Terry Headlight News

July has arrived in Hinds County, but it has felt for the last seven days that “the dog days of August” have arrived early! The “Dog Days” of summer are from July 3 to August 11 each year. They’re usually the hottest and most unbearable days of the season.

Here are three July folklore statements that I found online and wish to share:

“Ne’er trust a July sky.” “If ant hills are high in July, the coming winter will be hard.” “Whatever July and August do not boil, September can not cook.”

Tuesday, of course, was Independence Day.

We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence, America’s revolutionary Charter of Freedom, and the document upon which the nation’s founding principles were established. But July 4 wasn’t the day that independence was declared. Nor the day that the Declaration was officially signed. What this holiday commemorates is the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by delegates from the 13 colonies. On the 4th, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. This is the day we celebrate the birth of the United States of America.

Instead, April 19, 1775 was the start of the American Revolution. During the Battles of Lexington and Concord (Mass.), the first shots were fired between colonists and British troops. After these first military conflicts, tension between Britain and her American colonists continued to mount. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted for independence from Britain. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence, which had been drafted by Thomas Jefferson (back in June) and edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. On July 8, the first public reading of the Declaration took place at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later that same day, other readings occurred in Trenton, New Jersey, and Easton, Pennsylvania. Printer John Dunlap made about 200 copies of the Declaration, with the date of July 4. Known as the “Dunlap Broadsides,” these were distributed throughout the 13 colonies. However, it wasn’t until August 2, 1776, that the Declaration was officially signed. John Hancock, president of the Congress, was the first of 56 delegates who signed this enlarged version, writing in big, bold letters. On August 4, 1776, after delegates of the Continental Congress had signed the document, the Declaration of Independence was made official.

John Adams (who later was elected as the nation’s second President) envisioned the celebration to be one filled with fun, games, and fireworks—not an occasion for displaying military strength as many people might expect. Interestingly, it was the death of John Adams (and third President Thomas Jefferson) that seemed to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated. And it was almost a century later (in 1870) that Congress declared July 4 a national holiday.

It is also remembered by many Southerners and lovers of history that the siege of Vicksburg (Warren County) lasted forty-seven days, until that city and its Confederate defenders were at last starved into submission. The Confederate commander, Gen. John C. Pemberton, surrendered on July 4, 1863. So bitter were the feelings and memories of the people of Vicksburg afterward that they did not officially observe the Independence Day holiday for the next 81 years (not returning to its observance until 1945).

So many of us who attended school in Terry are appreciative that we were taught Mississippi history by Mrs. Ella Bess Austin, who lived on Utica Street. Our library in Terry has been named in her honor.

The First Baptist Church on Raymond Street celebrated Independence Day on July 2 at its “Fourth Family Fourth Fellowship” in the Family Life Center.

First Baptist Church will also be having its annual Vacation Bible School from July 9th to July 12th. (I and remember when Vacation Bible School would last for two weeks. How many of you remember this also?)

There will be no Wednesday night suppers at the church during the month of July.

Congratulations to the Mississippi United Methodists! Our annual conference took place last week, beginning on June 24th and concluding on June 30 at the Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo located at 375 E. Main St. in Tupelo. . The Methodist bishop in Mississippi is Sharma D. Lewis. I suppose that the closest United Methodist church from Terry is the church in Crystal Springs. I have been a proud member of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church for many years. It is always enjoyable to look up where various ministers have been assigned to lead worship each summer. However, I had a hard time reading the list of appointments which were posted on the internet this year.

In last week’s column, I mentioned that patriotic anthems would be present in so many churches in this area on July 2. Hear and playing these hymns made me think that the holiday actually began on Sunday, so I have been in a holiday mood for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. There are more comments about patriotism and voting below.

Here are some of the birthdays which have been celebrated during the first week of July: July 1 - Beverly Gale McCleland Pilcher; July 2 - Marnie Higdon Reynolds, Gary Anderson; July 3 - Ginny Lee McMurray, Zilphia Linton Shearer, Bailee Johnson, Michael Recio, Jason Whittington; July 4 - Olga Lynn Jones Brock; July 5 - Cara Whittington McKnight, Danny Booth, Brad Whittington; July 6 - Tina Berryhill; July 7 - Jennifer Damaras Reeves; July 9 - Christie Cammack Slatton.

Congratulations to Ginny Lee McMurray, not only for celebrating a recent birthday, but for the birth of her new grandson Wendell Stephen McMurray Mowery (born on June 20).

Congratulations to our town clerk Alexis Reed Thompson and husband, who celebrated the anniversary of their wedding ceremony on July 3. Mrs. Reed was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast last week at the Mississippi Municipal League conference.

Please add this name to your prayer lists: Barbara McDonald Ball of Green Gable Road. Barbara broke her hip recently before she was in surgery.

The big party primaries will be conducted on Tuesday, August 8 - not more than a month away. It is the responsibility of Americans to vote and to remember that this responsibility has been defended for many, many years and that many of our fellow Americans have died defending the act of voting that we in this country have had since the nation’s infancy.

Here is a list of candidates whose name will appear on the ballots in the two Terry precincts on August 8:

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

GOVERNOR - Brandon Presley

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - D. Ryan Grover

SECRETARY OF STATE - Shuwaski Young

ATTORNEY GENERAL - Greta Kemp Martin

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE - Bruce Burton

TREASURER - Addie Green

AUDITOR -Larry Bradford

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE - Robert “Brad” Bradford, Sr. - Robert Briggs - Bethany Hill - Terry Rogers, II

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER - CENTRAL DISTRICT - Willie Simmons

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER - CENTRAL DISTRICT - Dekeither Stamps

STATE SENATOR - DISTRICT 29 - David Blount - Dwayne Pickett

HOUSE DISTRICT 76 - Gregory Holloway

SHERIFF - Marshand Chisler - Tyree D. Jones

CIRCUIT CLERK - Zack Wallace

CHANCERY CLERK - Eddie Jean Carr

TAX ACCESSOR - Willie Bob McGinnis - Charles E. Stokes

TAX COLLECTOR - Eddie J. Fair - Timothy G. Lewis

COUNTY ATTORNEY - Gerald Mumford

CORORONER - Sharon Grisham-Stewart - Lee Thompson, Jr.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - DISTRICT 7 - Jody Owens

SUPERVISOR - FIFTH DISTRICT - Ashley Floyd - Darrell Dewayne Harper - Malcolm Johnson - Dexter Hutton - Bobby “Bobcat” McGowan - Freddie Schuller - Joseph “Joe” Smith” - Robert A. Wall

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE - FIFTH DISTRICT - Pearlie Brown Owens

CONSTABLE - FIFTH DISTRICT - Beverly Wade Green - Larry White

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

GOVERNOR - David Grady Hardigree - Tate Reeves - David Wilcher

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - Delbert Hoseman - Chris McDaniel - Shane Quick

SECRETARY OF STATE - Michael Watson

ATTORNEY GENERAL - Lynn Fitch

TREASURER - David McRae

AUDITOR - Shad White

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE - Mike Chaney - Mitch Young

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE - Andy Gipson

STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION - CENTRAL DISTRICT - John Caldwell - Busby Charles - Ricky Pennington, Jr.

COUNTY SURVEYOR - Jeffrey Maurice Lewis

SENATE - DISTRICT 29 - Michael Carson

HOUSE OF REPRESETATIVE - Rickey Gene Smylie

The name of Independent candidate for Governor (Gwendolyn Gray)will appear on the ballot in November. The name of Independent candidate for Sheriff (Reginald Thompson) will appear on the ballot in November. The name of Independent candidate for District Attorney (Darla Palmer) will appear on the ballot in November. The names of Independent candidates for Supervisor - District Five (Jonathan Pond and Chris “Biskit” Woodward) will appear on the ballot in November.

The 3 county wide officials who do not have any opponents this year are Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace, Chancery Clerk Eddie Jean Carr, and County Attorney Gerald Mumford.

Next year (in 2024), the President and Vice President will be elected (as well as U. S. Representatives and some U. S. Senators). Some local candidates and election commissioners and school board members will also be on the ballots.

Any vote who is over the age of 64 years old may cast an absentee ballot at either of the offices of Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace (in Jackson or Raymond). I advise qualified voters to vote early in order to avoid the long lines that are found on Election Day.

The municipal elections will be held in 2025.

If anyone will be 18 years old on or before the General Election in Nov. (the 7th), he or she may vote in the primary of his or her choice. However, registration for the primary must be completed on or before July 10.

As stated in lasat week’s column, I looked for a good recipe for pralines. This one is called “The BEST Southern Praline Pecans.” It yields twenty-four pralines and takes about thirty-five minutes to prepare. The description is copied. (And is seems to me that “pecan pralines” would make more sense than “praline pecans.”

BEST Southern Praline Pecans Description:

“These are seriously the BEST Southern Praline Pecans! With the amazing flavor of brown sugar and butter, these are pure heaven! A little bit candy and a little bit cookie, they melt right in your mouth!” Ingredients:

1 cup (207g) sugar 1 cup (225g) packed light brown sugar 3/4 cup (180ml) heavy whipping cream 4 tbsp (56g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes 1/8 tsp baking soda 2 1/4 cups (212g) pecan halves 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Set out parchment paper for making the pralines on and have a tablespoon sized scoop handy and ready to go.

2. Add everything but the pecans, salt and vanilla extract to a medium pot and heat over medium heat. Stir regularly until it begins to foam and boil.

3. When it begins to foam and boil, stir constantly until it reaches 236 degrees.

4. Remove from heat and add the pecans, salt and vanilla extract.

5. Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula for 3 1/2 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken. The longer you stir, the thicker the mixture gets. You don’t want it to get too thick, or it’ll be hard to scoop the pralines and they’ll dry more firm.

6. Quickly drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto parchment paper and allow them to cool and firm. If the mixture is too thin and spreads more than you want, stir a little bit more. If the mixture starts to cool too much as you’re scooping, place it back on the warm burner (but don’t turn it on) and let it keep the mixture warmer. I find it helps to stir the mixture after every few scoops.

7. When pralines are cool and firm, store in an airtight container.

As usual, I welcome your informing me of omissions and/or corrections. Please contact me if you know of one (terryj1@bellsouth.net or 601-878-5714).