Hello everyone, I hope you and your families are well! We, Restitution of Hope, Inc., are inviting our Bolton residents to an afternoon of free educational information and food! We will be discussing Emotional Wellness at the Bolton library on Saturday, Feb.11th at 11:00 am! We would love to see you there! Feel free to contact Mrs. Tamara Johnson @ 769-243-2465. God bless.

By Hu Meena A firm focus on the future is endemic to the culture of every successful technology company. At C Spire, we don’t spend much time reflecting on the past. Ask any of my 1,900 coworkers, and they’ll likely tell you some version of the same thing. As we approached our latest milestone anniversary, though, I began to reflect on the truly wild ride of the past 35 years—beginning in 1988 as Cellular South, when we were the first company to offer wireless on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and since 2011 as C Spire, when our name was changed to reflect who we are and what we strive to be—Customer inSPIREd. We’re a Mississippi-based company founded, led and driven by Mississippians, competing shoulder-to-shoulder against multinational corporations that answer to shareholders, not their employees or customers. At C Spire, we are indeed inspired by our customers. We are driven by the dedicated people who lay fiber to your home, maintain networks, answer the line when you call and proficiently execute in a wide variety of technology-based disciplines. They’re your neighbors, friends and family members, and they’re invested in you. To say we have skin in the game is an understatement. Together, we are the largest privately owned wireless company in the country, and the sixth largest overall. Customers across Mississippi rely on our LTE and 5G wireless network every day. Our Gigabit fiber keeps homes and businesses speeding ahead with internet at the speed of light, enabling homes to become smarter and more entertaining. Every step of the way, our team’s determination and accomplishments have added to the foundation that allows us to invest back into our communities. We have accelerated our course through a planned three-year, $1 billion investment in fiber infrastructure and network enhancements we began in 2021. We are bringing broadband internet to a growing number of cities and rural areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. And at the end of every fiber line and 5G connection is a real person or family, a new business getting off the ground, and innovators turning their ingenuity into the communities and economies of the future. We believe it is incumbent upon the leaders of today to create that future for the next generation. Nearly 90 percent of students attending public schools in Mississippi have access to issued laptops or tablets, creating a huge demand for network resources. That’s why our engineers are using artificial intelligence to identify network usage increases at cell sites near school campuses around the state and redistribute traffic where it’s needed most, at a moment’s notice. We maintain the vital Mississippi Optical Network, also known as the MissiON network, to support research and education at every public university and community college in the state, and to facilitate collaboration among educators and students at these institutions. This network also supported distance learning for more than 200,000 students in the community college system during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through our Tech Movement initiative, we host our annual C3 Coding Challenge and support Base Camp Academy, both of which immerse students in the world of coding languages and prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. In 2021, we supported legislation to make computer science part of the curriculum in every K-12 public and charter school in the state by 2024 and donated $1 million toward training teachers for the task. The aggressiveness of our leadership made us among the first carriers in the U.S. to offer the iPhone 4 to customers over a decade ago. In 2013, when only four cities in the U.S. had Gigabit fiber internet available to homes, we started an ambitious fiber-to-the-home initiative that carries ultra-fast internet to homes and businesses now available in more than 100 communities. We plan to double that number across Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee by 2025. In our shared future, we envision networks with zero downtime and seamless app integrations that intuitively connect any space. Automated systems with machine learning that find and fix issues before there's a problem. Biometric and AI applications that help us think one step ahead. And, of course, the wireless and fiber networks to make it all hum. If past is prelude, together we have an exceedingly bright future. Forward thinking—it’s one way we stay customer inspired. Hu Meena is President and CEO of C Spire in Ridgeland, Miss.

You hear a lot of ‘loving’ being mentioned. “I love my truck…my chocolates, my family… playing golf…going to the movies, drinking beer, etc.” You name it, each one of us has someone or something that we say we love. Really? The dictionary explains the word ‘love.’ Here it is: ‘A strong feeling of affection and concern for the welfare of another person, as in a friendship.’ Or it can be this: ‘A strong feeling of affection and concern for their welfare toward another person, accompanied by sexual attraction.’ And it lists another version; ‘A feeling of adoration and affection toward your God.’ That’s it. Strong feelings for a person or God. Somehow, that definition just doesn’t seem to fit when it comes to loving a thing. Can you hear someone say with a dramatic sigh, “I have strong feelings of affection and concern for its emotional welfare toward my truck.” Or, “I have strong feelings of affection and concern for its welfare toward my chocolate bar.” Or this one… “I have a strong concern for the emotional welfare of my beer.” Nah. Truth is, you use your truck, you devour your chocolate bar, and you slug your beer. So according to old man Webster, don’t tell me that you love those things. Reality check? You enjoy using that truck. And you lust after that chocolate bar or that cold beer. That is a completely different relationship with those things in your life than with your family, your friends, or your God. Men, when it comes to the lady in your life on Valentine’s Day, you want to give her things that show how you feel about her. Be it flowers, chocolate, a night out, or….an ice cold can of beer. Whatever you think might say to her, “Hey, I am concerned about you and your emotional welfare.” But your can of beer, or your truck? You couldn’t care less whether they feel loved by you. You are not there to make them feel special. You know good and well that they are in your life only to make you happy. And ladies, that hunk of Godiva chocolate that keeps calling your name? You don’t care how it’s feeling emotionally - be honest, you simply lust for it. Or that new pair of jeans you find so irresistible that you pull out your credit card without a second thought? That’s not love – that’s for your own sake! Don’t confuse ‘lusting’, ‘using’, or ‘enjoying’ with truly loving. Toys, jobs, places, food, and experiences are all just things. It is only the people in your life and your Creator who are to be loved. “I enjoy and use my truck” makes a lot more sense than “I love my truck.” And spending the bulk of your time and attention on the people you love makes even more sense. Happy Valentine’s Day! Put a smile of love on someone’s face today.

The media is invited to attend as Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson kicks off the 54th annual Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions with a press conference on Thursday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m. in the Atrium of the Mississippi Trade Mart. The Sale will begin at 11:00 a.m. in Trade Hall C of the Mississippi Trade Mart. Commissioner Gipson will be joined by Dr. Steve Martin, Interim Director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service; Gary Blair, Chairman of the Sale of Junior Champions Promotion Committee; two recipients of the Sale of Champions Scholarships, Emma Grace Koger from the Humphreys 4-H and Calden Ratliff from the Stone 4-H/Stone County FFA; Phillip Morgan, CEO of Southern AgCredit; and Rorey Lemmel of Harper & Morgan Rodeo. The Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions is one of the highlight events of the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 2022, 1,538 4-H and FFA members from across Mississippi participated in the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Livestock Shows showing 2,262 head of various livestock including pigs, sheep, cattle and goats. The Junior Round-Up participants winning Champion and Reserve Champion for their market animals have the opportunity to sell their livestock at the Sale of Junior Champions auction. Last year, the sale of 46 animals grossed $448,500, and 39 scholarships totaling $61,500 were awarded. Over the past 53 years, the sale has grossed $8,524,244.40. Since the first scholarships were given in 1993, over 797 scholarships have been awarded to various 4-H and FFA members totaling $1,071,200. This sale promotes both 4-H and FFA livestock programs in Mississippi as well as other economic, educational and personal development opportunities for the youth in state. The Sale of Junior Champions helps students earn money for college, as well as helps them to develop a wide host of skills. The youth participating in the livestock show spend months raising and caring for their livestock, teaching them the value of hard work and responsibility.

By Kara Kimbrough As host or guest, it’s time to get ready for the biggest football game of the year this Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Even if you don’t follow football or just watch for the commercials, who doesn’t like a day when eating all the wings, burgers and fattening appetizers and dips is considered OK? I’m don't favor either team, but may root for Philadelphia and here’s why. “Philadelphia” is on the box of a key ingredient in almost every appetizer and dip in my Super Bowl food repertoire. I’m talking about Philadelphia Cream Cheese, without which no decent Super Bowl spread is complete. Still need a little inspiration? Here are a few more of my favorite Super Bowl recipe and decor ideas. 1. Football Brownies — Make a batch of brownies and use a football cookie cutter (found at the party store – or do what I did and bend a round biscuit cutter into a football shape) to cut brownies into snacks with at least a semblance of the pigskin’s shape. Top with chocolate frosting; then use white frosting to pipe lines and stitches on each “football.” 2. Super Bowl Selfies — Create your own “selfie corner” or photo booth for guests that “live” to share their party pics. Hang a green cloth on the wall to resemble a football field (let a few feet extend to the floor for selfie-lovers to stand on). Buy large wooden “57” numbers at the craft store (or use cut out cardboard), spray with gold glitter paint and attach to the backdrop high enough to show in photos. Find color photos of the faces of your favorite players on the internet, print and glue onto cardboard and attach to wooden craft sticks so guests can pose with their favorites. Snap photos with phones or an old-school Polaroid. 3. Quick & Delicious Snack Mix — Toss together party-size bag of regular potato chips, 2 cups each Cheez-Its, Goldfish crackers and mini pretzels, ½ stick melted butter and a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes, stirring once. Serve in a large bowl with a scoop with small bags for guests to help themselves. 4. “Crack” Sausages — Roll ½ of a bacon slice around a cocktail sausage. Warning: plan on preparing a lot of these, as they’re always eaten quickly. Place wrapped sausages on a baking sheet and sprinkle with brown sugar; refrigerate at least 4 hours before baking to allow flavors to meld. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes prior to serving. 5. Chiefs/Eagles Rice Krispies - Prepare Rice Krispies Treats using a favorite recipe, separate into two bowls and tint each mixture with food coloring to reflect team colors. Press into two pans, then use a football or “jersey” cookie cutter to shape each treat. Add player numbers with white icing. 6. Super Shrimp Spread — Beat 8 ounces cream cheese until smooth. Drain 2 6-ounce cans of shrimp, then mash shrimp with a fork and fold into cream cheese. Add a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and teaspoon of minced onion and mix well. Serve with crackers. 7. Hot and Spicy Wings – Place 2-3 pounds of wings on a greased baking sheet and bake in 425-degree oven for an hour, turning frequently. In a bowl, mix together a four-ounce bottle of hot pepper sauce, half cup of melted butter and two teaspoons of white vinegar. Place cooked wings in a bowl and toss with sauce. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce. 8. Shortcut Texas Caviar Dip — Stir together cans of drained black beans and black-eyed peas, kernel corn and jar of prepared salsa. Refrigerate several hours. Serve with tortilla chips or Scoops. 9. Creamy Ham Roll-Ups — Mix 2 packages of cream cheese with 5 teaspoons of prepared horseradish, then spread mixture evenly over several slices of deli ham. Roll up, slice each roll into 4 pieces and secure with toothpicks. 10. Layered BLT Dip — Combine a package of softened cream cheese with ½ cup of mayonnaise and ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, then spread mixture into the bottom of a serving dish. Top with torn lettuce, crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Serve with pita chips or toasted thin slices of Italian bread. 11. Last-Minute App - Whisk together 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning and tablespoon of salt. Pour a 28-ounce bag of frozen curly (or regular) French fries on a foil-lined baking sheet; coat fries with seasoning mixture. Place the pan 6 inches from oven broiler, and broil for 9-11 minutes, flipping once, until fries are brown and crispy. Serve hot from the oven with ketchup or dipping sauce. 12. Super Easy Baked Chili Cheese Dip — Combine a large can of mild chili, 8-ounce package cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix and teaspoon of minced garlic. Bake at 375 degrees 20 minutes. Remove from oven and top with cup of shredded cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes, sliced green olives and dollops of sour cream. Last, my new friends at Ocean Spray sent me a recipe containing a delicious variation of buffalo chicken dip, a staple on many Super Bowl tables. I’d dropped them an email telling them how often I use whole cranberry sauce in desserts. I’d never thought about adding fruity Craisins, or dried cranberries, to the meat-based dip, but all I can say is…like Philadelphia Cream Cheese…it works! Sweet and Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded 1/3 cup Buffalo sauce 1/3 cup bleu cheese dressing 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 cup shredded cheese, plus more for topping 1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Dried Cranberries or Craisins® 50% Less Sugar Dried Cranberries, roughly chopped, plus more for topping 1 scallion, sliced (optional for garnish) Bleu cheese, crumbled (optional for garnish) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all ingredients and pour into a baking dish. Top with extra cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and top with extra Craisins® Dried Cranberries and scallion, if desired. Serve with chips, celery sticks, carrots, snap peas, cherry tomato, and peppers. Recipe courtesy of Ocean Spray. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkrpco@yahoo.com.

By NAPSI Spring is coming, and as we get out our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it’s important to put safe practices in place. “Think safety first,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. “We’re all eager to get back outside in the spring weather but I can’t stress enough to read your owner’s manuals before starting up any equipment—especially your lawn mower.” OPEI offers these tips to get your outdoor power equipment ready, especially mowers: Know not all lawn mowers are the same. Whether your mower is a garden tractor, zero-turn mower or other, it has a unique design, requirements, weight classification, and other differences that impact how to use it safely. The newest machines have the latest safety standards. Know your specific machine. Many mowers may look similar but the technology is ever evolving, with evolving safety systems. They vary in design, power supply, performance, operating parameters, and more. Your manufacturer-supplied owner’s manual will guide you in these differences. Read your owner’s manual. When using mowers on slopes follow the manufacturer’s guidance to the letter. Do not disable or alter manufacturer-installed safety equipment. Walk your yard before mowing. Slopes, wet grass and weather may impact the equipment’s performance, as well as safe handling procedures. Pick up sticks and limbs that may have fallen to the ground over the winter and any loose objects that could be hit by a mower. Inspect trees for damaged limbs that may get in your way when mowing. Look over equipment before use. Check the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank. Watch for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative. Check to be sure that you have the appropriate, manufacturer-recommended batteries, if needed. Protect your power. Use only E10 or less fuel in gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment if it is not designed for higher ethanol blends. Add a fuel stabilizer if you don’t use up all the fuel in the tank right away. Burn off any fuel before storing the mower more than 30 days. Also, for battery-powered equipment, only use battery packs specified by the manufacturer. Follow all charging instructions as outlined in the owner’s manual. Be sure to store fuel and batteries safely. Keep batteries away from other metal objects, store them in a climate-controlled area, and never stack batteries. Keep children and pets away from machines during operation. Keep your mower clean. It will run more efficiently and last longer. Always remove dirt, oil or grass before using and storing, and store equipment in a dry place, avoiding damp or wet environments. For information on safe fueling, go to www.LookBeforeYouPump.com. For more safety information visit www.opei.org.

By Bob Garver This past weekend featured a weird toss-up between two new releases at the domestic box office. Horror thriller “Knock at the Cabin” made slightly more money, with an estimated $14.1 million to its opponent’s $12.5 million, but football comedy “80 for Brady” sold slightly more tickets, with an estimated 1.3 million (many with matinee and senior discounts) to its opponent’s 1.1 million. I’ve decided to give a short review to both films. “Knock at the Cabin” Director M. Night Shyamalan returns with this psychological thriller about a family of three (Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Kristen Cui) held hostage at a remote cabin by a kidnapping party of four (Dave Bautista, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn, Rupert Grint). The kidnappers claim that unless the family willingly sacrifices the life one of its own members, the Apocalypse will consume the rest of humanity. The proposal seems preposterous at first, but evidence in support of the kidnappers’ claims soon starts piling up. The film is based on a book, and I imagine the premise working much better on the page than it does here. With a book, the reader can stop at their leisure and pontificate on how they would react to the situation given the information at hand, which makes for a lively hypothetical. With the movie, the action and stimuli have to go at a certain pace, so there’s less opportunity for viewers to use their imagination, and I’m sorry to say that the direction chosen for them is pretty unimaginative. Bautista is certainly a commanding presence as the surprisingly soft-spoken antagonist, but otherwise the movie is much more predictable and dull than Shyamalan seems to think it is. I’ve never bought into his reputation as a master of twist endings, and the ending here is so aggressively foreshadowed that I don’t know if it even counts as a twist. My advice: stay in your comfy home, don’t venture out to the “Cabin,” and you won’t have to worry about a “Knock.” Grade: C- “Knock at the Cabin” is rated R for violence and language. Its running time is 100 minutes. “80 for Brady” “80 for Brady” follows a group of four friends (Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin) – all past or near the age of 80 – as they travel to the 2017 Super Bowl to watch Tom Brady mount the most spectacular comeback in the game’s history. Adventures include a football-throwing contest, a spicy wing-eating contest, a party with recreational drugs, issues with tickets, sneaking into the stadium, impersonating backup dancers, and affecting the outcome of the game. More than any one gag, storyline, or scene, the appeal of the film lies in just spending time with these women, all of whom are funny and have effortless chemistry with one another. Just enjoy these four screen veterans playing off each other and it will become increasingly easy to ignore flaws that otherwise make the movie seem cheap and incompetent, like lowbrow humor, dodgy special effects, and scenes in the stands clearly not taking place at the game. It helped that I saw the movie with a good crowd that was cheering wildly by the film’s end. That’s the way to see this movie, with a group. It’s a good “compromise” movie that no one person is likely to love, but nobody will be able to truly detest either. The consensus seems to be that on a scale of 1 to 100, it’s about an “80.” Grade: B- “80 for Brady” is rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some drug content and some suggestive references. Its running time is 98 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

During this time of the year, Atmos Energy would like to remind customers to be on alert for potential scams targeting utility customers. “Beware of impostors demanding payment at your door – our employees will not collect payments in person,” said Bobby Morgan, Atmos Energy vice president of public affairs. “Always ask for an employee’s identification badge, which displays name, photograph, and the Atmos Energy logo. If you suspect an impostor, call our customer service number at 888.286.6700 to verify the employee's identity and contact local authorities. Also, beware of bogus emails or texts requesting immediate payment of your bill, particularly with prepaid debit cards.” In recent years, utilities have seen an increase in reported scammers who are contacting customers seeking payments and personal and financial information to avoid service interruptions. As a reminder, Atmos Energy will never ask for payments using a pre-paid debit card, gift card, cryptocurrencies, or third-party digital payment mobile applications. Atmos Energy will also provide multiple notices and work to assist customers with payment plan options before service interruptions. Customers who suspect fraud or who feel threatened during contact with a scammer should contact local law enforcement authorities and the Atmos Energy customer service team at 888.286.6700, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST. For more information and tips to protect against impostor utility scams: • Visit Atmos Energy’s website at https://www.atmosenergy.com/customer-service/beware-utilityscams.

Ever had the experience of wishing you were just… a little bit different you? Maybe a thousand or so various times in your life? Then in that respect, you are like a lot of people. Because that is a trait that most members of this two-legged species have in common. Wishing we were just a little different than we are. You watch someone so at ease with others and find yourself wistfully thinking, “I wish I could be that at home around people.” But you’re the kind of personality that feels a little awkward socially. When forced into a situation where extended interaction using witty small talk is almost a must, you find yourself looking for an escape. Preferably a business-related phone call that forces you to have to leave, or at the least, a sudden attack of appendicitis that calls for an emergency exit. Anything will suffice, if it can get you out of there. Or, maybe you are that gregarious charmer who is good friends with everyone on the block, but deep down you envy the guy whose phone always rings when someone needs truly trusted advice. The one that the neighborhood always wants as their leader when serious situations arise. Wanting to be different than you are. Pretty common occurrence. The beloved, committed, gentle caregiver envies the naturally attention-grabbing entertainer of the group. The tranquil peace-maker longs for the outspoken ability of the strong, leadership type. The scatter-brained life of the party privately would like to be more of a calm, efficient person – that someone who has all the bills paid three weeks ahead of time, whose future seems spot-on, whose kids are all well-adjusted and happy, and whose spouse obviously believes in sky-high pedestals. On and on it goes. Why do we do that? I believe that many times our own value is pretty hazy to us. So easy to spot the strong suit of someone around us who can easily do what we struggle to accomplish. Much harder to look at ourself and enjoy who we are – warts and all. And that is the problem. We see all of ourself, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And unfortunately, we have the tendency to highlight the ugly. While we are busy contrasting ourself to the attractive traits in people who are naturally and effortlessly what we are…ummm…not. My answer to this problem in life? Accept that your Creator made you just who He wanted you to be – warts and all. But also know that He will be working to refine you with the passing of time. Quiet? Learn to embrace it, because others envy you your outer calm. Kinda instinctively bossy and not very charming? Admit it, and decide to use it for good. Basically energetic, noisy, and irrepressible? Accept it, and vow to control and define how you use those traits. Learn to be the best YOU there is, because we need you.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) will begin accepting a new round of applications for its Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) starting, Wednesday, February 1. The application period will remain open until Wednesday, February 15. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period. In Mississippi alone, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Through the WHCP, MDAC provides “smart” wild hog traps to landowners and managers for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry lands in Mississippi. MDAC provides the training necessary to use the “smart” traps and technical guidance regarding the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs on private lands. “The next trapping period will coincide with the upcoming crop planting season. I urge farmers that have experienced historical agricultural loss from wild hogs to submit an application,” said Commissioner Gipson. “We want to work with farmers and their neighbors to prevent crop loss by supplying the correct trapping equipment and technical guidance on how to successfully trap wild hogs.” Applications must be completed and submitted online at www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Submitted applications will be evaluated based on the number of acres available for trapping, historical agricultural losses caused by wild hogs on the property and current trapping efforts on the property. A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage (i.e., adjoining land managers of small parcels should work together to submit one application). Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 – 1,000 acres is recommended, depending on landscape and land use. Visit www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp for program guidelines, applications and additional information. Submit questions regarding the WHCP to Chris McDonald at chris@mdac.ms.gov.