The Mississippi Business Journal articles from December 2008

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from December 2008

Big bucks! In 2007, Mississippi hunters and anglers had a $835-million impact on the state's economy.
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are certain signs that cold weather is approaching Mississippi. The leaves turn yellow and orange. Grass turns brown. But the most recognizable harbinger of winter is a pair of deer antlers sticking...

Good HR directors project calm, confidence in the face of downturn.
December 1, 2008... These are turbulent times for Mississippi businesses weathering the downturn in the economy, and keeping things flowing smoothly on the human resources (HR) front is a challenge especially if HR directors are faced with the difficult task of...

On the horizon.(Perspective)(Cartoon)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $90 MILLION DEFICIT IN '09 WE MAY HAVE TO REALLY FIX IT THIS TIME!

EPA should have historical background of Delta.(Perspective)(Environmental Protection Agency)
December 1, 2008... If you first listen to environmentalists and the Environmental Protection Agency as to why they are opposed to the Yazoo Backwater project, they make a pretty compelling argument. The EPA has said the project would have incurred...

Business tips still good today.(Perspective)(Editorial)
December 1, 2008... More than 20 years ago, I met a unique man. His name was Charlie Mouser and I liked him immediately. He was knowledgeable about his field, a loud talker with that wiry evangelist's haircut. He worked hard, was at times gruff and always...

Help take care of neighbors during the holidays.(Editorial)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... In this time of economic uncertainty, it is good to know that Mississippians are more likely to help their own than anywhere else in America. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, it was stated that big corporations, looking at their...

Current market offers opportunities.(Perspective)
December 1, 2008... With my stock portfolio off 42 percent from a year ago, at which time I "semi-retired" intending to, at least in part, live off my investments, I've had to rethink my situation and get a new plan. I'm sure that my frustration and anguish over...

To blog or not to blog.(Perspective)
December 1, 2008... Are you thinking about starting a blog? Do wonder about the pros and cons of blogging? What should you put in a blog? Before going any further, it might be useful to define the term. A good definition is provided by wikipeia.org. It states...

A new paradigm for development.(Perspective)(Delta Regional Authority )
December 1, 2008... The future of the Delta rests with its people and their communities, not with the federal government or state governments. But those of us at the Delta Regional Authority have a role to play in making sure communities achieve their potential....

Dale embraces new challenges after 32 years as insurance commissioner.(Focus)
December 1, 2008... Former Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale was one of the state s most popular politicians, easily winning re-election again and again until earning the distinction of being the nation's longest-serving insurance commissioner. ...

Leaders preparing issues/proposals for lawmakers.(Insurance & Employee Benefits)
December 1, 2008... The insurance industry is preparing for the 2009 state legislative session by learning more about issues that concern them, and in some cases crafting proposed legislation. The Mississippi State Council of the Society for Human Resource...

Family Furniture deals with fraud charges: employees docked for healthcare insurance, but not covered.(Focus)
December 1, 2008... Not much bad news comes out of Oxford. But on Halloween, ironically, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood charged manufacturer Oxford Furniture Company owner Ted Carskadden, along with his son-in-law Dustin Metcalf, with insurance fraud. ...

Nationwide among first to implement Wind Mitigation Program: coastal policyholders may realize premium credit up to 35 percent.(Insurance & Employee Benefits)
December 1, 2008... In an unprecedented move, Nationwide Insurance has kicked off a discount program based on home construction features, including roof type, window protection and secondary water resistance. Reducing premiums for homeowners through...

Property/casualty insurance companies.
December 1, 2008... Property/Casualty Insurance Companies Premiums Market Company Written Share % Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company 380,925,407...

HUD approves Port plan.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... GULFPORT -- According to the Governor's Office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has accepted the State of Mississippi's revised plan to restore the Port of Gulfport, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. ...

Entergy adjusting rate.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... JACKSON -- Customers of Entergy Mississippi Inc. will likely soon see electric rates that are significantly lower than the high bills of summer 2008. That is due to a continued decline in natural gas prices. The utility has filed for a...

Peoples declines government assistance.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... BILOXI -- Peoples Financial Corporation, parent of The Peoples Bank, has decided to decline participating in the federal government's $700-billion rescue fund for financial institutions, the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program (CPP). ...

Barge removal delayed.(Strictly Business)(Casino Magic Casino)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... BAY ST. LOUIS -- According to Casino Magic Casino, due to lower tides and winds expected to shift to the north, the removal of the Casino Magic barge has been delayed until this week. More than 16 years after initiating what is now the not...

Board 'shocked' by documents.(Strictly Business)(laws of Environmental Protection Agency on Yazoo Backwater Project )
December 1, 2008... GREENVILLE -- The Mississippi Levee Board "is grateful" that Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) have again advised the Bush Administration that the Yazoo Backwater Project should be exempt from the Environmental...

PEER looks at IHL formula.(Strictly Business)(Institutions of Higher Learning )
December 1, 2008... JACKSON -- The PEER Committee has concluded an analysis of the formula the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) uses to determine allocations to the state's public universities. In FY04, IHL adopted a new formula for allocating state...

SemiSouth wins contract.(Strictly Business)(SemiSouth Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... STARKVILLE -- SemiSouth has earned another Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I contract. This contract, related to high-efficiency silicon carbide (SIC) power electronics technology, was awarded to SemiSouth due to the US...

HCC, USM sign agreement.(Strictly Business)(Hinds Community College )(University of Southern Mississippi )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... RAYMOND -- On Nov. 20, officials of Hinds Community College (HCC) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) held a signing ceremony, cementing a joint agreement between the two higher education institutions for a program offered in...

Regions chooses Cellular South.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... RIDGELAND -- Cellular South will provide mobile banking services to customers who bank with Regions Bank. The new mobile service will bring the convenience, flexibility and security of online banking to Regions' customers' wireless phones. ...

Polyester Fibers acquired.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... TUPELO -- Empire Investment Holdings' affiliate EIH Acquisitions, LLC, has completed the acquisition of Polyester Fibers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (L&P). Terms were not disclosed. Polyester Fibers is...

School districts honored.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- Fifteen Mississippi school districts were recognized in three categories Nov. 18 in the MSBA Lighthouse School Leader Awards Program, sponsored by the Mississippi School Boards Association, in partnership with Watkins &...

HAP centers merge.(Strictly Business)(Homeowner Assistance Program )(Mississippi Development Authority )(Disaster Recovery Division )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... BILOXI -- The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Disaster Recovery Division will consolidate two of its three Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) service centers, located in Prime Outlets and Singing River mails, in Gulfport and Gautier,...

Land donated for facility.(Strictly Business)(Forrest General Hospital)(Forrest General Healthcare Foundation)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... HATTIESBURG -- Thanks to a recent generous gift of land, Forrest General Hospital and the Forrest General Healthcare Foundation are closer on their way to building the area's first Inpatient Hospice Home. Susan Thomson Rutland and John...

Renasant declares dividend.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... TUPELO -- Renasant Corporation has approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share, to be paid January 2, 2009, to shareholders of record as of December 17, 2008. Renasant Corporation, headquartered is the parent of...

DCO eyes energy usage.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... TUPELO -- Day-Brite Capri Omega (DCO) is making a commitment to protect the environment through the continuous improvement of its energy performance. An organization-wide energy management approach will help enhance its financial health,...

Court wants comments.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi. Supreme Court)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Supreme Court is seeking public comments on proposed municipal court rules. A copy of the proposed rules is available at http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/rules/ rulesforcomment/2008/new_municipalcourt_rules.pdf. ...

AIA chapter seeking photos.(Strictly Business)(American Institute of Architects Mississippi)(Brief article)(Calendar)
December 1, 2008... JACKSON -- The American Institute of Architects Mississippi (AIA Mississippi) is issuing an open call for photographers of architecture for an upcoming art exhibit. The AIA Mississippi exhibit, "Mississippi Celebrates Architecture: The...

Mass layoffs decline.(Strictly Business)
December 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- In October, employers took 2,140 mass layoff actions, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at...

NMHS rated.(Strictly Business)(North Mississippi Health Services)
December 1, 2008... TUPELO -- Fitch Ratings has assigned an "F1+" short-term rating to North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) based on self-liquidity related to the expected reoffering of approximately $66.8 million in Mississippi Hospital Equipment and...

DMR named winner.(Strictly Business)(Environmental Protection Agency)(Department of Marine Resources )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... BILOXI -- The Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Program presented the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) with first- and second-place Gulf Guardian Awards in the government category at a ceremony held Oct. 29 in New...

FNC Inc.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Mortgage technology company FNC Inc. has named Rita Canthen to the position of compliance manager. In addition to her current responsibilities as an account manager, Cauthen will be the designated resource for all compliance-related matters...

BancorpSouth.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Renee Holcomb has been promoted to officer of BancorpSouth's Investment Department in Hattiesburg. She has been with BancorpSouth for 15 years. Brian Moore joined BancorpSouth as a commercial loan officer at the Main Office in Hattiesburg....

Singing River Hospital.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Richard Lucas, director of public relations and communications for Singing River Hospital System, has been named Senior Practitioner of the Year by the Mississippi Hospital Association. Lucas was recognized Nov. 7 at MHA's Marketing and Public...

Mississippi Women Lawers Association.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Amanda Green Alexander, a native of Kokomo has been elected president of Mississippi Women Lawyers Association, ("MWLA") a statewide organization founded to enhance and develop the image of lawyers in Mississippi, promote fellowship among the...

Millsaps College.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education have named Dr. Kimberly Burke at Millsaps College as the 2008 Mississippi Professor of the Year.

Mississippi School Boards Association.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Jackson County School Board president Kenneth Fountain has been elected new president of the Mississippi School Boards Association. Fountain, a member of the electrical distribution team with Dupont, was elected Nov. 18 by the Delegates...

William Carey University.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... William Carey University named Dr. Janet Williams as the new associate dean of nursing for extended campuses. Her responsibilities will include general oversight of the nursing programs on Carey's Gulfport and New Orleans campuses and she will...

Mississippi State Hospital.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) announced the appointment of Sheree Tynes of Jackson as Rehab Services director. Tynes, who has been employed at MSH since 1981, will be administratively responsible for recreation therapy, physical therapy,...

University of Southern Mississippi.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... The University of Southern Mississippi has named Dr. Tom Lansford as academic dean for the university's Gulf Coast operations effective Jan. 1. Lansford previously served as the Southern Miss College of Arts and Letters associate dean.

Pinnacle Trust.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Warren Wiltshire has been promoted chief legal counsel. Jeremy Nelson has been promoted to investment officer. Carol Brock has joined Pinnacle Trust as an operations specialist.

Southaven Chamber of Commerce.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... The Southaven Chamber of Commerce celebrated 39 years of excellence and leadership at the Annual Awards Luncheon. The Chamber's past president, Jeff Fowler, passed the gavel to incoming president, Ford Moore. The new members of the Chamber...

Community Bank.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Community Bank announced that Charlie Garretson has been named president of its Ellisville bank. Garretson replaces Harold Walker who has been promoted to executive officer of the bank. Garretson, a Leakesville native, most recently was...

St. Dominic Hospital.(People to Watch)
December 1, 2008... Officials at St. Dominic Hospital announced Paul Hernandez has joined the hospital as director of nutrition and food services. Hernandez's duties include oversight of patient nutrition and dietary needs, dietitians, dietary and cafeteria staff;...

The Greater Belhaven Market.(Party pics)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Susan Dale, Leslie Dale [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jessica Johnson, David, Danny, Patty Fultz [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeanette Ferguson, Rosanne Fischer [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jessica, Alex...

The business of the blues: the Dockery Farms Project: a way to educate people about the impact of blues in Mississippi.(Q&A for: Bill Lester, Executive Director of the Dockery Farm Foundation)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q What is the history of Dockery Farms? A--Mr. Will Dockery came to the Mississippi Delta in the 1880s. He purchased and cleared land, to raise cotton. As he pursued this further, the more people came to the...

Convention complex is a go.(Downtown Jackson )
December 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Downtown Jackson will get another economic boost when the Jackson Convention Complex (JCC) officially opens for business Jan. 14. And the first event is only the beginning. The new complex already has...

Farming families struggle through 'perfect storm'.
December 8, 2008... For some 25 years now, Kendall Garraway has been making a living off the land. His Hinds County farm is diversified, offering row crops, cattle and timber. As with all veteran farmers, he has seen his shares of ups and downs. However, the...

Mississippi could see growth sooner than rest of U.S.
December 8, 2008... The National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed last week what a lot of folks had known for a While: The U.S. economy is in a recession. Economists with the NBER said the nation's economy hit a peak in December 2007 and has tilted...

Entergy, Hood vow to fight it out to the end.
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- The legal wrangling--and the rhetoric--between Entergy Mississippi Inc. and the Attorney General's Office has ratcheted up several notches, and it appears this war may be a long and costly one. On Dec. 1, Entergy Mississippi...

Black Friday was great. What about the rest of the season?(surveys of National Retail Federation)
December 8, 2008... Retailers breathed a collective sigh of relief when Black Friday turned out to be much stronger than forecast. According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF's) survey "2008 Black Friday Weekend," more than 172 million shoppers visited...

Lackey honored for work on Scruggs case: judge helped send lawyer to jail on bribery charges.
December 8, 2008... The Exchange Club of Jackson presented Circuit Judge Henry Lackey, of Calhoun City, its Americanism award in a meeting last week. Lackey was the judge a group of attorneys, including Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, his son and law partners,...

Report: Toyota will delay opening in Blue Springs.
December 8, 2008... Another report that says the Toyota plant in Blue Springs will be delayed has surfaced. The Detroit News, in its "Auto Insider" column, quoted Toyota senior vice president for engineering Jun Umemura as saying the plant's opening....

State's budget for 2010 adopted.
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JBCL) adopted the spending recommendations for fiscal year 2010's budget this afternoon. Just under $5 billion was allocated for the fiscal year that begins next July 1. Not included in...

Recession alive and well.(Perspective)
December 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Don't tell anyone in Northeast Mississippi that the Magnolia State isn't feeling the impacts of the current worldwide recession as much as the rest of the United States and the world. It seems that where there is...

[Cartoon].(Perspective)(Cartoon)
December 8, 2008... WHOA! I GUESS IT REALLY IS BAD! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

PEER review of IHL is right.(Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review )(Editorial)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... Mississippi's legislative watchdog group was right on last week when it informed the state College Board it would not consider any future budget requests based on the FY 2009 model. The Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)...

Jackson's new convention center is impressive.(Perspective)
December 8, 2008... City, chamber, civic and community leaders have spoken with a common theme. The new Jackson Convention Complex, by any definition they said, is going to be impressive. It is. And praise for the sprawling facility, set to host the...

Nobile's cartoon not on target with budget.(Letters to Editor)(Letter to the editor)
December 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Editor: Just looking at Ricky Nobile's cartoon the MBJ and, as always, I really enjoy the thoughtful and poignant cartoons. As for the $90 million, now that we're out of band aids, how about a spending cut? I...

The political journey can be a fascinating odyssey: it is clear that there are many in the Mississippi who are willing, under the right circumstances, to cast a Democratic ballot. However, most observers will agree that the Democrats still lack that one charismatic, unifying leader who can be equally well received as the speaker at the local Rotary Club at noon and at the county NAACP meeting that night.(Perspective)
December 8, 2008... As one surveys the political landscape following the 2008 elections, one race in particular proves to be quite instructive on the issue of the connectivity of seemingly unrelated events that are played out in the political game. To set the...

Broadband for the Delta.(Perspective)
December 8, 2008... Football coaching great Lou Holtz is fond of saying: "You're either getting better or getting worse. Nothing stays the same." That' s how I feel when it comes to economic and community development in the Delta. If our communities simply...

A notably beautiful portrait of the Mississippi Delta.(Delta Deep Down )(Book review)
December 8, 2008... Since the early 1980s, Jane Rule Burdine has lived in Taylor, a Mississippi community just south of Oxford. Born and raised in Greenville, Burdine has spent decades photographing the environment and denizens of her native Delta. With the help...

Barbour mum on reason for trip to Germany.(Focus)(Haley Barbour )
December 8, 2008... Gov. Haley Barbour has taken two trips the past week and a half related to promoting economic development in the state. One he will discuss; the other remains a state secret. Philadelphia, Pa., was the site of the out in-the-open meeting...

Down cycles provide one commodity--time: economic developers focusing on existing business, relationship building.(Economic Development)
December 8, 2008... On Oct. 23, Mississippians reaped the benefits of the overhauled state incentive legislative package passed by lawmakers in 2005 as Momentum Mississippi. Centering on that day in the sparkle of fall, the state saw a new steel mill come to...

Gulfport reaching out with new economic development effort.(Focus)
December 8, 2008... With hurricane recovery underway and business opportunities knocking on its door, the City of Gulfport decided it was time to establish an office of economic development with a professional developer and a five-member commission. "We made...

USM's economic master's program keeps growing.(Economic Development)
December 8, 2008... In seven years, the master's program in economic development at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has grown from eight students to its current enrollment of 27. It is widely recognized and receives applications from all over the...

Developers learn lessons from mentors.(Focus)
December 8, 2008... A lot of what can be learned about being a successful economic developer can't be found, necessarily, in a textbook. So economic developers often rely on mentors in order to learn the ropes. Focusing on project outcomes is an important...

Top 20 new facilities.(List)
December 8, 2008... Top 20 New Facilities Name City (County) Margaritaville Casino and Resort Biloxi (Harrison) One Madison Plaza Madison (Madison) Riverwalk Casino Vicksburg (Warren) Grand...

Top 20 expanded facilities.(List)
December 8, 2008... Top 20 Expanded Facilities Name City (County) Keesler Air Force Base Biloxi (Harrison) SeverCorr Columbus (Lowndes) The Villages of Indian Creek Robinsonville...

NBER: U.S. economy in recession.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- According to the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the U.S. economy is in full recession, and has been in recession for all of 2008. The committee met by conference call...

Cal-Maine buying Florida company.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- Cal-Maine Foods Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire the egg production and marketing assets of Tampa Farm Service Inc. of Dover, Fla. Terms were not disclosed. Tampa Farm Service has been in the egg industry in the Southeast...

Callon quitting Entrada.(Strictly Business)(Callon Petroleum Co.)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... NATCHEZ -- Callon Petroleum Company has decided to suspend operations underway to develop the Entrada Field located on the Garden Banks 782 Block in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico. The Entrada Field is owned 50% by a subsidiary of Callon,...

NAFTA value falls.(Strictly Business)(North American Free Trade Agreement )(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 7.5 percent higher in September 2008 than in September 2007, reaching $71.8 billion,...

Center of Excellence opens.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- Jackson State University (JSU) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have officially opened the newest Center of Excellence. Located at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU, the Center for the Study of Natural Disasters,...

Citizens increases dividend.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- The board of directors of Citizens Holding Company has declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable Dec. 31, 2008, to shareholders of record as of Dec. 15, 2008. "I am proud today to announce an increase in our...

MFC, SoS sign agreement.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Forestry Commission )(Secretary of State )(preservation of land)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- In a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU), the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) and the Office of the Secretary of State have signed an agreement to better manage 16th Section lands. This agreement comes on the heels...

SBA touts plan.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... WASHINGTON -- A plan by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to improve market conditions for asset-backed securities, including those composed of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed small business loans, should be...

Delta group explores tourism.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... TUNICA -- In recent years, Delta communities have created many new opportunities for tourists interested in learning about the region's rich heritage. Now, several smaller communities in Bolivar, Sunflower and Tallahatchie Counties are...

CMI paints 'uglier portrait'.(Strictly Business)(Credit Manager's Index )(economic conditons of Mississippi)(Brief article)
December 8, 2008... COLUMBIA, MD. -- The seasonally adjusted Credit Manager's Index (CMI) for November painted an even uglier portrait of the economy than it did last month, dropping 2.6 to a record low of 42.2, well below the 50 level indicating economic...

Museum construction underway.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... JACKSON -- According to representatives from the Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM), they have reached 87 percent of their $24.5-million goal, and construction is underway. "It is with great excitement that we begin construction on the...

NASA lets contracts.(Strictly Business)
December 8, 2008... HANCOCK COUNTY -- NASA has awarded contracts to 382 small business proposals that address critical research and technology needs for agency programs and projects. The awards are part of NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SB1R)...