play and eager hot words start spewing. Absolutely no holds barred. Have you ever noticed that when you get into an argument with your loved one that your ‘sword’ becomes noticeably looser and a lot sharper? The brain kicks into high gear, and every idiotic action and every hurt you’ve ever suffered at their hands suddenly is instantly accessible from your memory bank. To be retrieved at the perfect moment, locked and loaded and ready for bear. Want a ‘for instance?’ You find yourself smack in the middle of fighting to the death to win the argument of “I know good and well that it was  your  turn to ______ (fill in the blank) but it’s just like the last time, when you said “I forgot.” Well, you always ‘forget!’ When are you gonna grow up?!” Like I said, locked and loaded and ready for bear. And even if you do have a vague sense of “I think I might halfway remember something about learning a lesson from our last battle, that I was going to handle things a little differently the next time.” The next time never happens. The age-old I WANNA WIN! kicks in, and your good intentions slide quickly down the drain to Never-Never Land. If you don’t recognize and laugh at yourself when you read this column, then you are one of two things: You are not human. Or you are not married. Marriage is not easy, it is the joining of two strong-minded, self-centered people. Who are then supposed to coexist peacefully in the same household. And the only way that can ever happen – the peaceful part – is to strong arm into a dark corner that part of yourself that insists on winning the argument EVERY TIME. And if both of you will do that, your marriage stands a fighting chance. No pun intended.