JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI | City With Soul

[vetteking]

FONDREN FORWARD: HISTORIC JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Data from the 2020 census predicted the population of Fondren would start to decline by 2027.

“It was less than a 1 percent decline, but it was a trend that needed to be reversed before it started,” said Rebecca Garrison, executive director of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation.

Architects and urban planners who work in Fondren suggested a way to move the neighborhood forward.

“They came up with the idea that we hire our own urban planner with the help of the city of Jackson,” said Sandy Carter, a Fondren resident, who chairs the effort known as Fondren Forward.

Carter, a retired Trustmark Bank employee who leads the fundraising, has collected $275,000 in donations for the foundation to hire a firm to produce a masterplan.

Ideas tossed out so far include improving public safety, connecting Fondren with the Museum to Market Trail, finding a solution to make it easier to get from Fondren to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and coming up with a tie-in to Highland Village, he said.

The masterplan, which will cover the area that stretches from Woodrow Wilson Avenue to Northside Drive and from North West Street to I-55, is expected to encompass economic development strategies, preservation of cultural assets, conservation of natural resources, provision of community facilities, current and future housing requirements, zoning and land use, transportation and mobility and prioritized allocation of public funds.

A public meeting is scheduled March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fondren Church gymnasium. Design options for the neighborhood will be presented, and community input is sought.

The planning process is lengthy, about nine months, and an action plan is not expected until October, Garrison said.

In calling on potential donors, Carter said he discovered that many people want to contribute what they can to improve the city and see it thrive.

“We’re seeing a real concerted effort to make Jackson and Fondren better,” he said. “A year and a half ago we hit rock bottom and the city was a terrible mess, but our water system is better, and our sewer system is better.

“When it got so bad, I called a Realtor about putting our house on the market. My wife looked at me and said, ‘You can talk about it or you can do something about it.’”

Every church in Fondren, all the banks, private foundations and the utility companies have all been generous, he said, naming just a few of the donors, in helping get Fondren Forward off the ground.

With an overall fundraising goal of $400,000, an additional $125,000 is needed to implement suggestions from the masterplan and Carter has no worries about securing those donations. “I feel confident we’ll get to the $400,000,” he said.

Fundraising has been a team effort, Carter said, crediting Garrison with keeping him organized.

An 18-member steering committee composed of Fondren residents, property owners, renters, business owners, advocates and city of Jackson staff, is in place and the foundation’s board of directors are responsible for the overall oversight.

Last fall, the city of Jackson assisted the foundation in selecting an urban planner. Five firms were interviewed and City Collective, which has an office in Atlanta, was chosen, Carter said.

Blake Reeves, an urban planner who grew up in Jackson and is a discipline leader of urban design and planning at City Collective, is involved.

“To have someone who knows Fondren, its rich history and its people to lead our effort is the best of all worlds,” Garrison said.

A team of three individuals from City Collective met with more than 30 people in four days to glean all the information they could, Carter said. “We were going from seven to seven,” he said.

The team consulted the city’s Director of Planning and Development Chloe Dotson, Rep. Shanda Yates, Rep. Chris Bell, Sen. David Blount, Jackson City Council Members Ashby Foote, Virgi Lindsay and Aaron Banks, the city’s Chief Administrative Officer Louis P. Wright Sr. and the mayor’s Chief of Staff Safiya R. Omari, Ph.D., but it didn’t stop there.

Representatives from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, JXN Water, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Millsaps College, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the Greater Belhaven Foundation, LeFleur East Foundation and “all the developers who would talk to us” were also spoken with, Carter said.

“The council members have been very helpful and said, ‘Keep this up,”’ Carter said. “They said, ‘Take this and run.’ The city has been very helpful. We’ve worked as a team.”

He said city leaders have said, ‘We like what you’re doing,’ and want the foundation to share its planning process with other neighborhoods, with the idea being ‘if all of us start talking abut what’s going on in our areas maybe we can help each other.”

More than 100 people attended the first community meeting earlier this year, Garrison said. Four-hundred-fifty people responded to the online survey at fondrenforward.com and another 3,600 have visited the website.

Input from the community is especially important, Garrison said, so that the masterplan benefits the area in the best way possible.

The positive response to the planning process and fundraising communicates that “people still have hope for Jackson and want to invest in our city,” Garrison said. “Yes, this is a Fondren focused effort but, at the end of the day, it is about the city. We want to do our part to restore the city’s tax base and have more people calling Fondren home.”

Barry Plunkett, a Fondren resident and owner of Interiors Market in Woodland Hills Shopping Center in Fondren, said Fondren already has a lot going for it, including beautiful residences, numerous banks, several churches, retail and many places to eat in just a few blocks, and a masterplan for the future makes good sense.

Hiring a consultant, who can view Fondren with fresh eyes, is wise, he said, since the city of Jackson employees do not have the luxury of devoting time to a single project such as a neighborhood masterplan, he said.

A consultant with expertise and ideas from other cities can provide an objective view without a political agenda, and that can be useful, he said.

Mike Peters, a longtime Jackson businessman responsible for the development of Fondren Corner and Duling School, also gives a thumbs up to the planning that is under way.

“The consultant is bringing ideas from other communities like us and that’s good,” he said.

Fondren remains a bright spot in the city, Peters said, noting the move of Jones Walker law firm into the BankPlus building and Amerigo Italian Restaurant’s move into Duling.

One thing that makes Fondren stand out, he said, is its positive vibe. “It’s not all focused on the negative but what can we do to make things better,” he said.

Fondren is not the first neighborhood in the city to employ a planning process.

The Greater Belhaven Foundation has done so, although the process has not been on the scale and expense of that in Fondren, said Susan Garrard, who chairs the foundation.

“We have done extensive work with the Small Town Center at Mississippi State,” she said. The center provides a range of design and planning services for community such as engagement and visioning, master planning and project feasibility studies.

Lindsay, who represents Ward 7, said she’s seen what giving a neighborhood input in planning and asking questions such as “What would you like to see? How would this land be best used?’ can achieve.

David Turner, the owner of David Turner Companies and the project construction manager and general contractor for the Belhaven Town Center, brought in a design team to lead a collaborative process so that a new perspective could be envisioned beyond the institutional buildings and parking garage that were once on the town center site, she said.

The planning process plus rezoning for a mixed-use district paid off with the town center, a destination with some of the city’s most desirable activities and restaurants, possible, Lindsay said.

A similar planning process also went into the creation of The District at Eastover, another popular mixed-use district in the city, she said.

Lindsay believes neighborhoods should be proactive.

“Change is inevitable,” she said. “It’s either going to be good change or bad change. It is critically important that a community come together and plan for change, so it is good and meaningful, and it is change that they want.”

The word has gotten out about Fondren Forward and its intentions to move the neighborhood ahead, Carter said.

“People I’ve never known have come up to me and said, ‘What can I do to help?’” he said. “At the Jackson Food and Wine Festival, I had two people walk up to me and ask, ‘What can I do to help Fondren?’

“It’s been so rewarding, and I’ve met so many nice people. Jackson is full of so many nice people who want to see it get better.”
https://www.northsidesun.com/fondren...?e_term_id=120

LOOKING AHEAD: LIBRARY SYSTEM HIRES COMPANY TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLAN

A Saint Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit that assists libraries in developing strategic plans has been hired to help the Jackson-Hinds Library System chart a new course.

The system’s board of trustees approved engaging the nonprofit Library Strategies to develop a strategic plan for the system and to provide a facilities masterplan, said Floyd Council, the system’s executive director.

The trustees approved spending “not to exceed $55,000” for the planning, he said.

“We do not know the final cost yet because we are likely to have savings from prior data gathering and background documents that we provided the company,” he said.

The planning process should launch in mid-March and be completed by June, Council said.

“What we’re wanting to know is, ‘How do you envision your future library?”’ Council said. “This is a data and community engagement process that will be powerful for our funders, the board of trustees and the community to determine the future.”

After a strategic plan is in place, the board of trustees will most likely adopt a new mission and vision statement for the system, Council said.

The implementation of plan that should result from the structured planning process is expected to take five years, he said.

Investing in a plan for the future is a positive step forward, said Virgi Lindsay, who represents Ward 7 on the Jackson City Council.

“You can’t figure out brick and mortar if you don’t know where you’re going,” she said. “You need a plan. If you don’t know what the needs are you can’t fix them.”

In recent years, the system has faced a challenge keeping branches open that have aging heating and cooling systems and other problems. By state law, the city or county is responsible for the maintenance of the buildings.

The Tisdale Library on Northside Drive was torn down after it fell into disrepair. The Eudora Welty Library on North State Street, once the flagship of the system, also fell into disrepair and is expected to be demolished this way to make way for a green space that will replace it. The Richard Wright Library in south Jackson is closed due to damage by vandals.

“There’s been so much focus on our facilities,” Council said. “The first thing we expect to hear is ‘We want y’all to fix the buildings.’ That will be in the action area of the strategic plan.”

To know exactly what is needed in terms of infrastructure, the system’s board of trustees hired Restoration One to assess each branch and complete a detailed report about each one, he said.

The opportunity to explore what a modern library can offer is a welcome one, Lindsay said. “Libraries are so much more than books on the shelves,” she said.

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library created Library Strategies about two decades ago to share their expertise and strengthen libraries across the country and Library Strategies is well versed in knowledge about up-to-date libraries, Council said. “They have created strategic plans for 40 to 50 library systems across the country,” he said.

A representative of Library Strategies spoke at a Mississippi Library Commission meeting that Council attended last fall and provided training for state library directors.

“During that time, our board was looking at companies and consultants who do strategic planning,” he said. “We took a look at 20 to 30.”

Currently, members of the strategic plan steering committee are being finalized, Council said. The committee will include a mix of representatives from the city of Jackson and Hinds County, which fund the system, as well as leaders from the city’s business community, Jackson public schools, Hinds County schools, the Jackson Friends of the Library and nonprofits the system partners with.

Three senior consultants from Library Strategies will lead the planning process, which will include online and “quick paper” surveys, community events and data analysis, Council said.

Council envisions several events throughout the city that the public could participate in as part of the planning process.

He would like for one event to be held at the Belhaven Town Center, with a community partner sponsoring refreshment, a live radio remote and “digital capture” as a quick and easy way for participants to provide their thoughts what they’d like to see in their library.

“A strategic plan without serious involvement from the community can be dead in the water,” Council said. “We want people in the community to help us and be part of this.”

The planning process will involve more than just public opinion but also consider funding (which is a weakness of the system), the number of library branches, the hours they’re open and even the question, “Do you think libraries are necessary,” he said.

Council said he cannot predict what will come out of the planning process but there are many possibilities, he said, mentioning a library that offers stationary bicycles so people can read and ride.

“You have to be willing to listen to the wildest of ideas,” he said.

Jane Alexander, a longtime Jackson resident and president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, said the value of strategic planning is to help organizations look constructively and realistically at what they want to achieve in the future and includes practical steps to get there.

“Organizations need to take the time to either reset or just set their course,” she said. “Especially after times of chaos or difficulty, pausing to be deliberate and set a course will create the opportunity to hear from many perspectives and voices.

“Strategic planning can be internally focused, like how to comprise a board, what needs to change in governance or staffing models—that kind of thing. Questions can include ‘What do we need to do to be more effective’ or ‘How can we appeal to donors or clients better?’

“Strategic planning can be externally focused, and in that case, some attempt should be made to gather information and ideas from the public the organization serves. Questions like, ‘What would you like to see’ or ‘How can we serve you better’ are related to this.”

Alexander said there’s no doubt the Jackson-Hinds Library System faces challenges but planning can result in finding a better way forward.

“Diving deep into how to structure an organization to operate effectively, budget well and be realistic about what it can and cannot do is critically important,” she said. “At the same time, working with a consultant to explore what other systems are doing since many face the same challenges, imagine what’s possible and get public input on what they need from the system could be lead to transformation.”

Alexander said she hopes the planning approach that the Jackson-Hinds Library System uses will throw out preconceived ideas about what a library is and explore what it can be.

“As a community we can completely reimagine what we’re doing and create a vibrant, responsive library system,” she said. “Or, we can do nothing, which suggests it’s a problem too big for us to solve.

“I don’t like giving up and I believe the community won’t fail at this ‘big thinking.’”
https://www.northsidesun.com/local-c...&e_sort_order=

NEIGHBORS PLAN TO APPEAL FAIRVIEW INN REZONING

A couple opposed to the rezoning of a bed and breakfast in Belhaven plans to appeal the Jackson Planning Board’s decision if the Jackson City Council approves the zoning change. The planning board approved the rezoning of the Fairview Inn at 734 Fairview St. from R-2 (Single and Two-Family Residential District) to CMU-1 (Community Mixed-Use District, Pedestrian Friendly) during its me...
https://www.northsidesun.com/neighbo...&e_sort_order=

[vetteking]

Proposed projects around Jackson from The Kelly Factor's X (formerly known as Twitter) account

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Affectionately known as “Leroy’s,” this parking lot is still a gathering place for residents in the neighborhood. The proposed pop-up park includes:

✨ Landscape planters
✨ An artificial turf activity space
✨ A raised patio for seating
✨ A place for transient vending
1:13 PM · Feb 12, 2024
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20
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...20686059839539

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Tucked in the middle of West Jackson is a mostly vacant row of storefronts that would be an excellent location for service/product-based businesses (i.e., corner/grocery store, hair salon/barber, restaurant, coffee shop/bakery, etc.). #TheKellyFactory #AdaptiveReuse #Architecture
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
2:52 PM · Oct 9, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
146
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...69716097630252

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Today's #MakeoverMonday is a vacant (former beauty supply store) 11,760 square feet building across the street from the Jackson Medical Mall. This building would make the perfect boutique hotel and spa, servicing patients, visitors, and doctors along the medical corridor.
12:35 PM · Sep 18, 2023
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217
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...25085524578501

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Today’s Makeover Monday post highlights a vacant neighborhood corner store in Mid City, where community members have united to take an active role in revitalizing their community.
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
3:58 PM · Nov 6, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
75
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...48359952286072

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
This vacant 6k s.f. building is located on State St. It could be converted into a co-op grocery store with a restaurant. #MakeoverMonday is a series we created to highlight vacant, unused properties and reimagine them as renovated development/buildings.
11:14 AM · Aug 21, 2023
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452
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...57877011914935

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Let's pretend it's still Monday so, that makes this a #MakeoverMonday post ������ anyway, this recently demolished building was once home to a large shopping center in North Jackson. A portion of the existing structure was salvaged and will become part of an event venue.
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
5:15 PM · Jul 18, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
217
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...27474742415361

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
If you've been with us for a while, you know we started with tiny homes, so today's Makeover is located in West Jxn, within walking distance from JSU. On our 40'x100' vacant lot, we propose a 1400 s.f. duplex (i.e., 700 s.f. per unit, including 2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms).
5:42 PM · Jun 26, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
155
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...61837122215938

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Currently vacant, formerly Jatran (located on University Blvd., behind JSU) has been reimagined as a neighborhood market, including a pedestrian plaza, food truck park, market space for transient vendors, and a large outdoor pavilion that could host concerts and college events.
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
2:41 PM · Jun 12, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
269
https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...42786377285635
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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Adding to theme of Midtown, this vacant 6,700 s.f. building could be transformed to house several creative activities: art & design studio, performance space, creative educational institutional, literature & publishing house, culinary arts center, or creative retail spaces.
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
12:50 PM · Jun 5, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
135
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...78065601863689

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
This vacant 38,000 square feet building was once home to a large furniture store and showroom. With its proximity to schools, homes, and a recently demolished library, this would be a great adaptive reuse project for a new flagship library for Jackson. #MakeoverMonday
11:26 AM · May 8, 2023
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1,405
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...10198688509966

[vetteking]

More proposals around Jackson from The Kelly Factory Architectural Firm

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Today's Makeover Monday highlights one of our projects. The Kelly Factory was hired to produce conceptual renderings for this two-acre site, proposed as the headquarters for G.R.I.T.S. Inc.
11:49 AM · May 15, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
85
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...52518369660928

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
This 6,700 sqft. building is located in Midtown and is currently zoned as General Commercial. Most commercial uses are allowed, including medical clinics, childcare facilities, and other service-related businesses. What would be the best use for this property?
3:39 PM · May 1, 2023
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127
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...37086155726856

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
This vacant 4-story building is located right outside of downtown and is over 100,000 square feet. Formally a Masonic Temple, this property is zoned for multi-family residential uses, a redevelopment proposal could be submitted to the City of Jackson for creative adaptive reuse.
Akili Kelly and Ashlee Kelly, Ph.D.
7:33 AM · Apr 24, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
253
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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Every Monday, The Kelly Factory will highlight a vacant, unused property in Jackson and reimagine it as a renovated development/building. This two-story building is located downtown, approximately 10,181 square feet, and zoned as C-3 General Commercial.
7:52 AM · Apr 17, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
237
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...46066577309696

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The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
This vacant, 2,600-square-foot building is located downtown, next to the Warren Hood Building and near City Hall. This building would make a great mixed-use residential development and be a continuation of similar developed projects in the area.
7:41 PM · May 22, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
60
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https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...08089300238336

[towerpower123]

They would absolutely ruin that classic Masonic Temple!

[vetteking]

Originally Posted by towerpower123

They would absolutely ruin that classic Masonic Temple!

Really I actually like the proposal. We need colorful buildings in our neighborhood. Why you feel it would ruin it?

[vetteking]

More demolition happening in Ward 2 & 7 of vacant homes. The City of Jackson Department of Planning & Development posted the before and after demolition of the homes on their X (formerly known as Twitter) account.

jxnplanning
@jxnplanning
Great things are happening in Ward 2! Community Improvement is demolishing eyesores across the City. Remember this house on Lyndon B. Johnson Dr.? Well, it's gone! #WhoNext #ThisMyCity #ThisYourCity #CodeEnforcement #GreatThingsInJackson #CommunityImprovement #JacksonMississippi
11:15 AM · Mar 14, 2024
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1,679
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https://twitter.com/jxnplanning/stat...09953326878807

jxnplanning
@jxnplanning
Great things are happening in Ward 7! Community Improvement is demolishing eyesores across the City. Remember this house on Lamar Street? Well, it's gone! #WhoNext #ThisMyCity #ThisYourCity #CodeEnforcement #GreatThingsInJackson #CommunityImprovement #JacksonMississippi
2:02 PM · Mar 18, 2024
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153
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https://twitter.com/jxnplanning/stat...01513218531755

Temporary downtown Jackson library could be in place this summer, officials say

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A temporary downtown Jackson library could be opened sometime this summer, so say officials with the Jackson/Hinds Library System.

The news comes as the city of Jackson announces it has secured $3.7 million in federal funding to help relocate the Eudora Welty Library, months after the city deeded the building over to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Those funds will be used to help the city find a permanent location for a new downtown library.

Until that happens, JHLS Board of Directors President Peyton Smith says a temporary location will likely be opened to ensure residents continue to have access to books, computers, and other library services.

“That will be kind of a smaller footprint, but will restore library services to patrons in downtown Jackson,” he said. “That’s something we both hope to have an announcement on in the coming weeks, with a target of opening that temporary library this summer.”

JHLS announced it received the grant funding a little more than a week ago. The funds are part of a $460 billion spending bill signed by President Joe Biden on March 9.

The city’s Planning and Development Department and Library Board of Directors applied for the funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development after receiving an invitation to do so by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Funds will be used to help relocate the Welty Library, which was moved out of its former location at 300 N. State St. back in February.
The building, which had housed the former JHLS flagship for years, is set to be torn down to make way for a green space for the Two Mississippi Museums.

The Jackson City Council signed off on plans to transfer the facility to the state last year, at the urging of Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

“We indicated to our residents that we had no intention of not having the Eudora Welty Library, a downtown library here in the city of Jackson,” Lumumba said. “Due to their creativity and diligence, our library board has been instrumental in helping us secure this funding.”

A location for the temporary location was not announced. Items from the Welty branch are being stored at the Jackson Medical Mall on Woodrow Wilson Avenue. That move-out will be completed by April 1.


In the meantime, JHLS is also launching a new strategic effort to determine the future of the library system.

“This is being done by Library Strategies out of Minnesota, which is a huge part of how our board, city, and county will look at framing the future of our library system,” said Executive Director Floyd Council.

The study comes at a pivotal point for JHLS. In addition to losing its flagship branch, the system also recently moved out of the Richard Wright Library after the branch was ransacked by vandals, and more than a year ago, the former Charles Tisdale Library had to be torn down after it was closed, abandoned, and vandalized.

Smith said the study, coupled with efforts to find a new home for Welty, could be a generational moment for JHLS, pointing to the fact that Welty was at its location for nearly 40 years when it closed.

“The decision we make about the long-term library will outlast everyone in this room,” he said. “And so we take that responsibility very seriously and we’re being thoughtful and strategic as we try to identify where to place a new Eudora Welty Library downtown.”

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/19/temp...officials-say/

[vetteking]

Rankin County Chamber of Commerce breaks ground on new Agriculture Market Complex in Brandon

Rankin County Chamber
16h ·
Breaking ground today in Brandon, Mississippi! Commissioner Andy Gipson unveils plans for the Genuine MS Agriculture Market Complex, a project set to revolutionize food supply, storage, and distribution. ������������
This initiative will create opportunity for local farmers, allow economic growth, and provide education for the youth in our community. Thank you to the city and county leaders that made this project happen! ������������
https://www.facebook.com/RankinCount...tcNmiZLKm4YXel

Tico’s Steak House opens new location on Oxford Square

Ridgeland steak house Tico’s has opened a new restaurant in Oxford on the downtown Square. The restaurant is located at 1001 E. Jackson Avenue in the same building as the former Chops and YUGO. Built around 1930, the building once housed a telephone company and was also used as a law office for author John Grisham in the late 1980s.

The original Tico’s Steak House in Ridgeland was opened 30 years ago by Tico Hoffman. In February, the Tico’s Steak House family expanded with the opening of a new location in Oxford, marking another chapter in the restaurant’s journey. The high-end eatery with a full bar specializes in steaks but also serves seafood. The restaurant is open from 4:30 to 9 p.m., Monday–Saturday. For more information, call 662-638-3181.
https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2024/03/...oxford-square/

Gluckstadt announces plan for first city park

GLUCKSTADT, Miss. (WJTV) – Gluckstadt leaders announced the city has acquired property to create the first city park.

More than 20 acres of land were donated by the Harreld and Hutchinson families, long time residents of Gluckstadt. The land is located on the west side of Calhoun Station Parkway.

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted at the regular board meeting on March 12 to develop the property as a city park. Plans are already underway for the development of the park.

“We are beyond grateful to all of those who had a hand in making this project a reality! We would like to extend a special thanks to the Harreld and Hutchinson families, William Hall, our Planning & Zoning Director, and Christi Greenlee with Heritage Commercial and Land Co. for all your hard work on bringing this exciting news to Gluckstadt! We appreciate all of you!” city leaders said in a post on social media.
https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news...rst-city-park/

Martin’s to open it’s second location in Livingston

LIVINGSTON, Miss. (WLBT) - A downtown Jackson restaurant is looking to expand its reach into another part of the metro soon.

For over 70 years, Martin’s has always been in downtown Jackson.

Soon, Martin’s will be opening its second location with this part of the sign changed from downtown to Livingston.

“We always thought that with the right opportunity in Madison County, that, you know, we could bring a little bit of what we have downtown that’s been so unique,” owner of Martin’s, Joseph Stodghill, said.

Developers behind the Livingston Township filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last November. Two months later, one of the community’s largest restaurants called “The Gathering” closed its doors.

“I don’t know a lot about why it’s had some issues. But of course, the ownership must have had some problems,” Madison County Supervisor Karl Banks said.

But it wasn’t long before Stodghill jumped at a chance to bring life back into the community.

“This is going to have, you know, a different feel to just from the drive and not the hustle and bustle of downtown. The challenge for us is to try to recreate some of what people love down there and bring it out here,” Stodghill said.

“We used to go to Martin’s when it was in Jackson, oh, now that it’s in Jackson. But here lately, I’ve just got to I’m too old and I can’t drive at night. But I could drive up here to Livingston because it’s about five miles,” Flora resident Steve Janotta explained.

Only a few restaurants are currently within a 15-minute drive from Livingston, with a historic restaurant planting roots in the growing area.

“I’m sure Martin’s will be another nice place to go to eat and listen to music,” Janotta said.

“I hope it helps to bring other people into the Livingston area. Other people that like to sell their wares and do their thing and the growth is headed in that direction,” Banks said.
“There’s a lot of people in and out and coming around. So we’re hoping to make it a destination spot and continue to grow on what it has been,” Stodghill said.

Martin’s expects to open its doors by the end of May.

https://www.wlbt.com/2024/03/14/mart...on-livingston/

New Hotel coming to Waveland, MS
• Video Link

WAVELAND, Miss. (WLOX) - A dual-brand Marriott hotel beginning construction this spring is an investment along Waveland’s main business corridor.

The $16 million project will be located on a four-acre plot of land near the Old Spanish Trail and Highway 90 intersection.

The project, featuring Fairfield and TownePlace Suites, will be the first hotel in Waveland in over two decades, Mayor Jay Trapani says.

“You know, we have Stennis Space Center, Stennis Airport, and Port Bienville, and when people come in to work or visit those facilities, they had to stay outside of Hancock County,” Trapani said.

Keeping those visitors in Hancock County means more meals at places like J’s Restaurant.

“We could use the influx of business, and I think we need new businesses down here. Bay St. Louis, Waveland, it’s really awesome. We’re a little hidden gem that’s been here 37 years,” restaurant owner Louis Fouquet said.

When his family and friends come to the Coast, Fouquet says they have to look outside Waveland for a place to stay, but that will change in 18-24 months when the four-story hotel is complete.

“It’ll be right here, next to my restaurant, they can come visit me! I would love for my children my family, anybody that needs a place to come now, I got a place right here!” Fouquet exclaimed.
Additionally, a McAlister’s Deli, Harbor Freight, and Express Oil Change will be coming to Waveland.

County supervisor Scotty Adam says it’s all signs of positive growth.

“We already have a lot of people, visitors coming into town, but it provides amenities- much-needed amenities, such as a Harbor Freight and an oil changing store,” Adam said.

Mayor Trapani says this is the beginning of a bright future for Waveland.

“We have more coming, I can tell you that. We have more developers coming, that I’m talking to that want to bring business into Waveland. It’s very exciting.”

Construction on the Marriott branded hotel is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months.

https://www.wlox.com/2024/03/18/wave...ancock-county/

New Mexican restaurant opens in Byhalia, MS

Byhalia Area Chamber Main Street
14h ·
We are excited to welcome El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant as a new member of our chamber and community!! Open 7 days a week in Historic Byhalia at 2446 Church Street.



https://www.facebook.com/byhaliaarea...cDaGfT6q4HQM9l

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Added news about Mexican restaurant opening in Byhalia, MS

[vetteking]

EAST HARDY STREET BRIDGE WORK PROGRESSING; SMALL PART OF SOUTH MAIN IN PETAL TO BE CLOSED AFTER COMPLETION OF BRIDGE

Over the past couple of weeks, workers have made significant progress toward the re-opening of the current East Hardy Street bridge that connects Petal to Hattiesburg over the Leaf River.

Members of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors recently posted an updated list of work on the bridge, which closed January 22 for drainage improvements and other measures. Board president Terri Bell said the bridge is expected to be back open for motorists in mid-April.

“We are making a lot of progress, and we still feel like we are on track to finish real soon, so we’re really looking forward to it, to get this behind us,” she said.

According to the list, workers have so far:

Formed and poured sections of barrier rail and sidewalk;
Poured the exterior curb on the roadway from the adjacent wrecker yard to Lagoon Road on both sides of the bridge;
Begun forming and pouring the tops and gutters of the curb inlets where the curbs have been poured;
Begun filling and grading slopes and preparing for grassing at the nearby cemetery;
Worked on the installation of a finger joint;
Started the grading for the upcoming sidewalk on the Hattiesburg side of the bridge; and
Started backfilling of the curb on the south side of the roadway.
However, some upcoming drainage work just south of Carterville Road in Petal will necessitate a closure of a small portion of South Main Street once work on the bridge is complete. That closure, which will take place along South Main from the red light at Carterville Road to Dawson Cutoff, is expected to last approximately a month.


Bell said that work could be completed while the bridge project progresses, but that measure would have made it more difficult for the businesses in that area, including the MJ Discount convenience store and Cochran’s Muffler and Auto Shop.

“Those (businesses) would have to have traffic come down Carterville (Road), turn on Dawson Cutoff, and it would make it not as successful for their businesses,” she said. “So what’s going to occur is that once we open the bridge, and we have traffic coming through that area, we will have a little detour that’s going to take you down Dawson Cutoff up to Carterville (Road).

“(That way), those businesses will be accessible and people will be able to get to them before we shut off the area just south of the red light. We just want them as busy as we possibly can with all this construction that’s going on.”

Officials are currently working to complete a new bridge adjacent to the current bridge, which will replace the structure that has connected Hattiesburg and Petal for more than 70 years.

Officials had originally considered demolishing the current bridge, but after learning that endeavor would cost approximately $1 million, the decision was made to leave the structure and transform it into a pedestrian bridge. The funds for that project will come from the Leaf and Bouie Redevelopment District, which was recently established to take the taxes from each side of the Leaf and Bouie rivers and reinvest them back into those areas of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County.

“We have that district set up down there, and that’s bringing in some revenue for the second or third year,” said David Hogan, former president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, in a previous story. “So we’ll have some money built up to do some stuff to the old bridge once it’s not in use anymore.

“It’s going to be a destination point. There will be a walking path and some lighting, and we’ll probably paint it during events.”

With the help of matching grants from the United States Department of Transportation, officials from Petal, Forrest County and Hattiesburg are working to put forward matching grants to make a walking path possible on the bridge. The funds would come from the department of transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant program for 2024, which is designed to help communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact.

“I’m extremely excited about taking this step forward for the city to partner with Forrest County and the City of Petal to make the old East Hardy bridge an asset to our entire community,” Hattiesburg City Council president Jeffrey George said in a previous story. “I think the potential addition of this pedestrian path will help us continue to expand outdoor recreation opportunities and will further our mission to realize the Leaf River as an asset to our city.”

“We have that district set up down there, and that’s bringing in some revenue for the second or third year,” said David Hogan, former president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, in a previous story. “So we’ll have some money built up to do some stuff to the old bridge once it’s not in use anymore.

“It’s going to be a destination point. There will be a walking path and some lighting, and we’ll probably paint it during events.”

With the help of matching grants from the United States Department of Transportation, officials from Petal, Forrest County and Hattiesburg are working to put forward matching grants to make a walking path possible on the bridge. The funds would come from the department of transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant program for 2024, which is designed to help communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact.

“I’m extremely excited about taking this step forward for the city to partner with Forrest County and the City of Petal to make the old East Hardy bridge an asset to our entire community,” Hattiesburg City Council president Jeffrey George said in a previous story. “I think the potential addition of this pedestrian path will help us continue to expand outdoor recreation opportunities and will further our mission to realize the Leaf River as an asset to our city.”

https://www.hubcityspokes.com/local-...&e_sort_order=

NEW CREATIONS FLEA MARKET AND THRIFT GRAND OPENING HELD IN KOSCIUSKO

New Creations Flea Market and Thrift celebrated its Grand Opening on February 2, 2024 h and drew a good crowd. "We are so proud of our community for coming out and supporting their town and businesses," expressed Amy Bowling of the Kosciusko Attala Partnership.. "A big thank you to everyone who came out today. We appreciate you at KAP." The Grand Opening festivities boasted an array ...
https://www.starherald.net/local-con...&e_sort_order=

Jack’s set to open in Laurel next month

Jack’s Family Restaurants, a Southern-based quick-service restaurant known for its hand-made Southern food, plans to open in Laurel early next month.

The new Jack’s location at 841 Adams St., just off Leontyne Price Boulevard near Interstate 59, has been under construction since November and is expected to bring 50-60 jobs. With a double“drive-thru,” guests can expect convenient and quick service. The location will feature a double “drive-thru” and have dine-in seating options with enough room for the whole family, rocking chairs on the front porch and a window to watch biscuits being made.


“We’re excited to plant our roots in the city of Laurel,” said Todd Bartmess, CEO of Jack’s Family Restaurants. “Guests can always expect genuine Southern hospitality along with quality food they can proudly serve their families.”
Jack’s menu houses a wide variety of food that includes made-from-scratch biscuits, hand-breaded chicken and made-to-order burgers. The “All About The South” brand is known for the Big Jack burger. The burger has two all-beef patties topped with shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo served up on a toasted artisan bun.

Not only is Jack’s committed to providing fresh food and friendly service to its guests, but the brand is also committed to establishing itself as a strong community partner, Bartmess said. Any nonprofit or local organization in the Laurel community or surrounding area seeking fundraising alignments or sponsorships is encouraged to visit eatatjacks.com/donations for more information.

Individuals interested in employment opportunities are encouraged to apply for available part- and full-time positions. All Jack’s employees receive benefits such as health and dental insurance, flexible hours and weekly pay. Interested job-seekers can apply at eatatjacks.com.

For more, visit eatatjacks.com. For exclusive offers and promotions, download the Jack’s app.

Founded in 1960 in Homewood, Ala., Jack’s Family Restaurants started as Jack’s Hamburgers in a walk-up hamburger stand that served burgers, fries, sodas and shakes and has now grown to more than 250 locations in four states in the South — including one the opened in Ellisville last year. Jack’s serves quality food with an emphasis on community involvement and charitable giving. For more information, visit eatatjacks.com.

https://www.leader-call.com/news/fre...05bfa22b5.html

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More demolition happening in Ward 1 & 6 of vacant homes. The City of Jackson Department of Planning & Development posted the before and after demolition of the homes on their X (formerly known as Twitter) account.

jxnplanning
@jxnplanning
Great things are happening in Ward 1! Community Improvement is demolishing eyesores across the City. Remember this house on Concord Dr.? Well, it's gone! #WhoNext #ThisMyCity #ThisYourCity #CodeEnforcement #GreatThingsInJackson #CommunityImprovement #JacksonMississippi
12:03 PM · Mar 22, 2024
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88
Views
https://twitter.com/jxnplanning/stat...21097637183731

jxnplanning
@jxnplanning
Great things are happening in Ward 6! Community Improvement is demolishing eyesores across the City. Remember this house on Sykes Rd? Well, it's gone! #WhoNext #ThisMyCity #ThisYourCity #CodeEnforcement #GreatThingsInJackson #CommunityImprovement #JacksonMississippi
7:02 AM · Mar 20, 2024
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136
Views
https://twitter.com/jxnplanning/stat...20701201141984

COMING SOON: FUNDS EARMARKED FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING MUSEUMS

Thanks to recently appropriated federal dollars, plans for a one-of-a-kind, elevated pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly bridge across Lakeland Drive are moving ahead. “Our goal is for this to open by the summer of 2026,” said Susan Garrard, president and CEO of the Mississippi Children’s Museum and board chair of the Great City Mississippi Foundation, which was a catalyst for securing t...
https://www.northsidesun.com/local-c...&e_sort_order=

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Pizza Hut proposed for Downtown Square

Who wants pizza? The Batesville Planning Commission will hear a proposal at their meeting on Monday, March 25, from an architecture firm that proposes to remodel a dowtown building to open a Pizza Hut franchise. The property located at 126 Public Square has housed many businesses over the years, including The Tavern, a bar/restaurant that enjoyed moderate success before closing years ago.

What is proposed for the building now is a delivery/carryout only Pizza Hut, popular in places where the sit-down restaurant model is no longer economically feasible for the parent company. Pizza Hut built one of the first corporately owned restaurants in Batesville and operated it for decades until its closure about four years ago. Represenatives from Lickel Architecture of Shawnee, KS, submitted the application to the Code Office and asked to be on the agenda for Monday’s meeting at City Hall.

The establishment will have no seating and is asking to having operating hours from 10 a.m. to midnight. The application said four to six employees will be hired for each shift. A special exception is needed to open in the Downtown Business District and the project will have to be approved by both the Planning Commission and the Board of Aldermen. If permitted, Pizza Hut will paint the exterior bricks (presumaby Pizza Hut red) and replace the front door and adjacent windows. A new awning will also be part of the remodel. Also on the agenda for the Planning Commission’s meeting is a proposal from Murphy USA to tear down the existing Murphy USA building and gas pumps at the 201 House-Carlson Drive location and build a new 1,400 sq. foot building and install updated fuel pumps. The proposed design will be presented by Pan American Engineers, LLC, of Alexandria, LA. Chief Building Official Andy Berryhill said he has met with representatives of Murphy USA about the project, and was informed the new building will be on the model of the company’s larger locations and will include a walk-in convenience store with additional ammenities. The current Murphy USA in Batesville is a walk-up only business for transactions with a few sundry items at the point of retail.

https://www.panolian.com/2024/03/20/...wntown-square/

City puts halt on new mini-storages – too many in wrong places, Code Office says

Chief Building Inspector Andy Berryhill last week asked the city board for a moratorium on the construction of any new mini-storage buildings in Batesville, and to consider radical changes in the zoning ordinances that govern the design and allowed locations for the rental units. Aldermen agreed with Berryhill’s assessment of the rapid growth of mini-storage until in the city and how that increase may affect the long term viability of property values within the incorporated limits. “I’m seeing that mini-storages are taking up a lot of prime commercial retail space and I just wanted to make the city aldermen aware of what is happening,” Berryhill said. “Our office has recently fielded questions about several new mini-storage projects people have planned on some of the best retail locations in the city.”

A serious inquiry about locating yet another mini-storage on the vacant lot between Hardee’s and Popeye’s was the catalyst for Berryhill’s decision to ask the board for a moratorium and permission to study and propose changes to the zoning ordinances that are guides for municipalities when uses for vacant land is planned. “In my opinion the retail spaces left on our main highways should be for restaurants and businesses, and when talking with aldermen they also had the same concerns,” Berryhill said, suggesting that such construction be limited to Industrial zones instead of C-2 and C-3 zones, except when city-approved conditions are met. Berryhill said he has no prejudice against more mini-storages being built, but is concerned that with limiting their potential locations and tightening site and design standards the city will eventually have unattractive, industrial type structures scattered among other businesses.



Aldermen had concerns about some of the newest mini-storages in the city, citing the bright red exterior paint at Tiger Storage, located at the corner of Hwy. 51N and James St. “Aldermen complained some about the bright red paint, but if you will notice Tiger Storage doesn’t have any roll up door facing the highway, and they were some of the only ones that built a fence as they were supposed to do,” Berryhill said. “We aren’t picking on any storage units at all, but we do have a need to look at the zoning ordinances and make sure we are doing the best for Batesville for the years to come,” he said. The moratorium does not affect at least two construction projects that have been filed with the Code Office recently, nor any existing mini-storage business that wants to extend their buildings to add more units. The Panolian’s parent company, Batesville Newsmedia, Inc., is also in the mini-storage business, and last year opened StoreMore, a climate controlled storage facility that is housed behind the newspaper’s office in the space that once held a large printing press, darkrooms, and plate-processing areas. Aldermen will further discuss mini-storages and any zoning change proposals in future meetings.

https://www.panolian.com/2024/03/12/...e-office-says/

Arby’s has ribbon cutting; now open for business on Hwy. 6E

Panola Partnership sponsored a Ribbon Cutting ceremony Monday, March 11, for the new Arby’s restaurant in Batesville. Located at 395 Hwy. 6E, the  fast food eatery is between Yamota Sushi and Steakhouse and Popeye’s.  On hand for the 9 a.m. event were Arby’s manages and employees, city officals, and Partnership ambassadors. Arby’s is best known for selling roast beef sandwiches. Other menu items the chain is known for include gyros, wraps, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes. Its headquarters are in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Franchises worldwide are about 3,400.
https://www.panolian.com/2024/03/11/...ess-on-hwy-6e/

Dude’s Hot Biscuits cleaning up after Monday morning fire

BROOKHAVEN — Local breakfast restaurant Dude’s Hot Biscuits suffered a fire Monday morning according to a statement on the business’s Facebook page. Damage was minimal according to the business, which is located at 1248 US51. No damage is visible on the exterior of the building and the interior smells of smoke. No one was hurt in the fire. Dude’s stated they are currently in cleanup mode and have a repairman coming by the restaurant tomorrow. The plan is to open as soon as they can and hopefully later this week.
Brookhaven Fire Department has a station near Dude’s Hot Biscuits on Industrial Park Road and was able to get on scene within a minute of the call which came in at 8:49. Owner Jimmy Davis said the Brookhaven Fire Department was able to put out the grease fire. He said nothing was damaged. “We were lucky,” he said. Customers in Brookhaven have voiced their support for Dude’s after the fire, Davis said. “It means a lot. It makes you feel good,” he said. “Other businesses have reached out too.”
https://www.dailyleader.com/2024/03/...-morning-fire/

Hydradyne celebrates new sales floor with ribbon cutting

BROOKHAVEN —Mississippi’s only Hydradyne location celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new sales floor named the “Parker Store,” Thursday at 58 US84 in Brookhaven. Hydradyne is a company specializing in fluid power and motion control, in other words hydraulics.  Hydradyne first came to Brookhaven in 2016 by acquiring Gatlin Corp/Seal Group. Operations Manager Melissa Patt said the ribbon cutting was to celebrate the new sales area which will directly help customers.  “Customers can walk in and shop for things. Before the Parker Store, we would turn and go back to the warehouse to find parts,” Patt said. “It is now a retail space like going into an auto parts store.” 
Regional Manager Jim Watson said the sales floor turned a simple yes or no question on inventory into a chance to come up with solutions if items were not available in inventory. He said they are able to work with the customer to solve problems.  Watson explained to the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce representatives, MDOT workers and others at the ribbon cutting that Hydradyne was a national business but not too big. Its footprint covers the southeastern US with 36 stores.  Hydradyne is headquartered in Dallas Fort-Worth. The business owner gives back to the employees by providing college scholarships to their children and invests money back into the company.  Watson said the company is continuing to establish its footprint and expanding support to customers in different areas.  “We put in a significant investment in this location and wanted to create a place where people could come in and shop for fluid control needs,” Watson said. “We have an environment of wanting to help people. We have a talented team for service and repair. We have field technicians we can send to help with repairs.” Brookhaven residents may not realize how important motion control and hydraulic systems are in everyday life. Hydradyne works on systems which help agriculture equipment operate, keep trash trucks operational, construction equipment running smoothly so the roads can be paved, logging equipment to help feed local mills with timber.  Watson said the company services the moving parts to the Stennis Space Center and helps the United States Army Corps of Engineers keep the Mississippi River open for navigation by working on dredges such as the Jadwin. He explained to some local bankers that they were a part of “the largest industry you have never heard of.”  Hydradyne’s employees are friendly and have interesting stories to share. One of the employees grew up at Angola Prison and spent time in law enforcement before taking a job with the company.  “Hydradyne is a great company, they are people oriented, they care about us,” Patt said. “There are so many options we have a lot to offer to people.” Hydradyne is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday but offers 24/7 emergency service.
https://www.dailyleader.com/2024/03/...ibbon-cutting/

Stahl-Urban building loses Mississippi landmark designation

BROOKHAVEN — Ashes, twisted metal and rubble are all that physically remain of the main Stahl-Urban building after it burned on February 26, 2024. Greenbrier Digging Services is on standby to clean up the debris of what was once a key employer in Brookhaven.  Barry White, Director of the Historic Preservation Division, released a letter sent to Brookhaven’s City Engineer Mike McKenzie with WGK engineering informing McKenzie of what is next for Stahl-Urban.  “Due to the fire, we acknowledge that the buildings are a health and human safety hazard and have determined they have lost their historic integrity,” the letter states. “Therefore the buildings are no longer eligible for Mississippi landmark designation and the demolition may proceed.” 

McKenzie said they have not started demolition work yet. Any demolition of the building would require two phases. He said the first phase would get the walls knocked down because they are unstable.  Next, they would get a hazardous materials inspector to inspect the sites before anything is hauled off. McKenzie said he needs to talk with Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox about when the work would start.  Remembering its heyday Stahl-Urban was a garment manufacturing factory which moved from Terre Haute, Indiana to Brookhaven in 1936. The story of the company is one of the American Dream.  George Zimmerman, an Austrian immigrant, moved to Illinois and invented bib overalls with the help of his daughter Rosa Urban. The company became Stahl-Urban in 1895 and built a factory in Terre Haute in 1906.  Unionized workers in Indiana and a tax incentive from Brookhaven were factors in the move of the company. Former Brookhaven resident Peter Mullikin said his father Paul “Pete” Mullikin was one of the last presidents of Stahl-Urban before it merged with Kellwood and Paul kept a position in Brookhaven. Mullikin remembers his great uncle Carl Urban being over the plant and his grandfather Marcell Urban was the senior partner. He said Mississippi wanted to attract industry after the depression which was another factor in the company coming to Brookhaven.  Mullikin now lives in Texas but he came to town after the fire. His sister Marsha Wilmerding was in town in the week after the fire.  “It is bitter sweet knowing it went up in flames. We spent time out there growing up as kids,” Mullikin said. “There are a couple of generations here who likely had someone they knew who worked there at some point.”  He remembered the building very well and the times he would go visit his dad in the office. The production floor of the plant had pattern cutting and seamstresses running sewing machines.  One summer he worked at the plant while he was in college. Those summers were spent unloading cloth at the railroad and taking them to the plant.  “The August heat was dreadful,” he said.  After high school and college he did not come back to Brookhaven for some time. In 2016, Mullikin said he visited Brookhaven for a presentation on the Stahl-Urban factory sponsored by the historical society.  “The seamstresses were committed to this company and I know those relationships were important then,” Mullikin said. “They reminisced and they brought up some examples of thimbles and things they used at work. It was an education for me to hear those stories. A lot of people would talk about walking to work. It was fascinating. I didn’t know anything about it. I only knew one perspective of it.”  Dianne Altman said her mother Yvonne Wooten worked at the plant.  Altman recalled the plant as a lifeline to employees in Lincoln and Franklin County. Stahl-Urban was one of the first industries that employed mostly women.  “They made good money for then. Men worked in the cutting room and were mechanics.  Mama always said Mr. D.L Price was the best mechanic and if she couldn’t get him she fixed it herself,” Altman wrote on Facebook. “Her house burned on Aug. 20, 2023 but we found her scissors in the rubble.” All four surviving members of the Urban family found careers outside of textile manufacturing and moved away from Lincoln County. The fire brought a conclusion to the Stahl-Urban story in Brookhaven. “It was there for generations and had an impact. We felt sad about it burning. That is what was left of the Urban family in Brookhaven,” Mullikin said. “When we did come to visit we would drive out there where it was vacant. I remember its heyday, when it was new and thriving.”

https://www.dailyleader.com/2024/03/...-designation//

Starbucks is now open

BROOKHAVEN — At last, Starbucks is open at 879 Brookway Boulevard in front of Paul Barnett Nissan. The company had not acquired a business privilege license according to the Brookhaven City Clerk’s Office on Thursday. It got one and opened Monday.  The Mississippi Department of Health reported a new food permit was issued for the coffee shop on February 29. The permit is classified as new construction according to the Mississippi Department of Health. The store number for the new Starbucks will be 78427 according to the health inspection.

Tuesday to Sunday, the hours for Starbucks are from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starbucks is also open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays. According to the Starbucks website, this location offers in store pickup, drive-thru and mobile order.
https://www.dailyleader.com/2024/03/...ready-to-open/

Artist brings weathered restaurant front to life

Artist Saul Maurer works to bring a weathered restaurant front to life in downtown Brookhaven Monday. Betty's Eat Shop is the newest addition to his portfolio of work in Brookhaven. (Hunter Cloud | The Daily Leader) BROOKHAVEN — Saul Maurer is no stranger to Brookhaven. His work has transformed the downtown area into a gallery of murals, signs and business fronts.  Betty’s Eat Shop is the newest addition to the portfolio Monday.  Maurer’s hands painted a weathered mural saying “EAT SHOP,” on the front of the building. Three simple colors, brick, off-white and black went into the work of art. Before Sunday, the business front was plain brick. 
“It is all addition and subtraction at this point to get the weathered look,” Maurer said. “This sign had not been there before. I used acrylic latex paint. It lasts forever and fades in the sunlight. The UV light the mural will get from sunrises in the summertime will help mellow it out even more.”  Maurer said he started working on the mural Sunday by getting the bones of the sign worked out. Monday’s work was tweaking the details to get the look he desired. Every once in a while, Maurer would take a look at a picture in his hands and go back to adding layers of paint.  He said the picture was a photograph of weathered brick taken elsewhere. It helps inspire his work. Maurer turned his focus back to the fine details of the mural.  Maurer was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He attended the John McCrady School of Art in New Orleans and Parsons School of Design in New York City. The artist lives is in McComb.  Brookhaven residents may recognize his light blue 1974 Datsun pickup truck. He said there was nothing special about the truck other than it was old and he didn’t mind getting paint on it.  Betty’s Eat Shop is located at 126 S. Whitworth Avenue.
https://www.dailyleader.com/2024/03/...front-to-life/

GRAND OPENING AT THE HAIR STUDIO

A ribbon cutting was held for The Hair Studio on Friday, March 15. Marci Patterson, owner, was surrounded by family, friends, and other locals to welcome her salon to Louisville. The Hair Studio is located at 17260 E Main Street. They offer all types of hair services including styling, cutting, coloring, and extensions; they also offer waxing and spray tanning services. To make an appointment call 601-527-1988.
https://www.redhillsmsnews.com/commu...&e_sort_order=

[vetteking]

MCMEDICAL COUNTRY CLINIC

Pictured, from left, Receptionist Sandra Barry, Nurse Jennifer Hall, Nurse Ashley Walker, Carrollton Mayor Pam Lee, Family Nurse Practitioner Carol Suzy McCrimmon, Clinical Operations Director Carlton Carver and Nurse Brandy Avant. (Photo by Peyton Poe, © 2024, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

“Where Caring Meets Compassion” - FNP McCrimmon

McMedical Country Clinic celebrates their grand opening in their new clinic in Carrollton off of Highway 82.
https://www.winonatimes.com/mcmedica...&e_sort_order=

TULIPS IN CARROLLTON

Carrollton Mayor Pam Lee and Cherokee Rose Garden Club President Betty Downs with one of the flower planters brightening the downtown area of Carrollton. The Garden Club helps keep the Town looking great. (Photo Special to the Times/Conservative)
https://www.winonatimes.com/tulips-c...&e_sort_order=

NORTH CARROLLTON WELCOMES NEW MURAL

Galvin Bird, Mississippi artist, works on the mock-up design for the new mural located on the side of Grumpy’s Ice House at 115 West Main Street. (Photo by Peyton Poe, © 2024, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

North Carrollton Mayor Ken Strachan reached out to several surrounding local communities’ leaders and met with them on Tuesday, Feb. 20, to introduce Galvin Bird, a Mississippi artist who was commissioned to create two murals in North Carrollton. The artist was hard at work as officials arrived, referencing a mock-up design of what the mural is expected to look like upon completion. The mural, at display on the side of Grumpy’s Ice House at 115 W. Main Street in North Carrollton, is a grayscale picturesque replica of the 1899 CNG Columbus to Greenville railroad depot that stood across the street in the same place as where the current fire department stands.

Grumpy’s owner, Allen Dunn, expressed his joy for having the mural on the side of his building, stating “I retired from that railroad.”

Bird graduated from Madison Central High School and grew up studying art under his father. The mural commissioned for Grumpy’s is reportedly only his first or second grayscale work and a bit out of his comfort zone. Despite this, residents have expressed interest in the artist and his creation to Grumpy’s Ice Cream’s owner Allen Dunn. Mayor Ken Strachan shared his amazement in the artists ability to complete such a large-scale work independently.

Artist Bird and Mayor Strachan agreed that being that the original reference photo for the depot was in black and white, it would be most appropriate for the mural to be a black and white time piece to recreate the antique feel.

Mayor Ken Strachan thought it to be appropriate as it would be “a good reflection of the town’s history.”

The mural was expected to take 2 to 3 days to complete and was admittedly nearly finished by the time of this introductory meeting of local officials. Bird stated that a work of its size on average takes approximately a week to complete, and this work was going more swiftly than initially expected.

Upon questioning how the artist expected the mural to hold up to the elements Bird stated, “it barely gets any sunlight so it’ll last a while.”

The mural was approved by the Board of Aldermen of North Carrollton in a January meeting with the resounding support of a five to zero vote.

Mayor Strachan expressed his thankfulness to the board and the decision to support the project, stating it’s a “good investment of tourism money to beautify the town and show future generations.”

Local officials joined from surrounding counties and townships to meet the artist and discuss funding opportunities for the commission of murals in their areas. Among the officials were Greenwood Mayor Carroll McKay, Winona Mayor Aaron Dees, Kilmichael Police Chief (standing in for the Mayor of Kilmichael) Barry Gregg, and the Executive Director of the Greenwood Convention and Visitor Bureau Ashley Farmer. Bird shared prepared portfolios of past commissions and mock-ups with the leaders and discussed known funding for tourism attractions such as these.

North Carrollton Mayor Ken Strachan saw this meeting as a “good opportunity to introduce the artist to local mayors and look into funding.”

Multiple mayors expressed interest in the project and the possibility of having something commissioned in their areas of representation. Winona Mayor Aaron Dees shared that many local business owners in Winona had shared their enthusiasm for having something similar to take pride in in their hometown.

He went on to say, “There’s funding we have there for that kind of stuff, we just need to use it.”
https://www.winonatimes.com/north-ca...&e_sort_order=

NEW STREET MARKINGS IN TOWN

Pictured are J.C. Cheek Contractors of Kosciusko putting the finishing touches on the new stop markings in North Carrollton. (Photo Special to the Times/Conservative)

The Town of North Carrollton has completed a project that the Board of Aldermen approved in 2023.

"For the first time we have stop markings on asphalt at the old well intersection of Main Street. This helps with safety and beautification. I am very proud of this project, which has been completed for the betterment of our town," North Carrollton Mayor Ken Stratchan said. The project also included yellow lines for the middle of Main street and two painted handicap parking spaces all made of thermoplastic, according to Mayor Strachan. The project was approved on a motion by Alderman Tom Hearn and seconded by Alderman Mitchell Costilow with all in favor of its passing.
https://www.winonatimes.com/new-stre...&e_sort_order=

West End District Expansion

Welcoming Yamato Japanese Steakhouse and adding square footage

Special to The Bolivar Bullet

The West End District in Cleveland, will be bringing a new tenant to the property. Yamato Japanese Steakhouse, which will be serving Asian cuisine and providing a sushi bar, will move in during February and commence operations some time during March, 2024. They will be occupying the existing Farmhouse Table restaurant building, located across fromw the Lyric Hotel.

The Farmhouse Table operations will continue, but the business will be moved into the existing 8 West Grille restaurant, also located across from the Lyric Hotel. Both businesses (Farmhouse Table and 8 West) will continue to operate in the same building, however. Neither is ceasing operations. The resulting combination of businesses will provide a new atmosphere or flavors for the existing business.

“The bulk of the 8 West business, maybe 85% of sales, was coming from supper. Farmhouse was generating 60% to 65% of its sales from breakfast,” said owner Dinesh Chawla. “We decided to marry the two concepts and we’ll largely retain the menus that are unique to each operation and do so in just one building. Meanwhile, we’ll be cutting repetitive management overhead, utilities, insurance costs, and reducing duplicated inventory of food and other stock items. Frequent patrons of either concept will not notice too much difference when it comes to what actually appears on their plates.”

The combined operations will have some changes in menu options, but the retooling of the menu has already started in January with 8 West branching out into more affordable supper options, largely in the $12 to $20 range, including its most recent $20 steak options that have been wildly popular out of the gate.

“Management needs to focus on our highly profitable events and catering,” said Chawla. “We are looking to branch out and do many more off site events and creating bulk delivery options. The brick and mortar model has a ceiling on profitability and it makes more sense to focus on avenues that allow us 5 to 10 times the profitability. We sometimes make more profit in a large bulk order in one day, than both restaurants can generate in one week. For instance, we did a luncheon where we plated $15,000 for a single meal.”

The 8 West building is set to undergo an expansion of well over 1900 square feet. This will add needed meeting and dining space, though the property already boasts 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

“Despite the large amount of space we have, we have to turn away business occasionally on weekends or during times when 150 to 300 person conferences are held on property because it all gets booked,” said Chawla. “We want to be as accommodating as possible with our covered space, and we are going to expand even further and develop some of our outdoor spaces like the Pier and multiple lawn areas which served as designated venues for 18 weddings, meetings, or parties in an outdoor setting last year.”

Completion of construction and conversion was originally scheduled for March 1. However due to the ice storm, design issues, and to give a proper buffer for construction/weather related issues, the move and construction completion will happen “some time” in March or early April. The construction will not disrupt dining, and no shut down is planned.

“It won’t be seamless or without a few hiccups,” said Chawla. “But the end product will be a positive, and Cleveland is getting one more dining option and several extra meeting settings.”
https://bolivarbullet.com/west-end-district-expansion/

Ricks Express

Convenience and great flavors go hand in hand at Rick’s Express, which has eight locations spread across the Delta. With all the items one may need in a hurry and all the great food that fills any craving, Rick’s Express opens early and closes late. Rickey Jones Jr. helps his father run the eight locations.

The Cleveland location, on Hwy. 61, opened in 2021. They offer breakfast, dinner and supper. From homemade biscuits, chicken on a stick and plate lunches that any Delta grandmother would approve of, Rick’s Express satisfies hunger with its comfort food selection. Jones Jr. has worked for his father at Rick’s Express since he was 10 years old doing “whatever was needed and no one else would do” but when it was time for college, the Hollandale native changed his business major at Ole Miss to Exercise Science with an eye on becoming a physical therapist.

“I graduated in 2001 and I was ignorant to the world and thought I’d have job after job after job lined up waiting for me,” said Jones. “My dad called and asked, ‘so, tell me your plan, son.’”

He didn’t have a job lined up, but thought he would move to where his girlfriend/now wife found a job. His father told him he could come home and help manage the stores until he decided what he was going to do for a living. Now, 23 years later, Ricky Jr. is still working his father.

“I said ok and moved back to Greenville to manage those stores in 2001, then in May of 2002 I got married,” he said.

The eight Rick’s Express Stores are located in Hollandale, Swiftwater, three in Greenville, Lake Village, Arkansas, Shaw and Cleveland.

“Each day I go where the problem is on that particular day,” said Jones. “I’m the problem solver. I have a manager in every store and a supervisor over them and they call me to let me know what’s not working with a gas pump or cooler or employee issues – whatever it is. When you have as many employees, coolers and gas pumps, deep fryers and ovens that we have, nothing is always working 100 %.”

Each store is basically the same, but with each new location, Jones and his staff create a spot from what they learned in all the previous stores.

“As we have grown, we have figured out what we like and don’t like, but they’re all really similar,” he said. “Each one has its own personality based on its geographical location.”

The recipes are all in-house creations from what worked and tasted best.

“You tailor it to what each store likes and each situation in each small town. We came up with our own breading for frying chicken,” he said. “We then had our distributor, US Foods, package it us. This is just for our stores to use.”

Jones gives the chefs a bit of free reign as they cook the flavors they distribute each week.

“Here’s how we want you to do it and here’s the recipe and each cook puts their own touch on it,” he said. “Chicken tenders, potato logs and chicken on a stick have been our best sellers. We do sell fried chicken as well.”

Breakfast starts at 5:00 a.m., then lunch is offered starting around 10:00 a.m. followed by dinner items at 5:00 p.m. until closing.

“We have staples each day like mashed potatoes and green beans and cooks will rotate in macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, black eyed peas, pinto beans – good ol’ home cooked Delta food,” said Jones.
https://bolivarbullet.com/ricks-express/

West Point lands aluminum processing operation, 68 new jobs

WEST POINT – An aluminum processing company is investing more than $29 million that will create 68 jobs.

Owl’s Head Alloys is locating its operations in Clay County, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.

The Bowling Green, Kentucky-based company is a secondary aluminum processor that melts and recycles aluminum products and by-products to be reused in manufacturing processes. The company will supply recycled aluminum to Aluminum Dynamics, which is building an aluminum rolling mill in Columbus.

MDA is providing $1.7 million in assistance for building improvements. The City of West Point and Clay County are providing local tax abatement assistance.

“Owl’s Head Alloys’ decision to do business in Mississippi is generating nearly 70 new jobs and an impressive investment of more than $29 million that will service local industry and provide sustainable materials in multiple industrial markets,” said MDA Executive Director Bill Cork. “This is precisely the kind of development that can offer economic stability and future investment opportunities for years to come. MDA is excited to welcome this new venture to Mississippi, and we look forward to the many benefits it will bring to Clay County’s thriving economy.”

Construction is slated to begin by May, with completion expected within 18 months. Owl’s Head Alloys plans to fill the 68 jobs over the next three years.

“Owl’s Head Alloys’ decision to establish its operations in Clay County is a testament to the Golden Triangle as a destination for innovative industries,” said Golden Triangle Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins. “This investment and the job creation underscores the strength of our local economy and the collaborative spirit within our communities. We welcome Owl’s Head Alloys to the Golden Triangle region, and I’m confident that their presence will further enhance our reputation as a hub for manufacturing excellence.”
https://cdispatch.com/news/west-poin...n-68-new-jobs/

Paving heralds near-end to downtown sewer project

Workers pave Washington Street between Main and Lampkin streets on Thursday. After nearly a year of installing larger sewer pipes downtown, the city is starting new overlays on several roads that were torn up to install those new pipes. City Engineer Cody Burnett said he hopes to have all the affected downtown roads paved by fall. Kevin Edwards/Dispatch Staff

STARKVILLE — For nearly 10 months, detour and closure signs have been a common sight in downtown Starkville. More road work is coming, but the city is pivoting to above-ground work. That will be headlined by a Main Street redesign, but Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch that the city is “still a ways away” from bidding out the project. In May, Starkville Utilities began replacing undersized sewer lines with 12-inch pipes under portions of East Main, Lampkin, Washington and Jacks
https://cdispatch.com/news/paving-he...sewer-project/

[vetteking]

ROADWORK IN HIGH GEAR IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

After Carl McGee, the Washington County Supervisor for District Three refused to allow IMS Engineering to proceed on a road project in his district, Lorenzo Anderson, the head Engineer for IMS’s Greenville office turned his attention to pending road and bridge projects in District Four.

The work on Old Leland Road is progressing rapidly, despite unfavorable weather conditions throughout the first few weeks of March.

District Four’s Supervisor Mala U. Brooks said phase one of the Old Leland road project was nearing completion in a matter of weeks.

“You may want to take Highway 82 if you are in a hurry,” Brooks said.

If those new ribbons of fresh blacktop weren’t enough of a sign of progress, Brooks said, “This week in District Four, we took out an old bridge on VFW Road and replaced it with two very large culverts.” A very pleased Brooks was happy to add that this project will be completed next Friday should the weather permit.

The old bridge on VFW Road is near New Morning Star Baptist Church, and the road project had the churchgoers singing the praises of the road crew and Brooks for bringing progress to their Church’s doorstep.


https://www.ddtonline.com/communitie...e_term_id=8742

MEET GAVIN BIRD, AND HIS ARTWORK

The Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass have contracted with Gavin Bird to bring his nationally known portfolio and skills to Washington County to paint a 10 x 100-foot mural honoring the region's natural heritage. “Public art is essential and we are happy to amplify local treasures like the Delta Flyway, and the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge.” says the...


https://www.ddtonline.com/communitie...&e_sort_order=

Winds Knock Bricks Off Former Midway Hotel Bldg.

Bricks from the facade of the former Midway Hotel Building were strewn all over Carrollton Avenue in downtown Greenwood after strong winds from an early morning storm Friday caused a partial collapse. City officials have been worried about the dilapidated but historic structure for years. They were stopped from demolishing a section of it in 2020. (By Jeff Byrd, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

Winds reaching nearly 50 mph blew through Greenwood early Friday morning and caused a chunk of a dilapidated but historic downtown Greenwood landmark to come tumbling down. The former Midway Hotel Building suffered the brunt of the storm. Bricks from the upper level in the southwest corner of the two-story structure fell en masse, demolishing the awning below and scattering across Car...
https://www.gwcommonwealth.com/winds...&e_sort_order=

New Life For Antoon Building?

The Antoon Dry Goods building on Main Street could be turned into higher-end affordable apartments if a variance can be granted to use both floors as apartments. (By Jeff Byrd, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

A real estate company will present the Greenwood Planning Commission a proposal to renovate the old Antoon Dry Goods building and its adjacent building into apartments. Greenwood Community Development Director Betty Stigler said Antoon Dry Goods, LLC, represented by Oxford developer Clarence Chapman, is seeking to renovate the main building at 500 Main St. and the adjacent building at...
https://www.gwcommonwealth.com/new-l...&e_sort_order=

Hurt Museum Fire’s Cause Still Unknown

Floyd Bailey, curator, inspects the ruins of the Mississippi John Hurt Museum. (By Susan Montomery, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

The cause of the Feb. 21 fire that demolished the Mississippi John Hurt Museum in the Avalon-Teoc area of Carroll County remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, but a visit to the site also raises questions about damage to a security door that now is located in the ruins. The door, composed of heavy metal bars, covered a wooden door at the front of the museum, ...

Former Greenwood Commonwealth reporter David Brown took photos of the Mississippi John Hurt Museum’s porch and interior during a visit two years ago. Here, the security door can be seen in the former. (By David Brown, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

Former Greenwood Commonwealth reporter David Brown took photos of the Mississippi John Hurt Museum’s porch and interior during a visit two years ago. The latter shows memorabilia, including two guitars.(By David Brown, Copyright 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)
https://www.gwcommonwealth.com/local...&e_sort_order=

JACK’S OPENS DOORS

Jack’s opened its doors to Grenada Monday morning with a steady stream of business. Employees and Chamber of Commerce representatives took part in an afternoon ribbon cutting. The new restaurant is located at 1317 Sunset Dr.

Crews have made quick work of the new Jack’s restaurant construction since beginning last October. The new restaurant will create 50-60 jobs once fully staffed and operational. | Photo by Adam Prestridge, © 2024 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
https://www.grenadastar.com/jacks-op...&e_sort_order=

Copiah-Lincoln Community College holds ribbon cutting for new softball facility

Members of the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Board of Trustees, administration, athletic department, along with representatives from Paul Jackson and Son Construction, and Allred Stolarski Architecture of Ocean Springs cut the ribbon to officially open the newly-constructed press box/concession stand at the Lady Wolves softball field. The project is just another example of the college’s vision of excellence in all areas of campus and student-life at Co-Lin.

“We are thrilled to open this newly-renovated facility for the Lady Wolves softball program,” said Co-Lin President Dr. Dewayne Middleton. “Thank you to our board of trustees, our chairman Melton King, all our corporate sponsors, and our private donors who helped make this upgrade possible. This is a major step in moving our softball program and the college forward. We are excited to start the season at this impressive facility.”

The first floor of the 3,100 square foot building includes a concession stand, restrooms, coach’s office, laundry, and storage. The second floor houses the visitor and home media rooms, player lounge/meeting room, president’s/hospitality suite, and restrooms.

The $1 million project also includes 51 chairback seats, new bleachers that will seat 143, and a new backstop.

“The upgrades we’ve made to our softball facility are going to really increase the game day experience for our fans and community,” said Bryan Nobile, Co-Lin athletic director. “We are excited about the continued success of the Co-Lin Lady Wolves softball program and are ready to get the season started in just a few weeks.”

The softball facilities will also be used for camps and high school games.

The reigning NJCAA Division II National Champion Lady Wolves open their spring season on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Southeast Arkansas Community College in Pine Bluff, Ark. The home opener is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 27, a doubleheader against Baton Rouge Community College.
https://www.copiahmonitor.com/2024/0...ball-facility/

Southaven starts Central Park improvements

Photo: Central Park in Southaven (Mayor Musselwhite on Facebook)

Last year, Southaven began a major $2.8 million project to enhance neighborhood parks with walking trails, pavilions, and upgraded playgrounds.

Of these 11 parks, Central Park is the largest segment as a key piece to the largest pedestrian path in the history of the city connecting other multi-use trails or pedestrian lanes from Airways to Malone. The new 10-foot wide multi-use trail will travel through the entire park from Swinnea to Tchulahoma connecting to the existing trail there that leads southward to May Blvd.

“In addition, the existing walkways through the wooded areas are being replaced; a pavilion added; and the new playground on the western end replaced,” said Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite in his Mayor’s Report blog post. The main playground in the center of the park was replaced three years ago.
Musselwhite said the project, funded completely by tourism taxes, is expected to be completed by early summer.

“It will enhance the park experience for the citizens and ensure that it remains a key piece of the parks program for many years into the future,” Musselwhite said.
https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-...-improvements/

Southaven tennis complex expansion to start soon

Southaven officials say construction will begin within a few weeks on the next phase of expansion at the Snowden Grove Tennis Complex.

In his Mayor’s Report blog post Wednesday, Mayor Darren Musselwhite said the latest $2.7 million park-enhancement project will add eight additional outdoor tennis courts just west of the existing eight-court cluster on the vacant land in front of the park maintenance shop.

“This project will complement the 2017 $1.6 million eight-court expansion that included a central pavilion and bathrooms as well as the 2018 $770,000 transformation of the old metal building on site into a pro shop with offices, locker rooms, concessions, and retail gear,” Musselwhite wrote. “This project will move us from just 4 courts prior to 2017 to 20 total courts and 4 pickleball courts. It also creates the option to convert more of the old tennis courts to pickleball creating 20 pickleball courts while still having 16 tennis courts. We will gauge demand and tournament opportunities before finalizing this decision.”

In 2017, the city tennis operation was created as part of the Parks and Recreation Department headed by new Director of Tennis, Michael Johnson.

“We’ve averaged over 100 new players in our program every year,” Musselwhite said. “Earlier this year, our tennis program was named the state’s best by USTA-Mississippi.”

This project, funded completely by local tourism taxes, is expected to be completed in November of this year.
https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-...to-start-soon/

LET’S EAT, MISSISSIPPI: THE BLUE BISCUIT FEEDS THE BODY AND THE SOUL

The Blue Biscuit in Indianola has received statewide and nationwide attention through the years.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the online publication Magnolia Tribune.

Regulars at The Blue Biscuit know that Saturday and Sunday nights mean live music, sometimes going well after midnight.

When Trish Berry got wind that a museum to honor B.B. King was going to be built in Indianola, she turned to friends to help her think of ways she could do something to complement it. Her friends all told her to get in the kitchen and cook.

Cooking is something Trish has done her whole life.

“I grew up in the kitchen,” she says. “I learned by standing alongside Addie Lewis in my family’s kitchen. Addie was our housekeeper, nanny, and friend, and she was a fabulous cook. She let me cook with her when she made wonderful cakes from scratch and much more. She also taught me how to make biscuits.”

Trish watched Julia Child and Justin Wilson on the Public Broadcasting System.

“I got Julia Child’s first cookbook, The French Chef Cookbook, and we cooked our way through it, giving the recipes a Mississippi twist.”

Trish was so passionate about cooking that she attended culinary school at the Memphis Culinary Academy.

“I felt good that I already knew a lot of what they were teaching.”

After graduating, Trish focused on learning all she could about the restaurant business.

“We traveled a lot, and I managed to talk my way into the kitchens of many excellent restaurants.”

When Morgan Freeman opened his fine dining restaurant, Madidi, in Clarksdale, Trish went to work for him.

“Lee Craven was the executive chef, and we were often called to cook for James Beard dinners. I had the opportunity to meet some great chefs, including Rick Tramonto and Susan Spicer. It was a wonderful time and I learned so much.”

Trish and her husband, Stan, moved to Indianola, where he works as a pharmacist.

“Stan is from Jackson, Tennessee and I’m from Vicksburg. We met while he was in pharmacy school at Ole Miss. He really wanted to work in a small-town pharmacy, so we visited a lot of small towns. When there was an opening in Indianola, he took it and we have loved living here.”

The couple live on Main Street, and behind them,, was an empty lot on Second Street.

“My Clarksdale friends came over and we talked about what I could do. Being from Vicksburg, I understood the impact tourism can have on a place. I also knew about entertaining.”

One of those friends was Harlon Malone, who started the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale.

“We found an old yellow house and had it moved down from Jonestown,” says Trish. “The idea was to serve plate lunches for people who came in on bus tours to see the B.B. King Museum. And that worked out fine for a while, then we made a mistake.”

Trish says she decided to open the restaurant, which she called The Blue Biscuit (it sounds kind of casual and inviting, right?), on a weekend.


“I looked up and the place was packed. At that point, there was no turning back.”

The Blue Biscuit has grown organically, “by the seat of my pants,” laughs Trish.

“I wouldn’t call it a business plan by any stretch – we just tried things to see how they might work.”

First, it was open only for lunch; then it opened in the evenings.

“We started with simple food, music, and we got our beer license. Soon we had people coming from all over the Delta.”


Trish says her background isn’t in barbeque or fried catfish – in other words, visitors can expect something more at The Blue Biscuit. With starters like a fried green tomato and seafood tower and house-made barbecue on nachos, it’s apparent that this is not typical bar food. Pasta, fresh seafood, and creative hamburgers leave space for the 72-hour pulled pork and yes, fried Delta catfish.

The most amazing thing I’ve seen at The Blue Biscuit is the Monster Bloody Mary, brimming with a plethora of garnishes ranging from bacon, chicken strips, and shrimp to a hamburger slider, onion rings, pickled okra and olives. Needless to say, it’s practically a meal in itself!

Sometimes Trish holds special dinners at The Blue Biscuit, which allow her to spread her culinary wings a bit and serve dishes that aren’t on the menu.

“People seem to love them. We always have great musical entertainment. It’s a real Delta thing – food, fellowship, and perhaps a cocktail or two.”

Regulars at The Blue Biscuit know that Saturday and Sunday nights mean live music, sometimes going well after midnight.


“We sometimes have music on Sundays, too,” Trish says.

As she talks about her love for Indianola, Trish reminds me that Craig Claiborne, a longtime food editor and restaurant critic for The New York Times, as well as author of numerous cookbooks, was raised just a few blocks from the restaurant.

“There is a marker by the house where he grew up.”

It wouldn’t surprise me if one day a marker is placed at The Blue Biscuit.
https://www.enterprise-tocsin.com/lo...&e_sort_order=

PROPERTY WORK ONGOING

The Magee Board of Aldermen will have a workshop on Thursday March 14, to discuss the actions that can be taken concerning the property at 118 North Main Street in Magee.

The Magee Board of Aldermen held their regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday. Forrest Dungan with Clearpoint Engineers gave an update on existing city projects.

He explained that the NCWI project for water treatment plant one is ongoing, and all equipment has been ordered. Contract number three will be for new water meters and bids will be opened for the project on April 2.

Alderman Sammie Tebo asked if the meters will have a leak detector. Dungan explained that there are radio-read meters and cellular-based read meters. He said the cellular system would be able to detect leaks with a daily meter reading. It would compare readings and alert the system that there are leaks.

City Superintendent Tim Bray estimated the cost to be $60 more per meter to install a cellular read system with a monthly cellular fee.

The board asked for more information about the meters and will discuss the issue in its workshop on Thursday, March 7.


Dungan presented an emergency procurement policy that adheres to federal regulations. He explained that the sonar survey of the lagoon is complete, and they are working on a preliminary plan for upgrades that will help the lagoon.

He said he expects construction to begin on the park and pickleball courts in early 2025. “Playground equipment has a long lead time,” he said.

He said the erosion problem on 11th Avenue does qualify for a matching grant. He believes the project will cost between $100,00 and $150,000.

Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray updated the board about the cost of repairing the roof of the old YMCA building, as well as a sewer problem at Francis and 1st Avenue.

Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre explained the need to adopt a new ordinance to replace the original ordinance for the Historic Preservation Commission. She also reported on the success of the city’s first town hall meeting.

Two zoning hearings will be held on Tuesday, March 12. One property will be considered for rezoning and another for conditional use as a rooming house.

Aguirre also presented the board with a list of businesses that have not complied with the privilege license.

Parks and recreation director Jimmy Zila presented estimates for repairing concession stand windows at the Sportsplex. He also discussed purchasing new controllers for the scoreboards or purchasing converters. The price to convert the scoreboards is $16,000 and will be provided using the parks and recreation budget. The board approved the purchase of the converters.

Fifty-two teams played in Magee last weekend, and Zila reported there were no major issues at the park. He estimated around 2,100 people were in town for the tournament. The board suggested he give local restaurant owners a schedule of tournaments, so they are able to prepare for the business generated by the influx of people a tournament brings.

This coming weekend, 24 girls’ softball teams will be in town for a tournament. The following weekend will be free, but the week after that, another 52 teams will be in town.

Animal Control Officer Benny Blair asked the board to make a decision about reopening the city pound, which has been closed due to an outbreak of parvo. The board decided to relocate the city kennel to a property the city already owns.

Airport Commission President Joey McNulty and Interim Manager Dusty Drennan reported on airport matters. Drennan presented the board with repairs that have been completed at the airport, along with other maintenance.

McNulty asked the board to approve a revision to the ordinance governing the airport commission, changing the requirements for commission members to “residing in or owning property in Simpson County.” The board approved the change.

The board approved the publication of the airport revision and the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

Chief Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie updated on various properties and informed the board that his department can do safety evaluations at people’s request.

Were here for you

Shane Steele reported on properties and upcoming hearings under code enforcement.

He asked the board to consider additional fees for limb and debris pickup, suggesting that the price be determined by the amount of debris picked up at a given address. The board tabled the matter for further discussion.

The board entered executive session to discuss personnel before adjourning the meeting.
https://www.simpsoncounty.ms/propert...&e_sort_order=

Sheriff: I-55 To Get Clean

Pictured in front of a litter trailer donated to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department are, from left, Sheriff Wally Jones, Steven Holman, who will supervise litter pickup crews; sheriff’s office fleet manager and McComb Rotary Club member Bobby McDaniel, Rotary president J. Johnson, jail administrator Jewel Hines, Capt. Brian Mullins, Chief Deputy Damian Gatlin and Major Steve Powell. (Photo by Jack Ryan. Copyright 2024, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

A McComb Rotary Club program on Pike County’s litter problem delivered some good news: Sheriff Wally Jones said the county soon will have permission to send clean up crews along Interstate 55. “We had a ton of red tape that we had to jump through” with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, Jones said Wednesday. But he expects a “memorandum of understanding” with MDOT to be sig...
https://www.enterprise-journal.com/t...&e_sort_order=

Work Continues On Water Park Trails

Crews use heavy equipment to move earth as they work on renovating walking trails at the Bogue Chitto Water Park on Wednesday morning. (Photo by Matt Williamson. Copyright 2024, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

Crews are working on new walking trails at the Bogue Chitto Water park this week. Wildstone Construction won the bid for the project, which costs about $475,000. A walking trail rehab is one of several projects ongoing at the water park. Other work includes the renovation of RV camp sites and an $800,000 water and sewer project to run new water and sewer hookups to camp sites. Pike C...
https://www.enterprise-journal.com/t...&e_sort_order=

City receives $2M for connector road

The city of Oxford was awarded $2 million for the future University Avenue-Commonwealth Boulevard connector, announced Mayor Robyn Tannehill Monday. Tannehill said the city was informed Friday that the funds were awarded in the FY 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that was passed by the House and Senate. 

https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2024/03/...onnector-road/

Connie’s Chicken celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony

Connie’s Chicken, the much-anticipated fast food restaurant, celebrated its grand opening with an official ribbon cutting on Tuesday. The event, attended by locals and dignitaries alike, marked the beginning of a new business presence in the community.

Local residents expressed their excitement about having Connie’s in the area, providing quality food that is affordable. Ron Stoker, the general manager at Connie’s, made it clear that although they are committed to serving the best food for their customers, their biggest goal was to make everyone feel like family.

“It’s a real honor to be here. It’s an honor to serve the community,” explained Stoker, “and that’s what we do. You know, we serve and we care for people. We want you to feel like family when you walk in the door, and we serve really, really good chicken. Ultimately, we want you to feel like you’re loved and you’re cared for, and we love doing that. We’ve got a great staff with great ownership and we’re excited.”
https://www.dailytimesleader.com/new...0d22e4184.html

Southwest Mississippi Community College Officials break ground on New Dorm

Southwest Mississippi Community College officials stage a groundbreaking ceremony inside the Student Union building, where the ceremony moved because of rain. (Photo by Mack Spencer. Copyright 2024, Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.)

Technically, the ground was already broken, having been laid out on a rubber sheet in the upstairs auditorium of Southwest Mississippi Community College’s Horace Holmes Student Union. That didn’t stop college officials, public officeholders and others from taking up golden shovels to stick in the pile and turn a bit of earth in honor of the occasion. As it turned out, it wasn’t the fi...
https://www.enterprise-journal.com/s..._term_id=22398

[vetteking]

I-55 Self Storage on the Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting of your new facility in Jackson

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
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Congratulations to I-55 Self Storage on the Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting of your new facility in Jackson. The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership appreciates your investment in our chamber and community! I-55 Self Storage is located at 4855 I-55 North and offers you affordable rates in their climate controlled units.
https://www.facebook.com/GreaterJack...o7Rf68XpHa5wql

Pearl Chamber of Commerce welcomes Brighter Days Adult Day Care, LLC

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
March 6 at 1:13 PM ·
The Pearl Chamber held a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Brighter Days Adult Day Care, LLC located at 309 Airport Road in Pearl. The daycare concept is designed to help those that care for their loved ones at home that cannot be left alone. Many caregivers are not able to work because they do not have anyone to care for their disabled or elderly family member. The staff at Brighter Days is loving and caring and will make sure that your loved one is well taken care of throughout the day. An added bonus is that the owners are both in the medical field. Kevin Woodson is a Registered Nurse and his wife Veronica is a Physical Therapist. Brighter Days offers lots of board games, an exercise room, a movie room and even relaxing private rooms with nice comfy beds to take a nap or just rest. Brighter Days can come pick them up from your home and take them back home later or you can bring them in. You are invited to call and make an appointment to come in and take a tour and speak to them about your loved one.601-871-0960
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce shares about new restaurant Harvey’s Fish Hut Too

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
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Get over to Harvey’s Fish Hut Too for something delicious for lunch or dinner! 8pc wings and fries $9.99 ALL WEEKEND LONG. Don’t forget the banana pudding cheesecake for dessert! 136 S Pearson Road in Pearl
#eatshopplaypearl
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce shares about new restaurant Tony's Fish house

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
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Tony's Fish house is located at 2735 Old Brandon Road in the Patton Place Shopping Center in Pearl. Tony serves freshly cooked catfish, pan trout, delicious chicken sandwiches, Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches and much more. “One bite and you’re hooked!” The Tuesday special is a 2 piece fried pork chops and fries for $5.99!
#eatshopplaypearl
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce shares about new restaurant Donut Factory

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
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It's time to order your King Cakes from Donut Factory! They make them fresh and do not keep them for days or weeks boxed up on a shelf. Give them at least 24 hours notice especially if you are placing a large order. They offer everybody's favorite, which is the cream cheese and they also have strawberry, cinnamon sugar, blueberry and lemon. They can also make a heart shaped King Cake with red sprinkles for Valentines Day! Their hours are 4AM - 12PM 7 days a week. 3040 Hwy 80 East in Pearl! 601-939-6380
#eatshopplaypearl
#letthegoodtimesroll
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce welcomes Electrical Solutions and Services

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
January 30 ·
The Pearl Chamber held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Electrical Solutions and Services on Tuesday January 30. Owner Rusty Bain has over 33 years experience in electrical contracting for commercial new construction and repair. They also offer service calls for commercial and residential customers. Rusty is a proud Veteran who served 4 years in the U.S. Navy. ESS is located at 232 St. Paul Street in Pearl. 769-572-7597
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce welcomes Frozen Island

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
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The Pearl Chamber held a Grand Opening Ceremony on Friday January 26 at Frozen Island, located at 414 Riverwind Drive in Pearl. They offer 36 different flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream with all of your favorite toppings. Their specialty item is the egg waffle cones that are made fresh when you place your order and they are delicious! Frozen Island serves ice cream treats, milk shakes, Boba Teas, iced coffee and smoothies. They offer inside and outside dining and a convenient drive through window. Orders can also be placed online ahead of time especially for large orders. They’re open 7 days a week; Mon - Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri & Sat 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-8:30.
Welcome to Pearl!
#eatshopplaypearl
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Pearl Chamber of Commerce welcomes A & A’s Event Venue

Pearl Chamber of Commerce
January 9 ·
The Pearl Chamber held a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at A & A’s Event Venue on Tuesday, January 9th. This event space is perfect for business meetings, parties, showers or any other gathering that does not require a large venue. They are located in the College Crossing Shopping Center next to Hinds Community College at 3823 Hwy 80 East in Pearl. 601-754-7096 or 601-882-8367
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...00064817136120

Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce welcomes CMG HOME LOANS - Hernando, MS NMLS #1820

Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce
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We had such a wonderful time celebrating CMG HOME LOANS - Hernando, MS NMLS #1820 with a ribbon cutting today! Jennifer and her team are here to help you with all your mortgage needs!
You can visit them on the Hernando Square at 316 W. Commerce St. * Hernando, MS 38632 or call 662-429-5100
https://www.facebook.com/HernandoMSC...cf9c91gN1czRwl

Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce welcomes Spa Around the Corner

Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce
March 19 at 1:19 PM ·
What a great time this morning with a ribbon cutting celebrating Spa Around the Corner with Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce. So excited for Robin & Jennifer and the new services they are offering! Would like to book an appointment call 662-782-6770 or visit her website www.spaaroundthecorner.com
Thank you to all of our ambassadors and board members for supporting the Chamber and our members!
Angela Kidd Insurance
Melinda Faulkner, Mortgage Banker, NMLS #1781244
Robin Sullivan Parker
Herbal Alchemy Hernando
Darlene's Permanent Makeup
Desoto Local
Mary Davis
Megan Cole
https://www.facebook.com/HernandoMSC...DY4VXEYfJgdztl

Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce welcomes Scooter's Coffee

Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce
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We enjoyed a lovely ribbon cutting at Olive Branch's newest drive-thru coffee shop...Scooter's Coffee. The coffee was delicious and the food has been outstanding!
Many thanks to all our connectors:
Renee Hall with Bott Radio Network
Steven Gardner and Mundy with Cadence Bank
Kim Terrell with City of Olive Branch - Government
JD Cox with Northcentral Electric Cooperative Northcentral Connect
Lisa Davis with Merry Maids
Joan Lunsford with olive branch country Olive Branch Country Club
Mike McCarthy and Joyce Haslip
We appreciate you all so much!
https://www.facebook.com/obchamber/p...6ghM3AzvQ1i1vl

[vetteking]

Updated previous post about the new event center grand opening in Pearl, MS!

[vetteking]

Oh man how did I forget; Jackson State University's Women basketball team is facing UConn Huskies Women's basketball team on ABC right now. So, let's cheer on our Lady Tigers to bring home the Dub. Go Tigers! You can listen to the coverage on WJSU station's website right here https://www.wjsu.org/ just follow the link and click the play button at top of the screen.

[vetteking]

Proposed boardwalk project in downtown Jackson from The Kelly Factor's X (formerly known as Twitter) account

The Kelly Factory
@thekellyfactory
Today's Monday Makeover post highlights one of Jackson's most valuable and underused assets: the Pearl River. This existing bridge can be enhanced by adding a boardwalk used for recreation and retail.
11:28 AM · Aug 7, 2023
from Jackson, MS·
83
Views
https://twitter.com/thekellyfactory/...87836277112833

Laurel Main Street rehabilitation projects throughout downtown
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Mississippi Main Street Association
March 18 at 10:14 AM ·
🏆 #AwardsMondays ~ Outstanding Community Transformation: Laurel, Mississippi
In 2022, Laurel Main Street celebrated its 15th anniversary. Over the course of those 15 years, LMS has seen the introduction and growth of 148 new businesses, created an estimated 440 new jobs, and seen nearly 70 businesses expand. Nearly $13 million in private dollars and nearly $2 million in public dollars have been invested in downtown Laurel over that time. More than 90 historic rehabilitation projects have been completed, and Laurel Main Street has contributed $186,534.18 to those projects in the form of façade grants.
Hundreds of volunteers have invested upwards of 8,000 hours growing the downtown footprint through events, advocacy, and physical improvements. During this time, Laurel Main Street has completed 20 public improvement projects, including hanging lights across six downtown blocks, adding a public green space in the heart of downtown, facilitating public art, and hosting an average of five public events every year.
Congratulations Laurel Main Street, MMSA is impressed with the growth and success of your downtown and all that it brings to your community!
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...fuypMzz2FMy3Sl

Mississippi Main Street Association awards Suga Moma's Cupcakes and Thangs in Louisville with Outstanding New Business


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Mississippi Main Street Association
February 12 ·
🏆 #AwardsMondays ~ Outstanding New Business (mid-size): Suga Moma's Cupcakes and Thangs
Latoshia Gladney and her husband Aaron moved back to Louisville to make her dreams of owning her own business in her hometown come true. They purchased a rundown building on Main Street and began the long overdue renovations. They were able to completely transform the building into a beautiful bakery called Suga Moma's Cupcakes and Thangs. Latoshia bakes delicious cupcakes, brownies, truffles, and cookies daily. She and her staff also bake cakes and pies for all occasions. She also filled a need for grab and go lunches.
Latoshia continually adds creativity and fun to her business by hosting Bunco Game Nights and Suga Moma's Cake Decorating classes for children and adults. She is a cheerleader for Louisville Main Street and currently sits on the board of directors. Latoshia assists the local Culinary Arts Class with projects, donations, and training. Suga Moma's makes Louisville Main Street extra sweet with its treats!
Congratulations Suga Moma’s Cupcakes & Thangs, MMSA is impressed with the success of your new business and all that it brings to Louisville Main Street!
Louisville, MS/Winston Chamber of Commerce Visit Mississippi Main Street America
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...x1RtWdWhV4Ec7l

Mississippi Main Street Association awards The Magnolia Coffee Co. with Outstanding New Business

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Mississippi Main Street Association
February 19 ·
🏆 #AwardsMondays ~ Outstanding New Business (small): The Magnolia Coffee Co.
When Joe and Caitlin Magnuson visited Water Valley in March 2022, they knew they wanted to open a coffee shop. In July, they moved to town, and during a family stroll in August, they saw an empty historic building with a courtyard on Main Street and envisioned a place they could make home. The Magnolia Coffee Co. was born! They did their own renovations over the next couple months, and immediately got involved with the community by holding soft openings during Main Street events.
The Magnolia Coffee Co. had their Grand Opening in November and hasn’t slowed down since! They started off offering locally made pastries, coffee, and drinks, but quickly saw the need for a lunch menu. They transformed the courtyard into a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy coffee or simply enjoy Main Street. They even have a mobile shop called “The Copper Top” that will travel to events and serve cool drinks and treats. The Magnolia Coffee Co. has filled the need for a gathering place on Main Street in Water Valley while also creating a beautiful downtown event venue
Congratulations to The Magnolia Coffee Co., MMSA is impressed with the success of your new businesss and all that it brings to Water Valley Main Street !
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...jPN89BC1Svaorl

The Threefoot Brewery renovation of a three‐story historic building in downtown Meridian.

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Mississippi Main Street Association
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🏆 #AwardsMondays ~ Outstanding Adaptive Reuse Project: Threefoot Brewery
The Threefoot Brewery project consisted of an adaptive re‐use and renovation of a three‐story historic building in downtown Meridian. The building was originally designed by noted Meridian architect, P.J. Krouse, for Merchants & Farmers Bank. The building was completed in 1923 and is one of many Beaux Arts buildings designed by Krouse. It has a concrete structure and is clad with thick brick walls with a large amount of north and east facing windows. During the 1960's, M&F Bank built a contemporary one‐story addition on the west and south sides of the building.
The 1923 portion of the building and some of the 1960's addition was converted into a microbrewery, eatery and event space. As a part of the project, an adjacent empty lot was acquired and converted into a beer garden. The Threefoot Brewing Company wanted to preserve as much of the historic quality as possible.
Congratulations Threefoot Brewing Company, LLC, MMSA is impressed with the transformation of this historic building that preserves parts of its historic quality while succeeding in its new purpose! Meridian Main Street Downtown Meridian, Mississippi Main Street America Visit Mississippi Visit Meridian
#MississippisDowntownsMississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...LbYTyTQUt7556l

City of Laurel completed a $1.2 million streetscape project

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Mississippi Main Street Association
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🏆 #AwardsSpotlight ~ Outstanding Public Improvement Project: Central Avenue Corridor
In October of 2022, the City of Laurel, in conjunction with MDOT, Neel-Schaffer, Albritton Construction, and Walters Construction, completed a $1.2 million streetscape project that added two roundabouts to the Central Avenue corridor and returned the street to its original two-way traffic. The project replaced water lines and added electrical access and landscaping to the street.
Begun in early 2021, the project sought to improve both pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the street, removing one dangerous intersection and improving the flow of traffic at another. Handicapped access and crosswalks were added or improved within the scope of the project, and electrical outlets were added to landscaping islands to improve access to power at outdoor events. Since the completion of the project, three new businesses have opened within the project’s footprint, and existing businesses have seen an increase in both pedestrian and vehicular traffic along the block.
Congratulations Laurel Main Street, MMSA is impressed with the upgrades made to your downtown and the success that it brought to local businesses!
Neel-Schaffer, Inc. Mississippi Department of Transportation Albritton Construction Walters Construction City of Laurel - Government City of Laurel Main Street America Visit Mississippi
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...VTuuoPvGKPKgbl

Downtown Starkville Revitalization Project: Rex Theatre

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Mississippi Main Street Association
December 12, 2023 ·
🏆 #AwardSpotlight ~ Outstanding Private Downtown Revitalization Project: Rex Theatre
The 1931, Abert Lodge 89 1 F&AM is a historic anchor in downtown Starkville. Housing the Rex Theatre for most of its history, the ground level space was leased to retail and professional businesses after its closing in the late 1960s. Lodge Master Kyle Jordan wanted the building restored so the Order could shift focus from property maintenance to philanthropic efforts and member outreach and retention. Glo, a downtown Starkville start-up that produces liquid-activated, light-up cubes, was experiencing tremendous growth and needed a larger office space with adjacent storage.
Teamed with Mark Castleberry of Castle Properties, architect Briar Jones, and Byrum Construction, the historic restoration followed, and the Rex began to shine once again. The stunning restoration honors the history of the building and celebrates the entrepreneurial ecosystem and tremendous local economic growth of Glo, keeping the company and its employees in downtown Starkville.
Congratulations Mark Castleberry, Briar Jones, and Byrum Construction, MMSA is grateful for the effort that was put into giving a historic downtown building new life! Starkville: Mississippi's College Town Visit Mississippi Main Street America
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...6xR2xrg47dmyPl

Downtown Revitalization Project: Marshall County Courthouse

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Mississippi Main Street Association
December 5, 2023 ·
🏆 #AwardSpotlight ~ Outstanding Public Downtown Revitalization Project: Marshall County Courthouse
The Marshall County Courthouse, a Mississippi Landmark completed in 1870, stands out in the center of the town square of Holly Springs with its tall, domed cupola as a focal beacon which can be seen from far away. The restoration project was done by Belinda Stewart Architects, P.A. and addressed water intrusion into the building, repaired damaged wood framing, and completely restored the beautiful iconic cupola and clock.
The main courthouse roof scope included the complete replacement of the standing seam metal roof and flashings, restoration of the upper perimeter cornice, and installation of new copper built-in gutters and downspouts. The cupola scope of work included the restoration of all damaged wood components including the four clock faces, replacing the framing and sheathing, restoring the wood louvers, new windows, and a new dome and arched metal roofing and flashings. New clockworks were also installed to bring the four-faced clock and bell back to life.
Congratulations Belinda Stewart Architects, PA and Holly Springs Main Street Chamber, MMSA is highly impressed with your successful revitalization efforts on the Marshall County Courthouse!
#mississippisdowntowns #WeAreMainStreet #mainstreetismississippi #MSMainStreet
https://www.facebook.com/msmainstree...5W4sWoVeVkEvil

[vetteking]

New BBQ joint opens in downtown Jackson

Raymond Kennedy started cooking out a necessity. Now, nearly 20 years later, he and his wife Natasha are filling a need with a new restaurant in Downtown Jackson.

Where is the location?
The couple has opened Ray's To Go BBQ & More along Capitol Street, next door to Donut Shop Downtown as the area between the Governor's Mansion and the Old Capitol continues to grow.

And this comes on the heels of the rooftop bar at Capital Towers having made its debut in recent months.

Raymond Kennedy, cook and co-owner, mans the grill while Lucciano Diley, cook, pours fresh fries into a basket at Ray's to Go in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

"Yes, there are other barbeque places in Jackson, but none are in the downtown area," Raymond Kennedy said. "We are offering something this part of town needs."

How owner got his start
Raymond got his start cooking many years ago when his family was celebrating his grandmother's birthday.

Ray's to Go serves up one of their signature dishes, juicy ribeye and chicken loaded broccoli in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

"It was getting too expensive to have someone else bring food, so I decided to do it myself," Kennedy said.

As it turned out, he was pretty good at grilling and cooking barbeque. So much so, a friend suggested he go into business for himself.

Lucciano Diley, cook, puts a ticket up above the Blackstone at Ray's to Go in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

He has been doing that in some for or fashion ever since, including a food truck business that started in 2021.

Now Ray's To Go is up and running in downtown to throngs of restaurant goers even though he hasn't had the official grand opening.

What's on the menu?
Ray's offers the usual barbeque fare, but the top options, according to Kennedy, are the brisket quesadilla, the grilled fish and the ribeye.

A cook sprinkles salt over fries at Ray's to Go in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

His take on the ribeye has a seasoning that adds a kick and he says no one else's can compete.

"You just have to try it to understand," Kennedy said.

Because none of the meals are precooked and take a few minutes to prepare, Kennedy is asking as many patrons as possible to order online and pickup.

Lucciano Diley puts a prepared meal on the counter at Ray's to Go in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

"We want people to be happy and not have to wait," Kennedy said. "We know folks are going to like our food, but we want to make sure they don't have to wait. We aren't saying we don't want people in the dining area, but we want them to be happy."

While many businesses have left the downtown area, Kennedy said he saw an opportunity in downtown.

Susan Puckett grabs the chicken salad she ordered and brings it to a table outside at Ray's to Go in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. The downtown Jackson restaurant opened Feb. 29.

"We started years ago with a restaurant in South Jackson. We left there because of break-ins and things like that," Kennedy said. "Downtown is nothing like that, and we are very happy with location. We haven't seen anything that would make us want to leave. There's lots of business to go around that people can walk to us in a safe environment to come and have lunch or dinner. Everyone has made this great so far and I can't imagine being anywhere else."

When does it open?
Ray's To Go is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

"The response has been amazing so far," Kennedy said. "We love feeding people and making people happy. That's what we are here to do."
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/...n/72863413007/

[vetteking]

Expansion of the Museum Trail

Museum Trail
3d ·
An exciting day for the city of Jackson as planners, developers, and dreamers come together for the Jackson Design Forum. We were thrilled to share plans for the continued expansion of the Museum Trail while learning more about the other transformative projects being planned and implemented by likeminded leaders who believe in Jackson's bright future. It is an inspiration to be among such enthusiasm and we are honored to be a part of it. Thank you to the Great City Foundation and Visit Jackson for hosting this inspiring event.
Visit Jackson, MS Great City Mississippi TREE Jackson Heart Foundation #themuseumtrail
https://www.facebook.com/museumtrail...HnWHUYbSUPVQyl

[vetteking]

The Mill Street Bridge is open after more than a year of construction

Standing in the rain on a Monday afternoon, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba held a press conference to celebrate the opening of the Mill Street Bridge in downtown Jackson.

The bridge has been under construction for a year and a half, according to Lumumba and Robert Lee, Jackson's city engineer and current interim director of the Department of Public Works. Driving south down North Mill Street and over the bridge, residents are taken right into downtown Jackson's West Capitol Street Historic District and in-front of Union Station.

"We're here to celebrate the opening of the Mill Street Bridge. This is has been a project that has long been anticipated by the businesses and residents that use this corridor frequently," Lumumba said. "It connects much of our community to downtown Jackson."

The construction of the bridge was a partnership between the City of Jackson, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Hemphill Construction Co Inc., which is based in Richland. Lumumba thanked all those involved in the project, then held a ribbon cutting ceremony.



"When you look at the fact that we're connecting the business community to the greater downtown area of Jackson with all of the activities going on and the Union Train Station, this corridor is a direct connection to that," said MDOT's Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons.

Lumumba also announced MDOT has given the city a $450,000 check to repair sidewalks in-front of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in northwest Jackson. The monument is the home of civil rights heroes Medgar and Myrlie Evers, who lived in Jackson.

From left: Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and City Engineer Robert Lee pose with a $450,000 check to repair sidewalks in-front of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument on Monday, March 25.
"This is a destination point for tourists and individuals to come into Jackson and want to go the Medgar Evers home," Simmons said.

"One of the things that Rena Evers and Myrlie Evers has recited time and time again is that they want this particular project, this particular national site to not only lift up their legacy and their story, they want it to lift up the community that means so much to them," Lumumba said.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/...s/73020555007/