Articles by Jan Swoope
Petite sweets: A creative baker’s “small” idea delivers big on flavor
Small is big with Rachel Guerry. That’s why the young baker came up with the idea for pielets — individual pies petite and neat enough to pick up and enjoy, but big enough to deliver on flavor.
From heartwarming humor to yearning harmonies, it’s storytelling time in Mississippi
What a revelation my first storytelling festival was. As adults, I think we tend to get rusted. We sometimes forget how to authentically engage, laugh, even cry.
Author to share insight on the 10th Mississippi Infantry
The city of Columbus bustled with activity in early 1861.
Artfully good: Savories, sweets and artistic flair combine in a creative table
Watching Shirley Catlett create a stylish reception table topped in burlap, colorful fabrics and artfully-arranged savories and sweets — most of which she made herself — one might have a hard time picturing her as a girl working on her daddy’s cotton farm near the Missouri bootheel.
Nurtured by nature: A morning in the woods fuels mind, body and soul
Growing up, Toby Gray always wanted to be “that guy.” The one who seemed to know what he was looking at while on open-air walks, the seer who could identify trees and plants, who knew “you can eat this and you can’t eat that.”
School community says ‘Thanks, Mr. Charlie’ for 42 memorable years
The corridors of Heritage Academy in Columbus seem a bit different this semester.
Hazard Lecture Series to celebrate 25th anniversary
For the past quarter century, the annual Hazard Lecture Series has offered the Golden Triangle opportunities to explore the worlds of history, artistic expression and science and medicine.
A little South in your mouth: Prime time for hot-weather okra, and delicious ways to prepare it
Okra. Not Delta State’s unofficial Fighting Okra mascot, not the trendy Okra Cookhouse restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, or any of several bands that go by the name. Just okra, that vegetable that’s close to being as Southern as sweet tea.
15th annual Tribute brings Tennessee Williams’ unseen characters into the light
When Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” premiered in Chicago in 1944, it catapulted the Columbus-born playwright from relative obscurity to fame. It also introduced the world to the Wingfield family, Amanda, Tom and Laura — a faded Southern belle of a mother, her restless son and shy, sensitive daughter.
MSU, MUW rank top in state for grads’ average starting salaries
Golden Triangle institutions of higher learning rank high in 2016 analyses by SmartAsset, a financial technology company. Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women are ranked first and second in the state for graduates’ average starting salaries.
Columbus Rotary’s ‘Shots Felt Around the World’ set for Saturday
The Columbus Rotary Club will hold its second annual “Shots Felt Around the World” shooting competition Saturday, Aug. 27 at Prairie Wildlife in Clay County.
Celebrate Mother Goose at Friday’s picnic
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Edwina Williams’ role as Mother Goose with the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library.
Feeling stuck? Christian Women’s Job Corps offers empowerment
Six years ago, Brenda Anderson was holding down a steady job, waking early to breakfast before joining the stream of humanity that works hard for what it has, loves family, abides by the rules and trusts that life will be gentle in return.
September Quick Bites programs explore florals to freezer meals
The month of September will bring another round of Quick Bites programs offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Olympic fuel: Ever wonder what it takes to feed a world of athletes?
Our Olympic attention may be focused on disciplines like track and field, rhythmic gymnastics and basketball (or, in my case, equestrian) for the next several days, but have you paused to wonder how anyone goes about feeding 18,000 athletes, coaches and team staff from more than 200 diverse countries every day during the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro?
Cowbell canvas: A door prize leads to an enterprise celebrating spirit and special memories
Vicki Burnett will tell you — it all really began with bunco.
Kimbrough to bring ‘stories, songs, picking’ to town Friday
Will Kimbrough has a voracious musical appetite.
Worth the drive: State’s second Book Festival to feature area writers
The Mississippi Book Festival will hold its second annual “literary lawn party” at the Mississippi State Capitol Building in downtown Jackson Saturday, Aug. 20.
Popcorn goes gourmet: A love for kids inspires a popcorn enterprise
It was just about a decade ago that Marjorie and Earl Willis of Flint, Michigan, were vacationing on the east coast. A side trip to Mississippi to visit an acquaintance altered their life plan.
Back to school: One family preserves a piece of America’s one-room school history
School bells silenced by the hot summer of 2016 stirred to life again this past week.
Jelly Roll to perform at Jeffery Simmons Community Fun Day
July 3, 2025
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