Jamie Patterson Managing EditorWho needs eggs when there are flowers to be picked?Our daughter Elsie  only had about four Easter eggs in her basket when something else caught her attention.
It wasn’t the golden egg that is usually filled with a silver coin or green dollar.
It wasn’t a delicious chocolate bunny rabbit, complete with a giant pink bow.
It was a vibrant, delicate yellow flower among the plastic eggs in the green field.
Elsie ran right up to it, dropped her basket and took a seat right by the pretty flower.  The annual Yazoo Herald Easter Egg Hunt was nothing but a distant memory. She had better things to tend to that morning.
As the other children her age ran around the field, scooping up as many eggs as they could, Elsie sat alone with her batch of flowers. With her tiny fingers, she carefully picked each individual flower and placed them into her basket. Not shifting one petal out of place, her Easter basket resembled an Easter bouquet within a few minutes.
By the end of the Easter weekend, Elsie and our son James both had their share of eggs from the family and church hunts. So it really didn’t matter that Elsie missed out on that one hunt to stop and smell the flowers.
Looking over the photographs we took that day, it reminded me of a very special lady who I had met within the first few months of arriving in Yazoo City.
I was a new wife, soon-to-be mother, and I had just settled into my new position as reporter at The Herald, along with my husband Jason. I seemed to be fitting in just fine in my new position and new home.
I did spend a few weeks being homesick. I am not sure if it was the new territory of beginning my own family or if it was being in a new place without my family or old friends.
And then out of nowhere, I received a phone call at work with a news tip.
“Have you ever just stopped and looked at all these pretty flowers coming up all over town,” the sweet voice said, over the telephone.
Flowers? It was my first news tip about flowers.
“No, ma’am,” I replied. “I never really gave it much thought.”
“Well, come on over to my house,” she said. “Let me throw some clothes on, and I am gonna take you on a ride around town to look at them. Might even make for a good story.”
Her name was Mary Brister. And she wasn’t kidding. She wanted to show me the flowers of Yazoo.
We spent about two hours that morning, driving all over Yazoo City. With her little hands stuck tight on the steering wheel, she would point out the different varieties of blooms and other flower beds.
But it was the tiny white and yellow wildflowers that she gave the most attention to that morning.
“They don’t look like much when they are all alone, but when they grow in big bunches like that...it’s really beautful,” she said.
And she was right. It really was a pretty sight that I never paid attention to before.
I did end up writing a story about that drive. And I made it a point to speak to Mrs. Brister anytime I saw her.
Maybe she realized the impact she made on me during that drive...maybe she didn’t But from that day forth, I began to notice the flowers. It even made an impression on Jason. It was the first thing he mentioned when we heard Mrs. Brister passed away.
So when Elsie dropped everything to pick up that small yellow flower this weekend, I thought about Mrs. Brister. I thought about all the people who stop and look at the flowers.
It is a sign of rebirth, a new season. It is a reminder of what precious things God has made for us to admire.
We just have to take the time to stop and notice them.

Walter Patterson Herald ColumnistI ran into a long-time friend last week, and the first thing he said to me was, “I see you have been using the term ‘Low Information Voter’ in some of your columns.  What exactly does that mean?”
“Low Information Voter (LIV) refers to anyone who does not pay attention to politics until it’s time to vote.  They usually vote with their emotions rather than with facts, and they can be anyone from a college professor to a high school drop-out.  The LIV can be rich or poor, old or young, male or female.  They just don’t have enough information about politics to make an informed decision,” I replied.
“Can you give me some examples?” he asked.
“LIV’s elected Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City.  LIV’s elected Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.  You can throw Dick Durbin and Jay Rockefeller into the mix.”
“What about the President?”
“He is a great politician, but his policies are wrecking the country.  We can’t remain a strong, vibrant country with opportunities for all of our citizens unless he changes his policies.  Nowhere in history has socialism worked.  Nowhere!  Look at the old Soviet Union or present day Europe.  Their economies are in shambles and we’re headed there fast.”
“How can I tell if I am a LIV?”
“How about a little test?” I suggested.
“Let’s do it,” he said an eager look on his face.
Answer these questions true or false:
TF 1. The Senate and the House of Representatives are required by law to pass a federal budget each year.
TF 2. The term “balanced budget” means the same as “national debt.”
TF 3. U. S. currency is backed up by the gold we have stored at Fort Knox.
TF 4. The federal government has the right to print money.  The more money it prints, the more valuable the dollar becomes.
TF 5. The term “inflation” means that we can purchase more goods with our dollars.
TF 6. Nancy Pelosi has stated publically that “food stamps” are an economic stimulus.  Is she correct?
TF 7. Man-made global warming (or climate change) is a scientific fact.
TF 8. The U. S. Government is the source of all prosperity.
TF 9. Government regulations insure that every citizen is treated equally and that economic downturns never occur.
TF 10. The U. S. does not have a debt crisis.
TF 11. There will never be an economic collapse in the U. S. because our government can print money.
TF 12. Same-sex marriage should be approved by the Supreme Court because these individuals have no protections under the Constitution.
TF 13. Many lawmakers and economists think that our entitlement programs must be changed if the U. S. is to avoid an economic disaster.
TF 14. The Democrat Party has failed to produce a federal budget for over 4 years.
TF 15. Our children and grandchildren will have no problem paying off the national debt because our economy is sure to grow and they will make more money than their parents.
“Well, I missed 6 of your questions.  Did I pass?”
“Sorry, if you missed 3 or more, you are a LIV.  You need to study what is going on in our government and apply logic to what you see.  Otherwise, this country is in trouble.”
“Give me the correct answers to the test,” he requested, his eyes growing narrow and his voice rising.
“Numbers 1, 13, and 14 are true.  The others are false.  Let me encourage you to pay attention to what is happening in Washington.  Know what your elected representatives are doing, and ask questions.  Only the people can stop this mad dash to economic collapse, and once you know the facts, being a LIV will just be a distant memory.  Good luck.”

Jamie Patterson Managing EditorThe Patterson home has entered new territory. It is a place that is hard to recognize. We are confused and unsure of how we got to this point. But the only thing we can do is buckle up and hang on for the ride.
We have entered the “terrible two” stage with our daughter Elsie. Despite all what we heard before from parents who knew better, her “stage” seems more dramatic than it was with our son James.
Our son James was a fireball from birth. He always did things his own little way. He was a difficult sleeper, a picky eater and constantly full of energy.
That was just who he was.
I hate to admit this now, but when James entered into his own terrible two stage, it was really no different than before. The tantrums may have lasted a little longer and would begin a little sooner. But for the most part, my husband Jason and I were pretty well adjusted to James’ mood swings by then.
But Elsie’s transformation came out of left field.
She came into this world with a smile on her face and a calm, pleasant attitude. She rarely cried and went to sleep instantly in her own crib when we brought her home.
She was never a picky eater and always had a wonderful appetite. She played well with others. She never really threw a tantrum. And for the most part, could be calmed down easily with a kiss and hug.
But as we come around this new bend, things have gone insane. Jason and I are more baffled than ever, scratching our heads as to what has happened with our sweet little girl.
When Elsie enters the room, she struts. Yes, she makes a grand entrance. With her little hands on her hips, she arrives with an air of confidence that she is in charge.
And this little firecracker demands respect. When things don’t quite go her way, she will even cross her arms and turn her nose up in the air.
I never thought she would do it, but she has even resorted to falling flat on her stomach in the middle of a tantrum. With all four limbs extended, she shoves her little nose into the ground as she makes her case.
When James pushes her buttons, Elsie will point her finger at him and mumble an incoherent language that only babies understand. I am not sure what she is saying to him, but it can’t be good.
And let’s not forget “the dead weight” drop. It never fails. A tantrum always seems to begin while we are in the middle of the grocery store. Elsie will go from being excited about the strawberries I put into the cart to being furious because I wouldn’t let her knock cereal boxes off the shelves.
And then she falls to her knees. As I grab her arm to try to regain control, she puts all her weight into this massive drop to the floor.
People probably feel sorry for us as I try to throw the Kool-Aid packs in the cart while dragging a screaming child down the aisle.
In reality though, the terrible two stage isn’t that bad. As a parent, I think you gain more patience with each child. When James did the “dead weight” drop as an infant, I would leave our shopping cart and run to the car, shielding my face.
But with the second child, I keep on shopping with a child hanging onto my leg with tears of anguish running down her face.
I have even been known to carry on a conversation with another mother as both of our children cried over grabbing a box of Little Debbie snacks.
Elsie is going through a major change in her life, and tantrums and other dramatic episodes can be expected. She is after all a girl...a girl who knows what she wants.
Even at 31 years old, I find myself crossing my arms, stomping a foot and leaving a room with my nose in the air from time to time.
Jason and James are getting used to the antics of a female. And like most men, they stay in their recliners with a remote in hand and a confused look on their faces.
Whether it be a two year old mad because she can’t get extra cupcakes or a grown woman upset because those shoes didn’t come in her size...Jason and James know how to handle any situation.
Even at five years old, James has already learned from his father  to just nod his head and remain quiet.
This too shall pass.

Jason Patterson Editor & PublisherMuch of the blame for the failure of our city’s public schools has been placed on irresponsible parents.
That’s certainly a major factor in the sad state of affairs that currently exists, but last week’s report from the State Commission on School Accreditation suggests that there are numerous problems with the local educational structure as well.
The district’s accreditation status will be placed on probation following numerous problems discovered by state education officials during an unannounced visit, something students might recognize as a “pop quiz.”
Like a student who had been snoozing through class, our district didn’t fare so well on this surprise examination. That didn’t come as any surprise to observers who have seen the district hire a superintendent and then release him before his contract expired, witnessed violence in our schools or seen the recent reports that as many as 80 seniors were in danger of not graduating after failing required tests.
A common response to our reporting on this subject is to shoot the messenger. This newspaper is frequently accused of dwelling on negative subjects while ignoring positive news when it comes to Yazoo City Public Schools. I strongly disagree with that statement. There is
some good news, and we enthusiastically report it. Our Profile edition comes out Saturday, and Yazoo City High senior Stephen Diew may be the most successful student we interviewed.
We’d prefer to tell good news all the time, but this is probably the most significant issue facing our community. We wouldn’t be much of a newspaper if we avoided the issue just because it might upset some of our friends and neighbors.
We’ve never suggested that there aren’t good people working in the district, but the indisputable fact is that the system is broken. We’re constantly assured that progress is being made. There have been some notable successes, but the district as a whole is sinking.
The problems are complex, and that means the solution won’t be simple. There are some simple steps to take in the right direction, however:
1. Enforce the rules consistently. One of the report’s most troubling items is the district’s failure to follow its expulsion  policy for a student bringing a weapon on campus. We’ve been given countless other examples from frustrated teachers.
One example is a student being sent to the office for talking on a cell phone during class and returning to class with the cell phone and continuing the conversation with no consequences. Another teacher reported that he was asked to refer to a group of students causing
fights as a “club” rather than a gang so that the trouble makers wouldn’t have to be expelled.
2. Don’t let disruptive students ruin things for those trying to learn.
The district has an alternative school for a reason. It’s understandable that school officials aren’t eager to remove problem students from the traditional learning environment, but they shouldn’t be allowed to hinder the efforts of those who are actually trying to take advantage of the opportunities being provided.
Our actions have consequences. That’s a lesson some of our youth need to learn.
3. Hire the most qualified
employees.
Former Superintendent Shannon Sudbury once told us that he was sometimes unable to replace an ineffective employee because they were connected to a school board official or other local politician. That’s not hard to believe. I’ve seen it at all levels of our city government.
Our aldermen will create a job for a political supporter in a heartbeat. 
One of the most telling quotes from the report is “...it is the perception that appointments are not made on the basis of individual qualifications, but rather appointments are made based on an individual’s long-term involvement in and connections with local politics.”
This issue has been raised many times by frustrated educators. The response is often, “That’s just politics.” A more accurate description would be, “That’s just stupid.”