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For nearly a year, I lived in Goodman Mississippi without ever stepping foot inside the little brick building on Main Street. I’d drive past it, see the sign out front with some message about story time or a craft night, and think nothing of it. Downtown Goodman isn’t flashy. There’s a post office, one restaurant, town hall, and that library tucked into what used to be a Presbyterian church. Nothing about it seemed urgent enough to stop for.

Mississippi has always been known for its rich cultural heritage, its stories, and its people who turn everyday life into something extraordinary. Now, that legacy will take center stage on a national level as our state heads to Pasadena for the 137th Rose Parade on January 1, 2026. The theme? “Where Creativity Blooms.” And if there’s one thing Mississippi knows well, it’s creativity.

This week, as I sat down to write, I started out looking for an event to cover. There’s always something happening along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I kept circling back to the thought that we don’t always have to wait for an event to get out and do something. One of the greatest gifts of living here is that our waters are always open—ready for us whenever we are.

Gleaners, Inc., also known as The Volunteers of Gleaners, is a Jackson, Mississippi-based nonprofit organization founded by Gloria Martinson in 1986. Today, the Volunteers of Gleaners salvage food that otherwise would go to waste and redistribute it to nonprofits in the central Mississippi area. 

Every October, the Mississippi Gulf Coast hums with more than just the sound of waves rolling in. It hums with engines—deep, steady, and proud—as classic cars roll down Highway 90 like old friends returning home.

Over the last couple of weeks, anyone who has stepped foot outdoors in Mississippi for more than a few moments has surely seen them: The hummingbirds are everywhere, and these beautiful creatures are busy, very busy.

“Video Killed the Radio Star” may have been the very first music video aired when MTV launched in 1981—but long before that iconic moment, a Mississippi native was already laying the groundwork for what would become a cultural revolution. No, MTV didn’t start in Mississippi, but our state had everything to do with its creation, thanks to Jackson-born Bob Pittman.

Mississippians, the weather has finally begun to cool down. The brutal heat of the summer has slowly started to subside, and coffee shops are boasting their pumpkin spice induced beverages. Now that the weather is finally more pleasant, this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all of the unique fun that Mississippi has to offer. Below are three pre-fall activities that will keep you engaged and anticipating the fall. 

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, the Mississippi Gulf Coast changed forever. Few places felt the storm’s wrath more than Waveland in Hancock County, which was nearly wiped off the map. Former Governor Haley Barbour once remarked that after Katrina’s 30-foot storm surge hit, there were “no inhabitable structures” left in the city.

Dog owners understand the blessings that come with having a fur friend. But for those living with disabilities, dogs offer a wide range of benefits, including assistance with daily tasks, retrieving objects, and providing physical support to maintain balance. Beyond physical aid, dogs also offer emotional and mental health benefits, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness through companionship.

When people ask where I was during Hurricane Katrina, the memories come rushing back. Like many along the Mississippi Gulf…

August 29, 2005, was an unforgettable day for most Mississippians, even for those of us who lived way up in the Northeastern corner of the state. 

People were not the only creatures impacted by Hurricane Katrina. And although helping people recover was the priority, we soon turned to helping our feathered friends. As it turned out, these efforts provided folks with a diversion from their toils at home, and a reason for hope, that normal could return, including their own backyards.

I was sixteen when Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. At that age, I didn’t fully understand the weight of what had happened. I knew my parents were devastated — so many adults around me carried an exhaustion and grief that I couldn’t name at the time. Entire neighborhoods had been flattened, jobs and routines disappeared overnight, and the world I’d always known suddenly felt unrecognizable.

In 2005, I had just returned home from an 18-month mission trip in Brisbane, Australia. Settled back on the West…

Reverend Edwin (Eddie) Kirby is now entering his eleventh year as our pastor at First Methodist Church in Pascagoula. Brother Eddie is an exceptional leader for our congregation—I already have him on the Mount Rushmore of all-time preachers at FMC. To my great joy, he and I have become good friends.