The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, invites the public to the annual Pumpkin Adventure on October 11-14, 18-21 and 25-28. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with extended hours for family days on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Museum's Pumpkin Adventure will include a hayride around the museum grounds and Small Town, Miss., a complimentary snack of cookies and milk, a self-guided tour of the Heritage Center Gallery, two corn pits to play in, a straw maze and a small pumpkin of choice to take home. The General Store will also be open for visitors to shop for souvenirs or to enjoy an old-fashioned Coca-Cola in a glass bottle. Admission price for the annual Pumpkin Adventure is $10.00 per person. Children age 1 and under are admitted free of charge. Concessions are available for purchase on Saturdays during this event. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org [1] or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum's page on Facebook.

By Benjy Hamm Director, Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky Nearly 220 million American adults turn to their local newspapers regularly for news and information they need to stay informed, feel more connected to their neighbors and improve their lives and communities. That readership number is based on a recent national study by independent research firm Coda Ventures for the America’s Newspapers organization. Most likely, the number of readers is higher. Many people who say they receive news on their phone or from social media instead of newspapers fail to understand that the sources for those stories are often journalists at U.S. newspapers. We sometimes take the work of journalists for granted, but those who work at newspapers are filling an important role in the health of our communities and country. Everyone, even nonreaders, benefits from the work of journalists. News coverage has led to improvements in food safety, decreases in traffic and plane fatalities, better care for veterans and nursing home patients, support for victims of natural disasters, and exposure of all sorts of wrongdoing. I have long loved this quotation by Frank Batten Sr., a media visionary and former chairman of Landmark Communications, who said about journalists and newspapers: “Our calling was never more important. We have the capacity to inform, to enlighten, to awaken and to inspire. We have the opportunity to enrich the lives of thousands of people every day.” Across the United States, journalists and other newspaper employees are serving their communities and democracy every day by informing, enlightening, awakening and inspiring millions of readers. The news they provide is accessed in many forms. Many people still use the word newspaper as the all-encompassing term for those various forms, but now news is delivered news through websites, social media, electronic editions, email alerts and newsletters, in addition to the traditional printed paper. Those delivery methods have changed significantly in recent years. But one thing remains constant: Americans depend on the trusted news coverage provided by newspapers. The study by Coda Ventures, based on surveys of 5,000 people, revealed that respondents ranked local newspapers and their websites as the most accurate sources of original news reporting. The results also listed the top five reasons Americans seek out local news – to stay informed, feel connected in the community, decide where they stand on local issues, find places and things to do, and talk to other people about community news. Survey respondents consistently said they prefer newspapers in print and digital formats over TV, radio and social media as their main source for news and information important to them. They like the fact that newspapers use different ways to deliver their news stories to various audiences. The survey showed that people who are 39 and younger listed social media as the No. 1 way they prefer to access news, though they also like news websites and email alerts. People in the 40 to 74 age group ranked news websites as their top choice, followed by email alerts and the printed newspaper. Those 75 and older prefer the print edition but also like news websites and email alerts. Based on the frequent reports of struggles within the news business, many people might be surprised to learn that newspapers and their digital offerings reach so many readers. Those struggles, primarily financial, are real and affect many media companies, not just newspapers. But the new ways of delivering news allow newspapers to reach even larger audiences. Frank Batten might not have anticipated the widespread use of the internet and social media when he first made his comments in the 1980s, but his words remain true today. Newspapers and their dedicated employees continue to inform, enlighten, awaken and inspire – enriching their communities and the lives of millions of people who benefit from their work every day.

By Bob Garver Standard disclaimer for any and all “PAW Patrol” media: I am not the target audience for “PAW Patrol.” The target audience for “PAW Patrol” is young children and only young children. This is not a “fun for all ages” property that adults can enjoy as much as kids. At best, adults watching with kids can enjoy how much their kids enjoy it. But adults will not enjoy it for themselves. I saw the movie by myself, and did not enjoy it myself. But there were plenty of kids in the theater and I enjoyed how much they enjoyed it. The PAW Patrol are an animated team of talking dogs that live to protect Adventure City. Under the supervision of human leader Ryder (Finn Lee-Epp), the Patrol consists of police officer Chase (Christian Covery), firefighter Marshall (Christian Corrao), water rescuer Zuma (Nylan Parthipan), handydog Rocky (Callum Shoniker), builder/demolisher Rubble (Luxton Handspiker), pilot Skye (Mckenna Grace), and flexible Liberty (Marsai Martin). The film introduces new characters in the form of a set of Junior Patrollers: Tot (Brice Gonzalez), Nano (Alan Kim), and Mini (North West, whose brother Saint has a small part as a “Meteor Man,” and whose mother Kim Kardashian cameos as a lazy poodle). Evil (don’t call her “mad”) scientist Victoria Vance (Taraji P. Henson) carries out a plan to harness the power of a passing meteor. Unfortunately the plan backfires and the PAW Patrol have to save all of Adventure City from the meteor that Vance brings to Earth. The PAW Patrol takes possession of the meteor, while Vance goes to prison, where her cellmate is none other than disgraced former mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo). The two team up to break out, harness the power of more meteors, and defeat the PAW Patrol. It turns out that the meteor contains crystals that dole out superpowers. Chase gains super-speed, Marshall can shoot fireballs, Zuma can turn into water, Rocky gains magnetism, Rubble can turn into a wrecking ball, and Skye can fly… without her jet. The team decides that with these great powers comes a need for new costumes, new vehicles, and a new name – The Mighty Pups. Parents will groan during this portion of the movie, because they know that the Mighty Pups will become a line of toys that their kids will want them to buy. The movie itself even jokes about this ploy, not that joking about it makes it okay. You may have noticed that I didn’t mention the superpower gained by Liberty. As the flexible member of the team, she doesn’t really have a theme and thus her power is not readily apparent. She’s forced to stay back and train the Junior Patrollers while the others are out having adventures. That’s one of two subplots given to individual members of the team, the other being Skye’s struggle with insecurity over her size. She will, of course, eventually learn to take the team’s motto of “No job is too big, no pup is too small” to heart, but not before she makes a mess of things with Vance and Humdinger. Her journey could be boring and mopey, and to a degree it is, but talented actress Grace gives her performance enough gravity that I didn’t mind the emotional moments. Occasional mushy stuff aside, “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” is mostly fun and exciting, at least by PAW Patrol standards. Parents and even older kids will be wishing the movie could pick up the pace a little, but again, it’s aiming for a very young audience that might feel left behind by a quicker pace. For the kids at my screening, the movie was just right for them, and at the end they were cheering and applauding. And that’s what really matters. Grade: B- “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” is rated PG for mild action/peril. Its running time is 92 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

She finally looked up from her computer and stretched her neck after several hours of working nonstop. As she glanced around the room, she noticed the blinds were still open on the window of her home office, giving her a clear view of the falling evening twilight. Realizing her workday should definitely be finished, she saved her work and closed down her computer. At that point, her stomach growled and she mentally agreed, “Yep, I know, it’s past time to get something to eat.” Looking for a quick and easy something that she could call a meal, she was soon sitting at her kitchen bar with a green salad and a sandwich in front of her, holding a book in one hand while she ate. A nightly routine in her little world. Most evenings this loner lifestyle fit her to a T. But some nights it would hit her, “It’s Friday evening, I’m sitting here reading a book and eating all alone – again.” Sadness and isolation would suddenly cloak her and she would feel an enormous welling up of loneliness inside. A loneliness that made her thoughts dwell on all the people outside of her front door who were with others, talking and laughing while they headed to a movie or a restaurant. Just enjoying life together. The blackness of her mood began to mirror the darkness outside. She felt alone, forgotten, ostracized and totally insignificant. Finally, desperation caused her to consider picking up her phone– just to hear a voice to break up this downward spiral that was sending her into an emotional quagmire. But then, “Who can I call? I really am not close to anyone. Sure, I have my sisters, but there is no doubt they’re all busy with their own families. And people from work? I don’t know any of them on a personal basis.” She then thought of people she saw at her church, but that caused pain immediately. After all, everyone one she knew there were basically only ‘pew buddies,’ giving and getting a brief greeting as they settled in to their seats before the service began. No personal interaction ever happened before or after, she usually just smiled her way back to her car. Sound familiar? Many people today are living emotionally all alone, even while surrounded by people. And that works for them, most of the time. But once in a while, the loneliness catches up with them, and they realize they need others. But the learned ability to socially connect with others has been lost somewhere along the way. If this is you, deliberately stop the flow of your life. You and you alone can change this loneliness. Risk doing something a little different. Open up, and ask questions, don’t just smile and walk away. Invite someone to get coffee or a meal with you. Eventually, you will probably stumble across someone who is lonely and needing someone also. Because you are definitely not alone in your aloneness, it is a plague everywhere.

By Kara Kimbrough It's fall, a sign that we can begin dreaming of cozy evenings gathered around the table filled with hot dishes of our favorite comfort foods. Or maybe we're curled up before a crackling fire cradling a hot, steamy bowl of comforting soup. While these scenaireos are just pipe dreams at the moment, eventually the weather will cool down. I think...Who cares if it doesn't happen until January? We'll still get to enjoy our favorite comfort foods without having to turn on the A/C. This past week, I compiled several my favorite fall comfort food recipes in my "Fall 2023" binder. When the time is right, I'll have them at my fingertips. Will I use them in the next few weeks? Probably not..although I confess to making a few Crockpots and stockpots of homemade soup in the past few weeks. It's one of the few fall/winter comfort foods I make all year long. If you're lucky enough to be enjoying more seasonal weather, you may feel like jumping in a making a few of my favorite fall dishes. If not, keep them nearby (and I have many more if you want to drop me an email). Before we know it, it'll be New Year's and you'll actually say..."Geez, I'm freezing! Hand me a bowl of soup!" Basic Tomato Sauce for Spaghetti and Meatballs 3 tablespoons olive oil 6 garlic loves, sliced thin 2 - 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, with juice Salt and pepper 4 fresh basil leaves Heat olive oil in large skillet over low heat. Add garlic and cook for 5 minutes. Add two basil leave and stir. Add tomatoes and juice and remaining basil leaves. Turn heat to high. Bring sauce to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally while sauce is simmering. Homemade Meatballs 1 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs ¼ cup grated Romano cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder 1/2 cup water 2 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 pounds ground chuck Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix bread crumbs, Romano cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder together in a large bowl; stir in water and eggs. Add ground beef and mix until well combined. Form mixture into balls and place on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until meatballs and cooked through and evenly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, drain grease and add to tomato sauce in skillet. Stir and cover meatballs with sauce. Let simmer for 10 minutes in sauce until meatballs absorb plenty of the sauce. Serve over hot pasta. 20-Minute Chili 1 pound ground chuck 1 onion, chopped 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes 1 ½ cups water 1 pinch chili powder 1 pinch garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Place ground chuck and onion in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until meat is browned and onion is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, beans, stewed tomatoes with juice, and water. Season with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with cooked rice, sour cream, grated cheese or other favorite toppings. Overnight Baked Apple Oatmeal 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¾ teaspoon salt ½ cup lightly packed brown sugar, more to taste 2 ½ cups milk (I use unsweetened almond milk) 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 tablespoons butter, melted large tart sweet apples, peeled, cored and diced Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or 9x9-inch (for thicker oatmeal) with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees (unless you are making ahead of time and refrigerating overnight). In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and brown sugar. In a large liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and add the melted butter. Stir or whisk to combine. Arrange the diced apples evenly over the bottom of the baking dish and pour the oatmeal mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight or bake right away (uncover before baking the next morning). Bake for 35-45 minutes until top is golden and the mixture has set up. Serve warm or at room temperature. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines are available now, and locations currently offering the updated COVID-19 vaccine can be found on vaccines.gov. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) recommends the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines for all individuals 6 months of age and older. Dosing recommendations vary by age, but healthy individuals 12 and older are recommended to get a single dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine regardless of previous vaccination status. According to MSDH Interim State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Taylor, getting the flu vaccine is also important this time of year. “Vaccines provide the best protection against infection, hospitalization, or death from respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza,” said Dr. Taylor. “It’s best to get vaccinated before transmission increases to make sure you are protected.” MSDH will begin offering the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine for the uninsured and underinsured through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Bridge access program for adults and the Vaccines for Children program on October 3, 2023. Underinsured individuals are those who have types of insurance which do not cover the cost of the vaccine. These individuals can call 855-767-0170 to schedule an appointment. Individuals with health insurance should locate COVID-19 vaccine providers using vaccines.gov. For more information on county health department locations and services, visit HealthyMS.com/locations. Follow MSDH by email and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and the Mississippi State Fairgrounds invite the public to experience new attractions at the 164th Mississippi State Fair and remind fairgoers of several items to “Know Before You Go.” The 2023 Mississippi State Fair takes place October 5-15 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. “The Mississippi State Fair is a time-honored tradition that showcases all the best livestock exhibitions, local artists and attractions, exciting shows and southern-style foods that our state has to offer,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Under the leadership of Mississippi State Fairgrounds Director Michael Lasseter, our fairgrounds staff has worked tirelessly to ensure the 164th State Fair will be bigger, better and safer than ever.” Fairgoers can continue to expect the best of North American Midway Entertainment’s carnival rides and games, fair foods, pig races, the Zerbini Family Circus, live entertainment, livestock shows, an antique car show and much more. The Ag Expo, featuring the Genuine MS® Store and FARMtastic learning center, will be located inside the Trade Mart. The Mississippi State Fair Beauty Pageant will take place Friday, October 6, at 4:00 p.m., and the Mississippi State Fair Talent Show will be Saturday, October 7, at 2:00 p.m., both inside the Coliseum. The Tri-State Rodeo will be held inside the Kirk Fordice Equine Center October 7-8. Senior American Day, which features live entertainment, muffins, coffee, door prizes, vendors and a health fair, will be held on Wednesday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m. Returning to the Kirk Fordice Equine Center will be the Horse, Mule and Pony Pull on Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14 Four nationally recognized artists will perform inside the Mississippi Coliseum: Josh Turner, ERNEST, the Commodores and Christian artist Jeremy Camp. Opening acts for these headliners include up-and-coming artists, and Mississippi natives, Todd Tilghman, Walker Wilson, Four Washington and Kayla Berry. A special ‘Cupid’s Line Dance Xperience’ will be held on Sunday, October 8. The comedy show, ‘Funny Friday at the Fair,’ featuring Mississippi native Rita Brent, JJ Williamson, Kerwin Claiborne, Marvin Hunter and DJ Koolaid, will take place on Friday, October 13. Local artists and bands will perform on the Main Stage, near the Midway, throughout the duration of the fair. All major concert and entertainment tickets purchased in advance include same-day general admission to the fairgrounds. In addition to all the usual fan-favorite attractions, this year’s State Fair will feature an all-new ‘Taste of the Dixie National Rodeo’ exhibition and American Idol® Auditions. Several Taste of Dixie National Rodeo shows will run throughout the duration of the State Fair and will include bull riding, calf scrambles, bucking broncs, live entertainment and rodeo clowns. Taste of Dixie National Rodeo shows will start at 6:30 p.m. every weekday and at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Special guest, Forrie J. Smith, will also make an appearance at the Taste of Dixie National Rodeo to meet and greet fans October 7-8, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For the first time ever, the Mississippi State Fair will host a competition to recruit talent for the hit singing show, American Idol®, inside the Mississippi Coliseum. The semi-finals competition between the top 40 auditions will be held on Monday, October 9, at 6:00 p.m. and the top 20 contestants will then advance to the finals on Tuesday, October 10, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The final five artists chosen through this process will win a VIP Executive Producer Audition. Both singing competitions will be open to the public with fair admission and a ticket, which will be available for purchase at the Coliseum Box Office. “For 11 days, the Mississippi State Fairgrounds will become a hub for all kinds of shows, concerts, food, rides, games and of course, our famous buttermilk biscuits, provided by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce,” continued Commissioner Gipson. “The fairgrounds’ safe and family-friendly environment will offer an array of activities that everyone will enjoy, and I hope to see you and your family there.” KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: The 2023 Mississippi State Fair opens at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 5. The ribbon cutting will be held at Gate 1 at the corner of Jefferson Street and Amite Street. The Biscuit Booth will be open early for those who attend the ribbon cutting. Gate admission is $5.00 per person, and parking is $5.00 per car. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. The public can purchase advance admission tickets at the Coliseum Box Office until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 5. All concert tickets purchased in advance include same-day general admission to the fairgrounds. Concert and entertainment tickets can be purchased in advance at www.ticketmaster.com and the Coliseum Box Office. Fair admission is free every weekday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 9, Columbus Day. Beginning at 9:00 p.m., any guest under the age of eighteen (18) seeking admission to the Fairgrounds must be accompanied by a legal adult (21 or older). Any guest may be asked to show official proof of age to be admitted after 9:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring identification. When entering the Midway, all guests will proceed through one of several entry security points utilizing a metal detector. All bags are subject to search. The maximum bag size that will be accepted into the Fair is 12”x12”x6”. No outside food or beverage allowed. No marketing, soliciting, political, or vending items allowed unless and as authorized under Fairground regulations. Pursuant to state law, the legal carry of firearms by all lawful adults is recognized on the Mississippi Fairgrounds. No animals (other than service animals or as authorized by Fair management for Fair activities), banners, fireworks/explosives, or laser pointers allowed. Find the complete schedule of fair events at www.msstatefair.com. For additional information, visit www.mississippifairgrounds.com, call the Coliseum Box Office at 601-961-4000 and follow the Mississippi State Fair on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

By Mika Hartman Happy October! To all our extra amazing friends, Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! This month has all the feels to mommas like me. We celebrate this month with hope, we take this time to teach others who are not on this journey, we count our blessings and we pray that this month opens the eyes of our peers, somehow. May this be the month that someone new accepts my son and his extra chromosome; awareness is good, acceptance is great. This month is the one month of the year that we, families on this journey, all come together to raise our voices and shout the worth of our friends and family born with Down syndrome. In a sea of October pink or orange and black, the yellow and the blue can also be found, if you look for it. If you’re reading this, you will likely see more out there than you expected to. This is my 5th year to celebrate this Down Syndrome Awareness Month with Hudson. I have taken my role as his mom very seriously and I have been committed to providing everything he needs, with very little help. I would love to say that I have felt a change in the way the world sees my son and that my advocacy has brought much needed change for his future. The reality is that some changes have been seen, but mostly, our needs fall on deaf ears. Unless you love someone with Down syndrome, these challenges we face are very lonely. My son’s extra chromosome make some people feel uncomfortable or he gets used as a cutdown or the butt of a joke. Not any of this is deserved or provoked. On this journey, I have met both mommas who are strong and not easily affected by the cruel world and mommas that have huge chips on their shoulders from the weight they carry. I always said I would rise above the nasty noise and and remain a steel pillar for my son. I am committed to this; you can’t break me. However, I think the better question is why would anyone want to break a mom who is constantly adjusting to her new normal? Shouldn’t we be offering a hand of help? If the world was more accepting, then maybe, just maybe, you’d see more beautiful babies being born with Down syndrome. It’s the lack of acceptance that places fear on those getting this diagnosis. A couple of months ago, I was having coffee with two of my favorite go-getters, Caitlin Kelly and Susan Putnam. Caitlin has been all over the news lately for bringing Mississippi our first Safe Haven Baby Box to Long Beach. What a wonderful thing she fought for. This is bipartisan legislation at its finest, a win for all. If a baby is born, we must protect this human life, period! This applies to every life; we must protect and cherish it. I want to be clear, ALL HUMAN LIFE. Inside the door, where a mom safely places a child, she will have a bag of information she can take. In this orange bag is resources and needed information to provide her with answers. This decision wasn’t one she took lightly, so Mississippi extended the time of her parental rights to 45 days for our state. I raised the question about babies born with Down syndrome and this being a reason for her decision, and while I don’t have an answer on how often this is the case, it did bring up a missing piece to the orange bag. Caitlin immediately asked if I would create an educational piece about Down syndrome for the baby box. YES! At first, the amount of information I wanted to share was overwhelming. If it was overwhelming to me, then it would be to someone who is scared. It was a task that had challenges, but just as I promised to be a steel pillar for Hudson, this was a task I was proud to do. Offering help and support was needed, should she decide to raise this child; also, her knowing that her baby would need extra support and that we do have families that would love the opportunity to adopt a baby with Down syndrome was an important part. My favorite line in my letter to mom: “Your baby is just as adoptable as any other baby.” It is sad that this needs to be said, but only because not every family out there would adopt a baby with challenges, no judgement; I, myself, never thought of raising a child with special needs until I was chosen. No special place for me in Heaven, I am being the best parent I can be to the gifts I was given. Actually, I am already receiving the benefits of the laughter and love shared today and every day. It’s my mission to share this. Through birth or adoption, gifts find us. This brochure started with a letter, as mentioned above, to let this mom know the words I wish I had been told. I knew my son was a gift because of my age and my need for in vitro 10 years earlier, I knew because of the fun way we discovered we were pregnant again, I knew we were lucky all along, but not everyone has or feels that. The words she needs to hear, should she find herself at this box, is that she and her baby are loved. She unselfishly chose life. She did nothing wrong, the extra chromosome was present at conception. And she is not alone no matter her choice; if she wants to keep her baby, there are amazing resources. On the other hand, if she surrenders her baby, she needs to be assured that her baby is wanted and will be loved. Here is the brochure I created: Recently, I was talking to a new mom on this journey. Her experience was hard to hear and absolutely hard to understand. In 2023, she was so belittled by a genetics doctor that she said, “she felt smaller than a grain of rice”. It was because of the questions thrown her way that she felt like her baby being born with Down syndrome was her fault. Did she smoke during pregnancy? Did she do drugs? Did she get second-hand smoke? Seriously, this is garbage. Anyone, especially a doctor, should know that this miracle life was created at conception. The guilt that was blanketed on this new mom is unforgivable; she lost precious time because of reliving her every move to think whether she did anything wrong. Her answers were “no” to all the questions, but she still started overthinking her every move. This is why a brochure in the baby box is a must, if this line of questioning still exists. Then, it is plausible that mom has been met with some misguided questions. The details of this scenario shared took place in a different state, not here in Mississippi. This article is definitely heavier than what I intended to write, but it is to share that we still face many struggles on this journey. Down Syndrome Awareness Month is a month to celebrate, but also should be a time to teach. Just last month, my daughters Instagram begot a troll, who then used the platform to be cruel. This troll made the deliberate remarks with a “knife and twist” approach. However, the remark against me, in a photo on her page, was about an extra chromosome. It read this, “Looks like you got some extra chromosomes too ”…. Funny, I didn’t see this as a cut or a knock, this is a truth I already know. When you see me, you should see Down syndrome or I am not advocating enough. You should see me in Hudson and Hudson in me. What you intended to hurt me with, actually, shows your ignorance. I am not hurt, I am delighted that my extra can be seen. If this troll would spend time with Hudson, they would learn that his extra chromosome is a gift, one we should all experience in our lives in some way. If this person did, they couldn’t write something like this as an intended jab. Let’s wrap this one up with something extra beautiful. I was honored to attend Gabrielle’s Trendsetters Fashion Show, last March. The Trendsetters rocked the runway with beautiful couture fashions and for a good cause. The Trendsetters had 20 models and even featured one model, Bailee, with Down syndrome. She captivated the audience; Bailee is a star and she brought fun to all with her contagious smile and laughter. Each year, Gabrielle’s Trendsetters have the opportunity to choose the charity they wish to raise awareness and money for; this year they selected Gulf Coast Down Syndrome Society. Why? Because many of the Trendsetters have a friendship with Bailee and wanted to show just how much they love her. One of the models said that she and Bailee have been best friends since second grade. Choosing GCDSS brought them a sense of loyalty and pride to the lifelong friendships they’d created. Last month I had the privilege to join the Trendsetters to see just how much they raised for our buddies. Drumroll………… OVER $5000! I was invited to be there for the check presentation. When Ms. Wendy turned around with that check, all the girls completely lit up with love for this accomplishment. I flooded the room with tears. Since the fashion show in March, new recruits have joined the Trendsetters and they have almost 30 girls now… that is 30 young ladies in high school who are learning and will one day be teachers; not by being parents to a person with Down syndrome, but being a best friend to a person with Down syndrome. The dollar amount is so impressive, but the love to achieve that is what overwhelmingly grabbed my attention. So I seized this moment, I shared with the girls my heart and my life journey. What they see, today, as a huge accomplishment, I see as a future memory of how they became who they are in their future selves. I can see God all throughout my life and the things I did when I was younger were all doors to a greater path that only He knew. These are huge steps for the young girls, for us as a community, and for the future of how we move “awareness” to “acceptance". “Acceptable” is not acceptance, we are there, at the word “acceptable”. Life has made concessions for “awareness” to become “acceptable”… I want full acceptance for my son. I want to feel as if we don’t always have to include his diagnosis in every conversation, that I don’t have to prove why he can or can’t do something. I once had to show his sweet face on video to prove he has an extra chromosome. We all have limits and some achieve greater things than others; not one person is demanded to give the reasons why, unless a disability is present. Then, we spend our days filling out papers that talk about everything our child can’t do, instead of sharing all the things they CAN do. When anyone writes a resume, they get the opportunity to point out all the good they have to offer and their accomplishments. When you are a parent to a child with a disability, you get bombarded with paperwork that reminds you of just how disabled your child is. Can’t we be better than that? Can’t we try and be like the Trendsetters and step up with love, not be a troll that wants to hurt without reason. For the mom on this journey or for the mom who finds herself at the baby box: the life you created is beautiful and has value and purpose. Wherever you find yourself on this journey, may people offer you EXTRA hope and EXTRA healing. EXTRA EXTRA Please join us in celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month. You can wear blue and yellow, rock some crazy socks, find a local Buddy Walk, support a fundraiser, sign up for a NDSS newsletter, join your local Down syndrome groups, learn about people with Down syndrome AND celebrate WITH them. You’ll never find a better dance partner than a buddy with Down syndrome.

⚽Make plans to come support your Lady Cougars next Tuesday, October 3rd!⚽ The Lady Cougars finished the season unbeaten with a 12-0-1 record and have earned the 1 Seed in the D3 Playoffs! They host Indianola Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 3rd at 5 P.M. The ROAD TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP goes through Raymond! Come support the Lady Cougars, and if you can't, live stream will be available!

By Bob Garver Outside of what you see on the posters, the “Expendables” movies have never been particularly ambitious. Sure, it was great that the action stars of previous decades like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Harrison Ford could come together for a series of action movies in the 2010’s, but the films were never more than just an excuse to sell tickets based on the actors’ names. The reviews were rarely good, and the good ones were usually of the apologetic “it’s dumb, but it’s fun” variety. Now it’s a new decade, it’s been nine whole years since we’ve had one of these movies, and whatever fun there was to be had in the first three entries is sorely missing from “Expend4bles.” That groan-inducing “4” in the title (reminiscent of the awful “Fant4stic”) may as well refer to the number of actors that are back. Stallone and Statham are leading the team as Barney Ross and Lee Christmas, respectively, while Dolph Lundgren serves as aptly-named sniper Gunner and Randy Couture is among the ranks as demolitions guy Toll Road. New to the crew are audience surrogate Easy Day (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), CIA operative and Christmas’s girlfriend Gina (Megan Fox), former Expendable brought out of retirement Decha (Tony Jaa), son of Banderas’s character Galan (Jacob Scipio), martial artist Lash (Levy Tran), and ally of Ross’s since the 1980’s Marsh (Andy Garcia). Opposing the Expendables’ ability to waste another night at the bar is a team led by Rahmat (Iko Uwais). They’re trying to steal a nuke and start World War III and somehow make a lot of money in the process. Actually, Rahmat is just the temporary leader, he’s really working for a mysterious boss called Ocelot whose identity Ross was very close to uncovering in the 80’s, but just barely slipped away. No, the obvious suspect isn’t a red herring, the movie really thinks you’ll consider Ocelot’s identity a shocking twist. A mission to stop Rahmat and Ocelot in Libya goes sideways thanks to Christmas disobeying an order, and the team is forced to press on without he and Ross. The failure supposedly has a devastating consequence, but the movie isn’t stupid enough to make it stick. It’s stupid enough to think the audience will think that it will stick, but it isn’t stupid enough to actually make it stick. The rest of the movie mostly takes place on a cargo ship whose deck looks like a second-rate laser tag arena. There the Expendables do battle with an army of bad guys, most of whom inexplicably cover their faces. Well, I think I can explain why the movie has them cover their faces, I just don’t know why the characters would. I wouldn’t have thought about the likelihood of the movie reusing stunt performers during these sequences, except that the conspicuous face coverings drew my mind to the matter. I had to think about something more stimulating than the many interchangeable fights and shootouts. There’s no shortage of things to dislike about “Expend4bles.” The action is cheap and tedious, the script is a joke, the jokes aren’t funny, and a twist toward the end means that a team member committed a completely unnecessary murder. On top of all that, the franchise’s greatest asset – its sheer star-power – is greatly depleted. Did the studio really think that 50 Cent and Andy Garcia would make up for a lack of Schwarzenegger? “Expend4bles” lost in its opening weekend to the third weekend of “The Nun II,” and its $8.3 million domestic take still feels like audiences were too generous. You want an exciting ensemble movie? Go see “A Haunting in Venice,” it could use a boost in ticket sales. Grade: D- “Expend4bles” is rated R for strong/bloody violence throughout, language and sexual material. Its running time is 103 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Don’t kid yourself. It’s not just criminals attempting to escape punishment. It’s not just a teenager who missed curfew and is coming up with excuses. Not just the employee who walks in the door an hour late, full of ‘reasons.’ Or the employer who takes advantage of employees and creates ‘plausible explanations.’ They all will lie, but so do people who look perfect on the outside. People who attend their church every Sunday they can. People who truly love their God with all their heart. Lies pour out of all our mouths for a lot of different reasons. With fear being the main reason why folks will shade the truth a little, or just downright create a whole ‘nuther truth out of thin air. But what about my statement that ‘god-fearing people can lie perfectly?’ I am talking about people who would absolutely NEVER even consider cheating, lying, stealing, or any of the other ‘…ings’ they have been taught are wrong. Yep, they can lie with the best of ‘em, and it all starts with lies to themselves. Here’s some real scenarios to illustrate my point. “I do not use my tongue to hurt others, I would never do such a thing!” Or this one. “I will not lose my temper ever again, ‘cause I made a promise to myself.” But the Bible says in James 3:8, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Hmmmm….caught in our own lie right there. How about this one: “I have decided to always honor God by keeping my thoughts totally pure, like He wants.” But Scripture says in Isaiah 64:6, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Ouch. No matter how much we try to monitor and protect our thought life, our thinking betrays us. Doesn’t matter who we are. Make no mistake, we can, and do lie to ourselves, and we dislike having to admit that. We like to see ourselves as honorable, caring, trustworthy… or at the very least that’s the person we try to present to the world. But according to our Creator, we have uncontrollable tongues and thoughts, and our brains and tongues a good cleanup every day of our lives. So, He provided the bristle brush to do just that. But no bristle brush just automatically does the work without someone picking it up and using it. We have to apply it to ourself. Check out what He wrote for us in 1 John 1:8-9, “. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Great stuff.

Congratulations to our 2023 Homecoming Queen, Alli Beth Scott (left) and our 2023 Football Maid, Maylynn Goulette (right)