Mississippi
History Made: Mississippi’s first all-female officiating crew takes the field – By Torsheta Jackson – Mississippi Scoreboard
![History Made: Mississippi’s first all-female officiating crew takes the field – By Torsheta Jackson – Mississippi Scoreboard History Made: Mississippi’s first all-female officiating crew takes the field – By Torsheta Jackson – Mississippi Scoreboard](https://i1.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-Facebook.jpg?fit=1200,630&ssl=1)
By Torsheta Jackson
Dr. Adrienne Barnes, stepped onto the damp turf of the South Jackson soccer discipline. She adjusted her white referee’s cap on her head earlier than learning the groups gathered. Again decide, Dominique Sutton, handed the ball to the kicker. One other fast look by Barnes ensured everybody was in place. Happy, she blew her whistle signaling the kickoff and making historical past.
Fifty years after the Title IX was enacted prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any college or some other training program that receives funding from the federal authorities, Mississippi’s first all-female officiating crew took the sphere Friday night time. Barnes was the lead official.
“It’s a person’s world however we’re doing it,” mentioned Felicia Davis
The on-field crew consisted of Barnes as Referee, Sarah Fleming as Umpire, Sutton as Again Choose, Sherri Vaughans as Head Linesman, Fran Adams as Line Choose, Alona Alexander as Entrance Choose and Davis as Facet Choose. Phylicia Cotten served as Digital Clock Operator and Constance Clark served because the 40 Second Clock Operator. They labored alongside an all-female chain crew of Tamika Lipsey, Timika Morris and Charmaine Smith.
![](https://i2.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-5-1.jpg?resize=420%2C280&ssl=1)
One other word of significance, the crew was not solely all-female. It was additionally all black.
“It’s the first-ever time we’ve had 12 African-American girls working a highschool soccer sport,” mentioned Center Mississippi assigner Curtis Lowe. “We (had) seven on the sphere, two women on the clock and three girls on the chains.”
The concept of an all-female crew started final September after Barnes examine Oregon fielding its first crew stuffed with girls. Lowe backed the concept wholeheartedly. Barnes and Lowe gathered the group of girls from throughout the state. The crew who already participated in weekly research classes through Zoom have now additionally labored preseason scrimmage video games collectively.
“This yr after I took over the Center Mississippi Excessive College Affiliation,” mentioned Lowe from the sideline. “I advised the ladies in July that they might be working a sport they usually mentioned why don’t we add two extra girls and make it a seven girl crew. So we introduced a girl in from Memphis and took the girl off the clock and put her on the sphere.”
![](https://i1.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-2-1.jpg?resize=384%2C256&ssl=1)
The significance of the feat was not misplaced on Barnes who has 18 years of officiating expertise together with soccer, basketball, baseball and NCAA softball. She says it took ten years for her to be assigned to an on-field place with a soccer crew.
“I saved saying that I wished to be really on the sphere. I didn’t wish to be a clock operator. I really like soccer,” mentioned Barnes. “The assigner at the moment mentioned we already had a lady on the sphere. That was Sarah Thomas. That was the girl on the sphere at the moment in Mississippi interval.”
Thomas, a Pascagoula native who now resides in Brandon, started her officiating profession in 1996 and labored her varsity sport in 1999. In 2007, she grew to become the primary girl to officiate a serious faculty soccer sport and in 2015 she grew to become the primary everlasting feminine official in NFL historical past.
“That is necessary as a result of it reveals that it’s not male-dominated anymore. Simply because we’re girls that doesn’t imply that we don’t know the game,” Vaughans advised Mississippi Scoreboard. “We all know the game, we perceive the game and we love the game. We don’t need to have performed the sport to know what’s going on.”
![](https://i2.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-8-1.jpg?resize=404%2C269&ssl=1)
A few of them have performed although. As a matter of truth, Alexander presently performs with the Mississippi Woman Panthers, a girls’s semi-pro soccer workforce. Barnes was raised in a household stuffed with faculty and pro-football gamers. She grew up taking part in baseball and peewee league soccer, so officiating soccer was a pure selection for her. She started officiating different sports activities and was challenged by her son so as to add soccer to her repertoire.
“He advised me I used to be getting all into refereeing however he guess I wouldn’t do (soccer)” she mentioned. “My brother advised him later to by no means guess me as a result of I used to be going to show
Fleming began officiating a peewee soccer league on Saturday mornings as a result of they had been brief staffed. She quickly realized that she liked being on the sphere and tried her hand at center college earlier than shifting as much as highschool. Adams, a Dallas Cowboys fan, was launched to the concept at a basketball officers clinic by Clifton Cotten, Phylicia’s uncle.
![](https://i1.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-7-1.jpg?resize=397%2C265&ssl=1)
“I went in for a basketball camp and whereas I used to be there he inspired me to come back out with soccer,” Adams mentioned. “I had really wished to be a soccer official and never basketball however I had no concept how you can get began.”
Phylicia Cotton’s uncle and father are well-known officers. She grew up across the sport and signed as much as start officiating proper out of highschool.
“It was simply one thing I seemed ahead to,” she mentioned. “I knew the yr I graduated highschool, I used to be signing as much as be not less than a clock operator and that’s the place I’ve been since.”
The women word that they acquired super assist from throughout the nation however for them it has been the feedback from different girls which have been probably the most inspirational.
![](https://i1.wp.com/mississippiscoreboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MAIS-FB-Murrah-vs-Cleveland-Central-HC-14-1.jpg?resize=424%2C283&ssl=1)
“I’ve had a few folks say that was their mom’s dream however they had been advised no,” mentioned Barnes. “I heard that remark after I began in baseball too. They mentioned main league baseball would by no means settle for the feminine and it was irritating so I ended up switching over to softball, however you simply need to preserve doing it. We’ll get there.”
“It is crucial for little boys and little ladies to see that ladies can do it too,” added Vaughans. “There have been youngsters and fogeys after I’ve walked the stands going to the sphere say to one another ‘That’s a girl ref’ they usually get excited. It does my coronary heart good to see that as a result of then they will resolve in the event that they wish to be a “woman ref” or in the event that they wish to play the game.”
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Mississippi
MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota
![MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/02/0564de83-90fa-4d81-9619-84022c30819e/thumbnail/1200x630/e98078edb78f4dec2ccc9e494c22c33c/4p-pkg-river-testing-wcco61yp.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —It winds 650 miles, rushing past the cities, industries and landscapes that make up Minnesota.
However, the Mississippi River has never gotten this type of attention from water quality professionals.
For the first time ever, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is testing the entirety of the river, from Itasca to Iowa, in a single year.
The governor’s office wants the river to be swimmable and fishable, but right now, parts of the river are polluted.
The MPCA says the upper Mississippi is largely healthy up north, but quality drops south of St. Cloud where metro development and tributaries from agriculture muddy the waters. The National Park Service says stretches of the river exceed water quality standards for things like mercury, bacteria and sediment.
Think of the testing like a checkup for one of our state’s most valuable and powerful resources. Researchers will check temperature, transparency and levels of pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia.
Crews also check fish for those contaminants and collect insects to test in a lab to identify any concerning trends.
“If we find the fish community is suffering — maybe the water is too warm and maybe there’s a thermal pollution source upstream or maybe it’s too much runoff — that sort of stuff. Temperature is an important indicator especially for sensitive species,” Isaac Martin with the MPCA said.
Also for the first time, the agency is looking for PFAS contamination with money from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to identify and stop the forever chemicals from streaming into the Mississippi.
PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals for industry and consumer products that don’t break down in the environment. While research is ongoing, the EPA says exposure to the chemicals can cause human health issues. It’s why the federal agency just lowered the amount allowed in drinking water.
“They go to parts per trillion, which is incredibly sensitive. You get that low, you’re talking drops in an Olympic swimming pool,” Martin said. “Part of the reason why it was chosen is because it’s a primary drinking source or potentially could be a primary drinking source. We’re just finding them in places we never expected to find them. We’re finding them almost everywhere and being that it is new, there’s just a lot of ‘I don’t know’ that goes with it.”
It’s too early to know what this complete snapshot will reveal, but we know this powerful river is part of our community, economy and health.
“Maybe you don’t use the resource yourself, but maybe you know someone who does or future generations of your own will,” Martin said. “In Minnesota, we’re just trying to be the best stewards we can be.”
The data from this testing will be available early next year. Researchers will use that data and compare it to 10-year pollution averages to determine which parts of the river are improved or impaired.
A full report will be released in 2026.
Mississippi
Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)
![Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31) Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1280,h_720,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/high_school/01j5m63arexrvt6r9tmr.jpg)
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.
DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.
Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.
Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.
Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.
Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.
Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.
Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.
Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.
Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.
Mississippi
‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations
![‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations ‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations](https://gray-wlbt-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KMJQZPKGBHNRCT7NENQ3O72YY.png?auth=8e7e3183f489f41a63616389bdae4dd45efc187856d208138265c67183c736b4&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.
Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.
Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.
CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.
“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.
Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.
Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.
“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.
Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.
“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.
Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.
“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”
The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.
“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.
All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.
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