By Kara Kimbrough The internet is full of tips and tricks to create an enjoyable Labor Day weekend barbecue. Most that I read made sense, but this took the cake for nonsensical advice, especially here in the Deep South where we practically invented outdoor grilling. “Never grill indoors – always leave the grill outside your house.” Really? Like we don’t already know that an open flame from a grill (if you could even drag it inside) is a recipe for disaster inside an enclosed space? Yes, it’s unreasonably hot, but die-hard grillers know to start early before the heat gets too intense…or better yet, wait until the sun goes down. Nonsensical advice aside, it’s time to think seriously about the long holiday weekend coming up and plan menus accordingly. In my opinion, nothing’s better than a juicy burger fresh from the grill topped with crisp lettuce, freshly-sliced tomatoes and doused with a homemade burger sauce. Add a couple of slices of bacon and it's even better. But I realize Labor Day meals need new more additions, so below are a few to get you started. Here's to a relaxing, enjoyable Labor Day and to the beginning of the end of a long, hot summer! Spaghetti Salad 1 pound spaghetti, broken in half 1 16-ounce bottle Italian dressing (I like Newman’s Own) 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 2 teaspoons seasoned salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 medium red onion, diced 1 medium cucumber, diced 2 medium tomatoes, diced Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, raised with cold water and drain well. Transfer to large bowl. In medium bowl, whisk together salad dressing, cheese and seasonings until well blended. Stir in cucumber and onion. Pour over spaghetti and toss lightly to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Garnish with chopped tomatoes. Pita Bites 1 (10 ounce) package pita bread, cut in half 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 1 teaspoon dried Italian-style seasoning 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Jar of prepared salsa, hummus or your favorite dip Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open pita bread halves and roughly cut into approximately 2 inch pieces. Arrange on a medium baking sheet. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and mix in garlic and dried Italian-style seasoning. Pour the mixture over pita bread pieces. Sprinkle bread with Parmesan cheese, adjusting the amount as desired. Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Top each half with a spoonful of salsa, hummus or favorite dip. Mexican Street Corn on the Cob (For grill or air fryer) 6 ears corn, shucked, rinsed (fresh is best, but if you can’t find it, prepare frozen ears according to package directions Vegetable oil if using air fryer 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1/3 cup Mexican Style Blend cheese 3 teaspoons chili powder Chopped fresh cilantro and lime wedges, for serving For grill: Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; heat 5 minutes (or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat). Grill corn, turning often, until slightly charred all over, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and sour cream. Transfer corn to a platter. Brush with mayonnaise mixture. Top with cheese, chili powder and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature with lime wedges. For air fryer: Cut corn to fit in air-fryer basket (you may need to cut cobs in half). Brush corn all over with oil. In batches, arrange corn in basket and cook at 400 degrees, turning halfway through, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. While corn is frying, in a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and sour cream. Transfer corn to a platter. Brush with mayonnaise mixture. Top with cheese, chili powder and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature with lime wedges. Shoney’s-Style Fresh Strawberry Pies For glaze: 4 cups water 3 cups sugar 1 3-ounce package strawberry-flavored Jell-O 1-1/2 cups cornstarch 2 tablespoons red food color Pies: 4 pints strawberries 2 baked 9-inch pie shells To make glaze, in medium saucepan, combine 3 cups of the water, sugar and gelatin. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. In small bowl, gradually mix remaining 1 cup water into cornstarch until smooth. Add to saucepan, stirring constantly, with wire whisk. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes or until mixture is thick and fairly clear. Stir in red food color. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature until cool. Do not over-refrigerate. For pies, spread ¼ cup of the glaze onto bottom of each pie shell. In large bowl, combine strawberries and 2 cups of glaze. Mix gently to coat evenly. Spoon half the mixture into each pie shell, arranging berries to create a pretty design. Spoon the remaining glaze over each pie, smoothing and sealing glaze to edge of crust with spoon. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Mr. Robert Nathan Gregory MSU Extension Service Gaddis & McLaurin sounds more like the name of a law firm than a general store, but since the 1870s, the name is synonymous with all manner of dry goods in the Hinds County community of Bolton. Its expansive range of inventory is one reason for its longevity. Items normally found at local co-ops – animal feed, grass seed, lumber, tools and hardware – have been the store’s calling card for much of its existence. Over time, store owner and longtime row crop producer Kendall Garraway has brought in a multitude of home and garden items. “We have great management in place, and it has really grown in the last 10 years,” says Garraway. “Not only does it supply and act as a hub for the community, but it helps keep the value of the land assets up.” Garraway’s success earned him a major accolade as he was recently named the Mississippi winner of the 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. He joins growers from nine other states who received the same distinction. All 10 growers will be considered for the overall regional award at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in October. Kyle Lewis, an agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Hinds County, nominated Garraway for the award. “Mr. Kendall has been a friend of MSU Extension by hosting on-farm demo tests in soybean and cotton where he uses the data received in making variety selections and management decisions,” Lewis said. “He has made great strides in timberland and wildlife management with timber harvest and prescribed fire management. He allows us to use his store for programs and demonstrations and is always ready to help in any capacity.” The store is hardly the only business operation flourishing under Garraway’s watch. His primary focus has always been on growing row crops, raising cattle and managing timber at his family farm, Gaddis Farms. Garraway also operates a cotton gin, leases portions of his land for hunting, and invests in commercial and retail real estate. He has several acres of solar panels installed as a financial investment that could potentially become a solar farm. Despite the leadership responsibilities he juggles, Garraway says his work rarely seems like a real job. He is quick to point out the heavy involvement his uncle and cousin, Ted Kendall III and Ted Kendall IV, share with him on the numerous business ventures. “I did not attend a school with an agriculture program, so I majored in banking and finance,” he explains. “After graduating, I almost went to work for a bank but was offered a job on a farm by my uncle, and I’ve never looked back.” Garraway uses soil health and stabilization practices in his row crop operation by using minimal tillage. On about half of his acres, he uses no-till planting along with cover crops. “We have used several programs to take highly erodible land out of row crops and into timber to better utilize and protect the soil,” Garraway says. “We have been using no-till and minimum till on our row crops. This method uses less fuel and helps prevent erosion. Hunting and wildlife have been important to me for recreation and to provide income to the farm, so habitat management has always been important.” MSU Regional Extension coordinator Theresa Hand said Garraway’s support of MSU Extension, 4-H, Master Gardeners, Farm Bureau and other community organizations is the center of Garraway’s success. “Kendall is an influential community leader who has served on numerous boards and in advisory roles with MSU Extension at the local, regional and state level,” Hand says. “His enthusiasm for agriculture and his open honesty is what makes his input so valuable.”

Dr. Steven Reed of Southern Eye Care of Clinton recently became the first Mississippian to be elected President-Elect of the American Optometric Association (AOA). Reed has served on the AOA Board of Trustees since 2016 and previously served as the president of the Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA). The election to his latest role, Reed said, is something he hopes to use to advance his organization’s cause and improve the health of Americans. “Our goal as a board is to create and track our strategic plan and objectives. One of our objectives is continually educating the general public on the need for a comprehensive eye examination.” A challenge to that goal, he said, is that many people view their eyes as a separate part of their body. However, from a medical point of view, Reed said the old adage that the “eyes are the windows to the soul” rings true. Through programming from the AOA and its members, as well as lobbying at the state and national level, Reed said he hopes to reinforce the need for annual eye exams and inspire people to take care of their eyes. “At last count, there were more than 270 diseases that display signs and symptoms in the eyes,” he said. “So really, eye examinations should be part of someone’s overall health care. “In the 30 years I’ve been in practice, I’ve diagnosed brain tumors, diabetics, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, and many other diseases,” Reed added. “And that’s what we (the AOA) want people to understand: Eye care is part of your overall health care strategy.” One of the campaigns Reed is helping lead as part of his President-Elect role is called “Eye Deserve More.” The campaign pinpoints members of the public that might neglect their vision. Most recently, the campaign has been focused on gamers, people who spend long hours on either computers or gaming systems, staring at a digital screen. By emphasizing the importance of eye health amid hours of screen time, Reed said AOA metrics show the campaign has been successful in motivating members of the public to get their eyes examined. In addition to promoting overall eye health, Reed said his role as president-elect also encompasses liaison work with other states. As president-elect, Reed serves as a liaison to Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. “As liaison trustee, my role is to be a resource on the national level to assist their leadership as needed. This symbiotic relationship strengthens our profession and improves patient care.” Other objectives Reed said he hopes to accomplish during his one-year term as president-elect include enacting a federal law to fight vision insurance plan abuses. “Vision plans in general are really not concerned about patient care,” Reed said. “They’re concerned about their bottom line. The rules we have to follow with many vision plans often end up costing patients more, and limiting their choices. Also, many of them force us to use their labs, causing needless delays in products for patients. We’re hitting this from all angles. Patients deserve better service.” As president-elect, Reed serves as a liaison to several committees within the AOA, including the Sports and Performance Committee, the Federal Relations Committee, the Advocacy Committee, the Political Action Committee, and the Meetings Committee. A graduate of Southern College of Optometry, Reed is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Biochemistry. He is the 2010 and 2016 recipient of MOA’s James P. Brownlee Optometrist of the Year Award. In addition to Southern Eye Care of Clinton, Reed co-owns and operates Southern Eye Care Clinics in Flowood, Forest and Vicksburg and is owner of Family Vision in Magee, Collins, and Prentiss.

As electricity consumption continues to rise in proportion with the rising temperatures, Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey urges Mississippians to take steps to conserve energy as we continue to endure these extreme temperatures. Today, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) issued a maximum generation emergency alert until 10 p.m. tonight because of loss of generation assets in other parts of the MISO service area and higher than forecasted energy consumption due to the continued extreme temperatures across the MISO footprint. The regional grid operator is asking consumers of all customer classes to practice energy conservation and reduce nonessential electricity use. If conditions persist, MISO will continue to communicate with its member utilities to assess and implement measures that will ensure overall grid stability, including potential localized load modification actions. “While our in-state MISO utility members’, including Entergy Mississippi, LLC, and Cooperative Energy Inc., generator assets are available and their electric generation exceeds in-state consumption, because of our participation in this regional market, we want to do our part to ensure grid stability and energy resource adequacy across the affected area,” Commissioner Bailey said. “The Mississippi Public Service Commission continues to monitor the effects of these extreme temperatures on our state and regional energy grid and appreciates the consuming public’s assistance in the wise consumption of energy use during this time.”

By Bob Garver Having seen the best (“The Dark Knight,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”) and worst (“Morbius,” “Fant4stic”) of what the modern superhero genre has to offer, I can report that “Blue Beetle” falls right smack in the middle of the spectrum. It would be easy to write off this movie’s staggering averageness with a wide-brush line like “not a classic, not a disaster,” but I feel the need to stress the degree to which this movie is right on par. It isn’t so much that it’s dull or that I didn’t care about it, because that would be the mark of a bad superhero movie. It’s that the movie manages the curious feat of having just enough of a unique identity for me to recommend it with a bare minimum of passion. Our hero is Jamie Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), a smart, resourceful recent college graduate. He’s happy to be back in his hometown of Palmera City with his family, including his mother Rocio (Elpidia Carillo), father Alberto (Damián Alcázar), sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo), Nana (Adriana Barraza), and crazy uncle Rudy (George Lopez). But he’s less happy to hear that his family has fallen on hard times and is about to lose the house. He vows to help them out financially. A cleaning gig at the home of wealthy industrialist Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) goes badly, but he does make an impression on Victoria’s niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine), who half-heartedly invites him to apply for a job at corporate headquarters the next day. When he gets there, a skittish Jenny tells him to flee with a mysterious box, keep it safe and hidden, and above all, not open it. It’s maybe an hour before he opens the box in front of his family. Inside the box is The Scarab, an alien artifact that immediately attaches itself to Jamie and causes him develop a metallic skin, destroy most of the house, and rocket into outer space. Eventually Jamie figures out that he’s inside a super-suit that is certainly dangerous in his hands, but even more dangerous in the hands of the military or evildoers like Victoria or her mechanized henchman Carapax (Raoul Max Trujillo). He seeks out Jenny for help getting the Scarab out of his system, and she takes him to the hidden lair of her long-missing father, who was secretly a low-level superhero called Blue Beetle. Jamie and his family use some of Blue Beetle’s tech and resources, though I don’t believe Jamie ever officially takes on the name himself. Whatever, fans are going to call the Jamie “Blue Beetle” going forward no matter what. Story-wise, it’s not hard to see the inspirations for “Blue Beetle.” The main character gets his powers from a bug at a corporate building like Spider-Man, he’s inside of a metal suit like Iron Man, he has a testy relationship with the symbiote (voiced by Becky G) attached to his body like Venom, some of his powers are imagination-based like Green Lantern, he hides out in an armory beneath a mansion like Batman, and I’m sure I’m missing several others. Maybe Blue Beetle’s real superpower is that he can amalgamate every other superhero movie. And yet, “Blue Beetle” compensates for this lack of originality with a healthy dose of heart. Not too much heart, characters like Jamie and Jenny are likeable enough, but they’re pretty standard as far as superhero leads go. But there is an undeniable charm to the Reyes family, and it’s hard not to be swept up in their chemistry and care for each other. Then again, this movie isn’t much different than dozens of other superhero movies, and it’s not like most of them don’t have likeable characters too. I was going to give this movie a non-recommendation grade of C for being too bland, but then Nana showed up and saved the day. If you see the movie, you’ll understand why I had to bump the grade up to a B- just for her. Grade: B- “Blue Beetle” is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references. Its running time is 127 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

It’s not exactly a terrific ego-booster to forever be ‘the belly’ – the body part that doesn’t clear the fence last, but still, you’re not the tip end of the nose that always goes first, either. Can make a person feel pretty mediocre at times. Whether it’s on the job, in the family, or simply during playtime, seems you are destined to …just be there, doing important belly work but never a leading part of the whole outfit. And don’t even think about being a nose-tip! But being last in line doesn’t always feel too great, either. The part that clears the fence last. From the vantage point of a hind-ender person, life can seem like an endless series of watching others racing ahead of them – seeming to effortlessly and happily clear the fence long before the hind-ender has the chance to sluggishly heave their body up and over. A fence that apparently grows to be one hundred- and five-feet tall … just before the hind-ender gets there. That is how it can feel to them, anyway. So, does there really have to be brains, and bellies, and hind-enders in every organization in this world? Why? Why must there always be those who have the unglamorous designation of Hind-Ender? Simple. A group of people is a living thing, and a living breathing thing always has body parts. Body parts that function to make that organization work. And unfortunately, there is always gonna be a tail, as it is a vital and needed piece of the body puzzle. (Ever actually seen an animal, a bird, a person, or any other living thing on this earth that doesn’t own one?) My advice to the one reading this column, who is sick of always being the last one over the fence? Learn to readjust your thinking about you. Re-evaluate what the family, the company, or the team would be without your participation as the hind-end. Reassess your actual input and the need for it within the organization, and you will very likely see your value. After all, what exactly is a body without a tail? I agree, you will probably never be on the cover of an MVP magazine. Most of us won’t. But folks, being the tip of the nose has its own trials and problems. Tips of noses have to deal with allergies, odors, and risk of frostbite that hind-ends rarely have to face. Yeah, pun intended. Learn to find the value of your position, right where you are. Free yourself to enjoy the good things in your life. Realize that everyone has a job to do in life and it probably is totally different from yours, but they face their own painful, boring, and difficult times. Your Creator hasn’t forgotten you. Nor has He decided you are ‘less than.’ On the contrary, the hind-end has an endless amount of varied and important jobs for the body. Take some time to imagine what life would be like without hind-ends.

Allied is excited to be working on behalf of COMCAST for their amazing Digital Equity Rally hosted at Bolton, MS earlier this week! Comcast celebrated the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School. NOTABLE ATTENDEES Congressman Bennie Thompson; Sally Doty, Broadband Expansion and Accessibility Director; and Hinds County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Sanders, joined Comcast, the Town of Bolton Development Corporation, and other local government leaders, to celebrate the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion in Bolton and Edwards with a surprise laptop give away for all 400 K-8th grade students. Many media outlets were also in attendance. Click here for original article.

By Kara Kimbrough When you glanced at the headline, you may have thought the tagline would be…”football!” I have a confession to make. Unless it’s Homecoming and I want to see what the court’s gowns look like, I sometimes skip the main event and stay in the tailgate tent. That’s where the real fun happens, at least in the ones I frequent. Besides socializing with friends, partaking of a bounteous spread of one of my favorite food groups – appetizers – is reason enough to brave the south Mississippi heat that lasts until the Thanksgiving to tailgate at my alma mater. This year, I’m going to have to step up my tailgate food game. I’ve been invited to be a full-time member of a tent located in what I consider to be the best location on campus. In case you haven’t guessed by the hint above, it’s at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Located on a spacious corner within throwing distance of the football stadium and next to the street down which the football team, band and cheerleaders make their way during “Eagle Walk,” it’s a prime spot. Lots of friends and alumni either tailgate there or drop in, so my food has to be special this year. One of my stand-by tailgate appetizers is brown sugar Smokies. Little Smokies are wrapped in bacon, coated in brown sugar and baked to an irresistible crunchiness. They travel well, withstand the heat and are easy to pick up and eat. However, they aren’t visually-appealing. I’m looking through my cookbooks and recipes now for new and innovative ideas. If you have any favorite tailgate themes and dishes you’d like to share, please drop me an email. I welcome any and all ideas and recipes. It’s too early to nail down any specific item just yet, as the primary host has deemed each game’s tailgate food will center around a theme. He’s thrown out ideas like Cajun/Creole, Southern-style and grilled favorites. Jambalaya and gumbo, fried chicken, grilled burgers and ribs have been mentioned, but nothing’s yet been set in stone. In the meantime, I’ve been perusing a column I wrote in 2016 on the occasion of Super Bowl 50. It almost killed me, but I managed to create, gather or edit 50 appetizer recipes to publish before the big game. Here are just a few of my favorites from that column to provide inspiration as tailgate…I mean, football season, approaches. Delish Bacon-Onion Dip — Cook 2 thinly sliced yellow onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove onions and cool; fry 6 slices of bacon in same skillet. Chop bacon and cooked onions and combine with a cup of sour cream, 2 chopped scallions and seasoning salt to taste. Spicy Football Spread — With mixer, combine 3, 8-ounce packages softened cream cheese, 3 cups cheddar, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, 1 cup of sour cream, teaspoon of Worcestershire and dash of hot sauce. On plastic wrap, mold mixture into football shape or (or use a lined, medium plastic football dish). Place football on serving dish and cover with chopped toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Old Bay Snack Mix — Toss together party-size bag of regular potato chips, 2 cups each Cheez-Its and Goldfish crackers and mini pretzels, ½ stick melted butter and a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes, stirring once. Vegetable Pockets — Warm 12 pita pockets in the microwave. Snip off the tops and fill with a mixture of hummus, crumbled feta, chopped olives, cucumber, lettuce and tomato. (Can add sliced sandwich meat if you want). Serve with fresh dill dipping sauce. Fresh Dill Sauce — Combine 1 cup each mayo and sour cream, 2 tablespoons dill weed, 2 tablespoons Beau Monde seasoning and 1 teaspoon minced onion. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour before serving. Serve with Healthy Vegetable Pockets, sliced vegetables or crackers. Better Than Store-Bought Pimiento-Cheese Dip — Mix ½ pound each grated cheddar and pepper jack, ¼ cup each mayonnaise and sour cream and 2 tablespoons diced pimientos. Season with hot sauce, onion and garlic powders and mix well; serve with crackers. Touchdown Drumsticks — Combine a cup of jarred picante sauce, ¼ cup of honey, tablespoon of soy sauce and ½ teaspoon grated ginger in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Brush half the mixture on 12 chicken legs (can use chicken tenders) in a foil-covered baking pan; bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn legs and brush with remainder; continue baking 20 minutes or until tender. Serve with picante sauce. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi and a travel agent. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The sound of helmets and pads after school in a sweltering stew of August heat can only mean one thing – it’s high school football time in central Mississippi. It’s also preseason for the rapid-response team of orthopaedic surgeons and other health care specialists at UMMC’s Friday Night injury Clinic, who help keep area high school football players healthy and hydrated in preparation for the season. “UMMC sports medicine has athletic trainers on site at the local high schools and have worked with the kids all summer,” said Dr. Derrick Burgess, assistant professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. “They’re treating injured athletes and are there for preseason practices to watch for heat exhaustion. They get to know the athletes well during this time. It allows us to treat them better if and when they are injured.” For more than 15 years, UMMC has offered the Friday night clinic for high school football players during and after games when injuries happen. All ranges of injuries, from sprained knees to potentially dangerous impacts to the head and neck, can be addressed in minutes instead of days. Players can be X-rayed and, if needed, receive bracing at the appropriate UMMC facility, including University Physicians Pavilion, where players are checked in, and, when appropriate, the Emergency Department. “The most important thing this clinic gives to athletes and parents is immediate access to care,” Burgess said. “If a player is injured in the second or third quarter, then they’re seeing us in an hour’s time. We’re able to make a diagnosis within hours of the injury and get treatment started, no matter the scope of the injury, and get them back to playing as soon as possible.” UMMC staffs football games for six metro Jackson schools with certified athletic trainers. During the football season, the clinic operates from 9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but if possible, parents and athletic trainers are asked to call ahead at 601-815-4721. Players from outside metro Jackson can also call ahead about arriving by 11:30 and staff will wait for them. The sports medicine team also works with athletic trainers at the high schools to ensure protocols are followed so injured players can return to the field quickly but safely, depending on the specific injury. Those specialists meet during the summer months to have, in essence, a continuing education session to prepare for when the games count in the standings and injuries become likely. “We talk about heat-related illnesses and recognizing possible cervical spine injuries and concussions,” said Jeff Martinez, supervisor or UMMC Sports Medicine. “Then, as practices start up just before the season, three athletic trainers stand in on teams’ morning and afternoon workouts.” Clinic staff must keep a watch on heat-related issues as the season begins even when the sun goes down, as temperatures often stay in the 80s past dusk. “We will see signs of heat-related items like cramping of muscles, most often,” Martinez said. “We have a cold tub available, in case of it. We know if an athlete’s temperature is running 105 degrees on the field, the best treatment isn’t to quickly put them into the ambulance, but to be placed in a cold-water immersion tub. It prevents organ failure and even death. We also know to treat possible spine injuries that might show mild symptoms at first. We’re there a few hours beforehand to do protective padding, taping and bracing so we can better treat them on the field.” The ultimate winner from the prompt attention the clinic provides for student-athletes on the gridiron is the community itself, including parents and coaches. “Parents are more aware of sports injuries now,” Martinez said. “The sooner you’re able to start treating it, the better. Even with ankle sprains, a sports PT can go over basic at-home exercises to deal with them. MRIs can be scheduled by the next Tuesday.” All the preparation during the summer months from clinicians means high school football fans can cheer a bit louder for their teams once jamborees and district games begin. “Athletes want to return to the field as soon as possible after injuries, and the coaches want them back, too,” Burgess said. “So, with us starting treatment immediately,

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, and Hinds County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Sanders will join Comcast, the Town of Bolton Development Corporation, and other local and state leaders to celebrate the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion in the towns of Bolton and Edwards. The network buildout reaches more than 1,700 homes and business. At the event, Comcast will also partner with the Town of Bolton Development Corporation to surprise all Kindergarten–8th grade students at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School with free laptops. The August 22nd event starts at 11 a.m. CT at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School, located at 9700 I-20 Frontage Road in Bolton. “Comcast is a vital partner in bridging the digital divide in our communities,” said Congressman Thompson. “This broadband expansion and laptop donation is a gamechanger for the residents and businesses in Bolton and Edwards, and I’m confident this will have a meaningful long-term impact and greatly improve the quality of life in my community.” “This broadband expansion and tremendously generous laptop donation by Comcast are a fantastic boost to the community in Bolton and Edwards,” said Governor Reeves. “The investment will help provide critical broadband access and support educational opportunities for Mississippi families. Thank you to Comcast for your continued work on this issue." “Comcast maintains an unwavering commitment to address the barriers to broadband adoption across the communities we serve,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “We are grateful to the Towns of Bolton and Edwards for their support on this meaningful project, and for our partnerships with state and local leaders in Mississippi.” This expansion also provides families access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest private sector broadband adoption initiative for low-income families. Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month, digital literacy training and discounted computers. When combined with the Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Xfinity Mobile, this combination allows income-constrained families to have free or low-cost home internet and mobile data plans. Local businesses in Bolton and Edwards will now have access to a full suite of Comcast Business Internet, voice, and video services. Residential customers will have access to Xfinity services, including Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity Internet, Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Home. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s network is powering homes and businesses today and into the future with: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and symmetrical gig speeds are planned to come to the first homes later this year. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get WiFi coverage with a powerful Xfinity WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and businesses and counting. The company has launched a new device that is “storm ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. Over the last five years, Comcast has extended its network to reach more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi. Comcast plans to continue this expansion and bring its network to more underserved communities through private funding and state and local partnerships. Residents looking to see if their neighborhood has access to Xfinity services can visit https://www.xfinity.com/mytown/. For businesses looking to connect, visit https://business.comcast.com/. The Town of Bolton Development Corporation is a non-profit corporation that was established in 1974 to further improve social and economic conditions in the Town of Bolton, with extended services throughout rural Hinds County. It is involved in all phases of community activity - housing, food, nutrition, employment, case management, and community mobilization.

By Douglas Carswell “Woke” radicals love to undermine America at every opportunity. They try to rewrite history in order to demoralize and disorientate the United States. Cultural Marxism is able to thrive in that vacuum where there was once good civics education. If we want to defeat the radicals, both on and off campus, there are six things we should ensure every American child understands. 1. America is built on liberty. Liberty is what makes America special. This country was started in 1776 because people living in 13 former British colonies had had enough of being bossed about by a British king. America today might have its fair share of busybody politicians and bureaucrats, but the default setting in this country is to distrust anyone claiming authority over others, from George III to Dr. Fauci. Americans also dislike being told what to think, and particularly having their children told what to think: an extraordinary 3.7 million American schoolchildren are now homeschooled. 2. The US Constitution created the best system of government in the world. America might only be 240-something years old, but the US Constitution is now the oldest written Constitution in the world (with the exception of tiny San Marino). For context, France, which had its revolution at about the same time as America, is now on its fifth constitution. (Incidentally, how's that working out?) It might be fashionable for CNN pundits to proclaim that American democracy is in crisis, but it is nonsense. If and when Americans adhere to what the Founders actually wrote, the system works. The document they drafted, which fuses English ideas about natural rights with recently rediscovered insights from republican Rome, has withstood the test of time – and the challenge from would-be tyrants. 3. America is a force for good. No country is perfect, and America has had its fair share of blunders. But overall, America has been a force for good in the world. All previous great powers used their might to establish empires. Far from subjugating people, the United States used her strength to set people free, insisting the European powers dismantle their empires. On three occasions – World War I, World War II and the Cold War - the United States has intervened to save the free world. Can you imagine what the world today would be like if on any of those occasions, the other side had won? 4. Americans are amazingly inventive. From the first flight of the Kitty Hawk to the advent of the iPhone, there is one country that has proved extraordinarily inventive; the United States. Take a look at the everyday household objects around you as you read this. The light bulb. The microwave oven. The refrigerator. Toothpaste. All are American inventions. Innovation depends on being able to try out new things. It means freedom to fail. America is inventive because she is free. 5. Judeo-Christian ideals have shaped America. Religion has been remarkably important in shaping America. Yes, I know that the Founders kept religion and government separate. That was not because they thought religion unimportant but in fact the opposite. The Founders wanted to avoid the oppression of smaller religious groups, as had happened in Europe. When George Washington became President, he wrote an extraordinary letter to the Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. In it, he made it clear that they had a right to follow their faith. No one needed anyone else’s approval to worship as they pleased. America’s emphasis on individualism is, I suspect, a reflection of Judeo-Christian thinking. 6. Americans have so much to be thankful for. “Woke” ideology encourages grievance and resentment, rather than gratitude. This is why the “woke” seldom seem happy. Gratitude is an essential ingredient for happiness – and if you want to “pursue happiness” won’t get very far without appreciating the good things that you have. It is not a coincidence that one of the most important days in the American calendar is called “Thanksgiving”. Initially, a day to show gratitude for getting the harvest in, today Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate being American. Simply being an American means you have so much to be thankful for. Douglas Carswell is the President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.