Picayune Living, spring 2021 by Picayune Item

Spring 2021

PICAYUNE

Mimicking nature through clay Apiculture and backyard chickens

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EDITOR’S LETTER By J E RE M Y PI T TA R I

NEW TO TOWN!

ELCOME

ith 2020 behind us and spring now sprung, Pearl River County residents are devising ways to get out into the sun or just relax around the house. If you’re in the market for a hobby this spring, consider one of the topics we cover in this edition of Picayune Living. Ever wondered how clay can become something useful or decorative in your home? Turn the pages of this edition to find a story about a local woman who has turned her artistic ability into an outlet to create intricate mugs and sculptures. From octopuses to recreations of skulls, Jayden Hendrix gets every detail. Reclaimed wood can be a great medium to create a variety of things. That’s a fact Jonathan Trahan knows well. He uses the reclaimed wood to make signs, character depictions and other items. To see his work, look inside this edition. If you’re looking for a sweet treat that doesn’t spoil quickly, look no further than honey. To Stephanie Higginbotham, caring for bees, also called apiculture, and harvesting her own honey has been a great way to help her daughter get out of the house while providing the youngster with health benefits. Stephanie also raises her own chickens and grows various vegetables in a garden on the family’s property. One outdoor activity many Pearl River County residents know well is hunting. It can bond family members together, and teaches youngsters responsibility of gun safety and care. Lance Ladner offers his experience in hunting to others in the hope that they too will build those bonds with loved ones while learning about the wilderness. Karate is one of many martial arts that can teach people self control, keep them fit and help them forget about the day’s troubles. For more than three decades Karen Barkman has enjoyed the benefits of Karate. She now shares those benefits with her students by imparting her wisdom upon them.

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C OCONTENTS NTENTS

6 SCULPTING WITH CLAY: Jaden Hendrix puts her artistic skills to work creating various items from clay.

12 WOODWORKING: Jonathan Trahan takes reclaimed wood to create unique signs and other pieces of art.

16 ON THE FARM: Stephanie Higginbotham’s efforts to care for bees and chickens is turning into a small farm.

20 GREAT OUTDOORS: Lance Ladner shares his love of hunting with those looking to build positive memories.

ON THE COVER

Clay creations that involve intricate detail created by Jaden Hendrix. Photo by Cathy Cook

STAFF DAN PHELAN Publisher

Sales Maggie Stolz

JEREMY PITTARI Associate Publisher WRITERS Cathy Cook Jonathan Mitchell

ALSO INSIDE:

Free copies of Picayune Living magazine are available at these fine establishments: Holiday Inn Express, Glass Porch, MS Welcome Center, Moore Chiropractic Clinic, Scooters, Senior Center of South MS, Phillips Building Supply, City Rexall Drugs, Paul’s Pastry Shop, Apple’s LTD, Greater Picayune Chamber of Commerce, and the office of the Picayune Item and The Poplarville Democrat.

INFORMATION: Picayune Living is published four times per year by Picayune Newsmedia, LLC. All content is subject to copyright. POSTMASTER: Please send any changes of address or undeliverable information attn: Picayune Item, P.O. 580, Picayune, MS 39466

28 OUT & ABOUT See who’s attending the city’s premier events.

30 WHY I LOVE PEARL RIVER COUNTY By Terry Farr

24 MARTIAL ARTS: Karen Barkman has decades of experience in Karate to share with her students. PICAYUNELIVING.COM 5 PICAYUNELIVING.COM PICAYUNELIVING.COM PICAYUNELIVING.COM33 5

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THE ARTS By CAT H Y COOK

aden Hendrix has sculpted enough octopuses that she can craft a tentacle from muscle memory. Hendrix starts an octopus with a humble lump of clay. She shapes the head, and then moves on to tentacles. As she works with the clay, Hendrix dips her hand in water and starts to pull a piece of clay to form a tentacle. “Patience is the key with this whole thing. If you rush any of it, it’s just not going to work.” Once all of the arms are attached, she adds arches to each tentacle to give it a webbing and fin effect. When the clay has dried to a leathery consistency, she goes back and attaches all of the suckers individually. Hendrix uses her passion for biology to sculpt a graceful octopus, or whimsical mushroom covered mugs and realistic animal skulls. “I really like what nature has to offer and I don’t want to take away from that.” The 23-year-old has a degree in biology, but has always had a love of art. After sculpting part time while working as a veterinary assistant, Hendrix became a full time sculptor in 2020. PICAYUNELIVING.COM 7

“I think my whole philosophy is I want to appreciate life and nature for what it is and I want to bring out the beauty of what’s naturally there already.” Hendrix often works on commission, and sometimes creates memorial pieces for pet owners who recently lost their furry family members. She also takes inspiration from walks through the wilderness. Hendrix

“

Patience is the key with this whole thing. If you rush any of it, it’s just not going to work,” – Jaden Hendrix

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has a collection of found animal skulls and uses them as a reference when she sculpts a skull. Her skulls include intricate patterns carved into the forehead when the clay has begun to dry. “I try to make everything I create accurate to the real thing as possible,” she said. Working with clay requires timing. The clay has to be the right firmness for small details to be smoothed into place, but if it’s too dry, the piece may crack. Once the piece is complete, Hendrix glazes it and then fires it in the kiln. “My absolute favorite part is getting the pieces out of the kiln after they’ve been glazed. When you apply the glaze, it’s a totally different color going in than it is coming out. For example, sky blue goes on a rusty yellow. It’s like a surprise every time,” she said. Working with clay comes with plenty of trial and error. “I think a big part of it is being able to accept that maybe what you’re going for isn’t going to happen and maybe learning from that.” Hendrix can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy at Skullptures by Jaden.

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WOODWORK By CAT H Y COOK

or Jonathan Trahan, woodworking provides an opportunity for stress relief, fellowship and a chance to give back. It’s also a hobby that pays for itself. Trahan makes custom signs and decorative pieces through his business Brother’s Woodshop. The business’ name is tied to Trahan’s faith and family. “I am a brother, I’ve got two brothers, two sisters, and then I’m a deacon, so we call each other brother, a brother in Christ and then ultimately my adopted brother calls me ‘Brother’ as my name and his kids call me ‘Uncle Brother.’” From a world map lit by LEDs, to a wall hanging of the state of Mississippi, Trahan uses his jigsaw, scroll saw, exacto knife and creativity to make pieces people love. He’s made signs for local businesses, like Southern Physical Therapy and Beauty from Ashes. One of the coolest places where his work is displayed is in the office of Tenessee Titan’s general manager John Robinson, who commissioned a Titans logo. Trahan uses reclaimed wood to add character to his pieces. Several of his friends gave him wood from a 1922 Picayune home they are remodeling. The aging, paint flakes and details like bits of tar give finished pieces a different feeling. Trahan stays busy with his day job as a doctor at Highland Internal Medicine Clinic and with his family. He has three kids. “Sometimes I’ll wake up like at three in the morning just so I can come out here and make some stuff, because usually I’m busy.”

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Support from his wife makes the woodworking possible. Sometimes she even helps assemble pieces or stain wood. “She’s been awesome, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without her, because she’s very gracious with me spending time in the garage and she gives me up a lot to do other things.” Woodworking provides an opportunity for him to meet more people in the community. “Ultimately I think my main goal is to meet more people so I can show the love of Christ to people.” Creating a wooden depiction of Ron Swanson from the famous television show or a six foot tall outline of Mississippi is also a good stress reliever. “What I do day to day can be very heavy. Being somebody’s healthcare provider, taking care of them, thinking about them if they have a lot of issues going on and they’re coming to you for answers, especially lately with the whole pandemic. It’s been cool to kind of grow up into that role and take that on and become a leader in that way, and then I have this so that when my brain is tired, I can just come in here and turn my brain off and make something pretty that’s not stressful. Just do something with my hands” Trahan also teaches Sunday school and woodworking is an opportunity to share fellowship and talk with high school aged people in his church community about what is going on in their lives.

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“It’s not something I think I’ll ever stop doing because I like it and it’s fun and it’s kind of a hobby that pays for itself. Because I can make some stuff and sell it and then buy a new tool. It basically just feeds itself.” Trahan also donates pieces, like the two six foot tall Mississippi signs with Blue Devils that he gave to Pearl River Central High School and Middle School. He uses his work to fundraise for organizations that give back to the community like Kiwanis of Picayune and Manna Ministries. Along with making commissioned pieces and pieces to give away, Trahan also makes some pieces for fun like The Office and Parks and Recreation characters hanging on his workshop wall. “Ron Swanson, I’ve got him there to keep me humble, to look at me disapprovingly as I try to get better.”

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t the Higginbotham household more than just dogs roam in the yard. Mixed among the four legged family members are two-legged flightless birds that provide eggs and soon to be 10 hives filled with small creatures that produce honey. What started a year ago as a way to boost her daughter’s immune system, has turned into a small farming project at Stephanie and Luke Higginbotham’s home. Stephanie said that after learning local honey could help with her daughter’s immune disorder, she took ownership of one hive. A year later she has increased that number to 10 hives that are set to the wooded edge of her property. Since caring for the bees and harvesting the honey for use in their home, Stephanie said her daughter has been well for the past year. The first time she harvested a batch of honey, she got about five gallons. Now that she has more hives, that means more honey, 25 gallons worth, the excess of which she sells alongside some of the other products produced at her home. Among her ever growing small farm, she has 13 chickens, a duck, and each year her family plants a garden where she grows tomatoes, cucumber, corn, okra, banana peppers and jalapeno peppers. From the chickens she gathers about a dozen eggs daily. From the vegetables grown in the garden, she produces salsa, pepper jelly and other jarred foods. Citrus trees on the grounds produce lemons, satsumas, oranges and she has a few blueberry bushes as well. Any extra items her family can’t consume are sold.

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NATUR AL SWEETS By J EREM Y PI T TA RI

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She does all of this when not working at her full time job in community outreach for the medical field. “I think it’s more therapeutic than anything,” Stephanie said. The fact that it gives her daughter a reason to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors as opposed to being inside all day is an added bonus. Keeping bees provides more than just honey. Stephanie said she’s seen a 30 percent increase in the yield of her garden’s crops due to the pollination the bees provide. To combat predatory beetles that may damage the hive, Stephanie uses trays of olive oil that trap the harmful insects. When harvesting honey during the summer, she makes sure to leave the bottom box of the hive’s honeycomb untouched for the bees so they have sufficient food to make it through the year. Her method for processing the honey entails only double straining it, which takes out most of the beeswax. That wax can be used to make a number of other products. From the honey, she also makes goat’s milk soap. The honey in the soap can help with a variety of skin conditions such as eczema.

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ance Ladner grew up hunting with his grandfather and now uses that experience and his land to help families form their own hunting memories that last a lifetime. Crane Creek Shooting Preserve is 40 acres of woodland dotted with pine trees where Ladner takes his clients quail hunting. Since the area is more easily traversed by dogs than humans, canines can be an asset while on the hunt. The clientele vary widely in age and experience, but Ladner said that’s the beautiful thing about the sport. “This is super nice for families and especially kids. With deer hunting and that sort of thing you have to be quiet, you have to be still and you can’t move. Out here a kid can turn their energy loose. I have a lot of kids, families and I have some women that come and shoot. There’s no real right or wrong. You get a point with the dogs, get in position, flush the birds and it’s great,” Ladner said. Hunting can be a somewhat solitary hobby with participants spread out and unable to converse without spooking the animals. With Ladner that’s not the case. The hunt has a purpose, and bagging as many birds as possible is one of the goals, but there’s more to the experience than just harvesting quail. Ladner’s past experiences hunting with family members has inspired him to ensure his own hunts have the same effect. In a world filled with chaos, sometimes taking a break in nature can make a difference. “I think it’s just the relaxation. This is just a nice mix right here to spend time together and do something with

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GREAT OUTDOORS By JONAT H A N M I TCH EL L

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your son or your daughter. I think it’s just excellent family time. There’s not a lot of time in our day to day lives for this recreation or this bonding time,” Ladner said. Even though his hunts also attract experienced clients who are there for the hunt, no matter the level of marksmanship or years handling a gun the process is always the same. Once the clients show up at the hunting site the group has a safety meeting that covers the procedures and shooting zones. Then Ladner will release a pair of dogs ranging from Brittany Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers or English Pointers. The dogs will go to work and the hunters will follow behind, waiting for one of the pups to give a point and flush out a bird for a shot. The dogs do reconnaissance around the property sniffing and searching for their targets. Ladner said that aspect of the hunt is often the client’s favorite part. “The main thing they come for is to watch the dogs. Most people enjoy the dogs. If you think about it, with dogs and their ancestors wolves, they chase animals. They chase them down and it’s a pretty neat deal when he smells his prey and he stiffens up and points like that. A lot of people enjoy the dog work more than the hunt,” Ladner said. Ladner started the preserve in 1991 and had been hunting for years prior to that with his family. It’s a passion that’s been passed down from generation to generation, and it looks like Ladner’s children share that love for hunting. “I do think it’s kind of a generational thing. I mean, what parents do the kids follow and if they have an interest in it, and love for it, then they go right to it and my son loves it. I really expect him to take this over when I get to the point I can’t follow the dogs anymore, and that time is coming,” Ladner said.

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FIT AND FOCUSED By JONAT H A N M I TCH EL L

aren Barkman took up karate while in college nearly 35 years ago and the decision changed her life forever as the now third degree black belt uses her experience to teach new practitioners. After starting karate in 1987, Barkman constantly trained as the hobby evolved into a passion. Even pregnancy didn’t stop Barkman from pursuing her martial arts goals as she took her first black belt test at three months pregnant, and continued training until she was 8 and a half months pregnant with her first child. There was a 12 year break as child rearing duties made karate nearly impossible, but for the past three and a half years Barkman has been training multiple times a week as she continuously seeks perfection. “This is my addiction. I hate to say it that way, but it’s a way to disengage from the world. When you walk in the dojo and you bow in, you’re in a different world. There’s discipline, the dedication and the skill level, and it’s just something that I’m driven to do. Now it’s like, what can I do better?” Barkman said. Karate is a cerebral sport that requires intense mental focus while testing a martial artist’s physical capabilities. The constant evolution of the art and its forms means that staying up date is a constant learning process. Even at Barkman’s level, there are still forms to learn, techniques to perfect and knowledge to consume. Those aspects are what keeps Barkman training and aiming for new heights. “Karate itself is an intellectual sport or art. You really have to be able to think on your feet. Particularly when you start in sparring because it’s an evolving activity. You practice, but it’s not a set routine and every opponent is different. You really have to think on your feet and change what you’re going to do based on the situation,” Barkman said. Intertwined within the sparring and different forms are self-defense lessons and techniques that every individual learns. Being able to fight and escape a negative situation is a critical ability to have, and it’s something Barkman has helped teach countless pupils over the years.

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However, even with Barkman’s arsenal of take downs, blocks and strikes, the best way to prevent that type of situation actually comes before any sort of confrontation occurs. “Part of the self-defense aspect is being prepared. What I find with me is when you’ve been in classes and developed confidence in your moves you carry yourself a little differently. You’re more aware of your surroundings and walk with an air of, “I got this.” Learning different self defense techniques helps that,” Barkman said. Barkman said karate’s impact on her life can’t be understated, and that’s partially why she takes it so seriously. Her dedication and expertise in the sport allows her to be successful, but also gives her an avenue to share her knowledge with newcomers. Each student helped is another person who can take advantage of the multitude of benefits that comes along with being invested in martial arts. Educating the novices and seeing them have that light bulb moment is what Barkman enjoys most and the journey of helping young practitioners have their own karate epiphanies is well underway. “I’m always improving my technique so I’m a better example for students coming through, trying to be a better teacher. I enjoy teaching. As you go you learn enough to start sharing with younger groups. I just want to ignite sparks in people and get them excited about it, and watch them grow over the years. That’s a huge driver for me is to see it click,” Barkman said.

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OUT & ABOUT 1

By C ATH Y COOK

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MARCH The Picayune community gathers every year to celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. and the message of unity he stood for. 1. From left are Charlisia Pierce, Sarah Bonds, Krystopher McDonald and Kyreem McDonald. 2. From left are Deniya Freeman and Charlese Certain. 3. From left are Mae Wilson and Ray Wilson. 4. From left are Sylvia Goodman, Betty Robinson and Theresa Ray. 5. From left are Rev. Brian K Dees, Rev. Jimmy Richardson and Rev. Joey Mark. 6. From left are Yumalay Williams and Prophetess Williams.

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OUT & ABOUT By C ATH Y COOK

GREATER PICAYUNE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP GRADUATION

Future and current leaders of the community were recognized with a banquet for completing the rebooted Leadership course held by the local Chamber of Commerce. 1. From left are Blaine LaFontaine and Mark Stockstill 2. From left are Sarah Mann and Wanda Worley 3. From left are Terral O’Meara and Stephanie O’Meara.

POPLARVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE Poplarville residents braved the chilly conditions to witness Santa Claus riding a fire truck during the annual Christmas Parade.

4. From left are Brett Ellis, Sara Ladner and Rosie Ellis. 5. From left are Dawn Gautreaux, Jennifer Smith and Macie Smith. 6. From left are Paris Bouler, Missi Smith and Lemon Russell.

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WHY I LOVE PEARL RIVER COUNTY By Ter r y Far r

Pearl River County’s greatest asset is its people I was born and raised in Jackson, MS. My sister and I were lucky to be raised by awesome parents. Our dad owned a business and our mom was the perfect stay-at-home mom…that is until 1965 when our dad passed away of a heart attack. Mama wanted us to have the opportunity of a good education, so she went back to work. I mention this because I believe her message was to take advantage of opportunities even if you have to make them. After graduating from USM, I was presented with many opportunities taking me to North Mississippi in the early 70’s and eventually to Pearl River County in 1998. In 1993, I married Pam Smith, who was born in Carriere. Before moving to Pearl River County, I always enjoyed visiting Pam’s family. Being a city slicker, it was fun getting to go to the “country.” When one of my nieces moved to Poplarville, we were able to visit her family several times. This is really when I felt the attraction

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of living in a small town/ community. January 2, 1998, was one of the biggest opportunities of my life. I resigned from a job and had none in sight. A day or two later I called a friend of mine and told him, “Charlie, I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m moving to Pearl River County”. On February 2, 1998, I went to work for BankPlus, where I retired after 19 years. After six months of retirement, I went to work for the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce as Executive Director. God has been very busy giving me opportunities. I tell you all of the above to let you know I love living in Pearl River County and working in Picayune. The main reason I do is the people. Living and working in a small community has allowed me to meet and become friends with so many people. It’s so much fun to go places and call so many people by name. Working for the Chamber has really helped expand my friendships.

In Pearl River County we have plenty of churches one can chose from. We have chosen Byrd’s Chapel United Methodist Church. We have great school systems, including one of the best Community Colleges in the nation. We have great hospitals, such as Highland Community Hospital/Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home with other hospitals close by if needed. We have plenty of places to dine and shop in Picayune and Poplarville. There is an abundance of parks we can visit. And we love riding around just looking at the countryside. Lastly, living on approximately 4 ½ acres, we love working in our yard, raising 14 chickens and one dog, along with working in our garden. Of course, we love it when our three daughters and their families visit us. It just doesn’t get any better than living in Pearl River County and working in Picayune. We are truly blessed!

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