Two outstanding students from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Breland Graves and Emily Montgomery – have been selected as 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholars. Graves earned the prestigious Gold Scholar designation, while Montgomery received the Silver Scholar recognition. Both students are from the Jackson County Campus.

Spring has sprung, and so have allergy sufferers’ seasonal woes. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) released its 2024 Spring Allergy Capitals report on the worst cities in the US for allergies. They found that people in the South, Southeast, and parts of the Midwest tend to have the most issues. Everyone is battling watery or itchy eyes, a runny nose, and constant sneezing.

Two students in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)’s Art and Design program have been named to the highly anticipated 2024 Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) “Students to Watch” list.

USM Graphic Design seniors, Autumn Graves, of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Grace May of Puckett, Miss., were selected to be among this year’s cohort of aspiring designers due to their talent and potential to make significant contributions to the field.

There are things in this world that tend to bring men together, with hunting being one of them. Sit down meals made from the bounty of our camouflaged excursions into the wilderness of God’s great creation are yet another reason to gather.

Some people say the name of this small, flowering tree came from the Cherokee. Other historians believe it goes back to colonial times because the tree does produce edible fruit, but it was not considered decent enough to even give to the dogs. 

They say that the measure of a great chef is in the sauces he makes. Now, we are not talking about pan grave here (although a good pan gravy under the right circumstances can be pretty darn good!), but great sauces that are the foundation of French cooking, like a creamy hollandaise.  

The Eubankses own Eubanks Produce and Charlie’s U-Pick in George, Greene and Stone counties. The dynamic dirt duo informed and entertained members of the Ivy League Garden Club at its February meeting. Plants of all kinds are at the forefront of most garden club meetings. As spring approaches, gardening is likely on the minds of many folks.

2024 En Plein Air Competition LeFleur’s Bluff State Park includes even more artists, coming in from all parts of Mississippi for this year’s competition. This event, brought to you by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and Pacesetter Gallery, will showcase 44 talented Mississippi artists as they paint LeFleur’s Bluff State Park competing for publication in Mississippi Wildlife magazine and cash prizes.

During season eight of HGTV’s Home Town, featuring the renovation of Jones College’s Old President’s House on the Ellisville campus by two of JC’s famous alumni, Ben and Erin Napier of Laurel, Jones College President Dr. Jesse Smith announced a new program to be named in the couple’s honor. An old factory building currently houses maintenance and housekeeping departments, along with storage, will be transformed into a centralized home for training future craftsmen to help rebuild hometowns across the country. It is called the Erin and Ben Napier School of Design and Building Construction.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (also called intellectual and developmental disabilities). You may see these written as “IDD” and / or “DD.” The color that represents DD month is orange. Orange symbolizes energy and positivity. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month stands to represent how we can come together with those who have intellectual disabilities and form healthy, happy, safe, and overall conducive communities alongside them.