161st Mississippi State Fair: “The show must go on.”
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced details of the 161st Mississippi State Fair, which runs Wednesday, October 7th, through Saturday, October 18th. The Fair, an agricultural event featuring Mississippi’s youth livestock exhibitions, will officially begin with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 5:00 p.m. on October 7. Mississippi State Fair (Image courtesy of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds) “The show must go on,” said Commissioner Gipson, “but for the show to go on in 2020, we’re going to have to do it social distance style. The State Fair is a tradition for many families, and we have gone to great lengths to make sure this year’s fair provides fun-filled activities while keeping our visitors safe. We are implementing CDC guidelines by limiting the number of attendees as well as observing mask and social distancing requirements. I am looking forward to welcoming everyone to this year’s 161st Mississippi State Fair.” It is advised that any guests who feel unwell or may have underlying medical conditions stay home. The entire complex has limited the number of guests, and each indoor building has posted building limits. Face masks will be required for entry to the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and social distancing is encouraged in accordance with state guidelines for outdoor events. In addition, fair rides will be sanitized between each ride and hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the grounds. “The safety and security of our guests is our top priority, and our staff has worked tirelessly to implement safety precautions with that goal in mind,” said Michael Lasseter, Acting Director of the Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex. “The Mississippi State Fair is a family event that we all look forward to each year. I remember coming to the State Fair myself as a young man and the wonderful memories that I made with my family. I am excited and grateful to give that same opportunity to other families.” ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS TO NOTE: First Responders Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, October 7, and as a special thank you, the Mississippi Fairgrounds will be offering free admission to all law enforcement officers, first responders, firefighters, healthcare workers, and medical professionals. Identification will be required at the gate. For the first time ever, the Fairgrounds will host the Genuine MS® Store, which will be open to the public and exhibit a variety of Genuine MS® items for purchase. Musical acts performing on the Budweiser Stage located on the Midway include Mustache the Band, Roots and Boots 90’s Electric Throwdown with Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye, Epic Funk Brass Band, Dirt Road Cadillac, Paul Porter and the Christianaires, U.S., Great White/Slaughter, Big Blues Explosion, Sean Kingston, Southern Komfort Brass Band, 601 Live and the Topher Brown Band. In addition, local acts will perform at the State Fair on the Trustmark Stage located on the Midway. All musical entertainment is free with regular fair admission. The 2020 State Fair will include the annual Horse, Mule and Pony Pulls in the Kirk Fordice Equine Center. The Horse Pull will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, with the Mule Pull immediately following. The Pony Pull will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. All American Day will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will include musical entertainment by Jared Vardaman and Ed Meadows, as well as a speech by Commissioner Andy Gipson. As a special thank you to the military for their service, the Mississippi Fairgrounds will be offering free admission on All American Day to any active military. Identification will be required at the gate. This year, a new feature of the mile-long Midway will be the Timberworks Lumberjack Show featuring axe throwing, underhand and chopping, cross cut and hot sawing along with chainsaw carving. The Lumberjack Shows will take place daily throughout the duration of the Fair. Daily activities will take place throughout the 105 acres of the Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex. Children, and adults alike, will enjoy the Farm Bureau Petting Zoo Area and Pig Races, the 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows, and will be wowed by the circus performers of the Great American Thrill Show brought to you by Clarion Ledger located at the Kid Zone. LOCALiQ’s Fetch-N-Fish will perform and dozens of vendors and exhibits will be available to the public, including an arts & crafts competition, food preservation, floral exhibits, and an antique tractor show. Commissioner Gipson continued, “The Fair is essentially an outdoor, transitory event which helps mitigate the risk of the coronavirus transmission. But the risk is still there. I encourage everyone to use the sanitizing stations, respect the social distancing guidelines, and when unable to be socially distant to wear a mask, which will be required at entry. Also, I ask for patience, we’ve changed where the lines go to rides to take them away from midway walkers and will have six-foot space markers for those in line. It won’t be the normal Fair but using our safety plan and with the cooperation of our guests, the show will go on!” The safe fair plan was created using CDC guidelines, guidance from State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs and best practices from other similar events. The plan has been reviewed by Governor Tate Reeves. The Mississippi State Fair runs Wednesday, October 7, through Sunday, October 18, with a gate admission price of $5.00 per person and parking $5.00 per car. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free of charge. Enjoy free admission weekdays from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The post 161st Mississippi State Fair: “The show must go on.” appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi Lottery Corporation made it’s August transfer to the state
The Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) completed its August transfer of $8,158,854.05 in net proceeds to the Lottery Proceeds Fund in the Mississippi State Treasury. In accordance with the Alyce G. Clarke Lottery Law, the MLC is required to transfer net proceeds within 20 days following the close of each calendar month. There were some big winners in September… Following CDC guidelines for COVID-19, the MLC has welcomed several big winners to headquarters during September: · $100,000: Harrison County player won on a Powerball® (with Powerplay) ticket purchased at Murphy Oil on Sangani Blvd., D’Iberville. · $100,000: Jones County player won on a Break the Bank scratch-off game purchased at Alliance Energy on 16th Ave., Laurel. · $100,000: Simpson County player won on a Powerball (with Powerplay) ticket purchased at Huff N Stuff on Hwy. 18, Brandon. · $25,000: Copiah County player won on a $25,000 PayDay scratch-off game purchased at Brando’s Discount Tobacco & Beverage on Hwy. 51, Crystal Springs. · $18,000: Harrison County player won on an Electric 8s scratch-off game purchased at Railroad Food Mart on W. Railroad St., Long Beach. The introduction of 2nd Chance instant scratch-off games and Cash 3, the MLC’s first daily draw game, has proven to be exciting new attractions for players. With 2nd Chance games, players have the option to enter non-winning tickets for an opportunity to win a top prize at a later date. “In the first month of 2nd Chance games, we have had more than 258,000 entries submitted by 14,225 registrants,” said Tom Shaheen, president of the MLC. “Cash 3, offered only in Mississippi, went on sale September 1, 2020, and has been growing in popularity each day. Cash 3 provides players exciting daily draws with multiple varieties to play and win.” The post Mississippi Lottery Corporation made it’s August transfer to the state appeared first on News Mississippi.
Sen. Roger Wicker comments on President Trumps ban on TikTok and WeChat apps
In case you missed it, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced new prohibitions on U.S. transactions relating to the Chinese-controlled social media apps TikTok and WeChat. The actions will shut down the apps in the U.S. unless significant national security concerns are addressed and the companies can guarantee the safety of U.S. user data from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference. The actions follow an August 6, 2020, executive order from President Trump that determined the apps capture vast swaths of information from U.S. users, leaving the data vulnerable to CCP access for nefarious purposes. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker supported the new prohibitions on Twitter. Photo courtesy of Sen. Roger Wicker Twitter. Earlier this week, Wicker joined a letter to the Trump administration raising serious concerns over reports TikTok’s parent company had confirmed a deal to transfer control of some of its U.S. operations, but that would not satisfy the full range of security issues raised by the President’s executive order. In August, Wicker lent his support to the divestment of TikTok’s U.S. operations and a purchase by a U.S. company, saying it “would be a win for U.S. consumers.” Wicker is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the internet and consumer data protection policies in the United States. The post Sen. Roger Wicker comments on President Trumps ban on TikTok and WeChat apps appeared first on News Mississippi.
SBA Mississippi announces Small Business Award winners
It’s been a year unlike any other for small businesses in Mississippi and across the country, but through it all, the SBA Mississippi District Office has announced the 2020 National Small Business Week winners for the state. The winners will be recognized in a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, September 24th. The winners can be seen below: 2020 SBA MISSISSIPPI SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS Small Business Person of the Year Vera D. Hall, Innovative Performance Construction Company, LLC – Jackson, MS Young Entrepreneur of the Year T’Keyah Williams, Mama Nature’s Juice Bar – Ridgeland, MS Financial Services Champion Walter Dyminski, BankFirst Financial Services – Columbus, MS Veterans Small Business Champion Deborah P. Scott, Boots to Business Revenue Readiness Mississippi State University – Starkville, MS LENDER AWARDS Covington County Bank – Diamond Loan Volume Lender and Diamond Volume Top Rural Lender Peoples Bank – Platinum Loan Volume and Diamond Dollar Lender Community Bank of Mississippi – Platinum Loan Volume Lender Trustmark National Bank – Gold Loan Volume Lender BankPlus – Silver Loan Volume First Financial Bank – Bronze Loan Volume & Platinum Dollar Lender Diamond Dollar Top Rural Lender Renasant Bank – Silver Dollar Lender Live Oak Banking – Gold Dollar Lender Embassy National Bank – Bronze Dollar Lender CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AWARDS Three Rivers Local Development Company, Inc. – Diamond Loan Volume & Diamond Dollar Ameris Bank – Diamond Dollar Third-Party Lender COLLABORATION RESOURCE PARTNERS RECOGNITION U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Rural Development U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Farm Service Agency Mississippi Small Business Development Center Jackson State University Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week, which is usually held in May. Due to COVID-19, SBA’s national virtual event will be held September 22-24. This year’s National Small Business Week activities will include numerous educational panels providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover toward a stronger economy. The event will recognize the national award winners, including the naming of this year’s National Small Business Person of the Year. The post SBA Mississippi announces Small Business Award winners appeared first on News Mississippi.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith presented the Vietnam Service Medal to a retired Air Force Veteran from Pearl
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith presented Pearl resident Gary L. Benton, Senior Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force (Retired) with a Vietnam Service Medal. Benton earned the honor in recognition of his service during military operations associated with the fall of Vietnam in April 1975. Benton, who also earned other decorations for his service during the Vietnam War, retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service. President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 created the Vietnam Service Medal to recognize service in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The post Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith presented the Vietnam Service Medal to a retired Air Force Veteran from Pearl appeared first on News Mississippi.
Mississippi High School Football Scores – 9/18/20
Another eventful night of Mississippi high school football is in the books. Below, you can check out scores from across the state. Brought to you by Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance Company. Go to FaveRates.com for local agents, competitive rates and fast, friendly service The post Mississippi High School Football Scores – 9/18/20 appeared first on News Mississippi.
Yazoo Pump Project update headlines packed press briefing
In today’s press briefing, the conversation revolved around three subjects in particular: (1) the Yazoo Backwater Project, (2) Mississippi’s response, thus far, to COVID-19, and (3) the upcoming Mississippi State Fair. As announced in the press conference, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has been assessing the damage induced by historic flooding in the Mississippi Delta and has started working on the production of an environmental impact statement. According to U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, the report is “a very big step in getting this done” as it provides “evidence” as to why the project, which would provide aid in preventing future flooding, needs to be completed as soon as possible. “Since I have been in the U.S. Senate, we have diligently worked on the Yazoo Backwater pumps, which has been going on, as [the Governor] said, for a very long time, but we have to substantiate the damage there,” Hyde-Smith explained. “This process includes the economic assessment of the projected benefits and the cost of the project of overcoming what we went through in the Delta—over half a million acres underwater for six months.” To go further into that number a bit, the floodings, which most recently occurred from 2018 to 2019, also damaged or destroyed over 700 homes, plus had a major impact on the state’s agricultural industry. “The agricultural damage speaks for itself—over $800 million in direct loss in terms of crops,” Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson asserted after Hyde-Smith concluded her portion of the press conference. Regarding the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus outbreak, State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs, while he did commend people for their steady efforts, warned that Mississippians must continue to take the precautionary actions necessary if they want to see a slow of the spread. “Do the simple things that work: wear a mask, stay six feet at minimum from other folks, small groups only,” Dobbs said. “We’d like to really encourage folks, if they’re going to be having any sort of gathering, please do it outdoors.” Dobbs also mentioned that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance for nursing home visitation, which can be found here. In one of the final topics addressed during the press conference, Governor Reeves said that, under his current mandate, the Mississippi State Fair would not be considered a social gathering. “I think it’s more of a business operation than a social gathering,” Reeves said. “The revenues help fund the fairgrounds…We’ve got to live our life a little bit.” The 2020 Mississippi State Fair is set to take place on October 7th through October 18th in Jackson. To watch Friday’s press conference in its entirety, check out the video below. The post Yazoo Pump Project update headlines packed press briefing appeared first on News Mississippi.
Muñoz confident amid stacked Sanderson Farms Championship field
With the Sanderson Farms Championship slowly rolling out its 2020 field, 2019 winner Sebastian Muñoz is looking to repeat as champion—no matter who else is playing. Thus far, the PGA TOUR event has released a stacked field for this year’s tournament, including five former major winners: Sergio Garcia, 2017 Masters Champion Henrik Stenson, 2016 Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen, 2010 Open Championship winner Lucas Glover, 2009 U.S. Open Championship winner Jason Dufner, 2013 PGA Championship winner Outside of the major winners, the field will also feature showcase players such as Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker, Si Woo Kim, and Scott Stallings, however, reigning champion Sebastian Muñoz doesn’t seem too worried. “It doesn’t really add pressure,” Muñoz said. “I already know I have to beat 150 guys, so it is what it is.” Part of the reason that Muñoz may not be too worried about this year’s field is that the Colombia native has seemingly already found his niche in the capital city. “Emotionally for me, [Jackson] will always be the first place I played a PGA TOUR tournament,” he explained. “Every time I go there, I just remember how I felt that first time playing…Then, I got my first win there, so I’m sure the next time I go there, it’s going to be just as emotional.” Regarding the absence of spectators, Muñoz did admit that not having the Mississippi fans behind him will have an effect on him but nothing too drastic that he can’t overcome. “I usually gather some emotion from the Mississippi crowd. I don’t know what is it in me, but they care about me,” Muñoz said. “I take that, and I feed off it, so this year, I’m definitely going to miss them a lot. It is what it is, and I’ll just have to push through it myself.” The 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship begins on September 28th and will be played at the Jackson Country Club. The post Muñoz confident amid stacked Sanderson Farms Championship field appeared first on News Mississippi.
Three Bulldogs & Rebels each earn preseason All-SEC honors
Three Bulldogs and three Rebels have earned preseason All-SEC honors. The SEC announced their preseason All-SEC teams Thursday as voted upon by the conference’s 14 coaches. While Alabama leads the way with 11 players selected, there is plenty of talent from the Magnolia State as well. From Mississippi State, RB Kylin Hill was the lone first-team honoree as the SEC’s leading returning rusher is sure to be a featured member of Mike Leach’s offense in 2020. While he had just 18 receptions in 2019, that number will likely climb significantly in Leach’s ‘air-raid’ system. LB Errol Thompson was named to the second-team after leading the Bulldogs with 84 tackles in 2019. DE Kobe Jones rounds out the Bulldog honorees with a third-team selection. Jones will be a key contributor on the defensive line this season after racking up 4.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks over the last three games in 2019. In Oxford, Jerrion Ealy was named to the second-team as a return man and the third-team as a running back & an all-purpose back after setting an Ole Miss freshman record for return yards in a season with 273 yards, including a kickoff return for a TD. As a RB, he rushed for 722 yards and scored six total TDs. WR Elijah Moore was named to the third-team after leading the Rebels in receptions (67), yards (850) and receiving touchdowns (six) last season. P Mac Brown was also named to the third team. His 2019 average of 44.3 yards per punt ranked 21st nationally a season ago. One week from Saturday, Mississippi State opens its 2020 season on the road against the defending-champion LSU Tigers and the Rebels will host Florida. First Team Preseason All-SEC OFFENSE TE Kyle Pitts, Florida OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama Trey Smith, Tennessee Darian Kinnard, Kentucky Landon Dickerson, Alabama C Drake Jackson, Kentucky WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama Jaylen Waddle, Alabama QB Kyle Trask, Florida RB Najee Harris, Alabama Kylin Hill, Mississippi State AP Jaylen Waddle, Alabama DEFENSE DL Bobby Brown, Texas A&M LaBryan Ray, Alabama Big Kat Bryant, Auburn Jordan Davis, Georgia LB Dylan Moses, Alabama K.J. Britt, Auburn Nick Bolton, Missouri DB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama Derek Stingley, LSU Richard LeCounte, Georgia Jacoby Stevens, LSU SPECIAL TEAMS PK Brent Cimaglia, Tennessee P Max Duffy, Kentucky RS Jaylen Waddle, Alabama Second Team Preseason All-SEC OFFENSE TE Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M OL Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina Deonte Brown, Alabama Landon Young, Kentucky Austin Deculus, LSU* Brodarious Hamm, Auburn* Wanya Morris, Tennessee* Ed Ingram, LSU* C Trey Hill, Georgia WR George Pickens, Georgia Terrace Marshall, LSU QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M RB Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M AP Derek Stingley, LSU DEFENSE DL Kobie Whiteside, Missouri Malik Herring, Georgia Aaron Sterling,South Carolina Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt LB Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee Monty Rice, Georgia Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State* Nakobe Dean, Georgia* Ventrell Miller, Florida* DB Kaiir Elam, Florida Eric Stokes, Georgia Demani Richardson, Texas A&M Tyree Gillespie, Missouri* Marco Wilson, Florida* Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina* SPECIAL TEAMS PK Cade York, LSU P Jake Camarda, Georgia RS Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss Third Team Preseason All-SEC OFFENSE TE Arik Gilbert, LSU OL Carson Green, Texas A&M Kenyon Green, Texas A&M Evan Neal, Alabama Dan Moore, Texas A&M C Landon Dickerson, Alabama WR Seth Williams, Auburn Elijah Moore, Ole Miss QB Bo Nix, Auburn RB Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss Larry Rountree, Missouri AP Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss* Kadarius Toney, Florida* Christian Tutt, Auburn* DEFENSE DL Zachary Carter, Florida Josh Paschal, Kentucky Kobe Jones, Mississippi State Glen Logan, LSU LB Boogie Watson, Kentucky Dimitri Moore, Vanderbilt Nolan Smith, Georgia* Ernest Jones, South Carolina* Andre Mintze, Vanderbilt* DB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina Bryce Thompson, Tennessee Yusuf Corker, Kentucky Christian Tutt, Auburn* Josh Jobe, Alabama* SPECIAL TEAMS PK Evan McPherson, Florida P Mac Brown, Ole Miss RS Christian Tutt, Auburn The post Three Bulldogs & Rebels each earn preseason All-SEC honors appeared first on News Mississippi.
MSDH confirms 497 new COVID-19 cases, 12 additional deaths
Following a slight delay, the Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting just under 500 new cases of COVID-19. Today’s report of 497 new cases brings the state’s total up to 92,432. With the confirmation of 12 additional deaths, 2,792 Mississippians have now passed away from the virus. The latest hospital data from the MSDH (Thursday) shows that overall hospitalizations are close to dropping below 500. As of Monday, the MSDH is able to estimate that 78,971 Mississippians have recovered from COVID-19. The post MSDH confirms 497 new COVID-19 cases, 12 additional deaths appeared first on News Mississippi.