The Mississippi Business Journal articles from July 2005

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from July 2005

Bonding over starbursts, shells, sparklers: casinos, communities and people celebrating Independence Day with a bang (and big bucks).(FOURTH of JULY FUN)
July 4, 2005... Four times during the summer, Casino Row and Budweiser host Sunday Fireworks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where registered hotel guests eat, drink and make merry while waiting for the show to begin. Pyrotecnico, a New Orleans-based...

Getting away can be tough for busy professionals: business movers and shakers head to water, mountains for vacation.
July 4, 2005... Whether it's dogsledding in Canada, taking an Alaskan cruise or propping her feet up at a tropical resort, Patsy Tolleson always returns from vacations with the most entertaining stories to share about her adventures. This month, Tolleson...

Is independence still possible in the good ol' USA?(As I See It)
July 4, 2005... Independence Day is our nation's most cherished secular holiday. We celebrate the vision and courage of our forefathers who declared that this country wasn't beholden to anyone. How incredibly brave they were to break ties with England, one of...

Who's surprised Winn-Dixie failed?(One Writer's Perspective)(Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.)(Jitney-Jungle Stores of America Inc.)(Column)
July 4, 2005... For all those who have visited metro Jackson-area Winn-Dixies lately, the recent news that the Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocery store chain is closing a total of 326 stores, 29 of them in Mississippi including 14 in the metro area, should have...

Anderson Crawley and Burke, PLLC.(People to Watch)(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Lindsay E. Varnadoe has joined Anderson Crawley and Burke as an associate attorney. She is a graduate of the Mississippi College (MC) School of Law. Varnado will practice in the areas of workers' compensation and insurance defense. Robert L....

River Oaks Health System.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... John D. Davis IV, M.D., has been elected president of the Mississippi Neurological Society. He served as secretary/treasurer of the society from 2003-2004. Davis currently is on the medical staff of River Oaks Health System and is in private...

Renasant Bank.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Lyvonne Berry of Tupelo, Kathy Franks of Mantachie, Sandra McClure of the Ingomar community and Chris Wilkinson of Water Valley have been elected to assistant vice presidents at Renasant Bank. Berry began her career at Renasant Bank in 1990 as...

AmSouth.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Sarah Adams has been named commercial banking relationship manager at AmSouth in Jackson, and handles all aspects of commercial banking for AmSouth clients. Adams joined AmSouth from Trustmark Bank, where she served as a corporate lender. She...

Dale and Associates.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Dale and Associates Architects, P. A. announces two new partners to their firm, Jeff Barnes, AIA, and Charles Alexander, AIA. Barnes serves as the senior design architect at the firm and has over 26 years of experience. Alexander is the head of...

Keesler Federal Credit Union.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Dean Todd, a member of the board of directors of Keesler Federal Credit Union, was recently elected to a three-year term on the board of the Mississippi Credit Union Association (MCUA), a state trade association for 113 credit unions in...

First Bank and Trust.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Henry Fox has been selected chief lending officer of First Bank and Trust in Biloxi. Fox, a resident of Pascagoula, has 26 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. For the past 14 years, he has served as head of commercial...

Nextel Partners Inc.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Ryan Smith has been promoted to national retail manager of Nextel Partners Inc. in Jackson. Smith previously served as industry business manager for the healthcare sector at Nextel Partners. Smith has worked for the wireless services provider...

USA International Ballet Competition.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Brooke Wyatt, a native of Jackson, recently joined the staff of the USA International Ballet Competition (IBC) as artistic administrator. Wyatt will immediately begin preparations for the upcoming USA IBC, scheduled June 17-July 2, 2006, in...

Top walkers.(River Oaks Health System named top fund raiser in March of Dimes WalkAmerica)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... River Oaks was named the top fundraising team in the country for the 2005 March of Dimes WalkAmerica. River Oaks raised over $17,500 for the charity. WalkAmerica, a national event, raises funds to aid in research and educational programs in...

Roberts named president-elect of Mississippi Trucking Association.(People to Watch)(David Roberts)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... David Roberts, a Meridian native and resident of Jackson, has been appointed president-elect of the Mississippi Trucking Association (MTA). He will take over as president in January 2007. Roberts succeeds Dean Cotten, who retires Dec. 2, 2006,...

Alltel.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Leigh Anne Lanier has been named the vice president of retail services for Alltel's wireless communications operations in Mississippi, based in Ridgeland. Lanier joined Alltel in 1995 as a customer services representative in Raleigh, N.C.,...

BioDerm Sciences Inc.(People to Watch)(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... BioDerm Sciences Inc. announces the appointment of Daniel F. Skalecki, R.Ph., as global vice president of sales and marketing for Oxford-based BioDerm Sciences Inc. Prior to joining BioDerm Sciences, Skalecki served as the corporate vice...

Rug Decor Outlet.(People to Watch)(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Mirrissa Lyons of Bay St. Louis has joined the sales team of Rug Decor Outlet at the Prime Outlets in Gulfport. Lyons comes to Rug Decor with over 10 years of sales experience in the fashion industry.

Langford Investment Company.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Chuck Wilkinson, CFA, of Langford Investment Company in Jackson has been awarded a 4-Star rating and been admitted to the Paladin Registry, an online service that documents and validates the credentials of high quality financial professionals...

Stennis Space Center (SSC).(People to Watch)(Gay T. Irby awarded prestigious Exceptional Achievement Medal)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Gay T. Irby of Long Beach was recently awarded NASA's prestigious Exceptional Achievement Medal. Irby is deputy chief, office of the chief information officer for the Center Operations Directorate at NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC). A...

Foundation Capital Resources Inc.(People to Watch)(appoints Billy R. Gibson)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Foundation Capital Resources Inc. (FCR) in Jackson announced that Billy R. Gibson has been named to the company's board of directors. Gibson is the director, president, COO and one of the founders of St. Simons, Ga.-based Sea Island Credit...

Johnson Bailey Henderson McNeel Architects (JBHM).(People to Watch)(as intern Karen Cauthen and Jennifer Hollis )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Karen Cauthen and Jennifer Hollis will serve as intern architects for JBHM. Cauthen, a native of Kosciusko, received her bachelor's of architecture in 2005 from the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art, and Design. She will...

Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The law firm of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC, was recently ranked by Chambers and Partners among the nation's top firms in its product liability practice. In state rankings, several Butler Snow attorneys were recognized. In the...

College students bracing for higher tuition costs.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has approved tuition increases at Mississippi's public universities ranging from 3.2% at Jackson State University to 5.6% at Mississippi University for...

MACM writing policies again.(Strictly Business)(Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi's mew medical malpractice policies)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi (MACM) is lifting its moratorium on writing new medical malpractice policies. MACM is the leading writer of medical malpractice insurance coverage in Mississippi. In early 2003, the...

MILS partners with ORYXE.(Strictly Business)(Miller Intermodal Logistics Services enters into a contract with ORYXE Energy International )
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Miller Intermodal Logistics Services (MILS) has signed a contract with Irvine, Calif.-based ORYXE Energy International to manage the transportation and logistics of ORYXE's OR-LED diesel fuel additive. The contract ensures a steady...

Earth Biofuels buying facility.(Strictly Business)(Apollo Resources International Inc. )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NORTH MISSISSIPPI -- Apollo Resources International Inc.'s subsidiary, Earth Biofuels, has signed a letter of intent to purchase an unspecified full-line truck stop located on a major highway in North Mississippi. This station will be the...

Flood control bill passes.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NORTH MISSISSIPPI -- The Energy and Water Resources Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate has adopted funding measures that will bring increased flood protection to cities and counties in the footprint of federal water resource projects in the...

Parkway completes deal with Rubicon.(Strictly Business)(Parkway Properties Inc's joint venture with Rubicon America Trust)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Parkway Properties Inc. has closed the previously announced joint venture of Maitland 200 with Rubicon America Trust, an Australian listed property trust. Maitland 200 is a 203,000-square-foot, 96.5% leased office property located in...

New condo project unveiled.(Strictly Business)(Place Properties )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... STARKVILLE -- Place Properties is developing a 60-unit, high-end condominium project in this East Mississippi city. The Magnolia, located at the corner of Russell Street and Muldrow Street on the site of the old Creamery, is slated to break...

Trustmark fund gets five stars.(Strictly Business)(Trustmark Investment Advisors Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Trustmark Investment Advisors Inc., investment adviser to the Performance Funds family, reports that its Performance Mid Cap Equity Fund was awarded a five-star rating for the three-, five- and 10-year periods ending May 31, 2005, by...

Burr & Forman grows presence.(Strictly Business)(appointment of Michael V. Cory Jr., Lee Ann Rikard and Bradley B. Vance)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Michael V. Cory Jr. and Lee Ann Rikard have joined the law firm of Burr & Forman as partners and Bradley B. Vance has joined the firm as an associate in the Jackson office. In order to accommodate the additional staffing and...

Shrimp season could be a late bloomer this year: late cold fronts, lots of rain spell empty nets.
July 4, 2005... BILOXI -- When the sun came up June 21, Mississippi's 2005 shrimp season opened. There were a few more shrimp boats in the water than last year, but the season did not get off to a good start. So far catches are not plentiful and shrimp are...

Entergy recognizes Irby.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Electrical distributor Stuart C. Irby Co. has received Entergy Corporation's 2005 Supply Chain Leader Award. According to New Orleans-based Entergy, Irby was selected for visibly and consistently exhibiting high performance levels...

County assessing economic health.(Strictly Business)(DeSoto County)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... DESOTO COUNTY -- In an effort to better serve the businesses and citizens in its community, the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, in conjunction with Mississippi Development Authority, Entergy Corporation and the Tennessee Valley...

Condos funded.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... BILOXI -- Mountain Funding, LLC, a private hard money, bridge, mezzanine and equity provider specializing in value-added commercial projects and residential land development, has closed a $9-million hard money land loan transaction for a...

State disappointed, but still could see benefits from EADS: no matter the site, hurdles for company remain.(European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. enetr into a contract)
July 4, 2005... When it was announced recently that Mobile, Ala., had won out over Kiln and two other Southern sites for a proposed $600-million LADS (European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co.) plant to produce air refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force, a...

Judge approves slots, McKenzie named V.P.(Strictly Business)(Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. gets an approval for installing slot machines and appoints Duncan McKenzie as Vice President)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... BILOXI -- Broward County, Fla., Circuit Judge Leroy Moe has ruled that the county's four parimutuels can install slot machines as of July 1. The ruling paves the way for Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. to install slot machines at its Pompano Park...

Entergy wins second Edison.(Strictly Business)(Entergy Corp. wins Edison Award)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Entergy Corporation has won its second Edison Award, considered by many as the electric power industry's highest honor, for superior operational and financial results and increased productivity and shareholder returns. In...

Chilmark expanding focus.(Strictly Business)(Chilmark Media of of Chilmark Entertainment Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... SOUTHAVEN -- Chilmark Media, a 50% owned affiliate of Chilmark Entertainment Group Inc., is reactivating its entry into the China market in July 2005. The reactivation includes an expanded focus on content, establishing a brand in the...

Retail thriving in historic downtown Crosstie District.(Crosstie Shopping District)
July 4, 2005... CLEVELAND -- It's little wonder downtown Cleveland is building a reputation for destination shopping. Known as the historic Crosstie Shopping District, it has all the elements to draw area residents and visitors alike. It's a downtown many...

Bio-Solutions adds franchise.(Strictly Business)(Michael Kilby acquires a license from Bio-Solutions Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... HATTIESBURG -- Bio-Solutions Manufacturing Inc. (BSMI) has landed a new and local franchise owner for the Easley, S.C., area, Michael Kilby. Kilby has recently acquired his service license and franchise territory, which covers the Greenville...

American, Continental upgrade service.(Strictly Business)
July 4, 2005... GULFPORT -- American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, will add nonstop service between Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport beginning October 30. American Eagle will operate...

Carothers continues SCIP work.(Strictly Business)(Streamlined Construction Improvement Program)(Carothers Construction Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... WATER VALLEY -- Carothers Construction Inc. recently completed the Fort Bragg North Post Commissary in North Carolina. Carothers served on the project that cost $10 million and took 18 months to complete. The renovated commissary, which...

Gary Bailey's passion shines in work, community service.(Architects & Engineers)(JBHM Interior Design Group Inc.)(Column)
July 4, 2005... TUPELO -- In the late night closing hours of the 2005 Tupelo Elvis Festival, volunteer Carl Brandenburg brought the core planning team to tears, bragging on the staff at JBHM Architects for their "great hearts and commitment." Once again,...

Management tools help firms keep pace with growth.(Architects & Engineers)(Roy and Anne Marie Decker OF Duvall Decker Architects, P.A)(American Council of Engineering Companies provides with first-class professional educational programs )
July 4, 2005... When Roy and Anne Marie Decker established a two-person office in Jackson, it was easy for the married architects to manage all of the company's projects. Even though their firm, Duvall Decker Architects, P.A., has grown to an office of...

Engineers.(engineering associations)(Directory)
July 4, 2005... Names/Year Founded Top Officers Emps./ Address Phone/FAX Interns Neel-Schaffer Inc., 1983 Hibbett Neel, Gorman 338/24 666 North St., Suite 201, ...

Multi-use projects mixing living, working, shopping.(Architects & Engineers)
July 4, 2005... It could be a matter of everything old is new again, but mixed-use projects are growing rapidly around the country. Before the days of suburban sprawl, living, working, shopping and playing were all pretty much done in the same area and did not...

Crowder finds success working from hometown.(Architects & Engineers)(engineer Thomas Crowder of Crowder Engineering and Surveying Inc.)
July 4, 2005... ACKERMAN -- Engineer Thomas "Marty" Crowder had a dream of being able to operate a business providing engineering and surveying services back in his home county. But could a town located a 100 miles north of Jackson with a population of less...

Teachers learning real-world apps for math, science.(teaching maths and science)
July 4, 2005... What math or science teacher hasn't heard a student ask, "Where in the world am I ever going to use this stuff you are teaching me?" Now a number of teachers in the state can answer, "Working for industries in Mississippi like Nissan,...

Jerry Tullos fills big shoes at Alford Engineering.(Architects & Engineers)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- After 21 years as one of Mississippi's most successful and highly respected engineers, Bud Alford recently sold his interest in Alford Engineering to Jerry Tullos and Lee Jones. But the handing off of the reins at the firm...

New arts/dance center blends contemporary, classical designs.(Architects & Engineers)(Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- Art and dance students at Belhaven College will inaugurate a beautiful new facility this fall with the opening of the $6-million Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center. Scheduled for completion in August, the combination...

State's most-endangered historic places seek salvation.(Mississippi Heritage Trust makes efforts to restore historic buildings)
July 4, 2005... When the Mississippi Heritage Trust (MHT) unveiled Mississippi's Ten Most Endangered Historic Places of 2005 in late April, it marked the publication of the fifth such list by the group, intended as a public awareness effort to garner support...

Designer showcase ushers in new concept for bath, kitchen shopping.(Southern Bath and Kitchen's sales strategies)
July 4, 2005... JACKSON -- There's a new way to shop for bath and kitchen fixtures. Southern Bath & Kitchen has brought the designer showroom concept to the area with its 4,000-square-foot facility at LeFleur's Gallery location at 4800 1-55 North. With 34...

Momentum, at last.
July 11, 2005... The thunderstorms that rumbled throughout Central Mississippi on the state's last fiscal day of the year provided a fitting backdrop for the passage of Momentum Mississippi legislation. After much pushing and prodding, Gov. Haley Barbour...

Improving financial lives goal of CCCS.(Consumer Credit Counseling Service)
July 11, 2005... JACKSON -- Getting into debt that you can't pay off is a burden that can give you sleepless nights, cause depression and make you feel like a failure. Take Tamara (last name omitted for privacy), for example. "I made a lot of dumb...

Businesses have ups, downs in summer months: a little slower this time of year? Not necessarily.
July 11, 2005... Life is supposed to take a slower turn in the heat of summer. For some businesses that's true, although it's not necessarily a good thing. Others are far from singing "summertime and the living is easy." Think cool--anything cool: ice cream,...

Blueberry growers expect bumper crop.
July 11, 2005... STARKVILLE -- Mississippi's blueberry growers have much to celebrate with an anticipated bumper crop, good prices and high-quality berries. John Braswell, horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and...

Hearing the call of small business? Pay attention.(entrepreneurs, the way they manage their businesses)(Column)
July 11, 2005... I knew by the time I reached 24 years old that I wanted to own my own business. I really can't explain why I knew it or what there was about being my own boss that appealed to me. I just knew. Being a budding entrepreneur isn't the most...

Kelo: state law to play greater role now.(At Issue)(the U.S. Supreme Court held that a city's decision to forcibly take private property for economic development" satisfies the requirements of the Constitution )
July 11, 2005... Readers of the Mississippi Business Journal were alerted last fall to the significant case of Kelo v. City of New London, which the United States Supreme Court announced it would hear, addressing the authority of local governments to take land...

Pragmatism, compromise have place in politics.(professionals in Mississippi must continue to play their role in business, industry and economic development )(Brief Article)(Editorial)
July 11, 2005... It isn't news to anyone who has been paying attention the past few years that a growing partisanship is reshaping Mississippi politics. The traditional alliances and good ol' boy network that kept the legislative process running for decades...

Strategic Financial Partners.(awards.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Curt Thomas and Bob Turner, LUTCF, were recently named members of the 2005 Million Dollar Round Table by Strategic Financial Partners, a New England Financial firm. Thomas received a BBA from Mississippi State and an MBA from Mississippi...

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... The Mississippi chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light The Night committee named David Barrentine as corporate walk chair of Jackson. Barrentine is regional president of the Mid-Mississippi Region of BancorpSouth. He is...

Higginbotham Automobiles, LLC and Bert Allen Imports.(Mercedes-Benz USA awards scholarships to high school students, automobile dealers supports fundraising)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Several Mississippi high school students were awarded $2,000 Drive Your Future scholarships from Mercedes-Benz USA and will be the first in their families to attend college. Mississippi dealers Higginbotham Automobiles, LLC, and Bert Allen...

Rankin Medical Center.(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Cindy Lane Dishongh has joined Rankin Medical Center (RMC) as associate administrator. She comes to RMC by way of River Oaks Health System (River Oaks Hospital and Woman's Hospital) where she has obtained over 20 years of hospital operations...

Balch & Bingham, LLP.(ranking )(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... The Jackson office of Balch & Bingham, LLP, has been ranked No. 2 in the U.S. in employment law by the legal directory "Chambers USA 2005." Chambers also ranked three attorneys from the firm: Scott Andress, No. 1 corporate/mergers and...

Butler Snow O'Mara Stevens & Cannada.(appointment)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Butler Snow is pleased to announce that Kimherly A. Easley has joined the firm in its Jackson office. Easley was graduated in 2001 from Birmingham-Southern College where she majored in accounting. She received her J.D. degree from the...

Mississippi Technology Alliance.(Mississippi Technology Alliance's DeAnna Adams attends International Conference on Business Incubation)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... DeAnna Adams, director of the Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA) Innovation Center in Jackson, recently attended the 19th International Conference on Business Incubation in Baltimore. The Innovation Center located at the Jackson State...

Mississippi Public Broadcasting.(awards.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Three in-house produced programs by Mississippi Public Broadcasting received Emmy awards at the recent Southeast Regional Emmy Awards in Atlanta. Producer Paul Squires won an Emmy for "Walter Anderson--A Portrait Feature." Producer Edie Green,...

The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce recently held a reception to honor all elected and re-elected mayors of the metro area.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce recently held a reception to honor all elected and re-elected mayors of the metro area. Pictured above are: MetroJackson Chamber chairman Bill Farmer, Mayor Rosemary G. Aultman, Clinton; Mayor Frank Melton,...

Stennis Space Center.(awards.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Lionel J. Dutreix of Slidell, La., deputy chief of the Propulsion Test Directorate's operations division at NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC), was awarded NASA's prestigious Exceptional Achievement Medal. Dutreix was given the award for...

The Forest Landowners Association.(awards.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... The Forest Landowners Association of Atlanta announces Guy T. Vise III of Ridgeland as the recipient of the 2005 Forest Landowners Association's Young Forest Landowner of the Year Award. Vise, a registered forester in Mississippi and Alabama,...

Community Bank.(appointments at Community Bank of Mississippi.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Ivan Bryant has joined Community Bank in Amory as vice president. Bryant is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he received his BBA degree in real estate and mortgage finance. Bryant is also a graduate of the Graduate School of...

Maris, West & Baker Inc,, Advertising Communications (MWB).(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Maris, West & Baker Inc. Advertising Communications (MWB) announces the following additions and staff changes to the company: Edie Wilkinson has been hired as traffic manager for the agency. Wilkinson has over 15 years of experience in the...

Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Randall German has been named the new director of Mississippi State University's (MSU's) Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. German is an award-winning mechanical engineer and materials scientist at Pennsylvania State University. German...

BankPlus.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Elizabeth Grantham Parr has been promoted to assistant vice president-community relations and business development at the Highland Colony Parkway office in Ridgeland. A native of Jackson, Parr has over six years of banking experience and joined...

Merchants and Marine Bank.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Melanie Isaacks has joined Pascagoula-based Merchants and Marine Bank as a business development officer in Ocean Springs. A Cleveland native, Isaacks graduated from Mississippi State University where she received a BBA. She has six years'...

BancorpSouth Insurance.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... BancorpSouth Insurance promoted Chris Boone to executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Boone has a bachelor's degree in business and finance from Mississippi State University. He is chairman of the board for the Mississippi...

Hampton Inn and Suites.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Two associates have been added to the Hampton Inn and Suites, scheduled to open in spring 2006 in Vicksburg. DeeDee Wiley, the hotel's new director of sales, will oversee the property's pre-opening marketing strategies and development. Thomas...

Meeting Professionals International.(appointments.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... The Gulf States Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recently installed officers and board members for 2005-2006. Stephanie Miller, CMP, was installed as president; Terry Jackson, president elect; and Maria Irwin as immediate...

Ionatron introduces device to counter IED weapons: company will deliver 12 systems to DoD over next 60 days.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... HANCOCK COUNTY -- Ionatron Inc. introduced the first field deployable JIN (joint improvised explosive device neutralizer) Counter IED system July 7 at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Ionatron, which...

Brown Bottling Group expands in South Mississippi.(constructs new distribution center.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Brown Bottling Group Inc., the South Mississippi Pepsi distributor, has purchased property on U.S. 49 North in Forrest County for construction of a new sales and distribution center. The building will feature state-of- the-art construction...

Dollar General adds shift, workers.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... INDIANOLA -- Company officials at Dollar General have confirmed that a third shift has been added at the distribution center located in this Delta city. The new shift adds 130 workers at the 845,000-square-foot facility. The new shift went...

JAM debt tops $200,000.(Jackson Arts and Music Foundation.)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... JACKSON -- The Jackson Arts & Music Foundation (JAM) recently met to review Jubilee!JAM attendance figures, to discuss the organization's debt and to begin conversations about the future of the organization. This privately funded 501(c) 3...