JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI | City With Soul

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Mississippi College School of Law investing $7.5 million in downtown Jackson campus renovations

Mississippi College President Blake Thompson says, “We’re here to stay.”
The Mississippi College (MC) School of Law plans to complete a $7.5 million renovation to its campus in downtown Jackson.

That announcement came Thursday, as the investment signals the school’s commitment to remaining in the capital city.

“Our campus lies in the heart of our state’s legal community, and we’re proud to make this investment into Downtown Jackson. We’re here to stay,” said Mississippi College President Blake Thompson in a statement. “We’re excited to offer an updated space that will not only better serve our current students but also enhance admissions for future generations of MC law.”

According to MC, the project marks the first major renovation at the MC School of Law in 20 years. Plans are to improve campus aesthetics and amenities through a multi-phase project in collaboration with CDFL Architects + Engineers and Alliant Construction.


(Artist rendering from Mississippi College)
Improvements include revamped library space, updated classrooms, integration of technology, an enhance student center, and more.

The first two phases of the project will be completed during the 2024-2025 academic year, with subsequent improvements thereafter.

MC leaders believe the Mississippi Bar, local bar associations, state courts, federal agencies, local law firms, non-profits, and the many Downtown Jackson businesses will all benefit from the renovations as they continue to make use of the law school’s amenities.

Virtual tour of the Master Plan
• Video Link
https://magnoliatribune.com/2024/05/...s-renovations/

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Byram Chamber of Commerce welcomes Storage Max

Byram Chamber of Commerce
3h ·
Congratulations To Storage Max Byram on their Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration‼️✂️
What a Great Day for Storage Max Byram!!
Guest Enjoyed Open House, Food! Live Music & Tours! Thank You To the Community for Your Support!
Please Go See George Harris for Move In Specials & Tours! 📦🚚
We Thrive On You & Your Business!
Welcome To Byram!!!
📍Storage Max Byram Parkway
101 Handley Blvd
Byram, MS 39272
📱 (601)202-9779
#byramchamberofcommercemember #storagemax
#ribboncutting #grandopening #byram
https://www.facebook.com/byramchambe...e8NqQDqJmFssRl

Byram Chamber of Commerce welcomes Boss Lady Luxury Virgin Hair

Byram Chamber of Commerce is in Byram.
May 17 at 12:18 AM ·
Congratulations!!! To “Boss Lady Luxury Virgin Hair”
On their ✂️Grand Opening! Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Celebration!!! ✂️We are So Excited To have You here in Byram doing Business!
We Thrive on You & Your Business✂️
The Salon is Beautiful & Boss Lady’s is Staffed with Experienced Professionals To Meet All Your Hair Care Needs & So Much More🤗
@Boss Ladys Luxury Virgin Hair
Is Located (Next Door To Kroger in Byram)
📍6745 SIWELL ROAD SUITE 107
BYRAM, MS 39272
Welcome To Byram!!!✂️
#byramchamberofcommercemember
https://www.facebook.com/byramchambe...oc76AhbiVp8gCl

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REALIZING DREAM--WEST JACKSON STREET TO RAILROAD DISTRICT BECOMING REALITY

The city of Ridgeland continues to make progress toward making the Railroad District, which includes the main thoroughfare of West Jackson Street, a reality.

The mayor and board of aldermen hired Waggoner Engineering for $20,000 to assist in completing an application for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Discretionary Program.

Waggoner will gather data, develop narratives and collect required documents for the city’s application for the federal program that funds local projects meant to improve roadway safety.

“We are seeking a grant from the Safe Streets for All federal program to fund the improvements that would make the street more pedestrian friendly,” said Ridgeland Mayor Gene F. McGee.

“Improvements would include new features like wider sidewalks, on-street parking, slower travel speeds, a festival area and likely a traffic signal at Perkins Street. There will be other aesthetic improvements that help with the branding of the district.”

The city must match the grant funds with 25 percent non-federal funds.
“There are a variety of funding sources that fit, but we do anticipate using the proceeds from the sale of various city surplus properties to cover most of the costs,” McGee said.

An announcement about the possible funding is expected near the end of the year, he said.

The city continues to look for funding sources for the district. “We will not proceed with other expenses until we have a better idea of the timing of implementation funding or other opportunities,” McGee said.

City leaders have dreamed for decades about transforming West Jackson Street, which extends between U.S. Highway 51 and I-55, into a central, walkable downtown.

The name, the Railroad District, recalls the significance the railroad played in the founding of Ridgeland in the 1980s. The district was officially named in November 2019 when a historical marker and plaque were placed at the Plaza at Old Town Crossing, which is next to the railroad.

In January 2023, city leaders approved the master plan for the Railroad District. The city hired Kimley Horn, a Memphis-based landscape architecture firm for $85,000 to develop the plan.

Implementing the Railroad District Master Plan is expected to cost $17 million and would pay off by improving the pedestrian experience, enhancing the district’s identity as Ridgeland’s official downtown, providing traffic calming measures, creating flexible spaces, optimizing parking in the area and increasing economic development opportunities, McGee said.

“The improvements will create a new experience for those working and visiting the area,” he said. “We envision more retail and restaurants will want to be a part of this historically significant part of Ridgeland.”

Kristin Lape, executive director of the Lily Pad Café that is under development in Ridgeland, said she has seen the plans for the Railroad District and “they’re great.”

She totally believes the plan will transform Jackson Street from a bustling corridor to a downtown that is welcoming, family friendly and promotes a sense of community.

That’s in keeping, she said, with the Lily Pad Café, a restaurant that will offer a paid internship program like that at Hugs Café in McKinney, Texas for adults 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the goal of the program being a stepping stone in their careers. An opening date for the restaurant has not been set but it could be late summer or early fall, depending upon how training goes, she said.

“Our goal is not just to provide training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities but to have community interaction and show how they are an asset to the community,” she said. “We want the community to be involved.”

The master plan for the Railroad District focuses on improvements within the right-of-way and city-owned property in order to create a cohesive, contemporary-traditional aesthetic that will strengthen the identity of the downtown area.

The master plan includes eight projects, ranging from $352,440 to add a traffic signal at the intersection of West Jackson and Perkins streets to about $5.87 million to create a “flush, curb-less streetscape with brick pavers” and other improvements to the streets and sidewalks in the core area of the district. A 900-square-foot pavilion for activities in the downtown area is also included.

The West Jackson Street area was included in the Ridgeland Area Master Plan that was adopted in 2008 and has been a focus since Colony Park Boulevard was completed and Lake Harbour Drive was extended to Highland Colony Parkway.

Developing West Jackson Street as a pedestrian-friendly downtown has been a vision of city leaders for the last 20 years.

“It has been a long-term goal of mine, and it is really going to set the city apart with this very special place,” McGee said.

Leah Kemp, director of the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center at Mississippi State University, said the city of Ridgeland is following a course of action she’s seeing across the state: Many cities and towns are embracing ideas to make them more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists as well as restaurants and retail.

The city of Madison turned to the MSU School of Architecture earlier this year for ideas about how to develop what it’s calling the town square, a 17-acre parcel at U.S. Highway 51 and Main Street that it owns.

Attractive landscaping, a walker-friendly design and restaurants and retail were among suggestions for the Madison town square from residents.
American Rescue Plan Act dollars have been helpful to some communities to make improvements to make downtowns more inviting, Kemp said, while for others it’s “a matter of funding” that determines when master plans come to life.
https://www.northsidesun.com/realizi...coming-reality

City of Jackson - Planning & Development welcomes Goddess Lengths Virgin Hair

City of Jackson - Planning & Development
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We are excited to welcome Goddess Lengths Virgin Hair, https://goddesslengths.com/, to its new location. Congratulations, and thank you for choosing Jackson! #smallbusinessowner #ribboncutting #jacksonstrong #jacksonmississippi
https://www.facebook.com/jxnplanning...qhyxatFGEpSqsl

MADISON COUNTY MOVING FORWARD ON SEVERAL MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS

ill be seeing lots of construction in the near future as the Board of Supervisors pave the way for less traffic in the growing county.

Earlier this month the board unanimously approved to move forward with financing on long-term transportation system improvements for the next five to 10 years that includes 15 road projects. County Administrator Greg Higginbotham said he doesn’t have all the financing yet as the approval allows him to move forward with finalizing that with the county financial advisor, however, he is confident they can make most, if not all, of the projects work.

“This is something I’m very excited about, and I hope the residents of the county are excited about also,” Higginbotham said.

The projects on the west side of the county include Stribling Road Phase 1, Catlett Road Widening, Reunion Parkway Phase 2, Reunion Parkway Phase 3, Bozeman Road Phase 1, Bozeman Road Phase 2, Stribling Road Phase 2, Calhoun Station Parkway, West County Line Road, and Wheatley Street. Those on the east side include Weisenberger Road Widening; North Old Canton Road at Yandell Road Intersection; and Yandell Road Widening from Highway 51 to Madison Crossing, from Highway 51 to Bainbridge and from Bainbride to 43.

While some of these are already in progress, the proposal adds additional projects to the timeline in the coming years with several roads being widened to five lanes and intersection improvements.

“You heard (Central District Transportation) Commissioner Willie Simmons talk about a capacity project and plans for Madison County,” Higginbotham said. “Well, gentlemen, I don’t know of a clearer plan than putting it on a map and putting it out to the public.”

The total cost of these projects is roughly $250 million.

“It is a lot of money y’all,” Higginbothom said. “There’s no doubt about it. These projects are not cheap. These projects are not something that are going to happen overnight. Y’all have seen with Reunion 2, Reunion 3, Bozeman 1 and Bozeman 2 that these things take time. Between now and probably 2034 is when I would expect the end of the borrowing to happen.”

Higginbotham said his intention is for the county to borrow this money in stages and as needed.

“It will not be a lump sum,” Higginbotham said. “I don’t know that that is in the best interest of the residents of the county. We do have it scheduled out to where we are able to look at this based on annual needs.”

The financing at this point does not include any tax raises or anticipated money from the new Amazon Web Service Data Center.

“No Amazon money is going to be factored into this at this moment because they’re not open,” Higginbotham said. “I do think they’re coming, but it is very, very silly to plan on it and then something happens and we’re left holding the bag.”

Board President Gerald Steen said this infrastructure is needed and they’ll continue to work with MDOT and the highway commissioner to move forward.

“This is something we all have agreed upon and we’ve been working towards and something that is very important for the county to help move traffic on the west side of the interstate to the east side,” Steen said. “A lot of money will be allocated to the infrastructure in the next five years to 10 years. It is needed. It’s a lot of excitement and a lot of orange barrels that you’ll continue to see in Madison County with these projects.”

Higginbotham will now work with their financial advisor to bring back a financing plan to the board.
https://www.northsidesun.com/madison...e_term_id=6289

Construction of TopGolf in Ridgeland in full swing
• Video Link

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) - You will soon be able to tee off at TopGolf in Ridgeland with construction now in full swing.

Construction began on the first-ever TopGolf facility in Late February. PraCon Global Investment Group, the development company in charge of the project, began working on getting TopGolf to build in Ridgeland more than two years ago.

It is being built off Interstate 55 near the Renaissance at Colony Park.

The 77-acre land where TopGolf will also be a part of Prado Vista. It will include a mix of residential and entertainment spaces.

TopGolf is expected to employ around 200 people.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/22/cons...nd-full-swing/

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More coverage of Goddess Lengths grand opening in Jackson
• Video Link

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Town Creek Downtown Riverwalk
Jackson, MS

This Town Creek Downtown Riverwalk development is part of a flood control project for the city of Jackson as well as Hinds and Rankin Counties. To control flooding, the Jackson and Rankin County river bottom would be dredged, deepened and cleared, allowing floodwaters to pass without endangering homes or businesses. The river would be dammed to create two 12-mile long, one-mile wide lakes. A three-mile long island would separate the lakes, opening up the opportunity for marinas, restaurants, shops, office buildings, parks, walking trails and residential living
https://www.dalepartners.com/town-cr...town-riverwalk

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That looks amazing!!! Hopefully they can revive this plan and also build a 30 to 40 story Hotel connected to convention center. The hotel could be something similar to Gaylord Resorts with a huge, long pool and nice indoor dining/shopping. I could see more tourist coming to downtown and more people wanting to live downtown if this plan comes true! I would definitely wanna rent one of those apartments on the lake, just looks like peaceful place to stay! Beautiful renderings

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Bar Louie please consider opening a restaurant in downtown Jackson



Mr. Brian Wright (CEO) & Mr. Gordon Paris (Chairman) of Bar Louie, please consider opening a new restaurant in downtown Jackson. Someone who may be able to get in contact with him or his staff please let him know that us Jacksonians would love to have his restaurant in our community. We don't have an upscale restaurant with signature beers, wines and martinis. I feel like with your restaurant opening shop in downtown that will allow for more development to come soon after. We have so many vacant plots of land that would be prime location for your business to flourish. Our community loves to party and have a good time and that is what your restaurant embodies with its fun atmosphere with delicious food/drinks. Here is some of their food/signature drinks if you are not familiar with them:












One of the best restaurants I've ever been to. They had live band/dj mixing music. It's just a fun vibe that I know we could use in downtown Jackson. Please someone send this to the owners of Bar Louie letting them know we would support. I believe having a Bar Louie downtown would help bring our downtown nightlife alive! Please come invest in our downtown, you won't regret it!

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Looking for something sweet and cold? Try these five Jackson area locations

As the summer season draws near, taste buds will soon be yearning for something cool on a hot day.

How about some ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes or a smoothie?

Below are five fun places to grab ice cream during the summer:

The Yard Milkshake Bar



The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., serves up decadent shakes like the Strawberries & Cream Cheesecake milkshake, seen on Monday, May 13, 2024, which is topped with a slice of cheesecake, strawberry sauce, whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs.

The Yard Milkshake Bar was created by husband-and-wife team Logan and Chelsea Green. Chelsea Green knew she wanted it to be like no other dessert place she had ever been to and decided that crazy specialty milkshakes were just what they were looking for. When brainstorming name ideas one night in their living room "The Yard" was born. They opened in May 2017, according to Theyardmilkshakebar.com.


Anne Gillespie, manager, pours sauce into a glass while demonstrating how to make the Strawberries & Cream Cheesecake milkshake at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., on Monday, May 13, 2024.


Anne Gillespie, manager, sprinkles candy jewels onto The Mermaid ice cream bowl at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., on Monday, May 13, 2024. The bowl has blue monster and cake batter ice cream and is topped with whipped cream, rock candy, a white chocolate mermaid tail and candy jewels.


The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., also serves house-made edible cookie doughs, seen on Monday, May 13, 2024.


The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., serves up ice cream bowls like The Mermaid, seen on Monday, May 13, 2024, which has blue monster and cake batter ice cream and is topped with whipped cream, rock candy, a white chocolate mermaid tail and candy jewels.


Anne Gillespie, manager, pipes whipped cream onto the Strawberries & Cream Cheesecake milkshake at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., on Monday, May 13, 2024.


Anne Gillespie, manager, prepares a cup of fudgy brownie sundae ice cream topped with M&Ms for a customer at The Yard Milkshake Bar in Flowood, Miss., on Monday, May 13, 2024.

"Our staple is our milkshakes," said Ann Gillespie, manager at The Yard Milkshake Bar in an interview with the Clarion Ledger. "They are kind of an eccentric item and not something you would normally see … because it comes in a souvenir glass jar with our logo on it that's decorated with icing around the rim. Customers get to pick whatever ice cream they ordered and make a milkshake out of it to put in their jar or just get there scoops of ice cream."

Location:
13 Dogwood Blvd. Suite #34, Flowood

The Yard Milkshake Bar serves up decadent shakes topped with cookies, candies and cheesecakes, including the Strawberries & Cream Cheesecake milkshake in Flowood, Miss., on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Bops Frozen Custard

Bops offers different flavor sundaes, signature milkshakes, shaved ice, smoothies, custard ice cream and more.

Custard is an old-fashioned ice cream treat created in 1919 on Coney Island, New York, according to Bops' website. It is made with all natural ingredients with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. It is served at approximately 26 degrees (compared to regular ice cream at approximately 10 degrees) which allows you to get a “true taste” without freezing your taste buds, the Bops website states.

Locations:
371 Ridge Way, Flowood
1173 E County Line Road, Jackson

Sal and Mookies New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint



Not only does Sal and Mookies sell New York inspired pizzas, but also ice creams, different flavored milkshakes, sundaes and more. They also have cereal box shakes where you choose an ice cream flavor and mix it with a type of popular cereal.

Location:
200 District Blvd. E, Jackson
111 Colony Crossing Way, Suite 130, Madison

Mayday Ice Cream Belhaven


Mayday has gluten and dairy-free options of different ice cream flavors from which to choose.

"Featuring unique standby and rotating ice cream flavors (think Coffee and Donuts, Mint Monster, and Blueberry Toast Crunch), Mayday uses the best ingredients in fun new ways and serves them up with some good old-world hospitality," according to visitjackson.com.

"We try to keep everything interesting," said William and Anna Fair, owners of Mayday Ice Cream in an interview with the Clarion Ledger. "We have a bunch of handmade flavors that we use fresh and high quality ingredients for; our top sellers are cookie crush, aviator, hazel nut and a spicy ice cream called down dark."

Location:
807 Manship St., Jackson

Flying Dolly's on the Rez

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Briarwood pool opens after renovation
• Video Link

JACKSON, Miss. —
The Briarwood Community Pool is now open to the public after upgrades.

The renovations come after Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed a $250,000 appropriation to the pool to pay for improvements in 2022.
Through a donation campaign, the Briarwood Pool Leadership Committee raised funds on their own to complete the project, which included replacing the pool liner.

The pool is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the operating hours differ with the pool closing at 6:00 p.m.

The city of Jackson will open four pools next Saturday.
https://www.wapt.com/article/briarwo...ation/60904712

STATE APPROVES PARTIAL FUNDING FOR NEW PEARL RIVER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT OFFICE

Plans for a new main office bulding for the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District took a step ahead with the Legislature providing some funding.

The Legislature appropriated $2 million for the district to apply toward constructing an office that will be located at Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore, 1112 Northshore Parkway.

The new building will cost about $8 million and, as it stands now, the remaining $6 million will come from the district’s general fund, said John Sigman, general manager of the district.

The district plans to seek additional funding for the new office from the Legislature during the 2025 session, he said.

The district currently occupies a building at 115 Madison Landing Circle in Ridgeland that houses 50 employees. The district employs about 110 people with 60 of them having positions in maintenance.

“The current office is 75 or 80 years old and was a farmhouse before the Barnett Reservoir was conceived,” he said. “It’s in bad shape. We’ve had animals living in the attic.”

Wier Boerner Allin Architecture is designing the new office that will contain about 15,000 square feet compared to 12,000 in the current office. Two additional architecture firms were interviewed, and Wier Boerner fit with the district’s vision, Sigman said.

Plans call for the exterior of the new office to blend with the recreational features at Bobby Cleveland Park, perhaps using wood and stone, he said.

“We hope to have it under construction by the end of the year,” Sigman said. “It will take a year to a year and a half to build.”

The property where the current office sits is zoned commercial, Sigman said, and will be available for a developer to lease after the building is demolished.

“Location, location, location” makes the property desirable, he said. “We’ve had a good bit of interest in it.”

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is the state agency responsible for managing the 33,000-acre Barnett Reservoir and the 17,000 acres surrounding the lake, 12,000 of which are forest land.
https://www.northsidesun.com/state-a...?e_term_id=120

Madison the City and Keep Madison the City Beautiful held a reception celebrating receiving a grant

Madison the City
May 24 at 10:20 AM ·
Earlier this week, Madison the City and Keep Madison the City Beautiful held a reception celebrating receiving a grant from America In Bloom and CN Railway to develop “Flutter Way”, the city’s pollinator garden. The garden is located behind the Strawberry Patch House on Old Canton Rd. The garden consists of over 1200 native shrubs, ground covers, and flowers which will support the biodiversity needed for the insect kingdom to have food, shelter, areas to breed, and also to eat. Plans also include identifying the plants using site placards and QR codes linked to a national plant database. The garden is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2024.
Those present from AIB and CN Railway include Laura Kunkle, AIB Executive Director; Marvin Miller, AIB Treasurer and Chair of the Grant Review Committee; and Antoine Hawkins, CN State & Local Affairs Manager for the Gulf Coast. Also in attendance were AIB Advisors Sue Amatangelo and Ed Hooker.
https://www.facebook.com/madisonthec...1SjTyNFvqX6ttl

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$1.5 million invested into historic Farish Street District
• Video Link

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Officials announced on Tuesday that $1.5 million has been invested into the historic Farish Street District in Jackson.

The Jackson Redevelopment Authority and (JRA) and 2°C Mississippi signed a partnership agreement for the fulfillment of a green infrastructure project in the district.

Christopher Pike, the executive director of JRA, said the project will create a place for the community to gather.

“There’ll be opportunities for places for people to gather. There’ll be a stage here, so we could do small concerts, intimate setting. It would be open to the public, so they can come and just hang out, read books, hang out with their children. Just a great opportunity for the community to be able to engage in Farish Street in a meaningful way that we have not had in the past,” Pike explained.

He added that more investments are coming to the area, which will be announced in the next 12 to 18 months.

New health clinic location opens for city of Jackson employees

JACKSON, Miss. —
The city of Jackson is celebrating the grand reopening of its employee health clinic.

The clinic has a new home at 633 North State St. The clinic offers free health services to city employees and their families. It is not open to the public.



The clinic also provides drug testing for new hires and physicals for police officers and firefighters.

While the clinic isn’t new to the city, Jackson Human Resources Director Toya Martin said the new location is a significant improvement.

“When the clinic first opened seven years ago, it was located at Metrocenter Mall. It was very small. They only had space for one exam room and very small waiting room,” Martin said. “They went from one exam room to three exam rooms. They have a nurse’s station. They have a big waiting room.”

The mayor said reopening the clinic will serve as a recruitment tool as the city looks to bring on new employees.
https://www.wapt.com/article/jackson...opens/60928311

Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce, C Spire Business SPRING FLING Golf Tournament

Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce
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The Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce, C Spire Business SPRING FLING Golf Tournament held at Deerfield Golf Club was a huge success! Congratulations to the 1st Place team Guaranty Bank & Trust Company and team members Wes Neely, Pate DeMuth, Nick James and Josh Banes. Longest Drive prize and Closest To The Pin prize, sponsored by C Spire Business went to Wes Neely and Chad Hartzog. Thank You to all the teams who participated, our beverage cart sponsor, Auto Innovation, Hole In One Challenge sponsor Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor, our many volunteers and Deerfield Golf Club.
https://www.facebook.com/ridgelandch...8mcczS6Zbnyinl

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Expect fewer projects: MDOT’s request for dedicated revenue stream not approved

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -We first reported in February that the Mississippi Department of Transportation wanted the legislature to change the way the agency is funded. Right now, they say what they’re getting isn’t enough, and they can’t plan ahead as much without more certainty in the funding.

Lawmakers did direct dollars to MDOT this year. Executive Director Brad White says it was a good session for the agency but makes this note.

“The thing is, it’s one-time money,” described White. “So this time next year, we’ll be back at the well with our hands out, needing an infusion of funds to keep our programs going.”

See, Executive Director Brad White and the commissioners had made requests for a dedicated revenue stream.

“Don’t know how we can avoid going backward without reevaluating how to fund this,” said White in February.

He’d suggested diverting a percentage of the unobligated use and gaming taxes to MDOT, but that idea didn’t pick up the steam they’d hoped for during the session. What that means for you is pretty simple.

“Less projects,” answered White when asked what this would mean for drivers. “The money that we have is not going as far. The cost of asphalt has gone up. The cost of labor is going up. So, as our money is flat, you’re gonna see fewer projects being done because the money simply doesn’t go as far and that’s just on the maintenance side.”

However, new construction faces the same fate for now.
“When you get over into our capacity construction, we try to add efficiency to the system by building a four-lane from a two-lane or a bypass, etc.,” added White. “Those projects will ultimately be shelved again.”

Eight capacity projects that were further along did get funding from lawmakers. However, in order to add capacity to our highway system, White says they’ve got to move beyond one-time money like that.

“I’m not discouraged,” he explained. “I mean, I don’t believe there’s anyone under the Capitol dome that’s anti-transportation. I just think they had a lot of big items this past session to deal with. But I do think they recognize the issue, and I think they recognize that it’s going to have to be addressed sooner rather than later.”

Speaker Jason White mentioned this request for a change in transportation funding when speaking with reporters last week. He says it will be a significant part of the conversations around tax reform, not only when they return in January but as he gets a committee together to discuss potential impacts.
https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/29/expe...-not-approved/

More coverage of the grand opening of the Health clinic in downtown Jackson
• Video Link

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JPS awarded $9.5 million for new electric school buses

JACKSON, Miss. —
The Jackson Public School District hosted an event alongside the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday morning, showing off new electric school buses brought to the district.

The Environmental Protection Agency granted the Jackson Public School District $9.5 million to fund these new buses.

The grant is part of the EPA's Clean School Bus program, which has allocated funding to school districts nationwide to purchase electric and low-emission school buses.

Michael Regan, U.S. EPA administrator, spearheaded the effort in hopes of creating a cleaner environment for underprivileged areas.




"It's our moral obligation to ensure that all of our children have clean air to breathe, and clean water to drink. And an opportunity to live a healthy life," said Regan.

Congressman Bennie Thompson played a key role in advocating for this program to come to Mississippi and said more needs to be done for students attending public schools.

"A majority of the kids in this country attend public schools. So we have to make those schools the best that we can, but we also have to make the experiences for the children the best that we can," said Congressman Thompson.




JPS superintendent, Dr. Errick Greene, said he's thankful for this opportunity to better his students while creating a cleaner environment.

"To have buses that work, buses that we can rely on, to get our scholars safely to and from school, to and from home, and buses that help us to be good stewards of the planet," Greene said.

Regan also made a surprise announcement that they will be giving $900 million more to fund electric school buses across the country.
https://www.wapt.com/article/jps-awa...buses/60938778

Bobby Rush Boulevard is officially open in Jackson

JACKSON, Miss. —
Bobby Rush Boulevard is officially open in Jackson.

A street sign was unveiled Wednesday for the Mississippi blues artist. Ellis Avenue from Interstate 20 to Capital Street is now Bobby Rush Boulevard. The section of Ellis was renamed with the support of the Jackson mayor and city council.

It’s especially significant to Rush, as this is his neighborhood and the community he has lived in for years.

“I’m as happy as a man can be. This is my heaven. I’m so thankful to be around long enough to see a few of the things happen in my lifetime,” Rush said. “The blues is what I do. It’s what I live. It’s what I sing. It’s what I live for. It’s the mother of all music. If you don’t like the blues, you probably don’t like your mama.”

The three-time Grammy Award-winner said he’s extremely thankful to all those who have supported him throughout the years.
https://www.wapt.com/article/bobby-r...ckson/60940197

Park replacing Welty Library to cost between $6M and $8M

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A new park being built to replace the Eudora Welty Library could cost as much as $8 million, according to state documents.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) is seeking qualifications to build Margaret Ann Crigler Park, which will be located on approximately 2 acres at 300 North State St.

The site is currently home to the building that used to be home to the Welty Library. The city deeded the facility over to the state in December.

MDAH issued a request for qualifications for landscape design services on May 20. Responses are due on June 7. The agency is expected to award a contract on June 25.

According to the RFQ, the park “will serve as a gateway from downtown to the Two Mississippi Museums - the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.”

The agency currently has conceptual drawings for the site. However, the winning firm will be responsible for completing designs for the park, its stage area, and the festival street next to it. The selected firm also will assist with bidding out the project, overseeing its construction, and choosing the landscaping services and plantings for it.

MDAH hopes the project will be completed in 2026. MDAH Director of Public Relations Sarah Warnock said demolition work on the former Welty Library is expected to begin later this summer.

In April, the MDAH Board of Trustees approved tearing down the building. The Jackson/Hinds Library System vacated the facility in February.
https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/29/park...between-6m-8m/

[dmaTN]

LOL The "Jackson" category is just a personal blog section.

[vetteking]

The Foxtail set to open in Madison by the end of the year

Chef Maya Naholi is looking forward to returning to Madison and bringing her Mediterranean concept downtown.

Naholi opened Mezza on Highway 463 in 2010 before shuttering that restaurant and moving to Phoenix in 2013.

She now lives in the Chicago area where she is the chef and owner of two successful restaurants in the suburbs both called The Foxtail where she serves food that takes inspiration from the Mediterranean.

Lebanese by birth, Naholi takes the whole region for inspiration including dishes from Greece and Spain and North Africa.

She said she loves Madison because it is like her home country of Lebanon.

“The humidity is like back home and the people are so friendly and sweet,” Naholi said.

Between 2020 and 2023, she opened Foxtail restaurants in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Des Plaines, Illinois.

“They have been very successful through the years,” Naholi said.

Following their success he is looking forward to bringing her “Fox concept” to Madison and hopes to move back to the area s well.


Chef Maya Naholi is excited about The Foxtail restaurant under construction in Madison.

She said she loves Madison because it is like her home country of Lebanon.

“The humidity is like back home and the people are so friendly and sweet,” Naholi said.

The new restaurant is slated for 161 Montgomery Street, Suite A.

The restaurant will feature a full menu that will include breakfast, lunch and dinner a raw bar that will include oysters and a full cocktail program.

The restaurant will be called The Foxtail Madison, but Naholi said she lovingly refers to it as the Mad Fox.

“I love that name,” Naholi said. “I plan on there being a cocktail or menu item that uses that name.”

The shell is up and ready, and as construction on the interior continues, Naholi said they hope to be open as early as the end of this year.

She said she hopes her restaurant will introduce people to this world of cuisine she has carefully curated.

“I want people to have an experience and try something new,” Naholi said.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/th...e-year,105112?

Barley’s has exclusive beers

A lot has changed seven years after Greg Purnell opened Barley’s Beer Barn.

First and foremost, Gluckstadt has been incorporated into a city.

“Things are going great with Gluckstadt booming like it’s booming,” Purnell said. “It is just a great fit for growth.”

Second, Purnell has been able to expand. About a year and a half ago, he and business partner Eddie Burks opened The Keg House in Ridgeland off Highway 51.

“I think it is every guy’s dream to own a bar, and we have been working on that business model for a while,” Purnell said.

Instead of slinging six packs of beer, The Keg House invites patrons to sit at its bar, which runs the length of the store, and sip a beer from its 41 taps while enjoying a variety of bar snacks and sandwiches.


Greg Purnell pours a slection from Key City Brewing at Barley’s Beer Barn.

“We have the best muffuletta outside of Louisiana,” Purnell said.

Other hot items include a pair of snacks named after his twin sons. Tanner’s Trash, the bar’s proprietary Chex mix blend, and Parker’s Pretzel, a warm, soft pretzel served with beer cheese and mustard.

The bar also features multiple televisions and live music on Fridays.

The taps at the Keg House and Barley’s are also home to an exclusive beer form Key City Brewing in Vicksburg, the Pretty In Pink Boots. This “hazy IPA with dragon fruit” is only available through Purnell’s taps in Gluckstadt and Ridgeland and at the brewery in Vicksburg.

“We try to get everything we can get our hands on,” Purnell said.

Visit Barley’s Beer Barn at 1716 US-51 suite E in Gluckstadt or the Keg House at 500 US-51 Suite P in Ridgeland.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/ba...-beers,105092?

Dirt work continues at Clinton’s 80/20 site

When you start digging into ground that’s been part of Clinton for a couple of centuries, there’s no telling what you’ll turn up.

“It doesn’t surprise us that we’re finding old foundations and old cisterns and swimming pools and things like that underground,” says Paul Collins, the Century Construction Group project manager who’s overseeing preparation of the site where a highly anticipated commercial development will be built near Mississippi College.

According to Collins, “There was a historical survey done on this, and that survey’s result was that there was not anything of significant historical value there, except the spring.”

Robinson Spring is being preserved and will serve as a centerpiece for the development, still known informally as the 80/20 Project.

“The plan now is to capture the water and convey the water and possibly bring that water up into a feature above ground,” he says, noting that MC and the City are hoping to use actual spring water in the feature.

“But safety is important,” Collins cautions. “So we’ll see [how] the reports come back on the quality [of the water].”

The other relics of the past which have been discovered on the site are being hauled off to make way for the infrastructure work beginning around September.

“We’ll start putting in stormwater and sewer pipes in the ground,” Collins says. Water pipes, too. “And then, they’ll fill over that and develop the roadways. We’ll provide the sleeving for the communications and electrical [cables] under the roads [with] substantial completion about mid-January, roughly.”

In order to get to that point, crews started clearing the site in late April, removing topsoil that’s being saved for later use and preparing the property to be graded into shape for the development.

As the project manager explains it, “They’re working with the topography. The valleys that you see will be filled in; so, you’ll still have a hilltop, but it’ll be gently sloped to Springridge Road and to Highway 80.” The vegetation that’s been removed is being burned onsite.
https://www.theclintoncourier.net/20...ns-80-20-site/

[vetteking]

Pictures from the 2024 Flowood Family Festival

Flowood Chamber added 224 new photos to the album: 2024 Flowood Family Festival (May 11) — with City of Flowood and
2 others
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May 17 at 3:12 PM ·
Over 15,000 in attendance at the 2024 Flowood Family Festival! ������������ This event was a huge success all thanks to City of Flowood, Flowood Parks & Recreation, our local restaurant vendors, and children’s area volunteers!
������ Drop some of your favorite Flowood Family Fest memories in the comments!������
https://www.facebook.com/flowoodcham...4bohWhpvH1bqpl

[vetteking]

Company hopes for approval for Hinds County solar farm
• Video Link

HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A day after hearing from those who don’t want a solar farm in their community, we’re hearing another perspective.

Some Raymond and Bolton residents voiced their concerns with the 5,800-acre solar farm, fearing the impact it could have on their community. The farm’s impact on wildlife and property values are among the main concerns for the residents.

If the solar farm is approved, it would be the largest in the state, capable of powering 95,000 homes in Hinds County. The Virginia-based company, Apex Clean Energy, hopes they’re granted approval for the project.

“Five-thousand-eight-hundred acres is 33 parcels that make up the project. Of those only 4,000 acres, we’re actually evaluating for space. We’re actually preserving about 800 acres of space within the project. That’s either wetland, floodplain, stream, forest area that is located on those parcels that we have leased but is not being disturbed for facilities, so the actual footprint of the project will roughly be 4,000 acres,” said Brian O’Shea, director of Public Engagement for Apex Clean Energy.

He said the benefits of the project go far beyond providing clean energy.

“Also generating tax revenue, a stable source of income for local farmers and landowners. And that clean power that could also help attract new businesses, new industries that want to do that, want to move to areas that have access to clean sources of power,” O’Shea said.

After Tuesday’s meeting, the matter now goes to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. If approved, resident feedback will still be taken into account.

“We want this to be a great project that fits everybody’s needs. It’s a net benefit to the county as a good neighbor, to the whole community, because we plan on operating it for the next three years,” said O’Shea.

The supervisors are planning to vote on the project on June 17.
https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news...ty-solar-farm/

More coverage of Jackson street renamed for Bobby Rush
• Video Link

[vetteking]

New apartments coming to Midtown Jackson

Grant Ethridge Construction, LLC is in Jackson.
1h ·
You know we love a good progression post. Just us making things happen in Jackson, Ms.
#midtown #GoGEC
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#GoGEC #grantetheridgeconstructionllc #BuiltOnExperience
#LouisianaConstruction #MississippiConstruction #Development #Commercial #Multifamily #ProjectManagement @grantethridgeconstruction
https://www.facebook.com/GrantEthrid...wRXR1ofpWuS37l

Bojangles is coming to Byram, MS!

BYRAM, Miss. (WLBT) - A former Backyard Burger in Byram will soon have new life as a Bojangles.

Crews are working to remodel the former fast food chain facility on Siwell Road to make way for the new restaurant. It is expected to open in August, Mayor Richard White says.

“I went to eat at one in Texas when I went to see my kids [and grandkids] about two months ago, and they have a biscuit and ham that’s better than a chicken and biscuit, I’m afraid,” he said.

The city approved plans for the facility weeks ago. It will join a host of chicken restaurants in the city, including Chick-fil-A, Popeye’s, KFC, and Raising Cane’s.

According to the company’s website, there are three other Bojangles in the state. They are located in Flowood, Horn Lake and Picayune.

“They’re going to remodel it. It already had a drive-thru,” White said. “Backyard Burger had just... taken the children’s [play area] out of there during COVID. I think it’s going to be a really nice building when they get through with it.”

Most Backyard Burgers abruptly closed back in 2023. The building in Byram has been empty since its closure.

Farther down Siwell, construction is also moving forward on a new Take 5 Oil Change. White says the facility represents a $3 million investment into the city and will create about 30 jobs early on. It’s unclear when construction on that will wrap up.

Here is a rendering of the completed project

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/05/30/seco...3S8fkrETDre59O

[vetteking]

Visit Jackson, MS shares information about all fun events this weekend for 601 JXN WKND

We're just 2 days away from 601 JXN WKND! Celebrate our city with an action-packed weekend:
Saturday, June 1:
* 9AM-11AM: JXN Run Club Annual 5K Museum Trail
* 11AM-1PM: Fertile Ground Beer Co. Backyard BBQ Series Kick-off
* 2PM-5PM: Y.A.H.T. Club at Briarwood Arts Center
* 8PM-1AM: 7th Annual Old School Party with a Purpose at Jackson Convention Complex Steven James
Sunday, June 2:
* 11AM-2PM: Brunch at Hal and Mal's-Jackson, MS
* 3PM-8PM: Block Party & Skate Jam with Magnolia Markets Offbeat SkateMS
Celebrate 601 JXN Day with swag, giveaways, and exclusive merch! Let's make it a weekend to remember!
MORE DETAILS: https://www.visitjackson.com/601jxnday/
#601Jxn #VisitJacksonMS #CityWithSoul #601JxnWknd
https://www.facebook.com/VisitJackso...tTrqr2LGRrHQUl

More coverage of 601 JXN Day festivities from WJTV
• Video Link

[vetteking]

New restaurant coming to Clinton gets Board approval

A piece of vacant property along Clinton’s Hampstead Boulevard will soon be occupied after the Board of Aldermen approved architectural plans for a new Tex-Mex restaurant at its May 7 meeting.

Architect Doug Lum told the Board that Pedro’s will be “a festive place, a social place.” He says this will be the company’s sixty-seventh location across Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.
According to Lum, the restaurant he’s designing will have a distinguishing feature– a tower. “It’s a fancy building,” he says.

Pedro’s will be located at 102 Hampstead, adjacent to Sonny’s BBQ. It will offer a large outdoor dining area which requires the front of the restaurant to face east away from afternoon sun. “It couldn’t face south or west because of the heat,” Lum points out.


Lum says construction should begin soon. “I would think before fall.”

• Video Link
https://www.theclintoncourier.net/20...oard-approval/

[vetteking]

Happy 601 day fellow Mississippians! The best place to live on earth! I was born and raised in Mississippi, and I plan to raise my family here as well. And when a higher power calls me to glory, I will be laid to rest in Mississippi. This great state is my home, and I don't care what negative stereotypes that are out there, I love my home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else! We have the best/most talented people with the most caring, nurturing and selfless personalities on earth! We are all family all across the state, no matter what race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion, we are all proud to call Mississippi home!