GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) – What is Southern Literature? That was the topic of discussion at the Society for the Study of Southern Literature conference in Gulfport.

“How do we talk about Southern Literature, what kind and who are the writers that we try to incorporate into our conversations and there will be other workshops for scholars in Southern Literature at various stages of their careers,” Dr. Sherita Johnson said.

Dr. Sherita Johnson is the president of the society and an English professor at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She said this is the first time the conference was held in Mississippi and it’s all thanks to the keynote speaker, Jesmyn Ward, who is a Pass Christian native.

“I am at the Hattiesburg campus, but I couldn’t think of a better place to hold it other than here on the Coast and especially here since Jesmyn Ward is a native writer here and a major contributor to Southern Literature today, so the Coast made perfect sense to hold it here,” Dr. Johnson said.

Dr. Johnson said she gets excited when talking about Southern Literature because of the impact it has on the country.

“We’re constantly having discussions about what is southern in terms of who we are as southerners and how this writing in any way represents the experience of being southern,” Dr. Johnson said. “So, in Southern Literature, the definition changes, depending on who you ask, but in general, it’s one of the most prominent forms of American literature.”

Dr. Johnson said when the conference is over and everyone returns home, she hopes the conversation of Southern Literature will continue.

“What and who we are as scholars and teachers of Southern Literature, how can we keep this field growing, evolving and changing,” Dr. Johnson said. “We don’t assume that once you have your degree, once you talk, you know what best way to teach, so we’re constantly trying to encourage and continue pedagogical practices and how to be better.”

Southern Literature has been around as a genre now for more than two centuries.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – Temperatures are soaring across Mississippi.

“It’s really bad. I am melting. I mean, the humanity just swamps over you quickly,” said Vickie Barfield, who lives in Hattiesburg.

The high humidity and a heat index of 110 made it feel even hotter. Logan Bryant, who works in construction, said the heat makes for a hard day on the job.

“Well, being that I work outside, it makes you sweat a lot worse. So whenever it’s humid outside, it’s just uncomfortable,” he said.

During the high temperatures, doctors said people should stay indoors between the hours of noon and 2:00 p.m., limiting activity to the evening and morning. If you have to be outside for an extended period, you should take precautions.

“We want to make sure before we ever go outside that we’re already hydrated, already taking care of ourselves and being prepared. When we are planning on going outside with sunscreen, with bottled water, to make sure that we’re not letting ourselves get too hot,” said Dr. Grace Gable with Forrest General Hospital.

Gable said not taking preventative measures during a heat wave can cause serious medical conditions, including heat exhaustion.

“The signs of that include being really confused, feeling really hot. If you check a temperature, it might be as high as 104 degrees. Your pulse may be really fast. You might feel your heart racing and feel really dizzy. When that happens, we definitely want you to move into some AC if possible. If you are not able to make it inside the AC, make sure to get in the shade,” she said.

If you begin to feel dizzy and disoriented, call 911. Heat exhaustion can be fatal if left untreated.

FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. (WEAU) – Late yesterday afternoon crews responded to calls about a woman in the Mississippi River.

According to a news release from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, on June 24 around 4:15 p.m., dispatch received calls about a woman impeding traffic on Highway 35 in Fountain City, Wis.

The release says that prior to deputies arriving, it appeared the 60-year-old woman entered the Mississippi River intentionally.

Fountain City Fire Department helped law enforcement with its rescue boat.

The woman was downstream about a half mile from where she entered the water. She was returned to shore and evaluated before being transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and further mental health evaluation.

The sheriff’s office urges the public not to swim in the Mississippi River until water levels and dangerous currents go down.

Copyright 2024 WEAU. All rights reserved.