Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Sid Salter: Neshoba County Return After Covid-19 Wonderful Yet Strange

 With no active political races and a fairgrounds population returning after a 2020 hiatus caused by the global COVID pandemic, this summer’s return to the Neshoba County Fairgrounds was wonderful but there was an underlying tone that things had not quite returned to normal.

The largest crowd of the week was undeniably the Tuesday night grandstand concert presented by rising Nashville country music singer/songwriter Hardy – but Michael Hardy is after all a Philadelphia native son whose family owns one of the cabins. He’s the son of Mike and Sarah Hardy and the grandson of Bobby and Joyce Hardy.

While Hardy and veteran Nashville star Trace Adkins packed the racetrack grandstand, it was college football – not politics – that packed this year’s Founder’s Square Pavilion as University of Southern Mississippi Head Coach Will Hall, Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin, and Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach participated in a first-ever fairgrounds roundtable to talk about their upcoming seasons.

Hall was impressive and Golden Eagle fans have a lot to look forward to in their future with this young man. But the crowd under the tin roof was clearly there to see the exchanges between Leach and Kiffin – and neither disappointed. The bottom line is that for the first time in many years, the two coaches battling each other in the Egg Bowl seem to genuinely like and respect each other.

That doesn’t mean that they each aren’t dead set no winning that contest, but it does mean that the two respective fan bases can learn a lot from watching this pair interact. The same can be said for how baseball fans from across the state – regardless of their individual allegiances – clamored to see and get selfies with MSU’s 2021 NCAA Baseball National Championship trophy while it was briefly on display at Neshoba.

On the political front, the rise of the COVID “Delta Variant” and accompanying debates over mask requirements, vaccines, and the prospects of possible returns to some form of societal closures or interruptions were active and lively.

I left the fairgrounds convinced that the next month to six weeks will determine the answers to those questions and concerns. Will folks, even the vaccinated, return to wearing masks as a deterrent to the Delta Variant? Will concern over rising Delta Variant numbers fuel an uptick in voluntary vaccinations?

Without question, there is a public health stream and there is a political stream. The public health stream is offering information regarding the rapid, almost uncontrolled spread of the Delta Variant even among the vaccinated.

But the political stream – at the federal and state level – sees politicians avoiding any serious discussion of vaccine requirements and at least public scoffing at mask requirements. That in spite of concern about a simultaneous increase in Delta Variant infections and cases of another virus known as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, a highly contagious flu-like illness that is generally more likely to affect children and older adults.

As in the old “Ghostbusters” movie, the warning – at least for politicians navigating conflicting public opinion on COVID, is “don’t cross the streams.”

Finally, this writer joins so many Mississippians this week in mourning the passing of talk radio personality JT Williamson, who died Saturday hours after the close of the 2021 Fair. Prior to his cancer battle, JT was a frequent visitor at our cabin and we will long miss him.

We did not always agree on politics, but I enjoyed JT’s company immensely and he was always kind, generous and ready to help others through his statewide platform.

His unselfish work on behalf of autistic children and raising funds for Palmer Home are his monuments – along with his own outstanding children. Rest in peace, brother.

 Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at sidsalter@sidsalter.com

 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for those closing remarks.

Anonymous said...

Word is a pile of people who attended the fair have the Covid.

Anonymous said...

What’s the point of this article? It’s just some rambling

Anonymous said...

Newsflash: 'Some Rambling' is the point of all of Sid's articles. And that of every other article writer. Some people apparently like to pretend to live through the eyes and thoughts of columnists...same as some love to get immersed in Father's Knows Best, Hazel, Days of Our Lives and, John Wayne movies and Gunsmoke. I'm in there somewhere. Are you?

Anonymous said...

I've never understood the fair. Own a house you can only use 2 weeks out of the year to get drunk, watch horse racing that you never do otherwise, and listen to a bunch of blowhard positicians. Don't believe anyone can convince me that is a good use of resources or money.

Anonymous said...

The bodies man, the bodies.

Anonymous said...

welcome to masks forever in the the magnolia state thanks to outbreaks caused by unvaxed people.

Anonymous said...

Newsflash @1:22
The vaxxed are catching Covid-19, spreading Covid-19, and dying.

Stop blaming victims and start blaming the damn chicoms and their democrat party lapdogs

Anonymous said...

Lol, back to normal ? WTF is that ?

Anonymous said...

Never turn down an invitation to a cabin up there.

Hot. Muddy. Drunk or dusty as it may be.

A cabin invitation at Neshoba is not issued to everyone.
If one receives an invitation, they should consider themselves lucky.

Anonymous said...

"Lol, back to normal ? WTF is that ? "

That's when all the cousins can once again gather and enjoy each others' company with no damned outsiders demanding they wear masks. But still insisting on condom use.

Anonymous said...

6:11 I’d turn it down. The heat. Hell no.

My friend goes, and I make fun of him every time. If it wasn’t so damn hot on the other hand....

Like, they should really really consider changing the timing of the fair. Think of it as a cabin update. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Everyone I know that went, vaccinated or not, caught Covid.

Anonymous said...

8:18 - evidently you don't know many people.

All total there were over 100,000 folks at the fair during its eight day run.

Of all the folks I know who went, probably a couple hundred, I know of two that have tested positive for COVID since.

Anonymous said...

"8:18 - evidently you don't know many people.

All total there were over 100,000 folks at the fair during its eight day run.

Of all the folks I know who went, probably a couple hundred, I know of two that have tested positive for COVID since."

Er, well, lessee - you know a couple of hundred and a mere two of them have a potentially life-altering or even fatal, highly-transmissible disease. That is 1 in 100. Thankfully, we aren't talking about anything serious...right?

Anonymous said...

"Newsflash @1:22
The vaxxed are catching Covid-19, spreading Covid-19, and dying.

Stop blaming victims and start blaming the damn chicoms and their democrat party lapdogs". Need to put some of this on our great President Joe. He and his admins policy of releasing unvaxed and sick "New Democratic Voting Americans", from south of the border, into all areas of the country hasn't helped either. Super spreader by any definition.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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