A buck’s potential for antler development is contained within his genetic material. In other words, his antler potential is determined by the combination of DNA from both his sire and dam. The buck’s environment, or quality of his habitat, and his age affect the physical expression of his genetic potential for antler development. more

While it will be Tuesday night before Kemper Academy resumes basketball play for the 2022 portion of its schedule as the Rams and Lady Rams hit the road to face Columbus Christian, the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats of Kemper County High School were on the court this week. more

The bow I carried on the hunt was decidedly superior to the one I wrote about in my book, Horizons East. It was, in fact, a Browning of good quality, but hunting with it had not led to any noticeable increase in the amount of venison I brought home. more

The Alabama All-Stars blanked Mississippi in the 35th Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game played in Hattiesburg by the convincing score of 20-0. more

The most effective approach to any deer management problem is to identify the biological and social factors that are limiting fulfillment of management goals. These limiting factors should be ranked in order of importance and addressed with management actions, emphasizing the most important limiting factors. Reliance on manipulation of any one limiting factor to increase the prevalence of larger antlered bucks, without understanding its relationship to other important factors dooms many efforts to frustration, if not failure. Antler production is clearly regulated by age, nutrition, and genetics. The solution to most antler production management problems usually incorporates all three factors, with an emphasis on age and nutrition. more

The Kemper Academy Rams had a huge week in basketball this week with both teams earning powerful wins over Hebron. more

Former MSU Bulldog and professional soccer player Betty Casey opened her first full season as KCHS head soccer coach, after the Wildcats did not play the previous season due to Covid-19. Casey previously coached at Southwest Community College before she landed at Kemper County. more

The Kemper County Wildcats struggled this past week in basketball with both teams going winless over the break. more

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a top-20 showdown to close out their pre-Christmas holiday hoops slate, the 19th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi won their sixth straight game with a hard-earned 61-56 road victory over 16th-ranked Shelton State during Monday’s junior college basketball action played at the Umphrey Center. more

The No. 23 Lions of East Mississippi Community College won for the fifth straight time by posting a decisive 69-51 home victory over Meridian Community College during Thursday’s MACCC men’s basketball action played at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum. more

East Mississippi Commu- nity College’s basketball teams successfully opened conference play by sweep- ing Northwest Mississippi during Thursday’s MACCC hoops action. Shakira Wil- son’s career-high 33 more

It’s official. Both Ole Miss and Missis- sippi State will go bowling this post sea- son. No. 8 Ole Miss will play No. 7 Baylor, the Big 12 Champ, in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. more

The East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team continued its upward trend on the national junior col- lege hoops scene by claiming a thrilling 84-82 overtime home win more

JACKSON — East Mississippi Community College’s Shakira Wilson has been named the MACCC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, as announced Tuesday by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference and voted on by the league’s sports information directors. more

The Kemper Academy Rams earned two wins this week, while the Lady Rams earned one.  more

The Lady Wildcats of Kemper County High School earned three huge basketball wins this past week.  more

Four Kemper County High School football players were re- cently named to the MHSAA Class 2A All-State football team, while 11 others picked up re- gional honors.  more

The Looking Back feature has re- turned to the Kemper County Mes- senger. Every week we will take a quick look at stories of interest from back issues of the newspaper.  more

Looking to return to the championship form they experienced three years ago as conference champions for the first time since the 1930s, the East Mississippi Commu­nity College men’s bas­ketball team entered the 2021-22 season with a veteran quartet of re­turning starters joining forces with a talented group of experienced newcomers. more

The Kemper County High School boys bas­ketball team played the first six games of the season with just eight players, as the Wildcats were waiting for seven members of the hoops team to complete their successful football team. more