Miss Gulf Coast, Julie Hall of Picayune, will be competing against 47 other contestants for the title of Miss Mississippi throughout the week of July 12-18 at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg.

Boom, boom, pow! Last week was just like that. Ed McMahon, the sidekick; Farrah Fawcett, the pinup icon and then Michael Jackson, legendary musical genius.
“Who’s Michael Jackson?” was the inquiry from my eight-year-old twins when we were reacting to the death of the musical icon. “Who is he? Why is it still on the news?”
That is the response of someone under the age of fifteen. But for us forty somethings, we have grown up with MJ and all of his roller coaster ups and downs.

Red Emperor ginger is one of those plants people treasure even if it never blooms. I did not know much about this plant but received a cluster of them from my daughter, who had been using them as a thriller plant in a mixed container for a special event.

Come join Pat Jones, Nutrition Educator; Dawn Vosbein, Area Nutrition & Food Safety Agent and Meagan Scott, 4-H Agent, for two fun and tasty days!

Mary Ann McRaney of Diamondhead plays with the theme of light versus dark in her faith based and very first book “Friends Forever.” McRaney will be celebrating this accomplishment in her original hometown of Picayune with a special book signing at MeLinda’s Fine Gifts and More.

hey say taxes and death are certain but where do we draw the line on what we tax?
Tea parties have popped up this year protesting the government spending spree and bringing out tax haters in all shapes, forms, colors and political parties. It is the re-enactment of The Boston Tea Party which was all about King George and being taxed without representation. As in the words of humorist, Gerald Barzan, “Taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.”

Thomas Walker, a recent transplant to our area due to Hurricane Katrina, was out scouting with his metal detector several months ago when he found a small treasure — a class ring from 1959. Thanks to Walker’s diligence and need to have the ring back where it belonged, the owner was located and the ring was sent home.