By Kara Kimbrough Every now and then I run across one of those surveys that challenges you to list the contents of your “last meal on earth.” Invariably, pasta, shrimp, garlic bread and a loaded green salad with Comeback dressing are on the list. I’m not a huge sweets lover, but when pressed, pound cake is on the list. My love of pound cake goes back to childhood, as do most people’s favorite dishes. Thumbing through a family cookbook I compiled a few years ago, I found three recipes for pound cake. One was an aunt’s sour cream pound cake recipe, another was a cream cheese pound cake recipe written in my teenage handwriting (although I have no memory of making it back then) and last, my grandmother’s contribution, simply entitled “Pound Cake.” I would share the recipe but it’s going to take a while to decipher the ingredients due to the age of the handwritten recipe and the obvious hurry she was in when she jotted it down. The two pound cakes I most often make are five flavors and whipping cream varieties. A favorite story is the time I included the five flavors pound cake recipe in a column. A few weeks later, I received an email from the daughter of the lady who had fallen ill and was hospitalized in a coma. Upon awakening, the first thing she asked her daughter was, “Did you find that recipe for five flavors pound cake?” Turns out, the dear lady had misplaced her newspaper and had been worrying about it before going to the hospital. I was more than happy to provide the daughter with a recipe to pass on to her mom. This story just signifies to me how important pound cake is to many people. It’s a simple cake, a fact that is portrayed in the name itself. “A pound of this…a pound of that…” Yes, it’s simple…but even the most elaborate dessert does not compare to a slice of hot pound cake fresh from the oven. It’s delicious topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sliced strawberries and juice. But I’m quite happy enjoying a slice unadorned. So yes, I’m happy to include it in my “last meal on earth,” list. Here are just a few of my favorite pound cake recipes. Five Flavors-Pound Cake Cake: 2 sticks butter 3 cups sugar 1 cup milk 5 eggs, lightly whisked (not beaten to liquid form) 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon each: vanilla, lemon, rum, coconut and butter flavoring Glaze: 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 teaspoon each: vanilla, lemon, rum, coconut and butter flavoring For the cake: Cream butter, shortening and sugar in mixer. Add egg mixture slowly, beating well after the addition of each lightly-whisked egg, to ensure eggs are incorporated. Add baking powder to flour and stir to combine; add flour and milk alternately to the batter. Add the extracts one at a time, completely incorporating each one before adding the next. Continue beating until batter is shiny, about 4 minutes. Bake in a greased and floured tube pan for 1½ hours at 300 degrees. Glaze: combine ingredients in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted. Pour over hot cake while it’s still in the pan. Let set until cake is cool. Whipping Cream Pound Cake 3 cups sugar 1 cup real butter room temperature (no substitution) 6 large eggs, room temperature 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 cup whipping cream (also known as heavy cream) 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 10-inch bundt or tube pan with non-stick spray or flour and grease pan. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat on medium butter until smooth. Add sugar and mix until smooth about 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and heavy cream alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and mix on low to medium until well combined. Pour batter into a prepared 10-inch tube or bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour 15-25 minutes at 325 degrees. Test for doneness with a wooden toothpick. Cool in the pan for 20 to 25 minutes before turning onto a serving plate to cool completely. Ten-Minute Pound Cake (You will need a stand mixer to adequately blend this heavy cake mix) 3 cups granulated sugar 2 cups butter, softened 6 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole milk Powdered sugar for dusting Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Liberally grease bottom, side and tube of 10-inch angel food cake pan with baking spray or shortening; lightly flour. In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla with electric stand mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. On low speed, gradually beat in flour alternately with milk. Pour batter into pan. Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is entering into an agreement with the American Red Cross to assist in temporarily lodging displaced residents from the March 24, 2023, deadly tornadoes. Under this agreement, the American Red Cross will place eligible disaster survivors into hotel or motel rooms, and provide meals for those individuals and families for up to six months based on need. “Helping the impacted communities get back on their feet is our top priority,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “This contract with the Red Cross is going to be really important in getting Mississippians the resources they need to recover. We’ll continue to use every available resource to restore and rebuild our communities. We’re committed to being here for as long as it takes.” We aim to give families safe and comfortable lodging while helping them work towards permanent housing solutions. To further help disaster survivors, Red Cross and FEMA case managers will address the needs of each eligible citizen and support their recovery progress. Currently, over 500 Mississippians are residing in local hotels due to the tornadoes; we anticipate little to no disruption to those currently in hotel or motel rooms during this transition phase. To qualify for this program, survivors must register first with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Displaced storm survivors who need temporary lodging under this program should call: 1-800-RedCross. MEMA and Red Cross have partnered with a number of local hotels in the affected counties, Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe, Montgomery, Panola, and Sharkey, or nearby counties that could accommodate. During this sheltering mission, hotel availability may change. The Red Cross may relocate residents to another facility if necessary. The contract is worth up to $11.6 million and is eligible for FEMA reimbursement. MEMA will request 100% reimbursement from FEMA. However, if 100% is not approved, FEMA will provide 75% reimbursement for eligible costs and the state match of 25% will come from the “housing mission fund” the Mississippi State Legislature appropriated to MEMA for FEMA-DR-4697. While in the Red Cross-provided hotels/motels, it is essential to note that “FEMA temporary rental assistance” could be paused since the state is paying for sheltering. At this time, the State is not releasing the address of these shelters due to the safety and security of those displaced storm survivors. Anyone needing shelter can call 1-800-RedCross. IMPORTANT NOTE: Interview availability with MEMA’s Executive Director is from 1 pm-2 pm on April 11, 2023. Contact Allie Jasper at ajasper@mema.ms.gov to schedule your interview with the director.

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, will host three town hall meetings for constituents to ask questions and share concerns about the disaster recovery process. Attendees will hear up to date information on federal recovery resources. Representatives of Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross and Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions. The first meeting will be held at The South Delta Elementary School, located at 138 Weathers Avenue, Rolling Fork, MS. The meeting will be Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The second meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the Neighborhood Facility Building, 501 North Hayden Street, Belzoni, MS. The final meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Zion District Association Building, 213 Justy Street, Winona, MS.

By Bob Garver Last week, I wrote in my review of “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” that I wasn’t really familiar with the “Dungeons & Dragons” game, and that may have affected my enjoyment of the movie. There will be no such disclaimer for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” My brother and I were introduced to video games through “Super Mario Bros.” and “Donkey Kong Country.” I even tried playing the games myself sometimes, in between watching my brother play and actually win. So, while I’m not saying that I picked up on every Nintendo Easter Egg in this movie, there wasn’t much that caught me off-guard. And that’s kind of the problem, nothing here surprised me. Brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) aren’t having much luck with their plumbing business in Brooklyn, but their fortunes could change if they can stop a massive flood. They follow the sewer system to a mysterious pipe, which they enter, only to be whisked away to the world of the Mushroom Kingdom, where they get split up. On top of being lost, stranded, and separated from his brother, Mario is trapped in a world that centers around his least-favorite pizza topping. Mario makes fast friends with scrappy Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), who suggests they go to get help from Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). She’s dealing with a problem of her own: an impending invasion by the evil Bowser (Jack Black) and his army of Koopas. Bowser has taken Luigi hostage, so Mario and Peach have a shared interest in his defeat. Mario and Toad accompany Peach on a mission to recruit the Kong army to combat the Koopas. King Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) agrees to loan Peach his army if Mario can defeat his son Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) in an arena battle. An alliance is soon formed, but Bowser isn’t far off. Bowser, for his part, is probably the funniest character in the movie, thanks to three words: Jack Black singing. He has a diabolical plan to marry Peach, which he plans to do by force, but he also wants to do it the right way, with romance and attentiveness. “Adventure Time” had a storyline like this, and arguably, so did “Beauty and the Beast.” But this is the first one to throw in a Jack Black piano ballad. Black’s performance is one of the few memorable things about this movie, the rest is pretty much disposable. Every time the movie gives us a funny joke or action beat, a lame one will come along to even it out, and vice versa. Very little falls above (or below, to be fair) the level of “middling.” I’ll say this: it was a good idea to make this movie animated. You just don’t get this brand of bright colors and bouncy movements in real life. Plus, I’ve seen portions of the yucky 1993 live-action movie. I haven’t seen it all the way through, but I think it’s safe to say that this is better. By the time you read this, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” will probably be the #1 movie of the year at the domestic box office, after a killer opening over Easter weekend. I’m glad that something is taking down the MCU mush that was “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” especially given the whole MODOK fiasco. But I’d also like to see this movie taken down by something that I can actually recommend. This movie comes close to breaking the streak of the world never getting a single decent video game movie, it really does, but the jokes and action, not to mention some stiff voice performances (Taylor-Joy could have used a few more takes, so could Black when he’s delivering straight lines) just barely make this movie an underwater level. Grade: C “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is rated PG for action and mild violence. Its running time is 92 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

With the fall 2022 reorganization of the Fine and Performing Arts Department, Hinds Community College will produce a musical at Brooks Theatre for the first time in 12 years. The musical is “The Spitfire Grill.” The Lendon Players drama department typically performs two shows a year, one in the fall semester and another in the spring, a drama and a comedy. “This isn’t just the Lendon Players,” said Theatre and Drama Director Alison Stafford, co-director of the production along with Marc Rivet. “Every aspect of the department is contributing in some way, shape or form.” Also heavily involved in the production are Choir Director Andrew Head and Voice Instructor Dr. Mandy Spivak. Rivet, who serves as musical director, came on board at Hinds in fall 2022 as the Music Industry and Piano Instructor. His background is in musical theatre and opera. “I’m in charge of all of the instrumentation, the sound and making decisions on how they should be singing, certain phrases,” Rivet said. “The way that the music is sung needs to be directly influenced by how the actors are feeling. Even though I’m mainly the music director, there’s still things that the acting plays a part in.” Stafford said Rivet’s involvement is crucial to being able to produce a musical. “I myself don’t possess enough knowledge to be able to pull this off by myself,” she said. “We decided that we wanted to start doing musicals again because we had people like Marc.” Musicals are “more expensive to mount than a regular straight play. And with the singing is a lot more complicated,” she said. “You have to know in advance that you’ve got the right people with the right vocal quality, the right vocal ranges to be able to pull off those parts.” But, Rivet said, students get much more from the musical production experience. “There are a lot of more moving parts when it comes to a musical. So that gives the kids a lot more experience with different things that they might not have thought about or be a part of,” he said. “The Spitfire Grill” will be performed 7 p.m. April 18-21 at Brooks Theatre on the Raymond Campus. Tickets can be purchased online at hindscc.edu/calendar-event/the-spitfire-grill-themusical The musical has seven student cast members, six of whom sing. All auditioned for their parts. In the play, a feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. The Grill is for sale, but there are no takers for the only eatery in the depressed town, so newcomer Percy convinces Hannah to raffle it off. Entry fees are $100 and the best essay on why you want the Grill wins. Soon, mail arrives by the wheelbarrow and things really start cookin’ at the Spitfire Grill. With six campuses in central Mississippi, Hinds Community College is a comprehensive institution offering quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. Our Mission: Hinds Community College is committed to moving people and communities forward by helping develop their purpose, passion and profession. Our Vision: Hinds Community College will be a catalyst to create a competitive economy and a compelling culture for Mississippi. Our Values: Hinds Community College aspires to the following IDEALS: Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Accountability, Leadership, Stewardship. To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (FDIC), is hosting a series of regional economic development workshops on the “Path to Prosperity” in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia to provide small businesses, including farmers and ranchers, with the resources and tools they need to grow. “These independent businesses, in rural communities, are the cornerstone of American life but many of them lack the same level of access to resources and economic development as their counterparts in larger metro areas,” said Malcom A. Shorter, USDA’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration. “USDA is committed to ensuring that small businesses of all types have the knowledge and opportunity to prosper, create jobs and stimulate their local economies.” The partnership and the “Path to Prosperity” workshops align with the Biden-Harris Administration's Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” and show the Department’s commitment to increase access to USDA’s products and services and improve service delivery in rural and underserved communities. Shorter said “Given USDA’s procurement portfolio of more than $9 billion annually, we can help small businesses access capital through government contracts. Last year, 25.8% of the Department’s contracts went to small, disadvantaged businesses, surpassing our goal of 21.5%, and we plan to exceed that goal again this year.” Through the “Path to Prosperity” regional economic development series; Federal, state, and local government agencies, along with private sector and non-profit partners, will provide small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources and an opportunity to engage with experts and each other to learn best practices. The no-cost series features experts in how to start a business, how to access capital, and how to do business with the government. They will also include facilitated lender-small business matchmaking sessions. In order to meet participants where they are, the partnership will be conducting a pre-event assessment. Additional resources and experts will be provided based on any further needs. Presenters will discuss: Incentivizing unbanked and under-banked small business owners and individuals to establish a sustainable relationship with an insured financial institution, Expanding technical assistance and financial education for small business owners and individuals to improve their bankability, Increasing the number of SBA certified lenders to provide access to capital for small, minority, and underserved businesses, and Developing contracting relationships with Federal government and private industry partners. Workshop participants include small businesses, financial institutions, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), trade groups, local, state, and Federal agencies, community leaders, nonprofits, and community-based staff representing organizations. This spring, three “Path to Prosperity” workshops will be held in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia with the goal of also reaching individuals and businesses in the surrounding region, as follows: Jackson, Mississippi (Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma) Lexington, Kentucky (Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia) Albany, Georgia (North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee) “These regions were chosen because local businesses accessed USDA’s procurement opportunities at a lower rate than others,” said George A. Sears, director of USDA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. The first “Path to Prosperity” event is on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum located at 1150 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216. All participants must register to attend either “In Person” or “Virtually” at Path to Prosperity - Mississippi. The second event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET at the University of Kentucky, William T. Young Library, 401 Hilltop Avenue, Lexington, KY 40526. All participants must register to attend either “In Person” or “Virtually” at Path to Prosperity - Kentucky. The third and final southern state event will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET at Albany State University – West Campus, 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, Georgia 31707, in Student Center Ballroom C266. All participants must register to attend either “In Person” or “Virtually” at Path to Prosperity - Georgia. Four "Path to Prosperity" events have been held since last fiscal year, with nearly 450 participants attending the Caribbean workshops in Caguas, Puerto Rico and St. Croix, Virgin Islands in March 2023, according to Sears. Other states will follow later in the year. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

“I am not stupid! Ignorant maybe, but certainly not totally stupid.” The rallying cry of most of us. Everyone feels better when they have at least a little bit of knowledge concerning what they are doing. That’s why starting a new job can be nerve-wracking. Why attending a new school is so hard on kids, where everything is totally different and they don’t know any names yet. Why it’s so difficult to force yourself to find a new church to attend, even though you believe that life seems to flow a little easier when you have dedicated one morning a week to inviting the Lord to guide and help you. For many of us, starting over or beginning something new is not fun. Because, being ‘the new kid on the block,’ where you feel awkward and yet to be accepted, can be an isolating experience. If you have ever begun a new job or school, you likely found that every facet of it was new to you. You probably had to ask someone a jillion questions for the first few days, and that gets very old, very quickly. It’s called learning. And it can be stressful, but sometimes it can actually be exhilarating and fun. I guess it just depends on your mental and emotional approach to the process. And also depends a lot on your mentor for the job. If you have the good fortune to inherit a kind, well-spoken instructor to walk you thru the process of grasping all the details, you are blessed indeed. Nothing worse than trying to learn from someone who makes it clear that you are interfering with their time. Or even worse, if you are personally resented. Because you were given a job that in their estimation should have gone to someone else. That can almost guarantee a very rough beginning that is going to last until they decide to forgive you. But like I mentioned earlier, there can be a fun part. It is affirming and exciting when you know you have grasped something new. Even if it is just a tiny part of the new requirements, “Hey, I got this, I can do it!” And making new friends with your co-workers or classmates - absolutely nothing wrong with that. Then the day comes when you are actually functioning on your own. Nobody has to remind you, direct you, or walk you through it one more time. Oh, happy day! You learned, you truly know what you are doing, and you belong. That, my friends, is a good feeling. If you are one of the fortunate - one of the few who has had the same classmates for years, or you never had to be the “newby” at work, then take these last two sentences to heart: It is extremely difficult for some people to be the one having to learn everything and everyone. Please, take time to be kind and helpful for their sake.

Mississippi is known for its rich history, natural beauty and yes, even our unusual city and town names. A few of my favorite names are Soso, Mt. Olive, Biloxi, Arm, Como, Foxworth, D’Lo, Panther Burn and Duck Hill. Another interesting name that hit my radar last year was the small town of Rolling Fork in Sharkey County. When the town’s newspaper, the Deer Creek Pilot, began publishing my column last year, I was intrigued about the origin of both names, but never stopped to do a little research. It wasn’t until the town was decimated by the deadly EF-4 tornado that hit the state March 24. Most of Rolling Fork’s businesses and homes were flattened and many residents lost their lives. Surprisingly, the newspaper office was spared. However, with no electricity in the building, editor/publisher Natalie Perkins was forced to write articles, design and compile the following week’s daily newspaper from her Anguilla home five miles away. To say this was a herculean feat amid the destruction and chaos left by the storm would be an understatement. Perkins managed to publish what can only be described as one of the most notable newspaper editions in the state’s history. Perkins' feat in the face of disaster is preceded in magnitude only by the Biloxi Sun-Herald’s staff managing to publish its Aug. 30, 2005 edition the day after Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of the Gulf Coast. So, to the point of my column. First, I finally took the time to learn the origin of Rolling Fork’s name. It supposedly came when the original founder named the town after a fast-moving – or rolling – part of a fork in the nearby Deer Creek. Simultaneously, I learned where the newspaper got its name. And my second point: besides culture, tradition, history, beauty and quirky names, Mississippi is filled with wonderful, strong, caring people. In addition to Perkins, who single mindedly did whatever it took to publish a newspaper that would serve as a fitting tribute to both the town’s heartache as well as its resilience, hundreds of others descended on Rolling Fork to help in a multitude of ways. Churches, organizations, municipalities and just ordinary Mississippians who cared and wanted to do what they could to help submerged on the small town of Rolling Fork in the days following the storm. Our people are what make Mississippi special, transcending our state’s beauty and uniqueness. To help the Deer Creek Pilot continue to operate in the coming months as the town and surrounding counties recover, the Mississippi Press Association Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, established a Go Fund Me campaign with a goal of $15,000 to cover essential operating costs like printing and delivery. The MPAEF also reestablished its Local Journalism Relief Fund, a campaign dedicated to help local newspapers and employees facing advertising after natural disasters. The fund provided vital support to local media following Katrina. To make a contribution or for more information, contact the MPAEF at 601-981-3060. In honor of our state's resilience, once again, in the face of crisis, I searched for a recipe in an old cookbook simply entitled, "The Mississippi Cookbook." It's a wonderful cookbook from the 1970's filled with tried-and-true recipes from cooks around the state. I found a recipe for hot chicken salad from a Booneville (another great city name) cook, that will translate well to modern-day Mississippi as we deal with fluctuating spring weather. The Mississippi Cookbook's Hot Chicken Salad 2 cups chopped cooked chicken 2 cups chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons grated onions 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons chopped pimento 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 can cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup grated cheese 1-1/2 cups crushed potato chips Mix all ingredients except chips and cheese. Put into a 2-quarter casserole dish. Mix cheese and potato chips and spread over top of mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver Let me begin by saying that I did not go into “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” familiar with the source material. I certainly knew “of” the famous tabletop game and that it takes place in a world of wizards and magic, but I only knew the broadest of strokes. If more education on the game would have helped me enjoy the movie more, then I’m sorry I didn’t do my homework. Then again, I see and enjoy movies based on unfamiliar source material all the time. I’ve never once bought a Marvel comic, and even with the MCU’s more subpar efforts, I usually feel that they do a good job establishing the characters and their worlds. But I spent almost all of “Honor Among Thieves” feeling left in the dust by all the fantasy creatures, spells, and rules. That feeling, combined with derivative characters and unfunny humor, made the movie a slog. We first meet Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) in prison, which explains the “Dungeons” portion of the title. They go to a parole hearing, where Edgin fills us in on backstory as he nervously awaits a specific board member. He used to be a professional peacekeeper until he started turning to light thievery to support his wife and daughter. His wife was killed, so he turned to heavy thievery along with Holga, aspiring sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), and con artist Forge (Hugh Grant). The team did a risky job for witch Sofina (Daisy Head), that led to Edgin and Holga’s capture, though Forge was able to escape, promising to take care of Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). The conclusion of the hearing does admittedly make for a funny gag. Edgin and Holga reunite with Forge, now a powerful lord that basically rules the kingdom. He kept his word about protecting Kira, but has otherwise turned on his old friends, joining forces with Sofina for an upcoming scheme to create an army of the undead. Sofina tries to have Edgin and Holga eliminated, but they escape and start working on a counter-scheme to get Kira back, along with a relic that can bring back Edgin’s wife. Edgin and Holga’s scheme requires more members on the team. Simon can do a scant little magic, which barely rises above the level of parlor tricks. Doric (Sophia Lillis) can transform into any animal, and single-handedly carries the best action sequence of the movie. Xenk (Regè-Jean Page) is a mighty, benevolent warrior that Edgin doesn’t trust. The movie doesn’t want to admit it, but with these three on the team, the movie barely needs Edgin and Holga. Actually, the movie doesn’t need anyone besides Doric. This movie could have been called “Doric & Dragons” and things probably would have been wrapped up much more efficiently. The team goes through adventures where they encounter various creatures and deal with a series of obstacles and enchantments. The film falls into the trap that many fantasies do, where everything is magic, so the rules and stakes aren’t clearly defined. There are several points where the team is faced with a challenge and Edgin will ask, “Is there a spell for that?” We don’t know magic, so the answer is strictly at the mercy of the movie’s writers (or the game’s creators). “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is a perfectly average fantasy movie, dragged below average by bland characters (the ones with useful skills have no personality, and vice versa) and painful humor (especially with Simon, Justice Smith is a specialist at the sort of forced awkwardness that plagues many a movie of this era). It doesn’t make me want to take up the game or see any more movies in this series. We’re getting a new “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie in a few weeks, hopefully that will be a better movie about supposedly-loveable thieves where the self-appointed leader is an unremarkable smooth-talker played by a guy named Chris. Grade: C- “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is rated PG-13 for fantasy action/violence and some language. Its running time is 134 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

Recent weather events have safety on the mind of most Mississippians these days, but Atmos Energy focuses on safety all year-round. Did you know that the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks is digging or construction that disturbs natural gas pipelines? Pipelines carry natural gas around the clock to more than 76 million homes and businesses in the United States, yet we seldom notice these energy superhighways because they are underground. Every year in April, National Safe Digging Month is an opportunity to remind homeowners, contractors, and any professional excavator to keep communities safe by calling 811 before any digging project. “Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in disruptions to critical services, serious injuries, and costly repairs to underground utility lines,” said Todd Fuller, Manager of Safety for Atmos Energy in Mississippi. “It is simple and easy to make a free request online or over the phone by calling 811 before digging to help communities maintain essential utility services, promote safety, and reduce the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines. The ‘Call 811’ service is free, safe, and it is required by law.” “Mississippi 811 promotes National Safe Digging Month to raise awareness of the importance of calling before you dig to avoid damages to underground utilities and to promote safety for excavators,” said Fred Johnson, President Mississippi 811, Inc. Atmos Energy is partnering with Mississippi 811 and other gas utilities in the metro area to raise awareness of 811 and National Safe Digging Month. We are co-sponsoring a blood drive at the location of MS 811, 200 Country Pl Pkwy in Pearl. “In conjunction with National Safe Digging Month, Mississippi 811, Inc. is teaming up with local utility members and Mississippi Blood Services to promote saving lives,” said Bert Pickard with MS 811. “We invite you to come out and donate blood at this life saving event.” The event will run from 12:00pm to 5:00pm at the MS 811 office. Volunteers who donate blood at the event will receive $15 Visa gift cards. Door prizes will be given away as well. Everyone who contacts 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local notification center that will take the caller's information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Homeowners are further encouraged to take a few precautionary measures when planning any digging project this spring: Plan ahead. If work is scheduled for an upcoming weekend, make a free 811 request on Monday or Tuesday – providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked. Confirm that all lines have been marked. Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings. If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don't allow work to begin if the lines are not marked. Please visit 811beforeyoudig.com for complete information. As part of National Safe Digging Month, Atmos Energy asks everyone to become a safety ambassador by taking the Atmos Energy Call 811 Pledge at https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/sign-call-811-pledge. In addition, the Atmos Energy Damage Prevention Ambassador Program empowers employees year-round to help eliminate pipeline damages by making stops at excavation sites to educate the public and promote safe digging practices. In 29 percent of all stops, Damage Prevention Ambassadors found that excavators did not have a valid 811 ticket, the ticket had expired, or their excavation plan included the use of mechanized equipment within the utility tolerance zone without first exposing the utilities. If pipeline danger exists, the Ambassador is empowered to stop the work, and the excavator is asked to cease digging and call 811 so utilities can mark their lines as required under state law. With an increasing number of public infrastructure projects and expanding economic development, pipeline damage resulting from excavation remains the most common cause of outside natural gas leaks. Atmos Energy has been and will continue to be a champion for damage prevention, and this is yet one more way that Atmos Energy puts its safety vision into practice. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find us online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

By Mika Hartman Life is life. Some seem to walk around on “easy street”, while others struggle with everything. Some people celebrate 75 years of marriage, while others remarry more than once. Some of us are given a life we didn’t know we wanted, until it is ours. And many will never understand how lucky the ones selected for a Down syndrome journey really are. Recently, I was asked by a super nice man, “How Downs is your kid?” This is clearly a lack of education on the subject. Someone who assumes that there are levels of Down syndrome is someone who hasn’t been around families like mine. You are either born with Down syndrome or you’re not. Autism provides levels based on testing and results. However, Down syndrome is solely based on the extra 21st chromosome that can be detected in utero or after birth. The amazing thing about people with this extra chromosome is that like every person ever born, they have two parents with unique genetic traits. Hudson is still half me and half CJ. Hudson looks just like my other two children at the age he is now, with a few differences because he was born with Down syndrome and they weren’t. Yes, he has delays. Yes, sometimes communicating is more difficult. Yes, Hudson has a different journey than my other two children. Different is beautiful and it is universal. “What sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it's what makes you great.” - Emma Stone Hudson is not and never will be a burden. I pray he never feels like a burden. Only society can plant those seeds with questions like above. If families like mine are carrying the weight of the differences, society could help with the heaviness. Its not Hudson that makes it heavy, it is the constant need for daunting paperwork, overseeing that my sons basic human rights are being met outside of our home, it is having to be five steps ahead of those looking to knock you ten steps back and its always having to prove the disability, even when no diagnosis have changed. Even when the load feels heaviest, I am advocating and I am educating myself and others. I want Mississippi and the world to be better, kinder, more understanding and, mostly, more human to those who deserve our kindness and our help. Sitting here at 47, I know my voice matters. I know needed change can happen, even from stay at home mom with something important to say. You can’t wait on the world, your voice matters now. This is the letter I sent to Lieutenant Governor Hosemann's Family Committee last year: To Whom It May Concern: Thank you for allowing me to provide comments today on such an important issue. My name is Mika Hartman and I reside in Pass Christian, Mississippi. I am a mom to an amazing, sweet, fun loving boy named Hudson. Upon testing, we were told that Hudson would likely be born with Down syndrome. Throughout his short life so far, I’ve noticed several obstacles we’ve had to face to ensure my son is getting the quality of life he needs and deserves. After my sons open heart surgery, we moved back to Mississippi for his best chance at life. Upon my return, I was told that I should have never moved here. That had I called before deciding to move back to Mississippi (now with my child with “special needs”), I would have been told this is NOT a place to bring him. We are a military family, law abiding citizens, taxpayers, hard workers and good people…. And because we have a child with Down syndrome, we shouldn’t reside here? That statement truly broke my heart. I am here today to address some of the ways we can improve the life of individuals with disabilities and Mississippi can continue to the place my son and my family can call home. Any person born or later diagnosed with a disability brings purpose and value to our communities. Our laws and our budgets should reflect all citizens. We have a real responsibility to all Mississippians to rise to the challenge of ensuring equitable care for all citizens. We must improve our education system, healthcare and access to it, inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the community, and training for many professionals (including doctors, law enforcement agents, teachers and more) across the state. For example, there is room for improvement in our restriction and seclusion policy. It states that training for children with disabilities is part of the current plan, and we have no accountability that this training happens or that it is consistent within our state. Currently, individuals with disabilities within the state can make less than the minimum wage, often called subminimum wages. This practice needs to end. As of 2020, there are 2,527 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities waiting to receive critical Home and Community Based Services that they need. We must allocate funding towards HCBS services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Another change that should be implemented is removing the “r” word from our state documents and medical documents, known typically as mental retardation. The way to treat a person with love and dignity is to ensure that we view one another as a person first. My son is not a burden to my family, he is a perfect gift; nor is he a burden to society or to the state. It is my job to see that he gets everything he needs, but it is your job to ensure that the availability of what he needs is within reach. If you ever walked a day in the shoes of a momma advocate, you would understand better the challenges we face. A world that pities us instead of envying us; they have it all wrong. We are willing to teach and we invite you to learn with us. I am working to continue to create change in our state legislature. From police training to ways, to protect nonverbal children better, I hope to be the change in the world my son deserves. Everything I pursue for change is done with love for this life God gave me. Bipartisan changes reflect all the citizens and provide needed policies that benefit all with disabilities. We must work together to get Mississippi on the right track forward. We can do this by protecting Mississippi’s families, removing burdens and barriers, and loving thy neighbors. The weight of the world can be found on the shoulders of a special needs momma; and instead of lightening the load, we often find each stone to be heavier. We need you all to pass policies that help better all our futures, ones that will help move Mississippi forward. Thank you for your consideration. Mika Hartman Whether you have the ability to speak up for those, especially with no voice; or you have a concern for what you’ve seen or experienced: be bold, be loud, help lessen the load when you can. Worry about the unnecessary questions and burdens you might be adding to someones day or life. Worry about the changes that need to be made. Worry about what world you want your kids to grow up in. I have the same concerns for all my children; however, the birth of Hudson has made me stronger and bolder. I feel this. I was created to carry it; but, not everyone can carry it as easily. Worry about them. I do. Don’t worry about Hudson, I have him; he’s good…. He’s actually EXTRA good. EXTRA EXTRA I am hosting a Buddy Cruise Charity Golf Tournament on May 19th in Pass Christian, Ms at The Oaks Golf Club. This tournament is going to be a fun filled day. From prizes, trophies, a chance at a hole-in-one prize, silent auction, raffle prizes and more, we are certain to raise awareness and show the love for and of our Down syndrome community. I will be raising money for Buddy Cruise and sending a local family on the 2023 Buddy Cruise on Royal Caribbean. Even our lunch is being catered by our celebrity entrepreneur, Austin Underwood with Austin’s Underdawgs. Additionally, The Mustard Seed will be here with a pop-up pottery store. Many friends with Down syndrome are participating in our day, from Florida to California, we plan to showcase the “I Can” in our Down syndrome family. To join us, sponsor or donate, please contact me (Mika Hartman): mikacj@yahoo.com or call at 719-822-6497. Or you can register @https://buddycruise.org/Golf/Tournament/14 Don’t miss out on this incredible day of EXTRA good stuff!

FEMA is urging a wide area of the country to stay alert and start preparing for weather risks from today into the weekend. The National Weather Service is predicting intense and widespread severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes in some areas. Remain alert, keep your cell phone charged and take steps to prepare now to potentially save lives and protect property when severe weather strikes. Severe weather, that could include long-track tornadoes, may occur from Friday afternoon into the overnight hours for a large portion of the Middle Mississippi Valley and the Mid-South. This dangerous weather risk will continue eastward into the Lower Ohio and Tennessee Valley. Anyone living in these areas should take steps now ahead of the storms: Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the free FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to receive real-time emergency alerts from the National Weather Service, and to find a nearby shelter if you evacuate Pay attention to local alerts and warnings and follow any guidance by local officials. Check on neighbors. As you prepare your family and loved ones for a disaster, check on neighbors and folks in your community to see if they are doing the same or help them get started. Older adults may need extra assistance to prepare for the storms. Visit Ready.gov/seniors for more information. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Visit Individuals with Disabilities to learn more. Prepare your property for dangerous weather now by cleaning out any large or loose materials near your property. Remove dead trees, hanging branches and loose objects in your yard or patio that could become a dangerous projectile during severe winds. It's not too late to create a plan with your family. Visit Ready.gov/plan and use the new "Make a Plan" fillable form to walk through all the steps to begin your plan and then easily save an electronic copy, or share with other family members. Many shelters do not take household pets, so remember to create a plan and have supplies available for your pets.