By Kara Kimbrough Super Bowl 58 has come and gone, quickly replaced last week with Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras hype. But that didn’t stop me from putting into practice some really good tips I picked up at a Super Bowl gathering I attended. Since they’re ones that can be utilized all year, not just during the biggest sporting event of the year, I decided to pass them on to you. It may be too late to recycle this year’s leftovers, but keep these in mind for Super Bowl 59 or this summer’s celebrations: 1.    Leftover dip doesn’t have to be thrown out. Many flavors can be recycled into ingredients for other dishes the following week. Just a small example of the ideas from the dip expert at our party: Use leftover French onion dip as the topping for baked potatoes, fajitas or tacos Need a marinade for chicken before baking or frying? Coat chicken with any sour cream-based dip (after all, it’s similar in nature to buttermilk, a common coating) and marinade for tender, delicious chicken. Plenty of queso left over? Use it to make any cheese-based soup or include in a casserole that calls for cheese in the filling or as a topping Vegetable or Greek dips make the perfect salad dressing, potato salad or slaw. Dilute with lemon juice or vinegar if needed 2.    Chicken wings are always a staple at any Super Bowl party, but despite their popularity, there are usually leftovers. After pulling/shredding the leftover meat, use it to make: *Chicken parmesan over pasta * Chicken taco soup * Chicken fried rice * Chicken quesadillas 3. And last, every Super Bowl party has the requisite vegetable tray that rarely gets eaten. Take all those leftover celery sticks, carrots and broccoli, chop them up and add to salads, soups or place in Ziploc bags and freeze them for the next time you make a recipe that calls for chopped vegetables. One of the best tips I received at the Super Bowl party was from a friend who brought two dishes she said were “inspired” by favorite restaurant appetizers and entrees. I’ve already made my personal favorite, potato skins. I followed my friend’s advice, made a large batch and placed most of them in the freezer. When a craving emerges for the crunchy baked potatoes topped with cheese and bacon, along with sour cream once they emerge from the oven, all I have to do is pull a bag from the freezer. The team I was pulling for didn’t win the Super Bowl, but I left with plenty of useful advice and recipes that “inspired” me much more than anything that took place on the football field. Crispy Loaded Baked Potato Skins 8 medium baking potatoes Tablespoon of vegetable oil Tablespoon of butter, divided Tablespoon each: salt and pepper Cup of shredded Cheddar cheese 8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped Cup of sour cream 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash potatoes thoroughly, then price potatoes with a fork, rub oil over surface and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in 13x9 baking pan and bake for one hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and cut small slice off bottom so potatoes will lay flat. Scoop out middle of potato skins, reserving for another use. Place potato halves back in baking pan, skin sides up, and brush with melted butter. Bake 20-25 minutes until crisp. Turn potatoes over and top with equal amounts of cheese and bacon. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top with sour cream and chives. (To freeze, place in Ziploc bags after baking and freeze for up to 3 months.) Famous Fast Food Restaurant’s Chili 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds ground beef 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 3 (14 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles 1 cup water 2 (1.25 ounce) packages chili seasoning (such as McCormick® Mild Chili Seasoning Mix) 1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans, undrained (optional) 1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained (optional) Salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon white vinegar, or more to taste Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Press ground beef into the hot oil to form one large patty; let the bottom brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir and break browned beef into crumbles. Continue to cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes longer. Stir celery, onion, and bell pepper into beef and cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and water. Break apart large chunks of stewed tomatoes. Stir in chili seasoning. Stir in kidney and pinto beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour. Mix vinegar into chili just before serving. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School will be holding a job fair on February 27 at the Raymond High School. This event will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

By Bob Garver I had high hopes for “Lisa Frankenstein,” whose trailers promised a lead performance from Kathryn Newton (of the gleefully twisted body-switch horror-comedy “Freaky”) and a sick sense of humor that might actually be jarring in a fun way. Then I learned the truth: the movie still stars Kathryn Newton, but it’s rated PG-13. Ugh, what’s with all these movies going for the wrong ratings lately? The R-rated “Anyone But You” didn’t need all that crudeness, it should have aimed for the PG-13 crowd. The PG-13 “Argylle” celebrates blowing away bad guys way too much for anything other than an R to make sense. “Lisa Frankenstein” doesn’t have nearly as high a body count as “Argylle” (in fact, I think some deaths may technically have to be subtracted), but when there’s a body, it counts. “Filming around” certain scenes of sex and violence just makes the movie seem… neutered. I’m especially referring to a scene with an actual neutering. Lisa (Newton), a teenager in 1989, doesn’t fit in. She doesn’t have any friends, save for her unrequited crush Michael (Henry Eikenberry) and well-meaning-but-airheaded stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano). She suffered the horrific loss of her mother a few years ago, and her father married the awful Janet (Carla Gugino), which makes home life miserable. She spends most of her free time between home and school at an abandoned cemetery. Her favorite gravestone features a bust of a handsome young man, and she jokingly wishes that she could join him. Some higher power takes this wish literally, and a magical lightning strike later, a reanimated corpse (Cole Sprouse) is breaking into Lisa’s house. Lisa takes on “The Creature” as a pet project. She helps him wash off centuries of soil, lets him sleep in her closet, and gives him clothes to wear (you better believe there’s a montage of him trying on outfits). He’s still very much suffering the effects of being dead, including missing certain body parts, but he helps her out too, listening to her talk about her problems, playing her songs on the piano (the best scene in the movie is a musical number), and vanquishing her enemies. Lisa has to hide The Creature and their shared misdeeds, and she knows that their relationship can’t last much longer, but maybe it can last just long enough for her to get with Michael? She still wants the heartthrob whose heart can actually throb. I was onboard with “Lisa Frankenstein” for a good chunk of its runtime. The jokes were hitting more than they missed, and I was drawn in by Newton’s performance. Then the serious violence kicked in and Lisa lost her relatability. I feel like the filmmakers misunderstood the praise for Newton in “Freaky.” Yes, she was great as both an awkward teenager and a psychotic serial killer, but those were two different characters. Lisa is an unholy mashup of the two, and while I can certainly understand the complexity of a goody-two-shoes discovering she has a dark side, Lisa goes so dark that she validates everyone who wrote her off as an ostracism-worthy weirdo in the first place. With its focus on the relationship between a healthy, articulate woman and a lumbering, inarticulate Creature, “Lisa Frankenstein” actually reminds me more of 2013’s “Warm Bodies” than any version of “Frankenstein” I’ve seen. If you want a movie where a science project with a tenuous relationship with their creator runs amok and falls in love, go see “Poor Things,” a nominee for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards. There’s a movie that isn’t afraid of an R rating, and it just comes off as more – this phrase seems particularly appropriate – comfortable in its body. “Lisa Frankenstein”: C “Poor Things”: B “Lisa Frankenstein” is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, sexual content, language, sexual assault, teen drinking and drug content. Its running time is 101 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., our precinct caucus meeting will convene. The primary objective of the precinct caucus meeting is to elect delegates and alternates to the Hinds County Democratic Convention. We will also be discussing polling issues and resolutions as it pertains to the Democratic Party. If you care about your community, I highly encourage you to attend this meeting.

If you are in the habit of consulting only yourself, trusting your own instincts and believing that you will know in your heart what to do when the time comes, then you have a big problem. In Proverbs 28:26, the Bible says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” Translated into plain 2024 English? “You can’t trust your heart to always tell you the truth. It lies.” So, if we can’t believe in our self completely, then when it is time to make a decision, who or what are we supposed to trust to help us? Just what exactly is your ‘heart’ anyway? What is ‘walk wisely?’ And why would your own self lie to yourself? And why should you trust the Bible to give you perfect advice? Good questions. We all have been taught to ‘trust our gut instincts.’  To ask ourself, “What is my heart telling me to do?” Even if you walk into a counselor’s office and ask for help, you will find that counselor has been trained to ask you questions that will help you to realize where your real problem lies, so that you can find solutions yourself. And that is helpful, after all, most of the time we don’t even have a clue what is really bugging us. Remember the adage, “The problem is not the problem?” That is absolutely true in most cases. But, yet, the Bible does make a point that we dare not ignore. (After all, the Bible is the written word of our Creator - does anyone really dare tell Him, “Butt out, You don’t have a clue what I am trying to do with my life.”) So, how do we balance (A) Getting to truly know ourselves, with (B) Believing what the Creator is telling us? My answers. The heart? The ‘heart’ is the seat of your emotions, and both your Creator and Satan have access to it. That is the reason you dare not trust your emotions completely. Walking wisely? That means following what your Creator has taught in His written word. Because Satan doesn’t have the power to corrupt what the Bible says.  Counseling? Find a friend/pastor/counselor who knows the heart does lie, but the Bible doesn’t. And then start talking, and listening. When you have decisions to make, listen closely to your emotions, but don’t be governed by them. They can easily lie to you. It’s better to kick your emotions over to the curb, run everything through the filter of God’s Word, and don’t be afraid to consult good counselors in your life. Way too often people believe their lying heart will put them on the right path. And then they end up on a side road, bogged down in a muddy mess. Because the heart may be right - or it just may be wrong.

Do you find yourself worried about the issue of trash in and around Hinds County? If so, we invite you to participate in an important community meeting with Supervisor Anthony Smith and WM Waste Management. Date: February 15th Time: 6:00 PM Location: Mt. Olive M.B. Church Address: 6449 W. Northside Drive, Bolton, MS Pastor: Wayne Moore, Jr. This meeting presents a valuable opportunity to address concerns about trash management and discuss potential solutions together. Your presence and input are highly appreciated as we work towards a cleaner and more sustainable community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Students across Mississippi are invited to get outdoors and participate in the 2024 Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest, sponsored by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. The contest is open to youth who are enrolled in public, private and parochial schools, as well as those in accredited home schools, after school programs or scouts. To enter, each student must submit a portfolio including entry form and artwork depicting a Mississippi native fish or wildlife species. Artwork must be the original work of the student and may be any medium or mixture of medium. Chalk and lead creations must be sealed with adhesive. Entries must be sent or delivered to the Visitor Education Center (VEC) in Enid, Mississippi, by May 10 and are limited to one piece per youth. Winners in four age categories will have their work published in the Mississippi Outdoors magazine and will receive a complimentary copy of the magazine displaying their work. First, second and third place winners will be chosen. Winners will also receive gift cards and have their work posted on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ website. For more information and entry details, visit MDWFP.com, or call the VEC at 662-563-8688.

By Kara Kimbrough There’s a good chance you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day or maybe the weekend following the day when a special meal of some kind is required with your significant other. Even if it’s too late to make a restaurant reservation, there are still a few options left to create a special meal. First, if you’re on a strict budget, you can always go to Sonic (yes, you read that right). Supposedly Reba McIntire’s post that Sonic’s #1 Cheeseburger would be her last meal on earth if given the chance caused the chain to create a special Sweetheart Meal at a reduced price for this week. Included are a cheeseburger, tater tots and strawberry shake. McIntire has even announced she and her boyfriend will celebrate Valentine’s Day at the fast-food place. I’m not sure if I believe that, but it does make for a great story. If a fast-food burger and fried tots is not your idea of a special meal, there are still quite a few options from which to choose to create a memorable dinner, even at this late date. If you’re newly-married, do what one of my friends did and recreate a romantic dinner enjoyed during your honeymoon. When all else fails, throw a juicy steak on the grill, bake a potato (a fancy one) and pick up a heart-shaped cake from the local bakery or supermarket. Not only it is easy to pull off a special dinner in no time, but there’s less stress and usually a significant cost savings over dining out on one of the most expensive nights (or weekends) of the year. Here are three of my favorite “special occasion” recipes for a steak dinner that won’t disappoint…and who knows, it may become the requested meal of your special person when Valentine’s Day rolls around next year. Valentine’s Night Steaks for Two Marinate two thick cuts of sirloin (or your favorite cut) steak for several hours (or shorter if you wait until last minute) in the refrigerator with: 1 medium bottle of teriyaki steak sauce Juice of 2-3 lemons Salt and pepper to taste Remove from refrigerator and top with 1-2 tablespoons of butter. Grill or broil to desired level of doneness. Let meat rest before slicing. Recipe doubles easily. Twice-Baked Potatoes for Two Bake two large baking potatoes. Scoop out inside, leaving a small border of potato around edges. Add to the potato filling: Small container of French Onion Dip 1-2 tablespoons of butter 2 tablespoons of bacon bits ¼-1/2 cup shredded cheese Stir well and return to potato skins; top with cheese. Place under the broiler for a few minutes until insides are heated through; don't overcook. Air Fryer Mini Chocolate Pudding Cakes 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons milk 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Topping: 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa Whipped topping, optional Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla until smooth. Spoon into 2 lightly greased 4-ounce ramekins. Combine brown sugar and cocoa; sprinkle over batter. Place ramekins on tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, with whipped topping if desired. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

More than 1,400 Mississippians used the Life Insurance Policy Locator to find lost life insurance policies valued at more than $41 million in 2023. The Life Insurance Policy Locator is a free tool, maintained by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Since it’s inception in 2016, the program has found more than $94 million for Mississippians. “I think Valentine’s Day is a good reminder to show your loved ones that you care by purchasing life insurance,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “Life insurance protects your family financially.” Each year, millions of dollars in life insurance benefits go unclaimed by beneficiaries who can’t find their loved ones’ policies or in some cases may not even know the policies exist. That’s where the Life Insurance Policy Locator comes in. To locate a lost policy, go to https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/#/welcome or if you need assistance in locating a lost policy, you can contact the Mississippi Insurance Department at 601-359-2453 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov

A combination of labor market deregulation, inward investment and tax cuts seems to be transforming Mississippi for the better.  Our state is no longer a place that people leave, but somewhere people move to in search of new opportunities.  What can we do to ensure that more people in Mississippi take full advantage of those job opportunities? It is not enough to merely talk about opportunities.  With 80,000 job vacancies right here, right now, there are opportunities to work all around us.  The issue is why some folk aren’t taking the opportunities that are there.  Some have suggested that we hire more career counsellors in high schools.  I am certain that career counsellors do a wonderful job, but if that is the only policy solution, I suspect labor force participation will remain low.  If we are going to increase workforce participation, we need to ask difficult questions about welfare.  Does welfare create disincentives against work? Mississippi has a population of 2.95 million.  Approximately one in five (19 percent) live below the poverty line (calculated as the minimum income needed to get by with the bare essentials.) The way in which the myriad of assistance programs impacts the half a million plus people below the poverty line matters, and needs to be properly understood if we are to improve workforce participation. Welfare programs can have unintended consequences, and one of them is the creation of so-called ‘benefit cliffs’.  A benefit cliff is what happens when someone loses benefits if their income increases, but the benefits they lose outweigh the additional income gained. Given the maximum income thresholds allowed, we know, for example, that if someone’s monthly income went from $400 a month to $410 a month, they would no longer qualify for some Temporary Assistance programs. If your income rose above $1,215 a month, you could lose the right to claim Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  When your income per person goes over $19,392 a year, you may no longer qualify for Medicaid (although the ‘cliff’ cut-off is not always as abrupt as is sometimes supposed).  Take into account the different benefit cliffs, and you could have a powerful range of disincentives. Even if a person was notionally better off when holding down a 35 hour week job, the time and effort it would take for a relatively modest increase in income might leave some feeling having a job was not worth it. It has been suggested that benefits do not create a problem of ‘cliffs’, but of straight forward dependency.  They point out, for example, that those on food stamps are not those hovering on the edge of the labor market, but full-time welfare dependents.  There may be some truth in that, too. So, what is the solution? The answer to benefit ‘cliffs’ is not to increase welfare payments in order to remove disincentives, but to institute more stringent work requirements for those on welfare programs. In Arkansas under Sarah Huckabee Sanders, anyone that fails to accept a suitable job within five days of being offered one, or who fails to show up for job interviews without notice, can now lose their benefits. If we are serious about increasing workforce participation, we may well need to implement something similar. Douglas Carswell is the President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office (SOS) is seeking high school seniors with a passion for leadership and state government to apply for the agency's 2024-25 Student Ambassador Program. The program aims to increase voter education and registration among youth and encourages students to engage in Mississippi civics. “Our Student Ambassador program remains one of the most rewarding and impactful programs we have instituted since taking office. While it serves as an opportunity for students to cultivate affinity for public service and expand leadership skills, more importantly, it provides us an opportunity to invest in and mentor the next generation of Mississippi leaders," said Secretary of State Michael Watson. Components of the program include a fall summit in Jackson focused on the state's elections process; a spring summit in Jackson focused on the state's legislative process; two regional summits with locations to be determined; and monthly virtual trainings and educational sessions with SOS representatives and various government officials. To be considered for the SOS Student Ambassador Program, students must be a high school senior during the 2024-25 academic year; have a grade point average of 3.0 or above; prove satisfactory behavioral conduct; and have a strong interest in state government and service. The deadline to submit an application is March 31, 2024. Applications, available at www.SoS.MS.gov include an online form, two references, and a 300- to 600-word essay response on the topic of the Mississippi Brain Drain. For more information, contact the SOS External Affairs Division at ExternalAffairs@sos.ms.gov or 601-359-6383.

Kameron Jeffreys and Ginny Mae Purvis represented Central Hinds Academy at the state capital this week. They had a great experience serving as pages in the House of Representatives during the legislative session.