MBJ_Nov16_2018

INSIDE — Fake news fact checks don’t sway readers — Page 15 COSTCO

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November 16, 2018 • Vo. 40 No. 46 • 16 pages

What’s in a name?

Case may hinge on definition of ‘service station’ — Page 2

MBJ DOUBLE FOCUS

Real Estate {Section begins P9}

» Times have changed but Watkins still fully invested » Mississippi homes sales good despite increasing interest rates

{The List P11} » Real Estate Associations

Construction {Section begins P12}

» Mississippi shortage of construction workers becoming more acute

MARKETPLACE: a classic that changes with the times Page 6

Courtesy of Allison Muirhead/Special to the MBJ

http://msbusiness.com/ceo-awards-of-mississippi/

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q November 16, 2018 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

What’s in a name?

» Costco case may hinge on definition of ‘service station’

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Most Costco Wholesale Stores have a fueling station.

The question remains: will the giant wholesale club go forward in Ridgeland without one?

An answer may await in Madison County Circuit Court, Judge Steve Ratcliff presiding.

Homeowners filed a brief last week fInalizing its challenge of the legitimacy of a site plan approved by the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen for the station.

The city has 30 days to respond formally.

But city attorney Jerry Mills said Wednesday morning that the suit is frivolous and he said that two aldermen, Charles “Chuck” Gautier and Wesley Hamlin, were cleared in advance by the state Ethics Commission to vote on the matter and were not in a conflict of interest, as contended by the plaintiffs.

The state Supreme Court earlier this year declared that the site plan for the 100,000-square-foot-plus store as part of a 45-acre third phase of the Renaissance at Colony Park was approved as by a zoning change that was illegal.

A Costco official said in another case in another state that “plans for every new store include a gasoline fueling station.”

The developer, Mattiace Properties of Jackson, and Costco have not yet refiled a plan for the big-box store, which would be the anchor for the third phase.

Six of the nine homeowners in the first suit, all of whom live in the vicinity of the proposed third phase, are plaintiffs in the latest complaint.

The homeowners contend that the bigbox store would change the character of the immediate area by attracting heavy traffic, thus devaluing heir property.

The current complaint states that “Costco is known around the nation for having long gas lines” adding that “there simply is nowhere to put the cars on a 2-acre fueling station.”

The brief, filed by Ridgeland-based attorney Steve Maloney, who also lives in the

Courtesy of Neel-Schaffer/For the MBJ

The approved design for the station.

FILE/MBJ

The fuel station site, which will occupy about two acres of a 9.5-acre parcel, is just to the west of the 45-acre site for Phase III of of Renaissance at Colony Park, where the Costco Wholesale store is expected to be built, along with other retail outlets.

vicinity of the proposed development, argues that the developers “have taken a new approach to accommodate Costco.”

That came “prior to and after” the adverse decision by the Supreme Court on April 19.

The Board of Aldermen on Feb. 6 passed a moratorium to block a plan for a storage facility on a 9.5-acre plot across the Highland Colony Parkway from the store site.

The the station plan had already been approved by the Architectural Review Committee.

Then the aldermen amended on April 3 the zoning ordinance to disallow the use for the storage facility.

On June 12 the Architectural Review Board approved the site plan for the Costco station, which would use two of the to-

tal of 9.5 acres, followed a week later with approval of the plan by the Board of Aldermen.

According to the suit, the lynchpin in the current case is whether the station is merely for fueling or includes other services to qualify it for what the city defines as a service station.

Interestingly, the suit continues, Costco has “successfully argued in other cases that a private Costco Club fueling facility was NOT a ‘service station.’”

The city’s definition of “service station” states that the primary purpose is for the “retail sale [of] gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, oil, or automobile accessories. . . .”

While the zoning ordinance list of definitions does not include “retail,” the lawsuit maintains that dictionary definitions

are consistent in emphasizing that it means sale to the public.

“A private Costco Club fueling station is not a public retail facility,” the brief states.

Customers at the stations must have cards designated for use by Costco members , the suit continues, and cash is not allowed.

In the recusal matter, the plaintiffs argue that the two should have recused themselves in the case because of conflict of interest.

Despite letters sent to Aldermen Wesley Hamlin and Charles “Chuck” Gautier urging them not to vote on the site plan for the station, they did vote. It was passed 4-3, with Hamlin and Gautier for it.

Hamlin, who had been a youth pastor for Christ Life Church of the Highlands and still has close ties with the church, was asked by residents not to vote for the station in a detailed email letter prior to the June 19 vote.

The church, which is adjacent to the 45acre Costco site, sold a quarter of an acre to the city for $66 a square foot, compared with what the brief says is range of $8 to $17 per square foot for prime commercial real estate in the city, a point made in the letter, according to the filing.

Gautier, who is a Realtor, has an association with Kerioth Corp., a development firm, and Crye-Leike Realtors, which is a conflict of interest, because the Costco presence would drive up land prices and benefit the firms, the plaintiffs argue.

An advisory opinion from the Mississippi Ethics Commission states: “an alderman must recuse himself from any . . . action by the board . . . if it would result in a pecuniary benefit to the company . . . such as an appreciation in the value of the real property.”

November 16, 2018

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HEALTH CARE

NMHS lone bidder for Gilmore Memorial; sale expected to be finalized by end of year No other bidders came forward to compete for Gilmore Memorial Hospital, leaving North Mississippi Health Services as the only suitor.

North Mississippi Health Services received confirmation Monday that no other bidders filed with the federal bankruptcy court by the 5 p.m. deadline, according to a statement released by the Tupelo hospital system.

“North Mississippi Health Services’ existing bid will proceed as the only bid for consideration by the court, which is currently scheduled to hear the sale order on November 27th. Assuming approval of the sale order by the court on November 27th, the debtors, creditors, North Mississippi Health Services and the court will work towards finalizing the sale transaction by the end of 2018.”

Gilmore Memorial in Amory, along with hospitals in ClarkSdale and Batesville, was put up for sale in August as part of the bankruptcy proceedings of its parent company Curae Health. According to federal bankruptcy court filings, the three hospitals have $96 million in liabilities.

Gilmore chief executive officer J. Allen Tyra welcomed the news on Tuesday.

“We are extremely happy with the outcome of the bidding process and look forward to becoming a part of the North Mississippi Health

Services family,” he said in a written statement.

A strong hospital and medical community have been a blessing for Amory, providing both quality health care and an economic engine that provided jobs for many, said Amory Mayor Brad Blalock.

“As we move forward with the expectation of North Mississippi Health Services being the parent company of our hospital, we look forward anxiously to the opportunity to work with NMHS as new members of our Amory family in continuing to provide the best healthcare possible to our citizens as well as stability of employment to those currently employed and those to be employed in the future,” he said.

North Mississippi Health Services was approved as the stalking horse bidder, with an opening bid of $10.5 million cash and the assumption of Gilmore’s liabilities and financial commitments.

State Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, said he continues to have concerns the sale will lead to an erosion of services and health care professionals in Amory. In October, he called for the creation of a community non-profit organization to enter the bidding.

“This is not an attack on North Mississippi (Health Services) … This is about having a thriving medical community providing as many services as can be offered in Amory,” Bryan said at the time. “It means everything to Amory and very little to North Mississippi (Health Services) in

the big picture.”

In response to community concerns, NMHS president and chief executive Shane Spees said the system will invest in the hospital.

“As part of our planning, we’ve identified several capital improvements we know are needed in Amory,” Spees said.

The planning team also sees potential cost savings that can be realized by moving suppliers and vendors from their current contracts to NMHS contracts.

“It’s just one of the benefits of being part of a system,” Spees said.

“We feel like we’re the best partner because we can provide long-term sustainability and viability for Gilmore.”

Gilmore, founded in 1916, was a private, not-for-profit, locally owned hospital until 2005 when the board of directors sold it to Florida-based Health Management Associates. The 95-bed hospital was sold to Community Health Systems as part of a merger with Health Management Associates in 2013. Curae Health purchased Gilmore and the Batesville hospital from Community Health Systems in May 2017 and returned the hospitals to non-profit status. Curae purchased the Clarksdale hospital in November 2017.

— Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

The Smart Way to Bundle Charitable Giving A fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi can help your clients achieve both their tax planning and charitable giving goals for 2018. We work with attorneys, CPAs and other professionals to create easy and elegant solutions suited to each individual client. www.formississippi.org | 601.974.6044, ext. 222.

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Website: www.msbusiness.com November 16, 2018 Volume 40, Number 46

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Hyde-Smith will trump Espy in runoff

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he hand has begun writing on the wall. The not-soslim lady is tuning her pipes. The Nov. 27 run-off between Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy is all but a done deal, with HydeSmith the clear winner.

Barring a political miracle, that’s what the numbers and political realities say.

The numbers first.

Espy needed a strong, above average showing last week. He got a surge over normal Democratic turnout, about 140,000 more votes than the midterm turnout four years ago. But Republicans got a bigger surge, about 154,000 more votes. That left Espy with the usual Democratic vote percentage of 40 percent, about what David Baria got too.

The candidate showing surprising strength was Hyde-Smith. She not only walloped fellow Republican Chris McDaniel by more than a two to one margin – even with McDaniel getting almost the same vote as he did in the GOP primary against Thad Cochran in 2014 when he stunned the nation, but she also led the ticket.

In other words she already beat Espy straight up even with McDaniel in the race.

The total Republican vote percent-

Bill Crawford

age was the usual 60 percent. As MSNBC Hardball commentator Chris Matthews noted, the gap between Hyde-Smith and Espy was small, but the gap between Republicans and Democrats was huge.

Further, unlike Attorney General Jim Hood, Espy showed no ability to attract normally Republican votes. He got more Democratic votes than usual, including a whopping 56,000 votes in Hinds County, but Republicans stayed true. Hyde-Smith polled more Republican votes than Phil Bryant did in November 2015. And she and McDaniel together polled more votes in Harrison County than Donald Trump did in November 2016, a whopping 43,000 votes.

Overall, there were nearly 300,000 more votes in this mid-term election than four years ago. But that total was still about 300,000 votes less than in the presidential election in 2016. In that race, Donald Trump beat Hilary Clinton 58 percent to 40 percent (there’s that 40 percent again).

Now, the political realities.

Espy can only wish for that additional 100,000 votes that Clinton got to show up on Nov. 27, while praying See CRAWFORD, Page 5

his past weekend, we took time to honor a group of men and women for their selfless commitment to all of us and our way of life.

The ultimate sacrifice is to lay down one’s life for another. And that’s what those in our Armed Services are willing to do when they answer the call to duty.

It’s a commitment we should never take lightly.

Veterans Day is an annual reminder to stop and reflect on the bravery, heroics and selflessness of our veterans, and on their service to preserving our nation and its freedoms.

This year’s Veterans Day holiday also marked the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, when the treaty was signed near Paris to mark the end of the First World War — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

One year later, on Nov. 11, 1919, the nation marked the first anniversary by celebrating the holiday we now know as Veterans Day. Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance in 1926, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.

The name was officially changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954.

Many people confuse the meanings of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. On Memorial Day, we remember those members of the Armed Services who have died. On Veterans Day, we honor all veterans – living and dead — for their service.

According to 2017 statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 19,998,799 living veterans in the United States, and 191,411 in Mississippi. Mississippi’s veterans include 6,536 from World War II; 15,267 from Korea; 60,510 from Vietnam and 73,392 from the Gulf War era.

Our nation, and its commitment to self-governance, is truly unique.

But democracy doesn’t come cheaply, and ours is built on the sacrifices of so many.

Too often, we take that for granted, even those at the highest levels.

But we shouldn’t.

Mississippi’s veterans include 6,536 from World War II; 15,267 from Korea; 60,510 from Vietnam and 73,392 from the Gulf War era.

— Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

PERSPECTIVE » RICKY NOBILE

November 16, 2018 I Mississippi Business Journal

CRAWFORD

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Continued from Page 4

that the 175,000 additional votes Trump got will stay home. Results in key races in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia suggest that’s not gonna happen. The “Trump surge” driven by his race-tinged, fiery rhetoric worked in those states to offset Democratic surges. There is no reason to think he won’t continue this vibe to Hyde-Smith’s benefit during the runoff.

Indeed, Hyde-Smith’s campaign focus matched that of Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee, Ron DeSantis in Florida, and Brian Kemp in Georgia. That focus was “I love Trump,” and, most importantly, “he loves me.”

Many thought this run-off might decide partisan control of the U.S. Senate. Instead Republicans have already secured their majority, taking much of the limelight off this race. That dimming importance just further dims Espy’s chances.

Then there’s that McDaniel vote. It’s not going to Espy.

“We now have to unite,” McDaniel told his loyal base, as reported by Mississippi Today. “Mr. Espy cannot be allowed to win this seat. President Trump wants us to unite, and we will unite. We will back Cindy Hyde-Smith.”

Oh, there may be a debate or two and an Obama or Clinton may be spotted, along with a Trump to stir interest, but this party is all but over.

Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

»INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Candidates need motivated voters for Senate runoff

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andidates in Mississippi’s U.S. Senate runoff are competing with college football, Thanksgiving turkey and the mad dash of Christmas bargain hunting as they try to hold voters’ attention.

Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Mike Espy are on the ballot Nov. 27, and the winner will get the final two years of a six-year term started by longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran.

Both candidates acknowledge that motivating people to return to the polls will be a challenge.

“I want everyone to have the best Thanksgiving they can possibly have. But don’t you eat a bite if you’re not looking at the person next to you, making sure they’ve got to go vote,” Hyde-Smith told cheering supporters at a Nov. 6 election night party in Jackson.

Espy hosted a gospel extravaganza Nov. 5 at Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson. He talked to the mostly African-American audience about honoring the legacy of those who sacrificed in the struggle for civil rights — Fannie Lou Hamer, who was beaten for her activism, and Medgar Evers and Vernon Dahmer, who were killed.

“We feel the weight of history, the legacy, on us,” said Espy, a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary who is trying to become the first African-American since Reconstruction to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate.

“I’ll represent everybody irrespective of race or religion or party or gender or age or sexual orientation or disability.”

Hyde-Smith is the first woman to represent Mississippi in either chamber of Congress, and is now trying to become the first one elected. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant appointed her

to temporarily succeed Cochran, who retired amid health concerns in April.

Hyde-Smith is running on a record of fully supporting Republican President Donald Trump, while Espy says a Mississippi senator should evaluate what is best for the state.

Hyde-Smith and Espy each received about 41 percent on Nov. 6. Republican Chris McDaniel received about 16 percent and asked his supporters to unite behind Hyde-Smith. Democrat Tobey Bernard Bartee received about 1 percent.

Voters said they had many reasons for going to the polls.

Octavia Clayborne, a 66-year-old retiree who is black and lives in Jackson, said she voted for Espy. She noted that Mississippi hasn’t had an African-American U.S. senator since Reconstruction.

“That in itself would make you get out of bed and vote,” she said outside the at New Hope Baptist Church precinct.

Clayborne said she was also motivated to vote because she opposes the president’s stance on immigration.

“I think Donald Trump is out of control and unless he has some kind of checks and balances on his behavior, we are in trouble,” she said.

Jessica Busby is a 32-year-old stay-at-home mother with

Emily Pettus

two sons. One is 9 years old. The other is 2 months old.

Busby, who is white and lives near the Ross Barnett Reservoir outside Jackson, said she voted for Hyde-Smith.

“We feel the weight of history, the legacy, on us.”

— Mike Espy “I stick to Republicans,” Busby said. “We work very hard.

It seems like we kind of get gypped sometimes — the middle class.”

Busby said she believes the economy is strong under Trump, but she still would like to see businesses create more jobs that offer higher pay.

The special Senate race was a magnet for voters, creating a record-high turnout for Mississippi in a federal midterm election. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial results compiled by The Associated Press showed more than 888,800 ballots were cast Nov. 6 in the special Senate election.

That number could grow as provisional ballots are counted before final totals are certified under a Nov. 16 deadline. » Associated Press writer Jeff Amy contributed to this report.

Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus/

6 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q November 16, 2018 JUNIOR LEAGUE

Marketplace: a classic that changes with the times

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Many, if not most of the members of the Junior League of Jackson were not born in 1980, the first year of the Mistletoe Marketplace.

And the annual event that signals the start of the Christmas shopping season for many people has grown over the years.

The League, which was established in 1941 and has taken some shots to its image – primarily the fictional portrayal in the 2011 madein Mississippi movie ‘The Help,” which was set in the ‘60s.

And the League has changed as it has grown.

It emphasized diversity in its membership, said Allison Muirhead, chairwoman of this year’s event.

Starting with 30 merchants, the Marketplace now averages about 150, according to Muirhead.

The event, which was from Nov. 8-11 this year at the Mississippi Trade Mart, may seem all girlie and glittery, but it is run as a tight ship, Muirhead said.

It is competitive, which means that just because you are in as a vendor one year doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a return ticket.

And if you don’t show up when the event opens you get a warning. “If it happens again, you’re not asked back,” said Muirhead, who punctuates her conversation with good-natured laughter.

Return invitations are one thing, but a firsttime appearance is no cinch either.

Julia Tatum said her Oxford company, DeltaGrind – whose plant in Water Valley produces of stone-ground grits and other corn products – was turned down last year. No explanation.

And they hope to return next year, she said, though she’s not quite sure what the criteria are.

Muirhead said that there is a lengthy explanation of the League’s criteria, including limiting the vendors to no more than 20 percent owned by League members, no more than 25 percent from the three-county Jackson metro area, conflicts of interest are avoided, quality of presentation and others.

Already, Tatum said, has gotten business from the Marketplace.

“I got two more retailers and possibly a third one,” she said Tuesday.

It’s fun and festive, but there is a serious bottom line. The League donated $1 million last year to the Batson Children’s Hospital, primarily from the Marketplace, though the League has other fund-raisers, Jumble, a giant garage sale, in February and Touch a Truck at the end of March, for kids and guys who like big machines.

The Marketplace has a significant economic impact on the Jackson area. A 2014 study by the University of Southern Mississippi states that the impact amounted to $6 million.

And there is money to be made.

Photos courtesy of Allison Muirhead/Special to the MBJ

Newsmakers Copeland Cook announces new associates

Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A., recently welcomed attorneys Shauncey Hunter, Dillon King, and Ian Underwood to the law firm’s Ridgeland office.

Hunter joins the firm as an associate in CCTB’s Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, Litigation, and Real Estate practice groups after her role as attorney-adviser to nine administrative-law judges who hear disability appeals at the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations. She also counseled the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ purchasing, accounting, contracts, and grants divisions as the agency’s procurement attorney.

Hunter graduated cum laude from Mississippi College School of Law in 2016 and was active on the MC Law Moot Court Board. She received the 2016 Justice Jess Dickinson Professionalism Award, 2015 MC Law Women in the Profession Award, and 2013–16 MC Law Best Paper Awards.

A magna cum laude graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communication’s BA program at Louisiana State University, Hunter actively volunteers to judge moot-court competitions at MC Law and in the youth department of Word of Life Church in Flowood.

King joins the firm as an associate in the CCTB Insurance & Risk Management Services and Transportation practice groups.

He was a judicial extern for Hon. Judge Neil P. Olack of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and in-house summer associate with W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. King graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2016. As a member of UM Law’s Negotiation Board, King and his team received national recognition for winning the Carey Center/ FINRA Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon.

Prior to law school, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration’s MBA program and the Mississippi State University College of Business’ BBA program.

Underwood joins the firm as an associate in CCTB’s Appellate Practice and Insurance & Risk Management Services practice groups.

At Mississippi College School of Law, Underwood was the MC Law Federalist Society President. After graduating in 2016, Underwood began clerking for Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David M. Ishee when he was a judge at the Mississippi Court of Appeals. Underwood also interned for Honorable Judge Robert P. Krebs at the Circuit Court of Jackson County in 2014.

Underwood’s background includes experience as an extern/intern with the Mississippi Republican Party, Mississippi Secretary of State Regulations and Enforcement Division, and Office of Congressman Steven Palazzo.

He graduated from Mississippi College Department of History and Political Science’s BS program in 2012.

Underwood played intercollegiate baseball while at Mississippi College.

Hunter and Underwood are licensed to practice law in Mississippi. King is licensed to practice law in Mississippi and New York.

November 16, 2018

EMBDC recognizes October ambassadors

Courtesy of EMBDC

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently presented its October Ambassadors of the Month awards. Honorees are, from left, Mary Atterberry, Rush Health Systems, second place; Ginger Delaney, Commercial Bank, third place; Leah Hearn, Commercial Bank, first place; and Lee Williams, Regions Bank, red ticket drawing winner.

Forrest General designated a STEMI Receiving Center Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg has been designated as a STEMI Receiving Center by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

An ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a type of severe heart attack that requires immediate intervention.

This designation acknowledges that Forrest General employs scientifically recognized best practices when treating STEMI patients and that the hospital has the staff and equipment necessary to care for these emergent patients.

Charlie Dellenger joins Community Bank Charlie Dellenger has joined Community Bank’s Biloxi office as Senior Vice President. In his new role, Dellenger will focus on commercial and consumer loans, deposits, mortgages, and investments.

Dellenger, a native of Biloxi, Dellenger MS, is a graduate of Louisiana State with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Dellenger recently served as Director of Business Development for Seymour Engineering, PPLC, and has been in banking for twenty-three years.

Active in his community, Dellenger serves on the Board of Directors for the Innovation Center.

MOA recognizes 2018 outstanding members The Mississippi Optometric Association recently recognized six of its members at its 2018 annual Fall Conference in Jackson. The association presents the awards annually to recognize significant contributions

to the profession of optometry, paraoptometry, and the general public.

Dr. David Parker, O.D., of Olive Branch, was presented with the inaugural Healthcare Award for serving as an advocate for patient safety and eye and vision care.

Dr. Linda Johnson, O.D., Director of Optometry Services at the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, is the James Brownlee OD of the Year. Dr. Rod Fields, O.D. of Ocean Springs received the OD Community Service Award. The recipient of the Helen St. Clair Young OD of the Year is Dr. Evan Davis, O.D. of Eye Care Associates in Laurel.

Paraoptometric recognitions were presented to Marilyn Beeson, CPOA, an assistant for Dr. Kirk Smithhart of Pearl, as the recipient of the Beverly Roberts Paraoptometric of the Year, and Kim Pickle, CPOA, of Southern Eye Care of Clinton, for Paraoptometric Community Service.

Baker Donelson adds 5 tax attorneys to Jackson office Baker Donelson has expanded its tax practice with the addition of five attorneys to its Jackson office.

Joining Baker Donelson are C. Ted Sanderson Jr., James A. “Jay” Norris III, Leslie Bounds, William O. “Bill” Brown Jr., and Charles W. “Chuck” Goldberg Jr. Sanderson joins as a shareholder with a primary focus on federal and state tax controversy and advising clients on planning and transaction matters with complex tax issues. He formerly worked as an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel in Washington, D.C. before returning to private practice in Jackson.

Norris also joins as a shareholder with a focus on tax and corporate matters involving federal and state taxation, tax controversy, business succession planning, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, estate planning, and probate matters. His previous career was as a certified public accountant.

Bounds joins as of counsel and focuses her practice in the areas of tax exempt organizations, tax contro-

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versy and IRS collection matters, forensic accounting projects, and financial document review and analysis.

Prior to her legal career, she practiced as a certified public accountant for 14 years.

Brown joins as of counsel and represents closely-held businesses and business owners in business formation, organization, capital formation, financing, mergers and acquisitions, state and federal tax planning and tax controversies. Brown is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has also attained the professional designations as a certified public accountant and a certified financial planner.

Goldberg also joins as of counsel and represents individual and business clients in matters involving federal and state taxation, estate planning and trusts, tax controversy, and probate matters. Goldberg is also a certified public accountant.

Crigler elected president of Mississippi Optometric Association Dr. Amy Crigler, OD, of Starkville, has been elected the 2018-2019 president of the Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA). As president, she will lead a membership of over 240 optometrists located across the state who are dedicated to promoting the eye health and vision Crigler care of all Mississippians.

Dr. Crigler, of Crigler Family Vision Center, has been a member of the MOA for over 35 years and has served in a variety of positions. She has served as chair of the State Legislative Committee, state chairperson of the Vision USA Program and chair of Optometry for Progress. Additionally, she has served as the Mississippi trustee for the Southern Council of Optometrists.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and is a member of Delta Gamma alumnae. At First United Methodist Church she has served as a member of the Administrative Board, the Staff/Parish committee, and the Finance committee.

Dr. Crigler and her husband, Sid, have two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys following Mississippi State University athletics where she serves as a vision consultant.

Barnes Law Firm named one of “10 Best” Barnes Law Firm was selected by the American Institute of Legal Counsel as one of the “10 Best” Estate Planning Law Firms in Mississippi. Harris H. Barnes, III, is President of Barnes Law Firm.

To qualify for the “10 Best,” each candidate must be formally nominated by the Institute, client, and/or fellow Attorney; have attained the highest degree of professional achievement in his or her field of law; and having done so with an impeccable Client Satisfaction rating.

Newsmakers

8 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q November 16, 2018 Bounds and Branning receive MFA’s Legislator awards

SMPDD receives NADO 2018 Innovation Award

Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named Representative C. Scott Bounds and Senator Jenifer Branning, both of Philadelphia, as the recipients of the 2018 MFA Outstanding Legislator Awards. MFA presented the awards at its 2018 MFA Annual Meeting in Tupelo. The Outstanding Legislator Awards recognize exceptional service and significant contributions to the legislative concerns of MFA and the forestry industry.

MFA Executive Vice President Tedrick Ratcliff said, “No two individuals deserve this award more than Representative Bounds and Senator Branning. Their commitment to support landowners and the forest products industry through the legislative process has been unwavering.”

Lollar and Rogers receive MFA’s Forestry Achievement and Forestry Leader awards Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named Heath Lollar of Mantachie, as the 2018 MFA Outstanding Youth Forestry Achievement Award recipient. MFA presented the award at its annual President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2018 MFA Annual Meeting in Tupelo.

Heath is currently a junior at Mantachie High School.

Heath is actively involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and was a member of the Mantachie FFA team that won the 2018 MFA Forestry Judging Competition. He was the high individual scorer at the competition and is the recipient of the 2018 Forestry 2 Class Award.

Joe Rogers was chosen as the recipient of the 2018 MFA Outstanding Youth Forestry Leader Award. Joe is the coach of the Mantachie FFA Forestry Team and has dedicated countless hours over the years to the FFA program. He works tirelessly to make sure the next generation understands and appreciates the importance of forests.

Dennis named MFA’s Tree Farmer of the Year Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named E.J. Dennis of Ellisville, as the 2018 MFA Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. MFA presented the award at its annual President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2018 MFA Annual Meeting in Tupelo. The 250 banquet guests enjoyed a video presentation by Mississippi State University’s Farmweek on Dennis’ tree farm.

Dennis will represent Mississippi in the 2019 National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year competition sponsored by the American Tree Farm System.

The land, in Ovett, Mississippi, has been owned by the Dennis family since 1950, and E.J. inherited it 15 years ago. The land has been under a written forest management plan for seven years and has also been a certified Tree Farm for the past seven years.

Meacham Harlow, Mississippi Forestry Commission, nominated E.J. Dennis for this award. Harlow states, “Mr. Dennis is a great example of what it means to be a great steward of the land and our natural resources. He loves to share the history of his tree farm, but at the same time, he looks to the future with current forest management practices and always seeks to improve his property.”

Dennis’ tree farm is used as a hands-on lab for local Jones County Junior College (JCJC) Forestry stu-

award.

Blair is employed with Addicus as a business development officer. He has served MFA as a committee member, a board member, an executive committee member, and in all five officer positions of the association. Blair has also served on the board and as president of his local county forestry association.

MFA Executive Vice President Tedrick Ratcliff commented on Blair’s dedication to MFA stating, “Gary has given tirelessly to this association. His leadership in the early days of County Forestry Associations and in statewide rolls are just small examples of the dedication he has shown.”

Golden Triangle achieves certification as ACT WorkReady Community Courtesy of SMPDD

Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD) in Gulfport recently received a 2018 Aliceann Wohlbruck Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the 2017 Twin Districts Workforce Development Area (TDWDA) Sector Strategy Plan. The Sector Strategy Plan was produced by SMPDD to help guide workforce development efforts in the 24-county workforce area. The plan focuses on identifying skill gaps in the workforce, aligning training programs with jobs that are in demand, and establishing pathways for Mississippi residents to train for meaningful employment with family-sustaining wages. The three sectors identified are Advanced Manufacturing, Energy and Chemicals, and Healthcare. dents. Just a short 10-minute drive from the college, it proves to be an excellent resource. Harlow adds, “E.J Dennis looks for opportunities to teach future generations by showing them the value of the land through his stewardship and management of his tree farm.”

Dennis is a member of the Mississippi Forestry Association and a member of the Jones County Forestry Association (CFA). He also frequently hosts his local CFA and other community groups on his property for educational programs.

Moore named MFA’s 2018 Teachers Conservation Workshop Alumnus of the Year Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named Mallory Moore of Baldwyn, as the 2018 MFA Teachers Conservation Workshop Alumnus of the Year. MFA presented the award at its annual President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2018 MFA Annual Meeting in Tupelo.

Moore teaches Biology I and Introduction to Biology and Zoology I and II at Baldwyn High School.

Teachers Conservation Workshop, or TCW, is a practical, hands-on conservation workshop with an emphasis on forests and other natural resources. The latest information on conservation and sustainability is presented in the classroom and during numerous field trips including visits to forest industries, harvesting operations, active tree farms, state parks, seedling nurseries, and many other sites. Project Learning Treeâ (PLT) is a core part of the TCW curriculum.

Moore attended the 2017 TCW and has applied several topics from TCW into her classes through field trips and water sampling. Moore has also served as an advocate for TCW by encouraging many of her colleagues to attend.

Massey named MFA’s Logger of the Year Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) announced Drew Massey of Noxapater, as the 2018 Outstanding Logger of the Year. Massey was honored at the MFA President’s Banquet on October 17 in Tupelo as part of the organization’s Annual Meeting. The 250 banquet guests watched a video produced by Farmweek detailing Massey Timber, LLC, before the award was given.

Massey was presented with a handmade wooden log truck, a monogrammed jacket and various other prizes donated by clients and equipment dealers.

Mary Lundy Meruvia and Brad Joiner, both officers of the Neshoba County Forestry Association, nominated Massey for this honor. According to them, Massey has “the potential to have a long career in logging” and is “performing his work with utmost concern for safety of his employees, as well as care for the timberlands for longevity.”

Massey is a fifth-generation logger and formed his own business in 2012. Massey is the company president and his wife Laura is the company bookkeeper.

The Massey team includes a company foreman/ mechanic, a feller buncher operator, two skidder operators, two loader operators, and five truck drivers.

Blair receives MFA’s 2018 Meritorious Service to Forestry Award Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) named Gary Blair of Brookhaven as the recipient of the 2018 MFA Meritorious Service to Forestry Award. MFA presented the award at its annual President’s Banquet, a highlight of the 2018 MFA Annual Meeting in Tupelo.

The Meritorious Service to Forestry Award is MFA’s highest honor. This award recognizes an outstanding lifetime contribution to forestry. Each year the winner is chosen collectively by previous recipients of the

The Golden Triangle region announced that it has met all criteria to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This achievement caps a 2-year process and begins a two-year growth and maintenance phase to retain certification.

The initiative was led by East Mississippi Community College and the Golden Triangle Development LINK, with area leaders from Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties assisting throughout the certification process. The Workforce Services department at EMCC has been providing the WorkKeys assessment for more than a decade, making the certification process easy with a steady supply of candidates with their National Career Readiness Certificate.

BankFirst Financial Services announces the launch of SBA Lending Division BankFirst announced that it has expanded its business banking solutions to offer SBA 7a, and 504 loans to small business owners throughout Mississippi and Alabama. With a retail branch network in central Mississippi and Alabama, BankFirst’s entrance into SBA lending allows the Company to better serve its existing communities as well as develop a southeastern footprint to offer loan products that help small business owners who may not qualify for conventional loans.

Also, it was announced Walter W. Dyminski has been hired to lead the bank’s Small Business Administration (SBA) lending group. As Vice President, SBA Manager, Dyminski will work collaboratively with BankFirst’s relationship managers to incorporate the full suite of SBA lending products into the Bank’s offerings and help small businesses navigate the difficult road of obtaining financing.

“For over two decades, I have been passionate about lending to business people looking for the opportunity to provide goods and services to customers in their local communities. By lending entrepreneurs the money to build their local businesses, I feel that I get to play a small part in helping them realize their dreams,” commented Dyminski.

Dyminski, who has over 22 years of experience in SBA lending, has held various senior commercial lending positions at a number of financial institutions.

Dyminski is a graduate of University of Tampa where he holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance.

November 16, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: Real Estate Times have changed but Watkins still fully invested

By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com

A

dam Watkins officially launched his real estate career the day he graduated from William Carey College (now University) nearly two decades ago.

There were no smart phones, text messaging, Realtor.com or Zillow. The highest tech tool used in real estate transactions was the fax machine.

Comparatively, the process of buying and selling homes now is immersed in technology.

Watkins, who earned his MBA from Tulane in 2013, recalls when the Multiple Listing Service was a printed book and each office held keys to listings, requiring agents to pick up and return keys prior to and after each showing.

Times have changed.

“When I started, the MLS was downloaded daily onto a computer, contracts were faxed (not scanned or e-mailed) and computerized lock boxes were being used,” said Watkins. “There have been so many technological changes, so the primary change in the real estate has been how we deliver and receive information and data.”

A Hattiesburg area broker/listing partner with The All-Star Team Realtors, Watkins was recently installed as president of the Mississippi Association of Realtors. He says his long-term involvement in the association side of the business coincided with his career as a licensee and Realtor.

“We want to strive to improve and protect the rights of our members to conduct their businesses in the most ethical way possible, as well as consumers and clients who are making their largest Investments,” he said. “The theme for the year is ‘Take the L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, Dedication)’. Our desire is to help each member connect with their calling as Realtors and to be leaders in their communities.”

For Watkins, the lure of the real estate business started early. As a boy, he was fascinated with land, homes and property. Growing up east of Petal in the tiny community of Runnelstown, Watkins began studying real estate guides and developing local knowledge of the Hattiesburg market in middle school.

“In hindsight, being drawn into the real estate business was almost inevitable,” he said. “My dad and his family were home builders and develop-

Courtesy of Adam Watlkins/MBJ

Above is the main office located in Hattiesburg on Willow Bend Drive.

ers. As a little kid, I was always interested in home construction.

I’d even ‘show’ the homes my dad built to anyone who was walking through – including his Realtor.”

During his college years, Watkins worked on the staff of Hattiesburg realtor DeLois Smith.

After graduation, he earned his Watkins real estate license and made his first sale in March 2002. By 2007, Watkins partnered with Smith and formed The All Star Team, with offices in west Hattiesburg and Petal.

The Petal of Watkins’ youth is no more. Over 40 years ago, the former sleepy hamlet incorporated as a city and created the Petal Separate School District. A small community with very little industry or resources previously, Petal was transformed into a viable city, says Watkins.

“Much of Petal’s attractiveness and appeal can be linked to the consistent success of the school district,” he said. “Our growth also has been solidified with the addition of the Evelyn Gandy Parkway, which has really improved access.”

Regardless of the technology changes in the insurance industry, Watkins believes there is one

constant – people.

“Ultimately, relationships and the sincere desire to serve others in an adaptive way is a uniquely human experience,” he said. “There is no technology or website portal than can adequately analyze the market and the individual needs of clients.

“I’ve actually found my greatest success in what some call a ‘down’ market. Why? People will always possess the need to buy and sell property.”

Real estate runs deep in the family, as Watkins’ wife Amelia also is a licensed realtor. Despite the 24-7 cycle of the realty business, the couple spend lots of time serving in their church, where the Watkins are involved in choral activities.

“Our church is like a family to us, and it’s where I learned about service,” said Watkins. “I find that is extends beautifully to our work as Realtors.”

Watkins began his term as MAR president Nov. 5. He praised the dedication and service of those before him, those that helped him understand the importance of advocacy for member realtors.

“When you’re fully invested in this business, it truly becomes a part of who you are,” he said. “It doesn’t ever leave you.”

Real Estate

10 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q November 16, 2018

Mississippi homes sales good despite increasing interest rates

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com Predictions that the housing market in Mississippi would be good for both buyers and sellers this year apparently have been borne out despite higher mortgage interest rates and concerns about a short supply of homes available for sale, particularly in the affordable range.

Mississippi Realtors President for 2018, Karen Glass, who is also a managing broker for Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty, Inc., Gulfport, said this has been a good year for home sales in the state. For the majority of the year, it has been a seller’s market.

“Some areas have experienced a lack of inventory, but not in all price ranges,” Glass said. “Houses under $250,000 are in demand and sell quickly. Houses under $150,000 are desirable to both purchasers and investors so they not only sell quickly, they often have multiple purchase offers submitted.”

Glass said that thus far, the increase in mortgage interest rates does not appear to have impacted purchasers who want to buy in her area. Qualified buyers are still able to obtain affordable loans.

Mississippi is fortunate to have home prices that are more economical than in many other areas of the country, said John Travis, president, Homebuilders Association of Mississippi.

“The home building industry has been steady in Mississippi,” Travis said. “It is not like the Texas or Dallas market, but our building has been steady. The $200,000 homes, we can’t build enough of them if you can even build them for $200,000.”

Smaller homes are in demand. Travis said the larger the home is, the more days the house is going to sit on the market.

“The upside of this is because our pric-

ing on houses is average, not really high like California or other areas. If there is ever a downturn in the market, Mississippi won’t feel the effect as much,” Travis said. “We do have a shortage with our starter homes. But, Glass again, you can’t build a $200,000 home in other areas. In California, it might be twice that much for the same home. It is very expensive to live in California. New York is another place the cost of housing is high. We are fortunate to live in a state where the housing in Travis more affordable.”

Mississippi Realtors 2018 Central District Vice-President Dorothy Thompson, who is a broker at DST Realty Inc. in Jackson, said buyers are looking for amenities and not necessarily square Thompson footage.

“Also, buyers are looking for homes in areas close to community conveniences,” she said. “Realtors encourage homebuyers to search the public websites BuyInMississippi.com and Realtor. com where the active listing information is current and accurate.”

Thompson said the higher interest rates for mortgages are having an impact, especially for first-time buyers.

“Higher rates might keep buyers from purchasing the home they really want,” Thompson said. “As interest rates go up, the buyer’s ability to borrow money goes down.”

Central Mississippi Realtors President

Rod Crosby said closed sales have increased by 6.9 percent over the same time last year averaging 530 closed sales per month.

“These home sales have created jobs,” Crosby said, whose organization has Crosby 1,950 members covering ten counties. “Statistics show that for every home sold, two jobs are created.”

Crosby said sales are up and the housing market in their ten-county area is solid.

“In our primary market Davis (Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties) sales are up 6.5 percent over last year with a median sales price increase of 4.2 percent,” Crosby said.

There has been a decrease in the number of homes for sale over the past three years.

“This trend sometimes results in sellers receiving multiple offers on their properties that translates into higher sales prices,” Crosby said. “Low inventory is good for sellers and not so good for buyers.”

Affordable housing is always an issue.

Crosby said buyer’s expectations are high and choices are limited in this market.

“Higher interest rates coupled with student loan debt-to-income ratios are impacting the ability for first time buyers to obtain loans,” he said.

The website for Central Mississippi Realtors (https://cmr.realtor/) says although residential real estate should continue along a mostly positive line for the rest of the year, rising prices and interest rates coupled with salary stagnation and a generational trend toward home purchase

delay or even disinterest could create an environment of declining sales.

Mississippi Realtors Treasurer Kris Davis, who lives in Columbus, said 2018 has been a great year in their area. Within the Greater Golden Triangle MLS (which includes Starkville, Columbus, West Point, and surrounding areas), her year-to-date sales for 2018 indicate positive growth.

“We’ve seen an approximate 12 percent increase in sales volume and 144 units over 2017,” said Davis, who is a broker/owner of RE/MAX Partners in Starkville and Columbus. “Our sales volume for this year is $55 million higher than last year, $471 million versus $416 million for the same period in 2017. We have also seen the average sales price increase from $138,400 in 2017 to $148,400 in 2018.”

There have been some declines in inventory. Three years ago, their MLS traditionally had 850 listings at any given time. This year they have been averaging around 675, which includes residential, commercial, land and multi-family properties. Lower inventory has caused a decline in days on the market, where in 2016 the average was 164, the average for 2018 is 112.

Davis said starter homes in their market tend to begin around the $120,000 price range, but these are limited in availability.

“This has forced some of our first-time buyers to step up to the $150,000$200,000 price range, which can strain their budget,” she said.

While they haven’t seen higher interest rates slowing down sales, Davis said there may be an impact on the purchase price that a buyer can ultimately afford on their budget because of a higher monthly payment.

Another trend in the Golden Triangle area is a steady decline in the number of residential foreclosures in the MLS over the past three years. Davis said in 2016, our MLS had roughly 190 foreclosure listings year-to-date where in 2018 there have been only 120.

Increases in flood insurance premiums has impacted some homes in flood zones.

“This has produced some challenges in selling homes in flood zones due to the increase in monthly payments and fears related to future resale ability,” Davis said.

Real Estate

November 16, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

11

MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

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AN MBJ FOCUS: Construction

Mississippi shortage of construction workers becoming more acute

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

With U.S. unemployment rates at the lowest levels seen in 17 years, the shortage of Mississippi construction workers has gone from bad to worse.

Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) President Mike Barkett said the construction worker shortage has become more acute because the economy has picked up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are more and more opportunities for construction contracts, but we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the trained workforce to do the work,â&#x20AC;? Barkett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to do something about it. What we are trying today do with MCEF is meet that need by training the workforce speciďŹ cally for the jobs out there that are available. We are working with Career Technical Education (CTE) partners at the secondary level to help high school students right out of high school ďŹ nd a job and a career path to follow. We have 5,000 now enrolled in the CTE program.â&#x20AC;?

Out of the 961 graduates from CTE

programs in 2017 in secondary schools, 29 percent went into work in the construction industry. And Barkett said that number is steadily increasing every year.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;More students are directly entering the ďŹ eld out of high school than ever before,â&#x20AC;? Barkett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are stepping into jobs where the minimum pay is $12

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to $14 an hour. Once they have some skills and training under their belt, they can command a higher salary and can go into management or supervisory roles. We are having trouble with attracting millennials to craft jobs, but they are going to estimating and supervisory roles. We are seeing more and more of that than before.â&#x20AC;?

MCEF also has a free service that allows high school seniors and community college students who have gone through training programs to post their resumes online. Contractors can go online and ďŹ nd workers who have been trained to ďŹ ll shortages.

Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Mississippi Executive Director Bob Wilson said the shortage of construction workers is a big, big issue in Mississippi and across the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are even some of our members who could take on more work and employ more people, but they just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the trained employees they need,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said.

Wilson said the shortages have gotten worse despite the fact that skilled con-

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See SHORTAGE, Page 13

Construction SHORTAGE Continued from Page 12

struction workers can often make more money than college graduates. A construction crafts salary survey from 2015 indicates experienced construction laborers such as commercial carpenters, HVAC technicians and plumbers can earn more than $50,000 per year, while crane operators and project supervisors can make more than $70,000 per year.

“There is a misconception the construction is all hard work digging ditches,” Wilson said. “But with technology and all the advances that have been made, that is just not the case anymore.”

Wilson said Mississippi has virtually no employment; everyone is employed who wants to be employed. And yet there are a large number of employers who have positions that are unfilled.

“It would be good to try to publicize some of the positions that are available so people have some idea of what they could get involved with,” Wilson said. “A lot of the openings are entry level, but the salaries are better than what many people receive after completing a four-year college degree. And with construction, you don’t end up with enormous student loans to pay off. Construction is a great option for kids coming out of community college and high school.”

And this isn’t all about hammers and nails. Wilson said there is a huge demand for people to work on the technology end of construction.

“Technology is going crazy in construction, and it is a great place for people to work,” Wilson said. “There is a huge market for college graduates to come into the technology part of construction.”

Another advantage for people going into construction is that if you go to work for a construction company and show that you will show up and do a good job, you can often get employers to help pay for college tuition.

Wilson said there is also now a state program that will provide credits to employers who will hire people who are not working or underemployed. The credits are based on the employees’ salary levels.

A large part of what AGC does is safety training. It is becoming increasingly important to have training conducted in Spanish, as well as English.

“Bi-lingual is continuing to be more and more of an issue,” Wilson said. “AGC in Dallas\Ft Worth has six or seven trainers on staff and all are bi-lingual. They have trained 50,000 people in the past few years.”

AGC now also offers online safety and training modules covering issues such a safety, human resources, sexual harass-

ment, etc. People can go through the training modules on their own, and a lot of the apps center around games. For example, a training on safety harnesses won’t let someone proceed to the next level until he has followed the correct procedures.

“This mirrors what kids are doing with computer games,” he said. “It really holds their attention and motivates them to get to the next level.”

Home Builders Association of Mississippi President John Travis, who owns Travis Constructors LLC, Ridgeland, said labor is a problem everywhere.

November 16, 2018

“As a home builder, I use my own subcontractors multiple times,” Travis said.

“I’m familiar with their work and quality. I think in Mississippi one of the big problems we are having is quality workmanship. You can find labor, but we are looking for quality in our workmanship.”

Travis said there can be a domino effect.

When you have trouble finding one subcontractor, it can put you behind getting the job done.

“The other thing we focus on at Home Builders of Mississippi is working with vo-tech,” Travis said. “We are working

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with a lot of community colleges to train young people to work in the construction industry. The millennials aren’t quite the same as baby boomers as far as work ethics. We are trying to instill in the young folks the work ethics which are imperative to making a building career.”

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Smarter energy begins with a smarter power grid.

At Entergy Mississippi, we’re committed to providing reliable and affordable power for the next generation. So we’re implementing new technologies to modernize the power grid and create a smarter energy future. Advanced Metering Infrastructure, known as AMI, is the first step.

Approved by the Mississippi Public Service Commission in May 2017, AMI is a multi-year investment. We are already planning the IT and network systems to support this technology. Once meters are installed, beginning in 2019, homes and businesses will start seeing these innovative new benefits: - Customers can view near real-time electricity usage, better manage bills and potentially save energy.

- Outages will be identified more accurately and efficiently.

- Long-term reliability will improve, particularly after challenging weather.

- A foundation will be laid for future new technologies.

Technology remains crucial in advancing Mississippi businesses and communities. Entergy Mississippi is investing in and applying the technology that will power our state for generations to come.

Learn more at energyfuturemississippi.com.

A message from Entergy Mississippi, Inc. ©2018 Entergy Services, LLC All Rights Reserved.

November 16, 2018

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THE SPIN CYCLE

Fake news fact checks don’t sway readers

C

ommon sense should prevail during political arguments about voter fraud after citing a nonpartisan, neutral source like Snopes or Politifact, right?

Not necessarily according to a new study

by Tulane University.

In the study, reading correct information from fact-checking organizations did not persuade either Republicans or Democrats to abandon false beliefs about election fraud.

What did work? Surprisingly, both sides were most persuaded when the factual information was believed to be from conservative news source Breitbart.

“Our experimental results demonstrate that Republicans are more likely to correct their false information when cued with the ideologically consistent source, while Democrats were more persuaded by the ideologically inconsistent source,” said coauthors Mirya Holman and J. Celeste Lay, associate professors of political science at Tulane University’s School of Liberal Arts.

“Neither group sharply corrected their beliefs when confronted with information from the fact-checking organization.”

Captivated by the polarizing climate leading up to the 2016 US presidential election, the researchers created a study to determine out how to correct someone who holds false beliefs. Since there were widespread falsehoods about voter fraud repeated during the election, they structured the study around the issue.

The researches asked online participants to read a newspaper article that discussed three election-fraud related claims and how each was untrue. They varied the news source of the information and asked participants to evaluate a series of voter-fraud related statements. Some were true, but the majority were falsehoods circulated during the presidential campaign.

The team measured how differently participants evaluated the statements about voter fraud based on which news source they read at the beginning of the survey.

They found that fact-checking sources didn’t persuade partisans on either side.

In fact, Republicans were more likely to believe election myths when they read correct information from Politifact than when they read no information at all.

“Fact-checking organizations may provide a public good in their attempts to correct the record, but we should not expect them to lead to a more accurately informed public,” Lay said.

The study found that Republican and Democrat beliefs in election myths declined when Breitbart said there was no evidence of voter fraud.

“Democrats may be so surprised that Breitbart would support this information that confirms their ideological position that they believe it must be true,” Holman

says. “When partisan media provide accurate information that counters its typical ideological position, this can be especially persuasive not only to co-partisans, but also to members of the other party.”

The authors found the study results especially troubling because “the highly partisan sources that could be most convincing were the least likely to provide accurate news.”

YouTube fuels ‘How To’ knowledge, understanding of world events A majority of Americans from all demographics are YouTube adopters, with younger Americans standing out as especially avid users of the site, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults.

The study found users are turning to YouTube for much more than entertainment. Nearly half of users say the platform is very important for helping them figure out how to do things they’ve never done before. That’s about 35 percent of all U.S. adults, once both users and non-users of the site are considered. And nearly onein-five YouTube users (representing 13 percent of the total adult population) say it is very important for helping them understand events that are happening in the world.

The survey also highlights YouTube’s key role in providing content for children.

Eighty one percent of all parents with children age 11 or younger say they ever let their child watch videos on YouTube. And 34 percent of parents say their child watches content on YouTube regularly. Of note, YouTube explicitly states that the platform is not intended for children younger than 13, and that the site provides a YouTube Kids option for children that has enhanced parental controls.

But even as many users are turning to content on YouTube in understanding the world and learning new things, a large number encounter negative experiences with content on the platform. Some twothirds of users (64 percent) say they at least sometimes encounter videos that seem obviously false or untrue while using the site, while 60 percent at least sometimes encounter videos that show people engaging in dangerous or troubling behavior, according to the report. And among parents who let their young child watch content on the site, 61 percent say they have encountered content they felt was unsuitable for children.

The survey also highlights the prominent role the site’s recommendations play in its users’ consumption habits. These “up next” videos are selected by the site’s algorithm and appear alongside or below the video viewers are currently watching. Depending on a user’s individual settings, these vid-

eos may play automatically once the video they are watching has finished. About 81 percent of YouTube users say they at least occasionally watch the videos suggested by the platform’s recommendation algorithm, including 15 percent who say they do this regularly, according to the survey.

To further understand the nature of the video recommendations on YouTube, the Pew Research Center conducted an additional study of the videos suggested by the site’s recommendation algorithm. The Center conducted more than 170,000 “random walks” through the videos recommended to viewers of popular YouTube channels using the site’s public application programming interface (API) in a sixweek period this past summer.

In all, these 174,117 random walks resulted in 696,468 total encounters with 346,086 unique recommended videos.

A key finding of this analysis is the YouTube recommendation system encourages users to watch progressively longer and more popular content. The videos selected in the first step of these random walks averaged 9 minutes, 31 seconds in length.

The first recommended video tied to this initial choice ran, on average, nearly three minutes longer. By the fifth and final step in these walks, the site recommended videos that averaged nearly 15 minutes in length.

These videos collectively increased view counts substantially (by an average of 38.5 million views) between the first and last time they were encountered, according to the survey.

Legal Mic | Girl (Scouts) take on Boy (Scouts) Girl Scouts of the USA wants to take Boy Scouts of America to court – and it has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Boy Scouts of trademark infringement.

This started last October, when the Boy Scouts said it would allow girls to join its programs.

That decision was strongly decried by

the Girl Scouts. In a scathing letter released Todd Smith

by BuzzFeed News, Girl Scouts National President Kathy Hopinkah Hannan accused the Boy Scouts’ national president at the time, Randall Stephenson, of carrying out a “covert campaign” to recruit girls.

When the Boy Scouts announced it would start to admit girls, the organization said it made the decision after years of requests. It also expected programs that serve the “whole family” would be more convenient and appealing to busy parents, to single parents and in some minority communities.

In the complaint filed recently in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Girl Scouts argue that the Boy Scouts’ use of certain trademarks is “both new and uniquely damaging” to the organization.

One of the Boy Scouts’ programs is called Scouts BSA, which caters to boys and girls 11 to 17 years old. The organization also recently launched a campaign called “Scout Me In.” It’s the generic use of “Scouts,” without a gender marker, that the Girl Scouts object to.

The Girl Scouts are asking the Boy Scouts to stop using stand-alone terms like “Scout” or “Scouting” and to train its troops and leadership accordingly. On top of that, the organization has asked for a jury trial.

Who knows what will ultimately come from the trademark lawsuit, but one thing is for sure: both organizations are getting a branding black eye in the court of public opinion!

Todd Smith is president and chief communications officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, Tenn.

— is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @ spinsurgeon.

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