Train to Run Faster in Any Sport

ROXIE, MS

Special Sports Report 

Do you play high school sports, baseball, basketball, soccer or any other sport ?   Would you like to get faster in ANY sport ?  

We have found that AthleticQuickness.com  revolutionary speed training exercises are helping athletes around the world reach their athletic dreams. 

The reason these speed training exercises produce such great results at quickly conditioning your muscles to be fast and responsive is because during an isometric contraction with resistance bands,the muscles’ motor unit recruitment patterns are entirely new and different than what has been normally experienced by a muscle that has not been conditioned with this type of training.

Go to Web Site Click Here 

When using the resistance band with an isometric strategy, each attempt by the muscle at balancing and stabilizing the dynamically changing force of the band helps to create and re-enforce new neuro-pathways inside the muscle. This process accelerates the development of strength, speed and coordination within the muscle.

This muscular development becomes even more pronounced the weaker the muscle gets as it attempts to hold the isometric position. This is because when the band can no longer be held steady due to a weakening muscle, quick and ongoing small changes in the resistance level of the band force the muscles to immediately react and alter their typical motor unit recruitment pattern without resting in order to stabilize the band. This kind of speed training exercise is of great benefit to the athlete.

You will get even greater value when these strategies are applied during an exercise to joints in different planes and angles from what they normally perform in the gym.

By doing this the muscles are less likely to become pre-conditioned to the guided pathways of the machines or similar exercises. As a result coordination issues, speed, and strength levels within the muscles are then developed far beyond their current level.

Faster muscle contraction speed is the net result of these improvements in coordination and strength.

Furthermore, targeting the muscles surrounding the less stable, and significantly more movable, ball and socket joints of the shoulders and hips, opens up incredible possibilities for athletic development. This is because when these exercises are done on those joints they typically involve all the muscles that stabilize the joint.

Therefore, Isometric training exercises with the resistance band exposes and then eliminates greater weaknesses in your muscles in ways that you probably have never experienced before.

Because of this, these types of speed training exercises fill a huge void in the training of every athlete that has never before used this unique speed training strategy.The muscles quickly become conditioned for speed and quickness in ways that are rarely attainable without using this type of training method.

Speed Training that Makes You Faster in Any Sport!

Click Here!

Source FCNews Staff Reporter/ AQSpeed 

Can you Text and Drive in the State of Mississippi ?

ROXIE, MS -

This is House Bill No. 389 as written and passed by House

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2015
By: Representatives Denny, Nelson, Haney
HOUSE BILL NO. 389 (As Passed the House)

1 AN ACT TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON FROM OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE
2 ON A HIGHWAY WHILE USING A HAND-HELD WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
3 DEVICE; TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION IS A CIVIL VIOLATION WITH A
4 CIVIL PENALTY; TO REPEAL SECTION 63-1-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF
5 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING UNDER CERTAIN
6 LICENSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

8 SECTION 1. (1) For purposes of this section, the following
9 terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this subsection, unless
10 the context clearly indicates otherwise:
11 (a) "Hand-held mobile telephone" means a mobile
12 telephone or other portable electronic communication device with
13 which a user engages in a call or writes, sends or reads a text
14 message using at least one hand. The term "hand-held mobile
15 telephone" shall not include a voice-operated or hands-free
16 device;
17 (b) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle driven or drawn by
18 mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public
19 highways; H. B. No. 389 *HR26/R1258PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 15/HR26/R1258PH

PAGE 2 (AJT\KW)
20 (c) "Social networking site" means any web-based
21 service that allows individuals to construct a profile within a
22 founded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they
23 share a connection, and communicate with other users of the site;
24 (d) "Text message" includes a text-based message,
25 instant message, electronic message, and email, but shall not
26 include an emergency, traffic or weather alert or a message
27 related to the operation or navigation of the motor vehicle;
28 (e) "Voice operated or hands-free device" means a
29 device that allows the user to write, send, or read a text message
30 without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate, or
31 initiate a feature or function; and
32 (f) "Writing," "sending" and "reading," with respect to
33 a text message, means the manual entry, sending, or retrieval of a
34 text message, respectively, to communicate with any person or
35 device.
36 (2) An operator of a moving motor vehicle is prohibited from
37 writing, sending, or reading a text message and from accessing,
38 reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held
39 mobile telephone while driving said motor vehicle.
40 (3) A violation of this section is a civil violation, and
41 upon being found in violation, is punishable by a civil penalty of
42 Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for violations committed until July
43 1, 2016, and One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for violations H. B. No. 389 *HR26/R1258PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 15/HR26/R1258PH

PAGE 3
(AJT\KW) ST: Texting and social networking; prohibit while driving.
44 committed from and after July 1, 2016. No state assessments shall
45 be imposed or collected for a violation under this section.
46 (4) The Department of Public Safety shall keep and maintain
47 records of citations issued under this statute, including the age
48 and race of the vehicle operator, whether there was an additional
49 traffic violation by the vehicle operator, and whether there was a
50 crash or any damage to a vehicle or passenger at the time of the
51 citation.
52 (5) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2018.

53 SECTION 2. Section 63-1-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, which
54 prohibits texting while driving under certain licenses, is
55 repealed.

56 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from
57 and after July 1, 2015.

History of Actions:
   1   01/15 (H) Referred To Transportation
   2   01/21 (H) Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
   3   02/06 (H) Committee Substitute Adopted
   4   02/06 (H) Passed    {Vote}
   5   02/06 (H) Motion to Reconsider Entered (Guice, Johnson, Massengill)
   6   02/11 (H) Reconsidered
   7   02/11 (H) Amended
   8   02/11 (H) Passed As Amended    {Vote}
   9   02/16 (H) Transmitted To Senate
  10   02/17 (S) Referred To Highways and Transportation
  11   03/03 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
  12   03/09 (S) Passed    {Vote}
  13   03/10 (S) Returned For Enrolling
  14   03/11 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
  15   03/11 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
  16   03/13 Approved by Governor

Source: Mississippi Bill Status Report / FC News Staff research

Sponsored College Savings Program by State of Mississippi

Honorable Lynn Fitch, State Treasurer

ROXIE, MS - 

The Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program, MACS, makes giving the gift of college easy and affordable. This state-sponsored savings program helps Mississippi families save for future college expenses such as tuition, books, supplies, and certain room and board expenses. You can start saving for as little as $25.

MACS offers you a choice of five investment options:

• Managed Allocation Option
• Diversified Equity Option
• Fixed Income Option
• Guaranteed Option
• Age-Based Investment Option

These options vary in their investment strategy and risk level, allowing you to select an option that best fits your needs and investment preference.

Anyone can open a MACS account for a child or loved one. Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends at any income level can open an account. Also, by opening and contributing to a MACS account you qualify for a Mississippi state tax deduction.

The Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program can be a powerful part of your overall investment strategy. Consider making regular, modest contributions with the Automatic Contribution Plan or Automatic Payroll Deduction, which may be offered by your employer.

Call a representative of MACS today at 1.800.486.3670 to give the gift of a lifetime, the gift of education.​​​​​​​​​

For further information from the State of Mississippi Treasury Office click here.

A few Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the federal and state tax advantages?
• Is there a Mississippi income tax deduction?
• Who can open an account?
• What are my investment options?
• Can I make a payment online?
• Do I have to use my account at a Mississippi college or university?

What are the federal and state tax advantages?

When you contribute to the Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) Program, any account earnings are federal and Mississippi income tax-deferred. Plus, distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses will be free from federal and Mississippi income tax. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal and state taxes and the additional federal 10% tax.

Is there a Mississippi income tax deduction?

Yes, you may be eligible for a Mississippi income tax deduction. The amount contributed by a Mississippi taxpayer to MACS Program accounts during a tax year is deductible from Mississippi adjusted gross income in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for a single return or $20,000 for a joint return for that tax year.

The earnings portion of a non-qualified withdrawal will be taxable to a resident recipient of the withdrawal. The contribution portion of a non-qualified withdrawal that was previously deducted for Mississippi income tax purposes will be included in the resident recipient’s Mississippi gross income.

Who can open an account?

Any individual with a Social Security number or federal Taxpayer Identification Number who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien can open an account and contribute to the MACS Program account on behalf of any beneficiary. An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an estate or a trust may also open an account. Such entities will be subject to additional restrictions or administrative requirements and may not open an account online or participate in e-Delivery. You can even open an account for yourself.

What are my investment options?

The Plan offers you a choice of five Investment Options. These options vary in their investment strategy and degree of risk, allowing you to select an option or combination of options that may fit your needs. To see the list of Investment Options, brief descriptions and associated fees and expenses, visit Investment Options. For more information on the risks involved in investing in such Investment Options, and the type of investor for whom each investment option may be appropriate, and investment option performance, read the Disclosure Booklet.

Can I make a payment online?

You may make contributions online by logging into your account here. If you have not logged on to your account before you may create your online access here.

Do I have to use my account at a Mississippi college or university?

No. The money in your account may be used at any eligible educational institution. This includes public and private colleges and universities, graduate and post-graduate schools, community colleges, and certain proprietary and vocational schools.

Source: State of Mississippi State Treasurer

FC Girls Soccer Team Ranked 9th in State

ROXIE, MS - April 14, 2014

The MS class 1A/2A/3A high school girls soccer state rankings compiled by MaxPreps  includes Franklin County Varsity Girls Soccer team as ranked 9th.  The Lady Bulldogs overall record is 13-4-0 with a district undefeated record of 5-0-0.  

For a complete list of the rankings just Click Here,

For more information on an explanation of the MaxPreps Computer Rankings just click here. 






Source: MaxPreps - MaxPreps is America's Source for High School Sports / A CBS Sports site

Local foods grant writing workshop set for May 11

From the field to the table ....

April 13, 2015

Ms State University Extension Service
Writer: Susan Collins-Smith
Contact: Rachael Carter, 662-325-8329

Local foods grant writing workshop set for May 11

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Individuals interested in applying for grant funds to organize farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer outlets for local foods are invited to attend a May 11 workshop in Starkville. Miss.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Southern Rural Development Center will host the Local Foods Grant Writing Workshop to help potential grant applicants understand, develop and submit federal grant requests through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.

“Increasing access to healthy locally grown foods is an important part of community development,” said Rachael Carter, an instructor with the MSU Extension Service Center for Government and Community Development. “These funding opportunities could help enhance that process in Mississippi. The purpose of this workshop is to provide information to help participants improve their proposals and make them more competitive.”

The workshop is from 1pm to 5pm in the Bost Conference Center on the MSU campus. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. The workshop is free, but preregistration is required by May 4th. To register for the workshop, visit http://bit.ly/1D33PHR.

Speakers include Judith Phillips, a research associate with the MSU Stennis Institute of Government; and Kim Morgan, an Extension Agricultural Economist at Virginia Tech.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service and National Institute for Food and Agriculture are collaborating with Extension programs and regional Centers for Rural Development across the country to produce these workshops. Mississippi Main Street is a sponsor. The organized effort, called the Agricultural Marketing Service Technical Assistance Project, aims to raise awareness of grant opportunities and increase participation in the program.

For more information about the workshop, contact Miranda Tucci at m.tucci@msstate.edu or 662-325-2750.

Source:  Msu Ag Communications News - News Release

Make money 'tweeting' on Twitter

IZEA Logo

ROXIE, MS -   Promoted Tweets are ordinary Tweets purchased by advertisers who want to reach a wider group of users or to spark engagement from their existing followers. Promoted Tweets are clearly labeled as Promoted when an advertiser is paying for their placement on Twitter.

Click Here for more details. 

Ted Murphy, founder and CEO of IZEA, says more than 7,000 Twitter users have signed up for Sponsored Tweets in its first month. Murphy says about 500 advertisers, mostly small- to medium-size businesses, plus a handful of Fortune 500 companies, are using the platform. Marketers have access to the entire database of tweeters and can select whom they want to pay and how much they're willing to dish out. Compensation is based on a user's expertise or passion, how many followers that person has and other metrics, like how often the tweeter's followers click to links posted on his or her Twitter page. Murphy says he has paid more than $100,000 to Twitter users in his site's first month of operation. As commission, he charges companies 15% to 50% of their payments to the microbloggers. This comment from an article - 

How to Make Money on Twitter: Do Commercials ! 
By Sean Gregory  
Wednesday, Sept 02, 2009 / Time 


Code: d6c1ebd62200bf5ba38bf84cf1c4152adea2a9960e5eeabe4f

8 FAQs Merchants Should Know About New EMV Credit Cards

Roxie, Ms -  Chip?   PIN?   Signature?    Will the old card work?    What you need to know ! 


Following an Oct. 1, 2015, deadline created by major U.S. credit card issuers MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express, card-present fraud  liability will shift to whoever is the least EMV-compliant party in a fraudulent transaction.  

You, the Merchant, could be liable!

Read important information !

1. Why are EMV cards more secure than traditional cards?

It's that small, metallic square you'll see on new cards. That's a computer chip, and it's what sets apart the new generation of cards.  The magnetic strips on traditional credit and debit cards store contain unchanging data. Whoever accesses that data gains the sensitive card and cardholder information necessary to make purchases. That makes traditional cards prime targets for counterfeiters, who convert stolen card data to "If someone copies a mag stripe, they can easily replicate that data over and over again because it doesn't change," says Dave Witts, president of U.S. payment systems for Creditcall.  Unlike magnetic-stripe cards, every time an EMV card is used for payment, the card chip creates a unique transaction code that cannot be used again.  If a hacker stole the chip information from one specific point of sale, typical card duplication would never work "because the stolen transaction number created in that instance wouldn't be use able again and the card would just get denied," Witts says. EMV technology will not prevent data breaches from occurring, but it will make it much harder for criminals to successfully profit from what they steal.  Experts hope it will help significantly reduce fraud in the U.S., which has doubled in the past seven years as criminals have shied away from countries that already have transitioned to EMV cards, Conroy says. "The introduction of dynamic data is what makes EMV cards so effective at bringing down counterfeit card rates in other countries," she says.


2. How do I use an EMV card to make a purchase?

Just like magnetic-stripe cards, EMV cards are processed for payment in two steps: card reading and transaction verification.  However, with EMV cards you no longer have to master a quick, fluid card swipe in the right direction. Chip cards are read in a different way.  "Instead of going to a register and swiping your card, you are going to do what is called 'card dipping' instead, which means inserting your card into a terminal slot and waiting for it to process," Conroy says.  When an EMV card is dipped, data flows between the card chip and the issuing financial institution to verify the card's legitimacy and create the unique transaction data. This process isn't as quick as a magnetic-stripe swipe.  "It will take a tiny bit longer for that transmission of data to happen," Witts says. "If a person just sticks the card in and pulls it out, the transaction will likely be denied. A little bit of patience will be involved."  

3. Is card dipping the only option ?

Not necessarily. EMV cards can also support contactless card reading, also known as near field communication.   Instead of dipping or swiping, NFC-equipped cards are tapped against a terminal scanner that can pick up the card data from the embedded computer chip.  "Contactless transactions are more consumer-friendly because you just have to tap," Ferenczi says. "Around the world, there is a move to make EMV cards dual-interface, which means contact and contactless. However, in the U.S., most financial instructions are issuing contact cards."  Dual-interface cards and the equipment needed to scan them are expensive. Right now, the first step is to successfully integrate EMV cards into the U.S. shopping scene. Dual interface will arrive later, according to Ferenczi.


4. Will I still have to sign or enter a PIN for my card transaction ?

Yes and no. You will have to do one of those verification methods, but it depends on the verification method tied to your EMV card, not if your card is debit or credit.
Chip-and-PIN cards operate just like the checking-account debit card you have been using for years.  Entering a PIN connects the payment terminal to the payment processor for real-time transaction verification and approval. However, many payment processors are not equipped with the technology needed to handle EMV chip-and-PIN credit transactions. So it is not likely you will have to memorize new PINs anytime soon, according to Conroy.
"There aren't going to be many issuers requiring a PIN," she says. "A vast majority will be issuing chip-and-signature cards, which aren't all that different from how credit cards work now."  As with a magnetic-stripe credit card, you sign on the point-of-sale terminal to take responsibility for the payment when making a chip-and-signature card transaction.
Once the transition to EMV is under way in the U.S., chip-and-PIN cards will be transitioned in. Again, it is one step at a time, according to Ferenczi.  "I predict we will start seeing some chip-and-PIN cards in 2015, and then it will probably take two to three years to fully convert to chip-and-PIN," he says.  Despite a slow transition overall, those who get chip-and-PIN cards will be able to use them right away.  "If a terminal doesn't have the ability to accept a PIN, it will then step down to accepting a signature," says Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. "There will always be a secondary option."

5. If fraud occurs after EMV cards are issued, who will be liable for the costs ?

Today, if an in-store transaction is conducted using a counterfeit, stolen or otherwise compromised card, consumer losses from that transaction fall back on the payment processor or issuing bank, depending on the card's terms and conditions. Following an Oct. 1, 2015, deadline created by major U.S. credit card issuers MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express, card-present fraud  liability will shift to whoever is the least EMV-compliant party in a fraudulent transaction. Consider the example of a financial institution that issues a chip card used at a merchant that has not changed its system to accept chip technology. This allows a counterfeit card to be successfully used. "The cost of the fraud will fall back on the merchant," Ferenczi says.  The major credit card issuers each have published detailed schedules  about the upcoming shift in liability. The change is intended to help bring the entire payment industry on board with EMV by encouraging compliance to avoid liability costs. Any parties not EMV-ready by October 2015 could face much higher costs in the event of a large data breach. Automated fuel dispensers will have until 2017 to make the shift to EMV. Until then, they will follow existing fraud liability rulings. 

6. So by Oct. 1, 2015, the transition to EMV technology will be complete ?

Not exactly.  Although the upcoming deadline is strong encouragement for all payment processing parties to become EMV-compliant as soon as possible, experts do not believe everyone will comply by that date.  "Don't expect a big bang in October of 2015," says Doug Johnson, vice president of risk management policy for the American Bankers Association. "In terms of rollout, we expect about 50 percent of banks and retailers to be completely transitioned over. It's going to take a little time to adapt."  Aite Group estimates that by the end of 2015, approximately 70 percent of credit cards and 40 percent of debit cards in the U.S. --1.1 billion cards total -- will support EMV.   "We are the most fragmented and the largest market that has ever gone to the EMV standard," Conroy says. "There's going to be varied customer experiences over the first year, year-and-a-half of this transition."

7. If I want to use my chip-card at a retailer that doesn't support EMV technology yet, will it  work ?

Yes. The first round of EMV cards -- many of which are already in consumers' hands -- will be equipped with both chip and magnetic-stripe functions so consumer spending is not disrupted and merchants can adjust.  If you find yourself at a point-of-sale terminal and are not sure whether to dip or swipe your card, have no fear. The terminal will walk you through the process.  "For example, if you enter a card into the chip reader slot but the reader isn't activated yet, it will come up with an error and you'll be prompted to swipe the card in order to use it," Vanderhoof says.  And vice-versa.  "If a consumer tries to swipe a chip card instead of inserting it, an error will appear and they will be prompted to insert the card for chip processing instead," Vanderhoof says.  If chip-card readers are not in place at a merchant at all, your EMV card can be read with a swipe, just like a traditional magnetic-stripe card.  "You can still conduct transactions, you just lose that extra level of chip security," Johnson says.


8. Will I be able to use my EMV card when I travel outside the country ?

Yes and no.  The U.S. is the last major market still using the magnetic-stripe card system. Many European countries moved to EMV technology years ago to combat high fraud rates. That shift has left many U.S. consumers who have magnetic-stripe cards looking for other forms of payment when they travel.  Since many foreign merchants are wary of magnetic-stripe cards, consumers who hold some type of chip card may run into fewer issues than those without one, according to Ferenczni.  "Just the existence of the chip will likely make European merchants more willing to accept transactions that they wouldn't have likely accepted if a customer presented a mag-stripe card," he says.   However, chip-and-PIN cards are the norm in most other countries that support EMV technology. So consumers with chip-and-signature cards may still find merchants who are unwilling or unable to process their card, even though it does have an embedded chip.  Unmanned payment kiosks in Europe -- such as bike rental stations, train ticket stations and parking permit dispensers -- may give U.S. travelers the most difficulty since most are set up to strictly accept chip-and-PIN card only, according to Ferenczi.

But despite any difficulties in the transition, Ferenczi says the change is a step in the right direction.  "Nobody likes to think that his or her card is being secretly used for other purposes," he says. "So I think regardless, there is a level of comfort knowing that it will be far more difficult to counterfeit EMV cards."

Source:  Sienna Kossman is a staff reporter for CreditCards.com who joined the editorial team in January 2014.  Prior to her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, she spent a summer writing consumer-friendly health and money articles for U.S. News & World Report.  To read more articles by Sienna Kossman click here > 

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/authors/sienna-kossman.php#ixzz3Si9fyHZB 

Litter Can Be Harmful To Wildlife and Pets

Released: Sept. 12, 2014
Contact: Dr. Jim Miller, 662-325-2619

Extension Outdoors

Litter can be harmful to wildlife and pets

By James E. “Jim” Miller
Professor Emeritus, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture
Mississippi State University


People discard millions of tons of trash daily in recycling containers or garbage cans, but unfortunately, many people leave trash in other places, where it can harm wildlife and pets.

Whether it is carelessly tossed out of car windows or off the sides of boats, left on the ground from routine farming or construction activities, or casually dropped while walking down the street, litter is more than an unsightly nuisance.

I am continually amazed at the amount of trash I see in my neighborhood, from food wrappers and bottles to packaging straps and cigarette butts. It makes me wonder if these unthinking people litter in their own yards as well. 

Unfortunately, some of that trash can pose serious threats to wildlife, fish, pets and even people.

Occasionally we see dramatic evidence of some animal that has been ensnared, maimed or killed by improperly discarded trash. Photographs of fish or turtles whose bodies are girdled by six-pack plastic rings, raccoons with their heads trapped in metal containers, pelicans dead of starvation from ingesting bottle caps and fishing line, or ospreys entangled in discarded monofilament are all too common.

I grew up on a farm and remember baling hay with hemp or sisal twine. At the time, I never thought about the fact that such twine could be a problem to wildlife or domestic livestock. However, my dad taught me to wrap the twine around a stick and save it, because it might come in handy to hastily fasten a gate, temporarily mend a break in a net or hang a tool on a nail in the barn. We never disposed of such twine, rope, or string, as long as it had some potentially useful purpose. Once it lost its usefulness, we burned it.

Today, baling twine is made of either sisal, which is biodegradable, or polypropylene, a non-biodegradable plastic. If it is disposed of irresponsibly, the plastic type can ensnare or even kill domestic animals and wildlife alike.

A friend recently shared with me a trail camera photograph of a very nice buck, two weeks prior to the bow-hunting season, with several yards of pink polymer hay baling twine entangled around both antlers. He then shared with me a second photo, from the opening day of bow season, when he found a buck -- likely the same one -- ensnared and locked together with another buck by pink polymer twine. They were both dead, probably after much suffering.

Admittedly, bucks sometimes get their antlers hooked together while fighting or sparring, but most of them break apart when one dominates the other or before becoming severely impaired. It would be pure speculation to say whether these two bucks might have separated and lived, despite their fighting and sparring, had their antlers and necks not been entangled with this hay baling twine. But I’d venture to guess that the baling twine made their death more likely.

I would encourage my fellow hunters to pick up twine or other discarded materials that could be a threat to wildlife and wind it up on a stick or carry it away for disposal or recycling. It won’t take much time or effort, and it could save an animal from a lot of suffering.

The bottom line is that improper disposal of trash of any kind is illegal, unattractive and harmful. It can be fatal to both domestic and wild animals. Please dispose of trash and refuse in an appropriate manner by recycling or placing it in an approved trash container. We all appreciate those who make an effort to protect the health and beauty of our treasured wildlife habitats and the neighborhoods and communities we call home.


Source: FCNews Staff / Press release - Msu Ag Communications News

Digital Dangers Lurk for Students as School Begins

ROXIE, MS

By Susan Collins-Smith / July 18, 2014
Contact: Jamie Varner, 662-325-3226; Dr. Mariah Morgan, 662-325-3226; or Ellen Graves, 662-325-2400

MSU Ag Communications - MISSISSIPPI STATE -- As students head back to the classroom, parents should remain aware of their children’s online behavior -- whether for school assignments or socializing.

Jamie Varner, an instructor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service Center for Technology Outreach, said parents should warn their children about digital dangers and take practical steps to help keep them safe.

“The No. 1 thing parents can do is communicate with their children about what they should and should not do when they are online,” Varner said. “The Internet can be a good source of information, but it poses some risks. Innocent searches can bring up websites with harmful malware, software, viruses or inappropriate content.”

Varner recommends setting up the computer in a central area of the home, such as the family room, where the monitor is visible to others.

“Think about when your children will be using the computer,” she said. “If the computer is a desktop and homework gets done while the adults are preparing dinner, maybe the computer should be near the kitchen.”

Other options to help control content when children are unsupervised are Internet filters and passwords.  To password-protect sites in Internet Explorer, use the Tools tab to access Internet Options and then select the Security tab. Highlight Restricted Sites, and left-click on Sites. Then, in the available field, type the restricted website. Press the Add button. Repeat these steps for each website that should not be accessed.


Internet filters reduce the possibility children can access inappropriate material. Filters can be customized to meet individual needs. Some filters can also manage instant messaging software and social media sites and provide a detailed activity log. Internet filters can be purchased or downloaded for free from the Internet, Varner said.

Mariah Morgan, an assistant Extension professor with the Center for Technology Outreach, said passwords can be set up through a computer’s internal settings to control what content children can access. No special software is needed.

Child-friendly search engines, such as Google’s Safe Search and KidZui, can limit children’s ability to stumble across explicit material, Morgan said.

The same safety features can be implemented on mobile devices. “Keeping kids safe on Smartphones and tablets can be a bit more difficult, but it’s not impossible,” Morgan said.

Both Apple and Android operating systems allow parents to limit online activity and app purchases on phones and tablets. Parents can set content filters in both the Google Play and iTunes stores to prevent the download of apps that cost money. To stop the download of free apps, parents can block access to both stores entirely by installing a password or personal identification number. App downloads from websites can be disabled in the settings menu. Most devices with newer operating systems allow different profiles for different users.

Apps also can help parents enforce limits. Kid Mode keeps child-friendly apps in a locked area on the device. Net Nanny and Funamo apps filter content and provide email reports on the child’s activity, Morgan said.

Many children interact with friends routinely on social media. Ellen Graves, Extension social media strategist, suggests parents set limits and discuss ground rules before allowing a child to join a social media network.

“Children should be mature enough to make sound decisions about what they post and who they communicate with via social media before they join any network,” Graves said. “Make sure they understand they should never post personal information, such as a phone number or an address, that could put them, their families or friends in danger.”

Encourage children to create a private profile, which allows only approved individuals to interact with the child. Parents should know the usernames and passwords of each social media account their child has, Graves said.

“Be open with your children and make sure they know you will be monitoring their social media activity for their safety,” she said. “It is also a good idea to define the amount of time they can spend on the Internet. Of course, these rules can change as the child becomes more mature and demonstrates good judgment.”

Software, such as Net Nanny and My Mobile Watchdog, can help parents keep track of a child’s social media activity, but these and some other programs charge fees. Apps, such as Screen Time, help restrict the time spent on iPhones and iPads. Parents can also follow or friend children as an additional way to monitor their behavior, Graves said.

Source: FCNews Staff - MSU Ag Communication press release

Oct 2nd set for 41st MSU Ornamental Horticulture Field Day

ROXIE, MS - 

News Release - Sept. 5, 2014
Writer: Susan Collins-Smith
Contact: Dr. Gene Blythe, 601-403-8774

Horticulture field day set for early October

Horticulture enthusiasts and industry professionals can hear research updates (see listing below of all presentations) and tour demonstration gardens at the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville on Thursday, October 2nd 

Scientists with the MSU Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service will deliver information on pest management, variety trial results and landscaping during the 41st annual Ornamental Horticultural Field Day.   

Other topics include methods to prevent regrowth of crape myrtles after removal, blueberry propagation for home gardeners, hand protection for nursery workers, native plants for landscaping wet areas, Spotted Wing Drosophila and the impact of chromosome doubling on traits of scarlet eggplant.

On-site registration begins at 9 am and the program begins at 9:30 am.  Lunch and refreshments are included in the $10 registration fee. The registration fee is $6.50 for students.

The South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station is located at 711 W. North Street, across from Pearl River Community College.

For more information or directions to the trial garden site, contact Gene Blythe at 601-403-8774. For a complete list of seminar topics, visit http://www.msucares.com/newsletters/highlights/.

Topics Scheduled for Presentation at the

Ornamental Horticulture Field Day on Thursday, October 2, 2014

• Top Performers from the 2014 Variety Trials at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station – Dr. Gene Blythe, MSU-CREC

• Kaolin Clay Application as a Deterrent for Ambrosia Beetle Attack at Ornamental Nurseries - Christopher Werle,  USDA-ARS

• Elephant Ears (Colocacia and Alocasia) for the Landscape - Mike Anderson, MSU-CREC

• Measuring the Effect of Hand Protection on Worker Effort When Moving Small Container Plants - Scott  Langlois, MSU-CREC

• Southern Bunch Grapes - Dr. Eric Stafne, MSU-CREC

• Evaluation of Sabal Palm Species for Trunking and Hardiness - Dr. Cecil Pounders, USDA-ARS

• To Kill a Crapemyrtle - Dr. Anthony Witcher, USDA-ARS

• Native Plants for Landscaping Wet Areas in the Home Landscape - Patricia Drackett, MSU-Crosby Arboretum

• Spotted-Wing Drosophila: A New Invasive Pest in Mississippi - Dr. Blair Sampson, USDA-ARS

• All-America Selections Winners for 2014 - Dr. Gene Blythe, MSU-CREC

• Propagation of Blueberries for the Home Gardener - Melinda Butler, USDA-ARS

• The Effect of Pest Management Strategies on Small Scale Tomato Production in Mississippi - Christian Stephenson, MSU-ES

• Impact of Chromosome Doubling on Traits of Scarlet Eggplant - Dr. Hamidou Sakhanokho, USDA-ARS 


• Essential Oil of Caryopteris Pink Chablis™: Chemical Composition and Activity Against the Yellow Fever Mosquito - Dr. Gene Blythe, MSU-CREC

 ,,,,,,,,,,, in additional to other topics such as methods to prevent regrowth of crape myrtles after removal, blueberry propagation for home gardeners, hand protection for nursery workers, native plants for landscaping wet areas, Spotted Wing Drosophila and the impact of chromosome doubling on traits of scarlet eggplant.

Source: FCNews Staff,  MSU News release 

Can Roxie Support a Dollar General Store ?

ROXIE -  Is it possible to get a Dollar General Store in downtown Roxie?  Rumors and other information have floated around for some time.  Let's look at the facts and you, the reader, you decide.  Who is going to build the building ?  Who is going to sell the land to the builder or is there a land owner with the land willing to build the building ?  Lots of questions ? 



Dollar General Corporation
Customer Service Department
100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

The following information is posted as to the requirements of store location: 

Store Growth & Real Estate (information from Dollar Store RE Division)

We believe in locating our stores based on customer need and convenience. We currently have more than 11,000 stores throughout our 42 state operating area and we are growing every day. 

Site Criteria

• Located along retail corridor with good traffic - (this is a question)
• High visibility - (this is a question)
• Full ingress and egress
• Shopping center and freestanding opportunities considered

Market Demographics

• Median household income – Less than $75,000
• Trade area population – At least 4,500 - (this is a question - the Roxie zip code, covering 249.1 square miles, is only a population of 3,121 ) 

Build to Suit Program

• 9,100 sf building
• 70' x 135' prototype design
• Customer friendly parking (minimum 30)
• Building and pylon signage
• Accessible truck delivery (53' trailer)

The following information extracted from 2010 US Census Report 

MS - Franklin County (including Roxie) 

Population

Total Population

8,118

Housing Status
( in housing units unless noted )

Total	4,154
Occupied	3,211
Owner-occupied	2,641
Population in owner-occupied ( number of individuals )	6,635
Renter-occupied	570
Population in renter-occupied ( number of individuals )	1,416
Households with individuals under 18	1,088
Vacant	943
Vacant: for rent	48
Vacant: for sale	33

Population by Sex/Age

Male	3,942
Female	4,176
Under 18	2,043
18 & over	6,075
20 - 24	399
25 - 34	940
35 - 49	1,490
50 - 64	1,739
65 & over	1,315

Population by Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino	47
Non Hispanic or Latino	8,071

Population by Race

White	5,257
African American	2,791
Asian	5
American Indian and Alaska Native	14
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander	0
Other	6
Identified by two or more	45

  ..... and broken down for Roxie zip code covering 249.1 square miles. 

Some questions and answers:  (more Q & A click here)

Q. Does Dollar General franchise its stores?

A. No. Dollar General does not franchise its stores.

Q. I have a building that would be great for a DG store—whom do I call?

A. We have field representatives throughout our operating area. Please refer to the Real Estate section for the appropriate field representative in your region.

Q. I want to bid on your new building sites—who handles construction?

A. If you are interested in our build-to-suit or conventional program, please e-mail a request for information to constructionreps@dollargeneral.com.

Q. What are the criteria for a new store?

A. Existing Center: Our preferred site is in a grocery or major retail anchored strip center. We require a minimum of 60' of width, and we need approximately 7,500 square feet of selling area, along with 1,000 to 1,500 square feet for a stockroom. Built to Suit: We also have an aggressive free-standing build-to-suit program for those markets in which we have been unable to locate a suitable site in a strip center. Our free-standing buildings range between 9,000 and 9,500 square feet on approximately 1 to 1-1/4 acres of land.

Q. Who handles store maintenance contracts?

A. Contact our Store Facility Maintenance Department at StoreFacilityMaintenance@dollargeneral.com for more information. 

Source:  Staff reporter, Dollar General Web Site, US Census Bureau Web Site, ZIPSkinny Web Site