If you work and work hard, you will understand this topic. Exhaustion. Too much constant physical or mental work, with no relaxation for your body and brain can bring on serious exhaustion. And that kind of tired, with no time for recuperating, is dangerous for you. You run the risk of pushing too far over the edge, which can easily mean that you end up being grounded for a while. Which is ultimately more costly for you than stepping-away time would be. Anyone with half a brain can understand that taking time away, even a stay-cay, is smarter and cheaper than a few days in your local hospital. And if your collapse happens to be of the mental or emotional kind? You are easily staring in the face of a much longer convalescence time. But let’s say you are Numero Uno, the head of your organization, and you know you can’t afford the luxury of just walking away for a few days. Your company relies heavily on your leadership, and your empty desk could mean faulty repercussion-laden decisions being made. Which could lead to a loss of revenue, which would lead to financial losses that affect everyone in the company.  I acknowledge the truth of that. But consider this truth, if that is something that you fear. You definitely should have begun developing other competent leaders – yesterday. And if you don’t trust any of your employees to learn to lead? Then you have some leadership problems within yourself. Because your job is not only to lead your organization, but it is also to find, develop, and assign leaders to lead with you. If you do not develop other leaders, you are short-changing your business. Bottomline, if it stays in that controlling palm of your hand, it cannot grow past the size of the palm of your hand. Believe me, other people in your business need and want you to ask them to step forward. To expect more from them. To train them to take over a department. Don’t be afraid to delegate responsibility. Applaud and reward effort. Refrain from punishing when they fail while they are learning.  Discipline only with teaching and training in mind. And if you do happen to invest your time and leadership training into a dud who isn’t invested in the welfare and success of your company, demote that person as quickly as possible. Before the bleeding worsens. A person like that will put your company’s health on the bottom of their priority list. But what if you are the head and also the tip of the tail for your company? It is you and you alone who is responsible for its success or failure, every day. There are no other beating hearts that care one whit whether your business falls flat on its face. You talk about stress! No doubt about it, going it alone in this world is extremely tough. I simply refer you to paragraph one. For your own health, my friend.

By Kara Kimbrough The history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has always intrigued me. When I briefly (emphasis on brief) entertained the thought of earning a Ph.D., the origin on the area's founding and its first inhabitants is the only topic I considered for a dissertation topic. Academic goals aside, I still love reading about the arrival of American Indians, including the Pascagoula tribe, followed in 1699 by French explorer Pierre d'Iberville. In subsequent decades, immigrants from Italy, Ireland, Germany, France, Scotland, Croatia, Vietnam and other places followed, making it the melting pot of cultures and cuisines we enjoy today. For a quick history lesson, a visit to the Biloxi Welcome Center provides a fascinating recap of the area's early days through interactive displays and colorful photographs, personal recordings and written narratives. Plus, it's the ultimate place to stop to utilize clean restrooms and relax for a minute in rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the Biloxi Lighthouse and beach. Additionally, a scenic spot in Hancock County combines a beach view, large moss-draped oaks, marshlands and fun family activities in an historic site dating back centuries. I’m referring to Waveland's Buccaneer State Park. Back in the late 1700’s, French buccaneer Jean Lafitte and his followers were busy smuggling and pirating treasures. Traveling along Mississippi's coastline, they were so taken with the area's beauty that they decided to dock their ships and stay awhile. In fact, Lafitte set up his headquarters in the old Pirate House a short distance from today's state park. Fast forward to the 1800's and Andrew Jackson labeled the area “Jackson's Ridge” after building a military base there during the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson loved the area so much that he returned after the way and built a house on land that is now Buccaneer State Park. It's interesting to think of the park's fascinating history, but don't expect to see many landmarks of olden days. Hurricane Katrina obliterated most of the park's historic structures courtesy of its nearly 30-foot tidal surge. However, a major renovation project completed in 2013 fully restored the park to its beauty and functionality. With names like Pirate's and Treasure Coves, Jean Lafitte and Royal Cay, today the park includes 206 premium campsites, 70 field campsites and primitive camping spots, many overlooking the bay. If camping is not in your plans or you’re only on the Coast for the day, the park is the perfect place to stop and enjoy a picnic, savor cool bay breezes and enjoy being outside in a natural setting. A minimal fee is charged per visitor; children under 3 get in free. Hike Pirate's Alley Nature Trail, enjoy Jackson's Ridge disc golf, try your luck at fishing and enjoy a meal under one of the pavilions. Reopening Memorial Day weekend will be Buccaneer Bay, a 4.5-acre waterpark; a separate admission fee is charged for this attraction. Located near Buccaneer is the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel, which I featured after a visit last summer. I failed to sample what I soon learned is one of the main reasons locals visit the resort’s Jubilee Buffet – hot funnel cakes topped with powdered sugar and whipped cream. I tried Cajun, Creole, Southern, Asian, Mexican, Italian and other cuisines, along with fresh boiled shrimp and crab legs. But somehow, I overlooked the funnel cake station and instead, chose key lime pie for dessert. Big mistake. Huge. After I told this story - OK, more than once - a friend provided a simple recipe for the fair food treat. Luckily, I had all the ingredients on hand and was able to make my own funnel cake in no time. It was good, but I still plan to visit the Slipper soon to try the buffet’s “famous funnel cakes” for myself. If You Go: What: Buccaneer State Park Where: 1150 S. Beach Blvd, Waveland Contact: 228-467-3822 for more details on hours of operation and fees for activities Easy Funnel Cake (makes two funnel cakes) ¼ cup milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon water ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ¾ teaspoon baking powder 1 pinch salt ½ cup all-purpose flour 4 tablespoons powdered sugar In a large liquid measuring cup or batter bowl with a spout, whisk together milk, egg, water and vanilla. Add sugar, baking powder and salt and whisk until combined. Add the flour, and whisk until completely smooth. Set aside. In a medium, deep-sided skillet, heat an inch of oil to 375 degrees over medium-high heat. When you put the end of a wooden spoon in the pot and bubbles form around the spoon, it's ready. Reduce heat to medium. Drizzle batter from a measuring cup with a spout in a thin circle, overlapping as desired to create a solid cake. Cook for 2 minutes or until light golden brown, then flip and cook another 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and place on paper towel-lined dish. Dust with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and serve. Repeat with the remaining batter. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Having the right information following a disaster makes filing a claim easier and faster. Find your policy information, store it in a safe, waterproof place, and make a digital copy. If you didn't have a home inventory before the storms, make one now to give to your insurance company. Damage caused by tornadoes is covered under standard homeowners and business insurance policies, as well as the optional comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy. Flood insurance requires a separate policy and is not covered by your homeowner policy. "Let your insurance company know the extent of the damage," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. "After tornadoes and other disasters, insurance companies will reach out to those with the worst losses first. If you are not staying on the property, make sure your insurance representative knows where and how to contact you." Follow these steps when filing a claim: Prepare to file an insurance claim by gathering all relevant policy numbers. File your claim as soon as possible. Your policy may require that you make the notification within a certain time period. Be aware, if a widespread disaster has occurred, the company may set up special procedures. Be sure you cooperate fully with the insurance company. Ask what documents, forms and data you will need to file a claim. Keep a record of all conversations with insurance companies, creditors or relief agencies. If your home is damaged to the extent that you can't live there, ask your insurance company if you have coverage for additional living expenses. Take photographs/video of the damage. Inventory your home for damaged or lost items before your adjustor arrives. This will speed up your claim process. Make the repairs necessary to prevent further damage to your property (cover broken windows, leaking roofs and damaged walls). Don't have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs. Be prepared to provide the claims adjuster with records of any improvements you made prior to the damage. Maintain any damaged personal property for the adjuster to inspect. Ask the adjuster for an itemized explanation of the claim settlement offer. Be patient and assist claims adjusters assigned to your case. Small losses may be settled quickly; extensive claims will take longer. Save all receipts, including those from the temporary repairs covered by your insurance policy.

Yes, you failed. It ended badly for you. Bankruptcy, nervous breakdown, divorce, the loss of any relationship with your kids, or maybe a physical adventure that went sideways and ended in you getting to know the fine folks of your local hospital. Endless possibilities come to mind when it comes to the ways we can lose at life. And the loss doesn’t just stop with the actual thing that happened. Like waves from a rock thrown into a pond, the repercussions just keep spreading. The hurt engulfs every part of your life, and it seems the meltdown will never end. After all, each part of our lives is intertwined with all the others. But you already know that, if you’ve ever experienced failure. Financial ruin has intricate veins that stream pain to our emotional well-being, our physical health, and even our belief in ourself. Divorce or extended physical problems? That same network of veins runs full-blast with toxic energy that can damage us in every way possible. So, how do we successfully start over? Well, you’re not reading a column written by a medical expert or a life counselor, so don’t expect professional advice where you can hang your hat and totally relax. But there are a few things that are purely logical, and need to be addressed. First step, admit you failed. Not always an easy thing to do. Pride and self-defense colors good judgement, making it almost impossible to acknowledge the obvious. The favorite words when we fail are usually, “But if” and “It wasn’t really my fault because…” or “If only that other person would have….”   But the thoughts behind those words are painful and obsessive. And ultimately useless. Like hyped-up hamsters on an electric treadmill, they run through your brain and get you nowhere. But admitting your failure to yourself? That’s stepping in the right direction. Secondly, before throwing yourself headlong into proving to you and everyone else that you can succeed, just stop. Take a good look backwards at your life. There are usually some broad indicators of impending disaster when we take the time be dead-level honest. I won’t take up space listing them – an honest and hurting person can spot them in their own life. My last suggestion? After realizing where you went wrong, work at making those changes needed. To loosely quote an old maxim, “Doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results is just dumb.” Relationships do not heal without work. Gutted finances can’t recover without some changes. A physically or emotionally battered and broken body needs healing time, and probably a completely different approach to life in the future. Remember, you may have failed, but you’re not dead yet. You still have time to help yourself learn to succeed. Have the courage to admit your failure, look backward for potholes where you fell, and work at filling them in. Instead of giving in to the temptation to blame someone else.

City of Vicksburg welcomes everyone to come enjoy live music, arts and food at the third annual Vicksburg Arts and Music Festival, April 19-20, 2024. The Festival continues to partner with the Alcorn State University Jazz Festival on Saturday to add a second stage of entertainment. The festival is FREE to attend. We invite people to bring their lawn chairs and picnic blankets to relax on while enjoying the music and food. There will be a variety of vendors inside and outside along with multiple vendors selling food items like fried alligator, BBQ, fish and more! Entertainment will kick off inside with high school and college students performing wonderful jazz at 9am and then the second stage outside kicks off at 12pm. Omega Psi Phi will host a student talent search beginning at 12. Students’ 9th-12th grade are eligible to participate and will be winning cash prizes. Local and regional musicians are invited to a Jam session with Mr. Bud Carson in memory of Mark Doyle beginning at 2pm. Childrens activities include a video gaming trailer and special scaly guests from the MS Natural Science Museum from 2pm-6pm. Featured Musicians: Compozitionz, The Chill, Projekt, Pop Fiction, MS Marshall Deluxe and the legendary Bobby Rush will all perform throughout the festival Friday and Saturday. Event made FREE and possible by the generous support from the City of Vicksburg, Mutual Credit Union, Waterview Casino, Bally’s Casino, grants from Visit Mississippi, Visit Vicksburg and MS Delta National Heritage. Call the VCC office 601-630-2929 or email VCCDirector@vicksburg.org for event information.

By Kara Kimbrough One of the most amazing things about Mississippi is that there’s always a hidden gem just around the corner. A place I didn’t know existed until recently is the amazing Mississippi Armed Forces Museum on the grounds of Camp Shelby just outside of Hattiesburg. If you’re a history buff with special interest in the military, the museum should definitely be on your list of place to visit. Camp Shelby is notable in its own right; the base serves as one of the nation’s largest training sites for National Guardsmen and Reservists from throughout the country. But it’s the museum that attracts tourists to the grounds to view the impressive array of artifacts and memorabilia. The Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby serves as a valuable military history museum, created to honor the servicemen and women of all branches from Mississippi and others who trained there during times of war. The large, modern museum is filled with professional, intriguing exhibits illustrating the personal stories of American heroes who served our country. The museum’s galleries highlight Mississippi’s role in the Armed Forces ranging from the 19th century, World Wars I and II, Korean and Vietnam Wars and global war on terrorism. A collection of over 17,000 artifacts, 5,000 volumes of military history and 40,000 linear feet of archival materials insures this is one museum experience that can never be described as boring. An impressive Hall of Honors pays tribute to Mississippi veterans and the state’s 28 Medal of Honor recipients. A few years ago, the museum’s courtyard was enclosed to showcase additional honors received by Mississippians as well as rotating exhibits. Outdoor exhibits on the grounds of the Museum include memorials and a vehicle park with aircraft, tanks and field artillery. After viewing the museum, it’s never a bad idea to go in search of a good meal in Hattiesburg. One of my newfound favorites is Keg and Barrel. First, don’t let the name fool you. It’s not solely a place known for its spirits. Although alcohol is served, it’s actually the food that put Keg and Barrel on the map, gradually becoming a favorite of residents of all ages due to its consistently above-average food and service. That’s saying a lot considering the fact that Hattiesburg is a college town and medical hub filled with a wide array of restaurants representing many different cuisines. So, yes, despite its name, Keg and Barrel is perhaps best known for its food – and no, I’m not referring to what is typically known “bar food” of nachos and wings. A plethora of creative appetizers, oysters served in a variety of ways, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizzas and entrees await at two Hattiesburg locations. There’s the original Hardy St. East restaurant and my favorite, the convenient-to-drop-in “west” location across from Turtle Creek Mall. K & B offers a variety of delicious appetizers, including debris fries, an overflowing plate of fries topped with roast beef, gravy, sauteed onions and horseradish sauce. The fries and other appetizers are all good choices, but my personal favorite is Greek dip duo. Greek dip duo was temporarily removed from the menu during the pandemic, but due to popular demand from upset customers, it’s back. Homemade hummus and feta dip (the best I’ve ever tasted!) is served with warm pita bread, fresh vegetables and homemade chips. I could almost – and sometimes do- make a meal from this delicious assortment of tangy dip, crisp vegetables and soft pita bread slices. It’s hard to choose just one burger from among of list of creative offerings, but when I’m in the mood for one, I usually order the Keg Stand. It consists of a thick burger topped with cheese, bacon, fried onions and steak sauce on a jalapeno cheddar bun. As I said, there are numerous homemade pizzas, sandwiches, po’boys and other dishes on the menu, but when it’s time for a hearty meal, Keg and Barrel’s entrees won’t disappoint. Hattiesburg hot chicken, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, chicken and waffles and grilled redfish are just a few of the choices. They’re all delicious, but if pressed for a favorite, chicken are waffles is usually my meal of choice. Before heading out of the city, stop by The University of Southern Mississippi and take a selfie or family photo in one of the most beautiful spots in south Mississippi. Right now, the University’s All-American Rose Garden, located at the front entrance of the campus fronting Hardy Street, is at its peak. Over 800 rose bushes in vivid colors of red, pink, coral and other vivid hues are on full display and are free for the viewing (although not clipping, which can trigger a fine.) The rose garden is open to the general public free of charge, seven days a week. After checking in with security at the front entrance and parking, visitors are free around to walk around, admire the blooms and shoot photos. If You Go Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Where: 850 Camp Shelby Training Site Building, Camp Shelby, MS Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; closed Sunday-Monday Admission: Free Contact: 601-558-2757 If You Go: What: Keg and Barrel Where: Two Hattiesburg locations: 1315 Hardy St. and 6 Marketplace Dr. (West) For hours of operation and other information, check out their website: http://www.kegandbarrel.com. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is really a tale of two movies. No, not a Godzilla movie and a King Kong movie, rather a movie that follows the human characters and a movie that follows what the movie calls “Titans.” The human portion is terrible, as is the human contribution to all American Godzilla movies (and I specify “American” because the human element in the recent Japanese installment “Godzilla Minus One” made it one of the best kaiju movies ever made). But the Titan portion makes for one of the best movies of the year. Let’s get the human portion out of the way. Returning Kong expert Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) notices mysterious signals coming from Hollow Earth, the subterranean world where the giant ape lives. Her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), a confidant of Kong’s that communicates with him through sign language, picks up on a telepathic signal as well, one that tells her that Kong is in danger. The government allows Kong to pay a rare visit to the surface to have a tooth fixed by adventurous Dr. Trapper (Dan Stevens), provided he’s kept far away from atomic lizard Godzilla, who lives on Earth fighting dangerous “titans” and desperately wants to throw down with Kong in a battle that will undoubtedly cause massive damage. But the hurt tooth doesn’t explain the alarming signals. It’s time for Andrews to pay a visit to Hollow Earth, along with Jia, Trapper, and unofficial expert Bernie (Bryan Tyree Henry) to find out just how worried mankind needs to be. The humans spout exposition and exchange unfunny banter. The talented Hall is wasted on this stock scientist character. She brings no personality to the action scenes, and the few heartfelt moments with Jia are sincere, but unchallenging. I enjoyed the Trapper character at first, but the movie doesn’t know what to do with Stevens’ effortless charm. Bernie is just plain useless and annoying. The character is supposed to be “comic relief,” but I was far from relieved knowing that he was allowed to pollute this movie with his painful presence. Balancing out the humans is Kong. He befriends a young ape (allegedly named “Suko,” though I don’t think anyone ever calls him that) that has been forced to work as a con artist by his master, the Skar King. The Skar King has laid claim to a world beneath even Hollow Earth, where other apes work as his slaves. His power comes from a crystal that allows him to control ice monster Shimo, against whom the apes have no chance. Kong challenges the Skar King for control of his empire, and the battle comes to the surface, where Kong has to recruit Godzilla to fight Shimo if there’s any hope of bringing the villains down. But Kong and Godzilla aren’t over their own differences yet. Will the “x” in the film’s title come to mean “vs.” or “&”? As with many things in life, the answer lies with Mothra. Almost all of Kong and Godzilla’s scenes play out without human interference, and in fact do not involve dialogue. The fact that the movie can communicate so much without words is highly impressive. As are the anatomy-smashing creature-on-creature action scenes, provided you can turn a blind eye to collateral damage. It’s such a shame that there’s so much to detract from what “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” does right. I can completely understand how some viewers and critics think that the humans are a deal-breaker for this movie as a whole. But just because I understand doesn’t mean I agree. I think that the creatures, especially Kong, successfully offset the humans. It’s close, but Godzilla and Kong manage to not be completely undermined in their own movie. Grade: B- “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is rated PG-13 for creature violence and action. Its running time is 115 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

Join Gaddis and McLaurin's Spring Open House on April 6, 2024, from 7 am to 2 pm! Enjoy buy one get one free on garden plants, indulge in delicious food and beverages, snag fantastic deals, and groove to live music. Don't miss out on this celebration of spring!

Back in the ancient days of Fred Flintstone and no cell phones, when he was a young dad and a wet-behind-the-ears pastor, Andy had a habit. No, not a habit like we refer to today. But he unconsciously used a certain phrase – constantly. “I’m sick and tired of…” was the opening statement to just about anything that bothered him. In or out of the pulpit. Abuse of children, eating English peas, lazy politicians, endlessly freezing weather - you name it. He had a negative opinion and those around him were going to hear it. The day came when he was finally forced to realize how often that pet phrase escaped his lips. One evening as we were driving home from a work engagement, we became absorbed in some world-changing discussion. Our two young sons were playing and arguing in the back of the van, totally ignoring the quiet conversation in the front seats. Or so we thought. Per the usual, in the middle of our discussion Andy finally said, “Well, I for one am sick…” But before he could finish the phrase, our seven-year-old son smoothly and loudly slid in, “and tired!” Busted!! Do we parents realize that the little kids playing in the back of the van have ears that rival twenty-year-old elephants? They somehow have the ability to carry on a yelling match with their brother while at the same time listening to every word coming out of Dad’s mouth – eight feet away. Combine that ability with a child’s built-in belief system that tells them “Mom and Dad are right…period,” and you have a system in place for passing on good and bad tendencies - for generations to come. Awesome and fearful to realize we parents hold such power. Most of us are not continuously reminding ourself that the tiny geniuses sitting in the back seat are learning from us…24/7. But the old statement, “Children learn what they live with” is true. Those young brains are like dry sponges, they absorb everything. And time doesn’t necessarily erase all they experience. Angry words impact your family, as much as happy ones. And that three-foot-tall listening sponge you have in your home will soon become an adult, with all the bad and good of childhood imbedded within. That means all that carping and yelling of his childhood will get passed on to every new little sponge in his own family. With the grandparents of that new generation sadly shaking their heads and wondering, “Why are little Johnny and Janie so sarcastic and hurtful much of the time?” And that generational ball keeps rolling downhill. The Apostle Paul wrote that we “should not allow worthless rotten speech to come out our mouth, but rather that which builds up and shows kindness to the hearer.” Eph. 4:29 You may think no one is learning to mimic the good and the bad in you. But there is always someone. You simply may not realize it. ….Yet.

By Kara Kimbrough Dilemma: a tight budget doesn’t allow room for a flight to an expensive vacation spot. But here’s a thought: there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty, warm sun and cool breezes of spring for the price of a tank of gas. One of the best ways to have fun on a budget is to get outside, roll out a blanket or quilt and enjoy al fresco dining, bird-watching or just plain relaxing. Before jumping ship to another state, take your movable feast to one of Mississippi’s scenic picnic areas and experience our state’s natural beauty while soaking in the sunshine. There are too many to list in one column; here are just a few of Mississippi’s top picnic spots. 1. Visitors from around the world flock here to see it, so it’s only fitting that every Mississippian visit the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum. Located in Tupelo, the small shack where Elvis was born is the first stop, but after touring the museum, chapel and church, a picnic in the 15-acre park filled with a young Elvis statue, fountain and shady areas is in order. It’s the perfect place to relax under the trees, enjoy a meal and revel in the memories of one of Mississippi’s most famous natives. 2. Another famous Mississippian provided a place for fellow residents to study history and picnic on his property. William Faulkner’s home place in Oxford, Rowan Oaks, is a favorite stop for literary buffs, but adjacent Bailey’s Woods offers picturesque picnic spots in a tranquil setting. 3. Speaking of picturesque, nothing fits the bill like a view of the majestic Mississippi River. Thankfully, both Natchez and Vicksburg offer scenic picnic areas overlooking the mighty river. Natchez’ spot is called Bluff Park; Riverfront Park is located in Vicksburg. 4. Jackson’s Metro Area is filled with parks and picnic areas featuring playgrounds, walking trails splash pads and shaded areas. One of my favorites is Madison’s Strawberry Patch Park. Featuring a lake and lots of trees, it’s a small, but quaint spot to roll out a blanket and enjoy a spring day. 5. Daphne Park in Laurel, mentioned on the HGTV show “Hometown,” has been a favorite picnic spot of locals and visitors for decades. Located near the downtown area, it’s massive oaks, old locomotive and quiet picnic spots have entertained outdoor diners since the previous century. 6. Kamper Park and Zoo in Hattiesburg offers a spacious 40-acre park in which to picnic and an adjacent zoo for after-lunch entertainment. It’s a relatively small zoo, but a nice one that's easily navigable when time is short. 7. Last, the Gulf Coast area boasts over 100 parks and picnic areas spread from Jackson County to Harrison, then over the Bay Bridge to Hancock County. My favorite spot is Jones Park in Gulfport, located at the intersection of U.S. Highways 49 and 90. Take your pick of grassy areas shaded by palm trees, dine under the spacious Barksdale Pavilion or stroll out over the sand to the water’s edge, all while enjoying the cool breeze wafting from the gulf. Coming in a close second is the small but picturesque grounds of the historic Depot in Bay St. Louis.  The shaded grassy area surrounding the depot, served the centerpiece for the movie "This Property is Condemned" starring Robert Redford and Natalie Wood. Tables and benches around the duck pond offer the perfect spot for scenic pondside picnics. Whether it’s lunch where Elvis once walked, an afternoon snack under majestic oaks or dinner at the water's edge, nothing is more memorable than time spent outdoors surrounded by Mississippi's natural beauty. Since Vicksburg boasts several perfect picnic spots, I thumbed through the Vintage Vicksburg cookbook to find an appropriate outdoor dining recipe. Served on toothpicks with a side of sauce, Yankee Meatballs would be a perfect addition to any picnic. The irony that a recipe with the work "Yankee" in it made it into a renowned Civil War city’s cookbook doesn’t escape me...but I’m glad it did. Dot Kiely’s Yankee Meatballs 3 pounds hot sausage 1-pound mild sausage 4 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs Mix all ingredients. Shape into small balls. Brown meatballs in skillet; drain well. Serve with sauce. Yankee Sauce 3 cups ketchup ¼ cup brown sugar ½ cup wine vinegar ¼ cup strongly brewed coffee ½ cup soy sauce Combine all sauce ingredients in a skillet and simmer 15 minutes. Add meatballs. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Recipe from Vintage Vicksburg Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

With the arrival of spring, warmer temperatures offer ideal conditions to revitalize your home landscaping or plant your first personal herb garden. Before grabbing that shovel, however, Atmos Energy reminds everyone – homeowners and professional excavators alike – to keep communities safe by contacting 811 prior to starting any excavation project. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines. Every year in April, National Safe Digging Month is an opportunity to spread safety awareness to homeowners, contractors, and any professional excavator. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number, and it is a free and easy service required by law. By making a request online or over the phone by calling 811 a few days before digging, you are helping communities maintain essential utility services, promoting safety, and reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves declared April as “Safe Digging Month,” with a proclamation that reads, in part, "excavators and homeowners can save time and money keeping our nation safe and connected by making a simple call to 811 in advance of any digging project.” The Governor’s Office has issued a similar proclamation for Safe Digging Month each of the past several years. “Whether you are a landscape architect or a ‘do-it-yourselfer,’ if your backyard beautification project requires heavy equipment or power tools, make sure all underground utility lines have been located and marked,” said  Todd Fuller, Manager of Damage Prevention for Atmos Energy in Mississippi.  “National Safe Digging Month reminds us that calling 81l before any digging project is the safest way to avoid damaging your underground utility lines, which could lead to an inconvenient outage.” Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local notification center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Homeowners are further encouraged to take a few precautionary measures when planning any digging project this spring: Plan ahead. If work is scheduled for an upcoming weekend, make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday – providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. Confirm that all lines have been marked. Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. Please visit 811beforeyoudig.com for complete information. As part of National Safe Digging Month, Atmos Energy asks everyone to become a safety ambassador by taking the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge at atmosenergy.com/call811pledge. In addition, the Atmos Energy Damage Prevention Ambassador Program empowers employees year-round to help eliminate pipeline damage by making stops at excavation sites to educate the public and promote safe digging practices. In 29 percent of all stops, Damage Prevention Ambassadors found that excavators did not have a valid 811 ticket, the ticket had expired, or their excavation plan included the use of mechanized equipment within the utility tolerance zone without first exposing the utilities. If pipeline danger exists, the Ambassador is empowered to stop the work, and the excavator is asked to cease digging and call 811 so utilities can mark their lines as required under state law. With an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development, pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks. Atmos Energy has been and will continue to be a champion for damage prevention, and this is yet one more way that Atmos Energy puts its safety vision into practice.

By Mika Hartman It has been in the news a lot about promoting abortion for disabled babies, even in the State of the Union Address. A lady in Texas crossed the border to secure her abortion of her disabled daughter, a daughter she would have kept had no diagnosis been present. Disabled lives matter. We removed God from schools and allowed The Word of God to be abandoned; many have forgotten or were never taught the Bible: Psalm 139:13-14 “For You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; My soul knows it well.” Do you read anywhere in this passage that this only applies to only  “typical” or “healthy” babies? Nope. This applies to ALL. EXTRA Wonderfully Made! All children are unique and special, and everyone is important to God because  Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image. Male and female, He created them. As one mom was searching to murder her unborn child, completely oblivious that her daughter is a gift from God, I am reading about two moms, one I know personally, begging God to give them more time with their beautiful babies. That every second longer they get is precious time. The two babies were both born with disabilities and are both deeply loved. Love will always want more time. Never will you know the time of your last breath, it is only known by God…. Unless you choose to end a life. So if you don’t know, shouldn’t you trust God wholeheartedly and be thankful for His gift of life? If a child is born and only survives minutes or hours, that small time is a gift. If a child surpasses time predicted, that is God, too. It is not our choice… at least it shouldn’t be. Bring God's full truth back, we need Him. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ’Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him. Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. In 2021, I was asked to speak at a Students For Life rally in Jackson. This was before the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The victorious overturning started here in Jackson. Evil will continue to work hard to place in minds that my journey isn’t one that some would want to be on. If you trust God, you’d know He can turn your weakness into power. Hudson is a power all on his own, but he’s also a power to everyone he meets. He fights hard for his victories, he falls and he gets back up, he struggles and smiles simultaneously. He also brings joy to joyful and grumpy people he meets. He starts conversations with strangers. He makes people want to be better. I say he is EXTRA wonderfully made. My speech from November 2021: Hi! Thank you for being here. I am a mom of an amazing boy, Hudson Hartman. Who happens to have an extra chromosome. Maybe you have an extra something, too. An extra dose of sass? An extra ability for patience? Extra long legs? An extra toe, maybe? : ) Whatever it is, if it was able to be diagnosed in utero, I would still want you here. Because what you are is what makes you, you. My Hudson’s “extra” was found at 12 weeks and 5 days. I went in for what I know now was one of the scariest days of my life. Hudson’s ultrasound at 12 weeks and 5 days showed us findings of what is called “soft markers”. We didn’t know yet, boy or girl, but we could see that cutest button nose and that our baby had a thick neck like daddy’s. But, very concerning, I could see the heart blood flow. I knew it should be blue and red, but our baby had purple on the screen. Through these “soft markers” the room went dark, laughter stopped (when you're 41 and pregnant, joking/laughing is a must) but the room was cold. Panic, in and out of the room, new faces coming in, and now the news… we see concerns and you have “options”. I was invited to end Hudson’s life via abortion. A baby with a heartbeat. That can feel pain.  Wow. Well, that was shut down quickly. Umm, we have a baby! Please help us get our baby here safely. That’s all we want to know.  We knew (because my husband is medical) that information about our baby was important and we wanted to learn all we could. So we did the amniocentesis. Only to prepare us. Hardest longest three days ever. My husband was scanning in all of our ultrasound photos, just in case we wouldn’t get many more. The call came: Our BOY has Trisomy 21! The celebration of life went all weekend. We could get him here and love him and kiss him daily.  Our prayers were answered, but we weren’t out of the woods yet. But hearing Trisomy 21 was music to our ears,  a gift and we celebrated. Out of all the trisomy situations, we could begin preparing for Trisomy 21 and a baby that could function outside the womb and lead a beautiful life! But let’s rewind, I was immediately told, with no official proof of diagnosis that I had options. I am getting news that I have never processed before and instead of hearing I have support, I was given an option to end my baby’s life. WHAT?! Abortion would have ripped Hudson limb from limb, and apart from me, his mother, his only safe place. What’s happening at the Supreme Court this year, is monumental, for its potential to finally allow states to protect babies like Hudson from discrimination and violence. Right now, because of Roe v Wade and its companion cases, it is 1000% legal to kill a person based on their disability because they are in utero. It’s also 100% legal to kill babies based on their race, whether they are white or black, their gender, whether they are a boy or girl, and convenience. This has to end. We have to protect them all. Abortion declares who get to live and who doesn’t. Genocide of Hudson’s buddies occurs every single day. 68% of babies with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome get aborted in the US. Down syndrome or Trisomy 21 has this amazing fact: Only 20% of eggs with a 21st chromosome survives the first cell division. Of that 20%, only 20% survive to fertilization. Of that 20%, only 20% actually survive the first cell division following fertilization. These children are miracles and have fought to live every step of the way. We should fight for their chance at the life we all get to live. My son is a hero. A fighter. A miracle. He’s had open heart surgery at 3.5 months old and beat transient leukemia at 4 weeks of life with no medication. He walks, climbs, loves to swing, Hudson has the most powerful kisses and a smile that will change the world. He loves life and faces challenges like a boss! He’s my hero and my life is better because he was born. God makes no mistakes and Hudson, too, was created in His image. For the momma’s out there that may receive a diagnosis like I did: my life is beautiful, fun, rewarding, and exactly what I dreamed of. Hudson is a gift. My gift to learn from and my gift to share. Let’s start saving his unborn best friends… there is strength in numbers. Choose life. We love this life EXTRA big! Mississippi is doing all it can to protect children like Hudson. In Mississippi, because of advocacy from me and other concerned citizen, we have the Human Life Equality Act that protects babies like Hudson, but should it really come down to zip code? Life is the biggest National Treasure we have… not gold, or oil, but human life. Open-mindedness and education will change this conversation. I will close with this: My son, you don’t want to hear this, but he is discriminated against. No different than a baby conceived in rape. The baby is a gift, not the problem. Change your hearts. Prosecute the rapist, not give the child the death sentence. Love the extra your baby has, don’t be fooled by the sadness of the news, the journey is EXTRA amazing. Hudson is a person and he determines his abilities, I am there to be his biggest fan. Love conquers all, not some, or most, but ALL. Thank you.