In observance of National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), the South Mississippi AIDS Task Force (SMATF) will offer free rapid HIV testing to the public from 9am-12pm and from 2pm-5pm Thursday, February 7 at its office located at 2756 Fernwood Road in Biloxi. Ten-dollar ($10) Wal-Mart gift cards will be issued to the first 65 “first time” testers.

National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day is an initiative that was established thirteen years ago by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and their partnerships with various community-based organizations.

February is National Beef Month.  Did you know that 97% of America’s cattle farms and ranches are family run?  That’s right!  We have Mississippi Farm Families providing safe beef not only for your family but ours as well.

Improvements in beef production technology have helped the beef industry use fewer resources to feed more people.  In Mississippi in 2011 the value of the beef industry was $155 million.  

With over 14,500 cattle farms in Mississippi there is a lot of delicious and nutritious beef for you to try in your family meals. 

Written by: Christopher Upton

Wiggins, MS-

Christmas is a time of giving, receiving, family, joy and making memories.  Unfortunately, for some children, Christmas isn’t so joyous.  This year the staff of Stone County Hospital and Clinic came together to do our parts in bringing a little bit of joy to children at Deanash Children’s Village in Stone County. 

Deanash, part of the Baptist Children’s Village of Mississippi, is the southernmost campus of the BCV and can care for up to 20 children at one time.

With Christmas spirit in mind as well as