Feature Story

By Jamie Vickers

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Clay County hospitals will have some friendly yet unusual guests when 4-H'ers and their pets show up for therapy.

PAWS, Pets Are Worth Sharing, is a new program teaching Clay County 4-H'ers responsibility. PAWS trains youth and their pets for visits to nursing homes, schools and children's homes to offer a unique type of therapy.

Mary Ann Holloway, president of the PAWS program and owner of Paws-itive Attitudes Training Service, said PAWS offers a break in routine for people in nursing homes and children's homes.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The success of the 1998 pumpkin crop depended on the availability of August rains or irrigation. For most growers, this wasn't their year.

Pumpkins grow best in dry and warm (but not hot) conditions, said Dr. David Nagel, Extension horticulturist at Mississippi State University.

"They are drought tolerant, but not that tolerant. They aren't desert plants," Nagel said. "Two of the state's pumpkin growers who irrigate had a great year, but the rest of the growers were lucky if they had an average year."

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many state producers will remember 1998 as a farming disaster as low market prices compounded yield losses from heat, drought and hurricane.

Corn and soybeans took the biggest hit as low yields matched lower prices. Production value for both fell 32 percent from 1997 even though acreage this year was higher than last.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Most cotton and soybean farmers relaxed as Hurricane Georges hung a hard right after landfall, but for Southeast Mississippi growers, the results were devastating.

Dr. Alan Blaine, agronomist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said growers across the state with fields almost ready for harvest were working around the clock to avoid the predicted heavy winds and rain.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Hurricane Georges has passed, but the deadly aftermath has just begun.

Many South Mississippi residents purchased their first chain saws as the storm approached, but the risks abound for experienced operators as well.

Dr. Laurie Grace, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said chain saw accidents occur when the operators fail to respect the deadly potential of their saw and/or fail to wear protective clothing such as chaps, safety boots, eye and ear protection, and hard hats.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Make safety and documentation top priorities when returning home and cleaning up after a hurricane.

"Personal safety is most important," said Sharon Frazier, State Farm Insurance spokesperson, but documenting losses is also very important.

By Jamie Vickers

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Damage caused by Hurricane Georges could result in South Mississippi residents becoming victims of unethical or unqualified repairers or businesses.

Although judgement is often impaired during times of emergency, there are several ways consumers can avoid fraud.

By Amy Woolfolk

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- While Halloween costumes can be as simple as a trip to the store, taking time with a child to create a costume at home can be fun for the family.

Dr. Betty Fulwood, apparel and textiles specialist for Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said it has become common practice in today's fast-paced society to buy ready-made costumes. However, great costumes can be found at home for little or no expense.

By Jamie Vickers

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Restaurants and other establishments that sell food to the public are turning to two state agencies to meet new requirements for food safety certification.

"Everyone expects their food to be safe, and more people are eating away from home," said Lydia Strayer, director of the sanitation bureau for the Mississippi State Health Department. "People who prepare the food have to be properly trained, or it could lead to illness."

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Hurricane winds took their toll on South Mississippi forests and urban trees, but the price was not as high as some feared.

"Most forest land and landscape trees dodged the bullet from Hurricane Georges," said Dr. Glenn Hughes, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "Of course, if your are one of the homeowners who lost a treasured tree in your yard, you may not feel so lucky."

Hughes, who is based in Ellisville, said the hurricane-force winds apparently decreased quickly after landfall.

By Amy Woolfolk

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When Hurricane Georges blasted through coastal Mississippi last week, the pecan crop took a beating, but nurseries escaped with light to moderate damage.

Extension agricultural agents in some southern counties described significant damage to pecans and trees.

John Wesley, Stone County Extension agent, called this year's pecan harvest in his county a complete loss. The crop was only about three weeks from harvest.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Like other Mississippi crops, the sweetpotato crop is reaching the end of a long, hard row, but its tropical nature has prevented catastropic results.

Chickasaw County agent Charlie Fitts said the majority of sweetpotatoes are the Beauregard variety, which has been one of the most successful varieties in recent years.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- With unpredictable stock markets worldwide and a person's financial worth changing hourly, some people have turned to stuffed animals for security.

Produced by Ty Inc., Beanie Babies are a line of small, colorful, loosely stuffed animals. Priced about $5 so kids can buy them, the toys have become a hot commodity in adult circles where some Beanie Babies now sport price tags in the thousands along with their heart-shaped hang tag and poem.

By Jamie Vickers

MISSISSIPPI STATE --Teen-agers who venture into the world of part-time jobs realize that managing money is not always easy, and they may need help from parents.

"Parents should help their teen determine obligations and a spending plan," said Dr. Beverly Howell, family economics and management specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "Parents should also help them stick to it."

Budgeting is a good place to start when teens are learning to manage their money. Three essential steps in designing a budget are:

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- From a national advertising campaign to additional staff positions promoting youth activities, Mississippi's 4-H program has cause to celebrate.

"National 4-H Week is Oct. 4 through 11, but it seems like all of 1998 has been 4-H Year," said Dr. Susan Holder, state 4-H leader with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

By Amy Woolfolk

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Young people have enjoyed fishing for hundreds of years, but Mississippi's 4-H and fisheries leaders are developing a program that will take the sport to a new level in the next millennium.

4-H and fisheries leaders are working on an educational fishing-related curriculum, which they hope to have in place in the fall of 2000. The program includes four major areas: angling skills, aquatic ecology, people and fish, and tackle crafting.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Society breaks down when people can't get along, but one 4-H program is stepping in to help youth learn to keep their cool.

Dr. Susan Holder, state 4-H leader with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said it is vital that today's youth learn to resolve conflict well.

"As juvenile crime rates rise, we see a great need for youth to learn better ways to handle their anger," Holder said. "Much youth violence could be prevented if young people were taught peaceful ways to resolve their problems."

By Amy Woolfolk

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Young people have enjoyed fishing for hundreds of years, but Mississippi's 4-H and fisheries leaders are developing a program that will take the sport to a new level in the next millennium.

4-H and fisheries leaders are working on an educational fishing-related curriculum, which they hope to have in place in the fall of 2000. The program includes four major areas: angling skills, aquatic ecology, people and fish, and tackle crafting.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi soybean growers are going into harvest hoping to survive a year of bad yields made worse by bad prices.

Early in the growing season, high temperatures and drought were the crop's worst enemies. Non-irrigated and early maturing Group IV soybeans were hardest hit. As harvest neared, prices fell, compounding the disastrous effects of low yields.

Yields have averaged 25 to 27 bushels an acre, compared to 1997's average of 31 bushels. Prices are currently about $5.30 per bushel, rather than a normal price of $6.80.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's timber industry is feeling the effect of Japan's economic crunch even though most Southern pine lumber rarely makes the voyage across the Pacific.

Dr. Bob Daniels, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said Japan is North America's largest wood products trading partner, principally buying softwood lumber from the western United States and Canada.