With the federal government ending the continuous Medicaid coverage requirement on March 31, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) is notifying Medicaid members that eligibility renewals will begin on April 1. DOM urges all Medicaid members to make sure their contact information is correct by visiting www.medicaid.ms.gov/staycovered. During the COVID-19 public emergency, states and territories have continued to cover every person who has been eligible for Medicaid on or after March 18, 2020, even if their income or circumstances have changed and otherwise would no longer be eligible. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) passed in December, Congress has now required states to begin the process of redetermining the eligibility of all Medicaid members. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed all states to begin normal redetermination operations by April 1, 2023, at the latest. To prepare for the return to annual renewals, DOM is sending notices to recipients alerting them to the change in federal requirements and to look for renewal forms in the mail in the months ahead. Members can update their information online at www.medicaid.ms.gov/staycovered, or by calling DOM at 1-800-421-2408 or 601-359-6050. DOM has been actively increasing its eligibility workforce through various recruitment and retention efforts, including hiring temporary staff to help with the caseload and streamlining training requirements. In January, DOM also launched a Stay Covered campaign, which includes a Coverage Champions program for community partners, advocates and providers to support Medicaid members and prepare for the end of the continuous coverage requirement. The Stay Covered webpage (www.medicaid.ms.gov/staycovered) includes a media toolkit, a link for members to update their contact information, and more important information about the unwinding process. Following federal guidance, renewals for all current Medicaid members must be initiated within 12 months following April 1, and all renewals must be completed within 14 months. When DOM begins redeterminations, electronic verification sources will first be used to try to renew a member’s benefits. If more information is needed to complete a renewal, the member will be mailed a renewal form, and they will have 30 days to fill it out and return it. DOM is also reaching out to members via email and text messages. Find more information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) online at www.medicaid.ms.gov/staycovered.

By Bob Garver As popular as it is to complain about Hollywood’s lazy reliance on reboots, re-imaginings, spinoffs, and legacy sequels to older properties, all evidence suggests that “Rocky” continuation “Creed” has worked out for the best. I’m not just talking about the first “Creed” from 2015, but the entire “Creed” sub-franchise, including the first sequel from 2018, and of course, new movie “Creed III.” These movies have done well creatively (all above 80% with both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes) and commercially, with the first two making over $100 million at the domestic box office, and the third almost certain to follow suit after a $58 million opening weekend. Keeping in mind that I’m calling the whole trilogy is a success, I don’t think it’s out of line to say that “Creed III” is the weakest entry. Michael B. Jordan is back as boxer Adonis “Donnie” Creed, son of the legendary Apollo Creed. He’s certainly done an excellent job of carrying on his late father’s legacy, even surpassing it in many ways. He’s retired at the top of his game and is an attentive father to Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), his daughter with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson). Apollo wasn’t much of a father, with Donnie not even knowing about him until after his death. He lived in a group home until he was a teenager, when he was taken in by Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad), Apollo’s wife. He mostly left his old life behind, save for maintaining a friendship with aspiring boxer Damian Anderson. An altercation a few years later saw a gun-toting Damian arrested, while Donnie fled and was allowed to continue on his path to greatness. Now “Dame” (Jonathan Majors) is out of prison and looking to make a name for himself as a boxer. The odds are against him, given his age and record, but at least he has a connection with the former champion – a connection he’s not afraid to exploit. Donnie tries to be helpful, but reasonable, getting his old friend sparring work with current champion Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez Jr.), despite the protests of his business partner Duke (Wood Harris). But Dame isn’t satisfied with sparring. He wants a shot at the title. He even sabotages a highly-promoted upcoming fight to create an opening for a Rocky-like underdog challenge. And after he takes the belt from Felix, there’s the matter of the personal score to settle with Donnie. Let’s just say the two aren’t eager to talk it out. Cue training montages and pageantry of the big fight. The good news is that Dame is a particularly well-written and acted character. It isn’t far-fetched that Donnie has been keeping this skeleton in his closet through two films, as he’s clearly been struggling to leave various traumas behind. And I was much happier with the talented Majors as the villain in this movie than I was with him as the bland Kang in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” a few weeks ago. The scenes where he plays head games with Jordan are the film’s highlights, along with emotionally-charged scenes involving Jordan, Thompson, and Rashad. The bad news is that there aren’t a whole lot of other things that work about “Creed III.” Thompson gets an arc where she encourages nonviolence, but nothing ever comes of it. It seems like the whole world of title contenders is limited to Donnie’s circle of friends in L.A. A death scene feels wedged in because there’s an unofficial rule that these movies have to kill off one important character per entry. A gimmick used for the final fight scene is laughably heavy-handed, and I don’t mean in the good way that’s advantageous in boxing. Plus there’s no Rocky to be found, as Sylvester Stallone has had a falling-out with this franchise. Director Ryan Coogler is out as well, though Jordan himself does an admirable job of carrying the franchise to a satisfying conclusion. But I think “Creed” needs to end here before it loses the upper hand. Grade: B- “Creed III” is rated PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some language. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Saw the movie “THE JESUS REVOLUTION” yesterday. Amazing how seeing scenes and hearing phrases from decades before can instantly transport a person back in time. I was a young teenager living in rural Oklahoma during the years of the Jesus Revolution. Very isolated and far removed from Haute Asbury, California. But I heard and saw what was reported, as we did have television. And from those televised images, I drew my conclusions about those young people. I grew up in a non-churched family, but it did have a strict moral compass and the very traditional family values of that decade. So, to see their behavior, read the signs they held, and hear the phrases coming out of their mouths shocked me to my toes. I immediately tagged the entire lot of them as ‘bad immoral people’ - lock, stock and barrel. Decades past and times changed, (not always for the better) and I hadn’t given much thought to that period of life in our country. Until I went to that movie. And I learned a lot. I learned that by labeling and dismissing that whole group of young people as ‘bad,’ I missed what else eventually happened among them. I missed the fact that a small segment of those teens came to realize hippiedom wasn’t giving them any more peace and contentment than chasing popularity, politics, financial gain, or the legalistic church world had done. They already had tried all those things, and finally realized none of them helped, so that group of young folks turned to God to see if He could make a difference in their life. Evidently, He did. The Jesus Movement then swept through California, turning around the lives of thousands of confused and hurting young people. Oh, they still had a very distinct and different way of dressing and talking from the norm of the average person around them, no doubt about it. Those things didn’t seem to change drastically. The real change was in their beliefs and their behavior. They no longer held to “Anything goes, if it makes you feel good.” But I didn’t know about that separate group of kids back then – or now in 2023. I just assumed that any young people with weird clothing, long stringy hair, with guitars slung across their backs were part of the drugged, free love, hippy movement that was always made up of troubled kids. I had them flagged, bagged and tagged. Folks, if there is anything that I would love to pass on to others from those ninety plus minutes of that movie, it is this: Never, never, never assume that if a person doesn’t look, smell, talk or behave the way you do, that they are troubled and anti-God. You could get the surprise of your life when you get to know them. There is a Southern Gospel song out right now, called “YOU LOVE, I’LL JUDGE.” Pretty accurate thought..

Each year, millions of dollars in life insurance benefits go unclaimed by beneficiaries who can’t find their loved ones’ policies or in some cases may not even know the policies exist. That’s where the Life Insurance Policy Locator comes in. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) created the tool in 2016. Since it’s inception, the program has found more than $57 million for Mississippians. “The tool helps us meet our goal of protecting consumers and connecting them with lost policies and money that they’re owed,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “More than 1,300 Mississippians were helped in 2022 alone.” If you need help locating a lost policy, call the Mississippi Insurance Department at 601-359-2453 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov

By Mika Hartman Last month, I mentioned that we all deserve to have a “seat at the table”; Hudson shouldn’t need his own table because he was born with an extra chromosome. I think I can make this make a whole lot more sense: When Goldie Locks was testing chairs, beds and porridge, she found 2 of the chairs and 2 of the beds to be “too hard or too soft” and, then, she found the porridge to be “too hot and too cold”. Eventually, she was able to find the “just right” fit for her in all three. How this correlates is that we all have different needs, but the three bears still shared the same table. The bowls of porridge we not on separate tables even though they were all different. Inclusion is making sure that we all have seat at the same table. No matter the person, we are likely to all have a different experience when sitting together. When we are able to provide equal access to opportunities, we open doors so that the individual can decide what they are capable of. We have all been pushed to try harder or study more, because the opportunity is already there. We become the best versions of ourselves when we experience full lives. When you keep someone from joining your table, you’re denying them the equal chance to live their full life. I often say that healthcare is not a “one size fits all’ healthcare. Even in anesthesia, your hair color makes a difference on how the medication works. What might work for you might not for your friend. Even though my best friend and I were diagnosed with breast cancer at the same age of 46, our cancers were totally different, treatment and so on. Despite these differences, we all have a seat at the same table. To fully understand why I am bringing healthcare in this conversation, let me share the ugly truth our families face. Many countries, including the United States, encourage moms and dads to abort babies who they have performed pre-natal diagnostic testing and Down syndrome has been determined. Some countries wish to eradicate Down syndrome fully and don’t provide parents with “options” at all. Actress Patricia Heaton posted on Twitter “Iceland isn’t actually elimination Down syndrome. They’re just killing everybody that has it. Big difference.” Isn’t that sickening. CBS News found there are common trends across Europe, when it comes to women terminating pregnancies because of positive prenatal tests. Denmark: 98%, United Kingdom: 90%, France: 77%, and United States: 67%. I hear the number for the US is getting better, but until its zero, we still have a message to spread and hearts to change. As you can see, a seat at the table means to accept each person and embrace their differences. When you are trying to eradicate a group of people, you are not only saying that they don’t have a seat at your table, they don’t deserve a seat or a table. This mentality has to stop. This is from a mom on this beautiful journey, I love my life. My son loves his life. My family adores my child. If I am walking this path and I am doing the work and all you have to do is provide a seat at the table, why is this so hard for society? We are a military family and we have been blessed to travel with my husbands job. We have traveled Europe; we lived in England for three years. All our trips were before Hudson came along. We have talked about assignments and potential moves we could make; this took me down a rabbit hole. Hudson does need specialty doctors for his heart defect and HemOnc for his transient leukemia and so on. Going to a place that can provide all Hudson needs can be challenging. When we lived in England, we traveled to Germany often. It was our favorite. We always said we would love to be stationed there, until I discovered how this country sees Down syndrome. They not only abort 90% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, they have in their abortion laws that you can’t terminate past 12 weeks UNLESS Down syndrome is diagnosed, then it is permitted later. Technically, abortion is illegal altogether in Germany, except under certain “circumstances”. Germany, in 2022, made the non-invasive prenatal test one that will be publicly reimbursed to encourage early diagnosis. I imagine that this will only increase the abortion rate. A campaigner against the Down syndrome test said, “I am worried that there will be fewer of us”. This campaigner is correct. This early information will make it more likely that families will fear this journey. Why? Because they will believe that their child won’t have a seat at the table, that they will be pushed aside and a burden on the family and society. This is all false, but unless you recognize the problem, you might be part of it. I try to steer clear of negative people. It can be awkward looks in a store or someone hiding their child behind them in the elevator… but the internet, it is beyond ugly. It makes ugly look beautiful. Seriously, avoid if you can. When did people get so nasty? So recently I read some comments about inclusion in the classroom. Some were totally against it, saying their child shouldn’t “be forced” to stay at a slower pace or “be forced” to include people who are different and make them uncomfortable. Wow. Really? I myself have three children who are all very different and they have the same parents. They each learn differently. Each at a different pace. A seat at the table says they deserve to be here and we will try our best to teach them in a way that they learn. Only one of my children has a disability, but each has unique characteristics and different needs to succeed. I am a realist and I do believe that it’s not a “one size fits all” education system, like healthcare. There will be classrooms that better fit children and their needs. There will be teachers that teach in a way your child will learn best. Maybe a child will only thrive in a lunch or playground setting with everyone else… All of these still say you belong. It's when we forget that our children with disabilities are even present in a school or forgotten on the playground that we are sending a message to them and to everyone around that they don’t belong, but they do. Have you seen the cartoon where mom is standing behind her child and her tongue is coming out her mouth and through the back of the child’s head and ultimately through the child’s mouth? This is so true. When we say, “my child shouldn’t “be forced” to like a child” or “my child will fall behind because of your child”, we are teaching our children how to value a persons worth. We are teaching them to think that they are better than other children. When, sorry, but they aren’t. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. We all learn by different methods. And we all want to be included. So between the countries who wish to eradicate children like my son and arguments from people on if my son belongs or not, we are creating fear in families like mine. While I will never ask for a seat at Patricia Heaton’s table (like ever), I do think we could all benefit from bringing EXTRA chairs to our tables to benefit all. Everyone is welcome at mine and Huddy's.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is hosting the annual Spring Farm Days event from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, through Saturday, March 4, 2023. Admission is $8 for ages 3 and up. “I want to invite the public to come out for the upcoming Spring Farm Days at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “With exhibits, food, animals and special rides, this event will be one the whole family will enjoy.” Visitors can explore the grounds and various exhibits to learn about farming, gardening, forestry and more. In addition to the historic tractors and implements located at the museum, AgUp Equipment will be bringing tractors that show how farmers of today use these same tools. The Children’s Barnyard will also be open, and includes a variety of animals like chickens, rabbits, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and cows. Concessions will be available for purchase on Saturday. Train ride, hayride, and carousel ride tickets will be available for purchase daily for $1. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

By Kara Kimbrough Spring and for some, a weeklong break from school, are on the horizon. Instead of jumping ship to other states, why not stay in Mississippi, a state filled with interesting places to explore and enjoy? Here are a few of my favorite Mississippi attractions and places to visit: 1. A place that’s been on my mind recently is Mississippi Petrified Forest in Flora. It's an intriguing, beautiful area filled with archaic trees and stones surrounded by plenty of natural beauty. The petrified forest is aptly named. It was formed 36 million years ago after massive logs floated down a nearby river channel to the current site, then became petrified. Fast forward to 1965 and the area earned National Natural Landmark status. The State of Mississippi even claimed its fossilized wood as our state stone. There is a lot to see, but a favorite stop along the shaded nature trail is the Caveman’s Bench. At the end of the trail is an earth science museum filled with petrified wood samples from the other 49 states. Fossils and minerals from around the world, along with dinosaur footprints, whale bones and other interesting artifacts are on display. The forest is privately-owned, but open to visitors. Before you go, check out the website for hours and admission fees: mspetrifiedforest.com. 2. Learning the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library is located at Mississippi State University in Starkville was quite a shock. After all, Grant was the commanding general of the Union Army during the Civil War and captured Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Even if you’re not a MSU alumnus, put school loyalties aside and visit this interesting, professionally-designed space that's informative and educational. It's housed on the third and fourth floors on the university’s Mitchell Library. Besides the Presidential Library of the nation’s 18th president, there's also the Lincolniana Gallery to explore. The gallery contains the nation’s largest privately held research and display material on Abraham Lincoln as well as the country’s most comprehensive privately-held Lincoln and Civil War libraries. Historians, scholars, students and others from around the nation and world visit the museums to study the collections and learn more about the lives of the 16th and 18th presidents. For hours of operation and more, visit the library's website at: usgrantlibrary.org. 3. After mentioning MSU, it's only natural I'd advise anyone with a love of literature to venture further north to Oxford. Yes, there's plenty to see at the University of Mississippi and surrounding area, but a trip to Rowan Oak, home of one of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and native son William Faulkner, is the recommended stop. Purchased by Faulkner in 1930, the Greek Revival home sits on 29 acres filled with scenic natural beauty. A tour of the home dating back to the 1840's conjures up images of one of our state's most celebrated writers penning "A Fable." In fact, the outline of the award-winning literature is written on one of the walls in Faulkner's handwriting. Find out more about the home's hours and admission at: rowanoak.com. 4. Elvis has been in the news lately due to the hit movie chronicling his life and the death of Lisa Marie, his only child. If you have never visited the childhood home of one of our state's most famous natives, now's the perfect time to head to Tupelo. The birthplace, a humble two-room shack, draws over 80,000 tourists each year, including from every country around the globe. Today, the home is the centerpiece of the sprawling park which includes statues of Elvis at various ages and his childhood Assembly of God church, the place where he first sang gospel music. The museum, formerly a youth center built by Elvis before his death, contains his personal Bible, towels fans took from his hotel rooms and one of his Vegas costumes. A popular feature of the property, designated a historic landmark by the state, is the Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel, where Elvis’ gospel recordings are played and another Presley family Bible is displayed. Throughout the well-designed garden are stone walls and walks depicting the singer’s life, statues and a picnic pavilions and lake for those desiring to continue reveling in Elvis’ memory. Before you go, check out: elvispresleybirthplace.com. 5. It's not often that I recommend a cemetery visit, but this one's exceptional. Friendship Cemetery in Columbus is the site of the first Decoration Day in 1866, an event that led to the modern Memorial Day observance and national holiday. It's a peaceful serene place despite heartbreaking images of weeping angels and stones marking the final resting place of 2,194 Confederate soldiers killed during the Civil War. Those felled in the bloody Battle of Shiloh in nearby Tennessee represent a large portion of the resting places. In 1866, a group of Columbus women decided to decorate the graves of the soldiers, including 34 from the Union Army. The story of the women tending to the final resting place of soldiers spread across the country, resulting in the publication of the poem, "The Blue and the Gray." While in Columbus, pay a visit to the birthplace of another famous Mississippi writer. Born in 1911 in an Episcopalian rectory, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tennessee Williams wrote plays, short stories, essays and memoirs. Three of his most successful works include "The Glass Menagerie," "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Faulkner is regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in American history. The Tennessee Williams House Museum and Welcome Center hosts tourists from around the world who travel to Columbus to pay homage to the playwright born and raised in the 1875 Victorian home. Find out more about these interesting places at: visitcolumbusms.org. Next week, I'll share my favorite central Mississippi attractions, just in time for spring - or spring break - exploring. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver A lot of the reviews I’ve seen for “Cocaine Bear” contain some variation on the line, “This movie delivers exactly what it promises.” I’m going to say that’s not entirely true. To be sure, there is a bear high on cocaine in this movie. Nobody is going to say that this movie delivers less than what it promises. What I mean is that this movie delivers slightly more than what it promises. Again, there is most definitely a bear on cocaine, no worries there, but there’s also a quirky little crime comedy in play under the much-ballyhooed layers of fur and coke. The bear is on cocaine because a gang member dropped several pallets out of a plane while flying over the Georgia mountains. The movie never makes it clear why the cocaine was deposited like this, but drugs may have involved in the decision. A black bear got into the unattended stash, and is now going on a woodland killing spree. Sometimes the bear attacks because it’s hungry or because it’s aggressive, and there’s even a more noble reason introduced late in the film, but mostly it attacks because it wants more cocaine. We meet our human players. Sari (Keri Russell) is a nurse looking for her hooky-playing daughter Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince) and her friend Henry (Christian Convery). Liz (Margo Martindale) is a park ranger with delusions of grandeur trying to impress a visiting wildlife expert (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Bob (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) is a cop trying to find the rest of the cocaine while minding his new puppy. Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich) are gang members trying to recover the cocaine for Eddie’s father Syd (the late Ray Liotta). Throw in some panicky paramedics, a bumbling trio of muggers and some hikers to serve as hors d’oeuvres, and you’ve got a menu – I mean – cast. As expected, much of the film’s humor derives from the bear and its newfound affinity for cocaine. Sometimes its behavior is violent, other times it’s just odd, like when it goes around banging its head into trees. But it’s not always about the bear. Daveed and Eddie have a nice odd-couple chemistry with Daveed trying to be sensitive to Eddie’s grief over the recent death of his wife, but Eddie being such a stick in the mud and renouncing his former criminal ways. Dee Dee and Henry steal the movie with their misplaced rebelliousness and unfamiliarity with cocaine. And a showdown at a gazebo is twisted enough before the bear shows up to make everything worse. I like that the move avoids the temptation to make the bear a straight-up villain like the shark in “Jaws.” The poor thing was minding its own business until cocaine fell from the sky. It didn’t ask for any of this. True, it attacks good guys and bad guys indiscriminately once it’s coked-up, but it seems like all it needs is a good nap and it’ll stop being such a grouchy-bear. There’s a lot of fun to be had at “Cocaine Bear”: fun from the bear, fun from the humans, and fun from the audience if you see it with the right crowd. It loses some of its manic energy toward the end when the villains get serious, the humor dissipates, and the action takes place near a waterfall at night, which in movies is a shortcut for shoddy special effects. But until then, the movie takes full advantage of the goofiness of its premise. As long as you can take its staggering violence in stride, it’s as sweet as sugar - even if it is about a different kind of white powder. Grade: B “Cocaine Bear” is rated R for bloody violence and gore, drug content and language throughout. Its running time is 95 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

The Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum, an annual event that connects universities and colleges to community and business partners in the state, will be held April 12-13 in Hattiesburg. The NextUp! Student Business Pitch Competition will be held as part of the Forum. Students who would like to participate in the competition, which includes cash prizes for winning ideas, must apply by February 28. For more information and registration, visit the MEF Website. New this year, selected participants will be paired with mentors from the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, headquartered at Ole Miss, to prepare for the competition. Competitors receive feedback from judges, who are a mix of business owners, business resource providers and other business leaders in the state. Winners receive cash prizes to help them grow their businesses. The Mississippi Development Authority serves as lead sponsor of the NextUp! competition, with additional funding support from Innovate Mississippi and other donors. Leading entrepreneurs, economic developers, innovators, and future business owners will participate in the Forum. The events on Wednesday, April 12 will be held at William Carey University and the Thursday, April 13 events will be held at the Trent Lott Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi. The Honorable Michael Watson, Mississippi Secretary of State, will speak on Wednesday afternoon and Dr. Joe Paul, President of The University of Southern Mississippi, will give welcome remarks on Thursday morning. Panel discussions on Technology Commercialization and Innovation; and Mississippi’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem will be included in the agenda. In addition to the panels, the Forum offers opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to network with owners of thriving businesses and gain valuable, practical tips for establishing and building a successful business. Now in its eighth year, the Forum is part of the Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development initiative, funded by a financial gift from the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation. Previous events have been held in Clarksdale, Tupelo, Greenwood, Oxford, Jackson, Ridgeland, and Vicksburg. The 2021 forum was held virtually due to COVID-19. A complete list of sponsors, including colleges and universities in Mississippi, and additional information about the 2022 Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum is available on the MEF website.

As many gardeners and farmers will attest, if you want to grow amazing vegetables and gorgeous flowers, mix “gin trash” with your soil prior to planting. Fortunately for those of us who live in Bolton and the surrounding area, there is a cotton gin in town, making this valuable soil additive available to landscapers, gardening enthusiasts and farmers throughout the area. Some drive long distances each year, to purchase gin trash in Bolton. What is gin trash? It is a rich, organic mixture of portions of the cotton bolls and cotton plant that are removed and ground up during the ginning process, which takes place in the Fall. The mixture is allowed to sit and mulch for a time, before it is sold for gardening use. Beginning on March 2, 2023, gin trash may be purchased on Thursdays and Fridays from 7 a.m.to 4 p.m., and Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon. This will continue on Thursday through Saturday of each week (weather permitting), until it is all gone. Three different quantities are available: pick-up truck load; trailer load; and “by the yard” (with a 5-yard minimum). First step: pay for the quantity you desire at Gaddis & McLaurin hardware store, 104 Madison Street, Bolton MS. Next, pick up your gin trash behind the Gaddis and McLaurin Gin across the street. Their staff will load it for you. A by-product of the ginning process is a nutrient-rich mixture used to enrich soil prior to planting called "Gin Trash": Gaddis & McLaurin is located at 104 Madison Street, Bolton, MS 39041. Telephone: 601.866.2279.

The little preschool-age girl, living on the farm with her siblings and parents, lived in constant fear of going outside to play. The reason for her terror? Their male goose (called a gander for those who are not up to snuff on geese) thought it great fun to chase the child whenever she dared to step outside. The louder she screamed and ran away, the more he delighted in the chase, wings flapping and honking stridently with every step. Older siblings had attempted to encourage her, but nothing worked. She learned to ‘prefer’ to play with her dolls in the house, while all the other kids rode bicycles, walked on stilts, and played tag. Finally, one evening her dad, who was usually in the fields till dark and therefore never heard the loud racket of honking gander and screaming child, was told about the problem. So, the next morning he asked her to go outside to do a small chore for him. When she refused and nervously admitted her fear, he did like everyone else before him…he attempted to convince her that the goose was just a bully having fun. Needless to say, the girl didn’t buy into his explanation. So he proceeded to do something about it. He took a large butcher knife out of the kitchen drawer and placed it in her tiny hand. He then told her to “Go outside and when that goose starts chasing you, just chop off his head.” I can only imagine the horrified reaction from the mom, who nevertheless never said a word of protest. And yes, I can hear the gasps of horror from parents who are reading this. Your reaction is like many of us, “He put a huge sharp knife in a toddler’s hand and told her to CHASE a goose with it??!! That’s crazy, didn’t he realize the danger to that little girl?” Probably. But he also had seen in her eyes the actual terror she was living under. And he evidently decided that it was worth the risk, to rid her of the fear that kept her inside day after day after day. As the now-all-grownup-version of that baby girl, I still remember what happened that fateful day. Grasping that weapon of power in my little hand, I fearfully opened the kitchen door and moved cautiously onto the porch. Immediately, just like he did every time before, the gander knew it was Play Time! He came flapping as quickly as possible, honking his threats with every step. I was still terribly frightened, but I had to obey my dad. I held that enormous knife in front of me and tentatively took a step toward the onslaught. Of course, we all know what happened next. The bully sensed the change in his favorite game and stopped, then turned to high-tail it away to safer ground behind the lilac bush. Remember folks, face that threat head-on, ‘cuz usually, it can’t be as bad as living in fear.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s 2023 – a new year filled with a dizzying array of food and beverage trends filtering down from the “experts.” A few I simply can’t wrap my head around are kelp-based burgers and sauces, climate-conscious food production, pasta made with sweet potatoes and greens and soft drinks infused with medicine. No…just no. However, there are more than a few trends that actually make sense and that I’m willing to try: 1. Plant-based protein –I pray I don’t get a warning from the Mississippi Beef Council. Disclaimer: I love a good rib-eye on the grill as much as the next person. However, replacing a few meat-based meals with protein-rich beans, grains and nuts might not be a bad thing. 2. Immersive dining experience – Enjoying an entertaining dinner courtesy of live theatre performances, dinner theatre and tableside service is making a comeback from the 1940’s and 50’s. I’m on board for tableside service, a byone practice in which waiters serve diners from a rolling trolley or nearby sideboard. The last time I remember this happening was at Jackson’s LeFleur’s Restaurant in the 1980’s. A server rolled a massive 5-tier cart filled to the brim with cakes, pies and other decadent desserts around the room in order for diners to make a selection. Yes, it’s definitely a practice that needs reviving. 3. Dairy-alternative milks – I’m already a fan of almond milk and other flavors, but now pistachio nut milk and other flavors are coming soon to a dairy case near you. These milk-alternatives are a great choice for dairy-intolerant consumers and those like me who don’t really care for the taste of milk. 4. Chocolate charcuterie boards – These popular boards filled with everything imaginable are set to become even more popular in 2023. The newest craze is piling chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate bark instead of boring crackers, chocolate truffles and other favorites on a board along with favorite fruits and cheeses. 5. Tinned fish – Supposedly the pandemic caused a scarcity of some fresh fish, causing more Americans to rely on tinned fish like tuna, salmon and other small species. Not sure I can get on board with the suggested “sea-cuterie" snack boards and "tinned fish date nights." But I’m fine with opening a tin or two of water-based tuna and healthy salmon whenever I need to eat healthier. 6. Filipino food – This cuisine is gaining momentum across the country, including in some areas of Mississippi. One of the most well-known Filipino dishes is adobo, regarded as the national dish. A popular version of adobo features chicken or pork stewed with soy sauce, vinegar, peppercorns and garlic. Other versions include fish, shrimp, or lamb for the protein and coconut milk or turmeric to flavor the sauce. Elvie’s in Ridgeland is a good option for Filipino dishes prepared by its talented chef. 7. Low and No-Alcohol Drinks –Increasing in popularity are restaurants and “bars” serving only drinks with a low (or no) alcohol content. “No-ABV bars,” as they’re called, are perfect for those who can’t or prefer not to consume alcohol, but still enjoy socializing over a cool beverage. Last, “Retro food Reminiscent of Childhood” is finally making a comeback. Many restaurants, in an effort to attract baby boomers, serve dishes like mac and cheese and pizza bites as appetizers. They’re even adding old-school cereals like Captain Crunch to the breakfast menu. Sadly, one of my favorite childhood/teenage breakfast foods, Welch’s Jelly Doughnuts, has been discontinued. I’ve read that jelly doughnuts are “still available in the freezer case,” but I’ve never seen them. If you’ve spotted any, please drop me an email so I can stock up. In the spirit of retro, I'm sharing recipe for an old-school dessert that’s still one of my favorites. Served on many family Sunday dinner tables, it was simply called “strawberry dessert.” I loved (and still do) the pecan-filled shortbread-type crust, creamy filling and thick layer of strawberries on top. Today, you’ll find it listed as blueberry delight (you can use either fruit flavor), yum-yum dessert and other cute names. Cans of pie filling are often used for the topping instead of a homemade fruit topping. Whatever you call it, it translates well to modern-day dessert tables and is just as good as I remembered. Now, if only I can find those frozen jelly doughnuts…Welch’s, if you’re listening... Strawberry Dessert Crust: 2 sticks butter, melted 1 cup chopped pecans 2 cups all-purpose flour Mix together and press into 9x11-inch Pyrex dish. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool. Filling: 8-ounce cream cheese 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 packages Dream Whip-follow package directions (can substitute Cool Whip if you want) Mix cream cheese and sugar. Fold into Dream Whip. Spread over crust Topping: 2-15.5 ounce containers of frozen slice strawberries with sugar, thawed ½ cup sugar 4 tablespoons cornstarch Mix together and cook slightly over low heat until thick. Cool and spread on frosting. Chill before serving. Note: Strawberry, blueberry or cherry pie filling may be used for topping. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.