I felt a pang of envy last week as I watched news coverage of the picturesque town of Pomfret, Vermont. Attracting thousands of tourists from around the world is an abundance of fall foliage in vibrant colors of orange, yellow and green. One of the most sought-after spots is a private residence located in a valley called Sleepy Hollow Farm. As I watched the footage of tourists lining up in search of the perfect selfie (before being chased away by law enforcement), I felt a little sad that I wouldn't witness anything as beautiful without a trip up north. Then it hit me that while Mississippi is not on the self-proclaimed "leaf peepers" must-see list, we do have plenty of natural beauty in our state, include several waterfalls in picturesque spots. You read that right - there are close to 10 waterfalls in Mississippi. Most are in obscure areas, but worth the drive and a whole lot closer than Vermont. Two of the largest and most beautiful areas in which to experience a Mississippi waterfall Clark Creek State Park in Woodville and Dunn's Fall's Water Park in Lauderdale County. The Clark Creek Natural Area in southwestern Mississippi is one of Mississippi's most beautiful outdoor treasures - and well-kept secrets. Comprising more than 700 acres, the scenic oasis in the middle of the forest is highlighted by 50 waterfalls ranging from 10 feet to more than 30 feet in height. Bird-watching, hiking and viewing hundreds of native trees, flowering plants and rocks can be enjoyed on the established trails. And while it's a rare sighting during daylight hours, the area serves as a habitat for Mississippi black bears. Travel to east Mississippi in search of the Chunky River in Lauderdale County and you’ll find the Dunn's Falls Water Park. The bluffs of the eastern bank of the river extend to amazing heights from which a natural majestic waterfall flows. The powerful flowing water serves as the source for the working water wheel before splashing 65 feet into the shallow river. Visitors can climb down winding steps on the steep embankment next to the falls and view the majestic water from below. The park also features an 1857 grist mill, historic Carroll-Richardson Gristmill that was moved from Cave Springs, Georgia in 1987 and reconstructed on the site of Dunn's original mill. Other sites are a rustic homestead and mill pond home to catfish and ducks. Nearby nature trails wind through the woods and are home to wild turkey, deer, squirrels and other wildlife on display for hikers. There are a few more waterfalls spread throughout the state, but these two areas are considered to contain the most majestic. For a complete list, drop me an email and I'll share it with you. Speaking of fall, a friend shared her family's favorite chili recipe with me last week. Despite its simplicity, it's a thick, hearty version of one of my favorite fall dishes. So what if it's still 90 degrees...just lower the air conditioning and dig in! First Chili of Fall '23 2 pounds lean ground chuck 2 medium onions diced, ½-inch 4 cloves garlic minced 28 ounces whole tomatoes with juice 14 ounces diced tomatoes with juice 1 medium green bell pepper, 1/4-inch 14 ounces tomato sauce 2 cups beef broth 15 ounces kidney beans drained and rinsed (optional) Seasoning: 4 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper 1 teaspoon oregano Combine half the seasoning mixture with ground beef and mix until well combined. Brown ground chuck, onions, and garlic until no pink remains; drain. Combine beef mixture with all remaining ingredients, including remaining seasoning, in a slow cooker. Slightly mash the whole tomatoes. Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. If You Go Looking for Waterfalls: Clark Creek State Park Where: 366 Fort Adams Pond Road, Woodville Hours: Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday; open Thursday - Monday Contact: For more information, call 601-888-6040 Dunn's Falls Water Park Where: 6890 Dunn's Falls Rd., Enterprise Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed Sunday-Tuesday Contact: Admission fees are charged; call 601-655-8550 for more information

By Douglas Carswell Mississippi’s fifty highest paid public officials now cost the taxpayer more than $10 million a year. After an average 5 percent pay rise, the state’s highest paid officials saw their salaries rise from $193,678 on average last year to $205,000 this year. The 2023 Mississippi Fat Cat report, published by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, reveals that our state has some of the highest paid public officials in America. As well as having a State Superintendent for Public Education on $300,000 per year, Mississippi now has two local school superintendents each earning about a quarter of a million dollars a year. This new report compares the salaries of the highest paid public officials in Mississippi to the average salaries of a nurses, state trooper or a teacher. We also compare Fat Cat pay to median Mississippi income. You might imagine that any list of the highest paid officials in our state would include the most senior elected officials. You would imagine wrong. Mississippi’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor do not even make the list. Four in ten of the highest paid public officials in our state are in fact local school superintendents. The school superintendents on the Fat Cat list received an average 14% pay increase, taking them to over $200,000 a year. Mississippi’s Fat Cats do not just earn more than Mississippi’s governor. Mississippi’s highest paid public officials make on average more than America’s fifty state governors. Some local Mississippi superintendents, presiding over school districts with a few thousand students, are paid more than the governor of Texas, whose state has a population of 30 million. To be clear, some highly paid public officials are worth every dollar. Some have highly specialise skills that could command an even larger salary in the private sector. If only Jackson, for example, had managed to pay proper salaries to properly qualified personnel, the city might have managed to avoid some of the water problems that have afflicted the city. High public sector salaries are not necessarily a bad thing, but there does need to be more accountability when it comes to top public sector pay. Our report does not just shine a light on public sector pay, we suggest some reforms to give the legislature more oversight. We also float the idea of some kind of state-mandated formula to calculate the maximum allowable salary for school superintendents. Arkansas, interestingly, has just adopted a policy of establishing performance targets for school superintendents. Mississippi currently has a record budget surplus. We need to ensure that with all that money sloshing around in the system, we do not see surging pay increases for bureaucrats over and above tax breaks for the folk they are supposed to serve. You can read a copy of the 2023 Mississippi Fat Cat report on our website at www.mspolicy.org Douglas Carswell is the President & CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

By Bob Garver “A Haunting in Venice” is director/star Kenneth Branagh’s third go-around as Agatha Christie-penned detective Hercule Poirot. The other two were 2017’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and 2022’s “Death on the Nile.” “A Haunting in Venice” comes barely a year and a half after the latter film, though the turnaround is less impressive when one remembers that trailers for “Death on the Nile” were playing a year and a half before that film opened, with the release suffering numerous delays. Those delays may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because unlike the sequels I’ve reviewed the last two weeks, Branagh’s Poirot is relatively fresh in my mind, and I’m more eager to step back into his world. In fact, it’s Poirot himself that is uneager to step back into the world of mystery and danger. Ten years have passed since the events of “Death on the Nile,” and Poirot is retired, spending his days blowing off prospective clients with the help of his bodyguard Vitale (Riccardo Scamarcio) and only enjoying Venice for its pastries. For those keeping score, this version of Italy is slightly more appealing than the crime-ridden take of “Equalizer 3,” but far less than the glorified travel brochure that was “Book Club: The Next Chapter.” Poirot’s determination to not challenge himself is interrupted by Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey, a very of-her-era actress that feels out of place in this 1947-set movie), a mystery novelist from America. She’s about to do a book on psychic Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh), who has thus far evaded exposure as a fraud. Oliver wants Poirot to either figure Reynolds out or decide she’s the real deal so the project can continue. Poirot, skeptic that he is of anything beyond this world, agrees to what he’s sure will be a humiliating debunking for Reynolds. That night, Halloween Night, Reynolds holds a séance at the home of retired opera singer Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly). Rowena’s daughter Alicia was found drowned in a canal some time ago, and she thinks Reynolds can help her find closure. Poirot, Oliver, and Vitale attend the séance, as well as Rowena’s housekeeper Olga (Camille Cottin), doctor Ferrier (Jamie Dornan) and his creepily mature son Leopold (Jude Hill), Reynolds’ assistants Desdemona (Emma Laird) and Nicholas (Ali Khan), and in case things weren’t tense enough, Alicia’s ex-fiancé Maxime (Kyle Allen). During the séance, Reynolds, allegedly channeling Alicia, claims that she was murdered. A less ambiguous murder soon follows, and Poirot is on the case. Like all Poirot mysteries, the night is full of twists and turns, with secret after secret coming to light and everybody having a chance to play the prime suspect. Unique to this one is the possibility of something supernatural going on. Poirot can swear that there’s a little girl in the mansion that nobody else can see or hear. There has to be a logical/scientific explanation… unless there isn’t? Once “A Haunting in Venice” gets going, the excitement is consistent until the mystery is solved. All that’s left for the viewer at that point is to deduce how smart they were at figuring things out. Were they right or wrong? And if they were wrong, was it because they missed something, or did the movie keep an important clue hidden until the last minute? Were the clues that were there too easy or too hard? Could only a world-class detective like Poirot have solved this mystery? For me, I thought it was a mix of all of these, which gives me mixed feelings on the movie overall. But I won’t deny that the experience is a fun ride regardless of how you feel about the ending, or the mystery in retrospect. Grade: B- “A Haunting in Venice” is rated PG-13 for some strong violence, disturbing images and thematic elements. Its running time is 103 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Generation Z. Young adults that older generations have a difficult time understanding. And a generation that, in turn, holds a lot of contempt for the lifestyles of generations before them. Boomers, as a whole, see adulthood as something that should be lived from this perspective: Education > Work > Retire to do what you always wanted to do> Death. But Z’ers? From what I can understand, see it more like this: Work just enough to be able to live life doing the things that you find pleasurable at the beginning of adulthood, then settle down and work, after you have enjoyed the energy and adventures of your youth. Hmmmm. As a nonZ, I’ve never thought of life this way. Honestly I struggle to find the positive points of it. But then again – yours truly is not a Z-er. Probably need to spend some time listening to those young people who believe this to be a viable way of living life. Ask them some intelligent questions. Listen with an open heart. Not just listen enough to jump in and criticize what they are saying. Now, I am not advocating any certain lifestyle. On the contrary, I am advocating real communication. Boomers, LISTEN to them before TALKING at them. And if there are any Zers reading this, I beg the same of you. There has never been a generation that cannot learn from generations before, and the generations after them. Anything less than this is called arrogance, in my book. Families are being fractured by non-communication. The younger feels that the older is too stuffy, too focused on financial success, letting the true meaning and enjoyment of life escape them. The older folks are convinced that young people have become parasites, living off others and refusing to take financial responsibility for themselves. Let alone preparing themselves for being the leaders of our country when their parents retire. The result of this impasse is a country suffering from a growing split between the generations. People, we have enough problems in this country, with crime, immorality, greed, and enormous financial issues escalating at an unseen-before rate. We certainly do not need our greatest strength, the family unit – to be destroyed this way. If we lose our families by miscommunication, we lose more than we can possibly comprehend – until your family experiences it personally. And then that newly found wisdom comes way too late. Invite that person, old or young, to supper. Tell them that you realize that you need to listen to them. Tell them you want to simply ask questions – that you want to hear their point of view. If you find them open to this and willing to talk to you, then do exactly that. Listen. Try to glean what you can from listening to what they have to say. You are not deaf, nor are you too slow to learn. Then thank them for sharing their point of view. Work at communicating. Hopefully your turn to talk will come later.

The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health’s Black Men’s Health Equity Council will host Choppin’ It Up—The Barbershop Series from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, September 30, 2023. This installment focuses on prostate cancer awareness and will be held on the campus of Tougaloo College in the Berkshire A Men’s Residential Hall. The guest speaker for the event is Dr. Carl Reddix of the Reddix Medical Group. Reddix will discuss prostate cancer risk factors for Black men and the importance of early detection. The first seven individuals in attendance will receive a free haircut. Free lunch, health screenings, and access to a Madden video game tournament will be available for participants. Sponsored by the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health’s Black Men’s Health Equity Council, Reddix Medical Group, Tougaloo College, Office of Residential Life, and Rho Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., this event is free and open to the public. Contact Warren Jones at (769) 572- 5263 or at wjones@advancingminorityhealth.org for more information.

“Home for the Holidays” October 20 – 22, 2022 “Bringing the Vintage Experience to You” Do you watch home remodeling shows and wonder where they find the unique pieces they put in the homes they remodel, or do you have a Pinterest board filled with ideas for your home? Vintage Market Days® brings all of that to you! With numerous of the best vendors in Vintage from across the US – they bring truckloads of repurposed, specialty “finds” that will be unique to your home! Vintage Market Days® of Mississippi owners Chris and Jana Fuss are pleased to announce the Jackson area Vintage Market Days® event. “Home for the Holidays” will be held at the Mississippi Trade Mart at 1200 Mississippi Street in Jackson. The three-day event will take place October 20-22, 2023. “Vintage Market Days® started 11 years ago in Tulsa and has been expanding throughout the country,” said Jana. “We love adding special touches to make it a family friendly Vintage event, we have many vintage vendors than ever and they are bringing their one-of-a-kind finds. Vintage Market Days® vendors are some of the best in the country!” Vintage Market Days® also “gives back” at each event. The organization is honored to partner with the Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi, a powerful association of men, women and children committed to bringing about lasting personal and social change. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, the Y enables youth, adults, families and communities to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. “We are excited to help support the local area, specifically the YMCA’s feeding program,” Fuss added. Tickets can be purchased at the door (Fri - $15 and Sat/Sun $10) or in advance at https://events.humanitix.com/vintage-market-days-r-of-mississippi-home-for-the-holidays . Free readmission all weekend and children under 12 are FREE. The event is open 10 am - 5 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am -4 pm on Sunday.

By Kara Kimbrough I’m not here to reignite an argument about the differences between Cajun and Creole food. I’m gun shy about mentioning ANY food from these regions after causing a furor on social media last year. I innocently said I "didn’t like okra in my gumbo." There were a few supporters who agreed it wasn’t a prerequisite for old-school gumbo, but others disagreed. Vehemently. I distinctly remember the words, “You can’t make gumbo without okra or it’s NOT gumbo!” Ouch. Arguments aside, almost no cuisine surpasses either Cajun or Creole. Every dish includes some variation of seafood, tomatoes, sautéed vegetables, spices, fragrant rice…the list of delicious ingredients goes on. With the exception of oysters, I love each and every item that goes into a multitude of dishes representing these cuisines. That’s all I’ll say about it, other than sharing a few food ideas from last weekend’s Cajun/Creole tailgate party, along with a few recipes I tried in advance of the football game. First, our menu consisted of jambalaya; muffalettas; hot shrimp dip and Zapp’s chips; a grilled Cajun shrimp, sausage and vegetable dish; Creole potato salad; Cajun-spice chicken wings and tenders and a variety of desserts. My contributions were the muffalettas, chips and dip. I’ve shared the recipe for a crowd-size muffaletta in past columns, so I won’t repeat it. However, if you missed it, drop me an email and I’ll send the recipe. A few days before the game, I dropped by a library book sale and picked up an old cookbook filled with Cajun/Creole recipes. I revised them a bit to fit my tastes and am sharing them below, along with the shrimp dip enjoyed by my friends at the tailgate party. I hope you’ll be inspired to host your own dinner or gathering with a similar them and as the French say, “Laissez les bon temps rouler!” Hot Baked Shrimp Dip 1 pound small raw shrimp, roughly chopped (use popcorn shrimp to eliminate chopping) 2 tablespoons butter 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped ½ Vidalia onion, peeled and chopped 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (or Creole seasoning) 8 ounces cream cheese ½ cup mayonnaise 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add butter, chopped bell pepper, chopped onion and garlic in the skillet. Sauté for 3-5 minutes to soften. Once the vegetables are softened, add shrimp and Cajun seasoning. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Stir in cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and hot sauce, if using. Stir until the cream cheese, and shredded cheese melts into a thick sauce. Turn off heat. Sprinkle top with the remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are bubbly. Serve warm with chips, crackers or cut vegetables. Shrimp Boat Potato Salad 4 large red potatoes 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup olive oil 1 cup bottled Italian dressing 5 cloves garlic, sliced 1 bunch green onions, minced 2 bell peppers, chopped fine Salt and pepper to taste Red pepper to taste Boil potatoes; peel and slice in quarter-inch rounds. Place in a large bowl. Boil shrimp in seasoned water; drain and place over potato rounds. Add remaining ingredients – garlic, onions and bell peppers seasoned with salt and pepper. Refrigerate and allow to sit overnight for flavors to blend. Remoulade Sauce (can be used as a salad dressing, dipping sauce for boiled shrimp, crackers or chips or to make shrimp remoulade) ½ cup tarragon vinegar 4 tablespoons Zatarain’s Creole Mustard 1 teaspoon horseradish 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine (I omit this in mine) 4 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 large rib celery, chopped fine 3 green onions and tops, chopped fine 2 teaspoons paprika Dash of thyme and garlic salt ½ cup olive oil Salt and cayenne pepper to taste In a food processor or blender, whisk together all ingredients except olive oil. Whisk in olive oil a little at a time. Taste for salt and pepper. Chill well. If serving shrimp remoulade, add cooked shrimp before chilling. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver “The Nun II” is the ninth film in the “Conjuring Universe,” a franchise tied to the adventures of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, but it is the third in the series chronologically. Demon-in-a-nun’s-habit Valak (Bonnie Aarons) has made appearances in installments both earlier and later in the franchise’s chronology. In other words, not only has this villain been defeated before, but I know for a fact that she’ll be defeated again. It’s hard to see the stakes as particularly high or Valak as particularly effective with that kind of record. Just like it’s hard to take this horror movie particularly seriously when the studio decided to release it in early September instead of closer to Halloween. Valak isn’t destined to take over the world (in the movie or out of it), so the greatest investment one can reasonably make is caring about the fates of the main characters. For fans that even remember 2018’s “The Nun” (the fifth film released in the “Conjuring Universe,” but the first chronologically), Taissa Farmiga is back as Valak-defeater Sister Irene, as is porter-turned-Valak-vessel Maurice (Jonas Bloquet). New this time are Irene’s companion Sister Debra (Storm Reid, a very of-her-era actress that feels out of place in this 1956-set movie), as well as Kate (Anna Popplewell) and her daughter (Katelyn Rose Downey), a teacher and student respectively, at the school where Maurice now works as a groundskeeper. I guess they’re all likeable enough, though no more that any number of similar characters in these movies. Valak, possessing Maurice, is on a mission to possess the eyes of St. Lucy, a Christian martyr. Surprisingly, even though eye-gouging is an important part of the lore that serves as a catalyst for this movie’s action, the movie never really engages in eyeball- or eyelessness-based horror. On one hand, I kind of respect the movie for not going for the obvious (or “cheap” or “exploitative”) gruesome visuals. But on the other hand, the movie may as well have gone for those as scares, because it isn’t effective with the ones it does give us. Instead, the movie relies on jump scares, most of which involve Valak suddenly appearing, which are cheap and exploitative. I was scared out of my wits a few days ago by a small, well-intentioned child tapping me on the leg to let me know I’d dropped something. Anyone can pull off a jump scare, including people that aren’t even trying. The filmmakers are trying, of course, too hard and in an expensive fashion. And you know what? So is Valak. Valak is deliberately using whatever demonic powers are at her disposal to jump-scare people. She’s not exactly gaining anything by just popping up, her tactics rarely lead to defeated enemies or the furthering of her missions. My theory is that she needs a confidence boost because she knows deep down that she’s not really good at anything else. It’s easy to see the filmmakers’ desperation to squeeze scares out of this weak material. They have to cheat and use dream sequences and cutaways because they know nothing scary is going to happen for a long stretch of time and they correctly sense that the audience is losing interest. Even when they have a good excuse to use Valak, it can only be for a quick burst because her appearance is only initially unsettling. Close-ups and lengthy looks at Valak are not this movie’s friend. Actually, that’s a good metaphor for this whole wing of the “Conjuring Universe,” Valak works great on the periphery of “The Conjuring 2” and “Annabelle Creation,” but when the movie is either installment of “The Nun” and the pressure is on her to be the main source of scares, it becomes apparent that all she has is popping out. Grade: D “The Nun II” is rated R for violent content and some terror. Its running time is 110 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Ever sit around and wonder ‘Just what is the difference between fear, dismay or panic?’ Well, now that you have brought up the subject, let me give you my illustration of the differences. Fear – when you have a tiny baby in your care. You are totally responsible for its safety and welfare, its learned behavior, and the next few years coming down the road. That, my friend, definitely falls into the category of creating fear. Fear for yourself, that you will do your job correctly. Fear for the baby, as there is no way to foresee and totally avoid harm or tragedy. You can hope for the best, decide to teach and train endlessly, but you cannot predict what will happen in the conceivable future. Good and bad will inevitably appear and color the years that are coming. The future can be just plain scary. Dismay – The predictable “Oh No!” emotion of right now, when you are the proud but harried adult in charge of an energetic, fearless, unstoppable toddler. You start your day with that two- year-old fed, bathed and dressed. Your home is fairly tidy, at least the room where you have been cleaning the last few minutes. But then you follow your instincts and rush into the kitchen where Tommy Toddler has recently escaped. Only to find every last pot and pan pulled out and strewn on the floor. The oven is preheating, thanks to his tiny fingers unerringly finding the Temperature On knob. Following yesterday’s discovery that his favorite cereal is in the pantry, he has left the opened box on the floor under the breakfast table with at least half the contents being gobbled up by his ever-present sidekick, Penny The Puppy. Your toddler has somehow also learned to pull a chair up to the refrigerator and is joyfully pushing the in-door water lever and watching water pool on the floor at his feet. That, folks, is dismay. The present in all its glory. Panic – when that other human in your house is a teenager. The childhood teaching days are basically over, and you are required to mostly trust that you have done your job well. Now you are on stand-by, watching constantly and waiting for the times when you are still needed for help. Those days, or nights, when your defiant, confident, rebellious, I-know-it-all baby adult crashes and burns. You live with the knowledge that it is probably going to happen, sooner or later. And you will need to firmly correct some behavior, dry some tears, and give out a few healing hugs and kisses. While you hide your panic behind a patient and loving façade. Ongoing anxiety, waiting for disaster to hit – the panic stage of life for the parent of a teen. I realize that this isn’t a guaranteed description of being a parent. But you have to admit, it defines pretty accurately what those three emotions can make a person feel.

By Kara Kimbrough Finally...fall is on the horizon! In 10, give or take a few, days, it'll "officially" be time for hot apple cider, cozy sweaters, soup bubbling on the stove and pumpkin spice lattes. I was going to mention the smell of burning leaves, but decided against it since most southern states are under a burn ban. In short, it's still hot and dry. But regardless of the weather, most of us are enjoying game day food, either on a college campus or in front of a TV. And even more will soon be engaging in fun fall activities. Here are a few of my favorite fall "must haves" - decor, supplies and recipes - that are perfect for tailgating, porch parties, TV watching and generally enjoying cooler (here's hoping!) weather. Most of the items can be found at large retailers or warehouse stores. If you can't find one of them, drop me an email and I'll help you search. 1. Folding Canvas Wagon - Hauling heavy dishes, pans of food and iced beverages onto a college campus is not for the faint of heart. If you have to park and walk at least a mile, having a wagon in which to haul your tailgate supplies is a must. I found mine at Sam's Club. Unlike a name brand version, Sam's Member's Mark brand was a few dollars cheaper, larger and had side pockets, vital for holding cell phones and chargers, utensils, napkins and more. 2. Two-Ingredient Dessert - Need a quick dessert for an early morning or afternoon game that's reminiscent of breakfast but good for any type of gathering? Spray a 11x17-inch dish with cooking spray and pour two cans of cherry pie filling (or another favorite fruit flavor) in the bottom of thedish. Using three cans of Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls, separate dough into 15 rolls and place over pie filling, cinnamon side up. Bake at 375 degree for 30 minutes. If rolls start to brown too quickly, cover with foil. When cool, drizzle icing over top of each roll. Cut in squares and serve...and most importantly, don't tell anyone everything's from the can (unless asked!). 3. Folding Charcoal Grill and Fire Pit - Who doesn't love grilling meat before the big game or when on a road trip? I know I do, but hauling around a large grill isn't feasible. This lightweight foldable grill - when also doubles as a fire pit once the meal is done - is large enough to grll for a crowd of 10, but is esay to set up, lightweight and easily fits in the trunk once folded. Even better, it costs less than $50. Search online for a version that meets your needs. 4. Portable Salads - I always reach for heavier fare when tailgating, but there's usually one in the crowd that prefers green or fruit salads. However, serving these foods can be challenging, especially when using paper plates. A compact way to serve any type of salad is to pack individual servings in clear plastic cups, pop on the top and stick a plastic fork into the opening for the straw. Thiis method also works well when serving children chips and dips - simply add chips to the bottom of the cup and add their favorite dip on top for portable dipping. 5. Viral Boat Dip - I had to google the reason this concoction is called "boat dip." Supposedly a TikTok video of people eating this dip on a boat caused the millions of viewers that saw it to label it "boat dip." To make this year's sensation. combine 16 ounces of sour cream, 8 ounces Mexican shredded cheese blend, 10-ounce can of Rotel, package of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro. Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir well; refrigerate before serving. Favorite additions like crumbled bacon, chopped olives and other ingredients only add to the flavor. Last, I'm a sucker for any recipe that lends itself to personalization with my alma mater's colors. Seeing someone else's bowl of black and gold "Muddy Buddies" inspired me to find a similar recipe and make it my own. I'm including a basic recipe for this perennial snack - perfect for tailgating or snacking in front of the TV. I tailored it to my own tastes by using three melted Snickers bars instead of regular chocolate and peanut butter. However you choose to make it, it's an old school snack that's still winning over fans in 2023. Team Colors Muddy Buddies 6 cups Rice Chex cereal 3 cups Chocolate Chex® cereal 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla 1- ½ cups powdered sugar Combine all cereals in a large bowl; set aside. Place chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute, then stir. Continue warming mixture until smooth and combined, about 30 seconds longer. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and stir until evenly coated. Transfer to a 2-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add powdered sugar to the bag and seal; shake until well-coated. Evenly spread cereal out onto waxed paper to cool. Once mixture is cool, add Skittles or M & M's in your team's colors and stir well.

Officials joined Central Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons in Jackson today to announce a partnership between the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and Hinds County Sheriff’s Department to utilize inmate labor remove litter from Hinds County highways. “We are committed to cleaning up the Jackson-metro area and our interstates, which has a problem with trash. We can spend hundreds of thousands to contract out litter removal and within days trash will once again cover our right-of-ways here,” said Simmons. “This program will be a game changer and will put us in a situation where our highways will be beautiful. Through these collaborative efforts, we will keep Mississippi beautiful.” The program went into effect immediately. Inmates began picking up litter this morning along the east frontage road of I-55 at Meadowbrook Rd. and extended northbound. During pickups, the Hinds County’s Sheriff’s Department will be present to provide safety and security for the inmates. “To the citizens of Hinds County, this program is back. This is something I also get complaints about from the citizens of Hinds County regarding inmate labor. I’m happy to report that we found a way to effectively provide manpower and equipment to go along state highways in the City of Jackson and Hinds County to do trash pick up,” said Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones. “This is a major movement for us and for the people of Hinds County, so when people travel our county and city, they will see clean areas.” Per the Memorandum of Understanding, the Mississippi Transportation Commission will furnish the locations, supplies, safety gear and advisory signs, and will reimburse the county for costs associated with the execution of the agreement, including reimbursement to the county for the actual cost of the sheriff personnel assigned to this duty. “Today is a great day for Jackson. I would like to thank Commissioner Simmons and MDOT for providing the funding for this program, Sheriff Jones for providing the supervision and MDOC for providing the inmates,” said Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham. “This is my number one complaint from the citizens of Jackson. Today we are here to tell the citizens we care, and we have a process for which you are going to see individuals picking up litter.” Although the program is great news to citizens of Hinds County, officials continue asking the public to refrain from littering and contributing to the state’s $3 million litter problem. “As Commissioner, I want to remind the citizens, although we’ll be picking up trash through this program, don’t go out and throw more trash out. Stop putting the trash on the highways. We don’t want you to use this excuse to throw trash on our highway system.” Sheriff Jones also reminded the public that law enforcement will continue holding drivers accountable if caught littering. Put trash where it belongs and remember to recycle when possible. It’s not just a can or food wrapper you’re throwing away—it’s taxpayer dollars. MDOT partners with local counties to use inmate labor to remove litter from the state’s right-of-ways. MDOT assists in securing transportation mileage reimbursement, an hourly supervisor reimbursement and a vehicle when available. For more information on MDOT’s Inmate Litter Program, visit GoMDOT.com/DontTrashMS. Click here to view video.