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[Music and Intro]

(Drew Hall) MDOT presents The Extra Mile Podcast

(Paul Katool) Welcome in to another edition of The Extra Mile Podcast presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I'm Paul Katool, and as always, I'm joined by my co-host Will Craft. And, uh, we're back in the MDOT studios after a little hiatus. Very excited for today's guest. We've got State Representative Steve Massengill, who represents Benton, Lafayette, Marshall and Union Counties, and most relevant to MDOT, he is the House Transportation Chair. Representative Massengill, thank you so much for making time for us before the holidays.

(Steve Massengill) Hey, glad to be here! And I do represent Pontotoc, too.

(Paul) Pontotoc. My apologies!

(Will Craft) Add Pontotoc in there, that’s right.

(Paul) My apologies. Adding it right there.

(Steve) Can’t leave anybody out.

(Will) That’s right. To the people of Pontotoc out there listening, he is on top of it right there. He’s got y’all.

(Paul) I’m obviously not. Representative Massengill, it’s been a while. What you been up to? Any uh, transportation uh, related events or anything you've attended or anything?

(Steve) Yeah, we have had a busy summer. We, uh, we had the groundbreaking up in Ripley earlier, you know, in the year –

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Steve) for the big project going up there. Very excited. And I actually went back a couple of weeks later and looked at it, and man, they, they moved some trees in a short matter of time apart, it's very impressive how they're moving along there.

(Will) Everybody is still excited up there?

(Steve) They are very excited. It is, it is very exciting. They’re looking very forward to it. Of course, I know it's gonna be a couple of years, but at least you’re seeing progress. So, that's that always give people hope. Very excited about that. Yeah, we did a road tour this summer. Will actually went with us and drove the van and we think we actually had two vans.

(Paul) That’s great.

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) Yeah, we started on the coast and looked at, uh, big projects down there and came up and we looked at, I think it was Delta Industries. We went and visited them and uh –

(Will) Yeah, if you had asphalt, a concrete plant or a road project between the gulf coast and what? Byhalia? We took a look at it.

(Steve) We looked at, we had made three days in three different parts of the state, and we looked at road projects, bridges, uh, and asphalt and concrete places in all of those spots. So, that was very cool. I thought my committee really, really, uh, came out and participated really good. I had six or seven every day. I tried to get different ones from different parts of the state to go. And, uh, so I think, I think they really appreciated that. Uh, saw some cool stuff. Went to, was it Greenwood, Greenville?

(Will) I keep getting them backwards. Greenville! Because of the bypass.

(Steve) Greenville. We looked at the bypass over there that had been sitting there for 17 years waiting on asphalt. So, that was pretty interesting. Uh, just, and, but it looked really good. I think they’re moving in the right direction there. About to get that finished up, I hope. And, uh, then we went up in Benton County where I live and looked at that, they call it a high-speed roundabout. And that was a very unique project. We stopped there and watch the trucks come through. And I was very skeptical early on of how that would work. But after the engineers told us the numbers on the accidents before it opened, I think in a 10-year period, he told me there had been 86 major accidents at that intersection. And since then, it’s probably been open five months, maybe.

(Will) Probably, at least, yeah.

(Steve) There has been one minor accident.

(Paul) Wow.

(Steve) Just where a truck, just wasn’t paying attention, and he sort of went straight.

(Will) Hmm.

(Steve) So, uh, yeah, I, I am very impressed at how that's come out, so.

(Will) It does look a little crazy kind of when you approach it, especially for the first time.

(Steve) Yes.

(Will) That’s even the first time I had seen it in person.

(Steve) Yeah. If you're just coming into it, you're like, ‘What in the world is this?’ Because I mean, they say high-speed, but you’re slowing down probably to 35.

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Steve) You know, it's not like you're rolling through at 80, but it, it did keep the flow going. Uh, two trucks could actually go through it side by side, so that was really good engineering, I thought. I'm, I’m just very happy that that has worked out like it is, so.

(Paul) That’s awesome. Let's give a, we love to give shout outs. Let's shout out Brian Hovanec, the MDOT roundabout guru. He, uh –

(Will) That's right.

(Paul) He loves roundabout. So, when he watches, listens to this, you're gonna make him a very happy man.

(Steve) Well, good. Good. Well, I was, I told him I was holding judgment till I saw it finished and how it proceeded. So, it's turned out really well. You know, the split at Oxford 7 and 9, they put a new roundabout –

(Will) Right.

(Steve) about a year ago and it has worked. It, it has worked really good. I think it may have could have been just a little bigger for the trucks, but it's still, the flow is so much better there. It's just amazing, really, because that's the way I come when I come to Jackson every week, and there were days I'd see cars backed up a half mile, you know.

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Steve) And now there's literally nothing, you know, I mean, maybe one or two cars having to wait just a second, you know, but it is really, really been impressive, so.

(Will) I'm a personally a huge fan for what that's worth out there. But, uh, Brian Hovanec, shouting out again. I'll be the first to tell you they're not for every situation, right? Roundabouts don't work in every spot, but they are an excellent tool, you know, in the repertoire –

(Steve) Yeah.

(Will) Uh, for situations like what we're just talking about.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, so. Hopefully they'll keep continuing on that path, and keep doing good, so.

(Paul) They have.

(Will) And it, I think it seems like they keep getting better too, you know, I mean.

(Steve) Yeah.

(Will) This is not an indictment of Madison at all, but the hardest roundabout for me to ever navigate is that one at the Renaissance over there.

(Steve) Yes!

(Will) I mean –

(Steve) You better pay attention there.

(Will) Absolutely! And I guess maybe it's just that many people, but, you know, that booger is tough. But, you know, that was, I don't know how many years ago that thing got put out.

(Steve) It's been a while, so, yeah.

(Will) But, uh, you know, making progress, seeing more roundabouts around the state. I just can't stand a red light myself.

(Steve) Well, if you go to Oxford, you'll find plenty of roundabouts –

(Will) I know.

(Steve) because the mayor there really loves them, so.

(Will) Look, I moved, I live out and on the other side of, you know, uh, Rankin County in the Reservoir area. So, I drive down Lakeland every day. So, you would think that I have this, I don't know, obsession with red lights as many as I go through to get downtown every day. But it is what it is. We make it work. Just lots, lots of people on the road.

(Steve) Yeah.

(Will) My grandma used to say, ‘Does everybody just wait till I get out to go somewhere? Does nobody work?’ Just folks driving.

(Paul) It’s ridiculous.

(Steve) So it's been a very good, productive, uh, summer for the Transportation Committee. So, we're very excited. Looking forward to the next session.

(Paul) Love to hear it. Thanks for all y'all do.

(Will) Absolutely. Several, uh, several new faces on the committee as well, right?

(Steve) Yeah. Yeah, we do. Uh, I always love to get the, we call them freshmen to come and participate, and they usually will participate better than the older members because older members are like, ‘We already know all this.’

(Will) That's right.

(Steve) So yeah, a lot of the freshmen came and toured with us. And I think that sort of opened their eyes. I was like, nothing really makes you appreciate things until you go see how bad they are and how good they can be. So, I think it's turned out really well.

(Will) And you just see the scope of some of those projects, too. When you see the size in person. It's different from looking at a picture.

(Steve) Yeah, we looked at that was a 57 project on the coast –

(Will) On the coast, that’s right.

(Steve) where they, they took us into their main headquarters there and they had a drone fly over the whole, uh, site. And that was really interesting how they were able just to follow everything with the drone and keep up with what was going on day by day, and –

(Will) Yeah, like even like keeping up with the crews.

(Steve) Yeah, the crews. I could tell where the crews were and how they're progressing, progressing on their job, and I thought it was really neat. Uh, that was probably the best, best way we saw a road. I mean, excuse me, we drove down some roads, and that's pretty cool, but seeing it through the drone was very interesting.

(Will) And the whole of it, you know, without having to go anywhere or move, you know, it's just a massive project, but one that's a great one.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, yeah. We got a bunch of great projects and got some more coming, you know, the, uh, put money this year. through the capacity project for 55 and for Highway 7 out of Oxford. Both of those, you know, traffic around Oxford, you know, whether you're a Ole Miss fan or you just passing through the traffic, there is pretty bad.

(Will) Yeah. Brutal.

(Steve) Because there's just so many people in one little congested area. I went down to the Georgia game the other day at Ole Miss, and I was like, ‘Man, we, we will never get in, and we will never get out.’ But luckily when they won, I mean, we got in pretty good, but when they won and stormed the field, I was like, ‘It's a great time to leave.’

(Paul) There you go.

(Will) That's smart.

(Steve) We went right out, and we were gone within five minutes. I was like, ‘Man, that was so good.’

(Will) I didn't even think about it. That's pretty smart.

(Paul) I did the same thing. I watched them rush the field. Like, time to go.

(Steve) Yeah.

(Paul) Time to head out.

(Steve) You had your opportunity, so if you didn't take it, it was your fault.

(Will) That’s right, man. It’s a good motto right there. When everybody else is rushing the field, let’s go on and make it out the back door.

(Paul) Get out of there. Shout out to the Rebs. Shout out to the Rebs. Big winners.

(Will) Yeah, the hope of Mississippi right now, honestly.

(Paul) We’ll take it, we’ll take it. Hey, listen up. Another big topic. I know there's a huge appetite. Uh, or it seems like a lot of people are talking about the recurring revenue, the upcoming session. You want to kind of talk about that? What’s going on with that?

(Steve) Yeah, you know, we're, me and the chairman of Ways and Means, and, of course, the speaker have all been talking about a lot of different avenues, hopefully, we could go on that. And, uh, so we're looking a lot of different ways to get there. Definitely would love to get another Three to five hundred million a year, you know dedicated revenue. Just we're trying to figure out exactly how we can get there.

(Paul) Sure.

(Steve) So, still, still looking in all that.

(Will) Is there anything that sort of, cream of the crop maybe rising to the top? Plans-wise?

(Steve) Well, you know, we’ve talked about, you know, I hate to give away too many –

(Will) Sure, that’s fair.

(Steve) Too many secrets, because, you know, you tell too much and gives people time to play defense if they don't like it, so.

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) We're looking at a lot of different options.

(Will) Sure. I’ll pitch it to you this way: I think what's, what is definitely being talked about is a diversified approach.

(Steve) Yeah, you know, the gas tax, you know, which has been, you know, stagnant since 1987. Uh, so, and we have, we have put some other ways to get money to our roads and bridges, uh, like the lottery.

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) Uh, we definitely are going to try to remove the, uh, the sunset on the lottery this year.

(Paul) Oh, yeah.

(Will) Oh, right.

(Steve) You know, that's coming up in 27, but I'd like to go ahead and try to get that done. You know, when we, when we did that, did not think it was going to bring that kind of money in.

(Will) Right.

(Steve) Uh, so. We might try to divert some of the other money back into that, you know, which could, you know, add another 40 or 50 or 60 million a year. Uh, we’ll just have to see how that part plays out, but definitely want to do away with the sunset on it, so.

(Will) Absolutely. I think that I think our sports betting has that same –

(Steve) Yeah, yeah. Then, uh, the mobile betting, if we could get that added, we could maybe put that in there to, uh, get it diverted into that.

(Will) You know, I did. I actually did, I forgot that that did not get out of it.

(Steve) Yeah, it did not get out. So, but we're going to try again on that and see if it gets there. I don't I mean, I don't do it, but I know a lot of people that do, and I don't, uh,

(Will) Yeah, it wouldn't do me no good.

(Steve) We ought to give them the opportunity to do it, and we get the taxes off of it –

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) instead of them doing it other ways. And we're not getting the taxes off of it.

(Will) That's true.

(Steve) So, looking at that, I'm looking at a couple other things. Some other states have done, uh, I don't love them, but I know Colorado and some other state have put a fee on like when UPS or FedEx deliver a package to your house.

(Will) Hmm. OK.

(Paul) Interesting.

(Steve) Uh, I think they're the, I know there's only been a couple of states to do it so far. Uh, but, and that's generated a pretty good, I mean, it would only be like a quarter, you know, but which is fair. I think if you can order something and get it delivered to your house and, you know, it costs you a quarter extra.

(Will) Sort of substituting you driving to the store –

(Steve) Yeah, yeah.

(Will) and using that roadway that you're ordering and having that vehicle now still use that roadway, but come to your house.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(Will) I can sort of see that. OK.

(Steve) So, looking at that, I don't know how far we can get with that.

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) But I thought we'd at least start talking about it and see what happens. But yeah, we would love to get another three to five hundred dedicated. And that's not enough. But we try to be realistic.

(Will) Sure. I know the sort of the talking point, not sort of it is that the talking point is that we're about 485 million a year in a deficit on our maintenance program and about 100 million on that capacity.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah.

(Will) So that 500 number obviously talking about kind of what we're shooting for.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, yeah. If we could, I mean, 500 would be great.

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) Uh, but in, in the real world, you know?

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) If you get three to four, you know, you still will be really happy, you know?

(Will) Oh, anything.

(Steve) You know, if you got 400, you could put 300 on maintenance and a hundred on capacity. I think everybody would be tickled to death, you know?

(Will) Hey, and, and the powers that be here have done, you know, yeoman's work for years now on sort of managing the budget and doing it. I'm certain that, you know, they'd make it work.

(Steve) Oh, yeah.

(Will) We, we try it on.

(Steve) I have no doubt we could, uh, we could do a lot. I mean, if you go around the state right now, you see a lot of work –

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) being done on the roads. Uh, you know, progress is hard. People don't like it when you're doing it. But man, when it's done, they're tickled to death. So, we're gonna get there, hopefully.

(Will) That’s right.

(Paul) That’s awesome.

(Will) I think, I do want to point out one thing. I think we've talked about several times now, but specific to the gas tax and not taking a position on raising it or lowering it so much here. But it's almost just as a standalone measure. If you were, you know, just were out there and said, ‘Well, raise the gas tax. That's how MDOT is funded.’ Sort of what we've been talking about is, you know, that penny, a penny, a cent increase, it's about $20 million generated.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah. So even if you raised it a dime, you're only getting 200 million.

(Will) It's just not enough.

(Steve) So, yeah, it's not enough.

(Will) So, you start throwing 0.25, 0.30 out there. That is not a palatable measure for the taxpayer.

(Steve) No, no.

(Paul) Not quite.

(Steve) I mean, you, you could, you know, fairly, raise it ten cents and probably not even notice it. Uh, I've always said, if you're going to get gas, there's usually two or three gas stations on the corner. One of them's going to be a nickel higher, the other might be a dime higher, and they're all, people are getting gas at all of them.

(Will) I got to have it, I just don't even look anymore.

(Steve) Yeah, so, uh, most people don't look. Now my, my dad, he is always looking.

(Will) Yeah, some people do now.

(Paul) I'm looking, I'm looking. Anything. Anything to save a dime.

(Will) What is it? The gas saver, whatever that app got real popular there.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah.

(Paul) Yeah.

(Will) You can find the cheapest gas around.

(Steve) So, you know, it's, uh I don't, people would, they would argue for a minute or two or complain, but I think if we raised a dime, they'd get over it pretty quick.

(Will) Well, it fluctuates. And I'd be the first to tell you, you know, just from a purely personal out there on the road, like not MDOT related at all. I don't necessarily notice a little bit of difference in change. And I mean, like you said, you go shop from gas station to gas station, you end up spending, you know, going to use some gas to go from place to place, I mean.

(Paul) Sure.

(Will) Um, you know, again, not the end all be all that. That's not the saving grace measure.

(Steve) No, it's not. We've got to come up with other, other ways to generate money. I mean, because, you know, as electric vehicles, if they get more popular here, who knows in our rural state, if they will get popular, uh, you know, you see a few.

(Will) Right.

(Steve) But you don't really see a lot of them. Uh, so.

(Will) Even the non EVs, right. They're getting better gas miles.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, I buy, I'll drive a big old Z 71 and you know, he gets about 20 miles a gallon.

(Will) He’s doing his part for the taxpayer.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah. So, I always want to be one of the biggest vehicles on the road in case I get run over, so.

(Will) I don’t blame you there at all.

(Steve) And I do travel a good bit around the state. So, uh, so that's that, so

(Paul) There you go.

(Will) Absolutely. What about anything sort of, uh, non-transportation related? Is there? And again, no obligation to give us an answer here. But anything that you're looking at working on?

(Steve) Uh, most of my stuff is probably transportation. I'm still looking at the side by sides, making them street legal.

(Will) Oh, that’s right.

(Steve) Uh, you know, I talked about it last time I was on a little bit. I have people all the time say, ‘Man, I paid $40,000 for the side by side, and I can't get on the road legally.’

(Will) But I mean, you're talking about these things now have right headlights, taillights, I mean.

(Steve) Yeah, and if we do go to, you know, if we, if we were to get it passed to where they were street legal, they'd have to have a tag which would generate a little bit of money, you know, uh, street legal.

(Will) We're talking about local roads too, right? Not highways?

(Steve) I was talking about 55 and under, yeah.

(Will) Gotcha.

(Steve) Uh, I looked at a bill like that. I also looked at a bill with non-stripe roads and gravel roads.

(Will) Okay.

(Steve) But, bad thing about those, they're going to be on a striped road to get to those roads, you know.

(Will) That’s true.

(Steve) Uh, like I live on a road that's not striped, and I have gravel roads. So, but we have cows about a mile from my house. That's actually on a, you know, state road. So, we jump on the road –

(Will) Yep.

(Steve) and drive over there to get to the cows, you know, so, uh, I think as many of those things as there are now in the state and as big as they are and heavy as they are and, you know, they, they run pretty good too, uh, you write some of them.

(Will) You’re right! Some of them, it almost looks like a Jeep.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah. And you know, some of them now get up to $50,000 too.

(Will) That’s crazy.

(Steve) So, and, and the weights on them are putting them pretty close to a, you know, a car, you know, they're as heavy as a car. So, uh, I still wouldn't want to have a wreck in one.

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) but I won't have a wreck in anything.

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) So, I get the safety part of it, but, you know, this just, you know, there's still so many of them out there, and I see them all the time on the road, so. if we could, you know, make them legal, I mean, you know, person would have still have to have a driver's license and, you know, all the normal things that you would have to do to drive a car. So, but we're going to look at it, you know, you just never know how things are going to go with, you know, some members are going to like, no. And, you know, some members like, yeah, that'd be great idea. So, we’ll see how it goes.

(Will) That’s a good topic, you know, just to catch up on it and talk about and discuss, see what's out there. Cause that is, I mean, you know, I got friends and family that lived that life, and they drive them things. You know, that's every weekend.

(Steve) Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, you have groups that get together. 30 and 40 of them just ride, so.

(Will) Oh, yeah. That place down in, I guess, Seminary, Collins –

(Steve) I see it every time I go that way.

(Will) That joker. I mean, we needed to do a survey on how to put that bill together. I bet you get some answers out there.

(Paul) No doubt.

(Will) It's a big crew. Uh, anything? What was the one I was thinking about? And I can't, I don't remember if it passed last year. Not forgive me for stuttering there. The, uh, I think it was the wine, alcohol sales, or wine direct shipment or something?

(Steve) Direct shipment of wine.

(Will) Is that thing still out there?

(Steve) Still, still out there, and still not passed.

(Will) That's probably not, you don't, do you have any?

(Steve) Well, I don't drink, but I do have people that want wine delivered to their houses.

(Will) So, that one still hasn't passed.

(Steve) I hear that all the time. I know, uh, one of my representative friend’s wife was in Spain a couple weeks ago, and she was wanting to ship some stuff back –

(Will) Couldn’t do it.

(Steve) and couldn't do it, you know.

(Will) I don't think that'll go through the Transportation Committee.

(Steve) No, probably not gonna come to us, uh, but I would be all for it.

(Will) I’ve heard lots of opinions both ways.

(Steve) I’m mean, I’m for making the state complete and I like I said, I do not drink but I am for the state being completely wet, you know.

(Will) Sure.

(Steve) I live in a dry county Oh, my, my county is completely dry. Cities, county and all.

(Will) Mine was until I moved out when I moved out, to Rankin County about 2014 or so. Uh, maybe not too long after Simpson County. Actually, what Simpson County is one of the few and I'm gonna mess this up. I know, but has flip flop has been wet and went dry and then has gone back wet.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah.

(Will) Yeah, but I missed all of that.

(Paul) They just can't figure it out. That's crazy.

(Will) Times are changing and man. But, uh, you know, if you used to have to go to Georgetown or come to Jackson, everybody was going to do it anyway.

(Steve) So yeah, I mean, if somebody wants to drink, they're going to drink.

(Will) That’s right.

(Paul) No doubt. No doubt.

(Steve) I’d just sooner them being able to get it close to their home and not have to drive too much, you know.

(Will) You know, that's a good point right there. So just, just purely it's safer that way.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, so.

(Paul) Sure. Uh, lots going on in the uh, Transportation Committee in the House. Lots, lots of stuff happening in 2025. For sure.

(Will) No doubt.

(Paul) Let’s, uh, let's hit the fun questions. What do you think?

(Will) Absolutely.

(Paul) We’ve got a little twist on it today.

(Will) That’s right. We're going to change things up just a hair for you. This is some hot takes. I know that we'll get some feedback on these, but, uh, you know, we always talk about food and music, so, uh, tis the season. Uh, we probably won't be able to catch up with you again on the show till after the holidays. So, uh, a favorite or least favorite or both Thanksgiving dish. What you got?

(Steve) Ah, my favorite is my mom makes a sweet potato dish with brown sugar on top of it.

(Will) Oh, absolutely.

(Steve) And it is to die for.

(Will) I love that because it’s actually a side, you know.

(Steve) Yeah.

(Will) But it’s really a dessert.

(Steve) It’s a dessert, but it’s a side!

(Will) Sneaking it in there as a side!

(Steve) You can sneak it in there on your regular plate –

(Will) Oh, absolutely!

(Steve) before you go to dessert. So, that is probably my favorite dish that, and my mom will cook enough food to feed a hundred people.

(Will) We’ll be there.

(Steve) And there’s only 40 of us probably, so if anybody else wants to come, they're very welcome.

(Will) What’s that address? That’s our food recommendation, yeah.

(Steve) So, that is my favorite. My least, I don't really know if I have a least at Thanksgiving, uh. I don't love green beans, so there's always green beans.

(Will) I think my least favorite was going to be the green bean casserole.

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, I’m probably going to skip that one.

(Will) And as me and Paul were talking before the show, it’s not so much a vote against the green beans; it’s just a vote for all the other dishes.

(Steve) Yeah, there’s so much –

(Will) Yeah, too much –

(Steve) You can only put so much on your plate.

(Will) That’s right.

(Steve) So.

(Will) And my uncle makes a deep-fried turkey. It's probably my uncle and my grandfather. He probably learned from him, I assume, but they make a deep-fried turkey. That's my favorite. Man, it is so good. What you got, Paul?

(Paul) That’s pretty good right there. And you, you did mention the green beans, the anti green beans here before the podcast this morning.

(Will) Normal green beans, you know, just cooked. I love them.

(Paul) Sure.

(Will) But throw them in that casserole, and I guess it’s mayonnaise or something in there. It just throws me off. I can’t do it.

(Paul) Ack. I understand, I understand. Yeah, I'm just gonna go with the turkey. But the key is to make the gravy from scratch.

(Will) Oh.

(Steve) Yes.

(Paul) You know, backbone and giblets and that sort of thing.

(Steve) Yep. That is good.

(Paul) That's how you do it. And I'll, uh, I'm, I'm on a anti-processed food kick.

(Will) That’s right.

(Paul) So, any of those, uh, congealed, like, casseroles, like my family makes, I just can't do it.

(Will) Nah.

(Paul) I don’t know why. I just, it freaks me out a little bit.

(Will) The only thing I want congealed is the cranberry sauce.

(Paul) Fair enough.

(Will) You know, I want that thing straight out of the can with the little ring lines around it. That's the way I want it.

(Paul) Love it, love it.

(Will) That’s good. And then, uh, that’s excellent answers. Now, I’m hungry, and, uh, big time Thanksgiving coming up. This, this episode will come out on Tuesday, the week of Thanksgiving.

(Paul) There we go.

(Will) So, while we're at it, Happy Thanksgiving folks.

(Paul) Yeah. Happy Thanksgiving. And then we'll ask you one more fun question right after Thanksgiving, of course, is Christmas. Do you have a favorite, uh, Christmas song that just warms your heart?

(Steve) Man, I, uh, I guess I get this from my grandmother, but I love Christmas. I mean, we spent all day Saturday decorating. I put up a tree at Jackson when I get down here.

(Paul) Nice.

(Steve) So, my favorite song, man, I love them all. I really do.

(Will) I was about to say, maybe we should preface that. Are you a Christmas music person?

(Steve) Yeah, yeah, I do. I, I can, I'll, when I get to Jackson, I find the station and I turn it on.

(Will) OK.

(Steve) And it's playing it already, so.

(Will) You’re right. 98.7 is playing in my office.

(Steve) They already got it going. Uh, man, I don’t know. I, I do, I love them all. Uh, “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” is one of my favorites.

(Will) It's a good one.

(Paul) That’s a good one.

(Steve) You know, but I, I love them all. It don’t really even matter.

(Will) All right. Big Christmas music. Hey, that question honestly could be like, just, are you a Christmas music person or not? Cause I feel like that's a, that's a divide right there.

(Steve) It is, it is.

(Will) Some people love it, some people hate it. I've already heard Mariah Carey too many times this year, but, you know, other than that, uh, I'm here for it. And then, if anybody watched the Thursday night football game, that was last night, I guess, about four nights ago when this airs, it was full on snow and blizzard in, uh, Cleveland last night –

(Paul) Yeah.

(Will) for that Pittsburgh-Cleveland game.

(Steve) Oh, I didn't even see that.

(Will) We were putting up decorations and had the snowy football game going. It felt like it. Christmas is here. I don't want to skip Thanksgiving, but hey, the seasons are here.

(Paul) Sure. What a, what a guy, Jameis Winston.

(Will) He, he’s a national treasure for sure.

(Paul) Go Google him on YouTube if you don’t know him. And just, he has, he has a few things to say for sure. Very, very fun.

(Will) Always wonderful. You're going to question your sense of reality when he starts talking.

(Paul) Yeah, good stuff. No doubt. Well, uh, Chairman Massengill, I know it's busy before holidays. Thanks for coming and speaking with us today.

(Steve) Man, I really appreciate it. Love, love your show. Love being a guest. Hope y'all have a happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas. And everybody out there too.

(Will) That’s right.

(Paul) Same to you. We'll go ahead and wrap things there. Thank you to tuning in, watching, listening to the Extra Mile Podcast. You can watch and listen to episodes by visiting GoMDOT.com/TheExtraMile. Follow us on social media, @MississippiDOT is the handle. We want to thank our editor/producer Drew Hall for holding things down behind the scenes. And remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.

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