There are more than just fall festivals to see and do this autumn in the Magnolia State.

Fall foliage generally arrives in Mississippi a little later than most of the country, but it’s definitely worth the wait. The Magnolia State is home to brilliant colors of fierce reds, stunning oranges, rustic browns, and electrifying yellows during the fall months with October and November being the stars.

Two students from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) boarded the R/V Roger Revelle to study the physics on natural hydrocarbon seeps and the physical processes that control the fate of the released oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico. Joshua Seymour and Charles Heatherly were chosen to be part of a diverse student research group comprised of students and professors from the University of Georgia, the University of Missouri Columbia, and Southern Miss.

The Ocean Springs Municipal Library is honored to host the “This is Home: Medgar Evers, Mississippi, and the Movement” exhibit from August 15 to September 15, courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH). This exhibit marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers, a pivotal civil rights activist in Mississippi.

The late Bernard Coffindaffer spent millions leaving his mark.

Crosses of Mercy stand along numerous roadways reminding us of Jesus’ death and of Coffindaffer’s evangelism. Clusters of three crosses, two painted heavenly blue flanking a center one painted Jerusalem gold, are scattered in 29 states, the District of Columbia, Zambia and the Philippines.

Smores are not smores without the marshmallow that holds the treat together. But as with many of our everyday treats, marshmallow’s origin is unfamiliar. But with a name like Marsh Mallow, you have to wonder. And yes, our marshmallow did originate from a concoction made from a relative of our own Saltmarsh Mallow, the bright pink flowers adding color to our tidal marshes in summer.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast’s labor market needs more trained construction and technical workers. While there are many paths to filling the labor gap, The Knights of Peter Claver (KOPC) Workforce Development is leading the way in training the unemployed and underemployed residents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast who desire entry-level positions in the construction industry.

It’s August, and let’s face it, it’s hot. Really hot. 

The only good thing about the heat is that it will be coming to an end sometime in the future. The calendar says that the first day of fall is September 22, but those of us here in south Mississippi know that our summer lasts well into the fall. 

While living in New Orleans, London met Scott Hoverman, owner of 3 Alarm Comics in Ocean Springs. Hoverman invited London to come and sign autographs as a celebrity guest, introducing him to Mississippi. “I fell in love with Ocean Springs,” shared London. “It is truly a magical little place. So beautiful.” At that time, London’s family was expecting. “We were about to have a baby, and New Orleans didn’t feel like the place we truly wanted to be,” shared London. “So the Universe brought us here.”