DeSoto Magazine October 2017

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OCTOBER CONTENTS 2017 • VOLUME 14 • NO. 10

features 46 Spotlight on the Sporting Dog National Bird Dog Museum

60 Pushing It to the Limit Ultimate Outdoor Adventures

52 On the Hunt for Hurricanes Hurricane Hunters

departments 14 Living Well Hand-y Health Tips

42 On the Road Again Hermann, Missouri

18 Notables Buck Gardner

44 Greater Goods 68 Homegrown Fashion and Farming at Turnrows

22 Exploring Art Painting the Walls

70 Southern Gentleman Good Hunting, Food and Friends

26 Exploring Books A Wild Life

74 Southern Harmony Jamming with FreeWorld

30 Into the Wild Hitting the Bull’s Eye

76 In Good Spirits Toasted S’more Martini

34 Table Talk Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

78 Exploring Events

38 Exploring Destinations River Ranch Resort

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80 Reflections Unintentionally Unplugged

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editor’s note } october Adventures in the Outdoors

October has always been my favorite month. Along with the brilliant fall colors, the cool crisp air seems to lift my spirits. I love the outdoors, and I usually “move” my office outside to my back porch. I only wish mine could be as inspirational as the front porch at Rowan Oak in Oxford where William Faulkner wrote.

In this issue, DeSoto Magazine gets adventurous with several outdoor stories, including a look at the National Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, Tennessee. We expected to learn about these beautiful sporting dogs, but writer Ann Yungmeyer was especially surprised to see so many beautiful paintings at the museum. We were honored that 18-yearold Brody Herndon shared his painting for our cover.

This past summer saw brutal storms in the South, specifically two of the worst hurricanes in history. Andrea Brown Ross gives us a look inside these disruptive storms and how we can better prepare for them.

If you are looking for a unique adventure to make this fall memorable, writer Debi Lander shares three suggestions that will get your adrenalin

OCTOBER 2017 • Vol. 14 No.10

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Mary Ann DeSantis

flowing. Debi drove a tank and crushed a car at Tank Town USA a few months ago – something that the editors all want to try someday.

We have many more stories in this issue of DeSoto Magazine that explore the great outdoors, including places to eat, a special “campfire” drink, and luxurious places to stay and to hunt.

Happy reading!

Mary Ann on the cover Brody Herndon, a senior at Liberty Technology Magnet High School in Jackson, Tennessee, created the artwork featured on DeSoto’s October cover. The son of Eddie Lee and Erin Herndon, Brody won Best of Show for Tennessee in 2015 for the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition, which sent him to the national competition where he placed 11th in the nation.

Brody at Arts Awards March 18, 2017

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross

CONTRIBUTORS

Rebecca Bingham Robin Gallaher Branch Cheré Coen Mary Ann DeSantis Jason Frye Alex Jacks Debi Lander Karen Ott Mayer Charlene Oldham Mark Parsell James Richardson Andrea Brown Ross Karon Clark Warren Kathryn Winter Ann Yungmeyer

PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media

2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617

ADVERTISING INFO:

Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com

DeSotoMagazine.com Get social with us!

©2017 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner.

Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly

by DeSoto Media Co. Parties i n t e re s t e d i n a d v e r t i s i n g s h o u l d email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.

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living well } hand injuries

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J. Barton Williams, M.D.

Hand-y Health Tips

By James Richardson | Photography courtesy of OrthoMemphis and Verywell

With the beautiful fall weather, many people will be outside and active whether it’s for outdoor sports, planting winter gardens or even renovating their homes. Others may be inside doing repetitive work at the computer.

Whatever the activity, it’s important to protect your hands.

“Prevention is the key. Be careful and know your limitations,” said J. Barton Williams, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoMemphis. “This may seem like common sense to many people, but it is beneficial to repeat saying it because it’s easy to overdo things with our hands.”

The human hand is a remarkable and complex part of the body. It consists of 27 bones, including eight in the wrist, many nerves, arteries and veins, muscles, tendons and ligaments, joint cartilage, and fingernails. And multiply all that by two. Because hands are so complex and intricate, they are particularly susceptible to trauma and injury as well as tendinitis from repetitive motions.

“It will take only one day without the full use of a

hand for a patient to realize just how much hands are used in everyday activities,” emphasized Williams, who specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery and microvascular surgery.

Williams said the most common injuries to the hand are lacerations and falls, especially when outdoors.

“The most important thing regarding lacerations is cleaning the area with soap and water and then getting evaluated by a physician to ensure integral structures, such as the nerves, arteries, and tendons are not injured,” he said.

He recommends using safety gloves when working with sharp objects.

People tend to fall more in the winter, even in areas where snow and ice are not that common. “Being aware of DeSoto 17

potential slippery conditions and wearing proper footwear can minimize issues with this,” he said. “Falls can also occur with very simple daily activities indoors, and can result in hand injuries.”

Overuse injuries to hands and wrists are also common, especially for people who use repetitive motions like keyboarding, knitting, or hammering. Williams explained that these injuries are often tendinitis and usually will improve with a period of rest, immobilization, and activity modification.

When injuries do occur, treatment is usually customized for the individual as well as the injury. Williams explained that hand and wrist injuries can be quite different between patients.

He also had some recommendations for immediate attention when unexpected hand and wrist injuries occur.

“Initial treatment usually involves immobilization to help control the pain. If a splint is not readily available, a magazine or bulky blanket or towel can substitute in the short term,” he explained. “Obviously, if there is extreme pain or significant deformity – which suggests a fracture – the injury is usually best treated in an emergency department or urgent-care center.”

Williams said most fractures in the hand, wrist, and arm can be treated non-surgically with a combination of splinting or casting. In the setting of unstable fracture patterns, surgery may be recommended after a further examination.

Williams joined OrthoMemphis in August. A native of Mason, Tennessee, and a graduate of Covington High School, he majored in biology at Harvard College. He returned to Memphis to attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and supplemented his training with a hand and microvascular fellowship at the University of Miami.

OrthoMemphis Locations: East Memphis: 6286 Briarcrest Avenue Southaven: 7580 Clarington Cove 18 DeSoto

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notables } buck gardner

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Buck and Marlene Gardner

Call

of the Wild

By Rebecca Bingham | Photography courtesy of Buck Gardner

Buck Gardner’s passion for duck calling turned into an internationally recognized company that helps hunters communicate with nature.

Buck Gardner placed dead last in his first duck calling contest because he was disqualified for talking.

“That was 1980, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” said Gardner. “It was a blind setup where the judges couldn’t see you; they just called you forward by number, not by name. What I remember hearing is, ‘Number 4, you’re done,’ but I didn’t know why until later.”

“Thank goodness for Mike McLemore, the emcee that year and three-time World Champion from Huntington, Tennessee. After the competition, he told me even though I had been disqualified, I actually performed better than most of the other callers. He also said if I wanted to learn, he would be willing to teach me.”

In the years that followed, Gardner strung together impressive wins in local and state contests and several high finishes in world duck calling competitions.

“By 1994, my family and friends said I was driving them crazy,” he recalled. “They wanted me to go blow in the Mississippi Delta Regional contest being held in early

November. My wife finally said, ‘Either go down there and win or embarrass yourself and quit.’ Not only did I win there, but I also won the World Championship later that month.”

The next year, Gardner brought home the Champion of Champions title, which earns every winner an automatic retirement from competition. Even more importantly, he has gotten a lifetime of satisfaction using his passion as a waterfowl hunter as the basis for a successful game-call manufacturing business. That business, Buck Gardner Calls, helps hunters of all skill levels improve their hunts through effective communication with nature.

“I’ve truly been blessed by God,” he added.

Raised in Aubrey, Arkansas, Gardner grew up in a rural agricultural community located on the rail line about 25 miles southwest of Forest City.

“It used to be a thriving community of nearly 1,000 residents, with two independent cotton gins and a high school,” he said. “My father and grandfather worked together clearing farmland until my grandfather developed a carotid artery DeSoto 21

Gardner machine

disease and died in surgery. When the price of soybeans topped $15 a bushel during the 1960s, my dad decided to move the family to Memphis. I was in the third grade.”

Buck’s mother, Sadie, continued her career as a teacher. His father, Arch, started a new profession in secondary education, teaching automotive mechanics and math at Whitehaven High School.

“It was horrible!” recalled Buck. “Like on Senior Day, everybody else got to skip class, but not me, because my mom and dad were at school.”

After graduation, Buck went to Lambuth College on a golf scholarship, but soon came back to Memphis State after his grades slipped. “Three years into college, I figured I knew everything I needed to know, so I headed out into the world to make money.”

Gardner found his career groove in sales, working for Levitz Furniture in Memphis.

“The best part about that job was meeting Marlene, the young lady who worked nights in the credit department,” he says. “Even though I had been dating someone else for a couple of years, I came home that night and told my mom and dad I had met the girl I planned to marry. Dad suggested I might want to go out with her first.”

Their first date was to meet his parents.

“From then on, she was my girl,” he recalled. “Seven months later, we were married. That was 46 years ago.”

Buck and Marlene soon moved to Birmingham, where they started their family and lived for the next 12 years. As a manufacturer’s representative for a broad line of consumer electronics and housewares, Buck built relationships with major retail buyers for Walmart, Fred’s Dollar Stores and Dollar General.

“By 1986, business was strong enough for me to set aside $5,000 to start my duck call business. Wal-Mart was one of the first ones to carry our products. Now, we’re also in Cabela’s, Dick’s and Bass Pro Shops, plus every other major retailer in the U.S. And that’s in addition to a strong international business.”

Buck says his biggest business break came about eight years ago when he figured out how to make a duck call that would blow, even with spit in it.

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over night. Again, that’s another example of God’s blessing,” he said.

Today, Buck Gardner Calls makes a full range of duck calls, goose calls and predator calls, as well as a small selection of deer calls.

“We’re truly a hunter’s best friend because we make great products everybody can afford,” said Buck.

“Every call is tuned by hand and tested at our shop in Memphis by our Pro Staff Tuners before they make their way into the field.”

“Three years into college, I figured I knew everything I needed to know, so I headed out into the world to make money.”

Buck Gardner

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exploring art } outdoor murals

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Giant wall mural in Shreveport, LA

Lafayette, LA

Painting the Walls

By Cheré Coen | Photography courtesy of Main Street Associations

A growing desire for color and beautification has transformed blank walls into outdoor canvases in many Southern cities.

The South is a colorful place, and over the years communities have decided to celebrate their history, traditions, people and cultures by spreading this color to the exteriors of buildings. Towns across the South — from ones with populations in the millions to those sporting one traffic light — feature murals in all shapes, sizes and subject matter.

Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington has one of the oldest organized programs for creating public outdoor murals to beautify the city. LexArts, the city’s cultural development, advocacy and fund-raising organization, began the Lexington Mural Project about 10 years ago with national arts funds, grants and community assistance.

“There had been some small art projects up to that point,” said Nathan Zamarron, LexArts community arts director.

In 2008, LexArts chose three blank walls that “were mural

ready,” and enlisted community support, Zamarron explained.

Before long, residents wanted more. Murals were painted on old bourbon warehouses, within downtown Lexington and on the sides of old buildings. One of the most iconic murals is the colorful Abraham Lincoln on the Kentucky Theater’s back wall.

Today, Lexington offers about 30 murals, in addition to the temporary murals created each fall for a festival-style event called PRBTHN (pronounced Prohibition), which will be held this year Oct. 8-15. The murals aren’t tourist attractions themselves, Zamarron said, but they add to the city’s ambiance.

Water Valley, Mississippi

This quaint small town in northern Mississippi was once a railroad hub, so it’s natural that its first mural would depict that history. Artist Kremit Kroll highlighted the Illinois Central Railroad, which serviced the town for more than 100 years, in DeSoto 25

Water Valley, MS

his mural on the outside wall of the Water Valley Cleaners & Shoe Repair.

Other murals include an abstract piece by artist William Warren in a small park as well as Warren’s 1907 newspaper promotional cartoon on the side of The North Mississippi Herald newspaper office, framed and installed by Main Street Director, Mickey Howley.

Laurel, Mississippi

The historic Crescent Line railroad inspired a “ghost” mural across the street from the Amtrak Station encouraging passengers to visit Laurel, the “yellow pine capital of the world.” Local sign painter Will Sellers created the mural to look 50 years old, even though it was completed in 2015. Faded-looking signs reminiscent of the past are often called “ghost” murals.

Laurel’s five outdoor murals are designed to celebrate the city’s history or to identify a building, according to Judi Holifield, executive director of Laurel Main Street, which funded several of the mural projects.

“There’s no friend as loyal as a book” on the Laurel-Jones County Library is one of the most popular for photographers as is the “Welcome to Historic Downtown Laurel.” Painted on the side of Mall Printers at Sawmill and Central Avenue, the iconic mural is recognizable in the opening credits of HGTV’s new Home Town series. Appropriately, the mural was designed by artist Erin Napier, co-host of the HGTV program, for a Leadership Jones County project.

A street scene, created by local artist Mandy Buchanan and painted by students, is the city’s oldest mural. Located in Pinehurst Park, the colorful artwork was a catalyst for beautifying the city with other outdoor murals.

Shreveport, Louisiana

It’s impossible to miss Shreveport’s “Once in a Millennium Moon,” a 25,000-square-foot mural created by Meg Saligman in 2001 to welcome in the new century. The mural is one of the nation’s largest and covers two sides of the AT&T building in downtown Shreveport.

Saligman enlisted the help of more than 2,600 community volunteers to create the eight-story mural, which took more than a year of painting to complete. The images depict the people of Shreveport, their tragedies and triumphs.

Free parking is allowed at the site along with a guide that explains the different subjects inside the painting.

Other Southern Cities

To list the Southern cities containing Robert Dafford’s murals would fill a book. In fact, his art is featured in “The Public Art of Robert Dafford” by Philip 26 DeSoto

Water Valley, MS Muralist, William Warren

Gould, published by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press.

The world-renowned, prolific muralist, who was born on a train in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and reared in Lafayette, Louisiana, depicts cultural and historical elements in his murals.

In Port Gibson, Mississippi, Dafford honors Kenneth Ross and the 1960s economic boycott, which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that citizens’ boycotts were a form of free speech.

The Civil War takes center stage in Dafford’s murals in Vicksburg.

One of Dafford’s favorite murals is an interior piece inside the Regional Medical Center in Conroe, Texas, a surreal landscape that rolls into curtains at its edge.

“The hospital is theater where a play of life and death takes place,” Dafford explained.

Because Dafford hails from Cajun Country, he has created both heart-wrenching and celebratory murals depicting Acadian history and culture, from Cajuns expulsion from the Maritimes of Canada to their joie de vivre today. His “Flying Violins” series in Lafayette, Louisiana, began in 1988 as a symbol of “Cajun music leaving the swamps flying out into the world and moving past the barriers of politics and language.

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exploring books} a wild life

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Wild matters!

By Mary Ann DeSantis | Photography courtesy of Aperture Foundation

“A Wild Life” recounts Nick Nichols’ life as a child in north Alabama dreaming of faraway lands to an internationally acclaimed photojournalist working to protect the world’s most vulnerable habitats.

Michael “Nick” Nichols owes his photography career to a Rolling Stones concert – actually two concerts.

When Nichols was in his third semester as an art major at the University of Montevallo, he was drafted into the U.S. Army because he neglected to complete the paperwork for a student deferment. The war in Vietnam was winding down and he had a choice. He could serve the required two years in the infantry or sign up for three years and work in the Army’s photography unit.

Already a budding photographer, Nichols was wrestling with making the decision when he learned the Rolling Stones were scheduled to play in Mobile on June 28 – the day he was scheduled to report for military duty. If he chose to extend his service for another 365 days, he could defer his enlistment until fall. Choice made: he’d go to the Mobile concert and then another in Tuscaloosa the following night.

“I wasn’t a musician, but I wanted to be Mick Jagger,” said Nichols in “The Wild Life,” a biography of his extraordinary life written by Melissa Harris, an editor at the Aperture Foundation.

“A Wild Life: A Visual Biography of Photographer Michael Nichols” (A perture, 2017) chronicles the photographer’s rise from his native Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to an international wildlife photojournalist for National

Geographic and many other magazines. The well-written, thoroughly researched prose by author Harris is supplemented

by Nichols’ magnificent photos taken around the world.

Nichols grew up poor in a dysfunctional family, but he was rich with imagination and creativity. He credits his high school art teacher, Jean Schulman, with encouraging him to think visually. Following his Army stint, he returned to finish his college degree at the University of North Alabama in Florence, where he was the chief photographer for the student newspaper. After graduation, he worked at the Florence TimesDaily and perfected his skills as a visual storyteller.

He was discovered in 1977 by international photojournalist Charles Moore, also an Alabama native, who worked for Life magazine. He eventually went to work for Moore in San Francisco where he remembered hoping that he would be “the Mick Jagger of photography.”

Instead he was described as “The Indiana Jones of Photography” by Paris Match, the well-respected weekly news magazine, for his death-defying photos. His photo essays for Rolling Stone, Life, and many other magazines were not about his favorite rock band but rather about the precarious balance between humans and nature. Images for his first photographic book, “Gorilla: Struggle for Survival in the Virungas,” were taken during three trips to Africa beginning in 1981 and those DeSoto 29

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trips changed the course of his career.

“I started off in my life just wanting to chase significant images, but the gorillas changed all that… I understood immediately that animals are individuals and have rights. This is where and when I find my soul,” Nichols told Harris in “A Wild Life.”

Nichols has numerous awards from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Pictures of the Year Inter national competitions. The Overseas Press Club of America granted him a prize for reporting “above and beyond the call of duty,” an honor usually reserved for combat photographers.

“Wildlife photography is not the right term to describe what Nick does,” Harris explained in her book. “Nick approaches his work in [a] reportorial tradition: he is a photojournalist in the wild. And like other photojournalists in areas of crises, he sheds light on the inner workings of communities, the intrinsic significance – even magnificence – of what’s at stake and the horrors of the battlefield.”

Harris worked with Nichols for two decades on various projects for Aperture magazine, an advocacy-driven publication founded in 1952 by Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange among others. In 2012, she followed Nichols and his wife, Reba, into the Serengeti where the idea for a biography about Nichols’ life jelled.

T he Serengeti photos in the chapter “Harvest” were not only beautiful but also technically interesting.

Harris masterfully describes the photographer’s use of robot cameras and infrared non-visible light (for night shots when lions are more active).

Nichols fiercely believes animals’ habitats should not be disturbed by flashes and intrusive photographers. It matters to Nichols that his photographs depict actual life in the wild.

Harris, who has edited more than 40 books for Aperture, closes “A Wild Life” with anecdotes about Nichols’ transition from magazine photographer to a quieter – but no less busy – life in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he and Reba now live.

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into the wild } mounted archery “Mounted archery is completely different from archery…

It is more instinctual and not as proper as what you see on the Olympics.”

Serena Lynn

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Hitting the Bull’s Eye

By Alex Jacks | Photography courtesy of Serena Lynn, JBeatty Photography and Leah Earle Photography

Swish. Thump. Clop. Swish. Thump. Clop. Serena Lynn gallops down a track, releasing arrows from her bow, letting them pierce through the air only to land at the center of a bull’s eye. She continues down a brushy trail, her horse stepping carefully as she pulls another arrow from her quiver, preparing herself for the next target.

Lynn, the chapter liaison for the Mounted Archery Association of the Americas and chapter leader for the South Texas Archery Riders, works each day to promote an emerging equestrian sport — mounted archery.

Mounted archery is exactly as it sounds. A horse and rider team up to take on a series of bull’s eyes positioned around a track, Lynn said.

“It is completely different from traditional archery,” she said. “It is more instinctual and not as proper as what you see on the Olympics. We use traditional bows, without a shelf or a riser.”

The Mounted Archery Association of the Americas (MA3) serves as the oldest mounted archery association in the

country, Lynn said.

“We’ve existed for 12 years,” she said. “The founding members started MA3 by hosting small clinics across the U.S. The group completed non-profit association paperwork in 2010 to gain the official status.”

The organization currently has about 300 active members and 12 affiliated chapters across the country, one of those being Lynn’s chapter, the South Texas Archery Riders in New Braunfels, Texas. Chapters exist to raise awareness about mounted archery to the general public, host clinics and competitions for members, and teach those who want to learn more about the sport.

“I started this chapter because I wanted to be with DeSoto 33

an organization that was dedicated to making this a sport — something that could grow,” Lynn said.

To begin learning mounted archery, Lynn highly recommends having your own horse or one that has bonded with you. Some instructors will teach using their own horses.

“There’s no specific breed or color or any particular type of horse that is best, but it does need a calm personality and not be over-reactive,” she said.

When Lynn begins to teach someone mounted archery, she likes to break up the training sessions.

“During the first session, I always suggest you don’t bring your horse,” she said.

“I like to have people come out and let me introduce them to the bow and equipment, and go over all of the details of the sport. Then I teach them how to shoot.”

Lynn allows clients to bring their horses during the second session, but still has them shooting at targets from the ground.

“I like to tie the horses to the trailer and let them listen to you shoot,” she said.

“At the end, I’m going to let you take your horse and walk, trot and canter around all of the targets, and get them comfortable with everything. Usually during the third session, I start teaching how to shoot arrows from horseback.”

Once people learn how to participate in the sport, they can join an established chapter or start their own, Lynn said.

“We have strict standards to start a chapter, but it is not a lot of paperwork,” she said. “Registered instructors can be mentors for new chapters. We’re prepared to travel to help people get started.”

For someone interested in giving mounted archery a try, all they have to do is make a phone call, Lynn said.

“Go to our website at mountedarchery.org, and contact the nearest instructor or chapter,” she said. “Most of us try to make it simple, so you don’t have to spend too much money to get started. Since the sport is so new, a lot of us are willing to do whatever it takes to teach anyone interested.”

Mississippi’s Mounted Archers Melody Fillhart from Bay Saint Louis began learning mounted archery four years ago from Serena Lynn and other certified instructors.

Over the last year, she taught a small group of people from Mississippi and Louisiana how to participate in mounted archery.

Although the group has not yet decided to pursue a chapter status with the Mounted Archery Association of the Americas, they use the organization as a resource. The group generally tries to meet at least once a month in Picayune, Mississippi.

“I love the challenge of archery, just on its own, and when you combine it with riding, the partnership with the horse that you must have is just wonderful,” Fillhart said.

“You can learn to shoot in a day, but it takes forever to perfect. It requires mental focus on your part, and a trust with your horse that is unique. Also, the people in the sport have a great sense of camaraderie and are very supportive of each other. It is empowering — makes you feel like a warrior! It’s been a lot of fun to learn it and now share it with others.”

For information about Mississippi’s mounted archery group, contact Fillhart at mjfillhart@gmail.com.

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table talk } dancing bear appalachian bistro

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Southern Fare meets the Appalachains

By Andrea Brown Ross | Photography courtesy of Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro and Andrea Brown Ross

Former Memphian takes Southern cooking to the Appalachians

Mother Nature is doing double duty at the Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro in Townsend, Tennessee. Known as “the peaceful side of the Smokies,” Townsend provides both a beautiful landscape for ambience and inspiration for Chef Cooper’s culinary creations. Described as “highbrow Appalachian fare,” Memphian Shelly Cooper brings experience from her vast travels and adds a helping of down home Mississippi Delta to her dishes.

“I have worked all over the world. About the age of 22, I left Memphis and attended culinary school in Charleston, North Carolina,” shared Cooper. Later, she attended the San Francisco Baking Institute in California.

“I had a strong desire to learn more, which spawned a series of moves from Alaska, Hawaii, and New Zealand, to name a few,” she explained.

After travelling the world and expanding her culinary repertoire, Cooper longed to be closer to home.

“When the Alaskan season closed, I wanted to be close to mountains, but also wanted to be in relatively close proximity to my family. So, I ended up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at a restaurant owned by the Fordhams. They decided to open the Dancing Bear Appalachian Lodge & Bistro in Townsend and eventually sold their restaurant in Chattanooga,” said Cooper.

With seating capacity at 300, the bistro offers a perhaps surprisingly intimate feel. With optional outdoor seating, guests can enjoy Mother Nature at her best as well as Cooper’s cuisine, which is as colorful as the landscape.

And just like the leaves changing with the seasons, so does the menu.

“The menu can vary from day to day, depending DeSoto 37

on what’s in season,” she explained. “To some of our staple items, we add what is available. For example, we pick items from the owners’ garden two-to-three times a day, such as green beans, squash, and zucchini. A local farmer supplies us with peas.

So, our menu is dictated greatly by availability from local vendors.”Although not a vegetarian, Cooper considers her menu “veggie centric.”

“We have a vegetable platter that is spectacular! A lot of folks order it as an appetizer, or order a few as side dishes to share with a large group,” she explained.

For large groups, the bistro is willing to work with guests and serve items from their menu “family style”.

Cooper’s appreciation for fresh vegetables and fruits came from her Southern upbringing with her maternal side of the family hailing from the Mississippi Delta.

“I have spent many a summer shucking corn, shelling peas, and putting up other fruits and vegetables from the garden. At an early age, I was engaged in cooking, and I gained an appreciation for the hard work, the people, and just the agrarian lifestyle that makes this possible. It impressed me that we could put vegetables up and enjoy them during other times of the years. When I visit family today, I still enjoy a trip to the farmer’s market or pecans from a family orchard,” she shared.

The fall menu will likely include the “hardier greens” according to Cooper, such as brussel sprouts, end of season tomatoes, green beans, root vegetables, and varieties of fall squash.

Cooper shared some of the popular dishes.

“Many people come to this part of the world for the trout. Our trout dish with peas, country ham, new potatoes, and cantaloupe is a favorite. Guests also love our Fried Okra Caesar salad,” said Cooper.

The menu will also reflect changes to the main entrees.

“In the fall, I like to braise the meats and use heavier cuts of meats. Our dishes become saucier, meatier,” Cooper shared.

“We like our dishes to be creative, but identifiable with our clientele,” added Cooper.

For those planning a wedding or other event at the lodge, catering is available. If guests are staying at one of the lodge’s accommodations, the bistro is within walking distance. For those looking to simply dine at the bistro, reservations are not required, but are recommended. A wet bar is available.

Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro is open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with additional hours seasonally. For more information, visit dancingbearlodge.com.

“I have spent many a summer shucking corn, shelling peas, and putting up other fruits and vegetables from the garden.

At an early age, I was engaged in cooking.”

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Shelly Cooper

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exploring destinations } river ranch resort

“I could stand on that deck watching the river run by for hours.�

Sherry Sims 40 DeSoto

Winter shot of back deck

Kitchen overlooking living room

Down by the River

By Karon Warren | Photography courtesy of Rankin Poage

Tucked away on the banks of the Bouie River, the River Ranch Resort attracts international guests who want to experience a place where luxury meets nature.

For Laurel natives and sisters Gina Galligan Poage and Vicki Galligan, owning a bed-and-breakfast has been a lifelong dream. In 2010, that dream was realized when they opened River Ranch Bed & Breakfast outside of downtown Hattiesburg. On a working timber farm with more than 325 acres on both sides of the Bouie River, the River Ranch Bed & Breakfast is housed in a five-bedroom log cabin lodge that sits alongside the river.

The B&B actually began as a second home for Gina, her husband, and her son, who all live in California. However, the family wasn’t using the home much, and they recognized the opportunity to share the home with others.

“There’s a growing demand for a more intimate and unique lodging experience,” Gina said. “We felt we had something unique to offer.”

The lodge certainly is impressive. Constructed

of hand-hewed and dovetailed logs ranging from 14-to-24 inches in diameter, the building is a commanding presence that seamlessly blends in with its surroundings. Inside, the guest rooms are named after the towering trees found throughout the property, such as the Oak, Magnolia, and Laurel suites.

“They all boast mesmerizing views of the Bouie River from the porches and feature separate bedrooms and bathrooms,” Gina said.

Today, Vicki and the sisters’ mother, Freda Galligan, manage the property onsite. Despite the name, though, neither cooks.

“We were hesitant about categorizing the business as a B&B because none of the Galligan girls can cook,” Gina said.

“Thankfully, our guests preferred the convenience of a self-serve continental breakfast and the privacy of not having someone banging pots and pans around in the early morning to DeSoto 41

One of the many creeks

make a hot breakfast. They also love having access to the fully stocked kitchen to create their own culinary experience at any time.”

Those guests range from couples looking for a weekend getaway and military families staying over before a deployment to business travelers staying in Hattiesburg and families coming together for a reunion.

“Our guests come from all over,” Gina said. “We’ve had guests from Australia, Great Britain and Germany.”

However, most guests arrive from around the South: Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and, of course, Mississippi.

One such guest, Sherri Sims of Dallas, has visited River Ranch twice and loved everything about her stay. She first visited about five years ago with her girlfriends after finding the property on Google.

“It looked really cute,” Sims said. “We liked the location to area attractions.”

She returned again last December for a few days of “me” time. “I wanted a place to decompress, and I remembered [River Ranch] being like that,” Sims said.

In addition to relaxing by the fireplace in the main living room, Sims loved cooking in the kitchen. “I did nothing, and loved every minute of it,” she said. “I could stand on that deck watching the river run by for hours.”

The lodge sits along one mile of the river that includes a white sandy beach where guests can relax along the water.

The property also includes a fishing pond, miles of walking 42 DeSoto

trails, wildlife viewing and birdwatching. Plus, River Ranch is just 7.2 miles from the Longleaf Trace, a rails-to-trails bicycle path, so guests often bring their bikes.

“Guests are surprised by the sheer size of the property and the proximity to everything,” Gina said. “Guests love it because they have the best of both worlds. First, they have easy access to Hattiesburg and everything it offers with culture, art, music, theaters and restaurants. Second, they have room to roam and complete privacy. Once a guest arrives, they don’t want to leave.”

With so much going on in and around Hattiesburg year-round, River Ranch Bed & Breakfast doesn’t experience high and low seasons with occupancy. “We really don’t have a season, perhaps because we host lots of business travelers, and there’s always a sporting event happening,” Gina says.

Plus, they have a lot of repeat visitors who return each year to celebrate special occasions.

Most guests find River Ranch via an internet search or by word of mouth, and seem to respond to the property’s off-the-beaten-path charm.

“River Ranch is a destination within itself,” Gina said.

“Guests experience the splendor of nature-filled surroundings while relaxing in luxurious and spacious accommodations. We call it ‘luxury-meets-nature’ chic. We offer a warm, yet refined atmosphere and believe spending an afternoon on the banks of the Bouie River is good for the soul.”

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on the road again } hermann, missouri

, n n a m Her i r u o s s i M

9:00 October mornings can be cool in central Missouri, so a warm cup of coffee is a great way to start the day. Espresso Laine offers a variety of coffees and teas. Enjoy with a fresh scone made from local ingredients.

10:00 Stroll Hermann’s charming shops and antique stores. Pick up locally made products while taking in the beauty of this quaint riverfront town.

Be sure to check out the Deutschheim State Historic Site and discover the heritage of Germans who migrated to Missouri in the 19th century.

12:00 No visit to Hermann would be complete without trying the awardwinning sausages and bratwurst at Hermann Wurst Haus. Sample some of the flavored bratwursts, like caramelized pear & gorgonzola or bacon cheddar – all served with house-made sides. The menu also offers traditional deli sandwiches, craft beer and local wines and spirits. After lunch browse the shop and take home Wurst Haus brand sauces, seasonings, beers, jams and jellies.

1:30 Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage on a hike or biking excursion along the Katy Trail. The 240-mile trail is just across the river from Hermann. The trail, where Missouri-Kansas-Texas trains once ran, is the longest developed railsto-trails project in the country. Sections of the Katy are part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

3:00 Explore Hermann’s wine country on its wine trail. The tour includes seven stops with award-winning wines, beautiful views and live music. The tour is designed to let you take as much time as you like at each winery. Pick up a souvenir glass at your first stop and then visit each in the order you wish, sampling along the way.

6:00 Dinner at Black Walnut Bistro. Delicious hand-made pastas, juicy steaks and wine pairings make this a go-to spot for locals and visitors. Favorite dishes include smoked tomato bisque, lobster and shrimp fettuccine, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese and bacon-wrapped filet. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Reservations are recommended.

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To plan your visit: visithermann.com espressolaine.com hermannwursthaus.com mostateparks.com hermannwinetrail.com

Upcoming Events: Oktoberfest!

All four weekends in October Oktoberfest weekends feature biergartens, live music and food stands. During the week, wineries, restaurants, shops and museums are all open – minus the crowds.

Witches & Wine

October 19 Enjoy a girls’ night out in downtown Hermann with food and drink, music and entertainment, a psychic, attendance prizes, photo booth, wine tasting, costume contest, shopping discounts, and more.

Holiday Fare Wine Trail

November 18 - 19 Sip and sample festive food and wine pairings at seven stops on the scenic Hermann Wine Trail. Advanced tickets required. Purchase online or call the Welcome Center, 800-932-8687 or 573-4862744.

Christmastime in Hermann

First two weekends of December Christmastime is magical in the German village, where holiday traditions date back centuries. Kristkindl Markts at Stone Hill Winery is the first weekend of December and Hermannhof Winery, the second weekend.

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greater goods } halloween

HALLOWEEN

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1. Mudpie candy dishes, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 2. Kitchen Towel, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 3. Halloween Cocktail Napkins, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 4. Vineyard Vines Tee Shirt, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street. Hernando, MS 5. Halloween decor, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 6. Halloween decor, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 7. Dish and Towel, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 8. Happy Everything Plate with Bat Attachment, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 9. Halloween Socks, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 46 DeSoto

greater goods } the great outdoors

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

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1. Baseball hats, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Road #115, Olive Branch, MS 2. Southern Marsh Pull-overs, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street. Hernando, MS 3. Corksicle, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 4. Anorak Rain Jacket, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 5. Swig bottle, Frank, 210 E Commerce St #7, Hernando, MS 6. Patagonia Sling, Cynthia’s Boutique, SoCo, 300 W Commerce Street. Hernando, MS 7. Tepui SKY Roof Top Tent, Bass Pro Shops, 1 Bass Pro Dr, Memphis, TN 8. Radikl Pants by KÜHL Clothing, The Gun Shop, 210 E Commerce St #5, Hernando, MS 9. Kavu Backpacks and Bags, The Bunker, 2631 McIngvale Rd #106, Hernando, MS DeSoto 47

German Shorthaired Pointer bronze, Sportsmanship

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Spotlighting the Sporting Dog

By Ann N. Yungmeyer | Photography courtesy of the Bird Dog Museum

The enduring canine-to-human bond has long been depicted in literature and film. Likewise, the keen devotion of man to his dog is beautifully portrayed in The National Bird Dog Museum.

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Antique bird hunting wagon with wood dog crates used to carry dogs to the field.

German Shorthaired Pointers visit their wing in the museum.

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In the heart of bird dog country, a small group of sporting dog enthusiasts established the Bird Dog Foundation, Inc., to preserve the field trial and hunting traditions of West Tennessee and other parts of the world. In 1991, the group opened the National Bird Dog Museum in Grand Junction, Tennessee, an hour’s drive east of Memphis.

With a growing collection of artwork, photography and memorabilia, the museum is a destination for dog lovers and bird hunters as well as curiosity seekers.

Representing more than 40 breeds of sporting dogs used in hunting and field trial competition, the museum mainly features pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels – breeds that possess remarkable instincts in water, scampering through the woods, and nosing thick brushy meadows.

Do you know the distinctive traits of Irish Setters versus Gordon Setters, or English Cocker Spaniels versus Springer Spaniels? Museum visitors can learn about the characteristics and training of the dogs, and the birds they hunt. Dedicated galleries focus on specific breeds, such as the National Retriever Museum that shows the different kinds of retrievers and from where they originate – including the Golden Retriever from England, Labrador from Newfoundland, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever from the east coast of the U.S.

T he multi-winged museum complex also features Field Trial Hall of Fame galleries and a Wildlife Heritage Center, a resource for education added in 1996. The center’s taxidermy exhibit is a favorite for visitors, with a collection of various types of waterfowl, owls, bobcats, otters, coyote and other wildlife.

Preserving History

West Tennessee’s proximity to the Mississippi flyway has long attracted waterfowl hunters, putting the area on the map in the late 19th century as home to the ongoing National Field Trial Championships held at the historic Ames Plantation. The National Bird Dog Museum highlights the area’s rich sporting dog heritage, shedding light on more than 100 years of bird dog life.

The museum’s Field Trial Hall of Fame recognizes accomplished dogs and people who have contributed significantly to the sport. Many artwork pieces and

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One of the newest bronze sculptures of a Brittany Field Trial Champion.

trainers, owners and handlers.

“The majority of our museum items are collected by donation from bird dog lovers and artists from all over the world, as well as through family estates of bird hunting enthusiasts,” says Tonya Brotherton, executive director and curator of the museum. “The foundation is fortunate to receive many donations that reflect the sporting dog history and culture, and we have a process to display things in a way that complements our objectives and the themes of each gallery.”

Dog breed groups such as the pointer/setter, retriever and spaniel clubs actively support the museum with fundraising and contributing to exhibits that celebrate specific breeds. Those include the Brittany, English Cocker, English Springer, German Shorthaired Pointer, Red Setter, Vizsla and Weimaraner.

Inspired Artwork

Many forms of art are found at the National Bird Dog Museum, from antique oil paintings to modern sculpture and taxidermy mounts. Featured artists are often hunters themselves, inspired by the natural landscapes in which the dogs work.

The Sporting Dog Wing presents a variety of in-thefield scenes such as the English Springer with pheasant and German Shorthaired Pointer finding a covey of quail. Outdoor spaces include a walk of champions, memorial garden and bronze sculpture lawn. Recent additions to the bronze collection include: the German Shorthaired Pointer “Sportsmanship” by sculptor Sandra Van Zandt, dedicated in 2015; and “Pacolet Cheyenne Sam,” of the Brittany Field Trial Hall of Fame, by Matthew Gray Palmer.

“Our galleries contain works by several notable 52 DeSoto

sporting dog artists,” says Brotherton. “We have a famous dog portrait by Lynn Bogue Hunt, one of America’s greatest periodical wildlife and outdoor artists (1878-1960). Also Iwan Lotton. Some of his commissioned paintings of famous field trial dogs are here. Another recognized name is Edwin Megargee, a featured artist in Field and Stream in the 1950s.”

Several museum pieces previously owned by bird dog enthusiasts are treasured for their historical significance, including one painting of a pointer that has holes in the canvas.

“The holes are from shrapnel,” explains Brotherton, “because this painting hung on the wall in the office of Federal Judge Lee West at the time of the Oklahoma City bombing.”

An unusual piece of antique value is the taxidermy English Setter called Count Noble, portrayed to be on a quail hunt. The mount, circa 1891, was donated to the National Bird Dog Museum by Carnegie Hall in 1999.

A prized recent addition to the collection is a portrait of Gary Lockee, one of the museum founders and a Hall of Fame member. Presented by Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Bortnick of Kansas, the painting honors Lockee, an avid huntsman and World War II veteran who retired from the U.S. Navy. Now, at age 95, Lockee and his wife Sally are still very active in the museum.

“The majority of our museum items are collected by donation from bird dog lovers and artists from all over the world.”

Executive Director Tonya Brotherton

Community Outreach Brings Awareness Education and community outreach are hallmarks of the Bird Dog Foundation. Though man’s best friend is the featured species of the National Bird Dog Museum, the broader objectives of the foundation touch on the delicate balance between man and nature.

The Wildlife Heritage Center at the museum brings awareness to the importance of wildlife/ game management practices and conservation of the natural environment.

The museum hosts school field trips in which students learn about upland game birds and waterfowl through the variety of taxidermy mounts and a nature classroom. The William F. Brown Memorial Library at the Wildlife Heritage Center offers an excellent resource for books and magazines on the hunting dog breeds and related topics, containing rare vintage books as well as a children’s reading corner.

In addition to field trips at the museum, the Bird Dog Foundation offers essay and sporting dog art contests for area students. The Annual Youth Art Contest is held for students (grades K-12) generally within a 75mile radius of the museum. Winning artwork is displayed in the William F. Brown Memorial Library for approximately one year. Deadline for submission is January 15 each year.

The Annual College Scholarship Essay Contest was created for the purpose of promoting interest and education in wildlife and conservation, as well as providing financial aid for rising college students. The contest is open to high school seniors in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Deadline for submission is in April each year.

The museum is supported through contributions to the Bird Dog Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

Admission to the 30,000-square-foot museum and grounds is free for visitors, and donations are accepted.

For more information, visit birddogfoundation.com.

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Aerial view of the devastation in Key West from Hurricane Irma from Black Hawk helicopters piloted by National Guardsmen September 14, 2017. Wind gusts were recorded to reach 130 mph during Hurricane Irma. (photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Debra Cook)

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On the Hunt for

Hurricanes

By Andrea Brown Ross Photography courtesy of Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney, Army Sgt. Debra Cook, Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan, Malcolm McClendon, and James Chaney

Flying into the eye of the storm is a necessary duty for hurricane hunters who strive to keep us informed and safe.

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Maj. Kendall Dunn and Lt. Col. Ivan Deroche fly a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft into Hurricane Harvey during a mission out of Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi Aug. 24, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney)

A U.S. Air Force WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft flies in the center of Hurricane Harvey during a flight into the storm over the Gulf of Mexico, Aug. 24, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney)

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The radar on a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft shows the eye wall of Hurricane Harvey during a flight into the storm Aug. 24, 2017 out of Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney)

For those who have survived a natural disaster and attempted to rebuild their lives in its aftermath, the thought of experiencing the destruction and danger again may be unbearable. Fall is typically a much-anticipated change of season with many outdoor activities, but the threat of severe weather can ruin the best-laid plans.

Indeed, Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma served as a reminder that some things are out of human control.

While many people are trying to escape a storm’s wrath, luckily there are others who spend countless hours flying right into the eye of storms to save lives and minimize damage.

Dedicated meteorologists known as “hurricane hunters” risk potential peril to collect weather data for the National Hurricane Center. Stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, at the Keesler Air Force Base, the Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, referred to as the “hurricane hunters,” fly into the eyes of storms to get the most accurate data.

“They fly storms until landfall or until the storms cease to be a threat to land.

The hunters fly missions daily to collect data so the hurricane center can improve its forecasts,” explained Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney, 403rd Wing Public Affairs.

As the data is disseminated across the country, local forecasters then have the ability to inform viewing audiences of potential severe weather. And such has been the case as recent hurricanes have caused astronomical damage at summer’s end.

Todd Demers, meteorologist at WREG News Channel 3 in Memphis, Tennessee, categorized fall as the big transition.

“After a usually hot summer, it is the season we are all waiting for. I’ve been here more than 30 years, and it feels like fall arrives just a little later each year,” shared Demers. “So even though the days are getting shorter, heat remains a possibility well into September and October.”

However, weather officers of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron remind everyone that hurricane season lasts until the end of November.

“Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, which is a lot longer than most people realize. The single most important ingredient in the formation of a hurricane is warm sea surface temperatures.

Warm water is the fuel that makes hurricanes DeSoto 57

Senior Airman Austin Hellweg, 129th Rescue Squadron special missions aviator, carries a dog and leads a family into an HH-60 Pavehawk for extraction to a safer location during the relief effort for Hurricane Harvey, Aug. 31st, 2017, Beaumont, Texas. The relief efforts have a conglomerate of active, guard and reserve units from all branches aiding the federal government to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Castelan) .

Hurricane Harvey flooding in Port Arthur, Texas, August 30, 2017. Hurricane Harvey formed in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in southeastern Texas, bringing record flooding and destruction. Photo by Malcolm McClendon

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go,” said Major Jeremy DeHart.

“So naturally, the summer months are when the oceans are the warmest, and that is when we have the most hurricanes.

It can also take a while for cooler air temperatures in the fall to have a cooling effect on the oceans, so that’s why we can still see tropical systems develop well into November and even into the early winter months,” he explained.

For Mid-Southerners, the impact of coastal hurricanes can be substantial and even life threatening even miles from coastlines.

“Once hurricanes make landfall they begin to weaken rapidly, but will continue to generate lots of rain. Storms heading our way will likely be down to tropical depression status by the time they arrive in the Mid-South, with a few gusty winds, but the primary threat will be heavy rain,” advised Demers. “Localized flash flooding (when the drains become overwhelmed) and trees falling (wet ground, weakened root structure, gusting winds) are the things we watch for most when the remnants of a tropical system arrive”.

With the help of technology, weather prediction has come a long way since the Farmers’ Almanac, enabling citizens to become better prepared for severe weather.

“It’s two-fold. First, the Severe Storms Prediction Center is great at finding the most suspect areas to be threatened by severe weather. Often times, we are alerted days in advance of a possible severe outbreak. The coverage area continues to be narrowed down as we get closer to a severe event, along with what the threat will be,” Demers explained.

“ H i g h w i n d s ? H e av y r a i n ?

Large Hail? Tornadoes? All of the above?

Technology now helps us determine the atmospheric dynamics and the most likely outcome,” he said.

“Second, our Storm Tracker 3-S allows us to locally track severe weather all the way to street level in live, real time. No delays, no waiting for the National Weather Service radar data that could be 5-to-7 minutes old. Keeping Mid-Southerners safe during severe weather has always been our number one priority.”

Being able to use the most current technology available is just one component to being a hurricane hunter as the Air Force’s DeHart explained:

“All aircrew members must meet DeSoto 59

in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Irma is a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 180 mph and is moving west-northwest at 17 mph. the storm is expected to impact the southeastern United States

the physical requirements for flying duty by passing medical screening and attending various survival schools. For the specific hurricane hunter mission, we have four duty positions on our aircraft: pilot, navigator, loadmaster, and weather officer. Each position has its unique requirements for qualification.”

He continued, “As weather officers, we must have at least a bachelor’s degree in meteorology in order to enter the field as a commissioned officer. We also must fly a certain number of tropical systems in order to demonstrate proficiency directing the aircraft while in the storm environment. All in all, it’s about a year and a half of pretty rigorous training before becoming a fully qualified hurricane hunter.”

The off season is a time for the hurricane hunters to prepare for the next active season and continue training.

“Part of our mission is to provide reconnaissance data for winter storms as well. During the cold season, we will fly into developing systems that are anticipated to be significant winter-weather makers,” said DeHart. “As with our tropical weather recon data, the observations are fed into weather models to help better forecast these events.”

“Additionally, we need to train properly in order to stay proficient at what we do, so we fly a lot of training missions during the off season. We’ll also use this time of the year to review and update our operating procedures, attend conferences, and participate in airshows and other PA events. The off season can often be just as busy as hurricane season,” said DeHart.

And for those planning to travel to the Gulf Coast this fall, follow some practical advice from the squadron leaders: monitor the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service and have an emergency kit in your vehicle with water, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlight, local maps, and anything else that may be useful in emergency situations. For a complete list, see the website ready.gov/ build-a-kit.

DeHart added, “October and November have the potential to be active 60 DeSoto

Meteorologist, Todd Demers

months, so it is no time to be complacent.

Always have an evacuation plan. In the event of an evacuation, know exactly where you would go and how you would get there.

Establish emergency contacts with friends and family.”

And a hurricane hunter’s last piece of advice?

“Always keep an eye on local media to stay current on watches, warnings, and advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center,” said DeHart. “Keeping you safe is the reason we do what we do.”

For more information: hurricanehunters.com 403wg.afrc.af.mil wreg.com

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Ultimate Outdoor Adventures

By Debi Lander | Photography courtesy of Debi Lander

In the fall, football reigns supreme with many people planning their schedules around games. But autumn also offers a perfect time to move from spectator to active participant, and we’ve found three outdoor adventures that will certainly get your adrenalin flowing.

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Tank Town USA

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Tank Town USA

Louisiana Swamp Boat Rides

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Tank Town USA

tanktown.usa.com

Blue Ridge, Georgia — a smalltown gem nestled in the north Georgia mountains — carries a casual feel where you’re likely to run into fly fishermen and campers, boutique shoppers and families coming off the scenic railroad trip. But anyone can be an adventurer at one of Blue Ridge’s most outlandish and unforgettable outdoor attractions.

Tank Town USA is nothing fancy, just a big field of Georgia red clay with mounds and dips and a bunch of heavy equipment. Just imagine the thrill of driving a military tank, though, with nothing in your way — except for a few cars to crush.

Owner Todd Leibross, an engineer in the Merchant Marine, turned his love of tanks and military equipment into a business. He opened Tank Town in 2013 with three tanks; his fleet has since grown to six.

“Aside from the fact that the tank is made of thick steel-armored plating, has tracks instead of wheels and weighs over 33,000 pounds, it’s just like driving a car,” Leibross said with a laugh.

It didn’t start out feeling that way to me, as I lowered myself through the FV432 tank’s hatch into the driver’s compartment.

It felt like I’d been dropped into a scene from the movie “Stripes.” I controlled the tank from a standing position with my head looking over the hood. Leibross positioned himself behind me in the vehicle commander’s hatch.

Pressing down on the accelerator, I started making tank tracks — at a slow pace befitting my inexperience. Even for pros, a 9-foot wide, 17-foot long vehicle isn’t designed for drag racing.

“Pull back on the left stick to turn left or the right stick to turn right,” said Leibross. I found it odd to feel the tank turning from the center, very different from turning tires on a car. But in no time I had the hang of things, squeaking and jostling up and down banked earthen hills around a free-form course. Getting a little bolder with speed, I found controlling a massive tank a whopping power trip.

Men and women alike love pushing their “macho” meters to the max at Tank Town USA. And they leave with great stories to tell.

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Louisiana Swamp Boat Rides

Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest and Aerial Park

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Louisiana Swamp House

Louisiana Swamp Boat Rides

jeanlafitteswamptour.com

If red clay isn’t calling you, perhaps the heart of the sultry bayou attracts. Escape traffic and road rage, barking dogs and lawn mowers in Marrero, Louisiana, about 30 minutes from New Orleans.

Gather the family and journey by boat through the draped cypress trees of Southern Louisiana’s swamplands. In the protected Jean Lafitte National Park and Barataria Preserve, you’ll come face to face with gators lazing in the sun, watch raccoons scampering among the trees, and hear the Kee-aah Kee-aah call of the red hawk.

Choices include a super cool, but loud, airboat ride and the tamer Coast Guard certified swamp boat. The Cajun natives, serving as guides, share the legends and lore of Louisiana’s untamed wilderness.

Airboats skim over swamp grass, with a lightness that recalls a magician’s levitation trick. The boats maneuver back into the tree-studded marsh of the privately owned bayous about as far away from a stadium crowd as one can imagine. Those who choose the swamp boat can listen for the hoot of an owl, the buzz of insects, or the slap of a turtle falling off a log.

Some Louisiana boat captains allow guests to feed marshmallows to gators off a stick, supplementing their diet of crayfish, turtles and insects. (It is legal to feed alligators in Louisiana.) Visitors who hunger for close encounters of the animal kind may take the opportunity to pose for a touristy selfie while holding a baby gator. Shh…no need to tell anyone that its snout is taped shut.

Autumn in the preserve brings the bright crimson of red swamp maples and the brilliant yellow of bur-marigolds. This vibrant color makes it the ideal time to savor and photograph the wetlands plant life and critters. Jean Laffite Swamp Boat Tours and Airboat Adventures have been offering their intriguing excursions for years. Children under five are not permitted.

Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest and Aerial Park

redmountainpark.org/adventure/ hugh-kaul-beanstalk-forest/

If you are looking to conquer your fear of heights, consider the aerial adventure course at Red Mountain Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The park’s 1,500 acres in central Alabama include 15 miles DeSoto 67

Kaul Beanstalk Aerial Course

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of trails featuring two city overlooks, three tree houses, the 6-acre off-leash Remy’s Dog Park, and the Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest treetop challenge course. Your journey will take you over the land where Birmingham began.

Meagan Odom, Director of Programs, said, “The Kaul Beanstalk Forest contains 20 different aerial elements -everything from a surfboard to a climbing wall to a swinging bridge. So, imagine you are basically competing on the ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ but on your own terms, in your own time, and with an encouraging guide right beside you in the trees.”

Plan on spending at least an hour working your way through obstacles that will test your dexterity and balance. Participants explore the self-guided course, choosing their own challenges. The tasks range from easy, moderate to extremely challenging for all levels. Don’t worry; special track pulley harnesses make sure you are always “clipped in” for safety, leaving you free to test your limits.

The Vulcan Materials Zip Trip takes guests over historical mining sites and the surrounding valleys. Transported 40 feet above Red Mountain, modern-day adventurers soar from one treehouse to the next dangling from a series of seven exciting zip lines, a sky bridge and cable swing.

The Vulcan Materials Zip Trip can (often but not always) accommodate guests using wheelchairs or crutches if arrangements are made two weeks in advance.

Rock climbing is another hourlong experience offered at the Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest and Aerial Park. Even newbie sports enthusiasts can climb to the summit of the 80-foot-tall Kaul Adventure Tower. It offers a pursuit quite different from a typical climbing wall. The Beanstalk Tower includes eight lanes of traditional rock climbing with handholds and vine climbs using steps that look like leaves. And here’s one of the best-kept secrets in the city: the Kaul Tower installed solar power, giving the bold a chance to attempt the venue at night.

All participants must be at least six years old, 42-inches tall, and weigh no more than 275 pounds. Those shorter than 4’2” will need a taller assistant for help completing the aerial course.

Whether you wish to fly high or get down and dirty, the South’s many outdoor adventures await. Get out there and enjoy!

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homegrown } turnrows apparel

Blending Fashion and Farming

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A love of fashion and farming led three best friends to create a unique company with a distinctly Southern flair.

By Kathryn Winter | Photography courtrsy of Ashley Jones, Turnrows Apparel

Growing up best friends, Ashley Jones, Dena Rees and Angie Fischbacher dreamed about starting a boutique together with a casual feel. The Jonesboro, Arkansas, women wanted to blend their loves: fashion and farming.

All had grown up in a farming community and had hung out on turn rows — the places where farmers turn their tractors at the end of furrows.

As Jones, Rees, and Fischbacher brainstormed a name for their boutique, they realized Turnrows was unique and something they had in common. It was also relatable to other farm wives. As they started printing shirts with sayings like “Rice Country,” and “Farmer’s Wife,” they quickly realized they had a market for that type of shirt. Designs are inspired by farmers, hunters, fishermen, Southern guys and girls.

“As soon as we would make them, we would sell out.

Now 200 stores carry our brand. Mississippi is the second biggest state to carry Turnrows. The shirts caught on very quickly there,” Jones said.

While the boutique is separate from Turnrows Apparel, the t-shirts are still sold in the Arkansas store as well as online at turnrows.com. It became a separate venture among partners because they didn’t have enough time to focus solely on the store.

Jones said every season they try to offer specific farming designs that reflect hunting or fishing or something patriotic to reach a broader market.

“We try to incorporate designs specific to freshly plowed fields, big trucks, bonfires, tailgate parties and more – anything that reminds you of the Southern country lifestyle,” said Jones. “Our brand applies to anyone in agriculture, agricultural business, crop dusters, feed reps, even someone who has a few chickens. We have all types of customers.”

Jones wants women and men to feel comfortable shopping at Turnrows. “Our atmosphere is very relaxed. We welcome all men, women, and children to come in and shop for their favorite tee and maybe find something on the boutique side to go with it.”

One of their most popular styles is the “Love My Farmer” t-shirt. Turnrows started with a plan to give everyone who enjoys and appreciates the true meaning of farming culture a way to represent that feeling through clothing.

“We want to be able to dress men, women, and children and are expanding our clothing selection into other trendy areas like vests, pullovers, fleece options, pants and button-down shirts,” said Jones. “Turnrows strives to provide quality clothing that farmers can work in or wear out with friends and family. For the ladies, we provide a comfortable and casual look focused around the country lifestyle. We want you to be able to shop for a variety of stylish apparel on our site.”

Turnrows also has a college ambassador program where students promote the Turnrows brand on campuses.

Duties include bringing Turnrows to a campus through one creative event each semester and posting on social media regularly, along with pictures of students wearing Turnrows apparel. Ambassadors also share discount codes for the website.

“The Turnrows college ambassador program requires students to host a minimum of one event per semester to promote the brand whether that is through a table in the student union or a rally with giveaways,” said Jones.

The company encourages student ambassadors to host creative events, post photos and send an event recap. Students can apply for the ambassador program on the company’s website. The ambassador program is extremely successful among agricultural colleges, according to Jones. Turnrows products can be found in hunting and archery boutiques, as well as some Dillard’s stores. The Bunker in Hernando, Reed’s in Tupelo and Oxford Farm and Ranch also carry Turnrows products. Kinnucan’s also picked up the shirts to sell in their stores this fall.

“We’re growing! Slowly, but surely. Fall is going to be amazing,” added Jones, who plans to expand online sales and spread the Turnrows brand across the U.S.

They have added several new products this season, including men’s shirts and outerwear like vests and jackets.

Outerwear for ladies is also available as well as trendy raglan tees, hats and visors. Prices range from $10 for children’s t-shirts to $34 for an adult long sleeve tee. Most adult short sleeve tees are $28 to $30.

“We have grown so much. Running the website and keeping our shirts in stock has been a learning experience. We just feel so blessed to be doing something we love,” Jones said.

“For three girls who grew up in the Delta, it’s a turn to new beginnings.”

“We try to incorporate designs specific to freshly plowed fields, big trucks, bonfires, tailgate parties and more.”

Ashley Jones DeSoto 71

southern gentleman } gentlemen’s hunting clubs

Linden Plantation

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Good Hunts, Food and Friends

By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of Esperanza Outdoors

The dogs are eager in the pre-dawn dark of the Mississippi Delta. Another day of their favorite thing, their lifeblood — retrieving — is here. As Cameron Dinkins entices the hunting party from plush beds with the smell of strong, fresh coffee, the dogs are still, but on the edge of vibrating with energy.

Everyone is. The dogs will save it for later, when they dash out from the blind to retrieve ducks or geese; the hunters try to shake it off so that first shot of the day doesn’t go wild.

Everyone performs a last-minute check of pockets — shells, hand warmers, license and duck stamp, more shells, binoculars. Finally, they zip up jackets that look like winderdormant reeds and wetland grasses. They are ready. Let the hunt begin.

Welcome to Linden Plantation in Washington County, Mississippi, nestled between Lake Washington and the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge. For four generations, land here has been in the Dinkins family, but only since 2008 have more than

a few family friends had the pleasure to hunt here. Dinkins — the same one rousting hunters from their slumber every morning — opened a private hunting club but after a few years, he was ready for a change.

“We went from leasing land to hunters to starting our own hunt club,” Dinkins said. “That’s when I met Stewart [Robinson]. We had similar backgrounds, loved this land and hunting, and formed a partnership. In 2012 we decided it was time to improve the club so we began doing guided hunts.”

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By 2013 they were convinced to close the hunt club, focus on guided waterfowl hunts, and commit themselves to providing what Dinkins calls “an experience around the house and table that is at least as good as what we deliver in the field.”

And the current iteration of Esperanza Outdoors was born.

Today, Dinkins and Robinson manage 1,700 acres, guide hunts 35-40 days each duck season, and entertain guests staying in Linden Plantation, all while scouting the right place for blinds and decoys and doing a little hunting themselves.

And that says nothing of the pre-season (read: year-round) prep to make next year’s hunt better than the last.

But it pays off with an experience combining luxury (remember those plush beds?) with duck, goose and dove hunting. Linden Plantation — near Glen Allen, Mississippi — is the perfect spot, with the surrounding property abutting the Wildlife Refuge and Lake Washington. You’ll find hunters relaxing in the hot tub or saltwater pool on warm days or gathered around the fire pit, toddies in hand, recounting the morning’s hunt and making plans for tomorrow. You’ll also find the table graced with speckled belly geese, ducks and deer, all harvested on site.

Todd Paden, from Memphis, Tennessee, has been hunting with Esperanza for years. He’s come here on his own and to entertain corporate clients, booking weekends to get everyone out of meeting rooms and around a common table to loosen their ties and just be.

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“You won’t find a better place to hunt,” he says.

“Linden Plantation is a five-star experience from the start. The cabins and main house are impeccable, the food is over the top good, and by the time you leave, you’re saying goodbye to friends, to family.

“A lot of guides you meet don’t have the same bedside manner as Cameron and Stewart,” said Paden. “Other guides will take you out to a blind and wish you good luck, then you don’t see them for hours. Not Esperanza. They’re hunting with you. They stay in the blind, help you call in ducks, do what you’d expect a professional guide to do. But they still feel like they’re friends.”

The passion for the land, for the hunt, and for making people feel welcome is paying off. Dinkins and Robinson love this land and have ties to it — from deep family roots to their own personal experiences.

“I’ve seen more than a few hunting groups go ahead and book their weekend for next year while we’re all sitting around the dinner table, and if that doesn’t tell you something about how special Linden Plantation is to many of us, I don’t know what will,” said Paden.

Learn more about Linden Plantation at espoutdoors.com.

Photo courtesy of Fitch Farms

Fitch Farms: Quail Hunting in Holly Springs

The mix of forest and field on the 8,000 acres that comprise Fitch Farms creates an ideal hunting environment, and for decades W.O. Fitch has worked to make this land one of the top quail-hunting destinations in the U.S. Today, Fitch Farms sees scores of hunters nearly every day of the season for the beauty and the birds.

Full-day quail hunts are the most exclusive package offered and includes lodging in one of the restored Civil War-era cabins and houses, including the onetime home of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Dinner and breakfast are refined affairs, with hearty food prepared with a gourmet touch, and the next morning: the hunt. After breakfast, get familiar with your firearm with a little trap shooting,

When you arrive, it’s cocktails and dinner — think quail and duck, prime rib — before you retire to your room. The hunt begins the next morning followed by a country lunch, then an afternoon in the fields. Guides and expertly trained dogs accompany hunters. To access the prime fields, you’ll travel on horseback or muledrawn wagons, adding another layer to the yesteryear charm and elegance of the hunt.

Book your hunt with Fitch Farms at fitchfarms.com.

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southern harmony } freeworld

30 Years of Jammin’ with FreeWorld

By Mark Parsell | Photography courtesy of FreeWorld

FreeWorld will rock Memphis this month as the legendary group celebrates 30 years together with a new CD and special anniversary performances.

The Band FreeWorld is the embodiment of Memphis’ musical diversity, blending funk, jazz, soul, blues and psychedelic rock. If you’ve lived in Memphis for any amount of time, you’ve likely seen their shows at one of the clubs on Beale Street.

When asked about the secret to keeping it together for 30 years, bandleader Richard Cushing said, “Slow and steady wins the race… it seems to actually work in real life.

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Professional perseverance coupled with having fun and sharing the love seems to keep us and our fans coming back for more.”

The group has released several critically acclaimed albums but its reputation has been built upon live performances, including the Beale Street Music Festival, which they kicked off again this past May.

“FreeWorld has done approximately 6,000 gigs if you

include our acoustic side-project gigs since our inception in 1987,” said Cushing, who is also co-producer, co-songwriter, musical director, business manager and adjunct historian. “I firmly believe that if something is going to last 30 years, there has to be some real value in it.”

Memphians see them as a local band, but they have shared the stage with many big national acts. These include Levon Helm, Billy Preston, Richie Havens, Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks, Hot James Cotton, Jimmie Vaughan & Double Trouble, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, and Widespread Panic among others.

The spiritual leader of the band, 87-year-old saxophone legend Dr. Herman Green has himself played with many Blues, Jazz, and Rock ‘n’ Roll greats, such as B.B. King, Miles Davis and Bob Weir. Both FreeWorld and its longtime trumpet man William “Nokie” Taylor have Brass Notes dedicated to them on historic Beale Street.

The band donated a collection of items relating to the its legacy to the history department of the Memphis Public Library and Information Center in 2005. The FreeWorld Collection is comprised mainly of press releases, recordings, photos, posters and documents outlining the band’s development. In addition to the history of FreeWorld, the chronologically arranged collection gives insight into the local Memphis music scene from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.

Every week, FreeWorld plays to a combination of tourists from all over the world, old-school enthusiasts, and young fans. Many learned of the group through word-ofmouth or discovered the music online or on local radio, such as “Memphis Made” on Rock 103.

“It’s nice to be around long enough now that we’re naturally creating a second generation of FreeWorld fans,” Cushing said.

Currently the band consists of Cushing on bass guitar, lead and backing vocals; Dr. Herman Green, tenor sax; Pete Climie, tenor saxophone, backing vocals; Andy Tate, guitars, lead & backing vocals; Jared Dover, trumpet, trombone, lead

and backing vocals; Freedman Steorts, trombone, lead and backing vocals; Chris Stephenson, keyboards, lead and backing vocals; Greg Lundy, drums; and David Skypeck, drummer emeritus and lyrics.

Drummer Emeritus Skypeck, who had a stroke last year, was one of the recipients of “Music Heals,” organized by Memphis Entertainment photographer Danny Day. “When I mentioned to Richard that David was going to be one of our honorees, the band found time to play even with multiple shows elsewhere that night,” said Day. Skypeck is recovering well and can be seen often at FreeWorld shows.

Haven’t seen FreeWorld recently? There are plenty of opportunities as they play every Sunday night at Blues City Cafe on Beale Street and every Thursday night at The Blind Bear downtown. In addition, they play on Saturday afternoons at Central BBQ downtown, and frequently at Rum Boogie on Beale Street on Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s truly humbling to look back over thousands of live performances, hundreds of band members, countless records, dozens of international tours, innumerable family, friends and benefactors that have supported us over all of these years. We take very seriously the honor and privilege of representing Memphis’ unique musical heritage through our weekly shows,” added Cushing.

With the CD release, the 30th Anniversary celebration and a full bill of performances every week, the question was posed to Cushing whether they ever think about slowing down.

“No way!” replied the energetic leader of the band. In fact, during an extended celebration, FreeWorld will release a new studio album,“What It Is” with shows Friday, October 13 at The Levitt Shell, Saturday, October 14 at The Bluff, and Sunday, October 15 at Blues City Cafe. More details are available on the band’s website, freeworldjams.com, and on its Facebook page.

“It’s nice to be around long enough now that we’re naturally creating a second generation of FreeWorld fans.”

Richard Cushing DeSoto 77

in good spirits} toasted s’more martini

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Toasted S’more Martini

By Charlene Oldham | Photography courtesy of Hungry Couple

S’mores take on a decidedly delicious adult twist in this martini recipe inspired by the gooey campfire confection.

The Toasted S’More Martini recipe developed by Becky Hardin, a writer and photographer who owns The Cookie Rookie blog, uses fluffed marshmallow-flavored vodka.

Other versions feature vanilla-flavored or whipped creamflavored vodka. For instance, the s’mores martini offered by the Bar Louie chain of restaurants pairs vanilla vodka with toasted marshmallow syrup, which can be cooked up at home or purchased online, to mimic the toastiness of a campfire-cooked marshmallow.

To achieve the layered look for her Toasted S’more Martini, Hardin pours the chocolate liqueur slowly over the back of a spoon into a glass, then repeats the process with the mixture of marshmallow vodka and heavy cream.

“We love to shake each layer with ice in a shaker before pouring to make sure the martini is ice cold,” Hardin said. “It’s really pretty in layers, but even more delicious stirred up. You can broil the marshmallows in bulk for easy prep, or light them on fire atop each drink as a fun party trick.”

Her original recipe also recommends slightly preroasting the marshmallows if you plan to light them later.

The mixture, when halved, can also be paired with mini marshmallows and served as a dainty, sweet shot, although Hardin prefers the toasty taste of the original recipe provided below.

Whether guests like the look of layers or would rather stir things up a bit, these sweet martinis will help turn any campfire into a cocktail party.

Toasted S’more Martini

1 ounce Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate Godiva Liqueur 1/2 ounce fluffed marshmallow vodka 1/2 ounce heavy cream Chocolate syrup and crushed graham cracker for the rim Marshmallows as garnish Small bamboo sticks

Dip the rim of each glass in the chocolate syrup and then in the crushed graham cracker. (If desired, shake each of the following layers over ice in a cocktail shaker before pouring.) Pour the chocolate liqueur as slowly as possible over an upside down spoon into a glass. Mix together the heavy cream and marshmallow vodka in a separate container. Pour the vodka mixture as slowly as possible over an upside down spoon into the same glass to achieve the layered look. Place the marshmallow on the bamboo stick as a skewer.

From Becky Hardin, The Cookie Rookie (www.thecookierookie.com)

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exploring events } october “Who, What, Wear?”

Through October 22 Lauren Rogers Museum of Art Laurel, MS A collaboration with fashion and theater design professors and students from Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi brings to life paintings at the Lauren Rogers Museum. Students researched and then recreated garments, which are displayed next to the paintings that inspired them. For information call 601-649-6374 or visit www.LRMA.org.

A Cast of Blues Through October 7 DeSoto Arts Council Hernando, MS The exhibit is composed of life-cast masks of blues musicians, sculpted by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson, a resident of Como, MS, known for her work in preserving the history of the blues. The artist invites everyone to “please touch” these masks. For more information, call 662- 404-3361 or email dac.desotoarts@gmail.com.

Natchez Fall Pilgrimage Through October 9 Natchez, MS Each September and October, Natchez welcomes guests into its historic homes, this time for two weeks that include beautiful tours of autumn gardens and evening entertainment in the homes. For more information visit natchezpilgrimage.com or call 800-647-6742.

King Biscuit Blues Festival October 4 - 7 Helena, AR Founded in 1986, the King Biscuit Blues Festival is one of the nation’s foremost showcases of blues music.

Held for three full days, tens of thousands of blues enthusiasts from all over the world converge on historic downtown Helena, Arkansas to hear performances on the banks of the Mississippi River. Lineup includes Gov’t Mule, Paul Thorn, JJ Grey & Mofro and Tab Benoit.

For more information and a complete lineup visit kingbiscuitfestival.com or call 870-572-5223.

158th Mississippi State Fair October 4 - 15 Jackson, MS Carnival rides, games, food, petting zoo and music. For more information visit mdac.ms.gov.

Crown Benefit: Boots and Bow Ties Presented by Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto County October 6 Landers Center Southaven, MS Benefiting children of DeSoto County. Dinner, dancing, silent auction and live music by “Almost Famous” . For tickets email online@jadesoto.gives.

Tallahatchie Riverfest October 6 - 7 New Albany, MS Diamond Rio, street market, pet parade, carnival and more fun for the entire family! For more information visit tallahatchieriverfest.com.

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Trash and Treasures Along the Tenn-Tom October 6 - 7 Tishomingo County, MS For more information call 662-423-0051 or visit tishomingofunhere.org.

Carrollton Pilgrimage & Pioneer Day Festival October 6 - 7 Carrollton, MS Tours of historic homes and churches, arts and crafts, food vendors, music and children’s entertainment. For more information email carrolltonmstours@gmail.com.

Hernando Water Tower Festival and 10K October 6 - 7 Historic Square Hernando, MS The weekend will begin with the much anticipated BBQ competition and live music on Friday. On Saturday, attendees can enjoy arts and crafts vendors, a car show, 10K race, a community stage, a FREE kids zone, and live music! For more information visit hernandoms.org or call 662-429-9055.

Panola Playhouse Presents “Steal Magnolias” October 6 - 15 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS Directed by Buddy Hart. For more information visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-487-3975.

Sardis Fall Fest October 7 Main Street Sardis, MS 8:00AM - 4:00PM Antique tractor show, bounce house, dunkin’ booth, face painting, food & craft vendors. For more information email info@sardisms.com or call 662-473-7681.

Author event with Finn Murphy- “Long Haul: A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road” October 18 Turnrow Books Greenwood, MS 5:30pm A long-haul mover’s rollicking account of life out on the Big Slab. For more information visit turnrowbooks.com.

Moorhead Garden Club Presents: Bicentennial Birthday Bash for the State of Mississippi October 19 Calhoun Park Moorhead, MS 10AM Guest speaker will be Gov. Phil Bryant. Dedication of “Moorhead’s Salute to America” monument and tribute to the 16 fallen troops that “Gave Their All” on July 10, 2017.

Admission is free. For more information call 662-207-3010, 662-392-3247 or 662-207-2480.

Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium October 19 - 21 MUW Campus Columbus, MS A diverse group of Southern writers and scholars are invited to present their work. A highlight of the symposium is the announcement of the Eudora Welty Prize for an unpublished book of scholarship. For more information visit www.visitcolumbusms.org.

Delta Hot Tamale Festival October 19 - 21 Greenwood, MS The Delta Hot Tamale Festival is a fun-filled three-day event that celebrates local and regional artists, musicians, and tamale makers as well as some of the South’s most influential chefs and writers. For complete event and vendor details visit hottamalefest.com or call 662-378-3121.

32nd Great Mississippi River Balloon Race October 20 - 22 Grounds of Rosalie Mansion Natchez, MS Live music, over 50 hot air balloons, food vendors, arts & crafts, local craft beers and more. For more information visit natchezballoonrace.com.

17th Annual American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk October 22 Liberty Bowl Memphis, TN Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. and the non-competitive 5K walk starts at 3 p.m. There is no cost to register; however, teams are encouraged to raise funds to support the Society’s life-saving mission. Sign up today and help save lives by visiting MakingStridesWalk.org/MemphisTN or call the American Cancer Society at 901-278-2091.

Jason Aldean with Chris Young, Kane Brown & Deejay Silver October 27 BancorpSouth Arena Tupelo, MS 7:30PM For tickets call 662-841-6528 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Rockhaven with Brett Michaels, Tora Tora and Roxy Blue October 28 BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove Southaven, MS 7:30pm Celebrating 40 years of Rock 103. Tickets can be purchased at BankPlus Amphitheater box office, ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.

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reflections} unintentionally unplugged

Unintentionally Unplugged

By Robin Gallaher Branch

Some people go camping to get “unplugged”—to divorce themselves from electronics, revisit nature, and refresh relationships.

Although I stayed home, I was nonetheless “unplugged” by a severe storm last spring. My involuntary separation from technology lasted five hours shy of seven days. During that time, I reconnected with neighbors, soaked up Vitamin D, and enjoyed slowing down.

The storm hit suddenly. Hours later, meandering through treacherous intersections, I saw much damage.

Magnificent oaks, snapped midway up their trunks, now looked like pathetic, amber stalagmites. I sensed a prolonged stint without electricity.

My routine quickly changed. My companions became silence and darkness. The microwave’s green clock blackened.

The computer’s orange light stopped winking. The alarm ceased its welcoming beeps. I strategically positioned matches and candles and made pathways through the house for safe navigation in the dark. I listened to the news in the car.

My neighbors and I spontaneously congregated on sidewalks, laughingly re-introducing ourselves and sharing daily stories. A “plugged” neighbor cheerfully stored precious Alaska salmon for a new friend. Another dragged nine black garbage bags and put them near the street. “That’s $400-worth of food,” he moaned.

Three days into the outage, I drove around trying to give away (rather than trash) four pounds of butter. A woman weeding listened to my offer and countered, “I’ll put it in my freezer. Pick it up when your power’s on.”

“How lovely!” I exclaimed. “May I make you some brownies?”

“Sure!” she smiled.

I noticed new sounds and enjoyed each day’s hourly beauty. An owl hooted in the boxwood near my bedroom 82 DeSoto

window, undoubtedly attracted by the darkness. The waxing moon provided nightly theater. I listened hard, hoping to hear “the morning stars sing,” as one of my favorite Bible verses — Job 38:7 — describes creation.

The robins and mockingbirds certainly sang in triumphant fortissimo, cheerfully filling the mornings with conversational cacophony. Creation seemed to exhale. I sighed in agreement.

Early one morning I had a significant bird experience.

It happened this way: Phoebe, a neighbor’s tabby, likes to sleep under my hosta, snugly covered by its leaves. She greets me with a stretch, yawn, and meow; I scratch her head and tell her she’s pretty. One morning she was stalking something. I saw a fledgling all puffed up and trying to be fierce. To me, it merely looked cute. To Phoebe, it looked like her first kill.

Listening intently for distraught parents chirping from an oak’s boughs, I shooed Phoebe home and caught the fledgling. I heard nothing. The fledgling poked its beak through my fingers.

I gently stroked its head and thought I saw a smile.

Together we looked for a backyard perch. Once settled, the fledgling bough-hopped toward dense bamboo, a suitable covering. Filling a Frisbee with water, I wished the fledgling well. The experience, lasting mere minutes, left me a legacy of wonder, awe, and reverence.

Eventually the outage ended, facilitated by an exhausted, out-of-state crew. My neighbors and I became “replugged” but less isolated.

I knew I’d be making brownies soon.

Robin Gallaher Branch is a Memphis-based freelance writer.