The Mississippi Business Journal articles from August 2003

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from August 2003

Big bucks for ads: get ready for 'a slugfest,' says exec.(general elections advertising)
August 4, 2003... Television, direct mail and yard signs, radio and prior. That's the order of media outlets that politicians will deluge with advertisements after the primaries have determined the final lineup for the general elections Nov. 4. It's a given...

Security in place to protect energy infrastructure.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)
August 4, 2003... Since the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, of 2002, there have been concerns about the security of the nation's energy infrastructure, and the potential for terrorist attacks against targets such as refineries and electric power...

'Go to agency' welcomes new director: exporting to China seminar set for Aug. 8.(U.S. Export Assistance Center )(Bill Morris)
August 4, 2003... Three weeks into his new job as director of Mississippi's U.S. Export Assistance Center. Bill Morris has already acquired an impressive stack of business cards from people he has met in his travels around the state. "People here are very...

Eurocopter breaking ground in the Golden Triangle this week.(American Eurocopter Corp.)(helicopter manufacturing plant to open)
August 4, 2003... In the recently released blockbuster movie, "Lara Croft Tomb Raiders: The Cradle of Life," Eurocopters play a prominent role in the chase for the magical orb that opens Pandora's box. With their unique design, it's easy to spot them. By...

Vote in the primary, general election to come in November.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 4, 2003... Voting is a responsibility that far too many Mississippians neglect. And that's a shame. Good citizenship takes a range of forms, but in our representative democracy, voting is the bare minimum. Picking up trash, coaching kids,...

A publisher looks at 55.(As I See It)(Editorial)
August 4, 2003... I was born in Jackson on July 23, 1948. Nineteen-forty-eight. That means I hit 55 a couple of weeks ago. There's something sobering about qualifying for senior citizen discounts and, at many companies, early retirement. I don't feel old...

Change perspective, make a difference.(From the Ground Up)(community support)(Column)
August 4, 2003... Anyone who has ever flown in an airplane knows that the view is quite different depending on the altitude. Sometimes it is helpful to change altitudes when viewing one's community. I'll never forget my first airplane flight. I was fifteen...

Reduced Medicaid spending takes money out of economy.
August 4, 2003... In a recent column, Mississippi Business Journal publisher Joe D. Jones said, "Raising the bar for Medicaid qualification, even just a little bit, would solve the state's financial problems in one bold stroke." This statement reveals an...

Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.(People to Watch)(T. Duane Gordon named 2003 Hull Fellow)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... T. Duane Gordon of Canton, communications and programs officer for the Community Foundation, has been named a 2003 Hull Fellow by the Southeastern Council of Foundations (SCF). Gordon has handled the foundation's communication and administered...

Isle of Capri Casino Vicksburg.(People to Watch)(hires senior marketing director)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Heather Butler has been promoted to senior director of marketing at the Isle of Capri Casino Vicksburg. She began her gaming career in marketing at Harrah's Vicksburg in 1995 and was promoted numerous times. She joined the Isle of Capri in...

Mississippi State Hospital.(People to Watch)(Jarrod Ravencraft receives diploma)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Jarrod Ravencraft of Jackson recently received a diploma from the Mississippi State University John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Ravencraft is director of the public relations division at Mississippi Stare Hospital in Whitfield. He...

University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) Cancer Institute.(People to Watch)(names Joe Files director)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Dr. Joe Files, a nationally known cancer treatment expert, was named director of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) Cancer Institute. A native of Ackerman, Files is director of the medical center's division of hematology in the...

Wesley Medical Center.(People to Watch)(presented Sara Cargill with a Quarter Century Club plaque and a service award pin for over 25 years of service )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Sara Cargill recently received a Quarter Century Club plaque and a service award pin for her over 25 years of service at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg. More than 170 employees received service awards for five, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 years...

JBHM Land Planning Group.(People to Watch)(Brad Stringer, ASLA, CLARB to head JBHM Architects division)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Brad Stringer, ASLA, CLARB, will head up JBHM Land Planning Group, a division of JBHM Architects. Stringer joins JBHM after serving the industry for 10 years. Projects that he has worked on include Diversified Technology Incorporated and the...

Delta State University.(People to Watch)(graduate Roy Booth Jr. awarded the prestigious Hilton Hotel Internship )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Roy Booth Jr., a Delta State University computer information services major from Sardis, was awarded the prestigious Hilton Hotel Internship in Memphis. He was selected to intern in the technology department. He is the son of Roy and Brenda...

Vortex Truck Lines.(People to Watch)(president and CEO Bryan Gibson has been elected to the Mississippi Trucking Association's Self-Insuror's Fund board of directors)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The Mississippi Trucking Association announced that Bryan Gibson, president and CEO of Vortex Truck Lines, has been elected to its Self-Insuror's Fund board of directors. Vortex was founded in May 2000 by Gibson and Dr. Thomas Fowlkes and is...

Union Planters Bank.(People to Watch)(hired Jeff Miley and Scott Reeves as assistant vice presidents and investment executives)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Jeff Miley and Scott Reeves have joined Union Planters Bank as assistant vice presidents and investment executives. Miley, who has over 16 years of experience in the investments industry, previously worked at a local securities company. He is a...

Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A.(People to Watch)(named James P. Wilson Jr. a shareholder)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The law firm of Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A. announced that James P. Wilson Jr,. who practices in the Columbus office, has been named a shareholder in the firm. Wilson joined the Mitchell McNutt firm in 1997 and practices in the areas of...

Eyevox.(People to Watch)(Amy Braud named marketing director)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Amy Braud has been selected as marketing director for Eyevox, the Ridgeland-based film and video production company. Brand has worked as a marketing consultant with several Mississippi companies including the Group and the Sunflower County...

University of Mississippi.(People to Watch)(Larry A. Cox in line to become president of the American Risk and Insurance Association)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Larry A. Cox of Oxford, who has guided growth of the University of Mississippi's insurance program, is in line to become president of the American Risk and Insurance Association. Cox, the group's new vice president, would be the first...

Roy Anderson Corp.(People to Watch)(Bob L. Moss accepts appointment to board of directors)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Bob L. Moss has accepted appointment to the board of directors of Roy Anderson Corp. in Gulfport. Moss most recently served as president, chairman and CEO of CENTEX Construction Group.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District.(People to Watch)(Joe Woods wins American Recreation Coalition Legends award)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Joe Woods of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, was honored recently in Washington, D.C., as the Department of Defense recipient of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) Legends award. He received recognition as a moving...

Stewart Sneed Hewes/ BancorpSouth Insurance.(People to Watch)(Doyle P. "Bubba" Spell has joined company as an account executive)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Doyle P. "Bubba" Spell has joined Stewart Sneed Hewes/BancorpSouth Insurance as an account executive. A New Orleans native, Spell joins Stewart Sneed Hewes after retiring as president of Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters Inc., president...

The Peoples Bank & Trust Company.(People to Watch)(assistant vice president, marketing services manager Melonie McCarley Counee graduated with honors from the American Bankers Association School of Banking Marketing and Management)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Melonie McCarley Counee, assistant vice president and marketing services manager with The Peoples Bank & Trust Company in Tupelo, has graduated with honors from the American Bankers Association (ABA) School of Banking Marketing and Management...

Methodist Rehab Center one of 'America's Best Hospitals'.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON -- U.S. News & World Report has named Methodist Rehabilitation Center one of "America Best Hospitals." The hospital earned a spot on the list of 203 medical centers for its rheumatology/arthritis services, joining the likes of the...

Max Home building furniture.(Strictly Business)(furniture manufacturer Max Home L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... FULTON -- For the third time in le than six months a manufacturing concern has selected Itawamba County. Max Home, LLC, will occupy the 233,930-square-foot building formerly known as the River Oaks Building. The company will manufacture upscale...

Ship Systems leases building.(Strictly Business)(Northrop Grumman Corporation's sector)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... PASCAGOULA -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector has signed a five-year, $3.3-million lease with the Florida-based owners of the Kmart building on U.S. 90. The space will house approximately 600 employees working on the U.S....

Vietnam guilty.(Strictly Business)(illegally dumping fish products)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The International Trade Commission (ITC), in a 4-0 vote, determined that Vietnam has been illegally dumping fish products on the America market. The U.S. Department of Commerce will now issue an anti-dumpting order to Vietnam. ...

CHA sold, expansion planned.(Strictly Business)(Coast Healthcare Alliance Inc. )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... GULFPORT -- Advanced HealthCare Solutions of Mississippi has acquired Coast Healthcare Alliance Inc. (CHA). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CHA, a provider network representing 320 physicians and 10 hospitals, was formed in...

JH&H's design judged best.(Strictly Business)(JH&H Limited Architects Planners and Interiors)(wins award for library design)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... FLOWOOD -- The new G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library in Flowood, which was designed by JH&H, Ltd., Architects/Planners/Interiors, was honored with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Mississippi Chapter, 2003 Members Award at the...

Tunica National nears opening.(Strictly Business)(Tunica National Golf and Tennis Club)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... TUNICA -- The Tunica National Golf and Tennis Club is slated for opening in October, according to the Mississippi Development Authority's (MDA's) Division of Tourism. The 18-hole championship course, designed by Mark McCumber, is located on...

Fraud Hotline re-launched.(Strictly Business)(Department of Human Services)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) as re-launched the MDHS Fraud Hotline. Citizens across the state can now report abuses of any MDHS program by calling toll-free 1-800-299-6905. "The MDHS Fraud Hotline gives the...

Mississippi River Tours afloat.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... VICKSBURG -- Mississippi River Tours, LLC, is in operation, featuring the 54-foot pontoon boat "Sweet Olive" that offers daily tours and sunset cruises. The boat departs from the historic downtown waterfront each day at 2:30 p.m. with an...

MDAC using new station pump-testing technology.(Strictly Business)(Mississipi Department of Agriculture and Commerce)(gas station pumps)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON -- The Mississipi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is now using a new unit to speed the accuracy testing of pumps at gas stations, according to Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell Jr. Spell said the...

USM lands grant for GTAP.(Strictly Business)(University of Southern Mississippi)(Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program)
August 4, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- The University Southern Mississippi (USM) has received a $1.5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to fund a pilot Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program (GTAP). Dr. Cyndi Gaudet is USM associate professor of...

White, Pizza Inn win award.(Strictly Business)(restaurateurs win awards)(Malcolm White)(Bill Prout)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON AND WIGGINS -- Malcolm White of Hal and Mal's Restaurant and Brewpub in Jackson and Pizza, Inn of Wiggins have won the Mississippi Restaurant Association's (MRA's) Good Neighbor Award. They won the award for their involvement in...

Hunt Aviation developing.(Strictly Business)(developing hybrid aircraft)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... GULFPORT -- Hunt Aviation Corporation is developing a new type of hybrid aircraft based on the patents of inventor Robert D. Hunt of Pass Christian. The company is currently running advertisements in The Wall Street Journal and in aviation...

Imperial buying assets.(Strictly Business)(Imperial Petroleum Inc.)(Warrior Resources Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Imperial Petroleum Inc. of Evansville, Ind., has signed a definitive agreement with Warrior Resources Inc. to acquire its oil and gas assets for approximately $6.2 million. The oil and gas producing wells and leases are located in Texas and...

AT&T Wireless donates school supplies.(Strictly Business)(to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON -- As part of its Community Connections program, AT&T Wireless has donated 153 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi, a non-profit youth organization. AT&T Wireless employees delivered...

Hollywood Casino wins 44 awards.(Strictly Business)(during Casino Player's 2003 Best of Gaming Readers Survey)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... TUNICA -- Hollywood Casino recently won 44 awards during Casino Player's 2003 Best of Gaming Readers Survey. They included 22 first place awards, 14 second place awards and eight third place awards. The 2003 Best of Gaming wins include Best...

Truckers set safety record.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Large truck-related fatalities in 2002 were at their lowest level since the first recorded statistics in 1975, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT's) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In 2002,...

Hub City passing out weather radios.(Strictly Business)(Hattiesburg's Early Warning Weather Alert Program)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- According to Mayor Johnny DuPree, he has been "blown away" by the response to the city's Early Warning Weather Alert Program. The first of its kind in the country, the program is using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)...

FERC pushing mandated regional transmission organizations: outcome would be bad for Mississippians, say PSC commissioners.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Public Service Commission )
August 4, 2003... Mandating regional transmission organizations (RTOs) isn't mandating deregulation but it will eventually have that effect if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gets its wish, said Central District Public Service Commissioner...

Hebert: mandatory RTOs without PSC approval 'ludicrous'.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)(regional transmission organizations)(public service commissioners)
August 4, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Mandatory RTOs (regional transmission organizations) without the approval of state public service commissioners is ludicrous, said former FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) chief Curt L. Hebert Jr., now executive vice...

Manufacturers dreading climb of natural gas prices.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)
August 4, 2003... They're already coping with competition as a result of NAFTA and other free trade agreements, not to mention the after-effects of Sept. 11, 2001. Now manufacturers are facing the prospect of significantly higher natural gas prices this coming...

Increased natural gas drilling activity hasn't followed higher prices.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)
August 4, 2003... With natural gas prices at levels abnormally high for this time of the year, there are great concerns about the ripple effect in the economy. But could one possible positive impact be increased natural gas drilling activity in the state? ...

Power companies increasingly focused on financial side.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)
August 4, 2003... In the past, top executives in the utility industry have typically been engineers who have risen up through the ranks. Carolyn Shanks, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi since 1999, had a different career path as a CPA. She thinks...

Milder summer leads to slight decrease in power demands.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)
August 4, 2003... Cooler and wetter weather than normal has resulted in slightly decreased demand for electricity this summer in Mississippi. "The rain and mild weather so far this summer has kept our actual demand lower than we expected," said Lorri...

East Mississippi EPA powering more than homes and businesses.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)(Electric Power Association)
August 4, 2003... MERIDIAN -- Few companies can boast of superior customer service like East Mississippi Electric Power Association (EMEPA). "When you go to church with people you send bills to every month, who lose air conditioning or lights if you don't do...

Electric Power Associations.(Directory)
August 4, 2003... Electric Power Associations Association Contact Address Phone/FAX Coast EPA Robert J. Occhi P.O. Box...

Trust funds helping finance speculative buildings: fourth facility built with help from Mississippi Power ready for occupancy.(Focus Oil, Gas, Energy & Utilities)(Mississippi Power Economic Development Trust)
August 4, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- A brand new 80,000-square-foot building in the Hattiesburg Forest County industrial Park, with the capability of doubling in size and available rail service, is ready for an industrial tenant. Until one is found, Mississippi...

SecureCrete likes nails and hates tornadoes, developer says.(new building material)
August 4, 2003... PEARL -- Wood is not an efficient building material--there had to be something better. That basic thought is what drove homebuilder Mike Rodgers to start research on an alternative building material to wood. Now eight years later, Rodgers is...

Neshoba Fair cabin rebuildings have changed considerably.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Kenneth Breland wears two big hats each summer. He's president of the Neshoba County Fair Association and also president of Philadelphia's Breland Building & Supply. Either would be a lesson in frustration for a lesser man, but...

Repubs rule: ABC endorses Barbour; HBAM stands behind Tuck: other construction associations take middle road on candidates.(Construction Mississippi)(Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors endorses Haley Barbour, Home Builders Association of Mississippi endorses Amy Tuck)
August 4, 2003... Following suit behind the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA), which endorsed a gubernatorial candidate for the first time in its history, Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) board of directors voted earlier this month...

Choices abound when considering building a tennis court.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... So you want to build a tennis court? Beware of low-bid construction and contractors with little or no experience or you could end up with a "bird bath" instead of a fine tennis court that will provide many years of good playing conditions. ...

Continued rainy weather hampers construction progress.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... From road building to home building, rainy weather this spring and summer has wreaked havoc on the construction industry. "It's probably tougher on us road builders than any other area of construction because if you get the foundation...

Locals have plenty of questions about Starkville bypass: opening date for Mississippi 25 project: mid-August.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... STARKVILLE -- The original completion date was Sept. 24, 2002. Then the opening of the Mississippi 25 bypass was bumped to Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and a handful of target dates were posted for May, June and July. The latest word...

Carothers remains on top with diverse service makeup, client base: a Mississippi Business Journal Q & A.(Construction Mississippi)(Sean B. Carothers)(Interview)
August 4, 2003... WATER VALLEY -- Sean B. Carothers, president of Water Valley-based Carothers Construction Inc., joined the three-generation, family-owned business in 1982 and has helped make the company an industry leader by paying close attention to market...

Progress on metro-area parkways moving forward.(Construction Mississippi)(Jackson)
August 4, 2003... JACKSON -- Two major parkway projects in metro Jackson that will alleviate traffic flow and provide options for crossing the Pearl River are moving steadily forward. The Airport Parkway project is back on track and the Metro Parkway...

BCAM SIF returns $3 million to members.(Construction Mississippi)(Builders and Contractors Associations of Mississippi Self Insurers Fund)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A little something extra--The Builders and Contractors Associations of Mississippi Self Insurers Fund (BCAM SIF) is proud to announce plans to return over $3 million in surplus to its members. Since its inception in 1991, BCAM SIF has now...

Professional development, consumer satisfaction program's goals.(Construction Mississippi)(Certified Professional Builder Program)
August 4, 2003... Tile Homebuilders Association of Mississippi has recently established a Certified Professional Builder Program to assist in consumer awareness and professionalism through education, professional development and consumer satisfaction. The...

No summer break for campus construction projects.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... Despite above average rainfall this year that has affected construction work, numerous construction projects at the state's three largest universities have been a bright spot in the construction industry that has been impacted by a slowdown in...

General contractors doubling as real estate developers: need for business diversification is motivating factor.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... Not long after graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1994, Claiborne Frazier joined the family construction company. But rather than work in the construction end of the three-generation business, Frazier got involved in real estate...

Paint and ag industries could see major boost from going green.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- The bad smell that can be overwhelming when you are painting isn't just annoying. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by paints are also hazardous to human health. VOCs can even contribute to what is known as the sick...

Low interest rates fuel building, sales and lending activity.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... As record low interest rates went even lower this summer, home building, sales and mortgage lending in Mississippi continued to benefit. Susan Selman, senior vice president and regional sales manager for AmSouth in Mississippi, said their...

Brandon contractor/accountant speaks the bank's lingo.(Construction Mississippi)(Steve Rowell)
August 4, 2003... BRANDON -- At the dedication of Holy Savior Catholic Church's new building in Clinton, Bishop William Houck joked to the crowd that the owner, contractor and architect were all in attendance, and they were still speaking to one another. ...

Tech-park development underway with attention on the details.(Construction Mississippi)(Howard Technology Park in Jones County Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... ELLISVILLE -- For decades, the land served as pasture for the Ellisville State School, going back to the days of Mississippi's Balance Agriculture With Industry program to bring the largely agricultural state into the industrial era. Now,...

Right-to-cure would be good for homebuilders, consumers.(As I See It)(mediation suggested as first step to stop liability suits)
August 4, 2003... How would you like it if the first you heard of a customer complaint were the filing of a lawsuit? Doesn't common courtesy dictate that the offender be peaceably notified fled that the product is defective and given a chance to cure the problem...

There are a few sure things: death, taxes--and change orders.(Taxing Matters)(accounting for construction project changes)
August 4, 2003... There are few sure things in life. We all know the saying about death and taxes. But contractors know about another universal truth. Change orders. Construction projects are seldom built the way they were originally designed planned or...

Metal buildings industry sees tough times past few years.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... When it's hot, you're hot. When it's not, you're not. "We go the way of the Mississippi manufacturer," said Ron Knapp, vice president and co-owner of ACI Building Components in Batesville. "If people are booming, we're doing good." ...

Project roundup.(Construction Mississippi)
August 4, 2003... Project Roundup is a compilation of ongoing construction and road building projects by Mississippi companies. Information was solicited from individual firms. It will be updated and expanded in future issues of Construction Mississippi. ...

Teeing off: casino courses boost state's reputation as a golf destination.(Focus Casinos & Gaming)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... There is no doubt that casinos have raised the bar when it comes to golf courses in the state. Some of the biggest names in golf--such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus--have been involved in designing casino golf courses in Mississippi. ...

Donations, issues, candidates intersect this fall: political allies sought for fight against tax hike, other issues, too.(Focus Casinos & Gaming)
August 11, 2003... Count on impressive maneuvering by political candidates and casino executives as political donations, gaming issues and campaigns intersect this fall. Even though both gubernatorial candidates--Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and...

Former FERC chief covers nuclear energy, grades DoE.(Curt L. Hebert Jr., Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Interview)
August 11, 2003... NEW ORLEANS -- Last week, the Mississippi Business Journal asked former FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) chief Curt L. Hebert Jr., now executive vice president of external affairs for Louisiana-based Entergy Corporation, to discuss...

Setting up for an exciting autumn.(elections)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 11, 2003... The stage is set for two very exciting political races, one with historic possibilities, this fall in Mississippi. Last week's primary election yielded no surprises in the nominees for governor: Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Haley...

Lost opportunity?(Perspective)(Jim Roberts defeated in primary)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... In the August 5th party primary, Mississippi Democrats squandered an opportunity to field a candidate for lieutenant governor who could reach across racial, geographic and economic divisions by choosing Barbara Blackmon over Jim Roberts. ...

Pomp, circumstance and the economy.(As I See It)
August 11, 2003... My son graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi on Aug. 1 with a degree in criminal justice. Job opportunities are scarce, and he is continuing to work two part-time jobs while awaiting word on several employment applications. Many...

Summertime blahs even in the voting booth.(Musings)(lukewarm political candidates)
August 11, 2003... It's soooooooooo hot. I knew that eventually summer would arrive with a blast of hot air, but I was still not ready for the insufferable heat of Mississippi in August. When it comes to the weather, I prefer a temperate climate. I'm not...

Rankin Medical Center.(People to Watch)(Marshall E. Belaga, M.D. joined the senior care program as medical director)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Marshall E. Belaga, M.D., recently joined the senior care program at Rankin Medical Center as medical director. He is also opening a private practice. Belaga moved to Brandon from Louisiana where he served as medical director at Central...

Mississippi Press Association.(People to Watch)(Patsy Speights elected president of the board)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Patsy Speights, editor of The Prentiss Headlight, has been elected president of the board of the Mississippi Press Association. Former president Charlie Mitchell, Vicksburg Post managing editor, will now serve on the board as immediate...

American Lung Association of Mississippi.(People to Watch)(Kay Hullings appointed)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Kay Hullings recently joined the American Lung Association of Mississippi as executive director. Hullings joins the association from City of Hope Cancer Research Center in Los Angeles, where she served as regional director. In 1995, Non-Profit...

Mississippi Business Finance Corp.(People to Watch)(Fred McMurry appointed)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has appointed Fred McMurry of Hattiesburg to the Mississippi Business Finance Corp. McMurry is president and general manager of Havard Pest Control and director of the Hattiesburg branches of First National Bank of South...

University Press of Mississippi.(People to Watch)(Seetha Srinivasan appointed to Association of American University Presses)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Seetha Srinivasan of the University Press of Mississippi has been named president of the Association of American University Presses. Srinivasan is director of University Press. She came to the publishing company in 1979 as an editorial and...

Mississippi State Board of Contractors.(People to Watch)(Donald Doleac appointed)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has appointed Donald Doleac of Hattiesburg to the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Doleac is the president and director of Doleac Electric Company Inc. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi.