The Mississippi Business Journal articles from August 2007

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from August 2007

Hub City boom continues with medical, retail, industrial growth.
August 6, 2007... The growth boom that began several years ago in Hattiesburg continues. The strategically located Forrest County city spills into two counties, sits at the intersection of busy Interstate 59 and U.S. 49, and is an easy drive from New Orleans and...

Economic expectations high for Saints camp.
August 6, 2007... On July 27, the New Orleans Saints opened their preseason training camp on the campus of Millsaps College. Last season following the team's first training camp at Millsaps, the Saints were the feel-good story of the National Football League,...

Everywhere a sign.
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Candidates' signs have been sprouting along roadways and at intersections around the state, including this outbreak on Old Fannin Road in Rankin County, touting a wide range of political candidates for local...

Central Mississippi Medical Center.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeanne Nizigiye, M.D., has joined the Central Mississippi Medical Center medical staff and the practice of Aamir Raza, M.D., and Akif Khawaja, M.D., at Mississippi Neuroscience Center. Nizigiye Nizigiye is a...

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Doug Pyron, president of the Pyron Group Inc., has been named to the 2007 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. All Star Team for the third time. The award is presented annually to 12 agents who have attained excellence in sales of property and...

Golden Triangle Regional Airport.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) recently announced that Mike Hainsey, A.A.E., executive director at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, has successfully completed all three phases of the accreditation process for airport...

Eubank & Betts, PLLC.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Rachel K. Gaines has joined the CPA firm of Eubank & Betts as a staff accountant in Jackson. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a B.S.B.A. cum laude in accounting in May. Gaines will specialize in...

Hattiesburg Clinic.(People to Watch)(appointment of Debra Blackledge)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... Debra Blackledge, CFNP, has joined Hattiesburg Clinic's Ellisville Family Clinic. She received her associate degree in nursing from Jones County Junior College and her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of...

Southern Public Relations Federation.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recently announced that Kim Foster Collins, APR, of Tupelo will serve as the organization's first association assistant. As association assistant for the 1,200-plus member organization, she will...

Kanengiser named MC news coordinator.(People to Watch)(appointment of Andy Kanengiser)(Mississippi College)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Andy Kanengiser, a longtime higher education reporter with The Clarion-Ledger, has been named Mississippi College's university news coordinator. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Adding Andy to...

Rotary Club of Downtown Jackson leadership.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Special to the Mississippi Business Journal New leadership of the Rotary Club of Downtown Jackson was installed at a recent meeting. President Stuart Kellogg (right) turned over the gavel to incoming president...

Bailey Breland Real Estate joins Weichert Special to the Mississippi Business Journal.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... W.C. "Bill" Bailey and Catherine Breland, owners of Bailey Bretand Real Estate, along with managing Realtors Darryl Breland and Freddie George, have announced that the Madison agency has joined the Weichert Real Estate Affiliates network. Newly...

Refocusing after a few days away can be tough.(Perspective)
August 6, 2007... Please forgive the lack of focus in this space this week. Catching up from a few days away from the office has been challenging, but it's great to be back with so much happening this time of year. We have political primaries this week. It's...

Prudential Ann Prewitt Realty.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Debby Bridges of Prudential Ann Prewitt Realty in Ridgeland was recently awarded the Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. GRIs earn the designation by attending a specific, intensive series of a minimum of 90 hours of classroom...

Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... William Hilbun has joined Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance in Starkville as a commercial lines producer. The Starkville native was self-employed in the commercial hunting industry and was with Farm Bureau Insurance prior to joining...

Hancock Bank.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... I. Bandy Singh of Hattiesburg has joined Hancock: Bank as a vice president and corporate relationship manager for the company's Pine Belt commercial lending team. A native of Greenwood, Singh has 26 years of banking experience, with 13 years in...

Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Ron Kitchens has been named 2007-2008 chairman of the board for the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce. A system administrator at the University of Mississippi, he has worked for Ole Miss for more than 24 years. He has also been an...

Steak-Out Char-Broiled Delivery of Jackson.(People to Watch)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... Steak-Out Char-Broiled Delivery of Jackson has won a Silver Service Award, which honors operators whose stores consistently exhibit and perform to the Steak-Out product quality, service, image and store cleanliness standards. Selected locations...

Community Bank.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Michael Bellipanni has joined Community Bank in DeSoto County as a vice president and lender. He has six years of lending experience and is currently attending the Barret School of Banking at Christian Brothers University. A native of Belzoni,...

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.(People to Watch)
August 6, 2007... Barry W. Ford of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz has been inducted into the Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary society composed of less than one-half of 1% of American lawyers. He concentrates his practice in the areas of...

High-profile Interstate 55 location coming back with dealership.
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A renovation project is bringing some welcome news to the City of Jackson. The former Save Rite grocery store on Interstate 55 in North Jackson, which has been vacant for years now, is undergoing a major renovation...

Standard Life Building to be reborn, thanks to King Edward.
August 6, 2007... In a rather ironic turn of events, the historic King Edward Hotel, which was barely spared from going the way of the wrecking ball, has saved the equally venerable Standard Life Building from perhaps a similar fate. After years of debate,...

Tossing around relevant facts that have come around again.
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal There are a few old sayings that got us thinking recently. "What goes around comes around" and "The more things change, the more they stay the same" are two. A third is "The only constant is...

Penn Virginia makes acquisitions in Jeff Davis.(Energy, Oil & Gas Notes)
August 6, 2007... Penn Virginia Corporation has closed on two acquisitions for $32.5 million, including one in Mississippi targeting the Selma Chalk. The acquisition in Mississippi encompasses approximately 640 acres located in the Gwinville Field of...

Oil and gas asset report available.(Energy, Oil & Gas Notes)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... Research and Markets has added Global Market Direct's "U.S. Mississippi Oil and Gas Asset Report" to its lineup of offerings. The report is a comprehensive source for data on the major oil and gas assets for Mississippi. The report...

Business events (and more).(Calendar)
August 6, 2007... Thursday, August 9 * The third-annual Greenwood-Leflore Corporate Golf Invitational for Mississippi Valley State University will be held at the Greenwood Country Club. It is the university's second-largest fundraising event. Six...

'High cotton' is not what Magnolia State growers want now.(Mississippi Crop Report)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Who does not want to be in "high cotton"? The answer is Mississippi cotton growers. For the rest of society, being in high or tall cotton signifies prosperity and good fortune, but for this...

Demonstrations will show dove field management.(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... Knowledge of how to plant and manage a legal dove field in Mississippi can put hunters ahead of the game as mourning dove season approaches. Two Dove Field Demonstrations and Wildlife Field Days will be held in August. The first will be at...

Hospitals taking innovative steps to attract, retain skilled staff.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Shortages of doctors, nurses and other skilled healthcare providers is a problem across the country. But on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where there are housing shortages and increased costs of living due to the number of homes and apartments...

Demand for mental health services unabated on Coast.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... It is nearly two years since Hurricane Katrina hit, and yet the demand for mental health services for people who have been struggling with recovery from the hurricane has not diminished. "I think everyone in the mental health field is...

Care facilities slammed by Katrina back stronger than ever.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Coast hospitals that took on major damages from Hurricane Katrina have come back stronger than ever, and in some cases are better equipped now--because so much medical equipment destroyed in the storm had to be replaced--than before the storm....

Thompson has department on road to regaining public trust.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A big part of the problems at the Mississippi State Department of Health revealed in Mississippi Senate hearings in 2006 stemmed from a reluctance to announce bad news. But Interim State Health Officer Dr. Ed...

CMMC investing in Gamma Knife Center, Women's Pavilion.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... The staff at Central Mississippi Medical Center (CMMC) in Jackson is staying busy these days. The hospital recently began an upgrade to the Robert R. Smith, M.D., Gamma Knife Center. And it is in the preparing to unveil its...

UMC saving more lives by focusing on kidney transplants.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Each year, 7,000 people in the U.S. die of kidney disease while waiting for a transplant. This is a particularly important issue in Mississippi, which has one of the highest rates of diabetes and kidney failure in the nation. But this...

Excellent service, work environment goals of new facility: when Dr. Frank Hodges thought about new office space, he didn't want to compromise on his focus of providing a welcoming "hometown" setting for employees and patients.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... When Dr. Frank Hodges contemplated new, expanded office space to accommodate his growing orthodontics practice, he did not want to compromise on his focus of also providing a welcoming "hometown" setting for employees and patients. With the...

St. Dominic Health Services names CFO.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Jackson-based St. Dominic Health Services has named Deidra Bell, CPA, FHFMA, chief financial officer. She previously served as senior vice president and CFO of the Shore Health System in Eaton,...

Bottom line? Soaring obesity rates in state cost all of us.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... It is no secret that Mississippi has a weight problem. We battle other southern states for the dreadful title of most obese state in the nation, and we usually win. That distinction costs us in terms of health and finance. Figures from the...

Pharmacy practice prof elected chair of national professional faculty council.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Brian L. Crabtree, associate professor of pharmacy practice and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has been elected chair of the Council of...

After hours clinics.(Directory)
August 6, 2007... After Hours Clinics Company Name, Year Founded Address Phone/Fax Locations No. of Employees No. of Physicians MEA Medical 308 Corporate Dr., (601) 898-7520/ Clinics,...

Healthcare language barrier can be matter of life and death.(Healthcare Mississippi)
August 6, 2007... Language barriers can be difficult when it comes to communicating with Mississippi's growing immigrant population. For healthcare providers, it can be more than frustrating--it can mean the difference between life and death. Understanding what...

Awareness, education keys to containing healthcare costs.(Healthcare MS)
August 6, 2007... The increasing cost of healthcare is a continuing story that has employees, employers and providers looking for ways to keep these increases contained and as manageable as possible. All suggestions are welcome. Ginger Lay says the Singing...

Hospices.
August 6, 2007... Number of Total Name, Year Founded Staff Number of locations Address Phone/Fax E-mail/Web site South Mississippi 500 16 HomeCare and...

Toyota supplier plans $180-million facility.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... BLUE SPRINGS -- Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. (TAB) will build a $180-million plant in North Mississippi, making it the first announced supplier to Toyota's new auto assembly plant in Blue Springs. TAB officials made the decision public in Japan....

Ershigs in Tishomingo.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... TISHOMINGO COUNTY -- Ershigs Inc. of Bellingham, Wash., has unveiled the location of the company's latest expansion in this Northeast Mississippi county. The company will lease several buildings at Tri-State Commerce Park from the...

Lucite sells plant.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... OLIVE BRANCH -- Lucite International Inc, part of the Lucite International Group, has sold its facilities in Olive Branch and Monterrey, Mexico, to Plaskolite Inc. Terms were not disclosed. "This transaction signifies a new phase in our...

Encore eyeing Caribbean.(Strictly Business)(Encore Energy Systems Inc)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... OXFORD -- Encore Energy Systems Inc. plans to expand its sales and distribution of its geothermal heating and cooling systems to the Caribbean. The company intends to open new sales offices in a soon to be announced port city located...

EADS completes delivery.(Strictly Business)(EADS North America Inc.'s UH-72A Lakotas)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... LOWNDES COUNTY -- EADS North America has delivered its eighth UH-72A Lakota to the U.S. Army, completing the initial phase of a multi-billion dollar contract awarded the company last year for up to 322 light utility helicopters. As with...

OSHA proposes penalties.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... VICKSBURG -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties totaling $123,400 against two companies in Vicksburg for 47 serious safety violations. OSHA proposed penalties of $118,300 against Cappaert...

Airport awarded funding.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... GULFPORT -- Federal funding totaling $2 million has been released in support of ongoing upgrades to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. The funds are part of a continuing series of federal appropriations designed to help expand the airport...

More WNV identified.(Strictly Business)(West Nile virus)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... AROUND MISSISSIPPI -- The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has reported five new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV). The new WNV cases are in Adams, Forrest, Scott, Smith and Stone counties. Since April, a total of 13 WNV...

MDEQ approves grant.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... PEARL RIVER COUNTY -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has approved a grant of more than $2.44 million for planning and engineering costs for four infrastructure projects in this South Mississippi county. The...

Ross to start in January.(Strictly Business)(appointment of Dr. George E. Ross at State Institutions of Higher Learning)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... LORMAN -- According to the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), Dr. George E. Ross, whom the IHL Board of Trustees selected to serve as the next president of Alcorn State University, announced that his leukemia is in remission. Ross is...

Botulism alert issued.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) are notifying the public of an ongoing recall of food products connected with several cases of botulism poisoning....

Debris guide released.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has released a guide on the disposal of the various components of architectural debris resulting from construction, renovation and demolition activities. The document...

Howitzer upgrade approved.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... HATTIESBURG -- The latest version of BAE Systems' M777 Lightweight 155mm Howitzer is now cleared to fire a longer-range and more accurate projectile following official approval. The receipt of a Full Material Release for the A2 version from...

Cabela's Trophy Properties chooses brokers.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Special to the Mississippi Business Journal OXFORD AND MADISON -- Cabela's Trophy Properties has selected Heritage Land & Timber, LLC, of Oxford and Sartain's Heritage Properties, LLC, of Madison as its exclusive...

MDOT: U.S. 51 update.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... MADISON COUNTY -- According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), progress continues on the U.S. 51 project through Madison and Ridgeland, which has run past its expected completion date. MDOT gave the following update on...

STARS adopted.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... RIDGELAND -- According to Digital Quest Inc., the Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing Geospatial Apprenticeship Program (STARS Geo AP) has adopted the STARS certification curriculum materials as part of the National Standards of...

Edward Jones tops ranking.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... BRANDON -- For the third consecutive year, the financial services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in investor satisfaction with full-service service brokerage firms, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2006 "Full Service Investor...

MC campaign on track.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... CLINTON -- Mississippi College's $65-million campaign to enhance academic programs, scholarships and building projects has reached the $47-million mark, school leaders. "We are optimistic we will achieve our goal and have high hopes of...

USM forms new center.(Strictly Business)(University of Southern Mississippi)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... HATTIESBURG -- An academic center dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of the contribution of blacks to the cultural, political and economic life of Mississippi and the United States has been established at the University of Southern...

Southern chooses Siemens.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... GULFPORT -- Atlanta-based Southern Company has selected Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution Inc.'s Spectrum Power 3 energy management system to monitor, control and optimize the reliability of its transmission system consisting of more...

Court distributes funds.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi. Supreme Court)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... AROUND MISSISSIPPI -- Members of the Mississippi Supreme Court delivered checks totaling $251,663 July 30-31 to programs that provide civil legal assistance to poor people. The Supreme Court has directed that the money be divided among the...

TelCom Center honored.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- The $27-million Mississippi Telecommunications & Conference Center, designed by Arquitectonica in conjunction with Jackson-based Dale and Associates Architects P.A., has received recognition. The building's design recently...

Tunica National lowers rates.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... TUNICA -- Tunica National Golf and Tennis is offering what it calls "historically low rates" for August. "We are offering these incredible specials because in our four years since we opened, the golf course is in the best shape it's ever...

Hospitals earn award.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON COUNTY -- Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospital were both recently recognized for excellence in treating congestive heart failure. According to the hospitals, they were two of 98 hospitals nationwide that were recognized...

Jackson State, Tougaloo launching leader program.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- Jackson State University (JSU), in conjunction with Tougaloo College, will launch a program this fall to prepare current and aspiring public leaders to better respond to Mississippi's challenges. The Thompson, Henry, Hamer,...

State jobless rate climbs: Clay County sees highest rate, DeSoto County lowest.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal As expected, Mississippi's unemployment rose in June. According to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES), the state's unemployment rate in June was 6.9%. up from 6% in May. The...

Events in Top 20.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- The Southeast Tourism Society (STS) has named two annual Jackson events to its "Top 20 Events in the Southeast." They are the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza and CelticFest Mississippi. Sponsored by the Mississippi Wildlife...

GSMFC presents check.(Strictly Business)(Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission )(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... BILOXI -- Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) executive director Larry Simpson recently presented the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources (CMR) with a $2.8-million check to be used for oyster reef rehabilitation projects....

Mass layoffs increased.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... WASHINGTON -- In June, employers took 1,219 mass layoff actions, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of workers...

MTA chooses Leading Edges.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... MADISON -- The Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) has Leading Edges Advertising as its advertising agency of record. The value of the contract was not disclosed. A request for proposal was sent to all agencies in Mississippi, and three...

MDTA offering package.(Strictly Business)(http://www.visitthedelta.com/)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... VICKSBURG -- Guests visiting http://www.visitthedelta.com/, the marketing Web site for the Mississippi Delta Tourism Association (MDTA), currently have the opportunity to register and win a Mississippi Delta adventure featuring the entire...

DMR wins awards.(Strictly Business)(Department of Marine Resources)(National Association of Government Communicators)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... BILOXI -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) received two awards in the 2007 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards competition held by the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) to recognize the government's best...

Program fights hunger.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- Mississippi Food Network, Kroger, Acosta Sales and Marketing agency and several participating consumer packaged goods brands teamed again for the second year to raise $4 million of food for hunger relief through the "Bringing Hope to...

Marker remembers James.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... CANTON -- A new Mississippi Blues Trail marker honoring Elmore James was erected July 17. It represented the City of Canton's first marker on the trail. James, a pioneering electric slide guitarist, was a familiar figure in the juke joints...

Board increases salaries.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- During an executive session held as part of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning's (IHL) monthly meeting, the board voted to approve 5% state salary increases for institutional executive officers. The...

Fishing guide published.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... BILOXI -- The 2007-2008 edition of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' (DMR's) free booklet, "A Guide to Mississippi Saltwater Fishing Rules and Regulations," is now available at the DMR office in Biloxi. The guide incorporates new...

Harrah's recognized.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... TUNICA -- The Memphis Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) has named Harrah's Entertainment Inc. as Corporate Partner of the Year. Harrah's mid-South vice president of security Melvin Burgess accepted the award on behalf of...

Sea Wolves, Southern Miss partner for intern program.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... GULFPORT AND BILOXI -- The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the Mississippi Sea Wolves have formed a partnership that will provide internships for students in USM's School of Human Performance and Recreation. "We are offering...

FCM offering training.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... JACKSON -- Friends of Children of Mississippi Inc. (FCM) has started the T.W.O. project--providing job training, work skill development, personal skill development and job placement opportunities. For more information contact Dr. Marvin...

PEER scrutinizes university foundations.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal The Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review has released it 500th report, this one titled "An Analysis of the Legal Status of University Foundations, their Oversight, and...

Big projects funded.(Strictly Business)
August 6, 2007... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved approximately $486 million in funding to be directed to Mississippi for transportation infrastructure improvements and economic development initiatives. The committee...

AIA honors GCCDS.(Strictly Business)(American Institute of Architects)(Brief article)
August 6, 2007... BILOXI -- The American Institute of Architects' (AIA's) regional organization is honoring Mississippi State University's Gulf Coast Community Design Studio (GCCDS) for its work with the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. The AIA/Gulf...