Mike Backel has always been enthusiastic when talking about Ridgeland's baseball team.
When describing a strikeout, the fourth-year coach doesn't just say his pitcher threw a pitch past a batter, but instead, "baboom," the batters are gone. Backel's fielders throw "bullets" across the field. He's usually optimistic about the Jaguars' chances each year and after winning four games in 2008 and six last year, Backel thinks Ridgeland is ready to shed its losing image.
The Jaguars are set to compete in 20 games this season and Backel thinks the team can win 10.

I am excited to confirm that Dr. Karen Wicks of EdVista Learning Centers has indeed expressed interest in assisting our school district. On the other hand, I am disappointed to learn that her offer was declined. As the saying goes, if it's not broke, don't fix it. However, no one ever suggested that problems didn't exist. While challenges occur in every education system, the community shares the same responsibility to bring about realistic options of resolution. But my concern heightens when a creditable resolution is offered on a silver plate and then it is readily rejected.