V13n49 Who is Robert Gray?

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IMANI KHAYYAM

JACKSONIAN DR. TAUNJAH BELL NEASMAN

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or psychology majors at Jackson State University, not many other professors have made a bigger impact than Dr. Taunjah Bell Neasman. The Miami, Fla., native came to Jackson State in the fall of 2008 to teach biological psychology, physiological psychology and statistics classes. Neasman said she has always felt like she wanted to do something with the brain and took advanced placement psychology in high school.

“I really got interested in how the brain affects behavior,” she says.

Neasman was attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., pursuing a law career, when she veered her focus back to the brain. In 1987, one of her classmates with bipolar depressive disorder, Gregory Barnes, committed suicide. Neasman then switched her major to biopsychology and earned her bachelor’s degree in the subject in 1995.

She says her then-boyfriend, Dr. Everett Neasman, whom she married in June this year, encouraged her to make the change.

Neasman earned her master’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1999, and got her doctorate degree in behavioral neuroscience at Southern Illinois University in 2007. During her education, Neasman studied epilepsy and contributed to getting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Vegas Nerve Simulator for the treatment of drug-resistant anxiety and depression. She is now researching alternative

CONTENTS

and complimentary approaches to treating anxiety and other mental illnesses.

Neasman believes listening to music, and participating in physical exercise, meditation and yoga can act as complements to medication. She founded and currently runs the anxiety research laboratory at Jackson State.

She also collaborates the Council of Federated Organizations, a coalition of all the major Civil Rights Movement organizations in Mississippi, for Hot Topic Tuesdays to answer questions from the community on mental illness. She helped set up the first and only student group for the National Alliance on Mental Illness on a campus in Mississippi.

The group holds the NAMI Walk for Mental Health every November in Jackson, which helps raise money to help mentally ill people and their families pay for medication, housing and counseling. Neasman also founded the Association of Black Psychologists, the first on a college campus in the state. The organization focuses on raising awareness of mental illness in the community, especially for African Americans and how racism might impact a person’s health. “People don’t really understand the link between dealing with prejudice and hypertension,” Neasman says.

Neasman says her favorite part about being a member of the Jackson State community is the students. “It’s important to give back,” she says, “I always keep my door open for (them).”

—Joshua C. Clayton

cover photo of Robert Gray

by AP/ Rogelio V. Solis

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Two years have passed since the Legislature passed legislation to bring pre-K collaboratives to the state. How’s the program doing?

22 Hanging with the Pros

ISH Grill & Bar wants to be the place where professionals go to hang out after work.

30 À Ê > >`>ÊÌ Ê ÃÃ ÃÃ «« “(Jalana Ellis) has a quality that when she hits the target, you feel it’s always going to go in.”

—Dean Joseph, “Jalana Ellis: From Canada to Mississippi”

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4 ............................. EDITOR’S NOTE 6 ............................................ TALKS 10 ................................ EDITORIAL 11 .................................... OPINION 12 ............................ COVER STORY 22 ......................................... FOOD 24 ....................................... MUSIC 26 ....................... MUSIC LISTINGS 27 .......................................... ARTS 28 ....................................... 8 DAYS 29 ...................................... EVENTS 30 ..................................... SPORTS 31 .................................... PUZZLES 33 ....................................... ASTRO 33 ............................. CLASSIFIEDS

JSU ATHLETICS; FULLOFFLAVA PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY MISSISSIPPI FIRST

AUGUST 12 - 18 , 2015 | VOL. 13 NO. 49

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EDITOR’S note

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-Chief

My Advice for Mississippi Politicians

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his past Saturday, the Jackson Free Press staff crowded into a classroom at the Mississippi Children’s Museum for our annual retreat. The theme was “play�—what else?—and this retreat’s purpose was to build on remarkable progress we’ve made in the last year as a team. Our staff is more focused, more positive and more collaborative than it’s ever been, and these folks have worked hard to create a focused culture of excellence where we can enjoy ourselves, inspire each other, be accountable and reach for higher goals.

That’s something I want to see the state of Mississippi do, too.

But the election cycle hasn’t given me a lot of hope. It’s been politics as usual. Our election system is broken—weighed down by big money and outside donations; reported on as a horse race where polls and insults matter the most; and with campaigns overwhelmingly run by operatives who are more likely to deliver opposition dirt on opponents than spend quality time figuring out how to inspire and grow the electorate.

And if a candidate doesn’t inspire us, then why in the world would we get excited, especially if we happen to be someone who doesn’t typically vote anyway?

Being inspired is pretty much the same whether you’re trying to decide who to elect or how to stay excited about your career.

Leaders must help us know our choices matter, both to people around us and the larger community. To get excited by our leaders, we must believe they are authentic people who actually like other people (and not just those who look or think like them), and we must be convinced that they want to do something other than be drunk with power or direct lucrative contracts to their friends.

Without that effort at connection and authenticity, the electorate gets cynical and apathetic (just as people will in the workplace), and all but those who directly benefit

from bland, bought-and-sold elected officials will pretty much stay home. And that apathy directly benefits the small number who are running for the wrong reasons.

This problem is extremely evident in Mississippi. Our demographic should vote quite differently and elect people who don’t spout “state’s rights� or slam “outside agitators,� but pretty much no one is stepping up to inspire people who need to be inspired.

It’s all about playing it safe, and losing.

I want to feel the chills of possibility when a leader talks.

Or being told to play it safe by the “experts.�

So we end up with candidates who seem afraid of getting out there and trying to inspire Mississippians to greatness and compassion. They spend too much time criticizing their opponent than talking to Mississippians about what ails us and empowering us to figure out what each of us can do.

Remember: Leaders lead others, not promise that they can do everything themselves, and then inevitably fail. Former Mayor Frank Melton wasn’t a leader; he promised to end crime in 90 days; the people who believed he could are now more cynical than ever because they believed obvious lies.

President Barack Obama spent his campaign inspiring people to think better about what they could do, or insist could get done.

As president, he didn’t (at least for too long) shy away from previously taboo topics like abortion and gay rights. Sure, he made many people mad, but most of them weren’t go-

ing to vote for him anyway. And he’s helped bring real, lasting change—from the sea change on LGBT marriage to Obamacare as the benevolent law of the land.

More loving people can now legally marry, and fewer people die due to lack of health care and pre-existing exclusions. These were big, hairy ideas that many elected leaders wouldn’t bother to talk about and push.

Obama did, and he succeeded. And that willingness brings positive change.

Mississippi candidates—especially those who aren’t in bed with the radical right, such as Gov. Bryant—should take notice. Stop following the bad conventional wisdom and playing it safe. Sure, talk about how people like Bryant are hurting the state, trying to destroy the public schools, and don’t care two whits about many sick people, especially if they’re poor—but also show us how you can inspire us to heed the better angels of our nature, to borrow from President Lincoln.

Use words to lift us up, challenge us to collaborate to make Mississippi the best instead of the worst, tell us we can, give us ideas and then lead us to that promised land.

In the Democratic primary for governor, both Vicki Slater and Valerie Short were amazing choices, as far as I can tell, and I believe both of them could be 50 times (at least) the governor that Phil Bryant is. But I’d be lying if I said either of them really touched me during their campaigns. I wasn’t inspired, and I don’t think anyone who works at the JFP was either—and I can tell you that these folks like to be inspired, as do I. I want to feel the chills of possibility when a leader talks; I want creative juices rushing through my veins. One of our staffers said this week that after our retreat, she wanted to stand up in church the next morning and inspire everyone around her.

I haven’t had a candidate do that for me in Mississippi in a long time.

I think there are multiple reasons Rob-

ert Gray, an unknown candidate who didn’t even vote, defeated these two women. I suspect it was a combination of being the first on the list; being a man; and being the choice of at least some savvy Republican cross-over voters in order to keep Bryant from having to face off against Slater.

But none of that would have shut out both those women if they, or the party apparatus around them, would have inspired voters to know them and turn out to vote for them, no matter what. If at least one of them had really spoken to the majority of Mississippians who don’t support the radical right—remember Personhood?—she could be facing Bryant in November. And had she continued along that road to inspiration, she might have beaten him.

Slater seemed to be preserving her money for her run against Bryant—a classic case of taking one’s eye off the immediate ball. I don’t blame her; she seemed to be following the conventional wisdom we’ve watched the state’s fearful Democratic Party be snookered by for years now (as it’s kept losing). Instead, candidates should use the primary campaign to really get to know new and existing voters and vice versa—to establish a collective hope and belief that Mississippi can make different and better choices.

The irony is that we ended up with a down-to-earth, straight talker who seems to be steeped in kitchen-table wisdom. I’m actually excited about hearing more of what Robert Gray says, especially if the political machine doesn’t wring the authenticity out of him between now and November. He could shake things up by being real.

On Election Day, at the JFP, I should look out into our big, colorful newsroom and see excited people who are as inspired to vote as they are to talk teamwork and collaboration on a Saturday at the Children’s Museum. The sad part is that I seldom do.

Comment at jfp.ms/opinion.

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CONTRIBUTORS

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News Editor R.L. Nave is a native Missourian who roots for St. Louis (and the Mizzou Tigers)— and for Jackson. Send him news tips at rlnave@jackson freepress.com or call him at 601362-6121 ext. 12. He contributed to the cover package.

News Reporter Arielle Dreher is working on finding some new hobbies. Maybe she should try spelunking. Email her story ideas at arielle@jacksonfree press.com. She contributed to the cover package and wrote an education story.

Guy King is a Jackson native, former editorial intern and senior multimedia journalism major at Jackson State University. He is passionate about all things media. He wrote a food story.

LaTonya Miller is a freelance writer who is passionate about music, photography, and all things positive. You can visit her anytime at her second home, online at etudelife.com.

She wrote a music story.

Freelance writer Julie Skipper practices law by day and gets out and about around Jackson by night. She fancies art, fashion, and travel, and rarely encounters a stiletto she doesn’t like. She wrote an arts story.

Music Listings Editor Tommy Burton remembers the Alamo.

His favorite hobbies are playing tic-tac-toe, having Kit-Kat toes and giving Tic Tacs to cats.

Send gig info to music@jackson freepress.com. He compiled the music listings.

Staff photographer Imani Khayyam is an art lover and a native of Jackson. He loves to be behind the camera and capture the true essence of his subjects. He took photos for the issue.

Marketing consultant Brandi Stodard is a Baton Rouge transplant who loves Ole Miss football, which is constantly breaking all preconceived notions. She has a passion for networking, promoting and connecting local businesses.

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Wednesday, August 5 A survey the Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted shows that more than three out of five blacks in the United States say they or a family member have personal experience with being treated unfairly by the police.

Thursday, Aug. 6 The Nielsen company reports that the prime-time GOP candidates’ forum on Fox News Channel reached 24 million viewers, by far the largest audience ever for that network and any cable news event.

Saturday, Aug. 8 Michael Brown Sr. leads a parade in Ferguson, Mo., commemorating his son on the anniversary of his shooting, starting from a memorial on Canfield Drive marking the spot he was shot.

Public Works Takes Center Stage at Jackson Budget Talks

by R.L. Nave

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he Jackson City Council apparently learned its lesson about trying to eat an elephant one bite at a time in just a couple of weeks.

This year’s budget hearings started more than a week earlier than last year and, instead of starting with agencies such as the zoo and airport, the first agency the council tackled this year is the most important for the city’s bottom line: the Department of Public Works.

Public Works is responsible for maintaining the city’s aging and deteriorating roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and even for building maintenance and collect-

ing money from parking meters. It also has been a lightning rod in recent months.

Officials presented the department’s $298-million budget and highlighted challenges on the horizon. So far this year, the city has collected only 50 percent of the revenue from water and sewer customers budget writers projected for the year. In addition, revenues from the West Rankin Utility Authority, a customer of Jackson’s sewer system, are expected to be $1.5 million less than last year; the city is currently suing WRUA for attempting to end its agreement with Jackson and build its own wastewater plant.

A recent water break in south Jackson

that forced thousands of residents to go on well water, which the City does not bill, also represent a significant revenue loss, Jerriot Smash, a public deputy director, told the five council members present.

Some help is on the way when a new billing system, one of the key components of the Siemens contract, comes online later this month. “That is big for us. A lot of the problems with our ability to bill has to do with the age of that system,� Smash said Monday.

The public-works department also oversees the Water and Sewer Bill Administration, or WSBA, which came under IMANI KHAYYAM

Friday, Aug. 7 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump denies using words such as “dog,â€? ‘’fatâ€? and “disgustingâ€? to insult women he believes have slighted him despite such language appearing on his Twitter feed and other public comments for years. ‌ Colorado theater shooter James Holmes is sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury fails to agree on whether he should get the death penalty.

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Mayor Tony Yarber presented his second budget proposal, which attempts to Ă&#x;PP E QMPPMSR FYHKIX WLSVXJEPP [MXL IQTPS]II JYVPSYKLW VEMWMRK TVSTIVX] taxes and dipping into the city’s reserves.

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Sunday, Aug. 9 Tyrone Harris Jr., a black man, is shot and critically injured by police after allegedly opening fire on officers during a Michael Brown protest in Ferguson.

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Monday, Aug. 10 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 3 million gallons of wastewater laced with heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, spilled from the Gold King Mine in Colorado and flowed downstream toward two other states. ‌ Thirteen rowers on the 40-member U.S. team come down with stomach illness at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Rio, presumably due to pollution in the lake where the 2016 Summer Olympics are slated to take place.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 Greece agrees on the broad terms of a new three-year bailout package with international creditors.

Breaking news at jfpdaily.com.

Roger

R.L. Nave: U-Town Donna Ladd: Teflon Chick

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by JFP Staff

Along with being the Democratic candidate for Mississippi governor, Robert Gray is also a truck driver. Gray’s CB handle in his truck is Silent Knight. If you don’t know what a CB handle is, it’s a nickname truck drivers use to communicate on their short-wave radios.

Some of the Jackson Free Press staff decided to reveal our own CB handles in this issue.

Brandi Stodard: Bonnie Blue Eyes Tommy Burton: LeRoy Chickenfoot Kristin Brenemen: Pig Apokalips Zilpha Young: Bubba McFierce Arielle Dreher: OtterThisWorld

Todd Stauffer: Texas Tea Micah Smith: Mashed ‘Tato Amber Helsel: Biggie Smalls Melanie Collins: Rocking Mama Adria Walker: Girl Friday Dustin Cardon: Cardon Bleu

¹0EOPLE DON´T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE LINK BETWEEN DEALING WITH PREJUDICE AND HYPERTENSION ²

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scrutiny when a consultant’s report uncovered inefficient collection practices and possible fraud. Raftelis Financial Consultants found that the City has a large amount of uncollected revenue from delinquent accounts and those with large balances because it does not have a good system to collect unpaid or large bills.

The consultants also reported that the so-called E-code accounts, which are reserved for critical institutions and residents with health problems, have no oversight. The consultants outlined potential fraudulent activity through falsified E-code accounts, unwarranted bill adjustments possibly performed for friends and family members of WSBA cashiers, intentional stop-billing orders, falsified meter reads, meter tampering and cash payments that never make it to the bank. The public-works presentation will continue Wednesday morning.

Surprise, Surprise Members of the Jackson City Council are frustrated with Mayor Tony Yarber and his budget writers for giving what they say is incomplete information and, at times, blindsiding them with budget moves.

For example, the mayor’s budget, which expects $494 million revenue in the coming fiscal year, takes into account employee furloughs made public late last week, an 8-percent property tax increase and dipping into the city’s reserve funds. State law requires Jackson to maintain 5 percent of its budget in reserves; the city passed an ordinance in 2006 to require an additional buffer of 2.5 percent, for a 7.5 percent reserve fund. “With all we have going on with bond ratings right now, it would be terribly unfortunate if we had to reduce that fund balance,� Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon told Yarber.

The council was taken aback by the knowledge because in May, Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes proposed lowering the 7.5 percent threshold, which failed to draw support from his colleagues on the council.

Trivia Jones, the director of the Department of Administration, who also oversees writing the mayor’s budget proposal, advised against the move at the time, saying it would be a disservice to Jackson’s bond ratings.

Robbi Jones, the city’s financial adviser, agreed with Jones as well. Yarber explained that the first draft of the budget did not include using reserves, but said he directed the budget office to rewrite the plan using them.

Yarber said he suggested the use of reserves to avoid a two-day furlough instead of the one-day-per month furlough he has directed to begin in October. He also noted action from the council earlier this year to raise the city’s minimum wage, which he said would have a domino effect as new employees start earning similar wages to workers who have been employed with the city for years, but have not had a pay raise. Yarber expects some of those employees to demand raises or leave their City job. “We have legislated ourselves into a hole,� Yarber said.

Austerity Mode Meanwhile, the council is still seeking clarification on the budgetary impacts of planned worker furloughs, hiring freeze and tax increase. Yarber’s budget projects $494.6 million in revenue for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, a decrease from last year’s adopted budget of $511.4 million.

Already this fiscal year, city revenues are behind expenditures by $3.9 million, Jones said Tuesday morning at a presentation on revenues. To help fill the gap, the mayor’s budget includes an 8-percent hike in prop-

LEARN TO ‘UNDO’ RACISM

by Dustin Cardon

J

ackson 2000, a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering understanding and building harmony between people of different races, is sponsoring a special workshop in Jackson on Aug. 13-15.

The “Undoing Racism� workshop, presented by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, an international collective of multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to social transformation, begins Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Innovation Room at the Mississippi E-Center at Jackson State University

erty taxes. In addition, starting in October, all full-time City of Jackson employees will be required to take one furlough day per month. “(That goes) from the mayor on down,� city spokeswoman Shelia Byrd told the Jackson Free Press Friday evening.

City Council President Melvin Priester Jr. told the Jackson Free Press that he wants to see the mayor’s math on the furlough.

Specifically, he asked about the savings of furloughing employees for a day without initiating a hiring freeze.

In a statement to the news media, Byrd said: “We’ve spent months working on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Our budget analysts estimate a revenue deficit of about $15 million, so our budget decisions had to be based on reshaping the financial integrity of the city while preserving jobs. This was not an easy decision. However, we recognize that other municipalities have implemented furloughs as a means of closing budget gaps. We’ve considered a number of options, and the consensus was to observe the equivalent of a four-hour biweekly furlough.�

Exceptions to the furlough include part-time employees who work fewer than 30 hours per week and lower-ranking police and fire department staff. “These are not layoffs. The furloughs will help preserve jobs. The furloughs are expected to last through two budget years,�

Byrd said through her statement. “We understand that there have been several factors contributing to our current budget situation. It did not happen overnight. It is the result of declining revenue (and) budget practices that did not ensure viability, such as using the city’s cash reserve to balance the budget and adhering to fee policies that do not reflect the economics of the day.�

(1230 Raymond Road). It continues with two all-day sessions Friday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The workshop—which is open to all PISB members and others in the community—has 40 slots available, and registration is $249 per person.

The workshop will train participants to move beyond focusing on the symptoms of racism to an understanding of what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone.

The workshop’s systemic approach stresses learning from history, developing leadership, maintaining accountability to communities, creating networks and undoing internalized oppression. It deals

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Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix said Yarber’s administration and the council have talked about a number of options. Byrd said the furloughs would save $4.9 million. “This is the hardest thing to discuss because it affects the lives of city employees,� Hendrix told JFP. Hendrix applauded the Yarber administration’s focus on cleaning up blighted properties and code enforcement as a revenue stream and suggested beefing up those efforts to raise even more revenue.

Rethinking JATRAN The City of Jackson has approved an operations contract for JATRAN, the city’s transit authority. The City received bids from three companies to operate it—Lombard, Ill.-based Transdev; Austin-based 1st Transit; and U.K.-based National Express Transit Services.

A committee that included JATRAN riders recommended the city go with the offer from National Express for approximately $4.5 million, officials said today.

John Andoh, the city’s transportation planning and transit services manager, said the move would save the city $2 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

Andoh said the city’s legal department is considering a request for proposals for advertising on JATRAN buses, benches and shelters.

Currently, the city has a management contract; under that agreement, the city would pay for any cost overruns. With an operations agreement, which does not include purchasing new equipment, National Express would absorb any overruns.

The move passed unanimously.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email R.L. Nave at rlnave@jacksonfreepress.com.

with both systemic and institutional racism. Participants will analyze the structures of power and privilege, and class and power relationships.

The goals of “Undoing Racism� include developing a common definition of racism and an understanding of the different forms it takes, understanding the impact of institutional racism in the workplace, and learning the role of community organizing and building effective multiracial coalitions as a means for undoing racism.

The Friday and Saturday sessions will include lunch from Room Service. For more information, email deleo.dominic@gmail.com. To register for the workshop, visit jackson2000.org.

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TALK | education

Pre-K Collaboratives Helping 4th-Graders

By Arielle Dreher

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COURTESY MISSISSIPPI FIRST

ost 4-year-olds are learning all over the state because multiple school those standards for 4-year-olds include more basic skills before enter- districts can apply as one collaborative. learning numbers, letters, shapes and coling kindergarten due to Early Canter said the law requires that partners ors as well as motor skill development, soLearning Collaboratives, the in the collaborative be licensed facilities, cial and emotional interaction.

Mississippi Department of Education is which may make it difficult for more ru“The 4-year-old skills are foundationreporting. ral communities that do not have many al skills, or skills that a student would need Fifty-nine percent of 4-year-olds as- licensed child-care providers to start with. to go into kindergarten,” he said. “It kind sessed at the end of their year-long particiLouise Lloyd, the CEO of Sunflower of builds upon itself.” pation in ELC programs met or exceeded and Humphreys Counties Inc., is the adLloyd said she saw great progress with the expected performance level and will en- ministrator of the ELC in those counties the children and thinks the program is ter kindergarten more prepared. Over half because her company is the lead partner. working. “We had great attendance,” she the students gained a reading level through The ELC in Sunflower and Hum- said. “We only lost two students all year.” the program.

The 2014-2015 school year The state has only 11 colwas the first full year that the laboratives, and eight of those program was up and running, received a collective score at because initially collaboratives or above average for the 2014were not selected until De2015 school year. About 1,580 cember 2013. Canter said she 4-year-olds participated last believes more people will look year. The Mississippi Departto join in the future. ment of Education does not “We will probably see track the number of 4-yearover time more people asking olds in the state, but last year to join current collaboratives, there were over 40,000 kinand wanting to start their dergartners enrolled in public own,” she said. schools.

The Mississippi LegislaHow It’s Funded ture passed the Early Learning The Legislature levCollaborative Act in 2013, but eled off the funding for the this past school year was the program at $3 million in the first full year the program could Department of Education’s be assessed for outcomes. Misbudget in 2013, and that alsissippi’s previous plans to start lotment stayed the same in a pre-K program were assigned 2014 and 2015. Funding for to the state’s Department of the program is not attached Human Services, but the 2013 to MAEP because the funds bill handed that power off to are competitive and phased in the Department of Education. over time—this past year no Rachel Canter, executive additional funds were allotted director of Mississippi First, to the program. an education policy nonprofit “We hoped the Legislaorganization, said before the ture would increase the fundpre-K collaboratives, Mississiping last year, but now that we pi was one of 11 states without actually have results from the Rachel Canter is the executive director of Mississippi a pre-K program. first full year, that will make a First, the organization that helped get the Early Learning Collaborative Act passed in 2013.

The law was specific from stronger argument for them to its outset. Funding went to increase the funding,” Canter the Department of Education said. to disperse, and communities had to write phreys Counties was one of the eight colDue to funding constraints, transjoint applications that included a public laboratives that received a collective score at portation is not provided in the Sunflower school in Head Start and could also include or above average or the past school year. In and Humphreys Counties Collaborative. other public schools and private child-care the collaborative that kicked off last August, Lloyd said they look at addresses on the centers throughout the whole community.

147 children in nine classrooms meet in children’s applications to match them to schools and day care centers throughout the classroom locations nearest to them.

How It Works counties. The pre-K program is a full-time The 4-year-old quota in the SunflowParticipation in the collaboratives is curriculum for 4-year-olds who meet five er and Humphreys collaborative is 147 on a volunteer basis. After their applica- days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. students, and so far there is no wait list for tions were approved, communities formed Nathan Oakley, executive director of the 2015-2016 school year. a council and appointed a lead partner, in elementary education and reading at the Lloyd says the collaborative has one most cases the school district, to disperse Mississippi Department of Education, large donor but is looking to recruit adthe funds and hold responsibility for the said that early learning standards for public ditional donations for the program. program. schools were updated in 2013, incidentally Even after one year, Lloyd was pleased However, collaboratives look different when the ELC Act passed. Oakley said with the progress of the collaboratives and

8

said the pre-K program is important for children in Mississippi. She said that early learning helps students get prepared for third-grade testing.

“There’s a need, and parents recognize there’s a need,” Lloyd said. “When you have parents saying my child or grandchild made great progress and is ready to skip over two grades, that’s doing good.”

Pre-K programs are some of the most effective intervention programs available to students, Canter said, pointing to 40 years’ worth of data to support the claim.

“We know that schools have tremendous power to catch kids up, but it would be a much better use of resources to make sure kids are ready,” Canter said.

Canter said the feedback she has heard from the collaboratives is positive.

Two-thirds of kindergartners in the state did not meet the average readiness score in 2014. Now two-thirds of the children participating in the collaboratives are meeting the benchmark.

An added bonus to ELCs is that they can directly benefit the community and individuals who participate. Canter said an individual or a business making a donation to a collaborative can receive tax credit—not a deduction—making donating an attractive idea. A tax credit means that your taxable income is lowered based on how much you contribute—not just deducted from your total amount of taxes.

There are $3 million in tax credits available to match what the Legislature has spent on the program statewide.

“The purpose of it is to help local communities be able to raise money locally to go toward their collaborative,” Canter said. “If you make the donation to them, then they can spend it on services to kids because they have to make a 50-percent match in order to get the state money.”

The 11 state collaboratives are: Monroe County, Clarke County, Coahoma County, Desoto County, McComb County, Pearl River Valley, Petal Excel by 5 Coalition, Picayune School District Head Start, Sunflower and Humphreys Counties, Tallahatchie County and CorinthAlcorn Counties.

The Mississippi Department of Education received 30 applications for collaboratives during the proposal cycle in 2013. Available funding only allowed for 11 ELCs. Applications were judged based on staffing, community engagement, qualified staff and evidence of need. MDE could not disclose whether any Jackson metro applications were received.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

TALK | biz

Thomas Heads to Systems, Medical Mall Grows

by Dustin Cardon and R.L. Nave

IMANI KHAYYAM.

“These are well-functioning companies,” Thomas said.

Thomas departed from Jackson State at the end of July and will run the day-to-day operations of Systems Electro Coating, a Gluckstadt-based company that rust-proofs frames for Nissan’s Canton plant, and the company’s business- and ITconsulting companies. Systems also has a Mantachie plant that supplies seats for Toyota’s Blue Springs operations, but Thomas will not oversee operations there. He hopes to grow the consulting business to offer turn-around services to troubled school districts and municipalities, he said.

Thomas grew up in Natchez and attended Jackson State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1985. After college, he worked for the Mississippi state audiThe opening of Woodrow Wilson Place will bring four new businesses to the Jackson Medical Mall, already a model of how to remake a mall. tor’s office before going to JPS in 1994.

Jackson businessman and JSU business school Dean Bill Cooley founded Systions, Thomas said he was good at uncovering and cutting tems in 1977; Thomas is taking over as president for Toni out inefficiencies.

Cooley, whom the board of directors recently promoted to In his new role as president of three companies under chief executive officer. the Systems Group, Thomas, 52, doesn’t have to turn the The Systems position “was the proverbial offer I couldn’t companies around, so he can focus most of his time and en- refuse,” Thomas said. In his first weeks on the job, Thomas ergy on growing and streamlining the businesses. has been taking stock of the companies and will be looking

for opportunities to expand and improve operations. It was an opportunity he seized at Jackson State. Growing the university’s reserves helped expand the campus with a Starbucks, Apple and UPS stores, as well as obtain a building downtown despite a lagging national economy and little support from the state.

“In the public sector, public bodies tend to continue to operate even if they operate inefficiently,” said Thomas, who lives in Madison with his wife, Shari, and their five children.

“The more efficient an organization is, the more money you can devote to the core mission of that organization.”

Medical Mall Expansion The Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.) is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for a new mixeduse retail site called Woodrow Wilson Place (2709 Bailey Ave.) Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m.

Woodrow Wilson Place will contain Mississippi Eyecare Associates, Mississippi Smiles Dentistry, a Subway restaurant and a Cricket Wireless telephone store, which will sell AT&T products. Final operation hours for the four businesses are still pending. The groundbreaking ceremony will feature presentations from Medical Mall staff and partners involved in the development of Woodrow Wilson Place. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

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ichael Thomas has proved to be a turnaround specialist. As the vice president of finance and business at Jackson State University, he helped turn a $1.2 million deficit in the college’s reserve fund into reserves of almost $15 million in four years. Before that, he was the numbers guru for Jackson Public Schools for 16 years. At JSU and JPS, both public-sector organiza-

9

Open Season

M

r. Announcer: “In the ghetto criminal-justice system, the people are represented by members of the newly established Ghetto Science Community Peacekeeping Unit: police officer and part-time security guard at the Funky Ghetto Mall Dudley ‘Do-Right’ McBride; attorney Cootie McBride of the law firm McBride, Myself and I; and guest behavioral health adviser, psychologist Judy McBride. This is their story.�

(Dudley, Cootie and Judy are in the Law-N-Order SUV driving back to the Ghetto Science Community from the Ghetto Science Law and Order National Convention. They discuss the issue of injustice toward African Americans.)

Dudley: “You heard the news? It looks like driving while black comes with a consequence these days. Cousin Judy, how did it get to be open season on black motorists?�

Judy: “As I stated in my presentation at the Law and Order convention, what people watch, read and listen to matters.�

Cootie: “Remember when we would watch the ‘Tarzan’ movies on television? I thought dark and brown skin people were terrible savages.�

Dudley: “Those negative images and perpetuated stereotypes affected us a lot.�

Judy: “Then both of you looked at yourselves in the mirror and discovered something is wrong with this picture. You realize that someone’s propaganda starts to matter.�

Cootie: “Yep. It’s nonsense at the mind’s expense continuously fueling the fires of hatred, fear and prejudice.�

Judy: “The consequence is the unfortunate fate of black motorists like Sandra Bland and Samuel DuBose.�

Dudley: “Am I paranoid, or was that a police siren?�

Doink, doink

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10

Why it stinks: We should have a discussion about how an unknown candidate with a man’s name who did little campaigning beat two eminently qualified women candidates. That hardly makes the Mississippi GOP the party of and for women, though. We can’t remember that party giving a woman its nomination, either. And if you can stomach it, spend five minutes on conservative blogs and see the hate and sexism anonymous male commenters spew at women like Fitch. That’s to say nothing about Stacey Pickering’s swipe at his November candidate Joce Pritchett’s LGBTness. Democrats have their work cut out for them, but elephants should be careful in glass houses.

JATRAN Overhaul Past Due

A

t one time, downtown Jackson was not only the center of commerce, but the center of life in a lot of ways. Long before the days of the shopping mall, people traveled to the central business district to do their banking and shopping. For those who could not afford automobiles and needed to get the outskirts of town, which in the 1960s for north Jackson was modern-day Meadowbrook, one would hop on a bus downtown and ride it to the city’s edge and then come back.

These were commonly referred to as the “maid’s routes,� and even though the economy and Jackson as a whole has changed, the city’s bus routes have not, for the most part. With a few exceptions, most of the routes JATRAN runs still go from downtown and fan outward, even though most jobs left downtown long ago.

When a group of residents and planners got together to draft a master plan for west Jackson in 2013 and 2014, transportation needs emerged as a key issue. The report states that approximately 6,100 Jackson households lacked a vehicle in 2012. The lack of reliable transit has ripple effects that include limiting peoples’ employment options and even perpetuating homelessness.

Making matters worse is that the city’s buses do not operate late into the night or on Sundays. Various officials have made noise about changing this over the years, but no substantive changes have happened.

But that time is long past due. It’s not that having a reliable public-transportation is just a nice thing to have, but as Dr. Scott Crawford rightly told the Jackson City Council this week, for many people, and for our city, it’s as important as food, water and shelter. Jackson’s woeful roads are hard on our buses, sure, but they’re worse on individual automobile owners. Many of these people have seen their water and sewer bills rise, sales tax increase and, if the mayor’s budget passes, could see a property-tax increase.

We hope that this week’s action to put JATRAN under an operations contract, which city officials estimate will save the city $2 million in the upcoming fiscal year, is a good start.

The next step should be a comprehensive and in-depth look at the JATRAN routes to boost efficiencies and revenues.

In addition to rethinking the routes themselves, the city and JATRAN should follow the advice of planning experts such as Dr. Mukesh Kumar at Jackson State University and improve the services offered on the buses such as offering a free WiFi connection.

Although we realize that the—we’ll call it politics—will make it difficult to expand JATRAN into places like Madison and Rankin counties, we should follow the advice of Ward 4 Councilman De’Keither Stamps and start thinking about how JATRAN can also help serve residents better in less urban parts of Hinds County.

Email letters and opinion to letters@jacksonfreepress.com, fax to 601-510-9019 or mail to 125 South Congress St., Suite 1324, Jackson, Mississippi 39201. Include daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, as well as factchecked.

LESLIE MCLEMORE II An Open Letter to My Daughter EDITORIAL News Editor R.L. Nave Assistant Editor Amber Helsel Reporter Arielle Dreher JFP Daily Editor Dustin Cardon Music Editor Micah Smith Events Listings Editor Latasha Willis Music Listings Editor Tommy Burton Editorial Assistant Adria Walker Editorial Intern Chloe’ Owens Writers Bryan Flynn, Brian Gordon, Shameka Hamilton, Genevieve Legacy, LaTonya Miller, Jordan Morrow, Greg Pigott, Julie Skipper, Zachary Oren Smith Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY Art Director Kristin Brenemen Advertising Designer Zilpha Young Staff Photographer Imani Khayyam Contributing Photographer Tate K. Nations Design Interns Joshua Sheriff, Tabitha Yarber ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Kimberly Griffin Account Manager Brandi Stodard BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS Distribution Manager Richard Laswell Distribution Raymond Carmeans, Avery Cahee, Clint Dear, Michael McDonald, Ruby Parks Bookkeeper Melanie Collins Assistant to the CEO Inga-Lill Sjostrom Operations Consultant David Joseph ONLINE Web Editor Dustin Cardon Web Designer Montroe Headd

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Dear Harper, Firstly, Daddy loves you beyond the end of time. I am and will always support you, for you are my greatest creation and inspiration, and because of you, I have a reason to live and a purpose to live for.

Secondly, this is a letter to you, an open letter that I felt compelled to share. As you read this some day, I’m sure you are asking “But, why Dad?� Well, I hope to do my best in answering the “why,� Harp-Star.

Hopefully, you will grow up to be a super-duper intelligent, beautiful, charming and loving woman. As your father, the “woman� part is what I unfortunately worry about the most. In this country exist discrimination and inequality. This means that not everyone is equal in the eyes of the law or society, so you, as a woman, will be treated unequal in comparison to your male counterparts.

This is what society refers to as “male privilege.� As a male, your father has benefited from this privilege time after time. Regrettably, at one point in my life, I didn’t even acknowledge male privilege nor bother to care that such privilege actually existed. So, to you, your mother, and your grandmother, I sincerely apologize.

Most males in this country barely acknowledge such privileges, subconsciously and consciously, allowing male chauvinism to be passed from generation to generation.

Disturbingly, as of 2015 women are without equal pay, full reproduction rights or social equality. Women also suffer from sex discrimination in almost every social or workplace setting, along with being victims of sexual assault and domestic violence at a disturbingly high rate. (God forbid if this ever happens to you. Your Dad will turn into Samuel L. Jackson’s character from “A Time to Kill.� Read the book, then watch the movie, and you’ll get the picture).

Now, here is where it gets a little tricky, my love. You mother and I are African American, therefore making you (you guessed it!)

African American. Unfortunately, in this country, African Americans also suffer massive inequality and discrimination. Inequality and discrimination so vast, I would need to turn this letter into a book.

So, just like your mother suffering from male privilege, we both suffer from white privilege. However, unlike your mother, I

only have to deal with one of these privileges.

Sadly, your Mother, as an African American woman, suffers from both white and male privilege. This means, like every African American woman in this country, you will be standing at the intersection of white and male privilege. As a result, you will face discrimination and inequality as both a woman and an African American.

The thought of my pride and joy being discriminated against from multiple avenues angers and saddens me to no end. However, there are ways to fix such a problem.

For starters, there needs to be a universal acknowledgement, through awareness, of systematic discrimination in this country. In order to obtain national acknowledgement, awareness is being raised of discriminatory practices that plague African American women in this country. People are attempting to achieve universal awareness (even though more participation is needed) via traditional media, social media, academia, grassroots activities and simple word of mouth. Secondly, discriminatory practices are and must continue to be challenged in the legal, policy, judiciary, corporate and executive arenas. Victory in such arenas must be achieved through political participation (President Harper McLemore sounds awesome, right?), litigation and good ole zeal.

In relation to these two arenas, especially the latter, there is still much work to be done.

As you continue to grow into the great woman I know you will become, be aware of such roadblocks you will inevitably face.

Learn (with assistance from your father, of course) how to fight against these roadblocks for you and countless women you will never meet. The good news is that many individuals are working tirelessly to make sure you don’t face such roadblocks, or at the very least, ensure that these roadblocks will be less of a burden.

I hope this letter finds you well, my one and only. Remember, Daddy loves you and will love you beyond the end of time.

Sincerely, Your Awesomely Loving Father Leslie McLemore II, a Jackson native, is now in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Jackson State University, North Carolina Central University School of Law and American University Washington College of Law. Harper McLemore was born July 31.

President Harper McLemore sounds awesome, right?

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11

Keep on Truckin: Meet Robert Gray

by R.L. Nave

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case,” said Gray, who shares a name with the chief executive officer of a public-relations services company, an emeritus professor of electrical engineering at Stanford and an 18th-century merchant sea captain.

Perhaps because it occurred to no one to do it before Election Day, journalists and pundits have lined up wanting to vet the 46year-old—a process that started on election night as journalists and amateur sleuths alike searched his business and other personal records, sharing whatever they could find on social media. Then for almost four hours the next morning, reporters sped over to the capitol, where they found Gray hosting an impromptu media availability on the third floor, outside the governor’s office, answering many of the same questions whenever a different news outfit showed up.

Gray—who told a reporter that he uses the moniker Silent Knight on CB radio because he listens more than he talks—admits that he is not a gregarious glad-hander. He seemed to think it was strange that news photographers snapped so many pictures of him. But he’s anything but passive, even when people start throwing shade and making jokes about his inexperience.

(One reporter even asked Gray if he knows what Gov. Bryant looks like.)

On the morning of Aug. 6, Gray went on a radio program hosted by conservative talk-radio host Paul Gallo, who apparently thought he would eviscerate Gray in short order and turn him into a laughing stock.

Right out of the gate, Gallo pressed Gray on his support for Medicaid expansion, implying that it would be a burden to taxpayers. Gray responded that thousands of new jobs experts have said the expansion would create more taxpayers and provide an economic spark.

Uninterested in pursuing the Medicaid issue any further, but staying on the topic of the economy, Gallo set his sights on the Obama administration, blaming the president for 91 million people being out of the workforce. (The Washington Post fact-cheker blog found the claim, repeated by several Republican officials, dubious because it includes 70 million people who have retired or permanently left the workforce).

“It’s going to be more than that if these Republicans keep getting their way,” Gray

IMANI KHAYYAM

I

t was not until 7:36 on the morning of Aug. 5 that anyone found out what Robert Gray looked like, much less how he wound up being the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for Mississippi governor.

Yet there he was in a tweet from a WLBT reporter, seated on a bench outside the Capitol. Up until that day, he had never been inside the building even though he grew up in the Jackson area.

Given the narrative that is emerging about the dark horse, who has hauled freight for more than 20 years, Gray seemed to have stepped right out of central casting. He literally wore a blue collar, sporting an untucked Oxford with the sleeves rolled halfway up his hairy forearms. That morning, Gray was none of the things people expected he might be. He wasn’t a prankster who’d pulled a fast one on Democratic voters. He wasn’t a nut job in a tin-foil hat foaming at the mouth about conspiracy theories.

Nor did Gray seem like someone who woke up and realized that he was in over his head.

Gray shocked political watchers around the state by finishing first among the three Democratic candidates with 51 percent of the vote, which would not necessitate a runoff if the totals hold up, and his lead doesn’t drop lower than 50 percent plus one vote.

Most pundits believed Vicki Slater, who had a robust and active campaign, would capture the nomination, but she only drew 30.2 percent. Dr. Valerie Short, a retired physician, received 18.8 percent.

Because his campaign-finance reports reflect no fundraising nor he did have a campaign website or social-media presence, Gray surmised that it might have been his common-sounding name that made 146,387 people vote for him over two opponents Gray admits worked hard and ran better campaigns than he did.

Gray said he attended two rallies, one in Meridian and another in Biloxi, neither of which he believes gave him the kind of exposure needed to pull off the upset he did.

“Robert is kind of a common name, and most people have a Robert in their family, so it comforts them to see a familiar name.

It might have had something to do with it 12 being two women, but I hope that wasn’t the

Robert Gray, a truck driver from Terry, won 51 percent of votes in the (IQSGVEXMG TVMQEV] JSV KSZIVRSV SR %YK 8LI GIVXMßIH VIWYPXW [MPP RSX FI ERRSYRGIH YRXMP PEXIV XLMW [IIO FYX TEVX] SJßGMEPW WE] +VE] [MPP LEZI XLIMV JYPP WYTTSVX MR LMW VEGI EKEMRWX +SZ 4LMP &V]ERX E 6ITYFPMGER

offered, arguing that the economy has rebounded under Obama’s leadership and that the Republican-led Congress’s de-authorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which helps American companies do business overseas, would destabilize the U.S. economy.

Gray, as this story goes to press, is currently running a load of sweet potatoes, one of Mississippi’s largest agricultural exports, to Pennsylvania.

On illegal immigration, Gray, who is black, brushed aside a Gallo comment about immigrants taking jobs from African Americans and said people come to the U.S. for better opportunities and that the U.S. should focus on helping other countries build their economies.

“If those countries start doing things like we do, they’ll have a bigger stronger economy, and people wouldn’t leave,” Gray

told Gallo on the radio show.

Before the segment ended, Gallo had one final piece of red meat to serve up to his listeners: whether Gray’s positions are in line with national Democrats on abortion and the recent controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood. Gray’s response was more clear than even some women who run for office under the Democratic Party banner: “If you want to stop abortion,” he said, “keep these people working—these women ain’t having abortions for the fun of it.”

Mystery Man Before we could get to know Robert Gray, the policy positions he supports and whether he’d park his rig at the Governor’s Mansion, he had to get back to his day job as an independent trucker operating under the company name Fancy Horse Transportation Inc. Owning and driving his rig has provided

printing costs.

Gray’s mystique was fueled when reporters visited the address listed on his campaign-finance report, at 2010 West Capitol St., and found what appears to be a vacant home. Gray said he’s in the process of renovating the house, for which he has paid property tax on since 2013.

Rickey Cole, chairman of the Missis-

ter he became the county’s first black sheriff and replaced him with Victor Mason, whose own campaign seemed to stall at times.

Yet, the crime-and-punishment electorate spared Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith who faced a serious, seasoned prosecutor in Stanley Alexander. Alexander, who said he will return to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office to

thing driving people at the local level.”

Brandon Jones, executive director of the Mississippi Democratic Trust, which supports Democrats running for the Legislature, said that while he understands the frustration of many Democrats, he disagrees with the idea that party voters failed to deliver a victory for their handpicked candidate.

Both his group and the state party deIMANI KHAYYAM

Vicki Slater, an attorney from Madison, built a war chest of $235,000 to take on Republican Gov. Phil Bryant in the fall.

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sippi Democratic Party, told the JFP that the party checked Gray’s Terry residency and voter registration in March when Gray filed paperwork announcing his intentions to run.

“He meets the qualifications to be a candidate for governor based on our process of vetting,” Cole told the JFP. Those qualifications including being at least age 30, a U.S. citizens for two decades and a resident of Mississippi for five years. A $300 fee to the state party is also required, which Gray paid, but party candidates are not required to gather petition signatures; independent candidates must collect 1,000 signatures to run, but do not have to pay a fee.

Cole conceded that voter turnout was low across the state despite more Democrats casting ballots in the governor’s race than Republicans, 287,000 to the GOP’s less competitive 274,000.

“They’re not there for the governor’s race. They came to vote in the supervisor’s race or the sheriff’s race or a superintendent’s race,” Cole told MPB. “So when they see these three names, and they say, ‘I don’t know any of these folks,’ they just check the first one, and then they move to the race (that) they’ve got some information about. That’s basically what happened in this instance, in my opinion.”

Voter Fatigue Lackluster turnout yielded confusion further down on the Democratic ticket. For example, voters weary of constant headlines of jail escapes swept Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis out of office just four years af-

head the public-integrity division, told the JFP that his campaign spotlighted problems he sees with the DA’s office.

“I hope the people will remember this, and I hope the DA’s office will work a little harder,” Alexander said.

At Alexander’s election-night party, he and his campaign staff wondered aloud why so few people had shown up to the polls. Jared Turner, a political consultant who worked on Alexander’s campaign, said the Aug. 4 primary felt different from the moment he left his home in west Jackson.

Unlike most election days, Turner noticed the paucity of volunteers standing on street corners waving signs.

Coming off the 2013 City of Jackson elections, the 2014 special election for mayor and a Republican senatorial primary that drew a lot of local interest, Turner said he feared voter fatigue might cause people to stay home even though this year’s gubernatorial primary was also competitive.

In Turner’s early analysis, roughly 10,000 fewer people voted two weeks compared the 2011 primary.

“When you’ve got 10,000 people who stay home, that’ll throw a monkey wrench in things real fast,” Turner said. “I think there’s something to be said about when you have so many people running. The average citizen tunes out. It sucks for us (as strategists) because our job to pull our votes.”

Cole, the Democratic chairman, echoes Turner: “The Republican turnout around the state, and Democratic turnout was anemic in a lot of places. There weren’t vocal down-ticket races—there wasn’t really some-

cline to endorse candidates in the primary.

“Since when have you known Democrats to be go-along-to-get-along?” Jones said. “As a rule, we’re not the party of backroom deals.”

Jones says the Democratic Party is still rebuilding, similar to that of the Republican Party in Mississippi up until Gov. Kirk Fordice’s victory in 1991. Jones said even though he’s heard only a little from Gray, he’s impressed with the candidate.

“If people get frustrated enough to get involved, then I’m all for it,” Jones said.

That frustration is why Robert Gray decided to fork over $300 to put his name on the ballot to be the Democratic Party’s nominee.

“No one was concentrating on what needs to be done even though we have all the tools to do it,” Gray, who points out that even with the recent economic slowdown, the U.S. is wealthier today than at any time in the nation’s history.

He met Gov. Bryant the morning he appeared on the Paul Gallo’s show and, comparing the race to a heavyweight championship boxing match, looks forward to getting in the ring to debate Bryant.

“You would think he would want to,” Gray said of debating. “I figured that was part of the deal.”

On his decision to enter the race, Gray offered: “I said I could do better than that.

And it’s like any other thing, you do what you’ve got to do to go down there and get involved. It’s one of those things where you’ve done it before you know you’ve done it.”

Comment at jfp.ms/2015elections.

13 Õ}ÕÃÌÊ£ÓÊ Ê£n]ÊÓä£xÊÊUÊÊ v«° Ã

Gray the kind of perspective on economic issues that has eluded statewide office seekers of recent memory (and exposed him to enough years of conservative talk radio to easily dispense with a character like Gallo).

Part of the reason Gray supports Medicaid expansion is because he currently lacks health insurance, but is shopping around for a plan. Like many Democrats in Mississippi, Gray also sees it as simple mathematics: Increasing the number of people receiving health care increases the volume of services and thus keeps costs from rising. It’s a principle he has observed since the early 1990s, during the robust Clinton years, the lean recessionary years that started under the Bush administration and since.

“I used to have more loads and get paid more money. The cost of operating was way cheaper, and everything was just better,” he said of the years before the Recession.

“Now fuel cost is high, the insurance is higher, tires and things that keep my vehicle running are a lot higher. I used to buy a brand-new tire for $200 or $300; now it costs $500 or 600 (for new tires).”

Gray has been tight-lipped about his life before the primary election. He grew up in Jackson, where he attended Raines Elementary, Hardy Middle School and Provine High School. He later worked as a courier for Trustmark and, for a time, sold insurance. He then attended Southern Drivers’ Academy in south Jackson and started driving a rig in 1992 or 1993, sometimes hauling loads as far away as California.

Gray is unmarried and has no children, and told some media outlets that he didn’t tell any of his relatives that his name would appear on the ballot. Gray’s own mother thought she was just voting for a man with the same name, not her own son.

In her only media interview since the election, a stunned Slater told Associated Press reporter Emily Pettus that Gray was a “mystery man.” Slater, who until press time has declined interviews, has not conceded the election nor announced plans to contest the election, which Democratic Party officials expect to certify Tuesday, Aug. 11. Addressing her supporters at Hal & Mal’s the night of the primary, she remained on message, attacking Gov. Phil Bryant.

“Phil Bryant’s leadership has failed the state of Mississippi. We’re sick of being 50th. We want our schools fully funded, we want Medicaid expanded, and we want jobs in this state. We are going to keep fighting, keep working together, and we are never going to give up on our state that we love.”

Murmurs of sexism understandably circulated among the Slater faithful. By Mississippi Democratic Party standards, she had a sophisticated campaign operation and hired seasoned Democratic operatives, such as Roosevelt Daniels, a familiar face on the Jackson political scene.

She also drew the endorsement of the Jackson Free Press, was a fixture at political functions around the state and raised $235,068 during the cycle. She spent $197,142 on staff, media advertising and

Joce (Jo’ see) n. 1. Public servant with strong sense of integrity and knowledge of Mississippi’s public agencies. 2. Mississippi native and candidate for State Auditor.

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Hinds County Results

ELECTION PREVIEW IURP SDJH [[

Democratic Primary SENATE DISTRICT 26: John Horhn

November Election:

Party Lines

SENATE DISTRICT 29: David Blount HOUSE DISTRICT 63: Machelle Shelby Kyles HOUSE DISTRICT 65: Christopher M. Bell; James Covington*

Drawn Early

HOUSE DISTRICT 66: Jarvis Dortch

by Arielle Dreher

have been created in the state, and he said other businesses are beginning to notice how attractive Mississippi is for dependable workers.

Reeves connected the Republican funding of education to the workforce. “We know the key to prosperity is a strong workforce, and a strong workforce starts with educating our children,” Reeves said.

Democratic candidates promoted the Affordable Care Act and ARIELLE DREHER

Lieutenant Governor Republican leaders focused on the GOP-led Legislature’s ability to fund eduIncumbent Republican candidate Tate Reeves (left) will face Democratic cation higher than ever in the state’s history, challenger Tim Johnson (right) in the November election for lieutenant governor. with no mention of Ballot Initiative 42 to force them to adequately fund education, or 42A, the alternative Republican version designed to draw votes away from 42.

Medicaid expansion, not only due to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling While higher revenue forecasts prompted lawmakers to increase that continues to allow funding to federally run state marketplaces, MAEP funding from early budget drafts, the enacted budget still but also because of potential job creation. shorted MAEP around $200 million for fiscal-year 2016.

Johnson said he plans to help expand Medicaid should he beIncumbent Republican candidate Reeves said that under his come lieutenant governor because of the federal funding it will bring and his party’s leadership, the state is investing in what’s important. to the state and the jobs.

“Due to Republican leadership this year, Mississippi will spend “I want to extend Medicaid because of new jobs—it will create $400 million more than was spent four years ago on public educa- 20,000 new jobs,” Johnson said. “To put it in perspective, that’s three tion,” Reeves said.

Nissan plants.”

Reeves also said the state will spend more on community colleges and universities than ever before.

Attorney General Democratic lieutenant-governor candidate Tim Johnson said Another election to watch closely is the race for the attorney the state needs to invest more in education. He came out in support general’s seat. Incumbent Jim Hood, the only Democrat currently of Initiative 42 at the Neshoba County Fair, saying that fully funding holding statewide office, has held the post for 12 years. He is running education would be one of his top priorities if he is elected. Johnson for his fourth term, and at the Neshoba County Fair, Hood said one also implied that only Democrats would implement the initiative of the main reasons he believes he has been re-elected so many times even if voters approve it in November. is that he is cut out for the job.

“If you vote for the current leadership, and you vote for InitiaHis Republican challenger, Mike Hurst, works as a federal prostive 42, you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face,” he said. more NOVEMBER, see page 17 Reeves said that in the past four years, more than 18,000 jobs

HOUSE DISTRICT 69: Alyce Griffin Clarke HOUSE DISTRICT 70: Samuel Lee Begley; Kathy Sykes** HOUSE DISTRICT 72: Kimberly L. Campbell DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Robert Shuler Smith CHANCERY CLERK: Eddie Jean Carr CIRCUIT CLERK: Zack Wallace SHERIFF: Victor P. Mason TAX COLLECTOR: Eddie J. Fair SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 1: Robert Graham SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 2: Darrel McQuirter; David L. Archie** SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3: Peggy Hobson Calhoun SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 4: Vern O. Gavin SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 5: Bobby McGowan; Eric Stringfellow** CONSTABLE DISTRICT 1: Jerry Moore CONSTABLE DISTRICT 3: Lawrence Funchess CONSTABLE DISTRICT 4: Lawrence Duncan Republican Primary SENATE DISTRICT 25: William F. “Will” Longwitz SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 4: Mike Morgan *James Covington withdrew from the District 65 race **Runoff to take place Aug. 25

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ducation funding, job creation and fighting corruption are at the top of many Mississippi statewide candidates’ lists heading into the November election.

Republican hopefuls are focusing on the positive gains and improvement they believe their leadership brought to the state in the past four years.

At the Neshoba County Fair, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said Mississippi was headed in the right direction with Republican leadership. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, agreed, and went on to say that Democrats have little influence in a Republican-controlled House. Both candidates easily won their primary races last week. Party lines have been starkly drawn for the upcoming election season.

“There is a bright line of distinction between the Republicans and the Democrats in the House of Representatives,” Gunn said at the Neshoba County Fair.

Candidates in other state-wide races echo his sentiments.

HOUSE DISTRICT 68: Credell Calhoun

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ecutor for the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi office. Hurst said he liked his job as a federal prosecutor, and when he was approached and asked if he wanted to run on the Republican ticket, Hood’s Google fight made him say yes.

“I know the crime and public corruption in Mississippi,” Hurst said. “(But) it appears my opponent has sold the attorney general’s office to Hollywood and has his office drafting subpoenas to go after Google.”

Hood is leading the appeal of an order in the Google lawsuit, asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to enforce a subpoena the state issued to Google to reveal its practices in sales involving prescription drugs, fake IDs and stolen credit-card data. He defended his involvement with the Google lawsuit.

“As an attorney general, you’ve got to hold these corporations accountable, and that’s what I’ve done,” he said.

Forty attorneys general in the U.S. filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the Mississippi-led appeal in July. Hood said that corporations and companies will pour their money into Mississippi during the election, including to his opponent, but he hopes voters remember his track record.

Hurst said he would fight back against the Obama administration and stand up for traditional “Mississippi values” if elected.

Hurst said he would join the investigations into Planned Parenthood, and he said he has signed a petition to Congress to protect the tax-exempt status of churches. Hood has not joined either investigation.

“I want to be the attorney general for Mississippi, not for President Obama,” Hurst said.

Hood said he has recovered $3 billion for taxpayers in his time as attorney general. Hurst said the attorney general’s office should be doing more to investigate public corruption. Hurst was one of the lead prosecutors in the corruption scandal involving the former Department of Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps and businessman and former Rankin County elected official Cecil McCrory.

State Auditor Current State Auditor Stacey Pickering beat Mary Hawkins Butler for the Republican auditor candidate spot and will now face Democratic challenger Joce Pritchett in November. Pritchett, who did not have a primary challenger, said she is going to start talking more about why she is qualified to run for state auditor, as well as Pickering’s record. Pritchett is a civil engineer and has practiced for 25 years.

“I have worked with a lot of contracts and agencies,” she told the Jackson Free Press. “I know how contracts are supposed to be procured ethically and legally.”

In his Neshoba County Fair speech, Pickering spoke about awards that his office has won during his two terms. He reminded voters how after Hurricane Katrina Mississippi managed to only have a half-percent fraud record instead of the higher numbers FEMA predicted.

Pickering said the General Accounting Office in Washington, D.C., called Mississippi a “role model for other states to follow when it came to managing, spending and being accountable for one-time federal dollars.” Pickering said that, on his watch, the auditor’s office is a national leader in managing taxpayer dollars.

Mississippi ranked sixth in the nation in a Center for Public Integrity 2012 survey of states for low corruption risk, and Pickering said Mississippi should be proud to be in the top 10. (The study also gives Mississippi a C+ grade, and Mississippi failed in the “political financing” category.)

Pickering’s latest exceptions report came out at the end of last month. The auditor’s office recovered $1.2 million last year.

This number is lower than previous years.

Pickering’s office recovered $1.5 million in 2014 and $10.3 million in 2013. In his two terms as auditor, he has recovered a total of close to $24 million. Pickering vied for his track record, speaking in Neshoba County.

“This campaign and this race is all about who’s qualified to serve as auditor of Mississippi,” he said at the fair.

Comment at jfp.ms/2015elections.

— GOVERNOR

First-term Republican incumbent Phil Bryant beat Mitch Young, a Navy veteran.

Three candidates competed in the Democratic primary: Robert Gray, a Jackson truck driver, finished in first place; Dr. Valerie Adream Smartt Short of Ridgeland, an obstetrician-gynecologist and military veteran; and Vicki Slater of Madison, an attorney. Shawn O’Hara is the Reform Party candidate.

— LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

First-term Republican incumbent Tate Reeves defeated Alisha Nelson McElhenney. Tim Johnson of Madison, who served as a Republican state senator from 1996 to 2004 and switched to the Democratic Party this year to run for lieutenant governor, won against Jelani Barr, a Greenwood bookkeeper. Reeves and Johnson will also face the Reform Party’s Rosa B. Williams.

— ATTORNEY GENERAL

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood and Mike Hurst, a Republican and former federal prosecutor, will face off in November.

—SECRETARY OF STATE

Democrat Charles Graham competed in the race and will face incumbent Republican Delbert Hosemann and the Reform Party’s Randy Walker.

— TREASURER

First-term Republican incumbent Lynn Fitch defeated David McRae, a Ridgeland attorney. Fitch faces Viola V. McFarland, the Reform Party candidate.

— AUDITOR

Second-term Republican incumbent Stacey Pickering was challenged by longtime Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler but held her off. Democrat Joce Pritchett was unopposed in the primary as was Lajena Walley of the Reform Party.

— INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Second-term Republican incumbent Mike Chaney was unsuccessfully challenged by body shop owner John Mosley of Clinton. There is no Democratic challenger, but Chaney will compete against Johnny McLeod of the Reform Party.

— COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE

Incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Addie Lee Green, who’s served as an alderwoman in Bolton, were unopposed in their primaries and will face off in November. Reform Party candidate Cathy L. Toole is also on the ballot.

— PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER, CENTRAL DISTRICT

Republican Tony Greer of Clinton beat Brent Bailey of Canton. Cecil Brown of Jackson defeated Bruce Wilder Burton in the Democratic primary. LaTrice D. Notree of the Reform Party will also appear on the ballot.

— TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER, CENTRAL DISTRICT

Democrat Mary Coleman of Jackson won over Natasha Magee-Woods of Madison and Robert Amos of Jackson. Republican incumbent Dick Hall is running for reelection.

Mudslinging in the Auditor’s Race In keeping with the mood from before Aug. 4, one of the most combative up-ticket races was the Republican race between Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and incumbent Stacey Pickering. Even before the primary, the mudslinging had already started in the state auditor’s contest.

Pickering targeted Butler by going after the only Democrat in the race, Joce Pritchett, for being an “LGBT candidate” in his campaign’s automated calls.

One robocall that ran before the primary states: “The liberal left-wing media has their own agenda in the state auditor’s race. ...They want to see their LGBT candidate for auditor, Jocelyn Pepper Pritchett, have a chance in the general election. They know they can’t defeat Pickering, but they know they can defeat Mary Hawkins Butler. ...

Let’s stand up for Mississippi values; let’s stand up for Mississippi’s conservative leadership. Let’s stand up for the traditional Mississippi family.”

Pritchett’s campaign responded to the call on its website, saying: “This type of message is unacceptable in the 21st century. The Republicans know they can’t attack Joce’s qualifications, so they have to attack her orientation and her family. We can’t let this happen.”

— Arielle Dreher

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ELECTION PREVIEW

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ELECTION PREVIEW IURP SDJH [[

‘Empower’ PAC Helps Oust Anti-Charter Republicans

by Arielle Dreher

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ents’ Campaign, said AFC’s involvement in the Mississippi election is troubling because of the pattern of the group’s involvement in political races elsewhere. Loome said AFC has a strategy for funding candidates in local school board and statewide election races around the country for the purpose of privatizing education and diverting tax dollars to for-profit ventures.

“In other states where they’ve gotten a foothold, once they have been successful in their takeover of the state Legislature, they move on to local school

Branch, said that Empower Mississippi approached him after he announced he would run. He said he agrees with the nonprofit’s ideas such as bringing in more charter schools and school vouchers.

“I would love to look at charter schools and school vouchers, or anything else or any other ideas people have on how to improve (schools),” Criswell said.

Criswell also said, however, that he is not in any one spot on education issues.

He said he is in support of the publicschool system because his kids are in it.

COURTESY DANA CRISWELL

mpower Mississippi, a nonprofit dedicated to school choice, used its political arm, the Empower PAC, to unseat four incumbent Republican candidates for the Mississippi House of Representatives in the DeSoto County primary elections on Aug. 4. The Empower PAC spread almost $110,000 over the campaigns of Dana Criswell, Dan Eubanks, Ashley Henley and Steve Hopkins to defeat several incumbents: Wanda Jennings, Forrest Hamilton, Pat Nelson and Gene Alday.

Grant Callen, executive director of Empower Mississippi, said his group had promised this type of funding involvement when they implemented a scorecard system, ranking senators and representatives according to how they voted on “school choice” bills. They scored House legislation including therapy scholarships for students with special needs and charter-school bills from sessions between 2012 to 2014. A representative received a grade for how he or she voted on “choice” issues.

Callen said the DeSoto race became a focus because “four of the worst-scoring Republicans” were from the county. Jennings, Hamilton and Nelson were graded with an “F” on Empower Mississippi’s scorecard, but Alday was not, and actually received a “C” grade.

Empower Mississippi began interviewing candidates last spring, and decided who to support early on. Callen said his organization got involved in 18 races across the state. The Empower PAC is funded by not only local Mississippi donations but also outside support, including American Federation for Children based in Washington D.C., which critics say pushes an education-privatization agenda by funding “choice” candidates in state and local elections across the U.S. “The Mississippi donors led the PAC, but once the American Federation for Children saw there was a groundswell of support from Mississippians to support Empower PAC, they got involved as well,” Callen said.

AFC lists Empower Mississippi as an ally organization on its website. The federation released a statement following the election, praising voters for “electing proschool choice candidates.”

20 Nancy Loome, director of the Par-

Dana Criswell (pictured) defeated Mississippi Rep. Forrest Hamilton in the Republican primary election to represent District 6.

boards,” Loome said of AFC. Loome gave specific examples in several states where AFC has gotten involved in school-board elections. The AFC spent $400,000 in a 2014 local school-board election in Florida, according to reporting by the Center for Media and Democracy. The Parents’ Campaign website also states that AFC put $75,000 into a North Carolina Supreme Court race, helping the state’s chief justice get re-elected.

Curriculum and Charters Dana Criswell, who beat out longtime Rep. Forrest Hamilton, R-Olive

The biggest complaints that Criswell heard while campaigning was a problem with the Common Core curriculum. He said that he heard two-fold complaints: first Common Core’s ties to the federal government and, second, the actual curriculum itself. Criswell said he wants to focus on more local control of education, should he be elected in November.

“More local control (than federal or even state control) is the idea that the parents, teachers and administrators of local schools have a much better idea of what is needed for their students,” Criswell said.

Criswell also said that DeSoto County has great public schools, but he believes that parents need to have a choice.

“I don’t think we need to come in and make any drastic changes to DeSoto County,” he said. “(But) I would be certainly willing to look at how to improve it for the future.”

Empower PAC donated $27,750 of the $34,360 total contributions to Criswell’s campaign.

Loome said that the DeSoto County candidates Empower PAC financially backed did not campaign on Empower Mississippi’s voucher or charter-school legislation agendas, and that voters need to know about the recruitment. Loome said she believes Empower Mississippi’s candidates would try to amend the charter-school law in the state.

“We are on record having supported charter schools,” Loome said. “But we don’t support for-profit charter schools that are not designed with the interests of children in mind.”

Mississippi’s charter-school law, enacted in 2013, currently only allows notfor-profit charter schools to open in the state. Loome said Mississippi has a strong law and a high standard compared to other states. She said Empower Mississippi doesn’t like our charter-school law because it does not allow for-profit charter schools and does not align with their agenda.

Callen said he is not aware of any potential legislation that would allow forprofit schools in Mississippi, and he supports the current Mississippi law—with some tweaking. Callen said he would tweak the school-district rule, allowing students to cross district lines to attend a charter school. Currently, the law only allows children from the school district that the charter fits in to attend it. Callen said he would also like the school districts with “C” grades the freedom to open charter schools without school-board approval.

Loome worries that legislative change in coming sessions will be framed as technical amendments to existing bills and slip past legislators who will not read the full amendments.

“A lot depends on the November election (now),” she said.

Comment at www.jfp.ms. Email Arielle Dreher at arielle@jacksonfreepress.com.

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21

JFPmenus.com

Where the Professionals Eat

by Guy King

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n a typical night at ISH Grill & Bar, you may see local doctors and professionals sitting at the dark wooden bar near the back, mingling and unhinging from their work day.

The tables in the restaurant are glass with black lining. The walls are painted a golden yellow color. There is a large green couch behind the host stand, and the lights are dim, though not too dim.

Michael Johnson and his wife, NaTunya Johnson, both Jackson natives, opened the restaurant May 2, 2015.

“The name ISH came from a time (when) I was traveling to Miami,” Michael says. “I wanted get some ideas from different establishments in the city. I knew that I wanted my restaurant to have a Miami-ish vibe, and that is when I knew I (would) call it ISH.” Before Michael was a restaurant owner, he trained at Vidal Sassoon and Dudley Cosmetology School in the late ’90s. After NaTunya obtained her bachelor’s degree in business from Mississippi State University in 1996, she worked with the management training team at Wal-Mart.

Michael was working as a cosmetologist when he met NaTunya, and the two had a Las Vegas wedding in 1998.

When they decided to open a restaurant, they had a shared vision for it: to cater to young professionals in the Jackson metro area.

Their predecessor to ISH was The Executive, located at 333 Northmark Plaza. The Executive catered to private parties and wedding receptions and allowed him to team up with DJs in the metro area and put on different events.

The owners say they want to tailor ISH to the Monday through Thursday Happy Hour crowd, where people can come in to enjoy time with friends and hold business meetings. The restaurant

has signature dishes such as the ISH nachos, which have peppers and jalapeño and American cheeses, and customers can get the dish with shrimp, crawfish tails or beef. ISH has other food, such as shrimp and grits, steaks, breakfast foods and pastas. The bar serves a list of signature drinks.

ISH has a free mobile app where you can enter your name into drawings for complimentary VIP parking, VIP entrance, bottle service, food and more.

“My motto for is ISH is, ISH is the best of Jackson,” Michael says. “This is FULLOFFLAVA PHOTOGRAPHY

22

AMERICAN/SOUTHERN CUISINE Basil’s (2906 N State St #104, Jackson, 601-982-2100) Paninis pizza, pasta, soups and salads. They’ve got it all on the menu.

Broad Street Bakery (4465 Interstate 55 N. 601-362-2900) Hot breakfast, coffee drinks, fresh breads & pastries, gourmet deli sandwiches.

The Feathered Cow (4760 I-55 North 769-233-8366) Simple and homemade equal quality and freshness every time. You never leave The Cow hungry!

Primos Cafe (2323 Lakeland 601-936-3398/ 515 Lake Harbour 601-898-3400) A Jackson institution for breakfast, blue-plates, catfish, burgers, prime rib, oysters, po-boys & wraps. Famous bakery!

Rooster’s (2906 N State St, Jackson, 601-982-2001) You haven’t had a burger until you’ve had a Rooster’s burger. Pair it with their seasoned fries and you’re in heaven.

Two Sisters Kitchen (707 N. Congress St. 601-353-1180) Lunch. Mon-Fri, Sun. PIZZA Sal & Mookie’s (565 Taylor St. 601-368-1919) Pizzas of all kinds plus pasta, eggplant Parmesan, fried ravioli & ice cream for the kids!

Mellow Mushroom (275 Dogwood Blvd, Flowood, 601-992-7499) More than just great pizza and beer. Open Monday - Friday 11-10 and Saturday 11-11.

ITALIAN BRAVO! (4500 Interstate 55 N., Jackson, 601-982-8111) Award-winning wine list, Jackson’s see-and-be-seen casual/upscale dining.

Fratesi’s (910 Lake Harbour, Ridgeland, 601-956-2929) Fratesi’s has been a staple in Jackson for years, offering great Italian favorites with loving care. The tiramisu is a must-have!

La Finestra (120 N Congress St #3, Jackson, 601-345-8735) Chef Tom Ramsey’s downtown Jackson hot-spot offers authentic Italian cuisine in cozy, inviting environment.

STEAK, SEAFOOD & FINE DINING The Islander Seafood and Oyster House (1220 E Northside Drive, Suite 100, 601-366-5441) Oyster bar, seafood, gumbo, po’boys, crawfish and plenty of Gulf Coast delights in a laid-back Buffet-style atmosphere.

The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen (1200 North State St. #100 601-398-4562) Transforms the essence of Mediterranean food and southern classics.

The Penguin (1100 John R Lynch Street, 769-251-5222) Fine dining at its best.

Rocky’s (1046 Warrington Road, Vicksburg 601-634-0100) Enjoy choice steaks, fresh seafood, great salads, hearty sandwiches.

Sal and Phil’s Seafood (6600 Old Canton Rd, Ridgeland 601-957-1188) Great Seafood, Poboys, Lunch Specials, Boiled Seafood, Full Bar, Happy Hour Specials Saltine Oyster Bar (622 Duling Avenue 601-982-2899) Creative seafood classics. One of Jackson’s Best New Restaurants.

MEDITERRANEAN/GREEK Aladdin Mediterranean Grill (730 Lakeland Drive 601-366-6033) Delicious authentic dishes including lamb dishes, hummus, falafel, kababs, shwarma.

Vasilios Greek Cusine (828 Hwy 51, Madison 601-853-0028) Authentic greek cuisine since 1994, specializing in gyros, greek salads, baklava cheesecake & fresh daily seafood.

Zeek’s House of Gyros (132 Lakeland Heights Suite P, Flowood 601.992.9498) Jackson’s Newest Greek Restaurant, offering authentic gyros, hummus, and wide selection of craft beers.

BARBEQUE Chimneyville (970 High St, Jackson 601-354-4665 www.chimneyville.com) Family style barbeque restaurant and catering service in the heart of downtown Jackson.

Hickory Pit Barbecue (1491 Canton Mart Rd. 601-956-7079) The “Best Butts in Town” features BBQ chicken, beef and pork along with burgers and po’boys.

Pig and Pint (3139 N State St, Jackson, 601-326-6070) Serving up competition style barbecue along with one of the of best beer selections in metro.

COFFEE HOUSES Cups Espresso Café (Multiple Locations, www.cupsespressocafe.com) Jackson’s local group of coffeehouses offer a wide variety of espresso drinks. Wi-fi.

BARS, PUBS & BURGERS Bonny Blair’s (1149 Old Fannin Rd 769-251-0692) Traditional Irish pub food and live entertainment. Open 11am daily.

Burgers and Blues (1060 E. County Line Rd. 601-899-0038) Best Burger of 2013, plus live music and entertainment!

Cherokee Inn (960 Briarfield Rd. 601-362-6388) Jackson’s “Best Hole in the Wall,” has a great jukebox, great bar and a great burger.

Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St. 601-948-0055) Classic Irish pub featuring a menu of traditional food, pub sandwiches & Irish beers on tap.

Hal and Mal’s (200 S. Commerce St. 601-948-0888) Pub favorites meet Gulf Coast and Cajun specialties like red beans and rice, the Oyster Platter or daily specials.

Legends Grill (5352 Lakeland Dr. 601-919-1165) Your neighborhood Sports Bar and Grill.

Martin’s Restaurant and Lounge (214 South State Street 601-354-9712) Lunch specials, pub appetizers or order from the full menu of po-boys and entrees. Full bar, beer selection.

Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St. 601-960-2700) Pub food with a southern flair: beer-battered onion rings, chicken & sausage gumbo, salads, sandwiches.

One Block East ( 642 Tombigbee St. 601-944-0203) Burger joint and dive bar located in downtown Jackson. Great music, tasty beverages and Bad Ass Burgers is what we do.

Underground 119 (119 South President St. 601-352-2322) Pan-seared crabcakes, shrimp and grits, filet mignon, vegetarian sliders. Live music. Opens 4 p.m., Wed-Sat ASIAN AND INDIAN Fusion Japanese and Thai Cuisine (1002 Treetops Blvd, Flowood 601-664-7588/1030-A Hwy 51, Madison 601-790-7999) Specializing in fresh Japanese and Thai cuisine, an extensive menu features everything from curries to fresh sushi.

Ichiban Chinese (359 Ridge Way - Dogwood Promenade, Flowood 601-919-8879) Asian food with subtle and surprising flavors from all across the Far East!

Surin of Thailand (3000 Old Canton Road, Suite 105, Jackson 601-981-3205) Jackson’s Newest Authentic Thai & Sushi Bar with 26 signature martini’s and extensive wine list.

VEGETARIAN High Noon Café (2807 Old Canton Road in Rainbow Plaza 601-366-1513) Jackson’s own strict vegetarian (and very-vegan-friendly) restaurant adjacent to Rainbow Whole Foods.

FULLOFFLAVA PHOTOGRAPHY

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LIFE&STYLE | food

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the place for young professionals to meet to talk about business and hang out.”

ISH Grill & Bar (5105 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road, 601-257-5204) is open from 4 to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. On Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., ISH hosts nightlife hours.

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, find ISH Grill & Bar on Facebook.

We have been serving the best Thai food and Sushi rolls in Atlanta, Alabama, Tennessee and now Jackson, MS. We invite you to come try our expertly prepared Thai & Sushi dishes, we have 26 signature martinis, extensive wine selection and fully stocked bar.

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3000 Old Canton Road, Suite 105, Jackson | (601)981-3205 Like us on Facebook! www.surinofthailand.com

23

MUSIC p 25 | ARTS p 27 | 8 DAYS p 28 | SPORTS p 30

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24

Jackson blues artist Dexter Allen performs for the third annual Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Saturday, Aug. 15,

THE PRE-FEST PLAYLIST

by Micah Smith

F

or many people, the preparation for a major music event is almost as important a part of the festival-going experience as attending. Whether you’re planning an adventurous road trip to the venue or just selecting the perfect pre-festival playlist, there’s fun to be had before you hear a single soulful note.

Unfortunately, locals will miss out on the travel when it comes to the third annual Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival, but the second activity is still a must for any music lover. Here are a few tracks to get you started on your own mix of a few new tracks and old favorites from this year’s must-see artists.

1. “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan 2. “Too Much Love” by Dorothy Moore 3. “I Gotta Have It” by Vick Allen 4. “This Old Heart of Mine” by The Isley Brothers 5. “Three Times a Fool” by John Nemeth 6. “No Love Back” by Eddie Cotton 7. “Queen of Big Hurt” by Macy Gray 8. “Fall for You” by Leela James 9. “Infiniti” by Raheem DeVaughn 10. “Tell You What I Know” by Jj Thames 11. “I Do Love You (You Ain’t Got to Lie)” by Avery Sunshine 12. “Boogie in the Dark” by Bobby Rush 13. “No Idea” by Nappy Roots 14. “Stepping Stone” by Shane Dwight 15. “Baptized in Muddy Waters” by Ayron Jones and the Way

COURTESY JACKSON RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL

Dexter W Allen’s Banner Years

hile Jackson-based blues artist Dexter Allen describes himself as “a little country boy with a little talent,” the last two years of his career have earned him enough attention to dispute that.

Before he made his big-screen debut last year as bassist Sam Thomas in the James Brown biopic, “Get on Up,” Allen became the first musician to release an album on Deep Rush Records other than the label’s legendary owner, guitarist Bobby Rush. Allen’s fourth studio project, “Bluez of My Soul,” hit stores in April 2014 to high praise from critics.

His first hallmark in 2015 was the release of his second album on Deep Rush, “Trilogy of My Bluez,” in June.

“You’ve got some traditional (blues), you’ve got some R&B, (and) you’ve got some soul—three different types of blues all rolled up into one,” Allen says.

Last month, Allen was elected to the board of directors for The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tenn., a position with which he plans to keep the blues alive through educating others about the genre’s legacy and importance. Allen’s goal is to create platforms that allow artists across the world to collaborate, thus increasing visibility and ensuring the genre’s longevity.

Allen first became interested in more philanthropic pursuits in 2010 when Peggy Brown, the current board chairman of the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, introduced him to Blues in the Schools, a program that teaches children about blues history, its cultural significance and their connection to the music. Then, in 2012, Allen led a workshop with autistic children.

He was nervous in the beginning.

“I didn’t know if my program was going to suffice, not knowing it was just what was needed. It was a humbling experience,” he says. Now, “every time I have an opportunity to work with autistic children or even autistic young adults, I take (it).”

Fans can find Allen at the third annual Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival when he performs at the event for his second time, following an appearance at the inaugural festival.

“I’m excited about meeting the fans— old ones and new ones—and I think this event is so good for the city of Jackson.

We haven’t had anything like it since Jubilee Jam,” Allen says of the festival. “I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Dexter Allen performs 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15, on the Highway 49 Blues Shack stage for the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive, 601432-4500). For more information, visit jacksonrhythmandbluesfestival.com.

DIVERSIONS | music COURTESY EDEN BRENT

Eden Brent: Born into Blues

by Christo Hicks

N

Greenville blues pianist Eden Brent performs Friday, Aug. 14, for the third annual Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.

o doubt about it. Blues music still brews in the Mississippi Delta, an area that has cultivated some of the most influential artists in Mississippi music. Greenville native singer and pianist Eden Brent says she also owes her love of the genre to the region.

“I would not have even been into blues if I hadn’t grown up in the Delta,” Brent says.

Brent’s career began with her friendship with blues artist Abie “Boogaloo” Ames, whom she says she grew to know after seeing him play around town, performing everywhere from private parties to the local marina.

Over time, she built up the courage to request certain songs.

“We got friendlier and friendlier, and then I finally asked him to teach me something,” she said.

Brent and Boogaloo became a power duo. She served as his apprentice for 16 years and learned almost everything she knows about piano from him, she says, except for a few

skills that she picked up from music teachers in her teenage years.

Brent has since earned attention in the national blues scene, featured in USA Today, NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and “The House of Blues Radio Hour.” She’s released four solo albums—2003’s “Something Cool,” 2008’s “Mississippi Number One,” 2010’s “Ain’t Got No Troubles” and 2014’s “Jigsaw Heart.” Brent also won two Blues Music Awards in 2009 for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year, and one in 2010 for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.

Brent’s name is right alongside fellow Mississippi artists Dorothy Moore and Bobby Rush for this year’s Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival. In her earlier years, though, Brent would go see them at Greenville’s Delta Blues Festival.

“Being a fan of these artists and watching them perform when I was only a novice piano player, I would have never thought I would be in the Blues Festival with them,” she says.

One thing that Brent has learned while honing her craft is that blues music isn’t just about sadness. It’s about making the listener feel anything at all.

“Everyone gets sad, and I think all good music makes you feel something, whether it’s sad or bittersweet,” she says.

“That’s what I like about blues music.

It speaks to everyday circumstances and everyday people.”

Brent says the emotions that music elicits can even reach listeners beyond language barriers.

“When I hear the equivalent of blues music from other countries, I can relate to it, even if I don’t know what they are saying,” she says. “I can feel what they are feeling in the music. It speaks to the essence of a human being.”

Eden Brent performs 6:10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, on the Downtown Divas Den stage for the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive, 601-432-4500). For more information, visit jacksonrhythmandbluesfestival.com.

Daily 4-7pm HAPPY HOURAll Drinks Including Wine

$2 Domestic & 2 For 1 On

Call To Book your Private Party!

Karaoke

w/DJ Stache @ 9pm

MUSIC WRITING Interested in interviewing musicians, reviewing albums and networking within Jackson’s music community?

The Jackson Free Press is looking for

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interested in covering the city’s music scene.

Please e-mail inquiries to micah@jacksonfreepress.com

Thursday 8/13

Ladies Night

w/ DJ Glenn Rogers LADIES DRINK FREE! 9pm - Close

Saturday 8/15 JASON & THE

PUNK NECKS Monday 8/17

Pub Quiz

w/Daniel Keys @ 8pm

Tuesday 8/18

BYOG

Friday 8/14 EDM PARTY WITH (Bring Your Own Guitar)

DJ REIGN

w/ Adam Goreline

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Wednesday, August 12

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SWING DE PARIS

10 P.M.

ON THE HALF SHELL

FRIDAY

8/14

LIGHTNIN MALCOLM

(NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS) 10 P.M.

SATURDAY

8/15

SKYMATIC 10 P.M.

SUNDAY

8/16

BEER BUCKET SPECIAL (5 Beers for $8.75)

ALL DAY LONG!

MONDAY

8/17

OPEN MIC N IGHT

$5 (DAPPETIZERS O ) INE IN

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UPCOMING SHOWS

26

8/21 - Colin Lake w/ Special Guest 8/22 - Rooster Blues 8/27 - CBDB w/ Tesheva 8/28 - The Tallahatchies w/ Fides & Living Together 8/29 - Back To School Jam / The Werks w/ George Porter Jr (The Meters) & His Runnin’ Pardners & BackUp Planet Outdoor Show | Ages 18+ Advance Tickets @ Ticketmaster 9/4 - Higher Learning 9/11 - Jelly Roll 10/2 - Cedric Burnside Project 10/17 - Pimps of Joytime 10/23 - Futurebirds w/ Young Valley 10/24 - Col. Bruce Hampton

See Our New Menu

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214 S. STATE ST. DOWNTOWN JACKSON

601.354.9712

6:30 PM

Thursday, August 13

STEVIE CAIN 5:30 PM

Friday, August 14

TIME TO MOVE 9 PM

Saturday, August 15

MIKEY B3 9 PM

Tuesday, August 18

JESSE ROBINSON AND HIS LEGENDARY FRIENDS 7 PM

Upcoming Events 8/21 9PM SHERMAN

LEE DILLON 8/22 9PM THE ORI NATFALY BLUES BAND 8/28 9PM BOBCATS 8/29 9PM ANDREW DILLON AND THE JUKEBOX 9/4 9PM VOO DAVIS 9/18 9PM GRADY CHAMPION 9/19 9PM JOHN NEMETH For Complete Listing visit www.Underground119.com 119 S. President Street 601.352.2322

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DIVERSIONS | arts

Community and Camaraderie

by Julie Skipper

Spanish Classes Offering language training for adults, teens, children and businesses

¡ Small groups or private lessons ¡ Dedicated and experienced team of native Spanish instructors ¡ Affordable rates Accepting applications for this Fall (14 weeks) on a rolling basis.

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tie of some sort to the neighborhood. This year, that includes the band The Weeks.

Bright Lights was the first music festival the band ever played, so this year represents a

Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights, which features work from artists such as Laurin Stennis, is Saturday, Aug. 15.

homecoming of sorts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think I had them set up on just a piece of plywood; we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know how to set up a stage,â&#x20AC;? she says.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured visual artist is

Laurin Stennis, a Belhaven resident who makes linoleum block prints. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Belhaven is a warm and vibrant community that has a strong sense of place,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The architecture and geography, as well as the people, are part of what makes me choose Belhaven. All of those contributed to my design as well.â&#x20AC;?

Stennis hopes the image she created for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival will not only be â&#x20AC;&#x153;an image for the festival, but a cultural document that any art lover might appreciate,â&#x20AC;? she says. It incorporates architecture, geography, music, art and the Belhaven neighborhood logo.

Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., rain or shine. Advance purchase tickets are $8 until Aug. 12 at 11:30 p.m.. At the door, tickets are $10 and $1 for children ages 12 and under. Free parking is available in the garage adjacent to Baptist Health Systems Medical Arts East at the corner of Carlisle and North streets, as well as at New Stage Theatre (1100 Carlisle St., 601-948-3531) and along Belhaven streets. For a full music line-up and information on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured artist, visit greaterbelhaven.com or find Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights on Facebook.

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Ă&#x2022;}Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160;ÂŁn]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;ä£xĂ&#x160;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;Ă&#x160;Â?v°Â&#x201C;Ă&#x192;

says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be able to have a music festival right in the middle of a historic neighborhood like this is really special.â&#x20AC;?

The organizers werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always certain that the festival would draw such crowds, or even happen at all. Virgi Lindsay, executive director of the Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation, remembers the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first year when the organization decided to host the event in August because it was a time of year that wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete with other events in the city.

Lindsay had attended the White Linen Night Party in New Orleans, an outdoor art party in the Warehouse District and convinced a few of her board members that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;if New Orleans can have an event in the heat of August, so can we,â&#x20AC;? she says. The first year, attendance of 1,500 people at the Bright Lights festival confirmed just that. It turned out that the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s timing was poignant in an unforeseen way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a beautiful night of community and friendship, and one week later, (Hurricane) Katrina hit,â&#x20AC;? Lindsay says.

From the outset, Lindsay and event organizers ensured every participant, from the bands to the artists to the vendors, had a

LAUREN STENNIS, COURTESY CASEY CREASEY,

J

acksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic Belhaven neighborhood prides itself on a strong sense of community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a hub of creativity, both old and new. For instance, just around the corner and up the street from Eudora Weltyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, which showcases paintings and photographs from local artists on its walls. In whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become an annual celebration of the creativity of the Belhaven residents and neighborhood, Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights encourages local musical acts, artists and food vendors to showcase their talents.

Now in its 11th year, Bright Lights is styled as a music and arts festival, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a celebration of community and camaraderie between neighbors and friends of Belhaven. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn around (during the event) without seeing a friend and visiting,â&#x20AC;?

Bright Lights public-relations chairwoman Shannon McLaughlin says.

More than 5,000 people attended last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, meaning it attracts not only neighborhood residents, but also allows the larger Jackson community to experience all that Belhaven has to offer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Belhaven is just a great jewel within the city,â&#x20AC;? McLaughlin

27

THURSDAY 8/13

FRIDAY 8/14

SATURDAY 8/15

The “Undoing Racism” Training Workshop is at the Mississippi e-Center.

The Mississippi LGBT Rural Summit is at Millsaps College Ford Academic Complex.

Rock & Roll Bodyslam is at The Hideaway.

BEST BETS AUGUST 12 - 19, 2015

History Is Lunch is at noon at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.).

Author Barbara Gauntt discusses her book, “Samuel M. Gore: Blessed with Tired Hands,” which is about the Mississippi College art professor. Sales and signing to follow. Free; call 601-576-6998.

COURTESY THE CUT

WEDNESDAY 8/12

(Left to right) Judson Wright, Vincent McMurtery, Ben Atkinson and Vinson McMurtery of The CUT perform Saturday, Aug. 5, at Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights.

THURSDAY 8/13

COURTESY TAYLOR KITCHINGS

The Storytellers Ball is 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). This year’s theme is “A Star Is Born.” The 10th annual event includes music, a silent auction, art exhibits, heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. Performers include Lisa Palmer, Jesse Robinson, the Southern Komfort Brass Band and Coop D’ Belle. $50; call 601-960-1557; greaterjacksonartscouncil.com.

Benevolent Fund. Additional date: Aug. 15. $40 Aug. 14, $55 Aug. 15; call 800-745-3000; jacksonrhythmandbluesfestival.com. … The Chatham Art Showcase is 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Richard Catholic Church (1242 Lynwood Drive). Purchase from artists and collectors at the annual sale. Vendors must register; restrictions apply. Additional date: Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $5 (includes a complementary beverage), booths: $20 Artists Alley, $40 full booth; call 601-366-2335; email chathamartshowcase@saintrichard.com.

SATURDAY 8/15

Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights is 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Carlisle Street and Kenwood Place, behind McDade’s. The festival includes art and food for sale, music on five stages, children’s activities and a silent auction. The Weeks, Bill & Temperance, Vasti Jackson, Southern Komfort Brass Band,

BY MICAH SMITH The CUT and more perform. $10, $1 ages 12 and under; call 352-8850; email info@greaterJACKSONFREEPRESS.COM belhaven.com; greaterbelhaven.

FAX: 601-510-9019 com. … XOXO Pre-Fall Ball: A DAILY UPDATES AT Love, Poetry and R&B Night is JFPEVENTS.COM at 10 p.m. at Soul Wired Cafe (111 Millsaps Ave.). Includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres and music from Shermel XOXO. BYOB. $5 before 10 p.m., $10 after, $2 discount for JSU students with ID; call 601-790-0864; shermelxoxo.com.

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EVENTS@

Author Taylor Kitchings signs copies of his book, “Yard War,” Monday, Aug. 17, at Lemuria Books.

FRIDAY 8/14

The Jackson Rhythm and Blues Festival is at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive). The festival features more than 30 performers on five stages including Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Macy Gray, Dorothy Moore and Bobby Rush. A portion of the proceeds 28 benefits the Mississippi Blues Commission’s Blues Musicians

SUNDAY 8/16

The Line Dance Showcase is 1 to 6 p.m. at Central City Complex (609 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). B’nay Eshrael Universal Production is the host. Watch or participate in the

event. Includes a prize drawing. Proceeds go toward helping the homeless. No outside food or beverages. $5 in advance, $7; call 601-951-2675; email ahmetahee@gmail.com.

MONDAY 8/17

“Delivered” Dinner Theater is at 7 p.m. at Char (Highland Village, 4500 Interstate 55 N.). The Detectives presents the interactive comedy. Seating at 6 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. The event includes a three-course meal. Reservations required. For ages 18 and up. $45; call 601-937-1752 or 601-291-7444; thedetectives.biz.

TUESDAY 8/18

Author Taylor Kitchings signs copies of “Yard War” at 5 p.m. at Lemuria Books (Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202). Reading at 5:30 p.m. $16.99 book; call 601-3667619; email info@lemuriabooks.com; lemuriabooks.com. … The 2015 Battle of the Bartenders is 6 to 9 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s (200 Commerce St.). Local bartenders make Cathead Vodka-based cocktails for a panel of judges. Includes music, appetizers and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Mississippi Burn Foundation. $40 in advance, $50 in the door; call 601-540-2995; email afontaine@msburn.org; msburn.org.

WEDNESDAY 8/19

Lunch & Learn—Through the Kiln-Formed Glass: The Creative Tomorrowland is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland). Andrew Cary Young of Pearl River Glass Studio is the speaker. RSVP by Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. $15, $10 members, free if you bring your own lunch; call 601-856-7546; craftsmensguildofms.org.

Events at William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.) UĂ&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;VÂ&#x2026;Ă&#x160;Aug. 12, noon. Author Barbara Gauntt discusses her book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Samuel M. Gore: Blessed with Tired Hands,â&#x20AC;? which is about the Mississippi College art professor. Sales and signing to follow. Free; call 601-576-6998.

UĂ&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;VÂ&#x2026;Ă&#x160;Aug. 19, noon. Photojournalist Kate Medley discusses the Southern Foodways Allianceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Counter Histories series of documentary films chronicling sit-in movements across the South. Free; call 601-576-6998.

Storytellers Ball Aug. 13, 6:30-10:30 p.m., at Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme is â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Star Is Born.â&#x20AC;? The 10th annual event includes music, a silent auction, art exhibits, heavy hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres and an open bar. Performers include Lisa Palmer, Jesse Robinson, the Southern Komfort Brass Band and Coop Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Belle. $50; call 601-960-1557; greaterjacksonartscouncil.com.

8"8"Ă&#x160;*Ă&#x20AC;iÂ&#x2021; >Â?Â?Ă&#x160; >Â?Â?\Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x203A;i]Ă&#x160;*Â&#x153;iĂ&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;,E Ă&#x160; Night Aug. 15, 10 p.m., at Soul Wired Cafe (111 Millsaps Ave.). Includes drinks, hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres and music from Shermel XOXO. BYOB. $5 before 10 p.m., $10 after, $2 discount for JSU students with ID; call 601-790-0864; shermelxoxo.com.

Events at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.) UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x2022;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x160;,iViÂŤĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Aug. 17, 5 p.m. At Center Court. Local alumni chapters of Jackson State, Alcorn and Mississippi Valley State universities host the event that includes food, music and more. Free; call 982-8467.

UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;`iĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021; >Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;-Â?>Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E;\Ă&#x160;/Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x160; Â?Â&#x153;L>Â?Ă&#x160; Â&#x201C;ÂŤ>VĂ&#x152;Ă&#x160;Â&#x153;vĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;/Ă&#x20AC;>vvÂ&#x2C6;VÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;Aug. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

In the Community Meeting Room. The Rho Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha

+)$3 Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;ÂŤÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;Â?`Ă&#x20AC;iÂ&#x2DC;½Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x2022;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;(2145 Highland Drive) UĂ&#x160;-Â&#x2C6;`½Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;-VÂ&#x2C6;iÂ&#x2DC;ViĂ&#x160; Â?Ă&#x2022;L Aug. 13, 10-11 a.m., Aug. 18, 2-3 p.m. The popular PBS Kids character Sid the Science Kid appears in conjunction with Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit!

Included with admission ($10, children under 12 months and members free); call 601-981-5469; mississippichildrensmuseum.com.

UĂ&#x160; Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x160;Saturdays, 10 a.m., through Aug. 22. In the Literacy Garden. Children and their families listen to a story and participate in a garden activity. Held Saturdays through Aug. 22. Included with admission ($10, free for children under 12 months and members); call 601-981-5469; mississippichildrensmuseum.com. Â&#x2C6;`}Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x2022;LĂ&#x160; >VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;-VÂ&#x2026;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â?Ă&#x160; >Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Aug. 15, 2-4 p.m., at Northpark Mall (1200 E. County Line Road, Ridgeland). Includes a kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fashion show featuring mall retailers, back-to-school crafts and other activities. Kidgits Club members receive a free gift. Free for Kidgits members; call 601-9573744; simon.com/kidgits.

30/243 7%,,.%33 Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;EĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;x Ă&#x160;,Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x2030;7>Â?Â&#x17D;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160; i>Â?Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160; Fair Aug. 15, 7:30-11 a.m., at New Hope Baptist Church (5202 Watkins Drive). The race includes a 5K run/walk, a kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fun run and a Tot Trot for ages 2-5. Register in advance or on site. The health fair is in the Family Life Center Gym. 5K: $15 in advance, $20 day of race; fun run: $10 in advance, $15 day of race; $10 Tot Trot or virtual walker; $50 immediate family (up to five members and must pre-register); $60 team (must pre-register); call 601-366-7002; newhope-baptist.org.

*&0 30/.3/2%$ >VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x192;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;äääĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;}Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;VÂ&#x2026;iÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC; Aug. 12, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Civil rights activist Dr. Eddie Carthan speaks about the Life and Legacy of Emmett Till on the 60th anniversary of his death. Attire is business casual. RSVP. $12, $10 members; email todd@jacksonfreepress.com; jackson2000.org. Âş1Â&#x2DC;`Â&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;,>VÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x201C;ÂťĂ&#x160;/Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;7Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;ÂŤĂ&#x160;Aug. 13, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 14-15, at Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University (1230 Raymond Road). Jackson 2000 hosts, and the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB) is the facilitator. Topics include what racism is, where

Sorority is the host. Learn more about the presence of human trafficking worldwide and how to take action. Free; call 601-665-3812.

Â&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;>Â?Ă&#x160; i`Â&#x2C6;>Ă&#x160;,Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St.). Robin Kelly of Goodway Group is the speaker. Learn to run a comprehensive social media campaign for your business. Register by Aug. 17 at noon. $30, $5 AAF Jackson student members, free for other AAF Jackson members; call 601-948-3429; aafjackson.org. Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;,iĂ&#x192;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;ViĂ&#x160; }iÂ&#x2DC;VĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x160; iiĂ&#x152;ing Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Hinds County Human Resource Agency (258 Maddox Road). The board of directors meets on third Wednesdays. Open to the public; Hinds County residents are encouraged to attend. Free; call 601-923-1838; hchra.org.

it comes from, how it functions and why it is perpetuated. Registration required. Space limited. Training sessions are Aug. 14-15. $249; email deleo.dominic@gmail.com; jackson2000.org. Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;]Ă&#x160; iÂ?Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;Aug. 15, 5:30-9:30 p.m., at Carlisle Street and Kenwood Place, behind McDadeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The annual street festival includes art and food for sale, music on five stages, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities and a silent auction. Bill & Temperance, Vasti Jackson, the Southern Komfort Brass Band, Risko Danza and more perform. $10, $1 ages 12 and under; call 601-352-8850; email info@ greaterbelhaven.com; greaterbelhaven.com.

-Â&#x2C6;VÂ&#x17D;Â?iĂ&#x160; iÂ?Â?Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;i>Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x160;EĂ&#x160;/Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;\Ă&#x160; iĂ&#x152;½Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;/>Â?Â&#x17D;Ă&#x160; LÂ&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Jackson Medical Mall (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). In the Community Meeting Room. The Mississippi Sickle Cell Foundation is the host of the information session. RSVP to receive lunch. Free; call 9828467; email mssicklecellfnd@yahoo.com.

Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;7Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;iÂ&#x2DC;½Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; >Ă&#x192;Â&#x17D;iĂ&#x152;L>Â?Â?Ă&#x160;/Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;>Â&#x201C;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Aug. 15, 10 a.m., at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi, Capitol Unit (1450 W. Capitol St.).

Proceeds benefit the 2015 Ju-City Edition Back-2School Drive. Includes concessions. $5 spectators, $35 entry per player, $160 team of five; call 9697088; email prideradiotournament@gmail.com. ,Â&#x153;VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x160;EĂ&#x160;,Â&#x153;Â?Â?Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;`Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x192;Â?>Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;Aug. 15, 6 p.m., at The Hideaway (Deville Plaza, 5100 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road). Watch professional

wrestlers from Hard Knocks Revolution go head to head in a live wrestling event.

Includes prize giveaways and music from The Joel Cooper Rock Show. Limited seating. $10 in advance, $15 day of show; call 208-8283; hkrevolution.bpt.me. ,Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Â?Â?i}iĂ&#x160;/iÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Â?>Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;VĂ&#x160;Ă&#x201C;ä£xĂ&#x160;Aug. 15-16, at Courthouse Racquet and Fitness Club, Northeast (46 Northtown Drive). Includes doubles and mixed doubles. The event is a fundraiser for Rust Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scholarship fund. For ages 18 and up.

Register by Aug. 10. $32; email tennisregistration@yahoo.com; tennislink.usta.com.

34!'% 3#2%%. /Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x160; Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;-VÂ&#x2026;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â?Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x17E;vĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;iÂ&#x2DC;`Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;/Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Aug. 12, 8 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). Enjoy stand-up from Austin, Tex. comedians Eric Nagurney, Yusef Roach, Cody Greenlee and Brent Peasle. For ages 18 and up. $7 in advance, $10 at the door, $3 surcharge for patrons under 21; call 601-292-7121; email arden@ardenland.net; ardenland.net. Âş iÂ?Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x20AC;i`ÂťĂ&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;/Â&#x2026;i>Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Aug. 17, 7 p.m., at Char (Highland Village, 4500 Interstate 55 N.).

The Detectives presents the interactive comedy.

Seating at 6 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. Includes a threecourse meal. Reservations required. For ages 18 and up. $45; call 601-937-1752 or 601-291-7444; thedetectives.biz. Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;ÂŤÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x160;"ÂŤiĂ&#x20AC;>Ă&#x160; Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x2022;`Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;Aug. 18, 5 p.m., at Belhaven University Center for the Arts (835 Riverside Drive). In the recital room. Audition for chorus roles in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cavalleria Rusticanaâ&#x20AC;? (performance date of Nov. 21) and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmenâ&#x20AC;? (performance date of April 23). Appointment required. Free; call 601960-2300; email gypc34@gmail.com with the subject line of Mississippi Opera Chorus Audition; msopera.org.

#/.#%243 &%34)6!,3 /Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160; V Ă&#x20AC;>Ă&#x153;½Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;-Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;}Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;,Â&#x2C6;`iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;/Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Aug. 13, 7 p.m., at BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove (6275 Snowden Lane, Southaven).

Country music artist Tim McGraw is the headliner. Other performers include Billy Currington and Chase Bryant. $30.8-$61.8; call 800-745-3000 or 662-892-2660. *iĂ&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x201C;ÂŤĂ&#x152;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160; Â&#x2026;i>ÂŤĂ&#x160;/Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x160;Aug. 14, 8 p.m., at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino (875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi). In Beau Rivage Theatre.

Peter Frampton is an accomplished EnglishAmerican rock guitarist, and Cheap Trick is a rock band from Rockford, Ill. $60-$80; call 888566-7469; beaurivage.com. >VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x192;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;,Â&#x2026;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160; Â?Ă&#x2022;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160; iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x203A;>Â?Ă&#x160;Aug. 14-15, at Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum (1150 Lakeland Drive). The festival features more than 30 performers on five stages including Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers, Macy Gray, Dorothy Moore and Bobby Rush. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Mississippi Blues Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blues Musicians Benevolent Fund. $40 Aug. 14, $55 Aug. 15; call 800-7453000; jacksonrhythmandbluesfestival.com. Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;ÂŤÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x160;"Â?`Ă&#x160;/Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201C;iĂ&#x160; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;VĂ&#x160;-Â&#x153;VÂ&#x2C6;iĂ&#x152;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160;Aug. 16, 2-4 p.m., at Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland). Enjoy traditional Mississippi fiddle tunes on third Sundays. Free; call 601-942-7335.

Music in the City Aug. 18, 5:15 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). In Trustmark Grand Hall. Enjoy a cash bar at 5:15 p.m., and music from harpsichordist John Paul at 5:45 p.m. Free, donations welcome; call 601960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

#2%!4)6% #,!33%3 7Ă&#x17E;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;7>Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;7>Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;VÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;7Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;ÂŤpÂť i>Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160; Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;Ă&#x160;-iiĂ&#x160;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;ÂťĂ&#x160;Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Local watercolorist Wyatt Waters teaches the adult plein air art class. Bring or buy lunch. Supply list available online. Discounts for members. $85; call 601960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

,)4%2!29 3)'.).'3 Ă&#x203A;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; iÂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;>Ă&#x160; Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;(Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 202) UĂ&#x160;Âş/Â&#x2026;Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x160;,Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;ÂťĂ&#x160;Aug. 12, 5 p.m. Tiffany Quay Tyson signs books. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $25.99 book; call 601-3667619; email info@lemuriabooks.com; lemuriabooks.com.

UĂ&#x160;Âş9>Ă&#x20AC;`Ă&#x160;7>Ă&#x20AC;ÂťĂ&#x160;Aug. 18, 5 p.m. Taylor Kitchings signs books. Reading at 5:30 p.m. $16.99 book; call 601-3667619; email info@lemuriabooks.com; lemuriabooks.com.

%8()")4 /0%.).'3

Â&#x2026;>Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;>Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;-Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;V>Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x160;Aug. 14, 6-9 p.m., Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at St. Richard Catholic Church (1242 Lynwood Drive). Purchase from artists and collectors at the annual sale. Vendors must register; restrictions apply. $5 (includes a complementary beverage), booths: $20 Artists Alley, $40 full booth; call 601-366-2335; email chathamartshowcase@saintrichard.com.

,'"4 Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;ÂŤÂŤÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x160; /Ă&#x160;,Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;>Â?Ă&#x160;-Ă&#x2022;Â&#x201C;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Aug. 14, 1-5 p.m., at Millsaps College, Ford Academic Complex (1701 N. State St.). The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the True Colors Fund and Equality Mississippi are the hosts. Topics include housing, education, health care and youth empowerment.

Speakers include ACLU of Mississippi Legal Director Charles Irvin, Mississippi Center for Justice President Reilley Morse and more. Free; call 202-720-3808; email lgbtruralsummit@ascr.usda. gov; missruralpride.eventbrite.com.

"% 4(% #(!.'% Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x160; >Â&#x2DC;ViĂ&#x160;-Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;V>Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x160;Aug. 16, 1-6 p.m., at Central City Complex (609 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nay Eshrael Universal Production is the host. Watch or participate in the event. Includes a prize drawing. Proceeds go toward helping the homeless. No outside food or beverages. $5 in advance, $7 at the door; call 601-951-2675; email ahmetahee@gmail.com. Ă&#x201C;ä£xĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;Â?iĂ&#x160;Â&#x153;vĂ&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x2DC;`iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;Aug. 18, 6-9 p.m., at Hal & Malâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (200 Commerce St.). Local bartenders make Cathead Vodka-based cocktails for a panel of judges. Includes music, appetizers and a silent auction. Benefits the Mississippi Burn Foundation. $40 in advance, $50; call 601-540-2995; email afontaine@msburn.org; msburn.org.

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings, or to add your own events online. You can also email event details to events@jacksonfreepress.com to be added to the calendar. The deadline is noon the Wednesday prior to the week of publication.

Ă&#x2022;}Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x160;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x160;ÂŁn]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;ä£xĂ&#x160;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160;Ă&#x160;Â?v°Â&#x201C;Ă&#x192;

#/--5.)49

29

DIVERSIONS | jfp sports the best in sports over the next seven days

SLATE

by Bryan Flynn

The first preseason NFL game of 2015 is in the books as Minnesota won 14-3 over Pittsburgh. Former University of Mississippi star Mike Wallace had just one target passing but no catches for Minnesota.

THURSDAY, AUG 13 NFL (6:30-10 p.m., Fox): The New Orleans Saints take the field for the first time this preseason as they hit the road to face the Baltimore Ravens.

Jalana Ellis:

From Canada to Mississippi

by Brian Gordon

J

alana Ellis’ proclivity to punctuate conversations with “pardon,” a side effect of her Canadian upbringing, draws occasional teasing from teammates.

Her output on the soccer pitch, however, leaves little need for apologies. The 5-feet-4inch junior central midfielder from Brampton, Ontario, is set to pace the Jackson State University Tigers as they attempt to reclaim the Southwest Athletic Conference Title the team won in 2013. Since driving more than 1,100 miles south to the JSU campus from

don’t focus on athletic scholarships as much as they do academic.”

So Ellis looked south for college.

Intrigued by historically black college environments, which are absent from Canada, Ellis reached out to the Tigers’ then-firstyear head coach Dean Joseph in the fall of her senior year.

“I saw immediately she was an extremely good passer, with touch on both her short and long balls,” Joseph says of the highlight compilations Ellis sent in. He soon offered JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

FRIDAY, AUG 14 NFL (6-9 p.m., NFLN): Former Jackson State University star Rico Richardson looks to earn more playing time for the Tennessee Titans against the Atlanta Falcons.

SATURDAY, AUG 15 NFL (7-10 p.m., NFLN): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope former Mississippi State University cornerback Johnthan Banks builds on his successful past seasons as he faces the Minnesota Vikings.

SUNDAY, AUG 16 NFL (12-3 p.m., NFLN): Two former MSU running backs, Vick Ballard and Josh Robinson, try to make the Indianapolis Colts’ roster against the Philadelphia Eagles.

MONDAY, AUG 17 MLB (7-10 p.m., ESPN): Two of the best teams in MLB face each other as the St. Louis Cardinals host the San Francisco Giants.

Õ}ÕÃÌÊ£ÓÊ Ê£n]ÊÓä£xÊÊUÊÊ v«° Ã

TUESDAY, AUG 18 Baseball (7:15-10 p.m., 103.9FM): The M-Braves look to keep pace in the South Division as they host the top team from the North Division, the Birmingham Barons.

30

WEDNESDAY, AUG 19 Soccer (5:30-7:30 p.m., ESPN2): World Cup champions the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team takes on Costa Rica.

The countdown to the regular season in college and pro football is underway. There is less than a month before both kickoff, and all the games count.

Follow Bryan Flynn at jfpsports.com, @jfpsports and at facebook.com/jfpsports.

Jackson State University women’s soccer team player Jalana Ellis earned a spot SR XLI 7;%' %PP 'SRJIVIRGI *MVWX 8IEQ EW E QMHßIPHIV PEWX WIEWSR

her hometown just northwest of Toronto, the 20-year-old has started every game and led the team in points during each of her two seasons. JSU named her Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman, and she earned a spot on the SWAC All-Conference First Team as a midfielder last season.

It was back at the start of her senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Brampton when Ellis committed to not letting her competitive soccer career end with the last whistle of the high-school season.

“In Canada, not many girls get scholarships to Canadian schools,” Ellis says. “They

her a scholarship, and she signed with the Tigers, along with fellow Ontarian, Quiona McAdam-Mitchell.

Coach Joseph was aware of Ellis’ imposing shot from the recruitment process.

Yet it wasn’t until Ellis arrived at the Jackson campus for practice that he realized just how strong her leg could be. “She has a quality that when she hit the target, you feel it’s always going to go in,” he says.

And it often does. Ellis tallied seven goals her freshman campaign and six goals her sophomore season. Star contributions from the freshman helped JSU get its 2013

SWAC Title. Through the first 10 games of that championship-winning season, the Tigers had only one win.

Facing a 1-1 tie against Texas Southern University with less than 14 minutes left, Ellis punched in her first college goal, the eventual game-winner. The Tigers proceeded to reel off eight victories across their next 10 matches. Two weekends after Texas Southern, Ellis’ free kick in sudden-death overtime put JSU ahead of rival Southern University 2-1. She notched two goals from the midfield position in the SWAC Tournament, earning All-Tournament Team honors as the Tigers went on to win it all, holding off Alabama State University 1-0 in the finals. The victory brought the SWAC soccer title back to Jackson for the second time in history.

Ellis and the Lady Tigers fell to Howard University 3-0 in the semifinals last season, but her midfield presence has helped position the program toward the top half of the conference.

Despite recent success, Ellis feels the soccer program doesn’t garner all the respect it should. During one particular practice last season, the players discovered the university had not provided them with water, as it customarily does for all teams. The water jugs arrived 15 to 20 minutes late.

“We did win a title,” Ellis says. “We put in a lot of work, and we want to be treated better than we (are) sometimes.”

In response to that statement, JSU Athletic Media Manager Wesley Peterson said: “It was a spring practice ,and two of our trainers had recently left, so we weren’t fully staffed. We try to provide the best possible service to all our players during the season.”

The plan is for the women’s soccer team’s hard work to culminate in another SWAC title this November, but winning the tournament is a challenge that begets bigger ones. The team earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship tournament, where they face a pool of the best teams in the country.

Jackson State’s 2013 championship season ended with a first round 9-0 loss to the University of Mississippi. UM spends $13,840 per soccer player while Jackson State allocates $2,673 per player. Lopsided results are fates familiar to all recent SWAC representatives into the national tournament. “We’ve got to narrow the gap,” Coach Joseph says. “It’s all baby steps toward doing something no one else could do.”

With Ellis, who is arguably the most dynamic central midfielder in the conference, the Tigers are eager to take those baby steps this season.

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SUMMONS IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DIVISION OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN Captain’s Command at Bluebeard’s Beach Club Owner’s Association, Inc. Plaintiff vs.

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Defendant CIVIL NO. ST-14-CV-559

TO: Charles Banyard 4209 Lakeland Drive, #247, Flowood, MS 39232 Within the time limited by law (see below) you are hereby required to appear EHIRUH WKLV &RXUW DQG DQVZHU WR D FRPSODLQW ÀOHG DJDLQVW \RX LQ WKLV DFWLRQ ,Q FDVH RI \RXU IDLOXUH WR DSSHDU RU DQVZHU MXGJPHQW E\ GHIDXOW ZLOO EH WDNHQ DJDLQVW \RX DV GHPDQGHG LQ WKH FRPSODLQW MXGJPHQW ZLOO EH HQWHUHG DJDLQVW you for DEBT AND FORECLOSURE OF LIEN. Witness my hand and the Seal of this Court this 12th day of January, 2015.

ESTRELLA H. GEORGE $FWLQJ &OHUN RI WKH &RXUW Carol A. Rich, Esq. DUDLEY RICH DAVIS LLP Attorney for Plaintiff 'URQQLQJHQV *DGH 6XLWH DW +LELVFXV $OOH\

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Welcome: 1:00 – 1:15PM Ashlee Davis, Director, National LGBT Rural Summit Series, U.S. Department of Agriculture Melanie Deas, Founding Board Member, Equality Mississippi

open unti l 10

Coming Together to Address Community Issues 1:30 – 2:30 PM

CPSCR License #654 MSBMT #0107

Moderated by Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Program Officer, True Colors Fund

Local Champions Panel: 2:45 – 3:30 PM Daniel Ball, Faith Organizer, Human Rights Campaign Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director, ACLU of Mississippi Lynn “LB” Bell, Executive Director and Founder, The Spectrum Center

Legal Protections and LGBT People: 3:45 – 4:45 PM

We would like to thank everyone who voted for us for Best Real Estate Attorney.

If you need help with real estate closings or bankruptcy consultations, we can help you in good times or bad times.

Once again, we appreciate your vote.

Moderated by Ming Wong, Supervising Helpline Attorney, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Julie Gonen, Policy Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Closing

Bobby Moorehead shaved his head in honor of his long time Friend Billy Wynn who has been diagnosed with cancer.

If you, or someone you know, would like a free consultation with our bankruptcy attorney, Elizabeth Spell, please call our office in Ridgeland at 601-956-4557.

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Friday August 14, 2015 Friday August 14, 2015 Millsaps College – Jackson, Millsaps College – Jackson, MS 1:00pm - 4:45pm 1:00pm - 4:45pm !WWiitthh aa nneeww ppaaiirr ooff FFllaasshh uunnddeerrwweeaarr yyoouu’’llll ffeeeell lliikkee yyoouu’’vvee bbeeeenn ssttrruucckk bbyy lliigghhttnniinngg..))

Welcome Friday August 14, 2015 Millsaps College – Jackson, MS 1:00pm - 4:45pm

1:00PM ± 1:15PM Ashlee Davis, Director, National LGBT Rural Summit Series, U.S. Department of Agriculture Melanie Deas, Founding Board Member, Equality Mississippi

Welcome Welcome 1:00PM ± 1:15PM 1:00PM ± 1:15PM Coming Together to Address CommunityAshlee Issues National LGBT Rural Summit Se Ashlee Davis, Director, National LGBT Rural SummitDavis, Series,Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1:30 PM ± 2:30 PM Deas, Founding Board Member, Equ Melanie Founding Board Member, Mississippi Moderated by Deas, Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Program Officer, True ColorsEquality Fund Melanie Local Champions Panel

Coming Together to Address Commu 2:45 PM ± 3:30 Coming Together toPM Address Community Issues Daniel Ball, Faith Organizer, Human Rights Campaign 1:30 PM ± 2:30 PM 1:30 PM ± 2:30 PM Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director, ACLU of Mississippi Moderated by Twiggy Pucci Lynn “LB” Bell, Executive Director Garçon, and Founder, The Spectrum Center Moderated

by Twiggy Pucci Program Officer, True Colors Fund Garçon, Program Off Local Champions Panel Moderated by Ming Wong, Supervising Helpline Attorney, National Center 2:45 PM ± 3:30 PMfor Lesbian Rights Legal Protections and LGBT People

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Local Champions Panel 2:45 PM ± 3:30 PM

Daniel Ball, Faith Organizer, Human Rig Daniel Ball, FaithClosing Organizer, Human Rights Campaign Julie Gonen, Policy Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director, AC Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director, ACLU of Mississippi LynnThe “LB” Bell, Lynn “LB” Bell, Executive Director and Founder, SpectrumExecutive Center Director and Founder