| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Board of Education still mulling changes to social studies standards

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Thu, 03/24/2022 - 07:22 AM

The Mississippi State Board of Education announced Thursday that it is continuing to work through the public comments on proposed revisions to the state’s social studies standards.

In December, the board began the process to revise Mississippi’s K-12 social studies standards and received passionate feedback on social media.

The proposed changes removed many specific names, events, and details in state history in lieu of more broad descriptions, and people worried the state Department of Education was removing civil rights history from the standards.

Math teacher Krupa Kaneria talks with students on the first day of school at Cleveland Central Middle School on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

An even larger teacher pay raise appears to be on track in Mississippi Legislature

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Wed, 03/16/2022 - 02:12 PM

The potential deal marks rare detente between the House and Senate near the end of a legislative session dominated by a standoff between the Republican leadership of the chambers over tax cuts.

House and Senate negotiators tentatively agreed Wednesday — pending the numbers crunch out — on a massive Mississippi teacher pay raise, one that would provide an average raise of $5,100 in the coming school year.

A view of the State Capitol's dome in Jackson, Miss., Monday, March 14, 2022. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Bill that seeks to ban CRT signed into law

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Wed, 03/16/2022 - 10:24 AM

Despite widespread opposition from Black lawmakers, civil rights organizations, and educators across the state, on Monday Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law Senate Bill 2113, legislation that seeks to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Mississippi’s K-12 schools, colleges and universities.

Three student groups at Simpson Central School host an Unsung Heroes Appreciation Brunch on March 9 in the school gym. Food for the event was prepared by the school’s Culinary Club.

SCS recognizes Unsung Heroes

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 02:34 PM

Three student groups at Simpson Central School held an Unsung Heroes Appreciation Brunch on March 9 to honor those who have done great deeds for the school but receive minimum recognition.
Organized by Simpson Central School’s Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America and Culinary Club, students served brunch and presented honorees with a certificate of appreciation for their diligent efforts, commitment and dedication to ensuring all students at Simpson Central are on a path to success.

Zyon Hobbs

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 02:29 PM

Magee High sophomore Zyon Hobbs will be courtside for the March 12th Miss/Al All Star game and the March 19th North/South All Star game. Zyon will have the opportunity to work with videographers and photographers from media coverage for both all star games. He will be representing Magee High School Networking. Coach Kendria Young has helped Zyon and other students learn the skills to operate in a media environment.

The Hall family. Mom and Dad, Jennifer and JR Hall prefer calling their daughter Matty. She, however, prefers Mattyson. Behind them is the green house growing seedlings for the garden.

Difficult start no deterrent to teen

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 02:15 PM

Mattyson Hall is a 17- year-old junior who home schools using the Christian based Monarch on-line program. She can be found most weekday mornings at Mendenhall Public Library completing her lessons before noon. Then Hall heads to the Simpson County Technical Center for her class in health sciences.
Sounds somewhat typical of a high school junior, but Hall is anything but typical. She is pragmatic, compassionate, empathetic, smart, funny and wise beyond her years. And she is the first to tell you she is the way she is because of the life experiences she has been dealt.

Republican Women of Simpson County

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 01:51 PM

Republican Women of Simpson County members, from left, Monica Webber, Betty Phillips, Dale Simon, Leslie Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Gipson, Ruby Ainsworth, Janella Lee and Lisa Givens at the MFRW'S Legislative Day lunch. Senator Chris Caughman and Representative Price Wallace had to get back to the Capitol before the photo was taken.

Magee High School introduced the Trojans’ new Head Coach and Athletic Director Chuck Maxie, second from left. Maxie and his fiancé were joined by Principal Bill Broadhead, far left, and District Athletic Director Dr. Bo Huffman.

Maxie chosen to lead Trojan football

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 01:48 PM

Magee High School introduced new head coach and athletic director Chuck Maxie last Friday at a public meeting.
Principal Bill Broadhead stated that Maxie has been a part of several successful high school programs and has coached collegiately on the junior college level.

Magee Mayor Dale Berry, seated, signs the proclamation recognizing Boswell’s contributions to the city observed by, from left standing, Earnestine and Andrew, both of whom rent apartments and homes in the city, and Boswell Director Clint Ashley.

Magee celebrates IDD Awareness

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Tue, 03/15/2022 - 01:44 PM

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves recently announced that March is Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Mississippi. In honor of that designation, and in recognition of Boswell Regional Center, Magee Mayor Dale Berry signed a proclamation at City Hall proclaiming March as “IDD Awareness Month” in the City of Magee.
Berry presented Boswell officials with a signed proclamation listing the impact Boswell employees and individuals make on the local economy.

Mississippi Stories: Ki Harris

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Mon, 03/14/2022 - 03:24 PM

Q&A with neonatologist Dr. Christina Glick on the benefits of breastfeeding

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Mon, 03/14/2022 - 03:12 PM

Dr. Christina Glick is a neonatologist who has had a career-long interest in human milk diet for premature infants and breastfeeding for all babies. She also runs a free-standing breastfeeding clinic in Jackson, Mississippi Lactation Services, to continue and expand her advocacy efforts for the many benefits of breastfeeding.

Mississippi Today spoke with Glick this week about the benefits of breastfeeding, the stigma around it that exists in Mississippi and how the larger culture around breastfeeding in America needs to change.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson Announces Over $7.9 Million in Funding for MS Second Congressional District Schools and Libraries to Help Kids Access the Internet at Home and Close the Homework Gap

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Fri, 03/11/2022 - 02:12 PM

Below is a press release from Congressman Bennie G. Thompson:

Funds Made Available Through Program Established One Year Ago by the American Rescue Plan

MDE announces 135 school districts have chosen to receive new health, school safety platform at no cost

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Fri, 03/11/2022 - 02:02 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

A new health and school safety platform will be available at no cost to 135 Mississippi school districts that recently opted to receive the service to create a safer and better learning environment for students, teachers and staff.

MDE announces 2022 Administrator of the Year, Teacher of the Year finalists

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Fri, 03/11/2022 - 11:02 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) recently announced the finalists for the 2022 Mississippi Administrator of the Year and the 2022 Mississippi Teacher of the Year.

2022 Mississippi Administrator of the Year Finalists

MDE announces 121 school districts to receive online tutoring services at no cost

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Thu, 03/10/2022 - 12:00 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

New high-dosage tutoring services in math and English Language Arts will be available to students in grades 3-12, educators and families at 121 school districts, which includes four charter schools, that recently opted in to receive the services at no cost.

Coping tools, such as this billboard, are provided for students throughout Trent Lott Academy in Pascagoula, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

‘You are not alone, and we need you to know that:’ What schools are doing to support students’ mental health

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Thu, 03/10/2022 - 09:34 AM

After 20 years of teaching special education, Alison Rausch has adopted a “one day at a time” attitude towards her job.

Rausch, who currently teaches fifth and sixth grade at the Wheeler Attendance Center in Prentiss County, has found the uncertainty of the pandemic exhausting. The unpredictable nature of students being out for quarantine leaves her regularly reteaching lessons and makes it difficult to plan.

‘It makes it hard to work’: The real cost of not expanding Medicaid in Mississippi

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Wed, 03/09/2022 - 01:24 PM

As hundreds of thousands of working Mississippians struggle to afford healthcare, state lawmakers have again decided not to consider Medicaid expansion and do not seem poised to do so anytime soon.

Briana Wright has worked all her adult life. The 27-year-old Kosciusko resident has been a crew member at McDonald’s for three years. Before that, she worked for Tyson Foods, where she mostly hung chickens for processing.

Under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Mississippi was awarded approximately $575 Million for 48 Colleges and Universities, which included $270 Million for Community Colleges

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Wed, 03/09/2022 - 11:34 AM

Below is a press release from Congressman Bennie G. Thompson:

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson recently announced that Mississippi colleges and universities have been awarded approximately $575 million in American Rescue Plan funding. This has been one of the largest allocations of funding attributed to colleges and universities through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Center for the Advancement of Youth, located in the Highland Bluff South office building on Old Canton Road in Jackson, Miss., provides care for children with behavioral or developmental issues throughout the state. Credit: Eric Shelton/Mississippi Today

Inside the contract dispute between Mississippi’s largest hospital and insurer

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Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:46 AM

University of Mississippi Medical Center and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi are locked in tense contract negotiations, and neither is backing down. Here’s how many Mississippians could be affected.

Tens of thousands of patients at Mississippi’s largest hospital and its clinics will be on the hook for higher out-of-pocket costs if an agreement with the state’s largest private insurer isn’t soon reached.

Central Building is in its 76th year serving Magee, Simpson County and the surrounding community. Picture left to right: Tim White, Kevin White, Kenny White, Ben Berch and Allyson Berch.

76-year-old family business thrives

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Wed, 03/09/2022 - 09:13 AM

Family businesses are becoming a thing of the past. Magee is fortunate to still have a few left from the heyday of an active and thriving downtown. Central Building Supply and Hardware is such a business with five generations working in the store.
The store opened its doors in 1946 as Central Wholesale Company owned and operated by Walter J. Johnston, Jr., great grandfather to Allyson Allen Berch, daughter of Ted and Jean Allen. Many Magee residents and others from around the area would agree Mr. Ted was synonymous with Central Building Supply.

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