Astronaut Fred Haise aids Picayune Boy Scouts in fundraising effort

Mississippi Boy Scout Troop 2 in Picayune was chartered in 1919 and has been continuously chartered since then, the oldest troop in Pearl River County and nearly the state. The active troop takes its members on camping trips and field trips to assist them in learning more about the possibilities in the world. They are currently planning a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico to benefit the Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts of the troop.

The group recently doubled in size when another troop in the area gave up its charter and the members moved over to Troop 2, leaving it the only troop in Picayune.

On Friday evening, February 19, the newly enlarged chapter hosted “A Night with Fred Haise” as a fundraiser toward the trip. The Apollo 13 astronaut, a Mississippian by birth, now lives on the Gulf Coast.

Displays of scouting activity surrounded the Pittman Family Life Center of Picayune First United Methodist Church, showing the many directions a Scout can travel on the road toward life choices.

The evening began with a welcome by Scoutmaster Keith Kingrey. He showed a video about scouting which included archival footage of Lieutenant General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, the British baron who founded The Boy Scouts Association. A second video included information on the benefits of the program, with statistical comparisons of increased life skills for Scouts versus non-Scouts.

Assistant Scoutmaster Lud Pierce described the Silent Auction process, an additional fundraising activity which offered more than thirty items. The auction included autographed photos of Fred Haise and other donated items.

Opening prayer was delivered by Rev. Harold Manning, pastor of Picayune FUMC, the sponsoring organization for Troop 2. He was assisted by Orion Cosme, the troop’s Chaplain Aide. Pastor Manning included an invitation to all of the attendees to visit FUMC on Sunday, February 21 for an observation of Scout Sunday.

BSA Executive Mr. Casey Norwood spoke on the Pine Burr Area Council which includes Troop 2. He spoke of the importance of volunteers in the program and related his own experiences as Cub Scout and Boy Scout.

Just before the meal, Kingrey introduced Cubmaster Eljie Bennett to discuss the Cub Scout program of the troop. Cubs range in age from seven to ten years old and work their way up through levels of Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos, before moving up to the Boy Scout program.

Following the meal, John Wilson, Director of the Infinity Science Center in Pearlington, MS, took to the podium to introduce the evening’s main event, Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. As Haise enthralled the audience with tales of his background as a test pilot, his adventures in NASA and his life after space travel, he proved himself a charming speaker and excellent instructor. He received a standing ovation at the end of his program.

Troop 2 presented Haise with a special poster, autographed by the members of the troop as a thank you for his contribution to the evening. More than 150 people attended the dinner program with the proceeds going to benefit Troop 2. The Silent Auction raised over $1400 to add to the total amount toward Philmont. Dinner proceeds are being tallied.

Originally appeared 02/20/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/astronaut-fred-haise-aids-picayune-boy-scouts-fundraising-effort

First ever convention in Hattiesburg brings the fantastic to town

For the first time ever, the Mississippi town of Hattiesburg will host a convention aimed at fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk, comics and cosplay. Southern GeekFest, a production by Rafe White and Tim Nicholas, takes place April 2 and 3 at the Forrest County Multi Purpose Center, 962 Sullivan Drive.

White and Nicholas attended many conventions over the years, making notes of what they liked and didn’t like about each gathering, as part of their research for planning their own. Both have volunteered, working behind the scenes of other events, to learn to hold a successful con. Southern GeekFest marks their first outing at the helm and they haven’t held back.

The two men seek to bring the pop culture world to Hattiesburg in a prism-like display of the many aspects of the genre. The town has previously hosted role-play gaming conventions, but nothing on the level of variety offered by Southern GeekFest.

Headlining the event is an appearance on April 2 by Star Trek: Voyager’s Tim Russ. The mellow-voiced actor/singer/voice actor has also worked in Fallout4 and Live Free or Die Hard, among others.

A screening of Mississippian Frank Ladner’s indie Southern mock-umentary “Max Peril” takes place during the conference, adding a local flavor to the fantastic worlds offered throughout the event.

Others on the agenda include actor/writer/director Jessy Hughes; actor/producer/director/writer Jeremy London; artist/illustrator/graphic designer Gavin Michelli; actor/cosplayer/John R. Mangus; actor/director Scotty Whitehurst; actor Jerrad Vunovich; makeup/effects artists Dark Water FX. Authors include JL Mulvihill, KD Wood, Rob Cerio and more. John Dell of Marvel/DC Comic brings another aspect to the mix.

Non-human representatives at the convention include many of the iconic vehicles of the genre, including Bela, a Great Thief, the North American black Impala which appeared in Supernatural.

With many of the guest artists crossing categories, nearly every aspect of the convention world will be represented. The lineup goes beyond those mentioned and continues to expand. The latest additions can be found on the convention website.

Watch for more stories from Southern GeekFest in the coming weeks.

Originally appeared 03/01/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/first-ever-convention-hattiesburg-brings-the-fantastic-to-town

One-man show on C.S. Lewis transports audience to 1963 England

Entering the theater for the performance of An Evening with C.S. Lewis, the attendees found an empty arm chair next to an end table on the stage. On the table rested a cup and saucer and a glowing lamp. Other than those props, the stage at Pearl River Community College’s Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts was empty on February 11, 2016.

When British actor David Payne took the stage, the few props transformed into the living room of literary legend C.S. Lewis in 1963. The audience became a group of American writers visiting Lewis at The Kilns, his home outside Oxford. Payne began an extended monologue which entranced his listeners and carried them into the world of the man who brought Narnia to the world.

Lewis, known as Jack to his family and friends, led an amazing, often difficult life. Payne shared retrospective of that life as Lewis approaches the end of his road. The one-man play includes memories of Lewis’ childhood and young adulthood, his professional relationships, his marriage and his faith journey.

Early in the play, the viewers heard of the literary rivalry between Lewis and T.S. Eliot. Their friendship endured their mutual disdain for each other’s genre.

A passion for Norse mythology, ignited by a reading of a Longfellow poem, provided common ground for a friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien. Payne took the audience through their relationship, speaking of critique sessions and encouragement.

Tolkien and Hugo Dyson influenced Lewis in his decision to abandon his stand as an atheist and return to faith. Payne described the events with his well-modulated British cadence, showing the passion in his language rather than the volume of his voice.

The play included discussion of Lewis’ service in World War I and how it interrupted his college education.

Through the story of meeting of Joy Gresham, her move to England, their marriage of convenience followed by a true marriage, to her death just eight years after their first meeting, Payne displayed a depth of emotion tempered with hope. Lewis based his book The Shadowlands on his relationship with Gresham.

Payne auditioned for a bit part in the play based on The Shadowlands in 1996. He won the lead, which began his deep affection for the author’s work and led to his writing of this play and other works based on the life and works of C.S. Lewis.

With his measured British accent and liberal use of wit, Payne enthralled the audience at the Brownstone. A brief question-and-answer session following the play allowed them to get to know him better. He spoke of how much he enjoyed the theater in the small Mississippi town. Payne joked about Poplarville’s single traffic signal.

Any fan of C.S. Lewis’ writings will find the evening well spent. Students of twentieth century history will enjoy the insights into the period. Theater fans in general can lose themselves in the magic of an arm chair, a table, a lamp and a talented British actor recreating a bygone author’s twilight. Look for An Evening with C.S. Lewis.

Originally appeared 02/12/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/one-man-show-on-c-s-lewis-transports-audience-to-1963-england