Walmart invites Mississippi residents to get a healthy start to the new year with the first Wellness Day of 2024, happening this Saturday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Customers can receive free glucose, cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure screenings as well as affordable immunizations like COVID-19, flu, RSV, tetanus, hepatitis, HPV and more at pharmacies nationwide. Walmart is collaborating with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to educate Mississippi communities about Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. According to the ACS, Mississippi ranks last of all states for 1st dose of HPV vaccine for 9–12-year-olds (56.2%). ACS volunteers will also be on hand at select Walmart stores in Mississippi to share educational materials on HPV as part of Wellness Day. Interview availability: Local Walmart pharmacists can be made available for interviews on or before Saturday, Jan. 20 to discuss its importance and impact on Mississippi communities. Additionally, in-store giveaways and demos of nutrition, lifestyle and wellness products will be available at select stores. Please see additional information on Walmart’s Newsroom and visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub to find a local Wellness Day near you.

By Bob Garver Of all the pop culture institutions to be cancelled, ended, or otherwise shut down by the pandemic in 2020, the permanent closure of the “Mean Girls” Broadway musical was perhaps the one that disappointed me the most. I’m not sure why it wasn’t brought back post-pandemic – ticket sales had clearly been healthy enough to keep me from scoring cheap seats during its two-year run – all I knew was that the show was gone and I had missed all 833 chances to see it live. But then a ray of hope appeared when it was announced that the musical, which itself was based on the 2004 movie, which itself was based on a book, was going to become a movie. I immediately got my hopes up, this movie would be the payoff to six long years of waiting. With my expectations that high, is it any wonder I found the movie disappointing? The story follows shy teenager Cady (Angourie Rice) as she navigates her first high school in the United States after moving from Kenya with her mother (Jenna Fischer). She’s a great academic, impressing her math teacher Ms. Norbury (Tina Fey, who played the role in the original film and is the writer of all three versions of the property), but lacking in social graces. Outcasts Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey) invite her to be their lunchroom companion, but she can’t help but be drawn to the ultra-popular Plastics clique, led by the domineering Regina George (Renee Rapp). Regina and the Plastics are surprisingly receptive to Cady and invite her to join the group. She isn’t really comfortable around the chic Regina and her friends, busybody Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and vacuous Karen (Avantika), but Janis convinces her that it will be so fun to infiltrate the group and report back on how catty and ridiculous they are. This of course makes Cady and Janis just as catty and ridiculous as the Plastics, but they don’t pick up on it until it’s too late. Meanwhile, Cady develops a crush on Regina’s ex Aaron (Christopher Briney), and when she learns that Plastics rules forbid dating him, she schemes to work around the system, manipulate Aaron into liking her, and usurp Regina’s popularity. In other words, she takes to being a “mean girl” more easily than she thought possible. The musical numbers are certainly fun, if not particularly memorable. It’s hard not to get swept up in just how endearingly dramatic these kids are, which the singing and dancing compliment perfectly. I have no problem believing that this movie will create just as many breakout stars as the 2004 film. But seeing them on a cramped set isn’t the same as seeing them on a nice open stage. There are sequences in houses and classrooms that are undeniably impressive and no doubt a lot of hard work went into them, but that’s the problem, it’s hard not to think about how much work went into them. Somehow it’s perfectly believable that these characters would break into song and dance, but I have a hard time believing that they would choose to do this much limb-flailing choreography in such a tight space. I think the bigger problem with this version of “Mean Girls” is that it may be too soon to remake a movie from 2004, even with the change-up of musical numbers. The original is so fresh in the audience’s mind that they know the progression of the story and in some places can quote the dialogue word-for-word, which includes stepping on some integral punchlines. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows (as the school’s principal) reprise their roles without singing, and it’s less a welcome nostalgia act and more of an unflattering copy. Still, I’d like to see the movie become a hit, partly because I want to reward its infectious energy and partly because I’d like to see it lead to a revival of the Broadway show so I can finally see the musical the way it was intended. Grade: C “Mean Girls” is rated PG-13 for sexual material, strong language, and teen drinking. Its running time is 112 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Most Valuable Player. Depends upon the perspective and opinion of the person watching the game. Does he believe that it should be the player who scored the most points? Or is he of the opinion that the MVP can be a player who kept successfully setting up the offense for the one who did all the scoring? Or maybe, it might be the clever and creative coach behind the scenes who taught those players how to be winners? An MVP winner is a varied and ever-moving target – largely depending on the one who is speaking. But what about the MIP – which one should be called the Most Irrelevant Player of the game? You can certainly gather a range of passionate answers to that one. Usually based on expectations that were left laying in the mud on the field. When a person has a firm opinion of how a position should be played and the player…ummmm, doesn’t, that alone can bring on a verbal attack of “MIP of the Game.” Even though the player may have played his position exactly as his coach asked of him for that particular game day. So, to me, these two categories of award winners, MVP and MIP, are pretty nebulous, as they are based upon the beliefs, expectations, and whims of the voter. And yet, those titles bestowed upon an estactic MVP winner or a dejected MIP have enormous power. Power to bolster someone’s self-esteem and public popularity. To say nothing of monetizing.  Or conversely, power to harm the player’s belief in himself and also leave him wide open to public resentment and ridicule. All founded upon the varying opinions of the spectators. And their wildly varying degrees of education, training and experience.  My personal opinion? MVPs and MIPs awards are influenced by way too many variables to even be considered as viable to an objective and intelligent person. Considering the inherent negative power they hold, they should be considered as ‘dangerous weapons only to be used sparingly.’ Yes, I am aware, by now many of you are yelling “If a kid is the winner, then acknowledge him as the winner! Quit being someone who encourages kids to be “Snowflakes!” I agree, we don’t need snowflakes who can’t stand up to the heat of being a loser, who have to be protected from the pain of not winning. Not what I’m talking about. I am simply saying that MVP and MIP are extremely subjective. It all depends upon the speaker – the one who has the most powerful lungs and the largest audience. The players those particular loudmouths nominate can easily become the winners of MVP or MIP. If you have a group who listens avidly to your opinion, be careful. You carry a very big stick and even bigger sway. Sway for which the passing of time will hold you accountable. Use your opinions and your influence wisely. And I’m not simply referring to sports, but you knew that.

By Kara Kimbrough Just when I think there's no way on earth anyone can create a new recipe, the internet surprises me. I own and regularly peruse many cookbooks, but similarly spend time checking out "trending" recipes online and on social media sites. Unbelievably, new and in some cases, recycled recipes pop up almost every day, including what seems like hundreds of ways to make salads, a favorite of Gen X cooks and fledgling chefs. Speaking of salads, ideas that I've actually used include grating raw Brussels sprouts and kale to combine with tastier greens like iceberg and Romaine lettuce and using a mandolin to chop lettuce into small pieces reminiscent of restaurant salads. A simple yet "recycled" way to make a loaded salad includes laying a bowl with greens, protein, vegetables, dried cranberries, chopped fruit and favorite crunchy toppings like croutons and won ton strips, then shaking everything together in a sealed bowl after applying dressing. Here are three of the best of many "recycled" recipes I've tried in the past week. After trying them, you'll probably agree that, "Everything old is new again." 2024's Take on Egg Sandwich (Perfect breakfast sandwich "to go" or quick meal) 1 tablespoon butter 2 eggs beaten 2 slices bread 1/4 cup shredded cheese 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped ham Cook and crumble bacon and set aside. Place butter into a small non-stick frying pan and heat over medium heat until melted. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl and pour over butter. Cook eggs until almost done.  Place 2 bread slices on top of the eggs and press into eggs, coating both sides. After cooking another minute or two, carefully flip the combined bread and eggs over. Fold the overlapping egg onto the bread slices. Top eggs with shredded cheese and cooked bacon. Cook for a minute or two, pressing lightly with a spatula, until the bread is toasted on top and bottom. Serve immediately while hot. 30-Minute One-Pot Cajun Pasta 1-pound smoked sausage 1/2 onion, chopped 1 teaspoon minced garlic ½ teaspoon each: cayenne pepper, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, garlic salt, smoked paprika, thyme leaves, ground black pepper 2 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 1 cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup of it reserved in separate measuring cup 2 cups penne pasta Slice sausage and place in large skillet or saucepan with a little vegetable oil; brown in oil over medium heat under done, then remove sausage from pan and set aside. In pan drippings, add chopped onions and garlic; cook over low heat until onions are translucent. Add chicken broth, cream, ¾ cup of cheese and all seasonings; stir well and then add dry pasta. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until pasta is done. Then add cooked sausage and top with remaining ¼ cup cheese. Stir and serve. Famous Fast-Food Burger Salad Salad: ½ head (or more) of iceberg lettuce, sliced then and diced into small pieces or strips Burger Sauce: 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup plain yogurt 1 tablespoon tomato paste Heaping tablespoon honey Dijon mustard 3 finely diced pickles (or substitute 1-2 tablespoons of relish 1-2 tablespoons pickle juice (or relish juice) Burger: 1-pound lean ground beef 2 teaspoons vegetable or olive oil 1/2 finely diced onion 2 chopped garlic cloves Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese Slice and dice iceberg lettuce and place it in a large bowl; refrigerate. Mix all of the ingredients for the sauce and place in refrigerator. (double recipe if you want to serve extra sauce on the side). In a pan on medium high heat, heat the oil. Add ground meat and brown until pink color is gone and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper and add onions and garlic; sauté for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent. Add the cheese and turn heat off.  Once the cheese melts, make the salad by topping lettuce with meat mixture, then the burger sauce. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

As the forecast calls for extreme winter weather to arrive in the coming days, Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging our employees across our system. Colder weather may impact the amount of natural gas you use. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes may produce a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and conserve energy this winter: Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home. Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object. Call Atmos Energy's Emergency Number, 866.322.8667, if you have concerns about your meter. Make sure external vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment are clear. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas. If you have questions about proper venting, contact a licensed plumber or qualified contractor. Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside. Save money and energy by setting your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home (where safe to do so). If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667. These tips and more are available on our Storm Center page at atmosenergy.com. Although natural gas outages are infrequent, if you experience loss of natural gas service or low gas pressure, contact the Atmos Energy emergency line at 866.322.8667 – agents are ready to assist 24/7. Atmos Energy will communicate regularly with customers and communities before, during, and after extreme weather events. To sign up for text alerts, adjust your notification preferences in the Account Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on our website at atmosenergy.com for continued safety and weather preparedness information.

Join us this Sunday, January 14 at 3pm as we launch Second Sunday at St Mary’s Bolton 2024 with one last visit from Bishop Seage. A reception follows in the Terry Brantley Parish House.

By Bob Garver For the first time since the pandemic, January means the release of a terrible horror movie in “Night Swim.” Actually, the pandemic only really affected January horror in 2021. It’s just that with January 2022 bringing us that nifty “Scream” reboot and January 2023 giving the world the instantly-iconic “M3GAN,” I can’t say that the horror in those years was terrible. But now we’re back to January being a dumping ground for pathetic leftovers that couldn’t cut it at Halloween. Following a perfunctory kid-gets-taken opening, we’re introduced to the Waller family. Like many families at the openings of horror movies, they’re looking for a new house. Father Ray (Wyatt Russell) had his baseball career cut short by a case of multiple sclerosis and the family needs a place where they can put down roots while he figures out the next chapter in his life. They decide against a house that suits his medical needs and instead pick one where he falls and injures himself in the backyard pool upon first visiting. I was ready to attack the believability of this decision, but then I remembered that my parents still live in the house where I burned my finger on an active iron on our first walk-through. Some extensive repairs and bad experiences with brown water later, and the pool is ready to go. Ray benefits from it the most as he engages in water therapy. The spring-fed water is helping his body heal remarkably well, and he may even be able to salvage his baseball career. Too bad everyone else isn’t enjoying the pool as much. Mother Eve (Kerry Condon) thinks she sees someone in the pool, but everyone is in bed. Son Elliot (Gavin Warren) hears the voice of the girl from the opening and something grabs his hand while swimming. Daughter Izzy (Amelie Hoeferle) is attacked by a zombie-like creature and is pulled into an alternate dimension below the floor of the pool. So… haunted pool movie. It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea of a haunted swimming pool. I’ve enjoyed plenty of haunted house movies, it doesn’t matter that this one localizes things in the backyard. Plus, a pool has a size advantage on any human villain, as well as any beast smaller than a kaiju. But if the pool is to be considered a character, then it’s a badly-written one. Its motivations and rules are murkier than the sludge stuck in its filter. We supposedly get some answers in a goofy, hurried scene of exposition late in the film, but it’s so nonsensical that the entire sequence could have been cut and I would have respected the movie for its brevity. One of the film’s few critical defenders (in that she gave it a somewhat positive two-and-a-half-star review) is Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com, who says that the pool “eats” people. No wonder she halfway likes the movie, that’s a pleasing justification: the pool needs to eat, that’s why it’s so malevolent. But no, that’s not what the pool is doing. It’s sucking people into an alternate dimension and they can never return home, but I’m not getting “eaten” from that. If the pool is meant to be eating people, then the movie is doing such a bad job of communicating this concept that I feel the need to argue with a professional critic saying that it is. The problems with “Night Swim” go far beyond the pool itself. This is a bland, unoriginal horror movie with dull characters and even duller scares. There’s a scene late in the film where a villain is stalking a protagonist and calls out, “Marco!” After a few forced moments of suspense, the villain pops out and yells, “You’re supposed to say ‘Polo!’” The film thinks that five-word, six-syllable phrase makes for an effective jump scare. That’s this movie’s sense of timing in a nutshell. Even though I don’t think the pool of “Night Swim” eats its victims, I do invite the movie overall to eat me. Grade: D “Night Swim” is rated PG-13 for terror, some violent content and language. Its running time is 98 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has confirmed a second pediatric influenza death in Mississippi for the 2023-2024 flu season. A pediatric death is defined as the death of an individual under 18 years of age. The MSDH does not provide details of the specific age, gender, or location of the death out of respect and privacy for the family. The patient in this case had not received a flu vaccine for the 2023-2034 flu season. “We highly encourage people to get a flu shot. A vaccination won’t necessarily keep you from getting the flu, although it can reduce your risk of infection and is the best protection to keep you from a severe outcome,” said Interim State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Taylor. “With a few months left in this season, we recommend everyone six months of age and older consider a flu and COVID-19 vaccination.” Flu season typically peaks in January through March in Mississippi, and the flu shot usually takes up to two weeks to produce immunity. Flu shots for those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program are available at County Health Departments. Insurance, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are also accepted for children’s flu shots. A list of all VFC providers can be found at www.msdh.ms.gov/vfc. Adults who are underinsured or uninsured and who meet certain high-risk criteria qualify for an adult flu vaccination at MSDH county health department clinics. Flu shots for insured adults are widely available through private physicians, pharmacies, and retail centers. While vaccination is the best protection against flu, there are other things you can do to reduce the spread of flu whether you are vaccinated or not. These measures include: Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Staying at home when you or your children are sick. Washing your hands frequently and keeping them away from your face. Individual flu cases are not reported to MSDH. The agency monitors flu activity through the ILI System, made up of healthcare providers in Mississippi who report the percentage of patients with flu-like symptoms to a statewide database.  Providers participating in the system also submit respiratory samples for flu testing to the MSDH Public Health Laboratory. State health officials use this information to determine the presence and spread of flu throughout the state. For more information on the flu, please visit our website at www.msdh.ms.gov/flu.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is inviting high school juniors and seniors interested in health care careers to save the date for an outreach program called Exploring Health Care Pathways. The event, which is free, will be held in the School of Medicine on the UMMC campus from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on February 24. It offers 11th and 12th graders across Mississippi the opportunity to learn more about health care professions from faculty, staff, and students representing UMMC’s various health science schools. They will also discuss Information about admission requirements, educational background for each program and opportunities for funding. Students may click on this link to sign up. Exploring Health Care Pathways is the creation of the Office of Admissions and the Improving Primary Care for the Rural Community through Medical Education (IMPACT the RACE) Program at UMMC. For more information, call  (601) 984-50

Have you ever had a bad day, when everything you touched just soured? Sure, we all have had those kinds of days, nothing new to any of us. And when you had one, didn’t you find that it was difficult to be a sweetheart to everyone around you? After all, living twenty-four hours in the pits doesn’t exactly make you feel like being The Perfect Parent/Spouse/Employee. Probably, more than likely people avoided you like the plague, to evade getting bombarded by the toxic words spewing out of your mouth. And even when you came back to normal, your family and co-workers undoubtedly felt like they needed to throw a white flag into the room before they entered, to see if it turned brown before they risked walking in themselves.  Not a pretty thought, is it? And that is my point. When bad days make you act like the south end of a north-bound donkey, you aren’t just hurting the people around you. You are hurting ‘the you’ that has to live with the long memory of just how badly you behaved. And that is no fun. If by some weird chance you don’t believe me, try this. In your head, create the next twenty-four hours. A full day when you deliberately let your guard down. When you let yourself act and speak like a complete jerk. When you’re unconcerned about your loved one’s hurt feelings as you make cruel fun of them. Carelessly and deliberately damage someone’s reputation by passing along juicy and completely false gossip about them. Yell mercilessly at your kids and watch the stricken look on their faces. For good measure, kick your kitty or puppy three feet ahead of you as you stomp into the bedroom to pick a fight with your spouse. Then, when you have mentally destroyed those twenty-four hours, stop and rethink that daydream. How would you feel if you actually acted it out? Lousy and ashamed, you say? I would agree with you, you jerk. Folks, being the previously mentioned donkey body-part creates two huge permanent problems. For the people around you who were treated so callously, as you would have probably caused them emotional scars. And also for the future you, who has to live with the memories of your shame and embarrassment. Because memories, especially the painful ones, have a very long shelf life. Something about acting like a jerk and a fool has tremendous staying power when it comes to trying to forget. Even when you beg for forgiveness from the very people you hurt, and they graciously give you what you don’t deserve, you can be haunted by a memory that never seems to fade away. Surfacing in your thoughts when you lay awake at night. Or popping up unexpectedly when that loved one is sitting quietly by your side. Not worth it, folks. Bad memories live forever, so do your best to make ones that don’t hurt.

Below freezing temperatures, ice and snow could damage your roof and plumbing. Severe weather could also mean a high number of insurance claims. Avoid claim denials by taking action now. If you plan to be away from home during the next week, leave the heat on, cover outdoor faucets and wrap pipes. Many insurance policies do not provide coverage for frozen pipes and other damage in homes that are no longer occupied or that are vacant. "For example, if you've listed your home for sale, moved out and turned off the heat, then the pipes freeze and burst, the insurance company could deny your claim because you did not take the proper steps to protect the home," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. "Now is the time to reach out to your insurance agent to talk about what your policy covers." The Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) recommends these tips ahead of extreme cold weather: To minimize the risk of frozen and cracked pipes, detach garden hoses from your home before freezing weather begins and properly winterize your home and irrigation systems. To protect interior pipes, leave your faucet running with a slight drip and open the cabinet doors under your sinks. Look at the trees around your property and cut back branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. Clearing the debris from your gutters will help prevent ice dams by allowing meltwater to drain freely. Use a safe and secure ladder when removing leaves and debris from gutters or contact a professional to assist you. Evaluate the insulation and ventilation (roof or soffit vents) in your attic, keeping the warm air in your home and out of your attic.

If you’ve already deviated from your health resolutions for 2024, the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health invites you to attend their FREE Health and Wellness Fair. The event will be held at Word and Worship Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2024.  Word and Worship is located at 6286 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, MS. Attendees will have the opportunity to undergo blood pressure, glucose, and mental health screenings. Additionally, resources on COVID-19, tobacco cessation, and chiropractic services will be provided. Free HIV tests (in-person and self-test kits) and massage therapy will also be available. Dr. Sandra C. Melvin, CEO of the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, stressed the significance of residents knowing their vital health statistics. "These complimentary health screenings serve as a crucial, initial step towards achieving positive wellness outcomes," she stated. The event is made possible through collaboration with the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, Jackson Free Clinic, Body in Balance Healthcare, the Tobacco Coalition, Southern Health Alliance, CLM, and Word and Worship Church. Contact Yolanda Raymond at yraymond@advancingminorityhealth.org or (769) 572-5263 for more information.