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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.

There are not many lighthearted memories from Hurricane Katrina, but there are lessons, stories, and moments of strength that still…

Katrina 

That was her name— the name of the hurricane. The storm of the century. Ironically, the great storm that tore everything apart ended up bringing people together. I was only nine years old when I experienced the worst hurricane of my lifetime— Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane whose name still sends shivers down so many people’s spines to this day. 

Hurricanes are a part of life in the south. We recall the aftermath of each one of them, some worst than others. Family and friends rally around those in need. We know how to prepare ahead of time, and what to do when it is over. But the big storms are different, and so it was with Hurricane Katrina. As my wife and I lamented upon returning to our water-soaked home, “this will take a while”.

Some places capture your heart long before you realize they’re shaping your dreams. For Jennifer Boone, that place was Natchez. As a little girl growing up in Hattiesburg, she and her mother would slip away for long weekends in the historic river town. They’d walk the shaded streets, peek into grand homes, and linger in the small shops that lined Main Street. Those trips became cherished memories—and they planted a seed that would eventually grow into her life’s dream.

Labor Day is right around the corner, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that a break is very much needed. Thankfully, you can spend your Labor Day weekend exploring one (or more) of the greatest destinations Mississippi has to offer. Here are the top five destinations I’d recommend. 

Vardaman, Mississippi, is known as the Sweet Potato Capitol of the World for good reason, with over 100 million pounds of sweet potatoes traveling from the fields of Vardaman to tables around the world each year. 

Will Bradham, owner of Bradham Enterprises, which has businesses located in Cleveland, Oxford, and Starkville, could be considered a serial entrepreneur, but it is in his blood. Bradham’s father was an entrepreneur, owning an automotive and parts supply store. Some of Bradham’s earliest memories are working alongside his dad. 

These days, everyone has their favorite podcasts, even old ladies like me. But I am proud to say that my favorite podcast is a Mississippi creation from start to finish.

Hannah’s Heart is a weekly podcast that can be heard every Saturday evening from 5:00 to 5:30 on American Family Radio (AFR): https://afr.net/podcasts/hannahs-heart/. Hosted by two young Mississippi moms, Kendra White and Anne Cockrell, the show is dedicated to encouraging couples who are walking through some of life’s most difficult trials of infertility and miscarriage. 

Tucked away in the small town of Collins, Mississippi, Mitchell Farms is the kind of place that reminds you why we love the South so much. It’s not just about the acres of peanuts, produce, and rolling farmland—it’s about family, tradition, and creating memories that stick with you long after you’ve driven back down that dusty country road.

Over the past few days, residents of Mississippi have received some very subtle hints that Autumn might possibly be on the way. 

I know! I know! It’s ninety-something degrees outside right now, and the thought of spending more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time in this humid August heat is excruciating. 

The 2025 CrossFit Games have concluded, crowning the Fittest Man and Woman on Earth. But the quest for the fittest in the world isn’t over. The Teenage CrossFit Games 2025 (athletes aged 14-17) will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from August 21-24, at the Columbus Convention Center, along with the Masters CrossFit Games (athletes aged 35 and older), organized by Legends. Mississippi will be sending an athlete in two categories to compete against athletes of their age from around the world.