Today in Mississippi East August 2012 by American MainStreet Publications

Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)

East Mississippi Electric Power Association

Classic-car buff reinvents 4 the little red wagon Mississippi Cooks: Neshoba County’s ‘Giant Houseparty’ cookbook

Picture This: Readers show off their best photos

2 I Today in Mississippi I July 2012

The road to progress...

. .. ca n b e d a n ge ro u s . Our crews are here to help provide you power, as your needs grow. Protecting our crews from the dangers of the job is important to us. So when you see crews working along rights of way or building new lines, slow down and give them room to work. They’re working for you.

Help make the road a safer place for workers.

‘Move Over Law’ now protects utility crews The state of Mississippi has expanded the “Move Over Law” to protect utility workers and crews as they labor alongside highways and roads in the state. Under the revised law, if drivers don’t move over or slow down when they approach a utility crew, they risk being fined up to $250. If the violation involves damage to a utility’s vehicle, the fine could be up to $1,000. The more than 2,850 electric power association employees and their family members offer their sincere gratitude to state government leaders for providing them with this extra safety measure with passage of this legislation.

July 2012 I Today in Mississippi

Disaster drill bolsters our capacity for speedy recovery TV commercial from the 1970s depicts Mother Nature as a kindly woman wearing a long, white gown with daisies in her hair. But when she mistakes a particular brand of margarine for butter, she declares, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature,” and conjures an ear-splitting lightning strike. When it comes to natural disasters, Mother Nature always has the last word. Extensive flooding in Florida caused by Tropical Storm Debby last month is her latest reminder. But there is plenty we can do to minimize the suffering brought about by a natural disaster and to spur the recovery from its destruction. Preparedness is the key. Electric power associations stand ready for emergency response at all times of the year. Our preparedness activities include a natural disaster simulation, a drill we conduct each year in the fall. We start by creating a disaster scenario, such as a catastrophic tornado, hurricane, flood or ice storm—all likely occurrences in Mississippi. One time we chose an earthquake, a real possibility for our northwest counties. One or more electric power associations are chosen to be the “victim” of the disaster, with all 26 electric power associations getting involved in the emergency response. The afflicted electric power associations assess the damage to their electrical system. They determine what they need in terms of additional manpower and supplies to restore power fast, without sacrificing safety. Coordinating their efforts through the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, in Ridgeland, electric power associations outside the disaster zone rally to help. They coordinate efforts to transport emergency crew members, trucks, poles, transformers and conductor where (and if) needed in the disaster zone. If several electric power associations suffer outages in the disaster, we coordinate with elec-

On the cover

Our Homeplace

My Opinion Michael Callahan Executive Vice President/CEO EPAs of Mississippi

tric cooperatives in other states to obtain emergency restoration assistance. (In the spirit of mutual aid, we return the favor when a real disaster strikes their areas.) The electric power associations suﬀering the imaginary emergency simulate the preparations necessary to feed and house what could be hundreds of assisting lineworkers arriving in their areas. (This in itself can be a huge logistical challenge, especially in our more rural service areas. During our Hurricane Katrina power restoration, more than 12,000 emergency work crew members from across Mississippi and 22 other states poured into our coastal service areas to rebuild power lines and restore power.) As soon as all the emergency needs are met, our disaster drill ends and the evaluation process begins. We examine our response to the simulation with a critical eye. The goal is to identify ways to improve our emergency preparedness statewide. This annual disaster drill is but one of the ways electric power associations keep emergency preparedness at the forefront of our operations. Fast, safe power restoration is crucial for kickstarting Mississippi’s recovery from any natural disaster. We take this responsibility seriously throughout the year—because you never know when Mother Nature might send a reminder of her powers of destruction. JOIN TODAY IN MISSISSIPPI

O N FAC E B O O K

Today in Mississippi OFFICERS

Jones County poultry farmer Ted Darrell Smith - President Kevin Doddridge - First Vice President Mangum has created what he Brad Robison - Second Vice President believes to be the world’s largest Wayne Henson - Secretary/Treasurer motorized Radio Flyer wagon. EDITORIAL STAFF Michael Callahan - Executive Vice President/CEO Fabricated of steel mounted on Ron Stewart - Senior Vice President, Co-op Services an ambulance chassis, Mangum’s Mark Bridges - Manager, Support Services Jay Swindle - Manager, Advertising version of the iconic child’s Debbie H. Stringer - Editor wagon can carry 11 passengers. Abby Berry - Communications Specialist Rickey McMillan - Graphics Specialist See story on page 4. Linda Hutcherson - Administrative Assistant

Vol. 65 No. 7

EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600 Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s Electric Power Associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: National Country Market, 800-626-1181 Circulation of this issue: 450,536 Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year

The Official Publication of the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published eleven times a year (Jan.Nov.) by Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, Inc., P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Phone 601-605-8600. Periodical postage paid at Ridgeland, MS, and additional office. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Today, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300

Visit us at: www.todayinmississippi.com

The Old Depot Museum opened last month in the 105-year-old Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad depot building in downtown Vicksburg. Exhibits include the Gray & Blue Naval Society collection of models and model railroad layouts, as well as models of ships, riverboats and naval vessels. The museum also houses “The Fall of Dixie,” a diorama of the Siege of Vicksburg manned by 2,300 miniature soldiers. The museum is located at 1010 Levee St. For details, call 601-6386500 or go to www.theolddepot.net.

Mississippi is . . . . . . sitting on a front porch swing sipping iced tea, Just my grandma and me Watching a woodpecker in a cedar tree. Grandpa and me sitting in a boat, Fishing, watching the cork float, Hearing stories about the Old Folk. All dressed up, going to town, Sunday best, church bound. After services, dinner on the ground. — Lynda O’Quinn, Church Hill Roots. The five branches of my family tree spread from New Jersey to Oregon, but the tree is a Mississippi magnolia with deep roots. I was born here, and I can visit the silent neighborhoods and point out grandparents going back six generations, and more. I expect to join them some (hopefully distant) day, but until then I’ll proudly breathe Mississippi air! — Jerry Wolf, Starkville This is where I come from, where my heart will always stay. Country roads and winding streams, the smell of fresh cut hay. Dogwoods and azaleas blooming underneath the pines. Butterflies and daffodils and honeysuckle vines. Singing hymns on Sunday, having dinner on the ground. Swinging on the front porch, with my family all around. This is where I come from, this is where I made my start. Mississippi memories are forever in my heart. — Karen Bryant, Ellisville

What’s Mississippi to you? What makes you proud to be a Mississippian? What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your thoughts to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158, or email them to news@epaofms.com. Please keep your comments brief. Submissions are subject to editing.

Today in Mississippi

July 2012

Ted Mangum’s

‘Little’

red wagon

By Debbie Stringer Joy riding takes on a new meaning when Ted Mangum takes to the road in what may well be the world’s largest motorized Radio Flyer. Mangum’s handbuilt version of the iconic child’s wagon measures some 18 feet long and is powered by a 460 engine. The locals wave, Ted Mangum honk or give a thumbsup to their neighbor when Mangum cruises past, his cap turned backwards and a grin on his face. As he merges onto Interstate 59, drivers slow to

get a better look. Passengers reach for their cameras. No one, it seems, can believe their eyes: A man is waving to them from a giant Radio Flyer wagon pushing 70 mph. Onlookers hold up their cell phones for a photo as he fuels up at a convenience store in Ellisville. Mangum good naturedly answers their questions, including the inevitable “Where’d you come up with this idea?” “It’s unreal how much fun this is,” he says as he heads back home. Mangum, a member of Dixie Electric Power Association, has enjoyed working on hot rods and vintage vehicles for most of his life. He taught paint and body work for 17 years at Jones County Vocational School and is active in the Magnolia Cruisers and Pine Belt Antique Auto Club. An impressive collection of trophies and plaques

attests to his skill. Many are Best in Show honors for his “sweetheart”: a 1931 Model A pickup he transformed from a “rust bucket” into a gleaming red beauty. The success of his fabricated Radio Flyer, however, will be determined not by judges but by the reaction of the children who see it. “The whole time I was building this, I was thinking about little children,” Mangum said. He finished its construction only two months ago, but already it has made public appearances for charitable causes, including a March of Dimes benefit in Mobile. And when the mother of a seriously ill 2-year-old boy said her son would like a ride after seeing the wagon on a TV newscast, Mangum jumped at the opportunity. “I’d go around the world to ride that boy in this wagon,” he said.

July 2012

Today in Mississippi

“You can just work your brain to death building something like this. I think sometimes I’ve got gears for brains anyway.”

Ted Mangum, far left, has restored hot rods and vintage vehicles for most of his life. Though the red wagon project presented unique challenges, solving them was an enjoyable part of building it, he said. The Jones County resident raises poultry for Wayne Farms and serves as senior adult leader at Salem Heights Baptist Church, near Laurel.

Mangum stops for a fill-up at a pump in Ellisville, top, during a recent cruise on Interstate 59. His wagon’s dismal fuel mileage may be offset by the grins per mile it evokes, above. Outdoor carpeting and vinyl upholstery, right, protect the interior from rain showers on the road. Mangum keeps a shower cap handy to cover the siren’s electronics on the dashboard.

Even Santa wants a ride. Mangum has agreed to chauffeur St. Nick in 2012 Christmas parades in Laurel, Ellisville and Petal. Mangum got the idea to build the wagon from a couple in Alaska who built a fiberglass, two-seater version based on a small truck chassis. Mangum wanted his to accomodate more passengers, so he started with a 1987 Ford ambulance equipped with a police package. “The ambulance only had 26,000 miles on it, so mechanically it was in excellent shape,” he said. He planned to remove only the top of the ambulance, leaving the sides intact. But that didn’t look right, he decided, so he replaced the entire body with his own all-steel fabrication. Mangum’s flexible work schedule—he raises poultry for Wayne Farms—allowed him the time to figure out how to build his unique vehicle. The project

took about 2,000 hours to complete, he estimated. “You can just work your brain to death building something like this. I think sometimes I’ve got gears for brains anyway,” he said. Except for the constraints of tire size and vehicle width, the wagon is built to a 6:1 scale. A real Radio Flyer is 3 feet long; Mangum up-sized his to 18 feet. To mimic the original wagon’s rounded corners, Mangum split a length of large pipe four ways and welded a piece in each corner. He made a foldable black tongue with a handle that extends 12 feet above the ground. He raised the driver’s seat about 8 inches, so he can see over the steel sides of the wagon, and installed extensions for the foot pedals. (He’s think-

ing of raising the steering wheel, too.) The three bench seats for passengers are raised 12 inches from the ﬂoor and have seat belts installed. “I did several trial runs trying to work all the bugs out of it,” Mangum said. For the wheels, he used moon disc hubcaps— the kind used on drag racers—painted white and topped with a red PVC cap. Safety measures included the installation of a glass panel, tinted red to blend in, across the front of the wagon to eliminate a blind spot. A friend experienced in sign work painted the bold graphics, altered slightly from the original Radio Flyer logo, down the side of the wagon. Mangum debuted his creation at the Houston (Texas) Art Car Parade, held in May. His was one of 25 entries chosen from a ﬁeld of 300 for a special cruise around the city that included stops at children’s hospitals and schools. When a large group of deaf children posed for pictures with Mangum’s wagon, “that was a thrilling thing to see,” he said. “If I’d have known that it was going to be as much fun as it is, I’d have built this thing 20 years ago,” he continued. “I have a ball every time I take it out.” Ted Mangum is available on a limited basis for appearances at benefits and special events. For information, call him at 601-498-3650.

Today in Mississippi I July 2012

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July 2012 I Today in Mississippi I 7

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Today in Mississippi I July 2012

Grave digging tradition a final act of love for departed ou get to experience or learn something new all the time. No matter what you’ve already done or how much you think you know or how old you are. I got my shot at something brand new for me a few weeks ago. I helped dig a grave. For a person! I’ve done it for plenty of pets. But this was way different. I will admit that I didn’t help all that much. But I was there to do a television story about a tradition that they have at the Chapel of the Cross in Madison County where other members of the congregation pitch in to dig the graves of members who have died and are to be buried in the church’s graveyard. But while I was there, the people doing the digging thought I should take a turn and get a feel for the experience myself. They started about 4:00 in the afternoon. I didn’t count them, but it seemed to me that maybe a dozen men, more or less, took part. Some Mississippi stayed the whole Seen time; others by Walt Grayson came and went. Even family members helped. The daughter of the lady whose grave was being dug took a turn, as well as her son. Back years ago somewhere, this would have been a family and neighbor’s duty. I could see it adding to closure in a way little else could. The grave digging tradition has been

I don't know why I waited so long to take my turn at digging. Hindsight: Early on, when the grave wasn't so deep, it would have been a lot easier to climb into and out of it. But you think things you have never thought before when standing near the bottom of a grave you are helping to dig. Deep things, pardon the pun.

going on for several years at the church. A former pastor suggested it as an act of showing love for a member’s family and for the departed. And although it is hard, long work, it seems to be a tradition embraced by pretty much everybody in the congregation. They dig the graves by hand, with

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picks and shovels. No machinery is used. It is a slow process. Our grave went relatively fast with recent rains having loosened the dirt all the way down: “down” being a hole 54 inches deep, not a full 6 feet like we’ve heard all our lives. And thank goodness—54 inches takes long enough to dig, up to 12 hours in dry weather when our Mississippi hill clay turns into the equivalent of concrete. As daylight dwindled, it didn’t seem eerie being in a graveyard after dark like I thought it might. The pizza deliveryman didn’t even think it was all that strange when he delivered supper to the workers behind the church. I stalled as long as I could before taking my turn with the shovel. But I was finally pressed into it as the process was just a few inches shy of the goal. I don’t really know why, but I was a bit nervous. Digging a grave is kind of a serious thing if you think about it. I mean, there is little left you can do for a person

after digging their grave. You don’t want to mess that up. And that deep in, looking at the dirt walls around you, you realize that you’ll have one of these for yourself some day. But then a cheery thought: This isn’t it! After the grave was finished, the church’s priest, Austin Johnson, blessed it. All the gathered diggers took a sip of Macallan Scotch and poured the rest into the hole with a prayer for the spirit of the departed. (I suppose we Baptists could use grape juice.) The tradition has meaning for everyone who participates. Feet on the floor of a grave, you are standing as far as you get to go in this life. What happens next is a matter of your faith. Walt Grayson is the host of “Mississippi Roads” on Mississippi Public Broadcasting television, and the author of two “Looking Around Mississippi” books and “Oh! That Reminds Me: More Mississippi Homegrown Stories.” To contact Grayson, send email to walt@waltgrayson.com.

July 2012

Today in Mississippi

Tropical Duranta adds interest to area gardens

Duranta’s yellow-orange fruit color, top, provides a fantastic contrast to its flowers, as they are often seen together through the season. Cuban Gold Duranta, below, can be used as an edge plant. It has a formal look when pruned and a casual appearance when left natural. Photos: MSU Extension Service/Gary Bachman

native of the tropical regions of the Caribbean and Central and South America, the Duranta is sure to generate interest in your landscape. Duranta is commonly called pigeon berry, and it has an arching growth habit with bluish flowers. It produces golden fruit that can feed our feathered friends. The native plant can reach small-tree status, growing up to 25 feet tall. That’s too large for many of our Mississippi gardens and landscapes. But plant breeders have solved that problem. They have developed a couple of really nice Duranta selections with a smaller growth habit. Sapphire Showers is a version that has a more compact, upright habit. It produces tube-shaped flowers from spring through summer. The blue to violet flowers are produced in cascading clusters. Each flower has a white picotee edging that intensifies the look of the flower color. The fruit of Sapphire Showers is yellow-orange. The fruit contrasts beautifully with the flowers, as they are often seen together through the season. A Duranta selection that can brighten any landscape is Cuban Gold. The foliage of this variety is a blend of chartreuse and golden yellow. It grows 3 feet

tall and wide. I’ve heard Cuban Gold described as a tropical boxwood, and it does make a gorgeous edge or hedge plant. For a formal look, feel free to prune it just like you would boxwood. Allow normal growth for a more casual appearance. Toward the end of the season, it may produce lavender flowers, adding

color contrast to the foliage. Cuban Gold is a good choice for combination containers, where it can be used as a filler plant. In fact, Cuban Gold Duranta will last for several years when grown in containers. For the best landscape effect, plant Duranta in full sun or no more than partial shade. Amend the landscape soil

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with organic matter to increase drainage, especially in tight, clay soils. Feed monthly with water-soluble fertilizer to keep your Duranta in peak form. Duranta is very tolerant of pruning, so don’t be afraid to give your plants a trim every once in a while to keep them neat. These plants are hardy in zones 9 to 11, but they will die back to the ground after a frost or freeze. In northern Mississippi, Duranta will die back to the ground each winter but will rebound the following spring. Fruit production may be limited in the northern counties. Treat your Southern Duranta as you Gardening would a butterfly by Dr. Gary Bachman bush, and prune the aerial stems back to about 4 inches long each spring before the foliage emerges. Find a place in your container or landscape for this tropical native and enjoy the beauty it brings to your garden. Dr. Gary Bachman is MSU horticulturist at the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi.

Today in Mississippi I July 2012

Mr. Roy’s summer memories ississippi summers are what they are—hot. This isn’t a news alert, unless you recently unloaded your moving van displaying a car tag from one of those northern states. This month’s column is taken from an interview I wrangled out of Mr. Roy, my husband. He was born in George County—Lucedale—and has lived here most of his life. Though he hopscotched to Indiana, Arkansas, Alabama and then Florida for a few years, as determined by his career choices and a stint in the Army. His bachelor’s degree is in mechanical engineering, his master’s in business. I tagged along beginning with Arkansas. He insisted, since we were married. I penned his responses to my questions. “Mr. Roy, I realize that you are much older than I am, therefore I doubt your summer experiences will spark the same memories for me, but there are people that can relate to yours.” He frowned and kept walking. “Not that much older,” he grumbled. “Slow down so I can take notes,” I said. “OK, I’m ready to key in your memories on my Ipad.”

He stepped over a limb that had fallen across our trail in the woods and began. “When school was out each spring, it was time to take my shoes off. All of my friends did the same. The biggest problem was when I was at my daddy’s car business I’d step on cigarettes people threw on the concrete around the shop. “Another hazard was stickers. The grass would feel so good as I ran through my yard, then a patch of stickers would surprise me—they were hard to see. Going barefooted was like being a soldier in a minefield. I was always on the lookout for the next ouch!” Mr. Roy’s long strides slowed, so Grin ‘n’ I could keep up. Bare It “Every day was by Kay Grafe an adventure. The boys in the neighborhood and a few blocks away would gather in the large field behind my house for a game of baseball, or whatever someone dreamed up. Some days we’d make rubber guns and have wars. Our bikes were always handy to charge out to another backyard. Most of our mothers didn’t work,

so they’d make Kool-Aid for us. Soft drinks were too expensive to keep on hand.” “What would you do on Sundays?” I asked. “After Sunday school and church we’d head over to my grandparents for dinner. Their house was where Jack’s Hardware is located on Cowart Street. Afterwards, my brother Bobby and I would load up in Dad’s car with Mother and go out to Brushy Creek swimming. Our friends gathered there and we’d dive into the deepest spot trying to locate dead man’s hole. The parents sat on blankets in the sand and visited but kept a watchful eye on us. I was 15 years old before I ever went swimming in a real pool. “Occasionally on Sunday afternoons my parents took us to Mobile to a Mobile Bear’s baseball game. My friends Edd Evans or Max Lassister would sometimes go with us. Baseball was the major sport back then. During the week, downtown businesses kept their doors open. I remember walking past the stores and radios could be heard broadcasting a baseball game. Especially when Claude Passeau played for the Cubs.” The trail Mr. Roy and I were following curved, and we followed it into the

back fenced field. We continued the trail around the tree-lined fence and headed south. The trail was also our running and walking track. “Tell me other memories that stand out when you were a kid,” I said. He stopped and patted our dogs, and then began. “My daddy and granddaddy made lots of homemade ice cream. I can still taste how good it was. They would buy a block of ice from the ice plant, put it in a croaker sack and hit the sack with an axe to break it up. I remember at night we’d catch lightning bugs, put them in jars and use them for lanterns until our parents called us in for bed. “But some of the best times were just lying in the grass on my back watching clouds while I dreamed of being a baseball star and playing in the World Series—and a million other dreams. Even though we lived only 40 miles from the Gulf, we didn’t go to the beach. I wonder why.” We made a turn on our track and headed east. I said, “Do you think it was because your daddy worked such long hours?” He nodded, “I’m sure that’s one reason. He worked six days a week and many days he worked into the night. I never heard him complain about anything. That includes the times he was sick. “Thinking back on those summers in the late 30s and 40s, I can’t remember having an unhappy day. I didn’t have material things, but I had a wealth of love from both parents.” I truly believe my husband had a perfect childhood. My wish is that all of us can say the same when we recall our summer memories. Kay Grafe is the author of “Oh My Gosh, Virginia.” To order, send name, address, phone number and $16.95, plus $3.50 S&H to Kay Grafe, 2142 Fig Farm Road, Lucedale, MS 39452.

July 2012 I Today in Mississippi

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12 I Today in Mississippi I July 2012

Louisville 662.773.5741

Meridian 601.581.8600

Quitman 601.776.6271

DeKalb 601.743.2641

Our deepest sympathies ... Most of you are aware that our friend and coworker, Nathan Baker, was killed while on duty as an EMEPA Serviceman in Clarke County. We are greatly saddened and share in his family’s loss. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Patty, his parents, his children and other family members. EMEPA is a very close-knit family of friends and coworkers. The loss of our friend leaves a tremendous void in all our lives. He will be remembered as a kind hearted, jovial person whose skills as a lineman allowed him to serve his neighbors. He

befriended many in our community. His gentle nature was evident as he had contact with our members. His death is difficult for us to resolve in our minds and hearts. In this issue of Today in Mississippi, you will find an article I wrote about one week before Nathan was killed. It has an unusual title, “A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste.” I had no idea why I felt compelled to write this type article, but as you read it, I believe you will understand why this was necessary given the events of the last few days. Please continue to pray for

Nathan’s family as they deal with their grief. And thanks to so many who have sent emails, phone calls and even stopped to tell our employees how truly sorry they are and to offer help in many ways. Our work to provide a high quality of life to those we serve will continue, but we understand even more today that life itself is a gift that we must cherish.

A crisis is a terrible thing to waste just finished reading a historical account of Hurricane Camille's destruction of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969. The lessons we learned during those dark weeks of recovery have been translated into valuable lessons on how to lessen the impact on communities during such a calamity. We practiced and modified our action plans through storms such as Frederic (1979), Ivan (2004) and Katrina (2005). Ice storms in 1994 and the April 2011 tornado outbreak also took a toll on our state and area. Each time the damages seemed even worse. Each time we examined the experience and modified our planning to provide a better response. Weather crises, such as those mentioned, are often no less devastating to families than a house fire or the critical illness of a loved one, but each can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and the human resolve to adapt. We must allow ourselves to use these devastating times as preparation for the future. Experience is an effective, although sometimes expensive, teacher. You and I are stronger today because of life's calamities we have experienced along the way. It is easy to understand that too often the crisis situations

we face are beyond our control. What we can control is ourselves. Our response to the crises we face is completely ours to decide. I didn't say it would be easy, but our experiences have taught us valuable lessons that we can draw from in our response. Call it lessons learned, but offices will be closed remember that we should reflect upon crisis situations in observance of and never let those Independence Day. lessons go to waste. We can be better A dispatcher will remain prepared for life's on duty to respond to worst calamity if emergency calls. we remember and adapt.

Wayne Henson, General Manager/ CEO

East Mississippi Electric Power Association Wednesday, July 4,

July 2012 I Today in Mississippi

Use caution With Fourth of July fireworks By Magen Howard What would the Fourth of July be without cookouts, baseball games and pyrotechnic displays in the night sky? But it’s easy to forget that fireworks are dangerous explosives, and carelessness could have deadly consequences.

died the same year. The federal government has banned sales of the most dangerous fireworks to consumers, such as cherry bombs and M-80s. But sparklers, firecrackers and other smaller fireworks remain legal in most states including Mississippi. To help make sure your holiday celebrations don’t end with a trip to the emergency room, follow these safety tips from the CPSC: • Sparklers aren’t safe for small children. They burn at very high temperatures—up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt some metals—and can easily set clothes on Sparklers are often given to children, but because they burn at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they’re not safe for the little ones. This demonstration by the U.S. fire. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows how dangerous sparklers can be • Ignite fireworks in a for small children. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission clearing, away from power lines, homes, other structures, dry leaves and grass to make your own. and other flammable materials. • After fireworks have completely burned out, soak Never light them in any type of them with a hose before throwing them in the trash container. to help prevent fires. • Keep a bucket of water handy “The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate, but we in case of emergencies and for urge you to use caution with fireworks—and always fireworks that fail to ignite or look up for power lines before you shoot anything explode. skyward,” urges Julie Boles, communication specialAn illegal M1000 explodes a watermelon at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s • Check instructions for storage, ist at East Mississippi Electric Power Association. fireworks demonstration in 2010. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. but generally keep fireworks in a Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. cool, dry place. Magen Howard writes on consumer and cooperative Every year, thousands of people are injured by • Do not place any part of your body directly over affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative fireworks—8,600 in 2010 alone, according to the fireworks while you’re lighting them, and immediate- Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ly move away as soon as the device is lit. nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit elec(CPSC). The agency also reports that three people • “Homemade” fireworks kits are illegal. Never try tric cooperatives.

Have a Happy and SAFE 4th

12a

12b

Today in Mississippi I July 2012

Co-op Connections card puts value in your wallet East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s commitment to our members goes beyond providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. We’re always looking for ways to provide value to our members and the communities we serve, especially during tough economic times. EMEPA’s Co-op Connections® member wallet cards and key fobs provide members with a real money-saving tool. The program connects them with discounts on everything from hotel stays to prescription drugs and even pet care! A wide variety of merchants throughout our community accept Coop Connections cards, including A&A Glass, Custom Cleaning Company and Best Bodies for Women. All a member must do is present the card at the register to receive their discount! We hope local businesses participating in our Co-op Connections Program benefit from increased traffic from EMEPA members. Businesses can sign up for the program at no cost. For a complete list of all participating businesses in our area, simply log on to our website www.emepa.com and follow the Co-op Connections link. The card also gives access to online savings at more than 90 national retailers like Barnes&Noble.com, Hertz Rental Cars, Best Western hotels, and ProFlowers.com. You can check out these great national discounts at www.connections.coop. One of the most valuable features of the Co-op Connections card is the pharmacy discount. While not insurance, the discount can deliver savings of 10 percent to 60 percent on prescription drugs. The logo and information on the back of the card is recognized at more than 60,000 national, regional and local pharmacies. The pharmacy discount has been widely used by co-ops that are members of Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, resulting in combined savings of nearly $20 million on prescriptions. Want to find out more? Log on to www.locateproviders.com to search for

pharmacies in our area honoring the card. Use code 22203 as the group number under the “Groups” login section. Next, enter your zip code. As a Touchstone Energy Cooperatives member East Mississippi

Electric Power Association strives to serve according to four core values: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. Our Coop Connections card program is one of the ways we live up to those values.

We’re eager to answer any questions you have about the card and how to take advantage of the discounts it provides. Call Jessica Nester at 601-5818635 to find out more, or log onto www.emepa.com.

July 2012 I Today in Mississippi

Shop at these local retailers and save • A&A Glass • AAA Trophy Company • Best Bodies for Women • Bonita Auto Sales, LLC • Custom Cleaning Company • Custom Frame & Gift • Ed Chaney Tire Center • First Lady’s Designer Hats & Things • J&B Athletics, LLC • K&W Auto and Appliance, Inc. • Novus Glass • Painting with a Twist • Quick Prints • Seal Laird Veterinary Hospital • Stephanie’s Shenanigans • The Chicken Basket • The Dynasty

• The Jewel Shoppe • The Park at North Hills • The Radio Store • The Service Company • Trint’s Body Shop • Trucker’s Supply • Twin States Customs • Uptown Lily@ The Framin Shoppe & Keepsakes • Value Center by Woodstock Furniture More businesses are being added daily! Visit emepa.com for an up-to-date list of businesses, their discounts, hours and contact info.

Take one and show it to your pharmacist.

Save up to 85% on prescription drugs at participating pharmacies when you show your Co-op Connections Card.

Local participating pharmacies • Anderson Pharmacy • Mr. Discount Drugs • Point Rexall Drug • Winn Dixie Pharmacy • Vital Care of Meridian • Wal-Mart Pharmacy • Walgreen Drug Store • Mr. Discount Drugs at Rush • Greater Meridian Health Clinic Pharmacy • Rite Aid Pharmacy • Southern Family Market

• CVS Pharmacy • Hammack Drugs • Quitman Drugs • Charley McCool Pharmacy • DWC, Inc. This may not be a complete list of participating pharmacies. If you don’t see your pharmacy, ask if they accept the Co-op Connections Card.You may also visit www.locateproviders.com.

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Use your Co-op Connections Card to save at these national businesses • 1-800-PACK-RAT • 1-800-PetMeds • Absolute Security – ADT Authorized Dealer • ADT Home Security by Alarm Nation • Advance Auto Parts • AirMedCare Network • Alamo Rent-A-Car • AMattressHero.com • Anna’s Gourmet Goodies • AnySunglasses.com • AutoAnything • Avoya Travel • Baymont Inn & Suites • Best Western Hotels • Black Dog Custom Rods • BowlingShirt.com • BrownDuck • Cabot Creamery Cooperative • Co-opOutlet.com • College Parents of America • Computrain Solutions • Connect Your Home – ADT Authorized Dealer • Conscious Cup Coffee • Days Inn • DISH Network from Connect Your Home • Dollar Rent-A-Car • Drury Hotels • E.L.F. Cosmetics • Eliminate ID Theft • Endless Vacation Rentals by Wyndham Worldwide • Energy Federation Incorporated • Energy Savers • Fabric.com • FansEdge • FreeBackgroundSearch.com • Gemologica Fine Jewelry Store • GiftCards.com • GiftTree • GymSource • Hawthron Suites • Hertz • Home and Farm Solutions, LLC • Howard Johnson • HughesNet by Satellite Internet Pros • Husky Liners • InkOasis.com • iPlayMusic • Jenny Craig • Kenergy Solar • Kentucky State Parks

• Knights Inn • La Quinta Inns & Suites • Land’s End • LEGOLAND Florida • Lobster Gram • mark. • Mictrotel Inns & Suites • Motel 6 / Accor Hospitality • MREfoods.com • MyVIPSavings.com • National Car Rental • No Haggles • Orbitz • Original Rug Company • Peapod.com • Personal Creations • Pet Assure • ProFlowers • Quicken Loans • Ramada • RedEnvelope • RitzCamera.com • Sam Ash Music Stores • Samsonite • Shari’s Berries • Sheplers • Sierra Trading Post • Silverwood Theme Park • Six Flags Theme Parks • Skin Care Natural • SmokinTex • Sobongo • Solar Direct • Solar Wind Technologies • Sprint • Stone Mountain Park • Super 8 • TheAcademy.com • Thousand Trails • TicketNetwork • Tilden • TireRack.com • Travelodge • Vacations Direct • Vehicle Advantage • Viking River Cruises • Wingate • Wyndham Garden • Wyndham Grand Collection • Wyndham Hotels • XM Radio

12d Today in Mississippi I July 2012

Co-op Connections business spotlight

EMEPA retirees still serving the members

Every month, EMEPA will be spotlighting local businesses that participate in the Co-op Connections Program. This month’s featured businesses are J&B Athletics, located in Quitman and Meridian, and Seal-Laird Veterinary Hospital, located in Meridian.

Former East Mississippi Electric Power Association employees, now retired, gathered recently to receive training on current operation of the electric system and to learn about current trends in the energy industry in preparation for the 2012 hurricane season. Each year, a group of dedicated EMEPA retirees donate their time and services to the Association to be used as facilitators during major events such as hurricanes. “All this leads to a better response to storm damage and better service to our members. As we experience system emergencies, these important people are a great comfort to all of us who fight these storms, and we thank them for agreeing to continue their service to our community,” said Wayne Henson, EMEPA General Manager.

J&B Athletics, LLC 2 locations:

• 100 Main Street Quitman, MS 39355 • 2440 North Hills Street Meridian, MS 39305 601-776-7557 (Quitman) 601-553-0932 (Meridian) Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

5% Discount on Dickies school uniforms

Seal-Laird Veterinary Hospital 2319 Hwy 19 North. Meridian, MS 39307

601-482-3125 Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

24 Hour Emergency Service www.seal-laird.com www.facebook.com/seallaird.hospital

5% Discount on services & products

Thank You

for your continued service.

July 2012 I Today in Mississippi

Renters have the power to save electricity By Magen Howard If you rent your home, it often seems that you can’t do much to control your electric bills. But in reality, there are lots of low- or no-cost tricks that you can put into place to cut down on electricity use. “Usually leases forbid renters to make alterations to a structure, so your energy-saving solutions have to be simple,” says Brian Sloboda, a senior program manager specializing in energy efficiency with the Cooperative Research Network, an arm of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Electronics and Appliances The notion that regularly powering down your computer will shorten its life is outdated. Nowadays, computers tend to become outdated themselves before frequent shutdowns cause any damage. The U.S. Department of Energy consumer website, EnergySavers.gov, offers this guideline: If you won’t use your computer for more than 20 minutes, shut off the monitor; if you won’t use it for more than two hours, shut the whole thing down. However, there is a caveat: If your computer takes its time waking up, your own time might be worth more than the electricity you save. Most electronics feature a glowing light when turned off—that means they’re still drawing electricity. A quick fix for this “vampire,” or phantom, load involves plugging various devices into a power strip. Simply flip the switch on the power strip when you won’t be using the devices. While your hands are most likely tied when it comes to the types of major appliances installed, if one needs to be replaced, lobby your landlord to purchase an ENERGY STAR model. Visit energystar.gov for more information on particular products. Weatherizing A roll of weather stripping and a tube of caulk can go a long way in saving energy and money. Check for gaps around doors and windows. Can you see daylight? If so, ask your landlord if you can seal cracks and reduce air flow.

The Air Sealing section on EnergySavers.gov offers tips on the right types of weather stripping and caulk for your residence. While you’re talking to your landlord, ask if he or she will pay the cost if you do the labor. Look to your windows for additional savings. Of course, you probably can’t replace them, but if they’re drafty in the winter, try sealing kits you can purchase at any home improvement store. These plastic sheets fit over your window to block drafts. Curtains can also help—close them in the summer to block sunlight, and open them in the winter to let the warmth in. Useful Tips A few more simple tips can help shave your electric bills: • When lightbulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). If they have an ENERGY STAR label, these bulbs typically last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity. • Use your vacuum to clean coils in the bottom panel of your refrigerator. Never figured out where those coils are? Search “Together We Save refrigerator coils” on Youtube.com to watch a video. • Similarly, keep your dryer vents clean. Clogged refrigerator coils and dryer vents will cause your appliances to work harder and increase the risk of fire. • Don’t allow furniture to block air vents, and shut the vents in rooms you don’t use. • Check the temperature on your water heater. These devices don’t need to be set at more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit for daily showers and chores. Call Your Co-op When you’re trying to save energy and money, it’s good to know you’re not alone. Call your local EMEPA office for more information. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (EnergySavers.gov), Cooperative Research Network Magen Howard writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Renting your home means energy efficiency solutions must be simple— a good start is plugging electronics into a power strip and flipping the strip off when you’re away. Source: Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives

Member participation encouraged at annual meeting East Mississippi Electric Power Association will conduct its 74th Annual Meeting of the membership Saturday,

Oct. 6, 2012. Notices will be mailed later this summer to invite you and all EMEPA members to attend our annual meeting. The annual meeting will inform our members of the actions taken during the

past year in addition to conducting the association’s business and the election of three directors. In accordance with the bylaws of East Mississippi Electric Power Association, a quorum of the membership must be represented in person or by proxy in order to conduct the business meeting and hold the election of the directors. Any member of EMEPA may obtain a

complete set of bylaws by contacting their district office in Louisville, DeKalb, Quitman or the main office in Meridian. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 6 and make plans to attend our 74th Annual Meeting. If you have any questions about the annual meeting or just want to know more, please contact EMEPA at 601-581-8600 or visit our website at www.emepa.com.

Today in Mississippi

July 2012

Historic Mound Bayou observes 125th anniversary Residents of Mound Bayou will celebrate the unique history of their town with a 125th anniversary observance July 8-14. Mound Bayou was one of the first allAfrican American communities established after emancipation. Isaiah T. Montgomery and Benjamin Green founded the town in 1887 and initiated its tradition of self-empowerment. The town had as many as 40 business-

es, three schools, three cotton gins, a newspaper and a Carnegie library in its early years. But when cotton prices fell in the 1920s and 1930s, the town experienced a severe economic decline. Most of the downtown buildings were destroyed by fire in 1941. Mound Bayou’s revival was sparked in 1942 with the opening of the Taborian Hospital, one of only two African American hospitals in the state during the first half of the 20th century. Owned and operated by African Americans, the Taborian Hospital was the first medical institution in the nation to have an all-black staff. The vacant hospital building remains standing in downtown Mound Bayou, as do the first Bank of Mound Bayou, established in 1902, and the red brick home of founder Isaiah T.

The Isaiah T. Montgomery house was one of the few buildings to survive the fire that destroyed most of downtown Mound Bayou in 1941. Montgomery was a delegate to the Mississippi Constitutional Convention of 1890.

Montgomery. The town’s anniversary celebration begins at 8 a.m. July 8 with an Old Time Revival Meeting to share stories of its founders. Other activities will include the skit “Life Back in the Day” performed by

local youth, a motorcade to founders’ gravesites, Youth Day, opening of a 25year time capsule and a banquet. All events are free, except the banquet. For more information on the celebration, call city hall at 662-741-2194 or visit www.cityofmoundbayou.org.

July 2012

Today in Mississippi

Bicycles and quiet mornings e began at the Gateway near USM’s campus in Hattiesburg and headed toward Prentiss, some 40 miles up the trail. Within minutes we were away from city noise and encroaching buildings and were in the midst of quiet, excluding the sounds of nature that is. Squirrels chattered from the treetops and scurried across the trail; a cardinal sang its melodious song; a mourning dove cooed. The rhythmic patter of running shoes became audible as a jogger approached from the opposite direction and nodded as he passed. At one point somewhere west of I-59, our near-silent passage allowed us Mississippi to get within a few Outdoors yards of a doe A covered bench makes a good rest stop while cycling on Longleaf Trace. Photo: Tony Kinton standing along the by Tony Kinton trail’s edge. She nounced reduction in the 40.3 miles Trace (www.longleaftrace.org), the only snorted and bounded away, flag up, into available one way. As a result, it was not one of its kind in Mississippi. This is a the pine and poplar and oak and sweet long before we turned and retraced our Rails-to-Trails Conservancy project, gum woods, her hoof falls crunching in tracks back to the Gateway and the truck. which runs from Hattiesburg to Prentiss leaves yet damp from morning dew. A Still, it had been a glorious morning. We along an abandoned railroad track. crow scolded from the tall confines of a sat briefly in a picnic shelter and had a Longleaf Trace has a minimum width longleaf pine. soft drink and snacks before loading up of 10 feet and is covered with asphalt, Not being long-range bikers and in and heading home, this with a promise to permitting easy navigation for walkers, condition for extended trips, we opted to do another portion of the trail soon. runners or bikers. And while no petroleset our maximum ride at 10 miles, a proThe trail mentioned is the Longleaf um-powered vehicles are allowed, concessions are made for electric carts by those who need them and who make the proper requests. Additionally, there is a 23-mile equestrian trail for horseback enthusiasts; this runs parallel to the paved trail between Carson and Epley. On its route between Hattiesburg and Prentiss, Longleaf passes through portions of Forrest, Lamar, Marion and Jefferson Davis counties. It touches the towns of, from south to northwest, Hattiesburg, Sumrall, Bassfield, Carson and Prentiss. These offer various amenities for those who choose to leave the trail for a meal. Benches, some with overhead covers, are located approximately every five miles. There are also six stations, plus the two Gateways at Hattiesburg and Prentiss, that offer restrooms: Jackson Road Station, Clyde Depot, Epley Station, Sumrall Station, Bassfield Station and Carson Station. A primitive campsite is

located adjacent to Carson Station. And if camping is to be a part of your adventure to Longleaf, there are ample choices in addition to the primitive site at Carson. Since we were coming from the north on Highway 49, we elected to set up on that side of Hattiesburg. We stopped at Okatoma River Resort RV Park to overnight before the morning ride. There is also Paul B. Johnson State Park south of Hattiesburg. Lake Jeff Davis and Lake Mike Conner near the Prentiss end of Longleaf both afford campsites with hookups. A bike rental and retail shop are housed at the Gateway at USM in Hattiesburg. The Longleaf Trace is a true jewel. It is a means by which visitors can enjoy the natural world of south Mississippi from an asphalt track, as well as offering a variety of entry and exit points at the various stations along the way. It is open yearround to the public and simply should not be missed. Tony Kinton has been an active outdoors writer for 30 years. His books, “Outside and Other Reflections,” “Fishing Mississippi” and his new Christian historical romance novel, “Summer Lightning Distant Thunder,” are available in bookstores and from the author at www.tonykinton.com, or P.O. Box 88, Carthage, MS 39051.

Today in Mississippi

July 2012

Apricot Nectar Cake

Cooks Mississippi

FEATURED COOKBOOK:

‘Giant Houseparty Cookbook’ Tradition runs deep at the annual Neshoba County Fair, where people have been gathering and camping since 1889. Today, the fair bills itself as Mississippi’s Giant Houseparty, an eight-day fun-filled event where more than 600 cabins fill with families and friends. This year’s fair is set for July 27 - Aug. 3. This being Mississippi, food plays an important role in the festivities of the fair’s cabin community. And as some of the older cabins are handed down for new generations to enjoy and share, so are the recipes. The “Giant Houseparty Cookbook” presents many of these recipe traditions in a section devoted to fair food, plus a wide variety of others contributed by local families. Nancy Reagan provided her recipe for Vienna Chocolate Bars to the cookbook. Ronald and Nancy Reagan visited the fair in 1980, during his first campaign for the presidency. The third printing of this popular cookbook, first published in 1981, features a lay-flat binding and some 375 pages of recipes. It is available in stores or may be ordered by mail. To order, send $25 plus $6 S&H to Community Development Partnership, PO Box 330, Philadelphia, MS 39350. For more information call 877-752-2643. Learn more about the upcoming Neshoba County Fair at www.neshobacountyfair.org.

Nancy Reagan’s Vienna Chocolate Bars 2 sticks butter 2 egg yolks 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided 2 1/2 cups flour 1 (10-oz.) jar raspberry jelly or apricot preserves

1 cup semisweet chocolate bits 4 egg whites 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups finely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter with the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Add flour and knead with the fingers. Pat batter out on a greased cookie sheet to about 3/8-inch thickness. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven; spread with jelly and top with chocolate bits. Beat egg whites with salt until stiff. Fold in remaining cup of sugar and nuts. Gently spread on top of jelly and chocolate. Bake for about 25 minutes. Cut into squares or bars. Yields 24 bars, cut 1 by 3 inches.

1 pkg. Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme cake mix 1/2 cup Wesson oil

1 cup apricot nectar 2 Tbsp. lemon flavoring 4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend together the cake mix, oil, apricot nectar and lemon ﬂavoring. Fold in eggs one at a time. Beat for 3 minutes. Bake in tube pan for 1 hour. Drizzle with glaze while cake is hot. Cool before turning out of pan. Glaze: 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1/3 cup apricot nectar 1 Tbsp. pure lemon juice

Beat all ingredients until sugar is dissolved.

Summer Fruit Bowl 3 medium bananas, sliced 4 medium oranges, pared and sectioned

1 cup strawberries, halved 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved

Peel bananas; slice into a bowl and cover completely with other fruit. Cover the bowl and chill well. Just before serving, pour dressing over fruit. Toss until fruit is well coated. Yield: 10 servings Sour Cream–Honey Dressing: 1/2 cup dairy sour cream

1 Tbsp. honey 1 Tbsp. orange juice

Blend together sour cream, honey and orange juice. Serve salad in crisp lettuce cups or on slices of fresh pineapple. Pour dressing over salad.

Mississippi Cornbread 1/2 cup cornbread mix 1/2 cup cream-style corn 2 eggs

1/2 cup cooking oil 1 cup sour cream 2 Tbsp. diced onion

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all ingredients together and bake in a hot, greased skillet for 25 minutes.

Squash Au Gratin 1/4 cup margarine or butter 4 cups thinly sliced squash: yellow, white or zucchini 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1/8 tsp. black pepper 2 tomatoes, sliced thin, or 1 cup canned tomatoes, sliced 1/2 cup grated cheese

Melt margarine in a skillet or Dutch oven, which has a tightly ﬁtted lid. Add squash and all other ingredients except cheese. Cover and cook about 15 minutes, or until squash is tender. Sprinkle with cheese and place under broiler unit of oven for 1 or 2 minutes to melt and lightly brown cheese. Makes 4 or 5 servings.

Spoon Burgers 1 lb. ground beef 1 onion, chopped 1/2 (14-oz.) bottle catsup 1 (5-oz.) can Pet evaporated milk

3/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. prepared mustard 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a deep iron skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef and onion. Add catsup, milk, salt, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer about 20 minutes. Will serve 8 to 10 people.

Blackberry Trifle 1 cup blackberry jam 1 cup sugar 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup butter 2 Tbsp. flour

4 eggs, separated 1 tsp. vanilla 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell 4 Tbsp. sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix well the jam, sugar, buttermilk, butter, ﬂour, egg yolks and vanilla. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake about 40 minutes. Beat the 4 egg whites until stiﬀ, gradually adding the sugar. Spread meringue on top of pie and return to oven to brown lightly.

Williams Brothers

July 2012

Today in Mississippi

From bacon to boots

Still a general merchandiser

By Nancy Jo Maples Williams Brothers. Peggy and Sid’s Inside the doorway of Williams father are the children of the late Brothers near Philadelphia, time might Amzie and Nannie Mae Williams. appear to stand still but everything is Amzie and his brother, Brown actually abuzz. Williams, started the store. However, It’s one of those exceptionally rare Brown sold his share to Amzie in the country stores where people can purchase 1940s and ventured into politics, anything from horse collars to hoop serving as Mississippi’s Highway cheese. Commissioner. “This cheese is the best I’ve ever tasted. Williams Brothers began selling That’s because it general merwas made from chandise and milk last June,” Sid ‘We played together as kids until we has maintained Williams, one of that image. were old enough to work, and then the store owners Hams hang our play days turned into work days.’ alongside the said as he handed me a freshly cut —Sid Williams horse collars on wedge. “June propainted beams duces the best just above the cow’s milk and therefore the best cheese. groceries. The store also offers horse briHowever, since cheese must be aged, this dles, fertilizer, garden seed, posts and cheese is a year old. The guys who work gates. There are locally canned goods, here with me every day agree it’s the best sweet potatoes from Vardaman, and genwe have ever had.” eral grocery and household items. The men Sid references are an AfricanPeople come here for blue jeans, baby American and a Choctaw whom he has clothes, designer dressknown all of his life. Their fathers worked es, cowboy boots and for his father, the late Cooper Williams, shoes. in the store that has been in the Williams While Sid manages family since 1907. the grocery and farm “We played together as kids until we side of the store, his were old enough to work, and then our cousin Jane Dees play days turned into work days,” Sid Crosswhite manages the said. dry goods side. Jane is One of those men, Tommy Lee Kelly, Peggy’s daughter. earned his college degree in 1977 and “We sell more boots then returned to Williams Brothers. He is and shoes than anyusually near the front entrance slicing thing,” Jane said. “Our Sid Williams, one of the store’s owners, slices a wedge of Wisconsin hoop bologna or bacon alongside Sid. The store niche is that we offer cheese for a customer. Grocery items are displayed next to the harnesses. sells 90 to 100 slabs of bacon every something for the Saturday. Its weekly bacon sales average whole family – the little children, the mother of football celebrities Peyton and 4,000 to 5,000 pounds. It sells about 10 mother and the grandmother.” Eli Manning. Their photographs adorn hoops of cheese per day. A wooden hoop That niche includes products for male the walls along with dozens of snapshots contains approximately 22 pounds, which shoppers. depicting the store’s history, including means Williams Brothers retails more “Believe it or not, we still sell a lot of early scenes showing old-fashioned cash than 200 pounds of cheese each day. The overalls,” Jane said. “That person is usual- registers and men holding cotton bolls in cheese is from Wisconsin. The bacon ly 50 years and up. We also sell baby front of the Williams’ cotton gin that comes from Texas. ones. The grandchildren want to wear operated across the street many years ago. Regular customers notice the store what grandpa is wearing.” “Some visit out of curiosity. It fascikeeps employees such as Tommy Lee Some people aren’t looking for boots nates me that I can look out on the floor Kelly and Sid’s Choctaw friend, Felton or bacon. Sometimes people just come on a Saturday and not recognize anyone,” John, for the long run. here. Jane said. “We have a mixture of cusCustomers also relish seeing the familSome come here for the Manning con- tomers. Some might be visiting family or iar face of Sid’s aunt, Peggy Williams nection. Sid’s sister Olivia is wife to foot- might originally be from this area. Others Dees, who at age 81 still works at ball legend Archie Manning and the might have read about us in a magazine

or know about the Manning connection.” Many visit for nostalgic reasons. Such was the case with a man from Amory the morning Sid sliced the delectable cheese. He was a Neshoba County native who had attended school with Sid’s uncle and was traveling to a relative’s 80th birthday celebration in nearby Decatur. He just wanted to stop by and see the place where little had changed. Time might never stand still, but a visit to Williams Brothers can offer an adventuresome pause.

My Best 18

Shot

Today in Mississippi

July 2012

PICTURE THIS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Mockingbird mealtime by Jeff Johnson, Quitman; East Mississippi EPA Fresh flower by Drew Greene, age 13, Conehatta; Central EPA Back-to-back egrets by Diane Luke, Columbus; 4-County EPA Tree frog hideaway by Antoinette C. Calandria, Kiln Flower Girl the kitty by Andrea Scurria, Picayune; Coast EPA Rylan Montez Freelon, 9 months, by Olivia Gaston, Bruce Blue macaw by Elizabeth Shoemake, Sumrall; Pearl River Valley EPA Waving flag by Kristen Breland, Wiggins

July 2012

Today in Mississippi

9 The grass is always greener... by Allie Stockstill, Kiln; Coast EPA 10 Natchez-Vidalia bridges by Clyde Gousset, Natchez; Southwest Mississippi EPA 11 Melon harvesters Dakota Flowers, Nick Farley, Thomas Honnell and Brandon Weber by Johnny Gilmer, Columbus; 4-County EPA

Our next Picture This theme is Gotcha: Great Moments in Candid Photos Unposed photos of people or animals being funny or fascinating. Selected photos will appear in our October issue. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked to us by Sept. 17. For details, visit www.todayinmississippi.com, email news@epaofms.com or call 601-605-8600.

13 12

12 Eye-to-eye by Emily Grace Cooley, age 16, Vancleave; Singing River EPA 13 Last casts of the day by Therese Hewitt, Hattiesburg; Pearl River Valley EPA

Today in Mississippi

July 2012

Mississippi Marketplace Type or print your ad clearly. Be sure to include your telephone number. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the next month’s issue. Mail payment with your ad to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300. Have any questions? Phone (601) 605-8600.

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Today in Mississippi

July 2012

Mississippi

Events Want more than 400,000 readers to know about your event? Send it to us at least two months prior to the event date. Submissions must include a phone number with area code for publication. Mail to Mississippi Events, Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300; fax to 601-605-8601; or email to news@epaofms.com. Events of statewide interest will be published free of charge as space allows. Event details are subject to change, so we strongly recommend calling to confirm dates and times before traveling. For more events, go to www.visitmississippi.org.

“Close to Home: Photographs by Eudora Welty,” through Oct. 31, Greenwood. Photos made by Welty while traveling Mississippi for the WPA in the 1930s. Admission. Museum of the Mississippi Delta. Details: 662-453-0925; www.museumofthemississippidelta.com. “Add Art...to Table, Walls and More,” through Aug. 30, Jackson. Exhibit of works by portraitist Roger Long and glass artist Jenny Thomas. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 26. Free. Mississippi Library Commission. Details: 601-432-4111; gloriajw@mlc.lib.ms.us. Farmers Market, Thursdays through August, Laurel. Open 4-6:30 p.m. at 550 Central Avenue. Details: 601-433-3255. Cedar Hill Farm Pick-Ur-Own, through Aug. 31, Hernando. Fresh produce, honey, playground, petting zoo, hayride to fields, gift shop. Cedar Hill Farm. Details: 662-429-2540. Mound Bayou 125th Anniversary Celebration, July 8-14, Mound Bayou. Various events daily, including exhibits, Youth Day, historical reenactment skit, Old Time Revival Meeting, mayor’s banquet and more. Details: 662-741-2194; www.cityofmoundbayou.org. Tony Kinton Signing/Reading, July 9, Eupora. The author to read from his novel “Summer Lightning Distant Thunder”; noon. Webster County Library. Details: 662-2587515. DeSoto Family Theatre Summer Camps, July 9-27, Southhaven. Featuring “Willy Wonka Junior,”“Seussical Jr.” and “Broadway Jr.” Landers Center Theatre. Details: 901-2388098; www.dftonline.org. Tony Kinton Signing/Reading, July 11, Philadelphia. The author to read from his novel “Summer Lightning Distant Thunder”; 11 a.m., Philadelphia-Neshoba County Library. Details: 601-656-4911. Cabbage Festival, July 14, Raleigh. Arts, crafts, rides, entertainment, coleslaw-eating contest, karaoke contest, food, benefit car show and more. The Tackle Box. Details: 601-

782-5590, 601-421-9549. Creative Kids Summer Arts Camp, July 1620, Hernando. Fun and learning with professional artists and craftsmen; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ages 6-13. Admission includes lunch. DeSoto Arts Council. Details: 662-404-3361; vickyneyman@gmail.com. Tyler’s T-ball Team’s Lemonade Stand, July 14, Mount Olive. Second annual benefit for American Cancer Society; 2-5 p.m. Main Street. Details: 601-797-4490. 34th Annual Mississippi Watermelon Festival, July 20-21, Mize. Jason Michael Carroll in concert, arts and crafts, 5K run, car/truck show, watermelon contests and more. Mize City Park. Details: 601-733-5647; www.mswatermelonfestival.com. Oxford Blues Festival, July 20-22, Oxford. Blues panel discussion, catfish fry, barbecue. Blues performers include Ben Wiley Payton. Admission. Walton-Young House, University of Mississippi Museum. Details: 662-259-7190; www.oxfordbluesfest.com. Mississippi Opry Summer Show, July 21, Pearl. Featuring Cross Country, Harmony & Grits; 6 p.m. Admission. Pearl Community Room. Details: 601-331-6672.

“Understanding Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Your Yard,” July 21, Picayune. James Bell, of the Hummer/Bird Study Group Inc., to present talk on how to fill your yard with hummingbirds; 10-11 a.m. Register by July 20. The Crosby Arboretum. Details: 601-799-2311. Kids Camera Camp, July 23-26, Hernando. Ages 9-12 will learn about digital cameras and photography; 1-4 p.m. Admission. DeSoto Arts Council Gallery. Details: 662-404-3361; www.desotocameraclub.org. 123rd Neshoba County Fair, July 27 - Aug. 3 Philadelphia. Arts and crafts market, garden and field crop exhibits, home arts exhibits, quilt displays, livestock shows, harness and running horse races, mule races, political speaking, entertainment, midway rides and more. Fairgrounds. Details: 601-656-8480; www.neshobacountyfair.org. Lamar County Bluegrass Festival, July 27-28, Purvis. Six bands. Admission. Lamar County Community Shelter. Details: 601-794-3406; bluegrass@lamarcounty.com; www.lamarcounty.com. Tuxedo Reunion, July 28, Meridian. Bring a covered dish to share at lunch; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Church of the Mediator. Details: 601-483-6802, 601-485-4751. “Surfing a 300-Mile Long Wave: Great Flood of 2011 Canoe Adventure,” July 31, Rolling Fork. A Lower Delta Talks presentation with John Ruskey; 6:30 p.m. Sharkey-Issaquena County Library. Details: 662-873-4076.

Southern Crossroads Music and Tamale Festival, Aug. 10-11, Jackson. Indoor event featuring War, Steve Azar, Marc Broussard, others. Tamales from various regions; art by local and regional artists. Mississippi Coliseum. Details: 601-213-5900; www.tamalefest.com. Angela Thomas Women’s Conference: “Dream Another Dream,” Aug. 10-11, Meridian. Friday, 7-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Admission. The Evangel Temple Church. Details: 601-938-7345; www.theevangeltemple.org. Mississippi Clogging Extravaganza, Aug. 1012, Gallman. Clogging exhibitions for spectators Saturday 7 p.m. Workshops for dancers Friday 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. Details: 601-906-2882; www.msclogextravaganza.com. Field Walk and Clay Class, Aug. 11, Picayune. Children to collect natural materials to impress into self-hardening clay. Admission. Register by Aug. 10. The Crosby Arboretum. Details: 601-799-2311. Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights Street Festival, Aug. 11, Jackson. Art, five stages of music, children’s activities and food; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Admission. Carlisle Street, Kenwood Place in Belhaven. Details: 601-352-8850; info@greaterbelhaven.com. Mississippi Coast Jazz Society Jam Session/Dance, Aug. 12, Biloxi. Hard Rock Casino; 2-5 p.m. Details: 228-392-4177.

123rd NESHOBA COUNTY FAIR Philadelphia, MS

Mississippi’s Giant HouseParty

Fri., July 27 thru Fri., Aug. 3

Arts & crafts market, garden & field crop exhibits, home arts & crafts exhibits, needlework and quilt displays. State dairy cattle show, beef cattle & sheep shows. Petting zoo. Harness and running horse races & mule pull. Antique car show. Local & statewide political speaking. Nightly variety & Nashville entertainment. Midway amusement & rides by Mitchell Bros. Amusements. Heart O’Dixie Triathlon. For more information,

visit www.neshobacountyfair.org.

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WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Ä&#x2018; Ä&#x2030; Ä˘ Ä&#x2018; Ä&#x160; Ä˘ Ä&#x2018; Blockbuster @Home (1 disc at a time): Only available with new qualifying DISH service activated between 5/21/12 and 7/31/12. For the first 3 months of your subscription, you receive a bundle of Blockbuster @Home for $5/mo (regularly $10/mo) and your programming package at a promotional bundle price. Promotional prices continue for 3 months provided you subscribe to both components of the bundle and do not downgrade. After 3 months, then-current prices apply to each component (unless a separate promotional price still applies to your programming package). Requires online DISH account for discs by mail; broadband Internet to stream content; HD DVR to stream to TV. Exchange online rentals for free in-store movie rentals at participating Blockbuster stores. Offer not available in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. Streaming to TV and some channels not available with select packages. Digital Home Advantage plan requires 24-month agreement and credit qualification. Cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining applies if service is terminated before end of agreement. With qualifying packages, Online Bonus credit requires AutoPay with Paperless Billing, email opt-in for DISH E-Newsletter, and online redemption at www.mydish.com/getonlinebonus no later than 45 days from service activation. After applicable promotional period, then-current price will apply. $10/mo HD add-on fee waived for life of current account; requires 24-month agreement, continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. 3-month premium movie offer value is up to $132; after 3 months then-current price applies unless you downgrade. Free Standard Professional Installation only. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront fee, monthly fees, and limits on number and type of receivers will apply. Number of recording hours will vary. 2000 hours based on SD programming. Hard drive space comparison based on equipment currently available from major TV providers. HD programming requires HD television. Prices, packages, programming and offers subject to change without notice. Offer available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer ends 7/31/12. HBOÂŽ, CinemaxÂŽ and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. $25 VisaÂŽ gift card requires activation and $2.95 shipping and handling fee. You will receive a claim voucher within 3-4 weeks and the voucher must be returned within 30 days. Your VisaÂŽ gift card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Indiana C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 10-1006. *Certain restrictions apply. Based on the availability in your area.