Mississippi
Two new Mississippi wildlife commissioners appointed: Who are these guys?
‘I believe we need to spend some money on state parks. We do have a great resource in those parks and a lot of people use those parks, so let’s don’t forget about them.’
Watch as a black bear steals more than just sunflower seeds
This black bear couldn’t help but steal a bird feeder full of sunflowers, along with the camera.
In its July meeting, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks had a different look. District 2 Commissioner Scott Coopwood rotated into the role of chairman and two new commissioners were in place.
Gov. Tate Reeves recently appointed Todd Hairston as commissioner representing District 5. Hairston filled a vacancy left by former commissioner Leonard Bentz when he was not confirmed by the Senate following a scandal involving baiting turkeys with crickets.
Colin Maloney was appointed commissioner representing District 1. He replaced commissioner Bill Cossar whose term ended after two terms and 10 years of service.
The Clarion-Ledger interviewed both to find out more about them.
Who is Colin Maloney?
Colin Maloney is a life-long resident of Tupelo. The 61-year-old attended Mississippi College and earned a degree in business. He is the founder and CEO of Century Construction Group with offices in Jackson, Nashville, Austin and Tupelo. He’s also served on the board of directors of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, an agency that helps fund outdoor and conservation projects.
“I kind of grew up on a farm outside of Tupelo,” Maloney said. “So, hunting and fishing was a part of my life growing up.
“My dad introduced me to deer hunting. My grandfather was a big fisherman.”
Though the father of two continues to hunt and fish, his interests have broadened, and he travels the world pursuing them. Maloney said he has participated in the Baja 1,000 off-road vehicle race in Mexico eight times. He has traveled to places like Vietnam in search of adventure.
Last year he did something closer to home, The Great Loop. It’s a 6,000-mile trip by boat that takes you up the Eastern Seaboard then inland through America by rivers and canals and then into the Gulf of Mexico. He has also traveled by motorcycle from Tupelo to Anchorage.
As exciting as adventures like those may be, he is also excited about his appointment to the commission.
“I think it’s like anything,” Maloney said. “You want to get in there and make a difference. I am excited about it.”
One area he wants to make a difference in is Mississippi’s state parks.
“I believe we need to spend some money on state parks,” Maloney said. “We do have a great resource in those parks and a lot of people use those parks, so let’s don’t forget about them.”
MS deer hunting: Here’s what’s new for the 2024-25 season
Who is Todd Hairston?
Hairston graduated from Delta State University where he earned a degree in environmental science. He works at Covington Civil and Environmental, a civil engineering and environmental consulting company. His current role is government relations and business development.
The 45-year-old is a father of three girls and lives in Gulfport, but he grew up in the Mississippi Delta where hunting and fishing are as much of the fabric of life as the corn, beans and cotton that are raised there.
“I don’t know when I was first taken hunting and fishing,” Hairston said.
He doesn’t know for a reason. Hairston talked about a photo of himself, father and grandfather fishing on the coast. It’s a memory captured only in the photo for Hairston, because he was too young to remember it.
“I was hunting and fishing before I knew I was hunting and fishing,” Hairston said.
When asked how it felt to be sworn in as a commissioner, he paused. Not because he didn’t know what to say, but because it was an emotional moment for him.
“I wish all of the folks that influenced my love of the outdoors could have been there,” Hairston said.
Hairston also talked about how he’d like to see conservation going forward.
“Yesterday was my first meeting,” Hairston said. “I’m still learning, but I want all of the people involved in the effort to better our natural environment and wildlife and experience of God’s creation to work together toward common goals — a better experience to enjoy what we have.”
CWD in Mississippi: Where MS is in deer disease fight and new management zones for 2024-25
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
Mississippi
Mississippi lawmakers face pressure to counter looming federal cuts to health care after punting this session
Wicker: Mississippi powered Artemis II
Published 4:00 pm Monday, April 20, 2026
For nine days this month, space travel captivated the world. Families gathered around their screens as four astronauts strapped into the Integrity spacecraft docked at the Kennedy Space Center. As the launch countdown ended, four Mississippi-tested RS-45 engines ignited, and the ground shook. Seven seconds later, the Integrity had liftoff. For six intense minutes, the RS-45 engines rocketed the crew into high Earth orbit, sending them on their historic lunar flyby mission.
Mississippi should take a bow. The four RS-45 engines were tested at our very own Stennis Space Center, where Mississippians have been ensuring the quality of rocket engines since the Apollo program. For eight years, engineers, safety managers, and logistics specialists from the state have tested the engines that powered the Integrity and will power future Artemis launches. Their work paid off, and the launch was a marvel of engineering. NASA leadership made special mention of the rocket engine burn, calling it “flawless.”
One Mississippian in particular helped make the mission a success. Hernando native Matthew Ramsey handled a great deal of responsibility as the mission manager for Artemis II. The Mississippi State University graduate helped set the focus for the mission and equip the astronauts and staff for the job. Matthew also served as the deputy of the Mission Management Team, the group of NASA staff that comes together just days before a launch. The team assumes the risks of the mission ahead, and they make tough calls during flight if challenges arise.
As the Artemis II journey progressed, the world could not stop watching. Our social media feeds were full of photos and videos beamed down from the heavens. They captured humorous situations, such as the astronauts adjusting to life without gravity or testing their plumbing skills.
We also witnessed moments of majesty. On the fifth day, the Integrity began using the Moon’s gravity to slingshot our astronauts back home. That trajectory led the crew around the Moon, farther from Earth than any humans have ever gone. As the explorers looked upon outer space, they captured stunning images. Among the most remarkable is Earthset, in which Commander Reid Wiseman photographed Earth as it appeared to fall below the horizon of the moon.
When their spacecraft returned to Earth’s atmosphere, the crew was traveling nearly 35 times faster than the speed of sound. Ten minutes later, a series of parachutes began opening. Eventually, the spacecraft’s speed fell to 20 miles per hour, and the crew splashed down into the Pacific Ocean.
Mississippi was once again there to assist. The astronauts were greeted by the USS John P. Murtha, a U.S. military vessel built in the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula. The ship’s amphibious design was suited to welcome the space travelers home—equipped with a helicopter pad, medical facilities, and the communications system needed to locate and recover the astronauts safely. Crucially, the USS Murtha was built with a well deck, a sea-based garage that stored the Integrity on the journey to shore.
Artemis II was a resounding success, paving the way for planned future flights. When the Artemis program returns humans to the moon, Mississippi will be there every step of the way.
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