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Posted Sep 21, 2023, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: May 2023
Location: JXN Mississippi
Posts: 1,204
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Belhaven University opens $12 million parking garage
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September 19, 2023 (Jackson, Miss.) – A $12 million parking garage was just completed on the Belhaven University campus. The new five-story parking complex is now open, solving the University’s parking challenges and providing ample parking spaces.
The garage was constructed over the existing parking lot between Heidelberg Gymnasium and Dr. Billy Kim International Center. Access is from the two university entrances off Peachtree Street, with one entrance putting drivers at the lowest level of the garage and the other higher in the garage.
Parking has long been a challenge at Belhaven University due to steady growth in enrollment over the years. Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott calls the garage “a game changer” for the campus. “It makes the best use of our land,” he said. “We can’t take up all the limited space with parking. It gives us enough capacity to assure that we could eventually build another residence hall and classroom building in the future.”
The garage's exterior, constructed with brick, blends with the existing buildings on campus. Its design incorporates two below-ground stories, minimizing its visual impact from Peachtree Street.
Beyond its look, this new garage has an applied and practical use. With its central location, the garage provides students with improved access to their classes, dormitories, stadium events, cafeteria, and other essential campus facilities.
Belhaven's leadership recognized the importance of designing a garage that defied the typical perception of parking structures. Dr. Parrott explained, "It is filled with lots of light. Many garages feel scary, but this one is different. Equipped with security cameras and ample lighting, the garage will cater to residential students, faculty, staff, and commuters alike.”
The completion of the parking garage was made possible by the generous support of an anonymous donor who gave $12 million for the project. “I’ve been a university president for 33 years, and I never expected anyone to give money for a parking garage,” he said. “It’s pretty remarkable.”
The benefits extend beyond the campus boundaries. Belhaven University has been an integral part of the Belhaven neighborhood for many years, coexisting with residents and facing shared parking challenges. With the completion of the parking garage, some of the strain on neighborhood streets caused by student parking will be alleviated. Virgi Lindsay, a Belhaven resident and representative of Ward 7 on the Jackson City Council, welcomes this development as a positive step for both the neighborhood and the university. Lindsay stated, "We have always had healthy parking issues, and this will help both the neighborhood and University by getting cars off the residential streets."
https://www.belhaven.edu/news/new-pa...rking%20spaces.
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7 Brew will expand to new Flowood location
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FLOWOOD, Miss. (WJTV) – A drive-thru coffee shop will expand to Flowood.
7 Brew dropped its future coffee stand from a crane on-site at its new location on East Pineview Drive.
The business also donated $1,000 to Children’s of Mississippi to support its mission of helping Mississippi children live strong, healthy lives.
“We always want to be involved with the community and giving back in any way that we can. So, we like to provide a fun, positive experience for the people that come through here,” said Sebastian Bedford, a regional manager for 7 Brew.
“We are so incredibly thankful for 7 Brew for making this donation. It’s businesses like this that want to be involved in the community, seeing the impact that Mississippi’s only children’s hospital has on the community that they serve. It’s really incredible. And so, we’re just thankful that they want to go ahead and build this partnership with us as they continue to expand throughout the state,” said Katie Rogers, Children’s Miracle Network Specialist.
7 Brew is expected to open for business in Flowood later this fall. The stand will add 50 jobs to the Flowood area.
https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news...wood-location/
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Board of Supervisors approve over $1 million for new jail pre-construction
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At the Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the Board greenlit a pre-construction expense of over $1.1 million, in addition to another $30,000 for the new jail to be built off Highway 80.
In June 2018, the prior board of supervisors purchased a 47-acre tract of land on U.S. Highway 80 for $400,000. This property, situated at 1134 Highway 80, once housed the Pinewood Motel, which had been abandoned since 1979. By 2019, the county had demolished the remaining structures and drained a pond located on the premises.
The comprehensive study conducted by the Voorhis/Robertson Justice Services Group from Denver, Colorado, in 2010, recommended the construction of a facility that could accommodate approximately 350 inmates. Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace previously stated to the Board this capacity would create sufficient space for housing misdemeanor and pretrial felony inmates, as well as state inmates eligible for community work programs. However, due to existing state statutes, inmates of these classifications can’t be confined together in the same section of a correctional facility.
On Mar. 9, the Board authorized Board President Kelle Barfield to sign a short-term note of $6.7 million. The funding was to cover preliminary costs associated with the design and construction of the new jail. The existing Warren County Jail is located on a plot near the courthouse with limited space for expansion. The upcoming project plans to adopt the latest standards in jail design and favor a horizontal layout.
On Tuesday, the Board moved forward with the approval of requisition 1 and 2 for applications 1 and 2 linked to the jail’s pre-construction, both addressed to White Construction. While the first requisition and application is set at $30,000, the second requisition and application comes in at a more substantial $1,158,227.34. Each vital to drawing up plans and moving forward with the construction.
The anticipated revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is projected at $47,761,379. This represents an increase of more than $1.7 million from the current fiscal year’s revenue of $45,998,607. This increased budget allocation will account for site preparation for the new jail as part of the county’s improvement expenses for the coming fiscal year.
The Board has also sanctioned an invoice from Neel-Schaffer Inc., amounting to $1,820, which covers offsite utilities for the new jail facility.
The agenda can be viewed below. The Board meeting can be viewed from our live stream.
https://vicksburgnews.com/warren-cou...-construction/
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Condos to be built in former Laurel school building
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Plans were revealed for a $14 million restoration project to convert an old school into 58 housing units, but the veil remained on a new company that is planning to locate just west of Laurel.
The old Lamar School at 400 West 15th St. will have 33 senior housing units and 25 family-size condominiums, Laurel Housing Authority Executive Director Ailrick Young told the City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
Tax credits will be pursued to “restore the building to its original exterior style,” Young said. LHA will manage the property and own 50 percent of it with Affordable Housing Developers LLC out of Addison, Texas.
The units will range from 1,200 to 1,650 square feet each and the development will span the block, with additions to south and west sides. Parking will be underneath the units, Young said. A Hispanic church that meets in the auditorium now will be able to continue to have services there during construction, he added.
The Planning Commission approved Young’s request to rezone the property from medium-density to high-density residential, and the council agreed with the recommendation unanimously by a 5-0 vote. Council members Grace Amos and George Carmichael were unable to attend, council President Tony Thaxton announced at the beginning of the meeting.
The planned development is exciting news for the community, city officials said.
“We appreciate you guys ... this is making a difference,” Councilman Jason Capers said.
Young said, “We appreciate the support and the opportunity to provide additional housing.”
Having the old elementary school restored while also adding housing to the city is a win-win, Mayor Johnny Magee agreed.
“That building has been vacant and dilapidated for quite a while,” he said. Senior units will likely house one person while family units will comfortably accommodate a family of three, Young told the Planning Commission. Other locations were researched but did not fit the criteria for tax credits and funding, he said.
Lamar Elementary School opened in 1908 as a two-room building known as Kingston School, and the current school was built in 1913 as a two-story building with an attic, according to the old Laurel Ledger newspaper.
Laurel school officials closed the school in 1995 because of declining enrollment. In another matter, a voluntary annexation of property on Highway 84 West near the Sportsplex was unanimously approved to accommodate a new business that plans to locate there. Jackson lawyer Chad Mask was retained for legal services for the city.
“The company is paying for everything,” Magee said. He declined to identify the business that will be there. When pressed, he said it is something that will make “most people” happy.
https://www.leader-call.com/news/fre...5dabcc571.html
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Bridal Path officially open in Madison
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Bridal Path owner Audrey McCarty said opening her business in Madison was done through prayer and her whole family is blessed.
“We’ve prayed over the foundation, written Bible verses, and even eaten dinner on the concrete slab,” McCarty said. “It’s unbelievable how great of a team I have, and this building would not exist without Taylor Poole at Dean and Dean and everyone else who has been a part of this. This was truly made by the people and I can’t believe we’re finally here.”
McCarty took ownership of Bridal Path in 2018 after graduating from Mississippi State University. The store originally opened in 1969 in Jackson, and plans to move the business to Madison have been in the works for at least two years.
McCarty is the daughter of Madison’s Ward 3 Alderman Janie Jarvis.
The City of Madison Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Bridal Path on Sep. 19. Multiple city officials were present, including Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler, aldermen, Fire Chief Derrick Layton, Police Chief Gene Waldrop, and local business leaders.
McCarty said she wanted to thank Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler most of all.
“She’s been my second momma forever and it means the world to me that I get to have a building in this beautiful city right at the beginning of Main Street,” McCarty said. “She’s been so strong and has built this city on prayer. We’ve prayed over this place and it’s an honor to be here. Our family has been so blessed by this business and everyone who has supported it.”
The original owner of Bridal Path, Rosemary Guess, was also present at the ribbon cutting and spoke about the history of Bridal Path, which was originally located on Lakeland Drive.
“In 1969, a friend of mine called me one day and she asked if I would like to open a bridal store,” Guess said. “I thought it would be fun, so me and two other ladies started out with no experience. We took out $15,000 and stocked the store, and our most expensive dress there was $250. When we sold a $250 dress, we thought we had it made.”
Guess said even though she does not own Bridal Path anymore, she knows it is in good hands with McCarty.
“It’s so wonderful to see a family take over this business,” Guess said. “It’s still in my heart, and I will love and treasure it forever even though it’s not mine anymore. I know it’s in really good hands.”
Hawkins-Butler said dreams do come true on Main Street and she is incredibly proud of McCarty.
“It’s such a personal feeling I have in my heart, when we talked about dreaming big, to never quit, and to always remember to pray,” Hawkins-Butler said. “I'm so proud of you. As we stand on one of the finest corners in the state of Mississippi, we see something that’s fabulous and unique and it sets the tone as you come into the Main Street Historic District. God had a plan for all of you to be here. It doesn’t get any better than this, to see young people grow up here, start their businesses, and start their families. Make those memories, and don’t let go of that. Always know that you are special and you’ve made Madison even more special.”
The new Bridal Path is located at 2010 Main Street right off Highway 463. For more information about the store, visit their website at www.bridalpathinc.com, or call (601) 982-8267.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/br...-madison,82996
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Road work in progress
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BROOKHAVEN — Ryan Holmes, Lincoln County Engineer, told the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors that paving projects were moving along at a regularly scheduled meeting Monday. He additionally gave updates on bridge work and projects to come. Dickerson and Bowen have completed a lot of work lately but still have a few more roads to seal in District 2 and District 5. They will start paving soon on Jackson Liberty, Holmes said. Subscribe to our free email newsletter Get the latest news sent to your inbox O’hara Paving from McComb is working on a project on Bennie’s Trail and AAA has completed paving projects in the county. All paving should be completed by the ending of October. Holmes said 26 roads were completed and 15 roads are in progress right now.Additionally, 36 roads are in planning stages. Over a bridge Supervisors approved and signed a memorandum of agreement to start the process of replacing a bridge on Lott Smith road which crosses the Bayou Pierre down the hill from Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The Lott Smith bridge project will be completed with Emergency Road and Bridge Repair funds. Bids for the Auburn Road Bridge Project will open October 12. Holmes gave an update on Bethel and Opelousas Road Bridges. He said they are timber bridges on “life support,” and preliminary plans have been sent in for state aid. Bridge projects in Lincoln County should be able to get new funding specifically for state aid bridges this year. Holmes explained the legislature created the fund this year. Lincoln County could have used state aid funding in the past to repair bridges on state aid roads but used those funds for paving of the roads.
Read more at: https://www.dailyleader.com/2023/09/...k-in-progress/
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Board approves Guaranty Bank branch
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RIDGELAND — A Guaranty Bank bank branch moved a step closer to reality following city approval.
A site plan and architectural review for the proposed bank at 405 West Parkway Place was approved unanimously on the content agenda at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen on Sept. 5.
The building is more than 9,000 square feet, according to architectural renderings from Dean Architecture in Ridgeland. The building will house a bank branch in about 2,000 square feet of space. The rest will be office space.
Public Works Director Alan Hart said the design of the building conforms to the existing architectural standards.
The proposed building is just south of the existing Trustmark building.
The building will feature 72 total parking spaces. According to the architectural drawing, city ordinances require a building of this size to have 61 spaces.
The item was approved unanimously in a 6-0 vote by the Architectural Review Board. One member, Lynetter Praytor, was counted as absent for the Aug. 22 meeting in which the vote was held.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/bo...-branch,82988?
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Scooter’s Coffee planning G’stadt expansion soon
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Plans for a new Scooter’s Coffee in Gluckstadt are in the works as new development continues on Church Road and Calhoun Station Parkway.
Scooter’s Coffee confirmed on Sep. 8 that new coffee shop locations will be coming to both Gluckstadt and Madison, but have not said where the businesses will be located yet.
Scooter’s Coffee was founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, and the company is still based in Omaha. It specializes in artisan espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, baked-from-scratch pastries, and features its signature drink, the Caramelicious. The company also recently added depth to its profile with a line of organic hot and iced teas, single-origin coffee, and Cold Brew & Cream.
The franchise comprises 650 stores across 29 states, and more locations are planned for the future, including Gluckstadt.
Scooter’s roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha. After more than two decades of business, Scooter’s Coffee’s success is due to staying committed to the original business principles and company core values.
The brand’s promise, which is often recited to franchisees, customers, and employees is “Amazing People…Amazing Drinks…Amazingly Fast.”
For more information about Scooter’s Coffee, visit www.scooterscoffee.com, their Facebook page, or call (877) 494-7004.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/sc...on-soon,82991?
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El Sombrero appreciates love from community
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El Sombrero District Manager Robert Silvera says the best part of running their new restaurant in the Lucky City is receiving such a warm welcome from the local Gluckstadt community.
“The best part of this location has to be the customers, especially the local people,” Silvera said. “Everyone around here is welcomed and really appreciates that there’s an El Sombrero in Gluckstadt now.”
Gluckstadt is the newest location for El Sombrero in Mississippi. Other locations in the state include Flowood, Pearl, Byram, McComb, and Vicksburg.
The new restaurant can be found at 102 Dees Drive next to Epic Donuts and Stone Ground Coffee.
Silvera said he had the idea to bring a new restaurant to Gluckstadt since multiple customers at the Flowood location asked him if an El Sombrero would be coming to Madison County.
“We ended up striking a deal for the restaurant here in July 2021, and opened two years later in July of this year,” he said. “Business has been great so far and we’ve stayed busy. We have around 24 staff members who are all new and we appreciate the patience.”
El Sombrero serves authentic Mexican cuisine, including their staple chips and salsa, queso, street tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, steaks, burgers, and more. Customers can also enjoy sweets such as fried ice cream, brownies, churros, flan, and chimi-cheesecake. Silvera said customers can find a little bit of everything.
“We appreciate the love and the warm welcome, and I’m hoping to open a second El Sombrero location in Gluckstadt sometime in the future,” Silvera said.
El Sombrero in Gluckstadt is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about the restaurant, call (601) 790-7277, or visit their Facebook page, El Sombrero of Gluckstadt.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/el...mmunity,79291?
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Mississippi Candy Company now open
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Mississippi Candy Company owner Leigh Lamkin says her lifelong goal was to teach and own a candy store, both of which she has achieved.
“I’m living the dream right now,” Lamkin said. “We opened two weeks ago and business has been wild and chaotic, but in a good way. We’ve been welcomed by new residents of the area and by people passing by on the interstate.”
Lamkin grew up in the Mississippi Delta and moved to Madison County about 20 years ago. She lives in Gluckstadt with her husband Will and her three sons, Dayne, Slay, and Scout.
Mississippi Candy Company, which opened on Sep. 2, is Lamkin’s second candy shop. Her first was Livingston Sweet Shop in 2012.
“I always wanted to teach school and own a candy store, and I was fortunate enough to teach kindergarten and first grade right here with Madison County Schools and teach adult education throughout the state,” Lamkin said. “We sold Livingston Sweet Shop several years ago, and after working for corporate America for a few years, I wanted to open a business close to home. Our family lives here in Gluckstadt and we wanted to be more involved in the local community, and it was a no-brainer opening here seeing all the growth happening.”
Mississippi Candy Company carries a huge variety of candies and other treats.
Lamkin said Mississippi Candy Company is family-owned and operated, and business has been crazy since opening.
Mississippi Candy Company is located at 102 Dees Dr, Building 300 in Gluckstadt next to El Sombrero. They are closed on Mondays and open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about the company, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages, or email mississippicandycompany@yahoo.com.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/mi...ow-open,82993?
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